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 Cornell University 
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HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 NEW LONDON COUNTY, 
 
 CONNECTICUT, 
 
 WITH 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 
 
 OF MANY OF ITS 
 
 PIOxNEERS AND PROMINENT MEN. 
 
 COMlPirjED XJNDER THK SX7PTCRVISION OF 
 
 D. HAMILTON HURD. 
 
 ILLUSTRATE D- 
 
 P H I L A D K Jj P 1 1 r A : 
 
 J. ^y. LEWIS & CO. 
 
 18 82. 
 
 PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 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 fast-gathering 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 set down aught in malice." 
 
 In such a spirit have the compilers of the following pages approached the work of detailing 
 the history of the territory embodied herein, and trust they have been fairly faithful to the task 
 imposed. 
 
 It has been their 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 man 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 difierent outlines. Man's memory is ever at fault, while time paints a differ- 
 ent 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 which the writer had not the faintest conception of, and which Lord Ma- 
 caulay 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 information, 
 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 memories, of its defeats 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, to 
 
 each and every one who has assisted us in the compilation, and would cheerfully make personal 
 
 mention of each, but it is impracticable, as the number reaches nearly a thousand. 
 
 Philadelphia, Jan. 2, 1882. 
 
 D. H. H. 
 
CO]SrTE:N'TS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Outline History 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Organization of the County. 
 Organization of the County — Original Towns— Present Towns— First 
 County Court, 1666— Early OiHcials— Extracts from Court Records— 
 The First Prerogative Court— The First Superior Court— Contest be- 
 tween New London and Norwich — Norwich constituted a Shire Town 
 — The First Court-House — County Buildings— Contest between Nor- 
 ,wich Town and Clielsea for Location of Court-House — Civil List — 
 — Governors of Connecticut^Kesidents of New London County — 
 Chief Justices of Supreme Court of Connecticut— Residents of New 
 London County— Membei-s of the Continental Congress— United States 
 Senators — Members of Congress 19 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 The Pequot Indians 23 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Bench and Bar 36 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Medical History 59 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Military History. 
 The Second Regiment — The Third Regiment — The Seventh Regiment — 
 The Eighth Regiment — The Ninth Regiment— The Tenth Regiment— 
 The Twelfth Regiment — The Thirteenth Regiment — First Regiment 
 Heavy Artillery — The First Cavalry — The Fourteenth Regiment— The 
 Eighteenth Regiment — The Twenty-first Regiment— The Twenty- 
 sixth Regiment 65 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Internal Improvements. 
 First Road between Norwich and New London — First Turnpike in the 
 United States — The Norwich and Providence Post-Road — The Norwich 
 and Woodstock Road — The Essex Turnpike — The Shetucket Turnpike 
 — Railroads — The Norwich and Worcester Railroad — The New London 
 Northern — New York, Providence and Boston — New York, New Haven 
 and Hartford — The Colchester Railroad 134 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Population and School Statistics. 
 
 Population 135 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 New London. 
 Geographical — Topographical — The Founder of New Londyn — John Win- 
 throp the Younger — The First Grant— Fisher's Island— Government 
 Commission for the Founding of New London — Naming the Town — 
 Home-Lots— The Town Plot— The Removal of Winthrop— Initial 
 Events — The First Birth, Marriage, and Death — Indian Troubles — For- 
 tifications — Early Dissensions — Patent of New London 137 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 New London (Continued). — Early Rules and Regulations. 
 
 Townsmen in 1648 — Town-Meeting of 1648-50— Vote Concerning its 
 Pioneer Grist-Mill — " Cardes and Shufflebords" — Early Accounts — 
 Goodman Cheesborough's Trouble — Voted that the Town be Called 
 
 London— Minutes from Societies' Records— Fort Hill—" Making of 
 Bread and Brewing of Beere"— Holding the Contribution-Box — The 
 Jail— Imprisonment for Debt— Sale of Powder to Indians— Church 
 Regulations- Inhabitants Fined — The Stocks— Rev. Mr. Buckley — 
 The Ferry— Sale of Liquors— Ministry-Rate List— Excluding Colored 
 Persons from the Town 144 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 New London {Continued). 
 
 Early Settlers— Incidents, etc 148 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 New London (Continued). — War of the Revolution. 
 Votes of the Town concerning the War— First Committees of Corre- 
 spondence—Soldi era' Families— The First Naval Expedition— The Mili- 
 tia— Two Companies from New London at Bunker Hill— Nathan Hale 
 — Cannonade of Stonington — Fort Trumbull— Officers on Duty — En- 
 listments — Marauders — Smugglers — Shaving Notes — Various Alarms 
 — British Fleets in the Sound— Rumors and Alarms of 1779 and 1780 
 —Sketches of Soldiers 168 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 New London (Co)ititnied). — War of the Revolution. 
 
 Privateering- Sea-Captains— The Schooner "Spy" — Brig "Defiance" — 
 "Old Defiance"— The "Oliver Cromwell"— Brig "Resistance" — The 
 " Hancock"— The Privateer " Governor Trumbull"- Ship " Confeder- 
 acy"— The " Deane"- The " Putnam"— Continental Ship " Trumbull" 
 — Benedict Arnold— He Marches on New London— Flight of Inhab- 
 itants — Burning of the Town— Arnold's Official Account — Estimate of 
 the Loss — List of New London Sufferers — Washington's Visit to New 
 London 181 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 New London (Continued). — Ecclesiastical History. 
 First Church of Christ— The Second Congregational Church— St. James' 
 Church— Methodist Episcopal Church— Bethel Church— First Baptist 
 Church— Second Baptist Church— Huntington Street Baptist Church 
 — Universalist Church— St. Mary's Star of the Sea Roman Catholic 
 Church 192 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 New London (Continued). — Miscellaneous. 
 Commerce— Whaling — The Port of New London — Custom-House — List 
 of Collectors— The Ferry— New London in 1 SOU— Societies — Incor- 
 poration of the City— First Charter Election— Officers Elected — Mayors 
 from Organization to Present Time— Schools — The Yellow Fever — The 
 Old Militia — City Hall — Manufactures- Cedar Grove Cemetery— Gas 
 Company- Water- Works— W. W. B. Post, G. A. R.— Fire Depart- 
 ment 206 
 
 CHAPTER XVT. 
 New London (Continued). — The Press — The Banking In- 
 terests. 
 
 The New London Summary — New London Gazette — The Connecticut 
 Gazette — The Weekly Oracle — The Bee — The Republican Advocate — 
 The Connecticut Sentinel — The People's Advocate — The Morning 
 Daily News — The Daily Chronicle — The Weekly Chronicle — The 
 State Temperance Journal — The Repository — The New London Demo- 
 crat—The Morning Star— The New Loudon Telegram — The Day— 
 The Union Bank — The New London City National Bank — The Na- 
 tional Whaling Bank — The National Bank of Commerce — The 
 Savings-Bank of New London — The Mariners' Savings-Bank 215 
 
 5 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 National— The Unoas National— The Norwich Sarings Society— ""° 
 Chelsea Savings-B|nlc— The Dime Savings-Bank— The Thames loa" 
 and Trust Company— New London County Mutual Tire Insurance 
 Company— The Norwich Mutual Assurance Company ^'' 
 
 \ 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Norwich (Oontinned).—TB1!, Pebss, Etc. 
 The Pioneer Newspaper, the Norwich Packet and the Connecticut, 
 Massachusetts, New Hampshire, aud Khode Island Weekly Advertiser 
 —The Connecticut Oentinel-The Weekly Kegister-The Chelsea 
 Courier— The Courier- The Norwich Courier-The Daily Courier— 
 The Norwich Evening Courier— The Morning Bulletin-The True Ee- 
 publican— The Native American— The Norwich Eepublican— The 
 Canal of Intelligence— The Norwich Spectator-The Norwich Free 
 Press- The Keligious Intelligencer— Total Ahstinence-The Gleaner 
 —The Norwich News— Paixhan Gun, Needle— American Patriot— The 
 Weekly Eeporter- The Norwich Tribune— The Examiner— The 
 Weekly Reveille- The Aurora— Daily Aurora— Daily Advertiser- 
 Cooley's Weekly— The Vim— The No License Advocate— The Ameri- 
 can Conflict— The Observer- The Evening Star— The Norwich Daily 
 News 307 
 
 CHAPTER XXVr. 
 Miscellaneous. 
 The Free Academy— Other Schools— Post-Offlce— Slavery— The Bi-Cen- 
 tennial Celebration — Col. Mason's Monument — The Soldiers' Monu- 
 ment — Water- Works — Fire Department — Gas Company— City Hall— 
 The Eliza Huntington Memorial Home — Otis Library— The Horse 
 Railroad — Bridges — Laurel Hill — Masonic — Odd-Fellows— Other Soci- 
 eties — Manufactories — Villages 311 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 Norwich (Covtinued). — Documentary — Civil — Military. 
 Votes of 1 G69 — A Blacksmith — Church-Members only to Vote— Admis- 
 sion of Inhabitants — List of Town Debts, 1718 — Justice's Courts— Sell- 
 ing Liquor to Indians — Stealing "Water-Mil ions" — Profane Swearing 
 — Rules and Regulations— Town Clerks from 1678 to 1882— City Clerks 
 from 1826 to 1882— Mayors of the City from 1784 to 1882— Presidential 
 Electors — Representatives from 1662 to 1882 — Militai7 Record... 326 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 Norwich {Continued). — Biographical Sketches ai8 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 BOZRAH. 
 
 Geographical— Topographical— The First Settlements— New Concord- 
 Name of the Town — Organization of the Town — First Town-Meeting- 
 Officers Elected— Ecclesiastical History — Congregational Church Boz- 
 rail — Congregational Church, Bozrahville — Congregational ChuKh 
 Fitchville — Baptist Church, Leffingwelltown — Villages— Fitchville-! 
 Bozrahville — Manufactures, etc. — List of Representatives from lyog 
 to 1882 — Military Record g-, 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 BozRAH {Continued). — Biographical Sketches 377 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 Colchester. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — The Original Grant —"Jeremjaiji, 
 Farms"- The Pioneers- Names of Freemen in 1730— List of Pjij, j 
 1787 — Documentary History— Town-Meeting, 1703— Mr. Buckle.' 
 " Chimies"- Grist- and Saw-Mill— Saw-Mill— A new To\vn.Drum_ 
 FuUing-Mill— Mr. Buckley's History— Repairing the Meeting-hoj, 
 etc. — Early Births, Marriages, and Deaths ' ' 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 Colchester {Continued). 
 Ecclesiastical — Congregational Church, Colchester — Gongregjy 
 Church, Westchester— Methodist Episcopal Church, Colchejt.. ' 
 Baptist Church — Episcopal Church — Roman Catholic Clmrcji o'^ 
 ings-Bank— The Hayward Rubber Company- The Pioneer S[ij(,„, _^ 
 Bacon Academy — Attorneys- Lyman Trumbull — List of^gp^ 
 tivesfrom 1708 to 1882 „ ' 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 New London {Continued). — Civil and Military 222 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 New London {Continued). — Biographical Sketches 228 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 Norwich. 
 Geographical — Topographical — The Moliegans — The Indian Deed— The 
 First Settlements— Survey of the Townships— Original Proprietors— 
 Home-Lots — The Town Plot — Plan of the Ancient Settlement- 
 Pioneer Schools — Early Births, Marriages, and Deaths— The First 
 Mill— The First Chaise 246 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Norwich {Continued). — Original Proprietors and other 
 E.VRLY Settler.';. 
 
 Maj. John Mason — Rev. James Fitch — Adgate — Allyn — Buckus — Bald- 
 win — Bingham — Bircliard — Bliss — Bowers — Bradford — Hugh Calkins 
 ^John Calkins — Edgerton — Gager — GifTord — Griswold — Hendy — 
 Howard — Huntington — Hyde — LefHngwell — Olmsted — Pease — Post — 
 Beed — Reynolds — Royce — Smith — Tracy — Wade — Wallis — Waterman 
 — Abel — Brewster — Biishnell — Elderkin — Lathrop — Allen — .^llerton 
 — Ames — Andrews — Armstrong — Arnold — Avery — Baker — Bacon — 
 Badger — Barrett — Barstow — Bates — Belden — Bell — Blackmore — Boom 
 — Burton — Burley — Capron — Carson — Carpenter — Carter — Case — 
 Cathcart— Chapman — Chappell — Cleveland — Coolidge — Cole — Cotteral 
 — Grant — Crocker — Cross — Cullenin — Culver — Culverswell — Darby — 
 Davis — Deans — Dean — Decker — Deuison — Dennis — Dowd — Edge- 
 combe— Fairbanks — Fales— Fargo — Field — Fillmore — Ford— Fowler 
 — Fox— Frasier — French — Gay lord — Gibbons — Gookin— Gould — Gor- 
 ton— Gove— Green— Grist — Grover — Hull — Hamilton — Hammond — 
 Harrington — Harris — Hartshorn — Haskins — Hazen— Heath— Hen- 
 drick— Hill — Hodges — Hough— Hutchins — Hutchinson — Jennings — 
 Jones — Johnson — Kelly — Kenn edy — Kimball — K ing — Kingsbury — 
 Kirby — Knowles — Knowlton — Ladd — Lamb — Lawrence — Lee — 
 Loomer- Lord — Low — Lyon — Marshall — Meade — Metcalf— Merrick 
 — Moore — Morgan — Moseley — Munsell — Norman — Ormsby — Palmeter 
 —Pasmore— Peck— Pember— Pettis— Phillips— Pierce— Pike— Pitcher 
 — Polly — Prior — Raymond — Richards — Roberts — Rogers — Rood — 
 Eosebrough—Rudd—Sabin— Sherman— Smalbent— Spalding— Stone— 
 Stickney— Stoddard — Story — Swetland — Tenny — Todd — Thomas— 
 Tubbs— Walker— Warren— Way— Welsh— White— Whitaker— Wight- 
 man — Williams — WiUoughby — Wood— Woodworth 253 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Norwich {Continued). 
 
 The Landing— Weequaw's Hill— Early Votes— Ship-yards— Highways— 
 
 Chelsea— The Parade— Pioneer Homes— Old Settlers— Hotels— Streets 
 
 —Commerce— Early Business Men— The First Druggist, Dr. Daniel 
 
 Lathrop 273 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Norwich {Continued). — War of the Revoldtion. 
 
 Interesting Incidents — Military Organization — Gen. Washington's Visit 
 
 —Visit of Lafayette— Baron Steuben and PulasUi—Votes— Benedict 
 
 Arnold— Sketch of his Career- Soldiers of the Revolution 279 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 Norwich {Continued). — Ecclesiastical History. 
 First Congregational Church— Second Congregational Church— Broad- 
 way Congregational— Park Congregational— Greeneville Congrega- 
 tional— Taftville Congregational— Christ Church— Trinity Church- 
 Methodist Church, Bean Hill— East Main Street Methodist Episcopal 
 Church— Central Methodist Episcopal Church— Sachem Street Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church— Greeneville Methodist Episcopal Church- 
 First Baptist Church— Central Baptist— Greeneville Baptist— Mount 
 Calvary Baptist^Duiveraalist Chuich— St. Patrick's Church— Roman 
 Catholic, Taftville 290 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Banking Institutions. 
 
 The Norwich National Bank — The First National — The Thames National 
 
 — The Shetucket National— The Merchants' National — The Second 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIIL 
 CoLCBESTEE (Continued). — Biographical Sketches 399 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 Franklin 400 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 Feanklin [Continued). — Biogeaphical Sketches 402 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 Griswold. 
 Geographical — Topographical — The First Settlements — Eleazer Jewett — 
 Early Manufactures — Later Manufactures — The Slater Mill — The Ash- 
 land Company — The Water-Power — Jewett City — Villages — Jewett 
 City Savings-Bank — Knights of Pythias — Masonic — Distinguished 
 Sons of Griswold ; George D. Prentice, U. L. Stanton, Henry B. Stan- 
 ton, Moses C.Tyler 404 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 Griswold ( Continued). — Ecclesiastical — Civil. 
 
 The First Congregational Church of Griswold — Congregational Church, 
 Jewett City — Episcopal Church — Baptist Church — Koman Catholic 
 Church — Methodism in Griswold — Representatives from 1816 to 
 1882 406 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 Griswold (Continued). — Biographical Sketches 410 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 Groton 418 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 Groton (Continued). — War of the Revolution 424 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 Groton (Continued). — Groton Monument — Celebration, 
 
 Etc 432 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 Groton (Continued). — Ecclesiastical History 437 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 Groton (Continued). — Biographical Sketches 446 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 Groton (Continued). — Statistical 450 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 Groton (Continued). — Navy-Yard 451 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 Groton (Continued) 453 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 Groton (Continued). — Biographical Sketches 466 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 Lebanon. 
 Geographical — Topographical — Indian History — Po-que-chan.neeg — 
 The First White Proprietor— Maj. John Mason— The Claim of Oweneco 
 — The First Settlement— First Meeting of Inhabitants- Organization 
 of the Town— Organization of Church— Formation of "Train-Band" 
 Town Votes— Military Enterprise- The Kevolution— Town-Meet- 
 ing of April, 1770 — Subsequent Military Events— Governor Trumbull, 
 etc 480 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 Lebanon (Continued). — Revolutionary Incidents. 
 French Troops at Lebanon — Count Bochambeau — The Bourbon nois — A 
 Deserter Shot— Mrs. Anna Hyde and the Assassin— Governor Trum- 
 bull's House and War OfBce— Council of Safety— Trumbull— Sketch of 
 the Family— Its Various Members— The Tomb of the Trumbulls. 489 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 Lebanon (Continued). 
 Proprietors' Meeting — Town Street Title — " No Taxation without Repre- 
 sentation" — The Five-mile Purchase — Deed from Owaneco — Litigation 
 with Abimeleck — Indian Schools 497 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 Lebanon (Continued). — Ecclesiastical History. 
 
 The Jleeting-house War — The First Church — Cluirch in Columbia — 
 
 Goshen Church — Exeter Church — Baptist Church — Christian Church, 
 
 Liberty Hill — Ministers — College Graduates 502 
 
 CHAPTER LIL 
 
 Lebanon (Continued). — Civil and Military. 
 
 Governors — United States Senators — Members of Congress — Assistants — 
 Senators — Representatives from 1705 to 1882— Town Clerks from 1698 
 to 1882 — Town Clerks — Early Births, Marriages, and Deaths — Military 
 History 507 
 
 CHAPTER LIII. 
 
 Lebanon (Continued). — Biographical Sketches S18 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 Ledyard. 
 Geographical — Topographical — The Pequots — Indian Burial-Place— The 
 " Last Retreat"—" Mashan tucket"— The Pioneers— AUyn's Point— Or- 
 ganization of the Parish — First Meeting— Warning-Posts — The First 
 Minister— Name of the Town — Incorporation of the Town — The First 
 Selectmen — Ecclesiastical History — Congreg«tional Church — The Sep- 
 aratists—The Methodist Episcopal Church— The Baptist Church- 
 Prominent Sons of Ledyard — Military Record— Judges of Probate — 
 Representatives from 1836 to 1882 529 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 Ledyard (Continued). — Biographical Sketches 634 
 
 CHAPTER LVL 
 
 Lisbon. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — Indian Claims — The Surrenderors — 
 
 Owaneco's Deed to James Fitch — Pioneer Settlements— Names of the 
 
 Pioneers — Ecclesiastical History — Civil History — Organization of the 
 
 Town— Representatives from 1786 to 1882 635 
 
 CHAPTER LVII. 
 
 Lisbon (Continued). — Biographical Sketch 539 
 
 ■^ CHAPTER LVIII. 
 Lyme. 
 Geographical — Topographical — The " Loving Parting" between Saybrook 
 and Lyme — Ecclesiastical History — Congregational Church, Grassy 
 Hill — Congregational Church, Hamburg — Baptist Church, North Lyme 
 —Baptist Church, Hadlyme— Civil and Military History— Organization 
 of Town— Representatives from 1667 to 1 882— Military Record 640 
 
 CHAPTER LIX. 
 
 Lyme (Continued). — Biographical Sketch 643 
 
 CHAPTER LX. 
 
 Old Lyme 643 
 
 CHAPTER LXI. 
 
 Old Lyme (Continued). — Ecclesiastical History 564 
 
 CHAPTER LXII. 
 
 Old Lyme (Clmn'ntiet?).— Civil and Military 659 
 
 CHAPTER LXIII. 
 
 Old Lyme (Con(miied).— Biographical Sketch 669 
 
 CHAPTER LXIV. 
 East Lyme. 
 Geographical— Topographical— The Bride Brook Marriage— Washing- 
 ton's Visit, etc 660 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER LXV. 
 East Lyme (Gontlnued). — Ecclesiastical — Military and 
 
 Civil History 662 
 
 CHAPTER LXVI. 
 
 East Lyme (OonHnued). — Biographical Sketch 665 
 
 chapter' lxvii. 
 
 Monttille 665 
 
 CHAPTER LXVIIL 
 
 MoNTViLLE (Con(i'n«e(i). — Ecclesiastical History 576 
 
 CHAPTER LXIX. 
 
 MoNTViLLE [Oontiimecl). — Mills AND Manhfactoeies 683 
 
 CHAPTER LXX. 
 
 MoNTViLLE {Oonthiued). — Civil History 588 
 
 CHAPTER LXXI. 
 
 MoNTTiLLE {Continued). — Biographical Sketches 689 
 
 CHAPTER LXXII. 
 
 Preston. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — The Indians — Early Grantees — Sketches 
 of the Early Settlers — The War of the Revolution — Civil and Military 
 — Incorporation of the Town — Interesting Documents — Ecclesiastical 
 History, etc 595 
 
 CHAPTER LXXin. 
 Preston {Continued). — Biographical Sketch 604 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIV. 
 Salem 604 
 
 CHAPTER LXXV. 
 Salem {Continued). — Biographical Sketches 609 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVL 
 
 Sprague. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — Manufactures— Organization of Town — 
 First Town-Meeting — Ecclesiastical History — Congregational Church 
 Hanover — Representatives from 1861 to 1882 610 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVII. 
 
 Sprague [Continued). — Biographical Sketches 611 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVIII. 
 
 Stonington. — Pioneer an'D Indian History 612 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIX. 
 
 Stonington {Continued). — War of the Revolution 625 
 
 CHAPTER LXXX. 
 
 Stonington {Continued). — War of 1812 631 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXI. 
 
 645 
 Stonington {Continued).— 'EjlRLY Residents 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXII. 
 Stonington {Continued). — Commom Schools— The Press- 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXiri. 
 Stonington (Contiiiaeti).— Ecclesiastical History 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIV. 
 Stonington {Continued). 
 Manufactures— Ship-huilding — Commerce, etc 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXV. 
 Stonington {Continued). — Banking and Railroad Inter- 
 ests ^^ 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVI. 
 Stonington {Continued). — Civil and Military ^^^ 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVIL 
 Stonington {Continued). — Biographical Sketches 690 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 
 
 North Stonington "^^^ 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIX. 
 
 North Smm^ams {Continued). — Biographical Sketches 742 
 
 CHAPTER XC. 
 
 VOLUNTOWN. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — The Volunteers' Grant— Original Bounds 
 ^Claimed by the Mohegans — Maasushowitt's Claim— First Meeting 
 of Proprietors — Survey of the Town — The Pioneers— Ecclesiastical- 
 Congregational Church — The Separate Church— The Schools— Beach- 
 ville — Manufacturing — Civil and Military — Organization of Town- 
 Eirst Town-Meeting — OlBcera Elected — Organization of Probate Court 
 —First Officers- Military Record — List of Representatives from 1740 to 
 
 1882 745 
 
 CHAPTER XCL 
 
 VoLUNTOWN {Continued). — Biographical Sketch 748 
 
 CHAPTER XCII. 
 Waterford. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical— Early Grants— The Pioueers— War of 
 the Revolution— Ecclesiastical History — First Baptist Church— Second 
 Baptist Church— Civil History— Organization of Town— Snma of the 
 Town— The First Town-Meeting— Officers Elected .„ 
 
 CHAPTER XCIII. 
 
 Waterford {Continued). — Biographical Sketches 757 
 
 Supplement ijg,^ 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 BIOCS-E.JLI'IIIOJLL. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Samuel Huntington 36 
 
 Asa Spalding 37 
 
 ElisbaHyde 37 
 
 Joshua Coit 37 
 
 ElTin Perkins 37 
 
 George Perkins 37 
 
 Elisha Sterling 37 
 
 Nathan Peters 37 
 
 J. G. W. Trumbull 38 
 
 Joseph Trumbull 38 
 
 Jeremiah G. Brainard 38 
 
 Richard Law 38 
 
 Lyman Law ; 38 
 
 James Stedman 38 
 
 Luther Spalding 38 
 
 Jonathan Frisbie 38 
 
 Charles Perkins 38 
 
 George Perkins 38 
 
 John A. Rockwell 39 
 
 George B. Ripley 39 
 
 Calvin Goddard 39 
 
 James Lanman 39 
 
 Benjamin Huntington 39 
 
 John M. Breed 39 
 
 Benjamin Pomeroy 39 
 
 William H. Law 39 
 
 Jared F. Crocker. 39 
 
 Asa Child 39 
 
 Jabez W. Huntington 40 
 
 Levi H. Goddard 40 
 
 Roger Griswold 40 
 
 Joshua Coit '. 40 
 
 Jos. Williams 40 
 
 Edward Perkins 40 
 
 Samuel C. Morgan 41 
 
 Jeremiah Halsey 41 
 
 Marvin Wait 4'2 
 
 Jirab Isham 43 
 
 Henry Strong 43 
 
 Henry M. Waite 44 
 
 Lafayette S. Foster 45 
 
 Charles J. McCurdy 46 
 
 M.R. Waite 47 
 
 John T. Wait 49 
 
 Jeremiali Halsby 60 
 
 Henry H. Starkweather 52 
 
 John D. Park 63 
 
 James A. Hovey 53 
 
 Joho T. Adams 54 
 
 S.T. Holbrook 56 
 
 George Pratt 55 
 
 Geo. W. Goddard 65 
 
 Wm. H. Potter 56 
 
 Thomas M. Waller 67 
 
 Augustus Brandegee - 68 
 
 Daniel Cbadwick 69 
 
 George C. Ripley 69 
 
 Pliilip Turner 63 
 
 John Barker 63 
 
 Marvin Wait 73 
 
 C. M. Coit 75 
 
 Wm. G. Ely Ill 
 
 Joseph Solden 131 
 
 Henry P. Havens 228 
 
 Frances M. Caulkins 232 
 
 Acors Barns 234 
 
 Thomas W. Williams 236 
 
 Nathan Belcher 237 
 
 Francis B, Loomis 237 
 
 W. W. Billings 239 
 
 Martin K. Cady 239 
 
 Josiah C. Waldo 240 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Israel F. Brown 241 
 
 Chas. D. Boss 241 
 
 Sidney Miner 241 
 
 David P. Francis 242 
 
 W. H. H. Comstock 243 
 
 C. Arnold Weaver 244 
 
 Orlando C. Gorton 244 
 
 Chas. Treadway 244 
 
 Oscar Sites 245 
 
 Edward Hallam 246 
 
 Jedediah Huntington 318 
 
 Jedediah Huntington 348 
 
 Wm. A. Buckingham 348 
 
 William Williams 349 
 
 Harriet P. Williams 360 
 
 Charles Johnson 350 
 
 Charles Osgood 352 
 
 Leonard Ballou 363 
 
 Edward B, Huntington 356 
 
 AlbaF.Smitli 356 
 
 James M. Huntington 367 
 
 David Smith 358 
 
 Henry B. Tracy 358 
 
 Henry B. Norton 369 
 
 Hiram P. Arms 359 
 
 David N. Bentley.. 369 
 
 Franklin Nichols 360 
 
 Lorenzo Blackstone 361 
 
 John Mitchell 362 
 
 Benjamin Durfey 362 
 
 E. W. Williams 363 
 
 Willis R. Austin 363 
 
 George W. Geer 365 
 
 Backus 367 
 
 Chauncey K. Bushnell 369 
 
 William Smith 370 
 
 AlvanBond 370 
 
 John W. Steadman 371 
 
 Henry Bill 372 
 
 Gurdon Chapman 373 
 
 William C. Gilman 373 
 
 John Breed 373 
 
 Lydia H. Sigourney 374 
 
 William P. Greene 374 
 
 The Fitch Family 377 
 
 John W. Haugbton 382 
 
 William F. Bailey 382 
 
 Nathan S. Hunt 382 
 
 The Rogers Family 383 
 
 The Bigelow Family 399 
 
 Ashliel Woodward , 402 
 
 Henry W.Kingsley 403 
 
 Benjamin F. Huntington 403 
 
 Thomas L. Sbipman 410 
 
 Andrew Lester 411 
 
 Henry L. Joiinson 414 
 
 B. F. Billings 415 
 
 Samuel Geer 416 
 
 David A. Geer 416 
 
 James C. Lord 417 
 
 Bonaparte Campbell 417 
 
 B. H. Browning 418 
 
 Ledyard, the Traveler 446 
 
 Waitstlll Avery 447 
 
 Bishop Seabury 447 
 
 Silas Dean 447 
 
 Marshal J. Mitchell 447 
 
 Noyes Barber 447 
 
 Elisha and Stephen Haley 447 
 
 Albert G. Stark 448 
 
 • Belton A. Copp 448 
 
 Daniel Burrows 448 
 
10 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Albert Latham 448 
 
 Adam Larrabee **° 
 
 Asa and Nathan G. Fish 448 
 
 Capt. Fish 448 
 
 Hiram Appelman • 448 
 
 Roswell and Lorenzo Burrows 449 
 
 AmosCIift 449 
 
 Elisha Morgan 449 
 
 Daniel C. Rodmac 449 
 
 Zerah C.Whipple 449 
 
 Amos Prentice 4r50 
 
 John O.Miner 450 
 
 Benjamin F.Stoddard 450 
 
 Jos Durfey 450 
 
 The Averys 453 
 
 J. G. Harris 456 
 
 Alfred N. Bamsdell 462 
 
 H.D.Morgan 462 
 
 Hubbard D. Morgan 464 
 
 Sanford Morgan 465 
 
 Elisha Morgan 465 
 
 Roswell A. Morgan 466 
 
 Levi Spicer 466 
 
 Elihu Spicer 467 
 
 John G. Spicer 468 
 
 WilliiAm Glift 468 
 
 Nathan G. Fish 469 
 
 Nathan G. Fish 470 
 
 John Palmer 470 
 
 Robert Palmer 471 
 
 Noyes Barber. 472 
 
 Elisha Haley 474 
 
 The Avery Family 474 
 
 The Burrows Family 476 
 
 Benjamin Burrows, Sr 476 
 
 Benjamin Burrows, Jr ^ 477 
 
 Calvin Burrows 477 
 
 Franklin Gallup 478 
 
 Albert Latham 479 
 
 Gurdon Gates 480 
 
 Trumbull Family. '490 
 
 Thomas Whitmore 518 
 
 William B. Gay 518 
 
 Charles Sweet 519 
 
 Edwin M. Dolbeare 520 
 
 Jeremiah Mason 520 
 
 The Waterman Family 520 
 
 Andrew Waterman 521 
 
 James M. Peckham 522 
 
 Joseph Holmes 522 
 
 The Pettis Family 523 
 
 P. G. Thomas 524 
 
 Isaac G. Avery 525 
 
 ErastuB Geer 525 
 
 Silas P. Abell 526 
 
 Jabez McCall between 526, 527 
 
 Henry A. Spafard 527 
 
 Gideon Hoxie 527 
 
 Daniel Mason 527 
 
 Robert Allyn 533 
 
 Ralph Hurlbutt 534 
 
 Henry Denison 535 
 
 Hibberd Stoddard 535 
 
 Sanford B. Stoddard 535 
 
 Daniel B. Hyde 539 
 
 Lodowick Bill 543 
 
 David S. Brainerd 559 
 
 Avery Smith 565 
 
 James Rogers 579 
 
 Richard Raymond 570 
 
 Alexander Baker 571 
 
 John Dolbeare 572 
 
 Samuel Chester ; 672 
 
 John Otis 572 
 
 James Harris 573 
 
 James Hillhouse > 574. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 575 
 
 Robert Manwaring ,gg 
 
 Reuben Palmer .qq 
 
 Elisha H. Palmer ^^q 
 
 Gideon Palmer ,„, 
 
 Carmichael Robertson ;. ,g| 
 
 D. L. Browning „„ 
 
 J- C- I*°"'=« 693 
 
 S. S. Harris ,„- 
 
 594 
 
 George Drisdale Jerome .^a 
 
 Nathaniel B. Bradford g. 
 
 William Fitch 
 
 David R. Dolbeare ^ 
 
 George G. Benjamin 
 
 Henry Williams 
 
 Roswell Morgan 
 
 Ethan Allen ^^^ 
 
 Charles T. Hazen ^^^ 
 
 Richard A. Wheeler ^^^ 
 
 Charles Mallory ^^^ 
 
 Charles H. Mallory ^^^ 
 
 Williams Family ^^4 
 
 Isaac Williams ^96 
 
 William Williams "^00 
 
 Ephraim Williams "^^ 
 
 Charles P. Williams '^^^ 
 
 Maria Stanton "^02 
 
 William Hyde...: 703 
 
 J. F. Trumbull 704 
 
 A. S. Matthews V05 
 
 Oliver B. Grant 706 
 
 Elihu Chesebrough 707 
 
 Ira Hart 707 
 
 Nathaniel B. Palmer 708 
 
 Alexander S. Palmer 712 
 
 Silas E. Burrows 713 
 
 The Greenman Family 714 
 
 Silas Greenman 715 
 
 George Greenman 715 
 
 Clark Greenman 717 
 
 Thomas S, Greenman 713 
 
 Calvert B. Cottrell 719 
 
 Nathan Babcock 720 
 
 Stephen Babcock i2\ 
 
 Trustum Dickens 722 
 
 George W. Noyes 722 
 
 Thomas Hinckley 723 
 
 Joseph Noyes 723 
 
 0. M. Stillman ^25 
 
 Alex. G. Frink ^^r 
 
 Charles M. Davis .^nfi 
 
 Charles S. Hewitt -gR 
 
 John Randall nne 
 
 Henry D.Langworthy ^„,- 
 
 Mason Manning ^og 
 
 Alphonso L.Whitman -„ 
 
 Charles P. White " ^^ 
 
 Asher H. Chapman -. 
 
 Charles Wheeler - 
 
 Zebulon T. York \ ^ 
 
 Alfred Clarke ^ 
 
 Charles G. Hewitt ,. 
 
 Solomon Barber , „ 
 
 Ira G. Briggs ;| ^^^ 
 
 Warren Gates ^ 
 
 John B. Palmer ^, 
 
 759 
 
 Savilion Chapman 
 
 Thomas M. Clarke '*'"'" 7 
 
 Albert G. Douglas i 
 
 Edmund Darrow ; 
 
 Lyman Allyn » 
 
 Horace C. Lanphear 
 
 7g3 
 
 James Rogers ■ 
 
 Eliphalet Lyon '• .*" }^ 
 
 Orlando Comstock -. 
 
 John Robertson " ^ 
 
 165 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 11 
 
 IX.X.TJSTI?/J^TI01TS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Outline Map of County between 12, 13 
 
 Portrait of Joseph Williams , facing 40 
 
 Jirali Isbam " 42 
 
 Henry Strong " 43 
 
 H. M. Waite " 44, 
 
 li. ¥. S. Foster " 45 
 
 Charles J. McCurdy " 46 
 
 M. E. Waite " 4V 
 
 John T. Wait " 49 
 
 J.Halsey " 60 
 
 J. D. Park " 63 
 
 James A. Hovey " 54 
 
 G. W. Goddard " 55 
 
 William H. Potter..., " 56 
 
 T. M.Waller " 67 
 
 Marvin Wait " 73 
 
 Charles M. Coit " 75 
 
 Joseph Selden " 131 
 
 NEW LOUDOIir. 
 
 Residence of E. L. Palmer facing 216 
 
 Headquarters of Gen. Washington " 190 
 
 Portrait of Henry P. Havens " 228 
 
 " Frances M. Caulkins " 232 
 
 " Acors Barns " 234 
 
 " T.W.Williams " 236 
 
 " Nathan Belcher " 237 
 
 " Francis B. Loomis " 238 
 
 Kesidence of Francis B. Loomis between 238, 239 
 
 Portrait of W. W. Billings " 238, 239 
 
 " M. K. Cady " 238,239 
 
 " J. C. Waldo facing 240 
 
 " 0. D. Boss between 240, 241 
 
 " Israel F. Brown " 240,241 
 
 " Sidney Miner facing 241 
 
 '• D.P.Francis " 242 
 
 " W. H. H. Comstock " 243 
 
 " Orlando C. Gorton " 244 
 
 " C. Arnold Weaver. between 244, 245 
 
 " Charles Treadway " 244,245 
 
 " Oscar Sites, M.D facing 246 
 
 '* Edward Hallam. 245 
 
 KTOB'WICH. 
 
 Portrait of Jedediah Huntington between 318,319 
 
 " Eliza Huntington " 318,319 
 
 " Jedediah Huntington " 348,349 
 
 " William A. Buckingham " 348,349 
 
 " William Williams facing 349 
 
 " Harriet P. Williams " 350 
 
 " Charles Johnson " 351 
 
 " Charles Osgood " 352 
 
 " Leonard Ballou , " ' 353 
 
 " A.F.Smith " 356 
 
 " Edward B. Huntington between 356, 357 
 
 " J. M. Huntington " 366,357 
 
 Bavid Smith " 358,369 
 
 " Henry B.Tracy " 358,369 
 
 " H. P. Arms " 368, 3.W 
 
 " D. N. Bentley " 358,359 
 
 " Henry B. Norton facing 369 
 
 " Franklin Nichols " 360 
 
 " L. Blackstone " 361 
 
 " John Mitchell " 362 
 
 " B. Durfey between 362, 363 
 
 " E.W.Williams " .362,363 
 
 " Willis E. Austin facing 363 
 
 George W. Geer 
 
 Wm.W. Backus 
 
 Chauncey K. Bushnell.. 
 
 William Smith 
 
 John W. Stedman 
 
 365 
 368 
 
 370 
 371 
 
 BOZKAH. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Portrait of A. Fitch between 378, 379 
 
 " Wm. Fitch " 378,379 
 
 " Douglas Fitch facing 379 
 
 " Stephen Fitch " 380 
 
 " Wm. H. Fitch between 380, 381 
 
 " A, D. Fitch " 380,381 
 
 " John W. Haughton facing 382 
 
 " Wm. F. Bailey between 382, 383 
 
 " Nathan S. Hunt " 382,383 
 
 OOLCHESTEE. 
 
 Eesidence of J. N. Felton facing 390 
 
 Portrait of D. S. Bigelow " 399 
 
 FBAWKLIKT. 
 
 Portrait of Ashbel Woodward facing 402 
 
 " B. W. Kingsloy between 402, 403 
 
 " B. F. Huntington facing 403 
 
 GEISWOLD. 
 
 Eesidence of D. A. Geer between 404, 405 
 
 •' James C. Lord facing 406 
 
 " H. L. Johnson between 408, 409 
 
 Portrait of Thomas L. Shipman facing 410 
 
 " Andrew Lester '' 411 
 
 Residence of Andrew Lester between 412, 413 
 
 Portrait of Henry L. Johnson facing 414 
 
 " B.F.Billings " 416 
 
 " Samuel Geer " 416 
 
 " D. A. Geer between 416, 417 
 
 " James C. Lord " 416,417 
 
 " Bonaparte Campbell facing 417 
 
 '* B.H.Browning " 418 
 
 GBOTOW. 
 
 Groton Heights facing 424 
 
 House used for Hospital at Battle of Groton Heights 428 
 
 Portrait of B. F. Chandler facing 452 
 
 Old Avery Mansion 454 
 
 Portrait of J. George Harris facing 456 
 
 " A. N. Eamsdell " 462 
 
 " H.D.Morgan " 464 
 
 " Sanford Morgan between 464, 465 
 
 EJisha- Morgan " 464,465 
 
 " E. A. Morgan facing 466 
 
 " Levi Spicer .between 466, 467 
 
 " Elihn Spicer " 466,467 
 
 " John G. Spicer facing 467 
 
 " William Clift " 468 
 
 " Nathan G. Fish " 470 
 
 *' John Palmer ■. between 470, 471 
 
 *' Robert Palmer facing 471 
 
 " Elisha Haley " 474 
 
 " John J. Avery between 474, 475 
 
 " . Albert L. Avery " 474, 476 
 
 " Benjamin Burrows, Sr facing 476 
 
 " Calvin Burrows " 477 
 
 " Benjamin Burrows, Jr 477 
 
 " Franklin Gallup facing 478 
 
 " Albert Latham " 479 
 
 " Gurdon Gates " 480 
 
 LEBANON. 
 
 Portrait of Trumbull House and War Office 490 
 
 " John Trumbull facing 490 
 
 " WilliamE.Gay " 618 
 
 " Charles Sweet " 619 
 
 " Edwin M. Dolbeare " 620 
 
 " Jeremiah Mason " 521 
 
 " E. Waterman " 622 
 
 " J. M. Peckham between 622, 623 
 
 " Joseph Holmes " 622,623 
 
12 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Portrait of Oliver Pettis facing 623 
 
 " P. G.Tliomas " 624 
 
 '* ErastuB Geer " 525 
 
 " Silas P. Abell 626 
 
 " Isaac G. Avery facing 526 
 
 " Jabez McCall between 526, 527 
 
 " Henry A. Spafard " 526,527 
 
 " Gideon Hoxie " 526,627 
 
 LEDYARD. 
 
 Portrait of Old Home of Elihu Spicer facing 530 
 
 " Eobert Allen " 633 
 
 " Kalph Hurlbutt " 634 
 
 " Hibberd Stoddard between 634, 635 
 
 " Sanford B. Stoddard " 634,635 
 
 " Henry Denison facing 535 
 
 LISBON. 
 
 Portrait of Daniel B. Hyde facing 539 
 
 LTMB. 
 Portrait of Lodowick Bill facing 643 
 
 OLD LYME. 
 
 Portrait of D. S. Brainerd facing 659 
 
 EAST LYME. 
 Portrait of Avery Smitli facing 566 
 
 MONTVILLE. 
 
 Portrait of Eliaba H. Palmer facing 590 
 
 " Carmichael Robertson " 591 
 
 " D.S.Browning " 592 
 
 " John C. BoUes between 692, 593 
 
 " Samuel S. Harris facing 693 
 
 " George D. Jerome '* 594 
 
 " N. B. Bradford between 694, 696 
 
 William Fitch " 594,695 
 
 " David R. Dolbeare facing 595 
 
 PBESTOW. 
 Portrait of G. G. Benjamin facing 604 
 
 SALEM. 
 
 Portrait of Henry Williams facing 608 
 
 " Roswell Morgan *' 609 
 
 SPBAGUE. 
 
 Portrait of Ethan Allen facing 611 
 
 " Charles T. Hazen " 612 
 
 STONIlirGTOW. 
 
 Portrait of Richard A.Wheeler facing 690 
 
 " Charles Mallory " 691 
 
 " Charles H. Mallory " 693 
 
 " William Williams " 700 
 
 " Ephraim Williams between 700, 701 
 
 " Charles P. Williams " 700,701 
 
 " Maria Stanton facing 702 
 
 " William Hyde " 703 
 
 PACE 
 
 t Of John F. Trumbull ^'^""^ l°t 
 
 " 705 
 A. S, Matthews ^^ 
 
 O.B.Grant ' ™, 
 
 Elihu Chesebrough "^'^^^^ ''"*■ ™! 
 
 . „ , * " 706,707 
 
 Ira Hart ' 
 
 N. B. Palmer f»<^'"e 708 
 
 '* 712 
 
 Alexander S. Palmer - 
 
 (. Y13 
 
 Silas E.Burrowa 
 
 Silas Greenman heWeen 714, 715 
 
 " 714 715 
 George Greenman ' 
 
 Thomas Greenman ^^^^S 717 
 
 Clark Greenman 
 
 View of C. B. Cottrell & Co.'s Manufactory between 718, 719 
 
 Portrait of C. B. Cottrell f^^'^S 719 
 
 " Nathan Babcock " '20 
 
 " Stephen Babcock " '^1 
 
 " Trustum Dickens " 722 
 
 " George W. Noyes between 722, 723 
 
 " Joseph Noyes " 722,723 
 
 " Thomas Hinckley facing 723 
 
 0. M. Stillnian " 726 
 
 " Alexander G. Trink between 726, 727 
 
 " Charles S. Hewitt " 726, 727 
 
 John Randall " 726,727 
 
 " Charles M.Davis facing 727 
 
 " Mason Manning 728 
 
 " H. D. Langworthy facing 728 
 
 ETOBTH STONINGTOBT. 
 
 Portrait of Charles P. White facing 742 
 
 " Aeher H. Chapman between 742, 743 
 
 " Z. T.Tork " 742,743 
 
 " Charles Wheeler " 744,746 
 
 " Alfred Clarke " 744,746 
 
 " Charles G. Hewitt " 744,746 
 
 " Solomon Barber " 744,745 
 
 VOLTJlTTOWlf. 
 
 Portrait of Ira G. Briggs facing 748 
 
 Residence of Ira G. Briggs.. 
 
 749 
 
 ■WATEEFOED. 
 
 Portrait of Warren Gates facing 757 
 
 Residence of .John B.Palmer «< 753 
 
 Portrait of John B. Palmer « 759 
 
 " Albert G. Douglas *' 76Q 
 
 " Douglass Place between 760, 761 
 
 " Savilion Chapman » 759 7g| 
 
 " Thomas M. Clarke " 7gQ 7^^ 
 
 " Edmund Darrow »( 760 761 
 
 Lyman Allyn fe(,j^g ' jgj 
 
 Residence of John T. Allyn between 762, 763 
 
 Portrait of Horace C. Lanpbear facing 763 
 
 " Eliphalet Lyon u 7^. 
 
 David Rogers between 764, 76S 
 
 " 764,765 
 
 766 
 
 John Robertson.. 
 Orlando Comstock.. 
 

 
 MAP OT 
 
 HEW LO"NBOM 
 
 COUNTY 
 COIS^NECTTCUT 
 
HISTORY 
 
 OP 
 
 NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 OUTLINE HISTORY.l 
 
 N4w London County lies in the southeastern 
 part of Connecticut, and is bounded as follows : On 
 the north by Hartford, Tolland, and Windham Coun- 
 ties; on the east by the State of Rhode Island; on 
 the south by Long Island Sound ; and on the west by 
 Middlesex and Tolland Counties. 
 
 The county is watered by the Connecticut, Thames, 
 Shetucket, Quinnebaug, Yantic, Pawcatuck, Mystic, 
 Poquonock, and Niantic Eivers and their tributaries, 
 all of which mingle their waters with Long Island 
 Sound. The southern part of the county is deeply 
 indented by the waters of the Sound, which form 
 some of the best harbors on the Connecticut seaboard. 
 Oysters of excellent quality are found in abundance 
 along the coast. The soil is generally strong and 
 fertile, and well adapted to grazing. Many of the 
 streams in the county afford an excellent water-power, 
 and manufacturing — principally of cotton and woolen 
 goods — forms an important industry. 
 
 The face of the county is diversified by hill and 
 dale, and is well supplied with streams of water. 
 The soif is well adapted to grazing, and to grain and 
 fruit culture. Its navigable waters are extensive, and 
 unsurpassed by those of any section of equal extent 
 upon the coast. 
 
 Notwithstanding all these natural advantages, which 
 rendered it one of the most inviting fields or locali- 
 ties for the early English settlers to improve, more 
 than one-fourth of a century elapsed after the arrival 
 of the " Mayflower" before any attempt was made to 
 plant a colony, or even for individual settlement. 
 
 As a principal reason for this inaction, the territory 
 was preoccupied by the Pequots,'' a powerfiil tribe of 
 
 > By Aehbel Woodward, M.D. 
 
 2 The Peq' ' originally dwelt upon the banks of the Hudson, but had 
 at a period a. rior to the arrival of the English migrated by successive 
 stages towards the south, and fiually settled in this county, upon territory 
 chiefly occupied by the Niantic Indians, whom they crowded out. 
 
 2 
 
 Indians belonging to the wide-spread Algonquin or 
 Delaware race. This powerful tribe had by their 
 cruelty become the dread of the whites far and near. 
 Rendered bold by numbers, and jealous of every en- 
 croachment, they had resolved upon nothing less than 
 the utter extermination of the whites, and shrank 
 from no means, however appalling, which might con- 
 duce to the accomplishment of their bloody purpose. 
 Massachusetts had in 1634, with much effort, induced 
 them to allow the peaceable settlement of certain 
 portions of their domain, and to offer satisfaction for 
 former outrages. But the natives were slow to fulfill 
 the conditions of this treaty, and Capt. Endicott was 
 sent out by the Massachusetts colony, at the head of 
 ninety men, to enforce the treaty and to chastise them 
 for their past offenses. 
 
 This ill-advised expedition failed utterly of its ob- 
 jects, and only tended to exasperate the Pequots, who 
 during the succeeding fall and winter were untiring 
 in their attempts to league the other Indians with 
 them in a war of extermination against the whites, 
 and redoubled their own eflTorts to rid themselves of 
 the noxious strangers. Savages lurked in every cov- 
 ert, and there was no safety for life or property. The 
 colonists could not travel abroad, or even cultivate 
 their fields, but at the peril of their lives. Their 
 cattle were driven off, their houses burned, the navi- 
 gation of the river was seriously impeded, and even 
 the fort at Saybrook was in a state of constant siege. 
 By spring the situation had become critical in the ex- 
 treme. Nearly thirty murders had been committed, 
 and utter ruin threatened the colony unless decisive 
 measures should at once be taken. In this emergency 
 a General Court was convened at Hartford on the 
 11th of May, 1637, at which it was decided to proceed 
 at once to an offensive war against the Pequots, and 
 for the first campaign to send out a force of ninety 
 men under Capt. John Mason, then in command of 
 the fort at Saybrook. 
 
 About this time Mason and the warrior Uncas met 
 and formed a temporary alliance, which was, how- 
 ever, destined to continue without serious interruption 
 
 13 
 
14 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDOiX COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 for a long series of years, and prove of great and last- 
 ing benefit to the settlements. Uncas was related, 
 both by birth and marriage, to the Pequot royal fam- 
 ily, but soon after his marriage he became involved 
 in difiiculties, the nature of which is not exactly 
 known, which resulted in his banishment to the Nar- 
 ragansett country. He was afterwards permitted to 
 return, but a recurrence of the same troubles led to 
 his banishment for a second and even third time. 
 He thus at length became permanently exiled from 
 his own people, and we find him upon the Connecti- 
 cut River, near the infant settlements of Hartford and 
 Windsor, in the spring of 1637, at the head of about 
 seventy warriors. Both Mason and Uncas were emi- 
 nently fitted to be military leaders, each of his own 
 race. Mason possessed marked military tastes, which 
 had been developed and trained in the wars of the 
 Netherlands under Lord Fairfax; while Uncas, by 
 nature brave and shrewd, had, as a member of the 
 royal family of a strong and warlike nation, abundant 
 opportunity to acquire a thorough knowledge of the 
 methods of Indian warfare. An alliance of two such 
 representative men of the two races then competing 
 upon American soil could not fail to make an impress 
 upon their peculiar surroundings. Uncas agreed to 
 join the expedition with his warriors, and the united 
 forces embarked at Hartford on the 20th of May of 
 the same year and proceeded to drop down the river. 
 In the course of the voyage the Indians had oppor- 
 tunity to demonstrate their fidelity, which had been 
 unjustly suspected by some. As the water in the 
 river was low and the passage tedious, the Indians 
 were at their own request allowed to disembark and 
 proceed along the bank. ^ When near Saybrook they 
 met and defeated a party of Pequots, killing seven 
 and taking one prisoner. After their arrival at Say- 
 brook, the commandant of the fort, still distrustful of 
 Uncas, addressed the sachem as follows: "You say 
 you will help Capt. Mason, but I will first see it; 
 therefore send twenty men to Bass River, for there 
 went last night six Indians there in a canoe ; fetch 
 them, dead or alive, and you shall go with Mason, or 
 you shall not." Uncas did as he was required. His 
 warriors found the enemy, killed four of them, and 
 took another prisoner. This exploit of the sachem 
 was regarded by Lieut. Gardiner as a sure pledge of 
 his fidelity. 
 
 Capt. Mason had received instructions to land at 
 Pequot Harbor, but his military judgment led him 
 to sail direct to the Narragansett country and make 
 his attack upon the enemy from a point whence they 
 would least expect it. He accordingly proceeded 
 thither, and on Saturday, May 30th, towards evening, 
 dropped anchor off the shores of the Narragansett. 
 As there was a strong northwest wind they remained 
 on shipboard until Tuesday, when Mason landed and 
 marched directly to the residence of Canonicus, the 
 Narragansett chief, and informed him of his design 
 of attacking the Pequots in their strongholds, and 
 
 demanded a free passage through the Narragansett 
 country. The request was readily granted, and Mi- 
 antonomoh, nephew of Canonicus, suggested that the 
 numbers of the English and Mohegans were too 
 small for an invasion of the Pequot country, and 
 volunteered to send two hundred of his braves with 
 the expedition, though he did not himself offer to 
 accompany them. 
 
 On the following morning the vessels were manned 
 with a small force, as a larger could not be spared, 
 and were ordered to sail for the mouth of Pequot 
 River. The land force, consisting of seventy English- 
 men and sixty Mohegan warriors, under Uncas, with 
 the addition of two hundred Narragansett volunteers, 
 commenced its march westward. After proceeding 
 about twenty miles through a rough country, with 
 only a narrow Indian foot-path for their passageway, 
 they arrived at a place called Nehantic, where they 
 remained overnight. When the English resumed 
 their march on the following morning they were 
 overtaken by others of the Narragansett people, so 
 that they were followed, as they supposed, by near 
 five hundred warriors. As the day was warm and 
 the way rough several of the men fainted from ex- 
 posure and want of food. After a march of about 
 twelve miles they reached a ford in the Pawcatuck 
 River, where a halt was made for rest and refresh- 
 ment. It had been ascertained that the majority of 
 the Pequot warriors were in two forts or inclosures of 
 palisades, one of which was commanded by Sassacus 
 in person, and both regarded by the Indians as within 
 and without impregnable. Mason had originally de- 
 signed to divide his forces and attack both places si- 
 multaneously, but from information received during 
 the halt upon the Pawcatuck he learned that the forts 
 were situated at too great a distance apart to allow of a 
 division of his force, and he decided to advance at once 
 upon the fort on Pequot Hill. The Narragansetts, on 
 learning of his design to attack Sassacus in his strong- 
 hold, were smitten with deadly fear. " Sassacus," they 
 said, ■' was all one god, and could not be killed." So 
 great was their trepidation that a hundred of their 
 number beat a precipitate retreat, and reported in the 
 Providence plantation that the English had all fallen. 
 
 At this time Mason called Uncas to him, and asked 
 him what he thought the Indians would do. "The 
 Narragansetts," replied this brave sachem, " will all 
 leave us, but as for himself he would never leave us • 
 and so it proved, for which expression I shall never 
 forget him. Indeed, he was a great friend, and did 
 great service." The Pawcatuck was the last boundary 
 before the country of the Pequots, and as the Narra- 
 gansetts found themselves nearing the strongholds of 
 their dreaded rivals their timidity increased and all 
 but a handful turned back. The Mohegans however 
 encouraged by their chief, mustered the couraee to 
 proceed. The small army advanced cautiously till 
 towards evening, when they came to a little swamp 
 between two hills, near what are now called Porter' 
 
OUTLINE HISTORY. 
 
 15 
 
 Rocks, where they halted for the night. Rising at 
 an early hour on the following morning, they reached 
 the fortress a little before daybreak. The plan of 
 attack had been so arranged that Mason was to ap- 
 proach the enemy through the main entrance on the 
 northeast side with one division, while Underbill was 
 to make an attack on the southwestern entrance with 
 his division. Uncas, with his force, was to form an 
 outer line to act as circumstances might indicate. 
 When within a rod or two of the fort a dog barked, 
 and the alarm was given. The troops rushed on, dis- 
 charged their muskets through the palisades, and then 
 forced an entrance. Mason, with his party, drove the 
 Indians along the main avenue of their fortress towards 
 the west till they were met by Underbill and his di- 
 vision, who had eflected an entrance upon that side, 
 when, finding themselves between two fires, they were 
 forced to retreat to their wigwams, where a desperate 
 resistance was made. For a few moments the conflict 
 seemed doubtful, when Mason, realizing the gravity 
 of the situation, hit upon the expedient of burning 
 out the foe, and snatching a brand from the fire ap- 
 plied it to the dry matting of a wigwam. The fire 
 spread with great rapidity, and the whole seventy 
 wigwams were soon in flames. The English retired 
 without the wigwams, and Uncas and his followers 
 formed a circular line close in the rear of the English. 
 The consternation of the Pequots was so great that 
 but few attempted to escape. About six or seven 
 hundred perished in the flames. Seven were made 
 prisoners by the English, eighteen were captured by 
 the Mohegans, and seven only made their escape. It 
 so happened that one hundred and fifty warriors from 
 the other fortress were this night in the fort upon 
 Pequot Hill, which made the victory still more com- 
 plete. 
 
 This famous encounter occurred on Friday, June 
 5th. The same day, at an early hour, the small fleet 
 entered Pequot Harbor. As Mason's force was about 
 to move in the direction of the vessels, a party of In- 
 dian warriors approached them from the other fort, 
 but one or two volleys from their trusty weapons 
 served to keep them at a safe distance. The few Nar- 
 ragansetts that hung upon the rear of the little col- 
 umn as it moved steadily up the hill were not slow 
 in making their appearance when the contest was de- 
 cided, evincing all the courage of tried veterans. 
 They finally accompanied Capt. Mason to the harbor, 
 and afforded some assistance to those who conveyed 
 the wounded. The total loss on the part of the Eng- 
 lish was two killed and twenty wounded. 
 
 Sassacus at this critical period was in the fortress 
 on Fort Hill, where he was loudly denounced by his 
 warriors as the procuring cause of their late disaster 
 at the other fort. The Pequots at this fort were also 
 greatly exasperated at the course of Uncas and his 
 followers, and caused all of their near relatives to be 
 slain, except seven who made their escape. 
 
 On the day after the battle a council of the Pequot 
 
 nation was held to decide upon their future course of 
 action, and after a hasty deliberation they resolved to 
 leave their country, but not till they had destroyed 
 their fortress and wigwams and such remaining prop- 
 erty as could not be carried away. The principal 
 band, headed by Sassacus in person, fled westward, 
 and did not make any considerable halt till they had 
 reached a large swamp in Saco, the present township 
 of Fairfield. Thither they were pursued by Capt. 
 Mason and his faithful ally Uncas. Capt. Stoughton 
 also accompanied the expedition in command of a 
 company from Massachusetts. The fugitives were 
 discovered in their new quarters, and were without 
 difliculty routed and utterly dispersed. Sassacus did 
 not risk a halt at the swamp, but with a few of his 
 followers fled directly to the Mohawk country for a 
 safe retreat, but was there slain by the nation, and 
 his scalp was sent to Connecticut as a trophy. As a 
 result of the swamp fight and the death of their late 
 chieftain, the Pequot nation became nearly extinct. 
 Although powerless for harm, the few remaining fugi- 
 tives were pursued with unrelenting malignity by the 
 English. Even the: surrounding tribes were not per- 
 mitted to harbor them with impunity, but were re- 
 quired by treaty and otherwise to effect, if possible, 
 their utter annihilation. The Pequots were not al- 
 lowed to dwell in their old homes, to visit the graves 
 of their fathers, or to be called Pequots any more. 
 Lastly, the conquered territory was not to be claimed 
 by the sachems, but to be considered as the property 
 of the English of Connecticut, as their own by right 
 of conquest. 
 
 The expedition against the Pequots is the most 
 remarkable recorded in American history, and one 
 which for boldness of plan and brilliancy of execu- 
 tion may well claim a place among the most daring 
 exploits of universal history. The Pequots outnum- 
 bered Mason's forces ten to one, and the day might 
 have been lost had it not been for the faithful service 
 of Uncas and his followers. 
 
 Uncas, as lineal descendant of the royal family, 
 laid claim to the sovereignty of the conquered terri- 
 tory, and while by the terms of the treaty the portion 
 upon the Sound was given up, his claim to the re- 
 mainder of the Pequot country was admitted by the 
 English, and he was acknowledged as the lawful 
 sachem of a territory embracing the northern half of 
 New London and the southern half of Windham and 
 Tolland Counties. Some of the surviving Pequots 
 had been assigned him by the terms of the treaty, 
 and many former tributaries of the vanquished tribe 
 yielded their allegiance to him, and added to his 
 power, but his greatest source of strength lay in the 
 favor of the English, which he had fairly won. 
 
 His rapid rise and growing favor greatly excited 
 the envy of surrounding chieftains, especially of those 
 of the Narragansetts and their allies, the Connecticut 
 River Indians, and they were untiring in their efforts 
 to effect his overthrow. At first they endeavored to 
 
16 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 cause a rupture between Uncas and the English, but 
 failing in this scheme they next attempted to take his 
 life by assassination. Several fruitless endeavors of 
 this kind were made. But in these diabolical attempts 
 upon his life he was more than a niatch for them. 
 Their calumnies and their murderous designs were 
 made to recoil upon their own heads. Failing in 
 their secret plotting, their enmity ripened into open 
 warfare. In the summer of 1643, only six years after 
 the rout at Mystic Fort, Miantonomoh, at the head 
 of six or seven hundred warriors, suddenly appeared 
 in the very heart of the Mohegan country by a suc- 
 cession of rapid marches. He moved proudly to the 
 contest, doubtless with the assurance that his nu- 
 merical superiority and the suddenness of his irrup- 
 tion would secure for him an easy victory over his 
 foe and rival. But Uncas was not to be overcome by 
 a surprise. He hastily collected a band of about 
 three hundred warriors and met the invaders upon 
 his own territory, on the Great Plain, probably in the 
 vicinity of the present Fair Grounds in Norwich. He 
 felt the necessity, however, of resorting to strategy in 
 his present emergency, and hence proposed a parley, 
 which was accepted, and the two chieftains met on 
 the plain between their respective armies. Uncas 
 then proposed that the fortunes of the day should be 
 decided by themselves in a single combat, and the 
 lives of their warriors spared, saying, " If you kill 
 me my men shall be yours, but if I kill you your men 
 shall be mine." 
 
 Miantonomoh disdainfully replied, "My men came 
 to fight, and they shall fight." Uncas on this im- 
 mediately gave a preconcerted signal to his followers 
 by falling flat upon the ground. At that instant a 
 shower of arrows were discharged upon the enemy, 
 and raising the war-cry, the Mohegans rushed forward 
 with Uncas at their head, dashing so unexpectedly 
 upon the invading column of warriors that a wide- 
 spread panic ensued, resulting in their precipitous and 
 headlong flight without even a show of resistance. 
 The retreating force was pursued in its flight to Sa- 
 chem's Plain, in the direction of the fords of the She- 
 tucket, at which place Miantonomoh became the 
 prisoner of Uncas. About thirty of the Narragan- 
 setts were slain, and among the prisoners were a 
 brother of Miantonomoh and two sons of Canonicus. 
 Uncas kindly treated his royal prisoner, and without 
 any unnecessary delay took him to Hartford, and 
 surrendered him into the hands of the English. His 
 case was laid before commissioners of the United 
 Colonies at their meeting in Boston in September, 
 and the question was there debated whether it was 
 right and proper to put the prisoner to death. As the 
 commissioners were unable to agree, the question was 
 by them referred to an ecclesiastical council, which 
 gave its verdict in favor of hia execution. It was 
 further decided that the sentence should be carried 
 into effect by Uncas, but without torture. After fur- 
 nishing a sufiicient force to prevent the recapture of 
 
 the prisoner, Miantonomoh was surrendered into the 
 hands of Uncas, who took him to the place of cap- 
 ture, where he was stricken down by Waweequa, a 
 brother of Uncas. It is said that the victorious chiet 
 cut a piece of flesh from the shoulder of the fallen 
 sachem and ate it, saying it was the sweetest meat he 
 ever tasted, that it made his heart strong. A monu- 
 ment' now marks the site of this tragical event. The 
 Narragansetts at several different times invaded the 
 Mohegan country, impatient to avenge the death of 
 their late chief, but Uncas and his followers were un- 
 injured on account of the aid of the English, which 
 was always extended. 
 
 A general Indian war, commonly known as King 
 Philip's war, broke out in June, 1675. Although the 
 rest of Southern New England was desolated, Con- 
 necticut was happily exempt from the ravages of the 
 war. 
 
 New London County has been the arena of military 
 events scarcely less exciting during our Revolutionary 
 period. On the 6th of September, 1781, at about three 
 o'clock in the morning, a fleet of about thirty-two sail 
 was descried by a sentinel from Fort Griswold. Word 
 was immediately sent to Col. William Ledyard, who 
 had command of the forts and harbor at New London. 
 He ordered the alarm to be given, and at once crossed 
 the river at New London to Fort Griswold, which he 
 intended to hold. As he took leave of his friends he 
 said, " If I must lose to-day honor or life, you, who 
 know me, will know which it will be." 
 
 At ten o'clock of the same morning, Thursday, 
 Sept. 6, 1781, the British troops, in two divisions of 
 about eight hundred each, landed on either side of 
 the river. About one-half of the force, headed by 
 the loader of the expedition, " that infamous traitor" 
 Benedict Arnold, landed on the west side of the harbor, 
 a little below the light-house, and made their way 
 towards New London. The other division, under 
 Lieut.-Col. Eyre, landed on the east or Groton side. 
 
 Fort Trumbull, on the New London side, was open 
 to the west or land side, and was therefore wholly 
 indefensible to an attack from that quarter. The 
 commanding officer, Capt. Shapley, had been ordered 
 to abandon the fort at the approach of the enemy, and 
 to cross the river with his men and join the garrison 
 at Groton. As the British came up he fired a few 
 charges of shot into them, then spiked his guns, took 
 to his boats and crossed the river. The enemy's ves- 
 sels were so near that they were subject to their fire 
 during the flight, and seven of his men were wounded 
 and one boat captured. Shapley, with the remaining 
 sixteen men, found shelter in Fort Griswold, where 
 they were warmly welcomed, as they were experienced 
 artillerists. 
 
 Arnold at eleven o'clock sent Col. Eyre all the in- 
 formation he had received respecting Fort Griswold 
 to the eflTect that there were but twenty or thirty men 
 
 1 In Norwich. 
 
OUTLINE HISTORY. 
 
 17 
 
 in the fort, as the inhabitants were chiefly concerned 
 in saving their property, and bidding him to hasten 
 to the attack on the fort. 
 
 Col. Eyre was landing his troops at Eastern Point 
 when this message reached him, and with the For- 
 tieth and Fifty-fourth Regiments, which were the first 
 to land, he started for the scene of action. With a 
 lame boy for a guide, they went over the rocks and 
 through the swamps until they reached a place called 
 Dark Hollow, just in the rear of Packer's Eocks. 
 From this place Col. Eyre sent Oapt. Beckwith to de- 
 mand the immediate surrender of the fort, with a 
 threat that if the. demand was not complied with it 
 would be stormed five minutes after the return of the 
 flag. The answer was " that the fort would not be 
 given up to the British." Eyre immediately sent a 
 second message, declaring " that if he was obliged to 
 take the fort by storm he should put martial law in 
 full force, — ^that is, what we do not kill by ball shall 
 be put to death by sword and bayonet." Ledyard's 
 reply was, " We shall not give up the fort, let the con- 
 sequences be what they may." 
 
 Arnold by this time had gained the heights back 
 of New London. His men were subjected to a gall- 
 ing fire by the gunners from Fort Griswold, and he 
 saw, as he stood on the tomb of the Winthrops in the 
 old burial-ground, that Fort Griswold was a much 
 more formidable, defense than he had supposed. He 
 saw that the men from Fort Trumbull had crossed 
 the river and gained Fort Griswold, and in his report 
 of the battle he says that he at once dispatched an 
 aide to Col. Eyre countermanding the order of as- 
 sault, but if so the messenger arrived too late. Capt. 
 Beckwith had returned with his flag and the attack 
 had commenced. 
 
 Eyre divided his troops into two divisions, taking 
 charge of the first himself, and giving the second to 
 Maj. Montgomery, of the Fortieth Regiment. Eyre 
 formed his column behind the ledge of rocks which 
 bounds the Ledyard Cemetery on the east, and Mont- 
 gomery's column was formed in the rear of a hillock 
 a short distance from this point. It was now noon. 
 At the word of command the battalions swept up the 
 hill. Eyre leading his column towards the southwest 
 bastion, where, from the falling away of the ground, 
 there was no ditch ; while Montgomery advanced 
 farther towards the north, where was the redoubt 
 with its main entrance to the fort. 
 
 The first fire from the fort killed twenty of the 
 British, and the solid mass, broken by this loss of men 
 and officers, wavered for a moment, then broke up 
 into squads and dashed up under the very walls of 
 the fort. Montgomery's men at the same time reached 
 the northeast bastion, and thus the fort was invested 
 on all four sides at once. 
 
 Fort Griswold contained only thirty-five guns and 
 a force of one hundred and fifty men. The British 
 numbered eight hundred men, well armed and thor- 
 oughly disciplined. Yet in spite of these tremendous 
 
 odds the defense was gallant in the extreme. Col. 
 Eyre and Maj. Montgomery both fell in the assault 
 outside the works. When these their leaders fell the 
 enemy seemed to have been discouraged. They had 
 attacked twice, and twice had been repulsed, when a 
 shot cut the halyards of the flag and it fell to the 
 ground. This accident proved fatal, for the enemy 
 supposed the flag had been struck by its defenders, 
 and rallying again they carried the southwest bastion 
 by storm. Col. Ledyard ordered his men to cease 
 firing, and stood in his place by the gate. Capt. Beck- 
 with, the flag-bearer, was one of the first to enter. 
 He called out, "Who commands this fort?" Col. 
 Ledyard responded, "I did, sir, but you do now," at 
 the same time presenting his sword, with the'point 
 towards himself The officer received it, and instantly 
 plunged the weapon into his body. He fell without 
 a groan. 
 
 The scene which followed beggars description. 
 Ledyard's murder was the signal for indiscriminate 
 slaughter. With the bayonet they killed thrice over 
 those who were already dead. An eye-witness says, 
 " I think no scene ever equaled this for continuous 
 and barbarous massacre after surrender.'' The British 
 fired into the magazine where the killed and wounded 
 were lying, and came very near setting fire to the 
 powder. The same eye-witness says they would have 
 done so " had not the ground and everything been wet 
 with human blood. We trod in blood." The British 
 repeatedly told them that every one should die before 
 the sun set, and in truth, out of one hundred and fifty 
 able-bodied men they left scarce twenty able to stand 
 upon their feet. These were ordered up at the point 
 of the sword, and were marched down to the river to 
 be ready to embark on British vessels. The wounded 
 were gathered up into the large ammunition-wagon 
 belonging to the fort, and twenty men drew it to the 
 brow of the hill leading down to the river. The de- 
 clivity was steep, and the wagon could not be held 
 back by the men, so they left it to roll down the hill 
 by itself, gathering speed each moment, and jolting 
 and jarring the wounded in a frightful manner. Its 
 course was finally arrested by an old apple-tree, 
 against which it struck. Some of the wounded fell 
 out and fainted away. Then the men brought the 
 wounded and wagon along. Those who were taken 
 prisoners suffered agonies from neglect, hunger, thirst, 
 and cruelty for four days, but at the expiration of 
 that time were put on board a ship commanded by 
 Capt. Scott, who treated them very kindly. 
 
 The loss of the enemy, it is believed, was between 
 two and three hundred men, though Arnold's report 
 made it somewhat less. He reported forty-eight 
 killed and one hundred and forty-five wounded, the 
 first and second in command being among the number 
 of the slain. The dead were buried on the hill where 
 they fell, and the wounded were carefully conveyed 
 to the shore, and from there to the ships. 
 
 The Tory papers of the day boasted over the sue- 
 
18 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 cess of the expedition, but could not conceal their 
 chagrin and sense of loss. Sir Henry Clinton, in his 
 " General Orders'' regarding it, made no attempt to 
 conceal his feelings. Whilst he draws the greatest 
 satisfaction from the ardor of the troops which enabled 
 them to carry by assault a work of such magnitude 
 as Fort Griswold is reputed to be, he " cannot but 
 lament with the deepest concern the heavy loss in 
 officers and men sustained by the Fortieth and Fifty- 
 fourth Regiments, who had the honor of the attack." 
 
 Arnold's troops, at the time that the engagement 
 was in progress at Fort Griswold, laid part of the 
 town of New London in ashes. The point first occu- 
 pied by them was then called the Beach, now known 
 as Water Street. It was the business portion of the 
 town, and contained, besides stores and offices, vast 
 warehouses full of goods, cargoes of captured vessels, 
 and provisions and munitions of war stored by Gov- 
 ernor Trumbull. The torch was applied in a dozen 
 places at once, so that in a few moments the whole 
 vast accumulation of property was a mass of flames. 
 Many houses were also fired, though two houses were 
 bought off for ten pounds each after an officer had 
 ordered them fired, on condition, however, that he 
 should not be made known. Where the houses were 
 not burned they were plundered of all that could be 
 carried off. The fishermen's cottages at the mouth of 
 the harbor were stripped of all their furniture of every 
 kind, the people having nothing but the clothes they 
 wore. 
 
 Arnold having captured the forts, massacred the 
 garrison, and burned and plundered the town of New 
 London, embarked his forces at sunset and crossed 
 the Sound, and anchored his fleet on the lee of Plum 
 Island, on the Long Island shore, and next morning 
 proceeded on his way to New York. Deplorable and 
 costly as this affair was to the enemy, as a strategic 
 movement it was an utter failure. They could only 
 take the fort at a fearful price, and were powerless to 
 hold it at any price. Their design, in this inroad, 
 was to effect a diversion in Washington's march, but 
 they were powerless to change his plans. Not in the 
 least disconcerted in his movements by the feint, he 
 drew his troops into Virginia, and settled the ques- 
 tion of the whole campaign at Yorktown. 
 
 A noble granite obelisk rises one hundred and 
 twenty-seven feet into the air by the side of the for- 
 tification where so many lives were lost. It was 
 erected by the State of Connecticut in 1830 in mem- 
 ory of the brave patriots who fell in the massacre. 
 
 The one hundredth anniversary of the taking of 
 Fort Griswold and the burning of New London have, 
 at the time of writing, been celebrated with appro- 
 priate ceremonies in Groton and New London. Many 
 noted men were present to aid in the commemora- 
 tion, and the varied exercises of two days were con- 
 ducted with marked success. 
 
 During the war of 1812 the southern portion of 
 the county was again menaced by the enemy. At 
 
 this time the attack was made on Stonington. On 
 the 9th of August, 1814, Sir Thomas H-dy>^n com- 
 mand of the British squadron, appeared off btoning 
 ton Point. An officer came on shore with a note, in- 
 forming them that one hour's time would be afforded 
 them for the removal of unoffending inhabitants ana 
 their eff-ects. This news threw the village into tne 
 utmost consternation. The most valuable goods were 
 concealed, and non-combatants fled to the neighbor- 
 ing farm-houses. A number of volunteers hastened to 
 the battery on the Point, which consisted of two eigh- 
 teen- and one four-pounder, mounted on carriages, 
 and defended by a slight breastwork. 
 
 An express was immediately dispatched to Gen. 
 Gushing at New London, with a request for immedi- 
 ate assistance. The general considered this attack as 
 a feint, intended to mask a real attack on Fort Gris- 
 wold, and his opinion was confirmed in consequence 
 of the squadron having been lately reinforced, and a 
 number of ships taking stations near Mystic. He 
 therefore made correspondent arrangements with 
 Maj.-Gen. Williams, commander of the division of 
 militia in. that district, and one regiment was imme- 
 diately sent to Stonington, while infantry and artil- 
 lery were so disposed as to protect Forts Griswold 
 and Trumbull and the towns of Norwich and New 
 London. 
 
 The attack upon Stonington commenced at eight 
 o'clock in the evening, and lasted until midnight. 
 No building was consumed or person injured. On 
 the 10th the fire from the ships began at daybreak, 
 but one of the eighteen-pounders having been drawn 
 to the extreme end of the Point, its fire soon com- 
 pelled the barges to draw off. This battery was 
 manned by twenty men until its ammunition was ex- 
 hausted, when they spiked the guns and retired. 
 Shot and shells continued to pour into the town from 
 the ships for upwards of an hour without a shot being 
 returned. Ammunition, however, for the eighteen- 
 pounder soon arrived, and so vigorous and well di- 
 rected a fire was returned that one of the ships was 
 disabled and was hauled out of the reach of the bat- 
 tery. In this contest two Americans were slightly 
 wounded, the flag nailed to the battery was pierced 
 with seven shot, and six or eight dwelling-houses 
 were burned. Considerable bodies of militia had ar- 
 rived, and the inhabitants had so far recovered from 
 their consternation that things took on a more regu- 
 lar and orderly aspect. Every one capable of bear- 
 ing arms was at the post of danger, and the others 
 were employed in removing their effects. 
 
 Two of the ships now moved to within two miles of 
 the town, threatening it with instant destruction. A 
 deputation was sent on board, with a note addressed 
 to Commodore Hardy, wishing to know the fate of 
 the place. The deputation gave assurance that no 
 torpedoes had been fitted out from that place, and 
 engaged that none should be in future, or receive any 
 aid from the town, and returned with the promise 
 
ORGANIZATION OP THE COUNTY. 
 
 19 
 
 that further hostilities should cease, provided that 
 Mrs. Stewart, the wife of the late British consul at 
 New London, and her family should be sent aboard 
 the ship by eight o'clock on the morning of the 
 11th. This request caused C0Q,siderable embarrass- 
 ment, as the borough of Stonington had no au- 
 thority on the subject, and possessed no powers to 
 comply with the required condition, and the magis- 
 trates sent a flag on board the ship with this rep- 
 resentation. The commodore replied that he would 
 wait until twelve o'clock, when, if the lady were 
 not on board, hostilities would recommence. The 
 town was well secured against a landing, but as the 
 bomb-ship took up a position out of reach of the 
 battery, the citizens were obliged to witness the scene 
 without the power of resistance. The troops with- 
 drew from the Point, except a guard of fifty men to 
 patrol the streets and extinguish fires. The battery 
 was held in readiness for an attack, but none of the 
 men who manned it, though exposed the whole time 
 to the enemy's fire, were injured. The houses were 
 several times set on fire by bombs and shells, but were 
 soon extinguished by the patrol. The designs of the 
 British upon other points, which had been appre- 
 hended by Gen. Gushing, were frustrated by his ju- 
 dicious arrangements and the spirit and alacrity of 
 the militia. The firing stopped about four in the 
 afternoon, and the ships hauled away to their former 
 anchorage, and they made no further attempts on the 
 coast of Connecticut. 
 
 During our different wars many vessels have been 
 fitted out in New London to cruise against the enemy. 
 The Thames River and New London Harbor have 
 afibrded safe refuge for vessels of war, and at one time 
 during the Revolution the American fleet lay in 
 safety for many months. The harbor is large, safe, 
 and commodious, with five fathoms of water. It is 
 three miles long and rarely obstructed with ice, and 
 is in all respects one of the best in the world. 
 
 Since foreign troubles have ceased and peace has 
 been declared the people of New London County 
 have generally been greatly prospered. The fishing 
 business is more extensively carried on in this county 
 than in any other section of the State, and is an im- 
 portant branch of industry. The county possesses 
 excellent railroad facilities, and the agricultural and 
 manufacturing interests have greatly prospered. The 
 population increased from 35,943 in 1820 to 66,670 in 
 1870, and to 75,323 in 1880. 
 
 New London County contains two cities and 
 twenty-one corporate townships, of each of which a 
 history will be given in succeeding pages. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 Organization of the County — Original Towns — Present Towns — First 
 County Court, 1666 — Early OfHcials — Extracts from Court Records — 
 The First Prerogative Court — The First Superior Court — Contest be- 
 tween New London and Norwich — Norwich constituted a Shire Town 
 — The First Court-House — County Buildings — Contest between Nor- 
 wich Town and Chelsea for Location of Court-Honse — Civil List — Gov- 
 ernors of Connecticut — Besidents of New London County — Chief Jus- 
 tices of Supreme Court of Connecticut — Residents of New London 
 County — Members of the Continental Congress — United States Sena- 
 tors — Members of Congress. 
 
 Organization of the County. — New London 
 County was organized in May, 1666, and extended 
 from Pawcatuck River "to the western bounds of 
 Hammonassett plantation,'' embracing the four towns 
 of Saybrook, New London, Norwich, and Stonington. 
 It included in what is now Middlesex County the 
 present towns of Old Saybrook, Saybrook, Westbrook, 
 Essex, Chester, Killingworth, and Clinton. The 
 county at present consists of twenty-one civil sub- 
 divisions, as follows : New London, Norwich, Bozrah, 
 Colchester, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, 
 Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Montville, North 
 Stonington, Old Lyme, Preston, Salem, Sprague, 
 Stonington, Voluntown, and Waterford. 
 
 The first County Court was held June 6, 1666, Maj. 
 Mason presiding, assisted by John Allyn, assistant, 
 and Thomas Stanton and Obadiah Bruen, commis- 
 sioners. 
 
 A court was also held Sept. 20, 1666. Maj. Mason, 
 Thomas Stanton, and Lieut. Pratt, of Saybrook, oc- 
 cupied the bench ; Obadiah Bruen, clerk. In June, 
 1667, Daniel Wetherell was appointed clerk and 
 treasurer. After this period Maj. Mason's health be- 
 gan to decline, and he was seldom able to attend on 
 the court. As there was no other magistrate in the 
 county,' the General Court, after 1670, nominated 
 assistants to hold the court in New London annually. 
 In 1676, Capt. John Mason, oldest son of Maj. Mason, 
 was chosen assistant, but the same year, in December, 
 received his death-wound. Capt. James Fitch was 
 the next assistant from New London County. He 
 came in about 1680, and Samuel Mason, of Stoning- 
 ton, soon afterwards. 
 
 County Marshals. — Thomas Marritt (or Merritt), 
 appointed in December, 1668 ; resigned 1674. 
 
 Samuel Starr, appointed 1674; resigned 1682. 
 
 Stephen Merrick, appointed 1682. 
 
 John Plumbe, appointed 1690. 
 
 MINUTES OF CASES, CHIEFLY BEFORE THE COUNTY COURT. 
 
 " 1667. — Alexander Pygan complained of by Widow Rebecca Bedfin 
 [Bedfield] for enticing away her daughter's affections contrary to the 
 laws of this corporation. 
 
 "Goodwife Wiley presented for not attending public worship, and 
 bringing her children thither ; fined 5s. 
 
 '* Matthew Waller for the same offense, do. 
 
 1 In May, 1674, Maj. Palmes was invested with the authority of a 
 magistrate for New London County, but was never chosen an assistant, 
 though often nominated. 
 
HISTORY OF NEW LOxNDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " George Tongue and wife were solemnly reprimanded for their many 
 offeuses against God and man and each other. On their submission and 
 promises of reformation, and eogagiog to keep up the solemn duty of 
 prayer and the service of God in the family, they were released by pay- 
 ing a fine of £3. 
 
 " Hugh Mould, Joseph Coit, and John Stephens, all three being ship- 
 carpenters, are at their liberty and freed from common training. 
 
 " Wait "Winthrop, as attorney to Governor Wiuthrop, vs. James Rogers. 
 Both parties claimed a certain pair of stillyards ; Rogers had recovered 
 judgment; it was now ordered that the stillyards should be kept by 
 Daniel Wetherell till Richard Arey should see them. 
 
 •'1670.— Unchas brought under a bond of £100 for appearace of his 
 son, Foxen, and two Indians, Jumpe and Towtukhag, and eight Indians 
 more for breaking open a warehouse. He was fined fifty bushels of 
 Indian corn for his son, five pounds in wampum to Mr. Samuel Clarke 
 and twenty pounds in wampum to the country treasury. 
 
 "Maj. Masoa va. Amos Richardson, for defamation, calling bim a 
 traitor, and saying that be had damnified the colony £1000. Defendant 
 fined £100 and costs of court. 
 
 "John Lewis presented by the grand jury for absenting himself at 
 unseasonable hours of the night, to the great grief of his parents. 
 
 "John Lewis and Sarah Chapman presented for sitting together on 
 the Lord's day, under an apple-tree, in Goodman Chapman's orchard 
 "William Billings and Philip Bill fined for neglect of training. 
 "1672. — Edward Palmes, clerk of the court. 
 
 "Richard Ely, in right of his wife, Elizabeth [Seller], vs. John Cul- 
 lick, as adm'r on estate of George Fenwick. This was an action for re- 
 covery of a legacy left said Elizabeth by the will of Fenwick. Re- 
 covered £915 and costs. 
 
 "John Pease complained of by the townsmen of Norwich, for living 
 alone, for idleness, and not attending public worship ; this court orders 
 that the said townsmen do provide that Pease be entertained into some 
 suitable family, he paying for his board and accommodation, and that 
 he employ himself in some lawful calling. 
 
 " A negro servant of Charles Hill presented for shooting at and wound- 
 ing a child of Charles Haynes. 
 
 "167.3. — John Birch wood, of Norwich, appointed clerk. 
 " Widow Bradley presented for a second offense, in having a child born 
 out of wedlock, the father of both being Christopher Christophers, a 
 married man ; sentenced to pay the usual fine of £5, and also to wear on 
 her cap a paper whereon her offense is written, as a warning to others, 
 or else to pay £15. Samuel Starr became her bondsman for £15. 
 
 " Ann Latimer brought suit against Alexander Pygan for shooting her 
 horse; damages laid at 30s. Defendant fined and bound over to good 
 behavior for presumptuous and illegal carriage in shooting Mistress 
 Latimer's horse. 
 " James Rogers, Jr., for sailing in a vessel on the Lord's day, fined 208. 
 " Edward Stallion for sailing his vessel from New London to Norwich 
 on the Sabbath, 40«. 
 " Steven Chalker, for driving cattle on the Sabbath-day, 208. 
 " Sept. 1674. — Complaint entered against Stonington for want of con- 
 venient highways to the meeting-house. The court ordered tliat there 
 shall be four principal highways according as they shall agree among 
 themselves to the four angles, and one also to the landing-place, to be 
 stated by James Avery and James Morgan within two months. 
 
 " Sept. 1676. — James Rogers, Sr., John, James, and Jonathan, his sons, 
 presented for profanation of the Sabbath, which is the fii-st day of the 
 week, and said persons boldly in the presence of this court asserting that 
 they have not, and for the future will not refrain attending to any ser- 
 vile occasions on said day, they are fined 10s. each, and put under a bond 
 of £10 each, or to continue in prison. 
 
 " Matthew Griswold and his dr. Elizabeth vs. John Rogers (husband of 
 said Elizabeth), for breach of covenant and neglect of duty; referred to 
 the Couri; of Assistants. 
 
 "John Rogers ordered to appear at Hartford Court, and released from 
 prison a few days to prepare himself to go. 
 
 " 1677.— Thomas Dunke for neglecting to teach his servant to read is 
 fined 10s. 
 
 " Major John Winthrop vs. Major Edward Palmes, for detaining a cer- 
 tain copper furnace and the cover to it ; damages laid at £5. 
 
 " Wiliam Gibson owned working on the first day of the week ; fined 5b. 
 "1680. — Capt, John Nash, presiding judge. 
 
 " Thomas Dymond vs. barque * Providence,' stranded on Fisher's Island, 
 for salvage of goods. 
 
 " 1681.— Unchas complains of much damage in his corn by English 
 horses this year. 
 
 "1682. — New London presented for not having a grammar school, 
 
 fined £10 ; also, for not having an 
 
 EngliBh school for readiog and writing. 
 
 <: William Gibson and William Chapell fined for fishing on tbe Sabbath^ 
 ^Izabeth Way presented for not living with her husband. The 
 court orders her to go to her husband or to be impnsoned. 
 
 Her husband resided in Saybrook, and she per- 
 sisted in remaining with her mother at New London. 
 She was the only daughter of John and Joanna 
 Smith A remonstrance of her husband against her 
 desertion of him is on record at Saybrook. The order 
 of court was disregarded. 
 
 "Capt. George Denison and John Wheeler fined ISs. for not attending 
 public worship. 
 
 " 1686 -Chr. Christophers ^s. Thomas Lee, for trespass on his land at 
 Black Point. The jury find that a north line from Reynold Marvin's 
 N E corner to come to the Gyant's land, takes in a part of the land 
 plowed by Thomas Lee, by which they find said Lee a trespasser, and that 
 he surrender to C. C. all west of said north line. 
 
 "1G87.-Mr. Joseph Hadley, of Youngers, in the government of New 
 York, enters complaint against William Willoughby and Mary Wedge, 
 formeriy so called, yt the said woman and Willoughby are run from 
 Yorke, and she is a runaway from her husband, Ak" Peeterson, and is 
 now at Mr. Elyes'. 
 
 " This court grants liberty unto Mr. Charles Bulkley to practise phy- 
 sick in this county, and grants him license according to what power is 
 in them so to do. 
 
 "Oliver Manwaring licensed to keep a house of publique entertain- 
 ment and retail drink, 40s. per year. 
 
 "Mr, Plumbe for his license to pay £3 pr. year. 
 
 " Complaint being made to this court by John Prentice against Wil- 
 liam Beebe for keeping company with bisdaugbter Mercy, and endeavor- 
 ing to gain her affections in order to a marriage, without acquainting 
 her parents, which is contrary to law, the said Wm. Beebe is ordered to 
 pay a fine to the County Treasury of £5. 
 
 " At a County Court held at New London, June 4, 1689. Whereas the 
 Governor and Company in this colony of Connecticut have reassumed 
 the government. May the 9th last past, and an order of the General Aa- 
 sembly that all laws of this Colony formerly made according to Charter, 
 and Courts constituted in this colony for administration of justice, as be- 
 fore the late interruption, shall be of full force and virtue for the future, 
 until further orders, &c. 
 
 "Sept. 1689.— By reason of the afflicting hand of God upon us with 
 sore and general sickness, that we are incapacitated to serve the King and 
 Country at this time, we see cause to adjourn this Court until the first 
 Tuesday in November next. 
 
 "1690, June. — John Prentice, Jr., master uf the ship [vessel] 'New 
 London,' action of debt against said ship for wages in navigating said 
 ship to Europe and back. 
 
 "Nicholas Hallam brings a similar action, being assistant [mate] on 
 board said ship. 
 
 "The court adjourned to first Tuesday in August, on account of the 
 contagious distemper in town. 
 
 "July 3, 1690. — Special Court called by petition of Mrs. Alice Living, 
 to settle the estate of her husbp,nd. Major Palmes refusing to produce 
 the will, administration was granted to Mrs. Living. 
 
 "Jonathan Hall, of Saybrook, for setting sail on the Sabbath, July 
 27th, fined 408. 
 
 "1693, June. — George Denison, grandson of Capt. G. Denison, a 
 student of Harvard College, prosecuted for an assault on the constable 
 while in the execution of his duty. 
 
 "Sept.— John Chapell, Israel Richards, John Crocker, and Thomas 
 Atwell, presented for nigbtwalkiug on the Sabbath niglit, Sept. 17th, 
 and committing various misdemeanors, as pulling up bridges and fences, 
 cutting the manes and tails of horses, and setting up logs against peo- 
 ple's doors ; sentenced to pay 10s. each and sit two hours in the stocks." 
 
 The first Prerogative Court in the county was held 
 at Lyme, April 13, 1699; the next at New London, 
 August 28th. Daniel Wetherell, Esq., judge. This 
 court henceforward relieved the County Court from 
 the onerous burden of probate of wills and settlement 
 of estates. 
 
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 21 
 
 The justices of peace in New London in 1700 were 
 Eichard Christophers and Nehemiah Smith. The 
 former was judge of prob»te in 1716. 
 
 In 1700 Lebanon was included in New London 
 County, and in 1702, Plainfield. The other towns 
 were New London, Norwich, Stonington, Preston, 
 Lyme, Saybrook, and Killingworth. 
 
 "COMPLAINTS or THE GEAND JURY TO THE COUKT 
 HOLDBN AT NEW LONDON, JUNE 4, 1700. 
 
 "New London for want of a Grammar School; also want of a Pound, 
 and deficiency of Stocks. 
 
 " Stonington for having no Stocks according to law ; also no sworn 
 brander of horses. 
 
 "Norwich for want of a School to instruct children. 
 
 " Preston for want of Stocks, and not having a Guard on the Sabbath 
 and other public days." 
 
 "June 4, 1701. — New London County was presented by the Grand 
 Jury as deficient in her county prison, and for not providing a county 
 standard of weights and measures ; also for great neglect in the peram- 
 bulating of bounds betwixt town and town. 
 
 " New London and Lebanon presented for a deficiency in their town 
 fitock of ammunition." 
 
 While Maj. Mason lived there was no other magis- 
 trate in New London County, and he generally held 
 his courts at home ; but during several of the last 
 years of his life he was subjects to attacks of a pain- 
 fiil disease that often disabled him from attending to 
 public affairs. This caused some inconvenience, and 
 led to murmurings and complaints, particularly at 
 New London, where there was more trade and bustle, 
 more of a populace, and a louder call for courts and 
 pleas than in any other place in the colony. It was 
 onerous and irritating to this stirring community to 
 be dependent upon Norwich, the staid and somewhat 
 frowning younger sister, for justice and arbitrament. 
 In October, 1669, Mr. Wetherell, of New London, 
 clerk of the County Court, in behalf of the commission- 
 ers, petitioned the General Court for relief in this 
 particular, and obtained an order for an assistant or 
 magistrate to hold a court at stated times in New 
 London. 
 
 After the death of Maj. Mason New London County 
 had no chief magistrate or presiding judge resident 
 within its bounds till May, 1674, when the following 
 appointment is recorded : 
 
 " Major Edward Palmes is invested with magisterial power throughout 
 New London County and the Narragansett country." 
 
 Maj. Palmes was of New London County, and Nor- 
 wich, in her turn, found it irksome to go to her 
 neighbor for award and decree. Between these sister- 
 townships there seems to have been little similarity of 
 taste, and no fusion of purpose and action. 
 
 The Superior Court was held in New London for 
 the first time in September, 1711. No court-house 
 having then been erected, the session was held in the 
 meeting-house. Before this period the Superior Court 
 had only sat in New Haven and Hartford. It was 
 now made a Circuit Court, each county to have two 
 sessions annually. Richard Christophers was one of 
 the assistant judges, and Capt. John Prentis county 
 sheriff. 
 
 In 1720 a petition was presented to the General 
 Assembly by the people of Norwich praying that a 
 share of the County Court sessions might be held in 
 the latter place, but the petition was refused. 
 
 Another strenuous effort was made in 1734, the in- 
 habitants petitioning the General Assembly that the 
 Supreme Court in March, and the Superior Court in 
 November, for New London County, might be held in 
 Norwich. The agents for the town in this business 
 were Capt. John Williams, Capt. Joseph Tracy, and 
 Mr. Hezekiah Huntington. The effort proved success- 
 ful ; the petition was granted, and Norwich became a 
 half-shire town. 
 
 The contest had been long and determined, marked 
 in some instances with bitterness and exasperation ; 
 but Norwich, having grown rapidly in numbers and 
 influence, at length had her claim to a share of the 
 courts sanctioned by equity and the public conven- 
 ience. 
 
 In connection with this privilege the town of Nor- 
 wich came under the obligation of furnishing conven- 
 ient accommodations for the courts and county pris- 
 oners. A new jail or prison-house was soon afterwards 
 built at Norwich Town and ceded to the county, and 
 a town-house erected under the oversight of the 
 selectmen, the expense being defrayed by a penny 
 tax on polls and ratable estate. 
 
 The jail stood under the shelter of the hill, upon 
 the parsonage-lot. The town-house was at the south- 
 west corner of the green, with a whipping-post and 
 pillory near. 
 
 The act constituting Norwich a half-shire town 
 the inhabitants of New London declared to be in- 
 jurious to them " and of ill example." They remon- 
 strated, and petitioned again and again to have it 
 repealed, but without success. In the spring of 1739 
 the agents of the town were instructed to pledge the 
 reimbursements to Norwich of what had been laid 
 out by them in building a court-house and prison 
 since the passage of the act, in case it should be re- 
 scinded. The Assembly,' however, refused once more 
 to remove the courts from Norwich. 
 
 The first court-house in the county was located on 
 the southeast corner of Meeting-House Square, in 
 New London, fronting to the westward. It was raised 
 April 20, 1724, was forty-eight feet in length, twenty- 
 four feet wide, twenty feet between joists, and cost 
 £48. The builder of this ancient structure was John 
 Hough. The town arms and ammunition were stored 
 in the garret, and " Solomon Coit was chosen to keep 
 the town magazine gratis." This building was occu- 
 pied until 1767. 
 
 After the burning of New London in 1781 the 
 erection of a court-house was one of the first subjects 
 that engaged the attention of the city authorities. 
 The old one burnt by the British had stood on the 
 parade, but objections were made to the site, and the 
 position of the new house was finally settled by the 
 following vote : 
 
22 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " April Gth, 1784, voted, that it is the opinion of this meeting that the 
 place where the town school-house now stands, at the west end of the 
 Broad Street [now State Street], is the fittest place of any in the city, 
 hoth for use and ornament, and will hest accommodate the city and the 
 public, for the court-house to be erected on." 
 
 The County Court concurred in this opinion, and the 
 present edifice, known as the city court-house, was 
 immediately after erected, the position being fixed in 
 the middle of the street, on the platform of rock at 
 the head of State Street, with an open space on all 
 sides. It has since been removed farther back, so as 
 to leave the highway clear. The house was originally 
 furnished with a gallery around the second story, 
 which gave it a gay and dashing appearance, but the 
 lower story was left for more than thirty years in a 
 rough, unfinished state. Grotesquely antique in its 
 appearance, now in its ninetieth year, it stands "the 
 stately relic of a former age, still doing good service 
 in this,'' and destined, in all probability, still to re- 
 main for many years to come, as a reminder of the 
 days of old, antedating every other public edifice in 
 the city. 
 
 For some time previous to 1809 an acrimonious 
 contest was carried on between Norwich Town and 
 what was then known as Chelsea (now Norwich City) 
 for the possession of the court-house and the court 
 sessions. 
 
 Early in the year 1809 a vote was carried to cede 
 the court-house to the county for the use of the 
 county courts, provided it should be removed to 
 Chelsea Plain at individual expense. The defeated 
 party claimed that this result had been gained by sur- 
 prise and from partisan motives. Fresh meetings 
 were summoned, the vote was reconsidered, rescinded, 
 and finally passed a second time. The county ac- 
 cepted the cession, but before the deed of conveyance 
 had been legally confirmed the storm of opposition 
 grew so intense that it was not executed. December 
 18th, a second vote of cession was carried, and a new 
 committee appointed to assign the property ; but on 
 the 30th of the same month another town-meeting 
 revoked all former proceedings whatever relating to 
 the removal of the courts and the conveyance of the 
 house to the county. 
 
 The contention was renewed at times, with alter- 
 nate periods of brooding quiet, for a series of years. 
 It came up again in 1826, with increased heat and 
 determination, and at this time a strong desire was 
 manifested in the old part of the town for a division 
 into two communities. A petition to that effect was 
 sent to the Legislature, praying that Norwich might 
 be restricted to the First Society and relieved from 
 its association with Chelsea, but it produced no re- 
 sult. 
 
 Jan. 22, 1827, a meeting was held in the Congrega- 
 tional church at Chelsea, at which the two proposi- 
 tions for dividing the town and fixing upon the site 
 for a new town and court-house were discussed with 
 fiery vehemence. The vote for a separation was lost 
 by a small majority, after which a conciliatory motion 
 
 was made and passed that the new court-house should 
 be seated on or near the Central Plain. This vote 
 was, however, so displeasing to a large party that a 
 clamorous call for an immediate adjournment was 
 made and carried. 
 
 The next day the freeholders reassembled at nine 
 o'clock in the morning. It was good sleighing, and 
 every horse and runner from the farms and villages 
 were put in requisition, the streets were lined with ve- 
 hicles, and the church was thronged to its utmost ca- 
 pacity.i The vote respecting the site of the town and 
 court-house was reconsidered and annulled, and a new 
 resolution carried that the said house should be erected 
 within the bounds of Chelsea. The vote stood 227 to 
 219, by far the largest number of voters that had 
 been present at one meeting since the division into 
 four towns in 1786. 
 
 The question with respect to the location of the 
 courts was three times brought before the General 
 Assembly and fully discussed, and twice tried in the 
 Superior Courts, the decision being each time in favor 
 of their remaining where they were. But in the ses- 
 sion of 1833 the Assembly voted to refer the whole 
 subject to the representatives of the county of New 
 London. These met in the town-hall at Chelsea, 
 September 19th, and carried the question of removal, 
 15 to 8. All opposition on the other side ceased 
 from this time, and the transfer was made in peace. 
 The struggle had continued about twenty-seven 
 years. 
 
 The town-house was erected in 1829, at an expense 
 of $9000. The upper story was fitted for a court- room, 
 with offices attached, and in 1833 was ceded to the 
 county for the use of the courts. The first court in 
 this new building was in March, 1834, since which 
 time the court sessions have been held exclusively at 
 the Landing. 
 
 The court-house was destroyed by fire April 11, 
 1865. The books and records were saved. 
 
 In the early period of the town's history the jail 
 stood upon the east side of the green, in the town-plot. 
 In the time of the Revolutionary war it was on the 
 west side, under the brow of the hill. Two buildings 
 were worn out in this place, each having served about 
 thirty years. The prison was then transferred to the 
 southeast border of the green, near the present post- 
 office, where it continued till the courts were removed 
 to Chelsea. 
 
 A new prison, with an adjoining house for the 
 keeper, was erected at Chelsea, upon the high ground 
 overlooking the city. These were ceded to the county, 
 but consumed by fire, after a few years' occupation, 
 June 9, 1738. 
 
 The buildings were subsequently reconstructed on 
 an enlarged plan. The present court-house and town 
 hall was erected at an expense of $350,000. 
 
 1 Before the year 1830, at which time the town-house was completed, 
 the town-meetings at the Landing were held in the Second Congrega- 
 tional church. 
 
THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 
 
 23 
 
 Civil List. 
 
 Governors of Connecticut from New London County. 
 John Wiuthrop, New London, 1657-58 and 1659-76. 
 Htz-John Winthrop, New London, 1696-1707. 
 Gurdon Saltonstall, " •' 1707-24. 
 
 Jonathan Trumbull, Lebanon, 1769-84. 
 Matthew GriBwold, Lyme, 1784-85. 
 Samuel Huntington, Norwich, 1785-96. 
 Jonathan Trumbull, Lebanon, 1798-1809. 
 Koger Griswold, Lyme, 1811-13. 
 William A. Buckingham, Norwich, 1858-66. 
 
 JUDICIARY. 
 Chief Justices of the Supreme Court from New London County. 
 Gurdon Saltonstall, New London, 1711-12. 
 Jonathan Trumbull, Lebanon, 1766-69. 
 Matthew Griswold, Lyme, 1769-84. 
 Samuel Huntington, Norwich, 1784-85. 
 Bichard Law.t New London, 1786-89. 
 Henry M. Waite, Lyme, 1864.57. 
 Johu D. Park, Norwich, 1874. 
 
 Members of the Continental Congress from New London County. 
 
 Silas Deane, Groton, 1774-76. 
 
 Joseph Trumbull, Lebanon, 1774-75. 
 
 Samuel Huntington.s Norwich, 1776-84. 
 
 William Williams,^ Lebanon, 1776-78 and 1783-84. 
 
 Bichard Law, New London, 1777-78 and 1781-84. 
 
 Benjamin Huntington, Norwich, 1780-84 and 1787-88. 
 
 William Hillhouse, New London, 1783-86. 
 
 United States Senators. 
 Jonathan Trumbull, Lebanon, 1795-96. 
 James Lanman, Norwich, 1819-26. 
 Jabez W.Huntington," 1840-47. 
 Lafayette S. Foster,^ '• 1865-67. 
 Wm. A. Buckingham, " 1867-75. 
 
 Members of Congress. 
 Jonathan Trumbull,* Lebanon, 1789-95. 
 Benjamin Huntington, Norwich, 1789-91. 
 Amasa Learned, New London, 1791-95. 
 Joshua Coit, " " 1793-98. 
 
 Boger Griswold, Lyme, 1795-1806. 
 Elias Perkins, New London , 1803-5. 
 Ebenezer Huntington, Norwich, 1810-11 and 1817-19. 
 Lyman Law, New London, 1811-17. 
 Noyes Barber, Groton, 1821-36. 
 Elisha Haley, " 1835-39. 
 Thomas W. Williams, New London, 1839-43. 
 John A. Bockwell, Norwich, 1845-49. 
 Nathan Belcher, New London, 1853-55. 
 Augustus Brandegee, *' " 1863-67. 
 Henry H. Starkweather, Norwich, 1867-76. 
 John T. Wait, " 1876 to present time. 
 
 CHAPTEK III.5 
 
 THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 
 
 The origin of the Pequot tribe of Indians must 
 forever remain a mystery. Some writers have sup- 
 posed that not long before this country waa settled by 
 
 ^ Afterwards U. S. district judge for District of Connecticut. 
 
 2 Of the above, Samuel Huntington and William Williams were signers 
 of the Declaration of Independence, and from 1779 to 1781 Samuel Hunt- 
 ington was president of Congress. 
 
 3 President of the Senate from 1863 to 1867. 
 * Speaker of the House from 1791 to 1793. 
 
 ^ By Bichard A. Wheeler. 
 
 Europeans they were an inland tribe, who by their 
 superior numbers and prowess fought their way to 
 the seaside, and established their fortresses in what is 
 now the town of Groton. Others have supposed that 
 they belonged to the Mohegan tribe of Indians, who, 
 under the leadership of Pequoate, the father of Sas- 
 sacus, seceded from the Mohegans and established 
 an independent tribe, taking the name of their sachem, 
 and in time overwhelmed the Mohegans and held 
 them as tributaries. 
 
 Not satisfied with their success, they sought to es- 
 tablish their dominion over the surrounding tribes, 
 and had so far succeeded as to extend their power 
 and authority eastward to Wecapaug, in Westerly, 
 E. I., where they were met and held in check by the 
 powerful tribe of Narragansett Indians ; southward 
 they extended their sway to, and in some places be- 
 yond, the Connecticut River, and as far north as the 
 town of Windsor. When these events transpired 
 cannot now be determined, or whether they ever hap- 
 pened a-s here narrated is not certainly known ; but 
 this we do know, that when Adrian Block, a Dutch 
 navigator, explored our sea-coast in 1614, the Pequot 
 and Mohegan Indians were located in the same places 
 that they occupied in 1633, when our State was first 
 settled by the English. 
 
 The Pequots were governed by a powerful sachem, 
 whom they idolized and regarded "as all one god." 
 Under his leadership they had become a terror to the 
 neighboring tribes, with whom they had frequently 
 been engaged in deadly hostilities. 
 
 The various tribes and clans tributary to the Pe- 
 quots hailed the coming of the white man as an omen 
 that foreshadowed their release from the tyranny of 
 Sassacus. The Connecticut River Indians made the 
 first effort to secure an alliance with the Massachu- 
 setts and Plymouth colonies. 
 
 In the year 1631 an Indian sachem by the name of 
 Wah-qui-ma-cut visited the Governors of the Plymouth 
 and Massachusetts colonies, and offered them strong 
 inducements to come and settle in the beautiful valley 
 of the Connecticut, and proposed that two men should 
 be delegated to view the country and report to the 
 Governors. Governor Winthrop declined the offer; 
 but Governor Winslow, of Plymouth, held the matter 
 under consideration, and soon after visited the place, 
 and on his return home gave a glowing description of 
 its fertility, which tempted many a Puritan to leave 
 his sterile home at Plymouth and explore this Indian 
 paradise from the mouth of the river far back to- 
 wards its sources. 
 
 Meantime the shrewd and active Pequots were 
 watching with sleepless vigilance the movements of 
 the Plymouth people, doubtless foreseeing the danger 
 that would result to them from a settlement of the 
 English upon the Connecticut River, and sought to 
 counteract and prevent it by an alliance with the 
 Dutch ; for as early as 1632 they sold lands at Say- 
 brook to the Dutch Governor at New Amsterdam, 
 
24 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 and in June, 1633, Wa-py-quart, a Pequot sachem, 
 sold to the West India Company, through their agent, 
 Van Culer, a tract of meadow-land now covered hy 
 the city of Hartford, on which he immediately pro- 
 ceeded to erect a fort, which he called the " House 
 of Good Hope." 
 
 During the month of September, 1633, John Old- 
 ham, with several others of the Dorchester planta- 
 tion, visited Connecticut, and were kindly received 
 by the native chiefs, who gave them some valuable 
 presents of Indian hemp and beaver-skins. During 
 this year the Plymouth people formed a trading com- 
 pany, and sent William Holmes in October to erect a 
 trading-house at a place previously selected on the 
 west side of the Connecticut Eiver, just below the 
 mouth of the Farmington, or Tunxis Eiver, in the 
 present town of Windsor. Capt. Holmes reached the 
 Connecticut Eiver in safety, and sailed up the same, 
 and passed the Dutch fort at Hartford in proud de- 
 fiance, and erected the house at the place designated, 
 and with the utmost haste surrounded it with pali- 
 sadoes. He carried back to their native place Attawa- 
 nott and several other Indian sachems, who had been 
 driven away by the warlike Pequots, and of whom 
 the Plymouth people purchased the land. The Dutch 
 fort at Hartford was a harmless affair, and soon ceased 
 to exist as such. 
 
 The Dutch arms at Saybrook were torn down by 
 the English in 1684 and replaced with a fool's head. 
 Thus ended practically the power of the Dutch in 
 Connecticut, and the hopes of the haughty Pequots 
 in that direction were blasted forever. But they were 
 so incensed at Holmes for bringing back Attawanott 
 and his sachems to Windsor that they kept him and 
 the friendly Indians continually on the defensive, 
 and at every opportunity attacked the English set- 
 tlers, and murdered such as they could lay their 
 hands on. 
 
 In 1633, as two English traders, viz., Capt. Stone 
 and Capt. Norton, were ascending Connecticut Eiver 
 in a vessel, being unacquainted with the channel, 
 they hired Indian pilots to direct them ; but faithless 
 and treacherous guides they proved to be, for they 
 murdered both officers and crew, consisting of nine 
 men. 
 
 Soon after the murder of Capt. Stone the old feud 
 between the Narragansetts and Pequots began to ex- 
 hibit itself, which alarmed Sassacus and his sachems, 
 so that they sought an alliance, offensive and de- 
 fensive, with the English in Massachusetts, and sent 
 a messenger to Boston to propose a treaty. But the 
 Governor, distrusting the position of the ambassador, 
 ordered him to return and say to the Pequots that 
 they must send men of more consequence or he would 
 not treat with them. 
 
 Soon after two Pequots of royal blood appeared 
 with an acceptable present. Negotiations were en- 
 tered into, which resulted in a treaty by which the 
 Indians were to give the English all their title to the 
 
 lands on the Connecticut Eiver if they wouldjnd 
 men to live there and trade ->*\*^^'^ ' f J^J'^^ 
 also give them four hundred fathoms of wampum, 
 forty beaver-skins, and thirty other skins. 
 
 Soon after the conclusion of this treaty, and during 
 the year 1635, four English plantations were com- 
 menced upon the Connecticut Eiver, three of them 
 by congregations that came with their ministers from 
 the Massachusetts settlements, and the other was ef- 
 fected by John Winthrop, Jr., at Saybrook, under a 
 commission from Lords Say and Seal, Lord Brook, and 
 
 others. „ 
 
 Notwithstanding this treaty, the government ot 
 Massachusetts distrusted the friendship of the Pe- 
 quots, and inasmuch as Sassacus did not use his in- 
 fluence to procure the murderers of Capts. Stone and 
 Norton and deliver them to the English, as was 
 promised by the Pequots preliminary to said treaty, 
 they sent instructions to Mr. Winthrop, then at Say- 
 brook, to demand of the Pequots " a solemn meeting 
 of conference," and lay before them certain charges, 
 which, if they could not refute or render suitable rep- 
 aration therefor, then all the presents made by the 
 Pequots to the Massachusetts government were to be 
 returned to them with a protest, equivalent to a dec- 
 laration of war. 
 
 Their instructions were dated at Boston, July 4, 
 1636, and were brought to Saybrook by Mr. Fenwick, 
 Hugh Peters, and Capt. Oldham, with whom came 
 Thomas Stanton, to act as interpreter. 
 
 The Pequot sachem was sent for, who appeared; 
 the conference was held, but no satisfaction could be 
 obtained from him ; whereupon the presents were re- 
 turned, but war was not declared, though they .sepa- 
 rated with unfriendly feelings towards each other. 
 
 About the time that Mr. Fenwick left Boston for 
 Saybrook to treat with the Indians, Capt. Oldham, 
 while on a trading expedition, was murdered by the 
 Indians near Block Island, and all on board his vessel 
 perished with him. Another trader, Capt. John 
 Gallup, of Boston, speedily avenged his death, and 
 sent his murderers to the bottom of the deep. 
 
 The brutal murder of Capt. Oldham was traced to 
 some of the Narragansett sachems, who had contrived 
 the plan to murder him. It is not probable that the 
 Pequots had anything to do with it. It is more prob- 
 able that he was murdered by the Narragansetts be- 
 cause he was supposed to favor peace with the Pe- 
 quots, having visited them a short time before with 
 Mr. Fenwick for that purpose. 
 
 The Governor, acting under the advice of the mag- 
 istrates and ministers of Massachusetts, resolved that 
 the Block Island Indians should be chastised. John 
 Endicott, with ninety men, was ordered to sail for 
 Block Island, and put to death all the men, and take 
 the women and children prisoners, after which he was 
 directed to sail for Pequot Harbor, and demand of the 
 Pequots the murderers of Capt. Stone and his crew ; 
 if the Pequots failed to comply, to use force. 
 
THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 
 
 25 
 
 Endicott repaired to Block Island, killed fourteen 
 Indians, destroyed their corn, and burned their wig- 
 wams ; then sailed for Pequot Harbor via Saybrook, 
 and reported to Lyon Gardener, who commanded the 
 fort there, what he had done at Block Island. Gar- 
 dener, who believed the Narragansetts, and not the 
 Block Island Indians, guilty of the murder of Old- 
 ham, complained bitterly of this rash act. 
 
 Endicott lost no time in reaching Pequot Harbor, 
 and took the Indians by surprise. He landed on the 
 east side, and ascended the hill, where he found In- 
 dian corn-fields, dotted here and there with wigwams, 
 and demanded the heads of the Pequots who had 
 killed Capt. Stone or he would fight. He demanded 
 an interview with Sassacus, and was told that the 
 chief was at Long Island and could not be seen. 
 After a fruitless attempt to find a responsible sachem 
 with whom to confer, he advanced and burned all the 
 wigwams that he could find, and at night re-embarked 
 his men. 
 
 The next day they landed on the west side of said 
 harbor, probably where the city of New London now 
 stands, and burned and desolated the country. Gar- 
 dener, while disapproving Endicott's expedition, fur- 
 nished him with twenty men, and instructed them to 
 bring back corn, if not Indians. In undertaking to 
 get the corn, after Endicott and his men had left, they 
 were attacked with such force by the Indians that it 
 was with the greatest difficulty that they reached their 
 vessel with their plunder. Endicott and his men re- 
 turned to Boston, and thus ended an unwise expedi- 
 tion, fruitful of unhappy events. 
 
 The Pequots lost but one man, which, with the de- 
 struction of their wigwams and corn, made them all 
 the more troublesome and dangerous. They first at- 
 tacked Saybrook Fort, whither some of their corn had 
 been transported, and in October took one Butterfield 
 prisoner, and roasted him alive with horrible tortures. 
 Soon after they captured a man by the name of Tilly, 
 who commanded a vessel. They killed his attendant 
 outright, then cut 'off Tilly's hands, amputated his 
 feet, and then by the most infernal ingenuity that 
 devils could invent tortured him to death. They in- 
 vested the Saybrook fort so closely that Gardener lost 
 a number of his men, who were ambushed and slain 
 by the Indians. So closely was he pressed that during 
 the winter of 1636 and '37, Capt. Mason and twenty 
 men were sent down to reinforce the garrison at Say- 
 brook. 
 
 In March the Indians took a shallop as she was 
 sailing down the river with three men. One was 
 killed in the fight, and the other two were murdered, 
 cut to pieces, and hung upon the branches of the 
 trees, to taunt and defy the power of the English. 
 
 In April following the Pequots went up to Weth- 
 ersfield and waylaid the planters. They killed six 
 men and took two girls captive, whom they finally 
 allowed the Dutch to ransom, when they returned 
 home. 
 
 About this time Massachusetts sent John Underbill 
 to reinforce the garrison at Saybrook. When he 
 reached the fort Mason and his men returned to 
 Hartford. 
 
 On the first day of May, 1637, the General Court 
 of Connecticut assembled at Hartford. These hor- 
 rible Indian massacres had aroused the English, and 
 caused them to make a desperate effort to save them- 
 selves from a like fate. The four English plantations 
 on the river consisted of less than three hundred 
 souls, surrounded by more than ten thousand savages 
 resident within the present limits of our State. The 
 frequent secessions that had occurred among the In- 
 dians had torn them into a large number of tribes 
 and clans, antagonistic to each other. 
 
 For a long time previous to the coming of the 
 English, Uncas and the Mohegans had been subject 
 to the Pequots. They had made four attempts to 
 secede and establish an independent tribe, but failed ; 
 but as soon as the English had commenced their set- 
 tlement on the Connecticut River, Uncas with his 
 adherents seceded and joined the Connecticut River 
 Indians, in the vicinity of Hartford and Windsor, 
 who had previously invited the planters to come and 
 settle among them. 
 
 The failure of the Pequots to make a satisfactory 
 treaty with the English, who had restored the Con- 
 necticut River Indians to their rightful territory and 
 ousted the Dutch from the land sold them by the 
 Pequots, and finally had sided with and sheltered 
 Uncas, the arch rebel, who had so often defied them, 
 was too much for the proud, warlike Pequots to en- 
 dure ; so they resolved to extirpate the English, not 
 by a bold, manly effort, but by cutting them up piece- 
 meal, with fire and torture the most diabolical and 
 inhuman. 
 
 So when the General Court assembled they de- 
 clared war, offensive war, against the Pequots, and 
 raised an army of ninety men to invade the territory 
 of the most warlike and cruel of all the New Eng- 
 land tribes, and appointed Capt. John Mason com- 
 mander-in-chief of the expedition. The soldiers were 
 enlisted, equipped, and provisioned in ten days, and 
 sailed from Hartford May 10, 1637, accompanied by 
 Uncas and seventy friendly Indians. The fleet con- 
 sisted of three vessels, and the English, being unac- 
 quainted with the navigation of the river, ran their 
 vessels aground several times, but after five days they 
 reached Saybrook Fort. 
 
 Uncas and his men were so impatient of delay that 
 they begged to be set ashore, promising to meet the 
 English at Saybrook, to which Mason consented. 
 Uncas kept his word, and on his way down fell in 
 with a clan of Pequots, killed some of them, and took 
 one prisoner, who happened to be a spy, whom he 
 executed in true Pequot style. 
 
 Capt. Underbill tendered to Mason his services, 
 with nineteen men, for the expedition, on condition 
 that Capt. Gardener, the commander of the fort, 
 
26 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 would consent, which was cheerfully granted. Mason 
 then sent back twenty of his own men to guard the 
 wellnigh defenseless settlement during his absence. 
 
 His little fleet lay wind-bound near the mouth of 
 the river until the 18th, during which time Mason 
 summoned and held a council of war, which, after 
 protracted discussions and advice of their chaplain, 
 decided to change the order of the General Court, 
 and set sail for Narragansett Bay. They left Friday 
 morning, and reached there Saturday evening, but 
 were not able to land on account of the weather be- 
 fore the next Tuesday evening. May 23d, when they 
 set out for the residence of Miantonomoh. 
 
 During the night an Indian runner brought news 
 to Mason that Capt. Patrick, with forty men from the 
 Massachusetts colony, had reached Providence, on 
 their way to join the expedition against the Pequots. 
 But Mason decided not to wait, but marched the next 
 morning. May 24th, for the Pequot fort. As he pro- 
 ceeded he was joined by a large party of Narragan- 
 setts sent on by Miantonomoh. 
 
 He reached the Niantic fort the next evening, 
 which he surrounded until morning, when, after a 
 fatiguing march of twelve miles, he reached the ford- 
 ing-place on Pawcatuck Eiver, when Mason and his 
 army halted and rested. After dinner they marched 
 on to Taugwonk, in Stonington, where they found 
 a field just planted with Indian corn; here they 
 halted and held another council of war. Mason now 
 learned for the first time that the Pequots had two 
 forts, both of which were very strong. At first it was 
 decided to attack both, but after learning that the 
 one where Sassacus commanded was too remote to be 
 reached in time, they resolved to go ahead and attack 
 the fort at Mystic. 
 
 Their line of march all the way from Narragansett 
 had been along the old Indian path, traveled from 
 time immemorial by the natives, until they crossed 
 Pawcatuck River and reached Taugwonk. But from 
 Taugwonk onward they deployed to the north, to 
 avoid being discovered by the Pequots at Mystic fort, 
 and at early evening they reached a place now known 
 as Porter's Rocks, in Groton, where between two high 
 ledges " they pitched their little camp.'' The night 
 was clear, with a shining moon, and after Mason had 
 set his guards he and his men lay down and slept. 
 About two hours before day the men were called and 
 ordered to get ready, and after commending them- 
 selves to the keeping of the all-wise Disposer of 
 events they set out for the fort, which was about two 
 miles off. 
 
 There were two entrances to the fort, and it was 
 decided that Mason should enter on the northeast side 
 and Underbill on the southwest side. Mason went 
 forward, and when within a rod of the fort was dis- 
 covered by a Pequot, who cried out, "Owanux! 
 Owanux!" 
 
 Mason and his men entered the fort through the 
 northeast passage, while Underbill and his men passed 
 
 in at the southwest. A hand-to-hand contest ensued 
 on both sides of the fort. Mason soon saw that his 
 only hope of complete success lay in burning their 
 fort and wigwams, and immediately set fire to them, 
 which spread with wonderful rapidity. The scene 
 which followed was awfiil beyond all human descrip- 
 tion, the result of which was the complete overthrow 
 of the Pequots as a tribe, and the consequent salva- 
 tion of the English settlement on the Connecticut 
 River. It was the most fearful chastisement that any 
 tribe of Indians ever received ; but they were the 
 Modocs of their day, and when we consider the ter- 
 rible cruelties perpetrated by them, the awful tor- 
 tures that they inflicted upon their English captives, 
 who shall say that justice did not overtake them ? 
 
 After the close of the battle, and while Mason and 
 his men were consulting what course to take, they 
 discovered their vessels sailing before a fair wind for 
 Pequot Harbor, and immediately resolved to reach 
 them by a march across the present town of Groton. 
 But before they were ready to move they were attacked 
 by about three hundred Pequots from the other fort 
 at Weinshawks. Capt. Mason, with a file or two of 
 his men, repelled the attack, and then began his march 
 towards his vessels. 
 
 As soon as he had left the scene of the battle the 
 Pequots visited the site of the fort, and after behold- 
 ing what had been done by the English stamped their 
 feet and tore their hair from their heads, and then 
 pursued them down the hill with all the power that 
 their thirst for vengeance could inspire. 
 
 As soon as Mason discovered their approach he 
 ordered his rear-guard to face about and engage them, 
 when, after a few volleys, they retired, giving the little 
 army time to rest and refresh themselves by a brook 
 at the foot of the hill on the top of which the fort 
 stood. Then after a little while they again commenced 
 to march, and on their way fell in with and burned 
 several wigwams. The Pequots followed but kept at 
 a distance, trying in vain to reach and kill some of 
 Mason's men with their arrows, receiving in return 
 severe punishment, for every Pequot that fell by their 
 deadly aim was scalped by the friendly Indians. 
 
 Getting tired of their pursuit and of its fatal conse- 
 quences to them, they abandoned it when Mason was 
 within about two miles of the harbor, after which he 
 was unmolested until he reached the Pequot River. 
 
 Capt. Patrick, with his men, who reached Narra- 
 gansett soon after Mason left, and before the fleet 
 set sail on their return, embarked his men on board 
 the shallop, and came in her to Pequot Harbor. 
 
 Some difficulty arose between Capt. Underbill and 
 Capt. Patrick about re-embarking Underbill's men, 
 which, after high words, was arranged so that Under- 
 bill, with all the Connecticut men but about twenty, set 
 sail for Saybrook, while Mason and twenty of his sol- 
 diers, joined by Capt. Patrick and his men, with the 
 friendly Indians, marched overland to the Connecti- 
 cut River. 
 
THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 
 
 27 
 
 About midway they fell in with the Niantic In- 
 dians, who fled on their approach, and being ex- 
 hausted with their long march they did not pursue 
 them, but passed on to the river, reaching it about sun- 
 set, where they encamped for the night. The next 
 morning they crossed over to Saybrook, and were 
 welcomed back by Capt. Gardener. 
 
 After providing for the safe return of the Narra- 
 gansett Indians, Mason and his men returned to 
 Hartford, where they were received with great re- 
 joicing and praising God. 
 
 After the Piquots abandoned the pursuit of Mason 
 they immediately returned to Sassacus' fort, and 
 charged him with being the sole cause of all the 
 troubles that had befallen them, and would have 
 slain him on the spot but for the entreaty of their 
 sachems and counselors. After a long consultation 
 they concluded to destroy their fort and flee from 
 their homes into various parts of the country. The 
 largest portion fled to the westward, crossing Con- 
 necticut River some ways above Saybrook, where 
 they took and slew three Englishmen that they cap- 
 tured in a shallop. 
 
 The Governor and Council of Massachusetts de- 
 cided to follow up Masr)n's success. They raised and 
 sent forward one hundred and twenty men, under the 
 command of Mr. Stoughton, with instructions to 
 prosecute the war to the bitter end. They reached 
 Pequot Harbor in June, 1637, and landed on the west 
 side, where they encamped, and from which they pur- 
 sued the remaining Pequots with unrelenting ven- 
 geance. 
 
 Capt. Stoughton was joined by Miantonomoh and 
 one of his sachems, called Yotash, with a band of 
 Narragansett warriors, who proved a most eflicient 
 aid in hunting out the concealed Pequots. They 
 drove a large number of them into a swamp in Gro- 
 ton, and took about one hundred prisoners. One 
 sachem was spared on condition that he would con- 
 duct the English to Sassacus. The women and chil- 
 dren were reserved for bondage, and the men, thirty 
 in number, were walked overboard on a plank from 
 a vessel at the mouth of the Thames River. 
 
 The General Court of Connecticut met at Hartford 
 in June, and ordered that forty men should be raised 
 and put under the command of Mason to prosecute 
 the war. They soon joined the Massachusetts men 
 under Stoughton at Pequot. A council of war was 
 held, which decided to pursue Sassacus in his flight 
 towards the Hudson River. They soon found traces 
 of the Pequots, who were evidently moving at a slow 
 pace, doubtless encumbered with their women and 
 children. But it was diflScult to tell, from the num- 
 ber of trails they were pursuing, which was the trail 
 of Sassacus' band. So they called up the sachem that 
 Stoughton had spared on condition that he would 
 point out the trail of the great chief, but he refused 
 to give any information, and was put to death. 
 
 They still pursued the flying Pequots, and drove 
 
 them into a swamp m Wie town of i'airtield, where 
 they surrounded them, and after a severe conflict 
 they captured about one hundred and eighty prisoners ; 
 twenty lay dead upon the field, and about sixty war- 
 riors escaped. Most of the property that the Pequots 
 were endeavoring to take with them fell into the 
 hands of the English. 
 
 Sassacus was not in the swamp, for he had pre- 
 viously fled to the Mohawks for protection, but in 
 vain. He had defied them in his prosperity, and now 
 in his evil days they avenged themselves. They be- 
 headed him, and sent his scalp as a trophy to Con- 
 necticut. 
 
 On the 21st of September, Uncas and Miantonomoh, 
 with the remaining Pequots, met the magistrates of 
 Connecticut at Hartford. A treaty was then entered 
 into between Connecticut, the Mohegans, and Narra- 
 gansetts, and by its terms there was to be a perpetual 
 peace between those two tribes and the English. 
 Then, with imposing ceremonies, the magistrates 
 divided the remainder of the Pequots among the Nar- 
 ragansetts and Mohegans ; to Uncas they gave eighty, 
 to Miantonomoh eighty, and to Ninigret they gave 
 twenty. 
 
 They were to be called Pequots no more, but Mohe- 
 gans and Narragansetts ; nor were they ever to dwell 
 again in their old haunts, or occupy their planting or 
 hunting-grounds. Nearly all of those that were as- 
 signed to Miantonomoh left him almost immediately 
 after they went with him to Rhode Island, and sought 
 a home in the old territory of the Pequots, in what is 
 now the town of Westerly. The most of the Pequots 
 given to Ninigret remained with him until 1654, 
 when, upon the demand of the English, they were 
 given up. They located themselves on both sides of 
 Massatuxet Creek, where they built a large number 
 of wigwams, and when the spring returned again they 
 planted their Indian corn and lived quietly, disturb- 
 ing no one. 
 
 But the General Court of Connecticut in 1639 sent 
 - Capt. Mason, with forty men, and Uncas, with one 
 hundred friendly Indians, to break up this new set- 
 tlement of the Pequots, burn their wigwams, and 
 carry off or destroy their corn, claiming that it was 
 in violation of the treaty between the English, Nar- 
 ragansetts, and Mohegans for the Pequots to occupy 
 any of the old Pequot lands. 
 
 Mason and Uncas set sail from the Connecticut 
 River for Pawcatuck River, and first landed their 
 forces on the Connecticut side of the same, then 
 marched up to Pawcatuck Rock (so called), where 
 they drew up their Indian canoes, and in them crossed 
 the river, and marched immediately up to the wig- 
 wams and corn-fields of the Pequots, which, after a 
 parley with them, they burned and destroyed, carry- 
 ing off all the corn they could and twenty of the Pe- 
 quot canoes. 
 
 The destruction of their wigwams did not cause 
 them to abandon their new home, but as soon as Ma- 
 
28 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 son and Uncas left they commenced rebuilding their 
 wigwams, and from the corn that they had stored and 
 the fish and game at hand they managed to subsist 
 until another harvest gave them food in abundance. 
 
 Notwithstanding the displeasure of the Connecticut 
 authorities, they continued to reside at Westerly until 
 some time after that town was settled by the English, 
 in 1661-62. They cultivated at different times over a 
 hundred lots. Their principal village was located 
 near Massatuxet Creek. 
 
 It is not known that any sachem was chosen by or 
 placed over these Indians by the English for several 
 years. Wequash, who guided Mason to the Pequot 
 fort, was an Eastern Niantic sachem, who had a 
 younger brother, known by the name of Harmon 
 Garret. They were the sons of Momojoshuck, a Ni- 
 antic sachem, who had a younger brother, Ninigret, 
 or Ninicraft. 
 
 After the death of Wequash, Harmon assumed the 
 name of Wequash Cook, and claimed to succeed his 
 father as the sachemdo of the Niantics, but his uncle 
 Ninigret, having married Wequash's sister, outranked 
 him, and became the recognized sagamore of the 
 Niantics. 
 
 Wequash Cook then mingled with the Pequots, and 
 soon became their recognized chief. Subsequently 
 he was appointed by the commissioners of the United 
 Colonies and the General Court of Connecticut Gov- 
 ernor of the Pequots at Pawcatuck. 
 
 That portion of the Pequot Indians assigned to 
 Uncas by the Hartford treaty of 1638 refused to live 
 with the Mohegans. They sought a home where they 
 had formerly lived, on a portion of the territory now 
 embraced within the limits of the towns of New Lon- 
 don and Waterford. They were known by the name 
 of the place they then occupied, viz., Nameaugs, or 
 Namearks. Another portion of the tribe, containing 
 some that were given to Uncas, with others who es- 
 caped from the fort under cover of the smoke, and 
 quite a number who were not there at the time of its 
 destruction, located themselves at Noank. They re- 
 fused to amalgamate with the Mohegans, for they 
 could not bear the tyranny of Uncas, who lorded it 
 over them with a high hand. 
 
 In 1643 the Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, 
 and New Haven plantations entered into a combina- 
 tion or confederation under the name of the United 
 Colonies of New England, for purposes offensive and 
 defensive, mutual advice, protection, and support, 
 with power to regulate and adjust all matters con- 
 cerning the welfare of the Indians. 
 
 In 1649 a missionary society was formed in Eng- 
 land, under the influence of Governor Winslow, of 
 Plymouth, and was incorporated by an act of the 
 Long Parliament, passed July 27th of that year, 
 under the name of " The President and Society for 
 Propagating the Gospel in New England." 
 
 In March, 1650, this society appointed the commis- 
 sioners of the United Colonies agents to assist them 
 
 in disseminating the gospel among the Indians of 
 
 New England. 
 
 When Governor Winthrop began the settlement ot 
 New London, in 1645, he found a small portion of 
 the Nameaugs still occupying their old haunts, with 
 a nominal chief by the name of Cassasinamon, whom 
 the English called Bobbin. They were not only held 
 tributary to Uncas, but subject to every indignity 
 that his savage ingenuity could invent. 
 
 Notwithstanding the Nameaug Pequots had so re- 
 cently been at war with the English, they now re- 
 ceived them with open arms, and extended to them 
 every accommodation in their power. Cassasinamon 
 became the servant of Governor Winthrop, and many 
 of his subjects rendered the English all the assistance 
 they could. 
 
 The English planters took the part of the Name- 
 augs against Uncas, and labored to soften the severity 
 of his treatment of them. In consequence ■ thereof 
 he became jealous of Governor Winthrop, and sought 
 in various ways to terrify and intimidate the inhab- 
 itants of the new settlement. 
 
 The first display of Uncas' displeasure towards 
 the planters, on account of their partiality to the 
 Nameaugs, took place in 1646. The Rev. Thomas 
 Peters, then residing at New London, had been seri- 
 ously indisposed, and with returning health his appe- 
 tite craved some venison, which he requested the Na- 
 meaugs to procure for him. 
 
 Fearing that Uncas might interfere, they hesitated 
 at first, for he claimed the sole privilege of making a 
 hunt in his dominions ; but being encouraged, and 
 wishing to gain the friendship of the planters, they 
 concluded to make the attempt. But before engaging 
 in the sport they sought an alliance with the Pequots 
 and Eastern Niantics under Harmon Garret; so Rob- 
 bin, with twenty of his men, accompanied by a num- 
 ber of the whites, crossed the river, and joined their 
 friends under Wequash Cook, and sallied forth with 
 high hopes of catching a fine deer for Mr. Peters. 
 
 But Uncas, who had obtained notice of their design, 
 waylaid them with about three hundred of his war- 
 riors. Watching a favorable opportunity, they sprang 
 forth from their hiding-place, completely surprising 
 the sportsmen, whom they drove in every direction, 
 pursuing the Nameaugs back to the new plantation, 
 wounding several of them severely, and plundering 
 some of their habitations, and threatening to pillage 
 the whites, who became alarmed at such hostile dem- 
 onstrations. 
 
 During the month of September, 1646, the com- 
 missioners of the United Colonies met at New Haven, 
 and Mr. Peters complained of Uncas for interfering 
 with his huntsmen, who were peaceably engaged in 
 hunting on the old Pequot territory, only a part of 
 which belonged to him, whereupon he was summoned 
 to appear and answer for himself. 
 
 He went to New Haven, and asserted his right to 
 control the Nameaugs, under the tripartite treaty of 
 
THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 
 
 29 
 
 1638 ; and further, that a large number of his subjects 
 had been lured from him under the plea of submitting 
 to the English. He managed his case with so much 
 shrewdness and address before the commissioners that 
 he obtained their favor, and Mr. Peters with his co- 
 adjutors were unceremoniously dismissed; so Uncas 
 came off victorious. 
 
 At the next meeting of the commissioners, which 
 took place in July, 1647, Governor Winthrop put in 
 an appearance, with a petition signed by sixty-two 
 Pequots residing at or near Noank, entreating to be 
 released from the tyranny of Uncas, and to be allowed 
 to settle together in one place, under the protection 
 of the English. After a full hearing, Uncas was fitly 
 rebuked for his sinful miscarriages, and fined one 
 hundred fathoms of wampum; but the Pequots were 
 ordered to return to his control, and to amalgamate 
 with the Mohegans, an order which was never carried 
 into effect. 
 
 By this time a large portion of the Indians under 
 Eobbin had taken up their residence at or near Noank, 
 where they had a good opportunity to fish and raise 
 corn for a living. 
 
 In 1648 the commissioners again re-enacted their 
 decree, and ordered all the Nameaugs to remain under 
 the sway of Uncas. The commissioners continued to 
 favor his claims to the control of the Nameaugs, and 
 disapproved of their withdrawing from him ; but in 
 1649 consented that they might go and settle by them- 
 selves in some place that would not prejudice the town 
 of New London, and also on condition that they would 
 own Uncas as their chief sachem. 
 
 About this time, and for several years after, the 
 haughty Mohegan had his hands full to keep clear of 
 the grasp of his Indian foes. From the time he exe- 
 cuted Miantonomoh until 1660, and in fact until 
 Norwich was settled by the English, Uncas was re- 
 peatedly driven from Mohegan, and compelled to seek 
 shelter among the western Niantics ; nor does it appear 
 that he ever lorded it over the Nameaugs after they 
 were located in the vicinity of Noank under the 
 immediate control of Eobbin, where for a few years 
 only they were permitted to live in peace, and not 
 again to be disturbed by Uncas, but by the English. 
 
 It was during the year 1649 that Chesebrough began 
 the settlement of Stonington, which was soon followed 
 by grants of land by New London to Winthrop, Ma- 
 son, Stanton, Denison, Miner, Burrows, Gallup, and 
 others, between the Thames and Pawcatuck Eivers, 
 covering the most eligible locations along the sea- 
 shore, some of which included lands planted by the 
 Nameaugs. The Indians did not confine their plant- 
 ing to their villages, but broke up land wherever they 
 could hold control from planting to harvest-time. 
 
 The English claimed all the Pequot territory as be- 
 longing to them by conquest ; not only the jurisdiction, 
 but the fee thereof. They regarded these Indian set- 
 tlements as only by sufferance and for temporary pur- 
 poses. It was the object of the English, after the 
 
 Pequot war of 1637, to merge the remnant of that 
 tribe with the Mohegans and Narragansetts, so as to 
 uncover and open up all their lands to the English 
 for settlement. 
 
 It will be remembered that by the treaties between 
 the English and Indians at Hartford in 1638 and at 
 Boston in 1645 the Pequots were required to pay 
 tribute to the English, which for some reason was not 
 carried into full effect until 1650, when the commis- 
 sioners appointed Thomas Stanton to demand and 
 receive, it, and make a return yearly of the amount 
 collected. 
 
 In 1651, Mr. Stanton reported to the commissioners 
 at New Haven that he had collected three hundred 
 and twelve fathoms of wampum from all the clans of 
 the Pequots. When this tribute was laid down before 
 the commissioners, Uncas and others, who claimed 
 that the Pequots were tributary to them, demanded 
 to know why this tribute was required, and how long 
 it would continue, and whether it would be visited 
 upon their children. The commissioner, by Thomas 
 Stanton, said that this tribute was by agreement due 
 yearly since 1638 ; that it was required of them for 
 sundry murders, without provocation, committed by 
 them upon several of the English at different times, 
 as they had opportunity, — refusing to deliver up the 
 murderers or to do justice upon them ; hence the 
 tribute, which had not been paid, and twelve years' 
 tribute was then due. But on further consideration 
 it was declared by the commissioners "that upon the 
 payment of the same for ten years thereafter they 
 should be free therefrom (unless they drew trouble 
 upon themselves)." 
 
 During the years 1653 and 1654, Ninigret became 
 involved in war with the Long Island Indians, very 
 much against the policy and wishes of the commis- 
 sioners. He had neglected to collect and pay the 
 wampum tribute due the English from the Pequots 
 living with his tribe, and had also employed them in 
 his expeditions against the Long Island Indians. 
 Upon his being called to account by the commission- 
 ers for the course he was pursuing, he answered them 
 defiantly; whereupon they ordered a large number of 
 men to assemble and rendezvous at Thomas Stanton's, 
 in Stonington, and with him to go and take the Pequots 
 from Ninigret. The men were mustered in as ordered, 
 and marched to Ninigret's fort, and demanded an inter- 
 view with him, but he was not there. After manoeu- 
 vring awhile they learned his whereabouts, and finally 
 succeeded in making a treaty with him, by which 
 he gave up the Pequots and they consented to the 
 control of the English. 
 
 About eighteen years had now elapsed since the 
 Pequot war, during which time the English had made 
 every possible effort to merge and amalgamate the Pe- 
 quots with the Mohegan, Niantic, and Narragansett 
 tribes, but in vain. So in 1655 the commissioners 
 decided to take a new departure and adopt a differ- 
 ent policy, by which the Pequots should remain in 
 
30 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 two distinct tribes or bands, one at Misquamicut 
 (Westerly) and the other at Noank (Groton). The 
 commissioners adopted certain orders and instructions 
 for their government, and then appointed Cassasina- 
 mon governor of the Groton tribe, and Wequash Cook 
 of the Westerly tribe, commanding them to obey their 
 governors at their peril. The wampum tribute was 
 to be paid to Thomas Stanton, and by him reported 
 to the commissioners. 
 
 In 1656, Cassasinamon and Wequash Cook were re- 
 appointed governors of the Pequots, and at their re- 
 quest, for certain reasons, Mr. Winthrop, Maj. Mason, 
 and Capt. Denison were appointed to assist them in 
 compelling the obedience of the Pequots. 
 
 In 1657, when Cassasinamon and Wequash Cook 
 made their annual report to the commissioners, they 
 made application for more land for the use of their 
 respective tribes, and after due consideration it was 
 agreed and ordered by the commissioners that We- 
 quash Cook and his company should have a meet pro- 
 portion of land at Squamiout. This was really an en- 
 largement of the land then occupied by them. It 
 was also ordered that Cassasinamon and his company 
 should have a fit proportion of land allowed them at 
 Waremouke, near the path that leads from Mystic 
 Elver to Moheag, about five or six miles from the 
 mouth of Mystic River, and advised the General 
 Court of Connecticut to appoint proper persons to 
 bound out the same for them. 
 
 Connecticut did not at first, nor until 1666, respond 
 to the order of the commissioners to lay out land for 
 the Pequots. 
 
 After the Pequot war Connecticut claimed the 
 entire conquered Pequot territory. Massachusetts, 
 which furnished men and means for the war, also 
 claimed a share thereof. The matter was referred to 
 the commissioners of the United Colonies, who in 
 1658 decided that all of that territory lying west of 
 Mystic River should belong to Connecticut, and all 
 east of that river should belong to Massachusetts. 
 Prior to this, and as early as 1649, Connecticut had 
 asserted jurisdiction as far east as Wecapaug Brook, 
 and had made liberal grants of land to the early 
 planters there. 
 
 After the decision by the commissioners in 1658, 
 Massachusetts granted land to Harvard College (in- 
 cluding AVatch Hill), and made liberal grants to 
 other parties, covering the entire lands occupied and 
 planted by the Pawcatuck Pequots, and nearly half 
 of the present town of Stonington. 
 
 In 1660, Sosoa, who claimed to be a valorous Nar- 
 ragansett chieftain, but by some believed to be a ren- 
 egade Pequot captain, sold Misquamicut, or all the 
 land between Pawcatuck River on the west and We- 
 capaug Brook on the east, to William Vaughn, Rob- 
 ert Stanton, and others, who took possession the next 
 year, under the authority of the colony of Rhode 
 Island, ousting the Massachusetts claimants as well 
 as the Pequots. A long and bitter controversy en- 
 
 sued between the colonies, as well as among the 
 
 planters and Indians. • • ,., ;„ 
 
 It will be remembered that the commissioneis in 
 1658 had assigned Misquamicut lands to Harmon 
 Garret's company of the Pequots, and at their session 
 in 1660 advised said Indians to keep their possessions, 
 and urged the Connecticut colony to lay out lands for 
 Cassasinamon at Warramouke. 
 
 In 1661 the commissioners, recognizing the Massa- 
 chusetts and Connecticut grants, suggested an ar- 
 rangement which was agreed to all around, which 
 was that the Indians should occupy their grounds for 
 five years and then go to new laud, which was to be 
 assigned them by the Massachusetts General Court, 
 reserving the right of travel to the river and sea. 
 
 At the same time the Connecticut people were 
 stirred up to lay out lands for Cassasinamon. Com- 
 plaint was also made against the Rhode Island 
 planters, who were then occupying some of the lands 
 in question, whereupon the commissioners wrote a 
 letter to the Governor of Rhode Island protesting 
 against their doings. A message was also sent to 
 Harmon Garret forbidding him to sell any lands near 
 Wecapaug. 
 
 Soon after the Rhode Island men took possession 
 of Misquamicut (Westerly) they drove the Pequots 
 from their planting-grounds at Massatuxet over Paw- 
 catuck River into the town of Southertown (now 
 Stonington), where they broke up and planted lands 
 belonging to the English planters, by whom they were 
 not disturbed. 
 
 It was in view of this condition of affairs that the 
 Massachusetts General Court, instead of following 
 the advice of the commissioners, that the Pawcatuck 
 Indians should retain possession of their lands at 
 Misquaniicut until 1665, granted them eight thousand 
 acres of land, the same to be located on the Pequot 
 territory in Stonington. 
 
 The next year the commissioners ordered that this 
 land should be laid out at Cosattuck, now North 
 Stonington, or in some other place satisfactory to the 
 Indians. They also wrote a letter to Southertown, 
 saying that three thousand acres would be as little as 
 could well satisfy them, also reminding the town that 
 one thousand acres had been promised the Indians at 
 Cawsut Neck before any English grants were made. 
 This land was finally laid out at Cosattuck, in such a 
 manner as to include some English grants already 
 occupied by the planters. 
 
 As soon as the town ascertained the boundaries of 
 the Indian lands at Cosattuck a meeting was called, 
 in 1664, which refused to assent to the settlement 
 proposed by the commissioners, and appointed a com- 
 mittee to go and warn the Indians off of the town 
 lands. 
 
 By the charter of King Charles II., of 1662, South- 
 ertown had again become a part of the Connecticut 
 colony ; so the town in 1665 appealed to the Gen- 
 eral Court of Connecticut for redress, who appointed a 
 
THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 
 
 31 
 
 committee to consider tiie matter and report back to 
 the court. 
 
 This committee decided against the town, who re- 
 monstrated, and the court ordered the committee to 
 revise their work, which was done, and after mature 
 deliberation an agreement was reached in October, 
 1666, and another committee was appointed to lay 
 out lands for the Pequots at Pachog, outside of the 
 bounds of Stonington. 
 
 But no lands were laid out for them at Pachog, nor 
 in any other place, mainly because there was not at 
 that time an unoccupied tract large enough for their 
 wants; and wherever a portion was designated for 
 them it would be found intrenching upon some 
 English grants. 
 
 Pending all these proceedings, the Indians were 
 dispossessed of their land at Misquamicut; but not 
 so in Stonington, for they occupied and planted land 
 wherever they could find it uninclosed by the English. 
 When they first crossed the river in 1661 a majority 
 of them located themselves at Pawcatuck and Cawsut 
 Neck, near the salt water. Thomas Stanton and the 
 heirs of Walter Palmer held grants of these lauds 
 from the colony of Connecticut, and they labored to 
 have the Pequots removed to Cosattuck, which was an 
 inland place. 
 
 Catapeset, a son of Harmon Garret, with a consid- 
 erable company of the Pequots, located themselves 
 on Taugwonk, on lands belonging at the time to 
 Ephraim Miner. There they remained for a long 
 time, cultivating some of the best land in Stonington, 
 and there they had a village, and there to-day is 
 their burial-place. 
 
 Stanton and the Palmers did not succeed in getting 
 rid of the Indians for a number of years, though 
 under their influence a large part of them went up to 
 Cosattuck to live, while a large part of their young 
 men lived with and worked for the English. Pawca- 
 tuck River was their favorite fishing-place, and after 
 their removal, for years and years, they would with 
 every returning spring repair to their old haunts, and 
 remain during the fishing season, and carry back to 
 their inland wigwams an innumerable host of smoked 
 buckles. 
 
 For several years after their failure to secure eight 
 thousand acres of land at Cosattuck they were none 
 of the best of neighbors. They were so much dis- 
 satisfied that in 1669-70 they lent a listening ear to 
 the wily messengers of King Philip, and their chief 
 men attended a big dance at Eobbinstown, where 
 were congregated a large number of Indians hitherto 
 hostile to each other. But through the influence of 
 Mason, Stanton, Denison, and others they were per- 
 suaded to remain friendly to the English, and finally 
 took up arms in their defense. 
 
 At the swamp fight in Rhode Island, in 1675, Capt. 
 John Gallup, of Stonington, commanded the warriors 
 of Harmon's company, and Capt. James Avery, of 
 New London, commanded the warriors of Cassasina- 
 
 mon's company, where they distinguished themselves 
 for their bravery and fidelity to the English. 
 
 They also joined the expeditions under Capt. George 
 Denison against the Narragansett Indians and the 
 remnant of King Philip's men, and performed good 
 service. 
 
 Harmon and Cassasinamon were present and as- 
 sisted in capturing Quonochut in Rhode Island, and 
 aided at his execution at Anguilla Lands, in Stoning- 
 ton, in 1676, for all of which they received valuable 
 presents from the English, and were afterwards treated 
 with more lenity by them. 
 
 In October, 1676, Harmon and his son Catapset 
 gave to the English a quit-claim deed of all their 
 lands in Stonington bounds, on condition that the 
 General Court of Connecticut would restore to them 
 their old grounds at Misquamicut, which the court 
 undertook to do, and granted them more than one- 
 half of the present town of Westerly. It is difficult 
 to tell what sort of a title, if any, either party had to 
 the lands conveyed. The Indians did not undertake 
 to get possession of Misquamicut again, nor abandon 
 their Stonington lands. 
 
 The year previous the General Court enacted a code 
 of laws for the Pequot Indians under Cassasinamon 
 and Harmon Garret, and authorized the appointment 
 of an Indian constable to execute their laws. The 
 General Court continued these sachems in power as 
 governors of their respective tribes as long as they 
 lived, and after their death selected and appointed 
 trustworthy Pequots to fill their places, with English 
 assistants to aid them in the discharge of their 
 duties, until 1699, after which the Indian governors 
 were dispensed with, and guardians and overseers 
 were substituted in their places. 
 
 Harmon Garret did not live to see his tribe settled 
 on laud they could call their own, nor did he get even 
 a glimpse of his promised land. He died in 1678, 
 leaving a will, by which he bequeathed land to Maj. 
 John Talcott and John Allen, one hundred acres each. 
 
 After his death, Momoho, a noted Pequot, was ap- 
 pointed governor in place of Harmon Garret, whose 
 first exploit was to lure Cassasinamon's company 
 away from him. He so far succeeded as to cause a 
 portion of them to ask the General Court for liberty 
 to join Momoho, but before the matter came up for a 
 hearing they withdrew their application and aban- 
 doned the project. 
 
 Notwithstanding the promises made to the Indians, 
 no lands had as yet been assigned to the Pequots in 
 Stonington as a permanent home for them to occupy, 
 either by the General Court or the town of Stonington. 
 
 Most of the Indians hired lands of the English to 
 plant with corn, paying the rent in labor for the 
 owners. But this paying rent for lands once their 
 own, and being compelled almost every year to change 
 their habitations and break up new lands, was not at 
 all agreeable to the Indians, and they made repeated 
 efforts to secure for themselves a permanent home. 
 
32 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 In May, 1678, they petitioned the General Court 
 for lands for that purpose. The court appointed Capt. 
 James Avery and Capt. George Denison a committee 
 to consider where may be found a suitable tract of 
 land for Momoho and the Pequots with him, and to 
 be as near the sea as convenient. 
 
 What was done by this committee does not appear, 
 but the General Court, in May, 1679, advised the town 
 of Stonington to lay out a sufficient tract of land for 
 the Indians to plant, on or as near the sea as may be, 
 — five hundred acres at least. 
 
 The town declined to act upon the court's advice, 
 and in October following the General Court appointed 
 another committee, consisting of Mr. Willis, Maj. 
 John Talcott, and Capt. John Allen, to treat with 
 Mr. John Pyncheon, of Springfield, for lands for 
 Momoho and his company. 
 
 In 1680 the court notes the fact that said committee 
 had been treating with Maj. Pyncheon for lands for 
 Momoho near the sea, and that Mr. Pyncheon had 
 taken the same into consideration; but if that failed, 
 then other lands as convenient as can be should be 
 procured and laid out for them. 
 
 In May, 1681, another committee was appointed 
 by the General Court to procure a commodious tract 
 of land for Momoho and his company, either by ex- 
 change or moderate purchase. 
 
 The town of Stonington had been from the outset 
 opposed to the location of these Indians within their 
 boundaries, and in 1681 they made an effort to pur- 
 chase lands of Catapeset, situated in the town of 
 Westerly, R. I., and the General Court granted liberty 
 to Nehemiah Palmer, of Stonington, to purchase said 
 land on certain conditions, and Catapeset agreed to 
 sell a part of said tract to the town of Stonington for 
 twenty pounds; but Westerly men disputed Cata- 
 peset's title, and the town abandoned the purchase. 
 
 The next year, in May, the General Court appointed 
 another committee to buy lands for these Pequots 
 and to sell lands hitherto reserved for them, and to 
 apply the avails in payment thereof 
 
 In May, 1683, the General Court appointed another 
 committee to move the people of Stonington to lay 
 out a suitable tract of land for them ; but if they 
 neglected to do it, the committee were to use their 
 best endeavors to suit the Indians with a commodious 
 tract of land, which they were to procure by exchange 
 of colony land, or by settling them on some unim- 
 proved or colony land, intimating that the law re- 
 quired every town to provide for their own Indians. 
 
 But the town refused to make any provision for the 
 Pequots that looked to their permanent location in 
 Stonington. So this committee purchased a tract of 
 land of Mr. Isaac Wheeler, containing about two 
 hundred and eighty acres, situated in said town, a 
 little way south of Lantern Hill. The deed was dated 
 May 24, 1683, and conveyed the land to said com- 
 mittee in trust for the benefit of said Indians, reserv- 
 ing the herbage for Mr. Wheeler, who received in 
 
 payment for said tract five hundred acres of colony 
 land. 
 
 This purchase was confirmed by the General Court 
 at its October session in 1683, and so to remain during 
 the court's pleasure. Momoho and his tribe reluc- 
 tantly abandoned their claim to lands by the seaside, 
 and at last found an abiding-place bordering upon 
 the sources of the Mystic River. 
 
 There they found a permanent home, and there, 
 among those grand old hills, they and their descend- 
 ants have resided ever since, and the land is now 
 held by the State in trust for their benefit. The res- 
 ervation of the herbage in Mr. Wheeler's deed led to 
 a good deal of trouble for the Indians, because it 
 compelled them to fence every patch they planted to 
 protect it from his cattle, and prevented the Indians 
 from owning or keeping cattle for themselves. 
 
 Mr. Wheeler, in 1685, took up three hundred acres 
 of his said colony land within the present town of 
 Plainfield, and another tract of three hundred acres 
 at Pachog. Owaneco claimed the Pachog land, which 
 claim Mr. Wheeler purchased for three pounds. 
 
 Mr. Wheeler's youngest daughter. Experience, mar- 
 ried the Rev. Joseph Coit, of Plainfield, who in 1713 
 petitioned the General Assembly to lay out to him the 
 three hundred acres of land granted to Mr. Wheeler 
 in Plainfield, which Assembly directed the surveyor 
 of New London County to lay out said land to Mr. 
 Coit, who was the grantee of said Wheeler's right, 
 and to lay it out at the choice of Mr. Coit and the 
 people of his charge. 
 
 Isaac Wheeler, by his last will and testament, dated 
 1712, gave, with lands adjoining, his said right of 
 herbage to his son, William Wheeler, who, by his last 
 will, dated 1747, gave the same to two of his sons-in- 
 law, viz., William Williams and Nathan Crary. 
 
 Some time before 1716, Samuel Miner, of Stoning- 
 ton, and his brother-in-law, Josiah Grant, formerly 
 of the town of Windsor, purchased four grants of 
 land made by the General Court of Connecticut in 
 1671 and 1672 to certain Pequot soldiers, containing 
 in the whole just two hundred and eighty acres. 
 
 In 1716, Mr. Miner (having previously purchased 
 Mr. Grant's interest in said land grants) laid out and 
 located the same upon the land sold by Mr. Isaac 
 Wheeler to the colony for the benefit of the Pequots, 
 and laid claim on the same; which claim was not 
 only resisted by the Indians, but by Mr. Wheeler, 
 because if allowed it would extinguish his right of 
 herbage on said lands. 
 
 After the death of Mr. Miner, his brother, James 
 Miner, as his executor, brought in 1723 a petition to 
 the General Assembly, praying that his late brother's 
 grants laid out upon said tract of land might be con- 
 firmed to him, saving to the Indians what might be 
 needful for them; whereupon the Assembly appointed 
 a committee to investigate the matter, first givin<r 
 notice to all parties interested. ° 
 
 Mr. Wheeler also appeared and claimed the lands 
 
THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 
 
 33 
 
 or his right of herbage in them. The committee were 
 not called upon to fix the rights of the parties, be- 
 cause Mr. Miner and Mr. Wheeler compromised the 
 matter in 1723, Wheeler giving Miner sixty pounds 
 for his interest therein. Soon after, Mr. William 
 Wheeler fenced in the entire tract, and improved it 
 for the herbage, thereby compelling the Indians to 
 fence in their gardens and such lands as they wished 
 to plant, and in this manner the land was occupied 
 by the Indians during the life of Mr. Wheeler, he 
 taking all the hay and grass that the land produced. 
 
 After his death, in 1748, his sons-in-law, Williams 
 and Crary, and their wives divided the land between 
 them, and Crary and his wife sold a part of their share 
 to Simeon Miner. These lands were now claimed by 
 Williams and Crary in fee, subject only to the right 
 of the Indians to plant corn, build wigwams, and live 
 there. 
 
 The result was that the Indians received but little 
 benefit from the lands, and became dissatisfied, and 
 appealed to the General Assembly in May, 1750, for 
 redress; whereupon a committee was appointed to in- 
 quire into the matter, who upon due consideration 
 reported to the October session that another commit- 
 tee, with full power to act in the premises, should be 
 appointed to visit Stoniugton and investigate the 
 matter. 
 
 This committee proceeded to the discharge of their 
 duty, and finally agreed upon a compromise which 
 was satisfactory to the Indians, as well as to Williams 
 and Crary, which compromise was approved by the 
 Assembly, and was as follows : The Governor and 
 Council agreed to release to William and Crary 
 two strips of land, one of thirty-five acres, on the 
 south side of the original tract, and the other of 
 twenty acres, on the east side thereof, and permit 
 them to locate their ancient Pequot grants of two 
 hundred and eighty acres on any ungranted lands 
 in the colony, on condition that the said Williams 
 and Crary would release the balance of the entire 
 tract to the Governor and Council for the benefit of 
 the Indians, to which they agreed, and subsequently 
 conveyed all their interest in the main tract to the 
 colony, receiving in turn an absolute deed to the two 
 gore strips, with the assurance that their ancient 
 Pequot soldier grants should be laid out to them by 
 Eoger Sherman, who subsequently located them in 
 the town of Plainfield. 
 
 Cassasinamon and his company had lands laid out 
 for them, under the authority of the General Court, at 
 Mashantuxet, in the present town of Ledyard, in 1665. 
 Though this grant was made at the request of Cassa- 
 sinamon, it was not satisfactory to him nor his com- 
 pany. They wanted their lands laid out at the head 
 of the Mystic River, nearer to their fishing-places; 
 but the committee appointed to locate it thought 
 otherwise, and established their lands at Mashan- 
 tuxet, and the court ratified their doings in 1666. 
 
 So great was the dissatisfaction of Cassasinamon 
 
 with this grant that he never occupied it. He con- 
 tinued his home at Noank until he died in 1692. 
 
 Some portion of his company occupied and planted 
 lands at Mashantuxet soon after it was granted to 
 them ; but others, with Cassasinamon, lived at Noank, 
 and even after his death continued to reside there un- 
 til 1712, when the town of Groton claimed the Noank 
 land, and contended that the Pequots had no title to 
 the same, and that the colony had given them a sufii- 
 cient quantity of land at Mashantuxet ; consequently 
 the Indians were ousted from their possessions at 
 Noank, and reluctantly went to their inland home. 
 
 They brought a petition to the October session of 
 the General Assembly in 1713, complaining of the 
 town of Groton for taking their lands at Noank, in 
 answer to which the General Assembly ordered that 
 a survey of both tracts of land should be made and 
 returned to the Assembly the May following, and 
 further ordered that no one should interfere with their 
 hunting, fishing, and fowling at Noank. 
 
 When the Assembly met in 1714 a full hearing in 
 the premises was had, which resulted in an order that 
 the Indians must not occupy Noank any longer, but 
 should have full liberty to improve the Mashantuxet 
 grant of two thousand acres, with the right to come 
 to the salt water upon Noank Neck, for clamming, 
 fishing, and fowling purposes, as theretofore. 
 
 These early grants by the colony to the Indians 
 were not considered as conveying to them the fee 
 simple thereof, which of course remained in the col- 
 ony, and which by the several patents subsequently 
 issued by the colony passed to the towns or proprie- 
 tors thereof. 
 
 So the town of Groton in 1719 voted to divide 
 their commons, reserving to the Indians lands at 
 Mashantuxet to live on, and appointed a committee 
 to carry said vote into effect, who in 1720 gave them 
 a deed of seventeen hundred and thirty-seven acres 
 at Mashantuxet, reserving the herbage for the said 
 proprietors, who brought a petition to the General As- 
 sembly in 1732 for a final determination of all mat- 
 ters in controversy between them and the Indians. 
 
 Whereupon a committee was appointed, which came 
 to Groton, and after hearing all parties concerned 
 reported that the Indians at Mashantuxet consisted 
 of sixty-six males, from fourteen years and upwards, 
 a large part of which lived with their English neigh- 
 bors, and that the Indians do not require all the lands 
 previously granted them, and that the west half of 
 the reservation or common should be laid out in fifty- 
 acre lots, and the proprietors allowed to fence them, 
 so as to secure their herbage and the Indians their 
 corn and apple-trees, and the proprietors be allowed 
 to clear the said lots, leaving ten acres of forest on 
 each lot of fifty acres for fire-wood for the Indians, 
 with liberty for them to remove their planting to 
 other lots once in three years if they desire, leaving 
 the other half of the lands unsurveyed and unfenced 
 as formerly. 
 
•3-1 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The report was accepted and allowed, with this con- 
 dition, "that the liberty granted to the proprietors to 
 fence said lands shall continue no longer than this 
 Assembly shall thinlt proper." 
 
 This act of the Assembly did not satisfy the expec- 
 tations of the Indians, who repeatedly complained of . 
 encroachments on their lots by the English, who 
 really secured the lion's share of their products. 
 
 To such an extent were the Indians defrauded that 
 the General Assembly in 1752 interposed in their be- 
 half, and summoned the proprietors of Groton to show 
 reasons why the grant of 1732 should not be annulled, 
 who appeared, and after a full hearing the Assembly 
 repealed said act. 
 
 The Indians remained in possession of the west 
 part of their lands until 1761, when the Assembly 
 granted them the use of the east part also. This 
 grant was made in consideration of their services in 
 the then late war with France. 
 
 A large proportion of the Pequots of both reserva- 
 tions entered the Connecticut forces that were raised 
 to join the expeditions against Ticonderoga, Louis- 
 burg, and Crown Point, and suffered severely in those 
 campaigns. 
 
 So many of them were killed in battle and died of 
 disease that the women and children at home were 
 wellnigh reduced to starvation. Their condition was 
 made known to the General Assembly in 1766 by the 
 Eev. Jacob Johnson, then preaching in Groton, where- 
 upon a committee was appointed by the Assembly to 
 visit them, who repaired to Mashantuxet, and after a 
 patient examination reported back to the Assembly, 
 at the same session, that there were one hundred and 
 fifty persons of all ages, a, large part under the age of 
 sixteen years, and widows whose husbands were killed 
 in the late war, and they were too poor to provide 
 decent clothing for themselves, in view of which the 
 Assembly granted them twenty pounds. 
 
 In 1773 they again complained of encroachments 
 without redress. 
 
 In 1785 they again asked the Assembly for protec- 
 tion against the encroachments of the English, which 
 resulted in the appointment of a committee to fix the 
 bounds of their lands, which were subsequently es- 
 tablished by the committee. 
 
 After they recovered from the destitution occasioned 
 by the loss of so many of their warriors in the French 
 war they managed to subsi.st by their own labor, 
 either on their lands or for their English neighbors, 
 and the colony was not further burdened with their 
 support. 
 
 It will be remembered that the commissioners of 
 the United Colonies were in 1650 appointed agents of 
 the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the 
 Indians in New England ; in pursuance of which, in 
 1657, they proposed to Rev. Richard Blinman to be- 
 come the missionary of the Pequots and Mohegans, 
 offering him a salary of twenty pounds per annum 
 which he declined. 
 
 The same year they employed the Rev. William 
 Thompson, son of the Rev. William Thompson of 
 Braintree, Mass., to preach to the Pequots at a salary 
 of twenty pounds per annum. 
 
 He came to Southertown in 1658, and began his 
 labors with Harmon Garret's company, and was as- 
 sisted by Thomas Stanton as interpreter. He con- 
 tinued to preach to the English and Indians for about 
 three years, and then went to Virginia. 
 
 After this the commissioners, in 1662, invited the 
 Rev. Abraham Pierson, of Bradford, Conn., to remove 
 his habitation to Southertown, and to apply himselt 
 in a more special way to the work of preaching the 
 gospel to the Pequots, but he declined. 
 
 Previous to this, and in the year 1654, the commis- 
 sioners of the United Colonies, at the request of the 
 Connecticut members thereof, provided for the edu- 
 cation of Mr. John Miner with the Rev. Mr. Stone, 
 who was to fit him as a teacher and missionary to the 
 Pequot Indians. 
 
 Soon after Mr. Thompson left the commissioners, 
 in 166-4, instructed the Connecticut members to em- 
 ploy this Mr. John Miner to teach the Pequots to 
 read ; but whether he was so employed or not does 
 not appear. The commissioners also, in 1654, off'ered, 
 at the expense of the Society for the Propagation of 
 the Gospel, to educate Thomas and John Stanton, 
 sons of Thomas Stanton, the interpreter-general at 
 Cambridge, Mass. The object was to fit them as 
 teachers for such Indian children as should be taken 
 into college to be educated. They accepted the com- 
 missioners' oflfer and entered college, but did not re- 
 main long enough to graduate, nor does it appear 
 that either of them was ever engaged in teaching the 
 Indians. 
 
 The efforts of the English to civilize and Christian- 
 ize the Pequots were not very successful, the reasons 
 for which may be more easily imagined than de- 
 scribed. The agents of the London Missionary So- 
 ciety did not wholly neglect them, for as late as 1766 
 they employed Mr. Hugh Sweatingham to teach the 
 Pequots, at their school-house at Mashantuxet, at 
 twelve pounds per annum. They also employed Mr. 
 Jacob Johnson to preach to them at five shillings 
 elghtpence per sermon. 
 
 The Assembly in 1766 granted Mr. Johnson five 
 pounds for his labors, and Mr. Sweatingham four 
 pounds for his services. During the great awakening 
 of the eighteenth century, and for a long time before 
 and after, the more peaceable attended the religious 
 services of the English, and some were baptized and 
 united with their churches. But they were mostly 
 females who worked for and lived in the families of 
 the whites. Now and then some stern old Pequot 
 captain would own the Christian covenant and try 
 to live up to the half-way communion. 
 
 It will also be remembered that the commissioners 
 at first attempted to carry out the policy of mergino- 
 the Pequots with the Mohegans and Narragansetts. 
 
THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 
 
 35 
 
 They at first refused to permit the remaining Pequots 
 to be relieved of the tyranny of Uncas, but after their 
 connection with the London Missionary.Society they 
 adopted a different policy, and gradually favored the 
 Pequots. 
 
 They exerted themselves to secure permanent 
 homes for them, with ample lands, and then labored 
 to furnish them with religious instruction. But the 
 colonies preferred to hold and treat the Indians as 
 wards, subject at any time to their control, keeping 
 the fee of their lands in the colony, and giving them 
 only the use thereof; which policy has been pursued 
 by our State ever since, except with the Mohegan In- 
 dians, who, by law enacted in 1872 and 1873, had the 
 rights of citizenship bestowed upon them, and their 
 lands set out to them in severalty as an absolute es- 
 tate in fee simple. 
 
 So it appears that the descendants of Uncas and 
 the Mohegans have been more kindly treated in these 
 later days than the descendants of the Pequots. The 
 services of the Mohegans in our early Indian wars 
 have been recognized by the Congress of the United 
 States, which appropriated for their benefit a large 
 sum of money. 
 
 These Pequot reservations, located in the ancient 
 towns of Groton and Stonington, were less than a 
 mile apart, with two small lakes or ponds between 
 them ; each reservation had its village, called " In- 
 dian town," which consisted at first of a cluster of 
 wigwams built in the Indian fashion. 
 
 By and by framed houses came into vogue, and the 
 old wigwams passed away. The reservation at Mash- 
 antuxet was by far the largest, and the Indians more 
 numerous than the tribe at Lantern Hill. It was 
 proposed at first to give Cassasinamon's company 
 two thousand acres at Mashantuxet, but when sur- 
 veyed by the town it amounted to only seventeen 
 hundred and thirty-seven acres. 
 
 The subsequent controversies with the English had 
 the efiect of reducing the area of this reservation. 
 After the English ejected the Indians from the Noank 
 lands, the town of Groton divided the same between 
 the inhabitants thereof equally. 
 
 They were subsequently surveyed and divided into 
 lots, and assigned by lottery to the proprietors. Not- 
 withstanding that the bounds of these lands were es- 
 tablished in 1785, no accurate survey of them was 
 made until 1793, which was preserved, and when the 
 Legislature of 1855 ordered a survey and sale of a 
 part thereof by a committee to be appointed by the 
 County Court of New London County, all that was 
 found remaining of the original two thousand acres 
 by said committee was a trifle less than nine hundred 
 acres. 
 
 Under this authority seven hundred and thirteen 
 acres were sold at public auction, bringing about 
 seven thousand dollars, which is now held by the 
 
 overseer of that tribe for their benefit, or such as may 
 need support. 
 
 The reservation at Lantern Hill has not been re- 
 duced since Williams and Crary were assigned, in 
 compromise settlement of their claims, two small 
 strips on the south and east sides. 
 
 The Legislature in 1873 ordered the overseer to 
 survey and sell all of this reservation but one hun- 
 dred acres, and invest the avails thereof for the bene- 
 fit of the Indians. But owing to the great depression 
 in real estate, nothing has been done in the prem- 
 ises. 
 
 It is wellnigh impossible to ascertain at the present 
 time how many Pequots belong to or have an interest 
 in these reservations. The Indian towns of the olden 
 time have run down to two small houses on each res- 
 ervation, which are now occupied by four families. 
 How many are living elsewhere cannot be deter- 
 mined. 
 
 So, after two hundred and thirty-nine years since 
 the conquest of Mason, only a small remnant remains 
 of the once powerful and haughty Pequots. No one 
 can defend the horrible tortures that they inflicted 
 upon the English who fell into their hands as prison- 
 ers. Their overthrow by Mason humbled their pride, 
 and so far subdued them that ever afterwards they 
 were the friends of the English. They joined our 
 forces in King Philip's war, and in the great swamp 
 fight in 1675 performed prodigies of valor under Gal- 
 lup and Avery. During the French war they volun- 
 tarily joined the expeditions that were raised to repel 
 the invasions of the French and northern Indians. 
 
 But who can successfully defend all of the acts of 
 the English towards the Pequots, especially after they 
 had yielded to their authority and became subservient 
 to their power? It is not to be wondered at that the 
 English failed in their eflTorts to Christianize the Pe- 
 quots. 
 
 The commissioners of the United Colonies and 
 nearly all of the clergymen of New England made 
 praiseworthy efibrts to afford the Indians religious 
 instruction. But, after all, the treatment that the 
 Pequots received from the authorities acting under the 
 colonies of Connecticut and Ehode Island in the as- 
 signment of lands for their benefit and in other mat- 
 ters was so unjust and oppressive that it wellnigh 
 outweighed every consideration that was urged upon 
 them by Elliott and his co-workers to effect their con- 
 version and make them believe in the white man's 
 God. 
 
 Most of the Pequot warriors preferred the favor of 
 their Good Spirit Kritchian, and died believing that 
 in the beautiful southwest land were hunting-grounds 
 of boundless extent and game of endless variety, 
 where no Hobomoke could charm the arrow from its 
 fatal plunge nor mar their happiness in the Indian's 
 summerland. 
 
36 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 Among 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 redress in 
 an enlightened and prompt administration of justice, 
 is the first necessity of every civilized community, 
 and without which the forces of society in their 
 changeable developments, even under the teachings 
 of the pulpit, the direction of the press, and the cul- 
 ture of the schools, are exposed to peril and disaster 
 from the turbulence of passion and conflicts of inter- 
 est; 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 bulwarks of 
 the law, administered by a pure, independent, and 
 uncorrupted judiciary. 
 
 The New London County bar has from its begin- 
 ning numbered among its members able jurists, tal- 
 ented 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 advancement of the interests of the county and 
 figured conspicuously in the councils of the State and 
 nation. 
 
 Samuel Huntington. — A considerable lustre in 
 the early days was thrown upon the town plot (Nor- 
 wich Town) by its being the residence of the Hon. 
 Samuel Huntington, Governor of the State. He was 
 not a native of the town, but liad early settled in the 
 place as an attorney. His wife was a daughter of the 
 Eev. Ebenezer Devotion, of Windham, a lady with- 
 out any pretensions to style or fashion, but amiable 
 and discreet. It was long remembered that — in a 
 white short gown, stuff petticoat, a clean muslin 
 apron, and nicely-starched cap — she would take her 
 knitting and go out by two o'clock in the afternoon 
 to take tea unceremoniously with some respectable 
 neighbor, perhaps the butcher's or blacksmith's wife. 
 But this was early in her married life, before Mr. 
 Huntington was president of Congress or Governor 
 of Connecticut. These offices made a higher style of 
 housekeeping appropriate, and in later days the 
 movements of Mrs. Huntington in leaving town or 
 returning home became matters of public notoriety 
 
 and she was saluted, whenever she appeared in pub- 
 lic, with ceremonious courtesy. After the Revolution 
 the Governor built a new house, elegant and spacious, 
 and lived in quiet dignity. _ 
 
 This worthy couple had no children of tl»eir own 
 but children always gathered around them. Though 
 he was wise and sedate, and she quiet and thrifty, 
 yet lurking beneath a grave exterior both had large 
 hearts and that sunny benevolence of disposition that 
 attracts the young and delights in the interchange of 
 favors with them, giving care and counsel for cheer 
 and fervid feeling. 
 
 Before the Revolutionary war Mr. Huntington had 
 generally some two or three young law students with 
 him; his nephew, Nathaniel Huntington, and the 
 beautiful Betsey Devotion, the belle of Windham, 
 also spent much of their time in his family; the 
 house, therefore, naturally became the centre of 
 attraction to the young and happy of that joyous 
 neighborhood. 
 
 Governor Huntington was born at Windham, July 
 3, 1731. His father, Nathaniel Huntington, was by 
 trade both a farmer and a clothier. He gave a liberal 
 education to three of his sons, who devoted themselves 
 to the Christian ministry ; but Samuel, being designed 
 for a mechanic, was apprenticed to a cooper, and fully 
 served out his time. 
 
 Mr. Huntington's mind was naturally acute and 
 investigating, and his thirst for mental improvement 
 so great as to surmount all obstacles. From observa- 
 tion, from men, and from books he was always col- 
 lecting information, and he soon abandoned manual 
 labor for study. He was self-educated, — went to no 
 college, attended no distinguished school, sat at the 
 feet of no great master, but yet acquired a competent 
 knowledge of law, borrowing the necessary books of 
 Col. Jedediah Elderkin, and was readily admitted to 
 the bar. He settled in Norwich in 1760, and soon 
 became useful and eminent in his profession. He 
 frequently represented the town in the Colonial Assem- 
 bly, was active in many ways as a citizen, agent for 
 the town in several cases, and forward in promoting 
 public improvements. He was appointed king's at- 
 torney, and afterwards assistant judge of the Superior 
 Court. In 1775 he was elected a delegate to the Con- 
 tinental Congress, and served as president of that 
 honorable body during the sessions of 1779 and 1780. 
 While in Congress his seat on the bench was kept 
 vacant for him, and he resumed it in 1781. He held 
 various other important offices, such as chief justice 
 of the State and Lieutenant-Governor, and in 1786 
 was elected Governor, and annually re-elected by the 
 freemen, with singular unanimity, until his death, 
 which took place at Norwich, Jan. 5, 1796. 
 
 He was honored with the degree of LL.D. both by 
 Yale and Dartmouth. 
 
 Governor Huntington preserved to the last those 
 habits of simplicity with which lie began life. In 
 the published journal of the Marquis de Chastellux 
 
BENCH AND BAE. 
 
 37 
 
 he speaks of Mr. Huntington, who was then president 
 of Congress, with marked respect. The marquis was 
 a major-general in the French army that came to our 
 assistance. While at Philadelphia, in December, 
 1780, he called upon Mr. Huntington, in company 
 ■with the French ambassador, and observes, " We 
 found him in his cabinet, lighted by a single candle. 
 This simplicity reminded me of Fabricius and the 
 Philopemens." At another time he dined with him, 
 in company with several other French gentlemen of 
 distinction, and adds, "Mrs. Huntington, a good- 
 looking, lusty woman, but not young, did the honors 
 of the table — that is to say, helped everybody — with- 
 out saying a word." This silence must surely be at- 
 tributed to ignorance of the language of the gay cava- 
 liers, and not to any deficiency of good manners or 
 conversational power. 
 
 Mr. Huntington was of the middle size, dignified 
 in his manners, even to formality ; reserved in popu- 
 lar intercourse, but in the domestic circle pleasing 
 and communicative ; his complexion swarthy, his eye 
 vivid and penetrating. One who was long an inmate 
 of his family said, " I never heard a frivolous obser- 
 vation from him ; his conversation ever turned to 
 something of a practical nature; he was moderate 
 and circumspect in all his movements, and delivered 
 his sentiments in few but weighty words." 
 
 He was eminently a religious man : as ready to offi- 
 ciate at a Conference meeting, or to make a prayer 
 and read the Scriptures when called upon in a public 
 assembly, or to breathe counsel and consolation by 
 the bedside of the dying, as to plead before a judge 
 or to preside in Congress. 
 
 This sketch cannot be better concluded than with 
 the earnest wish breathed by a contemporary pane- 
 gyrist, " May Connecticut never want a man of equal 
 worth to preside in her councils, guard her interests, 
 and diffuse prosperity through her towns I" 
 
 Asa Spalding was born in Canterbury in 1757, 
 graduated at Yale in 1779, studied law with Judge 
 Adams, of Litchfield, and settled in Norwich as an 
 attorney in 1782. He was without patrimony or any 
 special patronage, but by the force of native ability, 
 sound judgment, and integrity he acquired an ex- 
 tensive law practice, sustained various offices of trust 
 and honor, and by diligence, accompanied with strict 
 economy in his domestic affairs, amassed a handsome 
 property. At the time of his death, in 1811, he was 
 reckoned one of the richest men in the eastern part 
 of Connecticut. Yet it was then no easy matter to 
 grow rich in the practice of the law. The price for 
 managing a case before the Common Pleas varied only 
 from six to thirty shillings, and before the Supreme 
 Court from six to fifty-four shillings. 
 
 His brother, the late Judge Luthee Spalding, 
 about ten years the junior of Asa, settled at Nor- 
 wich in the practice of the law in 1797. A third 
 brother. Dr. Kufus Spalding, a physician, who had 
 been for many years in practice at Nantucket, also 
 
 removed to Norwich in 1812, and the three brothers 
 repose in the same burial-ground. 
 
 Elisha Hyde was a lawyer of good repute, uni- 
 versally popular in his native town for his urbanity, 
 genial temperament, and overflowing benevolence of 
 heart. His wife, who was a daughter of Amos Hal- 
 lam, of New London, long survived her husband, 
 and died at Black Eock, N. Y., Aug. 26, 1841, aged 
 eighty-seven. They had two daughters ; the young- 
 est, Ann Maria, died soon after her father, at the age 
 of twenty-four. Of this young person, lovely and 
 beloved, a memoir, written by the companion of her 
 youth, Miss Huntley, afterwards Mrs. Sigourney, was 
 published. The eldest daughter, Sarah, born in 1776, 
 married Capt. Z. P. Burnham. Mr. Hyde was elected 
 mayor of Norwich in June, 1798, and held the office 
 fifteen years. He died Dec. 16, 1813, aged sixty-two. 
 
 Joshua Coit was born in New London, Conn., 
 Oct. 7, 1758. He graduated at Harvard University in 
 1776, subsequently studied law, and settled in New 
 London in 1779. He served a number of years in the 
 Legislature of Connecticut, and was a member of 
 Congress from 1793 to 1798. He died in New London, 
 Sept. 5, 1798, of yellow fever. 
 
 Elvin Perkins was born in Norwich, April 5, 
 1767. He graduated at Yale in 1786, studied law, 
 and after practicing a few years relinquished the pro- 
 fession ; was Presidential elector, member of Con- 
 gress, judge of County Court, mayor of New London, 
 etc. He died in New London, Sept. 27, 1845. 
 
 Geoege Peekins was a native of Plainfield, grad- 
 uated at Yale College in 1803, studied law with his 
 father-in-law. Judge Marsh, of Vermont, and with 
 Asa Bacon, of Litchfield, and was admitted to the 
 bar in 1806, and immediately entered upon the prac- 
 tice of his profession in Norwich. He practiced his 
 profession until about the year 1823, when he aban- 
 doned the law for the ministry. He was pastor of a 
 church at Ashburnham, Mass., and also at Jarrett 
 City. He was amiable, kind-hearted, and possessed 
 of the most unbending integrity of character. He 
 died in Norwich, Sept. 20, 1852. 
 
 Gen. Elisha Steeling 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. 
 
 Cyeus Swan, of Stonington, became a member of 
 the Litchfield County bar in 1798. He settled in 
 Sharon, and continued in full practice for twenty 
 years. 
 
 Maj. Nathan Petees, an old Revolutionary hero, 
 died in Norwich in February, 1824, after a long ill- 
 ness. He was distinguished for his courage, presence 
 of mind, and intrepidity of conduct at the Groton 
 fort. He was the first man who dared to enter that 
 fortress after the disgraceful and unprecedented as- 
 sassination of Col. Ledyard. At that critical junc- 
 ture he rode into the fort, and with his own hands 
 
38 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 extinguished the fire which had been set to a train by 
 the British previous to their leaving, which, as has 
 often been said by those who were present, would in 
 less than five minutes have communicated with the 
 magazine and blown him and all those who imme- 
 diately followed him into eternity. Maj. Peters, after 
 the close of the war, entered immediately upon the 
 business of his profession, and soon became and was 
 for years one of the most learned lawyers and able 
 advocates in practice at the New London County bar. 
 
 Jonathan G. W. Tetjmbull was born at Leb- 
 anon, Oct. 31, 1787, and was a son of David Trumbull, 
 and grandson of Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of Con- 
 necticut in the war of the Revolution, and known as 
 " Brother Jonathan." He graduated at Yale College 
 in 1807. He studied law with William T. Williams, 
 then a practicing lawyer at Lebanon ; was admitted to 
 the bar of this county in 1809, and at once com- 
 menced practice at Norwich. He continued in prac- 
 tice some eight years, when he quit the profession 
 and embarked in mercantile pursuits with John 
 Breed, in Norwich, and subsequently with him in the 
 manufacture of woolen cloths at Jewett City. The 
 last years of his life he retired from active business. 
 He died Sept. 5, 1853. 
 
 Joseph Teumbull was born in Lebanon, Conn., 
 Dec. 7, 1782, and was educated at Yale College, where 
 he graduated in 1801. He read law with William T. 
 Williams, of Lebanon, was admitted to the bar in 
 Ohio in 1803, and in the same year in Windham 
 County, Conn. He commenced practice in Hartford, 
 where he remained. 
 
 Jeeemiah Gates Brainard, of New London, the 
 father of the poet Brainard, was judge of the County 
 Court. He had been a member of the old court from 
 1807. 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 
 dignity on the bench, and yet he was regarded as an 
 excellent judge. He dispatched 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 F. Beainaed, son of Judge J. G. Brain- 
 ard, was for a long time a leading lawyer in New 
 London. 
 
 Jacob B. Gueley was also a prominent lawyer, 
 and for several years was State's attorney, and also 
 member of the Legislature. 
 
 ElCHAED Law was born in Medford County, March 
 17, 1733, and graduated at Yale College in 1751. He 
 studied law, and practiced in New London, attaining 
 the highest eminence in his profession. He was 
 prosecuting judge of the County Court, and judge of 
 the Supreme Court. He was a delegate to the Conti- 
 nental Congress from 1777 to 1778, and also from 1781 
 to 1784. After the adoption of the Federal Constitu- 
 
 tion he was appointed United States district judge 
 and held the office until his death, Jan. 26, 180b. ae 
 was a personal friend of Washington, was long 
 mayor of New London, and with Roger Sherman re- 
 vised the code of Connecticut. He was the son ot 
 Jonathan Law, one of the colonial Governors. 
 
 Lyman Law was born in New London, Aug. 19, 
 1770, and graduated at Yale College in 1791. He 
 studied law with his father, Richard Law, and prac- 
 ticed in New London. He was a member of the 
 Legislature, and Speaker of the House; was a mem- 
 ber of Congress from 1811 to 1817. He died in New 
 London, Feb. 3, 1842. 
 
 James Stedman, a native of Hampton, graduated 
 at Yale in 1801, and remained as tutor for two years ; 
 studied law with Theodore Dwight, and commenced 
 practice at Norwich in 1806. He was for many years 
 clerk of the County Court. In private life he was 
 social and hospitable, in his profession a wise and 
 safe counselor, and in the church a revered and be- 
 loved officer. He died May 18, 1856, aged seventy- 
 six. 
 
 LuTHEE Spalding was a younger brother of Asa. 
 He did not receive a liberal education, but studied 
 law with his brother, and settled in Norwich. He 
 held the office of associate judge of the old County 
 Court. 
 
 Jonathan Feisbie graduated at Yale College ; 
 opened an office at Norwich and entered upon prac- 
 tice ; was several times a member of the Legislature ; 
 was at one time the only practitioner in that part of 
 Norwich known now as the city, then as Chelsea 
 Landing. 
 
 Chaeles T. Harrington studied law with Jona- 
 than Frisbie. 
 
 Chaeles Peekins was born in Norwich, and 
 graduated at Yale. He pursued his profession in 
 Norwich for some time, when he removed to Litch- 
 field, where he died. 
 
 George Perkins was born in Plainfleld, Wind- 
 ham Co. ; graduated at Yale; studied law with Judge 
 Marsh, of Vermont; came to Norwich and com- 
 menced practice, which he pursued several years. 
 He then studied for the ministry, and preached at 
 first in the State of Massachusetts, then at Jewett 
 City, in this county. He returned to Norwich Town 
 the last years of his life. He was twice married, first 
 to one and then to another daughter of Dr. John 
 Turner. His nephew, George Perkins Marsh, is the 
 distinguished diplomat, now minister at the Italian 
 court. His father was the famous physician, Dr. 
 Benjamin Perkins, who invented the metallic trac- 
 tors, about which Fessenden wrote the poem, "Terri- 
 ble Tractoration." 
 
 George Peekins was born at Ashford, Windham 
 Co.; graduated at Yale College, 1828; came to Nor- 
 wich a teacher; studied law with Hon. Calvin God- 
 dard; admittedtothebarin August, 1831; commenced 
 practice in Norwich, and continued so till he died- 
 
bp:nch and bar. 
 
 39 
 
 was for several years judge of probate aud clerk of 
 City Court, and did a large business as an insurance 
 agent. 
 
 John A. Rockwell was for many years a success- 
 ful practitioner in the Court of Claims at Washington, 
 and in connection with this branch of public business 
 digested and published a work on Spanish and Mexi- 
 can law. Jn political life he was more of a national 
 man than a partisan, a true lover of his country, 
 warmly interested in its past history, honoring its 
 founders, and firmly believing in its high mission to 
 expand the boundaries of knowledge and free govern- 
 ment. He died at Washington, Feb. 10, 1861, aged 
 fifty-nine. His remains were interred in Norwich. 
 
 Geobge Burbank Ripley was born in Norwich, 
 March 13, 1801 ; graduated at Yale College in the class 
 of 1822. Among his classmates were William H. 
 Law and John A. Rockwell, of Norwich, both subse- 
 quently members of the bar of this county, and Wil- 
 liam Lathrop, of Norwich, who died before entering 
 the profession, and whose sister, Hannah G. Lathrop, 
 Mr. Ripley married Oct. 19, 1825. 
 
 Mr. Ripley studied law with Judge Swift, at Wind- 
 ham, until the death of that distinguished jurist in 
 
 1823, and completed his law studies in the ofiice of 
 Judge Staples, of New Haven, entering the bar in 
 
 1824. Mr. Ripley practiced law actively but a short 
 time, turning his attention to agricultural pursuits, 
 for which he had a great natural fondness. 
 
 He filled a number of municipal offices, and was 
 judge of probate for a number of years between 1850 
 and the date of his death, which occurred July 9, 
 1858. Mr. Ripley was a man of high literary and 
 scientific attainments, of elevated and religious char- 
 acter, and of imusual urbanity of manner and warmth 
 of heart. No man in the county was better known 
 or more beloved. 
 
 Calvin Goddard was a native of Shrewsbury, 
 Mass., and a graduate of Dartmouth College.- He 
 settled in Plainfield in the practice of the law in 1791, 
 and served as a member of Congress for two sessions, 
 from 1801 to 1805. He removed to Norwich in 1807, 
 where he purchased for his residence the Dunham 
 house, which included in its grounds the burial-place 
 of the Mohegan sachems. In 1815 he was appointed 
 a judge of the Supreme Court. He was a man of 
 honorable character and high attainments. His wife 
 was a daughter of Rev. Levi Hart, of Preston, and a 
 granddaughter of Dr. Bellamy. Charles, oldest son 
 of Calvin Goddard, removed to Zanesville, Ohio, in 
 1817. He was elected mayor of Norwich in 1814, and 
 was in office seventeen years. He died May 2, 1842, 
 aged nearly seventy-four years. 
 
 James Lanman was born in Norwich, June 14, 
 1769 ; graduated at Yale College in 1788, and chose 
 the law for his profession, in which he soon acquired 
 distinguished rank, and successively filled various im- 
 portant public offices. He was senator in Congress 
 from 1819 to 1825, and for three years judge of the 
 
 Supreme Court of Connecticut. He died Aug. 7, 
 1841, aged seventy-two. He was the oldest son of the 
 first Peter Lanman, of Norwich. His mother was 
 Sarah, daughter of Samuel Coit, of Preston. He was 
 elected mayor of Norwijh in 1831, and held the office 
 three years. 
 
 Benjamin Huntington, LL.D., was the first 
 mayor of Norwich; elected July, 1784; in office 
 twelve years; resigned in 1796. He was one of the 
 most honored and honorable men of that period, a 
 statesman of incorruptible integrity, conspicuous for 
 his patriotic service in the town. State, and general 
 government. He was a State counselor during the 
 Revolutionary war, member of the Continental Con- 
 gress in 1784, and of the Constitutional Congress in 
 1789, and in 1793 was appointed judge of the Superior 
 Court of Connecticut. In every station he was pop- 
 ular and faithful. His family was an attractive social 
 centre, but the members all removed to other scenes, 
 several of his children gathering families around them 
 at Rome, N. Y. Judge Huntington himself removed 
 thither in 1796, and there died Oct. 16, 1800. His re- 
 mains wei-e brought to Norwich and laid by those of his 
 wife, who was a daughter of Col. Jabez Huntington, 
 of Windham. The degree of LL.D. was conferred 
 upon him by Yale College, where he graduated in 
 1761. 
 
 John McLaean Breed was a distinguished law- 
 yer, noted for enterprise, benevolence, and public 
 spirit. In improvements of the city, made in the 
 way of bridges, streets, wharves, and buildings, he 
 took a leading part. His death, in the prime of use- 
 fulness and activity, was lamented as a public loss. 
 He was elected mayor of Norwich in April, 1796. He 
 died May 81, 1798, aged fifty years. 
 
 Benjamin Pomeroy, native of Tolland County; 
 studied iaw there, and when admitted to the bar came 
 to North Stonington, where he practiced several years, 
 and held the office of postmaster, and was once a rep- 
 resentative from the town in the Legislature. He was * 
 subsequently collector of customs at the port of Ston- 
 ington, to which place he removed and continued in 
 the practice of his profession. He was judge of the 
 County Court in 1842-43. 
 
 George Hubbard was for a long time a practicing 
 lawyer at Stonington. 
 
 William H. Law graduated, as J. A. Rockwell 
 did, at Yale in 1822 ; born in New London ; studied 
 law with Hon. Lyman Law ; came to Norwich and 
 practiced several years, when he retired from busi- 
 ness; was member of the Legislature in 1828; re- 
 moved to New Haven, where he died in 1881. 
 
 Jared F. Crocker began practice in Colchester ; 
 and subsequently removed to Norwich ; went to Eng- 
 land on business, and was lost on board the " Hun- 
 garian." 
 
 Asa Child. — Born at Woodstock, Windham Co. ; 
 graduated at Yale, 1820 or 1821 ; soon after admission 
 to bar came to Norwich and entered in large practice ; 
 
40 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 was United States district attorney; left here in 1842 
 or '43, and practiced in Baltimore, then in New York 
 City ; came back here about twenty years ago and en- 
 tered on practice again ; died May 11, 1858. 
 
 Jabez W. Huntington, a native of Norwich, 
 graduated at Yale College in 1806 ; went to Litchfield 
 as a teacher in the Litchfield Law-School and student- 
 at-law in 1807, and continued to reside there until 
 October, 1834, when he returned to Norwich, and 
 died there in 1847, in his sixtieth year. While a res- 
 ident 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. 
 
 Levi Haet Goddard, son of Hon. Calvin God- 
 dard, was a native of Norwich, and admitted to the 
 bar in 1830. With the exception of a few years in 
 which he resided in Marietta, Ohio, his business was 
 almost entirely in Norwich. He was a man of ami- 
 able qualities, and at the time of his death was the 
 oldest practicing member of the bar in Norwich. He 
 died May 9, 1862. 
 
 EoGEE Gbiswold settled in Norwich when first 
 admitted to the bar in 1783, and soon acquired dis- 
 tinction as an able advocate and vigilant public officer, 
 quick and efficient in carrying out the laws, and rigid 
 in exacting obedience. After his marriage he pur- 
 chased the dwelling-house on the green vacated by 
 Dudley Woodbridge upon his removal to the West, 
 and made it his residence until he left Norwich and 
 returned to his native town, Lyme, which was in 
 1798. 
 
 It is an interesting fact that he came back to Nor- 
 wich to die. He was elected Governor of Connec- 
 ticut in May, 1811, and re-elected the succeeding 
 year. For several years he had been afflicted with a 
 disease of the heart, which at intervals caused him 
 great suffering. It increased so rapidly that in the 
 summer of 1812 he was removed to Norwich, that he 
 ' might try the effect of a change of air, and at the 
 same time have the benefit of advice from Dr. Tracy, 
 in whose skill as a physician he had great confidence. 
 But neither air nor medicine could do more for him 
 than alleviate the paroxysms of his distress, and he 
 died Oct. 25, 1812, aged fifty. 
 
 He was a member of Congress from 1795 to 1805, 
 and in 1801 declined the appointment of Secretary of 
 War. He was subsequently a judge of the Supreme 
 Court, Lieutenant-Governor and Governor of Con- 
 necticut, and Presidential elector. He received from 
 Harvard College the degree of LL.D. 
 
 Joshua Coit was born in New London, Conn., 
 Oct. 7, 1758. He graduated at Harvard College in 
 1776, studied law, and settled in New London in 1779. 
 He was a member of the Legislature of Connecticut, 
 and also a member of Congress. He died in New 
 London of yellow fever, Sept. 5, 1798. 
 
 NoYES Baebbe was born in Groton, April 28, 1781. 
 He was in early life a merchant, but a lawyer by pro- 
 
 fession. He was member of Congress from 1821 to 
 1835. He died in Groton, Jan. 3 1845. 
 
 EOSWELL MOBGAN was a native of the town of 
 Norwich, and in early life learned the trade of a 
 hatter. He studied law with Elisha Hyde, and came 
 to the bar late in life. He was a very industrious 
 worker in the profession, devoting himself almost en- 
 tirely to the collection of claims. • 
 
 Edwaed Perkins was a native of Norwicn; 
 studied law in the office of Hon. John A. Rockwell. 
 He was a man of very much more than ordinary 
 ability, and soon won a high position as a clear- 
 headed and well-trained lawyer and an eloquent and 
 popular advocate. He for a time enjoyed a large and 
 lucrative practice, and held the same till impaired 
 health compelled him to measurably retire from prac- 
 tice. He represented Norwich in the State House of 
 Representatives, and was also a senator. He was for 
 several years judge of probate. 
 
 Joseph, Williams.— The branch of the Williams 
 family of which the honored subject of this memoir 
 was a member dates its ancestry to John Williams, 
 who was born in England in 1680. He emigrated to 
 this country in 1720, and located in what is now Po- 
 quetanuck, then Norwich, where he purchased large 
 tracts of land for a mill-seat, homestead, and farm. 
 He married in 1707, and died in 1741, aged sixty-one 
 years. The farm and homestead remained in the 
 family until 1855. Joseph Williams (son of John) 
 was born in 1723, and died in 1776, aged fifty-three 
 years, at Brattleborough, Vt., where he removed dur- 
 ing the Revolutionary war. He had three sons and a 
 son-in-law in the army. Joseph Williams (father of 
 the subject of this sketch) was born in 1753, and died 
 in Norwich, Oct. 23, 1800, aged forty-seven years. 
 
 For ten years he was a member of the Legislature, 
 and very active in securing the grant of what is 
 known as the Western Reserve lands in Ohio. 
 
 On the maternal side Mr. Williams dates his an- 
 cestry to Rev. Joseph Coit, the first minister of Plain- 
 field, who was a graduate of Harvard University, and 
 took his second degree at the first commencement at 
 Yale, in 1702. The first ancestors of Rev. Joseph 
 Coit came to this country from Great Britain about 
 1630. 
 
 Joseph Williams, son of Gen. Joseph Williams and 
 Abigail Coit, was born in the city of Norwich, March 
 29, 1779. In 1792 he was sent by his parents to the 
 celebrated academy of Dr. Dwight, at Greenfield Hill, 
 Fairfield Co., Conn., where he remained until Janu- 
 ary, 1795, when he entered Yale College, then under 
 the presidency of Ezra Stiles, who in the May follow- 
 ing was succeeded by Dr. Dwight. In 1798, Mr. Wil- 
 liams graduated, and having decided upon the legal 
 profession as a life-work, he entered the office of the 
 late Judge Simeon Baldwin, in New Haven. Here 
 he remained until the year 1800, when, in conse- 
 quence of the death of his father, he was called home. 
 He did not return to New Haven, but entered the 
 
.>''■ 
 
 ./^T^^ 
 
BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 41 
 
 office of the late Judge James Lammon, in this city, 
 where he continued his studies with diligence and 
 attention, and at the February term of the court in 
 1801 he was admitted to the bar. He immediately 
 opened an office in his native town, and at once en- 
 tered upon the active practice of his profession. He 
 continued in practice about thirty-three years, until 
 1833, when he was chosen partner of the Merchants' 
 Bank, a new corporation, in which capacity, he 
 served seven years with but one clerk. Upon leaving 
 the bank he resumed the office practice of law, and 
 was also secretary and treasurer of the Norwich Fire 
 Insurance Company, which viias, by petition presented 
 by himself to the Legislature, changed from a marine 
 to a fire insurance company. He remained with the 
 company, managing its affairs with eminent ability, 
 from 1819 to 1855. He was also president of the Nor- 
 wich Savings Society the last years of his life. 
 
 Mr. Williams ever manifested a decided interest in 
 all matters tending to advance the welfare of his na- 
 tive city, and filled various positions of trust and re- 
 sponsibility with credit to himself and to the entire 
 satisfaction of his constituents. He was treasurer of 
 New London County for twenty-five successive years ; 
 a justice of the peace thirty-nine years in succession, 
 was an alderman of the city of Norwich twenty-two 
 years, and was a member of the Legislature four ses- 
 sions during the war of 1812. He was a director of 
 the Norwich Bank over thirty-five years ; trustee, di- 
 rector, and afterwards president of the Norwich Sav- 
 ings Society from its incorporation in 1824. 
 
 Mr. Williams was also deeply interested in the Mo- 
 hegan tribe of Indians, and for seven successive years 
 was the overseer and trustee of the tribe. During his 
 administration as overseer he started a subscription 
 to raise money for the erection of a house of worship 
 for the Indians, and with the assistance and persever- 
 ance of a few Norwich ladies enough was raised to 
 build a convenient chapel, which was soon after erected 
 and occupied. 
 
 Mr. Williams not only labored to advance the ma- 
 terial interests of his native city, but all measures for 
 the advancement of its religious and educational in- 
 terests found in him an earnest advocate. He united 
 with the Congregational Church in 1831, and during 
 the remainder of his life was one of the most active 
 and prominent members of the Second Church, in this 
 city. He was very patriotic, and with deep interest 
 closely watched all the events occurring during the 
 civil war, and lived to rejoice in its glorious termina- 
 tion. 
 
 In February, 1815, he united in marriage with Mrs. 
 Rebecca Coit,' daughter of John Coit, Esq., of Gris- 
 wold, and of their family only two daughters survive, 
 both residents of Norwich, and occupying the old 
 homestead on Broadway. 
 
 1 She was the mother of tlie late Daniel T. Coit, for forty years a prac- 
 ticing physician in Boston, Mass. He died in Norwich, July 2, 1880. 
 
 Joseph Williams inspired all with whom he came 
 in contact with unbounded confidence in his common 
 sense and uncompromising integrity. Possessing great 
 energy and marked business ability, he was frequently 
 selected to act as arbitrator, trustee, and adviser. He 
 was a man of fine presence, and commanded universal 
 respect. 
 
 Death at last laid his hand upon the strong man, 
 and Nov. 28, 1865, aged eighty-six, he passed to that 
 higher life which he had endeavored to exemplify in 
 his walk and conversation. He passed peacefully 
 away, — 
 
 *' Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch 
 About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." 
 
 At the time of his death he was the oldest native 
 male citizen. 
 
 Samuel Coit Morgan was born in Lisbon, Conn., 
 in 1789. He graduated at Yale College in 1812, and 
 read law in the office of Thomas Day, in Hartford, 
 and Timothy Pilkin, of Farmington, and was admitted 
 to the bar in 1815. He commenced practice at Jewett 
 City, where he remained until 1842, when he removed 
 to Norwich, having been elected president of the Ed- 
 inburgh Bank. He was a sound and accurate lawyer, 
 a trusted and valued counselor, and faithful in the 
 discharge of every duty in life. He died Sept. 11, 
 1876. 
 
 Jeremiah HALSEYwas born atStonington,Conn., 
 in 1743. He was the youngest child of William 
 Halsey and Sarah Stanton, who were married at 
 Stonington, June 19, 1738. The Halseys were an 
 English family who settled on Long Island. From 
 there William Halsey came to Stonington, and sub- 
 sequently to the town of Preston. The subject of 
 this sketch received such education as the public 
 schools afibrded. Early manifesting the energy and 
 genius which characterized his subsequent life, he 
 sought eagerly for such books as he could command, 
 and directed his attention to the study of the law. 
 He was admitted to the bar by the County Court at 
 New London, June term, 1770. He entered upon the 
 practice of his profession at Preston. He was mar- 
 ried to Esther Park, of Preston. 
 
 Immediately after the battle of Lexington, at the 
 commencement of the war of the Revolution, he re- 
 paired to Roxbury, Mass., and joined those there 
 assembled for the defense of the rights of his country, 
 and continued in such defense with scarcely any in- 
 termission until the close of the war. He entered 
 with zeal and energy into the expedition for the cap- 
 ture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point before it should 
 be there known that hostilities had commenced, and 
 was present and engaged in the capture of those im- 
 portant posts. He was appointed by Col. Ethan Allen 
 to take charge of the prisoners there captured, whom 
 he conducted to Hartford. 
 
 While absent on this expedition he was appointed 
 and commissioned by Governor Trumbull, May 1, 
 1775, a lieutenant in the force raised for the defense 
 
42 
 
 HISTOEY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 of the colony. With Ticonderoga and Crown Point 
 were also captured a large number of naval craft and 
 guns on Lakes George and Chainplain. These being 
 without a commander, Col. Benjamin Hinman, col- 
 onel of the Fourth Eegiment of Foot raised by the 
 colony of Connecticnt, and commander-in-chief at 
 Ticonderoga, appointed Mr. Halsey captain of the 
 armed sloop " Enterprise," of twenty-one guns, and 
 commander of all the vessels on the lakes. This 
 commission is dated at Ticonderoga, June 21, 1775. 
 He was at the siege of St. John's under Gen. Mont- 
 gomery, and continued in this service until December, 
 1775. 
 
 In December, 1776, he was appointed and commis- 
 sioned a captain in a corps of troops raised for service 
 in the Continental army, and served in that army 
 under Gen. Spencer in Ehode Island until the month 
 of April, 1777. In September, 1777, he was appointed 
 by Governor Trumbull and the Council of Safety, 
 under a resolution of Congress, a recruiting-officer, and 
 with authority to apprehend de-serters, and continued 
 in such duty until the close of the war. Feb. 29, 1780, 
 he was appointed and commissioned lieutenant-colo- 
 nel of the Twenty-seventh Regiment of Foot of the 
 State militia, from which he derived the title of 
 " colonel," by which he was familiarly known. 
 
 During this time he was looking forward to the 
 practice of his profession, as appears by an invoice of 
 English law-books which he purchased in 1778, em- 
 bracing most of the books then in use. At the close 
 of the war he soon entered upon a large and varied 
 practice in the State and United States courts. 
 
 His residence was upon a farm a little south of 
 Preston City, then a place of considerable trade, where 
 he built a spacious brick mansion. His house, ac- 
 cording to the custom of the times, was the abode of 
 a generous hospitality. Among other law students 
 he had Calvin Goddard, of Massachusetts, who was 
 also a tutor to the children of the family. He was 
 quick to observe the rare talents of his student, who 
 afterwards became one of the foremost among the law- 
 yers of the State, and between whom a warm friend- 
 ship existed through life. He was an early advocate 
 of emancipation, and purchased the freedom of sev- 
 eral negro slaves. 
 
 Among other enterprises outside of his profession, 
 he built at Poquetanuck a plank brig, the materials 
 for which came mostly from his farm. It was re- 
 garded as a great novelty at the time, but proved to 
 be a serviceable vessel. 
 
 In 1792 the Legislature authorized the building of 
 a new State-House in Hartford. After its partial 
 completion, the funds appropriated having been ex- 
 pended, Andrew Ward and Jeremiah Halsey pro- 
 posed to complete it for the title of a tract of land 
 culled the "Gore," claimed by the State, and lying 
 between New York and Pennsylvania. The proposi- 
 tion was accepted, and the State-House was completed 
 by them and occupied by tlie Legislature in 1796. 
 
 Governor Samuel Huntington conveyed to them the 
 title of the State to said tract, July 25, 1795. The State- 
 House was then completed. A picture of it as it then 
 appeared is in the background of a portrait of Col. 
 Halsey, in the rooms of the Connecticut Historical 
 Society, at Hartford. . 
 
 Col Halsey purchased the interest of Mr. Ward in 
 the tract, Aug. 4, 1795. Col. Halsey had great faith 
 in the future value of this tract of land, and of the 
 title of the State to it. In its value his judgment 
 was correct. It would have proved a princely estate, 
 but the title unfortunately proved defective. Sept. 
 17, 1795, there was organized at Hartford " The Con- 
 necticut' Gore Land Company," of which Col. Halsey 
 was the president. The object was to survey and lay 
 out the tract into townships, settle boundaries, remove 
 encroachments, etc. It was finally decided that Con- 
 necticut hac^ no title to convey, and the whole enter- 
 prise proved a failure. Subsequently the General 
 Assembly made some compensation for the failure of 
 title. 
 
 Col. Halsey is recollected as a man of tall and com- 
 manding figure, of sanguine temperament, persuasive 
 address, combined with great force and energy of 
 character. He had ten children ; the eldest was 
 Jeremiah Shipley Halsey, father of Jeremiah Halsey, 
 lawyer of Norwich, and the youngest, Silas Plowden 
 Halsey, who was lost in a torpedo off New London, 
 in August, 1814, in an attempt to blow up the British 
 ship " Eamilies," 74, then blockading the harbor of 
 New London. 
 
 Col. Halsey died Aug. 25, 1829, and is buried in the 
 parish burying-ground at Preston City. 
 
 Marvin Wait. — Among the members of the bar 
 of this county who were admitted to the same prior 
 to the Revolution and were in full practice through 
 the latter part of the last and the early part of the 
 present century was Marvin Wait. He was horn at 
 Lyme, Dec. 16, 174(3. He was educated in the com- 
 mon schools of that town, and at the proper age read 
 law with the elder Matthew Griswold and Samitel 
 HOLDEN Parsons, residents of Lyme, and was ad- 
 mitted to practice in 1769. He at once formed a 
 partnership with his preceptor, Mr. Parsons, who 
 sent him into New London with his law library to 
 open an office, he intending to remove there himself, 
 with his family, the following year. Mr. Parsons was 
 at that time king's attorney for this county, and was 
 a leading man in public affairs, and a prominent 
 practitioner at the bar of the State. But the Revo- 
 lution began to loom up ; Parsons became involved in 
 the movements of the Whigs of that day; he kept 
 deferring his removal from Lyme to New London till 
 war broke out, when he abandoned practice, entered 
 the army, and before he retired from the same reached 
 the rank of major-general. 
 
 The subject of this sketch rose rapidly at the bar 
 of this county, and obtained a large practice during 
 the Revolution, and so into the opening of the present 
 
a^y-z-^ 
 
 "in' !jli ifRMV ! 
 
BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 43 
 
 century. He had a clear and vigorous intellect, thor- 
 oughly disciplined by early education, general reading, 
 and professional training. He was an easy and 
 effective speaker, and stood high in his profession as 
 an advocate. It was said of him that he studied men 
 as carefully as books, and that his thorough knowl- 
 edge of human nature gave him great advantage in 
 the trial of cases to a jury. With agreeable manners 
 and pleasant address, he was popular among his polit- 
 ical friends. He began his public career early in 
 life; was nineteen times elected a representative from 
 New London to the General Assembly ; was several 
 years a judge of the old County Court for New Lon- 
 don County ; and was a Presidential elector in 1793, 
 and cast his vote for Washington. When political 
 parties formed, at the close of Gen. Washington's 
 administration, he united with the supporters of Mr. 
 Jefferson ; was one of the leaders of the old Republican 
 party in this State, and several times one of the con- 
 gressional candidates of that party. He was also one 
 of the commissionei's appointed by the General As- 
 sembly to sell the Western lands, the property of the 
 State, and establish the present school fund. Soon 
 after the close of the present century he retired from 
 practice, and died June 21, 1815, at his residence, on 
 Main Street, in New London. Throughout his pro- 
 fessional and public career he enjoyed the reputation 
 of being an honorable and incorruptible man, and 
 left an unsullied name as a rich legacy to his children. 
 
 JlEAH IsHAM was born in the town of Colchester, 
 Conn., in May, 1778. He was educated at Yale Col- 
 lege, where he graduated in 1797. He commenced 
 the study of the law in the office of Hon. David Dag- 
 gett, at New Haven, where he remained about one 
 year. He then removed to New London, and con- 
 tinued his studies with the late Judge Brainard, and 
 was admitted to the bar in 1800. He commenced 
 practice in New London, where he remained until his 
 death. 
 
 Mr. Isham was highly respected as a man and a 
 lawyer. With engaging manners and a warm heart, 
 he entered into the feelings and views of his numer- 
 ous clients with such entire devotedness that they re- 
 garded him not merely as a safe adviser and able ad- 
 vocate, but as a personal friend. His disposition was 
 eminently social, but this never interfered with the 
 severer duties of his profession. His habits were at 
 once active and studious. While he mingled freely 
 and with much zest in general society, he devoted 
 most of the hours of every day to laborious applica- 
 tion to business. As an orator he was fluent, grace- 
 ful, and ardent, and at times truly eloquent. 
 
 During the war of 1812 he was major-general of 
 the State militia, and for a time commanded the 
 troops stationed at New London and its vicinity for 
 the defense of that part of the State, and those who 
 served under him felt that they were serving under a 
 commander whose talent and courage they never 
 doubted. 
 
 Gen. Isham, as he was familiarly known, was for 
 several years State's attorney for New London County, 
 was also mayor of the city of New London, and judge 
 of probate for the New London district. 
 
 He continued in the active practice of his profes- 
 sion until his death, which occurred at New London, 
 Oct. 6, 1842. 
 
 The military ardor Of Gen. Isham seems to have 
 descended to his grandson, William Dickinson, of 
 New London, Conn., who at the breaking out of the 
 Rebellion was a lieutenant in the United States 
 army, was soon promoted to be captain, and while in 
 command of his company at the battle of Bull Run 
 was severely wounded, taken prisoner, and carried to 
 Richmond, where he was confined many months, suf- 
 fering greatly from his wound and his tedious im- 
 prisonment. For his gallant conduct in the battle, 
 however, he received the brevet of major. 
 
 Henry Strong. — Prominent in the galaxy of 
 members of the legal profession who have adorned 
 the bar of this commonwealth stands the name of 
 Henry Strong, for many years previous to his death 
 the acknowledged leader of the bar of Eastern Con- 
 necticut, and without a superior in the State. 
 
 The youngest son of Eev. Dr. Joseph Strong and 
 Mary Huntington, he was born in Norwich, Conn., 
 Aug. 23, 1788. He was prepared for college by his 
 father, and at the age of fourteen entered Yale. 
 Governor Bissall and Senator Jabez W. Huntington 
 were in the same class, and among his college cotem- 
 poraries were also John C. Calhoun, Rev. Joshua 
 Huntington, Rev. John Pierpont, Dr. Thotflas H. 
 Gallaudet, and Rev. Gardiner Spring, D.D. Not- 
 withstanding his youth, his scholarship was of a high 
 order, and he graduated with the honors of the insti- 
 tution in 1806. 
 
 The two years after his graduation he devoted to 
 the teaching of a select school in his native town, 
 pursuing at the same time the study of the law in the 
 office of James Steadman, Esq. During the next two 
 years he held the position of tutor in Yale College, 
 continuing his legal studies with Judge Chauncey, of 
 New Haven. 
 
 He was admitted to the bar in New Haven in 1810, 
 and immediately returned to Norwich and entered 
 zealously upon the practice of his chosen profession. 
 To this his mind was well adapted, being quick, logi- 
 cal, comprehensive, and able to elicit truth from the 
 most complicated and seemingly contradictory evi- 
 dence. He was wont to seize upon the strong points 
 of a case, and present them in the most convincing 
 light. He was ever ready and able to make the best 
 of a client's cause which the testimony would warrant, 
 but he scorned all trickery and deception. As a public 
 speaker he was earnest and at times even impetuous. 
 His eloquence was like the mountain torrent, which 
 either surmounts or demolishes whatever obstacles it 
 meets. He possessed a wonderful power of language, 
 which he well knew how to employ at the bar or else- 
 
44 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 where, to rebuke whatever was dishonorable or mean, 
 as well as to vindicate the claims of justice. 
 
 As a lawyer, the members of the bar of which he 
 had been an ornament for more than forty years de- 
 scribed him as "one who by the ability, integrity, 
 fidelity, and diligence with which he discharged his 
 various duties imparted dignity and respectability to 
 the profession, and caused his own name and memory 
 to be held in honored remembrance." 
 
 Mr. Strong was free from all taint of personal am- 
 bition, and though often solicited to allow himself to 
 be put in nomination for some of the highest offices 
 in the gift of the State, he uniformly and resolutely 
 declined all such overtures, except in two or three in- 
 stances when he reluctantly accepted a seat in the State 
 Senate. He was invited to accept the professorship 
 of law in Yale College, but he declined. In the year 
 1848, however, the corporation, without consulting 
 Mr. Strong, conferred upon him the degree of LL.D., 
 an honor which was richly deserved. 
 
 Every enterprise which promised to benefit the 
 public found in him an advocate and patron. He 
 was a firm friend of education, and was one of the 
 founders and supporters of the Norwich High School. 
 He was a consistent Christian, and a constant at- 
 tendant upon public worship, and a liberal contributor 
 to all charitable objects. 
 
 Henry Strong had an integrity and uprightness of 
 character against which envy dared not breathe a 
 whisper. He had a love of truth and goodness which 
 shaped all his intercourse with his fellow-men, and 
 an unobtrusive benevolence which cheered many a, 
 desponding heart. He died in Norwich, Nov. 12, 
 1852. 
 
 He married July 7, 1825, Eunice Edgerton Hunt- 
 ington, of Norwich, daughter of Joseph Huntington 
 and Eunice Carevv, and their family consisted of three 
 children, only one of whom is living, Mary Eunice, 
 wife of Dr. Daniel F. Gulliver. 
 
 HfiNRTf Matson Waite, late chief justice of the 
 Supreme Court of Connecticut, was born at Lyme, in 
 this State, on the 9th day of February, 1787, and died 
 at that place on the 14th day of December, 1869. 
 
 On his father's side he was descended from an old 
 and highly respectable family, originally English. An 
 ancestor moved from Sudbury, Mass., to Lyme about 
 the commencement of the eighteenth century. Among 
 the descendants of this ancestor who have distin- 
 guished themselves in this State may be mentioned 
 Marvin Waite, a prominent lawyer in his day, and 
 John Turner Waite, his son, one of the foremost law- 
 yers in Eastern Connecticut, and now the representa- 
 tive in Congress from the Third District of the State. 
 The mother of Judge Waite was a Matson, of an 
 equally honorable race. She was a sister of the late 
 Governor Buckingham's mother, and was in many 
 respects a remarkable woman. 
 
 Judge Waite prepared for college at Bacon Acad- 
 emy, Colchester, then the most flourishing institution 
 
 of the kind in the State, and had for his schoolmates 
 the late Governor Ellsworth, his brother, Henry L. 
 Ellsworth, Henry R. Storrs, and others who have 
 since been men of mark in the country. In 1806 he 
 entered the sophomore class at Yale College, and 
 was graduated in 1809 with high honors. Soon after 
 this he taught school in Fairfield County, and began 
 the study of the law with Joseph Wood, Esq., of Stam- 
 ford. For about a year he was assistant preceptor of 
 Bacon Academy, and then recommenced his legal 
 studies with the Hon. Matthew Griswold, at Lyme, 
 occasionally reciting to and receiving instruction 
 from Governor Roger Griswold, one of the ablest 
 men the State has ever produced. 
 
 After being admitted to practice in New London 
 County in 1812, Judge Waite opened an office for a 
 short time in Middletown, and then returned and de- 
 voted himself to his profession in his native town. 
 In January, 1816, he married Maria Selden, a daugh- 
 ter of Col. Richard Selden, of Lyme, and grand- 
 daughter of Col. Samuel Selden, a distinguished offi- 
 cer of the Revolution. This family has given many 
 eminent men to the country, among whom the most 
 conspicuous at the present day are Judges Samuel 
 Lee Selden and Henry R. Selden, of the State of 
 New York. 
 
 In the years 1815 and 1826 Judge Waite repre- 
 sented the town of Lyme in the General Assembly, 
 and in 1830 and 1831 he was a member of the Senate 
 for the Ninth District. In both bodies his good sense, 
 his rectitude of purpose and conceded ability gave 
 him, even when in a minority, a full share of per- 
 sonal influence. In politics he belonged to the old 
 Federal party, and when that had ceased to exist and 
 had become with many a theme of derision he ad- 
 hered to its principles and defended its character. 
 
 In consequence of the pecuniary embarrassments 
 and changes in the condition of property which fol- 
 lowed the war of 1812 there was a large amount of 
 litigation, and he went immediately into a full and 
 profitable practice. This his character for integrity, 
 industry, promptness, and sagacity, and especially his 
 prestige of success, enabled him to retain and increase 
 during the whole of his professional career. It was 
 his habit to be thoroughly prepared in season, both 
 on questions of law and fact, so as to be able to seize 
 the earliest moment to pass his cases to trial, and he 
 thereby avoided as far as lay in his power " the law's 
 delay," which has tended so much to sully the fame 
 of an honest and honorable profession and to bring 
 reproach upon the administration of justice. 
 
 He never affected what is usually understood as the 
 art of oratory, depending mainly upon voice, gesticu- 
 lation, posture, and expression of countenance, — what 
 the great Athenian pleader denominated "action." 
 But his judgment in selecting the prominent points 
 of a case and skill in applying the evidence, his 
 perspicuity of language and earnestness of manner, 
 and, perhaps as much as any one quality, his subtle 
 

L. P. S. POSTER. 
 
BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 45 
 
 knowledge of character, rendered him a successful 
 advocate with the jury. 
 
 It was, however, rather in questions of law that his 
 strength especially lay; and his legal erudition, 
 patient research, power of discrimination, and terse- 
 ness of argument were fully appreciated by an able 
 and learned court. 
 
 On the retirement of Judge Daggett, in 1834, 
 Judge Waite was elected a judge of the Superior 
 and Supreme Courts. In 1854 he was advanced to 
 the position of chief justice, and this high office he 
 held until the 9th of February, 1857, when he arrived 
 at the age of seventy, the constitutional limit of his 
 official term. During this period of more than 
 twenty-two years he enjoyed the perfect confidence, 
 respect, and esteem of the bar and the entire commu- 
 nity. To the younger members of the bar he was 
 particularly kind, and many who now occupy the 
 front rank in the profession remember gratefully the 
 aid and encouragement which they received from him 
 in their earlier efforts. 
 
 He was careful in forming, and modest in express- 
 ing his legal opinions, but was firm, even to boldness, 
 in adhering to them when he conscientiously believed 
 them to be right. Hence it will be observed in ex- 
 amining the reports that he was not unfrequently in 
 a minority, and sometimes stood alone among his 
 brethren; yet it is safe to say that not very often 
 have his decisions been reversed by the ultimate 
 judgment of the bar. In the language of another, 
 " he contributed his full share to the character of a 
 court whose decisions are quoted and opinions re- 
 spected in all the courts of the United States and the 
 highest courts of England." The degree of Doctor 
 of Laws was conferred upon him by Yale College in 
 1855. 
 
 Soon after Judge Waite left the bench he became 
 subject to a painful malady, from which he suffered 
 greatly, but with entire patience and cheerfulness, 
 with an unclouded mind and undiminished fondness 
 for intellectual and social enjoyment to the close of 
 his life. Mrs. Waite, who was in every respect 
 worthy of him, and contributed much to his success 
 and incalculably to his happiness, died a short time 
 subsequently to the fiftieth anniversary of their mar- 
 riage. This occasion had been celebrated with great 
 satisfaction by a large circle of relatives and friends. 
 His eldest son, Morrison R. Waite, is the present 
 chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United 
 States, and a younger son, Eichard Waite, is now an 
 eminent lawyer in the State of Ohio. Another son, 
 George C. Waite, had attained a leading position at 
 the bar of the State of New York, when he fell a 
 victim to consumption. 
 
 Lafayette S. Foster's career was long and dis- 
 tinguished. He traced his lineage from Miles Stan- 
 dish and other Puritans, and was the son of a Eevolu- 
 tionary patriot who shared in the glory of the victory 
 at Saratoga in 1777. Mr. Foster was born in the little 
 4 
 
 country town of Franklin, a few miles from Norwich, 
 Nov. 22, 1806. He began life as a penniless, friend- 
 less lad, but by his own energy and aptitude secured 
 a good education. Graduating from Brown Univer- 
 sity, and entering upon the practice of law at Nor- 
 wich, he soon forced himself to a conspicuous place 
 at the bar and to prominence in local affairs. He 
 represented Norwich in the State Assembly six times 
 between 1839 and 1854, being thrice elected Speaker. 
 For two years he served the city as its mayor. From 
 the 4th of March, 1855, to the 4th of March, 1867, he 
 occupied a seat in the United States Senate, this pe- 
 riod of his service extending over the exciting and 
 critical interval immediately preceding the war and 
 extending past it to the days of reconstruction. 
 Originally a Whig, and later a Eepublican, Mr. Fos- 
 ter's sympathies were naturally with the negro and 
 with the Union cause. 
 
 He was among the first, amid the confusion and 
 doubt that prevailed in the winter of 1860-61, to 
 prophesy a civil war. It is narrated on good author- 
 ity that on the 1st of January, 1861, Mr. Seward, of 
 whom Mr. Foster was a great friend, gave a dinner- 
 party, from which the latter was necessarily absent, 
 but which was attended by his wife. At dinner Mrs. 
 Foster sat next to Preston King, of New York, and 
 the conversation having turned upon the existing 
 political complication, she ventured the opinion that 
 the country was drifting into a civil war. Mr. King 
 having piqued Mrs. Foster by a slighting reply, she 
 went on to say that Mr. Foster thought so too. 
 Thereupon Jlr. King turned to her more attentively 
 and inquired if Senator Foster really entertained 
 such an idea. She having reiterated her statement, 
 he leaned back in his chair and laughed long and 
 heartily, if not with rudeness. The incident served 
 to illustrate both the strange cloud which veiled the 
 future from the eyes of many sagacious public men 
 at that time and the characteristic foresight and pen- 
 etration of the senator from Connecticut. Mr. Foster 
 was among those who would have made large sacri- 
 fices at that time for the sake of averting an open 
 rupture, but the hand of treason having once been 
 raised in violence against the nation, he was for pros- 
 ecuting the war with the utmost vigor to the bitter 
 end, lending no sanction to the peace movement of 
 1864, or the Greeley conference at Niagara Falls. 
 When the war was ended, however, Mr. Foster favored 
 the speedy restoration of the Southern States to their 
 constitutional relations with the Federal government, 
 and to the largest degree of self-government consist- 
 ent with the Constitution. He was out of sympathy 
 with the more radical leaders of the Republican party, 
 to which fact, doubtless, is attributable his not being 
 elected to a third term. It follows, as a matter of 
 course, that he did not approve of the impeachment 
 of Andrew Johnson, which, however, was not under- 
 taken until after he left the Senate. During the last 
 two years of his service in that body he occupied the 
 
4t; 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTS, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Vice-President's chair, being chosen thereto when 
 Andrew Johnson succeeded Lincoln, and yielding it 
 to Ben Wade, of Ohio, in 1867. 
 
 In 1870, without previous service on the Superior 
 Court bench, Mr. Foster was elected to the Supreme 
 Court bench of Connecticut, where he remained until 
 the fall of 1876, when, the constitutional limit of age 
 having been reached, he withdrew. Mr. Foster's ju- 
 dicial service was noticeable for his aversion to tech- 
 nicalities or verbosity, his keen way of getting at the 
 merits of a question, and his strong instinct of justice. 
 This' was more apparent in his performance of Supe- 
 rior Court duty (which devolves on Superior Court 
 judges in Connecticut), and strongly reminds one of 
 the famous old caliph of Bagdad, Haroun al Easchid, 
 "who went about among his people in disguise the 
 more readily to detect evils which might not other- 
 wise come to his knowledge. 
 
 Since his retirement from the Senate, in 1867, Mr. 
 Foster has not taken an active part in politics. His 
 dissatisfaction with what he felt to be the abuses of 
 President Grant's administration led him into the 
 Liberal movement of 1872, although Greeley was not 
 his choice for the Presidency. In the spring of 1875 
 the Democrats and Liberals tendered him a congres- 
 sional nomination in the Third Connecticut District, 
 which he accepted with great reluctance, but in the 
 same spirit in which he joined the Liberal movement. 
 In the nomination of Hayes, in 1876, he saw a prom- 
 ise of pure administration and a milder policy towards 
 the South, and freshly avowed his allegiance to the 
 Eepublican party. This loyalty was recognized in 
 1877 by the tender of a legislative nomination by the 
 local Kepublicans, which, if he had accepted, would 
 doubtless have resulted in his election as Speaker, 
 and perhaps as United States senator. The honor 
 was, however, declined. 
 
 After his retirement from the bench he devoted 
 himself to the practice of his profession, and his ser- 
 vices were in constant demand in difficult cases. His 
 interest in the project for an international code was 
 strong, and he was invited to participate in the meet- 
 ing in Belgium in 1877 to mature the same. He was 
 always a close student of foreign affairs, his knowl- 
 edge of which was supplemented by travel in Europe, 
 and he was also singularly conversant with the diplo- 
 matic history of Europe. He was honored some years 
 ago with an election to membership with the Cobden 
 Club, the famous free-trade organization of England, 
 with whose doctrines he sympathized to some extent, 
 though not a zealous propagandist. 
 
 In 1879, Mr. Foster was prominently mentioned In 
 connection with the vacant ambassadorship to Great 
 Britain, but did not receive the appointment. Aside 
 from general scholarship, his eminence in jurispru- 
 dence, and his long practical experience in public 
 affairs, he had the additional and important qualifica- 
 tion for the post of polished manners, thorough famil- 
 iarity with the requirements of its social code and 
 
 delightful conversational powers. Well read, apt at 
 quotation, quick at repartee, brimful of genial humor, 
 kindly in spirit, and possessed of a rare wife, he un- 
 derstood the art of hospitality to perfection. He ac- 
 quired during the long years of his honest industry a 
 handsome competence. 
 
 He was a prominent member of Park Congrega- 
 tional Church. Mr. Foster died Sept. 19, 1880. 
 
 Charles Johnson McCuedy was born at Lyme, 
 Conn., Dec. 7, 1797. His grandfather was a Scotch- 
 Irish Presbyterian from the county of Antrim, in the 
 north of Ireland. He was a successful and wealthy 
 merchant, an ardent patriot, and one of the earliest 
 and boldest in urging on the American Kevolution. 
 His father was a graduate of Yale and a lawyer by 
 profession, but devoted himself to agricultural pur- 
 suits and the care of his estate. His mother was Ur- 
 sula Wolcott Griswold, granddaughter on her father's 
 side of the first Governor Griswold, and of that Ur- 
 sula Wolcott whose husband, father, brother, uncle, 
 nephew, and still greater son, Roger Griswold, were 
 all Governors of Connecticut. On her mother's side 
 she was a granddaughter of Eev. Stephen Johnson 
 (called by Bancroft "the incomparable Stephen John- 
 son"), whose powerful essays roused into existence the 
 Sons of Liberty and were among the most efficient 
 causes of the Eevolution. The maternal grandmother 
 of Judge McCurdy's mother was Elizabeth Diodate, 
 descended from Dr. Theodore Diodate, a distinguished 
 court-physician of London in the time of James I., 
 brother of Eev. John Diodate, the eminent theologian 
 of Geneva. 
 
 Judge McCurdy was graduated at Yale College 
 with high honors in 1817, studied law with Chief 
 Justice Swift, was admitted to the bar in 1819, and 
 soon went into extensive practice at Lyme, and so 
 continued (except when he was abroad) until he was 
 called to the bench. In May, 1822, he married Sarah 
 Ann, daughter of Eichard Lord, of Lyme, who died 
 in July, 1835, leaving an only child, now the wife of 
 Prof. Edward E. Salisbury of New Haven. In the 
 years 1827, 1828, 1829, 1833, 1834, 1838, 1840, 1841, 
 1842, 1844 he was a member of the House of Eepre- 
 sentatives of his native State, and in three of those 
 years he was Speaker. In 1832 he was a State-senator, 
 and in the years 1847 and 1848 he was Lieutenant- 
 Governor and president of the Senate. During these 
 years he was influential in shaping the legislation, 
 and one most important act may be especially attrib- 
 uted to him : he effected that great change in the com- 
 mon law by which parties and others interested in the 
 event of suits are allowed to be witnesses,— a change 
 in some sense revolutionizing the administration of 
 justice, which has since been adopted throughout this 
 country and in England. 
 
 In 1851 he represented this country at the Court of 
 Austria. The situation was then one of delicacy, as 
 the Austrians were much irritated against our nation on 
 account of the reception of Kossuth, and the American 
 
^o^c-^ 
 
 ^. 
 
^^;^^.^^ 
 
 ■bii'f'f ^'"1 "\iW-:\?- 
 
BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 47 
 
 Legation at Vienna was supposed to be a place of 
 refuge and protection not only for our citizens, but 
 also for the subjects of other countries, including 
 Great Britain, when endangered or annoyed by the 
 Austrian authorities, exasperated by the recent Hun- 
 garian revolution. His course in liberating from im- 
 prisonment Rev. Mr. Brace will be remembered, and 
 his assistance to the Scotch missionaries who were 
 driven out of Hungary was the subject of commen- 
 dation in the English Parliament. 
 
 In 1856 he was appointed a judge of the Superior 
 Court, and in 1863 was raised to the Supreme Bench. 
 He was a member of the Peace-Congress at Washing- 
 ton in February, 1861, and was one of the foremost 
 in resistingi the attempted aggressions of the slave- 
 power. He was retired from the bench in December, 
 1867, by the constitutional limitation as to age. Since 
 then he for some years delivered courses of lectures 
 before the Law-School of Yale College, from which 
 institution he has received the degree of Doctor of 
 Laws. 
 
 Judge McCurdy owns the extensive farm and oc- 
 cupies the house which has been the family residence 
 for a period extending back more than a quarter of a 
 century before the Revolutionary war. Washington 
 lodged there in April, 1776, and it was the headquar- 
 ters of Gen. Lafayette in July, 1778, when he rested 
 his detachment of troops at Lyme on their march 
 between Boston and New York, and it again gave 
 him a welcome on his visit to this country in 1824. 
 Here the judge — still in vigorous and active old age, 
 beautified by a noble presence, sparkling wit, keen 
 intelligence, and the gentle Christian graces, with a 
 lively interest in agriculture, literature, art, science, 
 and politics, courteous and social — is now passing the 
 evening of his days, after a life honorable to himself 
 and to the State. 
 
 MOKBISON Remick Waite was born in Lyme, 
 Conn., Nov. 29, 1816. He is the eldest of the eight 
 childen of the late Chief Justice Henry Matson 
 Waite, of Connecticut. His ancestors settled in 
 Lyme, Conn., nearly a hundred years before the Rev- 
 olution. One of the earliest ancestors whose name 
 has been preserved was Thomas Waite, whose son, 
 Marvin Waite, was on the first electoral ticket in 
 Connecticut after the war, and cast his vote for Wash- 
 ington. He had nineteen elections to the General As- 
 sembly ; was judge of the County Court for several 
 years, and one of the commissioners to sell the State 
 land in the " Northwestern Territory" and to fund 
 the proceeds. This was the origin of the noble School 
 Fund of Connecticut. 
 
 The present chief justice entered Yale College at 
 the age of sixteen years, and graduated with honor in 
 1837, in a class which included William M. Evarts, 
 Edwards Pierrepont, Prof. Benjamin Silliman, Jr., 
 and others who have become influential and distin- 
 guished men. He stood high as a scholar, and was 
 eminently genial, courteous, and unobtrusive. He 
 
 was distinguished for his evenly-developed and well- 
 balanced mind. After graduating he began the study 
 of law in his father's oflBce in Lyme, but finished his 
 studies preparatory to admission to the bar in the 
 ofiice of Samuel M. Young, Esq., then a prominent 
 attorney in Maumee City, Ohio. On his admission in 
 1839 he formed a partnership with Mr. Young. The 
 firm having determined to remove to Toledo in 1850, 
 Mr. Waite proceeded to that place, where he opened 
 an office and established a successful business. Two 
 years later Mr. Young followed, and the firm of 
 Young & Waite continued until Mr. Waite's young- 
 est brother, Richard, came to the bar, when the 
 brothers formed a partnership, which continued until 
 the elevation of the senior partner to the chief jus- 
 ticeship. From his advent in practice Mr. Waite's 
 course was stamped with success. He quietly and 
 unostentatioftsly pursued his professional labors, con- 
 stantly growing in influence and power, both as a 
 lawyer and a citizen. " He was soon acknowledged as 
 a leading counselor and advocate in Northwestern 
 Ohio. His distinguished ability, his studious habits, 
 and his conciliatory manners all contributed to his 
 popularity and success. From the first his mind was 
 firmly set upon his profession, from which no attrac- 
 tion could lure him. As a lawyer he was without 
 ambition, save for such distinction as might come of 
 faithful and honorable pursuit of his profession. His 
 studious habits and unflagging industry secured to 
 him familiarity with the law in all its branches. 
 
 He proved himself capable of grasping all the 
 minute details affecting in any way a legal question. 
 He manifested a reverence for law which is not a mere 
 slavish worship of forms and technicalities, but an 
 intelligent appreciation of great principles of truth 
 and right underlying the whole fabric of civilized 
 legislation. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Waite was a Whig until the dis- 
 bandment of that party, and since that time has been 
 a Republican. He was always too deeply engaged in 
 his profession to become much of a partisan, and con- 
 sequently never came to be recognized as a party 
 leader. This conservative turn of mind tended to lead 
 him in opposition to radical political measures. This 
 was shown during the war in his support of the policy 
 of Mr. Lincoln rather than the more summary meas- 
 ures advocated by some of the anti-slavery leaders. 
 But to all the war measures of the government he 
 gave earnest and effective support, making himself 
 especially useful in aiding the recruiting service of 
 the army. 
 
 In 1849, Mr. Waite was elected to the Ohio Legis- 
 lature as a Whig, and served with credit and useful- 
 ness, although acting with the minority. In 1850 he 
 was a candidate for the State Constitutional Conven- 
 tion, but was defeated on strict party grounds, there 
 being a large Democratic majority in the district. 
 
 In 1862 he very reluctantly became a candidate for 
 Congress after repeated and persistent importunities 
 
48 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 from prominent citizens of both parties. Leading 
 Eepublicans in the State had advised the people of 
 the various districts to disregard strict party lines and 
 unite on the simple basis of the support of the gov- 
 ernment and the suppression of the Rebellion. In 
 the Toledo congressional district a convention was 
 held which urged more radical measures than those 
 which the Administration had adopted, demanding 
 the confiscation of the property of leading rebels, and 
 proposing virtually to make the abolition of slavery 
 an end rather than an incident of the war. About 
 the same time appeared a call, signed by Republicans 
 and Democrats, for a convention of those " who were 
 for the maintenance of the government and the deter- 
 mined prosecution of the war, to the putting down of 
 the rebellion and the restoration of the Union." 
 
 The first of the conventions nominated Mr. J. M. 
 Ashley, and adopted a radical anti-slavery platform, 
 while the other nominated Mr. Waite and indorsed 
 the war policy of the Administration, pledging itself 
 in all ways and at all times to give its full and undi- 
 vided support to such measures as the government 
 should deem necessary to crush out the rebellion in 
 the shortest time. Not long after this Edwin Phelps 
 was brought out as the Democratic candidate. 
 
 Through the superior organization and manage- 
 ment of Mr. Ashley's friends and the lack of organ- 
 ization on the part of the supporters of Mr. Waite, 
 the former succeeded by a plurality vote of seven 
 thousand and thirteen to five thousand eight hundred 
 and fifty for Waite, and five thousand two hundred 
 and thirty-four for Phelps. The high esteem in 
 which Mr. Waite was held at home is shown in the 
 fact that he received within five hundred of all votes 
 cast in Toledo, having a majority of twelve hundred, 
 the most emphatic indorsement ever given to any 
 man by the people of that city. The position of Mr. 
 Waite was substantially the one on which the war 
 was conducted to the end. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's preliminary proclamation of emanci- 
 pation appeared during that campaign, and it was 
 heartily sustained by Mr. Waite and his friends, not 
 only as just towards the rebel slaveholders and the 
 slaves, but as sound war policy, inasmuch as it was 
 calculated to promote the "paramount object, to save 
 the Union." Although not a jealous partisan, he has 
 always been decided and positive in his expression 
 of opinions in strictest accord with the principles and 
 policy of the Republican party. The friends of Mr. 
 Waite repeatedly urged him to become a candidate 
 for judicial positions, but he invariably refused. When 
 Judge Hocking H. Hunter, having been elected to the 
 Supreme Bench of Ohio, declined to serve, Governor 
 Brough offered the position to Mr. Waite, who de- 
 clined the honor. The first position occupied by 
 Mr. Waite in which he attracted the attention of the 
 whole country was that of counsel for the United 
 States in the arbitration at Geneva, under the Treaty of 
 Washington, associated with Hon. Caleb Gushing and 
 
 Hon. Wm. M. Evarts. He was not an applicant for 
 the appointment, and was not even aware that such a 
 position was to be filled. The appointment was made 
 at the suggestion of Mr. Columbus Delano, then Sec- 
 retary of the Interior. In November, 1872, Mr. Waite 
 being in New York, closing up an important case 
 which had been pending for a year and a half, re- 
 ceived a dispatch, forwarded to him from Toledo, ap- 
 pointing him one of the counsel for the government 
 at Geneva. 
 
 He accepted, and in December departed for his post 
 of duty. 
 
 He performed the required service to the entire 
 satisfaction of the government and the country. He 
 took a laboring oar in the preparation of the case. 
 He submitted an argument on the question of the 
 liability of Great Britain for permitting the Anglo- 
 Confederate steamer to take supplies of coal in her 
 ports. In that he displayed high logical power and 
 comprehensive grasp of international questions. Hav- 
 ing successfully closed his labors at Geneva, Mr. 
 Waite returned to his home and resumed the practice 
 of his- profession. In April, 1873, he was nominated 
 by both political parties and unanimously elected one 
 of the delegates from Lucas County to the convention 
 called to form a new constitution for the State of Ohio. 
 Upon the assembling of that convention in May, 1873, 
 Mr. Waite was chosen its president. The death of 
 Chief Justice Chase having created a vacancy in the 
 highest judicial office in the United States, there was 
 intense interest throughout the country to know who 
 would receive the nomination, Hon. George H. Wil- 
 liams and Hon. Caleb Gushing having been success- 
 ively nominated and withdrawn. On the 20th of Jan- 
 uary, 1874, the President sent to the Senate the name 
 of Mr. Waite. Just one year before, Mr. Waite, on 
 the motion of Caleb Gushing, had been admitted to 
 practice in the Supreme Court. The nomination was 
 the more honorable because of the fact that Mr. Waite 
 not only made no effort to influence the President's 
 choice, but advised against such efforts when offered 
 by his friends. Not only was the appointment made 
 without any solicitation on the part of Mr. Waite, but 
 it is believed that no pressure was brought to bear on 
 the President to bring about the result. Never was 
 an appointment made to this high office in a manner 
 that better befitted it. 
 
 When the news of the nomination reached the Ohio 
 Constitutional Convention it found that body in ses- 
 sion, with Mr. Waite presiding. 
 
 A gentleman stepped up to congratulate him, and 
 found him ignorant of the fact of his nomination. 
 The news was received in the most enthusiastic man- 
 ner by the members, to all of whom Mr. Waite had 
 become personally endeared. Unusual excitement 
 pervaded the convention during all the remainder of 
 the day, but the calm, unruffled dignity of the presid- 
 ing officer would not have revealed the fact that any- 
 thing unusual had occurred. The Cincinnati Cham- 
 
BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 49 
 
 ber of Commerce gave a public reception to the new 
 chief justice, the convention over which he presided 
 having previously adopted the following resolution : 
 
 " Resolved, That this chamber has heard with lively 
 satisfaction of the confirmation of Hon. Morrison R. 
 Waits as chief justice of the Supreme Court of the 
 United States, and rejoice that a citizen of our State 
 of such well-known integrity of character and talent 
 has been chosen for the second position in our govern- 
 ment." 
 
 Mr. Waite was confirmed as chief justice of the 
 Supreme Court of the United States by a vote which 
 was never equaled in its favorable character within 
 the memory of the oldest senator. The nomination 
 was discussed for about an hour, during which speeches 
 were made by Mr. Sumner, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Ed- 
 munds, and Mr. Thurman. The speech of Mr. Sum- 
 ner was one of the best and most impressive which 
 he ever delivered in the Senate. Mr. Sherman also 
 paid him a high tribute. Mr. Waite received every 
 vote cast. He took the oath of office March 4, 1874, 
 and immediately entered upon the duties of his high 
 office. 
 
 Sept. 21, 1840, he united in marriage with Miss 
 Amelia C. Warner, of Lyme, Conn., and they have 
 had five children, three of whom are living, two sons 
 and a daughter. 
 
 In the prime of intellectual vigor, of prepossessing 
 presence and dignified manners, Chief Justice Waite 
 not only ably fills but really adorns the high position 
 to which he has attained. He has the logical skill, 
 the judicial temper, and the just mind which combine 
 to make the jurist. Added to these high professional 
 qualities, he is distinguished for purity of character, 
 a love for humanity, a generous nature, and a loyalty 
 to his convictions which make him beloved and re- 
 spected as a man. 
 
 Hon. John Turner Wait, of Norwich, the present 
 member of Congress in the Third District, was born 
 at New London, Aug. 27, 1811. He received a mer- 
 cantile training in early life, but giving up that pur- 
 suit, prepared for college at Bacon Academy, Colches- 
 ter, and entered Trinity College in the fall of 1832, 
 where he remained for two years, prosecuting that 
 course of studies which he deemed best adapted to 
 qualify him for the profession of law. He studied 
 law at first with Hon. L. F. S. Foster, of Norwich, 
 and subsequently with Hon. Jabez W. Huntington, 
 and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1836. He 
 at once commenced practice in Norwich, and has since 
 resided there. Mr. Wait is connected by blood with 
 many of the oldest and leading families in Eastern 
 Connecticut. On his father's side he is associated 
 with the Griswolds and Marvins, of Lyme, while on 
 his mother's side he is a lineal descendant of William 
 Hyde and Thomas Tracy, two of the thirty-five colo- 
 nists who settled at Norwich in 1659. His family 
 have given many prominent members to the legal 
 profession. His father was long one of the leading 
 
 lawyers at the bar of New London County, and for 
 several years a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. 
 He was a Presidential elector in 1793, and cast his 
 vote for Washington. He was also one of the com- 
 missioners appointed by the General Assembly to dis- 
 pose of the Western lands and establish the present 
 school fund. Mr. Wait's father represented the town 
 of New London for nineteen sessions in the General 
 Assembly, and was several times one of the candi- 
 dates for Congress of the old Republican party during 
 the administration of Mr. Jefferson. Henry M. Waite, 
 the father of the present chief justice of the United 
 States, and cousin of the subject of this sketch, was 
 also a leading lawyer of New London County, and 
 for a number of years held the position of chief jus- 
 tice of the Supreme Court of the State. Mr. Wait's 
 maternal grandfather was Dr. Philip Turner, in his 
 day a celebrated surgeon. At the early age of nine- 
 teen he was appointed assistant surgeon of a provin- 
 cial regiment under Gen. Amherst, and served through 
 the French war. In 1777, Congress elected him sur- 
 geon-general of the Eastern Department, which sta- 
 tion he filled with great ability till near the close of 
 the war of the Revolution. In 1800 he removed to 
 New York, where he continued in the practice of his 
 profession till he was placed as physician in charge of 
 the troops stationed at the fortifications in the harbor 
 of that city. This office he held until his death in 
 1815. 
 
 Mr. Wait was State's attorney for New London 
 County in 1842-44, and also from 1846 till 1854. 
 Since the organization of the Bar Association in that 
 county in 1874, he has been its president, and for 
 a large number of years has been closely identified 
 with most matters of legal interest in that section of 
 the State. His law practice has been extensive and 
 profitable, his commanding influence at the bar in- 
 suring him all the business that can possibly be at- 
 tended to. For the past twenty-five years he has been 
 engaged in nearly all the important cases, civil and 
 criminal, that have come before the New London 
 County courts. He has not in this respect been con- 
 fined to his immediate locality, for his marked ability 
 has been recognized throughout the State, and his ser- 
 vices sought in important causes in other counties and 
 also before the Federal courts. He was counsel for 
 Mrs. Cobb in the celebrated murder case which at- 
 tracted such wide attention two years ago, and it was 
 no doubt his remarkable plea, occupying seven hours 
 in delivery, that saved her life. Mr. Wait is an emi- 
 nent jurist, and unquestionably is one of the ablest 
 advocates in Connecticut. 
 
 Before the war Mr. Wait was a Democrat in politics, 
 and was nominated by his party for Lieutenant-Gov- 
 ernor for four consecutive years from 1854, receiving 
 each year the highest vote of any candidate on the 
 ticket. In 1860 he advocated the election of Stephen 
 A. Douglas as President. At the outbreak of the war 
 in 1861 he became a strong Union man. His son. 
 
50 
 
 HISTOEY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Lieut. Marvin Wait, of the Eighth Connecticut Regi- 
 ment, served with distinguished courage on the field. 
 In the gallant charge of that command at Antietam 
 he fell mortally wounded. In 1864, Mr. Wait was 
 one of the electors at large for Connecticut on the 
 Lincoln-Johnson Presidential ticket. He was a mem- 
 ber of the State Senate from the Eighth District d uring 
 the years 1865 and 1866, the last year serving as presi- 
 dent joro tempore of th&t body. In 1867 he was elected 
 a member of the House of Representatives from Nor- 
 wich, and was nominated for Speaker by acclamation. 
 Probably no gentleman, as presiding officer of the 
 House, was ever more thoroughly esteemed for "the 
 ability, urbanity, and impartiality with which he dis- 
 charged the duties of the chair." He was again 
 elected to that body in 1871 and in 1873. In the ses- 
 sion of 1871 he won unqualified praise for the elo- 
 quent and effective speech which he delivered in sup- 
 port of the joint resolution declaring Marshall Jewell 
 elected Governor of Connecticut. 
 
 In 1874 he was the Republican candidate for Lieu- 
 tenant-Governor, receiving the highest vote on that 
 ticket. Subsequently he was elected to the Forty- 
 fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the 
 death of Hon. H. H. Starkweather, and was re-elected 
 to the Forty-fifth, the Forty-sixth, and the Forty- 
 seventh Congress. 
 
 As a member of Congress Mr. Wait has cared for 
 the interests of his constituents with untiring vigi- 
 lance and zeal. The extensive industries which give 
 employment to thousands of citizens in the two east- 
 ern counties of the State have had in him an intelli- 
 gent and watchful guardian. As the advocate and 
 friend of home industries he has steadily opposed in 
 Congress every attempt to impair or weaken the laws 
 under which Connecticut manufacturing and mechan- 
 ical interests have sprung up and prospered, and has 
 given his support to every measure calculated to ad- 
 vance the commercial and agricultural prospects of 
 the State. His course on the currency question has 
 been sound and creditable in every respect, and has 
 entitled him to the fullest confidence and esteem of 
 New England business men. 
 
 Having lost his only son, Lieut. Marvin Wait, in 
 the great struggle to save the nation's life, he has 
 ever warmly sympathized with the soldiers of the 
 Union; and feeling that justice to those broken down 
 by wounds received and diseases contracted while in 
 military service demanded that their applications 
 should be heard at the earliest possible moment, he 
 has twice introduced resolutions calling for additions 
 to the clerical force in the pension-ofiice and the offices 
 of the Surgeon-General and Adjutant-General, and 
 eacl time, in response to these resolutions. Congress, 
 by express legislation, has added to the force of these 
 bureaus, and the delays which had existed have in a 
 measure been removed. He also introduced the bill 
 extending the provisions of the act granting pensions 
 to the soldiers of the war of 1812 to all persons who 
 
 volunteered and performed military duty, though not 
 mustered into public service. 
 
 Mr. Wait has also introduced other important bills 
 of public interest, notably for the unloading of foreign 
 vessels at ports of delivery in the United States, the' 
 object being to relieve parties engaged in the West 
 India and guano trade ; for the propagation of salt- 
 water fish in connection with the menhaden fisheries 
 that exist along the New England coast ; the improve- 
 ment of rivers and harbors in Connecticut ; the erec- 
 tion of buildings at the New London navy-yard for the 
 accommodation of the school-ships of the navy; the 
 appropriation of money toward the expense to be 
 incurred in the centennial celebration of the battle 
 at Groton Heights and the repair of the monument; 
 and for the establishment of a free dispensary for the 
 benefit of the poor of the city of Washington. He 
 occupies a prominent place in the deliberations of the 
 national Congress. His speech in the Forty-fourth 
 Congress against the abolition of the naval station at 
 New London, and his elaborate arguments in the 
 Belford and Pacheco election cases in the Forty-fifth 
 Congress, won for him the reputation of an able and 
 eloquent debater. He is also an efficient committee 
 worker, and is popular with his associates in the 
 House. During his four years of service at Wash- 
 ington he has been invariably attentive to the de- 
 mands made upon his time and consideration by his 
 constituents in matters affecting their private inter- 
 ests. Courteous and frank towards all who have 
 approached him, he has allied men to him by the 
 strongest personal ties, and is universally popular 
 throughout his district and the State. In November, 
 1880, he was re-elected to the Forty-seventh Congress 
 by a largely-increased majority. 
 
 Jeremiah Halsey deservedly stands in the front 
 rank of the Connecticut bar. It is a professional 
 eminence generally and generously accorded to him, 
 — the high reward of native worth and talent, of pa- 
 tient industry and indomitable perseverance against 
 drawbacks of a most serious and protracted nature. 
 He came to it, not by any tidal wave of extraneous 
 influence, but by dint of personal energy, brooking 
 neither the difficulties in the way of preparation for 
 his profession nor continued feebleness of health in 
 its long practice, by unstained purity of character, 
 by recognized legal abilities successfully matched 
 with alike eminent members of the bar, by wisdom 
 and safety in counsel, by stores of knowledge ready at 
 hand as occasion requires. 
 
 By inheritance, and as well by this well-earned 
 reputation, the title Honorable justly belongs to him. 
 Inheriting an honored name, he has lived to reflect 
 upon it all the more honor. The son of Jeremiah S. 
 and Sally Brewster Halsey, he was born in the town 
 of Preston, New London County, on the 8th day of 
 February, 1822. His father was the eldest son of 
 Col. Jeremiah Halsey, of Preston, an active officer 
 in the Continental army ; his mother a descendant 
 
/7 / 
 
 -/ 
 
BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 51 
 
 of Elder William Brewster, of the " Mayflower" com- 
 pany, of the sixth generation in the direct line of 
 descent from that Plymouth band of Pilgrims. 
 
 His early education was pursued under serious dif- 
 ficulties in the public and private schools of the day, 
 for a short time being a pupil in the old Norwich 
 Academy. Here, however, delicate health and acute 
 disease of the eyes — inflammation and ulceration — 
 compelled his absence from school for days and weeks 
 at a time, preventing every thing like a regular classi- 
 cal course, and defeating the noble purpose of enter- 
 ing Yale College. Instead of being an insuperable 
 bar, these obstacles only seemed to stimulate his 
 eagerness to learn. We are told of Frangois Huber, 
 the Swiss naturalist, who, notwithstanding the entire 
 loss of eyesight at an early age, pursued his study of 
 the habits of bees, and by his important observations 
 laid the foundation of all our scientific knowledge of 
 the subject; of William Hickling Prescott, the Amer- 
 ican historian, whose sight failing, gave nevertheless 
 volume after volume of his careful and charming 
 works — a classic in English literature. The story has 
 come to us of this delicate youth of impaired vision, 
 withal so eager to pursue his studies, learning his 
 Latin grammar, with eyes bandaged and sufiering in- 
 tolerable pain, by repeating Musa and Dominus, amo 
 and kgo after his father, and keeping up with all his 
 classes by having the lessons read and explained. It 
 is a perfect marvel how he accomplished so much 
 under circumstances so serious and painful. All this, 
 of course, wellnigh forbade the thought of his ever 
 being admitted to the bar, the profession of his own 
 eager desire, and far more of ever attaining to prom- 
 inence in it, so deservedly named a learned profession, 
 where studious habits and close application are abso- 
 lute prerequisites. 
 
 Compelled at length by ill health to seek a change 
 of climate, he went South, making a temporary home 
 at Hawkinsville, Ga. Here he entered the law-ofiice 
 of Messrs. Polhill & Whitfield, — the first named a 
 family of distinction in that State, — and was admitted 
 to the bar by the Superior Court for the Southern 
 Circuit at Hawkinsville on the 23d day of April, 
 1845, and subsequently admitted to the bar in this 
 State, in Windham County, on the 11th day of De- 
 cember, 1845. Delicate health was still a serious 
 obstacle in his way, preventing his catering upon the 
 full and active practice of his profession. Yet his 
 active mind could not be quiet. The time was occu- 
 pied in legal studies and travel until September, 
 1849, when he opened an oflBce in Norwich, in com- 
 pany with the late Samuel C. Morgan, Esq. Since 
 then he has been actively and almost exclusively de- 
 voted to professional pursuits. He came to the bar 
 when such men as the Hon. Henry Strong, the Hon. 
 Lafayette S. Foster, the Hon. John T. Wait, at Nor- 
 wich; Lippett and Crump, at New London; McCur- 
 dy, at Lyme ; Thomas C. Perkins, Charles Chapman, 
 and Isaac Toucey, at Hartford, were in full practice. 
 
 and it was not long ere he showed himself princeps 
 infer pares. 
 
 In April, 1863, he was admitted to the bar of the 
 United States Circuit Court, and to the Supreme 
 Court of the United States on the 24th day of Feb- 
 ruary, 1870. In the courts of the State and of the 
 United States his practice has been varied and exten- 
 sive. The reports of many important cases deter- 
 mined by the Supreme Court of the State, in which 
 Mr. Halsey made elaborate and effective arguments, 
 will ever be monuments of his great ability and learn- 
 ing as a lawyer. One of the most marked cases — 
 Wright vs. the Norwich and New York Transporta- 
 tion Company, reported 13 Wallace, p. 104, argued be- 
 fore the Supreme Court of the United States — settled 
 the construction of the act of Congress limiting the 
 liability of ship-owners on the basis of the maritime 
 law of Europe, giving full protection to the vast in- 
 land ship interests of the country. 
 
 Professional, not political, distinction has been Mr. 
 Halsey's high ambition. He was a Whig until the 
 organization of the Republican party, with which he 
 has ever since acted, but never as a mere partisan, 
 nor a politician, using politics for personal ends. 
 Outspoken in his political views, yet has the law been 
 his sole profession, and eminence here his masterly 
 aim and attainment. He never sought a public ofiice, 
 and yet not seldom has he been rewarded with the 
 fullest trust and confidence of the people. He was 
 elected to the Legislature from Norwich in 1852 and 
 1853, and then again in 1859 and 1860, that critical . 
 period in the country's history when the war-clouds 
 began to darken the- horizon. He has served the 
 State in other capacities. 
 
 In 1873 he was appointed by Governor Ingersoll 
 one of the commissioners for building the new State- 
 House at Hartford, serving on the commission until 
 the completion of the building in 1880. The building 
 is itself an ornament to the capital, and the pride of 
 the State. There is this remarkable thing about this 
 commission : the commissioners kept within the sum 
 namedand appropriated by the Legislature, — a marvel 
 in this day of extravagant and wasteful use of public 
 funds. To the credit of the Assembly be it spoken 
 this service is thus honorably mentioned in this pre- 
 amble to a joint resolution: " Whereas, the Board of 
 Capitol Commissioners have served the State for about 
 six years with great industry and with rare fidelity to 
 a public trust of the highest importance, and have 
 turned over to the State its elegant capitol, and have 
 thus far received no compensation, therefore," and 
 then follows the generous action of the Assembly. 
 
 Besides this, his service in the city government has 
 been long and faithful. Appointed in 1853 to the 
 ofiice of city attorney, he held it for eighteen years, 
 when it was resigned. 
 
 About his style of speaking there is nothing like 
 splendid action nor boisterous demonstration, but, what 
 is of far more account, clear, sober, potent thought, 
 
52 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 carrying conviction to the mind that can or cares to 
 think. There conies with what he says the feeling 
 always of an earnest, candid man, saying nothing for 
 mere effect, saying only what the case justly warrants. 
 By reason of this general confidence, inspired by 
 manner and method, he is always a powerful antag- 
 onist. He is still in full practice, with more vigorous 
 health than he has enjoyed for years, the result of a 
 year's recreation and extensive travel abroad with his 
 wife in 1878-79, returning with a new lease on life. 
 
 On June 1, 1854, he was married to Elizabeth 
 Fairchild, of Ridgefield, Conn., the centre of what 
 has ever since been a charming, cultured, and hospit- 
 able home. 
 
 During all his residence in Norwich, Mr. Halsey 
 has been an active, faithful, and liberal member of 
 Christ Church, and has acted for the greater part of 
 the time in the capacity of warden and vestryman. 
 Although the blood of the old Puritans flows in his 
 veins, he is not a bit Puritanical. A Churchman by 
 birth and conviction, his religion sits on his genial 
 spirits like the glory of a June morning on the lovely 
 face of nature. 
 
 " A man, not perfect, but of heart 
 So high, of such heroic rage, 
 That even his hopes become a part 
 And parcel of earth's heritage." 
 
 Henky Hovi^AED Staekweathee,' who died at 
 Washington during the session of Congress of which 
 he was a member, was born in Preston, in the county 
 of New London, and State of Connecticut, on the 29th 
 of April, 1826. He was of respectable parentage, and 
 received counsels well fitted to the susceptibilities of 
 early life. He was impressed from his boyhood with 
 the conviction that if he accomplished anything com- 
 mendable in life it must be the fruit of his personal 
 endeavors. Although his early years were devoted to 
 labor on his father's farm in his native town, he em- 
 ployed his leisure hours in reading, in the observation 
 of men, and in the study of the causes that lie at the 
 foundation of the triumphs and defeats by which the 
 history of the world is marked. He thus laid down 
 in the beginning of life the great law which guided 
 him to its close. 
 
 At the age of twenty-two he went to Norwich, and 
 entered the law-oflJce of the Hon. Lafayette S. Foster, 
 under whose guidance and tutelage he studied until 
 he was admitted to practice in 1850. Shortly after 
 his admittance to the bar he formed a partnership with 
 the Hon. Edmund Perkins, of Norwich, then a lead- 
 ing lawyer in Eastern Connecticut, with whom he was 
 associated for several years. He was an assiduous 
 worker, and soon acquired an enviable position among 
 his professional associates, of whom were numbered 
 some of the ablest and most distinguished in the State. 
 He labored in his profession but a little more than a 
 
 1 By Col. Allen Tenny, a member of the New London County bar, and 
 for several years Mr, Starkweather's law partner. 
 
 decade, when his tastes and inclinations led him into 
 political life. He was appointed postmaster in Nor- 
 wich in 1861, and thereafter gave but little attention 
 to his profession. In politics he was originally a 
 Whig, but was active in the formation of the Repub- 
 lican party, by which organization he was elected a 
 member of the Lower House in the State Legislature 
 in 1856. He was also a delegate to the Republican 
 National Conventions in 1860 and 1868. The places 
 of responsibility in which he moved were filled to 
 general acceptance and with marked ability. 
 
 As a private citizen, as a member of a Christian 
 Church, as a lawyer, as a politician, as representative 
 in Congress for a longer period than any of his prede- 
 cessors, he was respected, honored, and successful. 
 He entered Congress in 1867 without the prestige of 
 a great name. His approach was heralded by no 
 marked achievements, by no appendage that would 
 lift him up to high eminence at the outset. In the 
 absence of these, accompanied with an unpretending, 
 unobtrusive demeanor, it would not have been deemed 
 strange had he ranked among the least distinguished 
 of the representatives of the nation. But he had in- 
 fluence from the beginning, and his influence had 
 rapid and consistent growth, till it culminated in 
 placing him among the wisest, the safest, the ablest 
 members of the body to which he belonged at the time 
 of his death. It has been said of him, and we believe 
 justly, that none of the Republican members of the 
 House had won more or better friends, and, with a 
 single exception, had gained greater influence or a more 
 thorough understanding of the principles which lie at 
 the foundation of our national prosperity. There 
 were none among them whose wisdom was more 
 sought in emergencies, none whose judgment was 
 more respected, none whose keen penetration and 
 foresight did better service in seasonably detecting 
 threatened evils, and in devising the best means for 
 the general good. 
 
 Mr. Starkweather was remarkable for power of in- 
 tuition. What the masses of men learn by protracted 
 examination and study, by reasoning and deduction, 
 he comprehended at a glance, — a power that contrib- 
 uted greatly to his influence and success. He was 
 distinguished for strong common sense. He did 
 things at the right time and in the right place. He 
 never violated the laws of propriety in his business 
 transactions, or in any of the relations of life. He 
 knew well how to avoid, in language and in practice, 
 whatever would subject him to the envy or censure of 
 his associates or awaken anywhere aversion. He had 
 a kind regard for the feelings and interests of others, 
 and a way of showing it that commended him read- 
 ily to the confidence of all. He had a classic face, 
 full of tenderness and power, which well expressed 
 the features of his mind. The law of kindness was 
 written all over it and on all its movements so promi- 
 nently that none feared betrayal in unbosoming to 
 him their burdens or in seeking his counsel. Another 
 
BENCH AND BAE. 
 
 53 
 
 marked trait in his character was inilexible honesty. 
 In his counsels, in his measures, in his life, every- 
 where, its principles governed him. He never sacri- 
 ficed it to secure personal gain, or to please, or to 
 carry out any purpose however seemingly important. 
 He was a philanthropist and patriot in the best sense, 
 and, above all, a Christian gentleman ; without affec- 
 tation of sanctity, without any ostentatious observ- 
 ance of the ritual of Christianity, entirely exempt 
 from all taint of sectarian bigotry, he was a cordial 
 believer in the principles of the Christian religion. A 
 religion of kindness, of integrity, and of benevolence 
 in its largest breadth was his religion. The virtues 
 of which humanity is capable had in him evidently 
 more than ordinarily consistent and vigorous develop- 
 ment. The remembrance of them is fragrant. It is 
 pleasant to call to mind an example of such excel- 
 lence when many are proving faithless to their trusts 
 and utterances of the degeneracy of the race are being 
 heard from so many tongues. It is pleasant to trace 
 in such a life so much that is ennobling and pure, 
 now left as a legacy to his family, to the church, and 
 to the nation. We rise to a higher appreciation of 
 man's dignity and glory in the contemplation of these 
 virtues. But we mourn that his light went out in 
 the pride of his manhood, "before even the frosts 
 of age had silvered his locks, or the hand of time 
 furrowed his brow," and we shall ever retain the 
 remembrance of his person and character with min- 
 gled feelings of reverence and love. 
 
 Hon. JoHiT DuANE Paek, LL.p., chief justice of 
 the Supreme Court of Errors of the State of Connecti- 
 cut, was born in the town of Preston, in the county of 
 New London, on the 26th day of April, 1819. He 
 was the son of Benjamin Franklin Park, a farmer and 
 merchant of said town, who was the son of Elisha 
 Park, who was the son of Rev. Paul Park, a minister 
 of the gospel in said town, who was the son of Heze- 
 kiah Park, who was the son of Robert Park, who was 
 the son of Thomas Park, who was the son of Sir Rob- 
 ert Park, who, with his wife and three sons, came 
 from England in 1630 and settled at Boston, Mass. 
 He was the first of the name that emigrated to this 
 country. The genealogy of the Park family has been 
 traced many generations in England to the Earl of 
 Wensleydale. Those English ancestors since the 
 Conquest resided in Lancashire, England. The late 
 Baron Parke, of England, descended from the same 
 line. The ancestral family name of the chief justice 
 was always written with an e — Parke — until within 
 a few generations. The early life of Judge Park was 
 spent upon his father's farm. He worked upon the 
 farm during the summer and attended the district 
 schools during the winter, and when sixteen years of 
 age commenced teaching school in the winter season, 
 and taught during several such seasons. At the age 
 of eighteen he commenced a systematic course of 
 study, and secured a thorough academical education. 
 In 1845 he entered the law-office of the late Hon. La- 
 
 fayette S. Foster, who subsequently became United 
 States senator, acting Vice-President of the United 
 States, and a judge of the Supreme Court of Errors of 
 the State. Judge Foster at this time was the lead- 
 ing member of the bar in the county and State, and 
 Judge Park had the best opportunity of acquiring a 
 thorough knowledge of the general principles of the 
 common law and the practice of the same. 
 
 In February, 1847, he was admitted to the bar in 
 New London County, and immediately commenced 
 the practice of law. He opened an office in the city 
 of Norwich, where he continued to practice so long as 
 he remained at the bar. In 1853 he received the, 
 nomination of senator to the General Assembly. In 
 1854 he was elected judge of the County Court of New 
 London County. 
 
 In 1855 he represented the town of Norwich in the 
 Legislature. During this session of the General As- 
 sembly there was a very exciting controversy before 
 the Legislature, between two rival gas companies in 
 the city of Norwich.' One company was called the 
 Old Company, and the other the New Company. The 
 Old Company had laid down their pipes in all the 
 principal streets of the city, and they sought to de- 
 prive the New Company of the use of the streets for 
 the laying down of their pipes by obtaining from the 
 Legislature an exclusive right to the streets of the 
 city. Judge Park engaged in the cause of the New 
 Company, and Edmund Perkins, the other represen- 
 tative from the town of Norwich, was the champion 
 of the Old Company. 
 
 The speech of Judge Park in opposition to grant- 
 ing the proposed right was regarded as very able. 
 He took the ground that the proposed grant was ob- 
 noxious to the constitution of the State. The measure 
 was carried by a small majority, but the Supreme 
 Court of Errors soon after nullified the grant on the 
 ground that it was unconstitutional, as Judge Park 
 had claimed before the Legislature. 
 
 At this session of the Legislature there was a radi- 
 cal change made in the courts of the State. The 
 County Courts were abolished, and all the business of 
 those courts was transferred to the Superior Courts. 
 Four new judges of the Superior Court were elected, 
 of whom Judge Park was one. 
 
 In 1861, Judge Park received the degree of A.M. 
 from Yale College. 
 
 In 1863, Judge Park was re-elected a judge of the 
 Superior Court. 
 
 In 1864 he was elected a judge of the Supreme 
 Court of Errors. 
 
 In 1872 he was re-elected a judge of the Supreme 
 Court of Errors. 
 
 In 1873 he was elected chief justice of the State, 
 which position he now holds. 
 
 In 1878 he received the degree of LL.D. from Yale 
 College. 
 
 James Albeet Hovey, of Norwich, one of the 
 judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut, was 
 
54 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 born in Hampton, in the county of Windliam, April 
 29, 1815. His fatlier, Jonatlian Hovey, was a native 
 of the same town, and was descended from ancestors 
 who emigrated to this country from the Hague, the 
 capital of the Netherlands. His mother,, Patience 
 Fuller Stedman, was also a native of Hampton, and 
 identified by ancestry with the sturdy Puritans, who 
 illustrated in Europe and America, as the Dutch 
 Calvinists did in Holland, the virtues of invincible 
 love of liberty and incorruptible patriotism. In 1830 
 young Hovey was elected a non-commissioned officer 
 of a company of infantry connected with the Fifth 
 Kegiment of Connecticut militia, and after serving 
 in that capacity two years was promoted to the office 
 of lieutenant, and two years later to the office of cap- 
 tain of the same company. In 1836 he was elected 
 major of the regiment to which his company belonged, 
 and performed the duties of that office two years. He 
 was chosen colonel of the same regiment, and held the 
 position three years. While holding these positions 
 he made himself thoroughly familiar with military 
 law. 
 
 The education of young Hovey was acquired mainly 
 in the common and select schools of the neighbor- 
 hood in which he was reared, and under the super- 
 vision of a private tutor. On the 4th of July; 1886, 
 he commenced the study of law in the office of the 
 Hon. Chauncey F. Cleveland, in his native town, and 
 was admitted to the bar of Windham County in De- 
 cember, 1838. While pursuing his legal studies he 
 also performed the duties of clerk of the Court of 
 Probate for the district of Hampton. In the spring 
 of 1839 he opened an office in the town of Windham, 
 and practiced law in that and the neighboring towns 
 and in the courts of Windham and Tolland Counties 
 two years. He then came to Norwich, where he has 
 ever since resided. From the spring of 1841 till the 
 fall of 1849 he was associated in business with Gen. 
 Cleveland, under the firm-title of Cleveland & Hovey, 
 and practiced in the county of Windham as well as 
 the county of New London. When the bankrupt act 
 of 1841 went into operation he was appointed by the 
 District Court of the United States for the district of 
 Connecticut general assignee in bankruptcy for New 
 London County, and perfoVmed the duties of that ap- 
 pointment until the act was repealed, during which 
 time he settled about one hundred and sixty bankrupt 
 estates. In 1842 and 1848 he was executive secretary 
 under Governor Cleveland. At the municipal elec- 
 tion of the city of Norwich in June, 1849, and at 
 three successive annual elections thereafter, he was 
 chosen, without opposition, to the office of senior al- 
 derman of the city, and served in that capacity and, 
 ex officio, as one of the judges of the City Court from 
 the date of his first election until June, 1853. The 
 Uncas Bank was organized at Norwich in 1852, and 
 upon its organization and while it remained a State 
 institution he was its president. When it became a 
 national institution he was also elected to the same 
 
 office, and annually thereafter was re-elected until 
 1873, when he declined another election. In 1850, 
 and annually thereafter till 1854, he received from the 
 General Assembly the appointment of judge of the 
 County Court for New London County, and discharged 
 the duties of the office to the acceptance of the bar 
 and the public during that period. 
 
 In 1851-52 he also discharged the duties of judge 
 of the County Court for Windham County about six 
 months, owing to the sickness and death of the Hon. 
 George S. Catlin, the regularly appointed judge for 
 that county. While holding that office he disposed 
 of a large amount of business and heard and decided 
 a great number of important cases ; and although 
 many of his rulings and judgments were removed to 
 the Superior Court and Supreme Court of Errors and 
 reviewed by those tribunals, but one of them was ad- 
 judged to be erroneous. After leaving the County 
 Court bench he resumed the practice of his profes- 
 sion, and pursued it actively until Nov. 13, 1876, the 
 last four years as a partner of John M. Thayer, Esq., 
 a young gentleman who studied law in his office and 
 was admitted to the bar in September, 1871. In 1859 
 he represented the town of Norwich in the General 
 Assembly of the State, receiving a majority of all the 
 votes cast at the election, although the political party 
 which nominated him and of which he was a member 
 was largely in the minority in the town. In 1870 he 
 was chosen by a large majority mayor of the city of 
 Norwich for the term of one year, and while serving 
 in that office prepared a revision of the city charter, 
 with numerous important amendments, which re- 
 ceived the approval of the court, of Common Coun- 
 cil, and the electors of the city, as well as the favor- 
 able consideration of the General Assembly. In 1876 
 he was elevated to a seat on the bench of the Superior 
 Court, and still retains its incumbency. As judge of 
 that court he has been called upon by the chief justice 
 to sit upon the Supreme Court of Errors on several 
 occasions, and in some important cases heard upon 
 those occasions he prepared and delivered the opin- 
 ions of the court. Those opinions appear in the 44th, 
 45th, 46th, and 47th Volumes of Connecticut Reports. 
 Besides the official positions already mentioned, Judge 
 Hovey has been a trustee of the Norwich Saving So- 
 ciety for about thirty years, and of the Chelsea Savings- 
 Bank of Norwich ever since its organization in 1858. 
 He has also been a director of the latter institution 
 for many years, and was its attorney until he took 
 the oath of office as judge of the Superior Court. 
 
 On the 24th of December, 1844, he was united in 
 marriage with Lavinia J. Barber, of Simsbury. One 
 son, Albert Cleveland Hovey, was born of that union, 
 but died at the age of twenty-eight years, on the 16th 
 of October, 1873. 
 
 John Tuevill Adams was born Sept. -29, 1805, in 
 Demerara, South America. In 1810 his parents came 
 to Norwich, Conn., bringing him with them, and there 
 has passed the greater part of his life. Very soon after 
 
En^'byAH^Rdc^'-''-' 
 
1^ 
 
 
 
BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 55 
 
 graduating lie engaged in mercantile pursuits in the 
 city of New York, but they not proving to his taste, he 
 soon abandoned them and studied law. He remained 
 in the profession till 1850, when he ceased the practice 
 and has never resumed it. His life has been somewhat 
 of a roving one, he having resided not only in Con- 
 necticut, but in Michigan, New York, and Pennsyl- 
 vania, besides visiting South America, the West India 
 Islands, England, Ireland, and the Continent, remain- 
 ing in one instance nearly a year abroad. 
 
 He has been twice married, viz. : in 1826, to Miss 
 Hannah Phelps Huntington, who died in 1838, leav- 
 ing a son and daughter ; and in 1839, to Mrs. Eliza- 
 beth Dwight, who died in 1865. By her he had no 
 children. 
 
 He has lost his children. His son died unmarried. 
 His daughter married Mr. James E. Learned, and left 
 three sons and a daughter. They are living. 
 
 The events of his public life are : 
 
 He was elected judge of probate in 1835, but held 
 the ofSce only a short time, resigning it to remove to 
 Michigan. He was a representative of Norwich in 
 the Legislature, either in the Senate or House, during 
 the whole of the civil war, — i.e., from 1860 to 1865, 
 
 His health has been almost uniformly good. He 
 attends the Episcopal Church, and is not very 
 orthodox. 
 
 S. T. HoLBROOK was born in Roxbury, Mass., Sept. 
 7, 1 822. He removed to Hartford in 1838, and studied 
 music with William K. Babcock, and in 1844 com- 
 menced playing the organ at the Second Congrega- 
 tional Church in New London. In 1846 removed to 
 Norwich, and pursued the profession of a music-teacher 
 for a number of years. In 1854 he entered the law- 
 office of Jeremiah Halsey, of Norwich, and after a 
 due course of study was admitted to the bar. In 1856 
 he was elected judge of the Norwich Probate District, 
 and held the oiBce twelve years. In 1869 he declined 
 to accept a renomination, vacated the office at the 
 end of his twelfth year, and turned his attention 
 solely to the practice of the law. In 1873, as a col- 
 league of the Hon. John T. Wait, he represented the 
 town of Norwich in the Legislature, and was elected 
 by that body judge of the Court of Common Pleas for 
 New London County for one year. In 1876 he again 
 was a member of the Legislature from Norwich. In 
 1878 the Norwich Probate District again elected him 
 judge of the Probate Court, which office he still holds. 
 
 George Pratt was born in East Weymouth, Mass., 
 Oct. 12, 1882. He received such early education as 
 the public schools of his native town afforded, with 
 such as was derived from diligent and continuous 
 reading. He prepared for college at the Providence 
 Conference Seminary, R. I., and in 1851 entered Wes- 
 leyan University at Middletown. He left that insti- 
 tution in his freshman year, and entered Yule Col- 
 lege in 1853, and subsequently graduated. He studied 
 law with Hon. John T, Wait, and was admitted to the 
 bar in 1859, and in the following year opened an 
 
 office in Norwich. He rose rapidly in the profession, 
 and at the time of his death was engaged in most of 
 the causes of importance in Eastern Connecticut. He 
 was devoted to his profession. To a disciplined mind 
 and a comprehensive legal knowledge he added sound 
 judgment, practical tact, and clear discrimination. As 
 an advocate he was earnest, direct, and forcible, and 
 his arguments were always listened to with great at- 
 tention by the court. He was a public-spirited citi- 
 zen, and was several times elected to the Legislature, — 
 once from Salem, where he resided a few years pre- 
 vious to bis settling in Norwich, and three times frotn 
 Norwich. He married Sarah V., daughter of the 
 Hon. Daniel Whittlesey, of Salem. Mr. Pratt died 
 June 4, 1875. 
 
 Hon. George Willard Goddard is a son of 
 Maj. Hezekiah Goddard, — paymaster-general of the 
 troops summoned for the defense of New London in 
 the war of 1812 with Great Britain, — and Eunice 
 Rathbone. Hezekiah Goddard was the son of Daniel 
 Goddard, of Shrewsbury, Mass., and Mary Willard, 
 of Grafton, Mass. Daniel Goddard was a lineal de- 
 scendant of William Goddard, who was a son of Sir 
 Edward, of Wiltshire, England, the genealogy of whose 
 family dates back to the time of William the Con- 
 queror. The said William was originally a member of 
 the Royal Company of Grocers in London, and came 
 to this country in 1665. Mary Willard was a lineal 
 descendant of Maj. Simon Willard, who came from 
 England in 1634, and died in Charlestown, Mass., 
 1676. John Rathbone, of Stonington, was the father 
 of Eunice Rathbone ; he removed to New York City 
 the latter part of the eighteenth century and became 
 a merchant. When in 1812 the government called 
 for subscriptions for its aid in the war with Great 
 Britain, he and his son, John Rathbone, Jr., headed 
 the list of the wealthy and eminent merchants of 
 New York. The mother of Eunice Rathbone was 
 Eunice, daughter of Thomas Wells and Sarah Thomp- 
 son, of Hopkinton City, R. I. The children of Heze- 
 kiah Goddard and Eunice Rathbone were Eunice 
 Rathbone, John Calvin, James Edward, Juliette 
 Rathbone, George Willard, and Sarah Wells, of 
 whom James Edward and George Willard are the 
 only survivors, the latter of whom is the subject of 
 this sketch. He was born in New London, Conn., 
 on the 3d day of July, 1824; attended the schools 
 of New London and Norwich ; was graduated from 
 Yale College in the class of 1845; studied law with 
 Walker & Bristol in New London, then at the Law- 
 Schoql of Yale College, and finished his studies 
 with Hon. Lafayette S. Foster, of Norwich, Conn. ; 
 commenced practice of law in 1848, at New London, 
 as partner with Louis Bristol, son of Judge Bristol, 
 of New Haven ; was for several years one of the ex- 
 amining committee of the bar of New London County. 
 In 1848 he was chosen town agent. In 1855 he 
 was appointed clerk of the Court of Probate for 
 district of New London. In 1856 he was elected 
 
56 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 a member of the House of Representatives of the 
 State of Connecticut, and was appointed chairman of 
 the Committee on New Towns and Probate Districts. 
 In 1859, his eyesight failing, he substantially retired 
 from practice ; wasjudge of probate from July 4, 1864, 
 to July 4, 1867; was annually chosen judge of Police 
 and City Court from 1862 to 1865. In 1871 was elected 
 alderman of thecity of New London, and was appointed 
 chairman of the Committee on Streets. He was mar- 
 ried on the 22d of January, 1880, to Mary A. Thomas, 
 daughter of the late Jesse B. Thomas, of Chicago, 
 judge of the Superior Court of Illinois. He now re- 
 sides on the Vauxhall farm, in the town of Waterford, 
 near New London, his post-office address still being 
 New London, Conn. 
 
 William H. Potter' was born at Potter Hill, E. I., 
 Aug. 26, 1816. He was the seventh in descent from 
 Vincent Potter, one of the judges who condemned 
 Charles I. of England to death, and the family his- 
 tory has always been full of incidents connected with 
 or consequent upon that event. Large estates on the 
 banks of the Tyne were forfeited, long and perhaps 
 still in litigation, but completely lost to the family. 
 
 George Potter was the first to settle on the banks 
 of the Pawcatuck, where is now the village of Potter 
 Hill. 
 
 Joseph, the grandfather of the subject of this 
 sketch, succeeded to the business as merchant and 
 mill-owner, building the first cotton-mill in that re- 
 gion, and engaging also in some commercial adven- 
 tures in vessels he helped to build and fit for sea. 
 
 Col. Henry Potter, the father of William H., was 
 adjutant of the Third Ehode Island Regiment during 
 the war, and held a battalion in readiness to aid the 
 men who fought the battle of Stonington in 1814. 
 He afterwards became colonel of the regiment, and 
 was so skilled in military tactics as to be selected to 
 teach a military school at his home during the latter 
 period of the war, using an unoccupied story of his 
 father's factory for the evolutions of his men. He 
 removed to Waterford, Conn., in 1820, and died at 
 Mystic River, in his son's home, in the autumn of 
 1864, aged seventy-four. He had enjoyed many of the 
 ofiices of the town of Waterford, — selectman, justice 
 of the peace, school visitor, and representative in the 
 Legislature. He was a man of abilities, and proved 
 competent for every trust committed to him ; was 
 honest and prompt in his business relations, conscien- 
 tious and religious in his life, and has left the legacy 
 of a good name to his posterity. 
 
 William H. Potter, his only son, was educated in 
 the common schools of Waterford, and at Dr. Ulysses 
 Dow's grammar school in New London, going thence 
 to Bacon Academy, Colchester, in 1833, graduating 
 as valedictorian of the academy, and from it entering 
 Yale College in 1836. His health and eyesight fail- 
 ing, he was obliged to give up close study, which pre- 
 
 1 Contributed by S. S. Thresher, Esq. 
 
 vented his graduation in regular course, but he re- 
 ceived the then rare gift from his Alma Mater of the 
 honorary A.M. 
 
 He became a teacher soon after leaving college, 
 first teaching in a district school in Waterford, then 
 a select school at Newbury Vale, and in 1840 he be- 
 came principal of the Mystic River graded school, 
 and there married his wife, the daughter of Deacon 
 Elisha Rathbun, a most estimable lady, loved by all 
 who knew her, a faithful wife and mother, and a 
 charming companion, one of six sisters, all of whom 
 married and have raised up families and still reside 
 in that beautiful village in the immediate neighbor- 
 hood of each other, and of a brother. By her he has 
 two daughters, both married, one the wife of S. S. 
 Thresher, Esq., of Norwich, and the other of Horace 
 W. Fish, of the firm of C. Potter, Jr., & Co., of New 
 York, manufacturers of the celebrated Potter Printing 
 Press. 
 
 Mr. Potter spent four years teaching in Mississippi, 
 in 1851-55, as principal of the Brandon Academy, 
 where he was regarded as highly successful in his 
 calling. Returning to Connecticut at the end of his 
 four years South, he resumed teaching as principal of 
 the graded school at Mystic River. In 1865, just before 
 the death of President Lincoln, he was appointed by 
 him United States assistant assessor of internal rev- 
 enue, which ofiice he continued to hold until 1869, 
 when he resigned it to become a member of the lower 
 branch of the Legislature. In 1872 he was senator 
 from the Seventh Senatorial District, and in that year, 
 as chairman of the Committee on Education, he had a' 
 large share in moulding the entire educational code of 
 the State, revising every law pertaining to colleges, 
 academies, common and normal schools. He was said 
 also to be one of the few legislators that was generally 
 at his post, and who kept his own time, refusing any 
 pay for all the time he was absent, in accordance with 
 the intent of the law, as his father. Col. Potter, had 
 scrupulously done before him while a member of the 
 Lower House. The oflScers who made out the deben- 
 ture bill of the Ijcgislature were not pleased to have 
 one member so particular, making them, as they said, 
 more trouble than all the others, for he would not take 
 nor receipt for his pay till the deduction was made 
 and the bill exactly corresponded with the time he 
 was actually present. It is a small matter, no doubt, 
 but it serves as an illustration of his exactness in all 
 his business relations, and he took great pride in it. 
 In 1872 he was elected by the Legislature a member 
 of the State Board of Education and trustee of the 
 State Normal School, and in 1876 he was re-elected 
 to the same offices, although a large majority of both 
 Houses of the Legislature of that year were of oppo- 
 site politics. His election to these important and 
 responsible positions was not regarded by him as 
 merely complimentary, nor were their duties light, for 
 he made it a point to be present at all the meetings of 
 the board, and bore apart in the discussions and in solv- 
 
lyL^^-^^J---^^ o^ Oo^ , t^v^e0^5jj_^ , 
 
BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 57 
 
 ing practical questions which were constantly coming 
 before it, and he was uniformly present at the Normal 
 School commencements. A practical teacher was 
 needed among the eminent men constituting the 
 board, and his long experience in that position and 
 as school visitor qualified him in an eminent de- 
 gree to supply that need, and made his suggestions 
 of great value to his associates. Dr. Northrop, the 
 excellent secretary of the board, also bore witness to 
 Mr. Potter's faithfulness and usefulness during the 
 eight years of his service as a member. He was 
 elected judge of probate for the district of Groton 
 in 1876, in which office he still continues by repeated 
 re-elections, being also notary public and justice of 
 the peace. He has also held the office of first select- 
 man of the town of Groton. 
 
 In politics he was originally a Whig, casting his 
 first vote for Governor W. W. Ellsworth, and at the 
 same time voting for Maj. Thomas W. Williams, of 
 New London, for member of Congress, both of whom 
 were triumphantly elected. At that time in order to 
 be made a freeman it was necessary to be the owner 
 of real estate. He continued to be a member of the 
 Whig party until its final dissolution. He has been a 
 member of the Republican party ever since its organ- 
 ization, and has supported its tickets even when he 
 did not approve of the nominations ; but it ought in 
 fairness to be said of him that he has never been so 
 blindly partisan that he could see no good in any 
 one of opposite politics, and the writer, who differs 
 with him politically, freely pays this tribute to his 
 manliness in this regard. So much for secular mat- 
 ters. 
 
 Judge Potter professed Christ in 1831, and has been 
 a consistent member of the church since that time, 
 and for more than a third of a century has been 
 deacon in the Union Baptist Church of Mystic Eiver 
 and a teacher in its Sunday-school. He was for 
 twenty years clerk of the Stonington Union Associa- 
 tion, and is now its corresponding secretary. For 
 many years he was statistical secretary of the Baptist 
 State Convention and one of the board of managers, 
 and he is still in the latter office, though unable 
 always to be present. He was also for several years 
 a trustee of the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suf- 
 field, and at one time one of the examining board. 
 He took an active part in the centennial celebration 
 of the massacre on Groton Heights, Sept. 6, 1781. 
 
 Judge Potter is still an active business man, being 
 an insurance agent, real estate agent, etc., as well as 
 attending to the business of the Probate Court. 
 
 It is perhaps too soon to speak of the character of a 
 man before he has passed away, but certainly the 
 friends of the subject of this sketch have no reason to 
 blush for the character and conduct of the judge in 
 any capacity in which he has been called to act. He 
 takes a generous, view of his contemporaries, and hence 
 his favorite motto, "Aui bonum aut nil," which he 
 has framed and conspicuously hung in his office as a 
 
 hint to all having occasion to call upon business or 
 socially. In the cause of temperance, of religion, of 
 education and general benevolence he has maintained 
 a position which is certainly marked, and of which 
 his friends may well be proud, and both he and his 
 wife have long been noted for their generous hospi- 
 tality. He has written several historical sketches of 
 churches and communities, some acceptable biograph- 
 ical notes, and some respectable verses that have been 
 printed, and he has been a reporter or correspondent 
 for various papers during the whole period of his life 
 since he attained the age of manhood. Another qual- 
 ification he possesses in a high degree, and that is that 
 of a peace-maker. Many disputes have been brought 
 to a happy settlement and disaffection among brethren 
 removed by his counsel, and being well informed in 
 the principles of the common law, with a mind quick 
 to discern the equities of a case, his opinions have been 
 sought and often prevailed to prevent litigation, and 
 perhaps in this character he is best known. 
 
 Thomas M. Wallee. — There are few, even of the 
 intimate friends of Thomas M. Waller, who know of 
 the eventful boyhood which paved the way to one of 
 the most successful and brilliant careers in the later 
 annals of New London County. Mr. Waller is of 
 Irish extraction. Born in New York nearly forty- 
 three years ago, the death of his mother, Mary Arm- 
 strong, of his only and younger brother William, and 
 of his father, Thomas Christopher Armstrong, events 
 which followed each other in the order named, left 
 him, before he had scarcely reached nine years of 
 age, alone in the'great city. After this he drifted out 
 into the world, as so many boys had done before him. 
 The faculty of making and retaining friends, which 
 has been his to such a marked extent in later life, had 
 begun to develop even then ; and when he was thrown 
 upon his own resources he found some one willing to 
 advance him the moderate capital necessary to start 
 him as a newsboy. For some months he cried papers 
 in the lower parts of the city, finding his best cus- 
 tomers in the Tammany Hall of those days, and more 
 than one night, while he was following this life, he 
 pillowed his head on the steps of the old Tribune 
 building. Then he took to sea-life for a time, serving 
 on several fishing-vessels as cabin-boy and cook's 
 mate, among them the " Mount Vernon,'' of New 
 London, on which he was about to ship to California 
 during the excitement of '49, when the late Robert 
 K. Waller, of that city, became interested in and 
 adopted him. The name which he now bears was 
 then assumed. The elder Mr. Waller and his wife 
 treated the boy as their own, gave him a good home, 
 the best of care, and the educational advantages that 
 were afforded by the public schools of New London. 
 The kindness they bestowed upon him was always 
 appreciated, and in their declining years he was able 
 in some degree to return it. Before his mother's 
 death he had attended a public school in New York 
 for several years, so that he was well grounded in the 
 
58 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 three )-'s, and his progress in the New London schools 
 was rapid. He graduated at the Bartlett High School 
 in the same class with the late Edgar A. Hewitt, who 
 afterwards became known as a most brilliant writer 
 on insurance topics, and Samuel H. Davis, with 
 whom, after his admission to the bar, he formed a 
 partnership. He even then gave promise of the ora- 
 torical powers he has since developed, carrying off the 
 first prize for declamation when his class graduated. 
 
 Mr. Waller was admitted to the bar in April, 1861, 
 and soon .after enlisted as a private in Company E, 
 Second Eegiment Connecticut Volunteers. He was 
 elected fourth sergeant of the company, and went 
 with it to the front, but was honorably discharged 
 from the service before the expiration of his term of 
 enlistment on account of a painful difficulty of the 
 eyes, from which he has suffered to some extent ever 
 since. Returning to New London, he entered upon 
 the firactice of his profession, and from the very 
 beginning met with gratifying success. During the 
 past ten years he has occupied a leading position at 
 the bar of this county, and enjoyed a large and lucra- 
 tive practice. As an advocate he has had few equals 
 in this State, and his reputation in this respect has 
 frequently led to his employment in important jury 
 cases in other counties. Since 1875 he has held, by 
 appointment of the judges of the Supreme and Su- 
 perior Courts, the position of attorney for the State 
 for New London County. He has proved a most 
 successful public prosecutor, and his administration 
 has been popular alike with his associates at the bar 
 and with the public. He has been called upon to 
 condact one of the most important criminal cases 
 that ever occupied the attention of a Connecticut 
 court, — that of the State vs. Kate Cobb, who was 
 accused of the murder of her husband, — and to assist 
 in another equally important, and even more notori- 
 ous, — that of the State vs. Eev. Herbert H. Hayden, 
 charged with the murder of Mary Stannard. The 
 Cobb case was managed with marked ability, and re- 
 sulted in the conviction of the accused of murder in 
 the second degree. Mr. Waller was assigned by the 
 judges of the Supreme Court to assist in the conduct 
 of the Hayden case, the attorney for the State for 
 New Haven County being disqualified. The assign- 
 ment of itself was a proof of the confidence reposed 
 by the judges of the highest court in his ability and 
 good judgment as a public prosecutor. During this 
 trial Mr. Waller added to the esteem in which he 
 was already held by many of his professional asso- 
 ciates, especially by the readiness and ability which 
 he displayed in arguing the numerous interlocutory 
 questions which arose as to the admission of evidence 
 some of which were of the greatest importance. 
 
 Mr. Waller has always been identified with the 
 Democratic party, and has been one of its acknowl- 
 edged leaders in this State since he first entered upon 
 public life. He was elected a representative to the 
 General Assembly from New London in 1867, 1868 
 
 1872, and 1876, and was Speaker of the House in the 
 centennial year. In no field did his abilities show to 
 better advantage than on the floor of the House. As 
 a leader of his party he was always self-possessed, 
 sometimes bold to the point of daring, full of re- 
 source ; as a debater he was most forcible and vigor- 
 ous, eloquent whenever the subject admitted, quick at 
 repartee. His speech in favor of the bridge across 
 the Connecticut River at Saybrook was the feature of 
 the session of 1868, and fairly captivated the House, 
 but it was only one of many brilliant oratorical efforts 
 that marked his career as a legislator. The duties of 
 the Speakership he discharged with the dignity and 
 impartiality that became the position, uniting to a 
 thorough knowledge of parliamentary law the readi- 
 ness and natural aptitude which are so indispensable 
 in a presiding officer of a deliberative body. He was 
 a worthy successor of Lafayette S. Foster and Augus- 
 tus Brandegee, two of the most accomplished par- 
 liamentarians in the country. In 1870 he was elected 
 Secretary of State. In 1873 he was chosen mayor of 
 New London, and in that position displayed execu- 
 tive ability of a high order.. He held the office six 
 years, and at the end of that time declined a renomi- 
 nation. He was the Democratic candidate for repre- 
 sentative in Congress from the Third Connecticut Dis- 
 trict in 1876. He made a vigorous canvass, speaking 
 in many towns in his own county as well as in Wind- 
 ham. He was defeated by a large majority, but polled 
 a heavier vote than the candidates of his party for 
 Presidential electors. Since that time he has not 
 held nor has he been a candidate for public office, but 
 has devoted himself more closely than at any previous 
 period to the practice of his profession. At an age 
 when many men have but just entered upon public 
 life he has held some of the most important and hon- 
 orable positions in the gift of his fellow-citizens, and 
 in the natural course of events still higher honors are 
 yet in store for him. 
 
 Augustus Beandegee was born in New London, 
 Conn., July 15, 1828. He graduated at Yale College in 
 1849, and at the Yale Law-School in 1851. He adopted 
 the profession of law and resides in New London. Po- 
 litically he is a Republican, and has been active in the 
 councils of the party in the State and nation. He was 
 elected a member of the Connecticut Legislature in 
 1854, 1858, 1859, and 1861, having been chosen Speaker 
 of the House in the latter year. In 1861 he was a Presi- 
 dential elector, and was elected a representative from 
 Connecticut to the Thirty-eighth Congress, serving as 
 a member of the Committees on Naval Affairs and 
 Expenditures, on Public Buildings, and also as chair- 
 man of a special committee on the Air-Line Railroad 
 from Washington to New York. He was re-elected 
 to the Thirty-ninth Congress, serving on the Com- 
 mittees on Naval Affairs, Revolutionary Pensions, 
 and the Postal Railroad to New York. He was a 
 delegate to the Baltimore Convention in 1864, to the 
 Philadelphia " Loyalists' Convention" in 1866, and to 
 
MEDICAL HISTORY. 
 
 59 
 
 the Chicago Convention in 1880 which nominated the 
 lamented Garfield for President of the United States. 
 Mr. Brandegee has also been mayor of his native city. 
 Wm. C. Crump, A. C. Lippitt; and John P. C. 
 Mather are also old attorneys, residents of New 
 London. 
 
 Daniel Chadwick was born at Lyme, Jan. 5, 
 1825; graduated at Yale College in 1845; studied 
 law with Chief Justice H. M. Waite and Hon. L. F. 
 S. Foster, also in Ohio with Chief Justice Morrison 
 R. Waite. Admitted to the bar of New London 
 County, June, 1847 ; has practiced law at Lyme ever 
 since, with the exception of the years 1854, '55, and 
 '56, when he was practicing at Baltimore, Md. He 
 was a member of the Connecticut Senate in 1858 and 
 1864, and of the House in 1859 ; state's attorney for 
 New London County for fourteen years, and United 
 States attorney for Connecticut since November, 1880 ; 
 government director of the Union Pacific Railway 
 Company for four years from April, 1877. 
 
 George Coit Riplet, youngest son of George 
 Burbank Ripley, was born in Norwich, Aug. 24, 1839. 
 Graduated at Yale College in the class of 1862, when 
 he entered the Tenth Regiment Connecticut Volun- 
 teers, and served till the close of the war. Studied 
 law with Jeremiah Halsey, Esq. Entered the bar 
 October, 1867, and has been actively engaged in prac- 
 ticing ever since. Has been member of the City 
 Council, city clerk, recorder of the city, and city at- 
 torney. Is a member of the General Assembly for 
 1882. 
 
 The present members of the bar are as follows : 
 
 New London. — William Belcher, Augustus Brande- 
 gee, Chas. W. Butler, N. A. Chapman, Robt. Coit, 
 Wm. -C. Crump, John G. Crump, A. S. Darrow, An- 
 drew C. Lippitt, A. C. Lippitt, Jr., John P. C. Mather, 
 Samuel Park, G. F. Raymond, Wm. M. Stark, John 
 A. Tibbetts, Thomas M. Waller, Ralph Wheeler, B. 
 
 F. Mahan. 
 
 Norwich. — John T. Adams, John C. Averill, Wm. 
 L. Brewer, Lucius Brown, Frank T. Brown, Franklin 
 H. Brown, Amos A. Browning, Henry H. Burnham, 
 E. S. Bottom, Willis A. Briscoe, Richard E. Cash, 
 Elbridge C. Cooke, S. A. Crandall, J. B. Coit, Wm. S. 
 Congden, J. J. Desmond, George W. Foot, Herbert 
 
 G. Fowler, Gardiner Greene, Jr., Jeremiah Halsey, 
 Edward Harland, S. T. Holbrook, Wm. H. Jennings, 
 Jr., John C. Kellogg, Solomon Lucas, Ebenezer 
 Learned, Albert F. Park, Webster Park, Donald G. 
 Perkins, Calvin L. Rawson, Louis Rivard, Frank A. 
 Robinson, George C. Ripley, Wm. H. Shields, S. H. 
 Thresher, Seneca S. Thresher, Chas. F. Thayer, E. H. 
 Thomas, Allen Tenny, J. M. Thayer, John T. Wait, 
 O. P. Walters, and David Young. 
 
 Colchester. — Erastus S. Day, Joel H. Reed. 
 Oroton. — John J. Copp, Lemuel Clift, A. P. Tanner. 
 Montville. — Charles W. Comstock. 
 Old Lyme. — Daniel Chadwick, James Griswold, and 
 J. G. Perkins. 
 
 Stonington. — H. A. Hull, Charles Sabin, John B. 
 Grinnell, and Albert Denison. 
 
 Waterford. — A. S. Darrow and N. A. Chapman. 
 
 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, — that 
 to the profession of the law civil government is in- 
 debted for all the safeguards and intrenchments with 
 which the liberties of the people are protected ; that 
 legislation is shaped, constitutions enlarged, amended, 
 and adopted by the 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 disciplined, 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 
 statesmanship of the country, and call to the parlia- 
 ments and congressional halls for final debate the 
 arbitraments 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 New London 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-Blave at night 
 Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed 
 By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave 
 Lilce one who wraps the drapery of his couch 
 ' About him and lies down to pleasant dreams." 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 MEDICAL HISTORY.i 
 
 It is a matter of general interest, as well as of local 
 pride, that the first physicians in the colonies to take 
 the initial step towards the organization of a medical 
 
 > By Ashbel Woodward, M.D. 
 
60 
 
 HISTOEY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 society for mutual improvement and good fellowship 
 were those of New London County. Their petition 
 to associate for mutual improvement was preferred to 
 the Colonial Legislature in 1763, but it was a move- 
 ment in advance of the age, and was negatived in the 
 Lower House. Still it indicated one of the most im- 
 portant crises in the history of the profession. The 
 presentation of that unpretending memorial from the 
 physicians of New London County was the initiative 
 proceeding in a series of efforts which have since re- 
 sulted in the permanent establishment of many flour- 
 ishing State societies, and within a few years of the 
 National Association, which has contributed in a 
 high degree to purify the ranks, elevate the aims, and 
 make a real unit and fraternity of the profession in 
 America. 
 
 In the attempts alluded to it was not the object of 
 the petitioners to secure any immunities or exclusive 
 privileges for themselves, but to protect the health of 
 the community by additional securities. At that 
 time there was no authority in the State legally qual- 
 ified to confer degrees in a way to discriminate the 
 man of solid acquirements from the ignorant pre- 
 tender. They wished to establish a standard of edu- 
 cation by making a respectable amount of attain- 
 ments an indispensable prerequisite, and they asked 
 for the appointment of a committee legally author- 
 ized to examine and approve candidates if found 
 qualified. 
 
 Thus the physicians of New London County, though 
 unsuccessful in their first attempt, were the pioneers 
 in the cause of American medical education and or- 
 ganization. 
 
 The society was organized on the voluntary prin- 
 ciple, in the month of September, 1775. At the first 
 meeting Dr. John Barker was chosen president, and 
 annually re-elected to this office to the time of his 
 death in 1791. 
 
 Of the transactions of this society subsequent to 
 its organization we know but little. The medical li- 
 braries in the hands of our predecessors of that period 
 were meagre, and confined to a few elementary works. 
 There being neither schools nor hospitals, beginners 
 were compelled to depend to a great extent upon the 
 oral instruction of men who had acquired skill by 
 experience. 
 
 During the early days of the colonies their circum- 
 stances were not favorable to the prosperity and ele- 
 vation of the profession. To become a well-qualified 
 physician required a course of study and a variety of 
 observation which were not to be obtained in any of 
 the colonies, while the great expense attending a for- 
 eign education rendered it quite impracticable for 
 any except a very few to avail themselves of the only 
 means of becoming regularly instructed. 
 
 The advantages likewise attendant upon an emi- 
 gration hither were too remote and too uncertain to 
 draw the educated physicians of Europe to our 
 shores. Thus it was that in the almost entire absence 
 
 of populous towns, and in the entire absence of med- 
 ical institutions, which constitute so powerful an at- 
 traction to the educated and to the ambitious, no one 
 already established in practice on the other side of 
 the Atlantic would think of exchanging it for the 
 hardships and privations which he was almost sure to 
 experience in the American wilderness. It was, per- 
 haps, too often the case that those, and those only, 
 who failed in the Old World were induced to remove 
 to the New. 
 
 We have shown that the medical students of Con- 
 necticut, prior to the organiziation of the State Medi- 
 cal Society, had no other than private medical in- 
 struction. There were, it is true, some competent and 
 highly popular medical teachers scattered through 
 the State, by whom large numbers of our young men 
 were successfully educated. Among the most emi- 
 nent were Dr. Jared Elliot, of Killingworth, who 
 has justly been regarded as the father of regular 
 practice in Connecticut; also Dr. Jared Porter, of 
 Wallingford, himself a student of Dr. Elliot, who for 
 many years kept a medical school, in which several 
 of the most distinguished physicians in the State 
 were educated. Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, of Hartford, 
 being among the number. Another, scarcely less 
 eminent, was Dr. John Barker, of Franklin, who was 
 the president of the New London County Medical 
 Society from its organization until his death in 1791. 
 But able teachers at that day were not always acces- 
 sible, and when accessible were not always duly ap- 
 preciated. All who chose to practice medicine were 
 legal physicians, however indifferent had been their 
 advantages. No examination was had, nor was any 
 license given or required. In some cases a certificate 
 was proffered by the instructor to the student at the 
 expiration of his apprenticeship, as it was called, but 
 even this was often dispensed with. 
 
 Towards the middle of the eighteenth century wars 
 broke out between England and France, and the 
 theatre of military operations was mostly in the colo- 
 nies. For twenty years wars were almost constant. 
 The British forces were accompanied by a medical 
 staff composed of well-selected and well-educated 
 physicians. Their military operations led to the es- 
 tablishment of many hospitals in our territories. As 
 the colonies were required to furnish their full pro- 
 portion of troops, it followed also that they were to 
 supply their share of the medical corps. This brought 
 many of our young men into contact with the edu- 
 cated and experienced surgeons of Europe. The effect 
 was most salutary. The discipline of the camp sup- 
 plied in some measure the defect of early medical 
 education. In this way a new order of medical men 
 was raised up and diffused through the community. 
 
 When the people of this country emerged from the 
 war of independence they saw that their success 
 had depended upon union of effort. The physicians 
 of Connecticut realized the necessity of a thorough 
 professional reform, and felt that the consummation 
 
MEDICAL HISTOKY. 
 
 61 
 
 of this reform required not only concert of action 
 among themselves, but legislative sanction also. 
 They petitioned for an act of incorporation in May, 
 1786, and in 1792 their petition was granted. From 
 that day onward to the present, if its course has not 
 been marked by uniform prosperity, its existence, at 
 least, has been continuous. And it would be difficult 
 to name any association, at home or abroad, that has 
 more undeviatingly aimed to promote the public 
 good, and at the same time to secure to its members 
 that true dignity of character which should distin- 
 guish all belonging to an honorable profession. 
 
 At a meeting of the physicians and surgeons of 
 New London County, on the fourth Tuesday of Sep- 
 tember, 1792, agreeably to the act of the General 
 Assembly passed in May last, incorporating a medical 
 society in the State of Connecticut, Voted, By a ma- 
 jority present, that the following gentlemen be mem- 
 bers of the society for this county : 
 
 Dra. TheophiluB Rogers, Norwich ; Thomas Coit, New London ; Charles 
 Phelps, Stonington ; Philip Turrier, Norwich; John Watson, Col- 
 chester; Simon Wolcott, New London; Philemon Tracy, Norwich ; 
 Joshua Downer, Preston; John Turner, Norwich ; Samuel Mather, 
 Lyme ; Elihu Marvin, Norwich ; John Noys, Lyme ; Samuel Bussel, 
 Norwich; Jonathan Marsh, Norwich; Jedediah Biimham, Lishon ; 
 David H. Jewett, Montville; Phineas Hide, Groton; David Lord,. 
 Stonington; Luther Manning, Lisbon; Avery Downer, Preston; 
 Benjamin Ellis, Franklin; Thomas Coit, Jr., New London; James 
 Lee, Lyme; Elijah Hartshorn, Franklin; Wm. Robertson, Stoning- 
 ton; Benjamin Butler, New London; Bishop Tyler, Preston ; Thos. 
 Skinner, Colchester; John R. Watroua, Colchester; John Scott, 
 Boziah; Benjamin Moore, Norwich ; Wm. Lord, Stonington; John 
 0. Miner, Groton; Asher Huntington, Stonington ; Prosper Rose, 
 Groton; Samuel Seabury, Jr., New London; Jeremiah Rogers, 
 Montville; Jonathan Gray, Stonington; James Noys, Stonington; 
 Ames Prentis, Groton; Ames Prentis, Jr., Groton; David Boels, 
 New London ; Nathan Hide, Franklin ; Asa Spalding, Stonington. 
 
 1792.— Chairman, Dr. Theophilns Rogers; Clerk, Dr. Simon Wolcott; 
 Delegates, Drs. Theophilus Rogers, Snmuel Mather, Thomas Coit, 
 Joshua Downer, Philip Turner. 
 
 In 1793, Drs. Joseph W. Lee, Samuel G. P. Lee, Wm. Graham, and Gur- 
 don Lathrop were chosen members of the society. Chairman, Dr. 
 Theophilus Rogers; Clerk, Simon Wolcott; Delegates, Dra. Theo- 
 philus Rogers, Philip Turner, Simon Wolcott, John Watrous, Phile- 
 mon Tracy. 
 
 1794,— Chairman, Dr. Philip Turner; Clerk, Dr. Simon Wolcott; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Philip Turner, Simon Wolcott, Thomas Skinner, John R. 
 Watrous, Theophilus Rogers. 
 
 1795 .—Chairman, Dr. Phihp Turner; Clerk, Dr. Simon Wolcott; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Philip Turner, Theophilus Rogers, Simon Wolcott, John 
 B. Watrous, Philemon Tracy. 
 
 l7g9._C},airman, Dr. Philip Turner; Clerk, Dr. Simon Wolcott; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. John R. Watroua, John Turner, Simon Wolcott, Philip 
 Turner, Samuel Mather. Dr. Elijah Butts was made a member of 
 the society. 
 
 1800. Chairman, Dr. Philip Turner; Clerk, Dr. John B. Watrous; Dele- 
 gates, Drs, Simon Wolcott, John R. Watrous, John 0. Miner, John 
 Noyes, Avery Downer. 
 
 1801.— Chairman, Dr. Simon Wolcott; Clerk, Dr. John R. Watrous; 
 Delegates, Drs. Simon Wolcott, John R. Watrous, John 0. Miner, 
 Avery Downer, James Lee. 
 
 1802.— Chairman, Dr. Simon Wolcott; Clerk, Dr. James Lee; Delegates, 
 Drs. Simon Wolcott, John R. Watrous, Avery Downer, John 0. 
 Miner, Philemon Tracy. Dr. Daniel Clark was made a member of 
 this society. 
 
 1803.— Chairman, Dr. John Noyes; Clerk, Dr. James Lee; Delegates, 
 Drs. John R. Watrous, John Noyes, James Lee, Thomas Coit, Jr., 
 Avery Downer. Dr. Noah B. Foot was made a member of the so- 
 ciety. 
 
 1804.— Chairman, Dr. Samuel Mather; Clerk, Dr. John 0. Miner; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Samuel Mather, John R. Watroua, Avery Downer, John 0. 
 5 
 
 Miner, Thomas Coit, Jr. Dr. Aaron C. Willey was made a member 
 of the society. 
 
 1805.— Chairman, Dr. Simon Wolcott; Clerk, Dr. John 0. Miner; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Simon Wolcott, John R. Watrous, John 0. Miner, Avery 
 Downer, Thomas Coit, Jr. Dr. William Hyde was made a member 
 of this society. 
 
 1806.— Chairman, Dr. Simon Wolcott ; Clerk, Dr. Thomas Coit, Jr. ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Simon Wolcott, Avery Downer, John 0. Miner, Samuel 
 H. P. Lee, Thomas Coit, Jr. 
 
 1807.— Chairman, Dr. John E. Watrous ; Clerk, Dr. Thomas Coit, Jr. ; Del- 
 egates, Drs. John R. Watroua, John 0. Miner, Avery Downer, Samuel 
 H, P. Lee, Thomas Coit, Jr. Drs. Baruck Beckwith and Vine Utley 
 were made members of the society. 
 
 1808.— Cliairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Thomas Coit, Jr. ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Avery Downer, John 0, Miner, Thomas Coit, Jr., Samuel 
 Mather, Samuel H. P. Lee. Drs. Benjamin Harris and Joseph Com- 
 stock were made members of the society. 
 
 1 809.— Chairman, Dr. Samuel Mather ; Clerk, Dr. Thomas Coit, Jr. ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Samuel Mather, Avery Downer, Thomas Coit, Jr., Samuel 
 H. P. Lee, John 0. Miner. Dr. George Tisdale was made a member 
 of the society. 
 
 1810.— Chairman, Dr. Samuel Mather; Clerk, Dr. Thomas Coit, Jr.; Del- 
 egates, Drs. Samuel Masher, John O.Miner, Avery Downer, Thomas 
 Coit, Jr., Samuel H. P. Lee. Dr. William Graham was readmitted 
 to the society, he having been for a number of years practicing out 
 of the State. Dr. Thomas Miner was made a member of the society. 
 
 1811.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Samuel H. P.Lee; Del- 
 egates, Drs. Avery Downer, Samuel H. P. Lee, John 0. Miner, Thomas 
 Coit, Jr., Thomas Miner. Drs. John C. M. Brockway, John Noyes, 
 and John Smith were made membei-s of the society. 
 
 1812.— Chairman, Dr. John R. Watrous ; Clerk, Dr. Samuel H. P. Lee ; Del- 
 egates, Drs. John 0. Miner, Avery Downer, Thomas Coit, Samuel H. 
 P. Lee, Thomas Miner. Drs. Eliaha North, Asa M. Holt, Samuel 
 Hunting, Archibald Mercer, and John Billings were made members 
 of the society. 
 
 1813.— Chairman, Dr. John R. AVatroue; Clerk, Dr. Samuel H. P. Lee; 
 Delegates, Drs. Avery Downer, John 0. Miner, Thomas Coit, Thomas 
 Miner, Samuel H. P. Lee. Drs. Dyer T. Brainard, John L. Smith, 
 and George Downer were made members of the society. 
 
 1814.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Elisha North; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Avery Downer, Elisha North, John 0. Miner, Samuel H. 
 P. Lee, George Tisdale. Dr. Eleazer B. Downing was made a mem- 
 ber of the society. 
 
 1815.— Chairman, Dr. John O.Miner; Clerk, Dr. E. North ; Delegates, 
 Drs. Avery Downer, Thomas Coit, E. North, John 0. Miner, George 
 Tisdale. Drs. Nathan S. Perkins, Sylvester Wooster, and Marvin 
 Smith were made members of the society. 
 
 1816.— Chairman, Dr. John 0. Miner; Clerk, Dr. Dyer T. Brainard ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. John E. Miner, Avery Downer, Elisha North, Samuel H. 
 P. Lee, Vine Utley. 
 
 1817.— Chairman, Dr. John B. Watrous; Clerk, Dr. D.T. Brainard; Dele- 
 gates, Dra. Elisha North, George Tisdale, John O.Miner, D.T. Brain- 
 ard, Sylvester Wooster. Dr. Nathaniel Allen was made a member 
 of the society. 
 
 1818.- Chairman, Dr. John O.Miner; Clerk, Dr. N. T. Perkins; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. John Smith, George Downer, Sylvester Wooster, Nathan- 
 iel T. Perkins, Benjamin F. Stoddard. Drs. Lucius Tyler and An- 
 drew T. Warner were made members of the society, 
 
 1819.— Chairman, Dr. John O.Miner; Clerk, Dr. N. T. Perkins ;• Dele- 
 gates, Dra. John 0. Miner, Eliaha North, Samuel H. P. Lee, George 
 Downer, Sylvester Wooster. 
 
 1821. — Chairman, Dr. John R. Watroua ; Clerk, Dr. Archibald Mercer; 
 Delegates, Dra. John 0. Miner, Elisha North, W. P. Eaton, Avery 
 Downer, Lucius Tyler. 
 
 1822.— Chairman, Dr. John R. Watrous; Clerk, Dr. W. P. Eaton ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. John 0. Miner, Avery Downer, George Tisdale, Frederick 
 Morgan, Dyer T. Brainard. Drs. Thomas J. Wills and Reuben Bur- 
 gess were made members of the society. 
 
 1823.— Chairman, Dr. Elisha North ; Clerk, Dr. W. P Eaton ; Delegates, 
 Dra. Archibald Mercer, William P. Eaton, Dyer T. Brainard, Sylves- 
 ter Wooster, John L. Smith. 
 
 1824. — Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Richard P. Tracy; 
 Delegates, Drs. Lucius Tyler, Thomas T. Wells, Richard P. Tracy, 
 Dyer T. Brainard, William P. Eaton. Dr. John Tibbetta was made a 
 member of this society. 
 
 1825.— Chairman, Dr. John C. Miner; Clerk, Dr. Richard P. Tracy; 
 Delegates, Dra. Nathaniel S. Perkins, John 0. Miner, William P. 
 
HISTOllY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Eaton, Sylvester "Wooster, Archibald Mercer. Dr. Henry R. Berdick 
 Wii6 made a member of the society. 
 
 1826.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer ; Clerk, Dr. Benjamin F. Stoddard ; 
 Delegates, Drs. Thomas Wells, Lucius Tyler, John 0. Tibbetts, Reuben 
 Burgess, Dyer T. Brainard. 
 
 1827.— Chairman, Dr. John 0. Miner; Clerk, Dr. Benjamin F. Stoddard; 
 Delegates, Drs. Nathaniel S. Perkins, Dyer T. Brainard, William P. 
 Miner, Thomas T. Wells, Benjamin F. Stoddard. Dr. William Rob- 
 inson was made a member of this society. 
 
 1828.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer ; 01 erk, Dr. John C. Tibbetts ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Mason F. Manning, Joseph Comstock, Eleazer B. Down- 
 ing, Lucius Tyler, Benjamin F. Stoddard. 
 
 1829.— Chairman, Dr. John 0. Miuce ; Clerk, Dr. John C. Tibbetts ; Del- 
 egates, Drs. Dyer T. Brainard, John C. Tibbetts, Kathan Tisdale, 
 John 0. Miner, Nathaniel S. Perkins. Drs. George E. Palmer and 
 James Morgan were made members of this society. 
 
 1830. — Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Worthington Hooker; 
 Delegates, Drs. William Robinson, George E. Palmer, Avery Downer, 
 Mason Manning, Joseph Peabody. 
 
 1831.— Chairman, Dr. Elisha North; Clerk, Dr. Worthington Hooker; 
 Delegates, Drs. Dyer T. Brainard, James Morgan, Worthington 
 Hooker, George E. Palmer, Nathaniel S. Perkins. Dr. Ephraim 
 Fellows was made a member of the society. 
 
 1832.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Thomas P. Wattles; 
 Delegates, Drs. Avery Downer, E. B. Downing, Lucius Tyler, T. P. 
 Wattles, M. Manning. 
 
 1833.~Chairman, Dr. John 0. Miner ; Clerk, Dr. T. P. Wattles ; Delegates, 
 Drs. Dyer T. Brainard, George E. Palmer, Nathaniel S. Perkins, R. 
 Manwaring, B. F. Stoddard. 
 
 1834. — Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Thomas P.Watties; 
 Delegates, Drs. Dyer T. Brainard, E. B. Downing, John C. Tibbetta, 
 Lucius Tyler, William W, Miner. 
 
 1835. — Chairman, Dr. John 0. Miner; Clerk, Dr. Isaac G. Porter; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. William Hyde, James Morgan, Ephraim Fellows, Dyer 
 T. Brainard, William W. Miner. 
 
 1836. — Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Isaac G. Porter; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Lucius Tyler, Joseph. Comstock, Eleazer B. Downing, 
 Worthington Hooker, Dyer T. Brainard. 
 
 1837.— Chairman, Dr. John 0. Miner; Clerk, Dr. A. F. Perkins; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. John 0. Miner, Avery Downer, James Rogers, William 
 Hyde, Dyer T. Brainard. 
 
 1838. — Chairman, Dr. Joseph Comstock; Clerk, Dr. A. P. Perkins ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs, Ralph Farnsworth, Wm. W. Miner, Joseph Duffey, Elea- 
 zer B. Downing, A. F. Perkins. Dr. Thomas W. Gay was made a 
 member of the society, 
 
 1839. — Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. A. F. Perkins; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Nathaniel S. Perkins, D. T. Brainard, Henry C. Beards- 
 ley, John C. Tibbetts, J. W. Brooks. 
 
 1840.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Rufus Matthewson; 
 Delegates, Drs. Joseph Comstock, Lucius Tyler, Nathaniel Perkins, 
 Joseph Duffey, Avery Downer. 
 
 1841. — Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Rufus Matthewson; 
 Delegates, Dis. Dyer T. Brainard, James Morgan, William Hyde, 
 Joseph Duffey, Benjamin F. Stoddard. 
 
 1842.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Rufus Matthewson; 
 Delegates, Drs. Elijah Dyer, Louis Phinney, Lucius Tyler, Ashbel 
 Woodward, Eleazer B. Downing. Drs. B. Fordyce Barker, Ashbel 
 B. Haile, Gnrdon R. Parkhurst, and Alonzo Fuller were in 1842 
 admitted members of the society. 
 
 1843.— Chairman, Dr. Joseph Comstock; Clerk, Dr. Rufus Matthewson; 
 Delegates, Drs. Avery Downer, Ralph Farnsworth, Thomas P. Wat- 
 tles, Worthington Hooker, Dana Holmes. 
 
 1844.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer ; Clerk, Dr. Rufus W. Matthewson ; 
 Delegates, Drs. Joseph Duffey, Worthington Hooker, Ashbel Wood- 
 ward, Elijah Dyer, William Hyde. 
 
 1845.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Rufus W. Matthewson ; 
 Delegates, Drs. Avery Downer, Worthington Hooker, Wm. W. I. 
 Warren, Mason Manning, Isaac G. Porter. 
 
 1846.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. John C. BoUes; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Avery Downer, Chauncey Burgess, John P. Fuller, Lucius 
 Tyler, Benjamin T. Roath. 
 
 1847.~Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Jeremiah King; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Chauncey Burgess, Ashbel Woodward, Rufus W. Matthew- 
 son, John D. Ford, Eleazer B. Downing. Drs. Jeremiah King and 
 Cyrus Miner were admitted members of the society. 
 
 1848.— Chairman, Dr. Avery Downer; Clerk, Dr. Jeremiah King; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Nathaniel Perkins, B. Fordyce Barker, W. W. Miner, 
 
 Dyer T. Brainard, C. E. Palmer. Drs. Charles Cone, Benjamin Brad- 
 ford, Samuel Maynard, Francis, and Comstock were admitted mem- 
 bers of this society. 
 
 1849. — Chairman, Dr. Joseph Comstock; Clerk, Dr. Jeremiah King; 
 Delegates, Drs. Ashbel Haile, Ashbel Woodward, John C. Bollea, 
 Avery Downer, Joseph Comstock. Dr. Benjamin I. Dean was ad- 
 mitted a member of the society. 
 
 1850. — Chairman,Dr. Nathaniel L.Perkins; Clerk, Dr. Seth Smith ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Eleazer B. Downing, William Hyde, Chauncey Burgeas, 
 Dyer T. Brainard, Mason Manning. Drs. Albert Hoborn, Archibald 
 T. Douglass, Albert Utler, and Elisha A. Hewett were made members 
 of the society. 
 
 1851.— Chairman, Dr. Dyer T. Brainard; Clerk, Dr. Seth Smith; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Elijah Dyer, Jr., Ashbel Woodward, A. W. Coats, Jeremiah 
 King, Samuel E. Maynard. Dr. Horace Thurston was admitted to 
 membership. 
 
 1852.— Chairman, Dr. Worthington Hooker ; Clerk, Dr. Seth Smith ; Del^ 
 egates, Drs. Worthington Hooker, John D. Ford, Albert Hobron, 
 Joseph Durfey, Seth Smith. Drs. Frank D. Brandegee and Henry 
 W. Leach were admitted members of the society. 
 
 1853. — Chairman, Dr. Joseph Durfey; Clerk, Dr. Albert Hobron; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. A. T, Douglass, George E. Palmer, Horace Thurston, Eli- 
 jah Dyer, I. G. Porter. Dr. Henry C. Randall was admitted a mem- 
 ber of the society. 
 
 1854.— Chairman, Dr. Ashbel Woodward ; Clerk, Dr. Albert Hobron ; Del- 
 egates, Drs. I. D. Ford, D. P. Francis, Seth Smith, Edwin Bentley, 
 E. F. Coats. Drs. P. R. Baker, Daniel G. Gulliver, Nathaniel Foote, 
 and Fitinklin Burgess were admitted members of the society. 
 
 1855.— Chairman, Dr. John D. Ford ; Clerk, Dr. Benjamin D. Dean ; Del- 
 egates, Di-s. John D. Ford, Horace Thurston, Alonzo Fuller, John C. 
 Bolles, Isaac G. Porter. 
 
 1856. — Chairman, Dr. George E. Palmer; Clerk, Dr. Benjamin D. Dean; 
 Delegates, Drs. A. F. Perkins, A. T. Douglass, Benjamin D. Dean, 
 Ashbel Woodward, John C. Bollee. Drs. Melancthon Storra aad 
 William Soule were admitted members of the society. 
 
 1857. — Chairman, Dr. Joseph Comstock ; Clerk, Dr. Benjamin D. Dean; 
 Delegates, Drs. Isaac G. Porter, George E. Palmer, Benjamin D, 
 Dean, Alonzo Fuller, Melancthon Storrs. Dr. Lewis S. Paddock waa 
 admitted a member of the society. 
 
 1858. — Chairman, Dr. Mason Manning; Clerk, Dr. Benjamin D. Dean; 
 Delegates, Drs. Lewis S. Paddock, Isaac G. Porter, John C. Bolles, 
 Benjamin D. Dean, George E. Palmer. Dr. Robert McCurdy Lord 
 was admitted a member of the society. 
 
 1859.— Chairman, Dr. E. Dyer; Clerk, Dr. L. S. Paddock; Delegates, 
 Drs. E. Bentley, A. W. Coates, A. T. Douglass, Wm. Hyde, Jr., B. 
 Phinney. Dr. D. W. C. Lathrop was admitted a member of the so- 
 ciety. 
 
 I860.— Chairman, Dr. Mason Manning; Clerk, Dr. L. S. Paddock; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. D. W. C. Lathrop, Mason Manning, Robert McC. Lord, 
 
 A. B. Haile, O. E. Miner. Drs. Orriu E. Miner and M. N. Tribou 
 were elected members of the society. 
 
 1861.— Chairman, Dr. Porter; Clerk, Dr. L. S. Paddock; Delegates, Drs. 
 Mason Manning, Eleazer B. Downing, Isaac G. Porter, A. W. Coates, 
 L. S. Paddock. 
 
 1862.- Chairman, Dr. Isaac G. Porter; Clerk, Dr. N. M. Tribou; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Mason Manning, N. M. Tribou, Ashbel Woodward, Rob- 
 ert McC. Lord, Elijah Dyer. 
 
 1863.— Chairman, Dr. Elijah Dyer; Clerk, Dr. N. M. Tribou-; Delegates, 
 Drs. George E. Palmer, N. M. Tribou, D. P. Francis, John Gray, A. 
 
 B. Haile. Dr. John Gray was admitted a member of the society. 
 1864.— Chairman, Dr. Elijah Dyer; Clerk, lir. 0. E. Miner; Delegates, 
 
 Di-B. Ashbel Woodward, George E. Palmer, N. M. Tribou, Ashbel B. 
 Haile, Orrin E. Miner. 
 
 1865.— Chairman, Dr. Isaac G. Porter; Clerk, Dr. 0. E. Miner; Dele- 
 gates, Di-s. Ashbel Woodward, N. M. Tribou, 1. G. Porter, C. M. Carle- 
 ton, John Gray. Drs. Albert T. Chapman, Charles W. Carleton, L. P. 
 Weaver, and A. W. Nelson were elected members of the society. 
 
 1866.— Chairman, Dr. Ashbel Woodward; Clerk, Dr. 0. E. Miner; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Ashbel Woodward, C. M. Carleton, L. S. Paddock, M. 
 Manning, A. W. Nelson. Dr. F. S. Abbott was admitted a member of 
 the society. 
 
 1867.— Chairman, Dr. George E. Palmer; Clerk, Dr. A. T. Chapman; 
 Delegates, Drs. L. S. Paddock, Mason Manning, F. S. Abbott, Orrin 
 E. Miner, George E, Palmer. Drs. William Wister and J. R. Fair- 
 banks were elected members of the society. 
 
 1868.— Chairman, Dr. Ashbel Woodward ; Clerk, X>r. A. T. Chapman ; Del- 
 egates, Drs. Isaac G. Porter, George E. Palmer, F. S. Abbott, Ashbel 
 
MEDICAL HISTORY. 
 
 63 
 
 Woodward, Orrin E. Miner. Dr. F. N. Bramaa was elected a mem- 
 ber of the society. 
 1869.— Cliairman, Dr. Isaac G. Porter ; Cleric, Dr. A. 1. Chapman; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Ashhel Woodward, Albert T. Chapman, John Gray, A. W. 
 Nelson, A. B. Haile. 
 1870.— Chairman; Dr. Isaac G. Porter ; Clerk, Dr. A. T. Chapman ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Abiel W. Nelson, A. Woodward, A. B. Haile, C. M. Carle- 
 ton, A. T. Chapman. Drs. William Porter, William S. C. Perkins, and i 
 George W. Hams were elected members of the society. 1 
 
 1871. — Chairman, Dr. Isaac G. Porter; Clerk, Dr. A. T. Chapman; Dele- ! 
 gates, Drs. Lewis S. Paddock, Ashhel Woodward, Isaac G. Porter, Fred- 
 erick Morgan, Levi Wanner. Drs. Patrick Cassada, Thomas T. 
 Graves, and Levi Wanner were elected members of the society. 
 1872.— Chairman, Dr. Ashhel Woodward; Clerk, Dr. A. T. Chapman; 
 Delegates, Drs. A. W. Nelson, C. M. Carleton, A. Woodward, Patrick 
 (Cassada, A. T. Chapman,. Drs. £. C. Kinney and H. N. Crandall were 
 admitted members of the society. 
 1873.— Chairman, Dr. Isaac G. Porter ; Clerk, Dr. A. T. Chapman ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. E. C. Kinney, A. T. Chapman , S. (J. Perkins, F. N. Braman, 
 Ashhel Woodward. 
 1874.— Chairman, Dr. Ashhel B. Haile ; Clerk, Dr. A. T. Chapman ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Ashbel Woodward, A. T. Chapman, Isaac G. Porter, A. B. 
 Haile, F. N. Braman. Drs. Charles E. Brayton and George D. Stan- 
 ton were elected members of the society. 
 1875.— Chairman, Dr. Ashbel Woodward; Clerk, Dr. W. S. C. Perkins; 
 Delegates, Di-s. Isaac G. Porter, Lewis S, Paddock, W. S. C. Perkins, 
 F. N. Braman, Patrick Cassidy. Drs. S. L. Spragne and J. Walter 
 Mason were elected members of the society. 
 1876.— Chairman, Dr. Isaac G. Porter; Clerk, Dr. W. S. C. Perkins; Del- 
 egates, Drs. Ashbel Woodward, George W. Hairis, L. S. Paddock, A. 
 T. Nelson, W. S. C. Perkins. Drs. W. Thornton Parker, Willet P. 
 Barber, George A. Jennings, and Frank A. Coates were admitted 
 members of the society. 
 1877.— Chairman, Dr. Seth Smith ; Clerk, Dr. W. S. C. Perkins ; Delegates, 
 Drs. Samuel Johnson, C. M. Carleton, S. L. Spragne, Ashbel Wood- 
 ward, F. A. Braman. Drs. Wm. M. Burchard and Klisha Munger 
 were admitted members of the society. 
 1878.— Chairman, Dr. Ashbel Woodward: Clerk, F. N. Braman; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. Ashbel Woodward, Seth Smith, C. B. Brayton, F. N. Bra- 
 man. L. S. Paddock. Drs. J. De Witt Nelson, John G. Stanton, L. B. 
 Almy, and Anthony Peck were admitted members of the society. 
 1879.— Chairman, Dr. B. C. Kinney ; Clerk, Dr. Anthony Peck ; Dele- 
 gates, Drs. B. C. Kinney, J. G. Stanton, L. B. Almy, W. M. Burch- 
 ard, J. D. Nelson. Drs. E. D. GrifBn, Wm. H. Mason, and Benjamin 
 Roath were elected members of the society. 
 1880.— Chairman, Dr. A. Woodward; Clerk, Dr. A. Peck; Delegates, Drs. 
 0. N. Brayton, A. W. Nelson, C. N. Carleton, F. A. Coats, G. W. 
 Harris. 
 1881.- Chairman, Dr. Kinney; Clerk, Dr. Peck; Delegates, Drs. Pad- 
 dock, Braman, Burchard, Woodward, Peck. 
 
 Some of these physicians deserve more than a pass- 
 ing notice. Prominent among them is Dr. John 
 Babkbb, who was born in Lebanon, Conn., in 1729. 
 He studied medicine with Dr. Joseph Perkins, and 
 his close application, Iceen insight into the mysteries 
 of disease, and his quids: and accurate interpretation 
 of equivocal symptoms gave certain promise of future 
 success. He commenced business in 1750, and la- 
 bored in the same field for more than forty years, 
 until stricken down by death. As a physician Dr. 
 Barker enjoyed an enviable popularity both with the 
 public and with the profession. He was extensively 
 employed in consultation throughout Eastern Con- 
 necticut, and great deference was yielded to his 
 opinions. 
 
 He was one of the original memorialists who peti- 
 tioned the Legislature for a medical society. Not 
 discouraged by the failure of that attempt, he and his 
 compeers persevered till, ten or twelve years later, 
 their efforts resulted in the organization of a volun- 
 
 tary association, with Dr. Barker for its first presi- 
 dent. To this position he was annually re-elected so 
 long as he lived. He died June 13, 1791, of cholera 
 morbus. 
 
 Philip Tuenee, M.D. — Among the leading phy- 
 sicians and surgeons who were residents of and prac- 
 titioners in this county during the last century no 
 one stood as prominent as Dr. Philip Turner. He 
 was a lineal descendant of Humphrey Turner, who 
 came from Essex, England, in 1630, and settled at 
 Scituate, Mass. His father, Philip Turner, removed 
 from Scituate to Norwich in the early part of the last 
 century, where the subject of this sketch was born on 
 the 25th of February, 1740. His parents dying while 
 he was yet young, and being left without means, he 
 was taken into the family and under the patronage of 
 Dr. Elisha Tracy, of that town, who deservedly stood 
 high in the public estimation for his scholarly and 
 professional attainments. Here young Turner was 
 treated with parental kindness, and at a suitable age 
 commenced his medical studies under the direction 
 of his patron. In the year 1759 he was appointed as- 
 sistant surgeon to a provincial regiment under Gen. 
 Amherst, at Ticonderoga. His fine personal appear- 
 ance, pleasing address, and superior talents attracted 
 the attention of the English surgeons, who treated 
 him with great courtesy, and invited him to witness 
 many of their capital operations. It was from the 
 information and practice he obtained in this school 
 that he laid the foundation of his future eminence. He 
 continued with the army till after the peace of 1763, 
 when he returned to the house of his benefactor, 
 whose eldest daughter he soon after married. He at 
 once established himself in Norwich in the practice 
 of his profession, devoting his attention especially to 
 surgery. 
 
 Possessed of a vigorous constitution, and stimulated 
 by an honorable ambition, Dr. Turner was indefati- 
 gable in his exertions to excel in his profession. His 
 unwavering pursuit to attain this end, in connection 
 with the peculiar abilities which he possessed, soon 
 won success. At the breaking out of the war of the 
 Eevolution he stood unrivaled as a surgeon in the 
 eastern section of the country. His fame was not con- 
 fined to the limits of his native State, for he was re- 
 peatedly called beyond the borders of the same to 
 perform operations that demanded more than ordi- 
 nary professional skill. He was the first surgeon of 
 the Connecticut troops in the campaign before Bos- 
 ton. He accompanied the army to New York in 
 1776, and the commission then issued to him by Gov- 
 ernor Trumbull is now in the possession of one of his 
 descendants. The battles of Long Island and White 
 Plains afforded him favorable opportunities to display 
 his rare ability as an operator, and his unvarying suc- 
 cess won him the highest reputation with the troops. 
 In 1777 Congress appointed Dr. Turner director-gen- 
 eral to superintend the general hospital, but subse- 
 quently transferred him from that position to that of 
 
64 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 surgeon-general of the Eastern Department, which 
 station he filled with great ability till near the close 
 of the war. On retiring from the army he resumed 
 his private practice, and continued in the same with 
 undiminished reputation until 1800, when he re- 
 moved from Norwich to the city of New York. Ad- 
 vanced in years, he felt that a metropolitan practice 
 would be easier for him to pursue. He at once took 
 a high rank among the physicians and surgeons of 
 that city. Shortly after his removal he was appointed 
 a surgeon to the staff of the United States army, and 
 given the medical and surgical care of the troops at 
 the fortifications in the harbor of New York. This 
 very honorable and responsible position he held until 
 his death, which occurred on the 20th of April, 1815, 
 in the seventy-fifth year of his age. He was buried 
 with military honors in the yard connected with St. 
 Paul's church in the city of New York. The record 
 shows that he served his country with marked dis- 
 tinction in the war with France, the Revolutionary 
 war, and the war of 1812. 
 
 Although Dr. Turner did not receive a liberal edu- 
 cation, he had naturally a keen and inquiring mind 
 and scholarly tastes, so that by his own efforts he 
 early in life possessed himself of acquirements that 
 were valuable to him in his profession. He had an 
 intuitive capacity that adapted him for the practice 
 of surgery, and won him his great reputation as an 
 operator. The accuracy of his judgment and the 
 remarkable dexterity of his hand enabled him to 
 perform the most difficult operations with almost un- 
 equaled success. Dr. Shippen, who stood in the 
 front rank of his profession in Philadelphia, and who 
 was associated with Dr. Turner in the army, did him 
 the honor to say that neither in Europe nor in America 
 had he ever seen an operator that excelled him. 
 
 Dr. Theophilus Rogers was born at Lynn, Mass., 
 Oct. 4, 1699, the sixth in descent from John Rogers, 
 the proto-martyr who was burned at Smithfield, Feb. 
 4, 1555. Dr. Rogers studied his profession and prac- 
 ticed for a while in Boston. Afterwards removing 
 to Norwich West Farms, he entered upon a wide 
 sphere of usefulness. Dr. Rogers died at Norwich, 
 Sept. 29, 1753. 
 
 Dk. Solomon Tracy was one of the earliest, if 
 not the very first, physician in Norwich. He was 
 born in 1651, and moved to Norwich at the age of 
 nine years. He was among the " solid men" of the 
 town, and chosen for many offices of public trust 
 He died July 9, 1732. 
 
 Dr. David Hartshorn was born in Reading, 
 Mass., in 1656. He first located in business in his 
 native town, where he continued until about 1700 
 when he removed to Norwich West Farms. In this 
 new field of labor he was highly esteemed as a phy- 
 sician, and was a leading man both in civil and eccle- 
 siastical affairs. He died Nov. 30, 1738. 
 
 Dr. Joseph Perkins was born in 1704, and grad- 
 uated at Yale College when twenty-three years old. 
 
 Having enjoyed the best medical advantages attain- 
 able, he opened an office in the present Lisbon. H^ 
 soon became distinguished as a daring surgeon, and 
 most of the capital operations of the circumjacent 
 country were performed by his hand. Dr. Perkins 
 was also a man of piety, patriotism, and benevolence. 
 He died July 7, 1794. 
 
 Dr. Elisha Perkins, the fourth child of Dr. 
 Joseph Perkins, acquired a world-wide notoriety as 
 inventor of the " medical tractors," from the use of 
 which many supposed cures were reported in Europe 
 as well as in America. 
 
 Dr. Theophilus Rogers, Jr., was the son of Dr. 
 Theophilus Rogers, of whom mention has been made! 
 He was located in business at Bean Hill, and died 
 Sept. 29, 1801. 
 
 Dr. Christopher Huntington was the sole phy- 
 sician of Bozrah during its early history. He also 
 held the offices of deacon and clerk of the church. 
 He died in 1800. 
 
 Dr. Elisha Tract was born at West Farms in 
 1712, and graduated at Yale College in 1788. He 
 studied under the direction of Dr. Theophilus Rogers, 
 Sr. He earnestly advocated inoculation for smallpox, 
 but encountered a storm of prejudice and persecution. 
 He lived, however, to see his own views very gener- 
 ally adopted by the community. He died in 1783, 
 widely beloved and lamented. 
 
 Dr. Philemon Tracy, son of the above, was born 
 May 30, 1757. Having enjoyed the professional 
 teachings of his father and Dr. Philip Turner, he 
 practiced medicine in his native town for more than 
 fifty-five years. 
 
 Army Surg'eons. — Dr. Richard Tozer was a 
 student of Dr. Benj. Wheat, and afterwards served as 
 surgeon's mate in the corps attached to the forces 
 under Gen. Wolcott in the Louisburg expedition in 
 1745. He died at Louisburg. 
 
 Dr. Jonathan Marsh was appointed surgeon to 
 the force sent against Crown Point in August, 1755. 
 He was chiefly distinguished for his success in bone- 
 setting. He died in 1766. 
 
 Dr. Jonathan Marsh, Jr., was twelve years old 
 when his father died. He also became distinguished 
 for his success in bone-setting. His death, April 18, 
 1798, was esteemed a public calamity. 
 
 Dr. John Turner, son of Dr. Philip Turner, was 
 born in 1764. He died in 1837. 
 
 Dr. William Whiting was born in Bozrah in 
 1730. He was appointed in May, 1758, assistant sur- 
 geon of the Second Regiment of American forces. 
 He settled in Hartford, but afterwards removed to 
 Great Barrington, Mass. 
 
 Dr. Phineas Hyde was born at West Farms in 
 1749. During the war he was a surgeon in the 
 United States service, both in the army and the navy. 
 He died in 1820. 
 
 Dr. Luther Waterman was born at West Farms 
 in 1760. He was surgeon to the forces under Col, 
 
MILITAKY HISTORY. 
 
 65 
 
 Knowlton during the campaign of 1776. After the 
 
 war he removed to the West. 
 
 De. Eliphaz Terkins was born at Lisbon in 
 
 1753, and graduated at Yale College, 1776. He 
 
 studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Joseph Perkins, 
 
 and settled in Vermont. He died in 1828. 
 Dr. Abijah Perkins, younger brother of the 
 
 above, entered the Revolutionary army as a surgeon, 
 
 and was taken prisoner by the British. 
 
 Dr. Jonathan Knight was born in Lisbon in 
 1758, and studied with Dr. Cheney. In 1777 he en- 
 tered the army as a surgeon, and was at Valley Forge 
 during the most disheartening period of the war. He 
 died in 1829. 
 
 Dr. Abel Huntington was born in Franklin in 
 1777. He located at East Hampton, L. I., and died 
 in 1758. 
 
 Dr. John R. Watrotjs was born in 1752. He 
 was a surgeon in the army of the Revolution, the 
 companion of Dr. Hall, of East Hartford, and was 
 president of the Connecticut Medical Society for three 
 years. He died at Colchester, Conn., in 1843, aged 
 ninety -one. 
 
 Dr. Avery Downer was born in 1763, and died 
 in 1854, aged ninety-one. He was the last survivor 
 of the battle of Fort Griswold. His father, Dr. Joshua 
 D. Downer, was also present, and assisted in dressing 
 the wounded. Both father and son were of the num- 
 ber of memorialists who unsuccessfully petitioned the 
 Legislature for a medical society. Dr. Avery Downer 
 was president of the Connecticut Medical Society 
 from 1807 to 1812. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 The Second Regiment — The Third Regiment — The Seventh Regiment — 
 The Eighth Regiment — The Ninth Regiment— The Tenth Regiment 
 — The Twelfth Regiment — The Thirteenth Regiment— First Regi- 
 ment Heavy Artillery— The First Cavalry— The Fourteenth Regi- 
 ment — The Eighteenth Regiment — The Twenty-flrst Regiment— 
 The Twenty-sixth Regiment. 
 
 The 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 
 New London 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 Regi- 
 ment 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 ac- 
 complished officer. David Young, of Norwich, was 
 lieutenant-colonel. The regiment left for Washington 
 May 7; 1861, numbering seven hundred and eighty. 
 
 There were three companies from New London 
 County in this regiment, — Company A, Frank S. 
 Chester, captain ; Company B, Henry Peale, captain ; 
 and Company C, Edwin C. Chapman, captain. 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. 
 
 RIFLE OOMPANT A. 
 
 Mustered into the United States service May 7, 1861. 
 
 Prank S. Chester, capt, Norwich, enl. May 7,1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Thomas Scott, first lieut., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 William A. Berry, second lieut., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Francis McKeag, sergt., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 James L, Cobb, sergt., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7,1861. 
 Anthony Staubly, sergt.. Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Austin G. Monroe, sergt., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; taken prisoner June 
 
 19, 1861. 
 John B. Jennings, Corp., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; taken prisoner July 
 
 21, 1861. 
 Chester W. Converse, Corp., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 7, 1861. 
 Gorham Dennis, Corp., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch, Aug. 7, 
 
 1861, 
 Thomas C. Lawler, Corp,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch. Aug, 7, 
 
 1861. 
 William W, Dunton, musician, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Joseph Tunstall, musician, Griswold, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 7, 1861. 
 Adams, James, Glastonbury, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug, 7, 1861, 
 Arnold, William N., Putnam, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Barber, Ezra N., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Barrett, Stephen L., Woodstock, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Blivan, James L., Windham, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Brogan, John, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Brown, William H,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1361 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Gapwell, John W., Providence, R, I., enl. May 7, 1861; hon, disch. Aug. 
 
 7, 1861, 
 Carroll, William P,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Cavanagh, Patrick, Boston, Mass., enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Case, John P., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 1861, 
 Coit, James B,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; pro, to sergt, for gallantry at 
 
 Bull Run; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Crandall, Darius H,, Killingly, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug, 7, 1861. 
 Daniels, John L., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Dickinson, Wm. G,, Bozrah, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Donaran, John, Middlefield, Mass., enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Dugan, Thomas, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Bills, Richard B., enl. June 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Flannigan, Edward, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Foster, Lyman, Greenville, Mass., enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Fulton, William H., Franklin, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Gilchrist, John W., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug, 7, 1861, 
 Griunell, John W., Putnam, enl. May 7, 1861 ; disch. for disability, June 
 
 26, 1861. 
 Harvey, James, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch, Aug, 7, 1861, 
 Hughes, Asa L,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Jepson, Charles E., Pomfret, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Kelley, John, Clinton, Mass., enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Kinney, Van Buren, Griswold, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Ladd, Amos B., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Lathrop, Erastus D., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Leach, Arnold, Putnam, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 McEee, James, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
60 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 McLane, Archibald, Pateraon, N. J., enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. diach, Aug. 
 
 7,1861. 
 Miller, Henry 0., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Minard, Enos G., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Morrison, John H., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Morse, George, Killingly, enl. May 7. 1861 ; disch. for disability, June 26, 
 
 1861. 
 Mitchell, Joseph T., Bozrah, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 O'Donnell, George, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Pellett, Francis B., Canterbury, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Phillips, John T., Pomfret, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Phillips, William E., Woodstock, enl. May 7, 1861 ; ton. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Eogers, Ebenezer H., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 June 26, 1861. 
 Rosenblatt, David, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; missing at Bull Kun, July 
 
 21, 1861. 
 BuBsell, Isaac D., Franklin, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Smiley, John S., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; disch. disability, June 26, 
 
 1861. 
 Street, Christian, enl. June 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Snow, Henry L., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 1861. 
 Smith, Edward, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Stearns, Charles J., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Stetson, Vine, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861, 
 Stokes, Joseph, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; died July 25, 1861, 
 Tift, William H,, Griswold, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Tiffany, Martin V. B., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Tillinghast, George F., Giiswold, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Tingley, John H., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Toomey, Thomas, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Tourtellotte, Jerome, Putnam, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Tracy, William C, Lebanon, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Wernlick, Frank, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 : hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 West, George W., Griswold, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Warner, Addison G., Woodstock, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7 
 
 1861. 
 Wheatley, Charles, Plainfleld, enl. May 7, 1861; hon, disch, Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Wilkinson, James F., Newbury, Mass., enl. May 7, 1861 ; missing at Bull 
 
 Kun, July 21,1861. 
 Williams, George F., Pomfret, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 1861, 
 Wood, James G,, Griswold, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Warner, George, enl. May 24, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 KIPLE COMPANY B. 
 
 Mustered into the United States service May 7, 1861, 
 
 Henry Peale, capt,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 George W. Eogers, first lieut., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch Aug 
 
 7, 1861. 
 James J. McCord, second lieut., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon disch 
 
 Aug. 7, 1861. 
 John Lilley, sergt., Preston, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Buty G. Chapman, sergt,, Preston, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug 7 
 
 1861. ' 
 
 Edwin S. Francis, sergt., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug 7 
 
 1861. 
 Charles Young, sergt., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch, Aug 7 
 
 1861, ' 
 
 James D. Higgins, corp., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch Aug 7 
 1861, ^' ' 
 
 Henry W. Lester, corp., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; disch. for disability 
 
 June 26, 1861. 
 Arthur F. Kyder, Corp., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; disch. for disability 
 
 Julys, 1861. 
 George W. Swain, Corp., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch Aue 7 
 
 1861. '° ' 
 
 John N. Cutler, musician, Lisbon, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch Aug 7 
 1861. ^' ' 
 
 John H. Wilcox, musician, Lisbon, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch Aae 
 7, 1861. ^' 
 
 Barlow, James C, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug. 7 1861 
 Barlow, Otis W„ Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch. Aug. 7 1861 
 Bartlett, John, Stafford, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861 
 Beebe, Daniel E,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug 7 1861 
 
 Beers, Lewis, Lebanon, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Beckwith, Charles H., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Ang. 7, '61. 
 Benson, Albert, Thompson, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Bidwell, Jasper H., Canton, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Branch, Eugene, Lisbon, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Brown, George, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Butler, John, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 1861. 
 
 Carkins, Amos B., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Carpenter, Eben, Jr., Colchester, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 1861. 
 
 Carey, Patrick, Montville, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Cook, Charles F., Griswold, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Cook, George A., Preston, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Ang, 7, 1861, 
 
 Cragg, George G,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Dexhimer, William, enl. June 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Denison, John J,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hou. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Fanning, William D., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Fletcher, Joseph E., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. diech. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Fox, John M., Preston, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Gould, Augustus, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Hempstead, Henry, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Jacques, Benjamin F., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 1861. 
 
 Jewitt, Joseph F., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861, 
 
 Johnson, John, Jr,, Preston, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Johnson, Bobert, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861, 
 
 Kerr, Robert, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Kingston, Elias, Jr., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Lillibridge, Clark, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Loomis, Charles A., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Loomis, John W., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Ang. 7, 1861. 
 
 Mansfield, Thomas T., Norwich, enl. June 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 1861. 
 
 McEwen, Peter, Stonington, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 McGarry, Andrew, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 Maples, James, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Miller, William E., Thompson, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, '61. 
 Murray, Charles A,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; taken prisoner at Bull 
 
 Run, July 21, 1861. 
 Nash, Eugene S,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 1861. 
 Parker, Joseph M., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Potter, James, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Reynolds, John T., Sprague, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. diech. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Rogers, Edward P., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Boath, Warrington D., Preston, enl. May 7,1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, '61. 
 Sherman, William M., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Smith, George E., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon, disch, Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Smith, Thomas H., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Smith, William R,, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Spencer, Ezra, Thompson, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Stanton, Frederick, Montville, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7,1861. 
 Spencer, Robert R., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Stark, Henry, Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug, 7, 1861. 
 Story, Nathan K., Sprague, enl. May 7, 1861 ; disch. for disability, July 
 
 3, 1861. 
 Sullivan, Daniel, Sprague, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Ang. 7, 1861. 
 Summers, F, B., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Tiffl, Francis, Sprague, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 1861. 
 Town, George S., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Walden, Wm. H., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Warden, Alex., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 1861, 
 Warren, Walter P., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861; hon, disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Whitmore, Horace W., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861, 
 Wilber, Calvin D., Sprague, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Williams, Ransford P., Preston, enl. May 7, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 June 26, 1861. 
 Williams, George E., Norwich, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, '61. 
 Wetherell, Benj, S., Preston, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. A>ig. 7, 1861. 
 
 RIFLE COMPANY 0. 
 
 Mustered into the United States service May 7, 1861. 
 
 Edwin C. Chapman, capt.. New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 7, 1861. 
 William Spittle, first lieut., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. 
 Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
MILITARY HfSTORY. 
 
 67 
 
 Hiram F. Chappell, second lieut.. New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. 
 
 disch. Ang. 7, 1861. 
 John Bishop, Jr., sergt.. New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 7, 1861. 
 Rohert Leggett, sergt.. New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Ang. 
 
 7, 1861. 
 Joseph Strickland, sergt.. New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Thomas M. Waller, sergt., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Juno 27, 1861. 
 Bobert M. Boss, Corp., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 7, 1861. 
 Henry Lee, Corp., New Loudon, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, '61. 
 James E. Metcalf, Corp., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 7, 1861. 
 George C. Waldo, corp.. New London, enl. May 7, 1861 j hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 7, 1861. 
 Orlando H. Hempstead, musician. New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. 
 
 disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Charles F. Stearns, musician. New London, enl. May 7,1861 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Ajiplcman, Hiram, Stoningtou, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, '61. 
 Beebe, Gilbert J., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Babcock, Albert C, enl. June 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Beebe, Marvin, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; never joined for duty. 
 Bailey, Thomas, New London, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, '61. 
 Bnggs, Charles H., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Brown, George H., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 j hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Brown, Sherman, NewLondon, enl. May7, 1861; hon. discll. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Bulkley, Anthony, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Bunnell, Charles A., New London, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Burrows, Joseph A., New London, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Chapman, Edwin 0., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Chipman, Elisba P., Lyme, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Carroll, James W., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Chadwick, Samuel R., Lyme, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Chitty, Henry E., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Collum, George S., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Crocker, Daniel F., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 : hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Dexter, Sebastian M., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Douglaa, William, New London, enl. May 7, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 June 30, 1861. 
 Dyer, George M., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Elkington, John, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Elmandorf, George, New London, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Gannon, John, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Gilby, George, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Haskell, Edward P., New London, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861.' 
 Harvey, Martin, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; prisoner at Bull Kun, 
 
 July 21, 1861. 
 Havens, George, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Jeffrey, Frank C, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Kelley, John, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Lake, Daniel, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Leishup, Charles, New London, enl. June 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861, 
 Latham, James H., Stonington, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Latham, William W., Stonington, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Lamb, Giles W,, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; never joined for duty. 
 Lepard, Andrew J., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 
 Lee, D. M., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Lowenstein, George P., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, June 27, 1861. 
 Martin, George A., Cuba, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Maxon, Herbert E., Stonington, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 McKeon, Michael, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Morris, John B., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Miner, Wm.W., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Noland, John S., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Pimer, William H., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Page, Wm. Thomas, Jr., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 7, 1861. 
 Perkins, William W., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Penhallow, Daniel, New London, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Payne, Charles W., Jr., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; prisoner at Bull 
 
 Run, July 21, 1861. 
 Peckham, George H., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 7, 1861. 
 Quinn, Horace F., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Russell, Benjamin, Westerly, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 1861. 
 Rathbun, John A,, Westerly, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Shaffer, Leonard, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Scannell, Peter, New London, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. May 7, 1861. 
 Sizer, Wm, H., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Shaffer, Emery, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Sterry, Abner N., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 1861. , 
 Smith, Theodore C, Stonington, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1 861. 
 Smith, Jabez S., New London, enl. May 7, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Smith, Hezekiah B., Jr., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 7, 1861, 
 Turner, Frederick M,, New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug. 
 
 7, 1861, 
 Tracy, George H., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; pro. lieut. U.S.A. June 
 
 19, 1861. 
 Webb, William M., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Williams, George M., New London, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 7, 
 
 1861, 
 Wilbur, Robert P,, Stonington, enl. May 7, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 The Third Connecticut Regiment Infantry 
 
 (three months), the numerical strength of which was 
 seven hundred and eighty men, left Hartford for 
 Washington May 25, 1861. They were armed with 
 United States smooth-hore muskets. Col. John Ar- 
 nold, long a prominent officer in the State militia, 
 and instructor in a number of military schools, was 
 placed in command. He tendered his resignation, on 
 account of ill health, May 29, 1861, and was honor- 
 ably discharged. Col. John L. Chatfleld, his suc- 
 cessor, acquired his military education in the State 
 militia. He was a strict disciplinarian, and much 
 beloved by the officers and men composing his com- 
 mand. This regiment was at the battle of Bull Run, 
 and behaved with the steadiness and gallantry of 
 veterans. The regiment was mustered out of service 
 at Hartford on the 12th day of August, 1861. 
 
 Rifle Company D was from this county, Edward 
 Harland, captain. 
 
 EIFLE COMPANY D. 
 
 Mustered into the United States service May 11, 1861. 
 
 Edward Harland, capt., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Charles W. Spalding, first lieut., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; res. May 
 20, 1861. 
 
68 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ■William W, Barnes, second lieut., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. 
 
 diaoh. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 James R. Moore, sergt., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 John E. Ward, sergt., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; pro. first lieut. : hon. 
 
 disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Jasper A. H. Shaw, sergt, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 12, 1861. 
 J6ab B. Rogers, sergt., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon, disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Paris B. Nickereon, Corp., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 12, 1861. 
 Charles H. Carpenter, Corp., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 12, 1861. 
 John T. Fanning, Corp., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Willard R. Moulton, Corp., Mansfield, enl. May 11, 1861 ; taken prisoner 
 
 at battle of Bull Bun, July 21, 1861; hon. disch. July 6, 1862. 
 Michael DriscoU, musician, Franklin, enl. May 11, 1861 : hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 12, 1861. 
 George E. Wightman, musician, Bozrah, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Allen, James A., Norwich, enl. May II, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Armstrong, Harvey S., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1S61 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Arnold, Ludwig, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Bloxhan, Joseph H., Bozrah, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Bi-adley, William E., Sprague, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Brahman, Henry T., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Branch, Joseph W., Sprague, enl. May 11,1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Breed, John, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Breed, Charles A., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Brown, Leander, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Burke, Charles P., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12. 1861. 
 Burke, Horace E., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Calhoun, Martiu, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon, disch. Aug, 12, 1861, 
 Carruthers, William, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Case, David 0., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; killed at battle of Bull Run, 
 
 July 21, 1861. 
 Chapman, William G,, Franklin, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Corey, Joseph R., Lebanon, enl. May 11, 1861; disch. for disability, July, 
 
 1861. 
 Durtey, Hosea P., Lebanon, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch, Aug, 12, 1861, 
 DeGroft, Abraham B,, enl. May 25, 1861; hon, disch, Aug, 12, 1861, 
 Edwards, Charles J,, Stonington, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Faulkner, Francis W., New Haven, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 12, 1861. 
 Foster, Joel M,, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Francis, Charles, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Frazier, George W., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon, disch, Aug, 12, 
 
 1861, 
 Gates, Horace P,, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon, disch, Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Gavitt, Edwin, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Griffin, Thomas, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Guyle, John W., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Hiscox, Albert, Griswold, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Huntington, Charles L. F,, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon, disch. Aug. 
 
 12, 1861. 
 Jerome, Sylvester G., Waterford, enl. May 11,1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 12, 
 
 1861, 
 Jillsou, George W,, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Keables, Nathaniel A., Bozrah, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Keeler, John M., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Knapp, Lorenzo D., North Stonington, enl. May 11, 1861 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, July, 1861. 
 Ladd, William L., enl. May 11, 1861 ; discharged, furnished substitute. 
 Leonard, Isaac N., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Locke, John, Franklin, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Lombard, Alonzo, Lebanon, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch, Aug, 12, 1861. 
 Long, Calvin B,, Franklin, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 
 Maples, Wmi L., Norvfich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Marshall, George B., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Metcalf, John G., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Monroe, William H., Canterbury, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Nichols, James E,, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Park, George B., Canterbury, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Phillips, Charles C, Bozrah, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12,1861. 
 Pitcher, Charles L., Lebanon, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug, 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Bice, Ambrose B., Plainfield, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon, disch, Aug, 12, 1861. 
 Ripley, Charles H., Colchester, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Ripley, Eleazur H., Windham, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Rogers, Horace, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 12, 1861. 
 Boss, William J,, Franklin, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon, disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Smith, Jacob K., Preston, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug, 12, 1861. 
 Shalk, Frederick, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Sterry, Tully W., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Swan, Henry W., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon, disch, Aug, 12,1861, 
 Sweet, James H., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1801. 
 Terwillinger, Augustus, North Stonington, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Terrance, James, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Treniere,Kichard, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12,1861. 
 Tucker, Allen, Franklin, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Vei'gason, James H,, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Whittlesey, George W,, Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Williams, George E., Norwich, enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Wright, John E., West Hartford, enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 
 Seventh Eegiment Infantry. — The Seventh Regi- 
 ment Connecticut Volunteers was organized in the 
 summer of 1861, and was composed largely of those 
 who had served in the three months' regiments. 
 
 Col. Alfred H.Terry, of the Second Eegiment, was 
 transferred to the command of this regiment, and 
 Lieut.-Col. Joseph R. Hawley, the second in com- 
 mand, was captain in the Third Connecticut. 
 
 The regiment participated in the following engage- 
 ments : Fort Pulaski, Ga., April 10 and 11, 1862; 
 James Island, S. C, June 16, 1862; Pocotaligo, S. C, 
 Oct. 22, 1862; Morris Island, S. C, July 10, 1868; 
 Fort Wagner, S. C, July 11, 1863 ; Olustee, Fla., 
 Feb. 24, 1864; Chester Station, Va., May 10, 1864; 
 near Bermuda Hundred, Va., from May 10 to May 
 17, 1864, June 2, 1864, June 17, 1864 ; Deep Bottom, 
 Va., Aug. 14 and 15, 1864; Deep Run, Va., Aug. 18, 
 1864; Chapin's Farm, Va., Sept. 29, 1864; near Rich- 
 mond, Va., Oct. 1, 1864 ; New Market Road, Va., Oct. 
 7,1864; Darbytown Road, Va., Oct. 13, 1864 ; Charles 
 City Road, Va., Oct. 27, 1864 ; Fort Fisher, N. C, Jan. 
 15, 1865, and Jan. 19, 1865. 
 
 Casualties: killed in action, 90; died of wounds, 
 44; died of disease, 179; discharged prior to muster 
 out of regiment, 587 ; missing at date of muster out 
 of regiment, 40. Total, 940. 
 
 COMPANY H. 
 John B. Dennis, capt., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; must, out Feb. 17, 
 
 1865. 
 Theodore Bnrdick, first lieut., Norwich, enl. Sept, 6, 1861 ; pro. capt, Co. 
 
 B ; killed July 11, 1863, at Fort Wagner, 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 69 
 
 Oorbam Dennis, second lient., Norwich, enL.Sept. 6, 1861 ; res. Jan. 3, '62. 
 Cliarles A. Wood, sergt., Windham, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; pro. first lieut.; 
 
 killed May 1.5, 1864, at Petersburg. 
 Charles H. Eipley, sergt., Windham, enl. Sept. 6, 1861; re-enl. as vet.; 
 
 killed May 14, 1864, at Petersburg. 
 George W. Fi-azier, sergt., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 
 
 1864, term expired. 
 Joseph L. Brown, sergt., Stafford, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disoh. Sept. 12, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Morton A. Taintor, sergt., Colchester, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; 
 
 pro. 2d lieut. Co. D, June 13 ; killed Oct. 27, 1864. 
 William B. Can-oil, Corp., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 22, 1863 ; wounded; died Nov. 5, 1864. 
 Henry H. Taylor, corp., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 John M. Blood, Corp., Huntington, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 22, 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Henry A. Bottomly, Corp., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; 
 
 died March 13, 1864, at Boston, Mass. 
 Charles H. Horton, Corp., Bozrah, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 4, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Charles E. Hooks, Corp., Windham, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; wounded June 14, 
 
 1862; disch. for disability, Jan. S, 1863. 
 Edward S. Perry, Corp., New Haven, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; pro. capt. Go. I, 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864; must, out Oct. 26, 1864. 
 Edward F. Hinckley, corp., Preston, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; disch. July 29, 
 
 1862, at Hilton Head, S. 0. 
 Lewis Bradford, musician, Sprague, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; died Jan. 17,1864, 
 
 at New Haven, Conn. 
 Stephen A. Stebbins, musician, Colchester, enl. Sept. 5,1861; disch. Sept. 
 
 12, 1864, term expired. 
 Francis B. Marsh, wagoner, Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. for disabil- 
 ity, Jan. 3, 1862, at Hilton Head, S. C. 
 Abell, Jared A., Bozrah, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; re-enl. as vet. ; killed June 
 
 17, 1864, at Bermuda Hjundred. 
 Arnold, William G., Southington, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; wounded Oct. 22, 
 
 1862 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864. 
 
 Avery, William, East Haddam, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Baker, Eli 6., Eastford, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 1863; 
 
 died Sept. 5,1864. 
 Baker, Herbert P., Eastford, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1 863 ; must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Bowen, Joseph A., Eastford, enl. Sept. 5,1861; re-enl. as vet; died June 
 
 5, 1864, at Bermuda Hundred, Va. 
 Bowers, Theodore D,, Wilmington, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; died Dec. 20, 1862, 
 
 at Beaufort, S. C. 
 Bowers, Uriel M., Eastford, enl, Sept. 5, 1861; re enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Braman, Henry T., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. aa vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Bradley, Theodore, North Haven, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; wounded ;" re-enl. as 
 
 vet. Dec. 22, 1863 ; died March 14, 1866. 
 Burgess, Albert W., Sprague, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; pro. 2d lieut. ; must, out July 20, 1866. 
 
 Burdic];, Samuel, Griswold, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863; died Dec. 3, 1864. 
 Church, Henry H., Montville, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Crona"n, David, Windham, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; wounded June 14, 1862 ; 
 
 disch. for disability, Dec. 9, 1862. 
 Crabb, William, Sprague, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Cntler, Charles, Norwich, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Dennison, Andrew J., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Dodd, Enoch, Mansfield, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet.Dec. 22, 1863 ; 
 
 must, out July 26, 1865. 
 Doolittle, Lorenzo S., New Haven, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; died Dec. 9, 1862, 
 
 at Beaufort, S. C. 
 Dowley, Levi A., Eastford, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 1863 ; 
 
 died Nov. 2.5, 1864. 
 Doulan, Patrick, Middletown, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 15, 1862, at Washington, D. C. 
 Dorgan, Timothy, Natick, B. I , enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 22, 1863; must, out July 20, 1866. 
 
 Drake, Samu61 S., Bozrah, eul. Sept. 5, 1861; re-enl. as vet.; trans. U.S. 
 
 navy, .\pril 28, 1864. 
 Earle, Amos B., Sprague, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 1863 
 
 mu«t. out July 20, 1865. 
 Eldridge, George, Sprague. enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 1863 
 
 must, out July 20, 1866. 
 Eldridge, Horace, Sprague, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 1863 
 
 disch. for disability, July 6, 1866. 
 Elderkin, James, Colchester, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; killed 
 
 May 14, 1864, at Petersburg, Ya. 
 English, William S., New Haveh, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; killed May 16, 1864, 
 
 at Drury's Bluff. 
 Erwin, Robert, Sprague, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; wounded June 14, 1862 ; disch. 
 
 for disabiUty, Sept. 16, 1862. 
 Flynn, Michael, Windham, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; wounded June 14, 1862 ; 
 
 disch. for disability, Jan. 20, 1863.' 
 Fry, Allen, Griswold, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; died Dec. 26, 1861, at Hilton 
 
 Head, S. C. 
 Fuller, Henry, Montville, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans. U. S. 
 
 navy, April 28, 1864. 
 Gallagher, Frank, Windham, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22^ 
 
 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Geer, Chauncey, Windham, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Graham, .Tames D., Sprague, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 4, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Grimes, Michael, Windham, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863; must, out Aug. 1, 1866. 
 Harvey, Edmund W., Windham, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 27, 1865. 
 Hall, Lorenzo, Mansfield, enl. Sept. 6, 1861; wounded Oct. 22, 1862; 
 
 disch. Sept. 7, 1864. 
 Hayes, Lyman, Farmington, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Harrington, William H., Griswold, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 22, 1863; trans. Vet. Kes. Corps, April 17, 1866. 
 Harrington, Ira, Bozrah, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22,1863 ; 
 
 wounded ; must, out July 20, 1866. 
 Harrington, Joseph W., Norwich, enl. Sept.'5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 22, 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1866. 
 Holmes, Christopher, East Lyme, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 22, 1863 ; disch. for disability. May 4, 1865. 
 Holland, William J., Mansfield, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; wounded Oct. 22, 1862 ; 
 
 disoh. for disability, March 18, 1863. 
 Irving, William, Bozrah, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Jeffrey, Joab, New London, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; died Oct. 23, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Pocotaligo, S. C. 
 Kinney, Albert B., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863; must, out July 20, 1866. 
 Kimball, Henry H., Montville, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863; died Sept. 7, 1864. 
 Kiernan, William, Thompson, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863; killed Oct. 1, 1864. 
 Manwaring, Ellibus S., Stafford, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 22, 1863; trans. Vet. Res. Corps, .\pril 17,1865. 
 Maly, James, Hartford, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 1863 ; 
 
 must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Millard, GeorgO' A., Bozrah, enl. Sept. 6, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863; disch. for disability, Aug. 12,1866. 
 Milliken, John M., Hampton, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1866. 
 Mott, Willard L., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; trans. Signal Corps, U.S.A., 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864. 
 Osborne, Charies, Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 22, 1863 ; 
 
 must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Osborne, James, Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Palmer, Lewis 0., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; trans. Invalid Corps, Jan. 
 
 16, 1864. 
 Parker, Stephen, Sprague, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Perkins, James M., Mansfield, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; wounded June 14, 1863 ; 
 
 disch. for disability, Sept. 22, 1862. 
 Pitcher, Abner D., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. for disability. May 
 
 8, 1864, at David's Island, N. Y. 
 Pitcher, Frank W., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864. 
 
70 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 RotioBon, Andrew, Sprague, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863; died Dec. 21, 1865. 
 Eogers, Horace 0., Norwich, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 10, 1863. ' 
 
 Rouse, James E., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; must out July 20, 1866. 
 Koche, Michael- M., Killingly, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Sauford, Benjamin, Windliam, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; wounded June 14, 1862 j 
 
 disch. for disability, Aug. 1, 1862. 
 Sanders, David, Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 1863 ; 
 
 disch. for disability, Aug. 7, 1865. 
 Sharp, Edward, Montville, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 died Jan. 8, 1866. 
 Shay, George, Plainfleld, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 3, 1863, at Norwich, Conn. 
 Smith, Bradford W., Norwich, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 3, 1863, at Annapolis, Md. 
 Smith, George W., Norwich, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 
 3, 1862, at Hilton Head, S. 0. 
 Smith, William, Windham, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863; must, out June 19, 1866. 
 Snow, Jerome B., Windham, enl. Sept. 5, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; trans. Vet. Ees. Corps, Jan. 10, 1866. 
 Sullivan, John, Lisbon, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 1863; 
 
 must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Southerly, Martin L., Eastford, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1866. 
 Taylor, Amos W., enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 17, 1862, at 
 
 Baltimore, Md. 
 Thorpe, William H., Montville, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 22, 1863 ; must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Walker, John H., Windham, enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; must, out July 20, 1866, 
 
 at Goldsboro', N. 0. 
 Welsh, Elisha, Chaplin, enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 1863 ; 
 
 must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Wheelock, William H., enl. Sept. 5, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 1863; 
 
 must, out July 20, 1865. 
 Wood, William G., Sterling, enl. Sept. 6, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863; disch. for disability, Aug. 1, 1866. 
 Terrington, Perry, Norwich, enl. Sept. 6, 1861; trans. Invalid Corps, 
 
 March 7, 1864; disch. Sept. 16, 1864. 
 
 The Eighth Regiment.— This regiment was mus- 
 tered into the service in September and October, 1861, 
 under the command of Edward Harland, of Norwich. 
 New London County was represented by two compa- 
 nies,— D, Capt. John E. Ward, and G.Capt. Hiram 
 Appelman. 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 fol- 
 lowing month. It accompanied Gen. Burnside when 
 he was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, and 
 subsequently went with the corps into Maryland. At 
 Antietam, in September, 1862, the regiment lost: 
 Killed, one officer— Lieut. Marvin Wait, of Norwich— 
 and 33 men; wounded, 10 officers and 129 men; miss- 
 ing, 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 
 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, 
 Va., 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 August 
 27th in skirmishes and siege-work around Petersburg, 
 losing heavily. The following four weeks were spent 
 on the James Eiver, picketing the Bermuda Hundred 
 post, and September 27th the regiment lost seventy- 
 three men in the storming of Battery Harrison. 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. 
 
 COMPANY D. 
 John E. Ward, captain, Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. col. April 2, 
 
 1863 ; must, out March 13, 1865, term expired. 
 James R. Moore, first lieut., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. capt March 
 
 28, 1862; disch. May 30, 1865, term expired. 
 Charles A. Breed, second lieut., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. first 
 
 lieut. ; died July 30, 1862, at Newport News. 
 Eleazer H. Ripley, sergt., Windham, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept. 
 
 17, 1862 ; pro. capt. ; res. to enter Invalid Corps. 
 John McCall, sergt,, Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. capt. Co. B ; killed 
 
 May 16, 1864, at Fort Darling. 
 Charles Shepard, sergt., Norwich ; enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept. 17, 
 
 1862 ; pro. 2d lieut. Co. B. ; res. Feb. 14, 1863. 
 Amos L. Keables, sergt., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. 2d Ueut. Aug. 
 
 1, 1862; disch. May 15, 1866. 
 Joseph E. Fletcher, sergt., Norwich, enl, Sept. 21, 1861; wounded Sept 
 
 17, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 9, 1863. 
 James C. Jennings, Corp., Preston, enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept 17, 
 
 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. ; must out Dec. 21, 1865. 
 James S. Colton, Corp., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded June 17, 
 
 1862 ; re-enl. as vet ; must out Dec. 12, 1866. 
 Henry M. Livermore, Corp., Lebanon, enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; died March 
 
 31, 1862, at Roanoke Island. 
 William H. Peck, corp., Norwich, enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as vot ; 
 
 pro. first Ueut. ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Leander Clark, corp., Lebanon, enl. Sept 21, 1861. 
 
 George H. Stanton, corp., Norwich, enl. Sept 21, 1861; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Jan, 8, 1863, at Falmouth, Va. 
 William M. Murphy, Corp., Norwich, . enl, Sept. 21, 1861 j disch. for dis- 
 ability. May 5, 1863, at Portsmouth Grove, R, I. 
 John Smith, corp,, enl. Sept. 21,1861; wounded Sept 17, 1862; disch. 
 
 Sept. 20, 1864, term expired. 
 Levi H. Bailey, musician, Norwich, eul. Sept 21, 1861 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Dec. 19, 1862. 
 Henry Kelley, wagoner, Norwich, enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; disch. Feb. 26, 
 
 1864, at Newbern, N. C. 
 Burdick, Levi, enl. Oct 5, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Oct. 28, 1862, at 
 
 LorrettBville, Va. 
 Babbitt, Robert A., Windham, enl. Sept 25, 1861 ; disch. June 1, 1863 ; 
 
 appointed asst surg. 1st N.CV. 
 Bacon, James M., Norwich, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; wounded Sept 17, 1862; 
 
 disch. for disability, Jan. 19, 1863. 
 Basaett, Henry A., Windham; enl. Sept 21, 1861; re-enL as vet Dec. 
 
 24, 1863 ; must out Dec. 12, 1866. 
 
MILITARY HISTORi'. 
 
 tl 
 
 Beckwith, John A., Norwich, enl. Oct. 6, 1861; wounded July 16, 1864; 
 
 disch. Sept. 20, 1864, term expired. 
 Blanchard, Edwin, Lebanon, enl. Sept. 26, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864 ; 
 
 term expired. 
 Blanchard, William C, Lebanon, enl. Sept. 25, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 
 
 1864, term expired. 
 Blumley, Edward, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as Tet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; died 
 
 Oct. 6, 1864, at Andersonville. 
 Brink, Ozions, enl. Sept. 25, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; must, out 
 
 Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Burke, Robert W., Lebanon, enl. Sept 24, 1861; wounded; reenl. as 
 
 vet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; m\ist. out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Burlingame, Josiah L., Windham, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; died April 26, 
 
 1862, at Morehead City. 
 Burrows, Asahel W., Montville, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Button, Samuel A., Norwich, enl. Oct. 5, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 16, 1862, at Washington. 
 Chamberlin, George M., Windham, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability. Not. 29, 1862, at Portsmouth GroTe. 
 Ghappell, John E., enl. Dec. 6, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; must, out 
 
 Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Ghappell, Alvord D., Windham, enl. Sept. 27, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 24, 1S63 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1866. 
 Ghappell, George H., Windham, must, out Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Not. 10, 1862, at Newbern. 
 Gheney, Henry M., AndoTer, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; died April 23, 1862, at 
 
 Morehead City. 
 Chesebro, James F., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability. 
 
 May 14, 1862, at Newbern. 
 Clark, David, Enfield, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability. May 14, '62. 
 Comstock, Edwin J., Lebanon, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; died April 6, 1862, at 
 
 Newborn. 
 Costello, Thomas, Windham, enl. Oct. 7, 1861 ; wounded Sept. 17, 1862 ; 
 
 re-enl. as vet. ; killed July 16, 1864. 
 Crowther, James A., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; trans, to Invalid Corps, 
 
 July 1, 1863. 
 Eastman, Shirland L., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 2, 1861, at Jamaica, L. I. 
 Edwards, Thomas F., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept. 17, 
 
 1862 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 12, 1863. 
 Edwai-ds, William, Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept. 17, 1862 ; 
 
 disch. for disability, March 28, 1863. 
 Eldredge, Nathaniel C., Preston, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; killed at Sharps- 
 burg, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
 Ellsworth, Frederick, Lebanon, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died Sept. 21, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Sharpsburg, Md. 
 Fanning, Henry C, Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; died Oct. 28, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Sharpsburg, Md. 
 Fanning, Theodore A., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; died Oct. 19, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Sharpsburg, Md. 
 Foss, SHmuel S., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. to first lieut. Co. A, 
 
 Jan. 8, 1863; disch. Jan. 27, 1865. 
 Gallup, Frederick, Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; 
 
 must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Gate], Peter, Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, term ex- 
 pired. 
 Gates, Horace P., Norwich, enl. Sept. 25, 1861; pro. adjt. ; appointed 
 
 A.A.G., U. S. Vols., May 25, 1863. 
 Goodnough, George K., Hebron, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 May 14, 1862, at Newbern. 
 Guile, Charles H., Bozrah, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet, Dec. 24, 
 
 1863 ; must, out Oct. 2, 1865. 
 Huling, Stephen B., Windham, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded May 7,1864; 
 
 disch. Sept 20, 1864, term expired. 
 Huntington, Thomas D., enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; died Sept. 29, 1861, at Nor- 
 wich, Conn. 
 Huntington, William, Lebanon, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept 17, 
 
 1862 ; re-enl, as vet ; trans, to Vet Bes. Corps. 
 Hyde, Henry R., Franklin, enl. Sept 21,1861. 
 Jackson, Charles, Windham, Conn., enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept 
 
 17, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 17, 1863. 
 Jerome, Francis D., Montville, enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; killed at Fort Huger, 
 
 Va., April 19, 1863. 
 Jordan, Jeremy T., Lebanon, enl. Sept. 21, 1861. 
 
 Kingsley, WillettW., Norwich, enl. Oct 5, 1861; re-enl. as vet Dec. 24, 
 1863 ; must out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 
 Kegan, Michael, Lebanon, enl. Sept 21, 1861; disch. to enter Signal 
 
 Corps, Aug. 12, 1863. 
 Lathrop, Oliver, Lebanon, enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; died Sept. 22, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Sharpsburg. 
 Lillie, Giles, Colchester, enl. Oct 1, 1861; disch. for disability, Nov. 1, 
 
 1861, at Jamaica, L, I. 
 Lockwood, Edgar A., Lebanon, enl. Sept 25, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 24, 1863 ; wounded ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Lyon, Nathan B.. Hampton, enl. Sept 25, 1861 ; disch. for disability. May 
 
 14, 1862, at Newbern. 
 MoCall, Aaron H., Lebanon, enl. Sept 27, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 June 2, 1862, at Newbern. 
 McCall, William C,, Bozrah, enl. Sept, 21, 1861 ; re-enl, as vet ; died June 
 
 12, 1864, of wounds, 
 Martin, Mortimer J,, Windham, enl. Oct, 1, 1861 ; wounded Sept, 17, 
 
 1862 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865, at City Point. 
 Mason, Win. A,, Lebanon, enl, Oct, 5, 1861 ; died May 27, '62, at Newbern, 
 Mitchell, Diodate J,, Lebanon, enl. Sept, 21, 1861; died April 30, 1863, at 
 
 Washington, D, C, 
 Morgan, George K,, Lebanon, enl. Sept, 21, 1861 ; died June 11, 1862, at 
 
 Beaufort, N, C. 
 Morgan, Joseph, Salem, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; died April 19,1862, at More- 
 head City, 
 Marrarty, John M,, Norwich, enl. Sept 21, i861; trans, to Vet Bes. 
 
 Corps, March 31, 1864. 
 Mulkin, Charles E,, Lebanon, enl, Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept. 17, 1862; 
 
 disch. for disability, Dec, 25, 1862, 
 Niles, David A., Salem, enl. Sept, 21 , 1861 ; disch, Sept. 22, 1864, 
 Owens, Stanton, Windham, enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; disch, for disability, Nov. 
 
 1, 1861, at Jamaica, L, I, 
 Parkhurst Charles T., Coventry, enl, Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 1,1861. 
 Payne, Ichabod S., Norwich, enl. Sept. 27, 1861 ; trana. to Vet Kes. Corps, 
 
 May 8, 1864. 
 Ransom, Henry A., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept. 17, 1863; 
 
 disch. for disability, Dec. 3, 1862. 
 Banger, Richard, Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as veteran, Dec. 
 
 24, 1863 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Roberts, Charles J.,' Windham, enl. Sept 21, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 .Tan. 29, 1863. 
 Roberts, William, Windham, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 May 14, 1862, at Newbern. 
 Rose, Henry D., Lebanon, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 5, 1864 ; 
 
 wounded; died June 1, 1864, of wounds. 
 Sammis, Nelson M., Lebanon, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 22, 
 
 1863 ; captured May 7, 1864. 
 Smith, Frank L,, Windliam; enl. Sept 21, 1861; disch, for disability. 
 
 May 14, 1862, at Newbern, 
 Smith, Samuel H,, Windham, enl. Sept, 25, 1861; disch, for disability, 
 
 June 2, 1862, at Newbern, 
 Sparks, Charles H,, Lebanon, enl. Sept, 21, 1861 ; disch. Sept, 20, 1864, 
 
 term expired, 
 Spafford, Forrest Norwich, enl. Sept, 21, 1861 ; wounded May 7, 1864; 
 
 disch. SepL 20, 1864, terra expired. 
 Tefft, John K., Griswold, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept. 17, 1862 ; 
 
 disch. for disability, Dec. 12, 1863. 
 Thompson, Addison F., Lebanon, enl. Sept, 21, 1861 re-enl, as vet ; 
 
 wounded June 16, 1863 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865, 
 Vogler, John, Griswold, enl. Sept, 21, '61 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 13, '63. 
 Wilcox, Sylvanus J,, Norwich, enl. Oct 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec, 24, 
 
 1863 ; wounded; must, out Dec, 12, 1865, 
 Wait, Marvin, Norwich, enl, Oct, 5, 1861; pro, first lieut.; killed at 
 
 Sharpsburg, Sept. 17, 1862. 
 Walden, Oliver, Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 18, 1862, at Annapolis. 
 Walden, Winthrop, Norwich, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865, 
 
 at City Point, Va. 
 Way, Oliver P., East Haddam, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 24, 
 
 1863 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Weaver, Edward M., Chaplin, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; wounded Sept 17, 1862 ; 
 
 re-enl. as vet. ; must, out Dec, 12, 1865. 
 Williams, Charles M., Norwich, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet Dec. 
 
 24, 1863 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Woodworth, William A., Bozrah, enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 
 24, 1863 ; must, out Dec, 12, 1865. 
 Zimmerman, George, Lebanon, enl, Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 
 24, 1863 ; must out Dec. 12, 1866. 
 
72 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 INFANTRY COMPANY O. 
 Hiram Appelman, capt., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; pro. lieut.-col ; res. 
 
 Dec. 23, 1862. 
 Thomas D. Sheffleld, first lieut., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. capt. 
 
 Co. H ; hon. disch. Jan. 17, 1863. 
 Henry B Morgan, second lieut., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. let 
 
 lieut. ; lion, disch. Jan. 17, 1863. 
 Andrew M. Morgan, sergt., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. capt. ; 
 
 must, out Dec. 12, 1866, at City Point. 
 Amos Oift, Jr., sergt., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; pro. 2d lieut. Co. I", 
 
 1st Conn, Cav., March 21, 1863. 
 Alcanza 0. Wells, sergt., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. ; pro. 2d 
 
 lieut. Co. B ; disch. Oct. 24, 1864. 
 Joseph C. Langworthy, sergt., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; died Oct. 
 
 1, 1863, at Portsmouth. 
 Clinton G. Wheeler, sergt., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 
 
 20, 1864, term expired. 
 John A. Rathburn, Corp., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; pro. 1st lieut. Co. 
 
 E, Oct. 1, 1863 ; disch. Dec, 15, 1864. 
 Leonidas A. Barber, corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; trans, to In- 
 valid Corps, Sept. 1, 1863; disch, Sept. 22, 1864. 
 Wm. H. Lamphear, Corp., Stonington, enl. Sept, 21, 1861 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Jan. 20, 1863. 
 Francis V. D. Sloan, corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. 
 
 Dec. 24, 1863 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Thomas 0. Curtis, Corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, May 11, 1862, at Newbern. 
 Benjamin F. Crumb, Corp., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; trans, to U.S.N. 
 
 Ang. 26, 1862. 
 John H. Smith, corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861. 
 Oscar W. Hewitt, Corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; killed Sept. 17, 
 
 1862, at Sharpsburg, Md. 
 John B. Averill, musician, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; trans, to Inva- 
 lid Corps, Sept. 30, 1863. 
 Franklin H. Crumb, musician, Stonington, enl. Sept. 30, 1861; disch. for 
 
 disability, August, 1862. 
 James A. Peabody, wagoner, Stonington, enl, Sept. 27, 1861 ; disch. for 
 
 disability, Jan. 18, 1863. 
 Alexander, James H., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Aug. 21, 1862. 
 Allen, Isaac, Stonington, enl. Sept. 20, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 12,1865. 
 Babcock, Rensselaer, Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet.; trans, to 
 
 U.S.N., April 27, 1864. 
 Barney, George H., Stonington, enl. Oct. 10, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 
 
 1863; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Batty, Edwin S., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 1863; 
 
 must, out Deo. 12, 1865. 
 Baird, Charles, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; 
 
 died Sept. 29, 1864. 
 Bedford, Thomas, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861. 
 Bentley, Henry, North Stonington, Oct. 10, 1861; disch. for disability. 
 
 May 12, 1862, at Newbern. 
 Brannan, Henry, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; re-enl. vet.; died of 
 
 wounds. May 22, 1864. 
 Brannan, Thomas, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Oct. 2, 1662. 
 Burrows, lliafl W., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; re-enl. vet. Jan. 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out Deo. 12, 1805. 
 Burdick, Sanford P., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 April 4, 1863, at Newbern. 
 Burton, Horace, Stonington, enl. Sept. 23, 1861 ; disch. for disability. 
 
 May 17, 1862, at Newbern. 
 Bryant, David S., Stonington, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 
 1, 1862. 
 Casey, Thomas, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Clarke, Charles W., Stonington, enl. Sept. 27, 1861. 
 Clarke, William P., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; died Aug. 4, 1862, at 
 
 Fort Monroe. 
 Olift, Lemuel, Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, term ex- 
 pired. 
 Conlon, Patrick, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Collins, Elhan A., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Jan. 1, 1862. 
 Conlan, James P., Stonington, enl, Oct. 10, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, 
 term expired. 
 
 Culver, Cliarles H., Stonington, enl. Oct. 10, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Jan. 5, 
 
 1864; must, out Deo. 12, 1865. 
 Crossley, Benjamin, Stonington, enl. Oct. 7, 1861; died Aug. 29, 1864, at 
 
 Audersonville. 
 Daniels, Austin, Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. ; trans, to U.S.N. 
 
 April 27, 1864. 
 Davis, Alfred A., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 1863; 
 
 must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Davis, Alpheus G., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; died April 1, 1863, at 
 
 Hampton, Va. 
 Davis, Phineas W., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability. May 
 
 11, 1862, at Newbern. 
 Dixon, Alfred, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865, 
 
 at City Point; absent. 
 Doyle, William, Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; re-enl. vet. Deo. 24, 1863; 
 
 must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Durfee, William H., Groton, enl. Sept. 30, 1861 ; re-enl, vet. Dec. 24, 1862 ; 
 
 killed Sept. 29, 1864. 
 Bccleston, Levi, Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet.; trans, to U.S.N. 
 
 April 27, 1864. 
 Eccleston, Oliver A., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; re-enl. vet. Dec. 2, 
 
 1863 ; died Dec. 4, 1864. 
 
 Edgecomb, John F., North Stonington, enl. Oct. 10, 1861; trans, to Vet. 
 
 Res. Corps, March 31, 1864. 
 Edwards, Albert S., Stonington, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 15, 1862, at Annapolis. 
 Edwards, Charles J., Stonington, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl. vet. March 27, 
 
 1864 ; died Sept. 1, 1864. 
 
 Edwards, John L., Stonington, enl. Sept. 27, 1861 ; died Dec. 23, 1862, at 
 
 Falmouth, Va. 
 Foster, George W., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 
 
 1863 ; disch. May 21, 1865. 
 French, Marius E., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; trans, to Signal Corps, 
 
 Nov. 26, 1863. 
 Gavin, Edward, Stonington, enl. Oct. 9, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Nov. 
 
 2, 1861, at Jamaica, L. I. 
 Geary, Dennis, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; re-enl, vet.; killed May 
 
 16, 1864, at Fort Darling, Va. 
 Geary, William, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1 861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; 
 
 must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Hall, Cliarles W., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 
 
 1863; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Hallam, Henry, Stonington, enl. Oct. 9, 1861 ; disch. by order Feb. 11, 
 
 1863 ; trans, to U.S.A. 
 Holland, Hazzard, Stonington, enl. Sept. 30, 1861 ; rejected Nov. 2, 1861. 
 Holdredge, James E., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Jager, Francis, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, July 
 
 29, 1862, at Newport News, Va. 
 Knowles, Henry G., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet Dec. 24, 
 
 1863 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1866. 
 Lamb, Samuel S., Ledyard, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Oct. 
 
 2, 1862. 
 Lamphear, Charles D., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; re-enl. vet. Dec. 
 
 24, 1863 ; died of wounds Sept. 3D, 1864. 
 Lamphear, Clark F., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 
 
 1863 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 15, 1865. 
 Lamphear, William, Stonington, enl. Sept. 27, 1861. 
 Lombard, Michael, Stonington, enl. Sept. 23, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 2, 1861. 
 Lord, Thomas H., Stonington, enl. Sept. 23, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 McCarthy, John, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Jan. 25, 1863. 
 Mason, Franklin, Stonington, enl. Sept. 27, 1861; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Maynard, John M., Stonington, enl. Sept. 30, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Miner, Erastus D., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Nye, Joseph D,, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; 
 
 must. out. Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Nye, Stephen F., Stonington, enl. Sept. 27, 1861. 
 Nickle, Arthur, Norwich, enl. Oct. 2, 186; ; disch. for disabilty, Feb. 28, 
 
 1863, at Alexandria. 
 O'Connor, Cornelius, Norwich, enl. Sept. 23, 1861 ; wounded May 7, 1864; 
 
 disch. Sept. 20, 1864. 
 
a) ',. 
 
 ^Zi-t^^v 
 
 'f^' 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 73 
 
 Palmer, Jerome A., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861. 
 
 Palmer, William E., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for pro. March 
 
 30, 1863. 
 Park, William A., Groton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 j diBcli. for disability, Jan. 
 
 1, 1862. 
 Potter, William H., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; died January, 1863, 
 
 at Fort Monroe. 
 Price, David W., Jr., Stonington, enl. Sept. 27, 1861 ; -wounded Sept. 17, 
 
 1862; disch. Sept. 20, 1864. 
 Reed, William, Stonington, enl. Sept. 30, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Eose, Ebenezer, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Eyau, Thomas W., Oroton, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; 
 
 trans, to Vet. Ees. Corps, Jan. 1, 1865. 
 Shay, Patrick, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; trans, to "Vet. Kes. Corps, 
 
 March 15, 1864. 
 Slocnm, Horace, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Staplin, Henry, Stonington, enl. Sept. 23, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec.;24, 1863 ; 
 
 must, out Dec. 12,1865. 
 Shepard, George M., Stonington , Sept. 30, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 28, 1863, at Alexandria. 
 Stebbens, Charles, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 
 
 1863 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Terwilliger, William, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 
 
 1863 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1866. 
 Tinker, Seliemiah D., Stonington, enl. Sept. 30, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 
 
 24, 1863 ; died September, 1864. 
 Usher, George, Stonington, enl. Sept. 30, 1861. 
 Wilcox, Charles B., Stonington, enl. Sept. 30, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 
 
 1863 ; disch. for disabiUty, July 21, 1865. 
 Walker, John, Stonington, enl. Oct. 6, 1861. 
 Wilcox, William D., Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 j re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 
 
 1863 ; must, out Deo. 12, 1865. 
 Willis, Edward, Stonington, enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 24, 1863 ; 
 must, out Dec. 12, 1866. 
 
 Eeortjits for Company G. 
 Algier, Ed-win, Hartford, enl. July 23, 1863 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865, at 
 
 City Point. 
 Abson, Edward, enl. May 1, 1865 ; must, out Dee. 12, 1865, at City Point. 
 Brown, John, Woodstock, enl. Sept. 5, 1863 ; trans, to II.S.N., April 27, '64. 
 Council, Austin, Bethel, enl. Dec. 31, 1863; must, out Dec. 12, 1866, at 
 
 City Point. 
 Cory, John F., Stonington, enl. June 30, 1862; disch. for disability, April 
 
 26, 1866, at New Haven. 
 Cunningham, John, Newton, enl. July 27, 1864. 
 
 Dart, Horace C, New London, enl. July 14, 1863 ; trans, to U.S.N., April 
 
 27, 1364. 
 Davis, Charles, Berhn, enl. Sept. 6, 1863 ; trans, to U.S.N., April 27, 1864. 
 Davis, Henry H., East Gi-anby, enl. Sept. 6, 1863 ; must, out Dec. 12,1865, 
 
 at City Point. 
 Donovan, Patrick, Southington, enl. Sept. 5, 1863 ; must, out June 29, 
 
 1865, at Portsmouth Grove. 
 Dwyer, Cornelius, East Granby, enl. Sept. 6, 1863; killed Aug. 17, 1864, 
 
 at Petersburg. 
 Durfee, Courtland A., Stonington, enl. Dec. 8, 1863 ; died June 30, 1864, 
 
 at Hampton. 
 Dennis, Alfred, Meriden, enl. Jan. 2, 1864. 
 Farly, Michael, Stonington, enl. June 18, 1862; must, out June 6, 1865, 
 
 at Manchester. 
 Ford, Christopher, Fairfield, enl. Nov. 19, 1864. 
 Gray, William F., New London, enl. Jbly 14, 1863 ; trans, to U.S.N., April 
 
 27, 1864. 
 
 Grant, George, Orange, enl. Nov,18, 1864. 
 
 Gubbins, William, Huntington, enl. Nov. 18, 1864. 
 
 Greaser, Charles, Bridgeport, enl. Nov. 18, 1864; must, out Dec. 12, 1866, 
 
 at City Point. 
 Graham, Philip D., Trumbull, enl. Nov. 18, 1864. 
 Garvey, James, Hartford, enl. Nov. 18, 1864. 
 Gleason, Henry F., New Haven, enl. Nov. 21, 1864. 
 Gilen, Frank, Middletown, enl. Nov. 21, 1864. 
 Knowles, John C, Stonington, enl. June 19, 1862; died Feb. 28, 1863, at 
 
 Newport News, Va. 
 Kempton, Benjamin A., Stonington, enl. Dec. 18,1863; died Aug. 22, 
 
 1864, at Andersonville. 
 
 Kelley, John, Meriden, enl. Dec. 31, 1863. 
 
 Little, Jonah, New Britain, enl. July 5, 1864 ; must, out June 8, 1865, at 
 
 New York City. 
 Main, John, New London, enl. Oct. 4, 1803 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865, at 
 
 City Point. 
 Mcintosh, John B., Lebanon, enl. Dec. 12, 1863 ; killed June 4, 1864, at 
 
 Cold Harbor. 
 Munson, .\bram, Lisbon, enl. Dec. 12, 1863 ; must, out Aug. 30, 1865, at 
 
 Fort Monroe. 
 McDougal, William, Danbury, enl. July 20, 1864 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1865, 
 
 at City Point. 
 Meenan, William, Colchester, enl. July 14, 1864. 
 Monti, Joseph, Canton, enl. July 16, 1864. 
 May, Moritz, Hartford, enl. June 29, 1864; must, out Dec. 12, 1865, at 
 
 City Point. 
 Murphy, Michael, Bridgeport, enl. June 27, 1864; must, out Dec. 12, 1865, 
 
 at City Point. 
 Eose, Ebene/.er, Jr., Stonington, enl. June 30, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 26, 1862, at New York City. 
 Eandall, William, Southington, enl. Sept. 4, 1863; died June 29, 1864, at 
 
 Portsmouth. 
 Kussel, Charles E., Berlin, enl. Sept. 4, 1863. 
 Eose, Ebenezer, Jr., Stonington, enl. Dec. 9, 1863 ; killed May 13, 1864, 
 
 at Fort Darling. 
 Eose, Ebenezer, Stonington, enl. Dec. 15, 1863 ; disch. for disability. 
 Eandall, George, Jr., Stonington, enl. Dec. 16, 1863 ; trans, to U.S.N., April 
 
 27, 1864. 
 Keynolds, Gilbert 6., East Haddam, enl. Aug. 10, 1864 ; killed Sept. 29, 
 
 1864, at Oliapin's Farm, Va. 
 Seeman, Frank, Berlin, enl. Sept. 4, 1863 ; must, out May 26, 1866, at 
 
 Fort Monroe. 
 Sisson, Barney, Stonington, enl. Dec. 15, 1863. 
 
 Smith, Peter, Cornwall, enl. Aug. 9, 1864; must, out Dec. 12, 1865, at 
 City Point. 
 
 Marvin Wait was born at Norwich, Conn., on 
 the 21st day of January, 1843. He was the son of 
 John T. and Elizabeth Wait. His paternal grand- 
 father, whose name he bore, occupied a prominent 
 position as a public man and as a lawyer in New 
 London County from the beginning of the Eevolu- 
 tion until the early part of the present century. His 
 father, also well known as a prominent lawyer, was 
 ardently desirous that the son should follow the pro- 
 fession of his ancestors. Accordingly, the studies of 
 young Wait were shaped with a, view to this result. 
 He gave early tokens that he was possessed of an 
 active, keen, and inquiring mind. He had a ready 
 and retentive memory, a fondness for books, and an 
 aptness for quotations and application of what he had 
 read that showed great intellectual ability and appre- 
 ciation. This fondness for reading did not, however, 
 divert him from the usual pursuits and recreations of 
 boyhood. No one entered with more hearty zest into 
 all the sports and pastimes of youth. Gifted with a 
 ready wit, unusual conversational powers, and a keen 
 perception of the humorous, he was always prepared 
 with a playful answer or sparkling repartee. It is 
 not easy to communicate to those who did not know 
 him intimately an idea of the traits which in his 
 early boyhood made him such an idol of the home 
 circle. It is suflBcient to say that no one was ever 
 more tenderly loved or more fondly cared for than he, 
 the only son of his parents. 
 
 In 1858 he entered the Free Academy in Norwich, 
 and there manifested the same ability which had 
 marked his early studies. He showed a peculiar 
 
74 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 taste for all studies involving literary aptness, and in 
 them he took a high rank. Here, also, was developed 
 a fondness for declamation, in which, owing to his 
 quick and thorough perception of the meaning of an 
 author, he always excelled. 
 
 This taste for and appreciation of literature was 
 one of the most marked traits of his mind at this 
 time, and attracted the attention of many of his older 
 friends. The principal of the academy, after Marvin's 
 death, addressed a long letter to his parents, which 
 speaks of his literary ability as indicating mental 
 powers of a very high order. " In the department of 
 the classics," writes Prof Smith, " I have rarely seen 
 his equal, perhaps never his superior, in ability. In 
 elocution he had no superior, and his command of 
 language was also quite remarkable. His deport- 
 ment at the academy was without fault, and I do not 
 remember that he ever received even an admoni- 
 tion." 
 
 After lie had remained at the academy somewhat 
 over a year his parents sent him to Williston Semi- 
 nary, at Easthampton, Mass. While there he en- 
 deared himself by his generous and lovable traits of 
 character and disposition to all his acquaintances, as 
 was evinced by letters received by his parents after 
 his death, speaking in the most affectionate and ten- 
 der manner of " our Marvin." 
 
 After remaining two terms at Easthampton, he en- 
 tered the Freshman Class at Union College in the fall 
 of 1860. While in college he showed the same mental 
 and social characteristics which had distinguished 
 his prior student-life. He made warm and earnest 
 friends, and took a high rank in all classical and lit- 
 erary studies. Prof. Hickok, in writing to his parents, 
 condoling with them upon the loss of their son, pays 
 a merited compliment to his character and ability, 
 as manifested in his college-life. After remaining at 
 Union until the spring of 1861, it was deemed advisa- 
 ble by his parents, on account of his health, which at 
 that time seemed feeble, that he should leave college 
 and endeavor to regain his full physical vigor. Ac- 
 cordingly, in March, 1861, he set sail for Europe, and 
 spent some months in foreign travel. 
 
 During his absence the war of the Rebellion was 
 commenced, and the rebel privateers commenced to 
 prey on the commerce of the United States. His 
 journal of the voyage shows that those on board the 
 ship on the return voyage had serious apprehensions 
 of falling into the hands of those whom he calls "the 
 pirates." 
 
 On his return he again entered college, and for a 
 few months pursued his studies with great zeal and 
 earnestness. But all around him was the fever of 
 military excitement, and it seemed to him that it was 
 his duty to volunteer for the defense of the Union. 
 He left college, came to his home in Norwich, and 
 begged permission of his parents to enlist. With 
 great reluctance, yet unable to withstand his earnest 
 desire, his parents consented that their only son, their 
 
 pride, to whom they looked for a stay in their after- 
 years, should try the uncertain chances of war. 
 
 Gen. Harland had at that time just received the 
 appointment of colonel of the Eighth Connecticut 
 Volunteers, and young Wait, with several of his as- 
 sociates and schoolmates, were enrolled as privates in 
 Company D. Soon after the regiment left the State 
 on its way to the seat of war, Marvin was detailed 
 by the colonel, who had known him from boyhood, 
 to act as his orderly. In the intervals of leisure 
 consequent upon the routine of camp-life he made 
 military tactics his constant study and practice, and 
 soon became proficient in all the various duties of 
 officer and soldier. 
 
 Letters received from him at this time show how 
 thoroughly he enjoyed camp-life, and how he saw the 
 ludicrous side of its discomforts and privations. 
 
 When the regiment reached Annapolis it became 
 necessary to organize a Signal Corps to accompany the 
 " Burnside Expedition," then fitting out, and two 
 lieutenants were to be detailed from each regiment 
 for that purpose. Marvin was promoted to a second 
 lieutenancy in Company H, and, with his intimate 
 friend, Lieut. Breed, was examined, accepted, and 
 transferred to the Signal Corps. 
 
 This recognition of his merits was very gratifying 
 to his parents and to himself. His letters at this 
 time are full of brief and playful allusions to his pro- 
 motion, coupled with anxiety that he may not fail in 
 the discharge of his duties. 
 
 The Signal Corps embarked on the schooner " Col. 
 Satterlee," Jan. 11, 1862. The vessel was old and ill 
 fitted for the voyage, and in the storm which over- 
 took the expedition, was delayed, so that she arrived 
 last of all the vessels at the rendezvous, and after 
 great fears had been entertained for her safety. 
 
 Lieut. Wait entered on his duties as an officer of the 
 Signal Corps, and the carefulness and accuracy of his 
 observations and reports were soon noted by his supe- 
 rior officers. On the 9th of February the battle of 
 Roanoke Island was fought. Lieut. Wait was on 
 board the steamer "S. R. Spaulding," and was con- 
 stantly employed sending and receiving messages. 
 Space forbids giving quotations from his letters, 
 which are full of graphic and interesting accounts of 
 this new life. He was soon transferred to the " Phoe- 
 nix," and there remained until he went on board the 
 " Virginia." The monotony of the life on board these 
 vessels he found somewhat irksome, and longed for 
 something more active. He regretted that he could 
 not be present at the capture of Newbern, but soon 
 afterwards went there, remaining, however, but a few 
 days. His anxiety for active service was soon grati- 
 fied by his being detailed for signal duty at the re- 
 duction of Fort Macon, Beaufort, N. C. The accounts 
 of the battle, from official and private sources, all give 
 great praise to the Signal Corps for the part they took 
 in the bombardment, and Lieut. Wait, in the letter 
 written to his mother the day of the surrender of 
 
~15 "ri-'po h: f enJLt; ' ■ 
 
 C- A^ c-^'^As^^ '^ ^^i---- 
 
 fmiri Vols aniiBrvtLieiiL Colonel 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 75 
 
 the fort, modestly speaks of the compliments bestowed 
 upon him by the commanding officer for his excellent 
 work during the fight. For his gallantry in this ac- 
 tion Lieut. Wait was awarded a signal battle-flag, and 
 was commended in the official reports. After the re- 
 duction of Fort Macon, Lieut. Wait returned to New- 
 bern, and on the 18th of May was detailed to take 
 charge of a station at Batchelder's Creek. From 
 there he returned to Newbern, discharging the rou- 
 tine duties of his office. He was promoted to be first 
 lieutenant in June, and on the 2d day of July, having 
 rejoined his regiment, came with it to Newport News. 
 In July, Lieut. Breed, who had been his constant 
 friend and companion, died. His body was sent home, 
 and Lieut. Wait was granted leave of absence to con- 
 vey the remains to Norwich. This was the last time 
 that his home-friends and relatives saw him. On the 2d 
 of August, 1862, a little over a month before his death, 
 he followed the remains of his friend to their last rest- 
 ing-place. At the funeral service, which was numer- 
 ously attended, there were none who knew Lieut. 
 Wait but noticed his noble and manly bearing at 
 that time. He seemed to have grown into manhood 
 since he entered the army, though he was not yet 
 twenty years old. 
 
 And now came the last month of his life. He left 
 home, and on the 19th of August finally rejoined his 
 regiment, after many wanderings, which he describes 
 vividly in his letters. His last letter was to his 
 mother, and is dated Sept. 6, 1862. Still with his 
 regiment, the youngest officer there, he went through 
 the battles preceding the fatal one at Antietam. How 
 bravely he bore himself that day all accounts agree. 
 He was wounded twice, but did not leave the field. 
 To quote from the brief memoir published by Lieut. 
 Eaton, — 
 
 "The unflinching hero was first wounded in the 
 right arm, which was shattered. He then dropped 
 his sword to his left hand ; he was afterwards wounded 
 in the left arm, in the leg, and in the abdomen. He 
 was then assisted to leave the line by Private King, 
 who soon met Mr. Morris, the brave, indefatigable 
 chaplain of the Eighth Eegiment. The chaplain then 
 conducted Lieut. Wait to the fence before alluded to, 
 and Private King returned to his company. Lieut. 
 Wait's last words to Private King were, ' Are we 
 whipping them ?'^ A braver man than Marvin Wait 
 never confronted a foe ; a more generous heart never 
 beat; a more unselfish patriot never fell. Connecti- 
 cut may well cherish and honor the memory of such 
 sons." 
 
 When the news of his death reached his native 
 town the expression of sorrow and of sympathy with 
 his parents was universal. Resolutions were passed 
 by the municipal authorities expressive of the public 
 
 1 As the enemy advanced on the left flank of our regiment they de- 
 livered an eniilading fire. It was under this Are that Lieut. Wait was 
 pierced by a minie-ball (while lying wounded behind i> low wall), 
 which passed through his lungs from side to side. 
 
 regret, while letters from many who knew him testi- 
 fied to the parents of the private grief. He was the 
 first commissioned officer from Norwich killed in 
 battle. 
 
 The body was brought home, and the funeral, at 
 the First Congregational church, was very largely 
 attended. The Eev. Dr. Arms, his former pastor, 
 conducted the services. 
 
 The conclusion of the eulogy delivered by George 
 Pratt at the church sums up the estimate of his char- 
 acter and achievements : 
 
 " What words can add beauty to such a life, or what 
 praise ennoble such a death? When we think of 
 those who fell on that field we count them all heroes, 
 we name them all among the brave, — 
 
 " * They died like heroes, for no recreant step 
 Had e'er dishonored them, no stain of fear, 
 No base despair, no cowardly recoil ; 
 They had the hearts of freemen to the last. 
 And the free blood that bounded in their veins 
 Was shed for freedom with a liberal joy.' 
 
 " Yes, the names of those who fell will be handed 
 down with imperishable glory and lasting fame. Our 
 children's children shall rise up and called them 
 blessed, for they died fighting on the side of the 
 right in a contest between right and wrong. 
 
 " Who would not be proud to be one of such a 
 brave and immortal band ? Who would not be prouder 
 still that where all" were so brave the one they loved 
 became conspicuous for bravery ? Such honor, rarely 
 achieved, this young hero won. All alike, officers 
 and soldiers, speak of his dauntless and conspicuous 
 courage. All tell of the way his brave and animating 
 voice rang through the ranks of the men, urging them 
 on to victory. A century, had he lived so long, would 
 have brought him no prouder moment in which to 
 die. Dying, as he did, on the banks of that little 
 creek, then unknown, now immortal, he became for 
 us and ours forever a name and a memory. 
 
 " True, he lies here, unheeding all our praise, silent 
 and cold in death. But what a sweet and inexpress- 
 ible consolation it is to the living that the one 
 whom they mourn died honorably and gloriously. A 
 long life, uneventful and insignificant, is for the 
 many; a glorious death, a lasting and honorable 
 memory, is the boon of but a few. 
 
 " To-day his native town writes him among her list 
 of heroes ; his native State does him honor in the 
 person of her Chief Magistrate ; the nation thanks his 
 memory as one among those who saved her in the 
 hour of peril. Such honor as we can pay is now his. 
 We bury him here, far away from the field of his 
 fame, in the midst of the scenes he loved so well, 
 knowing this, — that although we may die and be for- 
 gotten, his name shall be honored and remembered ; 
 and as we lay him to rest, our hearts, one and all, 
 say, ' Brave spirit, noble young heart, farewell !' " 
 
 Col. Chaeles M. Coit was .born in Norwich, 
 March 29, 1838. During his seventeenth year the 
 death of his father, Col. Charles Coit, changed all his 
 
76 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 plans for life, and led him with deep regret to ex- 
 change a college course for a business situation. He 
 first entered the Uncas Bank, but at the age of twenty- 
 one was made treasurer of the Chelsea Savings-Bank, 
 which responsible position he occupied at the break- 
 ing out of the war of the Rebellion. 
 
 Although ardently desirous of enlisting under the 
 first call for troops, the claims of his family, of which 
 he was the oldest male member, seemed to render im- 
 perative for him the duty of remaining at home. But 
 as reverses occurred to our armies and President Lin- 
 coln's second call for troops was made, young Coit, 
 after mature and prayerful deliberation, decided that 
 the claim of his country was paramount to all others, 
 and entered its service as adjutant of the Eighth 
 Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, then being 
 organized under Col. Edward Hariand. 
 
 This regiment left the State Oct. 17, 1861, joining 
 the Burnside expedition to North Carolina, and on 
 the 8th of January following had its first experience 
 of actual battle at the capture of Roanoke Island, 
 when by their coolness and good discipline they won 
 the hearty approval of Gens. Burnside and Foster. 
 From this time onward until the close of the war 
 the career of this gallant regiment was one of unusual 
 hardship and honor. Almost uninterruptedly in the 
 front and in active service, their engagements were 
 many, their losses, both from the casualties of the 
 field and from the exposures incident to their service, 
 terribly severe, and their record always of work well 
 and bravely done. 
 
 After their North Carolina campaign, in which the 
 regiment had borne a prominent part at the siege of 
 Fort Macon and the capture of Newbern, and dur- 
 ing which Adjt. Coit had been promoted to a cap- 
 taincy, the Ninth Army Corps, to which they were 
 attached, was ordered north to join Gen. McClellan, 
 and participated in the fiercely-contested battles of 
 South Mountain and Antietam. Especially in the 
 latter action was the gallantry of the Eighth Regi- 
 ment conspicuous and of the highest service to their 
 whole corps. Nine color-bearers were struck down, 
 yet another always stood ready to fill the vacant place 
 and uphold the flag. The entire list of casualties 
 included more than one-half of those who entered 
 the battle. In the words of one of the participants, 
 " we faced the foe until half the regiment were shot 
 down, and retired only when ordered." 
 
 They were in the front of Burnside's advance with 
 the Army of the Potomac, helping to lay the pontoon- 
 bridge at Fredericksburg, and after the battle serving 
 on the picket-line beyond the city, and being among 
 the last to recross the river. 
 
 The next spring, 1863, the regiment saw active 
 service at the siege of Suffolk and the brilliant storm- 
 ing of Fort Huger. During the following fall and 
 winter, while the regiment were enjoying their longest 
 experience of the comparative comfort of quiet camp- 
 life, Capt. Coit was ordered to duty at the conscript 
 
 camp at New Haven, — a service, which, though in 
 some respects an exceedingly agreeable change from 
 field service, was in other respects most unpleasant 
 and difficult. Returning to the regiment before the 
 commencement of active operations in the spring of 
 1864, he was constantly on duty with his command 
 through the terrible campaign on the James, com- 
 mencing with the severe engagement at Walthall 
 Junction, in which the regiment lost seventy-four 
 men, and immediately followed by the four days' 
 battle at Drury's Bluff with further heavy loss. Dur- 
 ing the "battle summer" that followed, in the absence 
 of the field-officer, the regiment was commanded by 
 Capt. Coit. Its history and his is a record of marches 
 and battles almost daily until the latter part of June, 
 when they were ordered to the front of the line invest- 
 ing Petersburg. From June 21st to August 27th, under 
 the scorching summer sun, they lay in their rifle-pits, 
 rarely by day or night beyond the range of the en- 
 emy's cannon. In one of its charges on the enemy's 
 works so gallantly did they do their work that their 
 commander. Gen. "Baldy" Smith, said he "felt like 
 giving a commission to the whole regiment that had 
 done that gallant deed." 
 
 The last severe fighting of the regiment, at Fort 
 Harrison, Sept. 29th, was another of its most gallant 
 achievements. Charging across nearly a mile of open 
 field, still commanded by Capt. Coit, they stormed 
 the fort, driving the gunners from their pieces, and 
 planting their flag on its ramparts. The regiment 
 lay in the trenches about the fort nearly a month, re- 
 pulsing in the mean time all the attempts of the enemy 
 to regain their lost ground. When at the end of the 
 month they were relieved and assigned to lighter 
 duty, they had become so reduced by the casualties of 
 the field — " fatigue duty, watching, picketing, storms, 
 and lack of even shelter tents, which were not then 
 allowed at the front" — that but ninety muskets could 
 be mustered. 
 
 Soon after the capture of Fort Harrison, Capt. Coit 
 was assigned to duty as assistant adjutant-general on 
 the brigade staflT, and while here received a commis- 
 sion as major of his regiment, which he declined. 
 He had been with his regiment in every action in 
 which it had taken part without receiving a wound ; 
 but October 28th, while on staff-duty at Fair Oaks, in 
 one of the latest engagements of the army before 
 Richmond, he was wounded, it was supposed mor- 
 tally. He was removed to Chesapeake Hospital, Fort- 
 ress Monroe, where he remained four months, lying for 
 many weeks with the scales trembling between life 
 and death, suffering not only from his wound, but 
 from the almost fatal effects of the severe service of 
 the past summer. But skillful treatment and the 
 tender care of loving friends, aided by his naturally 
 strong constitution and good "habits, were finally 
 blessed to his recovery. As soon as his health would 
 permit he returned to his regiment, but, the war being 
 over, army life had no charms for him, and he re- 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 77 
 
 signed May 30, 1865. He was breveted lieutenant- 
 colonel from March 13, 1865. 
 
 Soon after liis return to Norwich he was re-elected 
 to his former position as treasurer of the Chelsea 
 Savings-Bank, and filled the office with marked 
 ability and to the entire satisfaction of all interested. 
 He was postmaster of Norwich for one term. 
 
 He served as aide, with the rank of colonel, on the 
 staff of Gen. J. R. Hawley while Governor of Con- 
 necticut. He was prominent among the founders 
 and early supporters of the local post of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic, and was a member of the 
 Boston Commandery of the military order of the 
 Loyal Legion of the United States. 
 
 He was a consistent and active member of the 
 Second Congregational Church, holding the offices 
 of deacon of the church, treasurer of the church and 
 society, and librarian of the Sunday-school. 
 
 In the full strength of his manhood, and in the 
 midst of increasing usefulness, his life suddenly 
 ended. July 3, 1878, his little boy falling overboard 
 from a yacht in New London Harbor, Col. Coit and 
 his friend, David Trumbull, of Valparaiso, Chili, 
 both sprang over to rescue him, and although the 
 father's efforts to save his child were successful, both 
 noble men lost their lives. A widow and two sons 
 survive him. 
 
 At a meeting of the directors of the Chelsea Sav- 
 ings-Bank, held July 5, 1878, the following resolu- 
 tions were unanimously passed : 
 
 *^Resolved, That in the recent sudden death of Col. Charles M. Coit, our 
 secretary and treasurer, this bank has suffered the greatest loss which 
 it has ever been called upon to bear. We have lost one who has been 
 identified with the bank for nearly twenty years, in whose sound judg- 
 ment and business capacity we have always had the greatest confidence; 
 one whose integrity, both in thought and deed, was such that it seems 
 impossible to replace him. 
 
 "Sesolvedy That in Col. Coit's death this community suffers a loss of one 
 who, having passed his entire life among them, except that portion 
 given to his country, had gained their confidence, respect, and love to a 
 very unusual degree. As a citizen, a patriot soldier, and a public oflBcer, 
 he has always shown those qualities of mind and heart which endeared 
 him to all who were brought in contact with him, whether in social or 
 -business relations. Though cut off in his prime, the example of such a 
 life is of incalculable value to the community." 
 
 To this estimate of his character and life it is only 
 necessary to add a tribute to its religious element. 
 Early professing his love for Christ, he exhibited 
 through the pleasures of youth, the trials and temp- 
 tations of army life, and the cares of business such 
 a sincere, unostentatious, but decided Christian spirit 
 as left no room for question or cavil. His unswerv- 
 ing allegiance to his God controlled all his life, and 
 has, we believe, won for him at the judgment on 
 high the same verdict so heartily given by all who 
 knew him here, — " Well done, good and faithful ser- 
 vant !" 
 
 The Ninth Begiment was mustered into the ser- 
 vice in the fall of 1861 as the "Irish Regiment," 
 under the command of Thomas W. Cahill, of Hart- 
 ford, with Richard Fitzgibbons, of Bridgeport, lieu- 
 6 
 
 tenant-colonel. It had a few men from this county. 
 Its principal engagements were Baton Rouge, Chack- 
 aloo Station, Deep Bottom, and Cedar Creek. Mus- 
 tered out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 
 The Tenth Regiment was recruited at Camp 
 Buckingham, Hartford, and left for Annapolis, Md., 
 Oct. 31, 1861. 
 
 Space will not permit of a detailed account of each 
 separate engagement in which the regiment partici- 
 pated, and to chronicle in detail the many battles 
 and the active service of the Tenth Connecticut 
 would require a volume of itself. 
 
 The regiment was mustered out Aug. 25, 1865, 
 and had participated in no less than fourteen engage- 
 ments between June 16, 1864, and the spring of 1865. 
 To say that throughout the whole time it sustained 
 its reputation for bravery and heroic endurance 
 would be but faint praise for the gallant deeds per- 
 formed. 
 
 Originally the regiment numbered 996 men ; the 
 number of recruits borne on its rolls is 848, and the 
 number of re-enlisted veterans was 280, making a 
 total of 2124 men credited to the organization. 
 
 The regiment participated in the following engage- 
 ments: Roanoke Island, Feb. 8, 1862; Newbern, N. 
 C, March 14, 1862 ; Kingston, N. C, Dec. 14, 1862 ; 
 Whitehall, N. C.,' Dec. 16, 1862 ; Seabrook Island, S. 
 C, March 28, 1863; Siege of Charleston, S. C, from 
 July 28 to Oct. 25, 1863 ; near St. Augustine, Fla., 
 Dec. 30, 1863 ; Walthall Junction, Va., May 7, 1864; 
 Drury's Bluff, Va., May 13 to 17 (inclusive), 1864 ; 
 Bermuda Hundred, Va., June 16, 1864 ; Strawberry 
 Plains, Va., July 26 and 27, 1864 ; Deep Bottom, 
 Va., Aug. 1 and 14, 1864; Deep Run, Va., Aug. 16, 
 1864; Siege of Petersburg, Va., Aug. 28 to Sept. 29, 
 1864; Laurel Hill Church, Va., Oct. 1, 1864; New- 
 Market Road, Va., Oct. 7, 1864 ; Darbytown Road, 
 Va., Oct. 13 and 27, 1864; Johnson's Plantation, 
 Va., Oct. 29, 1864; Hatcher's Run, Va., March 29 
 and 30, and April 1, 1865; Fort Gregg, Va., April 
 2, 1865; Appomattox Court-House, Va., April 9, 
 1865. 
 
 The following is the aggregate of casualties : killed 
 in action, 57 ; died of wounds, 59 ; died of disease, 
 152 ; discharged prior to muster out of regiment, 692. 
 Total, 960. 
 
 There were two companies in the regiment from 
 this county, F and H. 
 
 COMPANY F. 
 
 Joseph W. Branch, capt., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; res. Jan. 24, 1863. 
 
 Charles T. Smith, first lieut., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; res. Dec. 4, 1861, 
 
 George R. Turnbull,! first lieut., Hartford, appointed Dec. 8, 1864 ; must 
 out Aug. 25, 1865, at Richmond. 
 
 Jacob Kingsbury, second lieut., Franklin, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; pro. first 
 lient. ; res. Nov. 15, 1862. 
 
 William H. Munroe, sergt., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Dec. 14, 
 1863. 
 
 William G. Chapman, sergt., Sprague, enl. Oct. I, 1861 ; re-eol. as vet- 
 Jan. 1, 1864 ; pro. second lieut. ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 
 1 Appointed after first muster. 
 
78 
 
 HISTOKY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 George B. Park, sergt., Canterbury, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; prisoner and 
 
 wounded, March 28, 1863 ; died April 3, 1863, of wounds. 
 George W. Morgan, sergt., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, 
 
 terra expired. 
 Allen Tucker, sergt., Sprague, enl, Oct. 1,1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Sumner B. Cole, corp., Griswold, enl, Oct. 1, 1 861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; wounded; disch. Aug. 7, 1865. 
 Henry L. Bingham, Corp., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disabil- 
 ity, March 27, 1863. 
 Daniel Sullivan, corp., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; wounded; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 John D. Locke, corp., Franklin, enl, Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; wounded; must, out Sept. 16, 1865. 
 Van Buren Kinney, corp., Griswold, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 
 
 1, 1864 ; wounded ; disch. for disability, Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Calvin D. Wilbur, corp., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; diach. Oct. 7, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Daniel K. Prior, cox-p., Sprague, enl.Oct. 1,1861 ; wounded Aug. 14,1864; 
 
 disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term expired. 
 Albert Campbell, corp., Voluntown, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; pro. capt.; 
 
 wounded; disch. Oct. 25, 1864, term expired. 
 George L. Cooley, musician, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1864; must, out Aug, 25, 1865. 
 Harvey M. Chaffee, musician, enl. Dec. 26, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 George W.Wilcox, wagoner, Sprague, enl. Oct. 5, 1861; disch. Oct. 7, 
 
 1864, term expired. 
 Adams, John B., Canterbury, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 
 6, 1862. 
 Bartlett, John S., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 pro. capt. ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Bentley, John, Waterburj', enl. Oct. 2, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 wounded ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Bentley, Samuel, Stonington, enl. Oct. 1, 1861. 
 Blanding, Francis, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, June 
 
 20, 1863. 
 Blanding, John V., Sprague, enl. Oct, 1, 1861; disch, for disability, Aug. 
 
 5, 1863. 
 Bradley, George F,, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; died July 24, 1865, near Richmond. 
 Brown, Charles H., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1. 1861; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 7, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Brown, Nelson L., Scotland, enl. Oct. 1, 186X ; died Dec. 18, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Kinston. 
 Bromley, Dwight, Griswold, enl, Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864 ; 
 
 wounded ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Bruto, Alexander, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; captured Dec. 30, 1865 ; 
 
 disch. Jan. a, 1865, term expired. 
 Butcher, Joseph J., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Campbell, John, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; wounded Dec. 14, 1862; 
 
 killed Aug. 16, 1864, at Deep Bottom. 
 Campbell, Nathan E., Griswold, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; wounded; must, out Oct. 2, 1865. 
 Champlain, E-ussell C, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 20, 1861. 
 Champlain, Henry F., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died Aug. 11, 1864, at 
 
 Andersouville. 
 Chapman, Lyman G., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 27, 1863. 
 Chandler, Samuel H., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1,1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Curley, Morrill B., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; captured Dec. 30, 1863; 
 
 disch. Jan. 3, 1865, term expired. 
 Collins, Jeremiah, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died April 23, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Newbern. 
 Cole, George W., Griswold, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864- 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Cotton, Samuel S., Canterbury, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died April 4, 1862, at 
 
 Newbern. 
 Dewey, Charles W., Sprague, enl. Oct. 26,1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan.l, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Doyle, Hugh, Spragup, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl. aa vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Doyle, Terrence, Sprague, enl, Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864- 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 
 Dwire, Cornelius, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet, Feb, 7, 1864; 
 
 killed in action Aug. 14, 1864. 
 Fenner, William, Griswold, enl. Oct. 9, 1861 ; disch, for disability, March 
 
 27, 1863. 
 Garland, Henry W., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 27, 1863. 
 Gough, William, Colchester, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 7, 1864- 
 
 wounded; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Griggs, Henry, Scotland, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl, as vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865, 
 Hall, James M., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan, 1, 1864; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Harvey, Charles E,, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 7, 1864; 
 
 wounded ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Haakins, Daniel W., Scotland, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Hawkins, Lewis H., Voluntown, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; wounded; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, April 17, 1865. 
 Hawkins, Orin J., Voluntown, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died June 24, 1862, at 
 
 Newbern. 
 Hawkins, William P., Sprague, enl, Oct. 9, 1861; disch. for diaabllity, 
 
 Sept. 19, 1862. 
 Hays, Mayden, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; wounded Aug, 14, 1864; disch. 
 
 Oct. 7, 1864, term expired. 
 Holt, John, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term expired, 
 Hubbard, Gideon M., Wetherafleld, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 19, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Irons, Amasa, Lisbon, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7,1864, term expired. 
 Irons, Arthur, Sprague, enl. Oct. 22, 1861 ; disch. for disability, June 4, 
 
 1864. 
 Irons, Thomas, Sprague, enl, Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 20, 
 
 1861, 
 Ives, William L., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. for disability, Sept. 
 
 19, 1862. 
 Krieg, Julius, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability. Sept, 19, 
 
 1862. 
 Lampheer, James M., Nonvich, enl.Oct. 5,1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan, 1, 
 
 1864. 
 Larkins, William, Sprague, enl. Oct. 2, 1861. 
 Leclair, Nelson, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. aa veteran. 
 Lillie, John P., Scotland, enL Oct. 1, 1861; disch. for disability, March 
 
 27, 186a. 
 Maro, Patrick, Norwich, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; killed at Newbern, March 14, 
 
 1862. 
 McLeland, George, Norwich, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; diach, for disability, Oct. 
 
 16, 1862. 
 Meech, Joseph U., Lebanon, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1,1864; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Milner, George, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; diach. for disability, March 
 
 27, 1863. 
 Neilson, Peter A., Franklin, enl. Oct. 22, 1861 ; disch. for disability, July 
 
 6, 1862. 
 Noyes, John D., Norwich, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term ex- 
 pired. 
 O'Brien, John, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 7, 1864, 
 Perigo, Norman W,, Scotland, enl. Oct, 26, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; wounded ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Perkins, Josiah S., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, July 
 
 6, 1862. 
 Pollock, Philetus, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term ex- 
 pired. 
 Potter, Monroe, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; wounded Dec. 14, 1862; 
 
 disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term expired. 
 Rathbun, Frank, Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term ex- 
 
 pi red. 
 Scott, Patrick, Sprague, enl. Oct. 22, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 21, 1864, term ex- 
 pired. 
 Sims, Samuel T., Sprague, enl, Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch, for disability, Dec. 20, 
 
 1861. 
 Thornton, Lewis A., Voluntown, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl, as vet.; pro. 
 
 sergt.-maj. ; wounded ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Tracy, Erasmus D., Scotland, enl. Oct, 1, 1861; re-enl. as vet; wounded; 
 
 disch, for disability, July 14, 1866. 
 Vergason, Erastua, Norwich, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; killed at Koanoke Island, 
 
 Feb, 8, 1862. 
 Weaver, Amos C, Scotland, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; died February, 1862, at 
 Hatteras Inlet. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 79 
 
 Weaver, Charles B. D., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. ae vet Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Weaver, David P., Scotland, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 wounded ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Wilbur, Robert A., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1,1861; disch, Oct. 7, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Wilcox, Stephen E., Norwich, enl. Oct. 9, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 26,1865. 
 Wilcox, William H., Sprague, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864: wounded; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Williams, Edgar, Griswold, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864 ; 
 
 wounded; disch. for disability, July 6, 1865. 
 Wright, Frank, Colchester, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet.; died May 
 
 25, 1864, in Bermuda Hundred. 
 
 COMPANY H. 
 Kobert Leggett, capt., New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; pro. lieut.- 
 
 col. ; wounded ; resigned Aug. 15, 1864. 
 Horace F. Quinn, first lieut., New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; pro. capt. ; 
 
 killed i[i action, Aug. 14, 1864. 
 William W. Perkins, second lieut.. New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; pro. 
 
 Ist lieut. ; killed at Kinston, Dec. 14, 1862. 
 William M. Webb, sergt.. New London, enl. Oct. 3, 1861 ; wounded Feb. 
 
 8, 1862 ; pro. capt. ; wounded ; must, out Oct. 16, 1864. 
 Charles A. Bunnell, sergt.. New London, enl. Oct. 1,1861; disch. Sept. 
 
 30, 1864, term expired. 
 Arthur W. Smith, sergt.. New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died July 9, 
 
 1862, at Newbem. 
 Robert W. Adams, sergt.. New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1864; pro. capt.; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Henry E. Chitty, sergt.. New London, enl. Oct. 16, 1861; pro. 2d lieut.; 
 
 wounded ; disch. for disability, Sept. 20, 1864. 
 Joseph Grinsill, corp.. New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 
 
 1, 1864; pro. 1st lieut.; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Henry J. Hough, corp., New Haven, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. for disa- 
 bility, July 9, 1862. 
 Jedediah R. Gay, corp., Montville, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; wounded Feb. 8, 
 
 1862; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term expired. 
 Jacob Hammel, corp.. New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. for disa- 
 bility, July 13, 1862. 
 William J. Perkins, corp., East Lyme, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. for disa- 
 bility, July 13, 1862. 
 John Gannon, corp.. New London, enl. Oct. 14, 1861; disch. for disa- 
 bility, July 13, 1862. 
 Joseph A. Dayton, corp.. New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Jan. 16, 1863. 
 James M. Rogers, corp., East Lyme, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; wounded Dec. 14, 
 
 1862; disch. Sept. 30, 1864, term expired. 
 Albert Knight, musician, New London, enl. Oct. 2, 1861 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Dec. 20, 1861. 
 Gilbert T. Smith, wagoner. New London, enl. Oct. 2, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 
 
 1864, term expired. 
 Allyn, Asa, Ledyard, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died November, 1862, in Insane 
 
 Retreat, Washington. 
 Bromley, Lyman W., enl. Oct. 29, 1861 ; died Dec. 9, 1861, at Annapolis, 
 
 Md. 
 Bartlett, Leonard, East Haddam, enl. Oct. 29, 1861 ; died April 20, 1862, 
 
 at Newbern, N. C. 
 Burdick, Charles, Norwich, enl. Oct. 29, 1861 ; died Jan. 16, 1863, at New- 
 bern, N. 0. 
 Bailey, William F., Groton, enl. Oct. 29, 1861;; wounded B'eb. 8, 1862; 
 
 disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term expired. 
 Bailey, George A., Groton, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864 ; 
 
 wounded; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Bartholomew, Plioy, Derby, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; died Feb. 17, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received Feb. 8, 1862. 
 Beebe, Aaron, New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability. May 
 
 9, 1863, 
 Beckwith, Herbert E., Norwich, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Jan. 20, 1863. 
 Brainard, Henry L., Montville, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; died Nov. 2, 1862, at 
 
 Newbern. 
 Brooks, John E., North Stonington, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Oct. 16, 1862. 
 Bromley, Albert A., Griswold, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864 ; wounded ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Brown, George H., New London, enl. Oct. 6, 1861 ; pro. capt. ; killed in 
 action, April 1, 1865. 
 
 BushjAsaE.S., East Lyme, enl, Oct, 1,1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 must, out Oct. 7, 1864. 
 Card, David J., Hampton, enl. Oct. 5, 1861 ; died Dec. 10, 1862, at New- 
 bern. 
 Chappell, George L,, New London, enl. Oct. 22, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Colbert, Halsey B., New London, enl, Oct. 14, 1861. 
 Comstock, Andrew W.,East Lyme, enl, Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Comstock, Isaac H., New London, enl. Oct. 2, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 April 13, 1862. 
 Daniels, Charles H., Groton, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 22, 1863. 
 Daniels, George F., Groton, enl, Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch, for disability, July 
 
 19, 1862. 
 Davis, Peai-son. Waterford, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. April 24, 1863. 
 Dawley, Isaac B., Griswold, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Day, John F., Montville, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; killed at Kinston, N. C, Dec. 
 
 14. 1862. 
 
 Denehey, Patrick H., Groton, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Feb, 
 
 22. 1863. 
 
 Douglass, Frederick C, New London, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; disch. for disar 
 
 bility, Feb. 22, 1863. 
 Downs, Joseph H., New London, enl. Oct. 22, 1861. 
 Evans, William E., enl. Nov. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 Enos, Joshua J., Salem, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; wounded Aug. 16, 1864 ; disch. 
 
 Oct. 7, 1864, term expired. 
 Fisher, Henry J., New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; wounded; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Fitch, John, New London, enl. Oct. 2, 1861 ; disch. Oct, 1, 1864, term ex- 
 pired. 
 Gaffney, James, New London, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; wounded Feb, 8 and 
 
 Dec. 14, 1862 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864. 
 Garland, Samuel J,, Groton, enl. Oct. 9, 1861; disch. Sept. 30, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Gleason, Michael, Groton, enl, Oct. 14, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet, 
 Gofr, Thomas, New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died Feb. 15, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Roanoke. 
 Gordon, John, Middletown, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; captured ; exchanged, 
 Gorton, William H., East Lyme, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died Feb. 15, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Roanoke Island. 
 Hamilton, John H., enl. Oct. 26, 1861; disch. Dec. 21, 1861. 
 Hatter, John, New London, enl, Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Hogan, Patrick H., New London, enl. Oct, 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Sept. 18, 1862. 
 Howard, Cornelius A., New London, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 
 
 1864, term expired, 
 Huntley, Joseph W., East Lyme, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died Feb. 8, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Roanoke. 
 Huxford, William G., Marlborough, enl. Oct. 5, 1861 ; died Jan. 11, 1864, 
 
 at Beaufort. 
 Hyde, John W., enl. Oct. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864 ; must, out 
 
 Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Johnson, Andrew, enl. Oct. 5, 1861 ; captured Dec. 30, 1863, near St. Au- 
 gustine, Fla. 
 Job nson, William H., Montville, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; captured Dec. 30, 1863, 
 
 near St. Augustine, Fla. 
 Knight, Dwight P., New London, enl. Oct, 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 20, 1861. 
 Latham, Ezra D., Groton, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disabilitj', July 13, 
 
 1862, 
 Lester, Dwight T., New London, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; died Feb. 15, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Roanoke Island. 
 Mitchell, Lorenzo D., Groton, enl. Oct. 29, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864. 
 Manchester, Frederick, Bridgeport, enl. Oct. 1,1861; died January or 
 
 February, 1862, at Hatteras Inlet. 
 Meany, Dennis, Boston, Mass., enl. Oct. 3, 1861. 
 Merrills, Edward, Bfist Lyme, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; wounded ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Mills, Cornelius, New London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch, Oct. 7, 1864, term 
 
 expired, 
 Munsell, Nathaniel, New London, enl. Oct, 22, 1861 ; re-enl, as vet, 
 Morrison, William J., New York, enl. Oct. 2, 1861 ; disch, Oct. 7, 1864, 
 term expired. 
 
80 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Murdock, John, Groton, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; wounded Aug. 16, 1864 ; disch. 
 
 Dec. 25, 1864, term expired. 
 Peckham, Stephen H., New London, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Dec. 20, 1861. 
 Penhallow, Alexander T., New London, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1,1864; wounded ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Perkins, Edwin, Groton, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; wounded March 14, 1862; 
 
 disch. Oct. Y, 1864, term expired. 
 Perkins, Henry, Bridgeport, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died Oct. 24, 1863. 
 Perkins, Hiram, Groton, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, March 26, 
 
 1863. 
 Pond, William, Stonington, enl. Oct. 22, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Postle, Thomas, Windham, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 22, 
 
 1863. 
 Kide, William, Now London, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; drowned at New London, 
 
 Conn., May 6, 1862. 
 Roberts, John L., New London, enl. Oct. 5, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 July 10, 1862. 
 Eodgei-s, William H., Hartford, enl. Oct. 22, 1861 ; disch. April 13, 1862. 
 Shippee, William A., Greenwich, enl. Oct. 29, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Sherman, John T., enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; killed at Newberu, N. 0., March 14, 
 
 1862. 
 Slaine, Peter S., New London, enl. Oct. 22, 1861 ; died Jan. 31, 1862. 
 Smith, Milton, East Lyme, enl. Oct. 1, 1861; wounded Feb. 8, 1862; 
 
 disch. Oct. 7, 1864, term expired. 
 Smith, Robert, enl. Oct. 1, 18G1. 
 Strickland, Eraatus, New London, enl. Oct. 22, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 
 
 1, 1864; must, out Aug. 26, 1866. 
 Studley, George H., Norwich, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 '1864; must, out Aug. 26, 1865. 
 Sullivan, Patrick, Nassau, N. H., enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 
 
 1, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 26, 1866. 
 Taylor, Henry H., East Lyme, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1861. 
 Terry, David J., New London, enl. Oct. 14, 1861. 
 
 Tinker, Charles H., Waterford, Oct. 1, 1861 ; died March 31, 1862, New- 
 born, N. C. 
 Tink or, John B., Waterford, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864 ; 
 
 disch. for disability, June 22, 1865. 
 Tinker, Vander M., New London, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; discb. on account 
 
 of wounds, Jan. 7, 1863. 
 Treadway, Oharles W. S., enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 23, 1862. 
 Welch, Edward C, East Haddam, enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 16, 1862. 
 White, David S., Groton, enl. Oct. 14, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 wounded ; must. out. Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Wohlrabe, Frederick C, New London, enl. Oct. 22, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1,1864. 
 
 The Twelfth Regiment.— The Twelfth Eegiment 
 Connecticut Volunteers was recruited at Camp Lyon, 
 Hartford, early in the year 1862, and left for Ship 
 Island, Mississippi Sound, Feb. 24, 1862, with 1008 
 men. This iine regiment was known as the " Charter 
 Oak Regiment," was commanded by Col. Henry C. 
 Deniing, and was attached to Maj.-Gen. Benjamin F. 
 Butler's division. The men were armed with Sharp's 
 and Windsor rifles. 
 
 The regiment participated in the following general 
 engagements: Georgia Landing, La., Oct. 27, 1862; 
 loss in killed, 3 enlisted men ; wounded, 15 enlisted 
 men ; taken prisoner, 1 commissioned officer ; total 
 loss, 19. Pattersonville, La., March 27, 1863 ; loss in 
 wounded and captured, 35. Bisland, La., April 13, 
 1803 ; loss in killed, 2 enlisted men ; wounded, 1 com- 
 missioned ofiicer, 12 enlisted men ; total loss, 15. 
 Siege of Port Hudson, La., May 25, 1863, to July 9, 
 1863; loss in killed, 12 enlisted men; wounded, 9 
 commissioned oflScers, 87 enlisted men; total loss, 
 108. Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864 ; loss in killed. 
 
 3 commissioned officers, 8 enlisted men; wounded, 3 
 commissioned officers, 56 enlisted men; total loss, 70. 
 Fisher's Hill, Va., Sept. 22, 1864. Cedar Creek, Va., 
 Oct. 19, 1864 ; loss in killed, 2 commissioned officers, 
 21 enlisted men ; wounded, 5 commissioned officers, 
 58 enlisted men ; missiug, 84 ; total loss, 170. 
 
 The following is its total number of casualties-: killed 
 in action, 50 ; died of wounds, 16 ; died of disease, 188 ; 
 discharged prior to muster out of regiment, 501, 
 Total, 755. 
 
 The regiment was mustered out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 
 There were two companies, D and K, in the Twelfth 
 from this county. 
 
 COMPANY D. 
 Nathan Frankau, capt.. New London, enl. Jan. 1, 1862 ; dismissed Nov. 
 
 19, 1862. 
 Hiram F. Chappell, iirBt lieut.. New London, enl. Jan. 1, 1862 ; pro. capt.; 
 
 must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 George W. Potter, second lieut., New London, enl. Jan. 1, 1862 ; res. Feb. 
 
 4, 1863. 
 Leonard Shaffer, sergt.. New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1864; must, out Aug. 12, 1S66. 
 Alexander Cohn, sergt., New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1864; wounded; dropped from roll. 
 Benjamin F. Pratt, sergt., Montville, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1864; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Christopher Goss, sergt.. New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861; r6-enl. as vet. ; 
 
 pro. second lieut. ; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 James Robertson, sergt.. New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet.; 
 
 died Nov. 23, 1864, of wounds received in action. 
 George M. Dyer, corp., New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; died Aug. 7, 
 
 1862, at Camp Parapet, La. 
 Emei-y H. Shafifer, Corp., New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1S61; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Joseph A. Burrows, corp., New London, enl. Jan. 9, 1862; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1864; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 William A. Carpenter, Corp., Waterford, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disch. for 
 
 disability, April 7, 1862. 
 John A. Pool, Corp., New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; not taken up on 
 
 rolls after consolidation, Dec. 31, 1864. 
 Hosea P. Durfee, Corp., Lebanon, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 
 
 1, 1864 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 21, 1864. 
 Elisha C. Austin, Corp., East Lyme, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; must, out of ser- 
 vice, 1862. 
 Daniel J. Shaffer, Corp., New Loudon, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Hubbard, Ohapel, mnsician. Bast Lyme, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disoh. for dis- 
 ability Irom wounds, Jan. 29, 1863. 
 Orlando H. Hempsted, musician. New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disch. 
 
 to accept commission, Jan. 26, 1864. 
 Richard Beckwith, wagoner. New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; must, out 
 
 of service, 1862. 
 Abel, Daniel B., Montville, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 wounded ; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Ames, Richard L., Montville, enl. Dec. 6, 1861 ; must, out of service, 1862. 
 Avery, Horace, Ledyard, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. aa vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 wounded ; must, out Aug. 11, 1866. 
 Ault, James S., Hartford, enl. Jan. 31, 1862; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 17, 1864; 
 
 wounded ; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Babcock, Wilson, Lyme, enl. Nov. 20, 1861; died June 30, 1862, at Camp 
 
 Parapet, La. 
 Ball, Oeplias, Ledyard, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; must, out under G. 0. No. 68, 
 
 series of 1862. 
 Beckwith, Halver A., Old Lyme, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disch. by civil au- 
 thority, Jan. 17, 1862. 
 Beebe, Alouzo H., Waterford, enl. Nov. 26, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 May 10, 1863. 
 Beebe, James M., New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disch. for disabilityi 
 
 March 9, 1863. 
 Beebe, Thomas C, Waterford, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 22, 
 
 1864; wounded; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Blodget, Frederick F., East Lyme, enl. Deo. 3, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 9, 1863. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 81 
 
 Biglan, Thomas, New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Bransfleld, Thomas, New London, enl. Dec. 19, 1861 ; re-eul. as vet Jan. 
 
 1, 1864 ; wounded ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Campbell, William, Plainfield, enl. Dec. 19, 1861 ; wounded ; disch. Dec. 
 
 18, 1864, term expired. 
 Chapel, Andrew M,, New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 
 
 1, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Chapel, Edwin F., Montville, enl. Dec. 12, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Oct. 
 
 27, 1862. 
 Ghappell, John F., New Loudon, enl. Nov. 25, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 
 
 17, 1864; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Chapman, John H., Waterford, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Conroy, Felix, Montville, enl. Dec. 7, 1861 ; re-eul. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 
 
 must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Came, John H., Now London, enl. Feb. 10, 1862 ; died May 28, 1862, at 
 
 New Orleans, La. 
 Daniels, Edward B., Old Lyme, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan, 1, 
 
 1864 : must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Daniels, Oliver, Hartford, enl. Nov. 23, 1861 ; must, out under G. 0. No. 
 
 58, series of 1862. 
 Darrow, John M., Waterford, enl. Dec. 7, 1861 ; drowned July 23, 1863, 
 
 at New Orleans, La. 
 Dart, Davis, Waterford, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 21, '63. 
 Dart, Benjamin F., Waterford, enl. Jan. 15, 1862; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 12, 1865, 
 Drummonds, William, Salem, enl. Nov. 19, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan, 1, 
 
 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Everson, Henry, Waterford, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; must, out Dec. 9, 1864. 
 Fernandas, Henry, New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861. 
 FaiTell, Lawrence P., Norwich, enl. Dec. 28, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 17, 
 
 1864. 
 Fetbereon, Bernard J., Waterford, enl. Nov. 25, 1861 ; wounded May 27, 
 
 1863; must, out Dec. 9, 1864. 
 Getchell, Franklin B., Montville, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Gallup, Elisha A., New London, enl. Dec. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 
 
 17, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Gilbert, Sylvester, Old Lyme, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; killed June 17, 1863, at 
 
 Port Hudson, La. 
 Hazard, Arnold W., New London, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 13, 1863. 
 Hempsted, George W., New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Oct. 27, 1862. 
 Holmes, Mortimer E., Waterford, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; re-enl. a£ vet. Jan. 22, 
 
 1864; wounded ; died Nov. 16, 1864. 
 Hull, William, New London, enl. Jan. 27, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 17, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Irish, Ezra, South Windsor, enl. Dec. 4, 1861 ; died March 9, 1862, at 
 
 Hartford, Conn. 
 Jeflrey, John M., Jr., New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; must, out under 
 
 G. 0. No, 58, series of 1862, 
 Jacobs, Henry, South Windsor, enl. Feb. 10, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. March 
 
 23, 1864: must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Keeny, Curtis, New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864 ; must, out .4ug. 12, 1866. 
 Knight, James C, New London, enl. Jan. 16, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 17, 1862. 
 Lorman, Peter, New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Jan. 29, 1863. 
 Lynch, Thomas, Montville, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 16, 1864. 
 Marvin, John, Boston, Mass., enl. Dec. 12, 1861; must, out under G. 0. 
 
 No. 58, series of 1862. 
 Mattler, Abram, East Hartford, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; died Aug. 26, 1862, at 
 
 Camp Parapet, La. 
 Miles, Eeuben, Hartford,'enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; died July 16, 1863, at Baton 
 
 Bouge, La. 
 McKelvle, Thomas, Enfield, enl. Deo. 31, 1861; re-enl. as vet.; wounded; 
 
 must, out Ang. 12, 1866. 
 McClellan, John, New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; died Oct. 26, 1862, at 
 
 Camp Kearney, La. 
 Nevins, Michael, Waterford, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 June 2, 1863. 
 Payne, Frederick C, New London, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 
 
 1, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 
 Perkins, Alfred, Boston, Mass., enl. Jan. 12, 1862; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1804 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Peabody, Charles H., Waterford, enl. Dec. 7, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Phillips, Andrew J., Waterford, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 22, 
 
 1864 ; wounded ; not taken up on roll. 
 Pilkington, Joseph, Warwick, B. I., enl. Dec. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 
 
 1, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Bathburn, Benjamin A., Lyme, enl. Dec. 19, 1861 ; disch. by civil au- 
 thority, Jan. 17, 1862. 
 Reynolds, .Tonathan, Montville, enl. Nov. 19, 1861; re-enl. as vet.; 
 
 wounded ; discli. for disability, March 10, 1865. 
 Eixford, Francis W., Hebron, enl. Dec. 27, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; disch, for disability, March 10, 1865, 
 Rogers, Francis C, W., New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1864 ; must, out Ang. 12, 1865. 
 Boath, Bela T., New London, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 1, 1864. 
 Schweikart, George, Hartford, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; died Nov. 11, 1862, at 
 
 Camp Kearney, La. 
 Shaw, George, New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug 12,1865. 
 Shaffer, Frank S,, New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Slate, Charles H., Old Lyme, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Slate, William C, Old Lyme, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864 ; wounded ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Smith, Joseph, Hartford, enl. Dec. 12, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864-, 
 
 disch. for disability, July 13, 1866. 
 Staplin, Enoch T,, New London, enl, Nov, 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; wounded; died April 29, 1865. 
 Smith, John, Manchester, enl. Feb. 10, 1862 ; died July 29, 1862, at Camp 
 
 Parapet, La. 
 Thayer, Fernando, Southbridge, Miss., enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; 
 
 wounded; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Treadway, Russell, Norwich, enl. Nov. 28, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; wounded ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 12, 1866 . 
 Turner, Henry, Ledyard, enl, Nov. 19, 1861. 
 Webber, Hendrick, New London, enl. Dec. 28,' 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; 
 
 wounded ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Warren, William E., East Lyme, enl. Jan. 16, 1862; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 
 
 22, 1864; must, out Aug, 12, 1866, 
 Warren, Lester R,, Killingly, enl, Dec, 27, 1861 ; trans, to Vet. Res. 
 
 Corps, April 30, 1864. 
 Watroua, Aaron D., Waterford, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; 
 
 wounded; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Weaver, Jared, Plainfteld, enl. Dec. 19, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1,1864; 
 
 must, out Aug, 12, 1865, 
 Williamson, William N,, Hartford, enl, Deo, 12, 1861; disch. for disa- 
 bility, April 7, 1862. 
 Winthrop, Francis B., New London, enl. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Oct. 27, 1862. 
 
 Recruits for Company D. 
 Church, Erskine N., enl. June 26, 1862. 
 Courtney, Dennis, enl. Jan. 26, 1862 ; disch. for disability. 
 Culbrite, George, Berlin, enl. Feb. 18, 1864 ; accidentally shot, Feb. 2, 
 
 1865, at Summit Point. 
 Cartwright, Samuel, Berlin, enl. Feb. 18, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865, 
 
 at Savannah, Ga. 
 Freyer, C, enl. March 21, 1864. 
 
 Germaiii, Charles, enl. July 31, 1862; disch. for disability, July 3, 1863. 
 Getclii-ll, George W., enl. Feb. 14, 1862; disch. Feb. 16,1866, term ex- 
 pired. 
 Getchell, William H., Waterford, enl. Feb. 15, 1862; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 
 
 17, 1864; must out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Getchell, James B., New London, enl. Nov. 11, 1863 ; died July 7, 1865, 
 
 at Savannah, Ga. 
 Goodnough, Elbert L., Torrington, enl. Aug. 18, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 12, 1865, at Savannah, Ga. 
 Hahn, George, enl. May 23, 1862. 
 Helvig, Henry, enl. May 29, 1862. 
 
 James, Edward N., enl. Feb. 22, 1862; disch. Feb. 22, 1865, term expired. 
 Johnson, George, Bridgeport, enl. Jan. 20, 1864 ; must out Aug. 12, 1865, 
 
 at Savannah, Ga. 
 Kohler, George, enl. May 23, 1862 ; disch. May 21, 1866, at Brightwood, 
 
 D. C. 
 
82 
 
 HISTOEY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Meiie, Sevor, enl. May 24, 1862. 
 
 Provost, Sftmuel, enl. June 23, 1862 ; disch. for diaability, June 5, 1863. 
 Stoll, Ferdinand, enl. May 23, 1862; killed Oct. 19, 1864, in action. 
 Smith, Simeon, New Londou. enl. March 31, 1864; must, out Aug. 12, 
 
 1865, at Savannah, Ga. 
 Thomas, Henry, enl. May 23, 1862. 
 
 COMPANY K. 
 
 Edward K. Abbott, capt., Norwich, enl. Jan. 1, 1862 ; resigned Aug. 26, 
 
 1862. 
 James D. Koach, first lieut., Stonlngton, enl. Jan. 1, 1862; pro. capt; 
 
 wounded ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Stanton Allyn, second lieut., Stonington, enl. Jan. 1, 1862; died Aug. 28, 
 
 1863, at Brashear City, Lb. 
 William B.Lucas, sergt., Stonington, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet.; 
 
 trans, to Co. E ; captured Oct. 19, 1864. 
 Sylvester W. Bice, sergt., Windham, enl. Bee. 19, 1861 ; disch. Feb. 14, 
 
 .1873. 
 George W. Stedman, sergt., Stonington, enl. Dec. 12, 1861; pro. first 
 
 lieut. ; wounded ; killed in action Sept. 19, 1864. 
 Heni-y C. Bliss, sergt., Sprague, enl. Dec. 6, 1861. 
 Henry Jones, sergt., Shonedale, Pa., enl. Dec, 3, 1861. ~ — ^ ^i 
 
 e:y A. Lamphere, Corp., Preston, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; died Dec. 1, 1862, 
 It Jefferson City, La. ^ — ^ 
 
 Stuart G. Lewis, Corp., Westerly, K. I., enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; disch, Sept. 11, 
 
 1862. 
 Amos Bray, Corp., North Stonington, enl. Dec. 3, 1861; re-enl, aavet,; 
 
 killed in action Oct, 19, 1864, 
 James Roach, corp,, Stonington, enl. Dec. 4, 1861 ; re-enl. aa vet. ; trans. 
 
 to Co. F; must, out Aug, 12, 1866. 
 Sylvius M. Woodward, corp., Canterbury, enl. Dec. 7, 1861 ; disch. for 
 
 disability, Jan. 19, 1863. 
 Charles T, McCracken, corp,, Ledyard, enl. Dec. 5, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; 
 
 trans, to Co. B ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Frederick N. Ball, Corp., Ledyard, enl. Dec. 3, 1861; wounded; must. 
 
 out Dec. 2, 1864, at Hartford, Conn. 
 William Harvey (second), Corp., Plainfield, enl. Dec, 12, 1861 ; disch. for 
 
 disability, Nov. 30, 1863. 
 Theodore R. Carroll, musician, Norwich, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; re-enl. as 
 
 vet. ; trans, to Co. E ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865, 
 Gurdon Green, musician, Stonington, enl, Dec, 27, 1861 ; disch, for dis- 
 ability, Feb, 17, 1862, 
 Thomas J, Clarke, wagoner, Ledyard, Dec, 3, 1861 ; re-enl, aa vet, ; died 
 
 Dec, 24, 1864, at Salisbury, N, 0, 
 Adams, William, Norwich, enl, Dec, 3, 1861, 
 Avery, Alexander W,, Ledyard, enl, Dec. 3, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; died 
 
 April 22, 1864. 
 Allen, William W., Enfleld, enl. Feb. 10, 1862 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 27, 1863. 
 Baker, Reuben W., Thompson, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. ; died 
 
 April 16, 1864. 
 Baker, Lovell, Canterbury, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; died at New Orleans, La. 
 Baker, Horace, Canterbury, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; died Feb. 5, 1862, at Hart- 
 ford, Conn. 
 Baldwin, George, Canterbury, enl. Jan. 15, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 27, 1863. 
 Ball, John G., Ledyard, enl. Dec. 3, 1861; wounded Sept. 19, and killed 
 
 Oct. 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek. 
 Beaumont, Francis, Wallingford, enl. Dec. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans. 
 
 to Co. B; wounded ; disch. for disability, July 14, 1865. 
 Barnes, Patrick, Stonington, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to 
 
 Co. B ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Belden, Directus F., Groton, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; died Sept. 10, 1862, at 
 
 Camp Parapet. 
 Bicknell, Charles W., Stonington, enl, Jan. 8, 1862 ; killed Oct. 27, 1862, 
 
 at Georgia Landing, La. 
 Brett, Patrick, Lisbon, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; re-enl. aa vet, ; trans, to Co, B; 
 
 must, out Aug, 12, 1865, 
 Burgoyne, Cornelius, Stonington, enl, Dec, 3, 1861 ; re-enl, as vet. ; trans. 
 
 toCo. B; died Jan. 8, 1865. 
 Burgoyne, Walter, Norwich, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to 
 
 Co, B ; died Feb, 6, 1865, 
 Bonney, John, Hartford, enl. Deo. 21, 1861; died Sept. 16, 1862, at Camp 
 
 Parapet, La. 
 Brett, James, Lisbon, enl. Jan. 15, 1862 ; disch. for disability, March 9, 
 
 1863. 
 
 Butterworth, William, Stonington, enl. Jan. 16, 1862; re-enl. as vet; 
 
 trans, to Co. B ; wounded ; disch. for disability, July 12, 1866. 
 Ball, Grosvenor, Canterbury, enl. Jan. 31, 1862; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to 
 
 Co. B ; wounded ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Baker, Edward, Canterbury, enl. Jan. 31, 1862 ; died May 8, 1862, at New 
 
 Orleans. 
 Chapman, Noah W., Groton, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to 
 
 Co. B. 
 Chapman, Ori E,, Stonington, enl, Jan, 8, 1862 ; re-enl, as vet, ; trans, to 
 
 Co. B; died April 7, 1866. 
 Clark, Levi A., Stonington, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to Co. 
 
 B; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Clark, Edwin, Ledyard, enl. Jan. 16, 1862 ; disch. for disability, April 11, 
 
 1862. 
 Cobberly, Edward, Windsor Locks, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; killed June 14, 1863, 
 
 at Port Hudson. 
 Comstock, Charles H., Stonington, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; disch. for diaability, 
 
 Jan, 19,1863. 
 Congdon, Edmund, Stonington, enl. Dec. 4, 1861 ; died Aug. 7, 1863, of 
 
 wounds, at New Orleans. 
 Crowley, James, Stonington, enl. Jan. 16, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet, ; trans, to 
 
 Co. B; wounded; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Costello, Thomas, East Windsor, enl. Feb. 15, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet.; trans. 
 
 to Co. B ; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps ; disch. Sept. 7, 1866. 
 Darrow, Eodman C, New London, enl, Dec, 3, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet, ; trans, 
 
 to Co, B ; must, out Aug, 12, 1865. 
 Davis, Nathan, Stonington, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; died Jan. 29, 1862, at Hart- 
 ford. 
 Deming, Fielden L., Somers, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to 
 
 Co. B ; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Edwards, George W., North Stonington, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 trans, to Co. B ; wounded ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Fitzgerald, George, Stonington, enl, Dec, 3, 1861; captured Oct, 19, 1864; 
 
 not taken up Deo, 31, 1864, 
 Flynn, Martin, Providence, H, I,, enl. Dec. 12, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; 
 
 trans, to Co. B; wounded; must, out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Fiah, Andrew J., East Windsor, enl. Feb. 10, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans. 
 
 to Co. B ; must, out Aug, 12, 1866. 
 Harney, William (1st), Plainfield, enl. Dec. 12, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan.l, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug, 12, 1866. 
 Horan, John, Windham, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; disch. Jan. 3, 1862. 
 Harvey, James, Windham, enl. Jan. 28, 1862 ; disch, for disability, July 
 ^-_,J6, 1862. 
 
 Ingram, Wm., Groton, enl. Deo. 3,1861; disch. for disability, April 2, '63. 
 Kelley, Grohen, Montville, enl. Dec. 19, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 18, 1862. 
 Larkum, Edward S., Hartford, enl. Dec, 31, 1861 ; not taken up on rolls 
 
 Dec. 31, 1864, afterconsolidation. 
 Lever, Richard, Stonington, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; disch. for disability, April 
 
 11,1862. 
 Lloyd, Henry, Hartford, enl. Jan. 8, 1862; killed May 29, 1863, at Port 
 
 Hudson, La. 
 Loomis, Daniel B,, Preston, enl, Jan. 16, 1862; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to 
 
 Co. B. 
 Lucy, John, Stonington, enl, Dec. 3, 1861 ; died Aug. 28, 1863, at Brashear 
 
 City, La. 
 Loomis, Chester H., Manchester, enl. Jan. 31, 1862 ; re-enl. aa vet. ; trans. 
 
 to Co. B. 
 Lord, Henry L., Bast Windsor, enl. Feb. 10, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans. 
 
 to Co. B ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Mansfield, Patrick, New London, enl. Jan. 8, 1862 ; re-enl. aa vet.; trans. 
 
 to Co. B ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 McArdle, Felix, Stonington, enl. Dec. 12, 1861 ; reenl. as vet.; trans, to 
 
 Co, B; died Dec, 1, 1864, at Salisbury, 
 McColligan, Hugh, Stonington, enl, Dec. 12, 1861 ; disch. Dec. 12, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 McCoy, Michael, Montville, enl. Dec. 19, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864 ; 
 
 killed in action Sept. 19, 1864. 
 McKnight, William, Norwich, enl. Dec. 3, 1861; died Aug. 18, 1863, at 
 
 Brashear City, La. 
 MofBt, John S., Thompson, enl. Deo. 7, 1861 ; died June 26, 1863, at New 
 
 Orleans, La. 
 Murphy, John, Stonington, enl. Jan. 16, 1862 ; re-eul. aa vet. ; trans, to 
 
 Co. B ; died April 5, 1866. 
 Nixon, Thomas N., Coventry, enl. Dec. 12, 1861 ; died July 22, 1862, at 
 
 CarroUton, La. 
 Peckbam, Adin R., Ledyard, enl. Dec. 10, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 8, 1864. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 83 
 
 Perkins, Chas. L., Ledyard, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; died Sept. 1, 1862, at Camp 
 
 Parapet, La. 
 Perliins, Albert M., Ledyard, enl. Jan. 16, 1862; re-enl. as yet.; trans, to 
 
 Co. B ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Pinney, Henry B., Stonington, enl. Dec. 27, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans. 
 
 to Co. B ; wounded ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Pratt, Gurdon, Preston, enl. Jan. 8, 1862; died Sept. 8, 1862, at Camp 
 
 Parapet, La. 
 Pease, James M., Enfield, enl. Jan. 31, 1862; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 12, 1865. 
 Pasco, Julius N., East "Windsor, enl. Feb. 10, 1862; re-enl. as vet.; trans. 
 
 to Co. B ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Ryan, Michael, Stonington, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; wounded Sept. 19, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out Dec. 2, 1864. 
 ■Reynolds, Wm. H., Stonington, enl. Jan. 21, 1862 ; disch. Jan. 20, 1865, 
 
 term expired. 
 Sanford, Samuel J., Preston, enl. Deo. 4, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to 
 
 Co. F ; must, out July 8, 1866. 
 Scott, William, Stonington, enl. Deo. 12, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; killed May 
 
 5, 1864, on railroad at Kew Haven. 
 Sharp, Wm., Hartford, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to Co. P. 
 Sisson, Chas. E., Westerly, K. I., enl. Dec. 12, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans. 
 
 to Co. P; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Smith, John C, North Stonington, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; died March 4, 1862, 
 
 at Hartford. 
 Smiley, Lyman, Norwich, enl. Dec. 19, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 
 
 11, 1862. 
 Stoddard, Orriu E., Ledyard, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet.; dropped 
 
 from the rolls Dec. 31, 1864. 
 Sullivan, Daniel, Windham, enl. Dec. 28, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to 
 
 Co. F ; must, out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Sherman, Charles W., Tolland, enl. Jan. 31, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet.; killed 
 
 in action Oct. 19, 1864. 
 Taylor, Stephen, Farmington, enl. Jan. 15, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 18, 1862, 
 
 under G. 0. No. 58, series of 1862. 
 Thomas, James, Thompson, enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans, to 
 
 Co. F ; wounded ; must, out Aug. 12, 1^65. 
 Wells, John W., Norwich, enl. Dec. 7, 1861; disch. for disability, Aug. 
 
 11, 1862. 
 Whalan, William, Clinton, Mass., enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. ; trans. 
 
 to Co. F ; died Nov. 16, 1864. 
 Wicks, Samuel J., Vernon, enl. Jan. 16, 1862; disch. for disability, July 
 
 28,1862. 
 Whipple, Benton J., East Windsor, enl. Feb. 15, 1862; re-enl. as vet.; 
 
 trans, to Co. F; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps; must, out July 21, 1865. 
 
 Recetjits fob Company K. 
 Conklin, Samuel, Bridgeport, enl. March 26, 1864 ; trans, to Co. B. 
 Jennings, William, Preston, enl. Aug. 13, 1864; trans, to Co. B; died 
 
 Nov. 17, 1864, at Salisbury. 
 Long, Martin, enl. May 31, 1862 ; trans, to Co. B ; disch. May 22, 1866, 
 
 at Washington, D. C. 
 McGulre, .Tames, enl. Feb. 22, 1862 ; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 29, 1864; must. 
 
 out July 8, 1866. 
 Powers, Patrick, Bridgeport, enl. Feb. 20, 1864; trans, to Co. B; disch. 
 
 for disability, June 19, 1865. 
 Parker, Smith S., New Haven, enl. March 7, 1864 ; trans, to Co. B ; must. 
 
 out Aug. 12, 1865. 
 Roberts, Charles, Hartford, enl. Feb. 19, 1864; trans, to Co. B. 
 Sobbe, Theodore, enl. May 31,1862; trans, to Co. P; disch. May 21,1865. 
 Smith, John M., Marlborough, enl. Dec. 2, 1863 ; trans, to Co. F ; disch. 
 
 for disability, April 29, 1866. 
 Sweeney, Thomas, enl. May 20, 1862; disch. for disability, Jan. 13, 1865. 
 Smith, Thomas, Middletown, enl. March 7, 1864; trans, to Co. F; must. 
 
 out Aug. 12, 1866. 
 Sweeney, John, Hartford, enl. March 14, 1864 ; trans, to Co. F. 
 Terhune, John, Hartford, enl. March 14, 1864; trans, to Co. F; died 
 
 March 20, 1865, at Hartford. 
 
 The Thirteenth Regiment was organized in No- 
 vember, 1861, and mustered into the service with 
 Henry W. Birge as colonel, and Alexander Warner 
 as lieutenant-colonel. A portion of two companies 
 was raised in this county. 
 
 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, Opequan, 
 Winchester, and Fisher's Hill. It was mustered out 
 April 25, 1866, and paid off May 5th following, having 
 been in the service four years and six months. 
 
 First Regiment Heavy Artillery. — This regiment 
 was organized as the Fourth Regiment Infantry. It 
 was mustered into the service in the spring of 1861, 
 changed to heavy artillery Jan. 2, 1862, and mustered 
 out Sept. 25, 1865. Levi Woodhouse, of Hartford, was 
 colonel, and Henry W. Birge, of Norwich, major. 
 
 There was one company, D, principally from this 
 county. 
 
 Joseph C. Dunford, capt.. New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; res. Oct. 26, 
 1861. 
 
 George B. Cook, first lieut.. New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; pro. maj. 
 Jan. 22, 1863 ; res. May 4, 1865. 
 
 Thomas J. Mills, second lieut., New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; pro. first 
 lieut. ; res. Dec. 27, 1861. 
 
 William H. Sisson, eergt., Pawcatuck, enl. May 22, 1861; re-enl. as vet. 
 Dec. 28, 186.? ; must, out Sept. 26, 1865, at Washington. 
 
 George T. Holmes, sergt.. New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. May 
 21, 1864, term expired. 
 
 Edward J. Collier, sergt.. New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Feb. 4, 1864, at Fort Richardson. 
 
 James Brainard, sergt.. New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 Dec. 28, 1863 ; must, out Sept. 26, 1866, at Washington. 
 
 George Dimock, sergt., New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; appointed brev. 
 maj.; must, out Sept. 25, 1865, at Washington. 
 
 Charles H. Baldwin, Corp., New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. as 
 vet. Nov. 16, 1863 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1866, at Washington. 
 
 John C. Davis, Corp., New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. as veteran. 
 
 Jobu A. Haskins, Corp., New London, enl. May 22, 1861; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Jan. 29. 1863, at Fort Richardson. 
 
 Edward Bailey, Corp., Groton, enl. May 22, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 Dec. 16, 1861, at Fort Richardson. 
 
 Henry A. Conant, Corp., New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. May 21, 
 1864, t«rm expired. 
 
 James Jeffrey, Corp., New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. for disabil- 
 ity, Jan. 15, 1864, at Fort Richardson. 
 
 John Odell, Corp., New London, enl. May 22, 1861; pro. first lieut.; 
 killed March 26, 1866, at Petersburg. 
 
 Elisha B. Fielding, Corp., Marlborough, enl. May 22, 1861; disch. for 
 disability, Nov. 17, 1861, at Fort Richardson. 
 
 William H. Bell, musician, New Loudon, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. for 
 disability, Sept. 21, 1861, at Darnstown. 
 
 Enoch Mosber, musician, Montyille, enl. May 22, 1861. 
 
 William B. Chesboro, wagoner, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 Dec. 16, 1861, at Fort Richardson. 
 
 Avery, Charles C, New London, enl. May 22, 1861. 
 
 Anthony, Emanuel, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Nov. 
 11, 1863 ; wounded; disch. for disability, June 24, 1865. 
 
 Aldrich, George, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 Dec. 16, 1861, at Fort Richardson. 
 
 Bacon, Isaac B., enl. May 22, 1861; disch. for disability, Nov. 17, 1861, at 
 Fort Richardson. 
 
 Bushnell, Frederick, enl. June 6, 1861 ; died Jan. 21, 1862, at Fort Rich- 
 ardson. 
 
 Barry, John, Westerly, R. I., enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Nov. 
 17, 1861, at Fort Richardson. 
 
 Brown, Joseph, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 28, 
 1863. 
 
84 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Butler, Richard, New London, enl. May 22, 1861. 
 
 Backus, Edmond, New London, enl. May 22, 1861; diach. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 17, 1861, at Fort Eichardaon. 
 Chapman, Cheater A., Montville, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. aa vet. Nov. 
 
 3, 1863 ; muBt. ont Oct. 2, 1865, at New Haven. 
 Chapman, Martin, Waterford, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-eol. aa vet. ; died 
 
 April 16. 1864. 
 Dimock, William H., New London, enl. May 22, 1861; diach. May 21, 
 
 1864, term expired. 
 Douglass, Daniel, Old Lyme, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864. 
 DeWolf, William H., Old Lyme, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. aa vet. Deo. 
 
 1, 1863. 
 Dogity, James, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; diach. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 17, 1861 , at Fort Richardson, 
 Daniels, Henry W., New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Nov. 
 
 3, 1863; must, out Sept. 25, 1865, at Washington. 
 Edwarda, Nathan, Lyme, enl. May 22, 1861 ; diach. May 21, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Frink, Henry, enl. May 22, 1861; disch. for disability, Nov. 17, 1861, at 
 
 Fort Richardson. 
 Goodell, Harris W,, East Lyme, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. May 21, 1864. 
 Goldsmith, Daniel, Waterford, enl. May 22, 1861. 
 Gough, Thomaa, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; diach. for diaability, 
 
 Nov. 18, 1861, at Fort Richardson, Va. 
 Harding, Wm. H., New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. aa vet. Nov, 
 
 3, 1863 ; must, ont Sept. 25, 1866, at Washington. 
 Hartlon, Henry, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 10, 
 
 1863 ; trans, to U.S.N., April 9, 1864. 
 'Jerome, Selden, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; diach. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 23, 1861, at Fort Richardson, Va. 
 Johnaon, Perry B., Waterford, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Sept. 24, 1862. 
 James, John B., Groton, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 28, 1863 ; 
 
 must, ont Sept. 25, 1865, at Washington. 
 Kelsey, Frederick S., enl, June 6, 1861; re-enl, Nov. 11, 1863; disch. 
 
 Oct, 23, 1865, at Concord, N. H. 
 McGeary, Michael, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. May 21, 
 
 1864, term expired. 
 Mead, Francis D., New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. May 21, 1864' 
 
 term expired. 
 Nelaon, George 0., New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; diach. May 21,1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Pariah, William W., Norwich, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. May 21, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Perkins, James M., Lyme, enl. May 22,1861. 
 Perkina, Thomas D., New London, enl. May 22, 1861; died July 10, 
 
 1862, at Fortress Monroe, Va. 
 Eathburn, Blisha, Groton, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. aa vet. ; trans, to 
 
 U.S.N., April 9, 1864. 
 Ryan, John, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; diach. May 21, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Ryan, Edward, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. May 21, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Ryan, Wm. H., New London, enl. May 22, 1861. 
 Roberts, David, East Lyme, enl. May 22, 1861 ; disch. May 21, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Rockwell, Merritt, Voluntown, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Nov. 3 
 
 1863; must, out Sept. 26, 1866, at Waahington. 
 Eaybold, Joseph, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Dec. 28 
 
 1863 ; muat, out Sept. 26, 1866, at Washington. 
 Sheridan, Wm,, New London, enl. May 22, 1861; disch. May 21, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Shone, Daniel, New London, enl. May 22, 1861 ; re-enl. vet. Nov. 16, 
 
 1863 : must, out Sept. 26, 1865, at Waahington. 
 Sheldon, George W., Norwich, enl. May 22, 1861 ; diach. May 21, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Slewman, Wm., Lyme, enl. May 22, 1861 ; diach. for diaability, Dec. 16, 
 
 1861, at Fort Richardson. 
 Toft, Luther, Norwich, enl. May 22, 1861. 
 White, John, New London, enl. May 22, 1861; diach. May 21, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Wing, John, Pawcatnck, enl. May 22, 1801 ; disch. May 21, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Welch, John, New London, enl. May 22, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 4, 
 
 1864; must, out Sept. 26, 1865, at Waahington. 
 Wall, Michael, New London, enl. May 22, 1861. 
 
 The First Connecticut Cavalry was originally a 
 battalion of four companies, and was recruited, one 
 company from each congressional district, in the fall 
 of 1861. 
 
 The battalion left West Meriden, Conn., for Wheel- 
 ing, Va., on the 20th day of February, 1862, numbering 
 three hundred and forty-six officers and men. Ee- 
 maining in camp of instruction at Wheeling until 
 March 27th, they proceeded to Moorefield, in West- 
 ern Virginia, and immediately entered upon the ar- 
 duous labors peculiar to their branch of the service. 
 
 The battalion, under Maj. Lyon, as a part of Gen. 
 Schenck's brigade, took part in the battle of McDow- 
 ell, May 8th, between the forces of Gens. Schenck 
 and Milroy and the rebel army under Gen. Jacksou 
 and also in the operations which terminated in the 
 battle of Franklin, May 11 and 12, 1862. 
 
 The battalion likewise served in the army of Gen. 
 Fremont, then in command of the Mountain Depart- 
 ment, in his celebrated forced march across the moun- 
 tains into the Shenandoah Valley to the relief of 
 Gen. Banks, participating, while in the pursuit of 
 Jackson's force up the valley, in the battles of Har- 
 risonburg, June 6th, Cross Keys, June 8th, and Port 
 Kepublic, June 9th. 
 
 They were subsequently attached to Gen. Stahl's 
 brigade. First Army Corps, under Maj. -Gen. Sigel, 
 and took part in the arduous operations of the Army 
 of Virginia under Gen. Pope, participating in the 
 various battles along the Rapidan and the Eappahan- 
 nock, and at Bull Eun and Chantilly. 
 
 After nearly a year of constant activity, the bat- 
 talion was assigned to duty as provost-guard in the 
 city of Baltimore, Md., and while on this duty was 
 increased to a full regiment of twelve companies. 
 
 In February, 1863, the regiment was attached to 
 the Army of the Potomac, and took an active part in 
 all its movements until August 8, 1864, when it was 
 transferred to the Army of the Shenandoah. 
 
 History alone can do full justice to the brave men 
 who composed this regiment. Suffice it to say that 
 the First Connecticut Cavalry, while under Gen. 
 Sheridan, maintained a reputation for fidelity and 
 bravery second to no other cavalry regiment. 
 
 The regiment continued in service under Cols. Ives 
 and Whitaker until Aug. 2, 1865, performing gallant 
 service, gaining a well-merited reputation, and doing 
 honor to the State that sent it into the field. 
 
 The regiment was mustered out at Washington, 
 D. C, Aug. 2, 1865, and left that city Aug. 8d for 
 New Haven, Conn., to be finally discharged. Upon 
 the request of Col. Ives, the regiment were permitted 
 to take their horses with them to the State, many of 
 the men being desirous of purchasing them ; such a 
 favor was given to no other cavalry regiment. 
 
 On the 17th and 18th of August all the officers 
 and men received their pay and final discharges. 
 
 The following are some of the engagements in 
 which the regiment participated : 
 
MILITAKY HISTORY. 
 
 85 
 
 McDowell, Va., May 8, 1862; Franklin, Va., May 
 11 and 12, 1862 ; Strasburg, Va., June 1, 1862 ; Har- 
 risonburg, Va., June 6, 1862 ; Cross Keys, Va., June 
 8, 1862; Port Eepublic, Va., June 9, 1862; Bolivar 
 Heights, Va., July 14, 1862; Waterford, Va., Aug. 
 7, 1863 ; Craig's Church, Va., May 6, 1864 ; Spottsyl- 
 vania Court-House, Va., May 8, 1864; Meadow 
 Bridge, Va., May 12, 1864; Hanover Court-House, 
 Va., May 81, 1864; Ashland, Va., June 1, 1864; 
 near Old Church Tavern, Va., June 10, 1864; in the 
 field, Va., June 15 to June 28, 1864; Ream's Sta- 
 tion, Va., June 29, 1864; Winchester, Va., Aug. 16, 
 1864; near Kearneysville, Va., Aug. 25, 1864; Front 
 Eoyal, Va., Sept. 21, 1864; Cedar Run Church, Va., 
 Oct. 17, 1864 ; Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864 ; near 
 Woodstock, Va., Nov. 20, 1864; Waynesboro', Va., 
 March 2, 1865; Ashland, Va., March 14, 1865; Five 
 Forks, Va., April 1, 1865 ; Sweat- House Creek, Va., 
 April 3, 1865 ; Harper's Farm, Va., April 6, 1865. 
 
 The following are the casualties : Killed in action, 
 24; died of wounds, 8; died of disease, 125; dis- 
 charged prior to muster out of regiment, 436 ; missing 
 at muster out of regiment, 59. Total, 652. 
 Company C was from this county. 
 
 William S, Fish, capt, Stoningtoii, enl. Nov. 26, 1861 ; pro. col. ; dis- 
 missed April 21, 1864. 
 Charles P. Williams, Jr., first lieut,, Stonington, enl. Nov. 26, 1861 ; died 
 
 Dec. 2, 1861, Chicago, 111. 
 Henry W. Burr, second lieut., Colchester, enl. Nov. 26, 1861; pro. Ist 
 
 lieut. ; resigned May 10, 1862. 
 William T. Cook, qr.-mr. sergt., Stonington, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; pro. 1st 
 
 lieut. ; must, out Oct, 25, 1864 ; term expired. 
 Charles H. Briggs, &ergt., New London, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; wounded June 
 
 1, 1864 ; pro. capt ; disch. as 1st lieut. Jan. 20, 1865. 
 Nathaniel B. Freeman, sergt., Groton, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch, for disar 
 
 bility, Oct. 20, 1862. 
 Edwin W. French, sergt., Stonington, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; pro, capt, ; must, 
 
 out Oct, 26, 1864, term expired, 
 Martnrin B, Waldo, sergt., New London, enl, Oct, 26, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 26, 
 
 1864, term expired. 
 Joseph Backus, sergt., Hebron, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; pro. capt. ; killed 
 
 June 10, 1864, near Old Church, Va. 
 George H. Lord, Corp., Stonington, enl, Oct, 26,1861; disch, Oct, 27, 1864. 
 Horace H, Gore, Corp., Preston, enl. Oct. 26, 1861; wounded; pro. 2d 
 
 lieut. ; disch., disabilit.v, March 30, 1864. 
 John G, Williams, corp., Stonington, enl, Oct, 26, 1861 ; disch, Oct. 27, 
 
 1864 ; term expired. 
 William 0. Harris, corp,, Stonington, enl, Oct, 26, 1861 ; pro, qr,-mr, ; 
 
 must, out Oct. 26, 1864, term expired. 
 Levi E. Tyler, corp,, Preston, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ^p^o. 2d lieut. ; re-enl, as 
 
 vet. Dec. 17, 1863; disch. May 5, 1866. 
 Daniel F. Crocker, corp., New London, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 2, 1865, Washington, D. C. ; absent. 
 George A. Martin, Corp., New London, enl. Nov. 14, 1861; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Oct. 26, 1862. 
 Ferdinand Brown, corp., Ledyard, enl, Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 27, 
 
 1864, term expired. 
 William 0. Loomis, musician, Colchester, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; hon. disch. 
 
 0«t. 8, 1862. 
 Stephen G. Thatcher, musician, Waterford, enl. Nov. 2, 1861 ; died Feb. 
 
 7, 1862, Meriden, Conn. 
 William E. Chapman, farrier, Colchester, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch. for 
 
 disability, Dec. 3, 1862. 
 Samuel S. Whipple, farrier, Preston, enl. Nov. 2, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Dec. 17, 1863 ; killed June 1, 1864, Ashland, Va. 
 David W. Knowles, saddler, Danbury, enl. Dec. 9, 1861 ; disch. Jan. 23, 
 
 1863 ; enl. as hosp. steward, U.S.A. 
 John Lynch, wagoner. New Haven, enl. Nov. 23, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Jan. 4, 1864; must, out Aug. 2, 1865, Washington, D. 0. 
 
 Atkinson, Isaac, Meriden, enl. Nov. 14, 1861 ; disch. Nov. 16, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Atkinson, Johnson, Meriden, enl. Dec. 6, 1861; must, out Aug. 2, 1865, 
 
 Washington, D. C. ; absent. 
 Bentley, John, Stonington, enl. Oct. 26, 1861. 
 Bogue, Comfort H., Bridgeport, enl. Oct. 26,1861; disch. Oct. 27, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Brown, Ralph E., Preston, enl. Oct, 26, 1861 ; disch, Oct. 27, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Braman, George, Stonington, enl. Nov. 14, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 13, 1862. 
 Brown, Blias S., Ledyard, enl. Nov. 14, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 17, 1863; 
 
 pro. Ist lieut.; must, out Aug. 2, 1865, Washington, D. C. 
 Brown, Daniel H., Ledyard, enl. Nov. 14, 1861 ; disch. Nov. 2, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Bliven, John H., Stonington, enl. Nov. 14, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan, 1, 
 
 1864 ; must, out Aug, 2, 1866, Washington, D, C, 
 Bliven, Isaac T,, Stonington, Nov, 14, 1861 ; died Sept, 13, 1862, Philadel- 
 phia, Pa. 
 Bennett, Henry D., Stonington, enl. Nov. 14, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 4, 
 
 1864 ; died Feb. 8, 1865, Frederick, Md. 
 Burnham, Alfred V., Stonington, enl. Nov. 25, 1861 ; pro. Ist lieut. ; hon. 
 
 disch. Nov. 14, 1864. 
 Brackett, Joseph M., North Stonington, enl. Dec. 6, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Dec, 17, 1863; must, out Aug. 2, 1866, Washington, D. C. 
 Banks, Horatio S., Bridgeport, enl. Nov. 2, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 4, 
 
 1864; must, out June 19, 1865. 
 Bradley, James, Preston, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; reenl. as vet. Dec. 17, 1863 ; 
 
 pro. 2d lieut. ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Chapman, George N., North Stonington, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 27, 
 
 1864, term expired. 
 Crandall, Kobert B., Stonington, enl, Oct, 26, 1861 ; died Mai-ch 20, 1863, 
 
 Baltimore, Md, 
 Cranker, Joseph, New London, enl. Oct. 26, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 13, 1862. 
 Carlisle, Frederick, Waterbury, enl. Nov. 26, 1861 ; disch., term expired. 
 Carroll, Timothy, Norwich, enl. Nov. 2,1861; must, out Aug. 2,1865, 
 
 Washington, D. C. ; absent. 
 Campion, William, Naugatuck, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 19, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug, 2, 1866, Washington, D. C. 
 Gushing, Frederick, Bridgeport, enl. Dec. 26, 1861; disch. Sept. 16, 1862, 
 
 Fort McHenry. 
 Doane, Richard H., Colchester, enl. Oct. 26, 1861; trans, to Inv. Corp., 
 
 July 1, 1863. 
 Degarmo, William, Bridgeport, enl. Nov. 2,1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 3, 1862. 
 Eggleeton, James L., Stonington, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 27, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Early, Edward, Wallingford, enl. Nov. 23, 1861 ; disch. to enl. in U.S.A., 
 
 Nov. 10, 1862. 
 Fowler, Gilbert, Jr., Groton, enl. Ocjt. 26, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 17, 
 
 1863 ; must out Aug. 2, 1866, Washington, D. C. 
 Fish, George A., Groton, enl. Nov. 14, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 17, 1863 j 
 
 died of wounds April 5, 1864. 
 Fox, Albert M., Colchester, enl. Nov. 23, 18C1 ; killed in action near 
 
 Waterford, Va., Aug. 1, 1863. 
 Havens, William H., Montville, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 1, 
 
 1864; pro. 2d lieut. ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Havens, George, New London, enl. Nov. 26, 1861 ; disch. Nov. 22, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Irish, John, Preston, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 26, 1864, term ex- 
 pired. 
 Irish, Henry C, Preston, enl. Oct. 26, 1S61 ; disch. Oct. 27, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Knowles, James M., enl. Dec. 9, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Dec. 17, 1863; pro. 
 
 2d lieut. ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Latimer, Edward H., Montville, enl. Oct. 26,1861; pro. 2d lieut; died 
 
 Feb. 14, 1864. 
 Leonard, Levi, Meriden, enl. Nov. 23, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 19, 1864; 
 
 must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Mosier, Aaron C, Bozrah, enl. Nov. 23, 1861; must out Aug. 2,1865, 
 
 Washington, D. C. ; absent. 
 Millerick, John, Portland, enl. Dec. 6, 1861 ; disch., term expired. 
 Moses, William A., New Hartford, enl. Nov. 14, 1861; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Oct 7, 1862. 
 Northridge, George W., Hartford, enl. Oct 26, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 21,1862. 
 
86 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Perry, Eugene, New London, enl. Nov. 14, 1861 ; disch. Nov. 2, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Peck, Matthew, New Britain, enl. Dec. 8, 1861 ; disch. Nov. 16, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Koss, Francis, Waterford, enl. Nov. 2, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 2T, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Eobinson, George L., Bridgeport, enl. Nov. 2, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 1, 1862. 
 Eobinson, Frederick S., enl. Dec. 7, 1861; re-enl. as vet. Jan. 4, 1864; 
 
 mnst. out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Saunders, Charles B., Colchester, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 2Y, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Spicer, Charles H., Groton, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch. Nov. 2, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Stebbins, Joseph W., East Lyme, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 6, 1863, 
 
 at Fort McHenry. 
 Sheffield, Charles W., Stonington, enl. Dec. 6, 1861 ; disch. Nov. 2, 1864, 
 
 term expired. 
 Soman, Peter, Bridgeport, enl. Nov. 21, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. Feb. 24, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 2, 186B. 
 Tinker, Henry B., Montville, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 27, 1864, term 
 
 expired. 
 Turner, Isaac D., Ledyard, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Oct. 
 
 9, 1862. 
 Turner, Samuel C, Saybrook, enl. Dec. 6, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Sept. 
 
 18, 1862. 
 Whipple, William C, North Stonington, enl. Oct. 26, 1861 ; re-enl. as vet. 
 
 Feb. 24, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Whitmarsh, Warren, Preston, enl. Nov. 14, 1861 ; disch., term expired. 
 Wells, Henry C, Wethersfield, enl. Nov. 26, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 6, 1863, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Fourteenth Regiment Infantry.— The Fourteenth 
 Regiment Connecticut Volunteers was organized in 
 the summer of 1862, and was the first regiment organ- 
 ized under the call for three hundred thousand men. 
 It was recruited from the State at large, and left for 
 Washington, D. C, Aug. 25, 1862, its numerical 
 strength being one thousand and fifteen, under the 
 command of Dwight Morris, of Bridgeport, Conn. 
 
 Owing to the raid of the enemy into Maryland, the 
 regiment, without being allowed time to receive the 
 necessary instruction, was ordered forward and took 
 a part in the hard-fought battle of Antietam. The 
 official report shows that the regiment suffered se- 
 vere losses in that desperate battle, its loss in killed 
 being 2 commissioned officers and 19 enlisted men ; 
 wounded, 2 commissioned officers and 86 enlisted 
 men ; missing, 28 enlisted men ; making an aggregate 
 loss of 137. It was also engaged in the battle of 
 Fredericksburg, when Lieut.-Col. Perkins and Maj. 
 Clark were severely wounded. Many other valuable 
 officers and many of the men were either killed or 
 wounded. In fact, from the heavy losses and hard- 
 ships endured by the regiment, it had become ter- 
 ribly reduced, and numbered scarcely three hundred 
 and seventy-five effective men. Its aggregate loss at 
 Fredericksburg was one hundred and twenty-two. 
 
 The regiment continued with the Army of the Po- 
 tomac during the winter, and on the 1st of April, 
 1863, was encamped at Falmouth; on the 28th it re- 
 ceived marching orders, and proceeded with the 
 Second Army Corps to near Banks' Ford on the 
 Rappahannock, which they crossed on the evening 
 of the 30th of April, and proceeded to camp near 
 Chancellorsville. On the 1st, 2d, and 8d of May 
 they were actively engaged with the enemy, and sus- 
 
 tained a loss during the engagement of fifty-six. 
 Ma,j. Theodore G. Ellis, commanding regiment, states 
 in his official report that the strength of his command 
 on the morning of the 3d was two hundred and nine- 
 teen. 
 
 The regiment was again in battle at Gettysburg, 
 Pa., July 2d and 3d, and sustained an aggregate leas 
 of sixty-six. Maj. Ellis speaks of the action of the 
 regiment in this battle in the highest terms, mention- 
 ing the capture of five regimental battle-fiags and 
 over forty prisoners by a portion of his command 
 which charged the enemy. Four of the rebel officers 
 surrendered themselves personally to Maj. Ellis. 
 This was one of the most trying battles in which the 
 Fourteenth was engaged. 
 
 July 14th it was engaged with the enemy at Falling 
 Waters, and again, on the 14th of October, at Auburn, 
 Va., loss not reported. On the latter day it was also 
 engaged at Bristow Station, and sustained a total loss 
 of twenty-six in killed, wounded, and missing. 
 
 On the 17th of October it engaged the enemy at 
 Blackburn's Ford, and on the 29th of November fol- 
 lowing at Mine Run, Va., and met with a loss of 
 fourteen in wounded and captured. On the 2d of 
 December the regiment returned to its old camp upon 
 Mountain Run, accomplishing a march of forty-five 
 miles during the twenty-four hours. 
 
 The first general engagement in which the regiment 
 participated after the close of winter was that of 
 Morton's Ford, Va., Feb. 6, 1864. This engagement 
 is described by Lieut.-Col. Moore as being in some 
 instances a hand-to-hand fight, some of the Fourteenth 
 using the bayonet upon the enemy. It sustained a 
 loss of one hundred and fifteen in killed, wounded, 
 and missing. 
 
 It would seem that the Fourteenth was kept busy 
 during the spring and summer of 1864, as the list of 
 battles during that time exhibit great activity. 
 
 From May 5, 1864, to August 25th the regiment 
 was engaged in the battles of Wilderness, Laurel Hill, 
 Spottsylvania, May 12th, 13th, 14th, 18th, and 22d, 
 North Anna River, Tolopotomoy, Cold Harbor, June 
 3d and 6th, Petersburg, June 11th to July 5th, Deep 
 Bottom, and Ream's Station, Va., and sustained a total 
 of two hundred and fifty-six casualties. 
 
 Col. Ellis remarks in his report that the fatigue and 
 exposure incident to the night-marches and contin- 
 ued encounters were extraordinary, notwithstanding 
 which both officers and men met them nobly and un- 
 complainingly, cheerfully bearing all the hardships 
 they had been called upon to endure. Lieut.-Col. 
 Moore, Maj. Coit, and Adjt. Hicks are mentioned as 
 deserving of special mention for their gallantry in 
 the various actions in which the regiment was en- 
 gaged. 
 
 Lieut.-Col. Moore, in his report of the battle of 
 Ream's Station, remarks, " I cannot close this report 
 without alludi ng to the loss this regiment has sustained 
 in the death of Capt. William H. Hawley, of Com- 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 87 
 
 pany K. At the time of his death he filled the office 
 of brigade inspector, and was actively engaged upon 
 the staff of the colonel commanding the brigade. . . . 
 His loss is deeply felt, not only in this regiment, but 
 throughout the entire brigade." 
 
 On the 27th of October the regiment participated 
 in the action of Boydton Plank-Road ; total loss, 
 twenty-nine. Lieut. Perkins Bartholomew, of Com- 
 pany I, was wounded during the engagement, and 
 soon after died. He is spoken of by Lieut.-Col. Moore 
 as being one of the most promising young officers in 
 the regiment. 
 
 On the 5th of February, 1865, the regiment was 
 again in battle at Hatcher's Run, Va., and sustained 
 the loss of Lieut. Franklin Bartlett killed and five 
 wounded. 
 
 As a closing scene in the drama, the regiment was 
 present at the battles of High Bridge and Farmville, 
 Va., and were also present at the surrender of the 
 insurgent army under Gen. Robert E. Lee, thus being 
 permitted to see the desired end accomplished for 
 which they had so loyally struggled. 
 
 On the 81st of May, 1865, the brave Fourteenth 
 Connecticut was mustered out of the United States 
 seryice, leaving a record of which they may well be 
 proud. 
 
 The regiment participated in the following engage- 
 ments : 
 
 Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. Loss in killed, 2 
 commissioned officers and 19 enlisted men; wounded, 
 2 commissioned officers and 86 enlisted men ; miss- 
 ing, 28 enlisted men. Total loss, 137. 
 
 Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. Loss in killed, 
 1 commissioned officer, 9 enlisted men ; wounded, 10 
 commissioned officers, 82 enlisted men ; missing, 20 
 enlisted men. Total loss, 122. 
 
 Chancellorsville, Va., May 1, 2, and 3, 1863. Loss 
 in wounded, 3 commissioned officers, 34 enlisted men; 
 missing, 2 commissioned officers, 17 enlisted men. 
 Total loss, 56. 
 
 Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, 1863. Loss in killed, 
 10 enlisted men ; wounded, 10 commissioned officers, 
 42 enlisted men ; missing, 4 enlisted men. Total 
 loss, 66. 
 
 Falling Waters, Va., July 14, 1863. 
 Auburn, Va., Oct. 14, 1863. 
 
 Bristow Station, Va., Oct. 14, 1863. Loss in killed, 
 4 enlisted men ; wounded, 1 commissioned officer, 17 
 enlisted men ; missing, 4 enlisted men. Total loss, 26. 
 Blackburn's Ford, Va., Oct. 17, 1863. 
 Mine Run, Va., Nov. 29, 1863. Loss in wounded, 
 2 enlisted men; captured, 12 enlisted men. Total 
 loss, 14. 
 
 Morton's Ford, Va., Feb. 6, 1864. Loss in killed, 
 6 enlisted men; wounded, 7 commissioned officers, 
 83 enlisted men ; missing, 1 commissioned officer, 18 
 enlisted men. Total loss, 115. 
 Wilderness, Va., May 6 and 6, 1864. 
 Laurel Hill, Va., May 10, 1864. 
 
 Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 13, 14, 18, and 22, 1864. 
 
 North Anna River, Va., May 24 and 26, 1864. 
 
 Tolopotomy, Va., May 31, 1864. 
 
 Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. 
 
 Cold Harbor, Va., June 6, 1864. Loss (from May 
 5th to June 6th) in killed, 1 commissioned officer, 20 
 enlisted men ; wounded, 11 commissioned officers, 
 129 enlisted men ; missing, 24 enlisted men. Total 
 loss, 185. 
 
 Petersburg, Va., June 11 to July 6, 1864. Loss in 
 killed, 3 enlisted men ; wounded, 9 enlisted men ; 
 missing, 2 enlisted men. Total loss, 14. 
 
 Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 15 and 16, 1864. Loss in 
 killed, 1 enlisted man; wounded, 6 enlisted men. 
 Total loss, 7. 
 
 Ream's Station, Va., Aug. 25, 1864. Loss in killed, 
 1 commissioned officer, 4 enlisted men ; wounded, 4 
 commissioned officers, 14 enlisted men ; missing, 2 
 commissioned officers, 25 enlisted men. Total loss, 50. 
 
 Boydton Plank-Road, Va., Oct. 27, 1864. Loss 
 in killed, 1 commissioned officer, 1 enlisted man ; 
 wounded, 1 commissioned officer, 12 enlisted men ; 
 missing, 4 enlisted men ; supposed prisoners, 10 en- 
 listed men. Total loss, 29. 
 
 Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 5, 1865. Loss in killed, 
 1 commissioned officer; wounded, 1 commissioned 
 officer, 4 enlisted men. Total loss, 6. 
 
 Hatcher's Run, Va., March 25, 1865. Loss in 
 wounded, 1 commissioned officer, 5 enlisted men. 
 Total loss, 6. 
 
 High Bridge, Va., Farmville, Va., and surrender 
 of Lee's army, Va., from March 30 to April 10, 1865. 
 Loss in wounded, 1 commissioned officer, 2 enlisted 
 men. Total loss, 3. 
 
 Casualties : killed in action, 132 ; died of wounds, 
 65 ; died of disease, 169 ; discharged prior to muster 
 out of regiment, 416 ; missing at muster out of regi- 
 ment, 6. Total, 788. 
 
 There were two companies in this regiment from 
 New London County, — E, Capt. William H. Tubbs, 
 and H, Capt. Samuel H. Davis. 
 
 COMPANY E. 
 
 William H. Tubis, capt., Norwich, enl. June 16, 1862 ; resigned Feb. 20, 
 1863. 
 
 Morton F. Hale, first lieut., Norwich, enl. June 16, 1862 ; resigned ; pro, 
 brig. com. subsist, Dec. 28, 1862. 
 
 Charles 0. Baldwin, second lieut., Middletown, enl. June 15, 1862; re- 
 signed Dec. 2, 1862. 
 
 James it. Nichols, sergt., Norwich, enl. May 29, 1862 ; pro. capt., 
 wounded ; died of wounds Feb. 20, 1865. 
 
 Frederick E. Shalk, aergt., Norwich, enl. June 6, 1862; pro. 1st lieut,; 
 died of wounds May, 1864> 
 
 Henry C. Miller, sergt,, Norwich, enl. May 30, 1862 ; wounded Sept, 17i 
 1862 ; disch. for disability, Nov. 17, 1862, 
 
 George H, liillibridge, sergt,, Franklin, enl, July 14, 1862 ; wounded ; 
 pro, 1st lieut, ; hon, disch. May 15, 1865, 
 
 Samuel Webster, sergt., Sprague, enl, June 11,1862; wounded May 3, 
 1863 ; trans, Inv, Corps, Feb, 15, 1864. 
 
 Henry N. Robinson, Corp., Franklin, enl. May 29, 1862; disch, for disa- 
 bility. May 26, 1863. 
 
 Lyman L, Bassett, corp,, Killingly, enl. June 7, 1862; must, out May 31, 
 1865, Alexandria, Va, 
 
 George Seufert, corp,, Middletown, enl, June 7, 1862; must, out May 31, 
 1865, Alexandria, Ya, 
 
88 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 John J. Hurlburt, Corp., New Haven, enl. June 26, 1862; died May 21, 
 
 1863, Falmouth, Va. 
 
 James M. Moore, corp., East "Windsor, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; wounded ; pro. 
 
 2d lieut. ; supposed killed Aug. 25, 1864. 
 Edmund Smith, corp., Middletown, enl. June 6, 1862; wounded Sept. 17, 
 
 1862 ; must, out May 31, 1865. 
 George K. Bftssett, corp., Killingly, enl. June 10, 1862 ; twice wounded; 
 
 must, out July 14, 1865. 
 Charles E. Lewis, corp.. Middletown, enl. June 23, 1862 ; wounded May 
 
 13, 1864; must, out May 31,1865. 
 Edgar B, Jones, musician. New Britain, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, oat 
 
 May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Josiah F. Williston, musician, East Windsor, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out 
 
 May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Charles A. Tubbs, wagoner, Norwich, enl. June 9, 1862; must, out May 
 
 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Barnes, Samuel, Hartford, eul. Aug. 15, 1862; disch. for disability, Nov. 
 
 23, 1863. 
 Booner, George C, Hartford, eul. June 16, 1862; wounded Feb. 6, 1864; 
 
 must, out May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Bugbee, Sanford, Plainfleld, enl. June 14,1862; twice wounded; disch. 
 
 for disability, Aug. 23, 1865. 
 Bebo, Frank, Putnam, enl. June 16, 1862; wounded July 3, 1863; must. 
 
 out May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Bentley, James P., North Stonington, enl. June 3, 1862. 
 Brady, Terrence, Norwich, enl. July 15,1862; must, out May 31, 1865, 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 Bull, George H., Windham, enl. July 5, 1862; wounded; trans. Inv. 
 
 Corps; must, out June 28, 1865. 
 Bailey, Emerson N., Middletown, enl. June 3,1862; wounded Dec. 13, 
 
 1862; must, out June 3, 1865, Washington. 
 Burrows, Isaac C, Vernon, enl, Aug. 7, 1862; twice wounded; trans. 
 
 Vet. Kes. Corps; must, out Aug. 7, 1865. 
 Brothers, Anthony, New Haven, enl. June 23, 1862; must, out May 31, 
 
 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Callahan, Jeremiah, Norwich, enl. May 23, 1862 ; twice wounded ; must- 
 out May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Crandall, John, Norwich, enl. July 17, 1862; must, out May 31,1865, 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 Cole; Carlos P., Coventry, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; wounded May 7,1864; 
 
 must, out May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Cole, Alouzo E., Coventry, enl. Aug, 12, 1862; died of wounds May 25, 
 
 1864, North Anna, Va. 
 
 Cavarly, Henry, Salem, enl. Aug. 13, 1862. 
 
 Crowley, Daniel, Sprague, enl. July 8, 1862. 
 
 Cunningham, Michael, Norwich, enl. July 16,1862; wounded Dec. 13, 
 
 1862 ; hon. disch. May 19, 1863. 
 Degnan, John, Norwich, enl. June 5, 1862; wounded Aug. 25, 1864; 
 
 trans. Vet. Bes. Corps ; must, out June 29, 1865. 
 Dwight, Franklin, Hartford, enl. July 24.1862; died June 13, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Fredericksburg. 
 Dailey, Edward, Middletown, enl. June 28, 1862; wounded Feb. 6. 1864; 
 
 must, out May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Dorman, Walter B., Waterbury, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out May 31, 
 
 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 
 Dorman, Charles L., New Haven, enl. July 18, 1862; must, out Mny 31, 
 
 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Dorman, Orrin, New Haven, enl. June 13, 1862; died at Richmond, Va, 
 Dillon, Martin, Vernon, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Nov. 16, '64. 
 Edwards, Henry, Norwich, enl. May 31, 1862; disch. for disability, Nov. 
 
 23, 1862. 
 Eldredge, Nathaniel, Preston, enl. July 16, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 June 8, 1863. 
 Farmer, Harmon, Middletown, enl. June 3, 1862; died Dec. 30, 1862, of 
 
 wounds received at Fredericksburg. 
 Frisbie, Henry R., Middletown, enl. June 3, 1862; twice wounded; 
 
 must, out May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Fray, Louis, Middletown, enl. June 4, 1862 ; disch. for disability, June 8, 
 
 1863. 
 Fitzpatrick, John, Hartford, enl. July 19, 1862; must, out May 31, 1866, 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 Griffin, John, Middletown, enl. June 24, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 1866, 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 Gallagher, Francis, Norwich, enl. July 23, 1862 ; wounded June 16, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Guilford, William 0., Waterbury, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 
 
 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 
 Hartie, Philip C, Norwich, enl. June 7, 1862; disch. for disability, Dec. 
 
 9, 1862. 
 Hutching, George A., Hampton, enl. June 2, 1862 ; trans. Inv. Corps, July 
 
 1 , 1863 ; must, out June 26, 1866. 
 Hortson, Charles, Chaplin, enl. July 9, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 1865, 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 Huntington, George F., Norwich, enl. July 5, 1862 ; trans, to Inv. Corpfl, 
 
 Jan. 16, 1864. 
 Hilbert, Frank, Middletown, enl. Aug. 5,1862; must, out May 31,1865, 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 Healj, Edward, Norwich, enl. July 16,1862; disch, for disability, Nov. 
 
 25. 1862. 
 
 Holmes, Lucien B., Glaatenbury, enl. June 16,1862; trans. Inv. Corpe, 
 
 Sept. 1, 1863 ; disch. Oct. 6, 1864. 
 Irons, Thomas, Norwich, enl. June 12, 1862; must, out May 31,1865, 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 Kerr, Robert, Killingly, enl. June 7, 1862 ; wounded Feb. 6, 1864; must. 
 
 out May 31, 1865, New Haven. 
 Keeney, Buell, Windsor, enl, July 12, 1862; wounded Aug. 25, 1864; 
 
 must, out May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va, 
 Kappenberg, Frederick, Hartford, enl. July 7,1862; wounded Dec. 13, 
 
 1862; must, out May 31, 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Kelley, William G., Marlborough, enl. Aug, 14, 1862; disch. for disabil- 
 ity. May 30, 1864. 
 Kurtz, Frederick W., Waterbury, enl. Aug. 19, 1862; must, out May 31, 
 
 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 Kavanagh, Thomas, Middletown, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 27, 1863. 
 Kurtz, George, Waterbury, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 1865, 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 Lown, Timothy, Middletown, enl. June 9, 1862 ; wounded May 7, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out May 31, 1865. 
 Lovejoy, William F,, enl, June 16, 1862 ; killed Sept. 17, 1862, Sharps- 
 
 burg, Md, 
 Lloyd, Patrick, Norwich, enl, July 15, 1862 ; died of wounds May 11, '64. 
 Lamphere, Madison, Hartford, enl. July 28, 1862; trans. Inv. Corps; 
 
 drowned in Counecticut River, March 8, 1865. 
 Lamphere, Irving, Meriden, enl. July 7, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 1865, 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 Mathews, George B., Thompson, enl. June 10, 1862; must, out May 31, 
 
 1865, Alexandria, Va. 
 McDermott, Michael, Killingly, enl, June 13, 1862; wounded; tram. 
 
 Inv. Corps ; must, out July 5, 1866. 
 McDonald, John, Norwich, enl. June 3, 1862; wounded; trans. Inv, 
 
 Corps; must, out June 29, 1865, 
 Marsh, John, Hartford, enl. June 14, 1862 ; trans. V. R. C; disch. Aug. 
 
 19, 1865. 
 Morehead, William J., Lisbon, enl. July 8, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 19. 1863. 
 
 Maher, James, Middletown, enl. July 19, 1862 ; wounded Dec. 13, 1862; 
 
 disch, for disability, March 17, 1863. 
 McCormick, James, Hartford, enl, July 8, 1862, 
 Obernaugh, Jacob, Griswold, May 29,1862; disch. for disability, March 
 
 26, 1863. 
 Piers, Edwin, Hartford, July 10, 1862; wounded May 3, 1863 ; must, out 
 
 May 31, 1865, at Alexandria, 
 Riley, James, Middletown, June 6, 1862 ; twice wounded ; must, out June 
 
 5, 1865, at Washington. 
 Rogere, James, Wethersfield, enl. June 17, 1862 ; died at Salisbury, N. 0., 
 
 roll of Feb. 28, 1865. 
 Riley, Edward, Hartford, enl. Aug. 6,1862 ; wounded Dec. 13, 1862 ; must. 
 
 out May 31, 1865, at Alexandria. 
 Slack, George, Middletown, enl. June 23, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Aug. 
 
 12, 1863. 
 Starkey, Robert, Hartford, enl. July 11 , 1862 ; died April 13, 1863, at Fal- 
 mouth. 
 Scranton, Charles H., Windham, enl. July 15,1862. 
 Shauz, Baltas, Windsor, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out May 31, 1865, at 
 
 Alexandria, 
 ahay, George, Griswold, enl. July 3, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 4» 
 
 1863. 
 Starkoy, John, Hartford, enl. July 11, 1862, 
 Standish, Walter F., Sprague, enl. July 13, 1862 ; killed July 3, 1863, at 
 
 Gettysburg, 
 Smith, William L., New Haven, Aug. 10, 1862. 
 Stevens, Henry, Griswold, enl. July 1,1862; trans, to Vet. Rea. Corps, 
 
 May 15,1864, 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 89 
 
 Stockman, Artemus, New Haven, eul. Aug. 6, 1802; diach. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 23, 18G3. 
 Timmons, Daniel, Middletown, enl. June 3,1802; died of wounds May 
 
 8, 1864. 
 Tyler, Moses, Norwich, enl. July 15, 1862 ; wounded Feb. 6, 1864 ; died 
 
 April 14, 1864, at Andersonville. 
 VonGries, Henry, Hartford, enl. June 3, 1862; disch. for disability, Feb. 8, 
 
 1864. 
 Wagner, Baltas, Hartford, enl. June 3, 1862 ; trans, to Invalid Corps, Sept, 
 
 1, 1863. 
 West, Albert K., Preston, enl. May 27,1862; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 
 24, 1863. 
 West, Richard, Putnam, enl. June 16,1862; wounded Sept. 17, 1862; 
 
 disch. for disability, June 8, 1863. 
 Woodworth, George, Hartford, enl. July 20, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 May 26, 1863. 
 
 COMPANY H. 
 
 Samuel H. Davis, capt., New London, enl. July 12, 1862 ; dismissed Sept. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Henry Lee, first lieut., New London, enl. May 24, 1862; pro. capt.; hon. 
 
 disch. Jan. 20, 1865. 
 James E. Comatock, second lieut., Waterford, July 17, 1862; res. Feb. 14, 
 
 1863. 
 John A, Tibbits, aergt., New London, enl. July 12, 186ii; pro. 2d lieut.; 
 
 wounded Sept. 17, 1862, and July 3, 1863; disch. for disability, July 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Kobert Barry, sergt.. New London, enl. July 11, 1862 ; killed Dec. 13, 
 
 1862, at Fredericksburg. 
 
 Allen H. Willis, seigt.. New London, enl. July 29, 1862. 
 
 Charles E. Penhallow, sergt., New London, enl. July 11, 1862; pro. 2d 
 
 lieut. ; must, out May 31, 1865, at Alexandria. 
 Jonathan B^gers, sergt.. New London, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; wounded Dec. 
 
 13, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Nov. 3, 1863, 
 Orlando A. Middleton, corp., New London, enl. July 11, 1862; disch. for 
 
 disability, April 7, 1863. 
 Albert 0. Comstock, corp., Waterford, enl, July 24, 1862; died Dec. 11, 
 
 1863, at Stevensburg, Va. 
 
 James Wiggins, corp.. New London, enl. June 7,1862; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Dec. 18, 1862. 
 
 William A. Carpenter, corp.. New London, enl. Aug. 9, 1862. 
 
 Thomas W. Comstock, corp.. New London, enl. July 21, 1862; trans, to 
 Vet. Res. Corps; must, out July 10, 1865. 
 
 Perkins Bartholomew, corp., New London, enl. July 24, 1862 ; pro. 1st 
 lieut.; died Oct. 23, 1864, of wounds received in action. 
 
 George A. Smith, corp.. New London, enl. July 11, 1862 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, March 12, 1S63. 
 
 Samuel N. Watrous, corp.. New London, enl. July 15, 1862 ; must, out 
 May 31, 1 865, at Alexandria. 
 
 George A. Buddington, musician. New London, enl. July 21, 1862 ; must, 
 out May 31, 1865, at Alexandria. 
 
 Albert F. Hall, musician, New London, enl. Aug. 14, 1862; trans, to In- 
 valid Corps, Sept. 1, 1863 ; must, out July 6, 1865. 
 
 Osmund D. Smith, wagoner. New London, enl. July 14, 1862; must, out 
 May 31, 1865, at Alexandria. 
 
 Ames, Thomas M., Waterford, enl. Aug, 5, 1862 ; killed July 3, 1863, at 
 Gettysburg. 
 
 Archer, Robert, New London, enl. July 14, 1862. 
 
 Barker, John, New London, enl. July 14, 1862 ; died Jan. 14, 1863, at 
 Falmouth, 
 
 Bartholomew, John B., New London, enl. July 11, 1862; trans, to In- 
 valid Corps, Sept. 1, 1863 ; must, out July 6, 1865. 
 
 Beebe, James M., !New London, enl. July 16, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 
 1865, at Alexandria. 
 
 Botsford, Samuel, New Haven, enl. June 2, 1862 ; trans, to 2d Connecticut 
 Artillery. 
 
 Bullis, William H., New London, enl. July 14, 1862. 
 
 Burrows, Daniel L., New Haven, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; died Nov. 15, 1862, 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Blair, Kobert, New Haven, enl. Aug, 13, 1862 ; died Sept. 29, 1863, at 
 Washington. 
 
 Brown, Horace T,, New Haven, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out May 31, 
 1865, at Alexandria. 
 
 Brown, Christopher, Waterford, enl. Aug. 15, 1862. 
 
 Calvert, Jeremiah C, Waterford, enl. July 28,1862; wounded May 3, 
 1863 ; disch. for disability, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Carroll, William G., New London, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out May 30, 
 1865, at Hartford. 
 
 Caulkius, John F., Waterford, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; killed Dec. 13, 1862, at 
 
 Fredericksburg. 
 Chad wick, Robert A., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 2, 1862 ; killed Feb. 6, 1864, 
 
 at Morton's Ford, Va. 
 Chadwick, William F., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 
 
 1865, at Alexandria. 
 Chapman, Abel F., New London, enl, Juno 14, 1862. 
 Cochran, James, Waterford, enl. Aug. 15, 1862. 
 
 Crinyan, James, New London, enl. July 16, 1862; diach. March 10, 1865. 
 Dart, Henry B., Waterford, enl. Aug. 5, 1862. 
 Daniels, Franklin, Waterford, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; trans, to Vet. Res, Corps, 
 
 May 1, 1864. 
 Dayton, Amos, Waterford, enl. Aug. 5, 1862. 
 Dayton, William A., Waterford, enl, Aug. 5, 1862; diach. for disability, 
 
 April 2, 1863. 
 Donahue, Cornelius, New London, enl. June 7,1862 ; disch. for disability. 
 
 May 26, 1863. 
 Dawsett, Joseph N., New London, enl. Aug, 9, 1862 ; died Aug. 9, 1 864, at 
 
 Rochester. 
 Drudy, Thomas, New London, enl. Aug, 9, 1862 ; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, 
 
 Jan. 1, 1865 ; must, out July 5, 1865, 
 Dunbar, Jeremiah G., Waterford, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; wounded Oct. 27, 
 
 1864 ; must, out May 31, 1865. 
 Donald, John, New London, enl. Aug, 16, 1862. 
 Edwards, George S., Waterford, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; wounded May 3, 
 
 1863 ; died Oct. 29, 1864, at Washington. 
 Feely, Bernard, New London, enl. July 16, 1862 ; never mustered. 
 Fenner, Charles E., New London, enl. June 24, 1862. 
 Fox, Silas S., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; wounded Sept. 17, 1862; 
 
 killed in action Feb. 6, 1864, 
 Fox, Frederick A., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; pro. 1st lieut; must. 
 
 out May 31, 1865, at Alexandria. 
 Gard, Charles H., New London, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; wounded May 6, 
 
 1864 ; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps ; must, out July 24, 1865. 
 Gardner, Thomas W., Waterford, enl. July ;28, 1862 ; wounded July 3, 
 
 1863; disch. for disability, Dec. 29, 1863. 
 Glossenger, William, New London, enl. July 22, 1862 ; killed May 6, 1864, 
 
 at Wilderness. 
 Goff, Thomas, New London, enl. July 14, 1862 ; diach. for disability. Sept, 
 
 20, 1863. 
 Green, John, Waterford, enl. July 26, 1862 ; killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fred- 
 ericksburg. 
 Gurley, John, Jr., New Loudon, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; died|] October, 1862, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Goddard, John C, New London, enl. July 23, 1862; must, out May 31, 
 
 1865, at Alexandria. 
 Irving, James, New London, enl. Aug. 14, 1862. 
 Jerome, Elias L., Waterford, enl. July 28, 1862 : killed December 13, 
 
 1862, at Fredericksburg. 
 Kohlrisaer, Theodore, New London, enl. July 23, 1862 ; wounded July 3, 
 
 1863 ; trans, to Invalid Corps, March 16, 1864. 
 Krah, Earnest, Hartford, enl. June 16,1862; supposed taken prisoner 
 
 Oct. 14, 1863 ; killed in action Oct. 14, 1863. 
 Knight, Charles H., Waterford, enl. ;july 24, 1862; trans, to Invalid 
 
 Corps, Sept. 1, 1863 ; must, out July 6, 1865. 
 Latour, Charles F., New London, enl. July 16,1862; diach. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 6, 1863. 
 Latour, Lewis G., New London, enl, July 12, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Jan, 16, 1863. 
 Lunger, John, New London, enl. July 16, 1862. 
 McCaffrey, Edward, New London, enl. July 30, 1862; must, out May 31 
 
 1865, at Alexandria. 
 Maynard, Jabez B., Waterford, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; died June 15, 1864, at 
 
 New York City. 
 Maynard, Lester J., New London, enl. July 14, 1862 ; disch, for disability, 
 
 March 30, 1863. 
 Mills, William S., New London, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; killed Dec. 13, 1862, 
 
 at Fredericksburg. 
 Miner, John, New London, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; killed Dec. 13, 1862, at 
 
 Fredericksburg. 
 Mills, Thomas J., New London, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; died Oct. 17, 1862, of 
 
 wounds, 
 Mitchell, Edward, New London, enl. July 14, 1862. 
 Mitchell, Henry, New London, enl. July 17, 1862. 
 McCallum, John, New London, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; did not leave Hartford 
 
 with regiment. 
 Morgan, Joseph P., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out July 8, 1865, 
 
90 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Munroe, Charles H., New LoDdon, enl. July 12, 1862 ; dieoh. for disabil- 
 ity, Jan. 31, 18G3. 
 
 Munroe, George, enl. July 11, 1862; trans, to U. S. navy, April 16, 1864. 
 
 Niles, Frederick W., New London, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; died Dec. 1, 1862, 
 at Belle Plain. 
 
 Osborn, John H. G., New London, enl. July 22, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 Oct. 31, 1864. 
 
 Perkins, Erastus B., New London, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; died Dec. 31, 1862, 
 of wounds received at Fredericksburg. 
 
 Perkins, James M., Waterford, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; trans, to U. S. navy, 
 April 23, 1864. 
 
 Pia, Daniel, New London, enl. Aug. 4, 1862: wounded June 3, 1864; 
 trans, to Vet. Res. Corps; must, out June 24, 1865. 
 
 Phillips, Jonathan W., New London, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; died of wounds 
 Oct. 18, 1863. 
 
 Russell, Michael, New London, Aug. 8, 1862. 
 
 Robinson, Ralph, New London, enl. July 11, 1862. 
 
 Rogers, Henry A., Waterford, enl. July 28, 1862. 
 
 Sisson, Joshua F., Stonitigton, enl. Aug. 13, 1862. 
 
 Staplins, Robert, Waterford, enl. July 25, 1862 ; trans, to Invalid Corps, 
 March 15, 1864; must, out June 28, 1865. 
 
 Thompson, Simeon C, New London, enl. July 20, 1862 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Dec. 1, 1862. 
 
 Tillett, George W., Waterford, enl. July 25,1862; disch. for disability, 
 March 16, 1863. 
 
 Wagner, Gottfreit, New London, enl. July 23, 1862; died Sept. 9, 1862, at 
 Washington. 
 
 Williams, Albert F., New London, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; wounded Feb. 6, 
 1864 ; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps ; must, out June 14, 1865. 
 
 Williams, Frederick, New London, enl. Aug. 16, 1862. 
 
 Eighteenth Kegiment Infantry.'— The Eighteenth 
 Regiment Connecticut Volunteers was organized in 
 August, 1862, and was recruited from New London 
 and Windham Counties, and rendezvoused at Nor- 
 wich, Conn. It was commanded by Col. William G. 
 Ely, who was previously connected with the Second 
 and Sixth Regiments Connecticut Volunteers. It left 
 for Washington August 22d, being the first regiment 
 to leave the State under the call of the President for 
 three hundred thousand volunteers in the summer of 
 1862, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, 
 and stationed at Fort McHenry, Baltimore. 
 
 Battle of Winchester. — When the Seventeenth left 
 Fort Marshall, in Baltimore, the Eighteenth was 
 transferred to it from Fort McHenry. .It was on 
 higher ground, and much more healthful. Some of 
 the men brought sickness with them, however, and 
 Capt. Bromley appears to have had a touch of jaun- 
 dice, for he wrote to the Bulletin that he was " look- 
 ing through the yellowest pair of eyes that were ever 
 hung out as a wrecked liver's signal of distress." 
 
 Col. Ely hoped to be able here to devote sokne at- 
 tention to the necessary drill, but the next day the 
 right wing, consisting of the companies of Capts. Isaac 
 W. Hakes, Jr., Matthewson, and Charles D. Brown, 
 went down along the railroad near Havre de Grace, 
 under Maj. Ephraim Keech, Jr. ; and Capt. Henry 
 C. Davis' company was dispatched to Upper Marlbor- 
 ough, a secession town, but returned next day. The 
 regiment remained all winter divided in Maryland, 
 with headquarters at Fort Marshall. The men were 
 industriously drilled in artillery and infantry tactics, 
 and the left wing was so thoroughly exercised in bat- 
 
 1 Condensed from Orofut'a History. 
 
 talion movements as to win the approval of Brig.. 
 Gen. Morris, an old army officer, who was chary of 
 his commendations. Comfortable quarters were now 
 built ; food was plenty, if not of a quality to tempt an 
 epicure ; service was not arduous ; and, on the whole, 
 the regiment had an easy time. Col. Ely won golden 
 opinions from all the officers of the department with 
 whom he came in contact. No officer was ever more 
 watchful than he for the welfare of the men, and none 
 ever deserved more fully the confidence which, with- 
 out exception, they reposed in him. 
 
 At last, late in the spring of 1863, the monotonous 
 life in barracks ended. Most of the men were tired 
 of its unsoldierly quiet, and rejoiced when orders came 
 to go to the front, even though that front was the 
 oft-contested Shenandoah Valley. Already had' the 
 rebel and Union forces been repeatedly driven through 
 it from end to eud, and already had veteran regiments 
 learned to prefer any other service to the bewildering 
 tramps through its rivers and ravines. 
 
 By the middle of May the detached companies had 
 been called in from Havre de Grace and the Wil- 
 mington road, and on the 22d the regiment moved 
 by railroad up the valley. Crossing at Harper's 
 Ferry, it shortly left the crowded cars at Winchester, 
 joining the command of Maj. -Gen. Milroy. 
 
 As far back as the previous November, Gen. Hal- 
 leck's chief of stafi". Gen. Collom, had reported, after 
 careful examination, not only that the works at Win- 
 chester were so located as to be indefensible joe?' se, 
 but that the place required no works, and should have 
 no heavy garrison, being merely " an eye of the na- 
 tional army looking up the Shenandoah Valley." 
 He recommended that all infantry be withdrawn, and 
 only a strong cavalry picket retained. The recom- 
 mendation was not heeded, and Milroy remained 
 with seven thousand men, while Lee's army, flushed 
 with the victories along the Rappahannock, was 
 pressing towards Pennsylvania. About the 9th of 
 June, Early, with " Stonewall" Jackson's old corps of 
 thirty thousand men, pushed silently and swiftly 
 northward through the valley, while Lee seized and 
 held the gaps of the Blue Ridge. Next day Milroy 
 exultingly telegraphed to Gen. Schenck at Baltimore 
 that his advance had had " a splendid little skirmish" 
 with the rebels, and added, " The enemy are prob- 
 ably approaching in some force. I am entirely ready 
 for them ; I can hold this place.'' And as late as the 
 succeeding day, June 11th, Col. Don Piatt, chief of 
 stafi", possessed of the same delusion, telegraphed, "All 
 works fine. Can whip anything the rebels can fetch 
 here. How is Mrs. Piatt?" He did not wait long 
 for an answer. 
 
 On Saturday, June 13th, the Union pickets were 
 driven towards Winchester, and brisk skirmishing 
 ensued. Col. Ely, of the Eighteenth, was in charge 
 of a brigade, and he immediately advanced upon the 
 Front Royal pike with his regiment (under Lieut.- 
 Col. Nichols) and the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 91 
 
 and a section of battery, to " feel for the enemy." The 
 feeling was mutual. They had gone a little more 
 than a mile from town when they were opened upon 
 by a battery planted in the edge of a dense thicket on 
 the opposite side of a deep ravine. The Union bat- 
 tery was wheeled upon a knoll and opened briskly, 
 the Eighteenth lying down in high clover closely in 
 the rear, except Companies A and B deployed as 
 skirmishers. The enemy played upon our regiments 
 at a distance of not more than four hundred yards 
 for an hour with six Napoleon pieces, and at last ex- 
 ploded the caisson of the battery and silenced the 
 guns, when the brigade fell back. 
 
 Nearer the city the artillery fight was resumed at 
 long range. Meanwhile Early had thrown other 
 brigades around on the west, and there had been 
 severe fighting there. Night came on, and the city 
 was besieged. Milroy ascertained that an overwhelm- 
 ing force was in front of him and on his flanks. This 
 was his opportunity to retreat under cover of the 
 blinding darkness and the heavy thunder-shower, but 
 some fatality detained him. The Eighteenth was 
 stationed all night in rifle-pits just outside the city, 
 wet through with the drenching rain. By midnight 
 it was obvious that Early was closing in, and Ely's 
 brigade of four regiments was recalled to the fort, but 
 at sunrise was sent out again. The First Brigade, 
 under Gen. Elliott, occupied the main fort; the 
 Second, under Col. Ely, held the town and the space 
 outside; the Third, under Col. McBeynolds, was 
 posted in the star fort. 
 
 The Second (Ely's) Brigade was now stationed near 
 the cemetery, across which the principal firing took 
 place. About four in the afternoon the rebel skir- 
 mishers charged up to the very edge of the town, 
 when a well-directed fire from our troops sent them 
 back in confusion to their supporting line, which also 
 caught the panic and rushed back to the very edge 
 of the timber. Here several of the Eighteenth were 
 killed and wounded. 
 
 About this time the rebels charged upon and cap- 
 tured the important outworks held by an Ohio regi- 
 ment on the other side of the main fort, and the 
 Second Brigade fell back to the works northeast of 
 the fortification, in which the principal part of our 
 forces were now beseiged and subjected to a severe 
 bombardment. 
 
 By sundown of the 14th the city was three-fourths 
 invested. Early's right crossed the Berryville road 
 on the northeast, and his left intersected the Front 
 Eoyal, Strasburg, and Eomney roads. 
 
 At one A.M. on the 15th the order was given for the 
 silent evacuation of Winchester. The night was in- 
 tensely dark, but the column moved with order on 
 the road leading to Martinsburg due north, the Eigh- 
 teenth Connecticut forming the advance of the centre 
 brigade. The command had proceeded about four 
 and a half miles when the head of the First Brigade 
 suddenly encountered the right of the enemy, posted 
 
 in strong force in a piece of woods skirting the right 
 of the road. The rebels threw forward with great 
 rapidity a sufiicient force to command the whole of 
 the First Brigade and a large portion of the Second. 
 One or more volleys were delivered by them and re- 
 turned, but, owing to the extreme darkness of the 
 morning, had little or no effect. At this time the 
 First Brigade charged, and having partially driven 
 back the force immediately in its front, the larger 
 portion passed on and continued its flight to Harper's 
 Ferry. The remainder of the First Brigade, together 
 with the Second, fell back in a field to the left of the 
 road and reformed their partially disordered ranks. 
 A letter written by one of the regiment soon after 
 gives the following account of the gallant part borne 
 by the Eighteenth in the charge of the Second Brigade : 
 " We charged into the woods, but in the gray dawn 
 nothing could be discerned but the flash of their rifles, 
 — we could not see a man ; and they had every advan- 
 tage of us, as we charged from light into darkness, 
 where they quietly awaited our coming. The crack 
 of rifles was for a time terrific, but numbers and po- 
 sition finally prevailed, and we were obliged to retreat. 
 We formed again in perfect order in the open field, 
 and prepared for a second charge. By this time we 
 could form some idea of the rebel position, for we 
 could see quite plainly. Gen. Milroy was behind us 
 on his horse, and he told us to take that battery, that we 
 could do it in ten minutes. Oflicers and men were cool 
 again and in good spirits. Well, the order was given, 
 'Forward, Eighteenth! charge bayonets! double- 
 quick ! march !' and away we went into those woods 
 again. We were met with a murderous fire, but for- 
 ward sprang the line with a yell. Up the cross-road 
 we charged in point-blank range of the rebel battery. 
 
 " A long line of fire streamed from thousands of rifles, 
 interrupted now and then by the blaze of the battery ; 
 trees were peeled in all directions. We charged up 
 to the battery and silenced it, killing or wounding 
 every man that stood by it ; but they had plenty of 
 artillery in reserve, so we saw it was useless to attempt 
 to hold it. After fighting desperately for some time 
 and losing many valuable men, the order to retreat 
 was given and we again fell back. This was the first 
 battle in which the Eighteenth had been engaged, and 
 its behavior had deserved great credit. The above 
 statement seems slightly colored by the interest which 
 a participant would naturally feel, yet it is abundantly 
 corroborated by the list of casualties, and by the ac- 
 count given by the Confederates themselves." 
 
 The Eighteenth had lost thirty-one killed and forty- 
 four wounded, including five commanders of compa- 
 nies. After the last charge Col. Ely looked about 
 him for support, and found that the Third Brigade 
 had taken advantage of the fight to turn about and 
 make its way across the country towards Pennsylvania. 
 Milroy and Maj. Peale had already escaped with a 
 few men, including thirty from the Eighteenth. Col. 
 Ely and Lieut.-Col. Nichols were dismounted, and 
 
92 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 were immediately summoned to surrender. The rebels 
 now occupied the road in both directions. The Fed- 
 erals numbered but a thousand men, jaded by two 
 days' sleepless service, and now badly cut up. Under 
 the circumstances Col. Ely surrendered the command. 
 The men were immediately placed under guard. Col. 
 Ely's sword had been hit by a ball during the battle, 
 shattering the blade near the hilt. When he delivered 
 it to the rebel Gen. Walker, after the fight, that offi- 
 cer asked, "When was this done, sir?" " This morn- 
 ing." " You deserve to keep this," was the rejoinder. 
 "I will direct it to be retained for you." It was sent 
 to Gen. Early, by whose order it was finally forwarded 
 through by flag of truce to the father of Col. Ely, 
 while the soldier who had borne it gallantly was yet 
 a prisoner. Within thirty minutes after Ely's sur- 
 render Early's entire corps marched across the battle- 
 field in swift pursuit of the fugitives. Many were 
 captured. 
 
 The handsome regimental colors presented by 
 the ladies of Norwich were not captured with the 
 regiment. When they were inquired for the men 
 would not or could not give any information as to 
 their whereabouts, but in two days, after many "hair- 
 breadth escapes," they crossed the Pennsylvania bor- 
 der, wound about the body of Color-Sergeant George 
 ■ Torrey, of Woodstock, who had taken to the woods 
 during the confusion. He was subsequently commis- 
 sioned captain in the United States Colored Troops. 
 About two hundred made good their retreat, and 
 gradually gathered again at Maryland Heights, under 
 Maj. Peale. H. H. Starkweather immediately went 
 to the rendezvous, carrying food and other comforts 
 from home, and sending back to the anxious relations 
 news from the regiment. Capt. Thomas K. Bates, a 
 brave officer, severely wounded, and a prisoner, was 
 recaptured shortly after in a rebel hospital. The 
 prisoners suffered from the first day of their captivity. 
 They were hurried back to the fort, and next day were 
 started for Richmond on foot. They made ninety-two 
 miles in four days, arriving at Staunton on Monday, 
 the 22d, and thence took the cars for Richmond. 
 They reached the Confederate capital early next 
 morning, and without making any triumphal entry, 
 marched straight to Libby Prison. The food on the 
 journey consisted of a pint of flour and a very small 
 piece of pork to each man. The officers and enlisted 
 men were in separate squads, and were not permitted 
 to communicate. On the second day the privates 
 were transferred from Libby to Belle Isle, in the 
 James River, now so infamous in the annals of the 
 war. Here they stayed a few weeks on soanly rations, 
 when they were taken back to Libby, paroled July 
 2d, taken to City Point, released, and transported to 
 Annapolis, having been under the "Stars and Bars" 
 seventeen days. They remained at Camp Parole until 
 the 1st of October, when they were duly exchanged 
 and returned to the nucleus of the regiment, now in 
 camp at Martinsburg, north of Winchester. The 
 
 officers were not so fortunate, they were detained at 
 Libby through many weary months, hoping, fearing 
 expecting, and sometimes almost despairing. They 
 had scarcely food enough to sustain life, but the mis- 
 erable rations were supplemented with heavy boxes 
 of succulent and nourishing food prepared with loving 
 hands in Eastern Connecticut. Officers of other regi- 
 ments brought away letters concealed in their buttons 
 from Col. Ely, Capt. Davis, Lieut. Higgins, and 
 others. 
 
 The Eighteenth at Martinsburg. — After the unfortu- 
 nate battle of Winchester about two hundred and 
 twenty officers and men of the Eigbteenth escaped in 
 different directions towards the Potomac. Immedi- 
 ately after the disaster to the Eighteenth, Henry B. 
 Norton, a patriotic and liberal citizen of Norwich, 
 went to the Potomac at the request of Governor Buck- 
 ingham, and was of great assistance in collecting the 
 remnants of the regiment and supplying their imme- 
 diate wants. The Hartford Press said of him, " No 
 gentleman in the State has been so indefatigable in 
 labors of this kind for the comfort of our soldiers 
 since the war began. He has steadily refused all 
 compensation or remuneration of his expenses, and is 
 so unostentatious that we fear to annoy him even 
 by this brief and merited mention of his services," 
 Maj. Peale, with thirty men, arrived the same day at 
 Harper's Ferry, having had a very narrow escape. 
 About two hundred others from Milroy's scattered 
 army were put under Maj. Peale and led aga,instthe 
 flank of Lee's army, now retreating from Gettysburg. 
 They marched to Snicker's Gap and captured many 
 of the fugitives. Maj. Peale was next ordered to 
 Sharpsburg, where he took command of the remnant 
 of the Eighteenth. Company B, Lieut. F. G. Bixby, 
 being on provost duty, had escaped intact with others, 
 and in a few days he was ordered to report for provost 
 duty at Hagerstown to guard rebel prisoners. On 
 September 30th, Maj. Peale brought the exchanged 
 prisoners from Camp Parole at Annapolis, increasing 
 the regiment to eight officers and six hundred men. 
 On October 3d they forded the Potomac and advanced 
 to Martinsburg, making camp about half a mile west 
 of the town, on a wooded elevation, as pleasantly situ- 
 ated for winter quarters as could be desired. Here, 
 notwithstanding the insufficiency of officers, good 
 order was maintained, and the regiment soon began 
 to show improvement in drill and general discipline. 
 Once during the winter a raid resulted in the capture 
 of several rebels. Twice or thrice the regiment was 
 in line of battle or on a reconuoissance, but the win- 
 ter was rather uneventful, and the men contented 
 themselves in completing the capture of Martinsburg. 
 The general in command, notwithstanding his lack of 
 great military genius, was always popular in his com- 
 mand, and when he visited Martinsburg, ".Daddy Mil- 
 roy" was heartily received by the Eighteenth. They 
 ordered him out with an affectionate, if unmilitary, 
 clamor, and he addressed them as follows : 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 93 
 
 " Soldiers of the Eighteenth : 
 
 " I am glad to see you once more, I am happy to see you looking bo 
 hearty and well, liappy to welcome you back again beneath the folds of 
 your own Stars and Stripes which you so nobly defended during the three 
 daj's' fight at Winchester. Since I last saw you you have suffered cap- 
 tivity in rebel prisons. "We have been'separated since then, but I have 
 come to see you and to praise you for your gallantry. I saw you in the 
 second day's fight as you charged the enemy from your rifle-pits and 
 drove them back upon their reserves, holding them in check until night, 
 when you fell back, but with your face to the foe. Again I saw you the 
 next morning, facing as hot a fire as I ever witnessed in my life. I looked 
 in vain to see you waver. Boys, it was a hot place, a hot place. I saw 
 you go where none but brave men dare go, saw you make three succes- 
 sive charges, preserving your line aa well as if on dress-parade. I wit- 
 nessed it all. I saw you as you broke the first line of rebel infantry 
 and charged up their batteries, driving away their gunners, still pressing 
 on, and breaking their reserves. Only tlien did you fall back, when your 
 lines were broken and many brave Connecticut men lay bleeding on the 
 field, but you only fell baok to reform and give them another taste of 
 your steel. I knew it was madness to order you forward again, — it was 
 ordering you to death and annihilation, — for I well knew you would at- 
 tempt anything for your general. Boys, I watched you with pride as 
 you charged the third time, but when I saw your ranks melting and 
 your comrades falling it made my heart grow sad within me, and I or- 
 dered you to fall back. Tou know the rest. Tou were surrounded and 
 there was no escape. But I miss your noble commander, Col Ely. May 
 he soon return to you. Boys, to your valor I owe my safety. You come 
 from a State whose soldiers never disgrace themselves nor their flag. I 
 am proud of you, and ever shall be of such soldiers, and now accept my 
 wishes for your safe return to your New England homes when our flag 
 shall wave in triumph over our whole country. Good-by." 
 
 la February of 1864, Col. Ely, with one hundred 
 and eight other officers, escaped through the famous 
 tunnel. They had obtained entrance through a hole 
 in the floor to an unoccupied basement, and thence 
 had dug straight out under Twentieth Street, loosen- 
 ing the earth with an old hinge and removing it in a 
 broken sugar-scoop taken from the hospital ; the sand 
 was then drawn out in a carpet-bag and secreted 
 about the cellar. They were at work upon the tunnel 
 for fifty-five days when the pioneer, Capt. J. N. John- 
 son, of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, struck daylight 
 and came up under an old shed across the street. 
 That night at nine o'clock the first man left, at five 
 next morning the last. About fifty were at last re- 
 captured by the cavalry, who scoured the State in all 
 directions, among them Col. Ely, in a state of great 
 exhaustion ; he was taken by cavalry forty-two miles 
 out, after being absent four days. In March, 1864, 
 Col. William G. Ely, Lieut.-Col. Monroe Nichols, 
 Capt. G. W. Warner, Lieuts. I. N. Kibbe, M. V. B. 
 Tiffany, J. P. Rockwell, and John A. Francis were 
 paroled and returned to the North, their exchange 
 following. The rest of the Eighteenth were on May 
 7th sent to Danville, Va., and after a few days trans- 
 ferred to the new stockade prison at Macon. In De- 
 cember, Capts. D. W. Hakes and Charles D. Brown, 
 with Lieuts. A. H. Lindsay, George Kies, and A. G. 
 Scranton, were paroled and went North. In February, 
 1865, the rest of the officers of the Eighteenth were 
 sent to Charlotte. Lieut. Henry F. Cowles jumped 
 from the cars, was secreted by the negroes, and joined 
 Sherman's advance cavalry. Lieut. Ezra D. Carpen- 
 ter escaped from the hospital and occupied Columbia 
 the day before Gen. Sherman. The remaining officers 
 7 
 
 were paroled at Williamstown, N. C, in March, 1865, 
 having been in captivity twenty-one months without 
 the loss of a man. After a pleasant winter in Mar- 
 tinsburg, Va., the Eighteenth Regiment was ordered 
 on March 7, 1864, to proceed to Harper's Ferry ; here 
 it was encamped for a time on Bolivar Heights, de- 
 tached companies doing provost duty in Maryland. 
 On March 28th the regiment was given a furlough, 
 and the men started for Connecticut in high glee. 
 The fact that the State election was on the tapis at 
 this precise time and that a majority of the members 
 were voters was suspected to have some influence in 
 procuring the visit home. A few pleasant days in 
 Norwich, almost a solid vote for Buckingham, an- 
 other good-by, and back to Bolivar Heights on April 
 9th. After a harmless scout up the Loudon Valley, 
 they arrived at Martinsburg on the 28th. Next day 
 the regiment, now numbering ten officers and six 
 hundred men, still under Maj. Henry Peale, started 
 with a large force under Gen. Sigel. A rapid move 
 to Bunker Hill and Winchester, and the regiment 
 marched over the ground where so many were cap- 
 tured a year before, — there the gallant Porter fell ; 
 there the charges were made ; there the surrender ; 
 there the captivity in the fort. They encamped two 
 miles below town and tarried nine days, while Sigel 
 reviewed his troops and the rebels counted them and 
 reported to Richmond. Before moving again it was 
 doubtless definitely known at the rebel capital about 
 how many men and guns Sigel had and how many 
 would suffice to crush him. On May 9th they pushed 
 forward towards New Market, the Eighteenth being 
 detached on the 14th and sent to Edinburgh to sup- 
 port the Twenty-eighth Ohio, where they had a slight 
 skirmish. At three o'clock next morning these regi- 
 ments were pushed forward to New Market, and ar- 
 rived at ten a.m. in a drenching rain. The Eigh- 
 teenth was inarched into a piece of woods northwest 
 of the town, and while partaking of a breakfast of 
 cofiee and hard-tack the men were ordered into line 
 of battle to the support of a battery. The enemy 
 was shelling the position from a wooded eminence. 
 After an hour's cannonading the three regiments that 
 had come up advanced a short distance in line, the 
 Eighteenth on the right, and came to a halt. Com- 
 panies A and B of the Eighteenth were deployed 
 as skirmishers under Capt. William L. Spaulding. 
 Firing began briskly. The skirmishers of the enemy 
 advanced rapidly, driving ours back to the lines. At 
 this time Capt. Spaulding was mortally wounded in 
 the abdomen, and died an hour later in an ambulance 
 at the rear. The rebels soon came down in three strong 
 lines of battle, with a reserve of seven thousand men. 
 Sigel's main force was still far behind. The enemy 
 took advantage of this, rushing in with great vigor 
 and driving the regiments back to an eminence. 
 Here a stand was made. The official report of Maj. 
 Peale says, — 
 
 The skirmishers of the enemy now appeared on the 
 
94 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 brow of the hill, and rapid firing ensued, in which 
 Capt. J. Matthewson, Company D, was wounded, as 
 also several men of his company. As our skir- 
 mishers retired around our flank the line fired several 
 volleys, when, it being apparent that the line of the 
 enemy greatly outnumbered our own, and that 
 further stay in that position was worse than useless, 
 the commanders of regiments on left of brigade gave 
 the order to retreat, which movement was followed 
 by the Eighteenth. The regiment marching by the 
 flank at double-quick, on emerging from the lane 
 found itself some distance in rear of the retreating 
 line, and was thereby thrown in some confusion, but, 
 with some exceptions, the men were rallied and were 
 reformed with the rest of the first line in rear of 
 the second line, which now awaited the shock. The 
 cannonading was at this time extremely rapid, the 
 rebels shelling our position with great accuracy. 
 While the batteries of our first and second lines 
 poured grape and canister into their infantry, which 
 came on in spendid line, as they drew near our second 
 line fired and charged, partially checking their 
 advance, but, having suffered severely, was forced to 
 retire. For the same reason the enemy contented 
 itself with sending forward strong lines of skirmishers 
 to harass our now retreating force, himself advancing 
 very slowly. Desultory fighting was continued for 
 three hours by our first and second lines alternately, 
 when, two fresh regiments arriving, the broken forces 
 were assembled in rear of them and marched on the 
 pike to the north bank of the Shenandoah, from 
 whence it continued to march until within two miles 
 of Woodstock, where it halted at five a.m., having 
 marched nearly thirty-five miles in twenty-six hours, 
 in addition to that incident to its participation in the 
 action. 
 
 The retreat was continued by Sigel until he reached 
 the east side of Cedar Creek, where the Eighteenth 
 went into camp on May 17th. The regiment had 
 lost one killed, thirty-six wounded, and nineteen 
 missing, as reported by Adjt. G. B. Culver, from 
 Strasburg, but several of the missing were dead in the 
 enemy's hands. At this point Col. William G. Ely, 
 after a long imprisonment, returned to the regiment 
 and resumed command. He was very warmly wel- 
 comed, and responded to the demonstration of his 
 men in a pleasant address. Capt. G. W. Warner and 
 Lieuts. M. B. V. Tiffany, J. T. Maginnis, I. N. Kibbe, 
 and others returned at the same time. Lieut.-Col. 
 Monroe Nichols, on being released from his terrible 
 captivity, resigned on account of protracted ill health. 
 On May 27th the little army started again up the 
 Shenandoah, which a waggish soldier with the Vir- 
 ginian dialect now wrote of as " the hack-doah of the 
 Union." They waded through Woodstock in the 
 mud, ate supper in the mud, slept in the mud, rose 
 and set out again in the mud; remained in New 
 Market four days and advanced ; crossed the Shen- 
 andoah at Port Republic on a pontoon-bridge. May 
 
 4th, marched two miles towards Staunton in the even- 
 ing and bivouacked, the enemy making demonstra- 
 tions in the front. Next morning the column was 
 early on its march, but the rebels skirmished spirit- 
 edly, and on arrival at Piedmont they were found 
 posted advantageously on elevations, prepared to re- 
 ceive battle. Hunter passed his regiments in rapid 
 review, and said to the Eighteenth that he expected 
 them to sustain the honor of Connecticut. Here was 
 an opportunity to wipe out New Market. Strong 
 lines of skirmishers were thrown out by both armies. 
 The lines advanced under a severe fire of shell and 
 musketry, and drove back the rebel skirmishers to- 
 wards their main force. It was all open ground, and 
 the enemy had the advantage of cover and fired 
 rapidly, but the Union skirmishers never wavered. 
 Soon the order. Forward, double-quick, march ! was 
 given, and was followed by an impetuous charge by 
 Hunter's whole force. The rebels stood a few mo- 
 ments, straggled, turned, and fled to their principal 
 breastworks just in the rear. The ground thus gained 
 gave our men much encouragement, but repeated at- 
 tempts to dislodge the enemy again were not so suc- 
 cessful. Finally a battery was ordered up, which 
 fired rapidly and accurately, driving the rebels fl-om 
 a portion of their works. 
 
 The Eighteenth was on the right, fighting most gal- 
 lantly under Col. Ely, giving and taking a severe fire. 
 Lieut. Maginnis had received a bullet in his brain 
 and fallen, his face to the foe; Adjt. Culver was dying; 
 enlisted men lay on every hand. About 5 p.m. 
 the regiment was ordered forward, simultaneously 
 with a charge by a flanking force at the left, and 
 moved calmly up to a last furious attack. The rebels 
 fought desperately for a few minutes, but finally broke 
 in a total rout. Several pieces of artillery were 
 captured and fifteen hundred prisoners, exclusive 
 of wounded. The Eighteenth had conducted itself 
 splendidly this day, and was thanked by Gens. Hun- 
 ter and Sullivan. The bearing of Col. Ely and Maj. 
 Beale was calculated to inspire the men with courage. 
 Col. Ely in his report said, " Our troops fought with 
 undaunted bravery, and at 5 p.m. routed the rebels, 
 captured two thousand prisoners and five thousand 
 stand of arms, and found a large number of severely 
 wounded among the rebel dead. The Eighteenth 
 Connecticut Volunteers was on the right of Gen. 
 Hunter's line of battle; its colors took the lead in the 
 first charge, and floated defiant till we triumphed. 
 All of the color-guard were wounded except one. 
 Our banner, riddled by Minie-balls and cannon-shot, 
 and a loss of one hundred and ninety-seven in killed 
 and wounded tell our story. OflScers and all men 
 behaved most gallantly, obeying orders with alacrity 
 even in the thickest of the fight." The regiment had 
 lost nineteen killed and one hundred and fifteen 
 wounded. Among the wounded were Lieuts. Hinck- 
 ley, J. P. Rockwell, and John Lilley, the last se- 
 verely. Among the killed were Lieuts. Culver and 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 95 
 
 Maginnis, and such men as Charles T. Fanning, W. 
 H. Paine, W. L. Adams, Jerome B. Cahoone, J. T. 
 Bradley, and John B. Scott. Lieut. E. Benjamin 
 Culver, of Norwich, was severely wounded in the 
 head and died the next morning ; he was an officer 
 of great merit, brave to a fault, and a universal 
 favorite. He fell in the thickest of the fight in the 
 first charge. The Eighteenth, greatly reduced in 
 numbers and much exhausted, made its bivouac in 
 the rear of the rebel position, and next morning, sad 
 at thought of the losses but elated by the victory, 
 the column pushed on to Staunton. On the 10th 
 Hunter was reinforced by the commands of Crook 
 and Averill, and now pushing resolutely southward, 
 he passed through Lexington next day, destroying 
 much public property. . The column arrived on the 
 14th at Buchanan, a town on the James Eiver twenty 
 miles west of Lynchburg, where for the first time the 
 old flag was hailed by the cheei^ of the citizens, and 
 the ladies waved their handkerchiefs from the win- 
 dows. The army crossed the James in canal-boats 
 and on the ruins of the old bridge, a wet night, and 
 the men slept with empty stomachs. June 15th was 
 a tiresome, exciting day, marked by the ascent of 
 the Blue Ridge near its highest point, the Peak of 
 Otter. Night was passed upon the mountain, with 
 little to eat. Next morning the grand scenery was 
 left behind. The force descended, destroyed the rail- 
 road, and pushed towards Lynchburg. The Eigh- 
 teenth lay on its arms all night, while the advance 
 skirmished sharply with the enemy within four miles 
 of the city. It was evident that the rebels meant to 
 contest further advance. On the 18th an artillery 
 duel continued through the day, and the enemy made 
 two unsuccessful charges on our line. Col. Ely had 
 a narrow escape here : he was wounded in the throat 
 and was temporarily disabled. Eight others in the 
 regiment were wounded. 
 
 Gen. Early had now reinforced the rebels, and 
 Hunter, his rations and ammunition nearly ex- 
 hausted, after an indecisive battle, fell back north 
 of the James and retired through West Virginia. 
 Surgeon J. V. Harrington, of Stirling, was left behind 
 when the Eighteenth moved ; his consumptive ten- 
 dency had long been apparent, and crossing the 
 mountains produced a hemorrhage. His absence 
 from his post imposed great additional care upon 
 Surgeon Lowell Holbrook, whose labors had been in- 
 creasing every day. The next ten days brought the 
 severest trials the regiment ever experienced, — tedious 
 marches, with little sleep and less food, the whole 
 army hurrying forward to escape starvation in the 
 mountains. The scenes of that terrible march will 
 never be recalled by any survivor without a shudder. 
 The Eighteenth conducted themselves with soldierly 
 manliness and propriety. The retreat was from Lib- 
 erty, back through Salem, across the AUeghanies, 
 thence to Newcastle, Lewisburg, Meadow Bluff, 
 Gauley Bridge, and Camp Piatt, on the Kanawha, 
 
 arriving very much exhausted on July 3d. Next 
 morning the Eighteenth went to Parkersburg via the 
 Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, and thence to Cumber- 
 land, Md., and marched back to Martinsburg, arriv- 
 ing there jaded, ragged, dispirited, and broken down, 
 with a total of one hundred and fifty officers and men. 
 Hunter had made a bold dash on Lynchburg, had 
 gone far from his base of supplies, and had met with 
 failure, but the individual regiments are entitled to 
 great credit. On July 14th the Eighteenth, in Crook's 
 column, passed from Harper's Ferry down the left 
 bank of the Potomac, and next day recrossed and 
 pushed southward through the Loudon Valley, Early 
 crossing at the same time at Point of Rocks. The 
 two corps were again in close proximity. Crook's 
 cavalry made a successful raid upon the enemy's 
 trains, and the infantry pushed on towards Snicker's 
 Gap, which was reached and passed on the 18th. In 
 the afternoon the enemy was found posted across the 
 Shenandoah to hold the ferry and resist the passage 
 of the river. Crook posted a battery so as to com- 
 mand the position, and then began crossing by the 
 ford, two miles below. The Confederates permitted 
 one brigade (including the Eighteenth) to cross with- 
 out molestation, and then made a vigorous onset from 
 the woods, rapidly driving the whole line towards the 
 river. The order was given to retreat by the ford, 
 but great confusion prevailed. The Eighteenth held 
 its position on the right until flanked, and was the 
 last regiment to recross, suffering a loss of six killed 
 and twenty-five wounded. The regiment acquitted 
 itself creditably. It was exposed to a cross-fire ; but 
 did not waver nor retreat until ordered. Ord.-Sergt. 
 Thomas J. Aldrich, of Thompson, was drowned, 
 Capt. Joseph Matthewson was wounded in the thigh, 
 Lieuts. M. V. B. Tiffany and F. G. Bixby were also 
 wounded after being thus disgracefully entrapped. 
 Crook drew ofi", and awaited the arrival of the Sixth 
 and Nineteenth Corps, which came up next day. 
 The Eighteenth Regiment, now numbering less than 
 a hundred rank and file, passed slowly westward to 
 Winchester, and camped on the night of the 22d on 
 familiar ground. Next morning they moved out two 
 miles on the Romney road, and lay all day in line of 
 battle, the enemy not being far off". On the 24th the 
 Eighteenth was on the west side of the Strasburg 
 pike, and found the rebels advancing in force. They 
 soon furiously attacked the left of our line, which 
 gave way, exposing the extreme right, held by the 
 Eighteenth, and compelling it to fall back. It re- 
 treated in good order over the ridge west of Win- 
 chester, halting twice and forming in line of battle 
 to check the pursuing force. On the left our cavalry 
 had been driven back in confusion upon the infantry, 
 and the Eighteenth narrowly escaped capture within 
 a short distance of the fatal disaster of the year pre- 
 vious. The whole army was again in full retreat, and 
 the Eighteenth reached Martinsburg early next morn- 
 ing with a loss of ten or twelve men, prisoners, and 
 
96 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 arrived at Williamsport and forded the Potomac with 
 the army at dawn of the 26th. For several days the 
 regiment remained along the Potomac in the vicinity 
 of Harper's Ferry, where a force now gathered to in- 
 tercept the raid of Early in Pennsylvania, where he 
 had already burned Chambersburg. 
 
 The Eighteenth continued with the Eighth Corps 
 until September 12th, when, after the sharp and suc- 
 cessful skirmish at Berryville, it was detached to re- 
 cuperate. Its recent severe service under Hunter 
 had sadly diminished its numbers and impaired its 
 efficiency, and it was ordered to Martinsburg, and 
 was not engaged in the succeeding battles of the 
 autumn. Col. Wm. G. Ely, who had been a brave 
 and skillful officer, and who had retained in a marked 
 degree the confidence of the regiment, here resigned, 
 and received the compliment of promotion to the rank 
 of brigadier-general by brevet. He had served three 
 years and eight months faithfully. Capt. M. V. B. 
 Tiffany, commanding the regiment in the temporary 
 absence of Maj. Peale, wrote of Gen. Ely: " I cannot 
 but express, in behalf of the regiment, the sincere re- 
 gret we feel in parting from one who has so long been 
 our champion and leader, and endeared himself to us 
 by his many ennobling qualities. On the long, weary 
 march, in the sanguinary engagement, when the 
 enemy surrounded and danger on every side threat- 
 ened, he has ever been present with us ; he has been 
 most faithful to his trust, strict in discipline, firm, 
 resolute, but just in the exercise of his authority. By 
 his undaunted courage, by his calm and deliberate 
 judgment, by his own patient endurance of hardships ! 
 and sufferings, and his ever-cheerful willingness to 
 comply with the requirements of his position, he has 
 won for himself the entire confidence, respect, and 
 esteem of his command, — in a word, we have always 
 been proud of our colonel. It has filled us with ad- 
 miration, strengthened our courage, and inspired us 
 with renewed confidence as we have seen him in the 
 impetuous charge, dashing forward on the leading 
 flank, and cheering on his men by his own enthusi- 
 astic bravery. During the latter part of his term of 
 service he has been in command of the Second Bri- 
 gade, First Division, Army of West Virginia, in the 
 exercise of which command he has acquitted himself 
 with that ability, efficiency, and characteristic bravery 
 which ever distinguished him as a regimental com- 
 mander, and thus gained for himself the deserving 
 commendations of his superiors in command." 
 
 Muster Out of the Eighteenth. — On June 27th the 
 Eighteenth was mustered out at Harper's Ferry, having 
 been for three months on provost duty at Martinsburg. 
 Capt. Joseph Matthewson, of Pomfret, had been pro- 
 moted to be major. Its losses had been heavy, its 
 service difficult. For two years it had formed a part 
 of the uneasy shuttle that had been whirled back and 
 forth through the Shenandoah Valley, as Sigel, Ewell 
 Hunter, Jubal Early, or Sheridan put a hand to the 
 loom. Its eflforts had not always been crowned with 
 
 visible success, but success had come at last, and no 
 regiment could say how much or how little had been 
 its real part in weaving the perfect garment of final 
 victory. The regiment returned to Connecticut im- 
 mediately, and arrived at Hartford on the boat at 
 half-past six o'clock on the morning of the 29th. 
 The men were escorted up State Street, and formed 
 in line on Central Eow, where they were received 
 with speeches by Governor Buckingham for the State, 
 Col. G. P. Bissell for the city, Hon. John T. Wait and 
 Representative George Pratt, of Norwich, for New 
 London County, and Senator Bugbee for Windham 
 County. The soldiers then breakfasted at the hotel 
 and eagerly departed for their homes. 
 
 Casualties. — Killed in action, 52 ; died of wounds, 
 14 ; died of disease, 72 ; discharged prior to muster 
 out of regiment, 323 ; missing at muster out of regi- 
 ment, 12. 
 
 FIELD- AND STATF-OFriCBRS. 
 William G. Ely, colonel, Norwich, must, in July 24, 1862; wounded; 
 
 disch. Sept. 18, 1864. 
 Monroe Nichols, lieut.-colonel, Thompson, must, in Aug. 8,1862; res. 
 
 April 26, 1864. 
 Ephraim Keech, Jr., major, Killingly, must, in Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for 
 
 disability, May 20, 1863. 
 Edward L. Porter, adjutant. New London, must, in Aug. 4, 1862; pro. 
 
 capt. ; killed at Winchester, Va., June 15, 1863. 
 Dwight W. Hakes, qr.master, Norwich, must, in Aug. 4, 1862; disch. for 
 
 promotion, April 13, 1865. 
 Charles M. Carleton, surgeon, Norwich, must, in Aug. 6, 1862; res. for 
 
 disability, April 17, 1863. 
 Josiah V. Harrington, Sterling, first asst. surgeon, must, in Aug. 11, 
 
 1862 ; died Dec. 1, 1864, at Sterling. 
 Henry W. Hough, second asst. surgeon, Putnam, must, in Sept. 20, 1862; 
 
 res. March 6, 1863. 
 Varnum A. Cooper, chaplain. New London, must, in Aug. 27, 1862; res. 
 
 March 4, 1863. 
 Joseph P. Rockwell, sergt.-maj., Norwich, must, in July 26, 1862; 
 
 wounded ; pro. capt. ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Wm. Oaruthers, q.m.-sergt, Norwich, must, in July 14, 1862; wounded; 
 
 pro. 1st lieut. ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Henry Hovey, com.-sergt., Norwich, must, in Aug. 4, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 
 Officers Appointed aftee First Muster. 
 Lowell Holbrook, surgeon, Thompson, appointed April 23,1863; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 William B. North, second asst. surgeon. New Britain, appointed March 
 
 20, 1863 ; res. May 9, 1864. 
 Charles H, Kowe, second asst. surgeon, Farmington, appointed Sept. 2, 
 
 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 William C. Walker, chaplain, Putnam, appointed Jan. 19, 1864 ; must out 
 
 June 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 
 COMPANY A. 
 Henry 0. Davis, capt., Norwich, must, in Aug. 8, 1862; hon. disch. April 
 
 26,1866. 
 Adam H. Lindsley, first lieut., Norwich, must, in Aug. 8, 1862; hon. 
 
 disch. April 17, 1865. 
 James D. Higgins, second lient., Norwich, must, in Aug. 2, 1862; hon. 
 
 disch. Oct. 27, 1864. 
 Robert Kerr, sergt., Norwich, must, in July 18, 1862; pro. 1st lieut.; 
 
 must out (as 2d lieut.) June 27, 1865. 
 David Torrance, sergt., Norwich, must, in July 17, 1862; discharged; 
 
 appointed capt. 29th Conn. Vols. Dec. 26, 1863. 
 George S. Town, sergt., Norwich, must, in July 21, 1862 ; wounded June 
 
 6, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va, 
 Samuel J. Lee, sergt., Norwich, must, in Aug. 2, 1862; wounded June 
 
 18, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Lewis Hovey, sergt., Scotland, must, iu July 26, 1862 ; wounded May 
 
 15, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 97 
 
 George B. Marshall, Corp., Norwich, must, id July 29, 1862 ; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Gabriel B. Hartford, corp., Canterbury, must, in July 18, 1862; killed in 
 
 action, July 18, 1864, at Snicker's Ferry, Va. 
 Asa Dillaby, corp., Norwich, must, in July 18, 1862 ; mi'st. out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 "William J. Ross, corp., Norwich, must, in July 23, 1862 ; disch. to accept 
 
 appointment in colored troops, Jan. 21, 1864. 
 Alfred J. Huntington, corp., Bozrah, must, in July 22, 1862; wounded 
 
 July 24, 1864 ; must, out May 23, 1865, at Harper's Ferr>', Va. 
 Benjamin F, Jacques, corp., Norwich, must, in July 22, 1862 ; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Lyman Frisbie, corp., Norwich, must, in Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 George C. Setchel, coi-p., Norwich, must, in Aug. 2, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Alex. K. Cochran, musician, Norwich, must, in Aug. 7, 1862. 
 Andrew F. Whiting, musician, Norwich, must, in July 23, 1862; disch. 
 
 Feb. 18, 1864. 
 William H. Burdick, wagoner, Norwich, must, in July 26,1862; must. 
 
 out June 19, 1865, at Baltimore, Md. 
 Adams, Milan W., Canterbui-y, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Avery, Edwin P., Canterbury, enl. July 17, 1862 ; disch. Oct. 4, 1864. 
 Adams, William N., Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; trans, to Inv, Corps ; 
 
 must, out July 14, 1865. 
 Button, Guy D., Norwich, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; disch. for disability, June 
 
 18, 1865. 
 Bishop, Andrew, Bozrah, enl. July 21, 1862; wounded and captured; 
 
 died July 24, 1864, at Andersonville. 
 Brand, Lewis, Bozrah, enl. July 21, 1862 ; disch. for disability, August, '63, 
 Burdick, Horatio, Norwich, enl. July 23, 1862; died Oct. 9, 1862, at Fort 
 
 McHenry, Md. 
 Brady, Patrick, Norwich, enl. July 26, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Burdick, Samuel, Norwich, enl. July 25, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 
 4,1864. 
 Byron, James, Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Bennett, Ebeuezer S., Canterbury, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; disch, for disability, 
 
 Feb. 3, 1864. 
 Clark, William T., Bozrah, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Chapman, Elias H., Griswold, enl. July 31, 1862 ; died July 30, 1863, at 
 
 Annapolis, Md. 
 Clark, John S., Norwich, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 ■ Card, Charles P., Canterbury, enl. Aug. 3, 1862 ; trans, to Inv. Corps, 
 Sept. 30, 1863. 
 Chapell, Samuel H., Norwich, enl. July 19, 1862. 
 Carey, Charles W., Norwich, enl. July 24, 1862 ; must, out July 1, 1865, 
 
 at Cumberland, Md. 
 Campbell, Peter, Preston, enl, July 21, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Carver, James, Norwich, enl. July 28, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Carney, Daniel, Norwich, enl. July 22, 1862 ; wounded June 18, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out May 28, 1865. 
 Crawford, John, Norwich, enl. July 22, 1862; died July 2, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Winchester. 
 Clark, James, Norwich, enl. July 23, 1862; trans, to Vet Res. Corps; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Cushman, David F., Norwich, enl. July 21, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Clark, Francis L., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Cnpwell, George W., Bozrah, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Chalmers, John, Norwich, enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Dean, John S., Hampton, enl. Aug. 3, 1862. 
 Durfey, Henry M., Norwich, enl, Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Delane^, John, Norwich, enl. July 17, 1862 ; killed July 18, 1864, at 
 
 Snickers Ferry, Va. 
 Fanning, George W., Norwich, enl. July 29, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 March 25, 1864. 
 
 Gaskill, Henry C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 1, 1862: wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 died Feb. 20, 1865, at Danville. 
 Gilroy, Charles, Norwich, enl. July 24, 1862. 
 Gorry, John, Norwich, enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Gibson, Savillian F., Norwich, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Greene, Albert C, Canterbury, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out May 31, 
 
 1865, at Frederick, Md. 
 Greene, John S., Canterbury, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; wounded May 15, 1804 ; 
 
 killed June 5, 1864, at Piedmont. 
 Holdridge, William A., Waterford, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Hill, Elisha D., Norwich, enl. July 21, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Hancock, Joseph A., Norwich, enl. July 23, 1862; wounded May 15, 
 
 1864; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Hanley, Michael, Norwich, enl. July 22, 1862; wounded June 15, 1863; 
 
 disch. for disability, June 16, 1864. 
 Johnson, Daniel H., Norwich, enl. July 29, 1862 ; wounded July 18, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1866. 
 Kelley, Andrew J., Norwich, enl. Aug. 2> 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Kerr, John, Norwich, enl. July 23, 1862 ; trans, to Inv. Corps, May 1, '64. 
 Kingsley, Jared L., Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Laird, John, Norwich, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Leonard, M. Luther, Norwich, enl. July 25, 1862 ; disch. to enter U. S. 
 
 C, T., March 4, 1864. 
 Latham, Albert, Norwich, enl. July 25, 1862; disch. April 10, 1864. 
 Martin, John W., Norwich, enl. July 17, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Matthewson, Alfred, Bozrah, enl. July 21, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 McCracken, James, Norwich, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; killed June 15, 1863, 
 
 at Winchester. 
 Martin, Islay B., Norwich, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; died July 2, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Winchester. 
 Mitchell, William C, Preston, enl. July 21, 1862; wounded June 18, 
 
 1864 ; must, out June 7, 1865. 
 Muzzey, Benjamin H., Norwich, enl. July 31, 1862; must, out May 20, 
 
 1865, at Hartford, Conn. 
 Marshall, Wilson C, Norwich, enl. July 23, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Miner, Charles H., Jr., Norwich, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 McDavid, George, Norwich, enl. July 19, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 1, 1863. 
 Moagman, Alexander, Norwich, enl. July 19, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Feri-y. 
 McClure, John, Norwich, enl. July 19, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Pitcher, George, Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Pitcher, Albert H., Norwich, enl. July 23, 1862; wounded June 16, 
 
 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Parker, Timothy, Norwich, enl. July 23, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Robinson, Francis, Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 2, 1863. 
 Ray, George H., Canterbury, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Richards, Charles J., Norwich, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; must, out May 22, 
 
 1865, at Jarvis Hnspital. 
 Sen-ice, Thomas, Norwich, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Sherman, Horace U., Norwich, enl, July 23, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Schofield, Le Grand, Norwich, enl. July 17, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Spencer, Stephen H., Norwich, enl. July 26, 1862 ; wounded June 5, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Shaw, Daniel, Norwich, enl July 26, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Semples, James W., Norwich, enl. July 26, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
98 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Service, John, Norwich, enl. July 17, 1862 ; must out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Sullivan, Daniel B., Norwich, enl. July 26, 1862 ; wounded June 16, 1863 ; 
 
 must, out May 18, 1865. 
 Sweet, Edwin, Canterbury, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; disch. for disability, Feb. Y, 
 
 1863. 
 Town, William H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; died March 28, 1864, at 
 
 Sandy Hook, Md. 
 Thompson, Nelson C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; died June 30, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Winchester. 
 Taylor, Samuel, Norwich, enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Tifft, John H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1866, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Wood, Asa F., Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Wood, Alfred, Norwich, enl. July 23, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Worden, Samuel D., Canterbury, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; wounded June 16, 
 
 1863; disch. for disability, March 8, 1864. 
 Young, Eobert, Norwich, enl. July 25, 1862; must, out June 27, 1866, at 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Rbcrxjits for Company A. 
 Allen, Alonzo N., Canterbury, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Allen, Charles, Norwich, enl. Dec. 28, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1866, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Baker, Erastus, Canterbury, enl. Dec. 29, 1863; must, out May 31, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Brown, Francis, Stonington, enl. Jan. 17, 1866 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Oongdon, Benjamin, Lebanon, enl. Jan. 2, 1864; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Carver, William, Norwich, enl. April 21, 1864 ; disch. May 8, 1865, at 
 
 Davenport, Iowa. 
 Clark, John, Norwich, enl, Dec. 24, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Carpenter, Daniel,l on roll, enl. Feb. 28, 1865 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Dewing, James, Canterbury, enl. Dec. 29, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Jones, Thomas F., Bridgeport, enl. May 13, 1863 ; killed June 16, 1863, 
 
 at Winchester. 
 Johnson, William H., Canterbury, enl. Dec. 29, 1863 ; must, out May 31, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 McDavitt, Arthur, Stonington, enl. Jan. 17, 1865; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 MoKackine, James, Putnam, enl. Jan. 18, 1866 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Phinney, John, Canterbury, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 nt Harper's Ferry. 
 Wells, Joseph A., Marlborough, enl. Dec. 31, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Wetherel, Benjamin S., Norwich, enl. Jan. 3, 1866; must, out June 27, 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 COMPANY B. 
 Thomas K. Bates, capt., Brooklyn, enl. July 16, 1862; wounded; disch. 
 
 for disability, Nov. 17, 1863. 
 Horatio Blanchard, flrst lieut., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; pro. capt. ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Ezra D. Carpenter, second lieut., Putnam, enl. July 14, 1862; must out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, 
 Edgar Amsbury, sergt., Killingly, enl. July 14, 1862 ; must, out May 17, 
 
 1865, at Frederick, Md. 
 
 Sim. 0. Chamberlain, sergt., Brooklyn, enl. Aug. 2, 1862 ; must out May 
 
 20, 1866, at Frederick. 
 Caleb Blanchard, sergt., Killingly, enl. July 18, 1862; must, out May 20 
 
 1866, at Hartford. ' 
 Stephen W. Aldrich, sergt., Brooklyn, eul. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 George Torrey, sergt, Woodstock, enl. July 16, 1862; disch. for appoint- 
 ment in U. S. C. T., Dec. 8, 1863. 
 
 Anson Withey, Corp., Killingly, enl. Aug. 4, 1802 ; disch. for appointment 
 in U. S. C. T., Dec. 8, 1863. 
 
 > Substitute or drafted. 
 
 Laurens Card, corp., Killingly, enl. Aug. 2, 1862 ; must out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Stephen J. Lee, Corp., Killingly, enl. July 31, 1862 ; must out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Henry F. Paine, Corp., Putnam, enl. July 21, 1862 ; wounded ; died Aug. 
 
 10. 1864. 
 
 Samuel E. Davis, Corp., Killingly, enl. July 28, 1862 ; disch. April 1, '64. 
 William H. Austin, corp., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Dec. 24, 1862. 
 Edwin L. Joslyn, corp., Killingly, enl. July 26, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Thomas M. Day, corp., Killingly, enl. Aug. 2, 1862 ; must out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Henry B. Fuller, musician, Killingly, enl. July 16, 1862 ; must out June 
 
 27. 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Dwipht C. Brown, musician, Killingly, enl. July 21, 1862 ; must out 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 William A. Handy, wagoner, Killingly, enl. July 21, 1862 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Feb. 15, 1864. 
 
 Adams, John Q., Brooklyn, enl. July 12, 1862; died May, 1864, at Mar- 
 tinsburg, Va. 
 
 Adams, William A., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must out June 27, 1865, 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Adams, Olney, Killingly, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out May 18, 1865, at 
 New Haven. 
 
 Aldrich, Welcome B., Putnam, enl. July 14, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Anderson, William H., Putnam, enl. July 22, 1862; must, out May 24, 
 
 1865, at New York City. 
 
 Arnold,, Lorenzo B., Brooklyn, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Armington, Joseph, Killingly, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Burroughs, Oeorge H., Killingly, enl. July 29, 1862 ; must out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. ' 
 Burroughs, Francis, Killingly, enl. Aug. 2, 1862 ; must, out May 23, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bemis, Harrison O., Killingly, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Buck, Lorenzo H., Putnam, enl. Aug. 4,1862; died Dec. 28, 1863, at 
 
 Martinsburg. 
 Bartlett, Edwin S., Woodstock, enl. July 16,1862; must, out June 17, 
 
 1865, at Worcester. 
 Bacon, Abner F., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out May 20, 1866, 
 
 at Hartford. 
 Brown, Harlan P., Killingly, enl. Aug. 2, 1862 ; discli. for disability, 
 
 March 2, 1863. 
 Bolles, Darius A., Killingly, enl. July 14, 1862 ; mugt out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Baker, George R., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bartlett, George W., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must out June 7, 
 
 1865, at Annapolis. 
 Brewster, Sidney M., Putnam, enl. July 26, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Cragan, Martin, Killingly, enl. July 23, 1862 ; must out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Clark, Allen, Killingly, enl. July 24,1862; must out May 30, 1866, at 
 
 Hartford. 
 Colvin, David M., Brooklyn, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Cook, Elmer D., Putnam, enl. July 26, 1862 ; wounded; must out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Chesbro, George L., Killingly, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 2, 1863. 
 Campbell, Charles, Plainfleld, enl. July 17, 1862 ; wounded; must out 
 
 June 2, 1865, at Jarvis Hospital. 
 Corcoran, Thomas, Putnam, enl. July 14, 1862 ; must out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Coomes, Eansalner, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 2, 1863. 
 Chaffee, Myron J., Woodstock, enl. July 21, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Dauielsou, Daniel D., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Dye, Vanburen, Brooklyn, enl. July 22, 1862; must, out Juno 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 99 
 
 Sonahue, John, Killingly, enl. July 26, 1862; must, out May 30, 1865, 
 
 at Yoik. 
 Daggett, James, Killingly, enl. July 23,1862; killed June 16, 1863, at 
 
 Winchester. 
 Emerson, David, Brooklyn, enl. July 26, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Freeman, Frederick M., Killingly, enl. July 18, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Fox, John A., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; must, out May 30, 1866, at 
 
 Hartford. 
 Frazier, Richard, Killingly, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; wounded ; disch, for dis- 
 ability, Dec. 14, 1863. 
 Franklin, Edmund, Killingly, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out July 14, 1865, 
 
 at Hartford. 
 Gordon, Elias K., Killingly, enl. July 15, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Green, David, Killingly, enl. July 28, 1862; died June 20, 1863, at Bal- 
 timore. 
 Geer, Henry H., Brooklyn, enl. July 21, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 2, 1863. 
 Green, Clarendon M., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Gould, Henry K., Killingly, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Gochie, Joseph, Killingly, enl. July 29, 1862; disch. for disability, Dec. 
 
 18, 1863. 
 Hart, Lewis, Brooklyn, enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 19, 1865, at 
 
 York. 
 Heath, George W., Putnam, enl. July 21, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Harrington, John, Putnam, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Hai-per's Ferry. 
 Houghton, Amasa, Killingly, enl, July 24, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Oct. 13, 1862. 
 Hall, William A., Wood^stock, enl. July 18,1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 31, 1863. 
 Hibbard, Albert, Woodstock, enl. July 28, 1862; wounded; died Nov. 18, 
 
 1864, at Andersonville. 
 
 Kilfoyle, Patrick, Killingly, enl. July 23, 1862. 
 
 Kelly, Norman, Killingly, enl. July 31, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Kinney, Nathan, Killingly, enl. July 28, 1862; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Matbewson, Hazel E., Brooklyn, enl. July 29, 1862; died Dec. 11, 1864, 
 
 at Annapolis. 
 Mclntyre, William, Killingly, enl. July 30, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Morse, Stephen H., Brooklyn, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Mathews, Altiery K., Killingly, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Oct. 12, 1862. 
 McLaughlin, Hugh, Flainfleld, enl. July 28, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Morse, Needham, Killingly, enl. July 31, 1862 ; disch. June 18, 1863. 
 Miller, Josiah, Putnam, enl. July 31, 1862; must, out June 27, 1866, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Neff, Hamilton H., Brooklyn, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Olney, William F., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Olney, Charles E., Killingly, enl. July 31, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Paine, John M., Woodstock, enl. July 30, 1862 ; disch. for appointment 
 
 in U. S. C. T., March 6, 1864. 
 Pike, William H., Plainfleld, enl. July 29, 1862 ; died Sept. 26, 1864, at 
 
 Charleston. 
 Potter, Alvah D., Putnam, enl. July 30, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Pollock, William H., Killingly, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; disch. June 18, 1863. 
 Eichmond, Calvin H., Killingly, enl. July 25, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Randall, John W., Killingly, enl. Aug. 2, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Eandall, Smith H., Killingly, enl. July 14, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Smith, Isaac W., Killingly, enl. July 22, 1862 j disch. for disability, March 
 
 2, 1863. 
 
 Stewart, John F., Killingly, enl. July 14, 1862 ; must, out May 20, 1865, 
 
 at Frederick. 
 Simmons, Thomas, Killingly, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; killed June 16, 1863, at 
 
 Winchester. 
 Spaulding, Samuel K., Putnam, enl. July 28, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Sawyer, James H., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 4,1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1863, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Spaulding, Edmond W., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1,1862; must, out June 
 
 10. 1865, at Annapolis. 
 
 Scofleld, Uri B., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Trask, William A., Plainfleld, enl. July 29, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Taylor, Lucian A., Woodstock, enl. July 15, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Taylor, James A., Killingly, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; disch. for disability, May, 
 
 1863. 
 Trask, Adelbert E., Plainfleld, enl. July 14,1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Ward, William H., Putnam, enl. July 29, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Wood, Edwin K., Putnam, enl. July 16, 1862; wounded; disch. for dis- 
 ability. May 4, 1865. 
 
 Watson, James, Plainfleld, enl. July 14, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Eeceuits fob Company B. 
 Armington, Samuel, Killingly, enl. Dec. 31, 1863; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Armington, Charles, Killingly, enl. Dec. 31,1863; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Blanchard, C. F. C, Killingly, enl. Feb. 6, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Clemens, George, Killingly, enl. Jan. 25, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Durfee, Leonard, Killingly, enl. Dec. 3, 1863; disch. for disability, Oct. 
 
 13, 1864, at New Haven. 
 Jencks, Albert L., Sterling, enl. Dec. 7, 1863; must, out June 7, 1866, at 
 
 Jarvis U. S. A. Hosp. 
 Knowlton, George H., enl. Nov. 23, 1863 ; trans. July 16, 1864, to 15th 
 
 Connecticut. 
 McEoy, William, Lebanon, enl. March 2, !l864 ; died Oct. 27, 1864, at 
 
 Annapolis. 
 Ninis, William, Lebanon, enl. March 2, 1864 ; must, out July 15, 1865, at 
 
 Annapolis. 
 Smith, Charles W., Killingly, enl. Dec. 3, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Smith, Elisha, Killingly, enl. Dec. 1, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Smith, John F., Killingly, enl. Feb. 29, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Sherman, Wilet H., Lebanon, enl. March 2, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 COMPANY C. 
 Isaac H. Bromley, capt., Norwich; enl. July 26, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 March 31, 1863. 
 Samuel T. C. Merwin, first lieut., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; pro. capt.; 
 
 must, out as 1st lieut. June 27, 1865. 
 Henry Flowers, second lieut., Norwich, enl. July 26, 1862 ; pro. 1st 
 
 lieut. ; hon. disch. May 16, 1865. 
 Reuben B. Brown, sergt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out June 
 
 21, 1865, at Hartford. 
 Andrew Washburn, sergt., Lebanon, enl. July 31, 1862; pro. 2d lieut.; 
 
 disch. for appointment in C. S. C. T., Feb. 24, 1864. 
 Charles Eotiinson, sergt., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; pro. 2d lieut. ; 
 
 h'on. disch. for appointment in U. S. 0. T. 
 Edward S. Hinkley, sergt., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; pro. 1st lieut.; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Charles H. Carpenter, sergt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 27. 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Samuel H. Freeman, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; wounded ; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Thomas C. Abell, Corp., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out May 19, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 George E. Bill, Corp., Lebanon, enl. July 31, 1862; disch. April 7, 1864. 
 
100 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Restconie Peckham,Lebanon,corp., enl. Aug, 8, 18fi2; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, lit Harper's Ferry. 
 E. Benjjimin Culver, corp., Norwich, eul. July 26, 1862; pi'o. adjt. ; died 
 
 of wounds June 6, 1864, at Richmond. 
 Alonzo S. Mather, corji., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; disch, March 28, 1864. 
 Sylvanus Downer, corp , Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; wounded; died 
 
 Nov. 5, 1864, at Andersonville. 
 George E. Uomius, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 24, 1862; wounded ; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1365, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Charles E. Case, musician, Norwich, enl. July 29, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Judson A. Gager, musician, Lebanon, eiil. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 William A. Wetmore, wagoner, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 2, 1865, at Jarvis Hospital. 
 Abell, John W., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Feny. 
 Anderson, Charlps W., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, oat June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Avery, Charles M., Preston, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Avery, James H., Preston, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out May 30, 1865, at 
 
 Hartford. 
 Bacon, Harrison E., Norwich, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out May 23, 1865, 
 
 at Frederick. 
 Blackman, B. Burrell, Norwich, enl. July 26, 1862 ; disch. for appointment 
 
 in U. S. Col. Troops, March 23, 1864. 
 Bingham, Henry A., Lisbon, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; disch. for appointment 
 
 in U. S. Col. Troops, March 23, 1864. 
 Bramble, Calvin, Lyme, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Brand, Christopher A., Norwich, enl. July 26, 1862 ; trans, to 2lst Conn. 
 
 Vols. Aug. 18, 1862. 
 Brady, George W., Norwich, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; pro. adjt. ; must, out June 
 
 27, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Brockway, Thomas Q., Lyme, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 
 
 23, 1862. 
 Burdick, Gilbert A., Preston, enl. July 26, 1862 ; must, out June 22, 1865, 
 
 at Frederick. 
 Carey, Joel, Norwich, enl. Aug. 2,1862; wounded; must, out May 22, 
 
 1865, at Jarvis Hospital. 
 Carpenter, Charles H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; disch. for appoint- 
 ment in U. S. Col. Troops. 
 Coggawell, George, Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Congdoii, PelegC, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; must, out .Tune 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry, 
 Chappell, Charles C, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; wounded; must, out 
 
 June 27. 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Clark, Joseph P., Scotland, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out May 18, 1865, at 
 
 New Haven. 
 Clark, Henry T., Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27,1865,at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Cross, George W., Norwich, enl. Aug 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 lit Harper's Ferry. 
 Crosby, Hiram B., Norwich, enl. July 16, 1862 ; pro. col. ; hou. disch. as 
 
 lieut.-col. Sept. 14, 1864. 
 Davoll, Joseph G., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; disch. for disability. May 
 
 6, 1863. 
 Dorrance, George E., Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; trans, to Inv. Corps, 
 
 March 15, 1864. 
 Durfee, Abisha P., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; wounded; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Ellis, William H. H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Ellsworth, Charles H., Griswold, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; wounded ; must, out 
 
 May 18, 1865, at New Haven. 
 Ellsworth, David, Berlin, enl. Aug. 21, 1862; must, out June 5, 1865, at 
 
 Annapolis. 
 Fanning, Charles T., Norwich, enl. July 31,1862; killed June 5, 1864, 
 
 at Piedmont. 
 Fitch, Edwin H., Jr., Norwich, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Fletcher, Freeborn 0., Norwich, enl. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 27 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. * 
 
 Gates, Alfred E., Lebanon, eul. Aug. 13, 1862; wouuded June 5, 1864- 
 
 captured June 10, 1864. * 
 
 Greer, Charles F., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 5, 1862: must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Green, Joseph B., Griswold, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Groenman, George, Norwich, enl. Aug. 18, 1862 ; disch. for appointment 
 
 in U. S. Col. Troops, March 23, 1864. 
 Hamilton, William H., Norwich, enl. July 29, 1862 ; killed June 5, 1864, 
 
 at Piedmont. 
 Hempstead, Albert, Norwich, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Holmes, John, Preston, enL July 26,1862; must, out June 29, 1865, at 
 
 Hai-per's Ferry. 
 Holmes, Asher D,, Lebanon, enl Aug. 7, 1862 ; killed June 15, 1863, at 
 
 Winchester. 
 Huntington, J. L. W., Franklin, enl. July 30, 1862 ; discharged to enhst 
 
 in U. S. army, Feb. 11, 1864. 
 Jewell, William C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 28, 1863. 
 Keeler, George W., Preston, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 29, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Keables, Charles F., Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded; trans, to Vet. 
 
 Res. Corps; must, out Aug. 17, 1865. 
 Kidder, Edwin M., Lebanon, enl, Aug. 13, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Krans, Adam, Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Leach, Edwin T., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; disch. for appointment in 
 
 U, S. Col. Troops, Feb. 24, 1864. 
 Loomis, Adgate L., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; disch. for appointment 
 
 in U. S. Col. Troops, March 23, 1864. 
 Lord, Nelson P., Lebanon, enl, July 31, 1862; wounded; disch, for disa- 
 bility, Dec. 16, 1863. 
 Lombard, Marcina, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 4, 1863. 
 Lumis, Thomas J., Norwich, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Lynch, Charles, Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Manning, Lemuel A., Norwich, enl. July 29, 1862; wounded; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Mc Whirr, John F., Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Muzzy, Walter H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; wounded; must. out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Noyes, Charles C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; killed June 15, 1863, at 
 
 Winchester. 
 Ormsby, Henry B., Lebanon, enl. July 31, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 4, 1863. 
 Pember, Lucius G., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; died Dec. 27, 1864,at 
 
 Annapolis. 
 Potter, Elisha R., Norwich, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; wounded; must, out June 
 
 9, 1865, at Annapolis. 
 Reynolds, John M., Lyme, enL Aug. 7, 1862; disch. for disability, March 
 
 4, 1863. 
 Richards, Wm. H. H., New London, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for dis- 
 ability about Sept. 10, 1863. 
 Ripley, James D., Norwich, enl. July 16, 1862; wounded; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Feny. 
 Robinson, Myron W., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; disch.; enl. in U. S. 
 
 army, Nov. 16, 1862. 
 Schalk, John, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; died Aug. 16, 1863. 
 Spencer, Frederick L,, Lebanou, enl, Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Stone, William, Lyme, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps; 
 
 must, out June 6, 1865, at Washington. 
 Snllard, Albert, Lebanon, enL Aug. 6, 1862; disch. June 5,1864, at New 
 
 Haven. 
 Taylor, Francis W., Norwich, enh Aug. 7, 1862; wounded; died March 
 
 28, 1865, at Annapolis. 
 Tilley, Charles H., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out May 24, 1866, 
 
 at Annapolis Junction. 
 Tilden, Joseph A., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865. at Harper's Ferry. 
 Tilden, Ebenezer, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out May 30, 1865, at 
 
 Hartford. 
 Tisdale, James W., Norwich, enl. July 29, 1862 ; must, ont June 27, 1868, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 101 
 
 Tracy, Joseph A., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; died Aug. 7, 1864, of 
 
 wounds received in action. 
 Tracy, Gilbert A., Griswold, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; disch, June 16, 1863. 
 Tucker, George AV., Lyme, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; disch. for disability, Sept. 
 
 1, 1863. 
 TIpham, Benjamin M., Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; trans, to Vet. Res. 
 
 Corps, Jan. 1,1865. 
 Ward, George W., Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; died Feb. 6, 1865, at An- 
 
 dersonville. 
 "Weaver, George A., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 "White, Edwin, Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1866, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Williams, John, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Wilson, Dee Laroo, Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; promoted second lieut. 
 
 Third Maryland Cavalry about Aug. 12, 1863. 
 Winehip, Joseph H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; died April 5, 1864, at 
 
 Andersonville. 
 Wood man cy, Albert G., Stonington, enl. July 30, 1862; killed June 15, 
 
 1863, at Winchester. 
 York, James B., Norwich, enl. July 30, 1862 ; wounded; must, out June 
 27, 1863, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Kecrtjits for Company C. 
 Adams, Judson M. _L., Killingly, enl. Feb. 5, 1864; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Brown, Benjamin B., Lebanon, enl. Dec. 30, 1863 ; must, out May 18, 1865, 
 
 at New Haven. 
 Bates, Charles E., Thompson, enl. Jan. 4, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Burnham, James T., Willimantic, enl. Dec. 30, 1863; killed June 5,1864, 
 
 at Piedmont. 
 Cady, James, Woodstock, enl. Dec. 16, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Cryne, Martin, Windham, enl. Jan. 5, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Connell, Joseph, Norwich, enl. Jan. 25, 1864 ; disch. for disability, June 
 
 21, 1865, at New Haven. 
 Corey, Richmond, Lebanon, enl. March 16, 1864 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 25, 1865. 
 Orudy, Patrick, Pomfret, enl. Sept. 2, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Fry, Joseph R., Hartford, enl. Dec. 21, 1863; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Gamble, James, Canterbury, enl. Dec. 21, 1863 ; must, cut June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Gott, Gilbert H., Colchester, enl. Jatl. 23, 1864; died Aug. 30, 1864, at 
 
 Andersonville. 
 Gordon, Frank H, Colchester, enl. Dec. 30, 1863; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Haggerty, James, Windham, enl. Jan. 5, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Hauerwas, Ludwig, Lebanon, enl, Dec. 22, 1863; disch. for disability, 
 
 May 6, 1865, at New Haven. 
 Lee, Charles C, Norwich, enl. Dec. 24, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's FeiTy. 
 Lombard, Orlando, Lebanon, enl. Jan. 15, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferrj'. 
 Loomis, Thomas A., Lebanon, enl. Feb. 5, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 McNamara, Patrick, Norwich, enl. Jan. 1, 1864; died Jan. 19, 1865. 
 Munroe, Thomas, Sprague, enl. Feb. 11, i864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Trueman, Frank M., Norwich, enl. Dec. 16, 1863. 
 Warren, John E., Woodstock, enl. Dec. 16, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 18C5, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Withey, William H., New Haven, enl. Dec. 2, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Wolf, Aaron, Lebanon, enl. Dec. 31, 1863. 
 
 Washburn, Edwin, Lebanon, Feb. 5, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 Harper's Ferry, 
 
 COMPANY D. 
 Joseph MatthewBon, capt., Pomfret. enl. Aug. 10,1862; twice wounded; 
 
 pro. maj. ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 William L. Spaulding, first Heut., Eastford, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; pro. 
 capt.; killed at New Market, May 15, 1864. 
 
 Noadiah P. Johnson, second lieut., Thompson, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; pro. 
 first lieut. Nov. 30, 1863; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 
 Thomas J. Aldrich, sergt., Thompson, enl. July 26, 1862; wounded May 
 15, 1864; killed July 18, 1864. 
 
 Franklin G. Bixby, sergt., Thompson, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; pro. capt.; 
 wounded ; must, out (as second lieut.) June 27, 1865. 
 
 Norton Randall, sergt., Thompson, enl. July 25, 1862; must, out June 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Joseph E. Marcy, sergt., Eastford, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 William H, Paine, corp., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; killed June 5, 
 1864, at Piedmont. 
 
 Henry H. Brown, corp., Thompson, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; disch. for appoint- 
 ment in U. S. Col. Troops, Feb. 25, 1864. 
 
 James H. Rickard, corp., Pomfret, enl, Aug. 8, 1862 ; disch. for appoint- 
 ment in U. S. Col. Troops, March 19, 1864. 
 
 John R. Carter, corp., Thompson, enl. July 28, 1862 ; wounded June 5, 
 1864; died of wounds July 10, 1864. 
 
 Charles W. Grosvenor, Corp., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 10, 1862 ; must, out May 
 18, 1865, at New Haven. 
 
 George W. Phetteplace, coi"p., Thompson, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 William J. Arnold, coi-p., Thompson, enl. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Charles R. Conant, corp., Thompson, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; died June 26, 
 
 1864, of wounds received in action. 
 
 George H. Jacobs, musician, Thompson, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Wanton A. Weaver, Jr., musician, Thompson, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 George H. Wilson, wagoner, Pomfret, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; trans, to "Vet. 
 
 Res. Corps, March 15, 1864. 
 Aldrich, Parris H., Thompson, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; wounded; disch. for 
 
 appointment in U. S. Col. Troops, July 10, 1864. 
 Adiims, Joseph P., Thompson, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; killed June 5, 1864, at 
 
 Piedmont. 
 Adams, William L., Eastford, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; killed" June 5, 1864, at 
 
 Piedmont. 
 Aldrich, Lyman M., Thompson, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; wounded June 5, 
 
 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Brown, John D., Thompson, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for appointment 
 
 in U. S. Col. Troops, March 16, 1864. 
 Burgess, Warren A., Thompson, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; wounded May 15, 
 
 1864; must, out May IB, 1865, in New Hampshire. 
 Bickford, Erskine F., Thompson, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; wounded June 5, 
 
 1864; muBt. out May 25, 1865. 
 Bickford, Joseph, Thompson, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 5, 1863. 
 Blakeley, Daniel, Hampton, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; trans, to luv. Corps, Dec. 
 
 15, 1863. 
 Buchanan, Anson A., Thompson, enl. July 29, 1862 : must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry 
 
 Bates, Tyler, Thompson, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Buckley, Joseph, Thompson, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Burdick, Dwight, Hampton, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Baker, Solomon H., Eastford, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Buck, Edward C, Thompson, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Brown.Otis, Thompson, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; wouuded June 5,1864; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865. 
 Chaffee, Francis B., Thompson, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Converse, Jesse F., Thompson, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; disch. at Baltimore. 
 Coman, Oscar, Thompson, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 12, 1865. 
 Clapp, John W., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Coman, John L., Thompson, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; wounded June 6, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 14, 1865. 
 CurtisB, Prescott P., Thompson!, enl. July 26, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Oct. 27, 1862., 
 Converse, Frank H., Thompson, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; wounded May 15, 
 
 1864 ; disch. for disability, March 10, 1865. 
 
102 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Child, ■William L., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 18, 1862; must, out June 19, 
 
 1865, at Philadelphia. 
 Cooper, Thomas D., Pomfret, enl. July 29, 1862; killed June 5, 1864, at 
 
 Piedmont. 
 Chase, Nathan, Thompson, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded June 18, 1864; 
 
 must, out May 23, 1865. 
 Clark, Michael, Hampton, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out Jnne 27, 1865. 
 Cheney, Frank W., Eastford, Aug. 8, 1862 ; disch. for pro. in U. S. Col. 
 
 Troops, Oct. 12, 1864. 
 Daggett, Nelson, Thompson, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Dearth, Thomas H., Thompson, enl. July 25, 1862; trans, to Inv. Corps, 
 
 May 15, 1864; must, out Aug. 17, 1865. 
 Frissell, Albert, Thompson, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Fitts, Daniel B., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 7, 1865, at 
 
 Annapolis. 
 Gifford, Silas B.. Thompson, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Gay, Horace, Thompson, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; disch. for disability, March 
 
 25, 1863. 
 Gould, William, Pomfret, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1?65, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Green, Rufus, Thompson, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Griggs, James H., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Griggs, William H., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Grow, Tliomas W., Hampton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Halt, Hoiutio A., Thompson, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Hibbard, George D., Pomfret, enl, Aug. 7, 1862; disch. for disability. 
 
 May 10, 1865, at New Haven. 
 Heath, Joseph W., Thompson, enl. Aug. 8,1862; wounded May 15, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Johnson, William P., Thompson, enl. Aug. 1, 1S62; wounded June 5, 
 
 1864; must, out June 14, 1865. 
 Jennings, Daniel, Brooklyn, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 5, 1863. 
 Johnson, Parris G., Thompson, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Johnson, George C, Thompson, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; wounded July 18, 
 
 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Joslin, Silas R., Thompson, enl. Aug. 10, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Jones, Samuel N., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; must, out June 29, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Johnson, Edwin F., Thompson, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; killed June 5,1864, 
 
 at Piedmont. 
 Leonard, Isaiah, Thompson, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; killed June 5, 1864, at 
 
 Piedmont. 
 Lynch, William, Thompson, enl. July 28,1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Lummis, John, Pomfret, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; died November, 1864. 
 Leonard, Thomas J., Union, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; wounded; disch. for ap- 
 pointment in U. S. Col. Troops, Oct. 9, 1864. 
 May, George A., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 July 10, 1864. 
 Miller, James F., Thompson, enl. Aug. 10, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 8, 1864, for 
 
 appointment in U. S. Col. Troops. 
 Miller, Abial A., Thompson, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferrj'. 
 Maguire, Frank Y., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 10,1862; must, out June 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 May, William, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; disch. Feb. 10, 1864. 
 Muny^n, Rufus P., Thompson, enl. July 28, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Perrin, John N., Thompson, enl. July 29, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Potter, Lucius H., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. Nov. 22, 1864; 
 
 appointed hosp. stew. U. S. army. 
 Penniman, Silas M., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 17, 1862 ; disch. for disability 
 
 March 8, 1863. 
 Potter, Charles H., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; disch. March 17, 1865. 
 
 Ryan, Edward P., Thompson, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; twice wounded; must, 
 
 out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Richardson, Sherman, Thompson, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; disch, March 28, 
 
 1864. 
 Robinson, Joseph W., Thompson, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; died of wounds 
 
 Sept. 29, 1864, at Andersonville. 
 Randall, H. Monroe, Thompson, enl, Aug. 8, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 April 17, 1863. 
 Ryant, Thomas, Thompson, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bobbins, Elisha K., Eastford, enl. July 31,1862; disch.; enl. in U.S. 
 
 army Oct. 14, 1862. 
 Randall, Peter, Thompson, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; died March 10, 1865, at 
 
 Thompson. 
 Randall, Joseph, Thompson, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Sprague, Elias, Thompson, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Sheldon, William E., Thompson, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; disch. for disahihty, 
 
 April 14, 1863. 
 Streeter, Moses, Thompson, eul. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Shelden, Albert F., Thompson, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 19, 
 
 1865, at Hartford. 
 Seaver, George T., Thompson, enl. July 29, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Sbarpe, Edwin, Pomfret, enl. Aug. 10, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Taylor, Amos W., Thompson, enl. July 28, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 5, 1863. 
 Torrey, Henry C, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 White, Luther, Thompson, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 died March 14, 1865. 
 Whitmore, Harvey, Pomfret, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Young, George E., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 10, 1865, 
 
 at Hartford. 
 
 Recruits for Company D. 
 
 Aldrich, Frederick A., Thompson, enl. Aug. 18, 1864; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Buck, George C, Thompson, enl. Dec. 1, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Brayton, Charles E., Thompson, enl. Dec. 1, 1863 ; trans, to Yet. Ees. 
 
 Corps, May 7, 1865. 
 Buckley, James F , Thompson, enl. Nov. 2, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bickford, Vernon, Thompson, enl. Dec.14,1863; must. out June 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Babbitt, Allen, Thompson, enl. Dec. 14, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry, 
 Buck, Joseph W., Woodstock, enl. Dec. 21, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bates, Samuel H., Thompson, enl. Jan. 4, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bradley, Mitchell, Plainfield, enl. Sept. 9, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Convei-se, Joel T., Thompson, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; wounded and captured, 
 
 June 5, 1864. 
 Clark, Patrick, Norwich, enl. Feb. 29, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Dodge, George W., Eastford, enl. Dec, 10, 1863 ; died Oct. 11, 1864, at 
 
 Florence, S. C. 
 Ellis, Lutus C, Stonington, enl. Aug. 9, 1864. 
 Fox, David C, Woodstock, enl. Jan. 29, 1864 ; disch. for disability, Aug. 
 
 18, 1865, at New Haven. 
 Green. Lyman W., New London, enl. Sept. 10, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Grealy, John, Hampton, enl. Feb. 25, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Griggs, Stephen A., Hampton, enl. Aug. 18, 1864; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Handy, William H., Franklin, enl, Aug. 5, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Long, Edward, enl. April 16, 1863. 
 Miller, Melancthou P., Thompson, enl. April 13, 1864; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 103 
 
 O'Donnell, George, enl. April 16, 1863. 
 Sanford, John, Groton, enl. Feb. 25, 1S64. 
 
 Wakeley, Clarence, Waterbury, enl. Jan. 17, 1865; must, out June 27, 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 COMPANY E. 
 leaac W. Hakes, Jr., capt., Norwich, enl. July 12,1862; res. Dec. 26, 
 
 1862. 
 Frederick A. Palmer, first lieut, Norwich, enl. July 12,1862; pro. to 
 
 capt. ; disch. May 28, 1864. 
 John T. McGinnis, second lieut., Salem, enl. July 25, 1862 ; pro. to lat 
 
 lieut. ; died June 7, 1864, of wounds. 
 Francis McKeag, sergt., Norwich, enl. July 14,1862; pro. to 2d lieut. 
 
 Dec. 21, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Anthony Stanley, sergt., Norwich, enl. July 17, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 William H. Douglass, sergt., Colchester, enl. July 26,1862; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 John J. Franklin, sergt., Columbia, enl. July 16, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 "William C. Hillard. sergt., Norwich, enl. July 14, 1862 ; disch. Dec. 3, 
 
 1864. 
 Edwin Fitch, corp., Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862 ; disch. fur disability, 
 
 March 21, 1865. 
 Josiah A. Coleman, corp., Colchester, eul. July 25, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Gordon Wilcox, corp., Norwich, enl. July 21, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Hylon N. Perry, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 James McKee, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Chauncey J, Williams, corp., Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862 ; wounded May 
 
 15, 1864; died Aug. 18, 1864, at Andersonville. 
 Albert G.Franklin, Corp., Griswold, enl. July 16,1862; wounded June, 
 
 1863; killed June 5, 1864, at Piedmont. 
 William C. Tracy, corp., Lebanon, enl. July 29, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 John H. Post, musician, Andover, enl. July 19, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 George Maynard, musician, Salem, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Edward S. Clark, wagoner, Norwich, July 29, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Allen, Nelson R., Norwich, enl. July 16, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Alger, Silas J., Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; wounded June 15, 1863; 
 
 must, out June 2, 1865. 
 Adams, Anthony, Norwich, enl. July 17, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Avery, George, Colchester, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Albertine, E. T., Sprague, enl. July 16, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 19, 1865. 
 Avery, Henry E., Salem, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Avery, Samuel H. N., Scotland, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Burdick, Joel, Norwich, enl. July 25, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 25, 1862. 
 Bromley, George, Griswold, enl. July 29, 1862; wounded June 15, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Burdick, Abel, Griswold, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Brooks, Lorin F., Coventry, enl. July 14, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harpers Ferry. 
 Bogue, Henry, Bozrah, enl, July 19,1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Brown, Mulford G., Salem, enl. Aug. 5,1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry, 
 Beckwith, Charles A., Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862; wounded June 5, 
 
 1864; died Aug. 4, 1864, at Staunton. 
 Brown, John H., Salem, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Oomstock, Alfred J., Lebanon, enl. July 25, 1862; wounded; trans, to 
 
 Vet. Kes, Corps, Jan. 9, 1865 ; disch. July 25, 1865. 
 Coit, John, Norwich, enl. July 19, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at Har- 
 per's Ferry. 
 
 Cleveland, Henry F., Andover, enl. July 17, 1862 ; must, out June 9, 
 
 1865, at Annapolis. 
 
 Carr, Nathaniel S., Coventry, enl. July 25, 1862; died May 26, 1864, at 
 
 New Haven. 
 Crawford, George H., Salem, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; wounded June 16, 1863; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Clark, William P., Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Dailey, Charles H., Norwich, enl. July 24, 1862 ; disch. February, 1864. 
 DeWolf, Thomas E., Salem, enl . July 29, 1862 ; disch. Oct. 1, 1863, at An- 
 napolis. 
 Douglass, Reuben P., Colchester, enl. July 26, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 22, 1862. 
 Franklin, Stephen A., Columbia, enl. July 25, 1862 ; died Aug. 20, 1864, 
 
 at Sandy Hook. 
 Fox, Horace W,, Salem, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Fox, Wallace, Salem, enl. July 28, 1862 ; died Feb. 2, 1864, at Martins- 
 burg. 
 Fleming, Patrick, Colchester, enl. July 27, 1862; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, 
 
 May 8, 1864; must, out July 17, 1865. 
 Fitzpatrick, Bernard, Colchester, enl. July 27, 1862; wounded June 15, 
 
 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Ford, Alexander, Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862. 
 Ford, Christopher, Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Gardner, Nicholas G., Andover, enl. July 16,1862; wounded July 18, 
 
 1864; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Gott, Chauncey E., Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862 ; trans, to Invalid Corps ; 
 
 must, out May 30, 1866. 
 Gimball, John, Colchester, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Holien, Charles P. J. A., Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Haslem, Wesley W., Norwich, enl. July 25, 1862 ; must, out May 18, 1865, 
 
 at New Haven. 
 Harris, George L., Norwich, enl. July 19, 1862; trans, to Invalid Corps, 
 
 Sept. 1, 1863, 
 Hayward, William G., Norwich, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; died Sept. 11, 1864, at 
 
 Andersonville. 
 Hennessey, Thomas J., Norwich, enl. July 31, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 HoUoway, Joseph C, Salem, enl. July 29, 1862 ; disch, for disability, Nov, 
 16, 1864. 
 
 Hartsgrove, Chilion D., Salem, enl. July 30, 1862; wounded June 6,1864; 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 
 Jillson, Charles A., Spnigue, eul. Aug. 2, 1862 ; died Dec. 5, 1864, at Flor- 
 ence, S. C. 
 
 Jillson, Edward T., Jr., Sprague, enl, Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Jones, John, Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862 ; wounded July 18, 1864 ; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865. 
 Johnson, John, Colchester, enl. July 22, 1862 ; wounded June 5,1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865, 
 Jenner, Elias B., Scotland, enl. July 22, 1862; disch. in Baltimore, by 
 
 return of October, 1863. 
 Kegwin, George W., Griswold, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865, 
 Kelliher, James, Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862; wounded June 6, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1866. 
 Kinney, Thomas, Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862; died May 1, 1864, at 
 
 New Haven. 
 Kegwin, Dwight R., Scotland, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 10, 1865, 
 
 at Hartford, 
 Lath rop, Albert M., Griswold, enl. July 26, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Lewis, Henry F., Cohimbia, enl. July 27, 1862; must out June 27, 1865, 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Lewis, Daniel C, Columbia, enl. July 27, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Lewis, Charles (2d), Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862 ; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 must, out June 27, 1866. 
 
 McCiacken, H. H., Lebanon, enl. Aug 4, 1862; killed June 15, 1863, at 
 Winchester. 
 
 Mitchell, Charles H., Colchester, eul. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Maseey, James, Norwich, enl. July 15, 1862; died Jan. 7, 1865, at Flor- 
 ence, S. C. 
 
lOi 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 McCusker, John, Norwich, enl. July 25, 1862 ; wounded ; trans, to "Vet. 
 
 Kes. Corps ; must, out June 28, 1865. 
 McCusker, Hugh, Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Parkinson, George, Norwich, enl. July 17, 1862 ; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Palmer, Isaac, Coventry, enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Paysoii, Ebenezer F., Andover, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 3, 1864. 
 Potter, James N., Colchester, enl. July 25,1862; must, out June 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Palmer, Joslah C, Colchester, enl. July 25,1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Kose, Hiram D., Lebanon, enl. July 25, 1862; killed June 5, 1864, at 
 
 Piedmont, Va. 
 Rood, Julius J., Andover, enl. July 26, 1862; died Feb. 3, 1864, at Mar- 
 
 tinsbui'g, Va. 
 Reynolds, Samuel W., Norwich, enl. July 14, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Rathbun, George W., Salem, enl. July 28, 1 862 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 
 
 23, 1862. 
 Spencer, Lorin T., Columbia, enl. July 16, 1862 ; must, out June 5, 1865, 
 
 at Annapolis, Md. 
 Stanbley, Michael, Norwich, enl. Aug. 1, 1862. 
 Tarbnx, George W., Columbia, enl. July 23, 1862 ; died Aug. 10, 1864, at 
 
 Cumberland, Md. 
 Taft, Bezaleel W., Columbia, enl. July 14, 1862 ; wounded May 15, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Tourtellotte, Marvin, Norwich, enl. July 25, 1862; wounded June, 1863 ; 
 
 disch. for disability, Feb. 15, 1864. 
 Upham, George R., Norwich, enl. July 18, 1862 ; must, out June 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Varney, Israel, Norwich, enl. July 16, 1862; died Feb. 10, 1865, at Flor- 
 ence, S. C. 
 Wood, Ezra H., Griswold, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 White, Albert P., Andover, enl. July 14, 1862 ; must, out May 23, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Weller, John, Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865. 
 Wolf, Henry, Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 West, Seth B., Colchester, enl. July 25,1862; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Wade, Sylvester, Salem, enl. July 29, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry, 
 Wade, Henry H., Colchester, eul. July 25, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 April 13, 1863. 
 
 Recruits for Company E. 
 Clark, Albert A., Bozrah, enl. Dec. 7, 1863; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Clark, Henry G., Wethersfleld, enl. Oct. 4, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Fogtmaw, John, Colchester, enl. Jan. 4, 1864 ; disch. for disability, May 
 
 27, 1865. 
 Lewis, Horatio H., Columbia, enl. April 9,1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 McKenna, Tole, Woodstock, enl. Sept. 28, 1864. 
 Martin, James F., Middletown, enl. Nov. 26, 1864; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Palmer, Frank J., Colchester, enl. Jan. 4,1864; disch.for disability, Nov. 
 
 1, 1864, at New Haven, Conn. 
 Snow, Hiram, Colchester, enl. Dec. 23,1863 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 25, 1865. 
 Simpson, William, Saybrook, enl. Nov. 22, 1864. 
 Wallace, Michael, Canterbury, enl. Sept. 27, 1864. 
 
 COMPANY F. 
 
 Henry Penle, capt., Norwich, enl. July 12, 1862; pro. lieut.-col.; must, 
 out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 John E. Woodward, first lieut., Preston, enl, July 12, 1862; pro. capt.; 
 must, out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 John Albert Francis, second lieut., Norwich, enl. July 14, 1862 ; pro. Ist 
 lieut. ; must, out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Joseph M. Parker, sergt., Norwich, enl. July 15, 1862 ; disch. for appoint- 
 ment in U. S. C. T., March 13, 1864. 
 
 Nathan F. D. Avery, sergt., Franklin, eul. July 16,1862; disch. for dis- 
 ability, March 6, 1863. 
 Edward P. Rogers, sergt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; disch. for appoint- 
 ment in U. S. C. T., Jan. 21, 1864. 
 Charles H. Carroll, sergt., Norwich, enl. July 12, 1862 ; wounded June 5 
 
 1864; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Austin G. Monroe, sergt., Norwich, enl. July 19, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Caleb R. Corey, corp., Norwich, enl. July 21, 1862; must, out May 10, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Joseph Forestner, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; died Aug. 9, 1863, 
 
 at Camp Parole. 
 William H. Webb, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Charles D. Burditik, corp., Preston, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 20, 
 
 1865, at Hartford, Conn. 
 Jesse Wilkinson, Corp., Norwich, enl. July 12, 1862; disch. for appoint- 
 ment in U. S. C. T., March 13, 1864. 
 Charles K. T. Trenn, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out May 
 
 30, 1865, at York, Pa. 
 George W. Loomis, corp., Norwich, eul, July 26, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 George W. Blake, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; wounded June 15, 
 
 1863; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Julius Palmer, musician, Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Joseph W. Carroll, wagoner, Norwich, enl. July 14, 1862; trane. to In- 
 valid Corps May 15, 1864; must, out Aug. 17, 1865. 
 Appleton, Henry, Norwich, enl. July 17, 1862 ; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Aldrich, Albert C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; must, out July 18,1865, 
 
 at Hartford, Conn. 
 Brown, John A., Voluntown, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Billings, Samuel D., Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Butler, Roswell, Norwich, enl. July 14, 1862; wounded July 5,1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Booth, John, Norwich, enl. July 22, 1862; must, out June 27,1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Blake, Charles S., Norwich, enl. July 21, 1862. 
 Baldwin, Charles, Mansfield, enl. July 3D, 1862 ; killed June 14, 1863, at 
 
 Winchestei', Va. 
 Bradley, John T., Norwich, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; killed June 5, 1864, at 
 
 Piedmont, Va. 
 Brown, Russell M., Plainfield, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bowen, Ezi-a P., Norwich, enl. July 12, 1862 ; must, out May 29, 1865, at 
 
 Annapolis Junction, Md. 
 Bennett, John A., Norwich, enl. July 18, 1862 ; disch. for disability. May 
 
 3, 1863. 
 Botham, Daniel A., Waterlbrd, enl. July 25,1862; wounded June, 1863; 
 
 disch. for disability, March 14, 1864. 
 Braman, Lucius R., Norwich, enl. July 30,1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 16, 1864. 
 Burnett, Albert, Norwich, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; killed June 15, 1863, at Win- 
 chester, Va. 
 Bennett, Joseph H., Chaplin, enl. July 23, 1862; trans, to Invalid Corps, 
 
 Jan. 15, 1864. 
 Cole, George, Griswold, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out May 18, 1865, at 
 
 New Haven, Conn. 
 Cook, Orrin, Preston, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; wounded July 18, 1864; must 
 
 out June 27, 1865. 
 Church, Daniel B., Norwich, enl. July 25,1862; wounded June 15,1863; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Chappell, Alfred S., Norwich, enl. July 22, 1862; died Sept. 17, 1863, at 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa. 
 Carroll, George, Norwich, enl. Aug, 4, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Clark, William H., Preston, enl. July 16,1862; accidentally shot; trans. 
 
 to Invalid Corps, Jan. 15, 1.864. 
 Caswell, Gilford, Ledyard, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; disch. for disability, July 
 
 16, 1864. 
 Campbell, William H., Mansfield, enl. July 21, 1862 ; died Sept. 10, 1863, 
 
 at Camp Parole. 
 Davis, William L., Norwich, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; twice wounded; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865. 
 
MILITARY HISTOEY. 
 
 105 
 
 Deming, Alfred H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out Jiine 27, 1865. 
 Draper, Albion, Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out June 27,1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Draper, George, Norwich, enl. Aug. 18, 1862 ; diach. for disability, Oct. 
 
 22, 1863. 
 Doyle, Timothy 0., Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out July 14,1866, 
 
 at Hartford, Conn. 
 Earle, Ralp^ W., Bozrah, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out May 30, 1865, at 
 
 York, Pa. 
 Eldridge, Daniel D., Norwich, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Hai-per's Ferry.. 
 Fenton, James E., Norwich, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Fuller, Alden, Griswold, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 20, 1865, 
 
 at Annapolis. 
 Fox, George W., Norwich, enl. July 26, 1862 ; died April 17, 1865, at 
 
 Martinsburg, Va. 
 Green, Francis R,, Griswold, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 died April 17, 1865, at Staunton, Va. 
 Green, Nathan B., Scotland, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; died Feb. 24, 1864, at 
 
 Martinsburg, Va. 
 Guile, Samuel A., Preston, enl. July 30, 1862. 
 Humes, Charles L., Bozrah, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Hyde, Henry B., Franklin, enl. July 29, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry, 
 Howard, William H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry, 
 Hicks, James W., Norwich, enl. July 30, 1862; died April 13, 1864, at 
 
 Martinsburg, Va. 
 Hyde, John P., Norwich, enl. July 12, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Kenyon, Edwin, Canterbury, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Feriy. 
 Kinney, William H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Loomis, James W., Norwich, enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; disch. Nov. 1, 1864, at 
 
 New Haven, Conn. 
 Lamb, Horatio R,, Franklin, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; must, out June 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Ladd, Daniel, Norwich, enl. July 24, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Moffat, Nelson, Griswold, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 M»rBhaIl, John, Norwich, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 23, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Murphy, Frank E., Norwich, enl. July 16, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry, 
 Mowry, Bernard R. 0., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862. 
 Nicholson, Levi P., Preston, enl. July 26, 1862; must, out June 23, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Olin, Edward, Griswold, enl. July 14, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Palmer, Roswell, Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Pearce, Martin, Norwich, enl. July 16, 1862 : must, out June 27, 1865,at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Palmer, Andrew, Norwich, enl, July 25, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry, 
 Palmer, Almond B., Norwich, enl. Aug. 18,1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Rudden, John, Colchester, enl. July 21, 1862; must, out June 23, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Spicer, Erastua, Griswold, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 18G5, at 
 
 Harper's Feri-y. 
 Simmons, John H., Norwich, enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Spencer, Orrin N., Norwich, enl. July 30, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Setchel, Charles F,, Norwich, enl, Aug. 11, 1862 ; wounded June 5, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Shumway, Millen, Norwich, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Saunders, Ralph Q., Norwich, enl. Aug. 2, 1862 ; trans, to Invalid Corps 
 
 Jan. 15, 1864. 
 Smith, James, Norwich, enl, Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Sheriden, Cornelius F., Colchester, enl. July 17, 1862; killed June 5 
 
 1864, at Piedmont, Va. * 
 Sullivan, Timothy, Griswold, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harpei-'s Ferry. 
 Sweet, William H., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Trinnier, Richard, Norwich, enl. July 14, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Thurber, Charles F, Norwich, enl. July 28, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Tefift, William H., Norwich, enl. July 26, 1862; must, out May 30, 1865 
 
 at York, Pa. ' 
 
 Valentine, John, Canterbury, enl. July 29, 1862; wounded June 5,1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1864. 
 West, George A., Preston, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Hiii-per's Ferry. 
 Warren, William, Mansfield, enl. July 21, 1862 ; must, out May 24, 1865, 
 
 at Annapolis Junction. 
 Wright, Alanson, Griswold, enl. Aug. 4, 1862. 
 Whaley, George G., Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Weeks, James M., Jr., Griswold, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; killed June 5, 1864, 
 
 at Piedmont, Va. 
 Ward, James, Norwich, enl. July 16, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Welden, Leonard P., Bozrah, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Whaley, William H., Preston, enl. July 25, 1862. 
 Wright, Albert, Griswold, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Wilber, Daniel, Norwich, enl. July 23, 1862 ; accidentally killed Jan. 5, 
 
 1863. 
 
 Recruits for Company F. 
 Avery, Northam F. D., Bast Haven, enl. Deo. 2, 1864; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, Harper's Ferry. 
 Edwards, Thomas L., Montville, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Feriy. 
 Edward, Alfred, Montville, enl. Jan. 4, 1864 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 13, 1865. 
 McMahou, Thomas, Norwich, enl. Nov. 16, 1863; killed June 5, 1864, at 
 
 Piedmont, Va. 
 Miner, Sylvester P., Bozrah, enl. Jan. 2, 1864; captured June 11, 1864. 
 McGrath, John, Norwich, eul. Jan. 6, 1864. 
 Mahoney, Dennis D., Colchester, enl. Jan. 5, 1864; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Martin, James W., Ledyard, enl. April 7, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Nugent, James, Colchester, enl. Jan. 5, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Palmer, Orrin V., Norwich, enl. Jan, 14, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Rath, Ferdinand, Essex, enl. Jan. 8, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry, 
 Smith, Samuel J., enl. Jan. 21, 1863. 
 Sweet, James L., Norwich, enl. Jan, 8, 1864; disch. for disability, March 
 
 25, 1865. 
 Tough, George E., Hartford, enl, Dec. 21, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 West, Albert K., Preston, enl. Dec. 29, 1863; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Williams, Robert, Pomfret, enl. Sept. 3, 1864. 
 White, James W., Preston, enl. Sept. 6, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 COMPANY G. 
 George W. Warner, capt., Woodstock, enl. July 9,1862; wounded; disch. 
 
 Oct. 4, 1864. 
 Israel N. Kibbe, first lieut., Putnam, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; pro. capt.; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Luther E. Rawson, second lieut., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 7,1862 ; res. Dec. 
 
 22, 1862. 
 Albert S. Granger, sergt,, Putnam, enl. July 31,1862; pro. 1st lieut.; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Prescott M. Lyon, sergt., Woodstock, enl. July 21, 1862 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Dec. 22, 1863. 
 Edward T. Warner, sergt, Woodstock, enl. July 16, 1862 ; must, out June 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
10(i 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Daniel A. Lyon, sergt., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 9, 1S62 ; disch. for appt. in 
 
 U.S. C. T.,reb. 24,1864. 
 John B. Scott, sergt., Putnam, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; killed June 5, 1864, at 
 
 ' Piedmont, "Va. 
 Charles A. Bosworth, corp., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; died Dec. 27, 
 
 1862, at Camp Emery, Md. 
 
 Samuel L. Marcy, Corp., Woodstock, enl. July 16, 1862; died July 15, 
 
 1863, at Annapolis. 
 
 Moses J. Chandler, corp., Putnam, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Joseph E. Rawson, corp., Woodstock, enl. July 10, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Edwin S. Tabor, corp., Woodstock, enl. July 21, 1862 ; wounded ; died 
 
 Aug. 22, 1863, at Annapolis. 
 Lucian H. Medbury, corp., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 James Clapp, corp., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Shrimpton H. Gallup, corp., Putnam, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; wounded; disch. 
 
 for disability, May 4, 1865. 
 William E. Card, musician, Putnam, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out May 
 
 19, 1865, at Frederick, Md. 
 Edward Welch, musician, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 18, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 William H. Chamberlin, wagoner, Putnam, enl, Aug. 11, 1862; must. out 
 
 June 7, 1865, at Jarvis Hospital. 
 Aldrich, Charles C, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; trans, to Yet. Ees. 
 
 Corps; must, out Aug. 9, 1865. 
 Arnold, George E., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Adams, Wellington W., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; died Nov. 15, 
 
 1864, at Florence, S. C. 
 
 Bostow, George, Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; trans, to Invalid Corps ; 
 
 must, out June 29, 1865. 
 Baker, Darwin W., Windham, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Burrows, Joseph, Woodstock, enl. July 16, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Birch, William H., Sprague, enl. July 21, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 15, 1863. 
 Brainard, Michael, Bozrah, enl. July 21, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 BuDdy, Henry M., Putnam, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Hiarper's Ferry. 
 Boutelle, Lorestus V., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must, out Juno 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Bugbee, George F., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Bundy, Asa H., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; died Feb. 6, 1863, at Balti- 
 more. 
 Burrows, Charles, Woodstock, enl. July 16, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. i 
 
 Blackmar, Francis, Putnam, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Burnes, Robert, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 15, 1862. 
 
 Bercume, Peter, Woodstock, enl. July 21, 1862; wounded; trans, to In- 
 valid Corps, Feb. 15, 1864. 
 Chandler, Seth E., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Cumminga, Wm. W., Putnam, enl. July 30, 1862; wounded; disch. May 
 
 27, 1865, at New Haven. 
 Currier, George, Woodstock, enl. July 12, 1862 ; trans, to Invalid Corps; 
 
 must, out July 11, 1865. 
 Davison, Peter, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Davis, Ichabod C, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; wounded and captured 
 
 June 5, 1864 ; supposed dead. 
 Darby, Daniel E., Putnam, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Davenport, Cyrus C, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for disability 
 
 Feb. 27, 1864. 
 Eddy, Albert S., Putnam, enl. July 31, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Fox, Walter T., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865 
 
 at Harper's Fei'ry. ' * 
 
 Foster, Alonzo, Putnam, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865 at 
 
 Hai-per's Ferry. ' 
 
 Gleason, Lawrence F., Putnam, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; must, out June 27 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Genie, Peter, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out May 
 
 18, 1865, at New Haven. 
 Hempstead, Charles J., Windham, enl. July 28, 1862; must, out June 23, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Howard, Willis G., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 12, 18G2; must, out June 27 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Howard, George E., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; killed June 15, 1863, 
 
 at Winchester. 
 Kinnie, Thomas, Colchester, enl. July 25, 1862 ; disch. for disabUity, 
 
 March 25, 1863. 
 Ladd, George W., Tolland, enl. July 26,1862; trans. Inv. Corps; must, 
 
 out June 29, 1865, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 Leitcher, Gilbert, Woodstock, enl. July 26, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Lapoint, Stephen, Putnam, enl. July 28, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Morrison, John, Puinam, enl. July 19, 1862; missing in action May 16, 
 
 1864; supposed dead. 
 Main, Gershom P., Windham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 1 , 1863. 
 Marcy, John N., Woodstock, enl. July 16, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Moore, William F,, Woodstock, enl. July 18, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Newton, Enoch E., Woodstock, enl. July 26,1862; must, out May 18, 
 
 1865, New Haven. 
 Neill, Henry P., Norwich, enl. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Ockery, Samuel C, Putnam, enl. July 26,1862; wounded; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Oatley, Stephen H., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9,1862; killed June 14,1863, 
 
 Winchester, Va. 
 Pettit, Matthew, Woodstock, enl. July 16, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 25, 1863. 
 Parsons, Willard 0., Woodstock, enl. July 16, 1862 ; killed June 15, 1863, 
 
 Winchester, Va. 
 Pickett, George W., Putnam, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; killed June 15, 1863, 
 
 Winchester, Va. 
 Robinson, Henry, Putnam, enl. July 30, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Bedhead, Frederick W., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out JuDe 
 
 27, 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Kawson, Stiles, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; died Dec. 3, 1862, at camp 
 
 in Maryland. 
 Randall, Prescott J., Putnam, enl. -Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Rogers, Tracy, Putnam, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Riley, John, Windham, enl. July 30, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 22, 
 
 1862. 
 Read, Frank, Putnam, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Smilh, Abner P., Jr., Woodstock, enl. July 17, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Smith, Henry A., Killingly, enl. July 30, 1862 ; trans. Inv. Corps; must. 
 
 out July 14, 1865, Elmira, N. Y . 
 Sanders, John, Putnam, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; disch. May 28, 1864, New 
 
 Haven. 
 Smith, Joseph, Windham, enl. July 22, 1862; must, out May 31,1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Snow, William N., Windham, enl. July 26, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Smith, Hiram, Tolland, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out May 30, 
 
 1865, rork. Pa. 
 Stone, James M., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Scott, John G., Windham, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; diach. for disability. May 14, 
 
 1864. 
 Smith, Wallace, Woodstock, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; killed June 15, 1863, Win- 
 chester, Va. 
 Spaulding, Francis M., Putnam, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out May 17, 
 
 1865, Grafton, W. Va. 
 Taft, Lowell, Killingly, enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, Hai^ 
 
 per's Ferry, Va. 
 Thornton, Cyrus, Putnam, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 
MILITAKY HISTORY. 
 
 107 
 
 Tripp,Jaiiie8 E., Putnam, enl. Aug. 21,lS6:i; wouuded; disch. May 27, 
 
 1865, New Haven. 
 Underwood, George W., Windham, enl. July 25, 1862; wounded; died 
 
 Jan. 27, 1865, Florence, S. C. 
 "Whitney, J osiah W., Putnam, enl. Aug. 7,1862; wounded; diech. May 
 
 30, 1865, Worcester, Maaa. 
 Weeks, Marquis J., Eastford, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; killed in action July 18, 
 
 1864, Snicker's Ferry, Va. 
 
 Walker, "Vernon E., Woodstock, enl. July 12, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 
 Wilcox, Lowell, Woodstock, enl. July 21, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Wells, John D., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Weeks, Benjamin P., Eastford, eul. July 16,1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper*s Ferry, Va. 
 Wilcox, John H., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 30,1862; died July 20, 1864, 
 
 wounds received in action. 
 Young, Richmond A., Woodstock, enl. July 22, 1862 ; trans. Inv. Corps, 
 
 Sept. 30, 1863. 
 
 Recruits foe Company G. 
 
 Bowen, David A., Woodstock, enl. Dec. 30, 1863. 
 Browning, James, Greenwich, enl. Feb. 1, 1865. 
 Hibbard, Henry W., Woodstock, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Hiscox, Albert, Union, enl. Jan. 28, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, Har- 
 
 per'a Ferry, Va. 
 Henry, Charles E., enl. Feb. 28, 1865; trans. 2d Conn. Vol. Artillery, 
 
 March 7, 1863. 
 Lake, Thomas A., Woodstock, enl. Dec. 16, 1863 : must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Mark, Louis, Bridgeport, enl. Jan. 18, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Navin, Patrick, Putnam, enl. Nov. 9, 1863. 
 Smith, Abner P., Woodstock, enl. Dec. 21, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Smith, Abner, Stonington, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; disch. Oct. 17,'^1864, while 
 
 on furlough. 
 Smith, Theodore, Salisbury, enl. Jan. 25, 1865 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry , Va. 
 Stuart, David, Salisbury, enl, Jan. 28,1865; must, out June 23,1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Underwood, Charles H., Windham, enl. Dec. 8, 1863. 
 Weeks, F^ncis E., Union, enl. Feb. 25, 1864; must, out Aug. 1,1865, 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 COMPANY H. 
 
 Charles D. Bowen, capt., Windham, enl. July 22, 1862; wounded June 15, 
 
 1864; must out June 27, 1865. 
 James F. Long, Jr., first lieut., Windham, enl. July 24, 1862 ; resigned 
 
 Nov. 9, 1862. 
 Andrew W. Loomis, second lieut., Tolland, enl. July 22, 1862 ; pro. Ist 
 
 lieut. Nov. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 William H. Locke, sergt., Windham, enl. July 12, 1862 ; pro. 2d lieut. 
 
 Nov, 9, 1862; hon. disch. May 15, 1862. 
 George E. Jordan, sergt., Windham, enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Thomas Spencer, sergt., Windham, enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 23, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Chester A. Tourtellott, sergt., Tolland, enl. July 21, 1862 ; died of wounds 
 
 Aug. 15, 1864, Lynchburg, Va. 
 Albert S. Blish, sergt., Windham, enl. July 24, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Sanford A. Comins, corp., Windham, enl. July 24,1862; wounded June 
 
 5, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 John E. Burrows, corp., Windham, enl, Aug, 5, 1862; must, out June 23, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Hezekiah Thompson, corp., Windham, enl. July 24, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Seth S. Chapman, corp., Chaplin, enl. Aug, 5, 1862; died Sept. 17, 1863, 
 
 Annapolis, Md. 
 William H. Boyden, corp., Windham, enl. July 22, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Thomas Jordan, corp., Windham, enl. July 24, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Charles H. Chase, corp., Windham, enl. Aug. 4, 1862. 
 William J. Whiteside, corp., Coventry, enl. July 29, 1862; wounded June 
 
 15, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 
 William W. Perry, musician, Windham, eul. July 23, 1S62 ; must, out 
 
 May 18, 1865, New Haven, Conn. 
 Van Buren Jordan, musician, Windham, enl, July 24,1862; must, out 
 
 May 18, 1865, New Haven, Conn. 
 George W. Herrick, wagoner, Windham, enl. July 24, 1862 ; must, out 
 
 May 30, 1865, York, Pa. 
 Adams, Russell W., Tolland, enl. July 31, 1862; died Aug. 8, 1863, An- 
 napolis, Md. 
 Adams, John Q., Chaplin, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Apley, Henry, Chaplin, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; died Jan. 9, 1864, Annapolis, 
 
 Md. 
 Ashley, Earl, Chaplin, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; killed June 15, 1863, Win- 
 chester, Va. 
 Apley, Andrew J., Chaplin, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Bingham, Ellsworth W., Chaplin, enl. Aug, 5,1862; wounded July 18, 
 
 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Barber, Charles A., Tolland, enl. July 22,1862; killed J^me 15, 1863, 
 
 Winchester, Va. 
 Buchanan, Moses, Windham, enl. July 23, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Briggs, George S., Windham, enl. July 26,1862; trans. Inv. Corps, May 
 
 15, 1864; must, out July 15, 1865. 
 Buckley, Alfred, Windham, enl. July 23, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Babcock, Courtland, Jr., Windham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, Haiper's Ferry, Va. 
 Buckingham, William H., Windham, enl. July 21, 1862; must, out May 
 
 18, 1865, New Haven, 
 Bennett, Nathaniel W,, Windham, enl. July 25, 1862; wounded June 5, 
 
 1864; died Oct. 13, 1864, Andersonville, 
 Bull, George A., Windham, enl. July 12, 1862; trans. Vet. Res. Corps; 
 
 must, out June 28, 1865. 
 Backus, Albert H., Thompson, enl. July 26, 1862; must, out July 5, 
 
 1865, Hartford. 
 Bliven, George R., Windham, enl. July 22, 1862 ; wounded June 15, 1863 ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Brooks, Charles U., Tolland, enl, Aug. 6,1862; wounded May 15,1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Brown, William B., Tolland, enl, July 22, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 disch. for disability, March 25, 1865. 
 Cushman, Iznart P., Windham, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; died April 7, 1863, 
 
 Baltimore, Md. 
 Conner, Thomas, Windham, enl. July 16, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Colburn, Jonathan S., Chaplin, enl. Aug, 6,1862; died Feb. 15, 1865, 
 
 Danville, Va. 
 Carney, James, Windham, enl. July 23, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865, 
 Crandall, Amos G., Windham, enl. July 28, 1862 ; wounded June 18, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out June 23, 1865. 
 Carney, John, Windham, enl, Aug. 9, 1862 ; killed in action July 18, 1864, 
 
 Snicker's Ferry, Va. 
 Dean, William, Hampton, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 27,1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Dawley, Andrew H., Windham, enl, Aug. 5, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Oct. 14, 1862. 
 Diliber, Andrew N., Windham, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; killed June 15, 1863, 
 
 Winchester, Va. 
 Eaton, Eben R., Windham, enl. July 28, 1862 ; wounded May 15, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Farnham, Martin V. B., Tolland, enl. July 24,1862; wounded June 5, 
 
 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Fenton, Anson A., Chaplin, enl. Aug. 2, 1862 ; killed June 15, 1863, Win- 
 chester, Va. 
 Foss, Ambrose, Coventry, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 
 Farnham, Dwight C, Tolland, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 Harper's Ferry, Va. 
 Gurley, Franklin E., Chaplin, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; died Oct. 17, 1864, at 
 
 Cumberland, Md. 
 Gleason, Wilbur H., Windham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; trans, to Inv. Corps, 
 
 Jan. 15, 1864 ; must, out July 2, 1865. 
 Gager, John F., Coventry, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; died Feb. 15, 1865, Flor- 
 ence, S. C. 
 Green, Amos P., Coventry, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; trans, to Inv. Corps, Feb. 
 
 15, 1864 ; must, out July 14, 1865. 
 
108 
 
 HISTOKY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Goldiug, Joseph, Windham, enl. July 23, 1862; died Oct. 11, 1864, at 
 
 Oharleaton, S. C. 
 Griggs, William W .Ellington, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; wounded June 6,1864; 
 
 died June 16, 1864, of wounds. 
 Grundy, John, Windham, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Holland, Eber S., Windham, enl. July 22, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 25, 1863. 
 Harris, Horatio A., Windham, enl. July 24, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 6, 1863. 
 Harris, George D., Windham, enl. July 23, 1SG2; wounded June 15, 
 
 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1866. 
 
 Haskell, Charles, Windhnm, enl. July 26, 1862 ; died Feb. 19, 1866, at 
 
 Salisbury, N. C. 
 Harrington, Francis S., Coventry, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded June, 
 
 1863; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Hall, William H., Windham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; wounded May 15, 1864 ; 
 
 killed in acrion May 20, 1864. 
 Hall, Origen, Windham, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Heverin, Palriok J., Windham, enl. July 23, 1862; wounded May 16, 
 
 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 
 Johnson, Eichard M., Windham, enl. July 23, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry, 
 Kenyon, Oils G., Windham, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry, 
 Kenworthy, Joseph, Windham, enl. July 23, 1862; wounded July 18, 
 
 1864; disch, June 9, 1865. 
 Lewis, William, W>ndham, enl. July 23, 1862 ; wounded May 15, 1864; 
 
 died Sept. 7, 1864. 
 Lewis, Francis B,, Windham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Lewis, Charles H., Windham, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Sept. 20, 1863. 
 Long, James F., Windham, enl. July 24, 1862 ; disch. May 28, 1864, S. 0. 
 
 War Department, . 
 
 Metcalf, Job, Windham, enl. July 24, 1862; wounded June 16, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Miller, Frederick, Tolland, enl. July 29, 1862; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Newcomb, Lucius H., Coventry, enl. July 29, 1862; died Feb. 13, 1865, 
 
 at Danville, Va, 
 Niles, John, Franklin, enl. July 15, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Pilling, James, Windham, enl. July 23, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Perkins, Joseph M,, Windham, enl, Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry, 
 Palmer, Pierce, Tolland, enl. July 24, 1862 ; trans, to Inv. Corps, Sept. 
 
 30, 1863. 
 Keffelt, Fiederick, Coventry, enl. July 29,1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Rogers, Emery D,, Tolland, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded; disch. June 3, 
 
 1865, for appointment in U. S. C, T, 
 Ripley, Edward F,, Windham, enl. July 22, 1862 ; trans, to Inv. Corps, 
 
 May 1, 1864 ; must, out July 21, 1865. 
 Eobinson, John M,, Coventry, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bobertson, Lacon W., Coventry, enl. Aug, 5, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper'!, Ferry. 
 Sullivan, Dennis, Windham, enl. July 24, 1862; wounded June 6, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Snell, Alfred A., Tolland, enl. July 25, 1862 ; died Aug. 25, 1863, at An- 
 napolis, Md. 
 Smith, Lester C, Chaplin, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; died July 26, 1864, Mar- 
 
 tinsburg, Va, 
 Shay, John, Windham, enl. July 18, 1862. 
 
 Sweet, Daniel K., Thompson, enl. July 26, 1862 ; wounded June 6 1864 ■ 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 
 Thomas, Edwin, Windham, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; died June 4, 1863 atWil- 
 
 limantic. Conn. 
 Tracy, Alfred E., Tolland, onl. July 30, 1862; killed June 15, 1863, 
 
 at Winchester, Va. 
 Tracy, Henry G,, Coventry, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded July 18, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865, 
 Wilson, Albert C, Windham, enl. July 26, 1862 ; must, out May 19, 1865 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Watts, Joseph, Windham, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Webster, John E., Tolland, enl. July 21, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Wise, Jacob, Coventry, enl. July 29, 1862. 
 Weldon, Alonzo, Thompson, enl. July 26, 1862 ; wounded and captured 
 
 June 5, 1864. 
 Wilber, Ainariah D,, Coventry, enl. July 29, 1862 ; died May 3, 1865, 
 
 Wilmington, N. C. 
 Williams, Everett, Willington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Wilber, George H., Coventry, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 14, 1863. 
 
 Recruits tor CoMPAwr H. 
 
 Abbe, Joseph, Walcott, enl. March 22, 1864 ; must, out May 30, 1865, at 
 
 Hartford, Conn. 
 Brown, James K., "Windham, enl. Dec, 10, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Brady, Laughlin, Windham, enl. Jan. 5, 1854 ; died July 28, 1864, while 
 
 on furlough. 
 Chappel, Cortland G., Windham, enl. Dec. 10, 1863; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Hayes, George S., enl. Dec. 1, 1862 ; died Oct. 27, 1863, at Martinsburg, 
 
 Va. 
 Harris, Elijah F., enl. Jan. 5,1863; must, out June 27, 186.5, at Harper'l 
 
 Ferry. 
 Kaiser, Matthias, South Coventry, enl. Feb. 23, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Miller, William H., enl. May 13, 1863. 
 
 Spencer, Thomas D., Windham, enl. Dec. 14, 1863; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Wilson, Jared F,, Windham, enl. Dec. 10, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry, 
 
 COMPANY I. 
 
 Samuel E. Knapp, capt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; res. June 6, 1863. 
 John H. Morrison, first lieut., Norwich, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; pro. capt.; 
 
 dismissed Sept. 1, 1864. 
 Martin Y. B, Tiffany, second lieut., Norwich, enl. Aug. 21, 1862; 
 
 wounded ; pro. capt. ; must, out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 John Lilley, sergt., Norwich, enl. .lug. 14, 1862 ; wounded ; pro. capt, ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 James B. Pilkenton, sergt., Middletown, enl. Aug. 20, 1862. 
 Bently Shaw, sergt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Allen L. Moore, sergt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; must out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 James A, Allen, sergt,, Norwich, enl. July 30, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 William Finken, Corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 George Cook, coi-p., Preston, enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; must. out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Gardner .A. Lewin, Corp., Putnam, enl. Aug. 5, 1862. 
 Daniel E. Beebe, Corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must out May 30, 
 
 1865, at York, Pa. 
 
 Sebastian B. Kepler, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug, 12, 1862; wounded; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Charles Derby, Corp., Norwich, enl, Aug, 4, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Isaac Roath, Corp., Preston, enl. July 30, 1862; wounded; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Henry D. Gluason, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded; cap- 
 tured June 11, 1864. 
 Harvey L, Muzzy, musician, Norwich, enl. May 30, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 10, 1865, at Hartford. 
 Henry Frink, wagoner, Plainfleld, enl. July 30, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Albee, William H., Lyme, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; wounded; must out June 
 
 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Acksler, Adam, Norwich, enl. July 16, 1862 ; wounded ; died Oct. 6, 1864, 
 
 MadisoHville, 
 Brown, Wheaton, Sprague, enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bigelow, James S., Sprague, enl. July 22, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry, 
 
MILITARY HISTOEY. 
 
 109 
 
 Beckwith, Charles H., Norwich, enl. July 30, 1862; died Dec. 1, 1862, 
 
 at Norwich, Conn. 
 Bogue, Jabez H., Lyme, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; killed June 5, 1864, at Pied- 
 mont, Va. 
 Bliss, William H., Flainfleld, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bliss, Levi C, Plainfield, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; mnst, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Bingham, Charles K., Ciinterbnry, enl. July 25, 1862. 
 Benjamin, James E., Preston, enl. Aug. 8,1862; wounded; must, out 
 
 June 23, 1865, Annapolis. 
 Briggs, Abram, Norwich, enl. Aug. 4, 1862. 
 Barnes, William, Tolland, enl. July 24, 1862 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 8, 1863. 
 Carpenter, Judson T., Mansfield, enl. July 17, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 23, 1862. 
 Corey, John F., Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Conch, Thomas T., Griswold, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27,1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Carl, Martin, Norwich, enl. Aug. 8,1862; died Sept. 25, 1864, Sandy 
 
 Hook, Md. 
 Church, Charles H., Lyme, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out July 25, 1865, at 
 
 York, Pa. 
 Clark, Lucius P., Mansfield, enl. July 21, 1862; must, out June27,1865, 
 
 at Hal-per's Ferry. 
 Donahue, Daniel, Spragn«, enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Dean, Andrew, Tolland, enl. July 17, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Eccleston, Thomas H., Preston, enl, Aug. 10, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Earl, William E., Sprague, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Gordon, Archibald, Brooklyn, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; disch. for disability. 
 
 May 18, 1864. 
 Green, Palmer S., Griswold, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Feriy. 
 Hall, William S., Lyme, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Harris, George W., Preston, enl. July 19, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 15, 1863. 
 Hall, William, Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Hall, Charles H., Lyme, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Hayes, William, Norwich, enl. Aug. 2, 1862. 
 Handy, Hiram, Griswold, enl. Aug, 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Hall, Harvey, Lyme, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27,1865, at Har- 
 per's Ferry. 
 Herrick, John P., Griswold, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; died Jan. 26, 1864, at 
 
 Martinsburg, Va. 
 Hills, Herman, Norwich, enl. Aug. 8, 1862. 
 Higginbottoni, D. P., Coventry, enl. July 18, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Marcli 8, 1863. 
 Kent, Harrison A., Willlngton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27^ 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Lathrop, Joseph 0., Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Leary, Timothy, Griswold, enl. July 26, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 
 
 16, 1863. 
 Laferty, James, Norwich, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out Aug. 23, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry, 
 Linton, Benjamin, Griswold, enl, Aug, 2, 1862; disch, Dec, 27, 1862, 
 Long, John, Norwich, enl, July 15, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry, 
 Miller, Charles S., Sprague, enl. Aug, 13, 1862 ; wounded ; must, out May 
 
 20, 1865, at Frederick, Md. 
 McEwin, Hugh, Sprague, enl, Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Miner, Charles C, Lyme, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for disability, April 
 
 28, 1863. 
 Morflt, James, Killingly, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out July 26, 1865, at 
 
 York, Pa. 
 Newcomb^ Jason, Tolland, enl. July 23, 1862 ; must, out May 18, 1865, at 
 
 New Haven. 
 
 Peckham, Gardner 0., enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 1866, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Peter, William, Norwich, enl. July 28, 1862. 
 
 Porter, Charles F., Tolland, enl. July 17, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Quinley, James K. P., Lyme, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Quegle, Edward, Griswold, enl. Aug. 21, 1862; disch. for disability 
 
 March 8, 1863. 
 Bingroas, Michael, Norwich, enl. July 28, 1862 ; disch. Nov. 23, 1863. 
 Band, William G., Lyme, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Kogers, Henry, Griswold, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Robertson, William, Sprague, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bobbins, Miner, Plainfield, enl. July 25, 1862, must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Spencer, James G., Preston, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferr.y. 
 Stocking, Theodore B., Norwich, onl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Spaulding, Edwaid, Preston, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; wounded; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Stanton, Solomon, Plainfield; enl. Aug. 10, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Steers, Thomas A., Norwich, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Taylor, William H., Norwich, enl. July 14, 1862 ; disch. June 1, 1864. 
 Thornhill, William S,, Sprague, enl, Aug. 9, 1862; wounded; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Wallace, William, Norwich, enl. Aug. 14, 1862. 
 
 Wilber, .lohn A., Norwich, enl. Aug. 17, 1862 ; wounded ; disch. for dis- 
 ability. May 8, 1865. 
 Woodward, Elisfaa A., Canterbury, enl. July 20, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferr^. 
 Wright, Franklin S., Norwich, enl. Aug. 17, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Jan. 26, 1865. 
 Wild, Lineaus, Griswold, enl. Aug, 11, 1862; wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 captured June 11, 1864. 
 Williams, David, Willlngton, enl. Aug. 17, 1862 ; wounded June 6, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out July 5, 1866, at Hartford. 
 
 Becbuits for Company I. 
 Bugbee, Henry S., Hamden, enl. Dec. 28, 1863. 
 Buchanan, John M., Thompson, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Hal-per's Ferry. 
 
 Donahue, John, Sprague, enl. Jan. 5, 1864; must, out June 27, 1866, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Foster, Charles, Norwich, enl. Jan. 18, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Glasgow, John, enl. Nov. 30, 1862. 
 Grant, Albert F., Mansfield, enl. Dec. 31, 1863 ; must, out June 19, 1865, 
 
 at Baltimore. 
 Harbison, William 0., Killingly, enl. Sept. 16, 1862 ; trans, to Inv. Corps ; 
 
 must, out Sept, 14, 1865, 
 Holmes, Asa M,, Lebanon, enl, Jau, 2, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry, 
 Haskell, Albert L,, New London, enl. June 28, 1864; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 King, Andrus H., Woodstock, enl. Sept. 24, 1862 ; disch. May 30, 1866. 
 Keigwin, Daniel, Norwich, enl. Dec. 19, 1863; must, out June 27, 1866 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Kenyon, Leander A., Canterbury, enl. Sept. 27, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 McShean, Owen, Killingly, enl. Oct. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Quigley, Patrick J., Woodstock, enl. Sept. 28, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Richardson, Charles H., Killingly, enl. Oct. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Robinson, Franklin E., Mansfield, enl. Dec. 31, 1863. 
 
 Tucker, James, East Windsor, enl. Dec. 20, 1863 ; must, out June 27, I8661 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Town, Franklin, Thompson, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; must, out June 27, 1866 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Taylor, John E., Bast Windsor, enl. Dec. 30, 1863; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
110 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Weaver, Joseph, Sprague, enl. Dec. 1, 1863; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Waite, Prescott, Mansfield, enl. Dec. 31, 1863 ; trana. to Ist XJ. S. V. ; must. 
 
 out Oct. 20, 1865, at Hartford. 
 Tannon, Christian J., Ponifret, enl. Oct. 28, 1862. 
 
 COMPANY K. 
 Ezra J. Matheweon, capt., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1805, at Harper's Ferry. 
 George Kies, first lieut, Killingly, enl. Aug. 10, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Asahel G. Scranton, second lieut., Killingly, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Kimball Atwood, sergt., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Reuben \V. Scott, sergt., Plainfield, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Walter Young, sergt., Plainfield, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; killed Jan. 6, 1863, 
 
 by sentinel at Havre de Grace. 
 Jerome B. Call oone, sergt., Plainfield, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; killed June 5, 
 
 1864, at Piedmont, Va. 
 
 Joseph D. Hall, Corp., Killingly, enl. Aug. 13,1862; wounded June 5, 
 
 1864; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Alonzo B. Potter, corp., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 George H. Curtiss, corp., Brooklyn, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Joseph F, Griffiths, corp., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 15, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 James L. Adams, corp., Plainfield, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Charles Bartlett, corp., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; died Feb. 20, 1864, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 ErastUH E. Potter, Corp., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 21, 
 
 1865, at Annapolis. 
 Alfred Pray, corp., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Daniel Pray, musician, Plainfield, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Daniel G. Bennett, musician, Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; killed June 
 
 15. 1863, at Winchester. 
 
 William Comins, wagoner, Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Haiper's Ferry. 
 Adams, William H., Killingly, enl. July 31, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Burroughs, Cyrus, Killingly, enl. July 27, 1862 ; trans, to Vet. Ees. Corps, 
 
 March 4, 1864. 
 Bassett, Thomas D., Killingly, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 15, 1864. 
 Burdlck, Asher, Killingly, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Browu, George, Killingly, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Bowes, Edward E., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 186i ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Burnham, Oliver B., Killingly, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; died of wounds, Feb. 
 
 12. 1864, at Martinsburg, Va. 
 
 Bates, Sheldon, Jr., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Billington, Randall, Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862. 
 Bowen, Jabez L., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Bowen, Leonard, Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; wounded June, 1863 ; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Baker» Albert, Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry, 
 BabsoD, Henry W , Killingly, enl Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Bartlett, Almond, Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; wounded June, 1863; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Bates, Thomas T., Killingly, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; wounded July 18, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Burroughs, Cyrus, Jr., Killingly, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Burns, John W., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Curtis, Rufus D., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; wounded June 6, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1866, at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Crandall, Thomas, Killingly, eul. Aug, 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Covell, Arba R,, Killingly, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Champiin, Oliver W., Plainfield, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; wounded July ig 
 
 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Casey, Michael, Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Chase, Frank A,, Killingly, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry, 
 Carder, .Tames A., Killingly, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Day, Charles, Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must out June 27. 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Duprey, John H., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862. 
 Fisk, ErastuB E., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry, 
 Goodell, William, Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Griffiths, Charles K., Killingly, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Graves, Edwin P., Killingly, enl. Aug. 3, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Feri'y. 
 Glinn, John, Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; wounded June 5, 1864; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865. 
 Hafidy, Davis U., Killingly, enl. Aug. 10, 1862: wounded June 5, 1864; 
 
 must, out May 18, 1865. 
 Harrington, Ira, Killingly, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps; 
 
 must, out Aug. 13, 1865. 
 Hughes, .John, Plainfield, enl, Aug. 9, 1862. 
 Handy, Francis H., Killingly, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 3, 1864. 
 Harrington, William B., Sterling, enl. Aug. 7, 1862. 
 HallKck, Moses, Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. Feb. 22, 1864, by 
 
 order Sec. of War. 
 James, Roland R., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Jackson, Jerome A., Killingly, enl. Aug. 1,1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Jordan, Denison P., Plainfield, enl, Aug. 9,1862; wounded; trans, to 
 
 Inv. Corps ; must, out July 3, 1865. 
 Keach, John, Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out .Tune 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 King, Benoni, Killingly, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out May 25, 1865, at 
 
 Worcester, Mass. 
 Kelly, Juhn, Killingly, enl. July 30, 1862 ; disch. June 9, 1864. 
 Leavens, William H. H., Plainfield, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Law, Parris M., Killingly, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Moffit, Eber, Jr., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for disability, March 
 
 2,1863. 
 Miller, Jabez, Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 McDougal, Daniel, Killingly, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Miller, James D., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27,1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Niles, Sumner, Killingly, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Niles, Edmnud, Killingly, enl. Aug. 13,1862 ; must, out June 2, 1865, at 
 
 Jarvis U. S. A. Hospital. 
 Newell, William H., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; wounded June 5,1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Potter, James, Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 1866, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Penry, John, Killingly, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; died Nov. 28, 1862, at Havre 
 
 de Grace, Md. 
 Penry, Charles 0., Killingly, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; wounded June 5,1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Pike, Reuben A., Plainfield, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866. 
 Pike, John, Plainfield, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; disch. Nov. 26, 1863. 
 Robbins, Albert, Brooklyn, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Reynolds, Charles, Plainfield, enl. Aug. 13, 1862. 
 Sharkey, Robert, Killingly, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; killed June 15, 1863, at 
 Winchester, Va. 
 
MILITARY HISTOEY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Short, Levi M., Killingly, eul. Aug. 9,1862; wounded June 5, 1864; died 
 
 of wounds June 30, 1864. 
 Sweet, William W., Plainfield, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 June 16, 1863. 
 Sullivan, Lawrence, Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 19, 1863. 
 Scholes, Robert, Killingly, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Smith, Barnard, Killingly, enl. Aug. H, 1862. 
 Sweet, John H., Killingly, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out May 19,1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Short, Daniel S., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 2, 1863. 
 Smith, Samuel, Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Smith, James M., Killingly, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; killed in action July 18, 
 
 1864, at Snicker's Ferry, Ya. 
 Smith, AlmanzoM., Killingly, enl. Ang. 8,1862; wounded June 5,1864; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Sparks, Henry K., Killingly, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Trask, Albert D., Plainfield, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out June 27,1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Taylor, Wni. A., Sterling, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harpers Ferry. 
 Taylor, Henry G., Sterling, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Wade, Henry L., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 8,1862; must, ont June 27,1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Wilmot, Felix W., Killingly, enl. Aug. 8,1862. 
 Wood, Franklin, Killingly, enl. Aug, 10, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Wilson, George L., Killingly, enl. July 29, 1862 ; disch. May 19, 1865, at 
 
 New Haven. 
 Walker, Lewis, Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Young, James H., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Young, Maxey, Killingly, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for disability, July, 
 
 1863. 
 Young, Charles, Killingly, enl. Aug. 10. 1862; wounded June, 1863; 
 
 disch. for disability, June 8, 1865. 
 
 Becetjits fob Company K. 
 
 Baker, Henry E., Killingly, enl. Feb. 29, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Baker, Wm. C, Killingly, enl. Feb. 29, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harpers Ferry. 
 Cooper, George P., Killingly, enl. Dec. 17, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Cole, Thomas W., Putnam, enl. Feb. 25, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Geer, Nelson, Killingly, enl. Jan. 4,1864; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Hai-per's Ferry. 
 Hall, George F., Plainfield, enl. Feb. 4, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Hyde, Wm. J., Plainfield, enl. March 31, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Hopkins, Michael, Plainfield, enl. Oct. 4, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Lathrop, David D., Brooklyn, enl. April 10, 1863; disch, for disability, 
 
 Ji.ly 6, 1865. 
 Locke, George H., Killingly, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Potter, Rouse, Killingly, enl. Feb. 29, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Robbina, Thomas J., Killingly, enl. Dec. 17, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Randall, Henry F., Killingly, enl, Dec. 29, 1863; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Shepardson, Albert F., Plainfield, enl. Feb. 4, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, at Harper's Ferry. 
 Short, Linus E., Killingly, enl. Feb. 29,1864; died Sept. 7, 1864, at An- 
 
 dersonville, Ga. 
 Stewart, Charlf s, MontTiUe, enl. March 7, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Taylor, James A., Plainfield, enl. Dec. 11, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, 
 
 at Harper's Ferry. 
 Wade, Otis S., Killingly, enl. Dec. 17, 1863 ; must, out June 27, 1865, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 
 Unassigned Recruits. 
 Avery, Geo. F., Preston, enl. Feb. 27, 1864; died March 7, 1864, at West 
 
 Haven . 
 Brady, Charles, Salisbury, enl. March 19, 1864 ; forwarded April 17, 1864 
 
 not taken up on rolls. 
 Baker, Arthur C, Sterling, enl. May 25, 1864 ; forwarded June 28,1864 
 
 not taken up on rolls. 
 Brown, Charles, Sterling, enl. May 25,1864; forwarded June 2,1864 
 
 not tiiken up on rolls. 
 Brady, Edward, Plainfield, enl. Oct. 18, 1864; disch. Nov. 18, 1864, at 
 
 draft rendezvous in New Haven. 
 Clark, Warren A., Milford, enl. Dec. 9, 1863; forwarded Dec. 16, 1863; 
 
 not taken up on rolls. 
 Collins, Daniel, Sterling, enl. May 5, 1864 ; forwarded June 2, 1864 ; not 
 
 taken up on rolls. 
 Coleman, John T., Granby, enl. July 29, 1864 ; forwarded Sept. 17, 1864 ; 
 
 not taken up on rolls. 
 Clancy, John J., Granby, enl. July 29, 1864 ; forwarded Sept. 17, 1864 ; 
 
 not taken up on rolls, 
 Crowley, Frank, Salem, enl. Sept. 3, 1864; forwarded Sept. 17,1864; not 
 
 taken up on rolls. 
 Clark, Oliver, Washington, enl. Nov. 15, 1864. 
 Clarey, Michael, Saybrook, enl. Nov. 22, 1864; forwarded Jan. 29, 1865; 
 
 not taken up on rolls. 
 Daggett, Henry A., enl. Oct. 9, 1862. 
 Ellis, Thomas S., Norwich, enl. March 23, 1863. 
 Eaton, Thomas, Portland, enl. March 17, 1864; forwarded April 7, 1864; 
 
 not taken up on rolls. 
 Finner, Thomas, Hartford, enl. Jan. 8, 1864. 
 Greene, Lafayette, Preston, enl. Sept. 1, 1864; disch. Nov. 18, 1864, at 
 
 draft rendezvous in New Haven, 
 Harrington, Parley, Bozrah, enl. Dec. 25, 1863; not taken upon rolls 
 
 Dec. 31, 1864. 
 Littlefield, George T., Montville, enl. Jan. 18, 1864. 
 Leonard, Charles, Portland, enl. March 17, 1864; forwarded April 7, 
 
 1864; not taken up on rolls. 
 Loonnun, John, Stonington, enl. Feb. 3, 1865. 
 Marsh, George W., North Canaan, enl. Dec. 16,1864; forwarded Dec. 
 
 30, 1864; not taken up on rolls. 
 Neuergert, John, Canton, enl. Dec. 5, 1863; not taken up on rolls Dec. 
 
 31,1864. 
 Noble, John, Lyme, enl. March 7, 1864; forwarded Dec, 7, 1864; not 
 
 taken up on rolls. 
 O'Neal, Timothy, Granby, enl. July 29,1864; forwarded Sept. 17, 1864; 
 
 not taken up on rolls. 
 Owen, James, Colchester, enl. Dec. 13,1864; forwarded Dec, 30,1864; 
 
 not taken up on rolls. 
 Roberts, Ozrin', Middletown, enl. April 3, 1863. 
 Ryan, Patrick, Berlin, enl. July 29, 1864; forwarded Sept. 17, 1864; not 
 
 taken up on rolls. 
 Shay, Jeremiah, enl. Sept. 29, 1862. 
 Sweet, James L., Norwich, enl. Dec. 31, 1863. 
 Stewart, William J., Salisbury, enl. March 19, 1864 ; forwarded April 7, 
 
 1864 ; not taken up on rolls. 
 Shepard, George W., Preston, enl. Sept. 3, 1864; forwarded Seft. 17, 
 
 1864; not taken up on rolls. 
 Townsend, Charles, Sterling, enl. April 21, 1864; forwarded June 2, 
 
 1864; not taken up on rolls. 
 Warren, Charles A., Woodstock, enl. Sept. 14, 1864; disch. Oct. 8, 1864 
 
 at draft rendezvous in New Havf»n. 
 Woods, Patrick, Bridgewater enl. i^'-[A. 17, 1864; forwarded Sept. 26, 
 
 1864; not taken upon rolls. 
 West, Charles W., Middletown, enl. Dec. 16, 1864 ; disch. Jan. 15, 1865, 
 
 at draft rendezvous in New Haven. 
 Williams, George, Stonington, enl. Feb. 3, 1865. 
 Yarrington, Henry, Preston, enl. April 7, 1863; disch. April 13, 1863, at 
 
 Fort Trumbull. 
 
 Gen. William G. Ely, now occupyiDg a prom- 
 inent position among the business men of Norwich, 
 was born in West Killingly, Conn. ; graduated as 
 civil engineer at Brown University, and completed 
 
112 
 
 HISTOBY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 his education in France and Germany. At the be- 
 ginning of the war, in 1861, he was in the employ of 
 the Rogers Locomotive Works, Paterson, N. J., as 
 assistant superintendent. Resigning his position, he 
 enlisted in the First Connecticut Regiment. Ely was 
 soon promoted as captain and brigade commissary 
 under Gen. Daniel Tyler. At the first battle of Bull 
 Run he acted as aide to Gen. E. D. Keyes, and was 
 subsequently promoted to be lieutenant-colonel of the 
 Sixth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers for gallantry 
 at the battle of Bull Run. At the taking of Port 
 Royal, S. C, he was in command of the Sixth Regi- 
 ment Connecticut Volunteers. Eight months later 
 he was promoted as colonel of the Eighteenth Regi- 
 ment Connecticut Volunteers, and soon afterwards 
 appointed in command of the Second Brigade, Second 
 Division, Army of West Virginia. June 15, 1863, Col. 
 Ely was captured, with a portion of the Eighteenth 
 Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, while charging a 
 battery at Winchester. His sword, which had been 
 shattered by a cannon-shot, was returned to him on 
 the battle-field by Gen. Walker, of the " Stonewall" 
 Jackson brigade. A New York Herald correspond- 
 ent, who witnessed the battle and the Eighteenth 
 Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, writes (June 27, 
 1863) as follows : 
 
 *'I wrote you u few days since of the capture of Col. Ely, of the 
 Eighteenth Connecticut Regiment. A braver or cooler officer never 
 stood under shoulder-straps or faced a foe. After charging the enemy 
 over fences and through lots, he marched his men back over the ground 
 where so many of their comrades had been placed hors de combat with 
 as much precision and care as though they were on dress parade." 
 
 Always full of energy, Ely was among those who 
 tunneled out of Libby Prison. Returning to the 
 Shenandoah Valley, he was appointed to the com- 
 mand of the Second Brigade in Gen. Sheridan's 
 corps, and subsequently breveted brigadier-general. 
 
 To-day Gen. Ely is president of the Reade Paper 
 Company and treasurer of the Falls Company's Cot- 
 ton-Mills. 
 
 Twenty-first Regiment Infantry.— The Twenty- 
 first was organized in August, 1862. Col. Arthur 
 H. Dutton was appointed from the regular army, and 
 after having brought the regiment to a high state of 
 efficiency, was transferred to the temporary command 
 of a brigade, leaving Lieut.-Col. Burpee in command 
 of the regiment. 
 
 The regiment was recruited in Hartford, New Lon- 
 don, and Windham Counties, and went into camp at 
 Norwich. On the 11th of September the regiment 
 numbering nine hundred and sixty-six men, pro- 
 ceeded to Washington, and was assigned to the Army 
 of the Potomac. It was first engaged in battle at 
 Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, and sustained a loss of 
 one commissioned oflScer and five men wounded. Col 
 Dutton spoke in the highest terms of the conduct of 
 the regiment in this its first battle. 
 
 In the months of April and May, 1863, the regi- 
 ment participated in the defense of Sufiblk, Va. On 
 
 the 11th of April it proceeded to the support of the 
 Irish Legion on the Edenton road, and, with one hun- 
 dred rounds of ammunition per man, lay upon its 
 arms until the 14th. It continued in this service 
 until the 2d of May, when it was ordered to cross the 
 Nansemond at Sleepy Hole (a place six miles lower 
 down than the line then occupied) to seize Reed's 
 Ferry and open communication with the Fourth 
 Rhode Island Volunteers on the left. That the 
 work was well executed will be seen from the follow- 
 ing extract : 
 
 " Headquarters 3d Division, 9th A. C, 
 " Near Suri-OLK, Va., May 4, 1863. 
 " General Orders No. 28. 
 
 " (Extract.) Nor will he (the commanding general) suffer to pass un- 
 noticed the services of those who crossed the Nansemond at Sleepy Hole, 
 who drove the enemy's cavalry from Chuckatuck and seized Reed's 
 Ferry, capturing an officer and fifteen men. 
 
 " Such deeds prove the mettle of the men, and show that when well 
 led they need fear no enemy. 
 
 " By command, 
 
 '* Bkig.-Gen. George "W. Gb'tty. 
 *' Charles F. Gardiner, Captain and A. A. General.^* 
 
 Soon after this the regiment was transferred to the 
 Department of Virginia and North Carolina. It 
 acted as provost-guard of Gen. Dix's command in the 
 raid up the Peninsula. From this service it pro- 
 ceeded to Portsmouth, and afterwards crossed the 
 river to Norfolk. After performing provost duties in 
 those cities for nearly five months, it was relieved and 
 ordered to Newport News, where it remained some 
 six weeks. During this time a portion of the regi- 
 ment, with other forces, under the command of Gen. 
 Graham, made a destructive raid to Brandon, on the 
 James River, destroying a large quantity of rebel 
 property. 
 
 On the 3d of February, 1864, the regiment was 
 ordered to Morehead City, N. C, and after aiding in 
 repelling the enemy at that point, was sent to New- 
 bern. On the 16th of May, 1864, the regiment took 
 an active part in the battle of Drury's Bluif, Va., and 
 sustained a loss of one hundred and seven officers and 
 men killed, wounded, and missing. 
 
 On the 25th of May, Col. Dutton, commanding the 
 brigade, received orders to reconnoitre the left of the 
 enemy's position, and designated the Twenty-first as 
 the regiment for the work, but night coming on he 
 returned the regiment to its camp. On the day fol- 
 lowing, the 26th, Col. Dutton, with the brigade, again 
 moved, with orders to push the reconnoissance until 
 stopped by the enemy. After an advance of nearly 
 two miles the enemy was found strongly intrenched. 
 Line of battle was at once formed, but as the skir- 
 mishers were becoming engaged. Col. Dutton, who 
 was then, as usual, on the skirmish-line, was mor- 
 tally wounded. The command devolved upon Lieut- 
 Col. Burpee, who was finally obliged to withdraw his 
 command. 
 
 Maj. Crosby, in his report, speaks of the death ot 
 Col. Dutton as follows : " Col. Dutton died from the 
 effects of his wounds June 5th. He graduated at 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 113 
 
 West Point in 1861, Kilpatrick, Custer, O'Rourke, 
 Benjamin, and Farquhar being among his classmates. 
 Bold and chivalrous, with a nice sense of honor, a 
 judgment quick and decisive, an unwavering zeal in 
 his chosen profession, he was in every respect a 
 thorough soldier. ... By his companions in arms he 
 will never be forgotten, and to them his last resting- 
 place will be as a shrine, commemorating the friend- 
 ships which not the rude shock of war nor lapse of 
 time can blight or destroy." 
 
 On the 3d of June the regiment participated in the 
 battle of Cold Harbor, Va., and behaved with great 
 steadiness throughout the whole battle, receiving 
 well-merited compliments from division and brigade 
 commanders. The regiment sustained a loss of forty- 
 seven officers and men. 
 
 On the 9th of June, Lieut. -Col. Thomas F. Burpee 
 was mortally woiinded while going the rounds as 
 brigade officer of the day. Lieut.-Col. Burpee had 
 borne his part with distinguished valor during the 
 Bermuda Hundred campaign, and his coolness and 
 good judgment at the battles of Drury's Bluff and 
 Cold Harbor will not soon be forgotten by his com- 
 rades. While in command of his regiment he was 
 always able and efficient, discharged with prompti- 
 tude every duty, particularly if concerning the care 
 and welfare of his men, by whom he was much loved 
 and respected. 
 
 The regiment remained in front of Petersburg until 
 the 3d of September, performing picket duty and en- 
 gaged in skirmishes with the enemy. Its loss while 
 thus engaged was forty-nine officers and men. It was 
 then ordered within the line of defenses at Bermuda 
 Hundred, and remained in that position until Sep- 
 tember 28th, when orders were received preparatory 
 to a movement. 
 
 At nine a.m. of that day they marched to the James 
 River and crossed on pontoon-bridges. It then took 
 up its position and proceeded with its division to the 
 assault on Fort Harrison, and on the day following 
 (29th) Fort Harrison, with its garrison and armament 
 of twenty-two pieces of heavy ordnance, fell into the 
 hands of the Union army. The fighting was of an 
 extremely severe character, but the Twenty-first did 
 not fail to add new laurels to its wreath. 
 
 This was the last general engagement for the regi- 
 ment, which remained in service, performing the 
 usual routine of camp and picket duty. 
 
 Lieut.-Col. Brown, in his reportdated April 10, 1865, 
 speaks of Capt. Jennings, who was mortally wounded : 
 " No truer patriot or braver soldier than he has fallen 
 in defense of the nation's life. He fell as a soldier 
 would wish, in the hour of victory, leaving a record 
 for his comrades to emulate." 
 
 Nothing of importance occurred subsequently, and 
 the Twenty-first was mustered out of the service on 
 the 16th day of June, 1865, leaving a record for 
 bravery, fidelity, and general good conduct of which 
 Connecticut may well be proud. 
 
 The regiment participated in the following engage- 
 ments : 
 
 Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. Loss in 
 wounded, 1 commissioned officer, 5 enlisted men. 
 Total loss, 6. 
 
 Suffolk, Va., April and May, 1863. Loss in killed, 
 2 enlisted men ; wounded, 5 enlisted men. Total 
 loss, 7. 
 
 Drury's Bluff, Va., May 16, 1864. Loss in killed, 
 14 enlisted men ; wounded, 6 commissioned officers, 
 63 enlisted men ; missing, 24 enlisted men. Total 
 loss, 107. 
 
 Cold Harbor, Va., June 8, 1864. Loss in killed, 2 
 enlisted men; wounded, 2 commissioned officers, 43 
 enlisted men. Total loss, 47. 
 
 Before Petersburg, Va.,' May 26 to June 19,1864. 
 Wounded, 2 field-officers (mortally), 9 enlisted men. 
 Total loss, 11. 
 
 Before Petersburg, Va., June 19 to Sept. 3, 1864. 
 Loss in killed, 1 commissioned officer, 5 enlisted men ; 
 wounded, 2 commissioned officers, 30 enlisted men. 
 Total loss, 38. 
 
 Fort Harrison, Va., Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 1864. Loss 
 in killed, 3 enlisted men ; wounded, 3 commissioned 
 officers, 21 enlisted men ; missing, 3 enlisted men. 
 Total loss, 30. 
 
 Casualties : killed in action, 26 ; died of wounds, 
 33; died of disease, 108; discharged prior to muster 
 out of regiment, 313; missing at muster out of regi- 
 ment, 2. Total, 482. 
 
 FIELD- AND STAFF-OFFICEES. 
 Arthur H. Dutton, colonel, Wallingford, must, in Aug. 19, 1862; died 
 
 June 8, 1864, of wounds. 
 Thomas F. Burpee, lieut.-col., Vernon, must, in Sept. 3, 1862 ; pro. col.; 
 
 died of woundB June 11, 1864. 
 Hiram B. Crosby, major, Norwich, must, in Aug. 22, 1862; pro. col.i 
 
 diech. as lieut.-col., Sept. 14, 1864. 
 Clarence E. Dutton, adjutant, Wallingford, must, in Sept. 4, 1862; pro. 
 
 capt. ; diBcli. Nov. 16, 1864. 
 Hiram W, Richmond, qr. -master, Brooklyn, must, in Aug. 18, 1862 ; res. 
 
 Feb. 17,1863. 
 William Soule, surgeon, Griswold, must, in Sept. 3, 1862 ; res. Feb. 23, 
 
 1863. 
 Lewis E. Dixon, first asst. surgeon, Plainfield, must, in Aug. 16, 1862 ; res. 
 
 Jan. 24, 1863. 
 J. Hamilton Lee, second asst. surgeon, Norwich, must, in Aug, 22, 1862 
 
 pro. surg.; disch. Oct. 31, 1804. 
 Christopher A. Brand, sergt-mfyor, Norwich, must, in July 26, 1862 ; pro_ 
 
 1st lieut. ; res. Feb. 23, 1863. 
 Edward Gallup, q.-m.-sergt. Brooklyn, must. in. Aug. 17, 1862; pro. qr. 
 
 master ; must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Joseph D. Plunkett, com.-sergt., Norwich, must, in July 31, 1862; pro. 
 
 2d lieut.; disch. Dec. 20, 1862. 
 James E. Barbour, hospital steward, Norwalk, must, in Aug. 9, 1862 
 
 disch. June 20, 1863. 
 
 COMPANY C. 
 
 John E. Wood, capt., Groton, enl. July 25,1862; appointed chaplain; 
 resigned. 
 
 James H. Latham, first lieut., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; pro. capt, ; dis- 
 missed June 14, 1865. 
 
 John F. Randall, second lieut., Groton, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; pro. 1st lieut. ; 
 hon. disch. Aug, 11, 1863. 
 
 William W. Latham, sergt., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; pro. capt. ; must, 
 out June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 
 Joseph L. Perkins, sergt., Groton, enl. July 23, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 March 8, 1863. 
 
114 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Frank W. Biayton, aergt., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded May 16, 
 
 1864 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Leonard Fairbanks, sergt., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; trans, to Vet. Res. 
 
 Corps ; must, out Aug. 19, 1865. 
 Timothy Watrous, sergt., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; died March 26, 1863, 
 
 at Suffolk. 
 Ezra F. Tibbets, Corp., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 Francis A. Hough, corp., Groton, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; wounded Dec. 13, 
 
 1862; diach. for disability, Feb. 11, 1864. 
 Sidney Benjamin, corp., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; died May 7, 1863, at 
 
 Hampton. 
 John Palmer, Jr., corp., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 Thaddeus Pecor, coi-p., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 Thomas L. Bailey, corp., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 14, 1862; must, out June 3, 
 
 1865, at Petersburg. 
 Robert G. Babcock, corp., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 186.5, at Richmond. 
 Robert A. Gray, Corp., Groton, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must. out June 23, 1865, 
 
 at Hartford. 
 Thomas H. Williams, musician, Groton, enl. Aug. 8,1862; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Oct. 24, 1862. 
 Charles M. Gallup, musician, Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Francis D, Albro, wagoner, Groton, enl. Aug. 13,1862; disch. for disa- 
 bility, March 8, 1863. 
 Avery, William B., Groton, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; wounded June 3, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 23, 1865. 
 Avery, Jared R., Groton, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 3, 1865, at 
 
 Petersburg. 
 Avery, Parmenas, Groton, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; diach. for disability, Feb. 9, 
 
 1863. 
 Andrews, Charles B., Groton, enl. Aug. 9,1862; died June 8, 1864, of 
 
 wounds received at Drury'a Bluff. 
 Alexander. William R., Jr., Groton, enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Allen, John, Groton, enl. Aug. 14,1862; trans, to Invalid Corps, Feb. 16, 
 
 1864 ; must, out Aug. 24, 1865. 
 Budloiig, Thomas J., Groton, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; never mustered in. 
 Brewster, Elias B., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Beckwith, William C, Groton, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 Boomer, Hiram E., Groton, en). Aug. 4, 1862; disch. Jan. 19, 1863, at 
 
 Falmouth, Va. 
 Batty, James, Groton, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Batty, Oliver, Jr., Groton, enl. July 28, 1862; trans, to 10th Conn. Vols. 
 Bailey, Benjamin F., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Barker, Orrin D., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; killed May 16, 1864, at 
 
 Drury's Bluff, Va. 
 Chapman, Nelson, Groton, enl. Aug, 14, 1862 ; disch. May 13, 1865, at 
 
 New Haven. 
 Chapman, William H., Groton, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; must, out July 21, 
 
 1865, at Hartford. 
 Curtis, George F., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Chester, Howard M,, Groton, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 9, 1865 
 
 at Fortress Monroe. 
 Chester, Oscar J., Groton, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Craddick, Dennis, Groton, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 21, 1865, at 
 
 Fortress Monroe. 
 Douglass, William H., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Davis, Nelson, Groton, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Oct. 15, 
 
 1863. 
 Dart, Elihu N., Groton, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Oct. 4, 1863. 
 Eldddge, James, Groton, .enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Fish, Horatio N., Jr., Groton, enl. July 28, 1862 ; died Aug. 8, 1864, of 
 
 wounds received at Petersburg. 
 Fish, Joshua P., Groton, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out June 16, 1805, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 
 Fish, Thomas B., Grotou, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Fitch, James W., Groton, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; must, out June 20, 1865, at 
 
 Fortress Monroe. 
 Fowler, Cornelius, Groton, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Gray, Philip B., Groton, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; disch. fur disability, Oct. 4, 1863. 
 Godfrey, John H., Groton, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 10, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Godfrey, Addison A., Groton, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; must, out June 3, 1866, 
 
 at Petei-sburg. 
 Gallup, Francis E., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 8, 1863. 
 Gabriel, George F., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Holland, Andrew, Groton, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Holladay, William U., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond, 
 Johnson, William, Groton, enl, Aug, 7, 1862 ; died June 4,1864, of wounda 
 
 received at Cold Harbor, 
 King, Newell D., Groton, enl, Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 3, 1865, at 
 
 Petersburg. 
 Lyon, Nelson A., Norwich, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Latham, Samuel P., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Latham, Albert C, Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Latham, Benjamin F., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; trans, to Invalid Corps ; 
 
 must, out Sept. 4, 1865, 
 Lathrop, Denison, Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 10, 1865. 
 Mulkey, William N., Groton, enl. Aug, 9, 1862 ; died of wounds, May 28, 
 
 1864, at Richmond. 
 
 Meach, George F,, Ledyard, enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; must, out June 3, 1865, 
 
 at Petersburg. 
 Maynard, Augustus B,, Ledyard, enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; died Feb. 15, 1863, 
 
 at Washington. 
 Mitchell, William H,, Groton, enl, Aug. 4, 1862; must, out May 23, 1865, 
 
 at Hartford. 
 Miner, Thomas E., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 16,1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 McGrath, James E,, Groton, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; wounded; trans, to Yet. 
 
 Res. Corps ; must, out July 14, 1865. 
 Mayo, Francis B., Groton, enl, Aug. 7, 1862; disch. May 22, 1865, on ac- 
 count of wounds. 
 Newbury. Thomas M., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 20, 1864. 
 Peckham, Benjamin B., Ledyard, enl, Aug, 13, 1862 ; must, out June 19, 
 
 1865, at Fortress Monroe, 
 
 Perkins, Julius A., Groton, enl, July 30, 1862 ; died Jan, 3, 1863, at Aquia 
 
 Creek. 
 Pendlebnry, Isaac, Groton, enl. Aug, 5, 1862 ; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, 
 
 Oct, 4, 1864. 
 Pease, Cyrus J., Groton, enl, Aug. 8, 1862; killed near Drury's Bluff, Va., 
 
 May 16, 1864. 
 Potter, Elihu H., Groton, enl, Aug, 6, 1862 ; must out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Pecor, Henry, Groton, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Putnam, John F., Groton, enl. Aug. 13, 18G2; died July 1, 1864, at New 
 
 Haven. 
 Bathbun, James, Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862, must, out June 3, 1865, at 
 
 Petersburg. 
 Rathbun, Charles H., Groton, enl. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Rice, Charles E., Grotou, enl. Aug. 14, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Richmond, William H., Groton, enl, Aug, 6, 1862 ; must, out May 19, 
 
 1865, at Norfolk. 
 Smith, Edmund F., Grotou, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; killed May 16, 1864, at 
 
 Drury's Bluff. 
 Sweetman, Christopher, Groton, enl. Aug, 8, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Jan. 29, 1863. 
 Spencer, Abner N,, Groton, enl. Aug, 11, 1862 ; died of wounds July 12, 
 
 1864. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 115 
 
 Spencer, Henry N., Groton, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; discharged for disability, 
 
 March 8, 1863. 
 Starr, Nathan A., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1S62; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Kichmond. 
 Starr, Charles H., Groton, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 16, 1866, at 
 
 Blchmond. 
 Vanankeen, Samuel, Groton, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; killed Sept. 29, 1864, at 
 
 Ghapin^s Farm, Va. 
 Wilcox, Isaac T., Groton, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Weeks, James, Groton, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; disoh. for disability, Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Wilbur, Calvin H., Groton, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 
 
 2, 1863. 
 Watroua, William H., Groton, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; died Oct. 1, 1864, at 
 
 Charleston. 
 Watrous, Leonard, Groton, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; trans, to Invalid Corps, 
 
 Sept. 30, 1863 ; must, out Aug. 11, 1865. 
 Whaling, Patrick, Groton, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out May 23, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Woodmansee, Ed. D., Groton, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; wounded Oct. 1, 1864 ; 
 
 must, out May 25, 1865. 
 Weaver, Charles H., Groton, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 25, 1863. 
 Weaver, James L., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 25, 1863. 
 Wheeler, William B., Jr., Groton, enl. Aug. 8, 1862. 
 Wheeler, John A., Groton, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 
 19, 1863. 
 Wolfe, Moses C, Groton, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 2, 
 
 1863. 
 Wilcox, Chaoncey F., Groton, enl. July 29, 1862; died Jan. 8,1863, at 
 
 Falmouth. Va. 
 
 Eeoeuits fob Compant C. 
 
 Latham, Ira 0., Norwich, enl, Jan. 13, 1864; trans, to 10th Conn. Vols. ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Bathhun, Samuel, Groton, enl. Feb. 16, 1S64; died Sept. 26, 1864, at 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 COMPANY B. 
 Charles T. Stanton, Jr., capt., Stonington, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; pro. major; 
 
 disch. as capt. Sept. 14, 1864. 
 Henry B. Jennings, first lieut, Stonington, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; died of 
 
 wounds Nov. 26, 1864, Fortress Monroe, Va. 
 Franklin H. Davis, second lieut., Stonington, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; resigned 
 
 Dec. 22, 1862. 
 James B, Vanderwater, sergt., Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 8, 1865, Petersburg, Va. 
 James H. Carter, sergt., Stonington, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; disch. for disabil- 
 ity, Feb. 19, 1863. 
 Howard E. Miner, sergt., Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, Richmond, Va. 
 John F. Trumbull, Jr., sergt., Stonington, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; pro. 1st 
 
 lieut ; dismissed Jan. 28, 1864. 
 Walter P. Long, sergt., Stonington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; pro. capt. ; must. 
 
 out June 16, 1865. 
 Seth Slack, corp., Stonington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 John L. Hill, coi-p., Stonington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Bichmond, Va. 
 
 William E. Targee, Jr., Corp., Stonington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out 
 
 June 28, 1865, Norfolk, Va. 
 Charles H. Crumb, Corp., Stonington, enl, July 23, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 3, 1866, Petersburg, Va. 
 Nelson Wilcox, Corp., Stonington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out May 18, 
 
 1866, Hartford, Ct. 
 
 John J. McMillen, Corp., Stonington, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; died April 3, 
 
 1864, Providence, R. I. 
 Joseph H. Newberry, Corp., Stonington, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; trans. Vet. 
 
 Res. Corps ; must, out June 26, 1865. 
 Erastus Holmes, Corp., Stonington, enl. Aug. 5,1862; disch. for disabil- 
 
 ity, March 8, 1863. 
 Edwin £. Snow, musician, Norwich, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; disch. Jan. 29, 
 
 1863. 
 Avery, Charles G., Stonington, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; died of wounds July 
 
 2], 1864, Drury's Bluff, Va. 
 Bennett, Jesse, Stonington, enl. Aug. 21, 1862; must, out June 7, 1866, 
 
 Point Lookout, Md. 
 
 Bliss, Alexander, Plainiield, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch, for disability Dec 
 
 23, 1862. 
 Bliss, George E., Plainfleld, enl. Aug. 28,1862; died Jan. 8, 1863, Fal- 
 mouth, Va, 
 Burrows, George W,, Groton, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for disability 
 
 March 27, 1863. 
 Barber, William F., Groton, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; must, out June 12, 1865, 
 
 Fortress Monroe, Va. 
 Burdick, William C, Stonington, enl, Aug. 22, 1862 ; disch. for disability 
 
 April 25, 1863. 
 Burrows, Daniel A., Groton, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 Point Lookout, Md. 
 Bliven, Elias P., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Richmond, Va, 
 Brown, Oliver A., Stonington, enl. Aug, 7, 1862 ; missing May 16, 1864; 
 
 dropped from rolls, 
 Burdick, Alfred L,, Stonington, enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; died Jan. 8, 1863, Fal- 
 mouth, Va. 
 Burdick, Joseph L., Stonington, enl. Aug. 1,1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Richmond, Va. 
 Brightmiin, Denison, Stonington, enl. July 29, 1862 ; killed in action, 
 
 June 30, 1864, Petersburg, Va. 
 Cradick, Michael, Groton, enl. July 28, 1862; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 Carpenter, Joseph W., Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; died Deo. 7, 1862, 
 
 Falmouth, Va. 
 Crandall, William W., Stonington, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out July 22, 
 
 1865, Camp Lee, Va. 
 
 Conway, William, Stonington, enl, Aug, '5, 1862; must, out .Tune 16, 
 
 1866, Richmond, Va, 
 
 Cordner, Charles L,, Stonington, enl, Aug, 6,1862; discharged for disa- 
 bility, March 6, 1863. 
 
 Cullin, John, Norwich, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; died March 22, 1864, Newhern, 
 N. C. 
 
 Dunham, William, Stonington, enl. Aug. 21, 1862; must, out June 6, 
 
 1865, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Douglass, John C, Stonington, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1866, Richmond, Va. 
 
 Denison, Samuel, Stonington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; must, out June 16,1866, 
 Bichmond, Va. 
 
 Davis, Elias N., Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; died March 6, 1863, New- 
 port News. 
 
 Dwyer, Edward, Norwich, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; discharged for disability, 
 Oct. 11, 1862. 
 
 Ecclcstun, George, Stonington, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; trans. Inv. Corps, July 
 1, 1863. 
 
 Eldridge, George W., Stonington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 1866, Richmond, Va. 
 
 Ehlers, August, Norwich, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; died of wounds July 2, 
 
 1864, Point of Rocks, 
 
 Frazier, George W., Jr., Stonington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; trans. Vet. Res. 
 
 Corps ; must, out June 29, 1865. 
 Fitzgerald, Austin, Lisbon, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; trans. Vet. Res. Corps ; 
 
 must, out July 28, 1865, 
 Frazier, William H., Stonington, enl. July 29, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Jan. 5, 1865. 
 Frazier, Arvine A., Stonington, enl, July 23, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 May 16, 1865. 
 Green, Gurdon, Ledyard, enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 3, 
 
 1863. 
 Gerry, Lewis H., Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; disch. for disability. May 
 
 3, 1865, 
 Greene, Lyman, Stonington, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; killed May 16, 1864, 
 
 Drury's Bluff, Va. 
 Gardiner, William, Stonington, enl, Aug. 4, 1862; disch. May 13, 1865. 
 Hevy, .lohn, Stonington, enl. Aug. 22,1862; must, out June 16,1865, 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 Heath, Amos F,, Stonington, enl. July 23, 1862; killed May 16, 1864, 
 
 Drury's Bluff, Va. 
 Hancox, William F., Stonington, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Bichmond, Va. 
 
 Hancox, Amos S., Stonington, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Kichmond, Va. 
 Harris, Albert T., Stonington, enl. July 26, 1862; died Dec. 13, 1864, on 
 
 board transport " Northern Light," 
 Harrington, Joseph E,, Stonington, enl. Aug. 1,1862; must, out Juno 
 
 16, 1866, Richmond, Va, 
 
116 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Hulet, Palmer, Stonington, enl. July 31, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 Hislop, James, Norwich, enl. Aug. 21, 1862; must, out June 16,1865, 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 JacltBon, Baneom, Stonington, enl. Aug. 35, 1862; pro. 1st lieut. ; must. 
 
 out June 16,1865. 
 Kelly, John, Norwich, enl, July 31, 1862. 
 Kulbeckj Robert, Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 Lamphere, Leonard 0., Stonington, enl. July 28, 1862 ; died July 19,1864, 
 
 Point Lookout, Md. 
 Lever, Richard, Stonington, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; disch. Oct. 4, 1863. 
 Mulligan, Patrick H., Stonington, enl. Aug. 1,1862; drowned Feb. 13, 
 
 1864, Newport News, Va. 
 
 Morgan, Benedict W., Stonington, enl. Aug. "7, 1862 ; diech. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 30, 1862, 
 Miner, Charles L., Stonington, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Richmond, Va. 
 
 Muegrave, Francis J., Stonington, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; died July 29, 1863, 
 
 Portsmouth, Va. 
 Newberry, George K., Stonington, enl. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Richmond, Va. 
 Noyes, Nathan, Stonington, enl. Aug. 1, 1862"; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 Ridabock, Wait \V,, Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Richmond, Va. 
 Root, George, Stonington, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; 
 Robinson, William H., Stonington, enl, Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 
 
 24, 1865, Fortress Monroe; Va. 
 Rogers, Charles H., Montville, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; died Dec. 6, 1862, Fal- 
 mouth, Va. 
 Smith, Henry D., Stonington, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch. May 10, 1863. 
 Smith, Gardner B., Stonington, onl. July 24,1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Richmond, Va. 
 Smith, Charles, Stonington, enl. Aug. 25, 1862. 
 Spencer, Charles C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; trans. Inv. Corps ; must. 
 
 out Sept. 4. 1865. 
 Tift, Daniel D., Stonington, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; trans. Inv. Corps, July 1, 
 
 1863. 
 Tucker, Frederick 0., Stonington, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; must, out May 19, 
 , 1865, Norfolk, Va. 
 Tift, John L., Stonington, enl. July 23, 1862; wounded; trans. Vet. Res. 
 
 Coi-ps; must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Taylor, Charles H., Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Beaufort, N. C. 
 Vananken, Abram, Stonington, enl. Aug. 2, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, Richmond, Va. 
 Wilcox, Leonard, Stonington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862; died Dec. 16, 1862, Fal- 
 mouth, Va. 
 Wilcox, Harlem H., Stonington, enl. Aug. Y, 1862. 
 White, Rnfus C, Stonington, enl. July 11, 1862; killed May 16,1864, 
 
 Drury's Bluff, Va. 
 Williams, Charles H., Stonington, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; died June 20, 1864, 
 
 of wounds. 
 
 Recruits foe Company B. 
 Arnold, Peleg B., Preston, enl. March 8, 1864; must, out May 18,1865, 
 
 New Haven. 
 Dutton, George R., Vernon, enl. Dec. 2, 1864; trans. 10th Conn. Vols.; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Griffin, Peter, Norwich, enl. Jan. 13, 1864; disch. for disability, April 3, 
 
 1864, Newbern, N. C. 
 Green, James, credited to State at large, enl. Aug. 5,1864; trans. 10th 
 
 Cunu. Vols. ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Maguire, Edward, Hartford, enl. Dec. 24, 1863 ; trans. 10th Conn. Vols. 
 Murry, Thomas, Greenwich, enl. Dec. 10, 1864; trans, 10th Conn, Vols. 
 Turner, James, Ni.-\f London, enl. Sept. 4, 1863 ; must, out June 7, 1865, 
 
 Norfolk, Va. 
 Wood, Thomas, enl. Feb. 2, 1885; trans. 10th Conn. Vols.; must, out 
 
 Aug. 25, 1865. 
 
 COMpkNY F. 
 William Spittle, capt., New Loudon, enl. Aug, 1, 186ii; pro, m(y. ; must. 
 
 out June 16, 1865, at Richmond, 
 Henry T. Phillips, first lieut., Montville, enl. July 22, 1862; pro. capt,; 
 
 res. June 4, 1863. 
 Frank Fowler, second lieut.. New London, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; pro. Ist 
 
 lieut; disch. for disability, Oct. 31, 1864, 
 
 Elisha B. Chipman, sergt.. New London, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; pro. adjt.; 
 
 must, out June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 James A. Corey, sergt., Montville, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; disch. Jan, 19, 1861 
 Wm. H. Cheesborough, sergt., New London, enl, Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out 
 
 June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Joseph Comstock, sergt., Montville, enl, Aug. 12, 1862; killed Sept. 29, 
 
 1864, at Chapin's Bluff, Va. 
 
 Ichabod S, Bogue, sergt., Montville, enl. July 24, 1862; disch. Jan. 11, 
 
 1864. 
 Albert Leeds, corp., New London, enl, Aug. 15, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1866, at Richmond. 
 John W. Graham, corp., New London, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Thomas W. Gay, corp., Montville, enl. July 28, 1862; died Dec. 23, 1862, 
 
 Falmouth, Va. 
 William H. Lane, corp., New London, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out May 
 
 23, 1865, Philadelphia. 
 Henry C. Lamphire, corp., Montville, enl. July 23, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Richmond, 
 John C. Ladd, corp., New London, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond, 
 
 George L. Elmondoff, corp., Waterford, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 J. Gideon Palmer, corp,, Montville, enl, Aug. 6, 1862 ; trans, to Vet. Res. 
 
 Corps ; must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Alfred Rudd, musician, Montville, enl. July 28, 1862; must, out Juue 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 Wm. H. Palmer, Jr., musician, Montville, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Edward E. Darrow, wagoner, Montville, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Arnold, Edward C, New London, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; killed Sept. 29, 1864, 
 
 at Chapin's Bluff, Va. 
 Adams, Edwin H., New London, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; died Oct. 15, 1862, at 
 
 Washington. 
 Arnold, Lewis, Montville, enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Ayers, Ezra M., Montville, enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Allen, Leonard S , Montville, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Beckwith, Wallace A., New London, enl, Aug. 14, 1862; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Richmond, 
 Bacon, Isaac B., Norwich, enl. Aug. 31, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Brewster, John W., New London, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 Brainard, Frederick Z., Montville, enl. July 23, 1862 ; died May 6, 1863, 
 
 at Hamptou,'Va. 
 Babcock, Henry 0., Salem, enl. Aug. 25, 1862; died Feb. 3, 1863, at Fal- 
 mouth, Va. 
 Crocker, Edward N., New London, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; must, out June 
 
 10, 1865, at Norfolk. 
 Culver, Jared B., New London, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 Coady, Martin J., New London, enl. Aug. 13, 1862. 
 Chapel, Charles F., Montville, enl. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Chapel, William A., Montville, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; disch. Nov, 12, 1862, 
 
 for disability. 
 Chapel, Robert, Montville, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 31, 1863. 
 Congdon, John B., Montville, enl. Aug. 14, 1862; disch, for disability, 
 
 Feb. 22, 1863. 
 Chapman, Uufus E., Griswold, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; died Jan. 11, 1863, at 
 
 Washington. 
 Dart, Edwin F., New London, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; died Dec. 5, 1862, at 
 
 Falmouth, Va. 
 Daniels, Leonard S., Waterford, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; must, out May 23^ 
 
 1865, at Hartford. 
 Dickinson, Flavins N., New London, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Dunbar, Henry N., New London, enl, Aug. 12,1862; disch. May 26, 1865, 
 
 at Point of Rocks. 
 Dustin, Nathaniel, Montville, enl. Aug. 1, 1862; disch. Dec. 23, 1862, for 
 
 disability, 
 Eccleston, Orriu F., Waterford, enl. Aug, 15, 1862; died Feb. 27, 1863, at 
 
 Newport News, Va. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 117 
 
 Farnham, Sidney B., New London, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; died May 29, 1864, 
 
 at Fliiladelphia. 
 Hay, George N., Waterford, enl. Aug. 14, 1802 ; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Bichmond. 
 Hack, Curtis D., MoutTille, eul. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Bichmond. 
 Hack, Frank W., Montville, enl. July 28, 1862; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Bichmond. 
 Heath, James A., New London, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; died Oct. 17, 1863, at 
 
 Norfolk. 
 Jones, Jeremiali J., New London, enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 
 Johnson, Bussell, Montrille, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must, out July 14, 1866, 
 
 at Hartford. 
 Johnson, Benjamin J., Montville, enl. Aug. 1, 1S62 ; disch. Feb. 6, 1863, 
 
 for (lisahility. 
 Johnson, David A., Montville, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; trans, to Invalid Corps ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 14, 1865. 
 Lloyd, Samuel H., New London, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1866, at llichmond. 
 
 Lawrence, Henry B., New Loudon, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 : must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 
 Leeds, Lodowick, New London, enl. Aug. 1, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Sept. 30, 1863. 
 Lane, Charles H., New London, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must, out June 3, 
 
 1866, at Petersburg. 
 
 Lash, Gottlob, Montville, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; died June 19, 1864, of wounds 
 
 at Hampton, Va. 
 Maynard, Andrew, Montville, enl. July 28, 1862 ; disch. Jau. 14, 1863, for 
 
 disability. 
 Maguire, Thomas, Montville, enl. July 26, 1862 ; died Dec. 10, 1862, at 
 
 Falmouth, Va. 
 Mitchell, Robert, Montville, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Bichmond. 
 Moxley, Solon A., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 
 
 16, 1864, at New Haven. 
 Murphy, John, Montville, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; wounded ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1866, at Richmond. 
 Mason, John C, New London, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; died Sept. 14, 1864, at 
 
 Point of Rocks. 
 Naylor, John J., New London, enl. Ang. 11 , 1862 ; trans, to Signal Corps, 
 
 Nov. 30, 1863. 
 Primer, Thomas K., New London, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 Pitcher, Henry, New London, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; died April 7, 1863, at 
 
 Now Haven. 
 Phillips, Curtis, Montville, enl. July 29, 1862; died March 31, 1863, at 
 
 Suffolk, Va. 
 Payne, Billings H., Montville, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 6, 1866, 
 
 at Columbia, Va. 
 Bogers, William H., New London, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 
 Bogers, Thomas, New London, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1866, at Bichmond. 
 
 Rathbone, Lucius B., Montville, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 3, 
 
 1866, at Petersburg. 
 Rudd, Albert, Montville, enl. Aug. 18, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 25, 
 
 1865. 
 Rudd, Oliver H., Montville, enl. July 28, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 
 22, 1863. 
 Stillman, Charles W., New London, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; must, out June 
 
 3, 1865, at Petersburg. 
 Sisson, William E., New London, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; disch. April 26, 1866, 
 Steward, Alvan B., New London, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; disch. May 27, 1866, 
 
 at Point of Rocks. 
 Smith, John B., New London, enl. Aug, 11, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Bichmond. 
 
 Spencer, John J., Montville, Aug. 4,1862; trans, to Invalid Corps; must, 
 out Sept. 4, 186.5. 
 
 Stemm, Max, Montville, enl. July 24, 1862; died Nov. 15, 1863, at Nor- 
 folk. 
 
 Staplins, Stephen, Montville, enl. Aug. 6,1862; died April 12, 1863, at 
 Suffolk, Va. 
 
 Sarsfield, Michael, Montville, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1866, at Bichmond. 
 
 Sullivan, John, Montville, enl. Aug. 18, 1862; must, out June. 16, 1865, 
 at Bichmond, 
 
 Spencer, Cyrus B., Norwich, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 April 8, 1864. 
 Shepard, James D., New London, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; died Oct. 3, 1864, 
 
 at Fort Monroe. 
 Taylor. Hiram, New London, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Tinker, George D., Waterford, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; wounded; must, out 
 
 May 22, 1866, at New Haven. 
 Tracy, Elijah B., Montville, enl. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 16, l'806, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Vergason, Joshua, Montville, enl. July 26, 1862; trans, to Invalid Corps; 
 
 must, out July 13, 1866. 
 Watrous, Wilber E., Waterford, Aug. 18, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 4, 1863. 
 Williams, Charles, Montville, enl. July 26, 1862 ; wounded ; disch. for 
 
 disability, Aug. 1, 1865, 
 Wright, David, Montville, enl. Aug. 19, 1862; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Weiler, John, Montville, enl. Aug. 4, 1862; wounded; must, out June 
 
 16, 1S66, at Richmond. 
 
 Recruits for Company F. 
 
 Burke, Samuel, East Lyme, enl. Jan. 7, 1864 ; trans, to 10th Conn. Vols. ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 26, 1865. 
 Burke, Daniel, Wethersfleld, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; trans, to 10th Conn. Vols; 
 
 must, out Aug. 26, 1865. 
 Brewster, William H., Norwich, enl. Jan. 21, 1864 ; trans, to 10th Conn. 
 
 Vols.; must, out Aug. 26, 1865. 
 Brady, John P., Hartford, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; trans, to 10th Conn. Vols.; 
 
 must, out Aug. 26, 1866. 
 Cook, Edward W., Windsor, enl. Jau. 6,1864; trans, to 10th Conn. Vols. ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1866. 
 Cosgrove, Daniel, Windham, enl. Jan. 27, 1864 ; must, out June 1, 1865, 
 
 at Hartford. 
 Daniels, Henry, East Granby, enl. Dec. 9, 1863; trans, to 10th Conn. 
 
 Vols. ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Foreman, William M., New London, enl. March 5, 1864.; died July 31, 
 
 1864, at Fort Monroe. 
 Hogan, James, New London, enl. Doc. 10, 1863 ; traus. to 10th Conn. 
 
 Vols.; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Hogan, Patrick, New London, enl. Dec. 7, 1863 ; ti-ans. to 10th Conn. 
 
 Vols., June 16, 18G5. 
 Holland, Stafford, Stonington, enl. Jan. 21,1864; trans, to 10th Conn 
 
 Vols. ; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Johnson, George W., enl. Feb. 23, 1864 ; trans, to 10th Conn. Vols. ; must. 
 
 out Aug. 26, 1866. 
 Jones, Charles W., enl. Feb. 23, 1864; trans, to 10th Conn. Vols.; must. 
 
 out Aug. 26, 1865. 
 Ireland, James, Brooklyn, enl. Feb. 26, 1864 ; died June 16, 1864, at Phila- 
 delphia, of wounds. 
 Keily, Stephen A., Windham, enl. Jan. 16, 1864; trans, to 10th Conn. 
 
 Vols. ; must, out Aug. 25, 1866. 
 Murphy, Joseph, Wethersfleld, enl. Jan. 4, 1864; trans, to 10th Conn. 
 
 Vols.; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Nichols, Nimrod, East Lyme, enl. Jan. 7, 1864 ; trans, to 10th Conn. Vols. ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Boot, William, East Granby, enl. Nov. 30, 1863 ; trans, to 10th Conn. 
 
 Vols.; must, out A>ig. 25, 1866. 
 
 COMPANY G. 
 James F. Brown, capt,. North Stonington, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; pro. lieut.- 
 
 col. ; must, out June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Isaac D. Kenyon, first lieut., Voluntown, enl. Aug. 6,1862; pro. capt. ; 
 
 died of wounds Sept. 1, 1864. 
 E. Perry Packer, second lieut.. North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; pro. 
 
 capt. ; must, out June 16, 1866, at Bichmond. 
 Darius H. Randall, sergt.. North Stonington, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; disch. 
 
 for appointment in U. S. C. T., Jan. 14, 1864. 
 John B. Brown, sergt.. North Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; pro. 2d 
 
 lieut.; disch. June 14, 1864. 
 William P. Frink, sergt.. North Stonington, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; must. 
 
 out June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Courtland G. Stanton, sergt.. North Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; pro. 
 
 1st lieut. ; must, out June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 William C. Bassett, sergt., Griswold, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 George H. Denison, Corp., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; must, 
 
 out June 16, 1866, at Richmond. 
 
118 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ■William E. Coats, Corp., North Stonington, eal. Aug. 15, 1862 ; must, out 
 
 June 16, 1865, at Eichmond. 
 James L. Fish, Corp., Voluntown, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Eichmond. 
 William G. Hawkins, Corp., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; pro. 
 
 2d lieut. ; dismissed Jan. 20, 1864. 
 Charles A. Staples, oorp.. North Stonington, enl. Aug. 19, 1862; died 
 
 Nov. 20, 1862, at Falmouth, Va. 
 Charles A. Clark, corp.. North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out 
 
 June 16, 1865, at Eichmond. 
 Martin V. B. Kinne, Corp., "Voluntown, enl. Aug. 18, 1862; killed May 
 
 16, 1864, at Drury s Bluff, Va. 
 Albert T. Cnimh, corp., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8,1862; trans, to 
 
 Vet. Ees. Corps; must, out July 5, 1865. 
 Stephen V. E. Peckham, musician. North Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; 
 
 disch. for disability, Jan. 17, 1863. 
 Henry L. Larkiu, musician, Voluntown, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 16, 1865, at Eichmond. 
 Nathan W. Perkins, wagoner, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must. 
 
 out June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Babcock, Albert C, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; died June 31, 
 
 1863, at New Haven, Conn. 
 Bentlej', Franklin T., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; died Not. 1, 
 
 1864. 
 Bentley, Samuel, Norwich, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Eichmond. 
 Billings, Sanford N., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; must, out 
 
 May 16, 1865. 
 Brown, Abel D., Voluntown, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Eichmond. 
 Brown, Albert G., Voluntown, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Eichmond. 
 Brown, Elisha C, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; trans, to Vet. 
 
 Res. Corps ; must, out Sept. 4, 1865. 
 Brown, Erastus S., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 20, 1805, at Fort Monroe. 
 Buddington, Edward J., North Stonington, enl. Sept. 16, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 16, 1865, at Eichmond. 
 Brown, Henry D., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; died Nov. 22, 
 
 1862, at Knoxville, Md. 
 
 Brown, Jesse, Jr., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 
 
 16, 1866, at Richmond. 
 Button, John T., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Bushnell, Giles, Giiswold, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Braman, Luther, Voluntown, enl. Aug. 22,1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 June 21, 1864. 
 Brown, Warren W., Voluntown, enl. Sept. 10, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 
 Briggs, Joseph W., Voluntown, enl, Aug. 9, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 29, 1863. 
 Church, George P., Voluntown, enl. Aug. 22, 1862. 
 Clark, Bradford, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; died Sept. 24, 1864, 
 
 at Charleston, S. C. 
 Clark, William H., North Stonington, eul. Aug. 8, 1862 ; died April 22, 
 
 1863, at Hampton, Va. 
 
 Colgrove, Ransom, Voluntown, enl. Aug. 9,1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1866, at Richmond. 
 
 Coon, John C, North Stonington, enl. Aug, 8, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1866, at Richmond, 
 Coon, John H,, North Stonington, enl. Sept. 10, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 Congdon, George S., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; died April 20, 
 
 1865, at Wilmington, N. C. 
 Corey, Charles C, Jr., Griswold, enl. Aug. 9, 1862; disch. for disability. 
 
 May 20, 1863. 
 Davis, James A., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; died March 18, 
 
 1863, at Suflblk, Va. 
 Dougherty, diaries, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Douglass, David R,, Voluntown, enl, Aug. 16, 1862; died Jan, 10,1863, 
 
 at Falmouth, Va. 
 Dunham, John, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; died Dec. 31, 1864, 
 
 at Florence, S. C. 
 Bccleston, Latham M., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 22,1862; trans, to 
 
 Inv. Corps, Sept. 30, 1863 ; died Jan. 23, 1864. 
 
 Gallamore, Thomas, VoUintown, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 Jan. 13, 1863. 
 
 Gallup, Jared A,, Voluntown, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; discharged for disability, 
 Feb. 3, 1863. 
 
 Geer, James M., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, July 23, 1863. 
 
 Geer, John B., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; died Dec. 2, 1862, 
 at Falmouth, Va. 
 
 Gray, Thomas H.. North Stonington, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; must, out June 
 
 16. 1865, at Eichmond. 
 
 Hillard, Paul H., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; must, out June 
 16, 1865, at Eichmond. 
 
 Kenyon, Eansom, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; disch. for ap- 
 pointment in IT. S. T. C, Dec. 31, 1863. 
 
 Knapp, Lorenzo D., North Stonington, enl. Aug, 22, 1862; trans, to Inv. 
 Corp.« ; must, out Sept. 4, 1865. 
 
 Knight, .fames F., Voluntown, enl. Aug. 9,1862; must, out June 16, 
 1866, at Eichmond. 
 
 Lamb, Warren A,, Voluntown, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; died June 6, 1863, at 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Lewis, Edwin A,, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; disch. for diaa- 
 bility, Feb. Y, 1863. 
 
 Main, Stephen A., North Stonington, enl. .\ug. 13, 1862 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Jan. 14, 1863, 
 
 Main, Jesse M,, North Stonington, enl, Aug, 22, 1862 ; died Nov. 20, 1862, 
 at Knoxville, Md. 
 
 Main, John L., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 14, 1863, 
 
 Main, Latham H,, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; died June 30, 
 1863, at Bowersville, Va. 
 
 Main, Silas W., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 1866, at Eichmond. 
 
 Maples, James, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 
 16, 1865, at Eichmond. 
 
 Merritt. James H,, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Dec. 23, 1863. 
 
 Mofflet, Welcome E., Voluntown, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 
 Park, Latham H., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8,1862 ; died July 1, 1864, 
 at Richmond. 
 
 Palmer, Asher M., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; must, out May 
 
 16. 1866, at Richmond. 
 
 Pitcher, Joel W., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Feb. 11, 1865. 
 Pitcher, Edward, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, March 31, 1863. 
 Prentiss, Edward C,, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 16,1862; must, out 
 
 June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Peters, Hewitt, North Stonington, enl. Sept. 10, 1862 ; died March 28, 
 
 1863, at Hampton, Va. 
 Reynolds, William C, Voluntown, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Eichmond. 
 Eix, Orrin S,, Griswold, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Eix, John, Voluntown, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Eobinson, Calvin H., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; died Feb. 
 
 14, 1863, at Newport News, Va. 
 Sherman, Charles F., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out 
 
 July 18, 1865, at New Haven, Conn. 
 Stanton, Joseph W., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; died March 
 
 28, 1863, at Hampton, Va. 
 Stedman, William N,, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; disch. for 
 
 disability, Dec. 23, 1864. 
 Terwilliger, Charles M,, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; died of 
 
 wounds, July 23, 1864, at Washington. 
 Terwilliger, August, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 14, 1862; must, oat 
 
 June 16, 1865, at Eichmond. 
 Tanner, John E., Voluntown, enl. Aug. 9, 1862 ; trans, to Inv. Corps; 
 
 must, out Sept, 4, 1865. 
 Toal, Edward, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Eichmond. 
 
 Tucker, James S., Voluntown, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1866, at Richmond. 
 
 Watson, Thomas, Voluntown, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 West, Alfred M., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; died Jan. 6,1863, 
 
 at Falmouth, Va. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 119 
 
 Welch, Michael, North Stonington, enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1866, at Kichmond. 
 "Wright, Alvin H., North StouingtoD, enl. Aug. 11,1862; must, out May 
 
 22, 1866, at Norfolk, Va. 
 Wheeler, Edwin S., North Stonington, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; pro. qm.-sergt.; 
 
 must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Wilcox, Noah, Griswold, enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1866, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 West, William B., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Bichmond. 
 York, William E., Griswold, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; died Sept. 16, 1863, at 
 
 Portsmouth, Va. 
 
 Becruits for Company G. 
 Allen, Andrew J., North Stonington, enl. March 26, 1864; trans, to 10th 
 
 C. v.; must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Brown, Edwin M., North Stonington, enl. March 26, 1864; died Dec. 31, 
 
 1864, at Florence, S. C. 
 
 Davenport, John, North Stonington, enl. Dec. 9, 1863 ; captured June 3, 
 
 1864. 
 Oswald, Lewis,! Preston, enl. Aug. 19, 1864; trans, to 10th C. V.; disch. 
 
 for disability, July 18, 1865. 
 Sutcliff, Kobert, Stonington, enl. Jan. 6, 1864 ; died July 7, 1864, at An- 
 
 dersonyille, Ga. 
 
 COMPANY H. 
 Ralph C. Eoote, Jr., capt., Colchester, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; res. Dec. 20, 1862. 
 Delos D. Brown, first lieut., Chatham, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; pro. capt.; 
 
 disch. Oct. 31, 1864. 
 Denison L. Brown, second lieut., Colchester, enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; res. Oct. 
 
 11, 1862. 
 William L. Hubbell,2 second lieut.. North Stonington, appointed Nov. 24, 
 
 1862 ; pro. capt. ; must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Frederick W. H. Buell, sergt., Chatham, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; pro. 2d lieut. ; 
 
 died Jan 4, 1865. 
 Henry R. Young, sergt., Chatham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; trans, to Inv. Corps ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 11, 1865. 
 Edward G. Childs, sergt., Chatham, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 16, 1865, at Bichmond. 
 Cyrus W. Cook, sergt., Colchester, enl. Aug. 5, 1862; pro. capt.; must. 
 
 out June 16, 1865. 
 Abner A. Bevin, sergt., Chatham, enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; pro. 1st lieut. ; must. 
 
 out June 16, 1865. 
 Frederick A. Rich, Corp., Chatham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; pro. 1st lieut. ; 
 
 must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Edwin N. Benton, coi-p., Colchester, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 3, 
 
 1865, at Petersburg. 
 
 Francis A. Felton, Corp., Hebron, enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Oct. 2, 1863. 
 John H. Selden, Corp., Chatham, enl. Aug. 11,1862; wounded May 16 
 
 and June 3, 1864 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 7, 1866. 
 Ellsworth Packer, Corp., Colchester, enl. Aug. 13, 1862. 
 James Dixon, Corp., Chatham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Bichmond. 
 Samuel H. Gillett, corp., Colchester, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; disch. Nov. 27, 1862. 
 Edward S. Bansom, Corp., Colchester, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 10, 1865, at Petersburg. 
 Benjamin Adams, musician, Colchester, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 16, 1865, at Richmond. 
 Lyman P. Adams, musician, Colchester, enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, July 21, 1863. 
 Bernard Dunham, wagoner, Colchester, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; must, out 
 
 June 16, 1866, at Bichmond. 
 Avery, Isaac G., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; must, out Jan. 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Adams, Daniel L., Colchester, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; died June 6, 1864, at 
 
 Cold Harbor. 
 Arnold, Joel, Colchester, enl. Aug. 12, 1862; must, out June 16, 1866, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Arnold, L. Nelson, Haddam, enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Kichmond. 
 Avery, Charles, Chatham, enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; died of wounds. May 22, 
 
 1864, at Bichmond. 
 Bushnell, Albert C, Colchester, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; must, out July 14, 
 
 1866, at New Haven. 
 
 1 Substitute or drafted. ^ Appointed after first muster. 
 
 Baker, Albert M., Colchester, enl. Sept. 6, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Bevin, William H., Chatham, enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; disch. for appointment 
 
 in V. S. C. T., Dec. 3], 1863. 
 Bennett, Frank, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 8, 1864. 
 Brown, Charles F., Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; died Nov. 27, 1862, at 
 
 Fredericksburg. 
 Brown, Dudley, Bozrah, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Brown, David H., Colchester, enl. Aug. 21, 1862; must, out June 16,1865, 
 
 at Bichmond. 
 Buell, George E., Colchester, enl. Aug. 19, 1862; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Berry, James, Marlborough, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; must, out June 8, 1865, 
 
 at Petersburg. 
 Bigelow, Ebenezer L., Colchester, enl. Aug. 23, 1862. 
 Bennett, Charles H., Colchester, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; trans, to Vet. Ees. 
 
 Corps ; must, out July 31, 1865. 
 Brainerd, Morris B., Haddam, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; wounded June 3, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Barker, Jacob, Griswold, enl. Aug. 25, 1862. 
 Carpenter, Guinnett, Chatham, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Bichmond. 
 
 Connor, Thomas, Colchester, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Carver, Frank M., Colchester, enl. Aug. 21, 1862; died of wounds, July 
 
 2, 1864. 
 Chapman, Harlow B., Colchester, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 28, 1863. 
 Carpenter, Hubert E., Colchester, enl. Aug. 14, 1862; wounded; trans, to 
 
 Vet. Ees. Corps ; must, out July 4, 1865. 
 Dutton, Francis A., Chatham, enl. Aug. 14, 1862; must, out June 16,1866, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Day, William H., Bozrah, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; must, out June 16,1865, 
 
 at Bichmond. 
 Dutton, Francis J., Chatham, enl. Aug. 15, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 6, 1863. > 
 
 Edwards, George, Portland, enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; died of wounds Sept. 4, '64. 
 Emerson, John B., Colchester, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1866, at Bichmond. 
 
 Farrell, Thomas, Norwich, enl. Aug. 13, 1862; trans, to Vet. Ees. Corps; 
 
 must, out June 29, 1865. 
 Fuller, Henry L., Bozrah, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; died Aug. 11, 1864, at An- 
 
 dersonville. 
 Fargo, John, Colchester, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Fitzgerald, John, Colchester, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Dec. 18, 1862, at 
 
 Fredericksburg. 
 Gillon, Edward, Chatham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Richmond. 
 Goff, James B., Chatham, enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; died Dec. 4, 1862, at Fred- 
 ericksburg. 
 Greenwood, William H., Colchester, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; wounded June 3, 
 
 1864 ; must, out July 4, 1865. 
 Gotr, Orrin L., Chatham, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 
 30, 1863. 
 Gillett, Smith, Haddam, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, at 
 
 Bichmond. 
 Green, Bradford R., Lebanon, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; killed July 20, 1864, at 
 
 Petersburg. 
 Horrin, Michael, Colchester, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; wounded June 6, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Hills, Edwin R., Chatham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 21, 1863. 
 Hills, Osraer C, Chatham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; wounded May 16, 1804 ; must. 
 
 out June 16, 1866. 
 Hanoox, John H., Colchester, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Hancox, James, Colchester, enl. Aug. 21, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Eichmond. 
 Ingraham, Joel, Colchester, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Jones, William H., Colchester, enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Eichmond. 
 Keeney, William H., Colchester, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Eichmond. 
 
120 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Kramer, Peter, Colchester, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Hichmond, 
 King, Cornelius, Colchester, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 24, 1865, 
 Kelley, Michael, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; disch. for disability. May 
 
 31, 1864. 
 Lewis, John G., Colchester, enl. Aug, 11, 1862; wounded May 16, 1864; 
 
 must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Lawler, Roger, Colchester, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; trans, to Inv. Corps ; must. 
 
 out Sept. 4, 1865. 
 Loomis, Henry N., Norwich, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; died Aug. 21, 1864, at 
 
 Petersburg, 
 Miner, Balph W., Hebron, enl. Aug, 15, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Marrow, Thomas, Colchester, enl, Aug, 19, 1862; killed May 16, 1864, at 
 
 Drury's Bluff, Va. 
 Maynard, George H,, Chatham, enl, Aug, 6, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond, 
 Mott, Morgan, Colchester, enl. Aug. 25, 1862; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond, 
 Miner, Joseph H., Colchester, enl. Aug, 25, 1862 ; died Dec, 8, 1862, at 
 
 Fredericksburg. 
 Nichols, Frederick H., Chatham, enl. Aug, 15, 1862 ; disch, for disability, 
 
 June 10, 1865, 
 O'Connell, Timothy, Colchester, enl. Aug. 10, 1863; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865, at Richmond. 
 
 Payne, William, Colchester, enl. Aug. 11, 1862; must, out July 5, 1865, at 
 
 Norfolk. 
 Pratt, Francis, Portland, enl, Aug. 19, 1862; must, out June 24, 1855, at 
 
 Fortress Monroe. 
 Parker, Michael, Chatham, enl, Aug, 14, 1862; trans, to Inv, Corps; died 
 
 Jan. 3, 1866. 
 Root, Newell W., Chatham, enl, Aug. 6, 1862; disch, for disability, Feb. 
 
 27, 186J, 
 Rich, Leander E,, Chatham, enl. Aug. 6, 1862; disch. for disability, Nov. 
 
 29, 1863. 
 Reynolds, Alfred W,, Colchester, enl.. Aug, 13, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb, 11, 1865, 
 Rich, Bernicc B,, Chatham, enl. Aug, 7, 1862; died Jan. 4, 1863, at Fal- 
 mouth. 
 Sellew, Henry T,, Chatham, enl, Aug, 14, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Selden, Henry M,, Haddam, enl, Aug. 12, 1862 ; disch, for disability, Jan. 
 
 19, 1863. 
 Sexton, Calvin, East Haddam, enl, Aug, 12, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 
 
 1866, at Richmond, 
 
 Snow, Henry, Chatham, enl. Aug, 16, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1866, at 
 
 Richmond, 
 Schmidt, Bernard, Colchester, enl. Aug, 21, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 18, 1863. 
 Stevens, Horace, Colchester, enl. Aug. 21,1862; disch. for disability, June 
 
 11, 1865. 
 Shaylor, Justin R., Colchester, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; died Jan. 27, 1863, at 
 
 Fredericksburg, 
 Savage, James, Colchester, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; must, out June 16, 1866, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Taylor, John L., Colchester, enl, Aug, 11, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 Taylor, Joseph N., Colchester, enl. Aug. 21, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb, 26, 1864, 
 Wall, John, Chatham, enl, Aug, 7, 1862 ; must, out June 8, 1865, at Pe- 
 tersburg. 
 West, Almoi V,, Chatham, enl. Aug. 8, 1862; trans, to Inv. Corps, Sept. 
 
 1, 1863. 
 Wilson, Daniel, Colchester, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865, 
 
 at Richmond. 
 West, Gilbert, Chatham, enl. Aug. 7,1862; wounded May 16,1864; must. 
 
 out July 14, 1866. 
 
 Reoeuits fob Company H. 
 
 Ohamplin, John B,, Colchester, enl. Dec. 22, 1863 ; trans, to lOth Conn. 
 
 Vols.; must, out Aug, 25, 1865. 
 Dutton, Charles H,, Manchester, enl, Feb. 16, 1864; trans, to 10th Conn. 
 
 Vols, ; must, out Aug. 25, 1866. 
 McCarty, Timothy, Chatham, enl, Dec. 16, 1863 ; trans, to 10th Conn. 
 
 Vols. ; must, out Aug. 26, 1865, 
 
 The Twenty-sixth Regiment.'— This regiment 
 was recruited almost exclusively in New London 
 County, under the call of President Lincoln, Aug. 4, 
 1862, for three hundred thousand men to serve for 
 nine months. This call of the President met with a 
 hearty and enthusiastic response by many who hither- 
 to had been hindered by consideration of family or 
 business from entering upon a three years' term of 
 service, believing that a vigorous campaign with three 
 hundred thousand new recruits to our army would 
 carry the war beyond the most critical point. On the 
 5th of September the Twenty-sixth Regiment was or- 
 dered to rendezvous at Camp Eussell, Norwich, and 
 by the 15th of September all the companies were as- 
 sembled, and the regiment numbered 810 men. The 
 line-officers, every one of whom except Lieut. Childs 
 were from New London County, received their com- 
 missions September 6th. The regiment was fully or- 
 ganized September 22d, and the commissions of the 
 field-officers bear that date. From this time until 
 November 13th there was great enthusiasm mani- 
 fested in the various companies in perfecting them- 
 selves in company and regimental drill. Many of the 
 officers and privates had seen service in the State mil- 
 itia, and some with the " three months" men in and 
 near Washington, while others were entering upon 
 their first military experience, but all were fired with 
 the same patriotic ardor and desire to have some hon- 
 orable part in subduing the Eebellion. While in 
 Camp Eussell, Company K, Capt. Eandall, of Gro- 
 ton, was presented by the ladies of Mystic River with 
 an elegant silk flag, which was highly prized by the 
 company and never disgraced in battle. On the 13th 
 of November Camp Eussell was vacated, under orders 
 to join Gen. Banks' expedition, then gathering in the 
 vicinity of New York. On this occasion the city was 
 filled with the friends of the regiment from the sur- 
 rounding towns, and as it marched through the streets ' 
 to the wharf many patriotic and encouraging words 
 were spoken by the friends of the soldiers, while there 
 were many throbbing hearts and tearful eyesforthose 
 who for love of liberty and country were leaving behind 
 family and friends perhaps to return no more. At five 
 P.M. the steamer " Commodore'' steamed away down 
 the Thames, while the regimental band played the 
 cheerful air, " The Girl I left Behind Me." The next 
 morning the boat arrived at Williamsburg, L. I., and 
 the regiment immediately disembarked and took up 
 its line of march to Centreville race-course, where it 
 arrived by one p.m. Of the seven nine months' regi- 
 ments called at the same time from Connecticut, the 
 Twenty-sixth was the first to arrive, and Col. Kings- 
 ley assumed command, and named the post Camp 
 Buckingham, in honor of the "war Governor." 
 
 December 4th, cam p was again broken, and the regi- 
 ment marched to Brooklyn, and there embarked on 
 board the steamer " Empire City," with orders to join 
 
 1 By Capt. L, A. Gallup. 
 
MILITAKY HISTORY. 
 
 121 
 
 Gen. Banks' expedition at New Orleans. The passage 
 to New Orleans was uneventful, except a storm of 
 unusual severity while passing Cape Hatteras, which 
 for a day and night was alarming even to the ship's 
 officers. December 18th, the regiment arrived at 
 Carrollton, on the outskirts of New Orleans, and 
 immediately disembarked at Camp Parapet, where it 
 remained until May 20th, performing guard duty and 
 detached service. While at Camp Parapet several 
 men died, and their bodies were embalmed at the 
 expense of the members of the regiment and sent to 
 their friends at home. May 20th, camp was again 
 broken to join the main army of Gen. Banks, then 
 investing the rebel stronghold of Port Hudson. Great 
 enthusiasm was manifested in camp at the prospect of 
 active service at the front, without fear of death that 
 so soon awaited so many brave comrades. On the 
 26th of May the outer works of Port Hudson were 
 reached, which were abandoned by the enemy after 
 slight skirmishing. The Twenty-sixth encamped for 
 the night within the enemy's outer works, and was 
 ordered to make picket connection with Gen. Augur's 
 division on its right, which was successfully done, 
 and the investment of the rebel stronghold was com- 
 pleted and they shut off from Baton Rouge, their base 
 of supplies. Early next morning, May 27th, an ever- 
 to-be-remembered day, the rebels opened a heavy can- 
 nonade all along the lines, which, with the sharp 
 crack of the pickets' rifles in the woods in the imme- 
 diate front, left no doubt in the minds of the men 
 that their desire for active service was about to be 
 realized. Many will ever remember their first sensa- 
 tions as the solid shot crashed through the woods and 
 the bullets whizzed through the air. The Twenty- 
 sixth was in Gen. Neal Dow's brigade, Gen. T. W. 
 Sherman's division, Nineteenth Corps. Gen. Sher- 
 man's division, occupying the extreme left, was brought 
 into action on the afternoon of the 27th of May, and 
 made a vigorous assault upon the enemy, strongly 
 intrenched. The advance was by brigades in column 
 by regiments, the Twenty-sixth being the third in 
 line. The assault was met by a murderous fire from 
 the enemy at three hundred yards' range. Broken 
 ground, a deep ravine, a burning plantation-house, 
 and several fences made the approach slow. The 
 entire division was repulsed, but not without having 
 made a gallant charge. In this charge the gallant 
 Gen. Sherman lost his leg. Gen. Dow was wounded 
 and made a prisoner. One colonel of the brigade was 
 killed and two colonels wounded. The Twenty-sixth 
 bore an honorable part. Early in the advance Col. 
 Kingsley was shot through the mouth and was carried 
 from the field, and the command devolved upon Lieut.- 
 Col. Selden, who retained it, except during a few days 
 of severe sickness, until the regiment was mustered 
 out. In this battle Capt. John L. Stanton, of Com- 
 pany G, a Norwich citizen, highly esteemed, was killed 
 by a ball through his head. He was brave to rashness. 
 He- died highly esteemed by all his regimental as- 
 
 sociates. . Capt. Jedediah Randall, of Company K, 
 was seriously wounded through both legs.. He died 
 at Baton Rouge, June 9th. Capt. Randall was an 
 intelligent and accomplished officer and gentleman, 
 who abandoned very brilliant business and social 
 prospects to enter the army. He was truly lamented 
 in death by all who knew him. Lieut. Martin R. 
 Kenyon, of Company B, died of wounds received in 
 this engagement. He will be remembered as a genial 
 friend and a brave soldier. Space will not admit of 
 mention of many brave acts and.hair-breadth escapes 
 on this eventful day. In addition to those of whom 
 mention has been made, five privates were killed, five 
 commissioned officers and ninety-three enlisted men 
 were wounded, and one missing, making a total of one 
 hundred and seven in this first engagement of the 
 regiment. This record is a sufficient proof of the 
 bravery and gallantry of these citizen-soldiers. From 
 this time until June 1 3th the regiment was in constant 
 service, and under fire day and night without tents of 
 any kind. When the commanding general of the 
 division was told that many of his troops were "nine 
 months" men, he remarked that he intended to get 
 three years' service out of them. 
 
 On the 13th of June a reconnoissance was made in 
 force, in which the regiment lost in killed one and in 
 wounded seven enlisted men. Early on Sunday morn- 
 ing, the day following, the entire brigade was ordered 
 to assault the enemy's works on the extreme left, where 
 most strongly intrenched, on the Mississippi River. 
 From depletion by previous engagements and sick- 
 ness, the available force of the regiment was now re- 
 duced to 235 officers and men. These, however, had 
 already borne the service of veterans, and without 
 flinching advanced to the deadly charge with a stead- 
 iness deserving the highest praise. Lieut.-Col. Selden, 
 in command, handled the regiment, ploying and de- 
 ploying on the advance with the coolness of a field- 
 parade. In this engagement, which lasted several 
 hours, the loss to the regiment was : killed, eight en- 
 listed men ; wounded, two commissioned officers and 
 fifty-one enlisted men. So efficient was the service 
 rendered on the 14th of June that the commanding 
 general complimented the regiment in general orders, 
 and said that the " engagement had demonstrated the 
 fact that the nine months' troops could be relied upon 
 in any emergency." In this battle Adjt. S. B. Meech 
 was wounded, and his life was saved by his Bible in 
 his side pocket. Here the lamented Lieut. H. F. 
 Jacobs fell, and with him four killed and fifteen men 
 wounded by the explosion of the same shell. He re- 
 fused to be taken from the field until all around him 
 had been removed, thusmanifesting the knightly spirit 
 that was in him. He died in Baton Rouge Hospital 
 in July, lamented by associates and friends. From 
 this time until the surrender of Port Hudson, which 
 occurred on the 8th of July, 1863, the regiment was 
 in constant service in the trenches, parallels, and out- 
 post duty. The regiment was honored by being se- 
 
122 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 lected as one of ten to enter and receive the formal 
 surrender of Port Hudson, and in this performance 
 was assigned the second post of honor. Its active 
 service at Port Hudson had embraced forty-five days, 
 every one of which was a day of fighting or fatigue 
 duty, being constantly under fire. Its term of ser- 
 vice having expired, the regiment returned home via 
 steamers up the Mississippi Eiver to Cairo, thence by 
 railway and steamer from New York, arriving in 
 Norwich November 7th. On the return journey 
 many sick and dying had been left at various hos- 
 pitals in Memphis, Cairo, Mound City, Chicago, and 
 Toledo. For the relief of them Governor Bucking- 
 ham commissioned Capt. L. A. Gallup, of Company 
 F, to return to all these hospitals and furnish such 
 assistance as he deemed necessary for the comfort and 
 return of these invalids. Upon its arrival in Norwich 
 the regiment received a most hearty public welcome, 
 with appropriate addresses by city oflScials and a 
 bountiful collation by the citizens. On this occasion 
 Mayor James Lloyd Green said in his address, . . 
 "Soldiers, during your nine months of service you 
 have endured the privations and hardships of the 
 camp and the march, you have faced the perils of 
 sickness, and have braved wounds, mutilation, and 
 death. On the field of battle you have nobly upheld 
 the honor of the State, and have proved, in common 
 with all Connecticut regiments, that, though our State 
 is small in size, she is pre-eminent in the valor and 
 manhood of her sons." . . . Returning from the ma- 
 larial State of Louisiana to the bracing climate of Con- 
 necticut, very many were almost immediately stricken 
 down by deadly disease, and soon passed to the roll- 
 call of the Great Captain within the heavenly gates, 
 mourned and loved the better for service rendered 
 their country in its time of peril. While all were 
 lamented, many will here stop and shed tears of true 
 sorrow over the grave of Lieut. Edward P. Manning, 
 of Company F, who, returning in apparent perfect 
 health, was soon stricken down by malarial fever, 
 and on the 17th of August, the day the regiment was 
 mustered out of service, he was himself called to an- 
 swer the roll-call in the army of saints in heaven. 
 He was especially dear to every member of the regi- 
 ment, as well as to all who had the pleasure of his ac- 
 quaintance in private life. The Twenty-sixth Regi- 
 ment participated in three engagements at Port Hud- 
 son, and sustained the following losses while in ser- 
 vice : killed in action, 15 ; died of wounds, 30 ; died of 
 disease, 72; wounded and recovered, 57. Total, 174. 
 The field, staff, and line-oflScers of the regiment 
 were as follows : Col. Thomas G. Kingsley, Franklin ; 
 Lieut.-Col. Joseph Selden, Norwich; Maj. Henry 
 Stoll, New London ; Adjt. Stephen B. Meech, Nor- 
 wich; Qr.-Mr. Benjamin F. Tracy, Norwich; Sur- 
 geon Ashbel Woodward, Franklin ; 1st Asst. Surgeon 
 Elisha Phinney, Norwich ; 2d Asst. Surgeon Nathan 
 N. Wright, New Haven ; Chaplain Nicholas T. Allen, 
 Griswold ; Sergt.-Maj. Henry J. Hough, East Lyme; 
 
 Q.M.-Sergt. Charles H. Maples, Norwich; Com.- 
 Sergt. Edward P. Manning, Norwich ; Hosp. Steward 
 Nathan D. Sevin, Norwich. 
 
 Co. A. — Capt. Jesse C. Maynard, Salem ; 1st Lieut. 
 Henry A. Smith, Montville ; 2d Lieut. Joseph Pea- 
 body, New London. 
 
 Co. B. — Capt. Clark Hamilton, Norwich ; 1st Lieut. 
 Martin R. Kenyon, Preston ; 2d Lieut. James S. Ma- 
 ples, Norwich. 
 
 Co. C. — Capt. Enoch Noyes, Jr., Old Lyme; 1st 
 Lieut. S. E. W. Johnson, Old Lyme; 2d Lieut. Mer- 
 ritt A. Comstock, Old Lyme. 
 
 Co. D. — Capt. Samuel T. Huntoon, Norwich ; 1st 
 Lieut. Timothy W. Tracy, Norwich ; 2d Lieut. Tim- 
 othy A. Avery, Ledyard. 
 
 Co. E. — Capt. Christian Goflf, New London ; 1st 
 Lieut. Lemuel C. Wightman, Waterford; 2d Lieut. 
 John Kelly, New London. 
 
 Co. F. — Capt. Loren A. Gallup, Norwich ; 1st Lieut 
 Edward W. Eells, Norwich ; 2d Lieut. Hervey F. 
 Jacobs, Norwich. 
 
 Co. G. — Capt. John L. Stanton, Norwich ; 1st Lieut. 
 George W. Childs, Woodstock; 2d Lieut. Pliny 
 Brewer, Norwich. 
 
 Co. H. — Capt. Daniel Champlin, Stonington; 1st 
 Lieut. John F. Jencks, Stonington ; 2d Lieut. Samuel 
 K. Tillinghast, Stonington. 
 
 Co. I. — Capt. Wm. H. Bentley, New London; Ist 
 Lieut. Edward Prince, New London ; 2d Lieut. 
 Charles O. Harris, New London. 
 
 Co. K. — Capt. Jedediah Randall, Groton ; 1st Lieut. 
 Jabez S. Smith, Groton ; 2d Lieut. Simeon G. Fish, 
 Groton. 
 
 FIELD AND STAFF, LINE-OFFIOBBS, AND PRIVATES. 
 Thomas G. Kingsley, colonel, Franklin, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; hon. disdi. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Joseph Selden, lieut..colonel, Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Henry Stoll, major, New London, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Stephen B. Meech, adjutant, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. IV, 1863. 
 Benj. F. Tracy, qr.mr., Norwich, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Ashbel Woodward, surgeon, Franklin, enl. Sept. 5, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17,1863. 
 Elisha Phinney, first asst. surgeon, Norwich, enl. Nov. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Nathan H. Wright, second asst. surgeon. New Haven, enl. Dec. 16, 1862; 
 
 hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Nicholas T. Allen, chaplain, Griswold, enl. Sept. 26, 1862 ; res., disability, 
 
 April 2, 1863. 
 Henry J. Hough, sergt.-mtg.. Bast Lyme, enl. Sept. 8, 1862 ; pro. second 
 
 lieut. Ck). G ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Charles H. Maples, q.m.-sergt, Norwich, enl. Aug. 27,1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Edward P. Manning, com..sergt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; pro. 
 
 second lieut. Co. F; died Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Nathan D. Sevin, hosp. steward, Norwich, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 
 COMPANY A. 
 
 Mustered into United States service Nov. 10, 1862. 
 
 Jesse C. Maynard, capt., Salem, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Henry A. Smith, first lieut., Montville, enl. Aug. 2«, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 123 
 
 Josepb Peabody, second lieut., New London, enl. Aug. 20, 18C2; hon. 
 
 disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Albert Smith, sergt., Salem, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; died May 30, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Port Hudson. 
 Henry A. Perkins, sergt., Waterford, Aug. 23, 1862 ; pro. second lieut. 
 
 Co. K ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 John C. Bushnell, sergt., Salem, enl. Aug. 19, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Albert C. Colburn, sergt., Montville, enl. Aug. 23, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 John W. Bogue, sergt., Salem, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 David G. Bogue, Corp., Salem, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; died Aug. 6, 1863. 
 Walter Myers, Corp., Montville, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Alonzo Chapel, Corp., New London, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Joseph Smith, Corp., Salem, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Edward S. Wheeler, Corp., Montville, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Blias P. Holmes, corp., Waterford, enl. Sept. 10, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Sherwood W. Fuller, corp., Salem, Aug. 19, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 James H. Chapel, musician, Montville, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Bpbraim N. Little, musician, Salem, enl. Aug. 21,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Matthias W. Herrick, wagoner, Salem, enl. Aug. 21,1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Adams, John, Griswold, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Ackley, John, Montville, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Armstrong, Joseph C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Austin, Joseph A., Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Austin, Stephen, Franklin, enl. Sept. 15, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Andrews, Russell, North Stonington, enl. Nov. 8, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Bogue, Bussell, Salem, enl. Aug. 19. 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Banning, Samuel, Salem, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Brown, William J., Bozrah, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; died June 16, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Browning, Ira, Montville, eul. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 186a. 
 Browning, Smith, Montville, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. discli . Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Burdick, Charles L., North Stonington, enl. Sept. 7, 1862; lion, disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Clifford, John D., Montville, enl. Aug. 3, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Charlton, Thomas, Hartford, enl. Oct. 10, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Chappell, George H., Montville, enl. Sept. 3, 1862 ; died July 5, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Chappell, John, Montville, enl, Aug. 26, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Chapel, John 0., Salem, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; killed at Fort Hudson, La., 
 
 June 14, 1863. 
 De Wolfe, James K, Salem, eul. Aug. 23, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Douglass, Robert H., East Haddani, enl. Nov. 7, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Fuller, George H., Salem, enl. Aug. 23, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Fike, Joseph, Montville, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; killed at Port Hudson, La., 
 
 June 11, 1863. 
 Gould, John C, Pomfret, enl. Sept. 8, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Griggs, Horace, Hampton, enl. Sept. 6, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Gordon, Francis, Sprague, enl. Oct. 30, 1862. 
 
 Holt, Robert D., Waterford, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Hews.Thos. H., Waterford, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Lyons, Orrin E., Montville, enl. Sept. 11, 1862 ; killed at Port Hudson, 
 
 La., June 14, 1863. 
 Lombard, James, Chester, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; killed at Port Hudson, La., 
 
 May 27, 1863. 
 Lamb, Charles, Lebanon, enl. Aug. 30,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 ' Long, John S., Franklin, enl. Sept. 6, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Mitchell, Warren W., Bast Haddam, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Meech, James F., Salem, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Morgan, Alva, Salem, enl. Ang. 23, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Main, Edwin, Montville, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Martin, William, Lyme, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Mulligan, Peter, Norwich, enl, Oct. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 
 Niles, .John A., Salem, enl. Aug. 23, 1862; died June 3, 1863, of wounds 
 
 received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Patterson, Charles, Montville, enl. Sept. 3, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Perkins, Wm, W., Lyme, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; hon. disch, Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Palmer, Marvin, Montville, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Roden, James, Norwich, enl. Sept. 2, 1K62; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Robinson, William, Salem, enl. Aug. 23, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Rathbone, Oramile W,, East Haddam, enl. Oct. 20, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Rounds, Ferdinand, Sterling, enl. Sept. 7, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Rounds, Lester, Sterling, enl. Sept. 7, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Sweet, Benjamin R , Montville, enl. Sept. 6, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Shelley, Joseph W., Waterford, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Street, David 0., Montville, enl. Sept. 3, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Strickland, James M., Salem, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Smith, John C, Montville, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Smith, Orrin S., Montville, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Shelley, Henry A., Waterford, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Tillottson, Joseph A., Montville, enl. Aug. 18, 1862; killed at Port Hud- 
 son, La.. May 27, 1863. 
 Tefft, George N., Montville, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Tangney, Michael, Salem, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Terhune, Henry, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 18, 1863. 
 Thompson, James F., Canterbury, enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; killed at Port Hud- 
 son, La., June 14, 1863. 
 Welden, George P., Waterford, enl. Aug. 27, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Willett, Andrew J., Lisbon, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Welden, John, Griswold, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Winchester, John B., Montville, Aug. 23, 1862 ; killed at Port Hudson, 
 
 La., July 6, 1863. 
 Winchester, David L., Montville, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Williams, Henry, Waterford, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863 
 Williams, Bansford P., Montville, enl. Aug. 28. 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 
 COMPANY B. 
 
 Mustered into United States service Nov. 10, 1862. 
 
 Clark Harrington, capt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug, 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Martin R. Kenyon, first lieut., Preston, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; died July 26, 
 
 1863. 
 James S, Maples, second lieut,, Norwich, enl, Aug, 25, 1862; res. to accept 
 
 promotion, Aug, 11, 1863, 
 Isaac W. Leonard, sergt, Norwich, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; pro. 2d lieut. ; hon. 
 
 disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Robert P. Mumford, sergt., Franklin, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Vine S. Stetson, sergt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 John Benton, sergf., Preston, enl. Aug. 28,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 James N. Clark, sergt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Thomas Conger, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 BlishaE. Fish, corp., Preston, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 R. Jay Green, Corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 William P. Irish, corp., Preston, enl. Sept. 8,1862 ; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 1863. 
 John P. Case, Corp., Franklin, enl. Aug. 26. 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Henry C. Bailey, Corp., Franklin, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; died July 24, 1863. 
 Charles D. Morgan, Corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 John C. Congdon, Corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Ruel B. Lamb, musician, Preston, enl. Aug. 26, 1862; diach. July 23, 
 
 1863 ; enl. at headquarters of troops, Louisiana. 
 Enos C. KoBS, musician, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 George B. Norton, wagoner, Norwich, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Armstrong, Cassius M., Franklin, enl. Sept. 8, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 26, 1863. 
 Bailey, Edwin W., Franklin, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; died July 16, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 
124 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ■Bassett, George C, PrestoD, eul. Aug. 26, 1862; lion, disch. Aug.l7, 1863. 
 Burdick, Stephen, Preston, enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Barnes, George, Preston, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Burdick, Perry, Preston, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1883. 
 Bennett, Steward C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch . Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Bennett, Elislia, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Charlton, John, Norwich, enl. Aug. 27, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Corning, Hiram B., Preston, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; disch. July 23, 1863 ; enl. 
 
 at headquarters of troops, Louisiana. 
 Ohappell, Charles L., Norwich, enl. Aug. 27, 1862 ;hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Chapman, Giles D., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Cole, Henry B., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1863; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Orandall, Charles P., Franklin, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; died May 28, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Duuiran, Timothy, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Davis, Alfred, Preston, enl. Sept. 5, 1862; disch. for disability, Feb. 18, 
 
 1863. 
 Donahue, Thomas, Killingly, enl. Aug. 30,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Ellis, Eodman, Preston, enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; died Aug. 17, 1863, 
 Erskine, Edward, Norwich, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Fuller, Benjamin L., Preston, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; disch. July 23,1863; 
 
 eul. at headquarters troops, Louisiana. 
 Goold, John, Norwich, enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Gorry, John, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Gray, Montgomery, Preston, enl. Sept. 9, 1862; died March 10, 1863. 
 Hewliiig, Thomas W., Franklin, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Henrich, Philip, Franklin, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; killed at Port Hudson, 
 
 La., June li, 1863. 
 Hewitt, Frank, Preston, eul. Aug, 28, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Harvey, St. John, Norwich, enl. Nov. 6, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Hanson, Henry C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1S62 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Jewett, Lee L., Norwich, enl. Aug. 2,'i, 1862 ; disch. for disability. May 
 
 8,1863. 
 Johnson, James W., Franklin, enl. Aug. 26, 1862; died March 6, 1863. 
 Johnson, Stephen T., Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 186a; died Aug. 3, 1863. 
 Johnson, Henry P., Franklin, enl. Aug, 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Johnson, Henry, Ledyard, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Johnson, Dexter A., North Stonington, enl. Sept. 9, 1862 ; disch. July 23, 
 
 1863 ; enl. at headquarters troops, Louisiana. 
 Kerrigan, Thos., Norwich, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Kimball, James, Norwich, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Kimball, John, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Lamb, James B., Preston, enl. Aug. 26, 1862; disch. July 23, 1863 ; enl. 
 
 at headquarters troops, Louisiana. 
 LaPierre, Henry H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. July 23, 1863; 
 
 enl. at headquarters troops, Louisiana. 
 Lamphere, Channcy G., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Lamphere, Benj.F., Preston, enl. Sept. 5, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Lamb, Noyes J., Ledyard, enl. Sept, 10, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Lamphere, George H., Preston, enl. Oct. 15, 1862; disch. July 23, 1863; 
 
 enl. at headquarters troops, Louisiana. 
 Main, David W., Preston, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; died Aug. 9, 1863. 
 Main, Wm. A., Preston, enl.. Aug. 30, 1862 ; died Aug. 7, 1863. 
 Pierce, James M., Preston, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Parkerson, James, Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died June 1, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Peck, Edward A., Canterbury, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Palmer, Charles L., Preston, enl. Sept. 9, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Reed, Albert 0,, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Richmond, John B., Preston, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. July 23, 1863* 
 
 enl. at headquarters troops, Louisiana. 
 Russell, Marcus H., Preston, enl. Aug. 30, 1862: not on must.-out roll. 
 Roath, Henry G., Norwich, enl. Sept. 11, 1862; disch. July 23, 1863 ; enl. 
 
 at headquarters troops, Louisiana. 
 Royce, Henry F., Franklin, enl. Aug. 25, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Shugrean, Charles, Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 1862. 
 Scott, John, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Sweet, James D., Franklin, enl. Sept. 8, 1862 ; disch. July 23, 1863; enl. 
 
 at headquarters troops, Louisiana. 
 Starrett, Myron W., Norwich, enl. Aug. 27, 1862 ; missing at Port Hud- 
 son, La., May 27, 1863 ; supposed dead. 
 
 Tanner, J. Frank, Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Trainor, Felix, Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863, 
 Wilbur, Reuben, Franklin, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Worthington, Horace, Franklin, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Worthington, Henry, Franklin, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Whitmarsh, Edwin D., Preston, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Williams, Eri, Norwich, eul. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 
 COMPANY C. 
 
 Mustered into United States service Nov. 10, 1861. 
 
 Enoch Myers, Jr., capt.. Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Syl. E. W. Johnson, iirst lieut., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; hon.disdh, 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Merritt A. Comstock, second lieut., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; hon. 
 
 disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Henry R. Harding, sergt.. East Lyme, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Robert B. Gorton, sergt.. East Lyme, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug, 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Frederick B. Banta, sergt., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 23, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 John A. Conklin, sergt.. Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 18, 1862 ; hon. djsch. Aug, 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Wm. H. Flint, sergt., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 18, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Almiron Tuttle, Corp., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Dexter M. Lord, Corp., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; died March 26, 1863, 
 George W. Rogers, Corp., Eaflt Lyme, enl. Aug. 23, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Amos W. Lord, Corp., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; died Nov. 29, 1862, 
 Wm. Tooker, Corp., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Cliarles W. Willey, Corp., Old L.vme, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; killed June 14, 
 
 1803, at Port Hudson, La. 
 David E. Howard, Corp., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch, Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Walter S. Havens, corp.. Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Henry W^. Haynes, musician, Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Charles A. Thrall, musician, Eaat Lyme, enl. Aug. 25, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Andrew Gourley, wagoner. Old Saybrook, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. 
 
 disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Appleby, John H., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Appleby, Wm., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; hon. disch, Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Banning, S. Waldo, Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Banta, Frederick A., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Beckwith, Francis E., East Lyme, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 : hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Bogue, Joseph M., Lyme, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Barker, Joseph B., Chester, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; killed May 27, 1863, at 
 
 Port Hudson, La. 
 Beckwith, Charles J., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; died June 15, 1863, 
 
 of wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Beckwith, Reuben M., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Bramble, AlUnson W., East Haddam, enl. Nov. 5, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Boebe, Wm., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Champion, Joshua, Old Saybrook, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 25, 1863. 
 Clark, Ebenezer J., Lyme, enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; died Jan. 20, 1863. 
 Chapman, Frederick L., Lyme, enl. Aug. 24, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Ohapell, Horace L., Bast Lyme, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; died July 1, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Olark, Frederick W., Bast Lyme, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 125 
 
 Ghamplin, James J., East Lyme, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Day, Charles A., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 1«, 1862; hoD. disch. Ang.lT, 1863. 
 Dart, Daniel, East Lyme, enl. Aug. 23, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Dean, Daniel N., Bust Lyme, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 DaiTow, Jason W., East Lyme, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; hon. diech. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Ferriter, Dennis, Lyme, enl. Aug. 24, 1862; died July 18, 1863, of wounds 
 
 received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Gilbert, Marcus, Olil Lyme, enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Gifford, William E., East Lyme, enl. Sept. 3, 1802. 
 Gee, John S., East Lyme, oul Sept. 5, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Harding, Thomas B., East Lyme, enl. Sept. 6, 1862 ; died July 11, 1863, 
 
 of wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Holmes, George R., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; died May 5, 1863. 
 Holmes, Daniel, East Lyme, enl Auj;. 25, 1862 ; died July 3, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Havens, Fi-ancis H., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 24, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Havens, Calvin B., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 17, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 26, 1803. 
 Hill, Daniel C, Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 24, 1S62; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Johnson, Hiram, Kaht Lyme, eul. Sept. 9, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Knight, James C, Old Lyme, eul. Sept. 8, 1802. 
 
 Lay, Fabius, Old. Lyme, eiil. Aug. 20, 186J ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Lewis, William H., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 16, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Lewis, William A., Old Lyme, enl. Sept. 8, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Lee, George, East Lyme, enl. Sept. 4, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Morley, James H., Old Lyme, eul. Aug. 18, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1S63. 
 Mather, John M., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 16, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 ISO.i. 
 Maynard, .Joseph S., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 18, 1S02 ; died June 26, 1863. 
 McCabe, Terreuce, Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 24, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Miner, Charles II., Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; died June 16, 1863, of 
 
 wounds leceived at Port Hudson. La. 
 Morgan, John R., Lyme, enl. Aug. 3(1, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Martin, David A., Lynii', enl. Aug. 30, 1802; died July 31, 1803. 
 Murray, John W., Old Lyme, eul. Aug. 30,1862; disch. July 23,1863; 
 
 enl. at heailqnaiters troops, Loni»i;iiia. 
 Noon, Leroy, Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 21, 1802, hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Premiss, John W., East Lyme, enl. Sept. 4, 1802; hon. disch. Aug, 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Pool, Willi«m J., E.ist Lyme, enl- Sept. 8, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Porter, .lames H., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 20, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Perkins, Joseph H., Lyme, enl. Aug. 21, 1802; hon. disci'. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Kohbins, Hcury, Old L.\mi-, enl. Aug. 17, 1862; died Aliril 2, 1803. 
 Eobbins, Klisha. Old Lime, elil. Aug. 17, 1862; hon, disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Koath, Dauii-I H., Ka.st Lyme, eul. Aug. 22, WW; died Aug. 12, 1803. 
 Rowliind, Alonzo W., OM Lyme, enl. Sepl. 8, 1802; died June 7, 1803, of 
 
 wounds received .it Port Hudson, La. 
 Smiley, James J., Lyme, eul. Aug. 2i, 18r.2 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Schneider, Charles, Lyme, ejil. Aug. 10, 1862: hon. disch. Aug 17, 1803. 
 Smith, Kredeiick M., East Lyme, enl. Sept. 4, 1862; hou. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Tucker, Chester, Old Lvme, enl. Aug. 16,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 looker, William N., Olil Lyme, enl, Aug. 29, 1862; died Aug. 4, 1803. 
 Tucker, Hoi-aco P., (Ihl Lynn-, i-nl. Aug. Hi, 1862 ; hou. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Willey, Edward G., Old Lyme, enl. Aug. 1(!, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863, 
 Way, Henry 0., Salejn, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Way, Horace J., Salem, cjil. Aug. 22, 1802. 
 Wilber, Benjamin E., Lyme, eul. Aug. 22, 1862 ; hon. discb. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 
 COMPANY D. 
 Mustered into the United States service Nov. 10, 1802. 
 
 Samuel T. Uujitoon, Ciipt., Norwicli, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17,1803. 
 Timothy W. Tiacy, first lieut., Norwich, enl. Aug. 26, 1802; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Arden Moffitt, second lieut., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 30,1802; res. Nov. 29, 
 
 1862. 
 9 
 
 Frank S. Bitgood, sergt., Voluntown, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 George W. Kingsley, sergt., Preston, enl. Aug, 29, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Frederick N. Cook, sergt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 27, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17,1863. 
 Joseph A, Chapman, sergt,, Preston, enl, Aug. 28, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Timothy A. Avery, sergt,, Ledyard, enl. Sept. 10. 1862 ; pro, second lieut.; 
 
 hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803, 
 Asher P, Brown, corp,, Norwich, enl, Sept. 11, 1862; hou. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1S03. 
 Dutee G. Chapman, corp , Preston, enl. Sept. 9, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17,1863. 
 Ernstna E. Tuttle, Corp., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 30, 186i ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 John W. Campbell, Corp., Voluntown, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 James 11. Torbush, Corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Oscar E. Hildebrand, Corp., Preston, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug, 
 
 17, 1863. 
 George Miller, corp., Led,VHrd, enl. Aug 29, 1S02; died Jan, 13, 1803. 
 John L, Dimglass, Corp., Voluntown, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Edward F. Bromley, wagoner, Norwich, «nl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Allyn, James A., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Allyu, Deuison, Ledyard, enl. Sept. 10, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Allyu, Nicholas, Ledyard, enl. Aug 30, 1862; hon, disch, .\iig, 17, 1803. 
 Bitgood, Darius B., Voluntown, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Buddmgton, George D., Preston, enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Brnman, Edwin W., Norwich, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Brpsiiahen, John, Noi-wich, enl. Sept. 10, 1862; hon. disch Aug. 17, '63. 
 Bates, James V., Griswold, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; hou. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Bull, Henry .1., Ledyiiid, enl. Aug. 30, 1802; hou. discli. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Bromly, Ishani, Ledyaid, eul. Aug. 3(t, 1802; hon, discli. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Counell, Micliael 0., Norwich, enl. Aug, 30,1802; hon. disch, Aug, 17, 
 
 1803, 
 Cole, William R., Griswold, enl. Aug. 30, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Crouch, William W.. Ledyard, enl. Sept. 10, 1802; disch. July 25, 1863; 
 
 eul. headquarters troops, Lonisiiimi. 
 Council, Diiuiel 0., Norwich, enl. Sept 6, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Christie, Jonathan L., Ledyard, eul. Sept. 10, 1802; hon. tliscli. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Christie, Edwin L., Ledyard, onl. Sept. 10, 1802; died July 31, 1803. 
 Chapman, Williani E., Ledyard, eul.Se|it. 10, 1802; died May 31, 1803, of 
 
 wnuiids received at Port Hmlson, La. 
 Chainnan, Ephi-aim R., Led^ ard, enl. Sept. 10, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Douglass, Beuj, C, Voluntown, eul, Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon, disch. Aug. 17, 1863, 
 Driscoll,Ale.\andei-, Norwich, eul. Sept, 10,1802; hon, disch, Aug. 17,1863. 
 EuwriBht, .John, N.iruich, eul, Aug. 3U, 1802; hou, discli, Aug. 17, 186.3, 
 Kiigau, .hinii's, Norwich, enl, Sejit. 11, 1802 ; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Fuller, Wallace, Norwich, eul. Aug. 20, 1802; hon. discli. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Filch, George C , Griswolil, enl. Aug. 30, 1S02 ; hou. disch, Aug, 17, 1803, 
 Friiik, Thomas II,, Ledyaid, eul, Aug. 30, 1862; dieil .July 2"i, 186S. 
 Farrelly, Peter, Ledyard, eul. Sept. 10, 1S02; hon. di-ch. Aug 17, 1803. 
 Goas. .liinii-s W., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Gillerau, Uweii, Norwich, enl. Sept. 2, 186i; lion, disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Harper, Williiim, Norwich, eul. Aug. 28.1862; hon. disch, Aug, 17,1863, 
 Hawthorn, Andrew, Norwich, eul. Aug. 28, 1862; hon.iliscli, Aug. 17,1863, 
 Hoxie, Jeremiah G., Voluntown, enl. Sejit, I, 1862 ; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Kanipf, Herman, Norwich, oiil, Aug. .30, 1862 ; hou, disch. Aug. 17 1803. 
 Keniiey, lialph, Norwich, eul, Sept. 1, 1K02; hon. dl.scli. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Keniiey, Charles L., Norwich, eul. Sept. 1, 1802; hou. disch. Aug. 17,1803. 
 Kerby, John, Norwich, eul. Sejit. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, ISO). 
 Kramer, William, Preston, enl. Oct 20, 1S62; disch. for di-ahility. May 
 
 5, 1803. 
 Lane, Joseph H., Norwicli, eul. Sept. 6, 1802; hon. discli. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Lewis, Charles H., Voluntown, eul. Se]it. 1 , 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17. 1803. 
 Lee, Denisitn P., Ledyard, eul. Sept. 10, 1802 ; hon, disch, Aug, 17, 1863, 
 Lewis, James S., Norwicli, onl, Aug, 30, 1862, 
 
126 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Mulcaley, Michael, Norwich, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Mulcaley, Tliumas, Norwicli, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Main, Natlianiel, Preaton, enl. Sept. 8, 186-2; died April 17, 1803. 
 Myers, Elias E., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 30, 1802; died May 21, 1863. 
 Maynavd, Appleton J.. Ledyald, enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; died March 12, 1863. 
 Mitchell, John N., Ledyard, enl. Sept. 10, 1862 ; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Murfit, Ray, Ledyard, enl. Sept. 10, 1«02; hoD. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Newman, Thomas, Norwich, enl. Sept. 8, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Porter, Sahart M., Norwich, enl. Ang. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch . Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Pierce, Charles A., Griawold, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 
 
 1X63. 
 Palmer, Moses N., Ledyard, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Phillips, John, Voluiitown, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; died Aug. 16, 1803. 
 Saner, Peter, Preston, enl. Ang. 28, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Shay, Michael, Norwich, enl. Sept. 18, 1802 ; In.n. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Sullivan, Patrick 0., Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Smith, Joseph H., Voluntown, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Ang, 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Sweet, D. Edwin, Voluntown, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Stoddard, Simeon A., Ledyard, enl. Ang. 30, 1862 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 May 5 1803. 
 Smitli, William, Ledyard, enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Slater, Rudolpli, Ledyard, enl. Sept. 10, 1802 ; killed at Port Hudson, 
 
 La., June 13, la03. 
 Shirley, James F., New London, enl. Nov. 6, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Tonilinson, Richard, Norwich, enl. Nov. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 WeWi, Cliarles, Norwich, enl. Aug. 29, 1802; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 1863. 
 ■Williams, John, Norwich, eul. Aug. 28, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Whipple, Austin, Ledyard, euL Sept. 10, 1802; died May 12, 1S63. 
 
 COMPANY E. 
 Mustered into the United States service Nov. 10, 1802. 
 
 Christian Goff, capt.. New Loudon, enl. Aug. 13, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Lemuel C. Wightman, first lieut., Waterford, enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; hon. 
 
 disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 John Kelley, second lieut.. New London, enl. Aug. 25, 1802; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 John S. Holand, sergt.. New London, enl. Aug, 13, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Frank Mitteni, sergt.. New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Andrew Harrison, sergt,. New London, enl. Aug. 28,1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Edwin A. Paiker, sergt., New London, enl. Sept. 0,1802; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Philip Malluy, sergt., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 James B Lyman. Jr., Corp., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 James J. Jerome, Corp., New London, enl. Aug. 28, 1862- hon, disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 John Miller, Corp., New Loudon, enl. Sept. 6, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17 
 
 1863. 
 Nicholas Siriicus, Corp., New Loudon, enl. Sept. 2,1802; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 John W. Moeior, Corp., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug 
 
 17, 1803. 
 William Golden, corp.. New London, enl, Sept. 2, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Jacob Goss, Corp., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. -iug. 17 
 1803. • ■ > 
 
 Louis J. Sechting, Corp., New London, enl. Ang. 13, 1862; hon. disch 
 
 Aug. 17, 1861. 
 Charles (Jlaik, musician, New London, enl. Sept. 13,1862; hon disch 
 
 Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Beujaniin Daniels, musician, New London, enl. Sept. 13, 1802- disch for 
 
 disability, Feb. IS, 1863. 
 John Manice, wagoner. New London, enl. Sept. 13, 1862; disch. for dis- 
 ability, March 26, 1803. 
 Berger, Leonhard, New London, enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; died Feb. 10 1863 
 Blake, John, New London, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17 1863 
 
 Brewster, William H., New London, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; hon. disch, Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Bigelow, Michael, New London, enl. Ang. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch, Aug. 
 
 17. 1863. 
 Bennett, Michael, New London, enl. Ang. 30, 1802; hon. disch, Aug. 17 
 
 1863. 
 Bolton, Franklin F., New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Banks, John, New London, enl. Aug. 28, 1862; hon, disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Bailey, Charles W., New Loudon, enl. Sept. 6, 1862 : hon, disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Benhani, Solomon E., Groton, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, '63. 
 Bromley, Miles, Voluntown, enl. Sept. 20, 1862 ; died Aug. 7, 186:1. 
 Chappell, Charles E., New London, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; hon. disch. Ang, 
 
 17, 1S03 
 Chapman, Charles, Waterford, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Corcoran, William, New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Carter, Benjamin, New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Cooney, James, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; killed at Port Hudson, 
 
 La., June 14, 1803. 
 Church, William U., Waterford, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; died Aug. 9, 1863. 
 Church, William W., Waterford, enl. Aug. 2S, 1802; died Jan. 10, 1863. 
 Curowe, John, New London, enl. Sept. 2,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Day, Edward, New Londou, enl. Aug. 14, 1862; hon. disch. Aug 17, 186.1 
 Darcy, Henry, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Dunn, William, New London, eul. Sejit. 2,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Evers, James, New Loudon, eul. Sept. 2, 1862, 
 Furlong, Patrick, New Loudon, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Foley, Martin, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862. 
 Gross, Micliael, New London, enl. Sept. 14, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Gallivan, Humphrey, Norwich, enl. Sept. 8,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Hester, Conrad, New London, enl. Aug. 14, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Hoifmeyer, John, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Holley, John, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Hagan, Henry, New London, enl Sept, 2, 1862; lion, disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Hamniel, Conrad, New London, eul. Aug. 13, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Kiiigsley, George W., Canterbury, enl. Oct. 29, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Kohl, Joseph, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; died June 8, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Knight, Dwight P., New London, enl. Sept. 13, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 
 Lowenstein, Frederick, New London, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17,186:1. 
 Lasthnis. August, Norwich, enl. Oct. 13, 1802; disch. for disability. Fob. 
 
 18, 1863. 
 
 Miller, David, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Ang. 17,1863. 
 Murray, William, New London, enl Sept. 2, 1802; died May 26,1863. 
 Mayiiard, John, Groton, enl. Sept. 6, 1862 ; died .Inly 29, 1803. 
 Matthews, John H., New Londou, enl. Sept. Vi, 1802; died Aug. 11,1863. 
 Mouch, Petei-, Norwich, enl Oct. 24, 1862; hon. ilisch. Auj;. 17, 1863. 
 Newman, Patrick, Waterlbrd, eul. Aug. 30, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Newmark, Simon, New London, enl. Sept. 13, 1862; hon. disoh. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Packer, William W., New London, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Pousch, Conrad, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Ruckort, John, New Londou, enl. Aug. 27, 1862 ; died March 28, 1863. 
 Sechting, William H., New Loudon, eul. Aug. 13, 1802 ; disch. March 4, 
 
 1803. 
 Sohrader, George, New London, eul. Ang. 16, 1862; disch. Aug. 17, 18G3. 
 Smith, John, New London, eul. Sept. 1, 1862; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 18, 1863. 
 Sullivan, John, New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; disch. for disability, Feb, 
 
 18, 1863. 
 Shcpard, Henry E., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 127 
 
 Sterry, Pliineas B., New London, eTil. Ahr. U, 1862; died June 25,1863, 
 
 of wonnds received at I^ort Iluil8<)n,.La. 
 Smitli, Norman W., New London, eul. Ang. '27, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 186:J. 
 Shea, Miohael, Norwich, onl. Aug. 28, 1862; hon. dijch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Shea, James, Norwicli, eul. Oct. 17, 1862 ; lion, disili. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Talirect, Thomiis, Waterford, enl. Aug. 14, 1862; died Blay 6, 1863. 
 Wilcox, John A., Voluutown, eul. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 
 COMPANY F. 
 
 Mustered into United States service Nov. 10, 1862. 
 
 Loren A. Galllip, capt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Edward W. Eels, first lieut., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Henry F. Jacobs, second lieut., Norwich, enl. Aug 29, 1862 ; died July 5, 
 
 1863, of wounds received at Port HtulKon, La. 
 Henry G. Hjiy, sergt., Lebanon, enl. Sept. 2, la6;i; pro. second lieut; hon. 
 
 disch. as sergt. Ang. 17. 1863. 
 Leonard 0. Smith, sergt,, Franklin, enl. Aug. 25, 1S62; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Michael Meledy, sergt., Norwich, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Edward G. Hyde, sergt., Lyme, enl. Sept. 8, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Joseph E. Leonard,'sergt., Griswold, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; lion, disch. Ang. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 George W. Rogers, Corp., Griswold, enl. Ang. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 30, 1863. 
 Joshua E. Fcllowes, Corp., Norwich, enl. Ang. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Caleb F. Bishop, Corp., Lisbon, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Edward M. Dunbar, Corp., Norwich, enl. Ang. 28, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 George H. Fuller, Corp., Norwich, eul. Aug. 30, 1862 ; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 186:1. 
 Benjamin Bradford, Corp., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 2.'>, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 John A. Geer, coi-p., Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Charles C. Phillips, Bozrali, Corp., enl. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 May 5, 1863. 
 Charles 0. Sixee, musician, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug, 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Wm. H. Woodward, musician, Norwich, eul. Aug. 30, 1802; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Leonard Cutler, wagoner, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Brooks, AugustusO., Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1802; died July 10, 1863. 
 Brooks, Henry, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; died July 3, 1863, of wounds 
 
 received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Bogue, Samuel M., Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Biigne, William H., Lyme, enl. Ang. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Button, Edward, Griswold, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; died June 24, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received ai Port Hudson, La. 
 Beckwith, Samuel W., Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Corcoran, Michael, Norwich, eul. Ang. 30, 1862, lion di-ch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Congdon, Steplisn A., Griswold, enl. Aug. 30, 1802; disch. July 24, 1863; 
 
 enl. headi|uarters troops, Louisiana. 
 Carpenter, John H., Preston, enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Cooley, James H., Griswold, enl. Sept. 1 1 , 1862 ; hon. disch. A ilg. 17, Ibd'A. 
 Dawley, Joseph W., Gi-iswold, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Dixon, Lawrence, Norwich, enl. Oct. 17, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Edwards, Horatio N., East Haduaui, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; died July 24, 
 
 1863. 
 Fenner, Jerome B., Griswold, enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; disch, for disability, 
 
 March 25, 180.1. 
 Eraser, Daniel, Norwich, onl. Aug. 30, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Geer, Eldridge, Griswold, enl. Aug. 3(1, 1862; hon. discli. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Geer, Cyrus M., Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; died May 29, 1863, of wounds 
 
 received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Green, Elisha N., Lisbon, enl. Sept. 10, 1862; died July 9, 1863. 
 Howe, Frederick S., Griswold, enl. Ang. 30, 1862; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Harrison, Charles W., Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 
 Hills, Elizur F , Lyme, enl. Ang. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aufr. 17, 1863. 
 Hopkins, Micliael,Gil9wobl, enl, Ang. 30, 1862; hon. diacli. Ang. I7,l~63. 
 Hiiskell, George A.. Lisbon, enl. Aug. 80, 1862; hon. diacli. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Hill, Kdwiii, Noiwirh, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 1863. 
 Huiitiiigtnn, Daniel, Norwich, enl. Sept. 11, 1862 ; hon. distli. Ang. 17, 
 
 l.Sli3. 
 Halloien, Patrick 0., Griswold, enl. Sept. 30, 1862 ; hoii. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 lJ-63. 
 JohtiHiiii, Henry, East Haddam, enl. Sept. 30, 1862; hon. discli. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Jewctt, Eb'azer, Norwich, enl. Sept, 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Luther, John W., East Haddain, enl. Sept, 30, 1862; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863 
 Lutlier, Ellintt B,, Lyme, enl. Sept. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Lyon, Ulif-'i-ii, Woodstock, enl. Sept 25, 1862; died July 12, 1863. 
 Liiilier,(>nin M., Kast Haddam, enl. Se|it. 30, 1862; died Aug. 5, 1863. 
 Miner, Cliiirles. Lyme, enl. Sept. 30, 1862; lion, ilisdi. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Miner, Cliiirles H , Lyme, enl. Se|it. 3ll, 1K62; died Jim. 13, 1863 
 McNeil, John, Nniwicli, enl. Sept. 30, 1862; lion, disch, Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Meecli, Andrew H., Griswold, enl. Sept. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Morse, Cliauncey, Woodstock, enl. Sept. 10, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Morse, Joseph M., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 25, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Noyes, (Jali-li H., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Needhaiii, VVilliuni H., Woodstock, enl. Aug. 25, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863, 
 O'Ncil, David, Norwich, enl. Aug, 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Palmer, Wm, A., Lisbon, enl. Ang. 30, 1862; hon. discli. Ang, 17, 1863. 
 Palmer, Horace A., Griswold, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon, disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1861. 
 Phillips, Norniau A., Boznili, enl. Aug, 30, 1802; died June 19, 1863, of 
 
 wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Palmer, Amos K., Lisbon, enl. Sept 3, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Pnlniel, Nines W., Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; died July 12, 1803. 
 liathbun, Albert M., Lisbon, eul. Aug. 30, 1802; lion, discli. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 RogeiB, N'iles S., Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Hand, Ulysses, East Haddam, eul. Sept. 10,1862; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Sullivan, John 0., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; lion, discli. Ang. 17, 1863. 
 Sniilh, ObedO., Norwich, enl.Se|it. 1, 1862; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Snillh, E/.ia L,. Fiankliii, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; lion, disch. Aug, 17, 1863. 
 Stnilig, Sheibiirn A., Lyme, enl. Aug, 30, 1862; lion, disch, Aug. 17 1863. 
 Slate, John T,, Lyme, enl Sept. 10, 1862; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Smith, Welcome A., Griswold, enl. Sept. 10,1862; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Tiffany, Fniniis H , Lyme, enl. Nov. 6, 1862. 
 
 T.\ler, Henry, Giiswidd, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Tucker, .loliii, Norwich, eitl. Sept. 6, 1862. 
 
 Tooker, John, L.vnie, enl. Aug. 3o, 1862 ; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 1863. 
 Wiiglit, Henry C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Wil iiinia, Calvin, Norwich, enl. Ang. 30, 1862; lion, disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Woud, Natlianiel M., Lyme, enl. Ang. 30, 1862; died July 31. 1863. 
 Warner, UlyshcsS., Lynte, enl, Aug, 20, 1862; died July I, 1863, of wounds 
 
 received at Port iludson. La. 
 Wood, Will. T., Lyme, enl. Oct. 8, 1862 ; disch. July 23, 1863 ; enl. head- 
 
 quiirlers troops, Louisiiiim. 
 York, Natliiin, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 
 COMPANY G. 
 
 Mustered into the United States service Nov. 10, 1862. 
 John L. Stanton, capt, Norwich, enl. Aug. 23, 1862; killed at Port Hud- 
 son. La„ May 27, 1861. 
 George W. CbildH, fii-st lieut., Woodstock, enl. Sept. 5, 1862 ; pro. capt. ; 
 
 hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Pliny Brewer, second lient., Norwich, enl. Aug. 23, 1862; pro. to 1st 
 
 lieut.; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 George .\. 1 1 aniniond, sergt., Hampton, enl. Sept. 6,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863 
 Honicf W. Whltmore, sergt,, Norwich, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug, 17, 1863. 
 Edwin 11, Keys, sergt., Ponifret, enl. Aug. 25, 1802 ; died June 12, 1863, 
 
 troni woiiinls received ueiir Port Iludson, La. 
 Amos S. 1 hapnian, sergt., Scotland, eul. Sept. 9, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 
128 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Chester E. Child, sergt., Woodstock, eul. Sept. 5, 1862 ; died Aug. 10, 1863. 
 Andrew W. Puiue, corp, Woudstoclt, enl. Sept. 5, 186:i; hon. discli. Aug. 
 
 17, 18(i3. 
 Silas A. Wait, Corp., Sterling, enl. Sept. 9, 1862 ; hoo. disch. Ang. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Charles W. Cory, Corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 26, 1862; hon. disch, Aug. 
 
 17, 186.). 
 William lugalls, corp., Pomfret, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 186:). 
 Courtland C. Avery, Corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 27, 1862 ; died June 23, 
 
 186). 
 John T Crary, Corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Judah L. Wister, Corp., Woodstock, enl. Sept. 5, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 186,-). 
 George W. Lamb, corp., Norwich, enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Charles B. Cooley, mu.sician, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 John A. Haninioud, musician, Hampton, enl. Sept. 6, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863, 
 Seth L. Peck, wagoner, Norwich, enl. Aug. 27, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Ashley, Samuel W,, Scotland, Sept. 9, 1862 ; hon. disch, Aug, 17, 1803, 
 Adams, Darius M,, Ponifi et, enl, Aug, 30, 1862 ; hon, disch, Aug. 17, 1803, 
 Bruut. Andrew J., Woodstock, enl. Sept. 5, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Bill, Amos W., Scotland, enl. Sept. 9, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Buck, Ale.\aiKler, Woodstock, enl. Sept. 5, 1862; hoD. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Bahcock, Alhert C, Sterling, enl. Sept. 10, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Bosworth, Caleh A., Ashfonl, enl. Aug, IS, 1802; hon. disuh. Aug. 17, 186). 
 Burling.ime, Albeit J., Plaintield, enl. Sept. 10, 1802; died May 0, ISO.), 
 Cobb, Jr,, Cliarlts A,, Norwicli, eul, Aug, 30, 1862; hon, discli, Aug, 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Chapman, Andrew M., Asliford, enl. Aug. 29, 1863 ; died April 28, 1863. 
 Cuniiinghani, William, Scotland, enl. Sept. 9, 1803; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 186.1. 
 Clapp, Christopher, Hampton, enl. Sept. 0, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Child, Merrick M., Woodstock, enl. Sept. 5, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Case, Thomas M., Woodstock, enl. Sept, 5, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Cai-peuter, Ira B., Woodstock, enl. Sept. 5, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Chapman, Edwin, Pomfret, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; hon. disch. Aug 17,1863. 
 Copelaiid, Dyer, Hauipton, enl. Sept. 6, 1862; hon, disch. Ang. 17, 1863. 
 Diigan, James, Noiwicli, enl. Sept. 9, 1862; died July 28, 1863. 
 Edgertoii, (jeorgo F., Nui-wich, enl. Aug. 23, 1862; died July 23, 1863, 
 Fuller, Theodore L,, Hampton, eul. Sept, 0, 1802; hon, disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 France, George, Sterling, enl. Sept. 9,1862; died Jan. 25, 1863. 
 Fitch, Eleazer S., Scotland, eul. Sept. 9, 1862; hon. iliscti. Aug, 17, 1863, 
 Franklin, Allen H,, Sterling, enl. Sept, 9, 1S62 ; died June 17, 1S03, 
 Gates, William K„ Lebanon, eiil, Aug, 21, 1802; hoii, diich. An;;, 17,1863. 
 Griggs, Beiij.imin, I'umfiet. enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hen. discb. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Gage, Cbarles N., Woudstucli, enl. Sept. 5, 1802; boll, discb. Ang. 17,1803. 
 Giitfitbs, Jared, Sterling, enl. Aug. 2,j, 1862; died June 27, ll-O.i, 
 Holt, Cliai Ics E , Hampton, enl. Sept, 0, 1862 ; hon, di»ch, Ang. 17, 1863. 
 Himes, Sylvester It. J., Sterling, enl. Sept. 9, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Henry, Thomas W., Columbia, enl. Aug. 25, 1802 ; hon. discb. Aug. 17, 
 
 ISO.). 
 Hovey, George, Scotland, enl. Sept, 9, 1802, hon, discb, Aug, 17, 1863. 
 Haven, Peter, Woodstock, enl. Sept. !}, 1802; hon disch. An;;. 17, 1,^63, 
 Haire, Williiim H,, Woodstock, enl. Sept, 6, 1802 ; died July 21, 1803, 
 Hotcbkiss, Edwin 0,, Norwich, old, Aug, 30, 1862 ; liou, discb, Aug, 17 
 
 1803, 
 Jackson, Henry, Hampton, enl. Sept, 6, 1802 ; hon, disch, Aug, 17, 1803, 
 Keables, N, Ainiand, Norwich, eul, Aug, 30, 1802 ; hon. diseh. An'^ 17 
 
 1801. 
 Kenyoii, William H., Sterling, eul. Sept. 9, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17 
 
 1803. 
 Lewis, Joseph T., Scotland, enl. Sept. 9, 1862; hon. disch. Ang. 17 1863. 
 Marsball, llauilet J., Norwich, enl. Sept. 2, 1802; disch. July 21, 1863- 
 
 enl. lieadiiiiarters troops, Louisiana. 
 Moore, Michael, Norwich, enl. Sept. 9, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17 1803. 
 
 Maynard, Boswell E., Norwich, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Neff, A. Martin, Norwicli, enl. Ang, 27, 1862 ; hon. disch, Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Penharlow, Andrew J., Ooluinbia, enl. Sept. 10, 1862; bon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Porter, Manderville A., Norwich, enl, Aug. 30,1862; hon. diach. Aug, 17, 
 
 1863, 
 Bobbins, Joseph K., Hampton, enl. Sept. 6, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Robbins, George 0., Woodstock, enl. Sept. 8, 1802 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17 
 
 1863 
 Readhead, John N., Woodstock, enl. Sept. 5, 1862; hon. diBCh. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Smith, Augustus F., Norwich, enl. Aug. 27,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Snow, Lucius J., Woodstock, eul. Sept. 6, 1862; died May 3, 1863. 
 Smith, Albert, Pomfret, enl. Ang. 25, 1802 : hon. disch. Ang. 17, 1863. 
 Smith, Henry L., Scotbind, enl. Sept. 9, 1862; died Jan. 3, 1863. 
 Snow, Sanford W,, Asliford, enl, Sept. 10, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Slater, Wallace, Sterling, enl. Sejit. 7, 1802; bon. discb. Aug. 17,1803. 
 Stoddard, Henry, Woodstock, enl. Sept. 6, 1863; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Smith, Amasa, Pomfret, enl, Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 1863. 
 Tabor, John C, Scotland, enl. Sejjt. 9, 1862 ; bon, disch. Aug. 17, HJC3. 
 Wight, Eilgar S., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Williams, Julius, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Williams, Charles P., Sterling, eul. Sept. 9, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 WiiiB.r, John, Sterling, enl. Sept. 10, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Weeks, Godfrey P., Woodstock, eul. Sept. 5, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Wbeaton, Angell. Pomfret, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17,1803. 
 Wilcox, George K., Woodstock, enl. Sept. o, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Young, Albert F., Ashford, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; died Aug. 12, 1803. 
 
 COMPANY H. 
 
 Mustered into United States service Nov. 10, 1862. 
 Daniel Champlin, capt., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 John F. Jencks, first lieut, Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Samuel K. Tillinghast, second lieut., Stonington, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; pro. 
 
 first lieut. Co. B; lion, disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Henry H. Packard, sergt., Stonington, enl. Sept 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. AUg. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 John H. Morgan, sergt., Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 18li3. 
 Thomas W. Grace, sergt., Stonington, enl. Ang. 30, 1802; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Williiini J. Slinman, sergt., Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1802; died June 28, 
 
 1.S03, of wounds recceived at Port Hudson, La. 
 Thomas W. Gaidiuer, Jr., sergt., Stonington, eul. Sept. 1, 1802; hon. 
 
 discb. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 George E. Brayton, Corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803., 
 Frank W. Gard,corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; died May 18, 1803. 
 Jacob 1!. Lock wood, corp , Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; disch. July 24, 
 
 1863; enl. at headquaitere troops, Lonisiaiiu. 
 Charles 11. liurdick, corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 George D. Edwards, Corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; disch. for dis- 
 ability May .^1, IS03. 
 
 Charb-s Bennett (second), Corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. 
 Aug 17, 1863. 
 
 George H. Burgess, Corp., Stonington, enl. SeiJt. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Andrew M. Brown, Corp., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; died June 9, 1863, 
 
 of wounds received at Port lliidbon. 
 Eliiis L. Maynard, musician, Stonington, euL Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. discli. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Pardon L. Babcock, musician, Stonington, eul. Oct. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17,1803. 
 
 John R. Prentice, wagoner, Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; died Aug. 9, 
 1863. 
 
 Appleman, Erastus D., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 17, 1S63. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 129 
 
 Esbcock, EUas, Jr., StoninRton, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Brown, Richard A., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; )ion. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Burdick. Horace F., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Barnes, Amos D., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; died Jan. 8, 1863. 
 Brown, Thomas A., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1873. 
 Brigga, Orville M., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 186.1. 
 Babcoclt, Henry L., Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Burrows, Dwight S., Preston, enl. Oct. 28, 1862 ; hon. disch, Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Craudall, Amos A., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 18G:i ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Coleman, Joseph W., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; disch. July 24, 1803 ; 
 
 enl. at hcadquartei-s troops, Lonisiuna. 
 Crowley, Thomas, Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; hon. diach. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Dowling, Michael W, Norwich, enL Aug. 29, 1862 : disch. July 24, 1863; 
 
 enl. headquarters troops, Louisiana. 
 Eccleston, WUliam F., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1,1802; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Eccleston, Samuel E., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Trader, Alexander B., Stonington, enl. Sept 1, 1862; hon. disch. Ang. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Gladding, Charles H., Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Galliran, David, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 1803. 
 Holverton, John E., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Holmes, Shnbael, Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, '03. 
 Irons, Philip A., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 : hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Latham, George A., Stonington, enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Lyman, Christopher A., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; died July 26, '63. 
 Lord, James A., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Merritt, David S., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Ang. 17, '63. 
 Moore, John C , Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 1803. 
 Menitt, Stephen D., Jr., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Miller, Charles A., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Mosher, John M., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Macomber, Samuel M., Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 McClure, George, Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon disch. Ang. 17, '63. 
 Macomber, William C, Windham, enl. Sept. 11, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Nj-e,'John, Stonington, enl. Sept. 2,1862; killed at Port Hudson, La., 
 
 May 27, 1863. 
 Parkes, Avery B., Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Rice, Chauncey D., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Hathbun, Elisha K., Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; died Ang. 5, 1803. 
 Sweet, James, Canterbury, enl. Nov. 6, 1802; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 1863. 
 Shirley, Edwin W., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Sheffield, Nathan S., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; killed at Port Hud- 
 son, La., May 27, 1863. , 
 Targee, Jas. W., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1«62 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Thompson, Warren P., Stonington, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Ang. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Thompson, James 0., Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Ang. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Taylor, Charles W., Stonington, enl. Sept. 2, 1802; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Tabor, Gardiner, Voluntown, enl. Nov. 6, 1862 ; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Vergason, Isaac D., Norwich, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Weem™, Thaddens M., Stonington, enl. Sept. 5, 1862 ; died June 0, 180.3, 
 of wounds received at Port Hudson. 
 
 COMPANY I. 
 
 Mustered into United States service Nov. 10, 1862. 
 
 William H. Beiitley, capt.. New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, If 63. 
 Edward Prince, first liout., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; hon. disch 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Charles O. Harris, second lleut.. New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. 
 
 disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Joseph S Kitch, sorgt. East Lyme, enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Daniel Lake, sergt.. New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Ang. 
 
 17, 1S63. 
 Daniel Pefihallow, sergt., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Williiini E Chesler, sergt. New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Freileiick J. Chittenden, sergt.. New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. 
 
 (liscli. Ang. 17, 1863. 
 William B. Oshoine. Corp., New London, enl. Sept. 1,1862; died July 23, 
 
 1863, of wounds i-eceived at Piu-t Hudson. 
 George Jerome, Corp., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17,1803. 
 Henry C. Crowell, Corp., New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17,1863. 
 James H. Cone, Corp., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Orlando N. Rogers, Corp., New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Betiah B. Cliampliu, Corp., New London, enl. Sept. 3,1862; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 181,3. 
 Andiew .1. Blake, Corp., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Seidell Jenime, coi-p.. New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1^6:!. 
 John C. Daniels, musician. New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; died July 22, 
 
 1803. 
 Henry Rogers, musician. New London, enl. Sept. 3, 1862 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Aug. 17, 186;!. 
 Jonathan R. King, wagoner. New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; disch. for 
 
 disaliility,SeMt. 23, 1863. 
 Avery, Nathan F., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 2, 1863. 
 Biirber, .lolin. New London, enl. Sept 1, 1862; died Aug. 3, 1863. 
 Beebe, Samuel P., New London, enl. Sept 1, 1862; died Ang. 14, 1863. 
 Bragaw, Isaac, New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon, disch. Ang. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Brewster, George, New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Beebe, .lames W., New London, enl. Sept 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803, 
 Bailey. Joseph A., Groton, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Browne, John, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Bolton, Charles, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Ma,v ."p, 1803. 
 Colbert, Frederick, New London, enl. Sept. 2. 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863, 
 Caswell, William H., Preston, enl. Aug. 30,1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Caish, William J., New London, eol. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 
 
 I8(i3, 
 Chappell, James J,, New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1861. 
 Onllin, Martin, New London, enl. Sept 2, 1862; hon. disch. Ang. 17, '63. 
 Cone. Israel W,, East Lyme, enl. Aug 30, 1802; hon. disch. Aug. 17, '63. 
 Crocker, .Jiilm, New liOndon, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; lion, disch. Aug, 17, '63. 
 Conistock, Isaac ,H., New London, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. July 23, 1863» 
 
 to enlist in headquarters troops, Limisiana. 
 Church, Richard, New Londou, enl. Sept. 2, 1802 ; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 
 
 1863, 
 Cranstin, .lames J. S,, Norwich, enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; hon. disch. Ang. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Dart, David M., New London, enl. Sept 1, 1802 ; hon. disch, .Aug. 17, '63. 
 Dart, Kdsoii K., New London, enl. Sept, 1, 1862; hon. disch. Aug, 17, '63. 
 DalTOW, William C, New Loudon, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Ang. 17 
 1863. 
 
130 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 EdjfBcomb, Clark A., Watorford, enl. Sept. 1, 1R02 ■ lion, (lisch. Aug. 17, 'O:!. 
 Elkinton, Wni., Nmv London, enl. Si-pt. 2, IHili; lion, tlistli. Auk- H, 'M. 
 Gniy, Oe.ir^'e S., New Lonrlon, enl. SopM, 18(i2; dieil Aug. G, ISli:). 
 Getoliell, James B., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 18G2 ; hon. diBcli. Aug. 17, 
 
 ISIili. 
 Gates. Benj. F , New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1«G2 ; hon. discli. Aug. 17, 'G.3. 
 Garner. .lohii. New Lonrlon, enl, Sept. 3, lSli2; lion, discli. Aii;;. 17. '03. 
 Getchell, John, Waterlord, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; lion, diseh. Aug. 17, lufi !. 
 Havens, Ed.. New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862 : lion, diseh. Aug. 17, '03. 
 Hebron, Woleott, New London, enl. Sept. 1, 180.i; died of wounrls re- 
 ceived at Port Hndsoii, La. 
 Harvey, George, New Lcnidon, enl. Sept. 1,1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, '03. 
 Henipsted, Hiram A., New London, enl. Sept. 2, 18G2; hon. diseh. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803 
 Harrison, Asa S.. New London, enl. Sept. 1,1802: diseh. for disability, 
 
 Feb 21. 1803. 
 Herring, Tbcmias .1., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 26, 1802; diseh. Aug. 11,1803, 
 
 to accept prniiKition. 
 Kelly, .loseph L., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, '03. 
 King, .lames N , New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; hon. diseli. Aug. 17, '03- 
 Knight, ( 'ha lies. New London, enl. Sept. 1,1802; hon. di.sch. Aug. 17, '03. 
 Keeue.v,Gilbeit, New Loudon, enl. Sept. 2, 1802: hon. diseh. Aug. 17, '03. 
 King, .lohn P., Ji-., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; hon. discli. Aug. 17, 
 
 isi-.i. 
 Latimer, Joseph S., East Lyme, enl. Aug. 26, 1802 ; hon. discli. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Lyman. Lntlier, New Lf>ndon, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; lion, diseh. Aug. 17, '63. 
 MinsuM, i:liarle«. New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; hon. d si-h. Aug. 1 7, 1803.. 
 Murphy, Orlando C, Norwich, enl. Aug. 27, 1S02 : hon. dlsch. Aug. 17. 1803. 
 Nason, Oliver, New Liuidon, enl. Sept. 1,1802; hon. diach. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Preston, Chai les. New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; lion, di.sch. Aug 17, 1 803. 
 Preston, Jas.K.. New Loudon, enl Sept. 2, 1802; hon. discli. Aug. 17, '03. 
 Park, John, New Loudon, enl. Sept. 3, 1802; diseh. July 2<, 1863, to enl. 
 
 in headquarters troops. Lonisianii. 
 Quill, .lames F., Now London, enl. Sept. 3, 1862 ; diseh. July 23, 1803, to 
 
 enl. in liiwlquarlers troops, Louisiana. 
 Rowley, Eliiatliau, New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; lion, diseh. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Eowley, .lesse, New London, enl. Sept. 1,1802; hon. discli. Aug. 17,1803. 
 Roach, Dav d, New London, enl. Sept. 3, 1862: hon. discli. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Smith, William D., New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Sweet, Hlley, New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; hon. discli. Aug. 17, 1R63. 
 Shelley, Jidin H., New Loudon, enl. Sept. 2, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Spooner, Aloiizo. New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1 862 ; lion, diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Sizer, Thomas. New Loudon, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; lion, diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Smith. Albert G., New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1802 ; lion, discli. A iig. 17, 1803. 
 Smitton, (Jbarles H., New London, enl. Sept. 3, 1802; hon. discli. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Tnell. Cyrus E., New London, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Thompson, Eugene W., New London, enl. Sept. 2, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Thompson. G. H. N., New London, enL Sept. 1, 1862 ; hon. diseh. Aug. 
 
 17, 1801. 
 Wood, Henry, New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17. 1863. 
 York, Robert, New London, enl. Sept. 1, 1862; lion, diseli. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 
 COMPANY K. 
 
 Mustered into United States service Nov. 10, 1863. 
 
 Jedediah Randall, capt., Grotou. enl. Sept. 3, 1862; died June 9, 1863 of 
 
 wtiiinds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 JabezS. Smith, first lieut., Gioton, enl. Sept. 0,1802; pro. to capt.; hon. 
 
 diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Simeon G. Fisher, second lieut, Groton, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; pro. to first 
 
 lieut ; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Herbert E. Miixon. sergt., Groton, eul. Sept. 3, 1802 ; pro. to second lieut. 
 
 Co. B; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Charles H. Nlles, sergt., Gioton, enl. Sept. 10, 1802 ; hon. diach. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Joshua Bliven, sergt., Groton, enl. Sept. 4, 1862 ; lion, diech. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Horace Clilt, selgt, Groton, enl. Sept. 8, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17. 1803. 
 John E. Williams, sergt., Grotou, enl. Sept. 8, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Amos E. Slack, Corp., Groton, enl. Sept. 10, 1802 ; lion, discli. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Latliiim Rathbuii, Corp., Grotou, eul. Sept. 8, 1802; lion, discli. Aug. 17 
 
 1803. ' ' 
 
 Thomas Carroll, Corp., Groton, enl. Sept. 8, 1802 ; hon. diach. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 
 John G. Packer., Corp.. Groton, enl. Sept. 3, 1802: hon. diseh. Aug. 17,186.3. 
 Alfred H. Wilcox, Corp , Groton, enl. Sept. 8, 1862 ; hon. diach. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 John L. Seignions, Corp., Groton, enl. Sept. 10, 1862; died June 16, 1863, 
 
 of wounds received at Port Hudson, La. 
 Oliver D. Lewie, Corp., Groton, enl. Sept. 8, 1802 ; diach. .luly 24, 1803. 
 Thos. A. Perry, Corp., Grololi, enl. Sept. 8, 1802; lion, discli. Aug. 17, '61. 
 William P. Latham, niiiwiciall, Groton. enl. Sept. 3, 1862 ; died June, 1863, 
 
 of wouriils received at Port Hudson, La. 
 William Colgrove, musician, Groton, eul. Sept. 0, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 John G. Rathbun, wagoner, Groton, enl. Sept. 3, 1862 ; hon. diseh. Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Andrews, Ezra B., Groton, enl. Sept. 9. 1862; hon. diach. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Albro, Thomas, Groton, enl. Sept. 10, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Avery, Giles W., Gn.toii, eul. Sept. 8, 1802; lioii. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Bentley, Adam C, Groton, enl. Sept. 6, 1802; died March 18, 1803. 
 Bnrnect, Warreu, Grotou, eul. Sept. 8, 1802; lioii. diseh. Aug. 17. 1863. 
 Biile.v, Charles E.,Grotoii, eul. Sept. 8, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Beebe, George W, Groton, enl. Sept. 8, 1802, hon. diseh. Aug 17, 1863. 
 Burdick, Caleb H., Gioloii, eul. Sept. 10, l>-02; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Bailey, Ralph H., Groton, enl. Sept. 8, 1802; lion, diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Bailey, John C., Groton, enl. Sept. 8, 1802 : hou. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Bailey, Prusciiis, Groton, enl. Sept. 9, 1802; died June 9. 1803. 
 Oolgrove,Wni A., Groton, enl Sept. 0, 1862; hon. di.sch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Cranston, rharles K.,Giotioi,enl Sept. 8, 1802; hou. diseh. Aug 17,1803. 
 Chester, Elialia A., Gioton, enl. Sept. 6, 1862; hon. diach. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Chester, Ira, Gioton, enl. Se|it. 8, 1802; lion, discli. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Clark, John li , Groton, enl. Sept. :-;o, 1802; hon. dlsch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Daniels, Lyman, Groton, enl. Sept. 29, 1802; lion, diach. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Debtiu, Andrew. Grotou, enl. Sept. 29, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Eldridge, Wui. II., Groton, eul. Sept. 10, 1802; diseh. July 24, 180.3. 
 Eweu, George I-I., Groton, eul. Sept. 8, 1862; hon. dlsch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Fellows, Wm. C , Groton, enl. Sept. 9, 1NG2; died July 27, 1863. 
 Gray, Sle]ihen, Ledyanl, eul. Sept. 6, 1802; lion, diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Holdridge, Henry S.. Gioton, enl Sept. 29,1862; hon. diseh. Aug.l7, 1863. 
 Hancock, Frank, Groton, enl. Sept. 1(1, 1802; lion, diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Je ett, Joseph, Groton, eul. Oct. 14, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Keeney, Charles H , Groton, enl. Oct. 10, 1802; hou. diseh. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Kinney, Lucius M., Groton, enl. Oct. 14,1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17. 186,3. 
 Latham, Mosea E., Grotou, enl. Sept. 9, l,'i62; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Leeds, Joslina, Gioton, enl. Sept. 10, 1802. 
 
 Manaee, Albert Groton, eul Se|it, 8, 1802: hon. diseh. Aug. 17,1803. 
 Manaee, Thomas, Groton, enl. Sejit. 29, 1802; died July 21, 1803. 
 Maloy, Thonia.s, Grotou, enl. Sept. 8, 1802 ; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Miner, Sauford S., Groton, enl. Sept. 8, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Muitley, Pat! ilk, Groton, enl. Sept. 9, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Newbury, Nallian H.. Grotou, enl. Sept. 8, 1802; bon. diseh. Aug. 17, '03. 
 Phillips, Josiab F., Groton, enl. Sept. 9, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Qiiinn, Charles B., Grotou, enl. Sept. 13. 1862; hon. diseli. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Boatli, Ezra W., Groton, enl. Sept. 9, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Rathbun, Sainnel G., Groton, enl. Sept. 8, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 180,3. 
 Reynolds, Clias. F.. Gioton, eul. Sept. 8, 1862; hou. diseli Aug. 17,1861. 
 Spauliling, Edwin G., Groton, enl. Sept. 10, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Sullivan, James, Groton. enl. Sept. 9, 1802. 
 
 Shirley, Jerome A., Groton, eul. Sept. 29, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Shirley, Thomas H , Groton, enl. Sept. 9, 1802; died Feb. 0, 1803. 
 Shehan, Tiniolhy, Groton, enl Sept. 9, 1862. 
 
 Smith, Henry G , Groton, enl. Sept. 29, 1862; hou. diseh. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Smith, Isaac 11., Groton, eul, Oct. 7, 1802. 
 
 Stafford, Ariuaiid, Grotuu, enl. Sept. 29, 1802 ; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Tufts, John, Groton, enl. Sept. 0, 1862; hou. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Taylor, George VV., Groton, enl. Sept. 10, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 17,1863. 
 linker, James, Groton, eul. Oct. 0, 1K02; died Apiil 17,1863. 
 Tifl, VViii. 0., Grotou, enl. Sept. 1(1, 1802; hou. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Wilkinsou, Reuben It., Groton, eul. Sept. 4, 1862; diseh. July 23,1863; 
 
 enl, headquarters troops, Ltuiisiana. 
 Wood, Adoniraui .1., Groton, enl. Sept. 8, 1802 ; hon. diseh. Aug. 17,1863. 
 Watson, John W., Groton, eul Sept. 9, 1862; hou. diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Williams, Chiislian H., Groton, enl Sept. 10, 1802; hou. disoh. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 WatrouB, Wm. H., Grotou, enl. Sept. 8, 1802; died June 30, 1803. 
 Wait, George R., Grotou, enl. Oct. 7, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 White, Thomas II., Groton, enl Sept. 8, 1802; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 York, Edwin, Groton, onl. Sept. 3, 1802 ; hon. discli. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 York, William, Gioton, enl. Sept. 4, 1862; hon. diseh. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 
^S'-l;,- Geo TL ,-Perrme, V York 
 
 1.IETIT Cr.L. 26^" CONIT, VTlLh 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 131 
 
 Joseph Selden. — The Seldens are an old Con- 
 necticut family, with a genealogical tree whose roots 
 reach back to 1635, at which date the first of the 
 name in this country settled at Hartford. Joseph 
 Selden, the son of this pioneer, removed to Lyme in 
 1695, and purchased a farm there, a portion of which 
 is still held by the family under the deed of that 
 date. His homestead has been handed down to his 
 descendants from generation to generation ever since. 
 Col. Samuel Selden, the bead of the family during 
 the Revolution, commanded the Third Battalion of 
 Connecticut troops, and participated in the battle of 
 Long Island, in 1776. He was taken prisoner during 
 Washington's retreat from New York, and died in 
 the Old Brick church, then used by the British as a 
 patriot prison. 
 
 Samuel C. Selden, uncle of the Jo.seph Selden who 
 is the subject of this sketch, and through whom he 
 inherited the Lyme property, was one of the most 
 popular and best-known men in Connecticut. He 
 was the friend and companion of such men as John 
 A. Rockwell, Henry Strong, Charles J. McCurdy, and 
 Chief Justice Henry M. Wait, and served promi- 
 nently in the State Senate and House of Representa- 
 tives. 
 
 Joseph Selden was born May 19, 1824, and resided 
 in Lyme, on the ancestral farm, up to the spring of 
 1859, filling many positions of trust and honor, in- 
 cluding a term in the Legislature in 1855. In 1858 
 the old homestead was burned down, and the next 
 spring Mr. Selden removed to Norwich. At the 
 breaking out of the war he was made a member of 
 the war committee and did zealous service. 
 
 In August, 1862, came President Lincoln's call for 
 three hundred thousand nine months' men. Norwich 
 had already sent a large proportion of her young 
 men to the front, the task of enlistment was slow, 
 and the outlook grew gloomy. At this juncture Mr. 
 Selden came to the front and enlisted. His great 
 popularity made the act timely and influential, and 
 in three daj's the company was filled. 
 
 Mr. Selden was chosen captain and received his 
 commission Sept. 6, 1862. Ten days later he was 
 commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-sixth 
 Regiment. ' The regiment entered active service in 
 the Department of the Gulf. 
 
 During the siege of Port Hudson the regiment was 
 under Col. Selden's command, and did hard and 
 praiseworthy service. That siege was a terrible one 
 in its effects on besiegers as well as besieged, and the 
 Twenty-sixth Connecticut owed much of its efliciency 
 to the zealous and untiring efforts and executive 
 ability of Col. Selden. When the surrender took 
 place the regiment was given a prominent place in 
 the ceremony and honorable mention in the ofiicial 
 reports. 
 
 When the regiment was mustered out of service, 
 Aug. 16, 1863, Col. Selden's health was terribly shat- 
 tered. On his recovery, in the fall of the same year. 
 
 he was called to the executive office of Governor Buck- 
 ingham, and almost immediately was sent to New 
 Orleans, where he re-enlisted as veterans the Ninth, 
 Twelfth, and Thirteenth Regiments, and paid them 
 their State bounties. On his return from New Or- 
 leans, in 1864, he was commissioned assistant adjutant- 
 general, with the rank of colonel, and assigned to duty 
 in the executive office. In the winter of 1864-65, 
 Col. Selden was sent by Governor Buckingham to 
 Norfolk, Va., to enlist colored troops for the quota of 
 the State, as was permitted by an act of Congress. 
 His mission was a complete success, resulting in the 
 enlistment of several hundred. 
 
 On the assassination of President Lincoln, Gover- 
 ernor Buckingham and Senator Foster proceeded at 
 once to Washington. The Governor was accompanied 
 by Col. Selden, to whom he intrusted the duty of se- 
 curing a volunteer escort for Senator Foster, whose 
 safety, as president pro tempore of the Senate and 
 second in the Presidential succession, was felt to be 
 of the greatest national importance. At the close of 
 the war Col. Selden resigned his commission as assist- 
 ant adjutant-general of the State. From the time of 
 his entry into the executive office he had been on terms 
 of cordial intimacy with the Governor, and treated 
 rather as a close personal friend than as an official sub- 
 ordinate. In accepting his resignation the Governor 
 sent him the following note, which shows better than 
 anything else can the warm friendship of the two 
 men : 
 
 " Col. Joseph Selden : 
 
 " My pear Colonel, — I am in receipt of your favor of this date, and 
 happy to know that our ofiicial and social intercourse has been so agree- 
 al.le to you, and to assure you that it has not given you more satisfaction 
 and pleasure than it has nie. 
 
 " I thank you for your expressions of personal interest, and am grati- 
 fied that my offlcial course has been such as to meet your approval. 
 
 "While you have been on duty in my office you Iiave made many val- 
 uable sngsiesllons, which have influenced my action and have often in- 
 spired me with new vigor for the performance of official duties. For this 
 and all your kindness and co-o|jeiation you have my earnest prayer for 
 your highest prosperily and hap|iiness. 
 
 " Accept the assurance of my great respect and affection. 
 
 " Wm. a. BncKlNOHAM." 
 
 Upon leaving the service of the State, Col. Selden 
 again went into business, being one of the originators 
 of the Norwich Lock Company, from which he re- 
 tired in 1869. In 1868 he served a term in the Legis- 
 lature. He has all his life been active in politics, 
 and his fine presence, unusual tact, remarkable facil- 
 ity for making friendships, and unyielding fidelity to 
 his friends have given him a wide influence. He has 
 acted for many years as a member of the Republican 
 State Committee, and was its chairman in 1874^-75. 
 
 In May, 1869, he was made United States collector 
 of internal revenue for the Eastern District of Con- 
 necticut, which office he has since filled with credit to 
 himself and satisfaction to both the people and the 
 government. 
 
 Other Regiments.— The following enlisted from 
 this county in various regiments : 
 
132 
 
 HISTOllY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Samuel H. Chadwick. 
 
 Michael McKeon. 
 
 Henry II. Mitchell. 
 
 Jereruirtli F. Sullivan. 
 
 Oscar F. Stroud. 
 
 William K. Appleby. 
 
 George R. Bump. 
 
 Herman Ghuler. 
 
 Charles Henry. 
 
 Albert Helmer. 
 
 John Halpiii. 
 
 John E Jones. 
 
 Henry Kerney. 
 
 George Chapman, died. 
 
 Frederick L. Chapman, died. 
 
 Charlea S. Comstock. 
 
 Chailes A. Bay. 
 
 Nelson H. Green. 
 
 Theoilore Hall. 
 
 Charles H. Hanmer. 
 
 John King. 
 
 "William J, Lombard. 
 
 William H. Sampson. 
 
 Jacob Art. 
 
 Charles A. Beebe. 
 
 William C Beebe. 
 
 Albert A. Brewster. 
 
 Edward B. Chipnian. 
 
 William W. Ewen. 
 
 Jidin W. Ferguson. 
 
 Silas Hollis. 
 
 Gorton Biown. 
 
 Gilbert Beebe, Jr. 
 
 Richard F. Morgan. 
 
 John Mulligan. 
 
 Patrick Murphy, 
 
 Samuel S. Ryan. 
 
 Benjamin G. Smith. 
 
 Ichabod B. Slutes, 
 
 Charles E. Staplin. 
 
 Joseph W., Tucker. 
 
 Henry Borst. 
 
 Michael D. Cashin. 
 
 John Delaney. 
 
 Michael Healey. 
 
 Joshua C. Albro. 
 
 John Banks. 
 
 Henry Dandt. 
 
 William Harper. 
 
 William Jaeger. 
 
 John Merklee. 
 
 Phineas Malin. 
 
 Robert A. Stewart. 
 
 George W. Taylor, Jr. 
 
 Patrick Denehey. 
 
 John Edwards. 
 
 James Galloway. 
 
 Frank A, Goodrich. 
 
 Nathan 1). Lamphere. 
 
 John Allen. 
 
 George Allen. 
 
 John Blake. 
 
 Daniel Bradan. 
 
 Michael Carroll. 
 
 Henry Dunn. 
 
 Fiederick Havens. 
 
 William Hall. 
 
 John Mack. 
 
 John Maguire. 
 
 Thomas Magee. 
 
 James Moore. 
 
 Richard Murray. 
 
 John Brady. 
 
 Andrew Brown, 
 
 James Boote, 
 
 William Hough. 
 
 John McNeal. 
 
 F. H. Fanning. 
 E. E. Town. 
 Warren W. Packer. 
 Alfred L. Packer. 
 Eugene H. Co\ey. 
 Albert L. Gavitt. 
 James M. Starr. 
 Burrows Partelo. 
 George W. Wilcox. 
 Charles H. Corey. 
 Albert 0. Andrews. 
 John C. Brigga. 
 Charles 0. Briglitman. 
 George Bedford. 
 Edward Fowler. 
 Asa B. Fish. 
 William A. Gunn. 
 James P. Howard. 
 William H. Newbury. 
 William H. Noyes. 
 Isaac E. Norman. 
 Horace E. Partlo. 
 Horatio H. Pollard. 
 George J. Ridley. 
 Charles H. Tripp. 
 Frank Yananken. 
 Edward Bennett. 
 Joseph King, 
 JohTi McDonald, 
 William O'Neil. 
 James Shannon. 
 Robert R. Gray. 
 Leonard Heath. 
 David A. Mallory, 
 Charles Rockwell. 
 Erastus D. Smith, 
 William D. Spicer. 
 Nathaniel P. Wolf. 
 John Wolfer. 
 Mai tin Berns. 
 Jiimes Boyce. 
 William Erytroble. 
 Isaac Hirsch. 
 John Ragin. 
 Robert Sloper. 
 David White. 
 James Sutton. 
 Joseph T. Eccleston. 
 Eliaha R.Starr. 
 Charles B. Maxon. 
 John Huntington. 
 George B. Lattimer, 
 Moiton W. Brown. 
 Joseph A. Allen. 
 Joseph N. Banks. 
 John 0. Collins. 
 Edward L. Cordner, 
 Paul Dofant. 
 Michael Fltzmaurice. 
 Gilbert R. Fox. 
 Prescott H. Baker. 
 Eugene Branch. 
 James Brett. 
 James W. Burdick. 
 Lewis P. Card. 
 John H. Lee. 
 Rhodes ,K. Lewis. 
 Josiah Parkerson. 
 Henry Phillips. 
 Lalayetle Starr. 
 George H. Keables. 
 Thomas Lawler. 
 Henry L. Newcomb. 
 DeWitt 0. Newcomb. 
 Samuel C. Rogers. 
 David Rohbina. 
 Alden Rudd. 
 
 Havilah Robbina. 
 Jeremiah Rogers. 
 John H. Tracy. 
 George D. Tift. 
 Jamea H. Verguson. 
 Albejt E. Daniels. 
 John L. Daniels. 
 Ezra N. Barber. 
 William E. Horton. 
 William G. Dickinson. 
 Oliver P. Ormsby. 
 Edward A. Allyn. 
 Ezra Avery. 
 John Brown. 
 Darius Bennett. 
 William H. Davis. 
 George Snow. 
 Henry Jilson. 
 Andrew H. Davison. 
 Austin Adams. 
 Curtiss S. Arnold. 
 Benjamin G. Barber. 
 Joel K. Bitgood. 
 Simon Brown. 
 Allen Campbell. 
 Michael Collins. 
 Oliver P. Davison. 
 Gilbert A. Davis. 
 George D, Davis. 
 Patrick Gallivan. 
 Samuel W. Gavitt. 
 Watson Garriett. 
 Cliarles H. Green. 
 Elijah J. Green. 
 William Grinshaw. 
 Edward T. Jillson. 
 Henry Lewis. 
 Daniel Murphey. 
 Samuel H. Sheldon. 
 Byron D. Smith. 
 Lemuel A. Smith. 
 William E. Sweet. 
 Whipple 0. Trask. 
 Timothy Tynan. 
 Asael Youngs. 
 Ralph Alien. 
 Leroy H, Babcock. 
 Cassius M. Bartman, 
 John Brand. 
 Chai'Ies H. Chapman. 
 Josiah S. Coleman. 
 Stephen Eldridgo. 
 John Eldridge. 
 James Gay, 
 Moses Gay. 
 Charles B Hutchins. 
 James P. Hyde, 
 Timothy O'Conuell. 
 Frederick J. Shelley. 
 Adam Steine. 
 George B. Stillman. 
 Samuel Taten, Jr. 
 Samuel N. Watrous. 
 Edward C. Grafton. 
 Henry L, Schleiter. 
 Joseph Strickland. 
 Jantos E. Metcalf. 
 Lewis Beckvvith. 
 Abner N. Sterry. 
 Englebert Sauter. 
 Edward Beta. 
 Elvin Beebe. 
 Charles E. Chappell. 
 John L. Daniels. 
 Joseph Fi-anz. 
 David H. Goer. 
 George C. Gilbert. 
 
 James Harris, 
 Patrick nines. 
 Ezra M. Holloway. 
 Peter Tmmeriah. 
 John L. Keeney. 
 Ambrose E. Lester. 
 Cornell M. Monroe. 
 Calvin N. Nilea, 
 Amos S. Phillips. 
 Francis W. Preston, 
 Micah Read. 
 Leonard G. Roath. 
 Gardner B. Rogers, 
 Jacob Dyetch. 
 Christopher Flynn. 
 Henry Hasler. 
 Walter Hussey. 
 Jared F. Hoxie. 
 Erastus A. Maynard. 
 James McGovem. 
 Edward Rigney. 
 Christoplier Schulte. 
 John Smith. 
 Wm. E. Woodmansee. 
 William Cole. 
 Andrew Conu'nger. 
 Harry Crawford. 
 Joshua A. Dyer. 
 Samuel Francis. 
 Henry Gaunt. 
 Isaac P. George, 
 Isaac J. Hill. 
 Alexander Jackson. 
 Jefferson Miller. 
 Augustus I. llnnsom. 
 William H. Smith, 
 John E. Swingler. 
 William F. Harris. 
 George M. Jupiter. 
 George W. Odell. 
 Charles Robinson. 
 Lewis B. Thompson. 
 Dennis W. Williams. 
 Elijah B. Johnson. 
 Chailes Seeley, 
 Robert Smyth. 
 Sanford E, Stewart. 
 Anthony Turner. 
 Lewis H. Thomas. 
 Isaac Wilson. 
 
 B. O'Neil. 
 
 George C. Penhallow. 
 
 J. S. Hall, 
 
 J. R. Rand. 
 
 James B, Stewart. 
 
 M. Donahue. 
 
 Charles Henry. 
 
 I-I. B. Smith, Jr., pro, 1st lieut. 
 
 W, D. Shepard. 
 
 G. W, Penhallow. 
 
 John Shanahan. 
 
 Anthony Bulkley, 
 
 P. Hickey. 
 
 M. McKeon. 
 
 J. F. Sullivan, died of wounds. 
 
 0. F, Stroud. 
 
 C. S. Comatock. 
 Nelson H. Green. 
 Charles H. Hanmer. 
 Gorton Brown. 
 
 G. Beebe, Jr. 
 R. F. Morgan. 
 John Mulligan. 
 N. W. Smith. 
 J. W. Tucker. 
 Henry Borat. 
 M. D. Cashin. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 133 
 
 J. Alt. 
 
 M. Begg. 
 
 J. Phillips, died. 
 
 J. r. Tunner. 
 
 A. A. Brewster. 
 
 John Bergun. 
 
 H. E. Wells. 
 
 W. Butler. 
 
 E. B. Chipman, died. 
 
 George Case. 
 
 E. W. WatrouB. 
 
 G. W. Boyd. 
 
 W. W. Eweu. 
 
 P. Ctirran. 
 
 Lorenzo Burroughs, died. 
 
 W. H. Boyer. 
 
 J. W. Furgugson. 
 
 A. Curtis. 
 
 Thomas B. Clarke. 
 
 T. Boyer. 
 
 J. L. Kelly. 
 
 M. Donnxhue. 
 
 John Prenn, died. 
 
 E. C. Carroll. 
 
 A. D. White. 
 
 D. Donovan. 
 
 C. Winters. 
 
 J. H. Brown. 
 
 P. Newuian. 
 
 J. L. Fleming. 
 
 H. S. Woods. 
 
 William H. Brown. 
 
 Julni Bunks. 
 
 L. Morrisini. 
 
 1st Lieut. D. 0. Sullivan. 
 
 Peter Brocar. 
 
 Jolm St. Geurge, 
 
 George Martin. 
 
 K. Tyghe, died. 
 
 W. A. Washington. 
 
 John Fitzgerald. 
 
 S. McManus. 
 
 W. Hussey, died. 
 
 G. Freeman, died. 
 
 M. KichardsuQ. 
 
 J. Riley. 
 
 James Rawson. 
 
 John Hunter. 
 
 J. Bishop, Jr. 
 
 H. F. Williams. 
 
 J. Burns. 
 
 Adam Smith. 
 
 D. M. Lee. 
 
 J. O'Donnell. 
 
 A. Bell. 
 
 S. C. Thomas. 
 
 S. C. ThompsoD, died. 
 
 W. L. Hyatt. 
 
 Surgeon A. P. Douglass. 
 
 Henry Cann. 
 
 Tlionjas Goff. 
 
 William Mathews. 
 
 J. A. Payne. 
 
 Philip Davis. 
 
 Charles Knight. 
 
 H. F. Chapman. 
 
 J. Walton. 
 
 P. Sands. 
 
 J. L. Steveus. 
 
 J. M. Fox. 
 
 E, B. Rogers. 
 
 J. Pinion. 
 
 John Sheridan. 
 
 J. Morrison. 
 
 Thomas Walsh. 
 
 T. W. Pinion. 
 
 A. Naiiiarp. 
 
 W. T. Patterson. 
 
 T. Wilson. 
 
 A. Reed. 
 
 J. T. Brown. 
 
 J. Rowley. 
 
 Col. T. H. C. Kingsbury. 
 
 J. P. Thompson. 
 
 J. Fnnesay. 
 
 James Smith, killed March 25, 
 
 Col. H. W. Kingsbury, killed 
 
 John Underhill. 
 
 G. King. 
 
 1S65. 
 
 Sept. 17, 18C2. 
 
 A. Williams. 
 
 G. Konzelman. 
 
 S. Bulger. 
 
 James Burns. 
 
 E. Otis, died. 
 
 JobiiH. Phillips. 
 
 D. S. Gilman. 
 
 G. F. Tillinghost. 
 
 J. Saulsbury, died. 
 
 G. C. Fitch. 
 
 A. M. Mitchell. 
 
 E, Riley, captured. 
 
 H. A. Binsham. 
 
 Ehenezer Carpenter, sergt.- 
 
 A. Allen. 
 
 L. Giugle. 
 
 A. A. Peckham. 
 
 nuy. 
 
 D. McCarty. 
 
 John Gray. 
 
 John Batty. 
 
 John H. Hough. 
 
 W. C. Faxon. 
 
 Capt. J. D. Griswold, killed 
 
 William Edwards. 
 
 S. C. Biigbee, killed Juno 29, 
 
 J. E. Young. 
 
 Sept. 17, 1862. 
 
 D. Hall. 
 
 1864. 
 
 M. O'Biley. 
 
 G. A. Smith. 
 
 L. B, Johnson, 
 
 C. H. Elilridge. 
 
 A. L. Babbitt. 
 
 N. C. Dilworth. 
 
 W. Baker. 
 
 John W. Pierce. 
 
 R. F. Harvey, died March 2, 
 
 W. T. Havens. 
 
 A. Harkin. 
 
 D. B. Winchester, killed Dec. 
 
 1862. 
 
 John H. Hurd, died. 
 
 Andrew G. Fitch. 
 
 7, 186:i. 
 
 P. Gieen. 
 
 P. Kennedy. 
 
 Orlando L. Brown. 
 
 Hngh B. Brockway, pro. 2d 
 
 David Town. 
 
 A. Miner. 
 
 Erastus Saunders. 
 
 lleut. 
 
 G. Acker. 
 
 Thomas Douglass. 
 
 Peleg A, Dawley. 
 
 Amos Clift, 2d lieut. 
 
 M. Dailey. 
 
 G. W. Rouse. 
 
 Azel G. Snow, 
 
 Samuel Bush. 
 
 N. B. Holmes. 
 
 J. A. Abbott. 
 
 Alonzo B. Robinson. 
 
 John A. Hunter. 
 
 J. Kidd. 
 
 W. Parkhurst, died. 
 
 Charles H. Potter. 
 
 P. Sullivan. 
 
 J. C. Foot. 
 
 J. Hudloy. 
 
 David C, Comstock. 
 
 Mauilce Daily. 
 
 P. G. Lumbard. 
 
 Albert Alger. 
 
 Joseph A. Crouch. 
 
 E. Baldwin. 
 
 G. M. Manning. 
 
 HeniT Alger. 
 
 Oliver S, Looniis, 
 
 James E. Gray. 
 
 J. Thompson. 
 
 William Alger, drowned. 
 
 Nathaniel Eansom. 
 
 John F. Hofflnan. 
 
 J()hn Harris. 
 
 Nelson Emmins. 
 
 Timothy A. Avery. 
 
 John Kelly. 
 
 Thomas Burns. 
 
 H. B. James. 
 
 Seth W. Carver. 
 
 D. Miller. 
 
 James Watts. 
 
 J. Congden. 
 
 George E. Carrier. 
 
 Daniel Whipple. 
 
 Thomas Brown. 
 
 T.W. Dolbeare. 
 
 Moses B. Chapel. 
 
 C A. Clark. 
 
 J. Barber, 
 
 W. W. King. 
 
 Ralph E. Gillett. 
 
 George P. DeWolf. 
 
 William Culver. 
 
 J. F. Mitchell. 
 
 Oscar A. Gillett. 
 
 John Parhey. 
 
 C. E. Wold. 
 
 W. B. Tooker, 
 
 Nathan B. Hutchins. 
 
 J. .1. Sullivan. 
 
 M, Nally. 
 
 C. B. Ueebe. 
 
 William H. Hyde. 
 
 W. 11. Birch. 
 
 H. Palmer. 
 
 J. L. Comstock. 
 
 Elius Johnson, Jr. 
 
 P. Cnshing. 
 
 r. Washington. 
 
 J. P. Gay, Jr. 
 
 Henry C. Johnson. 
 
 A. J. Spragne. 
 
 William Wilson. 
 
 Ge^orge Brown. 
 
 Maurice Lappe. 
 
 n. P. Shoales. 
 
 H. L. Johnson, Jr. 
 
 Williiim Millerhlll. 
 
 Michael O'Laughlin. 
 
 Lyman Doolitlle; 
 
 P. Hanson, died July 13, 1864. 
 
 Henry Bnrnham. 
 
 Edward P. Morgan. 
 
 J. F. Dewolf, died. 
 
 A. Lane, died Oct. 23, 18(i4. 
 
 James Crawford, died. 
 
 Frederick S. Mason. 
 
 Kelson Hart. 
 
 A. H. Minor. 
 
 P. P. Noyes. 
 
 Abel B. Neal, 
 
 J. N. Mitchell. 
 
 H. Pogles. 
 
 S. A. Armstrong. 
 
 William Nette. 
 
 B. P. Brockway. 
 
 Edmund Viscount. 
 
 S. D. Allen, died June 8, 1864. 
 
 Oscar M, Palmer. 
 
 K. Carlton. 
 
 J. A. Dilworth. 
 
 F. Moore, died. 
 
 Henry C, Rogers. 
 
 Robert Jackson. 
 
 R. C. Champlin. 
 
 M. Carroll. 
 
 Alban Eathbone. 
 
 Frank Keal.les. 
 
 James Church. 
 
 B. CliiTord. 
 
 James M. Raymond. 
 
 Eichard O'Niel. 
 
 Sanmel Briggs. 
 
 Jean Marie. 
 
 Henry Storrs. 
 
 C. A. Richmond. 
 
 E. Alvey. 
 
 S. Reynolds. 
 
 Henry Scholl. 
 
 Charles Sawyer. 
 
 B. Allen. 
 
 J. Ahearn. 
 
 Daniel H, Sprague, 
 
 William Schelbel. 
 
 C. S. Batty. 
 
 Asa Belknap. 
 
 Amos Spofford. 
 
 John Smith. 
 
 H. D. Frisby, died. 
 
 James Dunse. 
 
 James M. Snowden. 
 
 F. W. Tickle. 
 
 M. Taylor. 
 
 M. O'Donnell. 
 
 Augustus Tittel. 
 
 J. D. Turner. 
 
 Charles W. Payne, Jr. 
 
 A. Leroy Prentice, died Dec. 7, 
 
 Frederick D. Winton. 
 
 Cliarles Armstrong. 
 
 John Carroll, died. 
 
 1862. 
 
 George W. Wilcox. 
 
 William Adams. 
 
 L. H. Bailey. 
 
 N. L. Bishop. 
 
 Samuel S. Wilcox. 
 
 James Butler. 
 
 C. W. Jores. 
 
 Henry Harris, died March 19 
 
 Warren A. Wright. 
 
 William Beckett. 
 
 Adam Rose. 
 
 1865. 
 
 Henry J.Wilson. 
 
 William H. Burns. 
 
 James Walker. 
 
 J. A. Tracy. 
 
 
134 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Our military history is closed. We have faithfully 
 traced the history of the various regiments, and it 
 has been our honest endeavor to place before the 
 people of New London County a truthful record of 
 her gallant sons who risked their lives in the defense 
 of their country. We have sought to deal justly 
 with all, and give credit to each and every regiment. 
 
 While the history is a record of many of the se- 
 verest battles of the war, it is not in any particular 
 overdrawn, — it " is a plain, unvarnished tale." It has 
 been impossible to sketch many individual acts of 
 heroism, but these were not wanting. 
 
 New London County may justly feel proud of her 
 soldiery, as no section of our country acted a more 
 prominent or honorable rok in the great tragedy. 
 
 Sixteen years have now elapsed since the close of 
 the Rebellion, and we find our country a united and 
 prosperous people. Sectional strife is rapidly pass- 
 ing away, and the same hand strews flowers alike on 
 the graves of the Blue and Gray : 
 
 " No more shall the war-cry spver 
 Or the wiiidiiiR rivers be red, 
 They banish our auger forever 
 
 When they laurel the graves of our dead. 
 Under the sud and the dew, 
 
 Waiting the judgment-day, 
 Love and tears fur the Blue, 
 Tears and love for the Gray." 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 First Eoad between Norwich and New London— First Turnrike in the 
 United Slates— The Norwich and Providence Post-Road— The Norwich 
 and Woodstock Koad— The Essex Turnpike— The Shetucket Turnpike 
 —Railroads— The Norwich iind Worcester Railroad— The New London 
 Northern— New York, Providence and Boston— New York, New Haven 
 and Hartford— The Colchester Railroad. 
 
 The first road between New London and Norwich 
 was laid out by order of the Legislature in about the 
 year 1670, but for more than a century, however, the 
 road was little better than an Indian trail. 
 
 In 1789 several prominent individuals formed an 
 association to effect an improvement of this road. 
 The Legislature granted them a lottery, the avails of 
 which were to be expended in repairing so much of 
 the road as ran through the Indian land. This lottery 
 was drawn at Norwich in June, 1791. The next May 
 a company was incorporated to make the road a turn- 
 pike and erect a toll-gate. By these various exertions 
 the distance was reduced to fourteen miles from the 
 court-house on Norwich Green to the court-house in 
 New London, and the traveling rendered tolerably 
 safe. The toll commenced in June, 1792 [4-wheel 
 carriages, 9d. ; 2 do., 4Jd ; man and horse, Irf.]. 
 
 This was the first turnpike in the United States. 
 Dr. Dwight observes in his " Travels" that this road 
 brought the inhabitants of Norwich and New Lon- 
 don more than half a day's journey nearer to each 
 other. "Formerly (he says) few persons attempted 
 
 to go from one of these places to the other and return 
 the same day ; the journey is now easily performed in 
 little more than two hours." 
 
 This turnpike became almost immediately an im- 
 portant thoroughfare, of great service to Norwich and 
 the towns in her rear for driving cattle and trans- 
 porting produce to New London for embarkation. 
 In 1806 it was extended to the landing by a new 
 road that began at the wharf bridge and fell into the 
 old road south of Trading Cove bridge. In 1812 
 another new piece of road was annexed to it, which 
 was laid out in a direct line from the court-house to 
 the old Mohegan road. The company was dissolved 
 and the toll abolished July 1, 1852. 
 
 The Norwich and Providence post-road was made a 
 turnpike in 1794. 
 
 The Norwich and Woodstock road, extending from 
 Norwich to the Massachusetts line, was made a turn- 
 pike in 1801, and discontinued in 1846, the company 
 having made no dividends for six years. 
 
 The turnpike from Norwich through Salem to Es- 
 sex on the Connecticut River, commonly called the 
 Essex turnpike, was established in 1827, and relin- 
 quished about 1860. 
 
 The Shetucket Turnpike Company, to maintain a 
 road through Preston, Griswold, Voluntown, and 
 Sterling, to the east boundary, was incorporated 1829. 
 
 This company continued in operation more than 
 thirty years, paying yearly on its capital of $11,000 a 
 small dividend averaging IJ per cent. In 1861 the 
 franchise was surrendered to the towns of Preston, 
 Griswold, and Voluntown for the sum of $1375. 
 
 A company was incorporated in 1841, for the con- 
 struction of a railroad from Norwich to the Connecti- 
 cut River, called the Norwich and Lyme Railroad 
 Company. In 1851 the Norwich'and Westbrook Bail- 
 road Company was incorporated to effect the same 
 object by a different route. Nothing was done by 
 either company beyond the forming of plans and 
 making of surveys. 
 
 Norwich and Worcester Railroad.— This road 
 was chartered in 1832, as the Boston, Norwich and New 
 London Railroad Company ; capital, $1,000,000. 
 
 In 1836 the corporate name was changed to Nor- 
 wich and Worcester Railroad Company, and the capi- 
 tal has since been increased to $2,826,000. 
 
 Officers since 1836 : Presidents— William C. Gilman, 
 Charles W. Rockwell, John A. Rockwell, Dan Tyler, 
 John C. Holland, Joel W. White, Augustus Brewster, 
 Alba F. Smith, Francis H. Dewey. 
 
 James T. Richards was secretary and treasurer two 
 years. The present secretary is Edward T. Clapp. 
 Col. George L. Perkins lias been treasurer of the 
 company since 1838, a period of forty-four years. 
 The present superintendent is P. St. M. Andrews. 
 
 The construction of this road was commenced Nov. 
 18, 1835, and it was completed and in operation in 
 March, 1840. It extends from Norwich to Worcester, 
 with a branch from Norwich to Allyn's Point. It ia 
 
POPULATION AND SCHOOL STATISTICS. 
 
 135 
 
 at present leased to the New York and New England 
 Kailroad Company, who also operate and own a con- 
 trolling interest in the Hartford, Providence and 
 Fishkill Railroad, which extends through the towns 
 -of Spragiie and Lisbon. 
 
 The New London Northern Railroad.— This 
 road was chartered as the New London, Willimantic 
 and Springfield Kailroad Company in May, 1847. 
 In the following year the name was changed to New 
 London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad, and 
 opened to Willimantic in September, 1849, and to 
 Palmer in 1850. The road was subsequently sold on 
 foreclosure, and reorganized as the New London 
 Northern in 1859. 
 
 The Amherat and Belchertown Railroad Company 
 was chartered in May, 1851, and the road opened from 
 Palmerto Amherst in May, 1853. It was sold on fore- 
 closure Oct. 14, 1858, and reorganized as the Amherst, 
 Belchertown and Palmer, November 23d, same year. 
 The road was purchased by the New London Northern 
 Railroad Company in March, 1864, and extended to 
 its present terminus in 1867. The road is leased by 
 the Central Vermont Railroad Company. It is one 
 hundred and ten miles in length, with 16.90 miles of 
 sidings. The present officers are : Robert Coit, presi- 
 dent; J. A. Southard, secretary; George W. Bentley, 
 general superintendent; M. R. Moran, general ticket 
 agent; Charles F. Spaulding, general freight agent. 
 
 The New York, Providence and Boston Rail- 
 road enters this county at Westerly, and extends 
 westward through the towns of Stonington and Gro- 
 ton to Newiondon. This road is a consolidation of 
 
 the New York and Stonington Railroad Company, 
 which was chartered in May, 1843, and the New York, 
 Providence and Boston Railroad Company, which 
 was chartered in 1832. The main line -was opened 
 Nov. 10, 1837. In December, 1859, the company 
 leased the New London and Stonington Railroad, 
 which was chartered in May, 1852, and opened Dec. 
 30, 1858, for five years, at the expiration of which time 
 they purchased that line. The total length of the 
 road is 62.50 miles. The company owns two steam 
 ferry-boats, the "Thames River" and " Groton," 
 which ply between Groton and New London. The 
 officers are as follows: Samuel D. Babcock, president; 
 D. S. Babcock, vice-president; Henry Morgan, treas- 
 urer; A. R. Langeley, Jr., acting secretary; A. S. 
 Mathews, chief engineer; J. B. Gardner, superinten- 
 dent; F. B. Noyes, general ticket agent; Silas F. 
 Ward, assistant superintendent. 
 
 The Shore-Line Railroad extends from New 
 Haven to New London, fifty miles, passing through 
 the towns of Old Lyme, East Lyme, and Waterford, 
 in this county. It was chartered as the New Haven 
 and New London Railroad Company in May, 1848, 
 and opened in July, 1852. It was leased to the New 
 York and New Haven Railroad Company, Nov. 1, 
 1870, and is now operated by the New York, New 
 Haven and Hartford. 
 
 The Colchester Railroad extends from Colchester 
 to Turnerville, a distance of about three and one- 
 half miles, and is operated by the Boston and New 
 York Air-Line Railroad. E. S. Day, of Colchester, 
 is president. 
 
 CHAPTER VIIL 
 
 POPULATION AND SCHOOL STA'lISTIOS. 
 POPULATION.* 
 
 Towns. 
 
 1756. 
 
 1774. 
 
 1782. 
 
 1800. 
 
 1810. 
 
 1820. 
 
 1830. 
 
 1840. 
 
 5519 
 
 72 f9 
 
 1067 
 
 2101 
 
 1412 
 
 1000 
 
 2165 
 
 2903 
 
 2194 
 
 1X71 
 
 1052 
 
 2S60f 
 
 1990 
 
 2209 
 
 1850. 
 
 1800. 
 
 1870. 
 
 1880. 
 
 1 New London 
 
 3171 
 5540 
 
 7327 
 
 5688 
 7325 
 
 6160 
 
 3476 
 
 934 
 
 3163 
 
 3238 
 
 3628 
 
 960 
 
 2697 
 
 3330 
 3634 
 1083 
 2162 
 
 4335 
 5161 
 1073 
 2068 
 
 8,991 
 10,206 
 
 807 
 2,408 
 1,381 
 
 896 
 2,005 
 3.746 
 1,901 
 1,568 
 
 9.18 
 2,068 
 1,818 
 1,936 
 
 10,115 
 14,148 
 1,216 
 2,862 
 1,506 
 2,358 
 2,217 
 4.450 
 2.174 
 1.016 
 1,262 
 l,246t 
 2,141 
 1,913 
 1,304 
 2,092 
 830 
 
 9,.570 
 10,063 
 
 984 
 3,383 
 1,506 
 
 731t 
 2,675 
 5,124 
 2,211 
 1,392 
 
 592t 
 1,181 
 2,495 
 1,769 
 1,362 
 2,161 
 
 717 
 3,403 
 6,313 
 1.062 
 2,482 
 
 10,629 
 
 2-2,141 
 
 1.155 
 
 2,974 
 
 1,731 
 
 086 
 2,746 
 5,1-27 
 1,846 
 1,373 
 
 630 
 1,0-25 
 2.606 
 1,769 
 1,387 
 2.619 
 
 574 
 3,207 
 7,3.53 
 1,186 
 2,70l 
 
 
 BoziHli 
 
 
 2312 
 
 3268 
 
 3165 
 
 
 Franklin 
 
 
 
 
 1210 
 
 1161 
 
 1161 
 1869 
 4064 
 2719 
 
 1196 
 2212 
 4801 
 2555 
 
 Griswuld 
 
 
 
 
 Groton 
 
 Lebanon 
 
 28(19 
 3274 
 
 4208 
 3950 
 
 3K23 
 3950 
 
 4302 
 3662 
 
 4451 
 2580 
 
 Ledyard 
 
 
 
 
 
 1168 
 4380 
 2233 
 
 1128 
 4321 
 2187 
 2524 
 
 11.59 
 4009 
 1961 
 2024 
 
 1161 
 40S4 
 1964 
 2840 
 
 Lyme 
 
 Montville.... 
 
 2956 
 
 4n88 
 
 3796 
 
 North Stonington 1 . 
 
 
 Old Lyme 1 ' 
 
 ;:::;::;::j::::::::" 
 
 Preston 
 
 2018 
 
 2338 
 
 2287 
 
 3440 
 
 3284 
 
 1899 
 1053 
 
 1936 
 959 
 
 1727 
 811 
 
 1,842 
 704 
 
 
 
 t: 
 
 
 Stoningnin 
 
 3518 
 1048 
 
 5412 
 l.oOl 
 
 6245 
 1.501 
 
 5437 
 1119 
 
 3043 
 1016 
 2186 
 
 3066 
 1116 
 2239 
 
 3397 
 1304 
 2403 
 
 3S98 
 1186 
 2329 
 
 5,4U 
 1.004 
 2,259 
 
 5,827 
 1.056 
 2,666 
 
 
 Waterford 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 * In this table the censns from 175fi to 1800, inclusive, is by colonial and^'Stnte authority. A State census was taken in 1790, but the towns In 
 New London County were so blended in givinp: the result that only the total, 33.200, can be given definitely. 
 
 Lebanon wa8 part of Windham County from 1726 to 1824, but is included as in Volniitowu, wliich was part of the same couDty until after the 
 census of 1880. 
 
 t Town divided. 
 
136 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 SCHOOL STATISTICS. 
 
 Towns. 
 
 Grand 
 List, 
 
 1879. 
 
 Is 
 
 1 
 
 ] 
 
 1 
 
 1^1 
 
 7, 
 
 I2I 
 
 9 
 
 ill 
 111 
 16' 
 14 
 5 
 
 15 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 17 
 11 
 
 203^ 
 
 
 
 Scholar 
 
 . 
 
 il 
 £1 
 
 63 
 
 10 
 
 122 
 
 23 
 
 192 
 
 347 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 37 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 46 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 62 
 
 11 
 
 1 
 
 413 
 
 86 
 
 11 
 
 1,104 
 
 SI 
 
 5l 
 
 42 
 
 17 
 
 181 
 
 63 
 
 174 
 
 405 
 
 35 
 
 17 
 
 30 
 
 6 
 
 16 
 
 47 
 
 41 
 
 23 
 
 
 
 28 
 
 61 
 
 27 
 
 16 
 
 23 
 
 14 
 
 284 
 
 110 
 
 48 
 
 1,272 
 
 
 
 Ms 
 
 
 T 
 
 EACH BBS. 
 
 
 ^i ■ 
 
 2,089 
 331 
 
 1,507 
 927 
 
 1,234 
 
 4,999 
 278 
 611 
 428 
 141 
 654 
 
 1,110 
 411 
 326 
 86 
 244 
 622 
 38a 
 3.i4 
 627 
 144 
 
 1,030 
 
 1,641 
 596 
 
 Registered. 
 
 1 
 
 Average 
 Attend. 
 
 He. 
 
 Female. 
 
 Wages, Mouth. 
 
 W. 
 
 1,779 
 234 
 
 1,0«6 
 702 
 
 1,490 
 
 3,.'il8 
 241 
 498 
 359 
 120 
 457 
 917 
 372 
 307 
 94 
 197 
 476 
 347 
 271 
 671 
 12s 
 317 
 
 1,275 
 509 
 
 S. 
 
 1,727 
 236 
 
 1,095 
 675 
 
 1.376 
 
 3,3X2 
 1-2 
 452 
 254 
 86 
 395 
 776 
 257 
 201 
 70 
 1C6 
 44 i 
 303 
 2117 
 458 
 80 
 271 
 
 1,160 
 447 
 
 Over 
 10. 
 
 
 
 73 
 
 6 
 18, 
 
 4; 
 23' 
 51; 
 15 
 36 
 24 
 
 8' 
 26 i 
 64 
 43 
 39 
 
 9 
 13- 
 31 
 26 
 15 
 36' 
 13 
 23: 
 36i 
 23' 
 
 604! 
 
 W.I 
 
 1,306 
 183, 
 962 
 
 619: 
 
 1.195! 
 
 2,859 
 
 175, 
 
 392 
 
 255' 
 
 97, 
 363; 
 71l| 
 291 
 2.i6 
 
 66 
 162: 
 347 
 269 
 19+; 
 432! 
 
 92' 
 260 
 977 
 367 
 
 i 
 9,840 
 
 S. 
 
 1,361 
 173 
 980 
 640 
 1,096 
 2,794 
 125 
 351 
 187 
 
 (l.T 
 
 293 
 581 
 202 
 145 
 
 54 
 122 
 301 
 21.- 
 134 
 35 1 
 
 67 
 191 
 88 
 311 
 
 8,726 
 
 W. 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 12 
 
 iJ 
 3 
 4 
 
 11 
 6 
 
 140 
 
 S. 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 12 
 1 
 2 
 2 
 
 1 
 6 
 1 
 
 
 
 2 
 4 
 
 3 
 1 
 3 
 7 
 1 
 
 50 
 
 W. 
 
 38 
 
 6 
 
 31 
 
 17 
 
 29 
 
 82 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 23 
 
 7 
 
 232 
 
 S. 
 
 38 
 
 4 
 
 31 
 
 17 
 
 31 
 
 83 
 
 5 
 
 15 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 16 
 
 14 
 
 14 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 12 
 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 26 
 
 12 
 
 315 
 
 Male. 
 
 $120.00 
 110.00 
 1.50.00 
 56.67 
 68.67 
 87.86 
 31.64 
 48.22 
 34.60 
 23..50 
 3.5.:i4 
 44.84 
 29 08 
 23.89 
 21.88 
 2:).89 
 45.8! 
 26.20 
 2.5.10 
 26.77 
 24.43 
 66.65 
 60.71 
 36.43 
 
 $46.33 
 
 Female. 
 
 $38.03 
 36.00 
 47.81 
 35.69 
 32.68 
 39.16 
 29.44 
 26.C3 
 20.90 
 19.45 
 30.81 
 28.85 
 18,73 
 13.08 
 22.22 
 20.72 
 27.49 
 20.113 
 17.59 
 20.15 
 20.17 
 28.67 
 33.14 
 28.97 
 
 
 $6,531,591 
 
 
 
 
 
 " other districts 
 
 13,4t1,4:m 
 
 5o7,28l 
 
 l,:wri,2ii9 
 
 o(j4.;-ll8 
 
 :1(I9,I01 
 
 ]3's742 
 
 2,l-:i-.^,0.")9 
 
 1,103,172 
 
 5-^1,949 
 
 2>!«,2!)l 
 
 ;i(i2,:iHi 
 
 l,n.'i5,99o 
 
 741.516 
 
 4->9,248 
 
 87(),2rt8 
 
 271,457 
 
 lJ9li,fi77 
 
 4,851,U);i 
 
 1,003,788 
 
 
 
 
 
 Griawiiltl 
 
 
 
 Ledyard 
 
 
 Montville 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 WatBrt'urd 
 
 
 
 $38,823,749 
 
 16,772 
 
 12,753 
 
 11,323 
 
 $31.31 
 
 
 New London .'. 
 
 Korwiuli Town 
 
 " Centriil 
 
 " We8t(!lielwea... 
 
 " otlier districts.. 
 
 " complete 
 
 Bozrah 
 
 Colchester 
 
 East L.vme 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Griswold 
 
 Grotoji 
 
 Lelianon 
 
 Ledyard 
 
 Lislion 
 
 Lyme... 
 
 Montville 
 
 N'Htli Stonington 
 
 Old L.vme 
 
 Preston 
 
 Sak-ni 
 
 Spragne 
 
 Stonington 
 
 Waterford 
 
 School 
 Fund, etc. 
 
 Town Local 
 Deposit.! Funds. 
 
 Town 
 Tax. 
 
 District , Volunt'y 
 Tax. Contrib. 
 
 10,00 
 133.90 
 243.96 
 
 30.00 
 
 $560 66 $2,862.00 
 ,52.84 
 
 240.59 
 
 14S.O0 
 
 360.05 
 
 798.08 
 
 160.60 
 
 229.50, 
 
 24 on, 
 127.47, 
 340.86 
 410.3«l., 
 384 711 
 322.69 
 
 83.15 
 
 246.77 ., 
 303.88'., 
 395,2S| 
 2'n,00 ., 
 186.80 
 
 147.78 ., 
 
 154.06 . 
 628.15 
 366.00 
 
 97 7v> 
 57 04 
 22.85 
 
 $15,400.00 
 
 1,045 91 $1,206.90 
 4,300,95 16,6'iS.OO 
 
 2.810.22 6.126.62 
 6,982.92 9,157.31 i 
 
 15,200.00 33,128,83; 
 
 673.69 ' 
 
 3,6,54,08 1 
 
 1.137.23 1,490.00 
 642.60. 100.0II| 
 
 2.604.291 1,236.671 
 4,140.71 2,412.22 
 1,073.08] 41.36 
 
 661.76 
 
 629.76 
 
 441.10 
 
 1,908.50 866.91 
 l,433.6l! 
 
 289.80 
 
 2,080.83| 2,008.28 
 
 626.29, 
 
 650.28 425.72 
 6,0.53 7l| 4,999.62 
 1,679,73 151,69 
 
 $16,00 
 15,00 
 
 Other 
 Sources. 
 
 $194.80' 
 
 245.69 
 
 75.00 
 
 36.60! 
 
 307.89 
 
 664.08 
 
 87.31 
 
 16 98 
 1.5.00 
 12 00 
 
 31.80 
 63.42 
 
 300.00 
 
 
 
 60.66 
 
 194 34 
 
 
 ieii 
 
 
 20.00 
 
 144.17 
 
 "vl'.i'i 
 
 19..50 
 25.00 
 
 26.06 
 30.00 
 
 Ri.on 
 165.26 
 85.60 
 
 
 
 $23,822.16 
 3,312 64 
 24,780.64 
 11,262.44 
 21,957.97 
 61,303.69 
 1,.566.90 
 5,347 66 
 3,847.95 
 1,360 32 
 6,616.92 
 9,876.85 
 3,2.53.36 
 1,983.33 
 833 65 
 1,253.70 
 4,640.89 
 2,934.95 
 1 ,325.00 
 5,779.71 
 1.005.27 
 3,674.80 
 15,.54o.64 
 3,627,82 
 
 $58,576,60 $5,990,69 $3,572,62 $61,181.04 $46,861.20 $890.49 $1,415.83 $158,493.37 $118,330.71 *$156,.347.06 
 
 'II I ill 
 
 Teachers' 
 Wages. ' 
 
 $18,066.00 
 2,740.110 
 
 19,665.40 
 7,105.20 
 
 13,894.21 
 
 43,410.81 
 1,. 328.07 
 5,001.86 
 2,014.87 
 1,127 00 
 3,657.95 
 6,450.,54 
 2,7911.34 
 1,742,02 
 721.95 
 1,151.43 
 3,704.53 
 2,636.33 
 1,200 00 
 3,614 32 
 913.41 
 2,670.24 
 
 13,240 91 
 2,989.13 
 
 *$>4,2n8.67 
 
 3,175.86 
 
 *24,692.33 
 
 *1 1,252.44 
 
 *21,14*.89 
 
 *60,166,51 
 
 1,.566.90 
 
 *5.419 64 
 
 *3,427.48 
 
 1,350.32 
 
 *4,866.40 
 
 *10 306,22 
 
 3.232 84 
 
 1,98,3.33 
 
 833 65 
 
 1,263.70 
 
 *4,407.16 
 
 2,934.95 
 
 1,446.60 
 
 4,417.18 
 
 1,005.27 
 
 *3,896.63 
 
 *15,966.22 
 
 *3,662.29 
 
 ^- Including money for new school-houses, and for libraries and apparatus. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 137 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 NEAV LONDON. 
 
 GeoRraphical — Topographical — The Founder of New London— John 
 Winthrop the Younger— Tlie First Grant— Fisher's Island— Govern- 
 ment Ciimmission for the Founding of New London — Naming the 
 Town— Home-Lots — The Town Plot— The Removal of Winlhrop — In- 
 itial Events— The Firat Birth, Marriage, and Death— Indian Trouhles 
 —Fortifications — Early Dissensions— Patent of New London. 
 
 The town of New London lies in the southern part 
 of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north 
 by Waterford ; on the east by New London Harbor, 
 which separates it from Groton ; on the south by Long 
 Island Sound ; and on the west by Waterford. It is 
 the smallest town in area in the State, the town and 
 city limits being identical. 
 
 The Founder of New London, — To John Win- 
 throp the younger is ascribed the honor of having 
 been the founder of New London. It seems that he 
 entered into the project with the same zeal which 
 marked the advent of Maj. Pyncheon at Springfield, 
 Roger Ludlow at Fairfield, and other intrepid pio- 
 neers, who have left imperishable records of their 
 enterprise and wisdom. 
 
 The first grant to Winthrop was of Fisher's Island, 
 by the State of Massachusetts, Oct. 7, 1640. That State, 
 however, reserved the right of Connecticut, provided 
 the island should be decided to belong to that colony. 
 Under date April 9, 1641, the General Court of Con- 
 necticut, upon application from Mr. Winthrop for a 
 clearer title to the island, answered as follows : 
 
 "April 9, 1641. 
 
 *' Upon Mr. Winthrnp's motion to the Court for Fysher's Island, it is 
 the niiiidof tlu* Court that so far as it hinders not tlie public f^ood of the 
 connti-y, either for fortifying for defence, or setting np a trade for fish- 
 ing or sail, and sucli like, he shall have liberty to proceed tliereiu." 
 
 In 1664, Fisher's Island was included in the patent 
 of New York, and in 1668, Governor Nichols, of New 
 York, confirmed to him the possession of the island 
 by patent bearing date March 28, 1668. By this pat- 
 ent it was declared to be " an entire enfranchised 
 township, manor, and place of itself, in no wise sub- 
 ordinate or belonging into, or dependent upon, any 
 riding, township, place, or jurisdiction whatever." 
 
 It seems, however, that Mr. Winthrop was in no 
 haste to occupy his grant, for it was not until 1644, 
 threeyears after its confirmation by Connecticut, that 
 he located upon the island. In the opening of that 
 year he commenced improvements, and on June 28, 
 1644, he obtained a grant from Massachusetts of a 
 "plantation at or near Pequot for iron- works." 
 
 This location was thus described by Capt. Stough- 
 ton in 1637, while here on his expedition against the 
 Pequots. After noting the absence of meadows and 
 stating that the uplands were good, he says, — 
 
 "Indeed; were there no better, *twere worthy the hest of us, the up- 
 land being, its I jndj;e, sti'onger land than the bay upland. 
 
 " But if you would enlarge the state and provide for the pool' servants 
 of Chiist that ai'e yet unprovided (which I esleeni a worthy worii), I 
 must speak my conscience. It seems to nie God hath niucli people to 
 hring hither, and the place is too strait [i. e., the settlements in the Bay], 
 
 most think. And if so, then consideiing, 1st, the goodness of the land; 
 2d, the fairness of the title; 3d, the neighborhood to Connecticut; 4th, 
 the good access that may be thereto, wherein it is before Connecticut, 
 etc. ; and 5tli, that an ill neighbor may possess it, if a good do not, — I 
 should readily give it my good word, if any good souls have a good 
 liking to it." 
 
 The " neighborhood to Connecticut" mentioned by 
 Capt. Stoughton meant the plantations on the river. 
 Pequot was not a part of it. 
 
 In the summer of 1645, Mr. Winthrop had become 
 an actual settler of the plantation at Pequot, and 
 was engaged in " clearing up the land and laying out 
 the new plantation." He was assisted in the enter- 
 prise by Thomas Peters, a Puritan clergyman from 
 Cornwall, England, who had been chaplain to Mr. 
 Fenwick and the garrison of the fort at Saybrook. 
 
 As an evidence that Mr. Winthrop was here in 
 1645, is a letter written by Roger Williams, under 
 date June 22, 1645. " For his honored, kind friend, 
 Mr. John Winthrop, at Pequot— These." The letter 
 closes with these words, " Loving salutes to your dear- 
 est and kind sister." The lady referred to was Mr. 
 Wiuthrop's sister, Mi-s. Margaret Lake. Here, then, 
 we have conclusive evidence that three pioneers were 
 on the grounds of the new plantation in 1645. In ad- 
 dition to the above, there were, doubtless, others here 
 at the same time, for in 1645 the meadow at Lower 
 Mamacock was mowed by Robert Hempstead, Upper 
 Mamacock by John Stebbins and Isaac Willey, and 
 at Fog-plain by Cary Latham and Jacob Waterhouse. 
 Thomas Miner and William Morton were doubtless 
 also among the band of pioneers who commenced im- 
 provements here in 1645. 
 
 Government Commission for the Founding' of 
 New London. — The following order of the General 
 Court, recognizing the settlement in the " Pequot 
 Country," was made under date of May 6, 1646 : 
 
 " At a General Court held at Boston, Cth of May, 1046. Whereas, Mr. 
 John WinthmiJ, Jun., and some otliers have, by allowance of this Court, 
 begun a plantation in tlic Pequot counti-y, which appeltains to this 
 jurisdiction as pai't of our propottion of tlje conquei'cd country; and 
 whereas, this court is informed that some Indians who are now planted 
 upon the place where the f^aid plantation is begun are willing to remove 
 fl-oni their planting-ground for the nunc quiet and convenient settling 
 of the English tliere, so that they nniy have another convenient place 
 appointed; it is therefore ordered tlnit Mr. John Winthrop may apjioint 
 unto sucli Inilians as are willing to remove, their lands on the other side; 
 tliat is, on the east side of tlie Great K Ivor of the I'eqnot country, or some 
 other place for their convenient planting aial sul'Sistclice, which nnty be 
 to the good liking and satinractitni of tlie said Indians, and likewise to 
 such of tlie I'eqnot Indians iis sinill desire to live there, submitting them- 
 selves to the English government, Ac. 
 
 'And whereas, Mr. Tlioinas Peters i-< intended to inhabit in the said 
 plantation, this Coui-t doth think fit to join him to assist the said Mr, 
 Wiiitlirop, for the better cjirrying on the work of said plantation. A 
 true copy," &c. — New London Jiecordn, Book vi. 
 
 The elder Winthrop records the commencement of 
 the plantation under date of June, 1646: 
 
 " A phintiition was this year begun at Peqund river by Mr. .John Win- 
 tlirop, Jni] , [and] Mr. Thonnis Peter, a nnnister {brother to Mr. Peter, 
 of Salem), and [at] this Court (wiwer was given to them two f.ir ordeiing 
 and governing tlio plantation till liuther order, aUlnaigh it was uncer- 
 tain whether it would fall within our jutisdiction or not, because tliey 
 of Connecticut challenged it by virtue of a patent from the king, which 
 
13§ 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 wns never showed iiB." " It mattered not much to wliicli jurisdiction it 
 did Ipelonfr, soeing tiie coiifedenition made all aa one ; liut it was of great 
 concernment to liave it planted, to be a cu^b to tlie Indiana." i 
 
 The uncertainty with respect to jurisdiction hung 
 at first like a cloud over the plantation. The sub- 
 ject was discussed at the meeting of the commission- 
 ers at New Haven, in September, 1646. Massachu- 
 setts claimed by conquest, Connecticut by patent, 
 purchase, and conquest. The record says, — 
 
 "It was remembered that in a treaty betwixt tbem at Cambridge, in 
 lG:iS, not perfected, a proposition was made that Pequot river, in refer- 
 ence to the coiKinest, should be the bonnds betwixt them, but Mr. Fen- 
 wick WiW not then there to plead the patent, neither bad Connecticut 
 tlieu any title to those lands by purchase or deed of gilt from Uncus." 
 
 " The decision at this time was, that unless hereafter 
 Massachusetts should show better title, the jurisdic- 
 tion should belong to Connecticut. This issue did 
 not settle the controversy. It was again agitated at 
 the Commissioners' Court, held at Boston, in July, 
 1647, at which time Mr. Winthrop, who had been 
 supposed to favor the claims of Ma.ssachusetts, ex- 
 pressed himself as 'more indifferent,' but affirmed 
 that some members of the plantation who had settled 
 there, in reference to the government of Massachu- 
 setts and in expectation of large privileges from that 
 colony, would be much disappointed if it should be 
 assigned to any other jurisdiction. 
 
 "The majority again gave their voice in favor of 
 Connecticut, assigning this reason — 'Jurisdiction 
 goeth constantly with the patent.' ^ 
 
 " Massachusetts made repeated exceptions to this 
 decision. The argument was in truth weak, inas- 
 much as the Warwick Patent seems never to have 
 been transferred to Connecticut, — the colony being 
 for many years without even a copy of that instru- 
 ment. The right from conquest was the only valid 
 foundation on which she could rest her claim, and 
 here her position was impregnable. 
 
 " Mr. Peters appears to have been from the first as- 
 sociated with Winthrop in the projected settlement, 
 having a co-ordinate authority and manifesting an 
 equal degree of zeal and energy in the undertaking. 
 But his continuance in the country, and all his plans 
 in regard to the new town, were cut short by a 
 summons from home, inviting him to return to the 
 guidance of his eminent flock in Cornwall. He left 
 Pequot in the summer of 1646." ^ 
 
 Mr. Winthrop, accompanied by his family and 
 brother, Dean Winthrop, left Boston in October, 1646, 
 and resided the first winter on Fisher's Island. The 
 following summer, having erected a house on the 
 "townplot" at New London, he removed his family 
 to the new location comprising that part of the town 
 afterwards known by the name of " Winthrop's Neck " 
 now East New London. 
 "Stubens and Thomas Miner, for the yeare follow- 
 
 t Sav. Winthrop, vol. ii. p. 26.'». 
 
 » Kecords of the United Colonies. (Hazard, vol. ii.) 
 
 ^ Miss Caulltins. 
 
 ing, to act in all towne affaires, as well in the disposing 
 of lands as in other prudentiall occasions for the 
 towne." 
 
 Voted that the Town be called London.— "The 
 same day the inhabitants did consent and desier that 
 the plantation may be called London." 
 
 It was also proposed that the town should be styled 
 " Pequit Plantation, or London." The General Court 
 declined to sanction the name chosen, and it con- 
 tinued to be called by the Indian name Mameeug. 
 The town, however, soon became known as Lon'on 
 Town, or New Lon'on. 
 
 House-Lots. — The grantees of house-lots were 
 thirty-six in number. The five lots after Winthrop's 
 were probably John Gager, Cary Latham, Samuel 
 Lothrop, John Stebbins, and Isaac Willey, whose 
 homesteads lay northwest of Mr. Winthrop's, on the 
 upper part of what are now William Street and Main 
 Street. 
 
 " 7. Jacob Waterhouse is granted by a general voate and joynt consent 
 of the townsmen of Mameeug to have six ackers for an house-lot next 
 to John Stubens, be it more or less." 
 
 Thomas Miner, William Bordman, William Mor- 
 ton. These three were in the southwest part of the 
 town plot, between Bream and Close Coves, covering 
 what is now known as Shaw's Neck. Miner's lot was 
 one of the earliest taken up in the plantation. Bord- 
 man in a short time sold out to Morton, and left the 
 place.* 
 
 " After these are William Nicholls, Eobert Hemp- 
 steed (whose lot is said to lie ' on the north side of his 
 house between two little fresh streams'), Thomas Skid- 
 more, John Lewis, Richard Post, Robert Bedell, John 
 Robinson, Deane Winthrop, William Bartlett (on the 
 cove called Close Cove ; this lot is dated in the margin 
 15th October, 1647), Nathaniel Watson, John Austin, 
 William Forbes, Edward Higbie, Jarvis Mudge, An- 
 drew Longdon (' at the top of the hill called Meet- 
 ing-house Hill, by a little run of fresh water'), Wil- 
 liam Hallett, Giles Smith, Peter Busbraw, James 
 Bemis, John Fossecar, Consider Wood, George Chap- 
 pell. After these the grants are recorded in a dif- 
 ferent hand, and are of later date. Mr. Jonathan 
 Brewster, Oct. 5, 1649. Thomas Wells,.Peter Blatch- 
 ford, Nathaniel Masters, all dated Feb. 16, '49-50. 
 
 " In the above list of grants, those which are 
 crossed, or indorsed as forfeited, are Watson, Austin, 
 Higbie, Mudge, Hallet, Smith, Busbraw, Fossecar, 
 Wood, Chappell. Mudge and Chappell, however, 
 settled in the town a little later. 
 
 " The list of cattle-marks in the writing of this first 
 clerk, that is, before 1650, furnishes but sixteen 
 names, viz., Winthrop, Morton, Aitkins, Waterhouse, 
 Stebbins, Willey, Nicholls, Skidmore, Lothrop, Be- 
 dell, Latham, Lewis, Hempsteed, Bordman, Gager, 
 Miner, Bartlett. Mr. Brewster is next added same 
 date, and the Cape Ann party. 
 
 * A William lioardman died a few years later at Guilford, leaving 
 no issue. He was probably the same pei-son. (Judd MS.) 
 
NP]\V LONDON. 
 
 139 
 
 "Thomas Stanton's house-lot consisted of six acres 
 on the bank, northeast of Brewster's. This locality 
 might be now designated as fronting on Bank Street, 
 north of Tilley, and extending back to Methodist 
 Street. Resold it in 1657 to George Tongue. Robert 
 Brookes had a house-lot given him, but forfeited it. 
 
 " Kerapo Sybada, the Dutch captain, was accom- 
 modated with a lot fronting on Mill Cove, the town 
 street running through it, and extending west to the 
 present Huntington Street. In later times it was 
 Shapley property, and Shapley Street was cut through 
 it. Next south was Thomas Doxey's lot, reaching to 
 the present Federal Street, and still farther south the 
 lots of Edward Stallion and Thomas Bayley (Bailey), 
 extending nearly to State Street. Bayley's lot of 
 three acres was granted in August, 1651. West of 
 Stallion and Bayley was Peter Blatchford's lot, that 
 had been laid out the previous year and was estimated 
 at eight acres, but much encumbered with swamp and 
 rock. Church Street now intersects this large lot, 
 which had its front on State Street, extending east and 
 west from Union to Meridian Streets. 
 
 "On the town street, east of Stallion and Bayley, 
 a lot of ample dimensions was laid out to John Gal- 
 lop, eight acres in the very heart of the town, cover- 
 ing the space east of the town street to the beach, and 
 extending north from State Street to Federal. 
 
 "George Chappell's lot, granted Feb. 20, 1651-52^ 
 was afterwards the Manwaring homestead, on Man- 
 waring's Hill. 
 
 " William Comstock's location was on Post Hill, 
 near the present corner of Vauxhall and Williams 
 Streets. Mrs. Lake and John Elderkin had a lot of 
 eight acres divided between them, nextsouth of Com- 
 stock. The dividing line between them was directly 
 opposite the intersection of the highway now called 
 Granite Street. South of them, near the intersection 
 of the present Broad Street, was Matthew Waller. 
 This elevated neighborhood was called Waller's Hill. 
 Thomas Hungerford had a lot on the bank next 
 above Stanton's. Edward Scott and-Thomas Stedman 
 forfeited their grants, though at a period fifteen years 
 later Stedman, or another person of the same name, 
 became an inhabitant. 
 
 "Trumbull, in the 'History of Connecticut,' treat- 
 ing of the plantation at Pequot, places the removal of 
 Mr. Bliuman under 1648 : 
 
 "Tliis year Mr. Kiclmrd Bliuman, who liad been a minister in Eng- 
 IhikI, re iiioviii] I'rum Gluncester tu the new settlement, i[i consequence of 
 wliicli a considerable addiliuu was made to the numbers wtio liad Itept 
 their station. 
 
 "This date is too early. A comparison of the 
 records of Gloucester with those of New London 
 shows that he did not remove till 1650. The records 
 of neither place afford us any clue to the causes 
 which led to this change of abode. No disagreement 
 of Mr. Blinman with his parishioners at Gloucester is 
 mentioned. Ecclesiastical dissensions, however, ex- 
 isted in the colony, from which he may have wished 
 
 to escape. He appears to have been desirous also of 
 living near to some settlement of the natives, in order 
 to devote a part of his time to their instruction. 
 
 " The original contract of the town with Mr. Blin- 
 man has not been preserved ; but from subsequent 
 references it appears that a committee had been sent 
 to confer with him, who had pledged liberal accom- 
 modations of land, with a salary of sixty pounds per 
 annum, which was to be enlarged as the ability of the 
 town increased. A house-lot of six acres, on Meeting- 
 house Hill, was confirmed to him Dec. 20, 1650, 
 ' three acres whereof,' says the record, ' were given 
 by the town's agents, as appears in the articles, and the 
 other three by a public town-meeting.' This house- 
 lot covered some of the highest land in the town plot, 
 and was directly north of that of Mr. Parke. De- 
 scribed by modern boundaries, it occupied the space 
 between the old burial-ground and Williams Street, 
 along the north side of Granite Street. The town 
 built his house for him, as appears from various refer- 
 ences and charges respecting it, but on what part of 
 the lot it stood is uncertain. 
 
 " The whole Eastern or Cape Ann Company that 
 proposed removing with Mr. Blinman could not have 
 been less than twenty families. Nearly this number 
 of planters came on the next spring, but some of them 
 merely to explore and view the country. Perhaps a 
 dozen brought with them their families, cattle, and 
 goods, and became permanent inhabitants. Several 
 of these are supposed to have been members of Mr. 
 Blinman's church at Chepstowe, in Monmouthshire, 
 England, before his ejection. They had accompanied 
 him over the ocean, had kept with him at Marshfield' 
 and at Gloucester, and now followed his fortunes to the 
 shore of the Sound. They were farmers and mechan- 
 ics, who had found Gloucester, which was then little 
 more than a fishing station, an unfavorable place for 
 their occupations, and hoped by coming further south 
 to meet with a less sterile soil and a fairer field for 
 enterprise. It was certainly an object for the faithful 
 pastor and his tried friends to keep together, and as 
 Pequot was without a minister and casting about to 
 obtain one, the arrangement was an agreeable one on 
 all sides. The settlement of the Parkes in the plan- 
 tation was also very probably linked with the removal 
 of Mr. Blinman, he being connected with them by 
 family ties.' 
 
 " In March, 1651, the principal body of these East- 
 ern emigrants arrived; in addition to those already 
 named, John Coite the younger, William Hough, 
 Thomas Jones, Edmund Marshall and his son John, 
 William Meades, and James Morgan belonged to the 
 same company. With them came also Robert Allyn, 
 from Salem, and Philip Taber, from ' Martin's Vine- 
 
 2 " It is probable that Mr. Blinman's wife Mary and Dorothy, wife of 
 Tliitnias I*arke, were sisters. In vai-ious deeds and covenants on record 
 Mr. Blinniati calls Thomas Parke hU brolliert and in a deed of lGb'6 lie 
 conveys laud which he says 'I had of my brother-in-law, Thomas 
 Parlte.' 
 
140 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 yard.' The plantation at this period was a place of 
 considerable resort, and a number of persons enrolled 
 their names and obtained grants, whose wavering 
 purposes soon carried them elsewhere. The younger 
 Coite, the two Marshalls, and Thomas Jones, after a 
 short residence, returned to Gloucester. Philip Taber 
 commenced building a- house on Foxen's Hill, which 
 he never occupied or completed. It was sold by his 
 brother-in-law, Gary Latham, in 1653. 
 
 " Several other persons also appear among the 
 grantees or planters of the town at this flood-time 
 of increase, but no certain date can be given for their 
 arrival. These are Matthew Beckwith, the Beeby 
 brothers (John, Samuel, and Thomas), Peter Collins, 
 George Harwood, Richard Poole, and John Packer. 
 Samuel Beeby, and perhaps John, had been for some 
 tim-e in the plantation, in the service of Mr. Win- 
 throp. Thomas is supposed to have come with the 
 Eastern Company. All had house-lots given them in 
 the spring of 1651. 
 
 " Next to Mr. Blinman, the person of most note in 
 the Cape Ann Company was Obadiah Bruen. He 
 had been recorder and one of the townsmen of Glou- 
 cester for several years, and in transferring his resi- 
 dence seems to have taken his pen and his official 
 duty with him. His latest registration in Gloucester 
 was made in December, and the succeeding February 
 he was recorder and one of the townsmen of Pequot. 
 The house-lot accorded to him was on Meeting-house 
 Hill, and covered a considerable part of what is now 
 the town square, leaving only narrow highways on 
 the north and west, and extending south to the present 
 Broad Street. Portions of it were afterwards given up 
 to the town by himself and subsequent owners. He 
 sold it in 1653 to William Hough. 
 
 " Early in 1651, New Street, in the rear of the town 
 plot, was opened for the accommodation of the Cape 
 Ann company. This position was designated as ' be- 
 yond the brook and the ministry lot.' It was carved 
 into house-lots and took the name of Cape Ann Lane. 
 The lots on this street were nine in number, of six 
 acres each, extending both sides of th^ narrow street 
 from the alder swamp in front to Cedar Swamp on 
 the west. Beginning at the lower end, Hugh Calkins 
 had the first lot by the Lyme road, or highway to 
 Nahantick, as it was then called, and next him was his 
 son-in-law Hugh Roberts, then Coit, Lester, Avery, 
 Allyn, Meades, Hough, Isbell. The Beebys and 
 Marshalls were yet farther north. James Morgan 
 was ' on the path to New Street' ( /. e., Ashcraft Street). 
 William Keeny was nearly opposite the south en- 
 trance to New Street, on the Nahantick road. Par- 
 ker was next below him, at the head of Close Cove, 
 and Wellman on the same cove, southeast of Parker. 
 Wellinan and Coite, however, exchanged lots; the 
 latter was a ship-earpenter and wished to be near the 
 water, where he could be accommodated with a build- 
 ing-yard. 
 
 " The house-lots accorded to the new-comers were 
 
 mostly in the rear of the town plot, where the posi- 
 tion was inconvenient and dreary and the soil hard 
 to cultivate. Many were discouraged and went away 
 who would perhaps have remained had their home- 
 lots been more inviting. 
 
 The Town Plot.— "The first home-lots were laid 
 out chiefly at the two extremities of the semicircular 
 projection which formed the site of the town. Be- 
 tween these were thick swamps, waving woods, ledges 
 of rock, and ponds of water. The oldest communica- 
 tion from one to the other was from Mill Brook over 
 Post Hill, so called from Richard Post, whose house- 
 lot was on this hill, through what is now William 
 Street to Manwaring's Hill, and down Blackhall 
 Street to Truman Street was the harbor's north road. 
 Main Street was opened, and from thence a cut over 
 the hill westward was made (now Richards and 
 Granite Streets). Bank Street was laid out on the 
 very brink of the upland, above the sandy shore, and 
 a space (now Coit Street) was carried around the 
 head of Beacon Cove to Truman Street, completing 
 the circuit of the town plot. No names were given 
 to any of the streets for at least a century after the 
 settlement, save that Main Street was uniformly 
 called the Town Street, and Bank Street the Bank. 
 Hempstead Street was one of the first laid out, and a 
 pathway coincident with the present State Street led 
 from the end of the Town Street west and northwest 
 to meet it. Such appears to have been the original 
 plan of the town. The cove at the north was Mill 
 Cove; the two coves at the south Bream and Close. 
 Water Street was the beach, and the head of it at the 
 entrance of Mill Cove, now Sandy Point." ' 
 
 Removal of Winthrop, — In 1657, Mr. Winthrop 
 was chosen Governor of the colony, which necessi- 
 tated his removal to Hartford, the town thereby 
 losing its friend and patron. His homestead passed 
 into the possession of Edward Palmes, who married 
 his daughter Lucy. 
 
 " Before Mr. Winthrop's removal to Hartford he 
 leased the town mill to James Rodgers, a baker from 
 Milford, who had traded much in the place, and in 
 1657 or 1658 became an inhabitant. As an accom- 
 modation to Mr. Rogers in point of residence, he also 
 alienated to him a building spot from the north end 
 of his home-lot next to the mill, on which Mr. Rogers 
 erected a dwelling-house and bakery, both of stone. 
 
 " Mr. Winthrop's own homestead, in 1660 or 1661, 
 passed into the occupancy of Edward Palmes, who had 
 married his daughter Lucy. Mr. Palmes was of New 
 Haven, but after his marriage transferred his residence 
 to the Winthrop homestead, which, with the farm at 
 Nahantick, the Governor subsequently confirmed to 
 him by will. In that document this estate is thus 
 described : > 
 
 " The Stone-lioiisp, formerly niy dwcllins-liouse in Now London, with 
 giiidon jukI orcharil, !is tuiinorly conveyed to siiiil Palmes, nnil in Iiis use 
 
 1 Miss CuuUtins. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 141 
 
 and poBSessIOD^with the yard or land lying to the north of the said house 
 to join with James Rogers :" " also a lot of six acres lying east of the 
 house, bounded north by the oxe-pasture and east by the Great Elver, 
 and having two great oak-trees near the south line," 
 
 "This stone house, built in 1648, stood near the 
 head of the cove on the east side, between the street 
 (since laid out and appropriately named Winthrop 
 Street) and the water. The ox pasture to which the 
 will refers was inclosed the same year. Samuel Bee- 
 by, in a deposition of 1708, testified that he and his 
 brother made the fence to it ' sixty years since,' and 
 that ' Mr. Winthrop's goats and cattle were kept 
 therein as well as his oxen.' The ' old stone house' 
 is mentioned in the will of Maj. Palmes in 1712, who 
 bequeathed it to his daughter Lucy, the only child of 
 his first wife, who, having no children, left it to her 
 brothers, Guy and Bryan Palmes. This homestead 
 is supposed to have been for more than a century the 
 only dwelling on the Neck, which was then a rugged 
 point, lying mostly in its natural state, and finely 
 shaded with forest-trees. It was sold about 1740 to 
 John Plumbe. 
 
 " The mill being a monopoly, could not fail to be- 
 come a source of grievance. One mill was manifestly 
 insufficient for a growing community, and the lessee 
 could not satisfy the inhabitants. Governor Win- 
 throp subsequently had a long suit with Mr. Eogers 
 for breach of contract in regard to the mill, but recov- 
 ered no damages. The town likewise uttered their 
 complaints to the General Court that they were not 
 ' duely served in the grinding of their corn,' and were 
 thereby ' much damnified,' upon which the court or- 
 dered that Mr. Rogers, to prevent ' disturbance of the 
 peace,' should give ' a daily attendance at the mill.' 
 
 " After 1662 the sons of the Governor, Fitz John 
 and Wait Still Winthrop, returned to the plantation 
 and became regular inhabitants. Between the latter 
 and Mr. Rogers a long and troublesome litigation was 
 maintained in regard to bounds and trespasses, no- 
 tices of which are scattered over the records of the 
 County Court for several years. In 1669, Capt. Wait 
 Winthrop set up a bolting-mill on land claimed by 
 Mr. Rogers, who as an offset immediately began to 
 erect a building on his own land, but in such a posi- 
 tion as wholly to obstruct the only convenient passage 
 to the said bolting-mill. This brought matters to a 
 crisis. Richard Lord, of Hartford, and Amos Rich- 
 ardson, of Stonington, were chosen umpires, and the 
 parties interchangeably signed an agreement as a final 
 issue to all disputes, suits at law, and controversies 
 from the beginning of the world to the date thereof. 
 Winthrop paid for the land on which the mill stood, 
 Rogers took down his building frame and threw the 
 land into the highway, and all other differences were 
 arranged in the like amicable manner.^ 
 
 " In March, 1658-59, the General Court appointed 
 John Smith commissioner of the customs at New Lon- 
 
 ^ Duties of selectmen. 
 
 don. This was the first regular custom-house officer 
 in the town, and probably in the colony. 
 
 " May, 1660, the General Court granted New Lon- 
 don to have an assistant and three commissioners with 
 full power to issue small causes. For the year ensu- 
 ing Mr. John Tinker was chosen assistant ; Mr. Bruen, 
 James Rogers, and John Smith, commissioners." 
 
 The first birth in the new plantation is believed 
 to have been " Mary, daughter of Robert Hemstead, 
 born 26th of March, 1647." 
 
 The next birth was that of Manasseh, son of Thomas 
 and Grace Miner, born April 28, 1647. 
 
 Robert Hemstead is supposed to have been the first 
 person married. 
 
 The first death was that of Jarvis Mudge, in March, 
 1651-52. 
 
 The first registered death was that of " Ann, daugh- 
 ter of Thomas and Grace Miner, born 28th of April, 
 1649 ; died 13th of August, 1652. 
 
 The first permanent blacksmith was John Prentiss, 
 of Roxbury, who came in 1651-52, and was a welcome 
 addition to the little settlement. " The town built him 
 a house and shop and furnished him with half a ton 
 of iron, also twenty or thirty pounds of Steele." His 
 house-lot of two acres was located on the corner of 
 State and Bank Streets. Lieut. Samuel Smith located 
 here about this time. He was a prominent citizen, 
 and was chosen "the towne's lewetenant." 
 
 Indian Troubles. — In 1652 a general apprehension 
 existed throughout the country that the Indians were 
 preparing for hostilities. The Narragansetts were 
 especially regarded with suspicion, and preparations 
 were made in the frontier towns to guard against sur- 
 prise. At Pequot the town orders were peremptory 
 for arming individuals and keeping a vigilant eye upon 
 the natives. Watchmen were kept on the look-out 
 both night and day. A fresh supply of ammunition 
 was procured and the following directions published : 
 
 " July 8, 1652. 
 
 " Forfeiture of false raising of an alarum, 10/. 
 
 " Forfeiture of not coming when an alarum is raised, bl. 
 
 " Forfeiture of not coming to there pticnlar squadron, bl. 
 
 "It is agreed y' it shall be a just alarum when 3 gunnes are distinctly 
 shot of, and the drum striking up an alarum. 
 
 "If the watchmen here a guun in the night, they well considering 
 where the gunn was firing if they conceive to be in the Towne may raise 
 an alarum. 
 
 " For the seting of a gunn for a wolfe they y* set a gunn for that end 
 shall acquaint the constable where he sets it that he may acquaint the 
 watch." 
 
 Three places in the town were fortified, the mill, 
 the meeting-house, and the house of Hugh Caulkins, 
 which stood at the lower end of the town, near the 
 entrance of Cape Ann Lane. The inhabitants were 
 divided into three squadrons, and in case of an alarm 
 Sergt. Miner's squadron was to repair to Hugh 
 Caulkins', Capt. Denison's to the meeting-house, and 
 Lieut. Smith's to the mill. 
 
 Severe restrictions were laid upon the trade with 
 the Indians in the river, which was to be confined to 
 Brewster's trading-house. No individual could go up 
 
 10 
 
142 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the river and buy corn without a special license, which 
 was only to be given in case of great scarcity. Hap- 
 pilv no alarm occurred, and all fear of 'an Indian war 
 soon died away. But Mr. Brewster was allowed for 
 several years to monopolize the Indian trade. This 
 granting of monopolies was perhaps the greatest error 
 committed by the fathers of the town in their legis- 
 lation. 
 
 " The years 1661 and 1662 were noted for strife and 
 turbulence among the inhabitants. Cases of calumny 
 and riot were common. The disorderly elements of 
 society were in motion, and the influence of the wise 
 and good was scarcely suiBcient to keep them in sub- 
 jection. No clear account of any one case can be 
 given, as they appear before us only in the form of 
 depositions, protests, suits at law, fines, and com- 
 plaints. Several of the inhabitants accusedMr. Tinker, 
 the assistant and first magistrate in town, of speaking 
 treasonable words, and of using dishonorable means 
 to obtain testimony against his adversaries; and Mr. 
 Tinker brought suits for defamation against Messrs. 
 Haughton, Morton, and Thomson, the Indian mis- 
 sionary. The trials were in the Particular Court, 
 and the issue may be gathered from a passage in the 
 records of the General Court : 
 
 *'*Thifl Court, upon consideration of Mr. Tinker's encouragement in 
 his place and employment, do order £12 to be paid to him by the treas- 
 urer out of the fines imposed on Morton, Haughton, and Mr. Thomson.' ^ 
 
 " Mr. Tinker was popular both with the town au- 
 thorities and the General Court, and had been chosen 
 townsman, list and rate-maker, deputy and assistant. 
 He had established a distillery in the town, and was 
 not only licensed by the court to distill and retail 
 liquors, but empowered to suppress all others who 
 sold by retail in the township. It was with little 
 chance of success that accusations against a character 
 so highly respected were carried before the magis- 
 trates at Hartford. That venerable body doubtless 
 regarded with apprehensive forebodings the new and 
 boisterous community that was growing up under 
 their shadow. We can at least imagine them to have 
 had some misgivings when William Morton, the con- 
 stable, led off with the following pompous protest : 
 
 " ' To all whome it may concerne. 
 
 " 'You may please to take notice that I William Morton of New Lon- 
 don being chosen by the Towue of New London to be a Coustable and 
 by oath being bound to execute that place faithfully as also being a free 
 Denison of that most fanios country of England and have taken an 
 oath of that Laud to be true to his Royall Maiesty o' now Gracious King 
 Charles the Seacoud of Glorious reuowne, I count that 1 cannot be faith- 
 full unto my oath nor to his maiestie, neither should I be faithful! to the 
 Country wch lyes under reproaches for such maner of speeches and 
 cariages already wherefore having evidences that M' John Tinker, who 
 is lookt at as one that should exsicute Justice and sworne by oath soe to 
 doe, espetiully to studdie the bono' of or Royall King and of his Life 
 and happie being, yet notwithstanding the saide Tinker allthough it 
 was notoriously knowne unto him that some had spoaken Treason 
 against the king in a high degree to the greate dishonor of his Royall 
 maiestie and farther some pressed him againe and againe to doe Justice 
 for the king yet although they declared what and what was to he testi- 
 fied by one there preasent, he flung away tbe testimony, wherefore in 
 
 1 Conn. Gol. Rec, vol. i. p. 382. 
 
 the name of his maiesty whose deputy I am I doe protest against the 
 said Tinker, that he has consealed treason against the king contrary to 
 the Lawes of England, so as I conceive has brought hiniselfe under 
 treason, And as I doe protest against him I desire all that reade this or 
 heare of it to be my witnesses — published by me. 20. March : 1662. 
 
 '"William Morton, 
 " ' In New London in New England. " ' Constable.' 
 
 ** A writ of attachment was issued by the court, at 
 their May session, against William Morton and Eich- 
 ard Haughton, bringing them under a bond of £500 
 to appear and answer to the suit of Mr. John Tinker 
 before his majesty's court of justice in Hartford, the 
 next September. In October of the same year, before 
 any accommodation or decision had taken place, Mr. 
 Tinker died suddenly in Hartford, and was honored 
 with a funeral at the public expense. Though the 
 principal party was thus removed from all participa- 
 tion in the suit, it was prolonged for several years. 
 It was finally referred to a committee of the Legis- 
 lature in May, 1666.^ A curious reference to what 
 took place in the trial of the case in September, 1662, 
 is found in a deposition of Mr. Thomson, recorded in 
 New London : 
 
 *' * I William Thomson, Clarke, being present when Mr. Morton had a 
 trj'all in Hartford in New England in the year of our Lord God 1662 
 about treason spoken against his sacred Majestie when Mr. Mathew 
 Allin being the moderator in the Governor's absence did deny to try the 
 said cause by the laws of Old England when it was required by the said 
 Morton that he would doe justice for the king, he answered tauntingly 
 to the said Morton — heshouldhave justice, if it were to hanghalf adusen 
 of you. — Further saith not. 
 
 *' ' Jurator coram me, George Jordan, Aprill 26, 1664. 
 
 " 'Test Georgius Wilkins, Clericus County Surry, Virginia.'" 
 
 Patent of New London. 
 
 " Patent of New London sanctioned by the Governor and Company, 
 14. Oct. 1704. 
 
 " To all persons to whom these presents shall come, — The Governor 
 and Company of her Majesty's Colony of Connecticut in General Court 
 assembled send greeting: — Whereas we the said Gov and CompJ by 
 virtue of Letters Patent to us granted by bis Koyal Majy Charles the 
 Second of England &c. king, bearing date the 23d day of April, in the 
 14th year of his reign, A. D. 1663, have formerly by certain acts and 
 grants passed in Gen. Assembly given and granted to John Wintbrop 
 Esq, Waite Winthrop Esq, Daniel "Wetherell Esq, Richard Christo- 
 phers Esq, Mr. Nehemiah Smith, Capt. James Morgan, John Allyn, 
 William Douglas, Joseph Latham, Capt. John Avery, David Calkios, 
 Capt. John Prentis, Liev* John Hough, John Stubbin, John Keeney, 
 Robert Douglas, John Burrows, Samuel Fish, Thomas Crocker, Richard 
 Dart, Samuel Rogers SeD', John Rogers Sen', James Rogers, John 
 Lewis, Daniel Stubbiu, George Geares, Thomas Bolles, Benjamin Sliapley, 
 John Edgecombe, Jonathan Prentis, Peter Harris, Samuel Avery, Robert 
 Lattimore, Lawrence Codner, John Turrell, John Richards, Peter Strick- 
 land, Stephen Prentis, John Plumbe, Samuel R«gei-s Jun., John Fox, 
 Samuel Bebee, Oliver Manwaring, John Coit, George Cbappell, Joseph 
 Miner, John Beckwith, Philip Bill, Thomas Starr, John Davie, James 
 Morgan Jun., Charles Hill, Joshua Hempstead, Jonas Greene, Joseph 
 Truman, Thomas Way, Jeremiah Chapman, Thomas Bayley, Daniel 
 Comstock, Joshua Baker, John Wickwire, Benjamin Atwell, Thomas 
 Williams, Samuel Waller, Peter Crary, Joshua Wheeler, Richard Wil- 
 liams, Richard Morgan, Abel More, Adam Picket, James Avery, John 
 Daniels, Christopher Darrow, Andrew Lester, John Chappell, Daniel 
 Lester, Samuel Rogers (Joseph's sou), with divers other persons nnd to 
 their Heira or Assigns or such as shall legally succeed or represent them, 
 or either of them forever, a just and legal propriety in a certain tract of 
 land now commonly called and known by the name of New London, 
 lying and being within the Colony aforesaid, to us by the said Lettert 
 
 2 Ibid., vol. ii. p. 27. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 143 
 
 Patent granted to be diaposed of as in the said Letters Patent is directed, 
 and bounded as hereafter followetli, and the said John Winthrop, Waite 
 "Wintbrop, &c. — [here the names are all repeated] — with snch other per- 
 sons as are at this present time by virtue of the aforesaid acts and grants 
 proprietors of the said tract of land, having made application to us for 
 a more ample confirmation of their propriety in the said tract of land 
 which they are now in possession of, by n good and sufficient instrument 
 signed and sealed with the seal of this Coi-poration, therefore Know Ye^ 
 that the said Gov' and CompJ in Geiii Court assembled, by virtue of the 
 aforesaid Letters Patent and fur divers good causes and considerations 
 pursuant to the end of said Letters Patent, us hereunto moving, Have 
 given, granted and confirmed and by these presents do further fully, 
 clearly and amply, give grant and confirm to the aforesaid John Win- 
 throp Esq, Waite Winthrop Esq, Daniel Wetherell Esq, Richard Christo- 
 phers Esq, Mr. Nehemiah Smith, Capt. James Morgan, with all tlie otlier 
 above-named persons, and all other persons at this present time proprie- 
 tors with them of the said tract of land, now being in their full and 
 peaceable possession and seisin, and to their Beit's and A6sigr)S or such 
 aa shall legally succeed or represent them or either of them forever, the 
 aforesaid tract of land commonly called and known by the- name of New 
 London, lying in the colony aforesaid, and bounded as foUoweth — that is 
 to say, — on the West by a ditch and two heaps oi stones on the west side 
 of Nayhantick Bay, on the land formerly called Q'he Soldier's Farm, 
 fltbout 40 rods eastward of the house of Mr. Thomas Bradford, and from 
 thence North by a line that goes three rods to y" west of y^ falls in Nay- 
 hantic river and from thence North to a black oak tree 8 miles from tlie 
 ditch aforesaid, which tree hath a heap of stones about it, and is marked 
 on the west side WE, and on y^ east side IP, being an antiunt bound 
 mark between New London and Lyme, and from that tree East half a 
 mile and 16 rods'to a black oak tree with u heap of stones about it, 
 marked with the letter L and from thence north to the nortlieast corner 
 of the bounds of the town of Lyme and from tlie said N. E. corner 
 bounds of Lyme upon a straight line to the Southwest corner of the 
 south bounds of the town of Norwich : — On ye North by the south 
 bounds of the aforesaid Norwich, as the said bounds are stated from the 
 aforesaid S. W. corner down to a Cove commonly called Trnding Cuve, 
 and from thence by the sd Cove to y« Great River, commonly called New 
 London river and from the place where y^ said Cove joins to the said 
 river by a line crossing the river obliquely eastward to tlm mouth of a 
 Core commonly called Paukatannuk Cuve, and fiom thence by the said 
 Paukatannuk to the head thereof, and from theuce upon a direct Hue 
 to an oak tree marked and standing near the dwelling house of Thonuis 
 Rose, which tree is y* S.E. corner of the bounds of y^ aforesaid Norwich, 
 and from thence by an East line to the bounds of tlie town of Stoniug- 
 ton, which line divides betwixt New London and Pieaton. — On the east 
 by a line which runneth south from the jilace where the above men- 
 tioned north bounds of New London aforesaid meets with the said 
 bounds of Stonington till it comes to the place where the Pond by Lnn- 
 tborn Hill empties itself into the Brook, and from thence by y^ main 
 stream of sd brook till it falls into y^ river called Mislick River and fi-om 
 thence by y« said Mistick River till it falls into the Sea or Sound to ye 
 north of Fisher's Island: — On the South by the Sea or Sound from the 
 mouth of the aforesaid Mistick River to the west side of Nayhantick 
 Bay to the aforesaid ditch and two heaps of stones about it. — Together 
 with all and singular the Messuages, Tenements, meadowes, pastures, 
 commons, woods, underwoods, wateis, finhings, small islands or islets, 
 and hereditaments whatsoever, being parcel belonging or anyways ap- 
 pertaioing to the tract aforesaid, and do hereby grant and confirm to the 
 said Proprietors, their Heirs, or Assigns, or sncli us shall legally succeed 
 or represent them, his or their several particular respective propi'ieties 
 in ye said premises given and confiimed according to such allotments 
 or divisions as they the said present Proprietors have already made, or 
 shall hereafter make of the same — 
 
 *' To have and to hold the said tract of land with the premises aforesaid, 
 to them the said John Winthrop Esq, Waite Winthrop Esq, Daniel 
 Witherell Esq, Richard Christophers Esq, M^ Neh<;Quali Smith, Capt. 
 James Morgan, and all y^ rest of the above mentioned persons, and all 
 other the present Proprietors of y« said tract and premises, their Heirs 
 or Assigns, or such as shall legally succeed and represent them forever. 
 
 as a good, sure, right, full, perfect, absolute and lawful estate in fee 
 simple, and according to y** aforesaid Lettere Patent after the most free 
 tenorof her M^estyB Manor of East-Greenwich in the County of Kent,— 
 *' To the sole, only and proper use and behoof of the said John Win- 
 throp Esq, with all the above named persons and all others the present 
 Proprietors of said tract and premises, their Heirs and Assigns, or such 
 as shall legally succeed and represent tliem forever, as a good, sure 
 rightful estate in manner as aforesaid, — Reserving only to her present 
 Majesty, our sovereign Lady Ann of England &c. Queen, and her suc- 
 cessors forever one fifth part of all gold or silver mines or ore that hath 
 been or shall be found within the premises so granted and confirmed. 
 
 " Always provided that whatsoever land within the aforesaid tract 
 which formerly did and now doth belong unto, and is the just and 
 proper right of Unoas late Sachem of Mohegan, or Owaneco his son or 
 any other Indian Sachem whatsoever, and hath not yet been lawfully 
 purchased of the said Sachems, or acquired by the English, doth and 
 shall still remain ye right and property of y° said Indian Sachems or 
 their Heirs, and shall not be entered upon, or improved, or claimed aa 
 property by the aforessdd persons to whom the said tract is hereby con- 
 firmed, or any of them by virtue of this instrument, nor shall anything 
 herein contained be at any time deemed, taken or constructed to the 
 prejudice of any of the said Sachems or their Heirs right to the said land 
 withia the said tract aforesaid which hath not yet been sold or alienated 
 by them, but their said right shall be and remain good and free to them 
 to all intents and pui-poses in the Law, and the said land which they 
 have right in aforesaid shall be and remain as free for their own proper 
 occupation and improvement an if it had not been included in the 
 bounds of the aforesaid New London, as specified in this instrument — 
 
 '• And further, we the said Gov and Compy y aforesaid tract of land 
 and premises and every part and parcel thei'eof hereby granted and cop- 
 firmed to the said John Winthrop, Waite Winthrop, Daniel Wetherell 
 dc. — [here all the names are again repeated] — and the rest of the present 
 proprietors thereof, their Heirs and Assigns, or such as shall legally suc- 
 ceed and represent them to their own proper use and uses in the manner 
 and under the limitation above expressed against us and all and every 
 other person or persons lawfully claiming by, from or under us, shall 
 and will warrant and forever defend by these presents — 
 
 "In witness whereof we have ordered the present instrument to be 
 signed by the Deputy Gov' of this Corporation and by y*" Secretary of the 
 same as also that the seal of this Corporation be afiixed hereunto this 
 14th day of October in ye third year of her M^ja Reign A. D. 1704, 
 
 " Robert Treat Dep. Gov. 
 "Elbazer Kimberly Secy" 
 
 "Though only seventy-sev^n names are registered 
 in the patent, the whole number of iull-grown men 
 having a right in the town was perhaps at that time 
 one hundred and sixty, or one hundred and seventy. 
 A man might have three or four sons of mature age, 
 yet generally in the patent, only the father, or the 
 father and eldest son, were mentioned. Other names 
 were also omitted which ought to have been enrolled, 
 and which were added to the list of patentees after- 
 wards. These were Lieut. John Beeby, Thomas (son 
 of Sergt. Thomas Beeby), Samuel Fox, Samuel Chap- 
 man, William Gibson, Nicholas and Amos Hallam, 
 Sampson Haughton, Jonathan Haynes, William 
 Hatch, Alexander Pygan, Joshua Raymond, and 
 Hon. Gurdon Saltonstall. 
 
 "13 Dec- 1703. 
 
 "Voted, that the Town Patent, be forthwith drawn upon parchment 
 and that all the freeholders of this town who are desirou-^ to have their 
 names entered therein, shall bring them to the Moderator within a 
 month." 
 
 " This vote was never carried into effect. 
 
144 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 NEW LONDON— (Continued). 
 
 EARLY RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Townsmen in 1648— Town-Mfteting of 1618-50— Vote Concerning ita 
 Pioneer Grist-MlU—" Gardes and Shuffleborda"— Early Accounts- 
 Goodman Cheesborough'8 Trouble— Voted tbat the Town be Called 
 London— Minutes from Societies' Records— Fort Hill-" Making of 
 Bread and Brewing of Beere"— Holding the Contribution-Box- The 
 Jail— Imprisonment for Debt— Sale of Powder to Indians- Church 
 Regulations— Inhabitants Fined— The Stocks— Rev. Mr. Buckley— 
 The Ferry— Sale of Liquors—Mi nistry Rate-Lists- Excluding Colored 
 Persons from the Town. 
 
 Early Rules and Regulations.— The first record 
 in the old town-book is as follows : 
 
 " It is agreed by tlie inhabitants of Nameeugi that the land liing be- 
 tween the oxe pastuer at the end of the field by John Robinsons and so 
 between the highway and the great river aloung to alwife brooke shall 
 be for a coren (corn) field for the use of the town to make a generall 
 filde. 
 
 "The 17 of Desember William Mortons meadow was recorded and the 
 same day Robert Hempsteeds plot by the cove 2 pole." 
 
 The ox-pasture was on the river north of Winthrop's 
 
 Neck. 
 
 *' John Stubens and Robert Hempsteed are chosen to view the fences 
 -for this year [1647]." 
 
 " 25 of februaiTie, 1647 [1648, New Style]. 
 
 " The inhabitants of Nameeug did chuse with a joynt consent Mr. John 
 winthroup, Robert Hempsteed, Samuell lothroup, Isarke willie, and 
 Thomas Minor to act in all Towne affaires as the other fouer did the 
 lastyeare with Mr. John winthroup having the same power as he did 
 have the last yeare only no planting grounde must be granted or laid 
 out for this yeare but in the generall coren (corn) fielde at fuxens hill 
 the other side of the great river we may lay out, by lot only must it be 
 laid out. 
 
 "the same day Isarke willie was granted by the said inhabitants to 
 have a planting lot at the other side of the cove by Mr. deane win- 
 throups lot." 
 
 It is evident that the fathers of the town looked 
 with care to the morals of new inhabitants, as the fol- 
 lowing vote shows : 
 
 " It is ordered the 2 of march [1648] whosoever from this time forward 
 shall take np any lot that if he com not in six months time to inhabit 
 his lot shall be forfite to the Towne — and further it is agreed that no 
 prsons or pson (pereon) shall have admittance into the Towne of Na- 
 meeug there to be an inhabitant except the pties or ptie (party) shall 
 bring some testimonie from the magistrates or Elders of the place that 
 they com from or from some neighbor plantations and some good Chris- 
 tian, what their carriage is or have been." 
 
 Town-Meeting's. — In the early days the inhabitants 
 were obliged to attend town-meetings under penalty 
 of "two shillings and six pence," and when at the 
 meetings not to " voate without the companies leave," 
 etc. 
 
 " It is agreed by the inhabitants that any man being lawfully warned 
 to apear at any generall towne meeting, that refuse, or that do not com 
 at the time appoynted, or within half an houre of the apointed lime, if 
 he be at home, or have notice of the citation, that man shall pay to tlie 
 constabell two shillings and six pence for the use of the towne, or if any 
 person do voate after the companie be com to vote, or before the meeting 
 be ended, without the companies leave, that partie shall likewise pay two 
 shillings and six pence for his disorder; and further it is agreed that if 
 any failps in either of these two things before mentioned, and refuse to 
 pay the penaltle, when the constabell demands it, the constabell shall 
 have power to distiaine. 
 
 1 New London. 
 
 " March, 1648. It is agreed if any person do kill any woIfe or wolfs 
 within the town of Nameeug, he that kills the wolf shall have of eVerie 
 familie in towne six pence conditionaly that he bring the head and the 
 skin to any two of the townsmen. 
 
 " The 16 of Jannarie, 1648 [1649]. 
 
 *' It is agreed by the townsmen of Nameeug that Mr. John winthroup 
 is granted to set up a were and to make huse of the river at poquanuck 
 at the upper end of the plaine for to take fish and so to make improve- 
 ment of it, to him and his heirs and asigns. 
 
 " The 17 of februarie, 1648. The meadow that Robert hempsteed did 
 formerly mow liing by quittapeage Rocke is granted to Andrew lonng- 
 don and giles smith from the great Rock at the north end and so to 
 hould in breadth of the pon as far towards the plombeech as any waa 
 mowed by Robert hempsteed." 
 
 " 22 Feb. 1648 [1849]. The inhabitants of Pequit plantation have choseo 
 by ajoynt consent Mr. John Winthroup, Lobert Hempsteed, Carie Latham, 
 John Clarke and Thomas Berchard of Seabrooke should goe to Pequoet 
 and vewe the said parcell of land there given to the souldiera and takea 
 np by Pequoet as before, and then goe to Naihanticot and lay out there 
 unto the said souldiers such and soe much land, as may be fully equiva- 
 lent to there former grant of land at Pequoet. 
 
 "And for the inhabitants of Pequoet the Court grants that thera 
 bounds shall come to Bride Brook (the former grant excepted) provided 
 that it doth not come within the bounds of Seabrooke, and provided tbat 
 what meadowe or marsh there is above 200 ackers it shall be reserved 
 for the countries use and for their dispose." 
 
 Town Meeting, 1650. 
 
 " At a town meeting at Namearke, the 25th of Feb. 1649 [1650] these 
 fewer men chosen for townsmen ; Mr. John Winthrop, Mr. Johnnathan 
 Brewster, Robert Hempstead, William Nicholls. 
 
 "At the same meeting John Stubbines is chosen Constable for the 
 towne Namearke. 
 
 " Mr, Brewster must have been chosen clerk or 
 recorder about the same time. The succeeding 
 records of that year are in his hand, and he adds to 
 his signature, ' Clarke of the Towne of Pequett/ 
 His business as an Indian trader kept him much 
 abroad, and he held the office but one year. 
 
 " Winthrop and Brewster were made freemen of 
 Connecticut colony in May, 1650. In September of 
 that year Mr. Brewster and Thomas Miner appeared 
 at the General Court as the first deputies from Pe- 
 quot. 
 
 *'The first town grants to Brewster were in Septem- 
 ber, 1649. He established a trading-house with the 
 Mohegans at a point on the east side of the river, 
 opposite to their principal settlement. At this place,, 
 which is still called by his name, Brewster's Neck, he 
 laid out for himself a large farm. The deed of the' 
 laud was given him by Uncas, in substance as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 " ' April 25, 1650. I, Unquas, Sachem of Mauhekon, doe give freely 
 unto Jonathan Brewster, of Pequett, a tract of land, being a plane of' 
 arable land, bounded on the south side with a great Coave called Pocca- 
 tannocke, on the north with the old Poccatnck path that goes to the 
 Trading Coave, &c. For, and in consideration thereof, the said J. B. 
 binds himself and his heirs to keep a house for trading goods with the 
 ludiuns. 
 
 " ' [Signed by the Sachem and witnessed by William Baker and John 
 FoBsiker.] ' 
 
 " This deed was confirmed by the town, Nov. 30, 
 1652, and its bounds determined. It comprised the 
 whole neck on which the trading-house stood, * 450 
 acres laid out by the measurers.' 
 
 "The General Court in May, 1650, censured Mr. 
 Brewster for the steps he had taken in establishing 
 this trade. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 145 
 
 "'Whereas Mr. Jonathan Brewster hath set up »■ tradiog house at 
 Mohegan, this Court declares that they cannot but judge the thing very 
 disorderly, nevertheless considering his condition, they are content he 
 should proceed therein for the present and till they see cause to the con- 
 trary.' " 
 
 The Pioneer Ghist-Mill. 
 
 Nov, 10, 1650, the following persons held a meeting to arrange with 
 Mr. Winthrop in establishing a mill to grind corn : 
 
 " Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Parke, Jonathan Brewster, Robert Hempsted, 
 William Nicholls, John Gager, Thomas Stanton, William Bartlett, Peter 
 Blatchford, William Comstock, William Taylor, Mr. Blinman, Samuel 
 Ijothrop, John Lewis, William Morten. 
 
 "The inhabitants were to make *the dam and 
 heavy work belonging to the milne.' " 
 
 It was further agreed that ** no person or persons 
 shall set up any other milne to grind corn for the 
 town of Pequett within the limits of the town, either 
 for the present, nor for the future so long aa Mr. John 
 Winthrop or his heirs do uphold a milne to grind the 
 towne corn." 
 
 At the session of the General Court, in May, 1649, 
 the following regulations were made respecting Pe- 
 quot: 
 
 1. The inhabitants were exempted from all public country charges — 
 t.e., taxes for the support of the colonial government — for the space .of 
 three years ensuing. 
 
 2. The bounds of the plantation were restricted to four miles each side 
 of the river, and six miles from the sea northward into the country, " till 
 the court shall see cause and have encouragement to add thereunto, pro- 
 vided they entertain none amongst them as inhabitants that shall be 
 obnoxious to this jurisdiction, and that the aforesaid bounds be not dis- 
 tributed to less than forty families." 
 
 3. John Winthrop, Esq., with Thomas Miner and Samuel Lothrop as 
 assistants, were to have power as a court tf» decide all differences among 
 the inhabitants under the value of forty shillings. 
 
 4. Uncas and his tribe were prohibited from setting any traps, but not 
 from hunting and fishing within the bounds of the plantation. 
 
 5. The iubabitants were not allowed to monopolize the com trade 
 with the Indians in the river, which trade was to be left free to all io 
 the united colonies. 
 
 6. " The Courte commends the name of Faire Harbour to them for to 
 bee the name of their Towne." 
 
 7. Thomas Miner was appointed " Military Sergeant in the Towne of 
 Pequett," with power to call forth and train the inhabitants. 
 
 "Gardes and Shuflebords."— In 1664 "cardes 
 and shufflebords" were prohibited, and its inhabit- 
 ants warned " not to entertane strange young men." 
 
 Early Accounts. 
 
 " 1691. — To SamU Raymond 5 dayes for fetching ye gunns — he went by 
 land wtii hie horse, IGs. 
 
 "To Capt. Wetherell, 5 dayeB do, — v^^ expense for himself and Ray- 
 mond and provision for those yt went by water, £2 4a. 3d. 
 
 " To John Prentis, Jeremy Chapman, Oliver Manwaring, Nath^ Chap- 
 pell, Will" Miner, Thomas Crocker, Thomas Daniels, — for fetching ye 
 gnnns from Seabrook (from 15 to 18s. each), 
 
 " To Mr. Plumbe for his horse boat to fetch ye gnnns, Ac, £1 10». M. 
 
 "To Jonathan Hall pr himself and sloop for ye gnnns, £3. 
 
 "To widow Mary Haris for 15 gls mm and 6"> sugar when the guns 
 were fetcht, £1 2s. Wd. 
 
 " To John Richards for searching ye gnnns," etc. 
 
 "October, 1651. 
 
 " John Picket, Mr. Stanton enformed me (3 or 4 years agoe), desired a 
 lott — now desires to renew it, and desires a lott by the Dutch Captins, a 
 seaman, — granted. 
 
 " Mrs. Lake requests for upland and meddo to her house lott, 
 
 "Cowkeeper expects pay for Cowes he desires to know from us what 
 every one must pay. 
 
 "About 66. to make up the mill dam. 
 
 "Another rate for the ministry. 
 
 "A rate.forthe new meeting-house. 
 
 " For the Lords days he is to keep them every 4th Lords day and to 
 give one days notice to him that hath most cattle first to keep them upon 
 the Lords day and whoever hath one more than another to warn him 
 before he that hath fewer to keeptliem a Lord's day and after he that 
 hath but one cow shall keep them his day, then to begin again with him 
 that hath most, twice warning them that have double the cattle that their 
 neighbors have before once warning him that hath but half that his 
 neighbor hath. 
 
 " The keeper for his paines is to have 128. a weeke — for his pay he is 
 to have 1 pound of butter for every cow, and the rest of bis pay in wom- 
 pum or Indians Corne, at 28. 6d, p. per bushell in the moneth of October," 
 
 The waste marsh, generally overflowed, was given 
 to a company of undertakers, — viz., Mr. Deuison, 
 Hugh Calkins, John Elderkin, and Andrew Lester, — 
 who undertook to drain it, and were to have all the 
 land " now under water forever." It was added : 
 
 " The undertakers have liberty to make a weare. They are to leave it 
 open two nights every week for the coming up of the alewives. The 
 town to have freedom to take what they please at the usual place, or to 
 buy them at the weare at 20 alewives for a penny for their eating," 
 
 " The salt marshes were esteemed as the first class 
 of lands by the planters. Those near the harbor's 
 mouth were known by the Indian name of Quagana- 
 poxet, and were mostly granted to the settlers from 
 Gloucester, as a kind of bonus to induce them to re- 
 move, and as fiirnishing a ready-made food for the 
 cattle they brought with them. They are often re- 
 ferred to as ' the marshes given to Cape Ann men.' " 
 
 " May 20. 
 
 " Water [Walter] Harries of Dorchester desires a house lot beyond the 
 plot of land by John Coites, Granted," 
 
 "Aug, 29, 
 
 " John Stoder [Stoddard] hath a house lot given him at Foien's hill, — 
 6 acres, highwaies to be allowed to common land and to fetch stones." 
 
 The order for a town-meeting was given by the 
 townsmen to the constable, who gave notice to the 
 Warner and drummer. The warner left a summons at 
 every house; the drum began to beat half an hour 
 before the time for business, and if a constable, two 
 townsmen, and fifteen inhabitants appeared it was a 
 legal meeting. 
 
 " June 2, Goodman Harries is chosen by the Towne ordinary keeper. 
 
 " June 20. Capt. Denlson is chosen Commissioner and to him is chosen 
 Mr. Brewster, Mr. Stanton, and Hugh Calkin to make a list of the state 
 of the towne and the inhabitants, and to make the Country rate of Twenty 
 pounds." 
 
 Aug. 28, 1652. The former law granting a tax of 
 sixpence from every family for the killing of a wolf 
 was repealed, and a bounty of twenty shillings sub- 
 stituted. 
 
 "The Towne having nominated and chosen Goodman Cheesebrooke 
 Obadiah Bruen, and Hugh Calkin whom to present to the Court, desire 
 that they may have power, together with Mr. Winthrop and Capt, Deni- 
 son, or any three of them, for the ending of small causes in the town," 
 
 This petition was not granted, and the inhabitants 
 were obliged for some time longer to carry their law 
 cases to Hartford for adjudication. 
 
 " Nov, 6, 
 
 "John Elderkin was chosen Ordinary Keeper. 
 
 " An order from the Court forbidding the sale of strong liquors by any 
 but persons lycensed by the Court was published. 
 
 "Widdo Harris was granted by voat also to keep an ordinary if she 
 will." 
 
146 
 
 HTSTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 April 9, 1653. The order was re-enacted enforcing 
 attendance upon town-meeting, and a fine of one 
 shilling imposed upon absentees when lawfully 
 warned. 
 
 •' The aforesaid fyne also they shaU pay if they come not withiu halfe 
 an howre after the beating of the drum and stay the whole day or until 
 they be dismissed by a publick Toate." 
 
 "ApriJ 25, 1653, 
 
 " Captain Denison, Goodman Cheesebrooke, Mr. Brewster, and Obadiah 
 Bruen are chosen to make a list of the male persona in town 16 years 
 old and upward, and a true valuation of all real and personal estate of 
 the said persona according to order of the Court. Goodman Cheese- 
 brooke is ulioeen Commissioner to carry th list to the Court in Septem- 
 ber next." 
 
 This was the first list of the town returned to the 
 General Court, the inhabitants having been hereto- 
 fore free from the colonial tax. The list amounted to 
 £3334, which ranked the town sixth in the colony ; 
 the five river towns — Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield, 
 Farmington, and Saybrook — took the precedence. 
 
 Goodman Cheesbbeough's Trouble. 
 
 " Whereas Goodman Cheesebrough is aa we are informed hindered of 
 John Leighton to fetch home his haie wee the townsmen of Pequot doe 
 order that the said Goodman Cheesebrough shall have liberty to goe any 
 way he shall see most convenient for him to bring it home without 
 any let or hindrance from the said John Leighton. This is determined 
 by us uDtill the Towne shall take further order to dispose both of the 
 way and land. 
 
 " 0. B., for writing and recording for the Towne, orders, agreements, 
 petitions, letters, Court grants, rates, gathering and perfecting rates, 
 writing before, at, and after town-meeting, covenants of cow-keeper and 
 smith, £6." 
 
 "Feb. 6, 1660. 
 
 " For the settling, perfecting, and fairly recording of all records for the 
 town's use and good of after posterity, wee agreed that there shall be a 
 towne booke, with an Alphabet in it, wherein all acts passed, orders or 
 agreements, shall hereafter be fairly recorded, whether past or to come, 
 for the effecting hereof, we agree that all the old bookes of records shall 
 be searciied into for what is material concerning the public good, to be 
 drawn out into a booke provided and paid for by the Recorder, who shall 
 have 6d. paid him out of the town i-ate for every act, law or order re- 
 corded." 
 
 [Signed by the townsmen, Obadiah Bruen, Hugh Calkin, James Rogers, 
 James Avery, William Nichols.] 
 
 " May 28, 1651. 
 
 " It is ordered that all dammage done by goates is to be vewed by three 
 indifferent men, and as they shall judge the real dammage, double datn- 
 mage is to be allowed." 
 
 "Aug. 15th, 1651. 
 
 " It is agreed that there shall be a common field fenced in ; the fence 
 beginning about Greene Harbor, and to run through the woods to Robin 
 Hood's Bay. 
 
 "The Towne have sent to the Court by there Deputys Hugh Calkin 
 and Thomas Mynor that the Tow;ie's name may be called London. 
 
 " And to know there enlargement to Pockatuck. 
 
 "Also about Indians powtlier." 
 
 This second application concerning the name of 
 th-e town was no more successful than the former had 
 been. The court, in September, while it confirmed 
 the enlargement of the bounds to Pawkatuck Kiver, 
 called the town by its old name, Nameage. 
 
 Memoranda for Toimi-Meeting, Sept, 20. 
 "To propound buying of Mr. Parks barne. 
 " A rate for Mr. Blyiimans half year : chuse rater, 
 "Speak about new drum. 
 "Ohuse one to run the lyne to Pockatuck. 
 "Read the Towne grant from the Court. 
 " A training day. A rate for the book of lawes. 
 "Amos Richerson is to have a lot." 
 
 Minutes from Society Records. 
 
 " Mr. .Thomson to be cleered" [freed from paying rates]. 
 
 "Mr Tinker, James Morgan, and Obadiah Bruen are chosen to seat 
 the people in the meeting-house, which, they doing, the inhabitants are 
 to rest silent." 
 
 " Dec. 1, 1661. The towne have agreed with Goodman Elderkin and 
 Goodman Waller to repare the turret of the meeting-house, and to pay 
 them what they shall demand in reason. 
 
 "To know what allowance Mr. Tinker shall have for his tyme spent 
 in exercising In publique. 
 
 "To return an account of contributions. 
 
 "May 5, 1662. Thomas Bowen hath given him by the towne forty 
 shillings of the contribution wompum." 
 
 Fort Hill. 
 "Jan. 6,1661-62. 
 
 " The highway to the water by Mr. Morton's is voated to be 4 pole 
 wide." [Now Blinman Street.] 
 " All the military offisers are to lay out fort hill by the next meeting." 
 
 " Fort Hill was an elevated upland ridge on the 
 eastern border of the present Parade, with an abrupt 
 projecting slope to the water-side, which caused it to 
 be called also a point. In the course of time it has 
 been graded and rounded, so as to be no longer eithei? 
 a hill or a point. It was expressly reserved on the 
 first laying out of the town for the purpose of forti- 
 fication." 
 
 "Sept. '61. 
 
 " Mr. Thomsons request of 3 pole of land by the water side upon Mill 
 Cove." 
 
 " Oct. 24. Mr. Lords request in writing. 
 
 "Mr. Savages request in writing. 
 
 "Mr. Lovelands request in writing. ■ 
 
 " A Dutchman and his wife request of the towne." 
 
 "Dec. I. Three men (Morgan, Latham, Avery) chosen by the town 
 to vew the poynt of land and confirme it to Mr. Loveland, Mr. Tinker, 
 Mr. Lane, and Mr. Stallon, in the best way they can, leaving suflBsient 
 way to the Spring for all neighbors." 
 
 " Sept. 24, '62. 
 
 " Mr. Pioeions request for a place for wharfage and building and out 
 land. 
 
 " Hugh Moles request for a place by the water side to build vessels on, 
 and a wharfe. 
 
 " Consider to do something about the townes landing place." 
 
 "Jan. 26, '62-3. Mr. Pinsions request per Mr. James Rogers,— the 
 towne doe give him three pole out of yt sixe pole yt is allowed for the 
 towne a landing place, neere Sandie poynt, provided he build and 
 wluirfe within one yeere after tliis grant; the landing place to be but 
 three pole wide." 
 
 Making of Bread and Bruing of Beere. 
 
 " 25 Feb., '61-2. Mr. Addis granted to sell beere." 
 
 "5 May, '62. Goodman Culver is chosen and allowed of by the towne 
 for the making of bread and bruing of beere for the publicke good." 
 
 Holding thr Contribution-Box. 
 " 15 Aug. 67. Myselfe [Douglas] chosen to hold the box for the con- 
 tributions and this to be propounded to Mr. Bradstreet to have his advise 
 therein. William Nickols is also chosen for that worke. 
 
 "It is voated that the men chosen to call the collectors to account shall 
 have a letter of aturney to impower them to do their work, and that Mr. 
 Meryt shall write it." 
 
 The Jail. 
 
 "30, October. .Tobn Prentis chosen Townes attorney. 
 
 "9, December. It is voted that the priBon-house shall stand by ye 
 meeting-house.'' 
 
 Imprisonment for Debt. 
 
 " No man's person shall be kept in prison for debt but when there ap- 
 pears some est^ite which he will not produce." [See code of 1050 in Col. 
 Rec, vol. i.] 
 
 *'.l July, 1669. 
 
 "Alexander Piggin hath given him some land at the head of Mill 
 Cove, enough to make three or four pitts for dressing of leather amongst 
 the springs. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 U1 
 
 *' It is voted and agreed that Clement Miner have sold him sixe acors 
 upland ovev against his house upon the north side the highway that 
 goes to Hiantick, and 8 acors of swampy land near Goodman Houghs, 
 which laud is for consideration of 8 wolves by him killed. And the lowne 
 doth order the Townesmen to giye him a deed of sale for the same." 
 
 Sale of Powdee to Indians. 
 
 " Nov. 29. 
 
 "Left. Avery, Mr. Rogers, James Morgan, Sen., and John Morgan 
 chosen to lay out the King's highway between Norwich and Mystick. 
 
 " Wm. Hough, John Stebbius, Clement Miner, and Isaac Willey to 
 lay out the King's highway between New London and the head of Nian- 
 tick river. 
 
 "John Keeny is appointed to sell powder, shot, and lead to any Indian 
 or Indians, he having purchased his liberty therein at 33s. to be paid to 
 the town." 
 
 " Feb. 28, 1669 [70]. 
 
 " Charles Hill chosen Recorder. 
 
 "Manasse Minor is admitted an Inhabitant in this Towne." 
 
 Church Regulations. 
 
 "16 Jan., 1670-1. Mr. Edward Palmes hath liberty granted to make 
 a seate for himself and relations at ye north end of ye piilpitt. 
 
 "Voted that there be 2 Galleryes made on each side ye meeting-house 
 — [the width of two seats]." 
 
 "The towue desire Mr. Tinker to be by ye court confermed assistant 
 for this yeer, and Oba: Bruen for the taking'of oathes and making of 
 warrants and attachments. 
 
 " The Book of Lawes is voted to be called for by the constable, Peter 
 Blatchford, and to be delivered to 0. Bruen, recorder, for the usl* of the 
 towne." 
 
 Inhabitants Fined. 
 
 "31 March, 1663. 
 
 "James Rogers, James Morgan, John Prentis, and Peter Blatchford, 
 are chosen to draw a petition to the Court representing the grievances 
 of the town. 
 
 " Whereas, Cary Latham aiid Mr. Douglas are by the Court fined for 
 not fully presenting the town list, anno 1662, the town see cause to pe- 
 tition the Court as a grievance, not finding wherein they have failed ex- 
 cept in some few houses. Voted, also that tho rate of £;i58 s, 9d. as over- 
 rated £15U0, by the Court in March, '62-3." 
 
 " The fines were remitted in May, 1663." 
 
 The Stocks. 
 
 "16 April. 
 
 " The town agree with Robert Bartler fur the making of a pair of Stocks 
 with nine holes fitted to put on the irons for 138. 4d." 
 
 "May 7. John Culver is chosen for this next yeere to drunim Saboth 
 days and as formerly for meetings. 
 
 "Francis HalU hath given him two pole of land by the water side, if 
 It be there." 
 
 " June 9. Cary Latham, Mr. Douglas, and Ralph Parker were to make 
 the Country rate by the list they made of the Town Rate in '■62. Our 
 rate according to our list being about 29Z. 38. 9d. Court says 35L 8fl. 9d. 
 
 " Gary Latham, with myself, O. B. voted to speake with the committy 
 from Court sent to heare the Case, depending (as the Court expresseth 
 it), betwixt Uncaa aud the Inhabitants of New London." 
 
 " July 20. Order from the Court to make the rate 3H. 58. and to be 
 sent by October next." 
 
 " 16th Sept. 
 
 "Mr. Witherell, Lieut. Smith, James Morgan, and Oba. Bruen chosen 
 to hear the grievances of the inhabitants of wrong done by the Indians 
 and draw a petition in the towns behalf." 
 
 "26 Oct. This being the town meeting, James Bemas should have ac- 
 knowledged bis offence against the Major— he came not to it. 
 
 " Mr. Skillinger propounded the sale of his land and house this day,— 
 none oifered anything." 
 
 " Dec. 14. 
 
 "Mr. Winthrop hath all his land at Naihantick given him rate free 
 for tyme to come. Also he hath given him a pond of water betwixt his 
 land at Naihantick and the land now in possession of John Printice. 
 John Printice objects against this town grant of ye pond. 
 
 " George Chappie hath given him 6 acres of land for a house-lot be- 
 twixt the neck fence and Jordan river, part of it buting on Jordan 
 river." 
 
 1 Hall was of Stratford, but had commercial dealings in New London. 
 
 Votes Concerning Rev. Mr. Buckley. 
 "15 Jan: '63-4. James Rogers, Levt. Smith, Cary Latham, John 
 Smith, and William Hough, are appoynted to goe to Mr. Buckley for 
 the settling bim amongst us.'* 
 " 25 Feb. Old Mrs. Buckleys request to be read. 
 " Mr. Buckley for enlarging maintenance yt he may keep a man and 
 also take the geting of wood into his owne handes — if not let 101. more 
 be aded to our town rate for wood cutting and carting, and 41. for rais- 
 ing the pulpet. 
 
 "Inhabitants not to entertane strange young men. Vide country 
 order read. 
 " The order of cardes and order of shufflebords : — I read. 
 " It is agreed by the towne that henceforward Mr. Buckley shall have 
 sixe score pound a yeere, in provision pay, good and marchandable, he 
 freeing the towne from all other iogagements." 
 "April! 8. 
 
 " A Country rate sent to us from Hartford,— this day was the first day 
 I herd of it ; 29L 18a. 9d. 
 
 " 3 or 4 Listers to be chosen, one of them a Commissioner ; Mr. Weth- 
 erell. Commissioner." 
 "Sept. 21. 
 
 "Til determine a more certain way for the ministry to be upheld 
 amongst us. 
 
 "The Towne have agreed that there shall be a petition drawn in the 
 behalf of the Towne, Mr. James Rogers. Ensigne Avery and Mr. Weth- 
 erell are chosen to see it be done with reference to Pockatuck pay of 
 rates to our towne as formerly they did." 
 ** Nov. 21. 
 
 "At this towne meeting it was voated that there should be an At- 
 turnye for tlie towne to see to the coming in of the ministers rate and 
 other towne rates. Peter Blatchford choson Atturney." 
 "Jan: 9,1664-5. 
 
 " Peter Blatchford to be paid for a voyage to the River's Mouth, about 
 the gunns, 12fl." 
 
 • "The General Court, in May, 1660, had ordered 
 that two great guna, with shot convenient, then at 
 Saybrook, should be lent to New London. The above 
 charge was doubtless connected with the removal of 
 these pieces. Under the same date is noticed a debt 
 of 15s. to Richard Hartley, for providing a * seat for 
 the guard in the meeting-house/ an item showing 
 that men still went armed to the house of worship, 
 and that the fear of sudden attacks from Indians had 
 not subsided." 
 
 The Ferry. 
 
 " Goodman Burrose chosen ferryman for Mistick river, to ferry a horse, 
 and a man for a groat." 
 
 The Sale of Liquors. 
 
 " Goodman Culver is allowed by the towne to sell liquors, provided he 
 shall brew also, ells not: provided also the court allow of it, ingaging 
 always to have good beere aud good dyet and lodging for man and horse, 
 to attende alsoo to good order." 
 
 " At a town meeting Feb. 25, 1664 [1665]. 
 
 "The towne being desired to declare there myndes concerning Mr. 
 Bulkley, it was propounded whether they were willing to leave Mr. 
 Bulkley tu the libertye of his conscience without compelling him or en- 
 forcing him to anything in the execution of his place and ofiice con- 
 trarye to his light according to the laws of the commonwelth. 
 
 " Voated to be there myndes." 
 
 " At a towne meeting, June 10. 
 
 "The Towne understanding Mr. Buckleys intention to goe into the 
 Bay have sent James Morgan and Mr. Douglas to desire him to stay un- 
 till seacond day com seventnight which day the Towne have agreed to 
 ask againe Mr. Fitch to speake with him in order to know Mr. Buckleys 
 mynde fullye whether he will continue with us or no to preach the 
 gospell." 
 
 "July 10— '65. In towne meeting. 
 
 " If it be your myndes yt Mr. James Rogers shall goe in the behalfe 
 of the towne to Mr. Brewster to give him a call and to know whether 
 he will come to us to be our minister, and yt he shall intercead to Mr, 
 Pell first to be helpfnl to us herein, manifest it by lifting up your hands. 
 Voted." 
 
148 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The person to whom this application was made is 
 supposed to have been Eev. Nathaniel Brewster, of 
 Brookhaven, L. T. 
 
 1665. 
 
 "24 July. John Packer desires that Leiftenant Avery and James 
 Morgan may issue the busiues yt is now in contest betwixt him and the 
 Indians at Naiwayuncke and to compound with them in the best way 
 they can with land to satisfaction of the Indians and Goodman Packer. 
 Voted." 
 
 "9 October. Mr. Douglas by a full voate none manifesting themselves 
 to the contrary, was chosen to goe to Mr. Wilson and Mr. Elliot to desire 
 there advise and help for the procureinge of a minister for the towne." 
 
 "Nov. 24. A town meeting concerning what Mr. Douglas hath done 
 about a minister." 
 
 *' Nov. 24, 1665. It is agreed at this town meeting that a letter be writ 
 and sent from the town to Deacon Pai'ke of Roxburye to treat with Mr, 
 Broadstreet in the behalfe of the towiie to come to us for this end to 
 supply the towne in the worke of the ministry, in which letter sent full 
 powre be given to Mr. Parke to act in our behalf, the towne expressing 
 themselves willing to give 601b and rather than that the work seas, to 
 proceed to ten pound more, giving our trusty friend liberty to treat with 
 others in case our desire of Mr. Broadstreet faile. 
 
 "A Court order for a brand-mark and horses to be branded, this day 
 read. 
 
 "Mr. Douglas conformed in his place for the Townes packer of meat. 
 And also he was voted and chosen to brand mark all horses with L on 
 the left shoulder and is to record all horses soe branded." 
 
 "Jan: 12. 1665 ['66]. 
 
 " The return of Mr. Brodstreet's letter to be read, 
 
 "Thomas Robinson to propound [for an inhabitant]. 
 
 "A rate to underpin the meeting-house. 
 
 "Concerning messengers to goe for Mr. Bradstreet. 
 
 "Also for a place where he shall be when he comes. Also for pro- 
 vision for the messengers, — some course to be taken for 5 lb for them. 
 
 " The Town rate for Nihantick part . £26 6s. 6d. . 
 
 " The East side ye River . . . £35 6a. lOd." 
 
 " Feb. 26. It is voted that Left'. Avery and James Morgan be chosen 
 messengers to fetch up Mr. Bradstreet as soon as moderate weather pre- 
 sents. 
 
 "John Smith and goodman Nicbolls shall receive Contribution every 
 Lords daye and preserve it for ye publick good. 
 
 "It is voated and agreed that the townsmen shall have power to pro- 
 vide what is needful for the Messengers that are sent to Mr. Bradstreet 
 and allso to provide for him a place to reside in at his coming. 
 
 " Mr. Douglas and goodman Hough are voted by ye Towne to demand 
 the 80 pound of Mr. Buckley which he stands ingaged to pay to ye 
 towne. 
 
 " Voted by ye Towne that Leitft. Avery and James Morgan have power 
 to agree with any person that hath a serviceable horse to be emploied 
 in fetching up Mr. Bradstreet and what agreement they make the towne 
 to allowe and make good the same." 
 
 [In the Towne accounts of the next year appears due 
 "To Goodman Prentice for his horse, lOs. 
 To Goodman Royce for ye ministers dyet, 161b,"] 
 
 " Voted that a towne rate ot 401b, be made imediately for ye payment 
 of Towne depts and providing to acomadate a minister and repareing 
 the meeting house. 
 
 " It is voted and agreed that Mr. Buckley for his time and paines taken 
 in preaching the'word of God to us since the time of his yeere was ex- 
 pired shall have thirty pounds lo be gathered by a rate." 
 
 " June 1, 1666. Voted by a Vnanimous consent that Mr. Bradstreet is 
 accepted in ye worke of ye ministry amongst vs, and that he have 801b 
 pr. yeare to encourage him in the worke, to be gathered by way of rate. 
 
 " Voted by the Towne that there shall be a house imediately built for 
 ye ministry, the dimensions to be 36 foote in length and 25 in breadth 
 and 13 studd betwixt ye joynts with a stack of stone chimneys in the 
 midst. The house to be a girt house. 
 
 " The towne are free to give for ye building of the house one hundred 
 pound and allso to farther paye ye masons for building a stone chimney 
 and glaze ye house windowes. 
 
 '• Voted by the towne that the house now agreed upon to bo built for 
 the ministry, and allso the house and land bought of Mr. Douglass to- 
 gether with ye land which hitherto hath been reserved for the ministry 
 shall so remaine both houses and lands for the ministry, both to us and 
 our succeeding generations never to he sold or alienated to any other vse 
 forever." 
 
 Minority Rate Lists.-— In the list of 1664 the 
 number of names is one hundred and five. This in- 
 cludes non-residents who owned property in the town. 
 In this list the amount of each man's taxable prop- 
 erty is given, and the rate levied upon it is carried 
 out. The assessment of James Rogers is nearly 
 double that of any other inhabitant. He is estimated 
 at £548, and his rate £7 19s. lOd, " John Winthrop 
 Squire," who heads the list, is set down at £185, and 
 his rate at £2 14s. He was at this time a non-resi- 
 dent. Mr. Palmes, £224 ; John Picket, who is next 
 highest to James Rogers, £299 10s. ; James Morgan, 
 £252; Robert Burrows, £246; James Avery, £236; 
 Gary Latham, £217 ; George Tongue, £182 ; John 
 Prentis, £176; Andrew Lester, Sr., £170; Edward 
 Stallion, £169; Robert Boyce, £168. These are all 
 the estates over £150. Between £75 and £150 are 
 thirty-two. It must be remembered that land at this 
 period was of little value, and estimated low. In the 
 list of 1666 the number of names is one hundred and 
 sixteen, and in that of the next year one hundred 
 and twenty-seven. Of the whole number, four are 
 referred to as deceased, viz., Sergt. Richard Hartley, 
 Thomas Hungerford, William Morton, and Mr. Rob- 
 ert Parke. About seventeen may be marked as non- 
 residents, consisting principally of persons who had 
 removed, or merchants of other places who had an 
 interest in the trade of the port. Mr. Blinman, the 
 ex-minister, Mr. Thomson, the former Indian mis- 
 sionary, and Mr. Newman, minister of Wenham, are 
 on the list. Mr. James Richards, of Hartford, is 
 among the number. He was probably a land-owner 
 by inheritance from Wm. Gibbons, who was his 
 father-in-law, and had bought land at Pequonnuck. 
 Mr. Fitch (probably Samuel, of Hartford), Samuel 
 Hackburne, from Roxbury, and Robert Lay (of 
 Lyme) are enrolled, as also Lord, Savage, Stil- 
 linger, Revell, Richardson, who have been heretofore 
 noticed. 
 
 Excluding Colored Persons. 
 
 " In town meeting, April 15, 1717. 
 
 " Voted that this town do utterly oppose and protest against Robert 
 Jacklin a negro man's buying any land in this town, or being an inhab- 
 itant within s'd town and do further desire the deputies yt shall attend 
 the Court in May next yt they represent the same to the Gen. Assembly 
 that they would take somejirudent care that no person of yt colour may 
 ever have any possessions or freehold estate within this government." 
 
 CHAPTEE XI.i 
 
 NEW LONDON— (Continued.) 
 Early Settlers — Incidents, etc. 
 
 During the year 1650 grants were made to Robert 
 Parke and his son Thomas, Eobert Burrows, Richard 
 Belden, Philip Kerwithy (Carwithy), Samuel Martin, 
 William Taylor, Mr. Blynman, Obadiah Bruen, 
 
 I Condensed from Miss F. M. Caulkins' excellent " History of New 
 London." 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 149 
 
 Hughe Cankin, Hugh Roberts, John Coite, Andrew 
 Lester, James Averye, and Robert Isbell. The fol- 
 lowing received grants soon after : William Keeny, 
 Ralph Parker, William Wellman, Robert Brookes, 
 Thomas Stanton, and John Elderkin. Previous to 
 the year 1652 the following had applied for house- 
 lots: George Chappell, William Comstock, Thomas 
 Doxey, John Gallup, Thomas Hungerford, Mrs. 
 Lake, Ceystan Sybada, Edward Scott, Edward Stal- 
 lion, Thomas Stedman, and Matthew Waller. 
 
 Inhabitants, 1651 : Kary Latham, John Gallope, 
 John Gager, Thomas Parke, John Stubbin, Longdon, 
 Urquar, Chappell, Thomas Welles, Lewis, Bemas, 
 Mudg, Keeny, Parker, Wellman, Brewster, Bartlet, 
 Morton, Waterhouse, Hempstead, Fossiker, Stanton, 
 Hungerford, Stallion Waller, Harwood, Burrows, 
 Packer, Doxe, Burden, and Marshall. The above 
 list was recorded by Obadiah Bruen, the first " Re- 
 corder of the Town of Pequot." Richard Aerie, 
 Goodman Barker (of Charlestowne), Lieut. Bud, 
 John Coale, Edward Codner, John Davies, Capt. 
 Denason, Goodman Garlick, John Gesbie, John 
 Ingason, Edward Messenger, John Pickworth, John 
 Bead, Thomas Roach, William Vincent, Thomas 
 Roach. 
 
 The following were here previous to 1661 : ■ 
 
 Addia, William. — Came from Boston 1658 or '59. 
 
 Bartlet, Robert. — Brother of William, first mentioned 1657. 
 
 Bloomfleld, William, from Hartford, 16.59. — Removed in 1663 to New- 
 town, L. I. 
 
 Bowen, Thomas, 1657. — Removed to Rehoboth, and there died in 1663. 
 
 Brooks, Thomas, 1659 and '60. — Afterwards removed. 
 
 Chapman, William, 1657. — Bought the house and lot that had been 
 Oapt. Denison's of Mr. Blinman, agent of John Chynnery. 
 
 Cowdall, John. — A trader who became bankrupt in 1659, and left the 
 place. 
 
 Crocker, Thomas. — Bought house in New Street, 1660. 
 
 Douglas, William. — From Boston, 1659. 
 
 Lenard, Thomas, 1657. — Honse-lot at Foxen's; removed in 1663. 
 
 Loveland, Robert. — Mariner and trader from Boston, 1658. 
 
 Moore, Miles, from Milford, 1657. — Purchased the homestead and 
 other allotments of John Gager. 
 
 Raymond, Joshua, 1G58. 
 
 Rogers, James. 
 
 Richards, John. — The first notice of him is in 1660, but he may have 
 been in the plantation two or three years. He purchased on what is 
 now State Street — the south side — two house-lots originally given to 
 Waterhouse and Bruen. He built his house at the corner of the present 
 Huntington Street, and this remained for more than a century the home- 
 stead of the family. 
 
 Royce, Robert, 1657. 
 
 Shaw, Thomas, 1656. — Was afterwards of Pawcatuck. 
 
 Smith, Edward, 1660. — Nephew of Nehemiah and John Smith. 
 
 Tinker, John. — A grave and able man from the Massachusetts colony. 
 
 Wetherell, Daniel. — From Scituate, 1659. 
 
 Wood, John, 1660. 
 
 1652. — Thomas Griflfin, afterwards of Pawcatuck; 
 William Rogers, from Boston ; Nehemiah Smith, 
 sometimes of New Haven ; Richard Smith, from 
 Martin's Vineyard (he bought the Mudge house-lot, 
 but after a few years removed to Wethersfield) ; Na- 
 thaniel Tappin, grants forfeited. 
 
 The new inhabitants of 1654 were John Lockwood, 
 William Roberts, William Collins, Sergt. Richard 
 Hartley, and Peter Bradley. Hartley appears to have 
 
 come from England with a stock of English goods, 
 which he opened in a shop on Mill Cove. Peter 
 Bradley was a seaman, who married Elizabeth, daugh- 
 ter of Jonathan Brewster, and bought the house-lot 
 of John Gallop. John Chynnery, of Watertown, at 
 the same period bought Capt. Denison's homestead, 
 the latter having previously removed to Mystic. 
 
 The following appear as settlers between the years 
 1661 and 1671: Robert Latimer, William Cotter, 
 Goodman Hansell, John Borden, John Ells, Abraham 
 Day, William Peake (of Pike), Edward Fanning (Gro- 
 ton), Josiah Reed, Thomas Stafford, John Terrill, 
 John Daniel, Samuel Chester, William Condy, Abra- 
 ham Daynes, William Chapell, William Collins, 
 George Codner, William Cooley, John Elce (Ellis), 
 Charles Haynes, Thomas Marshall, William Measure, 
 John Sullaven, William Terrall, Samuel Tubbs, 
 Richard Dart, Benjamin Grant, afterwards of Lyme, 
 Oliver Manwaring, son-in-law of Joshua Raymond, 
 Thomas Martin, Samuel Starr, son-in-law of Jona- 
 than Brewster, William Williams, a grantee on the 
 east side of the river, and Capt. John and Wait Win- 
 throp, the sons of the Governor. 
 
 In 1665, Charles Hill and Christopher Christophers 
 appear on the roll of inhabitants. They were traders 
 in partnership, and made their first purchases on Mill 
 Cove, of warehouses and wharfage, where Richard 
 Hartley and John Tinker had previously traded. 
 The firm of Hill & Christophers was probably the 
 first regular copartnership in the town. Mr. Chris- 
 tophers was a mariner, and engaged in trade with 
 Barbadoes. He had an older brother, Jeffrey Christo- 
 phers, also a mariner, who probably settled in the 
 place at the same time, though his name does not 
 occur so early. They both brought families with 
 them. 
 
 In 1666 persons who are mentioned as inhabitants, 
 but without any reference to date of arrival or settle- 
 ment, are Benjamin Atwell, Thomas Forster, com- 
 manding a vessel in the Barbadoes trade, George 
 Sharswood, Thomas Robinson, Peter Spicer (living 
 east of the river), and Gabriel Woodmanoy. 
 
 In 1667 appear John Baldwin, Peter Treby, Joseph 
 Truman, and John Wheeler. About 1668, Philip 
 Bill settled east of the river, near Robert Allyn and 
 George Geer. Thomas Bolles, supposed to have come 
 from Wells, in Maine, settled in the town plot. In 
 1670, Thomas Dymond and Benjamin Shapley, both 
 mariners. 
 
 John Gard, George Garmand, Joseph Elliot, Henry 
 Philips, and Nicholas Towson. 
 
 The following new inhabitants appear between 
 1670 and 1700 : 
 
 Ames, John and David, probably brothers, and it 
 is conjectured from Andover, Mass., settled east of 
 the river about 1696. The name is often written 
 Eams and Emms. 
 
 Ashby, Anthony; at Mystic 1688, and perhaps 
 earlier. 
 
148 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The person to whom this application was made is 
 supposed to have been Rev. Nathaniel Brewster, of 
 Brookhaven, L. I. 
 
 1665. 
 
 "24 July, John Packer desires that Leiftenant Avery and James 
 Morgan may issue the busines yt is now in oontest betwixt him and the 
 Indians at Naiwayuncke and to compound with them in the best way 
 they can with land to satisfaction of the Indians and Goodman Packer, 
 Voted." 
 
 *'9 October. Mr. Douglas by a full voate none manifpsting themselves 
 to the contrary, was chosen to goe to Mr. Wilson and Mr. Elliot to desire 
 there advise and help for the procureinge of a minister for the towne." 
 
 "Nov. 24:. A town meeting concerning what Mr. Douglas hath done 
 about a minister." 
 
 " Nov. 24, 1665. It is agreed at this town meeting that a letter be writ 
 and sent from the town to Deacon Parke of Roxburye to treat with Mr. 
 Broadstreet in the belialfe of the towne to come to us for this end to 
 supply the towne in the worke of the ministry, in wiiich letter sent full 
 powre be given to Mr. Parke to act in our behalf, the towne expressing 
 themselves willing to give 601U and rather than that the work seas, to 
 proceed to ten pound more, giving our trusty friend liberty to treat with 
 others in case our desire of Mr. Broadstreet faile. 
 
 *' A Court order for a brand-mark and horses to be branded, this day 
 read. 
 
 "Mr. Douglas coufermed in his place for the Townes packer of meat. 
 And also he was voted and chosen to brand mark all horses with L on 
 the left shoulder and is to record all horses soe branded." 
 
 "Jan: 12. 1665 ['66]. 
 
 " The return of Mr. Brodstreet's letter to be read. 
 
 "Thomas Robinson to propound [for an inhabitant]. 
 
 "A rate to underpin the meeting-bouse. 
 
 "Concerning messengera to goe for Mr. Bradstreet. 
 
 "Also for a place where he shall be when he comes. Also for pro- 
 vision for the messengers, — some coui-se to be taken for 5 lb for them. 
 
 " The Town rate for Nihantick part . £26 6s. 6rf. , 
 
 " The East side ye River . . £35 68. lOd." 
 
 " Feb. 26. It is voted that Left^ Avery and James Morgan be chosen 
 messengers to fetch up Mr. Bradstreet aa soon as moderate weather pre- 
 sents. 
 
 " John Smith and goodman Nicholls shall receive Contribution every 
 Lords daye and preserve it for ye publick good. 
 
 "It is voated and agreed that the townsmen shall have power to pro- 
 vide what is needful for the Messengers that are sent to Mr. Bradstreet 
 and allso to provide for him a place to reside in at his coming. 
 
 " Mr. Douglas and goodman Hough are voted by ye Towne to demand 
 the 8U pound of Mr. Buckley which he stands ingaged to pay to ye 
 towne. 
 
 " Voted by ye Towne that Leifft. Avery and James Morgan have power 
 to agree with any person that hath a serviceable horse to be emploied 
 in fetching up Mr. Bradstreet and what agreement they make the towne 
 to allowe and make good the same." 
 
 [In the Towne accounts of the next year appears due 
 " To Goodman Prentice for his horse, lOs. 
 To Goodman Royce for ye ministers dyet, 151b."] 
 
 "Voted ihat a towne rate oi 401b. be made imediately for ye payment 
 of Towne depts and providing to acomadate a minister and repareing 
 the meeting house. 
 
 " It is voted and agreed that Mr. Buckley for his time and paines taken 
 in preacbing the'word of God to us since the time of his yeere was ex- 
 pired shall have thirty pounds to be gathered by a rate." 
 
 " June 1, 1666. Voted by a Vnanimous consent that Mr. Bradstreet is 
 accepted in ye worke of ye ministry amongst vs, and that he have 801b 
 pr. yeare to encourage him in the worke, to be gathered by way of rate. 
 
 "Voted by the Towne that there shall be a house imediately built for 
 ye ministry, the dimensions to be 36 foote in length and 25 in breadth 
 and 13 studd betwixt ye joynts with a stack of stone chimneys in the 
 midst. The house to be a girt house. 
 
 " The towne are free to give for ye building of the house one hundred 
 pound and allso to farther paye ye masons for building a stone chimney 
 and glaze ye house windowes. 
 
 "Voted by the towne that the house now agreed upon to bo built for 
 the ministry, and allso the house and land bought of Mr. Douglass to- 
 gether with ye land which hitherto hath been reserved for the ministry 
 shall BO remains both houses and lands for the ministry, both to us and 
 our succeeding generations never to be sold or alienated to any other vse 
 
 Minority Rate Lists.— In the list of 1664 the 
 number of names is one hundred and five. This in- 
 cludes non-residents who owned property in the town. 
 In this list the amount of each man's taxable prop- 
 erty is given, and the rate levied upon it is carried 
 out. The assessment of James Rogers is nearly 
 double that of any other inhabitant. He is estimated 
 at £548, and his rate £7 19s. lOd. '' John Winthrop 
 Squire," who heads the list, is set down at £185, and 
 his rate at £2 14^. He was at this time a non-resi- 
 dent. Mr. Palmes, £224 ; John Picket, who is next 
 highest to James Kogers, £299 10s. ; James Morgan, 
 £252; Robert Burrows, £246; James Avery, £236; 
 Gary Latham, £217 ; George Tongue, £182 ; John 
 Prentis, £176; Andrew Lester, Sr., £170; Edward 
 Stallion, £169; Robert Boyce, £163. These are all 
 the estates over £150. Between £75 and £150 are 
 thirty-two. It must be remembered that land at this 
 period was of little value, and estimated low. In the 
 list of 1666 the number of names is one hundred and 
 sixteen, and in that of the next year one hundred 
 and twenty-seven. Of the whole number, four are 
 referred to as deceased, viz., Sergt. Richard Hartley, 
 Thomas Hungerford, William Morton, and Mr. Rob- 
 ert Parke. About seventeen may be marked as non- 
 residents, consisting principally of persons who had 
 removed, or merchants of other places who had an 
 interest in the trade of the port. Mr. Blinman, the 
 ex-minister; Mr. Thomson, the former Indian mis- 
 sionary, and Mr. Newman, minister of Wenham, are 
 on the list. Mr. James Richards, of Hartford, is 
 among the number. He was probably a land-owner 
 by inheritance from Wm. Gibbons, who was his 
 father-in-law, and had bought land at Pequonnuck. 
 Mr. Fitch (probably Samuel, of Hartford), Samuel 
 Hackburne, from Roxbury, and Robert Lay (of 
 Lyme) are enrolled, as also Lord, Savage, Stil- 
 linger, Revell, Richardson, who have been heretofore 
 
 noticed. 
 
 Excluding Colored Peksons. 
 
 " In town meeting, April 15, 171Y. 
 
 "Voted tbat tbis town do utterly oppose and protest against Robert 
 Jacklin a negro man's buying any land in tbis town, or being an inhab- 
 itant within s'd town and do further desire the deputies yt shall attend 
 the Court in May next yt they represent the same to the Gen. Assembly 
 that they would take some jrndent care that no person of yt colour may 
 ever have any possessions or freehold estate within this government." 
 
 CHAPTER XI.^ 
 
 NEW LONDON— (Continued.) 
 Early Settlers— Incidents, etc. 
 
 During the year 1650 grants were made to Robert 
 Parke and his son Thomas, Robert Burrows, Richard 
 Belden, Philip Kerwithy (Carwithy), Samuel Martin, 
 William Taylor, Mr. Blynman, Obadiah Bruen, 
 
 J Condensed from Miss F. M. Caulkins' excellent " History of New 
 Loudon." 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 149 
 
 Hughe Cankin, Hugh Roberts, John Coite, Andrew 
 Lester, James Averye, and Robert Isbell. The fol- 
 lowing received grants soon after : William Keeny, 
 Ralph Parker, William Wellman, Robert Brookes, 
 Thomas Stanton, and John Elderkin. Previous to 
 the year 1652 the following had applied for house- 
 lots: George Chappell, William Comstock, Thomas 
 Doxey, John Gallup, Thomas Hungerford, Mrs. 
 Lake, Ceystan Sybada, Edward Scott, Edward Stal- 
 lion, Thomas Stedman, and Matthew Waller. 
 
 Inhabitants, 1651 : Kary Latham, John Gallope, 
 John Gager, Thomas Parke, John Stubbin, Longdon, 
 Urquar, Chappell, Thomas Welles, Lewis, Bemas, 
 Mudg, Keeny, Parker, Wellman, Brewster, Bartlet, 
 Morton, Waterhouse, Hempstead, Fossiker, Stanton, 
 Hungerford, Stallion Waller, Harwood, Burrows, 
 Packer, Doxe, Burden, and Marshall. The above 
 list was recorded by Obadiah Bruen, the first " Re- 
 corder of the Town of Pequot." Richard Aerie, 
 Goodman Barker (of Charlestowne), Lieut. Bud, 
 John Coale, Edward Godner, John Davies, Capt. 
 Denason, Goodman Garlick, John Gesbie, John 
 Ingason, Edward Messenger, John Pickworth, John 
 Read, Thomas Roach, William Vincent, Thomas 
 Roach. 
 
 The following were here previous to 1661 : 
 
 Addis, William. — Came from Boston 1658 or '59. 
 
 Bartlet, Kobert. — Brother of William, first mentioned 1657. 
 
 Bloomfield, William, from Hartford, 1659.— Removed in 1663 to New- 
 town, L. I. 
 
 Bowen, Thomas, 1657. — Removed to Rehoboth, and there died in 1663. 
 
 Brooks, Thomas, 1659 and '60. — Afterwards removed. 
 
 Chapman, William, 1657. — Bought the bouse and lot that had been 
 Capt. Denison's of Mr. Blinman, agent of John Cbynnery. 
 
 Cowdall, John. — A trader who became bankrupt in 1659, and left the 
 place. 
 
 Crocker, Thomas. — Bought house in New Street, 1660. 
 
 Douglas, William. — From Boston, 1659. 
 
 Lenard, Thomaa, 1657. — House-lot at Foxen's ; removed in 1663. 
 
 Loveland, Robert. — Mariner and trader from Boston, 1658. 
 
 Moore, Miles, from Milford, 1657. — Purchased the homestead and 
 other allotments of John Gager. 
 
 Raymond, Joshua, 1658. 
 
 Rogers, James. 
 
 Richards, John. — The first notice of him is in 1660, but he may have 
 been in the plantation two or three years. He purchased on what is 
 now State Street — the south side — two house-lots originally given to 
 Waterhouse and Bruen. He built his house at the corner of the present 
 Huntington Street, and this remained for more than a century the home- 
 stead of the family. 
 
 Eoyce, Robert, 1657. 
 
 Shaw, Thomas, 1656. — Was afterwards of Pawcatuck. 
 
 Smith, Edward, 1660.— Nephew of Nehemiah and John Smith. 
 
 Tinker, John. — A grave and able man from tlie Maasachusetta colony. 
 Wetherell, Daniel.— From Scituate, 1659. 
 Wood, John, 1660. 
 
 1652. — Thomas Griffin, afterwards of Pawcatuck ; 
 William Rogers, from Boston ; Nehemiah Smith, 
 sometimes of New Haven ; Richard Smith, from 
 Martin's Vineyard (he bought the Mudge house-lot, 
 but after a few years removed to Wethersfield) ; Na- 
 thaniel Tappin, grants forfeited. 
 
 The new inhabitants of 1654 were John Lockwood, 
 William Roberts, William Collins, Sergt. Richard 
 Hartley, and Peter Bradley. Hartley appears to have 
 
 come from England with a stock of English goods, 
 which he opened in a shop on Mill Cove. Peter 
 Bradley was a seaman, who married Elizabeth, daugh- 
 ter of Jonathan Brewster, and bought the house-lot 
 of John Gallop. John Chynnery, of Watertown, at 
 the same period bought Capt. Denison's homestead, 
 the latter having previously removed to Mystic. 
 
 The following appear as settlers between the years 
 1661 and 1671: Robert Latimer, William Cotter, 
 Goodman Hansell, John Borden, John Ells, Abraham 
 Day, William Peake (of Pike), Edward Fanning (Gro- 
 ton), Josiah Reed, Thomas Stafford, John Terrill, 
 John Daniel, Samuel Chester, William Condy, Abra- 
 ham Daynes, William Chapell, William Collins, 
 George Codner, William Cooley, John Elce (Ellis), 
 Charles Haynes, Thomas Marshall, William Measure, 
 John Sullaven, William Terrall, Samuel Tubbs, 
 Richard Dart, Benjamin Grant, afterwards of Lyme, 
 Oliver Man waring, son-in-law of Joshua Raymond, 
 Thomas Martin, Samuel Starr, son-in-law of Jona- 
 than Brewster, William Williams, a grantee on the 
 east side of the river, and Capt. John and Wait Win- 
 throp, the sons of the Governor. 
 
 In 1665, Charles Hill and Christopher Christophers 
 appear on the roll of inhabitants. They were traders 
 in partnership, and made their first purchases on Mill 
 Cove, of warehouses and wharfage, where Richard 
 Hartley and John Tinker had previously traded. 
 The firm of Hill & Christophers was probably the 
 first regular copartnership in the town. Mr. Chris- 
 tophers was a mariner, and engaged in trade with 
 Barbadoes. He had an older brother, Jeffrey Christo- 
 phers, also a mariner, who probably settled in the 
 place at the same time, though his name does not 
 occur so early. They both brought families with 
 them. 
 
 In 1666 persons who are mentioned as inhabitants, 
 but without any reference to date of arrival or settle- 
 ment, are Benjamin Atwell, Thomas Forster, com- 
 manding a vessel in the Barbadoes trade, George 
 Sharswood, Thomas Robinson, Peter Spicer (living 
 east of the river), and Gabriel Woodmancy. 
 
 In 1667 appear John Baldwin, Peter Treby, Joseph 
 Truman, and John Wheeler. About 1668, Philip 
 Bill settled east of the river, near Robert Allyn and 
 George Geer. Thomas Bolles, supposed to have come 
 from Wells, in Maine, settled in the town plot. In 
 1670, Thomas Dymond and Benjamin Shapley, both 
 mariners. 
 
 John Gard, George Garmand, Joseph Elliot, Henry 
 Philips, and Nicholas Towson. 
 
 The following new inhabitants appear between 
 1670 and 1700 : 
 
 Ames, John and David, probably brothers, and it 
 is conjectured from Andover, Mass., settled east of 
 the river about 1696. The name is often written 
 Eams and Emms. 
 
 Ashby, Anthony; at Mystic 1688, and perhaps 
 earlier. 
 
150 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Baker, Joshua ; from Boston, not long after 1670. 
 
 Blake, Jeremiah ; bought land in July, 1681 ; on 
 the list of 1688, etc. 
 
 Bodington, or Buddington, Walter; east of the river 
 in 1679. 
 
 Brookes, Henry ; living at Nahantick in 1699. 
 
 Buoknall, or Buckland, Samuel ; cattle-mark re- 
 corded in 1674. He married (1) the widow of Mat- 
 thew Beckwith, Sr. ; (2) the widow of Philip Bill, 
 Sr. 
 
 Bulkley, Dr. Charles ; son of Rev. Gershom ; 
 licensed by the County Court to practice physic, and 
 settled in the town, 1687. 
 
 Butler, Thomas and John ; before 1690, and per- 
 haps much earlier. 
 
 Button, Peter; in the North Parish, probably be- 
 fore 1700. 
 
 Camp, William ; in the Jordan District before 
 1690. 
 
 Cannon, Robert ; accepted as an inhabitant in town- 
 meeting, 1678. 
 
 Carder, Richard; east of the river, about 1700. 
 
 Carpenter, David ; at Nahantick Ferry, 1680. 
 
 Chandler, John ; licensed to keep a house of en- 
 tertainment, 1698. 
 
 Cherry, John ; a transient inhabitant about 1680. 
 
 Crary, Peter ; east of the river ; cattle-mark is re- 
 corded in 1680. 
 
 Darrow, George ; between 1675 and 1680. 
 
 Davis, Andrew ; east of river, about 1680. 
 
 Davie, John ; bought farm at Pequonuck (Groton), 
 1692. 
 
 Denison, George; sou of John, of Stonington; of 
 New London, 1694. 
 
 Dennis, George ; from Long Island, about 1680. 
 
 Dodge, Israel ; on a farm in North Parish, 1694. 
 
 Ellis, Christopher; admitted inhabitant, 1682. 
 
 Edgecombe, John ; about 1673. 
 
 Fargo, Moses ; house-lot granted 1680. 
 
 Fountain, Aaron; son-in-law of Samuel Beeby. 
 His house on the Great Neck is mentioned in 1683. 
 
 Foote, Pascoe ; 1678 ; son-in-law of Edward Stal- 
 lion. 
 
 Fosdick, Samuel ; from Charlestown, Mass., 1680. 
 
 Fox, two brothers, Samuel and John, about 1675. 
 
 Gibson, Roger, and his son William ; living on the 
 Great Neck in 1680. 
 
 Gilbert, Samuel ; in North Parish ; on a list sub- 
 scribing for the ministry of New London in 1688. 
 
 Green, Jonas; probably of the Cambridge family 
 of Greens ; commanded a coasting vessel, and fixed 
 his residence in New London ; in 1694 lived on Mill 
 Cove, in a house sold by his descendants to John 
 Colfax. 
 
 Hackley, Peter; erected a fulling-mill at Jordan 
 1694. 
 
 Hall, Jonathan ; in 1676 or 1677 he exchanged his 
 accommodations in New Haven for those of John Ste- 
 vens, in New London. 
 
 Halsey, William ; 1689. 
 
 Harvey, John ; at Nahantick, 1682. 
 
 Hatch, William ; about 1690. 
 
 Hawks, or Hawkes, John ; a serge-maker, 1698. 
 
 Haynes, Josiah; at Pequonuck (Groton), 1696. 
 
 Halloway, Jacob; about 1700. 
 
 Holmes, Thomas; he had wife, Lucretia. Their 
 son John was born March 11, 1686. 
 
 Holt, Nathaniel ; 1673. 
 
 Hubbard, Hugh; about 1670; from Derbyshire 
 England. 
 
 Hubbell, Ebenezer; from Stratfield, Fairfield Co. 
 after 1690. 
 
 Hurlbut, Stephen ; about 1695, probably from 
 Windsor. 
 
 Hutchinson, George; about 1680. His wife, Mar- 
 garet, obtained a divorce from him in 1686, on the 
 plea of three years' absence and desertion. 
 
 Jennings, Richard ; from Barbadoes, 1677. 
 
 Johnson, Thomas and Charles ; before 1690. 
 
 Jones, Thomas ; 1677, probably from Gloucester, 
 Mass. 
 
 Leach, or Leech, Thomas; about 1680. 
 
 Leeds, John ; from Kent Co., England, 1674. 
 
 Loomer, Stephen ; 1687. 
 
 Mayhew, John ; from Devonshire, England, 1676. 
 
 Maynard, Zachariah; "formerly living at Marl- 
 borough;" settled east of the river, beyond Robert 
 Allyn, 1697. 
 
 MoCarty, Owen ; 1693. 
 
 Minter, Tobias; son of Ezer, of Newfoundland; 
 married 1672, died 1673. 
 
 Minter, Tristram ; his relict in 1674 married Joshua 
 Baker. 
 
 Mitchel, or Mighill, Thomas; a shipwright, had 
 his building-yard in 1696 near the Fort land. 
 
 Mortimer, Thomas ; often Maltimore ; a constable 
 in 1680. 
 
 Munsell, or Munson, Thomas ; on the Great Neck, 
 1683. 
 
 Mynard, or Maynard, William ; about 1690, from 
 Hampshire, England. 
 
 Nest, Joseph ; 1678. 
 
 Pember, Thomas ; 1686. 
 
 Pemberton, Joseph ; from Westerly, after 1680. 
 
 Pendall, William ; mariner and shipwright, 1676. 
 
 Persey, Robert ; a transient inhabitant ; bought a 
 house 1678, sold it 1679. 
 
 Plimpton, Robert ; 1681. 
 
 Plumbe, John ; before 1680. 
 
 Potts, William; from Newcastle, England, 1678; 
 married a daughter of James Avery ; was constable 
 east of the river, 1684. 
 
 Rice, Gershom ; east of the river, before 1700. 
 
 Rose-Morgan, Richard ; 1683. 
 
 Russell, Daniel ; 1675. 
 
 Satterly, Benedict ; after 1680. 
 
 Seabury, John ; east of the river, before 1700. 
 
 Scarritt, Richard ; 1695. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 151 
 
 Singleton, Richard ; east of the river ; cattle-mark 
 recorded 1686. 
 
 Springer, Dennis ; land granted him east of the 
 river in 1696. 
 
 Steer, Richard ; 1690. 
 
 Strickland, Peter ; probably about 1670. 
 
 Swaddel, William ; east of the river ; cattle-mark 
 1689. 
 
 Thome, William ; from Dorsetshire, England. He 
 married, in 1676, Lydia, relict of Thomas Bayley. 
 East of the river. 
 
 Turner, Ezekiel ; son of John, of Scituate, 1678. 
 
 Walker, Richard ; 1695. 
 
 Walworth, William ; east of the river, about 1690. 
 
 Way, Thomas ; about 1687. 
 
 Weeks, John ; east of the river, before 1700 ; prob- 
 ably from Portsmouth, N. H. 
 
 Wickwire, John ; 1676. 
 
 Willett, James; accepted inhabitant, 1681. He 
 vras from Swanzea, and bought the farm of William 
 Meades, east of the river. 
 
 Willett, John ; 1682. 
 
 Williams, Thomas ; 1670. 
 , Williams, John ; east of the river ; his name is on 
 the ministry subscription list of 1688. 
 
 Willoughby, William ; about 1697. 
 
 Young, Thomas ; from Southold, 1693 ; married 
 Mary, relict of Peter Bradley, 2d. 
 
 Of the first comers, 1650, or before, John Stebbins, 
 George Chappel, Thomas Parke, Thomas Roach, and 
 three of the Beeby brothers lived into the eighteenth 
 century ; Thomas Beeby, the other brother, died but 
 a short time previous. John Gager was living, but in 
 another settlement. Alexander Pygan, Oliver Man- 
 waring, and some others who had settled in the town 
 before 1660 were yet upon the stage of life. The 
 deaths that strew the way are thinly scattered, show- 
 ing that life and health were here as secure from dis- 
 ease, excepting only one or two seasons of epidemic 
 sickness, as in the most favored portions of New Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Jarvis Mudge and Thomas Doxey. Mention has 
 already been made of the decease of these two persons 
 in the year 1652, the first deaths in the plantation. 
 Jarvis Mudge had married at Wethersfield, in 1649, 
 the relict of Abraham Elsing. 
 
 Walter Harris died Nov. 6, 1654. A vessel called 
 the "William and Francis" came to America in 1632, 
 bringing among its passengers Walter Harris,' who 
 settled in Weymouth, where he remained about twenty 
 years, and then came to Pequot Harbor. On his first 
 application for a house-lot he is styled of Dorchester, 
 which makes it probable that his last temporary 
 abiding-place had been in that town. He had two 
 sons, Gabriel and Thomas. His wife, whose maiden 
 name was Mary Fry,^ survived him less than three 
 
 1 Savage (MS). 
 
 s See will of William Fry, in Hist, and Gen. Reg., vol. ii. p. 385. 
 
 months ; one inventory and settlement of estate suf- 
 ficed for both. 
 
 The nuncupative will of Mrs. Harris will be given 
 at large, omitting only the customary formula at the 
 commencement. It is one of the oldest wills extant 
 in the county, and is rich in allusions to costume and 
 furniture. From a clause in this will it may be in- 
 ferred that Thomas Harris had been betrothed to 
 Rebecca, daughter of Obadiah Bruen. This young 
 man, according to tradition, had been sent to Eng- 
 land to recover some property that had fallen to the 
 family, and was supposed to have been lost at sea, as 
 he was never heard of afterwards : 
 
 " The last Will and Testament of Mary Harries, taken from her owne 
 mouth this 19th of Jan., 1655. 
 
 " I give to my eldest daughter, Sarah Lane, the bigest brass pan, and 
 to her daughter Mary, a silver spoone. And to her daughter Sarah, the 
 bigest pewter dish and one silken riben. Likewise I give to her daughter 
 Mary, a pewter candlesticke. 
 
 "I give to my daughter, Mary Lawrence, my blew mohere peticoto 
 and my straw hatt and a fether boulster. And to her eldest scone I give 
 a silver spoone. To her second Sonne a silver whissle. I give more to 
 my daughter Mary, my next brasst pann and a thrum cushion. And to 
 her youngest sonne I give a pewter bassen. 
 
 " I give to my youngest daughter, Elizabeth Weekes, a peece of red 
 broad cloth, being about two yards, alsoe a damask livery cloth, a gold 
 ring, a silver spoone, a fether bed and a boulster. Alsoe, I give to my 
 daughter, Elizabeth, my best hatt, my gowne, a brass kettle, and a 
 woolen jacket for her husband. Alaoe, I give to my daughter Eliza- 
 beth, thirty shillings, alsoe a red whittle,^ a white apron, and a new white 
 neck-cloth. Alsoe, I give to my three daughters aforesaid, a quarter part 
 to each of them, of the dyaper table-cloth and tenn shillings apeece. 
 
 " I give to my sister Migges, a red peticoat, a cloth jacket, a silke hud, 
 a qnoife,* a cross-cloth, and a neck -cloth. 
 
 "I give to my cosen Calib Rawlyns ten shillinges. 
 
 "I give to my two cosens, Mary and Elizabeth ffry, each of them five 
 shillinges. 
 
 " I give to Mary Barnet a red stuif waacote. 
 
 " I give to my daughter, Elizabeth, my great chest. To my daughter, 
 Mary, a ciffer^ and a white neck-cloth. To my sister, Hannah Bawlin, 
 my best cross-cloth. To my brother, Rawlin, a lased band. To my two 
 kinswomen, Elizabeth Hubbard and Mary Steevens, five shillinges 
 apeece. 
 
 " I give to my brother, Migges, his three youngest children, two shil- 
 linges sixe pence apeece. 
 
 " I give to my sonne Thomas, ten shillinges, if he doe come home or 
 be alive. 
 
 *' I give to Rebekah Bruen , a pynt pott of pewter, a new petticoate, and 
 wascote wch she is to spin herselfe ; alsoe an old byble, and a hatt wch 
 was my sonn Thomas his hatt. 
 
 " I give to my sonne Gabriell, my house, land, cattle, and swine, with 
 all other goodes reall and psonall in Pequet or any other place, and doe 
 make him my sole executor to this my will. Witness my hand, 
 
 " Witness hearunto. The mark of (.< Mart Haeeies. 
 
 " John Winthrop, 
 
 " Obadiah Bruen, 
 
 " Will" Nyccolls." « 
 
 The Harris family ranked in point of comfort and 
 accommodations with the well-to-do portion of the 
 community. They had abetter supply of pewter than 
 is found in many early inventories, and such articles 
 of convenience as a gridiron, chopping-knife, brewing 
 tub, smoothing-iron, "four silver spoons, and two 
 
 if A kind of short cloak. 
 
 ■t A cap. 
 
 5 Some kind of cap or head-dress. Quoif and ciffer are from the French 
 
 caijf'e and coiffure, 
 ^ New London Records, lib. 3. 
 
152 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 cushions.'' The house consisted of a front room, 
 lean-to, shop-room, and two chambers. 
 
 Gabriel Harris died in 1684; Elizabeth, his relict, 
 Aug. 17, 1702. 
 
 The inventory of Gabriel Harris, compared with 
 that of his father, illustrates the rapid march of im- 
 provement in the plantation. The homestead, con- 
 sisting of a new house, orchard, cider-mill, and smith's 
 shop, valued together at £200, was assigned to Thomas, 
 the eldest son, for his double portion. The inherit- 
 ance of the other children, six in number, was £100 
 each. Among the wearing apparel are : 
 
 " A broad-cloth coat with red lining. 
 
 " Two Ca8toi"S [beaver hatsj. 
 
 "A white serge coat: a Kersey coat. 
 
 "A serge coat and doublet; a wash-leather doublet. 
 
 "Two red wescotes — a stuff coat and breeches. 
 
 "Four looms and tackling; a silk loom. 
 
 "An Indian maid-servant, valued at £15. 
 
 " Three Canoes, etc. 
 
 Thomas Harris, oldest son of Gabriel, died in Bar- 
 badoes, June 9, 1691, leaving an estate estimated at 
 £927. His relict, Mary (a daughter of Daniel Weth- 
 erell), married George Denison, grandson of George 
 the first, of Stonington. His only child, Mary, born 
 Nov. 4, 1690, was regarded as the richest heiress in 
 the settlement. About 1712 she became the wife of 
 Walter Butler. 
 
 Peter Collins died in May or June, 1655. He is 
 generally styled Mr. Collins. His will and inventory 
 are almost all that is known of him. Apparently he 
 had no fainily and lived alone. He distributes his 
 effects, appraised at £57, among his neighbors and 
 friends, the house and land to Richard Poole. 
 
 Robert Isbell died about 1655. He may have been 
 the Robert Isabell who had land granted him in Salem 
 in 1637. He left relict Ann (who married William 
 Nicholls) and two children, Eleazar and Hannah. 
 Eleazar married, Nov. 1, 1668, Elizabeth French, and 
 removed to Killingworth, where he died in 1677. 
 
 Hannah Isbell married, first, Thomas Stedman, 
 Aug. 6, 1668, and, second, John Fox, both of New 
 London. 
 
 Robert Hempstead died in June, 1655. The fol- 
 lowing memorandum is appended to his will : 
 
 "The ages of my three children : 
 "Mary Hempsted was borne March 26, 1647. 
 "Joshua Hempsted niy Sonne was borne Jvme 16, 1649. 
 " Hannah Hempsted was borne April 11, 1652. 
 "This I Kobert Hempsted testifie under my hand." 
 
 The name of Robert Hempstead has not been traced 
 in New England previous to its appearance on our 
 records. It is probable that when he came to Pequot 
 with Winthrop, in 1645, he had recently arrived in 
 the country, and was a young, unmarried man. A 
 report has obtained currency that he was a knight, 
 and entitled to the address of " Sir." This idea is 
 not countenanced by anything that appears on record. 
 It originated probably from the rude handwriting of 
 
 the recorder, in which an unskillful reader might 
 easily mistake the title of "Mr."' for that of "Sir." 
 
 In regard to Mary Hempstead, the first-born of New 
 London, we may allow fancy, so long as she does not 
 falsify history, to fill up the brief outline that we find 
 on record with warm and vivid pictures. We may 
 call her the first fair flower that sprang of the dreary 
 wilderness, the blessed token that families would be 
 multiplied on these desolate shores and homes made 
 cheerful and happy with the presence of children' 
 we may think of her as beautiful and good, pure like 
 the lily, fresh and blooming like the rose; yet not a 
 creature of romance, too ethereal for earthly fellow- 
 ship, floating a few years through bower and hall 
 and then exhaled to Eden, but a noble-hearted 
 much-enduring woman, prudent, cheerful, and re- 
 ligious, working diligently with her hands, living to 
 a goodly age, and rearing to maturity a family often 
 children, two sons and eight daughters, — an apt and 
 beautiful symbol for the young country. 
 
 Mary Hempstead was united in marriage with 
 Robert Douglas, Sept. 28, 1665. She had eleven 
 children, one of whom died in infancy. Having 
 lived to see the other ten all settled in families of 
 their own, she fell asleep Dec. 26, 1711. Her hus- 
 band was gathered by her side Jan. 15, 1715-16. 
 
 Hannah Hempstead married, first, Abel Moore, 
 and, second, Samuel Waller. Joanna, the reUct of 
 Robert Hempstead, married Andrew Lester. Joshua, 
 the only son of Robert Hempstead, married Eliza- 
 beth, daughter of Greenfield Larrabee. This couple 
 had a family of eight daughters and an only son, 
 Joshua, who was born Sept. 1, 1678, and with him 
 the male line of the family again commences. This 
 person— Joshua Hempstead (2)— took an active part 
 in the affairs of the town for a period of fifty years, 
 reckoning from 1708. The " Hempstead Diary," re- 
 peatedly quoted in this histpry, was a private journal 
 kept by him from the year 1711 to his death in 1758. 
 A portion of the manuscript has been lost, but the 
 larger part is still preserved. Its contents are chiefly 
 of a personal and domestic character, but it contains 
 brief notices of town affairs and references to the 
 public transactions of the country. 
 
 Its author was a remarkable man, one that might 
 serve to represent, or at least illustrate, the age, coun- 
 try, and society in which he lived. The diversity of 
 his occupations marks a custom of the day : he was 
 at once farmer, surveyor, house and ship-carpenter, 
 attorney, stone-cutter, sailor, and trader. He gener- 
 ally held three or four town oflSces; was justice of the 
 peace, judge of probate, executor of various wills, 
 overseer to widows, guardian to orphans, member of 
 all committees, everybody's helper and adviser, and 
 cousin to half of the community. Of the Winthrop 
 family he was a friend and confidential agent, man- 
 aging their business concerns whenever the head of 
 the family was absent. 
 
 The house now standing on the original homestead 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 153 
 
 of. Robert Hempstead is undoubtedly the most ancient 
 building in New London. It is nevertheless a house 
 of the second generation from the settlement. The 
 first houses, rude and hastily built, passed away 
 with the first generation. The age of the Hemp- 
 stead house is determined by the " Hempstead Diary.'' 
 The writer occupied the dwelling, and, writing in 
 1743, says it had been built sixty-five years. 
 
 Other items from the diary that may be interesting 
 in this connection are the following : 
 
 " April 26, 1729, my aunt Waller died, aged 77, youngest daughter of 
 my grandfather Hempstead, and horn near this house, in the old one 
 built by my grandfather.'* 
 
 " Mary, wife of Robert Douglas, was my father's eldest sister, and 
 born in New London in Jan: 1646-7, — the first child of English parents 
 born in this town." (Mistake in the month, compared with the date in 
 her father's will.) 
 
 " 21 Jan; 1738-9 — Cut down one-half of the great yellow apple-tree, 
 east from the house, which was planted by my grandfather 90 years 
 agone." 
 
 William Roberts died in April or May, 1657. Lit- 
 tle is known of him. He had been in the service of 
 Mr. Stanton, and had settled but recently in Pequot. 
 He lived alone, in half a house owned in partnership 
 with George Harwood, to whose wife and son he left 
 his whole property, which was valued at only £26. 
 A bear-skin and a chest are mentioned in the inven- 
 tory, but no bed, table, or chair. He had two cows 
 and some other stock, plenty of land, decent apparel, 
 a razor, a pewter porringer, three spoons, and a glass 
 bottle ; but nothing else except tubs, trays, bags, and 
 Indian baskets. This may be regarded as the inven- 
 tory of a hermit of the woods, a settler of the sim- 
 plest class, who had built a lodge in the thicket, on 
 the outskirts of the plantation. 
 
 William Bartlett died in 1658. This person is 
 sometimes called a shipwright, and again a seaman. 
 He was a lame man, engaged in the boating trade 
 along the coast of the Sound. A deed is recorded, 
 executed by him in March, 1658, but he soon after 
 appears to us for the last time at Southold, L. I., in 
 company with George Tongue, William Cooley, and 
 his brother, Robert Bartlett. He there traded with 
 a Dutchman named Sanders Lennison, of whom he 
 purchased a quantity of rum, in value £7 10s., and 
 paid for it in " wompum and inions." 
 
 John Coit died Aug. 29, 1659. Mrs. Mary Coit 
 died Jan. 2, 1676, aged eighty. This may be regarded 
 as almost a solitary instance of protracted widowhood 
 for that day, our ancestors, at whatever age be- 
 reaved, having been much addicted to second, and 
 even third and fourth marriages. If the age of Mr. 
 Coit equaled that of his wife they were more ad- 
 vanced in years than most of the early settlers of the 
 town, — a couple to be ranked with Jonathan Brew- 
 ster and wife and Walter Harris and wife, for whose 
 birth we look back into the shadow of the sixteenth 
 century. The will of John Coit (Aug. 1, 1659) pro- 
 vides for his son Joseph and two daughters, Mary 
 and Martha; but he refers to four other children, two 
 
 sons and two daughters, absent from him, and leaves 
 them a trifling legacy " in case they be living." 
 
 Jonathan Brewster died in 1661. No probate 
 papers relating to his estate have been found, but 
 bills of sale are recorded, dated in. 1658, conveying 
 all his property in the town plot, and his house and 
 land at Poquetannuck, with his movables, cattle, and 
 swine, " to wit, 4 oxen, 12 cows, 8 yearlings, and 20 
 swine," to his son, Benjamin Brewster, and his son- 
 in-law, John Picket. Feb. 14, 1661-62, Mr. Picket 
 relinquishes his interest in the assignment to his 
 brother-in-law, stipulating only 
 
 "that my mother-in-law, Mrs, Brewster, the late wife of my father, 
 Mr. Jonathan Brewster, shall have a full and competent means out of 
 his estate during her life from the said B. B., at her own dispose freely 
 and fully to command at her own pleasure." 
 
 Richard Poole died April 26, 1662. No grant to 
 this person is on record, nor does he appear on any 
 list of inhabitants, but his name is often mentioned. 
 He is sometimes called Mr. Poole, and after his death 
 is referred to as Old Poole. 
 
 Peter Bradley died in June, 1662. The wife of 
 Bradley was Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan Brews- 
 ter, but of the marriage no record has been found. 
 He was a mariner, and after his settlement in New 
 London plied a sloop or sail-boat through the Sound. 
 
 William Redfield died in 1662. The earliest notice 
 of him, is in a deed of gift from Jonathan Brewster, of 
 "ten acres of arable land at Mohegan, whereon the 
 said Redfyne hath built a house." 
 
 Sergt. Richard Hartley died Aug. 7, 1662. The 
 title of " sergeant" is derived from office held before 
 he came to New London. He was an Englishman, 
 and acted as agent to merchants in England, who 
 consigned goods to him to sell. 
 
 Isaac Willey, Jr., died in August, 1662. He was a 
 young man, probably not long married. His inven- 
 tory, though slender, contains a few articles not very 
 common, viz.: " tynen pans, a tynen quart pot, cot- 
 ton yarn," etc., together with one so common as to be 
 almost universal, a " dram cup,'' which appears in 
 nearly every inventory for a century or more after the 
 settlement. 
 
 John Tinker died at Hartford, in October, 1662. 
 The General Court ordered that the expenses of his 
 sickness and funeral, amounting to £8 6s. 4d., should 
 be paid out of the public treasury. 
 
 Thomas Hungerford died 1663. Estate, £100. 
 Children, three, — " Thomas, aged about fifteen ; Sarah, 
 nine ; Hannah, four years old this 1st of May, 1663." 
 The relict of Thomas Hungerford married Samuel 
 Spencer, of East Haddam ; one of the daughters 
 married Lewis Hughes, of Lyme. 
 
 Robert Parke died 1665. Mr. Parke was called an 
 aged man in 1662. His will is on the town book, 
 dated May 14, 1660; proved in March, 1664-65. He 
 names only three children, — William, Samuel, and 
 Thomas. Of the ^econd son, Samuel, we have no in- 
 formation, except what may be inferred from the clause 
 
154 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 relating to him in tiie will. The oldest son, Deacon 
 William Parke, of Roxbury, executor of the will, is 
 directed to pay to Samuel £50, — 
 
 "provided niy said son Samuel sliall first come and demand the same 
 in Roxbury within the time and space of seven years next and immedi- 
 ately after the date thereof." 
 
 James Bemas died in July, 1665. This date is ob- 
 tained by inference. James Bemas had been chosen 
 constable for the year 1665, but on the 24th of July, 
 Joseph Coit was appointed in his place, and his wife 
 was soon after mentioned as the Widow Bemas. She 
 married, in 1672 or 1673, Edward Griswold, of Killing- 
 worth. 
 
 Andrew Longdon. This person was an early settler 
 in Wethersfield. He was on the jury of the Particu- 
 lar Court, at Hartford, in September, 1643. In 1649 
 came to Pequot Harbor. In 1660 was appointed 
 prison-keeper, and his house to be used as the town 
 prison. 
 
 William Chesebrough died June 9, 1667. Though 
 living at Pawcatuck, Mr. Chesebrough was chosen 
 deputy from New London to the General Court five 
 times between 1653 and 1657. No fact shows more 
 clearly the identity of the two settlements. 
 
 John Picket died Aug. 16, 1667. It is much to be 
 regretted that a full record of the early marriages, 
 which were undoubtedly by Mr. Winthrop, was not 
 preserved. The marriage of John Picket and Ruth 
 Brew.ster belongs to the UQrecorded list. Their chil- 
 dren were: 1. Mary, who married Benjamin Shapley ; 
 2, Ruth, who married Mr. Moses Noyes, first minister 
 of Lyme ; 3. William, who died about 1690 ; 4. John, 
 born July 25, 1656; 5. Adam, born Nov. 15, 1658; 
 6. Mercy, born Jan. 16, 1660-61, married Samuel 
 Fosdick. 
 
 Andrew Lester died June 7, 1669. Andrew Lester 
 was licensed to keep a house of entertainment at 
 Gloucester by the County Court, 26th of Second 
 Month, 1648. He removed to Pequot in 1651 ; was 
 constable and collector in 1668. 
 
 William Morton died 1669. A native of London, 
 and proud of his birthplace, it is probable that the 
 influence of William Morton had something to do 
 with the persevering determination of the inhabitants 
 to call their plantation New London. He was the 
 first proprietor of that sandy point over which How- 
 ard Street now runs to meet the new bridge to Mama- 
 cock. This was at first called Morton's Point, then 
 Hog Neck, from the droves of swine that resorted 
 thither to root up the clams at low tide, and after- 
 wards Windmill Point, from the structure erected 
 upon it. It has also at various times borne the names 
 of its owners, Fosdick, Howard, etc., and is now a 
 part of the larger point known as Shaw's Neck. 
 
 Robert Latimer died about 1671. This is ascer- 
 tained from the proceedings on the settlement of the 
 estate in 1693, when his relict Ann presented the in- 
 ventory, and requested a legal distribution of the 
 property of her husband, " who deceased twenty-two 
 
 years since." Mrs. Ann Latimer had two children by 
 her first husband, Matthew Jones, of Boston. These 
 were Matthew and Sarah. The children of Robert 
 and Ann Latimer were also two. 
 
 Edward Codner died 1671. He appears to have 
 been a mariner and trader; was of New London 
 1651, with wife Priscilla ; came from Saybrook • 
 returned thither again, and there died, leaving a 
 widow Alice. His possessions in New London ac- 
 crued to his son, Laurence, or Laurent, who was ad- 
 ministrator of the estate. He left also a daughter. 
 Laurence Codner was an inhabitant before 1664. 
 George Codner, of New London, 1662 and 1664 
 has not been further traced. 
 
 William NichoUs died Sept. 4, 1673. A person of 
 this name, and probably the same man, had land given 
 him in Salem, 1638. He was an early and substantial 
 settler at Pequot, often on committees, and sustain- 
 ing both town and church offices. 
 
 George Tonge died in 1674. The early records 
 have his name written Tongue, but the orthography 
 used by himself is given above. In the will of Peter 
 Collins, in 1655, Capt. James Tong is mentioned as a 
 debtor to the estate. This person was not of New 
 London, but he may have been brother of George, of 
 whom nothing is known until he appears in New 
 London, about 1652. 
 
 Thomas Bayley died about 1675. Thomas Bayley 
 married. Jan. 10, 1655-56, Lydia, daughter of James 
 Redfield. The same month a grant was made to him 
 by the townsmen, " with the advice and consent of 
 Mr. Winthrop," of a lot lying north of Mr. Win- 
 throp's land, upon the east side of the river. Ee- 
 linquishing his house in the town plot, he settled on 
 this grant, which by subsequent additions expanded 
 into a farm. 
 
 William Keeny died 1675. He was aged sixty-one 
 in 1662, and his wife Agnes (or Annis), sixty-three; 
 his- daughter Susannah, who married Ralph Parker, 
 thirty-four ; Mary, who married Samuel Beebv; twenty- 
 two ; and his son John, twenty-one. No other chil- 
 dren are mentioned. 
 
 John Gallop. He was the son of John Gallop, of 
 Massachusetts, and both father and son were renowned 
 as Indian-fighters. Capt. John Gallop, of Stoning- 
 ton, was one of the six captains slain in the Narra- 
 gansett fort fight, Dec. 19, 1675. His wife was Han- 
 nah, daughter of Mrs. Margaret Lake. 
 
 The Raymonds were also early settlers. Daniel 
 married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Gabriel Harris, 
 and had two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah ; second, 
 Rebecca, daughter of John Lay, by whom he had 
 sons, Richard, Samuel, and perhaps others. He 
 lived in Lyme; died 1696, and his widow married 
 Samuel Gager, of Norwich. 
 
 Samuel married Mary, daughter of Nehemiah 
 Smith, and settled in New London, where they both 
 died after 1700, leaving a considerable estate, but no 
 children. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 156 
 
 Joshua married Elizabeth, daughter of Nehemiah 
 Smith, Dec. 10, 1659. He purchased the Prentis 
 home-lot, in New London, and left it to his children, 
 together with a valuable farm in Mohegan. 
 
 Joshua Raymond (2) married Mercy, daughter of 
 James Sands, of Block Island, April 29, 1683. 
 
 It is this Mercy Raymond whose name has been 
 connected, by a mixture of truth and fable, with the 
 story of the noted pirate, Capt. Kidd.' Mr. Raymond 
 died in 1704, " at the home-seat of the Sands family," 
 which he had bought of his brother-in-law, Niles, on 
 Block Island. It was a lonely and exposed situation 
 by the sea-shore, with a landing-place near, where 
 strange sea-craft, as well as neighboring coasters, 
 often touched. Here the family dwelt, and Mr. Ray- 
 mond being much of the time absent in New London, 
 the care and management of the homestead devolved 
 upon his wife, who is represented as a woman of great 
 thrift and energy. 
 
 The legendary tale is that Capt. Kidd made her 
 little harbor his anchorage-ground alternately with 
 Gardiner's Bay ; that she feasted him, supplied him 
 with provisions, and boarded a strange lady whom 
 he called his wife a considerable time ; and that when 
 he was ready to depart he bade her hold out her apron, 
 which she did, and he threw in handfuls of gold, jew- 
 els, and other precious commodities until it was full, 
 as the wages of her hospitality. 
 
 This fanciful story was doubtless the development 
 of a simple fact that Kidd landed upon her farm, and 
 she being solitary and unprotected, took the part of 
 prudence, supplied him freely with what he would 
 otherwise have taken by force, and received his money 
 in payment for her accommodations. The Kidd story, 
 however, became a source of pleasantry and gossip 
 among the acquaintances of the family, and they were 
 popularly said to have been enriched by the apron. 
 
 Robert Royce died in 1676. This name is identi- 
 cal with Rice. The Robert Royce of New London is 
 presumed to be the Robert iJice who was entered free- 
 man in Massachusetts, 1634, and one of those dis- 
 armed in Boston, 1637, for adherence to the opinions 
 and party of Wheelright and Hutchinson. When he 
 left Boston is not known, but he is found at Strat- 
 ford, west of New Haven, before 1650, and was there 
 in 1656. In 1667 he came to New London, and the 
 town granted him the original Post lot, on Post Hill. 
 He was by trade a shoemaker, was constable in 1660, 
 one of the townsmen in 1663, in 1667 appointed to 
 keep an ordinary, and the same year " freed from 
 training," probably on account of age. He was again 
 townsman in 1668. 
 
 Jacob Waterhouse died 1676. The date is obtained 
 from the probate of his will, which was in September 
 of this year. He was probably an old man, as all his 
 children were of age, and he was released from militia 
 duty in 1665. 
 
 1 He is called Robert Kidd in the ballad, bnt William in history. 
 
 The name Waterhouse was very soon abbreviated 
 into Watrous, which is the orthography now gener- 
 ally used. 
 
 John Lewis died Dec. 8, 1676. The name John 
 Lewis is found several times repeated among the 
 early emigrants to New England. One came over in 
 the "Hercules" from Sandwich in 1635, with wife, 
 Sarah, and one child, and was enrolled as from Ten- 
 terden, in Kent.^ This is probably the same that ap- 
 pears on the list of freemen in Scituate, Mass., 1637." 
 He afterwards disappears from the records of that 
 town, and we suppose him to be the John Lewis who 
 came to New London, 1648. 
 
 Another John Lewis, who was probably an original 
 emigrant, settled in Saybrook or Lyme ; his inventory 
 was presented at the County Court in 1670. 
 
 Still another John Lewis was living at " Squmma- 
 cutt" (Westerly) in 1673. 
 
 John Lewis, of New London, had a son John, who 
 was a young man in 1670, constable in 1681, and after 
 1700 sergeant of the train-bands. He married Eliza- 
 beth Huntley, of Lyme, where his oldest son, John 
 (3), settled. Sergt. John Lewis was himself in- 
 stantly killed, as he sat on horseback, by the sudden 
 fall of the limb of a tree which men were cutting. 
 May 9, 1717. 
 
 Nathaniel and Joseph Lewis are names that appear 
 on the rate-list of 1667 as partners in estate. They 
 were transient residents, and probably sons of George 
 Lewis, of Scituate,* brother of John, the freeman of 
 1637. If the latter, as we have supposed, was iden- 
 tical with John Lewis, of New London, these young 
 men were his nephews. 
 
 Matthew Waller died in 1680. Of this person 
 little is known. He was perhaps the Matthew Waller 
 of Salem, 1637, and the Sarah Waller member of 
 Salem Church in 1648 may have been his wife. He 
 had two daughters, Rebecca and Sarah, who owned 
 the covenant and were baptized in 1671. Rebecca 
 married Thomas BoUes, and died in 1712, leaving no 
 issue. Sarah was unmarried in 1699. 
 
 Ensign William Waller, of Lyme, was brother of 
 Matthew. One of his sons, Samuel Waller, lived on 
 a farm at Niantick, within the bounds of New Lon- 
 don, where he died in 1742, very aged. 
 
 Matthew Beckwith died Dec. 13, 1681. His death 
 being sudden and the result of accident, a jury was 
 summoned, who gave their verdict that "he came to 
 his death by mistaking his way in a dark night and 
 falling from a clift of rocks." Estate £393. He left 
 wife, Elizabeth, and children, — Matthew, John, Jo- 
 seph, Benjamin, and two daughters, widows, the relicts 
 of Robert Gerard and Benjamin Grant, both of whom 
 were mariners and had probably perished at sea. 
 No other children are mentioned in the brief record 
 of the settlement of the estate, but Nathaniel Beck- 
 
 2 Savage. Gleanings in Mass. Hist. Coll., 3d series, vol. viii. p. 276. 
 8 Deane's Hist. Scituate, p. 304. 
 < Ibid., p. 303. 
 
156 
 
 HTSTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 with, of Lyme, may upon supposition be included 
 among his sons. 
 
 Matthew Beckwith, Jr., like his father and most of 
 the family, was a seaman. The births of his two 
 oldest children, Matthew and John, are registered in 
 Guilford, where he probably married and resided for 
 a time. The next three, James, Jonah, and Pru- 
 dence, are on record in New London, and three more, 
 Elizabeth, Ruth, and Sarah, in Lyme, where he fixed 
 his abode in 1677. These were by his first wife. His 
 second wife was Elizabeth, relict of Peter Pratt, by 
 whom he had one daughter, named Griswold. All 
 these children are named in his will except Sarah. 
 He died June 4, 1727. 
 
 Joseph and Nathaniel Beckwith, sons of Matthew, 
 Sr., settled in Lyme ; John and Benjamin in New 
 London. John Beckwith, in a deposition presented 
 in County Court in 1740, stated that he had lived for 
 seventy years near Niantick Ferry. He is the ances- 
 tor of the Waterford family of Beckwiths. 
 
 Richard Haughton died in 1682. This event took 
 place at Wethersfield, while Mr. Haughton was en- 
 gaged at work as a shipwright on a vessel there. Of 
 his children no regular list has been obtained. Mas- 
 sapeag Neck, a fine tract of land on the river, within 
 the bounds of Mohegan proper, was granted to 
 Haughton by deed of the sachem Uncas, Aug. 19, 
 1658. The laws of the colony prohibited individuals 
 from contracting with the Indians for land ; never- 
 theless the General Court confirmed this grant upon 
 certain conditions, assigning as one reason for their 
 indulgence to Mr. Haughton " his charge of chil- 
 dren." We infer from this that he had a young and 
 numerous family. Eight children can be traced, of 
 whom three sons, Robert, Joseph, and John, are sup- 
 posed to belong to a first unknown wife, dating their 
 birth anterior to the settlement of the family at New 
 London.' Robert's name occurs as a witness in 1655. 
 In 1675 he was a resident in Boston, a mariner, and 
 in command of a vessel. He was afterwards at Mil- 
 ford, where he died about the year 1678. leaving three 
 children, Robert, Sarah, and Hannah.^ His relict 
 married Benjamin Smith, of Milford. The daughter 
 Sarah married Daniel Northrop, and in 1735 was ap- 
 parently the only surviving heir to certain divisions 
 of land accruing to her father from the family rights 
 in New London. 
 
 Joseph Haughton was twenty-three years of age in 
 1662. He died in 1697, and apparently left no family. 
 
 John Haughton, shipwright, died in 1704, leaving 
 wife and children. 
 
 The wife that Richard Haughton brought with 
 him to New London was Katherine, formerly wife 
 to Nicholas Charlet (or Chelet), whom he had recently 
 married. She had two daughters by her former hus- 
 band, Elizabeth (born July 15, 1645) and Mary, whose 
 
 1 The name of Richard Haughton ia found in 1646, among the eettlera 
 in Milford. Lambert's New Haven Colony, p. 91. 
 
 2 Judd, of Northampton (MS.). 
 
 joint portion was £100.' The remainder of Richard 
 Haughton's children may be assigned to his wife 
 viz., sons Sampson and James, and three daughters — 
 Abigail, married Thomas Leach; Katherine, mar- 
 ried John Butler; and Mercy, married Samuel Bill. 
 Katherine, wife of Richard Haughton, died Aug. 9 
 1670. He afterwards married Alice , who sur- 
 vived him and became the wife of Daniel Crombe, of 
 Westerly. 
 
 Massapeag Neck was sold by the Haughton heirs 
 to Fitz-John Winthrop. Sampson Haughton, the 
 ancestor of the Montville branch of the family, in 
 1746 settled in the neighborhood of Massapeag, on a 
 farm which he purchased of Godfrey Malbone, of 
 Newport, lying on both sides of the country road 
 between New London and Norwich. Haughton's 
 farm became a noted half-way station between the two 
 places. 
 
 William Douglas died July 26, 1682, was made 
 freeman of Massachusetts ; of New London, Decem- 
 ber, 1659. From various depositions it appears that 
 he was born in 1610. Mr. Douglas was one of the 
 townsmen in 1663, 1666, and 1667 ; recorder and 
 moderator in 1668 ; sealer and packer in 1673 ; and 
 on various important committees, civil and ecclesi- 
 astical, from year to year. He had a farm granted 
 him in 1660, " three miles or more west of the town 
 plot, with a brook running through it ;" and another 
 in 1667, ■' towards the head of the brook called Jor- 
 dan, about four miles from town, on each side of the 
 Indian path to Nahantick." 
 
 William Hough, died Aug. 10, 1663, married Sarah, 
 daughter of Hugh Calkin, Oct. 28, 1635. 
 
 John Baldwin, of Stonington, died Aug. 19, 1683. 
 Among the original emigrants from Great Britain to 
 the shores of New England were several John Bald- 
 wins. 
 
 John Baldwin's name appeared on the rate-list of 
 1667, and on the roll of freemen in 1668. He pur- 
 chased two houses in the town plot, and had several 
 grants of land. 
 
 His first wife died at Milford in 1658, leaving a son, 
 John, born in 1657. This son came to New London 
 with him, received adult baptism in 1674, and after 
 that event is lost to our records. From some probate 
 testimony given at a much later period, we learn that 
 soon after arriving at maturity he sailed for England 
 and never returned. 
 
 Benjamin Atwell died 1683. He settled in New 
 London in 1666. He was constable of the town in 
 1675. 
 
 Daniel Comstock died 1683. William Comstock, 
 the father of Daniel, came from Hartford in 1649, 
 and lived to old age in his house upon Post Hill (near 
 north corner of Williams and Vauxhall Streets). 
 
 John Lockwood died in 1683. We suppose this 
 
 3 They had the note and surety of their father-in-law for this sum, 
 which in 1663 was indorsed by Elizabeth Charlet " safts/icd." This win 
 probably the period of her marriage. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 157 
 
 person to have been the son of Elizabeth, wife of 
 Gary Latham, by a former husband, Edward Lock- 
 wood, and the same whose birth stands on record in 
 Boston, Ninth Month, 1632.^ He dwelt on Foxen's 
 Hill, at a place since known as a Wheeler homestead. 
 In the settlement of the estate no heir appears but 
 Edmund Lockwood, of Stamford, who is called his 
 brother. 
 
 Ralph Parker died in 1683. He had a house in 
 Gloucester in 1647. Sold out there " 24th of 8 m. 
 1651," and was the same year a grantee at New Lon- 
 don. He appears to have been wholly engaged in 
 marine affairs, sending out vessels and sometimes 
 going himself to sea. 
 
 Edmund Fanning died in December, 1683. It has 
 been transmitted from one generation to another in 
 the Fanning family that their ancestor, " Edmund 
 Fanning, escaped from Dublin in 1641, in the time of 
 the great rebellion, in which 100,000 Protestants fell 
 victims to the fury of the Roman Catholics,"^ and 
 after eleven years of wandering and uncertainty he 
 found a 'resting-place in that part of New London 
 now called Groton, in the year 16.52. On the town 
 records the name is not mentioned till ten years later, 
 but it is then in a way that denotes previous resi- 
 dence. In the inventory of goods of Richard Poole, 
 April 25, 1662, one article is "twocowes and one 
 steere now with Edmon ffanning." 
 
 Charles Hill died in October, 1684. The first co- 
 partnership in trading at New London of which we 
 have any knowledge is that of Hill & Christophers, 
 " Charles Hill, of London, guirdler, and Christopher 
 Christophers, mariner." The earliest date respecting 
 them is June 26, 1665, when they purchased a ware 
 house that had been John Tinker's, on Mill Cove. 
 Hill, though styled of London, had previously been 
 at the South, for in 1668 he assigned to Robert 
 Prowse, merchant, all right to a plantation in Mary- 
 land, with milch cows and small cattle, etc., which 
 had been four years jointly owned and cultivated by 
 them. 
 
 Mr. Hill was chosen recorder of the town Feb. 25, 
 1669-70, and held the office till his death. 
 
 Pasco Foote died probably in 1684. We can 
 scarcely err in assuming that he was a son of Pasco 
 Foote, of Salem, and that he was the Pasco Foote, Jr., 
 of the Salem records who married, 2d tenth month, 
 1668, Martha Wood, and of whose marriage three 
 sons are the recorded issue, — Malachi, Martha, and 
 Pasco. He appears in New London as a mariner, en- 
 gaged in the Newfoundland trade, and married, Nov. 
 30, 1678, Margaret, daughter of Edward Stallion. 
 
 Cliarles Haynes. His inventory was presented in 
 1685. This is all the information obtained respecting 
 the period of his decease. His marriage is not re- 
 corded. 
 
 1 niat. and Gen. Reg., vol. ii. p. 181, and vol. iv. p. 181. 
 
 2 MS. information from the late Capt, John Fanning, of Norwich, 
 
 11 
 
 James and Jonathan Haynes settled in New London, 
 and left descendants. 
 
 Edward Culver died in 1685. He had lived at 
 Dedham, where the births of three children are re- 
 corded,— John, April 15, 1640 ; Joshua, Jan. 12, 1642 
 -43 ; Samuel, Jan. 9, 16 11 4 5 ; and at Roxbury, where 
 the record of baptisms adds two more to the list of 
 children,— Gershom, Dec. 3, 1648 ; Hannah, April 11,, 
 1651. His arrival at Pequot is announced by a land 
 grant in 1653. He purchased the house-lot of Robert 
 Burrows, given to the latter by the town, and estab- 
 lished himself as a baker and brewer. 
 
 Isaac Willey died about 1685. Willey's house-lot 
 was on Mill Brook, at the base of Post Hill. He was 
 an agriculturist, and soon removed to a farm at the 
 head of Nahantic River, which was confirmed to "old 
 goodman Willie" in 1664. It is probable that both 
 he and his wife Joanna had passed the bounds of 
 middle age, and that all their children were born be- 
 fore they came to the banks of the Pequot. 
 
 James Morgan died about 1685. He was about 
 seventy-eight years of age. The earliest notice of 
 him is from the records of Boston, where the birth of 
 his daughter Hannah is registered, eighteenth day, 
 fifth month, 1642. He was afterwards of Gloucester, 
 and came with the Cape Ann company to Pequot, 
 where he acted as one of the townsmen from 1653 to 
 1656, inclusive. His homestead, " on the path to New 
 Street," was sold Dec. 25, 1657. He then removed 
 east of the river, where he had large grants of land. 
 The following additional grant alludes to his dwell- 
 ing : 
 
 "James Morgan hath given him about six acres of upland where the 
 wigwams were in the path that goes from his house towards Culver's 
 among the rocky hills." 
 
 He was often employed by the public in land sur- 
 veys, stating highways, and determining boundaries, 
 and was nine times deputy to the General Court. His 
 estate was settled in 1685 by division among his four 
 children, — James, John, Joseph, and Hannah, wife of 
 Nehemiah Royce. 
 
 Cary Latham died in 1685. Elizabeth, wife of 
 Cary Latham, was daughter of John Masters, and 
 relict of Edward Lockwood. Two children are re- 
 corded in Boston, — Thomas, born ninth month, 1639; 
 Joseph, 2d of tenth month, probably 1642.^ John 
 Latham, who died at New London about 1684, is sup- 
 posed to have been a third son. The daughters were 
 four in number, — Elizabeth, wife of John Leeds ; 
 Jane, of Hugh Hubbard ; Lydia, of John Packer ; 
 and Hannah, unmarried at the time of her father's 
 decease. Mr. Latham served in various town offices ; 
 he was one of the townsmen or selectman for sixteen 
 years, and was six times deputy to the General Court 
 from May, 1664, to 1670. His large grants of land 
 enriched his descendants. 
 
 Thomas Latham, oldest son of Cary, married, Oct. 
 
 3 Hist, and Gen. Keg., vol. iv. p. 181. 
 
158 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 15, 1673, Rebecca, daughter of Hugh Wells, of 
 Wethersfleld. He died before his father, Dec. 14, 
 1677, leaving an only son, Samuel. His relict mar- 
 ried John Packer. 
 
 Joseph, the second son, had a numerous family. 
 His marriage is not recorded at. New London. His 
 first child, Gary, was born at Newfoundland, July 14, 
 1668. He died in 1706, leaving seven sons and a 
 daughter, Lydia, the wife of Benjamin iStarr. 
 
 Thomas Forster died in 1685. Of this sea captain 
 nearly all that is presented to our view is the registry 
 of his marriage and birth of his children. 
 
 " Thomas, aon of John Forster, of Kiiigsware, was married to Susan- 
 nah, daughter of Ralph Parker, 27th of March, 16U5-G6." 
 
 Hugh Hubbard died in 1685. "Hugh Hubbard, 
 of Derbyshire, Old England, was married to Jane, 
 daughter of Gary Latham, in March, 1672-73." 
 
 Gabriel Woodmancy died in 1685. He is first in- 
 troduced to our notice by the purchase of a home- 
 stead on what is now Shaw's Neck and Truman 
 Street, in November, 1665. 
 
 Aaron Starke died in 1685. This name is found 
 at Mystic as early as 1653. In May, 1666, Aaron 
 Starke was among those who were to take the free- 
 man's oath in Stonington, and in October, 1669, 
 was accepted as freeman of New London. In the 
 interim he had purchased the farm of William Thom- 
 son, the Pequot missionary, near the head of Mystic, 
 which brought him within the bounds of New Lon- 
 don. 
 
 John Stebbins died probably in 1685. In one de- 
 position on record his age is said to be sixty in 1661, 
 and in another seventy in 1675. Where the mistake 
 lies cannot be decided. It is probable that he was 
 the John Stebbins who had a son John horn at 
 Watertown in 1640.' 
 
 The name is almost invariably written in the earlier 
 records Stubbin or Stubbing. 
 
 No clue has been obtained to the period of decease 
 of Thomas Marritt, Nathaniel Holt, John Fish, and 
 William Peake. Their names, however, disappear 
 from the rolls of living men about 1685. 
 
 Thomas Marritt. The name is given in his own 
 orthography, but it is commonly recorded Merrit. 
 He was probably the Thomas Maryot made freeman 
 of the Bay colony in 1636,^ and the Thomas Merrit, 
 of Cambridge, mentioned in the will of John Benja- 
 min in 1645.' At New London his first appearance 
 is in 1664 ; he was chosen custom-master of the port, 
 and county marshal Dec. 15, 1668, and was for several 
 years the most conspicuous attorney in the place. 
 
 Nathaniel Holt. William Holt, of New Haven, 
 had a son, Nathaniel, born in 1647, who settled in 
 New London in 1673, and married, April 5, 1680, Re- 
 becca, daughter of Thomas Beeby (2). Only two 
 
 1 Farmers' Register. 
 
 2 Savage's Wiritlirop, vol. ii. p. 3G6. 
 
 3 Hist, and Gen. Reg., vol. iii. p. 177. In Mass. Hist. Coll., 3d series, 
 vol. X. p. 118, Mr. Mijrior is probably a mistake for Mjjriot. 
 
 children of this marriage are recorded, — William 
 born July 15, 1681 ; Nathaniel, July 18, 1682. From 
 Thomas Beeby the Holt family inherited the original 
 homestead granted by the town to Thomas Parke 
 lying southwest of Robert Hempstead's lot, with a 
 highway (Hempstead Street) between them. Sergt. 
 Thomas Beeby purchased this lot of five acres, and 
 left it to his descendants. In the original grant it 
 is said " to run up the hill among the rocks." This 
 description remained characteristic of the surface for 
 nearly two hundred years, but its aptness is now fast 
 melting away before an advancing line of neat dwell- 
 ing-houses, from whose windows the occupants look 
 out over the roofs of their neighbors upon a goodly 
 prospect.* 
 
 John Fish. Probably identical with the John Pish 
 who was of Lynn, 1637. In New London he appears 
 early in 1655, with wife and children.' 
 
 William Peake, or Pike. His residence was west of 
 the town plot, on the path leading to Fog Plain. 
 Only three children are mentioned. 
 
 Christopher Christophers died July 23, 1687. Two 
 brothers of the name of Christophers, both mariners, 
 and engaged in the exchange trade with Barbadoes, 
 settled in New London about 1665. 
 
 Jeffrey was aged fifty-five in 1676 ; of course born 
 about 1621. Christopher was at his death aged fifty- 
 six ; born about 1631. That they were brothers con- 
 clusive evidence remains in documents upon record, 
 wherein the relationship is expressed. 
 
 John Richards died in 1687. Of this person no ac- 
 count previous to his appearance in New London has 
 been found. His marriage is not recorded, and it is 
 probable that it took place elsewhere. He had seven 
 children baptized March 26, 1671,— John, Israel, 
 Mary, Penelope, Lydia, Elizabeth, and Hannah. 
 David was baptized July 27, 1673. It is presumed 
 that these eight form a complete list of his children. 
 Samuel Starr died probably in 1688. Mr. Starr is 
 not mentioned upon the records of New London at an 
 earlier date than his marriage with Hannah, daugh- 
 ter of Jonathan Brewster, Dec. 23, 1664. His wife 
 was aged thirty-seven in 1680. Their children were 
 Samuel, born Dec. 11, 1665; Thomas, Sept. 27, 1668; 
 Comfort, baptized by Mr. Bradstreet in August, 1671; 
 Jonathan, baptized in 1674 ; and Benjamin, in 1679. 
 The residence of this family was on the southwest 
 corner of Bradley lot (corner of Main and State 
 Streets, or Button wood corner). Mr. Starr was ap- 
 pointed county marshal" in 1678, and probably held 
 the ofiice till his death. No will, inventory, or rec- 
 ord of the settlement of his estate has been found, but 
 a deed was executed Feb. 2, 1687-88, by Hannah, 
 
 1 About tlio year 1846, Mr. David Bishop with great labor suceeeiltd 
 in cutting a chamber unt of tlio solid rook for a foundation, upon wliich 
 he erected a handsome house. A street has since heen opened over the 
 hill, a number of neat houses built, aud the name of Mountain Avenue 
 given to it. 
 
 ^ Fanners' Register. 
 
 •J Equivalent to sheriff. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 159 
 
 widow of Samuel Starr, and it is probable that her 
 husband had then recently deceased. 
 
 Samuel Starr was undoubtedly a descendant of 
 " Comfort Starr, of Ashford, chirurgeon,'' who came 
 to New England in the "Hercules," of Sandwich, 
 1635, with three children and three servants.' The 
 coincidence of names suggests an intimate family 
 connection. The three children of the chirurgeon 
 are supposed to have been Thomas, John, and Com- 
 fort. Thomas followed the profession of his father, 
 is styled a surgeon, and was living in Yarmouth, 
 Mass., from 1648 to 1670.^ He had two children born 
 in Scituate, — Comfort, in 1644, and Elizabeth, in 1646. 
 It is probable that he had other children, and, accord- 
 ing to our conjecture, one older, viz., our Samuel 
 Starr, of New London. The church records of Ips- 
 wich state that Mary, wife of Comfort Starr, was ad- 
 mitted to that church in March, 1671, and in May, 
 1673, dismissed to the church in New London. She 
 was received here in June, and her husband's name 
 appears on the town record about the same period, 
 but he is supposed to have removed to Middletown. 
 This was probably the brother of Samuel, and iden- 
 tical with Comfort Starr, born in 1644. 
 
 Samuel Starr, Jr., is mentioned in 1685, and again 
 in 1687. He then disappears, and no descendants 
 have been found in this vicinity. Of Comfort, third 
 son of Samuel, nothing is known after his baptism in 
 1671. It may be presumed that he died young. The 
 second and fourth sons, Thomas and Jonathan, set- 
 tled east of the river, in the present town of Groton, 
 oil land which some of their descendants still occupy. 
 Thomas Starr is called a shipwright. In the year 
 1710 he sold a sloop called the " Sea Flower," which 
 he describes as " a square-stern ed vessel of sixty-seven 
 tons and six-sevenths of a ton burden, built by me in 
 Groton" for £180. This is our latest account of him 
 till we meet with the notice of his death, which took 
 place Jan. 31, 1711-12. 
 
 Thomas and Jonathan Starr married sisters, Mary 
 and Elizabeth Morgan, daughters of Capt. James 
 Morgan. Samuel, the oldest son of Jonathan, re- 
 moved to Norwich, and is the founder of the Norwich 
 family of Starrs. Jonathan, the second son, was the 
 ancestor of the present Jonathan Starr, Esq., of New 
 London, and of the late Capt. Jared Starr. Richard, 
 another brother of this family, removed to Hinsdale, 
 Mass., and was one of the fathers of that new settle- 
 ment, and a founder of its infant church. 
 
 The descendants of Jonathan Starr have been re- 
 markable for longevity, — eight of his children lived 
 to be eighty, and most of them over eighty-five years 
 of age. One of his daughters, Mrs. Turner, was one 
 hundred years and seven months old. In the family 
 of his son Jonathan, the father, mother, and four 
 children averaged ninety years of age. The third 
 
 1 Gleanings by Savngo, in Mass. Hist, Coll., 3d series, vol. viii. p. 275, 
 ^ Deane's Hist, of Scituate, p. 347, and Thatcber's Medical Biography. 
 
 Jonathan lived to be ninety-five, and his brother, 
 Capt. Jared Starr, to his ninetieth year. A similar 
 length of years characterized their partners in mar- 
 riage. Mrs. Mary (Seabury) Starr lived to the age 
 of ninety-nine years, and Elizabeth, relict of Capt. 
 Joseph Starr, of Groton (brother of Jonathan, 2d), 
 died at the age of one hundred years four months and 
 eight days. 
 
 Benjamin Starr, the youngest son of the first Sam- 
 uel (born 1679), settled in New London, and has had 
 many descendants here. He purchased in 1702 of 
 the heirs of Thomas Dymond a house, garden, and 
 wharf upon Bream Cove, east side, where the old 
 bridge crossed the cove, which was then regarded as 
 the end of the town in that direction. The phrase 
 " from the fort to Benjamin Starr's" comprehended 
 the whole length of the bank. The water at high 
 tide came up to the base of Mr. Starr's house, and the 
 dwellings southeast of it, known as the Crocker and 
 Perriman houses, founded on the rocks, had the tide 
 directly in their rear, so as to preclude the use of 
 doors on the water side. The quantity of made land 
 in that vicinity, and the recession of the water con- 
 sequent upon bridging and wharfing, has entirely 
 altered the original form of the shore around Bream 
 Cove. A foot-bridge, with a draw, spanned the cove 
 by the side of Mr. Starr, and connected him with his 
 opposite neighbor, Peter Harris. 
 
 Philip Bill died July 8, 1689. Mr. Bill and a 
 daughter named Margaret died the same day, victims 
 of an epidemic throat distemper. He settled east of 
 the river, in that part of the township which is now 
 Ledyard, before 1670. Mr. Bradstreet baptized his 
 son Jonathan, Nov. 5, 1671, and adds to the record 
 that the father was member of the church at Ipswich. 
 Another son, Joshua, was baptized in 1675. The 
 older children, probably born in Ipswich, were Philip, 
 Samuel, John, and Elizabeth. ' Hannah, relict of 
 Philip Bill, married Samuel Bucknall. Philip Bill, 
 Jr., was sergeant of the first company of train-bands 
 formed in Groton. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter 
 of Andrew Lester. Their oldest son, Philip, was lost 
 at sea or died abroad. Sergt. Philip Bill, who "lived 
 near the Long Hill, in Groton," died July 10, 1739, 
 aged above eighty. " The church-bell" (says Hemp- 
 stead in his " Diary") " tolled twice on that occasion." 
 We infer from this that it was customary at that day 
 to have only a death-bell to announce decease, but 
 no passing-bell to solemnize the funeral. 
 
 Abel Moore died July 9, 1689. This event occurred 
 at Dedham, Mass., and was caused by the extreme 
 heat of the weather. He was constable of the town 
 that year, and had been to Boston, probably on busi- 
 ness connected with his public duties. 
 
 Smith. We find the name of Giles Smith at Hart- 
 ford in 1639; at New London in 1647; at Fairfield 
 in 1651. These three are doubtless one and the same 
 person. At Fairfield he found a resting-place, and 
 there remained till his death. 
 
ItiO 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Ralph Smith was a transient resident in 1657, and 
 again in 1659. 
 
 Eichard Smith came to the plantation in 1652 from 
 "Martha's Vineyard," but soon went to Wethersfield. 
 Another Richard Smith was a householder in 1655, 
 occupying the lot of Jarvis Mudge, near the burial- 
 ground ; but he also removed to Wethersfield, where 
 the two were styled senior and junior, but they do not 
 appear to have been father and son. This name, 
 Richard Smith, was often repeated on the list of early 
 emigrants. 
 
 Other early settlers of New London of the name of 
 Smith were Nehemiah, John, and Edward. The 
 first two were brothers, and the last named their 
 nephew. Nehemiah had previously lived in New 
 Haven, and the birth of his son Nehemiah, the only 
 son that appears on record, was registered there in 
 1646. John Smith came from Boston, with his wife 
 Joanna and daughter Elizabeth, who appears to have 
 been his only child. Edward Smith is first named in 
 1660. He settled on a farm east of the river. 
 
 John Smith remained in the town plot, and after 
 1659 held the offices of commissioner, custom-master, 
 and grand juryman. His residence was in New, or 
 Cape Ann Street. 
 
 " Feb. 1666-67. Jolin Smith hath given him the two trees that stand in 
 the street before hia liouse for shade, not to be cut down by any peison." 
 
 Walter Bodington died Sept. 17, 1689. He was a 
 single man who had occupied for a few years certain 
 lands east of the river which he purchased of the 
 heirs of Thomas Bailey. The orthography of the 
 name has since varied into Buddington. 
 
 John Packer died in 1689. With this early settler in 
 Groton only a slight acquaintance has been obtained. 
 He fixed his habitation, about the year 1655, in close 
 proximity to the Pequot Indians, who had congre- 
 gated at Naiwayonk (Noank). 
 
 William Chapell died in 1689 or 1690. This name 
 is often in the confused orthography of the old records 
 confounded with "Chappell," but they appear to have 
 been from the first distinct names. Some clerks were 
 very careful to note the distinction, putting an accent 
 over the a, or writing it double, Chaapel. William Cha- 
 pell, in 1659, bought a house-lot in New Street, in part- 
 nership with Richard Waring (Warren ?). In 1667 he 
 was associated with William Peake in the purchase 
 of various lots of rugged, uncleared land, hill, ledge, 
 and swamp, on the west side of the town plot, which 
 they divided between them. William Peake settled 
 on what has since been called the Rockdale farm, now 
 James Brown's, and William Chapell, on the Cohan- 
 zie road, upon what is at present known as the Cav- 
 alry farm. A considerable part of the Chapell land 
 was afterwards purchased by the Latimer family. 
 
 In February, 1695, William Chapell, aged eight 
 years and a half, was delivered "to Jonathan Prentis, 
 mariner, to be instructed in the mariner's art and nav- 
 igation by said Prentis, or, in case of his death, by his 
 Dame." This lad died in 1704. The descendants of 
 
 John and Joseph Chapell, the oldest and youngest 
 sons of William and Christian, are numerous. There 
 was a John Chapell, of Lyme, in 1678, and onward, 
 probably brother of William, Sr., of New London. 
 
 Thomas Minor ' died Oct. 23, 1690. Mrs. Grace 
 Minor deceased the same month. A long stone of 
 rough granite in the burial-ground at Wickutequack, 
 almost imbedded in the turf, bears the followiDg 
 rudely-cut inscription : " Here lyeth the body of 
 Lieutenant Thomas Minor, aged eighty-three years. 
 Departed 1690." It is said that Mr. Minor had se- 
 lected this stone from his own fields, and had often 
 pointed it out to his family, with the request, " Lay 
 this stone on my grave." 
 
 " Mr. Minor bore a conspicuous part in the settle- 
 ment both of New London and Stonington. His per- 
 sonal history belongs more particularly to the latter 
 place. 
 
 George Miller died in 1690. This person had been 
 a resident east of the river (in Groton) from the year 
 1679, and perhaps longer. 
 
 John Lamb. This name is found on the New Lon- 
 don rate-list of 1664, and on the list of freemen in 
 1669. In December, 1663, he is styled "John Lamb, 
 now of Pockatuck, alias Southerton." 
 
 John Bennet died Sept. 22, 1691. This person was 
 at Mystic as early as 1658. He had sons, — William 
 (born 1660), John, and Joseph. 
 
 John Prentis. No account of the death of this 
 early member of the community has been found, but 
 the probate proceedings show that it took place in 
 1691. 
 
 Valentine Prentis, or Prentice, came to New Eng- 
 land in 1631, with wife Alice and son John, having 
 buried one child at sea. He settled in Roxbury, 
 where he soon died, and his relict married (Aprils, 
 1634) John Watson. 
 
 John Prentis, the son of Valentine and Alice, be- 
 came an inhabitant of New London in 1652, and 
 probably brought his wife, Hester, with him from 
 Roxbury. Though living in New London, he con- 
 nected himself with the Roxbury Church in Septem- 
 ber, 1665, and thither he carried most of his children 
 to be baptized. 
 
 It has been mentioned that John Prentis was by 
 trade a blacksmith. He pursued his craft in New 
 London for six or seven years, and then removed to a 
 farm in the neighborhood of Robin Hood's Bay (Jor- 
 dan Cove), near the Bentworth farm, but in a few 
 years once more changed his main pursuit and en- 
 tered upon a seafaring life. His sons also, one after 
 another (according to the usual custom of New Lon- 
 don), began the business of life upon the sea. In 
 1675, John Prentis, Jr., commanded the bark "Ad- 
 venture" in the Barbadoes trade. In 1680 the elder 
 John and his son Jonathan owned and navigated a 
 
 1 This name is now commonly written Miner. "We use in this work 
 the original autograph authority. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 161 
 
 vessel bearing the family name of " John and Hes- 
 ter." Thomas Prentis also became a noted sea-cap- 
 tain, making a constant succession of voyages to 
 Newfoundland and the West Indies from 1695 to 
 1720. 
 
 Among these children the father in 1711 distrib- 
 uted the Indian servants of his household — Eachel 
 and her children — iii this order : 
 
 "To my son-in-law Thomas Hosmer, of Hartford, one black girl 
 named Simone, till she is 30 — then she is to be free. To my son-in-law 
 John Bulkley, Bilhah — to be free at 32. To my daughter Sarah, Zilpha 
 — to he free at 32. To my daughter Elizabeth, a black boy named Han- 
 nibal — to be free at 35. To my daughter Irene, a boy named York, free 
 at 35. To Scipio I have promised freedom at 30. Rachel the mother, I 
 give to Irene — al.'io the little girl with lier, named Dido, who is to be free 
 at 32." To this bequest is added to the three youngest daughters, then 
 unmarrieil, each "a feather bed and its furniture." 
 
 Stephen Prentis, son of John the elder, inherited 
 the farm of his father, near Niantic Ferry, where he 
 died in 1758, aged ninety-two. His wife was Eliza- 
 beth, daughter of John Rogers, and granddaughter of 
 Matthew Griswold. 
 
 John Wheeler died Dec. 16, 1691. No connection 
 has been traced between John Wheeler, of New Lon- 
 don, and Thomas and Isaac Wheeler, co temporary 
 inhabitants of Stonington. John is first presented to 
 us as part owner of a vessel called the " Zebulon" in 
 1667. He entered largely into mercantile concerns, 
 traded with the West Indies, and had a vessel built 
 under his own superintendence, which at the period 
 of his death had just returned from an English voy- 
 age. 
 
 Avery. Christoper Avery was one of the selectmen 
 of Gloucester, Mass., between 1646 and 1654.' On 
 the 8tli of August, 1665, he is at New London, pur- 
 chasing the house, orchard, and lot of Robert Bur- 
 rows, in the town plot. In June, 1667, he was re- 
 leased from watching and training. In October, 1669, 
 made freeman of the colony. Charles Hill, the town 
 clerk, makes this memorandum of his decease : 
 
 " Christopher Avery's death, vide, near the death of mother Brewster." 
 
 The reference is to Lucretia, relict of Jonathan 
 Brewster (mother-in-law to Mr. Hill), but no record 
 of her death is to be found. James Avery in 1685 
 gives a deed to his four sons of the house, orchard, 
 and land, "which belonged" (he says) "to my de- 
 ceased father, Christopher Avery." 
 
 No other son but James has been traced. It may 
 be conjectured that this family came from Salisbury, 
 England, as a Christopher Avery of that place had 
 wife Mary buried in 1591.^ 
 
 James Avery and Joanna Greenslade were mar- 
 ried Nov. 10, 1648. This is recorded in Gloucester. 
 The records of Boston Church have the following 
 entry : 
 
 " 17 of 1 mo. 1644. Our sister, Joan Greenslade, now the wife of one 
 James Averill, had granted her by the church's silence letters of recom- 
 mendation to the Ch. at Gloster." ^ 
 
 iBabson of Gloucester. 
 
 2 Mass. Hist. Coll., 3d series, vol. x. p. 139. 
 
 3 Savage (MS.). 
 
 The births of three children are recorded at 
 Gloucester ; these are repeated at New London, and 
 the others registered from time to time. The whole 
 list is as follows: Hannah, born Oct. 12, 1644; 
 James, born Dec. 16, 1646 ; Mary, born Feb. 19, 
 1648 ; Thomas, born May 6, 1651 ; John, born Feb. 
 10, 1653-54 ; Rebecca, born Oct. 6, 1656 ; Jonathan, 
 born Jan. 5, 1658-59; Christopher, born April 30, 
 1661 ; Samuel, born Aug. 14, 1664 ; Joanna, born 1669. 
 
 James Avery was sixty-two years old in 1682 ; of 
 course born on the other side of the ocean about 1620. 
 At New London he took an important part in the 
 affairs of the plantation. He was chosen townsman 
 in 1660, and held the office twenty-three years, end- 
 ing with 1680. He was successively ensign, lieuten- 
 ant, and captain of the only company of train-bands 
 in the town, and was in active service through Phil- 
 ip's war. He was twelve times deputy to the Gen- 
 eral Court between 1658 and 1680 ; was in the com- 
 mission of the peace, and sat as assistant judge in 
 the County Court. 
 
 He removed to Pequonuck, east of the river, be- 
 tween 1660 and 1670, where both he and his wife 
 were living in 1693. Deeds of lands to his sons, in- 
 cluding the homestead farm, in February, 1693-94, 
 probably indicate the near approach of death. His 
 sons Jonathan and Christopher died young, and prob- 
 ably without issue. The descendants of James, Jr., 
 Thomas, John, and Samuel, are very numerous, and 
 may be regarded as four distinct streams of life. Gro- 
 ton is the principal hive of the family. 
 
 Capt. George Denison died Oct. 23, 1694. This 
 event took place at Hartford during the session of the 
 General Court. His gravestone at that place is ex- 
 tant, and the age given, seventy-six, shows that the 
 date of 1621, which has been assigned for his birth, 
 is too late, and that 1619 should be substituted. This 
 diminishes the difference of age between him and his 
 second wife, Ann, who, according to the memorial 
 tablet erected by her descendants at Mystic, deceased 
 Sept. 26, 1712, aged ninety-seven. 
 
 Peter Spioer died probably in 1695. He was one 
 of the resident farmers in that part of the township 
 which is now Ledyard. He was a landholder in 
 1666. 
 
 John Leeds died probably in 1696. The following 
 extracts from the town and church records contain 
 all the information that has been gathered of the 
 family of John Leeds : 
 
 "John Leeds, of Staplehowe, in Kent, Old England, was married to 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Cary Latham, June 26, 1678." 
 " Mr. Leeds' child John, baptized March 13, 1680-81. 
 " " daughter Elizabeth, baptized Oct. 16, 1681. 
 
 " " son William, baptized May 20, 1683. 
 "Widow Leeds' two children baptized, Gideon and Thomas, Aug. I, 
 1697." 
 
 John Leeds is first introduced to us in 1674 as a 
 mariner, commander of the "Success," bound to 
 Nevis. He engaged afterwards in building vessels, 
 and had a ship-yard on the east side of the river. 
 
162 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 John Mayhew died 1696. This name appears after 
 1670, belonging to one of that class of persons who 
 had their principal home on the deep and their ren- 
 dezvous in New London. 
 
 " John Mayhew, from Devonshire, Old England, mariner, was mar- 
 ried unto Johanna, daughter of Jeffrey Christophers, Dec. 26, 1676." 
 
 John Plumbe died in 1696. Plumbe is one of the 
 oldest names in Connecticut. Mr. John Plumbe was 
 of Wethersfield, 1636, and a magistrate in 1637. 
 He had a warehouse burnt at Saybrook in the Pequot 
 war. In February, 1664-65, he was appointed in- 
 spector of the lading of vessels at Wethersfield. He 
 was engaged in the coasting trade, and his name inci- 
 dentally appears in the records of various towns on 
 the river and along the coast of the Sound. An ac- 
 count has been preserved among the Winthrop papers 
 of a remarkable meteor which he saw one night in 
 October, 1665, "I being then" (he observes) "rouing 
 in my bote to groton," probably from Seabrook, 
 where his account is dated. In 1670 he is noticed as 
 carrying dispatches between Governors Winthrop, of 
 Hartford, and Lovelace, of New York. We have no 
 account of him at New London as an inhabitant of 
 the town until he was chosen constable, in February, 
 1679-80. He was afterwards known as marshal of 
 the county and inn-keeper. 
 
 Joseph Truman died in 1697. Joseph Truman 
 came to New London in 1666, and was chosen constable 
 the next year. 
 
 Joseph and Jonathan Rogers. These were the 
 second and fifth sons of James Rogers, Sr., and are 
 supposed to have died in 1697, at the respective ages 
 of fifty-one and forty-seven, both leaving large fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Ebenezer Hubbell died in 1698. He was a native 
 of Stratfield, in Fairfield County ; married Mary, 
 daughter of Gabriel Harris, and purchased the home- 
 stead of Samson Haughion (corner of Truman and 
 Blinman Streets). 
 
 The Beeby brothers. The phrase " John Beeby 
 and his brothers," used in the early grants to the 
 family, leads to the supposition that John was the 
 oldest of the four. They may be arranged with prob- 
 ability in the order of John, Thomas, Samuel, and 
 Nathaniel. They all lived to advanced age. 
 
 William Chapman died Dec. 18, 1699. This name 
 first appears in 1657, when William Chapman bought 
 the Denison house-lot on the present Hempstead 
 Street, nearly opposite the jail. No record is found 
 of his family. The children named in his will were 
 John, William, Samuel, Jeremiah, Joseph, Sarah, 
 and Rebecca. 
 
 Stephen Loomer died in 1700. This name is not 
 found in New London before 1687. Mr. Loomer's 
 wife was the daughter of George Miller. His chil- 
 dren and their ages at the time of his death were as 
 follows: John, sixteen; Mary, thirteen; Martha, 
 eleven ; Samuel, eight ; Elizabeth, five. 
 
 David Carpenter died in 1700. The period of his 
 
 settlement in the town was probably coincident with 
 his marriage to Sarah, daughter of William Hough; 
 to both events the conjectured date of 1676 maybe 
 assigned. 
 
 Alexander Pygan died in 1701. On his first arri- 
 val in the plantation Mr. Pygan appears to have been 
 a lawless young man of " passionate and distempered 
 carriage," as it was then expressed, — one who, we may 
 suppose, "left his country for his country's good." 
 But the restraints and influences with which he was 
 here surrounded produced their legitimate effect, and 
 he became a valuable member of the community. 
 
 Thomas Stedman died in 1701. This name is found 
 at New London at the early date of 1649, but it soon 
 afterward disappears. 
 
 Butler. Thomas and John Butler are not presented 
 to our notice as inhabitants of New London until after 
 1680. Probably they were brothers. No account of 
 the marriage or family of either is on record. 
 
 Capt. Samuel Fosdick died Aug. 27, 1702. Samuel 
 Fosdick, "from Charlestown, in the Bay," appears at 
 New London about 1680. According to manuscripts 
 preserved in the family, he was the son of John Fos- 
 dick and Anna Shapley, who were married in 1648; 
 and the said John was a son of Stephen Fosdick, of 
 Charlestown, who died May 21, 1664. 
 
 Joseph Pemberton died Oct. 14, 1702. James Pem- 
 berton had a son, Joseph, born in Boston in 1665, with 
 whom we venture to identify the Joseph Pemberton 
 here noticed. He resided in Westerly before coming 
 to New London. 
 
 William Walworth died in 1703. William Wal- 
 worth is first known to us as the lessee of Fisher's 
 Island, or of a considerable part of it, and it is a tra- 
 dition of the family that he came directly from Eng- 
 land to assume this charge at the invitation of the 
 owner of the island, Fitz-John Winthrop, who wished 
 to introduce the English methods of farming. 
 
 Edward Stallion died May 14, 1703. When this 
 person made his first appearance in the plantation, 
 Mr. Bruen, the clerk, recorded his name Stanley. It 
 was soon altered to Stallion, or Stallon. In later 
 times it has been identified with Sterling, which may 
 have been the true name. 
 
 Edward Stallion was at first a coasting trader, but 
 later in life became a resident farmer in North Gro- 
 ton (now Ledyard). 
 
 Ezekiel Turner died Jan. 16, 1703-4. He was a 
 son of John Turner, of Scituate, and grandson of 
 Humphrey Turner, an emigrant of 1628. His mother 
 was Mary, daughter of Jonathan Brewster. At New 
 London we have no account of him earlier than hia 
 marriage with Susannah, daughter of John Keeny, 
 Dec. 26, 1678. 
 
 Sergt. George Darrow died in 1704. From inferen- 
 tial testimony it is ascertained that George Darrow 
 married Mary, relict of George Sharswobd. The 
 baptisms but not the births of their children are re- 
 corded. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 163 
 
 Maj. Christopher Darrow, a brave soldier of the 
 French and Eevolutionary wars, who lived in the 
 North Parish, and Elder Zadok Darrow, a venerable 
 Baptist minister of Waterford, were descendants of 
 Christopher and Elizabeth Darrow. 
 
 George Sharswood. Only flitting gleams are ob- 
 tained of this person and his family. They come and 
 go like figures exhibited for scenic effect. George 
 Sharswood appears before us in 1666 ; is inserted in 
 the rate-list of 1667; the next year builds a house, 
 and apparently about the same time becomes a mar- 
 ried man, though of this event we can find no record. 
 
 John Harvey' died in January, 1705. The name 
 of John Harvey is first noticed about 1682. He was 
 then living near the head of Niantic River, and per- 
 haps within the bounds of Lyme. He left sons, John 
 and Thomas, and daughter, Elizabeth Willey. 
 
 Williams. No genealogy in New London County 
 is more extensive and perplexing than that of Wil- 
 liams. The families of that name are derived from 
 several distinct ancestors. Among them John Wil- 
 liams and Thomas Williams appear to stand discon- 
 nected; at least, no relationship with their contem- 
 poraries has been traced, or with each other. They 
 are entirely distinct from the Stonington family of 
 Williams, although the names are in many cases 
 identical. 
 
 The first Williams in New London was William, 
 who is in the rate-list of 1664. He lived on the east, 
 or Groton side of the river, and died in 1704, leaving 
 four sons, Richard, William, Henry, and Stephen, 
 all of full age, and a daughter, Mary, wife of Samuel 
 Packer. 
 
 Thomas Williams appears in the plantation about 
 1670. His cattle-mark was enrolled in 1680. He 
 lived west of the river, at or near Mohegan, and died 
 Sept. 24, 1705, about sixty-one years of age. He left 
 a widow, Joanna, and eleven children between the 
 ages of twelve and thirty-three years, and a grand- 
 child who was heir of a deceased daughter. The 
 sons were John, Thomas, Jonathan, William, Samuel, 
 and Ebenezer. 
 
 John Williams, another independent branch of this 
 extended name, married, in 1685 or 1686, Jane, relict 
 of Hugh Hubbard and daughter of Gary Latham. 
 No trace of him earlier than this has been noticed. 
 He succeeded to the lease of the ferry (granted for 
 fifty years to Gary Latham), and lived, as did also his 
 wife, to advanced age. " He kept the ferry," says 
 "Hempstead's Diary," "when Groton and New Lon- 
 don were one town, and had but one minister and one 
 captain's company." When he died, Dec. 3, 1741, 
 within the same bounds were eight religious societies 
 and nine military companies, five on the west side 
 and four in Groton. He left an only son, Peter, of 
 whom Capt. John Williams, who perished in the mas- 
 sacre at Groton fort in 1781, was a descendant. 
 
 John and Eleazer Williams, brother and son of 
 Isaac Williams, of Eoxbury, Mass., settled in Ston- 
 
 ington about the year 1687, and are the ancestors of 
 another distinct line, branches of which have been 
 many years resident in New London and Norwich. 
 The genealogy of this family belongs more particularly 
 to Stonington. 
 
 Ebenezer Williams, son of Samuel, of Eoxbury, 
 and cousin of John and Eleazer, settled also in Ston- 
 ington, and left descendants there. He was brother 
 of the Eev. John Williams, first minister of Deerfleld, 
 who was taken captive with his family by the French 
 and Indians in 1701. A passage from "Hempstead's 
 Diary" avouches this relationship : 
 
 " Sept. 9, 1733. Mr. Ebenezer Williama, of Stonington, is come to Bee 
 a Fiencli woman in town tliat saya she is danghter to l}is brother, the 
 late Rev. Mr. Williams, of Deerfield, taken by the French and Indians 
 thirty yeai-s ago." 
 
 This passage refers to a young daughter of the 
 Deerfield family that was never redeemed from cap- 
 tivity, but lived and died among the Indians. She 
 was probably often personated for sinister ends. The 
 Frenchwoman mentioned above was unquestionably 
 an impostor. 
 
 Capt. John Williams, of Poquetannock (Ledyard), 
 was yet another original settler of the name. He is 
 said to have come directly from Wales, and to have 
 had no relationship with other families in the country. 
 We quote a contemporary notice of his death : 
 
 "Jan. 12, 1741-2. Capt. John Williams died at Pockatonnock of 
 pleni-isy, after 7 days' illness. He was a good commonwealth's man, 
 traded much by sea and land with good success for many years, and 
 acquired wholly by bis own industry a great estate. He was a vei-y just 
 dealer, aged about GO years," ^ 
 
 Brig.-Gen. Joseph Williams, of Norwich, one of 
 the Western Eeserve purchasers, was a son of Capt. 
 John Williams. 
 
 Benjamin Shapley died Aug. 8, 1706. Benjamin, 
 son of Nicholas Shapley, of Boston, was born, ac- 
 cording to Farmers' Register, in 1645. We find no 
 difiiculty in appropriating this birth to Benjamin 
 Shapley, mariner, who about 1670 became an inhab- 
 itant of New London. 
 
 Anthony Ashby. A person of this name kept a 
 house of entertainment at Salem in 1670. It was 
 probably the same man that afterwards came to New 
 London and settled east of the river. 
 
 George Dennis. The period of his death is uncer- 
 tain, but it was previous to 1708. He came to New 
 London from Long Island, and married Elizabeth, 
 relict of Joshua Eaymond. They had but one child, 
 Ebenezer, who was born Oct. 23, 1682. Ebenezer 
 Dennis inherited from his mother a dwelling-house, 
 choicely situated near the water, and commanding a 
 fine prospect of the harbor, where about the year 
 1710 he opened a house of entertainment. 
 
 Peter Crary, of Groton, died in 1708. He married 
 in December, 1677, Christobel, daughter of John 
 Gallop. His oldest child, Christobel, was born "the 
 latter end of February, 1678-79." 
 
 1 Hempstead (MS.). 
 
164 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 John Daniel died about 1709. This date is ob- 
 tained by approximation ; he was living in the early- 
 part of 1709, and in July, 1710, Mary, widow of John 
 Daniels, is mentioned. His earliest date at New 
 London is in April, 1663, when his name is given 
 without the s, John Daniel. 
 
 George Chappell died in 1709. Among the emi- 
 grants for New England in the " Christian" from 
 London, 1635, was George Chappell, aged twenty. 
 He was at Wethersfield in 1637, and can be traced 
 there as a resident until 1649, which was probably 
 about the time that he came to Pequot, bringing 
 with him a wife, Margaret, and some three or four 
 children. Of his marriage, or of the births of these 
 children, no account is preserved at Wethersfield. 
 The whole list of his family, as gathered from various 
 sources, is as follows : 1. Mary, married John Daniels; 
 2. Rachel, married Thomas Crocker; 3. John, re- 
 moved to Flushing, L. I. ; 4. George, born March 5, 
 1653-54 ; 5. Elizabeth, born Aug. 30, 1656 ; 6. Hester, 
 born April 15, 1662 ; 7. Sarah, born Feb. 14, 1665-66; 
 8. Nathaniel, born May 21, 1668 ; 9. Caleb, born Oct. 
 7, 1671. 
 
 At the time of George Chappell's decease these 
 nine children were all living, as was also his aged 
 wife,-whom he committed to the special care of his son 
 Caleb and grandson Comfort. Caleb Chappell had 
 previously removed to Lebanon, from whence his son 
 Amos went to Sharon and settled in that part of the 
 township which is now Ellsworth. The second George 
 Chappell married, first, Alice Way, and second, Mary 
 Douglas. He had two sons, George and Comfort; 
 from the latter the late Capt. Edward Chappell, of 
 New London, descended. Families of this name in 
 New London and the neighboring towns are numer- 
 ous, all tracing back to George for their ancestor. 
 Branches from this stock are also disseminated in va- 
 rious parts of the Union. 
 
 Capt. Samuel Chester died in 1710. A sea-captain 
 in the West India line, he receives his first grant of 
 land in New London for a warehouse in 1664, in 
 company with William Condy, of Boston, who was 
 styled his nephew. 
 
 William Condy. In connection with Capt. Chester, 
 a brief notice is due to William Condy. His wife was 
 Mary, daughter of Ralph Parker. He had four chil- 
 dren presented together for baptism, March 23, 1672- 
 73,— Richard, William, Ebenezer, and Ralph. The 
 family removed to Boston about 1680. A letter from 
 Mr. Condy, dated June 14, 1688, to Capt. Chester is 
 recorded at New London, requesting him to make sale 
 of one hundred and fifty acres of land that had been 
 given him by the town. He says, — 
 
 "Loving Unole: 
 
 " I would desire if you can sell tlie land that lyeth on your side of tlie 
 river to do nie that kindness as to sell it for me at the best iidvantago, 
 and send it down to me the next spring, and give a bill of sale for the 
 same, and this shall he your discharge. If you sell it, take it in pork if 
 you can, for that will he the best commodity hero. I am now ready to 
 Bale for BarbaJoes," etc. 
 
 Thomas Mortimer died March 11, 1709-10. This 
 name was often written Maltimore and Mortimore. 
 We have little information concerning the person 
 who bore it, and with whom, apparently, it became 
 extinct. He was a constable in 1680. 
 
 William Mynard died in 1711. This person was 
 an original emigrant from Great Britain ; he had 3 
 brother George, who died at Fording Bridge, in Hamp- 
 shire, England, to whose estate he was an heir. 
 
 Thomas Pember, drowned Sept. 27, 1711, in Na- 
 hantic River, on whose banks he dwelt. He had 
 three children baptized in 1692, viz., Mercy, Thomas 
 and Elizabeth ; also Ann, baptized 1694, and John, 
 1696. At the period of his death only four children 
 were living. He left a wife, Agnes, who was for 
 many years famous as a nurse and doctress. 
 
 Richard Singleton died Oct. 16, 1711. The record 
 of his death styles him ferryman of Oroton. Origin- 
 ally he was a mariner, and probably took the ferry 
 when the fifty years' lease of Latham expired, in 
 1705, in company with John Williams, or perhaps 
 alternating with him. Both lived on Groton Bank, 
 and were lessees of the ferry about the same time. 
 
 Wells. Thomas Wells was one of the early band 
 of planters at Pequot Harbor ; probably on the ground 
 in 1648, and certainly in 1649. He was a carpenter, 
 and worked with Elderkin on mills and meeting- 
 houses. 
 
 Jacob Holloway died Nov. 9, 1711. He appears 
 in the plantation a little before 1700. Left a son, 
 John, and daughters, Rose and Ann. His wife died 
 four days after the decease of her husband. 
 
 Joseph Nest died Dec. 8, 1711. Mr. Nest's wife 
 deceased before him, and he lived apparently alone 
 in a small tenement in the angle of the Lyme and 
 Great Neck roads. 
 
 John Terrall died Feb. 27, 1712. His wife, Mrs. 
 Sarah Terrall, died March 7th succeeding. No chil- 
 dren are mentioned in the will of the latter, but she 
 was probably a second wife. 
 
 John Wickwire died in March or April, 1712. 
 This person was an early settler in Mohegan, or the 
 North Parish (now Montville). 
 
 Thomas Short. "Here lyeth the body of Thomas 
 Short, who deceased Sept. 27, 1712, aged thirty 
 years.'' The small headstone in the old burial- 
 ground which bears this inscription shows where the 
 remains of the first printer in the colony of Connec- 
 ticut are deposited. He had been instructed in his art 
 by Bartholomew Green, of Boston, who recommended 
 him to the authorities of Connecticut for a colony 
 printer, in which office he established himself at New 
 London in 1709. 
 
 Thomas Munsell died in 1712. We find this per- 
 son mentioned in 1681. He was on a committee to 
 lay out a highway in 1683. His wife was Lydia, and 
 his children Jacob, Elisha, Mercy, and Deliverance. 
 In 1723, Jacob was of Windsor, and Elisha of Nor- 
 wich. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 165 
 
 Stephen Hurlbut died Oct. 7, 1712. The Hurlbut 
 family of Connecticut commences with Thomas Hurl- 
 but, who was one of the garrison at Saybrook fort in 
 1636, and settled in "Wethersfield about 1640. Ste- 
 phen, who came to New London after 1690, was prob- 
 ably one of his descendants, and a native of Wethers- 
 field. 
 
 William Camp died Oct. 9, 1713. He was an in- 
 habitant of the Jordan district. His wife was Eliza- 
 beth, daughter of Eichard Smith. His two sons, 
 William and James, removed to the North Parish 
 (now Montville). 
 
 Hallam. John and Nicholas Hallam were the sons 
 of Mrs. Alice Liveen by a former marriage, and prob- 
 ably born in Barbadoes, — John in 1661, and Nicholas 
 in 1664. John married Prudence, daughter of Amos 
 Richardson, in 1682, and fixed hisxesidence in Ston- 
 ington, where he died in 1700. His possessions were 
 large ; a thousand acres of land were leased to him in 
 perpetuity by John Richardson, of Newbury, in 1692i 
 " for the consideration of five shillings and an annual 
 rent of one pepper-corn ;" and his inventory gives 
 evidence of a slyle of dress and housekeeping more 
 expensive and showy than was common in those days. 
 It contains silver-plate, mantle, and coat of broad- 
 cloth, lined with silk, " seventeen horse kind," four 
 negro servants, etc. 
 
 Maj. Edward Palmes died March 21, 1714-15. 
 The same day died Capt. John Prentis (2). They 
 were both buried on the 23d, under arms, Capt. 
 Prentis in the morning, and Maj. Palmes in the after- 
 noon. The latter died on his farm at Nahantick, but 
 was brought into town for interment. Mr. Hemp- 
 stead's diary notices the extreme severity of the 
 weather at the time, and says of Maj. Palmes, " He 
 was well and dead in two hours and a half" His 
 gravestone states that he was in his seventy-eighth 
 year ; we may therefore place his birth in the year 
 1688. 
 
 Guy and Edward Palmes were both traders in 1659 
 and 1660, the latter in New Haven, and the former in 
 one of the towns west of it upon the Sound. In De- 
 cember, 1660, Edward had removed to New London. 
 From various sources it is ascertained that he mar- 
 ried Lucy Winthrop, daughter of Governor Winthrop 
 of Connecticut, and after her death a Widow Davis, 
 and that by his first wife he had a daughter Lucy, 
 who married (first) Samuel Gray and (second) Samuel 
 Lynde, of Saybrook, but of these successive events no 
 explicit documentary evidence is to be found in New 
 London. Dates therefore cannot be given. Two 
 children of Maj. Palmes by his second wife are on 
 Mr. Bradstreet's record of baptisms : 
 
 "Baptized Nov, 17, 1678, Maj. Palmes his child by liis second wife who 
 was Capt. Davis his relict, - — Guy. 
 " Baptized Oct. 1, 1682, Maj. Palmes his child Andrew. 
 
 The Bentworth farm of Maj. Palmes at Nahantick 
 was mortgaged to Capt. Charles Chambers, of Charles- 
 town, for £853. He left, however, five other valuable 
 
 farms. The Winthrop homestead in the town plot, 
 and the Mountain farm, bought of Samuel Royce, he 
 gave to his daughter, Lucy Gray, but the remainder 
 of his estate went to his son Andrew. These are the 
 only children mentioned in his will, and probably all 
 that survived infancy. 
 
 Andrew Palmes graduated at Harvard College in 
 1703, and died in 1721. He had four sons— Guy, 
 Bryan, Edward, and Andrew — and a daughter, Sarah, 
 who married Richard Durfey. The name of Palmes 
 is now extinct in New London. The Brainerd family 
 is descended in the female line from Capt. Edward 
 Palmes, the third son of Andrew. 
 
 Richard Jennings died Dec. 12, 1715. Richard 
 Jennings and Elizabeth Reynolds were married "the 
 beginning of June, 1678." They were both emi- 
 grants from Barbadoes. Their children were, first, 
 Samuel, born March 11, 1679 ; second, Richard, 1680; 
 third. Elinor, who married Richard Manwaring. 
 
 Thomas Crocker died Jan. 18, 1715-16. The de- 
 . scendants of this person are numerous and widely 
 scattered. At the time of his decease he was eighty- 
 three years of age, and had lived about fifty years in 
 the town. His wife, Rachel, was a daughter of Geo. 
 Chappell. 
 
 David Caulkins died Nov. 25, 1717. Hugh-Caul- 
 kin(s) and his son John removed to Norwich in 1660. 
 David, the younger son, remained in New London, 
 and inherited the homestead farm given by the town 
 to his father at Nahantick. Edward Palmes, John 
 Prentis, David Caulkins, and AVilliam Keeny lived on 
 adjoining farms, and for a considerable period occu- 
 pied a. district by themselves around the present 
 Rope Ferry and Millstone Point. 
 
 Ensign George Way died in February, 1716-17. 
 This was the period of the " great snow," famous 
 throughout New England. Ensign Way lived at the 
 West Farms, not far from Lake's Pond, and after his 
 decease his remains were kept for eleven or twelve 
 days, on account of the impassable state of the roads. 
 He was finally interred on the 7th of March, being 
 brought into town by men on snow-shoes. 
 
 The family of Ensign Way removed from New 
 London. He had several children, but Lyme was 
 probably the place of their nativity. His wife was 
 Susannah, daughter of Joseph Nest. 
 
 Joshua Baker died Dec. 27, 1717. He was the son 
 of Alexander Baker, of Boston, and born at the latter 
 place in 1642. He came to New London about 1670, 
 and married, Sept. 13, 1674, Hannah, relict of Tris- 
 tram M inter. 
 
 Thomas Jones died Oct. 6, 1718. His wife was 
 Catharine, daughter of Thomas Gammon, of New- 
 foundland, whom he married June 25, 1677. He 
 lived at first near Alewife Cove, but removed into the 
 North Parish, and his only son, Thomas, became a 
 proprietor of the town of Colchester. 
 
 Daniel Wetherell was born Nov. 29, 1630, at the 
 Free School-house, in Maidstone, Kent, Old England. 
 
lf)6 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Daniel Wetherell, of New London, son of William 
 Wetlierell, clericus of Scituate, was married Aug. 4, 
 1659, to Grace, daughter of Mr. Jonathan Brewster. 
 
 Andrew Davis, of Groton, died April 23, 1719. 
 John Davis was one of the planters of Pequot in 
 1651, and came probably from Ipswich. In 1662 he 
 was master of a vessel. His death is not registered, 
 but there is little hazard in assuming that his relict 
 was the Widow Davis whom Maj. Palmer married for 
 his second wife, and that Andrew Davis, of Groton, 
 was his son. It is difficult to construct a family his- 
 tory out of the scanty materials afforded by early 
 records. 
 
 Lieut. John Richards died Nov. 2, 1720. He was 
 the oldest son of the first John Richards, and his wife 
 was Love, daughter of Oliver Manwaring. He had a 
 large family of ten or twelve children, of whom only 
 four (John, George, Samuel, and Lydia) survived 
 their father. His inventory, which comprises gold 
 buttons, silver-plate, and gold and silver coin, shows 
 that an advance had been made beyond the simple 
 frugality of the first times. He owned the Bartlett 
 farm on the river, one-half of which was prized at 
 £315, which indicates a still greater advance in the 
 value of lands. No spot in New London was more 
 noted than the corner of Lieut. Richards (now oppo- 
 site the court-house). It was for many years the most 
 western dwelling in that direction, with only the 
 school-house and pasture-lots beyond. 
 
 Col. John Livingston died 1720. " The inventory 
 of Lieut.-Ool. John Livingston, late of New London, 
 taken at the house of Mrs. Sarah Knight, in Norwich, 
 at the desire of Mrs. Elizabeth Livingston, widow of 
 ye deceased, who is appointed administratrix, March 
 10, 1720-21." The list of effects under this heading 
 is slender. The principal items are 103 ounces of 
 wrought-plate at 10s. 6rf. per ounce, a japanned cabi- 
 net, and a field-tent. Col. Livingston died abroad. 
 His residence in New London has already been no- 
 ticed. He speculated largely in Indian lands. In 
 1705 he purchased " Pawmechaug," three hundred 
 acres, of Samuel Rogers, and sold it subsequently to 
 Charles Whiting. In 1710 he was one of the four 
 purchasers of all Mohegan, the reservation of the In- 
 dians excepted. He had a farm on Saw-mill Brook 
 (now Uncasville), of four hundred acres, which he 
 cultivated as a homestead. Here he had his mills and 
 dwelling-house, the latter standing on the west side 
 of the road to Norwich. It was here that his first 
 wife, Mrs. Mary Livingston, the only child of Gov- 
 ernor Fitz-John Winthrop, died, Jan. 8, 1712-13. 
 She was not interred till the 16th ; the weather being 
 very inclement and the snow deep, she could not be 
 brought into town till that time. 
 
 Col, Livingston's second wife was Elizabeth, daugh- 
 ter and only child of Mrs. Sarah Knight. The mar- 
 riage has not been found registered. To Mrs. Knight, 
 Livingston first mortgaged and then sold the Mohegan 
 farm. The title therefore accrued to Mrs. Livingston 
 
 from her mother, and not her husband. She sold it 
 to Capt. Stephen Harding, of Warwick. Col. Liv- 
 ingston had no children by either wife. The grave of 
 the first, the daughter of Winthrop, is undistinguished 
 and unknown. A table of freestone, with the follow- 
 lowing inscription, perpetuates the memory of the 
 second : 
 
 "Interd vnder tins stone is the body of Mdm Elizabeth Livingston 
 relict of Col. John Livingstone of New London, who departed this life 
 March 17th, A.n. 1735-0, in the 48th year of her age." 
 
 The following are items from the inventory of her 
 effects : 
 
 A negro woman. Rose; man, Pompey. 
 
 Indian man named John Nothing. 
 
 Silver-plate amounting to £234 13s. 
 
 A damask table-cloth, 80s. 
 
 Four gold rings, one silver ring, one stoned ring. 
 
 A pair of stoned ear-rings, a stone drop for the 
 neck. 
 
 A red stone for a locket, two pair of gold buttons. 
 
 A diamond ring with five diamonds (prized at £30). 
 
 John Edgecomb died April 11, 1721. His will 
 calls him aged. His estate was appraised at £681, 
 and consisted of a homestead in the town plot and 
 two considerable farms. 
 
 Capt. Peter Manwaring died July 29, 1723. He 
 perished by shipwreck on the south side of Montauk 
 Point. This enterprising mariner is first named a 
 little before 1700. His relationship with Oliver Man- 
 waring has not been ascertained, but the probability 
 is that he was his nephew. He followed the seas 
 with great assiduity. His family consisted of a wife 
 and three daughters. 
 
 Oliver Manwaring died Nov. 3, 1723. He was then 
 ninety years of age, and had been an inhabitant of 
 the town about sixty years. His house-lot of eleven 
 acres was bought on the 3d of November, 1664. The 
 nucleus of this homestead, consisting of the house- 
 plot and garden, is still in the possession of a de- 
 scendant in the direct male line from Oliver. 
 
 Sergt. Ebenezer Griffing died Sept. 2, 1723. His 
 age was fifty years, and he had been about twenty-five 
 in New London. His parentage and native place 
 have not been ascertained. 
 
 Richard Dart died Sept. 24, 1724. This was sixty 
 years and twelve days after the date of his first pur- 
 chase in New London. He was- eighty-nine years of 
 age. His oldest son, Daniel, born May 3, 1666, mar- 
 ried, Aug. 4, 1686, Elizabeth Douglas, and about the 
 year 1716 removed to Bolton, in Hartford County. 
 
 John Arnold died Aug. 16, 1725, his gravestone 
 says "aged about 73." His wife died November 28th 
 of the same year. We assume with confidence that 
 John Arnold was a son of Joseph Arnold, of Brain- 
 tree, Mass., the latter having the birth of a son John 
 registered April 2, 1650-51. He was a resident in 
 Norwich in 1681 and later, but before 1700 removed to 
 New London, where he married, Deo. 6, 1708, Mercy, 
 relict of Samuel Fosdick. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 167 
 
 Harwood. George Harwood can be traced as a res- 
 ident in New London only between the years 1651 
 and 1657, inclusive. 
 
 Thomas Bolles^ died May 26, 1727, aged eighty- 
 four ; Samuel Bolles died Aug. 10, 1842, aged ninety- 
 nine. The person last mentioned was grandson to 
 the former, and yet the time between the birth of the 
 one and the decease of the other was one hundred and 
 ninety-nine years, an immense space to be covered by 
 three generations, and a remarkable instance for our 
 country, where the practice of early marriages oper- 
 ates to crowd the generations closely together. The 
 intervening link is John Bolles ; Samuel was the son 
 of his old age, born when his father had numbered 
 sixty-seven years. 
 
 A family tradition states that Thomas Bolles came 
 to this country with brothers, and that they arrived 
 first upon the Kennebeck coast, but Winthrop, the 
 founder of New London, having some knowledge of 
 the family, invited them all to his plantation. Only 
 Thomas answered the call, the others remaining where 
 they first landed. It is some corroboration of this 
 account that the name of Bolles is found among the 
 early settlers of Wells, in Maine. 
 
 Thomas Bolles is found at New London about 1668. 
 Of his marriage we have no account. He bought a 
 house and land at Foxen's Hill, and there lived with 
 his wife Mary and three children, — Mary, born in 
 1673 ; Joseph, in 1675 ; ' and John, in August, 1677. 
 
 On the 5th or 6th of June, 1678, while Mr. Bolles 
 was absent from home, a sudden and terrific blow be- 
 reaved him of most of his family. His wife and two 
 oldest children were found dead, weltering in their 
 blood, with the infant, wailing but unhurt, by the side 
 of its mother. The author of this bloody deed proved 
 to be a vagabond youth, who demanded shelter and 
 lodging in the house, which the woman refused. 
 Some angry words ensued, and the reckless lad, 
 seizing an axe that lay at the wood-pile, rushed in 
 and t-ook awful vengeance. He soon afterwards con- 
 fessed the crime, was carried to Hartford, tried by the 
 Court of Assistants, October 3d, condemned and exe- 
 cuted at Hartford, Oct. 9, 1678. 
 
 The records of the town do not contain the slightest 
 allusion to this act of atrocity. Tradition, however, 
 has faithfully preserved the history, coinciding in im- 
 portant facts with the account contained in documents 
 on file among the colonial records at Hartford. John 
 Bolles, the infant thus providentially preserved from 
 slaughter, in a pamphlet which he published in after- 
 life concei'ning his peculiar religious tenets, alludes 
 to the tragic event of his infancy as follows : 
 
 " My father lived about a mile from New London town, and my mother 
 waa at home with only three little children, I being the youngest, about 
 ten months old. She, with the other two, were mur4ered by a youth about 
 Bixteen years of age, who was afterwards executed at Hartford, and I 
 was found at my dead mother's breast." 
 
 1 At first frequently written Bowles. 
 
 ^ In some papers at Hartford this child is called Thomas ; at his baptism 
 the name registered was Joseph. 
 
 Tradition states that the blood of the child Mary, 
 who was killed as she was endeavoring to escape from 
 the door, flowed out upon the rock on which the 
 house stood, and that the stains long remained. 
 
 Samuel Fox died Sept. 4, 1727, aged seventy-seven. 
 Samuel and John Fox were sons of Thomas Fox, of 
 Concord. Samuel Fox married Mary, supposed to be 
 daughter of Andrew Lester, and born in Gloucester 
 in 1647, March 30, 1675-76. They had a son Samuel, 
 born April 24, 1681. 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Knight. It is known that she was born 
 about 1665, but where, of what parentage, when mar- 
 ried, who was her husband, and when he was taken 
 from her by death, are points not yet ascertained. 
 All that is known of her kindred is that she was re- 
 lated to the Prout and Trowbridge families of New 
 Haven. The few data that have been gathered re- 
 specting her in this vicinity will be rehearsed in 
 order. In 1698 she appears at Norwich with goods 
 to sell, and is styled widow and shop-keeper. In this 
 connection it may be mentioned that among the 
 planters in a settlement then recently commenced by 
 Maj. James Fitch; of Norwich, at Peagscomtuck, now 
 Canterbury, was a John Knight, who died in 1695. 
 It is possible that Mrs. Knight was his relict ; she 
 appears to have had one child only, a daughter Eliz- 
 abeth; and it is probable that John Knight had no 
 sons, as the continuation of his name and family 
 has not been traced. He is not the ancestor of the 
 Knight family afterwards found at the West Farms, 
 in Norwich, which originated with David Knight, 
 who married Sarah Backus in 1692, had sons and 
 daughters, and died in 1744. 
 
 Mrs. Knight remained but a short time in Norwich, 
 perhaps three or four years. At the time of her cele- 
 brated journey from Boston to New York, in 1704, she 
 was a resident of Boston. In 1717 she was again 
 living at Norwich ; a silver cup for the communion 
 service was presented by her to the church, and the 
 town by vote, August 12th, gave her liberty to " sit in 
 the pew where she used to sit." In 1718, March 26th, 
 Mrs. Knight and six other persons were presented in 
 one indictment " for selling strong drink to the In- 
 dians." They were fined twenty shillings and costs. 
 It is added to the record, " Mrs. Knight accused her 
 maid, Ann Clark, of the fact." After this period 
 Mrs. Knight appears as a land purchaser in the North 
 Parish of New London, generally as a partner with 
 Joseph Bradford; she was also a pew-holder in the 
 new church built in that parish about 1724, and 
 was sometimes styled of Norwich, and sometimes of 
 New London. This can be easily accounted for, aa 
 she retained her dwelling-house in Norwich, but her 
 farms, where she spent a portion of her time, were 
 within the bounds of New London. On one of the 
 latter, the Livingston farm, upon the Norwich road, 
 she kept entertainment for travelers, and is called 
 inn-keeper. At this place she died, and was brought 
 to New London for interment. 
 
168 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 George Geer died in 1727. The Isbell farm bought 
 by George Geer, Oct. 31, 1665, was bounded north by 
 the line between New London and Norwich (now 
 Ledyard and Preston). 
 
 Fargo. The iirst of this name in New London was 
 Moses, wlio became a resident in 1680. He had nine 
 children, of whom the five youngest were sons, — 
 Moses,' Ralph, Robert, Thomas, and Aaron. Moses 
 Fargo, or Firgo, as it was then often written, and his 
 wife Sarah were both living in 1726. 
 
 Thomas Leach died Nov. 24, 1732. He was eighty 
 years of age, and had dwelt in the town upwards of 
 fifty years. 
 
 John Ames died June 1, 1735. He had been about 
 forty years an inhabitant of New London, and had 
 sons, — John, Robert, and Samuel. 
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 NEW LONDON— (Continued). 
 
 War of the Kevolution.' 
 
 Votes of the Town concerning the War — First Committees of Corre- 
 spondence — Soldiers* Families — The First Niival Expedition — The 
 Militia — Two Companies from New London at Bunker Hill — Nathan 
 Hale — Cannonade of Stonington — Fort Trumlull — Officers on iJuty 
 — Enlistments — Marauders — Smugglers — Shaving Notes — Various 
 Alarms — British Fleets in the Sound — Rumors and Alarms of 1779 
 and 1780— Sketches of Soldiers. 
 
 " So copious are the details connected with the 
 Revolution that may be collected from one source 
 and another, that even after the lapse of more than 
 seventy years the historian is embarrassed by the 
 affluence of materials. He is in danger of losing the 
 thread of his narrative in the labyrinth of interesting 
 incidents presented to him. In the present case, how- 
 ever, there can be no doubt but that it will be proper 
 to notice first what was done by the town in its cor- 
 porate capacity. This will not require a long article. 
 The records are meagre. The Revolution, as it re- 
 gards New London, was achieved by public spirit 
 and voluntary action, rather than by organization 
 and law. From the town records we learn but little 
 of the contest in which the inhabitants were such 
 great sufferers. 
 
 "A letter from the selectmen of Boston, inclosing 
 the famous resolutions of Oct. 23, 1767, was laid be- 
 fore the town December 28th, and the subject referred 
 to a committee of fifteen of the inhabitants, viz., Gur- 
 don Saltonstall, Daniel Coit, William Hillhouse, 
 Richard Law, Jeremiah Miller, Joseph Coit, James 
 Mumford, Nathaniel Shaw, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., Eze- 
 kiel Fox, Samuel Belden, Winthrop Saltonstall, Guy 
 Richards, Russell Hubbard, Titus Hurlbut. 
 
 "This committee entered fully into the spirit of 
 the Boston resolutions, and drew up a form of sub- 
 
 1 This account of the war of the Revolution is taken chieily from Miss 
 F. M, Caulkins' History of New London. 
 
 scription to circulate among the inhabitants, by which 
 the use of certain enumerated articles of European 
 merchandise was condemned and relinquished. These 
 articles appear to have been generally adopted and 
 faithfully kept. 
 
 " Inf December, 1770, the town appointed four dele- 
 gates to the grand convention of the colony held at 
 New Haven : Gurdon Saltonstall, William Hillhouse, 
 Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., William Manwaring. 
 
 " We find no further record of any action of the 
 town relative to the political discontent of the coun- 
 try until the memorable month of June, 1774, when 
 the edict of Parliament shutting up the port of Boston 
 took effect, and roused the colonies at once to activity. 
 Votes and resolutions expressive of indignation, re- 
 monstrance, and sympathy were echoed from town to 
 town, and pledges exchanged to stand by each other, 
 and to adhere with constancy to the cause of liberty. 
 The town-meeting at Groton was on the 20th of June, 
 William Williams, moderator. The Committee of 
 Correspondence chosen consisted of seven prominent 
 inhabitants, — William Ledyard, Thomas Mumford, 
 Benadam Gallup,. Amos Prentice, Charles Eldridge, 
 Jr., Deacon John Hurlbut, Amos Geer. 
 
 " The meeting at New London was on the 27th, 
 Richard Law, moderator, and the committee five in 
 number, — Richard Law, Gurdon Saltonstall, Na- 
 thaniel Shaw, Jr., Samuel H. Parsons, Guy Rich- 
 ards. 
 
 "The declarations and resolves issued by these 
 meetings were similar to those of hundreds of towns 
 at that juncture. In December the town added two 
 other members to the Committee of Correspondence, 
 viz., John Deshon and William Coit. At this time, 
 also, a Committee of Inspection was appointed, con- 
 sisting of thirty persons, who had instructions 'to take 
 effectual care that the acts of the Continental Con- 
 gress, held at Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1774, be abso- 
 lutely and bona fide adhered to.' Any seven of the 
 members were to form a quorum, and in cases of 
 emergency the whole were to be called together at 
 the court-house. From this period almost all action 
 relating to the contest with England was performed 
 by committees, or by spontaneous combination among 
 the citizens, or by colonial and military authority, 
 and the results were not recorded. 
 
 "Committee of Correspondence for the year 1776: 
 Gurdon Saltonstall, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., Marvin 
 Wait, John Deshon, John Hertell, William Hill-- 
 house. 
 
 "Jan. 15, 1776.— ' Voted, that if any person within 
 the limits of this town shall at any time between now 
 and the 1st of January next unnecessarily expend 
 any gunpowder by firing at game or otherwise, shall 
 for every musket charge forfeit and pay the sum of 
 twenty shillings lawful money into the town treasury.' 
 " March 31, 1777.— A Committee of Supply was ap- 
 pointed to provide necessaries for the families of such 
 soldiers as should enlist in the Continental battalions 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 169 
 
 then raising in the State. This was in compliance 
 with the orders of the Governor and Council of Safety, 
 and a committee for this purpose was annually chosen 
 till the conclusion of the war. The selectmen and 
 informing officers were enjoined to search out and 
 punish all violations of the law regulating the prices 
 of the necessaries of life. 
 
 " At the same meeting the town clerk was directed 
 to remove the books and files of the town to some 
 place of safety, reserving only in his own custody 
 those required for immediate use. 
 
 "In conformity with this vote the town records 
 were removed into the western part of the township, 
 now Waterford, and committed to the charge of Mr. 
 George Douglass, by whom they were kept at his 
 homestead until after the termination of the war. By 
 this wise precaution they escaped the destruction 
 which swept away a portion of the probate records, 
 and probably all those of the custom-house, on the 
 6th of September, 1781. 
 
 " June 23, 1777. — ' Voted almost unanimously to 
 admit of inoculation for smallpox, agreeably to a 
 resolve of the General Assembly in May last.' 
 
 "The Committee of Correspondence for the years 
 1777 and 1778 consisted of three persons only, the 
 first three named on the list of 1776. The Committee 
 of Inspection was reduced to nineteen, and in Janu- 
 ary, 1779, it was entirely dropped. 
 
 "The Articles of Confederation agreed upon by 
 Congress in 1777, and referred to the several States 
 for consideration, were in Connecticut ultimately pre- 
 sented to the inhabitants in their town-meetings for 
 decision. The vote of New London was as follows: 
 
 "Dec. 29,1777. — 'Gurdon Saltonstall, moderator. Voted in a very full 
 town meeting, nem con, that this town do approve of and acquiesce in 
 the late proposals of the honorable Continental Congress, entitled " Ar- 
 ticles of Confederation and perpetual union between the United States 
 of America," as being the most effectuarmeasures whereby the freedom 
 of said States may be secured and their independency estiblished on a 
 solid and permanent basis.' 
 
 " In October, 1779, a State convention was held at 
 Hartford ; the deputies from New London were Gur- 
 don Saltonstall and Jonathan Latimer. 
 
 " From year to year, as the war continued, the pop- 
 ulation decreased, estates diminished, and the burdens 
 of the town grew heavier. The diificulty of furnish- 
 ing the proper quota of men and provisions for the 
 army annually increased. Large taxes were laid, 
 large bounties ofiered for soldiers to serve during the 
 war, and various ways and means suggested and tried 
 to obtain men, money, clothing, provisions, and fire- 
 arms, to keep the town up to the proportion required 
 by the Legislature. Much of the town action was 
 absorbed by this necessary but most laborious duty. 
 
 "June 27, 1780. — A bounty of £12 per annum over 
 and above the public bounty was offered in hard 
 money to each soldier that would enlist to serve 
 during the war, £9 to each that would enlist for 
 three years, and £6 to each that would enlist to serve 
 till the 1st day of January next. 
 
 "In December, 1780, a committee was appointed 
 to collect all the fire-arms belonging to the inhabit- 
 ants and deposit them in a safe place, for the benefit 
 of the town. Only extreme necessity could justify an 
 act so arbitrary. 
 
 " So many of the inhabitants of New London had 
 been trained as fishermen, coasters, and mariners 
 that no one is surprised to find them, when the trying 
 time came, bold, hardy, and daring in the cause of 
 freedom. In all the southern towns of the county — 
 Stonington, Groton, New London, Lyme — the common 
 mass of the people were an adventurous class, and ex- 
 ploits of stratagem, strength, and valor, by land and 
 sea, performed during the war of independence by 
 persons nurtured on this coast, might still be recov- 
 ered sufficient to form a volume of picturesque ad- 
 venture and exciting interest. At the same time 
 many individuals in this part of the country, and 
 some, too, of high respectability, took a different view 
 of the great political question and sided with the 
 Parliament and the king. In various instances fam- 
 ilies were divided, members of the same fireside 
 adopted opposite opinions and became as strangers to 
 each other ; nor was it an unknown misery for parents 
 to have children ranged on different sides on the bat- 
 tle-field. At one time a gallant young officer of the 
 army, on his return from the camp, where he had sig- 
 nalized himself by his bravery, was escorted to his 
 home by a grateful populace, that surrounded the 
 house and filled the air with their applausive huzzas, 
 while at the same time his half-brother, the son of 
 the mother who clasped him to her bosom, stigmatized 
 as a Tory, convicted of trade with the enemy, and 
 threatened with the wooden horse, lay concealed amid 
 the hay of-the barn, where he was fed by stealth for 
 many days. This anecdote is but an example of many 
 that might be told of a similar character. 
 
 "It would be of no service now to draw out of ob- 
 livion the names of individuals who at various times 
 during the eight years of darkness and confiict were 
 suspected of being inimical to the liberties of their 
 country. Many of these changed their sentiments 
 and came over to the side of independence, and all at 
 la^t acquiesced in their own happiness and good for- 
 tune, growing out of the emancipation of their coun- 
 try from a foreign sceptre. It is an easier as well as 
 more pleasing task to mention names that, on account 
 of voluntary activity, sacrifice of personal interest, 
 and deeds of valorous enterprise, exerted for the 
 rights of man, lie prominent upon the surface, illu- 
 minating the whole period by their brightness. 
 
 " Those who came earliest forth in the cause de- 
 mand our especial admiration, since it is emphatically 
 true that they set their lives at stake. In a civil ca- 
 pacity the early names of note and influence were 
 those of Deshon, Law, Hillhouse, Mumford, and 
 Shaw. 
 
 " Oapt. John Deshon served as an agent in erecting 
 the fortifications at New London, and as commissary 
 
170 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 In various enlistments of troops. This was under the 
 authority of the Governor. In July, 1777, Congress 
 appointed him one of the naval board of the Eastern 
 Department.' 
 
 " Richard Law'' and William Hillhouse were mem- 
 bers of the Governor's Council, and each carried a 
 whole heart into the Revolution. Hillhouse was also 
 major of the second regiment of horse raised in the 
 State.' Law had been nominated as a member of Con- 
 gress, but in June, 1776, just at the critical period of 
 appointment, he was confined in a hospital with the 
 smallpox. His name was thus deprived of the honor 
 of being affixed to the Declaration of Independence. 
 In October, 1776, he was elected to Congress, and 
 excused from further service in the Council. 
 
 "Thomas Mumford, of Groton, belonged to that 
 company of gentlemen, eleven in number, who in 
 April, 1775, formed the project of taking Ticonderoga. 
 This undertaking, so eminently successful, was wholly 
 concerted in Connecticut, without any authority from 
 Congress. The company obtained the money requisite 
 (£810) from the colonial treasury, but gave their indi- 
 vidual notes and receipts for it. The Assembly, in 
 May, 1777, canceled the notes and charged the amount 
 to the general government.* In 1778, Mumford was 
 one of a committee appointed to receive and sign 
 emissions of bills, and also an agent of the secret 
 committee of Congress.* 
 
 " Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., was an enterprising mer- 
 chant ; we may add that he performed important ser- 
 vice to the country during the Revolution, particularly 
 in naval afiairs. His judgment in that department 
 was esteemed paramount to all others in the colony. 
 He also acted as a general agent or friend of the 
 country in various concerns, military and fiscal, as 
 well as naval. His mercantile letters, though brief, 
 and devoted to matters of business, contain allusions 
 to passing events that are valuable as cotemporaneous 
 authority. They have been already quoted', and fur- 
 ther extracts will occasionally be made. 
 
 1 " Council records in Hiiimiin's ' War of the Revoliitiun,' p. 46C. John 
 Deelion was of Freiicli Huguenot extraction. His fatlier, Daniel Deshon, 
 was a yontli in the family of Capt. Rene Grignon nt the time of the de- 
 cease of the latter, at Norwich, in 1715, and is mentioned in his will. 
 After the death of his patr(ni he settled in New London, where he mar- 
 ried Rnth Christophers, and had several sons and one danghter, who 
 married Joseph Cliew. He died in 1781, at the age of eighty -four, which 
 carries his birth back to 1G97. Three of his sons were conspicuous in 
 the Revolutionary war. Capt. IJaniel Deshon was appointed in 1777 to 
 the command of the armed brig 'Old Defense,' owned by the State, 
 which was uufoi'tunately taken by the British iu .January, 1778. John, 
 mentioned in the text, wan the second son, and born Dec. 25, 1727. Rich- 
 ard, another son, served in the army. The name is supposed to have 
 been originally Deschamps. 
 
 2 "Son of Governor Jonathan Law, and born in Milford, March 17, 
 1732-3. He was, after the Revolution, judge of the district of Connecti- 
 cut, and chief justice of the Superior Court. The late Capt. Richard 
 Law and Hon. Lyman Law, 51. C, were his sons. 
 
 8 " Maj. Hillhouse was subsequently for many years chief judge of the 
 County Court. Ti-adilion confirms the truth of the character engraved 
 upon his moinilnent; 
 
 '"A judge and statesman; honest, just, and wise.' 
 
 * " State Records, Hinman, p. 31. b " Ibid., p. 497. 
 
 " To P. Vandevoon, Oct. 22, 1773 : 
 
 " *In regard to the tea that is expected from England, I pray heartily 
 that the colonies may not suffer any to be landed. Tiie people witli ub 
 are determined not to purchase any that comes in that way.' 
 
 " We have here a hint that apprises us of the spirit 
 of the inhabitants of New London in regard to the 
 duty on tea. Aged people have related that some 
 salesmen who had no scruples on the subject, having 
 received small consignments of custom-house tea, as 
 experiments to try the market and tempt the people 
 to become purchasers, were either persuaded or com- 
 pelled to make a bonfire of it upon the Parade; and 
 that not only the tea-chests from the shops were emp- 
 tied, but some enthusiastic housekeepers added to the 
 blaze by throwing in their private stores. It is further 
 related that parties were made and weddings cele- 
 brated at which all ribbons, artificial flowers, and 
 other' fabrics of British manufacture were discarded, 
 and Labrador tea*" introduced. 
 
 "Shaw to Yandevoort, April 1, 1775 : 
 
 " 'Matters seem to draw near where the longest sword must decide the 
 controversy. Our Gen. As-senibly sets to-morrow, and I pray Gud Al- 
 mighty to direct them to adopt such measures as will be for the iutereat 
 of America.' 
 " To Messrs. Wharton, Philadelphia, May 5th : 
 
 *' ' I wrote to you by Col. Dyer and Mr. Dean, our colony delegatps to 
 congress, desiring you to let them have what money they should Imve 
 occasion for to the amount of 4 or 60tJ pounds. I really do act kaow 
 what plan to follow or what to do with my vessels.' 
 " To the selectmen of Boston, May Sth : 
 
 *"I have received from Peter Curtenins, treasr of the com" in New 
 'York, 10 t bbls. of flour for the poor in Boston. He writes me he shall 
 forward £:150 in cash for the same use.' 
 " To Capt. Handy, May 31s( ; 
 
 " ' I never met with so much difficulty to get hard money since I was 
 in trade as witliin these two months past. 1 have large quantitiee of 
 West India goods in store in Boston, in New York, and in Pliil^, but 
 cannot raise a shilling.' 
 
 " If such difficulties as are here described were ex- 
 perienced by men of large resources, it may easily be 
 imagined that all the smaller mercantile concerns 
 must have been harassed and impoverished to the last 
 extremity. The stagnation of business was general. 
 Neither cash nor merchantable bills could be ob- 
 tained. The most lamentable destitution prevailed; 
 everything was wanted, yet no one had the means to 
 buy. 
 
 " To Messrs. Thomas and Js.mo Wharton. Sept. 18, 1775 : 
 
 " ' I shall set out to-morrow for the camp at Roxhnry, and it is more 
 than probable that T may come to Philadelphia on my return, and liope 
 I shall be able to procure Adams' Letters, which I have never seen.' 
 " To an agent in Dominica, Jan. 16, 1776: 
 
 " ' All our tiude is now at an end, and God knows whether we shall 
 ever be in a situation to carry it on again. No business now hut prepa- 
 rations for war, ravaging villages, burning towns,' etc. 
 
 " At a very early period of the contest Mr. Shaw 
 took the precaution to secure supplies of powder from 
 the French islands. In December, 1774, he had rep- 
 resented to the government of the colony the great 
 destitution of New London, and other exposed places 
 
 ^ " This was probably the CeanoUms Americanus, a plant sometimes nsed 
 during the Revolution as a substitute for tea, and usually called Jersey 
 tea. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 171 
 
 in this respect, and urged them to send without delay 
 to the West Indies for a considerable stock, offering a 
 fast sailing-vessel of his own to be used for this end. 
 The Assembly acted on this advice, sending him an 
 order to obtain six hundred half-barrels with all 
 possible speed. In July, 1775, to the commander of 
 a sloop fitted out with flour and pipe-staves for His- 
 paniola he gave the brief direction : ' Purchase gun- 
 powder and return soon.' Again, in January, 1776, 
 he writes to William Constant, his agent in Guada- 
 loupe, requesting him to purchase powder ' to the 
 amount of all the interest you have of mine in your 
 hands ;' and adds, ' make all the dispatch you can : 
 we shall want it very soon.' We learn from his ac- 
 counts that in 1775 he furnished the regiment of 
 Col. Parsons with powder, ball, and flints, and that in 
 June, 1776, at the order of the Governor, he forwarded 
 an opportune supply of powder to Gen. Washington. 
 July 22d he wrote himself to the commander-in-chief, 
 stating that he had recently forwarded to him three 
 cases of arms and a quantity of flints, adding, 'and 
 now, by the bearer, John Keeny, I have sent two cases 
 of arms, and one chest and bar of Continental arms 
 and cutlasses, as per invoice.' July 31st he advises 
 Robert Morris, chairman of the secret committee of 
 Congress, that he has received another supply of 
 powder : ' 13,500 cwt. arrived from Port-au-Prince 
 and safe landed.' 
 
 " The first naval expedition under the authority of 
 Congress was fitted out at New London in January, 
 1776. The command was given to Commodore Hop- 
 kins, sometimes styled ' admiral.' The fleet consisted 
 of four vessels, the ' Alfred,' ' Columbus,' ' Andrea 
 Doria,' and ' Cabot,' varying in armament from four- 
 teen to thirty -six guns.' The preparations were made 
 with great expedition and secrecy, no notice being 
 given respecting it in any of the newspapers. It was 
 destined to cruise at the South and annoy the British 
 fleet in that quarter. Dudley Saltonstall, previously 
 in command of the fort, or battery, on the Parade, 
 was appointed senior captain ; Elisha Hinraan, a lieu- 
 tenant; Peter Richards and Charles Bulkley, enter- 
 prising young seamen of the place, were among the 
 midshipmen ; eighty of the crew were from the town 
 and neighborhood. The fleet sailed about the 1st of 
 February to its rendezvous in Delaware Bay, less 
 than a month from the time in which the first prepa- 
 rations were commenced. The only results of this 
 expedition, from which apparently some great but 
 indefinite advantage was expected, were the plunder 
 of the British post of New Providence and a fruitless 
 combat with the British ship ' Glasgow' on their 
 homeward voyage, near the eastern end of Long 
 Island. 
 
 " The commodore re-entered New London Harbor 
 on the 8th of April ;^ he had taken seventy prisoners, 
 eighty-eight pieces of cannon, and a large quantity of 
 
 military and naval stores. Many of the heavy pieces 
 of ordnance had arrived previously in a sloop com- 
 manded by Capt. Hinraan. 
 
 " Just at the period of the return of this fleet the 
 American army was on its way from Boston to New 
 York.' Gen. Washington met Commodore Hopkins 
 at New London, April 9th. The brigade under Gen. 
 Greene was then here, ready to embark in transports. 
 Washington slept that night at the house of Nathaniel 
 Shaw. 
 
 " Commodore Hopkins, immediately after his re- 
 turn, formed a plan for the capture of the ' Rose' 
 man-of-war, commanded by Sir James Wallace, then 
 cruising upon the coast. Gen. Washington consented 
 to furnish two hundred men to assist the enterprise, 
 and the Governor and Council ordered the ' Defence' 
 and the ' Spy' to join the squadron for the cruise.* 
 Thus reinforced, the commodore sailed to the east- 
 ward; but his plans were not accomplished. Neither 
 the details of the project nor the cause of its failure 
 are now understood. The disappointed fleet went 
 into port at Providence. 
 
 " A large number of seamen belonging to the fleet 
 were left behind in New London, sick, and in the 
 charge of Mr. Shaw. To him also was confided the 
 care of the stores that had been disembarked. 
 
 ' BIr. Shaw to Governor Trumbull, April Ibth : 
 
 "' Inclosed is an invoice of tlie weight und size of thirty-four cannon 
 received from Adniinil Hopltins, ten of which are landed at Groton, viz. : 
 tliree twenty -four-pounders, two eigliteen.aTid iivo twelve. The renniin- 
 der are at New London, He has landed a great quantity of cannon-liall 
 Tile mortars and sliells Gen. Wasliiugton desired miglit 1)0 sent to New 
 York, and the admiral has sent rhem. The remainder of the cannon are 
 part sent to Newport, and part are on hoard the fleet, which he wants to 
 carry to Newport. I'he nine-pounders are but ordinary guns, tlie others 
 are all very good.' 
 
 '* To Francid Lewis, Eitq., at Philadelphia, June 19i/i ; 
 
 " ' I have received a letter from Coniniodore Hopkins, wherein he says 
 that I was appointed by Congress as their agent for tliis port. I should 
 he glad to have directions how to proceed. I am iti advance at least a 
 thousand pounds for supplies to the fleet and hospital in lliis town ; one 
 hundred and twenty men were landed sick and wounded, twenty of 
 which are since dead; the remainder have all since joined tlie fleet at 
 Providence.' 
 
 " To Hon. John Hancock, Pi-esiitent of Congrenf, Jvhj 31st : 
 
 " The cannon and stores delivered me by Commodore Hopkins amount 
 to £4765 4s. lOd. L. M. 
 
 " ' Last Sunday a ship sent in as a prize by Capt. Biddle, in the " Andrew 
 Doiia," ran on the rocks near Fisher's Island, being chased by a British 
 shipof-war, and immediately a number of armed men from Stoningtou 
 went ou board, and, as tliey say, preveuteil the nian-o(-war from destroy- 
 ing her. The next day Capt. Hinman, in the "Cabot," went to their as- 
 sistance, and has saved aTid brouglit into pQrt ninety hogsheads of rum 
 and seven of sngar; renniinder of the cargo is lost. The " Cabot" has 
 been lying here ever since Commodore Hopkins set out for Philadelphia, 
 with a fine brave crew, waiting for orders.' 
 
 " July 10, 1776, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., was appointed 
 by the Governor and Council of Safety ' agent of the 
 colony for naval supplies and taking care of sick sea- 
 men.' From this period during the remainder of the 
 struggle, as an accredited agent of Congress and the 
 colony, he furnished stores, negotiated the exchange 
 
 ^ " Cooper's Naval History. 
 
 2 "New Loudon Gazette. 
 
 2 " Sparks' Life of Washington. 
 
 * " Hinman, p. 35C. 
 
172 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 of prisoners, provided for sick seamen, and exercised 
 a general care for the public service in his native 
 town. He was also engaged on his own account, as 
 were also other prominent citizens of the place, in 
 sending out private armed vessels to cruise against 
 the enemy. These for a time met with a success 
 which stimulated the owners to larger adventures, 
 but in the end three-fourths, and perhaps a larger 
 proportion, of all the private cruisers owned in New 
 London were captured and lost. 
 
 "At the May session of the Legislature in 1776 
 the Governor was placed at the head of the naval and 
 custom-house business of the colony, with power to 
 appoint subordinate naval officers for the ports of 
 New Haven, New London, Middletown, and Nor- 
 walk. Duncan Stewart, the English collector, was 
 still in New London, where he dwelt without other 
 restraint than being forbidden to leave town except 
 by permission from the Governor. That permission 
 appears to have been granted whenever solicited. In 
 1776 he spent three months in New York upon parole, 
 and in June, 1777, obtained leave to remove thither 
 with his family and effects, preparatory to taking 
 passage for England, to which country the Governor 
 granted him a passport. Permission was also given 
 him at first to take with him' the goods of Dr. Moffatt, 
 late his majesty's controller of customs; but this was 
 countermanded, representations having been made to 
 the Governor that Dr. Moffatt had withdrawn from 
 America in a hostile spirit, and had since been in 
 arms against her. His goods, which consisted only 
 of some household stuff' of trifling value, were there- 
 fore confiscated. 
 
 " The populace took umbrage at the courtesies ex- 
 tended to the English collector. At one time, when 
 some English goods were brought from New York for 
 the use of his family, the mob at first would not per- 
 mit them to be landed, and afterwards seized and 
 made a bonfire of them. The ringleaders in this out- 
 rage were arrested and lodged in jail ; the jail-doors 
 were broken down and they were released; nor were 
 the authorities in sufficient force to attempt a recom- 
 mitment. It was indeed a stirring season, and the re- 
 straints of law and order were weak as flax. It is, 
 however, gratifying to know that Mr. Stewart was al- 
 lowed to leave the place with his family without any 
 demonstration of personal disrespect. He departed 
 in July, 1777. 
 
 " [Note on the Shaw Family. The elder Nathaniel Shaw was not a na- 
 tive of New London, hut born in Fairfield, Conn., in 170.3, to which place, 
 it is said, his father had removed from Boston. He came to New London 
 before 1730, and was for many years a sea-captain in the Irish trade, 
 which was then pursned to advantage. He had a brother, who sailed 
 with him in his early voyages, but died on a retuin passage from Ire- 
 land in 1732, Capt. Shaw married in 1730, Temperance Harris, a grand- 
 daughter of the firet Gabriel Harris of New London, and had a family of 
 six sons and two daughters. Three of the sons perished at sea at difler- 
 ent periods, aged twenty, twejity-one, and twenty-two,— a degree of ca- 
 lamity beyond the common share of disaster, even in this community, 
 where so many families have been bereaved by the sea. The other sons 
 lived to middle age. Sarah, the oldest child, married David Allen, and 
 died at the nge of twenty-five. Mary, the youngest, has already been 
 
 mentioned as the wife of the Kev. Ephraim Woodbridge; though dyiite 
 at the age of twenty-four, she was the only one of Capt. Shaw's ftuniiy 
 who left descendants. The parents lived to old age. Capt. Shaw died Id 
 1778, his relict in 1796. 
 
 " Nathaniel Shaw (2d) was the oldest son, and born Dec. 5, 1735. He 
 lived through the dark days of the Revolution, always active and enter- 
 prising, but was suddenly cut off by the accidental discharge of his own 
 fowling-piece, before the nation had received the seal of peace, April 15 
 1782. His wife preceded him to the grave ; she died Dec. 11, 1781 of a 
 malignant fever taken from some released prisoners; to whose necessi- 
 ties she ministered.] 
 
 " Early in the year 1775 an independent military 
 company was formed in New London, under Capt. 
 William Coit. It was well trained and equipped, and 
 held itself ready for any emergency. Immediately 
 after the news of the skirmish at Lexington was re- 
 ceived this gallant band started for the scene of con- 
 flict. They encamped the. first night on Norwich 
 Green, the second on Sterling Hill, and the third in 
 Providence. Another militia company went from 
 those parts of the town which are now Waterford and 
 Montville, under Maj. Jonathan Latimer; Capt. Abel 
 Spicer with another from Groton. Fifty towns in 
 Connecticut sent troops to Boston on this occasion. 
 In May the General Assembly ordered remuneration 
 to be made from the colonial treasury for expenses 
 incurred in the Lexington alarm, and the quota of 
 New London was £251 18s. 6rf. This amount is the 
 fifth highest on the list. Windham stands first; 
 Woodstock, from whence Capt. Samuel McLellan 
 turned out with forty-five mounted men, is next; then 
 Lebanon, Suffield, New London.' 
 
 " Under the old organization the militia of New 
 London belonged to the Third Connecticut Regiment, 
 and in 1774 the field-officers of this regiment were 
 Gurdon Saltonstall, of New London, colonel ; Jabez 
 Huntington, of Norwich, lieutenant-colonel; and 
 Samuel H. Parsons, major. Maj. Parsons was of 
 Lyme, but at that time residing in New London in 
 the practice of the law, being king's attorney for New 
 London County. In April, 1775, six new regiments 
 were formed, and the promotions after this period 
 were so rapid that it is difficult to keep pace with the 
 grade of the officers. Every new requisition for vol- 
 unteers was followed by changes among the commis- 
 sioned officers, and generally by an advance in rank. 
 " In June one of the six newly-raised regiments, 
 under the command of Col. Par.sons, was reviewed in 
 New London. This is believed to have been the first 
 regimental training in this State east of Connecticut 
 River. Two companies of this regiment, the fourth 
 and fifth, were raised in New London, and of these 
 William Coit and James Chapman, names which by 
 their townsmen were considered synonymous with 
 patriotism and hardy gallantry, were captains.^ 
 
 " These two companies marched immediately to 
 Boston, and took part in the battle of Bunker Hill.' 
 
 1 " state Eecords (Hinman), p. 23. 
 '" Ibid., p. 169. 
 
 3 " The following minutes of the day before the battle were copifld 
 from the originals preserved in the sergeant's family by the late ThomM 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 173 
 
 Of Capt. Coit's company, Jedediah Hide was"* first 
 lieutenant; James Day, second lieutenant; William 
 Adams, ensign. Of Capt. Chapman's company, the 
 corresponding ofiicers were Christopher Darrow, John 
 Raymond, and George Latimer. Capt. Coit, soon 
 after the battle, entered into the navy, and was ap- 
 pointed by Congress to the command of the schooner 
 ' Harrison,' fitted out in Boston Bay to cruise against 
 the enemy.' 
 
 " In July two more regiments were raised in Con- 
 necticut, under Col. Charles Webb and Col. Jedediah 
 Huntington. Of Webb's regiment, Jonathan Latimer, 
 Jr., was major and captain of the third company, 
 having for his first lieutenant Nathan Hale,^ vvho at 
 the time of receiving his commission sustained the 
 ofiice of preceptor of the Union Grammar-school in 
 New London. 
 
 "It has been frequently asserted that when the 
 news of the battle at Lexington arrived in town, 
 Nathan Hale immediately dismissed his scholars, 
 harangued the citizens, and, marching for Boston 
 with the company of Capt. Coit, took part in the 
 battle of Bunker Hill. This statement is not entirely 
 accurate; his proceedings were marked with more 
 calmness and maturity of judgment. He had taken 
 an active part in all the patriotic measures of the 
 inhabitants, but not till he had been tendered a com- 
 mission in the army, which was subsequent to the 
 battle of Bunker Hill, did he decide to relinquish his 
 office of preceptor before the expiration of the time 
 for which he was engaged. His letter to the proprie- 
 tors of the school announcing his purpose was dated 
 Friday, July 17, 1775. In this communication he 
 observes that the year for which he had engaged 
 would expire in a fortnight, but as he had received 
 information that a place was allotted to him in the army, 
 he asked as a favor to be excused immediately. Be- 
 fore the close of July the regiments of Webb and 
 Huntington were ordered to Boston, where they were 
 
 Shaw Perkins. They are insert^-d here as memorials of one of the Now 
 Loudon companies lliat fouglit at Buiilier's Hill ; 
 
 " ' Sergeant Fargo's report to tlie sei-geant major of Capt. Coit's com- 
 pany— 4tli company, in 6tL regiment, under Col. Parsons of tlie Connec- 
 ticut line. 
 
 "' Jane 1«, 1775. Morntttg Report. 
 
 " ' Main gnard, 18. Barrack Guard, 7. Sick 9. Servants, i. Present, 
 68. Total, 100. Signed, Moses Kargo. Orderly Sergeant. 
 
 " ' General Ordera, June 1 (i, 177.'i. 
 
 "'Pai"oU', Lebanon; countersign, Coventry. 
 
 '** Field officer of the day, Col. Ni.<con. 
 
 "' Field officer ot the picquet, Majitr Brooks. 
 
 "'Field officer of the niiiu guard, Lieut.-Col. Hutchinson. 
 
 " ' Adjutant to-morrow, llolden. 
 
 "'Draft Capt. Coit's company — one subaltern, nine privates for tlie 
 picquet guard ; oue sergeant and seven pj-ivates for the advance guard 
 to-night. Sergeant Bilward lliilhim is detailed to this service.' 
 
 1 " Frothingham's Siege of Boston, p. ffliO. Capt. Coit claimed to be 
 *the first man in the States who turned his majesty's bunting upside 
 down.' This was a current belief at the time, and has been jiresorved 
 by tradition, butits correctness at this distance of time cannot be deter- 
 mined. Tlie ' Hanison' waa ceitainly one of the first vessels commis- 
 sioned by Congress, and may have been the first to take a prize. 
 
 2 "State Records (Uinman), p. 186. 
 
 12 
 
 placed under the commander-in-chief. Lieut. Hale 
 shortly afterwards received a captain's commission. 
 
 " Those who knew Capt. Hale in New London have 
 described him as a man of many agreeable qualities, 
 frank and independent in his bearing, social, ani- 
 mated, ardent, a lover of the society of ladies, and a 
 favorite among them. Many a fair cheek was wet 
 with bitter tears and gentle voices uttered deep exe- 
 crations on his barbarous foes when tidings of his 
 untimely fate were received. 
 
 " As a teacher, Capt. Hale is said to have been a 
 firm disciplinarian, but happy in his mode of convey- 
 ing instruction and highly respected by his pupils. 
 The parting scene made a strong impression on their 
 minds. He addressed them in a style almost pa- 
 rental; gave them earnest counsel, prayed with them, 
 and shaking each by the hand, bade them individu- 
 ally farewell. 
 
 "The summer of 1776 was noted for the large 
 number of arrests of persons charged with Toryism. 
 Many of these were brought to New London, and 
 from thence sent into the interior of the State, to 
 keep them from intercourse with the enemy. In 
 August three vessels arrived in one week with persons 
 arrested on Long Island and in New York City. After 
 a short confinement in the jail they were forwarded 
 to Norwich and Windham for safe-keeping. Green's 
 newspaper sometimes announced them as 'gangs 
 of miscreants,' and again as ' gentlemen Tories.' In 
 the interior towns they were allowed to go at large 
 within certain limits, and most of them after a few 
 months were permitted to return to their homes. 
 
 " On the 25th of July three British ships-of-war 
 came athwart New London Harbor and anchored. 
 These were the ' Rose,' commanded by Capt. Wallace, 
 the ' Swan,' and the ' Kingfisher.' This was a virtual 
 blockade, and created much alarm. The town had 
 no defense except the spirit of her inhabitants. The 
 sole strength of the fort was its garrison, which con- 
 sisted mostly of captains and mates of vessels that lay 
 unemployed at the wharves. No other commander 
 on this coast acquired a renown so odious as Capt. 
 Wallace. He was the terror of the small ports and 
 small vessels, capturing and plundering without dis- 
 crimination, and threatening various points with 
 attack. On the 30th of August he verified his threats 
 by a cannonade of the thriving village of Stonington, 
 Long Point. On this exposed peninsula, about half 
 a mile in length, formerly a moiety of the Chese- 
 brough farm, a hardy company of mariners and arti- 
 sans had clustered together and acquired a creditable 
 share of the trade of the Sound. The tender of the 
 ' Rose,' whose business it was to destroy everything in 
 the shape of keel or sail that came in its way, pursued 
 one of its victims to the wharf of the village. The 
 citizens eagerly collected for its defense. Capt. Ben- 
 jamin Pendleton and other brave and true men were 
 there, and the tender was soon driven from its prey. 
 But the ' Rose' came up, and without summons or 
 
174 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 communication of any kind, opened her broadside 
 upon the village. She continued firing at intervals 
 for several hours, until the pursued vessel was cut out 
 and conveyed away. Only round-shot were used, and 
 therefore no houses took fire, though several were 
 much shattered by the balls. One man was wounded 
 but none killed.^ 
 
 " On the 5th and 6th of August, 1775, a fleet of 
 nine ships and several smaller vessels gathered around 
 New London Harbor, and appeared as if about to 
 enter. Expresses were sent forth to alarm the coun- 
 try, but it was soon ascertained that the object of the 
 fleet was to secure the stock that was owned upon the 
 fertile islands of the Sound. From Fisher's Island 
 alone they took 1100 sheep, beside cattle and other 
 provisions, for which they made a reasonable com- 
 pensation to Mr. Brown, the lessee of the island; but 
 from Gardiner's and Plum Islands they took what 
 they wanted without payment. 
 
 " This incident probably operated as a spur upon 
 the higher powers of the colony in regard to a sub- 
 ject much discussed in their councils, viz., the fortifi- 
 cation of New London. 
 
 " Among the heads of inquiry' proposed by His 
 Majesty's Secretary of State to the colony of Connec- 
 ticut in 1773 was this : 
 
 " ' What foi ts and places of defense are there within your government 
 and in ^\hat condiliun ?* 
 
 "To which Governor Trumbull replied, October, 
 1774: 
 
 "'A email battery at New London, consisting of nine gnns, built and 
 supported at the colony's e.xpense.' 
 
 " This was then the only fortification in Connecticut 
 when the war commenced ; but the defense of the 
 coast was a subject to which the attention of the 
 Legislature was soon called. 
 
 "April, 1775, a committee was appointed to ex- 
 amine the points of defense, and report on the best 
 means of securing the country ft-om invasion. Of 
 this committee, Messrs. G. Saltonstall, D. Deshon, 
 and T. Mumford reported in regard to New London 
 that the battery was in a ruinous condition, and that 
 the only effective cannon in the place consisted of six 
 new pieces (four eighteens and two twelves). They 
 proposed that three positions — Mamacock, Winthrop's 
 Neck, and Groton Heights— should be fortified, and 
 that fourteen new cannon (twenty-fours) should be 
 procured.' This judicious advice was not adopted, 
 probably on account of a void in the treasury. All 
 that was obtained at this time was an order to repair 
 
 1 "At the October session of the Legislaluio, 177.'), the sum of £12 4s. 4d 
 was allmvud to Jouathau Weaver, .Jr., a ninsle-mau in tlio company of 
 Cnpt, Oliver Smith, wlio was dangoiou.ily wounded at Stouington, Long 
 Votl\t.—lliiiiiinn, p. 192. 
 
 "It is singular that when Stonington was again cannonaded hy the 
 British, Aug 9, 1814, the result should have been so nearly the same,— 
 buildings damaged, one man severely wounded, no one liilled. 
 
 2 " Heads of Inciuiry, printed by order of the Governor and Company. 
 T.Green, 177.^. 
 
 3 " Council Records (Hinman, App.), p. C45, 
 
 and complete the old fort. This was done during the 
 summer, under the direction of Col. Saltonstall, who 
 in effect rebuilt the works and mounted upon them 
 all the cannon in the town. It will be recollected 
 that this fortification stood near the water's edge 
 where is now the ferry wharf. Here was the battle- 
 ment, the platform, the cannon, and the flag-staff; the 
 magazine stood a little to the west. The garrison 
 from twelve to twenty men, had their meals at Pot- 
 ter's, near Bradley Street. Nathaniel Saltonstall 
 captain ; Stephen Hemstead, lieutenant. 
 
 "On the Groton side of the river, with a spirit of 
 enthusiasm that did not wait for legislative aid, the 
 inhabitants voluntarily threw up intrenchments, ex- 
 cavated ditches, and erected breastworks at sundry 
 exposed places, which, though they had no ordnance 
 except a few pieces at the principal battery on the 
 heights, obtained from the supply brought in by Com- 
 modore Hopkins, they resolved to defend to th^ last 
 extremity. 
 
 " On the river below Norwich (at Waterman's 
 Point) a battery was erected under the superintend- 
 ence of Benjamin Huntington and Ephraim Bill, 
 and furnished with four .six-pounders. Such were the 
 preparations made to receive the enemy in 1775.* 
 
 "Two enlisted companies were stationed at New, 
 London during the summer under Maj. Latimer and 
 Capt. Edward Shipman, of Saybrook.' The.se were 
 ordered to Boston the last of September, on the requi- 
 sition of Gen. Washington. Their place was supplied 
 by a new enlistment of seventy men, of whom Col. 
 Saltonstall took the command.^ 
 
 " The Governor and Council of Safety, acceding to 
 the oft-repeated request of the inhabitants that some- 
 thing further might be done for them in the way of forti- 
 fication, sent Col. Jedediah L. Durkin to New London 
 in November, to view the premises and report what 
 fortification was necessary. After a general survey 
 and consultation with the principal men on both sides 
 of the river, he confirmed the judgment heretofore 
 given by the committee, and recommended the imme- 
 diate fortification of the three points designated by 
 them. 
 
 " The neck of land bounding New London Harbor 
 on the south, now called Fort Neck, but then gener- 
 ally known by its Indian name of Mamakuk (or 
 Mamacock), presented near the point a broad, irreg- 
 ular platform of rocks, rising twenty feet above the 
 water, and connected with the mainland on the ea.st 
 by meadows and marshes. This rocky point seems 
 to have been projected into its position purposely to 
 protect the harbor. A more advantageous site for a 
 fortification is scarcely to be desired. Could we allow 
 
 ' "Council Records in Ilinmau, pp. 328, 331. 
 
 '"Ibid., p. 328. 
 
 •^"At the same time thirty were ordered for New Haven, forty for 
 Stonington, and fifteen for Lyme. The liay was tile same as to Conti- 
 nental sohliers, which in 1776 was £2 per month for a piivate, and £6 
 for a captain; five shillings aud threepence per week for billulln& 
 Ibid., p. 101. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 175 
 
 that the benevolence of nature would concur in any 
 of the plans of war, we might suppose that this use 
 of it had entered into her design ; for it is not only 
 well adapted to this end, but seems nearly useless for 
 any other purpose. On this point Col. Elderkin pro- 
 posed the erection of a rampart fronting east eighty 
 feet; south, eighty feet; north, eighty feet; but not 
 at right angles; with five embrasures in each bank, 
 to be defended by five cannon, eighteen or twenty- 
 four-pounders. 
 
 "The point selected on the Groton side was nearly 
 opposite the centre of the harbor. The ascent, within 
 fifty rods of the water's edge, was one hundred and 
 twenty feet. The summit was tolerably level. Here 
 it was supposed that a breastwork of turf and gravel, 
 with some ten pieces of cannon, would be all that was 
 necessary. 
 
 " Winthrop's Neck lies northeast of the town, and 
 projects more than half-way across the harbor; the 
 southern extremity, facing the mouth of the river, pre- 
 sents a level, bold bluff twenty feet above the water. 
 Here also it was recommended that a breastwork 
 should be raised and planted with ten cannon. These 
 various positions would expose an invading fleet to 
 be raked at so many angles that it was thought the 
 inhabitants might thus be rendered secure from all 
 annoyance by sea. 
 
 " The report of Col. Elderkin was made to the Gov- 
 ernor and Council November 15th,' and on the 22d 
 orders were issued for the works to be commenced, 
 under the direction of a committee of six persons, — 
 Col. Saltonstall, Ebenezer Ledyard, John Deshon, 
 Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., Peter Avery, and Josiah Watrous 
 (or Waters).^ Yet notwithstanding this early and 
 earnest action of the government, more than a year 
 elapsed before either of the posts could take rank as a 
 fortification and merit a name. Even in December, 
 1776, when the two principal works were honored 
 with the names of the Governor and Deputy Governor, 
 Trumbull and Griswold, they were imperfect and un- 
 finished. 
 
 " Nor is this a matter of surprise when it is consid- 
 ered that the labor was performed by relays of fresh 
 recruits, changed every few weeks, who wrought 
 under the direction of the civil authority and field- 
 officers. These enlistments consisted in part of mere 
 boys, with the spirit, indeed, but not the experience 
 of men, and in part of aged persons, who had perhaps 
 the judgment, but not the physical energy of maturity. 
 " It is interesting to note the diflScuIties which in 
 those Revolutionary times stood in the way of public 
 works. In the case of these small fortifications the 
 Legislature must first discuss the matter and pass the 
 resolves, the Governor and Council of Safety must take 
 
 ^ "Khlorliiii's ropni-tiu FTinman'H App.,p. 551. The Innd nt Mnnincnck 
 wns ])ii[-cliiiscil of NHlIiKiiii'] SIijiw ; iiii iiL-ro iiml ii qiiartov for the wurks 
 at Gi-iituii iif iltiiitithan CbeBtcr'uuU Eliaha Priur. Grutuu fort was com- 
 DifiK-ecI Dec. r>, 1775. 
 
 2 " Uiumari, p. 337. 
 
 it up. Col. Saltonstall must be consulted, Mr. Shaw 
 must be summoned to Hartford to give advice, Col. 
 Mott must be sent to New London to survey. Col. 
 Dyer and Mr. Wales must examine and report. The 
 works begin, stop, go on. The Governor and Council 
 are at the trouble of directing just the number of 
 sledges, hammers, shovels, spades, crow-bars, pickaxes, 
 chains, etc., that are to be provided for the work. 
 Timber, teams, tools, and other necessary materials 
 are to be procured by Col. Saltonstall for Winthrop's 
 Neck ; by Ebenezer Ledyard for Groton ; and Na- 
 thaniel Shaw for Mamacock. The timber was in the 
 forests, and must be selected growing. 
 
 "The Assembly must now apply to Congress for 
 cannon to furnish their works, asking for some of the 
 brass pieces taken at St. John's. Again they apply 
 to Admiral Hopkins for some of the New Providence 
 ordnance.* They cannot obtain the necessary com- 
 plement, and it is decided that the heavy cannon 
 must be cast in Smith's furnace at Salisbury. In 
 order to accomplish this the furnace must be enlarged, 
 new workmen obtained, higher wages given, wood- 
 land must be bought to obtain fuel for the furnace, 
 and all these details must be performed by the execu- 
 tive oflScers of the State, — Col. Elderkin and others 
 must make journeys to and forth from Salisbury to 
 Hartford to manage the business. 
 
 " In the summer of 1777 the works were regarded 
 as finished, though probably then very far from what 
 military men at the present day would call complete. 
 "The engineer of Fort Trumbull was Col. Josiah 
 Waters ; of Fort Griswold, Col. Samuel Mott.* The 
 first commanders of these forts were appointed in 
 February, 1776, and were captains of companies sta- 
 tioned at each place, — John Ely, of Lyme, at Ma- 
 macock, and Edward Mott at Groton,^ — but in July, 
 before the forts were half completed, they were both 
 promoted to the rank of major. Their successors 
 were Martin Kirtland, of Saybrook, for Mamacock, 
 and Oliver Coit for Groton. Two artillery compa- 
 nies, one for each fortress, were afterwards raised, and 
 of these Nathaniel Saltonstall and William Ledyard 
 were the first captains. These must be regarded as 
 the first actual commanders of Forts Trumbull and 
 Griswold. They were appointed July 3, 1776.'' At 
 the same date Adam. Shapley was ordered to take 
 command of the old fort at New London, iu the place 
 of Dudley Saltonstall, resigned. 
 
 " Aug. 2, 1777, orders were issued by the Governor 
 and Council to remove the platform from the old fort 
 to Fort Trumbull. The barrack also was soon trans- 
 ferred to the lower part of the town, and being subse- 
 quently used for a brewery, gave the name of Brew- 
 s'' Council EecinilH, p. 305, Hinnian, where will bo found authority 
 for most of tlie iiarticulHrs in fliis nketch. 
 
 4"TIn'ii- appumtninnt as engineorB was in Felinmry, 1777, 1'Ut Col. 
 Wateis liad bi-en jiruvinnsly on duty. His eerviLCS coniniencccl Nov. 23, 
 1775, and lie wan still at his post in Apiil, 1777, as was also his assistant 
 Josiah Wati'rs, Jt:—llinman, p. 430. 
 
 6 " Iliunian, pp. 340, 304. ° " Ibid., pp. 305, 306. 
 
17G 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ery (now Brewer) to the street in which it was placed. 
 The old battery was left to decay, and its site after- 
 wards appropriated to the market and the ferry 
 wharf 
 
 " A redoubt on Winthrop's Neck was erected by 
 Col. Saltonstall. The importance of the site was 
 overrated, and in the course of a year or two the post 
 was abandoned. 
 
 " For the garrisoning of the various posts at New 
 London and Groton a, regiment of foot was employed 
 during a part of the year 1776, of which Col. Erastus 
 Wolcott had the command. He was the superior 
 military commander of the district, which included 
 Stonington for that year. Dr. John Ely, of Lyme, 
 performed a tour of duty here as captain and major, 
 and also as physician and surgeon. In July he was 
 sent to visit the Northern Army and employ his skill 
 in arresting the smallpox, which was then raging in 
 the camp with great virulence. 
 
 "In the various battalions raised for Continental 
 service, New London was expected to furnish her full 
 quota, though, as we look back upon her exposed 
 situation, we might deem that the services of her sons 
 were of pressing necessity at home. Mr. Shaw, in 
 writing to Governor Trumbull, Aug. 7, 1776, when 
 new enlistments were demanded, observes, — 
 
 " ' This town has been drained of men already, so that there is scarcely 
 a sufficiency of hands left to get in the harvest.' 
 
 " In addition to the regular militia then in service, 
 in June a large volunteer company was recruited in 
 the town, under Capt. Richard Deshon, and another 
 in November, under Capt. Jonathan Caulkins. Gro- 
 ton was in a similar condition : nearly all its able- 
 bodied men were in the army. In October, 1775, she 
 had memorialized the Assembly, praying that her sol- 
 diers might be allowed to return and defend their 
 own homes, for the British fleet was hovering near 
 them, and the coast had been stripped of its men to 
 recruit the army and navy. This was the sad truth, 
 which might have been repeated every year of the 
 war. 
 
 " How shall we describe the shifting scenes of plun- 
 der, stratagem, and atrocity exhibited on the bosom 
 of Long Island Sound during the years 1776 and 
 1777? What fury possessed the minds of men that 
 the inhabitants of the two shores, old neighbors and 
 friendly associates, should thus become assassins and 
 wolves, prowling for each other's destruction ! 
 
 " Long Island having passed in a great measure 
 into the occupation of the British, those inhabitants 
 who had embraced the cause of liberty were obliged 
 to seek safety by flight. The troops stationed at New 
 London, with all the armament that the Governor 
 could command, were ordered to cross the Sound and 
 assist in removing them and their effects to the Con- 
 necticut coast. Many of these unfortunate patriots 
 left all behind them, and, homeless and destitute, 
 were thrown upon the mercy of the charitable. Long 
 
 Island was abandoned by the Genius of Liberty, and 
 the British rule was spread over It far and wide. 
 From that moment the two coasts were hostile, and 
 an inveterate system of smuggling, marauding, plun- 
 dering, and kidnapping took place on both sides, in 
 comparison with which a common state of honorable 
 warfare might be taken for peace and good neighbor- 
 hood. Sheep, cattle, effects, and people were seized 
 and carried off by either party. On the Connecticut 
 side this was done under the covert of secrecy. Goods 
 stolen from the island were carefully secreted, and if 
 discovered by honest persons were advertised, and 
 the owners desired to come and take possession. This 
 condition of affairs was fraught with mischief, mis- 
 rule, and villany. There was no end to the strays 
 and the thieves. Akin to this marauding system \vas 
 the contraband trade, an illicit dealing with the en- 
 emy, and furnishing them with supplies for the sake 
 of their gold and their goods. This was not often 
 carried on by the Tories, the professed friends of the 
 British, for they w€re too narrowly watched to allow 
 of the risk, but by men who were patriots in preten- 
 sion, but yet lovers of money rather than lovers of 
 their country. This trade was entered into by many 
 people who were otherwise considered fair and honor- 
 able in all their dealings, but if discovered by their 
 countrymen they were marked for opprobrium and 
 insult. A more odious occupation could not be men- 
 tioned, nor could anything be said of a man better 
 calculated to hold him up to public indignation than 
 to call him a Long Island trader. The republican au- 
 thorities were rigorous in their watch upon thia 
 trade.' Many houses were searched and men impris- 
 oned, yet the contraband trade flourished. Goods 
 that were bought for country produce might be sold 
 cheap, and the temptation to buy was great. Fine 
 Holland shirts, ready made, could be procured for 
 half a Spanish dollar. Sloops and boats laden with 
 provisions for the New York market were occasion- 
 ally intercepted by the State cruisers, and the sad 
 history of the day was often enlivened by ludicrous 
 anecdotes that would gain currency respecting these 
 night-traders. Thus a story was told of two men 
 from the Great Neck shore of New London who put 
 off one night in a whale-boat with a large fat ox on 
 board. The animal got loose from its fastenings and 
 became so unmanageable that the men, in danger of 
 sinking, were glad to make towards a country sloop 
 near by and meekly surrender their ox to confisca- 
 tion and themselves to imprisonment. 
 
 " On the Long Island side the harbors were infested 
 with bands of the lowest and vilest refugees, from 
 whence many a plundering descent was made on the 
 Connecticut coast and robbery and extortion of every 
 kind committed. The small sloops and boats in which 
 
 i"Shaw to Governor Trnmlnill, Febrnary, 1777: 'I siippn,<ie Gen^ 
 Parsons has given you a history of the discovery we made of tlie cor 
 respondence carried on from our Neck on board the man-of-war.'— 
 Sham's LeUer-Booh (MS.). 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 177 
 
 these piratical excursions were made had the familiar 
 name of ' shaving mills.' They were the terror of the 
 coast, often committing atrocious robberies. 
 
 " The present generation, living in peace and quiet, 
 and looking round upon the goodly heritage that has 
 fallen to their lot, think but little of those years of 
 suffering through which these blessings were at- 
 tained. They have no adequate conception of the 
 scenes of alarm, panic, flight, destitution, poverty, 
 bereavement, loneliness, and even famine through 
 which their forefathers passed in the fierce struggle 
 for liberty. During the whole war the inhabitants 
 of New London could never lie down with any feel- 
 ing of security that they might not be roused from 
 their beds by the alarm-bell and the signal-fire, pro- 
 claiming the invader at hand. There was, indeed, in 
 the early part of the war no spoil to allure an enemy ; 
 but the harbor, capacious, accessible, and secure, 
 would furnish a fine winter refuge for their ships, 
 and it would be a vast benefit to their cause to seal 
 up the State and have the whole Sound to them- 
 selves. 
 
 ' During the winter of 1776-77 the frigates ' Ama- 
 zon' and ' Niger' were stationed most of the time 
 near the west end of Fisher's Island, so as effectually 
 to blockade the mouth of the river. Several British 
 vessels also wintered in Gardiner's Bay, and the 
 Sound was the common haunt of the enemy. On the 
 3d of December, 1776, eleven ships passed Montauk 
 Point and anchored within sight of the town. The 
 next morning they were joined by a fleet of trans- 
 ports and warlike ve.ssels approaching eastward from 
 New York, which gradually increased to one hun- 
 dred in number. This fleet, which was under the 
 command of Sir Peter Parker, while manoeuvring in 
 the Sound made a truly formidable appearance. They 
 remained nearly three weeks, recruiting where they 
 could on the shores and islands, often secretly sup- 
 plied by faithless men from the coast, and stretching 
 their wings from Gardiner's Bay to Fairfield. New 
 London was in daily apprehension of a bombard- 
 ment. The women and children and all valuable 
 goods were removed. On Friday, December 20th, the 
 admiral having collected together his transports and 
 made his preparations, began to weigh anchor. At 
 that moment the public consternation was greater, 
 perhaps, than has ever been experienced before or 
 ' since on this coast. When this magnificent fleet 
 came abreast the mouth of the river it seemed 
 sufficient to sweep the foundation of the town from 
 its moorings. Astonishment and dismay filled the 
 minds of the inhabitants as from hilltops and house- 
 tops they gazed on the distant spectacle. After a 
 short period of intense anxiety, a sudden relief was 
 experienced as the leading ships passed off" to the 
 south and east of Fisher's Island, and it became ap- 
 parent that Newport was to be the point of attack. 
 The Governor had ordered out all the militia east of 
 the river and three regiments from the west side, but 
 
 the orders were countermanded when the destination 
 of the fleet was ascertained.' 
 
 " The 14th of March, 1777, brought another breeze 
 of alarm along the coast. A fleet of ten sail — the 
 'Amazon,' 'Greyhound,' 'Lark,' and seven trans- 
 ports — came round the western point of Fisher's 
 Island and anchored near the Groton shore. An im- 
 mediate descent was expected, and tumult and terror 
 reigned for a time in the town. The object of the 
 squadron, however, was to obtain, as they had the 
 year before, the stock of Fisher's Island, and this 
 business they executed so thoroughly as almost to 
 sweep the island clean of produce. They took not 
 only sheep, cattle, swine, poultry, corn, potatoes, 
 wood, and hay, but blankets, woolen cloth, sheeting, 
 and other necessaries, for all which they made a rea- 
 sonable compensation to Mr. Brown in British gold. 
 
 " While the enemy thus kept possession of the 
 Sound the sloops and boats belonging to the coast 
 melted away like summer snow. The 'Amazon' 
 frigate kept a continual watch at the mouth of the 
 river, capturing and destroying coasters and fishing- 
 vessels without mercy. Through the whole year 1777 
 New London was blockaded almost- with the strict- 
 ness of a siege. 
 
 "April 12th, about thirty sail of armed vessels and 
 transports passed along the mouth of the river; in 
 fact, during the whole of this momentous summer the 
 threatening aspect of a man-of-war was scarcely ab- 
 sent from the vision of the inhabitants, and from the 
 high grounds twenty were frequently in view at one 
 time, either at anchor or flying east and west, where, 
 at the two extremities of the Sound, the strong forces 
 of the enemy held undisputed possession of Newport 
 and New York. May and June were months of al- 
 most continual alarm. 
 
 "On the 20th of July a squadron appeared on the 
 coast, bending its course as if about to enter the 
 mouth of the river. The alarm-guns were fired and 
 the militia set in motion, but it proved to be a fleet of 
 transports and provision-vessels bound to England 
 under convoy of the ' Niger' frigate. They passed by 
 without any hostile demonstration but that of firing 
 several shot at the armed schooner ' Spy,' which they 
 chased into the harbor. The next day the 'Spy' 
 slipped out of the river and cut off from the fleet two 
 vessels that had lingered to take in wood. 
 
 " In August the ' Cerberus' frigate lay for some time 
 at anchor off" Niantic Bay, west of New London. A 
 line was one day seen from the ship floating upon the 
 water at a little distance, which the tender of the ship 
 was ordered to examine. It was drawn up with great 
 caution, and found to be one hundred and fifty fath- 
 oms in length, and to have a machine attached to 
 the end of it weighing about four hundred pounds. 
 This, upon being hauled into the schooner, exploded 
 
 2 " Col. John Douglass was encamped here with his regiment. In Jan- 
 uary, 1777, Col. John Ely's regiment, on duty at New London, was ordered 
 to Providence. He was remanded with four companies in March. 
 
178 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 on the deck, and, as was currently reported at the 
 time, killed several men.' The machine was undoubt- 
 edly one of the marine torpedoes invented by Mr. 
 Bushnell to blow up ships. This ingenious gentleman 
 and patriotic soldier made other attempts to destroy a 
 British vessel with his machine, but failed. 
 
 " In September thirty or forty sail of English ves- 
 sels were at one time in the Sound, many of them 
 taking in wood from the Long Island shore. 
 
 " In November, about the 14th, a fleet of vessels of 
 all descriptions, passing from Newport to Gardiner's 
 Bay, encountered a gale of wind, by which the 'Syren' 
 frigate of twenty-eight guns was driven ashore at 
 Point Judith and fell into the hands of the Ameri- 
 cans, with her crew (two hundred men) and equip- 
 ments. She was stripped of her guns, stores, and 
 everything movable and burnt, Sunday, Nov. 15th. 
 
 " The military organization for the coast defense 
 was arranged anew for the year 1777. The three 
 posts of New London, Groton, and Stonington were 
 placed under the command of Maj. Jonathan Wells, of 
 Hartford. Two companies were raised and stationed 
 at New London, one of artillery, consisting of fifty 
 men, of which Nathaniel Saltonstall was captain; the 
 other of musketry (seventy men), of which Adam 
 Shapley was captain. Two corresponding companies 
 stationed at Groton were commanded by Wm. Led- 
 yard and Oliver Coit, and a company of musket-men 
 was stationed at Stonington under Capt. Nathan 
 Palmer. This was the .stationary force for the year, 
 but being totally inadequate to the necessity, a regi- 
 ment was raised expressly to defend the coast of New 
 London County. Before this could be enlisted. Cols. 
 Latimer, Ely, and Throop and Majs. Buel and Gallop 
 performed tours of duty at New London and Groton 
 with parts of their respective regiments. 
 
 " In March, 1778, Capt. William Ledyard was ap- 
 pointed to the command of the posts of New London. 
 Groton, and Stonington, with the rank and pay of 
 major. Under his direction the works were repaired 
 and strengthened and additional batteries erected. 
 William Latham was captain of artillery at Groton, 
 and Adam Shapley at New London. These appoint- 
 ments, it must be remembered, were not made by 
 Congress or the commander-in-chief, but emanated 
 from the Governor and Council of Safety. 
 
 " Early in this year a French ship called the ' Lyon,' 
 Capt. Michel, came into port with a valuable assort- 
 ment of West India goods. This cargo was very op- 
 portune, being mostly purchased by the naval agent 
 for the State and Continental service. She had salt 
 on board, which was then of pressing importance to 
 the army, and linen and other articles useful for the 
 clothing of soldiers. The ' Lyon' lay about three 
 months in the harbor.^ Several privateers were in at 
 
 1 "Tliis incident is nioie mlnatoly lehited in Tliatclier's Military Jour- 
 nal, p. 128. 
 
 ' " Tile ' Lyon' took in a cargo for Virginia and sailed June 14th. A 
 little south of Long Island she had an engagement of four hours' dura- 
 
 the same time recruiting, and the collisions that took 
 place among the seamen, soldiery, and populace kept 
 the town in a state of riot and disorder. The jail 
 was forced, prisoners released and recaptured, and 
 mobs occasionally triumphant over the law. When 
 a maritime war is raging what can be expected in a 
 seaport but misrule and demoralization ? 
 
 " Flags of truce engaged in the exchange of pris- 
 oners were often arriving and departing from New 
 London. The return home of American prisoners 
 excited very naturally a deep interest. Their ap- 
 pearance alone, without a word spoken, was sufficient 
 evidence that they had borne a rigorous confinement 
 under merciless keepers. In July, 1777, a flag that 
 had been sent to Newport with a band of well-fed, 
 healthy English prisoners to be exchanged returned 
 with a company of Americans who were actually 
 dying from starvation and close confinement. 'They 
 had but just life enough remaining,' said the Oazetk, 
 ' to answer the purpose of an exchange.' Some were 
 wasted to skeletons, others covered with vermin, or 
 disfigured with eruptions, or dying of fever. Early in 
 August two other exchanges were negotiated, and 
 some fifty more arrived in the same condition. Un- 
 wholesome and scanty fare, crowded quarters, the 
 want of fresh air, and uncleanliness had brought 
 them to the verge of the grave. Some indeed died in 
 the cartel before they reached the harbor, and some 
 soon after their arrival. The few that remained, 
 meagre, pale, and tottering, crept slowly along the 
 highways begging their way to their homes. 
 
 " In the month of December, 1778, by flags and 
 cartels from New York, about five hundred prisoners 
 arrived, released, said the Gazette, ' from the horrible 
 prison-ships.' They were sick with various diseases, 
 they had frozen limbs, and many were infected with 
 the smallpox. They died all along the way through 
 the Sound, and every day after their arrival for three 
 weeks, — sixteen the first week, seventeen the next, 
 and so on. About two hundred were Frenchmen, 
 and of these fifteen died on the passage from New 
 York. These poor foreigners were destitute of money 
 and suitable clothing, and the high price of the neces- 
 saries of life, the gloom of the winter season, and the 
 loathsome diseases among them made it no light task 
 to render them comfortable. The smallpox and ma- 
 lignant fevers brought in by the prisoners were com- 
 municated to those whose benevolent ministrations 
 afforded them relief, and in this way were spread 
 through the town. The prejudices against inocula- 
 tion were so strong that, notwithstanding it had a re- 
 solve of the General Assembly and a previous vote of 
 the town iu its favor, it had never been allowed. In- 
 fected persons were carried apart and shut up by 
 themselves, with the white cloth floating over them 
 to betoken pestilence. 
 
 tion with a British frigate, and then escaped. On her voyage from Vir. 
 ginia to France, laden with tobacco, she was captured by au Eogllflll 
 vessel of forty guns. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 179 
 
 " With respect to American prisoners, historic jus- 
 tice calls upon us to state that those who were ex- 
 changed in later periods of tlie war gave evidence of 
 a beneficial change in the mode of treatment. The 
 British had learned a lesson of humanity. In Au- 
 gust, 1779, when the crew of the 'Oliver Cromwell' 
 were released, they came home in good health, and 
 frankly acknowledged that though they had been 
 confined in those odious prison-ships, the ' Jersey' and 
 ' Grood Hope,' they had been kindly treated, provided 
 with' good food, the sick attended by physicians, and 
 nothing plundered from them. 
 
 "In the year 1778 a prison-ship was fitted up at 
 New London by order of Congress for the reception 
 of British prisoners, with a guard attached to it con- 
 sisting of a lieutenant, sergeant, corporal, and twenty 
 privates.' It was used only a short time. 
 
 "The events of the year 1779 seem like those of 
 previous years rehearsed over, as in a scenic exhibi- 
 tion, with only slight changes of names and drapery. 
 In February a detachment of Continental troops, 
 under the command of Col. Dearborn, was sent to aid 
 the militia in the defense of New London. Brig.- 
 Gen. Parsons had the superior military command of 
 the district. 
 
 " A'". Skaw to the Marine Committee of the Eastern Department, March 14/fi, 
 1779: 
 "'We are in Buch awretclied state in this town by reason of tlio small- 
 pox, fever, and famine tliat 1 cannut carry on my business, and am hiy- 
 ing up my Yessi-ls as fast as tliey cnme in, for every necessary of life is 
 at Bucli an extravagjint piice tliat whenever I employ persons to do 
 anytliing they insist upon provisions, whieli it is not in my power to give 
 them.' 
 
 "On the 23d of March several scouting-vessels 
 came in with the startling intelligence that a fleet 
 of twenty sail had passed Hellgate and were coming 
 east, with flat-bottomed boats, row-galleys, and sloops 
 of war in train ; that a sixty-four and fifty -gun ship 
 had left Sandy Hook to come south of Long Island 
 around Montauk into the Sound ; that twenty-six sail 
 of vessels had previously congregated at Sag Harbor, 
 and that Gen. Clinton had left New York, and was 
 mustering a large body of troops at Southampton. 
 The same day a considerable force was seen to go 
 into Gardiner's Bay, and about sunset the frigate 
 ' Eenown' appeared off" the mouth of the river and 
 anchored. To what could all these preparations tend 
 but an attack upon New London ? 
 
 "And now, as on similar occasions, the alarm-bells 
 were rung and the bale-fires lighted. Families were 
 broken up, effects removed, and the neighboring mil- 
 itia came straggling in to the defense. But no attack 
 was made. It was expected the next day, and the 
 next, and a whole week passed of agitation and un- 
 certainty. It was then ascertained that the trans- 
 ports from New York had gone to Newport; that the 
 fleet under convoy, which had halted in Gardiner's 
 
 1 " Council Becords (Hiuman), p. 531. 
 
 Bay, was bound to New York; that a part of the 
 other fleet had gone on a plundering expedition to 
 the Vineyard Sound and Falmouth (now Portland, in 
 Maine), and that on the opposite coast of Long Island, 
 from whence the invading army was expected to em- 
 bark, all was quiet and peaceful. No flat-bottomed 
 boats were there, nor had been. The only force col- 
 lected on that side of the island consisted of five 
 hundred foot and fifty horse at Southold, and one 
 hundred men with two field-pieces at Sag Harbor, 
 which was a stationary arrangement to guard and 
 assist the English vessels in taking 05" wood and hay. 
 It is a little singular that the troops at Southampton 
 had been assembled in consequence of unfounded re- 
 ports of a similar nature that had been flying through 
 the British lines. It was confidently aflBrnied in New 
 York that Gen. Parsons was at New London with a 
 body of four thousand men, making hasty but secret 
 preparations for a descent upon Long Island. In 
 consequence of this report. Gen. Clinton had hastened 
 from New York with a flying force, to prepare a re- 
 ception for the expected invader. In this manner 
 rumor flew from side to side imagining evil, asserting 
 its existence, and actually causing it to exist. False 
 report, though but a breath of air, has a mighty 
 agency in aggravating the calamities of war. 
 
 "The militia on duty at this time in New London 
 were employed in erecting a fortification of timber, 
 sods, etc., on Town Hill, which it was supposed would 
 be of use in checking the advance of an enemy that 
 might land below the harbor and march to attack 
 the town in the rear. Near this spot the gallows had 
 stood on which Kate Garrett, the Pequot woman, had 
 perished ; it had likewise been noted for a large 
 windmill. A breastwork was here thrown up and 
 several field-pieces mounted. The inhabitants showed 
 their appreciation of the work by the name which 
 they bestowed on it, Fort Nonsense, the only name it 
 ever received. 
 
 " The next alarm was on the 25th of June, when 
 warning guns from Stonington gave notice of an ap- 
 proaching fleet. Forts Trumbull and Griswold took 
 up the notes and echoed them into the country. In 
 the afternoon a squadron of about fifty sail, of which 
 seven were ships and the others of various size and 
 arinament down to row-galleys, came within sight of 
 the town. They anchored near Plum Island for the 
 night, and the next morning, instead of turning 
 towards the town, as had been feared, they made sail 
 to the westward. The militia had come in, as was 
 observed, ' with even greater cheerfulness and alac- 
 rity' than on former occasions. The brigade of Gen. 
 Tyler was on the ground, and being paraded, was dis- 
 missed with addresses and thanks. 
 
 "Only ten days later (July 6th) a similar alarm 
 agitated the coast. Expresses from the westward to 
 Maj. Ledyard brought information that a fleet had 
 left New York with preparations for a descent on 
 the coast, and was on its way through the Sound. 
 
180 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The point of attack at this time proved to be New 
 Haven, but New London was closely watched. The 
 frigates 'Renown' and 'Thames' and the sloop-of- 
 war ' Otter' were plying in the neighborhood, and 
 it was thought an attack would soon be made. A 
 large body of militia remained three weeks encamped 
 near the town or in Groton. Gen. Tyler's brigade, 
 from Preston and Norwich, was again noted for its 
 promptness and martial spirit. The counties of Berk- 
 shire and Hampshire, in Massachusetts, sent their mil- 
 itia to aid in the defense of the coast. No attempt 
 was, however, made by the enemy to land, except 
 upon Plum and Fisher's Islands, which the crews of 
 the British ships plundered of everything valuable to 
 them, and then wantonly set fire to the hay and build- 
 ings which they could not remove. 
 
 " The year 1780 shows but little variation of pic- 
 ture from the three preceding years. The cold months 
 were seasons of pinching poverty and distress ; sudden 
 outbreaks of alarm and confusion were thickly scat- 
 tered over the summer. Frigates and other vessels 
 were continually passing up and down the Sound, 
 and ships of the line were now hovering near Block 
 Island, now anchoring at Point Judith, now running 
 into Gardiner's Bay. On the 29th of July, the Gov- 
 ernor having received information that twenty sail of 
 shipping, with eight thousand troops on board, were 
 in Huntington Harbor, Long Island, immediately 
 ordered out a body of militia to the defense of New 
 London, but on the 31st the much-dreaded fleet made 
 sail for New York. On the 5th of August a fleet of 
 fifteen vessels under the command of Admiral Graves 
 anchored ofl' the harbor, and there lay about twenty- 
 four hours before running into Gardiner's Bay. This 
 fleet had been on watch over the French at Newport, 
 and came into the Sound to collect stock and recruit. 
 In September another British fleet, said to be Admiral 
 Arbuthnot's, came into Gardiner's Bay, and there re- 
 mained through the months of October and No- 
 vember. 
 
 "It would be a laborious but pleasing task to go 
 around among families with a talisman to gain their 
 confidence, read private letters, inspect documents, 
 converse with the aged, take notes of tradition, and 
 thus gather up and revive the fading names of patriots 
 and heroes who assisted in the achievement of Amer- 
 ican independence. It was an era of brave and self- 
 denying men, and even confining our attention to the 
 limited sphere embraced in this history, the number 
 is not small of those who performed deeds worthy of 
 remembrance. If only a few are here introduced, let 
 it not be deemed that injustice is thereby shown to 
 others who may be equally worthy but less generally 
 known. 
 
 "Gen. Gurdon Saltonstall and three of his sons 
 were employed in various grades of service during 
 the whole war. The elder Saltonstall, before the close 
 of 1776, was raised to the rank of brigadier-general 
 and sent with nine regiments of Connecticut militia 
 
 to take post in Westchester County, N. Y. He was 
 then sixty-eight years of age. Winthrop Saltonstall 
 the oldest of the brothers, held the office of register 
 of the Court of Admiralty. Dudley was a captain 
 and then commodore in the navy. Gilbert, the 
 youngest, was a captain of marines on board the 
 ship 'Trumbull' in her desperate combat with the 
 ' Watt.' 
 
 " Nathaniel Saltonstall, of another family, served 
 in the war both as seaman and soldier. He was cap- 
 tain of the old fort on the Parade, and commander of 
 the ship ' Putnam.' 
 
 "Maj. James Chapman, of Selden's regiment 
 Wadsworth's brigade, was a man of strength and 
 stature beyond the common standard, and as a soldier 
 steady and brave. But what avail these qualities 
 against the aim of the marksman or the force of a 
 cannon-ball ! He was slain in what was called the 
 orchard fight, near Harlem, when the army was re- 
 treating from New York, Sept. 15, 1776. His son 
 James, a youth of only fifteen years of age, was with 
 him when he fell. His brother, Lieut. Richard Chap- 
 man, was slain in Groton fort. John Chapman, a 
 third brother, was first lieutenant of the ship 'Ohver 
 Cromwell,' and after that was taken of the ' Putnam.' 
 Joseph Chapman, a still younger brother, was an 
 officer of the army. 
 
 "Col. Jonathan Latimer (of Chesterfield society) 
 had served in several campaigns against the French 
 upon the northern frontier, and during the war for 
 independence was much of the time in the field.' 
 Two of his sons, George and Jonathan, were also in 
 the service. Maj. Christopher Darrow (of the North 
 Parish) fought bravely at Monmouth and on other 
 battle-fields during the war. The Gallops of Groton, 
 Ben- Adam and Nathan, were engaged in some of the 
 earliest struggles, and both field-officers in 1777. 
 
 " William and Alexander P. Adams, grandsons of 
 the former Minister Adams, Richard Douglas, Thomas 
 U. Fosdick, Edward and George Hallam, Stephen 
 Hempstead. George Hurlbut, John and William Ray- 
 mond, William Richards, — these were all young men, 
 starting forth impulsively at the commencement of 
 the struggle, with high heroic purpose to serve their 
 country, and if the sacrifice should be demanded, to 
 suffer and die in the cause of liberty. William Adams 
 served in the army during the siege of Boston, but 
 afterwards enlisting in a private armed vessel, he died 
 at Martinique, April 4, 1778. His brother, purser of 
 the ship ' Trumbull,' was cut off at sea before the 
 close of the war. Douglas, Fosdick, Hempstead, and 
 Richards were in the service from 1776 to the dis- 
 banding of the army. The last named, Capt. William 
 Richards, was stationed in 1780 at Fairfield, and while 
 
 ' " Col. Liitinier was the fiither of ton sons ; hiniselF and six of tliera 
 measiiietl fort.v-two feet. An ancient Muniford family of Groton ap- 
 proaolied tlie same nuiiii,*lmving six nieniliers of the average lieigiitof 
 six fei't,— accoiding to familiar report, 'tliirty.eix ftet of Mumford in 
 one family.' 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 181 
 
 there was engaged in the expedition against Fort 
 Slongo, on the opposite shore of Long Island. They 
 crossed by night with muffled oars, took the works by 
 surprise, and demolished them. Maj. Tallmage was 
 the commander of the party. Capt. Richards led the 
 attack upon the battery. Edward Hallam, after a 
 tour of duty at Boston, and another at New York, 
 was appointed commissary of troops at New London. 
 William Raymond, taken prisoner in an early part of 
 the contest, was carried to Halifax, and died while 
 immured in Mill Island prison. 
 
 " George Hurlhut and Robert Hallam, with a mul- 
 titude of others, shouldered musket and knapsack 
 and started for Boston immediately after intelligence 
 was received of the skirmish at Lexington. They 
 subsequently joined Capt. Colt's company, and fought 
 at Bunker Hill, one nineteen years of age, and the 
 other twenty-one. Hallam's commission from Con- 
 gress, giving him the rank of captain in Col. Durkee's 
 regiment, was dated July 3, 1777, the very month 
 that he was twenty years of age. He fought at Tren- 
 ton, Princeton, Germantown, and Monmouth, but 
 withdrew from the army at the close of the campaign 
 of 1779. 
 
 "Capt. Hurlbut remained in the service till dis- 
 abled by a mortal wound at Tarrytown, in the sum- 
 mer of 1781. For the exploit that cost him in the 
 end his life he received the thanks of Washington 
 in the public orders of the army. It merits a par- 
 ticular relation. 
 
 " A vessel in the river containing a considerable 
 quantity of stores for the American army had been 
 set on fire by the guns of the enemy. Capt. Hurlbut 
 being an excellent swimmer, volunteered his service, 
 swam to the vessel, and amidst a severe flre from the 
 British ships extinguished the flames, cut the cable 
 that the wind might drift her to the side where the 
 Americans were encamped, and then took to the 
 water again. Before reaching the shore, being much 
 fatigued, he threw himself on his back, as swimmers 
 often do for repose, and just then was struck in the 
 groin by a grape-shot. The ball was successfully ex- 
 tracted, and after a long confinement he so far recov- 
 ered as to appear abroad. He belonged to the Second 
 Regiment of Light Dragoons, and the first time 
 that he was able to resume his post the troops hon- 
 ored him with a salute. Unfortunately his horse be- 
 came restive, reared, and threw him. The old wound 
 was broken up, he languished many months in severe 
 pain, and at last was brought home to die. The com- 
 mander-in-chief himself gave orders that every requi- 
 site care and attention should be used in his removal. 
 His friend, Mr. Colfax, and the surgeon. Dr. Eustis 
 (afterwards Governor of Massachusetts), accompanied 
 him to New London, where he expired 8th of May, 
 1783.' 
 
 ^ '' ' Many of these particulars are taken frotn a certificate given in De- 
 cember, 178.3, by Gen. Washington to Mrs. Welsh, a widowed sister of 
 Capt. Hurlbut. 
 
 In this connection another army incident may be 
 mentioned, which, though in result a failure, illus- 
 trates the daring spirit of adventure for which the 
 New London men of that day, whether sailors or. 
 soldiers, were remarkable. 
 
 "On the 16th of August, 1776, Commodore Tup- 
 per, lying at New York, sent two fire- vessels, a sloop 
 and a schooner, up the river to make an attempt to 
 burn the British frigate ' Phoenix' in the night. Of 
 the eighteen men detached on this expedition a large 
 proportion were from New London. Stephen Hemp- 
 stead and Thomas Updike Fosdick were two of the 
 number. Fosdick, who was then an ensign in the 
 company of Capt. Nathan Hale, had command of 
 the sloop. Owing to accidental circumstances the 
 enterprise failed, but it was well conceived, and, as 
 far as it went, executed with boldness and skill." 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 NEW LONDON— (Continued). 
 
 WAK OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 Privateering — Sen-CHptniuB — Tlie Scliooiier "Spv" — Brig "Defiance" — 
 "Old Deflanee"— The "Oliver Cromwell"— Brig "Kasistance"— The 
 "Hancock"— The Privaleer "Governor Trunilnill"— Ship " Confeder- 
 ac)"— The "Deane"— Tliu " Putnam"- Continental Ship "TninilraU" 
 — BeneilictAniohl— He Marches on New London— Flight of the Inhab- 
 itants — Burning of the Town — Arnold's Official Account — Estimate of 
 the Loss — List of New London Sufferers — Washington's Visit to New 
 London. 
 
 "While humanity, reason, and religion concur in 
 deprecating the whole practice of war, and look for- 
 ward with ardent aspiration to the time when other 
 modes of accommodating the difficulties of nations 
 shall prevail, we must not withhold from the brave 
 soldier and adventurous seaman that species of fame 
 and merit which is their due. If we would write his- 
 tory faithfully we must go back to the era and live 
 and breathe thp scenes described. We must not look 
 at the war of the Revolution by that light which has 
 but just began to dawn on the Christian world in re- 
 gard to the folly and iniquity of war. Men fought 
 under an exalted impulse for their homes and fire- 
 sides, their liberties and their altars. It was the way 
 in which the age manifested its devotion to truth, 
 freedom, law, and religion. Yet blessed will be the 
 period when these sacred principles shall find a holier 
 expression. 
 
 "It has been customary to make a distinction 
 between the regular navy of the country and those 
 private armed vessels called letters-of-marque, or pri- 
 vateers, as if the former were an honorable service and 
 the latter but little removed from piracy. The distinc- 
 tion is unjust, one was as fair and lawful as the other; 
 both were sanctioned by the custom of nations, the 
 object of each was the same. The Continental ves- 
 sels no less than the privateers seized upon peaceful 
 
182 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 merchantmen, and as much historical credit should 
 be awarded to the brave privateersman as to the com- 
 missioned officer. 
 
 " It is a fact also that has not been sufficiently- 
 noticed in respect to the seamen of the Revolution 
 that often with undaunted spirit they went into bat- 
 tle against fearful odds, and in these unequal combats 
 were not unfrequently successful, such power has 
 Providence given to those who manfully contend for 
 the right. 
 
 "The British, after gaining possession of New 
 York, fitted out a host of privateers from that port 
 and from Long Island that infested the Sound and the 
 whole New England coast, and in the course of a few 
 months nearly every packet, coaster, and fishing 
 smack belonging to New London was captured or 
 destroyed. The inhabitants were driven in self- 
 defense to build privateers and to arm as cruisers 
 whatever craft they had left or could seize in their 
 turn from the enemy and set them afloat to defend 
 their property. 
 
 " Aggression, leading to retaliation, and swaying 
 back and forth over an increasing space with acceler- 
 ated fury, is the diagram of war. 
 
 " A place whose great and almost sole advantage 
 consists in commercial aptitude is necessarily de- 
 pendent upon peace for pi'osperity. From the begin- 
 ning to the close of the Revolutionary contest a cloud 
 of depressing gloom hung over New London. Her 
 mariners and artisans were deprived of employment; 
 her shopmen and merchants were impoverished or 
 bankrupt; religion, education, and morals were at a 
 low ebb, and the shadows grew deeper from year to 
 year. 
 
 " It may be doubted whether any two places in 
 New England exhibited a greater contrast in these 
 respects than those near neighbors, but by no means 
 intimate friends, Norwich and New London. Nor- 
 wich suffered in her commerce as well as New Lon- 
 don, but she was not kept in continual jeopardy; 
 extraordinary inroads excepted, she was safe from 
 invasion. Her growth was scarcely checked by the 
 war, and, setting aside the suffering from scarcity in 
 the first years of the conflict and the family privations 
 resulting from the drain on the male population for 
 the army, her prosperity was but little diminished. 
 It was a place of refuge for many families from Bos 
 ton, Newport, and other exposed situations on the 
 coast, and this influx of residents kept her currency 
 easy. With a wise foresight and a prompt enterprise, 
 favored by her situation and natural advantages, she 
 early turned her attention to manufactures. These 
 came in to fill the vacuum occasioned by her lost 
 commerce. 
 
 " New London had no such wholesome resource. 
 The privateering business very naturally stepped in, 
 and, as far as bustle and excitement went, filled the 
 void, but as a path to gain it was fraught with hazard 
 and uncertainty. Neither merchants nor adventurers 
 
 acquired wealth by privateering. Even the most for- 
 tunate commanders barely obtained a competent live- 
 lihood for the time being for their families. The 
 history of the most successful is comprehended in 
 two or three profitable voyages, a few brilliant ex- 
 ploits, and then capture and imprisonment. 
 
 " The alternations in this warfare succeeded each 
 other like cloud and sunshine on an April day. The 
 excitement of hazardous undertakings and the sud- 
 den changes continually taking place gave to life a 
 romantic and vivid interest. Often when the Sound 
 was apparently pervaded by British vessels a letter- 
 of-marque would seize a favorable opportunity, push 
 out of port, and return with a prize. As connected 
 with New London, sea skirmishes and naval disasters 
 were prominent features of the war. A band of sea- 
 captains, prompt, valiant, experienced, and danger- 
 loving, had their rendezvous in this port. Some were 
 natives of the town, others belonged in Groton, Nor- 
 wich, Middletown, and Saybrook. 
 
 '' Capt. Elisha Hinman was the youngest of three 
 brothere who came from Woodbury, Conn., before or 
 about 1760 and established themselves in New Lon- 
 don. He was a veteran of the sea beibre the com- 
 mencement of the Revolution, and took an early part 
 in the contest. He commanded the 'Cabot,' a Con- 
 tinental brig in the squadron of Commodore Hopkins, 
 and afterwards succeeded Paul Jones in the ship 
 ' Alfred,' which he was unfortunately obliged to sur- 
 render to the 'Ariadne' and ' Ceres,' on a return voyage 
 from France, March 9, 1778. Being carried a pris- 
 oner to England, after a short confinement he found 
 friends who aided his escape to France, from whence 
 he returned home, and engaged for a time in private 
 adventures. In 1779 he went out in the privateer 
 sloop ' Hancock,' owned by Thomas Mumford, and 
 had a run of brilliant, dashing success. In 1780 he 
 took command of the armed ship ' Deane.' 
 
 " Peter Richards, Charles Bulkley, and John Welsh, 
 the lieutenants of Capt. Hinman in the ' Alfred,' were 
 confined in England for several months in Fortune 
 prison, near Portsmouth, from whence they escaped 
 by digging under the outward wall, and reaching the 
 coast of France in safety, returned home in the spring 
 of 1779. These all went out subsequently in private 
 armed vessels. 
 
 " William Havens, NicoU Fosdick, Samuel and 
 Lodowick Champlin, William Leeds, Daniel Deshon, 
 Nathaniel Saltonstall, seamen more brave and skill- 
 ful than these to harass an enemy or defend a coast 
 cannot be found at any period of our country's his- 
 tory. The merchant service was not wholly aban- 
 doned during the war. Several of the commanders 
 that have been named and others made occasional 
 voyages to French ports, though in general with 
 some armature. Capt. William Rogers made a safe 
 voyage to France and back again in 1779. Several 
 cases occurred in which vessels that sailed before the 
 war unarmed were long detained in foreign ports, and 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 183 
 
 even laid up till the return of peace. Capt. Jolin 
 Lamb, sent by Nathaniel Shaw in the ship ' America' 
 to Gibraltar in 1774, was absent three years, the 
 owner in the mean time receiving no remittances.' 
 Capt. James Rogers, arrested by the war in a foreign 
 port, suffered a detention of six years, but arrived in 
 safety with his vessel in September, 1781. 
 
 "New London Harbor was the recruiting-ground 
 of the State schooner 'Spy,' Capt. Eobert Niles, a 
 fortunate vessel with a skillful commander, which 
 performed good service during the whole war, and 
 closed her accounts in neat and beautiful style by 
 carrying safely to France the first copy of the ratified 
 treaty of peace. This vessel was of fifty tons burden, 
 carried six guns (four-pounders), and from twenty to 
 thirty men. Her cruises were short, but she was con- 
 tinually upon the lookout, ever ready, ever service- 
 able, alert in discovering smugglers, intercepting 
 unlawful communications, taking prizes, and giving 
 notice of the movements of the enemy. She sailed 
 from Stonington with a copy of the ratified treaty, 
 and arrived at Brest in twenty-one days, having passed 
 undiscovered through a British fleet that lay off that 
 port, owing her safety, probably, to her diminutive 
 size, which prevented her character from being sus- 
 pected. 
 
 "The brig ' Defence,' fourteen guns, built by the 
 State in 1775 at the ship-yard of Capt. Uriah Hayden, 
 in Connecticut Eiver, was brought around to New 
 London to be equipped and to enlist her crew of one 
 hundred and twenty men. She sailed on her first 
 cruise in May, 1776, under Capt. Seth Harding, and 
 in the course of it took two transport-ships and a 
 brig, all bringing Highland recruits to the British 
 army. The ' Defence' enjoyed a couple of years of 
 prosperity, often dropping into New London Harbor 
 to recruit. Three of her lieutenants, Leeds, Angel, 
 and Billings, had been sea-captains, sailing from the 
 Thames. In 1778 this vessel was altered into a ship 
 at Boston, and the command given to Capt. Samuel 
 Smedley ; but her career was closed March 10, 1779, 
 on Goshen Reef, within sight of New London. She 
 struck, bilged, overset, and went to pieces as she was 
 about to enter the harbor from a successful cruise. 
 Several of her crew perished in the hold. 
 
 "Another State brig, called the 'Old Defence,' 
 under the command of Capt. Daniel Deshon, was 
 taken in January, 1778, by the enemy and carried 
 into Jamaica. 
 
 " The ' Oliver Cromwell,' a twenty-gun ship, built 
 at Saybrook in 1776 by the State, was also fitted out 
 from New London. Her first commander was Capt. 
 William Coit, and she was expected to sail in October, 
 but difficulties existed among her people, and the 
 British kept a constant watch over the harbor, so that 
 
 ^ *' Liimb arrive'l at BnBton from Martinico in December, 1777, in a 
 brig called the 'Iriali Gimlilet.' Among his lading were seventeen brass 
 cannon, with other warlike stores, for Congress, sliipped by William 
 Singham, of St. Peter's, Martinico. 
 
 she was detained through the winter. The next 
 spring Capt. Harding was transferred to her from the 
 'Defence,' and she succeeded in getting out in May, 
 1777.' In June she took a merchant brig, called the 
 ' Medway,' and in July the brigantine ' Honor,' which 
 sold, with her cargo, for £10,692. In September she 
 captured the ' Weymouth Packet,' a brig of fifteen 
 guns, which was fitted up for a cruiser and called the 
 ' Hancock.' The ' Cromwell,' after two and a half 
 years of faithful republican service, was destined to 
 pass into the ranks of royalty. She sailed from New 
 London in May, 1779, in command of Capt. Timothy 
 Parker, of Norwich, a seaman of tried gallantry and 
 experience. She was absent twelve days, sent in four 
 prizes, two of them armed vessels, and touched in 
 herself to land her prisoners. She sailed again the 
 1st of June, and on the 5th, off Sandy Hook, had a 
 sharp engagement with the British frigate ' Daphne.' 
 Her mainmast being shot away, three men killed, and 
 another ship coming up to the aid of the ' Daphne,' 
 Capt. Parker surrendered his ship. She was soon 
 cruising again under the royal ensign, and bearing 
 the new name of 'Restoration.'^ 
 
 "The Continental armed brig 'Resistance,' ten 
 guns (fours), Capt. Samuel Chew, was fitted out at 
 New London at the suggestion and under the orders 
 of Nathaniel Shaw.* The ofiicers were mostly New 
 London men. On the 4th of March, 1778, in a des- 
 perate conflict in the West India seas with a letter- 
 of-marque carrying twenty guns, Capt. Chew and 
 Lieut. George Champlin, of New London, were 
 killed.* The two vessels parted, and the brig was 
 carried into Boston by Lieut. Leeds. She was taken 
 by the British in November and burnt. 
 
 " The ' Governor Trumbull,' a privateer ship ot 
 twenty guns, built in Norwich by Howland and Coit, 
 was considered a very fine vessel. She went to sea on 
 her first cruise in March, 1778, Capt. Henry Billings 
 commander, and left the harbor for the last time in 
 December of the same year. In March, 1779, while 
 cruising in the West Indies, she was captured by the 
 'Venus' frigate, which had formerly belonged to 
 Massachusetts, and was originally called the ' Bunker 
 Hill.' 
 
 2 " In March, 1777, on the day of the marriage of Capt. Elisha Hlnman, 
 the officers of the 'Oliver Cromwell' ordered a complimentary salute to 
 be flrcd from the ship. Some mischief-lover among the crew charged 
 the cannon with a hand-grenade, which 'whistled through the town the 
 like was never known.' The terrified inhabitants caused the offender to 
 be arrested and put in irons. 
 
 3 "From a New York (royalist) paper of July 24,1779; 'The frigate 
 "Eestorntion" (formerly the "Oliver Cromwell") is now fltling for sea, 
 and will be reaily iu six days to join the associated refugee fleet lying in 
 Huntington Harbor, and intending soon to pay a visit to the rebel coast.' 
 
 4 " It gives me pleasure to hear of Capt. C'hew's success, as the fitting 
 bim out was a plan of my own." — Letter to the Marine Committee of 
 Cangrem, Feb. 2, 1778 (MS.). 
 
 5 " Capt. Chew was a brave and skillful officer, an emigrant from Vir- 
 ginia to New London, and brother of Joseph Chew, heretofore mentioned. 
 The two brothers, like many others in that day of divisions, took oppo- 
 site sides in the contest. Joseph Chew had been obliged to leave the 
 place on account of his adherence to the royal cause. 
 
184 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " Early in 1779 three privateers lying in New Lon- 
 don Harbor determined to attempt the capture of the 
 brig ' Ranger,' a refugee privateer of twelve guns that 
 infested the Sound and had taken many prizes and 
 plundered the coast in some instances. The brig 
 'Middletowu' and sloops 'Beaver' and 'Eagle,' under 
 Capts. Sage, Havens, and Conkling, fell upon her as 
 she lay by the wharf at Sag Harbor, cut her out, and 
 came back with her in triumph. This was on the 
 31st of January. The next day the same associated 
 trio made a bold but unsuccessful attack on seven 
 vessels which had put into Sag Harbor. In this affair 
 the 'Middletown' grounded and was abandoned to 
 the enemy. 
 
 " May 27, 1779, Capt. Richard McCarty, of New 
 London, in a sloop bound for the West Indies, was 
 wrecked in a snow-storm on Plum Island, and him- 
 self and crew, six persons, all lost. 
 
 " The ' Confederacy," a Continental ship of thirty- 
 two guns, built on the Thames, near Norwich, and 
 equipped at New London, sailed on her first cruise 
 May 1, 1779, under Capt. Seth Harding. This ship 
 was popularly said to have been built of Tory timber. 
 Most of the wood for her hull was cut in Salem, Conn., 
 on the confiscated estate of Mr. Brown, a royalist, 
 and the trunnels of the ship were from locust-trees 
 that grew on land near the harbor's mouth. New Lon- 
 don, which had belonged to Capt. Oliver, a former 
 officer of the king's customs. To make up the com- 
 plement of men for her crew it was necessary to have 
 recourse to the odious practice of impressment.' 
 Able-bodied men were becoming scarce upon the 
 coast through the constant drain for army and navy. 
 The call for 'gentlemen volunteers,' which was the 
 customary soothing address of the recruiting-officer, 
 had been so frequently reiterated that it had ceased 
 to be answered with alacrity.^ 
 
 " The privateering business was at no time so active, 
 so daring in exploit and brilliant in success as in 
 1779. Both parties, the patriots and the refugees, 
 pursued it with eager rivalry. Between the 1st of 
 March and 13th of June nine New York or Tory 
 privateers were captured and brought into New Lon- 
 don. One of them, the ' Lady Erskine,' a brig often 
 guns, was taken within sight of the harbor by the 
 sloops ' Hancock' and ' Beaver,' Capts. Hinman and 
 Havens, who cut her off from a fleet of twenty-one 
 sail which was passing towards Rhode Island under 
 convoy of the ' Thames' frigate of thirty-six guns. 
 
 1 " Monday niglit last, about fifty seamen and landsmen were pressed 
 by a gang from tbe sliip ' Confederacy,' now lying in tlie bailior, and 
 cari-ied on board; a part of them have been siEjce released."— Green's 
 Gazelle of April iflth. 
 
 2 " The last advertisement of the ' Oliver Cromwell' will serve as a 
 specimen of this alluring style : 
 
 '"The 6hi|i " Oliver Cromwell," Timothy Parker, commander, ready 
 for a cruise against tbe enemies of the United Independent States. All 
 gentlemen volunteers that have a mind to make their fortunes are de- 
 sired to repair immediately on board said ship in the port of New Lon- 
 don, where they will meet good encouragement.' 
 
 " A vivid illustration of the life and bustle which 
 this fitful business created at intervals in the town is 
 furnished by Green's Gazette of June 3d. In that 
 paper were advertised for sale at auction on the 8th 
 instant the following prizes: brig ' Bellona,' one hun- 
 dred and sixty tons, sixteen guns ; schooner ' Mul- 
 berry,' seventy tons; sloop 'Hunter,' ninety; sloop 
 ' Charlotte,' sixty ; sloop ' Lady Erskine,' sixty, ten 
 guns — all prizes to the 'Beaver' and 'Hancock;' 
 schooner 'Sally,' fifty tons, ten guns; sloop 'De- 
 spatch,' fifty, eight swivels ; schooner ' Polly,' forty- 
 prizes to the ' American Revenue ;' also three other 
 prize sloops with all their cargoes and tackle. 
 
 " In the Court of Admiralty held at New London a 
 week later than the above (June 10th), eighteen 
 prizes were libeled, all taken in the month of May. 
 
 " The refugee adventurers from New York and 
 Long Island, if less enterprising, were far superior to 
 the Americans in number and resources. If unsuc- 
 cessful in one undertaking they had means to urge 
 forward another. Capt. Samuel Rogers, the most 
 noted privateersman on that side of the Sound, was 
 three times captured, brought to New London and 
 confined in jail, between March and October, 1779. 
 It was said that during this summer forty refugee 
 privateers had their rendezvous in Huntington Bay. 
 In the end they swept the Sound, as with a besom, of 
 everything American ; at the close of the year scarcely 
 a sail was left on the Connecticut coast. Everything 
 in this line was to begin anew at the keel. 
 
 "The fate of Capt. Edward Conkling was pecu- 
 liarly heartrending. Cruising off Point Judith in 
 the sloop ' Eagle,' he captured and manned six prizes 
 in succession, which left the number of his crew less 
 than that of the prisoners on board. The latter, 
 seizing a favorable opportunity, rose upon their cap- 
 tors, and obtaining command of the vessel exhibited 
 the most savage ferocity. The brave captain and sev- 
 eral of his men were cut down after they had surren- 
 dered, and their bodies brutally mangled. Only two 
 boys were spared. This was on the 9th of May. The 
 'Eagle,' before the close of the month, while pre- 
 paring for a cruise against her former flag, was de- 
 stroyed by an accidental explosion in the harbor of 
 New York. ' Several persons on board at the time,' 
 says the newspaper notice of the event, ' lost their 
 lives, and among them the infamous Murphy, who 
 murdered Capt. Conkling.' 
 
 " In October, 1779, three large French ships, the 
 ' Jonatas,' ' Comte d'Artois,' and ' Negresse,' came 
 into the harbor under jury-masts, with valuable car- 
 goes of West India produce. They had sailed with 
 the usual autumnal fleet of merchantmen from Cape 
 Francois for Europe, but on the 15th of September 
 were dismasted in a violent hurricane, and so much 
 damaged that they bore away for the American coast. 
 By singular good fortune they escaped the British 
 cruisers, but were obliged to sell their damaged car- 
 goes at a low rate and to winter at New London. In 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 185 
 
 the 'Negresse,' which sailed for France early in May, 
 went as passenger Col. John Trumbull, the son of the 
 Governor, and since well known as an historical 
 painter. The ' Jonatas' was purchased of the French 
 owners, and fitted out by individual enterprise as a 
 private cruiser. She carried twenty-nine guns, — 
 twenty-four nines and five fours, — and sailed on a 
 cruise June 1, 1780, under the command of Capt. 
 Hinman.' 
 
 " The extreme severity of the winter of 1779-80 is 
 well known. On the 2d of January a violent storm 
 commenced ; the tide and wind together raised the 
 waves till they dashed over Beach or Water Street 
 like a flood, filling the lower stories of the houses and 
 damaging the shipping and goods. To this succeeded 
 about five weeks of extreme cold. The Thames was 
 closed up as far down as the light-house, a sight 
 which the oldest natives do not see more than twice, 
 and seldom but once in their lives. A storm on the 
 7th of February opened the harbor at the mouth, but 
 opposite the town it remained shut till the second week 
 in March. The day previous a barbecue had been 
 served upon the Isle of Rocks, midway between New 
 London and Groton ; but at night a furious southeast 
 storm broke up the ice, and the next morning a dash- 
 ing current was running where sleighs had crossed 
 and people had feasted the day before.^ 
 
 "The ' Putnam' was built on Wiuthrop's Neck by 
 Nathaniel Shaw in 1778. Her armament consisted 
 of twenty nines. Capt. John Harman was her first 
 commander. In the spring of 1779 she was fitted for 
 a six months' cruise under Capt. Nathaniel Salton- 
 stall. After being out three months, and sending in 
 six prizes, she went into Boston harbor, and was there 
 impressed into the Continental service, with her crew 
 and equipments, and sent with the fleet under Com- 
 modore Dudley Saltonstall, of the ship ' Warren,' 
 against the British post at Penobscot. The issue of 
 that expedition was extremely disastrous. The ' Put- 
 nam' was one of the vessels driven ashore and burnt 
 to prevent them from falling into the hands of the 
 enemy. The officers and crew fled to the woods and 
 escaped capture. 
 
 "The frigate 'Trumbull,' twenty -eight guns, built 
 by order of Congress at Chatham, in Connecticut 
 Eiver, during the winter of 1779-80, was brought into 
 the Thames to be equipped and to enlist her crew. 
 Capt. James Nicholson was her commander. On the 
 2d of June, 1780, she had an action with the letter-of- 
 
 ' " She waa called the * Deane,* but must not bo confounded with the 
 Coiithiental frigate • Deane,' whicli had previously taken the name of 
 the ' Hafrne.'— Otoper^s Natal Itist.^ vol. ii. p. 190. 
 
 ^ '' Thomas Mnniford, of Groton, was then recently married, and the 
 nijrlit before the tiiaw gave nn entertainment which many guests from 
 I^ew Lunilon attended, crostiing the river in sleighs. The banquet and 
 dance continuing late, and tlie storm coming on suddenly and furiously, 
 the pai-ty wfre not able to retni-n as tliey went, and the next morning 
 the swollen river, full of floating ice, rendeied crossing in any way a 
 hazardous attempt. Some of the guests were detained two or three days 
 CD that side of the river. 
 
 marque ' Watt,' thirty-four guns and two hundred and 
 fifty men, which is judged, all things considered, to 
 have been the best contested, the most equally 
 matched, equally well-fought, and equally destructive 
 battle during the war. In this engagement several 
 from New London and its vicinity were among the 
 killed and wounded. Daniel Starr, second lieutenant, 
 Jabez Smith (of Groton), lieutenant of marines, died 
 of their wounds. Gideon Chapman went overboard 
 on the maintop and was drowned. Gilbert Salton- 
 stall, captain of marines, Pygian Adams, purser, David 
 Pool and Samuel Hearn, boatswains, were wounded. 
 Three of the midshipmen were of New London. One 
 of these, Capt. Richard Law, who died Dec. 19, 1845, 
 was the last survivor of the crew. 
 
 " In concluding this account of naval affairs, it may 
 be observed in general terms that during the whole 
 war New London was as a den of serpents to the Brit- 
 ish, constantly sending out its sloops and schooners, 
 well manned by skillful and daring seamen, to harass 
 the boats and tenders along the shore, or to cut off 
 merchant vessels on the high seas. Rich prizes, in 
 spite of their vigilance, would run into this open port, 
 and if pursuit was apprehended they might be hur- 
 ried up to Norwich, entirely out of reach. 
 
 The year 1777 forms, indeed, an exception to the 
 universality of this assertion. So great was the vigi- 
 lance of the British squadron on the coast, that be- 
 tween the summer of 1776 and that of 1778 not a 
 single prize was brought into the harbor of New 
 London. 
 
 " Although New London has been repeatedly 
 threatened, no direct attack was made upon the town 
 till near the close of the war in 1781. Gen. Arnold, 
 on his return from a predatory descent upon the coasts 
 of Virginia, was ordered to conduct a similar expedi- 
 tion against his native State. A large quantity of 
 West India goods and European merchandise brought 
 in by various privateers was at this time collected in 
 New London ; the quantity of shipping in port was 
 also very considerable, and among the prizes recently 
 taken was the 'Hannah' (Capt. Watson), a rich mer- 
 chant ship from London bound to New York, which 
 had been captured a little south of Long Island by 
 Capt. Dudley Saltonstall, of the ' Minerva' privateer. 
 The loss of this ship, whose cargo was said to be the 
 most valuable brought into America during the war, 
 had exasperated the British, and more than any other 
 single circumstance is thought to have led to the ex- 
 pedition. At no other period of the war could they 
 have done so much mischief, at no other had the in- 
 habitants so much to lose. 
 
 " The expedition was fitted out from New York, 
 the headquarters of Sir Henry Clinton and the British 
 army. The plan was well conceived. Arnold de- 
 signed to enter the harbor secretly in the night, and 
 to destroy the shipping, public otfices, stores, mer- 
 chandise, and the fortifications on both sides of the 
 river with such expedition as to be able to depart be- 
 
186 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 fore any considerable force could be collected against 
 him. Candor in judging forbids the supposition that 
 the burning of the town and the massacre at Groton 
 fort entered into his original design, though at the 
 time such cruelty of purpose was charged upon him 
 and currently believed. As flowing from his meas- 
 ures and taking place under his command, they stand 
 to his account, and this responsibility is heavy enough 
 without adding to it the criminal forethought. 
 
 " Late in the evening of the 5th of September in- 
 formation was received in town that a British fleet 
 was lurking under the shore of Long Island, nearly 
 opposite the mouth of the river. So many false de- 
 monstrations of attack had been made during the 
 war that this intelligence caused but little alarm. No 
 public notice was given of it, and no unusual precau- 
 tions were taken against surprise ; soldiers and citi- 
 zens alike retired to rest. As soon as it was dark the 
 hostile fleet got under way, and arriving on the coast 
 at one o'clock, would undoubtedly have accomplished 
 their design and made themselves masters of the town 
 and forts without opposition had they not been coun- 
 teracted by Providence. The wind suddenly shifted 
 to the northward, blowing directly out of the mouth 
 of the river, so that the larger vessels were obliged to 
 stand off" and the transports to beat in. 
 
 "According to the uniform testimony of eye-wit- 
 nesses, the British fleet consisted of thirty-two sail of 
 all classes of vessels ; and the troops were landed from 
 twenty-four transports, eight hundred on the Groton 
 side, and nine hundred or a thousand on the New 
 London side. Arnold, in his report of the expedition, 
 says, — 
 
 " ' At ten oVloclc tlie troops, in two tlivisione and in four debarkations, 
 were laiidi'd, one on eslcli side tlie Imrbnr, about three miles fi'om New 
 London, tliat on ItieGi-uton siile, consisling of the4llt!i lunl 54tti Itepi- 
 nients and tlie Tlliid IJitltiiliun of New .ler.-ey volnnleer.-f, witli a detacli- 
 niont of .vafiers ami ai rillery, were under the conimaml of Lieut.-Col. 
 Eyre. Tlie division on the New London Bide eoiisi-sted of tlie iiStli 
 regiment, the Lnyal Ameiicans, the American Legion, refugees, and a 
 detaehmeiit of sixty yagers, who wore iuiniediately on their landing put 
 in motion." 
 
 " In the mean time confused and hasty preparations 
 had been made to receive them. At early dawn the 
 fleet had been discovered lying off' becalmed, but the 
 transports making preparations to beat in to the 
 mouth of the river. Col. Wm. Ledyard was the mili- 
 tary commander of the district which comprised the 
 two forts, the harbor, and the towns of New London 
 and Groton. Ciipt. Adam Shapley commanded at 
 Fort Trumbull and the Town Hill battery; Capt. 
 William Latham at Fort Griswold. An alarm was 
 immediately fired from Fort Griswold ; it consisted of 
 two regular guns at fixed intervals ; this was the sig- 
 nal to call in assistance from the neighboring coun- 
 try, while three guns was the signal of rejoicing, to 
 give notice of a victory or a prize. It was evident 
 that these signals had been communicated to the 
 enemy, for when the two distress guns were fired, one 
 of the large ships in the fleet added a third, so as to 
 
 alter the import. This stratagem had some influence 
 in retarding the arrival of militia. 
 
 " In the town consternation and fright were sud- 
 denly let loose. No sooner were the terrible alarm- 
 guns heard than the startled citizens, leaping from 
 their beds, made haste to send away their families 
 and their portable and most valuable goods. Throngs 
 of women and children were dismissed into the fields 
 and woods, some without food, and others with a piece 
 of bread or a biscuit in their hands. Women laden 
 with bags and pillow-cases, or driving a cow before 
 them, with an infant in their arms, or perhaps on 
 horseback, with a bed under them, and various uten- 
 sils dangling at the side; boys with stockings slung 
 like wallets over their shoulders, containing the 
 money, the papers, and other small valuables of the 
 family; carts laden with furniture; dogs and other 
 household animals, looking strange and panic-struck- 
 pallid faces and trembling limbs, — such were the 
 scenes presented on all the roads leading into the 
 country. Many of these groups wandered all day in 
 the woods, and at night found shelter in the scattered 
 farm-houses and barns. 
 
 "Amid the bustle of these scenes, when each one 
 was laden with what was nearest at hand or dearest 
 to his heart, one man was seen hastening alone to the 
 burial-ground, with a small coffin under his arm. 
 His child had died the day before, and he could not 
 leave it unburied. In haste and trepidation he threw 
 up the mould and deposited his precious burden, then 
 covering it quickly, and setting up a stone to mark 
 the place, he hurried away to secure other beloved 
 ones from a more cruel spoiler. 
 
 "Such was the confusion of the scene that famihes 
 in many cases were scattered upon different roads, 
 and children eight or ten years of age were sent off 
 alone into the country, their parents lingering per- 
 haps to bury or conceal some of their effects. Yet no 
 one was lost, no one was hurt. The farm-honses were 
 full, and unbounded hospitality was shown by their 
 occupants. At Gen. Miller's, a little off" from the 
 Norwich road, orders were given to open the dairy 
 and the larder, to prepare food constantly, and to feed 
 everybody that came. When the house was overflow- 
 ing, the servants carried out milk, cheese, and bread, 
 or porringers of corn-beans to the children, who sat 
 under the trees and ate. This will serve as an exam- 
 ple of the general hospitality. A number of families 
 found shelter among friends and relatives in the 
 North Parish. Groups of fugitives gathered on the 
 high hills afar off, watching with intense interest the 
 movements of the enemy, whose course might be 
 traced by their gleaming arms and scarlet coats until 
 clouds of smoke hid them from their view. 
 
 "Some sick persons were removed from town with 
 great difficulty and at the hazard of their lives, others 
 who could not be removed were guarded with solici- 
 tous care by wife, daughter, or mother, who resolved 
 to remain with them and depend on Providence to 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 187 
 
 soften the heart of the foe and protect them from 
 danger. 
 
 " Col. Ledyard having visited the town and Fort 
 Trumbull and made the best disposition of what force 
 he could find, and having dispatched expresses to 
 Governor Trumbull at Lebanon, and to commanders 
 of militia in the neighborhood, returned to Fort Gris- 
 wold. 
 
 " As he stepped into the boat to cross the ferry he 
 said to some friends whose hands he pressed at part- 
 ing, in a firm tone, ' If I must lose to-day honor or 
 life, you who know me can tell which it will be.' 
 
 "The garrisons under Col. Ledyard were small, 
 barely sufficient to keep the posts in order, and in 
 cases of emergency they depended on volunteers from 
 the neighborhood or details of militia. These were 
 now coming in, and the commander confidently an- 
 ticipated the arrival of sufficient aid to warrant a de- 
 fense. 
 
 " In the mean time great efforts were made to se- 
 cure the shipping in the harbor by getting it up the 
 river, but at first neither wind nor tide favored the 
 attempt. Towards noon, however, before the enemy 
 had got possession of the town, a favorable breeze 
 came in from the water, and a considerable number 
 of vessels escaped. The warehouses were full of mer- 
 chandise, only a small proportion of which could be 
 sent off. Shaw's warehouse on Water Street in par- 
 ticular was packed with goods, and among them was 
 the rich cargo of the 'Hannah.' A sloop-load of 
 these were saved.^ 
 
 "Such confusion reigned in the town, every house- 
 holder being engaged in the care of his family and 
 effects, that it was difficult to form any concerted plan 
 of action. But when the women and children had 
 departed the men began to gather in groups and 
 consult respecting the course to be pursued. They 
 could muster but few effective men, and flight and 
 concealment seemed the only prudent course for them 
 to adopt; but about one hundred, hastily armed, 
 and indignant at the thought of abandoning their 
 homesteads without a blow, collected on Town Hill, 
 with a view of obstructing the course of the enemy.' 
 They were without a commander, and as the ad- 
 vancing files of regular soldiers, in firm array, with 
 glistening steel, appeared in sight they saw the rash- 
 ness of their design, and scattering into the fields, 
 concealed themselves behind rocks and fences, and 
 annoyed the troops whenever they could find a 
 chance. 
 
 "Arnold had debarked his forces a little west of 
 the light-house, and came up in a straight course, 
 through what is called Brown's Gate, into the Town 
 
 1 •' Mr. Slmw was liimself absent from town at tlie lime of the inva- 
 eion. Tli:8 wiis vyi-j' nincli deplored at the time, lie hud gone out on a 
 fishiiig-excureion towards Montauk Point, and after discovering tlielleet 
 and itH destination, could not get in belbre theni, tjiit was ohliged to run 
 into Pequonuuck Creek to escape capture. Dr. Simon Wotcott was with 
 Lim. 
 
 Hill road. The division under his command, as al- 
 ready stated, consisted of the Thirty-eighth British 
 Regiment^ and the regiment of loyal Americans 
 (Col. Beverly Eobinson's), with several companies 
 from other refugee regiments, among whom were one 
 hundred and twenty New Jersey loyalists, under the 
 command of Lieut.-Col. Upham, and a band of sixty 
 yagers (Hessian light infantry).' 
 
 "The armed vessels ' Associiition' and 'Col. Martin' went close into 
 the shore, and covered the landing on the New London side." (Uphani'a 
 Report.) 
 
 "When the troops arrived at the cross-road leading 
 down to the shore, which Arnold says was at eleven 
 o'clock, Capt. Millett, of the Thirty-eighth, with four 
 companies, was detached to march that way and attack 
 the fort, and at the foot of this cross-road he was 
 joined by Capt. Frink with a company of refugees, 
 who had marched up by a difierent route nearer the 
 shore. 
 
 "Fort Trumbull was a work of very little strength, 
 a mere block of batteries facing the water on three 
 sides, open behind, and only designed to act against a 
 naval force. Capt. Shapley had with him twenty- 
 three men, and his orders were, in case of a direct at- 
 tack, to retreat to Fort Griswold. He saluted the in- 
 vaders with one volley well discharged, and then, 
 having spiked the guns, retreated to the shore, where 
 he embarked his men in three boats to cross the river. 
 The enemy's fleet was so near that they reached and 
 over-shot them with their muskets ; seven men were 
 wounded and one of the boats captured. 
 
 " In the mean time Gen. Arnold, pressing forward 
 with the main body of troops, arrived at the breast- 
 work of earth and sods whose insignificance had ob- 
 tained for it the name of Fort Nonsense, but of which 
 in his dispatch he speaks with great exaggeration as 
 a redoubt that kept up a brisk fire upon them for 
 some time, but was evacuated at their approach. 'In 
 it,' he says, ' we found six pieces of cannon mounted 
 and two dismounted.'* On this commanding height 
 Arnold paused to survey the scene on which he was 
 about to operate, a scene familiar to his eyes in early 
 life, with houses and shops compact and sails spread 
 in the offing, all indicative of thrift, enterprise, and 
 comfort, but which he was now, with sword and fire- 
 brand, about to scathe and blacken. His thoughts 
 however, were intent on the present object, and not 
 discoursing with the past or future. He observes in 
 his report, — 
 
 " ' I liad the i^leasure to see Cnpt. Millett march into Fort Trnmhiill, 
 under a shower of graipe-shot from a iinmlior of cninion which the enemy 
 had turned npon him, and by the sudden attack and detenniiied liravery 
 of tlie troops tlie fort was cariied witli only the loss of four or Hvu men 
 killed and wounded.' 
 
 "So well it sounds in ofiicial language for five 
 companies of fresh, well-armed British soldiers to 
 
 - "This was Sir Roheit Pigot's regiment, hnt it is not known whether 
 he was with the e.xlieditioli. The nuiform was ]'ed, faced «ith yellow. 
 
 3 "These wore a daik irnifotni, with bright rod tjimmiugs. 
 
 4 " Iron pieces, four and six-pouudors. 
 
li 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 drive twenty-three Americans from an open, defense- 
 less fortress. 
 
 " It was from this point that Arnold dispatched an 
 order to Lieut.-Col. Eyre, who had landed on the 
 Groton side, to attack the fort as soon as possible, in 
 order to prevent the escape of the shipping up the 
 river. The general continues, — ■ 
 
 " ' No time on my part was lost in gaining tlie town of New London. 
 We were opposed by a small body of tlie enemy with one fielii-piece, who 
 were so hard pressed that tliey were obliged to leave the piL-ce, which, 
 being iron, was spiked and left.' 
 
 " This field-piece was a four or si.x-pounder which 
 stood upon Manwaring's Hill, where it had been 
 used for rejoicings, trainings, and alarms. It was not 
 at this time manned, but some three or four resolute 
 persons discharged it several times upon the advanc- 
 ing foe as they came down Town Hill, and then fled. 
 A detachment of the British was sent up Blackhall 
 Street to silence this solitary gun, which id truth they 
 effected, but were much annoyed by random shot from 
 behind the rocks and fences. Manwaring's house was 
 then the only dwelling in that quarter. This they 
 ransacked, and having wantonly destroyed some of 
 the furniture, set fire to it by leaving heaps of burn- 
 ing brands and combustibles upon the floor. One of 
 the townspeople entering the house soon after they 
 left it extinguished the flames with a barrel of soap. 
 When the owner returned to his house that night he 
 found lying on one of the beds a dying British soldier 
 piteously calling for water. He had been left for 
 dead by his comrades on the roadside, and being 
 found by some of the returning citizens weltering in 
 his blood, they had carried him into the house. He 
 lived several hours and was able to give his name, 
 and to request that intelligence might be sent to his 
 parents of his death. He was about eighteen years 
 of age, a refugee, and the son of refugees then in 
 Nova Scotia. He was interred in a corner of the lot 
 on the opposite side of the street. Two or three other 
 soldiers found dead on the hill were buried on the 
 side of the road in William Street. 
 
 " Lieut.-Col. Upham, who commanded the New 
 Jersey loyalists, says in his report to Governor 
 Franklin, — 
 
 " ' We proceeded to the town of New London, constantly skirmishing 
 with rebels, who fled tVom hill to hill and stone fences which intersected 
 the countiy at small distances. Having leaclied the sonthoi-ly pait of 
 the town, the general requested nie to take jmssession of the bill noith 
 of the meeting-house, where the rebels had collected, and which they 
 seemed resolved to hold. We made ^ cilcle to the left, and soon 
 gaiijed the ground in contest. Here we had one man killed and one 
 wounded. This height being the out[iost, was left to us and the yagers. 
 Here we remained exposed to a constant fire from the rebels on the 
 neigliboring hills and tVolii the fort on the Groton side until the last 
 was carried by the Biilinh troops.' 
 
 " Col. Upham's party defiled through Cape Ann 
 Street and Lewis Lane, and a flanking guard set fire 
 to the house of Pickett Latimer,' on the old Colches- 
 ter road, now Vauxliall Street. This house was full 
 
 ' " Nearly opposite tbe residence of Thomas JTitch. 
 
 of goods, hastily deposited there by the inhabitants for 
 safe-keeping, the distance from the town leading them 
 to suppose that it would not be visited. It was, how- 
 ever, the first building consumed. The main body 
 came on through Vauxhall Street, and at their ap- 
 proach the group of half-armed citizens that had col- 
 lected on the beautiful height above the old burial- 
 ground, after a few discharges, retired, scattering to 
 other hills and woodlands, where, unseen, they could 
 watch the motions of the enemy. It was about noon 
 when Col. Upham, with the refugees and Hessians 
 took possession of the hill and planted the field-piece 
 which they had brought from Fort Nonsense, direct- 
 ing its fire against the shipping which had been 
 obliged to anchor above the town. But a change of 
 wind and tide operating in favor of the vessels, they 
 spread their sails and escaped up the river. One of 
 the cannon-balls sent after them went through the 
 fronl|door of the house on Norwich road just above 
 the mill, since known as Capt. Robert Hallam's. 
 
 " Arnold made his arrangements to enter at both 
 ends of the town, to follow the line of the water-side, 
 and complete the work of destruction at the centre. 
 He appears himself to have accompanied the party 
 that gained the north end of the town (probably 
 through Hempstead Street) under cover of Col. tip- 
 ham's advance post. He mentions in his report that 
 he ascended a height of ground in the rear of the 
 town, from whence he had a good prospect of Fort 
 Griswold, and of the shipping that was endeavoring 
 to escape up the river. Two or three persons, inhabit- 
 ants of the town, were secreted in the vicinity, and 
 who were well acquainted with the person of Arnold, 
 saw him as he sat on horseback, above the meeting- 
 house, with a small spy-glass in his hand, surveying 
 the scene, and pointing out objects to an oflScerbyhia 
 side, probably Lord Dalrymple, who acted as his aide 
 in this expedition. They turned their horses down 
 Richards Street, through which a part of their force 
 had preceded them. 
 
 " At the north end of the town the torch of destruc- 
 tion was first lighted at the printing-office and the 
 town mill. From thence a detacliment of the enemy 
 went on to Wintbrop's Neck and set fire to the Plumb 
 house, scouring the whole Point, destroying the bat- 
 tery, shipping, warehouses, and every species of com- 
 bustible property on that side, except the Merrill 
 house, which escaped. On Main Street south of the 
 printing-office a considerable number of old family 
 homesteads were consumed. The most valuable was 
 that of Gen. Gurdon Saltonstall. The house of Capt. 
 Guy Ricliards, at the foot of Richards Street, was 
 marked out for destruction, but a daughter of Capt. 
 Richards lying ill at the time, the English oflBcer lis- 
 tened to the supplications of those who attended upon 
 her and spared the house. It was an act too barbar- 
 ous even for incursive hostility, the most barbarous 
 kind of war, to set fire to a house over the heads of 
 sick and helpless females. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 189 
 
 "On the east side of the street several private 
 houses, with the custom-house and collector's dwell- 
 ing near it, various shops of merchandise, mechanic 
 shops, and warehouses, with all the wharfiug, boating, 
 and lumber, were involved in a long line of destruc- 
 tion. Below Hallam's corner in this street no build- 
 ings were burnt. At this point the main body of the 
 enemy turned towards Beach or Water Street, where 
 several noted warehouses and shops were situated 
 and a part of the shipping lay. It is said that Arnold 
 himself, with extended sword, pointed out the way to 
 the troops, with this emphatic command, ' Soldiers, 
 do your duty !' 
 
 " Of course vengeance and destruction had no 
 check ; shops, stores, dwellings, piles of lumber, 
 wharves, boats, rigging, and vessels were soon en- 
 veloped in smoke and flame. Hogsheads were knocked 
 in ; sugar and coffee lay in heaps ; and rum and Irish 
 butter, melted in the fire, trickled along the street 
 and filled the gutters. The prize ship ' Hannah,' 
 partly unladen, lay at Shaw's wharf. When burnt 
 nearly to the water's edge she drifted away and sunk 
 near the end of Winthrop's Neck.^ 
 
 " Bradley Street, containing eight or ten houses, 
 was left unharmed. When the regulars came to this 
 street, their guide, one of those ' friends to govern- 
 ment in the town' whom Arnold mentions as aiding 
 and furnishing information, said to the leader of the 
 party, ' In this street there are no shops, no stores ; 
 it is the Widows' Row.' The words were literally 
 true, and the humane officer commanded his men not 
 to enter the street. 
 
 " On the Parade all was destroyed. The market- 
 wharf, the old magazine and battery, the court-house, 
 jail and jail-house, the Episcopal church, and sev- 
 eral contiguous shops and dwelling-houses were soon 
 a heap of ashes. The western part of this street was 
 left unhurt. The ancient, dilapidated building still 
 extant near the corner of Green Street was then, as it 
 since has been-, a well-known tavern stand. The land- 
 lady, like many other American women in those dis- 
 astrous times, had her nearest friends arrayed on op- 
 posite sides. Her husband, as sergeant in the militia, 
 was at his post in the field annoying the invaders, 
 and her brother was one of those invaders, an officer 
 under Arnold's command. Before mounting her horse 
 to escape she had her table spread and furnished boun- 
 tifully with provisions. Though fleeing with her patri- 
 otic husband, she could not refrain from leaving a 
 dinner for her Tory brother. That officer eagerly 
 sought the threshold of his relative, and, though he 
 found her not, refreshed himself and his brother- 
 officers with the collation. After the close of the 
 war this refugee captain, being in declining health, 
 obtained leave to return home, and died in the same 
 house. 
 
 1 "The old hull of the ' Hannah' was dragged out in 1815 by Amasa 
 Miller, to whose ship-yard it was an obstruction. 
 
 13 
 
 " The enemy, however, did not in, general, spare the 
 dwellings of their reputed friends. This, instead of 
 being a favor, would have marked them out for patriot 
 vengeance. Arnold himself took some refreshment 
 that day at the house of an old acquaintance in Bank 
 Street, but even before they rose from the table the 
 building was in flames over them. It has been often 
 stated that some whose property was destroyed re- 
 ceived in the end double compensation, — that is, from 
 the British, on account of their loyalty, and from Con- 
 gress in the grant of Are lands by which reparation 
 was made to the sufferers. Arnold was born within 
 fourteen miles of New London, and had lived so long 
 in the vicinity that he had many old acquaintances 
 in town ; some of these, it was well known, had held 
 secret intercourse with him and officiated as counsel- 
 ors and guides in this expedition. 
 
 "At the south end of the town the ravage was co- 
 incident with the destruction at the north. All the 
 boats and fishing craft around the coves were burnt. 
 A house and shop belonging to a person who held a 
 commission in the garrison of the fort were singled 
 out and burnt, showing that the guides of the enemy 
 were familiar with the locality. An old fisherman 
 ventured from his hiding-place and pathetically en- 
 treated them to leave him his boat, but he was told 
 that their orders allowed of no exceptions and must 
 be obeyed. A woman living near the water on the 
 point (Shaw's Neck), seeing a company of the red- 
 coats approaching, concealed her well-grown boys in 
 the cellar, and gathering her little children around 
 her went out to meet them. Dropping on her knees 
 before the captain, she told him that her husband 
 had been gone several long years and she knew not 
 what had become of him ; she had nothing left but a 
 group of helpless children and yonder house with its 
 simple furniture, which she entreated him not to 
 destroy. The officer raised her from the ground, and 
 brushing a tear from his eye, said, 'Go in, good 
 woman ; you and your property are safe ; none of my 
 men shall disturb you.' ' 
 
 " Very little havoc was made in this part of the 
 town until the enemy came to Bank Street. Here 
 the work of destruction was commenced at the stone 
 dwelling-house of the Shaw family, in different parts 
 of which ignited combustibles were placed and left to 
 do their work ; but after the troops had passed on a 
 near neighbor, who had remained concealed in the 
 
 2 " The story of this woman was literally true ; we are tempted to con- 
 tinue the tale. Her husband was a sea-captain and trader, who being in 
 Europe when the war broke out, and meeting with reverses and difficul- 
 ties, had continued there, trading and waiting for an opportunity to re- 
 turn borne. The very day Arnold was burning New London he arrived 
 with bis vessel in the Sound, and discovering the hostile fleet in season 
 put back and lay close till the next day. When the enemy had departed 
 he slipped into the harbor in the dusk of evening, and landing, made his 
 way through the smouldering streets to his own threshold, where, lifting 
 the latch, he paused, and before speaking to wife or children fixed his 
 eyes on two ancient portraits of his ancestors banging upon the wall, 
 and with a humor peculiar to his character saluted them and expressed 
 bis satisfaction at finding them still on duty at their post. 
 
190 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 vicinity, entered the house and extinguished the fires. 
 An ancient dwelling-house of wood, adjoining the 
 stone mansion, and used by Shaw as an office and 
 store-house, was burnt to the ground, and in it a chest 
 of valuable papers was consumed. The flame from 
 this building caught the roof of the stone house, but 
 was extinguished by the same adventurous neighbor 
 that quenched the fires within the house. Finding a 
 pipe of vinegar in the garret, he knocked in the head, 
 and dipping from this fountain poured the convenient 
 liquid from the scuttle down the roof till the fire was 
 subdued. By this timely exertion not only this house 
 but the houses below it, which would probably have 
 been involved in its destruction, escaped. 
 
 " In this part of the harbor were the spar and ship- 
 yards and a considerable number of unemployed ves- 
 sels, which were all given to the flames. Old hulls 
 half sunk in the water, or grounded on the flats here 
 and there, are remembered by persons who were then 
 children as having been left for years afterward lying 
 about the shores. A privateer sloop, fitted for a cruise 
 and in fine order, that lay swinging from a cable fas- 
 tened to a ring in the projecting rock where is now 
 Brown's wharf, was set on fire, and her cable burning 
 off she drifted across the harbor a mass of flame. 
 Through the whole of Bank Street, where were some 
 of the best mercantile stands and the most valuable 
 dwelling-houses in the town, the torch of vengeance 
 made a clean sweep. No building of any importance 
 'was left on either side of the street ; all combustible 
 property of every description was consumed. This 
 entire devastation was in part owing to circumstances 
 not entering into the plans of the enemy, though it 
 might have been anticipated as a natural consequence 
 of their measures. Several of the stores in this and 
 other parts of the town contained gunpowder in large 
 quantities, which exploding, shook the whole coun- 
 :)ry round and scattered the flames in every direct- 
 ion. 
 
 " The general says in his report, ' The explosion of 
 the powder and the change of wind soon after the 
 stores were fired communicated the flames to part of 
 the town, which was, notwithstanding every eflbrt to 
 prevent it, unfortunately destroyed.' Sir Henry Clin- 
 ton, also, in his official letter to England, expresses 
 his concern that the town was burnt, but says it was 
 unavoidable, and occasioned by the explosion of gun- 
 powder. 
 
 " It ought to be stated as a general fact that Ar- 
 nold's orders appear to have been given with some 
 reference to humanity and the laws of civilized war- 
 fare. Private houses were to be spared, unless in 
 some few instances where the owners were particularly 
 obnoxious. It was afterwards well understood that 
 most of the spoil and havoc in private houses was the 
 work of a few worthless vagrants of the town who 
 prowled in the wake of the invaders, hoping in the gen- 
 eral confusion not to be detected. The English soldiers 
 were expressly forbidden to plunder or to molest the 
 
 helpless.^ In several cases where females courage- 
 ously remained to protect their dwellings they were 
 treated with marked civility and respect. In one in- 
 stance a soldier having entered a house and forcibly 
 seized some clothing, the woman went to the door 
 and complained to an officer on guard in the street, 
 who not only restored the articles, but chastised the 
 culprit on the spot for disobeying his orders. 
 
 " Instances of tender commiseration for the suffer- 
 ers were also exhibited in various parts of the town. 
 In one house a female had remained with an aged 
 decrepit father, too infirm to be removed. Seeing so 
 many buildings in flames, and expecting her own soon 
 to be kindled, she dragged her parent in his arm-cliair 
 to the extremity of the garden, and there stood over 
 him awaiting the result. The officer on guard ob- 
 serving her situation, went up and conversed with 
 her, bidding her banish fear, for her house should not 
 be entered ; he would himself watch over its safety. 
 
 " Yet no one can be certain that an excited soldiery 
 will not transcend their orders, and scenes of distress 
 must be expected in the train of a reckless invasion. 
 An aged and infirm man, living alone, with no one to 
 care for him and convey him to a place of safety, had 
 crept to the back part of his little inclosure, and when 
 the soldiers were marching by he stood among the 
 bushes, leaning upon his staff; a peaceable looker-on. 
 One of the party, seeing perhaps only a hat and head, 
 and supposing it might be an armed man lurking 
 there to get a favorable aim, raised his musket and 
 shot the old man dead in his garden. 
 
 " But the work of destruction in New London was 
 a mere sportive sally in comparison with the tragic 
 events that were passing on the opposite side of 
 the river. The division of Lieut.-Col. Eyre, which 
 landed on that side, consisted of two British regi- 
 ments and a battalion of New Jersey volunteers, with 
 a detachment of yagers and artillery. The British 
 regiments, however, were the actors in the scenes that 
 followed, for the Jersey troops and artillery, who were 
 under the command of Lieut.-Col. Buskirk, being the 
 second debarkation, and getting entangled among the 
 ledges, copses, and ravines, did not reach the fort un- 
 til after the conflict had ceased." ^ 
 
 A brief account of the destruction of the town by 
 the invaders appeared in the New London Oazelte the 
 next day, giving the following description of the 
 attack : 
 
 " About daybreak on Thursday morning last, 
 twenty-four sail of the enemy's shipping appeared 
 to the westward of this harbor, which by many were 
 supposed to be a plundering party after stock, 
 Alarm-guns were immediately fired ; but the dis- 
 charge of cannon in the harbor has become so fre- 
 quent of late that they answered little or no purpose. 
 
 1 "Arnold warmly commends the conduct of Capt. Stapleton, who 
 acted as m^"or of brigade, * for his endeavoi-s to prevent plundering and 
 the desti'uction of private buildings.' 
 
 2 " Arnold's report." 
 
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NEW LONDON. 
 
 191 
 
 The defenseless state of the fortifications and the 
 town are obvious to our readers ; a few of the inhabi- 
 tants who were equippeJ advanced towards the place 
 where the enemy were thought likely to make their 
 landing, and mancEuvred on the heights adjacent un- 
 til the enemy, about nine o'clock, landed in two di- 
 visions, and about eight hundred men each, one of 
 them at Brown's farm, near the light-house, the other 
 at Groton Point. The division that landed near the 
 light-house marched up the road, keeping up large 
 flanking parties, who were attacked in different places 
 on their march by the inhabitants, who had spirit and 
 resolution to oppose their progress. The main body 
 of the enemy proceeded to the town and set fire to the 
 stores on the beach, and immediately after to the 
 dwelling-houses lying on the Mill Cove. The .scat- 
 tered fire of our little parties, unsupported by our 
 neighbors more distant, galled them so that they soon 
 began to retire, setting fire promiscuously on their 
 way. The fire from the stores communicated to the 
 shipping that lay at the wharves, and a number were 
 burnt ; others swung to single fast and remained 
 unhurt. 
 
 " At four o'clock they began to quit the town with 
 great precipitation, and were pursued by our brave 
 citizens with the spirit and ardor of veterans, and 
 driven on board their boats. Five of the enemy were 
 killed and about twenty wounded. Among the lat- 
 ter is a Hessian captain, who is a prisoner, as are 
 seven others. We lost four killed and ten or twelve 
 wounded, some mortally. 
 
 "The most valuable part of the town is reduced to 
 ashes, and all the stores. Fort Trumbull, not being 
 tenable on the land side, was evacuated as the enemy 
 advanced, and the few_ men in it crossed the river to 
 Fort Griswold, on Groton Hill, which was soon after 
 invested by the division that landed at the Point. 
 The fort having in it only about one hundred and 
 twenty men, chiefly militia hastily collected, they de- 
 fended it with the greatest resolution and bravery, 
 and once repulsed the enemy ; but the fort being out 
 of repair could not be defended by such a handful of 
 men, though brave and determined, against so superior 
 a number, and after having a number of their party 
 killed and wounded, they found that further resist- 
 ance would be in vain, and resigned the fort. Imme- 
 diately on the surrender the valiant Col. Ledyard, 
 whose fate in a particular manner is much lamented, 
 and seventy other oflScers and men were murdered, 
 most of whom were heads of families. The enemy 
 lost a Maj. Montgomery and forty officers and men 
 in the attack, who were found buried near the fort. 
 Their wounded were carried ofi". 
 
 "Soon after the enemy got possession of the fort 
 they set fire to and burnt a considerable number of 
 dwelling-houses and stores on Groton bank and em- 
 barked about sunset, taking with them sundry inhab- 
 itants of New London and Groton. A Col. Eyre, 
 who commanded the division at Groton, was wounded, 
 
 and it is said died on board the fleet the night they 
 embarked. About fifteen sail of vessels, with the 
 effects of the inhabitants, retreated up the river on 
 the appearance of the enemy and were saved, and 
 four others remained in the harbor unhurt. The 
 troops were commanded by that infamous traitor, 
 Benedict Arnold, who headed the division which 
 marched up to the town. By this calamity it is 
 judged that more than one hundred families are de- 
 prived of their habitations, and most of their all. 
 This neighborhood feel sensibly the loss of so many 
 deserving citizens, and though deceased, cannot but 
 be highly indebted to them for their spirit and brav- 
 ery in their exertions and manly opposition to the 
 merciless enemies of our country in their last mo- 
 ments. 
 
 "The following savage action, committed by the 
 troops who subdued Fort Gi'iswold, on Groton Hill, on 
 Thursday last, ought to be recorded to their eternal 
 infamy. Soon after the surrender of the fort they 
 loaded a wagon with our wounded men, by order of 
 their officers, and set the wagon off' from the top of 
 the hill, which is long and very steep. The wagon 
 went a considerable distance with great force, till it 
 was suddenly stopped by a tree ; the shock was so 
 great to these faint and bleeding men that some of 
 them died instantly. The officers ordered their men 
 to fire on the wagon while it was running." 
 
 The buildings burned at New London in this expe- 
 dition by the British troops were sixty-five dwelling- 
 houses, containing ninety-seven families, thirty-one 
 stores, eighteen shops, twenty barns, and nine public 
 and other buildings, among which were the court- 
 house, jail, and church, — in all, one hundred and 
 forty-three. 
 
 " In many instances where houses were situated a 
 great distance from the stores, and contained nothing 
 but household furniture, they were set on fire, not- 
 withstanding the earnest cries and entreaties of the 
 women and children in them, who were threatened 
 with being burned in them if they did not instantly 
 leave them. Indeed, two houses were bought off' for 
 £10 each of an oflScer who appeared to be a captain, 
 upon condition, however, that he should not be made 
 known ; and where the houses were not burned they 
 were chiefly plundered of all that could be carried 
 off'. At the harbor's mouth the houses of poor fisher- 
 men were stripped of all their furniture of every 
 kind, the poor people having nothing but the clothes 
 that they had on."' 
 
 The following extracts are from Arnold's official 
 account of his expedition to New London : 
 
 "Sound, off Plumb Island, 8th Sept., 1781. 
 "Sir, — I have the honor to inform your Excellency that the transports 
 with the detachment of troops under my orders anchored on the Long 
 Island shore on the 5th instant, at two o'clock p.m., about ten leagues 
 from New London, and having made some necessary arrangements, 
 weighed anchor at seven o'clock p.m. and stood for New London with a 
 
 1 The Conneolicut Gar.em of Sept. 7, 1781. 
 
192 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 fair wind. At one o'clock the next morning we arrived off the harbor, 
 when the wind suddenly shifted to the northward, and it was nine 
 o'clock before the transpoita could beat in. At ten o'clock the troops in 
 two divisions,' and in four debarkations, were landed, one on each aide 
 of the liarbor, about three miles from New Loudon, that on the Groton 
 Bide, consisting of the Fortieth and Fifty-fourth Regiments and the 
 Third Battery of New Jersey volunteers, with a detachment of yagers 
 and artillery, were under the command of Lieut.-Col. Eyre. The di- 
 vision on the New London side consisted of the Thirty-eighth Kegiment, 
 the Loyal Americans, the American Legion, refugees, and a detach- 
 ment of sixty yagers, who were immediately on their landing put in 
 motion, and at eleven o'clock, being within half a mile of Fort Trum- 
 bull, which commands New London Harbor, I detached Capt. Millett, 
 with four companies of the Thirty-eighth Regiment, to attack the fort, 
 who was joined on bis march by Capt. Frink with one company of the 
 American Legion. At the same time I advanced with the remainder of 
 the division west of Fort Trumbull, on the road to the town, to attack a 
 redoubt which had kept up a brisk fire upon us for some time, but 
 which the enemy evacuated on our approach. In this work we found 
 six pieces of cannon mounted and two dismounted. Soon after I bad 
 the pleasure to see Capt. Millett march into Fort Trumbull, under a 
 shower of grape-shot from a number of cannon which the enemy had 
 turned upon him; and I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency 
 that by the sudden attack and determined bravery of the troops the 
 fort was carried with the loss of only four or five men killed and 
 wounded, Capt. Millett had orders to leave one company in Fort 
 Trumbull, to detach one to the redoubt we had taken, and join me with 
 the other companies. No time was lost on my part in gaining the town 
 of New London. "We were opposed by a small body of the enemy, with 
 one field-piece, who were so bard pressed that they were obliged to leave 
 the piece, which, being iron, was spiked and left. 
 
 "As soon as the enemy were alarmed in the morning we could per- 
 ceive they were busily engaged in bending sails and endeavoring to get 
 their privateers and other ships up Norwich River out of our reach, but 
 the wind being small and the tide against them they were obliged to 
 anchor again. From information T received before and alter my land- 
 ing, I had reason to believe that Fort Griswold, on Groton side, was very 
 incomplete, and I was assured by fi'iends to government, after my land- 
 ing, that there were only twenty or thirty men in the fort, the inhabit- 
 ants in general being on board their ships and busy in saving their 
 property. 
 
 " On taking possession of Fort Ti-umbull, I found the enemy's ships 
 would escape unless we could possess ourselves of Fort Griswold. 
 I therefore dispatched an officer to Lieu t.-Col. Eyre with the intelligence 
 I had received, and requested him to make an attack upon the fort as 
 soon as possible, at which time I expected the howitzer was up and 
 would have been made use of. On my gaining a height of ground in 
 the rear of New London, from which I had a good prospect of Fort Gris- 
 wold, I found it much more formidable than I expected, or than I had 
 formed an idea of, from the information T had before received. I ob- 
 served at the same time that the men who had escaped from Fort Trum- 
 bull had crossed in boats and thrown themselves into Fort Griswold, 
 and a favorable wind springing up about this time, the enemy^s ships 
 were escaping up the river, notwithstanding the fire from Fort Trum- 
 bull and a six-pounder which I had with me. I immediately dispatched 
 a boat with an officer to Lieut.-Col. Eyre to countermand my first order 
 to attack the furt, but the officer arrived a few minutes too late. 
 Lient-Col. Eyre had sent Capt. Beckwith with a flag to demand a sur- 
 render of the fort, which was peremptorily refused, and the attack had 
 commenced. After a most obstinate defense of near forty minutes, the 
 fort was carried by the superior bravery and peiBeverance of the assail- 
 ants. On this occasion I have to regret the loss of Maj. Montgomery, 
 who was killed by a spear in entering the enemy's works ; also of En- 
 sign Whitlock, of the Fortieth Regiment, who was killed in the attack. 
 Three other officers of the same regiment were wounded. Lieut.-Col, 
 Eyre, and three other officers of the Fifty-fourth Regiment, were also 
 wounded, but I have the satisfaction to inform your Excellency that 
 they are all in a fair way to recover. 
 
 " Lieut.-Col. Eyre, who behaved with great gallantry, having received 
 his wound near the works, and Maj. Montgomery being killed immedi- 
 ately after, the command devolved on Maj. Bromfleld, whose behavior 
 on this occasion does him great honor. Lieut.-Col. Buskirk, with the 
 New Jersey volunteers and artillery, being the second debarkation, came 
 up soon after the work was carried, having been retarded by the rough- 
 ness of the country. I am much obliged to this gentleman for his ex- 
 ertions, although the artillery did not arrive in time. 
 "I have enclosed a return of the killed and wounded, by which your 
 
 Excellency will, observe that our loss, though very considerable, ia short 
 of the enemy's, who lost most of their officers, among whom was their 
 commander. Col. Ledyard. Eighty-five men were found dead in Fort 
 Griswold and sixty wounded, most of them mortally ; their loss on the 
 opposite side must have been considerable, but cannot be ascertained. I 
 believe we have about seventy prisoners, besides the wounded who were 
 left paroled. 
 
 " Ten or twelve ships were burned, among them three or four armed 
 vessels, and one loaded with naval stores ; an immense quantity of Euro- 
 pean and West India goods were found in the stores, among the former 
 the cargo of the 'Hannah,' Capt. Watson, from London, lately captured 
 by the enemy, the whole of which was burnt with the stores, which 
 proved to contain a large quantity of powder unknown to us. The ex- 
 plosion of the powder and change of wind, soon after the stores were 
 fired, communicated the flames to part of the town, which was, notwith- 
 standing every effort to prevent it, unfortunately destroyed." 
 
 The following is a list of the New London suf- 
 ferers : 
 
 Walter Welch 59 
 
 Ebenezer Way 15 
 
 John Ward 17 
 
 Lucretia Wolfe 4 
 
 Anthony Wolfe 4 
 
 Simeon Walcott 1083 
 
 Elizabeth Westcott 87 
 
 James Young 13 
 
 Temperance Moore 24 
 
 Samuel Belden 1771 
 
 Joanna Short 276 
 
 James Thomson 350 
 
 Michael Melally 94 
 
 John Way 590 
 
 Thomas Bowker 49 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 B 
 
 4 
 
 Ifi 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 IS 
 
 6 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 11 
 
 17 
 
 1 
 
 £ s.d. 
 
 Joshua Hempstead 62 
 
 Nathaniel Saltonstall... 146 
 
 John Thomson 59 
 
 Spere Douglass 8 
 
 Chapman Simmons 22 
 
 Elizabeth Beebe 16 
 
 John Hallam 
 
 Benjamin Harris 300 
 
 Mary Ward 28 
 
 Stephen Culver 3 
 
 Mehitable Leet 124 
 
 Joseph Deshou 100 
 
 Roger Gibson 884 
 
 Mary Gardiner 123 
 
 15 3 
 
 9 6 
 
 16 9 
 
 15? 
 
 18 
 
 6 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 1 6K 
 18 eS 
 
 16 
 
 Washington's Visit to New London.— Gen. 
 
 Washington visited the town twice during March, 
 1756, halting a night both in going and returning 
 from Boston. 
 
 "March 8th. Col. Washington is returned from Boston and gone to 
 Long Island in Powers' sloop ; he had also two boats to carry six horaes 
 and his retinue, all hound to Virginia. He hath been to advise with 
 Governer Shirley, or to be directed by him, as he is chief general of the 
 
 American forces." (Hempstead.) 
 
 CHAPTEE XIV. 
 
 NEW LONDON— (Continued). 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 
 
 First Church of Christ — The Second Congregational Church — St, James' 
 Church— Methodist Episcopal Church— Bethel Church— First Baptist 
 Church— Second Baptist Church — Huntington Street Baptist Church— 
 Universalist Church — St. Mary's Star of the Sea Eoman Catholic 
 Church. 
 
 First Church of Christ.— This church was organ- 
 ized in 1650, and the first church edifice was a large 
 barn which stood on what was then called Meeting- 
 house Hill. 
 
 The following are extracts from the records con- 
 cerning the first place of worship : 
 
 " Aug. 29, 1651. 
 
 " For Mr. Parke's barne the towne doe agree for the use of it until 
 midsummer next, to give him a day's work a peece for a meeting-bouse, 
 — to he redy by the Saboth come a moneth. 
 
 " Mem. Mr. Parke is willing to accept of 3L 
 
 "[Same date.] Goodman Elderkin doth undertake to build a meeting- 
 house about the same demention of Mr. Parke's his harne, and clapboard 
 it for the sum of eight pounds, provided the towne cary the tymberto 
 the place and find nales. And for his pay he requires a cow and 50s. in 
 peage." 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 193 
 
 " 30 June, '52. Wee the townsmen of Pequot haue agreed with Good- 
 man Rogers for the meeting-honse for two years from the date hereof, for 
 the B\imme of SI. per annum. If we build a leantoo he is to allow for it 
 In the rent, and if it come to more he is to allow it, and for flooring and 
 what charges the town is at he is willing to allow when the time is ex- 
 pired." 
 
 In the mean time a rate of £14 was levied to build 
 a new meeting-house, and the site fixed by a town 
 vote, Dec. 16, 1652, which Mr. Bruen thus records : 
 
 " The place for the new meeting-house was concluded on by the meet- 
 ing to be in the highwaio, taking a corner of my lot to supply the high- 
 waie." 
 
 It was undoubtedly a building of the simplest and 
 plainest style of construction, yet full three years 
 were consumed in its erection. Capt. Denison and 
 Lieut. Smith were the building committee, and col- 
 lected the rate for it. 
 
 At this period the time for service was made known 
 by beat of drum. 
 
 " March 22, 1661-2. 
 
 " The towne have agreed with Peter Blatchford to beat tlio drum all 
 saboth dayes, training dayes, and town publique meetings for the sume 
 of 3/6., to be paid him in a towne rate." 
 
 " As a, finale to the history of the barn so long used 
 for a church, we may here notice a fact gleaned from 
 the County Court records of some fifteen or eighteen 
 years' later date. William Eogers, the owner of the 
 building, had returned to Boston, and on his death 
 the heirs of his estate claimed that the rent had not 
 been- fully paid ; and Hugh Oaulkins, who had been 
 the town's surety, then a proprietor in Norwich, finds 
 himself suddenly served with a writ from Mr. Leake, 
 a Boston attorney, for £3 10s., the amount of the 
 debt. He accordingly satisfied the demand, and then 
 applied to the town for redress. The obligation was 
 acknowledged, and a vote passed to indemnify the 
 surety." 
 
 " Feb. 27, '72-3. 
 
 " Upon demand made by Hugh Calkin for money due to Mr. Leake, of 
 SostoD, for improvement of a bam of Goodman Rogers, which said Calkin 
 stood engaged for to pay, this town doth promise to pay one barrel of 
 pork to said Calkin some time the next winter." 
 
 On the north of the meeting-house was the lot re- 
 served for purposes of sepulture. The ordinance 
 which describes its bounds and legally sets it apart 
 for this use is dated June 6th, 1653, and declares 
 " it shall ever bee for a Common Buriall place, and 
 never be impropriated by any." This is the oldest 
 graveyard in New London County. 
 
 " March 26, 1656. 
 
 " Goodman Cumatock is chosen to be grave-maker for the town, and 
 he shall have 4s. for men and women's graves, and for all children's 
 graves 3« for every grave he makes." 
 
 " Feb. 25, 1661-2. Old Goodman Cumstock is chosen sexton, wliose 
 worke is to order youth in the meeting-house, sweep the meeting-house, 
 and beat out dogs, for which he is to have 408. a year; he is also to make 
 all graves ; for a man or woman be is to have 48., for children, 28. a grave, 
 to be paid by sv/rvivors" 
 
 The earliest notice of the first pastor, Mr. Blinman, 
 in this country is from the records of Plymouth colony, 
 March 2, 1640. 
 
 Governor Winthrop mentions Mr. Blinman's arrival 
 and settlement without giving the date. 
 
 "One Mr. Blinman, a minister in Wales, a godly and able man, came 
 over with some friends of bis, and being invited to Green's Harbour 
 [since Marshfield], near Plymouth, they went thither, but ere the year 
 was expired there fell out some difference among them, which by no 
 means could be reconciled, so as they agreed to part, and he came with 
 his company and sat down at Cape Anne, which at this court [May, 1642] 
 waa established to be a plantation and called Gloucester." 
 
 It is not known that Mr. Blinman was ever in- 
 ducted into ofiice, or that any church organization 
 took place under his ministry, yet he is uniformly 
 styled " pastor of the church," which is strong evi- 
 dence that a church association of some kind had 
 been formed in the town. The period when he re- 
 linquished his charge can be very nearly ascertained, 
 for in January, 1657-58, he uses the customary for- 
 mula, " I, Richard Blinman, of Pequot," and in March 
 of the same year, " I, K. B., at present of New 
 Haven." 
 
 The second pastor was Rev. Gershom Bulkley, in 
 1661. Mr. Bulkley was a son of the Rev. Peter Bulk- 
 ley, the first minister of Concord, Mass. His mother, 
 the second wife of his father, was Grace, daughter of 
 Sir Richard Chitwood. It has been often related con- 
 cerning this lady that she apparently died on her 
 passage to this country. Her husband supposing 
 land to be near, and unwilling to consign the beloved 
 form to a watery grave, urgently entreated the captain 
 that the body might be kept one day more, and yet 
 another and another day, to which, as no signs of 
 decay had appeared, he consented. On the third day 
 signs of vitality were observed, and before they 
 reached the land animation, so long suspended, was 
 restored, and though carried from the vessel an in- 
 valid, she recovered and lived to old age. Her son, 
 Gershom, was born soon after their arrival, Dec. 26, 
 1635. He graduated at Harvard College in 1655, and 
 married, Oct. 26, 1659, Sarah Chauncey, daughter of 
 the president of that institution. His father died in 
 1659. His widowed mother, Mrs. Grace Bulkley, fol- 
 lowed her son to New London, where she purchased 
 the homestead of William Hough, " hard below the 
 meeting-house that now is," and dwelt in the town, a 
 householder, so long as her son remained its minister. 
 
 Mr. Bulkley, after having freed the town from their 
 engagement to build a parsonage, purchased the 
 homestead of Samuel Lothrop, who was about re- 
 moving to the new settlement of Norwich. The house 
 is said to have stood beyond the bridge over the 
 mill brook, on the east side of the highway towards 
 Mohegan. Here Mr. Bulkley dwelt during his resi- 
 dence in New London. 
 
 The second meeting-house was built near the old 
 one, on the southwest corner of what was called the 
 meeting-house green (now Town Square). 
 
 The contract for building the meeting-house was 
 made with John Elderkin and Samuel Lothrop. It 
 was to be forty feet square, the studs twenty feet high, 
 with a turret answerable, two galleries, fourteen win- 
 
194 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 dows, three doors, and to set up on all the four gables 
 of the house pyramids comely and fit for the work, and 
 as many lights in each window as direction should be 
 given ; a year and a half allowed for its completion; 
 £240 to be paid in provisions, viz., in wheat, peas, 
 pork, and beef, in quantity proportional ; the town to 
 find nails, glass, iron-work, and ropes for rearing ; also 
 to boat and cart the timber to the place, and provide 
 sufficient help to rear the work. 
 
 The old Blinman edifice, — the unadorned church 
 and watch-tower of the wilderness, — decayed and dis- 
 mantled, was sold to Capt. Avery in June, 1684, for 
 six pounds, with the condition annexed that he should 
 remove it in one month's time. According to tra- 
 dition, he took it down, and transporting the mate- 
 rials across the river, used them in building his own 
 house at Pequonuck. This house is still extant, a 
 view of which may be seen in the history of Groton. 
 
 The appointment of deacons is not registered. 
 William Douglas may have been the first person that 
 held the office after Mr. Bradstreet's ordination. He 
 was at least active in the church economy, and held 
 the box at the door for contributions. He died in 
 1682. In 1683, William Hough and Joseph Coite 
 were deacons ; the former died August 10th of that 
 year, before Mr. Bradstreet's decease, and no other 
 deacon except Coite is mentioned during the next ten 
 years. Mr. Bradstreet died in 1683. 
 
 " At a Towne meeting November ye 19, 1683. 
 
 " Voted, that Maj. John Winthrop, Maj. Edward Palmes, Capt. James 
 Avray, Mr, Daniel Wetherell, Mr. Christo. Christophei-s, Tho. Beebe, 
 Joseph Coite, John Prentis Sen^., Clement Miner, Charles Hill, are ap- 
 pointed a committee in behalf of the towne to send a letter by Capt. 
 "Wayne Winthrop to the reverend Mr. Mather and Mr. WooUard (Wil- 
 lard) ministers at boston for there advice and counsell in attiiyueing a 
 minister for the town to supply the place of Mr. Bradstreet, deceased, 
 and that the sd Capt. Winthrop shall have instructions from the sd 
 Comittee to manadge that affaire v!*-^ them." 
 
 This Bradstreet church building was destroyed by 
 fire in 1694, and replaced by what was known as the 
 Saltonstall meeting-house in 1698. This was occu- 
 pied until 1786, when a building was erected on the 
 site of the present church, which was occupied in 
 17S7. The present massive and elegant stone edifice 
 was erected in 1850 at a cost of about $50,000. ! 
 
 The following is a list of pastors from Mr. Brad- 
 street to the present time : Gurdon Saltonstall,' from 
 November, 1691, to August, 1707; Eliphalet Adams, 
 July, 1708 ; Mather Byles, November, 1757, to April, 
 1768; Ephraim Woodbridge, October, 1769; Henry 
 Channing, May, 1787, to May, 1806 ; Abel McEwen, 
 D.D., October, 1806; Thomas P. Field, June, 1856; 
 Edward W. Bacon, 1877, present incumbent. 
 
 The Second Congregational Church of New 
 London is a daughter of the First Church of Christ, 
 in the same city. With the hearty good wishes of the 
 pastor, Eev. Abel McEwen, D.D., the colony went 
 out to be constituted into a church Tuesday, April 
 28, 1885. The confession of faith and covenant in 
 
 1 Subsequently Governor of Connecticut. 
 
 use by the parent church had been previously adopted 
 April 21st, by nineteen persons. During the repairs 
 of the First church the mother worshiped for six 
 months in her daughter's new house. This stood on 
 the corner of Jay and Huntington Streets, and was 
 completed Aug. 8, 1834. Thursday, April 23, 1835, 
 this house was formally dedicated to God. The Eev. 
 E. W. Baldwin, D.D., afterwards president of Wabash 
 College, preached the sermon from the text, "For I 
 am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ ; for it is the 
 power of God unto salvation to every one that be- 
 lieveth." The dedicatory prayer was ofiered by the 
 Eev. Abel McEwen, D.D. The concluding prayer 
 was pronounced by the venerable Dr. Samuel Nott, 
 of Franklin. On the evening of this impressive day 
 — which but one of the original members is alive 
 among us to recall — Henry C. Smith and Charles 
 Butler were elected deacons, and ordained thereto with 
 prayer by Rev. Edward Bull. The following Sunday, 
 April 26th, the first service of the new congregation 
 was held in the new temple. The Rev. Joseph Hurl- 
 but preached in the morning from the text, " Who is 
 sufiicient for these things." In the afternoon the 
 Rev. Daniel Huntington followed with a sermon based 
 on the Scripture, "Take heed how ye hear." The 
 same day a Sunday-school, with fifteen teachers and 
 forty-two scholars, was organized under the superin- 
 tendency of Thomas S. Perkins. The first celebration 
 of the Lord's Supper took place on the first Sunday 
 in June, 1835, and was made precious by the oonfea- 
 sion of Christ of the late Henry P. Haven and of the 
 wife of the senior deacon. Dr. Isaac G. Porter. 
 
 Thus inaugurated, and in co-operation with an ec- 
 clesiastical society constituted April 14th, at the 
 house of one of the original members, Hon. T. W. 
 Williams, the Second Congregational Church began 
 her life with the benediction of God. 
 
 The Eev. Joseph Hurlbut preached and adminis- 
 tered the ordinances till a stated pastor could be ob- 
 tained. This was about two years, till March 6, 1837. 
 His labors were gratuitous. They were marked by 
 the ingathering of one hundred and thirteen members. 
 Mr. Hurlbut had also borne one-quarter of the ex- 
 pense of building the first house of worship. He 
 prayed at the last sacrament in the new house before 
 his death, which occurred suddenly, June 5, 1875. 
 
 The Rev. Daniel Huntington, though never an act- 
 ing pastor, like Mr. Hurlbut, was for a number of 
 months acting preacher in the third Sunday service. 
 He led the service of song. He baptized five out of 
 forty-eight children of the church. His long minis- 
 tries at Bridgewater, Mass., before and after this date 
 are written on earth. 
 
 The Rev. James M. Macdonald, D.D., became now 
 the first installed pastor of the Second Congregational 
 Church, Dec. 13, 1837. He came from the Third 
 Church of this order in Berlin. The public exercises 
 at his installation included a sermon by Rev. H. Bush- 
 nell, D.D., of Hartford; installing prayer by Bev. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 195 
 
 Mr. Tuttle, of Groton. He drew in forty-three mem- 
 bers to the fold. He was conservative on slavery and 
 temperance, and his health suffered from the collision 
 with more radical views. At his own request he was 
 dismissed by a Council, Jan. 7, 1840. Dr. Macdonald 
 died in the harness as pastor of the First Presbyterian 
 Church, Princeton, April 19, 1876. 
 
 The Kev. Artemas Boies was the second pastor in- 
 stalled, March 10, 1841. The installing prayer was 
 pronounced by Eev. Timothy Tuttle, Ledyard, the 
 moderator. Mr. Boies had been in delicate health 
 from childhood, yet there was nothing of sombreness 
 in his pastoral zeal. His alertness of wit and affec- 
 tionateness of manner made him a favorite among 
 the young. During three and one-half years he added 
 to the church one hundred and four members. In 
 his last sickness he thought and prayed much for his 
 flock. 
 
 The Rev. Tryon Edwards, D.D., was the third pas- 
 tor settled by this church. This was March 6, 1845. 
 At the public services of installation the Eev. Joel 
 Hawes, D.D., of Hartford, preached the sermon, and 
 Dr. Thomas Bond, of Norwich, gave the right hand 
 of fellowship. Dr. Edwards was dismissed, at his own 
 request, Aug. 4, 1857. His was the longest pastorate 
 in the church's brief history. 
 
 Dr. Edwards baptized thirty-seven children and 
 received two hundred and one members. He ex- 
 erted and still exerts an influence in the line of his 
 learned and pious ancestry with the pen of author- 
 ship no less than the voice of preaching. 
 
 Rev. G. Buckingham Wilcox succeeded to the pas- 
 torate April 20, 1859. Eev. Edwards A. Parks, D.D., 
 preached the sermon before the Council ; Dr. Mc- 
 Ewen was moderator. The charge to the pastor was 
 by Eev. William H. Wilcox, of Eeading, Mass. The 
 right hand of fellowship was by Eev. T. P. Field, 
 D.D., of the First Church. The charge to the peo- 
 ple was given by Eev. Dr. J. P. Gulliver, of Nor- 
 wich. 
 
 Mr. Wilcox baptized twenty-nine children and 
 gathered two hundred and seven members in his in- 
 defatigable pastorate of ten years and seven months. 
 
 He established the Bradley Street Mission, Sept. 2, 
 1859. He laid the corner-stone of the new church, 
 Oct. 28, 1868. Nov. 23, 1869, at his own request, he 
 was dismissed to accept a call to the First Congrega- 
 tional Church in Jersey City. 
 
 The Eev. Oliver Ellsworth Daggett, D.D., became 
 the fifth pastor of this church, being installed by 
 Council Feb. 21, 1871. The sermon was preached by 
 Rev. S. G. Buckingham, D.D., of Springfield, Mass. 
 The installation prayer was by Eev. Thomas L. Ship- 
 man, of Jewett City. A responsive reading from 
 Psalm xlviii. and Isaiah lii. was given by Eev. 
 Thomas M. Boss, of Putnam, and the Sunday-school 
 and congregation. 
 
 In his edifying and acceptable pastorate of nearly 
 seven years Dr. Daggett baptized twenty-six children 
 
 and received one hundred and fifty-five members. On 
 May 25, 1875, he preached a sermon, reviewing the 
 first forty years of the church, from the text, " Then 
 Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and 
 Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, 
 ' Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.' " To this ad- 
 mirable discourse the compiler of the present notice 
 is largely indebted. Dr. Daggett was dismissed, at his 
 own request, Sept. 5, 1877, by a saddened and reluctant 
 Council of the neighboring ministry and laity. 
 
 The Eev. John Phelps Taylor became the sixth and 
 present pastor of this church by installation of a 
 Council met May 29, 1878. The sermon was preached 
 from 2 Timothy ii. 24, by Eev. A. J. F. Behrends, 
 D.D., of Providence, E. I., and the installing prayer 
 offered by Eev. William S. Palmer, of Norwich. Eev. 
 A. W. Hazen, of Middletown, gave the charge to the 
 pastor, and Eev. Edward Woolsey Bacon, of the First 
 Church of Christ, the right hand of fellowship. 
 
 Deacons. — The two original deacons of the church 
 already mentioned are fallen asleep. Of these, Henry 
 C. Smith died Oct. 31, 1865; Charles Butler died 
 March 13, 1878 ; Robert Coit, elected Dec. 29, 1841, 
 died Oct. 18, 1874; Henry P. Haven, elected June 7, 
 1857, died April 30, 1876. Still surviving and in 
 active usefulness are Dr. Isaac G. Porter, elected 
 June 7, 1857 ; William H. Chapman, elected May 28, 
 1875 ; Edmund B. Jennings, elected May 28, 1875 ; 
 William M. Tobey, elected April 26, 1878. 
 
 Ecclesiastical Society. — The Second Ecclesiastical 
 Society was organized April 14, 1835. From the first 
 it has co-operated efficiently and harmoniously with 
 the church it was designed to aid. The current ex- 
 penses of the society are met by the rental of the slips. 
 In the building of two houses of worship within less 
 than forty years the society's committee have been 
 sorely taxed in resources of purse and of spirit, but 
 they have risen to the occasion with an enterprise and 
 liberality worthy of all praise. 
 
 Houses of Worship. — The first was a white wooden 
 structure with a square belfry and four-pillared por- 
 tico, with a fine stone basement, built at a cost of 
 twelve thousand dollars. It stood on the south corner 
 of Huntington and Jay Streets. Friday morning, 
 March 13, 1868, it was burned to the ground. Ten 
 thousand dollars had just been expended in repairs. 
 Eev. Mr. Wilcox preached to the homeless fiock the 
 next Sunday, March 15th, in the First church, from the 
 text, " Our holy and our beautiful house where our 
 fathers praised thee is burned up with fire." Scraps 
 of the scorched Bible and fragments of the old bell 
 were guarded by the older members. The Sunday- 
 school recited Isaiah Ixiv. 11 and 2 Cor. v. 1 during 
 the sessions of a year. In this hour of trial the hos- 
 pitality of the Universalist society gave us a shelter 
 which can never be forgotten. 
 
 The second and present edifice was begun by the 
 laying of the corner-stone, Oct. 28, 1868. Eev. Mr. 
 Hurlbut, Elder Swan, Dr. Field, Dr. Smith, of the 
 
19fi 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 building committee, and Rev. Mr. Wilcox took part 
 in the public exercises. The church was finished and 
 dedicated June 1, 1870. Rev. Dr. Arms read the 
 Scriptures, and Rev. Noah Porter, D.D., president of 
 Yale College, preached the sermon from 2 Chron. vi. 
 
 The concluding prayer was made by Rev. Joshua 
 Coit, a son of the church. 
 
 The chapel was dedicated July 22, 1870, with ap- 
 propriate responsive readings and recitations, prayers 
 and praises. The main address was by Deacon Haven, 
 the superintendent. 
 
 The house thus built is of granite, with a stone 
 spire surmounted by a cross, with stained windows 
 and horse-shoe galleries. The architects were Nichols 
 & Brown, of Albany, N. Y. The building committee 
 were Seth Smith, M.D., cliairman, Robert Coit, Jr., 
 Jonathan N. Harris, O. Woodworth, Richard H. 
 Chapell, Frederick H. Harris, A. G. Douglas. George 
 Prest was the master-mason, and the late Timothy S. 
 Daboll the master-joiner. The entire cost was one 
 hundred and forty thousand dollars, 
 
 The first sermon preached in this beautiful edifice 
 on the Lord's day was by Rev. Joshua Coit, from the 
 words, " I was glad when they said unto rae. Let us 
 go into the house of the Lord." 
 
 St. James' Church. — Among the first settlers of 
 New London no trace is to be found of any attach- 
 ment to the Church of England. A second company 
 of settlers came in 1650 from Gloucester, Mass., 
 bringing with them their minister, the Rev. Richard 
 Blinman, a clergyman in the orders of the Church of 
 England, who had been ejected for non-conformity 
 from his cure at Chepstow, in the county of Mon- 
 mouth. He is reckoned the first minister of New 
 London, and seems to have comprehended in his 
 charge all the inhabitants of the place. But neither 
 he nor his people manifested any attachment to the 
 church from which a misguided conscience had led 
 them to withdraw. For the accommodation of this 
 new party of settlers a new piece of land was taken 
 up southwest of the town lot, which was called Cape 
 Ann Lane, from Cape Ann, Mass., one of the two 
 points within which Massachusetts Bay is included, 
 a name which it still retains, though it remains even 
 yet thinly settled, and has ever been an inferior and 
 unimportant portion of the town. But neither in 
 Winthrop's company nor among the followers of Mr. 
 Blinman is to be found any indication of attachment 
 to the ancient Catholic Church of the English race. 
 To find any such ti'ace we must pass over a period of 
 a little more than a half-century. There are no ex- 
 tant indications of the presence in New London of 
 any avowed members of the Church of England until 
 1723, when a child of William and Mary Norton was 
 baptized there by Mr. Pigot, the missionary of the 
 Propagation Society in Stratford and the parts adja- 
 cent, by the name of John. This took place on the 
 17th of April in that year. In the year following, 
 Oct. 25, 1724, the Rev. Samuel Johnson baptized 
 
 Sarah, infant daughter of the same parents ; and in 
 recording this baptism in his parish register Mr. 
 Johnson makes this note : " N.B. — Mr. Talbot bap- 
 tized Lauzerne, son of Richard and Elizabeth Wilson 
 at New London, Oct. 15, 1724." Thus it appears that 
 John Norton was the first person Episcopally baptized 
 in New London, and these are the earliest signs of 
 the church's presence here. The name of William 
 Norton appears among those who subscribed to the 
 erection of a church in 1725, and is appended, with 
 those of others, to a letter addressed to Dr. McSparran 
 on the subject in 1726. But who he was or how he 
 came to be a churchman does not appear. And of 
 Richard Wilson nothing is known but the record of 
 the baptism of his son by the extraordinary and 
 certainly very un-Puritan name of Lauzerne. All 
 honor to their memories. It appears thus that the 
 attention of the missionaries of the " Society for the 
 Propagation of the Gospel" had thus early been 
 directed to New London as a suitable field for their 
 pious labors, and that they sometimes visited it and 
 gave it a portion of their services. 
 
 Churchmen came here churchmen, and naturally 
 sought to provide themselves with the institutions 
 and services which churchmen love. Of those whose 
 names appear in connection with the first steps to- 
 wards the formation of a congregation and the erec- 
 tion of a church here, several are known to have 
 been Englishmen, and perhaps it is safe to infer that 
 others whose origin is unknown were such also. At 
 any rate, none of them can be traced by their name to 
 the company of Winthrop or of Blinman. I think 
 we are warranted in believing that the church in New 
 London grew up out of the wants of a class of its in- 
 habitants who had been drawn thither by commerce 
 or business, and who, having brought their Episcopal 
 predilections and preferences with them, were glad to 
 bring them into action as soon as an opportunity was 
 presented. Neither Narragansett on the east nor 
 Stratford on the west planted the seed. Both gladly 
 lent their aid to cheer and strengthen the growing 
 blade when it began to shoot forth. The first found- 
 ers of the parish, then, were English, not of the Puri- 
 tan stock. 
 
 It is evident, moreover, that the young shoot start- 
 ing into life and growth at New London did not 
 wholly depend for its nurture on the care of Dr. Mc- 
 Sparran. Dr. Johnson, at Stratford, still continued 
 to care for it, and extend to it a measure of his active 
 service. In a letter to the secretary of the Society for 
 the Propagation of the Gospel, of the date of June 11, 
 1724, he says, " I have since preached in New Lon- 
 don, where I had sixty hearers, and where there is a 
 good prospect of increase if they had a minister." 
 And in a postscript to a letter written Aug. 14, 1725, 
 he writes, " New London people are likewise going 
 to build with all expedition. I have got considerable 
 subscriptions, and a piece of ground to set it on." 
 Hence It is evident that he continued to interest 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 197 
 
 himself in the rising parish, and exert himself in its 
 behalf. So that while there is no disposition to dero- 
 gate from the value of Dr. McSparran's services, it 
 may well be doubted whether he does not rather 
 overstate matters in calling himself, in so unqualified 
 a way, its founder. Nearer and more accessible than 
 any other minister of the English Church, they nat- 
 urally resorted to him for advice and help. This he 
 willingly afforded them, and the more readily be- 
 cause by a matrimonial alliance he was connected 
 with some of their ablest friends and supporters. 
 
 Not till after the completion of the church and the 
 establishment of a missionary do the records of the 
 parish assume a continuous shape and afford mate- 
 rials for an unbroken narrative. 
 
 The Rev. James McSparran, D.D., was in these 
 early times the missionary of the Society for the 
 Propagation of the Gospel in Narragansett Bay and 
 all the southern and western part of Rhode Island, 
 and in the early part of the eighteenth century his 
 services began to be extended to the incipient parish 
 at New London. 
 
 But to neither of these sources, the Narrangansett 
 nor the Stratford mission, can the origin of the church 
 in New London be properly traced, though both aided 
 in fostering and strengthening it to the extent of their 
 power. The church was rather the offspring of the 
 early commercial importance and promise of the set- 
 tlement. Of those whose names remain as the active 
 founders of the congregation, most are known to have 
 been Englishmen who were members of the Estab- 
 lished Church before their coming, and were never 
 Puritans or Puritanically inclined. Early in the cen- 
 tury vessels began to be built and fitted out at New 
 London, and an active trade was carried on with 
 Newfoundland and the West Indies. There was a 
 port of entry here and a collector of the customs. 
 The gentlemen by whom this maritime and commer- 
 cial business was carried on were churchmen for the 
 most part, by whom the ministers of their mother- 
 church were gladly welcomed and assisted ; and as 
 their numbers grew and their means increased the 
 idea of erecting a church and making provision for 
 the regular maintenance of Episcopal ministrations 
 sprang up and strengthened till it reached consum- 
 mation. Miss Caulkins, in her history, after de- 
 scribing the early mercantile adventures and achieve- 
 ments of the place, and the English influence by which 
 they were promoted, adds, "The residence of these 
 English families in the town was not without its in- 
 fluence on the manners of the inhabitants and their 
 style of living. These foreign residents gradually 
 gathered around them a circle of society more gay" 
 (she means less Puritanically precise and austere), 
 " more in the English style, than had before been 
 known in the place, and led to the formation and es- 
 tablishment of an Episcopal Church." This is the true 
 8tory*of our beginning. The nucleus of the church 
 was English, made up not of Puritans converted to 
 
 Episcopacy, but of Englishmen, to whom the Church 
 of England was their natural mother, whom they had 
 loved and honored from their childhood, and gladly 
 welcomed when she presented herself among them. 
 Of this church of the fatherland, missionaries from 
 the East and West alike contributed to establish, en- 
 courage, and strengthen ; but they cannot be said to 
 have introduced it in New London. 
 
 The first decided movement toward the very desira- 
 ble object of giving the incipient congregation a local 
 habitation and a name wa^ made in the summer of 
 1725. The earliest paper extant is one which bears 
 date June 6, 1725, and runs as follows : 
 
 " Colony of Connecticut, New London, June 6, 1725. 
 "Wee, The Subseribers, doe oblidge oureelveB To pay the Rev. Mr. 
 James Mo Sparran, or to hie Substitute, he being Treasurer, The Partic- 
 ular Sums affixed to our names, for the Building and Erecting a Church 
 for the Service of Almighty God according to the Liturgie of the Church 
 of England as by Law Established. And doe further oblidge ourselves 
 to pay the sd Svims as the Treasurer shall have occasion for the same: 
 John Merritt, £50; Peter Buor, £80; John Braddick, £25; John Gid- 
 ley, £10 ; James Stirling, £26 ; Walter Butler, £10 ; John Bennett, £3 ; 
 James Tilley, £10; George Smith, £3: Nathaniel Hay, £20; James 
 Packer, £5 ; Giles Goddard, £5." 
 
 This engagement was not acted on directly. The 
 reason of the failure or postponement, whichever it 
 may have been, is now undiscoverable. But that the 
 purpose was not abandoned, but apparently only de- 
 ferred to be put into a more practical and effective 
 form, appears from a second paper drawn up a few 
 months later, which, as it was followed by the accom- 
 plishment of the object it contemplated, has been 
 considered the true beginning of the parish. Accord- 
 ingly, Sept. 27, 1725, is considered the parish birth- 
 day, the day it began to have that visible being in 
 the world which has now continued without breach 
 or interruption through all the vicissitudes and trials 
 of a century and a half. This second document is as 
 follows : 
 
 " New London, September the 27th, 1725. 
 
 " Whereas Sundry Pious and Well Disposed Gentlemen in and around 
 New London, in the Colony of Connecticut, being Earnestly Desirous of 
 Erecting a Church for their more convenient and Decent Worshipping 
 of God, according to the Usage and Liturgie of the Church of England as 
 by Law Established, Did Subscribe to the payment of Sundry Sums 
 Towards Erecting and Furnishing a Church in said Town of New Lon- 
 don, as by a paper Bearing date June Sixth, 1725, may Appear, Refer- 
 ence thereto being had ; 
 
 "In order, Therefore, to begin and Carry on ye Building of said 
 Churcli, The Following Gentlemen, viz., John Shackmaple, Peter Buor, 
 Esq., Maj. John Merritt, Capt. James Sterling, Mr. Thon]s Mumford, and 
 Mr. William Norton, have formed, and doe by these Presents Incorpo- 
 rate and form Themselves into a Standing Committee to Agree for. Buy, 
 Sett up and finish said Building, as well as to Purchase a convenient 
 Place to Erect said Fabric upon, and Themselves Do Oblige Every Sev- 
 eral Sum and Sums Contributed by well Disposed Christians for that 
 good Work faithfully to lay out and Expend According to the Consent, 
 Voice, and Directions of the Major part of Said Committee at their Sev- 
 eral Meetings; In Witness whereof, the Gentlemen to these presentshave 
 Voluntarily and Unanimously Affixed their names ye Day and Year 
 
 above written. 
 
 "John Shackmaple, 
 
 " Peter Buor, 
 
 " John Merritt, 
 
 " Walter Butler, 
 
 " James Sterling, 
 
 " Thob. Mumford, 
 
 "William Norton.'' 
 
198 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Along with this document is another of the same 
 date, as follows : 
 
 " New London, September 27th, 1725. 
 " The Major part of said Committee being present at the House of John 
 Shackmaple, Esq., Proceeded to choose a Treasurer to receive and Pay 
 out such sum or sums as are to be drawn out of the Treasurer's hands 
 by an Order or Orders under the hands of a major part of so many of the 
 Gentlemen as shall be present at such meeting whence such order or 
 Orders shall Issue ; and furtber, it is agreed that such Treasurer as shall 
 be chosen by said Committee shall have full Power and Authority to 
 constitute one or more to Act for or under him in said affairs, that said 
 Committee may, upon any failure of said Treasurer, proceed to a new 
 choice of a New Treasurer, as well as upon ye Demise, Removal, or Re- 
 fusal of any member to act, procSed to a new choice of a now member 
 in the room and place of any Dead, Removed, or Refusing member. 
 
 " At the aforesaid Committee meeting, the members then present 
 chose the Rev. Mr. McSparran, of Narragansett, Treasurer, to Receive 
 the Subscriptions for Building said Church. 
 
 " John Shackmaple, 
 " John Merritt, 
 "Walter Butler, 
 " Thos. Mumford, 
 "Willm. Norton, 
 " James Sterling." 
 
 The committee began negotiations with Trinity 
 Church, Newport, for their church edifice, which it 
 was proposed to remove to New London and rebuild. 
 This project, however, failed, and the committee then 
 determined to proceed without further delay to the 
 erection of a church. For this purpose a lot of land 
 was purchased, and a contract entered into with Mr. 
 John Hough to place a suitable building upon it. 
 This lot was situated on the north side of the lower 
 part of State Street, that broad space which is still 
 called the Parade, so called, it is supposed, because it 
 had formed the parade-ground of a fortification which 
 lay to the east of it, on the bank of the river. It 
 contained about twenty square rods, and was of a 
 wedge-like form, the east side coinciding with the 
 west line of Bradley Street, tapering to a point in the 
 west, and leaving a passage of considerable width be- 
 tween the church and the north side of State Street. 
 It stood out apparently uninclosed and surrounded 
 on all sides by the public street. The area of the 
 church itself was used for the purposes of burial, the 
 graves being made beneath the floor, after the custom 
 prevailing in England. 
 
 The edifice which John Hough contracted to build 
 was to be in its interior length fifty feet, by thirty- 
 two in width, to have two double doors at the west 
 side, and there was also a door on the south side, 
 " the roof half flat, and the other arched on each 
 side," — a description not very clear. It was to have 
 five windows, one in the rear and two each side. As 
 it was constructed, according to the custom of the 
 time, of stout oak timber from the model farm of 
 Maj. Buor, and well-seasoned stuff', it might have re- 
 mained for centuries had not the ruthless hand of 
 war swept it prematurely away. It stood facing west, 
 and though a very simple structure, it was a respect- 
 able and not uncomely edifice according to the ideas 
 of the day. 
 
 It had a bell, and, of course, a belfry to contain it. 
 Tradition ascribes to it a steeple, but whether this was 
 
 an original appendage or was subsequently added 
 does not appear, there being no mention of it in Mr. 
 Hough's contract. All we know of the bell is that 
 in 1740 a subscription vi'as solicited "to procure a new 
 and larger bell ; by accident the bell belonging to the 
 church having become useless, and being too small for 
 our purpose." Such, so far as we can ascertain, was 
 the first Episcopal church erected in New London. The 
 beautiful photographic art was not then at hand to 
 preserve and hand down to us its " counterfeit present- 
 ment," and without this our notions of it are but vague 
 and indistinct. But doubtless the little fiock that first 
 "went into its gates with thanksgiving, and into its 
 courts with praise," were as proud and exultant as 
 those who, more than a hundred years after, hailed the 
 completion of its present noble and costly successor, 
 That happy consummation was not reached, however, 
 till 1732, the intervening period, long for so simple a 
 work, being filled up doubtless by unknown and un- 
 recorded struggles and anxieties. The first mission- 
 ary writes to "the Society" at home in 1742 that on 
 June 20, 1726, a carpenter was agreed with for a wood 
 frame ; that on the 9th of August following the timber 
 was brought to the ground ; on the 1st of October the 
 frame was raised and completed, and on the 28th of 
 November, 1727, the house was inclosed, glazed, the 
 under floor laid, a neat desk and pulpit finished. In 
 this condition he found the building when he arrived 
 at New London, Dec. 9, 1730, " in the service of the 
 honorable Society." Miss Caulkins speaks of the 
 building as completed and opened for worship in the 
 autumn of 1732. Mr. Seabury came in 1730. Till 
 that time, and in the years preceding his arrival, ser- 
 vices were held, it would seem, more or less frequently 
 by Dr. McSparran, and probably also by Dr. Johnson, 
 in the house of Mrs. Shackmaple. 
 
 Miss Caulkins preserves a tradition of this old 
 church which may not be without interest, and should 
 properly have a place in this history: 
 
 "The steeple or belfry terminated in a staff' which 
 was crowned with a gilt ball. In this ball an Indian 
 arrow was infixed, which hung diagonally from the 
 side, and remained till the destruction of the build- 
 ing. A delegation of Indians passing through the 
 town stopped to look at the church, to them, no 
 doubt, a splendid specimen of architecture. The 
 leader of the party drew an arrow from his quiver, 
 and taking aim at the ball, drove it into the wood, so 
 that it remained firmly fixed, and was left permanently 
 adhering there." 
 
 In 1775 the regular parish -meeting was holden on 
 Easter Monday, and Thomas Allen and John Deshon 
 chosen church-wardens. There was no choice of offi- 
 cers again till 1779. During the most, if not all, of 
 the intervening time the services seem to have been 
 intermitted. 
 
 The history of this period is obscure and imperfect. 
 Mr. Graves remained in New London, and continued 
 to occupy the parsonage, and doubtless to discharge 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 199 
 
 such ofScial functions as were needed, but held no 
 public services. The public odium, the increasing 
 bitterness of political sentiment, and the division of 
 opinion in his own congregation, joined to his own 
 unbending sense of duty, which would not let him 
 yield to solicitations of interest or appeals of affec- 
 tion, led him to the conclusion that retirement and 
 silence were for him the path of prudence and of use- 
 fulness. An outspoken and impulsive man, restraint 
 must have been hard for him, but we hear of nothing 
 done or said by him to exacerbate displeasure or in- 
 flame hatred. There is no evidence that the church 
 was closed by any formal action of the parish. It 
 was probably acquiesced in as the dictate of ordinary 
 prudence and a sort of moral necessity. In the 
 heated atmosphere of the times religion of any form 
 sunk to a low ebb, and in turmoil and contention 
 about worldly interests, there was little room in men's 
 minds for concern about things unseen. The period 
 of the Revolution was a period of great religious 
 deadness. The parish-meeting of Aug. 17, 1775, was 
 adjourned to August 25th, but the adjourned meet- 
 ing was never held, at least there is no record of it. 
 A meeting was held Nov. 14, 1778. What led to it is 
 not known. We may conjecture that the fact that 
 several of the Episcopal clergy had by this time 
 found a way to reconcile their consciences with the 
 omission of the prayer for the king had awakened a 
 hope that Mr. Graves might be induced to follow their 
 examples and put an end to the unhappy stoppage. 
 
 At that meeting this resolution was introduced : 
 "Voted, that no persons be permitted to enter the 
 church, and as a pastor to it, unless he openly prays 
 for Congress and the free and independent States of 
 America, and their prosperity by sea and land ; if so, 
 he may be admitted to-morrow, being Sunday, 15th 
 November." On putting the resolution to vote, it 
 appeared that there were fourteen in the affirmative 
 and eleven in the negative, and then, as there were 
 four votes challenged and rejected on the one side 
 and one on the other, it left the vote a tie ; still, the 
 affirmative sense of the congregation had been pretty 
 distinctly given. But the meeting went on to "vote 
 that the church-wardens wait on the Rev. Mr. Graves 
 and let him know of the foregoing vote, and if it be 
 agreeable to him, he may re-enter the church of St. 
 James and officiate as pastor thereof, he praying and 
 conforming to said vote." 
 
 The church-wardens fulfilled their duty and made 
 this report: "Agreeably to the above, we, the church- 
 wardens, waited on the Rev. Mr. Graves, and ac- 
 quainted him of the resolution of the parishioners, to 
 which he replied that he could not comply there- 
 with." The church-wardens who signed this report 
 were Thomas Allen and John Deshon, both stanch 
 Whigs. The Sunday came, however, and Mr. Graves, 
 perhaps encouraged or urged by injudicious friends, 
 determined to brave the consequences, and read the 
 service with the obnoxious prayers. The result was 
 
 a painful and disgraceful scene, which put a speedy 
 end to his ministry in New London, and perhaps ex- 
 pedited his death. 
 
 The first meeting of churchmen after the war of 
 the Revolution was held on Easter Monday, April 26, 
 1783 ; just as soon as the independence of the country 
 was established and peace restored, their usual annual 
 meeting was holden. William Stewart, son of that 
 Matthew whose remains lay beneath the relics of their 
 former church, and Jonathan Starr, Jr., the second of 
 that name, were chosen wardens, and it was "Voted, 
 that Capt. John Deshon, Nichol Fosdick, Roswell Sal- 
 tonstall, Giles Mumford, Joseph Packwood, Thomas 
 Allen, James Penniman, Ebenezer Goddard, Henry 
 Truman, Dr. Samuel Brown, and Jesse Edgecomb be 
 a committee to join the church- wardens to solicit do- 
 nations for building a new church, to treat with the 
 selectmen of the town, to see if the ground where 
 the old church stood can be disposed of or ex- 
 changed for other ground suitable to erect the build- 
 ing on, and to get the plan of a church procured, 
 and make report of their doings as soon as may be. 
 It was also voted that the church-wardens rent the 
 parsonage-house for the highest rent it will fetch, al- 
 ways giving the preference to one of the parishioners, 
 and that the house be repaired by the wardens in the 
 most frugal manner, and that all back rent be imme- 
 diately collected, and the residue be appropriated as 
 the church shall direct." The following year an offer 
 of the Rev. John Graves, of Providence, brother of 
 their late minister, to supply them with a clergyman 
 was declined, on the ground that they were destitute 
 of a building in which to celebrate the worship of 
 Almighty God. The effort to provide such a building 
 seems, meanwhile, though not relinquished, to have 
 gone on slowly. That the work dragged is not so 
 much to be wondered at as that, under the circum- 
 stances, it was projected. In 1784 a committee was 
 appointed to ascertain on what terms a lot could be 
 purchased from Mr. Edgecomb, or some other pro- 
 prietor, on which to erect a church. This church was 
 consecrated Sept. 20, 1787. It was enlarged from time 
 to time, and at a parish-meeting held Sept. 7, 1846, it 
 was voted to build a new church edifice, and Novem- 
 ber 8d of the following year the corner-stone of the 
 new building was laid. The church was consecrated 
 June 11, 1850. 
 
 The rectors since Dr. McSparran have been as fol- 
 lows : John Seabury, Matthew Graves, Samuel Sea- 
 bury, Solomon Blakslee, Bethel Judd, Isaac W. Hal- 
 lam, E. A. Hallam, and W. B. Buckingham, the 
 present incumbent. 
 
 The following is a list of wardens from 1732, when 
 the first choice was made, to the present time : 
 
 1732, Thomas Mumford, John Braddick ; 1733-36, John Braddiok, John 
 Shakmaple; 1736-37, John Shakmaple, Matthew Stewart; 1738, 
 Matthew Stewart, Samuel Edgecomb; 1739, Samuel Bdgecomh, Giles 
 Goddard; 1740, Giles Goddard, Guy Palmes; 1741, Guy Palmes, Na- 
 thaniel Green; 1742, Nathaniel Green, Edward Palmes; 1743^4, 
 Edward Palmes, Merritt Smith ; 1745, Merritt Smith, Thomas Mum- 
 
200 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ford; 1746-51, Thomas MuDiford, Samuel Edgecomb; 1752-63, 
 Thomas Manwaring, Nicholas Lechniere ; 1754, Samuel Edgecomb, 
 Guy Palmes; 1756, Samuel Edgecomb, Edward Palmes; 1756, Sam- 
 uel Edgecomb, Jonathan Starr ; 1757, Jonathan Starr, James Mum- 
 ford ; 1758-60, James Mumford, Thomas Mumford ; 1761-62, Samuel 
 Edgecomb, Jonathan Starr; 1763-64, Jonathan Starr, Thomas Fos- 
 dick; 1766, Ebenezer Goddard, Jonathan Starr; 1766-67. Ebenezer 
 Goddard, Samuel Bill; 1768, William Stewart, George Mumford; 
 1769, William Stewart, Jonathan Starr, Jr. ; 1770-71, Jonathan Starr, 
 Jr., Thomas Allen; 1772, Thomas Allen, John Deshon; 1773-74, 
 Thomas Allen, David Mumford ; 1776, Thomas Allen, John Deshon ; 
 1776-78, no choice ; 1779-80, Tliomas Allen, John Hertel ; 1781-85, 
 William Stewart, Jonathan Starr, Jr.; 1786-1802, Jonathan Starr, 
 Jr., Koswejl SaltODStall; 1803-10, .Jonathan Starr, Jr., Samuel 
 Wheat; 1811-16. Jonathan Starr (3d), Edward Hallam; 1817-18, 
 Jonathan Starr (3d), Isaac Thompson; 1819-29, Jared Starr, Isaac 
 Thompson ; 1830-38, Edward Hallam, Jonathan Starr (3d); 1839-62, 
 Jonathan Starr (3d), Francis Alljn; 1863-5G, Francis Allyn, Enoch 
 V. Stoddard ; 1867-68, Enoch V. Stoddard, Stanley G. Trott; 1859-63, 
 Enoch V. Stoddard, Charles A. Lewis ; 1864-67, Enoch V. Stoddard, 
 Isaac C. Tate; 1868-73, Isaac C.Tate, Hiram Willey; 1874-78, Isaac 
 Tate, Benjamin Stark; 1878-81, 0. A. Williams, Mason Young; 
 1881, Mason Young, J. Ivers Lewis. 
 
 Bishop Samuel Seabuey was born in North 
 Groton (now Ledyard) the 30th of November, 1729, 
 the son of Samuel Seabury, the first minister of 
 New London, born wliile his father was officiating at 
 North Groton as a Congregational licentiate. He 
 passed the days of his youth in New London, where 
 his father was ministering. At an early age he en- 
 tered Yale College, and graduated with credit in 1748. 
 He went to Scotland and studied medicine in the 
 University of Edinburgh, whether with a view of 
 devoting his life to the medical profession or merely 
 as an amateur is not known. But it is known that 
 in his ministry he made large use of his medical 
 knowledge as a means of doing good. He soon, at 
 any rate, put aside medicine for the study of theology, 
 and after acquiring the requisite proficiency, was or- 
 dained deacon by Dr. John Thomas, Bishop of Lin- 
 coln, acting for the Bishop of London, Dec. 21, 1753, 
 and priest by Dr. Bichard Osbaldeston, Bishop of 
 Carlisle, acting for the same prelate, Dec. 23, 1753, 
 Dr. Thomas Sherlock, Bishop of London, being then 
 disabled by infirmity and near the close of life. On 
 his return to America he served several parishes in 
 succession in New Jersey and New York, and set- 
 tled finally in Westchester, where he continued to of- 
 ficiate till the breaking out of the Revolution. His 
 loyalty, founded on the deepest convictions of duty, 
 drove him from his parish, and during the remainder 
 of the war he resided in New York, serving as chap- 
 lain to the king's forces, and eking out his living by 
 the practice of medicine. Soon after the establish- 
 ment of independence the clergy of Connecticut 
 moved to obtain the episcopate, and made choice of 
 Dr. Seabury for their bisliop. To obtain consecration 
 he sailed for England in 1783. He had been honored 
 with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by the Uni- 
 versity of Oxford, 1777. Political difficulties pre- 
 vented his success in England ; the English bishops 
 were unable to dispense with the oath of allegiance 
 to the sovereign which their ordinal contained, and 
 the British Parliament was backward to pass an en- 
 
 abling act, for fear of exciting the displeasure of the 
 young republic, jealous of any encroachment on its 
 newly-acquired nationality. Under these circum- 
 stances. Dr. Seabury bethought himself of the Scotch 
 bishops, identical in polity and authority with the 
 English bishops, but disconnected with the State in 
 consequence of the disestablishment of their church 
 for its fidelity to the House of Stuart, and lying 
 under the ban of political proscription. By them 
 he was cordially welcomed, and by them, Nov. U, 
 1784, consecrated at Aberdeen, in Bishop Skinner's 
 oratory, the consecrators being Eobert Kilgour, 
 Bishop of Aberdeen and Primus; Arthur Petrie, 
 Bishop of Moray and Ross ; and John Skinner, co- 
 adjutor Bishop of Aberdeen. With these prelates, 
 representataves of the Episcopal remainder in Scot- 
 land, he entered into a concordat to maintain in 
 America, as far as in him lay, the peculiarities of the 
 Scottish Church, and in particular the prayer of con- 
 secration in the communion office. With his divine 
 commission he returned to this country, and landed 
 at Newport June 20, 1785, preaching on the following 
 Sunday the first sermon of a bishop in this country, 
 in old Trinity church, from Hebrews xii. 1, 2. He 
 was soon established at New London as the rector of 
 St. James' Church, which was then in process of erec- 
 tion, where he continued to dwell, in the faithful dis- 
 charge of his duties as bishop and priest, till his very 
 sudden death, Feb. 25, 1796. 
 
 In the formation of our institutions and the estab- 
 lishment of our Prayer Book he acted a conspicuous 
 and influential part. True to his engagement with 
 the Scottish Church, he resisted the tendency to inno- 
 vation that in many quarters displayed itself, and 
 steadfastly exerted himself to procure the insertion of 
 the consecration, prayer in the communion office, and 
 with success, most men will now admit, conferring a 
 decided benefit on the church. He set his face firmly 
 againstwhat was termed the Proposed Book, and fought 
 for the retention of the Catholic creeds and the pres- 
 ervation of their integrity. For a few years preju- 
 dice and misunderstanding and diversity of views on 
 some points of polity kept him and his diocese sep- 
 arate from the body of the church. But the difference 
 was at last happily settled, and it was his honor to die 
 the first bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America. 
 
 He married, early in life, Mary, the daughter of 
 Edward Hicks, of New York, who died before his 
 consecration. He did not marry again. His house 
 in New London was under the charge of his daughter 
 Maria. At last, after a tour of visiting in his parish, 
 he remained to take tea at the house of Mr. Eoswell 
 Saltonstall, a warden of the parish, whose daughter 
 Ann had married his son Charles. When he had 
 just risen from the tea-table, he fell with an attack of 
 apoplexy, and soon expired. His funeral was attended 
 without pomp, the only record of it in the register- 
 book of the parish being the simple words : " Febru- 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 201 
 
 ary 28, 1796. Buried, by the Rev. Mr. Tyler, of Nor- 
 wich, Right Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Bishop of 
 Connecticut and Rhode Island." Soon after his en- 
 trance upon the discharge of his episcopal functions 
 in Connecticut the churches in Rhode Island placed 
 themselves under his jurisdiction, whence he derived 
 the double designation of Bishop of Connecticut and 
 Rhode Island, which is often applied to him. He 
 was buried in the public burying-ground in New Lon- 
 don, and a table of gray marble placed over his grave, 
 with the following inscription, written by the Rev. 
 Dr. Bowden, of Columbia College, N. Y. : 
 
 Here lietli the body of 
 
 SAMUEL SEABURY, D. D., 
 
 Bishop of Connecticut and Bbode Island, 
 
 Who departed from this transitory scene, February 25, 1796, 
 
 In the sixty-eighth year of his age. 
 
 Ingenious without pride, learned without pedantry, 
 
 Good without severity, he was duly qualilied to discharge the duties 
 
 of the Christian and the Bishop. 
 
 In the pulpit, he enforced religion ; in his conduct, 
 
 he exemplified it. 
 
 The poor he assisted with bis charity ; the ignorant he 
 
 blessed with his instruction. 
 
 The friend of man, he ever desired their good ; 
 
 The enemy of vice, he ever opposed it. 
 
 Christian ! dost thou aspire to happiness ? 
 
 Seabury has shown the way that leads to it. 
 
 This table, since the removal of the bishop's re- 
 mains, has been placed within the inclosure on the 
 north side of the present church. Within the church 
 a tablet, in the form of an obelisk, stood originally at 
 the left side of the pulpit, afterwards directly over it, 
 bearing the following inscription : 
 
 SACRED 
 
 May this marble long remain 
 
 (The just tribute of affectiou) 
 
 to the memory 
 
 Of the truly venerable and beloved 
 
 Pastor of this Church, 
 
 The Bioht Reveeend SAMUEL SEABURT, D.D., 
 
 Bishop of Connecticut and Rhode Island, 
 
 "Who was translated from earth 
 
 to heaven, 
 
 February 25, 1796, 
 
 In the sixty-eighth year of his age and twelfth of his consecration; 
 
 But still lives in the hearts of a grateful diocese. 
 
 This tablet now stands in the basement chapel of 
 the present church. The epitaph is not to be much 
 admired, and one expression in it is justly open to 
 criticism. When, in 1849, the bishop's remains were 
 placed under the chancel of the church, then in pro- 
 cess of erection, at the joint expense of the diocese 
 and parish, a handsome monument of freestone in 
 the form of an altar-tomb underneath a canopy sur- 
 mounted by a mitre was placed over his final resting- 
 place. On the slab above the tomb this simple record 
 was engraven : 
 
 The Bight Rev. Father in God, 
 
 SAMtlBL SEABURT, D.D., 
 
 First Bishop of Connecticut, 
 
 And of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States; 
 
 Consecrated at Aberdeen, Scotland, Kov. 14, 1784 ; 
 
 Died Feb. 25, 1796; aged 67. 
 
 The Diocese of Connecticut recorded here 
 
 its grateful memory of his virtues and services, 
 
 A.D. 1849. 
 
 And on a brass plate inserted in its upper surface this 
 inscription : 
 
 Sub pavimento altaris 
 
 Ut in loco quietis ultimo usque ad magni diei judicium 
 
 Exuviae mortales praesulis admoduni reverendi nunc restant, 
 
 SAMUELIS SEABURY, S.T.D. Oxon., 
 
 Qui primus in rempublicam novi orbis Anglo Americanam 
 
 successionem apostolicam, 
 
 E. Scotia transtulit XVIII. Kal. Dec. A.D. CIoIqCOLXXXIV. 
 
 Diocesis sua 
 
 laborum et angustiarum tarn cliari capitis nunquam oblita 
 
 in ecclesia nova S. JacobI majoris Neo Londinensi olim seda sua 
 
 hoc monumentum nunc demum longo post tempore honoris causa 
 
 anno salut. nost. CIqIoCCCXLIX ponere curavit. 
 
 Of which the following is a translation : 
 
 Under the pavement of the altar, as in the final place of rest until the 
 judgment of the great day, now repose the mortal remains of the Right 
 Rev. Prelate, Samuel Seabury, D.D., Oxon., who first brought from Scot- 
 land into the Anglo-American Republic of the New World the Apostolic 
 succession, Nov. 27, 1784. His diocese, never forgetful of the labors and 
 trials of so dear a person, in the new church of St. James the Greater, of 
 New London, formerly his See, now at last, after so long a time, have 
 taken care to place this monument to his honor, in the year of our sal- 
 vation 1849. 
 
 He, perhaps as much as any one, some would say 
 more, has left his impress on the service and offices of 
 the American church. His was the distinguished 
 honor of bringing the episcopate into the New World, 
 and planting on the shores of this Western Conti- 
 nent a genuine branch of that apostolic tree whose 
 " leaves are for the healing of the nations," and whose 
 spreading boughs have now stretched from sea to sea. 
 He was to a large extent the conservative element in 
 the church in his day, useful to restrain the impetu- 
 osity of some and stiffen the flexibility of others, and 
 so keep the church from drifting away from those an- 
 cient landmarks which the fathers had wisely set. 
 Yet, while he was a firm man, he was not an obsti- 
 nate man. While he could frankly and earnestly ad- 
 here to his settled convictions, and hold unflinchingly 
 to them in all matters of essential truth, he knew how 
 to yield gracefully when his views were overborne, 
 and not waste his time in whimpering over losses, and 
 wound himself and the church by ineffectual resist- 
 ance and defiance. Such a man deserves respect 
 from all, whether they sympathize with his opinions 
 or dissent from them. Bishop White, than whom it 
 would be difficult to find a man wider from him in 
 constitution of mind and habits of thought, bears tes- 
 timony of the most honorable sort to his worth when 
 he says, in his "Memoirs of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church," " To this day there are recollected with sat- 
 isfaction the hours which were spent with Bishop 
 Seabury on the important subjects which came before 
 us, and especially the Christian temper which he 
 manifested all along." Yet this great and good man 
 it has been the habit, in some quarters, — alas that it 
 should be in our own household of faith ! — to decry 
 and ridicule, to make the butt of obloquy and detrac- 
 tion, to represent as a weak and vain man, vaporing 
 
202 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 with the conceit of his dignity, aping English state, 
 strutting in the paraphernalia of office, holding with 
 a blind and unreasoning tenacity to obsolete tradi- 
 tions, and imposing his own personal convictions on 
 men with a narrow and bigoted imperiousness. It 
 was the fortune of the writer to be born and grow up 
 among his contemporaries, while his memory was yet 
 fresh in many hearts. Not one of these imputations 
 was ever heard among those who knew him best. 
 True, he sometimes wore a mitre, and wrote himself 
 " Samuel Connecticut ;" but in the latter particular he 
 did but conform to the ordinary usage, and the mitre 
 he did not use at first, nor did he bring one with him 
 when he came home after his consecration ; but 
 when he found many of the non-Episcopal ministers 
 about him were disposed to adopt the title of bishop, 
 in derision of his claims, he adopted a mitre as a 
 badge of office which they would hardly be disposed 
 to imitate. The mitre worn by the bishop is still 
 preserved in the library of Trinity College. This 
 mitre is a bifurcated cap of black satin, displaying on 
 its front a metallic cross. 
 
 He was at home, among his parishioners and fel- 
 low-citizens, a man of simple, quiet, unpretending 
 ways, performing the humble duties of a parish min- 
 ister with exemplary assiduity and faithfulness, social 
 and affable, sometimes witty and jocose, benevolent 
 and charitable, always ready to use the medical skill 
 which he had acquired in early life gratuitously for 
 the benefit of the poor and needy, doing good with 
 his narrow income to the utmost extent of his ability, 
 so that when he died he had "a tune of orphans' tears 
 wept over him," sweetest and most honorable re- 
 quiem that can attend the bier of any man. Yet he 
 possessed a native dignity of appearance and manner 
 that constrained universal respect and repressed 
 every attempt at undue or flippant familiarity. He 
 was always the minister of God, and, as a Congrega- 
 tional gentleman once said to me, every whit a bishop. 
 An honest, brave, fearless, conscientious man was the 
 first Bishop of Connecticut. 
 
 The remains of Bishop Seabury, at the time of his 
 death, were interred in the public burying-ground. 
 It seemed a proper thing, especially as he had been 
 rector of the parish as well as bishop of the diocese, 
 that they should now, upon the erection of the church 
 building, be transferred to the church and a suitable 
 monument to his memory be placed over them. The 
 idea found favor, both in the parish and in the dio- 
 cese at large. The convention of the diocese, held 
 June 8, 1847, passed the following vote: "That a 
 committee of three be appointed to collect, through 
 private donations, a sum sufficient for the erection of 
 a monument of suitable stability and beauty to the 
 memory of the first bishop of this diocese, to be 
 placed, with the consent of the vestry, within the 
 walls of the new church of his former parish, St. 
 James', New London." 
 
 The Rev. Wm. F. Morgan, the Eev. Wm. Jarvis, and 
 
 Richard Adams, Esq., were appointed as this commit- 
 tee. The following persons — the Rev. Dr. Jarvis the 
 Eev. Dr. Hallam, the Rev. A. C. Coxe, the Rev. Dr. 
 Burgess, and the Rev. Dr. Mead — were appointed a 
 committee to carry the design into effect. The parish 
 on its part, though heavily taxed for the erection of 
 the church, met the call handsomely and liberally. 
 The work of preparing a design of the monument and 
 attending to its execution was intrusted to Mr, Up- 
 john. In the summer of 1849 the church was so far 
 advanced as to be ready to receive the monument 
 which was be built into the eastern wall of the 
 chancel, and on the 12th day of September the 
 ceremony of removing the bishop's remains and 
 placing them in their final resting-place was per- 
 formed with appropriate solemnities. The minute 
 made at the time in the register-book of the parish is 
 here subjoined : 
 
 " The remains of Bp, Seabury were removed from the Second Burying- 
 ground and deposited beneath the chancel of the new church, in a grave 
 lined with brick and covered with flagging-stones, directly under the 
 monument in the church and before the north window on the east aide 
 of the chapel, below the floor. His bones were found perfect^ but no 
 part of the coflin, except a portion of the lid, surrounded by bra^ Milg 
 in the form of a heart, containing within it, in brass nails also, these 
 letters and figures : 
 
 S. S. 
 
 jE. 67. 
 
 1796. 
 
 " The remains were placed in a new coffin, which was borne from the 
 ground to the church, on a bier covered with a pall, by the Rev. Messrs. 
 J. Williams, D.D,, A. C. Coxe, T. H. Vail, H. F. Roberts, T, C. Pitkin, J. 
 M. Willey, 0. E. Bennett, and B. 0. Flagg. The rector, attended by the 
 Bev. Dr. Jarvis, met the remains at the church. The rector read the 
 first two sentences of the burial service and Dr. Jarvis the anthem, the 
 persons present responding. The rector read, for the lesson. Wisdom, 
 fifth chapter to the seventeenth verse. Dr. Jarvis pronounced the sen- 
 tence, ' Blessed are the dead,' etc., and the rector read the last prayer but 
 one in the burial sei-vice, the prayer for all persons in the ' Visitation Of 
 the Sick,' the collect for *A11 Saints,' the Lord's Prayer, and the Apos. 
 folic Benediction. The coffin was then lowered into the grave, after 
 which the psalm ' Deus ExurgaC and the Nicene Creed were repeated, led 
 by the rector, and Dr. Jarvis said the closing benediction. The place of 
 deposit was a brick grave underneath the floor, covered by heavy flag- 
 stones carefully mortared together. There may they rest, in the lan- 
 guage of Dr. Jarvis' epitaph in the chancel, ' XJi in loco quietis ultimo itsgM 
 ad raagni did judicium.^ " 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Churcli. — Methodism was 
 introduced into New London in 1789, by Rev. Jesse 
 Lee. On the 2d of September of that year he preached 
 in the court-house, twenty-three years after the first 
 Methodist sermon was preached in New York by 
 Philip Embury. Mr. Lee continued to visit the city 
 for about three years. New London first appears on 
 the minutes of the Conference for 1793, when George 
 Roberts, Richard Swain, and F. Aldrich were the 
 preachers and the circuit called New London circuit. 
 
 The Methodist Church was organized in New Lon- 
 don, at the house of Mr. Richard Douglass, Oct. 23, 
 1793, with eleven persons, but soon after, within a few 
 months, at the close of the Conference year, consisted 
 of the following persons : Richard Douglass, Ann 
 Douglass, Nancy Douglass, Peter Griffing, Gannett 
 Hall, Annah Moore, Sally Lewis, Mary Lewis, Jones 
 Rogers, George Potter, Elizabeth Potter, Ann Smith, 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 203 
 
 Mercy Smith, Freelove Miller, Luther Gale, Susannah 
 Stockman, Abigail Potter, Epaphras Kibby, Jemima 
 Perry, Nabby Bleckly, P. Champlain, Ruth Crocker, 
 Josiah Bolles, Hannah Brown, Henry Harris, and 
 Sarah Clark. 
 
 The following is a list of pastors from the organiza- 
 tion of the church to the present time : George Rob- 
 erts, Richard Swain, F. Aldrich, Wilson Lee, David 
 Abbott, Zadoc Priest, Enoch Mudge, A. G. Thompson, 
 Lawrence McCombs, Nathaniel Chapin, Timothy 
 Meritt, S. Bostwick, John Nichols, N. Chapin, Shubal 
 Lamb, Abner Wood, David Brumley, Alex. McLean, 
 Peter Vannest, Phineas Peck, James Annis, Michael 
 Coate, Aaron Hunt, John Nichols, William Pickett, 
 Benjamin Hill, Nathan Emory, Thomas Branch, E. 
 Washburn, G. R. Norris, Daniel Perry, Theo. Smith, 
 Isaac Bonney, E. Streeter, John Lindsay, Joel Winch, 
 E. Marble, A. Stebbins, Jon. Chaney, Benjamin Sabin, 
 J. Lewis, W. Bannister, Robert Bowser, Joel Steele, 
 William Nichols, Francis Dane, V.R. Osborn, Nathan 
 Paine, E. Blake, Daniel Dorchester, J. W. McKee. 
 In 1818 New London became a station, and the fol- 
 lowing is a list of the pastors from that time to 1824 : 
 Asa Kent, 1818-19; Elijah Hedding (afterwards 
 bishop), 1820; V. R. Osborn, 1821; Thomas W. 
 Tucker, 1822-28. In 1824 the society, having become 
 reduced in numbers and financial strength, was again 
 united with a circuit under the pastorate of Daniel 
 Dorchester, G. W. Fairbank, and J. W. Case. 
 
 It was again made a station in 1825, with Isaac 
 Stoddard as pastor ; N. S. Spaulding, 1826 ; Le Roy 
 Sunderland, 1827. In 1828 the church was again 
 connected with the circuit, and Amasa Taylor and 
 George Sutherland were the preachers ; Reuben Ran- 
 son, L. B. Griffing, 1829 ; Reuben Ranson, C. D. Ro- 
 gers, 1830. 
 
 In 1831 the society was again made a station, with 
 James Porter pastor, who remained two years ; Eben- 
 ezer Blake, 1833-34; S. B. Haskell, 1835-36; Daniel 
 Webb, 1837; A. Halloway, 1838; John Lovejoy, 
 1839-40; R. W. Allen, 1841-42; Sanford Benton, 
 ' 1843-44; John Howson, 1845-46; M. P. Alderman, 
 1847-48; G. M. Carpenter, 1849-50; Samuel Fox, 
 1851 ; Thomas Ely, 1852-53 ; M. P. Alderman, 1854r- 
 55; John B. Gould, 1856-57; John D. King, 1858- 
 59; Paul Townsend, 1860-61; V. A. Cooper, 1862- 
 63; F. J. Wagner, 1864-65; William J. Robinson, 
 1866-67 ; John D. Butler, 1868-69 ; Charles S. Ma- 
 cready, 1870-71 ; A. W. Page, 1872-73 ; John Gray, 
 1874^76; George W. Anderson, 1877-79; H. D. Rob- 
 inson, 1880-81. 
 
 The first church edifice was erected in 1798, and 
 dedicated the same year. Bishop Asbury preaching. 
 This house was occupied until 1818, when a new 
 building was erected. Discussions subsequently arose 
 in the church, and in 1840 a number withdrew and 
 organized a new body. This body, after holding ser- 
 vices in the conference-room of the Congregational 
 church and court-house, in 1842 erected a church edi- 
 
 fice on Washington Street, which was subsequently 
 sold for a piano-factory. The Federal Street church 
 edifice was erected in 1855, and dedicated in 1856. 
 
 There is also a Bethel Church, organized under its 
 present name in 1851, but we have been unable to 
 secure further data for its history. 
 
 First Baptist Church. — The Baptists of New Lon- 
 don for some years were members of the First Bap- 
 tist Church in Waterford, and nothing like an organ- 
 ization is known to have existed until after the great 
 revival in 1794, when the Waterford Church was dis- 
 tricted. New London proper constituting one district, 
 and the Harbor's Mouth another. 
 
 Immediately after this revival, and probably on 
 account of it, the Waterford Church was divided into 
 four divisions, as follows : Niantic, New London, 
 Great Neck, and Harbor's Mouth. Each division 
 had its own leader, but all were under the pastoral 
 care of him who for fifty-two years was the efiioient 
 and revered pastor of that church, the Rev. Zadock 
 Darrow, who died at the advanced age of ninety-nine 
 years, and who was the grandfather of the Rev. 
 Francis Darrow, of precious memory. 
 
 Thus, besides prayer-meetings, preaching services 
 were held in New London by Baptists in the court- 
 house, and in other places as they could be obtained, 
 and as preachers could be secured, from the year 
 1794. 
 
 In 1802, or two years before the formal organiza- 
 tion of this church, arrangements were made by the 
 Waterford Church, in accordance with which com- 
 munion services were to be held in New London 
 every two months ; and about this time arrange- 
 ments were made by the brethren in New London for 
 the Rev. Samuel West, who was then an assistant of 
 the aged and infirm pastor, Zadock Darrow, to preach 
 and administer the ordinances for them part of the 
 time, the church at large engaging him for the rest of 
 his time. 
 
 During these years it was agreed between the 
 church at Waterford and the branch here in the city 
 that at each communion service held in Waterford at 
 least two brethren from the city should be present to 
 repr&sent the members here, and, after the same man- 
 ner, that at least two brethren from Waterford should 
 be in attendance at communion services held here, to 
 represent that part of the church. Thus by sending 
 representatives from one part of the church to meet- 
 ings held by the other part they sought to co-operate 
 with each other, and to maintain Christian fellow- 
 ship and a thorough acquaintance between all. At 
 the same time it was mutually agreed that if any 
 members living in New London should prefer to at- 
 tend services at Waterford, or if any living in Water- 
 ford should prefer to attend in this city, they should 
 have full liberty so to do. 
 
 On the 11th of February, 1804, "the brethren and 
 sisters of the Baptist denomination in the city of New 
 London accepted and subscribed" to the " covenant 
 
204 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 articles and principles" which are still used by the 
 church. The meeting for the organization of the 
 church was held in the house of Mr. Samuel Coit, 
 whose name is attached to the letter just read. 
 
 The body was fellowshiped as a church of Christ 
 by a Council which convened in the Baptist meeting- 
 house in Waterford, Feb. 22, 1804. About fifty 
 brethren and sisters were dismissed from the Water- 
 ford Church, and they, with a few others from other 
 Baptist Churches, united to form " The First Baptist 
 Church of New London.'' Rev. Samuel West, who 
 had been preaching for them part of the time for two 
 years previous, was chosen as the first pastor, at a 
 meeting of the church held April 9, 1804. At the 
 same meeting, as the record states, " it was agreed to 
 receive Henry Harris as a deacon of this church." 
 John Lewis and Noah Mason were also appointed 
 " on trial in the office of deacon," but no record is 
 found of their ever having been ordained or fully 
 recognized as deacons. Jan. 25, 1809, Jonathan Sizer 
 was ordained deacon, and he, with Henry Harris, 
 seem to have been the first deacons. 
 
 In October, 1804, the church applied for member- 
 ship in the Stonington Union Association, and was 
 received, and remained a member of that body till 
 1817, when the New London Association was formed 
 and it withdrew to unite with it. Up to this time 
 their preaching and communion services seem to have 
 been held in the court-house, and their meetings for 
 prayer and conference in private houses ; but in the 
 spring of 1805 preparations were made for the erection 
 of a house of worship. This was to them an under- 
 taking of no little magnitude. 
 
 In the first place, they were few in number. Be- 
 sides this, they were poor in the goods of this world, 
 however rich they may have been in faith. But these 
 were by no means the greatest difiiculties to be en- 
 countered and overcome by them. The chief obstacle 
 in their way was the intense and persistent opposi- 
 tion, and, I may say, the bitter persecution, of what 
 was then the ruling order.^ Such was this bitterness 
 of feeling against Baptists and against Baptist princi- 
 ples that it was impossible tor the newly-organized 
 church to purchase land anywhere in the city on 
 which to erect a meeting-house. It was determined 
 that they should not have an inch of ground on which 
 to rest their feet. As a last resort, one of the brethren, 
 John Lewis by name, acting in a private and indi- 
 vidual capacity, and without making known his in- 
 tentions, purchased that piece of property now famil- 
 iarly known as "the Baptist Rocks," and after he 
 had secured the deed then deeded it over to one whom 
 the church had appointed to receive it. Thus in a 
 roundabout way the church secured a solid rock 
 foundation. 
 
 The first baptisms into the fellowship of the church 
 of which we find any record occurred on the 6th of 
 
 1 Rev. B. A. Woods, in hia historical address, June 29, 1879. 
 
 July, 1806, when seven persons, one brother and six 
 sisters, were thus received. 
 
 The first decade in the history of the church had 
 now passed, the Rev. Samuel West having served the 
 church during these years faithfully, efficiently, and 
 to the entire satisfaction of the members. During 
 this time the church had been worshiping in the 
 meeting-house " on the rocks," " which was still in an 
 unfinished state, the beams and rafters left naked, 
 and with loose, rough planks for seats." In 1807 the 
 church petitioned the Legislature for permission to 
 hold a lottery for the purpose of raising funds to aid 
 in completing their house of worship, the pastor 
 being requested to attend and present the petition in 
 person. The petition was never granted. 
 
 The pastors from Mr. West to the present time 
 have been as follows : Nehemiah Dodge, Ebenezer 
 Loomis, Henry Wightman, Daniel Wildman, Chester 
 Tilden, Alvin Ackley, Nathan Wildman, C. 0. Wil- 
 liams, H. R. Knapp, Jabez Swan, William Reid, 
 J. R. Baumes, J. C. Wightman, J. E. Ball, A. B. 
 Burdick,^ N. P. Foster, Byron A. Woods. 
 
 In 1839 the "house on the rocks" had become too 
 small to accommodate the congregation, and what 
 were afterwards known as " the wings" were then put 
 on, other and important improvements being made. 
 
 Early in 1854 preparations were begun for the 
 building of a new house of worship. In March, 
 1856, this building was completed and dedicated, at 
 a total cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. Sermons 
 were delivered on the day of dedication- by Eev. Drs. 
 Ives and Turnbull. 
 
 In the spring of 1875 this house of worship was 
 repaired and refurnished at an expense of three thou- 
 sand dollars, that amount being raised by subscription 
 and paid when the work was done. 
 
 The church has had fourteen deacons, viz. : Henry 
 Harris, Jonathan Sizer, Thomas West, Ira R. Steward, 
 W. A. Weaver, Richard Harris, Clark Daniels, W.P. 
 Benjamin, D. Latham, J. Congdon, P. C. Turner, W. 
 P. Benjamin, D. W. Harris, G. A. Lester, and C. A. 
 Weaver. 
 
 Second Baptist Church. — For a considerable 
 period previous to December, 1840, efforts were in 
 contemplation for forming a second Baptist Church 
 in New London. In the success of Baptist principles, 
 the house of worship of the First Baptist Church be- 
 came too strait for an increasing congregation; and 
 although subsequently enlarged, it did not remove the 
 convictions of those who believed that the general 
 cause of religion in the city would be promoted by 
 the erection of another house and the establishment 
 of another Baptist Church. 
 
 About the 1st of April, 1840, several brethren, to- 
 gether with other individuals in the city of Baptist 
 sentiments, commenced a separate meeting in the 
 court-house, and engaged the services of C. C. Wil- 
 
 2 Supply. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 205 
 
 liams, formerly pastor of the First Church. Imme- 
 diately active measures were taken to secure a lot 
 and erect a second Baptist meeting-house, with the 
 expectation of the formation of a second Baptist 
 Church. A contract for this object was signed June 
 10, 1840, by Jonathan Smith, William Champlin, John 
 Carroll, Jr., George W. Wheeler, L. H. Tracy, and 
 Charles and Joseph Bishop. The house was com- 
 pleted in December of the same year. The early 
 struggles to obtain letters for the purpose of forming 
 the church we would willingly pass over, but a brief 
 outline is necessary to show the origin of the church. 
 
 After all attempts had failed of obtaining letters of 
 dismission from the First Church, for the purpose of 
 forming a second interest, and Mr. Williams and six 
 of the movers of the enterprise had been excluded 
 for the part they had taken in the establishment of a 
 separate meeting, and when a petition of thirty mem- 
 bers in good standing in the First Church for the 
 same object had also been rejected, the friends inter- 
 ested called a Council to investigate the whole mat- 
 ter, which, after a prayerful and laborious session and 
 examination, advised the organization of the church. 
 The thirty members then of the First Church consti- 
 tuted themselves into the " Second Baptist Church of 
 New London," and, agreeably to advice of the same 
 Council, immediately received five brethren and sis- 
 ters having letters from the First Baptist Church of 
 Waterford, and C. C. Williams and the six brethren 
 who had been excluded with him previously from 
 the First Church. The Council still remaining in 
 session, the church was then publicly recognized, Dec. 
 31, 1840. C. C. Williams became the first pastor. A 
 protracted scene of trial followed the organization. 
 The difiBculties with the First Church, growing in part 
 out of the reception of excluded members of that 
 body, which unfortunately continued for a consider- 
 able period, were subsequently removed and adjusted 
 during the pastorship of Lemuel Covell, through the 
 voluntary, kind, and afiectionate labors of Elders 
 Bolles, of Colchester, and John Peck, of the State of 
 New York. Harmony was restored, which has con- 
 tinued unbroken to this day. 
 
 C. C. Williams resigned his charge of the church 
 Sept. 13, 1841, and Elder A. Bolles, of Colchester, was 
 engaged as a supply till a pastor should be obtained. 
 Jan. 5, 1842, the church gave Lemuel Covell a call. 
 Mr. Covell signified his acceptance of the call, Feb. 
 28, 1842, and entered upon his pastoral duties in 
 April of the same year. Mr. Covell resigned his 
 charge Dec. 28, 1843, and removed to New York in 
 January, 1844. John Blain succeeded Mr. Covell in 
 the pastorate, and continued till the spring of 1845, 
 having resigned January 6th of the same year. March 
 10, 1845, the church invited L. G. Leonard, of Thomp- 
 son, to become their pastor, who accepted, and com- 
 menced his pastoral labors the 1st of May of the same 
 year. Mr. Leonard continued his useful labors with 
 the church till November, 1848, when he resigned. 
 14 
 
 Edwin R. Warren, of Albany, N. Y., succeeded Mr. 
 Leonard in the pastorate. He accepted the invi- 
 tation, and subsequently the call of the church to 
 become their pastor, and entered upon its duties the 
 1st of January, 1849. 
 
 The following is a list of pastors from Mr. Warren 
 to the present time : Revs. O. T. Walker, 1853-59 ; 
 J. S. Swan, 1859-61 ; U. B. Guiscard, 1861-62 ; from 
 1862 to 1866, supplies, no pastor ; Revs. S. B. Bailey, 
 1866-67 ; J. C. Foster, 1867-68; W. W. Case, 1868-69; 
 E. K. Fuller, 1869-70 ; J. P. Brown, 1871-77 ; Latham 
 Fitch, 1877 to present time. 
 
 Baptist Church, Huntington Street. — At the 
 annual meeting of the First Baptist Church in the 
 city of New London, in January, 1849, a resolution 
 was passed to gi.ve letters to those who desired to form 
 another Baptist Church in the city, to be in fellowship 
 with the First Church. March 14th, the same year, 
 one hundred and eighty-five brethren and sisters of 
 the said First Church met, and after prayer and 
 solemn deliberation constituted themselves into a 
 church, and having previously purchased the Uni- 
 versalist meeting-house in Huntington Street, agreed 
 to be known as " The Huntington Street Baptist 
 Church," adopting articles of faith and covenant. 
 Elder Jabez Swan was elected pastor, and William P. 
 Benjamin and Isaac Harris deacons. 
 
 March 29, 1849, the house recently bought of the 
 Universalist society was dedicated to the worship 
 and praise of Almighty God, and the church was pub- 
 licly recognized, and the deacons elect were ordained 
 with appropriate services. Sermons were preached 
 this day by Elder J. S. Swan appropriate to the dedi- 
 cation of the house, and by Elder B. Cook on the 
 recognition of the church. Elder P. G. Wightman 
 preached in the evening. The following is a list of 
 pastors : J. S. Swan, S. B. Grant, A. P. Buel, J. B. 
 Barry, J. J. Townsend, J. S. Swan, and J. K. Wilson. 
 
 The Universalist Church.— A Universalist society 
 was formed in New London in the year 1835, and 
 occasional services held, but no church was erected 
 or regular ministry established till 1843, when an 
 edifice of brick was erected on Huntington Street, and 
 dedicated March 20, 1844. Rev. T. J. Greenwood was 
 its pastor for four years. In 1849 it was sold by the 
 trustees in order to liquidate the debts of the society, 
 and was purchased by the Third Baptist Church. In 
 August of the same year the Universalist society pur- 
 chased the former Episcopal church on Main Street 
 for three thousand five hundred dollars. This was 
 subsequently sold, and services have since been held 
 in Allyn Hall. A church edifice is now in process 
 of erection. Among the pastors are mentioned the 
 names of Rev. J. C. Waldo, Mr. Campbell, and George 
 W. Gage. The church has no pastor at present. 
 
 St. Mary Star of the Sea, Roman Catholic 
 Church. — The holy sacrifice of the mass was first 
 celebrated in this city on Washington Street, in about 
 the year 1840, by Father Fitton, the great pioneer of 
 
206 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 New England Catholicity, then stationed in Worces- 
 ter, Mass. The second place in which mass was cele- 
 brated by this honored divine was at the corner of 
 Bank and Blinman Streets. He soon noted indica- 
 tions of success, and at Dice commenced the erection 
 of a church edifice, which was soon after completed. 
 This was located on Jay Street. Father Fitton was 
 soon succeeded by Father Brady, who in 1848 was 
 followed by Father James Gibson, the first resident 
 pastor. From this date, 1848, New London has been 
 a distinct parish. He remained until 1850, when 
 Rev. Peter Blenkinsop became pastor; in 1851 Eev. 
 P. Duffy, who was soon succeeded by Eev. F. Stokes, 
 wlio officiated until October, 1852. He was followed 
 by Rev. Thomas Ryan, during whose pastorate a 
 church was erected on Truman Street. The Jay Street 
 church was still held by the parish and used for Sun- 
 day-school purposes. 
 
 In 1858, Father Ryan was succeeded by Rev. P. A. 
 Gaynor, who organized St. John's Literary Society. 
 Eev. Father Gaynor remained until 1866, and was 
 followed by Rev. B. Tully, who stayed but a short 
 time. He purchased the lot on the corner of Wash- 
 ington and Huntington Streets. In August, 1867, Rev. 
 P. Grace, D.D., became pastor and commenced the 
 erection of the present church. His service here was 
 brief. His successor was Rev. E. A. O'Conner, who 
 had as an assistant Father Furlong. St. Mary's Be- 
 nevolent Society was organized by Father O'Connor. 
 Father O'Connor died in 1871, leaving Father Fur- 
 long in temporary charge. Father M. Tierney be- 
 came pastor in May, 1872, and remained until some 
 time during the year 1873. He organized the Star of 
 the Sea Total Abstinence Society. About Jan. 1, 
 1874, Rev. P. P. Lalor assumed the pastoral charge, 
 and during his pastorate the present beautiful and 
 substantial church edifice was completed, one of the 
 finest in New England. It was dedicated in May, 
 1876, with elaborate ceremonies. He remained until 
 1879. Father Lalor was a verypopular man, and had 
 a high reputation for executive ability. 
 
 In losing Father Lalor the Catholics of New Lon- 
 don have been singularly fortunate in his successor, 
 the present popular incumbent. Rev. T. Broderick. 
 His priestly zeal, his self-aacrificing spirit, his glad- 
 some temperament and engaging manners quickly 
 gained for him the affections of his people. Father 
 Lalor's mantle of popularity fell on worthy shoulders. 
 Immediately after taking possession of the parish. 
 Father Broderick commenced to beautify the grounds 
 about the church and pastoral residence, and is still 
 making improvements. St. Mary Star of the Sea is 
 now in a prosperous condition, and is one of the 
 strongest parishes in Connecticut. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 NEW LONDON— ( Continued). 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Commerce — Whaling — The Port of New London — Custom-HouBe— Liat 
 of Collectors— The Ferry— New London in 1800— Societies— Incor- 
 poration of the City— First Charter Electioii— Officers Elected— Mayora 
 from Organization to Present Time— Schools— The Yellow Fever— The 
 Old Militia— City Ilall— Manufactures— Cedar Grove Cemetery— Gai 
 Company — Water-Works. 
 
 Commerce' — Whaling.— As a commercial town, 
 New London became early noted in the colony. Ever 
 sagacious and on the alert, the people were not slow 
 to improve the facilities offered by the natural advan- 
 tages of the place for engaging in commercial pur- 
 suits. 
 
 As early as 1659 nine persons were appointed by 
 the General Court, one for each of the small ports in 
 the colony, to enter and record such goods as were 
 subject to customs. John Smith was appointed cus- 
 tom-master for New London. The office was unim- 
 portant in point of fees, as an order of the General 
 Court in 1654 allowed all articles, except wine and 
 liquors, to be received free of duty. Under the term 
 liquors, however, the spirit called rum, which was then 
 a recent product of the English West India Islands, 
 was not included, but strictly prohibited.^ Daniel 
 Wetherill was subsequently appointed to the office, 
 and was the last person who held it by colonial au- 
 thority. He was, however, reappointed by the sur- 
 veyor-general of the plantations, under commission 
 from the Treasury Board of the mother-country, "as 
 deputy collector and searcher for Connecticut" in 
 1685, the whole colony being thrown into one district 
 for the collection of customs, and held his office about 
 twenty yearsJ 
 
 The building of vessels commenced about 1660 by 
 John Coit, or Coite, and was continued by Joseph 
 Coit, Hugh Mould, John Stiness, and others. The 
 barks "Speedwell," "Hopewell," and "Endeav- 
 our" were among the first vessels constructed, and 
 in 1661 the " New London Tryall," the first mer- 
 chant vessel in the place, was built by John Elderkin, 
 and was regarded a remarkable affair, " costing, ex- 
 clusive of iron-work, spikes, and nails, two hundred 
 pounds." 
 
 The early coasting trade was principally with Bos- 
 ton. Household goods, clothing, powder, lead, and 
 military accoutrements, also implements of husbandry, 
 were obtained, and returns made in " peltins and 
 wampum." Small vessels and boats trafficked with 
 Long Island, Rhode Island, and elsewhere, and soon 
 the trade extended to New York, and as far as Vir- 
 
 1 By William H. Starr. 
 
 2 It is recorded in New London, lib. 3, " that whatsoever Barbadoes 
 liquors, commonly called mm, liill-devil, or the like, shall be landed in 
 any place in this jurisdiction, drawne or sould in any vessel lying '" 
 any harbor or roade in this commonwealth, shall be ali forfeted and cou- 
 iiscated to the commonwealth." — Jlfiss Caulkins^ History, p. 230. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 207 
 
 ginia. Dry hides and buckskins constituted the 
 principal commerce with the latter place.' 
 
 During the' year 1660 a circumstance of some note 
 occurred in the town. The ship " Hope," from Malaga, 
 Spain, came into harbor in want of provisions. She 
 had been chartered for Virginia, and was loaded with 
 wine, raisins, and almonds, destined for that port. 
 But her voyage had been long and the weather tem- 
 pestuous, and the storm-beaten vessel was leaky and 
 obliged to put into this port for repairs. Her cargo 
 was found to be damaged, and the state of affairs in 
 Virginia was not favorable for its shipment to that 
 colony. As the vessel needed " trimming and sheath- 
 ing," and required the discharge of the cargo for that 
 purpose, it was sold at New London, and the super- 
 cargo of the vessel, Mr. Robert Loveland, became a 
 resident of the town. He entered fully into commer- 
 cial affairs of the place, and prosecuted a voyage to 
 Newfoundland for the purpose of trade and barter. 
 He afterwards purchased a tract of land at Green 
 Harbor, intending to build wharves and warehouses, 
 and to make it a port of entry for the town. Finding 
 the spot unfavorable for the purpose he abandoned 
 the project, and after a few years died, assigning all 
 his estate, " whether lands, houses, horses, cattle, 
 debts due by book, bill, or bond, either in New Eng- 
 land, Virginia, or elsewhere," to Alexander Pygan. 
 
 Commercial relations between New London and 
 Newfoundland were early established. Perk, beef, 
 and other provisions were shipped there, and dry fish, 
 and frequently West India produce were taken in 
 return. This trade continued until after 1700. 
 
 Between New London and Barbadoes an early com- 
 mercial intercourse was established. A regular voy- 
 age was made twice a year to that island with horses, 
 cattle, beef, pork, and frequently pipe staves, which 
 were exchanged for sugar and molasses. This trade 
 was the most lucrative business of the period. Mer- 
 chants of Hartford, Middletown, and Wethersfield 
 made shipments from this town. Captains from the 
 river towns often took in their cargoes at New Lon- 
 don.* 
 
 In 1666, Mould and Coit, previously referred to as 
 the leading ship-builders in New London, launched 
 the ship " New London," a seventy-ton vessel, being 
 larger than any vessel heretofore constructed in the 
 place. The " New London" was designed for and 
 
 ^ The least buckskin was to weigh was four pounds and a half. A 
 pound and a half of liides was equal in value to a pound of bnckskin, 
 one pound of hides equaled two pounds of old iron, two pounds of hides 
 equaled oue pound of old pewter. Here are old iron and old pewter 
 having a fixed value as articles of barter and merchandise! — Misa 
 CauIkinB. 
 
 2 The following receipt shows the comparative value of two prime 
 articles of exchange, 
 
 " Barbadoes : — I underwrit, do hereby acknowledge to have received 
 of Mr. Jeffrey Christophers one bl. of pork, per account of Mr, Benja- 
 min Brewster, the which I have sold for 300 lbs. of sugar.— I!ii»7«i Saii- 
 ford, Aug. 18, 1671. 
 
 "True copy of the receipt which was sent back to Barbadoes by Mr. 
 Giles Hamlin in the ship ' John and James,' Oct. 29, 1671. Charles Hill, 
 Becorder,"— JlfJM Cavllnni' Hiitory, p. 235. 
 
 employed in European voyages. In 1678 the same 
 builders completed the largest, undoubtedly, of all 
 the vessels built by them, viz., the " John and Hester," 
 of about one hundred tons burden, whicli made sev- 
 eral successful voyages under the command of John 
 and Jonathan Prentis, who were part owners of the 
 vessel. 
 
 The West India trade assumed quite an important 
 place in New London. On the 26th of June, 1724, 
 six vessels sailed at one time for the West India 
 Islands, all freighted with cargoes of horses, which at 
 that time constituted a principal article of export 
 from the town. Eight years previous, in 1716, men- 
 tion is made by Miss Caulkins of a shipment by one 
 vessel of forty-five horses to Barbadoes. 
 
 In 1723 "Jeffrey's great ship" was commenced, 
 and launched in October, 1725. Its burden was seven 
 hundred tons, and it was the largest vessel at that 
 time ever built this side of the Atlantic, and excited 
 much interest and attention throughout the colony. 
 New London at that period had acquired a reputation 
 for building large ships. This port is noticed by 
 Douglas, in his history of the British settlements, pub- 
 lished previous to 1750, in which he describes Con- 
 necticut as having eight commercial shipping ports 
 for small crafts; but "all masters," he remarks, "can 
 enter and clear at the port of New London, having a 
 good harbor and deep water." He adds also, " here 
 they build large ships." 
 
 The commercial enterprises of New London con- 
 tinued to increase, and were generally successful until 
 British aggressions and the war of the Revolution in- 
 terrupted and finally closed all its commercial rela- 
 tions. 
 
 Collectors of the Port— Custom-House.— The 
 first collector of the port of New London was Gen. 
 Jedediah Huntington. He was, as before stated, 
 at one time one of Washington's aides and a special 
 favorite under his command. He performed his 
 duties as collector with promptness and fidelity from 
 the close of the Revolutionary war to the second rup- 
 ture with Great Britain. It is said that at least eighty 
 coasters were owned principally at Norwich and New 
 London, and one hundred and fifty sail of merchant 
 vessels entered and cleared at the port of New Lon- 
 don. The receipts of the office were from fifty thou- 
 sand to two hundred thousand dollars annually. Mr. 
 Huntington performed this large amount of business 
 in a single room, the office being in the second story 
 of a store at the corner of Bank Street and the 
 Parade. 
 
 He was succeeded in 1S15 by Gen. Thomas H. 
 Gushing, who held the office until his death in 1822. 
 He had served in the Revolutionary war, and in 1790 
 held a commission as captain in the army of St. Clair. 
 During the second war with Great Britain, in 1813, he 
 attained the rank of brigadier-general. 
 
 Capt. Richard Law was appointed his successor, 
 and continued in office eight years, followed by In- 
 
208 
 
 HISTOKY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 goldsby W. Crawford, eight years ; Charles P. Lester, 
 four years ; Wolcott Huntington, a short term ; Les- 
 ter again until his decease in 1846 ; after which Thos. 
 Muzzey and NichoU Fosdic, the latter receiving his 
 appointment in 1849. More recently the office has 
 been successively filled by Henry Hobart, J. P. C. 
 Mather, Edward Prentis, George T. Marshall, and 
 John A. Tibbits, the present incumbent. 
 
 In 1833 the present fine granite structure on Bank 
 Street was erected by the government as the custom- 
 house for this district, at a cost of thirty thousand 
 dollars. Its accommodations are ample and conven- 
 ient, quite in contrast with the little cramped-up 
 loft occupied by the early collectors. Its door has 
 peculiar interesting historical associations, being con- 
 structed of oak from the old frigate " Constitution," 
 reserved for that purpose. 
 
 New London was noted for the early steam naviga- 
 tion of the Sound. In 1816, one year after the close 
 of the war, the first trip from New York was made by 
 the "Connecticut," Capt. Bunker, on the 28th of 
 September, in twenty-one hours, considered a remark- 
 able and triumphant success in steam navigation at 
 that time. Afterwards she commenced running in 
 regular line to New Haven twice a week, connecting 
 with the " Fulton" at that place for New York. The 
 fare then established to the latter place was nine dol- 
 lars for each passenger. In 1844 freight-boats pro- 
 pelled by steam were introduced, and have since been 
 very largely employed as propellers in the freight de- 
 partment of the transportation lines between New 
 York and Boston. 
 
 New London is also distinguished in this and for- 
 eign countries in connection with the early history of 
 steam navigation. Capt. Moses Rogers, commander, 
 and his brother-in-law, Capt. Stevens Rogers, sailing- 
 master of the steamship "Savannah," both natives of 
 New London, were the first to navigate a steam-vessel 
 across the Atlantic. Their little ship of three hun- 
 dred and fifty tons burden sailed from Savannah May 
 26, 1819, and made the passage to Liverpool in twenty- 
 one days. From Liverpool she proceeded to Copen- 
 hagen, Stockholm, and Sweden. Her arrival at each 
 of the ports produced great excitement. The little 
 American steam craft was heralded in the public jour- 
 nals and visited as a wonder of the age. " Bernadotte 
 King of Sweden, and the Emperor of Russia, with 
 their nobles and public officers, not only came on 
 board to examine the vessel, but tested her perform- 
 ance by short excursions in the neighboring waters." 
 She left Arundel, in Norway, and made her passage 
 back to Savannah in twenty-five days. Capt. Moses 
 Rogers was presented with an elegant silver tea-urn 
 and other costly gifts by the Emperor of Russia, and 
 Capt. Stevens Rogers received from Lord Lynddock, 
 an English nobleman, who was a passenger in the 
 steamer from Stockholm to St. Petersburg, a massive 
 gold snufl!"-box. This is now in the possession of the 
 family. 
 
 The whaling business of New London has been one 
 of importance and success. The enterprise, energy 
 and seamanship of so large a portion of her citizens 
 were important qualifications for this hardy and some, 
 what perilous occupation. As early as 1647 the Gen- 
 eral Court at Hartford passed a resolution granting a 
 monopoly and exclusive privilege " for the taking of 
 whale" within its jurisdiction to one Mr. Whiting for 
 seven years.' We hear nothing further of Mr. Whit- 
 ing's project, and the probability is that it did not 
 prove a success. It was not unusual, however, that 
 whales were often seen in and outside the Sound, and 
 sometimes were pursued and caught by the hardy fish- 
 ermen of the place.^ 
 
 At first the only whaling expeditions were small 
 sloops fitted and sent out for a few weeks' voyage, the 
 extent of which rarely or never extended beyond the 
 banks of Newfoundland, but the business increased, 
 and larger vessels and longer voyages became common. 
 After 1770 voyages were made to the Brazil banks, 
 and the number of vessels from various parts employed 
 in the business increased until, in 1775, Nantucket 
 alone had one hundred and fifty vessels and two 
 thousand men employed in whaling.^ In 1784 the 
 New London Gazette announced the sailing of the 
 sloop " Rising Sun" on a whaling voyage. In 1794 
 the ship " Commerce," owned and fitted out at East 
 Haddam, sailed from New London, and in 1800 a 
 small ship called the " Mianlonomoh" was sent out by 
 Norwich parties, and sailed from New London and 
 passed around Cape Horn. She was, however, seized 
 at Valparaiso by Spanish authorities and condemned. 
 In 1802 the ship " Dispatch," Howard, was fitted 
 out at New London to cruise in the South Seas after 
 whales, but the voyage was not repeated. In 1805 the 
 " Dauphin" was purchased by Dr. Samuel H. P. Lee, 
 through whose efltorts a company was formed and the 
 vessel fitted out for the Brazil banks. She made a 
 successful voyage, and returned with her cargo in 
 June, 1806. After this the business was continued 
 and increased until the embargo, followed by the war 
 of 1812, completely broke up the business. 
 
 After the return of peace to the country the West 
 India trade never revived, but in 1819 the whaling 
 interest recommenced under the late Hon. Thomas 
 W. Williams and Daniel Deshon, who engaged with 
 their characteristic energy in the new enterprise, 
 Messrs. N. & W. W. Billings followed in 1827, and 
 fitted out three ships in the business. These enter- 
 prising pioneers in the whaling interest were soon fol- 
 
 1 " If Mr. Whiting, with nny othei-s, Bliall make trial and prosecute i 
 design for tlie taking of whiile witliin tliese liberties, and if upon trial 
 witliiu tlie term of two yeais tliey sliiill like to go ou, no other sliall be 
 BnfTerod to interrupt them for the term of seven years."— Oitoniai Recorit. 
 
 2 " The wliale-fishery on the soutli side of Long Island 1ms coiislJer' 
 ahly increased. Latterly it has been much neglected. But last winter 
 a number of wliales were caught and killed by the inhabitants, who at- 
 tacked them in boats launched from the shore."— .Sfew York Daily Adm- 
 tiser, published 1802. 
 
 " History of Nantucket. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 209 
 
 lowed by others, — Benjamin Brown & Sons, Miner, 
 Lawrence & Co., Perkins & Smith, Williams & 
 Barnes, Lyman Allyn, Frink & Prentis, Thomas 
 Fitch (2), E. V. Stoddard, Weaver, Rogers & Co., 
 and several others, including Williams, Haven & Co., 
 more recently Haven, Williams & Co., all of whom 
 have contributed largely by their energy and enter- 
 prise to the wealth and growth of the city. In 1845 the 
 number of ships, brigs, and other vessels employed was 
 seventy-eight, the tonnage of which exceeded largely 
 that of any other port in the United States, New Bed- 
 ford only excepted. Many of these vessels made re- 
 markable voyages. That of the " Clematis," Capt. 
 Benjamin, fitted out by Williams & Barnes, which 
 returned in 1841, made her voyage in little less than 
 eleven months, sailed round the globe, and brought 
 home two thousand five hundred and forty-eight barrels 
 of oil, — a voyage worthy of historic record. Of the 
 scores of hardy, enterprising men commanding the 
 numerous vessels engaged in the whaling business we 
 might add very largely, but the foregoing record must 
 suflSce. Capt. John Rice, the oldest in commission 
 whaling-captain of the port, died in 1873, at the age 
 of seventy-five years. 
 
 The late Hon. H. P. Haven, with Richard H. Cha- 
 pell, were among the first and most active originators 
 of the Alaska Commercial Company, one of the most 
 important and successful enterprises in the country, 
 developing the resources of this newly-acquired terri- 
 tory, and yielding to the government annually two 
 hundred and fifty thousand dollars in rent and 
 royalty. Mr. Haven was one of the trustees of the 
 company, and to his influence and efforts may in 
 a good degree be attributed the wise and humane pro- 
 visions of its lease from the government providing 
 for the education and protection of the natives of that 
 remote region.' 
 
 A circumstance of considerable note occurred dur- 
 ing the winter of 1855 in connection with the w^haling 
 interest of the town. This was the arrival in the har- 
 bor of the English ship " Resolute" from the Arctic 
 regions, brought in by Capt. James M. Buddington, of 
 the whale-ship "George Henry," of this port. The 
 "Resolute" was a vessel of six hundred tons burden, 
 stanch and strongly built in England with reference 
 to encountering the hazards of polar navigation, and 
 fitted with special regard for that purpose. She was 
 one of a fleet of five vessels sent out by the British 
 government to search for Sir John Franklin and his 
 crew, under command of Sir Edward Belcher. The 
 effort, it will be recollected, was unsuccessful. The 
 " Resolute," in the vicinity of Melville Island, was 
 separated from her consorts, became entangled in the 
 ice, and, unable to extricate herself, was soon sur- 
 rounded by an ice-field hundreds of miles in extent. 
 After remaining in this condition several months, 
 
 1 The preaent tunn»ge employed in the whale and eeal-flshing in New 
 London is 167:).56. Thirteen vessels are engaged in the business. 
 
 with no prospect of release, she was abandoned by the 
 captain and crew, who returned home in the other 
 vessels of the expedition in safety, leaving their own 
 ship to her fate, imprisoned beyond escape, as they 
 supposed, in the impenetrable ice-fields of the North. 
 
 In September, 1855, sixteen months after her aban- 
 donment, Capt. Buddington and his crew found this 
 vessel while in Davis Straits, and took possession of 
 the abandoned ship. She had drifted at least eleven 
 hundred miles from the place where she had been left 
 by her crew nearly a year and a half previous. Every- 
 thing on board was predisely in the condition in which 
 they had been left. The furniture of the officers' room 
 was undisturbed. The lamps, bottles, wine-glasses, 
 and other articles stood on the table as they were left 
 after their final parting health was drank, apparently 
 to the discoverers but a few hours previous. In the 
 cabin books lay open just as they were laid down 
 from their last perusal, and everything appeared as 
 though but left for the briefest absence. Capt. Bud- 
 dington transferred a part of his own crew to the aban- 
 doned vessel, and after a rough and perilous voyage 
 of about one hundred days brought her safely into 
 New London Harbor. The " Resolute" lay at New 
 London seven months, and was visited by thousands 
 of people from our own and other towns, some far dis- 
 tant, with the greatest interest. The government, 
 however, very properly paid a liberal redemption for 
 her to the rescuers and took possession of the vessel. 
 After having her fully repaired and put in the best 
 condition, she was returned to the British govern- 
 ment as a present, under the command of Capt. Harts- 
 tene, of the United States navy. Capt. Hartstene was 
 the officer that in 1853 had been sent to the Polar seas 
 to relieve Capt. Kane, who commanded the " Second 
 General Expedition to the Arctic Regions." 
 
 The Ferry. — The ferry privilege between New 
 London and Groton was first leased to Edward Mes- 
 senger, Nov. 6, 1651, for the period of twenty years. 
 The lease, however, was surrendered in two or three 
 years, and in 1654, Mr. Winthrop and the townsmen 
 entered into an agreement with Cary Latham, grant- 
 ing him a lease of "the ferry over Pequot River at 
 the town of Pequot for fifty years from the twenty- 
 fifth of March, 1655. The said Cary to take 3d. of 
 every passenger for his fare, 6d. for every horse or 
 great beast, and 3d. for a calf or swine ; and to have 
 liberty to keep some provisions and some strong 
 liquors or wine for the refreshment of passengers. 
 No English or Indians are to pass over or near the 
 ferry-place that they take pay for ; if they do, the 
 said Cary may require it." 
 
 The ferry is now operated by the Thames Ferry 
 Company, which was organized in 1875. Its present 
 officers are ; President, Julius T. Shepard ; Secretary, 
 Charles W. Butler; Treasurer, Frederick H. Harris; 
 Directors, Julius T. Shepard, Edwin A. Delano, 
 George W. Goddard, Leonard Smith, Frank H. Chap- 
 pell. 
 
210 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 New London in 1800.— At that time but few com- 
 paratively of the present streets were opened. Main 
 Street (then the "town street") extended from Mill 
 Brook on the north, along the west margin of Win- 
 throp's Cove, down to State Street; Water Street (or 
 the beach), from near the present site of Chappell's 
 upper wharf down to the Parade. These were the 
 principal business streets of the town. Bank Street 
 continued along the river-bank south to the Shaw 
 mansion, and was connected with Hempstead Street, 
 one of the earliest laid out streets in the town. These, 
 with some others of lesser note, comprised the entire 
 populated portion of the place. The whole of the 
 rocky ridge extending from the old burial-ground 
 on the north to the present site of the residence of 
 the late Hon. H. P. Haven was entirely unoccupied 
 and called Meeting-house Hill. The Congregational 
 church stood alone on its extreme northern limits. 
 West of this ridge very few, if any, dwelling-houses 
 had been erected, and that portion, now a pleasant 
 and important part of the city, was a wild, unculti- 
 vated waste. The old fort, the Episcopal church, and 
 two or three other buildings of note occupied the 
 " Parade." The custom-house and residence of the 
 collector were located on Main Street near the 
 " Cove." The almshouse was situated on an open 
 lot near what is now the corner of Truman and Blin- 
 man Streets, while the family residences were mostly 
 located at the lower part of the town. 
 
 Free and Accepted Masons.'— The antiquity of 
 Freemasonry is, in its principles, coeval with the 
 creation, but in its organization as a peculiar institu- 
 tion (such as it now exists) we dare not trace back 
 farther than the building of King Solomon's temple. 
 
 The existence of the order in Tyre at the time of 
 the building of the temple is universally admitted. 
 
 The first notice we have of Freemasonry in the 
 United States is in 1729. In the year 1733, " St. 
 John's Grand Lodge" was opened in Boston, having 
 been granted a charter by Lord Viscount Montacutt, 
 Grand Master of England. 
 
 Tradition informs us that a Masonic lodge existed 
 in New London many years previous to the Revolu- 
 tionary war, working sometimes in New London and 
 sometimes in Colchester, but there is no recorded proof 
 of the existence of such a lodge, except the following 
 in the history of St. John's Grand Lodge at Boston, 
 Mass., held under date of Jan. 12, 1753, to wit : " The 
 petition of several brethren residing at New London, in 
 the colony of Connecticut, for dispensation to erect a 
 lodge there, was granted." This dispensation was 
 granted by the Right Worshipful Thos. Oxnard, then 
 Provincial Grand Master of New England. There is 
 no further record either of the forming or workings of 
 this lodge, neither is mention made in the proceed- 
 ings of the Grand Lodge of the State of Connecticut 
 of there being a subordinate lodge in New London 
 
 ' By C. B. Ware. 
 
 until the October session of the Grand Lodge in 1795, 
 when we find the name of Elias Perkins as a mem- 
 ber from Union Lodge, New London. 
 
 The original charter of Union Lodge, No. 31, F. 
 and A. M., bears the date of May 20, a.d. 1795, and 
 of Masonry, 5795, being granted upon the application 
 of Amasa Learned, Elijah Bingham, Elias Perkins, 
 Lyman Law, Moses Warren, William Richards, Rich- 
 ard Law, Jr., Lemuel Lee, and bore the names of 
 John Mix, Secretary, William Judd, Grand Master. 
 
 The Worshipful Masters have been as follows; 
 1795, William Richards; 1796-98, Elias Perkins; 
 1799, Ebenezer Perkins ; 1800-4, Lyman Law ; 1805-6, 
 Thos. H. Rawson ; 1807-10, James Baxter ; 1811-14, 
 Hubbell Brooks ; 1815-17, John French (2) ; 1818- 
 21, Lyman Law; 1822, Thos. H. Cushing; 1823, 
 Samuel Green; 1824, John French (2); 1825-26, 
 Dyer T. Brainard ; 1827, Ephraim H. Babcock ; 1828, 
 DyerT. Brainard ; 1829-30, Lyman Law; 1831, Wm, 
 F. Brainard ; 1832, Hezekiah Goddard ; 1833, John 
 French (2) ; 1834-36, Joshua Hamilton; 1837-39, Na- 
 than S. Perkins ; 1840-41, Dyer T. Brainard ; 1842-44, 
 Elisha Douglas ; 1845, Samuel Barry ; 1846^8, Eli- 
 sha Douglas ; 1849, Joshua Hamilton ; 1850-51, Edw. 
 Clark; 1852, George W. Goddard; 1853, Aaron E. 
 Stone; 1854, Edward Clark; 1855-56, Seth Smith; 
 1857, James M. Latham ; 1858, John Gordon ; 1859, 
 Wm. W. Stark ; 1860-61, Fred. L. Allen ; 1862^63, 
 David Sprague ; 1866, E. B. Rowe ; 1867, Philo B. Ho- 
 vey ; 1868, Joseph F. Vodwarka ; 1869-70, Alden W. 
 Hewitt ; 1871, Wm. B. Tubbs ; 1872-75, Joseph F. 
 Vodwarka; 1876-77, Owen C. Williams; 1878-79, 
 Dudley B. Chapman. 
 
 The ofiicers for 1880 were as follows: Edward E. 
 Winslow, W. M. ; Henry G. Woodworth, S. W. ; Philip 
 Dew ire, J. W. ; C. J. Shepard, Treas. ; C. C. Jeffery, 
 Sec. ; James E. Comstock, S. D. ; A. F. Anderson, 
 J. D. ; Charles Bentley, Marshal ; Anthony Jerome, 
 Tyler. 
 
 Bbainard Lodge, No. 102. — The charter of above 
 lodge was granted June 1st, in the year of our Lord 
 1867, and of Masonry 5867, upon the petition of 
 Brothers Edward B. Rowe, John H. Heath, George 
 W. Bentley, Charles M. Wilcox, Christopher Culver, 
 Samuel W. Caulkins, Benjamin P. Watrous. 
 
 The Past Masters have been Edward B. Eowe, 
 1867-73 ; Samuel W. Caulkins, 1873-74 ; George W, 
 Potter, 1874-77 ; James McMoran, Jr., 1877-78; John 
 Miller, 1878-79; William E. Greene, 1879-80. 
 
 The officers for 1880 were Edward Prentis, Jr., M.; 
 Benjamin H. Lee, S. W. ; John G. Crump, J. W.; 
 Charles W. Strickland, Jr., Treas. ; Philip C. Dun- 
 ford. Sec; L. S. Olmstead, S. D. ; Horace H. DaboU, 
 J. D. ; W. A. Gaillard, S. S. ; A. Wagner, J. S. ; Goetz 
 Bachert, Marshal ; John H. Brown, Tyler; L W.Dow, 
 L. S. Olmstead, D. D. Latham, trustees. 
 
 Union Chapter, No. 7, R. A. M.— The charter 
 of Union Chapter, No. 7, was granted to Elepham 
 Bulkley as High Priest ; James Baxter, Scribe ; Allen 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 211 
 
 King, King, Sept. 1, 1801, a.l. 5801 ; but there is no 
 further record of the forming or working of this 
 chapter until 1805, when Union Chapter was repre- 
 sented at a convocation of the Grand Koyal Arch 
 Chapter of the State of Connecticut, holden at the city 
 of Hartford, Oct. 9, a.d. 1805. 
 
 The proceedings of the Grand Chapter from its or- 
 ganization up to 1855 having never been printed, and 
 as the manuscripts are the only records in the office 
 of the Grand Secretary, it is impossible to trace the 
 connecting links from the time the charter was granted 
 until that year. 
 
 The officers for 1881 are as follows : Companions 
 D. B. Chapman, H. P. ; P. B. Hovey, K. ; J. Griffin 
 Ely, Scribe ; Edward Winslow, C. H. ; Orlo Atwood, 
 P. S. ; Alfred Fenwick, Sec. ; Alexander Merrill, 
 Treas. ; John Miller, R. A. C. ; John Salter, M. 3d V. ; 
 C. W. Churchill, M. 2d V. ; T. P. Bindlass, M. 3d V. ; 
 Anthony Jerome, Tyler. 
 
 CusHiNG Council, No. 4, E. and S. M.— The 
 council takes its name from Thos. H. Gushing, Wor- 
 shipful Grand Master of Union Lodge in 1822, who 
 did much to advance Cryptic Masonry among New 
 London brethren, and through whose teachings was 
 the formation of above council from a charter granted 
 May 10, A.D. 1855, a.l. 2855, Royal and Select Masters, 
 dating from the year in which King Solomon's temple 
 was completed. Royal Arch Masons commence their 
 era with the year in which the second temple was com- 
 menced, which was five hundred years before Christ. 
 The officers for 1881 are Alfred Fenwick, T. I. M. ; 
 John Miller, Rt. I. D. M. ; E. Winslow, I. P. C. ; John 
 Salter, C. G.; Alex. Merrill, Comp. Treas.; Chas. B. 
 Ware, Comp. Rec. ; Orlo Atwood, Comp. Cond. ; F. P. 
 Kenyon. Comp. Steward; Anthony Jerome, Comp. 
 Sen. 
 
 Palestine Commandery, No. 4, K. T.^-The char- 
 ter of Palestine Commandery bears date of May 10, 
 A.D. 1855, A.o. 1123, being granted by the Grand Com- 
 mandery, but bears only the signature of the Right 
 Eminent Grand Commander. 
 
 The officers for 1881 are Sir Knight Philo B. 
 Hovey, E. C; Sir Knight Wm. H. Tubbs, C. G.; Sir 
 Knight Wm. H. Bentley, Gen.; Sir Knight Chas. B. 
 Ware, S. W. ; Sir Knight C. W. Strickland, J. W. ; 
 Sir Knight F. W. Smith, Prelate; Sir Knight Alfred 
 Fenwick, Sentinel. 
 
 Knights Templar were the most celebrated and 
 powerful of the mediaeval military orders of Christen- 
 dom. Their origin dates from the early ages of the 
 Christian Church, when a holy veneration for the 
 scenes which had been consecrated by the Founder of 
 our religion led thousands of pious pilgrims to visit 
 Jerusalem, for the purpose of offering up their devo- 
 tions at the sepulchre of the Lord. But when Pales- 
 tine was conquered by the Arabs the dangers attend- 
 ing the pilgrimage were eminently increased, and to 
 protect the pious pilgrims (in 1064 not less than 
 seven thousand pilgrims assembled around the tomb 
 
 of Christ) thus exposed to plunder and death, a 
 band of noble knights, who had distinguished them- 
 selves at the siege of Jerusalem, united in a brother- 
 hood and bound themselves to protect the pilgrims 
 through the passes and defiles of the mountains to the 
 Holy City. The order as it now exists in the United 
 States is a lineal descendant of the ancient order. 
 
 There are several Odd-Fellow and other lodges in 
 the city, but we have been unable to secure a history 
 of them. 
 
 Incorporation of New London.— New London 
 was incorporated as a city in January, 1784, and the 
 first meeting for the election of officers was held on 
 the 8th of the following March, with Winthrop Sal- 
 tonstall as moderator. The following officers were 
 chosen: Mayor, Richard Law; Treasurer, Guy Rich- 
 ards ; Clerk, John Owen ; Aldermen, John Deshon, 
 David Mumford, Winthrop Saltonstall, and Thomas 
 Shaw; City Sheriff, Col. Wm. Richards. The city 
 seal is a full-rigged ship with spread sails and the 
 motto Mare Liberum. Richard Law, the first mayor, 
 continued in office twenty-two years, and Jeremiah G. 
 Brainard, his successor, twenty-three years. The fol- 
 lowing is a list of their successors : Elias Perkins, 
 Coddington Billings, Noyes Billings, Jirah Isham, 
 Francis Allyn, George C. Wilson, Caleb J. Allen, 
 Andrew M. Frink, J. P. C. Mather, Andrew C. Lip- 
 pitt, Henry P. Haven, Jonathan N. Harris, Hiram 
 Willey, Frederick L. Allen, Augustus Brandegee, 
 Thomas M. Waller, and Robert Coit, the present 
 incumbent. 
 
 Schools. — The first mention in the old town-book 
 concerning schools is under date of Dec. 14, 1698, 
 when it was " Vouted that the Town Grants one halfe 
 peny in mony upon the List of Estate to be -raised for 
 the use of a free schoole that shall teach Children to 
 Reade, Write, and Cypher, and ye Latin Tongue, 
 which School shall be kept two-thirds of the yeare on 
 the west side and one third part of the yeare on the 
 East side of the river. By Reading is intended such 
 Children as are in their psalters." 
 
 In 1713 a school-house was built, twenty feet by 
 sixteen, and seven feet between joints, expense de- 
 frayed by a town rate. This building, the first school- 
 house in town of which we have any account, stood 
 on what is now the southwest corner of Hempstead 
 and Broad Streets. This spot was then the northeast 
 corner of an ecclesiastical reservation ; the street run- 
 ning west had not been opened beyond this point, 
 and the school-house stood at the head, of it. When 
 the lot was sold in 1738, the deed expressly mentions 
 that it took in the site of the old school-house. To 
 this school it is understood that girls were not admit- 
 ted promiscuously with boys, but attended by them- 
 selves on certain days of the week, an hour at a time, 
 at the close of the boys' school, for the purpose of 
 learning to write. 
 
 " Oct. 1, 1716. Voted that Mr. Jeremiah Miller is 
 well accepted and approved as our School-master." 
 
212 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Mr. Miller graduated at Yale College in 1709. He 
 was engaged as principal of the grammar school in 
 New London in 1714, and continued in that situa- 
 tion for twelve or fifteen years. After this we find 
 the following masters mentioned before 1760 : Mr. 
 Cole, in 1733; Allan Mullins, 1734; Nicholas Hal- 
 lam, 1735 ; Jeremiah Chapman, 1738 ; Thaddeus 
 Betts, 1740 ; Jonathan Copp, 1747. 
 
 As early as 1763, Mr. Robert Bartlet, a gentleman 
 of handsome property but no family, bequeathed his 
 entire estate to the town for educational purposes. 
 For several years this estate remained in the hands of 
 tru.stees. In 1678 the General Assembly passed a law 
 requiring the maintenance of a school to teach chil- 
 dren to read and write by every town of thirty fam- 
 ilies in the colony. In 1698 the town voted a tax for 
 a free school to teach children reading, writing, 
 arithmetic, and the Latin language, and in 1701 a 
 grammar school was established, and the revenue of 
 the Bartlet estate was directed to be used for the 
 benefit of the poor who attended the school. In 
 1713 the first school-house of which there is any 
 account was built near the present site of the house 
 of the late Hon. H. P. Haven, and the school taught 
 tliere was denominated the " New London Grammar 
 School," which in after-years was changed to the 
 " Bartlet School," or " Bartlet Grammar School." 
 
 The designation " Bartlet School" was not used 
 until a very recent period. During the whole of the 
 eighteenth century it had no name but " New Lon- 
 don Grammar School." 
 
 The Free Grammar School, located first on Hemp- 
 stead Street, was afterwards removed and placed in 
 the highway for the convenience of the pupils. 
 Probably not an individual now remains who at- 
 tended Master Owen's school in that low, one-story, 
 quaint frame structure. In 1795 this was abandoned, 
 and a large and more commodious brick building 
 erected in the highway south of the court-house. 
 This remained nearly forty years, and was superseded 
 by another and more eligible edifice on Union Street. 
 The two most noted teachers in this school were 
 Master John Owen and Dr. Ulysses Dow, each of 
 whom occupied the position about forty years. Some 
 of our present citizens will recollect the many eccen- 
 tricities of Dr. Dow, and his peculiar mode of admin- 
 istering his various prescriptions to his pupils. 
 
 The Union School, established in 1774, was in- 
 tended to furnish facilities for a thorough English 
 education and a classical preparation for college. A 
 building was erected for this purpose on State, near 
 Union Street,' the latter of which was not then 
 opened. Its first preceptor, the lamented Nathan 
 Hale, before alluded to, occupied it in 1775.^ After 
 his voluntary enlistment and appointment in the 
 American army, his successors were Seth Williston, 
 a graduate of Dartmouth College, who afterwards 
 
 1 The present site of the Crocker House. 
 
 2 Still standing. 
 
 attained celebrity in the ministry ; Jacob Gurley 
 afterwards a lawyer of note in New London ; Eben- 
 ezer Learned, a graduate of Yale College, then but 
 nineteen years of age ; afterwards, Knight, of the 
 Medical College of New Haven ; Olmstead, of Yale; 
 Mitchell, of the University of North Carolina, and 
 others who have since been men of note in the com- 
 munity. 
 
 The building was afterwards removed, the land on 
 which it stood was sold, a new charter obtained, and 
 a reorganization took place. A brick building was 
 erected on Huntington Street, and the school flour- 
 ished for a few years, but in 1850 it was discontinued 
 and the building sold.' 
 
 In 1799 a female academy was incorporated by the 
 Legislature, and a building erected by the proprietora 
 on Green Street. This was continued about thirty 
 years. In 1834 a new and commodious building was 
 erected on Broad Street, and placed under charge of 
 Eev. Daniel Huntington, and was sustained several 
 years under Mr. H. P. Farnsworth, who succeeded 
 him. The school has since been consolidated with 
 all the other district schools of the place, and is sus- 
 tained by the town, and, under the title of the Young 
 Ladies' High School, maintains an excellent repu- 
 tation for the intelligence and proficiency of its 
 pupils. 
 
 In 1849, Leonard Bulkeley left with trustees a large 
 portion of his estate for the purpose of founding a 
 free school for boys, and this fund, increased by the 
 Bartlet, with some subsequent appropriations and 
 other additions, has given the city the fine building 
 and excellent educational institution now occupying 
 the old Town Square. In addition to this, the appro- 
 priations of the city for our well-conducted and 
 flourishing district schools amount to eighteen thou- 
 sand dollars annually. 
 
 The Yellow Fever. — That terrible and fatal epi- 
 demic, the yellow fever, that swept through many of 
 our most populous cities with such fatal malignity in 
 the autumn of 1798, fell upon New London also. Its 
 ravages were not general throughout the town, but more 
 particularly confined to a district about two hundred 
 rods in extent from north to south, taking the market 
 as a centre. The northern portion of Bank Street suf- 
 fered the most severely. From the market to Golden 
 Street, a distance of about one hundred rods, Mr. 
 Holt, the editor of the Bee newspaper, printed at that 
 time, states that, except the few persons that fled at 
 the first alarm, but two persons over twelve years of 
 age of the regular inhabitants escaped the infection. 
 The first case of the disease occurred in August. By 
 the middle of October it began to abate, and by the 
 end of the month entirely disappeared. Nearly four 
 hundred cases occurred, riiore than ninety of which 
 proved fatal. 
 
 The ravage of the pestilence was at last arrested 
 
 ^ This is now occupied -as the Bethel Church. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 213 
 
 by the flight of the inhabitants. The place was 
 almost depopulated, and the adjoining towns were 
 thrown into a state of alarm and consternation lest 
 the fugitives that found shelter under their roofs 
 should spread the infection through their families. 
 For a few weeks silence and solitude reigned in the 
 deserted streets. Shops were closed, the hum of in- 
 dustry ceased, vessels hovered far away from the 
 harbor, countrymen avoided the place. Even the 
 " mourners ceased to go about the streets,'' and the 
 ftineral rites were performed only by the sexton and 
 his assistants. To those who remained in their houses 
 taking care of the sick it was a sad spectacle to see the 
 frequent hearse bearing away its burden from the door. 
 
 Yet there were cheering circumstances in the midst 
 of this general dismay. Humanity was active, charity 
 was open-hearted, benevolence was untiring and self- 
 forgetful. The noble members of the health com- 
 mittee never shrank from their duties, but spent their 
 whole time in going from house to house to relieve 
 and assist the sick and necessitous. Dr. S. H. P. Lee, 
 the principal physician of the city, visited and sup- 
 plied with medicine from thirty to fifty patients daily, 
 and only omitted these services when he had himself 
 a severe but short struggle with the disease, when the 
 gratuitous aid of one or two country physicians in 
 part supplied his place. It was a dreadful scourge 
 for the city, almost entirely suspending its business 
 during the remainder of the year. Since that period, 
 with the exception of a few cases in 1803, this epi- 
 demic has been unknown in the place. 
 
 The Old Militia. — The following is a list of the 
 members of the first company of infantry of the 
 Third Regiment Connecticut State Militia in 1842. 
 For this list we are indebted to the JSfew London Tele- 
 gram . 
 
 "New London, Sept. 9, 1842. 
 "SiE, — Tou are hereby directed to give legal warning to all the mem- 
 bers of the First Company of Infantry, Third Begiment Connecticut 
 State Militia, to appear armed and equipped, as the law directs, at the 
 store of Anson Cliase, in Gulden Street, on Saturday, the 24th day of Sep- 
 tember, A.D. 1842, at ten o'clock p.m. precisely, for inspection and drill, 
 preparatory to regimental review, and make due return of this order on 
 or before the 20th day of September. 
 
 "Also, in pursuance of an order from the colonel of tlie Third Regiment 
 (Orrin F. Smith), you are commanded to give legal warning to all the 
 members of eaid company to appear armed and equipped, as the law di- 
 rects, near the Presbyterian meeting-honse in the town of Lyme, ou 
 Thursday, the 6th day of October, a.d. 1842, at seven o'clock a.m., for 
 regimental inspection, review, and exercise, and make due return of 
 this order on or before the 3d day of October. 
 
 "Also, to notify all persona residing in the town of New London be- 
 tween the ages of sixteen and eighteen of their enrollment in the First 
 Company of Infantry, Third Regiment, and make due return of this 
 order on or before the 3d day of October. 
 
 "Charles E. Holt, 
 " Captain First Company of InfaiitTy, to 
 " W. M. Smith, 
 " 0. 8. of said Company^ 
 "New London, Sept. 20, 1842. 
 " Sir, — In consequence of an order from you, I gave legal warning to 
 the following persons ntimed to appear as per militia order. 
 " (Attest) " Wm. M. Smith, 
 
 "0. 8. First Comp.^ Third Regt., Third Brigade, Conn. 8tale Militia, 
 " To Charles E. Holt, 
 " Capt. First Comp., Third Begt., Third Brigade, Crnin. State Militia. 
 
 "Sergeants, Franklin Potter, Henry Bishop, Wm. B. Kirby, Wm. Briggs, 
 Samuel Barry, John McKeeler, John Frink, Daniel B. Hempstead, 
 John Young; Corporals, Julius T. Shepard, Nathaniel Richards^ 
 David Lyscom, Ephraim Cordner; Drum, Lucius Sperry ; Fife. John 
 C. Daniels, John Mattoon ; Privates, Thomas Riley, John McMoran, 
 Leonard McMoran, James McMoran, John T. Nichols, David Cornald, 
 James Willis, Joseph Anderson, Andrew Lawrence, Wm. Bishop, 
 Abram Anderson, Joseph Richards, Charles BoIIps, Wm. W. Green, 
 James Austin, Isaac Champlin, James Fenner, Henry Manning, 
 George Rathbone, Lyman Wade, Joseph Bailey, Samuel Loyd, 
 Franklin Cornell, Jared Smith, Ciiristopher Prince, George T. Shep- 
 ard, Wm. Starr, Daniel Starr, Henry Hagan, T. D. Rnddock, Moses 
 Darrow, George P.Rogers, Wm. B. McEwen, James B. Hubbard, 
 Wm. North, Charles Ames, Luther P. Fisher, Sabin P. Smith, Stephen 
 Babcock, Henry Bill, George Darrow, Albert A. Gillott, Lathrop 
 Boy ington, James Greenfield, John Brandegee, Stephen Buddington, 
 Perry Green Turner, Allen Pendleton, Wm. Boyington, Adam F. 
 Prentiss, Daniel Ayres, James Crocker, Mr. Claflyn, Eliaa Perkins 
 (2), John Ames, John Douglass, Calvin Culvert, Franklin Skinner, 
 Alexander Skinner, James Sweet, Franklin Beebo, Edwin Lamphere, 
 Joseph Bishop, Franklin Greson, Gad Smith, Jacob A. Geer, David 
 Walker, Charles Dennis, Ebenezer Payne, Nemiah Smith, Joseph 
 Crumb, Mr. Swain, John Fennel, John Warren, John Lewis, Charles 
 Pollard, Nelson Baldwin, Gnrdon Smith, Ezra Vergason, Jame-s Mil- 
 ler, Wm. B. Tate, Wm. E. Peckham, Martin K. Cady, Ansyl Cady, 
 Washington Smith, C. L. Daboll, John Brownell, Franklin Preston, 
 Mr. Holdridge, Joseph Beebe, Goodley E. Godfrey, Charles Hemp- 
 stead, Leander R. Williams, Thomas Prenlis, George Holmes, Paul 
 A. C. Rogers, Joshua Wheeler, William Chaplain, Matthew Saunders, 
 Wm. Bolton, Jr., Jared Chappel, Franklin Rogers, Mr. Leeds, Wm. 
 S. Wiley, Edward Gardner, William Maloney (2), Elisha Forsyth, 
 Joseph Chapman, Albert Whipple, Jason Beckwith, David Maynard, 
 Mr. Osborn, James Lawson, Miroch Beckwith, Marvin Ames, Richard 
 Fengar, William Clark, Ebenezer Allen, John L. Crocker, Hamilton 
 Daniels, Henry Smith, Walter French, Matthew Stillman, President 
 M. Rogers, Joseph Rogers, Mr. Tucker, Thomas M. Ginley, Asa 
 Davis, Chauncey Beech, Nathan Beele, Shaw Perkins, Syral Hughes, 
 Lewis Wilson, James Nichols, Franklin Moore, Charles Armstrong, 
 Joseph Howard, Henry Barker, Samuel Hurlbut, Jr., Ephraim H. 
 GofF, John Crystal, Joseph Gray, John Dearborn, Francis Fox, Acore 
 Smith, John Shelley, Ebenezer H. Watrous, Stephen Brown, Samuel 
 Lepard, George Learned, George Cobb, Raymond Penhallow, Luke 
 Flynn, James Gromley, John Crocker, Jonathan Douglass, Peter 
 Mason, Leonard Simmons, Daniel Penhallow, Jr., Charles Squires, 
 Levi Teft, Orlando Rogers, James Rogers, Erastus Huntley, William 
 Rogers. Mr. Treat, Mr. Strong, Richard Cross, John Bulkely, David 
 Hutchinson, Oliver W. Armstrong, John Maynard, Caleb Kenyon, 
 Caleb Burrows, William Wilson, William H. Clark, William Berry, 
 George Stillman, Charles Darrow, James Hall, Oliver Sisson, Benja- 
 min Adams, Gurdon Jeffrey, Daniel W. Whipple." 
 
 " State of Connecticut, 
 " County of New London. 
 "Be it known. That on the 20th day of September and 3d day of Oc- 
 tober, 1842, personally appeared William M. Smith, and made oath in 
 due form of law that the persons above named were duly warned by 
 him. as directed, by leaving a true and attested copy of the original 
 order at their usual place of abode. 
 
 " Sworn and subscribed, the day and year mentioned, before me. 
 " (Attest) " Charles E. Holt, 
 
 " Capt. First Comp., Third Regt. Conn. State Militia.^^ 
 
 City Hall. — The hall of records, completed in 1856, 
 under the supervision of a judicious committee ap- 
 pointed by the town, is a neat and substantial struc- 
 ture, fifty-two by fifty-four feet in size, built of 
 polished freestone, and occupies a very eligible po- 
 sition on the corner of State and Union Streets. The 
 basement affords ample accommodations for the post- 
 office in all its departments. The first story, ap- 
 proached by an easy flight of freestone steps, is occu- 
 pied for the Probate and Police Courts, the office of 
 the water commissioners, and the recorder's office. 
 The other apartments are the very convenient and 
 
214 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 well-arranged Common Council room, occupying the 
 third story, and other public offices. The cost of the 
 building and lot was thirty-three thousand dollars. 
 
 Burial-Grounds. — The first burial-place in the 
 town, and the oldest in the county, occupied a plot 
 north of the " meeting-house on the hill." This 
 ancient place of sepulture is still preserved, and its 
 mossy headstones' and crumbling tablets are re- 
 garded with deep interest by many of our citizens. 
 The spot will long remain sacred as the peaceful rest- 
 ing-place of the early honored and revered dead of 
 the colony. 
 
 The second burial-ground was purchased by tax on 
 the ratable estate of the citizens, and opened in 1793. 
 For several years it was the principal place of inter- 
 ment in the town. Here originally were deposited 
 the remains of Bishop Seabury, Gen. Jedediah Hunt- 
 ington, Hon. Richard Law, Hon. Lyman Law, Gen. 
 Burbeck, Capt. Elisha Hinman, Capt. N. Fosdic, 
 John F. C. Brainard, the lamented poet, and many 
 others of equal note ; the most of these, however, have 
 since been reinoved to Cedar Grove Cemetery, and 
 interments here are now discontinued. 
 
 The third ground is located in the outskirts of the 
 city, and is still occupied as a family burial-place. 
 
 Cedar Grove Cemetery, about one mile from the 
 city limits, is now the present principal hallowed 
 place of sepulture. This pleasant and retired loca- 
 tion was purchased and consecrated to its sacred use 
 in 1851. Its natural beauty, commanding prospect, 
 sequestered dell, quiet lakelet, and shadowing ever- 
 greens all combine to render it a most appropriate 
 and hallowed spot, where the loved and departed may 
 peacefully rest beneath its quiet shades. The many 
 monumental tributes of affection, beautiful in design 
 and rich in architectural adornment, already erected 
 give ample evidence of the strong hold that this 
 sacred " garden of the dead" has upon the affections 
 of the inhabitants. 
 
 Manufactories. — The manufacturing companies of 
 New London consist mainly of the Albertson & Doug- 
 lass Machine Company, now occupying their extensive 
 works on Main Street, and doing a large business in 
 boilers and steamboat machinery and machine-work 
 generally. The Broion Cotton-Oin Company, on Shaw's 
 Neck, incorporated in 1869, engaged exclusively in 
 the cotton-gin business, and noted as turning out some 
 of the most perfect and beautiful gins in the country. 
 The Wilson Manufacturing Company, having a capital 
 of one hundred thousand dollars, with extensive 
 works occupying two full city blocks in the heart of 
 the city, are engaged largely in the manufacture of 
 mowing-machines, brass-work, tools, and other im- 
 plements. 
 
 The Brainerd and Armstrong Company, silk manu- 
 facturers, located at No. 1 Water Street, was organ- 
 
 1 A few yeara since the city authorities built a new wall of iaclosure 
 and replaced and reset the fallen headstones, and in a measure renovated 
 this ancient bui'ial-ground. 
 
 ized under the laws of the State of Connecticut, Sept. 
 22, 1879, with a capital of sixty thousand dollars, all 
 paid in, contributed by James P. Brainerd (of Hart- 
 ford, Conn.), Benjamin A. Armstrong (of New Lon- 
 don), and Leonard 0. Smith (of Philadelphia), in 
 equal sums of twenty thousand dollars. The officers 
 since the date of organization are James P. Brainerd 
 president ; L. O. Smith, vice-president ; Benjamin A. 
 Armstrong, treasurer. The annual production is 
 valued at three hundred thousand dollars ; hands 
 employed at New London, Conn., one hundred and 
 twenty-five. This company is also interested in silk 
 manufacturing at Florence and Leeds, Mass. They 
 have salesrooms, etc., at 469 Broadway, New York ; 
 238 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa.; 35 Sharp 
 Street, Baltimore, Md. ; and 4 Fifth Avenue, Pitts- 
 burgh, Pa. 
 
 The Acid Pump and Syphon Company is located 
 in Bank Street, and manufacture Nichols' acid 
 pumps. 
 
 The Livesey Manufacturing Company is a new firm 
 engaged in the manufacture of steel-roller bushings 
 and cast-iron sheaves. 
 
 Orlo Atwood & Son, formerly engaged in making 
 silk-twist, now making trams and organzines. 
 
 The Quinnebaug Fertilizer Company is also doing a 
 large business. In addition to the above is the im- 
 mense establishment of C. D. Boss & Son (see biog- 
 raphy of C. D. Boss), cracker manufacturers, and the 
 New London Woolen-Mills. 
 
 Gas. — The New London Gas Company was incor- 
 porated in April, 1853, with a capital of seventy thou- 
 sand dollars, and the privilege of increasing the same 
 to one hundred thousand dollars. The company ob- 
 tained from the city exclusive privilege for fifteen 
 years on condition of furnishing fifty lamp-posts and 
 supplying the city with gas at two dollars and fifty 
 cents and individuals four dollars per thousand feet, 
 the price afterwards to be modifi.ed according to cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 Water-Works. — In its supply of water for the city 
 for all purposes New London surpasses most New 
 England towns. An act of the General Assembly, 
 passed at the May session in 1871, "To provide the 
 city of New London with pure and wholesome water," 
 was promptly carried into efioct by a city appropria- 
 tion of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in 
 bonds and the appointment of an efficient Board of 
 Commissioners, composed of William H. Barns, J. T. 
 Shepard, Charles M. Daboll, J. C. Learned, and E. 
 H. Chapell. Lake Konomoc, a beautiful sheet of 
 water about six miles distant from the city, with 
 about ninety acres of the adjoining lands, was pur- 
 chased, a massive and substantial dam of earth, con- 
 crete, and mason-work constructed, raising the water 
 ten feet above its natural level, and enlarging the lake 
 to two hundred acres, insuring a most abundant sup- 
 ply of water at all times for the city. The works were 
 designed by J. T. Fanning, consulting engineer, and 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 215 
 
 built under the direction of W. H. Richards, civil 
 engineer, who has ever since been in charge. As a 
 bountiful supply for the city for the next half-century 
 it may be said to be inexhaustible. Lake Konomoc's 
 estimated capacity is 600,000,000 gallons ; its annual 
 supply is 530,286,000 gallons, or 50 gallons per day 
 each for 29,000 persons. It has a head of from eighty 
 to one hundred and seventy feet, rendering the city 
 steam fire-engines entirely useless. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 NEW LONDON— (Continued). 
 
 THE PRESS— THE BANKING INTBEBSTS. 
 
 The New London Summary — New London Gazette — The Connecticut 
 Gazette — The Weekly Oracle — The Bee — The Republican Advocate — 
 The Connecticut Sentinel — The People's Advocate — The Morning 
 Dally News— The Daily Chronicle — The Weekly Chronicle — The 
 State Temperance Journal — The Repository — The New London Demo- 
 crat — The Morning Star — The New London Telegram — The Day — 
 The Union Bank — The New London City National Bank — The Na- 
 tional Whaling Bank — The National Bank of Commerce — The 
 Savings-Bank of New Loudon — The Mariners' Savings-Bank. 
 
 The first New London newspaper was established 
 by Timothy Green^ in August, 1758. This was a 
 small half-sheet paper, published weekly, and called 
 the New London Summary. After a continuance of 
 five years its editor died, and its issue was suspended 
 until 1763, when it was revived under the title of the 
 New London Gazette. This was continued a few years, 
 was enlarged, and the name changed to the Connecti- 
 cut Gazette, the name of the first newspaper in the 
 colony, but which had then been discontinued. The 
 Gazette was continued by Timothy Green & Son, 
 Samuel Green, Cady & Eells, again by Samuel 
 Green, John J. Hyde, S. H. Green, and A. G. Sea- 
 man, until at the expiration of more than eighty 
 years its existence ceased. The Weekly Oracle ap- 
 peared in 1796, printed and published by James 
 Springer. The Bee was printed and published by 
 Charles Holt from 1797 to 1802, and then transferred 
 to Hudson, N. Y. The Republican Advocate, by Clapp 
 & Francis, was established in 1818, and continued to 
 1828, when it was succeeded by the Connecticut Senti- 
 nel, which was soon discontinued. The People's Ad- 
 vocate was commenced in August, 1840, published by 
 Benjamin P. Bissell, and continued, under the editor- 
 ship of John J. Hyde, Thomas P. Trott, J. G. Dol- 
 bear, and W. D. Manning, until April, 1848, when it 
 was merged into the weekly and daily Chronicle. The 
 Morning Daily Newe, the first daily paper published 
 in New London, was established by Mr. Dolbear, and 
 was afterwards merged in the Daily Chronicle. The 
 New London weekly and daily Chronicle was pub- 
 
 * Timothy Green was the progenitor of the famous line of Greens, dis- 
 tinguished as printers and publishers in New London for nearly a cen- 
 tury, Col. Samuel Green being the last of the family. ' 
 
 lished by C. F. Daniels and F. H. Bacon from 1848 
 to 1858, when it passed into the hands of William O. 
 Irish and Charles Butler, and afterwards into the 
 possession of William H. Starr, and after a short 
 time was merged in the Stfite Temperance Journal, and 
 the Chronicle was discontinued. In 1858, The Reposi- 
 tory, a family paper, was established by W. H. Starr, 
 and continued four years. In 1845 the New London 
 Democrat was established by J. M. Scofield, who in 
 1848 issued in connection with it a small daily, the 
 Morning Star. This passed into the hands of D. S. 
 Ruddock, who continued the publication until 1853, 
 when an association of gentlemen, under the title of 
 the "New London Printing Company," purchased 
 the paper and office, and are now the publishers of 
 the Gazette, a well-filled weekly sheet, and the Evening 
 Telegram, a daily paper, both of which are having a 
 very liberal circulation. 
 
 The New London Telegram and the Connecti- 
 cut Gazette. — The initial number of the New London 
 Telegram was issued Saturday, May 10, 1878. It was 
 published by the New London Printing Company, 
 and the editorial staff was composed of Courtland I. 
 Shepard, business editor and manager; John A. Tib- 
 bitts, political and supervising editor ; and John 0. 
 Turner, city editor. It began its existence as an in- 
 dependent Republican journal, and has retained this 
 position. Previous to its appearance the papers pub- 
 lished in New London had been noted for their ina- 
 bility to exist, and for a paucity of news and enter- 
 prise. The Telegram has endeavored to reverse this 
 experience. It has striven to give its patrons a com- 
 plete and entertaining summary of all telegraphic 
 news, and to place before its readers a thorough 
 history of local events. In all matters concerning 
 the welfare of the cit^ and the widening of its busi- 
 ness relations it has taken pronounced and advanced 
 ground, holding that the facilities possessed by the 
 harbor and the city have never been appreciated or 
 utilized, and that these were peculiarly adapted to 
 the needs of manufactures and ocean commerce. It 
 has fostered local improvements and upheld all wise 
 and beneficial sanitary measures. It has collected 
 and produced faithful reports of all meetings and 
 events falling within its radius, and has sought to be 
 a useful and entertaining member of the newspaper 
 fraternity. 
 
 By its enterprise and generous outlay it soon so in- 
 creased its circulation that it was forced to add to its 
 editorial staff Mr. Turner, taking charge of the gen- 
 eral news, and Mr. Gilbert Fox, assuming the post of 
 city editor. Ill health and business changes have 
 caused the usual calling in of new men. Mr. Fox 
 was succeeded by Mr. W. A. Carroll, Mr. Carroll by 
 Mr. John G. Crump, and Mr. Crump by Mr. Walter 
 Fitzmaurice. Mr. Turner and Mr. Tibbitts both 
 sought new editorial fields, and were succeeded by 
 Mr. Julius T. Shepard (2) and Mr. Crump. The 
 editorial staff at present, July, 1881, is as follows: 
 
216 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Mr. C. I. Shepard, business editor; Mr. John G. 
 Crump, political and editorial; Mr. Julius T. Shep- 
 ard (2) general news ; Mr. Walter Fitzmaurice, city. 
 
 In the matter of occasional contributors the Tele- 
 gram has been peculiarly fortunate. It has always 
 extended a ready welcome to home talent, and has 
 made the encouragement of the literary element a 
 specialty. It was the first to make prominent that 
 choice series of poems by Dr. H. S. Oornwell of 
 which " The Bee" and " The Grasshopper'' were a 
 part, and it has mingled with other able productions 
 of this author striking poetical works by Mrs. Ida 
 Whipple Benham and Mr. T. S. Collier. 
 
 In the department of fiction it has been so fortunate 
 as to secure a number of original short stories by Dr. 
 H. S. Cornwell, Mr. T. S. Collier, and Mr. 0. F. 
 Hewitt, and several valuable historical papers have 
 been contributed by the Hon. William H. Starr. 
 
 Its selected miscellany has always been of an enter- 
 taining and pleasing variety, and its political selec- 
 tions will compare favorably with those of any paper 
 in the State. 
 
 Ever striving to stand abreast with the advance 
 and thought of the time, to furnish its patrons with 
 a full equivalent for their favor, it has steadily in- 
 creased its circulation, until in this matter it has left 
 all of its predecessors far behind. 
 
 It is a four-page sheet, twenty-two by thirty-one in 
 size, with an average daily circulation of twelve hun- 
 dred copies. Prompt in its business contracts, ac- 
 commodating in the matter of its columns, honest 
 in its endeavors for the public good, it has won a well- 
 merited and distinctive favor. 
 
 The Connecticut Gazette is the weekly edition of the 
 Telegram, and is under the same management. It is 
 twenty-one by forty-one in size, and has an average 
 weekly circulation of thirteen hundred copies. It 
 was begun as a four-page sheet at the same time 
 as the Telegram, but was changed to an eight-page 
 Oct. 31, 1873. The matter in the Gazette is carefully 
 selected from the daily issues of the Telegram, local 
 and national affairs and news occupying a prominent 
 place. To these are added a comprehensive tele- 
 graphic summary and a large miscellaneous depart- 
 ment. It is specially prepared to meet the needs of 
 those whose means do not admit of a daily journal, 
 and of farmers and old residents whose homes are 
 now in the new States and territories of the West. 
 
 It has striven to be a journal for the family, and 
 one that will afford entertainment and instruction to 
 each member of a household, and much care is be- 
 stowed on the matter that is gathered in its columns. 
 Its liberal supply of news and other reading matter— 
 an attribute in which it leads all of its contemporaries 
 —have won it many stanch friends and made it a 
 welcome visitor in all homes. 
 
 One point of the Gazette's history should not be 
 lost sight of. It is the direct successor of one of the 
 earliest colonial newspapers, taking the name and fol- 
 
 lowing in its general characteristics a paper whose 
 first issue appeared in New London in the late sum- 
 mer or early autumn of 1763. Though there have 
 been lapses in the appearance of this journal they 
 have not been of long duration, and the GonrmeHeiii 
 Gazette of 1763 is worthily represented by 'the Cim- 
 neeiicut Gazette of 1881. 
 
 The Eiver Thames.— From " The Edelweiss," a 
 poem by John G. Bolles now in press, the foUowinff 
 extract is taken, illustrative of the river Thames 
 and of incidents in the history of New London and 
 vicinity : 
 
 " But I do love my owu fair Thames, 
 E'er fed by living fouDtains 
 And noble streams of Indian name 
 Upspringing in the jnountains. 
 
 " All gliding through the valleys sweet 
 
 To that delightful river, 
 By airy wing of zephyr touched, 
 
 I've seen its waters quiver, , 
 
 While jauntily upon its breast 
 My little skiff would rock and rest; 
 And I have seen its quiet depths 
 
 Reflecting cloud and slcy, 
 And gazed along its winding course 
 
 Far as could reach the eye, 
 Where, nestled 'mid the distant hills, 
 
 lis cradled waters lie. 
 I ne'er beheld a lovelier scene, 
 Or skies more bright, or hills more green, 
 Or blissful morning more serene, 
 While islands in the distance rest 
 As emeralds on the water's breast. 
 The traveler, with admiring eyes, 
 Exclaims, ' Can this be Paradise V 
 
 " There towers that lofty monument 
 On Groton's tragic height, 
 To mark the spot where martyrs fell 
 Undaunted in the fight 
 
 " There Ledyard sleeps, and many a score 
 Of heroes each renowned, 
 Who midst the battle's wildest roar 
 Were iirm and foremost found. 
 
 " Amid the storm of fire they sang 
 ' Columbia shall be free,' 
 And every whizzing bullet rang 
 For honor, liberty. 
 
 " AUyna and Edgecombs left their plow 
 To win immortal fame, 
 And glory sets on many a brow 
 I need not call by name. 
 
 " Let Hempstead's memory be bright 
 Who wrote the battle's story, 
 Wounded and bruised and down the steep 
 Hurled in that wagon gory ; 
 
 " And left for dead among the dead 
 Till, touched by gentle hand. 
 He saw his wife and rose again 
 To live long in the land. 
 
 " 'Iwas there Decatur with his fleet 
 Held hostile ships at baj'. 
 And guarded well the sacred place 
 Where patriot ashes lay. 
 
 " And fresh upon that famous shore 
 Shall live the name of one 
 Who gave the garment that she wore 
 As wadding for the gun. 
 
o 
 
 2 
 O 
 a 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 217 
 
 " There Uncas darted hia canoe, 
 A friendly Indian power, 
 And there the Pequot warrior drew 
 His bow in evil hour, 
 
 " And fell Iieneath tho white man's wi"ath, 
 As falls a stately tower, 
 Tet from the reddened earth looks up 
 To hejiven the dew-bright flower. 
 
 " And there that quaint old city stands, 
 New London on the Thames, 
 With Groton looking from the east. 
 All bearing Britii^h names. 
 
 " There may be found that ancient well 
 
 In its perpetual flow 
 "Where a whole family once fell 
 
 By the assassin's blow 
 But one, who in the cradle lay. 
 
 And father, who was far away ; 
 And from that little one have sprung 
 
 Thousands who live to-day. 
 Nobly for conscience' sake he fought, 
 
 And kept his foes at bay; 
 And still the light upon that shore 
 
 Is bright with freedom's ray. 
 
 "The first to cross the Atlantic's wave 
 By Fulton's proud invention; 
 All honor to those sailoi-s brave, 
 And of their deeds make mention. 
 
 "Their name upon the roll of fame 
 
 A lofty place shall hold, 
 More brilliant set in memory 
 
 Than all the gifts of gold 
 Bestowed by titled hands upon 
 
 The navigators bold. 
 
 " * A ship on fire ! a sbip on fire !' 
 The sea-born Briton cried, 
 Seeking to render friendly aid 
 With canvas spreading wide. 
 
 " Our Yankees looked at them arid laughed. 
 And sped away their little craft 
 Without a sail, without ati oar, — 
 Its like they had not seen before; 
 And ere he touched the royal wharf. 
 
 With pennant proudly streaming, 
 ' Take down your banner !' cried John Bull, 
 
 'A commodore you're seeming; 
 Take down the pennant and put up 
 
 A broader in its place.' 
 The captain answered, with an air 
 
 Defiant in his face, 
 *Get ready the hot-water pipes : 
 
 Be sure yon aim them right.' 
 The Englishman took lively hint 
 
 And vanished out of sight. 
 
 " To wondering nations forth they go. 
 Their memory enshrine; 
 The world moves on— move as it may, 
 America is mine. 
 
 "Within its Thames a harbor lies 
 
 Smooth as a summer lake. 
 Where like white swans the vessels speed, 
 
 Their safe repose to take, 
 When the dark omens of the sky 
 
 Their fearful signals make. 
 
 " Oft in the deep, secure recess, 
 Sheltered by islands near, 
 As darkness draws its curtains round 
 
 By hundreds they appear, — 
 A phantom city of the sea 
 With lanterns burning clear!" 
 
 The Publishing Interest.— The bookselling and 
 publishing business had been conducted in New Lon- 
 don on a small scale by Samuel Green until about the 
 year 1827, when it passed into the hands of William 
 Bolles, the author of a spelling-book which he pub- 
 lished, and which was a popular work for a while, 
 until superseded by Webster's "Elementary." The 
 subsequent firms of W. & J. Bolles and Bolles & 
 Williams greatly enlarged the business, publishing 
 or manufacturing for New York houses " Walker's 
 Octavo Dictionary," "Scott's Bible," "Life of Na- 
 poleon," by Walter Scott, " Kirkham's Grammar," 
 " Daboll's New Arithmetic," " Complete Evangelist," 
 etc. "Bolles' Phonographic Dictionary," royal oc- 
 tavo, edited by William Bolles, was also published by 
 them. It is a fact worthy of notice, as displaying the 
 originality and versatility of New England thought 
 and enterprise, that the paper-mill at Bolles' Cove, a 
 few miles north of New London, was erected by 
 William Bolles, who made the paper for his diction- 
 ary, which was also printed and bound by the concern 
 of which he was senior partner. The bookselling 
 and publishing business of the firm above named is 
 now in the hands of Mr. Charles Allyn, editor and 
 publisher of " The Centennial History of the Battle 
 of Groton Heights." 
 
 The Union Bank of New London was chartered in 
 May, 1792, and was the first bank organized in the 
 State. The first recorded movement for obtaining a 
 charter was at a meeting of a number of persons in 
 New London, Feb. 10, 1792, at which a plan was 
 agreed upon for instituting a bank, and commissioners 
 appointed to obtain subscriptions for stock in the same 
 to the amount of $100,000. Such commissioners were 
 directed to present their proposals for subscription to 
 all those persons whose property, interest, business, 
 or situation should, in the opinion of the commission- 
 ers, more particularly entitle them to become sub- 
 scribers ; but, to prevent subscriptions on speculation 
 by persons not intending to permanently continue 
 stockholders, they were authorized to reject all sub- 
 scriptions that appeared to be made in that way. At 
 a further meeting, held on the 5th of March succeed- 
 ing, it appeared that the full amount of stock required 
 had been subscribed, no one person having taken 
 more than thirty shares of $100 each. At this meet- 
 ing, termed on the record '* a stockholders' meeting," 
 the earliest such meeting known to have been held, 
 Hon. Richard Law, Esq., was chosen moderator, and 
 William Leflingall clerk. The following persons were 
 then elected to be directors of the bank when char- 
 tered, viz.. Gen. Jedediah Huntington, Joshua La- 
 throp, Marvin Wait, Joseph Howland, Guy Richards, 
 Joseph Williams, Samuel Wheat, William Stewart, 
 Daniel L. Coit, Edward Hallam, Samuel Woodbridge, 
 Joseph Perkins, and George Phillips, and these di- 
 rectors the same day appointed Jedediah Huntington 
 president, and John Hallam cashier. The name of 
 the bank as first proposed was "The Bank of New Lon- 
 
218 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 don and Norwich," the leading citizens of both towns 
 having united in the effort to establish it, and the di- 
 rectors having been taken in about equal proportions 
 from each town ; but it appears to have been changed 
 on further consideration to the simpler but equally 
 expressive name of " The Union Bank." The amount 
 of the capital stock was fixed in the charter at 
 $100,000, but with liberty to increase the same at any 
 future time to $500,000. The legal rate of interest to 
 be taken was established by the charter at six per 
 cent., and there is no record that the bank has at any 
 time ever taken more than the legal rate. At the first 
 meeting of the directors after the act of incorpora- 
 tion, held June 5th, the president was authorized to 
 provide an office, seal, desk, scales, weights, and the 
 necessary books ; also to procure from Philadelphia 
 sixteen reams of paper, paper mould, and plates for 
 bank-notes. Gold was directed to be received and 
 paid out at the bank at the rate of eighty-nine cents 
 the pennyweight. Notes to be discounted were re- 
 quired to have two witnesses to the signature of the 
 maker, and no loan was to be on longer time than 
 sixty days. It was further directed that evidence of 
 the funded debt of the United States might (if de- 
 sired) be received as a pledge for loans instead of 
 other security, viz., the six per cents, at sixteen shil- 
 lings on the pound, and the three per cents, at ten 
 shillings. A vote was also passed, and public notice 
 of the same given, that all payments by the bank 
 must be examined at the time, as no deficiency 
 suggested afterwards would be admitted. In August 
 of the same year it was further voted that for the 
 purpose of furnishing change, then much wanted in 
 common dealing, there be issued by the bank small 
 bills of the denominations of one penny, twopence, and 
 threepence, to the amount of £576 lawful money. Sub- 
 sequently this amount was increased, and other de- 
 nominations, varying from four to twelvepence, were 
 issued. 
 
 At a later period in the same year the cashier was 
 directed to send to Dr. Joshua Lathrop, in Norwich 
 (one of the directors there), $500 in specie, to be used 
 by him in redeeming their notes in that town, the 
 same being with a view to the convenience of such 
 persons as should be under the necessity of so ex- 
 changing them, and also to the establishing the credit 
 of the notes in that quarter. In October, 1794, at 
 a meeting of the directors, it was voted that hav- 
 ing heard there was a large sum of this bank's paper 
 in the Union Bank, Boston, and that it was incon- 
 venient to those holding it, the cashier be directed to 
 send about $1000 to Boston for the redemption of 
 such paper. In December following he was directed 
 to send them, for the same purpose, about $1400 more. 
 Nothing further is known as to any difficulty in re- 
 deeming notes until April, 1796, when a letter was 
 addressed to the bank by David Green, an officer 
 (probably president) of the Union Bank, Boston, in 
 which he says that the banks in that town (of which 
 
 there were then three) had experienced so much incon- 
 venience from the increase of foreign bills that they 
 had agreed not to receive the bills of any bank out of 
 Boston (except the Bank of the United States) after 
 the 1st of May ensuing ; that they regretted ex- 
 tremely the operation of the rule in the case of the 
 Union Bank, New London, for if the other banks had 
 been as attentive to redeeming their bills as that had 
 been no such regulation would have been necessary. 
 He then added that the board had been very desirous of 
 making the New London Union Bank an exception to 
 the rule, but no practical mode of doing so had occurred 
 to them. They would be ready, however, to embrace 
 any opportunity that might offer of accommodating 
 the bank, or making any arrangement with it that 
 should be mutually advantageous. This was soon 
 after followed by a correspondence, the result of 
 which was that Mr. Green was constituted the agent 
 of the bank for the redemption of its bills in Boston, 
 he being furnished by it with a deposit on the Union 
 Bank, Boston, for that purpose. This is referred to 
 as being the forerunner and probably the origin of 
 that plan of redemption in Boston by the New Eng- 
 land country bank which was afterwards so sys- 
 tematically and rigorously enforced through the 
 agency of the Suffolk Bank. In addition to the small 
 bills of one, two, and threepence, etc., issued, as be- 
 fore stated, for the purposes of change, the bank 
 during the war of 1812, and perhaps earlier, issued 
 bills for fractional parts of a dollar, such as six and a 
 half, twelve and a half, twenty-five cents, etc. They 
 also issued, as early as 1795, bills of the denomina- 
 tions of four, six, and eight dollars, many of which 
 continued in circulation until some time after the war. 
 There is nothing tending to show thatpost-noteswere 
 ever issued by the bank. Nor is there any recorded 
 action of the bank in regard to the suspension of 
 specie payment during the war of 1812, or the re- 
 sumption of the same after it. The only matter of 
 record indicating a disturbed condition of the cur- 
 rency at that period is found in a vote of the directors 
 passed February, 1815, by which a dividend was de- 
 clared payable in New York bills. The bank redeemed 
 its own bills all through the war, but probably con- 
 ducted most of its transactions as did the country gen- 
 erally, in the depreciated currency of the times. The 
 business of the bank was from the outset reasonably 
 prosperous. Its first semi-annual dividend was two per 
 cent. From that it advanced by degrees tofourpercent. 
 semi-annually, until 1812, when there were two regu- 
 lar dividends of four and a half per cent, each and an 
 extra one of four and a half per cent., making for 
 the year thirteen and a half per cent. In 1813 there 
 were regular and extra dividends amounting in the 
 aggregate to nineteen and a half per cent. But from 
 what causes the bank was then able to make such 
 does not now appear. From its commencement the 
 bank never passed a dividend, nor, after the first year, 
 ever paid less than six per cent, annually. Its first 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 219 
 
 president, Gen. Huntington, continued in office 
 twenty-six years. His successors have been George 
 Hallam, William P. Cleveland, Jonathan Starr, Robert 
 Coit, and William H. Chapman. 
 
 The following is a list of presidents and cashiers 
 from 1792 to 1882 : 
 
 Presidents. — 1792, Jedediah Huntington ; 1818, 
 George Hallam ; 1825, William P. Cleveland ; 1834, 
 Jonathan Starr; 1853, Robert Coit; 1858, William 
 H. Chapman, present incumbent. 
 
 Cashiers.— 1792, John Hallam ; 1800, Robert Hal- 
 lam; 1827, Ebenezer Learned; 1836, Joseph C. Sis- 
 tare; 1851, Charles G. Sistare; 1860, Leonard C. 
 Learned, present incumbent. 
 
 The present directors, 1881, are as follow.s : William 
 H. Chapman, Robert Coit, Charles Prentis, Nathan 
 Belcher, Julius W. Eggleston, George F. Tinker, Is- 
 rael Matson, E. Clark Smith, Horace Coit. 
 
 New London City National Bank. — The New 
 London Bank was chartered at the May session of the 
 General Assembly in 1807, and held its first meet- 
 ing of directors July 18, 1807, when Elias Perkins 
 was chosen president, and Anthony Thatcher cashier. 
 The first board of directors consisted of Elisha Den- 
 ison, Elias Perkins, Edward Chappell, Isaac Thomp- 
 son, William Williams, Jacob B. Gurley, Edward 
 Hallam, Gushing Eells, and William Noyes. In 
 July, 1808, Elias Perkins resigned, and Elisha Den- 
 ison was chosen president, and held that oifice until 
 1828, when Jacob B. Gurley was chosen and con- 
 tinued in office until 1847, when he resigned and 
 Ezra Chappell was chosen president. In 1833, An- 
 thony Thatcher resigned the office of cashier and E. 
 F. Button was elected, and continued as cashier until 
 1853, when he was chosen president, to fill the vacancy 
 occasioned by the resignation of E. Chappell, and R. 
 N. Belden was chosen cashier. In 1856, E. F. Dutton 
 resigned and A. N. Ramsdell succeeded him as presi- 
 dent, which ofiice he held until his death in 1873. 
 During his administration the bank was organized 
 into the national bank system, in 1865. Henry P. 
 Haven was chosen president in 1876, and continued 
 until his death, which occurred three months alter his 
 election. He was succeeded by J. N. Harris. In 
 1878, William H. Rowe was chosen cashier, in place 
 of R. N. Belden, resigned, he having held the office 
 for twenty-eight years. 
 
 The present board of directors are J. N. Harris, E. 
 D. Avery, R. N. Belden, William Belcher, H. L. Cran- 
 dall, Walter Learned, W. H. H. Comstock, D. D. 
 Latham, E. T. Brown. The present officers are J. 
 N. Harris, president; R. N. Belden, vice-president; 
 William H. Rowe, cashier. Capital stock, $100,000; 
 surplus fund, $13,000. 
 
 The National Bank of Commerce. — On the 31st 
 of August, 1852, books were opened for subscription 
 to the stock of this bank, and on the 9th of the follow- 
 ing month the first board of directors was chosen, as 
 follows : Acors Barns, Lyman Allyn, Henry P. Haven, 
 
 Martin K. Cady, Daniel Latham, Benj. F. Brown, F. 
 W. Holt, Chas. W. Strickland, and G. L. Ford. Of 
 this board the latter two only are living, April 18, 
 1881. 
 
 At the same meeting Acors Barns was chosen presi- 
 dent, and remained as such until his death, which oc- 
 curred Nov. 18, 1862. Jan. 5, 186«, his son, W. H. 
 Barns, was chosen to fill the vacancy, and is the pres- 
 ent incumbent of the office. Oct. 4, 1852, Charles 
 Butler was chosen cashier, and officiated in that 
 capacity until his death, in March, 1878. On the 25th 
 of the same month Mr. Charles W. Barns was chosen 
 his successor, and is the present cashier. Mr. Barns 
 at the time of his election was the youiigest cashier 
 except one in the State of Connecticut. The present 
 teller is Mr. George B. Prest. Jan. 5, 1863, the 
 following directors were chosen : Daniel Latham, 
 Henry P. Haven, Chas. W. Strickland, Martin K. 
 Cady, C. C. Comstock, Chas. Miner, John Dennis, 
 W. H. Barns, and Henry R. Bond. The bank was 
 organized with a capital of $100,000, which was 
 increased, Jan. 17, 1853, to $150,000; July 7th, same 
 year, to $207,200; and Jan. 14, 1873, to $300,000, its 
 present capital. 
 
 At a directors' meeting held Nov. 28, 1864, it was 
 voted "that in the opinion of this board it is desir- 
 able to change this association from its present State 
 organization to a national bank, and they recommend 
 the stockholders to take such action as is required to 
 effect this change immediately." The vote was passed 
 unanimously, all the directors being present. At the 
 same meeting the following-named gentlemen were 
 appointed a committee to obtain the necessary number 
 of signatures of stockholders to the articles of incor- 
 poration, to draft by-laws, and to purchase the neces- 
 sary United States bonds : William H. Barns, Daniel 
 Latham, and Henry W. Bond. At a meeting held 
 Dec. 5, 1864, the articles of association of the National 
 Bank of Commerce were signed by all the directors. 
 The customary oath required by act of Congress from 
 directors of national banks was taken by all the 
 directors before Abiel Converse, notary public, and 
 signed and certified to and stamped before him. The 
 certificate of officers and directors of the amount of 
 capital paid up was signed and sworn to before Abiel 
 Converse, notary public, by president, cashier, and 
 directors. The organization certificate was also signed 
 by the directors, stamped and acknowledged before 
 Abiel Converse. Henry R. Bond was clerk. 
 
 At a meeting of the stockholders held Jan. 2, 1865, 
 papers from the comptroller of the currency author- 
 izing the National Bank of Commerce to commence 
 the business of banking were read in the meeting by 
 the chairman, after which the following directors 
 were chosen : W. H. Barns, Daniel Latham, H. P. 
 Haven, M. K. Cady, Charles Miner, C. C. Comstock, 
 John Dennis, H. R. Bond, and C. W. Strickland. 
 At a directors' meeting held May 13, 1872, it was 
 voted to increase the stock 1036 shares, amounting to 
 
220 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 $103,600, and at a meeting of the stockholders of the 
 bank, Jan. 14, 1873, the chairman reported verbally the 
 fact of increase of capital stock fifty per cent., and the 
 subsequent reduction of the same seventy-two shares, 
 so that the stock should stand at the sum of $300,000. 
 It was also reported at this meeting that rooms in the 
 new hotel building (Crocker House) had been rented 
 for a term of fifty years, to be occupied in connection 
 with the Mariners' Savings-Bank, A report was also 
 made concerning the new safe. 
 
 Upon the death of the first cashier. Deacon Charles 
 Butler, who had served the association so long and 
 faithfully, the following minute was adopted at a 
 meeting held March 18, 1878 : " Deacon Charles But- 
 ler died at his residence in New London on the 13th 
 day of March, 1878, after a life of quiet, unostenta- 
 tious discharge of every duty as a man, merchant, and 
 a citizen, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. 
 He was brought up in the mercantile house of the 
 late Maj. Thomas W. Williams, of this city, where by 
 a long experience and_ accurate business discipline, 
 brought to bear upon a character singularly pure, 
 simple, and truthful, he became what he has been 
 universally recognized in this community for more 
 than a generation to be, — a man of unimpeachable 
 character and spotless integrity. A safe counselor, a 
 faithful officer, a true friend, and an humble and de- 
 voted disciple of his Master, this board, with whom 
 he has been associated for more than a quarter of a 
 century, has its peculiar sorrow added to the general 
 affliction. He was known to and loved by each of 
 his associates, who bear their lasting testimony to his 
 capacity, his gentleness, his scrupulous honor, and his 
 faithfulness to every duty. Desiring to express our 
 sense of his virtues and of our loss in some enduring 
 form, we order these minutes to be entered upon the 
 permanent records of this association, and tender to his 
 mourning family our sincere sorrow and sympathy.'' 
 
 The bank is located in rooms built expressly for the 
 purpose in the Crocker House Block, and is consid- 
 ered one of the most complete and commodious bank- 
 ing offices in this section. The bank is furnished 
 with all the modern safeguards against fire and 
 burglars. The safe is an improved pattern, weighs 
 twenty tons, and, in addition to its capacity for the 
 banking business, contains one hundred and ninety- 
 nine tills, which are leased as safe deposits. The 
 vault was built at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. 
 Business was first commenced in the second story 
 of the Union Bank Building, and was continued 
 there until May, 1873, when it was removed to its 
 present location. 
 
 The Whaling Bank was organized in 1833, and 
 reorganized in 1865 as a national bank. The present 
 officers of the bank are as follows : President, S. D. 
 Lawrence ; Cashier, B. A. Copp ; Clerk, John W. 
 Tinker ; Directors, S. D. Lawrence, Sidney Miner, A. 
 Brandegee, F. W. Lawrence, Richard M. Jerome, W. 
 D. Pratt. 
 
 The Savings-Bank of New London was incorpo- 
 rated in May, 1827. Its incorporators were Wm. P; 
 Cleaveland, Ebenezer Learned, Eobert Coit, Edward 
 Learned, Isaac Thompson, Ephraim Ches^brough 
 Archibald Mercer, Jirah Isham, Nathaniel I. Per. 
 kins, Nathaniel Saltonstall, Peter Richards, Ezra 
 Chappell, Increase Wilson, Wm. P. Cleaveland, Jr. 
 Thomas West, Charles I. Stockman, Guy Turner 
 Thomas W. Williams, and Jacob B. Gurley. 
 
 The presidents from organization to the present 
 time have been as follows : Ebenezer Learned, Ezra 
 Chappell, Robert Coit, Wm. H. Chapman. 
 
 The office of secretary and treasurer from incorpo- 
 ration to the present time has been held by Jos. C. 
 Sistare, Francis C. Learned, Joshua C. Learned. 
 
 The present board of trustees are Wm. C. Crump 
 Wm. H. Chapman, Jos. B. Congdon, Wm. H. Barn< 
 Charles Prentis, John Darrow, Joshua C. Learned, J, 
 W. Eggleston, Charles Baras, Robert Coit, J. Law- 
 rence Chew, George F. Tinker, Erasmus D. Avery, 
 Israel Matson, Samuel Green, William Smith, Arnold 
 Rudd, Walter Learned, James Griswold, Chris. L. 
 Avery, C. A. Williams, Horace Coit, D. B. Hempsted, 
 F. H. Chappell, David A. Daboll, and Daniel L 
 Browning. 
 
 The first deposit was made on the 2d of July, 1827, 
 by Robert Jones, and amounted to $10. 
 
 The present deposits are $3,114,108.51. This bank 
 was the fourth incorporated in the State, the earliest 
 being the Society for Savings in Hartford in 1819, 
 Norwich Savings Society in 1824, and the Middle- 
 town Savings-Bank in 1825 ; it is now the seventh in 
 size. 
 
 The first depositor was a colored man, and his ac- 
 count remained open until his death a few years ago. 
 
 The Mariners' Savings-Bank was incorporated 
 by act of the General Assembly at its May session, 
 1867. The following is the list of its incorporators: 
 William H. Allen, Ebenezer Morgan, Christopher Al- 
 lyn, Henry R: Bond, Erasmus D. Rogers, George G. 
 Benjamin, F. L. Allen, T. M. Waller, John M. Chap- 
 man, C. S. Holt, John Dennis, John A. Tibbits, A, 
 N. Ramsdell, Theophilus Brown, William G. Gorton, 
 Daniel Latham, Samuel Green, Henry P. Haven, 
 Charles D. Boss, Jr., C. W. Strickland, Rial Chaney, 
 Elias F. Morgan, Charles Miner, Richard H. Chapell, 
 Benjamin Stark, C. C. Comstock, James Griswold, 
 J. N. Harris, J. T. Shepard, Robert A. Morgan, Wil- 
 liam H. Barns, O. Woodworth, Leander Williams, 
 Charles Howard, Erasmus L. Avery, Samuel P. Smith, 
 Richard P. Huntley, Edward Church, William L. 
 Peckham, Henry Williams, Charles M. Daboll, and 
 J. C. Avery, by which will be seen that both the 
 marine and mercantile interests of the city were well 
 represented, as well as the interests of adjoining com- 
 munities. 
 
 The Ibllowing is a list of its first officers: President, 
 Daniel Latham ; Vice-Presidents, Henry P. Haven, A. 
 N. Ramsdell, Julius T. Shepard, James Griswold, Fred- 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 221 
 
 erick L. Allen, C. C. Comstock, W. H . Allen, Ebene- 
 zer Morgan, Oliver Woodworth ; Directors, Henry E. 
 Bond, Benjamin Stark, Rial Chaney, William H. 
 Barns, and Richard H. Chapell ; Treasurer, The Na- 
 tional Bank of Commerce ; Secretary, Charles Butler ; 
 Attorney, Thomas M. Waller. 
 
 Usually when institutions of the nature of savings- 
 banks commence business it is necessary that it be 
 done under the fostering care of some corporation or 
 bank already established, and in this instance it was 
 the National Bank of Commerce which assisted this 
 young savings-bank, in order to relieve it from rent 
 and other incidental expenses as much as possible. 
 Hence arose the appointment at the first of the 
 National Bank of Commerce as its treasurer. At 
 the annual meeting held in July, 1869, John E. 
 Darrow was chosen its secretary and treasurer, and 
 has so continued to the present. The first deposits 
 were made by two sailors, Aug. 8, 1867, the first, 
 Manuel Roderique, $194.03, and the second, Lewis 
 DePena, $167.58. This seems to have constituted the 
 first day's business. At the meeting of the Legislature 
 in May, 1868, the next Legislature after it began busi- 
 ness, its report, under date of Jan. 1, 1868, was in 
 brief as follows : 
 
 Whole amount of deposits 811,915.46 
 
 Present number of depositors 60 
 
 Amount since organization $13,700.46 
 
 Amount drawn since organization 1,785.00 
 
 Reports were made annually thereafter under date 
 of January 1st of each year, until the time of the 
 meeting of the Legislature was changed to January 
 instead of May, and which occurred in 1877 ; since 
 then the reports are dated October 1st in each year. 
 
 The last annual report, Oct. 1, 1880, gives 
 
 Whole amount of deposits 81,163,266.45 
 
 Present number of depositors 2,274 
 
 Amount deposited during the year 8267,046.90 
 
 Amount withdrawn during the year 159,707.80 
 
 Daniel Latham, the first president, continued from 
 organization to May 15, 1870, when he resigned, and 
 Henry R. Bond was elected to the presidency, and so 
 continued until the annual meeting, July 26, 1876, 
 when, he declining a re-election, Mr. William H. 
 Barns was elected president, and has so continued 
 to the present date. 
 
 The present list of officers is as follows : President, 
 William H. Barns; Vice-Presidents, Julius T. She- 
 pard, William H. Allen, Ebenezer Morgan, James 
 Griswold, C. C. Comstock, Erasmus D. Avery, Samuel 
 Green, Wm. L. Peckham, E. Clark Smith; Directors, 
 Benjamin Stark, Robert A. Morgan, Eldridge P. 
 Beckwith, James Fitch, David D. Latham ; Secretary 
 and Treasurer, John E. Darrow ; Attorney, Thomas 
 M. Waller. 
 
 The bank has not failed in paying a dividend every 
 six months of its existence, beginning March 1, 1868. 
 Its business waa done in the same rooms occupied by 
 the National Bank of Commerce, in the second story 
 of the National Union Bank Building, until May 17, 
 15 
 
 1874, when it removed to the commodious rooms 
 under the Crocker House, on State Street, which 
 were expressly fitted up for it and the National Bank 
 of Commerce, and used by them jointly. 
 
 The Equitable Trust Company was chartered in 
 1869 and organized in 1872. Its exclusive business 
 is the negotiation and sale of loans secured by mort- 
 gage on real estate. Loans are made in Western 
 States, and sales eflected for the most part in Europe. 
 Its capital is $1,500,000. The officers are as follows : 
 President, Jonathan Edwards. Trustees, John Jacob 
 Astor, New York; Charles Barns, Williams & Barns, 
 New London; William H. Barns, president National 
 Bank of Commerce, New London ; Henry R. Bond, 
 New London; Augustus Brandegee, New London; 
 Willett Bronson, New York ; Charles Butler, New 
 York; George C. Clark, Clark, Dodge & Co., bankers. 
 New York ; Robert Coit, president New London N. 
 R. R. Co., New London ; Jonathan Edwards, New 
 York ; J. N. Harris, president New London City 
 National Bank, New London ; Adrian Iselin, A. Ise- 
 lin & Co., bankers. New York ; A. Iselin, Jr., A. Ise- 
 lin & Co., bankers. New York ; Eugene Kelly, Eu- 
 gene Kelly & Co., bankers, New York ; Robert Len- 
 nox Kennedy, New York ; J. D. Leffingwell, Clinton ; 
 George DeForrest Lord, Lord, Day & Lord, New 
 York; A. A. Low, A. A. Low & Co., New York; 
 Francis V. Parker, Parker & Staokpole, bankers, 
 Boston; Joseph Patterson, president Western Na- 
 tional Bank, Philadelphia; Henry E. Pierrepont, 
 New York; William Remsen, New York; George 
 A. Robbins, New York ; James A. Roosevelt, Roose- 
 velt & Son, New York ; Alfred Roosevelt, Roosevelt 
 & Son, New York ; J. Gregory Smith, president Cen- 
 tral Vermont Railroad, St. Albans, Vt. ; Gustav Stell- 
 wag, Kesaler & Co., New York ; C. A. Williams, C. 
 A. Williams & Co., New London ; Samuel Willets, 
 Willets & Co., New York; Charles Stewart Wurts, 
 Philadelphia. Executive Committee, Adrian Iselin, 
 Samuel Willets, Gustav Stellwag, William Remsen, 
 Willett Bronson, James A. Roosevelt, Eugene Kelly, 
 Charles Butler, A. Iselin, Jr., Francis V. Parker, and 
 the officers of the company, ex officio. 
 
 W. W. Perkins Post, G. A. R., was organized 
 Sept. 10. 1879, with the following officers: George 
 Havens, C. ; Edward N. Crocker, S. V. C. ; John C. 
 Bliss, J. V. C. ; Daniel Penbullen, Surg. ; Goetz 
 Bachertz, Q.M. ; Samuel H. Lloyd, Adjt. ; George 
 Saunders, Chap. ; Jeremiah J. Jones, O. D. ; H. C. 
 W. Rogers, O. G. The present officers are C. S. Dar- 
 row, C. ; Goetz Bachertz, S. V. C. ; Charles E. Searles, 
 J. V. C. ; Ambrose E. Lester, Surg. ; Edward N. 
 Crocker, Q.M. ; William Douglass, Adjt. ; Daniel 
 R. Stevens, Chap. ; George A. Buddington, O. D. ; 
 Edward Sullivan, O. G. 
 
 There was a post here called Strickland Post, No. 2, 
 formed in 1868, but gave up their charter in 1874 or 
 1875. 
 
 Fire Department.— The present organization of 
 
222 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the fire department is as follows : Chief Engineer, 
 William B. Thomas ; First Assistant, Peter McMul- 
 len; Steamer No. 1, Niagara; No. 2, Nameaug; 
 Hand-Engine No. 3, Relief; Hook-and-Ladder Com- 
 pany No. 1, F, L. Allen Truck Company; Hose Com- 
 panies, No. 3, W. B. Thomas, Williams, near Main; 
 No. 4, Konomoc, Church, near Union. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 NEW LONDON— (Continued). 
 CIVIL AND MILITARY. 
 
 Representatives from 1670 to 1882. 
 
 1670.— May, James Morgan, Gary Latham ; October, David Witherby, 
 John Prentice, 
 
 1671.— May, Edward Palmes, David Witherby ; October, Capt. John Win- 
 throp (absent), Edward Palmes. 
 
 1672.— May, Edward Palmes, Wm. Dowglas. 
 
 1673.— May, Capt. Edward Palmes; October, Capt. Edward Palmes. 
 
 1674.— May, Maj. Edward Palmes; October, Maj. Edward Palmes. 
 
 1675.— October, Lieut. James Avery {absent], Charles Hill (absent). 
 
 1676.- May, William Dowglasa; October, Capt. James Avery, Daniel 
 Witherell (absent- 
 
 1677.— May, Daniel Wetherell, Capt. Jamea Avery; October, Maj. Ed- 
 ward Palmes, Capt. James Avery, 
 
 1678.— May, Maj. John Winthrop, Capt. James Avery; October, Maj. Ed- 
 ward Palmes, Charles Hill. 
 
 1679.— May, Maj. Edward Palmes, Daniel Witherill; October, Capt, 
 James Avery, Charles Hill. 
 
 1680.— May, Daniel Witherby, Charles Hill ; October, Capt. James Avery, 
 Charles Hill. 
 
 1681.— May, Maj. Edward Palmes, Daniel Witherby; October, Daniel 
 Witherby, Charles Hill (absent). 
 
 1682.— May, Maj. Edward Palmes, Capt. James Avery ; October, Maj. Ed- 
 ward Palmes, Capt. James Avery. 
 
 1683.- May, Maj. Edward Palmes, Capt. James Avery; October, Daniel 
 Witherell, Christo. Christophers. 
 
 1684.— May, Capt. James Avery, Daniel Witherell. 
 
 1685.— May, Daniel Witherell, Capt. James Avery; October, Christo. 
 Christophers, James Avery. 
 
 1686.— May, Maj. Edward Palmes, Daniel Witherell. 
 
 1688. — Sir Edward Andross, Governor. 
 
 1689.— May, Capt. James Avery, Lieut. Daniel Witherell; October, 
 Daniel Witherby, Ensign James Morgan. 
 
 1690.— May, James Avery, John Morgan; October, Nehemiah Smith 
 William Douglass. 
 
 1691.- May, Richard Christopher, William Dnglass; October, Capt. 
 James Morgan, Nehemiah Smith. 
 
 1692.— May, Lieut, James Avery, William Dnglass; October, Capt. James 
 Morgan, Ensign Clement Minor. 
 
 1693.— May, Richard Christophers, Samuel Avery; October, Andrew 
 Leister. 
 
 1694.— May, James Avery, Nehemiah Smith ; October, Samuel Fosdick, 
 Capt. Thomas Avery. 
 
 1695.— May, James Avery, James Morgan ; October, Alexander Pigon, 
 Andrew Leister. 
 
 1696.— May, Clement Minor, Samuel Eosdick ; October, Andrew Lester. 
 
 1697.— May, Andrew Lester, William Dowglaas ; October, James Averye, 
 Samuel Fosdick. 
 
 1698.— May, Richard Cristophers, Ensign Nehemiah Smith; October, 
 Lieut. Nehemiah Smith, Capt. Samuel Foadick. 
 
 1699.— May, Capt. Samuel Fosdick, Lieut. Nehemiah Smith; October, 
 Capt. James Morgan, Nehemiah Smith. 
 
 1700.— May, Samuel Fosdick, William Dnglass; October, Lieut. Nehe- 
 miah Smith, Ensign John Hough. 
 1701.— May, Lieut. Nehemiah Smith, Samuel Rogers; October, Nehe- 
 miah Smitli, Ensign John Hough, 
 1702.— May, Nehemiah Smith; October, Lieut. James Averye, Jonathan 
 
 1703.— May, Lieut. John Hough, Capt. John Prents; October, Jfehemiah 
 
 Smith, William Douglass. 
 1704.— May, Wilt Douglass, Sergt. John Burr ; October, Capt. John Prente, 
 
 Samuel Rogers. 
 1705.— May, Andrew Lester, Robert Lattimer; October, Nehemiah Smith 
 
 Wilt Douglass. 
 1706.— May, Lieut. John Hough,i John Richards; October, Capt. John 
 
 Livingstone, Ensign John Richards. 
 1707.— May, Lieut. John Hough ; October, John Richards, Capt. John 
 
 Livingstone. 
 1708. — May, Lieut. John Richards, William Duglara ; October, Thomas 
 
 Boles, James Rogers. 
 1709.— May, Thomas Bolles, James Rogers; October, James Rogers 
 
 Joshua Hempstead. 
 1710.— May, William Douglas, John Prentts; October, John Richarda 
 
 James Rogers. 
 1711. — May, William Douglass, James Rogei-s; October, John Ricbards 
 
 James Rogers. 
 1712.— May, William Douglass, John Plum; October, James Rogers, Jr 
 
 Stephen Prentins. 
 1713. — May, John Richards, James Rogers ; October, James Rogers Lient 
 
 John Richards. 
 1714.— May, John Richards, James Rogers ; October, James Rogers, Capt 
 
 John Hough. 
 1715.— May, Capt. James Rogers, Lieut. John Richards ; October, Capt. 
 
 James Rogers, Lieut. John Richards. 
 1716.— May, Capt. James Rogers, Lieut. John Richards; October, Capt, 
 
 James Rogers, Lieut. John Richards. 
 1717. — May, Capt. James Rogers, John Richards; October, Capt. James 
 
 Rogers, Lieut. John Richards. 
 1718.— May, Capt. James Rogers, Joshua Hempstead; October, Capt. 
 
 James Rogers, Lieut. John Richards. 
 1719.— May, James Rogers, Jonathan Hill; October, Capt. James Rogers, 
 
 Lieut. John Richards. 
 1720.— May, Capt. Jamea Rogers, Jonathan Hill; October, Capt. Jamea 
 
 Rogers, Jonathan Hill. 
 1721.— May, Capt. James Rogers, Jonathan Hill; October, Capt. Jamea 
 
 Rogers, Capt. C. Christophers. 
 1722.— May, Capt. John Rogers, Stephen Prentts; October, Capt. JohD 
 
 Rogers, Stephen Prentta. 
 1723. — May, C. Christophere, Esq., Thomas Prentts ; October, Capt. James 
 
 Rogers, Capt. Thomas Prentts. 
 1724.— May, Joshua Hempstead, Solomon Coitt; October, Capt. James 
 
 Rogers, Solomon Coit. 
 1725.— May, Capt. James Rogers, Joshua Hempstead ; October, Capt, 
 
 James Rogers, Solomon Coit. 
 1726. — May, Capt. James Rogers, Joshua Hempstead; October, Capt. 
 
 James Rogers, Capt. Joshua Hempstead. 
 1727.— May, Capt. Joshua Hempstead, John Pickett; October, Capt 
 
 Joshua Hempstead, Richard Christophers. 
 1728.— May, Capt. Joshua Hempstead, Solomon Coitt; October, Solomon 
 
 Coitt, Stephen Prentts. 
 1729.— May, Richard Christophers, Solomon Coitt; October, Solomon 
 
 Coit, Stephen Prentts. 
 1730.— May , Richard Christophers, John Richards ; October, Capt. Joshua 
 
 Hempstead, John Richards. 
 1731.— May, Capt. Stephen Prentiss, John Richards; October, Stephen 
 
 Prentiss, Solomon Coit. 
 1732.— May, Jeremiah Miller, John Richards; October, Solomon Coit, 
 
 Daniel Coit. 
 1733.— May, Richard Christophers, George Richards; October, Daniel 
 
 Coit, George Richards. 
 1734.— May, Richard Christophers, Daniel Coit; October, Daniel Coit, 
 
 John Richards. 
 1736.— May, John Richards, Jeremiah Miller ; October, Daniel Coit, Wm. 
 
 • Whiting. 
 1736.— May, Daniel Coit, John Richards ; October, John Richards, Joshua 
 
 Raymond. 
 1737.— May, John Richards, Jeremiah Miller; October, Capt Daniel Coit, 
 
 Capt. Robert Denuisaon. 
 1738.— May, Capt. Daniel Coit, Joshua Raymond; October, John Rich- 
 ards, Jeremiah Miller. 
 1739.— May, John Richards, Jeremiah Miller ; October, Nathaniel Salton- 
 stall, Jeremiah Chapman. 
 
 ^ Names of deputies without towns are given in 1706, but these are 
 probably. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 223 
 
 1740.— May, Capt. Nathaniel Saltonatall, Thomas Foi-sdick; October, 
 
 NathaDiel Saltonstall, Thomas Forsdick. 
 1741. — May, Capt. Jolin Richards, Capt. Daniel Coit; October, Capt. Na- 
 thaniel Saltonstall, Jeremiah Chapman. 
 1742. — May, John RichardB, Jeremiah Miller ; October, Joshua Raymond, 
 
 Capt. Robert Denison. 
 1743.— May, Jeremiah Miller, John Richards ; October, Jeremiah Miller, 
 
 John Richards. 
 1744-46. — May, Jeremiah Miller, Richard Durfey; October, Col. Gurdon 
 
 Saltonstall, Jeremiah Chapman. 
 1746. — May, Col. Gurdon Saltonstall, Jeremiah Miller; October, Jeremiah 
 
 Miller, Jeremiah Chapman. 
 1747. — May, Col. Gnrdon Saltonstall, Jeremiah Miller; October, Jere- 
 miah Miller, Col. Gurdon Saltonstall. 
 1748. — May, Col. GurdonSaltonstall, Jeremiah Miller; October, Jeremiah 
 
 Chapman, Jeremiah Miller. 
 1749.— May, Jeremiah Miller, Jeremiah Chapman, Jr.; October, Jere- 
 miah Miller, Jeremiah Chapman, Jr. 
 1750. — May, Capt. Stephen Lee, William Manwaring; October, Capt. 
 
 Stephen Lee, William Manwaring. 
 1751.— May, Capt. Stephen Lee, William Manwaring; October, Capt. 
 
 Stephen Lee, Capt. Robert Denison. 
 1752. — May, Capt. Stephen Lee, Jeremiah Chapman ; October, Capt. 
 
 Stephen Lee, Jeremiah Chapman. 
 1753. — May, Capt. Pygan Adams, Capt. Stephen Lee ; October, Capt. Py- 
 
 gan Adams, Capt. Adoiiijah Fitch. 
 1754. — May, Capt. Stephen Lee, Capt. Pygan Adams ; October, Capt. Py- 
 gan Adams, Col. Gurdon Saltonstall. 
 1755. — May, Capt. Stephen Lee, William Manwaring; October, Capt. 
 
 Stephen Lee, William Manwaring. 
 1756.— May, Col. Gurdon Saltonstall, Maj. Robert Denison ; October, 
 
 William Manwaring, William Hillhouse. 
 1757.— May, Col. Gurdon Saltonstall, Col. Stephen Lee; October, Col. 
 
 Stephen Lee, Joshua Raymond, Jr. 
 1758. — May, Col. Stephen Lee, Joshua Raymond, Jr.; October, David 
 
 Gardner, William Hilhonse. 
 1759. — May, David Gardner, Capt. Pygan Adams ; October, David Gard- 
 ner, Capt. Pygan Adama. 
 1760. — May, Col. Stephen Lee, William Hilhonse; October, Capt. Jere- 
 miah Miller, Capt. Pygan Adams. 
 1761.— May, Capt. Jeremiah Miller. Maj. Charles Bulkly ; October, Capt. 
 
 Jeremiah Miller, Maj. Charles Bulkley. 
 1762.— May, Capt. Jeremiah Miller, Mty. Charles Bulkly; October, Capt. 
 
 Pygan Adams, Capt. Jeremiah Miller. 
 1763.— May, Capt. Pygan Adams, Capt. Jeremiah Miller; October, Capt. 
 
 Pygan Adams, William Hilhonse. 
 1764.— May, Capt. Pygan Adams, William Hilhonse ; October, Capt. Py- 
 gan Adams, William Hilhouse. 
 1765. — May, Capt. Pygan Adams, William Hilhouse; October, names of 
 
 deputies not recorded. 
 1766-67.— May, Jeremiah Miller, William Hilhouse; October, Richard 
 
 Law, William Hilhouse. 
 1768.— May, Richard Law, William Hilhouse; October, Richard Law, 
 
 William Hilhouse. 
 1769.— May. Richard Law, William Hilhouse; October, Col. Gurdon Sal- 
 tonstall, William Hilhouse. 
 1770.— May, Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq., William Hilhouse ; October, Col. 
 
 Gurdon Saltonstall, William Hilhouse. 
 1771— May, Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq., William Hilhouse ; October, Gur- 
 don Saltonstall, Esq., William Hilhouse. 
 1772.— May, Col. Gurdon Saltonstall, William Hilhouse ; October, Col. 
 
 Gurdon Saltonstall, William Hilhouse. 
 1773-75.— May, Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq., William Hilhouse; October, 
 
 Richard Law, William Hilhouse. 
 1776.— Richard Law, William Hillhouse, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr. 
 1777.— Win throp Saltonstall, William Hillhouse, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr. 
 1778.— George Gordon, Winthrop Saltonstall, William Hillhouse, Na- 
 thaniel Shaw, Jr. 
 1779.— William Hillhouse, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr. 
 
 1780.— David Mumford, William Hillhouse, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., Tim- 
 othy Green. 
 1781.— William Hillhouse, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr. 
 1782.— William Hillhouse, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., Capt. John Deshon. 
 1783.— William Hillhouse, Capt. John Deshon. 
 1784.— William Hillhouse, Joshua Coit, Capt. John Deshon. 
 1785, — William Hillhouse, Joshua Coit, Amasa Learned. 
 1786. — David Mumford, J. G. Brainard, Daniel Rodman, Amasa Learned. 
 
 1787.— John Deshon, Daniel Rodman, Amasa Learned, 
 
 1788. — John Deshon, Marvin Wait, Joshua Coit, Amasa Learned. 
 
 1789,— J. G. Brainard, Marvin Walt, Joshua Coit, Amasa Learned. 
 
 1790. — Marvin Wait, Amasa Learned. 
 
 1791. — John Deshon, Marvin Wait, Amasa Learned. 
 
 1792.— Marvin Wait, Joshua Coit. 
 
 1793.— Marvin Wait, Joshua Coit, Guy Richards. 
 
 1794.— J. G. Brainard, Marvin Wait. 
 
 1795.— Marvin Wait, George Williams, Ellas Perkins. 
 
 1796.- Marvin Wait, George Colfax, Ellas Perkins. 
 
 1797.— N. Fosdick, Marvin Wait, Elias Perkins. 
 
 1798.— Marvin Wait, Elias Perkins. 
 
 1799.— Marvin Wait, George Williams, Elias Perkins. 
 
 1800. — Griswold Avery, George Williams, Elias Perkins. 
 
 1801. — N. Fosdick, George W^illiams, Lyman Law. 
 
 1802. — George Colfax, Daniel Deshon, Lyman Law. 
 
 1803. — A. Woodward, George Colfax, Richard Douglass, Lyman Law. 
 
 1804. — A. Woodward, J. Woodward, E. Chappel, Simeon Smith. 
 
 1805. — Lyman Law, George Colfax, E. Chappel, Simeon Smith. 
 
 1806. — Lyman Law, Thomas Brooks, George Colfax. 
 
 1807. — Lyman Law, George Colfax. 
 
 1808. — Lyman Law, George Colfax, Isaac Thompson. 
 
 1809. — Lyman Law, C. Manwaring, Isaac Thompson. 
 
 1810. — Lyman Law, George Colfax, George Hallam. 
 
 1811. — Jacob B. Gurley, George Hallam. 
 
 1812.— Jacob B. Gurley, George Hallam. 
 
 1813. — Jacob B. Gurlej', George Hallam. 
 
 1814. — Elias Perkins, Jacob B. Gurley, George Hallam. 
 
 1815. — C. Manwaring, Elias Perkins, Jacob B. Gurley, Stephen Peck. 
 
 1816.— C. Manwaring, J. P. Trott. 
 
 1817.— C. Manwaring, J. P. Trott, Henry Channing, William Stockman. 
 
 1818. — Amasa Learned, Henry Channing, William Stockman. 
 
 1819. — Lyman Law, J. B. Gurley. 
 
 1820.— N. Fosdick, Henry Channing. 
 
 1821. — C. Manwaring, Henry Mason. 
 
 1822.— C. Manwaring, John P. Trott. 
 
 1823. — Charles Bulkley, Isaac Thompson. 
 
 1824. — John French, Isaac Thompson. 
 
 1825.— David Frink, Isaac Thompson. 
 
 1826. — Charles Bulkley, Lyman Law. 
 
 1827. — J. B. Gurley, Isaac Thompson. 
 
 1828.— J. B. Gurley, Ezra Chappell. 
 
 1829. — J. B. Gurley, Isaac Thompson. 
 
 1830 -Thomas Mussey, Henry Douglass. 
 
 1831.— Samuel Chauy, John A. Fulton. 
 
 1832.— Samuel Chany, John A. Fulton. 
 
 1833.- Coddington Billings, Anson Smith. 
 
 1834.— Benjamin Starks, John Deshon. 
 
 1835.— C. Billings, S. K. Smith. 
 
 1836.— No record. 
 
 1837. — No record. 
 
 1838. — Colby Chew, Samuel Chany. 
 
 1839.- John Congden, John P. Trott. 
 
 1840.— William F. Brainard, Daniel Rogers. 
 
 1841 —G. C. Wilson, S. G. Trott. 
 
 1842.— Noyes Billings, Charles Douglass. 
 
 1843. — Noyes Billings, no choice. 
 
 1844.— C. 0. Comstock, Andrew G. Lippitt. 
 
 1845. — No record. 
 
 1846.— Nathan Belcher, Thomas W. Williams. 
 
 1847.— Nathan Belcher, Hiram Willey. 
 
 1848.— J. P. C. Mather, J. Abon Smith. 
 
 1849.— Thomas Fitch (2), William C. Crump. 
 
 1850.— Perry Douglass, John Bishop. 
 
 1851.— G. B. Comstock, F. W, Holt. 
 
 1852.— Charles Treadway, Henry P. Haven. 
 
 1853.— Charles Treadway, E. V. Stoddard. 
 
 1854.— Edward Prentiss, Augustus Brandegee. 
 
 1855.— Charles E. Hewett, J. N. Harris. 
 
 1856.— Isaac T. Comstock. G. W, Goddard. 
 
 1857, — William P. Benjamin, Hiram Willey. 
 
 1858.— Augustus Brandegee, Charles Prentis. 
 
 1859.— Augustus Brandegee, Hezekiah Knowles. 
 
 I860.— W. A. Weaver, J. C. Learned. 
 
 1861.— A. Brandegee, Charles Burns. 
 
 1862.— W. A. Weaver, A. Coit. 
 
 1863.— D. S. Ruddock, A. Coit. 
 
224 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LOxVDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1864— D. S. Euddock, A. Coit. 
 1865— R. Ohaney, R. H. Cbapell. 
 I860.— D. S. Euddock, E. H. Ohapell. 
 1867.- F. L. Allen, Thomas M. "Waller. 
 1868.— K. L. Allen, Thomas M. Waller. 
 1869.— B. B. Thurston, Seth Smith. 
 1870.— B. B. Thurston, Seth Smith. 
 18Y1.— T. S. Daboll, George Strong. 
 1872.— T. M. Waller, John A. Tibbits. 
 1873.— George E. Starr, B. T. Brown. 
 1874.- Benj. Stark, William Belcher. 
 1875.— Charles Prentiss, John Fitch. 
 1876.— T. M. Waller, A. T. Burgees. 
 1877.— George Burgess, A. T. Burgess. 
 1878.— A. G. Lippitt, W. R. Austin. 
 1879.— Robert Coit, George F. Tinker. 
 1880.— J. G. Crump, George V. Tinker. 
 1881.— A. T. Burgess, H. B. Downer. 
 
 Town Clerks from 1650 to 1882. 
 
 1650, Jonathan BreWBter; 1651, Obadiah Bruen; 1667, William Douglas; 
 1668, Daniel Wetherell ; 1670, Charles Hill; 1684, Mward Palmes; 
 1685, Daniel Wetherell; 1701, Eichard Christophers; 1707, Daniel 
 Wetherell; 1719, George Denieon; 1720, None; 1721, Edward Hal- 
 lam; 1736, Daniel Coit; 1767, John Coit; 1768, Daniel Coit; 1773, 
 James Mumford (three weeks) ; 1773, Gordon Saltonstall ; 1777, Ed- 
 ward Hal lam ; 1781, John Owen; 1801, Samuel Belden; 1811, David 
 Coit; 1817, Ebenezer Way; 1827, Henry Douglas; 1845, Bphraim H. 
 Douglas ; 1860, Henry Douglas ; 1865-66, Joseph C. Douglass ; 1856- 
 67, Giles Bailey ; 1867-68, Samuel Fox ; 1868-75, Earl Warner, Jr. ; 
 1875-76, William Douglass ; 1876-82, Isaac W. Thompson. 
 
 War of 1812. — The business interests of tlie town 
 had revived, and New London from 1799 to 1805 had 
 rapidly recovered her former prosperity. But as early 
 as 1806 the depredations of British cruisers and pri- 
 vateers on American commerce commenced, and the 
 commercial interests of the place, in common with 
 other New England towns, were seriously injured. 
 Appeals were made to the British government to re- 
 peal or modify her unjust edicts, in her warfare against 
 France, in the restrictions imposed on American neu- 
 tral vessels, but in vain. Our iiag was insulted, our 
 merchant vessels boarded, and their crews frequently 
 impressed into the British service. The commercial 
 property of American citizens to an immense amount 
 had been seized and confiscated, and yet the British 
 government refused to listen to appeal or entreaty. 
 In 1812 these repeated outrages culminated in a formal 
 declaration of war by our government against Great 
 Britain. 
 
 When hostilities commenced, this, like the war of 
 the Revolution, bore heavily on the town. The en- 
 tire naval force of the United States consisted of 
 only twenty vessels, exclusive of gunboats, with an 
 armament of but little more than five hundred guns, — 
 a mere mosquito fleet to cope with the powerful naval 
 forces of Great Britain. Consequently our sea-coast, 
 thousands of miles in extent, was very seriously ex- 
 posed to the depredations of the invaders. New Lon- 
 don in particular was a prominent point of interest 
 with the enemy. The British commanders, however, 
 had not forgotten the severe reception of their troops 
 in 1781, and were wary in their attempts at landing 
 and in their offensive operations. But their vessels 
 severely harassed and annoyed the citizens. Early 
 
 in June, 1813, the frigates "United States" and 
 "Macedonian" and the gallant little sloop-of-war 
 " Hornet" were pursued by Sir Thomas Hardy with 
 his flag-ship, the " Eamillies," and a fleet of smaller 
 vessels into the harbor, and the city and naval ves- 
 sels were kept under a strict blockade until the close 
 of the war. 
 
 A few days after the appearance of Hardy's fleet 
 four more ships and frigates, with a number of 
 smaller vessels, arrived and joined it, making a 
 formidable naval force, whose threatening aspect 
 caused general alarm among the inhabitants, many 
 of whom too well remembered the sad scenes of 
 1781. Maj. Simeon Smith with a company of vol- 
 unteers hastily prepared to give the invaders a warm 
 reception should they make an attempt to enter the 
 harbor or enforce a landing. The old Fort Griswold, 
 the scene of the massacre thirty-two years previous, 
 was put in the best possible condition to resist the 
 enemy. But no landing was attempted, although sev- 
 eral feints by the vessels near the mouth of the harbor 
 indicated such a purpose. The inhabitants of the town 
 were kept in a constant state of suspense and appre- 
 hension. Commodore Decatur with his three war 
 vessels retreated up the river as far as Gale's Ferry, 
 and threw up a light intrenchment on the neighboring 
 heights. 
 
 About this time an afiair took place which exas- 
 perated the officers of the blockading squadron and 
 embittered their subsequent intercourse with the peo- 
 ple on the coast, although the latter had no agency in 
 the offensive act. A schooner called the "Eagle," 
 owned in New York, was prepared as a kind of tor- 
 pedo vessel, and sent into the Sound to make an ex- 
 periment upon the enemy. She had a show of naval 
 stores on board, and was captured by the British west 
 of New London Harbor, near Millstone Point. The 
 crew took to their boats, and reached the shore in 
 safety. The British officer, after taking possession of 
 the schooner, attempted to tow her up to the "Eamil- 
 lies," but finding that she fell to leeward, he anchored 
 at the distance of three-fourths of a mile from that 
 vessel. Suddenly, in less than three hours after the 
 desertion of her crew and the seizure by the British, 
 the " Eagle" exploded with prodigious force, and was 
 scattered into fragments. A shower of pitch and tar 
 fell upon the " Eamillies ;" timber and stones were 
 hurled aloft, and the waters around thrown into great 
 commotion. A second lieutenant and ten men who 
 were on board the schooner were killed, and several 
 men in boats were badly wounded. 
 
 This was wholly a private undertaking; the govern- 
 ment had nothing to do with it. The owners had 
 fitted the " Eagle" as a fire-ship, with a secret piece 
 of mechanism concealed within, which, when set in. 
 motion, would cause an explosion after a certain in- 
 terval. Her hold, under the appearance of ballast, 
 contained four hundred pounds of powder and vari- 
 ous other combustibles, with ponderous stones and' 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 225 
 
 destructive implements sufficient to inflict a terrible 
 blow upon any ship-of-war alongside of which she 
 might be brought, a blow which the "Eamillies" 
 barely escaped. 
 
 Gen. Jirah Isham commanded at that time at New 
 London, and the next morning Commodore Hardy 
 sent a flag of truce up to the town with the following 
 communication : 
 
 "To Jirah Isham, Brig. -Gen. commanding at New LondoD. I am 
 under the necessity of requesting you to make it publicly known that I 
 cannot permit vessels or boats of any description (flags of tinice of 
 course excepted) to apprxjach or pass the British squadron, in conse- 
 quence of an American vessel having exploded yesterday three hours 
 after she was in our possession."'^ 
 
 It was said on English authority that the brave 
 Sir Thomas Hardy, while occupying the Sound with a 
 powerful squadron, and carrying his flag in a seventy- 
 four, never remained at anchor during the night, and 
 rarely left the deck except by day, in order to insure 
 safety from Fulton's torpedoes. But a more certain if 
 not more terrific mode of attack was at that time 
 afloat and nearly ready for service in the waters of 
 New York. This was the steam battery, miscalled 
 frigate, " Fulton." This vessel, formidable enough in 
 reality, had been represented by correspondents of 
 Eijglish newspapers as a monster of prodigious power. 
 An hundred guns of enormous calibre were said to be 
 inclosed in fire and bomb-proof shelters ; the upper 
 deck was reported to be " defended by thousands of 
 boarding pikes and cutlasses wielded by steam, while 
 showers of boiling water were ready to be poured over 
 those that might escape death from the rapidly whirl- 
 ing steel." In reality the vessel presented above the 
 surface of the water the figure of an oval, whose great- 
 est length was about the same as that of an English 
 seventy-four. This was covered by a continuous spar- 
 deck, at either extremity of which was mounted on 
 a revolving carriage a chambered gun capable of 
 throwing a solid ball of one hundred pounds, but in- 
 tended, as is well known, to throw shells. Beneath 
 the spar-deck was the gun-deck, also continuous, ex- 
 cept in the middle, where space was left for the work- 
 ing of a large paddle-wheel, and on this gun-deck 
 was mounted a battery of thirty-two 32-pounders. 
 The sides of the vessel were thickened by cork and 
 wood, not only between the guns, but as low as the 
 water's edge, and incapable of being penetrated by a 
 32-pound ball. Beneath the gun-deck the hull was 
 formed as if of a vessel cut in two, leaving a passage 
 from stem to stern for water to reach and to be thrown 
 backwards from the wheel. Two rudders were placed 
 in this passage, moving on their centres. The boilers 
 and the greater part of the machinery were below the 
 reach of shot, and even the wheels could be reached 
 but by a stray shot passing unimpeded and in a 
 proper direction through the port-holes. 
 
 In June of that year Maj.-Gen. Burbeck, as before 
 stated, arrived from Newport and assumed the com- 
 
 1 History of New London, pp. 632-33. 
 
 mand of the district. The troops on duty, in all 
 amounting to about one thousand of the militia of 
 the State, were transferred to the general government 
 and subsequently dismissed, leaving the town entirely 
 defenseless. Not a soldier remained on duty. Forts 
 Trumbull and Griswold were completely evacuated, 
 and all this with a British squadron of seven ships of 
 the line and frigates and other vessels lying at the 
 entrance of the Sound, within two hours' sail of the 
 harbor. Under these circumstances the Governor, on 
 Gen. Burbeck's application, authorized Gen. Wil- 
 liams to call out as large a body of the militia as exi- 
 gencies should demand. 
 
 " The blockade henceforth assumed a most rigorous 
 character. The enemy resolved to leave nothing 
 afloat. The Sound was alive with petty warfare. 
 Every creek and bay were searched, and nothing in 
 the form of boat, sloop, or smack suflered to live. 
 Yankee enterprise prolonged the task of the invaders, 
 and obliged them to destroy by inches, and to multi- 
 ply and repeat the blows before they could ruin the 
 traffic and clear the coast of sails and oars."^ 
 
 Varied and numerous were the events of the town 
 and neighborhood during these three successive years 
 of constant rigorous blockade. One of these specially 
 worthy of note is narrated by Miss Caulkins. " The 
 sloop ' Juno,' Capt. John Howard, continued to ply 
 back and forth between New London and New York 
 during the whole war with but a single serious acci- 
 dent ; that was the loss of her mast by a shot of the 
 enemy after being driven into Saybrook Harbor. 
 Her enterprising commander was well acquainted 
 with the Sound, made his trips during the darkest 
 nights and in severest storms, guided often by the 
 lantern lights of the enemy's ships as he repeatedly 
 ran through their blockading squadron. He was 
 narrowly watched and several times pursued by their 
 boats and barges, but always eluded capture. Some- 
 times when too closely pursued a spirited fire from 
 his cannon, four pieces of which he always carried 
 on deck, only to be used in defense, would drive 
 away his pursuers and secure his little craft from 
 further molestation. The fact that the enemy were 
 fully apprised of his times of departure and expected 
 arrival, and in fact all his movements, through the 
 newspapers, which they could easily obtain, renders 
 it the more remarkable that she escaped their vigi- 
 lance.'' 
 
 It is remarkable that during the whole war not a 
 man in Connecticut was killed, notwithstanding the 
 long and vigorous blockade and the many encounters 
 between detachments of the enemy and the inhab- 
 itants. One person only, a Mr. Dolph, lost his life 
 on the waters of the coast, ofi" Saybrook, while en- 
 gaged with others in recovering two prizes taken by 
 the enemy. Such a fact appears almost miraculous. 
 
 Commodore Decatur entertained the hope that 
 
 2 Miss Caulkins' History, page 634. 
 
226 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 some opportunity would offer for his escape with his 
 vessels during the winter, and watched for an oppor- 
 tunity favorable to his design. His vessel dropped 
 down and remained at anchor opposite the town, and 
 quietly remained waiting for some remissness of vigi- 
 lance on the part of the enemy. At length the favor- 
 able time seemed to have arrived. A dark night, a 
 favorable wind, and fair tide all gave every expecta- 
 tion of success. But just as the little fleet were about 
 to start " blue-lights" appeared on both sides of the 
 river. Such an unusual occurrence gave strong sus- 
 picions that these were concerted signals to the enemy, 
 and notwithstanding every preparation had been made 
 with the most profound secrecy, the commodore con- 
 sidered himself betrayed, and relinquished his inten- 
 tions, making no further effort to run the blockade. 
 
 Although he was firm in his belief that his inten- 
 tions were thus signaled to the enemy, it was indig- 
 nantly denied by the citizens that any traitorous 
 designs existed, and that the lights were accidental, 
 or that those who reported them to the commodore 
 were mistaken. He, however, removed his two large 
 vessels up the river, where they were dismantled and 
 only a guard left on board. The " Hornet" remained 
 at New London, and subsequently slipped out of the 
 harbor, and eluding capture, reached New York in 
 safety. 
 
 The restoration of peace in 1815 was an occasion 
 of general rejoicing. Our enemies became friends, 
 and receptions, balls, and public rejoicings signalized 
 the event, in which the officers of the British squad- 
 ron cordially participated, and who were as cordially 
 received by the citizens of the town. Such was the 
 close of the war of 1812. 
 
 War of 1861-65. — The following interesting ac- 
 count of New London in the late Rebellion was fur- 
 nished by Hon. William H. Starr; 
 
 In the late struggle for the perpetuation of our 
 glorious Union the patriotism of New London, as ex- 
 hibited in her earlier history, was equally manifested. 
 Of the seventy-five thousand noble sons of Connecti- 
 cut who took part in the struggle. New London fur- 
 nished more than her quota. No people in their 
 struggle for liberty probably ever gave of their own 
 free-will so lavishly as did our gallant Connecticut 
 volunteers. This town, with patriotic liberality, gave 
 some of the purest and most promising of her noble- 
 hearted citizens to sustain the government in its hour 
 of peril, and the blood of her martyred heroes has 
 enriched the soil from the heights of Arlington to its 
 most remote southern boundary. Immediately on the 
 news of the attack on Fort Sumter the spirit of 76 
 fired the hearts of her citizens. The city flag was 
 raised, followed by a display of flags all over the city 
 and by the shipping. At the Wilson Company's 
 works all hands were summoned and the flag saluted 
 with repeated cheers. On the 19th, Mayor J. N. 
 Harris received a dispatch from the Secretary of 
 War requesting him to furnish a company to garrison 
 
 Fort Trumbull. The request was immediately com- 
 plied with, and the City Guards placed on duty there. 
 The same evening one of the largest and most enthu- 
 siastic meetings ever convened in the city was held 
 in and outside the court-house. The meeting was 
 called to order by Hon. F. B. Loomis. Hon. Nathan 
 Belcher presided. Hon. Augustus Brandegee offered 
 a resolution declaring that all political differences 
 must be buried and all unite to save the republic 
 which resolution was passed by a tremendous aye. 
 
 With great enthusiasm volunteers offered their ser- 
 vices. Enlistments rapidly followed. Some of the 
 noblest and most promising of our youth gallantly 
 entered the service, fired with the spirit of patriotism 
 and valor. Company after company was raised and 
 equipped for the war, first for three months and then 
 for the three years' service. The daily and weekly 
 papers of that period contained frequent and enthusi- 
 astic notices of their departure for the fields of con- 
 flict, followed by the repeated cheers of their fellow- 
 citizens.^ 
 
 Of all the noble hearts beating for the honor of our 
 flag and volunteering for its defense from New Lon- 
 don we would gladly speak, but that would be im- 
 possible. We mention but a few of the officers who 
 gallantly fell at the post of duty. 
 
 Lieut. William W. Perkins was one of the earliest 
 and most ardent volunteers from New London. After 
 establishing an enviable reputation for bravery and 
 gallant conduct during several severely fought battles, 
 he fell at Kinston, N. C, at the head of his company, 
 cheering his soldiers on to victory.^ His brother, 
 Lieut. Benjamin R. Perkins, was among the first to 
 volunteer in the service. He served with gallantry 
 during the entire war ; was engaged in more than 
 thirty battles. After the close of hostilities he was 
 transferred to the regular army, and died some years 
 since at one of the military stations of Arizona. 
 
 Capt. Edw. L. Porter was a young man of more than 
 ordinary ability and great promise. He was killed 
 at the battle of Winchester while gallantly leading 
 
 1 " Departure of Volunteers. — The tliird company of New London 
 volunteers departed for Hartford to join their regiment on the 29th ult 
 They were escorted hy the City Gnards to the depot, where before leaving 
 they were drawn up in line near the flag-staff to listen to addresaes. 
 Speeches were made by Messrs. Edward Prentis, A. 0. Lippitt, Thomaa 
 Fitch, and Rev. Mr. Guiscard, of the Second Baptist Church. Bsv. Mr. 
 Grant, of the Huntington Street Baptist Church, closed the exercise! 
 with prayer. There was a large gathering of people in the neighbor- 
 hood of the depot to see the volunteers off, notwithstanding the unfaTO^ 
 able condition of the weather. This company consists of a fine-looking 
 body of young men, who will doubtless give a good account of themselves 
 should occasion offer. They were enthusiastically cheered by the hun- 
 dreds who witnessed their departure. God bless them and speed them 
 on to the rescue of our country's flag from ignominy and shame!"— 
 Family Repoeitory for June, 1861. 
 
 2 The New London Star said of him, " It is seldom that we are called 
 upon to mourn a firmer patriot, a braver soldier, or a truer or more 
 genial friend than Lieut. Perkins. He sprang to arms with alacrity at 
 the first call of his country, and established an enviable reputation in 
 five hotly-contested battles, in the last of which he fell where a soldier 
 would choose to fall, leading the advance, and expired amid the rattling 
 volleys of his regiment and the loud cheers of victory." 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 227 
 
 his men in a charge against the superior forces of the 
 enemy. A fatal bullet pierced his temples and he 
 fell, sealing with his blood his devotion to his govern- 
 ment. He was a graduate of Yale, a young man of 
 fine literary taste and attainments. He had adopted 
 the practice of law with a flattering promise of dis- 
 tinction in his professioiQ. No nobler or purer heart 
 ever animated a brave soldier. Surgeon Holbrook 
 said of him, " At my suggestion he went to the hos- 
 pital three days before the battle, being very feeble. 
 I visited him the day previous and found him .still 
 very weak, and was surprised to find him at the head 
 of his company. An officer informed me that he 
 seemed possessed of superhuman energy in the battle, 
 and gallantly led his men in the charge, when he was 
 struck by a bullet in the forehead and died almost 
 instantly. He left a bright record of honorable man- 
 liness. Dignified and gentlemanly, always prompt 
 in the conscientious discharge of his duty, he attested 
 by his death the sincerity of his patriotism, and sealed 
 with his blood his love of liberty." 
 
 Lieut. Joseph Strickland was another of New Lon- 
 don's martyr-heroes. He was devotedly a brave and 
 patriotic soldier. He had assisted greatly in recruit- 
 ing Company I, of which he became first lieutenant. 
 Col. Sprague, of the Port Hudson charge, who knew 
 him well and could attest to his noble courage, said 
 of him, " Of the many gallant officers that there fell 
 there was none more fearless or deeply mourned than 
 Lieut. Strickland." He fell at Port Hudson while 
 gallantly charging the enemy. 
 
 Capt. Horace F. Quinn, after three years of faithful 
 service, was killed at the battle of Deep Run. He 
 had served as a private through the three months' 
 campaign. On the organization of the Tenth he 
 joined it as first lieutenant of Company H, under 
 Capt. Leggett. " Although young in years," said Col. 
 Greeley, " he was a veteran soldier ; twenty years of 
 age at his death, he had seen more than three years 
 of active service. No more brave or daring officer 
 ever led a company than Capt. Quinn." 
 
 Maj.-Gen. Joseph A. Mower was born in Vermont, 
 and by trade a mechanic. He had served gallantly 
 in the Mexican war and was settled in New London. 
 Having been commissioned by President Pierce as 
 second lieutenant in the regular army, he re-entered 
 the service, and at the time of the outbreak of the 
 war was in Texas under Twiggs. He patriotically 
 resisted the order to surrender his men to the rebels, 
 and made his way with them to the North. He was 
 in the opening battle of the war in Kentucky and 
 Tennessee, and prominent in the capture of Island 
 No. 10, and active at the capture of Corinth. He 
 was appointed brigadier-general, and was with Gen. 
 A. J. Smith in the Red River expedition, and fought 
 and flanked the enemy, resulting in the capture of 
 Chattanooga and Atlanta.' 
 
 ^ "Few officers in the service," says a late writer, "have distinguished 
 themselves like Mower, for while there may be some who possesa more 
 
 The brave Robert Leggett may be regarded as one 
 of the gallant spirits of New London, although not a 
 native of the town. He was one of the most ener- 
 getic promoters of the Union cause in the place, and 
 never flagged for a moment in his patriotic efforts. 
 He was one of the earliest and most active volunteers 
 in the struggle, and brave almost to a fault. He re- 
 ceived a gold medal for gallant service as sergeant, 
 was promoted to the office of major, succeeded by that 
 of lieutenant-colonel, lost his leg at Wagner, and 
 afterwards fought bravely in numerous battles, and 
 was finally compelled to resign his commission from 
 disability ; was one of the heroes of the war, and his 
 gallantry was highly extolled by all who knew him. 
 His honored remains peacefully rest beneath the ever- 
 greens of our cemetery, and his commissions, sword, 
 and belt have been appropriately placed in the rooms 
 of the Historical Society. 
 
 Capt. George H. Brown was another brave soldier. 
 He was severely wounded at Deep Run, but survived, 
 and afterwards was killed at the head of his company 
 before Petersburg. He left an honorable record for 
 bravery in the service. 
 
 As in the Revolution and the war of 1812, so in the 
 war against the government and the banner of our 
 country New London gallantly bore her part in our 
 naval afiairs during its continuance. In many of the 
 conflicts that reddened our Southern waters with the 
 blood of the noble defenders of the Union the brave 
 sons of New London largely shared. The Rodgera 
 family of this town, one of whom has previously been 
 referred to, particularly might be named as conspicu- 
 ous. " The paternal grandfather was Col. Rodgers, 
 who commanded the famous Maryland line during 
 the Revolution, and was frequently mentioned in 
 Washington's dispatches for gallantry. His eldest 
 son was Commodore John Rodgers, who fired the first 
 gun in the war of 1812, and was long the senior officer 
 of our infant navy. Another son was Commodore 
 George W. Rodgers, who for special gallantry during 
 the war of 1812 received a sword of honor from his 
 native State, and a medal and a vote of thanks from 
 Congress. Commodore John Rodgers had two sons, 
 one of whom, John Rodgers, also became commodore, 
 and led the attack on Port Royal and Fort Sumter 
 during the Rebellion ; and another, Col. Robert Rod- 
 gers, served through the late war, and was twice 
 wounded at the head of the Third Maryland In- 
 fantry. Two other grandsons of Commodore John 
 Rodgers were Capt. Raymond Rodgers, who was fleet- 
 captain during Dupont's attack on Charleston, and 
 Capt. George W. Rodgers, who was killed while com- 
 manding the monitor "Catskill" in the attack on 
 Fort Wagner. In the family are also Lieut.-Com- 
 manding Frederick Rodgers, Master's Mate Joseph 
 Rodgers, Midshipman R. P. Rodgers, and Lieut. Alex- 
 
 military genius, none are more absolutely indiflerent to personal danger 
 than he." He was a favorite of Gen. Sherman, and had few enemies. 
 He died in the regular service at Now Orleans in 1869. 
 
228 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ander P. Rodgers, who fell in the forlorn hope at the 
 storming of Chapultepec, who was a nephew of Col. 
 Eodgers. One of the three illustrious Commodore 
 Perrys married into the family, and there is probably 
 not another name in America that will compare with 
 that of Perry or Rodgers for the fame won on land 
 and sea in defense of the republic."^ 
 
 To the late Richard H. Chappell, of New London, 
 was committed the charge of the novel expedient of 
 closing temporarily the ports of Charleston and Sa- 
 vannah, from whom principally the enemy's swift 
 blockade-running cruisers sallied forth and plied their 
 nefarious trade of attacking, plundering, and destroy- 
 ing any merchant vessels that might come in their 
 way. The first order was for twenty-iive vessels of 
 from two hundred to four hundred tons each. Before 
 these were loaded twenty more were ordered, making 
 a fleet of forty-five sail, to be dispatched at once. 
 These were purchased, and the first fleet of twenty- 
 five sailed for their respective ports Nov. 21, 1861, 
 while the second fleet of twenty followed on the 11th 
 of December. Thirteen of these went from New Lon- 
 don, the commodore for the cruise being the veteran 
 Capt. John P. Rice,' well known as a competent ship- 
 master. One or two of the fleet put back from acci- 
 dent, but nearly all were delivered to the naval com- 
 manders off Charleston and Savannah. A majority 
 were used as at first designed, and, with their masts 
 cut away, were for a time ugly customers for the keel 
 of a blockade-runner to encounter as she tried to 
 dodge in or out on a dark night. Some were used 
 by the Navy Department as store-vessels in various 
 places, others constituted the foundation for tempo- 
 rary wharves at Port Royal or in the inlets where 
 our navy was employed ; not one, it is believed, 
 "lived" to return. Mr. Chappell's account of dis- 
 bursements was accepted by the government and set- 
 tled at once, and he was thanked for the promptness, 
 integrity, and eificiency he had displayed. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 NEW LONDON— (Continued). 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Hon. Henry P. Haven.— Henry Philemon Haven' 
 was born in Norwich Town, Conn., Feb. 11, 1815. 
 The house stands a quarter of a mile from the First 
 Congregational church, which was organized in 1660. 
 In his veins ran the blood of a Puritan ancestry. His 
 father, Philemon Haven, was the grandson of the 
 minister at Wrentham, Mass. Large, portly, hand- 
 some, affable, and generous, he was the plain progen- 
 itor of one side of the character of his remarkable 
 son. Mrs. Fanny Manwaring (Caulkins) Haven, 
 
 1 Military and Civil History of Connecticut, p. 844. 
 
 - Since deceased. 3 By Eev. J. P. Taylor. 
 
 Henry's mother, impressed herself no less unmistak- 
 ably on the other side. Left a widow for the second 
 time in 1819, the woman of forty-three moulded the 
 boy of four in her own likeness. From her he drew 
 energy, industry, purity, intelligence, inventiveness 
 domesticity, patriotism, and piety. Under her wing 
 Henry learned how to work. She led him to the font 
 taught him to sew, kept him indoors after dark 
 cherished his affection for his little sister. The boy 
 was encouraged to study. He founded a juvenile 
 anti-swearing society. On his brother Robert's leav- 
 ing home at fifteen, Henry, then eight years old, was 
 ready to keep the garden, already planted. Habits of 
 early rising and unvarying truthfulness became fixed. 
 His teachers at public and select school saw in him a 
 determination to do his best. In rain and shine he 
 was a punctual attendant on the Sunday-school. 
 Thus the course of the boy's Norwich life glided on 
 fifteen bright years in a frugal home, and every ripple 
 of it beat with his father's sweetness and his mother's 
 force. 
 
 In 1830, Mrs. Haven moved to New London. The 
 immediate cause was the appointment of her daugh- 
 ter. Miss Frances Manwaring Caulkins, to be princi- 
 pal of the female academy in that city. Henry at 
 first bemoaned the change. Talking with Robert, 
 who had now ended his Stonington life, he said he 
 didn't know anybody and was homesick. When the 
 boat took the elder brother off he looked back and 
 saw Henry sitting on the wharf crying! Would he 
 have wept could he have known that he was to fit his 
 own vessels from that very wharf as a man? He 
 must soon have brushed away his tears at least. 
 Maj. Thomas W. Williams was a prominent and 
 philanthropic merchant in New London. Why not 
 apply to him for a place ? Without consulting even 
 his mother, he rings the bell and asks if Maj. Williams 
 wants a boy. " No, no ; I don't want any boy," is the 
 gruff answer. He turns to go. His face pleads for 
 him. "Stop! What is your name? Where do you 
 live? Come to the office to-morrow and see if you 
 can find anything to do," is the beginning of his bril- 
 liant life in a great whaling-house known all over the 
 world. Ninety dollars was to be his wages the first 
 year. For about one dollar and seventy-five cents a 
 week, or thirty cents a day, Henry made himself so 
 useful he could not be spared. In less than three 
 years, on the book-keeper's resignation, the lad of 
 eighteen applied for the place. " You are too young." 
 " Try me." And the stout-hearted youth did boy's 
 and book-keeper's work together, staying at the store 
 till two A.M. on one occasion and returning at four 
 A.M., till the yearly balance-sheet in January was 
 drawn more easily than ever before. Such ardor and 
 fidelity won. Book-keeper at eighteen, he became 
 confidential clerk at twenty-one, with a salary of five 
 hundred dollars. His Christian employer does not 
 trust him less because he chooses Christian young 
 men for his comrades, and adds to his method, 
 
/'{: 
 
 
NEVV LONDON. 
 
 229 
 
 thOTOUghness, and probity a public confession of 
 Christ in the Second Congregational Church in June, 
 1835. 
 
 In 1838, at the age of twenty-three, Mr. Haven be- 
 came a partner where eight years before he had begun 
 a boy. Maj. Williams' subsequent service in Con- 
 gress withdrew his own name from the firm. In 1846 
 the name ceased to be Haven & Smith and became 
 Williams & Haven, and then Williams, Haven 
 & Co. For nearly forty years the subject of this 
 sketch showed here the qualities of a rare man of 
 affairs. The clerks in his office might think him des- 
 potic, but he knew that obedience was the secret of 
 order. Customers might call him hard in bargain- 
 ing, but he had it for a principle to save that which 
 was least in trade. Acquaintances were sometimes 
 offended at his curt manner when interrupted in his 
 correspondence, but it was the concentration of a 
 strong mind in one channel which wrought out his 
 dispatch. His vast business was pigeon-holed in his 
 brain. Now he was inventive, sending out the first 
 steam-whaler, and from one such voyage, with an 
 outfit of forty thousand dollars, secured after fifteen 
 months a cargo of oil and bone valued at one hun- 
 dred and fifty thousand dollars. Then he was enter- 
 prising, establishing a colony of Kanakas at the 
 guano islands in the West Pacific, and opening Eu- 
 ropean as well as American markets, till seventy 
 thousand tons had been shipped. Yet again he was 
 singularly alert and sagacious. In midwinter, the 
 moment the telegram came that Alaska was ceded, 
 he hurried his able and trusty partner, Mr. R. H. 
 Chapell, with an experienced and valued captain, 
 Ebenezer Morgan, to Honolulu, pushing on and out 
 to St. Paul's Island to raise the first American flag 
 and ship forty-five thousand seal-skins to England. 
 In one part of the world he manifested great caution 
 and thoroughness, as in the charts he had drawn of 
 Kerguelen's Land, which enabled the government ex- 
 pedition to observe the transit of Venus in 1874. In 
 another part of the world he displayed great breadth 
 and liberality, as in the standing orders to his whaling 
 captains to take up and set down the Arctic explorers 
 at any point desired by them, and to supply them 
 freely with any stores they needed. 
 
 In all the departments of his world-wide ventures 
 Mr. Haven was the master not the slave of business. 
 He had a keen insight into men, and moulded many 
 a captain and sailor for great explorations. He could 
 unbend from the most perplexing negotiations for a 
 chat with a pastor. He could bear losses smilingly. 
 He could scatter gains munificently. With a physique 
 more robust in mid-life than the promise of youth, 
 and a passion for system and toil, he carried others' 
 burdens without chafing. He was a bank director 
 and president who looked at the books. He was an 
 administrator of estates requiring exceptional ability. 
 He was president of the New London Northern Rail- 
 road Company when a less clear-headed and strong- 
 
 willed executive might have wrecked it. The young 
 men he trained for mercantile life admired his ease 
 no less than his energy. His executor tells the writer 
 that in all the questions arising since his death never 
 has the paper, or letter, or note been wanting to make 
 everything clear. In him were blended precision and 
 grasp, a poised judgment and a boundless energy 
 seen only in the merchant princes of mankind. The 
 metropolitan bankers and merchants were amazed to 
 find so large a man in so small a town. He had a 
 philosophy of business which was as deep as its lines 
 were wide, its methods swift, and its spirit just. 
 
 Feb. 23, 1840, at the age of twenty-five, Mr. Haven 
 married Miss Elizabeth Lucas Douglas, 'ofWaterford. 
 Already his mother, after several years' absence in 
 Norwich, had returned to New London, and beneath 
 her roof the young couple began their married life. 
 The 30th of April, 1842, Elizabeth, his youngest sister, 
 and the school-girl friend of his wife at Mount Holy- 
 oke, died of consumption. That year of sorrow saw 
 also its own joy. Before it ended Mr. Haven was 
 living in his own home, where wife and mother and 
 his two half-sisters, the Misses Caulkins, had each 
 their own niche. Here four children were born to 
 him. Here for eighteen years Mr. Richard H. Cha- 
 pell, afterwards his partner, came and went like a son. 
 No one ever forgot that charmed circle. Punctuality 
 and geniality reigned supreme. The broad face 
 beamed as the verses were recited by each member 
 round the breakfast-table. The hearty laugh rang 
 out at the clerical or denominational sparring in the 
 drawing-room. He brought sunshine with his en- 
 trance, with flowers for his mother, with books for his 
 sister, with a picnic for the little folks, with a drive 
 for his beloved wife. The winning tones of his voice 
 made him a delightful talker on a wide range of 
 topics. Thus he refreshed his sympathetic nature 
 after toil at a fountain of love. Men were drawn to 
 him by his patient and tender affectionateness, his 
 provision for intellectual life, his reverence for age, 
 his fellowship with youth irradiating and sanctifying 
 his home. Shadows fell there. The death of his 
 mother, 1854, of his accomplished and lamented half- 
 sister in 1869, of his eldest son, Thomas, in 1870, in 
 the morning glow of manly and mercantile partner- 
 ship, of his incomparable wife, fading like the leaf 
 in 1874, spite of care and tears, and, scarcely outside 
 his door, of his partners, senior and junior, and his 
 son-in-law, mellowed with a sunset hue the light they 
 could not quench. 
 
 Mr. Haven seldom spoke of his own meagre school 
 advantages, but he did everything that poor children 
 might have better ones. From 1856 till the day of his 
 death he was the chairman of the New London Board 
 of Visitors. In that capacity he at once secured new 
 text-books and more stringent rules for attendance 
 than were known in the former unconsolidated 
 schools. He founded evening schools for those who 
 could not be present at the day schools. He had sole 
 
230 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 charge of the examination of teachers. If an appli- 
 cant was not punctual at the appointed hour, no ex- 
 cuse could induce him to rob another of the ensuing 
 hour fixed in his diary. What was his recreation? 
 " Visiting schools" says his executor, to whom I have 
 referred. A more regular and conscientious visitor 
 there could not be. His mathematical questions stimu- 
 lated the minds of the pupils. His genial stories swayed 
 their manners in the direction of courtesy. What 
 many parents neglect — plain lessons on boyish purity 
 — he attended to with individual scholars in private. 
 At declamation and graduation exercises he was wont 
 to mark each participant. To his rigor at examina- 
 tion he added sympathy for teachers in their work. 
 He honored their calling as a noble one, and they 
 learned to honor it after him. It was his custom to 
 welcome them as a body under his ho.spitable roof, to 
 meet his colleagues in the city and on the State Board 
 of Education once a year. There the faculty of the 
 State Normal School, of which he was from the first 
 a most efficient trustee and friend, and other distin- 
 guished educators were brought in elevating and de- 
 lightful contact with the teachers of the public schools. 
 With representatives of that State Board he cheerfully 
 and repeatedly canvassed the State on behalf of pop- 
 ular education. His love of historic lore made him 
 thus founder of the New London County Historical 
 Society. His broad and ardent interests in national 
 culture lifted him to the presidency of the American 
 College and Education Society, 1875, as the successor 
 of Hon. William A. Buckingham. Nay, secretly, he 
 had been an education society himself. He loved to 
 aid worthy young men from the forge or farm to the 
 university, and thence to the Baptist, Methodist, Epis- 
 copal, or Congregational teaching of the Book of 
 Books. Of these over sixty are known. They were 
 equipped with the best mental and moral furnishing 
 by this born educator, — an educator wlio as a very 
 little child had visits from a maiden Massachusetts 
 aunt, who used to pray over him and dedicate him to 
 the ministry as they retired to their common chamber. 
 It is gratifying to think how in this respect his com- 
 manding public influence is to be perpetuated in the 
 Haven Memorial Library, opposite to the home of 
 Ma,j. Williams, his first employer, and C. A. Williams, 
 the honored son of the same. There the children of 
 all classes and races, who cordially and respectfully 
 saluted him on the streets, will have access to volumes 
 such as his ample brain craved, and motives to useful- 
 ness such as his noble life preached. 
 
 Already the public spirit of the man has come out 
 to the reader of the foregoing lines. In town-meeting 
 you were also sure to find him defending his darling 
 schools against narrow-minded tax-payers. Some of 
 these addresses were models of persuasiveness in 
 statement and in appeal. The Street came determined 
 to reduce appropriations; they went, having voted 
 them. In 1852 Mr. Haven was elected mayor. Says 
 one of his Council, " He was easy and affable in pre- 
 
 siding, prompt and eflicient in executing plans for the 
 common weal." The same year he went to the Gen- 
 eral Assembly as representative, acquiring the knowl- 
 edge and experience which enabled him later to secure 
 the school law already mentioned. When, under his 
 successor in the mayoralty, Hon. J. N. Harris the 
 war of the Rebellion broke out, Mr. Haven was amone 
 the foremost with voice and purse. His mother was 
 born in 1776. She had been carried out of town when 
 Benedict Arnold, the traitor, burnt it, and had never 
 forgotten how the British bayonets glittered in the 
 September sun. From her Mr. Haven learned loyalty 
 and in his conversations with his Sunday-school class 
 and his contributions for raising regiments and the 
 Christian Commission did all that in him lay to secure 
 men and means for preserving the nation's life. 
 Thanks to his public spirit, vessels loaded with stones 
 were bought and sunk in Charleston Harbor. In 1872 
 he was Presidential elector for Connecticut of Gen. 
 U. S. Grant, the embodiment of that victorious strug- 
 gle with secession. The ensuing year the Republican 
 party named him over Hon. H. B. Harrison, of New 
 Haven, its candidate for Governor. Local pride and 
 disaffection in New Haven defeated him for this high 
 office, which his commercial and educational experi- 
 ence, his practical wisdom and great executive force, 
 his winning address and eloquence so peculiarly fitted 
 him to fill. The defeat was a bitter blow. But to the 
 day of his death Mr. Haven remained none the less 
 a broad, active, patriotic citizen, serving the commu- 
 nity and commonwealth without stint and without 
 spot. "He was able to do the work of four men; 
 he tried to do the work of seven," was said of him 
 by his pastor, the late Kev. 0. E. Daggett, D.D., at 
 the obsequies of the wise, upright, humane, incor- 
 ruptible, indefatigable toiler for country and for God. 
 What he said of the dead Governor Buckingham, the 
 friend he had seconded and inspirited in the dark 
 days of the war, might then well have been said of 
 himself, "Know ye not that there is a prince and 
 a great man fallen this day in Israel." 
 
 Mr. Haven was an eminently religious man. He 
 was early impressed by his mother's dedication of 
 him in baptism to her covenant God. The conversion 
 of Miss Caulkins in 1831, emerging from a deep sense 
 of sin and need of Christ to the light and peace of 
 the new life, touched the boy of sixteen to the quiclf. 
 He received a note in which was the single word 
 eternity. That mighty thought was with him till 
 he found and confessed the everlasting Son of the 
 Father. But doubt succeeded faith. He went to the 
 superintendent of the Sunday-school and laid bare 
 his heart. " Go to work," was the counsel received. 
 "Where?" "In Waterford," was the reply. "A 
 man is coming in to get some one tb start a Sunday- 
 school there this very day." 
 
 In Waterford, therefore, he began to conduct that 
 Gilead Sunday-school, which was his joy and crown 
 for forty years. To-day a tasteful chapel marks the 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 231 
 
 spot where the young soldier of the cross began the 
 good fight against rum and unbelief. By his invin- 
 cible perseverance and heroic faith he won more than 
 a hundred souls as trophies of his Redeemer. So 
 tenderly did he plead with little children to accept 
 Christ that one young woman, once hearing him 
 through the partition, saw the glory of God and sur- 
 rendered herself to His service. 
 
 In his admirable volume, " A Model Superintend- 
 ent," Henry Clay Trumbull has portrayed Mr. Ha- 
 ven's originality in this rural school. What manner 
 of man was he who, unaided and uneducated, estab- 
 lished a uniform lesson and a teachers' meeting from 
 the start? His thoroughness crystallized in records, 
 his reverence breathed out in the exercises of wor- 
 ship. There his liturgical fondness — the heritage, per- 
 haps, of the English gentry of Chester — showed itself 
 in Psalms printed expressly for responsive reading. 
 There his Puritan tenacity kept open the school, four 
 miles away, in the dead of winter, though but one 
 teacher and two scholars should attend. Side by side 
 with the Gilead School, Mr. Haven carried on the 
 school of the Second Congregational Church from 
 1858, inspiring all its exercises and membership with 
 his own energy, breadth, order, courtesy, cheerful- 
 ness, and charity. 
 
 In teachers' Institutes and in international Con- 
 ventions his love of God's Word and his zeal for 
 Christ's little ones became known. As the first mem- 
 ber from the Congregational body on the Committee 
 for the International Lesson, he won the admiration 
 and afiection of his associates for his devout regard 
 for inspired truth and his gentle deference to views 
 at variance with his own. Traveling in the rail- 
 car at home, or seated on the banks of beautiful 
 lakes abroad, his familiarity with and delight in 
 Holy Scripture were traits of his single-minded, 
 pure-hearted, rock-ribbed piety. He could recite 
 whole chapters of the Bible by heart. He wrote 
 down every text preached from by his pastor. 
 
 Mr. Haven was a Christian who, like his Master, 
 " went about doing good." You marked the absence 
 of even a mild selfishness. He would travel one 
 hundred miles to attend a merely formal meeting of 
 some trust fund. He refused to have wine on his 
 table when it was prescribed by a physician, and 
 turned down his glass at a dinner on the Pacific coast, 
 where drinking customs were wellnigh universal. He 
 was a friend to the school-boy black and ragged, to the 
 clerk needing capital and cheer, to the widow unable 
 to bury her beloved dead, to the seamen exposed to 
 perils of body, property, and soul. He began the day 
 with secret prayer in his watch-house, looking out on 
 sea and sky. Even so frankly and grandly looked out 
 his whole consistent Christian life as a steward of 
 God's grace to men. As a vice-president of the Ameri- 
 can Bible Society, he planned to introduce the Russian 
 Bible into Alaska. As a corporate member of the 
 American Board, he bestowed the wisest thought and 
 
 the most self-sacrificing patience on the problem of 
 the world's redemption. To see him in the prayer- 
 meeting or at the communion-table you would say, 
 "Here is a pillar of the church, a deacon of honest re- 
 port, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." He was a 
 planet, not a meteor. A heaven-born tact and tender- 
 ness made him a fisher of men, both young and old. 
 To see him in the community or in the conference 
 you would say, " Here is a pattern of philanthropy, a 
 mine of benevolence, pouring forth without ostenta- 
 tion and without weariness, even to the third of his in- 
 come, a systematic stream of tribute to his fellow-men." 
 Said an eminent lawyer, " His will was unique, per- 
 petuating giving, the efibrt of a man after death to 
 let his works follow him, crystallizing in legal phra- 
 seology the very heart of the gospel of the Son of 
 Man." Said a fellow-offlcer of the church, " He 
 was a model to us all in faith, hope, and charity.'' 
 Faults he had, and lamented. Enemies might call 
 him proud, opinionated, arbitrary, domineering, for a 
 leonine temperament and a commanding personality 
 are not slain by grace. But his fellow-citizens in 
 city and State, now that he is gone, are beginning to 
 recognize the quality and the reach of his Christian 
 intellect, the sweetness and loveliness of his Christian 
 affections, the magnitude and minuteness of his Chris- 
 tian service up to the hour when, suddenly, in the 
 morning of the Lord's day, April 30, 1876, the cloud 
 received him out of their sight. 
 
 Wednesday afternoon, May 3d, Mr. Haven's funeral 
 took place at the Second Congregational church. The 
 members of the Sunday-schools assembled at two and 
 a half P.M. in the chapel which he had planned. Then 
 they filed into the church, leaving the desk bound 
 with sheaves. Through the opened doors waiting 
 crowds surged in till every part of the house not 
 specially reserved was thronged. The relatives then 
 entered, preceded by Dr. Daggett, pastor, and Dr. 
 G. Buckingham Wilcox, the former pastor. Fol- 
 lowing them walked the physicians in attendance, 
 the pall-bearers, and the body-bearers, — the latter of 
 the scholars of Mr. Haven's class. On the plate of 
 the walnut casket was the simple inscription, " Henry 
 P. Haven, aged 61." "Rest" was the message in 
 violets of a pillow ; "Faithful unto Death" was that 
 of a floral Bible. The pew of the departed was 
 draped with black. His seat next the aisle held a 
 sheaf of wheat and a sickle. 
 
 The great congregation listened then to the chant, 
 " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." The 
 Scripture lesson began with " But now is Christ risen 
 from the dead and become the first fruits of them that 
 slept." Choir and Sunday-schools gave responsively 
 the psalm of Moses, the man of God. The pastor re- 
 viewed Mr. Haven's career in tender and discrimina- 
 ting words, portraying his rare service in home and 
 school, in commerce and education, in church and 
 State, in life and death. Over the peaceful face he 
 then prayed for the circle of mourners on sea and 
 
2:« 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 land. The hymn "Forever with the Lord" ended 
 the service. At the grave, under a cloudy sky, the 
 sympathizing throng sang " I know the promises of 
 God lie open in His word." After the benediction 
 the Sunday-school children passed round the grave, 
 throwing in little bouquets. 
 
 His funeral, like his death, was one he would have 
 chosen. It was from the church of granite so asso- 
 ciated with his property and prayer. It was amid the 
 tears and tributes of old friends and young, sorrowing 
 that they should see his face no more. It was to 
 the grove of cedars, where lay the sleeping dust of 
 dear ones gone before, in the sure hope, with them, of 
 the resurrection at the last day. 
 
 Frances Manwaring Caulkins, second child of 
 Joshua Caulkins and Fanny Manwaring, was born 
 in New London, April 26, 1795. On the maternal 
 side the ancestry of Miss Caulkins can also be traced 
 back to the first settlers of the country. In England 
 the family have long been prominent, with many 
 titles and large landed estates. Sir Eanulphus de 
 Mainwaring, or, as the name was then spelt, Mesnil- 
 warin, was justice of Chester in the reign of Richard 
 I. (1189-1199). Sir William Mainwaring was killed 
 in the streets of Chester, defending it for the king, 
 Oct. 9, 1644. Sir Henry Mainwaring, who died in 
 1797, among other large estates possessed the manor of 
 Peover, the seat of his ancestors, which is one of the 
 estates described in the Doomsday survey as belonging 
 to Ranulphus. In the church at Over Peover are sev- 
 eral monuments, with arms and numerous implements 
 of the Mainwarings, among them an altar-tomb to 
 Eandal Mainwaring, who died in 1456, and to Mar- 
 gery, his wife. Over Peover was the residence of the 
 family for thirty generations. In 1616, "Sir Henry 
 Mainwaring was at Newfoundland with five good 
 ships." 
 
 The first record relating to the Manwarings in this 
 country of which we have knowledge bears date 
 Nov. 3, 1664, when Joshua Raymond purchased house, 
 home-lot, and other land in New London belonging 
 to " Mr. William Thomson, missionary to the Indians 
 near New London," for Oliver Manwaring, his brother- 
 in-law. 
 
 Whether Oliver Manwaring had then just arrived 
 or had previously been an inhabitant of the colony 
 is unknown. His wife was Hannah, the daughter of 
 Richard Raymond, who was made a freeman of Salem, 
 Mass., 1634, afterwards removed to Norwalk, and 
 thence in 1664 to Saybrook. Hannah was baptized 
 at Salem, February, 1643. The date of their mar- 
 riage is unknown. She united with Mr. Bradstreet's 
 church in New London in 1671, and four of their 
 children, all daughters, were baptized September 10th 
 in that year. They had ten children. Oliver Man- 
 waring died Nov. 3, 1723, nearly ninety years of age. 
 Hannah died Dec. 18, 1717, aged seventy-four. His 
 will was dated March 15, 1721, and all his children 
 were living at that time. He bequeathed to his grand- 
 
 son, John Richards, among other things, "that bond 
 which I had from my nephew, Oliver Manwaring in 
 England." The Manwarings who settled in the vi- 
 cinity of New London are said to have been noted 
 for a sanguine temperament, resolution, impetuosity 
 and a certain degree of obstinacy. They were lovers 
 of discussion and good cheer. A florid complexion 
 piercing black eyes, and dark hair were personal traits 
 which are still represented in their descendants. 
 
 During the year 1806, Miss Caulkins became the 
 pupil of Rev. Joshua Williams, who taught a select 
 school for young ladies on the green in Norwich Town 
 and though only eleven years of age, she appreciated 
 and improved the advantages enjoyed under this ex- 
 cellent teacher. He was an accomplished Christian 
 gentleman of fine tastes and literary culture, and she 
 always retained the pleasantest recollections of him, 
 and, indeed, revered his memory. As an illustration 
 of that untiring industry and love for valuable infor- 
 mation which characterized her entire life, we may 
 mention that while attending this school, and before 
 she had entered her twelfth year, she patiently wrote 
 out from memory a volume of educational lectures as 
 they were delivered from week to week. The elements 
 of science which she acquired at this time were the 
 foundation of all her future knowledge and attain- 
 ments in literature ; for, with occasional opportunities 
 of instruction from the best teachers, she was yet in a 
 great measure self-taught, and when once aided in 
 the rudiments of a study or language would herself 
 make all the progress she desired. She was an in- 
 satiable reader, and it might almost be said that when 
 very young she devoured every book that came within 
 her reach. While she enjoyed fiction and works of a 
 lighter character, her taste for solid reading was early 
 developed, and at eleven years of age she was familiar 
 with the English translation of the Iliad and Odyssey, 
 and the thoughts of the standard English writers of 
 the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries entered into 
 and gave a cast to her expanding mind. The germ 
 of the strong love for historical literature which char- 
 acterized her later life was seen occasionally in her 
 early years. At one time, when only about ten years 
 old, she was missed while visiting at the house of a 
 relative, and after much search was found seated on 
 an unused loom in the garret, deeply absorbed in 
 reading the history of Connecticut. As might be ex- 
 pected, such a young person was a great favorite, not 
 only among her juvenile acquaintances, but with older 
 persons, who could appreciate her talents and matu- 
 rity of mind. Often would her young friends gather 
 around her and beg her to tell them a story; and 
 then, with a sweet and animated countenance, she 
 would commence the recital of some tale of romantic 
 interest, reproduced perhaps from her reading, or not 
 unfrequently drawn from her own imagination. These 
 recitals carried captive her youthful audience, and 
 invariably won their admiration, and frequently their 
 boisterous applause. 
 
^^-^^^^^^^^ cJv r -i^a^cc/yi^ 
 
 ^^^>5^^ 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 233 
 
 In 1811 and '12, Miss Nancy M. Hyde and Miss 
 Lydia Huntley, afterwards Mrs. Sigourney, were 
 teacliing a young ladies' school in Norwich, and she 
 enjoyed the superior advantages thus afforded for a 
 time, entering their schoo*l in September, 1811. A 
 book written in that school and preserved by her 
 contains her first composition ; the subject was "An- 
 tiquities." These ladies were both persons of su- 
 perior literary taste and culture, and doubtless. exer- 
 cised a very favorable influence ou her mind. Miss 
 Huntley removed to Hartford in 1815, and married 
 Mr. Charles Sigourney, .June 16, 1819, and until her 
 death, June 10, 1865, remained a very warm friend 
 and frequent correspondent of Miss Caulkins. Miss 
 Hyde died March 26, 1816. A volume of her letters, 
 etc., published after her death, contains a poetical 
 tribute to her memory from her former pupil. 
 
 Frances evinced a remarkable aptitude for the ac- 
 quisition of languages. She enjoyed the advantage 
 of instruction only a short time, but with patient pri- 
 vate study she acquired a thorough knowledge of 
 Latin, and was able to read and teach both that lan- 
 guage and the French with facility and acceptance. 
 She spent some time in the family of Eev. Levi Nel- 
 son, of Lisbon, in 1825, for the special purpose of 
 advancing her knowledge of Latin, and took lessons 
 in the French language of M. Roux, a native and ac- 
 complished teacher of that tongue, who then resided 
 in Norwich. Later in life, while living in New York, 
 she pursued the study of German, and under the in- 
 structions of Maroncelli, an eminent political exile, 
 gained such a knowledge of Italian as enabled her to 
 read Dante and Tasso in the original. 
 
 Never having been permitted to look upon the face 
 of her own father, her knowledge of parental affection 
 came only through her step-father, and to him she 
 was tenderly and deservedly attached, and her affec- 
 tion was thoroughly reciprocated. His death, which 
 took place Nov. 12, 1819, left her mother again a 
 widow, with three young children and limited means. 
 Having before this been occasionally employed in 
 teaching small schools, Frances now determined to 
 support herself, and if necessary aid her mother. On 
 the 4th of January, 1820, she opened a select school 
 for young ladies in Norwich Town. As her talent for 
 teaching was developed her scholars increased, and 
 the school acquired an excellent reputation, and was 
 well sustained for nine years. In 1829 she accepted an 
 invitation from the trustees of the female academy at 
 New London to take charge of that institution. She 
 was invited back to Norwich City, or Chelsea, as it 
 was then called, in 1832, and was principal of the 
 academy there, with a large number of pupils, until 
 the close of the year 1834, when she relinquished 
 finally the duties of a teacher. 
 
 During these fifteen years she had under her charge 
 nearly four hundred different young ladies, many of 
 whom are still living and retain a very pleasant re- 
 membrance of their school-days and a strong personal 
 
 attachment to their instructor. Among her pupils 
 were the lamented wives of Senators Jabez Hunting- 
 ton and William A. Buckingham, and three daugh- 
 ters of Charles Lathrop, afterwards missionaries to 
 India. Very many of her pupils became themselves 
 teachers, and others, as wives of clergymen and lay- 
 men in positions of respectability and honor, have so 
 conducted themselves that, as a teacher, we may say 
 of her, in the words of Scripture, " Let her own works 
 praise her." 
 
 The year following the close of her school she spent 
 in visiting her friends and in recreation. In the spring 
 of 1836 she went to New York, and resided in the family 
 of her cousin, David H. Nevins, until May, 1842, when 
 she removed to New London, and found a home in the 
 family of the late Henry P. Haven, where she re- 
 mained until the day of her death. 
 
 She early manifested an unusual talent for versifi- 
 cation, as well as for prose writing, and although en- 
 couraged by the advice and approbation of friends, 
 she declined to thrust herself forward into notice by 
 offering the productions of her pen to the public 
 prints. Among her manuscripts are many fugitive 
 pieces of poetry without date, but evidently written 
 in early life. The first, in apparently the oldest book, 
 is entitled the " Indian Harp," and would do credit to 
 her later- years. The fourth in order in this book is 
 a long poem on " Thanksgiving," and the only one 
 dated. This is stated to have been written in 1814. 
 One earlier piece only has been found, and that is on 
 a loose sheet, dated Oct. 26, 1813, and entitled " The 
 Geranium's Complaint." 
 
 A considerable portion of the time from 1812 to 
 1819, while her mother resided in Norwich, she spent 
 pleasantly in the family of her uncle, Christopher Man- 
 waring, at New London. He had recently erected a 
 fine mansion on the beautiful grounds which he had 
 inherited from his ancestors, and was a gentleman of 
 literary taste and cultivation. He was a great ad- 
 mirer of Pope, Johnson, and the old English authors. 
 He had a good library, and being of kind and win- 
 ning manners, it is not strange that a strong mutual 
 attachment grew up between them, and that he be- 
 came very fond of the society of his niece and proud 
 of her talents. He was a great friend of Madison 
 and an early admirer of Gen. .Jackson. The first of 
 her writings now known to have been printed ap- 
 peared in the Connecticut Gazette, April 17, 1816, ad- 
 dressed to the hero of New Orleans. The contributor 
 acknowledges that he stole it from the "fair tyro," 
 and no author's name is attached. 
 
 Her contributions to the local papers of New Lon- 
 don have been very numerous, and with any striking 
 event in the domestic history of the place, or with the 
 decease of any aged or distinguished persons, its citi- 
 zens were sure to be favored with an interesting article, 
 in which passing events were so interwoven with pre- 
 vious history as to command the attention of all classes 
 of readers. During the past twenty years quite a 
 
234 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 number of inhabitants of -this city have been able to 
 notice the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. She 
 was sure to be a welcome guest at all such gatherings, 
 and her congratulatory lines were ever regarded as a 
 golden present. Holding the pen of a ready writer, 
 choice thoughts flowed in chaste and beautiful words, 
 whether in prose or poetry, and it is not too much to 
 say that only her own modesty and humility prevented 
 her from coming before the world and claiming a 
 position among the distinguished writers of the day. 
 
 It will be proper, in this connection, to speak of her 
 published works and contributions to the religious and 
 historical literature of the country. During her resi- 
 dence in New York she was intimately acquainted 
 with Rev. Messrs. Hallock and Cook, secretaries of the 
 American Tract Society. In 1835 that society pub- 
 lished a premium tract, entitled, "Do your Children 
 Eevereuce the Sabbath?" and the following year, 
 " The Pequot of a Hundred Years," both from her 
 pen, and of which they have issued 1,058,000 copies. 
 She next prepared for them, in 1841, " Children of the 
 Bible," all in verse and original, and in 1846, " Child's 
 Hymn-Book," partly a compilation. In 1847 she fur- 
 nished the " Tract Primer," one of the most popular 
 and useful books ever published by that society. 
 They have printed 800,000 copies of it in English, and 
 246,000 have been published in German and other 
 European languages. The society, at a meeting of 
 their publishing committee, April 23, 1849, by vote 
 invited her to prepare a suitable series of books for 
 children and youth, to follow the Primer. In com- 
 pliance with this request, she furnished six volumes of 
 " Bible Studies," forming an illustrative commentary 
 on the whole Scriptures, and showing accurate schol- 
 arship and Biblical research, interesting to the young, 
 but full of valuable information for all who love the 
 Word of God. She was five years (from 1854 to 1859) 
 in preparing this series, and contributed to the society, 
 in 1861, one more work, entitled " Eve and her Daugh- 
 ters," being sketches of the distinguished women of 
 the Bible in verse. She was also, up to the close of 
 her life, a frequent contributor to their " American 
 Messenger," furnishing them, but one week before her 
 death, "The Aged Emigrant," a few verses of poetry, 
 the last line being " A stepping-stone to heaven." 
 
 A deep sense of religious obligation pervaded her 
 entire life, and was never lost sight of in her literary 
 labors. An ardent thirst for knowledge, so deep as 
 to amount to an almost insatiable craving, early took 
 possession of her soul, and she could only be satisfied 
 as she gathered and stored up the wisdom of the past. 
 With a, deep veneration for the piety and principles 
 of our Puritan forefathers, she loved to linger among 
 the graves and written records of their lives and deeds ; 
 and, like " Old Mortality," she recovered many an 
 almost obliterated tombstone and preserved its story 
 from oblivion . Nearly every burial-place in the county 
 was personally examined, and any stone of great age 
 or special interest was faithfully transcribed. Doubt- 
 
 less all these researches into the records of the past 
 whether in town or church books or on tombistones 
 were in accordance with her natural tastes ; still we 
 believe that something of the feeling which animated 
 Walter Scott's hero was ever present with her. She 
 would not let the worthy and pious dead pass out of 
 mind, nor allow the good deeds of our ancestors to be 
 forgotten, so far as any labor that she could perform 
 might prevent it. 
 
 Something from the mass of historical and genea- 
 logical information which she had accumulated was 
 first given to the public in the form of a history of 
 the town of Norwich in 1845. It was a book of 360 
 pages, with some local illustrations, and was well re- 
 ceived and appreciated by the public. In 1852 she 
 published a larger work, " The History of New Lon- 
 don," of 672 pages. This was very carefully and 
 thoroughly prepared, and won many commendations 
 from distinguished scholars and antiquarians. In 
 1860, some of the volumes of this history being still in 
 sheets, twenty pages were added and bound up with 
 the original book, thus giving eight years' additional 
 records. Her materials having greatly increased since 
 the issue of the first history of Norwich, and the edi- 
 tion being out of print, she rewrote the entire work, 
 and a new volume of 700 pages was given to the pub- 
 lic in 1866. 
 
 Miss Caulkins was a consistent Christian, and a 
 member of the Congregational Church. She died 
 Feb. 8, 1869. 
 
 Acors Bams. — The genealogical record of the 
 family of Acors Barns is very readily traced back to 
 the first members of this family in this country, who 
 landed in Salem, Mass., about 1638, coming from the 
 vicinity of the city of Norwich, England. 
 
 Their names were Joshua, William, and Charles, 
 probably three brothers. Joshua's name appears 
 among the nine original proprietors of the town of 
 East Hampton, L. I., where he was soon after joined 
 by William and Charles, and they all owned farms. 
 
 This township was bought in the spring of 1651, 
 from Governor Edward Hopkins, of the colony of 
 Connecticut, and Governor Theophilus Eaton, of the 
 colony of New Haven, for the sum of £30 4s. Si 
 sterling. In 1675 Isaac Barns was born, and tradi- 
 tion says he was the son of William Barns, who died 
 at East Hampton, Dec. 1, 1698. Isaac Barns died 
 Aug. 20, 1769, aged ninety-four years. He left a son 
 Isaac, born Jan. 29, 1704, died April 22, 1772. He 
 was the father of six sons and six daughters. The 
 oldest son, Isaac, born July 1, 1738, died in command 
 of a company of provincial troops, at Cape Breton, 
 N. S., during the French and Indian war so called. 
 The next son was Nathaniel, the grandfather of the 
 subject of this sketch. He was born at East Hamp- 
 ton, March 18, 1740. Early in life he moved to 
 Westerly, E. I., leaving behind him unsold his real 
 estate. When the Revolutionary war commenced he 
 owned and commanded a privateer, and was fairly 
 
Engi];.,./Jfiitoh.' 
 
 ^ ,r:--'^-^' 
 
 ■C^'-^z^ 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 235 
 
 successful in his career. He married Elizabeth 
 Brown, of "Westerly, R. I. She was born in 1741, 
 and died March 5, 1826, aged eighty-six years. Her 
 husband died in Charleston, S. C, but the exact date 
 of his death is not known. He had two sons and 
 three daughters. The oldest son, Nathaniel, the 
 father of Acors Barns, was born Sept. 12, 1769, and 
 died Oct. 15, 1819. He was a mariner, doing busi- 
 ness in the West Indies. He married Miss Nancy 
 Pendleton, of Westerly, R. I., in 1791. She was born 
 July 22, 1771, and died April 30, 1835. They had 
 four sons and four daughters. The oldest child, Na- 
 thaniel, was drowned oif Lisbon, Portugal, Oct. 15, 
 1811, in the nineteenth year of his age, leaving no 
 descendants. Of the remaining seven children, Acors 
 was the oldest. His pedigree was through the line of 
 the oldest male heir of the Barns family, as is evident 
 from the fact of this family having had handed down 
 to it the original coat of arms, from which they derive 
 the mannei;of spelling their name as found thereon. 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Westerly, R. 
 I., May 13, 1794, and died, the first of the seven, on 
 the 18th of November, 1862. 
 
 Acors Barns' sole capital in beginning life was in- 
 dustry. His common-school education was finished 
 in his early youth, and he then began the battle for 
 success. His profession was the life of a sailor. It 
 was not long before he owned and commanded a ves- 
 sel of his own, small in dimensions but nevertheless 
 his own. His business with his craft was trafficking 
 along the coast from Nantucket to New York. His 
 prospects were flattering, to say the least, and life 
 looked bright, but the war of 1812 soon gave a more 
 serious aspect to his business. The risks taken were 
 greater and the profits larger. He was a skillful navi- 
 gator and had many hairbreadth escapes. On one of 
 his trips along the coast, availing himself of a dense 
 fog to run by the blockading sliips of the enemy, 
 he was so unfortunate as to be becalmed in the midst 
 of the squadron, and when the fog lifted he and his 
 vessel were captured by the enemy. He with other 
 prisoners were started for Halifax, Nova Scotia, but 
 finally were put ashore on the coast of Massachusetts. 
 He returned home a worse than penniless boy, for he 
 had not paid for his first vessel in full. Some time 
 after this disaster he joined a vessel known as a " row- 
 galley," and called " Black Nose," the forward half of 
 the boat being black and the after part white. Its 
 armament was the old-fashioned flint-lock musket, 
 each man furnishing his own with ammunition. 
 Their occupation was skirting along the coast, keep- 
 ing a sharp lookout for Yankee crafts that had been 
 captured by the enemy and recapture them if possible. 
 They also rendered assistance to their friends when 
 they were pursued by the enemy's boats. At the 
 time Commodore Hardy made his famous descent 
 upon the borough of Stonington, Aug. 9 to 12, 1814, 
 this " row-galley" was the boat that carried the cor- 
 respondence between the civil authorities of the bor- 
 
 ough and Commodore Hardy. While the boat would 
 be waiting alongside the ship the crews of each would 
 pass the time in exchanging tart compliments with 
 each other. After the commencement of the bom- 
 bardment the " row galley" was actively engaged in 
 moving the inhabitants and their household goods up 
 the Pawcatuck River to a place of safety. The result 
 of the gallant defense of Stonington is a matter of 
 history well known to all. 
 
 After the close of the war of 1812 Acors Barns re- 
 turned to his profession of a sailor. At first he was 
 employed on vessels fitted for the Banks of New- 
 foundland to catch codfish. Afterwards he com- 
 manded vessels whose cargoes of oil and codfish were 
 sent to a foreign market to be sold, generally to Spain 
 or Portugal. In these markets the proceeds of the 
 outward cargo would be invested in dried fruit, and 
 he thus turned his outward cargo into money by sell- 
 ing the cargo of fruit in New York. It was on one 
 of these voyages that he arrived in New York in 
 1822, during the fearful ravages of the yellow fever, 
 when he found the streets deserted and grown over 
 with grass and weeds. The consignee of his vessel 
 met him at the wharf in the lower part of the city 
 with his horse and chaise and drove to the custom- 
 house, in the village of Greenwich, then far out of 
 town, so far as to be considered safe from the epi- 
 demic. 
 
 On the 25th of May, 1817, Acors Barns married 
 Miss Hannah Dickins, daughter of Tristam and 
 Martha Dickins, n'ee Wilcox, of Stonington. She 
 was born June 30, 1799, and still survives her hus- 
 band. 
 
 The Dickins' ancestors were among the early set- 
 tlers of Block Island, where their descendants are still 
 to be found. Although Lottery Village, in the town 
 of Westerly, was the residence of Acors Barns, Sto- 
 nington was his place of business. Here early in life 
 the subject of our sketch became associated in marine 
 adventures with the members of Gen. William Wil- 
 liams' family, who were part owners in the vessels 
 and cargoes which he managed. Whether selling oil 
 and salt fish in Portugal, or trading the farm produce 
 of his neighbors at Baltimore, Norfolk, and Rich- 
 mond for wheat or flour, some members of the Wil- 
 liams family were always interested with him. 
 
 In 1819, Maj. Thomas W. Williams, son of Gen. 
 William Williams, located at New London, and com- 
 menced to outfit ships for the whale-fisheries. His 
 success at first was not flattering, but soon the in- 
 domitable energy of the master-spirit brought success, 
 and with it an increase of business to such an extent 
 that an assistant was wanted, and the result was that 
 Acors Barns came to New London April 1, 1827, with 
 his family. He immediately entered into the employ 
 of Maj. Thomas W. Williams, and remained with him 
 until 1829. During the fall of 1827 he took command 
 of the ship " Chelsea," built by Maj. Williams and his 
 ' friends at Norwich, Conn., and made a voyage from 
 
236 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 New York to New Orleans and back ; from New York 
 she sailed under his command as a London packet to 
 that place, and back to New York. After this voyage 
 she was put into the whale-fishery. 
 
 In 1829, William Williams, Jr., and Acors Barns 
 commenced business by fitting two ships for the whale- 
 fishery, the " Stonington," already in the fishery, and 
 the " Electra," a London packet, bought for the busi- 
 ness. 
 
 From 1829 to 1832 the above-named firm had no 
 permanent place of business, but leased office, storage, 
 and wharf accommodations during the time necessary 
 to fit their ships for sea and to dispose of their car- 
 goes. In the spring of 1832 they leased a store and 
 office on Bank Street, and commenced a commission 
 and general merchandising business, as was the custom 
 of all the whaling agents (as they were styled). This 
 year they fitted for sea the " Helvetius," " Stoning- 
 ton," and " Electra." The two latter ships made an- 
 nual voyages until 1833, when the "Stonington" was 
 sent on a sperm-whale voyage to fhe Pacific Ocean, 
 where the " Helvetius" had been sent in 1832. This 
 vessel was wrecked on Oahu, one of the Sandwich 
 Islands, but her .cargo of five hundred barrels of sperm 
 oil was saved and sent home. In 1833 the first dis- 
 aster befell the firm. The bark " Euth and Mary" 
 was lost on Block Island, as she was proceeding to sea, 
 during a dense fog. Some of the material of the ves- 
 sel, however, was saved, and a large part of the cargo. 
 
 In 1836, Thomas W. Williams (2), son of William 
 Williams, Jr., became a partner in the firm, and the 
 title was changed to Williams & Barns. In February, 
 1841, William Williams, the senior, retired from the 
 firm. In 1847, William H. Barns, the eldest son of 
 Acors Barns, was admitted to an interest in the firm. 
 There was no change of the personnel of the firm until 
 1855, when Thomas W. Williams (2) died. During 
 the following year a new organization of the firm was 
 made, Henry R. Bond and Charles Barns becoming 
 partners. Mr. Bond had been a member of William 
 Williams, Jr.'s family from his youth up. Charles 
 Barns was the second son of Acors Barns. 
 
 On the 31st of December, 1858, the subject of this 
 sketch withdrew from the firm, leaving the partner- 
 ship to consist of William H. Barns, Charles Barns, 
 and Henry E. Bond, with the title of the firm un- 
 changed, and so it remains at this date. 
 
 During the time Acors Barns was a member of the 
 firm, from 1829 to 1858, a period of thirty years, they 
 owned thirteen ships and barks and two brigs. Of 
 these four were wrecked, two were condemned in for- 
 eign ports, and four were sold. 
 
 Acors Barns had other investments and enterprises 
 than the whale-fishery. He was a prominent owner 
 in the coasting trade, carried on by a large fleet of 
 sloops and schooners at an early date, and afterwards 
 by propellers. He was one of the projectors of the 
 first propeller line that ran between New York and 
 New London, and at a time when a propeller was 
 
 looked upon as an experiment. This was in the yeat 
 1844. He lived to see sail-vessels to a great extent 
 superseded by propellers. 
 
 He was one of the incorporators of the New Lon- 
 don Northern Eailroad Company, chartered under 
 the name of the New London, Willimantic and 
 Palmer Eailroad Company, was elected a director on 
 its organization, and remained in its direction imtii 
 his death. 
 
 In 1852 he, with his friends, became the incorpor- 
 ators, under the State Banking Act, of the Bank of 
 ■ Commerce, with a capital of one hundred thousand 
 dollars, soon increased to two hundred and aeven 
 thousand two hundred dollars. He was elected presi- 
 dent on its organization, and held that office until his 
 death. 
 
 Acors Barns was never a merely nominal ofBcerin 
 the directorship to which he was elected, but he at- 
 tended to and performed the duties of his office to 
 the best of his ability, and his quick comprehension 
 of the matter under discussion always gave weight t« 
 his opinion with his co-directors. He was a man of 
 good judgment, a safe counselor, and steadfast friend, 
 well known in the community in which he lived, and 
 he died respected by all who knew him. 
 
 Thomas W. Williams, second son of Gen. Wilham 
 Williams, of Stonington, Conn. Born Sept. 28, 1789. 
 Educated at Plainfield. Eeceived mercantile training 
 in New York, Eussia, and England. Took up resi- 
 dence in New London in 1818. Married Lucretia 
 Woodbridge, daughter of Hon. Elias Perkins. 
 
 In the decadence of general business consequent on 
 the war and the disordered state of affairs in Europe, 
 Mr. Williams sought to revive and develop the 
 whaling interest, in which some faint attempt had 
 been hitherto made. His energy and tenacity of pur- 
 pose led to the establishment of this business on the 
 firm basis which added largely to the growth and 
 prosperity of New London, and though, under the 
 operation of natural laws, the business has declined 
 and is now fading out, it yet served its purpose well 
 for the time, and justified the sagacity and compre- 
 hension of the man who saw and utilized its possibil- 
 ities so well for his town and himself. 
 
 In 1838 he was elected member of Congress for 
 this District, and served with ability for two consec- 
 utive terms, then withdrawing on his own decision 
 from further official connection with political life. 
 He was one of the promoters of the N. L. & W. B. E., 
 and for many years its first president and strongest 
 supporter. Largely interested in all good works, 
 public or otherwise, which aimed at progress and im- 
 provement, he led many and aided all efforts that 
 commended themselves to his judgment as beneficial 
 to the city and State in which he lived. 
 
 His political convictions were strongly Whig and 
 Eepublican, and among his personal friends were 
 numbered the best men of the old party and its 
 worthy successor. Integrity of thought and action. 
 
^'^a^-hyAKP.lCc!'^''^' 
 
Jvc^iyLc^-v^ nvLJli-c^r^ 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 237 
 
 with broad liberal views, based on strong Christian | 
 principle, marked his life, and a powerful will, united | 
 with energetic determination, emphasized his charac- 
 teristics. Earnest and truthful, his life was never i 
 idle or useless, and he died honored and respected, [ 
 Dec. 31, 1874. 1 
 
 Nathan Belcher was born in 1813, in that part of 
 Preston, New London Co., afterwards incorporated as 
 the town of Griswold. His first ancestor in this 
 country was Gregory Belcher, who came from England 
 in 1634, landing at Boston, and settling in Braintree, 
 Mass. As appears by public records, Gregory's de- 
 scendants continued to reside in that vicinity until 
 early in the succeeding century, when one of them, 
 Moses, removed to Preston, then but partially set- 
 tled, and became owner of an extensive tract of land 
 there. He was prominent in the organization of 
 the Second Church of Preston, and represented the 
 town in the General Assembly. 
 
 A grandson of his, William, was active in the 
 affairs of the town about the period of the Revolution, 
 and was one of a committee sent by it to Boston to 
 present a contribution of money raised in the town 
 to aid the poor who were suffering through the en- 
 forcement of the Boston Port Bill, and also to consult 
 with the authorities there as to the measures necessary 
 to be taken for maintaining the rights of the colonies. 
 When actual hostilities began he joined the Conti- 
 nental army as captain of one of the companies raised 
 in Preston, and served under Col. Selden, and after- 
 wards Col. Latimer, in the battles on Long Island, 
 at White Plains, and around New York. At a later 
 period he became captain in a regiment commanded 
 By Col. (afterwards Gen.) Jedediah Huntington. 
 
 His son, William, father of Nathan, the subject of 
 the present sketch, was a resident of Preston during 
 the early part of his life. In the war of 1812 he com- 
 manded a regiment stationed on the Groton side to 
 repel the invasion threatened by the British fleet in 
 Long Island Sound. At the close of the war he en- 
 gaged in business at New London, but removed from 
 thence to Norwich, and some years later to the western 
 part of Massachusetts. 
 
 The son, Nathan, did not accompany him, but re- 
 mained with relatives in Griswold, and under their 
 direction attended the academy at Plain field, and 
 there fitted for college. He graduated at Amherst 
 College in 1832, and afterwards studied law with Sam- 
 uel Ingham, of Essex, and at the Harvard Law School ; 
 was admitted to the bar in 1836, and commenced 
 practice in Clinton, Conn. Early in 1841 he removed 
 to New London, and in October of the same year 
 married Ann, daughter of Increase Wilson. A few 
 months previous he had relinquished the practice of 
 law and engaged with Mr. Wilson in the manufacture 
 of hardware, and from that time forward gave his 
 principal attention to the management of that busi- 
 ness. During the succeeding years he occasionally 
 held some local offices and appointments. In 1846 
 16 
 
 and 1847 was a member of the Connecticut House of 
 Representatives, and in 1850 of the State Senate. In 
 1852 was one of the Presidential electors at large for 
 the State, Governor Thomas H. Seymour being the 
 other, and as such cast his vote for Franklin Pierce 
 for President. In 1853 he was chosen representative 
 in Congress for the Third District, and served through 
 the Thirty-third Congress, but declined being a can- 
 didate for re-election. Intending to resume business 
 at the close of his term, he had arranged that the 
 manufacturing establishment with which he had been 
 identified, and which until then had been individual 
 property, should be changed into a corporation, and 
 accordingly it commenced operations in 1855 as "The 
 Wilson Manufacturing Company," his father-in-law. 
 Increase Wilson, being the president, and himself the 
 secretary. At the death of Mr. Wilson, in 1861, he 
 succeeded him as president, and remained thus until 
 1866, when he disposed of most of his interest in the 
 company and retired from its management and from 
 further active business. While he had the principal 
 charge of its affairs the business of the corporation 
 was large and exceptionally prosperous. Since this 
 retirement he has been disinclined to re-enter upon 
 the strife of business or politics, but continues to dis- 
 charge the duties connected with some positions of 
 trust assumed in earlier life. He has been a director 
 in the Union Bank since 1858, and a trustee of the 
 Buckley School since its incorporation in 1860, and 
 its treasurer since 1876. 
 
 He has had two children, a daughter, who died 
 young, and a son, William, a lawyer, and at the pres- 
 ent date (1881) judge of probate for the New London 
 district. 
 
 In politics Mr. Belcher has always been a Demo- 
 crat, but throughout the war he was a firm and out- 
 spoken supporter of the Union, and was called upon 
 to preside at the first war-meeting held in New London 
 after the attack upon Sumter. 
 
 His religious associations are with the First Con- 
 gregational Church, in New London, where he has 
 long been a regular attendant, though not a member. 
 
 Hon. Francis B. Loomis was born at Lyme, Conn., 
 April 9, 1816. His father, Joel Loomis, was an in- 
 fluential public man, a frequent representative of his 
 town in the General Assembly, judge of probate for 
 many years, an associate judge of the County Court, 
 and the intimate friend of the late Chief Justice 
 Waite, of Connecticut, father of Hon. Morrison R. 
 Waite, the present chief justice of the Supreme Court 
 of the United States, and also Hon. Charles J. Mc- 
 Curdy, Judge Lodowick Bill, and the leading men of 
 that day. 
 
 Mr. Loomis' boyhood was passed in his native town, 
 where he attended the public and private select 
 schools, and acquired an education that well fitted 
 him for his subsequent successful business career. 
 
 Thus prepared for the active duties of life, on at- 
 taining his majority he immediately began the man- 
 
238 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ufacture of woolen goods in his native town, and that 
 with a vigor and wisdom that were rewarded by suc- 
 cess from the very beginning. Col. Loomis had at- 
 tained a prominent position in Lyme as a public- 
 spirited citizen of enterprise and ability, and in 1847, 
 just prior to his removal to New London, he was 
 honored by an almost unanimous election to the Lower 
 House of the Legislature. Mr. Loomis always mani- 
 fested quite an interest in military affairs, and when 
 only twenty-one years of age was elected colonel of 
 the Third Eegiment of Connecticut Militia and 
 county commissioner. 
 
 In 1848 he removed to New London, and at once 
 greatly enlarged his sphere of operations, and has since 
 been prominently identiiied with the business and 
 financial interests of the city. Soon after his removal 
 to New London he erected the woolen-mills at Mont- 
 ville, and subsequently became the owner of the Rock- 
 well Mills at Norwich and other factories in that 
 town, now owned by the Sturdevant Bros. He also 
 constructed and managed for some time the steam 
 woolen-mills at New London, which factory was the 
 first of the kind ever built in this city for the produc- 
 tion of textile fabrics, of which he was the sole owner. 
 He also erected and owned the woolen-mills at Cov- 
 entry, Tolland Co. In the marvelous development 
 of the woolen manufacture from 1840-70, Col. Loomis 
 was one of the principal factors, and made the busi- 
 ness a grand financial success. Later he secured the 
 exclusive ownership of the large steam cotton-mills 
 at Sag Harbor. The mills were built by the late 
 Gen. James, and were regarded as the model mills of 
 the country. During the civil war his manufacturing 
 was conducted on a more extensive scale than that of 
 any other individual in the State, his employes num- 
 bering over twelve hundred, and his mills were run- 
 ning night and day in the fulfillment of government 
 contracts. 
 
 Notwithstanding Col. Loomis met with almost un- 
 paralleled success as a, manufacturer, his ability as a 
 financier was no less conspicuous. Quick to perceive 
 proffered advantages, and active in turning them to 
 private and public account, he availed himself of the 
 privileges conferred by the National Banking Act 
 soon after it was passed, and organized the First Na- 
 tional Bank of New London, which was one of the 
 first institutions of its kind in the country. He sub- 
 scribed and owned nearly the whole of the capital 
 stock, and directed its operations in person from the 
 date of organization until its cessation from business 
 in 1877. Investments rarely prove to be more lucra- 
 tive than did that. Dividends for many years aver- 
 aged twelve per cent, in gold, and the surplus accumu- 
 lations more than equaled the capital. During the 
 late rebellion this bank was the government deposi- 
 tory for Eastern Connecticut, and for a time held 
 government deposits of over $4,000,000. It was also 
 intrusted with the sale of government bonds, and 
 floated over $20,000,000 of the several issues. 
 
 Possessed of an ample fortune, obtained by pro. 
 cesses only beneficent to the multitude, Col. Loomis 
 retired from manufacturing soon after the close of the 
 war, and employed his energy and resources in stock 
 speculations and railroad enterprises. Some of the 
 former have been of colossal magnitude, while the 
 latter, particularly in the South and West, have also 
 been on a large scale, developing their section of 
 country, enriching its inhabitants, and yielding a rich 
 return to the deserving capitalist. 
 
 Politically, Col. Loomis began life as a Whig, and 
 acted with the party until it ceased to exist. 
 
 In 1861, when armed rebellion raised its '. 
 head, he promptly and patriotically devoted . 
 to the upholding of the Union cause, and lost neither 
 heart nor hope in the darkest and dreariest days of 
 the sanguinary struggle that ensued. He was presi- 
 dent of the first war-meeting, held in the old court- 
 house at New London, on the evening of that ever- 
 memorable 12th of April, 1861, when the lightning 
 flashed the intelligence to the expectant North that 
 Confederate shot had been fired at the national colors 
 at Sumter, and that Major Anderson and his gallant 
 band were in a state of siege. 
 
 Never did the spirits and genius of the Eevolution- 
 ary fathers shine more resplendently than in an act of 
 Col. Loomis' in 1864. 
 
 We all remember the dark hours of the early part 
 of 1864. Grim-visaged war stood out in all its mani- 
 fold horrors before the people of this country. It 
 was an hour of intense gloom. A mighty conflict 
 was imminent, and at this time, on the eve of the 
 horrible carnage which has gone down in history as 
 the battle of the Wilderness, Col. Loomis' patriotism 
 was brilliantly displayed in his offer to President 
 Lincoln to furnish and equip at his own expense one 
 thousand men for one hundred days in order to re- 
 lieve the garrison at Fort Trumbull, that the regulars 
 stationed there might be sent to the iront. The noble 
 offer was not accepted, but the genuine and glowing 
 patriotism which dictated it at the supreme hour of 
 the nation's peril received appropriate acknowl- 
 edgment from the lamented Lincoln in the follow- 
 ing autograph letter, which was subsequently found 
 among his papers, and was published in Eaymond's 
 " Life, Public Services, and State Papers of Abra- 
 ham Lincoln." 
 
 " Executive Mansion, Washington, Aug. 12, 1864. 
 " Mt dear Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receiptof your 
 communication of the 28th of April, in which you offer to replace tbe 
 present garrison at Fort Trumbull with volunteers, which jou propose 
 to raise at your own expense. While it seems inexpedient at this time 
 to accept this proposition, on account of the special duties devolving 
 upon the garrison mentioned, I cannot pass unnoticed such a moritonouB 
 instance of individual patriotism. Permit me, for the goTernment, to 
 express my cordial thanks to you for this generous and puMlc-Bpiriteii 
 oflei-, which is worthy of note among the many called forth by these times 
 of national trial. 
 
 "I am very truly your obedient servant, 
 
 " A. Lincoln. 
 
 ' F. B. Loomis, Esq." 
 
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NEW LONDON. 
 
 239 
 
 Throughout the war, and until 1872, Col. Loomis 
 acted with the Republican party, but uniformly de- 
 clined all overtures to become a candidate for office. 
 The Liberal Republican movement of that year en- 
 listed his heartiest sympathy and co-operation, and 
 he was nominated elector at large on the Greeley and 
 Brown ticket. Since then he has been politically 
 identified with the Democratic party. In 1872 he 
 declined the unanimous nomination as candidate for 
 Senator from the Seventh District, and soon after he 
 also declined the congressional nomination from the 
 Third District, which was also unanimously tendered 
 him. He was a delegate at large to the convention 
 that nominated Tilden and Hendricks, and was 
 chairman of the State delegation. He was also 
 Presidential elector at large on the Tilden and Hen- 
 dricks ticket from Connecticut. In November, 1876, 
 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor on the Democratic 
 ticket, and as presiding officer of the Senate, in the 
 subsequent legislative session, discharged his duties 
 with acceptancy and skill, added to an impartial 
 dignity that commanded respectful attention and 
 grateful applause of political friends and opponents 
 alike. At the close of the session, the last held in 
 the old State-House and the first in the new. Senator 
 Brown, Eepublican, of the Eighth District, in the 
 course of his remarks in delivering the farewell of 
 the Senate to its presiding officer, said, " You have 
 treated all questions fairly and honorably, and in a 
 manner to command the respect and approval of all. 
 Strange as it may seem, yet it is true that during the 
 two years you have presided over this body no ap- 
 peal has been made from the ruling of the chair." 
 Certainly a meritorious record. 
 
 Col. Loomis was urgently requested to become a can- 
 didate for the Lieutenant-Governorship for a second 
 term, and although positively declining the honor, he 
 was chosen by acclamation in the convention, but he 
 refused to stand as the candidate. 
 
 In the fall of 1880, Col. Loomis was a prominent 
 candidate for gubernatorial honors, and it was the 
 belief of all the leading men in the party that his 
 nomination would insure success to the Democratic 
 ticket. His peculiar fitness for the position, in con- 
 nection with his popularity among the masses, were 
 some of the reasons why Col. Loomis should have 
 been the candidate of his party in the critical cam- 
 paign of 1880. He, however, declined the honor in a 
 characteristic letter, in which he said, " To the end 
 that our noble candidate may be elected, all private 
 ambition should be sacrificed, and all personal self- 
 seeking and local claims subordinated." 
 
 Upon the organization of the New London County 
 Historical Society, Hon. L. 8. Foster was chosen 
 president, and Col. Loomis one of the vice-presidents, 
 which position he has since held. 
 
 Col. Loomis is a public-spirited citizen of a genial 
 and social nature, and very popular with the masses. 
 
 William Williams Billings. — There is no prouder 
 
 or more enduring personal record than the story of a 
 self-reliant, manly, and successful career. It declares 
 that the individual has not only understood his duty 
 and mission, but fulfilled them. The following biog- 
 raphy is highly suggestive of these facts. 
 
 William Williams Billings, the honored subject of 
 this sketch, was born in Stonington, Conn., in the 
 year 1802. He attended school at Norwich and New 
 London, to which last-named city his father, the late 
 Hon. Coddington Billings, removed. Having de- 
 cided upon a collegiate course, he was prepared under 
 the tuition of the late Prof. Denison Olmstead, and 
 in 1817 entered Yale College, where he graduated 
 with honor in the class of 1821, of which class of 
 twenty-one not more than eight survive. 
 
 After leaving college Mr. Billings at once entered a 
 counting-house, where his business education was 
 begun. He manifested a decided interest in com- 
 mercial pursuits, and in 1823 and 1824, then only 
 twenty-one years of age, he made voyages to Portugal 
 and France to enlarge his business knowledge and 
 mercantile experience. In about the year 1823, Mr. 
 Billings formed a copartnership with his brother, the 
 late Hon. Noyes Billings, under the firm-name of N. 
 & W. W. Billings, for carrying on the whaling busi- 
 ness. Here his indomitable will, business energy, 
 and executive ability were clearly demonstrated. The 
 business rapidly increased, and this enterprising firm 
 soon became extensively and favorably known over 
 all oceans, and was eminently successful in the owner- 
 ship and agency of whaling ships. The firm con- 
 tinued until the business universally declined, when 
 its affairs were closed and Mr. Billings retired from 
 active business in the possession of a handsome com- 
 petency. 
 
 Since his retirement he has, with an occasional trip 
 to Europe, lived among the people with whom his 
 active business life had been immediately associated, 
 always interested in their success and gladly contrib- 
 uting to their comfort and enjoyment. Mr. Billings 
 is a liberal contributor to all worthy objects, both 
 public and private, being always directed by a 
 thoughtful and positive judgment. In 1828 he united 
 in marriage with Miss Louisa Trott, of a family well 
 known in New London. He is a member of St. 
 James' Episcopal Church parish, and his contribu- 
 tions to its maintenance have been munificent. 
 
 Although now at the advanced age of nearly eighty 
 years, after a life of unusual activity, Mr. Billings re- 
 tains in a remarkable degree the vigor and elasticity 
 of youth, and vividly relates scenes and incidents of 
 "ye olden time." 
 
 Mr. Billings is not a politician, but he is always an 
 earnest supporter of the principles of a free republican 
 government. 
 
 Martin Kellogg Cady. — A record of the men con- 
 spicuous in New London affairs during the period be- 
 tween the years 1833 and 1876 would be sadly incom- 
 plete with the name of Martin K. Cady omitted. A 
 
240 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 leading merchant for more than forty years, upright 
 and honorable, and beloved by all, well and justly 
 deserves a tribute from the pen of the chronicler of 
 passing events in New London County. 
 
 Mr. Cady was born in Bolton, Conn., June 29, 1813. 
 He subsequently removed with his parents to Salem, 
 later to Guilford, and in 1828 located in this city, and 
 in the same year entered the employ of Charles Bolles 
 as clerk. He remained with Mr. Bolles one year, 
 when he was offered a clerkship by P. C. & I. Turner, 
 which he accepted, and three years later — Jan. 1, 
 1833— commenced business with- a Mr. Brewster, 
 under the firm-name of Brewster & Cady, which con- 
 tinued one year. He then went into the mercantile 
 business for himself. He was always kind to the 
 young man who was struggling for a beginning, and 
 numbers of the leading men of to-day of New Lon- 
 don received their business training in the store of 
 Martin K. Cady. He was kind and considerate with 
 his employes, many of whom were unusually long in 
 his service, frequently becoming independent in their 
 circumstances. Honesty and a strict attention to busi- 
 ness, coupled with an indomitable will, rendered his 
 life a success. He retired from active business life in 
 January, 1876, and was in the enjoyment of his otium 
 cum dignitate when death laid his hand upon the 
 strong man, and he died Jan. 3, 1881, passing away 
 peacefully, — 
 
 " Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch 
 About him and lies down to pleasant dreams." 
 
 Aug. 5, 1841, Mr. Cady united in marriage with 
 Miss Sarah Way, a native of New London, and their 
 children are as follows: Harriett Allen, wife of Capt. 
 E. P. H. Durkee, U.S.A., of New York, now a mem- 
 ber of the firm of Palmer & Durkee, attorneys, Chi- 
 cago, 111. ; Martin Kellogg, eldest son, is assistant coiner 
 in the United States mint at San Francisco, and has 
 been for some years. He married Jeannie B., daughter 
 of Hon. Charles Gorham, of Maysville, Cal. Walter 
 Claflin, youngest son, resides with his mother in New 
 London. 
 
 Amos Cady, father of Martin K., was born in Ver- 
 non, Conn., May 11, 1780, and his mother, Hannah 
 Kellogg, was born in Amherst, Mass., July 14, 1786. 
 
 Martin K. Cady inspired all with whom he came in 
 contact with unbounded confidence in his common 
 sense and uncompromising integrity. He was a 
 thoroughly practical man, possessing a strong will, 
 and when once his plans were formed was diligent 
 and resolute in their speedy and complete execution. 
 He ever manifested a lively interest in all matters 
 tending to advance the welfare of his adopted city. 
 His residence of fifty-three years in New London 
 covered an important part of its history, with which 
 Mr. Cady was closely identified, and no man com- 
 manded more universal respect. He was a consistent 
 churchman, a member of St. James' Church, and for 
 many years a vestryman ; he was also a member of the 
 Young Men's Christian Association. 
 
 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 New 
 London is made good. 
 
 Josiah Crosby Waldo.— Rev. Josiah Crosby 
 Waldo was born in Chesterfield, N. H., Dee. 5, 1803, 
 His boyhood was passed in his native town, where also 
 he was educated at the Chesterfield Academy. This 
 was a locally celebrated institution, where the greater 
 portion of the graduates from Dartmouth College 
 were prepared. In 1824 he went to Saratoga Springs 
 and taught school one year, when he returned to 
 Chesterfield and placed himself under the training 
 of the Rev. Hosea Ballou for the ministry. He soon 
 after supplied various pulpits of the Universalist 
 Church in and about Boston, and in 1828 removed to 
 Cincinnati and became pastor of a young and growing 
 church, since known as the First Universalist Society 
 of Cincinnati. He entered into the work of the mm- 
 istry in that city with vigor and persistency, and suc- 
 ceeded in building up one of the most flourishing and 
 powerful Universalist societies in the United States. 
 It is not too much to say that the growth of that body 
 from a small beginning to one of power and influence 
 was due almost entirely to the earnest efforts in its be- 
 half put forth by Mr. Waldo. Notwithstanding his 
 pastoral duties demanded much of his attention, he es- 
 tablished, soon after his settlement, the Sentinel and 
 Star, a Universalist journal, and until 1831 was its 
 managing editor. He wielded a graceful and trenchant 
 pen, and under his able editorial management the 
 paper secured a wide circulation and took prominent 
 rank among the provincial press. In 1882 he resigned 
 his pastorate and withdrew from the management of 
 the Sentinel and Star and returned to Boston. He 
 subsequently ofiiciated in the pastoral office in Lynn, 
 Mass., which after a very successful labor of six years 
 he resigned and located at Arlington, Mass., as pastor 
 of the church at that place, where he remained eight 
 years. He then removed to Troy, N. Y., where he 
 preached until 1854, when, in consequence of the fail- 
 ing health of his wife, he gave up his pastorate and 
 removed to New London, where he has since resided. 
 Upon his removal to this city he supplied the pulpit 
 of the Universalist Church for twelve years ; he then 
 retired, and is now enjoying his otium cum dignitate 
 at his beautiful villa in East New London. 
 
 In 1831 he united in marriage with Elmira Enth 
 Ballou, daughter of Rev. Hosea Ballou, who died in 
 June, 1856. In 1865 Mr. Waldo married Caroline 
 Mark, widow of David Mark, of Pekin, 111., and 
 daughter of Winslow Wright, of Boston, a noted 
 merchant. Mr. Waldo has three children living,— 
 George Curtiss Waldo, editor of the Bridgeport Daily 
 Standard, Clementina Grace, and Maturin Ballou. 
 Politically Mr. Waldo has been a Republican since 
 the second election of Li ncoln. Previous to that time 
 he was a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Andrew 
 Jackson. 
 
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NEW LONDON. 
 
 241 
 
 Charles D. Boss was barn in Newport, R. I., March 
 27, 1812. He was educated at the common schools, 
 and at the age of ten years began work as an appren- 
 tice at the baking business in Newport, and remained 
 there until he was nineteen years of age. In 1831 he 
 came to New London and entered the employ of Wil- 
 liam Gray, proprietor of the pioneer cracker manu- 
 factory in this city, which occupied the site of the 
 present establishment of C. D. Boss & Son. He, 
 however, remained with Mr. Gray but one year, and 
 then, in company with his brother, Philip M., com- 
 menced the manufacture of crackers on Potter Street. 
 Soon after they purchased Mr. Gray's establishment, 
 and about one year later the partnership was dis- 
 solved, Mr. C. D. Boss becoming sole proprietor, and 
 continuing as such until 1863, when his son, C. D. 
 Boss, Jr., became associated with him, and the busi- 
 ness has since been conducted under the firm-name 
 of 0. D. Boss & Son. From a small beginning this 
 establishment has kept abreast with the rapid strides 
 in mechanics' arts during the last twenty years, and 
 to-day is one of the largest institutions of the kind 
 in this country. The annual product amounts to 
 about two hundred thousand dollars, and the estab- 
 lishment has a daily capacity for using one hundred 
 barrels of flour. One hundred and thirty kinds of 
 crackers are manufactured. This establishment is a 
 monument to the business ability, honesty, and in- 
 tegrity of the subject of this sketch, who for a period 
 of nearly forty years was its active manager and busi- 
 ness head. Mr. Boss is a member of the Second 
 Congregational Church. Politically he was formerly 
 a Whig, later a Republican, and is now a Prohibi- 
 tionist. The temperance cause finds in Mr. Boss an 
 able and uncompromising champion. He is one of 
 New London's most honored citizens, and has done 
 much to advance the material, moral, and religious 
 interests of his adopted city. 
 
 May 18, 1835, he united in marriage with Miss 
 Elizabeth Mason, and their family consists of two 
 sons and one daughter, viz. : Thomas, pastor of the 
 Congregational Church at Springfield, Vt. ; Charles 
 D., Jr., who is associated with his father in business ; 
 and Eliza Edith, wife of Robert E. Congdon, who is 
 also associated with Mr. Boss in business. 
 
 Israel F. Brown was born in Salem, Conn., Dec. 
 31, 1810. Soon after his parents removed to Norwich, 
 where he remained until sixteen years of age. He 
 then went to Macon, Ga., and commenced work in a 
 machine-shop at wood-turning. Three years later 
 Mr. Brown removed to Clinton, Ga., and commenced 
 the manufacture of cotton-gins ^^ith Samuel Griswold. 
 He subsequently, in company with Mr. Daniel Pratt, 
 located at McNeil's Mills, near the Alabama River, 
 where he remained about two years and returned to 
 Macon, and soon after (1843) removed to Girard, Ala., 
 and in company with E. T. Taylor established a cotton- 
 gin manufactory under the firm-name of E. T. Taylor 
 & Co. Two years later he removed to Columbus, Ga., 
 
 where he erected a large factory, and remained until 
 the year 1858, when he came to New London. 
 
 The war paralyzed the business in the Southern 
 States. Mr. Brown, however, continued to manufac- 
 ture largely for the Brazilian market. Soon after the 
 war manufacturing for the Southern market was re- 
 sumed, and in 1869 Mr. Brown organized the Brown 
 Cotton-Gin Company, and has been its-president since 
 its organization. Mr. Edward T. Brown was its first 
 secretary and treasurer, and has ofiiciated in that 
 capacity to the present time. In addition to the large 
 buildings now occupied in the manufacture of gins, 
 the company is now erecting an immense structure on 
 Pequot Avenue, just below Fort Trumbull. This will 
 be one of the largest cotton-gin manufactories in the 
 United States. Mr. Brown is a thoroughly practical 
 man, and is the owner of thirty valuable patents of 
 his own invention. 
 
 In 1837 he united in marriage with Miss Ann Smith, 
 of Macon, Ga., who died in 1864. Their family con- 
 sisted of the following, all of whom were born in 
 Georgia : Edward T., Sarah A., wife of George Col- 
 fax, Esq., and George C. The latter is a prominent 
 resident of Macon, Ga. 
 
 Mr. Brown was married a second time to Emma 
 Conant, May, 1866, a niece of the late William 
 Albertson. 
 
 Israel F. Brown's life has been one of steady and 
 active devotion to business, and his success has been 
 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 convictions. He 
 has gained nothing by mere luck, but everything by 
 perseverance and well-digested plans, and the intelli- 
 gent application of his energies to the end in view. 
 In social life he is gentlemanly and affable, is a prom- 
 inent member of the Universalist Church, and is one 
 of New London's most enterprising and honored citi- 
 zens. Democratic in politics. 
 
 Sidney Miner, one of the oldest and most highly 
 respected citizens of New London, was born in this 
 city in the year 1805, and is descended in direct line 
 from Henry Miner, who was born in England in 1339. 
 He traces his lineage through this long line without 
 losing a name or date. He dates his ancestry in this 
 country to Thomas Miner, who emigrated from Eng- 
 land with Governor John Winthrop in the ship 
 "Arabella." He first was one of the colony that 
 located at Saybrook, but in 1643 came with Winthrop 
 to Pequot, now New London, where he built a house 
 and remained until 1654, when he removed to Ston- 
 ington, and died there in 1690. His son Manassah 
 was the first male child born in New London. 
 Thomas Miner died, leaving a large landed estate, 
 and the homestead still remains in the possession of 
 his descendants. From him, in the sixth generation, 
 descended Frederick, the father of the subject of our 
 sketch, who was born in Stonington in 1768. He re- 
 
242 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 moved to New London in about 1795, and engaged 
 in the mercantile business. He died in 1849, aged 
 eighty-one years. He was a useful and reliable citi- 
 zen, and held many important offices. He had four 
 children, viz. : Hannah, married Eev. Charles Thomp- 
 son, and subsequently Eev. Joel Lindsley, D.D. ; 
 Frederick, engaged in the whaling and sealing busi- 
 ness, and died in New York in 1827 ; William Wood 
 was a prominent physician in New London many 
 years, and died in 1875. 
 
 Sidney, the third son, after acquiring a good com- 
 mon-school education, learned the trade of a carpen- 
 ter and joiner. Soon after, however, he entered a 
 dry-goods store as clerk, but that business being dis- 
 tasteful to him, he returned to his trade. A short 
 time after he entered the employ of Joseph Lawrence 
 as clerk, where he remained a number of years, and 
 finally became associated with him in business. Upon 
 the death of Mr. Lawrence a new firm was formed, 
 consisting of his sons and Mr. Miner, in the whaling 
 and sealing business, which continued until 1855, 
 when Mr. Miner withdrew, and since that time has 
 lived a retired life. 
 
 In 1834 he united in marriage with Mary A. Eams- 
 dell, of Mansfield, Conn., and their family consisted 
 of three children. His wife died in 1843, and in 
 1844 he married Lydia, daughter of Col. William 
 Belcher, of Granby, formerly of this city. 
 
 Politically Mr. Miner is a Democrat of the Jeflfer- 
 sonian school, and has never swerved or deviated 
 from the underlying principles of that honored or- 
 ganization. He has held various ofiicial positions 
 within the gift of his fellow-townsmen, and has dis- 
 charged his duties with eminent ability. He was 
 first alderman for about eight years, assessor, board 
 of relief, was on the school committee, and was finan- 
 cial treasurer until he resigned some years ago, since 
 which time he has refused all public oflSce. He is 
 also a director in the Whaling Bank, and has been 
 for many years. 
 
 Mr. Miner also manifests a decided interest in 
 religious matters, and for a long time has been a 
 member of the Society of the First Church of Christ, 
 Congregational, in this city, and was very active in 
 the erection of the fine church edifice which was 
 completed in 1852. Mr. Miner's life has been one of 
 great activity and usefulness, and although past the 
 scriptural age of threescore years and ten, he still 
 retains in a remarkable degree the vigor and elasticity 
 of youth. 
 
 David P. Francis, M.D.— Dr. Francis is emphat- 
 ically a New England outgrowth, and presents a 
 notable example of the pluck and enterprise that 
 have stamped their impress on the literature, politics, 
 and thought of the land ; that have made themselves 
 felt and honored in every profession and calling, and 
 become a power in national affairs. 
 
 Born Jan. 22, 1823, at Griswold, New London Co., 
 Conn., he quickly discovered that his fortune must be 
 
 the work of his own hands, and that if he desired to 
 reach upwards he must depend on his personal en- 
 deavor. His father, John Francis, though a leadins 
 man in his section, holding many positions of trust 
 including the probate judgeship, was too heavily bur- 
 dened by the needs of a large family to help him be- 
 yond the advantages that a common-school education 
 affords. The family was of French extraction and 
 young Francis had inherited the hopefulness of this 
 race, mingled with enough of the Puritan element to 
 make his determination firm and unyielding. He 
 elected to follow the profession of medicine, and to 
 accumulate the means that would enable him to study 
 this began teaching school at the age of sixteen. 
 His first professional studies were carried on in the 
 office of Dr. Phinney, of Jewett City, and haying 
 there obtained a helpful insight into the mysteries of 
 medicine, he entered the Berkshire Medical College, 
 at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1842, graduating in 1845. He 
 was forced to teach during vacations to obtain the 
 means to carry on his college course, and after grad- 
 uating settled in New London, his sole capital being 
 the few books he had been able to purchase, his pro- 
 fessional knowledge, and the sum of fifty cents. 
 
 A thorough student, feeling that to keep abreast of 
 his profession he must have a catholicity of thought 
 that would allow him to examine and use all benefi- 
 cial discoveries. Dr. Francis soon showed that skill 
 and energy which are the keynotes of success, and 
 became a leading member of the medical fraternity. 
 He married, June 17, 1852, Miss Nancy W. Pinkham, 
 daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Pinkham, of Booth- 
 bay, Me., and after her death, in September, 1855, 
 determined to visit Europe, and there obtain a 
 broader knowledge of the calling he had chosen. He 
 studied both in London and Paris, frequenting the 
 hospitals, and attending in London the lectures of 
 Profs. Fergusson, Erichsen, and Bowman, and in Paris 
 those of Profs. N61aton and Velpeau. 
 
 Eeturning with increased knowledge and skill, his 
 care and thoroughness were soon widely acknowl- 
 edged, and were rewarded by a practice that plainly 
 demonstrated his usefulness. Generous in the matter 
 of his services, prompt to answer the call of those 
 from whom no reward could come as well as that of 
 the wealthiest man in the section, keeping thoroughly 
 informed regarding all matters pertaining to his pro- 
 fession, and calling to his aid its most advanced 
 thought, his career has been an eminently successfiil 
 one, and he has demonstrated what determination 
 and study can do, and fills an honored and represen- 
 tative position. 
 
 November, 1864, Dr. Francis married his second 
 wife. Miss Carrie C. Hull, of New York City. He is 
 still hale and energetic, an earnest student, a careful 
 practitioner, a steadfast friend, one who feels for the 
 sufferings of his fellows, and stands ready to alleviate 
 them to the full extent of his powers. His early re- 
 ligious training has made Dr. Francis cling to the 
 
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 '^^, S^-) 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 243 
 
 Congregational Church, though his mind is far too 
 broad to be warped or narrowed by the ruling of any 
 creed. In politics he is Democratic, of that honest 
 and stable Jacksonian type which holds the nation 
 to be the paramount good of the people. As his lib- 
 eral thought has made him abjure the sway of creeds, 
 so has it kept him from being bound by such medical 
 laws as to him seemed stultifying and void of help, 
 and he makes use of all truths and scientific discov- 
 eries bearing on his profession, his practice being 
 broad in its use of theories and ideas, and fully in 
 accord with the advance and learning of his century. 
 W. H. H. Comstock. — The Comstocks are a proud 
 old family, reaching away back through a registered 
 pedigree in the "Muniment Office" at Frankfort-on- 
 the-Main, Germany, nine generations previous to 1547, 
 at which time Charles Von Komstohk, a baron of the 
 German Empire, was imperiled in the " Von Benedict 
 treason'' and fled into England with other noblemen 
 of Silesia and Austria. Their arms are or, two bears 
 rampant, sable-muzzled gules in chief; in base a sword 
 issuing from a crescent, point downward, all red. 
 Upon the arms a baronial helmet of Germany, mantled 
 or, and gules, surmounted by a baron's coronet, jew- 
 eled proper ; issuing therefrom an elephant rampant, 
 also proper. The bears imply courage, the sword 
 shows that the family had fought against the Turks, 
 the elephant shows personal prowess and sagacity in 
 those bearing the name when the coat of arms was 
 granted. Peter Comstock, late of Lyme, father of 
 W. H. H. Comstock, gives this account of his imme- 
 diate ancestry : " My father, Capt. Peter Comstock, 
 of Montville, Conn., was born in the year 1732, and 
 died in April, 1802. From him I learned something 
 of the history of his ancestors. He said that there 
 came from England four brothers of that name to New 
 London, Conn., from 1635 to 1640 ; one of them, by 
 the name of John, had a grant of land on the west side 
 of the river Thames, five miles above New London, 
 extending two miles westerly from said river, on which 
 he settled ; one settled in Rhode Island, one in Fair- 
 field County, Conn., and one on the Connecticut River, 
 near the line of East Haddam and Lyme. John left 
 two sons, — John and Samuel. John^ and descendants 
 possessed the old grant, and have continued in posses- 
 sion of almost the entire tract ever since. Samuel's de- 
 scendants lived in the north part of Montville. One of 
 his grandsons was Nathaniel, who was an elder in the 
 church in New London (North Parish). He had three 
 sons, who settled in Montville, on the estate of their 
 father. Their names were Nathaniel, Jared, and Zeb- 
 ulon. Nathaniel left one son, Peres, who settled in 
 Hartford. Jared left five sons. Samuel and Jared 
 settled in the State of New York. David and Joseph 
 inherited the land of their father. John'', who settled 
 on the old grant, left five sons, — James, John', Benja- 
 min, Peter, and Daniel. James was killed at Fort 
 Griswold, at the storming of that fort by the British, 
 at about eighty years of age, consequently he must 
 
 have been born about the year 1700. He left three 
 sons, — William, James, and Jason. William settled 
 at Cooper's Pattern, State of New York. The other 
 two sons settled at Montville. John" married Polly 
 Lee, of Lyme, by whom he had two sons, John* and 
 Nathaniel. John* was a lieutenant in the colonial 
 army, and was killed at the orchard fight on Long 
 Island. He left three sons, — Oliver, who settled on 
 the homestead in Montville, represented said town in 
 Legislature several times, was many years a justice of 
 the peace and church deacon ; Joshua, settled in the 
 State of New York; Elkanah, went as a missionary 
 to Michigan soon after the war of 1812 and settled 
 in Pontiac. Nathan, brother of John*, died young, 
 leaving two sons, — Nathan and Asa. Nathan inher- 
 ited the estate of his grandfather, John. Benjamin 
 left two sons, — Benjamin and Daniel. Daniel's two 
 sons, Elisha and Daniel, settled in Montville. Elisha 
 had four sons, — Ebenezer, Alpheus, Jeremiah, Peri- 
 grene, all of whom were drowned. Peter followed 
 the sea, became master, and died when about thirty 
 years of age. He left four sons, — Peter'', Eansford, 
 Daniel, and Thomas. Peter' inherited the home- 
 stead, was captain in Latimer's regiment in the Con- 
 tinental army, and was stationed at Fort Trumbull 
 when New London was burned. By his first wife, 
 Betsy Fitch, he had two sons, George and Fitch, 
 who settled in Independence, Ohio. He again 
 married, this time a Sarah Mirick. They had four 
 sons, — Peter', Jonathan, Elisha Mirick, and Jere- 
 miah. Eansford removed to New York State, and 
 had four sons, — Charles, Jesse, Eansford, and Guy. 
 Daniel settled in Shelburne, Vt., and had two sons, — 
 Zechariah and Elisha. Thomas also went to Vermont, 
 and was killed at the battle of Bennington, and left 
 one son, Thomas. Peter" and Elisha M. settled in 
 Lyme; Jonathan and Jeremiah in Waterford. Peter" 
 (born in Montville), after moving to Lyme, married 
 Sally, daughter of Hon. Moses Warren, of Lyme, be- 
 came a merchant and a prominent man in the town, 
 was judge of probate, held other local offices of trust, 
 represented Montville in Legislature, and the Ninth 
 Senatorial District in the same body. He died Oct. 
 29, 1862, aged eighty-three. He left four sons, — 
 Moses Warren, Peter A., William H. H., and John 
 J. William H. H. Comstock was born in Lyme, 
 Conn., March 20, 1819. He was educated in the 
 public and private schools of Lyme, and in early life 
 worked on the farm and " clerked" in his father's 
 store, and also was a clerk in New London. Before 
 he was of age he engaged in trade in East Lyme as 
 a merchant in company with his father, under firm- 
 title of William H. H. Comstock & Co. This firm 
 continued until 1840, when Mr. Comstock removed 
 to New London and engaged in the grocery business, 
 corner State and Main Streets, with Mr. Congdon, as 
 Congdon & Comstock. Selling his interest in this 
 in the fall of 1841, he went to East Lyme and en- 
 gaged in general merchandise, continuing there as a 
 
244 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 merchant till 1864, when, selling out, he rested for a 
 year from active business, then removed again to New 
 London, and engaged in business as grocer with Mr. 
 Howard, with firm-title of Comstock & Howard. 
 At the end of three years Mr. Comstock purchased 
 the entire interest, and continued the business suc- 
 cessfully alone until March, 1880, when he retired 
 from trade, and has spent most of the time since trav- 
 eling in Europe. He married, Dec. 15, 1842, Eliza 
 A., only daughter of Dr. John L. and Fanny Smith, 
 of Lyme. They have had five children, — Fanny E. 
 (dec'd), Anna C. (deo'd), Mary E., Wilhelmine S. 
 (deo'd), and Seth S. (dec'd). 
 
 In politics Mr. Comstock has been unswervingly 
 Whig and Republican. As such represented East 
 Lyme two terms in State Legislature (1848-59), and 
 the Ninth Senatorial District in 1854 in the same 
 assemblage. The same year he was drawn by lot, 
 one of the six senior senators, as a member of the 
 corporation of Yale College. He was for many years 
 town treasurer, was paymaster-general of Connecticut 
 (appointed by Goveriior Bissell), with rank of major. 
 He has held the oflBce of councilman in New London, 
 and is a, director of the New London City National 
 Bank. He united with the Baptist Church of East 
 Lyme years since, and now holds membership with 
 the First Baptist Church of New London. 
 
 Orlando C. Gorton. — The honored subject of this 
 sketch, son of Collins and Mary Gorton, was born in 
 East Lyme, April 12, 1814. He was educated at the 
 common schools in his native town, where he suc- 
 ceeded in securing an education that well qualified 
 him for his subsequent successful business career. 
 
 Mr. Gorton remained at home until twenty-one 
 years of age, when he went to Philadelphia, and 
 subsequently embarked in the book trade, traveling 
 extensively through the South and employing many 
 agents. He was very successful in this business, in 
 which he continued about twenty years, and suc- 
 ceeded in acquiring a handsome competency. He 
 then closed up his business in the South, and return- 
 ing to his native town, purchased the old farm upon 
 which his father had resided for the past twenty years. 
 Wishing to retire from the active management of the 
 farm after about fourteen years, he removed to New 
 London and purchased the place upon which his 
 family now reside, and where his last days were 
 spent. 
 
 Mr. Gorton was in every respect a self-made man, 
 and his success was the natural result of his indom- 
 itable will and untiring energy. He was Republican 
 in politics, and represented his town in the Legisla- 
 ture. 
 
 March 20, 1856, he married Fanny E., daughter of 
 Calvin and Fanny Spencer, of East Lyme. Their 
 family consisted of the following children : Orlando 
 C, John 8., Charles E., Henry (deceased), George 
 A., Fannie, Elizabeth, and Ella. 
 
 Mr. Gorton died Nov. 12, 1874. 
 
 C. Arnold Weaver (oldest son of Wanton A. and 
 Ann Weaver), one of the oldest merchants in the 
 city of New London, was born in Lyme, Conn 
 April 12, 1821. His early boyhood was passed in his 
 native town, and at the age of seven years removed 
 with his parents to New London, where, with the ex- 
 ception of a few years, he has since resided. He re- 
 ceived the advantages of a good school education' 
 was diligent, and attentive to his studies, and obtained 
 an education that well fitted him for his subsequent 
 successful business career. Mr. Weaver's mercantile 
 education was commenced in the store of Cady, Ben- 
 jamin & King, where he remained one year, and in 
 1838 entered the employ of Weaver & Rogers mer- 
 chants, who were conducting business at the site now 
 occupied by Mr. Weaver. In the spring of 1843 
 thinking to better his condition, he went to Sag 
 Harbor, L. I., where he remained until January, 1846, 
 when he returned to New London and entered into 
 partnership with Weaver & Rogers, his former em- 
 ployers, in the ship chandlery and grocery business, 
 where he has since remained in the active prosecution 
 of the business. He was also engaged in the whaling 
 bi(siness, which at one time was largely carried on by 
 New London citizens. He has ever manifested a 
 commendable interest in all matters tending to ad- 
 vance the material and religious interests of his 
 adopted city. He is a leading member of the First 
 Baptist Church, is a present member of the board of 
 trustees, has been deacon of the church some twelve 
 years, and served as the clerk over twenty-five years. 
 Politically he is a Republican, and has been since 
 the organization of that party. He has given his 
 entire attention to his business, and has never sought 
 political distinction ; has, however, been a member 
 of the Common Council, and was also a director in 
 the First National Bank, now extinct. In Novem- 
 ber, 1846, he united in marriage with S. Augusta 
 Brown, and their family consists of four children, 
 viz. : Frank A., Annie A., Walter B., and Tillie L 
 In social life Mr. Weaver is gentlemanly and affable, 
 and one of New London's most honored citizens. 
 
 In the year 1870, his health being such that a 
 change and recreation was necessary, upon the rec- 
 ommendation of his physician he took a sea voyage 
 to San Francisco, returning much improved in health 
 and bodily vigor. 
 
 The residence of Mr. Weaver is located on Granite 
 Street, in the most elevated and sightly portion of the 
 city. 
 
 Charles Treadway, born in Salem, New London 
 Co., Conn., was a descendant of Nathaniel Treadway, 
 weaver, of Sudbury, Mass., 1640. This Nathaniel 
 married Sufferance, daughter of Edward Howe, and 
 removed to Watertown about 1645. He was repeat- 
 edly chosen selectman, and died in 1689. Treadway 
 is not a common name in New England, and all who 
 bear it are probably descended from Nathaniel, as he 
 and his brother Josiah, who had no son, are the only 
 
■ '■"'■\mf'",/-!, ' "'' /' 
 
 ©JEEiiiMB® S- ©@aT®S5. 
 
C " C^^^yt^C-c-^^OC^ >^-^^'«i:-«Ic^^ 
 

 /^'^Z^ 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 245 
 
 ones of the name whose arrivals are chronicled. 
 Nathaniel had three sons,— Jonathan (of Sudhury), 
 Josiah (last of Charlestown), and James. His daugh- 
 ter Lydia married Josiah Jones, Sr. Charles Tread- 
 way was the son of Charles and Lucretia Treadway. 
 His grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and was 
 a prisoner on the Jersey ships, which impaired his 
 health and finally terminated his life. His father was 
 a mechanic. The comirion schools of Salem afforded 
 the entire educational advantages of Charles, but 
 these were diligently improved, and when only six- 
 teen we find him teaching a district school, and con- 
 tinued thus engaged, in a greater or less degree, for 
 more than thirty years, including twelve and a half 
 consecutive years in New London. 
 
 Mr. Treadway then engaged in merchandising in 
 New London, in partnership with Daniel Lee, and 
 continued in trade for nearly forty years. 
 
 Mr. Treadway was twice married. His first wife 
 was Eliza H. Lee, of Waterford, Conn. Of their six 
 children, none survived their father. He married his 
 present wife April 18, 1865. She is the daughter of 
 Joseph and Submit T. (Dunham) Woodward, of 
 Mansfield, Tolland Co., Conn. Of their three daugh- 
 ters, but one, Jennie Woodward Treadway, is now 
 living. 
 
 Mr. Treadway was a member of the Huntington 
 Street Baptist Church of New London. 
 
 He was in early life a Whig in politics, but a Re- 
 publican from the organization of that party, and was 
 an earnest advocate of its principles. He represented 
 New London in the General Assembly of Connecticut 
 in 1852-53, held various town offices, all the duties 
 connected therewith being done to the satisfaction of 
 his constituents. 
 
 As a man, none were more valued than he among 
 the citizens of New London for his sterling worth. 
 Always unobtrusive, conscientious, and active, he 
 was prominent in local politics, religion, and popular 
 education.- In the last he was especially interested. 
 As a teacher, he was universally esteemed, and enjoyed 
 the confidence of his pupils in an unusual degree. In 
 all business matters and in all relations of life he 
 was high-minded and honorable, and was actuated by 
 the best motives, and when his death occurred, Dec. 
 3, 1878, he was sincerely and deeply mourned. 
 
 Oscar F. Sites, M.D., one of the oldest medical 
 practitioners in New London, was born in Freistadt, 
 Silesia, Prussia, March 23, 1810. He first attended 
 the high school in Breslau, Silesia, and was studying i 
 medicine in Bonn, on the Rhine, in 1830, when he left j 
 the university and joined the revolutionary army of 
 Poland. At the close of the war he went to France 
 and studied homoeopathy in that country and in Italy. 
 In the year 1836 he came to America and located in 
 New York City, where he taught music. He also 
 continued the study of his chosen profession, and in 
 1842 graduated at the Geneva Medical College, at, 
 Geneva, N. Y., at that time one of the leading insti 
 
 tutions of the day. In 1845, Dr. Sites came to New 
 London, where he has since remained in the active 
 practice of his honorable profession. Giving his pro- 
 fession his undivided attention, he has raised the 
 standard of homceopathy in New London, has secured 
 a good practice, and is highly esteemed by friends and 
 fellow-townsmen. 
 
 Edward. HaUam was born in New London, Conn., 
 in 1779, received his education at the schools of his 
 native town, and his early manhood was passed as 
 a merchant there. He was largely concerned in 
 
 West India commerce and other shipping interests. 
 In this he continued many years, and was a stirring, 
 energetic business man, public-spirited also, and doing 
 much for the good of New London. He at last met 
 with financial reverses, and proceeded West to try 
 new fields of labor. He engaged as an apothecary 
 in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a few years, and about 1822 Or 
 '23 returned to New London, and ever after resided 
 there, becoming largely interested in whaling voyages, 
 which were very successful ventures. He continued 
 thus engaged until his death, March 26, 1847. He 
 married, first, Sarah Sage, daughter of Samuel and 
 Sarah (Sage) Johnson ; second, Mary, daughter of 
 Stephen and Esther (Sage) Rainey. He left no chil- 
 dren, Mrs. Hallam surviving him ten years. He 
 was of a warm, social disposition, fond of the com- 
 pany of friends, whom he entertained hospitably and 
 pleasantly. He was fond of humor, was himself a 
 great wit, and his friends were held by a strong tie. 
 He was a member, and for several years warden, of the 
 
246 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Episcopal Church, and reverenced for his consistent 
 Christian character. He never cared for office, and 
 shrank from public life, but when he died he was more 
 missed by a large circle of friends than many who 
 were laden with worldly titles and honors. Mrs. Hal- 
 lam died Nov. 18, 1857, and both lie buried in Cedar 
 Grove Cemetery, New London. 
 
 CHAPTEE XIX. 
 
 NORWICH. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — The Mohegans — The Indian Deed — The 
 First Settlements — Survey of the Townships — Original Proprietors — 
 Home-Lots — The Town Plot — Plan of the Ancient Settlement — Pioneer 
 Schools — Early Births, Marriages, and Deaths — The First Mill — The 
 First Chaise. 
 
 The town of Norwich lies north of the centre of 
 the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north 
 by Sprague, on the east by Lisbon and Preston, on 
 the south by Montville, and on the west by Bozrah 
 and Franklin. The surface of the town is diversified 
 by hills and valleys and the soil is strong and fertile. 
 
 Two hundred and forty years ago but a faint wave 
 of civilization had broken upon the primeval forest 
 of the territory now embraced within the bounds of the 
 State of Connecticut. There was a plantation on the 
 Sound at Fairfield, also a small settlement at Hart- 
 ford and New rfaven, but for the most part it was in 
 the undisputed possession of the red man. At the 
 time of the settlement of the English the possession 
 of the eastern part of the State was held by the Mo- 
 hegans, and the territory now embraced within the 
 present bounds of Norwich, Franklin, Bozrah, Sprague, 
 Lisbon, and a portion of Preston known as the Nine- 
 mile Square, was claimed by Uncas, the Mohegan 
 chief, and was distinguished by the name of Mohegan. 
 
 The jurisdiction of the Mohegan territory was ceded 
 to the colonial authorities by Uncas, Sept. 28, 1640, 
 the deed being witnessed by William Thompson, 
 Thomas Lefiingvvell, and Benjamin Brewster. 
 
 The Indian Deed.— The Indian deed of the town 
 was executed June 6, 1659, and was as follows : 
 
 " Know all men that Onkos, Owaneco, Attawanhood, Indians of Mo- 
 hegan, have Bargained, sold, and passed over, and doe by these presents 
 Bell and passover unto the Towne and Inhabitants of Norwich nine miles 
 square of land lying and being at Moheagan and the parts thereunto ad- 
 Joyneing, with all ponds, rivers, woods, quarries, mines, with all royalties, 
 privileges, and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to them the said in- 
 habitants of Norwich, theire heirs and successors forever— the said lands 
 are to he bounded as followeth, (viz.) to the southward on the west side 
 of the Great River, ye line is to begin at the brooke falling into the liead 
 of Trading Gove, and soe to run west norwest seven miles— from thence 
 the line to run nor north east nine miles, and on the East side the afores'd 
 river to the southward the lino is to joyne with New Loudon bounds as 
 it is now laid out and soe to run east two miles from the foresd river, and 
 soe from thence the line is to run nor noreast nine miles and from thence 
 
 to run nor norwest niue miles to meet with the western line. In 
 
 consideration whereof the sd Oukos, Ownneco and Attawanhood doe ac- 
 knowledge to have received of the parties aforesd the full and juste sum 
 of seventy pounds and doe promise and engage ourselves, heire and suc- 
 
 cessors, to warrant the sd bargin and sale to the aforesd parties th I 
 heirs and successors, and them to defend from all claims and molestation. 
 from any whatsoever.— In witness whereof we have hereunto set to our 
 hands this 6th of June, Anno 1659. 
 
 " tjNKOS 
 
 his msrke 
 
 ' Owaneco 
 
 c^ 
 
 marks 
 
 ' ATTAWANHOOn 
 
 " Witness hereunto 
 "John Mabon 
 '* Thomas Tracy. 
 
 " This deed is recorded in the Country Booke Agust 20th 1663 ; as atejh 
 
 "John Allyn, Sec'y." 
 
 This tract was described in the proprietor's records 
 as follows : 
 
 The line commenced at the mouth of Trading Cove, 
 where the brook falls into the cove ; thence W. N. W, 
 seven miles to a Great Pond (now in the corner of 
 Bozrah and Colchester), the limit in this direction 
 being denoted by a black oak marked N that stood 
 near the outlet of the " Great Brook that runs out of 
 the pond to Norwich river ;" thence N. N. E. nine 
 miles to a black oak standing on the south side of the 
 river (Shetucket), " a little above Maw-mi-ag-waug;" 
 thence S. S. E. nine miles, crossing the Shetucket and 
 theQuinnebaug, and passing through " aSeaderSwamp 
 called Oatantaquack," to a white-oak tree marked N, 
 thirteen rods beyond a brook called Quo-qui-qua-soug, 
 the space from the Quinnebaug to this tree beingjiist 
 one mile and fifty-eight rods; thence S. S. W. nine 
 miles to a white oak marked N, near the dwelling- 
 houses of Robert Allyn and Thomas Eose, where Nor- 
 wich and New London bounds join ; thence west on 
 the New London bounds, crossing the southern part 
 of Mr. Brewster's land, two miles to Mohegan Eiver, 
 opposite the mouth of Trading Cove Brook, where 
 the first bounds began. 
 
 The Settlement of Norwich.— The settlement of 
 Norwich was made by inhabitants of Saybrook, under 
 the leadership of the celebrated Capt. John Mason, a 
 man familiar with the Indian country, well known to 
 Uncas, the Mohegan sachem, and of much influence 
 in the colony. The petition to the General Court for 
 i permission to begin the settlement was made in May, 
 j 1659. The court answered the petitioners as follows: 
 
 j " Hartford, May 20, (69). This Court haveing considered the petition 
 presented by the inhabitants of Seabrook, doe declare yt they approve 
 and consent to what is desired by ye petitioners, respecting Mohegin, 
 provided yt within ye space of three yeares they doe effect a plantation 
 in ye place propounded." ' 
 
 Survey of the Township.— The preliminary step 
 having been taken, the next move was for a survey ot 
 the province, which was made in 1659, when the 
 
NOKWICH. 
 
 247 
 
 town plot was laid out, a highway opened, and the 
 home-lots measured and assigned. A few of the set- 
 tlers removed to the new plantation during the fall of 
 1659 and remained through the winter, but no goods 
 were removed until the spring of the following year. 
 
 Original Proprietors — Home-Lots.— The state- 
 ment has been made by various historians that the 
 original proprietors numbered just thirty-five, but 
 the painstaking and indefatigable Miss Caulkins, in 
 her "History of Norwich," after thorough research, 
 says, — 
 
 " The following list comprises those against whom 
 not only nothing is found to militate against their 
 being ranked as first proprietors, but, on the contrary, 
 the records either prove conclusively or favor the idea 
 that they belonged to that class : Rev. James Fitch, 
 Maj. John Mason, Thomas Adgate, Eobert Allyn, 
 William Backus, William Backus, Jr., John Baldwin, 
 John Birchard, Thomas Bliss, Morgan Bowers, Hugh 
 Calkins, John Calkins, Richard Edgerton, Francis 
 Griswold, Christopher Huntington, Simon Hunting- 
 ton, William Hyde, Samuel Hyde, Thomas Lefiing- 
 well, John Olmstead, John Pease, John Post, Thomas 
 Post, John Reynolds,- Jonathan Royce, Nehemiah 
 Smith, Thomas Tracy, Robert Wade. 
 
 "Others having original home-lots and all the 
 privileges of first proprietors were Thomas Bingham, 
 John Bradford, John Gager, Stephen Gilford, Richard 
 Hendy, Thomas Howard, Thomas Waterman, John 
 Tracy, Josiah Reed, Richard Wallis. 
 
 " Of this second class, Bingham, Gilford, Howard, 
 Reed, Tracy, and Waterman were probably minors 
 when the plantation commenced. They were all 
 married between 1666 and 1670, inclusive, and were 
 all living except Howard in 1702, when a roll of the 
 inhabitants was made in reference to a division of 
 lands which distinguished the surviving first proprie- 
 tors from the list of accepted inhabitants. Bingliam, 
 Gifford, Reed, Tracy, and Waterman were enrolled 
 with the latter, which would seem to settle the point 
 that they were not original proprietors. 
 
 " Most of these names, however, are necessary in 
 order to make up the charmed number thirty-five. 
 From the position these young men took and the 
 prominence of their descendants in the history of the 
 town they seem to have a higher claim to be ranked 
 as proprietors than some of the earlier class, — Hendy 
 and Wallis, for instance, of whom we know little more 
 than their names, and Wade, who soon alienated his 
 possessions. By dropping these three names and 
 accepting the six minors we are brought back to the 
 time-honored prescriptive number thirty-five. 
 
 " Stephen Backus, another minor, became a propri- 
 etor in the right of his father, William Backus, who 
 died soon after the settlement." 
 
 The Town Plot.—" The town plot was laid out in 
 a winding vale, which followed the course of the rapid, 
 circuitous Yantic, and was sheltered for the greater 
 part of the way on either side by abrupt and rocky 
 
 but well-wooded hills. A broad street or highway 
 was opened through this valley, on each side of which 
 the home-lots were arranged. 
 
 " A pathway was likewise cleared from the centre 
 of the settlement to the Indian landing-place below 
 the falls of the Yantic, near the head of the Cove, 
 following the old Indian trail from Ox Hill to Yantic 
 ford. This path, called by the settlers Mill Lane, 
 was the most eligible route by which the effects of the 
 planters could be conveyed. In some places the for- 
 ests had been thinned of their undergrowth by fires, 
 to afford scope for the Indians in their passionate love 
 of the chase, and the beaver had done his part towards 
 clearing the lowlands and banks of the rivers. A few 
 wigwams were scattered here and there, the occasional 
 abodes of wandering families of Indians at certain 
 seasons of the year, who came hither for supplies of 
 fish, fruit, or game; and the summits of some of the 
 hills were crowned with disorderly heaps of stones, 
 showing where some rude defense had been con- 
 structed in the course of their wars. But in every 
 other respect the land was in its natural wild state. 
 It was a laborious task to cut down trees, to burn the 
 underbrush, to mark out roads and pathways, to 
 throw temporary bridges over the runs of water, and 
 to collect the materials for building. 
 
 "The home-lots comprised each a block of several 
 acres, and were in general river-lands, favorable for 
 mowing, pasture, and tillage. Here lay the prime 
 advantage to be gained by a change of residence, the 
 first proprietors being, with scarcely a single excep- 
 tion, agriculturists and farmers. 
 
 " Each homestead had a tract of pasture-land in- 
 cluded in it or laid out as near to it as was conven- 
 ient. Where the street approached the river the 
 planters had their pasture-lots, in the same line with 
 the house-lots on the opposite side of the stream. 
 
 " Near the centre of the town plot an open space 
 was left for public buildings and military parades. 
 This was soon known as the green, or plain. Here 
 stood the first meeting-house, towards the south side, 
 with the open common around it, and a steep pitch to 
 the river. Of its erection there is no record. 
 
 "The dwellings of Mr. Fitch and Maj. Mason were 
 near together, facing the green, and with the river in 
 their rear. The road running from the green to the 
 river, and spanning the stream with a bridge, sepa- 
 rated the two homesteads. The allotment of Mr. 
 Fitch, consisting of eleven acres, was on the southeast 
 side of the green ; the home-lot of Mason, ' eight 
 acres more or less,' — the early measurements were 
 extremely liberal, — was on the southwest side. 
 
 " The first wife of Mr. Fitch died at Saybrook in 
 September, 1659. He came to Norwich a widower 
 with six children, two of them sons — five and eleven 
 years of age — who became active business men, and 
 appear in so short a time taking part in the affairs of 
 the town tliat it might be a pardonable inaccuracy 
 were they ranked as original planters. 
 
248 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " Three acres of Mr. Fitch's home-lot he afterwards 
 transferred to his son, Capt. James Fitch. 
 
 " On the northwest side of the green, covering the 
 ledgy side hill, was the allotment of Stephen Gifford. 
 
 This was afterwards bought by the town for par- 
 sonage-land. On this hill, in the time of Philip's war, 
 the meeting-house, the second sacred edifice of the 
 town, stood. 
 
 "At the east end of the green was the homestead 
 of Simon Huntington. His lot was laid out on both 
 sides of the street, with a pleasant rivulet running 
 through it and a lane winding into the woods on one 
 side, separating his land from that of his neighbor, 
 Bradford. 
 
 "On the river, southeast of Mr. Fitch, was the lot 
 of John Olmstead, eight acres, and next to him that 
 of William Backus, Sr., six acres. Mr. Backus died 
 soon after the settlement, and left his accommodations 
 to his son Stephen, in whose name they were sub- 
 sequently registered. 
 
 "'Memoranda: the footeway six foote broad which goes through tlie 
 home-lot of Mr. Fitch, John Holmstead, and Steven Bacliiis was laid out 
 by Towne order and agreement for the use of the towae in August, 
 1661.' 
 
 "This path for more than a century remained a 
 pent-way, with a gate and turnstile at each end, and 
 when at last — that is, a little before the Eevolution- 
 ary war — it was widened into a road and thrown open 
 to the public it was dark with shrubbery and over- 
 hanging trees, and known as the road through the 
 Grove. 
 
 " Thomas Tracy's home-lot of nine acres lay east of 
 Simon Huntington's, on the south side of the street, 
 which here runs nearly east and west. 
 
 " John Bradford, four acres, opposite Tracy, with 
 the street and highways on all sides. 'Mr. John 
 Bradford's corner' was quoted as a landmark. This 
 was at the east end of his lot, where what was then 
 called ' the road to Shetucket' began. 
 
 " Christopher Huntington, six acres, east of Thomas 
 Tracy, with the brook between them. 
 
 "South of Huntington's corner was a ravine, with 
 a pitch of several feet, through which in times of 
 abundant rain another gurgling stream, formed by 
 rivulets trickling down from Sentry Hill, passed into 
 the dense alder swamp below. South of this ravine 
 was the allotment of Thomas Adgate, whose land met 
 that of Olmstead at the corner, completing the circle 
 of home-lots around the central block. 
 
 " Opposite the homestead of Adgate a branch of the 
 town street ascended Sentry Hill, and came down 
 again to the main road below the corner, in the line 
 of the old Indian trail towards the fords of the Yantic. 
 
 " Upon this side road, near where it came into the 
 Town Street, was the lot of Sergt. Thomas Leffing- 
 well, twelve acres, with an additional pasture-lot of 
 ten acres, with Indian wigwams then upon it, ' abutt- 
 ing easterly upon the rocks.' The house-lot was 
 eighty-six rods in length upon the narrow highway. 
 
 " Sergt. Leffingwell was peculiarly the soldier and 
 guardsman of the new town, and Sentry Hill waa the 
 lookout post, commanding the customary Indian route 
 from Narragansett to Mohegan. A sentry-box was 
 built on the summit, and in times of danger and ex- 
 citement a constant watch was kept from the height 
 Here, too, in the war with Philip a small guard-house 
 was built, sufficient for some ten or twelve soldiers to 
 be housed. It has of late been called Centre Hill an 
 unconscious change from Sentry that has probably 
 obtained currency from the supposition that the name 
 referred to its position among other elevations in this 
 multitude of hills. Nor is the name at present inap- 
 plicable, this being not far from the centre of the 
 modern township, though by no means central in ref- 
 erence to the original nine miles square. 
 
 " North of Leffingwell, and stretching towards Ox 
 Hill, grants were laid out to Richard Hendy, Josiah 
 Reed, and Richard Wallis, with the commons fortheit 
 principal boundaries. 
 
 " Next to Leffingwell, on the street as it runs south, 
 was the allotment of Thomas Bliss, five acres and a 
 fourth, with a lane on the south leading to a watering- 
 place at the river. 
 
 " John Reynolds, southeast of Thomas Bliss, six 
 acres. 
 
 " Here was the eastern frontier of the town plot. A 
 dense and miry thicket lay between the mill-lane and 
 the upland plain below. 
 
 "Returning to the green which divided the settle- 
 ment into East and West Ends, the proprietors were 
 arranged along the street and river, west of Maj. 
 Mason, in the following order: 
 
 " Thomas Waterman, seven acres. 
 
 " Thomas Bingham, four acres. 
 
 " John Post, six acres. 
 
 "John Birchard, seven and one-fourth acres; six- 
 teen rods and eleven feet in front. Mr. Birchard's 
 house, according to tradition, was fortified in the time 
 of Philip's war, and a garrison kept in it, who made 
 port-holes under the roof, through which to fire if they 
 should be attacked. 
 
 "Robert Wade, six acres; sixteen rods front. This 
 lot was sold in 1677 to Caleb Abell, and better known 
 as the Abell homestead. 
 
 " Adjoining Wade, but with boundaries and situa- 
 tion uncertain, was the lot of Morgan Bowers. 
 
 " Opposite Post and Birchard, on the northeast side 
 of the street, were the allotments of William Hyde 
 and his son Samuel, extending back into the commons. 
 The Hyde house stood a few rods back from the town 
 street, upon the ' highway into the woods,' as the lane 
 was then called. 
 
 " Next west of Robert Wade, on the river side of 
 the street, was the home-lot of John Gager, eleven 
 and a half acres. 
 
 " Thomas Post, adjoining Gager, on the upland, six 
 acres ; ' a burying-place excepted that lyeth within 
 his lot, and also a way to it.' 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 249 
 
 "On the other side of the street were the locations 
 of Nehemiah Smith and Thomas Howard. 
 
 " Beyond Thomas Post on the northwest, with lots 
 reaching from the town street to the river, were the 
 following proprietors in regular succession : 
 
 " Richard Edgerton, six acres ; William Backus, 
 six ; Hugh Calkins, six ; John Calkins, four and three- 
 fourths; Francis Griswold, seven ; Robert Allyn, five; 
 Jonathan Royce, six ; John Baldwin, five ; John 
 Tracy, twelve; John Pease, seven, with 
 the river on the northwest, west, and 
 south. 
 
 " This was at the western limit of the 
 town plot, where the river by a sudden 
 turn to the southwest crossed the street 
 at right angles. 
 
 " These thirty-eight lots were the first 
 laid out, and though not all in 1659, and 
 some perhaps not till several years later, 
 those who held them, whether immediate 
 possessors or not, were commonly reck- 
 oned original proprietors. 
 
 "After the first thirty-eight propri- 
 etors, the next inhabitants who come in 
 as grantees of the town are John Elder- 
 Mn and Samuel Lathrop. Elderkin had 
 two home-lots granted him in remunera- 
 tion of services. The first grant of 1667 
 was laid out in the town plot, but being 
 at too great a distance from his busi- 
 ness, it was conveyed, with consent of 
 the townsmen, to Samuel Lathrop, 24th 
 August, 1668. Another was given him 
 at the old landing-place below the Falls, 
 where, according to contract, he built a 
 grist-mill for the convenience of the 
 town. 
 
 " The Lathrop house-lot comprised six 
 acres, and had a street, highway, or lane 
 on every side of it. Probably it lay on 
 the side-hill opposite A.dgate's. The early 
 intermarriages in the families of Lathrop, 
 Leffingwell, Adgate, and Bushnell, lead- 
 ing them to divide house-lots and settle 
 in contiguous homes, make it difficult to 
 determine the precise situation of each 
 original grant. We can be confident only 
 that these families had their first dwellings near to- 
 gether at the east end of the town plot. 
 
 " The first Samuel Lathrop appears to have erected 
 a house on the town street before 1670. 
 
 "Samuel Lathrop, Jr., in 1679 had a piece of land 
 given him by the town to build upon ' near his 
 father's home-lot,' upon which he is supposed to 
 have built the house that subsequently belonged to 
 Col. Simon Lathrop, and still later to Rufus Lathrop 
 Huntington. A noted pine-tree, originally of great 
 size and height, stood near and pointed out the site 
 even after the house was demolished. 
 
 " The next householders after these were the older 
 sons of proprietors, of whom the most distinguished 
 were John and Daniel Mason, sons of the major, 
 Capt. James Fitch, and Richard and Joseph Bush- 
 nell, sons of Mrs. Adgate. These are all ranked as 
 first-comers, taking part in the affairs of the first gen- 
 eration. 
 
 " Richard Bushnell's residence stood conspicuously 
 upon the side-hill. Courts of larger or lesser signifi- 
 
 PLAN or THE ANCIENT SETTLEMENT, 1660. 
 
 cance and meetings of various kinds were held there. 
 One of the Courts of Commission appointed by royal 
 authority to settle the Mohegan controversy is said 
 to have held its sessions in the great square room of 
 the Bushnell house. 
 
 "A careful examination of the grants and proprie- 
 tary records shows that in 1672 land had been recorded 
 to only seventy-seven persons within the town limits. 
 
 "In April, 1661, the first division land was laid out 
 (this included the Little Plain) ; in 1663 the second 
 division land, which lay towards Lebanon ; and in 
 1668 the third, upon Quinnebaug River. After a few 
 
250 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 years almost every citizen owned land in eight or ten 
 different parcels. For the first eighty or one hundred 
 years very few of the homesteads seem to have been 
 alienated. They passed from one occupant to an- 
 other by quiet inheritance, and in many cases were 
 split into two or three portions among the sons who 
 settled down by the side of their fathers. 
 
 "There was a peculiarity in the foundation of 
 Norwich that distinguishes it from most other settle- 
 ments in this part of the country. It did not begin 
 in a random, fragmentary way, receiving accessions 
 from this quarter and that till it gradually grew into 
 a compact form and stable condition, but came upon 
 the ground a town and a church. The inhabitants 
 were not a body of adventurers fortuitously thrown 
 together, but an association, carrying their laws as 
 well as their liberties with them, each member 
 bound to consult the general good as well as his own 
 individual advantage. Steady habits, patient endur- 
 ance, manly toil, and serene intelligence settled with 
 them, inspiring and efficient though quiet house- 
 mates. In the early days of the township the in- 
 habitants labored hard, but every man helped his 
 neighbor. Trespasses were rare ; a grand decorum of 
 manners prevailed ; sympathy, kindly counsel, and 
 friendly assistance softened the rigors of the wilder- 
 ness, and the hearts of all were strengthened with the 
 constant cheer of gospel promises. All the enact- 
 ments and proceedings of these fathers of the town, 
 all that we can gather concerning them from records 
 or tradition, exhibits a well-organized community, — 
 a people, bold, earnest, thoughtful, with the ring of 
 the true metal in their transactions. 
 
 " The whole course of history furnishes no fairer 
 model of a Christian settlement." 
 
 Indian Forts. — If any dependence can be placed 
 on names and traditions, the Indians had at least 
 three rude forts within the present bounds of Nor- 
 wich. One at the Landing on the brow of the hill, 
 which on this account was called at the first settle- 
 ment Fort Hill. This was probably the citadel of 
 Waweequaw, the brother of Uncas. Another upon 
 Little Fort Hill, between the Landing and Trading 
 Cove, belonging to Uncas himself. And a third, 
 more ancient than either of these, on the southwest- 
 ern side of the Yantio, below the junction of Ham- 
 mer Brook. This stood upon a rugged platform of 
 rock, surrounded and overshadowed with woods. It 
 was a barren and secluded spot; but the tradition 
 has been current, particularly among the Hydes and 
 Posts, who first owned the spot, that here was an 
 ancient Indian fortress. It consisted of a high stone 
 wall, inclosing an area upon the brow of the hill, and 
 must have been designed only as a hiding-place to 
 which to retreat in times of invasion. The stones had 
 been broken by the Indian builders into portable size, 
 and about the year 1790 were renaoved and used in 
 the building of a cellar and for other purposes by the 
 owner of the land. 
 
 In 1685 a patent was obtained which conflrmed to 
 the town the original tract of nine miles square to be 
 an entire township, " according to the tenor of East 
 Greenwich, in Kent, in free arid common soccase and 
 not in capite, nor by Knight's service." A copy of 
 this patent is herewith given: 
 
 Patent of the Town of Norwich, A.D. 1685, 
 
 Whereas the General Court of Connecticut have forever granted unto 
 the proprietors and Inhabitants of the Towns of Norwich all those 
 lands, both meadows and uplands, within these abutments (viz,} from 
 the mouth ot Tradeing-cove Brooke, the line to run a3 the Brooke to the 
 head of the Brooke, to a white oake marked N : and from thence west 
 northwesterly to a great pond, to a black oake marked N : which elands 
 neere the mouth of the great Brooke that runs out of the pond to No^ 
 wich River, which is about seven miles from the said Tradeing Cove- 
 and from thence the line runns North noreast nine miles to a Black 
 oake standing by the river side, on the south of it, a little above maume. 
 agway, and from thence the line runs south southeasterly nine miles to 
 a white oake standing by a brooke marked N : and then the line nins 
 south southwesterly nine miles to a white oake neere Robert Ailyn and 
 Thomas Kose's Dwelling-houses, which tree is marked N ; and frem 
 thence westerly as New London Bounds runs to Mohegan river, the 
 whole being nine miles square, the said land haveing been by purehese 
 or otherwise lawfully obtained of the Indian natives proprietore.— And 
 whereas the said Inhabitants and proprietors of the s^ Norwich in the 
 Colony of Connecticutt have made application to the Governor and Com- 
 pany of the s'i Colony of Connecticutt, assembled in Court May 25">, 
 1685, that they may have a patent" for the confirmation of the afore*! 
 land, so purchased and granted to them as aforesaid, and which they 
 have stood seized, and quietly possessed of for many years late past with- 
 out interruption. Now for a more full confirmation of the aforesd unto 
 the present proprietors of thes^Towneship of Norwich in their possession 
 and injoyment of the premises, know yee that the s^ Governonr and 
 Company, assembled in Generall Court according to the Couunission 
 Granted to them by his niagestie's charter, have given and granted, and 
 by these presents doe give, grant, Katifie, and couiirme unto Mr, James 
 Fitch, senr, Capt. James Pitch, Mr. Benjamine Brewster, Lieut. Thomss 
 Tracy, Lieut. Tho. Leflingwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon 
 Huntington, Ensign W^illiam Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John 
 Buichaid, and Mr. John Post, and the rest of the said present proprie- 
 tors of the township of Norwich, their heirs, successors, and assigns fo^ 
 ever ; the aforesaid parcell of land, as it is Butted and Bounded, together 
 with all the woods, meadows, pastures, ponds, wateis, rivers, islands, 
 fishings, huntings, fowleings, mines, mineralls, quarries, and precious 
 stones, upon or within the said tract of land, and all other proffltta and 
 comodities thereunto belonging, or in any, wayes appertayning; and 
 Doe also grant unto the aforesd Mr. James Fitch, sen% Oapt. James 
 Fitch, Mr. Benjamin Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Lieut ThoB. Lef- 
 flngwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Huntington, Ensign 
 Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Burchard, and Mr. John 
 Post, and the rest of the proprietor. Inhabitants of Norwich, their heire, 
 successors, and assigns forever, that the forest tract of land shall he for- 
 ever hereafter deemed, reputed, and be an intire towneship of itself— to 
 have and to hold the said tract of land and premises, witli all and singu- 
 lar their appurtenances, together with the priviledges and immunities 
 and franchises herein given and granted unto the say*! Mr. James Pitch, 
 sen', Capt. James Fitch, Mr. Benjamine Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, 
 Lieut. Thomas LefHngwell, Mr. Christopher HuntingtBU, Mr. Simon 
 Huntington, Ensign Wm. Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John 
 Birchard, and Mr. John Post, and other the present proprietors. Inhab- 
 itants of Norwich, theiro heirs, snccessoi-s, and assignes for ever, and to 
 the only proper use and bahoofe of the sayd Mr. James I'itch, sen', Capt 
 James Fitch, Mr. Beojamirio Brewster, Lieut. Thomas Trnoy, Umt. 
 Thomas Lefflngwell, Mr. Christopher Huntington, Mr. Simon Hunting- 
 ton, Ensign William Backus, Mr. Thomas Waterman, Mr. John Birchard, 
 and Mr. John Post, and other proprietors, inhabitants of Norwich, their 
 heirs, successors, aud assigns for ever, according to' the tenor of I!«a 
 Greenwich in Kent, in free and common soccage, and not in capltte, 
 nor by Knife's service, they to make improvement df the same as t "J 
 are capable, according to the custom of the country, yielding, render- 
 ing, and paieing therefore to our sovereign Lord, the king, his heirs an 
 successors, his dues according to Charter. In witness whereof, wo have 
 caused the Seale of the Colony to be hereunto afdxed this twenty-m 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 251 
 
 of May, 1685, in the firat yeare of the reigne of our sovereigne lord JanieB 
 the Second, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ire- 
 land, King, Defender of the faith. 
 
 ROBERT TREAT, Governor. 
 
 , — - — . March SO", 1687, per order of Got' and Company of the 
 
 I SEAL. I Colony of Connecticntt. 
 ^—Y— ' Signed pr 
 
 John Allen, Secrety. 
 
 Entered in the pub. records, Lib. D : fo. 138, 139, Nov 27"', 1685 : pr 
 
 John Alltw, Secrety. 
 
 Schools. — The first reference in the old town re- 
 cords to schools is in 1677, when John Birchard was 
 chosen to keep school nine months of the year for 
 £25, provision pay. 
 
 March 31, 1679,— 
 
 *' It is agreed and Toated by the town that Mr. Danill Mason shall be 
 improved as a school-master for the towne for nine months in the yeare 
 ensuing, and to allow him twenty-five pounds to be payed partly by the 
 children, . . . and each child that is entered for the full time to pay nine 
 Bbillings and other children that come occasionally to allow three pence 
 the week ; the rest to be payed by the Towne." 
 
 July 28, 1680, a special meeting was called to de- 
 liberate respecting the establishment of a town school, 
 and the whole matter committed to the charge of the 
 selectmen, with injunctions that they should see, — 
 
 "Ist, that parents send their children; 2d, that they pay their propor- 
 tion, according to what is judged just; 3d, that they take care parents 
 be Dot oppressed, espeshally such who are disabled ; 4th, that whatever 
 is additionally necessary for the perfecting the maintenance of a school- 
 master, is a charge and expense belonging to all the inhabitanta of the 
 town, and to be gathered as any other rates ; 5th, whatever else is neces- 
 sary to a prudent carrying through this occasion, is committed to the 
 diflcreahon of ye sd select men." 
 
 " Public works in those days were slow in progress, 
 more from the want of hands to labor than from de- 
 ficiency of skill or the absence of enterprise. A 
 school-house for which appropriations had been made 
 in 1680 was finally built in 1683 by John Hough 
 and Samuel Roberts. These men were both from 
 New London, but found employment in Norwich as 
 house-builders, and about this period became residents 
 of the town. 
 
 '* 1680, July 21. — Mr, Arnold accepted as an inhabitant : the Select- 
 men to provide him with 4 or 5 acres of land as convenient as may be. 
 
 "Mr. John Arnold was a schoolmaster and prob- 
 ably exercised his calling for several years in Norwich, 
 although the records do not advert to him in that ca- 
 pacity. An allusion occurs to ' Mr. John Arnold, 
 merchant,' who was doubtless the same person, as a 
 variety of occupations, in a small way, were often 
 pursued by one man in those days. 
 
 " Mr. Arnold afterwards removed to Windham, 
 where his name is found on the list of the first twenty- 
 two inhabitants. May, 1693. He settled in that part 
 of the town which is now Mansfield, and the records 
 of the place show that he had been master of a school 
 in several different towns, and had children born at 
 Newark, Killingworth, Norwich, and Windham. 
 
 " Schools in our early settlements were only kept a 
 certain part of the year, varying from two to eight or 
 nine months. In 1690 the selectmen were directed to 
 
 provide a schoolmaster, the scholars to pay M. a week, 
 and the remainder of the salary raised on the list. 
 No further notice is taken of schools, town-wise, until 
 1697, when Richard Bushnell is appointed to keep the 
 school for two months that year, and to be paid in 
 land. 
 
 "In 1698, David Hartshorn was Aigaged for the 
 same time. Here it is probable that the town school 
 died out. 
 
 " In the year 1700 a startling fact appears in the in- 
 dictments of the grand jury of the county : ' Norwich 
 presented for want of a school to instruct children.' 
 
 " That measures were immediately taken to remedy 
 this deficiency, we may infer from the fact that £6 
 was added to the next year's rate for repairing the 
 school-house, and about the same time a tract of land 
 was granted to David Knight in payment for work 
 upon the meeting-house and school-house. 
 
 " It may not be true of all New England, but in 
 some portions of it, for a considerable period after the 
 first generation had passed away, education was neg- 
 lected ; the schools were of an inferior grade, and very 
 grudgingly and irregularly sustained. This was prob- 
 ably owing to the paucity of good teachers and the 
 superfluous activity of the people, which led them to 
 break away impatiently from sedentary pursuits. But 
 the inevitable consequence was that the grandchildren 
 of the first settlers were more illiterate than either the 
 generation before or after them. 
 
 " April 26, 1709, the town passed a resolution ' that 
 they will have a schoolmaster, according to law.' 
 This emphatic determination seems to imply an ante- 
 cedent neglect. Richard Bushnell was again employed 
 for a short period. 
 
 " Jan. 26, 1712. In town-meeting, Lieut. Joseph 
 Backus, moderator ; 
 
 " ' It was voted that a good and sufficient schoolmaster be appointed to 
 keep school the whole year and from year to year; one-half of the time 
 in the Town Plot and the other half at the farms in the several quarters.' 
 
 " At this period 40s. on the list of every thousand 
 pounds was granted by the country, — that is, by the 
 General Court, for the benefit of schools, and each 
 town was by law obliged to maintain a school for a 
 certain part of the year. 
 
 "Schools were maintained by what was called a 
 country rate of forty shillings upon the thousand 
 pounds, and all deficiencies made up by parents and 
 guardians. The schools were distributed over the 
 town, and kept a longer or shorter period, according 
 to the list of each society. In 1745 the appointment 
 was as follows : 
 
 " School at the Landing Place to be kept 3 months and 17 days- 
 two in the Town Plot, one at each end... 6^ months each. 
 
 at Plain Hills 2 months 19 days. 
 
 WaweekusHill 1 " 16 " 
 
 Great Plain 2 " 18 " 
 
 Wequanuk 2 " 15 " 
 
 on Windham road 2 " 11 " 
 
 " If any of these schools should be kept by a woman 
 the time was to be doubled, as the pay of the mistress 
 was but half that to the master." 
 
252 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 A school was continued here during the Revolution, 
 and was described as furnishing instruction to " young 
 gentlemen and ladies, lads and misses, in every branch 
 of literature, viz., reading, writing, arithmetic, the 
 learned languages, logic, geography, mathematics," 
 etc. Charles White, teacher. 
 
 In 1799 a Mrs. Brooks opened a girls' school on 
 Little Plain, but it was of short duration. 
 
 In 1782''an academical association was formed in 
 the western part of the town-plot, and a school 
 opened, which continued about thirty years. 
 
 Dr. Daniel Lathrop, upon his death, left a legacy 
 of £500 for the support of a free grammar school, 
 which was opened in 1787, with Ebenezer Punderson 
 as teacher. It was in operation about half a century. 
 
 In 1800, William Woodbridge commenced a school 
 in Little Plain, but it lived but a few years. Among 
 other schools which have flourished for longer or 
 shorter periods in Norwich were the Select School, 
 at the town plot ; a preparatory school at the Laud- 
 ing, in 1797 ; the Chelsea Grammar School, organized 
 in 1806 ; the Norwich Female Academy, incorporated 
 in 1828. 
 
 Early Births, Marriages, and. Deaths. — The first 
 birth in the plantation was that of Elizabeth Hyde, in 
 August, 1660. She was the daughter of Samuel Hyde 
 and Jane Lee. The second child born was Anne, 
 daughter of Thomas Bliss. The first male child 
 born was Christopher, son of Christopher and Ruth 
 Huntington, Nov. 1 , 1660. 
 
 The following births occurred dui'ing the first five 
 years of the settlement : 
 
 1661. — Sarah, dr. of John Birchard; Deborah, dr. of Francis Griswold; 
 both born in May. Sarah Birchard died young. Deborah Gris- 
 wold married Jonathan Crane. 
 John, son of John Calkins, born in July. 
 Abigail, dr. of Thomas Adgate, in August. 
 Joseph, son of Simon Huntington, in September. 
 1662. — Elizabeth, dr. of Jonathan Royce, in January. 
 John, son of William Backus, February 9. 
 John, son of Richard Edgerton, June 12. 
 
 Thomas, son of John Baldwin ; no record of his birth found, but 
 hie age shows that he was born this year. 
 1663. — Kebecca, dr. of Thomas Bliss, in March. 
 
 Lydia, dr. of John Gager, in August. She married Simon Hunt- 
 ington, who was born at Saybrook in 1659. 
 Samuel, son of John Calkins, in October. 
 John, son of Jonathan Royce, in November. 
 1664. — Sarah, dr. of Thomas Adgate, in January. 
 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Simon Huntington, in February, and died 
 
 in infancy. 
 Mary, dr. of John Reynolds, in April. She married John Edger- 
 ton, above named (born 1662). 
 Abigail, dr. of John Post, November 6. 
 Thomas, son of Thomas Post, in December. 
 1665. — Thomas, son of Christopher Huntington, March 18. 
 Samuel, son of William Backus, May 2; died young. 
 James, son of John Birchard, July 16. 
 Daniel, son of Rev. James Fitch, in August. 
 Samuel, son of Francis Griswold, in September. 
 Sarah, dr. of Jonathan Royce, in October, 
 
 The first death was that of Sarah, wife of Thomas 
 Post, in March, 1661, and William Backus, June 12 
 of the same year. 
 
 The first marriage was that of the widowed minis- 
 ter. Rev. James Fitch, to Priscilla Mason, in October 
 1664. 
 
 The First Mill. — One of the greatest inconven- 
 iences met by the early settlers was the want of milk 
 for grinding corn, and this matter was usually given 
 the early attention of the town. 
 
 The earliest vote concerning a mill was under date 
 Dec. 11, 1660, which is the renewal of a contract 
 stated to have been made at Saybrook, Feb. 26, 1655 
 [probably should be 1659-60], between John Elder- 
 kin on the one hand, and "the town of Moheagan" 
 on the other, to erect a corn-mill, either by the home- 
 lot of John Pease [at Yantic, western extremity of 
 the town plot], or at No-man's Acre, to be completed 
 before Nov. 1, 1661, under penalty of forfeiting twenty 
 dollars. The toll allowed was to be j\, and a tract of 
 land was pledged as a compensation for the erection 
 of the mill. 
 
 Elderkin's mill, erected first at No-man's Acre, was 
 soon removed to a situation below the falls, and new 
 grants and privileges were bestowed upon the pro- 
 prietor, that it might be well sustained. Here for a 
 long course of years stood the mill and the miller's 
 house. This had formerly been a noted landing- 
 place of the Indians. A fine spring of pure water 
 gushed copiously from the side-hill near by, which 
 was literally a perpetual fountain of sweet water, 
 with no record or tradition of its having failed bnt 
 once, and that was in the great drought of 1676. 
 
 The Mill Falls, Elderkin's Mill, "the valley near 
 the mill in which the spring is," "the deep valley 
 that goeth down .to goodman Elderkin's house," and 
 " the island before his house at the Mill Falls," are 
 all referred to in the early records. 
 
 The First Chaise.— The first chaise in town was 
 owned by Samuel Brown, who was fined for riding in 
 it to meeting. Col. Simon Lathrop owned a chaise 
 about this time, but the use of it was excused on his 
 part in consequence of the frailty of his wife. 
 
 During the Revolutionary period there were six 
 chaises in town, as follows : Gen. Jedediah Hunting- 
 ton owned the first one that was furnished with a top 
 that could be thrown back. It was large, low, square- 
 bodied, and studded with brass nails with square and 
 fiat heads. Gen. Hezekiah Huntington was the owner 
 of one. Dr. Daniel Lathrop's chaise had a yellow 
 body, with a red morocco top, and was furnished with 
 a window on one side. This was considered a splendid 
 establishment. Other owners of chaises were Dr. 
 Theophilus Rogers, Elijah Backus, and Nathaniel 
 Backus. 
 
NOKWICH. 
 
 253 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 NORWICH— (Continued). 
 
 OBIGINAL PEOPKIETOKS AND OTHER EABLT SETTLERS. 
 
 Maj. John Mason — Rev. James Fitch— Adgate—AUyn — Buckus— Bald- 
 win— Biugham — Birchard — Bliss — Bowers — Bradford — Hugh Calkins 
 —John Calkins — Edgerton — Gager — Giflford — Griswold — Hendy — 
 Howard — Huntington — Hyde — LefHngwell — Olmsted — Pease — Post — 
 Keed — Reynolds — Boyce — Smith— Tracy — Wade — Wallis — Waterman 
 — Alel — Brewster — Bushnell — Elderkin — Lathrop — Allen — Allertou 
 — Ames — Andrews — Armstrong — Arnold — A very — Baker — Bacon — 
 Badger — Barrett — Barstow — Bates — Belden — Bell — Blackmore — Boom 
 — Bui-ton — Burley — Capron — Carson — Carpenter — Carter — Case — 
 Cathcart — Chapman — Chappell — Cleveland — Coolidge — Cole — Cotteral 
 — Craiit— Crocker — Cross — Cullenin — Culver — Culverswell — Darby — 
 Davis — Deans — Dean — Decker — Denison — Dennis — Dowd — Edge- 
 combe — Fairbanks — Fales — Fargo — Field — Fillmore — Ford — Fowler 
 —Fox — Frasier — French — Gayloid— Gibbons — Gookin— Gould — Gor- 
 ton —Gove — Green — Grist — Grover — Hull — Hamilton — Hammond — 
 Harringtod — Harris — Hartshorn — Haskins — Hapten — Heath — Hen- 
 drick — Hill — Hodges — Hough — Hutchins — Hutchinson — Jennings — 
 Jones — Johnson — Kelly — Kennedy— Kimball — King — Kingsbury — 
 Kirby — Knowles — Knowlton — Ladd — Lamb — Lawrence — Lee — 
 Loonier — Loi'd — Low — Lyon — ^ Marshall — Meade — Metcalf — Merrick 
 — Moore — Morgan — Moseley — Munsell — Norman — Ormsby — Palmeter 
 — Pasnioie — Peck — Pember — Pettis — Phillips — Pierce — Pike — Pitcher 
 — Polly — Prior — Raymond — Richards — Roberts — Rogers — Rood — 
 Rosebrongli — Kudd — Sabiii — Slnman — Smalbent — Spalding — Stone — •' 
 Stickiiey — Stoddard — Story — Swetland — Tenny — Todd — Thomas — 
 Tubljs- Walker— Warren— Way— Welsh— White— Whitaker—Wight- 
 maa — Williams — Willonghby — Wood — Woodworth. 
 
 Sketches of Original Proprietors and Other 
 
 Early Settlers.' — Maj. John Mason. Every memoir 
 of Mason is obliged to take him up at the prime of 
 life, for of his birth,^ parentage, and early years no 
 certain information has been obtained. When he first 
 appears in history he is in the English army, under 
 Sir Thomas Fairfax, fighting in the Netherlands in 
 behalf of the Dutch patriots against the bigotry and 
 tyranny of Spain. 
 
 He is supposed to have emigrated to this country in 
 1630, with Mr. Warham's company, that sailed from 
 Plymouth, England, March 20th, and arrived at Nan- 
 tasket May 30th of that year. But this cannot be 
 stated with absolute certainty, as he has not been 
 actually traced on this side of the ocean before De- 
 cember, 1632, when he was engaged in a cruise with 
 John Gallop, under a commission from the Governor 
 and magistrates of Massachusetts, to search for a pirate 
 called Dixy Bull, who had for some time annoyed 
 the coast with petty depredations. He was then called 
 Lieut. Mason, but soon afterwards attained the rank 
 of captain. In 1634 be was one of a committee ap- 
 pointed to plan the fortifications of Boston Harbor, 
 and was specially employed in raising a battery upon 
 Castle Island. 
 
 In March, 1635, he was the representative of Dor- 
 chester to the General Court, but in the latter part of 
 the same year or early in the next removed with the 
 major part of Mr. Warham's people to the Connecti- 
 cut Valley. Here the emigrants planted themselves, 
 
 1 Cciiiilensed from Miss Oiulkius' History uf Norwich. 
 
 2 That he was born about lOOlJ may be inferred from hie age at the 
 time of his deatli— upwards of seventy— in 1072. 
 
 17 
 
 on the western bank of Connecticut Eiver, above 
 Hartford, and founded the pleasant and honorable 
 town of Windsor. 
 
 With the residence of Capt. Mason at Windsor all 
 the stirring scenes of the Pequot war are connected. 
 This was the great event of the early history of Con- 
 necticut, and the overshadowing exploit of Mason's 
 life. He was instrumental in originating -the expe- 
 dition, formed the plan, followed out its details, 
 fought its battles, clinched, as it were, with iron 
 screws its results, and wrote its history. This war 
 was begun and ended when Connecticut had only 
 two hundred and fifty inhabitants, comprised princi- 
 pally in the three towns of Hartford, Wethersfield, 
 and Windsor. Out of these Mason gathered a band 
 of seventy men, and passing down Connecticut Eiver, 
 landed in the Narragansett country, and being joined 
 by a band of friendly Indians, marched directly into 
 the heart of the hostile territory, assailed the Pequots 
 in their strongest fortress, destroyed it, laid waste 
 their dwellings, and killed nearly half of the whole 
 nation. This expedition occupied three weeks and 
 two days. The skill, prudence, firmness, and active 
 courage displayed by Mason in this exploit were such 
 as to gain him a high standing among military com- 
 manders. From this period he became renowned as 
 an Indian-fighter, and stood forth a buckler of de- 
 fense to the exposed colonists, but a terror to the wild 
 people of the wilderness. 
 
 In 1637 he was appointed by the General Court the 
 chief military ofiicer of the colony, his duty being " to 
 train the military men" of the several plantations ten 
 days in every year ; salary, forty pounds per annum.'' 
 At a later period (1654) he was authorized to assem- 
 ble all the train-bands of the colony once in two years 
 for a general review. The office was equivalent to 
 that of major-general. He retained it through the 
 remainder of his life, thirty-five years, and during 
 that time appears to have been the only person in the 
 colony with the rank and title of major. 
 
 When the fort at Saybrook was transferred by Col. 
 Fenwick to the jurisdiction of the colony. Mason was 
 appointed to receive the investment, and at the spe- 
 cial request of the inhabitants he removed to that 
 place and was made commander of the station. Here 
 he had his home for the next twelve years. 
 
 The people of New Haven were not entirely satis- 
 fied with their location, and formed a design of re- 
 moving to a tract of land which they had purchased 
 on the Delaware Eiver. In 1651 they proposed this 
 matter to Capt. Mason, urgently requesting him to 
 remove with them and take the management of the 
 company. This invitation is a proof of the high 
 opinion his contemporaries had formed both of his 
 civil and military talents. The offers they made him 
 were liberal, and he was on the point of accepting. 
 
 8 " The saide Capt. Mason shall have liberty to traine the saide mili- 
 tary men in every plantalijn tenii liayes in every yeere, soe as it be not 
 in June or July." — Conn. Col. i2ec., i. 15. 
 
254 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 when the Legislature of Connecticut interfered, en- 
 treating him not to leave the colony, and declaring 
 that they could by no means consent to his removal. 
 Finding that his presence was considered essential to 
 the safety of Connecticut, he declined the offers of 
 New Haven. If he went there was no one left who 
 could make his place good ; neither had New Haven 
 any person in reserve who could fill the station de- 
 signed for him, and therefore the projected settlement 
 never took place. The active disposition of Mason, 
 however, never lacked employment. There was 
 scarcely a year in which he was not obliged to go on 
 some expedition among the Indian tribes to negotiate, 
 or to fight, or to pacify their mutuall quarrels. At 
 one time his faithful friend Uncas was in danger from 
 a powerful league of the other tribes, but the season- 
 able preparations of Mason for his relief frightened 
 the foe into peace and submission. At another time 
 he was sent with arms and men to the assistance of 
 the Long Island Indians against Ninigrate, the pow- 
 erful sachem of the Nahanticks, who threatened them 
 with extirpation. This service he gallantly per- 
 formed, but only two years afterwards was compelled 
 to appear again on that island with a band of soldiers, 
 in order to chastise the very Indians, mischievous and 
 ungrateful, whom he had before relieved. 
 
 We find him at the same time, and for several years 
 in succession, holding various public offices, all ardu- 
 ous and important. He was Indian agent, Indian 
 umpire, and the counselor of the government in all 
 Indian concerns; captain of the fort, justice of the 
 peace, and empowered to hold courts as a judge; a 
 member likewise of two deliberative bodies, the Con- 
 necticut Legislature and the Board of Commissioners 
 of the United Colonies ; major-general of the militia 
 at home, and the acting commander in all expeditions 
 abroad. In 1660 he was chosen Deputy Governor, to 
 which office he was annually re-elected for eight 
 years, five under the old form and three under the 
 king's charter, which united Connecticut with New 
 Haven. The same year he was actively employed, in 
 conjunction with Mr. Fitch and others, in effecting 
 the settlement of Norwich, and also in purchasing of 
 the Mohegans a large tract of land in behalf of the 
 colony. 
 
 At this time also, for nearly two years, he per- 
 formed all the duties of the chief magistrate of the 
 colony, Winthrop, the Governor, being absent in 
 England engaged in negotiations respecting the 
 charter. 
 
 Thus the life of Mason on this continent may be 
 distributed into four portions. The first was given to 
 Dorchester, and the remainder, in nearly equal parts, 
 to the three towns in Connecticut that he assisted in 
 planting : 
 
 Lieutenant and captain at Dorchester, five and a 
 half years. 
 
 Conqueror of the Pequots, magistrate and major at 
 Windsor, twelve years. 
 
 Captain of the fort and commissioner of the United 
 Colonies at Saybrook, twelve. 
 
 Deputy Governor and assistant at Norwich, twelve. 
 
 He was not chosen Deputy Governor after 1668, but 
 continued in duty as an assistant, and was present for 
 the last time at the election in May, 1671. 
 
 Of the original band of Norwich purchasers. Mason 
 was one of the earliest laid in the grave.' He died 
 Jan. 30, 1671-72. According to Trumbull, he was in 
 the seventy-third year of his age. His last hours 
 were cheered by the prayers and counsels of his be- 
 loved pastor and son-in-law, Mr. Fitch. Two years 
 before he had requested his fellow-citizens to excuse 
 him from all further public services, on account of 
 his age and infirmity, so that the close of his life, 
 though overshadowed by suffering from an acute 
 disease, was unharassed by care and responsibility. 
 There is no coeval record that points out his burial- 
 place, but uniform tradition and current belief in the 
 neighborhood from generation to generation leave no 
 reason to doubt that he was interred where other in- 
 habitants of that generation were laid, — that is, in the 
 Post and Gager burial-ground, or first cemetery of 
 Norwich. 
 
 He had been for twelve years an inhabitant of 
 Norwich. It was his chosen home, and no urgent 
 motive can be assigned for his interment elsewhere. 
 Moreover, it was midwinter, when a traveling proces- 
 sion in a new country, with the imperfect accommo- 
 dations of that period, would have been almost im- 
 practicable. Had he been removed under such cir- 
 cumstances to any other place for interment (to 
 Saybrook or Windsor, for example) the event would 
 have been of public notoriety throughout the colony, 
 and must inevitably have been recorded somewhere 
 in the annals of the day. 
 
 All the probabilities, therefore, are in favor of his 
 having been buried in Norwich. 
 
 Mason is one of the prominent figures in our early 
 history. He shines forth as a valiant soloier and a 
 wise counselor. He was prudent and yet enterprising, 
 fertile in resources, prompt and heroic in the field of 
 action. The natural ardor of his mind, fostered by 
 early military adventures, and continually called into 
 exercise by great emergencies, made him a fearless 
 leader in war. Sturdy in frame and hardy in constitu- 
 tion, regardless of danger, fatigue, or exposure, he was 
 invaluable as a pioneer in difficult enterjjrises and a 
 founder of new plantations. He was also a religious 
 man and a patriot, of virtuous habits and moderate 
 ambition. Though he sustained many high and hon- 
 
 ^ Riclmrd Ileiiily liMd dpcoascd befure tliis poiiud. but no prominent 
 pro]irietur exi-e[it William Biiclins, Sr. The pioci.se (Uto of Miisun'sileiitii 
 is KScortiiined fi-om a cnjiteniponirv jolliiiiil llcpt by Rev. Simuu Bnid- 
 Btn-et, of Ni'W Londtni, wliose loein-d is as lolUiws; 
 
 "Jan. :i(l, 1U71 (0. S.). Major J int. Mason who Inid sevenill tinipsbeen 
 Doiiuty Govern' of C'oniiectiuot Colony dyed. He was ajred about 70. 
 lie lived tlie 2 or 3 Itiat yeare of liis life in Kxtreiim Tuisory witli ye stone 
 or Btranpury or some such descase. He dyed witli much comfort and 
 assure it should be well witll bim."— J/t.f^ and Gen. Iteij., 9, 46. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 255 
 
 orable offices in the infant colony, he is best known 
 by the simple title of captain. Trumbull comprises 
 his peculiar traits in these few words : " He was tall 
 and portly, full of martial fire, and shunned no hard- 
 ships or dangers in the defense and service of the 
 colony." 
 
 Yet, viewing the character of Mason at this distance 
 of time, we become aware of some rigid and imperious 
 features. Though faithful to his convictions of duty, 
 he was stern and unrelenting in the execution of jus- 
 tice, and as a magistrate and commander, dictatorial 
 and self-reliant. 
 
 Roger Williams, in his correspondence with Win- 
 throp, of New London, refers to Mason in terms which 
 lead us to infer that the latter, as a neighbor, was not 
 particularly acceptable to other plantations : 
 
 " Since I meiitioti Cnpt. Muson, worthy sir, I humbly beg of the Father 
 of. Lights to guide you in youre converseand iieighboiirhuod with Iiini." 
 
 "Sir, Iifapo coales uf fire on Capt. Mason's liead, conquer evil with 
 good, but bo not cowardly and overcome with any evill." 
 
 Again, alluding to dispatches that he had received 
 from Capt. Mason, he says, — 
 
 "Tlie lettiM-s are kind to myself but terrible to all these natives, es- 
 pecially to the Bachims.'^ 
 
 Uncas and his tribe were peculiarly the wards and 
 adherents of Mason, and he seemed pledged to defend 
 them against all complaints. We may be disposed to 
 charge him with cruelty to a vanquished foe, but the 
 same taint lies on most of the early colonists. He 
 only shared in the ferocious character of the age, and, 
 we may add, in that misconstruction of the spirit of 
 Christianity which devoted its enemies to immediate 
 and vindictive destruction. 
 
 Of the first marriage of Capt. Mason no date or 
 specification has been recovered. A memorandum in 
 the old church-book at Windsor gives the number of 
 those who had died in the plantation before the year 
 1639, and mentions as one of them the captain's wife. 
 No other inhabitant is known to have had at that 
 time the title of captain, and therefore this may be 
 pronounced without hesitation the wife of Mason. In 
 July, 1639, he was married to Anne Peck, who was 
 the mother of the seven children recorded at Nor- 
 wich, which list is supposed to comprise his 'whole 
 offspring. 
 
 Mrs. Anne Mason died at Norwich before her hus- 
 band. A memorial sermon, preached by Mr. Fitch, 
 represents her as a woman of eminent piety, and 
 "gifted with a measure of knowledge above what is 
 usual in her sex.'' 
 
 " I need not tell you," says the preacher, " what a 
 Dorcas you have lost ; men, wonien, and children are 
 ready with weeping to acknowledge what works of 
 mercy slie hath done for them.'' 
 
 The family is registered at Norwich with this head- 
 ing: "The names and ages of the children of Maj. 
 Mason." The day of the month is not given, nor the 
 place of birth. . The list is as follows : Priscilla, born 
 in October, 1641 ; Samuel, born in July, 1644; John, 
 
 born in August, 1646 ; Rachel, born in October, 1648 ; 
 Anne, born in June, 1650 ; Daniel, born in April, 
 1652 ; Elizabeth, born in August, 1654. 
 
 The first three were probably born in Windsor, the 
 others at Saybrook. 
 
 Of this group three were ingrafted into the Fitch 
 f%mily. Rev. James Fitch married for his second 
 wife, in October, 1654, Priscilla Mason ; John Mason 
 (2) married Abigail Fitch; and James Fitch (2) mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Mason, Jan. 1, 1676. 
 
 Rachel Mason became the second wife of Charles 
 Hill, of New London. They were married June 12, 
 1678, and she died in less than a year afterwards. 
 
 Anne Mason married, Nov. 8, 1672, Capt. John 
 Brown, of Swanzey. 
 
 John Mason, second son of the major, succeeded to 
 his father's accommodations in Norwich. 
 
 This gallant young captain was severely and, as it 
 proved, fatally wounded in the great swamp fight at 
 Narragansett, Dec. 19, 1675. It is probable that he 
 was brought home from that sanguinary field by his 
 Mohegan warriors on an Indian bier. His wounds 
 never healed. Afterlingeringseveral months, he died, 
 as is supposed, in the same house where his father ex- 
 pired, and was doubtless laid by his side in the old 
 obliterated graveyard of the first comers. Though 
 scarcely thirty years of age at the time of his death, 
 he stood high in public esteem, both in a civil and 
 military capacity. He had represented the town at 
 three sessions of the Legislature, and was chosen an 
 assistant the year of his decease. In the probate of 
 his estate before the County Court he is called "the 
 worshipful John Mason." The Rev. Mr. Bradstreet, 
 of New London, records.his death in these terms: 
 
 " My hon'd and dear Fiiend Capt. Jno Mason one of ye magistrates of 
 this Colony, and second son of Major Jno Mason, dyed, Sept. 18, 1G76."1 
 
 He left two young children, — Anne, who married 
 John Denison, and John, born at Norwich in 1673, 
 afterwards known as Capt. John Mason, being the 
 third in lineal succession who had borne the name 
 and title. He is best known as an Indian claimant, 
 visiting England to assert the rights of the heirs of 
 Maj. Mason to those lands which the latter purchased 
 as agent of the colony. His connection with this 
 long Mohegan controversy will bring him at another 
 period within the range of our history. 
 
 The other sons of Maj. Mason, Samuel and Daniel, 
 settled in Stonington, on an ample domain given by 
 the colony to their father, near the border of Long 
 Island Sound. Samuel was chosen an assistant in 
 1683, and acquired the same military rank as his 
 father, being known also as Maj. Mason. He was 
 one of the four purchasers of Lebanon, but never re- 
 moved thither. He died at Stonington, March 30, 
 1705, leaving four children, all daughters. His only 
 son, John, died ten days before him, aged twenty- 
 eight, and unmarried. The male branch in this line 
 
 1 Hist, and Gen. Reg., 9, 46. 
 
256 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 here became extinct, but the name was continued in 
 the line of the oldest daughter, Anne, who married 
 her cousin, the third John Mason, before mentioned. 
 
 Lieut. Daniel Mason, the early schoolmaster of 
 Norwich, died at Stonington, Jan. 28, 1736-37, in the 
 eighty-fifth year of his age. His first wife was Mar- 
 garet Denison, of Roxbury, and his second Eebecca 
 Hobart, of Hingham. His oldest son, Daniel, mar- 
 ried Dorothy Hobart, and settled in Lebanon, where 
 he died, July 4, 1706, thirty years before the decease 
 of his father, leaving only one child, an infant son, 
 named Jeremiah, after his grandfather, Eev. Jere- 
 miah Hobart. 
 
 Eev. James Fitch died at Lebanon, and the monu- 
 mental tablet that marks his grave bears the following 
 judicious and comprehensive summary of his life and 
 character : 
 
 '*Iq this tomb are deposited tbe remains of the truly Reverend Mr. 
 James Fitcii : born at Booking, in the county of Essex, England, Decem- 
 ber '.!4. 1632 : who after he had been well instructed in the learned lan- 
 guages, came to New England at the age of 16, and passed seven years 
 under the instruction of those eminent divines, Mr. Hooker and 3Ir. 
 Stone. Afterward he discharged the pastoral office at Saybrook for 14 
 yeai-B, from whence, with the greater part of his cliurcli, he removed to 
 Norwich, and there spent the succeeding years of his life, engaged in the 
 work of the Gospel, till age and infirmity obliged him to withdiaw from 
 public labor. At length he retired to his children at Lebanon, where 
 scarcely half a year had passed, when he fell asleep in Jesus, Nov. 18, 
 1702, in the 80th year of his age. He was a man, for penetration of 
 mind, solidity of judgment, devotion to the sacred duties of his office, 
 and entire holiHesa of life, as also for skill and energy in preaching, in- 
 ferior to none." 
 
 Mr. Fitch was, next to Capt. Mason, the most infiu- 
 ential man in the little settlement. As a pastor he 
 was zealous and indefatigable, and labored earnestly 
 to advance the material as well as the spiritual wel- 
 fare of the plantation. 
 
 Thomas Adgate was a deacon of Mr. Fitch's 
 church, but at what period chosen to that ofiice is not 
 known. He was older than his pastor, and perhaps 
 his coeval in ofiice. It is probable that he exercised 
 the functions for at least half a century. His will, 
 dated May 22, 1704, commences, " I, Thomas Adgit, 
 being in the eighty-fourth year of my age," etc. He 
 died July 21, 1707. Mrs. Mary Adgate, his relict, 
 died March 29, 1713. 
 
 Egbert Allyn was of Salem in 1637, and en- 
 rolled as a member of the church May 15, 1642. He 
 removed to New London in 1651, where he obtained 
 a grant of a large farm on the east side of the river, 
 at a place still known as Allyn's Point, in the town 
 of Ledyard. He was one of the first company of 
 purchasers of Norwich, and resided for several years 
 in the western part of the town plot. In 1661 he 
 styles himself of " New-Norridge," and held the oflSce 
 of constable in 1669, but in a deed of 1681 uses the 
 formula, " I, Eobert Allyn, of New London." 
 
 Eobert Allyn had doubtless relinquished his house 
 in Norwich to his son John, and retired to his farm 
 on the river, within the bounds of New London, 
 where he died in 1683. His age is unknown, but he 
 
 was freed from training in 1669, probably upon at- 
 taining the age of sixty, the customary limit of mili- 
 tary service ; this would make him about seventy-five 
 at death. 
 
 Backus. — Little is known of the history of Wil- 
 liam Backus, Sr. He is supposed to have been living 
 at Saybrook as early as 1637. 
 
 William Backus, before removing to Norwich, mar- 
 ried Mrs. Anne Bingham, and brought with him to 
 the new settlement three daughters, two sons, and his 
 wife's son, Thomas Bingham. The three young men 
 were of mature age or near maturity, and are all usu- 
 ally reckoned as first proprietors. The daughters 
 were subsequently united in marriage to John Rey- 
 nolds, Benjamin Crane, and John Bayley. 
 
 The house-lots of the younger William and of 
 Stephen Backus are both recorded as laid out in 1659, 
 but the latter was the allotment of his father, who 
 dying at an early period after the settlement, and the 
 land records being made at a later date, it was regis- 
 tered in Stephen's name, who had received it by be- 
 quest from his father. Hence William Backus, Sr., 
 does not appear on the town record as a landholder. 
 
 Stephen Backus. — The rights and privileges of 
 William Backus, Sr., were transferred so soon after 
 the settlement to his son Stephen that the latter is 
 accounted the original proprietor. The house-lot was 
 entered in his name, as to a first purchaser. It lay 
 upon the pent highway by the Yantic, between the 
 town green and the allotment of Thomas Bliss. 
 
 WiLi.iAM Backus, Jr. — The second WilHam 
 Backus married Elizabeth, daughter of Lieut. Wil- 
 liam Pratt, of Saybrook. She was born Feb. 1, 1641. 
 The date of the marriage is not registered at Norwich, 
 and it is probable that the young couple did not re- 
 move to the new settlement till afterthe birth of their 
 first son, William, May 11, 1660. John, the second 
 son, born Feb. 9, 1661-62, married Mary, daughter 
 of Thomas Bingham. Hannah Backus, one of the 
 daughters of the family, found a partner in the sec- 
 ond Thomas Bingham. Both marriages have the 
 same date, Feb. 17, 1691-92. It was not uncom- 
 mon in that day for families to be linked and inter- 
 linked and the knots doubled and twisted, as in the 
 case of the Backuses and Binghams. William Backus 
 (2) is found on record with the successive titles of 
 sergeant, ensign, and lieutenant, though he styles 
 himself in deeds simply yenman. His will and in- 
 ventory were presented for probate in April, 1721. 
 
 William Backus, third son of the above, sold his 
 accommodations in Norwich to his father in 1692 
 and removed to " the nameless new town lying about 
 ten miles northwest of Norwich." His brother John 
 also emigrated to the same place, afterwards named 
 Windham, and both are reckoned among the early 
 proprietors of that town. The present Windham 
 green was part of the original home-lot of William 
 Backus. 
 
 Joseph and Nathaniel, the younger sons of William 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 257 
 
 Backus (2), remained in Norwich. Joseph married 
 Elizabeth Huntington, and Nathaniel, Elizabeth 
 Tracy, daughters of the proprietors Simon Hunting- 
 ton and John Tracy. Joseph and Simon Backus, the 
 first two graduates of Yale College of the name of 
 Backus, were sons of Joseph. The former graduated 
 in 1718, and some eight or ten years later was styled 
 by his contemporaries Lawyer Backus of Norwich. 
 
 A large number of the Backus family have acquired 
 distinction in the various walks of life. Elijah Backus, 
 whose iron-works at Yantic were so serviceable to the 
 country in the Revolutionary war, was a grandson of 
 Joseph. He married Lucy, daughter of John Gris- 
 wold, of Lyme. His sons, and his son-in-law, Dud- 
 ley Woodbridge, were among the first emigrants to 
 the banks of the Ohio. James Backus, one of the 
 sons, as agent of the Ohio Company, made the first 
 surveys of Marietta, and is said to have built the first 
 regular house in that town. He afterwards returned 
 to Norwich, and died at the family residence, Sept. 
 29, 1816. 
 
 The second Elijah Backus, an older brother of 
 James, graduated at Yale College in 1777, and for 
 several years held the office of collector of customs of 
 New London. His first wife was Lucretia, daughter 
 of Russell Hubbard, who died at New London in 1787. 
 He afterwards married Hannah, daughter of Guy 
 Richards, and removed with his family to Marietta, 
 Ohio, where he died in 1811. His daughter Lucretia, 
 born at New London in 1787, married Nathaniel 
 Pope, of Kaskaskia, III., delegate in Congress from 
 Illinois in 1816, and judge of the United States 
 District Court. Maj.-Gen. John Pope, U.S.A., is 
 their son, born March 12, 1823. Hi^ mother, Mrs. 
 Lucretia Pope, in remembrance of the place of her 
 father's nativity, and of her own early associations, 
 came from her Western home to attend the bi-centen- 
 nial jubilee at Norwich in September, 1859. 
 
 Among the descendants of William Backus who 
 were natives of the old town of Norwich the follow- 
 ing clergymen are of note : 
 
 1. Simon Backus, son of Joseph, born at Norwich, 
 Feb. 11, 1701, graduated at Yale College in 1724, and 
 was ordained pastor of the church at Newington in 
 1727. He attended the expedition to Cape Breton as 
 chaplain of the Connecticut troops, and died while on 
 duty at that place, in May, 1746. His wife was a sis- 
 ter of President Edwards of the New Jersey College. 
 
 2. Rev. Simon Backus, son of the above, was pastor 
 in Granby, Mass., and died in 1828, aged eighty- 
 seven. 
 
 3. Rev. Charles Backus, D.D., of Somers, born in 
 that part of Norwich which is now Franklin, Nov. 
 9, 1749, died in 1803. He had a high reputation as 
 an acute and able theologian, and prepared between 
 forty and fifty young men for the sacred ofiice. Dr. 
 Dwight said of him, " I have not known a wiser man." 
 
 4. Rev. Isaac Backus, A.M., of Middleborough, 
 Mass. was born at Norwich, within the limits of the 
 
 old town plot, Jan. 9, 1724, and died Nov. 20, 1806. 
 He was first a Separatist, and afterwards embracing 
 Baptist principles, became eminent in that denomina- 
 tion as a preacher, and the author of several histori- 
 cal works relating to the diffusion of the Baptist faith 
 in New England. 
 
 5. Rev. Azel Backus, D.D., born in Franklin, Oct. 
 13, 1765, was a nephew of Rev. Charles Backus, of 
 Somers. His father died when he was a youth, and 
 left him a farm, which, he said, " I wisely exchanged 
 foran education in college." He settled at Bethlehem, 
 Conn., as the successor of Dr. Bellamy, but in 1812 
 was chosen the first president of Hamilton College. 
 The most noted of his writings is an election sermon 
 preached at Hartford in 1798, on the character of 
 Absalom, — a political discourse of strong partisan ten- 
 dency. 
 
 John Baldwin. A family tradition has been 
 current that he came to this country in his youth 
 with a relative, but had no brothers. His first ap- 
 pearance on record is at Guilford, where he married, 
 April 25, 1653, Hannah Burchet. 
 
 Of the decease of the proprietor there is no account. 
 His oldest son, John, removed to Lebanon. He was 
 one of the grantees of that plantation in 1695, one of 
 the selectmen of the newly-organized township in 
 1699, and at the time of his decease, in January, 1705, 
 was a deacon of the church. 
 
 Capt. Ebenezer Baldwin, the third son of Thomas 
 and Sarah Baldwin, was born May 7, 1710, and mar- 
 ried Bethiah Barker, the nuptial contract being made 
 sure "per Jacob Elliot." 
 
 Ebenezer, the oldest son of Ebenezer and Bethiah 
 Baldwin, born July 3, 1745, was a graduate and tutor 
 of Yale College ; ordained pastor at Danbury in 1770, 
 entered the army as chaplain in 1776, and died in Oc- 
 tober, 1777, aged thirty-one. 
 
 Hon. Simeon Baldwin, so long known as Judge 
 Baldwin, of New Haven, one of the sterling men of 
 Connecticut, was also a son of Capt. Ebenezer and 
 his wife Bethiah. He was born at Norwich, Dec. 14, 
 1761, graduated at Yale College in 1781, was member 
 of Congress from Connecticut from 1803 to 1805, as- 
 sociate judge of the Superior Court and Supreme 
 Court of Errors, and mayor of the city of New Haven, 
 where he died. May 26, 1851, in his ninetieth year. 
 
 His son, the Hon. Roger S. Baldwin, held the offices 
 of Governor of Connecticut and United States sena- 
 tor, serving his native State in her highest executive 
 and confederated capacity. He died at New Haven, 
 Feb. 19, 1863. 
 
 Jabez Baldwin, the fourth son of the first Thomas, 
 died in his twenty-fifth year without issue. 
 
 Thomas Bingham. The house-lot of Thomas 
 Bingham bears the date of April, 1660, though at 
 that time he could not have been over eighteen years 
 of age. He married, Deo. 12, 1666, Mary Rudd, who 
 is supposed to have been the daughter of Lieut. Jon- 
 athan Rudd, of Saybrook. Her image rises before 
 
258 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 us enveloped in a haze of romance, on account of her 
 probable connection with the story of Bride Brook. 
 
 Thomas Bukchaed, aged forty, embarked for New 
 England in a vessel called the '' True Love," Sept. 20, 
 1635, with his wife, Mary, and six children, one of 
 them a son named John, aged seven, and the others 
 daughters. Thomas Bircher, made free at Boston, 
 May 17, 1637, and Thomas Birchwood, or Birchard, 
 of Hartford, in 1639, were probably the same person. 
 He is subsequently found at Saybrook, and was deputy 
 from that township to the General Court in 1650 and 
 1651. After this there seems to be no trace of him at 
 Saybrook, except in a land sale made in 1656 by 
 Thomas Birchard, "of Martin's Vineyard," to Wil- 
 liam Pratt, wherein he quits claim for himself and in 
 behalf of his son, John Birchard. 
 
 There can be little hesitation in assuming that John, 
 son of the above Thomas (aged seven in 1635), was 
 the John Birchard that became a proprietor of Nor- 
 wich. He appears to have been a man of considera- 
 ble note in the company, particularly as a scribe, 
 serving for several years as town clerk and recorder. 
 
 John Birchard was one of the ten inhabitants of 
 Norwich accepted as freemen at Hartford in October, 
 1663, clerk of the County Court in 1673, a commis- 
 sioner or justice of the peace in 1676, and deputy to 
 the General Court in October, 1691. 
 
 Thomas Bliss, Se. and Jr., had house-lots and 
 divisions of land in Hartford as early as 1640. 
 
 The allotments of Thomas Bliss in Saybrook were 
 eastward of the river, in what is now Lyme. His 
 house-lot of thirty acres lay between John Ompsted 
 (Olmstead) on the north and John Lay south. He 
 sold it, July 23, 1662, to John Comstock. His home- 
 lot in Norwich was also near to that of John Olm- 
 stead, extending originally at the northwest to the 
 pent highway. That part where the house stands has 
 never been alienated. Seven generations have dwelt 
 on the same spot, and the house is supposed not to 
 have been entirely rebuilt since it was erected by the 
 first proprietor. 
 
 Thomas Bliss died April 15, 1688. 
 
 In the inventory of Thomas Bliss his estate is esti- 
 mated at£18217s.7d. He had land besides his home- 
 lot over the river,— on the Little Plain, at the Great 
 Plain, at the Falls, in Yantic meadow, in meadow 
 at Beaver Brook, in pasture east of the town, and 
 on Westward Hill. 
 
 Morgan Bowers came from that part of Saybrook 
 which lay east of the river and is now Lyme. His 
 home-lot in these Lyme grants was on or near Black 
 Point, and had been in his possession about five years. 
 Little is known of him. He was on the jury of the 
 County Court in 1667, and again in 1680. No trace 
 is found of wife or children, but probably he had both. 
 It was disreputable at that period for a man without 
 a family to live as a householder by himself. In his 
 old age, however, he seems to have been both lonely 
 and infirm. 
 
 John Bradford was the son of William Bradford 
 the Pilgrim Governor of Plymouth colony. His 
 mother was Dorothy May, the earliest of our May- 
 flowers, the herald of those that give fragrance to the 
 airs of spring, and the graceful prototype of the 
 white-winged bark that bore her and the pioneers of 
 freedom over the ocean. 
 
 Dorothy May was the first wife of Governor Brad- 
 ford. Sheembarked with her husband for thePromised 
 Land, but, like Moses, only saw it at a distance. 
 After the vessel had anchored in Cape Cod Harbor 
 she fell overboard and was drowned, Dec. 7, 1620, her 
 husband being absent at the time in a boat or shallop 
 exploring the coast and selecting a place for a settle- 
 ment. 
 
 John Bradford was not the companion of his parents 
 in this voyage, and it is not ascertained when became 
 to this country. Very little is known of his early 
 history, for neither Morton nor Prince, the earliest 
 authorities respecting Plymouth Colony, give any 
 hint of the existence of this son of Governor Brad- 
 ford. 
 
 He was of Duxbury in 1645, afterwards of Marsh- 
 field, and deputy to the General Court of both places. 
 He married Martha, daughter of Thomas Bourne, of 
 Marshfield, but had no children. 
 
 The home-lot of Mr. Bradford, in Norwich, bears 
 the date of the oldest proprietors, 1659, and it is 
 probable that he soon removed to the spot. His farm 
 in Duxbury was sold by " John Bradford, gentleman," 
 to Christoper Wadsworth in 1664. 
 
 Mr. Bradford was one of the townsmen of Norwich 
 in 1671, but his name seldom occurs on the records. 
 His will was exhibited at the County Court in Sep- 
 tember, 1676. His widow married, after a short in- 
 terval, her opposite neighbor, Lieut. Thomas Tracy. 
 The period of her death is not ascertained, but the 
 lieutenant was living with a third wife in 1683. 
 
 Hugh Calkins (or Caulkins') was one of a body 
 of emigrants, called the Welsh Company, that came 
 to New England in 1640 from Chepstow, in Mon- 
 mouthshire, on the border of Wales, with their minis- 
 ter, the Rev. Mr. Bliuman. The larger portion of 
 this company settled first at Marshfield, but soon 
 transferred their residence to Gloucester, upon the 
 rough promonotory of Cape Ann. From thence, 
 after eight years of experiment, most of them removed 
 to New London, hoping probably to find lands more 
 arable and productive, and allured also by afl'ection- 
 ate attachment to Mr. Blinman, whom Mr. Winthrop 
 had invited to his plantation. 
 
 Hugh Calkins was in 1660 deputy from Gloucester 
 to the General Court of Massachusetts, and chosen 
 again in 1651, but removing early in that' yearto New 
 London, the vacancy was filled by another election. 
 
 While living at New London he was chosen twelve 
 
 1 The name appears on tlie early records, written indilfereutlj*, with or 
 without the «, and with or without the liual s. 
 
NOKWTCH. 
 
 259 
 
 times deputy to the Connecticut Assembly (the elec- 
 tions being semi-annual), and was one of the towns- 
 men or selectmen invariably from 1652 till he removed 
 to Norwich. 
 
 From Norwich he was deputy at ten sessions of the 
 Legislature, between March, 1653, and October, 1671, 
 and was one of the first deacons of Norwich Church. 
 At each of the three towns in which he was an early 
 settler and proprietor he was largely employed in 
 public business, being usually appointed one of com- 
 mittees for consultation, for fortifying, drafting sol- 
 diers, settling difficulties, and particularly for survey- 
 ing and determining boundaries. These offices imply 
 a considerable range of information, as well as ac- 
 tivity and executive talent, yet he seems to have had 
 no early education, uniformly making a bold H for 
 his signature. 
 
 John Calkins, the oldest son of Hugh, was prob- 
 ably born about 1634. He was old enough to be sum- 
 moned to work with other settlers on the mill-dam at 
 New London in 1652. He married, at New London, 
 Sarah, daughter of Robert Royce, and his oldest 
 child, Hugh, was born at that place before the re- 
 moval to Norwich. 
 
 John Calkins was one of the selectmen of Nor- 
 wich in 1671, and on the jury of the County Court 
 so late as 1691. He died Jan. 8, 1702-3. Sarah, his 
 relict, died May 1, 1711, aged seventy-seven years. 
 
 RiCHAED Edgeeton and Mary Sylvester were 
 married April 7, 1653. The birth of three daughters 
 is registered at Saybrook, reaching to September, 1659, 
 and in November of that year we have the date of 
 his house-lot at Norwich. 
 
 William Gagee came to America in 1630 with 
 Governor Winthrop, but died the same year from a 
 disease contracted by ill diet at sea, which swept off 
 many of the emigrants. He is characterized by con- 
 temporary journalists as "a skillful surgeon, a right 
 godly man, and one of the deacons of our congrega- 
 tion." His son John, the only child that has been 
 traced, was one of the company that settled at New 
 London with John Winthrop the younger. His name 
 is there found on the earliest extant list of inhabitants. 
 
 He had a grant from the town of New London of 
 a farm of two hundred acres east of the river, near 
 the straits (now in Ledyard), to which he removed 
 Boon after 1650, and there dwelt until he joined in the 
 settlement of Norwich and removed thither. His 
 house-lot in the new town bears the date of the oldest 
 surveys, viz., November, 1659. He was constable of 
 Norwich in 1674 and 1688. 
 
 His oldest son, born in September, 1647, who in 
 1688 is styled " John Gager, of New London, son to 
 John, Sr., of Norwich," died in 1691 without issue. 
 
 The will of John Gager, the proprietor, dated Dec. 
 21, 1695, has the descriptive passage, " being now aged 
 and full of days ;" but he lived eight years longer, 
 dying Dec. 10, 1703. His will provides for wife Eliza- 
 beth, bequeaths all real estate to " only son Samuel," 
 
 and adds, "to my six sons that married my daughters, 
 viz., John Allyn, Daniel Brewster, Jeremiah Ripley, 
 Simon Huntington, Joshua Abel, and Caleb Forbes, 
 twenty shillings each, having already given their 
 wives considerable portions in movables and lands." 
 
 It was much the custom in those days for men who 
 had children arrived at maturity to become in great 
 part their own executors, distributing their estates by 
 deed and assignment before death, reserving only a 
 needful portion for themselves, to be disposed of after- 
 wards. This accounts for the slenderness of many 
 ancient inventories. That of John Gager in 1703 
 amounted to £49 16s. 
 
 Among the items enumerated are one great Bibell, 
 one white-faced stag. 
 
 This last we may imagine to have been a domestic 
 pet of the old people. Several articles are mentioned 
 belonging to the old-fashioned fireplace, which the 
 modern use of stove, furnace, and range has rendered 
 almost obsolete, such as two tramiUs, a peal and tongs, 
 a suit, warming pan, and andirons. 
 
 A. peal [or peel) was a large flat shovel used to draw 
 bread from the oven. A common shovel was often 
 termed a slice, and snit was probably used for snuffers. 
 Other articles that seem antique and homely to the 
 present generation were porringers, wooden trenchers, 
 and syllabub pots. 
 
 Many curious things are found in these old inven- 
 tories ; very common articles are canns, of pewter or 
 silver, piggins, keelers, pewter basins, and a cow-bell. 
 Samuel Gager, only surviving son of John, born 
 February, 1654, married Rebecca (Lay), relict of 
 Daniel Raymond, of New London, in 1695. He was 
 a man of good repute and considerable estate, a resi- 
 derit in the parish of New Concord, but interred at 
 his own request, as heretofore stated, in the old neg- 
 lected graveyard of the first-comers in the town 
 plot, where some fragments of the stone may yet re- 
 main. 
 
 William Gager, one of the sons of Samuel, born in 
 1704, graduated at Yale College in 1721, and in 1725 
 was settled in the pastoral office at Lebanon. He died 
 in 1739. 
 
 Othniel Gager, who has held the office of town 
 clerk in Norwich for over forty years, is of the sixth 
 generation in descent from the first proprietor in the 
 line of John, oldest son of Samuel. 
 
 Stephen Giffoed's first marriage was with Han- 
 nah Grove, in May, 1667. She died Jan. 24, 1670-71, 
 leaving two children, Samuel and Hannah. He mar- 
 ried, second, Hannah, daughter of John Gallop, of 
 Stonington, May 12, 1672. Four children are subse- 
 quently recorded to him, — John, Ruth, Stephen, and 
 Aquilla. 
 
 The proprietor and his second wife lived together 
 more than half a century, and died the same year. 
 
 Samuel Gifford removed to Lebanon in 1692, and 
 there died, Aug. 26, 1714. The two daughters of 
 Stephen, the proprietor, also settled in Lebanon, as 
 
260 
 
 HISTOllY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the wives of Samuel Calkins and Jeremiah Fitch. 
 John, Stephen, and Aquilla Gilford, sons of the first 
 proprietor, were inhabitants of Norwich in 1736. 
 
 Lieut. Feaxcis Geiswold was a son of Edward 
 and Margaret Griswold, born about 1632. He ap- 
 pears to have been a man of capacity and enterprise, 
 and took an active part in the affairs of the plantation, 
 serving as representative to the General Court for 
 eleven sessions, beginning October, 1664, and ending 
 May, 1671. It is not known when he was married, 
 or to whom. Not even the household name of his wife 
 is found in the records at Saybrook or Norwich. 
 
 Richard Hendy. This name is identical with 
 Hend6, Hendys, and Handy. Richard Hendy seems 
 to have been oneof the first purchasers of Norwich, and 
 to have had an early allotment in the neighborhood of 
 the town plot. He also shared in the first divisions 
 of land, but there is no evidence of his actual resi- 
 dence at any time in the settlement. 
 
 Thomas Howaej). The house-lot of Thomas 
 Howard has the same date as those of Fitch and 
 Mason. Of his antecedent histoi-y no information 
 has been obtained. His family registry at Norwich 
 is as follows : 
 
 "Thomas Howard and Mary WoUman were mari-ied in Jannary, 1666. 
 Children: Mary born in Dec. 1667. Sarali io Fob. 1669. Martha in 
 Feb. 1672, and died one month after. Thomoa born in Marcli 1673, and 
 Benjamin in June 1675." 
 
 Thomas Howard was slain at the Narragansett 
 fort fight, Dec. 17, 1675. 
 
 "Christopher and Simon Huntington prob- 
 ably settled at Saybrook as soon as they attained their 
 majority. Christopher was there in 1649, apparently 
 engaged in trade, and had written to his Uncle Baret, 
 in England, for consignments of cloth and shot. In 
 1651 he was one of five persons who seized a Dutch 
 vessel that was on the coast trading illegally with the 
 Indians. He married Ruth, daughter of, William 
 Rockwell, of Windsor, Oct. 7, 1652. They lost one 
 child, and perhaps more than one, in infancy, and 
 when the removal to Norwich took place the parents 
 had only their little daughter Ruth to carry through 
 the wilderness. But a bles.sing soon descended upon 
 their new home, a son was born, a second Christo- 
 pher, Nov. 1, 1660, — the first-born male in Nor- 
 wich. 
 
 " The children of Christopher Huntington were 
 subsequently increased to seven in number, while 
 Simon had a family of ten. They both lived to em- 
 brace their children's children, and to see the family 
 hives swarm, and emigrants pass ofl' to alight in the 
 woods and wastes of Windham, Mansfield, and Leb- 
 anon. 
 
 " Thomas, the second son, born in 1664, was one of 
 the early settlers of Windham. 
 
 " Christopher Huntington, 1st, died in 1691, as is 
 indicated by the probate of his estate that year. No 
 other record gives the date. He was probably buried 
 in the Gager and Post burial-ground, and no stone 
 marks his grave. 
 
 " The second Christopher Huntington, the first- 
 born son of Norwich, executed the office of town 
 clerk and recorder for twenty years, and was deaeon 
 of the church from 1696 to 1735. 
 
 " The two wives of Deacon Christopher were Sarah 
 Adgate and Judith, widow of Jonathan Brewster. 
 He had a family of twelve children ; seven sons and 
 four daughters survived him. His oldest child, Ruth, 
 was the mother of Dr. Eleazer Wheelock, the founder 
 of the first Indian school at Lebanon, and the first 
 president of Dartmouth College. 
 
 " Christopher Huntington, 3d, was born in 1686. 
 Christopher Huntington, 4th, born in 1719, was a 
 physician in the parish of New Concord. These four 
 Christophers were in the direct line, each the oldest 
 sou of his father, but the fifth Christopher was the 
 youngest son of the fourth. He succeeded his father 
 as a physician in New Concord, or Bozrah, where he 
 died in 1821. His oldest son, the sixth Christopher, 
 settled in Hartford, where he died in 1834, and with 
 him the direct line of the Christophers ends, other 
 names in the family of the last-mentioned Christo- 
 pher taking the place of the old heirloom. 
 
 Simon Huntington. The title of deacon became 
 very early a familiar appendage to the name of Hunt- 
 ington. Out of twenty deacons of the first church, 
 seven have been Huntingtons,' six of whom held the 
 ofiice over thirty years each. In the line of Simon 
 the deaconship descended from father to son through 
 four successive generations, Simon 1st, Simon 2d, 
 Ebenezer, and Simon 3d, covering a period of one 
 hundred and twenty years. Deacon Barnabas Hunt- 
 ington, of Franklin, was also a progenitor of deacons.' 
 Other churches in the vicinity have been prone to 
 select their ministering servants from the same cog- 
 nomen. Near the close of the last century there 
 were six Deacon Huntingtons ofliciating at one 
 period in as many different parishes of Norwich and 
 the neighboring towns. 
 
 "Simon Huntington, the proprietor, was united to 
 Sarah, daughter of Joseph Clarke, of Saybrook, in 
 October, 1653. They lived together fifty-three years, 
 and she survived him fifteen, dying in 1721, at the 
 age of eighty-eight. This was probably the earliest, 
 but not the only one of the first thirty-five wedded 
 pairs that could have celebrated the golden period of 
 their connubial life, if at that day such festivals had 
 been in vogue. 
 
 " Deacon Simon left an estate appraised at £275. 
 
 1 Eight if we include the iirst Christopher Huntington, who ia usually 
 placed on the list, but there does not appear to be any contemporary 
 evidence that he held the office. The statement is derived from niiuuteB 
 made by Dr. Lord, in which the iiret Christopher was probably con- 
 founded with the second. 
 
 2 " The old Franklin homestead was for a long period in the possession 
 of deacons, and what ia not a little remarkablo, these deacons, each iu 
 Ins day and generation, kept tavern under the sign of the Seven Stars, 
 which slione with steady lustre for the beueflt and bountiful cheer of 
 wayfarers on the old Lebanon road." — Speech of Hon. Asahel Hunting- 
 ton, of Salem, Maaa., at the Huntington gathering at Norwich, Sept. 3, 
 1857. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 261 
 
 The inventory of his books may be worth quoting as 
 a specimen of what was doubtless a fair library for a 
 layman in 1706 : 
 
 " ' A great Bible 10s. Another great bible 8«. Rogers bia seven treat- 
 ifies, 5s. A practical Catecise Is. 6d. William Dyer, Is. Mr. Moody's 
 Book Sd, Thomas Hooker's Doubting Christian, 9d. New England 
 Pwilm Book, Is. Mr. Adams' Sarmon. The bound book of Mr. Fitch 
 and John Rogers 28. The same unbound Sd. The day of doom lOd.' 
 
 " At the time of Deacon Simon's death his six sons 
 and three daughters were all heads of families. His 
 sons-in-law were Solomon Tracy, Deacon Caleb 
 Forbes, of Preston, and Joseph Backus. Four of 
 his sons — Simon, Nathaniel, Daniel, and James — 
 settled near their parents in Norwich, though not 
 all in one parish. Joseph went to Windham, and 
 Samuel to Lebanon. 
 
 " The oldest son, Simon, born in Saybrook before 
 the removal to Norwich, married Lydia Gager, Oct. 
 8, 1683, and had four children. The oldest of these, 
 bearing his own name, the third Simon in direct de- 
 scent, was the person killed by the bite of a rattle- 
 snake just after he became of age. 
 
 "This second Deacon Simon Huntington had two 
 other sons besides the one so suddenly removed, viz., 
 Ebenezer and Joshua, and in the series descending 
 from these are found several names of more than 
 common distinction. The last-named son was born 
 Dec. 30, 1698, and is known in local tradition as Capt. 
 Joshua. He was a noted merchant, beginning business 
 at nineteen, and pursuing it for twenty-seven years, du- 
 ring which time it is said that he traded more by sea and 
 land than any other man in Norwich. In the prime 
 of life, activity, and usefulness he took the yellow 
 fever in New York, came home sick, and died the 
 27th of August, 1745, aged forty-seven.^ He was the 
 father of Gen. Jabez Huntington, of whom more will 
 be said hereafter. 
 
 "Among the Huntingtons of note in this and the 
 neighboring towns, besides the clerks and deacons 
 already mentioned, we might enumerate five or six 
 judges of the common courts, five members of Con- 
 gress, one of them president of the Continental Con- 
 gress and Governor of the State, and six or seven who 
 acquired the military rank of colonels and generals, 
 one of them a brigadier-general in the army of the 
 Revolution. Of the clergy, also, a considerable list of 
 Huntingtons might be made without going out of New 
 London County for their nativity.'' 
 
 "The name has also been widely disseminated in 
 other States besides Connecticut, and rendered honor- 
 able by the talents and virtues of those who have 
 borne it. But it is not on this account wholly that 
 we give it special prominence in these details, but 
 rather for this reason, that the Huntingtons are the 
 only family among the proprietors with whom any 
 
 1 " His epitaph says, ' Very justly lamented by the survivors.' 
 
 2 " The Genealogical Memoir of the Huntington Family, published by 
 EeT. B. B. Huntington, of Stamford, is a work of great interest and 
 value. It embodies the results of years of patient research, and is clear, 
 full, and almost exhaustive in its details. 
 
 connection has hitherto been traced with Norwich in 
 England. As we have seen, Margaret Baret, the 
 mother of Christopher and Simon Huntington, ap- 
 pears to have been a native of Norwich, and it is not 
 improbable that her children were also born there." ' 
 
 William Hide, or Hyde,— the first mode of spell- 
 ing being the most ancient, — is found at Hartford be- 
 fore 1640, a resident and proprietor. The period of his 
 emigration is not known. He removed to Saybrook 
 perhaps as early as 1648. ' 
 
 On his removal to Norwich he sold his house and 
 home-lot to Francis Bushnell, and other property to 
 Robert Lay.' He died Jan. 6, 1681-82. His age is 
 not known, but he was styled " old Goodman Hide" 
 in 1679. 
 
 Samuel Hyde.* — Thomas Lee, an emigrant, coming 
 from England with his family to settle in America, 
 died on the passage. His wife, whose maiden name 
 was Phebe Brown, with her three children, — Thomas, 
 Sarah, and Jane, — completed the voyage, and are 
 afterwards found at Saybrook, or Lyme, where th« 
 relict married Greenfield Larrabee. Samuel Hyde's 
 wife was the step-daughter of Larrabee. 
 
 After the removal to Norwich, the younger Hyde 
 appears to have formed at first but one family with 
 his father, though he afterwards settled at the West 
 Farms. In August, 1660, on the Hyde home-lot, in 
 a newly erected habitation standing upon the border 
 of the wilderness, with a heavy forest growth in the 
 rear, a new member — a welcome addition to the settle- 
 ment — made her appearance. This was Elizabeth, 
 daughter of Samuel and Jane Hyde, the first child 
 born of English parentage in Norwich. 
 
 Phebe, the second daughter of Samuel and Jane 
 Hyde, born in January, 1663, married Matthew Gris- 
 wold, of Lyme. 
 
 Samuel Hyde did not live to see the settlement of 
 his daughters. He died in 1677, leaving seven chil- 
 dren, the youngest an infant, and all sons but the two 
 daughters above mentioned. 
 
 The five sons of Samuel Hyde were speedily multi- 
 plied into a numerous body of descendants. 
 
 Samuel married Elizabeth, daughter of John Cal- 
 kins, Dec. 16, 1690. He lived first at West Farms (now 
 Franklin), but removed to Windham, and afterwards to 
 Lebanon, where he died in 1742, aged seventy-seven. 
 
 He was the grandfather of Capt. Walter Hyde, 
 whose monumental inscription in the Lebanon ceme- 
 tery states that he joined the American army in 1776, 
 with an independent company of which he had com- 
 
 •■> The sales are registered at Saybrook, with the following receipt : 
 
 " I Williiim Hide of Mohcgan do acknowledge to have received of 
 
 Robert Lay of Six Mile Island the full and just sum of forty pounds 
 
 which was the first payment specified in the agreement made 26th day 
 
 of Jiinuary 1659 for all the lands I had at Potapaugue. 
 
 " Witness my hand 6th of May 1660, 
 
 his 
 
 "William C C Hide." 
 
 mark. 
 
 4 " The marriage of Samuel Hyde with Jane Lee was in June, Anno 
 
 Dom. 1659.''— Norwich Recordn. 
 
 r: 
 
262 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 mand, and died at Greenwich, Sept. 18, 1776, aged 
 forty-one. 
 
 He was also the ancestor of Col. Elijah Hyde, a 
 neighbor and friend of Governor Trumbull, who com- 
 manded a regiment of light-horse during the war for 
 liberty, and was on duty with the Northern Army at 
 the surrender of Burgoyne, and of Gen. Caleb Hyde, 
 who at the period of the Revolution was a sheriff in 
 Berkshire County, Mass., but afterwards settled in 
 Western New York. 
 
 Thomas Leffingwell, according to minutes pre- 
 served among his descendants, was a native of Crox- 
 hall, in England. The period of his emigration has 
 not been ascertained. In his testimony before the 
 Court of Commissioners at Stonington in 1705 he 
 says he was acquainted with Uncas in the year 1637, 
 and was knowing to the assistance rendered by the 
 sachem to the English, then and ever after during his 
 life. According to his age, as given in depositions, 
 he must have been born about the year 1622, there- 
 fore at the time of the Pequot war not more than 
 fifteen or sixteen years of age. 
 
 The earliest notices of his name connect him with 
 Saybrook. From the colonial records we learn that 
 in March, 1650, a petition was presented " from the 
 inhabitants of Saybrook by Matthew Griswold and 
 Tho: Leppingwell.'" The births of his children are 
 also registered at Saybrook, but under the simple 
 heading of " Children of Thomas Leffingwell," the 
 name of the mother not being mentioned. The list 
 is as follows : 
 
 "Riiclidl l)orn lY March 1648; Thomas 27 August 1649; Jonathans 
 Dec. 1060; Josei>h 24 Dec. 1G52; Mary 16 Dec. 1054; Nathaniel 11 Dec. 
 10.50." 
 
 It is probable also that Samuel Leffingwell, who 
 married Anna Dickinson, Nov. 16, 1687, and died in 
 1691. was the son of Thomas, though his birth is not 
 found recorded. 
 
 Following Mr. Leffingwell to his new home in Nor- 
 wich, we find him an active and influential member of 
 the plantation. He was one of the first two deputies 
 of the town to the General Court, in October, 1662, 
 an officer of the first train-band, and during Philip's 
 war lieutenant under Capt. Denison in his famous 
 band of marauders that swept so many times through 
 Narragansett and scoured the country to the sources 
 of the Quinnebaug. 
 
 He lived to old age, but the record of his death 
 does not give his years, and no memorial stone marks 
 his grave. 
 
 " Lieut. Thonias Lefflmrwell died about 1710. 
 " l\Iis. Mary Leffingwell died Feb. 0, 1711." 
 
 The Staff of the venerated lieutenant, reputed to 
 have been brought with him from his native place, and 
 bearing his initials on its silver head, is now in the 
 
 1 Col. Rec, i. 205. Lopiungwell and Leppenwell often appear on the 
 early Norivich records. It is suggeslive of the supposed origin of the 
 Dame,— Leapiug-well, denoting a bubbling or boiling spring. 
 
 possession of one of his descendants. Rev. Thomas 
 Leffingwell Shipman, of Jewett City, Conn. This 
 memorial staff is interesting on the score of antiquity 
 but far more so from its asfeooiation with the ven- 
 erable men of successive generations to whom it has 
 been a staff of support. It calls up from the misty 
 past the image of the old soldier or the deacon on 
 the Sabbath-day slowly marching up to his seat under 
 the pulpit : we see his white hair and hear the steady 
 sound of the staff brought down at every step. 
 
 Thomas Leffingwell, Jr., and Mary Bushnell were 
 married in September, 1672, and might have cele- 
 brated their golden wedding in 1722, with a houseful 
 of prosperous descendants gathered around them. 
 The husband died March 5, 1723-24, leaving five 
 daughters, all married to Bushnells and Tracys, and 
 three sons, Thomas, John, and Benajah. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Leffingwell long survived her partner. 
 
 The inventory of Ensign Leffingwell, in 1724, shows 
 that he was richly furnished, not only with the house- 
 hold comforts and conveniences of that era, but with 
 articles of even luxury and elegance. He had furni- 
 ture and linen in abundance, woodenware, and uten- 
 sils of iron, tin, pewter, and silver ;^ wearing apparel 
 valued at £27 ; wig, 20s. ; walking-staff with silver 
 head, 20s.; rapier with silver hilt and belt, £6; a 
 French gun, £3; silver watch, £5; 3 tankards; 2 
 dram-cups; 4 silver cups, one with- two handles; cop- 
 per pennies and Erabians,' £6.18.7. Total valuation 
 of estate, £9793.9.11. It is doubtful whether, at that 
 time, any other estate in the town equaled this in 
 value. 
 
 The third Thomas Leffingwell, son of the Ensign, 
 and born in 1674, is distinguished as Beacon Thomas. 
 He married Lydia, daughter of Solomon Tracy, and 
 died July 18, 1733. He had six children. 
 
 His brothers, Capt. John and Benajah Leffingwell, 
 had large families, the former, eight daughters and 
 four sons, the latter, eight sons and four daughters. 
 Capt. John Leffingwell married, first, Sarah Abell, 
 and second, Mary Hart, of Farmington. 
 
 Benajah Lefflngvvell married Joanna Christophers, 
 of New London. Col. Christopher Leffingwell, of 
 the Revolutionary period, was the third of his eight 
 sons. 
 
 Thomas Leffingwell, 4th (son of Deacon Thomas), 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Benjamin 
 Lord, Jan. 23, 1729. He died in 1793, in the ninetieth 
 year of his age. 
 
 Thomas Leffingwell, 5th, born in 1732, died in De- 
 cember, 1814, aged eighty-two. These five genera- 
 tions were in direct succession, each the oldest son of 
 the oldest son, but the lineage is here interrupted, as 
 Thomas, the 5th, died unmarried. 
 
 The Leffingwell tree has a multitude of branches. 
 Samuel Leffingwell, who married Hannah Gifford, 
 
 2 In the inventory of Nathanii-l LeiHngwell, at an earlier date; we find 
 a castor hat, one coffee-cup, a beaker, a pair of campaign boots, etc. 
 ' An Arabian is supposed to Lave been a small gold coin. 
 
NORWICH, 
 
 263 
 
 March 2, 1714-15, was the progenitor of several large 
 families. A district iu the southern part of the town- 
 ship is known by the familiar designation of Leffing- 
 welltnwn, from the predominance of the name in that 
 neighborhood. In a field upon old Leffingwell land, 
 in this district, there is a quiet village of the dead, 
 where Leffiiigwells, Chapmans, Posts, and other names 
 of the vicinity are found. Here is the grave of Dea- 
 con Andrew Leffingwell, who died in 1803. He was 
 the son of Samuel, and born Dec. 12, 1724. 
 
 Some of the Leffingwells, who lived on farms, have 
 the traditionary renown of having been stalwart men, 
 able horsemen, enterprising, robust, dreadnaught 
 kind of people. They would ride to Boston in a day, 
 with a led horse for relief, and return on the morrow, 
 unconscious of fatigue. One of them, it is said, per- 
 formed the feat with a single horse, but the noble ani- 
 mal was sacrificed by the exploit, being found dead 
 the next morning. 
 
 John Olmstead married Elizabeth Marvin, and 
 settled at Saybrook, where he was appointed leather- 
 sealer in 1656. He is mentioned incidentally upon 
 the Saybrook records in 1661 as " John Olmsted, of 
 Mohegan, shoemaker," which shows that he had re- 
 moved to the new plantation. At this place, how- 
 ever, he appears as a doctor or chirurgeon, and was 
 undoubtedly the first physician of the settlement, 
 though the articles enumerated in his inventory 
 would imply that he still continued his practice with 
 the last and lap-stone. For several years he was on 
 the grand jury of the county. 
 
 He possessed a considerable estate, and was very 
 precise respecting the date and bounds of his grants. 
 
 John Pease. The name of John Pease appears 
 incidentally at New London in 1660, and it may be 
 conjectured that he was a seaman, then belonging to 
 Boston or Martha's Vineyard. It is probable that he 
 resided for a time at Saybrook before joining the com- 
 pany of Norwich proprietors, and that he took a 
 family with him to the new settlement. His home- 
 lot was at the western limit of the town plot, and bore 
 the date of November, 1659. 
 
 But in the course of a few years his family, if he 
 had one, his possessions, and his character had all 
 passed away. The court record for 1672 bears the fol- 
 lowing item : 
 
 "John Pease complained of by the townsmen of Norwich for living 
 alone, for idleness, and not duly attending the worship of God. 
 
 "This Court orders that said Townsmen do provide that Pease be en- 
 tertained into some suitable family, lie paying for his board and accom- 
 modation, and that be employ himself in some lawful calling, which if 
 he neglect or refuse to do, the townsmen may put him out to service in 
 some approved family. Except he dispose of his accommodations and 
 remove out of the town." 
 
 John Post. The marriage of John Post and Hes- 
 ter Hyde, "in the last of March, '52," and the births 
 of four children are found on record at Saybrook. 
 Four other children are recorded at Norwich, and 
 they likewise had a daughter Mary, not registered at 
 
 either place, born probably in 1662, comprising in 
 all a family of two sons and seven daughters. 
 
 Thomas Post. No reference to the family of this 
 proprietor has been found at Saybrook. His exist- 
 ence seems not to be recognized anywhere but in 
 Norwich. From the records of this place we learn 
 that he married Mary Andrews in January, 1656, and 
 that she died at Norwich in March, 1661, and was 
 buried in a corner of her husband's home-lot, as here- 
 tofore related. 
 
 Josiah Read. The marriage of Josiah Read to 
 Grace, the daughter of William Holloway, took place 
 at Marshfield in November, 1666. At this time he 
 had probably cleared his home-lot and prepared his 
 domicile in Norwich. About the year 1687 he re- 
 moved from the town-plot to a farm "over Show- 
 tucket," and was probably the first permanent settler 
 upon that gore of land which was then called the 
 Crotch, but afterwards Newent. He had a brother 
 John, at that time living " near Pease's farm," within 
 the present limits of Bozrah. 
 
 John Reynolds was a wheelwright by occupation, 
 and removed from that part of Saybrook which is 
 now Lyme. His housing and land were sold to Wol- 
 ston Brockway, Deo. 3, 1659. 
 
 The births of his children are recorded at Norwich, 
 but without mentioning the name of his wife. John, 
 the oldest child, born in August, 1655, was killed by 
 the Indians in Philip's war, as elsewhere related. 
 Stephen, another son, died Dec. 19, 1687. 
 
 He died July 22, 1702. He bequeathed his instru- 
 ments of husbandry and wheelwright tools to his son, 
 with all his housing and lands, subject only to the 
 widow's dowry. His wife, Sarah, and son Joseph 
 were named executors, and he adds, " I do make 
 choice of my loving kinsman. Ensign Thomas Lef- 
 fingwell, overseer, to be helpful to them or either of 
 them." 
 
 Jonathan Royce was one of the five sons of 
 Robert Royce, of New London, and probably the 
 oldest, though no record of his birth has been found. 
 He married Deborah, daughter of Hugh Calkins, in 
 June, 1660, according to the registry in Norwich, but 
 at New London it is recorded March, 1660-61. Al- 
 lowing the latest date to be correct, the bride was 
 barely seventeen years of age, her birth being recorded 
 at Gloucester, Mass., March 1 8, 1643-44. This was a 
 second hymeneal tie connecting the two families, 
 John Calkins, of Norwich, having taken for his part- 
 ner Sarah Royce, the sister of Jonathan. 
 
 Nehemiah Smith was of Stratford, 1646, but re- 
 moved to New Haven, and obtained a grant of land 
 upon Oyster River for his accommodation in keeping 
 sheep. He is occasionally called ou the colonial 
 records "Shepherd Smith." In 1652 he transferred 
 his residence to New London, where his brother John 
 had previously settled, and from thence came to Nor- 
 wich in 1660, or .soon afterwards. In 1663 he is styled 
 " now of New Norridge.'' 
 
264 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Thomas Tracy, from Tewksbury, in Gloucester- 
 shire, came to New England in April, 1636. His 
 name was enrolled at Salem, Feb. 23, 1637. 
 
 "Thomas Tracy, ship-carpenter, received an inliahitant, upon a cer- 
 tificate of divers of Watertown, and is to have five acres of land." 
 
 He left the bay for the new colony on the Connec- 
 ticut, probably about 1640, and settled at Wethers- 
 field, where he is supposed to have married the widow 
 of Edward Mason in 1641. A few years later he re- 
 moved to Saybrook, from whence, after a residence 
 of twelve or fourteen years, he came to Norwich, 
 bringing with him six sons and a daughter. Perhaps 
 his wife also was then living, for neither the place nor 
 period of her death has been ascertained. Two of 
 his children, John and Thomas, were probably born 
 in Wethersfield, and the others in Saybrook. Miriam, 
 the daughter, was the middle member of the list, and 
 at the time of the settlement about ten years of age, 
 her brothers ranging above and below, from six to 
 (perhaps) sixteen years. 
 
 Mr. Tracy was evidently a man of talent and ac- 
 tivity, skillful in the management of various kinds 
 of business, upright and discreet. The confidence 
 placed in him by his associates is manifested in the 
 great number of appointments which he received. 
 His name is on the roll of the Legislature as repre- 
 sentative from Norwich at twenty-seven sessions. 
 The elections were semi-annual, and Mr. Tracy was 
 chosen twenty-one times, beginning Oct. 9, 1662, and 
 ending July 5, 1684. The others were extra sessions. 
 
 In October, 1666, he was chosen ensign of the first 
 train-band organized in Norwich, and in August, 1673, 
 lieutenant of the New London County Dragoons, en- 
 listed to fight against the Dutch and Indians. In 
 1678 he was appointed commissioner or justice of the 
 peace. 
 
 John Tracy. The marriage of this young pro- 
 prietor to Mary Winslow, June 10, 1670, is recorded 
 at Duxbury, Mass. The bride was a daughter of 
 Josiah Winslow the elder, who was brother to Gov- 
 ernor Edward Winslow, of Plymouth. 
 
 John and Mary Tracy had five children, — four sons 
 and one daughter ; the latter married Nathaniel 
 Backus. The oldest son, Josiah, died in infancy. 
 The others, John, Joseph, and Winslow, all had 
 families. Mr. John Tracy died Aug. 16, 1702 ; Mrs. 
 Mary Tracy died July 30, 1721. 
 
 Mr. Tracy's inventory specifies the homestead, val- 
 ued at one hundred and thirty pounds, and seventeen 
 other parcels of land, comprising between three and 
 four thousand acres. He had land at Yantic, at 
 Bradford's Brook, Beaver Brook, Lebanon, Little 
 Lebanon, Wawecos Hill, Potapaug, at Wenungatuck 
 (on the west side of the Quinnebaug, above Plain- 
 field), at Tadmuck Hill (east of the Quinnebaug), and 
 at Mashamagwatuck, in the Nipmuck country. The 
 land at Wenungatuck was part of a large tract pur- 
 chased of Owaneco, sachem of Mohegan. In the 
 division of the estate it fell to Nathaniel Backus. 
 
 John Tracy, of the second generation, was born in 
 1673; of the third, in 1702; of the fourth, in 1726; 
 of the fifth, in 1755 ; of the sixth, in 1783. These 
 six John Tracys were in the line of primogeniture, 
 and all natives of Norwich except the first. Their 
 partners in regular succession were Mary Winslow, 
 Elizabeth Lefiingwell, Margaret Hyde, Margaret 
 Huntington, Esther Pride, and Susannah Hyde. 
 The sixth in this line was the late John Tracy, of 
 Oxford, N. Y., who was born ij that part of Nor- 
 wich which is now Franklin, and was a man of ac- 
 knowledged ability and integrity, devoting himself 
 for many years to the service of the public as post- 
 master, representative, judge, and for six years Lieu- 
 tenant-Governor of New York. He died June 18, 
 1864. He leaves no son to continue the line, 
 
 Dr. Elisha Tracy, a distinguished physician of 
 Norwich of the Eevolutionary era, was a son of 
 Capt. Joseph Tracy, second son of John the pro- 
 prietor. He was the father of the late Dr. Philemon 
 Tracy, two of whose sons, Phineas L. and Albert H., 
 have been representatives in Congress from New 
 York. Capt. Jared and Frederick Tracy, in the 
 mercantile line, who have descendants in various 
 parts of the Union from New York to Missouri, were 
 of the same lineage. 
 
 Uriah Tracy, of Litchfield, born at Norwich, West 
 Farms, in 1755, and United States senator from 1796 
 till his death, was a descendant of Winslow Tracy, 
 the youngest son of the first John. He died at 
 Washington, July 19, 1807, and was the first person 
 interred in the Congressional Cemetery. 
 
 KoBERT Wade. The name of Robert Wade is 
 found at Dorchester in 1635 ; a person bearing the 
 same name was admitted as a freeman at Hartford in 
 1640; at a later period it is found among the inhabit- 
 ants of Saybrook, and still later at Norwich. All 
 these notices probably refer to one person. In August, 
 1657, Robert Wade was divorced from his wife by the 
 General Court at Hartford, the act being recorded in 
 the following terms : 
 
 "This Court duely and seriously considering what evidence hath hene 
 presented to them by Kobert Wade, of Seabrooke, in reference to his 
 wines vnworthy, siufnll, yea, unnatilrall cariage towards hioi the said 
 Robert, her husband, notwithstanding his constant and comeiiiiahle care 
 and indeauor to gaine fellowship w^h jiep i,^ ti,e bond of marriage and 
 that either where ehee is in England, or for her to line w'** him here in 
 New Englane; all wci" being slighted and rejected by her, disowning him 
 and fellowship wth him in that solemn cononaut of marriage hetwene 
 them and all this for neare fifteene yeai-es : They doe liereliy declare that 
 Robert Wade is from tliia time free from Joane Wado his late wife and 
 that former Couenant of marriage betwene them." 
 
 We assume that this was the Robert Wade that ap- 
 peared a few years later among the proprietors of 
 Norwich, with wife Susanna. 
 
 His house-lot, between those of John and Thomas 
 Post, was subsequently transferred to Caleb Abell in 
 exchange for a situation better adapted to farming. 
 
 Richard Wallis. This name is probably iden- 
 tical with Wallace. Richard Wallis, though ranked 
 as an original proprietor, was not one of the earliest 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 265 
 
 company that settled at Norwich. He was living at 
 that time in the eastern division of Saybrook, now 
 Lyme, and sold his house, with six acres of land, to 
 John Borden, but yet delayed from year to year to 
 vacate the premises. In 1670, Borden brought a suit 
 against him before the County Court in order to ob- 
 tain possession. The court ordered Wallis to deliver 
 the premises to the purchaser, in good condition, 
 within one month from the date of judgment. We 
 assume therefore the year 1670 as the date of his 
 removal to Norwich. He died early in 1675. 
 
 Thomas Waterman was nephew to the wife of 
 John Bradford. Robert Waterman and Elizabeth 
 Bourn, of Marshfield, were married Dec. 9, 1638. 
 Thomas, their second son, was born in 1644, and 
 probably came to Norwich with his Uncle Bradford. 
 In November, 1668, he was joined in wedlock with 
 Miriam, only daughter of Thomas Tracy. 
 
 Abel, or Abell. Three of this name are found 
 at an early period among the inhabitants of Norwich, 
 — Caleb, Benjamin, and Joshua. It is a natural sup- 
 position that they were brothers, and nothing is known 
 that disproves the relationship. In all probability 
 they came from Dedham. 
 
 It will not be inappropriate to advert here to a late 
 worthy descendant of Caleb Abell, of Norwich, who 
 has left no posterity to perpetuate his line. Gen. 
 Elijah Abell, a gallant officer in the army that con- 
 tended against England for liberty and independence, 
 was born within the old municipal bounds of Nor- 
 wich, but after the conclusion of the war settled in 
 Fairfield, and for pearly twenty years served as sheriff 
 of the county. In later life he returned to the old 
 homestead in Bozrah, and there died, June 3, 1809, 
 aged seventy-one. He was a graduate of Yale Col- 
 lege, well informed, energetic, and upright. 
 
 Jonathan Brewster was the oldest son of Elder 
 William Brewster, of the Mayflower colony, but came 
 over in the "Fortune," 1621, a year later than his 
 father. He settled at Duxbury, and represented that 
 town in 1639. With others of the Plymouth colony, 
 he engaged actively in the trade with the Indians of 
 Long Island Sound and Connecticut River. This 
 trade was carried on in sloops and shallops. Some of 
 the first settlers of Windsor appear to have been 
 carried thither in Brewster's vessel. Jonathan and 
 William Brewster were witnesses to a deed of land 
 purchased by the Dorchester people of the Indians at 
 Windsor, April 15, 1636. 
 
 These voyages brought Mr. Brewster into contact 
 with the younger Winthrop, the founder of New Lon- 
 don, to which place he removed in 1649 and found 
 immediate employment, not only in the old path of 
 Indian traffic, but as recorder or clerk of the planta- 
 tion, many of the early deeds and grants at New Lon- 
 don being in his handwriting. 
 
 "IG 5Iay, 1050. 'This day were made Freemen of this jurisdiction 
 John Wintlirop, Esq., Mr. Juuathiin Brewster,' &c." 
 
 Nine or ten years before the settlement of Norwich, 
 
 Mr. Brewster had established a trading-post near the 
 mouth of Foquetannock Creek. The point of land 
 formed by the junction of the creek and river is still 
 called Brewster's Neck. A large tract of land was 
 here given by Uncas to Mr. Brewster as a bonus to 
 induce him to establish the post, and it was confirmed 
 to him by the townsmen of New London, within 
 whose original bounds it was included. 
 
 He commenced operations at Brewster's Neck in 
 1650, without waiting to obtain a license from the 
 authorities of Connecticut, who claimed the jurisdic- 
 tion. The General Court, at their session in May of 
 that year, censured him for the way of proceeding, 
 but legalized the undertaking itself. 
 
 '* Whereas Mr. Jonathan Brewster hath set up a trading-house at Mo- 
 higen, this Courte declares that they cannott but judge the thinge very 
 disorderly, nevertheless, considering his condition, tliey are content hee 
 should proceed therein for the present, and till they see cause to the 
 contrary." 
 
 From this time forth Brewster's Neck and Trading 
 Cove, on the opposite side of the river, became the 
 principal places of traffic with the Mohegans. Mr. 
 Brewster maintained an agency here, and kept his 
 family at the post for several years, but at length re- 
 linquished the trade to his son Benjamin and returned 
 to Pequot Harbor, as New London was then called. 
 In May, 1657, he was chosen " assistant for the towne 
 of Pequett." 
 
 BusHNELL. The marriage of Richard Bushnell 
 and Mary Marvin, Oct. 11, 1648, is recorded at Hart- 
 ford. Mary Marvin was a daughter of Matthew Mar- 
 vin, afterwards of Norwalk. Richard Bushnell's name 
 also appears in 1656, among the owners of home-lots 
 in Norwalk, but he is not afterwards found in the list 
 of early settlers, and it is supposed that he became a 
 resident of Saybrook, and there died about the year 
 1658. His relict appears in 1660, at Norwich, as the 
 wife of Thomas Adgate. Her children were brought 
 with her to the new settlement, and their births are 
 found registered with those of the Adgate family. 
 
 John Elderkin. Our acquaintance with John 
 Elderkin begins at Lynn in 1637, when he was about 
 twenty-one years of age. From thence he may be 
 traced to Boston, Dedham, Reading, Providence, New 
 London, and at last to Norwich, which was probably 
 his latest home and final resting-place. 
 
 In a deposition taken in 1672 he gives his age, fifty- 
 six, and says that he became an inhabitant of New 
 London the same year that Mr. Blinman and his 
 company came there to dwell. We find a grant of 
 house-lot recorded to him at that place in October, 
 1650, in anticipation of his coming. 
 
 Elderkin was a house-carpenter and millwright, 
 crafts which in the circumstances of the country were 
 better than a patent of nobility in gaining for him a 
 welcome reception, esteem, and influence. In the 
 places where he sojourned he built mills, meeting- 
 houses, probably also bridges, and the better sort of 
 dwelling-houses. At New London he built the first 
 
266 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 meeting-house, constructed two or three saw-mills in 
 the neighborhood, and occasionally tried his hand in 
 building vessels. 
 
 Samuel Latheop, or Lothrop, as the name was 
 then generally spelled (with the pronunciation Lot- 
 rop), was a son of the Rev. John Lothrop, who had 
 preached in London to the first Independent or Con- 
 gregational Church organized in England, as succes- 
 sor to Mr. Jacob, under whose ministry the church 
 was formed. The congregation was broken up by 
 ecclesiastical rigor, and Mr. Lothrop suffered an im- 
 prisonment of two years' duration, from which he was 
 released only on condition of his leaving the country. 
 He came to America in 1634, and was the first min- 
 ister both of Scituate and of Barnstable. 
 
 Samuel was his second son, and probably about 
 fourteen years of age when the family emigrated. His 
 marriage is recorded at Barnstable, in his father's 
 handwriting: " My sonn Samuel and Elizabeth Scud- 
 der marryed att my house, Nov. 28, 1644.'' 
 
 Samuel Lothrop was a house-carpenter, and found 
 occupation for a time in Boston, from whence he went 
 to New London, then called Pequot, in the summer 
 of 1648. Just twenty years later he removed to Nor- 
 wich, where, after a residence of more than forty 
 years, he died, Feb. 29, 1700. 
 
 Col. Simon Lothrop, third son of Samuel (2) and 
 Hannah (Adgate) Lothrop, born in 1689, was a man 
 of more than ordinary local renown. He commanded 
 one of the Connecticut regiments in the successful 
 expeditions against Annapolis and Louisburg, and 
 was valued for his judgment in council as well as for 
 his gallant bearing in the field. At one period he 
 was left for a considerable time in the chief command 
 of the fortress at Cape Breton. 
 
 Col. Lothrop was of a prudent, thrifty disposition, 
 fond of adding land to land and house to house. 
 There was a doggerel song that the soldiers used to 
 sing after their return from Cwpertoon that alludes to 
 this propensity. 
 
 Col. Lothrop died Jan. 25, 1775, aged eighty-six. 
 He was an upright man, zealous in religion, faithful 
 in training up his family, and much respected and 
 esteemed for his abilities and social virtues. His wife 
 was a Separatist, and he carefully abstained from any 
 interference with {jer predilections, but was accus- 
 tomed every Sunday to carry her in his chaise up to 
 her meeting, half a mile beyond his own, then return 
 to his own place of worship, and after the service was 
 over go up town again after his wife. 
 
 Col. Lothrop was the fiUher of Simon and Elijah 
 Lathrop, who were prominent inhabitants of the town, 
 and for a long period proprietors of tiie mills at Nor- 
 wich Falls. 
 
 The following is a list of inhabitants that came in 
 after the first settlers and appear as residents of the 
 town plot, or as grantees on the commons and out- 
 lands. The earliest date is given at which the name 
 has been noticed, but in some instances the person 
 
 may have been upon the ground for several previous 
 years ■} 
 
 Timothy Allen married, Oct. 11, 1714, Rachel 
 daughter of Joseph Bushnell; adm. 1715; removed 
 subsequently to Windham. 
 
 Thomas Allerton had his cattle-mark registered in 
 1712. 
 
 John Allerton was one of the selectmen in 1721. His 
 wife was Elizabeth, and he had nine children, the 
 births ranging from 1713 to 1735. The name of Isaac 
 appearing among them suggests a connection with 
 Isaac Allerton, of Plymouth and New Haven, but 
 his antecedents have not been ascertained. 
 
 Ames, Emms. Joseph Eames had a son Joseph, 
 baptized April 2, 1710. He died in 1734. Three 
 sons were brought to view in the settlement of the 
 estate, — Joseph, Ebenezer, and Josiah. The relict, 
 Mary, married Daniel Palmeter. 
 
 Andrus, Andross. Jeremiah Andrews, adm. May 
 7, 1714. 
 
 John Andrews, Sr., adm. 1716. 
 These were probably sons of Francis Andrews, who 
 died at Fairfield in 1663, and in his will enumerated 
 nine children, among whom were John and Jeremiah. 
 John Andrews, Jr., adm. 1716. 
 John and Sarah, children of John Andross, Jr., 
 were baptized July 5, 1713. 
 
 David and Benjamin Andross appear also as inhabit- 
 ants about 1715. 
 
 Jonathan Armstrong settled before 1670 at Misqua- 
 micut (Westerly), where he had a stormy experience 
 of several years' continuance amid_the riots, inroads, 
 writs, and judgments that disturbed the debatable 
 lands on the borders of the two colonies, Connecticut 
 and Rhode Island. In partial redress of his grievances, 
 the Legislature of Connecticut granted him, in Octo- 
 ber, 1677, one hundred acres of land near the bounds 
 of Norwich. 
 
 Nathaniel Armstrong was a grantee of the town in 
 1679, and Benjamin in 1682. 
 
 Benjamin Armstrong died Jan. 10, 1717-18, leaving 
 four sons, — Benjamin, John, Joseph, and Stephen, — 
 all of age. Benjamin married Sarah Raymond, and 
 in 1703 was one of the patentees of Mansfield. Stephen 
 settled in Windham. Joseph was a householder in 
 1716. John married, in 1710, Anne Worth, and had 
 a numerous family. 
 
 Lebbeus Armstrong, a descendant of John, removed 
 about 1770 to Bennington, Vt. 
 
 John Arnold was a landholder, both by grant and 
 purchase, in 1683. He removed a few years later to 
 Windham. 
 
 Benedict Arnold took the freeman's oath in 1739. 
 Jonathan Avery, adm. 1724. 
 
 Joseph Baker, an inhabitant before 1690, was re- 
 ceived with his wife into the West Farms Church in 
 1721. 
 
 ' Adm. stands for admitted inhabitant by public vote. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 267 
 
 Nathaniel Baker, a resident in 1718. Ebenezer, 
 adm. 1724. 
 
 John Bacon, adm. 1713; wife Hannah received into 
 the church and four children baptized in 1718. 
 
 Nathaniel Badger, adm. 1721, probably came from 
 Newbury. 
 
 Daniel Badger married Sarah Roath, Oct. 22, 1719. 
 The births of three children — Daniel, Gideon, and 
 David — are recorded in Norwich. 
 Ezekiel Barrett, 1711. Isaac, 1716. 
 Job, the son of John Barstow, born at Scituate, 
 March 8, 1679, adm. at Norwich in 1708. He and 
 his wife Rebecca, who was the daughter of Joseph 
 Bushnell, were baptized and received into the church 
 Aug. 9, 1709. In 1725 he was one of the selectmen. 
 He had three sons, — Jonathan, born in 1712 ; Ebene- 
 zer, in 1720 ; and Yet-once, July 17, 1722. 
 William Bates, cattle-mark registered 1678. 
 Stephen Belden, adm. 1720. 
 
 Robert Bell came from Ipswich about 1720. He 
 appears to have been a physician, and had married at 
 that place, Nov. 7, 1717, Abigail, relict of John Fill- 
 more. He died Aug. 23, 1727, and his wife in No- 
 vember of the same year. They left three children, 
 — Samuel, born in Ipswich, 1719 ; Benjamin and De- 
 liverance, natives of Norwich. 
 
 [This Robert Bell may have been a son of Robert, 
 of Hartford, as the latter had a son Robert born in 
 1680.] 
 
 Samuel Blackmore, one of the Separatist party in 
 1748. 
 
 George Boom, or Bourn, a resident in 1726, and 
 had a son George baptized March 8, 1729. 
 
 Ebenezer Brown, son of Capt. John Brown, of Swan- 
 zey, and grandson of Major Mason, married Sarah, 
 daughter of the second Samuel Hyde, Feb. 25, 1714. 
 They removed to Lebanon, where he died in 1755. 
 His relict long survived him, and died in Windham, 
 March 1, 1797, aged ninety-nine years and two months. 
 Samuel Burton, a resident in 1719. 
 Jonathan Burley, adm. 1727; married, March 30, 
 1730, Elizabeth White. 
 Walter Capron, 1730. 
 
 Thomas Carew married, Sept. 10, 1724, Abigail, 
 daughter of Daniel Huntington. Joseph Carew, 
 brother of Thomas, married, in 1731, Mary, daughter 
 of the same, and died in 1747, leaving seven chil- 
 dren ; estate, £2847. 
 Palmer Carew was an inhabitant in 1730. 
 John Carpenter, adm. 1723 ; probably son of Wil- 
 liam, of Rehoboth. His wife Sarah was received 
 into the church the same year. 
 
 John Carter united with the church in 1722. 
 Moses Case, adm. Sept. 13, 1726. 
 John, son of John Case, baptized in 1729. 
 Robert Cathcart, an inhabitant in 1728. 
 Joseph Chapman, probably son of William, of New 
 London, adm. 1715; died June 10, 1725. His wife 
 Mercy died seven days previous. Eight children are 
 
 recorded. Two of the sons, Moses and Daniel, are on 
 the list of Separatists in 1748. 
 
 Caleb Chappell, son of George, of New London, 
 was resident in 1694, but removed to Windham. 
 
 Isaac Cleveland, adm. 1709, was probably son of 
 Moses, of Woburn, who had a son Isaac, born May 
 11, 1669. Samuel and Josiah Cleveland, early set- 
 tlers at Canterbury, appear to have been his brothers. 
 In 1715, Elizabeth, wife of Clement Stratford, mar- 
 iner, administered on the estate of her former hus- 
 band, Isaac Cleveland. No mention is made of 
 children. 
 
 Samuel Coolidge, a resident in 1694. 
 " The inventory of Ambrose Cole, of Norwich, de- 
 ceased," was presented to the County Court in 1690. 
 Probably the family came from Scituate. 
 Gershom Cotterel, a resident in 1678. 
 Jonathan Crane, probably from Killingworth, had 
 land registered in 1672, and married, Dec. 19, 1678, 
 Deborah, daughter of Francis Griswold. He re- 
 moved to Windham, where he had a thousand-acre 
 right; built the first mill in that plantation ; was one 
 of the selectmen in 1692, and a patentee of the town 
 in 1703. 
 
 Samuel Crocker settled at West Farms about 1700, 
 and was one of the selectmen in 1722. He was prob- 
 ably son of Thomas, of New London, and born at 
 that place in 1677. He had four children — Samuel, 
 John, Jabez, and Hannah — baptized in 1709. 
 
 Peter Cross had land recorded in 1672, and was a 
 resident in 1698 ; afterwards removed to Windham. 
 George Cross, a resident in 1719. 
 Benjamin Cullum, adm. 1715. Abigail, daughter 
 of Benjamin and Abigail Cullum, baptized in 1718. 
 
 The marriage of Edward and Sarah Culver is re- 
 corded Jan. 15, 1681 ; the births of seven children 
 follow. 
 
 Edward Culver was on the board of listers in 1685. 
 In 1698 he removed to Lebanon, and was living there 
 in 1716. 
 
 John Culver and his wife Sarah united with the 
 church at Norwich in 1721. 
 
 Thomas Culverswell died April 15, 1725. 
 Samuel Darby, a resident in 1700. 
 Ephraim Davis was on the roll of 1702. Thomas, 
 Comfort, and Joseph appear as injiabitants soon after 
 1712. Thomas had daughter Mercy baptized in 1711. 
 Abraham Daynes, of North Yarmouth, married Dec. 
 27, 1671, Sarah, daughter of William Peake. This 
 marriage is recorded at New London, with the births 
 of three children,— Johanna, John, and Thomas. 
 Three others are on record at Norwich, viz., Ebene- 
 zer, Sarah, and Ephraim. The sons are found among 
 the inhabitants of the town in the next generation, 
 but the name is more frequently written Deans. 
 James and Oxenbridge Deans were young men in 
 
 1738. 
 
 Nathaniel Dean, adm. Dec. 28, 1714 ; wife Joanna 
 probably from Taunton. Seth Dean, 1739. 
 
268 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Joseph Decker and wife Thankful were received 
 into fellowship with the church in 1714. They re- 
 moved to Windham. 
 
 Capt. Robert Deiiison, adm. 1718. His farm of 
 five hundred acres, conveyed to him by Owaneco, 
 with the consent of the Legislature, in 1710, lay 
 upon the border of Mashipaug, or Gardner's Lake, 
 and was then supposed to fall within the Nine-mile 
 Square. He began his improvements at that place in 
 1716, but when the bounds of the town were more 
 accurately defined the greater part of his farm, in- 
 cluding his family residence, was found to lie within 
 the limits of New London North Parish, and after 
 1720 his connection with Norwich ceased. 
 
 Capt. Denison died in 1737,- and was interred in a 
 cemetery prepared by himself on his farm, where a 
 group of Denison graves, with granite curbstones 
 marked with initials and dates, still remain. 
 
 His son, the second Capt. Robert Denison, was an 
 officer in the French war, and removed to Nova 
 Scotia. 
 
 John Dennis, a resident at the Landing in 1739. 
 
 The cattle-mark of Abraham Dowd was recorded in 
 1723. He was probably the son of John Dowd, of 
 Guilford, born in 1697. 
 
 Thomas Edgecombe, born in New London, 1694, 
 settled in Norwich before 1720, and there died Sept. 
 16, 1745. His first wife was Katherine Copp ; his 
 second, Esther Post, who survived him but a few 
 months. 
 
 The sons of Thomas Edgecombe by his first wife 
 were Thomas, John, Jonathan, and Samuel. 
 
 Thomas died in Norwich in April, 1755. 
 
 John was a soldier in the expedition against Cape 
 Breton, and there died, after the surrender in 1746, at 
 the age of twenty. 
 
 Jonathan, a seaman, was taken by a Spanish pri- 
 vateer, Aug. 8, 1752 ; carried first to Campeachy, and 
 from thence to Old Spain, where he was kept confined 
 for several months, but at length picked the lock of 
 his prison, escaped, and reached a French port in 
 safety. Here he found an English vessel, on board of 
 which he worked his passage to England, but had 
 scarcely touched the island when he fell into the 
 hands of a press-gang and was enrolled on board of a 
 man-of-war. After a year's service he contrived to 
 escape, and through various other adventures finally 
 reached home Nov. 30, 1754. He afterwards settled 
 in Vermont. 
 
 Samuel, the fourth son, was Deacon Samuel Edge- 
 combe, of Groton, Conn., who died Aug. 14, 1795, 
 aged sixty-five. 
 
 Samuel Fairbanks, a resident in 1722. 
 
 Samuel Fales, adm. 1708; received into communion 
 with the church in 1711; died 1733. He was son of 
 Mr. James Fales, of Dedham, and son-in-law to John 
 Elderkin. His inventory included a more than ordi- 
 nary number of religious books. It is probable that 
 he was a theological student. 
 
 Moses Fargo came from New London about 1690, 
 and in 1694 obtained a grant of land " on the hill 
 above the rock where his house stands." He was on 
 the roll of 1702, and died about 1726. Name often 
 written Firgo. 
 
 Verdict of a jury upon the body of Gregory Field: 
 " Found dead in Shoutucket River, in Norwich, 29 
 April, 1710." 
 
 Fillmore. John, son of John Fillmore, was born 
 at Ipswich, March 18, 1702. His father was a mariner, 
 and died at sea about the year 1711. His mother's 
 maiden name was Abigail Tilton. She married for 
 her second husband, Robert Bell, and removed with 
 him to Norwich West Farms. Her son, John Fill- 
 more, returning from sea, was united Nov. 9, 1724, to 
 Mary Spiller, of Ipswich, and on the 28th of the 
 same month made a purchase of lands in Norwich, 
 where he planted his hearth-stone and spent the re- 
 mainder of his days. 
 
 Some extraordinary incidents are connected with 
 his previous history. While out on a fishing voyage 
 he had been captured by a noted pirate of the name 
 of Phillips, and compelled to perform duty as the 
 helmsman of the freebooting craft ; but after nine 
 months of this odious service, he combined with sev- 
 eral other prisoners that had been subsequently taken, 
 and at a concerted signal, making a desperate attack 
 upon their captors, they killed and threw overboard 
 the captain and a number of his crew, disabled the 
 rest, took possession of the vessel, and navigated her 
 to Boston, where they arrived May 3, 1724, and gave 
 their prisoners up to justice. Three of them were 
 executed in Boston, and three sent to England, where 
 they suffered at Execution Dock. The gun, sword, 
 tobacco-box, buckles, and rings of the captain of the 
 corsair were awarded by the Court of Admiralty to 
 young Fillmore, as spoils won by his valor and de- 
 cision. A part of these articles are still preserved as 
 relics by his descendants. 
 
 He was subsequently known as Capt. John Fill- 
 more, of Norwich West Farms, a man of probity, 
 and a useful citizen, a member of the church, and 
 captain of a military company. He was three times 
 married, and his will mentions fourteen surviving 
 children. He died Feb. 22, 1777, aged seventy-five 
 years. 
 
 Nathaniel, one of the sons of his second wife (Dor- 
 cas Day, of Pomfret), born in 1740, married Hepzi- 
 bah Wood, and settled at Bennington, Vt., when that 
 part of the country was new and unsubdued. He 
 served as a soldier in the French war and in the war 
 for independence, and died at Bennington in 1814. 
 His son Nathaniel (2), born in 1771, married Phebe 
 Millard, of Bennington, and he and his brothers, fol- 
 lowing the example of their ancestors, removed into 
 the wilderness, and settled in Western New York, 
 where they became farmers, and in the course of time 
 clerk-s, teachers, justices, and members of the Assem- 
 bly. This Nathaniel (2) was the father of Millard 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 269 
 
 Fillmore, thirteenth President of the United States, 
 who was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Jan. 7, 1800. 
 
 The descendants of Capt. John Fillmore emigrated 
 not only to Vermont, but to Nova Scotia and other 
 provinces, and have been widely scattered ; yet rep- 
 resentatives of the name and family were left in Nor- 
 wich and Franklin, where the lineage is still to be 
 found, comprising descendants of the brave Capt. 
 John and also of his brother Ebenezer, who married 
 Thankful Carrier in 1783. 
 
 John Ford, adm. 1722; married, May 26, 1729, Ann 
 HoUoway. 
 
 Fowler. Jonathan Fowler married, Aug. 3, 1687, 
 Elizabeth Reynolds. The widow Fowler is inciden- 
 tally mentioned in 1698. 
 
 Thomas Fowler, of Lebanon, died in 1707. 
 
 Isaac Fox, adm. 1721 ; Thomas, 1722. 
 
 Colin Frasier married, in 1718, Sarah, daughter of 
 Paul Wentworth. In January, 1724, Mrs. Frasier 
 was arrested on the charge of killing an Indian woman 
 in a fit of insanity. On the 24th of February, while 
 imprisoned at New London, the unhappy woman, in 
 another access of her malady, to which she was con- 
 stitutionally subject, plunged a knife into her own 
 throat, but the wound did not prove fatal. She was 
 tried in March, and fully acquitted on the ground of 
 distraction. 
 
 John French, Sr., of the West Farms, adm. 1724 ; 
 died April 20, 1730, leaving sons, — Abner, John, Jo- 
 seph, and Samuel. 
 
 John French, Jr. [Maj. John French], married, 
 Aug. 21, 1729, Phebe, daughter of Thomas Hyde. 
 
 Josiah Gaylord, 1675. He was probably son of 
 William, of Windsor, and step-son of John Elderkin. 
 He is on the roll of 1702; his " house at Pock-nuck" 
 is mentioned in 1720. He died in 1727. 
 
 John Gibbons, 1719. " Hambleton Gibions," con- 
 nected with a disturbance in the meeting-house, 1723. 
 
 Edward Gookin, adm. Sept. 13, 1726. He had four 
 children baptized at dates ranging from February, 
 1723, to March, 1730. He was probably son of Daniel 
 Gookin, of Sherborn, whose wife was a daughter of 
 Edmund Quincy, and who had a son Edmund, born 
 March 31, 1688. 
 
 Edmund, of Norwich, had wife Sarah and two sons, 
 Samuel and Daniel. The former has not been traced, 
 but Daniel, with his parents and their three daughters, 
 who lived to be aged spinsters, all sleep together in 
 the town burial-ground. 
 
 Nathaniel Gould, 1730. 
 
 Benjamin Gorton, from Warwick, R. I., on the 20th 
 of September, 1717, purchased the valuable farm of 
 Peter Mason, near the Great Pond, or Mashipaug 
 Lake, five hundred acres, with dwelling-house and 
 other buildings, for five hundred pounds. This farm 
 was then supposed to lie within the bounds of Nor- 
 wich, and he was for several years considered an in- 
 habitant. He died in 1737. 
 
 Samuel and Nathaniel Gove, adm. 1723. 
 18 
 
 Robert Green, of Peagscomsuck, 1696. 
 Thomas Grist married Ann Birchard, Aug. 14, 
 1721 ; adm. 1726. 
 
 Ebenezer Grover, first mentioned about 1720. 
 Thomas Hall, adm. 1701 ; probably came from 
 Woburn. Thomas, Jr., adm. Dec. 21, 1712. 
 Solomon Hamilton, a resident in 1738. 
 
 Joseph Hammond, 1712. Caleb, married Nov. 21, 
 1723, Mary Brewster ; adm. 1727. Elijah, adm. 1730. 
 
 Isaac, of Norwich, bought a farm on Mohegan Hill 
 in 1734, for six hundred and sixty pounds. 
 
 Isaac Harrington died 1727 ; left wife Sarah and 
 four children, — Isaac, Silvanus, James, and Patience. 
 
 John Harris, adm. Deo. 21, 1712, died 1728 ; left 
 wife Susannah ; other legatees, "brother Robert and 
 his son John of Brookline, in New England." 
 
 Gibson, son of Samuel Harris (of New London), 
 born 1694, settled in 1726 on a farm in New Concord, 
 now Bozrah. His wife was Phebe, daughter of Capt. 
 George Denison. He died in 1761. He was the fathet 
 of Dr. Benjamin Harris, of Preston.. 
 
 David and Jonathan Hartshorn, brothers, from 
 Reading, settled at the West Farms, and are on the 
 roll of inhabitants in 1702. 
 
 David was a physician ; selectman in 1709 ; built 
 a saw-mill on Beaver Brook in 1713 ; was one of the 
 first deacons of the West Farms Church ; died Nov. 
 3, 1738, aged eighty-one. He was a man of good re- 
 port and a valuable citizen. His wife was Rebecca 
 Batcheler. 
 
 Jonathan Hartshorn, probably son of Jonathan 
 above named, married in 1709 Lucy Hempsted, of 
 New London, and in 1726 removed with his family to 
 Cecil County, Md. 
 
 Haskins, or Hoskins. Richard and John were 
 early residents. Richard died in 1718, leaving nine 
 children ; estate, £1257. John died in 1719, leaving 
 seven children. 
 
 Daniel, adm. Dec. 5, 1721, married Mehitable 
 Badger. 
 
 Thomas Hazen, adm. Dec. 21, 1712. He and his 
 wife were received to church membership by letter 
 from the church in Bosford. 
 
 John Hazen, adm. 1715. Joseph and Jacob also 
 became residents near this time. 
 
 John Heath came from Haverhill. His wife, Han- 
 nah, was received into the church, and her son Josiah 
 baptized 1715. 
 
 Isaac Hendrick, a resident in 1721. 
 
 Charles Hill, a Separatist in 1748. 
 
 Ephraim Hodges, adm. 1729. 
 
 John Hough, 1678, son of William Hough, of New 
 London, and there born, Oct. 17, 1655. He was a 
 house-builder, and much employed both in Norwich 
 and New London, acquiring lands and houses in each 
 place. He died at New London, Aug. 26, 1715, sud- 
 denly deprived of life by a fall from the scaffolding of 
 a house on which he was at work. He was a large 
 man of a military turn, and active also in civil affairs, 
 
270 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 extensively known and highly esteemed. The sudden 
 stroke that swept him into eternity resounded through 
 the country with startling emphasis. 
 
 The wife of Capt. Hough was Sarah Post, of Nor- 
 wich. He had a farm in New Concord Society, the 
 land being an original grant from the town in pay- 
 ment for building a school-house. His youngest son, 
 Jabez, born in 1702, inherited this farm, and there 
 died, Jan. 24, 1725, only seventeen days after his mar- 
 riage with Anne Denison, of New London. The farm 
 was after this the homestead of his elder brother, John, 
 and from him it went to his son Jabez, who married 
 Phebe Harris, who died at the age of ninety-two, 
 July 23, 1820. 
 
 John Hutchins, adm. Dec. 20, 1715 ; a constable in 
 1726 and 1727. 
 
 Thomas Hutchins, inn-keeper at Newent in 1733. 
 
 Joshua Hutchinson, adm. April 29, 1729. 
 
 Land granted to Jonathan Jennings in 1677. In 
 1684 he had other grants at Senemancutt and Sucks- 
 qutumscot. He removed to Windham, and there died 
 June 27, 1783, in his seventy-ninth year. His son, 
 Ebenezer, was the first male child of English parent- 
 age born in Windham. 
 
 John Jones, a resident in 1712 ; died 1749. 
 
 "Ten acres of land at Lebanon Valley," granted to 
 John Johnson in 1677 ; also a grant at Westward Hill. 
 His cattle-mark was registered in 1683 ; he was a 
 lister in 1698. 
 
 Isaac Johnson, of Norwich, died Jan. 7, 1708. 
 
 Ensign William Johnson, of Canterbury, who prob- 
 ably went from Norwich, died Feb. 23, 1713. 
 
 Ebenezer Johnson, of the West Farms, 1718, mar- 
 ried Deborah Champion. 
 
 Joseph Kelly, a resident in 1716. 
 
 Thomas, adm. 1719. Probably both came from 
 Newbury. 
 
 Robert Kennedy, a resident in 1730; had wife Mary. 
 
 Eichard Kimball, 1722. 
 
 Edward King, a resident in 1699 ; adm. 1701 ; died 
 before 1726. 
 
 Joseph Kingsbury, from Haverhill, Mass., with his 
 sons, Joseph, Jr., and Nathaniel, adm. 1710. The 
 wife of the elder Joseph was Love Ayres, and of the 
 younger, Ruth Denison, both of Haverhill. The wife 
 of Nathaniel has not been ascertained. He had son 
 John, born in 1710, and Nathaniel in 1711. 
 
 Joseph Kingsbury, Sr., was one of the first deacons 
 of the West Farms Church, chosen in 1718. Joseph, 
 Jr., was one of the eight pillars, and their wives. Love 
 and Ruth Kingsbury, were among the earliest mem- 
 bers received. Deacon Joseph Kingsbury died in 
 1741. 
 
 Joseph Kingsbury, Jr., was an ensign in 1721, se- 
 lectman in 1723, captain of a company in 1726, chosen 
 deacon in 1736, and died Dec. 1, 1757, aged seventy- 
 five. He had thirteen children. 
 
 Mrs. Ruth Kingsbury, relict of the second Deacon 
 Joseph, died May 6, 1779, aged ninety-three, leaving 
 
 behind the remarkable number of two hundred and 
 thirty-one descendants, viz., five children, sixty- 
 one of the next generation, one hundred and fifty- 
 two of the fourth, and thirteen of the fifth. The 
 homestead farm is still in possession of descendants 
 of the same name. 
 
 Andrew Kingsbury, an officer of the Revolution, 
 and subsequently, from 1793 to 1818, State treasurer 
 of Connecticut, was a descendant of Joseph, Jr., in 
 the line of his son Ephraim. 
 
 Richard Kirby, adm. 1721. 
 
 Thomas Knowles, adm. 1710. 
 
 Joseph Kuowlton, accidentally killed, 1718 ; " no 
 estate but two cows." 
 
 Mary, daughter of Thomas Knowlton, a member of 
 the church in 1709. 
 
 In 1709, Samuel Ladd, from Haverhill, Suflblk Co., 
 Mass., purchased land of David Hartshorn, "on the 
 hill beyond Thomas Hide's farm." Adm. 1710. 
 
 Nathaniel Ladd was selectman in 1721, but in 1729 
 had removed from the town. 
 
 David Ladd, another earlier settler at the West 
 Farms, married Mary Waters. His family, and that 
 of Capt. Jacob Hyde, were linked together by a triple 
 marriage of their children. The three brothers, Sam- 
 uel, Ezekiel, and Joseph Ladd, married the three 
 sisters, Hannah, Ruth, and Silence Hyde, both par- 
 ties in the natural order of seniority, and each of the 
 sisters at the age of nineteen years. 
 
 Ebenezer Lamb married. May 6, 1690, Mary Arm- 
 strong. 
 
 David, Isaac, and John Lamb were residents about 
 1718. John died Aug. 16, 1727. 
 
 Isaac Lawrence owned the church covenant in 
 1700 ; was adm. 1702. Isaac Lawrence, Jr., had four 
 children baptized at dates from 1711 to 1718. 
 
 Richard Lee, adm. 1705 ; died Aug. 7, 1713 ; left 
 widow, Sarah, and nine children, the oldest son, 
 Thomas, forty years of age; Richard, thirty-four; 
 Joseph, thirty-two ; and Benjamin, thirty. 
 
 Samuel Loomer, of the parish of New Concord, 
 adm. Sept. 13, 1726. 
 
 Cyprian, a younger brother of Rev. Benjamin Lord, 
 settled in Norwich about 1720, and married, in 1725, 
 Elizabeth Backus. 
 
 Low. The only person of this name found on the 
 records is David, adm. 1709; died Feb. 10, 1710, aged 
 twenty-three. His estate was settled by Thomas Lef- 
 fingwell. The low semicircular headstone that marks 
 his grave is one of the oldest in the town plot ceme- 
 tery. 
 
 Ebenezer Lyon, 1722. 
 
 " Abial Marshall, of Norwich, and Abiah Hough, 
 of New London, were married Nov. 18, 1708." Their 
 oldest son, the second Abial Marshall, died in Bozrali, 
 Dec. 1, 1799. 
 
 John Meach is on a list of 1698. 
 
 Ebenezer Metcalf, from Dedham, married, in 1702, 
 Hannah, daughter of Joshua Abel, of the West 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 271 
 
 Farms, and had five children baptized, extending to 
 1711. He was on the roll of inhabitants in 1718, but 
 removed to Lebanon, and there died Nov. 5, 1755, 
 aged seventy-six. He was a descendant of Michael 
 Metcalf, who had lived at Norwich, in England, but 
 emigrated to this country with his wife and nine 
 children in 1637 and settled at Dedham. 
 
 Stephen Merrick married Mercy Bangs, Dec. 28, 
 1671, he being twenty-five and she twenty years of 
 age. Mercy and Apphia Bangs were twin daughters 
 of Edward Bangs, of Plymouth colony, and were 
 married the same day, — Apphia probably to John 
 Knowles. 
 
 Stephen Merrick came to Norwich about 1672. He 
 was a constable in 1681, and appointed county mar- 
 shal or sheriif in 1685. 
 
 Grants of land were made to William Moore in 
 1677 and 1682. He had land also at Potapaug and 
 "over the river at a place called Major's Pond." He 
 married the relict of Thomas Harwood in August, 
 1677, and twenty years later removed to Windham. 
 
 Morgan. Two of this name are found early at 
 Norwich and left families there, William and Peter. 
 William was probably son of William and Margaret 
 (Avery) Morgan, of Groton (born 1697). 
 
 Peter was a son of John Rose- Morgan, of New 
 London, born in 1712. His wife was Elizabeth Whit- 
 more, of Middletown, and his house stood under the 
 hill, upon the site afterwards built upon by Rev. 
 Joseph Strong, and now the residence of D. F. Gul- 
 liver, M.D. Peter Morgan removed to the Great 
 Plain. 
 
 Moseley, or Maudsley. The earliest notice of this 
 name is found in the baptismal record : 
 
 " Increase and Sarah, children of Increase Mauds- 
 ley, bap. 6:9: 1715," that is, Nov. 6, 1715. 
 Increase Moseley, the father, died in 1731. 
 Increase, the son, born May 18, 1712, married, in 
 1735, Deborah Tracy, of Windham, and removed 
 about 1740 to Woodbury, settling in that part of the 
 town which is now Washington. He there sustained 
 various offices of trust and honor, representing the 
 town in the Legislature for some fifteen successive 
 years, but removed to Clarendon, Vt., in 1781, and 
 there died May 2, 1795. 
 
 His son, the third Increase Moseley in direct suc- 
 cession, probably born also in Norwich, settled in 
 Southbury, and was a colonel of one of the Connec- 
 ticut regiments during the Revolutionary war. 
 
 Rev. Peabody Moseley, son of the first Increase, 
 was born at Norwich in 1724. He was a Baptist 
 clergyman, but about the year 1780 joined the Shaker 
 society of New Lebanon. 
 
 Elisha Munsell, 1720. Elisha, Jr., 1721. The latter 
 was on the list of Separatists in 1748. 
 
 James Norman, adm. Dec. 20, 1715. He was cap- 
 tain of a vessel, kept also a shop of merchandise, 
 and in 1717 was licensed to keep a house of entertain- 
 ment. He died June 28, 1743. 
 
 John Ormsby, adm. Dec. 20, 1715; died July 11, 
 1728. His relict, Susannah, died in 1752. 
 
 Joseph, adm. 1720 ; wife Abigail united with the 
 church in 1721. 
 
 Daniel Palmeter, adm. 1724. 
 
 The inventory of Joseph Pasmore, of Norwich, was 
 exhibited in 1711, comprising a Bible, psalm-book, 
 sword, articles of apparel, and twelve acres of land. 
 
 Benjamin Peck, adm. 1700. The church record 
 gives the name^ of eight children of "brother Benja- 
 min Peck" that were baptized from 1703 to 1718. 
 He died in 1742. Joseph, his eldest son, born in 
 1706, was father of the late Capt. Bela Peck, of Nor- 
 wich. 
 
 The ancestor of this family was Henry Peck, of 
 New Haven, whose twin sons, Joseph and Benjamin, 
 were born Sept. 6, 1647. 
 
 John Pember, adm. 1722, son of John and Agnes 
 Pember, of New London. He married in 1716, Mary, 
 daughter of Thomas Hyde, and settled at West Farms, 
 where he died in 1783, aged eighty-five. 
 Samuel Pettis, adm. 1727. 
 George Phillips, adm. 1726. 
 Jonathan and Ebenezer Pierce, adm. 1712. 
 Elizabeth, wife of John Pike, baptized Aug. 5, 1711 ; 
 son John baptized 1712, and other children onward to 
 1723. 
 
 Samuel Pitcher, supposed to be a son of Andrew, of 
 Dorchester, had son Benjamin baptized in Norwich, 
 March 20, 1714. He was one of the selectmen in 
 1721, but in 1735 removed to Woodbury, Conn. A 
 part of the family remained, and the name has been 
 continued in the town to the present day. 
 
 Matthew Polly, 1719; probably from Woburn. 
 Abigail, wife of Daniel Polly, died June 8, 1725. 
 Joshua Prior, a householder in 1733. 
 Samuel Raymond, of Norwich, and Lydia Birchard, 
 of Lebanon, were united in marriage March 6, 1717. 
 They had sons Samuel and Daniel, the former born 
 Dec. 25, 1720. 
 Nathaniel Richards, an inhabitant in 1716. 
 Andrew, adm. 1727. 
 
 Samuel Roberts, 1678, son of Hugh Roberts, an 
 early settler in New London. He came to Norwich 
 as a house-carpenter in company with John Hough. 
 These two men were often associated in work, and 
 called themselves near kinsmen, the mother of each 
 being a daughter of Hugh Calkins. The first school- 
 house in Norwich of which we have any notice was 
 built by John Hough and Samuel Roberts, and paid 
 for in land in 1683. They were the master-builders 
 of many early houses in the town plot, — the regular, 
 substantial houses that followed the temporary habita- 
 tions of the first encampment. 
 
 Samuel, son of Samuel Roberts, was born May 9, 
 
 1688. 
 
 Theophilus Rogers, 1720; a native of Lynn, Mass., 
 and reputed to be a descendant of John Rogers, the 
 Smithfield martyr. He had studied physic and sur- 
 
272 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 gery in Boston, and settled at Norwich in the practice 
 of his profession. He died Sept. 29, 1753. Two of 
 his sons, Ezekiel and Theophilus, were physicians, 
 and two others, Uriah and Col. Zabdiel, were conspic- 
 uous as active citizens and patriots of the Revolu- 
 tionary period. 
 
 Thomas Eood was an early settler upon the out- 
 lands of the township. His wife, Sarah, died in 
 March, 1668, and he in 1672. Nine children are re- 
 corded, the dates of birth ranging from 1649 to 1666, 
 but the place of nativity is not given. 
 
 Thomas, Micah, Samuel, and George Eood are on 
 the roll of inhabitants in 1702. Micah obtained some 
 local notoriety on account of a peculiar variety of 
 apple that he brought to market, which was called, 
 from him, the " Mike apple," and has since been more 
 extensively propagated. It is an early species, has a 
 fair outside, an excellent flavor, and each individual 
 apple exhibits somewhere in the pulp a red speck, 
 like a tinge of fresh blood. Several fanciful legends 
 have been contrived to account for this peculiarity. 
 Micah Rood died in 1728, aged about seventy-six. 
 
 In 1693 the proprietors granted to George Rose- 
 brough " three or four acres of land, where his house 
 stands." No other reference to the name has been 
 observed. 
 
 Jonathan and Nathaniel Rudd, brothers, came 
 from Saybrook. The former settled east of the She- 
 tucket, and the latter at the West Farms. It is prob- 
 able that they were sons of that Jonathan Rudd who 
 was married at Bride Brook in the winter of 1646^7. 
 
 Nathaniel Rudd married, April 16, 1686, Mary, 
 daughter of John Post. His homestead was in that 
 part of the West Farms which is now Bozrah. He 
 died in April, 1727, leaving an estate valued at £689. 
 
 Daniel Rudd, one of the sons of Nathaniel, born 
 in 1710, married for his second wife (July 1, 1745) 
 Mary Metcalf, a daughter of the Rev. Joseph Met- 
 calf, of Falmouth, Me. She had previously been 
 living with her relatives in Lebanon, to which place 
 she came from her far-off home, according to tradi- 
 tion, in a three-days' journey, riding on a pillion be- 
 hind Capt. James Fitch. Her son, Daniel Rudd, Jr., 
 born June 10, 1754, married Abigail Allen, of Mont- 
 ville, who died Jan. 20, 1857, wanting only a few 
 months of being one hundred years of age. Lucy 
 Rudd, one of the daughters of this couple, married, 
 first, Capt. Henry Caldwell, of the United States 
 Marines, and second, Maj.-Gen. Henry Burbeck, an 
 officer of the Revolutionary war and of that of 1812. 
 Gen. Burbeck died at New London, Oct. 2, 1848, 
 aged ninety-five. His relict, Mrs. Lucy Burbeck, is 
 still living. It is a singular coincidence, occurring, 
 it is presumed, very rarely in the history of families, 
 that Mrs. Burbeck's father, Daniel Rudd, and her 
 husband, Henry Burbeck, were born on the same day, 
 June 10, 1754. 
 
 Sabiu, often upon early records written Sabiens. 
 Isaac, adm. 1720. 
 
 Thomas Sluman married, December, 1668, Sarah 
 daughter of Thomas Bliss ; constable in 1680 ; died 
 1683, leaving a son Thomas and five daughters. His 
 relict married Solomon Tracy. Thomas Sluman (2) 
 was on the roll of 1702. 
 
 Mark Smallbent died Dec. 26, 1696 ; left two young 
 daughters; estate, £143. 
 
 Andrew, son of Philip Spalding, was baptized July 
 15, 1722. 
 
 Starr. Samuel, son of Jonathan, of Groton, mar- 
 ried Ann, daughter of Capt. Caleb Bushnell, in 1727 
 and settled in Norwich. 
 
 Amos Stickney, 1725. 
 
 Thomas Stoddard, a resident in the parish of New 
 Concord, 1708 ; present at a church-meeting in 1714. 
 
 Samuel Story and wife were received into the church 
 in 1722. They came undoubtedly from Ipswich. The 
 inventory of his estate, taken in 1726, has among its 
 items " a wood-lot in Ipswich." He left a numerous 
 family : five sons who were living are noticed in his 
 will, the children of Ephraim, deceased, and six mar- 
 ried daughters, viz., Elizabeth Hidden, Mary An- 
 drews, Dorothy Day, Hannah Nolten, Anna Proctor, 
 and Margaret Choate. 
 
 John, son of John Swetland, was baptized in 1708; 
 another son, Joseph, in 1710. The family, in all 
 probability, dwelt near the western bounds of the 
 town, within the present area of Salem. 
 
 Joseph Tenny, adm. 1723. 
 
 Thomas Todd died Aug. 29, 1727. He owned one- 
 third of a sloop called the " Norwich." His relict, 
 Martha, married a Lathrop. 
 
 Ebenezer Thomas, adm. 1727. He owned lands in 
 Duxbury, and was probably son of Jeremiah Thomas, 
 of Marshfield, born Nov. 1, 1703. Ebenezer, Simeon, 
 and Thomas L. Thomas, active men of business 
 during the latter part of the century, were his sons. 
 He died Oct. 16, 1774. 
 
 Mary, wife of Joseph Tubbs, received adult bap- 
 tism in 1718. 
 
 Jonathan Walker, adm. 1722. 
 
 Robert Warren, a resident in 1713; selectman in 
 1721. 
 
 John Way, adm. 1722. 
 
 John Welsh, adm. 1705; died 1728; estate, £333; 
 inventory presented by his son John. 
 
 Daniel White, adm. April 30, 1723. He married 
 Elizabeth Ensworth, June 10, 1723, and died Sept. 9, 
 1727, leaving a wife and three small children. Es- 
 tate, £407. 
 
 Jonathan Whitaker, 1710. He married, in 1718, 
 Abigail Lambert. 
 
 Daniel Wightman, 1727. 
 
 Joseph Williams, adm. 1702; Charles, of Preston, 
 1687. 
 
 John Willoughby, 1718. 
 
 Joseph, adm. Dec. 5, 1721. He afterwards pur- 
 chased a farm in the North Parish of New London. 
 
 Thomas Wood, a resident in 1716. 
 
NOEWICH. 
 
 273 
 
 Ebenezer, adm. Dec. 2, 1718 ; married Mary Rudd, 
 March 12, 1718. 
 
 Isaac Woodworth, a,dm. 1705; died April 1, 1714, 
 leaving wife, Lydia, and nine children between the 
 ages of eight and twenty-seven. 
 
 Moses, adm. 1719. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 NORWICH— (Continued). 
 
 The Landing— Weequaw's Hill— icavly Votes— Ship-yards-Highways- 
 Chelsea- The Parade— Pioneer Homes— Old Settlers— Hotels— Streets 
 —Commerce— Early Business Men— The First Druggist, Dr. Daniel 
 Lathrop. 
 
 For seventy years after the settlement of the town 
 what is now the city of Norwich was technically a 
 " sheep-walk," used by the inhabitants of the eastern 
 part of the town for pasturing sheep and cattle. The 
 location was first known as Weequaw's Hill, Rocky 
 Point,^ and Fort Hill. Miss Caulkins says,— 
 
 The reservation extended from No-man's Acre to 
 the mouth of the Shetucket, and was inclosed with a 
 general fence. A cartway through it was allowed, 
 and in 1680 " a pair of bars'' connected with this 
 cartway was maintained by the town, near the She- 
 tucket, and another pair below the house of John 
 Reynolds. The whole space between Yantic Cove 
 and the Shetucket was a wilderness of rocks, woods, 
 and swamps, with only here and there a cow-path or 
 a sheep-track around the hills, where the trunk of a 
 fallen tree thrown over a brook or chasm served in 
 lieu of a bridge. Not only in the spring floods, but 
 in common heavy rains a great part of East Chelsea 
 and all the lower, or Water Street, up to the ledge of 
 rocks on which the buildings upon the north side of 
 that street are based, were overflowed ; and even in 
 the dry season these parts of the town were little 
 better than swamps. What are now only moist 
 places and slender rills were then ponds and broad, 
 impetuous brooks. 
 
 In January, 1634, a committee was appointed to 
 lay out and bound for the town's use sufficient land 
 for a public landing-place and a suitable highway 
 connected with it, after which they passed the follow- 
 ing restrictive decree : , 
 
 April, 1684. " It is agreed and voated that the rest of the ungrauted 
 and iinlayed out land at the mouth of Showtuck shall be and remain for 
 the benefit of cattle-watering, and never to be disposed of without the 
 consent of eight or ten of the familys at the east end of the towne." 
 
 It was not long, however, before this act became a 
 dead letter. Sites at the water's edge were soon in 
 great demand for commercial purposes. These were 
 prudently doled out by the town in plots of three or 
 four rods each. In 1686, Capt. James Fitch, the first 
 of these grantees, was allowed sufficient land near the 
 water-sideto accommodate a wharf and warehouse. Not 
 long afterwards, Capt. Caleb Bushnell obtained a simi- 
 
 lar grant. These facilities were near the mouth of 
 Yantic Cove. It was here that the wharfing, building, 
 and commercial enterprise of Norwich Landing be- 
 gan. 
 
 1692. A committee appointed by the town to go with John Elderkin 
 and to state a highway to the old Landing-place, with conveniency also 
 for a warehouse. 
 
 October, 1694. Mr. Mallat, a French gentleman, desiring liberty of 
 the town that he might build a vessel, or vessels, somewhere upon our 
 river, the town grant the said Mr. Mallat liberty to build, and also grant 
 him the liberty of the common on the east side of Showtucket Kiver to 
 cut timber for building. 
 
 Mallat's ship-yard is supposed to have been at the 
 Point. It was not long occupied, and the fee of course 
 reverted to the town. 
 
 In 1707 a vote was passed of the following em- 
 phatic tenor : 
 
 " No more land to be granted at the salt water, and no way shut up 
 that leads to the salt water." 
 
 The first masters of vessels at the landing of whom 
 we obtain any knowledge were Capts. Kelley and 
 Norman. These, in 1715, were engaged in the Bar- 
 badoes trade. 
 
 May 11, 1715. Capt. Kelley in the Norwich sloop sailed for Barbadoes. 
 Sept. 8. Capt. Kelley sailed for Barbadoes. 
 Dec. 13, 1716. Capt. Norman sailed.' 
 
 Capt. Kelley very soon established a regular ship- 
 yard at the Landing, the town granting him the ne- 
 cessary facilities. 
 
 Jan. 10, 1716-7. Joseph Kelley, shipwright, has free liberty to build 
 vessels on the Point, where he is now building, the town to have the use 
 of his wharf. 
 
 [This grant was not revoked till 1751.] 
 
 The same year Caleb Bushnell applied for a situa- 
 tion by the water-side convenient for building vessels, 
 which was granted by the following vote : 
 
 Dec. 3, 1717. The town grants to Caleb Bushnell SiO feet square upon 
 ye water upon the west side of the rockie Point at ye Landing-place. 
 
 Between 1721 and 1724, similar grants of "twenty 
 feet square on the west side of Rockie Point" were 
 made to Simon Lothrop, Joshua and James Hunting- 
 ion, and Daniel Tracy, a sufficiency for the town's 
 use being reserved on which they were not to encroach. 
 These were all enterprising young men, just entering 
 into business. Simon Lothrop afterwards purchased 
 the Elderkin rights on Yantic Cove and at the falls. 
 
 April 20, 1723. The town grants liberty to Capt. Caleb Bushnell to set 
 up and maintain two sufficient cart-gates across the highway that goeth 
 to thi- Little fort. 
 
 Feb. 25, 1724. Voted to build a town wharf at the Landing-place. 
 
 Liberty is granted to Lieut. Simon Lothrop to build a wharf at the 
 Landing-place at his own charge, provided it shall be free to all mortals. 
 
 1734. Permission granted to Lieut. Simon Lothrop to build a ware- 
 house on the side hill opposite his dwelling-house, 30 feet by 20, to hold 
 the same during the town's pleasure. 
 
 The limited extent of these grants shows that they 
 were highly prized, and that but few such privileges 
 could be obtained. A narrow margin of level land at 
 
 1 Diary kept at New Loudon. 
 
274 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the base of water washed cliflfs comprised the whole 
 accommodation. 
 
 With the exception of these footholds upon the 
 water's edge, the land lay in common. Along the 
 cove and around the falls the woods and waters were 
 reeking with rank life, both animal and vegetable. 
 The rock ledges were the haunts of innumerable ser- 
 pents; the shores were populous with water-fowl, 
 the river with shoals of fish. The young people from 
 the farms around Norwich, when haying was over, 
 came in parties to the Landing to wander over the 
 hills, eat oysters, and take a trip down the river in 
 canoes or sail-boats. 
 
 In 1718 there was a division of proprietary lands 
 called the forty-acre division. In 1726 the undivided 
 lands that remained were mainly comprised in two 
 sheep-walks. A public meeting was called in which 
 the names of the proprietors of each were distinctly 
 declared and recorded, in order to prevent, if possible, 
 all future "strifts and lawsuits.'' The East Sheep- 
 walk, of nine hundred acres, more or less, was divided 
 into shares of twenty acres each, and ratified and con- 
 firmed to forty-two proprietors, mentioned by name, 
 or to those who claimed under them. The West 
 Sheep-walk, by estimation seven hundred acres, was 
 in like manner divided and confirmed to thirty-seven 
 proprietors. 
 
 Rev. John Woodward and Rev. Benjamin Lord 
 were admitted on the footing of original proprietors, 
 as were also the representatives of the earliest class 
 of accepted inhabitants, viz. : Bushnell, Elderkin, 
 Roath, and Rood of the east end, Abel and Arm- 
 strong of the west. To these were added Moses Fargo 
 of the west and Edward King of the east, each al- 
 lowed a half-share, making seventy-nine in all, who 
 were acknowledged as representatives of the original 
 grantees of the town plot. From this division it was 
 understood that farmers out of the town plot, and all 
 persons not claimants under the first grantees, were 
 excluded. 
 
 Israel Lothrop and James Huntington were the 
 town agents in making the division of the East Sheep- 
 walk. The lots extended along the water from the 
 Shetucket ferry to the cove, reserving .a. highway 
 through them two rods wide. A second tier was laid 
 out in the rear of these, and so on. Each share was 
 divided into tenths, and the tenths into eighths, and 
 distributed apparently by lot. It is expressed in the 
 records by making a pitch, as thus : " Capt. Bushnell 
 made his pitch for his portion of the sheep-walk" at 
 such a place. 
 
 The titles to land in this part of Norwich are de- 
 rived from these forty -two proprietors of the east end, 
 and the dates begin at 1726. After this division 
 houses and inhabitants increased rapidly, and in the 
 course of a few years Rocky Point became a flourish- 
 ing hamlet and trading-post, called in common par- 
 lance 7746 LinidiiKj, but gradually acquiring the name 
 of New Chelsey, or Chelsea Society. 
 
 The earliest householders at the Landing of whose 
 residence there we find any certain account were 
 Daniel Tracy, Benajah Bushnell, and Nathaniel 
 Backus. A little later Capt. Joseph Tracy and Capt. 
 Benajah Lefiingwell were substantial inhabitants, and 
 Caleb Whitney kept a public-house. Boating was 
 brisk in the river, and small vessels were built and 
 sent away for sale. 
 
 Among those who were efficient in opening avenues 
 of trade and bringing business to the new port, none 
 were more conspicuous than Capt. John Williams 
 and Capt. Joshua Huntington. The former resided 
 with his family at Poquetannock, and the latter in 
 the town plot, but each had a wharf and warehouse 
 at the Landing, and here was their place of business. 
 Capt. Huntington occupied the Point, near Kelley's 
 ship-yard. It was by heirship from him that this lo- 
 cality went into the Bill family, Capt. Ephraim Bill 
 having married his only daughter, Lydia. 
 
 Great are the changes that have been made around 
 the water-line of Norwich port. All the sharp angles 
 and projecting rocks, the trickling streams and gul- 
 lies, have disappeared. Central wharf spreads out 
 far in advance of the old town wharf and the water- 
 line where Fitch and Bushnell had their first conven- 
 iences ; and the granite ridge at whose base Kelley 
 built his coasting craft, and the Huntingtons, Bills, 
 and others had their warehouses, has been leveled to 
 a platform occupied by the freight depot and other 
 accommodations of the railroad. 
 
 The division into freeholds gave a powerful impe- 
 tus to the growth of the Landing. Trade became 
 suddenly the presiding genius of the place. Those 
 merchants who had been so fortunate as to obtain 
 situations upon the water's edge entered at once into 
 commercial pursuits. From a report prepared by au- 
 thority in Connecticut, to be laid before the Lords 
 Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, probably 
 before 1730, we learn that four sloops were at that 
 time owned in Norwich and engaged in the West 
 India and coasting trade, viz. : " Martha and Eliza- 
 beth," forty tons; "Success," forty tons; "Olive 
 Branch," twenty-five tons ; " Mary," twenty tons.' 
 
 Not long afterwards the Norwich traders sent a 
 sloop and a schooner to Ireland. As these we suppose 
 to have been their first adventures across the ocean, 
 every item relating to them is interesting. They 
 probably sailed in company, but the schooner re- 
 turned without her consort. 
 
 " 7 Nov. 1732. — The Norwich scooner, Nath: Shaw maater, came in 
 from Ireland." — Hem^steatVs Diary. 
 
 The sloop was under the charge of Capt. Absalom 
 King, and appears to have been owned by himself 
 
 1 Hinniau's Antiquities, p. 352. The date of the document is uot given, 
 but it was undoubtedly between 1720 and 1730. The whole number of 
 vessels in the colony was forty-two, the largest of which was a brigan- 
 tine of eighty tons, owned at New London. They were mostly small 
 sloops. New Haven and New London had each five ; Hartford and Nor- 
 wich four. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 275 
 
 and those who sailed with him. They sold the craft 
 in Ireland, probably in accordance with the plan of 
 their voyage, as vessels were then frequently built in 
 the river, where timber was plenty, and sent else- 
 where for a market. The crew embarked for home 
 in the schooner with Capt. Shaw, but during the voy- 
 age five out of the fifteen persons on board died of the 
 smallpox. Among the victims was Capt. King, who 
 died in mid-ocean, Sept. 3, 1732. 
 
 Capt. Absalom King came to Norwich from South- 
 old, L. I., and had been for several years in the West 
 India trade. His wife was Hannah, daughter of John 
 Waterman. His youthful widow married, Nov. 8, 
 1733, Benedict Arnold. 
 
 This is the earliest notice that we find at Norwich 
 of Benedict Arnold, a Rhode Island emigrant, whose 
 name, when afterwards borne by his son, became 
 synonymous with treason and apostasy. No intima- 
 tion is given of the causes that brought him to Nor- 
 wich, but he appears to have been at first a seaman, 
 and it is not improbable that some connection with 
 Capt. King in that capacity first introduced him to 
 the town and afterwards obtained for him the favor- 
 able notice of the bereaved wife. He and his brother 
 Oliver are both distinguished by the title of captain. 
 
 In 1740 a memorial was presented to the town by 
 Joshua Abel, John Hutchins, and others, praying for 
 a convenient highway to be opened to the Landing. 
 This was strenuously opposed by the landholders on 
 the line of the proposed highway, and rejected by the 
 town at that time. But a few years later the object 
 was happily accomplished, and two convenient ave- 
 nues were opened, one on each side of the central 
 hill. The two pent highways that had been pre- 
 viously used, that on the east through land of Col. 
 Hezekiah Huntington, and the one on the west 
 through land of Col. Simon Lothrop, were exchanged 
 for streets laid out through the same lands, but more 
 direct in course, and left open for public use. These 
 improvements were sanctioned by all concerned. 
 
 The eastern avenue thus opened coincided with 
 Crescent and a part of Union Streets, terminating at 
 the house of Nathaniel Backus, in Union, not far from 
 the corner of Main Street. The western avenue coin- 
 cided with the greater part of Washington Street, and 
 ended at " Capt. Bushnell's old warehouse." The 
 committee for making these improvements consisted 
 of William Morgan, Hezekiah Huntington, Philip 
 Turner, and Joseph and Simon Tracy. 
 
 In 1750, Daniel Lathrop, Nathan Stedman, and 
 Capt. Philip Turner were appointed a committee to 
 open a highway, by the water-side, connecting the 
 above-named streets. This was the first laying out of 
 Water Street. 
 
 After this, "the old highway over Waweecos Hill, 
 between the Little Plain and Landing Place," was 
 seldom used, and Capt. Benajah Bushnell obtained 
 permission to inclose it, on condition of maintaining 
 convenient bars for people to pass. 
 
 The Little Plain— so called in distinction from the 
 Great Plain, in the southern part of the town, towards 
 Mohegan— was at this time private property, included 
 in grants to the early settlers, with no part open to 
 the public except the streets above mentioned leading 
 to the Landing. 
 
 In making these highway improvements, and in 
 other works of public interest requiring public spirit 
 and skillful management, Capt. Turner and Nathan 
 Stedman were zealous and persevering agents. These 
 were comparatively new inhabitants. Stedman was 
 an attorney, son of John Stedman, of Lyme, and not 
 of the Hampton family of Stedmans. After a few 
 years' residence in Norwich he removed to Ashford. 
 Philip Turner spent the remainder of his short career 
 in the town, and his dust is mingled with its soil. 
 
 Dec. 1748. It is ordered that warninga for town meetings shall for the 
 future be set up at the Landiug-place, on some post to be provided by the 
 inhabitants there. 
 
 A sign-post was accordingly set up at Mr. Peter 
 Lanman's corner as the most central and conspicuous 
 situation. 
 
 1751. Voted, that the district for highways at Chelsea be divided aa 
 follows : Beginning at the water, south of the westerly corner of Daniel 
 Tracy, Jr.'s house at the Landing-place, thence a straight line to where 
 the highway goes across Waweecus Hill, — thence to the N.E. corner of 
 John Bliss's land, — thence a straight line to the parting of the paths on 
 the Little Plain, at Oliver Arnold's corner, — thence a straight line to the 
 N.W. corner of Joshua Prior's dwelling-house. 
 
 The common lands and flats upon the cove, extend- 
 ing as far up as " Elijah Lathrop's grist-mills," were 
 laid out in 1760 or near that period. The shares were 
 divided into tenths, and each tenth into eight several 
 parcels or lots, as the sheep-walks had been. 
 
 From the general list of 1757 it appears that there 
 were then eighty-seven resident proprietors of ra- 
 table estate in "the society of New Chelsy," and 
 twenty-five non-residents. 
 
 In 1790 Middle or Main Street in Chelsea was 
 opened at an expense of one hundred pounds, which 
 was paid partly by the city and partly by individual 
 subscription. About the same time Crescent Street, 
 the ends of which were at the store of Capt. Thomas 
 Fanning and the house of Rev. Walter King, was 
 greatly improved through the liberality and exertions 
 of Capt. William Hubbard. 
 
 The western avenue to Chelsea, now Washington 
 Street, was also at this time rectified, and a new sec- 
 tion thrown open by the adjoining landholders. 
 
 The broad plateau intersected by these streets was 
 then known as the Little Plain. It seemed not to 
 have had any more distinctive name. On the 11th of 
 September, 1793, the Twentieth Regiment of infantry, 
 Joseph Williams colonel, was here reviewed, and upon 
 this occasion it was called the Parade. This was prob- 
 ably the first regimental review at this place. The 
 general trainings had previously been held on the 
 Great Plain, near Morgan's tavern, upon the road to 
 New London. 
 
 Very little improvement had heretofore been made 
 
276 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON OOUNTF, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 in this part of the town, but the period had arrived 
 for bringing it into notice. Several building-lots had 
 been purchased and houses erected upon its borders, 
 but the central part of the plain lay untilled and un- 
 fenoed, the owners being non-residents, descendants 
 of the orignal grantees, John Reynolds and Matthew 
 Adgate. The larger portion comprised a single field, 
 popularly called " Adgate's three-square lot." 
 
 It was certainly desirable, both as a matter of taste 
 and convenience, that this area should be kept open 
 to the public, and fortunately men of liberal minds 
 stood ready to bring about this result. 
 
 Joseph Perkins and Thomas Fanning, two of the 
 neighboring land proprietors, apparently at their own 
 motion and private expense, undertook to clear this 
 central area of all claims and incumbrances, that it 
 might be made a public square for the use of the 
 town. This they effected, and having obtained quit- 
 claim deeds of the several heirs, conveyed the fee as 
 a free gift to the town. The deed of cession has the 
 following preamble : 
 
 We, Thomas Fanning and Joseph Perkins, both of Norwich, for and in 
 consideration of the good will we have and do bear to the inhabitants of 
 the Town of Norwich, and in considpration of the desire we have that 
 said inhabitants may continually and at all times be furnished and ac- 
 commodated with a free, open, unincumbered piece of land or ground, 
 convenient for a public Parade or Walk^ do give, grant, remise, release, 
 and forever quit claim unto Doctor Joshua Lathrop, one of the principal 
 inhabitants of said town, and to all the rest of the inhabitants of said 
 Town of Norwich in their corporate capacity, and to their successors for- 
 ever, for the use and purpose of a Public Parade or open Walk, to be un- 
 incumbered with any kind of building or buildings, public or private, or 
 nuisance whatever, and for no other purpose. 
 
 Dated 6th day of April, 1797. 
 
 All honor to the generosity and enlightened fore- 
 sight of those men who secured this great privilege 
 to the town. They struck at the right time, just 
 when the spirit of progress had reached the spot. A 
 little later, and in all probability the area would have 
 been carved into building-lots, and the town would 
 never have possessed this her most graceful ornament. 
 Without this central plain Norwich would seem de- 
 prived of half her beauty. 
 
 This public square has hitherto had no established 
 name. The prevailing idea in the minds of the 
 grantees seems to have been that of providing an 
 open space for military exercises. Its earliest desig- 
 nation was therefore the Parade. Col. Elisha Edger- 
 ton's regiment of cavalry was reviewed on the Parade 
 Sept. 4, 1798. But of late years it has acquired more 
 of the character of a park, and from the long resi- 
 dence—more than half a century— of Gen. Wm. Wil- 
 liams upon its border, it has obtained the current and 
 acceptable name of Williams Park.' 
 
 In 1801 the rage for setting out Lombardy poplars 
 ran through the town like an epidemic. The quiver- 
 ing, silver-lined poplar— the slender, quick-growing 
 poplar— was in high repute for convenience, use, or- 
 
 1 In September, 1811, Gen. William Williams, then lieutenant-colonel 
 of the Third Regiment of militia, held his regimental review upon this 
 parade. 
 
 nament, and health. The Parade received a full 
 share of the general adornment, and was entirely 
 girdled with poplars. These Italian shades are, how- 
 ever, short-lived in our climate, and the first growth 
 has been seldom renewed. Here, as in most parts of 
 the country, they soon gave place to the more hardy 
 and umbrageous natives of the forest. The elms and 
 maples that now gird the park were set out since 1820. 
 
 Early Habitations, Etc— A house on the border 
 of the Parade, latterly known as the residence of 
 Capt. Walter Lester, was built by Joseph Carpenter, 
 but left unfinished at his death in 1797. 
 
 On the northeast side a dwelling-house was erected 
 about the year 1785 by Capt. Henry Billings. It 
 was the first house of any note upon the plain, and 
 was successively occupied by Capt. Billings, by Eben- 
 ezer Backus, and by the relict of the latter with her 
 second husband, A. 8. Destouches, a French emigrant. 
 In 1799 it was purchased by Maj. Rogers, a merchant 
 from Southampton, L. I., and very soon afterwards 
 we find an assortment of goods advertised for sale by 
 " Uriah Rogers & Son, at their New Store on the 
 pleasant plains of Chelsea, half a mile from Norwich 
 port." 
 
 Maj. Rogers died in 1814, and this house after- 
 wards became the residence of Rev. Alfred Mitchell, 
 to whose fine taste and devout mind the woodland 
 heights in the rear had a peculiar charm. They were 
 his walk, his study, and his oratory. After Mr. 
 Mitchell's decease, the place was for eight or ten 
 years the seat of Mr. Charles Abbot's Family School 
 for Boys. The house has since been removed to a dif- 
 ferent part of the town, and the site is occupied by one 
 of the tasteful and costly mansions of modern times. 
 
 A house very nearly coeval with that of Capt. Bil- 
 lings, on the southwest side of the plain, was built 
 by Maj. Ebenezer Whiting about 1790, and sold in 
 1795 to Capt. Daniel Dunham. The ground plot in- 
 cluded the ancient Indian cemetery and sixteen acres 
 of land, running down to the neighborhood of La- 
 throp's Mills, where Maj. Whiting had a distillery. 
 In preparing for the foundation of this house a gi- 
 gantic Indian skeleton was exhumed, and many rude 
 stone tools and arrow-heads thrown up. The place 
 was afterwards purchased by Calvin Goddard, and re- 
 mained for nearly forty years in the possession of the 
 family. 
 
 The brick house, or Williams mansion, was built 
 in 1789 and '90, by Joseph Teel, of Preston, the site 
 being a portion of the original Adgate lot. It was 
 designed for a hotel, and immediately advertised as 
 " the Teel House, sign of General Washington." 
 
 It was noted for its fine hall or assembly-room, 
 where shows were exhibited, and balls, lodges, and 
 clubs accommodated.^ After Mr. Teel's death the 
 
 2 An advertisement of May 29, 1794, announces the arrival at Mr. 
 Teel's assembly-room of a party of Italian rope-dancers and tumblers, 
 and the public are invited to call and see Don Peter and Clumsy the 
 Olown dance a hornpipe blindfold over fifteen eggs. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 277 
 
 hotel was continued by his son-in-law, Cyrus Bramin, 
 and when offered for sale in 1797 it was particularly 
 recommended for its position, — " on the central plain 
 between the town and Landing, which, according to 
 the natural appearance of things, bids fair to be the 
 seat of business for the town of Norwich." 
 
 In June, 1800, the hotel was transformed into a 
 boarding and day school under the preceptorship of 
 William Woodbridge. After some other changes, 
 it was purchased in 1806 by Carder Hazard, a retired 
 merchant from Newport, by whom it was sold in 1813 
 to its present owner. 
 
 On the avenue leading from the east side of the 
 Parade to the Landing, Christopher Leffingwell, 
 Joshua Lathrop, and Joseph Perkins were consider- 
 able landholders, and each contributed towards open- 
 ing and embellishing the street, freely relinquishing 
 the land necessary for the public convenience. Col. 
 Leffingwell planted the fine elms that now overshadow 
 Broadway. Here were a tier of houses built before 
 1800, and occupied at the opening of the century by 
 Rer. Walter King, Capt. Solomon Ingraham, and 
 Thomas Coit (afterwards by Jabez Huntington). 
 Here also were the L'Hommedieu house and rope- 
 walk, and the twin houses of Hezekiah Perkins and 
 Capt. Z. P. Burnham. This row of buildings had 
 the high granite ridge that projects into the centre of 
 Chelsea in their front. The triangular plot between 
 the roads, now inclosed as the Little Park, was for- 
 merly called the Everett lot. It belonged to Col. Lef- 
 fingwell, and after his death was purchased jointly 
 by Hezekiah Perkins and Jabez Huntington, and in 
 1811 presented by them to the city, on condition that 
 it should be inclosed and used only as a park. 
 
 The residence of Thomas Mumford, embowered by 
 large trees, with a spacious garden and several vacant 
 lots on the south and east, comprising in all eight 
 acres, occupied the plot at the head of Union Street. 
 Mr. Mumford died Aug. 30, 1799, and the place passed 
 into the possession of Levi Huntington. The street 
 forming the continuation of Broadway was opened 
 in 1800 by Christopher Lefiingwell and the heirs of 
 Mumford. 
 
 The house which was for over sixty years the resi- 
 dence of Joseph Williams, Esq., was built before 
 1800 by Capt. Samuel Freeman, and sold six years 
 later to Mr. Williams. 
 
 On leaving the plain and turning the steep pitch 
 of the hill, in the lower part of Union Street, were 
 the dwellings of Jeremiah Wilber, Lemuel Warren, 
 Israel Everit, and Christopher Vaill. 
 
 These comprise all the householders that have been 
 traced in this part of the town, at or near the begin- 
 ning of the century. From that time forward im- 
 provements ceased for many years. The next houses 
 built in this quarter were those of Maj. Joseph Per- 
 kins and Eussell Hubbard. The former, a solid stone 
 mansion, was completed in 1825, Mr. Hubbard's the 
 succeeding year. 
 
 A costly dwelling-house, combining various ele- 
 ments of beauty in structure, situation, and prospect, 
 was erected by Charles Rockwell in 1833, on the height 
 between Broadway and Washington Streets. This 
 was one of the first experiments in grading and culti- 
 vating this rugged woodland ridge. Many other 
 beautiful seats, with choice gardens and groves, have 
 risen since that period to adorn this part of the town. 
 A considerable portion of Washington Street was 
 originally opened through land belonging to Col. 
 Simon Lathrop, and here on the river side of the 
 street a house was built in 1780 by Elijah Lathrop. 
 
 In 1795, Samuel Woodbridge purchased one of the 
 Lathrop lots, and erected a dwelling-house in what 
 was then considered a wild and secluded spot, but 
 exceedingly beautiful in situation. A contemporary 
 notice speaks of it as " an excellent place for rural 
 retirement." This property was purchased in 1811 
 by Richard Adams, Esq., a gentleman from Esse- 
 quibo. 
 
 The next house that made its appearance in this 
 part of Washington Street was erected by Theodore 
 Barrel], an Englishman, who had been in business at 
 I Barbadoes, and had several times visited Norwich for 
 I commercial purposes. He brought his family to the 
 place in 1808, purchased a lot of the heirs of Rufus 
 I Lathrop, built upon it, and continued his inhabitancy 
 till 1824, when he sold his house and grounds to 
 ! William P. Greene and removed to New London. 
 ! In the year 1809 the Lathrop house (built in 1780) 
 I was purchased by Mr. John Vernett, who had it re- 
 ! moved to a position lower down on the same street, 
 I where it now stands. On the site left vacant by the 
 [ removed building Mr. Vernett caused a new dwelling- 
 house to be erected, at a cost and in a style of ele- 
 i gance beyond what had been previously exhibited in 
 Norwich. The area purchased by him consisted of 
 twenty-five acres, comprising six or eight choice 
 building-lots. The land bordering on the Yantio in 
 this vicinity still retains its native luxuriance, its va- 
 ried surface and woodland beauty. A scientific or 
 collegiate institution might here have found a well- 
 adapted and beautiful site. 
 
 Jtlr. "Vernett was a native of Sarsbourg, on the 
 Rhine. Having acquired a handsome fortune by 
 trade, at St. Pierre, he designed to withdraw from 
 business and spend the remainder of his life in retired 
 leisure at Norwich. Scarcely were his family settled 
 in their new residence when he met with sudden em- 
 barrassments and losses which entirely deranged his 
 plans, and he sold the place in 1811 to Benjamin Lee, 
 of Cambridge. 
 
 These were the first noted houses of Washington 
 Street. They sprang up after a prosperous period of 
 trade, to which the war with Great Britain in 1812 
 gave a crushing blow, and no others were built for 
 twenty years. The next that appeared was that of 
 William C. Gilnian, completed in 1831. 
 
 Washington Street is now skirted on either side 
 
278 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 with elegant and even princely mansions of more 
 recent origin, exceedingly varied in position and style 
 of architecture, but all indicative of taste, wealth, 
 and home comfort. 
 
 The Breed family residence, near the corner of 
 Washington, Main, and Church Streets, is probably 
 the most ancient house now remaining in Chelsea. 
 It was built by Gershom Breed about the year 1760. 
 
 Church Street was at first known as Upper or Third 
 Street. It was laid out along the steep side-hill, with 
 the whole rocky height— the elephantine granite 
 back of Chelsea, crowned with woods— towering in 
 its rear. In 1800 the principal residents on this street 
 were Shubael Breed (collector of the United States 
 revenue during the administration of the first Presi- 
 dent Adams), Nathaniel Peabody, Rev. John Tyler, 
 and Dr. Lemuel Boswell. Capt. Benajah LeiBngwell 
 occupied the three-story house opposite Breed's corner, 
 and there died, Sept. 27, 1804. The next house to the 
 westward was that of Capt. Oliver Fitch. 
 
 The principal householders in West Chelsea were 
 Elijah Herrick, Jedediah Willet, Dewey Bromley, 
 Thomas Gavitt, Septimus Clark, Stephen Story, and 
 Luther Edgerton. These men were all engaged in 
 ship-building, or in some of the crafts connected with 
 that business. A rope-walk, established by the How- 
 lands in 1797, was for nearly seventy years a con- 
 spicuous object upon the hillside. 
 
 The Baptist meeting-house was raised in 1801. 
 
 The low brick building at the corner of Main and 
 Union Streets has the reputation of being the first 
 brick edifice constructed in Norwich. It is not known 
 when or by whom it was built. According to current 
 tradition, it was occupied as a public-house before the 
 opening of the Revolutionary war, and at one time 
 had the honor of entertaining and lodging Gen. Wash- 
 ington and several officers of his staff. This was prob- 
 ably the night of the 30th of June, 1775,^ at which 
 time Washington was on his way to assume the com- 
 mand of the American army in the neighborhood of 
 Boston. He arrived at Cambridge July 2d. 
 
 The brick corner was afterwards famous as an auc- 
 tion stand. John Richards, auctioneer, occupied the 
 premises from 1800 onward for several years. 
 
 1 It is probable that to this particular night spent at Norwich, Elisha 
 Ayera, the wandering schoolmaster from Preston, referred in a bripf in- 
 terview that he had with Washington at Mount Vernon in 1788. The 
 general was standing by his horse, prepared to ride to another part of 
 his estate, when the traveler arrived. The details of the interview are 
 given by the latter with amusing simplicity : 
 
 "He inquired my name and what piirt of Connecticttt I was from. I 
 told him about seven miles east of Norwich City and near Preston vil- 
 lage. I know where Norwich is, he said. I told him that I remem- 
 bered the time wiien he and his aide stayed a night at Norwich, when he 
 was on his way to tlie American army at Boston, and the next morning 
 he went east to Preston village. At Preston village you were joined by 
 Col. Samuel Mott, a man that helped to conquer Canada from France, 
 and there were two young recruiting captains for the Revolutionary 
 war; one was Capt. Nathan Peters, and the other was Capt. Jeremiah 
 Halsey. These went with you several miles on your journey to Boston. 
 The general said, I remember something about it. I told him he went 
 in sight of my father's house, two miles north of Preston village. Very 
 likely, he said. The general asked if I had been to breakfast," etc. 
 
 Another old hotel stood in Water Street, nearly in 
 the rear of the Merchants' Bank, with its upper story 
 on a level with Main Street. Reuben Willoughby 
 left the stand in 1804 for a new hotel in Shetucket 
 Street, since called the American House. Ralph 
 Bolles was his successor in Water Street, but removed 
 in 1809 to the house built by Mr. Levi Huntington, 
 after the fire of 1793, which he opened as the Chelsea 
 Coffee-house. This hotel was then situated in a breezy 
 plot, open to the water, a sloping lawn in front graced 
 with a row of poplars, and a garden enriched with 
 fruit-trees. 
 
 The Merchants' Hotel was built in 1797 by an asso- 
 ciation of business men, and in style and accommo- 
 dation was far superior to any previous hotel in Nor- 
 wich. Newcomb Kinney, one of the proprietors, was 
 for many years the well-known and popular landlord. 
 
 In the early part of the century East Chelsea, or 
 Swallow-all, was noted as the hive of sea-captains. 
 There was then no road to the river, nor to the present 
 Greeneville ; all the land in that direction lay in rough 
 pasturage. East Main Street was narrow and crooked. 
 Wells, fences, gardens, shops, and dwelling-houses 
 projected far into the present street. The whole dis- 
 trict was rugged with rocks and water-courses, frowned 
 on by circumjacent hills and washed by frequent 
 floods. Fia.nk]iTi Street was the road to Lisbon. Here 
 were the dwellings of Capts. Christopher Culver, 
 Charles Rockwell, James N. Brown, John Sangar, 
 and Seth Harding, — the latter usually called Commo- 
 dore Harding. Other inhabitants were Jonathan 
 Frisbie, Seabury Brewster, Judah Hart, Ezra Backus, 
 Joseph Powers, and Timothy Fillmore. 
 
 In 1830 a great improvement was effected in East 
 Chelsea by the opening of Franklin Square. In con- 
 nection with this enterprise, the road was widened and 
 graded, steeps were leveled, hollows filled up, fences 
 and buildings removed. From this time onward the 
 march of improvement has never paused. 
 
 Commerce. — From a very early date the commerce 
 of Norwich has been an important feature and con- 
 tributed largely to the prosperity of the city. As 
 early as 1753 there were sloops and freight boats and 
 occasionally a schooner plying on the river. Among 
 the first crafts were the sloop " Defiance," Obadiah 
 Ayer, master; the sloop "Ann," Stephen Calkin, 
 master ; the London packet, Ebenezer Fitch, master ; 
 the Norwich packet, Capt. Thomas Fanning ; the brig 
 " Two Brothers," Capt. Asa Waterman ; sloop " Bet- 
 sey," Capt. William Billings; the "Nancy," Capt. 
 Uriah Rogers; the "Charming Sally," Capt. Matthew 
 Perkins, etc. 
 
 The West India trade which sprung up soon after 
 the close of the Revolution was very beneficial to 
 Norwich, many of her citizens engaging in the enter- 
 prise with rich rewards. Live-stock, provisions, and 
 lumberwere the principal exports, and rum, molasses, 
 sugar, etc., wete the principal imports. Two voyages 
 a year was the maximum of success. 
 
NOKWICH. 
 
 279 
 
 The following is a table of the exports and imports 
 of Norwich from Jan. 1, 1788, to March 4, 1789: 
 
 649 
 
 206 
 
 205 
 
 321 
 
 566 
 
 1,903 
 
 1,774 
 
 26,000 
 
 92,120 
 
 6,600 
 
 16,000 
 
 175 
 
 160 
 
 14,600 
 
 686 
 
 25,000 
 
 631 
 
 276 
 
 4 
 
 horses, 
 mules, 
 
 horned cattle, 
 sheep, 
 hogs, 
 bbls. beef, 
 '* pork, 
 lbs. butter, 
 
 '* cheese, 
 
 " ham, 
 bush, grain, 
 M hoops, 
 M staves, 
 lbs. hayseed, 
 bbls. potash, 
 yds. homemade cloth, 
 hhds. flaxseed, 
 tons pressed hay, 
 bbls. gingerbread, 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 £ 
 
 value 12 
 
 " 15 
 
 " 7 
 
 s. d. 
 
 
 10 
 15 
 40 
 60 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 40 
 
 60 
 
 Total.. 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 6,688 
 3,075 
 1,435 
 
 160 10 
 
 424 10 
 3,806 
 6,322 
 
 626 
 1,635 6 8 
 
 137 10 
 2,000 
 
 612 10 
 
 640 
 
 366 
 2,880 
 2,600 
 1,264 
 
 828 
 20 
 
 £34,218 6 8 
 
 IMPORTS. 
 
 European goods, i 
 
 1,600 hides, 
 7,675 bush, salt, 
 112,625 gals, molasses, 
 18,300 " rum, 
 1,271 lbs. bohea tea, 
 20,700 " coffee, 
 417,200 " sugar. 
 
 s, d. 
 
 12 
 1 8 
 
 1 4 
 
 2 6 
 
 2 
 1 
 
 £ s. 
 3.909 
 
 900 
 
 639 11 
 7,640 
 2,287 10 
 
 127 2 
 1,045 
 8,344 
 
 Total.., 
 
 £24,793 3 8 
 
 Shipping belonging to the port at this time : 
 
 Twenty sloops 940 tons. 
 
 Five schooners 325 " 
 
 Five brigs 646 " 
 
 One ship 200 " 
 
 Total 2010 " 
 
 The following is a list of shipping belonging to the 
 port of Norwich, Oct. 12, 1795 : 
 
 Ship Mercury 280 tons. 
 
 " Columbus 200 " 
 
 " Modesty 240 " 
 
 " TouDg Eagle 200 " 
 
 " George 364 " 
 
 " Portland 220 " 
 
 " Charlotte 90 " 
 
 Brig Union 130 " 
 
 " Endeavor 120 " 
 
 " Friendship 120 " 
 
 " Betsey 130 " 
 
 " Charlestown 60 " 
 
 Schooner Shetucket.. 
 
 Robinson Crusoe 
 
 Schooner Beaver , 
 
 " Jenny 
 
 Sloop Farmer 
 
 " Crisis 
 
 " Honor 
 
 " William 
 
 " Prosperity 
 
 " Polly 
 
 " Negotiator 
 
 " Friendship 
 
 " Bud 
 
 " ^ Betsey 
 
 " Mary 
 
 " Hercules 
 
 " Juno 
 
 " Hunter 
 
 " Patty 
 
 " Nancy 
 
 70 tons. 
 
 120 " 
 
 60 " 
 
 70 " 
 
 86 " 
 
 72 " 
 
 65 " 
 
 70 " 
 
 90 " 
 
 80 " 
 
 90 " 
 
 90 " 
 
 35 " 
 46 " 
 45 " 
 70 " 
 56 ■' 
 45 " 
 
 36 " 
 70 " 
 65 " 
 
 " Polly 180 
 
 " Sally 180 
 
 Brig 1^ Sally 60 
 
 " Betsey 90 
 
 Schooner Polly 90 
 
 Allen 86 
 
 " Elizabeth 76 
 
 Chloe 75 
 
 " Washington 65 
 
 Total, seven ships, nine brigs, nine schooners, seven- 
 teen sloops — forty-two. Total, 4312 tons, of which 
 only 210 tons is owned in the old parish, and 4102 is 
 owned in the port or what is called Chelsea. The 
 above does not include a number of river packets, or 
 four New York packets. 
 
 Early Business Men. — Among the early business 
 men, and some of a later date, are mentioned the fol- 
 lowing: Thomas Mumford, Joseph Howland, Capt. 
 John Howland, Gen. Ebenezer Huntington, Gen. 
 Jedediah Huntington, Thomas Coit, Jacob and John 
 De Witt, Peter Lanraan, father and son ; the Breeds, 
 father, son, and grandson ; Samuel Tyler, Joseph 
 Williams, Lynde McCurdy, Hezekiah Perkins, An- 
 drew and Joseph Perkins, Farewell and Benjamin 
 
 Coit, Erastus Coit, Woodbridge & Snow, Samuel 
 Rudd, Henry Gordon, Devotion & Storrs, Felix A. 
 Huntington & Co., Raymond & Dodge, Pliny, Brewer 
 & Co. (the "company" being Joseph Otis), G. Buck- 
 ingham & Co., D. N. Bentley, William Williams, 
 Benjamin Dyer, Dwight Rigley, Calvin Tyler, Joseph 
 Backus, Henry B. Norton, Col. George L. Perkins, 
 Thomas Robinson, Gordon A. Jones, Capt. William 
 W. Coit, Benj. Buckingham, Amos W. Prentice, etc. 
 
 The First Druggist.— Dr. Daniel Lathrop, of hon- 
 ored memory, was the first druggist in Norwich, and 
 probably the first in Connecticut who kept a general 
 assortment of medicines. His store was on Main 
 Street. 
 
 Miss Caulkins says, — 
 
 " Dr. Lathrop furnished a part of the surgiciil stores to the Northern 
 Army in the French war. He often received orders from New York, 
 His drugs were always of the best kind, well prepared, packed and for- 
 warded in the neatest manner. This was the only apothecary's estab- 
 lishment on the route from New York to Boston, and of course Dr. 
 Lathrop had a great ruu of custom, often HUing orders sent from the 
 distance of a hundred miles in various directions. It is related that in 
 1749, when a malignant epidemic was prevailing in several of the western 
 towns of the colony, the Rev. Mark Leavenworth, pastor of the church 
 ill Waterbury, incited by the suifering condition of many of his people 
 for want of suitable medicines to arrest the distemper, came to Norwich 
 on horseback to obtain a supply, performiug the journey hither and back 
 in three days. This fact alone is sufficient to show that no drug-store 
 then existed either in New Haven or Hartford, and corroborates the 
 statement often made by aged people in Norwich, that Dr. Lathrop's was 
 the first establishment of the kind in the colony, 
 
 " Joshua Lathrop, a younger brother of Dr. Daniel, after graduating 
 at Yale in 1743, became connected with him in business, and no mercan- 
 tile lirm in this vicinity had a more solid reputation than the brothers 
 Lathrop. They imported not only medicines, but fruits, wines, Euro- 
 pean and India goods directly from England; one of the firm, or a 
 skillful agent, often crossing the ocean to select the stock. After a few 
 years they relinquished the trade in miscellaneous merchandise and con- 
 fined themselves in a great measure to the drug business. 
 
 "Benedict Arnold, Jr., and Solomon Smith were apprentices to Dr. 
 Lathrop at the same period. Arnold subsequently set up the business in 
 New Haven. Smith went to Hartford and established a drug-store in 
 connection with Dr. Lathrop, who furnished the first stock. This was 
 in 1767. 
 
 " The following is one of their advertisements : 
 
 " * Just imported from London in the last ship, via New York, and to 
 be sold by Lathrop & Smith, at their store in King st. Hartford, Ct.— A 
 large and universal assortment of medicines, genuine and of the best 
 kind; together with complete sets of Surgeons' Capital and Pocket in- 
 struments; very neat instruments for drawing teeth; metal mortars, 
 small scales and weights; all sorts of spice and choice Turkey figs; a 
 variety of painters' colours and many other articles.' 
 
 "In 1776 the firm in Norwich was changed from Daniel & Joshua 
 Lathrop to Lathrops & Coit, their nephew, Joseph Coit, Jr., having been 
 associated with them in business. The younger partner died in 1779, in 
 the thirtieth year of his age, and the former title was resumed." 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 NORWICH— (Continued). 
 WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 Interesting Incidents— Military Organization— Gen. Washington's Visit 
 —Visit of Lafayette— Baron Steuben and Pulaski— Votes— Benedict 
 Arnold— Sketch of his Career- Soldiers of the Revolution. 
 
 Although Norwich was not the scene of impor- 
 tant military events during the war of the Revolution, 
 and felt not the invader's foot nor the torch of its 
 
280 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 son, the treacherous Arnold, as did its sister-city of 
 New London, still there are many incidents of inter- 
 est that should not be omitted as showing the spirit of 
 the inhabitants during that sanguinary struggle. 
 The following account is taken chiefly from Miss 
 Caulkins' History : 
 
 "In November, 1775, Dr. Benjamin Church was 
 sent by Gen. Washington under a strong guard to 
 Governor Trumbull, at Lebanon, with an order from 
 Congress that he should ' be closely confined in some 
 secure goal in Connecticut, without pen, paper, or 
 ink, and that no person should be allowed to converse 
 with him, except in the presence and hearing of a 
 magistrate or a sheriff of the county where he should 
 be confined, and in the English language, until further 
 orders.' 
 
 "Governor Trumbull directed that he should be 
 kept in custody at Norwich, in charge of Prosper 
 Wetmore, sheriff' of New London County. Here he 
 was detained during the winter, in strict and cheer- 
 less seclusion. Mr. Edgerton, the gaoler, was di- 
 rected to build a high picket fence around the prison, 
 and even within this inclosure Dr. Church was not 
 permitted to walk but once a week, and then with the 
 sheriff' at his side. This was harsh discipline to a 
 man accustomed to a luxurious, independent style of 
 living. 
 
 " Dr. Church was a Boston physician of considerable 
 literary ability who had written songs and delivered 
 orations in favor of American liberty, and had been 
 a member of the Provincial Congress in 1774. He 
 was an associate of Warren and other patriots ; but 
 in September, 1775, a letter written by him in cipher 
 to his brother in Boston was intercepted, and the con- 
 tents found to be of a character so questionable that 
 he was arrested and tried for holding a treasonable 
 correspondence with the enemy. The letter, though 
 it contained no positive treason, seemed to emanate 
 from one who was feeling his way to treachery and 
 dishonor. 
 
 " Dr. Church was kept in Norwich until the 27th 
 of May, 1776, when, by order of Congress, he was 
 sent to Watertown, Mass. About the same time he 
 obtained permission to retire to the West Indies, but 
 the vessel in which he embarked was never heard of 
 afterwards. 
 
 " Norwich and some other towns in the eastern part 
 of the State remote from the sea-coast were often 
 charged with the safe-keeping of Tories and other 
 prisoners of war. Items like the following may be 
 gathered from newspapers and public records : 
 
 " A>ig i!0, 177C. Last Saturday a number of gentlemen toriesl were 
 brought to New London, and sent from hence to Norwich. 
 
 1 " In the accounts of the State Pay Table there is a startling item of 
 £66810.. 2<i.,dl-awn by .1. Huntington, of Windham, /or rum and cofee 
 furnished to prisoners under his charge in August, 1777. This might 
 lead us to conclude that either these gmlUmen lories were very numerous 
 or that they wereslightly luxurious in their habits and had uncommonly 
 indulgent wardens. But it is probable that the amount is given in a 
 depreciated currency. 
 
 " Ten persons arrested at New York and first imprisoned in Litchfield 
 gaol have been transferred to Norwich. 
 
 "Feb. 22, 1777. John L. C. Eome, Esq., of New York, confined as a 
 tory at Norwich, was released on his parole to return oa request of the 
 Governor and Council. 
 
 " In August, 1776, the sheriff" moved from New 
 London to Preston twenty persons arrested in Albany 
 for Toryism. They remained at Preston for several 
 months, and were allowed to live as they chose at 
 their own expense, most of them paying for their 
 board by their labor. The Tory prisoners at Nor- 
 wich were often distributed in private families, and 
 allowed their liberty within certain limits. 
 
 " In March, 1782, a company of sailors, eight or 
 ten in number, that had been taken in an English 
 privateer and sent up from New London for safe- 
 keeping, broke out of jail in the night, and after 
 lurking three or four days in the woods uncaught, 
 succeeded in reaching New London, and by stealth 
 got possession of a fine new coasting-sloop, just fitted 
 for a voyage and fastened to one of the wharves, with 
 which they escaped. 
 
 " The large number of Tories arrested during the 
 .earlier years of the war suggests one of the great 
 trials that beset the patriot cause : secret enemies, 
 opponents at home, were like thorns in the side or 
 serpents in the bosom. They were often arrested, but 
 seldom kept long in durance. After the detention of 
 a few days or weeks they were generally dismissed, 
 on giving bonds to return when called for, or upon 
 taking oath not to bear arms against the country or 
 to aid and comfort the enemy in any way. 
 
 " In the summer of 1775 a battery or redoubt was 
 built below the landing on Waterman's Point. Ben- 
 jamin Huntington and Ephraim Bill were directors of 
 the work, but the labor was mostly performed by 
 Capt. Lyon's company of militia,'' that had been sent 
 to Norwich on an alarm of invasion from vessels 
 prowling in Long Island Sound. When the work 
 was completed, four six-pounders were brought from 
 New London, and a regular guard and watch kept. 
 For further defense of the place two wrought-iron 
 field-pieces and several other pieces of ordnance were 
 mounted, manned, and placed in the charge of Capt. 
 Jacob DeWitt. 
 
 " William Lex established a manufactory of gun- 
 carriages in town, and succeeded so well as to be em- 
 ployed by the State to furnish apparatus for much of 
 the cannon used by them. Elijah Backus, Esq., at 
 his forges upon the Yantic, manufactured the ship 
 anchors used for the State's armed vessels, two of 
 which weighed twelve hundred pounds each. He 
 afterwards engaged in the casting of cannon. Samuel 
 Noyes made and repaired guns and bayonets for the 
 light infantry. 
 
 " Capt. Ephraim Bill, of Norwich, was in the ser- 
 vice of the State as a marine agent, and Capt. Jabez 
 Perkins as contractor and dispenser of the public 
 
 ^ " Capt. Ephraim Lyon, of Col. Putnam's regiment. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 281 
 
 stores. The Governor and Council of Safety sometimes 
 held their sessions in town. 
 
 " Norwich was admirably situated to serve as a port 
 of refuge to which vessels could retire and discharge 
 their cargoes in safety. In July, 1775, the brig 
 'Nancy,' owned by Josiah Winslow, a well-known 
 royalist of Boston, having on board eighteen or nine- 
 teen thousand gallons of molasses, was forced by stress 
 of weather into Stonington Harbor. It was no sooner 
 known at Norwich that she had anchored near the 
 coast than her capture was decreed. Without wait- 
 ing for the State authority, but with the sanction of 
 the Committee of Inspection, a spirited band of vol- 
 unteers, in a large sloop, commanded by Capt. Robert 
 Niles, proceeded forthwith to Stonington, where they 
 took possession of the vessel, and brought her, with 
 the cargo, round to Norwich. They then made report 
 of the affair to the Governor and Council, who ap- 
 proved of their proceedings and sequestered the prize 
 for the use of the State. 
 
 " The Tory molasses, as it was called, proved a valu- 
 able acquisition. It was doled out to hospitals, and 
 used as a medium of exchange f6r public purposes. 
 Molasses was a commodity which could only be ob- 
 tained by capture, and the want of it was one of the 
 home-felt privations of the war.' 
 
 " The scarcity of sugar and molasses continued for 
 several years. Various were the substitutes contrived. 
 Cornstalk molasses is no myth or caricature, but a 
 veritable resource of those trying times, and probably 
 the best substitute that was brought into use. The 
 stalks were cut when the ears of corn were just ripe 
 for roasting or boiling, thrown into a mill, the juice 
 pressed out, and then boiled down until it became a 
 tolerable syrup. It served at least to satisfy the natu- 
 ral craving of the appetite for saccharine matter, some 
 portion of which in food seems to be requisite both 
 for nourishment and delight. 
 
 "In October, 1775, another merchant vessel was 
 seized under circumstances similar to those of the 
 ' Nancy.' She had a cargo of 8000 bushels of wheat, 
 shipped at Baltimore for Falmouth, England, and 
 was steering towards Stonington in distress, having 
 lost her mainmast in a storm, when she was seized by 
 an armed schooner belonging to the colony, and con- 
 ducted to Norwich to secure her from recapture. She 
 was subsequently sold for the benefit of the country. 
 "A very great evil experienced during the war was 
 the high price of salt and the difficulty of procuring 
 it at any price. It was almost impossible to get a 
 sufficiency to put up provisions for winter's use. The 
 State government was obliged to send abroad for sup- 
 plies of this necessary article and distribute it to the 
 
 1 By the side of this feet an order of the Governor and Council, May 
 4, 1777, for the distillation of 40 hhds. of molasBes into New England 
 riim does not appear very creditable. But spirituous liquors vrere then 
 regarded as absolutely necessary to the highest physical efficiency of 
 soldiers and laboring men. Feb. 5'8, 1777, the Governor and Council 
 orderd 260 hhds. of West India and New England rum to be purchased 
 to supply the troops of the State.— flinman, «9, 441. 
 
 various towns. It was then apportioned by the select- 
 men to the districts in proportion to their population, 
 and again dealt out by a committee to individuals. 
 
 " Whenever a quantity of salt was obtained it was 
 disposed of with great care and consideration. One 
 of the State cruisers having taken 300 bushels, it was 
 deposited at Norwich, and in April, 1777, the Gover- 
 nor and Council directed Jabez Perkins to dispose of 
 it to inhabitants of Connecticut only, to allow no 
 family to purchase more than half a bushel, and small 
 families to be supplied with less in proportion.' 
 
 " Three years before the peace salt was six dollars 
 per bushel, and bohea tea two dollars per pound, and 
 this in fair barter, not Continental bills. Common 
 cream-colored cups and saucers were two dollars per 
 half-dozen. Many persons in comfortable circum- 
 stances drank their daily beverage out of glazed 
 earthen mugs. 
 
 " The scarcity of wheat was a still greater calamity. 
 Norwich, of course, shared in the general dearth, but 
 the winter of 1777 appears to have been her only 
 season of actual deficiency and short allowance. The 
 authorities were obliged to enforce a strict scrutiny 
 into every man's means of subsistence, to see that 
 none of the necessaries of life were withheld from 
 a famishing community by monopolizers and avari- 
 cious engrossers. Each family was visited, and an 
 account of the grain in their possession, computed in 
 wheat, was taken. The surplusage, down to the quan- 
 tity of four quarts, was estimated. One hundred and 
 twenty-six families were at one time reported defi- 
 cient, viz. : 
 
 *' 42 up town, 26 down town, 12 West Farms and Portipaug, 2 Newent 
 and Hanover, 9 East Society, 27 Chelsea, 8 Bozrah.'" 
 
 " The following certificate is also upon record, and 
 though without date, belongs to this season : 
 
 " * This may certify that the whole number of inhabitants in the town 
 of Norwich is hungry ; for the quantity of grain computed in wheat is 
 scanty; the deficiency amounts to a great many bushels, as pr return of 
 the selectmen unto my office,,agreeable to the act of assembly. Certi- 
 fied by Galettia Simpson.' 
 
 "These facts in regard to the scant supply of the 
 necessaries of life apply only to the earlier years of the 
 war." After 1780 the tide turned, and in Norwich at 
 least the farms prospered, the mechanic arts flour- 
 ished, and there was almost a superabundance not 
 merely of the means of living, but of articles o"f lux- 
 ury and display. 
 
 " Those who remained at home, as well as those 
 who went into actual service, were often called on to 
 perform military duty. When most of the able-bodied 
 men were drawn off, a Heformado corps was established. 
 
 2 Hinman's Am. Bev., p. 431, 441. 
 
 8 "At this very period of greatest scarcity there was at least one dis- 
 tillery in operation in the town, as we learn from the records of the War 
 Committee, or Council of Safety, Dec. 11, 1777, to wit : 
 
 "*The Governor was desired to grant a license to Caleb Huntington, 
 of Norwich, to distil from rye the spirit called Geneva, to supply the in- 
 habitants of the State as far as he could, provided he retail the same at 
 a reasonable price, not to exceed 16». per gallon.' 
 
282 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 consisting of those whose age, infirmities, or other cir- 
 cumstances would not allow them to become regular 
 soldiers and endure the fatigue of the camp, but who 
 were willing to go forth on a sudden emergency. 
 
 " Early in 1776, Capt. McCall and Lieut. Jacob De- 
 Witt enrolled and organized a fine company of vet- 
 eran guards for home service and defense of the State 
 should it be invaded. These were well equipped with 
 arms in readiness for sudden emergencies. On the 
 12th of August, 1776, Gov. Trumbull issued an order 
 to Capt. MoCall to convene his company and enlist 
 as many as were willing, and to make up with others a 
 company, not less than ninety-three, and march im- 
 mediately to New York, in the most convenient man- 
 ner, by land or water, and there join the Nineteenth 
 Regiment of Connecticut militia. The order was in 
 consequence of a pressing requisition from Gen. Wash- 
 ington for reinforcements. 
 
 " The Veteran Guards were subsequently often 
 called out on short tours of duty upon alarms near 
 the sea-coast, at New London, Lyme, or Stonington. 
 " In 1779 a company under Capt. Ebenezer Lathrop, 
 and another under Capt. Ziba Hunt, of Newent, per- 
 formed tours of duty at New Loudon. 
 
 " In 1777 Connecticut raised eleven regiments, 
 nine for Continental service and two for the defense 
 of the State. Col. Jedediah Huntington and Col. 
 John Durkee, of Norwich, commanded two of the 
 Continental regiments. 
 
 " The army was in a great measure dependent upon 
 importations from France for a sufficiency of arms 
 and ammunition. The following vote of the Governor 
 and Council of Connecticut alludes to a fresh supply 
 of these necessary equipments : 
 
 " Sept. 26, 1777. It was voted that Maj.-Gen. Huntington Bhould be 
 desiredto cause to be made up 15,000 musket cartridges fitted to tlie new 
 French arms provided for the use of the Continental army, and pack 
 them in bunches of 18 cartridges each and lodge them in some safe place 
 in the town of Plaiufield.i 
 
 " In the earlier periods of the contest the town's 
 quota of soldiers was always quickly raised, and the 
 necessary supplies furnished with promptness and 
 liberality. The requisitions of the Governor were re- 
 sponded to from no quarter with more cheerfulness 
 and alacrity. In September, 1777, when extraordi- 
 nary exertions were made in many parts of New Eng- 
 land to procure tents, canteens, and clothing for the 
 army, many householders in Norwich voluntarily gave 
 up to the committee of the town all they could spare 
 from their own family stock, either as donations or, 
 where that could not be afforded, at a very low rate. 
 The ministers of all the churches on Thanksgiving 
 Day exhorted the people to remember the poor soldiers 
 and their families. 
 
 " Every year while the war continued persons were 
 appointed by the town to provide for the soldiers and 
 their families at the town expense, but much also was 
 
 ^ " Hinman's Rev. War. 
 
 raised by voluntary contributions. The following 
 items from contemporary newspapers furnish exam- 
 ples: 
 
 *"0n the last Sabbath of December, 1777, a contribution was taken 
 up in the several parishes of Norwich for the benefit of the officers and 
 soldiers who belonged to said town, when they collected 
 " ' 386 pr. of stockings, 208 pr. of mittens, 
 
 227 pr. of shoes, 11 buff caps, 
 
 118 shirts, 15 pr. of breeches, 
 
 78 jackets, 9 coats, 
 
 48 pr. of overalls, 22 rifie frocks, 
 
 19 handkerchiefs, and £258 17s. Sd. in money, which was forwarded to 
 the army. -Also collected a quantity of pork, cheese, wheat, rye, Indian 
 corn, sugar, rice, flax, weed, &c., to be distributed to the needy families 
 of the officers and soldiers. The whole of which amounted to the sum 
 of £1400.' 
 
 "'Norwich, Feb. 15, 1779. 
 
 " ' Yesterday a contribution was made at the Rev. Dr. Lord's meeting 
 for the distressed inhabitants of Newport, wbich have lately arrived 
 from Providence, when the sum of three hundred dollars was collected 
 for their relief.' 
 
 '"March, 1780. 
 
 " ' Mrs. Corning (wife of Mr. Joseph Corning, now a prisoner with the 
 enemy) being destitute of necessary clothing for her children, a number 
 of the ladies of Chelsea, of the first character and respectability, ap- 
 pointed a day on which they assembled and spent the same in spinning, 
 after which they presented Mrs. Corning with the yarn to a considerable 
 amount.' 
 
 The situation of New London was one of constant 
 alarm, in which all the surrounding towns partici- 
 pated. It was menaced in December, 1776, when the 
 hostile fleet found a rendezvous among the small 
 islands in the Sound, previous to taking possession of 
 Newport. All the militia in the eastern part of the 
 State turned out to oppose the expected descent. It 
 was observed, as band after band marched into New 
 London, that no company in order and equipments 
 equaled the light infantry of Norwich, under the 
 command of Col. Chr. Leffingwell. Many times dur- 
 ing the war the militia were summoned to New Lon- 
 don or Stonington on the appearance of an armed 
 force or the rumor of one. If a hostile vessel entered 
 the Sound no one knew its commission, and the alarm 
 was quickly spread from the seaboard into the coun- 
 try. The dreaded foe perhaps hovered near the coast 
 a few hours, made some startling feints, and then 
 passed away. Orders were given and countermanded, 
 and the wearied militia, hastily drawn from their 
 homes, returned again without having had the satis- 
 faction of seeing the enemy, or arriving on the spot 
 before the danger was over. 
 
 " Detachments from the Continental army fre- 
 quently passed through Norwich. In 1778 a body of 
 French troops, on the route from Providence to the 
 South, halted there for ten or fifteen days, on account 
 of sickness among them. They had their tents spread 
 upon the plain, while the sick were quartered in the 
 court-house. About twenty died and were buried 
 each side of the lane that led into the old burying- 
 yard. No stones were set up, and the ground was 
 soon smoothed over so as to leave no trace of the nar- 
 row tenements below. 
 
 " Gen. Washington passed through Norwich in 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 283 
 
 June, 1775, on his way to Cambridge. It is probable 
 tbat he came up the river in a packet-boat with his 
 horses and attendants. He spent the night at the 
 Landing, and the next day pursued his journey east- 
 ward. In April, 1776, after the evacuation of Boston 
 by the enemy, the American troops being ordered to 
 New York, came on in detachments by land, and 
 crossing the Shetucket at the old fording-place below 
 Greenville, embarked at Norwich and New London, 
 to finish the route by water. Gen. Washington ac- 
 companied one of the parties to Norwich, and met 
 Governor Trumbull by appointment at CoL Jedediah 
 Huntington's, where they dined together, and the 
 general that evening resumed his route to New York, 
 going down to New London by land. 
 
 " The inhabitants also had an opportunity of seeing 
 Lafayette, Steuben, Pulaski, and other distinguished 
 foreigners in our service. There was some who long 
 remembered the appearance of the noble Lafayette, 
 as he passed through the place on his way to New- 
 port. He had been there before, and needed no guide; 
 his aides and a small body-guard were with him, and 
 he rode up to the door of his friend, Col. Jedediah 
 Huntington, in a quick gallop. He wore a blue mili- 
 tary coat, but no vest and no stockings ; his boots be- 
 ing short, his leg was consequently left bare for a con- 
 siderable space below the knee. The speed with 
 which he was traveling and the great heat of the 
 weather were sufficient excuses for this negligence. 
 He took some refreshment and hastened forward. 
 
 " At another period he passed through with a de- 
 tachment of two thousand men under his command, 
 and encamped them for one night upon the plain. 
 In the morning, before their departure, he invited Mr. 
 Strong, the pastor of the place, to pray with them, 
 which he did, the troops being arranged in three sides 
 of a hollow square. 
 
 " Nearly fifty years afterwards, Aug. 21, 1824, the 
 venerable Lafayette again passed through Norwich. 
 Some old people, who remembered him, embraced 
 him and wept ; the general wept also. 
 
 " At one time during the war the Duke de Lauzun's 
 regiment of hussars was quartered in Lebanon, ten 
 miles from Norwich. Col. Jedediah Huntington in- 
 vited the officers to visit him, and prepared a hand- 
 some entertainment for them. They made a superb 
 appearance as they drove into town, being young, tall, 
 vivacious men, with handsome faces and a noble air, 
 mounted upon horses bravely caparisoned. The two 
 Dillons, brothers, one a major and the other a captain 
 in the regiment, were particularly distinguished for 
 their fine forms and expressive features. One or both 
 of these Dillons suffered death from the guillotine 
 during the French Eevolution. 
 
 " Lauzun was one of the most accomplished but 
 unprincipled noblemen of his time. He was cele- 
 brated for his handsome person, his liberality, wit, 
 bravery, but more than all for his profligacy. He 
 was born in 1747, inherited great wealth and high 
 
 titles, and spent all his early years in alternate scenes 
 of dissipation and traveling. He engaged in no pub- 
 lic enterprise till he came to America and took part 
 in the Revolutionary contest. The motives which 
 actuated this voluptuous nobleman to this undertak- 
 ing are not understood, very probably the thirst for 
 adventure and personal friendship for Lafayette. He 
 had run the career of pleasure to such an extent that 
 he was perhaps willing to pause awhile and restore 
 the energy of his satiated taste. Certain it is that 
 he embarked in the cause of the Americans with 
 ardor, bore privations with good temper, and made 
 himself very popular by his hilarity and generous 
 expenditure. 
 
 " After Lauzun returned to Europe he became inti- 
 mate with Talleyrand, and accompanied him on a mis- 
 sion to England in 1792, where one of his familiar as- 
 sociates was the Prince of Wales, afterwards George 
 IV. On the death of his uncle, the Duke de Biron, 
 he succeeded to the title, quarreled with the court, 
 and became a partisan of the Duke of Orleans. Af- 
 terwards he served against the Vendeans, but being 
 accused of secretly favoring them, was condemned, 
 and executed the last day of the year 1793. Such 
 was the future stormy career of this celebrated noble- 
 man, who, as already mentioned, in the midst of 
 friends and subordinates, enjoyed the banquet made 
 for him by Col. Huntington. After dinner the whole 
 party went out into the yard in front of the house 
 and made the air ring with huzzas for liberty. Nu- 
 merous loungers had gathered around the fence to get 
 a sight of these interesting foreigners, with whom 
 they conversed in very good English, and exhorted 
 to live free or die for liberty. 
 
 " It is well known that during the Revolutionary 
 war attempts were made to regulate the prices of arti- 
 cles by public statutes, in order to reduce the quantity 
 of the circulating medium. In Connecticut prices 
 were fixed by the civil authorities of each town in all 
 cases not determined by acts of Assembly. 
 
 " April 7, 1777. Voted, strictly to adhere to the law of the State reg- 
 ulating the prices of the necessaries of life; and we do resolve with 
 cheerfulness to exert our best endeavors within our sphere, to support 
 the honor of that good and salutary law. 
 
 " Dec. 29. Voted, that the town consider the articles of confederation 
 and perpetual union proposed by the Continental Congress wise and 
 salutary. 
 
 " 1778. Abstract of instructions to the representa- 
 tives of the town : 
 
 "1. To use their infinence to have taxes more equitable. 
 
 " 2. To have bills of credit called in. 
 
 " 3. Forfeited estates confiscated. 
 
 " i. The yeas and nays on all important questions published. 
 
 " 6. Profane swearing punished by disability to sustain offices. 
 
 " Oct. 1. Voted, to present a memorial to the General Assembly, pray- 
 ing for a just and equitable system of taxation and representation. 
 
 •' Extract from the memorial : 
 
 " * The Poll-tax your memorialists consider at the present day an in- 
 supportable burden on the poor, while a great part of the growing estate 
 of the rich is by law exempt from taxation. The present mode of rep- 
 resentation is also objected to by your memorialists. They believe all 
 
284 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 who pay taxes, and are of sober life and conversation, onght to have a 
 voice in all public communities where tlieir monies and properties are 
 disposed of for public uses.' 
 
 " It is not surprising that the subject of taxation 
 should be one of exciting interest in a community 
 who were annually paying 6d., 9d., and I2d. on the 
 pound for the use of the army. At one time in Con- 
 necticut, when the currency was at par, a rate of even 
 lid. was necessary to meet the exigencies of the 
 treasury. 
 
 "The town afterwards presented another petition 
 to the Assembly, the substance of which was that 
 every kind of property, and that only, should be the 
 object of taxation. This general principle, they say, 
 is in their view the only equitable one. Committees 
 were sent to several neighboring towns to get their 
 minds on the subject, and they at length resolved to 
 publish, at the expense of the town, the prevalent 
 views of the citizens on taxation, in the form of a let- 
 ter to the freemen of the State, a copy of it to be sent 
 to every town. In this letter the deficiencies of the 
 existing system were ably pointed out. 
 
 *' ' By the present system six of the poorest swine a year old are rated 
 equal to £100 in cash at interest, and 30 such swine equal to a house of 
 £1(X)0. The meanest horse, even 30 years old, is on a par with the best 
 in his prime. An acre of the best land is rated no higher than the 
 poorest that is arable in the State. 
 
 " ' Industry, which ought to be encouraged, is doubly taxed, and that 
 in a very capricious and vague manner.' 
 
 "The objections against the poll-tax were these : 
 
 " * That it is a personal tax, and ought to be paid in personal service, 
 that is, in defending the community ; that it is a double tax, the poor 
 man paying for his poll, which is the substitute for his labor, and for the 
 avails of his labor also ; that it is impolitic, as tending to prevent early 
 marriages, which promote industry, frugality, and every social virtue.' 
 
 " The committee upon this memorial were some of 
 the choice spirits of Norwich, — Benjamin Hunting- 
 ton, Dr. Theophilus Rogers, Dr. Elisha Tracy, Aaron 
 Cleveland, Jonathan Huntington, and Nathaniel 
 Niles. The document has strong points, but it is not 
 known from which of the members it emanated. 
 
 "Again, three years later (1781), the town made 
 another effort to obtain their favorite measures, — the 
 abrogation of the poll-tax, and the extension of the 
 right of suffrage. The instructions given to the rep- 
 resentatives embraced the following measures : 
 
 " That polls be struck out of the tax-list or rated low. 
 "That all who pay taxes be allowed to vote, if of good moral char- 
 acter. 
 " That debates in the House be open. 
 " That absentees be fined, 
 " That a regular constitution be formed. 
 
 " In October, 1780, a convention was held at Hart- 
 ford to consider what measures should be taken in 
 regard to trade and currency. The delegates from 
 Norwich were Daniel Rodman and Solomon Safford ; 
 the committee to draft their instructions, Elisha La- 
 throp, Christopher Leffingwell, and Aaron Cleveland. 
 They were directed to urge the loaning of money to 
 Congress to defray the public expenses, and prevent 
 the necessity of a further emission of paper money. 
 
 " * In town meeting, June 24, 1780, — 
 
 " * Voted, that a committee of fifty able, judicious men be appointed to 
 engage fifty able-bodied, efiective men, required of this town to fill up 
 our complement of the Continental army for three years, or during the 
 war: each member of the committee to procure one soldier, and pay him 
 twenty silver dollars bounty, over and above the bounty given by the 
 State, and pay him the same annually as long as he continues in the ser- 
 vice ; also 40«. per month in silver money, or Indian corn at 3b. per 
 bushel, fresh pork at 3(Z. per pound, and wheat at 6«. per bushel.' 
 
 "The committee were not able to carry this vgte 
 into effect, — the term of enlistment was too long, — nor 
 were the men raised until by a subsequent vote the 
 term of service was restricted to six months. In July 
 of the same year, upon a requisition of the Governor, 
 twenty-seveu more men were enlisted for six months, 
 to whom the same bounty and pay were given. 
 
 " The General Assembly had passed an act to ar- 
 range all the inhabitants of the State into classes, 
 each class to raise so many recruits and furnish such 
 and such clothing and other supplies. Norwich at 
 first refused to enter upon this system and remon- 
 strated. With great reluctance, the measure was at 
 last adopted by the inhabitants, and being found to 
 accomplish the end, was continued through the war, 
 though it was never popular with them. 
 
 " After recovering from the first stunning blow of 
 the Revolution, the inhabitants of Norwich were not 
 only alert in turning their attention to various indus- 
 trial pursuits, but engaged also in the brilliant 
 chance game of privateering. The war, therefore, 
 while it exhausted the strength and resources of 
 neighboring towns that lay exposed upon the sea- 
 coast, acted like a spur to the enterprise of Norwich. 
 New London, at the mouth of the river, was depressed 
 in all her interests, kept in continual alarm, and 
 finally, by the blazing torch of the enemy, almost 
 swept from the fare of the earth ; but Norwich, se- 
 curely seated at the head of the river, defended by 
 her hills and nourished by her valleys, planting and ' 
 reaping without fear of invasion or loss, not only 
 built new shops and dwelling-houses, and engaged 
 with spirit and success in a variety of new manufac- 
 tures, but entered into ship-building, and boldly sent 
 out her vessels to bring in spoils from the ocean. 
 
 " In 1781 and 1782 the town was overflowing with 
 merchandise, both tropical and European.^ New 
 mercantile firms were established, — Daniel Rodman, 
 Samuel Woodbridge, Lynde McCurdy, and others, — 
 and lavish varieties of fancy texture, as well- as the 
 substantial products of almost every climate, were 
 offered for sale. The shelves and counters of the 
 fashionable class of shops displayed such articles as 
 superfine broadcloths, men's silk hose, India silks, 
 Damascus silks, taffetas, satins, Persians, and velvets, 
 blonde lace, gauzes, and chintzes. These goods were 
 mostly obtained by successful privateering. 
 
 " Another class of merchandise, generally of a 
 
 1 In May, 1782. a very large stock and great variety of European 
 goods, imported in the hrigantine "Firebrand" from Amsterdam, was 
 sold by auction at the store of Messrs, Zabdiel Rogers & Co., Bean Hill. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 285 
 
 cheaper kind, and not dealt in by honorable traders, 
 but covertly offered for sale in various places or dis- 
 tributed by pedlers, was obtained by secret and un- 
 lawful intercourse with the enemy. 
 
 " The coast of Connecticut being entirely girdled 
 by Long Island and New York, and the British and 
 Tories having these wholly under their control, it was 
 very difficult to prevent the secret intercourse and 
 traffic of the two parties through the Sound. In the 
 letter years of the war especially a corrupt, under- 
 hand, smuggling trade prevailed to a great extent, 
 which was emboldened by the indifference or conniv- 
 ance of the local authorities, and stimulated by the 
 readiness of people to purchase cheap goods without 
 asking from whence they came. Remittances for 
 these goods must be made in coin, therefore they were 
 sold only for cash, which, finding its way back to the 
 enemy's lines, impoverished the country. Thus the 
 traffic operated against agriculture and manufactures, 
 against honest labor and lawful trade. Moreover, it 
 nullified the laws and brought them into contempt. 
 
 " Against this illicit traffic a strong association was 
 formed at Norwich in July, 1782. The company 
 bound themselves by solemn pledges of life, fortune, 
 and honor to support the civil authority ; to hold no 
 intercourse, social or mercantile, with persons de- 
 tected in evading the laws ; to furnish men and boats 
 for keeping watch in suspected places, and to search 
 out and break up all deposits of smuggled goods ; 
 such goods to be seized, sold, and the avails devoted 
 to charitable purposes. 
 
 " The vigorous manner in which this company 
 began to carry out their principles caused great com- 
 motion in the ranks of the guilty parties. Suspected 
 persons suddenly disappeared; sales were postponed ; 
 goods which before had been openly exposed with- 
 drew into cellars and meal-chests, or were concealed 
 in barns under the hay, and in hollow trees, thickets, 
 and ravines. 
 
 " Several seizures were made during the season, but 
 the treaty of peace soon put an end to this clandes- 
 tine traffic, and the association had but a brief exist- 
 ence. 
 
 " Its object, however, was creditable to the patriot- 
 ism and efficiency of the inhabitants, and a list of the 
 signers gives us the names of sixty-eight prominent 
 men who were on the stage of life at the close of the 
 war, and all within the bounds of the present town. 
 
 Mf.mbees of the Association against Illicit Trad£,i alphabeti- 
 cally ABBANOED. 
 
 Samuel Abbot, 
 Elijjih Backns, 
 Epiiraim Bill, 
 Jonathan Boardman, 
 John M. Breed, 
 Shubael Breed, 
 Samuel Capron, 
 Eliphalet Carew, 
 Joseph Carew, 
 
 Simeon Carew, 
 Tlionias Coit, 
 William Coit, 
 John (Jrary, 
 Jacob Do Witt, 
 Michael Dumont, 
 Thomas Fanning, 
 Jabez Fitch, 
 Joseph Gale, 
 
 Joseph Howliind, 
 Andrew Huntington, 
 Eliphalet Huntington, 
 Jonathan Huntington, 
 Joshua Huntington, 
 Levi Huntington, 
 Simeon Huntington, 
 William Hubbard, 
 Kussell Hubbard & Son, 
 Ebeuezer Jones, 
 Joshua Lathrop, 
 Rufus Lathrop, 
 Christopher Leflingwell, 
 Benajah Leflingwell, 
 Jonathan Lester, 
 Elihu Marvin, 
 John McCall, 
 Lynde McCurdy, 
 Seth Miner, 
 Thomas Mumford, 
 Nathaniel Niles, 
 Kobert Niles, 
 Timothy Parker, 
 Asa Peabody, 
 Nathaniel P. Peabody, 
 
 Joseph Peck, 
 Andrew Perkins, 
 Jabez Perkins, 
 Jabez Perkins Jr., 
 Joseph Perkins, 
 Joseph Perkins, Jr., 
 ErastUB Perkins, 
 Hezekiah Perkins, 
 Levi Perkins, 
 Daniel Rodman, 
 Theophiius Rogers, 
 Zabdiel Rogers, 
 Kansford Rose, 
 Andrew Tracy, Jr., 
 Mundator Tracy, 
 Samuel Tracy, 
 Asa Watei-man, Jr., 
 Samuel Wheat, 
 Joseph Wijitmarsh, 
 Benajah Williams, 
 Joseph Williams, 
 Jacob Witter, 
 Dudley Woodbridge, 
 Samuel Woodbridge, 
 Alexander Youngs. 
 
 I Conn. Gazette, vol. xix. 
 
 " In January, 1781, the inhabitants were divided 
 into forty classes to raise forty soldiers, which was 
 their quota for the Continental army ; and again into 
 twenty classes for a State quota to serve at Horseneck 
 and elsewhere. A list of persons in each class was 
 made out, and each taxed in due proportion for the 
 pay and fitting out of one recruit, whom they were 
 to procure; two shirts, two pairs of woolen stockings, 
 shoes, and mittens were requisite for every soldier; 
 arms and uniforms were furnished by the State or 
 country. 
 
 " Each soldier's family was in the charge of a com- 
 mittee to see that they were supplied with the neces- 
 saries of life, for which the soldier's wages to a certain 
 amount were pledged. The whole number of classes 
 this year to procure clothing was sixty-six. 
 
 " In 1782 only thirty-three classes were required. 
 
 " 1783. Instructions were given to the representa- 
 tives to use their influence with the Assembly to ob- 
 tain a remonstrance against the five years' pay granted 
 by Congress to the officers of the Continental army. 
 The manifesto of the town on this subject was fiery, 
 dictatorial, and extravagant. A few paragraphs will 
 show in strong relief the characteristics of the people, 
 — jealous of their rights, quick to take alarm, and 
 sensitively watchful over their cherished liberties. 
 
 "'Where is the free son of America that ever had it in idea when 
 adopting the Articles of Confederation to have pensions bestowed on those 
 characters (if any such there be) whose virtue could not hold them in 
 service without such rewards over and above the contract which first 
 engaged them ? 
 
 " ' For a free people, just rising out of a threatening slavery into free 
 shining prospects of a most glorious peace and independence, now to 
 be taxed without their consent to support and maintain a large number 
 of gentlemen as pensioners in a time of universal peace, is, in our view 
 unconstitutional and directly in opposition to thesentiment of the States 
 at large, and was one great spoke in the wheel which moved at first our 
 late struggle with our imperious and tyrannical foes.' 
 
 " Further instructions were given at the same time 
 to the representatives to urge upon the Assembly the 
 necessity of keeping a watchful eye upon the pro- 
 
 19 
 
286 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY. CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ceedings of Congress, to see that they did not exceed 
 the powers vested in them, and to appoint a commit- 
 tee at every session to tal^e into consideration the 
 journals of Congress, and approve or disapprove, ap- 
 plaud or censure the conduct of the delegates. 
 
 "At no period during the war were the people of 
 Norwich alarmed with the fear of a direct invasion 
 of the enemy, except at the time of the attack on New 
 London, Sept. 6, 1781. It was then rumored that 
 Arnold, inflamed with hatred against the country he 
 had betrayed, and cherishing a vengeful spirit to- 
 wards his native town, had determined at all hazards 
 to march thither and spread desolation through the 
 homes of his ancient friends and neighbors. Prepara- 
 tions were therefore made to receive him ; goods were 
 packed, and women and children made ready for 
 flight. The fiery patriots of Norwich wished for 
 nothing more than that he should attempt to march 
 thither, as it would give them a long-coveted oppor- 
 tunity of wreaking their vengeance on the traitor. 
 But the undertaking was too hazardous ; Arnold, if 
 he had the will, was too prudent to attempt anything 
 but a sudden and transient attempt upon the sea- 
 board. 
 
 " The last time that the militia were called out 
 during the war was in September, 1782. A detail of 
 the circumstances will serve as a specimen of the 
 harassing alarms which had previously often oc- 
 curred. 
 
 " Benajah LefBngwell was then lieutenant-colonel 
 of the Twentieth Regiment, and at seven o'clock in the 
 morning an express reached him with the following 
 order : 
 
 '"To Major Lefflngwell : I have certain intelligence that there is a 
 large fleet in the Sound, designed for some part of the Main— would 
 hereby request you without loss of time to notify the regiment under 
 your command to be ready to march at the shortest notice— also send 
 expresses to New London immediately for further news, and continue 
 e-xpresses as occasion may be. Tour humble servant in the greatest 
 haste. 
 
 " ' Samuel M'Clellanb, Colonel. 
 
 " ' Wednesday morning, six o'clock. 
 
 " ' I have much more to Bay if I had time. I am on the road to New 
 London from Windham, where express came to me in the night.' 
 
 " Before nine o'clock the whole regiment had been 
 summoned to turn out with one or two days' provi- 
 sions, and be ready to march on hearing the alarm 
 guns. 
 
 " The regiment upon the ground that day, as the 
 returns of the orderly-book show, consisted of one 
 field-offlcer, thirty-five commissioned ofhcers, and 
 seven hundred and fifty-eight men, in eleven com- 
 panies, under the following captains: Joseph Carew, 
 Samuel Wheat, Isaac Johnson, Nathan Waterman^ 
 Moses Stephens, William Pride, Jabez Deming, Abner 
 Ladd, Jonathan Waterman, Samuel Lovett Jacob 
 DeWitt. 
 
 "Orders at last came for them to march; they were 
 just ready to start when the order was countermanded. 
 Again an express arrived saying that the fleet ap- 
 peared to be bound in, and orders were issued to 
 
 stand ready. One hour they heard that the enemy 
 was making preparations for a descent, the next that 
 the fleet was moving up the Sound. Finally the 
 hostile ships, having explored Gardiner's Bay, flitted 
 out of the Sound, and the militia, after two days of 
 harassing suspense, were dismissed to their homes." 
 
 Benedict Aenold.^ — The painful task now de- 
 volves upon the writer to chronicle some of the leading 
 events in the career of one whose baseness has been 
 unequaled since the day that his prototype betrayed 
 his master for thirty pieces of silver. The faithful 
 historian will be just to all ; hence no attempt will 
 be made to remove the stain which has long tarnished 
 the history of this fair section of country. Benedict 
 Arnold descended from an honorable Rhode Island 
 family, where one of his ancestors, bearing the same 
 name, held the office of Governor for fifteen years. 
 Two brothers of this family, Benedict and Oliver, re- 
 moved from Newport to Norwich in 1730. The 
 elder Benedict, the father of the traitor, soon became 
 engaged in business, and not long after his arrival in 
 Norwich married Mrs. Hannah King, whose maiden 
 name was Lathrop. Benedict, the subject of this 
 sketch, was born in Norwich, .Ian. 3, 1741. Early in 
 life he was apprenticed to Dr. Lathrop, a druggist in 
 Norwich, with whom he remained during his minority. 
 He subsequently embarked in the same business in 
 New Haven, and while there became the captain of 
 a company of militia. After the battle at Lexington 
 he made a hasty march to Cambridge at the head of 
 his company, and volunteered his services to the 
 Massachusetts Committee of Safety. With the rank 
 of colonel in the Continental army, he joined Ethan 
 Allen and assisted in the taking of Ticonderoga in 
 May, 1775. In the expedition against Quebec, in the 
 autumn and winter of 1775, he took a leading part. 
 Having been wounded at Quebec and at Saratoga, 
 his disability was of a character to render him unfit 
 for active field service, and he was consequently, by 
 Washington, placed in command at Philadelphia 
 after the place had been evacuated by Clinton in 
 1778. He was at this date a major-general in the 
 Continental army. While at Philadelphia he lived 
 in a style far above his means, and his haughty and 
 overbearing manner involved him in a quarrel with 
 the authorities of Pennsylvania, who accused him 
 before Congress of abusing his official position and 
 misusing the public funds. After a long delay he 
 was tried by a court-martial and was sentenced to be 
 reprimanded by the commander-in-chief Washing- 
 ton performed this disagreeable task as delicately as 
 possible, but did not lose his confidence in Arnold. 
 While in Philadelphia, Arnold married the daughter 
 of Judge Shippen, a Tory, which connection enabled 
 him to communicate without discovery with the Brit- 
 ish ofiicers. He opened a correspondence with Sir 
 Henry Clinton, signing himself "Gustavus." In the 
 
 ' By Ashbel Woodward, M.D. 
 
NOKWICH. 
 
 287 
 
 mean time, at his earnest solicitation, he was ap- 
 pointed by Washington, in August, 1780, to the com- 
 mand of West Point, the strongest and most import- 
 ant fortress in America. He sought this command 
 with the deliberate intention of betraying the post 
 into the hands of the enemy. In compliance with a 
 previous understanding, Arnold and Maj. Andr6 
 met at Haverstraw, on the west bank of the Hudson, 
 Sept. 22, 1780, and arrangements were fully com- 
 pleted for an easy conquest of the fortress by the 
 English. 
 
 On his return to the city of New York, Andre was 
 arrested as a spy at Tarrytown, was tried by a court- 
 martial, and sentenced to be executed by hanging. 
 He suffered the penalty of his crime Oct. 2, 1780. 
 When it became known to Arnold that AndrS had 
 been arrested, he fled from West Point in the utmost 
 haste, and in his flight took passage to New York 
 City in the "Vulture," a British sloop-of-war. He 
 was immediately made a brigadier-general in the 
 British service, which rank he preserved throughout 
 the war as a stipulated reward of his treachery. 
 
 Early, in 1781 he was dispatched by Sir Henry 
 Clinton to make a diversion into Virginia. After his 
 recall he conducted an expedition against Connecti- 
 cut. The objective point was the flourishing town of 
 New London. He took Fort Trumbull, September 
 6th, with inconsiderable loss. A detachment made 
 an assault on Fort Griswold, on Groton Heights, and 
 with great difficulty entered the works. The brave 
 but conquered defenders of the fortress after their 
 surrender became the victims of a most merciless 
 slaughter. New London was plundered and laid in 
 ashes. After a brief campaign of conflagration and 
 slaughter, Arnold returned to New York, crowned 
 with a description of laurels that no one would covet 
 unless totally lost to a true sense of honor. Arnold 
 died at Gloucester, London, in June, 1801. 
 
 " Capt. Oliver Aenold, of Norwich, the uncle 
 of Benedict, died in 1781. He had long been an in- 
 valid, and left his family with but little for their sup- 
 port. To these relatives Benedict was always liberal, 
 and even after his exile made them occasional remit- 
 tances. The oldest son, Freegift, he assisted in ob- 
 taining a good classical education, and designed him 
 for one of the professions; but the young man joined 
 himself to the Sons of Liberty, entered into the naval 
 service under Paul Jones, and after fighting bravely 
 came home with a ruined constitution to languish 
 and die. The other son, Oliver, had a peculiar talent 
 for making extemporaneous rhymes, which seemed to 
 flow from him without premeditation, in all the ease 
 of common speech, so that his casual remarks and 
 answers to questions would often run in a jingling 
 measure. Many of these familiar rhymes were for- 
 merly current in the neighborhood. They were mostly 
 of a local and transient character. An example of 
 more general interest, which has been often_quoted, is 
 the following: 
 
 " In a bookseller's shop in New Haven Oliver Ar- 
 nold was introduced to Joel Barlow, who had just 
 then acquired considerable notoriety by the publica- 
 tion of an altered edition of Watts' Psalms and 
 Hymns. Barlow asked for a specimen of his talent, 
 upon which the wandering poet immediately repeated 
 the following stanza : 
 
 " ' You've proved yourself a sinful cre'tur' ; 
 You've murdered Watts, and spoilt the metre ; 
 You've tried the Word of God to alter, 
 And for your pains deserve a halter.' 
 
 " Oliver was also a sailor and a patriot, and cor- 
 dially despised the course taken by his cousin Bene- 
 dict in betraying his country. 
 
 " In his habits he was roving and unsettled, ab- 
 senting himself from home in long and vagrant ram- 
 bles, from one of which he never returned. Accord- 
 ing to report, he was found dead by the wayside on a 
 road little frequented in the northern part of New 
 York. 
 
 " Three daughters of Capt. Oliver Arnold, sisters of 
 Freegift and Oliver the rhymester, died aged but un- 
 married, the last of the family in Norwich. The 
 brothers Benedict and Oliver, with their wives, and 
 six children of the former and four of the latter, were 
 interred near the centre of the old burial-lot, but 
 mostly without inscribed gravestones. 
 
 " Gen. Ebenezee Huntington.^ — Ebenezer, the 
 fourth son of Gen. Jabez, was a member of Yale Col- 
 lege, and within two months of completing his course 
 when the battle of Bunker Hill was fought. He and 
 other ardent young patriots of his class asked per- 
 mission of President Daggett to leave the institution 
 and enlist as volunteers in the army that was gather- 
 ing at Boston. Being refused, they decamped in the 
 night, hastened to Wethersfleld, where there was a 
 recruiting station, enrolled their names, and were 
 soon on duty at the heights of Dorchester. 
 
 "Mr. Huntington was at first threatened by the 
 college faculty with the loss of his degree, but ulti- 
 mately, as he was under no previous censure, he wag 
 allowed to graduate with his class in 1775. 
 
 " In the army he rose by successive promotions to 
 the rank of colonel, and took part in several of the 
 most remarkable contests of the war. After his com- 
 mission as captain of a company, in October, 1776, he 
 lived with the army, and was ever at his post in camp 
 and field, losing no time in long furloughs for rest 
 and recreation. Subsequent to the evacuation of New 
 York his regiment was stationed on the Hudson, at 
 Fort Lee, Tarrytown, and Tappan Bay. In 1778 he 
 was sent in command of a battalion to Rhode Island 
 to operate against the British, who then held posses- 
 sion of Newport. He afterwards joined the main 
 army, and participated in several severe engagements 
 with the enemy. At the siege of Yorktown he served 
 a part of the time as volunteer aide to Gen. Lincoln, 
 
 1 For Wography of Gen, Jedo<liah Huntington, see chapter xxviii. 
 
288 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 and in that capacity witnessed the magnificent spec- 
 tacle of the surrender of Cornwallis to the soldiers of 
 liherty.i He remained on duty with the army till the 
 troops were disbanded, having served through the 
 whole war from April, 1775, to May, 1783. 
 
 "Gen. Huntington retired from the army to the 
 peaceful pursuits of merchandise. But his experi- 
 ence in tact and military evolutions and discipline 
 made it desirable that he should be retained in the 
 home service. In 1792 he was appointed major-gen- 
 eral of the militia of the State, an office which he 
 held more than thirty years, under six successive Gov- 
 ernors. 
 
 " In 1799 he was appointed by President Adams, at 
 the recommendation of Gen. Washington, a brigadier- 
 general in the United States army, raised upon the 
 apprehension of a war with France. In 1810, and 
 again in 1817, he was elected member of Congress. He 
 died June 17, 1834, in the eightieth year of his age. 
 
 " Gen. Huntington was noted for his fine manly 
 form and military deportment. He was twice mar- 
 ried. His first wife was Sarah Isham, of Colchester ; 
 his second, Mary Lucretia, daughter of Gen. Samuel 
 McClellan, of Woodstock. 
 
 " Zachariah, the fifth son of Gen. Jabez Hunting- 
 ton, was too young to take part in the Revolutionary 
 contest, but he attained a high rank in the militia, 
 and was endowed by nature with many soldierlike 
 qualities, — a commanding person, a voice of great 
 compass, firmness of purpose, and habits of great 
 precision and accuracy. 
 
 " It is seldom that five such distinguished men as 
 the brothers Huntington appear in one family, all 
 living to an age ranging from seventy to eighty-six 
 years. 
 
 " Joseph Teumbull, Commissary. — When the war 
 commenced Norwich had on her roll of inhabitants 
 no one of fairer promise or of more zealous devotion 
 to the cause of liberty than Joseph Trumbull. He 
 was the eldest son of Governor Trumbull, and born 
 at Lebanon, March 11, 1737, but had been for twelve 
 or fifteen years a resident in Norwich, taking an ac- 
 tive part in the business, the municipal aiJairs and 
 patriotic proceedings of the town. In 1775 he was 
 appointed the first commissary-general of the Ameri- 
 can army, an important and honorable office, but 
 bringing with it a crushing weight of perplexity, 
 labor, and responsibility. He devoted himself with 
 unremitting ardor to his duties, and was soon worn 
 out by them. In July, 1778, he came from Philadel- 
 phia with a desponding heart and a broken constitu- 
 tion. His father and other friends gathered around 
 him, and after a few days of rest he was carefully re- 
 moved from his home in Norwich to his father's 
 house in Lebanon, where he died July 23d, aged 
 forty-two. 
 
 1 In Trumbull's historical picture of the surrender of Cornwallis, 
 Gen. Huntington is represented in the group of American officers, his 
 portrait having been taken by the artist from life. 
 
 " The hopes of his friends, who expected much 
 from his talents and integrity, and whose affections 
 were fondly fixed upon his person, were blasted by 
 his untimely death. In the eulogy pronounced at 
 his funeral great praise is awarded to his abilities, 
 his patriotism, and his moral worth, and it is added, 
 ' In all the winning and agreeable arts of life he had 
 no superior.' These qualities account for the tender 
 attachment of his friends and the lamentations that 
 were uttered on his death. 
 
 " Col. John Duekee. — John Durkee was a native 
 of Windham, but settled early in life at Norwich. He 
 served upon the frontier against the French in several 
 distinct expeditions, and afterwards held the rank of 
 major in the militia. He kept an inn, cultivated a 
 farm, and was often engaged in public business. After 
 the repeal of the Stamp Act he became interested in 
 the purchase made by the Susquehanna Company in 
 Pennsylvania, and was one of the forty pioneers sent 
 out by the company in 1769 to take possession of the 
 Wyoming Valley. Robert Durkee was also of the com- 
 pany, and the first fortress erected by these emigrants 
 was called Fort Durkee. 
 
 " Against this scanty band of settlers the Penna- 
 mites or Pennsylvania claimants of the valley soon 
 appeared in considerable force, and an obstinate con- 
 test for the possession of the territory ensued. Maj. 
 Durkee was at one time carried to Philadelphia as a 
 prisoner, but when released returned to the scene of 
 conflict. After a long and stormy experience the 
 Connecticut party so far prevailed as to keep posses- 
 sion of their settlements. 
 
 "Maj. Durkee afterwards returned to Norwich, and 
 the trouble with England deepening and gradually 
 overshadowing the land, he relinquished the idea of re- 
 moving to the western wilderness. His brother Robert 
 remained at Wyoming, and was subsequently oneof the 
 victims of Indian barbarity in the fearful slaughter of 
 July 3, 1778. His name is on the commemorative 
 monument in the Wyoming Valley. 
 
 " Maj. Durkee was promoted to the command of a 
 regiment, and took part in the battles of Long Island, 
 Harlem Heights, White Plains, Trenton, and Mon- 
 mouth. He was also with Gen. Sullivan in the ex- 
 pedition against the Six Nations. But his health 
 gradually failed, and in 1780 he resigned his com- 
 mand, and was succeeded by Lieut.-Col. Thomas Gros- 
 venor, of Pomfret. 
 
 " He died before the return of peace. May 29, 1782, 
 in his fifty-fourth year. One of his sons, a youthful 
 volunteer, aged seventeen years, died in 1777, of 
 wounds received in fighting for his country.^ 
 
 " Col. Benjamin Throop was another gallant officer 
 who served in the regular army. He enlisted as first 
 lieutenant in April, 1775 ; was promoted by successive 
 
 2 Out of twenty recruits that enlisted from Norwich in the company 
 of Capt. Nathaniel Webb, of Windham (Durkec's regiment), from 1776 
 to 1778, engaging to serve during the war, only four were over twenty 
 yeara of age. — WehVs Orderly-Book. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 289 
 
 steps to the rank of colonel, and continued in the ser- 
 vice to the end of the war. 
 
 "Col. Zabdiel Eogers, of the State militia, was 
 often called out during the war. In 1775 his regiment 
 was sent with others from the State to the city of New 
 York. It was afterwards several times ordered to the 
 western border line of Connecticut. In 1781 he was 
 on duty at Eye and Horseneck. 
 
 " The brothers Christopher and Benajali Leffing- 
 well, belonging to the State militia, were often sum- 
 moned to the sea-coast upon an alarm of invasion, 
 or to take a turn in manning the forts and batteries. 
 In 1777, Benajah Leffingwell, then captain of a com- 
 pany, performed a tour of duty in Rhode Island. 
 
 " Christopher Leffingwell was an early and active 
 member of the Committee of Correspondence, and 
 eminently useful in rousing the spirit of the people, 
 and in devising ways and means by which the common 
 cause might be benefited. 
 
 " He was a grandson of the second Thomas Leffing- 
 well, of Norwich, and died Nov. 27, 1810, aged seventy- 
 six years. His life through its whole length was active, 
 useful, and prosperous. 
 
 " Capt. David Nevins enlisted early in the contest 
 for liberty, and lived long to witness its happy results. 
 He was first employed as the confidential messenger 
 of the Norwich Committee of Correspondence, one of 
 those voluntary patriotic agencies that managed the 
 whole business of the Revolution in its earlier stages. 
 His personal activity and daring spirit, combined with 
 trustworthiness and ardent participation in the popu- 
 lar cause, peculiarly fitted him for the work. But the 
 battle of Lexington carried him from all minoremploy- 
 ments into the army. He joined the Eighth Company, 
 Sixth Regiment, which was organized on Norwich 
 Green in May, 1765, and was its color-bearer on Dor- 
 chester Heights. 
 
 " He remained with the army during the siege of 
 Boston, the occupation of New York, and the retreat 
 through the Jerseys, returning home in the winter of 
 1777. He did not, however, relinquish the service of 
 his country, but was several times again in the field 
 upon various emergencies during the war. 
 
 "Capt. Nevins was born at Canterbury, Sept. 12, 
 1747, and died in New York, Jan. 21, 1838, aged 
 ninety. 
 
 " Capt. Jedediah Hyde, son of the Separatist min- 
 ister, born in 1738, left his farm and family— a wife 
 and eight children — to enlist among the first recruits 
 in the cause of liberty. After the war he removed to 
 Vermont, and about the year 1788 established himself 
 at Hyde Park, in that State, which place derives its 
 name from him. He died in 1825. 
 
 " Capt. James Hyde, of Bean Hill, who married 
 Martha Nevins, and Capt. James Hyde, of the West 
 Farms, whose wife was Eunice Backus, were both en- 
 gaged in the Revolutionary contest, the former on the 
 land and the latter on the sea. Capt. Hyde of the 
 army was a man noted for his gentleness and philan- 
 
 thropy, yet he enlisted early, fought bravely, and 
 served to the end of the war. Great must have been 
 the hatred of British tyranny that moved such a spirit 
 to rush into the battle-field. He was afterwards a 
 Methodist local preacher. 
 
 " Capt. Jared Tracy served as a commissary during 
 the siege of Boston, and subsequently fought the 
 enemy upon the sea. After the war he went into 
 the West India trade, and died at Demerara in 1790. 
 William G. Tracy, an early and prominent settler at 
 Whitestown, N. Y., was his son. 
 
 " Capt. Simeon Huntington commanded a company 
 in Col. Huntington's regiment, and served through 
 the first two campaigns of the war. He was a man 
 of bold, adventurous spirit, and had taken a con- 
 spicuous part in resistance to the Stamp Act. He 
 died in 1817, aged seventy-seven. 
 
 " Capt. Elisha Prior, of Norwich, was in the gar- 
 rison of Fort Griswold when it was stormed by the 
 British, and received a severe wound. He died at 
 Sag Harbor, L. I., in 1817. 
 
 " Lieut. Andrew Griswold, of Durkee's regiment, 
 was wounded at the battle of Germantown by a ball 
 in the knee and made a cripple for life. He lay for 
 ten months in the hospital at Reading, Pa., and was 
 afterwards only able to perform light service in camp 
 and fortress. But he still clung to the army, and 
 when the war closed was at West Point. He died at 
 Norwich in 1827, at the age of seventy-two. 
 
 " Capt. Richard Lamb, a native of Leicester, Mass., 
 served during most of the war in the Connecticut 
 militia, and was stationed at Danbury and at Fish- 
 kill, N. Y. He belonged to a company of artificers, 
 and recruited for this company at Norwich in Sep- 
 tember, 1777. After the conclusion of the war he 
 came to Norwich, married the sister of Lieut. An- 
 drew Griswold, and became a permanent inhabitant 
 of the place. He died in 1810. 
 
 " Capt. Andrew Lathrop commanded a company in 
 1776, and was on duty in New York. 
 
 "The brothers Asa and Arunah Waterman took an 
 active part in the war as soldiers, agents, and com- 
 missaries. 
 
 " Capts. Asa Kingsbury and Ebenezer Hartshorn, 
 John Ellis, and Joshua Barker, all of the West 
 Farms, were in the service for longer or shorter 
 periods. 
 
 "Ebenezer and Simon Perkins, not brothers, but 
 both of the Newent family, were Revolutionary 
 
 captains. 
 
 " Lieut. Nathaniel Kirtland, of Newent, was killed 
 
 in battle Oct. 12, 1777. 
 
 "Lieut. Charles Fanning was an ensign of the 
 Fourth Connecticut Battalion in 1776 ; was often re- 
 ferred to as one of the town's quota during the war, 
 and is on the roll of Continental officers that served 
 till the army was disbanded. 
 
 " It would be a pleasing task to register the names 
 and memorials of all those old soldiers and patriots of 
 
290 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Norwich, to whom later generations are so much in- 
 debted, but after the most diligent gleaning only a 
 few individuals can be named. The town covered a 
 large area. It furnished a throng of volunteers at the 
 opening of the war, and its regular quota afterwards. 
 But we have no muster-roll of the men, and respect- 
 ing many of the officers nothing is recovered beyond 
 a casual reference in the relation of incidental mat- 
 ters or the record of a death. 
 
 " The highest honor belongs to those who served 
 during the whole war. The following have an un- 
 doubted claim to this distinction, as various public 
 records and returns show that half-pay during life 
 and bounty lands were awarded to them by the gov- 
 ernment on that account : Eev. John Ellis, chaplain ; 
 Brig.-Geu. Jedediah Huntington, Lieut.-Col. Eben- 
 ezer Huntington, Maj. Benjamin Throop, Lieuts. 
 Charles Fanning, James Hyde, Andrew Griswold, 
 Silas Goodell, Jacob Kingsbury. 
 
 " Preston was so near to Norwich and its military 
 companies were so often united with those of the 
 latter that the names of its prominent officers slide 
 easily into our history. Cols. John Tyler and Sam- 
 uel Mott, Majs. Nathan Peters, Jeremiah Halsey, 
 Edward Mott, and Capts. Samuel Capron and Jacob 
 Meech were some of the patriots and soldiers from 
 that town who breasted the first waters of the Revo- 
 lution, and were often afterwards in the field during 
 the war. 
 
 "Maj. Peters enlisted as an ensign in the company 
 of Capt. Edward Mott, immediately after the battle of 
 Lexington, and soon rose to the rank of captain. In 
 1777 he was appointed brigade-major in the Rhode 
 Island campaign under Gen. Tyler, and performed 
 several other tours of detached service during the 
 war. 
 
 " Happening to be at home on furlough in Septem- 
 ber, 1781, when the British made a descent upon New 
 London, with characteristic ardor he rushed to the 
 scene of action, and was the first person who entered 
 Grotou fort after it had been deserted and a train laid 
 for its destruction by the British troops. Hovering in 
 the vicinity, he scarcely waited for them to leave the 
 premises before he cautiously entered the fort, and 
 with water from the pump extinguished the train 
 which had been laid to cause an explosion of the mag- 
 azine. In five minutes more the whole would have 
 been a heap of ruins, under which the dead and dying 
 would have been buried. 
 
 "Maj. Peters died in 1824, aged seventy-nine. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIIL 
 
 NORWICH— (Continued). 
 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 
 
 First Congregational Cliurch — Second Congregational Church — Broad- 
 way Congregational — Park Congregational — Greeneville Congrega- 
 tional — Taftville Congregational — Christ Church — Trinity Church — 
 Methodist Church, Bean Hill — East Main Street Methodist Episcopal 
 Church — Central Methodint Episcopal Church — Sachem Street IWetho- 
 dist Episcopal Church — Greeneville Methodist Episcopal Church — 
 First Baptist Church — Central Baptist — Greeneville Baptist — Mount 
 Calvary Baptist — Universalist Church — St. Patrick's Church — Boman 
 Catholic, Taftville. 
 
 The First Congregational Church of Norwich 
 
 was organized in 1660. Most of its original members, 
 with their pastor, the Rev. Mr. James Fitch, were 
 from Saybrook. 
 
 Mr. Fitch was a native of Bocking, in Essex County, 
 England. He was born in 1622, and came to this 
 country in 1638, with thirteen other young men, de- 
 signed and in a course of preparation for the minis- 
 try. He spent seven years under the tuition of the 
 Rev. Messrs. Hooker and Stone, of Hartford. 
 
 It is not improbable that young Fitch had been a 
 pupil of Mr. Hooker, in Chelmsford, England, which 
 is in the vicinity of Bocking. John Elliott, the dis- 
 tinguished missionary to the Indians, was an usher in 
 the school which Mr. Hooker taught in that place. 
 From him Mr. Fitch may have imbibed the mission- 
 ary spirit which he afterwards exhibited. 
 
 In 1646 he was ordained and installed pastor of the 
 church in Saybrook. The Rev. Messrs. Hooker and 
 Stone assisted in the ordination services; but so jeal- 
 ous were the people of their rights as an independent 
 church, subject only to Christ the Supreme Head, 
 that the imposition of hands was by a " presbytery" 
 chosen from the church for that purpose. 
 
 As early as 1653 or '54 a company was organized in 
 Saybrook for the planting of a colony at Mohegan. 
 Capt. John jNIason was one of the leaders of this en- 
 terprise. The township was purchased and prepara- 
 tions for the settlement made in 1659. But it was not 
 till the spring of 1660 that Mr. Fitch with the great 
 body of his church and other members of his congre- 
 gation removed to Norwich, and here, uniting with 
 others from other places, " were incorporated into a 
 Religious Society and Church State." 
 
 In 1694, Mr. Fitch was disabled by a stroke of the 
 palsy. The town, however, continued to vote him 
 £30 to £50 a year till 1702, when he retired to Leba- 
 non to spend the evening of his days with his chil- 
 dren. He survived but a few months, and died No- 
 vember 18th, aged eighty. 
 
 Mr. Fitch was twice married. By his first wife, 
 Abigail, daughter of the Rev. Henry Whitfield, he 
 had two sons and four daughters. She died at Say- 
 brook. After removing to Norwich he married Pris- 
 cilla, daughter of Capt. John Mason. By her he had 
 seven sons and one daughter. He was a large land- 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 291 
 
 holder. His residence was on the southeastern side 
 of the green. 
 
 Mr. Fitch was distinguished for the penetration of 
 his mind, the energy of his preaching, and the sanc- 
 tity of his life. Cotton Mather characterized him as 
 " the acute and holy Mr. Fitch." He was one of the 
 leading men of his day. Many of the younger min- 
 isters studied theology with him, one of the last of 
 whom was the Rev. Samuel Whiting, the first minis- 
 ter of Windham. 
 
 Soon after coming to Norwich he was invited to 
 settle in Hartford. His laconic answer was, " With 
 whom shall I leave these few sheep in the wilder- 
 ness?" He preached to the Mohegans in their native 
 tongue, and gave them of his own lands to induce 
 them to adopt the habits of civilized life, but with 
 little success. Uncas, their chief, though friendly to 
 the whites as a matter of policy, was an enemy to 
 their religion, and opposed its introduction among 
 his people. 
 
 A sermon preached by Mr. Fitch on the death of 
 his wife's mother, Mrs. Anne Mason, and published 
 in 1672, is still preserved. He published an election 
 sermon in 1674, and letters concerning his labors 
 among the Indians. In 1675, "the bloodiest year of 
 Philip's war,'' he drew up a covenant, which was 
 solemnly renewed by the church. 
 
 In 1683 he published a treatise concerning the judg- 
 ments of God upon New England, and another upon 
 the Sabbath. 
 
 On the retirement of Mr. Fitch, his son, Jabez 
 Fitch, then a member of college, was invited to sup- 
 ply the pulpit. After preaching a year he was called, 
 in January, 1695, to settle, but declined the call. He 
 was afterwards settled in Portsmouth, N. H. In De- 
 cember, 1696, Mr. Henry Flint was invited to preach 
 six months, with an allowance of " twenty shillings 
 a week, with his board and horse meat." The next 
 April he was invited to settle as a permanent pastor, — 
 salary, £52 while he remains unmarried ; when mar- 
 ried, £50 in money, £20 in work or grain, and sixty 
 loads of wood, to be increased after the death of Mr. 
 Fitch, besides one hundred and fifty acres of land on 
 Plain Hills. This call was declined. 
 
 Three years later he was chosen Fellow of Cam- 
 bridge College, his Alma Mater, and was soon after 
 appointed tutor. This office he retained for nearly 
 fifty years. He never married, and to this fact Dr. 
 Allen ascribes " the few foibles which he exhibited." 
 
 In 1698, Joseph Coit supplied the pulpit for a time, 
 but declined to settle on the ground of disagreement 
 with the church in matters of church polity. At 
 length, in October, 1699, Mr. John Woodward, of 
 Dedham, Mass., accepted a call, and was ordained in 
 December following. During his ministry of sixteen 
 years the church was constantly agitated by contro- 
 versies and dissensions respecting " the order and ex- 
 ercise of church disipline." The pastor, who was one 
 of the scribes of the convention which framed the 
 
 Saybrook Platform, urged the adoption of that plat- 
 form as the basis of church government. The church 
 insisted on their independence, in accordance with 
 the Cambridge Platform. 
 
 Sept. 13, 1716, Mr. Woodward was dismissed, and 
 retired to a farm which he owned in East Haven, 
 where " he lived in private life and good state till he 
 died," in 1746. 
 
 The third pastor was the Rev. Benjamin Lord. He 
 was a native of Saybrook, born in 1693, graduated at 
 Yale College in 1714, appointed tutor in 1715, ordained 
 Nov. 20, 1717, elected member of the corporation in 
 1740, and received the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 
 1774. At the time of his ordination the church, by a 
 formal vote, renounced the Saybrook Platform, and 
 adopted " that form of church government called 
 Congregational, as formerly practiced by the gen- 
 erality of the churches in New England, and according 
 to the agreement of the Synod at Cambridge in 1648." 
 The church has ever since maintained its independ- 
 ence, and adhered to the Congregational form of 
 church government. 
 
 The pastorate of Dr. Lord extended over a period 
 of sixty-seven years. In the year 1745 some irregu- 
 larities, which he greatly deplored, in connection 
 with the religious excitement of the times, resulted 
 in a secession from the church, and the establishment 
 of a separate place of worship. Dr. Lord was an 
 earnest friend of revivals of religion, and had the 
 satisfaction of witnessing several in connection with 
 his own labors. He lived to see eight religious 
 societies grow out of the one of which he had charge. 
 He published several occasional discourses, and died 
 in April, 1784, aged ninety-one. 
 
 Dr. Lord was three times married. His first wife, 
 Ann, was the daughter of the Rev. Edward Taylor, 
 of Westfield, Mass., not by his first wife, Elizabeth 
 Fitch, but by his second, Ruth Willis, of Hartford. 
 His second wife was the widow of Henry Tisdale, of 
 Newport, R. I. His third was Abigail Hooker, of 
 Hartford. His children, five in number, were all by 
 his first wife. Two sons, Joseph and Ebenezer, were 
 graduated at Yale College in 1753. 
 
 Dr. Lord was of medium height, with a mild coun- 
 tenance, engaging manners, and venerable appear- 
 ance. He was a man of respectable talents and ac- 
 curate scholarship, a sound theologian, and an able 
 expounder of Scripture. In the pulpit his deport- 
 ment was graceful, his voice pleasant, his delivery 
 natural and easy, his discourses plain, pungent, and 
 edifying. He was able in prayer, a faithful pastor, 
 and greatly esteemed in all the region. 
 
 The fourth pastor was the Eev. Joseph Strong. He 
 was a son of the Eev. Nathan Strong, of Coventry. 
 Born in 1754, graduated at Yale College in 1772, or- 
 dained in 1778 colleague pastor with Dr. Lord, re- 
 ceived the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Prince- 
 ton College in 1807, and in 1808 was elected Fellow 
 of Yale College. He died Dec. 18, 1834, aged eighty. 
 
292 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 During his ministry two seceding congregations be- 
 came extinct, and a considerable portion of their 
 members returned to the church. 
 
 Dr. Strong is described by one whose youth was 
 passed under his ministry as " in person of more 
 than middle size and stature, with a calm dignity in 
 his movements, appearance, and address, blended 
 with gentleness and courtesy of manner. In the 
 pulpit he was grave and reverent ; in prayer, impres- 
 sive and solemn. His sermons were short, explana- 
 tory, natural in arrangement, and abounding in quo- 
 tations from Scripture. His ministrations, in general, 
 were distinguished rather for the mild and soothing 
 than the fervent and awakening. In all the social 
 and domestic relations of life he was most exemplary. 
 His conversation was genial, enriched and illustrated 
 from the results of his long experience. His old age 
 was beautiful, like a soft twilight after a serene 
 day." 
 
 The fifth pastor was the Rev. Cornelius B. Everest, 
 a native of Cornwall, born in 1789, graduated at 
 Williams College in 1811, ordained pastor of the 
 church in Windham in 1815, installed colleague pas- 
 tor with Dr. Strong in 1829, and dismissed in 1836 ; 
 settled in Bloomfield, dismissed, preached in Pequon- 
 nock. Since 1858 has resided with his children in 
 Philadelphia, is a member of a Congregational Church 
 in that city, and retains his connection with the Con- 
 gregational ministry. 
 
 The sixth pastor, Rev. H. P. Arms, D.D., was born 
 in Windsor in the year 1799, graduated at Yale Col- 
 lege in 1824, ordained pastor of the church in Hebron 
 in 1830, dismissed and settled at Wolcottville in 1882, 
 and installed at Norwich in 1836 ; received the degree 
 of Doctor of Divinity from the University of the 
 City of New York in 1864; was elected Fellow of Yale 
 College in 1866. 
 
 On the settlement of Rev. W- C. Scofield, Feb. 20, 
 1873, Dr. Arms became joasfor emeritus. Rev. Charles 
 T. Weitzel, the present pastor, was ordained and in- 
 stalled April 18, 1876. 
 
 The following is a list of deacons from organization 
 of the church to the present time : Thomas Adgate, 
 Hugh Calkins, Simon Huntington, Christopher Hunt- 
 ington, Simon Huntington, Christopher Huntington, 
 Thomas Adgate, Thomas Leffingwell, Ebenezer Hunt- 
 ington, Hezekiah Huntington, Simon Tracy, Simon 
 Huntington, Joshua Lathrop, John Backus, Caleb 
 Huntington, William Cleveland, Charles Lathrop, 
 Samuel Case, James Stedman, Edward A. Hunting- 
 ton, Lewis A. Hyde, DeWitt C. Lathrop, Elisha H. 
 Mansfield, Samuel Case, Lewis A. Hyde, Daniel F. 
 Gulliver, John H. Peck. 
 
 The Second Congregational Church.— It was one 
 hundred years subsequent to the settlement of the 
 town before a, church was organized in what was 
 called " Norwich Landing," now the city of Norwich. 
 As this part of the town gradually increased in popu- 
 lation, in consequence of facilities for commercial 
 
 pursuits, the few resident members of churches be- 
 came organized into a Congregational Church, and 
 immediately provided for the support of the min- 
 istry. 
 
 The ecclesiastical society was organized Nov. 29 
 1751, and the church July 24, 1760, with Rev. Na- 
 thaniel Whitaker, Nathaniel Backus, John Porter 
 Isaiah Tiffany, Nathaniel Shipman, and Seth Alden 
 among the members. 
 
 The first pastor was Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, who 
 remained until 1769. He was succeeded in 1771 by 
 Ephraim Judson, who was dismissed in December 
 1778. Rev. Walter King became pastor in 1778. 
 
 The first of the seven pastors who to any consid- 
 erable extent have served this church within a cen- 
 tury was Rev. Walter King. Rev. Mr. Judson left 
 his work here very soon after the Declaration of In- 
 dependence. It is true he returned within a year 
 and continued for some time nominally pastor, but 
 was too much of an invalid to render any great service. 
 For a full decade after his dismission the church was 
 pastorless. It was a period of intense political excite- 
 ment. War, with all its direful accompaniments, dis- 
 tracted the minds of the people. In reference to 
 spiritual things, mournful apathy was generally pre- 
 valent. This church the while had various temporary 
 supplies, but to Judge Niles, as he was always called, 
 far more than to any other preacher, she owes the 
 preservation of her life through all those years of 
 peril. He was a scholar, but a man of affairs; a 
 licensed preacher, but never ordained. He was 
 largely devoted to secular work, yet Sabbath after 
 Sabbath he preached abler and more carefully con- 
 sidered discourses than hundreds who devote all the 
 week to preparation for the pulpit. The judge then 
 resided in Norwich. " Afterwards," says Rev. Mr. 
 Palmer, "he removed to Vermont, and it is a singular 
 fact that, preaching there a score of years in his own 
 house or barn, according to the season, far more 
 than any other minister, he moulded the religious 
 character of my mother's girlhood, and therefore, 
 through her influence, the character of your present 
 pastor. In ways we little think the past reappears in 
 the present." 
 
 Though in the dark days of Revolution Judge Niles 
 preserved this church alive, yet when Mr. King came 
 in 1787 he must have found himself obliged to " lay 
 the foundations," almost as though they had never 
 been laid before. Mr. King's work opened most 
 auspiciously. The first year of his ministry forty were 
 added to the church, the first additions for more 
 than a decade. In the end his light went out in a 
 tempest of needless dissension,^ yet as a whole his 
 work was fruitful. During his twenty-four years of 
 service more than one hundred and seventy-five new 
 
 ■ This iiuhappy dlseension sprang up suddenly in 1810, and was con- 
 cerning tlie scriptural lawfulness of a man's marrying his deceased wife's 
 sister. It resulted in a Council, wliich, without criminating Mr. King 
 in tile least, advised the dissolution of the pastoral relation. 
 
NOKWICH. 
 
 293 
 
 members were enrolled. When the old church ediiice 
 on Main Street was burned, the place of worship was 
 transferred to this now "holy hill of Zion," which 
 is a very desirable site for a sanctuary. 
 
 Next followed the brief but precious pastorate of 
 Rev. Asahel Hooker. The gift of Mr. Hooker to this 
 church was a signal providence. He was exactly the 
 man to enter upon a ministry while yet there were 
 wounds of strife unhealed. His short fifteen months 
 of service not only proved him pre-eminently the 
 "judicious Hooker" that he has often been called, 
 they also prepared the way for that illustrious life- 
 work of Rev. Alfred Mitchell which followed. 
 
 Seventeen years that man of God went in and out 
 before this people. He came here in all the freshness 
 and vigor of early manhood. While yet in the high 
 noon of life's day he was translated to his reward, 
 yet suddenly though his work was cut off, strangely 
 though he was taken from his labors, he achieved 
 much more than many who live on to the ripeness of 
 old age. To meet the demand for more room which 
 his ministry had created the house of worship was 
 greatly enlarged, and this enlargement was brought 
 about in no slight degree by his own pecuniary con- 
 tributions.' The membership of the church was no 
 less signally increased. In a single year of his pas- 
 torate eighty-nine were added to the roll by profession 
 of faith ; sixty the year following, — forty-four at one 
 communion service. 
 
 The Rev. J. T. Dickinson was pastor for less than 
 thirty brief months, yet he was a priceless gift of 
 God. In that short pastorate one hundred and sev- 
 enty-one professed faith in Christ. At its close the 
 resident membership numbered about three hundred 
 and twenty-five. There were three hundred and 
 sixty names on the roll, and only about one hundred 
 and thirty families, including some six hundred per- 
 sons in all belonging to the parish. More than fifty 
 per cent, of the entire number were professing Chris- 
 tians. Such was the state of things when Alvan 
 Bond, D.D., entered upon his thirty years' ministry 
 in this city. There was very little room for en- 
 largement. It was for him simplj- to "keep the 
 measure full." This, however. Dr. Bond, then in 
 the midst of life, soon found a very unsatisfactory 
 work. Numbers were added to the roll from year to 
 year, but they came mainly by letter. After seven 
 years of such toil the Broadway colony went out, and 
 thus the way was opened for free expansion. The 
 pastor girded himself anew for his great life-work. 
 He summoned his people to most earnest endeavor. 
 The gloom which forty vacant pews spread over the 
 assembly was quickly dispelled. The people caught 
 their pastor's enthusiasm, and "had a mind to work." 
 At the very next sale of pews every slip was taken. 
 For twenty-eight years Dr. Bond supplied the pulpit 
 
 1 Mr. Mitchell contributed one-fourth of his salary that year to help 
 forward thie work. 
 
 an average of fifty Sabbaths a year. Only in a single 
 instance in all that time was he absent from a com- 
 munion service. 
 
 The full list of pastors from the organization of the 
 church, July 24, 1760, to the present time is as fol- 
 lows: Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, installed Feb. 24, 
 1761 ; dismissed March 24, 1769. Rev. Ephraim Jud- 
 son, ordained Oct. 3, 1771; dismissed Dec. 15, 1778. 
 Rev. Walter King, ordained May 24, 1787 ; dismissed 
 July 5, 1811. Rev. Asahel Hooker, installed Jan. 
 14, 1812 ; died April 16, 1813. Rev. Alfred Mitchel, 
 ordained October, 1814; died Dec. 19, 1831. Rev. 
 James Taylor Dickinson, ordained April 4, 1832 ; 
 dismissed Aug. 20, 1834. Rev. Alvan Bond, D.D., 
 installed May 6, 1835 ; dismissed Dec. 28, 1864. Rev. 
 Malcom M. G. Dana, installed Dec. 28, 1864; dis- 
 missed April 10, 1874. Rev. William S. Palmer, in- 
 stalled Sept. 29, 1874, present pastor. 
 
 The first church edifice was completed and occupied 
 in 1766. It was located on Main Street, and was 
 forty-one by thirty-seven feet, and had thirty-six pews. 
 For a while the bell was suspended on the limb of a 
 tree, as a steeple was too expensive a luxury. This 
 house was destroyed by fire in 1783, and Dec. 24, 
 1795, a second church edifice was dedicated. This 
 was injured by fire in 1844, when it was decided to 
 take it down and rebuild on the same site. The pres- 
 ent substantial stone edifice was dedicated Jan. 1, 
 1846. It is located on Church Street. 
 
 Broadway Congregational Church.— As early as 
 the year 1834 the house of the Second Congrega- 
 tional Society (the only one of this denomination 
 in this part of the town) was filled to overflowing. 
 Investigations were made which revealed the fact 
 that a very large number of the inhabitants of the 
 city were entirely deprived of an opportunity to 
 attend upon public worship. The importance of pro- 
 viding enlarged church accommodations in some 
 form was urged by the pastor and others, and was 
 generally admitted. Numerous meetings for consul- 
 tation were held, which resulted, in January, 1838, 
 in the call of a society meeting, at which a com- 
 mittee was appointed to ascertain what families were 
 disposed to associate in forming a new church, and 
 what funds could be raised for the erection of a new 
 house of worship. Efforts were also made to secure 
 a site for the new church, with the expectation that 
 the building would be erected by the entire society 
 before a separation should take place. 
 
 These consultations and efforts, extending through 
 a series of years, finally resulted, in January, 1842, 
 in the withdrawal of a portion of the congregation 
 to the town hall, where they established public wor- 
 ship. 
 
 On the 1st of June, 1842, the church was organized 
 under the title of the Fifth Congregational Church, 
 with one hundred and twelve members. 
 
 On the 3l8t of August following Rev. Willard Child 
 was installed as pastor. 
 
294 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 In 1844 a house of worship was commenced, and 
 was dedicated on the 1st of October, 1845. It stood 
 on Slain Street, upon the site now occupied by the 
 Central Methodist church. 
 
 Mr. Child asked and received dismission in August, 
 1845. 
 
 Rev. John P. Gulliver was ordained and installed 
 Oct. 1, 1846. 
 
 By a vote passed April 9, 1847, the name of the 
 church was changed to Main Street Congregational 
 Church. 
 
 On Sunday evening, Sept. 17, 1854, the house of 
 worship on M.ain Street was destroyed by fire. 
 
 During nearly two years following the congregation 
 worshiped in the town hall. 
 
 On the 13th of October, 1857, the present church 
 edifice on Broadway was dedicated. 
 
 By a vote passed subsequently the name of the 
 church was again changed to Broadway Congrega- 
 tional Church. 
 
 In May, 1864, a member of the church gave one 
 thousand dollars as a fund for the foundation and 
 maintenance of a library for the use of the pastor. 
 By vote of the church the fund is known as " The 
 Buckingham Fund." The library now numbers one 
 hundred and seventy-three volumes. 
 
 Eev. Mr. Gulliver resigned his office as pastor Oct. 
 7, 1865, and was dismissed by the action of a Council 
 convened October 24th of the same year. 
 
 In the summer of 1866 a chapel, costing with the 
 lot five thousand five hundred dollars, was erected on 
 Boswell Avenue, and given to the society by a mem- 
 ber of the church for religious purposes. It was fur- 
 nished by the ladies, was dedicated in December, 
 1866, and has since been occupied by the Avenue 
 Chapel Sunday-school. 
 
 The church remained without a pastor until June, 
 1868, when Bev. Daniel Merriman, then a student at 
 Andover Seminary, was called. He was ordained and 
 installed as pastor Sept. 30, 1868. 
 
 He was dismissed June 30, 1875. The present pas- 
 tor. Rev. L. T. Chamberlain, was installed Oct. 5, 1877. 
 
 Deacons. — Horace Colton, June 14, 1842, to Aug. 
 12, 1845 ; Lewis Edwards, June 14, 1842, to Aug. 12, 
 1845 ; William A. Buckingham, June 14, 1842 ; 
 Charles Clark, June 14, 1842, to Aug. 12, 1845 ; Oth- 
 niel Gager, Aug. 12, 1845, to Jan. 25, 1858 ; Charles 
 Lee, Aug. 26, 1845, to May 8, 1846 ; Chester E. Park- 
 hurst, Aug. 26, 1845, to , 1845 ; Jedediah Leav- 
 ens, June 12, 1846, to April 30, 1855 ; Lewis Edwards, 
 Jan. 6, 1852, to March 4, 1868 ; Benjamin W. Tomp- 
 kins, Jan. 6, 1852; Jedediah Leavens, Jan. 27, 1863, 
 to July 9, 1867 ; AVilliam Hutchison, Jan. 28, 1868 ; 
 Sherman B. Bishop, Jan. 28, 1868; Gurdon A. Jones, 
 Jr., Jan. 25, 1869 ; Frank J. Leavens, Jan. 25, 1869. 
 
 Cfcrfo.— Charles Clark, June 6, 1842, to Aug. 12, 
 1845 ; Amos W. Prentice, Aug. 12, 1845, to Jan. 29, 
 1866 ; George W. Whittlesey, Jan. 29, 1866, to Jan. 
 25, 1869 ; Francis A. Dorrance, Jan. 25, 1869, to June 
 
 28, 1870 ; Charles A. Burnham, Sept. 8, 1870, present 
 incumbent. 
 Third (Greeneville) Congregational Church.— 
 
 The village of Greeneville (which became a part of 
 the city of Norwich in 1874) owes its existence to the 
 power which the river here affords for manufacturing 
 purposes. This remained unemployed till 1829, 
 when " The Norwich Water-Power Company," which 
 was incorporated the year before, purchased a tract 
 of land on both sides of the river and commenced 
 operations. In 1831 the foundation of the first man- 
 ufactory was laid. In the following year others were 
 laid, and dwellings rose in rapid succession, and were 
 as rapidly occupied. 
 
 William P. Greene, Esq., originator and president 
 of the company, and William C. Gilman, Esq., the 
 secretary, were its permanent and efficient directors. 
 From the beginning they manifested a deep interest 
 in the moral and religious welfare of the community 
 which was to be gathered on their premises. A prayer- 
 meeting was established in the spring of 1829, which 
 was sustained by Deacon Horace Colton and other 
 brethren of the Second Congregational Church. In 
 the summer of 1832 fifteen children and youth became 
 the nucleus of a Sabbath-school, and meetings were 
 established for the worship of God on the Sabbath. 
 On the 1st day of January, 1833, an Ecclesiastical 
 Council was convened in an "upper room," and a 
 Congregational Church was organized, consisting of 
 twenty members. 
 
 The meeting-house was commenced in the autumn 
 of the following year, and dedicated in April, 1835. 
 In 1867 it was enlarged and improved to meet the 
 wants of the growing congregation. 
 
 The Rev. Dennis Piatt was chosen pastor in 1833, 
 and entered upon the duties of the office, but by mu- 
 tual consent the arrangement for his settlement was 
 never consummated. 
 
 The Rev. John Storrs was its first pastor, installed 
 March, 1834, and remained till April 17, 1835, when 
 an Ecclesiastical Council dissolved the connection. 
 The pulpit was supplied for about two years by Rev. 
 Spencer F. Beard and others. 
 
 In the spring of 1837, Rev. Stephen Crosby became 
 pastor-el eot, and moved his family into the parish. It 
 was a year of great pecuniary embarrassment, which 
 delayed the settlement of Mr. Crosby, who continued 
 to labor, and successfully, till disease laid him aside, 
 and death ensued June 5, 1838. 
 
 Rev. A. L. Whitman was the next to sustain the 
 pastoral relation, and retained the position from Dec. 
 4, 1838, to March 25, 1846. 
 
 His successor was Rev. C. P. Bush, who was in- 
 stalled Deo. 8, 1846, and continued till January, 1856, 
 when his resignation was accepted. 
 
 Rev. Robert P. Stanton, after preaching two Sab- 
 baths in February, was proffered the pastorate, which 
 was accepted. The installation took place June 11, 
 1875. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 295 
 
 The present pastor, Rev. Andrew J. Sullivan, was 
 installed Feb. 11, 1880. 
 
 Present membership, two hundred and ninety-five. 
 Park Congregational Church.^— The manifest 
 northward tendency of the growth of the city of Nor- 
 wich occasioned the movement which resulted in 
 1874 in the beautiful edifice of Park Church. The 
 enterprise originated in the Second Church, and the 
 first plan was that this church, as a body, should re- 
 move from the Landing to the new building, and 
 that a new church should be organized for the West 
 Side. But after the building had been completed and 
 tendered to the church for its acceptance, it appeared 
 •that a majority of the Second Church were unwilling 
 to leave the old home. Consequently it was only a 
 colony of the Second Church, consisting of a large 
 number of its most useful and influential members, 
 headed by its pastor, Mr. Dana, and strengthened by 
 accessions from other churches, which removed to the 
 new house. Mr. Dana remained as pastor of Park 
 Church until 1878, when he removed to St. Paul, 
 Minn., and was succeeded by Rev. Leonard Woolsey 
 Bacon, D.D. 
 
 The edifice of the Park Church is notable for the 
 beauty of its architecture and of its position. The 
 chime of ten bells and the clock were the gift of Mrs. 
 Gen. Williams; the organ, from the famous factory of 
 Walcker, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, was presented 
 by James L. Hubbard, Esq. ; and the three largest 
 memorial windows were given by Mr. John F. Slater, 
 Mrs. Williams, and the family of the late David 
 Smith. 
 
 Congregational Chxirch, Taftville. — This church 
 was organized Dec. 3, 1867, with the following mem- 
 bers : Samuel Prentice, Mrs. Sophia B. Prentice, An- 
 drew T. Prentice, Mrs. Mary Weller, Mrs. Betsy Re- 
 noud. Miss Lucy A. Greenman, John Renoud, Jede- 
 diah Waters, Mrs. Aurela Waters, Mrs. Caroline 
 Fenton, Miss Annis Waters. First pastor. Rev. Hiram 
 A. Tracy, also Rev. W. A. Benedict, Rev. John T. 
 Eea, Rev. Charles L. Ayre, Rev. George Dodson, 
 Rev. T. M. May, and Rev. A. C. Hurd, the present 
 pastor. Samuel Prentice, deacon. Present number 
 of members, 27 male, 43 female ; total, 70. 
 
 The first meeting held at Taftville, July 8, 1866, by 
 Rev. John Edgar. 
 
 Sabbath-school organized firstSundayin November, 
 1866, assisted by Deacon Edward Huntington, of Nor- 
 wich Town. 
 
 Ecclesiastical society was organized June 5, 1867. 
 Meetings held during this time in Boadine House, 
 adjoining the old Fame House. Preaching for two or 
 three years in connection with church at Eagleville. 
 
 Congregation at this time about 200. Sunday- 
 school average about 150. 
 
 Christ Church. — There is a tradition that an Episco- 
 pal Church existed in this town at a very early period, 
 
 1 Contributed by Bev. Leonard Woolsey Bacon, D.D. 
 
 and that its house of worship stood upon the green in 
 Norwich Town. It was a small building, erected by 
 a pious lady from Salem, Mass., principally for her- 
 self and family, and was occasionally supplied by the 
 Rev. Mr. Cleveland, of that town. The earliest record 
 of a church in this town bears date Jan. 7, 1746^7, 
 to decide matters relative to the erection of an edifice 
 " for the service of Almighty God, according to the 
 Liturgie of the Church of England, as by law estab- 
 lished." 
 
 The officers appointed at this meeting were Rev. 
 Mr. Punderson, moderator; Capt. Benajah Bushnell, 
 treasurer ; Capt. Isaac Clarke, Mr. Thomas Grist, 
 Mr. Elisha Hide, building committee. 
 
 A piece of. ground for the site of a church edifice 
 was given by Capt. Benajah Bushnell, " at the north- 
 east end of Waweequaw's Hill, near the old Landing 
 Place," and on the 7th of January, 1746-47, a meeting 
 was held at the town-house. 
 
 The funds for building were raised by subscription, 
 eighty-seven names being enrolled on the subscrip- 
 tion-list, and the sum obtained £678. The greatest 
 amount by one individual was £50 by Andrew Gallo- 
 way. The three gentlemen who formed the building 
 committee subscribed £40 each. Mr. Punderson after- 
 wards collected in Rhode Island £188, and Capt. 
 Bushnell, in Boston, £178. All this was probably old 
 tenor money, or bills of credit of reduced value. 
 
 The land and the church, when erected, were con- 
 veyed by deed to the committee, in trust, — 
 
 "for the use of the 'Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign 
 Parts,' and their successors for evermore, to be appropriated for an Epis- 
 copal church and churchyard, for the benefit of an Episcopal minister 
 and members of said church, and for no other use, intent, or purpose 
 whatsoever." 
 
 This edifice stood upon the site now occupied by 
 Christ church. According to tradition, it was a 
 substantial structure, but plain and unadorned, with 
 neither porch nor spire, and a single granite block at 
 the door for a threshold stone. It was completed in 
 1749. The number of pew-holders was twenty-eight ; 
 they built their own pews, and held them as their 
 proper estate. The first church officers were Capt. 
 Benajah Bushnell, Capt. Joseph Tracy, wardens; 
 Capt. Isaac Clarke, Capt. Thomas Grist, Capt. Daniel 
 Hall, vestrymen ; Elisha Hide, clerk of the church ; 
 Phineas Holden, society clerk. 
 
 Rev. Ebenezer Punderson had the prime agency in 
 forming this church, and was its first officiating 
 clergyman; but in 1751 he was transferred by the 
 society in England to New Haven. 
 
 Soon after the settlement of Mr. Tyler the Revolu- 
 tion broke out. Episcopacy was English, therefore 
 no tolerance nor patience was had with it; and so 
 the church-gates were closed for two years. Yet was 
 the liturgy still heard, whispered low in private 
 dwellings here and there, and at the fireside of the 
 loyal and earnest pastor, with doors barricaded, to 
 keep in peace and to keep out persecution. Then 
 
296 
 
 HTSTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 was it uttered publicly again, but it was mute where 
 king and Parliament were prayed for. The church 
 had to live down a rampant prejudice (strange 
 enough, too, when Washington and many of the 
 leaders of the time belonged to it), and that long 
 rectorship of fifty-four years was consumed before 
 these days of misapprehension were ended. 
 
 When the church was again opened the prayers for 
 the king and Parliament were omitted, but the con- 
 gregation had dwindled to an audience of about 
 twenty persons. Under the popular ministry of Mr. 
 Tyler, however, the society gradually increased in 
 numbers and influence. In 1780 the church was re- 
 paired and a porch, bell, and steeple added. But the 
 location was considered inconvenient, and in 1789 
 the society decided on removing to a more central 
 position. A lot was proffered by Phineas Holden, 
 near the east end of Main Street, " opposite the house 
 of Capt. Stephen Colver," and accepted by the parish. 
 
 To this spot the old edifice, which had stood about 
 forty years, was removed, and there enlarged and re- 
 modeled. The former owners of the pews relinquished 
 their rights, the seats were sold, and the money ap- 
 plied to parochial uses. The new purchasers were 
 thirty in number. 
 
 The committee for removing and reconstructing the 
 church were Maj. Ebenezer Whiting, Barzillai Davi- 
 son, Benadam Denison, and James Christie. 
 
 It was dedicated May 19, 1791, by the Eev. Dr. 
 Seabury, Bishop of Connecticut, to the worship of 
 God, " according to the liturgy of the Church of Eng- 
 land accommodated to the civil constitution of these 
 American States." Ebenezer Whiting, Ebenezer 
 Huntington, wardens ; Jabez Huntington, society 
 clerk. 
 
 The designation of " Christ's Church in Chelsea" 
 first appears on record in 1785. 
 
 Mr. Tyler died Jan. 20, 1823, in the eighty-first 
 year of his age, after a pastorate of fifty-four years. 
 He was an interesting preacher, his voice sweet and 
 solemn, and his eloquence persuasive. The benevo- 
 lence of his heart was manifested in daily acts of 
 courtesy and charity to those around him. He 
 studied medicine in order to benefit the poor, and to 
 find out remedies for some of those peculiar diseases 
 to which no common specifics seemed to apply. His 
 pills, ointments, extracts, and syrups obtained a great 
 local celebrity. During the latter years of his life he 
 was so infirm as to need assistance in the performance 
 of his functions. 
 
 Rev. Peter J. Clark served as his assistant for two 
 or three years, and was succeeded by the Eev. Seth 
 B. Paddock, who on the death of the venerable in- 
 cumbent became rector of the church. The age and 
 long infirmity of Dr. Tyler had operated against the 
 growth and efficiency of the parish, and when Mr. 
 Paddock's pastorate commenced the congregation was 
 small and the sacred edifice itself in a decaying state. 
 During his rectorship a new church was built. 
 
 Mr. Paddock resigned the pastorate in 1844, and 
 took charge of an academy in Cheshire, Conn, at 
 which place he died in 1851. He was a man of great 
 integrity and piety, amiable in all the relations of 
 life. 
 
 Rectors of Christ Church since Mr. Paddock : 
 
 Rev. William F. Morgan, in office twelve years 
 and a half, from September, 1844, to March, 1857. 
 He then accepted a call to St. Thomas' Church, New 
 York. 
 
 The parish at that time reported 206 families, 210 
 communicants. 
 
 Eev. J. Treadwell Walden, in office six years. He 
 resigned in March, 1863, in order to take charge of 
 St. Clement's Church, Philadelphia. 
 
 Two churches, both costly and imposing edifices, 
 were erected by this society within the compass of 
 twenty years, from 1828 to 1848. The first was du- 
 ring the rectorship of Mr. Paddock. It stands on a 
 lot extending from Main to Church Street, a few rods 
 west of the former church. The whole cost, including 
 organ and furniture, was about thirteen thousand dol- 
 lars. It was consecrated by the diocesan bishop, Eev. 
 Thomas C. Brownell, July 29, 1829. This has since 
 changed its designation, and is now Trinity Church. 
 
 In 1846, during the rectorship of Mr. Morgan, the 
 society decided to resume for church service the old 
 Bushnell site on Washington Street, from which the 
 church was removed sixty years previous, and which 
 had since been used as a cemetery. On this spot, 
 over the ashes of the dead, the present church edifice, 
 of an antique style of architecture, was erected at a 
 cost of nearly fifty thousand dollars. 
 
 The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Lee, of Dela- 
 ware, Aug. 31, 1846, and the church consecrated in 
 1848. 
 
 When the society removed to this new edifice they 
 carried their designation, Christ Church, with them, 
 and the house they left was for a short time closed. 
 It was soon, however, reopened as a chapel, or depen- 
 dent upon Christ Church, but this arrangement was 
 of short duration. In 1850 a new and independent 
 parish was organized, the edifice purchased, and a 
 second Episcopal Church inaugurated, with the title 
 of Trinity Church.' 
 
 The rectors since Rev. Mr. Walden have been Eev. 
 David F. Banks, the Rev. John Binney, now professor 
 in the Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, and the 
 Rev. Samuel H. Giesy, D.D., from June 1, 1874, to 
 present time. During the seven years of hi? pastor- 
 ate Dr. Giesy has baptized 204 persons, officiated at 
 45 marriages and 141 funerals, and presented 118 
 candidates for confirmation. The contributions of 
 the parish, during the same period, have aggregated 
 $67,272. 
 
 Trinity Church.^— The organization of Trinity 
 Church parish took place A.d. 1850. The reasons 
 
 1 See history of Tiinity Church. 
 
 2 By Rev. Edward H. Jewott, S.T.D. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 297 
 
 therefor are given in the following " copy of the 
 original association" • 
 
 " Whereag, by the blessing of Almighty God the Episcopal Church in 
 this city has been so far prospered that His people have been enabled to 
 build two commodious and substantial churches, and now, and for months 
 past, more sittings have been called for than could be furnished in the 
 new and larger edifice on Washington Street. And, inasmuch as the 
 time seems to have come when the interests of the Church would be still 
 more prospered by the organization of a new and independent parisli to 
 occupy the old church edifice; 
 
 " And whereas, the parish of Christ Church have iigreed to sell the said 
 old church, organ, and nil other fixtures, etc., appertaining thereto for 
 the sum of five thousand dollars; 
 
 " Therefore, we, tlie undersigned, agree to associate and organize our- 
 selves into a new Episcopal parish by the name of Trinity Church. 
 "F. W. Bushnell, E. B. Lee, Charles C. Hillard, Alby C. Thompson, Al- 
 bert A. Bailey, Denison P. Coon, William G. Browning, D. B. Chap- 
 man, Samuel Tyler, Edwin Gavitt, Charles Gale, I. L. Sparks, Z. R. 
 Bobbins, William H. Hyde, Wheaton Cottrell, William Lewis, A. I. 
 Bentley, Edward King, Alvin G. Rawson, Joel W. White, William 
 W. Kinne, George E. Oooley, E. P. Cottrell, P. St. M. Andrews, E. C. 
 Beach, Whitman Potter, Charles Ball, John W. Haughton, John H. 
 Callalian, Avery Smith, Samuel Story, R. W. Koath, D. M. Prentice, 
 0. W. Freeman, E. D. Boath, James L. Geer, George Averj-, Chris- 
 topher Culver, Thomas Robinson. 
 *' Norwich City, Jan. 7, 1850." 
 
 The Rev. Edward O. Flagg was called as the first 
 rector April 10, 1850. Since his removal to Balti- 
 more in June, 1853, the following gentlemen have 
 occupied the position of rector: the Rev. Benjamin 
 H. Paddock, now Bishop of Massachusetts, from June, 
 1853, to January, 1860 ; the Rev. Giles A. Easton, 
 from June, 1860, to June, 1862; the Rev. John V. 
 Lewis, from August, 1862, to August, 1865 ; the Rev. 
 Andrew Mackie, from October, 1865, to July, 1868 ; 
 the Rev. William W. Silvester, from October, 1868, 
 to May, 1874 ; the Rev. Storrs O. Seymour, from No- 
 vember, 1874, to April, 1879. The present rector, the 
 Rev. Edward H. Jewett, S.T.D., assumed the posi- 
 tion in May, 1879. 
 
 The church owns a substantial stone edifice, erected 
 in 1828, a valuable rectory on Washington Street, 
 and a recently-erected mission chapel, with adjoining 
 lot, on Mount Pleasant Street. The contributions for 
 the past year, as reported in the convention journal, 
 were $5910.10. The following-named gentlemen form 
 the vestry at the present time : Edmund T>. Roath, 
 Henry L. Parker, wardens ; Albert A. Bailey, William 
 H. Cardwell, N. Douglas Sevin, Frederick R. Was- 
 ley, S. Alpheus Gilbert, John H. Keep, Hugh King, 
 Jolpi F. Sevin, vestrymen; Charles B. Chapman, 
 clerk and treasurer. 
 
 Grace Churoh Parish (Episcopal), Yantic, was 
 organized November, 1853, through the instrumental- 
 ity of Mr. and Mrs. Erastus Williams, when John 
 W. Bulkley and E. Winslow Williams were elected 
 wardens. 
 
 Its first rector was the Rev. Z. H. Mansfield, who 
 continued his connection with the parish until his 
 death in 1857. He was succeeded by Rev. A. L. 
 Brewer, who in 1860 resigned, to be followed by Rev- 
 G. M. Bartlett and G. H. Ward. 
 
 In 1864, Rev. E. L. Whitcome accepted the rector- 
 
 ship, which position he filled for five years. The 
 Rev. Wm. Walker, of St Johns, New Brunswick, suc- 
 ceeded, to be followed in 1872 by Rev. G. W. Hoff- 
 man, who resigned in 1880. 
 
 The present organization is : Rector, Rev. C. W. 
 Kelley ; Wardens, E. Winslow Williams, Chester 
 Parkhurst ; Vestrymen, James Smith, Wm. Dobson, 
 John Beswick, Marvin Hanna, Arthur Gleason, Chas. 
 Congdon, Chas. H. Carpenter, Amos Hobbs, Samuel 
 Harrison, Samuel B. Blake, Thomas Derrick, David 
 Smith, Paul Smith; Treasurer, Samuel Harrison; 
 Clerk, Charles Longdon. 
 
 According to parish register, there have been chris- 
 tened 235; confirmed, 126; married, 186; buried, 118. 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, Bean Hill. — A class 
 was formed at Bean Hill as early as 1796, which 
 never lost its organization. The first meetings were 
 held in the " Old Academy" at the foot of the hill. 
 In this extemporized chapel many of the early noted 
 itinerants preached in their rounds. Here Lee, As- 
 bury, and other messengers of the church proclaimed 
 their message. Here Mafiit delivered one of the first 
 of his flourishing effusions on this side of the water. 
 When the eccentric Lorenzo Dow was to preach the 
 bounds were too narrow, and the audience assembled 
 in the open air, upon the hill, under the great elm. 
 Among the prominent early members were Solomon 
 Williams and Capt. James Hyde. The society was 
 first known as "Norwich," subsequently "Norwich 
 North," but latterly is designated as " Bean Hill." 
 The first church edifice was erected in 1830, and the 
 society became a separate charge in 1834. The first 
 pastor was Rev. Daniel Dorchester. Among those 
 who have filled the pulpit since are mentioned the 
 names of A. U. Swinerton, W. Livesey, R. W. Allen, 
 E. Benton, B. Otheman, L. Daggett, Jr., A. Palmer, 
 L. W. Blood, G. M. Carpenter, P. T. Kenney, N. G. 
 Lippitt, and G. W. Brewster, the present pastor. 
 
 East Main Street M. E. Church.— In 1833 the 
 Methodists residing at Chelsea Landing, near Norwich 
 City, petitioned the Conference for permission to sup- 
 ply themselves with local preaching. The petition 
 was granted, and Rev. D. N. Bentley was appointed 
 preacher in charge. Measures were soon after taken 
 for the erection of a church edifice, which was com- 
 menced in 1834, and June 17, 1835, was dedicated. 
 This church has been known as "Norwich South," 
 the "Landing," and "East Main Street." It has been 
 known by its present appellation since 1855. Among 
 the pastors of this church have been Rev. D. N. Bent- 
 ley, G. May, W. Livesey, A. U. Swinerton, R. Ran- 
 som G. F. Pool, S. Bent, D. Dorchester, F. Gavitt, J. 
 Howson, J. Lovejoy, G. M. Carpenter, J. D. Butler, 
 M. Chase, G. W. Brewster, J. B. Gould, F. Upham, 
 E. B. Bradford, E. F. Clark, H. W. Conant, E. J. 
 Haynes, J. D. Weeks, F. H. Newhall, A. P. Palmer, 
 A. Anderson, S. O. Benton, William C. Kellogg, 
 George N. Kellogg, George A. Morse, and E. M. 
 Taylor. 
 
298 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The Central M. E. Church. — This church was or- 
 ganized in 1854, and held its first meetings in a large 
 hall upon Central Wharf. Its early ministrations 
 were conducted chiefly by Eev. L. D. Bentley, a son of 
 Rev. D. N. Bentley. The church edifice stands upon 
 the site once occupied by an Episcopal, ajid subse- 
 quently by a Congregational church. It was founded 
 as a free church, and continued as such until a few 
 years since. Among the pastors who have officiated 
 in this church are mentioned the names of C. R. 
 Wilkins, L. D. Bentley, F. Gavitt, R. Parsons, C. 
 Banning, N. G. Lippitt, Mr. Carter, M. P. Alderman, 
 Ensign McChesney, W. T. Worth, W. V. Morrison, 
 Mellen Howard, Hugh Montgomery, E. F. Jones, 
 and Ezra Tinker, the present incumbent. 
 
 Sachem Street M. E. Church.^— Methodism at 
 Norwich Falls dates back as far as 1813. At that 
 time the Methodist societies of the county were 
 united in " New London Circuit," the Revs. J. Steel 
 and W. Marsh, preachers in charge. The only church 
 in JSTorwich was that on "Bean Hill." The services 
 at "the Landing" were held in a room in the upper 
 story of a building on the north side of wharf bridge, 
 where the market now stands. There was then a 
 " class" regularly organized at " the Falls," with Mr. 
 Jeremiah Ladd as its leader. 
 
 When the church at " the Landing," between the 
 bridges on West Main Street, was swept away by the 
 flood, Feb. 23, 1824, Mr. T>. N. Bentley, the patriarch 
 of Methodism, now (July, 1881) in his ninety-seventh 
 year, moved in the matter of building a house of 
 worship at "the Falls." This building stood on 
 Sherman Street, near the bridge over the New Lon- 
 don Northern Railroad. Its site is now occupied by 
 a carriage manufactory. 
 
 The church was dedicated June 19, 1825, Eev. J. 
 A. Merrill, then presiding elder, officiating. Until 
 1831 the church was, with the others of the region, 
 on a circuit. At that time the town of Norwich 
 was made a pastoral charge. In 1836, after a remark- 
 able ingathering of members under the labors of the 
 Rev. W. Livesey, "Norwich Falls" was placed under 
 the care of the Rev. A. C. Wheat, who remained till 
 1838, when the Rev. D. N. Bentley " supplied." 
 
 In the year 1854 it was deemed advisable for the 
 church to have a more eligible place of worship. 
 That occupied by the Oongregationalists, located on 
 Sachem Street, was offered for sale, and was purchased. 
 The following Ecclesiastical Society was duly incor- 
 porated under the title of the "Centre Methodist 
 Episcopal Society :" Asa Manning, Amos E. Cobb, 
 William Hulbert, William H. Hamilton, Nehemiah 
 Upham, Maxon P. Lewis, William Greenman, Charles 
 H. Allen, Edwin S. Barrows. 
 
 The pastors of the " Falls" Methodist Episcopal 
 Church have been as follows: 1839, C. D. Rogers; 
 1840^1, E. Blake; 1842-13, W. H. Richards; 1844^ 
 
 1 Contributed by Eev. Joseph H. James. 
 
 L. Leffingwell ; 1845-46, F. Fisk; 1847-48, S. Dean; 
 1849, J. Mather; 1850-51, B. M. Walker; 1852-53^ 
 W. Leonard ; 1864^55, Sachem Street, T. Ely ; 1856 
 J. M. Worcester; 1857-59, D. H. Ela; 1860-61, J.' 
 Livesey; 1862-63, H. W. Conant; 1864-66, E.' F. 
 Clark; 1867, G. W. Alexander ; 1868-70, T. M. House,' 
 1871, W. H. Stetson; 1872-74, N. G. Lippitt; 1875^ 
 W. A. Cottle; 1876-77, W. A. Luce; 1878, E. m! 
 Dunham ; 1879-81, J. H. James. 
 
 The following are now, July, 1881, the regularly 
 constituted officiary of the " Sachem Street Methodist 
 Episcopal Church :" Pastor, the Rev. Joseph H. 
 James ; Sunday-school Superintendent and Class- 
 Leader, Daniel T. Adams ; Stewards, C. W. Hopkins, 
 C. H. Allen, G. Parkinson, G. W. Nash, B. M. Prince, 
 B. M. Upham, W. Greenman, A. E. Cobb, W. T. 
 Rogers; Treasurer, C. W. Hopkins. 
 
 Ecclesiastical Society. — A. E. Cobb, E. S. Barnes, 
 W. Greenman, C. H. Allen, W. Hulbert, B. M. Up- 
 ham, M. P. Lewis, S. Hopkins, C. W. Hopkins, S. 
 Subub, J. Babcock, D. J. Woodward. 
 
 Society Committee.'' — C. H. Allen, B. M. Upham. 
 
 The statistics in April, 1881, were : membership, 115 ; 
 Sunday-school teachers, 16; Sunday-school scholars, 
 106. 
 
 ivl. E, Church, Greeneville. — The first Methodist 
 class at Greeneville was formed prior to 1834, and con- 
 sisted of the following : Hannah Cranston, Sabra 
 Bushnell, Roxanna Starkweather, Sarah Dennison, 
 and Belinda Rood. Jesse Dennison, an exhorter, 
 was the first class-leader. Among other early leaders 
 were John B. Truman, Richmond Cranston, Samuel 
 Wilbur, James Babcock, and Martin Obernauer. 
 
 The first church edifice was dedicated in 1840, 
 which was subsequently enlarged. Among the min- 
 isters who have officiated for this church were the 
 Rev. George May, the venerable D. N. Bentley, D. 
 N. Rogers, E. Blake, S. Benton, L. Daggett, Jr., A. 
 Palmer, M. P. Alderman, CharlesMorse, B.M. Walker, 
 W. 0. Cady, W. Turkington, J. Pack, N. G. Lippitt, 
 F. Upham, E. B. Bradford, E. F. Clark, H. W. Conant, 
 J. E. Hawkins. The present church edifice was dedi- 
 cated April 7, 1864. 
 
 First Baptist Church. — The first regular Baptists 
 within the bounds of the present town of Norwich 
 were Ephraim Story and Elijah Herrick. "These 
 men," says Miss Caulkins, "had been members of 
 neighboring churches of Separatists, and soon after 
 1790 began to hold night meetings^ at their own houses 
 for mutual edification. Whenever they were visited 
 by the neighboring Baptist elders, and the congrega- 
 tion was too large for a private room, they assembled 
 in the school-house, or, if the weather was sufficiently 
 mild, in a grove upon the hillside, or in a neighbor- 
 ing rope-walk. At first they were recognized as a 
 
 2 Que vacancy, caused by the death of B. M. Ladd. 
 
 3 The term night meetings was at first used by way of reproach, as meet- 
 ings after sundown in the evening were at that time unusual in tlie reg- 
 ular religious societies. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 299 
 
 branch of the church at Kingston, R. I., but were or- 
 ganized as a church July 12, 1800. 
 
 " The origin of the church is thus related in a doc- 
 ument emanating from the church itself: 
 
 " 'In the year 1800 it pleased the Lord to collect and unite from a 
 broken and scattered condition a few brethren and sisters, to the number 
 of about 2U, who were constituted into a church in fellowship with the 
 Groton Union Conference. On the 25th Dec. following our beloved Elder 
 was ordained and took the pastoral charge of the Church.' 
 
 " This beloved elder was John Sterry, who had been 
 for some time previous an acceptable leader in their 
 meetings. Christopher Palme'r, of Montville, had 
 also labored among them, and assisted in their or- 
 ganization. 
 
 "The ordination services were performed in the 
 Congregational church. Elder Silas Burrows, of 
 Groton, preached the sermon. Dewey Bromley was 
 at the same time ordained as first deacon of the church. 
 
 "The frame of a house of worship was raised by 
 the society in 1801, and the building so far completed 
 that services were held in it before the end of the 
 year, but it remained long in an unfinished state. 
 
 " This church gathered in most of the inhabitants 
 of the West Side. Bromley, Gavitt, Herrick, Willett, 
 — ^these are names identified with West Chelsea and 
 with the Baptist Church. 
 
 " In 1811, Eleazar Hatch left a bequest in his will 
 of three or four thousand dollars, the interestof which 
 was to be applied to the support of the Baptist minis- 
 try in West Chelsea. 
 
 "Elder Sterry died Nov. 5, 1823, in the twenty- 
 third year of his ministry, and fifty-seventh of his 
 age. He was a native of Preston, but had resided 
 from his youth in the First Society in Norwich. 
 
 " His successor as pastor of the church was Elder 
 William Palmer, who commenced his labors April 1, 
 1824, and continued in charge about ten years. He 
 was a grandson of Elder Christopher Palmer, who 
 has been mentioned as one of the forefathers of the 
 church. In the mean time the congregation outgrew 
 the meeting-house. It was removed in 1832, and a 
 new house of worship erected on the same spot, which 
 was dedicated in July, 1883. 
 
 " After the departure of Elder Palmer, the pastoral 
 duties were discharged by Messrs. Samuel S. Mallory, 
 Josiah M. Graves, and Russell Jennings in succes-. 
 sion, neither of them exceeding two years of service. 
 These frequent changes and other unfavorable cir- 
 cumstances, operating against the prosperity of the 
 church, led to a new Baptist enterprise, which issued at 
 length in the establishment of the present Central 
 Church. At this period the church at West Chelsea 
 almost died out. The meeting-house was closed, and 
 finally sold to cancel a debt of fifteen hundred dollars 
 that had been incurred. 
 
 " In 1841, Elder Palmer, the former pastor, was pre- 
 vailed on to resume the oflSce, and the meeting-house, 
 hired for the purpose, was again opened for religious 
 services. He resigned in 1845, but continued to reside 
 
 in Norwich till his death, which took place Deo. 25, 
 1853. 
 
 " Elder Palmer was one of the eleven ministers who 
 organized the New London Baptist Association in 
 1817 ; had served from year to year as its sole clerk, 
 and was the last survivor of the eleven originators. 
 
 " Mr. Palmer's successor in the pulpit was Miner 
 H. Rising. The church-members at this time were 
 but few in number, as the Bromley family and others 
 who had united with the new church did not return. 
 But in 1845 and 1846, through the influence of a re- 
 vival which commenced with a protracted meeting, 
 conducted by Rev. J. S. Swan, great accessions were 
 made to the church, and the total membership re- 
 ported two hundred and seventy-six. 
 
 " The church edifice was at this time redeemed, and 
 Mr. Rising ordained. The health of the pastor, how- 
 ever, soon failed, and he was laid aside from ministe- 
 rial duty. Since 1849 the ministry has been several 
 times changed." 
 
 Central Baptist Church.— On the 1st of April, 
 1840, the First Baptist Church in Norwich obtained 
 the services of Rev. M. G. Clarke, who continued to 
 supply them until August following, when it was be- 
 lieved the many difficulties under which the Baptist 
 interest labored might be much lessened, if not re- 
 moved, by a change of location. So many embarrass- 
 ments, however, seemed to attend this proposition 
 that it was abandoned; but it was finally decided to 
 commence a new interest in a more central and ad- 
 vantageous situation. 
 
 Accordingly, on the evening of Sept. 15, 1840, 
 thirty-seven persons residing in the place, but not 
 connected with the First Church, met at the house of 
 Avery Bromley, on Union Street, and organized a 
 Second Church, to be called the Central Baptist 
 Church of Norwich. Articles of faith and church 
 covenant were adopted, and Rev. M. G. Clarke was 
 chosen to be their pastor. 
 
 A Council called to recognize the new church met 
 on the 22d of the same month, consisting of delegates 
 from the following churches : First Norwich, Bozrah, 
 Lebanon, Colchester, Packersville, Jewett City, Vol- 
 untown, and Preston City ; besides which, were in- 
 vited Rev. I. R. Stewart and Rev. E. Denison. The 
 church was duly recognized, and in the evening pub- 
 lic services were held at the town hall, where a ser- 
 mon was preached by Elder Tubal Wakefield, and 
 the hand of fellowship extended to the new church, 
 through their pastor, by Elder B. Cook. At the next 
 meeting of that body the church was received a 
 member of the New London Association. 
 
 The town hall was engaged as a place of worship, 
 and so much did the congregation increase that the 
 place was soon nearly filled. About this time also, 
 the First Church being destitute of a pastor, many of 
 its members took letters and united with the Central 
 Church. The first deacons were Elisha W. Beckwith, 
 Erastus Regwin, and George Lovis. 
 
300 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 It now became evident that the comfort and pros- 
 perity of the church depended much on their having 
 a house to worship in. But after the severe struggles 
 through which they had passed, few in numbers and 
 feeble in means, it was difiicult to see how such an 
 object could be attained. But after prayer and con- 
 sultation, trusting in God, it was decided to go for- 
 ward and make the attempt. A lot centrally and 
 favorably located on Union Street was obtained, and 
 in the following spring a house was commenced, 
 which was dedicated Dec. 14, 1841, Elder R. H. 
 Neale, of Boston, preaching the sermon. Cost of 
 church edifice about $11,000. 
 
 Among the pastors of this church have been the 
 following: Revs. Miner G. Clarke, Edward T. Hiscox, 
 Joseph A. Goodhue, Frederick Denison, Samuel 
 Graves, and John Davies. In 1863 the church was 
 enlarged and beautified at an expense of about $7000. 
 The present pastor is Rev. John D. Herr. 
 
 Baptist Church, Greeneville. — This church was 
 organized with one hundred members in 1845, and a 
 house of worship erected the following year. The 
 first pastor was Rev. D. B. Cheney, who was suc- 
 ceeded in April, 1847, by Rev. Lemon Muzzy. 
 
 The church edifice was destroyed by fire in Febru- 
 ary, 1854, and the present brick building was erected 
 in 1854, and December 21st, same year, was dedicated. 
 Rev. J. B. Swan preaching the dedicatory sermon. 
 
 The Universalist Church. — In the autumn of 1772, 
 John Murray, a Universalist preacher, first visited the 
 town and delivered his message to the people. He 
 had been in America about two years, and had 
 preached in several places south of New York, from 
 which city he started with the intention of visiting 
 Newport, R. I. On his journey through our State he 
 stopped with a friend in Guilford. Here he was per- 
 suaded to preach. Some Norwich gentlemen, and 
 among them a Mr. Samuel Post, heard him, made his 
 acquaintance, and urged him to come to Norwich. 
 He came. A small house of worship was procured 
 for him. It was probably the house occupied by the 
 Separatists. It not being sufficiently large, the doors 
 of the great meeting-house, occupied by Dr. Lord, 
 were opened for his accommodation, and he says they 
 " never afterwards were shut against him.'' Here he 
 preached Universalism to a large and attentive audi- 
 ence, from these words, "The sceptre shall not depart 
 from Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet, 
 until Shiloh come: and unto Him shall the gathering 
 of the people be." Gen. xlix. 10. He tarried but a 
 short time, and continued his journey to Newport. 
 The first sermon preached in Norwich in open advo- 
 cacy of Universalism was delivered bj John Murray, 
 eighty-seven years ago, in Dr. Lord's meeting-house. 
 For several years afterwards Murray visited the town 
 annitally, and sometimes oftener, and at every coming 
 the number and attachment of his friends were in- 
 creased and the influence of his sentiments was ex- 
 tended in the community. 
 
 A society was formed, probably about the year 1791. 
 It was prospering when Elhanan Winchester, an elo- 
 quent preacher of the doctrine, visited Norwich, in 
 1794. He visited this town several times during the 
 two or three years preceding his death. He was 
 warmly received by many admirers. Rev. John 
 Tyler, of the Episcopal Church, rendered him marked 
 attention, and allowed him, as he had Murray, to 
 preach in his church. In 1775, Winchester delivered 
 a sermon, which was greatly admired by all classes, 
 before the Masons, on the occasion of the St. John's 
 festival. He died in Hartford in 1797. 
 
 Near the close of the year 1820 the present Uni- 
 versalist society was organized, under the name " So- 
 ciety of United Christian Friends in the towns of 
 Norwich, Preston, and Groton." The first meeting 
 was held at Paul Harvey's, in Preston. David Tracy 
 was moderator, and Gurdon Bill was clerk. A com- 
 mittee, consisting of David Tracy, Gurdon Bill, and 
 H. K. Park, were chosen to draft a constitution. The 
 meeting adjourned to Poquetanoc, at which place the 
 constitution was adopted, and the society fully organ- 
 ized by the choice of the proper oflicers. 
 
 In 1821 the Rev. Charles Hudson, since a member 
 of Congress for Massachusetts, came into the neigh- 
 borhood, and preached one-fourth of the time in this 
 society. During this year the first meeting-house of 
 the society was built. It was dedicated July 21st. 
 Rev. Edward Mitchell preached the dedicatory ser- 
 mon. 
 
 The site of the church was the one which this oc- 
 cupies, and it was bought by David Tracy, George 
 Moore, and Daniel Carew of Nancy and Ebenezer 
 Carew, of Norwich, and Simeon Carew, of Stoning- 
 ton, for sixty dollars. The site has been enlarged by 
 a more recent purchase. 
 
 Zephaniah Grossman was the next preacher in the 
 society. He preached about a year. 
 
 In 1825, Zelotes Fuller became their preacher, and 
 continued his labors till July, 1827. 
 
 From 1827 to 1834 the society had no settled min- 
 ister. In 1834, Rev. Asher Moore, then of New Lon- 
 don, was engaged to preach for them once a month. 
 In 1835, Rev. John H. Gihon took the pastoral charge 
 of the society. 
 
 On the 6th of February, 1838, the present church 
 organization was commenced with eighteen members. 
 
 In July of 1838, Rev. Henry Lyon became the pas- 
 tor of the society, and continued with it until April, 
 1840. 
 
 In 1840, Rev. J. V. Wilson succeeded Mr. Lyon. 
 He encouraged, by advice and material aid, the erec- 
 tion of the church in which the society now worship, 
 which was completed and dedicated in the autumn of 
 1841. His connection with the society was dissolved 
 in the early part of 1842. 
 
 In May of the same year Rev. R. 0. Williams 
 commenced his labors here, and continued till the au- 
 tumn of 1844. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 301 
 
 Eev. L. C. Brown was the next pastor. He was 
 installed Nov. 5, 1845. He resigned his pastoral 
 chfirge in September, 1848. 
 
 Rev. Elhanan Winchester Reynolds, his successor, 
 commenced his labors in the October following, and 
 was installed as pastor of the society Nov. 15, 1848, 
 at which time this house, as then enlarged, was dedi- 
 cated. His resignation occurred in September, 1850. 
 
 Eev. A. L. Loveland immediately succeeded him. 
 He left October, 1853. 
 
 Rev. Benjamin Whittemore commenced his labors 
 in April, 1854. The society was originally called the 
 " Society of United Christian Friends in the towns of 
 Norwich, Preston, and Groton." The name did not 
 express the belief of the society, and in 1836, during 
 Mr. Gihon's ministry, it was changed, and it was 
 called " The First Universalist Society in Norwich." 
 It was legalized by an act of the Legislature in 1842. 
 
 The pastors since Rev. Mr. Whittemore have been 
 as follows : E. P. Ambler, 1862-65 ; J. R. Johnson, 
 1865-69 ; Asher Moore, 1869-71 ; J. M. Paine, 1871- 
 72; J. J. Twiss, 1873-75; L. P. Blackford, 1875, 
 present incumbent. 
 
 Roman Catholic Church, Taftville. — For some 
 years the Catholics of Taftville were attended to by 
 the Roman Catholic clergy of Norwich. In October, 
 1872, they were assigned to the pastoral care of Rev. 
 J. B. Reynolds, of Jewett City, and have since been 
 in charge of the Catholic clergy of that village. Mass 
 was said in the school-hall. Father Reynolds having 
 died in December, 1874, Rev. John Russell succeeded 
 him. To his zeal and energy the Catholics of Taft- 
 ville owe the beautiful church which now crowns the 
 village heights. It was dedicated with imposing cere- 
 monies April 18, 1878, by the late Bishop Galberry. 
 The same year Rev. Thomas R. Joseph became pastor. 
 The congregation numbers upwards of 1600, two- 
 thirds of whom are natives of Canada. 
 
 Eoman Catholic Church.^— The following foot- 
 note, on page 472 of Miss Caulkins' "History of Nor- 
 wich," appears to be the first known instance of a 
 Catholic visitation in Norwich : 
 
 " The committee of this (First Congregational) 
 society appears to have been almost indiscriminately 
 liberal in the loan of their church to itinerant 
 preachers. Witness the following newspaper item of 
 Nov. 14, 1793 : 
 
 " ' On Friday evening last Mr. John Thayer, Catholic 
 missionary, delivered to a large audience at the Rev. 
 Joseph Strong's meeting-house, in this city, a learned 
 and ingenious discourse, in which he undertook to 
 prove that the Catholic Church was the only true 
 church of Christ.'" 
 
 On Sunday evening following, at the same place, 
 he delivered a discourse on the propriety and true 
 piety of invoking departed saints and the utility and 
 eflBcacy of addressing prayers to them. 
 
 ' Contributed by Daniel Lee. 
 
 With the above exception, until 1824, no mention 
 is made of the existence of a single Roman Catholic 
 within the limits of the town. "In that year the 
 same authority states that the population of Norwich 
 was about 4000, and Edward Murphy was the only 
 ' exile of Erin' among them." He probably was the 
 pioneer Irish Catholic of Norwich. In the year 1831 
 the Catholics became numerous enough to have a 
 priest visit them occasionally from Worcester, Mass., 
 then the nearest Catholic mission, and the first mass 
 known to be celebrated in Norwich was offered up by 
 the late Rev. James Fitton, the so-called pioneer 
 priest of New England, who continued his occasional 
 pastoral visits until 1845. 
 
 The iirst sacrament recorded as administered in 
 Norwich was the baptism of Catharine, daughter of 
 John and Eleanor Connolly, born June 8, 1835, and 
 baptized May 15, 1836, by Rev. James Fitton ; spon- 
 sors, Thomas Connolly and Judy Donnelly. The first 
 marriage recorded is that of John Savage and Mary 
 Melvin, June 30, 1840, by the Rev. James Fitton, and 
 the first male child born and baptized in the Catholic 
 faith was James, son of David and Johanna Shaugh- 
 nessy, Aug. 18, 1836,— Aug. 21, 1836. 
 
 St. Mary's church was commenced in 1843, and oc- 
 cupied for religious services for the first time on St. 
 Patrick's Day, 1845. Its proportions, although meagre, 
 were sufiicient for the congregation of that period. 
 Rev. John Brady took charge of the mission, which 
 included Norwich, in May, 1845. He was succeeded 
 by Rev. William Logan, who in turn was succeeded 
 by Rev. Peter Blenkinsop, the latter remaining in 
 charge of this and neighboring missions until Sep- 
 tember, 1851. The Catholic population of Norwich 
 and vicinity by this time had increased to nearly 
 three thousand souls, and Rev. Daniel Kelly was ap- 
 pointed the first resident pastor, and remained so until 
 August, 1866, when he was removed to Providence, 
 R. I., and was succeeded by Rev. Peter Kelly. 
 
 At this period St. Mary's church had been raised and 
 enlarged several times to meetthe necessities of the ever 
 and rapidly increasing congregation, and being still 
 insufficient to accommodate them, the project of erect- 
 ing a new church edifice was practically commenced. 
 Although Rev. Peter Kelly remained as pastor only 
 about one year, he purchased two adjoining lots on 
 Church Street, having a commanding view of the 
 Thames River and that portion of the city lining 
 either bank, at a cost of $10,000, and ground was 
 broken for a new church on St. Patrick's Day, 1867, 
 but as the location was not considered suitable to the 
 church authorities, it was abandoned for church pur- 
 poses. Eev. Peter Kelly was soon after succeeded by 
 Rev. Bernard Tully, who, however, remained but a 
 few months, and on Jan. 20, 1868, Rev. Daniel Mul- 
 len was appointed pastor. 
 
 He was at one time chaplain of the Ninth Regi- 
 ment of Connecticut Volunteers in the war of the 
 Rebellion. Previous to his appointment to the parish 
 
 20 
 
3(12 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 various projects looking to the erection of a new 
 church were commenced and abandoned, and the 
 people became almost dispirited. He, however, care- 
 fully considered the matter, and finally selected a plot 
 on Broadway, the most beautiful portion of the city, 
 which, with the buildings thereon, were purchased at 
 a cost of $17,000. This location was chosen not only 
 on account of its beautiful surroundings, but also 
 because of its being so near the centre of the scattered 
 parish, which extended from the village of Yantic on 
 the north to Thamesville on the south and west, and 
 Greeneville and a portion of the town of Preston on 
 the east. 
 
 Ground was broken on St. Patrick's Day, 1870, 
 with imposing ceremonies, by Rev. Daniel Mullen, 
 and the blessing was given by Very Eev. James 
 Hughes, of Hartford, vicar-general and administrator 
 of the diocese, in the absence of the late Bishop F. P. 
 McFarland, then in Europe, in the presence of the 
 city and town authorities and a large concourse of 
 people. During this year monthly collections were 
 instituted to establish a fund for the commencement 
 of the great work, and on Good Friday, April 7, 1871, 
 the men of the congregation assembled with shovels, 
 picks, etc., and accompanied by numerous horses and 
 carts, formed in procession, and headed by a band of 
 music, marched to the ground and commenced the 
 work of excavating for the foundation walls. This 
 portion of the work was completed in three days, and 
 was entirely a free offering by the enthusiastic people. 
 The work now commenced in earnest, and the collec- 
 tion of funds kept pace with the work. The church 
 was built in the most substantial manner, the founda- 
 tion walls, towers, and roof all being done by day 
 work, more attention being given to good material 
 and good workmanship than cost or speed. On July 
 13, 1873, the corner-stone was laid by Bishop McFar- 
 land, assisted by a large number of priests, with im- 
 posing ceremonies, in presence of the civil authorities 
 and many thousands who were assembled. On this 
 occasion over ten thousand dollars were contributed, 
 the largest amount ever realized at a similar event in 
 the State. The work so well begun progressed steadily 
 until the fall of 1877, when Father Mullen was taken 
 sick, and died shortly afterwards, leaving the church 
 walls, roof, and towers up to the peak of the roof 
 completed ; and his successor, Eev. P. P. Strahan, who 
 assumed control in April, 1878, with his accustomed 
 energy at once took the responsibility of finishing the 
 work so well begun. 
 
 It was estimated that the building cost up to this 
 time over two hundred thousand dollars, and that it 
 would cost one hundred thousand dollars more to 
 finish it in keeping with the work already done. 
 Contracts were made for the completed tower with 
 Messrs. McCauley & Lawlor, of Springfield, Mass. ; 
 for the plastering and stucco-work with Andrew Mc- 
 Dermott, of East Boston ; with Edmund O'Keefe, now 
 of Norwich, for the woodwork and various other con- 
 
 tracts, such as plumbing, heating, frescoing, painting, 
 stained glass, organ, etc., and so rapidly was the work 
 carried on that the first mass was offered up, although 
 not entirely completed, on St. Patrick's Day, 1879 
 and on September 28th of the same year St. Patrick's 
 church was dedicated by Bishop" McMahon, of Hart- 
 ford, in presence of Archbishop Gibbons, of Baltimore, 
 Md., who preached the sermon. Bishop Shanahan, 
 of Harrisburg, Pa., and Eev. James Fitton, of East 
 Boston, Mass., who, thirty -six years previous, offered 
 up the first mass and built the first church in Norwich, 
 and assisted by a numerous array of clergymen from 
 all parts of the country. 
 
 The following brief description of this magnificent 
 specimen of church architecture is appended. The 
 walls of the church are a light-blue granite from the 
 Monson, Mass., quarries, cut and trimmed in blocks, 
 and around the doors and windows are highly finished 
 and carved. The building is two hundred and ten 
 feet long, one hundred feet wide in the transept, with 
 three towers, the main one being two hundred and 
 sixteen feet high, exclusive of the finial and cross. 
 The main entrances are approached from the sidewalk 
 by an easy grade, and the grounds in front are taste- 
 fully laid out and heavily curbed, presenting an ele- 
 gant appearance, in keeping with its aristocratic sur- 
 roundings. With its five massive entrances, every 
 door of which opens outward, the more than two 
 thousand people who can find accommodation within 
 can find easy egress to the street in less than five min- 
 utes. The interior presents a grand and imposing 
 appearance, the arched ceiling rising to a height of 
 seventy feet, and is divided into richly grooved and 
 intersected panels, which with their carved bosses of 
 various emblematic designs present a unique and 
 harmonious arrangement. The walls throughout are 
 frescoed in water-colors, except the closed panels 
 around the clerestory and in the rear of the three al- 
 tars, which are oil paintings executed with marvelous 
 skill, the subjects being chosen with wondrous taste 
 and judgment. The columns along the aisles are sur- 
 mounted with richly gilt capitals, on which rest groups 
 of nine smaller columns, from which spring the ar- 
 tistic groined ceiling. On the four main columns 
 which support the arches which span the four corners 
 of the transept at its intersection with the nave stand 
 four winged angels, with closed hands, in reverent at-- 
 titudes. The devices on the capitals and bosses are 
 numerous and varied, but all of a highly religious 
 character, such as lilies, flowers, monograms, chalices, 
 and instruments of the passion. The grand altar is a 
 perfect ohef-d'wuvre, with its numberless tapering pin- 
 nacles, massive and rich covering, and illuminated 
 turrets and towers. The transept windows are of the 
 finest stained glass, the north one representing the 
 Annunciation, and the south one St. Patrick before 
 the royal family at Tara, defining the mystery of the 
 Trinity with the symbolic shamrock, and each cost- 
 ing sixteen hundred dollars, the latter dedicated to 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 303 
 
 the memory of Eev. Daniel Mullen by the parish- 
 ioners. 
 
 On the gospel side of the main altar is a magnificent 
 marble altar, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and do- 
 nated by the Rev. Daniel Mullen in his will, and im- 
 mediately to its left is the marble slab raised by his 
 friends to commemerate his services towards the great 
 work. Even the stations of the cross, which are usu- 
 ally framed pictures representing the sufferings and 
 death of our Saviour, are composed of carved figures, 
 and are importations from Munich, Germany. This 
 church will seat comfortably nineteen hundred and 
 sixty persons, while the chapel in the basement, re- 
 served for the children, will seat over a thousand. St. 
 Mary's will seat about twelve hundred, and the chapel 
 of the Sacred Heart, at Norwich Town, all in one 
 parish, will seat about four hundred. Total seating 
 capacity about four thousand five hundred. There 
 are from one to three services every Sunday morning 
 in each of the churches. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 BANKING INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 The Norwich National Bank — The First National — The Thames National 
 —The Shetncket National — The Merchants' National— The Second 
 National — The Uncas National — The Norwich Savings Society — The 
 Chelsea Savings-Bank — The Dime Savlngs-Bank — The Thames Loan 
 and Trust Company — New London County Mutual Fire Insurance 
 Company — The Norwich Mutual Assurance Company. 
 
 The Norwich Bank was organized at a meet- 
 ing held June 21, 1796, Elias Brown chairman, and 
 James Lanman clerk. At this meeting eight hun- 
 dred and five shares of stock were subscribed for, and 
 the following directors chosen : Joshua Lathrop, 
 Daniel Dunham, Elias Brown, Ebenezer Huntington, 
 Joseph Williams, David Trumbull, Jabez Hunting- 
 ton, Jabez Perkins, Elijah House, Thomas Fanning, 
 James Lauman, Luther Payne, and Jonathan Devo- 
 tion. June 24, 1796, Ebenezer Huntington was chosen 
 president and Hezekiah Perkins cashier. August 
 1st, same year, it was ordered that one thousand 
 dollars in small bills be printed and signed. Feb. 
 28, 1797, the first dividend was declared, two dollars 
 per share. June 19, 1807, subscriptions were opened 
 for twelve hundred shares of new stock. Sept. 14, 
 1814, specie payment was suspended. 
 
 The following is a list of the ofiicers of the bank 
 from its organization to the present time : Presidents, 
 Ebenezer Huntington, 1796-1819; Simeon Breed, 
 1819-22; Jabez Huntington, 1822-47; Charles John- 
 son, 1847-79 ; Frank Johnson, 1879, present in- 
 cumbent. Cashiers, Hezekiah Perkins, 1796-1822 ; 
 Francis A. Perkins, 1822-33 ; J. N. Perkins, 1833-84 ; 
 Charles Johnson, 1834-47 ; Frank Johnson, 1847-78 ; 
 Stephen B. Meech, 1878 to present time. 
 
 The bank was reorganized as a national bank May 
 
 16, 1865, with the following board of directors : Jede- 
 diah Huntington, Joseph Williams, Charles Johnson, 
 John Dunham, Gurdon A. Jones, Joseph S. Gladding, 
 Daniel Stoddard, Arnold Fenner, Thomas J. Ridgway, 
 Frank Johnson, Willet R. Wood, David Smith, and 
 H. F. Rudd. The present directors are Frank John- 
 son, H. F. Rudd, Amos E. Cobb, Charles C. Johnson, 
 and A. H. Emmons. 
 
 The old bank has had an honorable and successful 
 career, and has paid one hundred and sixty-nine 
 dividends to its stockholders. 
 
 The First National Bank. — Quinnebaug Bank was 
 incorporated at the General Assembly in New Haven 
 in May, 1832. The first meeting of the stockholders 
 (called by the commissioners, as provided by the 
 charter) was held at Clark's Hotel, Norwich, June 11, 
 1833. 
 
 The directors chosen were as follows : Francis A. 
 Perkins, Charles W. Rockwell, Asa Child, George 
 L. Perkins, John A. Rockwell, Arthur F. Gilman, 
 Thomas Robinson, Edmund Smith, — George L. Per- 
 kins being the only survivor in 1881. Charles W. 
 Rockwell was appointed president, and Francis A. 
 Perkins cashier. Alfred Lee (now Bishop Lee, of 
 Wilmington, Del.) was added as a director in 1833. 
 William C. Gilman was chosen president, and John 
 Reed a director, in 1835. In 1839, F. A. Perkins was 
 appointed president and Daniel L. Trumbull cashier. 
 D. L. Trumbull resigned in 1846. 
 
 The capital stock was $500,000, with the condition 
 that $200,000 of the amount was to be in the capital 
 stock of the Boston, Norwich and New London Rail- 
 road Company (afterwards the Norwich and Worcester 
 Railroad Company), for which the bank was granted 
 special privileges. 
 
 The stock was reduced to $245,000 in 1842, and to 
 $225,000 in 1843, and increased to $250,000 in 1845, in 
 which year Samuel C. Morgan was appointed president. 
 
 In 1849, Edward H. Learned was appointed cashier, 
 and the following persons directors : Samuel C. Mor- 
 gan, Frederic Prentice, Erastus Williams, Joseph A. 
 Yerrington, John G. Huntington, Edward Y. Thomas, 
 Roger Huntington, Ashbel Woodward, Shubael Mor- 
 gan, Leonard Ballon, Henry Thomas, none of whom 
 now remain in this connection, and nine of the num- 
 ber are deceased. 
 
 In 1850 the capital stock was increased to $850,000, 
 and in 1856 to $500,000. 
 
 Lewis A. Hyde was appointed cashier in 1854, and 
 has held the oflSce since. 
 
 Lucius W. Carroll was appointed president in 1861, 
 and resigned in 1862, when David Gallup, of Plain- 
 field, was appointed. 
 
 The bank was reorganized as a national bank, re- 
 ceiving the name of First National, in June, 1864; 
 capital, $325,000, subsequently increased to $500,000. 
 In 1872 it was increased to $600,000, and in 1877 re- 
 duced to $500,000, which is its present capital. 
 
 The directors first chosen by the stockholders of the 
 
304 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 First National Bank were as follows : David Gallup, 
 Samuel C. Morgan, Frederic Prentice, Ashbel Wood- 
 ward, John A. Eobinson, Jeremiah Halsey, Leonard 
 Ballou, William P. Nash, Frederick W. Tyler,— Jere- 
 miah Halsey being the only one continued in the 
 office until the present time. 
 
 Lucius W. Carroll was chosen president and Lewis 
 A. Hyde cashier, which office they have retained 
 until the present time. 
 
 The list of directors as appointed at the annual 
 meeting of stockholders in January, 1881, were as 
 follows : Lucius W. Carroll, Jeremiah Halsey, Amos 
 W. Prentice, Samuel B. Case, John A. Morgan, 
 Charles D. Browning, Francis J. Leavens, Charles 
 M. Pendleton, George E. Hyde. 
 
 The present surplus of the bank is $77,000, and 
 late dividends three and a half per cent, semi- 
 annually. 
 
 The bank occupies a portion of the Richards 
 Building by lease, located in an eligible position 
 near the post-office. 
 
 The Thames Bank was the second institution of 
 the kind chartered in Norwich, with a capital of 
 $200,000, in the year 1825. The first meeting of 
 directors was held at Kinney's Hotel, June 30th of 
 the same year, at which William P. Greene, Roger 
 Huntington, Joseph Perkins, William C. Gilman, 
 Joseph Breed, and Amos H. Hubbard were present, 
 Calvin Goddard being the only other director. Wil- 
 liam P. Greene was made president, and on the 5th 
 of July following Lyman Brewer was made cashier, 
 at a salary of eight hundred dollars. 
 
 By the charter of the bank it was obliged to pur- 
 chase all the stock of the Norwich Channel Company, 
 and thereafter to perform all the requirements of the 
 Channel Company as to deepening the river Thames, 
 and were allowed to take a certain amount of tolls 
 from all vessels coming to Norwich. This duty was 
 well performed by this bank so long as it existed 
 under the State charter. It was also obliged to re- 
 ceive deposits from the State School Fund, ecclesiasti- 
 cal societies, colleges, and schools at par, and paying 
 any such dividends on their deposits as were made to 
 their stockholders. This was performed in all cases 
 when required. 
 
 At a meeting of the directors on Nov. 9, 1826, it 
 was voted to build a banking-house on the lot then 
 owned by F. A. Perkins on Main Street. The land 
 was purchased at once, and the building erected and 
 occupied. In the year 1847 the capital stock was in- 
 creased to $300,000, and in 1854 again it was increased 
 to $500,000. 
 
 The business of the bank had been regularly grow- 
 ing, and the demand for more capital compelled the 
 directors to favor this enlargement. In April, 1861, 
 at the commencement of the civil war. Governor 
 Buckingham, who was a friend and customer of the 
 bank, appealed to the institution for aid, and the bank 
 at once took the lead in this direction, and voted, 
 
 " That to assist the State in meeting the requisition of 
 the President of the United States for troops for the 
 maintenance of the general government the Thames 
 Bank offer a loan of $100,000," which was duly paid 
 into the treasury of the State of Connecticut, when 
 the question was an open one whether we should have 
 any government or not. Although the number of 
 banks in Norwich had increased until there were five 
 others in full operation, still the business of this one 
 had been so much enlarged that the managers were 
 desirous of adding to its capital and enlarging its 
 building. Steadily had it been growing in favor with 
 the business community, more and greater had be- 
 come the demands on it for enlarged facilities. In a 
 great measure this prosperity was due to the skill and 
 courtesy of its executive ofiicers, who were unwearied 
 in their attention to the business of the bank and the 
 accommodation of its customers. Not only were the 
 wants of the customers of the bank promptly met, 
 but to the stockholders dividends were largely in- 
 creased and punctually paid. 
 
 At the beginning six per cent, was all that could be 
 declared, but by gradual gains for many years ten 
 per cent, was annually paid. All this prosperity 
 called on the management to add to the pecuniary 
 and physical ability of the institution, and in May, 
 1862, the bank purchased the lot on Shetucket Street, 
 and at once proceeded to erect the building which 
 it now occupies. In 1864 the whole business and cap- 
 ital of the Thames Bank were passed over, and be- 
 came under the law of the United' States a national 
 bank, under the name of the " Thames National 
 Bank," with a capital increased to $1,000,000. The 
 officers of the bank have been William P. Greene, 
 president, from 1825 to 1842 ; Edward Whiting, from 
 1842 to 1851. Franklin Nichols was chosen president 
 in 1851, and now is continued in the same office. 
 The cashiers of this bank have been Lyman Brewer, 
 until 1857; Charles Bard, until 1871, when Edward' 
 N. Gibbs was elected to the office, which he now 
 holds. 
 
 The present board of directors with the dates of 
 their election are Franklin Nichols, 1846 ; Ebenezer 
 Learned, 1850; Alfred A. Young, 1852; James L. 
 Hubbard, 1855 ; James Lloyd Greene, 1864 ; Lorenzo 
 Blackstone, 1864; William G. Johnson, 1869; Hugh 
 H. Osgood, 1869 ; John Mitchell, 1869 ; Charles Bard, 
 1869; Thomas D. Sayles, 1878; Edward N. Gibbs, 
 1878. 
 
 The Second National Bank was organized in 
 March, 1864, and the first board of directors were J. 
 Hunt Adams, Horace Whitaker, David Smith, James 
 D. Mowry, and Edward H. Learned. The first offi- 
 cers were J. Hunt Adams, president, and James D. 
 Mowry, cashier. Succeeding officers have been as 
 follows: Presidents, J. Hunt Adams, David Smith, 
 1865 ; Alba F. Smith, 1874 ; E. R. Thompson, 1879. 
 Vice-President, C. P. Cogswell, 1879. Cashiers, James 
 D. Mowry, 1864; C. P. Cogswell, 1864; E. A. Tracy, 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 305 
 
 1879. Capital, $300,000; surplus, $53,000. The 
 present board of directors are as follows : E. E. 
 Thompson, W. C. Jillson, W. E. Austin, W. E. Burn- 
 ham, C. P. Cogswell, and C. B. Piatt. Their new 
 banking-house was erected and occupied in 1880. 
 
 The Uncas Bank was organized in 1852, and in- 
 corporated by general act in 1855. It was converted 
 into a national bank in 1865. The first board of direc- 
 tors were James A. Hovey, H. B. Norton, J. S. Webb, 
 J. L. Greene, J. S. Ely, W. A. Buckingham, Joseph 
 Backus, J. M. Huntington, Gurdon Chapman. The 
 presidents from 1852 have been as follows: James A. 
 Hovey, 1852-73; Jesse S. Ely, 1878-79; Lyman 
 Gould, 1879 to present time. Cashiers from 1852 to 
 present time : E. H. Learned, 1852-79 ; C. M. Tracy, 
 1879 to present time. The present board of directors 
 are James A. Hovey, John T. Wait, Joseph Hutchins, 
 Lyman Gould, Horace Whitaker, Adin Cook, E. S. 
 Ely, George W. Gould, C. M. Tracy. Capital, 
 $200,000 ; surplus, $40,000. 
 
 The Shetueket National Bank. — This bank was 
 organized April, 1853, with the following list of direc- 
 tors : Charles Osgood, A. H. Almy, Horace Whitaker, 
 Isaac Johnson, William H. Glover, William H. Hyde, 
 Gilbert Osgood, Charles A. Converse, and J. S. T. 
 Thurston. The first officers were Charles Osgood, 
 president," and David O. Strong, cashier. Presidents 
 since organization have been Charles Osgood and 
 Charles Webb. Cashiers since organization have 
 been David O. Strong, John L. Devotion, C. J. Fill- 
 more, and William Eoath. Changed to national 
 bank May 15, 1865. Capital stock, $100,000 ; sur- 
 plus, $20,000. 
 
 The Merchants' Bank of Horwich was organized 
 in July, 1823, with the following as ofiicers and 
 directors : Directors, F. A. Perkins, William Wil- 
 liams, Jr., Walter Lester, John Lathrop, N. K. Fitch, 
 Charles F. Lester, Elisha Tracy, Stephen Fitch, 
 James L. Eipley, Charles Coit, Samuel Kellogg, 
 Sherwood Eaymond, Epaphras Porter, Lewis Hyde, 
 Joseph H. Doane ; William Williams, Jr., president ; 
 Joseph Williams, cashier. Presidents since, Henry 
 B. Tracy, John Brewster ; cashiers since, Joel W. 
 White, James M. Meech. Capital stock, $300,000 ; 
 surplus and profit and loss, $19,158. Changed to 
 national bank, June, 1865. Present board of direc- 
 tors, John Brewster, William C. Osgood, Enoch F. 
 Chapman, Lucius Brown, David T. Euby, and John 
 D. Brewster. 
 
 The Norwich Savings Society was incorporated 
 in May, 1824, with the following incorporators : Ben- 
 jamin Coit, Charles Eockwell, Newcomb Kinney, 
 Charles P. Huntington, Eber Backus, John Lathrop, 
 Joseph Williams, Eussell Hubbard, Jabez Hunting- 
 ton, Amos H. Hubbard, Bela Peck, John L. Buswell, 
 John Breed, Dwight Eipley, Isaac Story, Nathaniel 
 Shipman, Francis A. Perkins, Lyman Brewer, George 
 L. Perkins, and William C. Oilman. 
 
 The officers have been as follows: Presidents, 
 
 Charles Eockwell, Jabez Huntington, F. A. Perkins, 
 Charles W. Eockwell, Wm. Williams, Henry Strong, 
 Hon. L. F. S. Foster, Joseph Williams, Charles John- 
 son, Franklin Nichols (present incumbent) ; Secre- 
 taries and Treasurers, Joseph Williams, F. A. Per- 
 kins, Jabez Huntington, F. A. Perkins, Benjamin 
 Huntington, Costello Lippitt (present incumbent). 
 Present Board of Directors : President, Franklin 
 Nichols; Vice-Presidents, Lucius W. Carroll, Amos 
 W. Prentice, David Gallup, John A. Morgan ; Direc- 
 tors, John Brewster, John Mitchell, Hezekiah F. 
 Eudd, Henry Larrabee, Charles Webb, Lucius Brown, 
 Bela P. Learned, Frank Johnson, George E. Hyde ; 
 Secretary and Treasurer, Costello Lippitt ; Attorney, 
 Jeremiah Halsey. 
 
 The first banking-room was in the rear of the pres- 
 ent Norwich National Bank. From here, erected 
 the present Dime Savings-Bank Building on Main 
 Street, to whom it was sold after building the pres- 
 ent imposing banking-house on Shetueket Street, the 
 old building becoming inadequate. The first deposit 
 was made by Dorcas Mansfield, $200, July 23, 1824. 
 The bank had but two business days per month, first 
 and third Mondays. It was several years before it 
 opened daily. The first treasurer was voted, after 
 two years' services, one hundred dollars, and the sec- 
 retary allowed for office-room, fuel, stationery, lights, 
 etc., to June, 1828, fifteen dollars. The first dividend 
 declared was two and half per cent., July 1, 1825. 
 The bank was organized with forty trustees, holding 
 to the same at present, from which number are chosen 
 its officers and directors, Jeremiah Halsey being its 
 present attorney. The amount of deposits Jan. 1, 
 1881, $7,522,744.67. 
 
 The Chelsea Savings-Bank was incorporated in 
 1858, with the following incorporators : 
 
 Erastus Williams, John Dunliam, Henry B. Norton, I. M. Buckingham, 
 Lorenzo BlackBtone, John T. Wait, David Smith, Elijah A. Bill, James 
 M. Huntington, Gurdon Chapman, Augustus Brewster, Moses Pierce, 
 John W. Stedman, Henry Bill, John S. Lester, Edward H. Learned, 
 Learned Hebard, Henry H. Starkweather, Balph Hurlbutt, William W. 
 Backus, Comfort D. Fillmore, S. T. Holbrook, Jamea A. Hovey, Samuel 
 H. Grosvenor, Timothy P. Norton, 0. J. Lamb, John P. Barstow, Wil- 
 liam P. Nash, Alfred A. Young, Dwight Bailey, William Smith, W. B 
 Wood, Henry Hallett, N. B. Williams, William B. Baker, Jephtha Geer, 
 Thomas A. Clark, Dudley R. Wheeler, and Walter Peck. 
 
 At a meeting of the corporators held June 28, 1858, 
 the following officers were elected : President, Lorenzo 
 Blackstone ; Vice-Presidents, David Smith, Learned 
 Hebard, Henry Bill; Directors, I. M. Buckingham, 
 Elijah A. Bill, Comfort D. Fillmore, John T. Wait, 
 Gurdon Chapman, S. T. Holbrook, and Erastus Wil- 
 liams ; Secretary and Treasurer, John Dunham ; At- 
 torney, James A. Hovey. 
 
 Mr. Blackstone still remains the honored president, 
 having been annually re-elected without dissent. To 
 his sound judgment, large experience, and unflagging 
 interest is largely due the continued prosperity of the 
 bank. 
 
 The Hon. Henry Bill has always occupied the office 
 of vice-president. He was largely instrumental in 
 
306 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the starting of the bank, and is now as ever one of 
 the most honored and valued members of the board of 
 direction. 
 
 Hon. James A. Hovey was continued as attorney 
 until his election to the bench of the Superior Court, 
 a few years since, when he was succeeded by his 
 partner, John M. Thayer, who still holds the office. 
 Judge Hovey still retains a position on the board of 
 directors. 
 
 In May, 1859, less than a year after the bank com- 
 menced business, Mr. Dunham resigning, Charles M. 
 Coit was made secretary and treasurer. Mr. Coit, 
 though a young man barely twenty-one, so won the 
 confidence and esteem of the bank and the commu- 
 nity that on his resignation, September, 1861, to enter 
 the Union army, the trustees, in highly compliment- 
 ary resolutions, declared that the position should be 
 kept open for him, his successor being elected to serve 
 only during his absence. 
 
 John B. Ward succeeded to the ofBce, serving until 
 July, 1865. On his resignation Col. Coit was again 
 elected to his former position by a unanimous vote, 
 and filled the office to the entire satisfaction of the 
 bank until his sudden death, July 3, 1878.' 
 
 He was followed by his brother, George D. Coit, 
 then treasurer of the Dime Savings-Bank, who is still 
 in office. 
 
 The present officers of the bank are as follows : 
 President, Lorenzo Blackstone; Vice-Presidents, 
 Henry Bill, John F. Slater, John T. Wait; Directors, 
 James A. Hovey, John P. Barstow, O. J. Lamb, Oli- 
 ver P. Avery, Edward Harland, George D. Coit, 
 Henry H. Gallup, David A. Billings, Charles J. 
 Richards; Counsel, Jeremiah Halsey; Attorney, 
 John M. Thayer; Secretary and Treasurer, George 
 D. Coit ; Assistant Treasurer, Charles B. Chapman. 
 
 The first deposit in the bank was made July 1, 
 1858, in the name of Julia O. Bill, and to the amount 
 of $100. The amount of deposits Sept. 1, 1881, is 
 $3,300,000, in addition to which is a surplus fund of 
 about $100,000. 
 
 The ample assets of the bank are invested with a 
 view first to unquestioned security, then to the yield- 
 ing of a fair income, and the ease and rapidity of 
 conversion into cash in case of need. 
 
 Thus we find the bank holds over a million and a 
 half dollars of real estate and collateral loans, over 
 half a million governments at par, and over a million 
 other choice municipal and railroad bonds, bank 
 stocks, and other cash assets. If necessary, the bank 
 could in a week's time convert one-half their securi- 
 ties into ready cash. 
 
 1 Eesolution poSBod Ijy directors of the bank : 
 
 "Resolved, That in the recent sudden death of Col. Chailes M. Coit, our 
 secretary and treasurer, this banlt has suffered the greatest loss which it 
 has ever been called upon to bear. We have lost one who has been iden- 
 tified with the bank for nearly twenty years, in whose sound judgment 
 and business capacity we have always had the greatest confldonce; one 
 whose integrity, botli in thought and deed, was such that it seems im. 
 possible to replace him." 
 
 This institution is noticeable for the spirit of har- 
 mony which has pervaded its management. Personal 
 interests and feelings have been largely subordinated 
 to the welfare of the bank, and its abundant pros- 
 perity has been a source of honest pride to all who 
 have had a hand in achieving it. 
 
 Such an institution is a blessing to the community 
 in which it is located. It operates in both directions 
 ofiering the opportunity and inducement to thousands 
 of frugal investors to accumulate their savings in a 
 safe and profitable repository, and with these same 
 accumulations provide the necessary capital to render 
 possible a large part of our pleasant homesteads and 
 busy manufactories. 
 
 The Dime Savings-Bank. — This bank was incor- 
 porated in May, 1809, with the following incorpora- 
 tors : Amasa C. Hall, Edward N. Gibbs, Francis J. 
 Leavens, Gurdon A. Jones, Jr., N. T. Adams, E. E, 
 Thompson, Albert S. Bolles, Hugh H. Osgood, Julius 
 Webb, P. S. M. Andrews, Charles T. Palmer, Elijah 
 Kinney, Willis R. Austin, Charles L. Richards, James 
 Burnett, Curtis Jillson, Horace Whitaker, John E. 
 Ward, William 0. Osgood, and E. B. Trumbull. 
 
 The first president was E. R. Thompson, who has 
 since held the office. 
 
 The secretaries and treasurers have been as fol- 
 lows : George D. Coit, William G. Abbot, and J. 
 Hunt Smith. The present trustees are E. R. Thomp- 
 son, E. N. Gibbs, Francis J. Leavens, N. T. Adams, 
 A. S. Bolles, H. H. Osgood, Chas. T. Palmer, W. R. 
 Austin, C. D. Browning, James Burnet, Curtis Jill- 
 son, Horace Whitaker, Azel W. Gibbs, Wm. C. Os- 
 good, Frank Johnson, A. E. Wyman, George D. 
 Spencer, W.R. Burnham,Thomas Clarke, C. E.Griggs, 
 Chas. H. Rogers, H. E. Bowers, Chas. W. Carey, Wm. 
 G. Abbot, Fred. S. Camp, S. B. Meech, Gardiner 
 Greene, Jr., and J. Hunt Smith. 
 
 The first deposit was made Sept. 27, 1869, by Chas. 
 P. Cosgrove, Jr. ; amount, five dollars. The deposits, 
 May 1, 1881, amounted to $1,145,868.96. 
 
 The Thames Loan and Trust Company.— This 
 company was incorporated June 4, 1869, with the 
 following members : Lorenzo Blackstone, Ebenezer 
 Learned, Franklin Nichols, George Pratt, James L. 
 Hubbard, Hugh H. Osgood, William A. Aiken, Ed- 
 ward N. Gibbs, F. A. Dorrance, John Mitchell, and 
 Charles Bard. 
 
 The presidents have been Franklin Nichols, L. F. 
 S. Foster, and Charles Bard ; secretaries and treas- 
 urers, Charles F. Setchel, Edward N. Gibbs, Charles 
 Bard, and J. Hunt Smith. 
 
 The present trustees are Franklin Nichols, Ebene- 
 zer Learned, James L. Hubbard, Lorenzo Blackstone, 
 Charles Bard, Gardiner Greene, Hugh H. Osgood, 
 John Mitchell, Edward N. Gibbs, James O. Sweet, 
 and J. Hunt Smith. 
 
 Is a depository for trust and estate funds, and does 
 a general business in stocks, bonds, and securities. 
 
 The New London County Mutual Fire Insur- 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 307 
 
 ance Company was incorporated in July, 1840, with 
 the following incorporators: Joseph Backus, Henry 
 B, Norton, William P. Eaton, Newcomb Kinney, and 
 F. Prentice. 
 
 Presidents since incorporation, Joseph Backus, Joel 
 W. White, John G. Huntington, Elijah A. Bill, and 
 Ebenezer F. Parker. 
 
 Secretaries since incorporation, John DeWitt, John 
 L. Devotion, C. J. Fillmore, and William Eoath. 
 Surplus, Jan. 1, 1881, $57,883.98. 
 
 Present board of directors, E. F. Parker, P. St. M. 
 Andrews, John A. Morgan, H. H. Eoath, William L. 
 Brewer, D. P. Coon, Charles Webb, William Roath, 
 Jedediah Huntington, and Charles L. Richards. 
 
 The Norwicli Mutual Assurance Company was 
 chartered in 1794, and the first meeting was held at 
 the old court-house in Norwich Town, Dec. 29, 1794. 
 Joshua Lathrop was one of the incorporators. Zach- 
 ariah Huntington was the first secretary. Since 1844 
 Henry B. Tracy and Asa Backus have held the office 
 of secretary and treasurer. 
 
 The Norwich Marine Insurance Company was 
 chartered in 1803 ; capital, $50,000. Joseph How- 
 land, president; Shubael Breed, cashier. 
 
 The Fire Insurance Company was organized in 
 1813. Ebenezer Huntington, treasurer ; Joseph Wil- 
 liams, secretary. 
 
 These two companies were consolidated by act of 
 the Legislature in October, 1818, and incorporated as 
 the Norwich Fire Insurance Company. Capital, 
 $100,000; increased to $200,000. 
 
 First president, Charles P. Huntington. Joseph 
 Williams, secretary, from 1818 to 1855. Obsolete. 
 
 Thames Fire Insurance. Incorporated 1859 ; capi- 
 tal, $200,000. Amos W. Prentice, president; B. B. 
 Whittemore, secretary. Assets, Jan. 1, 1866, $249,- 
 747.97. 
 
 Steamboat Companies, — The communication with 
 New York by steamers was inaugurated in 1817, and 
 with but little interruption has been continued to the 
 present time. The merchants of Norwich and New 
 London were mutually interested in the earlier boats, 
 and united in forming the first incorporated compa- 
 nies. 
 
 The Norwich and New London Steamboat Company 
 was organized in 1848, with a capital of $200,000 ; 
 Henry B. Norton, president. This line ran their 
 boats in connection with the Norwich and Worcester 
 Railroad, the terminus being at Allyn's Point. Among 
 the boats employed were the " Cleopatra," " Norwich, 
 " Worcester," and " Connecticut." The " Common- 
 wealth" was built for them in 1855, and sold in 1860, 
 about which time the company discontinued their 
 operations, wound up their affairs, and was dissolved. 
 The Norwich and New York Transportation Company 
 was organized under the general act in 1860. The 
 present capital is $500,000. The presidents have been 
 as follows : Capt. Joseph J. Comstock, David Smith, 
 Alba F. Smith, and Moses Pierce, all of Norwich 
 
 except Capt. Comstock. Augustus Brewster was the 
 first treasurer. The present treasurer is 0. L. John- 
 son, Jr. P. St. M. Andrews has been secretary from 
 the beginning. 
 
 This company was formed for the purpose of facili- 
 tating the operations of the Norwich and Worcester 
 Railroad Company by furnishing an advantageous 
 connection with New York. It was indebted for its 
 origin, organization, and subsequent success chiefly 
 to the president of the railroad, Mr. Brewster, who, 
 as treasurer of the company, was the general agent 
 and efficient manager of the business from that time 
 to March, 1866, when he resigned the office. 
 
 This company have four fine steamers. The " City 
 of Boston" made her first trip from New York July 
 4, 1861 ; the " City of New York" eighteen days later, 
 July 22d. The first trip of the " City of Norwich" 
 was July 19, 1862; of the "City of New London,"' 
 May 22, 1863 ; of the " City of Lawrence," Feb. 28, 
 1869; and the " City of Worcester," Sept. 26, 1881. 
 This palatial steamer was built in Wilmington, Del., 
 at an expense of about $1,000,000, and is one of the 
 finest steamers plying on American waters. 
 
 The present board of directors of the company is 
 as follows : Moses Pierce, Francis H. Deney, William 
 T. Hart, James H. Wilson, W. Bayard Cutting, Chas. 
 W. Copeland, G. W. Gill, G. W. Phillips, and Oliver 
 Woodworth. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV.' 
 
 NORWICH— (Continued). 
 
 THE PKBSS, Etc. 
 The Pioneer Newspaper, the Norwich Packet and the Connecticnt, 
 Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Khode Island Weekly Advertiser 
 —The Connecticut Oentinel— The Weekly Register— The Chelsea 
 Courier— The Courier— The Norwich Courier— The Daily Courier— 
 The Norwich Evening Courier— The Morning Bulletin— The True Ke- 
 publican— The Native American— The Norwich Eepublican— The 
 Canal of Intelligence— The Norwich Spectator— The Norwich Free 
 Press— The Religious Intelligencer— Total Abstinence— The Gleaner 
 —The Norwich News— Paixhan Gun, Needle— American Patriot— The 
 Weekly Reporter— The Norwich Tribune— The Examiner— The 
 Weekly Reveille— The Aurora— Daily Aurora— Daily Advertiser— 
 Cooley's Weekly— The Vim— The No License Advocate— The Ameri- 
 can Conflicfr-The Observer- The Evening Star- The Norwich Daily 
 News, 
 
 The Pioneer Newspaper. — The Norwich Packet 
 and the Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 
 and Rhode Island Weekly Advertiser. This was the 
 ambitious title of the first newspaper which appeared 
 at Norwich. It bore the date, " From Thursday, Oct. 
 1, to Thursday, Oct. 7, 1773." 
 
 At this time the population of the entire " nine 
 miles square"— Norwich, Franklin, Lisbon, Bozrah, 
 Sprague, Jewett City, and a part of Preston— was 7321, 
 and the population of the area now included in the 
 limits of the town of Norwich only 2997. 
 
 1 Burned at Walden's Island Nov. 22, 1871. = By A. P. Hitohcock. 
 
308 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The Packet was a small four-page sheet, varying 
 somewhat in size and typography with the unequal 
 fortunes of the colonists during the exciting years 
 of its issue, but the pages were generally about nine by 
 fifteen inches in size. Sometimes the title included 
 the rude cut of a ship under full sail. At other times 
 the cut was omitted. The name was sometimes set in 
 highly ornate Old English type, sometimes in an un- 
 gainly, sprawling script, sometimes in plain Roman 
 capitals. It was printed on paper made at Leffing- 
 well's mill on the Yantic, and this also varied greatly 
 in quality. Generally it was fairly strong and heavy, 
 but there were weeks during the Revolution when 
 paper was evidently hard to procure, and anything 
 was seized by the printer which was clean enough to 
 receive an impression and show the ink, and of suffi- 
 cient consistency to go through the press untorn. 
 
 The Packet was issued at first by a firm composed of 
 Alexander Robeitson, James' Robertson, and John 
 Trumbull. They were editors, compositors, pressmen, 
 mailing clerks, business managers, publishers, and 
 news-boys, all in themselves. The Robertsons were 
 brothers, — "Scotch interlopers" the Sons of Liberty 
 were accustomed to call them, — and Tories in politics. 
 There was so little political discussion in the papers 
 of the time that this fact did not operate against 
 them till the Revolution had fairly begun. A refer- 
 ence to the rare files of the Packet shows that 
 its editors allowed the partisans of liberty as ample 
 scope in its columns as the loyalists. Nevertheless 
 feeling ran so high during the Revolution that the 
 Robertsons found it wise to leave Norwich, where it 
 had been their manifest intention to make themselves 
 a home. They put the paper into Mr. Trumbull's 
 hands and fled to New York, where, in 1768, they had 
 begun their journalistic careers, setting up a royalist 
 press there on their return. 
 
 The Packet was first issued from an office " at the 
 foot of the Green, near the Court-house." In 1775 it 
 was removed to a building " near the meeting-house," 
 whence it was issued up to the time of its discontin- 
 uance. Its price was 6s. 8rf. per annum. 
 
 Mr. Trumbull continued to edit and publish the 
 paper from the summer or early fall of 1776, when the 
 Robertsons left Norwich, until his own death, Aug. 
 14, 1802. Not long before his death the name of the 
 paper was changed to The Connecticut Centinel, and 
 was issued under that name for several years by his 
 widow, Mrs. Lucy Trumbull, and his sons, Charles E. 
 Trumbull and Henry Trumbull. The course of busi- 
 ness, however, was already towards " Chelsea," or " the 
 Landing," as the present city was then called, and the 
 publication of a paper at the old town doubtless soon 
 became unprofitable. It was discontinued, and had 
 no lineal successor. 
 
 The task of preparing and issuing a newspaper in 
 those days was utterly unlike that which now con- 
 fronts the journalist. There was little news from 
 abroad, and that weeks or months old, no editorial 
 
 comment, and no reproduction of the local news and 
 gossip of the town in the form now demanded. A 
 very long diplomatic document, " elegant extracts" 
 from standard authors, letters and messages from 
 generals, governors, and presidents,— sometimes so 
 long that one ran in serial fashion through four weeks, 
 — these made up the bulk of the reading matter; 
 now and then an account of some important affair 
 was given, other than the official and governmental 
 report ; occasionally a " local item" appeared, showing 
 a distant family resemblance to the columns of such 
 paragraphs which are now issued every day. But in 
 the main the Packet could not be called a newsy sheet. 
 
 Not the least curious feature of the newspapers of 
 that day is the character of their advertisements. 
 Many of them consist of the briefest possible an- 
 nouncement of something wanted to buy or sell, and 
 the conclusion " inquire of the printer." The printer 
 was the general factotum, the repository of all news 
 in the social or business world. He was expected to 
 carry in his head a full description of all the cows 
 for sale in town, with their prices and whereabouts; 
 to know all about the morals and manners of the last 
 new dancing-master, what his terms were, and where 
 he lodged ; to have at his tongue's end an inventory 
 of all the goods to be sold at the next auction, and to 
 be always ready to be "inquired of" on these and all 
 other topics. 
 
 The story is told that an old neighbor of Mr. Trum- 
 bull, known as Barney, lay dying somewhere near 
 the close of the last century. He had passed into a 
 comatose state, and was near his end when Mr. Trum- 
 bull came to call on him. " He is beyond knowing 
 any one ; he will not recognize you,'' said the watch- 
 ers. Mr. Trumbull persisted in seeing his old friend, 
 and was admitted to the sick room. " Don't you 
 know me, Barney ?" he asked, lifting the dying man's 
 hand, and holding it in his own. Barney opened his 
 eyes feebly and uttered his last words : " If I don't, I 
 can ' inquire of the printer.' " There was no doubt 
 that the old man knew his visitor. 
 
 Register,' Courier, Bulletin. — Nov. 29, 1790, 
 appeared the first number of The Weekly Register. It 
 was "published by Ebenezer Bushnell, 24 rods (the 
 first number says ' 34 rods,' but this was a mistake of 
 the printer, corrected in the next issue) west of the 
 meeting-house." This was also a four-page sheet, 
 eighteen by eleven inches, and competed vigorously 
 for patronage with the Packet. June 1 7, 1791, Thomas 
 Hubbard, Mr. Bushnell's brother-in-law, joined the 
 firm, and in October, 1793, Mr. Bushnell retired, and 
 he assumed full control. Mr. Hubbard continued to 
 publish the Register at the old town till 1796, when 
 the growth of business at " the Landing" led him to 
 change his base. He opened a new office there, re- 
 moved his type and presses, and on Nov. 30, 1796, 
 issued his paper under a new name, but with no other 
 change as regards character, appearance, or " make- 
 up." 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 309 
 
 No. 1, vol. i., of this paper bore the title " Chehea 
 Courier, Norwich (Chelsea Society), printed and pub- 
 lished by Thomas Hubbard." Although it was really 
 only a continuation of the Register, the fact that this 
 number was the first to bear the name Courier, which 
 has been steadily retained up to the present time 
 through a flourishing existence of eighty-five years, 
 makes a reference to its appearance and contents of 
 especial interest. 
 
 It displayed under the local heading " the Propo- 
 sals of Thomas Hubbard for printing a weekly paper 
 to be entitled the Chelsea Courier," in the following 
 form: 
 
 " 1. The Courier will be published in Chelsea on 
 Wednesday, and delivered to city subscribers in the 
 forenoon. 
 
 " 2. It shall be printed on good paper of royal size 
 (about eighteen by eleven inches). 
 
 "3. It shall contain the most important Foreign 
 and Domestic Intelligence, together with such orig- 
 inal productions, etc., as shall be thought worthy of 
 public attention. 
 
 " 4. The price to subscribers will be one dollar and 
 sixty-seven cents per annum, exclusive of postage. 
 
 "5. One-half of the subscription will be expected 
 on delivery of the first number." 
 
 The first and second pages contained a paper on 
 " Cruelty to Inferior Animals," by Soame Jenyns ; a 
 proclamation by George Washington, President of the 
 United States ; foreign letters and news under dates 
 from September 18th to October 7th, and news from 
 Philadelphia up to November 16th. The matter under 
 the " Norwich" head, corresponding to the present 
 local items, consisted of an address by the New York 
 Legislature to Governor Jay regarding Washington's 
 refusal to accept another election as President, Gov- 
 ernor Jay's response, a letter from Demerara, and 
 "Pool's Marine List.'' A poem, several miscellaneous 
 clippings, and a few columns of advertisements made 
 up the paper. Not a very sensational table of con- 
 tents ! 
 
 Some of the advertisements in the early Couriers 
 read strangely these days. Here is one from the edi- 
 tion of June 21, 1798 : 
 
 " Ran away from the aiibscriber, a negro Boy named Polledore, about 
 fourteen years of age, four feet bigh, thick set ; wore away a short drab- 
 colored jacket and tow-cloth trowsera. Whoever will take up said boy 
 and return him shall have ten cents reward and no charges paid. 
 
 " Giles L'Hommedietj." 
 
 Another, of a somewhat ealier date, is written in a 
 style that would hardly be considered business-like 
 nowadays : 
 
 " Attention I 
 
 "Young ladies of Norwich, awake from your sleep; it is high time to 
 rifle and trim the lamp of life ; it is now past daylight, and the morning 
 school at the Landing has begun. Look at the prize before you ; it is no 
 less than a Silver or Gold medal for the best Scholar in Beading or Speak- 
 ing — those young misses who wish to run the race in this field of Cice- 
 ronian honor will please to make application in season before this female 
 society is filled. Methinks one single consideration will animate the 
 rising Fair to excel and obtain this immortal prize — the very thought 
 
 that this golden prize will be more durable than your natural life — will 
 inspire you with redoubled ardor to gain tlie prize in view ; yea, your 
 Children and your Children's Children shall rise up with blessings on 
 their lips and say ; this gold medal was an honorary prize which my 
 Grandmother won at school when she was but a very child. 
 
 " N.B. Application may be made to the master at his lodgings at Mr. 
 Snow's — the hours of evening school are from half-past six to half-past 
 eight o'clock. 
 
 "Chelsea, March 15, 1797." 
 
 Aug. 9, 1797, the editor writes : "On Thursday last 
 the President of the United States with his family 
 passed through town on his way from Philadelphia 
 to his seat in Massachusetts. The artillery company 
 paraded in honor of the event, and fired a Federal 
 salute, the intervals of which were filled by a band of 
 music ; after this a large number of gentlemen 
 escorted him a few miles on his journey. As he rode 
 through Chelsea, the bells rang peals of grateful 
 respect." That is all about a visit from John Adams. 
 
 May 31, 1798, The Chelsea Courier appeared as sim- 
 ply The Courier. Aug. 6, 1800, the words " Chelsea 
 Society" were omitted from the date-line, and " Nor- 
 wich, Con.," substituted. Nov. 13, 1805, Thomas 
 Hubbard retired from the office, and was succeeded by 
 his son, Russell Hubbard. March 22, 1809, the name 
 was changed to Norwich Courier. Feb. 12, 1817, 
 Theophilus E. Marvin joined with Mr. Hubbard in 
 publishing the paper, but his name was dropped out 
 Feb. 17, 1819. Mr. Hubbard continued as publisher 
 until April 3, 1822, when he sold the paper to Thomas 
 Eobinson and John Dunham, who began a new series 
 with the number of April 10th, adding four columns to 
 the size of the paper and otherwise improving it. 
 Mr. Robinson retired from the firm in March, 1825, 
 and Mr. Dunham conducted the paper until Sept. 15, 
 1841. 
 
 The Courier then passed into the hands of the Rev. 
 Dorson E. Sykes. Mr. Sykes was evidently a pushing 
 man, for on March 7, 1842, he began the issue of a 
 Daily Courier, a small sixteen-column, penny sheet, 
 which failed to pay expenses and was discontinued 
 Aug. 12, 1842. It was promptly followed, however, 
 by a tri-weekly, published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, 
 and Saturdays, the weekly edition being steadily 
 continued through all changes. 
 
 At this time the office of the paper was at No. 51 
 Water Street, but Oct. 28, 1845, it was removed to 
 Franklin Square, and the next number appeared 
 under the title Norwich Evening Courier, though still 
 only a tri-weekly, and in an enlarged form. In the 
 spring of 1846, Mr. Sykes adopted the plan of advance 
 payments from subscribers, and thereby put the paper 
 at once on a better financial footing than it had ever 
 before occupied. 
 
 With the close of November, 1858, the tri-weekly 
 was discontinued, and December 1st the Baily Courier 
 again appeared, D. E. Sykes, editor and proprietor ; 
 0. D. Rice, manager. Mr. Sykes retired at the close 
 of the following February, and George B. Smith suc- 
 ceeded him in control of the paper. Mr. Smith's 
 
310 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 career was short and disastrous, and Sept. 3, 1859, 
 Mr. Sykes again assumed the management. The daily 
 was discontinued once more, and a semi-weekly edi- 
 tion took its place. 
 
 Mr. Sykes' second and final valedictory appeared 
 June 6, 1860. H. 0. Kinne was his successor, and 
 signalized the change by again styling the paper The 
 Evening Courier. Aug. 20, 1860, a daily edition was 
 once more started, but proved the shortest-lived of 
 all. Both daily and weekly ceased publication at the 
 close of November, and for two weeks there was a 
 hiatus. During this fortnight the Courier was bought 
 by Manning, Piatt & Co., and revived as the weekly 
 edition of the Morning Bulletin, in connection with 
 which daily it has since been published. 
 
 The Norwich Morning Balletin was established Dec. 
 15, 1858, by W. D. Manning, James N. Perry, I. H. 
 Bromley, and Homer Bliss, under the firm-name of 
 Manning, Perry & Co. Mr. Bromley was the editor, 
 Mr. Perry the business manager, and Mr. Manning 
 the superintendent of printing. The salutatory was 
 business-like and to the point, and its columns were 
 from the first well filled with the latest news put in a 
 fresh and readable form. Soon after its first number 
 the publication of a weekly edition. The Eastern 
 Bulletin, was begun. The daily paper was in every 
 sense an experiment, and that, too, in a field which 
 had been peculiarly disastrous to similar attempts, 
 but hard work and journalistic tact soon put it on a 
 firm foundation. Sept. 7, 1860, the firm consisted of 
 W. D. Manning, C. B. Piatt, and I. H. Bromley, 
 under the firm-name of Manning, Piatt & Co. The 
 purchase of the Courier was speedily followed by the 
 discontinuance of the Eastern Bulletin. 
 
 I. H. Bromley was editor of the Bulletin from its 
 first number till his enlistment as captain of Company 
 C, Eighteenth Eegiment Connecticut Volunteers, 
 July 26, 1862. During his absence in the army he 
 retained his connection with the paper, though W. 
 H. W. Campbell acted as editor. At the close of the 
 war he returned to the editorial chair, retaining it till 
 the middle of February, 1868, when he was succeeded 
 by Mr. Campbell. 
 
 The Bulletin Association was formed in December, 
 1863, and published the Bulletin and Courier until 
 1870, when the papers were purchased by Campbell & 
 Co. (W. H. W. Campbell, William Fitch, and Charles 
 Spalding). March 1, 1873, the Bulletin Company 
 was formed, and A. S. Bolles became editor. May 
 1, 1874, Mr. Bolles gave place to E. J. Edwards, the 
 paper being under the general management of Wil- 
 liam Fitch after March 8, 1875. May 1, 1875, Mr. 
 Edwards was succeeded in the editorial room by Mr. 
 Campbell, who again gave place to Mr. Bolles, Dec. 
 17, 1875. Mr. Bolles retired in June, 1881. 
 
 The business management of the Bulletin has been 
 in the hands of C. B. Piatt, who retired Feb. 1, 1868 ; 
 H. P. Gates, from Feb. 1, 1868, to Jan. 1, 1870 ; Wil- 
 liam Fitch, from Jan. 1, 1870, to March 1, 1873 ; E. C. 
 
 Rice, from March 1, 1873, to March 8, 1875; William 
 Fitch, again, from March 8, 1875, to Dec. 14, 1875 • 
 and Charles E. Dyer, from Dec. 14, 1875, to May 1 
 1880. The present business manager is A. H. Harris 
 and the managing editor A. P. Hitchcock. 
 
 The Bulletin was first issued from an office in Chap- 
 man's Block, Franklin Square. It was a four-page, 
 24-column sheet, each page about fifteen and a half 
 by twenty-one inches in size. Early in August 
 1866, the Bulletin Building was completed, and the 
 Bulletin removed to it. Aug. 8, 1866, the paper was 
 enlarged to twenty-eight columns, and the columns 
 extended about three inches in length. 
 
 For many years the Bulletin has been accepted 
 as the leading daily of Eastern Connecticut. It aims 
 at being a worthy exponent of the principles of its 
 constituents in this part of the State, as well as a 
 live newspaper, giving all the news of the day and 
 discussing it with freedom. It is and always has been 
 Republican in politics. 
 
 Other Newspapers. — In June, 1804, Consider 
 Sterry, John Sterry, and Epaphras Porter began the 
 publication of a political paper. The True Republican, 
 devoted to the defense of Jeffersonian Democracy. 
 It lived about three years. 
 
 In February, 1812, Samuel Webb issued the first 
 number of The Native American from a press at Nor- 
 wichtown. In 1820, Mr. Webb's press was trans- 
 ferred to Windham, where he, with Henry and Hora- 
 tio Webb, began the publication of the Independent Ob- 
 server and County Advertiser, July 1, 1820. 
 
 The Norwich Republican was issued in September, 
 
 1828, by Boardman & Faulkner. In 1829 it came 
 under the editorial control of John T. Adams, and 
 the firm-name was changed to Adams & Faulkner. 
 In the same year the Stonington Telegraph, which had 
 previously been issued at Stonington, was merged with 
 it. Mr. Adams remained in editorial charge till 1831. 
 The paper was discontinued in 1838. During its last 
 three years it was a Whig organ, published by Mar- 
 cus B. Young, and edited by Lafayette S. Foster. 
 
 In 1826 the prospects of a canal from Norwich to 
 Worcester were widely discussed, and Levi Hunting- 
 ton Young seized upon the theme of the day for the 
 name of a new paper, The Canal of Intelligence. It was 
 stopped in 1829. 
 
 Marcus B. Young issued The Norwich Spectator in 
 
 1829, and The Norwich Free Press in 1830. Park 
 Benjamin was the editor of the first, but both were 
 short-lived. 
 
 The Religious Intelligencer, edited by J. Hunting- 
 ton, and published by J. Dunham, appeared June U, 
 1831, but was soon discontinued. 
 
 In May, 1841, John G. Cooley began the issue of 
 Total Abstinence as a monthly. It was the first paper 
 advocating total abstinence published in Connecticut, 
 It was continued as a monthly about two years, and 
 then followed by a weekly of the same name. Later 
 the name was changed to the Spectator. It was after- 
 
NOEWICEI. 
 
 311 
 
 wards sold to B. F. Taylor, who again changed the 
 name, calling it the Norwich Oleaner. 
 
 The Norwich News, Paixhan Gun, Needle, and 
 American Patriot were ephemeral publications of 
 about this period. 
 
 The Weekly Reporter, which began in 1845, had an 
 existence of three or four years. 
 
 In January, 1852, E. S. Wells began the publica- 
 tion of The Norwich Tribune. The paper soon passed 
 into the hands of €. B. Piatt and Edmund C. Stedman, 
 who made of it the best paper Norwich had yet seen. It 
 was too good to Live, and ceased to exist in June, 1853. 
 The Examiner, an advocate of the Maine Law, Sab- 
 bath observance, and the improvement of the com- 
 mon schools, was first issued July 16, 1853. John G. 
 Cooley was its publisher and ofSce editor, and among 
 the other editorial writers were the Eev. H. P. Arms, 
 the Eev. J. P. Gulliver, and the Rev. J. A. Goodhue! 
 It survived till Nov. 16, 1855. 
 
 A Know-Nothing organ, the State Guard, was 
 published during a part of 1855 and 1856, and the 
 Weekly Reveille ran a few numbers in 1 858. 
 
 May 20, 1835, J. Holbrook began the issue of the 
 Weekly Aurora. In the summer of 1838 it became 
 the property of Gad 8. Gilbert, and afterwards of Wil- 
 liam French, and French & Conklin. Aug. 8, 1844, 
 it appeared under the management of John W. Sted- 
 man, editor, proprietor, and printer. During the year 
 1860 a Daily Aurora was connected with the office. 
 Jan. 21, 1867, the publication of the Daily Advertiser 
 was begun. It was a large folio, devoted to the dis- 
 semination of Democratic principles. Its last issue 
 bears date of Aug. 1, 1874. The Aurora was discon- 
 tinued Nov. 26, 1878. 
 
 Cooley's Weekly was established July 15, 1876, by 
 the veteran printer and publisher, Mr. John G. Cooley. 
 Mr. Cooley threw his whole energy and persistency 
 into the new enterprise, and although it met with 
 formidable competition, he succeeded in placing it 
 upon a solid footing. It grew rapidly into public 
 favor, and now takes front rank among the leading 
 weekly journals of the State. It is a large (thirty- 
 two-column) four-page sheet. In consequence of 
 impaired health, Mr. Cooley retired from the active 
 management of the journal in 1880, since which time 
 it has been conducted by Mr. John G. Cooley, Jr., 
 with Mr. David S. Adams as editor. 
 
 During the summer and fall of 1877, The Reformer 
 was published as a temperance paper, under the edi- 
 torial management of the Eev. Hugh Montgomery. 
 The Vim was published by the same gentleman from 
 May to October, 1878, and The No License Advocate 
 from May to October, 1879. The Eev. L. T. Cham- 
 berlain and the Eev. L. W. Bacon assisted Mr. Mont- 
 gomery in editing the latter paper. In the fall of 
 1879, The American Conflict was begun by Henry 
 Brown, and it has since been issued as either a weekly, 
 semi-weekly, or monthly. It is now published at 
 Danielsonville. 
 
 The Observe!-, a weekly paper, was published by 
 Daniel Lee from April 8, 1879, to May 22, 1880. The 
 Evening Star, a daily afternoon paper, issued by Gordon 
 Wilcox, lived from May 15, 1880, to June 25, 1881. 
 
 Norwich News.— March 19, 1881, the News Pub- 
 lishing Company began the issue of the Norwich 
 News, a daily afternoon paper, with J. F. Rathbone as 
 editor. It is a wide-awake sheet, and justly deserves 
 its present prosperity. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXVL 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 The Free Academy— Other Schools— Post-Offlce— Slavery— The Bi-Cen- 
 tennial Celebration- Col. Mason's Momiment— The Soldiers' Monu- 
 ment— Water-Works-rire Department— Gas Company— City Hall— 
 The Eliza Huntington Memorial Home— Otis Library— The Horse 
 Railroad— Bridges— Laurel Hill— Masonic— Odd-Fellows— Other Soci- 
 eties — Manufactories — Villages. 
 
 The Free Academy.— The Norwich Free Academy 
 was incorporated in May, 1854, having been endowed 
 to the amount of about $100,000 by the gifts of a few 
 generous citizens of Norwich, three of whose sub- 
 scriptions were for $12,500 each. Of the whole amount 
 raised $50,000 was reserved as a fund for the main- 
 tenance of the school, and with the remainder a lot 
 was secured and a noble school edifice erected. The 
 academy offers free instruction in the higher branches 
 of study to all the youth of Norwich who are dis- 
 posed to avail themselves of its advantages. The 
 original donors and incorporators of the institution 
 were the following : E. Hubbard, W. P. Greene, W. 
 A. Buckingham, W. Williams, H. B. Norton, J. Breed, 
 C. B. Eogers, W. W. Coit, J. L. Greene, D. Tyler, S. 
 C. Morgan, I. M. Buckingham, L. F. S. Foster, D. 
 Smith, J. F. Slater, C. Osgood, E. Williams, L. Black- 
 stone, J. A. Eockwell, L. Ballou, C. J. Stedman, J. 
 P. Gulliver, C. N. Farnam, E. O. Abbott, C. Tracy, 
 A. H. Almy, L. W. Carroll, J. Spalding, S. W. Meech, 
 J. S. Webb, H. Thomas, C. C. Brand, C. Johnson, E. 
 Learned, E. Edwards, A. J. Currier. Joseph Otis, 
 the founder of the " Otis Library,'' was an original 
 donor to the academy, but died before the incorpora- 
 tion. The donors since the incorporation are as fol- 
 lows : 0. A. Converse, A. W. Prentice, T. P. Norton, 
 W. M. Converse, H. Bill, G. Perkins, J. M. Hunting- 
 ton, J. H. Adams, J. N. Perkins. 
 
 A fund of five thousand dollars, beside other gifts 
 to the amount of two thousand dollars, was presented 
 by Mrs. Harriet Peck Williams for the establishment 
 of the Peck Library, as a tribute of respect to the 
 memory of her father, Capt. Bela Peck. 
 
 On the day of the bi-centennial celebration, in 1859, 
 Mrs. W. P. Greene presented to the academy a lot of 
 land and a house valued at eight thousand dollars 
 for the residence of the principal of the institution. 
 
 The foundation of the academy is due to the sug- 
 gestion as well as to the persevering efforts of Eev. 
 
312 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 John P. Gulliver, whose privilege it was to inaugu- 
 rate the institution (Oct. 21, 1856) by an address, in 
 which, according to a vote of the trustees, a history 
 was given of schools and education in Norwich, and 
 the designs of the founders of the academy were set 
 forth for the information of the public and the guid- 
 ance of those who shall be intrusted with its future 
 management. 
 
 The situation is especially fortunate for an institution 
 of this kind. The city is large enough to give the 
 students the peculiar advantages of city life, and at 
 the same time the rural surroundings are so near and 
 so accessible as to afford ample opportunity for in- 
 vigorating excursions through old woods or green 
 fields ; while the junction of two rivers, forming the 
 beautiful Thames, at whose head the city lies, offers 
 all the varied resources of the water for health and 
 strength. So whether we look for society and the re- 
 finements and amenities of cultured life, or seek that 
 vigorous development of mind and body which nature 
 gives by contact with her hills and streams, the boys 
 and girls of the Norwich Free Academy have unusual 
 privileges. 
 
 The instruction of the academy is in the hands of 
 an ample corps of able teachers, most of them of 
 long experience, and all devoted to their duties. 
 Every effort is made to waken the interest of the 
 pupils and inspire them with a love for honest work. 
 The result of these efforts is seen in the success of 
 those who go to higher institutions in passing the en- 
 trance examinations, and the high rank they main- 
 tain for scholarship and character after they enter.- 
 
 The classic course of study embraces all that is re- 
 quired for entrance to the best colleges, and is kept up 
 to the latest standards. A pupil who pursues this 
 course faithfully and graduates with distinction is 
 sure to enter Yale or Harvard, and, of course, col- 
 leges requiring less, without difficulty. The same is 
 true of its relation to the scientific schools. It has 
 also special studies for those who are preparing for a 
 business life, and gives a great deal of attention to 
 the natural sciences. In chemistry it has an excel- 
 lent working laboratory, and in this branch, as also 
 in botany, the students do a good deal of practical 
 work, and it is intended in the future not only to in- 
 crease the amount of such work in these branches, 
 but to encourage special practical work in other 
 branches whenever a special adaptation is found 
 for it. 
 
 The library is perhaps larger and better appointed 
 than that of any other institution of its grade, and is 
 made of use in various ways in promoting the culture 
 or advancement in knowledge of the pupils. The 
 academy also has a course of literary study, extend- 
 ing through four years, intended to give the pupils an 
 introduction to the best English authors, and a brief 
 account of French authors is also studied as a part of 
 the course in that language. Also more than usual 
 attention is paid to English composition, and to dec- 
 
 lamation and reading. In short, no effort is spared to 
 give the pupils, so far as it goes, a well-rounded train- 
 ing in all that pertains to the practical duties or 
 higher pleasures of life. 
 
 Heretofore the academy has been deficient in means 
 to take proper care of such pupils as have not homes 
 in Norwich, but this deficiency has now been supplied 
 by the " Williams' Mansion," which has just been 
 leased by the Misses Marsh, ladies of unusual fit- 
 ness for such a position, who will furnish such stu- 
 dents as live with them a refined and pleasant home. 
 Parents who are considering the desirability of plac- 
 ing their sons in this establishment are assured that 
 they will be under kind but firm management, and 
 that everything reasonable will be done for their com- 
 fort and improvement. Mrs. Davies, also, in leasing 
 the Farnham House for a similar purpose, has made 
 the academy her debtor, especially as she has shown 
 that she knows how to make boys faithful and happy. 
 There are also many private houses in which those 
 who desire it can find good homes for their sons or 
 daughters. 
 
 The first president of the board of trustees was 
 Russell Hubbard, who retained the office till his death 
 in 1857 (June 7th). 
 
 The second president was William P. Greene, who 
 died June 18, 1864. 
 
 Third president, William Williams. Ebenezer 
 Learned, secretary and treasurer from the begin- 
 ning. 
 
 The Free Academy went into operation under Mr. 
 Elbridge Smith as principal, who continued in office 
 to the close of the ninth year, July, 1865. Mr. Smith 
 was a native of Wayland, Mass., and a graduate of 
 Brown University. He was previously principal of 
 the high school at Cambridge, Mass. 
 
 He was succeeded in September, 1865, by the Rev. 
 William Hutchison, formerly tutor in Yale College, 
 and recently principal of the Lawrence Academy at 
 Groton, Mass. Mr. Hutchison was ordained as a mis- 
 sionary in 1858, and went to Constantinople with the 
 expectation of establishing a mission in Turkey, but 
 the failing health of his family obliged him to relin- 
 quish the design. He is the present principal. 
 
 Post-Offices, — The first post-office in this town was 
 established at Norwich Town, probably during the 
 winter of 1782, with Dudley Woodbridge as post- 
 master. 
 
 Wm. LeflHiigwell, appointed postmaster during tlie montli of Jan. ...1790 
 Cliristoplier Leflflngwell, appointed postmaster during the month of 
 
 Aug 1793 
 
 Christopher Leifingwell, Jr., appointed postmaster during the month 
 
 of July 1797 
 
 Gardner Carpenter, Appointed postmaster on the 19th Jan 1799 
 
 John Hyde, " " " Ist July 1816 
 
 WIio lield the oiRce up to the change of name to Norwich Town, which 
 order was made by the postmaster-general on the 2l8t April, 1836. 
 
 Norwich Town (late Norwich), established 1st April 1836 
 
 John Hyde, appointed postmaster Ist April 1836 
 
 Henry Harland, appointed postmaster 5th Oct .1836 
 
 John T. Wait, " " 3dOct 1840 
 
 John Hyde, " " 28th June 18« 
 
 Henry B. Tracy, " " 18th Jan 1844 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 313 
 
 Henry McNelly, appointed postmaster 12th April, 1860 
 
 Blisha F. Sogers, " " 22dJuly 1853 
 
 Henry B. Tracy,! " " Ist July 1854 
 
 Ghrlsea Landing office was probably established dnring the fall of... .1803 
 
 Jacob De Witt, appointed postmaster during the fall of. 1803 
 
 John De Witt, " " 18th Dec 1809 
 
 Charles Kinney, " " 8d June 1823 
 
 Who continued as postmaster till the change of name to Norwich City, 
 which was made on the 6th of November, 1827. 
 
 Styraich CUy (late Chelsea Landing), established 6th Nov 1827 
 
 Charles Kinney, appointed.postmaster 6th Nov 1827 
 
 William L'Horamedieu, appointed postmaster 25th Aug 1829 
 
 Who continued to act till the change of name to Norwich, which was 
 ordered on the 21st April, 1836. 
 
 Tformich (late Norwich City), established on the 2l8t April 1836 
 
 William L'Hommedieu, appointed postmaster 21st April 1836 
 
 Samuel M. Downer, " " 4th Feb 1842 
 
 Enoch C. Chapman, " " 11th April 1843 
 
 John H. Townsend, " " 15th June 1844 
 
 William L'Hommedieu, " " 2d June 1845 
 
 JohnDunham, " " 21st June 1849 
 
 John W. Stedman,! " " 25th April 1863 
 
 The proceeds of Norwich in 1782 was about $75, 
 and that of Chelsea Lauding, Norwich City, in 1803, 
 about $90. 
 
 Slavery. — The colored population of Norwich was 
 more numerous than in most Northern towns. It 
 consisted partly of free blacks, accruing from previous 
 occasional manumissions, and partly of persons still 
 held in servitude and bought and sold as property. 
 From bills of sale that are extant, and from the valu- 
 ation made in inventories, we learn that in the early 
 part of the century the price for slaves ranged from 
 60s. to £30. After this the value increased, and the 
 best were rated at £100. The Rev. William Hart, of 
 Saybrook, in 1749 purchased a negro boy of Jabez 
 Huntington, of Norwich, for whom he paid £290, old 
 tenor ; but this was a depreciated currency, probably 
 not worth more than a fifth of its nominal value in 
 silver coin. At a later period the price of a servant 
 was considerably enhanced. 
 
 Capt. John and Matthew Perkins, of Hanover 
 Society, had each what was called a houseful of 
 slaves. The former, known as " big Captain John," 
 died in 1761. His inventory enumerates his African 
 servants — Tamar, Ziba, Jehu, Selah, etc. — to the 
 number of fifteen, the best valued at £50. Probably 
 no larger number than this could be found in any one 
 family in the county. 
 
 Capt. Matthew Perkins was a large landholder, a 
 man of energetic character, and, like his brother, 
 strong and powerful in frame. " He died (in 1773) 
 from lockjaw, caused by a bite on the thumb which he 
 received from a young negro slave whom he was chas- 
 tising for some fault." ' 
 
 It was not until near the era of the Revolution that 
 the reasonableness and equity of holding the African 
 race in durance began to be questioned by the citi- 
 zens. At length it was whispered about that it was 
 inconsistent to complain of political oppression and 
 yet withhold from others the privileges to which they 
 were entitled, to fight for liberty and yet refuse it to 
 a portion of the human family. 
 
 1 For subsequent postmasters see Supplement. 
 
 2 Perkins' Genealogy, Hist, and Gen. Reg., 14, 114. 
 
 Communications on this subject, bold and even 
 eloquent, appeared in the newspapers, of which one 
 from the Norwich Packet will serve as a specimen : 
 
 "July 7, 1774. To all ihose who call themselves Sons of Liberty in 
 America, Greeting: 
 
 " My Friends. We know iu some good measure the inestimable value 
 of liberty. But were we once deprived of her, she would then appear 
 much more valuable than she now appears. We also see her, standing 
 as it were tiptoe on the highest bough ready for flight. Why is she de- 
 parting? What is it that disturbs her repose? Surely some foul mon- 
 ster of hideous shape, and hateful kind, opposite in its nature to hers, 
 with all its frightful appearances and properties, irou hands and leaden 
 feet, formed to gripe and crush, hath intruded itself into her peaceful 
 habitation and ejected her. Surely this must be the case, for we know 
 oppositions cannot dwell together. Is it not time, high time to search 
 for this Achan ? th is disturber of Israel ? High time, I say, to examine 
 for the cause of those dark and gloomy appearances that cast a shadow 
 over our glory. And is not this it ? Are we not guilty of the same crime 
 we impute to others ? Of the same facts tliat we say are unjust, cruel, 
 arbitrary, despotic, and without law in others? Paul argued in this 
 manner : — * Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thy- 
 self? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dosl thou steal,? 
 Thou tliat makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law, dis- 
 honorest thou God 1' And may we not use the same mode of argument 
 and say — We that declare (and that with much warmth and zeal) it is 
 unjust, cruel, barbarous, unconstitutional, and without law, to enslave, 
 do we enskive f— Yes, verily we do ? A black cloud wilnesaelh against in 
 and our own Tnnuihs condemn us ! How preposterous our conduct ! How 
 vain and hypocritical our pretences ! Can we expect to be free, so long 
 as we are determined to enslave? Honesty." 
 
 Under the influence of this new phase of public 
 opinion and individual responsibility several persons 
 voluntarily liberated their slaves and made them some 
 compensation for former services. 
 
 " Dec. 1774. Mr. Samuel Gager, of Norwich, from a conscientious re- 
 gard to justice, lias lately liberated three faithful slaves, and as a com- 
 pensation for their services, leased them a very valuable farm on very 
 moderate terms. Mr. Jonathan Avery also emancipated an able indus- 
 trious negro man, from the same noble principle." 
 
 An act of the Legislature, prescribing the rules and 
 regulations under which emancipation should take 
 place, was passed in 1777, and several instances of 
 liberation, in accordance with the provisions of this 
 statute,' are on record at Norwich, such as: 
 
 *' Liberty given by the select men to Jabez Huntington, Esq., to eman- 
 cipate a negro man named Guy, Oct. 2, 1780." 
 
 "Liberty to Col. Joshua Huntington to emancipate his negro servant, 
 Bena, June 26, 1781." 
 
 But whether slaves or freemen, the Africans of Nor- 
 wich have always been treated with forbearance and 
 lenity. They have been particularly indulged in their 
 annual elections and training. In former times the 
 ceremony of a mock election of a negro Governor 
 created no little excitement in their ranks. The ser- 
 vants for the time being assumed the relative rank 
 
 3 Capt. William Browne, a noted loyalist of Salem, Mass., connected 
 with the Winthrop family of New London, was the proprietor of a large 
 tract of land lying south ot Colchester, which formed almost a parish of 
 itself, and was called by the owner New Salem. It is now in the town 
 of Salem, Conn. A portion of it under cultivation had been leased for a 
 term of years, with nine slaves as laborers upon it. When this land was 
 confiscated in 1779, on account of the Toryism of the proprietor, the 
 slaves petitioned the Legislature, through Benjamin Huntington, the 
 administrator on coniiBcated estates, for their liberty. The petition was 
 not granted, but the slaves had the benefit of the new laws regulating 
 emancipation, and it is supposed that they were all set free sooner or 
 later. 
 
314 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 and condition of their masters, and were allowed to 
 use the horses and many of the military trappings of 
 their owners. Provisions, decorations, fruits, and 
 liquors were liberally surrendered to them. Great 
 electioneering prevailed, parties often ran high, stump 
 harangues were made, and a vast deal of ceremony 
 expended in counting the votes, proclaiming the re- 
 sult, and inducting the candidate into office, the 
 whole too often terminating in a drunken frolic, if not 
 a fight. 
 
 A very decent gravestone in the public burial- 
 ground bears this inscription : 
 
 "In memory of Boston Trowtrow, governor of the African tribe in 
 this town, who died 1772, aged 66." 
 
 After the death of this person "Sam Hun'ton'' was 
 annually elected to this mock dignity for a much 
 greater number of years than his honorable name- 
 sake and master, Samuel Huntington, Esq., filled the 
 gubernatorial chair. It was amusing to see this sham 
 dignitary after his election, riding through the town 
 on one of his master's horses, adorned with plaited 
 gear, his aides on each side, a la militaire, himself 
 puffing and swelling with pomposity, sitting bolt up- 
 right, and moving with a slow, majestic pace, as if 
 the universe was looking on. When he mounted or 
 dismounted his aides flew to his assistance, holding 
 his bridle, putting his feet into the stirrup, and bow- 
 ing to the ground before him. The Great Mogul, in 
 a triumphal procession, never assumed an air of more 
 perfect self-importance than the negro Governor at 
 such a time. 
 
 We must not leave this subject without recording 
 the name of Leb Quy, a n.ative of Africa, and a trusty 
 Continental soldier. He served during three years of 
 the war, and was one of the town's quota in 1780 and 
 1781. 
 
 An Old -Time Love -Story. — "From a Justice's 
 Book of Record of Ebenezer Hartshorn, one of His 
 Majesty's Justices of ye Peace, New London County, 
 Conn. : Abert Page, of Havorhill, in ye province of 
 Massachusetts Bay, and Dorcos Fillmore, of Norwich, 
 in New London County, in ye Colony of Connecticut, 
 and presented themselves for marriage without proof 
 of being published as the law requires. This court 
 refuses to joyne them in marriage this 15th day of 
 Oct., 1759. 
 
 " On ye 16th day of October, 1759, ye above Abert 
 Page and Dorcos Fillmore appeared to my office in 
 Norwich with a certificate from Ira Post, one of His 
 Majesty's grand jurors, and certifyes that he read a 
 publishment of ye intended marriage of ye above 
 named standing on ye stepstone at ye door of ye First 
 Society meetin house in sd. Norwich three Sundays 
 running, so they were joined together in marriage by 
 me this day and went forth. Ebenezer Harts- 
 horn, Justis of Peace." 
 
 The Bi-Centennial Celebration.— The two hun- 
 dredth anniversary of the town was celebrated by a 
 magnificent festival of two days' continuance, occu- 
 
 pying Wednesday and Thursday, 7th and 8th of Sep- 
 tember, 1859. 
 
 The arrangements of this great jubilee had been 
 planned with a wise forecast. A committee of prep- 
 aration had been for a year in office ; invitations had 
 been extensively circulated, and a general enthusiasm 
 prevailed among the sons and daughters of Norwich 
 and their descendants, far and near, to honor this in- 
 teresting birthday. It was aptly termed the great 
 Golden Wedding of the town, kept in remembrance 
 of the hallowed union of the Puritan emigrant and 
 his wilderness bride two hundred years before. 
 
 " Here where the tangled thicket grew. 
 Where wolf and panther passed. 
 An acorn from an English oak 
 In the rude soil was cast." 
 
 A vast fraternity, genial intercourse, cordial fellow- 
 ship, and lavish exchanges of thought and fact were 
 confidently expected, and seldom are joyful anticipa- 
 tions and enlarged plans so fully realized. 
 
 The weather seemed adapted to the occasion. The 
 season in all its bearings harmonized with the festal 
 robes and outdoor encampments with which the in- 
 habitants prepared their dear old homestead for the 
 reception of its guests. A general glow of happiness 
 pervaded every countenance. The absentees, the 
 wanderers, the distant relatives, friends, and neigh- 
 bors assembled. It was a mighty gathering, but yet 
 far more orderly and quiet than a customary militia 
 muster or political convention. It was an ovation, 
 hilarious and triumphant, but not tumultuous. The 
 devotional element was not perhaps sufficiently prev- 
 alent to chime with the principles of " two hundred 
 years ago ;" but, on the other hand, there was no bac- 
 chanal accompaniment, no rude disturbance to break 
 the swell of a note of music or the sound of a speak- 
 er's voice, and it was said not a solitary case of ine- 
 briety was observed during the whole festival. 
 
 The most conspicuous features of the celebration 
 were these : 
 
 The decoration of the streets and buildings, and the 
 erection of a wide-winged tent upon the Parade. 
 
 A grand procession, military and civic, half a mile 
 in extent, that made the tour of the town, with ban- 
 ners, bands of music, and exhibitions of trades and 
 professions, many of them in active operation. 
 
 Two historical discourses of lasting value and 
 interest. 
 
 Two descriptive addresses of an oratorical charac- 
 ter, — impressive and eloquent in a high degree. 
 
 A dinner, with numerous toasts and speeches. 
 
 A closing ball at the great tent on the Town Park or 
 Parade. 
 
 The various exercises were interspersed and en- 
 livened with original poetry and good singing. A 
 descriptive poem by Anson G. Chester, of Syracuse, 
 N. Y., was one of the expected entertainments of the 
 festival, but owing to the severe illness of the poet it 
 was not delivered. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 315 
 
 It was estimated that at this celebration fifteen 
 hundred flags were spread upon the wind, not only 
 those of our own country, but the motley emblems of 
 all nations. Several magnificent arches were erected 
 at prominent points. A very tasteful arch in Frank- 
 lin Street represented two clasped hands, 1659 and 
 1859, with the motto, " A Hearty Greeting." 
 
 Gen. David Young was the chief marshal of the 
 ceremonies. Governor Buckingham presided in the 
 assemblies. Ex-President Fillmore was the most dis- 
 tinguished guest. The bi-centennial discourse was by 
 Daniel C. Gilman ; the discourse on the life and times 
 of John Mason, by Hon. John A. Eockwell. The 
 other addresses, or more properly orations, were by 
 Kt. Eev. Alfred Lee, Bishop of Delaware, and Donald 
 G. Mitchell. 
 
 The speakers were all natives of the town, and had 
 the same object in view, — gratefully to commemorate 
 the scenes and influences by which they had been 
 nurtured. It was beautiful to see with what variety 
 of touch they struck the key-note, producing with 
 great diversity of tone entire harmony. The faithful 
 historic record, the biography of the founder, the 
 chastened retrospect, and the graceful survey of the 
 two centuries of the town's life presented by the ora- 
 tors, each in his own characteristic style, converged 
 upon the same theme, Norwich, our home. 
 
 Many interesting incidents were connected with 
 this great festivity. The corner-stone of a monument 
 to the memory of Mason, the conqueror of the Pe- 
 quots, was laid in Yantic Cemetery. A dinner was 
 given by Gen. Williams to the Mohegans, of which 
 more than sixty of the remains of that tribe partook. 
 Mrs. William P. Greene, as a memorial of the cele- 
 bration, presented a house and grounds to the Free 
 Academy, for the residence of the principal, valued at 
 seven thousand dollars. Mr. Giles L'Hommedieu, 
 the oldest native-born American in the town, was 
 then in his last illness, and the procession passed the 
 house where he lay in reverential silence. He died 
 six days after the celebration, in the ninety-fourth 
 year of his age. 
 
 A history of the celebration, including the prelim- 
 inary measures and a registry of the various commit- 
 tees, with the addresses, poems, hymns, speeches, and 
 particulars of interest connected with the great festi- 
 val, was published by John W. Stedman, of Norwich, 
 in a well-executed, attractive volume, entitled " The 
 Norwich Jubilee." The work was compiled, printed, 
 and published by Mr. Stedman ; the papei: was manu- 
 factured at the Chelsea Mill, and the whole book, in 
 its print, binding, and illustrations, is a Norwich pro- 
 duction. As a memorial volume it is of enduring 
 interest. Its contents are so comprehensive as to 
 render it unnecessary to give in this history anything 
 more than the foregoing brief outline of the two 
 grand red-letter days of the bi-centennial commem- 
 oration. 
 
 The year 1859 was the bi-centennial anniversary of 
 
 the signing of the purchase deed, and of the prelim- 
 inary steps taken by the proprietors in laying out the 
 town, but the anniversary of the actual settlement, 
 when woman arrived upon the ground and homes 
 were constituted, was more definitely the year 1860. 
 
 Tineas and the Indian Graves.—" The ancient In- 
 dian cemetery, heavily shadowed with a native growth 
 of trees, is now little more than aninclosure for the 
 Uncas monument. 
 
 " During the summer of 1833, Gen. Jackson, Presi- 
 dent of the United States, with a part of his cabinet, 
 made a tour through a, portion of the Eastern States. 
 The citizens of Norwich had long been desirous of 
 erecting some memorial of respect for their ' Old 
 Friend,' the Mohegan sachem, and they suddenly 
 decided to celebrate the visit of the President by con- 
 necting it with the interesting ceremony of laying the 
 corner-stone of an Uncas monument. 
 
 "The Presidential party came from Hartford by 
 land, arriving by the Essex turnpike in open coaches, 
 with a brilliant escort of cavalry that had gone forth 
 to meet them. Vice-President Van Buren, Governor 
 Edwards, of Connecticut, Maj. Donelson, and Messrs. 
 Cass, Woodbury, and Poinsett, Secretaries of War, 
 Navy, and State, formed the party. They arrived at 
 three o'clock p.m., paused a few moments at the falls, 
 and then advanced to the cemetery, where a great 
 assemblage of the inhabitants, military companies, 
 bands of children with banners and mottoes, and a 
 few scattered Indians from Mohegan received the 
 visitors with martial salutes and joyful acclama- 
 tions. 
 
 " At the cemetery, where all stood with uncovered 
 heads, N. L. Shipman, Esq., in behalf of the associa- 
 tion, gave a brief sketch of the family of Uncas and 
 the existing condition of the tribe. The President 
 then moved the foundation-stone to its place. It was 
 an interesting, suggestive ceremony; a token of re- 
 spect from the modern warrior to the ancient, — from 
 the emigrant race to the aborigines. Gen. Cass, in a 
 short but eloquent address to the multitude, observed 
 that the earth afforded but few more striking specta- 
 cles than that of one hero doing homage at the tomb 
 of another. 
 
 "The ceremony being concluded, the children sang 
 a hymn and the Presidential party passed away, 
 pausing again at the Landing for refreshments, and 
 embarking from thence in a steamer for New London. 
 
 "Though the corner-stone was thus auspiciously 
 prepared, no funds had been obtained or plans ma- 
 tured for the erection of the monument. The ladies 
 at length took hold of the work and brought it to a 
 successful issue. Embracing the opportunity of a 
 political mass-meeting which assembled at Norwich, 
 Oct. 15, 1840, in honor of Harrison and Tyler, they 
 prepared a refreshment fair, with generous enthu- 
 siasm arranged and filled their tables, took their 
 station as saleswomen, and with the profits paid for 
 the monument. 
 
316 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " It consists of a simple granite obelisk, with no 
 inscription but the name, — 
 
 " UNCAS.' 
 
 " The raising of the shaft and fixing it upon the 
 foundation-stone was the occasion of another festival. 
 This was on the 4th of July, 1842, at which time Wil- 
 liam L. Stone, of New York, delivered an historical 
 discourse on the life and times of the sachem.'' 
 
 " Among the persons present in the tent where the 
 address was delivered were ten citizens of the place 
 over seventy -five years of age : Erastus Perkins, 89 ; 
 Samuel Avery, 88 ; Seabury Brewster, 86 ; Christopher 
 Vail, 82; Bela Peck, 82; Ichabod Ward, 80; New- 
 comb Kinney, 80 ; Benjamin Snow, 77 ; Nathaniel 
 Shipman, 76 ; Zachariah Huntington, 76. 
 
 " The whole space inclosed as the Uncas Cemetery, 
 and probably the ground for some distance upon its 
 border, is thickly seeded with Indian graves, though 
 but very few inscribed stones or even hillocks remain. 
 The only inscription of any particular interest is on 
 the grave-stone of Samuel Uncas, one of the latest of 
 the Uncas family that bore even the nominal title of 
 sachem, and who died not long before the Revolu- 
 tionary war. The epitaph, written by Dr. Elisha 
 Tracy, reads thus : 
 
 "'SAMUEL UNOAS. 
 " ' For Beaaty, wit, for Sterling Bense, 
 For temper mild, for Eliquence, 
 For Courage Bold, for things wauregan. 
 He -was the Glory of Moheagon, 
 Whose death has caused great lamentation, 
 Both^in ye English and ye Indian Nation.' " 
 
 Col. Mason's Monument. — A monument to the 
 memory of Col. Mason was erected near the old Post 
 and Gager burying-ground, on the street leading from 
 Norwich Town to Bean Hill, with the following in- 
 scriptions. 
 
 At the base of the monument is cut the name 
 Mason, and on the tablet in the centre, following 
 Mason's full name and title, are these : 
 
 "Bev. James Fitch, John Pease, John Tracy, John Baldwin, Jonathan 
 Eoyce, John Post, Thomas Bingham, Thomas Waterman, and Eobert 
 Allen." 
 
 On the western base is the following inscription : 
 
 " Major John Mason, born in England, died in Norwich, January 30th, 
 16V2, aged 73." 
 
 Above this is a tablet bearing the names of 
 
 " Sergeant Thomas LeflBngwell, Kichard Wallis, Thomas Adgate, John 
 Olmstead, Stephen Backus, Thomas Bliss, John Reynolds, Josiah Reed, 
 Richard Hendys, and Christopher Huntington." 
 
 On the north face are the names of 
 
 1 The Rev. Mr. Fitch, in 1675, wrote this name VnJmi. Before the monu- 
 ment was completed, G. L. Perkins, Esq., who had charge of the under- 
 taking, wrote letters to Noah Webster, the philologijf, Thomas Day, 
 Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and Col. William L. Stone, a dili- 
 gent Investigator of Indian history, to inquire what they would consider 
 the most eligible mode of spelling the name to be inscribed on the obe- 
 lisk. They all concurred in recommending the modern orthography,— 
 Uncas. 
 
 2 Published afterwards in a small duodecimo volume, entitled " Uncas 
 and Miantonomoh ." ' 
 
 " Ensign William Backus, Francis Griswold, Neh, Sjiiith, ThomaB 
 Howard, John Calkins, Richard Edgerton, Thomas Post, and John 
 Gager." 
 
 The southern face bearing the following: 
 
 " Samuel Hide, William Hide, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Morgan Bowera 
 Robert Wade, John Birchard, Simon Huntington, Stephen Gifford and 
 John Bradford." 
 
 The Soldiers' Monument. — At a meeting of the 
 citizens of Norwich, held at Breed Hall on the 14th 
 of January, 1869, it was resolved " that a committee 
 of seven be appointed to solicit and collect funds for 
 the erection of a monument to the Norwich soldiers 
 and seamen who fell in our late war for the preserva- 
 tion of the National Union.'' The committee con- 
 sisted of Hon. W. A. Buckingham, Amos W. Pren- 
 tice, John T. Wait, Rev. M. McG. Dana, Dr. C. B. 
 Webster, James L. Carew, Edwin P. Avery, E. P. 
 Slocum, and Misses Elizabeth Greene and Eliza Per- 
 kins. The committee did not make much progress- 
 so at a town-meeting on the 3d of October, 1870, the 
 subject was again brought up and disposed of by lay- 
 ing a tax of " fifteen cents on one hundred dollars of 
 the assessment list of the town," and appointing a 
 committee to expend it in the erection of a suitable 
 monument to the memory of the soldiers and seamen 
 of the town in the great Rebellion. William A. 
 Buckingham, John T. Wait, and James A. Hovey 
 were appointed this committee. A contract for a 
 monument was soon made, and in the spring of 1873 
 it was put in place at the head of the Great Plain. 
 The monument is of a light granite, from Westerly, 
 R. I. Its design is that of a colossal statue of a Union 
 soldier supported on a massive pedestal. The statue 
 is twelve feet high, and the entire height of the mon- 
 ument is twenty-seven feet six inches. It measures 
 ten feet square at the base. Its cost was about eigh- 
 teen thousand dollars. The inscriptions on the sev- 
 eral sides are the motto of the State, the names of 
 all those from this town who fell in active service, 
 and these words on the front, " Erected by the town 
 of Norwich in memory of her brave sons who volun- 
 tarily entered the military service of the United 
 States and lost their lives in defense of the national 
 government during the Rebellion." 
 
 Norwich City Water-Works.— At the May ses- 
 sion of the General Assembly of the State, 1866, the 
 charter of the city was so amended as to give the 
 city the power to supply itself with pure water. This 
 amendment was accepted by the city, and in October 
 of the following year a site was selected for a reservoir 
 and the work commenced. The reservoir is a natural 
 basin between the Scotland road and Canterbury turn- 
 pike, one mile east of Norwich town green, through 
 which a small tributary stream ran to the Yantic 
 River. 
 
 Fire Department. — The present organization of 
 the fire department is as follows : 
 
 Joseph B. Carrier, chief engineer, fire marshal, and 
 superintendent fire-alarm telegraph ; Assistant Engi- 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 317 
 
 neers, L. W. Greenburg, A. W. Park, W. T. Farring- 
 ton. 
 
 Wauregan Steam Fire-Engine Company, No. 1, 180 
 
 Main Street. , foreman; Walter T. Atcli- 
 
 inson, first assistant ; Charles Tracy, second assistant ; 
 A. T. Boone, secretary and treasurer; Sidney L. 
 Smith, engineer ; George S. Towne, stoker. 
 
 Niagara Hose Company, No. 2. — Thomas Cunning- 
 ham, foreman ; , first assistant ; Edward Ho- 
 
 ran, second assistant ; John Looby, secretary ; Frank 
 N, Ranger, treasurer. 
 
 William M. Williams Steamer, No. 3.— Felix Cal- 
 lahan, foreman ; William Danahy, first assistant ; 
 John Danahy, second assistant ; Frank Case, secretary ; 
 Frank McKeag, engineer ; Morris Welch, stoker. 
 
 Blackstone Hose Company, No. 1. — A. S. Barbour, 
 foreman ; Charles E. Rogers, first assistant ; Ezra B. 
 Howard, second assistant ; John W. Burke, secretary ; 
 Charles A. Williams, treasurer. 
 
 Norwich Hose Company, No. 4. — Joseph N. Du- 
 chett, Jr., foreman ; John Coffee, first assistant ; Wil- 
 liam G.Tripp, second assistant; G. H. Wilbur, secre- 
 tary ; William Noss, treasurer. 
 
 Neptune Steamer, No. 5. — Howard L. Stanton, fore- 
 man ; Charles L. Perry, first assistant ; George H. 
 Stanton, second assistant ; Patrick F. Kelley, secre- 
 tary and treasurer. 
 
 Wauregan Hook-and-Ladder Company. — Joseph 
 B. Corey, foreman ; Henry B. Lewis, first assistant ; 
 Herman S. Case, second assistant; Blyden Hedge, 
 secretary ; Joseph B. Corey, treasurer. 
 
 Independence Hose Company, No. 6. — John P. 
 Murphy, foreman ; Joseph Kennedy, first assistant ; 
 James B. Ward, second assistant ; P. J. Sheridan, sec- 
 retary ; M. F. Kane, treasurer ; James Cox, steward. 
 Shetucket Steamer, No. 7. — Patrick Barry, fore- 
 man; Martin Carroll, first assistant; James Eigney, 
 second assistant ; John Foley, secretary ; Thomas J. 
 Connor, treasurer ; William H. Bell, engineer ; John 
 Reynolds, stoker. 
 
 Yantic Fire Company, Yantic. — Paul Smith, fore- 
 man ; Arthur P. Gleason, first assistant ; David Smith, 
 second assistant; Charles H. Carpenter, secretary and 
 treasurer. 
 
 Court-House, City and Town Hall.— On the 24th 
 of April, 1865, a town-meeting was held to discuss the 
 subject of petitioning the Legislature to make Nor- 
 wich the sole shire town of the county. At the same 
 meeting a committee was appointed to select a suita- 
 ble site for a new building for county and town pur- 
 poses to take the place of the house then recently 
 burnt. This committee consisted of John T. Wait, 
 Lorenzo Blackstone, James A. Hovey, James Lloyd 
 Greene, Amos W. Prentice, John W. Stedman, John 
 T. Brown, Jeremiah. Halsey, Augustus Brewster, H. 
 H. Starkweather, and Henry Bill. Subsequently the 
 town voted to instruct this committee not to take 
 definite action until the Legislature had decided the 
 shire town question. 
 21 
 
 The action of the Legislature was adverse to the 
 petition of the town, and the whole matter of a new 
 building was postponed till the General Assembly of 
 1869. Then an act was passed giving the town of 
 Norwich, the city of Norwich, and the county of New 
 London power to combine for the erection of a build- 
 ing for town, city, and county purposes, with no other 
 restriction as to the cost of the same except that the 
 county should not expend to exceed the sum of 
 twenty thousand dollars. The same act superseded 
 the town committee appointed to select a site for the 
 same by placing that duty in the hands of the select- 
 men of the town of Norwich, the mayor of the city of 
 Norwich, and the commissioners of the county of New 
 London. 
 
 Early in 1870, all the parties in interest having 
 agreed to proceed with the work, and fixed upon a 
 site for the building and plans for the same, the work 
 commenced. It was not till the spring of 1873 that 
 any portion of the building was ready for occupancy. 
 The first session of the Superior Court in it was 
 opened on the 11th day of November of that year. 
 
 The building stands at the junction of Broadway 
 and Union Streets, facing Otis Square. It is one 
 hundred and ten feet from front to rear, and one hun- 
 dred and eight feet wide. It is three stories high (in- 
 cluding the basement, occupied by the city for police 
 purposes), with a French roof The main cornice is 
 fifty-eight feet from the ground. The tower rises 
 twenty-nine feet from the roof. The basement story 
 is of cut granite ; the other stories are of pressed brick 
 with granite trimmings. The cornices and tower are 
 of galvanized iron, and the roof is covered with tin. 
 The cellar is the whole size of the building, and con- 
 tains the steam boilers for heating the building, coal- 
 bins, etc. The basement floor is occupied by the cells 
 for a lock-up, a police court-room thirty by fifty, and 
 spacious rooms for all the ordinary police business of 
 the city. On the first floor are the offices of the town 
 clerk and other town oflicers, the county clerk's ofiicc, 
 the probate ofllce, the office of the chief engineer of 
 the city fire department, the Common Council cham- 
 ber, twenty-eight by forty-five, and the ofllces of the 
 mayor, the city clerk, and water commissioners. On the 
 floor above are the town hall, forty-eight by sixty-two, 
 in the rear, and the court-room in front, forty-five by 
 fifty, with ample anterooms, library-rooms, sheriff's 
 office, etc. Each story is supplied with water-closets, 
 fire-proof vaults of large dimensions, extending from 
 the ground, and every convenience for the accommo- 
 dation of business and the personal comfort of the oc- 
 cupants of the building that modern ingenuity has 
 devised. The tower contains a clock with illumi- 
 nated dials, which are lighted up by night, and a 
 3000-pounds bell, which is used by the clock, and also 
 as an alarm-bell. Water, gas, and heat are carried 
 to every room in the building. The interior finish is 
 of yellow pine, chestnut, and black walnut. 
 
 The plans of the building were by Burdich & Ar- 
 
318 
 
 HTSTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 nold. Evan Burdicli superintended the work. Gil- 
 bert L. Congdon executed tlie wood-work, and Josepli 
 H. Smith the masonry. The furniture was made to 
 order by N. S. Gilbert & Son. In building and fur- 
 niture the edifice will compare favorably with any 
 public building in the country. Its entire cost was 
 about three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 
 
 The Eliza Huntington Memorial Home for Ee- 
 speotable 'and Indigent Aged and Infirm Females 
 was founded through the liberality of the late Jede- 
 diah Huntington, in furtherance of the desire of his 
 deceased wife, Eliza, to render a public benefit to the 
 community in which she lived. He bequeathed his 
 dwelling-house, estimated to be worth twenty-five 
 thousand dollars, and an additional sum of thirty-five 
 thousand dollars. He placed the management of the 
 home in the hands of his executors, John T. Wait, 
 James A. Hovey, and Jedediah Huntington, and the 
 rectors of Christ and Trinity Churches. 
 
 Jedediah Huntington was born in Norwich, 
 Sept. 13, 1791. 
 
 From the early part of this century until the close 
 of the second war with England he resided in Troy, 
 N. Y., with his brother-in-law, Guilford Young. He 
 then returned to Norwich and embarked in busi- 
 ness in the stores that occupied the site of the present 
 freight depot of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad, 
 and remained there alone or in company with his 
 nephew, the late John G. Huntington, until he en- 
 tirely retired from business, in 1886. In all his busi- 
 ness enterprises he was eminently successful ; and this 
 success may well be attributed not only to his energy, 
 enterprise, and constant devotion to his business pur- 
 suits, but to the enviable reputation that he enjoyed 
 for his unbending integrity. 
 
 Jedediah Huntington, son of the late John G. 
 Huntington, and John A. Morgan are now conduct- 
 ing the business which was established more than 
 sixty years ago by the subject of this sketch, and in 
 every way maintain the same reputation for honor 
 and integrity in all their business relations which 
 was enjoyed by the founder of the house. 
 
 In June, 1819, Mr. Huntington married Eliza, 
 youngest daughter of the late Judge Marvin Wait, of 
 New London. She was a lady with a warm heart and 
 open hand, and the poor and the afflicted were ever 
 drawn towards her by her deep and tender sympathy 
 for them. Mr. and Mrs. Huntington lived together 
 for more than fifty years. They celebrated their golden 
 wedding in June, 1869. 
 
 The confidence that the public placed in Mr. 
 Huntington is exhibited in the relations that he sus- 
 tained to the moneyed and other corporations of this 
 city. He was for nearly half a century a director of 
 the Norwich Bank. He was a trustee and director of 
 the Society for Savings from its organization, and one 
 of the projectors and managers of the Norwich Water- 
 Power Company. He took an active part in building 
 the railroad from Norwich to Worcester, and when 
 
 the company, of which he was a director, was near 
 sinking under pecuniary embarrassment, he united 
 with a few others in lending his personal credit to 
 sustain that of the corporation, and in that way se- 
 cured the success of the enterprise. 
 
 The Sheltering Arms Home for the Sick and the 
 Eock Nook Children's Home are two praiseworthy 
 institutions both located in Norwich Town. 
 
 The Otis Library.' — This institution received its 
 name from its founder. Deacon Joseph Otis, a son of 
 Norwich, but for many years a merchant in New 
 York. The last fifteen years of his life he spent in 
 his native city. His first purpose was to endow a 
 library by a bequest, but upon the earnest recom- 
 mendation of his pastor and friend, Eev. Alvan 
 Bond, D.D., he decided to begin the work before his 
 death. The building was accordingly erected and 
 delivered to trustees designated by the donor in 
 January, 1850. The original board of trustees were 
 Eev. Alvan Bond, D.D., Worthington Hooker, M.D., 
 J. G. W. Trumbull, George Perkins, William A, 
 Buckingham, Eobert Johnson, and Charles Johnson, 
 the board being by charter self-perpetuating. 
 
 At the completion of the building Deacon Otis ad- 
 vanced tAvo thousand dollars for the purchase of hooks, 
 and the work of the library began in July, 1850. 
 
 " A very general interest was taken in the institu- 
 tion,'' saj's Dr. Bond, "and a large number of readers 
 applied for tickets, which were furnished at that time 
 for one dollar a year. Constant additions were made 
 to the books upon its shelves, chiefly through the con- 
 tinued liberality of its founder, who in his lifetime 
 gave in all over ten thousand dollars, and at his death 
 bequeathed seven thousand dollars more as a perma- 
 nent fund." 
 
 In 1868, Mr. Charles Boswell, of West Hartford, a 
 native of Norwich, added one thousand dollars to the 
 permanent fund of the institution, and from time to 
 time generous contributions have been made by nu- 
 merous citizens towards the current expenses, and to 
 enable the trustees to make larger purchases of hooks 
 than the income of fund's would warrant. Various 
 public entertainments have been given to promote the 
 same objects. 
 
 It has been the constant intention of the trustees 
 to provide a large variety of literature, but rigidly to 
 exclude everything that can be in any way hurtful in 
 its influence. For ten or fifteen years past magazines 
 and quarterlies, both American and foreign, have been 
 furnished the patrons of the library. At present more 
 than thirty diflferent standard periodicals are regularly 
 received, and year by year bound volumes of them are 
 multiplying upon the shelves. 
 
 In 1867 a very complete catalogue of the books 
 then owned was issued in a bound volume, and 
 within the past three years, by the exceeding gener- 
 osity of Mr. William Abbot, one of the trustees till 
 
 • Contiibutcd by Rev, Wm. S. Palmer. 
 

 W»-<.d ky J C BuBrrj,S"'>* 
 
 7 
 
i-gtavedirXC Butlre,;few''°* 
 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 319 
 
 he transferred his residence to Hartford, a card 
 catalogue has been made, according to the plan adop- 
 ted by many of the first libraries of the country. 
 
 Within the past year the institution has been en- 
 riched by the munificent bequests of the late Dr. 
 Daniel Tyler Coit, for many years a prominent physi- 
 cian of Boston, Mass., but the last five years of his 
 life a resident of Norwich. His bequests amount to 
 nearly thirteen thousand dollars. The present trus- 
 tees are Messrs. John T. Adams, William Aiken, E. 
 N. Gibbs, Gardner Greene, William Hutchison, Wil- 
 liam S. Palmer, and Jonathan Trumbull. 
 
 The Norwicli Horse Railroad was projected in 
 1869, and Sept. 12, 1870, the first cars passed over it 
 from Bean Hill to Greeneville. The line extends Irom 
 the city to Greeneville, to the falls, and Norwich Town, 
 and has proven itself a great convenience. 
 
 Bridges. — One of the earliest bridges was over the 
 Shetncket at the falls. It was built in 1717, and in 
 February, 1727, this with three others were swept 
 away by a freshet. The bridge was rebuilt in 1828, 
 and at its raising a portion of it fell, killing two per- 
 sons and seriously wounding several others. The 
 Lathrop bridge has been rebuilt several times. 
 
 In 1750, or near that period, the following bridges 
 were maintained by the town : 
 
 Over Bradford's or Susquetomscot Brook, on the 
 road to Lebanon. 
 Great Pond Brook, on the road to Colchester. 
 Pease's Brook. These were the three branches of 
 the Yantic. 
 
 At Bean Hill. Quarter bridge. The Court-House 
 bridge. No-man's Acre bridge. These four crossed 
 the Yantic. 
 Beaver's Brook, in West Farms Society. 
 Trading Cove Brook, on the road to New London. 
 Elderkin's bridge, on the road to Windham. 
 "Wood's bridge over Showtuckett, north of Petti- 
 paug." This was afterwards Lord's bridge, uniting 
 Franklin with Lisbon. 
 Lovett's bridge. Lathrop's bridge. 
 The last four were over the Shetucket. 
 Johnson's bridge over the Quinnebaug, on the road 
 to Plainfield. 
 Pachaug bridge, east of the Quinnebaug. 
 The first bridge uniting " The Landing" (Norwich 
 City) with Lisbon was built in 1737, and in 1751 was 
 superseded by a bridge which cost £4000, old tenor. 
 This was swept away in 1762, and was rebuilt in 1764. 
 This was replaced by another structure in 1784, and 
 still another in 1797. It is not strange that we find 
 the town records alluding to the " enormous Expenses" 
 incurred for bridges. 
 
 The Norwich and Preston Bridge Company was in- 
 corporated in 1816, and in the following year a toll- 
 bridge was erected about a mile above the mouth of 
 the river. It was carried away in 1823, but rebuilt on 
 the same foundation at an expense of five thousand 
 dollars. In 1858 this bridge was purchased by the 
 
 towns of Norwich and Preston. This was replaced 
 by the present iron bridge, which was built in 1870. 
 Giddings' bridge, which spanned the Shetucket 
 about a mile from its mouth, was built in 17")7. 
 
 Laurel Hill bridge was built in 1853, through the 
 instrumentality of Hon. Henry Bill, John W. Sted- 
 man, Thomas Robinson, John A. Rockwell, Amos 
 Davis, and others. It has since been repaired, and 
 in 1860 its charter was relinquished, and since then it 
 has belonged to the town. 
 
 The bridge over the Shetucket at Greeneville was 
 built in 1854, damaged by floods and reconstructed in 
 1858, destroyed by fire in 1862, and rebuilt in 1863. 
 The wharf bridge was built in 1771. 
 
 Laurel Hill.' — That portion of the city of Norwich 
 on the east, where the Shetucket joins the Thames, 
 from the heights of which the eye sweeps over the 
 entire field of the city and its river-front, the old 
 town, and the whole range of country as far south- 
 ward as the highlands of Montville, — a natural pano- 
 rama not surpasse'd in beauty in Connecticut, — was 
 as rude and uncultured as when Mason's party first 
 sailed up the Thames down to the year 1850. At that 
 time it was known as Pepper's Hill, from one Michael 
 Pepper, who formerly owned a portion of it and lived 
 near it. This district was originally a part of the 
 East or Long Society of Norwich, but in 1786 was set 
 ofi' to Preston with the rest of the society, and re- 
 mained part of the town of Preston for seventy years. 
 In the fall of 1850 something over one hundred 
 acres of this district were purchased by John A. 
 Rockwell, Thomas Robinson, and Henry Bill, and its 
 name changed to the more appropriate title of Laurel 
 Hill. Soon after its purchase Mr. Bill acquired the 
 entire intei-est of his partners, and whatever of suc- 
 cess attended the enterprise from the beginning is to 
 be attributed to him. Streets and building-lots were 
 laid out ; an ample tract of land was reserved in the 
 centre, which was subsequently deeded to the city for 
 a public park, and afterwards given to the city by Mr. 
 Bill ; a reservoir was built on an adjoining hill, and 
 an aqueduct of pure spring-water carried to every part 
 of the district, and a settlement at once commenced, 
 which has grown to be one of the most beautiful por- 
 tions of the city of Norwich. Here Mr. Bill erected 
 an elegant residence for himself in 1852. 
 
 In 1853 an act of incorporation was granted to a 
 company composed of John W. Stedman, Thomas 
 Robinson, John A. Rockwell, Henry Bill, Amos 
 Davis, and others, who at once proceeded to build a 
 substantial wooden bridge by private subscription, at 
 an expense of four thousand dollars, connecting the 
 city of Norwich with Laurel Hill, on the precise spot 
 now' occupied by a heavy iron bridge, and where no 
 less than five bridges had been built since the first 
 settlement of the town. 
 
 In 1857 the Laurel Hill district was reannexed to 
 
 1 By J. W. StccIni.iQ. 
 
320 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the city of Norwicli by an act of the Legislature, and 
 in 1867, the bridge charter of 1853 having been aban- 
 doned and the maintenance of the bridge left to the 
 town of Norwich, the present iron bridge was built at 
 an expense of twenty-five thousand dollars. 
 
 Laurel Hill district, so recently, as we have seen, 
 a barren and wholly neglected locality, is now a most 
 charming suburb of the city of Norwich. 
 
 Masonic— The first lodge of Free and Accepted 
 Masons instituted in Norwich was chartered by " St. 
 John's Grand Lodge" of Massachusetts in the year 
 1767, as appears in the records of said Grand Lodge, 
 now in possession of the Grand Lodge of Massachu- 
 setts. 
 
 Columbia Lodge, F. and A. M., was chartered by 
 " Massachusetts Grand Lodge," Joseph Webb, Grand 
 Master, on the 23d day of July, 1785. The petitioners 
 were Philip Turner, Bela Turner, John Eichards, 
 Samuel Mott, and Jeremiah Harris. 
 
 SoMEESET Lodge, No. 34, F. and A. M., was char- 
 tered by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, May 25, 
 1795, with the following members: Elijah Clark, 
 P. Coit, Stephen Culver, Gushing Eells, Jeremiah 
 Harris, Giles L'Hommedieu, Ebonezer Huntington, 
 Samuel Huntington, Daniel Lathrop, Gordon Lathrop, 
 Simeon Lathrop, David Kevins, Robert Niles, John 
 Eichards, Benjamin Snow, Asa Spaulding, Elisha 
 Tracy, John Trumbull, John Turner, and Philip 
 Turner. 
 
 The first Master was Asa Spaulding, a prominent 
 lawyer. Ebenezer Huntington was first senior warden, 
 and Benjamin Snow junior warden. 
 
 This charter was revoked by the Grand Lodge May 
 9, 1838, and restored May 14, 1845. 
 
 The lodge is said to have been named in honor of 
 Lord Somerset, of England. The first communica- 
 tion on record was held June 8, 1795. The second 
 was held July 2d, same year. The oflicers were Asa 
 Spaulding, W. M. ; Benjamin Snow, J. W. ; Daniel 
 Lathrop, Treas. ; Simeon Huntington, Sec. ; David 
 Nevins, S. D. ; John Trumbull, J. D. ; Gordon La- 
 throp, S. S. ; John Turner, J. S. ; John Eichards, Ty- 
 ler. At this communication the by-laws were adopted, 
 and Joseph Huntington was placed on the minutes as 
 a candidate for initiation. Peter Lamman was the first 
 initiate in the lodge. 
 
 The lodge first met in a room owned by Cyrus Bra- 
 man, E,3q., and soon after a room owned by Mrs. Peal 
 was occupied. In 1798 the lodge held its communi- 
 cations at the house of Dr. Joshua Lathrop. In 1801 
 the brick " store chamber" of Capt. Nathaniel Pea- 
 body was fitted up for a lodge, and was used for that 
 purpose until June 5, 1850, when the lodge-room of 
 the I. O. 0. F. was secured, and held as the lodge- 
 room of Somerset Lodge till June 19, 1865, when 
 Uncas Hall was dedicated to the genius of Masonry. 
 
 The following is a list of ^Masters of the lodge from 
 its organization to present time: Asa Spaulding, 1795 ; 
 Ebenezer Huntington, 1796 ; Benjamin Snow, 1797- 
 
 98, 1801-8; Joseph Huntington, 1799-1800; Con- 
 sider Sterry, 1807-9, 1815-16 ; JudahHart, 1810-11; 
 Joseph Kinney, 1812 ; Samuel Badey, 1813-14 ; James 
 Cushman, 1817-18 ; Elisha Tracy, 1819 ; John Nichols, 
 1819-20 ; Wm. Belcher, 1821 ; Wm. P. Eaton, 1822- 
 24, 1830-31; Asa Childs, 1825-29, 1832; Chauncey 
 Burgess, 1845; Edward W. Eells, 1846; Wm. H. 
 Copp, 1847-51, 1852-54; Charles Ball, 1848; Wm. 
 L. Brewer, 1849-50; H. Hobart Eoaths, 1855; AVm. 
 Bond, 1856; Wm. H. Tingley, 1857-58; Martin E. 
 Kenyon, 1859 ; P. St. M. Andrews, 1860-62 ; Lemuel 
 H. Chester, 1863; Amos E. Cobb, 1864; Eufus M. 
 Ladd, 1865-66 ; Austin Brewster, 1867 ; J. J. Wait, 
 1868-69; J. L. Devotion, 1870-71; J. W. Stedman, 
 1872; Chas. W. Carter, 1873; J. B. Mershon, 1874; 
 B. H. Rogers, 1875 ; Robert A. France, 1876-78 ; E. 
 S. Bishop, 1877 ; Arthur H. Brewer, 1879 ; Wm. L. 
 Potter, 1880-81.1 
 
 Fkanklin Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M., was organ- 
 ized the year succeeding the organization of Somer- 
 set Lodge. It was constituted under a charter granted 
 by " a Washington Chapter" of New York, March 
 15, A.D. 1796. The following were the petitioners: 
 Joseph Huntington, Jacob Smith, Luther Spalding, 
 Consider Sterry, Elisha Tracy, John Warner. 
 
 The following is a list of M. E. High Priests from 
 1796 to 1882 : 
 
 1796, Elisha Tracy; 1797-1800, John Tyler; 1800- 
 18, Consider Sterry ; 1818-21, James Cushman ; 1821 
 -23, William Belcher ; 1823-25, Thomas T. Wells ; 
 1825-28, Asa Child; 1828, Lucius Tyler; 1829, Asa 
 Child; 1830, Lucius Tyler ; 1831, Alpheus Kingsley ; 
 1832, Asa Child (no record from this time to restora- 
 tion of charter in 1846); 1846, Appleton Meech; 
 1847-56, William H. Copp ; 1856-58, Martin E. Ken- 
 yon ; 1858-62, Benjamin B. Whittemore; 1862, Cal- 
 vin G. Child; 1863-66, William H. Tingley ; 1866-68, 
 William W. Avery; 1808-70, John L. Devotion; 
 1870-72, Jacob B. Mershon ; 1872-74, Increase W. 
 Carpenter ; 1874-76, Lloyd M. Cobb ; 1876; Arthur 
 H. Brewer, present H. P. 
 
 Franklin Council, No. 3, R. and S. M., was first 
 constituted under a warrant of dispensation on Feb. 
 28, A.D. 1818. Jeremy L. Cross, clothed with author- 
 ity for that purpose, appointed Companions James 
 Cushman, G. M., David Tracy, D. G. M., and Elijah 
 Ames, P. C. 
 
 At the organization of the Grand Council of the 
 State of Connecticut, May 18, A.D. 1819, Franklin 
 Council was represented by Companions James Cush- 
 man, Samuel Bailey, and Amos Williams, the first 
 named being elected the first G. P. C. of the work. 
 
 The warrant of dispensation under which the coun- 
 cil was constituted having been surrendered to the 
 Grand Council and its authority recognized, that 
 body at its annual assembly in May, 1821, granted a 
 charter, which remained in force until. the assembly 
 
 1 For history of St. James' Lodge see Snpplemeut. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 321 
 
 of the Grand Council, May 9, 1839, when it was de- 
 clared null and void, the companions having for a 
 number of years neglected the duty of sending repre- 
 sentatives and making returns to the Grand Council, 
 as required by its by-laws. 
 
 At the annual assembly of the Grand Council, May 
 14, 1846, 111. Companion C. Burgess, in behalf of the 
 members of the late Franklin Council, No. 3, asked 
 the Grand Council to restore the charter ; whereupon, 
 on motion of 111. Companion H. Goodwin (2), it 
 was 
 
 " Uemlved, That the charter of Franklin Council, No. 3, bo restored to 
 the companions residing at Norwich and vicinity, and that Conipanion 
 Chauncey Borgess he antliorized to convene the members and lead them 
 to a choice of officers, and malce report to the Grand Council." 
 
 Agreeably to this vote, a meeting was holden May 
 7, 1847, and the council reorganized with Companion 
 Burgess as G. M. 
 
 The degrees of Royal Master and Select Master were 
 the only degrees conferred in the council until Dec. 1, 
 1864, when that of Superior Excellent Master was 
 introduced. 
 
 The original by-laws, adopted Oct. 30, 1820, with 
 various amendments, remained in force until Sept. 
 28, 1866, when a new code was adopted, which, with 
 a few amendments, principally in regard to dues, are 
 those now in use. 
 
 The following is a list of T. 111. Masters from 1818 
 to 1882 : 
 
 1818-19, James Cushman ; 1820-23, William Bel- 
 cher ; 1824-25, Nathan Johnson ; 1826-80, William 
 P. Eaton; 1847^9, Chauncey Burgess; 1850-52, 
 John Nichols; 1853-54, John^H. Cutler; 1855-56, 
 William L. Brewer; 1867-58, William H. Tingley; 
 1859, William H. Copp ; 1860, H. Hobart Roath; 
 1861, John W. Stedman ; 1862-68, H. Hobart Roath ; 
 1869-71, I. W. Carpenter; 1872-73, Costello Lippitt; 
 1874-81, James Kirker. 
 
 COLtTMBiAsr COMMANDEEY, No. 24, K. T. — Co- 
 lumbian Encampment was instituted on the 9th of 
 November, 1853, and the following officers duly in- 
 stalled : William H. Copp, C. ; Appleton Meech, 
 Gen. ; Isaac Williams, Capt.-Gen. ; William L. 
 Brewer, Prel. ; John W. Steadman, S. W. ; John H. 
 Cutler, J. W. ; Calvin G. Rawson, Treas. ; John 
 Backus, Rec. ; John H. Gale, Svv.-Bearer ; William 
 H. Hyde, St. B. ; Isaac H. Roath, W. 
 
 The following Sir Knights have held the office of 
 Eminent Commander since the institution of the 
 commandery : William H. Copp, November, 1853-56 ; 
 William L. Brewer, 1856-57 ; William H. Tingley, 1857 
 -58; William H. Copp, 1858-60; Benjamin B. Whit- 
 temore, 1860-64; Pierre St. M. Andrews, 1864-66; 
 John W. Stedman, 1866-69; Charles W. Carter, 
 1869-71 ; Henry L. Parker, 1871-73 ; Jacob B. Mer- 
 shon, 1873-75 ; Joseph J. Wait, 1875-77 ; Allen Ten- 
 ney, 1877-79; Robert A. France, 1879-81; N. D. 
 Levin, 1881. 
 Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.— The 
 
 following history of the Scottish Rite in Norwich is 
 taken from an excellent address which was delivered 
 by Charles W. Carter 33°, June 24, 1874: "On the 
 28th of September, 1863, in company with eight Sir 
 Knights of Hartford, one of your number' visited 
 Providence, R. I., for the purpose of receiving the 
 degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Bite. 
 Arriving there at high twelve, they were conducted to 
 the City Hotel, and from thence to the Masonic Hall, in 
 What Cheer Building, where they were initiated into 
 the sublime and superior degrees and orders of Inef- 
 fable Masonry, Rev. and 111. Bro. Charles H. Titus 32 =■, 
 presiding in the Lodge of Perfection and Council of 
 Princes of Jerusalem. HI. Bro. N. H. Gould 33°, 
 member of the Supreme Council of Sov. Grand In- 
 spectors-General, and Deputy for the State of Rhode 
 Island, was present and elevated them to the liigh 
 grade of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret 32°. 
 Early the next spring several Sir Knights, members 
 of Columbian Commandery, No. 4, K. T., Norwich, 
 Conn., solicited the aid of a Scottish Rite brother in 
 arranging for them to receive the sublime and superior 
 degrees. A preliminary meeting was held in Bro. W. 
 W. Avery's room at the American House, and it was 
 there agreed- that application for the degrees should 
 be made to Worcester Grand Lodge of Perfection, 
 Worcester, Mass. In due time arrangements were 
 perfected, and on the 14th of April, 1864, the com- 
 pany, consisting of Bros. W. W. Avery, Hiram Cook, 
 H. L. Parker, John G. Brady, John Backus, and 
 George A. Harris, proceeded to Worcester, Mass. 
 Arriving at seven o'clock p.m., they were conducted 
 by Bro. Benjamin Lewis 32 ° to the Masonic Hall, 
 where the degrees from the 4th to the 14th were con- 
 ferred by 111. Bro. Alfred F. Chapman 32 °, T. P. Gr. 
 Master of Boston Gr. Lodge of Perfection. By invi- 
 tation of John W. Dadman 32 °, T. P. Gr. Master of 
 Worcester Gr. Lodge of Perfection, 111. Bro. W. S. 
 Gardner 33 °, Ins.-Gen. and Deputy of the Supreme 
 Council for Massachusetts, then proceeded to advance 
 the Norwich brethren to the high grade of S. P. of 
 the R. S. 32° . No further business appearing, the 
 meeting closed, and the brethren proceeded to the 
 Bay State House, and there petitioned the 111. Deputy 
 for a dispensation to open and hold a Grand Lodge 
 of Perfection in the city of Norwich, Conn., under 
 the title of King Solomon Grand Lodge of Perfection. 
 111. Bro. Gardner, having previous instruction from 
 the Sov. Gr. Commander of the Supreme Council, K. 
 H. Van Rensselaer 33 °, then and there granted said 
 petition, the officers to take rank in the order in which 
 their names appeared upon the dispensation. 
 
 " On their return to Norwich they made application 
 to Somerset Lodge, No. 34, F. and A. M., for permission 
 to hold meetings in their hall (which was at that 
 time located on the fourth floor of the Uncas Hall 
 building, in Water Street). Said petition was granted, 
 
 1 Charles W. Carter (editor). 
 
322 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 and Monday evenings assigned for their use. At the 
 annual session of the Supreme Council 33°, held in 
 the city of Boston, Mass., May 18, 19, 20, and 21, 
 1864, the new Lodge of Perfection was represented 
 in Sov. Gr. Consistory by the first and third officers. 
 Agreeable to request, the newly-acquired territory was 
 annexed to the Masonic district of Ehode Island, and 
 111. Bro. N. H. Gould 33'=, appointed deputy for the 
 united jurisdiction. 
 
 " The first meeting for work was held on the 2(ith of 
 May, 1864, at which time the brethren were honored 
 by the presence of 111. Bros. K. H. Van Eensselaer 
 33 °, Sov. Gr. Commander of the Supreme Council 
 Northern Jurisdiction, U. S. A. ; also, 111. Bros. T. 
 W. Wellington 32 =, of Worcester, Mass. ; M. J. 
 Drummond 32 =, of New York ; Rev. Junius JM. Wiley 
 32 °, of Bridgeport, Conn., and John Shepley 32 ■=, of 
 Providence, R. I. K. H. Van Rensselaer 33 '—', pre- 
 sided and conferred the degrees from the 4th to the 
 14th upon Sir Kts. John W. Stedman, Wm. H. 
 Tingley, and Geo. H. Lovegrove, after which the 
 ceremonies concluded with a banquet. 
 
 "On the following day, May 27th, the members of 
 King Solomon Grand Lodge of Perfection assembled 
 at the Wauregan House, and in room No. 33 made 
 application to the Sov. Cxr. Commander for the re- 
 maining bodies of the rite, and also requested the 
 Grand Commander to elevate to the high grade of 
 S. P. of the R. S. 32'=', III. Bros. John W. Stedman 
 and Wm. H. Tingley, which was accordingly done, 
 and the dispensations granted under the following 
 titles : Van Rensselaer Council of Princes of Jerusa- 
 lem, Norwich Chapter of Rose Croix D-H, and Con- 
 necticut Sov. Consistory of S. P. of the R. S. 32=^. 
 
 "In the hands of these few brethren began the ex- 
 istence of the bodies of the Ancient and Accepted 
 Scottish Rite in Norwich, Conn. As all new enter- 
 prises are more or less surrounded by difficulties which 
 require earnest efforts on the part of the organizers to 
 overcome, so with this. The little band of brothers, 
 in order to succeed, were compelled to contribute 
 largely from their private resources, and to employ 
 every leisure moment in perfecting themselves in the 
 ritual and other duties, the extent of which few 
 can appreciate but those who have been called to 
 perform labor of a like character. At the annual 
 session of the Supreme Council 33'=', held in Boston, 
 May 17, 18, and 19, 1865, the bodies were fully 
 represented in the Sov. Gr. Consistory, and the prog- 
 ress which they had made was complimented by ad- 
 vancing two of their number to honorary membership 
 in the Supreme Council, and upon the resignation of 
 111. Bro.N. H. Gould 33'=, as deputy for Connecticut, 
 an active member was created from the honorary list 
 of this State, and appointed deputy. Thursday, fol- 
 lowing the return of the delegation from the Supreme 
 Council, they were again honored by a visit from the 
 Gr. Commander, K. H. Van Rensselaer 33 =", who wit- 
 nessed an exemplification of the work in Kint' Solo- 
 
 mon Gr. Lodge of Perfection, also Connecticut Sov. 
 Consistory, at which time 111. Bro. Wm. L. Brewer 
 was elevated to the high grade of S. P. of the R. S. 
 32=. 
 
 " Visits of the Grand Commander and other mem- 
 bers of the Supreme Council from time to time en- 
 couraged the brethren in their labors, and established 
 the fact of their success. 
 
 " June 19, 1865, all the bodies of Masonry in Nor- 
 wich removed from their old quarters into larger and 
 more convenient apartments located on the first floor 
 below the old hall. 
 
 " At the meeting of the Supreme Council, held in 
 Boston, Mass., May 16, 17, 18, and 19, 1866, the bodies 
 in Norwich were again fully represented in Sov. Gr. 
 Consistory, and the first report of the new deputy was 
 submitted to that supreme body. 
 
 "In the early part of July, 1866, the brethren were 
 called to mourn the loss of 111. Bro. John Backus 32= . 
 He was one of the original seven who journeyed from 
 home and received the degrees of the Ancient and 
 Accepted Scottish Rite for the purpose of establishing 
 the bodies in Connecticut. He was an efficient ofli- 
 cer, and active in all the orders of Masonry located 
 at Norwich, Conn. He expressed strong attachment 
 for his Scottish Rite brethren, and rejoiced in the wel- 
 fare of the order. His death occurred in this city, 
 Saturday evening, the 7th of July, 1866. The funeral 
 ceremonies took place on the following Tuesday at 
 Trinity Church, of which he was a member, and, in 
 compliance with his last request, the six surviving 
 brethren deposited his remains in the silent tomb. 
 The mystic number was broken, but the memory of 
 the virtues of that departed one remains, and may we 
 ever hold the precepts which governed his life in high 
 and honorable estimation. 
 
 "Monday, the 25th of February, 1867, the 111. 
 Deputy delivered to King Solomon Grand Lodge of 
 Perfection, the Council of Princes, Chapter of Rose 
 Croix, and the Consistory their charters, which had 
 been prepared by the Secretary-General of the H. B. 
 He then proceeded to constitute the bodies and in- 
 stall their officers. The attendance of brethren was 
 large, and the ceremonies closed with a grand reunion 
 banquet. 
 
 "At the annual session of the Supreme Council 
 held in Boston, Mass., May 15, 16, 17, and 18, 1867, 
 a larger number of Norwich brethren were present in 
 the Sov. Gr. Consistory than on previous occasions, 
 among whom were Bros. H. L. Parker 33= , John L. 
 Devotion 32= , John W. Stedman 32= , Jason Beck- 
 with 32=, C. M. Carleton 32=, J. E. Short, Jr. 32=, 
 E. B. Partridge 32=, and Charles W. Carter 33=. 
 As a special compliment to them and reward for the 
 success of the rite in Connecticut, the 111. Deputy was 
 elected and installed Pres. Sov. Grand Commander of 
 the Sov. Grand Consistory for the Northern Masonic 
 Jurisdiction of the United States of America. 
 
 "The first State Council of Deliberation for the 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 323 
 
 Masonic District of Connecticut was held in the city 
 of Norwich, Dec. 17, 1867. There were present from 
 abroad, as delegates, 111. Bros. Joseph K. Wheeler 33=" , 
 Amos Pillsbury 32= , and Ira W. Ford 32=> , of Hart- 
 ford, George W. Bentley 33= , of New London, and 
 Charles Webb 32= , of Bridgeport. Also, by invitar 
 tion, the Sov. Grand Commander of the Supreme 
 Council, Josiah H. Drummond 33=, of Portland, 
 Me., William Barrett 33= , Deputy, Aaron King 33= , 
 and Allen Tenny 32=, of New Hampshire. At 
 seven o'clock p.m. the M. P. Sov. Gr. Commander 
 and visitors were received by Connecticut Sov. Con- 
 sistory with all the honors due their high positions. 
 
 " The 30th degree. Knight of Kadosh, was exem- 
 plified in full, after which the knights and princes 
 proceeded to the Wauregan House and partook of a 
 banquet given in honor of the illustrious visitors. 
 
 " At the annual session of the Supreme Council 
 held in New York, June 2-t, 1868, the 111. Deputy was 
 for the first time unaccompanied by his brethren. At 
 the meeting of the Council of Deliberation held in 
 the city of Hartford, Dec. 31, 1868, the Norwich 
 bodies were represented by 111. Bros. H. L. Parker 
 33= , George A. Harris 32= , Luke Hillard 32= , and 
 the 111. Deputy. By invitation of the oflicers and 
 members of Charter Oak Grand Lodge of Perfection, 
 the Norwich brethren conferred the 14th degree upon 
 twelve candidates, after which they attended a ban- 
 quet provided by the Hartford brethren in honor of 
 the occasion. 
 
 " At the meeting of the Supreme Council held in 
 Boston, Mass., June 16, 17, 18, and 19, 1869, the 
 bodies were represented by 111. Bro. H. L. Parker 
 33= , and the 111. Deputy. At the Council of Delib- 
 eration held in the city of Hartford, Feb. 10, 1870, 
 the bodies were represented by 111. Bros. J. B. Mer- 
 shon 32= , and Charles W. Carter 33= . In the even- 
 ing they assisted in conferring the 14th degree upon 
 candidates in Charter Oak Grand Lodge of Perfection. 
 
 "At the annual session of the Supreme Council 
 held in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, June 15, 16, 17, 
 and 18, 1870, the deputy was present and re-elected 
 for the ensuing term. 
 
 " The bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish 
 Eite in this city were prompt in responding to the 
 call, made by the M. P. Sov. Gr. Commander, asking 
 aid for the unfortunate brethren of Chicago, 111., who 
 were made homeless and penniless by the great fire of 
 Oct. 9, 1871. 
 
 "Norwich Chapter of Rose Croix, D. H., was called 
 to part with the living presence of their M. W. and 
 P. Master, Dec. 10, 1871. From the organization of 
 the chapter to the day of his death, 111. Bro. William 
 H. Tingley 32= , held the highest position in that 
 body. His natural attainments, learning, kindness of 
 heart, and high social position contributed to make 
 him a prominent member of the orders in Norwich. 
 
 "At the State Council of Deliberation held in this 
 city, June 24, 1872, the bodies were fully represented. 
 
 In the evening there was a meeting of King Solomon 
 Grand Lodge of Perfection for work in the 14th de- 
 gree. Ceremonies closed with the feast of friendship, 
 and all separated in peace, love, and unity. 
 
 " At the annual session of the Supreme Council 
 held in the city of New York, Sept. 17, 18, 19, and 
 20, 1872, full returns were made, showing the unex- 
 ampled prosperity of the bodies of the rite in Nor- 
 wich, Conn. 
 
 " Applications have been received and the sublime 
 degrees conferred upon distinguished Masons at home 
 and from afar. In the month of March, 1873, the 
 propositions of John H. Isaacson, Grand Secretary of 
 the Grand Lodge of Quebec, and E. M. Copeland, 
 Eminent Commander of Richard Coeur de Leon En- 
 campment, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, 
 were received. They were accepted, and on the 22d 
 of April, 1873, received in King Solomon Grand 
 Lodge of Perfection the degrees from 4th to 14th, 
 inclusive. On the 23d they continued their upward 
 course through the council, chapter, and consistory, 
 and at ten o'clock p.m. were received at the grand 
 reunion banquet in Breed Hall as sublime Princes of 
 the Eoyal Secret 32= . E. E. Sir Knight Daniel Cal- 
 kins 32= , Grand Commander of the Grand Com- 
 mandery of Connecticut, and many other distin- 
 guished Masons were present and participated in the 
 ceremonies and festivities of the occasion. 
 
 " At the annual session of the Supreme Council 
 held in the city of Chicago, 111., the 11th, 12th, 13th, 
 and 14th of November, 1873, your deputy was again 
 re-elected for the ensuing term. 
 
 " At a special meeting of the bodies held in Ma- 
 sonic Hall, Norwich, March 2, 1874, the subject of 
 leasing and furnishing new apartments for the exclu- 
 sive use of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Eite 
 was considered, and final action taken by appointing 
 the first three oflicers of each body as a joint com- 
 mittee, with full powers to complete said object. 
 
 " March 9, 1874, Charles E. Billings, first officer 
 elect of Charter Oak Grand Lodge of Perfection, and 
 six other members from Hartford received in the 
 bodies the rite in this jurisdiction, the sublime and 
 superior degrees from 14th to 32d, inclusive. The 
 consistory closed with a grand reunion banquet. Jo- 
 seph K. Wheeler 33= , Grand Secretary of the Grand 
 Lodge of Connecticut, and other brethren high in 
 Masonic ofiice were present in honor of the occasion. 
 
 "At the meeting of the Council of Deliberation 
 held in the city of New Haven, April 14, 1874, the 
 members of King Solomon Grand Lodge of Perfec- 
 tion received an invitation to visit E. G. Storer Grand 
 Lodge of Perfection, U. D., and witness an exempli- 
 fication of the 4th and 14th degrees. The 111. Dep- 
 uty and many others were in attendance. At the 
 close of the evening they were conducted by the 
 New Haven brethren to the banquet-hall, and there 
 entertained in the most agreeable manner. 
 
 " We have now arrived to the present time. By it 
 
324 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 we are reminded that a decade has passed with its 
 joys and sorrows since the bodies of the Ancient and 
 Accepted Scottish Eite were planted in this city. A 
 new era has begun. The accumulations of ten years 
 have been expended to enrich and adorn this new and 
 elegant hall, which is soon to be dedicated as the 
 home of Ineffable Masonry in Eastern Connecticut. 
 It is an occasion for special rejoicing, inasmuch as 
 these apartments are the only ones fitted in accord- 
 ance with history and devoted to the exclusive use of 
 this rite in all New England. I congratulate the 
 brethren upon the success which has crowned their 
 efforts, and especially the few brethren who founded 
 the order and labored zealously to secure for it life 
 and dignity. How well they succeeded you all know, 
 and we doubt not but that their fondest hopes have 
 been more than realized. 
 
 " In the midst of prosperity let us not forget the 
 duties we owe to the order, to society, and to those 
 who are to follow after us. Let us practice virtue, 
 shun vice, and labor to correct the evil fashions of 
 these days, when men in high stations err without a 
 blush, and life is sacrificed for worldly gain ; when 
 justice yields to bribery, and extravagance knows no 
 bounds. In the midst of this darkness may the light 
 of Masonry shine forth as a brilliant defender of that 
 peace and happiness which governs the lives of all 
 good men, and may the time be not far distant when 
 we may proclaim, in the beautiful language of our 
 ritual, — 
 
 " ' Glory to God, who. reigns above, 
 And to our fellow-creatures love !' " 
 
 King Solomon Geand Lodge of Pekfection 
 was chartered April 14, 1864. The following were 
 its first officers and charter members : Charles W. 
 Carter, T.-.P.-.G.-.M.-. ; William W. Avery, H.'.T.-. 
 D.-.G.-.M.-.; Henry L. Parker, Ven.-.Sen.-.G.'.W.-. ; 
 John G. Brady, Ven.-.Jun.-.G.'.W.". ; John Backus, 
 G.'.Treas.".; Hiram Cook, G.'.Sec.'. and K.'. of S.'. ; 
 George A. Harris, G.-.M.-. of C.-. 
 
 Van Eensselaer Council of Princes of Je- 
 rusalem was chartered May 28, 1864. The first 
 officers and charter members were John W. Stedman, 
 M.-.E.-.S.-.P.-.G.-.M.-. ; Henry L. Parker, T.-.G.-.H.-. 
 P.-.D.-. G.-.M.-. ; George A. Harris, M.-.E.-.S.-.G.-.W.-. ; 
 Charles W. Carter, M.-.E.'.J.-.G.-.W.-. ; John Backus, 
 V.-.G.-.Treas.-. ; John G. Brady, V.-.K.-. of S.-. and 
 0.-.; William H.Tingley,V.-.G.-.M.-. of C.-.; Hiram 
 Cook, V.-.G.-.M.-. of E.-. ; William W. Avery, Grand 
 Tyler. 
 
 Norwich Chapter of Rose Croix, D-H, was 
 chartered May 28, 1864. The first officers and char- 
 ter members were William H. Tingley, M.-.W.-. and 
 P.-.M.-. ; John G. Brady, M.-.E.-. and P.-.K.-.S.-.W.-.; 
 John Backus, M.-.E.-. and P.-.K.-.J.-.W.-. ; Hiram 
 Cook, R.-. and P.-.K.-.T.-. ; George A. Harris, E.-. 
 and P.-.K.-.S.-. ; William W. Avery, R.-. and P.-.K.-. 
 M.-. of C.-. ; Henry L. Parker, R.-, and P.-.K.-.C.'. of 
 G.-. ; Charles W. Carter, John W. Stedman. 
 
 Connecticut Sovereign Consistory op S.-.P.-. 
 of the Eoyal Secret 32"^ was chartered May 28, 
 1864. The first officers and charter members were 
 Charles W. Carter, 111. Com.-in-Chief; William W. 
 Avery, 111. 1st Lieut. Com.-in-Chief; Hiram Cook, 
 111. 2d Lieut. Com.-in-Chief; William H. Tingley, 
 Val.-. G.-.M.-. of S.-.; John Backus, Val.-.G.-.Treas.-. ; 
 Henry L. Parker, Val. -.G.-. Sec.-., K.-. of S.-, ; John 
 W. Stedman, Val.-.G.-.M.-. of C.-. ; John G. Brady, 
 Val.-.G.-.E.-. and A.-. ; George A. Harris, Val.-.G.-.C.-. 
 of G.-. 
 
 There are also two colored lodges, — Eureka Lodge, 
 No. 2, F. and A. M., Alexander Brent, W. M., and 
 Fairmount Chapter, No. 18, 0. E. S. 
 
 Franklin Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M., was organ- 
 ized the year succeeding the organization of Somerset 
 Lodge. It was constituted under a charter granted by 
 " a Washington Chapter" of New York, March 15, 
 A.D. 1796. The following were the petitioners: Jo- 
 seph Huntington, Jacob Smith, Luther Spalding, 
 Consider Sterry, Elisha Tracy, John Warner. The 
 following is a list of M. E. High Priests from 1796 to 
 1882: 1796, Elisha Tracy; 1797-1800, John Tyler; 
 1800-18, Consider Sterry; 1818-21, James Cushman; 
 1821-23, William Belcher; 1823-25, Thomas T. Wells ; 
 1825-28, Asa Child; 1828, Lucius Tyler; 1829, Asa 
 Child; 1830, Lucius Tyler; 1831, Alpheus Kingsley; 
 1832, Asa Child. No record from this time to restora- 
 tion of charter in 1846. 1846, Appleton Meech; 
 1847-56, William H. Copp ; 1856-58, Martin R. Ken- 
 yon ; 1858-62, Benjamin B. Whittemore; 1862, Cal- 
 vin G. Child ; 1863-66, William H. Tingley ; 1866-68, 
 William W. Avery; 1868-70, John L. Devotion; 
 1870-72, Jacob B. Mershon ; 1872-74, Increase W. 
 Carpenter; 187^76, Lloyd M. Cobb ; 1876-78, Arthur 
 H. Brewer ; 1878-79, John Laighton ; 1879-80, D. D. 
 Lyman ; 1881, Gilbert L. Hewitt. 
 
 Miantonomoh. — The spot where this chieftain was 
 slain consists of a block or cube of granite, five feet 
 square at the base, placed on a pedestal that raises the 
 whole eight feet above the surface, and bearing the 
 simple inscription, "Miantonomoh, 1643." This is the 
 sachem's monument. The place where it stands has 
 long been known as Sachem's Plain, or Sachem's 
 Point. A small stream which here flows into the She- 
 tudtet is Sachem's Brook, and a living spring near by 
 is Sachem's Spring. In fact, the whole neighborhood 
 is overshadowed and engraven with the name and 
 fame of the great Narragansett chief. 
 
 This granite block was dedicated in the presence of 
 a concourse of people, young and old, from the neigh- 
 borhood, the ceremony being connected with a festival 
 of children from the village of Greeneville. It was 
 consecrated by prayer and libations of pure water 
 from the Sachem's Spring, where doubtless he had 
 slaked his thirst and cooled his heated brow in his 
 marches through the wilderness. This monument 
 was erected July 4, 1841. 
 
 New London County Ag^ricultural Society was 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 325 
 
 formed in the year 1818, which continued in operation 
 five or six years, holding its annual fair alternately at 
 Norwich and New London. Oct. 30, 1822, the fair 
 was held at Norwich, on the town green. A book 
 auction was connected with it, and an address by Mr. 
 McCurdy, of Lyme. This association declined, and 
 after a few years became extinct. 
 
 A new county society was organized April 12, 1854, 
 in the town hall at Norwich. Eev. AVilliam Clift, of 
 Stonington, was chosen president and Dr. D. F. Gul- 
 liver, corresponding and recording secretary. The 
 first fair was held at Norwich in September, 1855, at 
 which time M. Paulin, the feronaut, enlivened the 
 show with a balloon ascension, remaining an hour in 
 the air, and descending at South Kingston, E. I. 
 
 This society still continues in operation, and holds 
 its annual fairs at Norwich. 
 
 The Norwicli City Gas Company was organized 
 Sept. 9, 1854. The first superintendent was Erederick 
 W. Treadway. 
 
 The present officers are as follows : Franklin 
 Nicholas, president; C. C. Johnson, secretary and 
 treasurer; O. Gillmor, superintendent. 
 
 Present board of directors, Franklin Nichols, John 
 F. Slater, C. C. Johnson, Frank Johnson, E. N. 
 Gibbs. 
 
 Yantic Cemetery. — This rural burying-place was 
 consecrated July 12, 1844, all denominations of Chris- 
 tians in the city uniting in the services. The address 
 was delivered by Dr. Bond, of the Second Congrega- 
 tional Church, and the consecrating prayer made by 
 Mr. Paddock, the Episcopal rector. Two original 
 hymns were sung, composed by Mr. Charles Thurber. 
 
 This cemetery is the property of the city, and has 
 been much enlarged since the first purchase. It con- 
 tains many beautiful and interesting monuments, and 
 has recently acquired a new and permanent interest 
 by gathering within its bounds the hallowed remains 
 of many of the victims of the late war. Several brave 
 soldiers who fell upon distant battle-fields and others 
 who perished in dreary prisons have been brought 
 home, and now rest in peace beneath these quiet shades. 
 
 Manufactures. — From 1790, when Dr. Joshua 
 Lathrop established a cotton-factory in the town plot 
 to the present time, Norwich has been the resort of 
 important manufacturing interests. It is impracti- 
 cable to follow the history of the various establish- 
 ments which have from time to time sprang into 
 existence, but a brief notice of the leading manufac- 
 tures of the present time is subjoined, illustrative of 
 the present importance of Norwich as a manufactur- 
 ing centre. 
 
 The following are stock companies, organized under 
 the general joint-stock laws of the State j 
 
 Bacon Arms Company ; capital stock, .$40,000. Jas. 
 S. Carew,' president ; A. E. Cobb, secretary, treasurer, 
 and general agent. 
 
 1 DeceaBed. 
 
 C. B. Rogers & Co., machinists; capital stock, 
 $200,000. Lyman Gould, president; D. H. Rogers, 
 secretary ; R. M. Ladd, treasurer. 
 
 Chelsea Paper Manufacturing Company ; capital 
 stock, $400,000. J. H. Hall, president; E. L. Camp- 
 bell, treasurer; Eobert A. France, secretary. 
 
 Clinton Mills Company, woolen goods ; capital 
 stock, $200,000. J. D. Sturtevant, president ; A. P. 
 Sturtevant, agent ; Francis Cabot, secretary and 
 treasurer. 
 
 Falls Company, cotton goods ; capital stock, 
 $500,000. John Jeffries, Jr., president; J. Lloyd 
 Greene, secretary; Wm. G. Ely, treasurer; E. H. 
 Plummer, superintendent and agent. 
 
 Hood Firearms Company, established 1874; capital 
 stock, 825,000. E. N. Gibbs, president ; C. A. Con- 
 verse, treasurer and general agent ; E. A. Converse, 
 secretary ; H. C. Webb, mechanic superintendent. 
 
 Hopkins & Allen Manufacturing Company, fire- 
 arms ; capital stock, $125,000. H. A. Briggs, presi- 
 dent ; C. W. Hopkins, secretary, treasurer, and 
 general agent. 
 
 Norwich Bleaching and Calendering Company; 
 capital stock, $200,000. Moses Pierce, president and 
 treasurer; W. P. Potter, secretary. 
 
 Norwich Lock Manufacturing Company ; capital 
 stock, 875,000. Sidney Turner, president; Charles 
 H. Bee.be, secretary and treasurer; H. P. Appleton, 
 superintendent. 
 
 Norwich Pistol Company, incorporated 1875 ; capital 
 stock, $26,000. C. W. Gale, president and treasurer ; 
 William H. Bliss, superintendent and secretary. 
 
 Norwich Plate Company ; capital stock, $22,000. 
 F. W. Hood, president; F. L. Osgood, secretary; 
 Wm. Eoath, treasurer. 
 
 Norwich Water-Power Company; capital stock, 
 $80,000. Hiram Cook, president; H. L. Parker, 
 secretary and treasurer. 
 
 Norwich Woolen Company ; capital stock, 8100,000. 
 J. D. Sturtevant, president ; Francis Cabot, secretary; 
 A. P. Sturtevant, treasurer and agent. 
 
 Occum Company ; capital stock, $100,000. L. B. 
 Almy, M.D., president ; L. W. Carroll, secretary and 
 treasurer. 
 
 Ponemah Mills Company ; capital stock, $1,500,000. 
 John F. Slater, president ; Edward P. Taft, secretary, 
 treasurer, and general agent ; James S. Atwood, agent; 
 Wm. C. Tucker, superintendent. 
 
 Eichmond Stove Company; capital stock, $100,000. 
 John Mitchell, president; A. J. Hammett, secretary 
 and treasurer ; Werter C. Higgins, agent. 
 
 Shetucket Company, cotton goods; capital stock, 
 $500,000. J. B. Putnam, president ; Wm. P. Greene, 
 Jr., secretary; J. Lloyd Greene, treasurer; R. H. 
 Plummer, superintendent and agent. 
 
 Sibley Machine Company ; capital stock, $12,000. 
 Charles P. Cogswell, president; J. Hunt Smith, sec- 
 retary and treasurer ; Eufus Sibley, agent. 
 
 Thames Iron- Works ; capital stock, $25,000. John 
 
326 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Mitchell, president ; James Greenwood, secretary and 
 treasurer. 
 
 The Allen Spool and Printing Company ; capital 
 stock, $15,000. Edwin Allen, president; J. Henry 
 Morrison, secretary and treasurer. 
 
 The Page Steam-Heater Company; capital stock, 
 $9000. Wm. H. Page, president; Wm. C. Mowry, 
 secretary and treasurer. 
 
 The William H. Page Wood-Type Company ; cap- 
 ital stock, $10,000. G. C. Setchell, president; Wm. 
 H. Page, treasurer ; J. D. Mowry, secretary. 
 
 Yantic Woolen Company; capital stock, $75,000. 
 E. Winslow Williams, president, treasurer, and gen- 
 eral manager; Charles A. Eallion, secretary. 
 
 J. H. Cranston, manufacturer of printing-presses. 
 
 Belts — Norwich Belt Manufacturing Company. 
 
 Brooms — Ezra Bill, Owen Stead. 
 
 Candles — William A. Bedent, William S. Hemp- 
 stead. 
 
 Carpet Yarn — William A. Cook. 
 
 Drain Pj>e— William D. True, John W. L. Coit. 
 
 Envelope Machines — Lester & Wasley. 
 
 Files — Chelsea File- Works. 
 
 Lanterns — Barrows & Grady, Palmer & Rogers. 
 
 Machinerij — J. E. Barber & Co., Sibley Machine 
 Company. 
 
 Morocco— 8. B. Case, Wm. T. Case. 
 
 Paper Boxes — Heirs of George Bingham. 
 
 Picture Cords — Ossawan Mills Company. 
 
 Soap — Norwich Soap Company (Gallup & Hewitt). 
 
 Steam-Heaters — The Page Steam-Heater Company. 
 
 Stockinet — Spaulding & Allen. 
 
 Stoneware — George L. Eisley. 
 
 Water Wheels—J. P. Collins & Co. 
 
 Wood 75//>e— William H. Page Wood Type Manu- 
 facturing Company. 
 
 Yantic. — The village of Yantic is a manufacturing 
 centre pleasantly located in the western part of the 
 town, near the towns of Franklin and Bozrah. Here 
 are located the immense Yantic Woolen-Mills, owned 
 by E. Winslow Williams, Esq., son of the late Capt. 
 Erastus Williams. It is purely a manufacturing vil- 
 lage. It has one house of worship,— Grace Church 
 (Episcopal). 
 
 Greeneville. — The present flourishing village of 
 Greeneville was founded by the enterprise of William 
 C. Gilman and William P. Greene in 1829. It rapidly 
 grew into importance as a manufacturing village, and 
 is now one of the most prosperous in New England. 
 
 Among the present manufacturing establishments 
 are the following: Shetucket Company Cotton-Mill, 
 J. Lloyd Greene, treasurer; Chelsea Paper-Mill, 
 Campbell & Smith, owners, E. H. France, secretary ; 
 Norwich Bleaching and Calendering Company, Moses 
 Price, president, W. P. Potter, superintendent; A. H. 
 Hubbard & Co., Paper-Mill, L. D. Armstrong, super- 
 intendent; H. Houston's Dye- Works, James Hous- 
 ton, proprietor; Durfey's Grain-Mill, F. B. Durfey, 
 proprietor; Norwich Water-Power Company, Hiram 
 
 Cook, president, H. L. Parker, treasurer, H. M. Dur- 
 fey, superintendent. 
 
 Occum and Taftville are manufacturing villages 
 located in the northeastern part of the town. At the 
 former are located the Occum Woolen-Mills, and at 
 the latter the Ponemah Mills. The Ponemah Cotton- 
 Mills are the model mills of New England. Capital 
 $1,500,000. John F. Slater, of Norwich, is president. 
 The Falls and Thamesville are also manufacturing 
 centres. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXVIL 
 
 NORWICH— (Continued.) 
 
 BOCUMENTAEY— CIVIL— MILITAEY. 
 
 Votes of 1GC9 — A Blacksniith — Churcli-Membors only to Vote— Admia- 
 sion of Inhabitants — List of Town Debts, 1718 — Justice's Coui-ts— Sell- 
 ing Liquor to Indians — Stealing " Watei'-Miiions" — Profane Sweariag 
 —Rules and Regulations- Town Clerks from 1678 to 1882— City Clerks 
 from 1826 to 1S82— Slayors of the City from 17S4 to 1882- Prcsiiieutial 
 Electore — Representatives from 1G62 to 1882 — Military Record, 
 
 Documentary History. 
 
 Grants. 
 
 1GG9. *' Granted to one of Goodman Trade's sonnes 100 akei-s of land 
 in yo division of y out lands. 
 
 "Granted to Sergent Waterman liberty to lay down twenty acres of 
 upland over Sliowtucket river, and take it up again on the same side of 
 the river, against Potapaug hills, adjoining to some other lands he is to 
 take up, and the town leaves it to the measurers to judge respecting any 
 meadow that may fall within the compass of it, whether it may be rea- 
 sonable to allow it to him or not." 
 
 "Granted to Mr. Brewster and John Glover two bits of land on the 
 east side of Sliowtucket river, near their own land, they two with the 
 help of Goodman Elderkin to agree peaceably about the division of it 
 between them, and in case they can't well agree about the division thea 
 it falls to the town again." 
 
 "Granted to Ch'' Huntington, Seu^., an addition to his land at Beaver 
 Brook to the quantity of seven or eight acres to bring his lot to the place 
 where the great brook turns with an elbow." 
 
 In 1682. " It is voted yt there shall be a book procured at town charge 
 for the recording of lands, and allso a boat cumpas and y* there shall be 
 allowed to any of the iubabitants of this towne to make a new survey of 
 their land, provided they take their neihors with y™ whose land lyoth 
 adjoining to them." 
 
 Dec. 31, 16G9. "Ordered by the town concerning the outlands that 
 there shall be only one allotment for the said lands, and every man shall 
 take bis allotment in tlio place where God by his Providence shall cast 
 it, Mr. Fitch only accepted." 
 
 Nov. 6, 1670. " Tlie towno have given liberty, promising defence, to any 
 that shall demolish whatsoever building or fencing is done upon said 
 lands liy Samuel Stair." 
 
 In 1671, Hugh Amos was engaged to keep the ferry, 
 and the land made over to him. 
 
 Nov. IS, 1G70. " The feriy place over the Showtucket shall be at the 
 upper end of the Island against the laud of Levt. Leffiingwell.— The ad- 
 joining lands granted to Hugh Amos for keeping the ferry are to e.\tend 
 as far as his neighbor Rockwell's land. — None to set up a ferry between 
 this place and the mouth of the river." 
 
 A Blacksmith. 
 
 March 11, 1099. "Granted to Joseph Backus so much land upon the 
 hill by Thomas Post's house as may be needful for him to set a shop and 
 coal-house upon, provided he improves it for the above use." 
 
 July 7, 1704. " The town being sensible of their need of another 
 blacksmith desire that the son of Capt. Edmonds, of Providence, may bo 
 invited to settle in the town, engaging that co.als aud a place to work ia 
 shall be provided by the town." 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 327 
 
 This application was not successful. Jonathan 
 Pierce was subsequently engaged as a smith, and land 
 given him for his encouragement both in 1705 and 
 1712. 
 
 In 1680 a grant of two hundred acres of land was 
 tendered to Capt. Fitch for his encouragement in set- 
 ting up a saw -mill. This was reiterated in 1689, with 
 the condition that if the mill was not forthcoming 
 within two years the privilege should be forfeited. 
 In 1691 no mill had been built, and the town pro- 
 posed to erect one on its own account. This was not 
 done, and it does not appear that any saw-mill was 
 set in operation within the town limits until about 
 1700. 
 
 " In 1690 a committee was appointed to fix upon a 
 suitable position for a fulling-mill. 
 
 " In 1704, Eleazer Burnham applied for 'liberty to 
 set up a fulling-mill upon the stream that runs into 
 Shetucket Eiver by the Chemical Spring.' Thirty 
 acres of land were granted to encourage the under- 
 taking, and more promised if the enterprise should 
 prove successful. 
 
 "The project, however, failed. Competent work- 
 men in this trade were then scarce in the country. 
 Before the year 1710 there was but one clothier in the 
 whole colony of Connecticut." 
 
 "When Providence shall so order (says the act) that there are plenty 
 of acorns, walnuts, or the like in the woods, then it may be considered 
 and determined what liberty to grant in this respect that the swine may 
 have the benefit and protit of it." 
 
 "In the time of acorns we judge it may be profitable to suffer swine 
 two months or thereabouts to go iu the woods witiiout rings." 
 
 "Yokes for swine were to be two feet in length, 
 and six inches above the neck. 
 
 "The town street was originally laid out four rods 
 wide in the narrowest part. Most of the branches or 
 side roads leading into the woods were kept as pentr 
 ways, closed with gates or bars. Mill Lane was the 
 regular avenue to the old Landing-Place. There 
 was no direct path to that rock-incumbered, forest- 
 crowned point between the rivers where now an im- 
 posing city sits upon the hill, with her shining gar- 
 ments trailing far around her. The road thither from 
 Mill Lane and No-man's Acre was very circuitous, 
 following the turns of the river and the declivities of 
 the hills. The whole point was considered scarcely 
 worth a pine-tree shilling. For the first fifty years 
 almost the sole use made of that quarter of the town 
 was for a sheep-walk, and for that purpose it was kept 
 within fence and gate." 
 
 1G70. " It is ordered if any person shall pass with horse or cattle over 
 the general fence and so come through the Little Plain, to or from the 
 town, he shall pay a fine of 5 shillings." 
 
 March 2, 1085-86. "Voted, that the town will cut bushes two days 
 this ensueing year; one day on 'ye hill, the other in ye town, and that 
 the townsmen procure hayseed at the town charge." 
 
 " No shop-keeper or merchant appears among the 
 early inhabitants. Incidental allusions are found to 
 temporary traders, but for a considerable p.eriod most 
 of the commodities required for comfortable house- 
 
 keeping, not produced among themselves, were prob- 
 ably procured at New London. Alexander Pygan, 
 an early merchant of that place, but originally from 
 Saybrook, and doubtless well acquainted with Nor- 
 wich people, had many customers among them, re- 
 ceiving in return for his merchandise the rich pro- 
 duce of the field, the stall, and the dairy. A note- 
 book of Mr. Pygan has been preserved, which con- 
 tains the names of thirty-two persons in 'Norwich 
 and Windham' with whom he had accounts before 
 1700. 
 
 " Inn-keepers were considered as town officers. The 
 appointment was one of honor and respectability, and 
 to obtain a license to keep a house of entertainment a 
 man must be of good report and possessed of a com- 
 fortable estate. The first of whom we have any notice 
 was Thomas Waterman. 
 
 "Dec. 11,1070. Agreed and voted by y« town y' Sergent Thomas 
 Waterman is desired to keepelhe ordynary. And for his encouragement 
 ho is granted four ackers of paster land where he can convenyently find 
 it ny about the valley going from his house into the woods." 
 
 "To him succeeded, about 1690, Deacon Simon 
 Huntington. Under date of Dec. 18, 1694, is the 
 following appointment : 
 
 "The towne makes choise of calib abell to keep ordinari or a house of 
 entertayuement for this yeare or till another be chosen." 
 
 "In 1700 liberty was given to Thomas LefRngwell 
 to keep a house of entertainment. This is supposed 
 to have been the commencement of the famous Lef- 
 fingwell tavern, at' the east corner of the town plot, 
 which was continued for more than a hundred years. 
 
 "In 1706, Simon Huntington, Jr., was licensed; in 
 1709, Joseph Eeynolds." 
 
 Dec. 1, 1713. " Sargent William Hide is chosen Tavernor." 
 
 " These were in the town plot. 
 
 "The frequency of taverns in the early days of the 
 country, when the population was slender and travel- 
 ers were few, excites some surprise. But our English 
 ancestors had a prescriptive love for a common gath- 
 ering-place,— not a bar-room, nor a caravansery, nor 
 even a club, but a fireside, a porch, or a bench under 
 the trees, where current events and private opinions 
 might be circulated, and a kind of 'portico parlia- 
 ment' held, with an accompaniment of a mug of flip 
 or a drawing of cider. They have sent down to us a 
 maxim which their own practice contradicted : 
 
 " Taverns are not for town-dwellers." 
 Cinincii-MEMBEiiS only to Vote. 
 Dec. 11, 1G70. Agreed and voted at a town meeting,— 
 " That the power and privilege of voting in town meetings in ordering 
 any town affairs shall only belong to those who are the purchasers of the 
 said plantation and consoquonlly to their lawful heirs and not to any 
 others who have been or shall bo admitted to bo inhabitants upon other 
 considerations. Only it is granted to those who are oi- shall be church 
 members, in full communion, equal privileges with us in the above- 
 mentioned town concerns." 
 
 WE.tBS. 
 
 March 7, 1680. " Shetucket river, from the mouth to the crotch of 
 
 Qulnncbaugh, is granted to Serg' Kichi Bushnell and three others with 
 
 liberty to increase the number to twelve or iwenio, for the purpose of 
 
 making wears and taking fish for the term of seven years, they attend. 
 
328 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEAV LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ing to those tilings that aro customary in otlier places in New England 
 in respect to opening the weares." 
 
 Admission of Ixiiabitaxts. 
 
 "At atowne meeting, January 24, 1078, the Towne having seryously 
 consiaered the desires of Frederick Ellis, lether-drosser, respecting his 
 admission into the towne to set up and make improvement of his trade, 
 — we hearing some things y* doe apeare much discouraging and allso bis 
 comeing to us not being so orderly haveing no testymony from tlie place 
 from whence ho came of his comely behaviour among them, but reports 
 Jiassing rather to the contrary, yet notwithstanding he being providen- 
 tially amongst iis we are willing to take a tryall of liim for one yeare 
 provided y' if he carryeth not comely and comfortably amongst us y' he 
 shall now^ at his entrance give security under his hand y* upon a warn- 
 ing given him by the Select Men of the town he shall without delayes 
 remove his dwelling from us." 
 
 "1G92. Whereas Kicliard Elsingham and Ephraim Philips have 
 petitioned this town that they may live here one year, the town do agree 
 that they may d\v(dl here the year ensuing, provided that they then 
 provide for themselves elsewhere." 
 
 "Sheep- Walks and a Shepherd. 
 
 " Several sheep-walks were laid out in different 
 parts of the town to accommodate the several dis- 
 tricts. One of these was at Wequonuck Plains, and 
 another, agreed upon in 1673, lay ' between the Great 
 River and the Great Plain, reaching south to Trading 
 Cove.' 
 
 " Two others were reserved expressly for the benefit 
 of sheep-owners living in the town plot, and not for 
 farmers, and were called the East and West Sheep- 
 walks. These remained long intact. The eastern 
 reservation, of nine hundred acres, covered the point 
 between the rivers, now the central part of Norwich 
 City. No special appointment of a shepherd to preside 
 over this walk has been found. The West Sheep-walk, 
 of seven hundred acres, extended over West Wawecos 
 Hill, and Richard Pasmoth was appointed the shep- 
 herd, Feb. 12, 1682. He was to have a salary of forty 
 shillings per annum and twelve acres of land on the 
 hill for a house-lot, and the sheep-owners were to take 
 their turns with him in guarding and folding the flock 
 on the Lord's days. 
 
 " Sheep-raisiug, however, was never carried to its 
 expected extent in Norwich, and in 1726 the two res- 
 ervations were relinquished and divided as commons 
 among the inhabitants, according to the following 
 general principles : 
 
 " No one to have less than a fifty-pound share. 
 
 " First-comers who had fallen in estate to be rated 
 as at first. 
 
 " All other shares to be laid out according to estates 
 in the list." 
 
 LIST OF TOWN DEBTS, Dec. 30, 1718. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 To .John Tracy for killing 4 snakes 8 
 
 Th. Lefliiigwell Jr. do 10 
 
 Elisha Waterman 07 birds 2 aV 
 
 John Rood 24 do "„''', o 1 o 
 
 Jabez Hide 5 snakes !...'."!!!..!!! 10 
 
 Th. Bingham 4 snakes and drumming.. ..111! "" 1 8 
 Th Lefllngwell Jr. one day to moot New London 
 
 Committee , 5 
 
 Joseph Reynolds for a plank ...!!.". !.!...."7.!i 10 
 
 Solomon Tracy one day on Committee....!...!.!!!.!!.. 6 
 
 Charges about Preston Line ' 13 10 
 
 Several persons for perambulating at 3s.' per ilay each. 
 
 In 1720, John and Simon Tracy were appointed by 
 the town " to make search for the Towne Armes, with 
 
 their magazeans of amunition and other accotrements 
 for war, injoyned by law," who reported as follows: 
 
 ".\t Lieut. Tracy's two Guns and two pair of Snoe shoes. 
 
 " At Samuel Ealos one gun and at Lieut. Bnshnells one Bianil of 
 Ponder and one gun and 77 pound of Led. 
 
 ".\t Lieut. Backuses 344 pound of bullits. 
 
 " At Ens. Leffingwells one Barril of Ponder. 
 
 *'At Deacon Simon Huntingtons one half Barril of Pouder and 31 
 pound of bullets and 400 tlinls. 
 
 "At Simon Ti acys one pair of Snoe slioes, and 4 pair of maugosuns 
 
 we were also informed y t there w.as formei ly Len t to Mr. John LeffiD". 
 well pr Lieut. Bushnell 71 pound of Led which ad Leffing^vell was 
 obliged to pay in Bullits ye same quantity. 
 
 " All ye Led and Bullits 523 pound." 
 
 The Town Poor. 
 Feb. 9, 1GS5-8G. " The Corte having ordered Katherine Duneffln to be 
 accounted the poore of Norwich and by them to be provided for, orders- 
 two shillings per weeke to be payde by the Town of Norwich for yo 
 bringing up the child for 2 years from this date." 
 
 Expenses incurred for the poor rarely appear in the 
 early accounts of the town, but occasionally in the 
 course of years a few items are found, such as "a pair 
 of shoes for Alice Cook, 5s.," "a coat and leather 
 breeches for old Russell, 12s.," "a sheet to bury John 
 Nickols in, 10s.," " 13 watches with Gaylor at 2s. per 
 night, £1 6s." 
 
 Deo. 19, 1727. " To Thomas Blythe for digging Gaylor's Grave, 6«." 
 Dec. 17, 172S. " To Jacob Hyde for digging Micah Rood's grave, 48." 
 
 In 1723 great amazement seems to have been ex- 
 cited in the townsmen by what they designate " the 
 extraordinary charge of Henry Wallbridge Jr. for en- 
 tertayneing Christian Challenge in her late sickness 
 and distraction at his house." Yet the whole charge 
 for eight weeks' "nursing, diet, and strengthening 
 salve," going for doctors, four days' waiting and tend- 
 ing, and finally conveying her to Windham, amounts 
 only to £3 5s. 6d. Dr. Calib Bushnell's bill "tords 
 the cure of Christian Challenge'' stands thus, and will 
 show what a physician's fees then were : 
 
 To3travells £0 7 
 
 to Lusisiilig Bolsnm 4 
 
 to 3 times Bleeding 10 
 
 " Dec. 10 day 1745. The town is Dr. to me Jacob Hyde for 208 feet of 
 2 inch plank improved to make and mend bridges by order of the sur- 
 veyor of highways. The price of said 208 feet of plank I think must be 
 about 30.1. more or less as the town thinks tit." 
 
 " Voted, that the selectmen pay Jacob Hide what is just." 
 
 In 1746, IVIr. Benedict Arnold was chosen grand 
 juryman, but refused to serve. 
 
 The town declared that if any one hereafter refuse 
 to serve on the grand jury he shall pay a fine. 
 
 1754. " At present the township of Norwich pays the highest tax of 
 any township in the colony." 
 
 Justices' Courts. — A few examples of ca^es of tres- 
 pass brought before justices of the peace for adjudica- 
 tion will illustrate the condition of society in the first 
 half of the eighteenth century. 
 
 The penalties at this time were : 
 
 For drunkenness, a fine (5s. to 10s.), or to sit in the 
 stocks a coujjle of hours. 
 
 Not attending public worship when there was no 
 necessary detention, 5s. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 329 
 
 Profane swearing, 10s. 
 
 Sabbath-breaking, by labor or vain recreation, 
 making disturbance, or laughing during the service 
 in the house of God, 5s. 
 
 Assault and battery, or abusive words, blows, and 
 injuries, fines or imprisonment, at discretion of the 
 justice. 
 
 Incontinence, births out of wedlock, or too soon 
 after marriage, £10. 
 
 " These and actions of debt were cases which a 
 justice's court was considered competent to decide, 
 but appeals were allowed to a higher tribunal. 
 
 " If a judgment may be formed from the number of 
 cases and the apparent respectability of some of the 
 delinquents, drunkenness was increasing rapidly in the 
 land. Another species of criminality so prevalent 
 as to excite surprise was perhaps the natural result of 
 an intercourse too little restrained between the young 
 people of different sexes. 
 
 "No justice in the county was more popular than 
 Eichard Bushnell. Cases were brought before him 
 from Windham, Plainfleld, Canterbury, Killingly, 
 Preston, North Groton, and North Stonington." 
 
 '■3rd of June 1708. Joseph BusbDell of Norwich complained against . 
 himself to nie Eichard Bushnell, Justice of the Peace, fur y* he bad 
 killed a Buck contrary to law, I sentenced him to pay a fine of 10s, one 
 half to y county treasury and one half to complainant," 
 
 Selling LiQron to 1ndi.\ns, 
 
 " March 26, 1718. Mrs. Sarah Knight, Samuel Bliss, Joseph Post, The- 
 ophilus Abell and bis wife and y<* wife of William Hide vere brought 
 before me II, B, justice of ye peace upon ye presentment of y Grand 
 Jurors of our Sovereign Lord ye king for selling strong drink to the 
 Indians last Saturday, 
 
 "3I1-S, K-Dight accused her maid, Ann Clark, of selling the liquor, 
 Kefusing to acquit themselves by oath they were each sentenced to pay 
 a fine of 20s. to the County Treasury," 
 
 Out Late. 
 " Jul ,y 20, 1720. S.amuel Sabin appeareth before me It, B, Justice of 
 the Peace, and coniplaineth against himself that the last Sabbath at 
 night, ho and John Olnisby went on to Wawwecoas Hill, to visit their 
 relations, and were late home, did no harm, and fears it may be a trans- 
 gression of ye law and if it be is very sorry for it and dont allow himself 
 in unseasonable night-walking." 
 
 Stea ling " Water-Milioks." 
 
 "An inferior Court held at Norwich ye 19, Sept. 1720. Present B. 
 Bushnell Justice of ye Peace. Samuel Fox juror pr, complaint, Lettis 
 Minor and Hannah Minor Pts, for illegally and feloniously about ye G of 
 Sept' inst. taking about 30 water-milions which is contrary to Law and 
 is to his damage he saith ye sum of 208, and prays for justice. This 
 Court having considered ye evidence dont find matter of fact proved, do 
 therefore acquit the Dts, and order ye Ptf. pay the charge of Present- 
 ment." 
 
 Profane Sweart.nq 
 
 "May 6,1721. A complaint was entered by the constable against 
 Samuel Law, doctor, for profane swearing: he was fined 10s," 
 
 "The same year Henry Holland, of Plainfleld, was 
 proved guilty of a like offense and adjudged to pay 
 the fine and cost. Not long afterwards Holland was 
 bound over to appear at the next County Court and 
 answer for breaking the peace and the law by saying, 
 'in a tumultuous violent threatening manner, yt he 
 would take the head of Jona'n Tracy off his shoul- 
 ders.' 
 
 Assault. 
 
 " 1722, Nov, IG. Complaint made by Mr. Isaac Wheeler of Stonington 
 
 against William Holdridge of Stonington, for an assault with sword, at 
 
 the house of said Holdridge in Stonington: he was bound to appear at 
 
 the County Court, giving £20 security." 
 
 " An Indian, being found drunk, was brought before 
 Mr. Justice Bushnell and sentenced according to the 
 statute, namely, to pay a fine often shillings or receive 
 ten lashes on his naked body. The Indian imme- 
 diately accuses Samuel Bliss of selling him that after- 
 noon that which made him drunk, to wit, two pots 
 of cider. The fine for selling cider or ardent spirits 
 to an Indian was twenty shillings, one-half to go to 
 the complainant. The Indian thus obtained just the 
 sum requisite to pay his own mulct and set his body 
 clear. The record of this affair is as follows: 
 
 " Feb, ye 7 — 1722-3, Apcnanucsuck being drunk was brought before 
 me It, Bushnell, Justice of ye peace. I do sentence ye sd Apeonunch- 
 suck fur his transgression of ye law to pay a fine of lOs. or to be whipt 
 ten Lashes on ye naked body, and to pay ye cost of his prosecution, and 
 to continue in ye constable's custody till his sentence be performed, 
 
 " Cost allowed is (is, 6, 
 
 " John Waterman promises to Gs 4, 
 
 " Apeanuclisnck accused Samuel Bliss yt he sold him 2 pots of cider 
 this afternoon, Mr, Samuel Bliss appeared before me and confessed lie 
 lot sd Indian have some cider and I do therefore sentence sd Bliss to pay 
 ye fine of 20s, fur ye transgression of ye law one half to ye town and one 
 half to complainant, 
 
 "K. Bushnell, Justice," 
 
 " Isaac Huntington, Esq,, was another noted jus- 
 tice, some of whose minutes have been preserved. A 
 few cases will be given in an abridged form. 
 
 "In 1738 a charge was brought against Thomas 
 Avery, Ebenezer Baldwin, Abiall Marshall, and David 
 Bingham, single men and boarders or sojourners in 
 the town, that they 'did convean and meet in com- 
 pany with sundry others att ye house of William 
 Waterman ye 4th day of June last, it being Sabboth 
 evening.' 
 
 "No complaint was made of any disturbance or 
 impropriety of conduct. It was the bare fact of a 
 social meeting on Sunday evening which was pre- 
 sented as contrary to law.' 
 
 " Ebenezer Baldwin pleaded not guilty, and replied 
 to the charge as follows : 
 
 " 'True it is we did convean with the company and att ye time and 
 place sett forth in ye Complaint, but ho saith, he is not guilty for these 
 reasons, first, he is not a shiijle person, as having an appicntico by inden- 
 ture, 2dly, he is not a hoarder, having ye care of a family, 3dly, he is not 
 a sojourner as living in ye place where he was born and bred,' 
 
 " Tlie Court is of opinion lie is guillij, and fines him 5s, and costs. Ap- 
 peal granted to be heard in ye County Court, 
 
 " July 12. John Uuwner and Samuel Hambleton for profiining the Sab- 
 bath day liy oystering, fined 58, and costs. 
 
 "2d day of Nuvembor, 1738. Present Isaac Huntington Justice of 
 Peace, 
 
 " Mary LefBngwell daughter of Daniell Leflfingwellof Norwich, single 
 woman, was brought before this Court to a;nswer the complaint of one of 
 ye grand jurors of our Lord the king who upon oath presents that ye 
 said Mary Leflingwell on the 24th day of September last, it being Sabotli 
 or Lord's day (and not being necessarily detained) did not duly attend ye 
 publick worship of God on the said 24th day in any congregation by law 
 
 1 " In County Court, 1715, Paul Davenport, of Canterbury, appeared 
 and acknowledged himself guilty of a breach of the law by riding from 
 Providence to Canterbury on the Sabbath-day, and paid the fine of 20s." 
 
330 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 nllowed'as by tlie presentment dated October 7th 1738 and the writt dated 
 Oct 30. 173S on tile may appear. 
 
 " The said Mary pleaded not Guilty. Butt not being able to piove to the 
 satisfaction of tliis Court that she was necessarily detained ; nor tliat she 
 did attend tlio said worship, this Court is of opinion that she is gnilty in 
 manner and form. 
 
 " And it is therefore considered the said Mary Leflingwell pay as a fine 
 to ye treasury of ye town of Norwich the sum of five sliilliugs and cost 
 of suit. Taxed £0.10.8. Judgment satisiied. 
 
 "In 1749, Mr. Huntington's record shows that a 
 person was fined 20s. for playing cards, and another 
 5s. for lauglung in meeting. 
 
 " In 1756 three sons of Capt. John Fillmore, Jr., 
 viz., Nathaniel, Comfort, and Amaziah, were brought 
 before Mr. Justice Huntington, charged with driving 
 the rate-collector from their father's house, armed with 
 clubs, and making use of threats and abusive lan- 
 guage. Being minors, they were released without 
 penalty, but the record intimates that their father 
 was implicated in the misconduct of his sons. The 
 family were probably Separatists, aiid refused to pay 
 rates for the support of the regular ministry. 
 
 " These lads were between thirteen and seventeen 
 years of age. Nathaniel, the oldest, was subsequently 
 a soldier in the French war and also in the war of the 
 Eevolution. He settled at Bennington, Vt., and was 
 grandfather of Millard Fillmore, thirteenth President 
 of the United States. 
 
 " To show that this rigid supervision of the public 
 morals continued until a late period a few minutes of 
 cases of trespass will be given from MS. papers of 
 Eichard Hide, Esq., justice of the peace between 
 the years 1760 and 1780 : 
 
 " A man presented for profiine swearing, having been heard to say at 
 the public house— daniTi me. Sentenced to pay the fine of Gs, and tbe 
 costs, 6s. ?id. 
 
 "Another for a similar offence, tbe culprit using the words Go to the 
 Devil. Fine Gs., costs Ss. lOrf. 
 
 " A breach of peace by tumultuous behavior, — fine 10s., costs ISs. Sd. 
 
 "1Y71. A young woman presented for laughing, in a meeting for 
 public worship, at Mr. Grover'e, Sabbath (^veniiig — two females for 
 witnesses — culprit disniissed with a reprimand. 
 
 " 1774. Ebenf Waterman Jr. presented by a grand juror, for profaning 
 the Sabbath, in tbe gallery of the meeting-house in West Society, by 
 talking in the time of divine service in a merry manner, to make sjiort. 
 PIfiad guilty — fine 10s. 
 
 *' To rdchard Hide, Esq., of Norwich, one of his majesty's Justices of 
 the Peace for the county of New London, comes Ezra Huntington of buid 
 Norwich, one of tlie grand jurors of said cuunty, and on oath informs 
 and preseuts, that Asa Fuller, apprentice to said Ezra Huntington, and 
 Ede Trap, eon to Thomas Trap, and Lemuel Wentworth, son to James 
 AVentworth, and Hannah Forsey, aud Elizabeth Winship, a minor, and 
 daughter of the witlow Winship, all of Norwich aforesaid, did, in Nor- 
 wich aforesaid, on the evening following the 27tli day of May last, it 
 being Sabbath or Loid's Day evening, meet and convene together, and 
 walk in the street iu company, upon no religious occasion, all which is 
 contrary to the statute of this colony in such case made and provided. 
 
 " For evidence take Peter Latham and Unice Manning. 
 
 "Dated in Norwich, this 11th day of June, 1770," 
 
 Town Clerks of Norwich. 
 
 Christopher Huntington, 1078-1702; Richard Bnshnell, 1702-20; Isaac 
 Huntington, 1726-04; Benjamin Huntington, 1704-65; Benjamin 
 Huntington, Jr., 17G5-78 ; Samuel Tracy, 1778-70 ; Benjamin Hunt^ 
 ington, Jr.,1779-18(H; PhilipHnntington. 1801-25; Benjamin Hunt- 
 ington, 1825-28; William L'Homniedien, 1828-29; Benjamin Hunt- 
 ington, 1S20-30; Alexander Lathrop, 18;J0-3G; John H. Grace, 183G 
 -37; Simeon Thomas, 1837-39; Othniel Gager, 1839-82. 
 
 City clerks since 1826, when the town plot was 
 separated from the city : 
 
 1827, John A. Bockwell, four years; 1831, Alexander Lathrop, who 
 d'ed in July, 1836 ; 1830, George Perkins, eight yeais ; 1844, David 
 Young, seven years; 1851, Levi Hart Goddard, four years- 1855 
 John L. Devotion; 185G, Charles Badd; 1857, Othniel Gager; 18(il 
 -09, John L. Demotion; 1870, H. N. Rathbun ; 1871-73, John L. 
 Devotion; 1874, James M. Meech ; 1875, George C. Eipley; 1870 
 James M. Meech ; 1S77-81, Charles "W. Gale. 
 
 The City of Norwich was incorporated in 1784. 
 The following is a list of mayors from its incorpora- 
 tion to the present time : 
 
 Benjamin Huntington, 1784-90; John McLarren Breed, 1796-98; Eli- 
 sha Hyde, 1798-1814; Calvin Goddard, ]814r-;il; James Lanman, 
 1831-34; Francis A. Perkins, 1834-35; Charles W. llockwell, 1835- 
 38; Charlos J. Lanman, 1838-39; William C. Gilman, 1839^0; John 
 Breed, 1840-42; AVilliam P. Greene, 1842-43; Gurdon Chapman, 
 1843^5; John Breed, 1845-40 ; Charles W. Rockwell, 1846-47; John 
 Dunham, 1847-49; William A. Buckingham, 1849-51; Lafayette S. 
 Foster, 1851-53; Erastus Williams, 1853-55; WiHiam L. Brewer, 
 1S55-5G; William A. Buckingham, 1856-58; Amos W. Prentice, 
 1858-60; James S. Carew, 1800-62; James Lloyd Green, 18G2-6G; 
 Lorenzo Blackstone, 1866-70; James A. Hovey, 1870-71; James 
 Lloyd Green, 1871-75; Hugh H. Osgood, 1875-76; Charles Osgood, 
 1870-77; Hugh H. Osgood, 1877-82. 
 
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS FROM NORWICH. 
 
 Joshua Huntington, 1805, Thomas Jefferson elected; opposition candi- 
 date, C. C. Pinckney. 
 
 Calvin Goddard, 1813, James Madison elected ; opposition candidate, Do 
 Witt Clinton. 
 
 Charles W. Rockwell, 1845, James K. Polk elected ; opposition candidate, 
 Henry Clay. 
 
 William A. Buckingham, 1857, James Bnchanan elected ; opposition can- 
 didate, John C. Fiemont. 
 
 John T. Wait, 1864, Abraham Lincoln re-elected ; opposition candidate, 
 George B. BlcCIellan. 
 
 Henry Bill, 186S, Ulysses S. Grant elected; opposition candidate, Hora- 
 tio Seymour. 
 
 Henry P. Haven, 1872, tHysses S. Grant re-elected ; opposition candidate, 
 Horace Greeley, 
 
 Henry B. Norton, 1880, James A. Garfield elected ; opposition candidate, 
 Wiufield Scott Hancock. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES FE03I 1G62 TO 1882. 
 
 1062. — Thomas LefBngwell, Thomas Tracy. 
 
 16G;i.— Hugh Calkin, Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leflingwell. 
 
 1604.— Hugh Calkin, Francis Griswold. 
 
 1605. — Hugh Calkin, Francis Griswold, Thomas LefBugwell. 
 
 1600. — Hugh Calkin, Francis Griswold. 
 
 1067. — Thomas Tracy, Francis Giisuold. 
 
 1G68. — Francis Gilswold, Benjamin Brewster. Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 1609.— Fiancis Griswold, Hugh Calkin, Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 1670— Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 1671.— Francis Griswold, Thomas Leffingwell, Hugh Calkin. 
 
 1672. — Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell, John Mason. 
 
 1G73.— Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 1674. — TtKuuas Leffingwell, Simon Hunlington, John Mason. 
 
 1075. — John Blason, Thomas Tracy. 
 
 1G70.— Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 1677. — Thnmns Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell, Simon Huntington. 
 
 1078. — Thomas Tracy, James Fitch, Jr., James Fitch. 
 
 1G79. — James Fitch, Thoma-s Leffingwell, Benjamin Brewster. 
 
 IGSO.— James Fitch, William Backus. 
 
 1081. — Benjamin Brewster, James Fitch, Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 1082. — Thomas Leffingwell, Benjamin Brewster, Thomas Tracy. 
 
 168:i. — Thomas Leffingwell, Tlionuis Tracy, William Backus. 
 
 1684.— Thomas Tracy, William Backus, Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 1685.— Thuiuas Leffingwell, Siiuon Huntington, Thomas Waterman. 
 
 1080. — Benjamin Brewstei-, Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 1087. — Benjamin Brewster, Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 lOyO.i— Benjamin Brewster, Thomas Leffingwell, ■William Backus. 
 
 1 Charter government suspended, October, 1G87, to May, 1089. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 331 
 
 1G9U. — Benjamin Brewster, Tliomas Leffingwell. 
 
 1691.— Thomas Leffingwell, Kichard Buslinell, John Birchard. 
 
 1692.— Benjamin Brpweter, Richard Bushnell. 
 
 1G93. — Thomas Leffingwell, Bichard Bushnell, Benjamin Brewster. 
 
 1694.— Benjamin Brewster, Richard Bnshnell, John Tracy. 
 
 1695. — Benjamin Brewster, "NVilliam Bushnell,! Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 169G. — Thomas Leffingwt-U, Bichard Bushnell, Benjamin Brewster. 
 
 1697. — Benjamin Brewster, Richard Bushnell, John Tiacy. 
 
 1G98.— Richard Bnshnell, John Tracy, Solomon Tracy. 
 
 1699.— Richard Bushnell, John Tracy. 
 
 1700. — Tliomas Leffingwell, Solomon Tracy. 
 
 1701. — John Tmcy, Solumon Tracy. 
 
 1702.— Richard Bushnoll, Solomon Tracy. 
 
 1703. — Richard Bushnell, Thomas Leffingwell, Solomon Tracy. 
 
 1704. — Riclnird Bushnell, Solomon Tracy, Joseph Backus. 
 
 1705. — Richard Bushnell, Stilomou Tracy, Joseph Backus. 
 
 1706.— Solomon Tracy, Richard Bushnell. 
 
 1707. — Bichard Bushnell, Solomon Tracy, Samuel Griswold. 
 
 170S.— Richard Bushnell (clerk), Solomon Tracy, Joseph Backus. 
 
 1709.— Richard Bushnell (clerk), Solomon Tracy, Joseph Backus. 
 
 1710. — Richard Bushnell, Christopher Huntington, Solomon Tracy. 
 
 1711. — Richard Bushnell (clerk), Solomon Tiucy. 
 
 1712. — Richard Bushuell (clerk), Joseph Backus. 
 
 1713.— Richard Bushnell (Speaker), Joseph Backus. 
 
 1714. — Richard Bushnell, Joseph Backus. 
 
 1715. — Richard Bushnell (Speaker), Joseph Backus. 
 
 1716. — Richard Bushnell, Joseph Backus, Thomas Leffingwell. 
 
 1717. — Richard Bushnell (Speaker), Solomon Tiacy, Joseph Backus. 
 
 1718. — Richard Bushnell, Joseph Backus. 
 
 1719. — Richard Bushnell (Speaker), Joseph Back\is, Daniel Tracy. 
 
 Vi'lO. — Richard Bushnell (Speaker), Jahez Hyde, Benajah Bushnell, 
 Jahez Perkins. 
 
 1721. — Joseph Backus, Jabez Hyde, Benajah Bushnell, Thomas Adgate. 
 
 172'2. — Joseph Backus, Jahez Perkins. 
 
 1723. — Joseph Backus, Jahez Perkins, Thomas Adgate. , 
 
 1724. — Joseph Backus, Benajah Bushnell, Christoidier Huntington, 
 Thomas Adgate. 
 
 1725. — Joseph Backus, Jabez Hyde. 
 
 172G. — Joseph Backus, Jabez Hyde, Thomas Adgate, AYilliam Hyde. 
 
 1727. — Joseph Backus, James Huntington. 
 
 1728. — Joseph Uackus, Jabez Hyde, Jabez Perkins. 
 
 1729. — Jabez Hyde, Joseph Tracy, Benajah Bnshnell, Joseph Backus. 
 
 1730. — Joseph Backus, Benajah Bushnell, Jabez Hyde. 
 
 1731. — Joseph Backus, Isaac Huntington, Joseph Kingsbury, Jy. 
 
 1732.— Jabez Hyde, Simon Lothrop, Jabez Huntington, John Edgerton. 
 
 1733. — Joseph Backus, Jabez Hyde, Joseph Tracy. 
 
 1734.- Hezekiah Huntington, Joseph Kingsbury, Jr., Benajah Bushnel, 
 Jabez Hyde. 
 
 1735.— Ben aj all Bushnell, Joseph Tracy, Simon Lothrop, Hezekiah Hun- 
 tington. 
 
 1736.— Benajah Bushnell, Hezekiah Huntington, Joseph Tracy, Isaac 
 Uuntlngtun. 
 
 1737. — Hezekiah Huntington, Joseph Tracj'. 
 
 1738.— Hezekiah Huntington, Joseph Kingsbury, Samuel Backus. 
 
 17.j9. — Hezekiah Huntington, Joseph Kiugsbury, Samuel Backus. 
 
 1740. — Hezekiah Huntington, Joshua Huntington, Samuel Backus. 
 
 1741. — Joshua Huntingtun, Isaac Huntington, Isaac Tracy. 
 
 1742. — Joshua Huntiugton, Isaac Huntington, Joseph Kingsbury, Simon 
 Latlirop. 
 
 1743. — Joshua Huntington, Simon Lathrop, Hezekiah Huntiogton. 
 
 1744.— Joshua Huntington, Hezekiah Huntington, Ebenezer Backus. 
 
 1745.- Joshua Huntington, Hezekiah Huntington, Ebenezer Backus. 
 
 1746.— Hezekiah Huntington, Ebenezer Backus. 
 
 1747. — Ebenezer Backus, Daniel Huntington, Hezekiah Huntington. 
 
 1748. — Hezekiah Huntington. Ebenezer Backus, Isaac Tracy. 
 
 1749, — Ebenezer Backus, Isaac Tracy. 
 
 1750.— Ebenezer Backus, Jabez Huntington, Ebenezer Hart-shorn, Wil- 
 liam Whiting. 
 
 1751.— Joseph Tracy, Jr., Ebenezer Hartshorn, William Whiting. 
 
 1752.— Philip Turner, Isaac Tracy, Elidha Tracy. 
 
 1753. — Isaac Tracy, Elisha Tracy, Jabez Hnutington, Simon Tracy, Jr. 
 
 1754.— Isaac Tracy, Joseph Tracy, Jabez Huntington, Dauiel Lothrop. 
 
 1755. — Isiiac Tracy, Elisha Tracy, Elisha Fitch, 
 
 1750.— Isaac Tracy, Joseph Tracy, Jabez Huntington. 
 
 1 So in the recoH, for Richard Bushnell probably. 
 
 1757. — Isaac Tracy, Jabez Huntington (clerk), John Perkins. 
 1758. — Jabez Huntington (clerk), Isaac Tracy, John Perkins. 
 
 1759, — Jabez Huntington (clerk), Isaac Tracy, Daniel Lothrop. 
 
 1760. — Jabez Huntington (Speaker), Isaac Tracy, Daniel Lothrop. 
 
 1761, — Jabez Huntington (Speaker), Isaac Tracy. 
 
 1762.— Jabez Huntington (Speaker), Ebenezer Backus, Ebenezer Harts- 
 horn. 
 
 1763. — Jabez Huntington, Isaac Tracy, Daniel Lothrop. 
 
 1764. — Daniel Lothrop, Ebenezer Backus. 
 
 17G5. — Daniel Lothrop, Samuel Huntington, Isaac Tracy, Wm. Morgan. 
 
 176G. — Isaac Tracy, John Durkee, Joseph Tracy. 
 
 17G7.— Isaac- Tracy, Joseph Tracy. 
 
 1768.— Joseph Tracy, Elisha Lothrop, Elisha Fitch. 
 
 1769.— Elisha Fitch, Elijah Backus. 
 
 1770.— Elisha Fitch, Chris. Leffingwell, Elijah Backus. 
 
 1771. — Samuel Tracy, Benjamin Huntington. 
 
 1772. — Rufns Lathrop, Benjauiin Huntington, Isaac Tracy. 
 
 1773. — Rufus Lathrop, Benjamin Huntington, Isaac Tracy. 
 
 1774. — Isaac Tracy, Benjamin Huntington. 
 
 1775. — Benjamin Huntington, Samuel Huntington, Isaac Tracy. 
 
 1776. — Benjamin Huntington, Rufns Lathrop. 
 
 1777. — Benjamin Huntington (clerk), Rufns Lathrop, Elijah Backus, 
 Elisha Lathrop. 
 
 1778. — Benjamin Huntington (Speaker), Jabez Perkins. 
 
 1779. — Kathaniel Niles, Aai'on Cleveland, Benjamin Huntington, Jabez ' 
 Perkins. 
 
 17S0. — Nathaniel Niles, Jabez Perkins, Elisha Lathrop. 
 
 1781.— Nathaniel Niles, Benjamin Huntington, Joshua Huntington, John 
 Backus. 
 
 1782. — Barnabas Huntington, Samuel Lovert, John Backus, Elisha 
 LathiHip. 
 
 1783.— Elisha Lathrop, John Backus, Chris. Leffingwell. 
 
 1784.— Elisha Lathrop, John Backus, Chris. Leffingwell. 
 
 178.^. — Elisha Latlirop, Chris. Leffingwell, Barnabas Huntington. 
 
 178G. — Elisha Latlirop, Barnabas Huntington, Jed. Huntington, Na- 
 thaniel Backus. 
 
 17S7._jed. Huntington, Jared Tracy, Backus, Tracy. 
 
 17S8.— Jfd. Huntington, John M. Breed, Elisha Hyde. 
 
 17S9.— Elisha Hyde, Elijah Backus, Chris. Leffingwell. 
 
 1790,— Elisha Hyde, Chris. Leffingwell. 
 
 1791.— Benjamin Huntington, Elisha Hyde, Joseph Williams. 
 
 1792.— Elislia Hyde, Joseph Williams. 
 
 1793_ — Jufioph AVilliams, John Backus, Elisha Hyde. 
 
 1794.— Elisha Hyde, Roger Griswold (clt-rk), Joseph Williams. 
 
 1795.— Elisha Hyde, Asa Spalding, Joseph Williams, John Backus. 
 
 1796. — Joseph Williams, John Backus, Elisha Hyde, Asa Spalding. 
 
 1797,_joseph ■\Villiams, John Backus, Elisha Hyde, John Turner. 
 
 1798. — John Backus, Eben. Huntington. 
 
 ]79y._Elisha Hyde, John Turner, Jona. Frisbie. 
 
 1800.- Elisha Hyde, John Backus, Jacob De Witt. 
 
 1801.— Elisha Hyde, Jacob De Witt. 
 
 1S02.— Elisha Tiacy, Jacob De Witt, Elisha Hyde, Nath. Shipnian, Jr. 
 
 1803.— Elisha Hyde, Nathaniel Shipman, Jr. 
 
 1804.— Asa Spalding, Benjamin Coit, Natli. Shipman, Jr., John Backus. 
 
 1805,— Nathaniel Shipman, Benjamin Snow. 
 
 ISOC— Nathaniel Shipman, Benj. Snow, Gushing Eells, Jona. Devotion. 
 
 1807.— dishing Eells, Newcomb Kinney, Simeon Thomas. 
 
 1S08.— Simeon Thomas, Peter Lannian, 
 
 1809.— Thomas L. Thomas, John Fanning. 
 
 1810.— Cushiug Eells, Daniel L. Coit, Moses Benjamin, Ezra Lathrop. 
 
 1811.— Moses Benjamin, Jabez Huntington, Daniel L. Cuit. 
 
 1812.— Benj. Snow, Natiri Shipman, John Hyde, Moses Benjamin. 
 
 1813.— Ezrfi Lathrop, Niitlianiel Sliipman, Joseph Williams. 
 
 1814,_Xathaniel Sliipman, Joseph Williams. 
 
 1815.— Nathaniel Shipman, Newcomb Kinnr-y, Charles Thomas, 
 
 1810.— Chas. Thomas, Roger Huntington, Elibha Tracy. 
 
 jgiY.— Ezra Latlimp, Roger Huntington, James Lanman (clerk). 
 
 1818.— dishing Eells, Newcomb Kinney, Charles Thomas, Erastus Coit. 
 
 1819.2— Calvin Goddard, Newcomb Kinney. 
 
 1S20.— Roger Huntington, Erastus Cuit. 
 ■ 1821.— Elislia Tracy, Asa Roath. 
 
 1822.— Charles Rockwell, Elisha Tracy. 
 
 1823^Elisha Tracy, George Hill. 
 
 1824.— Elisha Tracy, David Tracy. 
 
 2 Under the new constitution only one session a year has been held, iu 
 May. 
 
332 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1825. — Roger Huntington, Newcomb Kinney. 
 
 1820.— Cliailes P. Huntington, Cusliing Eells. 
 
 1827.— Franli T. Latln-op, George Hill. 
 
 1828,— Charles P. Huntington, Icbabod Word. 
 
 1829. — Charles P. Huntington, Epapliras Porter. 
 
 1830.— John Do Witt (clerk), Charles F. Lester. 
 
 1831.- Charles P. Huntington (clerk), Joua. G. W. Trumbnll. 
 
 1832.— William H. Law, Charles P. Huntington. 
 
 18o3. — Charles P. Huntington, James Lanman. 
 
 1834. — Charles W. Rockwell, Roger Huntington (Speaker). 
 
 1835.- Charles P. Huntington, Samuel Tyler. 
 
 1836.— Charles W. Rockwell, Lewis Hyde. 
 
 1837. — Lewis Hyde (clerk), Enoch C. Chapman. 
 
 1838. — Gurdon Chapman, James Stedman. 
 
 1830.- Roger Huntington, L. F. S. Foster. 
 
 1840.— Lafayette S. Foster, Charles Bliss. 
 
 1841. — Benj. W. Tompkins, John Dunham. 
 
 1842. — No choice. 
 
 1843,— No choice. 
 
 1844. — /5ebulon R. Rohhins, Roger Huntington. 
 
 1845, — Henry Strong, Charles W. Rockwell. 
 
 184C.— L. F. S. Foster, Gardiner Thurston. 
 
 1847.— L. F. S. Foster (Speaker), Charles Bliss, 
 
 1848.— L, F, S, Foster (Speaker), Thomas L. Stedman. 
 • 1849.— Henry McNelly, Alba F. Smith. 
 
 1850. — James Stedman, Edmund D. Roatb. 
 
 1851.— Philo M. Judson, Benj. Dnrfey. 
 
 1852.— Jeremiah Halsey, Samuel Case. 
 
 1853, — Jeremiah Halsey, Oliver Woodworth. 
 
 1854,— L. F. S. Foster (Speaker), Moses Pierce. 
 
 1855.— Edmund Perkins, John D, I'ark. 
 
 1855.— Stephen W. Bleech, Henry H. Starkweather. 
 
 1857.— S, W, Meech, Samuel H. Grosvenor. 
 
 1858.— George W. Gould, Charles N. Faniam. 
 
 1859. — Jeremiah Halsey, James A. Hovey. 
 
 I860,— Johu T. Adams, Jeremiah Halsey. 
 
 1801,— John T, Adams, Amos E. Cobb. 
 
 18(12.— John T, Adams, Samuel B, Case. 
 
 1863.— John T. Adams, John A. Steri-y. 
 
 1804.— John A, Steriy, George Pratt. 
 
 18C5.— Samuel Mowry, George Pratt. 
 
 1800.— D. W. Perkins, I. 11. Bromley. 
 
 1807.- John T. Wait, Paul B. Greene. 
 
 1808.— Joseph Selilen, William R. Potter. 
 
 1869. — Edward Harland, George Pratt. 
 
 1870.— L. F, S, Foster, T. C. Gordon. 
 
 1871.— Johu T. Wait, Lorenzo Blackslone. 
 
 1872.— Alba I. Smith, A. S, Bolles. 
 
 1873.— John T. Wait,S. T, Holbrook. 
 
 1874.— Allen Tenny, Willis B. Austin. 
 
 1875.— Paul B, Greene, Willis B. Austin. 
 
 1876.— S, T. Holbrook, George R. Hyde. 
 
 1877,- A, W. Prentice, Horace Whitaker. 
 
 1878.— Edward Harland, I. W. Carjjenter. 
 
 3879.— J. S. Lathrop, I. W. Carpenter. 
 
 1880.— J. P, Barstow, I. W. Carpenter. 
 
 1881.— J. P, Barstow, J. S. Lathrop. 
 
 Military Record.— The amount of indebtedness of 
 the town of Norwich Sept. 1, 1861, was $107,370. On 
 the l.st of September, 1865, the debt had risen to 
 $180,303, showing an increase in the four years of 
 $72,933. During the war the town disbursed for di- 
 rectly war purposes $164,178.68, and at its close its 
 distinctive war debt was in the form of loans amount- 
 ing to S?S4,096. 
 
 The town action in the frequent meetings held 
 during the progress of the civil conflict to devise 
 means for promoting enlistments and filling up the 
 quotas under the various calls of the President for 
 volunteers was remarkably unanimous. Very little, 
 if any, oppo.sition was made to the liberal appropria- 
 
 tions voted for war purposes. There was not only 
 great unanimity of spirit, but the utmost energy and 
 promptitude of action, so that the town was kept in 
 advance of the calls made upon it for men. Its con- 
 tributions to the national armies were of its most 
 worthy and promising citizens, and nobly did the 
 latter maintain the reputation of Norwich for patriotic 
 devotion to the country's weal. 
 
 The first action of the town in reference to war 
 matters was on July 16, 1862, when, after a spirited 
 meeting, the following votes were passed: 
 
 " Vbtedf That a bounty of thirteen doll.ars be paid from the town's 
 treasury of the town of Norwich to every ni.an who shall, on or before 
 tlio 2Uth of August, 1802, enlist into any company enlisted in the town of 
 Norwich, the same to be jiaid when he is mustered into the service of 
 the United States. 
 
 " Voted, That the same bounty of thirteen dollars be paid to those who 
 have already enlisted into companies now enlisting in the town of Nor- 
 wich. 
 
 " Toted, That the sum of eight thousand dollars be, and the same is 
 hereby, appropriated from the town treasury for the purpose of payin" 
 paid bounty, and such necessary expenses of recruiting as are not pro- 
 vided for by tho General and State government, .and for the purpose of 
 aiding and encouraging in any proper way the enlistment of volunteera. 
 
 " Voted, That the selectmen of the town of Norwich be, and are here- 
 by, instiotcted to raise, by loan or otherwise, and to Jilace at tho disposal 
 of the committee, consisting of James Lloyd Greene, Amos W. Prentice, 
 William M. Converse, Lorenzo Blackstoiie, N. C. Brackenridge, and P, 
 M. Hale, from time to time, such sums of money ns said committee shall 
 desire, not exceeding the sum of eight thousand dollars, to be by said 
 committee expended according to their juilgment in carrying into effect 
 tbeprecedtng vote, and saidconuniltee aro authoiized to pay said boinity 
 of thirteen dollars fur enlistments after said 20lh day of August, if, in 
 their discretion, it is deemed desiiuble to do so." 
 
 These measures were carried by a unanimous vote. 
 On the 4th of August, 1862, in accordance with the 
 warning of the selectmen, a town-meeting was held 
 in the town hall. The attendance was very large, 
 and the proceedings of the meeting were marked with 
 great enthusiasm. Amos W. Prentice was called to 
 preside, when it was 
 
 " Voted, That a bounty of thirty-seven dollars, in addition to tlio 
 bounty heretofore voted by the town of Norwich, be paid from the town 
 treasury to every resident of the town who has enlisted, or who shall, 
 on or before the 20th day of August, enlist into any company raised in 
 the town of Norwich, under the recent call of the government, and said 
 bounty shall be payable when he is mustered into the service of the 
 United States. And the same shall also be paid to eveiy resident of the 
 town of Norwich who has been enlisted by Capt. William H. Tuhbs and 
 James B. Goit for the Fourteenth Regiment, 
 
 " Voted, That tho selectmen be authorized and directed to raise, by loan 
 or other\\i3e, a sum not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, or so iiuich 
 of the same as may be necessary to pay the bounties provided tor in the 
 previous vote, and to pay such expenses of recruiting as are not pro- 
 vided for by the State or general government," 
 
 On the 30th of the same month (August, 18G2), 
 when the call for three hundred thousand nine 
 months' troops was made, the town, in regular meet- 
 ing convened, — 
 
 " Voted, That a bounty of one hundred dollais be pniil to any resident 
 of the town who has volunteered, or who shall volunteer, in any regi- 
 ment of militia of this State, and who shall be accepted into the service 
 of tho United Slates, under the recent call of the President fur three 
 hundred thousand nine months' men," 
 
 The selectmen were further instructed to raise a 
 sum not exceeding twenty-two thousand dollars, to be 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 333 
 
 placed at the disposal of the "war committee" for 
 the purpose of paying the first voted bounty, and 
 defraying the general expenses incident to recruiting. 
 This meeting was one of the most spirited held during 
 the war, and after it resolved itself into a committee 
 of the whole to obtain volunteers, as elsewhere de- 
 scribed, rose to the very highest pitch of enthusiasm. 
 In January, 1863, the debt of the town, incurred 
 for "war exp'enses," was reported to be over forty 
 thousand dollars, and it was voted to provide for this 
 by the issue of town bonds, authorized by the action 
 of the Legislature at the December session in 1862. 
 These bonds bore interest at the rate of six per cent., 
 the attached coupons being payable semi-annually. 
 
 On May 29, 1863, and by virtue of more recent 
 legislative provision, the town voted to repeat this 
 action, funding in the same way its increasing debt. 
 The issue was limited by vote to sixty thousand dol- 
 lars, and the bonds were made payable at the expira- 
 tion of twenty years' time. It should, however, be 
 stated that this new issue of town bonds was to pro- 
 vide for the general indebtedness of town, and not for 
 exclusively war expenditures. 
 
 On Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1863, a town-meeting was 
 regularly warned, "to take action on the bounty 
 question." There was a very large attendance, and 
 the discussion showed a general interest to have those 
 who were called into service under " the enrollment 
 act" impartially provided for. The action taken was 
 intended to meet any cases of distress that might 
 occur in connection with the drafting of those who 
 would leave their families in a dependent condition. 
 The benevolence of the citizens, however, never per- 
 mitted this to occur, and the town and State appro- 
 priations were always liberal enough to meet any 
 exigency of this kind. Still, as showing the public 
 interest in this matter, Judge Hovey presented the 
 following resolution, which, after some debate, was 
 passed with but one dissenting voice : 
 
 " Wiereas, Four hundred and thirty-five persons residing in tiiis town 
 liave been recently drafted for military sen'ice in the army of the United 
 States, pursuant of the act of Congress entitled ' An act for enrolling and 
 calling out the national forces, and for other purposes,' approved March 
 3,1863; 
 
 "ylnd whereas, Nearly all the persons so drafted have been found to bo 
 exempt from military duty under said act, or have furnished substitutes 
 to take their places in the draft, or paid the sum of money required by 
 said act for the procuration of said substitutes ; 
 
 ''And ichereaB, Fears are entertained that a further draft may be or- 
 dered, pursuant to the provisions of said act, and that thereby individu- 
 als and families may become chargeable to the town, and otherwise 
 greatly distressed, unless adequate measures of relief are adopted by the 
 town ; 
 
 "And whereat. Under the warning fur this meeting it is believed that 
 such measures cannot be legally adopted ; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That in case a further draft from this town shall be or- 
 dered, pursuant to the said act of Congress, the selectmen be and are 
 hereby directed to convene, as soon as possible, a meeting of the town, 
 for the purpose of adopting such measures for the relief of those who 
 nuiy be drafted as the town shall deem adequate and proper." 
 
 At a town-meeting held Jan. 26, 1864, Mr. George 
 Pratt stated that the quota of the town, numbering 
 two hundred and six, had been filled by the select- 
 22 
 
 men at a cost to the town of $20,950.76. After the 
 quota was full the selectmen enlisted forty-three ad- 
 ditional recruits, at a cost of $2150, with the assurance 
 on the part of the " war committee" that if the town 
 did not pay this additional sum they would. A few 
 men enlisted at Fort Trumbull would swell the num- 
 ber of recruits from the town on the present quota to 
 two hundred and sixty. 
 
 Again, under date of July 15, 1864, after the Presi- 
 dent's call for five hundred thousand troops made the 
 town feel the need of prompt action to fill up its quota, 
 it was now voted, with no dissenting voices : 
 
 " That the selectmen of the town of Norwich bo and tbey hereby are 
 authorized to pay to each resident of tins town who enlists or procures 
 a substitute or recruit, who shall count on the quota of this town, under 
 the recent call of the President, the sum of one hundred dollars, and to 
 draw orders on the town treasurer to pay the same. The selectmen were 
 also authorized to employ persons to aid them in tilling up the quota of 
 the town." 
 
 The bounty of one hundred dollars to veterans re- 
 enlisting and counting on this quota was continued. 
 At this period of the war the business of raising the 
 men apportioned to the town devolved upon the select- 
 men, and they, together with the most active and in- 
 terested of our citizens, labored earnestly to secure 
 recruits, and to keep the quota of the town full. And 
 yet this was no easy task, for volunteering on the part 
 of our citizens had perforce largely ceased, and good 
 recruits were difficult to be procured. Still, their 
 efibrts were successful, and the town never failed to 
 raise promptly its assignment of men. 
 
 On Dec. 1, 1864, at a regularly convened town- 
 meeting, a new committee, consisting of Messrs. Sam- 
 uel B. Case, Charles Crawley, John T. Brown, Henry 
 B. Tracy, and William Peckham, was appointed to 
 have in charge the moneys appropriated for bounties, 
 and by vote this committee was authorized 
 
 "to pay to any person of this town liable to a draft who hereafter 
 may furnish an acceptable and lawful military substitute, under the 
 laws of the United States, to be credited to the town, such sums of money 
 as to such shall seem necessary and proper, provided the number of such 
 substitutes does not exceed the number required, in the judgment of the 
 committee, to fill the next quota. 
 
 " Toted, That the selectmen are authorized to borrow, from time to 
 time, on the credit of the town, such sums of money as shall be approved 
 by the committee, not to exceed, in the whole, the sum of seventy-five 
 thousand dollars." 
 
 Under this liberal provision the quota of the town 
 was again raised, and a surplus secured to apply on 
 any future calls. At the close of the war Norwich 
 was found to be in advance of the number regularly 
 assigned to her to be raised, and this highly creditable 
 fact was due to the energetic action of the town offi- 
 cers, supported, as they always were, by the loyal co- 
 operation of all the citizens. These town-meetings 
 were always well attended by our leading citizens, 
 and though there were occasionally some sharp dis- 
 cussions, yet there were no war measures adopted by 
 the town that did not receive a practically unanimous 
 vote. It should be recorded to the honor of our citi- 
 zens that, differing as tbey did in political views, yet 
 
334 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 in the town assemblages to which they so often were 
 summoned they acted with great cordiality, debated 
 measures with earnestness but uniform courtesy, and 
 maintained the reputation of the town for loyalty to 
 the government and liberality in providing for all 
 war expenses. 
 
 TABLE OF DEBT. 
 
 United States Debt. 
 
 July 1, 1860 JG4,709,703.0S 
 
 " 18G1 90,867,828.08 
 
 " 1862 514,211,371.92 
 
 18G3 1,098,793,181.37 
 
 ]8C4 1, 740,600,489.40 
 
 " 1805 2,783,425,879,21 
 
 Connecticut Debt. 
 MarcliSl,I860 *34,142.04 
 
 March 31, 1802.. 
 
 •' 1803.. 
 
 1804.. 
 
 " 1805.. 
 
 S2,03n,non.fio 
 
 3,392,300.00 
 7,249.600.00 
 10,623,113.74 
 
 NonwicH Tows Debt. 
 
 Sept. 1, 
 
 1860.. 
 
 1801... 
 
 " 1862... 
 
 " 1803.. 
 
 Sept. 15, 1804... 
 
 1806... 
 
 113,.582.28 
 107,370.05 
 124,270 62 
 136,387.75 
 109,018 95 
 180,303.71 
 
 1801 *7,700.60 
 
 Town Expenses for W.^k Pdkposes. 
 
 Amount paiil to volunteers or substitutes ;■■•■•••■;• S130,148-68 
 
 Amount paid families of volunteer.-, additional to State al- ^^ ^^^ ^^ 
 
 lowance V ,, ng 
 
 All other war e-xpeiises ii-i iviVr,< 
 
 Total expenses for war purposes •••••■■• Jm.uo.uo 
 
 Estimated amount paid for bounties to volunteers and snb- 
 
 stitutes 19,600.00 
 
 Estimated amount paid b.v individuals for commutation.... /'.J""* 
 
 Present indebtedness of town for war purposes i„/„rnirnn 
 
 Grand list of the town 10,4«l,03j.oo 
 
 LIST OF ABMT AND NAVY OFFICERS, 
 
 Major-Gener.il Joseph Lanman, U.S.N. ; app. midshipman from the State, 
 
 Jan. 1,1825; passed midshipman June 4, 1831; com. 1 lent. March 3, 
 
 1836; commander Sept. 14, 1855; capt. July 16, 1S02; commodore 
 
 Aug. 20, 1802; com. rear-admiral Dec. 8, 1867. 
 Brigadier- Generals. 
 Daniel Tyler, 1st Inf. ; col. Apiil 13, 1801 ; pro. biig.-gen. March 13,1802 ; 
 
 resigned. 
 Edward Harland, 3d Inf; capt. May 11,1801; 6th Iiif , lIoi:t-col. Aug. 
 
 30,1861; 8th Inf., col. Oct. 6,1801; pro. brig.-gen. Nov, 20, 1802; re- 
 
 signed Juno 20, 1805. 
 Ilenry W. Eirge (by brevet maj.-gen.), 4tli Inf. (changed to 1st Heavy 
 
 Alt.); maj. May 23,1801; 13th Inf., col. Nov. 2, 1861 ; pro. brig.-gen. 
 
 Sept. 19, 1803; app. while in the service brovet maj.-gen., Feb. 20, 
 
 1805 ; resigned Oct. IS, 1803. 
 
 ColoiteU. 
 William G. Ely (brevet brig.-gen.), brigade commissary (rank of capt.), 
 
 May 28, 1801, and vol. A.D.C. staff Col. E. D. Keyes, battle Bull 
 
 Ilun ; Olh Inf, lieut.-col. Sejit. 4, 1801 ; 18th Inf., col. July 24, 1802; 
 
 brevet brig.-gen. March 12, 1865 ; resigned Sept. 18, 1804. 
 John E. Ward, 3d Inf., 1st lieut. May, 1861 ; 8th Inf, capt. Sept. 21, 1801 ; 
 
 maj. March 28,1802; lieut.-col. Dec. 2 j, 1862 ; col. April 2,1863 ; must. 
 
 out March 14, 1805. 
 Alfred P. Kockwell (brevet hrig.-geu.), 1st Light Battery, capt. Jan. 21, 
 
 1802; 0th Inf., col. June 11, 1804; app. brev. brig.-gen. March 13, 
 
 1865; hon. disch. Feb. 9, 1805. 
 Hiram B. Crosby, 21st Inf ,adjt. Aug. 22,1802; maj. Sept. 3, 1862; lieut.- 
 col. Juno 8, 186-1,; col. June 27, 1804; hon. disch. Sept. 14, 1864. 
 Henry Case (brevet brig.-gen.), 14th Inf., Illinois, 1st lieut. May 3, 1801 ; 
 
 ]n-o. capt. Nov. 23, 1801; 7th Cav., maj. Feb. 1, 1862; res. April 24, 
 
 1802 ; 120tli Inf., lieut.-col. Sept. 8, 1802 ; pro. col. Hay 8, 1803 ; app. 
 
 brevet brig.-gen. (while in service) March 10, 1806; must, out June 
 
 8, IS05. 
 
 Lieiitenanl-Calmiels, 
 
 David Young, 2d Inf, lieut.-col. May 7,1861; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1801. 
 
 Joseph Seidell, 20tli Inf., capt. Sept. 0, 1802; lieut.-col. Sept. 22, 1802; 
 hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1803. 
 
 Charles Farnsworth, 1st Cav., adjt. Oct. 19, 1801 ; capt. Nov. 20, 1801 ; 
 
 maj. March 21, 1863 ; lieut.-col. Jan. 18, 1804; res. May 17, 1804. 
 -Henry Poalo, 2d Inf., capt. May 7, 1801; IKtli Inf., capt. Aug. 8, 1802; 
 maj. May 20,1803; lieut.-col. Sept. 24, 1804; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 
 David Torrance, 29tli Inf., capt. Jan. 6, 1804 ; maj. July 21, 1864 ; lieut.- 
 col. Nov. 24, 1864 ; must, out Oct. 24, 1805. 
 
 Calvin Goddard, 12th Inf., Ohio, com. Ist lieut. and A.D.O. staff of Gen. 
 Itusecrans, Jan. 9, 1802; app. A.D.C. by President Lincoln on staff 
 
 * After deducting the amount in the treasury. 
 
 of Maj.-Gen. Kosecrans (with rank of maj.), Nov. 14, 1802; app. 
 A.A.G. (with rank of lieut.-col.) Jan. 23, 1863 ; res. October, 18C:i. 
 
 3Iajors. 
 Thomas Magulre, 2d Heavy Art., N. Y., capt. Nov. 1, 1801 ; maj. June 14, 
 
 1862; disch. Aug. 24, 1863; lecommissioned. 
 James H. Coit (brevet brig.-gen.) 14th Inf., Ist lieut. Aug. 8, 1862; capt. 
 
 Dec. 20, 1802 ; maj. Oct. 3, 1802 ; app. brevet lieut.-col., brevet cul., 
 
 brevet brig.-gen., March 13, 1805 ; res. Sept. 0, 1864. 
 Frank S. Bond, loth Inf., 1st lieut. March 29, 1802 ; res. Feb. 25, 1SC3; 
 
 maj. and A.D.C. staff Gen. Eosecrans, March 11, 1803; res. Dec. 3, 
 
 1804. 
 John B. Dennis (brevet brig.-gen.), 7th Inf., capt. Aug. 20, 1801 ; maj. and 
 
 paymaster, U.S.V., Jan. 16, 1805 ; app. brevet brig.-gen. March 13, 
 
 1805 ; must, out July 31, 1806. 
 ■William J. Iloss, 29th Inf., capt. Feb. 3, 1864 ; maj. May 12, 1805 ; must. 
 
 out Oct. 26, 1805. 
 D. E. Bushnell, 13th Inf., 111. ; killed at Chattanooga, Tenn. 
 Frank H. Arms, com. acting assistant paymaster U.S.N., April 14, 18C4, 
 U.S. steamer "Memphis"; p™. paymaster (with rank of migor) 
 
 Oct. 6, 1871 ; still in service. 
 
 Quarter inaslei'3. 
 Joseph B. Bromley, 13th Inf., quartermaster Nov. 12, 1861 ; hon. disch. 
 
 Dec. 29, 1803. 
 De Laroo Wilson, 30th Inf, quartermaster April 14, 1864; must, out 
 
 ' Nov. 7, 1865. 
 Benjamin F. Tracy, 26th Inf., quartermaster Sept. 1, 1862; hon. discb. 
 
 Aug. 17, 1803. 
 I. V. B. Williams, 0th Inf, quartermaster Sept. 2, 1861 ; resigned May II, 
 
 1803. 
 
 AdJuUinlB. 
 
 George W. Whittlesey, I3th Inf., 1st lieut. July 17, 1802 ; pro. adjt. Dec. 
 
 31. 1802 ; hon. disch. Oct. 0, ISO). 
 Enoch B. Culver, 18tli Inf., adjt. May 20, 1803; mortally wounded in 
 
 battle of Piedmont, June 5, 1804 ; died June 6, 1804. 
 Stephen B. Meech, 26th Inf., adjt. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 James L. Bichardson, 1st Cav., adjt. Dec. 31, 1804 ; must, out Aug. 2, 
 
 1803. 
 Joseph II. Jewett, 8th Inf., 1st lieut. April 1,1805; app. acting assistant 
 
 adjutant-general on stalf of Biig.-Gen. J. C. Briscoe, July 1, 1805; 
 
 must, out as adjt. Dec. 12, 1805. 
 George W. Brady, 18th Inf., adjt. Oct. 17, 1804; must, out June 20, 
 
 1806. 
 Amos K. Ladd, 73d Ilegt. U.S.C.T., 1st lieut. Dec. 14, 1803; pro. adjt. 
 
 1863; must, out June, 1866. 
 
 Surgeons. 
 Charles M. Carleton, 18th Inf, Aug. 0, 1802; hou. disch. April 17, 1803. 
 Nathan A. Fisher, 13th Inf., March 7, 1803 ; declined commission. 
 Dewitt C. Lathrop, 8th luf., asst. Surg. Sept. 21,1861; died April 13, 
 
 1862. 
 J. Hamilton Lee, 21st Inf, April 21, 1863; hon. disch. Oct. 31, 1804. 
 Elisha Phiuney, 20th Inf, asst. sui g. Nov. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Edward Bentley, 1st Art., asat. surg. June 5, 1861 ; pro. brigade surg. 
 
 Oct. 4, 1801. 
 C. B. Webster, acting asst. surg. V.S.A , December, 1802 ; resigned April. 
 
 1804; recoin. A. X. surg., U.S.A., June, 1804; resigned September, 
 
 1803. 
 John 0. Bronsou (by brevet lieut.-col.), surg of volunteers Nov. 7, 1SG2, 
 
 District of California; subsequently Chief Medical Officer of Norlh- 
 
 eru District of the South ; must, out Nov. 27, 1806. 
 
 Captains. 
 
 Frank S. Chester, 2d Inf., capt. May 7, 1801 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1801. 
 
 Bela P. Learned (by brevet maj.), 1st Art. ; 2d lieut. Feb. 21, 1862; pro. 
 1st lieut. May 20, 1802 ; pro. capt. Dec. 20, 1864 ; app. brevet inajur 
 while in service, April 0, 1866 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 
 Oscar .\. Dennis, 1st Art., capt. May 11, 1861 ; resigned Dec. 11, 18G1. 
 
 Joab B. Rogers, 1st Cav., 2d lieut. Dec. 1, 1862; pro. 1st lieut. March 25, 
 1803 ; pro. capt. Oct. 12, 1803 ; hon. disch. Feb. 2, 1865. 
 
 Henry T. Phillips, 1st Cav., 2d lieut. Jan. 18, 1803 ; 1st lieut. May 5,1SG4 ; 
 pro. capt. Sept. 24, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 
 John H. Piatt (by brevet maj.), 1st Cav., Ohio, adjt. Oct. 2, 1801 ; a|ip. 
 capt. U.S. Y, and A. D. C. staff Gen. Pope July, 1862 ; capt. 31st luf, 
 U.S.A. Sept., 1800 ; npp. brevet maj. July, 1866 ; resigned May, 1809. 
 
NOKWICH. 
 
 335 
 
 Tlieodoro Burrlick, Yth Inf., 1st liout. Sept. 2, 1861 ; pro. capt. July 1, 
 
 1862 ; killed in action at Eort Wiigner, July 11, 1863. 
 Jolin McCall, 8th Inf., 2d lieut. March 28, 1S62 ; pro. 1st lieut. Aug. 1, 
 1802 ; pro. capt. Dec. 23, 1862 ; killed iu action at Fort Darling, May 
 16, 1864. 
 James K. Moore, 8th Inf., 1st lieut. Sept. 21, 1861; pro. capt. March 28, 
 
 1862; hon. disch. May 30, 1865. 
 Charles M. Coit (by brevet lieut.-col.), 8th Inf., adjt. Sept. 18, 1801; pro. 
 capt. March 27,1862; declined com. as maj. Oct. 12, 1804; app. brevet 
 Uent.-col. March 13, 1806: hon. disch. May 30, 1865. 
 Horace P. Gates, 8lh Inf., adjt. March 27, 1862 ; app. asst. adjt.-gen. U. S. 
 
 Vols. May 26, 1863 ; resigned Dec. 19, 1865. 
 AddisB. Tayne, 9th Inf, 2d lieut. Sept. 15, 1801 ; pro. 1st lieut. Sept. 15, 
 
 1862 ; pro. capt. Nov. 21, 1863; must, out Oct. 20, 1804. 
 Silas W. Sawyer, 9th Inf, capt. Sept 10, 1861 ; resigned Feb. 16, 1804. 
 Joseph H. Nickerson, 11th Inf, 2d lieut. Oct. 27, 1802 ; pro. 1st lieut. 
 
 Oct. 30, 1862 ; pro. capt. Aug. 6, 1863 ; disch. Oct. 12, 1864. 
 Albert E. Daniels, 11th Inf., capt. Oct. 1, 1661 ; resigned July 27, 1802. 
 James E. Fuller, 11th Inf, 2d lieut. Oct. 27, 1862 ; pro. 1st liout. April 1, 
 1804; must, out Nov, 11, 1864; app. asst. qrmr. (rank of capt.) Dec. 
 8, 1864; resigned July 6, 1865. 
 Edward K. Abbott, 12th Inf., capt. Nov. 20, 1801 ; resigned Aug. 25, 1862. 
 Alfred Mitchell, 13th Inf., capt. Feb. 14, 1802; pro. maj. May 12,1863 
 
 (declined appointment) ; resigned March 11, 1864. 
 Eobert A. Hipley, 13th Inf., 1st lieut. Dec. 31, 1862; pro. capt. Oct. 15, 
 
 1864; must, out Jan. G, 1865, term expired. 
 James j' McCord, 2d Inf, 2d lieut. May 7, 1801 ; 13th Inf., com. capt. 
 
 Jan. 29, 1862 ; must, out Jan. 6, 1865, term expired. 
 William H. Tubbs (by brevet maj.), 14th Inf, ciipt. June 15, 1862 ; re- 
 signed Feb, 20, 1863; app. capt. of C.S.U.V. Jan. 18,1862; A.D.O. 
 staff of Gen. Stagg; app. brevet maj. April 17, 1865; must, out July 
 10,1806. 
 James E. Nickels, 14th Inf., 2d lieut. Deo. 20, 1862; pro. 1st lieut. Jan. 
 
 19, 1863 ; pro. capt, Nov. 5,1803; died of wounds Feb. 20, 1805. 
 Morton F. Hale, 14th Inf, 1st lieut, June 15, 1802; discli, for promotion 
 
 Dec, 28, 1862; capt. and C. S. U.S.V. 
 Henry P. Goddard, 2d Cav. N. T., 2d lieut. May 7, 1862 ; disch. May 20, 
 1802 ; 14th Inf, 2d lieut. Sept. 17, 1803 : pro. 1st lieut. Dec. 20, 1802 ; 
 pro. capt. March 19, 1864 ; resigned April 20, 1864. 
 Frederick A. Palmer, 18th Inf, 1st lieut. Aug. 8, 1862; pro. capt. Dec. 26, 
 
 1862 ; disch. May 28, 1864. 
 Samuel K. Knapp, 18th Inf., capt. Aug. 8, 1862; res. June 6, 1863. 
 Isaac W. Hakes, Jr , 18th Inf, capt. Aug. 8, 1862 ; res. Dec. 26, 1802. 
 Isaac H. Bromley, 18th Inf., com. capt. Aug. 8, 1862; hon. disch. March 
 
 31, 1803. 
 Henry 0. Davis, 18th Inf., com. capt. Ang. 8, 1862 ; hon. disch. April 25, 
 
 1866. 
 John E. Woodward, 18th Inf., 1st lieut. Aug. 8, 1862 ; pro. capt. Oct. 10, 
 
 1863; must, out June 27, 1866. 
 Dwight W. Hakes (by brevet major), 18th Inf, qr.mr. Aug. 4, 1S62 ; pro. 
 capt. and 0. S. U.S.V. April 13, 1866 ; app. brev. maj. June 20, 1865 ; 
 hon, disch. June 20, 1865. 
 Samuel T. C. Merwin, 18th Inf., Ist lieut. Aug. 8, 1802; pro. capt. June 
 
 22, 1866 ; must, out June 27, 1866. 
 Joseph P. Bockwell, 18th Inf, 2d lieut. Dec. 22, 1862 ; pro. adjt. June 5, 
 
 1864 ; app. capt. Oct. 17, 1864; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 John Lilley, 18th Inf, 1st lieut. June 6, 1804 ; pro. capt. Oct. 17, 1804; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Martin V. B. Tiffany, 18th Inf , 1st lieut. Oct. 19, 1863; pro. capt. Aug. 
 
 12, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 John H. Morrison, 18th Inf, 1st lieut. Aug, 8, 1862; pro, capt. Oct. 19, 
 
 1863 ; dismissed Sept. 1, 1864. 
 Cliarles J. Arms, 20th Inf, adjt. Aug. 20, 1862 ; pro. capt. Nov. 18, 1862 ; 
 res. May 15, 1863, to take staff appointment 16th Inf ; 1st lieut. May 
 30, 1863, A.D.C. to Gen. Harland ; must, out June 24, 1866. 
 Clarke Harrington, 26th Inf., com, capt. Sept, 6, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1883. 
 John L, Stanton, 26th Inf, com, capt, Sept. 6, 1802 ; killed in action May 
 
 27, 1863, at Port Hudson. 
 Loren A. Gallup, 20th Inf,, Ist lieut. Sept, 6, 1862 ; pro, capt. Sept. 22, 
 
 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 
 Samuel P. Huntoon, 26th Inf, capt. Sept. 6, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 
 J. Lewis Spaulding, 18th Inf, Mass., capt. Aug. 20, 1861 ; res, Oct. 20, 
 
 1862 ; app. adjt. 29th Inf. C, V., Jan. 24, 1864 ; must, out Oct. 24, 1806 ; 
 
 com. 2d lieut. Ist Begt. U.S.A. April 6, 1866; pro. Ist lieut. Aug. 9, 
 
 1866; res. Jan. 1, 1871, 
 
 George Greenman, 30th Inf., Ist lieut. April 7, 1804 ; app. adjt, April 7, 
 
 1864; pro. capt. 31st Eegt. U.S.G.T., Jan. 31, 1804; must, out Nov. 7, 
 
 1865. 
 B. B. Blackman, 43d Inf. U.S.C.T., capt. March 8, 1864, hon. disch. 
 
 (term expired) Nov. 30, 1865. 
 Jesse D. Wilkinson, 4.3d U.S.O.T., com. capt. March 8,1804; liou. disch. 
 
 (term expired) Nov. 30, 1865. 
 George E. Case, 1st Inf. Corps d'Afrique, La., 1st lieut. Sept. 27,1802; 
 
 pro. capt. March 5, 1803 ; hon. disch. Feb. 11, 1864. 
 AVilliam T. Dusk, 79th Inf. N. Y., 2d lieut. Aug. 3, 1801; pro. capt. Jan. 
 
 19, 1802; res. Feb. 28, 1863; app. A.A.G. staff Gen. Daniel Tyler 
 
 (rank of capt.), June 26, 1863; res. Oit. 1863. 
 Charles II. Eockwell, asst. quartenuaster U.S.V. (rank of capt.) ; must. 
 
 out.' 
 William A. Berry, 2d Inf , 2d lieut. May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861; 
 
 2d N. Y. Art., 1st lieut. Nov. 1, 18G1 ; pro. capt. June 14,1862; killed 
 
 in action near Petersburg, \ti , Juno 18, 1801. 
 Warrington D. Eoath, com. acting master U.S.N. May, 1801; pro. vol. 
 
 lieut. July 11, 1S63 ; res. March 7, 1806. 
 Eobert B. Smith, com. vol. lieut. U.S.N. Dec. 3, 1803; hon. disch. Nov. 
 
 1866. 
 Francis S. Wells, com. acting vol. lieut. U.S.N. May 7, 1803 ; hon. disch. 
 
 1865. 
 
 First Lieutenants. 
 
 Thomas Scott,- 2d Inf, May 7, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1801 ; 2d Art. 
 
 N. Y., 2d lieut. Nov. 1, 1861 ; pro. 1st lieut. June 14, 1802; must, out 
 
 (term expired) Oct. 7,1804. 
 Charles W. Spalding, 3d Inf, -May 11, 1801; res. May 20, 1801. 
 Frank J. Jon.es, 1st Art., 2d lieut. Feb. 28, 1802; pro. 1st lieut. Jau. 1, 
 
 1863 ; res. July 27, 1803. 
 George W. Eogers, 2d Inf, May 7, 1801 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Marvin Wait, 8th Inf, 2d lieut. Dec. 25, 1801 ; pro. 1st lieut. March 28, 
 
 1802 ; killed in action Sept. 17, 1802. 
 Charles U. Carpenter, 20th Inf., Ist lieut. March 10, 1804 ; must, out Oct. 
 
 24, 1805. 
 Charles A. Breed, 8th Inf, 2d lieut. Sept. 21, 1801 ; pro. 1st lieut. March 
 
 28, 1802 ; died July 30, 1802. 
 Samuel S. Foss, 8th Inf, 1st lieut. Aug. 2, 1864 ; must, out Jan. 27, 1865. 
 William H. Peck, 8th Inf, 1st lieut. April 1, 1866; must, out Dec. 12, 
 
 1866. 
 Alfred M. Goddard, 8th Inf, 1st lient. July 24, 1863, aide-de-camp staff of 
 
 Brig.-Gen. Ilarlaud ; died of wounds May 9, 1804. 
 George C. Eipley, 10th Inf, 1st lieut. 14th Eegt. Dec. 22, 1863 ; trans, to 
 
 10th Eegt., 1st lieut. Jan. 19, 1803. 
 Joseph H. Lawler, 9th Inf, 2d lieut. Jan. 26, 1863 ; pro. 1st lieut. Dec. 5, 
 
 1864; must, out Aug. 3, 1806. 
 George H. Keables, 11th Inf, 2d lieut. Nov. 30, 1804; pro. 1st lieut. Jan. 
 
 3, DfOS ; hon. disch. May 4, 1805. 
 John H. Norris, 11th Inf, 1st lieut. Oct. 1, 1801; res. April 6, 1862. 
 Henry A. White, 12th Inf, Ist lieut. Dec. 2, 1864; commission revoked 
 
 Jan. 10, 1865. 
 John C. Abbott, 13th Inf, 2d lieut. Jan. 29, 1862 ; pro. 1st lieut. Sept. 1, 
 
 1863; trans, to Signal Corps Sept. 19, 1804. 
 James S. Maples, 26th Inf, 2d lieut. Sept. 0, 1802; res. to accept pro. 
 
 Aug. 11,1803; Ist lieut. July 27, 1863; commission revoked Aug. 
 
 11, 1803. 
 Edward W. Eells, 26th Inf, 1st liout. Sept. 22, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1^63. 
 Edward P. Eogers, 29th Inf., Ist lieut. Jan. 26, 1864; res. Aug. 3, 1805. 
 Albert Latham, 30th Inf, 2d lieut. April 20, 1864 ; pro. 1st lieut. Jan. 31, 
 
 1866; must out Nov. 7, 1806. 
 James H. Kane, 1st Cav., Ist lieut. Jan. 2, 1864; must, out Aug. 2, 1806. 
 Timothy W. Tracy, 20th Inf, 1st lieut. Sept. 0, 1862 ; hon. disch. Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Chester W. Converse, 3d La., Native Guard, 2d lieut. April 3, 1803; pro. 
 
 1st lieut. Deo. 23, 1863 ; res. and hon. disch. May 28, 1804. 
 Peter L. Hyde, 20th Inf, Iowa, 1st lieut. Sept. 30, 1862 ; killed at Arkan- 
 sas Post, Ark., Jan. 11, 1803. 
 Edwin T. Leach, 30th Inf, 1st liout. March 12, 1304; dismissed May 9, 
 
 1804, 
 A, Dwight McCall, 12th Inf., 1st lieut. Nov. 20, 1861 ; must, out (term 
 
 expired) Nov. 21, 1864. 
 William P. Miner, 13th Inf, 2d lieut. Jan. 30, 1862; pro. 1st lieut, Feb. 
 
 20, 1863 ; disch. July 16, 1864. 
 Frederick B. Schalk, 14th Inf., 2d lieut. May 16, 1863; pro. 1st lier.t. 
 
 Nov. 6, 1863; died of wounds May 4, 1864. 
 William Carruthers, 18th Inf, 2d lieut. Oct. 17, 1864; pro. 1st lieut. Jan. 
 
 7, 1866 ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 
336 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Kobert Kerr, 18tU Inf., 2d lieut. June 5, 1864 ; pro. Ist lieut. June 22, 
 
 18G5; must, out June 27, IS62. 
 John A. Francis, IStli Inf., 2d lieut. Aug. 8, 1862; pro. let lieut. Jan. 30, 
 
 1865; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Henry F. Cowles, 18th liif, 2d lieut. Aug. 8, 1862; pro. let lieut. Oct. 10, 
 
 1863; hon. disch. May 15, 1865. 
 Adam II. Lindsley, 18th Inf., 1st lieut. Aug. 8, 1862; hon. disch. April 17, 
 
 1865. 
 Christopher A. Brand, 21st Inf., 2d lieut. Oct. 12,1862; pro. 1st lieut. 
 
 Nov. 8, 1862; res. Feb. 23, 1863. 
 James Stanley, 21st Inf., 2d Heut. Aug. 3, 1862; pro. Ist lieut. Feb. 23, 
 
 1863 ; hon. disch. Sept. 20, 1864. 
 Pliny Brewer, 26th Inf, 2d lieut. Sept. C, 1862; pro. 1st lieut. May 27, 
 
 1863; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Thomas C. Lawler, 9th Inf., Ist lieut. Oct. 29, 1861 ; res. Feb. 26, 1862. 
 Luther M. Leonard, 20th Inf., 1st lieut. March 15, 1864; must, out Oct. 
 
 25, 1865. 
 "William A. Aiken, com. acting assist, paymaster U.S.A. Aug. 10, 1861 ; 
 hon. disch. to receive app. as quartermaster-general State militia, 
 July 10, 1862. 
 George W. Huntington, com. acting assist, paymaster U.S.N. Oct. 1863; 
 
 hon. disch. Nov. 1865. 
 John W. Bentley, com. acting master U.S.N. May 24, 1861 ; died May 24, 
 
 1864. 
 Charles G. Adams, com. acting assistant paymaster U.S.N., May 6, 1861 ; 
 
 res. Oct. 1, 1865. 
 Lewis G. Cook, com. acting master U.S.N., Bee. 19, 1861 ; hon. disch. 
 
 1865. 
 Amos D. Allen, appointed paymaster's clerk U.S.N., Nov. 9, 1863 ; com. 
 
 acting assistant paymaster Oct. 21, 1864; hon. disch. Sept. 5, 1865. 
 George E. Martin, appointed paymaster's clerk U.S.N., Dec. 30, 1861 ; 
 com. acting assistant payniiLster Nov. 1864; hon. disch. Aug. 1865; 
 reappointed, and died Aug. 16, 1867. 
 
 Second LieulenanU. 
 William W. Barnes, 3d Inf., May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 William P. Ford, Ist Cav., 2d lieut. Nov. 30, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 James Bradley, 1st Cav., 2d lient. Nov. 30,1864; must, out Aug. 2,1865. 
 Edward L. Tyler, 1st Art., 2d lient. March 29, 1862; res. for disability 
 
 April 9, 1864. 
 John H. Tingley, Ist Art., 2d lieut. March 1, 1862, and A.D.C. on staff of 
 
 Gen. Daniel Tyler; res. Dec. 31, 1862. 
 Charles A. Murray, 18th Inf., 2d lieut. Jan. 30, 1865 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865, 
 Francis McKeag, 18tb Inf, 2d lieut. Dec. 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 James D. Iliggins, 18th Inf, 2d lieut. Aug. 8, 1862; hon. disch. Oct. 27, 
 
 1864. 
 Joseph D. Plunkett, 21st Inf., 2d lieut. Oct. 11, 1862; disch. Dec. 20, 1802. 
 Isaac N. Leonard, 20th Inf., 2d lieut. Aug. 11, 1863 ; hon. disch. Aug. 17 
 
 1863. 
 Hervey F. Jacobs, 26th Inf., 2d lieut. Sept. 6, 1862 ; died July 6, 1863. 
 Edward P. Manning, 26th Inf., 2d lieut. July 27, 1863 ; died Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Gorham Dennis, 7th Inf., 2d lieut. Aug. 30, 1861 ; res. Jan. 3, 1862. 
 Amos L. Keables, 8th Inf, 2d lieut. Aug. 1, 1862 ; hon. disch. May 15, 
 
 1865. 
 Charles Shepard, 8th Inf., 2d lieut. Feb. 1, 1862 ; res. Feb. 14, 1863. 
 Edmund Downing, 9th Inf., 2d lieut. Dec. 5, 1864; must, out Aug. 3,1865. 
 T. Brennan, 2d H. Art, New York, 2d lieut. 
 James H. Nash, com. acting ensign H.S.N., Jan. 20, 1863 ; hon. disch 
 
 1865. 
 
 GENERAL MUSTEB-EOLL OF ALL NORWICH SOLDIERS.l 
 Abbott, E. Kempton, 1st Kegt.; eul. April 22, 1861; capt. 12th- res Aw 
 
 25,1.162. ' ' °' 
 
 Abbott, John C, 2d lieut., 13th Eegt. ; enl. Feb. 20, 1862 ; lieut. ; trans. 
 
 to Signal Corps. 
 Ackslcr, Adam, 18th Kegt.; enh July 15,1862; died Madisonville Oct 
 
 5, 1864. ' 
 
 Adams, Anthony, 18th liegt.; enl. July 17, 1862; must, out June "7 
 
 1S65. 
 Adams, George, 8th Eegt.; enl. March 10, 1864; must, out Dec. 12 1865. 
 Adams, Lewis, 30th Eegt. ; onl. Jan. 15, 1864. ' 
 
 1 Tboso whoso names are marked «itli an asterisk re-enlisted as vet- 
 erans in 18G4. 
 
 Adams, William, 12th Eegt. ; eul. Dec. 3, 1861. 
 
 Adams, William N., 18th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 11, 1802 ; trans. Vet. Ee«. 
 
 Corps. 
 Alford, George, 2d Art.; eul. Jan. 27, 1864. 
 
 Alger, Silas J., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1802 ; must, out June 2, 1865. 
 Alldrlch, Albert C, 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 15, 1862; must, out July 18 
 
 1865. 
 Allen, Charles, 18th Eegt.; enl. Deo. 28, 1864; must, out July 27, 1865. 
 Allen, Daniel B., Ist Art.; enl. Jan. 17, 1864; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 Allen, James A., 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; sergt. 18th ; must, out Juue 
 
 , 27, 1865. 
 Allen, Nelson E., 18th Kegt.; enl. July 16, 1862; must, out June 27 
 
 1865. 
 Allen, Raymond, 11th Eegt.; enl. Nov. 14, 1861; hon. disch. Nov. 13 
 
 1864. 
 Allyn, William E., 14th Kegt. ; enl. Jul.v 11, 1862 ; died March 0, 1863. 
 *Amesbury, Marvin H., Ist Art. ; enl. Feb. 20, 1862 ; must, out Sept. 25 
 
 1805. 
 Anderson, Charles W., IStli Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 27 
 
 18C5. 
 *.\nderson, James S., 1st Art. ; enl. March 20, 1862 ; must, out Sept. 25 
 
 1865. 
 Appleton, neury, 18th Eegt.; enl. July 17, 1862; must, out June 27,1805. 
 Arms, Charles J., adjt., 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; lieut. 101b ; mast. 
 
 Juue 24, 1865. 
 Armstrong, Harvey S., 3d Kegt.; enl. May 11, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 12, 
 
 1861. 
 Armstrong, Joseph C, 26th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17,1862. 
 Arnold, Ludwig, 3d Eegt.; enl, May 11, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Ashley, Charles, 1st Art. ; enl. Jan. 3, 1865. 
 
 Atchison, Eobert, cav. ; enl. Dec. 8, 1864; must, out Aug. 2, 1865, 
 Avery, Alexander S., sergt., oth Kegt. ; enl. July 22, 1861 ; killed Cedar 
 
 Mountain, Va., Aug. 9, 1862. 
 Avery, Courtland C, Corp., 20th Kegt. ; enl Aug. 27, 1862^, died June 23, 
 
 1863. 
 Babcock, George W., 14th Kegt.; enl. June 10, 1862; disch. for disability 
 
 Oct. 20, 1862. 
 Bacon, Harrison E., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 1, 1862; must, out May 23, 
 
 1865. 
 Bacon, Isaac B., 21st Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 31, 1864 ; must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Bacon, James M., 8th Kegt.; enh Oct. 1,1861; disch. for disability Jan. 
 
 19,1863. 
 Bailey, Amos E., 11th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 8, 1864 ; must, out Dec. 21, 1865. 
 Baile,v, Joseph A., cav.; enl. Dec. 16, 1863 ; died at Audersonville, Aug. 
 
 13, 1864. 
 Bailey, Levi H , 8th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability Dec. 
 
 19, 1862. 
 *Baird, Thomas W., Corp., 6th Kegt.; enl. July 22, 1861; Vet. Ees. Corps, 
 
 April 21, 1865. 
 Baker, Frederick W., cav. ; eul. Jan. 12,1864 ; died Jan. 27, 1864. 
 Baldwin, Thomas M., cav.; enl. Jan. 6, 1864; died at Audersonville, 
 
 July 3, 1864. 
 Barber, Ezra N., 2d Eegt.; enl. May 7, 1801; sergt. 11th; hon. disch. 
 
 Oct. 26, 1864. 
 Barlow, James G., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Barlow, Otis W,, 2d Eegt,; enl. May 7, 1861 ; 1st Art. 
 Barnes, Owen, 6th Eegt.; enl. Dec. 9, 1864. 
 Barnes, William W., 2d lieut., 3d Eegt; enl. May 11, 1861; must, out 
 
 Aug. 12, 1801. 
 Barney, John, 21st Kegt.; enl. Aug. 12, 1802; died of wounds Aug. 14, 
 
 1864. 
 *Barrett, .Joseph, 1st Art. ; enl. March 1, 1862 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 *Barry, James, 13tb Kegt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861. 
 Barstow, Charles S., cav. ; enl. Jan. 6, 1864 ; must, out June 1, 1866. 
 *Bassett, Keuel H., Oth Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 30, 1801 ; must.out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Beckwith, Charles H., 2d Kegt.; enl. May 7, 1861; 18th; died Dec. 1, 
 
 1862. 
 Beckwith, Henry M., 1st Art. ; enl. March 10, 1862; died Oct. 10, 1863. 
 Beckwith, Herbeit E., luth Eegt. ; onl. Oct. 1, 1801; Corp. Mass, Art.; 
 
 died Annapolis, Dec. 30, 1864. 
 Beckwith, John A,, 8th Eegt, ; enl, Oct. 6, 1861 ; hon. disch. Sept, 20, 1864, 
 Beckwith, William, cav, ; enl, Dec, 22, 1803 ; must, out July 15, 1865. 
 Beobe, Daniel E„ 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; corp, 18tli ; must, out May 
 
 30, 1865. 
 Beniont, Nelson J., lltli Eegt.; eul. Aug, 6, 1802; must, out May 31, 
 1665. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 337 
 
 Bennett, Elisho, 26th Eegt. ; eiil. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Bennett, John A., 18th Begt. ; enl. July 18, 1862 ; disch. for disability 
 
 May 3, 1863. 
 Bennett,- Steward C, 26th Kegt. ; eul. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Benson, Olaph, 2d Art. ; enl, Jan. 20, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 18, 1865. 
 Bentley, Edwin, asst. surg., lat Art. ; enl. May 23, 1861 ; still in service. 
 Bentley, John W., 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 11, 1804 ; must, out Nov. 7, 
 
 1863. 
 Bentley, Samuel, 21st Rogt. ; enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Berg, August, 2d Art. ; enl. Feb. 2, 1864; killed in action Sept. 19, 1864. 
 Berry, William A., 2d lieut., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; capt. 2d N. Y. 
 
 Art.; killed June 5, 1804. 
 Best, John, 2d Art.; enl. Deo. 30, 1803 ; killed at Petei-sburg, March 26, 
 
 1865. 
 Bexner, John, cav. ; enl. Jan. 31, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Billings, Samuel D., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Birge, Henry W., mnj., M.G.V., by brevet, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; 
 
 col. 13th Eegt. ; must, out October, 1865. 
 Black, David, 13th Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 30, 1861 ; killed Oct. 27, 1802. 
 Blackman, Burill B., 18th Kegt.; enl. July 26, 1862; capt. 43d U.S.C.T.; 
 
 must, ont Nov. 30, 1865. 
 Blackman, John F., cav. ; enl. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Blake, Charles S., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 21, 1802. 
 Blake, George W., 13th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 7, 1802; corp. 18th Eegt.; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1865. 
 Blake, John G., Bth Eegt. ; enl. July 22, 1861 ; hon. disch. July 22, 1864. 
 Blau, Anthony, 6th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; hon. disch. Sept. 11, 1804. 
 'Bhimley, Edward, 8th Eegt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; died at Andersonville, 
 
 Oct. 6,1804. 
 Bogue, Eichard II., 0th Eegt.; enl. July 13, 1863; died Feb. 23, 1805. 
 BoUes, Orin S., cav. ; eul. Dec. 15, 1863 ; captured Oct. 17, 1864. 
 Bolman, Lemuel, 12th Kegt. ; enl. Dec. 27, 1801; died Aug. 22, 1803. 
 Bond, Frank S., lieut., 10th Eegt. ; enl. March 29, 1862 ; maj. U.S.T. ; 
 
 resigned January, 1865. 
 *Bond, John T., 9lh Eegt. ; enl. May 24, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Booth, John, 18th Regt. ; enl. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1863. 
 *Bottom, ■William H., 11th Eegt.; enl. Dec. 2, 1861 ; disch. July 15, 1865. 
 *Bottomly, H. A,, Corp., 7th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1861; died March 13, 
 
 1864. 
 Bowen, Ezra P., 18th Regt. ; enl. July 12, 1862 ; must, out May 29, 1805. 
 Boyle, James, Ist Art. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1863 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1805. 
 Bradley, John T., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 8, 1802 ; killed at Piedmont, June 
 
 5, 1864. 
 Bradley, William, 2d Art. ; en!. Jan. 10, 1864; T.S.N., April 4, 1864. 
 Brady, George W., ISth Kegt.; enl. Aug. 8, 1804; pro. adjt.; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1865. 
 Brady, Patrick, 18th Regt. ; enl. July 26, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Brady, Terrence, 14th Eegt. ; enl. July 15, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 1865. 
 Braman, Edwin W., 26th Regt. ; eul. Sept. 1, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 *Braman, Henry T., 3d Begt. ; enl. May 11. 1861 ; must, out July 20, 1866. 
 Braman, Lncius E., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 30, 1862 ; disch. for disab. Nov. 
 
 16, 1864. 
 Brand, Christ. A., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 26, 1862 ; lieut. 2l8t Eegt. ; res. 
 
 Feb. 23, 1863. 
 *Brandon, Benj., 9th Eegt. ; enl. May 24, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Brash, Hen. J., 6th Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 9, 1864. 
 Bray, John, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 30, 1804. 
 Breed, Charles A., 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; lieut. 8th Eegt. ; died July 
 
 30, 1802. 
 Breed, John, 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1861 ; hon. disch. Aug. 12, 1861. 
 Brennan, Cornelius, 14th Begt. ; enl. June 21, 1862; V.E.C. ; must, out 
 
 .Inly 5, 1865. 
 Bresnahan, John, 26th Begt. ; enl. Sept. 10, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Brewer, Pliny, 2d lieut. 26th Begt. ; enl. Aug, 23, 1862 ; pro. lieut. ; must. 
 
 ont Aug. 17, 1S63. 
 Brewster, ■William H., 21st Eegt ; enl. Jan. 21, 1804 ; trans, to 10th Begt, ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 Brierly, John J,, 14th Eegt. ; enl, June 10, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 1865. 
 Briggs, Abram, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1862. 
 
 Broadhead, John P., 29th Eegt, ; enl. Nov, 14, 1804 ; must, out Oct, 24, 1865, 
 Brogan, John, 2d Eegt,; enl. May 7, 1861; must, out Aug, 7, 1861. 
 Bromley, Edwin F., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Bromley, Isaac H., capt., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 26, 1862 ; hon, disch, March 
 31, 1863, 
 
 Bromley, Joseph B,, qr,mr,, 13th Eegt.; onl. Fob. 19, 1861 ; res. Deo. 20, 
 
 1803, 
 Brooks, .Vlbert 0.,llth Eegt. ; enl. Feb. 15, 1864; must, out Dec, 21, 1806, 
 Brooks, Henry, 20th Begt.; enl. Aug, 30, 1862; died July 3, 1803, 
 Brown, Asher P,, corp,, 20th Eegt.; eul. Sept, 11, 1862; must, out Aug, 
 
 17, 1803, 
 Brown, Charles H,, 14th Eegt,; enl, July 18, 1863; trans, to 2d Art, May 
 
 31, 1866. 
 Brown, Daniel H,, 9th Eegt. ; enl, Oct, 30, 1861 ; died May 14, 1862, 
 *Brown, David H,, 13th Eegt.; enl, Jan. 11, 1862; died May 15, 1864, 
 Brown, Edward, 21st Eegt ; enl. Aug, 16, 1862 ; must, out May 20, 1803, 
 Brown, George, 2d Eegt; enl. May 7, 1801 ; coi-p,, 13th Eegt; dropped 
 
 Oct 31,1804, 
 Brown, George, 10th Eegt, ; enl. Dec. 20, 1864 ; died Jan. 27, 1865, 
 Brown, George E., 17th Eegt; enl, Jan, 16, 1804; must out July 19, 
 
 1865. 
 Brown, James, 2d Art ; enl, Jan, 29, 1864, 
 Brown, John, 1st Art; enl. Dec. 22, 1864. 
 
 Brown, Leandcr, 3d Begt.; enl. May II, 1861; must, out Aug, 12, 1861, 
 Brown, Eeuben B,,sergt., 18th Eegt; enl. Aug, 6, 1862; must out June 
 
 23, 1865. 
 Brown, Silas, 29th Regt,; enl, .Tan, 5, 1804; died Jan, 26, 1806, 
 Brown, William, 2d Art. ; enl, Feb, 2, 1804, 
 
 Brown, William H., 2d Eegt ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861, 
 Brown, William, sergt,, 30th Eegt ; enl, Jan. 22, 1864; must, out Nov, 7, 
 
 1865, 
 Buchanan, Howard E., cav. ; enl. Jan. 11, 1864. 
 
 Buck, Charles B., 29th Eegt; enl. Sept. 2, 1S64; must, out Oct. 24,1863. 
 Buckingham, E. C , 14th Eegt, ; enl, July 25, 1863 ; died March 3, 1864, 
 Buckley, Daniel C, 13th Eegt.; enl, Jan. 19, 1864, 
 Bump, Henry G,, Jr,, 1st Art ; enl. May 23, 1861 ; hon, disch. May 22, 
 
 1864. 
 Burdick, Charles, 10th Eegt. ; enl, Oct. 29, 1861 ; died Jan, 16, 1863, 
 Bnrdick, Horatio, 18th Eegt,; enl. July 23, 1802; died Oct. 10, 1802. 
 Burdick, Joel, 18th Eegt; enl. July 25, 1802: disch, ATig.25, 1802, 
 Burdick, Samuel, ISth Eegt, ; enl, July 25, 1802 ; disch, for disability Jan. 
 
 4, 1864. 
 Burdick, Theodore, 2d lieut, 7th Eegt. ; enl. Sept 5, 1801 ; capt, ; killed 
 
 at Fort Wagner, July 11, 1863, 
 Burdick, William H., ISth Begt; enl, July 20, 1802; must, out June 19, 
 
 1865, 
 Burghmayer, Anton, cav,; enl, Jan, 2, 1864; died April 11, 1865. 
 *Burgoyne, Walter, 12th Regt. ; enl, Dec, 27, 1801 ; died Feb, 5, 1805, 
 Burke, Charles F., 3d Begt. ; enl. May 12, 1861 ; must, out Aug, 12, 1861, 
 Burke, Horace E., 3d Regt, ; enl, Stay 11, 1861 ; must out Aug. 12, 1861. 
 *Bnrke, John, 9th Regt ; enl. May 24, 1862, 
 Burke, Patrick, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 23, 1864, 
 Burnett, Albert, 18th Regt, ; enl, Aug. 9, 1862 ; killed at Winchester, June 
 
 16, 1803. 
 Burns, George, 1st Art. ; enl. Jan. 14, 1804. 
 Burns, ,Iohn, 2d Art; enl. Jan. 20, 1804. 
 Burus, Peter, Ist Art,; eul, Dec. 22, 1864. 
 Butler, Francis, cav.; enl. Jan, 19, 1864, 
 
 Butler, John, 2d Begt.; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 Butler, John B., lltli Eegt. ; enl. Oct 25, 1861 ; hon. disch. Oct. 24, 1804. 
 Butler, Eoswell, 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 14, 1862 ; must, out Juno 27, 1865. 
 Butler, Bufus, 11th Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 25, 1861 ; disch. for disability June 
 
 14, 1862, 
 Buttery, Ira, 17th Begt, ; enl, Jan. 15, 1864; must, out July 19, 1805, 
 Button, Guy D,, 18th Begt,; enl, Aug, 2, 1862 ; disch. for disability June 
 
 18, 1865, 
 Button, Samuel A., 8th Eegt ; onl. Oct 5, 1861 ; disch. for disability March 
 
 16, 1862, 
 Byford, John, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 21, 1804. 
 Byrnes, James, 9th Begt ; enl. Kov. 25, 1861 ; disch. for disability Oct. 16, 
 
 1862. 
 Byron, James, 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 0, 1802; must out June 27, 1805. 
 Calhoun, Martin, 3d Begt ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; 1st Art, ; must, out Sept, 
 
 26, 1806. 
 Callahan, Jeremiah, 14tli Eegt, ; onl. May 23, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 1865, 
 Cameron, Daniel, 14th Eegt ; eul. Aug. 5, 1864; trans, to 2d Art. May 31 , 
 
 1865. 
 Campbell, Edward, 14th Begt. ; enl. July 18, 1863 ; died Jan. 18, 1865. 
 *Campboll, Thomas, 9th Eegt.; enl. Oct. 12,1801; disch. for disability 
 
 January, 1865, 
 Caniield, Lawrence, 2d Art, ; onl, Jan, 19, 1864, 
 Cantwell, Wni,, 2l8t Kegt,; enl. Aug, 20, 1802; must, out Juno 10, 1803 
 
338 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 *Care.Y, And'w B., 11th Regt; enl. Dec. 3, ISGl ; must, out Dec. 21, 1805. 
 Carey, Olias. W., 18th Eegt. ; enl. J\ily 24, 18C2 ; must, out July 1, 1805. 
 Carey, Joel, 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 2, 1802; must, out May 22, 1S05. 
 Carkins, Amos B., 2d Kegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 Carl, Martin, ISth Eegt. ; eul. Aug. 8, 1802 ; died Sept. 25, 1864. 
 Carletou, Charles M., snrg., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 0, 1802 ; res. April 17, 
 
 I80;i. 
 
 Carlton, George, car. ; enl. Jan. 22, 1864. 
 
 Carney, Daniel, 18th Eegt. ; enl. J\ily 22, 1802 ; must, out May 28, 1805. 
 *Carney, John, 13th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 11, 1SC2; must, out April 25, 1800. 
 Carpenter. Charles H., corp , 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; pro. lieut. 29tli 
 
 Eegt. March 10, 1804; must, out Oct. 24, 1805. 
 Carpenter, Clias. H., sergt., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 6, 1802 ; must, out Juno 
 
 27,1805. 
 Carpenter, Daniel D., 8th Eegt.; enl. April 2, 1804; must, out Dec. 12, 
 
 1805. 
 *CarpeMter, Delano N., 6th Eegt.; enl. July 22, 1801; must, out July 10, 
 
 1805. 
 Carpenter, Franklin L., 11th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 25, 1804; must, out Dec. 
 
 21,1805. 
 Carroll, Cliarles H., sergt., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 12, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 27,1806. 
 Carroll, George, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1802; must, out June 27, 1806. 
 Carroll, Joseph W., 18tli Eegt.; enl. July 14, 1802; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1805. 
 Carroll, Mortimer, 1st Art.; enl. Aug. 25, 1804. 
 «CarrolI, Theodore E., 12th Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 27, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 12, 
 
 1805. 
 Carroll, Timothy, cav, ; enl. Nov. 2, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 *CarrolI, William B., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, ISOl ; corp. 7th Eegt.; died 
 
 Nov. 5, 1804. 
 Carrutbers, -William, 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1801; pro. lieut. ISth Eegt; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1806. 
 Carter, Tljomas S., 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 27, 1864. 
 
 Carver, James, 18th Eegt.; enl. July 28, 1862; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Carver, Michael, cav. ; enl. Oct. 20, 1861 ; killed at Stafford Court-House, 
 
 Va., Jan. 3, 1803. 
 Carver, Thomas, cav. ; enl. Aug. 15, 1802; must, out June 3, 1806. 
 Carver, William, 18th Eegt.; enl. April 21, 1804. 
 
 Case, Charles E., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 29, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Case, Benjamin, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 19,1804. 
 
 Case, David C, 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; killed at Bull Eun July ''1 
 
 1861. ' 
 
 Case, George E , 1st Eegt. ; enl. April 22, 1861 ; capt. Louisiana National 
 
 Guards. 
 "Case, James, 13tb Eegt. ; eul. Dec. 30, 1861 ; disch. for disahility July 
 
 3, 1866. 
 Case, John P., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 11, 1861. 
 Case, Joseph, 6tli Eegt. ; eul. July 22, 1861 ; disch. for disability July 20 
 1862. 
 
 Cassidy, Patrick, 6th Eegt. ; enl. July 22, 1861 ; discb. for disability Sept 
 
 19, 1861. 
 Chalmers, John, 18tb Eegt. ; eul. July 22, 1862 ; must, out June 27 1805 
 Cbamplin, H. P., 10th Eegt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1801 ; died at Andersonville 
 
 Aug. 11, 1864. 
 Chandler, Nelson, cav. ; enl. Ja^i. 5, 1864 ; captured May 6, 1804. 
 Chantley, William H., let Bat. ; enl. Aug. 8, 1804; must, out June 11 
 
 1865. 
 Chapman, C. E., 1st Art. ; enl. Jan. 6, 1864; must, out Sept. 25, 1865 
 Chapman, Giles D., 20th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; must, out Aug 17 
 
 1863. b '. 
 
 Cbappell, Alfred S., 18tb Eegt. ; enl. July 22, 1862; died Sept. 17 1S63 
 Ohappell, Charles L., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 27, 1862; must, out Aug 17 
 
 1S63. ^' ' 
 
 Chappell, Samuel H., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 10, 1862. 
 Charlton, John, 20th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 27, 1862; must, out Aug. 17 1863 
 Chesebri, James F., 8th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disability 
 
 May 14, 1802. 
 Chester, Frank S., capt., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 
 
 Chism, Samuel, 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 23, 1864; must, out Nov 7 1806 
 Church Daniel B., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 2.5,1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 °"Tay 3M86f' "''"' ' ™'' '"'' ''' ''''' '™°'- '° '" ^''- ' """'■<"" 
 Clark, Edward S., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 29, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1865 
 Clark, Henry 1., isih Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1860. 
 
 Clark, James, ]8th Eegt. ; enl. July 23, 1862; trans, to Yet. Ees. Corps' 
 
 must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Clark, James N., sergt., 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 25, 1802 ; must, out Aug 
 
 17,1863. 
 Clark, John, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 24, 1864 ; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Clark, John S., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 2, 1862 ; must, out Juno 27, 1805. 
 Clark, Patrick, 18th Eegt.; enl. Feb. 29, 1804; must, out June 27, 186S. 
 Clark, Vinson H., 2d Art. ; enl. Feb. 2, 1864. 
 Clayton, John, 2d Art.; eul. Jan. 27, 1864. 
 
 Cobb, Charles H., Jr., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17 
 1803. ' ' 
 
 Cobb, James L., sergt., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Au". 7 
 1801. °' ' 
 
 Cochran, Alexander E., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 7, 1802. 
 Coggswell, Geo., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Coil, John, 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 9, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Coit, Charles M , adjt. (lieut. -col. by brevet), 8th Eegt.; enl. Oct. 5, 1861- 
 
 pro. capt.; must, out May 30, 1805. 
 Coit, James B , 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; pro. maj. 14th Eegt. (brig.- 
 
 gen. vols, by brevet) ; res. Sept. 0, 1804. 
 Cole, Henry B., 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Colgrove, Charles H., coil)., IStli Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1801 ; disch. for dis- 
 ability. May 13, 1803. 
 Collins, Andrew, 13th Eegt. ; eul. Jan. 7, 1802 ; disch. for disability May 
 
 20, 1802. 
 Collins, James, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 22, 1864 ; II. S. Navy, April 4, 18G4. 
 ■ Colton, James S., Corp., 8th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 21 , 1861 ; must, out Dec. 12, 
 
 1865. 
 Comins, George E., coil)., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 24, 1802 ; must, out Juno 
 
 27, 1805. 
 Con.ant, Oscar, 14th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 2, 1804; trans, to 2d Art. May ,31, 
 
 1805. 
 Congdon, John C, Corp., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Conger, Thomas B., Corp., 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Conklin, P.itrick, 2l6t Eegt.; enl. March 11, 1864; died Aug. 2, 1864. 
 Connell, Daniel 0., 20tb Eegt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1802; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Connell, Joseph, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 25, 1804 ; disch. for disability June 
 
 21, 1865. 
 Connell, Michael , 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1S63. 
 Converse, Chester W., Corp., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; lieut. Louisi- 
 ana National Guards ; resigned. 
 Conway, Thomas, cav. ; enl. Sept. 5, 1S64; must, out July 14, 1805. 
 Conway, Thomas, 1st Art.; enl. Feb. 26, 1862; disch. for disability Jan. 
 
 27, 1803. 
 Cook, Frederick N., sergt., 20th Eegt. ; enl.Aug. 27, 1502 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Cooley, Charles B., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1865. 
 Cooper, George, cav. ; enl. Nov. 28, 1803 ; must, out July 17, 1865. 
 Corbet, Michael, 13th Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1861 ; died at Baton Eouge, 
 
 May 25, 1803. 
 Corcoran, Michael, 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 *Corcoran, Stephen, 5th Eegt.; enl. July 22,1801; disch. for disability 
 
 June 5, 1865. 
 Corey, Caleb E., corp,, ISth Eegt.; enh July 21, 1802; must, out May 
 
 10, 1865. 
 Corey, Charles W., corp., 20th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 26, 1862; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Corey, John F., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 7, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Cornoy, Patrick, 13th Eegt.; eul. Jan. 22, 1802; captured and dropped 
 
 from rolls, Doc. 31, 1804. 
 Cotter, William, cav.; eul. Dec. 15, 1804; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Cowles, H. F., sergt.-maj., 2d Eegt.; enl. May 7,1861; pro. lieut. 18th 
 
 Eegt. ; must, out May 18, 1865. 
 *Cox, Charles H., 12th Eegt. ; enl. Nov. 20, 1861; must, out Aug. 12, '65. 
 Cox, John, 8th Eegt. ; enl. July 27, 1864; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Cragg, George G., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 18CI. 
 Cramer, David, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 27, 1804; killed at Petersbuig, March 
 
 25, 1805. 
 Crandall, John, 14tli Eegt. ; enl. July 17, 1802; must, out May 31, 1805. 
 Cranston, Joseph J. S., 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; must, out Aug. 
 17,1803. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 339 
 
 Ci-awfoi-d, John, 18tU Itegt; enl. July 22, 1802; died at Winclicster, July 
 
 2, 1863. 
 Ciavy, John T., Corp., 26th Eegt.; eul, Axig, 20, 1S02; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Cracker, Byron, 13th Eegt. ; enl. Feb. 5, 1862 ; died July 15, 1804. 
 Crosby, Hiram B., 18th Kegt.; enl. July 26,1802; pro. lieut.-'col. ; Iiou. 
 
 disch. Sept. 14, 1S64. 
 Cross, George W,, ISth Eogt.; enl. Aug. 6. 1862 ; musl. out June 27, '05. 
 Crowther, James A., Sth Eogt.; enl. Sept. 21,1801: trans, to Yet. Ees. 
 
 Corps; must, out July 1, 1S63. 
 Crowtbers, John, 2d Art.; enl, Jan. 19, 1804; must, out Aug. IS, 1865. 
 Culver, Enoch B., Corp., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 26,1862; pro, adjt,; died 
 
 of wounds June 6, 1864. 
 Cullin, John, 21st Eegt.; enl. Aug. 9,1862; died March 22, 1SC4. 
 Cummings, William, 13th Eegt.; enl, Jan. 11, 1862. 
 Cunningham, Michael, 14th Eegt; eul. July 16,1862; hon. disch. May 
 
 19, 1863. 
 Curtis, William E., 1st Art.; enl. Jan. 16, 1804; hon. disch. Sept, 25, '06. 
 Curtis, William E,, 2d Art.; enl. Jau, 22, 1804. 
 *Cushman, Alonzo S., 11th Eegt.; enl. Dec. 3, 1861; killed at Swift's 
 
 Creek, Va., May 9, 1804. 
 Cusliman, David F., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 21, 1802; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Cutler, Charles, 7th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1801 ; hon. disch. Sept. 12, 1804. 
 Cutler, Leonard, 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; hon. disch. Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Daffett, Lewis, 6th Eegt.; enl. Sept, 6, 1801; hon, disch. Sept. 5, 1864. 
 Dailey, John, Ist Art, ; enl, Aug. 27, 1864; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 Daily, Charles H., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 24, 1862 ; disch. February, 1864. 
 Davidson, Oscar, 2d Art. ; enl. Feb. 2, 1864. 
 
 Davis, George P., 29th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; must, out Oct. 24, 1865. 
 Davis, Henry C, capt., 18th Eegt.; eul. Aug. 8, 1802; must, out April 2.5, 
 
 1865. 
 Davis, Isaac, 291h Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 9, 1863; must, out Oct. 24, 1865. 
 Davis, Joseph, Slh Eegt. ; enl. Nov, 18, 1864; died March 10, 1865.' 
 Davis, Job A., 29th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 2, 1864 ; must, out Oct. 24, 1866. 
 Davis, Marcus, 11th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1804 ; must, out Dec. 21, 1865, 
 Davis, William, cav. ; enl. Jan. 6,1864; died at Andersonville, Aug. 30, 
 
 1864. 
 Davis, William, 2d Art,; enl. .Tan. 27, 18S4 ; must, out July 8, 1865. 
 Davis, Wm. L., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; must, out June 27, '64. 
 Davis, William F., 30th Eegt. ; enl, Jan. 10, 1S(;4 ; must, out Nov. 7, 1866. 
 Dayton, Nathaniel F., cav.; enl. Jan. 22, 1864; must, out Aug, 2, 1865. 
 Dean, Jerry B., 17th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 18, 1864 ; must, out July 19, 1805. 
 Degnan, John, 14th Eegt. ; enl. June 5, 1862 ; trans, to Vet. Ees. Corps ; 
 
 must, out June 29, 1866, 
 Delaney, John, 9th Eegt.; enl. Nov. 25, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Oct. 
 
 16, 1862. 
 Delaney, John, 18th Eegt.; enl. July 17, 1862; killed at Snicker's Ferry, 
 
 July 18, 1864. 
 Deming, Alfred H., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1864. 
 Deeming, Henry E,, 1st Art, ; enl. Jan. 14, 1864. 
 
 Dennis, Gorham, Corp., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; 2d lieut. 7th ; re- 
 signed Jan. 3, 1862. 
 Dennis, J. B,, capt,, 7th Eegt ; enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; must, out Feb. 17, 1805 
 
 (B.G.V. by brevet). 
 Dennis, Oscar A., capt, Ist Art ; enl. May 23, 1861 ; res. Dec. 11, 1861. 
 Dennison, Andrew J., 7th Eegt; enl. Sept 5, 1861; hon. disch. Sept 12, 
 
 1804. 
 Dennison, John J,, 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; hon. disch. Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Derby, Charles, Corp., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1806. 
 Dexhinair, William, 2d Eegt ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 *Diamond, John, 9th Eegt ; eul. May 22, 1861. 
 
 Dillaby, Asa, Corp., 18th Eegt; enl. July 18,1862; must out June 27, '65. 
 Ditmus, Edward A., corp,, 29th Eegt; enl. Jan. 2, 1804; must, out Oct. 
 
 24, 1865. 
 Dixon, Lawrence, 26th Eegt ; enl. Oct, 17, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, '63. 
 Dole, Abe, 30th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1864. 
 *Donahue, John, 9th Eegt. ; enl. May 21, 1861. 
 Donahue, William, 20th Eegt ; enl. Sept 1 1864. 
 Dorrigan, Hugh, 14th Eegt.; enl. July 16, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 8, 1863. 
 Donnivan, Tim, 26th Kegt ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Donovan, John, 11th Eegt ; enl. Oct. 26, 1801 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 1,1863. 
 
 Donovan, John, 11th Kegt.; eul. Oct, 23, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Feb, 
 
 1, 186,). 
 Dorcey, Edward, corp,, 14th Eegt, ; enl. June 23, 1802 ; died of wounds 
 
 at Antietam, Oct, 8, 1862. 
 Dorkins, William, 30th Eegt. ; enl, Jan. 20, 1804; must out Nov, 7, 1805, 
 Dorrance, George E,, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1802 ; trans, to Inv, Corps, 
 
 March 15, 1804. 
 Douglass, William P., cav.; enl. Jan, 22, 1864; must, out Aug, 2, 1865. 
 Dowling, Michael W., 20th Eegt,; enl. Aug. 29, 1802; trans, to Sig. 
 
 Corps. 
 Downer, Sjlvanus, corp,, ISth Kegt, ; enl, Aug, 11, 1802 ; died at Ander- 
 sonville, Nov. 5, 1864. 
 *Downing, Edmund, 9th Kegt,; enl. May 31, 1862; 2d lieut; must out 
 
 Aug 3,1865. 
 Doyle, J.ames, 0th Kegt. ; enl. Oct. 4, 1801 ; hon. disch. Oct, 26, 1S64, 
 Doyle, Timothy 0,, 18th Eegt; enl, Aug. 11,1802; must out July 14, 
 
 1805. 
 Draper, Albion, ISth Eegt ; enl. Aug. 11, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1803. 
 Draper, George, 18th Eegt, ; enl, Aug. 18, 1802 ; disch. for disability, Oct. 
 
 22, 186u. 
 Drew, William, 2d Art, ; enl. Dec. 21, 1804. 
 Driscoll, Alexander, 20th Eegt. ; enl. Sept, 10, 1862 ; cavalry ; died March 
 
 7, 1865, 
 Dryer, Henry, 2d Art, ; enl, Jan. 21, 1864. 
 Dubois, George S,, 30th Kegt, ; enl, Jan. 0, 1864. 
 Duff, John, 29th Eegt, ; enl, Jan. 5, 1864; must, out Oct 24, 1865. 
 Dugan, James, 261b Kegt ; eul. Sept 9, 1802; died July 28, 1863. 
 Dugan, Thomas, 23 Kegt; enl. May 7, 1801 ; 21st Kegt,; died at Ander- 
 sonville, June 4, 1804. 
 Dunbar, Edmund, corp,, 20th Eegt, ; enl. Aug. 28, 1802 ; must, out Aug, 
 
 17,1802. 
 Diinton, William W,, 2d Eogt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; 9th Eegt, ; veteran. 
 *Dunn, John, 9th Eegt ; enl. Doc. 1, 1862; must out Aug. 3,1866. 
 Durfey, Henry M., 18th Eegt; enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Dutton, Eodman, 30th Eegt. ; enl, Jan. 6, 1864 ; must, out Nov, 7, 1865, 
 Dwyer, Edward, 21st Kegt ; enl. Aug. 20, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Oct, 
 
 11,1802, 
 Eagan, James, 26th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 11, 1862; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Eastman, Shirland L,, 8th Kegt; enl. Sept 21, 1861; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 2, 1861. 
 Edgertoo, George F., 201b Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; died July 23, 1863. 
 Edwards, Alfred, 8th Eegt.; enl. Oct. Y, 1801 ; disch, for disability. May 
 
 14, 1862. 
 Edwards, George L,, cav. ; enl. Jan. 13, 1864. 
 Edwards, Henry, 14th Eegt. ; enl. May 31, 1802 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 23, 1862. 
 Edwards, Thomas F., Sth Eegt. ; enl. Sept, 21, 1801 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 12, 1803. 
 Edwards, William, Sth Eegt ; enl. Sept 21,1861; disch. for dis.^bility, 
 
 March 28, 1863. 
 Eells, Edward W., lieut, 26th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug, 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Ehlers, August, 21st Eegt,, enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; died of wounds July 2, 
 
 1864. 
 Ehmor, Ferdinand, Cth Eegt; enl. Sept 6,1801; hon, disch. Sept 11, 
 
 1804, 
 Eldridge, Daniel D,, 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 12, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Elliott, William, 10th Kegt; enl. Dec. 17, 1804. 
 Ellis, William H. H., 18th Eegt,; enl, Aug. 6, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Ely,W.G.,lst Eegt; enl. April 24,1861; col. 18th B. G. V. by brevet ; 
 
 res. Sept. IS, 1864. 
 Emmons, Daniel, 29th Kegt; enl. Jan 7, 1864; died June 13, 1864. 
 Enwrlght, John, 26th Kegt. ; eul. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Erskine, Edward, 26th Kegt. ; enl, Aug. 29, 1S02 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Erwin, Edward, 9th Kegt. ; enl, Nov. 26, 1801 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 9, 1804, 
 Fanning, Charles T,, ISth Eegt. ; enl. July 31, 1802; killed at Piedmont, 
 
 June 5, 1864. 
 Fanning, George W., 18th Kegt ; enl. July 29, 1S62; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 25, 1864. 
 Fanning, Henry C, Sth Eegt ; enl. Sept 21, 1861; died of wounds at 
 
 Antietam, Oct, 28, 1862. 
 Fanning, John T., Corp., 3d Eegt; enl. May 11,1861; must out Aug. 
 
 12, 1801. 
 
340 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Fanning, Theo. A., 8th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 21, 18C1; died of wounds at 
 
 Antietam,Oct. 19, 18G2. 
 Fanning, William D., 2d Kegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 Farnswol tb, Cliarles, capt., cav. ; enl. Nov. 20, 1801 ; must, out Jlay 17, 
 
 1804. 
 Farroll, James, 9th Eegt; enl. Nov. 25, 18C1; hon. disch. Oct. 20, 1804. 
 *Farrell, Laurence P., 12tli Kegt.; enl. Dec. 28, 1801. 
 Farrell, Tliomas, 21st Eegt.; eul Aug. 18, 1S02; Y. B. C; must, out 
 
 June 29, 180.5. 
 Fiiiris, John W., 11th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1804. 
 Fellowes, Joshua, Corp., 20th Kegl.; enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Fenner, Frank A., 8th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 13, 1804 ; must, out Dec. 12, 1805. 
 Fenton, James B., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 9, 1802; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Ferguson, Orrin, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 30, 18G4. 
 
 Field, Stephen 0., 11th Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 24, 1801 ; disch. Nov. 14, 1862. 
 *FilUiurn, Thomas, 7th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 9, 1801 ; died at Millen, Ga., Oct. 
 
 21, 1864. 
 Finken, William, Corp., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 0, 1802 ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1805. 
 Fisher, George W., SOtli Eegt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1804; must, out Nov. 7, 1805. 
 Fisher, Nathan A., asst. surg., 13lb Kegt. ; enl. Feb. 4, 1801 ; res. June 10, 
 
 1803. 
 Fitch, Edwin S., ISth Regt.; onl. Aug. 8, 1802; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Fitch, James E., cav. ; eul. Oct. 20, 1801. 
 Fitzgerald, Edward, 14th Kegt. ; enl. July 25, 1863. 
 
 Fitzgerald, Michael, 1st Art. ; enl. Jan. 11, 1864 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1805. 
 Flannagau, Edward, 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Fiannagan, James, cav. ; enl. Jan. 23, 1864. 
 Fletcher, Frcehorn 0., 18th Kegt.; eul. July 28, 1662 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Fletcher, Joseph E., 2d Kegt, ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; pro. sergt. Sth ; disch. for 
 
 disability Jan. 9, 1803. 
 Flynn, John, 5lh Kegt.; enl. Aug. 0, 1803. 
 Ford, David M., lltb Eegt. ; enl. Nov. 14. 1801 ; killed Antietam, Sept. 17, 
 
 1802. 
 *Ford, AVilliam P., cav. ; eul. Nov. 2, 1801 ; pro. 2d liout. ; must, out Aug. 
 
 2, 1305. 
 Forestner, Joseph, Corp., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 7,1802; died Aug. B, 1803. 
 Foss, Samuel S., Stli Eegt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; pro. lieut. ; disch. Jan. 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Foster, Charles, 18tli Kegt. ; enl. Jan. 18, 1864 ; must, out Juno 27, 1805. 
 Foster, Joel M., 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 11, 1801. 
 *Fowler, Samuel F., 13th Eegt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1801 ; must, out April 25, 
 
 1860. 
 Fox, David D., 1st Art, ; enl. April ], 1802 ; lion, disch. April 1, 1805. 
 Fo.\, George W., IStli Eegt. ; enl. July 26, 1802; died Martiusbuig, April 
 
 17, 1805. 
 Fo.\, Patrick, 21st Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 21, 1862; must, out June 10, 1805. 
 Fox, Thomas, 2d Art, ; enl. Jan. 4, 1804 ; must, out Aug. 18, 1865. 
 Fox, Walter M,, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 20, 1864; killed Petersburg, June 22, 
 
 1864. 
 Francis, Charles, 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1861; must, out Aug. 11, 1801. 
 Francis, E., 29th Eegt,; enl. Aug. 29, 1804; died Sept. 17, 1805. 
 Fi'ancis, Edwin, asst. surg,, 2d Eegt,; enl. May 7, 1801; must, out Aug. 
 
 7, 1801. 
 Francis, John A,, second licut,, 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 14, 1802 ; pro. lieut. ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1804. 
 Francis, William, 30tb Regt, ; enl. Jan. 2, 18C4 ; must, out Nov. 7, 1805. 
 Frasor, Daniel, 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Frazier, George W., 3d Kegt. ; eul. Way 11, 1801 ; sergt. 7th ; lion, disch. 
 
 Sept. 12, 1804, 
 Frazier, Kichard,30th Rogt.; enl. Jan. 5,1804; must, out Nov, 7, 1805. 
 Fieeman, S. H., Corp., IStli Kegt, ; enl. Aug. 7, 1802; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Frink, Lewis F., cav. ; enl. Jan. 22, 1804; must, out Aug. 2, 1805. 
 Frisby, Lyman, Corp., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 4, 1802; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Fuller, George H,, Corp., 20th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Fuller, James E,, sorgt,, 11th Kegt. ; onl. Oct. 25, 1801 ; pro. liout. Nov. 
 
 11,1804. 
 Fuller, Wallace, 20lh Kegt, ; enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 (iardcl, I'anI, 2d .\.rt.; oiil. Dec. 30, 1803; must, out Aug, 18, 1805. 
 Giillagher, Francis, 14th Kegt.; enl. July 23, 1802; must, out May 31, 
 
 1865. 
 Gallivan, David, 26th Eegt,; enl. Aug 30, 1802; must, out Aug 17, '03. 
 
 Gallivan, Humphrey, 26tli Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 8, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Gallup, Loren A., capt., 26th Eegt ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Gardner, John, Sth Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 20, 1803 ; must, out June 14, 1865. 
 Gaskill, Henry , 18th Kegt.; enl. Aug. 1, 1863 ; died at Danville, Feb. 
 
 20, 1805. 
 Gates, Horace P., 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1861 ; adjt. Sth; appt. A,A,G. 
 
 U,S.V. 
 Gates, William H., cav.; enl, Jan. 23, 1864. 
 
 Gattel, Peter, 8th Eegt. ; eul. Sept. 21, 1861 ; hon. disch. Sept. 20, 1804. 
 Gavitt, Edwin, 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1861; hon. disch. Aug. 11, 1801. 
 Gibson, James, 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 22, 1864 ; disch. for disability, March 
 
 18, 1805. 
 Gibson, Savillian F,, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 2, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Gilchrist, John W., 2d Eegt, ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug, 7, 1 861, 
 Giles, William, 30th Kegt. ; enl. Jan. 18, 1804; must, out June 18, 1806. 
 Gilleran, Owen, 26th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 2,1862; must, out Aug. 17, 1805. 
 Gilligan, Thomas, 14th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 3, 1864. 
 Gilroy, Charles, ISth Kegt. ; enl. July 24, 1862. 
 Gleason, Henry D., Corp., 18tli Eegt.; enl. Aug. G, 1862; captured June 
 
 11, 1864. 
 Gleason, John, 0th Eegt.; enl. Nov. 25, 1861 ; disch. for disability Oct. 
 
 16, 1862. 
 *Glynii, Patrick, 9th Eegt.; enl May 20, 1862 ; died Nov. 25, 1864, 
 Goddard, Alfred M., lieut., 8th Eegt.; enl. July 24, 1863; died Petci-s- 
 
 burg. May 9, 1804. 
 Goddard, Henry P., 2d lieut, cav.; eul. May 7, 1862 ; pro. capt 14tll ; res, 
 
 April 26, 1864. 
 Gony, John, 18th Regt; enl. July 22, 1862; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Gorry, John, 20lh Eegt; enl. Aug. 30, 1802; must, out Aug. 17, 1603. 
 Goss, James W,, 261h Eegt,; enl. Aug. 30, 1802; must, out Aug. 17,1863. 
 Gould, Augustus, 2d Eegt ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 Gould, John, 2Gth Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 29, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 18C3. 
 Gould, Blunroe A., cav. ; enl. Jan. 12, 1804 ; must, out Aug, 5, 1865, 
 •Gindy, James, 9th Eegt. ; enl. May 24, 1802; must, out Aug. 3, 1805. 
 Graham, Thomas H,, cav.; enl. Doc. 23, 1804. 
 
 Graves, Albert G,, 29th Regt. ; enl. Jan. 2, 1804; must out Oct. 24, 1865. 
 Green, Lafayette M., 61h Eegt; enl. July 22, ISOl; disch. for disability 
 
 Dec. 20, 1862. 
 Green, E, J., corp,, 20th Eegt,; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Green, William B,, 1st Alt; enl. Jan. 4, 1804; must, out Sept. 26, 1806. 
 Greenman, George, ISth Regt ; enl. Aug. 18, 1802 ; pro. capt. 31st U.S.C.T.; 
 
 must, out Nov. 7, 1805. 
 Greenman, Eufus, 13th Kegt; enl. Feb. 1, 1802; disch, for disability, 
 
 May 13, 1861. 
 Greenough, H. W., cav.; enl. Jan. 8, 1864; died Salisbury, N. 0., Oct. 8, 
 
 1804. 
 Greenwood, George, 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 25, 1864. 
 Griffin, Peter, 21st Regt. ; enl. Jan. 13, 1804; disch. for disability, April 
 
 3, 1864. 
 GrifBn, Thomas, 3J Regt. ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 11, 1801. 
 Guun, Augustus W., 30th Regt; enl. Jan. 19,1804; must out Nov. 7, 
 
 1865. 
 Guttuian, C. B,, 2d Art ; enl. Jan, 20, 1S64. 
 
 Gnyle, John W., 3d Regt. ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1801. 
 Hakes, Dwight W., qr.mr., ISth Regt.; enl. Aug. 4, 1802; capt. (com. 
 
 sub.) U.S.V. 
 Hakes, Isaac H., capt, ISth Eegt. ; enl. July 12, 1802 ; resigned Dec. 20, 
 
 1802. 
 Hale, Morton F., qr.mr,, 1st Eegt. ; enl. May 28, 1861 ; capt. (com. sub.) 
 
 U.S.V. 
 Hall, Aaron M., corp,, 29th Eegt; enl. Jan. 7, 1804; must out Oct 24, 
 
 1S65. 
 Hall, George, 13th Eegt; eul. Dec. 22,1861; disch. for disability, May 
 
 20, 1862. 
 Hall, William, 18th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1863. 
 Halhim, Chester H,, 14tli Eegt,, 1st Art. ; died May 4, 1864. 
 illallapan, T. A., 1st Art. ; enl. May 23, 1861. 
 'Hamilton, F. T., 9th Eegt. ; enl. May 24, 1862. 
 
 Hamilton, James, Sth Eegt. ; enl. July 20, 1864 ; captured Sept, 20, 1S64 
 Hamilton, William H., 18lh Eegt ; eul. July 20, 1802 ; killed Piedmont, 
 
 June 5, 1S64. 
 Hancock, Joseph A., 18th Eegt, ; eul. July 23, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 ISCo. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 341 
 
 Hnnley, Michael, 18th Eogt.; enl. July 22,1802; discli. for disability 
 
 Juno 10, 1S04. 
 Hanson, H. C, 2Gth Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1?C2 ; must, out Aug. IT, 1803. 
 Hanson, Olet T., 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1804 ; U.S.N., April 14, 1805. 
 Hnrland, Eilvvnrd,capt., 3d Best.; enl. May 11, 18G1; col. 8th Regt. ; B. 
 
 G. V. April 20, 1803 ; resigned June 20, 1805. 
 Harper, William, 2Cth Eogt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, '03. 
 Han-ington, Clark, capt., 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 25, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 ♦Harrington, Joseph W., 7th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1801; must, out July 
 
 20, 1805. 
 Harris, George L., 18th Kegt. ; enl. July 10, 1802; trans, to Vet. Eos. 
 
 Corps. 
 Hartie, Philip C, 14th Eegt. ; enl. June 7, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Dec. 
 
 9, 1802. 
 Hancy, George ¥., 21st Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 19, 1862 ; disch. Nov. 7, 1862. 
 Harvey, James, 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 Harvey, St. John, 26th Eegt.; enl. Nov. 6, 1802; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Haslem, Wesley W., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 25, 1802; ninst. out May 18, 
 
 1865. 
 Hathaway, Philip B., cav. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1804; disch. Sept. 15, 1804. 
 Hawthorne, Andrew, 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1SG2 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Hayes, Charles, 14th Kegt.; enl. July 28, 1804; trans, to 2d Art. May 31, 
 
 1865. 
 Hayes, William, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 2, 1802. 
 Haywanl, William G., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 1, 1802 ; died at Anderson- 
 
 ville, Sept. 11,1864. 
 Hazleliuist, Edwin, 13th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 8, 1802; discli. for dis.ibility. 
 
 May 20, 1802. 
 Healey, Edward, 14th Eegt.; enl. July 10, 1802; disch. for disability, 
 
 Nov. 25, 1802. 
 Heath, Leonard, 1st Art.; enl. Jan. 18, 1803; must, out Sept. 25, 1805. 
 Heath, Thomas, 1st Art. ; enl. Aug. 29, 1804. 
 Hempstead, Albert, 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 8, 1802; must, out June 27, 
 
 1804. 
 Hempstead, Henry, 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Henderson, Andrew, 1st Art.: enl. Feb. 26, 1802. 
 Hennessey, Thomas J., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 31, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865. 
 Henney, George, 20th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 21, 1804. 
 Hernandez, John, cav. ; enl. Jan. 13, 1804. 
 Herrick, James, 5th Eegt. ; enl. July 22, 1801; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 
 6, 1663. 
 *Hickey, John, 9lh Eegt. ; enl. May 24, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1805. 
 Hickey, Patrick, 13th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 28, 1802. 
 Hicks, James W., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 30, 1862; died Martinsburg, 
 
 April 13, 1804. 
 Higgins, James D , 2J Eegt.; enl. May 7,1801; 2d lieut. 18th Eegt.; 
 
 hon. disch. Oct. 27, 1804. 
 Highey, Patrick, 21st Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 20, 1802 ; must, out Juno 16, 1805. 
 Hill, Edwin, 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Hill, Elisha D., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 21, 1862; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Hill, Jahleel B., 27th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1862; 2d Art. 
 Hilliard, William C, sergt., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 14,1862; disch. Dec. 
 
 3, 1864. 
 Hills, Herman, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 8, 1862. 
 Hinckley, Edwin F.,cav. ; enl. Oct. 26, 1801; disch. for disability, Nov. 
 
 3, 1862. 
 Hislop, James, 2l6t Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 21, 1802 ; must, out June 16, 1805. 
 Iloey, John, cav. ; enl. Jan. 12, 1864; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Hoey, William, cav. ; enl. Jan. 12, 1804 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Hogan, James, 2Uth Eegt.; enl. Aug. 15, 1802. 
 Holmes, Joseph, cav.; enl. Oct. 26, 1861; disch. for disability, Nov. 3, 
 
 1802. 
 Holmes, Joseph W., 1st Art.; enl. Feb. 27, 1802. 
 Holwell, John C, 11th Eegt.; enl. Nov. 23, 1801 ; killed Antietam, Sept. 
 
 17, 1802. 
 Hotchkiss, Edwin 0.,26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1802; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Hovey, Henry, color-sergt., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 4, 1802; must, out 
 
 June 27, 1805. 
 Howard, Francis, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1804 ; must, out Sept. 18, 1805. 
 Howard, Solomon M., sergt., 23th Eegt; enl. Jan. 2, 1804; must, out 
 
 Oct. 24, 1805. 
 Howard, William U., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 14, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 1865. 
 
 Howell, Abbott, 30th Eogt. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1864 ; died July 31, 1865. 
 Hughes, Asa L., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1862 ; 14th Eegt. ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Dec. 15,1802. 
 Hull, Henry H., 14th Eegt.; enl. May 27, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 15, 1865. 
 Huntington, (!. L. IF., 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1801; must, out Aug. 11, 
 
 1861. 
 Huntington, Daniel, 26th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 11, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1865. 
 Huntington, George F., 14th Eegt.; enl. July 5, 1862 ; Vet. Eos. Corps, 
 
 Jan. 15, 1804. 
 Huntington, Thomas D., 8th Eogt; enl. Sept. 21, 1801; died Sept. 29, 
 
 1861. 
 Huntoon, Samuel, capt., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 26, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Uutchins, Lyman, 11th Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 25, 1801 ; disch. for disability. 
 
 May 18, 1862. 
 Hutchins, William, lllh Eegt. ; enl. Nov. 14, 1861 ; died Juno 14, 1S6'2. 
 Hyatt, Isimc B., 17th Eegt; enl. Jan. 16, 1804; must, out July 19, 1805. 
 Hyde, John P., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 12, 1862; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 *Uyland, John, 9th Eegt. : enl. Nov. 25, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1805. 
 Irons, Thomas, 14lh Eegt. ; enl. Juno 12, 1802 ; must, out May 31, 1865. 
 *Ittell, George, corp., 0th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 0, 1801. 
 Jacobs, Hervey F., 2d lieut., 2eth Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; died at Port 
 
 Hudson, July 5, 1863. 
 Jaques, Benjamin F., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; Corp. 18th Eogt. ; must. 
 
 out Juno 27, 1805. 
 *Jaques, David D., 13th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 28, 1802 ; must, out April 25, 
 
 1806. 
 *Jaqnes, William, 9th Eegt. ; enl. Nov. 18, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Jennings, John B., Corp., 2d Eegt. ; onl. April 22, 1861 ; captured July 
 
 21,1861. 
 Jewell, William C, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 1, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 28, 1863. 
 Jewo'.t, Elcazar, 26tli Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1863. 
 Jewelt, Joseph H., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; adj. 8th Eegt. : must, out 
 
 Dec. 12, 1805. 
 Jewett, Lee L., 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; disch. for disability. May 
 
 8, 1863. 
 Jillson, George W., 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1861; must, out Aug. 11, 
 
 1801. 
 ♦Johnson, Abol, 13th Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1801 ; must, out April 26, 1860. 
 Johnson, Charles H., 29th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 2, 1804 ; must, out Oct. 24, 
 
 1865. 
 Johnson, D. H., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 29, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 ♦Johnson, Irvin, 1st Art; enl. Feb. 20, 1802 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1863. 
 Johnson, John W., 9th Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 21, 1861. 
 
 Johnson, Lovell, 11th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 25, 1864 ; must, out June 19, 1805. 
 Johnson, Marquis L. ,13th Eegt.; enl . Jan. 28, 1862 ; disch. for disabil- 
 ity, July 20, 1862. 
 ♦Johnson, Eobort, 2d Eegt., euL May 7,1861; sergt. 9th Eegt.; must. 
 
 out Aug. 3, 1805. 
 ♦Johnson, Samuel, 9th Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 17, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Johnson, Stephen T., 26th Eogt.; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died Aug. 3, 1863. 
 .Johnson, William, 9th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 12, 1804; must, out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Jones, Frank J., 2d lieut., 1st Art. ; enl. March 13, 1862 ; pro. lieut. ; res. 
 
 July 27, 1863. 
 Kampf, George, 1st Art. ; enl. April 8, 1862 ; hon. disch. April 8, 1805. 
 Kampf, Herman, 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Kane, J. Hammond, 1st Cav.; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Keables, Amos 1., sergt., 8th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. 2d lieut. ; 
 
 disch. May 15, 1865. 
 Keables, Charles F., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 0, 1862; trans, to Vet. Eos. 
 
 Corps ; must, out Aug. 17, 1865. 
 Keables, N. Armand, 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1861; 26th Eegt.; must. 
 
 out Aug. 17, 1805. 
 ♦Keane, Michael, 9th Eegt.; enl. May 22, 1862. 
 
 Kooch, Charles, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 21, 1864; must, out Jan. 13, 1865. 
 Koelor, George W., 18th Eegt.; onl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out Juno 29, 
 
 1865. 
 Keoler, John M., 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 11, 1801. 
 Keelcr, Thomas, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1804 ; killed at Fort Fisher, March 
 
 20, 1866. 
 ♦Kehr, Jacob, 13th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 28, 1802 ; must, out April 25, 1806. 
 Keigwin, Daniel, 18th Eegt; enl. Dec. 19, 1803 ; must out June 27, 1805. 
 Kelly, Andrew J., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 2,1862; must, out Juno 27,1866. 
 
342 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Kelly, Henry, Stli Kegt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1801 ; discli. Feb. 26, 1864. 
 
 Kelly, James .\., 13tli Eegt.; onl. Feb. 1. 1802; lion, (liscli. Jan. 0, 1805. 
 
 Kelly, John, 2l3t Regt. ; enl. Jnly 31, 1862. 
 
 Kelly, Micliacl, Sth Kegt.; Jnly l.'>, 18C4. 
 
 Kelly, Tljonias, 2d Art. ; onl. Jan. 22, 1864. 
 
 Kenely, James, lOtli Kegt. ; enl. Jan. 19, 1804 ; killed at Petersburg, 
 
 April 2, 1865. 
 Kenney, Cbailes L., 26tli Kegt; enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Kcnncy, Ralph, 20th Kegt. ; enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Kepler, Sebast. B., Corp., IStli Kegt.; enl. Aug. 12, 1862; mutt, out June 
 
 27, 180.5. 
 Kerley, John, 9th Eegt.; enl. Kov. 25, 1S61 ; died on transport, July 24, 
 
 1802. 
 Kerr, Francis, 13tli Kegt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1862; disch. for disability, Nov. 
 
 23, 1863. 
 Kerr, John, 18th Kegt.; enl. July 23, 1862 ; Vet. Ees. Corps ; must, out 
 
 May 1, 1804. 
 Kerr, Kobert, 2d Kegt.; enl. May 7, 1861; pro. 2d lieut. IStli Kogt. ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 *Kerr, Kobert, Otli Eegt.; enl. Oct. 22, 1862; qr.mr.-sergt. ; must, out 
 
 Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Kerrigan, Thomas, 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 29, 1862; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Kics, David B., lltli Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 25, 1864; must, out Dec. 21, 1805. 
 Kimball, James, 26th Kegt.; enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, '63. 
 Kimball, John, 20th Eegt. • enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1803. 
 King, David, 14th Kegt. ; enl. July 13, 1803 ; trans, to 2d Art. May 31, 
 
 1805. 
 Kingsley, Jared L., ISth Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1802; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 *Kingsley, Willet W., Sth Kegt. ; enl. Oct. 5, 1861 ; must, out Dec. 12, '05. 
 Kingston,Elias, Jr., 2dKegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7,1801. 
 *Kinney, Albert B., 7th Kegt. ; enl. Sept. 5, 1801 ; must, out July 20, '65. 
 Kiuney, William H., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1806. 
 Kirby, John, 2eth Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 1, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Klein, John, cav. ; enl. Jan. 13, 1864; must, out Oct. 10, 1805. 
 Knapp, Samuel K., capt., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 21, 1802; res. June 0, 
 
 1803. 
 Knox, .Joseph W., cav. ; enl. Jan. 12, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1866. 
 Kohler, William S., 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 29,1804. 
 
 Kraus, Adam, ISlh Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 0, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Krepps, James, 15th Eegt.; enl. Dec. 20,1804; 7th Eegt.; must. out Aug. 
 
 14, 1866. 
 Lacy, David, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 23, 1864; killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 
 
 1864. 
 Ladd, Albert W., 1st Art. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1864 ; disch. for disability, April 
 
 6, 1864. 
 Ladd, Amos E., 2d Kegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; adj. 73d U. S. Col. Troops. 
 Ladd, Daniel, 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 24, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Laferty, James, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 23, 1866. 
 Laird, Daniel, 13th Kegt. ; enl. Feb. 11, 1802; killed in action Sept. 19, 
 
 1804. 
 Laird, John, 18th Rogt. ; enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1806. 
 Lamb, George AV., Corp., 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 26, 1862; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Lampheare, Charles H., Sth Kegt.; enl. Oct. 7, 1861. 
 Lampheare, Cliauncey G , 26th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 3U, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17,1863. 
 *Lampherc, James M., 10th Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 6, 1861. 
 Lamphere, Calvin J., 14th Eegt.; enl. July 20, 1803; trans, to 2d Art. 
 
 Hay 31, 186.J. 
 Lampson, Charles E., 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 20, 1864; must, out Aug. 18, 
 
 1865. 
 Lane, Joseph M., 20th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 5, 1862; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Lapierre, H. H., 20tli Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1,^62 ; trans, to Signal Corps. 
 Lasthins, August, 26th Kegt.; enl. Oct. 13, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 18, 1803. 
 Latham, Albert, 18th Eegt.; enl. July 26, 1802; lieut. 30th Kegt.; must. 
 
 out Nov. 7, 1865. 
 Latham, Ira C, 21st Rogt. ; enl. Jan. 13, 1864 ; trans, to 10th Kegt. ; must. 
 
 out Aug. 25, 1805. 
 Lathrop, Dewitt C, surg., 8th Eegt.'; enl. Oct. 5, 1801; died April 18, 
 
 1862. 
 Lathrop, Erastiis D., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; IstArt.; disch. for dis- 
 ability, Dec. 24, 1862. 
 
 Lathrop, Joseph 0., ISth Eegt.; enl. Aug. 0, 1802; must, out June 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Laughlin, Patrick, 14th Eegt.; enl. July 25, 1863. 
 Lawlor, Joseph H., Corp., 9th Eegt.; enl. Oct. 30, 1861 ; pro. liout.; must. 
 
 out Aug. 3, 1805. 
 Lawler, Thomas C, Corp., 2a Eegt.; enl. May 7, 1861 ; lieut. 9th Eegl.; 
 
 res. Feb. 25, 1862. 
 Leach, Edwin T., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862; lieut. 31st U.S.CT.; 
 
 disch. May 9, 1804. 
 *Leahy, Edward, 9th Eegt.; enl. May 6, 1862. 
 Learned, Beta P., second lient., 1st Art.; enl. March 12, 1862; maj. by 
 
 brevet; pro. capt. Sept. 2."i, 1S05. 
 'Leary, James, 9th Eegt. ; enl. Nov. 25, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 3, 18C5. 
 Lee, Charles C, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 24, 1 863; must, out June 27, 18G5. 
 Lee, J. Hamilton, assistant surg., 21st Kegt.; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; surg.; 
 
 disch. Oct. 31, 1804. 
 Lee, Samuel J., sergt., 18(h Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 2, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1866. 
 Lenian, Theodore, 6th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1801 ; hon. disch. Sept. 11, '64. 
 Leonard, Isaac N., 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1801; sergt. 26th Eegt.; hou. 
 
 disch. Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Leonard, M.L., 18th Eegt.; enl. Jnly 25, 1862; 2d lieut. 29th Eegt.; 
 
 must, out Oct. 24, 1865. 
 Leruscher, William, 0th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1801; hon. disch. Sept. 12, '61. 
 Lester, Henry W., Corp., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; disch. for disabiUty, 
 
 June 26, 1861. 
 Lewis, Charles, 8th Kegt. ; enl. Feb. 20, 1864. 
 Lewis, James S., 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862. 
 *Levison, Moritz, 1st Art. ; enl. March 1, 1862. 
 Lilley, John, sergt, 18th Kegt.; enl. Aug. 14, 1862; pro. capt.; must. 
 
 out June 27, 1805. 
 Lillibridge, Clark, 2d Itegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 18G1. 
 LillibriJge, M. M., 2d Art.; enl. Dec. 80, 1803; disch. for disability, 
 
 June 13, 1805. 
 Liudsley, Adam H., lieut., ISth Eegt; enl. Aug. 8, 1802; hon. disch. 
 
 April 17, 1865. 
 Livingston, F. D., Corp., 6th Eegt.; enl. July 22, 1S61; disch. for disa- 
 bility, .Ian. 10,1802. 
 Lloyd, Patrick, 14th Kegt. ; enl. July 15, 1862 ; died of wounds May 11, 
 
 1864. 
 *Looniis, Charles A., 2d Kegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; sergt. 13th Eegt. 
 Loomis, Ezra M., 11th Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; died of wounds at An- 
 
 tietam, Sept 19, 1862. 
 Loomis, George Vf., Corp., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 20, 1862 ; must out 
 
 June 27, 1865. 
 Loomis, Henry N., 21st Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 20, 1802 ; died Aug. 21, 1864. 
 Loomis, James W., 18th Eegt, ; enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; disch. Nov. 1, 1804. 
 Loomis, John W., 2d Kegt ; enl. Slay 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Long, John, IStli Kegt ; eul. July 15, 1802 ; must out June 27, 1865. 
 Lovoring, Fred. E., cav. ; enl. Jan. 5, 1861 : must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Lowrey, Joshua, Sth Kegt. ; enl. Oct. 7, 1801 ; rejected Nov. 2, 1861. 
 Lumis, T. J.. 18th Kegt ; enl. Aug. 5, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Lydon, James, Otli Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 17, 1801 ; disch. Oct. 26, 1864. 
 Lynch, Charles, 18th Kegt; enl. Aug. 6,1802; must out June 27, 1SG5. 
 Lynch, Henry, 2d Art ; enl. Jan. 13, 1864; died of wounds Oct. 31, 1864. 
 Lynch, James, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 30, 1864. 
 
 Lyon, George N.j 1st Art. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 Lyon, Nelson A., 21st Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; must, out Juno 16, 1863. 
 *Maguire, Patiick, Otli Kegt.; enl. Nov. 26, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 3,1865. 
 M.^hony, Wm., 1st Art ; enl. March 6, 1862. 
 
 Manion, Tliomas, cav. ; enl. Dec. 30, 1863; must, out Aug. 2, 1805. 
 Manning, David W., 2d Art ; enh Jan. 27,1804; disch. for disability, 
 
 July 15, 1866. 
 Manning, E. P., com.-sergt , 26th Kegt.; enh Aug. 30, 1862 ; 2d heut; 
 
 died Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Manning, Lom. A., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 29, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Maples, C. H., q.m.-sergt., 26th Kegt. ; eul. Aug. 27, 1862 ; nmst out Aug. 
 
 17,1863. 
 Maples, James L., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; U.S.CT. 
 Maples, Wm. L., 33 Kegt. ; enl. May 11, 1861; must out Aug. 11,1861. 
 Marks, Michael, 9th Eegt. ; enl. Nov. 26, 1861 ; hon. disch. Oct. 26, 1804. 
 Maro, Patrick, 10th Eegt. ; enl. Oct 1, 1861 ; killed at Newbern, March 
 
 14, 1862. 
 Marrarty, John, Sth Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 21 , 1861 ; Vet. Kes. Corps. 
 Marsh, F. B., 7th Kegt.. ; enl. Sept, 6, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 3, 
 1862. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 343 
 
 Marshall, George B,, 3tl Kegt. ; enl. May 11, 1801: cOrp. 18th Kegt.; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Marahall, Hamlet J., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 2, 1SC2 ; disch. July 24, 18C3. 
 Marshall, John, 18th Kegt.; enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; must, out June 23, 1865. 
 Marshall, William S., caw ; enl. Deo. 22, 1803 ; must, out June 3, 18C5. 
 Marshall, Wilson C, 18th Kegt. ; enl. July 23, 1S62 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Martin, Islay B., 18th Kegt.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; died of wounds at Win- 
 chester, July 2, 1803. 
 Martin, .John W., 18th Kegt.; enl. July 17, 1802 ; must, out June 27,1806. 
 Martin, Patrick, 13th Kegt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1862; hon. disch, Jan, 6, 1805, 
 Mason, John, cav, ; enl. Nov. 19, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 2. 
 Massey, James, 18th Eegt.; enl. July 15, 1862; died at Florence, S. C, 
 
 Jan. 7, 1865. 
 Matson, George, 29th Kegt.; enl. Dec. 4, 1864 ; must, out Oct. 24, 1665. 
 Maurer, Richard, 1st Art.; enl. Jan. 15, 1864; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 Maynard, Koswell E., 26th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 20, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 McAllister, Konald, 11th Kegt. ; enl. Nov. 12, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Jan. 10, 1863. 
 McAllister, Konald, Jr., llth Kegt. ; enl. Oct. 25, 1861 ; killed at Cold 
 
 Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 McCall, A. Dwight, lient., 12th Kegt. ; enl. Jan. 1, 1862; must, out Nov. 
 
 21, 1864. 
 McCall, John, sergt,, 8th Kegt,; enl. Sept. 21, 1801 ; pro. capt.; killed at 
 
 Fort Darling, May 10, 1804. 
 McCall, Gideon, Corp., 30th Kegt.; enl. Jan. 25, 1804; died of wounds 
 
 Oct. 8, 1864. 
 McCarly, Michael, 14tli Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 5, 1803 ; disch. Dec. 6, 1863. 
 McCarty, Thomas, 2d Art. ; enl. Feb. 1, 1864. 
 McCauIay, Thomas, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 21, 1804. 
 
 McOlure, George, 26th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 McClure, John, 18th Kegt. ; enl. July 19, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 McCool, .Tohn, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 21, 1864. 
 McCora, James J., 2d lieut., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; pro. capt. 13th 
 
 Eegt.; must, out Jan. 6, 1865. 
 McCoy, George, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 23, 1864 ; Vet. Res. Corps ; must, out 
 
 Sept. 22, 1865. 
 JlcCracken, Henry, cav. ; enl. Dec. 16, 1863 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1805. 
 McCracken, James, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; killed at Winchester, 
 
 June 15, 1863. 
 McCusker, Hugh, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1862 ; mnst. out Juno 27, 1865. 
 *McCu8ker, John, 18th Kegt.; enl. July 25,1862; must, out June 26, 
 
 1865. 
 McDavid, George, 18th Eegt.; enl. July 19, 1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 1, 1863. 
 McDavid, James S., cav. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1864 ; died at Andersonville, Aug. 
 
 21, 1864. 
 •McDonald, John, 9th Regt. ; enl. May 27, 1862 ; died May 2, 1865. 
 McDonald, John, 14th Eegt. ; enl. June 3, 1802 ; must, out June 29,1805. 
 McDonnell, Thomas, 9th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 17, 1864. 
 McGarry, Andrew, 2d Kegt.; enl. May 7, 1861; coi-p. 9th Regt.; disch, 
 
 fcr disability, Oct. 16, 1862. 
 McGlone, James, 1st Art. ; enl, Feb, 26, 1862, 
 McGovern, Michael, 14th Regt, ; enl, July 16. 1862. 
 *McGoyern, Thomas, 9th Eegt. ; enl. Nov. 26, 1861. 
 McGrath, John, 18th Regt. ; enl. Jan. 0, 1864. 
 McGuigan, Frank, 9th Regt.; enl. Sept. 27, 1861; hon. disch. Oct. 26, 
 
 1864. 
 *McKay, James, 6th Eegt.; enl. July 22, 1861 ; must, out July 19, 1866. 
 McKeag, Francis, sergt., 2d Kegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; 2d lieut., 18th 
 
 Kegt. ; must, out June 27, 1866, 
 McKec, James, 2d Regt,; enl. May 7, 1861; corp, 18th Regt, ; must, out 
 
 Jnne 27, 1865, 
 *McKenna, John, corp,, 9th Regt,; enl, Oct, 30,1861; must, out Aug, 
 
 3, 1865, 
 McKenna, John, 2l8t Regt, ; enl, Aug, 1, 1862, 
 McKenna, Peter, 2l8t Regt, ; enl, Aug 11, 1862 ; disch, for disability, Feb. 
 
 18, 1863. 
 McKnight, Wm., 12th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 3, 1861 ; died Aug. 18, 1863. 
 McLaughlin, Thomas, 5th Kegt.; enl. July 22, 1861. 
 McLeland, George, 10th Regt.; enL Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Oct. 16, 1802. 
 McMahon, Gilbert, 2d Art. ; enl. Dec. 30, 1863 ; disch. for disability, June 
 
 4, 1865. 
 McMahon, Thomas, 18th Regt. ; enl. Nov. 16, 1863 ; killed at Piedmont, 
 
 June 5, 1864. 
 
 *McNamara, John, 9th Eegt. ; enl. May 20, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1805, 
 McNnmara, Patrick, 18th Kegt, ; enl, Jan, 1, 1804 ; died Jan, 19, 1865, 
 McNeil, John, 26th Kogt, ; enl, Aug, .30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 McSorly, John, 9tli Regt.; enl. Oct. 12, 1861; died April 18, 1803. 
 McYay, Francis, 14tli Regt.; enl. Aug. 13, 1802; must, out May 31,1865. 
 McVay, James, 14th Regt; enl. July 14, 1802; died Sept. 9, 1802. 
 McVay, Michael, 14th Eegt.; oul. July 5, 1862; must, out May 31, 1865. 
 McWhirr, John F., ISth Eegt.; enl. Aug. 4,1802; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Meany, John, 9th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 27, 1801 ; died Nov. 12, 1802. 
 Meecli, Stephen B., adjt,, 26th Kegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 *Meohan, Peter, 9th Regt. ; enl, Oct. 12, 1801. 
 
 *Meehan, William, 9th Regt. ; enl. May 10, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Meisaer, Charles, 6th Kegt. ; enl. Sept. 6,1861; killed at Morris Island, 
 
 July 18, 1803. 
 »Meldruin, John, 0th Regt. ; enl. May 28, 1802 ; died April 8, 1804. 
 Meledy, Michael, sergt., 26th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 29, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 *Mell, Augustus, 5th Regt. ; enl. July 22, 1861 ; must, out June 14, 1865. 
 Merwin, S. T. C, 1st Regt.; enl. April 22,1801; pro. capt. 18th Regt.; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1806. 
 Metcalf, John G., 3d Regt. ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 11, 1801. 
 Meyer, Adolph L., 0th Regt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1801 ; llth Regt; must, out 
 
 Dec. 21, 1805. 
 Miller, Henry C, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; pro. to sergt. 14th Kegt.; 
 
 disch. for disability, Nov. 17, 1862. 
 Miller, Jacob W., killed at Spottsylvania, May 18, 1804. 
 Minard, Euos G., 2d Regt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Miner, Charles H., Jr., I8th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; nmst. out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Miner, William P., 2d lieut., 13th Regt.; enl. Feb. 18, 1862; pro. let 
 
 lieut. ; must, out July 16, 1864. 
 Mitchell, Alfred, capt., 13th Regt. ; enl. Feb. 18, 1862 ; res. March 11, 1864. 
 *Moan, Owen, 1st Art. ; enl. March 1, 1862 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1S6B. 
 Moffett, Albert, cav.; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; killed at Winchester, Sept. 19, 
 
 1864. 
 Moore, Allen L., sergt., 18th Regt.; enl. Aug. 13, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865. 
 Moore, James R., sergt., 3d Regt. ; enl. May 11, 1861; capt. 8th Regt. ; 
 
 disch. May 30, 1865. 
 Moore, John, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1864; trans, to U. S. navy. 
 Moore, Michael, 20th Kegt. ; enl. Sept. 9, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Monirigham, James, 9th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 27, 1861 ; died July 21 , 1801. 
 Monroe, Austin G., sergt., 2d Regt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; sergt. 18th Regt. ; 
 
 must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Monroe, Chailes II., 20th Regt. ; enl. Jan. 2, 1864 ; died Jan. 11, 1865. 
 Morgan, Charles D., corp., 26th Regt.; enl. Aug. 26, 1862; must, out 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Morris, John, cav.; enl, Jan, 23, 1864, 
 Morris, Patrick, 20th Eegt, ; enl. Aug, 30, 1864, 
 Morris, Thomas, 2d Art, ; eul, Jan. 16, 1804; must, out Aug, 18, 1865, 
 Morris, William C, 2d Art, ; enl, Jan, 20, 1864 ; must, out Sept. 18, 1865. 
 Morrison, John H., 2d Regt ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; capt. 18th Regt.; dis- 
 missed Sept. 1, 1804. 
 Morrow, George, 1st Art. ; enl. Jan. 15, 1804 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1806. 
 Morrow, Joseph, sergt., 9lh Kegt. ; enl. Oct. 30, 1801 ; hon. disch. Oct. 26, 
 
 1864. 
 Mossman, Alexander, ISth Regt. ; enl. July 19, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 *Mott,Oramel M.,lltli Regt.; enl. Oct. 25, 1861 ; must, out Dec. 21,1865. 
 Mott, Willard L., 7th Kegt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; trans, to Signal Corps, 
 
 Feb. 29, 1863. 
 Mowry, Bernard K. 0., 18th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 7, 1862. 
 Mouch, Peter, 20th Regt.; enl. Oct. 24, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 *Moush, Adolph, 6th Eegt. ; enl. July 22, 1861 ; must, out July 19, 1866. 
 Mulcaley, Michael, 26th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, '63. 
 Mulcaley, Tlios., 26th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 1, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Mulligan, Peter, 26th Regt. ; enl. Oct. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Mumford, Henry, 20th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 4, 1863 ; must, out Oct. 24, 1866. 
 *Munroe, John C, 5th Kegt. ; enl. July 22, 1801 ; must, out July 19, 1805. 
 Murphy, Dennis, 21st Regt. ; enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; died March 12, 1864. 
 Murphy, Frank E., 18th Regt. ; enl. July 16, 1802 ; must, out June 27, '05, 
 Murphy', James, 2l6tRegt,; enl, Aug, 13, 1862; must, out June 16,1865, 
 Murpliy, James, 9th Regt,; enl, Oct, 4, 1861 ; died Aug, 16, 1862, 
 *Murphy, Jeremiah, 9th Regt, ; enl, Sept. 2, 1861 ; must, out Sept. 7, 1805. 
 Murphy, John, 6th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 27, 1863. 
 
34-1: 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Murphy, Orlando C, 2Gth Eogt.; enl. Aug. 27, 1802; must, out Aug. lY, 
 
 1SC,3. 
 Muri'liy. Patrick, ii Art. ; enl. Jan. 23, 1864; must, out Aug. Y, ISC). 
 Murphy, Wm. M., Corp., 8th Kegt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. for disa- 
 bility. May 5, 18G3. 
 Murray, Charles A., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 18C1 ; pro. 2d lieut. IStli Kegt. ; 
 
 must, out Juno 27, 1865. 
 Muithagh, Patrick, 21st Kegt.; enl. July 31, 1862; must, cut Juno 10, 
 
 1SC5. 
 Musharue, Henry, 29th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 20, 1864 ; must, out Oct. 24, 1865. 
 Mussel, Christian, cav.; enl. Jan. 4, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Muzzy, Benj.H., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 31,1862; must, out May 20, 1865. 
 Muzzy, Harvey L., 18th Eegt.; eul. July 30, 1862; must, out Juno 10, 
 
 1865. 
 Muzzy, Walter H., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 12,1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 *Nasli, Eugene S., 2d Kegt. ; enl. May Y, 1861 ; pro. Corp. in 13th Eegt. 
 NelT, A. Martin, 26tli Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 27, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Neill, Henry P., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Nelson, Samuel, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 21, 1804; trans, to U.S.N. April 14, 
 
 1864. 
 Nelson, Wm. F., 14th Eegt. ; enl. July 25, 1863. 
 
 Newman, Tlios., 26th Kegt.; enl. Sept. 8, 1802; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Newton, Charles J., 14th Eegt.; enl. July 23, 1863; trans, to U.S. navy, 
 
 April 2",, 1864. 
 *Nicliolls, Kobert, 13th Kegt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861. 
 *Slcholson, Michael, 9lh Eegt.; enl. May 22, 1862. 
 Nickels, James K., sergt., 14th Kegt. ; enl. May 29, 1862 ; capt. ; died of 
 
 wounds, Feb. 20, 1865. 
 Nickerson, Joseph H., sergt., lltli Eegt.; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; capt.; 
 
 discb. for disability, Oct. 12, 1864. 
 Nickerson, Paris E., Corp., 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 11,1861. 
 Nickle, Arthur, 8th Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 2, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Feb. 
 
 28, lS6-i. 
 Norris, Jolin H., lieut., llth Eegt. ; eul. Nov. 27, 1 861 ; res. April 5, 1862. 
 Northrop, George, Sth Kegt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 May 10, 1862. 
 Norton, George B., 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 29, 1862; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Noyes, Caleb H., 26th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Noyes, Charles C, 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 11, 1802 ; killed at Winchester, 
 
 June 15, 1804. 
 Noyes, John D., 10th Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 1 , 1801 ; hon. disch. Oct. 7, 1804. 
 O'Brien, Edward, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 30, 1864; must, out Aug. 18, 1865. 
 O'Connor, Cornelius, 8th Kegt. ; enl. Sept. 23, 1861 ; hon. disch. Sept. 20, 
 
 1864. • 
 
 O'Donnell, George, 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 O'Donnell, Matthew, 2l8t Kegt.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must, out June 16, 
 
 1865. 
 O'Donnell, OIney, 14th Kegt; enl. July 7, 1862 ; disch. for disability, Jan. 
 
 12, 1863. 
 O'Neil, David, 20th Kegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; cav.; must, out Aug. 2, 
 
 1865. 
 *0'Neil, James, 9th Eegt.; enl. May 21, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 O'Noil, John, 14th Eegt. ; eid. July 7, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 1865. 
 *08borne, Charles, 7th Ei-gt. ; enl. Sept. 5, 1801 ; must, out July 20, 1806. 
 Osborne, James, 7th Kegt. ; enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; hon. discb. Sept. 12, 1865. 
 Otis, Josiali L. D,, 14tli Kegt.; enl. July 25, 1862 ; died from wounds re- 
 ceived at Fredericksburg, Feb. 10, 1863. 
 Page, James F., cav. ; enl. Jan. 5, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Palmer, Almon B., 18th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 18, 1862 ; must, out June 27, '65. 
 Palmer, Andrew, 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 25, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Palmer, Fred. A., lieut., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 12, 1862 ; pro. capt. ; disch. 
 
 May 28, 186^ 
 Palmer, Julius, 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 4, 1802 ; mnit. out Juno 27, 1865. 
 Palmer, Lewis 0., 7th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; trans, to Inv. Corps. 
 Palmer, Oriu V., 18th Kegt.; enl. Jan. 14, 1804; must, out June 27,1865. 
 Palmer, Eoswell, 18th Eegt. ; eul. Aug. 6,1802; must, out June 27,1865. 
 Parker, Henry W., 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 21, 1804 ; U.S.N. April 14, 1804. 
 Parker, Joseph M., 2d Kegt; enl. May 7, 1861; capt. 32d U.S.O. 
 Parker, Timothy, 18tli Eegt. ; enl. July 23, 1862 ; must, out Juno 27, '65. 
 Parkerson, James, 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died of wounds re- 
 ceived at Port Hudson, June 1, 1863. 
 Parkinson, Geo., 18th Kegt. ; enl. July 17, 1862 ; must. o«t June 27, 1865. 
 Parkus, Simon, sergt., 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 18, 1801 ; must, out Nov. 7, 
 1865. 
 
 Parrish, Wm. W., Ist Art. ; enl. May 22, 1861 ; hon. disch. May 26, 1864. 
 *Patten , Charles, 13th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 11, 1862 ; must, out April 25, 1866. 
 Payne, Burton H., cav. ; enl. Jan. 22, 1864 ; must, out Jan. 10, 1805. 
 Payne, Ichabod S., Sth Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 27, 1861 ; must, out April 25, 
 
 1866. 
 Penle, Henry, capt., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; pro. lieut.-col. 18tli 
 
 Eegt.; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Penrce, Martin, 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 10, 1802 ; must, out Juno 27, 1865, 
 Peck, Seth L., 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 27, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 *Peck, Wm. H , Corp., 8th Kegt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; pro. lieut. ; must. 
 
 out Dec. 12, 1.805. 
 *Pendergrast, James, 9th Kegt. ; enl. Jan. 10, 1803. 
 *Perkins, Ohas. W., Corp., 9th Eegt.; enl. Oct. 30, 1861; must, out Aug. 
 
 3, 1805. 
 Perry, Ilylon N., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1802; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Peter, William, 18tli Eegt. ; enl. July 28, 1802. 
 Peters, Charles, 29th Kegt.; enl. Jan. 2, 1864. 
 Peters, William, 6th Kegt. ; enl. Sept. 4, 1801 ; disch. for disability, July 
 
 6, 1863. 
 Peterson, John, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1804 ; U.S.N. April 14, 18G4. 
 Phillips, Benjamin F., cav. ; enl. Oct. 6, 1863. 
 Phillips, Henry T., cav. ; enl. Nov. 18,1562; capt.; must, out Aug. 2, 
 
 1865. 
 Phillips, Thomas D., cav.; enl. Jan. 5, 1864; must, out Aug. 2,1865. 
 Phinney, Elisha, asst. surg., 26th Kegt.; enl. Nov. 1, 1862; must out 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Phinney, Henry E., 13th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 7, 1862 ; hon. disch. June 6, 
 
 1805. 
 Pierce, Thomas H., 1st Art. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 Pitcher, Abner D., 7th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch. for diBability, 
 
 May 8, 1864. 
 Pitcher, Albert H., 14th Eegt. ; enl. July 23, 1862 ; must, out June 2", 
 
 1865. 
 Pitcher, Frank W., 7th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1861; hon. (iisch. Sept. 12, 
 
 1864. 
 Pitcher, Geoige, 1st .Vrt. ; enl. Aug. 1, 1864 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 Pitcher, George, 18th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 4, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Plunkett, Joseph D., color-sergt., 21st Kegt. ; enl. July 31, 1802; second 
 
 lieut. ; disch. Dec. 20, 1802. 
 Porter, Edgar, llth Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 14, 1864 ; must, out Dec. 21, 1865. 
 Porter, Sabart M., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Potter, Charles H., 9tli Kegt. ; enl. Nov. 1, 1861 ; died Aug. 10, 1802. 
 Potter, Elisha E., 18th Kegt. ; enl. Aug. 8, 1802 ; must, out June 9, 1865. 
 Potter, James, 2d Kegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 18C1. 
 Potter, Mandoville A., 26th Kegt.; eul. Aug. 30, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 *Powers, Eichard, 9th Eegt. ; enl. May 21, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Price, Joseph H., 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 15, 1864. 
 
 «Price, Orrin M., 13th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 11, 1862 ; must, out April 25,1866. 
 Primus, Daniel, 30th Kegt.; enl. Feb. 15, 1864. 
 
 Purdy, William H., 1st Art. ; enl. Jan. 6, 1864 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 Kagan, James, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 29, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 18, 1866. 
 *Kanger, Kichard, 8th Kegt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. 
 Ransom, Henry A., Sth Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 21, 1801 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Dec. 3, 1802. 
 Eathbone, Oramel W., cav. ; enl. Dec. 8, 1863 ; must, out July 28, 1865. 
 ll-ardon, Patrick, 9th Kegt.; enl. Oct. 12, 1861; disch. for disability, Oct. 
 
 16, 1S62. 
 Keder, Karl, cav. ; enl. Dec. 3, 1863 ; died of wounds July 29, 1864. 
 Eeed, Albert 0., 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. ;10, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1803. 
 nieynolds, John T., Corp., 13th Kegt. ; enl. Feb. 1, 1802; must, out Aug. 
 
 6, 1805. 
 Eeynolds, Samuel W., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 14, 1802; must, out June 
 
 27, 1806. 
 Reynolds, William, 13th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 30, 1862 ; hon. disch. Jan. 6, 
 
 1805. 
 Eichards, Charles J., IStb Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 2, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Eichardson, James L., cav. ; eul. Jan 19, 1804 ; adjt. ; must, out Aug. 2, 
 
 1805. 
 Kidor, James H., 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 11, 1864. 
 
 *Kiely, Bernard, 9th Kegt. ; enl. May 31, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Elloy, John, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1834 ; must, out Sept. 15, 1866. 
 Eingroas, Michael, ISth Eegt. ; enl. July 28, 1802; disch. Nov. 23, 1863. 
 Eipky, George C, lieut., 14th Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1862; A.D.C.; must, 
 out Aug. 25, 1865. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 345 
 
 Eipley, James D., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 17, 1802; nrnat. out June 27, 
 
 18S5. 
 Kipley, Kobei-t A., lieut., 13th Regt. ; cnl. Bee. 31, 1SC2 ; capt, ; must. 
 
 out Jan. 6, 1S66. 
 Koach, David, 6th Kegt. ; enl. July 22, 1861. 
 
 Eoath, Henry G., 26th Regt.; enl. Sept. U, 1802 ; trang. Sig. Corps. 
 Roberts, George; 2(1 Art. ; enl. Jan. 21, 1864; D.S.N. 
 Robinson, Francis, 14tll Regt. ; enl. July 23, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 2, 1803. 
 Robinson, James A., 11th Regt, ; enl. Oct. 24, 1801 ; must, out Dec. 21, 
 
 1865. 
 Rockwell, Alfred P., capt, Ist Bat.; enl. Jan. 21, 1861 ; col. 6th; must. 
 
 out Teb. 9, 1865 ; B.G.Y. bvt. 
 Rockwell, Joseph P., sergt.-nnij., 14th Regt.; enl. July 20, 1862; capt. 
 
 June 27, 1865. 
 Roden, James, 26th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 «Roe, Edward, 9th Regt.; enl. May 24, 1862; killed Oct. 10, 1801. 
 *Rogor8, Charles L., 11th Regt.; eul. Oct. 25, 1801 ; must, out Dec. 21, 
 
 1866. 
 Rogers, Eben H., 2d Kegt.; enl. M.iy 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 Rogei-s, E. P., 2d Regt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; lieut. 21)th ; res. Aug. 3, 1865. 
 Rogers, George W., lieut., 2d Jtegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; corp. 26th ; must. 
 
 out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Rogers, Horace E., 3d Regt. ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; 7th ; disch. for disabil- 
 ity, March 10, 1863. 
 Rogers, Joab B., sergt., 3d Regt. ; enl. May 11, 1861 ; capt. cav. ; must. 
 
 out Feb. 2. 1865. 
 Ross, Daniel V., 2l»t Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 18, 1802 ; must, out June 2, 1865. 
 Ross, Enos C, 26t1l Regt. ; enl. M\g. 30, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Ross, John, 2d .Vrt. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1864. 
 Ross, ■William J., Corp., 14th Regt.; eul. July 23, 1802 ; niaj. 20th; must. 
 
 out Oct. 24, 1805. 
 Rouse, Charles W., Corp., 11th Regt.; enl. Oct. 25, 1861 ; hon. disch. Oct. 
 
 24, 1864. 
 *Eouse, James E., 7th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 5, 1801 ; hon. disch. July 20, 1805. 
 Eozenblatt, David, 2d Regt. ; eul. May 7, 1801 ; missing at Bull Run, July 
 
 21,1801. 
 *Euhl, AngHsf, 9th Regt. ; enl. May 24, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1805. 
 *Eyan, James, 0th Regt. ; enl. May 22, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1866. 
 Ryan, JohnO., cav.; eul. Jan. 12, 1864. 
 
 *Rjan, Michael, 9th Regt.; enl. May 22, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 3, 1805. 
 Ryder, Arthur F., Corp., 2d Regt.; eul. May 7,1801; disch. for disability, 
 
 July 3, 1801. 
 *Sanders, David, 7th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; dissjli. for disability, Aug. 
 
 7, 1865. 
 *Sauder8, Julius, 0th Regt. ; enl. June 2, 1802 ; disch. for disability, Aug. 
 
 1, 1805. 
 Sanders, Ralph G., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 2, 1802 ; V.E.C. Jan. 15, 1864. 
 Sanford, John, 20th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 1, 1804. 
 Sawyer, Silas W., capt., 9th Eegt.; enl. Oct. 30, 1801 ; resigned Feb. 10, 
 
 1804. 
 Schneider, Jacob, 14th Eegt. ; enl. July 21, 1802 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Aug. 31,1804. 
 Schneider, John, 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 11, 1801. 
 Schultz, Peter, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1864. 
 Schofield, Henry M., 1st Eegt. ; enl. April 22,1801 ; 11th ; died of wounds 
 
 at Antietam, Sept. 28, 1802. 
 Schofield, Le Grand, 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 17, 1862 ; must, out June 27 
 
 1866. 
 Scott, John, 26th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Scott, Thi.mas, lient., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; capt. N. Y. Bat. 
 Seldeu, Joseph, lieut.-col., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1802 ; must, out 
 
 Aug. 17,1863. 
 Semples, James W., 18th Eegt; enl. July 26, 1802; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Service, John, 18th Eegt. ; enL July 17, 1862 ; .mu.rt. out June 27, 1805. 
 Service, Thomas, l>>th Eegt; eul. Aug. 5, 1862 ;.ninst out Juno 27, 1805. 
 Setchel, Charles F., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Setchel, George C, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 2, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Sevin, Nathan D., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 25, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Shalk, Frederick E., 3d Eegt; enl. May 11, 1801; lieut 14tli ; died of 
 
 wounds May 0, 1864. 
 Shaw, Bentley, sergt., 18th Eegt; enl, Aug. 4, 1862 ; must out June 27, 
 1805. 
 
 Shaw, Daniel, 18th Regt ; enl. July 25, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1806. 
 Shaw, Jasper A. H., sergt., 3d Regt. ; enl. May 11, 1861 ; must out Aug, 
 
 11,1861, 
 Shay, John, 14th Regt. ; enl. July 26, 1863. 
 
 Shay, Michael, 26th Eegt. ; eul. Sept. 18, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Shea, James, 26th Regt. ; enl. Oct. 17, 1 862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Shea, John, 13th Regt. ; eul. Jan. 22, 1862 ; died July 18, 1863. 
 Shea, Michael, 26th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Shoolnin, David D., 9th Regt ; onl. Sept. 27, 1801 ; dropped from rolls 
 
 Oct. 3, 1804. 
 Shelden, George \V., 1st Art; enl. May 22,1861; hon. disch. May 26, 
 
 1864. 
 Sheppard, Charles, sergt., 8th Regt; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; 2d lieut; res. 
 
 Feb. 14, 1803. 
 Sheppard, Willis D., 6th Regt.; enl, Aug. 18, 1803. 
 Sherman, Horace W., 18th Kegt. ; enl. July 23, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Sherman, William M., 2d Regt; enl. May 7, 1801; sergt. 20th; died of 
 
 wounds at Port Hudson, June 28, 1803. 
 Sherwood, Stephen, cav. ; enl. Jan. 23,1804; must, out June 10, 1805. 
 Shugrean, Charles, 20th Regt.; enl. Aug. 28, 1862. 
 Shumway, Milieu, 18th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 9, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Simmons, John H., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 22, 1802 : must out June 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Si mons, Leonard, 14th Eegt. : enl. June 9, 1862 ; must, out May 31, 1805. 
 Simpson, .Tames, cav. ; enl. Jan. 23, 1864. 
 
 Simpson, John, 0th Regt. ; enl. Oct. 30, 1861 ; died Oct. 8, 1862. 
 Sizer, Chailes 0., 26th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1802. 
 Smiley, John S., 2d Eegt ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Smiley, Lyman, 12th Regt; enl. Dec. 19,1861; disch. for disability, Dec. 
 
 11,1862. 
 Smith, Augustus F., 13th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; 26th ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 Smith, Bradford W., 7th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 5, 1801; disch. for disability, 
 
 March 3, 1863. 
 Smith, Daniel, 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 6, 1804 ; must, out Nov. 7, 1865. 
 Smith, Edward, 2d Regt; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Smith, Edward, 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1864; must, out Nov. 7, 1805. 
 Smith, George, cav. ; enl. Jan. 22, 1804; must out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Smith, George E., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Smith, George S., cav.; enl. June 27, 1^03; must out Aug. 2, 1865. 
 Smith, George W., 7lh Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 5, 1801 ; disch. foi- disability, 
 
 Jan. 3, 1802. 
 Smith, James, IStli Regt. ; enl. Aug, 0, 1502; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Smith, John, 2d Art; enl. Jan. 22, 1864. 
 
 Smith, John, Corp., 8th Regt ; enl. Sept 21, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 20, 1804, 
 Smitli, John, 20th Eegt; enl. Sept. 1, 1864. 
 
 Smith, Jolui A., 30th Ee.gt. ; enl. .Ian. 0, 1804 ; must, out Nov. 7, 1805. 
 Smith, Joseph, 14th Eegt ; enl. July 29, 1864 ; trans, to 2d Art 
 Smith, Obed G., 26th Regt ; enl. Sept 1, 1862; must out Aug. 17, 1803, 
 Smith, Stephen A., SOth Regt; enl. Jan. 25, 1804; died Feb. 23, 1804. 
 Smitli, Theodore E., cav.; enl. Dec. 15,1803; must out Aug. 2, 1806. 
 Smith, Thomas H.., 2d Regt; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 Smith, WJlliam, 2d Art; enl. Jan. 19,1864; disch. for disability, June 
 
 19, 1865. 
 Smith, William E., 2d Eegt; enl. May 7, 1861; must, out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 Snow, Edward A., 2d Art; enl. Feb. 3, 1864; must, out Aug. 18, 1SC5. 
 Snow, Edwin E., 21st Eegt.; cnl. Aug. 5, 1802; disch. Jan. 'i'J, 1803. 
 Snow, Henry L., 2d Eegt; enl. May 7, 1801; discharged. 
 Snyder, Leander, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 27, 1804 ; must, out Nov. 26, 1865. 
 Somerlot, Henry, sergt., 29th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 7, 1804; must, out Oct 24, 
 
 1805. 
 Soutcr, Jan>es, lltli R<gt. ; enl. Oct. 26, 1801; killed at Cold Harbor, 
 
 Juno 3, 1804. 
 SpalTord, L. E. Forrest, Sth Regt; enl. Sept. 21, 1801; sergt-maj.; hon. 
 
 disch. Sept 20, 1804. 
 Spalding, Charles W., lieut, 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1 801 ; res. May 20. 1801. 
 Spalding, J. L., sergt-maj., 1st Regt ; enl. Apiil 23, 1861; adjt. 29th 
 
 Eegt; res. Aug. 21, 1865. 
 Spalding, William It, cav.; enl. .Tan. 6, 1804; disch. for disability, Juno 
 
 30, 1805. 
 Spencer, Charles C, 21st Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 7, 1802 ; V.E.C. ; must out 
 
 Sept. 4, 1805. 
 Spencer, Cyrus E., 2l8t Eegt; enl. Aug. iO, 1802; disch. for disability, 
 
 April 8, 1864. 
 Spencer, Grin N., 18th Hegt ; enl. July 30, 1802 1 must out June 27, 1805. 
 Spencer, Eobei t E , 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1801 . 
 
346 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Spencer, Stephen H., 18th Begt. ; enL July 26, 1SG2; must, out June 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Standi, George, 6th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 6, 1861 . 
 Stanley, James, second lieut., 21st Begt.; enl. July 31, 1802; disch. for 
 
 disability, Sept. 20, 1864. 
 Stanton, George II., coip., 8th Begt. ; enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Jan. 8, 1863. 
 Stanton, John L., capt., 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 23, 1802; killed at Port 
 
 Hudson, May 27, 1S03. 
 Stark, Henry, 2d Begt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Starret, Myron W., 22d Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 27, 1802 ; missing at Port Hud- 
 son, May 27,1803. 
 Stauhly, Anthony, sergt., 2d Begt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; scrgt. 18th ; must. 
 
 out June 27, 180.5. 
 Staubly, Michael, ISth Begt. ; enl. Aug. 1 , 1802. 
 
 Stearns, Charles J., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 Steers, Thomas A., ISth Begt. ; enl. Aug. 21, 1862; must, out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Stephenson, Moses, 29tb Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 21, 1803 ; died of vounds, Oct. 
 
 27, 1804. 
 Slcrry, Tiilly W., 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11,1861; must, out Aug. 11, 1861. 
 Stetson, Vine S., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 | sergt. 20th ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1803. 
 'Stetson, Wm. D., 1st Art.; enl. March 15, 1802 ; must, out Sept. 25, '05. 
 =! Stevens, Henry M., 13th Begt.; enl. Jan. 17, 1802; must, out April 25, 
 
 1806. 
 Stewart, Henry, 30th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; killed at Petersburg, July 
 
 7, 1804. 
 Stocket, George, 20th Begt. ; enl. Jan. 2, 1864 ; must, out May 29, 1866. 
 Stocking, Theodore B., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 11,1862; must, out June 
 
 27, ISCf). 
 Stokes, Joseph, 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; died July 25, 1861. 
 *Strange, William, 131h Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 28, 1862; disch. Nov. 20, 1805. 
 Strauss, Jacob, 3d Eegt. ; enl. May 11, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 12, 1801. 
 *Studley, George H., 10th Eegt.; enl. Oct. 1,1861; must, out Aug. 25, 
 
 1865. 
 Sullivan, Dani.el, 9lh Begt; enl. Sept. 27, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 26, 1864. 
 Sullivan, Daniel B., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 25, 1862 ; must, out May 18, 1865. 
 Sullivan, James, 1st Art. ; enl. Aug. 25, 1804. 
 Sullivan, Jeremiah, 11th Begt.; enl. Nov. 17, 1804. 
 
 Snllivan, John 0., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; nuist. out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Sullivan, Michael, 21st Begt.; enl. Aug. 20, 1S62. 
 Sullivan, Michael, 20th Begt.; enl. Sept. 1, 1804. 
 
 Sullivan, Patrick, 2Cth Begt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; must, out Aug, 17, 1863. 
 Summers, F. B., 2d Eegt; enl. May 7, 1801; must, out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 Swain, George W., sergt., 2d Eegt.; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 
 
 1801. 
 Swan, Henry W., 3d Begt. ; enl. May 11, 1861 ; 13th Eegt ; disch. for dis- 
 ability, June 5, 1S63. 
 Sweet, James H., 3d Eegt ; enl. May 11, 1801 ; trans, to Signal Corps, 
 
 Nov. 20, 1803. 
 Sweet, James L., 18th Eegt ; enl. Jan. 8, 1864; disch. for disability, March 
 
 25, 1805. 
 Tanner, J. Frank, 20th Eegt; enl. Aug. 28, If 02; must out Aug. 17,1863. 
 *Iaylor, Cliarles W., 12th Begt ; enl. Dec. 28, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 12, 
 
 1805. 
 Taylor, Francis \V., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 7, 1802 ; died March 28, 1805. 
 Taylor, Henry H., Corp., 7th Eegt ; enl. Sept. 5, 1801 ; lion, disch, Sept. 
 
 12, 1864. 
 Taylor, Samuel, 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 22, 1802 ; must, out Juno 27, 1865. 
 Taylor, William H., 18th Begt.; enl. July 14, 1802; disch. June 1, 1804. 
 Teft, William H., 18th Begt; enl. July 25, 1802; must out May 30, 1805. 
 *Tenney, Edward, 0th Eegt.; enl. May 21, 1802. 
 Terhune, Henry, 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1802; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 18, 18t3. 
 Thecklenburg, Henry, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1804 ; must, out Aug. 10, 1865. 
 Thompson, Michael, 14th Eegt; enl, Aug. 3, 1804. 
 Thompson, Nelson C, 18th Eegt; enl. Aug. 4, 1862; died of wounds 
 
 (Winchester), June 30, 1803. 
 Thompson, William, 2d Art; enl. Jan. 19, 1804; trans, to TJ.S.N. 
 Thurber, Charles F., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 28, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Tiffany, M, V. B., 2d Eegt; enl. May 7,1801; capt, 18th Eegt,; must. 
 
 out June 27,1865. 
 Tift, John H., 18th Begt. ; enl, Aug, 4, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Tilden, Eugene S.,lst Art; enl. March 20,1862; disch, for disability, 
 
 Jan. 20, 1863. 
 
 Tingley, John 11., 2d Eegt; enl. May 7,1861; 2a lieut 1st Art; re- 
 signed Deo. 31, 1802. 
 Tisdale, Edward F., 0th Eegt. ; enl. Nov. 25, 1861 ; cav.; died at Ander- 
 
 sonville. Sept 29, 1865. 
 Tisdale, James W., 18th Begt. ; enl. July 29, 1802 ; must out June 27, 
 
 1806. 
 Toft, Luther, 1st Art. ; enl. May 21, 1861. 
 Tomlinson, Benjamin L., 20th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 2, 1804; must out Oct 
 
 24, 1865. 
 Tomlinson, Eichard, 26th Begt; enl. Nov. 1,1862; must out Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Toomoy, Patrick, 2lst Eegt; eul. Aug. 20, 1802; must out June 16, 
 
 1805. 
 Toomey, Thomas, 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; 1st Art.; disch. for disa- 
 bility, March 7, 1803. 
 Torbush, Joseph H., Corp., 20th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; must out 
 
 Aug. 17, 180.J. 
 Torpy, Thomas, 1st Art. ; enl. Jan. 15, 1804 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 Torrance, David, sergt., 18th Eegt ; enl. July 17, 1802 ; lieut.-col. 29th ; 
 
 must, out Oct 24, 1805. 
 Torrance, James, 3d Eegt; enl. May 11,1801; sergt 13th; killed Port 
 
 Hudson, May 24, 1803. 
 Tourtellotte, Marvin, i8th Eegt. ; enl. July 25, 1S62 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 15, 1804. 
 Town, George S., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; sergt 18th ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1865. 
 Town, William H., 18th Begt. ; enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; died March 28,1804. 
 Tracy, Benjamin F., qr.mr., 26th Begt; enl. Sept 1, 1862; must, out 
 
 Aug. 17, 1803. 
 Tracy, Joseph A., 18th Begt. ; enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; died of wounds, Aug. 7, 
 
 1804. 
 Tracy, Timothy W., lieut., 26th Eegt; enl. Aug. 20, 1802; must. o\lt 
 
 Aug. 17, 1863. 
 *Traiuor, Charles, 0th Eegt; enl. May 21, 1862. 
 
 Traiuor, Felix, 20tb Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 28, TC02 ; must, out Aug. 17,18M. 
 *Treadway, Eussell, 12th Eegt. ; enl. Nov. 28, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 12, 
 
 1805. 
 Treadway, John F., cav.; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; died at Andersonville, Aug. 
 
 3, 1804. 
 Trenn, Charles K. T., Corp., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862; must out 
 
 May 30, 1805. 
 Triiiuier, Eichard, 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1801 ; 18th ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Truman, Frank M., 18th Begt.; enl. Dec. 16, 1863. 
 Tubbs, Charles A., 14th Eegt; enl. June 9, 1862; must out May 31, 
 
 1865. 
 Tubbs, William H., capt, 14th Begt; enl. June 15, 1862; res. Feb. 20, 
 
 1803. 
 Tucker, John, 26tli Begt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1862. 
 Turner, Samuel, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 29, 1864. 
 Tyler, Daniel, col., Ist Begt.; enl. April 23, 1801; B.G.V.; res. April, 
 
 1864. 
 Tyler, Edwin L., 2d lieut, Ist Art ; eul. March 29, 1862; res. Aug. 19, 
 
 1804. 
 Tyler, Moses, 14th Eegt.; onl. July 15,1802; died at Anderaonville, April 
 
 14, 1864. 
 Underhill, Joseph, 30th Eegt; enl. Jan. 4,1864; disch. for disability, 
 
 Feb. 0, 1805. 
 Upham, Benjamin M., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; V.E.C., Jan. I, 
 
 1865. 
 Upham, George E., 18th Begt; enl. July 18,1862; must out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Varney, Israel, 18th Kegt; enl. July 16, 1862; died at Florence, S. C, 
 
 Fob. 10, 1S6&. 
 Vergason, Erastus, 10th Kegt.; enl. Oct 1, 1861; killed at Eonnoko 
 
 Island, Feb. 8, 1862. 
 Vergason, Isaac D., 2Cth Begt,; enl. Aug. 30, 1802; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Vergason, James 11., 3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1861; must out Aug. 11, 
 
 1801. 
 Volkman, Ferdinand, 0th Eegt; eol. Sept. 6, 1861; died at Beaufort, 
 
 S. C, Oct. 21, 1862. 
 Wait, Marvin, lieut., 8th Begt.; enl. Oct. 5, 1861; killed at Autietam, 
 
 Sept. 17, 1862. 
 Walden, Oliver, 8th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; dsch. for disability, 
 
 March 18, 1862. 
 Walden, Winthrop, 8th Eegt, ; enl, Sept. 21, 1861 ; must, out Dec 12, 1805. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 347 
 
 Walden, 'William Henry, 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1881 ; must, out Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 * Walker, Charles H , Sth Itcgt. ; enl. Sept. 21, 1861 ; must, out Dec. 12, 
 
 1865. 
 Wallace, William, 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 14, 1862. 
 Ward, David, 7th Eegt. ; enl. Nov. 25, 1864 ; must, out July 20, 1868. 
 Ward, George W.,lSth Eegt.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; died at Andersonville, 
 
 Feb. 6, 1805. 
 Ward, John E., lieut.,3d Eegt.; enl. May 11, 1861 ; col. Sth; must, out 
 
 March 13, 1865. 
 Ward, James, 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 10, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Warden, Alexander, 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. V, 1861. 
 Warren, George, 21st Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 14, 1862 ; must, out June 16, 1865. 
 Warren, Henry, cav. ; enl. Jan, 2:i, 1864. 
 
 Warren, Walter P., 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1801. 
 Washington, George, 30th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 18, 1804; must, out Nov. 7, 
 
 I860. 
 Watson, Jonathan, 11th Eegt.; enl. Oct. 25,1801; disch. for disahility 
 
 May 5, 1SG2. 
 Watson, Myron, 11th Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 25, 1801 ; disch. for disahility, May 
 
 7, 1862. 
 Webh, Charles, 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 29, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Webb, William H., corp., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 7, 1862 ; must, out June 
 
 27, 1805. 
 Welch, George H., cav.; enl. Oct. 26,1801; dlach. for disability, Oct. 9, 
 
 1862. 
 Welch, John, cav. ; enl. Jan. 10, 1864. 
 
 Welch, Thomas, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 20, 1804; must, out Aug. 18, 1805. 
 Welden, Patrick, 9th Eegt. ; enl. Oct. 30, 1S61 ; died Aug. 14, 1802. 
 Weller, John, 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Wells, John W., 12th Eegt. ; enl. Dec. 7, 1861 ; disch. for disability, Aug. 
 
 11. 1802. 
 
 Wenlitk, Frank, 2d Eegt. ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 
 *West, George W., sergt, 12th Eegt.; enl. Nov. 20, 1861. 
 
 Wetherel, Benjamin S., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 3, 18C6 ; muBt. out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Whaley, George G., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 11, 1802; must out June 27, 
 
 1865. 
 Wheatley, Cliarles, 7th Eegt.; enl. May 7, 1861 ; must, out Aug. 7, 1861. 
 »Wheelock, William H., 7th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1861; must, out July 
 
 20, 1865. 
 Wliipple, John A., cav.; enl. Jan. 4, 1804; must, out Aug. 2, 1805. 
 White, Edwin, ISth Eegt.; enl. Aug. 4, 1862; must, out Juno 27, 1865. 
 White, Frank, 6th Kegt. ; enl. Sept. 0, 1861 ; killed at Fort 'VN'agner, July 
 
 18. 1803. 
 
 White, Isaac, 30th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 6, 1804 ; must, out Nov. 7, 1865. 
 
 Wliite, Mortimer, 20th Eegt. ; enl. Sept. 1, 1801. 
 
 White, William, cav. ; enl. Jan. 30, 1804. 
 
 Whiteley, Henry A., 8th Eegt.; enl. Sept. 23, 1861 ; disch. for disability, 
 
 Aug. 2, 1802. 
 Whiting, Andrew F., 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 23, 1862 ; disch. Feb. 18,1804. 
 Whitmore, Horace W., 2d Eegt.; enl. May 7, 1801; 26th ; must, out Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Whitney, John, 1st Art. ; enl. Jan, 13, 1864; must, out Sept. 25, 1865. 
 Whittlesey, George W., 3d Eegt. ; enl. May II , 1801 ; adjt. 13th ; res. Oct. 
 
 9, 1803. 
 Wight, Edgar S., 26th Eegt. ; enl. Ang. 30, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Wilber, Daniel, 18th Eegt.; enl. July 23, 1802; accidentally shot, Jan. 6, 
 
 1803. 
 Wilber, John A., ISth Eegt.; enl. Ang. 17, 1802; disch. for disability. 
 
 May 8, 18C5. 
 Wilber, Edward 0., Ist Art. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1864 ; must, out Sept. 25, 1866. 
 Wilcox, Gordon, Corp., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 21, 1862; must, out June 
 
 27, 1^65. 
 *WiIco.\, Stephen E,, 10th Eegt.; enl. Oct. 9, 1801; must, out Aug. 25, 
 
 1866. 
 «WiIcox, Sylvanua J., Sth Eegt.; enl. Oct. 6, 1861; must, out Dec. 12, 
 
 1866. 
 Wilkins, Geo. W., 1st Art.; enl. Jan. 14, 1864 : must, out Sept. 25, '05. 
 Wilkinson, Jesse D., corp., 18th Eegt.; enl. July 12, 1802; capt. 43d 
 
 U.S.C.T. ; must, out Nov. 30, 1805. 
 Willard, Eobert, 11th Eegt.; enl. Jan. 13, 1864; disch. for disahility, 
 
 March 19, 1S05. 
 Williams, Calvin, 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; must, out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 ♦Williams, Charles M., Sth Eegt. ; cnl. Sept. 21, ISGl ; must. out-Dec. 12, 
 
 1865. 
 
 Williams, Eri, 26th Regt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Williams, George E., 2d Eegt.; cnl. May 7,1861; must, out Ang. 7,1861. 
 Williams, George E., 3d Eegt; enl. May 11,1861; must, out Aug. 11, 
 
 1801. 
 Williams, George S., 30th Eegt.; enl. July 23, 1803; must, out Nov. 7, 
 
 1805. 
 Williams, I. V. B., qr.-mr., 1st Eegt.; enl. April 22, 1S61; qr.-mr. 6th 
 
 Eegt.; res. May 11, 1863. 
 Williams, James, cav. ; enl. Jan. 4, i 864 ; must, out Aug. 2, 1866. 
 Williams, John, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 20, 1864; must, out Ang. ^8, 1806. 
 *Williams, John, 9th Kegt.; enl. May 21, 1862. 
 
 Williams, John, 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; must, out Aug. 17, 1863. 
 Williams, .John H., corp., 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 22, 1864 ; must, out Nov. 
 
 7, 1805. 
 Williams, John W., 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 21, 1804. 
 
 Williams, Julius, 20th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; must, out Aug. 17, '03. 
 Williams, William. 2d Art. ; enl. Feb. 1, 1864 ; must, out Aug. 18, 1865. 
 Williams, William E., 1st Art.; enl. March 20, 1802; disch. for disa- 
 bility, Deo. 18, 1862. 
 Wilson, De Laroo, 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 11,1862; qr.-mr. 30th Eegt.; 
 
 must, out Nov. 7, 1865. 
 Wilson, George, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 30, 1864. 
 Wilson, James, 8lh Eegt.; enl. Sept. 1, 1863. 
 Wilson, James, 14th Eegt. ; enl. July 25, 1863 ; trans, to TJ.S.N. 
 *Wilson, James, 12th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 21, 1862. 
 Wilson, J.ames, Corp., 30th Eegt. ; enl. Jan. 27, 1804 ; must, out June 27, 
 
 1805. 
 Winship, Joeeph II., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 11, 1862 ; died at Anderson- 
 
 ville, April 6, 18C4. 
 Wiseith, George, cav.; enl. Jan. 22, 1864. 
 
 Wolf, Henry, 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 11, 1802 ; must, out Juno 27, 1805. 
 Wood, Alfred, 18th Kegt. ; enl. July 23, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1865. 
 Wood, Asa F., 18th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 6, 1802 ; must, out June 27, 1805. 
 Wood, George, 2d Art. ; enl. Jan. 29, 1804. 
 Wood, Henry, 13th Kegt; enl. Jan. 7, 1802; disch. for disabiUty, July 
 
 29,1802. 
 Wood, Horace B., 2d Art. ; enl. Feb. 4, 1804 ; died at Kichmond, Va., Dec. 
 
 27, 1804. 
 Wood, John, 13th Kegt. ; enl. Jan. 7, 1862 ; disch. for disability, June 17, 
 
 1803. 
 Wood, John W., 11th Eegt.; enl. Dec. 5, 1861; died of wounds received 
 
 at Antietam. 
 Woodward, William H., 26th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1802; must, ont Aug. 
 
 17, 1863. 
 Wright, Franklin S., 18th Eegt.; enl. Aug. 17,1862; disch. for disability, 
 
 Jan, 26, 1805. • 
 Wright, Henry C, 20th Kegt; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; must out Aug. 17, 
 
 1863. 
 Wright, Sylvanus. 11th Kegt.; enl. Oct. 26, 1861. 
 
 Yale, Eussell, 13th Kegt. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1861. 
 Terrington, Henry P., 14th Kegt. ; enl. June 9, 1802; died of wounds re- 
 ceived at Antietam, Sept 21, 1862. 
 Terrington, Perry, 7th Kegt.; enl. Sept 6, 1861; hon. disch. Sept. 15, 
 
 1804. 
 York, James E., 18th Kegt. ; enl. July 30, 1862 ; must, out June 27, 1S65. 
 York, Nathan, 26th Eegt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1802 ; must, out Ang. 17, 1803. 
 Young, Adam, Corp., Gth Kegt. ; enl. Sept. 6, 1861 ; hon. disch. Sept. 5, 
 
 1864. 
 Young, Charles, 2d Eegt; enl. May 7, 1861 ; 1st Art. ; must, out Sept. 
 
 25, 1805. 
 Young, David, lient.-col., 2d Eegt ; enl. May 7, 1801 ; must out Aug. 7, 
 
 1861. 
 Young, Kobert, 18th Eegt. ; enl. July 26, 1802 ; must out June 27, 1805. 
 Zamphiropolos, Michael, 13th Kegt ; enl. Feb. 1, 1804 ; Vet Kes. Corps, 
 Apiil 23, 1806. 
 
 The names of "unassigned recruits" are not given 
 in this " roll" ; they were for the most part unworthy 
 substitutes, who enlisted for the sake of the bounty, 
 and, with few exceptions, never served in their regi- 
 ments. 
 
348 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXVIII. 
 
 NORWICH— (Continued). 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Gen. Jedediah Huntington.— Among the distin- 
 guished names of those of the Revolutionary era 
 which shed a lustre about Xew London County, that 
 of Gen. Jedediah Huntington stands pre-eminent. 
 Born of a noble stock, he united inherited excellence 
 with a superior education, and was eminently quali- 
 fied for the important positions, both in the field and 
 council, to which he was subsequently elected. 
 
 He was born in Norwich, Aug. 4, 1743, where he 
 was prepared for a collegiate course, and gradu- 
 ated at Harvard College with distinguished honor in 
 tlie class of 1763. The high social rank of his family 
 is indicated by the order of his name on the college 
 catalogue, it being the second in the list of his class, 
 above that of John Quincy. The Master's degree 
 was also conferred on him by Yale College in 
 1770. After leaving college he became associated 
 with his father in commercial pursuits, and was en- 
 gaged in this business when the Revolutionary cloud 
 began to lower, and he soon became noted as a Son 
 of Liberty and an active captain of the militia. The 
 bursting of the storm found him ready, and just one 
 week from the firing of the first shot at Lexington he 
 reported at Cambridge with a regiment under his 
 command, and was detailed to occupy Dorchester 
 Heights. After the evacuation of Boston by the 
 British he marched with his army to New York, and 
 entertained the commander-in-chief on the way at 
 Norwich. 
 
 During the year 1776 he was at New York, Kings- 
 bridge, Northcastle, Sidmun's Bridge, and other posts. 
 In April of that year he assisted in repulsing the 
 British at Danbury, Conn., assailing the enemy's 
 rear, and effecting a junction with his fellow-towns- 
 man, Benedict Arnold. 
 
 In March, 1777, Roger Sherman writes thus, " Col. 
 Huntington was recommended by Gen. Washington 
 as a fit person for brigadier, but then Connecticut had 
 more than her share." May 12th of that year he was 
 promoted to that rank, as Mr. Sherman states, '' at 
 Gen. AVashington's request. " 
 
 In July he joined Gen. Putnam at Peekskill with all 
 the Continental troops which he could collect, and in 
 the following September was ordered to join the main 
 army near Philadelphia, where he remained at licad- 
 quarters, at Worcester, Whippin, Whitemarsh, Gulph 
 Hills, etc. In November, on receiving information 
 of the enemy's movement upon Red Bank, lie was 
 detached with his brigade, among other troops, to its 
 relief, but Cornwallis had anticipated them. Having 
 shaved the hardships of his companions in arms at 
 Valley Forge through the winter of 1777-78, he, to- 
 gether with Col. Wigglesworth, was in March a]i- 
 pointed by the commander-in-chief " to aid Gen. 
 
 McDougal in inquiring into the loss of Forts Mont- 
 gomery and Clinton, in the State of New York, and 
 into the conduct of the principal officers command- 
 ing those posts." In May he was ordered with his 
 brigade to the North River, and was stationed suc^ 
 sessively at Camp Reading, Highlands, Neilson'a 
 Point, Springfield, Shorthills, Potowa, Peekskill, West 
 Point, etc. In July he was a member of the court- 
 martial which tried Gen. Charles Lee for miscon- 
 duct at the battle of Monmouth, and in September 
 he sat upon the court of inquiry to whom was re- 
 ferred the case of Maj. Andre. In December, 1780, 
 his was the only Connecticut brigade that remained 
 in the service. On the 10th of May, 1783, at a meet- 
 ing of otficers, he was appointed one of a committee of 
 four to draft a plan of organization, which resulted 
 in their reporting on the 13th the constitution of the 
 famous "Society of Cincinnati." On the 24th of 
 June, Washington writes that the army was " reduced 
 to a competent garrison for West Point, Patterson, 
 Huntington, and Greaton being the only brigadiers 
 now left with it, besides the adjutant-general." At 
 the close of the war he received the brevet rank of 
 major-general. Gen. Huntington was also one of the 
 founders of West Point Academy. 
 
 On returning from the army he resumed business 
 in his native town, and was successively chosen 
 sheriff of the county. State treasurer, and delegate to 
 the State convention which adopted the constitution 
 of the United States. 
 
 In 1789 he was appointed by President Washing- 
 ton collector of customs at New London, then the 
 port of entry for Eastern Connecticut and Connecti- 
 cut River, which office he retained under four ad- 
 ministrations, and resigned shortly before his death. 
 
 At twenty-three years of age he made a public 
 profession of religion, and was for many years an 
 officer and pillar of the church of which he was a 
 member. " His munificence, for its profusion, its uni- 
 formity, its long continuance, and for the discretion 
 by which it was directed," was pronounced " with- 
 out an example or a parallel in his native State." 
 
 Gen. Huntington was twice married. His first wife 
 was a daughter of Governor Trumbull, and she died 
 at Dedham, Mass., while on her way to the camp to 
 visit her husband. Two of her brothers, one of them 
 the distinguished painter, were associated with her 
 husband in the war, of which her father was one of 
 the main supports. She died leaving a son-. His 
 second wife was Ann, daughter of Thomas Moore, 
 and sister of Bishop Moore, of Virginia. She sur- 
 vived her husband, and was the mother of seven 
 children. 
 
 Gen. Huntington died in New London, Sept. 25, 
 1818, where his remains were interred, though sub- 
 sequently transferred to the family tomb at Norwich. 
 
 William A. Buckingham was born May 28, 1804, 
 in the town of Lebanon, Conn. He is a descendant of 
 a family of Puritans, who left England and migrated 
 
Y ^ 
 
 Prom a Picture W Col. ' It uxntull . 
 
f lfUi/jftL>UcJ^i^ 
 
f?- 
 
 J, 
 
 J 
 
 /I // /' / 'y^> 
 
 V 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 340 
 
 to America in 1637. The memorials of the family- 
 are still preserved, from Thomas Buckingham, the 
 pioneer, down to the present time, nearly two cen- 
 turies and a half. Throughout the line they have 
 been men remarkable for earnestness and piety, and 
 his immediate ancestors were specially notable for 
 kindness of heart, firmness of purpose, and nobility 
 of character. Reared under the tutelage of such 
 parents, and with the pure blood of a noble an- 
 cestry coursing through his veins, it is not strange 
 that Governor Buckingham developed a noble man- 
 hood. He was educated at the public schools of the 
 day, and during vacations he performed his part of the 
 labor incident to a farmer's life. At the early age of 
 eighteen he began life for himself. His first venture 
 was as a teacher. He taught but one year, however, 
 and then relinquished the calling for the to him 
 more congenial vocation of merchant. He engaged 
 first as clerk with a mercantile firm at Norwich, and 
 made a study of his pursuit. At the age of twenty- 
 three he deemed himself sufiiciently well versed in 
 trade to commence business for himself. He opened 
 a store in Norwich, and met with success from the 
 beginning. He soon added manufacturing to his mer- 
 cantile pursuits, and the latter venture proving so 
 profitable, he in 1848 abandoned merchandising alto- 
 gether, and devoted his entire energies and means to 
 the development of his manufacturing business. Pros- 
 perity and success crowned his efforts, and as the 
 knowledge of his character and abilities spread abroad 
 the circle of his personal influence and popularity ex- 
 panded, and he became noted for possessing in a re- 
 markable degree that stern integrity and grandeur of 
 character which had distinguished his ancestors. 
 
 Up to the year 1856 Governor Buckingham had 
 given no particular attention to politics, had never 
 courted or accepted oflice further than the mayoralty 
 of Norwich. In principle, however, he had always 
 been a Whig and opposed to the institution of slavery. 
 The repeal of the " Missouri Compromise" roused his 
 nature, however, and in the Presidential canvass of 
 1856 he came forth as an active, ardent, and intelli- 
 gent Eepublican. His name was placed on the Re- 
 publican electoral ticket, and greatly contributed to 
 its success. Becoming thus extensively and favorably 
 known to the people of his State, he in 1858 was 
 nominated on the Republican ticket and elected Gov- 
 ernor of Connecticut. For eight consecutive years 
 he was re-elected to that exalted and honorable posi- 
 tion. Those years cover the most eventful period of 
 American history. From the fall of Fort Sumter it 
 has been said of him that he " devoted himself, mind, 
 body, and estate, to the Union cause." From the 
 " Military and Civil History of Connecticut during 
 the War of 1861-65" we quote the following: 
 
 " The Governor anticipated the enactment of laws, 
 
 assumed responsibility, and pledged his private credit 
 
 in purchase of supplies and munitions of war, etc. 
 
 When the Legislature assembled it passed acts of 
 
 23 
 
 indemnity, and literally placed the whole resources 
 of the State at his disposal." Never was a trust more 
 faithfully executed. To a citizen of the State whose 
 duties kept him at the front Governor Buckingham 
 said, " You will see many battles and much suffer- 
 ing: don't let any Connecticut man suffer for want of 
 anything that can be done for him,— i/ it costs money, 
 draw on me fur it." His last term as Governor ex- 
 pired in May, 1866. In May, 1868, he was elected 
 Senator of the United States, and for a period of six 
 years he remained a much-revered, able, efficient, and 
 highly-respected member of that august body. When 
 the session of 1874-75 began it was manifest that his 
 active and useful career was drawing to a close. 
 Though his mind still remained clear and strong, yet 
 his bodily health was fast failing. His last days were 
 peaceful and serene. A short time prior to his de- 
 mise he sank into unconsciousness, and thus fell asleep. 
 The representatives and dignitaries of the land gath- 
 ered round his bier to take one last fond look at their 
 compeer an-d associate. Many and sincere were the 
 eulogies pronounced on Governor William A. Buck- 
 ingham by men high in station, and deep and sorrow- 
 ful were the heart-throbbings of all who had the good 
 fortune to know him. In his early manhood he em- 
 braced the Christian faith and united himself to the 
 church of his ancestors. 
 
 Through life, in all its varied relations, he was true 
 to its teachings. Of all the great, grand, and noble 
 men Connecticut has furnished to the world there is 
 no one to whom she can point with more pride and 
 which posterity will more delight to honor than AVil- 
 liam A. Buckingham, the great ivar Governor. 
 
 Gen. William Williams was born in Stonington, 
 Conn., March 12, 1788. He was the son of William 
 Williams, a self-made man of great business enter- 
 prise, and a citizen often honored by various offices of 
 trust and responsibility. He inherited from his father 
 to some extent that fondness for mercantile pursuits 
 which distinguished him, and that perseverance and 
 tenacity of purpose which contributed so largely to 
 his success. He was educated at the district schools 
 in Stonington and the Plainfield Academy, and at an 
 early age commenced his business career as clerk in a 
 store in his native town. He remained here, however, 
 but a short time, when he went to New York and en- 
 tered the commission-house of W. & S. Robinson, 
 where he served a faithful clerkship of about three 
 years, acquiring a practical knowledge of the duties 
 of a shipping merchant's vocation. 
 
 In July, 1806, when eighteen years of age, he re- 
 turned to Stonington, and soon after was dispatched 
 as supercargo in one of his father's vessels bound for 
 Labrador, and thence to Bordeaux. This was his 
 first voyage, and consumed two years. Upon his re- 
 turn he commenced on his own account in New Lon- 
 don, but soon after removed to Norwich, and in 
 company with his father turned his attention to 
 manufactures. He engaged in manufacturing flour 
 
350 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, COxXNECTICUT. 
 
 on a large scale, and afterwards in that of cotton, 
 until the closing up of this kind of enterprise, in the 
 years 1818 and 1819. He then returned to mercantile 
 life, and from 1821 to 1827 made a number of success- 
 ful commercial voyages to Europe and South Amer- 
 ica. In 1828 he engaged in the whaling business 
 with the late Capt. Acors Barns, under the firm-name 
 of Williams & Barns, and remained interested in the 
 whaling business until his death. This was an enter- 
 prising and successful firm, and contributed largely to 
 the reputation New London attained as a famous 
 whaling port. 
 
 He was one of the corporators of the llerchants' 
 Bank of Norwich in 1833, and was chosen its first 
 president, and officiated in that capacity a quarter of 
 a century, until he resigned at the age of seventy. 
 
 In his connection with the militia of the vState he 
 rose through the several grades up to the rank of 
 major-general, a title which adhered to him to the 
 last, and by which he was almost universally addressed. 
 He manifested a laudable interest in educational mat- 
 ters, and was one of the public-spirited men who 
 organized and endowed the Norwich Free Academy, 
 which has proved one of the model high schools of 
 New England. He united with the Congregational 
 Church in 1820, and remained a consistent and prom- 
 inent member of the church during life. His chari- 
 ties were large and judicious. He was a coi"porate 
 member of the American Board of Commissioners for 
 Foreign Missions, and vice-president of the Bible, 
 Seaman's Friend, and Home Missionary Societies. 
 For nearly a quarter of a century he devoted a large 
 portion of his time to the promotion of the cause of 
 education in Eastern Connecticut, and during many 
 seasons he visited annually nearly every school dis- 
 trict within twenty miles of his home, distributing 
 among them useful books and papers, and encourag- 
 ing both teachers and pupils by his words of advice 
 and the interest he evinced in their welfare. 
 
 He always manifested an especial interest in the 
 moral and religious condition of the Mohegan In- 
 dians, living on a government reservation a i'ew miles 
 from Norwich, and by his personal efforts and weekly 
 visits their church was in a great measure sustained. 
 
 In May, 1862, Gen. Williams and his estimable wife 
 celebrated their golden wedding, and in July, 1870, 
 he celebrated the completion of fifty years' union with 
 the church in which he had so hnig been a leading 
 member and counselor, and for nearly twenty-five 
 years a consistent and useful office-bearer. In his 
 death, which occurred Oct. 28, 1870, Norwich lost 
 one of its oldest and most respected citizens and bene- 
 factors. 
 
 Harriet Peck Williams.'— The, long married life 
 of this venerable and beloved lady, extending over 
 more than fifty-eight years, needs little record than 
 that of the prosperity, the wide and useful influence, 
 
 1 Contributed by Eev. Leonard Woolscy Bacon, D.D. 
 
 the noble hospitality, and the large munificence of 
 her husband, Gen. William Williams, recounted else- 
 where in this volume, and more fully in the Congre- 
 gational Quarterly for July, 1872. She was the daugh- 
 ter of Capt. Bela Peck, some of whose high qualities 
 of character she reproduced in her own life, and whose 
 memory she loved to honor. 
 
 The death of her husband in 1870 left her the last 
 survivor of her family. All her three children, the 
 last of them in the strength of manhood, had pre- 
 ceded her husband to the grave. With what stately 
 courtesy, bright wit, and true benevolence she minis- 
 tered the hospitalities and charities of the bereaved 
 but cheerful house there are multitudes, both rich and 
 poor, to testify. 
 
 At the time when her husband was among the lead- 
 ers in the founding of the Free Academy, she of her- 
 self instituted various prizes for scholarship, and 
 founded the library of the new institution, naming it, 
 in honor of her father, " The Bela Peck Library." It 
 was in her widowhood that the building of the Park 
 Church was undertaken, and to that enterprise she 
 gave earnest thought and prayer and liberal benefac- 
 tions. The lot for the church, immediately opposite 
 her window, the chime of ten bells, the clock,- the 
 great window in the west transept were among her 
 gifts. But generous as she was in public charities, it 
 was in acts of private and personal beneficence that 
 she most abounded. In her last will she bequeathed 
 the greater part of her fortune for the foundation of a 
 high school for girls at New London, in memory of 
 her son, Thomas W. AVilliams, who at the time of his 
 death was a citizen of that place. 
 
 She was born at Norwich Town, March 17, 1795, 
 was married May, 1812, and died Oct. 14, 1880. 
 
 Charles Johnson' traces his ancestry to Capt. Ed- 
 ward Johnson, who was born at Heme Hill, near 
 Canterbury, Kent, England, in 1599. He came to 
 America with Governor AVinthrop, and was his inti- 
 mate friend. He was a founder of Woburn, Mass., 
 and was one of the most prominent men of his time. 
 For many years he was a captain in the colonial army, 
 and was also a deputy to the General Court for the 
 colony of Massachusetts, and served on many impor- 
 tant committees. He died at Woburn, April 23, 1672. 
 He was the author of the first history of New England 
 ever published. It was printed in London in 1654, 
 entitled " Wonderworking Providence of Sion's Sa- 
 vior in New England." This is now a very rare work, 
 and commands a high price. Only a few copies of this 
 antique publication are in existence, one of which is 
 
 " The gift of the tower-clock was made in the closing year of JMi-s. M il- 
 lianis' life. Soon after it had been put in place, at a church festival, a 
 series of conundruina on the clock was proposed, among wliicll was this : 
 " Why is it like its giver ? Because it is full of good works." Wbeu tlie 
 old lady heard of this she remarked that a better answer would be, " Be- 
 cause it bears the marks of time on its face." Her friends will recognize 
 the quick wit of the answer as characteristic of the dear old lady. 
 
 'J The following sketch is taken principally from the Norwich BaiUj 
 Bulletin. 
 
■q c w:nii::w ]F„WiLttilLiiivifiS. 
 
 IHlA^lRili-i 
 
F^ 
 
Js'OllWICH. 
 
 351 
 
 owned by Mr. 0. C. Johnson, of this city. The an- 
 cestral line from Capt. Edward Johnson to the subject 
 of this sketch is as follows : John Johnson, fifth son 
 of Capt. Edward Johnson, was born in England in 
 1635 or '36 ; Obadiah Johnson, third son of John, was 
 born at Woburn, Mass., Jan. 15, 1664; Obadiah John- 
 son, second son of Obadiah above named, was born at 
 Canterbury, April 10, 1702. For wealth, religion, and 
 political influence he was one of the first men in that 
 part of the colony. 
 
 Obadiah Johnson, grandfather of the subject of this 
 sketch and son of Obadiah, was born in Canterbury, 
 Feb. 18, 1736, and died Oct. 27, 1801. He was con- 
 spicuous during the Revolutionary war, and held the 
 ofiBce of lieutenant-colonel and colonel in the Conti- 
 nental army, and was a brave and gallant officer. His 
 commission, signed by John Hancock, president of 
 Congress, is in the possession of Mr. C. C. Johnson. 
 
 John Johnson, fourth son of Obadiah and Lucy 
 Cady Johnson, was born at Canterbury, Sept. 26, 1774. 
 They had nine children, of whom Charles Johnson 
 was the eldest son. 
 
 Charles Johnson was born in Jewett City, April 
 29, 1806, and spent the earlier period of his life in that 
 thriving village. When about fourteen years of age he 
 began working in the cotton-mill at that place, where 
 he remained two years, at the expiration of which 
 time, says the " New England Official Directory and 
 Handbook," " he was taken into the factory-store 
 and office, remaining there until the mill was sold to 
 Samuel and John Slater. From 1823 to 1824 he was 
 employed as accountant by the Hopkins & Morse Ma- 
 chine Company, of Norwich ; as book-keeper in the 
 Griswold Woolen Company, by Trumbull, Breed & 
 Co., from 1824 to 1827." 
 
 Becoming of age in the last-named year, he invested 
 the savings of this period of labor in a mercantile en- 
 terprise in which he was associated with his father, 
 under the firm-name of John Johnson & Son, and 
 which he pursued with a profit which thus early in- 
 dicated his possession of shrewd business talent. Later 
 he conducted a store at Norwich Falls under the firm- 
 name of Cobb & Johnson. 
 
 When the Jewett City Bank was organized in 1831, 
 Mr. Charles Johnson was chosen its cashier at the 
 modest salary of two hundred dollars per annum. 
 Three years afterwards, when the late Newton Perkins, 
 of this city, resigned the corresponding position in the 
 old Norwich Bank to accept the treasurership of the 
 Ohio Life and Trust Company, Mr. Johnson was offered 
 and accepted the vacant position at a salary of one 
 thousand dollars, beginning his services in January, 
 1835, and being succeeded in the cashiership at Jewett 
 City by his father, who retained it until within a year 
 of the close of his life, a period of some twenty years. 
 In the year 1847, upon the death of the late Jabez 
 Huntington, Mr. Johnson was chosen president of the 
 Norwich Bank, and held that position until his de- 
 mise. 
 
 At the time Mr. Johnson came to this city the busi- 
 ness of the young Norwich Savings Society was con- 
 ducted in the same edifice with the venerable Nor- 
 wich Bank, and Mr. Johnson assisted in transacting 
 its then diminutive business. In June, 1840, he was 
 made a trustee, and about the same time a director, 
 and in 1865, on the death of the late Joseph Wil- 
 liams, he was chosen its president. 
 
 It was in connection with these institutions that 
 Mr. Johnson was most prominently known in the 
 community, and in his relations with both his duties 
 were ever performed with a scrupulous precision and 
 honesty that are worthy of the widest imitation. The 
 Norwich Bank is one of the three oldest banks in 
 Connecticut, and has a record of which those who 
 have been connected with it have always been pecu- 
 liarly and justly proud. Since it was founded, some 
 eighty-three years ago, it has not once failed to pay 
 its regular semi-annual dividend, and it is largely due 
 to the discretion and virtue of Mr. Johnson that it has 
 stood so well and proved so successful for the past 
 forty-five years. During his connection with the 
 Savings Society the deposits have swelled from less 
 than one hundred and fifty thousand to nearly eight 
 million of dollars, and more than fifty thousand per- 
 sons have availed themselves of its privileges. With 
 the principal share of the grave responsibility of judi- 
 ciously investing this money, and of protecting the 
 loans when once made, Mr. Johnson was charged for 
 many years. 
 
 In addition to his regular banking business, Mr. 
 Johnson conducted extensive brokerage operations for 
 many years, and was called upon to administer several 
 public and private trusts. In the first-named capacity, 
 and in connection with the Savings-Bank, he probably 
 placed more money than any other gentleman in Nor- 
 wich. His management of estates, as of all other 
 trusts, was marked by exactness, even to the minutest 
 details, and by universally recognized fidelity to the 
 interests of his clients. Never was it suggested that 
 he had misused a cent that was not his own. The 
 office of treasurer of the Otis Library ever since the 
 first meeting of the trustees, twenty-nine years ago, and 
 of the local fund for the benefit of the soldiers' fami- 
 lies during the late war, were only two of several re- 
 sponsibilities imposed upon him and borne with satis- 
 faction to the community. 
 
 Among Mr. Johnson's other public relations may 
 be mentioned his share in the directory of the Nor- 
 wich and Worcester Railroad from 1848 to 1869; he 
 was the only member of the board who openly asserted 
 his disapproval of the lease to the New York and New 
 England management, believing that negotiation to 
 be detrimental to Norwich interests. For more than 
 six years prior to his death he had been engaged in 
 reorganizing the affairs of the Southern Minnesota 
 Railroad, in the interest of the first mortgage bond- 
 holders, having been elected first director in the new 
 company, and having had the most prominent share 
 
352 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 in the undertaking, The interest involved was some 
 six million dollars ; and inasmuch as Mr. Johnson 
 had been one of the several who had marketed those 
 bonds here, it was a great consolation to him that, 
 after their depreciation, they had been again brought 
 up to or above the price at which they were origi- 
 nally taken. The work of reorganization had been 
 very nearly consummated before his death ; but it was 
 a matter of regret that he could not make just one 
 more trip to New York to arrange a few remaining 
 details. Mr. Johnson was one of the originators of 
 the Norwich City Gas Company, in which he was a 
 director until the time of his death. From 1845 to 
 1851 he was president of the Norwich Fire Insurance 
 Company, now defunct. Of all the old directors of 
 this corporation, as also the original directors of the 
 Norwich Bank and the trustees of the Otis Library, 
 he was the last to be taken away. 
 
 Mr. Johnson was a large contributor to the Second 
 Congregational Church of this city until the forma- 
 tion of the Park Church and society, towards which 
 he subsequently held a similar relation. Of the for- 
 mer he was more than once treasurer. He was promi- 
 nent and enthusiastic in the movement for the erection 
 of a new place of worship on the Plain, though re- 
 luctant to have a distinct organization effected. No 
 one gave more largely than he, in proportion to his 
 means, to the new enterprise. Mr. Johnson was also 
 one of the incorporators of the Free Academy. It 
 might be remarked in this connection that Mr. John- 
 son was not only a liberal giver, but was also gifted 
 with the public spirit, the tact and the energy which 
 made him prominent and successful in all sorts of 
 movements for raising money. 
 
 A large part of Mr. Johnson's life is recorded only 
 in the grateful memories of those whom he has pecu- 
 niarily and otherwise befriended. He was a man of 
 large and varied though quiet benevolence. Although 
 he lived in a very unostentatious way and died with- 
 out any accumulation of wealth, it has been esti- 
 mated by one who knew him well that he scattered 
 during his life nearly one hundred and fifty thousand 
 dollars for religious and benevolent purposes and per- 
 sonal charities. Never anything of a politician, and 
 not always hopeful in his views, he nevertheless took 
 a decided interest in national affairs, and was fond of 
 discussing them with his friends. In the days of the 
 old Whig party he was a devoted admirer of Daniel 
 Webster, whose funeral at Marshfield, in 1852, he at- 
 tended as an act of personal reverence. In the days 
 of the anti-slavery agitation he was a strong Aboli- 
 tionist, and later an ardent friend of the Union cause 
 and of the universal brotherhood of mankind. The 
 eagerness with which he watched the progress of 
 material civilization amounted almost to a passion, 
 and he took pride in relating the circumstance that 
 he sent the first paid telegram over the wire from 
 Baltimore to Washington. Another of his traits was 
 his singularly clear memory, which retained events 
 
 and dates of even trifling importance with rare accu- 
 racy, and which was often of great assistance to his 
 associates in business. 
 
 Though well fitted to enjoy domestic happiness and 
 to confer it, Mr. Johnson's life was clouded by signal 
 bereavements. He was thrice robbed of the conjugal 
 partners of his joys and sorrows by death, and lost 
 two promising children also. The only surviving 
 child is Mr. C. C. Johnson, of this city. Mr. John- 
 son was a consistent Christian, and the advancement 
 of the religious interests of the city found in him an 
 earnest advocate. A former friend and pastor speaks 
 of Mr. Johnson as " one who was such a signal em- 
 bodiment of every noble, unselfish, and generous trait 
 as to give a new significance to the word friend. He 
 was a representative of everything that was noble, 
 and his life was a river of help and cheer to all who 
 knew him.'' 
 
 For his varied and prolonged business activities, 
 his faithfulness to large responsibilities, his quick re- 
 sponse to the demands of charity or public weal, his 
 modest voluntary generosity, and his cordial and 
 gentlemanly bearing, Mr. Johnson will be long held 
 in kindly rememberance by the community of whick 
 for so long a period he was so useful and worthy a 
 member, and prove a wholesome model to a rising 
 generation. He died April 16, 1879. 
 
 Charles Osgood. — A man who entirely by his 
 own efforts rose to affluence and social position, and 
 through all the changing events of a remarkably 
 active business life preserved his integrity unim- 
 peached, well deserves the pen of the historian. Such 
 an one was Dr. Charles Osgood, of honored memory. 
 Without the advantages of inherited aid, he worked 
 the problem of his own fortune and lived to enjoy 
 the fruition of a successful business career. 
 
 He was born in Lebanon, Conn., in February, 1808. 
 He was graduated at the Plainfield Academy, and 
 having decided upon the medical profession as a 
 life-work, he conimenced its study in the office of his 
 father, the late Dr. Erastus Osgood, who for nearly 
 half a century was a successful practitioner in this 
 section. 
 
 In 1833 he graduated from Yale College, receiving 
 a medical diploma from that institution. In the 
 same year he went to Providence, E. I., and became 
 associated with Dr. Arnold in the practice of medi- 
 cine. Here he remained but a short time, and re- 
 moving to Monroe, Mich., at once entered upon a 
 large and successful practice. In 1840 he returned to 
 his native county, locating in this city, and in the 
 following year, 1841, established his drug business, 
 which subsequently made his name familiar in the 
 business circles of the East. He commenced business 
 in this city, in the building now occupied by the Henry 
 Bill Publishing Company, on Shetucket Street. Here 
 was located his first drug-store and laboratory. He 
 pursued his business with energy and tact, and came 
 to be ranked among the millionaires of Connecticut. 
 
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 '/■1L-CO--(.C 
 
 <{ /2y cc-ff^lx'-^r. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 353 
 
 The history of the life of Dr. Osgood since his re- 
 turn to Norwich is in a great measure a history of 
 the town itself. He was identified with the city as 
 but few men have been. In every enterprise that a 
 large public spirit inspired his hand was always 
 among those most potent, his practical wisdom most 
 earnestly sought and prized, and his purse always 
 ready. 
 
 He was connected Avith many prominent manufac- 
 turing institutions and corporations, among which 
 may be mentioned the Boston Kubber Shoe Company, 
 located at Maiden, Mass.; the Brown Cotton-Gin Com- 
 pany, at New London ; the Norwich City Gas Com- 
 pany, etc. He was prominent in banking circles; was 
 the founder of the Shetucket Bank, and was its presi- 
 dent from its organization in 1853. He was also a 
 director in the New London Mutual Fire Insurance 
 Company, in the Norwich Water-Power Company, 
 and was one of the vice-presidents of the Norwich 
 Savings Society. Dr. Osgood also did much to ad- 
 vance the interests of the New London Junction Eail- 
 road, and was its president since 1873. 
 
 He not only labored to advance the business inter- 
 ests of the city, but educational matters also found 
 iu him an earnest advocate. He aided in founding 
 the Free Academy, and became one of its incorpora- 
 tors. 
 
 Politically Dr. Osgood was a Democrat, but never 
 a bitter partisan. He seemed content with the places 
 of honor and trust won by his business achieve- 
 ments, and had little ambition for public oifice. In 
 1876, however, by the earnest solicitation of his fel- 
 low-citizens, he accepted the nomination for the may- 
 oralty of the city and was elected ; but failing health 
 compelled him to resign when his term had only half 
 expired. He dignified the otBce as long as he held it, 
 and his resignation evoked universal expression of 
 regret from his fellow-citizens irrespective of party. 
 
 Dr. Charles Osgood was a good citizen, a gentle- 
 man of superior culture, genial and social in manner, 
 very popular with the masses, and was distinguished 
 for his sterling integrity and business energy and tact. 
 He died March 18, 1881, leaving a wife, two sons, 
 Charles H. and F. L. Osgood, and a daughter (wife 
 of A. C. Tyler). 
 
 Leonard Ballon. — After the revocation of the 
 Edict of Nantes, in the early part of the seventeenth 
 century, a large body of Huguenots, driven from 
 their homes in the ''sunny land of France" by the 
 relentless persecutions under the reign of Louis XIV., 
 fled to this country in search of religious liberty. 
 
 As a body they represented the most intelligent, 
 industrious, and enterprising of her citizens, belong- 
 ing principally to the nobility and middle classes. 
 They brought with them to the American colonies 
 characters and habits which were of more value than 
 large amounts of money, together with the most use- 
 ful industrial arts of their native land. Their de- 
 scendants, in New England, New York, and the West, 
 
 have been among our most useful and honored citi- 
 zens, and their names are blended with our national 
 history. The most notable instance is seen in the life 
 of our late President James A. Garfield, who inher- 
 ited in a marked degree the characteristics of his 
 ancestor, Maturin Ballou, the earliest of the name in 
 this country, who settled on the shore of Narragansett 
 Bay, and afterwards became identified with the Eoger 
 Williams colony. His son Nathaniel subsequently 
 purchased a large tract of land in Cumberland, in the 
 colony of Ehode Island, and engaged in its cultiva- 
 tion. His eldest son, according to the law of primo- 
 geniture, then in force, inherited all the landed estate 
 of his father, but he, not recognizing the principle of 
 the old feudal system, gave a farm to each of his 
 brothers. Of these, Noah had ten children, many of 
 whom, together with their ancestors and four succeed- 
 ing generations, counting seven in all, lie buried in 
 the old Ballou burying-ground, in Cumberland, oppo- 
 site the old church long known as the Elder Ballou 
 Meeting-house, its pulpit having been occupied for 
 thirty-five years by Elder Abner Ballou, who died in 
 1800, in his eighty-first year. The old meeting-house, 
 which was built in the seventeenth century, has long 
 ceased to be a place of regular worship, but has be- 
 come a sort of Mecca, to which the Ballous from all 
 parts of the country make regular pilgrimages. The 
 old house is built of wood, shingled on the outside, 
 and has a gallery and pews, all hewn from solid oak, 
 and put together with wooden pins. At the time of 
 its construction there were no saw-mills in the country, 
 and no nails were to be purchased, and even the floor 
 was originally hewn from oak and fastened down with 
 wooden pins. The pulpit was built with a solidity 
 which was absolutely essential to its permanence 
 under the eloquent and vehement fervor of the many 
 Ballous who occupied it from generation to genera- 
 tion. 
 
 The second Noah, who was the son of the one be- 
 fore mentioned, and the father of Leonard Ballou, the 
 subject of this sketch, having enterprise, industry, 
 and mechanical skill, engaged in the business of boat- 
 building, quite an important industry at that period, 
 in addition to his farming interests. In his sixteenth 
 year he entered the Eevolutionary army, and after- 
 wards became a commissioned officer under Gen. 
 Greene. He died in Cumberland, in 1843, in the 
 eighty-fourth year of his age. 
 
 His eldest son, Leonard, was born in Cumberland, 
 Feb. 23, 1794, and in his boyhood attended the com- 
 mon school of the town. He afterwards pursued his 
 studies in a private school preparatory to a classical 
 course, working in the mean time in his father's shop 
 and on the farm. When he had reached the age of 
 sixteen the non-intercourse act and the embargo 
 which preceded the war of 1812 entirely destroyed all 
 the mechanical industries of the country connected 
 with commerce, and the father was obliged to aban- 
 don his plans for the higher education of his son. 
 
35i 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The next winter he taught acceptably the public 
 school in his own district, and later had charge of a 
 much larger school in another part of the town. 
 Under these circumstances, finding that he must rely 
 upon his own efforts for his future support, and hav- 
 ing a natural taste for mechanical pursuits, as well as 
 a facility in the use of tools, acquired in his father's 
 shop, he sought and obtained work as a carpenter and 
 joiner in building houses for the small manufacturing 
 establishments just making their appearance on the 
 Blackstone Eiver. In 1819 he entered the employ- 
 ment of Jason Tower, a millwright, engaged at that 
 time in mill-work generally, and in building a water- 
 wheel for Mr. Harris. The charge of constructing 
 and placing the wheel, and arranging the shafting, 
 with the gearing, pulleys, draws, etc., crude as they 
 were in that early period of manufacturing, devolved 
 chiefly on Mr. Ballou, a great responsibility for a 
 young man of so little experience in that specialty. 
 At that time there were few competent mechanics, even 
 in Rhode Island, where the first mills were erected. 
 
 He succeeded so entirely to the satisfaction of Mr. 
 Harris that soon afterwards, when Watson, Tingley 
 & Eathbone, of Providence, proposed to take up the 
 water-power at the present important manufacturing 
 centre, Willimantic, Conn., then almost a wilderness, 
 he recommended the young Ballou as a competent 
 man for that great work, involving, as it did, not only 
 the construction of the water-wheel, shafting, etc., for 
 the mill, but also determining the fall of the water- 
 power by practical engineering, which had not then 
 been reduced to an exact science. 
 
 Young as he was,- diffident as to his ability to ac- 
 complish the work, he yet saw that if he was to earn 
 larger wages than an ordinary mechanic he must do 
 what an ordinary mechanic could not do. Acting 
 under the advice of his friend Harris, he went to 
 Willimantic, surveyed the water-power, constructed 
 the wheel, shafted the mill, and applied the water 
 successfully, thus justifying the confidence of Mr. 
 Harris as to his ability, and having the satisfaction of 
 engineering the first water-power in a wild and almost 
 uninhabitable section, which to-day teems with a 
 large and thriving population, and whose immense 
 and elegant mills represent the highest manufac- 
 turing skill to be found iii New England. On Mr, 
 Ballou's return to Rhode Island his services were 
 eagerly sought after as a millwright by the Wilkin- 
 sons, the Slaters, and the Browns, who were the lead- 
 ing manufacturers of that period. 
 
 In 1825, having accumulated a small property as 
 the result of this hard labor, he decided he would 
 have a mill of his own, however small it might be, 
 and in November of that year he purchased a mill 
 privilege on the Five-Mile River, in Killingly, Conn. 
 
 On this privilege was a small mill, built for the 
 purpose of grinding rye to make gin, a business then 
 very common in that part of the State. The power 
 was so poorly applied that it was barely possible to 
 
 carry one run of stones, while to-day, known as the 
 Ballou Mills, it runs twenty -six thousand spindles. 
 
 Here came in the value of the knowledge which he 
 had acquired of the capacity of mill-sites, and which 
 led to his futu;re success. 
 
 In making this purchase his father-in-law, Jabez 
 Amsbury, a practical machinist, was associated with 
 him, under the firm-name of Amsbury & Ballou. 
 
 During the winter they built a part of the neces- 
 sary machinery. The following spring they removed 
 their families to Killingly, and with them came 
 George Weatherhead, another son-in-law, and Mowry 
 Amsbury, son of Jabez Amsbury. 
 
 The entire capital possessed by the parties was six 
 thousand dollars, but each was qualified to fill the 
 position required in the running of a small mill, Mr. 
 Ballou being the manager and leading spirit of the 
 whole. 
 
 Their small capital necessitated their utilizing the 
 old gin-mill, which was a small one-story building; 
 but soon, under the impulses and labors of these 
 earnest workers, it assumed the form of a factory, 
 fifty feet long, thirty-two feet wide, and three stories 
 in height. They started the mill in the following 
 autumn, with only ten looms in full operation. 
 
 After running the factory for one year, Mr. Ballou 
 discovered that an income sufficient to support four 
 families could not be derived from the product of ten 
 looms. He saw from the beginning that the only 
 way to realize a larger profit was to increase the ma- 
 chinery, which had been contemplated in the build- 
 ing of the factory, but he had not the money to do 
 this, and he hesitated. 
 
 He was in a dilemma. Instead of laying up a small 
 sum every year, as he had been doing while working 
 for others, he found himself losing daily working for 
 himself. But that was not the worst of it. His 
 father-in-law and brothers-in-law could not abandon 
 the enterprise without great loss and even failure, and 
 to him alone they looked for relief. 
 
 Of the Ballous it may be truly said that whatever 
 they undertake the}' seldom or never stop at any ob- 
 stacle to success which industry, energy, and enter- 
 prise can conquer, and this was a trait of character 
 for which the subject of this sketch was pre-eminently 
 distinguished. 
 
 Yet a young man and with very little experience in 
 the management of business affairs, he sought the ad- 
 vice of a friend in Providence, R. I.,— a gentleman of 
 excellent reputation as a manufacturer, of a kindly 
 nature and sound judgment, — and was confirmed in 
 his own opinion as to the necessity of the case and 
 its remedy ; but, always careful and conservative, he 
 hesitated about incurring so large an indebtedness, 
 and feared he might not be able to raise the money 
 to carry out the plan, until his friend assured him 
 that he would give him whatever aid he might need, 
 saying to him, " Go ahead, and I will see that you do 
 not fail," 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 355 
 
 The machinery was ordered the same day, and he 
 returned home greatly encouraged by the confidence 
 placed in .him by the successful merchant and shrewd 
 business man, who had known him but a single year, 
 but had doubtless discerned in him qualities which 
 satisfied him that the loan of his credit would not be 
 misplaced. 
 
 The business at once commenced to increase, and 
 the firm were able to meet all their payments with- 
 out availing themselves of the proffered aid. Mr. 
 Ballou always regarded this event as " the turn in 
 the tide" of his affairs " which led on to fortune." 
 
 Having secured these increased facilities, he made 
 a contract with Robert Rhodes, of Providence, to 
 receive cotton and manufacture cloth for a fixed 
 price per yard, thus providing for the working capital 
 to run the mill. In 1833 he commenced to buy his 
 own cotton, and sold his goods in New York, and 
 during the financial crisis of 1837 made no losses, 
 while many other manufacturers were greatly em- 
 barrassed by the failure of their commission-houses. 
 It is a notable fact that during that year the paper of 
 every domestic commission merchant in New York 
 went to protest excepting that of two firms, and with 
 them alone had Mr. Ballou any business relations. 
 
 In 1834 he increased the capacity of his mill more 
 than double, and in 1836 purchased the entire inter- 
 ests of his partners, whom he helped to establish in 
 mills of their own on the same river. 
 
 In subsequent years he continued to enlarge his 
 mill, and introduced new machinery as his means ac- 
 cumulated and the inventions of the age made it 
 imperative, for he never could be satisfied if his rela- 
 tive cost of production, which is the key to manu- 
 facturing success, was not as low as any of his com- 
 petitors. 
 
 He passed through the several financial crises of half 
 a century without compromise of any kind and with 
 steadily-increasing resources, relying always for suc- 
 cess on the result of patient, honest, and skillful labor 
 rather than on any combination of any especially 
 favorable circumstances, promising speculations, or 
 hazardous ventures. His unimpeachable integrity, 
 promptness in meeting his payments, never having 
 failed to meet an indebtedness, never having been 
 sued, and never having sued any other person, all 
 contributed to make him respected and honored by 
 all who knew him. 
 
 The unusual success of Mr. Ballou in the manu- 
 facture of cotton goods in a small mill, where so many 
 of his compeers have failed, was due in a great meas- 
 ure to the fact that his mechanical education and su- 
 perior intelligence in the manufacturing departments 
 enabled him to adopt or reject the various new theories 
 or systems which were daily presented during nearly 
 half a century of active business life, and thus he 
 never failed to produce fabrics at the smallest possi- 
 ble cost. 
 
 Yet he was one of the most considerate of mill- 
 
 owners to his operatives. Their counselor and friend, 
 to them, as to others, his name was a synonym for 
 honesty and fair dealing, and they regarded him with 
 respect and affection. 
 
 His opinions were sought on all occasions with refer- 
 ence to manufacturing changes and methods, even to 
 the last years of his life, for even in his retiracy he 
 loved to mark the progress of his favorite business, 
 which he had seen rise almost from its birth, with its 
 crude devices and surroundings, and lived to see the 
 rapid improvements and ingenious applications which 
 have resulted in making a modern cotton-mill one of 
 the wonders of the nineteenth century. 
 
 He had for many years entertained the purpose of 
 retiring from active business when he should attain 
 the age of threescore and ten. Accordingly, in Feb- 
 ruary, 1864, he closed his career as a manufacturer, 
 and sold all his property in Killingly to the Attawau- 
 gan Company. The village where he first commenced 
 operations is now known as Ballouville. 
 
 After that time his only active business was the 
 discharge of financial trusts in connection with various 
 corporations in which a portion of his capital was in- 
 vested. He was a director in the First National Bank 
 of Norwich for thirty-five years, and trustee of the 
 Norwich Savings Society, the largest institution for 
 savings in the State, and until increasing years ren- 
 dered the work too onerous his services were of great 
 value to the institution, his long experience as a man- 
 ufacturer and his thorough knowledge of machinery 
 making him an expert in the valuation of real estate 
 and other manufacturing properties proposed as se- 
 curities for loans. He was president for many years 
 of the Norwich Water-Power Company, and at the 
 time of his death was president of the Occum "Water- 
 Power Company, director in the Norwich Bleaching 
 and Calendering Company, and in the Norwich City 
 Gas Company. 
 
 Mr. Ballou was a resident of Killingly for twenty 
 years, and in the autumn of 1845 removed to Norwich, 
 where he passed the remainder of his life. He was 
 married in 1822 to Ann Eliza Amsbury, of Cumber- 
 land, R. I., who died in Norwich in May, 1852. In 
 1854 he was again married to Mrs. Kingsley, of Nor- 
 wich, who died in 1862. 
 
 He had been for many years a prominent and active 
 member of the Congregational Church in North Kil- 
 lingly, and on his removal to Norwich joined the Sec- 
 ond Congregational Church there, and afterwards be- 
 came identified with the Park Congregational Church. 
 He was an active promoter of the enterprise for erecting 
 the church edifice for that religious society in 1873, 
 and was one of the largest contributors for that object. 
 
 In politics he was a Whig of the old school, and a 
 decided Republican. He was a man of strong convic- 
 tions and uncompromising for the right, yet was wil- 
 ling to concede the rights of opinion to those who 
 differed from him. To a fine, manly physique he 
 added superior intellectual qualities, a well-balanced 
 
356 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 mind and sound judgment, with great kindness of 
 heart and a calm and even temperament. Always a 
 consistent Christian, he was a peacemaker in all diffi- 
 culties, and was often looked to by friends to arrange 
 mutual misunderstandings. 
 
 He died at his home on Washington Street, Aug. 5, 
 1880, in the eighty-seventh year of his age, having re- 
 tained all his faculties to a remarkable degree until 
 within a few months of his death. Two daughters 
 survive him, one of whom married John B. Young, of 
 the firm of Tiffany & Young, now Tiffany & Co., New 
 York ; the other is the wife of Mr. A. H. Almy, of 
 Norwich; and one grandson, Leonard Ballou Almy, 
 now a practicing physician in Norwich. 
 
 Edward Boylston Huntington, son of Deacon 
 Jabez Huntington and Mary Lanman, daughter of 
 Peter Lanman, Esq., was born in Norwich, Conn., 
 June 18, 1806. His boyhood was passed in his native 
 city, where he remained until twenty-one years of age, 
 when he Went to New York and engaged in business. 
 He continued in business in New York City until 
 1850, when he changed his residence to Boston and 
 became associated in business with the old and highly- 
 respected firm of Naylor & Co., with whom he re- 
 mained until 1871, when, in consequence of failing 
 health, he retired from active business life and re- 
 moved to his native city. 
 
 Mr. Huntington was prominently identified with 
 religious matters, and all measures tending to ad- 
 vance the moral and religious welfare of the com- 
 munity wherein he resided found in him an earnest 
 advocate. He was for twenty years a member and 
 officer of the Eliot Congregational Church, in Rox- 
 bury, near Boston, which was under the pastoral care 
 of Eev. A. C. Thompson, D.D. He was a large con- 
 tributor to the American Board of Commissioners 
 for Foreign Missions, which society he regarded with 
 the deepest interest and affection. His views were 
 broad, and his sympathies extended to all needing his 
 help. 
 
 Edward B. Huntington was a consistent Christian, 
 a courteous and polished gentleman, thoughtful of 
 others in the highest degree, with a kind word and 
 sweet smile for all. He was a grandson of Gen. Jede- 
 diah Huntington, of New London, and great-grandson 
 of Jonathan Trumbull, the first Governor of Connecti- 
 cut. 
 
 Mr. Huntington married early in life his cousin, 
 daughter of the Rev. Joshua Huntington, pastor of 
 the old South Church in Boston. Mr. Huntington 
 died June 18, 1875, and was buried, at his request, at 
 Forest Hills, the lovely cemetery near Roxbury. 
 His wife, throe children, and four grandchildren 
 survive him. 
 
 Alba F. Smith was born in Lebanon, Conn., June 
 28, 1817. When a boy his father moved to New Lon- 
 don, and after a brief residence there returned to 
 Windham, where his youth was spent. He received 
 a common-school education, and as a lad exhibited 
 
 .strong tastes and a natural genius for mechanical arts. 
 He worked early in life at the machinist's bench, 
 where he constantly exhibited marks of genius. He 
 married and came to Norwich in 1840, at the age of 
 twenty-three, and established himself in business with 
 one Chester Hatch, for the manufacture and sale of 
 lead pipe. He subsequently formed a partnership on 
 Ferry Street, under the title of Smith & Congdon, 
 plumbers. 
 
 Mr. Smith's ingenuity soon after took practical 
 shape, and he began improvements in the locomotire 
 engine, which resulted in the invention of many of 
 the most important improvements in locomotive con- 
 struction, truck bearings, etc., of the age, now in 
 daily use all over the country. 
 
 He remained in business here ten years, during which 
 time he was a member of the fire department, and in 
 1846 was elected chief engineer of the department. 
 
 Gen. Dan Tyler took a deep interest in young 
 Smith, and recognizing his superior qualities for rail- 
 roading, urged him to relinquish his business here in 
 1849 to go to Pennsylvania, where, by his influence, 
 he obtained for him the superintendency of the Cum- 
 berland Valley Railroad. In this position he con- 
 tinued to develop unequaled sagacity and skill in 
 management, and after seven years' service he was 
 tendered the superintendency of the Hudson River 
 Railroad, in 1856, which he accepted. He busied him- 
 self in putting its machinery in first-class condition, 
 and had the supervision of the first bridge built across 
 the Hudson at Albany. After a service of twelve 
 years in this capacity he resigned, notwithstanding 
 the earnest solicitation of Commodore Vanderbilt 
 for his continuance and the offer of an increased 
 salary, determined to return to this place, build for 
 himself and family a residence at Norwich Town, and 
 retire from active business life. 
 
 Th.e distinction that he had earned abroad both as 
 inventor and manager had preceded him, and he was 
 not permitted to carry out the plan he had laid for a 
 quiet and sequestered conclusion to a busy life. In 
 January, 1868, he was elected president of the Nor- 
 wich and Worcester Railroad Company, succeeding 
 Augustus Brewster, and in December of the same 
 year succeeded the late David Smith as president of 
 the Norwich and New York Transportation Company. 
 He was also elected " managing agent" of the Nor- 
 wich and Worcester road under the lease to the Bos- 
 ton, Hartford and Erie road, in March, 1869. He 
 resigned the presidency of the Norwich and New York 
 Transportation Company in December, 1874, retaining 
 the presidency of the Norwich and Worcester Rail- 
 road Company and the office of "managing agent" 
 until his death, and exhibited rare judgment in all 
 practical matters connected with railroad manage- 
 ment. 
 
 On his return to the home of his adoption the 
 people began to press him into public service, having 
 honored him, previous to his leaving in 1849, with a 
 
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NORWICH. 
 
 357 
 
 seat in the Legislature, and in 1846 as first alderman 
 under the mayoralty of William A. Buckingham, 
 and knowing well his faithfulness to his constituents, 
 and ability and willingness to serve them. 
 
 His perfect success in civil engineering, which had 
 made him prominent among the eminent engineers of 
 the country and brought his judgment as an expert 
 into demand to solve all the difficult problems of rail- 
 road construction, made him pre-eminently in demand 
 at home when, in 1866, it was thought that the health 
 of the people required that a reservoir should be 
 built, and the old wells abandoned that were liable 
 to contaminate with city sewage and produce an epi- 
 demic among the people, and he was on the first com- 
 mittee appointed to consider the matter of locating 
 and constructing the city water-works. He was one 
 of a committee of three to draw the plans and make 
 the specifications. He superintended the vast project 
 and watched it to its completion ; he was the first 
 water commissioner elected, and for twelve years he 
 was chairman of the board and the moving spirit and 
 director of all that appertained to the enterprise, de- 
 fending it from aspersion as a father would a child, 
 clearly and indisputably setting forth the benefits. 
 
 In 1870 his residence was completed at Norwich 
 Town, and he went there to reside, contemplating 
 resigning the presidency of the Board of Water Com- 
 missioners in this city ; but he was pressed to continue 
 in office, and a special act was passed in the Legis- 
 lature making his service legal. In 1872 he repre- 
 sented the town in the Legislature for the second time 
 with marked ability. Besides these public honors, he 
 was elected a director of the Second National Bank 
 in 1868. In 1869 he succeeded the Hon. William A. 
 Buckingham as president of the Norwich Lock Com- 
 pany, from which he resigned after a brief term of 
 service. In 1872 he succeeded the late Augustus 
 Brewster as president of the Norwich Water-Power 
 Company, and also David Smith as president of the 
 Second National Bank, both of which positions he 
 continued to hold until his decease. He was also 
 president of the Locomotive Engine Safety Truck 
 Company at the time of his death. 
 
 With the presidency of five corporations on his 
 hands, besides the supervision of the building of the 
 Laurel Hill tunnel and the improvements there, 
 and the building of the viaduct at Worcester, his 
 health began to fail, and after a brief illness he died, 
 July 21, 1879. 
 
 James Monroe Huntington, the subject of this 
 memoir, dates his ancestry in this country to Simon 
 Huntington, an English gentleman, whose family ar- 
 rived in Boston, Mass., in 1633, he having died on 
 board the vessel a short time before its arrival in port. 
 The grandfather of James M. was Judge Andrew 
 Huntington, of whom the late Mrs. Sigourney once 
 said " was a man of plain manners and incorruptible 
 integrity. His few words were always those of good 
 sense and truth, and the weight of his influence was 
 
 given to the best interests of society." He rendered 
 invaluable services to the Eevolutionary cause, and 
 was one of Governor Trumbull's most trusted coun- 
 selors. His brothers. Gen. Jedediah, Gen. Ebenezer, 
 and Capt. Joshua, all sons of the old heroic patriot. 
 Gen. Jabez Huntington, rendered distinguished ser- 
 vices during the Revolutionary struggle. 
 
 James M. Huntington was born in Norwich, Aug. 
 8, 1817, and in a large degree inherited the virtues 
 and ennobling characteristics of his illustrious ances- 
 tors, whose names have ever been synonymous with 
 integrity, uprightness, and a devotion to the best 
 interests of society. He was educated in his native 
 town, and commenced his business career as a clerk 
 for the late A. F. Gil man, who conducted a drug 
 business in the building now occupied by the firm of 
 Lee & Osgood. 
 
 In 1837, when but twenty years of age, he was ad- 
 mitted as a partner, and when Mr. Gilman retired, in 
 1840, he formed a new partnership with the late Jede- 
 diah Leavens. In 1844 the firm removed to the wharf, 
 in the building now occupied by Charles Osgood & 
 Co. In 184G, Mr. Leavens retired from the firm, and 
 a new partnership was formed, consisting of J. M. 
 Huntington, Theodore Eaymond, and James M. 
 Meech, which continued until 1.850, when Mr. Meech 
 retired. The firm then removed to Commerce Street, 
 where they engaged in extensive business enterprises, 
 and became widely known throughout this section of 
 country. 
 
 In 1856 the firm purchased the Cold Spring Iron- 
 Works, which were subsequently sold to the Mitchell 
 Bros. Ship-building was next commenced, at what 
 is now Thamesville, where this enterprising firm built 
 eleven vessels, nine of which were steamers, con- 
 structing not only the hulls but the entire machinery. 
 Three of these steamers, the " Uncas," the " Nor- 
 wich," and the " Whirlwind," were in the service of 
 the government during the late Rebellion. They 
 were also largely interested in the West India trade, 
 owning a wharf and bonded warehouse in New 
 London. One of their steamers, the " Whirlwind," 
 was the first American merchant steamer that entered 
 the port of Porto Rico. In 1852 the firm held a con- 
 tract for transacting all the coal business over the 
 Norwich and Worcester Railroad, with an extensive 
 coal-yard and business in the city of Worcester. 
 
 Mr. Huntington was largely interested in the cot- 
 ton and woolen manufacturing business from its in- 
 fancy in Eastern Connecticut to the breaking out of 
 the late war. He was also, during the Rebellion, 
 largely interested in manufacturing in Worcester, 
 and furnished the machinery for all or nearly all the 
 arsenals in the country. 
 
 In 1866 this firm established a line of passenger 
 and freight steamers from Providence to Philadelphia, 
 and in fact there is not a port from Newfoundland to 
 Mexico of any importance that their vessels have not 
 visited. 
 
358 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Public-spirited and generous, Mr. Huntington was 
 ever found an earnest advocate of all measures which, 
 in his superior judgment, tended to advance the ma- 
 terial, educational, and religious interests of his native 
 city. 
 
 He was in all respects an ideal me'rchant, combin- 
 ing boldness of conception with unusual care and 
 clearheadedness in planning and uncommon skill in 
 the mastery and management of details. Upright 
 and honorable in all his dealings with his fellow- 
 men, it was often, and of truth, said of him that his 
 word was as good as his bond. Stern integrity was 
 born in him, a legacy of his Puritan ancestry, and 
 what he exacted from those who had business rela- 
 tions with him he was equally scrupulous to accord to 
 others. United with his indomitable energy was an 
 inflexible will and an unflinching courage that no 
 obstacle could turn aside and no disaster could daunt. 
 
 Oct. 11, 1841, jMr. Huntington united in marriage 
 with Emily Brewster 3Ieech, who died Dec. 11, 1843, 
 leaving one child. Nov. 24, 1846, he married Sarah 
 G. Burgess, of Plainfield. She died Nov. 14, 1864. 
 He was again married, Dec. 14, 1865, to Elizabeth R. 
 Barstow, of this city, who survives him. In relig- 
 ious matters Mr. Huntington was a Congregation- 
 alist, and politically a Republican. He died Nov. 
 17, 1874, aged fifty-seven years. 
 
 David Smith was born in Norwich, September, 
 1796. He began his active business career in Wind- 
 ham, organizing a company there for the manufac- 
 ture of paper. His success in this then comparatively 
 new line of industry, his practical understanding of 
 the business, together with his high personal charac- 
 ter, procured him the invitation to the Chelsea Paper- 
 Mill of this town, which he accepted in 1833. Here, 
 associated with J. C Rives, formerly publisher of the 
 Congressional Olobe at Washington, D. C, Mr. Smith 
 was for many years' a prominent proprietor of the 
 mill, and during his direction it achieved a marked 
 success. While thus engaged in the manufacturing 
 of paper he resided in Greeneville, and by his public 
 spirit and benevolence did all in his power for the 
 building up of that part of the town. He was an ac- 
 tive member of the Congregational Church there, and 
 is still gratefully remembered for his generous con- 
 tributions in its behalf, as well as in aid of every good 
 cause that appealed to him through the church. 
 
 In 1856 he removed to the city, having built the 
 fine residence in which he continued to live up to the 
 time of his decease. In 1858 he retired from the man- 
 ufacturing business, having through his successful 
 management of the business accumulated a handsome 
 property. From this time onward he was connected 
 for a longer or shorter period with various business 
 enterprises here. He was a prominent director in the 
 Norwich Water-Power Company, and was president 
 for some twenty years of the Jewett City Bank. In 
 the organization of the Norwich and New York 
 Transportation Company, Mr. Smith was among the 
 
 first movers, and succeeded Capt. Joseph J. Comstock 
 as its second president, serving with ability as such 
 until 1873, when he declined a re-election. Interested 
 in all that promised to promote the general growth of 
 Norwich, he was identified with both the Norwich 
 and Worcester and the New London Northern Rail- 
 roads, being a director in each. He was the second 
 president of the Second National Bank of this city, 
 and by his personal interest in its affairs and his good 
 business judgment contributed not a little to its pros- 
 perity. The Chelsea Savings-Bank also had him as 
 one of its vice-presidents, and found in him an able 
 and wise friend. Mr. Smith had no taste for political 
 life and studiously abstained therefrom, departing 
 only once fi'om this settled preference to represent 
 the town for one year in the State Senate. 
 
 The Norwich Bulletin, in speaking of him, says, 
 "He was widely known for his benevolence, and many 
 are the institutions and charitable societies which 
 reckon him amongst their most generous contribu- 
 tors. Uniting with the church while in Willimantic, 
 just prior to his removal to Greeneville, he till the 
 day of his death maintained a consistent and univer- 
 sally respected Christian life. He aided in building 
 the churches in both the above places, was a liberal 
 donor to the Second Church in this city when it was 
 remodeled, and made his last contribution in this line 
 to Park Church. Missed in all the walks of business, 
 in which he maintained an integrity unsullied; missed 
 by the great causes he was prompt and liberal to assist 
 with his personal gifts ; missed by the poor, to whom 
 he was a thoughtful and open-handed friend, the 
 valued citizen and honored Christian has gone from 
 us. None will name him but to speak kindly of him; 
 none will recall his genial face, his kindly speech 
 and spirit, but to bear witness to his genuinely good 
 life. Quietly and faithfully he lived, beloved and 
 trusted by neighbors, citizens, churchmates, and by 
 his death are all these bereaved of a tried and gener- 
 ous friend. The memory of his guileless, useful life 
 will long be cherished, and Norwich will write him 
 down amongst her noblest and most worthy sons." 
 
 Henry B. Tracy was born in Bozrah, Conn., and 
 died in Norwich, Dec. 19, 1878. Mr. Tracy was one 
 of the leading and influential citizens of Norwich, and 
 was honored by his fellow-townsmen with various po- 
 sitions of trust and responsibility in political and 
 financial circles. Year after year he held the office of 
 postmaster at Norwich Town, and many town offices 
 were his townsmen only too glad to honor him with. 
 He was for many years secretary of the old Norwich 
 Mutual Assurance Company, and until a short time 
 previous to his death was president of the Merchants 
 Bank in this city. At the time of his death he was 
 vice-president of the Norwich Savings Society, and 
 until June, 1878, was a director of the same, when his 
 resignation was pressed upon and reluctantly accepted 
 by the society. In his early life Mr. Tracy was con- 
 nected with the Yantic Manufacturing Company. 
 
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NORWICH. 
 
 359 
 
 The character of Mr. Tracy was distinguished by 
 sterling uprightness, and it was said of him by those 
 who placed business transactions in his hands that 
 he discharged the trusts assigned to him with the same 
 promptness, energy, and fidelity that he would in the 
 conduct of his own affairs. Socially he was loved and 
 esteemed by a large circle of friends and admirers, 
 who valued him not less for his genuine personal 
 qualities than for his integrity, justness, and high- 
 minded business habits. Politically he was a Demo- 
 crat. 
 
 Henry Barker Norton, born in the town of Bran- 
 ford, State of Connecticut, county of New Haven, 
 May 5, 1807, came to the town of Norwich, county of 
 New London, in the month of April, 1824. From then 
 to the present time has been continually occupied in 
 merchandise, commerce, and manufactures. 
 
 Hiram P. Arms was born at Windsor, Conn., June 
 1, 1799, a descendant in the fifth generation of Wil- 
 liam Arms, of Deerfield, Mass. Fitted for college 
 under the tuition of the Kev. Nathan Perkins, of 
 Amherst, Mass., class of 1795, and at Phillips Acad- 
 emy, under John Adams, LL.D., class of 1795. After 
 graduation taught a private school in New Haven, 
 and pursued theological studies under the instruction 
 of Profs. Taylor, Fitch, and Gibbs. Took charge of 
 the Kingston Academy, N. Y., for a year or two. 
 
 After preaching a few years in Sing Sing, N. Y., 
 and in Longraeadow, Mass., was ordained at Hebron, 
 Conn., June 30, 1830. Dismissed at his own request, 
 Oct. 10, 1882. Installed pastor of the Congregational 
 Church in Wolcottville, Conn., Feb. 6, 1833. Dis- 
 missed July 6, 1836, to accept a call from the First 
 Church in Norwich, Conn., where he was installed 
 Aug. 3, 1836. 
 
 On the 20th of February, 1873, being then seventy- 
 four years of age, he resigned the active duties of his 
 pastorate, but continues to reside among his people as 
 pastor emeritus. 
 
 On retiring from the active labors of the ministry, 
 the parish generously presented him with a life-an- 
 nuity, which gives to his family a comfortable support 
 while he lives. 
 
 He has been twice married, first to Lucy Ann Wad- 
 hams, of New Haven, Sept. 12, 1824. She died July 
 3, 1837, leaving five children. His second wife was 
 Abby Jane Baker, of New York, to whom he was 
 married Sept. 12, 1838. 
 
 The evening of his uneventful life he is passing 
 pleasantly in a quiet home, among a kind and afiec- 
 tionate people. 
 
 Rev. David Niles Bentley was born in North 
 Stonington, Conn., July 27, 1785. He was the third 
 son of Mr. Ezekiel Bentley, who died Feb. 4, 1834, in 
 the ninety-seventh year of his age. His mother was 
 Miss Anna Chapman, eldest daughter of Deacon 
 Joseph Chapman, of Groton, now Ledyard. She 
 died Oct. 25, 1853, aged ninety-seven years. 
 
 On the last of April, 1799, young Bentley was hired 
 
 as a chore-boy to Mr. Barzillai Davison, of this city. 
 He, with the family of Mr. Davison, attended the 
 old Episcopal Church, of which Eev. John Tyler was 
 pastor. He obtained the English Prayer-Book then 
 in use, and read the lessons and prayers with the con- 
 gregation, and made the responses as audibly as 
 Deacon Warren. At the expiration of six months he 
 went home, where he spent most of the winter in at- 
 tending the district school. The intermissions were 
 passed with the teacher in study. In the spring of 
 1800 he was " bound out" as an apprentice to Mr. 
 Barzillai Davison, of Norwich, to learn the trade of 
 a goldsmitli. Soon after he went with a fellow-ap- 
 prentice, Mr. Nicholas Chevalier, several years older, 
 to the Methodist meeting, where the latter, who was 
 very wicked, soon professed to be converted, quit his 
 business, and went about holding meetings. About 
 this time Capt. William Davison, brother of his em- 
 ployer, ran a packet from Norwich to New York, and 
 coming home sick with the yellow fever, and dying, 
 with his mate, the citizens became alarmed and many 
 families went into the country. Among them was 
 the family of Mr. Barzillai Davison, leaving Mr. 
 Bentley to take care of the house and shop. He had 
 now but little to do other than reading the Bible, 
 watching with the sick, and attending prayer-meet- 
 ings. Just at this time the eccentric Lorenzo Dow 
 came into the place and preached in a room then oc- 
 cupied by the Methodists, in an old wooden building 
 on the north side of Water Street. In his unsettled 
 and gloomy state of mind he went to hear, taking 
 a seat directly behind him, partially concealed by the 
 door. During his discourse the preacher described the 
 condition and feelings of a sinner under conviction 
 for sin. After he had very clearly portrayed to the 
 congregation his condition, he turned himself squarely 
 round, and laying his, hand on the head of Mr. Bent- 
 ley, said, " Young man, is not that the truth, and you 
 can't deny it?" 
 
 He was baptized in the Yantic Eiver, near the New 
 London depot, by Eev. Peter Vannest, in the same 
 year, and began the practice of fasting on Friday, 
 which he continued nearly three years (when he was 
 taken with the yellow fever'), and still continued it 
 until he was instructed by his physician that the habit 
 was injurious to his health. After convalescence, be- 
 coming free from the indentures of his employer, and 
 being at leisure, he traveled on horse the New London 
 Circuit with Eev. Nathan Emory. Believing that he 
 could be more useful in local than itinerant ministry, 
 he commenced business as a plumber and brass- 
 founder in 1805. In the fall of this year he married 
 Miss Letitia Gardner, daughter of David Gardner, 
 Esq., of Bozrah. She was an earnest Christian, an af- 
 fectionate mother, an obliging friend, and a devoted 
 wife. Eleven children lived to realize and return her 
 undying love, and four died in infancy. 
 
^'Uji-lni iL^flI■^■"''"' ■ 
 
 o/ 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 359 
 
 The character of Mr. Tracy was distinguished by 
 sterling uprightness, and it was said of him by those 
 who placed business transactions in his hands that 
 he discharged the trusts assigned to him with the same 
 promptness, energy, and fidelity that he would in the 
 conduct of his own affairs. Socially he was loved and 
 esteemed by a large circle of friends and admirers, 
 who valued him not less for his genuine personal 
 qualities than for his integrity, justness, and high- 
 minded business habits. Politically he was a Demo- 
 crat. 
 
 Henry Barker Norton, born in the town of Bran- 
 ford, State of Connecticut, county of New Haven, 
 May 5, 1807, came to the town of Norwich, county of 
 New London, in the month of April, 1824. From then 
 to the present time has been continually occupied in 
 merchandise, commerce, and manufactures. 
 
 Hiram P. Arms was born at Windsor, Conn., June 
 1, 1799, a descendant in the fifth generation of Wil- 
 liam Arms, of Deerfield, Mass. Fitted for college 
 under the tuition of the Kev. Nathan Perkins, of 
 Amherst, Mass., class of 1795, and at Phillips Acad- 
 emy, under John Adams, LL.D., class of 1795. After 
 graduation taught a private school in New Haven, 
 and pursued theological studies under the instruction 
 of Profs. Taylor, Fitch, and Gibbs. Took charge of 
 the Kingston Academy, N. Y., for a year or two. 
 
 After preaching a few years in Sing Sing, N. Y., 
 and in Longmeadow, Mass., was ordained at Hebron, 
 Conn., June 30, 1830. Dismissed at his own request, 
 Oct. 10, 1832. Installed pastor of the Congregational 
 Church in Wolcottville, Conn., Feb. 6, 1833. Dis- 
 missed July 6, 1836, to accept a call from the First 
 Church in Norwich, Conn., where he was installed 
 Aug. 3, 1836. 
 
 On the 20th of February, 1873, being then seventy- 
 four years of age, he resigned the active duties of his 
 pastorate, but continues to reside among his people as 
 pastor emeritus. 
 
 On retiring from the active labors of the ministry, 
 the parish generously presented him with a life-an- 
 nuity, which gives to his family a comfortable support 
 while he lives. 
 
 He has been twice married, first to Lucy Ann Wad- 
 hams, of New Haven, Sept. 12, 1824. She died July 
 3, 1837, leaving five children. His second wife was 
 Abby Jane Baker, of New York, to whom he was 
 married Sept. 12, 1838. 
 
 The evening of his uneventful life he is passing 
 pleasantly in a quiet home, among a kind and affec- 
 tionate people. 
 
 Eev. David Niles Bentley was born in North 
 Stonington, Conn., July 27, 1785. He was the third 
 son of Mr. Ezekiel Bentley, who died Feb. 4, 1834, in 
 the ninety-seventh year of his age. His mother was 
 Miss Anna Chapman, eldest daughter of Deacon 
 Joseph Chapman, of Groton, now Ledyard. She 
 died Oct. 25, 1853, aged ninety-seven years. 
 
 On the last of April, 1799, young Bentley was hired 
 
 as a chore-boy to Mr. Barzillal Davison, of this city. 
 He, with the family of Mr. Davison, attended the 
 old Episcopal Church, of which Eev. John Tyler was 
 pastor. He obtained the English Prayer-Book then 
 in use, and read the lessons and prayers with the con- 
 gregation, and made the responses as audibly as 
 Deacon Warren. At the expiration of six months he 
 went home, where he spent most of the winter in at- 
 tending the district school. The intermissions were 
 passed witli the teacher in study. In the sjjring of 
 1800 he was " bound out" as an apprentice to Mr. 
 Barzillai Davison, of Norwich, to learn the trade of 
 a goldsmitli. Soon after he went with a fellow-ap- 
 prentice, Mr. Nicholas Chevalier, several years older, 
 to the Methodist meeting, where the latter, who was 
 very wicked, soon professed to be converted, quit his 
 business, and went about holding meetings. About 
 this time Capt. William Davison, brother of his em- 
 ployer, ran a packet from Norwich to New York, and 
 coming home sick with the yellow fever, and dying, 
 with his mate, the citizens became alarmed and many 
 families went into the country. Among them was 
 the family of Mr. Barzillai Davison, leaving Mr. 
 Bentley to take care of the house and shop. He had 
 now but little to do other than reading the Bible, 
 watching with the sick, and attending prayer-meet- 
 ings. Just at this time the eccentric Lorenzo Dow 
 came into the place and preached in a room then oc- 
 cupied by the Methodists, in an old wooden building 
 on the north side of Water Street. In his unsettled 
 and gloomy state of mind he went to hear, taking 
 a seat directly behind him, partially concealed by the 
 door. During his discourse the preacher described the 
 condition and feelings of a sinner under conviction 
 for sin. After he had very clearly portrayed to the 
 congregation his condition, he turned himself squarely 
 round, and laying his, hand on the head of Mr. Bent- 
 ley, said, " Young man, is not that the truth, and you 
 can't deny it?" 
 
 He was baptized in the Yantic River, near the New 
 London depot, by Eev. Peter Vannest, in the same 
 year, and began the practice of fasting on Friday, 
 which he continued nearly three years (when he was 
 taken with the yellow fever'), and still continued it 
 until he was instructed by his physician that the habit 
 was injurious to his health. After convalescence, be- 
 coming free from the indentures of his employer, and 
 being at leisure, he traveled on horse the New London 
 Circuit with Eev. Nathan Emory. Believing that he 
 could be more useful in local than itinerant ministry, 
 he commenced business as a plumber and brass- 
 founder in 1805. In the fall of this year he married 
 Miss Letitia Gardner, daughter of David Gardner, 
 Esq., of Bozrah. She was an earnest Christian, an af- 
 fectionate mother, an obliging friend, and a devoted 
 wife. Eleven children lived to realize and return her 
 undying love, and four died in infancy. 
 
 11804. 
 
360 
 
 HISTOllY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Mr. Bentley began business with nothing but Iiis 
 hands, tlie respect of the community, and His blessing 
 " that malceth rich ;" yet by honesty and integrity in 
 his transactions, despite tlie expenses of a numerous 
 family, he amassed property, and has presented a 
 noble instance of generosity which should lead others 
 to emulate his heaven-deposited charity. Chiefly by 
 his liberality and indemnification the church was built 
 upon the Wharf Bridge, previous to which a large part 
 of the expenses accruing from the rents of religious 
 conventicles — "keeping" the preachers' horses, fuel, 
 and lights — was met by his unstinted charity. The 
 Sachem Street, Main Street, Central, and Greenville 
 Churches were all early indebted largely to his con- 
 tributions, both of money and exertions. In order to 
 prosecute the erection of the church that was lost by 
 the flood, after suffering it to absorb his ready means, 
 he mortgaged his house to furnish the requisite defi- 
 ciency, making it a security for a note of six hundred 
 dollars. His name, in gold, at least, is inscribed on 
 all the pillars of the above churches, and the memory 
 of his munificence can hardly be less than " apples of 
 gold in baskets of silver.'' 
 
 In 1817 he was solicited to remove to Zanesville, 
 Ohio, and taking the j^recaution to go and become 
 fully apprised of the position before concluding the 
 agreement, he passed most of the journey in a single 
 team, and decided to emigrate by the 25th of Decem- 
 ber following. He was prevented from going by a 
 fall from a horse, and was disabled for three months, 
 the effects of which have never been fully removed. 
 His peculiar experience in 1827 is transcribed from 
 his own pen : 
 
 "It was the commencement of the groat * anti-Masonic excitement,' 
 whicli extended all over the country, from one end to the other, enter- 
 ing every circle, domestic, political, and religious. If any one did not 
 take sides with either party he was despised by both. I was a Tree- 
 mason ; had passed through every degree of the institution from an 
 Entered Apprentice to the Council, but had not met with the lodge since 
 the laying of the corner-stone of the Sachem Street Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, not because there was anything wicked in the institution, but 
 because my time was required by duties to my family, the church, and 
 the salvation of my fellow-men. After a while it became known that I 
 had not renounced the institution, and a committee was appointed to 
 wait on me and inform me that I must renounce Masonry or be re- 
 nounced as a preacher. I wrote to them t!iat I did not understand what 
 they meant by ' renouncing,' If they meant that I must expose or di- 
 vulge any secret, mark, or sign, I never should do it. They said there 
 were no ' secrets' now, that tliey had been all revealed and published to 
 the world * Then,' I replied, ' I can't reveal that which is already ex- 
 posed to public view.' So they let me alone, threatening to raise a mob 
 and pry out the corner-atone of the church which the Freemasons had 
 laid." 
 
 As will be remembered from the previous references, 
 Mr. Bentley commenced his labors as a local preacher 
 soon after conversion, and continued in this unre- 
 munerative field as long as his health would permit. 
 In 1811, and for several succeeding years, he alter- 
 nated with the traveling ministry at the Landing 
 and Bean Hill, except at such times as an exchange 
 was effected with other local ministers. He also at 
 this early date began to preach at the almshouse. 
 
 This abbreviated account of his life cannot be better 
 concluded than in his own language : 
 
 " It is now {1859) more than sixty-two years since I received my first 
 license to preach, although the world called my labors 'preaching^ two or 
 three years before. During all those mawj years I never have pocte/ed a 
 dollar beyond my expenses of traveling to and from my appointments, 
 Moie than half of that time I kept a team of my own. It may Iruhj be 
 said I have been the poor man's minister. For more than sixty-throe 
 years I have held meetings at the almshouse in this city regulurli/ ones 
 in tliree i^eehs, and when sick or absent I have supplied a substitute. 
 Puring that length of time I have attended two hundred and three 
 funerals at the almshouse. 
 
 "I began the world with nothing but my hands. I have lUeraUy 
 labored seven days in the week for fifty years. Quite a number of times 
 when I have been at work ca&ting brass a messenger has called for me 
 to go and attend a funeral three or six miles off. Such calls, or some- 
 thing not altogether dissimilar, I have answered in all the towns within 
 twenty miles of my residence. And now, if I can but see weeping peni- 
 tents inquiring what they shall do to be saved, and hear them shout the 
 praise of a sin-forgiving God, I think I shall feel like exclaiming, with 
 Simeon, 'Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes 
 have seen Thy salvation,' " 
 
 Mrs. Betsey Bentley, the venerable consort of Eev. 
 David N. Bentley, was the fourth child of Mr. James 
 Rogers, of Montville, Conn. Her mother's maiden 
 name was Miss Elizabeth Howard. She was born 
 Aug. 9, 1790. 
 
 Mr. Bentley is now one of the oldest, if not the 
 oldest, living natives of the county, being ninety-six 
 years of age. 
 
 Franklin Nichols, one of the successful business 
 men and leading bankers in Connecticut, was born in 
 Thompson, Conn., Aug. 11, 1805. His boyhood was 
 passed in his native town, sharing the advantages of 
 the schools of those days. At an early age he com- 
 menced business for himself in the improvement of 
 extensive farming lands inherited from his father, 
 which honorable vocation he continued, with an older 
 brother, until May, 1840, when he removed to Nor- 
 wich and became a member of the firm of Nichols 
 & Eddy, wholesale grocers. The firm subsequently 
 changed to Nichols & Evans, and later to Nichols, 
 Evans & Almy. 
 
 In 1844, Mr. Nichols retired from the firm, and 
 engaged in the cotton business in company with the 
 late Leonard Ballou. He,, however, remained in this 
 business but about two years, and then engaged in 
 banking operations. 
 
 In the spring of 1833 he assisted in obtaining the 
 charter for the Thompson Bank, which was organized 
 in the fall of the same year with eleven directors, all 
 of whom are deceased except himself. 
 
 He has been prominently identified with the Thames 
 Bank since 1846. He was chosen president in 1851, 
 and has officiated in that capacity to the present time. 
 When he entered the bank as a director it had a capi- 
 tal of two hundred thousand dollars, with little or no 
 surplus. It has made dividends all this time of from 
 six to twelve per cent, per annum, and now has a 
 capital of one million dollars, with about three hun- 
 dred and fifty thousand dollars surplus. 
 
 Mr. Nichols has been a director in the Norwich 
 
J$^ 
 
 ■Sn0^(^,AfLfl\£ch.'^ 
 

 
NORWICH. 
 
 361 
 
 Savings Society since 1851, and its president since 
 1879. He was also one of tlie incorporators of tlie 
 Thames Loan and Trust Company in 1869, and for 
 several years its president. He was chosen a director 
 in the Gas Company upon its organization, and is now 
 the president and only surviving member of the original 
 hoard of directors. He assisted in the organization 
 of the Bank of Mutual Redemption in Boston, and 
 in this institution also he is the only original member 
 left in the board. Mr. Nichols was also a director in 
 the Norwich and Worcester Railroad. Politically he 
 is a Republican ; was formerly a Whig. 
 
 Mr. Nichols is a public-spirited citizen, and all 
 measures for the development of either the material, 
 religious, or educational interests of his adopted city 
 find in him an earnest supporter. He is a prominent 
 member of Park Congregational Church, and was 
 active in the organization of the society and the 
 erection of the church edifice. He was chairman of 
 the first meeting of the church and society. 
 
 Oct. 17, 1839, he united in marriage with Hannah 
 P. Fairfield, a native of Pomfret, and their family 
 consisted of one child, a son, Franklin Nichols, de- 
 ceased. 
 
 Franklin Nichols' life has been one of steady and 
 active devotion to business, and his success is 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 convictions. 
 
 Hon. Lorenzo Blackstoue dates his ancestry in 
 this country to William Blackstone, to whom is ac- 
 corded the honor of having been the first settler in 
 Boston. William Blackstone came to America prior 
 to 1628, and first located in Charlestown, where he re- 
 mained until 1635, when he removed to lands which 
 he had purchased near the present junction of Beacon 
 and Charles Streets. He is also of the same stock as 
 the great English legal commentator of the last cen- 
 tury, Sir William Blackstone. 
 
 Lorenzo Blackstone was born at Branford, Conn., 
 June 21, 1819. His boyhood was passed in his native 
 town, where he attended the district school and acad- 
 emy. After spending a number of years in acquiring a 
 knowledge of accounts, he resolved to engage in busi- 
 ness for himself, and in 1842 left America for Liver- 
 pool, England, where he established an agency and 
 commission-house for the sale of American merchan- 
 dise. He entered into the business with energy and 
 perseverance, and it rapidly increased, until he had 
 branches in London and Manchester, and his trans- 
 actions reached every part of Great Britain and even 
 extended to the Continent and Australia. In about 
 the year 18 — he added to his business the sale of rub- 
 ber ovenshoes, being the first to introduce the Good- 
 year rubber goods into Great Britain. He had built up 
 a large trade in this particular line of business when he 
 was notified by Charles Mackintosh & Co., the great 
 rubber manufactut-ers of Manchester, that he was in- 
 
 fringing on their rights as owners of the patents of 
 Thomas Hancock, who was in litigation with Charles 
 Goodyear. And just here the business tact and char- 
 acteristic foresight of the man displayed itself He at 
 once entered into an arrangement with Messrs. Mack- 
 intosh & Co. which gave him the exclusive right to 
 sell rubber boots and shoes in every part of Great Brit- 
 ain, and at the same time secured himself against the 
 competition of American manufacturers and their 
 English agents. For a time he purchased goods in- 
 discriminately of various American companies, but in 
 1846 he began to sell the goods of the Hayward Rub- 
 ber Company, of Colchester, Conn., and soon after 
 invested in the stock, which he holds at the present 
 time. His sales of rubber boots and shoes amounted 
 to several hundred thousand dollars per year. He con- 
 tinued in this business until 1855, when he returned 
 to Branford, continuing, however, the business of his 
 house, with its branches in England. 
 
 His intimate relations with his brothers-in-law, the 
 Messrs. Norton, who had been for several years prom- 
 inent merchants in Norwich, Governor Buckingham, 
 and other officers of the Hayward Rubber Company 
 resident in Norwich, decided him to make that thriv- 
 ing city his permanent home, and removed thither in 
 1857, where he has since resided. 
 
 Mr. Blackstone soon after closed his business in Eu- 
 rope, and in 1859 embarked in the cotton manufacture, 
 in which he has since continued with great success. 
 In three years he purchased the property formerly 
 known as the Blashfield Factory, one of the earliest en- 
 terprises in the State. The mill had been burned prior 
 to the purchase of the property by Mr. Blackstone, 
 and he at once erected a substantial brick building, 
 which is supplied with all the modern improvements 
 and has a capacity of ten thousand spindles. The 
 mill received the name of the Attawaugan Mill, the 
 name being of local Indian origin. Additional ma- 
 chinery to the capacity of eight thousand spindles 
 was soon after added, making twenty -eight thousand 
 in all. In 1865 he enlarged his business by the pur- 
 chase of the privilege next above that of the Attawau- 
 gan Mill, owned by Leonard Ballon, and erected a 
 new mill with a capacity of eighteen thousand spin- 
 dles. Soon after the erection of this mill he pur- 
 chased the Amesbury privilege and erected a mill for 
 weaving subsidiary to the Ballou Mill. The Atta- 
 waugan Manufacturing Company, owning and oper- 
 ating these mills, consists of Mr. Blackstone, together 
 with his brothers-in-law, Henry B., Timothy P., and 
 AVilliam T. Norton. In 1870 this company purchased 
 the Potokett Mills (built in 1868 for a woolen-mill), 
 in the town of Norwich, with a capacity of fourteen 
 thousand spindles, and ih 1877 built the Pequot Mills, 
 Montville. 
 
 Mr. Blackstone is also largely interested in other 
 corporations, and is a successful and progressive cap- 
 italist. He is a director and one of the executive 
 committee of the Ponemah Manufacturing Company, 
 
362 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the largest cotton manufacturing company in Con- 
 necticut, and one of the largest in New England ; is 
 president of the Chelsea Savings-Bank, and director 
 of the Thames National Bank of Norwich, and in the 
 Chicago and Alton Eailroad Company of Illinois, 
 and also has large interests in other railroads, mostly 
 in the West. 
 
 Mr. Blackstone is a public-spirited citizen, and has 
 ever labored earnestly to advance the interests of his 
 adopted city. He is a trustee of the Norwich Free 
 Academy ; has been alderman of the city a number of 
 years; mayor four years ; represented his town in the 
 Legislature in 1871, and in 1878 he was elected State 
 Senator on the Eepublican ticket, and in the session 
 of 1879 served on the Committee on Finance with 
 marked ability and success. 
 
 Oct. 17, 1842, he united in marriage with Emily, 
 daughter of Asa Norton, of Branford, Conn., and 
 their family has consisted of three children, — James 
 De Traftbrd, Harriet Belle, Ellen Frances, William 
 Norton, and Louis Lorenzo, all of whom reside in 
 Norwich. 
 
 John Mitchell was born in Stonebridge, near Bir- 
 mingham, England. He remained in his native land 
 until eight years of age, when he emigrated with his 
 parents to America, settling in New York City, and 
 three years later in Wareham, Mass. 
 
 The iron business seems to have been an heirloom 
 in the Mitchell family, as his grandfather was engaged 
 in the same business, and his father came to this 
 country in the employ of the Sterling Iron Company, 
 whose works were located on the ground now occupied 
 by the dry-goods establishment of Lord & Taylor, on 
 Broadway, New York. Mr. Mitchell remained in the 
 iron business at Wareham, a portion of the time in the 
 employ of his father, who was conducting the Wash- 
 ington Iron- Works, until 1845, when he came to Nor- 
 wich with his father, the latter taking the management 
 of the Cold Spring Iron-Works. Upon the failure of 
 these works the property was purchased, in 1850, by 
 Mr. Mitchell, his father, and in 1852 the late J. M. 
 Huntington also became a partner in the business, 
 under the iirm-name of J. M. Huntington & Co. 
 This firm continued until 1862, when Mr. Huntington 
 withdrew, and it was continued by Mr. Mitchell and 
 his next youngest brother, under the firm-name of 
 Mitchell Brothers. His brother was killed in May, 
 1864, and soon after Mr. Mitchell's eldest son, Albert 
 G., and Jlr. Azel W. Gibbs became associated with 
 him, and in 1879 his youngest son, Frank, also became 
 interested in the business. This enterprising firm 
 added to their already large operations the Thames 
 Iron-Works, which were purchased in November, 
 1879. Mr. Mitchell is also president of the Eichmond 
 Stove Company. The annual product of the three 
 mills amounts to about half a million dollars. 
 
 Mr. Mitchell is a public-spirited citizen, and all meas- 
 ures tending to advance the interests of his adopted 
 city receive his earnest support. He has held many 
 
 positions of trust and responsibility in financial cir- 
 cles. He is a director in the Thames National Bank, 
 in Norwich Savings Society, and also in the Thames 
 Loan and Trust Company. Politically he is a Repub- 
 lican, and attends the Second Congregational Church. 
 In 1841 he united in marriage with Joanna Dexter 
 Gibbs, and they have two children living, Albert G. 
 and Frank A. 
 
 Benjamin Durfey was born in the town of Gris- 
 wold. New London Co., Conn. He was one of a 
 family of seven sons and daughters. His father was 
 a sturdy farmer. His acres were like many others 
 common to New England, — well fitted to develop both 
 mind and muscle. The constant problem to be solved 
 by their owners is how to extort from the unwilling 
 soil the necessaries of life. This problem has in 
 numerous instances been solved, and the reluctant 
 earth made to yield to those engaged in its cultivation 
 not a bare subsistence merely, but the means of moral 
 and intellectual culture also, developing by the pro- 
 cess a race of men unexcelled for physical and mental 
 endurance. 
 
 So great was the disparity between the natural 
 capabilities of Mr. Durfey's farm and the wants of 
 his large family, and so apparent the blessing of God 
 upon his labors in the harvest which followed them, 
 that his neighbors were accustomed to say that " Mr. 
 Durfey could not have reared his large family from 
 the avails of such a poor farm unless he had been a 
 very good man," thus honoring his industry and piety, 
 two qualifications for success which seem to have 
 descended as a rich legacy to his son, who, beginning 
 with no other inheritance, also reared a family of seven 
 children, and accumulated as a surplus a handsome 
 estate. Benjamin Durfey passed the early part of his 
 life upon his father's farm, sharing its toils and availing 
 himself of such educational advantages as the district 
 school afltorded. In 1828 he went to Greeneville, now 
 an important part of the city of Norwich, but then 
 without an existence except on the surveyor's map. 
 The waters of the Shetucket Elver had hitherto flowed 
 uselessly along on their way to the sea, past the sites 
 of the present flourishing villages of Baltic, Occum, 
 Taftville, and Greeneville. But now the time had 
 come for turning them into use. A few large-minded 
 men, among whom the late W. P. Greene and W. C. 
 Gilman were iDrominent, conceived the project of 
 throwing a dam across the river about two miles from 
 its mouth. To carry out this project and thus make 
 these waters available, the Norwich Water-Power 
 Company was incorporated in 1828, and a consider- 
 able tract of land purchased on both sides of the 
 river. It was at this time that Benjamin Durfey ap- 
 peared on the ground, before a stone had been laid, or 
 a street opened, or a spade driven into the earth. In 
 the following year he married, and commenced house- 
 keeping in the only building then standing within the 
 corporate limits. Thus he was literally the " pioneer" 
 in the settlement of the large and flourishing village 
 
^^^ nA^^f' 
 
 '"0 / '/ ^-i-/ 
 
 './/, ■^rJ.. /(^y 
 
*/?•- '' . 
 
 fy^w^ 
 
"/^^^y^^^^^i^^^^^'^ 
 
 ^--7 
 
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NORWICH. 
 
 363 
 
 of Greeneville. From the first he manifested a de- 
 cided interest in all measures to advance the material 
 and religious welfare of the community, enjoying the 
 confidence and respect of the people. There was 
 scarcely an important civil office or place of trust in 
 the gift of his fellow-citizens which he was not called 
 to fill. He was manager of the Water-Power Com- 
 pany, president and treasurer of the Fire Association, 
 constable, and justice of the peace. He was repeat- 
 edly on the Board of Relief and Board of Assessors. 
 He was called to represent the town in the State 
 Legislature. Before a stone in the foundation of the 
 first factory was laid a weekly prayer-meeting was 
 established at his house, a Sunday-sohool soon fol- 
 lowed at the same place, and then public religious 
 worship. He and nineteen others were constituted a 
 Congregational Church by an Ecclesiastical Council 
 convened for the purpose. For thirty-six years he 
 served as chairman of the committee of the ecclesias- 
 tical society connected with that church. 
 
 Mr. Durfey was twice married, — in 1829, to Miss 
 Adelia E. Avery, who died Jan. 28, 1835; to Miss 
 Harmony Kingsley, who survives him. He died 
 April 24, 1875, and was buried from the Congrega- 
 tional church on the following Tuesday. A large 
 concourse of citizens from all classes of society, both 
 Protestant and Roman Catholic, bore testimony to the 
 universal respect in which he had been held and the 
 deep regret which was felt in his death. 
 
 E. Winslow WiUiams, one of the leading woolen 
 manufacturers in Eastern Connecticut, was born in 
 Norwich in 1830. He prepared for college at Dr. Muh- 
 lenbiirg's school at Flushing, and graduated from Trin- 
 ity College in the class of 1853. He soon after became 
 interested in manufacturing, and upon the death of 
 his father, the late Capt. Erastus Williams, succeeded 
 to the interest of the Yantic Woolen-Mills, and has 
 since continued in that business with marked success. 
 These mills were erected in 1822, and destroyed by 
 fire in 1865. The present stone mills were erected 
 the same year. 
 
 In 1858, Mr. Williams united in marriage with Miss 
 McNulty, of Xew York, and their family consists of 
 four children, two sons and two daughters, viz. : Louis 
 Brinckerhoflf, Winslow Tracy, Jessie Huntington, and 
 Lilian Marvin. Politically he is a Republican. He 
 is a churchman, and a liberal supporter of Grace 
 Church (Episcopal), at Yantic, where he resides. 
 Notwithstanding Mr. Williams is the proprietor and 
 active manager of an immense business, he is ever 
 alive to the public good, and all measures tending to 
 advance the interests of his native town find in him 
 an earnest advocate. 
 
 Willis R. Austin, — The Austin family, of which 
 the subject of this sketch is a 'direct descendant, is 
 one of the oldest families in the State. The name 
 appears among those of the earlier settlers of New 
 Haven, and frequently and prominently in the records 
 of the town since. 
 
 David Austin, the grandfather of Willis R. Austin, 
 was a prominent citizen of New Haven, for a long 
 time government collector of customs in that city, and 
 the founder and first president of the New Haven 
 Bank. It was he who, associated with James Hill- 
 house, at his own expense planted the elm-trees which 
 now adorn New Haven green. His son, John P. 
 Austin, in middle life removed to Norwich, where 
 the subject of this sketch was born in the year 1819. 
 He married, in 1851, Louisa, daughter of the late E. 
 B. M. Hughes, of New Haven, well remembered for 
 her personal attractions and true excellence of char- 
 acter, whose death occurred in Philadelphia, where 
 they resided, in 1854, leaving a daughter of two years, 
 who has since died. In 1864 he married his present 
 accomplished wife, Mary McComb, daughter of John 
 McComb, of a well-known and prominent New York 
 family, and granddaughter of John McComb, who 
 was identified with almost all the progressive move- 
 ments of his day. 
 
 He was the executive manager in the erection of the 
 New York City Hall and other public buildings, and, 
 as appears from the publications and records of the 
 day, was one of the most active promoters of those 
 public improvements which have been so instrumental 
 in the prosperity of that city, and in all his varied pub- 
 lic trusts his name was a synonym of strict integrity. 
 
 One child, a son, named Willis Austin, was born 
 of this union in 1878. 
 
 The marked character and enterprise of the Austin 
 family not only stamped itself upon the State of their 
 nativity, but have stretched out to the distant domain 
 of Texas, then a part of Mexico, in the persons of a 
 cousin of the subject of this sketch, Stephen F. Aus- 
 tin, and John Austin, his eldest brother, who estab- 
 lished a colony, and after whom was named the city 
 of Austin. 
 
 Mr. Austin was educated for the bar, graduating at 
 the Yale College Law-School in the year 1849. 
 
 Shortly after graduating he visited Texas, and it 
 was his intention to have located there in the practice 
 of the law, but after some successful operations in 
 cotton, concluded to return North, and locating in 
 Philadelphia, engaged in the banking business. In 
 this he was also successful, and having gathered in a 
 few years a fair amount of this world's goods, he de- 
 termined to retire from business and take relaxation 
 in travel. He first traveled extensively in this coun- 
 try, visiting all the most interesting sections of the 
 West and South, including his former abode in Texas. 
 He then went abroad and traveled over Europe and 
 Asia, spending three years in his tour. Upon return- 
 ing to the United States he fixed upon Connecticut, 
 the State of his ancestors, and Norwich, his native 
 city, as his future home, and here he has since re- 
 sided, preferring the enjoyment of social private life 
 to the harassing cares of business. 
 
 Mr. Austin has never sought political preferment. 
 Personally popular, however, he has often been urged 
 
864 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 to accept of office, but steadily refused until, at the 
 urgent solicitation of his fellow-citizens of Norwich, 
 he consented to be one of their representatives in the 
 General Assembly of 1874. 
 
 In 1875 he was re-elected a representative in the 
 General Assembly, and in 1876 — the centennial year 
 of our national independence — he was elected senator 
 from the Eighth District of the State. 
 
 Mr. Austin's service in the Legislature was charac- 
 terized by the most constant and faithful attendance 
 and attention to his duties. His quiet and unobtru- 
 sive dignity of manner and bearing gained for him 
 the respect and confidence of all to whom he became 
 known. During the sessions of which he was a mem- 
 ber he served upon the Committees of Finance, of Kail- 
 road, and of Constitutional Amendments. During 
 his various terms of service in the Legislature of the 
 State he took a prominent and active part in all 
 important measures both in the House and Senate, 
 and, as the public records and journals of the day 
 fully indicate, the results obtained in favor or against 
 the laws and measures before the Assembly were 
 greatly influenced by his careful and conscientious 
 attention. After Mr. Austin's term of service in the 
 Senate he determined not to pursue a further political 
 life. Nevertheless, he was induced to serve as a mem- 
 ber of the Eepublican State Central Committee for 
 five years, and during the years 1877-80 he was presi- 
 dent of the New London County Agricultural Society. 
 These four years the society experienced marked 
 prosperity. The grounds were enlarged, new build- 
 ings erected, premiums and expenses all paid, and a 
 considerable sum of profit remained each year. He 
 is at present chairman of the Connecticut State Board 
 of Charities, and in Norwich (his own city) he has 
 been for many years an active member of the board 
 of directors of the Second National Bank, also a 
 trustee and vice-president of the Dime Savings- 
 Bank from its beginning. Though not impelled to 
 the pursuit of business as a means of support, Mr. 
 Austin is a confirmed believer in the maxim that 
 occupation and usefulness are requirements for the 
 health and happiness of mankind ; hence he selected 
 his home with ample grounds that he might see the 
 growth of various objects of ornament and necessity. 
 He always holds himself ready to discharge all the 
 duties of friend and citizen. The various offices to 
 which he has been appointed or elected to fill occupy 
 a very large portion of his time and attention, yet lie 
 enters upon these duties with the same zeal, and dis- 
 charges them with the same fidelity, as though thev 
 Avere productive of emolument. 
 
 Mr. Austin, though himself a native of Norwich 
 is a descendant of a long line of New Haven ances- 
 try. The founder of the Austin family in America 
 was John Austin ; he came from England in the ship 
 "Hercules," with his wife, Constance, from Sandwich 
 County Kent. He died in Greenwich, Conn Sept' 
 5, 1657. 
 
 His son, John Austin, was born in Greenwich re- 
 moved to East Haven, and married Mercy Atwater 
 13th of May, 1667, and died in 1690. 
 
 His son, David Austin, was born in New Haven 
 Feb. 23, 1670. 
 
 David (2), his son, was born in New Haven, Oct. 
 25, 1703. 
 
 His son, David Austin (3), was born in New Ha- 
 ven, May 6, 1732 ; died Feb. 5, 1801. 
 
 This David Austin, the grandfather of Willis Aus- 
 tin, was collector of customs when New Haven was the 
 chief port of entry in this section of country ; also the 
 founder and first president of the New Haven Bank. 
 He had thirteen children, and at his death left a large 
 estate to his surviving children. He lived on the 
 southwest corner of Church and Crown Streets, and 
 built two large houses on the opposite corners for his 
 two sons, David and John P. Austin. His eldest son, 
 Rev. David Austin, then settled over the First Pres- 
 byterian Church of Elizabethtown, N. J., was execu- 
 tor of his father's estate. But in the midst of a dis- 
 tinguished career he was stricken by scarlet fever, 
 from which, though physically restored, his mind re- 
 mained dimmed for the greater portion of his suc- 
 ceeding years. 
 
 Unfortunately for the estate, he expended large 
 sums of money in building " Long Wharf" and 
 ei-ecting a block of houses for the return of the Jews; 
 also purchased a vessel, and sailing himself as super- 
 cargo to England, there loaded the vessel with costly 
 articles, mostly musical instruments. On the return 
 voyage the vessel was lost without insurance. 
 
 It is related of him when a theological student, 
 while taking a walk early in the morning, during the 
 siege of New Haven, he encountered a British soldier, 
 who ordered Austin to surrender. Young Austin 
 seized the musket from the guard and marched him a 
 prisoner of war into New Haven. 
 
 In the annals of New Haven it is recorded that 
 young David Austin and his two uncles, John and 
 David, were wounded in the battle for the defense of 
 New Haven against the British, July 5, 1779. 
 
 Rev. David Austin having married Miss Lydia 
 Lathrop, an estimable lady, of one of the most 
 wealthy and respectable families of Norwich, and his 
 sister Sarah having married Rev. Walter King, also 
 of Norwich, he concluded to remain in that city, and 
 accepted the pastorate of the Bozrah Church. 
 
 His sister, Sarah Austin, married Rev. Walter 
 King, for some time pastor of the Second Congrega- 
 tional Church, Norwich. His sister Rebecca mar- 
 ried John Sherman, son of Roger Sherman, one of 
 the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His 
 sister Mary married Andrew Yates, of Schenectady, 
 a professor in Union College, and brother of Governor 
 Yates, of New York. 
 
 John P. Austin, the father of Willis R. Austin, 
 was born in New Haven, June 28, 1772; died June 
 24, 1834, in Brazoria, Texas. His remains were re- 
 

 ■■■V, 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 3G5 
 
 moved and placed in the family cemetery, New 
 Haven. He was a graduate of Yale College, a man 
 of culture and refinement. He succeeded his father 
 as government collector of customs, and lived on the 
 corner of Church and Crown Streets, opposite his 
 father and brother. 
 
 Being embarrassed by the loss of much of his 
 estate through the misfortunes of his elder brother, 
 who was executor of his father's estate, was induced 
 by his bi'other to remove to Norwich with his wife and 
 ten children. Three others were born to him in Nor- 
 wich, of which Willis Rogers Austin was the second. 
 The remaining years of his life were spent in retire- 
 ment, in teaching and rearing his children, until he 
 visited Texas, where he died in the year 1834. 
 
 Willis E. Austin's mother was Susan Rogers, daugh- 
 ter of Dr. David Rogers, of Greenfield, Conn., born 
 15th September, 1778, married 11th September, 1797. 
 She was the mother of thirteen children, all of whom 
 grew to years and were married. She died Aug. 24, 
 1870, in the ninety-second year of her age. She was 
 interred by the side of her husband in New Haven. 
 
 Her grandfather. Dr. Uriah Rogers, died in Nor- 
 wich, May 6, 1773. Her father. Dr. David Rogers, 
 died in Norwich in 1831, aged seventy-nine years. 
 He was a physician and surgeon in the regiment of 
 Continentals commanded by Gen. Silliman, of Con- 
 necticut. 
 
 He was an eminent and successful physician, and 
 retired to spend the last years of his life with his 
 daughter, Mrs. Austin ; and from the old doctor's 
 lips Willis E. Austin, when a child, had the history of 
 his dangers and escapes during the contests of the 
 brave and determined Connecticut troops while de- 
 fending the towns on the Connecticut shore near 
 New York. 
 
 This brave old patriot and accomplished physician 
 was buried in the old Up-town Norwich Cemetery. 
 
 Willis R. Austin is the twelfth of a family of thirteen 
 children. His eldest brother, John, was associated 
 with S. F. Austin (a relative) in effecting the settle- 
 ment of Austin's colony on the Brazos, in Texas. Dur- 
 ing the early period of the settlement of the colony 
 John Austin embarked in navigation, sailing between 
 New Orleans and Texas in vessels in which he was 
 interested. He was twice taken by pirates; the last 
 time he only escaped by swimming. 
 
 His cousin and associate, S. F. Austin, in whose 
 father's name (Moses Austin) the grant of the colony 
 had originally been obtained, having died before the 
 terms of the grant were completed, the entire respon- 
 sibility of the settlement of the colony devolved upon 
 John Austin. He having asuperior business education, 
 and great experience for so young a man, was elected 
 governor of the colony and general of the army, and 
 through his wise and efficient service the colony was 
 successfully established, becoming a peaceful and 
 prosperous community. In 1833 he died suddenly of 
 cholera, his two children dying the same day. 
 24 
 
 Two other brothers, William T. .and Alfred J. Austin, 
 went to Texas, and died suddenly of one of the malig- 
 nant epidemics which are inevitable in that country, 
 and especially fatal to settlers from the Eastern States. 
 It was this which deterred Willis R. Austin and others 
 of the family from settling in Texas. 
 
 The Austin name is said to have been derived from 
 the sect of Christians who were followers of St. Au- 
 gustine. It is certain the Austins who came to Con- 
 necticut were a devout, Christian people, as is evi- 
 denced by the devices of their antique coat of arms, 
 which they brought from England, and is now in the 
 possession of Willis R. Austin. 
 
 In looking back to the history of the Austins, two 
 hundred and fifty years in this country, it is noticed 
 that many of the same characteristics have prevailed 
 among them in every age. 
 
 Capt. George W. Creer was born in Norwich, Conn., 
 March 27, 1806. He is the son of Wheeler Geer, who 
 was born Nov. 9, 1773, and grandson of Uzziel Geer, 
 also born in Norwich, Feb. 22, 1732. His father was 
 named Oliver Geer, and was grandson of George 
 Geer, the original ancestor in this country of the 
 present extensive Geer family (see biography of Eras- 
 tus Geer). Uzziel Geer's mother, Elizabeth New- 
 bury, was a lady of culture and education for that 
 day, and taught a number of young men the sciences 
 of surveying and navigation. What education Uzziel 
 received was chiefly under the tutelage of his mother ; 
 he became an excellent mathematician, was of an in- 
 ventive turn of mind, and made quite a number of 
 improvements in machinery, etc. He was the orig- 
 inator of many devices which have since been en- 
 larged upon and have proved of great benefit to the 
 world. He was the patentee of the jackscrew and 
 other inventions which are in use at the present day. 
 His chief occupation in life was the " getting off" or 
 relaunching of castaway vessels, or craft cast ashore 
 by storms, removing buildings, etc., and in originating 
 and perfecting various devices pertaining to that 
 work. 
 
 Wheeler Geer, father of Capt. Geer, was an active, 
 industrious man, and most of his life was spent in 
 building vessels and various marine craft, and as 
 commander of small vessels plying in the coast trade. 
 He was married in 1799 to Sally Roath. They had 
 ten children, seven sons and three daughters. Of 
 the seven sons, six of them became masters of sailing- 
 vessels, and when steam-vessels came in vogue five of 
 them became masters of steam-vessels. Of the daugh- 
 ters, one died in infancy. The other two grew up to 
 womanhood, married, and their husbands also became 
 masters of vessels. One of the sons had charge of 
 the steamer " Carolina," which during the " patriot 
 invasion" of Canada went down the Niagara from 
 Buffalo to Claussius, and there the high sheriff (Cana- 
 dian), with a force of armed men, boarded the vessel, 
 and both crew and passengers were compelled to jump 
 overboard to escape with their lives. The sherifiT and 
 
3G6 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 his posse afterwards fired the boat, set her adrift, and 
 she went over the falls. During the boyhood of Capt. 
 Geer the facilities for obtaining an education were 
 limited indeed, yet, notwithstanding many difficulties 
 and obstacles, he by diligent study and close applica- 
 tion succeeded in obtaining a very fair education. 
 During his early years he was all the time connected 
 in some capacity with river and coast navigation, and 
 became practically and thoroughly familiar with all 
 the details of the business, so much so that on his 
 eighteenth birthday he became master of a small 
 vessel plying in the coast trade. From this time up 
 to 1841 or 1842 he was in charge either as pilot or 
 master of various packets and sail-vessels. He super- 
 intended the building of and owned an interest in 
 several vessels during this time. 
 
 In 1843-44 the steamer " Shetucket" was built 
 under his superintendence, and when the boat was 
 launched, June 1, 1844, he took command of her. 
 When the vessel was first built she was propelled by 
 the "Ericsson wheel." After a six months' trial this 
 wheel proved entirely unsatisfactory, so its use was 
 abandoned, and the " E. F. Loper wheel" substituted ; 
 this, too, proved an entire failure. Capt. Geer being 
 impressed with the necessity of a better wheel for the 
 propulsion of steam-vessels, set his inventive faculties 
 to work, and contrived a screw-wheel upon an entirely 
 new principle, which proved an unqualified success, 
 and all the wheels in use throughout the world to- 
 day are constructed in accordance with the principle 
 discovered by Capt. Geer. These wheels, as perfected 
 by him, were first put on the " Shetucket," in New 
 York, and on her first or trial trip there was a gain of 
 nearly one-third in time, and a corresponding saving 
 in fuel. After this wheel had been in use a .short 
 time the attention of other vessel-owners and naviga- 
 tors began to be attracted by its superior merits, and 
 it was but a, few months after its first introduction 
 that a committee, composed of the president, agent, 
 one of the directors, and chief engineer, of the Erics- 
 son line of propellers came to New York to negotiate 
 with Capt. Geer for the privilege of making and 
 using his wheel. With his usual magnanimity he 
 refused to accept any remuneration, but generously 
 granted them the privilege of using his patterns in 
 making the wheels to be used on their oiun boats with- 
 out money and without price. After about three 
 years' trial the president of the Ericsson Company 
 informed Capt. Geer personally that the privilege of 
 using his invention had been "the making of their 
 business," and as a memento of his generosity in 
 allowing them the use of his wheel they made him a 
 handsome present. 
 
 Capt. Geer unfortunately neglected for some time 
 to apply for a patent on his invention, and it appears 
 that the liberality he exercised towards other ship- 
 owners in allowing them the use of his wheel even- 
 tually worked to his disadvantage, as other parties 
 had in the mean time appropriated his idea, and when 
 
 he did finally apply for a patent some one set up an 
 objection, or rather counter claim that it was an in- 
 fringement on some part of an invention previously 
 patented by them. Consequently a patent could not 
 be issued until an investigation was made. Capt. 
 Geer, knowing his invention to be his own, and that 
 it was totally unlike any other wheel, deemed it un- 
 necessary to push matters, and so neglected to press 
 the investigation, and to add to the complication of 
 afiairs the attorney in charge of his application died, 
 and all the papers in the case were lost or mislaid. 
 By this time the invention had come into general use 
 and was regarded as common property, but the mat- 
 ter of the patent was thus postponed, neglected, and 
 delayed to the present time. The invention, however, 
 belongs in right to Capt. Geer, and if the matter were 
 taken up and properly presented many think that 
 Capt. Geer would be granted by the government 
 either a patent or other compensation for his inven- 
 tion. It has worked a complete revolution in steam 
 navigation throughout the world, and yet the inven- 
 tor has received no compensation beyond a few dol- 
 lars paid by certain parties to him for the privilege 
 of using his wheel when it was first invented, and 
 when every one naturally supposed it would soon be 
 covered by letters patent. 
 
 About 1851 or 1852, Capt. Geer was one of a com- 
 pany' which ijurchased the line of steamboats belong- 
 ing to the Norwich and Worcester Eailroad Company. 
 He owned an interest in this company about twelve 
 years, and would occasionally devote his attention to 
 the piloting or command of said boats. During this 
 time he was connected with various enterprises and 
 held different positions of trust. He was a member 
 of Common Council three years, and was appointed 
 by the Governor channel commissioner, which posi- 
 tion he held two years. About this time he built the 
 steamer "Charles Osgood," and a few years later sold 
 his interest to Mr. Osgood, for whom she was named. 
 In 1855 he built the tug-boat "George W. Geer," 
 which is still in active use at New York. About 1861 
 he was appointed inspector, weigher, and ganger of 
 Norwich, which position he still holds. The follow- 
 ing extract we clip from the New London Day : 
 
 " Ciipt. Goorge W. Geer, the inspector of ctistonis at Norwich, in this 
 diritrict, came to this city Isist Friday in the reveuue-hoat 'Clarisse,' 
 wliicli has been assigned fur his use Ly the collector. Capt. Geer has 
 held the position for more than twenty year's, having been tirst ap- 
 pointed by Collector Prentis, and continued in office by Collector Mar- 
 shall and the present incumbent. Although considerably over seventy 
 yeara of age, Cupt. Geer is still in vigorous health. He has discharged 
 the duties of his office to the entire acceptance both of the government 
 and the public." 
 
 Capt. Geer was married Oct. 22, 1827, to Elizabeth 
 Button (born April 12, 1808), daughter of William 
 Button and Lucy Pollard. To them were born four 
 sons and four daughters. Mrs. Geer died Aug. 12, 
 1858. He married for his second wife Mrs. William 
 
 ^ Norwich and New London Transportation Company. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 3G7 
 
 G. Parsons, Oct. 22, 1861. She was born March 20, 
 1813. 
 
 Capt. Geer has been for many years a member and 
 liberal supporter of the Congregational Church, and 
 is usually among the first to contribute to any chari- 
 table or public enterprise. He has led a very active 
 life, and has always enjoyed the confidence, respect, 
 and esteem of those who knew him. As an evidence 
 of the esteem in which he is held, he has been the 
 recipient of many handsome presents and testimonials, 
 which afford him much pleasure, and which he de- 
 lights to exhibit as being tangible proofs of the 
 sincerity of the friendship of the donors. 
 
 He is kind, affable, and hospitable, and in his old 
 age is surrounded by all that could tend to render 
 happy his declining years. 
 
 Backus.^ — Little is known of the history of Wil- 
 liam Backus, Sr. He is supposed to have lived in 
 Saybrook as early as 1637. In the settlement of 
 the estate of John Charles, who died at Branford in 
 1673, the children of William Backus received a share 
 in the right of their deceased mother, who was his 
 daughter. From this fact it is ascertained that the 
 first wife of William Backus was Sarah, daughter of 
 John Charles. 
 
 Before removing to Norwich he married Mrs. Anne 
 Bingham, and brought with him to the new settle- 
 ment three daughters, two sons, and his wife's son, 
 Thomas Bingham. The three young men were of 
 mature age, or near maturity, and are all usually 
 reckoned as first proprietors. The daughters were 
 subsequently united in marriage to John Reynolds, 
 Benjamin Crane, and John Bayley. The house-lots 
 of the younger William and of Stephen Backus are 
 both recorded as laid out in 1659 ; but the latter was 
 the allotment of his father, who dying at an early 
 period after the settlement, and the land records 
 being made at a later date, it was registered in 
 Stephen's name, who had received it by request 
 from his father. Hence William Backus, Sr., does 
 not appear on the town records as a landholder. 
 
 His will, dated June 12, 1661, and witnessed by 
 Thomas Tracy and John Roth, is recorded at New 
 London, and indorsed as allowed by a court held in 
 that place June 21, 1665. 
 
 It is interesting to observe how rapidly the settle- 
 ment advanced in property and comfort. This family 
 and others in the course of a single generation grew 
 strong and luxuriant, throwing out buds and branches 
 of rich and noble growth. 
 
 The death of Mrs. Backus is registered with the 
 Bingham family. 
 
 Mrs. Anne Backus, mother of Thomas Bingham, 
 Sr., died in May, 1670. 
 
 Stephen Backus. — The rights and privileges of 
 William Backus, Sr., were transferred so soon after 
 the settlement to his son Stephen that the latter is 
 
 1 Contributed by William W. Baclius, 
 
 accounted the original proprietor. The house-lot was 
 entered in his name, as to a first purchaser. It lay 
 upon the pent highway by the Yantic, between the 
 town green and the allotment of Thomas Bliss, 
 bounded by the Bliss homestead on the east and 
 Hammer Brook on the west, and descended by gift or 
 purchase to the Leflingwells, who were connected by 
 marriage. Thomas Leffingwell married Mary Backus, 
 who left eight children, and Lucy Backus, daughter 
 of Samuel Backus, married Benajah Bushnell, 1764, 
 and had born seven children ; from them descended 
 the Leflingwells. Of this home-lot of Stephen Backus, 
 the house now occupied by Benjamin Huntington, 
 late deceased, and the stores and buildings nearly to 
 the brook called Hammer Brook, from the tradition 
 that Stephen Backus had a hammer and shop carried 
 by water. 
 
 Stephen Backus was married in December, 1666, to 
 Sarah Spencer. After a residence of over thirty years 
 in Norwich, he removed with his family, about the 
 year 1692, to Canterbury, and there died, 1695. His 
 sons, Stephen and Timothy, are counted among the 
 early settlers of that town, from whence have sprung 
 Deacon Timothy Backus, Dr. Sylvanus Backus, Lieu- 
 tenant-Governor Thomas Backus, and many others. 
 
 William Backus, Jr., the second William Backus, 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of Lieut. William Pratt, 
 of Saybrook. She was born Feb. 1, 1641. 
 
 William Backus (2) is found on record with the 
 successive titles of sergeant, ensign, and lieutenant. 
 
 William Backus (3), son of the above, sold his 
 accumulations in Norwich to his father in 1692 and 
 removed to "the nameless new town lying about ten 
 miles northwest of Norwich." 
 
 His brother John emigrated to the same place, 
 afterwards named Windham, and both are recorded 
 among the early proprietors of that town. The pres- 
 ent Windham Green was part of the original home- 
 lot of William Backus. 
 
 Joseph and Nathaniel, the youngest sons of Wil- 
 liam Backus (2), remained in Norwich. Joseph mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Huntington, and Nathaniel married 
 Elizabeth Tracy, daughters of the proprietors Simon 
 Huntington and John Tracy. Joseph and Simon 
 Backus, the first two graduates of Yale College of the 
 name, were sons of Joseph. The former graduated in 
 1768, and some eight or ten years later was styled by 
 his contemporaries Lawyer Backus of . Norwich. It 
 was a saying the Backuses always settled, if possible, 
 near a stream of water or near some pond ; they made 
 use of the power for some mechanical service. 
 
 Elizabeth Backus, daughter of Capt. Samuel Backus, 
 and granddaughter of Joseph Backus, married Jabez 
 Huntington, Esq., Jan. 20, 1742.- Their children 
 were Jedediah Huntington, born July, 1743 ; Andrew 
 Huntington, born June, 1745, father of the late Ch. 
 P. Huntington. 
 
 2 She died July 1, and Mr. Huntington Oct. 6, 1786. 
 
368 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Jedediah, a general and a distinguished officer in 
 the American army during the Revolution, afterwards 
 treasurer of the State of Connecticut and collector of 
 the customs for the port of New London, succeeding 
 Elijah Backus, Jr. 
 
 A large number of the Bactus family have acquired 
 distinction in the various walks of life. Elijah Backus, 
 grandson of Joseph, whose iron-works at Yantic were 
 so serviceable to the country in the Revolutionary 
 war, was a grandson of Joseph. He married Lucy 
 Griswold, of Lyme. His three sons and his son-in-law, 
 Dudley Woodbridge, were among the first emigrants 
 to the banks of the Ohio. James Backus, the young- 
 est son, as agent of the Ohio Company, made the tirst 
 surveys of Marietta, and is said to have built the first 
 regular house in the town at the point of the junction 
 of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, afterwards owned 
 and occupied by his brother-in-law. Judge Dudley 
 Woodbridge, it being the first house in Ohio, at that 
 time Northwest Territory. He afterwards returned to 
 Norwich, and died there at the family residence, Sept. 
 29, 1816. The second Elijah Backus, an older brother 
 of James, and the oldest son of Elijah Backus, Esq., 
 graduated at Yale College in 1777, and for several 
 years held the office of collector of customs in New 
 London, being succeeded by Gen. Jedediah Hunting- 
 ton. His first wife was Lucretia, daughter of Russell 
 Hubbard, who died in New London, 1787. 
 
 He afterwards married Hannah Richards, daughter 
 of Guy Richards, and removed with his family to Ma- 
 rietta, Ohio. He died in Kaskaskia, whither he went 
 as receiver in the United States land department. 
 He owned and operated the first printing-press west 
 of the mountains, and printed a newspaper called the 
 Northwest Newss- Letter. The second printing-press was 
 owned and run in Cincinnati the next year. He was 
 a lawyer by profession, and a man of large attain- 
 ments, and left a large estate to his two children, 
 Thomas and Lucretia, their mother being Hubbard. 
 
 His daughter Lucretia, born at New London in 
 1787, married Nathaniel Pope, of Illinois, delegate 
 in Congress from Illinois in 1816, and judge of the 
 United States District Court. Maj.-Gen. John Pope, 
 United States army, is their son, born March 12, 1823. 
 His mother, Mrs. Lucretia Pope, in remembrance of 
 the place of her father's nativity and of her own early 
 associations, came from her Western home to attend 
 the bi-centennial jubilee at Norwich in September, 
 1859, and carried from the old home of her father a 
 chest of papers and other articles relative to her 
 father, Elijah Backus, Jr. 
 
 Among the descendants of William Backus who 
 were natives of Norwich the following clergymen are 
 of note : 
 
 1. Simon Backus, son of Joseph, born at Norwich, 
 Feb. 11, 1701, graduated at Yale College in 1724, and 
 was ordained pastor of the church at Newington in 
 1727. He attended the expedition to Cape Breton as 
 chaplain of the Connecticut troops, and died while on 
 
 duty at that place in May, 1746. His wife was a sis- 
 ter of President Edwards, of the New Jersey College. 
 
 2. Rev. Simon Backus, son of the above, was pastor 
 in Granby, Mass., and died in 1828, aged eighty-seven. 
 
 3. Rev. Charles Backus, D.D., of Somers, Conn. 
 He had a high reputation as an acute and able the- 
 ologian, and prepared many young men for the sa- 
 cred office. Dr. Dwight said of him, "I have not 
 known a wiser man." 
 
 4. Rev. Azel Backus, D.D., born Oct. 13, 1765, was 
 a nephew of Rev. Charles Backus, of Somers. His 
 father died when he was a youth and left him a farm, 
 which, he said, " I wisely exchanged for an education 
 in college." He settled in Bethel, Conn., as the suc- 
 cessor of Dr. Bellamy, but in 1812 was chosen the 
 first president of Hamilton College. 
 
 6. Rev. Isaac Backus, A.M., of Middleborough, 
 Mass., was born at Norwich, within the limits of the 
 old town plot, Jan. 9, 1724, and died Nov. 20, 1806. 
 Our account of the family in which the childhood and 
 youth of Isaac Backus were spent may be fitly closed 
 from an imperfect sketch of his life, written by him- 
 self when more than eighty years old: "My mother 
 sprang from the family of Mr. AVinslow, who came 
 over to Plymouth in 1620, and my father from one of 
 the first planters in Norwich, Conn., in 1660. Both 
 my father and mother and their parents wei'e mem- 
 bers of the first church in Norwich, and trained up 
 their children in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord. I was born there and was well educated in the 
 Christian religion, and also in the principles of civil 
 liberty." 
 
 Isaac Backus traveled thousands of miles, when 
 traveling was more difficult than at the present time, 
 in New England, the Middle States, and in the South, 
 preaching the gospel and advocating the principles 
 of civil and religious liberty. He was a most pro- 
 lific writer. The Backus Historical Society of Massa- 
 chusetts, the Rev. Frederick Denison, and the Rev. 
 Alvah Hovey, D.D., compiled a memoir of the life 
 and times of Rev. Isaac Backus, A.M., in 1858. No 
 one in the country did more service. 
 
 Tradition says the Backuses came from Norwich, 
 county of Norfolk, England, and in deference to the 
 ancestor, who was the oldest man of the party from 
 Saybrook, and the first Englishman who died in Nor- 
 wich, the matter of the name of the new town was sub- 
 mitted to him, who called it Norwich after his native 
 place. The emigration of the Backuses has been con- 
 stant, some to New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, 
 Ohio, and elsewhere ; a great exodus about 1781. 
 From Windham County the emigration has not been 
 so extensive. 
 
 James Backus, the youngest of the sons of Elijah, 
 returned from the Northwest Territory at the earnest 
 request of his father, and remained, greatly against 
 his wishes, to help and assist his father, who was pos- 
 sessed of a large estate, and had been the most suc- 
 cessful mechanic in this vicinity. His son James 
 

 T .^'^ ^. (l-^^/L C^. 
 
-^:>i'il!j3^i-i~* 
 
 ^ J^i^l 
 
 /^ f? / / / / ' i' ''/ 
 
 y.'j //..'// 'I r / / 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 369 
 
 was a man of great ability, bott physically and men- 
 tally. He commenced and carried on a large busi- 
 ness. The grist-mill, which was the first erection on 
 the premises, and supposed to have been built by 
 Joseph or his son Samuel, was the cause of their re- 
 moval from the home-lot nearer the Landing, and by 
 grants of land from the town for that express purpose, 
 followed by the erection of the iron-works. The 
 grist-mill was supposed to have been the second one, 
 the first being built at the falls of the Yantic by the 
 Lathrops. The grist-mill was for the accommodation 
 of the farmers, who raised their bread by the sweat of 
 the brow ; no labor-saving machine in that day. 
 
 The iron-works was of a more varied and expensive 
 character, supposed to have been commenced by 
 Samuel Backus, but enlarged by his son Elijah, and 
 was of great service both before and after the war. 
 They made a variety of work, from a horseshoe to 
 great anchors for the privateers and merchantmen. 
 
 The saw-mill was built by James Backus, who in 
 later days built and ran two carding machines for 
 carding wool for the farmers, hatters, and others, about 
 1812. James Backus built a merchant's store, and 
 also manufactured potash and pearlash ; also a large 
 provision-store for the purpose of packing beef and 
 pork, and kept salt. James Backus carried on the 
 whole, together with a large farm. 
 
 During the life of Elijah, Mr. Joseph Otis was con- 
 nected by the firm of Backus & Otis, Mr. Otis being 
 "a worker of iron (his son afterwards founded the Otis 
 Library, and it is believed was born at the house 
 built by his father in Yantic). This connection of 
 Backus & Otis was not of long duration. 
 
 James Backus bought all the interest of his brothers 
 and sisters, and owned and conducted the whole. The 
 iron manufacture began to change its complexion and 
 assume new and more varied shapes. Bar iron, instead 
 of being hammered out, was rolled out ; nails, instead 
 of being hammered out, were cut out ; and so of all 
 the former practices, new and quicker and cheaper 
 practices supplied the market and vastly extended its 
 use. Finally the manufacture of iron in the old way 
 ceased, and the site gave place to other enterprises. 
 The store did a large business for many years until 
 James Backus died, in 1816. 
 
 William W. Backus, the son of James Backus and 
 Dorothy Church Chandler, of Woodstock, was the 
 sixth of a family of seven children, and at the time of 
 his father's death was but thirteen years of age. 
 
 His whole life has been spent in' Norwich, except 
 part of a year passed in Marietta, Ohio, in the mer- 
 cantile establishments of his kinsman, Dudley Wood- 
 bridge, Jr., the judge, his father, being then alive, 
 1819. 
 
 From ill health he was necessitated to return to Nor- 
 wich. Since 1819 he has resided in Norwich, at the 
 home of his ancestors, completing seven generations. 
 His time has been spent mainly in farm operations, 
 causing the old farm, with large additions, to bud and 
 
 blossom, raising large crops of Indian corn (in some 
 instances more than one hundred bushels of shelled 
 corn per acre), rye, potatoes, grass, turnips, keeping a 
 large stock, annually fattening about one hundred, and 
 buying and selling many more. Supposed to have 
 owned a greater number of horned cattle than any 
 one owner in New London County during a period of 
 fifty years or more. His losses have been heavy, 
 amounting to fifty thousand dollars. Some gains and 
 some losses all the time. An eager student, worked 
 days, studied nights after going to bed, by candle- 
 light, sometimes to the small hours, or as long as 
 fatigue would permit ; still follows the habit as far as 
 possible. 
 
 Chauncey Knight Bushnell, son of AdonijahBush- 
 nell and Hannah Tracy, was born in Lisbon on the 
 25th day of February, 1805. He has a younger brother, 
 Lyndes E. Bushnell, now living in the town of Stur- 
 bridge, Mass. Chauncey worked on his father's farm, 
 summers, attending a small district school for about 
 four months winters, taught by some inexperienced 
 youngster at six to eight dollars per month and board, 
 until he was eighteen, when he commenced teaching 
 the same school with twenty-one scholars at six dol- 
 lars per month. Continued teaching winters in Lis- 
 bon and Norwich, working on the farm summers, until 
 March, 1828, when he went to New York and taught 
 through the summer at Brooklyn, L. I. Contracting 
 the ague and fever, returned and commenced teaching 
 again in Lisbon. 
 
 On the 5th day of July, 1829, united with the Rev. 
 Levi Nelson's Congregational Church, and on the 29th 
 of September entered the "Oneida Institute," at 
 Whitesboro', Oneida Co., N. Y. On leaving the In- 
 stitute taught again in Norwich and New York, and 
 on the 23d day of April, 18.32, was married to Mary 
 Eliza Fuller, born July 13, 1809, only daughter of 
 Luther Fuller, Esq., of Lisbon. 
 
 Settled in Norwich, continuing his school on Nor- 
 wich Green till the decease of his wife on the 26th of 
 December, 1833. 
 
 Their daughter, Mary Witter, born the 23d of July, 
 1833, died Aug. 30, 1854. He continued teaching 
 public and private schools until he went West, and 
 the 1st of June, 1836, entered the oflSce of the Ohio 
 Anti-Slavery Society, in Cincinnati, as the publish- 
 ing agent of the Philanthropist, edited by the Hon. 
 James G. Birney and Dr. Gamaliel Bailey. Remained 
 there through the mobs, saw the destruction of the 
 press and the re-establishment of another, then went, 
 on the last of November, 1837, to Alton, 111., and 
 heard the funeral sermon of the murdered Rev. Elijah 
 P. Lovejoy ; thence to Knox County, and taught the 
 first school in Galesburg. He returned to Norwich, 
 and was married on the 29th of March, 1840, to Mary 
 Abby Post, born 31st of March, 1818, daughter of 
 Elisha Post, of Bozrah, and again settled down at 
 Norwich Town. 
 
 On the 29th of April, 1841, engaged as teacher in 
 
370 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the Norwich Town High School. His father died the 
 19th of June, 1843, aged sixty-five. He continued 
 teaching until the death of his mother, the 17th of 
 February, 1848, aged sixty-eight. 
 
 Having lost two little sons in infancy, on the 10th 
 of March, 1846, adopted George Lovice Gardner 
 (Bushnell), born on the 14th of July, 1843, youngest 
 son of his wife's sister, who died on the 14th of Feb- 
 ruary. 
 
 George L. G. graduated at the Norwich Free Acad- 
 emy the 19th day of July, 18(!2, taking the Perkins' 
 Greek medal and two diplomas. After serving as 
 book-keeper and cashier four years for Richardson, 
 Boynton & Co., of New York, and clerk of the South 
 Congregational Church in Brooklyn, he came home 
 and died with the consumption, Nov. 15, 1868. 
 
 Since 1848, Mr. Bushnell has practiced surveying 
 and civil engineering, making deeds, wills, and vari- 
 ous legal documents, teaching several terms at inter- 
 vals till 1858, when he gave up the profession, having 
 taught about thirty years. Having united with the 
 Central Baptist Church in 1851, he served the society 
 as collector for twenty years, also filling various minor 
 offices in town and State, as justice of the peace and 
 notary public, etc., to the present time (1881). He is 
 in his seventy-seventh year. 
 
 He has alway.s been a true Republican, never cast- 
 ing a vote for Democracy, slavery, or rum, and never 
 seeking or desiring office of any kind. 
 
 Capt. William Smith, son of John Smith and 
 Hannah Brown, was born in Norwich, April 3, 1797. 
 John Smith came from England when a boy, and 
 came to Norwich and engaged in the manufacture of 
 ropes, in which business he continued till his death 
 at the age of fifty-five. 
 
 He married Hannah Brown, a native of this county, 
 and had the following children, viz. . William, the 
 subject of this sketch, James, and Mary, who married 
 Augustus Jillson, a native of Norwich. He was noted 
 as the great pin manufacturer, of the firm of Slocum 
 & Jillson. 
 
 William Smith received a common-school educa- 
 tion. At an early age in 1813 he began to learn the 
 manufacture of cotton, and more especially to spin, 
 of one John Gray, with whom he remained two years. 
 When he had served his apprenticeship he com- 
 menced working by the day, and thus continued till 
 1828, when he became assistant manager for the 
 " Thames Manufacturing Company," in which posi- 
 tion he remained six years. In the fall of 1835 he 
 went to Bozrah, and continued in the employ of the 
 same company a short time, but that company failing 
 Mr. Smith at once entered into partnership with 
 Messrs. James Bowman and William Colgate, of New 
 York, in the manufacture of cotton goods. He was 
 the superintendent and general manager of the manu- 
 facturing till 1880. 
 
 He has owned a small farm near Bozrahville, but 
 lived in the village. 
 
 Mr. Smith was always much interested in mili- 
 tary afi'airs. He has held all the different positions 
 from private to captain of light artillery. A per- 
 sonal friend and very prominent man says of him 
 that he made one of the best otficers in the regiment, 
 and took pride in parades. 
 
 In politics he was a Whig till the Republican party 
 was organized in 1856, since which time he has been 
 a stanch Republican. 
 
 He has been selectman and magistrate in Bozrah 
 several terms, and was a member of the Legislature 
 in 1871, serving on the committee for new towns. 
 
 He has been twice married, first to Rebecca Sterry, 
 daughter of John Sterry, the first Baptist minister in 
 Norwich, and Rebecca Bromley, his wife, and to them 
 were born Rebecca S., died at sixteen in 1833; Eliza 
 A., married Parris Walker; William H., living at 
 Mystic Bridge ; George S., residing at New Hartford, 
 Conn. ; Harriet W., married Samuel Wells Haughton, 
 of Bozrah ; Daniel W. (deceased) ; and C. Louise, 
 married William H. Fitch, of Bozrah. 
 
 Mrs. Smith was a member of the Congregational 
 Church, a faithful wife and devoted mother ; died May 
 25, 1870. Capt. Smith married his second wife, Har- 
 riet L. Palmer, widow of Richard Palmer, and daugh- 
 ter of Harvey Lathrop, of Lebanon, May 1, 1873. 
 Mrs. Smith has two children by her first husband, 
 viz. : Hattie L., who married a Charles R. Butts, and 
 Minnie, unmarried. 
 
 About 1826, Capt. Smith united with the Congre- 
 gational Church in Norwich, and has been a worthy 
 member of the same for inore than fifty-five years. 
 His wife is also a member. 
 
 He has always taken deep interest in Sunday-school 
 work, and for more than thirty-five years was super- 
 intendent at Bozrahville, and seldom was away save 
 on a visit to diflferent parts of the country. 
 
 He has ever been a faithful and constant attendant 
 on all the prayer and social meetings of the church, 
 and in all ways has tried to advance the cause of 
 Christ. 
 
 He has been and is now (1881) a strong temperance 
 man. He is now in his eighty-fifth year, hale and 
 hearty for one so aged. He has been a good father 
 and husband, a true patriot and citizen. 
 
 Rev, Alvan Bond, D.D.' — Rev. Dr. Bond was born 
 in Sutton, Mass., April 27, 1793. He was educated 
 at Brown University, graduating in 1815. He studied 
 theology at Andover, Mass., and remained there nearly 
 a year beyond the completion of the regular course. 
 Nov. 19, 1819, he was ordained pastor of the Congre- 
 gational Church in Sturbridge, Mass. After about ten 
 years of labor in that pastorate he became Professor 
 of Sacred Literature in the theological seminary at 
 Bangor, Maine. He found the climate of that region 
 too severe for his health, and in 1835 he came to Nor- 
 wich and entered upon the pastorate of the Second 
 
 1 Contributed by Eev. "Wm. S. Palmer. 
 
w^ 
 
 ^"fi'trC,, EP,r.ne,lI^'«'' 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 371 
 
 Congregational Church of that city. He was installed 
 in May, Eev. Dr. Howe, of Hartford, preaching the 
 sermon. He found this church, then the only Con- 
 gregational Church of the city, rejoicing in the rich 
 fruitage of two preceding pastorates, that of Mr. 
 Mitchell for seventeen years, and that of Mr. Dick- 
 inson for thirty months. The resident membership 
 numbered about three hundred and twenty-five. 
 There were three hundred and sixty names on the 
 roll, and only about one hundred and thirty families, 
 including some six hundred persons in all belonging 
 to the parish. More than fifty per cent, of the entire 
 number were professing Christians. There was little 
 room for enlargement. It was the chief work of the 
 new pastor to " keep the measure full." This he soon 
 found a very unsatisfactory work. Numbers were 
 added from y^ar to year, but they came mainly by 
 letter. After seven years of such toil ninety-eight 
 of the most active members, including such as the 
 late Governor William A. Buckingham, went out to 
 form the Broadway Church. Room was thus made 
 for indefinite expansion. The pastor, then in the 
 midst of his years, girded himself for his great life- 
 work. He summoned his people to most earnest en- 
 deavor. The gloom which forty vacant pews spread 
 over the assembly was quickly dispelled. The people 
 caught their pastor's enthusiasm, and "had a mind to 
 work." At the very next sale of pews every slip was 
 taken. For twenty-eight years Dr. Bond supplied the 
 pulpit an average of fifty Sabbaths a year. Only in 
 a single instance in all that time was he absent from 
 a communion service. His work was not only con- 
 stant, it was eminently successful. He kept his church 
 in the vanguard of efficient workers for the worthiest 
 ends. They were generous contributors to the various 
 benevolent enterprises of the day. Numbers of them 
 gave liberally to found the Norwich Free Academy. 
 One of the office-bearers of his church, by his advice, 
 founded the Otis Library, the only public library in 
 the city. Dr. Bond was tireless in his endeavors to 
 improve the public schools of the place. To his per- 
 sistent efforts, in connection with Dr. Gulliver, the 
 pastor of the Broadway Church, the present genera- 
 tion of Norwich are deeply indebted for an excellent 
 system of public instruction. 
 
 He was outspoken upon the great questions of pub- 
 lic interest so multiplied during the period of his pas- 
 torate. The cause of temperance and the interests of 
 the oppressed, in whatever way, found in him an earn- 
 est advocate; yet so singularly judicious was he in all 
 his utterances, both public and private, that he rarely 
 provoked animosity, and uniformly promoted peace. 
 At the breaking out of the civil war, and in all that 
 terrible struggle, his church, stimulated by his lead- 
 ership and his example, was in the very forefront of 
 the conflict. She was behind none in giving her sym- 
 pathy, her service, or her sons. Her silver and gold 
 she poured out like water. Towards a single contri- 
 bution in aid of Norwich soldiers no less than twelve 
 
 of his people gave freely from two hundred to a thou- 
 sand dollars apiece. 
 
 At the first great " war-meeting" in Breed Hall, 
 that Saturday evening before the memorable " Battle 
 Sunday," his voice was heard invoking the name of 
 Jehovah, and inciting the people to trust in an Al- 
 mighty Helper. That wonderful Sunday which fol- 
 lowed, while the women of the city made garments 
 for the company to depart on the morrow, he preached 
 to the men of his congregation upon " The over- 
 whelming catastrophe and the need of girding the 
 loins for intensest endeavor." His sermon was boldly 
 prophetic. Upon invitation, received during the in- 
 termission, it was repeated that afternoon- at the 
 Broadway Church, in exchange with its pastor. A 
 full year before that time, during the popular excite- 
 ment about the fugitive slave Burns, Dr. Bond had 
 fired the patriotism of his people by a sermon in 
 which he pictured " The spirit of Liberty spiked to 
 the pavement by the bayonets of government troops." 
 Dec. 28, 1864, at his own urgent request, he was 
 dismissed from the pastorate he had so long and so 
 faithfully held. For nearly ten years afterwards he 
 preached in various pulpits, and at intervals in that 
 of the Second church. The last time his voice was 
 heard in public he bore part with the present pastor 
 at a communion service of that church, and uttered 
 words of fervent appeal which will long linger in the 
 memory of those who were so fortunate as to hear 
 them. 
 
 John W. Stedman.— One of the men worthy of 
 being honored in his generation, well known through- 
 out the State, and especially familiar to the people of 
 Eastern Connecticut, forms the subject of this brief 
 sketch. 
 
 John W. Stedman was born in Enfield, Conn., 
 April 14, 1820, whence, in his infancy, the family re- 
 moved to Hartford. When twelve years old, having 
 lost his father by death, he left school to earn his own 
 livelihood, and at the age of thirteen entered the 
 printing-office of P. Canfield, and when, four years 
 later, the office was consolidated with that of Case, 
 Tiffany & Burnham, went with them, and remained 
 till August, 1844. That year he removed to Norwich, 
 having purchased the office of The Norwich Aurora, 
 and here for thirty years he remained in the printing 
 and publishing business, a longer time than any other 
 person was ever engaged in the same business in the 
 county. 
 
 Coming equipped with an experience of eleven 
 years with the best masters of the printing art in the 
 State, with habits of continuous and untiring dili- 
 gence, and a mind already well stored with the knowl- 
 edge and culture to be derived from books,— having 
 been an assiduous reader, and to-day the owner of one 
 of the finest private libraries in the State,— it is not 
 surprising that the old organ of the Democracy of 
 Eastern Connecticut should at once have given signs 
 of rejuvenescence, that its business interests should 
 
372 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 have revived, its credit been restored, and the young 
 editor, with a character for personal rectitude and 
 business integrity established, should have accept- 
 ably placed himself at the head of the party in this 
 section, prepared for the earnest and sometimes 
 heated political campaigns that were to ensue. Con- 
 temporaneous with The Aurora at this time was the 
 venerable Federal and Whig organ. The Cbwr/er, then 
 published by the Hon. John Dunham, and on these 
 two weeklies the community round about depended 
 chiefly for their knowledge of what was going on 
 abroad, as well as for their local intelligence, until 
 the abundance of dailies and the rush of newspapers 
 changed all that. 
 
 Here then was seen " a man diligent in his busi- 
 ness," trustworthy, of courteous manners, fit to stand 
 before the highest, repeating in himself the lesson 
 ever present to the self-respecting man of every walk 
 of life. The first public recognition of his sterling 
 qualities was his appointment in 1850, by Governor 
 Seymour, as a bank commissioner of the State. In 
 1852 he was elected to the same office by the General 
 Assembly. This was rapidly followed by other public 
 distinctions. In 1852 he was a member of the Balti- 
 more convention that nominated Gen. Pierce for the 
 Presidency. In 1853 he was appointed postmaster of 
 the city of Norwich, and reappointed to the same 
 office in 1857 without opposition. His local popu- 
 larity was further shown by his being for many years 
 a member of the Board of Education of the city, and 
 its president, and also for several years a member of 
 the Common Council of the city. In 1873 he was ap- 
 pointed by the Legislature a member of a special com- 
 mission to investigate and report upon the savings- 
 banks of the State, a duty well performed, the report 
 pointing out essential reforms to be made by some of 
 those institutions, while the sound condition of the 
 savings-banks, as a class, was established to the sat- 
 isfaction of the community. His last important ap- 
 pointment from the State was that of insurance com- 
 missioner in 1874, to which oflSce he was reappointed 
 in 1877. The rigid investigations to which the affairs 
 of a few of those institutions were subjected by this 
 faithful officer, his legal complications with and final 
 triumph over a corrupt New Haven coterie in regard 
 to ThQ American Life and Trust Company of that 
 city, and the measures adopted during his adminis- 
 tration (for he was in constant intercourse with the 
 Legislature during its sessions) for the better manage- 
 ment and security of the vast life and fire insurance 
 interests committed to his charge, in its relations to 
 the State and individuals, are matters of fresh re- 
 membrance. Before the expiration of his la.st term 
 as insurance commissioner Mr. Stedman was elected 
 treasurer of the State Savings-Bank of Hartford, 
 which necessitated his removal from Norwich to 
 Hartford, where, among the friends of his early days, 
 he expects to live to the end. 
 
 We have but a word to add. There are things 
 
 eulogistic that had better be said after a man's death, 
 but we must proceed to the close. The proverb has 
 it that " a man that hath friends must show himself 
 friendly;'' or, what seems to the writer an equally 
 proper rendering, one to have friends must show him- 
 self friendly. In either sense the truth here suggested 
 is eminently applicable to the subject of this sketch. 
 He is peculiarly a friendly man, in heart and manner. 
 His advice and aid were constantly being sought and 
 freely given to the anxious and necessitous while a 
 resident of Norwich, and their blessings go with him 
 now he has left them. He secretly delivered the poor 
 in their distress, was a shield to the weak, and a lib- 
 eral contributor to every call of benevolence. All 
 this in accord with a noble nature, the dictates of the 
 religion he believed in, and the teachings of the hu- 
 mane and eminent order of which he is a distin- 
 guished member. 
 
 Henry Bill. — Few of the sons of New London 
 County have made a more lasting impress upon its 
 material and moral interests than the subject of this 
 notice. 
 
 He was born in that part of the old town of Gro- 
 ton now Ledyard, on the 18th of May, 1824, the 
 second-born of the large family of Gurdon and Lucy 
 Bill. At the early age of fifteen he entered the office 
 of the New London Gazette as an apprentice, but soon 
 afterwards returned to his native town, and the fol- 
 lowing winter engaged as a teacher in the Broadbrook 
 district in Preston. In order to qualify himself for 
 the profession of teacher he afterwards entered the 
 academy in Plainfield, then one of the most cele- 
 brated schools in the country. From this time till the 
 age of twenty he taught in the schools of Plainfield 
 and Groton in the winter and helped his father on his 
 farm in summer, interspersing his occupations with a 
 brief period of trade in New London. At the age of 
 twenty he purchased of his father his remaining year 
 of minority, and soon after entered upon a business 
 which was destined to occupy the remainder of his 
 .active life, and in the prosecution of which he achieved 
 all the objects of his highest ambition. A near kins- 
 man, the Hon. James A. Bill, of Lyme, was then en- 
 gaged in book publishing in the city of Philadelphia. 
 Into his service he entered, and for three years he 
 traveled for him through the Western States. At the 
 end of that time, in the fall of 1847, he returned to 
 his native county and engaged in book publishing on 
 his own account, locating in the city of Norwich. 
 He was encouraged to do this by the elder Harper 
 Bros., of New York, who instinctively saw the ma- 
 terial for sviccess there was in him, and who gave huii 
 unlimited credit and remained his warmest friends 
 during their lives. Here for more than twenty-five 
 years he pursued his profession of a book publisher 
 with ceaseless energy and with uniform success. Re- 
 warded with the possession of an ample fortune, and 
 failing in health, he then formed his large business 
 into a joint-stock corporation^ which still flourishes 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 373 
 
 under the title of the Henry Bill Publishing Com- 
 pany, and personally retired, as the world expresses 
 it, from active life. But in temperaments like his 
 there is no period of a man's life more active than 
 that which succeeds a retirement from that occupation 
 by which he is best known among men. 
 
 A list of the works which be has published and dis- 
 tributed by hundreds of thousands all over the United 
 States by agents would include Stephens' Travels in 
 Yucatan, Maunder's History of the World, Murray's 
 Encyclopedia of All Nations, Kitto's Bible Histories, 
 and Abbott's History of the Civil War. 
 
 Among the many works which have distinguished 
 his life may be mentioned his founding of Laurel 
 Hill, now one of the most thrifty and beautiful of 
 the suburbs of the city of Norwich, — the reclaiming 
 of this rugged hillside and meadow was emphatically 
 his work ; the establishment of the Bill Library in 
 his native town of Ledyard, a work purely for the 
 benefit of the people of the town, and which, in con- 
 nection with his gift of a parsonage, has cost him at 
 least twelve thousand dollars ; and the donation of a 
 public park on Laurel Hill to the city of Norwich, 
 valued at eight thousand dollars. He has been deeply 
 interested in the education of many colored young 
 men in the Southern States since the war, one of 
 whom is now a professor in the Richmond University" 
 in Virginia, and one an editor of a paper in Georgia. 
 
 In early life Mr. Bill's political affiliations were 
 with the Democratic party, as his father's were before 
 him, and as a Democrat he represented the Norwich 
 district in the State Senate in 1853, receiving in the 
 election a large portion of the votes of his opponents; 
 but in the split in that party in 1856 he cast his lot 
 with the anti-slavery sentiment, and has been from 
 its formation an active and uncompromising member 
 of the Republican party. During the civil war he 
 was greatly relied upon by Connecticut's war Gov- 
 ernor, Buckingham, and was his devoted friend. His 
 time and means were always at the service of the 
 State. Mr. Bill from early life has been a member of • 
 the Congregational Church, and since his residence 
 in Norwich has been connected with the Broadway 
 Society. He was married on the 10th of February, 
 1847, to Miss Julia O. Chapman, of Groton. Seven 
 children have been born to them, of whom two daugh- 
 ters and a son are living. 
 
 Mr. Bill has always had great faith in the future of 
 his adopted city. His investments have been almost 
 wholly there in real estate. In its care and manage- 
 ment he finds ample occupation, without that anxiety 
 for its safety which those have whose fortunes are at 
 the mercy of otliers. In this, as in all the leading 
 traits of his life, his example is a valued and safe guide, 
 and when the roll of the sons of New London County 
 who have made themselves an honored name is called 
 his will be found among the first. 
 
 Gurdon Chapmail was born in North Stonington 
 in 1792. He went to Norwich in early life and en- 
 
 gaged in trade, which subsequently developed into a 
 large grain business, which he prosecuted during the 
 remainder of his life with great financial success. He 
 died in 1864, aged seventy-two years. 
 
 During his life he was a marked character in the 
 public afiairs of the city. Overcoming the obstacles 
 presented by a lack of early education, so common 
 among the country boys of his day, by dint of study 
 and close observation, aided by strong, native, com- 
 mon sense and a remarkably retentive memory, he 
 qualified himself for a leader among his fellow-men 
 and for the high positions of trust which they con- 
 ferred upon him. For many years he was a member 
 in turn of both branches of the city government, and 
 from 1843 to 1845 was mayor of the city. He was 
 also frequently called to responsible positions in the 
 afiairs of the town. He was a clear thinker, a forci- 
 ble and fluent public speaker, and in all his public 
 and private relations was highly respected and es- 
 teemed for his integrity, the kindness of his heart, 
 and the soundness of his judgment as an adviser. 
 
 "William C. Gilman was a native of Exeter, N. H., 
 and was first initiated into mercantile pursuits in Bos- 
 ton, but nearly thirty years of the most active and 
 energetic portion of his life were spent in Norwich. 
 
 As a man of business he was acute in perceiving 
 capabilities and ardent in the presentation of them to 
 others, always prompt and persevering in promoting 
 plans and pursuits calculated to develop the resources 
 or advance the moral and religious interests of the 
 community. 
 
 The period of Mr. Gilman's residence in Norwich 
 was marked not only by the stimulus given to manu- 
 factures at the Falls and on the Shetucket, and the in- 
 crease of business in general, but by fresh interest 
 in the cause of temperance, improvements in churches, 
 and the establishment of Sabbath-schools. All these 
 undertakings were deeply indebted not only to his 
 forecast, but to his advocacy and personal service. 
 
 Mr. Gilman was also a man of taste and research, 
 one who delighted in collecting memorials of the past, 
 exploring the antiquities of the country, and commem- 
 orating the old heroic red men of the land. 
 
 The failure of the large manufacturing companies 
 with which he had been connected led the way to his 
 removal from Norwich about the year 1845. The later 
 years of his life were spent in New York, where he 
 died, June 6, 1863. His remains were brought to 
 Norwich for interment. He was mayor of Norwich 
 in 1839. 
 
 John Breed was a son of the second mayor of the 
 city. For more than half a century he has been known 
 as a prominent merchant of Norwich, engaged chiefly 
 in the hardware line, but often entering into other de- 
 partments of business. The sign of "John Breed & 
 Co.," representing the partnership of John Breed and 
 his brother Simeon, was first displayed upon the store 
 in Water Street, where his father and grandfather had 
 transacted business, the day that war was declared 
 
374 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 against Great Britain, June 19, 1812. Mr. Breed 
 entered into several subsequent partnerships, but 
 wliether tlie firm was Trumbull & Breed, John & 
 James Breed, or Breed, Prentice & Co., the old sign 
 of John Breed & Co. has been displayed, in conjunc- 
 tion with its successor, for more than fifty-three years, 
 until it is regarded as one of the antiquities of the 
 place. 
 
 Mr. Breed had himself become so identified with 
 the city that he seemed a part of it,— always present 
 at its public meetings, always interested in the pass- 
 ing discussion, and always firm and downright in his 
 positions. He was a man of strong peculiarities and 
 of impulsive character, with great originality and in- 
 dependence, carrying much of the vivacity of youth 
 into the decline of life. Tall, with white locks, and 
 wearing a white hat, every child knew him, and no 
 face or form was more familiar to the inhabitants at 
 large. 
 
 His name is commemorated in Breed Hall, which 
 was erected by him with the design of furnishing a 
 convenient hall for lectures, concerts, and other large 
 assemblies, and thus supplying a desideratum which 
 the interests of the city required. This building was 
 completed in February, 1860. Mr. Breed died sud- 
 denly, Dec. 3, 18G5, in his seventy-fifth year. 
 
 Lydia Huntley Sigourney was born at Norwich, 
 Sept. 1, 1791, and died at Hartford, June 10, 1865. 
 The writings of this lady, beginning with her first 
 volume of " Moral Pieces, in Prose and Verse," pub- 
 lished in 1815, have been for fifty years quietly dif- 
 fusing an influence in favor of the true, the good, and 
 the beautiful in literature, morals, and religion. To 
 the young especially they have been of incalculable 
 benefit. The large number of Mrs. Sigourney's works, 
 their high moral tone, and the good they have accom- 
 plished have gained for her a name and reputation 
 that will long endure. 
 
 William P. Greene was a native of Boston, but an 
 inhabitant of Norwich for more than forty years. He 
 was the second son of Gardiner and Elizabeth (Hub- 
 bard) Greene, and born Sept. 7, 1795. He graduated 
 at Harvard College in 1814, and afterwards studied 
 law, but his health not being equal to the require- 
 ments of the legal profession, he removed in 1824 to 
 Norwich, and engaged at once in business as a part- 
 ner and agent of the Thames Manufacturing Com- 
 pany, which had invested a large capital in the pur- 
 chase of mill privileges at the Falls. 
 
 In this city he soon acquired, and retained during 
 life, the esteem and respect of the community. He 
 was an energetic and a large-hearted man, literary in 
 his tastes, but with profound sagacity in financial and 
 business concerns. These qualities were united with 
 a pure life and an entire absence of ostentation. As 
 a beautiful result of his unobtrusive life and liberal 
 disposition, he seemed to have no enemies. Slander 
 never made him its mark, and his name was never 
 mentioned with disrespect. 
 
 He was never possessed of robust health, and there- 
 fore seldom able to give his personal services in aid of 
 public measures, but all charitable and noble under- 
 takings, having for their object the welfare of man 
 and the honor of God, were sure of his liberal aid and 
 cordial sympathy. 
 
 In 1825 he was chosen the first president of the 
 Thames Bank, and held the ofiice for sixteen years. 
 With this exception, and that of the single year in 
 which he was mayor of the cit}', he steadfastly de- 
 clined, on account of his health, all appointments to 
 public office. 
 
 He died June 18, 1864, aged sixty-eight. Seldom 
 has the death of a citizen of Norwich excited in the 
 place so deep an interest and such profound regret. 
 It was a loss that was felt in the circles of business 
 and of public improvement, and in the departments 
 of education and philanthropy. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXIX. 
 
 BOZRAH. 
 
 Geograplncal — Topographical — The First Settlements— New Concord- 
 Name of the Town — Organization of the Town — First Town-Meeting — 
 Officers Elected— Ecclesiiistical History — Congregational Church, Boz- 
 rah — Congregational Church, Bozraliville — Congregational Church, 
 Fitohville- Baptist Chnrcli, Lefflngwclltown— Villages— Fitchville— 
 Bozrahville — Manufactures, etc. — List of Representatives from 1786 
 to 1882— Military Record. 
 
 The town of Bozrah lies northwest of the centre of 
 the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north 
 by Franklin, on the east by Franklin and Norwich, 
 on the south by Montville, and on the west by Salem 
 and Lebanon. The surface of the town is diversified 
 by hill and valley, and the soil is generally fertile. 
 It is watered by the Yantic Elver and Gardner's 
 Brook, the former of which affords an excellent water- 
 power. 
 
 The settlement of the town commenced soon after 
 that of the present town of Norwich, and among the 
 pioneers are mentioned the names of Waterman, 
 Hough, Fox, and Crocker. 
 
 Bozrah was formerly known as New Concord, and 
 was a portion of Norwich until 1786, and its early 
 history will be found in detail in that of the mother- 
 town. " It is not easy," says the late Miss Caulkins, 
 " to determine why this quiet rural township should 
 have been made the namesake of the haughty, woe- 
 denounced, and desolate city of Edom, — a name in 
 singular contrast with its ancient peaceful and friendly 
 cognomen of New Concord. The Syrian Bozrah lay 
 in the open plain, but this was eminently a woodland 
 district amid the hills. The current story that the 
 name originated in a jocose but irreverent application 
 of Isaiah Ixiii. 1, to the agent of the society, who, 
 when he appeared in the town-meeting to plead for 
 the separation, was conspicuous for his parti-colored 
 
BOZRAH. 
 
 375 
 
 garments, cannot be seriously admitted. A pleasantry 
 might have been thus perpetrated, but not a pro- 
 fanity." 
 
 Organization of the Town. — The committee ap- 
 pointed to manage the separation of the town in 1786 
 consisted of Benjamin Thorp, Nehemiah Waterman, 
 Esq., Asa Woodworth, and Jabez Hough. The town 
 •was first represented in the Legislature by Capt. Isaac 
 Huntington. 
 
 The First Town-Meeting was held in the meeting- 
 house, June 20, 1786, with Benjamin Throop moder- 
 ator, when tlie following officers were elected : Select- 
 men, Benjamin Throop, Kehemiah Waterman, and 
 Asa Woodworth; Town Clerk, Ebenezer Backus; 
 Treasurer, Capt. Isaac Huntington ; Constable and 
 Collector, Ebenezer Backus ; Surveyors of Highways, 
 Simeon Abell, William Card well, Ezekiel Crocker, Eli- 
 phalet Baldwin, Lemuel Gardner, Libbeus Lathrop, 
 Samuel Leffingwell. 
 
 Among other town officers chosen were Slarshall 
 Huckley, Uriah Lathrop, Thomas Huntington, Elijah 
 Huntington, Simeon Gager, Jabez Hough, Richard 
 Downer, John Looner, and John Waterman. 
 
 Ecclesiastical History. — As early as 1715 permis- 
 sion was given the inhabitants of this town (then 
 a portion of Norwich) to form a parish, but being 
 unable to support a minister they were not regularly 
 organized until eighteen years afterwards, when they 
 took the name of New Concord and were released 
 from all obligation to support the ministry of the 
 First Society, on condition of maintaining a gospel 
 minister at least six months in the year. 
 
 The northern part of the present town, that part 
 which lies in the bend of the Yantic, was included in 
 the West Farms Parish, and the bounds between the 
 two societies were to be the river, the brook that runs 
 out of it, the Cranberry Pond, the Cranberry Pond 
 Brook, the Great Swamp, the Dark Swamp, and the 
 Miry Swamp. 
 
 The church was organized, and Rev. Benjamin 
 Throop ordained the first pastor, Jan. 3, 1739. Mr. 
 Throop was a native of Lebanon and a graduate of 
 Yale. He died Sept. 16, 1785, after an efficient pas- 
 torate of forty-six years, aged seventy-four. 
 
 The second minister of the church was Rev. Jona- 
 than Murdock, a native of Westbrook, and previously 
 settled at Rye, N. Y. He was installed at Bozrah, 
 Oct. 12, 1786, and died Jan. 16, 1813, aged sixty- 
 eight. 
 
 John Bates Murdock, a son of this excellent clergy- 
 man, graduated at Yale College in 1808, but after- 
 wards entered the army, and served during the war of 
 1812-15, at the close of which he had the rank of 
 brevet major. He died soon after the conclusion of 
 peace, unmarried. 
 
 Rev. Dr. James Murdock, of New Haven, Professor 
 of Ecclesiastical History, and the translator of the 
 Syriac Testament into English, was a nephew of the 
 Bozrah minister. 
 
 The third minister of Bozrah, Rev. David Austin, 
 was installed May 9, 1815. The old meeting-house 
 where Throop and Murdock preached was then stand- 
 ing, but that same year a new house of worship was 
 completed.^ Mr. Austin's dedication sermon was 
 published. 
 
 "Rev. David Austin," says Miss Caulkins, " was a 
 native of New Haven, born in 1760, and fitted by an 
 accomplished education and foreign travel to become 
 an ornament to society, as well as by ardent piety and 
 a lively and florid eloquence to be useful in the min- 
 istry. He married Lydia, daughter of Dr. Joshua 
 Lathrop, of Norwich, and settled as pastor of the 
 church in Elizabethtown in 1788. The kindness of 
 his heart and the suavity of his manner endeared him 
 to all who knew him, while his zeal in the perform- 
 ance of his duties and his popular pulpit talents 
 made him successful in his office and extensively 
 known as a preacher. It is to him that Governor 
 Livingston alludes in the following lines of his poem 
 on Philosophic Solitude : 
 
 " ' Dear A***** too should grace my rural seat, 
 Forever welcome to the green retreat ; 
 Heaven for the cause of righteousness designed 
 His florid genius and capacious mind. 
 Oft have I seen him 'mid the adoring throng, 
 Celestial truths devolving from his tongue ; 
 Oft o'er the listening audience seen him stand, 
 Divinely speak and graceful wave liis hand.' 
 
 " Mr. Austin was naturally eccentric, and had al- 
 ways something erratic and extravagant in his man- 
 ner of thinking, speaking, and acting. Unhappily, 
 his mind was led to investigate too deeply for its 
 strength the prophecies; his ardent imagination be- 
 came inflamed, his benevolent heart dilated to over- 
 flowing, and his mental powers became partially 
 deranged. He now appeared as a champion of the 
 Second Advent doctrine, and held that the coming of 
 Christ to commence his personal reign on earth would 
 be on the fourth Sabbath of May, 1796. On the 
 morning of that day he was in a state of great agi- 
 tation, and one or two reports of distant thunder 
 excited him almost to frenzy. But the day passed 
 over as usual, yet the disappointment did not cure the 
 delusion of Mr. Austin's mind. He took the vow of 
 a Nazarite, and went round the country announcing 
 the near approach of Christ's coming, and calling 
 upon the Jews to assemble and make preparations to 
 return to their own land. 
 
 " In 1797 he was removed by the Presbytery from 
 his pastoral relation at the church at Elizabethtown. 
 He then went to New Haven, where he erected sev- 
 eral large houses and a wharf for the use of the Jews, 
 whom he invited to assemble there and embark for 
 the Holy Land. Having at last, in this and other 
 plans, expended an ample fortune, he was for a while 
 
 I The old church stood where is now the house of Kev. N. S. Hunt. 
 The second was built about eight rods distant. The present church, 
 which is the third sacred edifice of the parish, owes its erection chiefly 
 to the liberal aid afibrded by the late Col. Asa Fitch and his family. 
 
376 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 imprisoned for debt, and after being released from 
 confinement gradually became calm and sane upon 
 all points except the prophecies. He had no chil- 
 dren, and his wife had long before taken refuge in 
 her father's house in Norwich. He also returned to 
 this home after all his wanderings, like the dove to 
 the ark, and the balance of his mind being in a great 
 measure restored, he began again to preach with ac- 
 ceptance in various churches in Connecticut. After 
 his installation in Bozrah he performed all the duties 
 of a pastor, faithfully prclaiming the gospel of sal- 
 vation for a period of fifteen years. He died in Nor- 
 wich, Feb. 5, 1831." 
 
 Since Mr. Austin's retirement the church has had 
 various pastors, among whom are mentioned the 
 names of Jared Andrus, John W. Salter, John Hyde, 
 Thomas L. Shipman, John W. Salter, William M. 
 Birchard, Edward Eells, William P. Avery, T. D. P. 
 Stone, N. S. Hunt, and Eev. Mr. Fellows. The pulpit 
 is now vacant. 
 
 Congregational Church, Bozrahville. — This 
 church was organized April 10, 1828. Among the 
 pastors have been David Sanford, Erastus Eipley, 
 Nathaniel Minor, Mr. Read, Bodolphus Lamphear, 
 Oliver Brown, George Perkins, Stephen Hayes, D. 0. 
 Sterry, George Cryer, D. C. Sterry, J. C. Nichols, 
 Phineas Crandall, George Cryer. The pulpit at pres- 
 ent is supplied by Eev. Mr. Rankin, of Glosenbury, 
 Hartford Co. 
 
 The village came into the possession of the Thames 
 Manufacturing Company in 1825, by whose aid and 
 influence the interests of the church was greatly pro- 
 moted. 
 
 Congregational Church, FitchvUle.— The house 
 of worship belonging to this church was erected by 
 the late Asa Fitch, Esq., and dedicated Aug. 4, 1852. 
 
 A church was organized Dec. 1; 1854, while the 
 Eev. William Aitoheson was the ofliciating minister. 
 It has had no settled pastor, but temporary ministers 
 were provided by the liberality of Mr. Fitch, with 
 an exception during the late war, when, the opera- 
 tions of the mill having ceased, the services were in- 
 termitted, and the church closed for three or four 
 years. 
 
 Among the pastors who have served the church are 
 mentioned W. W. Belden, T. D. P. Stone, and Joseph 
 A. Saxton. At present the pulpit is vacant. 
 
 There is also a Baptist Church in LeflSngwelltown, 
 but we have been unable to secure data for its history. 
 
 Fitchville occupies the site of the old Huntington 
 Iron- Works, established by Nehemiah Huntington 
 and Capt. Joshua Abel in 1750. In its native condi- 
 tion this was a wild and gloomy district, with deep 
 valleys and precipitous ledges, the pasture-land harsh 
 and stony, and the woodlands rugged and forbidding. 
 
 At one time the mill, the church, the village, and 
 the mansion-house were the central treasures of a do- 
 main extending two or three miles on all sides. The 
 old farms of Fitch, Huntington, Abel, Gillson, Wa- 
 
 terman, Chapman, Baldwin, and others were consol- 
 idated under one proprietor (Asa Fitch), who devoted 
 his time, his energetic business habits and abundant 
 resources to the improvement of his possessions, being 
 himself the originator of his plans, the director, over- 
 seer, and paymaster of the whole. 
 
 Bozrahville is one of the oldest manufacturing es- 
 tablishments in the county of New London. It origi- 
 nated with the Bozrah Manufacturing Company 
 which was formed in 1814 by Frederick DePeyster, 
 Jonathan Little, and others of New York, and David 
 L. Dodge, then a resident of Norwich. The capital 
 came from New York, but Mr. Dodge suggested and 
 managed the undertaking. Under his direction a 
 stone factory was built for the manufacture of cotton 
 and woolen goods, several hundred spindles and looms 
 set to work, and a thriving village planted in a waste 
 place. Erastus Hyde, of Bean Hill, was also a part- 
 ner and agent in this work. 
 
 In consequence of the great influx of European com- 
 modities, which caused the decline of the manufactur- 
 ing interests all over New England, the Bozrahville 
 Company was broken up in 1824, and the property 
 passed into the possession of the Thames Company, 
 but the mill was kept in operation, with only the sus- 
 pension of a few months. 
 
 In 1837 it was sold by the Thames Company to 
 James Boorman and others of New York, and it was 
 changed to Kent Manufacturing Company. 
 
 Leffingwelltown is a small hamlet in the southern 
 part of the town. 
 
 The present physicians in Bozrah are Samuel G. 
 and Nathan Johnson and Erastus M. Leffingwell. Sam- 
 uel G. Johnson is town clerk and judge of probate. 
 
 Representatives from 1786 to 1881. 
 
 17SG, Capt. Isaac HuDtington ; 17S7, Neliemiali Waterman, Jr., Capt. 
 Isaac Huntington ; 178R, Neliemiah Waterman ; 17S9, Nehemiah 
 Waterman, John McCall ; 1790, John McCall, Nehemiah Waterman ; 
 1791, Elijah Huntington, Nehemiah Waterman; 1792, Nehemiah 
 Waterman, William Throop ; 1793, William Throop ; 1794, Zerub- 
 babel Wightman, Nehemiah Waterman, Jr. ; 1795, Nehemiah Water- 
 man, Jr., EliasWest; 1796, Elias West, Nehemiah Waterman, Jr.; 
 1797, Nehemiah W^aterman, Asa Woodworth; 1798, Elias West, 
 Asa Woodworth; 1799-1 SOI, Asa Woodworth ; 1S02, Joshua Stark; 
 1803, Elias West, Eoswell Fox; 1804, Elias West; 1805, Eoswell 
 Pox. Zernbbabel Wightman ; 1806, Elias West, Jesse Abel ; 1807, 
 Asa Fitch, Elihu Hyde; 1808, Asa Fitch; 1809, Elias West, John 
 Hough; 1810, John Hough; 1811, EliasWest; 1812, Dyer McCall; 
 1813, Dyer McCall, Asa Fitch ; 1814, John Hough ; 1815, Asa Fitch, 
 Gardner Avei-y; 1816, Joshua Stark ; 1817, Gardner Avery; 1818, 
 William Whiting; 1819, Perez Chesebrough ; 1820, Gardner Avery ; 
 1821, Ezra Lathrop; 1822, William Whiting; 1823, Elijah Abel; 
 1824, Samuel Gagor; 1825, James Lamb; 1826, Samuel Gager; 1827, 
 Gardner Avery; 1828, William Kelly; 1829, William Whiting; 1830, 
 William Kelly ; 1831, Gnrdon Gilford ; 1832-33, Gardner .\very ; 1834, 
 
 M'illiam Kelly ; 1835, ; 1836, David A. Fox ; 1837, Daniel Her- 
 
 lick ; 1838, Jehiel Johnson ; 1839, Samuel A. Gager ; 1840-41, Albert 
 O. Avery; 1842, David A. Fox; 1843, Joshua Maples ; 1844, David 
 H. Waterman; 1845, William Hough; 1846, Patrick H. L. Chese- 
 brough; 1847, Christopher B, Bogei-s ; 1848, Andrew leffingwell; 
 1849, George Lathrop; 1850, Stephen Fitch; 1851, Giles Herhkell; 
 1852, Albert Waterman ; 1853, Daniel Herrick ; 1 854, Albert G. Avery ; 
 1865, Jedediah S. Hough ; 1856, Samuel Johnson ; 1857, Aaron Cook; 
 1858, Ulysses S. Gardner; 1859, Aaron Cook; 1860, W. F.Bailey; 
 1861, J. B. Baldwin; 1802, Lathrop Stark; 1863, C. B. Baldwin; 
 
BOZRAH. 
 
 377 
 
 1864, C. Gardner; 1S05, N. C. Cook; 180C, J. B. Lefflngwell; 1867, 
 G. S. Smith; 1868, Simeon Abel; 1869, W. \V. Sniitb ; 1870, S. C. 
 Parker; 1871, Wm. Smith; 1872, Jii8. Bishop; 1873, D. W. Hougli; 
 1874, J. Vf. Money; 1876, Isaac Joliiison; 1876, C. A. Gager; 1877, 
 C. M. Pendleton ; 1878, C. A. Johnson; 1870-80, E. J. Miner ; 1881, 
 Geo. 0. Stead. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXX. 
 
 BOZRAH— (Continued). 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 The Fitch. Family. — Rev. James Fitcli was born 
 at Booking, in the county of Essex, England, Dec. 24, 
 1632, educated there in part, and at sixteen years of 
 age came to America, and for the following seven 
 years studied for the ministry under Revs. Messrs. 
 Hooker and Stone. 
 
 From the " History of Norwich" we quote the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 " It appears that the father of the family had died, 
 and that the mother with several sons emigrated to 
 this country in 1638. The exact number of the 
 brothers that came over has not been definitely ascer- 
 tained. Thomas, Joseph, and James can be clearly 
 traced. But there was a contemporary Samuel Fitch, 
 schoolmaster at Hartford, who married in 1650 the 
 widow of the first William Whiting, and subse- 
 quently removed to Milford, who may have been 
 another brother.^ 
 
 " Thomas Fitch settled in Norwalk, where, in the 
 valuation of estates in 1665, he was the highest upon 
 the list.^ He is also the first person mentioned in the 
 patent of that town, granted in 1685, and from him 
 in a line of three generations, each bearing the same 
 name. Governor Thomas Fitch, who occupied the 
 chair of state in Connecticut from 1754 to 1766, was 
 descended. 
 
 " Joseph Fitch can be traced as a landholder, or as 
 a temporary inhabitant, at Norwalk, Hartford, and 
 Northampton ; but he ultimately settled at Windsor, 
 upon a valuable farm near the boundary line of the 
 present towns of East Hartford and East Windsor. 
 John Fitch, whose name is honorably connected with 
 the invention of steam navigation, was a descendant 
 of Joseph, and born Jan. 21, 1743, near the place 
 where his ancestor settled, on the Windsor part of the 
 farm. 
 
 "Of Mr. James Fitch, our immediate subject, we 
 have a statement of his birth, emigration at the age 
 of sixteen, and seven years of theological instruction 
 at Hartford, and this is all that is known of him pre- 
 vious to his ordination at Saybrook in 1646. At this 
 ceremony Mr. Hooker, of Hartford, was present, but 
 the imposition of hands was by two of the brethren 
 appointed by the church to that oflice. The same 
 
 ' " 111 Westcott's Life of John Fitcli it is said that five brothers emi- 
 grated, but the authority seems only traditionary. 
 2 " Hall's History of Norwalk. 
 
 form was also used at the same place at the ordina- 
 tion of the Rev. Thomas Buckingham in 1670.' Mr. 
 Hooker had himself been ordained in the same man- 
 ner at Cambridge. This was a Congregational ordi- 
 nation in the strictest sense of the term. 
 
 " The element of independence thus wrought into 
 the original structure of Mr. Fitch's church was 
 brought with it to Norwich, and has never died out. 
 Though not subsequently asserting its rights in the 
 special form of ordination, the Congregational prin- 
 ciple struck its roots deep, and has ever since main- 
 tained its ground, giving something of a distinctive 
 character to the church in its whole course.* 
 
 " When a part of Mr. Fitch's church decided, in 
 1660, to remove to Norwich, it was a subject of some 
 contention between the two parties whether he should 
 stay with those who were to remain or go with those 
 who should remove. He was greatly beloved by all, 
 and each side claimed him. After solemn prayer and 
 long deliberation Mr. Fitch decided that it was his 
 duty to keep with the majority, and this brought him 
 to Norwich. Soon after his removal thither the 
 people of Hartford invited him to become their min- 
 ister, thinking probably that the hardships of a new 
 settlement and the prospect of extensive usefulness in 
 a wider and more elevated sphere might induce him 
 to leave his flock. The only reply he sent to their 
 invitation was this : ' With whom, then, shall I leave 
 these few poor sheep in the wilderness?' 
 
 " The oldest election sermon in Connecticut of 
 which any record has been discovered was preached 
 by Mr. Fitch in 1674, from this text: 'For I, saith 
 the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, 
 and will be the glory in the midst of her.'^ 
 
 " Other products of his pen yet extant are a ser- 
 mon on the death of Anne, wife of Major Mason, 
 1672, and a small volume printed at Boston in 1683, 
 with an introduction by Rev. Increase Mather, and 
 comprising three distinct tracts, viz. : 
 
 " A Treatise on the reformation of those evils which 
 have been the procuring cause of the late judgments 
 upon New England. 
 
 " The Norwich Covenant, which was solemnly re- 
 newed March 22, 1675. 
 
 " A brief Discourse proving that the First Day of 
 the week is the Christian Sabbath. 
 
 " The multiplied labors of Mr. Fitch in behalf of 
 the Indians, to civilize. Christianize, and render them 
 comfortable, have been heretofore noticed. His cor- 
 respondence with the Governor and assistants was 
 
 3 " Trumbull's Conn., i. 290. 
 
 ■1 " Rev. H. P. Arms, tlie successor of Mr. Fitch, the sixtli incumbent 
 of tlie pastoral office in the old town of Norwicli, in reference to tlie or- 
 dination of Mr. Fitclj, observes,— 
 
 " ' We retain the same principles and hold that all ecclesiastical au- 
 thority is vested in the individual churcbes, and that while, as a matter 
 of Christian courtesy, we ask the aid of a Council in ordaining or .de- 
 posing ministers, we accede to that Council no authority beyond what the 
 church delegates to it for the occasion.'— iVorit-ic/i Jitbike, p. 252. 
 
 6 " Conn. Col. Kec, ii. 222. 
 
378 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 voluminous. Among tlie documents of the State, let- 
 ters concerning the wayward natives are yet extant 
 bearing his signature. 
 
 " As a pastor, Mr. Fitch was zealous and indefati- 
 gable. In addition to his other labors, he trained 
 several young men for the ministry, as he himself had 
 been trained by Mr. Hooker. Revs. Samuel Whiting, 
 of Windham, Taylor, of Westfleld, and Adams, of 
 New London, received a part at least of their theo- 
 logical instruction from him. Before colleges and 
 academies were established in the land a course of 
 study in the family of some experienced divine was 
 the customary method of preparing young men for 
 the ministry. 
 
 "Lebanon, as we have said, was an offshoot of 
 Norwich. In 1663, Maj. Mason had a legislative 
 grant of five hundred acres of land, with his choice 
 of location in the unappropriated territory of the 
 colony. It was taken up ' at a place called by the In- 
 dians Pomakuck, near Norwich.' 
 
 " The registry is found on the records of the New 
 London County Court : 
 
 "'Wee whose uamea are under writen, according to the order fi-om 
 the Generall Court, wee have laid out five liuudred ackers of upland and 
 meadow for Major Mason at pomacook. 
 
 " ' Thomas Tuacy. 
 "'Francis Griswold. 
 " 'from Norwig, 1GG5, the 6th [month loft blank]. 
 " ' Acknowledged by Uncas, sachem of Mohegan, in Court at New Lon- 
 don, Nov. X4,lG6o.' 
 
 " Pomakuck, or Pomakook, was a tract of land 
 upon Deep Eiver Brook, near the borders of Lebanon 
 and Franklin, the latter being then a part of Nor- 
 wich. In October, 1666, a grant was made to Mr. 
 Fitch of one hundred and twenty acres adjoining 
 Maj. Mason's land at Pomakook.' To this grant 
 Owaneco, the son and successor of Uncas, at a sub- 
 sequent period, in acknowledgment of favors received 
 from Mr. Fitch, added a tract five miles in length 
 and one in breadth. This munificent gift was famil- 
 iarly called The Mile, or Mr. Fitch's Mile.'' 
 
 " Afterwards the same chief, who claimed all the un- 
 settled lands in this quarter, sold to four proprietors 
 — viz., Capt. Samuel Mason and Capt. John Stanton, 
 of Stonington, Capt. Benjamin Brewster and Mr. John 
 Birchard, of Norwich — a tract five miles square, ' at 
 a place called by the Indians Poque-chan-neeg, 
 adjoining to The Mile, so called, of the Rev. Mr. 
 Fitch.' This deed bears date Sept. 6, 1692, and was 
 probably executed at Norwich, the witnesses being 
 Richard Bushnell and Thomas Adgate.^ 
 
 " These various grants, with certain strips and gores 
 purchased at a later date, make up the town of Leb- 
 
 1" Coun. Col. Eec, ii. 40. 
 
 2 " L, Hobard, Emj , of Lebanon, osIimateB the Mile to have been a mile 
 in width, liberal measure, and about seven miles in length, instead of 
 five. It was bounded north by Shetucket Eiver, and east by Norwich. 
 
 1 "Acknowledged before Samuel Mason, at Norwich, Jan. 5, 1098-99. 
 Eecorded at Lebanon, Book 1, Article 1. Indorsed, couflrnied by Goh. 
 Asa., May, 1705. 
 
 anon. Maj. Mason was undoubtedly the first English 
 proprietor, but not a resident. 
 
 "The distribution into lots, the occupation and ac- 
 tual settlement of the town, began in 1695.* The 
 number of grants and allotments bearing date in No- 
 vember of that year is about fifty. In the earliest 
 roll of inhabitants, made soon after 1700, are the 
 names of four sons of the Rev. Mr. Fitch, — Jeremiah, 
 Nathaniel, Joseph, Eleazer. 
 
 " According to tradition, the township was named 
 by jMr. Fitch before a house had been built or a tree 
 felled by a white man upon the tract. Within the 
 bounds of The Mile was an extensive cedar forest, 
 which, by the principle of association, assisted also 
 by the height of the, land, suggesting to the mind of 
 its accomplished owner the cedars of Lebanon, led 
 him to bestow the name of Lebanon upon the whole 
 tract. 
 
 " The town and its patron have reason to be satis- 
 fied with each other. Quiet, beautiful, dignified Leb- 
 anon, with its broad street like a continued park, and 
 its fertile farms, the birthplace and resting-place 
 of the two TrumbuUs, and of Williams, equally true- 
 hearted and patriotic, let pilgrimages be made to its 
 bounds, and wreaths, often renewed, laid upon the 
 graves of the fathers and patriots that rest in its 
 bosom l" 
 
 " To this new and interesting plantation Mr. Fitch, 
 in the year 1701, retired to die. A brief summer 
 passed in its quiet, secluded shades led him gently 
 forward to the tomb. His three youngest sons, Na- 
 thaniel, Joseph, and Eleazer, early settlers of Leba- 
 non, repose near him, with headstones to point out 
 their graves. 
 
 " Mr. Fitch was twice married, and had fourteen 
 children, whose births are all recorded at Norwich, 
 though the first six were born in Saybrook, and are 
 also recorded there, with the death of the first wife. 
 All the children except Elizabeth are referred to as 
 among the living in the will of their father, Febru- 
 ary, 1696, and it is not improbable that twelve fol- 
 lowed his remains to the grave. His first wife was 
 Abigail, daughter of the Rev. Henry Whitefield, 
 whom he married in October, 1648. She died at Say- 
 brook, Sept. 9, 1659, and in October, 1664, he was 
 united to Priscilla Mason, who survived him. The 
 date of her death has not been ascertained. Her sig- 
 nature {Priscilla Fitch) is attached, with the names 
 of other Mason heirs, to a quit-claim deed to rights 
 in Mohegan lauds derived from their ancestor, Maj. 
 Mason, March 20, 1710, probably N. S. 1711. 
 
 " The Fitch family soon became numerous and the 
 
 ■i"The name Lebanon was current in the neighborhood of Norwich 
 before it was given to the town. Grants at Lebanon, referring to certaiu 
 parts of what is now Franklin, were recorded in 1GS7. The farms of 
 John Johnson and Thomas Baldwin were described as ' near to Lebanon,' 
 and Johnson had ten acres in Lt^hanon Valley. Little Lebanon and Lebanon 
 Hill were terms used at that period in reference to places in Franklin. 
 
 ^ " In 1850 tliere was no lawyer and no tavern in Lebanon. The popu- 
 lation ha 1 somewhat decreased, aud was then only 1901. 
 
4 
 
 
 % 
 
 '^s'k 
 
 ^^^i^i^J _Pairw:Hf iy 
 
 
'/^ 
 
DOUGLAS FITCH. 
 
BOZRAH. 
 
 379 
 
 name widely spread, owing to the preponderance of 
 sons in tlie early branches. Mr. Fitch had liimself 
 nine sons, and his oldest son, James, the same number. 
 Joseph had seven sons, and Nathaniel fifteen chil- 
 dren, of whom eleven were sons. Eleazer, the 
 youngest of the original family, was the only one 
 who left no posterity. 
 
 "It is a little singular that not one of the sons of 
 Mr. Fitch established his permanent home in Nor- 
 wich. James went to Canterbury. Samuel settled 
 on a farm in Preston as early as 1687.^ Daniel be- 
 came an inhabitant of the North Parish of New Lon- 
 don, in the immediate neighborhood of Norwich, but 
 not within its bounds. John went to Windham. 
 Jabez pursued his ministerial calling at Ipswich and 
 Portsmouth, and the four others took up farms in 
 Lebanon. 
 
 " Capt. Daniel Fitch, above named, of the North 
 Parish (now Montville), was born at Norwich in the 
 fifth year after the settlement, and died June 3, 1711. 
 His inventory shows that he owned three farms, one 
 at Trading Cove, one at Dry Brook, and one lying on 
 both sides of Connecticut path, — that is, the road to 
 Hartford, through Colchester. The homestead farm 
 at Trading Cove was a town grant to his father, and 
 has never been either bought or sold, but has descended 
 by inheritance to the present day (1865). 
 
 " As a general rule, the early Fitches were men of 
 capacity and prosperous in their worldly concerns. 
 It was formerly a current saying among the farmers 
 of the neighborhood that the Fitches always settled 
 by a stream of water, which was equivalent to saying 
 that they were thriving men possessed of valuable 
 farms. 
 
 " The five daughters of the Eev. James Fitch were 
 connected in marriage as follows : 
 
 "Abigail, with Capt. John Mason (2). 
 
 " Elizabeth, with Eev. Edward Taylor, of Westfield, 
 Mass. 
 
 " Hannah, with Thomas Meeks, or Mix. 
 
 " Dorothy, with Nathaniel Bissell. 
 
 "Anna, the only daughter of the second marriage, 
 became the wife of Joseph Bradford. 
 
 "Two of these daughters, viz., Abigail and Han- 
 nah, remained at Norwich. Thomas Meeks married 
 Hannah Fitch, June 30, 1677. They settled on the 
 east of the Shetucket, but withi'n the bounds of the 
 Nine-miles-square. 
 
 "By means also of intermarriages with other 
 families of the town, Norwich still retains i^ large 
 interest in the family of her first revered minister. 
 Not only his influence, memory, and example, but 
 the vital current that quickened his frame flow.'S in 
 the veins of many of her children." 
 
 Col. Asa Fitch, of Bozrah, Conn., is a lineal de- 
 scendant of Eev. James Fitch, and was born in 
 
 ' " Mr. Samuel Fitch died in 1725. He was the ancestor on the maternal 
 side of Asa Fitch, Esq , of Fitchville. 
 
 Bozrah, Feb. 14, 1755, and died Aug. 19, 1844. His 
 business through a long and useful life was that of a 
 farmer and manufacturer of iron at Fitchville, Conn., 
 where his son, Asa, made so many valuable improve- 
 ments. On the 8th of February, 1781, he married 
 Susan Fitch, a lineal descendant of Samuel Fitch, 
 who died in 1725. She was born in Bozrah, Jan. 4, 
 1757. Their children were Nehemiah H. ; Lois F., 
 married Capt. George Lee; Clarissa (1); Asa, born 
 May 6, 1787 ; Susan, married Capt. George Lee for 
 his second wife ; Stephen, born Aug. 21, 1790 ; Fanny, 
 married Sherwood Eaymond; Douglass, born Feb. 
 18, 1796; William, boru Oct. 27, 1800; Clarissa (2), 
 born June 5, 1802, married Maj. John W. Haughton, 
 Oct. 14, 1824, and has one son, Samuel Wells. 
 
 Mrs. Haughton is now (October, 1881) the only 
 surviving member of this large and interesting family. 
 Col. and Mrs. Fitch were members of the Congrega- 
 tional Church. In politics he was a Democrat. He 
 held tlie various offices of the town, and was a man 
 respected for his upright character and purity of 
 motives. Mrs. Fitch died April 22, 1814, and he mar- 
 ried for his second wife Mary House. He was 
 familiarly known as Col. Asa Fitch. 
 
 Asa Fitch, son of Col. Asa Fitch, was born in 
 Bozrah, Conn., May 6, 1787, and died Oct. 31, 1865. 
 Few persons had a more eventful life than Asa Fitch. 
 As a youth he was pallid and slender, often pros- 
 trated by sickness, and subject to distressing attacks 
 of asthma, a diflSculty that clung to him through life. 
 Sustained by his mental energy, he tried in succession 
 study at an academy in Lebanon, a clerkship in Nor- 
 wich, and a mechanical trade, but broke down after 
 each experiment. At the age of eighteen, in the 
 hope of invigorating his constitution by a sea-voyage, 
 he embarked as a passenger in the brig " Walter," 
 Capt. Brown, of New Haven, bound on a fishing and 
 trading voyage to Green Island, Newfoundland, and 
 Europe. 
 
 He landed from this vessel at Lisbon, just before 
 the news reached that city of the battle of Trafalgar 
 and the death of Lord Nelson, — that is, in October, 
 1805. Finding the climate of Southern Europe fav- 
 orable to his health, he went from Lisbon to Alicant, 
 and at first obtained employment in the office of the 
 American consul. He remained nearly ten years at 
 Alicant, occupied in mercantile affairs, coming home 
 on a short visit in 1809 to establish some commercial 
 relations, and gradually acquiring the reputation of a 
 substantial merchant. 
 
 In 1814 he removed to Marseilles, and there estab- 
 lished a commission and banking-house that soon be- 
 came known and recognized as a link in the chain of 
 commerce between France and the United States. It 
 was patronized by the French government at the 
 outset. While at Alicant Mr. Fitch had accommo- 
 dated several of the royal exiles in certain monetary 
 affairs, and now that they had returned to power they 
 displayed a commendable appreciation of his courtesy. 
 
380 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 He was welcomed to the best society in France, and 
 often entertained at his table in Marseilles nobles, 
 statesmen, and literary men of the first reputation in 
 the country. 
 
 Being joined by his brother, Douglas Fitch, and 
 his nephew, William D. Lee, the house took the firm- 
 name of Fitch Brothers & Co. Vessels from most of the 
 large ports in the United States were consigned to 
 this house. They were also agents of the United 
 States navy, furnishing supplies and making pay- 
 ments to the government vessels in the Mediterranean. 
 They executed orders from America for the purchase 
 of French goods, and had correspondents in the 
 United States to receive consignments of French 
 produce from the merchants and manufacturers in 
 France. In this round of business important inter- 
 ests were involved. 
 
 In 1828, Mr. Fitch left Marseilles and returned to 
 America, in order to take charge of the affairs of the 
 house on this side of the Atlantic. On the voyage 
 he came near dying through the entire prostration 
 caused by continued sea-sickness, and never after- 
 wards could be induced to cross the ocean. In New 
 York his office, with the sign of Fitch & Co., was in 
 Exchange Street. Here he embarked in a large real 
 estate investment, purchasing several lots on Broad- 
 way, New, and Exchange Streets, upon which he 
 subsequently erected stores, the rents of which were 
 like a bank of wealth to the proprietor. 
 
 Withdrawing gradually from personal attention to 
 the details of business, Mr. Fitch at length retired to 
 his native place, and for more than twenty-five years 
 was assiduously occupied in the laborious improve- 
 ment of a naturally rough and forbidding country 
 district. By the side of the old iron-works where his 
 father and his elder brother had wrought, he built a, 
 mansion-house, a cotton-mill, a grist-mill, a church, 
 a village, and purchased farm after farm, until his 
 domain could be measured by miles, expending in 
 these various plans and operations six or seven hun- 
 dred thousand dollars. 
 
 A characteristic of Mr. Fitch was his ceaseless ac- 
 tivity. In body .and mind he was alike energetic and 
 alert. It was owing to this and to his rigid attention 
 to diet and regimen that he lived so long, bearing up 
 under complicated infirmities, and accomplishing so 
 much actual labor. He was wonderful in planning, 
 constructing, and laying out work. The lives of such 
 persons are full of action and incident; they make 
 changes and improvements, they are benefactors to 
 their race, but, undertaking too much, they do not 
 finish as they go, and often leave their most cherished 
 projects incomplete. 
 
 Mr. Fitch was unmarried; of nine brothers and 
 sisters he was the only one that entered into no mat- 
 rimonial connection. 
 
 Stephen Fitch, son of Col. Asa Fitch, was born 
 in Bozrah, Aug. 21, 1790. He married Mary I. Rogers, 
 March 23, 1817. Slie was born Jan. 4, 1794, in Nor- 
 
 wich, and died in Norwich, Sept. 22, 1837. Their 
 children were Sophia I., Asa Douglass, Mary E. 
 and William H. 
 
 Mr. Fitch was engaged in the manufacturing of iron 
 and farming in Bozrah till his marriage, when he set- 
 tled in New Hartford, N. Y., where he followed farm- 
 ing till 1832, when he returned to Connecticut and 
 settled in Norwich, where he remained till after the 
 death of his wife, when he settled in Bozrah, Conn, 
 and was for many years engaged in the manufacture 
 of cotton goods with his brother Asa. Politically he 
 was a JefFersonian and Jackson Democrat, as his an- 
 cestors were and his descendants are. He was once 
 a member of the State Legislature, besides holding 
 other town offices. He died Oct. 6, 1868. 
 
 Sophia I. (deceased) married William S. Craft, of 
 Boston ; Mary E.- has been twice married : first, E. H. 
 Winslow, of Westport, Conn. ; second, to Dr. R. C. M. 
 Page, of Westport, Conn.. Mrs. Page is one of the 
 most accomplished ladies in Fairfield County, and the 
 principal supporter of the Episcoijal Church in West- 
 port, Conn. 
 
 Douglas W. Fitch, son of Col. Asa Fitch, was 
 born in Bozrah, New London Co., Conn., Feb. 18, 
 179G ; married Louise C. Bee, October, 1834. Of their 
 three children two are living in France. Harold, born 
 Oct. 10, 1837, and Charles D., born Oct. 10, 1845; both 
 are natives of Marseilles, France. 
 
 Mr. Fitch visited. America in June, 1838, with his 
 wife. He was engaged in business in Marseilles with 
 his brothers, and all we have said of them is equally 
 true of him. He died June 1, 1848, aged fifty-two 
 years. 
 
 Mr. Fitch was successful in all his business rela- 
 tions, and the Fitch family of this generation, and 
 children of Col. Asa Fitch, of Bozrah, Conn., were 
 among the most successful business men of their day. 
 Not only were they successful in business, but very 
 prominent and influential men in the places where 
 they lived, and now (1881), though dead, their names 
 live and their works do follow them. 
 
 Wm. Fitch, youngest son of Col. Asa and Susannah 
 Fitch, was born in Bozrah, Conn., Oct. 27, 1800. He 
 spent his youth with his father, working on the farm 
 summers and attending the common school winters, 
 till he was some fifteen or sixteen years of age, when 
 he went to Colchester, Conn., and attended the Bacon 
 Academy, from which he graduated. He was deeply 
 interested in books, and at an early age manifested a 
 strong desire for study. Before he was twenty years 
 of age he had taught school several terms. 
 
 Having a strong desire to go into business with his 
 brothers, Asa and Douglass, he accordingly went to 
 France in 1820 or 1821, and was there engaged with 
 them in the mercantile and commission business, 
 under the firm-name of Fitch Bros. & Co. About 
 1825 or 182G he returned to America and commenced 
 business with his brothers in New York City, where 
 he continued in trade till 1848. While there he had 
 
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 381 
 
 charge of the entire correspondence. On account of 
 failing health he returned to his native town, and was 
 for several years engaged in the manufacturing husi- 
 ness with his brother Asa. 
 
 Oct. 1^, 1857, he married Mary E., daughter of 
 Dr. Elias Williams and Mary Ann Hillhouse. She 
 was born in the town of Bethlehem, Litchfield Co., 
 Conn., Jan. 23, 1825. Her father was a son of Eev. 
 Joshua Williams, and was born in Harwinton, Litch- 
 field Co., Conn. (See history of Dr. Elias W. Wil- 
 liams.) 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Fitch have six children, viz. : Wm. Asa, 
 died March 28, 1860, aged twenty months ; Marian 
 H., Susan L., Elizabeth M., Fanny R., and Sarah G., 
 all of whom were born in Norwich Town, Conn. 
 
 In the summer of 1858, Mr. Fitch settled in Nor- 
 wich Town, where he continued to reside till his death, 
 Dec. 23, 1880. Politically he was a Democrat, but 
 never sought office. From the pen of a personal friend 
 we quote the following, written at the time of his 
 death : 
 
 '*Mr. William Fitcli, a wealthy and prominent citizen of this place, 
 died at his residence, Norwich Town, ou Wednesday night, Dec. 23, 1880, 
 at the age of eighty. He has been in failing health for the last two 
 years, hut has been confined to his house only for the past three months. 
 His illness, which was long and painful, he bore with remarkable 
 patience. He was a son of Col. Asa Fitch, and was born in that part of 
 the town known as Fitchville in the year 1800. He had four brothers 
 and five sisters, of whom only one si^ter, Mrs. Haughton, of Fitchville, 
 survives him. He left this place in 1820 and went with his brothers, 
 Asa and Douglas, to Fnance, where he remained for three years. He 
 tlieii leturned to New York, where he was associated with them in the 
 mercantile and commission business for nearly a quarter of a century, a 
 part of the time having an establishment abroad and importing all kinds 
 of foreign goods. They also took contracts to furnish supplies to gov- 
 ernment vessels. They were very successful in business, and accumu- 
 lated considerable property. 
 
 " He retired from the business in 1848 on the death of his brother, and 
 rctuined to Fitchville, where for several years he was postmaster. He 
 man led in 1857, and the following year moved to Norwich Town, where 
 he has since resided. He was a member of Triuity Church, and was 
 characterized for benevolence among that people. He was a man of 
 generous impulses, and will be missed by many poor families. His was 
 a long and useful life, peacefully closed with a full hope of immortality. 
 He leaves a wife and five daughters to mourn his loss." 
 
 Elias William Williams was born in Harwin- 
 ton, Conn., on the 16th day of September, 1797. His 
 father was the Rev. Joshua Williams (Y. C, 1780), a 
 native of Rocky Hill, Conn., and for many years 
 pastor of the Congregational Church in Harwinton. 
 His mother's name was Mary Webb. Mr. Williams 
 fitted for college under the instruction of his father. 
 After he graduated he studied medicine with Dr. Ros- 
 well Abernethy, of Harwinton ; attended lectures at 
 the medical schools of New Haven and New York, 
 and was licensed to practice in 1822. He commenced 
 practice as a physician at Bethlehem, Conn., where 
 lie was associated with his brother-in-law, Dr. Conant 
 Catlin. About the year 1826 he removed to the city 
 of Troy, N. Y., where he established himself in busi- 
 ness as a druggist. His residence there, however, was 
 brief. His health failed him, and he became a victim 
 to consumption. He died at Claverack, Columbia 
 Co., N. Y., on the 28th of September, 1828, at the age 
 25 
 
 of thirty-one, while attempting to perform a journey 
 between the cities of Troy and New York. 
 
 Mr. Williams was married on the 3d of April, 1828, 
 to Miss Mary Ann Hillhouse, of Montville, Conn., 
 and left one child, who married William Fitch, de- 
 ceased, of Norwich, Conn. 
 
 Asa Douglass Fitch, eldest son of Stephen Fitch 
 and Mary I. Rogers, was born in New Hartford, N. Y., 
 March 27, 1820. He received his education at com- 
 mon and select schools, and graduated from the 
 Washington Institute, N. Y., in 1837, having such 
 men as William H. Vanderbilt for schoolmates.. Im- 
 mediately after his graduation he became clerk for 
 his uncles, Asa and William Fitch, in the city of New 
 York, in the wholesale commission business, with 
 whom he remained till 1842, when he came to Fitch- 
 ville, New London Co., Conn., and assumed the charge 
 of the store for his uncles. Here he continued to 
 reside till 1849, when he went to Stoclcton, Cal., via 
 Cape Horn. He remained in Stockton a year, then 
 went to Portland, Oregon, and was there engaged in 
 the mercantile business with his brother, William H., 
 till 1859. AVilliam H. then returned to Connecticut. 
 Asa D. continued in trade till 1866, when he also re- 
 turned to Connecticut and took up his abode with Wil- 
 liam H., with whom he spends his summer months. 
 
 Following in the footsteps of his honorable ances- 
 tors, he votes the Democratic ticket. While a resi- 
 dent of Portland, Oregon, he belonged to the Com- 
 mon Council, was county treasurer two terms, and 
 commissioner of the penitentiary during the building 
 of that institution, while Oregon was yet a territory. 
 
 William H. Fitch, youngest son of Stephen and 
 Mary I. (Rogers) Fitch, was born in New Hartford, 
 N. Y., Nov. 4, 1830. When he was but two years of 
 age his parents settled in Norwich, where the family 
 remained until the death of Mrs. Fitch, in 1837. 
 They then removed to Fitchville. He received his 
 education at the schools in Norwich, and graduated 
 from Cheshire Academy. In the spring of 1850 he 
 set sail for California ria the Isthmus, where he re- 
 mained a short time, when he went to Portland, Ore- 
 gon, and became a partner in the general merchan- 
 dise business with his brother, Asa D., with whom he 
 remained till 1859, when he returned to Fitchville, 
 and entered into partnership with his uncle Asa, 
 under the firm-name of William H. Fitch & Co., for 
 the manufacturing of cotton goods. He continued 
 in business till 1867, when he retired to his farm of 
 three hundred acres, situated between Fitchville and 
 Yantic. His farm is one of the best in the town, well 
 watered and improved, and the buildings are commo- 
 dious and good. 
 
 He is a Democrat in politics. While a resident of 
 Oregon he was assistant commissary in the Indian 
 war Since his return to Connecticut he has been 
 judge of probate. Jan. 13, 1870, he married Louise 
 C daughter of Capt. William Smith, of Norwich. 
 (See history of Capt. Smith, of Norwich.) Mrs. Fitch 
 
382 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 was born in Bozrah, Conn., Dec. 3, 1844. They have 
 had three children, viz., Mary I. (deceased), Stephen 
 D. (deceased), and William D., born Oct. 25, 1879. 
 
 Maj. John W. Haughton, son of William Haugh- 
 ton, was born in Montville, Conn., the 1st of the year, 
 1797. His father was a farmer in Montville, Conn., 
 and John was brought up on the farm. His advan-' 
 tages for an education were such as the common 
 schools of his day afforded. He was a great reader, 
 and his memory was good, so he became well informed 
 on all the current events of the times. He married 
 Clarissa, daughter of Col. Asa and Susannah Fitch, 
 Oct. 14, 1824. She was born June 5, 1802, in Bozrah. 
 Their children were Asa F., died at eightyears, March 
 20, 1834; and Samuel Wells, born Sept. 30, 1831, mar- 
 ried, Jan. 9, 1867, Harriet W., daughter of Capt. 
 William Smith, of Norwich. For several years after 
 marriage Mr. Haughton resided on a farm in Mont- 
 ville; then he went to Clinton, N. Y., where he was 
 engaged as a farmer, and where he remained some 
 five years. Here is where his youngest son, Samuel 
 Wells, was born. In the spring of 1832 he returned to 
 Connecticut and settled in Fitcliville, in the town 
 of Bozrah, where he became the superintendent of 
 all of his brother-in-law's — Asa Fitch — business, both 
 in building the village, and more especially the gen- 
 eral oversight of the cotton-mill ; he was thus engaged 
 some nine years. He was also much interested in the 
 building of the turnpike road leading from Colchester 
 to Norwich, which was under the management of Asa 
 Fitch and others. He was also interested in farming. 
 He was a member of the Trinity Church at Norwich. 
 He was a teacher in the Congregational Sunday- 
 school at Bozrah, Conn., where he always attended 
 service when not attending in Norwich. He was a 
 bright Mason, and a man respected for his many 
 noble qualities of head and heart. Pie was u, major 
 of the old State militia, and tooli special pride in 
 military parade. In politics he was a Democrat, and 
 held some of the minor oflices of the town. He died 
 July 31, 1871, aged seventy-four years and six months. 
 
 William F. Bailey, son of Roswell Bailey and 
 Sally C. Hough, was born in the town of Bozrah, 
 Conn,, Aug. 17, 1823. He traces his ancestry back to 
 England. His great-grandfather came from Eng- 
 land with two of his brothers and settled in the town 
 of Groton, New London Co., Conn., at an early day. 
 
 Joseph Bailey, grandfather of the subject of this 
 sketch, was born in Groton, married Hannah Flicks, 
 and had seven sons and one daughter, of whom Eos- 
 well was the youngest. Joseph Bailey settled in the 
 western part of Bozrah, where he died in 1855, at 
 the advanced age of ninety-three. His wife died 
 previous to that time, at ninety-one years of age. 
 
 Eoswell Bailey was born in Groton in 1797, and set- 
 tled in the town of Bozrah with his parents, and after 
 many years went into the town of Colchester. He 
 married Sally C, daughter of Deacon Jabez Hough, 
 of Bozrah, and had four sons and one daughter, viz. : 
 
 Williani F., Jabez H. (deceased), Charles H., Ros- 
 well, and Sarah J. (Mrs. Peleg Babcock, of Iowa), the 
 two eldest being born in Bozrah, and the others in 
 Colchester. Mr. Bailey was for many years before his 
 marriage engaged in peddling in some of the South- 
 ern States, but after bis marriage was engaged in 
 farming and teaming. Politically he was a Demo- 
 crat, and in religious views he and his wife were Bap- 
 tists. He died in 1832, at thirty-five years. 
 
 William F. Bailey received a common-school educa- 
 tion till he was sixteen years of age. His father dying 
 in 1832, when he was only nine years of age, he was 
 compelled to leave home and find one with his pater- 
 nal grandparents and his uncle, Joseph Bailey, with 
 whom he lived till he was sixteen, when he returned 
 to his own home and assisted his widowed mother in 
 carrying on the farm of one hundred and forty acres. 
 He remained at home till he was twenty-three, in 
 1846, when he purchased the farm of the heirs and re- 
 mained two years. In the spring of 1849 he settled 
 on the farm where he now (1881) resides. His present 
 farm of some three hundred and forty acres is well 
 watered and improved, and he is accounted one of 
 the best farmers in the town. 
 
 In 1833 he entered into partnership with Elisha 
 Waterman, son of Elisha Waterman, and was engaged 
 with him in the teaming business for the Hayward 
 Rubber Company, of Colchester, Conn. Their busi- 
 ness steadily increased till at one time they owned 
 some eighty horses. 
 
 After the death of Mr. Waterman, Mr. Bailey had 
 James M. Peckham for his partner for several months, 
 when he purchased his interest and conducted the 
 business himself, and the business increased even 
 more than before. Besides this, he owns and runs a 
 saw and grist-mill and shops of various kinds, where 
 he makes and repairs his own wagons, shoes his own 
 horses, and does everything within himself. 
 
 In politics he is a Republican. He has been asses- 
 sor and first selectman many years, and in 1860 was 
 member of the Assembly, and in 1872 represented 
 the Ninth Senatorial District in the State Senate, 
 serving as chairman on roads and bridges. 
 
 In November, 1846, he married Phebe A., daughter 
 of Orim.al Johnson and Artamissa Armstrong, and to 
 them have been born the following children : (1) Wil- 
 liam B., who died Nov. 26, 1879, in his thirty-third 
 year. He married, June 5, 1872, Lilly A'., daughter 
 of Newell S. Brown and Anna L. Atkinson, of New 
 Jersey. (2) Phebe J., married Claudius M. Pendle- 
 ton, and they have one son, — William B. (3) Jabez 
 H., married Fanny Spicer, June 13, 1881. She is the 
 daughter of Albert A. and Frances (Cross) Spicer, of 
 Hyde Park, Vt. 
 
 Albert Spicer, son of Simeon, who was a son of Ish- 
 mael Spicer, natives of Connecticut, probably belong 
 to the Ledyard family of Spicers. (See Spicer his- 
 tory, in Groton, 4th Charles H.) 
 
 Rev. Nathan S. Hunt is a grandson of Eliphaz 
 
1 •> \ 
 
 % /f'2 ■ '9' 
 

 '^ /A re 7^ 
 
 ^-''C, L ?'Z 
 
BOZRAH. 
 
 3S3 
 
 Hunt, a native of Lebanon, Conn.,^ and son of Dr. 
 Ebenezer Hunt and Anna Strong, born in Coventry, 
 Conn., July 5, 1802. His father, Ebenezer, was born 
 in Coventry, Conn., studied medicine with' Dr. Tur- 
 ner, of Norwich, and practiced in Coventry, Conn. 
 He married Anna Strong, daughter of Eev. Nathan 
 Strong, first minister of North Coventry, Conn., and 
 had five children, viz.: Ebenezer, Esther, Anna, 
 Hannah, and Nathan S. 
 
 He died at his home in Coventry in 1808, aged 
 forty-two years. He was a skillful physician, and 
 his early death was caused by overwork and undue 
 exposure. His mother was Hannah Stiles, cousin of 
 President Stiles. 
 
 Dr. Hunt dying in 1808, left a widow and five chil- 
 dren, the youngest of whom was Nathan S., being 
 only six years of age. 
 
 Nathan S. entered the family of Joseph Strong, 
 father of Hon. Henry Strong, of Norwich, at six years 
 of age, and remained till he was thirteen, receiving 
 a common-school education, also instruction from 
 Henry Strong, of whom he speaks in the highest 
 terms. His mother being desirous that he should 
 learn to work on the farm, he was put under the 
 charge of ^Ir. Woodward, father of Dr. Ashbel Wood- 
 ward, of Franklin, Conn., with whom he lived till he 
 went home to take charge of the home farm. 
 
 After leaving the home of Joseph Strong he at- 
 tended school only during the winter months till he 
 began to teach school, which he successfully followed 
 every winter thereafter until he had completed his 
 college studies. He prepared for college under the 
 instruction of his brother-in-law, Kev. Alpha Miller, 
 of Bridgewater, N. Y., and entered Hamilton College 
 in 1826. In 1828 he entered the junior class in Wil- 
 liams College, from which he graduated with honors 
 in 1830. During his college and theological course 
 he was wholly dependent upon himself, teaching 
 winters, and collecting funds for Williams College 
 during the vacations. It is said he was very success- 
 ful as a collector, and then learned many things 
 which were of great value to him in after-life. Im- 
 mediately after graduation he entered Andover Semi- 
 nary, from which he graduated in the early summer 
 of 1883. He was immediately called to the pastorate 
 of a Congregational Church in Abington, Conn., and 
 was installed pastor of the same Feb. 12, 1834. He 
 remained there twelve years ; then was one year at 
 Montville, New London Co., Conn., when he received 
 a call from the Congregational Church at Preston 
 City, where he remained twelve years ; then settled 
 in Bozrah, where he labored faithfully twelve years, 
 till failing voice compelled him to resign, in 1871, his 
 pastorate, since which time he has not been actively 
 engaged in the ministry, but continues to reside in 
 Bozrah. During his ministry he was very active in 
 building and repairing churches. He is universally 
 
 1 See Hunt genealogy, in Lebanon history. 
 
 esteemed, was a good preacher and faithful pastor. 
 His name is a household word in many homes in the 
 county and State. He bears a striking resemblance 
 to Daniel Webster, and has often been called Web- 
 ster. He is now in his seventy-ninth year, and has 
 poor health. 
 
 By energy and economy he redeemed the home 
 farm of incumbrance after he commenced preaching. 
 By careful investments he now has a competency in 
 his old age. On the 25th of October, 1842, he mar- 
 ried Ehoda L., daughter of Daniel Mason, of Leb- 
 anon.^ She was boim March 18, 1804. and in her 
 younger days was a successful teacher, both in Con- 
 necticut and New Jersey. 
 
 Mr. Hunt has never been identified with any polit- 
 ical organization, but has always been in sympathy 
 with the great principles of the Republican party. 
 
 He was ever faithful and true to his mother, caring 
 for her tenderly till her death ; a good student in 
 school, a faithful pastor, a good citizen, and a devoted 
 husband. 
 
 The Rogers Family.'— James Eogees, one ac- 
 count says, came from England in the ship "In- 
 crease" when about twenty years of age. He came to 
 New London from Fairfield Co., about 1657 or 1658. 
 A baker by trade on a large scale, furnishing the sea- 
 men and colonial troops with biscuit, etc., between 
 1660 and 1670 he had a greater interest in the trade 
 of the port than any other person. He married 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Rowland, of Stratford. 
 They had a number of children, and it is said they 
 all embraced the Rogereen faith but Samuel, the eldest, 
 the ancestor of the Montville Rogerses. Samuel mar- 
 ried Mary, daughter of Thomas Stanton, the parents 
 of the two parties entering into an agreement to give 
 two hundred pounds each as a marriage portion. 
 Samuel's father, in fulfillment of his part, conveyed 
 to his son his stone house and bakery at the head 
 of Winthrop's Cove, where he resided for fifteen or 
 twenty years ; he then removed to the outlands of the 
 town, near the Mohegan tribe, and became the first 
 white settler within the limits of the present town of 
 Montville. They were always on the best of terms 
 with Uncas and his tribe, and made an agreement 
 with them, " if the other Indian tribes molest either 
 of us we will help each other, and the signal will be 
 to fire a gun." On one occasion Samuel, wishing to 
 give them a surprise, roasted an ox and got it all pre- 
 pared for the meal, and then fired his alarm-gun, and 
 they came flocking in in haste, supposing neighbor 
 Rogers was being murdered or taken prisoner, when 
 to their surprise and pleasure a bountiful repast 
 awaited them. 
 
 His son Samuel (2) married Abigail Plum about 
 1694. He settled in Montville. It is not known how 
 large a family he had or whether certainly he was the 
 
 2 See Mason family history of Iiebanon. 
 
 3 Coutrilutod liy Fanny L. Eogers. 
 
384 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 father or grandparent of Samuel Eogers (3), who mar- 
 ried Lucy Denison. Samuel Rogers' (3) homestead 
 was a little west of what was formerly known as the 
 "Bland tavern" on the Salem road. He had three 
 sons and four daughters. 
 
 Daniel, the eldest son, married Hannah Latimer, 
 daughter of Col. Jonathan Latimer and Lucretia 
 Griswold. Col. Latimer served in the old French 
 war, and in some of his excursions he came through 
 Tennessee, and thought it the pleasantest country he 
 ever saw, and if his family would all go there he 
 would emigrate, and they started with ox-teams 
 through the then wilderness. One son's wife died on 
 the journey, and they buried her under a tree. 
 
 Jabez Rogers, son of Samuel (3), married a 
 
 Gorton; removed to Vermont. His son Jabez mar- 
 ried Governor Chittenden's daughter, and their de- 
 scendants are James Rogers, born 1739 ; married 
 Zylpha Hyde, born 1735, daughter of Eleazer Hyde 
 and Sarah (Hewett) Hyde. He settled in Norwich 
 (WawecusHill) ; had eight children ; was a farmer, a 
 large, muscular man, a Baptist by profession. His 
 children were Eleazer, married Lucy Edgerton ; James, 
 married, first, Zerviah Ingraham ; second, Sarah Coit ; 
 Denison, married Nancy Pendleton ; Eliab, married 
 Mary Hyde; Lucy, died unmarried; Sarah, married 
 Phineas Leffingwell ; Hannah, married Jabez Bush- 
 nell; Lydia, married Jabez Leffingwell. The Lef- 
 fingwells both removed to Warren, Ohio, and Sarah 
 was mortally wounded by the accidental discharge of 
 her husband's rifle while he was hastening out of the 
 house to shoot a deer that was in sight. The descend- 
 ants of the family are in Ohio and Iowa. Jabez 
 Bushnoll and wife both died in Norwich, leaving two 
 children, — a daughter, now the wife of Edward Stone, 
 of New York; the other a son, William F. Bushnell, 
 a carpenter, now living in Evanston, Illinois. 
 
 Eleazer Rogers was eighteen years old when New 
 London was burnt, and was called out with the militia 
 to defend. He was afterwards captain of militia, and 
 his lieutenant's and captain's commissions, signed by 
 Jonathan Trumbull, Governor, are in the possession 
 of the writer. He came to live with his aunt at his 
 grandfather Hyde's homestead, and inherited it from 
 her (and added to it), and it has continued in the family, 
 and is now occupied by the sixth and seventh genera- 
 tions in a direct line from the first John Hyde. The 
 other three brothers settled on Wawecus Hill, were 
 farmers, and all of them reared large families, but 
 many of them are dead or gone toother places. The 
 eldest daughter of James married Stephen Fitch, of 
 Fitch ville, and one of her sons resides there now. The 
 eldest son by his second wife, George, was a merchant 
 at Darien, Ga., married a Southern wife, had a large 
 family, and one son was killed in the Confederate 
 army, his widow and family now living there. Ed- 
 ward went to Michigan and engaged in farming, and 
 died in Marshall, leaving a widow and one son. 
 Charles, a farmer, died on the homestead, unmarried. 
 
 James, a cabinet-maker, lived at Norwich, where 
 his widow and children now live. Sophia, their 
 sister, married Deacon Elisha Filler, of Plainfield; 
 died leaving no children. Denison Rogers' children all 
 gone but two. Col. James Denison, on the homestead, 
 and William Pendleton, living at East Great Plain. 
 William has three sons, one settled near him in the 
 ice trade, one living with him, and another, Joab B., 
 who was a captain of a company of horse under 
 Sheridan, now city sheriff; one daughter died in Cali- 
 fornia, and another still resides there. 
 
 Eliab Rogers' family live on Wawecus Hill, at the 
 homestead of their father and grandfather ; are far- 
 mers. 
 
 Of Eleazer Rogers' children, the eldest, Betsey, mar- 
 ried Joshua Maples, a farmer and clock-maker. He 
 was a man of strict integrity, and ever ready to do a 
 good deed. He was captain of militia in the war of 
 1812, and went to the aid of Stonington. His eldest 
 son, Thomas, went to Michigan, bought a farm, but 
 died of fever soon after, unmarried ; Elisha died in 
 Bozrah, unmarried ; Charles, living on the old home- 
 stead of his father and grandfather, in the vicinity of 
 Wawecus Hill, Norwich, married Maria Post; had 
 four children, — one son married, living in Bozrali; 
 one died, the youngest son, Frank ; Thomas, a pro- 
 fessor of elocution, and one daughter, an invalid. 
 
 Joshua, the youngest son of Joshua and Betsey 
 Maples, went to California at the time of the first 
 gold excitement. Came back and married Alice 
 Tracy, daughter of Harley Tracy, of Bozrah. Went 
 back to California and located on a ranch at the foot 
 of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where he spent the 
 summer. Leaving a man to take care of the stock, 
 etc., he and his wife went to Marysville to spend 
 the winter with her brothers. In the spring he went 
 down to the ranch on horseback to prepare for his 
 wife's return ; he found a sick traveler there with 
 his man, and they were short of necessaries, gro- 
 ceries, etc., and he started on foot with a hand-sled to 
 go to the nearest store, which was about twelve miles, 
 to purchase supplies. In returning a blinding snow- 
 storm set in, and he had to abandon some of his load 
 and leave it on the road ; he made out to reach within 
 a few rods of the house, sat down and took off his 
 snow-shoes, and it seems was so exhausted he fell 
 asleep, and the snow covered him up, and he was not 
 found until the snow melted off, about two weeks 
 later. Buried in Marysville, and his wife returned 
 to her home in Bozrah. 
 
 Of the daughters of Joshua, Hannah, living in Boz- 
 rah, unmarried; Mary, dead; Lucy, the widow of 
 George Lathrop, and her daughter living at East 
 Great Plain. 
 
 Of Samuel Rogers, eldest son of Eleazer, he mar- 
 ried Rhoda Miner, and their eldest son, Pitt Decatur, 
 now living in Knoxville, 111., proprietor of the " He- 
 bard House ;" second son, Eugene Clinton, living in 
 Sheridan, Placer Co., Cal., has been postmaster and 
 
BOZRAH. 
 
 385 
 
 constable ; James Bolivar, a merchant in Norwich 
 awhile, went to Wheatland, Iowa, and was a mer- 
 chant, but died of consumption, leaving a widow and 
 four children there. 
 
 Samuel Lucius was educated at the Collegiate In- 
 stitute, Clinton, N. Y. ; studied law with the Hon. 
 John T. Wait, of Norwich ; went to Sacramento first, 
 but now practicing law in San Francisco ; married in 
 California; has one son. 
 
 Lewis went to Iowa ; for a few years in company 
 with his brother Gains in trade, but returned to Con- 
 necticut, and is now at the " old Hyde homestead," a 
 farmer. The daughters now own and occupy their 
 father's farm. Betsy married H. B. Kude ; Hattie, 
 unmarried. 
 
 Harriet Maria Eogers, third daughter of Eleazer 
 and Lucy Eogers, married Ezra Brewster Smith, son 
 of Col. Chester Smith and Sally Brewster, of North 
 Stoningtou. The mother, Sally Brewster, was a direct 
 descendant from Elder William Brewster, of the 
 "Mayflower." Ezra Smith was a farmer, and lived 
 at the old Smith homestead for a few years, and then 
 removed to Castile, AVyoming Co., N. Y. Harriet 
 lived but about two years, and died of consumption. 
 The eldest son, Daniel, by her, now living in Castile. 
 Eleazer, the second, married in Castile, went to Illi- 
 nois, and died there, leaving two sons. Susan, the 
 third child, married Asahel Kellogg, of Castile, now 
 living there ; has four children ; the eldest, Hattie, 
 graduated at the Westfield Normal School, Massachu- 
 setts, and is now a successful teacher in a high school 
 in Perry ; William Kellogg, farmer and milkman, now 
 in New York. Moses Smith, third son, now living in 
 Castile, is a mason by trade ; his eldest son, Edgar 
 Dwight, entered Harvard College in advance; con- 
 tinued there one year, came home for the summer vaca- 
 tion, was taken down with a brain affection and died, 
 having studied too closely. Dwight Smith, fourth son, 
 living in Greenwood, 111., a farmer. Samuel Chester, 
 fourth son, studied medicine; was a student at tlie 
 Medical College, Ann Arbor, Mich. ; graduated at the 
 Medical College, New York, practicing in Preston City 
 awhile, and in the war was surgeon in the navy ; now 
 a practicing physician in Castile, N. Y. ; he married 
 Lida Vanarsdale ; they have one son, named Van 
 Eogers. Ansel Brown, fifth son of Ezra B. Smith, born 
 in Castile (all the others were born in New London 
 County), married Hattie Fitch, daughter of the Eev. 
 
 Ferris Fitch, and Griswold, daughter of the Eev. 
 
 John Griswold, of Lyme, Conn. The Eev. Ferris Fitch 
 was a direct descendant from the Eev. James Fitch, 
 first pastor of the First Congregational Church, Nor- 
 wich Town. Ansel Smith enlisted in the army early, 
 and served through the whole term of the war in the 
 New York Dragoons, under Sheridan in all his raids, 
 and never received a wound until the surrender of 
 Gen.. Lee ; in one of the last, if not the very last, shots 
 he received a bullet through the lungs which lodged 
 under the shoulder-blade, and it is there now ; it in- 
 
 capacitates him for hard labor; he lives in Castile, 
 and is in the insurance business. Another son by a 
 second wife, Jacob Kellogg Smith, enlisted in Nor- 
 wich with the three months' men in the war ; he af- 
 terwards studied medicine, practiced in Warsaw, and 
 was drowned while returning in the night from visit- 
 ing a patient. 
 
 Elisha Edgerton, a farmer, second son of Eleazer, 
 married Eunice Wetmore Chesebrough, born in Ston- 
 ington, had seven children ; bought and built at the 
 " Quarters,'' so called, near the Yantic Eiver and 
 Bean Hill, now owned by Asa Strong. Porter, his 
 first son, also a farmer, gardener, and milkman; first 
 wife, Elizabeth Grace ; second, Mary Morgan ; a 
 daughter by his wife married Dr. John Byron Sweet, 
 son and grandson of the celebrated bone-setter. Dr. 
 John, now living in Central Village practicing his 
 profession. Eleazer, the second son, master-mason 
 in Norwich City, married Mary Murphy ; has a son, 
 also a mason, and two daughters. Elisha Francis, 
 third son, a teacher, and studied law with the Hon. 
 John T. Wait; practiced in Norwich City ; married 
 Judith Murphy ; had four children ; the son died 
 in infancy; she died of consumption, and his health 
 being very much impaired, he went to Missouri with 
 his sister, who was moving there ; but the journey 
 was long and tedious, and he barely lived to get there. 
 His remains were interred in Yantic Cemetery. 
 
 Eunice Augusta, the only daughter of Elisha, was 
 a teacher, went to Albion, Wis., and taught ; she there 
 became acquainted with and married Edwin Crumb, 
 and lived for a few years at Big Foot Prairie ; from 
 there they removed to Jasper County, Mo., near 
 Carthage, where he bought a tract of land and 
 built; they had resided there a few years when one 
 of those sudden and terrible whirlwinds swept over 
 them, tore the house to atoms, killing Mr. Crumb. 
 Mrs. Crumb afterwards erected another house, and 
 remained there. She afterwards married a Dr. Wolfe, 
 a physician, and died a few years since suddenly, 
 leaving no children. 
 
 Henry, fourth son of Elisha, married Harriet Mor- 
 gan ; one son lives in Norwich City ; has been in the 
 sewing-machine business, is now in a furniture estab- 
 lishment. Frederick, fifth son of Elisha, was a teacher, 
 studied medicine, attended medical lectures at the 
 Medical College, New York ; married Sarah Smith, of 
 Palmertown, Montville ; settled in Willimantic as 
 druggist and consulting physician. Horace, sixth son 
 of Elisha, is living in Norwich City, in employ of 
 Hopkins & Allen Armory; he married Elizabeth 
 Beckwith; he enlisted with the three months' men 
 in the war, and was in the battle of Bull Eun. Sarah 
 Eogers, the second daughter of Eleazer, died at the 
 old homestead, unmarried. 
 
 The writer of this (Fanny L. Eogers) is the only 
 member of the family left of her generation.^ 
 
 1 1 have seen six generations of the Eogers family in a direct line 
 from James Kogers. 
 
3S(5 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXXI. 
 
 COLCHESTER. 
 
 Geogrnliliiciil — Topograliliical — The Origiiinl Gmnt — " Jeicmhili's 
 Fiinns"— Tlio Pioneers— Nnuios of Fiocraeii in 17:!0— List of Tolls in 
 1787 — Documentary History— Town-meeting, 170:)— Mr. Biicldey'a 
 '■Cliimies"— Giist- and Saw-mill— Saw-mill— .*. new Town Drum— 
 Fulling-mill— Mr. Buckley's History— Eepaiiing the Meeting-house, 
 etc. — Early Births, Warrages, and Deiiths. 
 
 The town of Colchester lies in the northwestern 
 part of tlie county, and is bounded as follows : on the 
 north by Hartford and Tolland Counties and the town 
 of Lebanon, on tlie east by Lebanon, on the south 
 by the town of Salem and Middlesex County, and on 
 the west by Middlesex County. 
 
 The surface of the town is generally uneven and 
 the soil fertile. 
 
 The Original Grant.— The original grant for a 
 plantation at " Jeremiah's Farms," now Colchester, 
 was made by the Legislature, under date Oct. 13, 1698, 
 as follows : 
 
 " Att a Generall Court Ilolden at Hartford Octobr the tSth : 1G08 : This 
 Court upon the petition of I'iveis of the inhabitants in the Countie of 
 Hartford Grant Lybertye for a plantation at or near the place Called 
 Jeremitihs farnie upon the Rode to Newloudon, and Captn DaiiU Weth- 
 erell Captn John Hamlin' Mr Will Pitkin Captn John Chester Mr Eich- 
 ard Cliristophers and Captn Small ffosdick they or the Majr part of them 
 are by this Court appointed to be a Comittee to lay out a town Ship there 
 beginning at the North bound of twentie mile Eiver and So to jjlxtend 
 Southward to a Eiver Called deep Eiver And to Extend Eastward from 
 the bounds of Iladdum Seven miles" — 
 
 '■ Att a Generll assembly Holden att Hartford May lltb 1,000- Ordered 
 and Enacted &c that the north bounds of the new Pl.antatiou Lately 
 granted at or neer Jeremies farme upon the Eoade to Newlondon Shall 
 be as formerly at tweutye mile Eiver, and the South bounds Joyne to the 
 North bounds of Lyme, and the west bounds to Joyn to the East bounds 
 of Middltown and the East bounds of Hadduni and the East and North 
 East bounds to Euue to the bounds of Lebanon and Norwich" — 
 
 "A Generall Assembly Holden at Hartford Octor 13, 1090— Michael 
 Taintor Sanil Northam and Nath'l Foot appearing in this Assembly in 
 behalfe of the New plantation called Colchester and complaining that 
 they are obstructed in the improvement and settlement of said plant.a- 
 tion by reason of sevcrall persons that claim considerable tiacts of land 
 within the grant of said Township, and particularly severall of the in- 
 habitants of Saybrook, Tliis Court do therefore order that all persons 
 claiming any lands there shall aplicar at the Generall Court in May next 
 and m.ako their claims appear, that so the Grantees may not be further 
 obstructpil in their settlement of said plantiition and that the name of 
 that plantation shall be called Colchester and belong to the County of 
 New London, and further that tliis act be transmitted to the severall 
 towns where any pel sons claiming land, there do reside that so they may 
 have reasonable notice thereof." 
 
 "Att a Generall .Assembly Holden att Hartford Octobr the lOth : 1700 
 Whereas the Inhabitants of Colchester and those designed to goe and 
 Settle there, meet, with much discouragement in their Planting and 
 Settling By Owaneco and the Moheags, that claim laud within that 
 township. This assembly being Sensible of the difficulties they meet 
 with and being desirous to promote the Quiet and Comfortable Settle- 
 ment of the Plantation Doe desii-e the Uunable Governr with his Coun- 
 cil to treat with the Moheags and to agree with them to Quitt their 
 Claim to the Lands within that township, upon as Eeasonable termes as 
 may be obtained and also to advise the people and to direct them in 
 going forward in their Plantation worke, and the Worshipfull Captn 
 Samuel Mason is desired to improve his Interest in the Moheags to Pro- 
 mote their Compliance w ith the Interest of the people of Colchester— 
 The Charge to bo defrayed by the inhabitants of Colchester— ■' 
 
 Thus the whole township of ancient Colchester, em- 
 bracing the present township and portions of Salem 
 (in olden time called Paugwonk) and Marlborough, 
 
 was granted to the original planters, and by them 
 subsequently shared with their associate planters. 
 Then followed divisions of the township at intervals 
 of time amongst the proprietors, a certain portion of 
 the territory being included in a division. A division 
 was then subdivided into allotments or rights, con- 
 sisting of fifty, one hundred, and two hundred pound 
 rights, for which the proprietors cast lots, the number 
 in the draught determining for each proprietor his 
 claim to a corresponding number in the allotments. 
 In this way half a century or more elapsed before 
 the whole township had been divided among.st the 
 original planters and proprietors and the heirs of 
 those of them who had deceased. 
 
 The lands, of little value comparatively at the 
 beginning of the settlement, gradually increased in 
 value as the population and demand for land in- 
 creased : and those of the proprietors and tlieir de- 
 scendants and heirs who retained their rights in the 
 divisions of lands became substantially wealthy and 
 prosperous. Colchester was a highly popular settle- 
 ment, and the early planters were a superior set of 
 men, belonging, as they did, to many of the first fami- 
 lies in New England, and it early attracted a brilliant 
 array of names and genius from various parts of the 
 country. Its location was desirable, being near Hart- 
 ford, Middletown, Norwich, and New London. 
 
 The Pioneers. — Michael Taintor, Esq., was born 
 in Brainford, October, 1652, being the second son of 
 Capt. Michael Taintor and his wife Elizabeth. He 
 was in AVindsor in 1679, where he married Mary, 
 daughter of Thomas Loomis, and after her decease 
 Mabel (Olmsted) Butler, widow of Mr. Daniel Butler, 
 of Hartford, in 1697. He was one of the leading men 
 in Windsor, as appears by the records of that town, 
 holding some of the highest offices in that township. 
 He was doubtless one of the most active in procuring 
 the grant of Colchester, being in the prime of life 
 when he removed to that place to settle. He was the 
 first, and for a long series of years the only, justice of 
 the peace in Colchester, town clerk for the space of 
 thirty years, member of Connecticut General Assem- 
 bly twenty-six sessions, commissioner, selectman, etc. 
 He died February, 1731, in his seventy-ninth year. 
 
 Rev. John Bulkley ^yas from Glastenbury, son of 
 Rev. Gurshom and his wife (who was a daughter of 
 President Chauncey), and grandson of Rev. Peter 
 Bulkley, from England. " Isaac Bigloo" was from 
 Watertown, Mass. "John Bigloo, a son of Joshua 
 Bigloo, of Watertown, which John Bigloo now dwells 
 in Hartford on the east." Thomas Carrier and his 
 sons, Richard and Andrew, were from Andover, where 
 Martha, wife of Thomas, was executed for a witch in 
 1692. Thomas Carrier had belonged to the body- 
 guard of King Charles I., of Great Britain, and was 
 notorious for fleetness of foot, even after he was more 
 than one hundred years old. It is said that he killed 
 the king of England. If so, he must have been the 
 executioner of King Charles I. in 1648. He was a 
 
colchestj:r. 
 
 387 
 
 Welshman. It is said by his descendants that he was 
 one hundred and thirteen years of age at the time of 
 his decease in 1735. Daniel Clark, " Locksmith," was 
 from Hartford; Samuel Dickinson, from Hadley; 
 Jonathan Dunham, from Haddam ; Foots were from 
 Wethersfield ; Samuel Gilbert, from Hartford; Ben- 
 jamin Graves, from New London (doubtless originally 
 from Hatfield) ; Josiah Gillet and Josiah Gillet, .Jr., 
 from Windsor. The wife of Josiah, Sr., was Joanna, 
 daughter of Michael Taintor, of Brainford ; she died 
 in Colchester in January, 1735, aged eighty-three years. 
 John Hitchcock, from Springfield ; Evan Jones, from 
 Windsor (?) ; Kelloggs, from Hatfield; Loomises, from 
 Windsor ; James and Israel Newton, from " Kings- 
 town in Naraganset" ; " Samuel Niels," of Kings- 
 town (1709) ; Northams, from Hatfield ; Nathaniel 
 Otis, from Scituate ; Josiah Phelps, from Windsor ; 
 "Joseph Pumery," from Northampton (?) ; William 
 Shipman, from Saybrook (went to Hebron about 1705, 
 where he soon after died in consequence of a fall) ; 
 Skinners, from Hartford (?) ; Deacon "Micaell" 
 Taintor, from Windsor ; James Treadway, "Malster," 
 from Watertown ; Welleses, from Hatfield ; Joseph 
 "Wright, from Glastenbury ; Israel Wyatt, from Hat- 
 field ; Thomas Beebe was from New London ; Na- 
 thaniel " Cahoni" (Calhoon), Norwich, K. I. ; Philip 
 Caverlee, Lebanon ; John Chapman, New London ; 
 James Crocker, Barnstable ; George " Dalee," from 
 "Provedenc"; Thomas Day, Hartford; Benjamin 
 Fox, New London; Daniel Galusiah, Weston ; Joseph 
 Harrington, Watertown ; James Harris, New London ; 
 John Hopson, Ehode Island ; Isaac Jones, Weston ; 
 Samuel Knight, Plainfield ; Benjamin Lane, Fal- 
 mouth ; Eobert Menler, Lyme ; Jlorgans, New Lon- 
 don ; James Mun, Springfield ; Eobert Staples, Lyme ; 
 William Worthington, Hartford. 
 
 Colchester gradually increased in population, and 
 in 1730 the following were residents of the town : 
 Micaiell Taintor, Micaiell Taintor, Jr., James New- 
 ton, Samll Northam, Thom Day, Eichd Carrier, Eben- 
 ezr Skiner, Danll Clark Jr., Lef Isreall Wyat, Dea- 
 con Lomis, Wm Eoberds, Nathll Lomis, Jos Wright, 
 Josiah Gellet, Josiah Gillet Jr., Ebenezer Dibell, Capt 
 Gilbert, Jno Adams, Jno Adams Jr., Deacon Skiner, 
 Eichd Skiner, Nathanll Skiner, Benjamin Skiner, Jos 
 Prat, Nathll Kellogg, Ephrem Foot, Jos pumery, 
 Thom Brown, Noah Wells, Jos Chamberlin, Josiah 
 Foot, James mun, ensign Jno Skiner, Ebenezer kel- 
 logg, James Brown, Andrew Carrier, Eichard Church, 
 Mr Bulkley, Jno Day, Jonathan Gillet, Jonathan 
 Kellogg, Nathll Foot, Ebenr Coleman, Charles Wil- 
 liams, Clement Cithophell, John Chapman Sr., Eph- 
 ream Wells, Josiah Phelps, John holms, William 
 Eoberds, Josiah Gates, Joseph foot, John John- 
 son. 
 
 From this time forward the town advanced more 
 rapidly in wealth and population, as shown by the 
 following " List of the Polls &c for the 1st Society" 
 (Colchester) "for 1787: 
 
 " Joiiatlian Bigelow Neliemiuli Gillet Ebm- Kollogg Jr Nathan 'Williiiins 
 Jiimcs liigelow Eichard Sldnnei- Jr Davkl Eurnham Eiisscll Gillet 
 Joseph Gillet Junr Daniel Bulkley Stephen Brawn Natlil Clark 
 Gideon Lumis Gersliam Bulkley David Bulkley Hannah Fuller Asa 
 Swan Eoger Bulkley Joseph Gillet Chauncey Wells John Bulkley 
 Ehenr Kellogg Isham Chapman Elipht Davenport Chailes Taintor 
 Elijah Eullor Joshua Bulkley Ela Gillet Gersham Bulkley Junr 
 Abner Chapman Asa Baker Darius Clark Jonathan Sabins Jonathan 
 Deming Sainl Ilassard Amasa Kellogg John Watrous Thomas Skin- 
 ner Joseph Foot Amos Kellogg John Pratt Danii-1 Pratt Joseph Tay- 
 lor Elislia Kellogg Allen Wightman John & Wm Bulkley Zebnlon 
 Strong Eozel Chamberlin John Kellogg Theodore AVaters Joseph 
 I&ham JrElihu Clark Thomas Vibber, Lemuel E. Vibbor Noah Col- 
 inan Charles Bulkley 2il. Daniel Watrous Charles TaiiitorJr, Dudley 
 Wright Wm Townscnd John Breed Sam. Bridges Abigail Worthing- 
 ton John R. Watrous Nehemiah Daniels Ezck.l Daniels Blai-y Kel- 
 logg Dan.l & Stepli.n Foot Noah Pomroy Darius Hills Joseph Hills 
 Hosea Foot Eeuben West Blary Maniner Thos. F. Crouch John 
 Taintor Thankful Thompson Wm Hall Daniel Kellogg Eleazer Edes 
 John T. Otis Nath.l Otis John Button Ezra Clark Obed Alvord Elijah 
 Northam Elizabeth Kilborn Edmond Bridges David Kilborn B. & 
 J. N. BeaiUe Ahner Kellogg Jeremiah Mason James F. Mason Abner 
 Hills Deliverance Waters .Tohn Otis .Tosepli Bulkley Asa Archer 
 Elizabeth Foot Justin Little John Wells Jr Uzziel Font Jeremiah 
 Foot Daniel Isliam Beuj.n Hatch Jonathan Keeny Solomon AVolcott 
 John Chamberlin John Cavarly Joshua Hall Amos Eandall Daniel 
 Juad David Wyles Beuj.n Quiterfieid Charles Bulkley Israel New- 
 tow Junr. Eliph.t Bulkley Ezra Clark Junr Israel Newton 3d Eph- 
 raim Clark Uabakuk Foot Dudley Wright Jr. John Clark Timo. 
 Judd rierpont Bacon Elihu Warner Sam Church 2d. Oliver AVainer 
 Asa Treadway Ephraim Wells Daniel Bulkley Junr Job Taber W.d 
 Sarah Wells George Palmer Joali Beebe Ellas Palmer Jr. Philip Cav- 
 arly .Tosh a Morgan Jona. Morgan 2d. John Newton Jr. John Palmer 
 Israel Newton Amos Wells Asa Newton Elijah Worthington Jr. Joel 
 Bigelow Elijah Woitliington Dan Worthington Samuel Lomis 
 Beuj.n Wm & Christo. Eliery Gilbert Denison Christo. Dean Joseph 
 "Webb Israel Lomis AV.m Bulkley Peleg Eansom Wid. Ann Wells 
 Blartin Wells Solomon ScovilEHshaScovil David Scovil Ellas Palmer 
 John Treadway Ama Eansom Wid. Daniel Welch .fr. Elijah Kilborn 
 Elisha Bigelow Asahel Newton John Cavarly Jr. Wm Worthington 
 Samuel Church Nathan '\Varner Stephen Eossetter Asa Bigelow 
 Elisha Dodge Oliver Brown Peter Graves Jr. Wm Thompson George 
 Dodge Jesse Craw Samuel Church Jr. Anna Church Israel V,\ WeUB 
 John Wright Eobert Bramble Eliph.t Gillet Daniel Culman Russell 
 Kellogg Nath.l Chamberlin Jr. Joseph Wright Jonathan Watrous 
 Asa Graves Daniel Clark Daniel Pratt Jr. Natli Chamberlin Isaiah 
 Munn Samuel Kellogg Joseph Johnson Charles Foot Daniel Bennet 
 Benj.n Munn Miles Wright Azariah Wright Ephraim Little Am- 
 brose Strong John Elliot Esq.r Shubael Clark Daniel Whitney Eich- 
 ai'd H. Huntley." 
 
 " List of the Polls &c for the Parish of Westchester 
 for the year 1787 : 
 
 "No.ah Skinner Ezra Bigelow Caleb Gifford Joseph Day Jr. Judah Scovil 
 Sam.l Carrier Joseph Crocker Dan.l William Sam.l Isham Daniel 
 Pratt 3d. Joseph Day Weeks "Williams John Carrier Samuel Brown 
 Adonijah Foot Elijah Williams Timothy Waters Benj.n Adams Jr. 
 Israel Kellogg John Isham Asa Day Amasa Mitchell Samuel Skin- 
 ner Aaron Barbur Eleazer & Eleazer Dniiliam Jr. Adriel Sabins, El- 
 dad Sabins Jon. a Bass Abraham Day Henry Waters Elijah Day 
 Benj.n Huntington Noah Isham Stephen Skinner Noah Skinner Jr. 
 Knight Sexton John Ackley George Sexton Eobert Young Eph.m 
 Scovol Eeuben Scovcl Darcas Niles Nath.l Warner Jr. Joseph Car- 
 rier Jona Northam Jr. Eobert Shattuck Susannah Gates Sarah Yea- 
 liiiins Elijah Smith Joseph Whitnioro Joseph Fuller Simon Brainerd 
 Jr. Ezra Eamsdalo Stephen & William Braiuard Isaac Isham Isaac 
 Isham Jr. Green Bigsby Silly Yeamans Thomas Shaw Simeon & 
 Timo. Crocker David Yeamans Amasa Day Ezekiel Lord Charles 
 Williams John Williams Phineas Sabins Judah Lewis James Se.xton 
 Eeuben Foot Uriah Carrier Henry Champion Esq. Henry Champion 
 Jr, Jehicl Isham Nath.l Foot Jr. David Shattuck Stephen Braiuard 
 Jr. Nath'l & Aaron Foot Erastus Worthiugton Samuel Loomis Jona- 
 than Dunham Joseph Jsham John Bigelow John Bigelow Jr. Joseph 
 Loomis John Mitchel Solomon Loomis John Elliot Esq.r John Blish 
 Tho s Williams John Isham Jr. Joseph Eansom John Olmsted Gad 
 Worthington Amasa Brown Cephas Cone J ohn Day Jtsiah Cridento 
 
388 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Ambrose Nilee Israel Skinner James Mc. Cracken Jacob Babbit John 
 Staples Benjamin Staples Isaac Jones John Skinner Josiah Foot 
 Elijah Staples Jr. David Adams." 
 
 Documentary History.— The following are ex- 
 tracts from the early records : 
 
 "At A Legall Town meeting held in Colchester 
 September 6th 1703 : The Town being informed that 
 jMajor palmes Hath or was about to sell A parsell of 
 land within ye township of Colchester under a pre- 
 tence of an Indian grant — Namely Gapt Sannap ye 
 town Considering that trobell may Arise in that mat- 
 ter do hearby impower Joseph pumery & ebenezer 
 Coleman to eject the said Major palmes or any other 
 person that shall make entevanc or improue any land 
 in the bounds of Colchester without ye aprobation of 
 the town & for their incoragment the town do grant to 
 them ye said Joseph pumery & ebenezer Coleman 
 each of them one hundred akers of laud at A place on 
 which they haue Aready Made enteranc by fencing 
 about seauen Miles from our town plat at or near 
 paugunk prouided thay stand to defend ye land that 
 Major palmes or any other person or persons shall 
 Make enteranc upon in right of Capt Sanap : it is to 
 be understood that thay shall defend it at thair own 
 Charg & to ye outermost exstent of law : — 
 
 " at a legall town meeting held at Colchester July 
 26 : 1703 it was voated to enter on record one home 
 lott which was formerly granted to John Stebbins but 
 not then entered — it is ye lott lying North from John 
 adamses sener his home lot." 
 
 Me. BrcKLEY's " Chimies."—" Lebanon June ye 
 17th 1703 then receaved of Joseph pomry of Colches- 
 ter flue pownds & Ten Shilings in Corrent mony on 
 ye acoult of ye Commitie of Colchester to pay for 
 Beulding mr bucklys chimies (chimneys, c. M. T.) I 
 say recvd by me John Woodward. 
 
 "att ye meting aforsed it was granted yt James 
 Taylor should haue an addistion of one hundred 
 pownds right he payinge ye charge: & it is to be 
 understood yt it is in right of his father in law Daniel 
 stebins & to take it without meadow and ye abouesd 
 Daniel stebins agreeth not to haue any further deuis- 
 ions of lands in Colchester untill euery hundred 
 pownds lotment hath had one hundred & fifty acers. 
 
 "att a legall Town meeting held in Colchester 
 September ye 6th 1703 it was granted to william 
 roberts a home lott & other acomadations : exsepting 
 meadow he paying charges as others of ye town haue 
 done — at ye meetinge aforesaid it was granted to 
 ebenezer Colman an adistion to his deuision land 3 
 acers for one yt he wants in his home lot — " 
 
 Geist- and Saw-Mill.—" att a legall towen meet- 
 ing held in colchester November the 29=17(13 then 
 it was voted and granted vnto Iserall wiatt an alot- 
 ment and vnto Samvell allis an alotmen with the 
 Liberty of tow Strems to Bvlde a grist mill and a 
 Saw mill provided thay Bvlde the mills forthwith 
 and mayntayn them from tim to time for the towens 
 yovs (use, c. m. t.) and also thar is granted vnto them 
 
 60 acers of Land to Ly to the grest mill Bvt when 
 thay left the rallies fall the strems shall Betvrn to the 
 towen agayn — thay are allso obliged to sell thar 
 Bordes a 22 shilings pvr thovsand from tim to time 
 and at all times for ever." 
 
 " At a town meeting held in Colchester december 
 29 : 1703 — Thomas Skiner was chosen Constabell for 
 ye yeare insuinge & Micaiell Taintor Avas chosen town 
 Clerk for ye yeare insuinge — Thomas Day Joseph 
 wright & Micaiell Taintor Chosen townsmen for ye 
 year insuing — Joseph pratt was chosen waywarden — 
 Joseph wright was Chosen brander for ye town — John 
 chapman & John hopson Chosen fenc vewers — at ye 
 meeting aforesd granted to Samull Lomis his 1st De- 
 uision of meadow lyiuge on ye east side of Stebinses 
 meadow against ye front of Natbanll foots lott ex- 
 septing a high way : Nextly granted to thomas Day 
 ye meadow formerly Granted to Samill belding in 
 Stebinses meadow — Nextly granted to Joseph prat yt 
 meadow yt ebenezer Dibell mowed this yeare lying 
 north of lebanon road on ye great brook : & thare to 
 haue his 1st Deuision — Nextly granted to Daniell 
 Clark twelve acers of upland lyinge Joyninge north- 
 ward to his It Deuision which is in ye lew of his It 
 deuision of meadow. 
 
 " At a legal Towne meeting in Colchester febr 17th 
 1703-4 it was granted that ye reurend Mr. John 
 bulkly his sallery shall be for ye year insuing forty 
 pownds as mony — further it was voated yt Joseph 
 pratt & John Skener shold lay out ye town highwaise 
 — further granted to John waters his 2d Deuision * * 
 further granted to John addams his 2d Deuision * * * 
 further granted unto moses rowley his deuision of up- 
 land on ye south side of the way which leads to modus 
 & on ye east side of Charles williams his deuision — 
 further granted to noah Coleman a lott & acomada- 
 tions amongst us to a two hundred pd right exsepting 
 meadow prouided he pay ten pownds in mony & Com 
 & settell here within thre months bene — further at 
 ye meeting aforesd granted unto Samuell pelit a 
 homelot & a hundred pownds right he payinge flue 
 pownds & settell amongst us — at ye meetinge aforesd 
 granted unto micaiell Taintor Sener yt parsell of land 
 which lyeth between his 2d Deuision & ye great 
 brook & to go down ye brook to ye place where ye 
 Cart way now is & to run upon the ledg of rocks 
 westward he alowing so much as there is in his next 
 deuision — furthergrantedunto Nathanell Kelogg what 
 he wants of his 2d Deusion on ye south side of lebanon 
 road — farther it wa.=i voated yt all inclosures of home- 
 lots or elcewhare shall be fenced so as to be Judged 
 sufisient by ye fenc vewers & no swine powndabell 
 untill ye fenc be so adjudged :" 
 
 Saw-Mill. — " At a town meetinge held in Colches- 
 ter March 16th 1703-1 was granted to Samuell pellet 
 his 1 deuision next to his home lot on ye west side 
 of lime road about 2 miles from ye towne — at ye 
 meetinge aforesd receaued from Samull waler under 
 his hand : yt he doth grant to ebenezer Killogg all 
 
COLCHESTEE. 
 
 389 
 
 his right of land in Colchestev : & ye towne uoated 
 to except of ebenezer Icellogg an inhabetent in ye 
 Towne & grant him a home lott upon ye riglit aforesd 
 — further granted to natheniell Icellogg & SamuU 
 pellit liberty to set up a saw mill on ye brook Caled ye 
 gouerners Brook & thay to haue ye streame so long as 
 thay maintaine a saw-mill thare : & to haue it goinge 
 at or before ye last of September next — further voated 
 yt all such persons tis haue lots heare in Colchester 
 shall Com & Dwell with us in a Constant Way : and 
 in Defalt thareof to forfitt thair right in ye Towne. 
 
 "At a town meeting held at Colchester aprell 24: 
 1704 — it was granted to mr John bulkley a swamp 
 which Joyns to his home lot on ye north side be it 
 one acer more or les — at a meeting aforesd granted to 
 ebenezer kalog twenty acers for his home lot & 30 
 acers for his next deuision * * * in right of Samuell 
 walers — at the meeting aforesd mentioned on ye other 
 side granted unto Isreall Wiatt that lot lyinge on ye 
 south side of Joshua Whelers for his home lott : 
 further granted to Isreall wiatt aforesd his next Deui- 
 sion of land with twenty acers on ye account of ye 
 mill grant of land betwene ye two east meadows — 
 further granted unto isreall wiatt a parsell of meadow 
 lyinge betwene James browrts meadow & micaiell 
 Tantors — further granted unto william lord one hun- 
 dred pownd Lotment prouided he pay fine pownds & 
 settell forthwith. 
 
 "At a legall town meeting held in Colchester July 
 ye 3d 1704 granted unto John Chapman his It deuision 
 of upland at the west side of new london road where 
 norage road goeth across lime road he relinquishing 
 his former grant — further granted unto John polie a 
 home lott on the south side of John bacors lott with 
 a two hundred pownd right he payinge charges equall 
 with us & beuld a sawmill with all conuenient spede 
 & settell amongst us :" 
 
 " Att A Legall Town Meeting Holdn in Colchestr 
 octob.r 30 : 1704 it was voted that Mr. Micha Tainter 
 & Joseph Wright should Treat with Jno Foley in 
 Eegard of his bulding A saw Mill & Demand an 
 Evidence of his Ability & also satisfie them that he 
 will accomplish it by the Time the Town intend. d in 
 their Grant to him, & if he Cannot to make A tender 
 to him of the said former Grant att teen pounds as is 
 vsuall to others: Att the Town Meeting aforesd it 
 was voted that Every man posesing A two Hundred 
 pound Eight, shall bring for tbe Kev.d Mr. Bulkley 
 A Cord of Wood & Cord it att His house & thos of A 
 hundred pound Eight to Doe half so much : with in 
 the space of one Moneth upon penalty of forfiting 
 five shillings. 
 
 "At a towne meetinge held in Colchester Deoembr 
 18th 1704: Micaiell Taintor Sener was Chosen Clerk 
 for ye yeare insueing — Josiah Gillett Sener was 
 Chosen Constable— Townsmen Chosen Samuell Nort- 
 ham Thomas Skiner Micaiell Taintor Senr— Way 
 wardens Nathaniell kalodg Eichard Skiner— fenc 
 vewers Josiah strong Andrew Carier." 
 
 A New Deitji,— " At the meeting Aprell 12 : 1705 
 it was voated that all timber & stone shall be fre for 
 any person to git throout the whole township on all 
 lands untill it be inclosed the homelots only exsepted : 
 we say all fire wood timber & stone shall be fre to 
 euery person as aforesd of ye town of Colchester ex- 
 sept such as now enter a protest against this voate — 
 John Day Joseph prat Deacon Skiner James tayler 
 enter a protest against the aboue voate : At the meet- 
 ing aforesaid it was granted unto Josiah Gillett Sener 
 fowr acers of land at the south end of his meadow 
 prouided he the said Gillett procure a Good new 
 drum for the use of the towne within one Month after 
 this voat : At the Meeting Aforesaid it was Voated to 
 Grant to Edward woolf of lime one hundred pownd 
 right in the towne & a streame to set up a saw mill 
 prouided he haue the Mill finished At or before the 
 last of October next & settell eighther himself or his 
 son in the town — at the same meeting Micaiell Tain- 
 tor was voated to keepe ordinary." 
 
 Stock op Powder. — "at a town meetinge held in 
 Colchester June 26t 1706 — the towne voated to raize 
 a rate to procure a towne stock of powder our yousiall 
 way of raeting the same to be set at the discrestion of 
 the select men : at the same meeting it was voated 
 to giue mr John bulkley a deed of his hows & the 
 present select men arehearby Impowered to giue said 
 deed in behalf of the town." 
 
 FuLLiNG-MiLL. — " At a Legall Town meeting held 
 in Colchester Nouember the 4th 1706 the town granted 
 unto human hinsdell twenty Akers of land to be laid 
 out on the side of the hill south from the littell brook 
 next southward from the brook Commonly Called 
 fawn brook & so far on the north side of sd brook as 
 to Com to the ledg of rocks : further the towne voated 
 & granted unto Joseph Dewey the home lot & the 
 other acomadations belonging to it which is one hun- 
 dred pownd right: on Condistion that the sd dewey 
 pay to the town ten pownds in Mony & also beuld a 
 fulling mill sometime before the last of May next fitt 
 for seruice & to maintain sd mill in good repaire & 
 to full cloth as cheap as any other mill in the colonie 
 — & to settell an inhabitant such as the town exsept 
 on sd lot within one yeare from this date — it is to be 
 understood yt the lot Granted to Joseph Dewey on 
 the other side was the lot formerly Granted vnto Jon- 
 athan Ingram — further it is to be understood that if 
 sd Dewey failes in the premeses Mentioned on the 
 other side then the sd lotments to return to ye town 
 —further the town Granted sd Dewey the liber.ty of 
 the stream yt Coms out of the north Meadow so long 
 as he Maintains a suffisient fulling Mill on it & no 
 longer— further Granted unto James brown a peece 
 of Land lyinge betweene Jonathan kilburns land & 
 John Cloathers land ; & to take it in part of his hun- 
 dred akers— further Granted unto Martin kaalog one 
 hundred pownd right of land in the town he paying 
 five pownds in mony to ye town & Com & settell in 
 the town with all Conuenient speed." 
 
390 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Mr. Bulkley's Salary. — " A Town meeting held 
 in Colchester Decemher ye 30th 170G— Micaiell Tain- 
 tor was chosen town Clerk for tlie yeare insueing 
 — Samuell pellett was chosen Constabell & Colecteror 
 — Select Men Deacon Lomis Joseph Chamberlin 
 Micaiell Taintor — fenc vewers Benjamin Skiner Jon- 
 athan Northam — Way wardens John Chapman Jo- 
 siah Strong — At the Meeting aforesaid the town 
 voated to Grant the reurend Mr. Bulkleys sallery or 
 rate to be fiuety pownds in mony or prouision pay 
 as mony and also that euery hundred pownd Right 
 in the town to pay half a Cord of fire wood to be 
 Brought to mr bulkleys at or before .the last of Jene- 
 wary Next & euery person neglecting to prouide his 
 proportion of firewood according to his right in the 
 towne at the time the Abouesaid thare shall be added 
 to his Minesters Bate two shillings & six peno to the 
 hundred: which shall be Gathered with ye Rest b}' 
 the Colecteror.'' 
 
 Repaiking the Meeting-house. — "At a Legal! 
 tqwn meeting held in Colchester Aprell 15: 1707 — 
 the town voated to Repaire the meeting hows with 
 floors & seats & galleries windows & sealing & pul- 
 pitt & Decon Skiner Joseph prat & Charles williams 
 ware chosen a Commitie to Carie on the work. 
 
 "At a town meetinge held in Colchester Janewary 
 21 ; 1702 it was granted to giue to ye Reured Mr John 
 Bulkley forty pownds as mony for his incoragement in 
 ye worke of ye Minestry this yeare & to pay him 10 £ 
 at ye end of every quarter — further at ye meetinge 
 aforesd was granted to Ebenezer Dibell so much vp- 
 land joyning unto ye swamp formerly Granted to him 
 in Lew of meadow to make up his full proportion of 
 meadow — At ye same meetinge Micaiell Taintor senr 
 was chosen towne clerk — further it was Granted to 
 thomas skinner and his son Ben: Skiner Samll fuller 
 Micaiell Taintor senr & Micaiell Taintor Juner the 
 littell Round meadow lying west from ye town with ye 
 swomps : ye swomps to be accounted two acers for one 
 of meadow : so much as to make up their 1st Deuision 
 of meadow exsepting if ye towne see cause to take a 
 pece for Clay they are to lay it out within one yeare 
 & to make recompence elcwhare— further granted to 
 Samuell Gilbert Samuell Northam Jonathan Northam, 
 James Brown James mun Jonathan kilburn John 
 adams Junr & John bacor the long meadow : to haue 
 their proportion of meadow in equall proportion with 
 others— further Granted to William Roberts senr His 
 proportion of meadow by John Days meadow at ye 
 wigwam swomp -further granted to Samuell Lomis 
 Charles Williams Joseph prat Thomas Day Ebenezer 
 Coleman Daniel Clark & Andrew Carier the meadow 
 called nonsuch & one acer of swomp to ye hundred 
 pownd lotment in consideration of ye remoteness of 
 it— further it was granted to John bacor a home lott 
 on the south side of Clemence Citophells home lott— 
 further granted to Samuell fuller his first Devision of 
 upland at ye mouth of yc brook That cometh out of 
 ye littell rownd meadow & to run by the great Brook 
 
 y' Cometh out of Stebbinses meadow — at ye meeting 
 aforesd granted to John Adams Junr his 1st Deuision 
 of vpland next to Joseph pumerys Deuision south- 
 ward Next Southward to Samuell Gilbert Next South- 
 ward to Jonathan Kilburn Next Southward to John 
 Brown. 
 
 " March ye 12th : 1722-3 : Wiis a town meeting 
 held in Colchester — it was voated to seat the meeting 
 hows — Also voated & agreet yt a Comittie of thre men 
 Shold Do yt seruice & the Commitie Chosen were 
 Ensign foot Left Skiner & Ensign Wells — & further 
 voated that the fore or front galery & the west pues 
 to be equall with the second seat in the body of the 
 hows — further the upermost seat in the side galery to 
 be equall with the third seat in the body of the hows — 
 & the other seat in side galery to be equall with the 
 fowrth seat — the two pues : next or behind the Dore 
 on the east side : to be the second in dignety — & the 
 two next pues Joyning to the aforesaid pues to be 
 equall with the second scat in the body of the hows — 
 further voated that the Rules in seating shall be ac- 
 cording to the same Ruels as the former seatershad= 
 to gether with a refference to the thre last rates— fur- 
 ther voated that yong men of the age of twenty one 
 years & maids at eighteen years of age to be seated — 
 further voated that the Comitie for budding of the 
 galleries ; shall haue power to Call in thre Workmen 
 to Judg the work that mr Worthing hath don in 
 buelding the galleries : in Conjuntion with mr Worth- 
 ington — further the town voted & Chose Ensign foot 
 a Comitie to Joyn with mr Bulkley & Left harris to 
 settell the line or to attend the Comitie which the 
 Generall Court appoynted to setell the line. betwixt 
 riorwich & Colchester." 
 
 Early Births, Marriages, and Deaths. 
 
 Edward fuller ife elizabcth Rowleo ware marled July 21t: 1715 Ann 
 Mas b. May 28tli. 1716— Abigaiell b. Aprell ye 3d— 1718— Sarah b. July 
 ye Stli=17 10— Silence b. May 22d=172l— febeo b. aprell 18tb=1723— 
 Uiiice b. May 12tli— 1720— David b. Janewy 28th: 1723. 
 
 Slary Daughter to James Taylor b. Nouembr ye 0th :170l — Martha b. 
 Nouembr 20th— 1704=James b. Aiigust ye 10th=1707 Bethia b. Nouem- 
 br : 12tli— 1700_Leuio (Levi, c. M. T.) b. March 17: 1713 
 
 Kicliard Skiner & hauah prat ware m. Nouembr : 24 : 170S=hanDah b. 
 aprell yelC— 17U— 
 
 Nathaniel foot & Ann Clark -were m. .July ye 4th; 1711 — XathauieU 
 1i. May 28th : 1712=Iereall b. October 10th=1713— An. b. August 26th: 
 1715— Daniell b. Fob. y: 6— 1710=17=0harlea b. Decemb 10th— 1718 
 
 Ebenezer Ooleman and Ruth Nieles were married March 11th 1704=5 
 liiels b. febrny: 20th— 1706=7 at fowr of the Clock in the morning— 
 Kuth b, June 2(lth: 1709 at 3 of the Clock in the morning— Maliittabcl 
 b. July 14th— 1713, at 6 of the clock in the morning— Mary b. appell ye 
 8th, 1718 about thre of the clock in the afternoon — 
 
 thomaa Gurstin and Sarjih holms were m. June ye 7th=1722— thomas 
 eon of thomas Gurstin h. July 19th, 1725= 
 
 John hopson and Sarah Nortbam m. Janewary 1704=^Mary b, July 2: 
 1705=John b, Nouembr: 12: 1707— Sarah the wife of Jolin hopson Dyed 
 march 16th : 1708— John liopson and elirabeth Day m. June ye 6tli: 1710 
 elimbethb. may : the It: 1711— John hopson Dyed febrewarythe 22J: 
 1714— 
 
 Joseph Wright had a son born Janewary ye 17th : 1702 : & Dyed Jene- 
 vary 28th: 1702— Joseph was b. octobr ye 16th : 1704: at nine clock in 
 the euening on satcrday— Ann b. August ye 3d, 1707 : on a Sabath Day 
 in yo euening- Sarah b. aprell ye 6th : 1710 on munday & Dyed August 
 17th: 1710 Timothy b. March ye 6th : 1712: John b. Janey 2d: 1716:on 
 a Sabatli Day night- Dudley b. Aprell 0th: 1717: on a Saturday morn- 
 
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COLCHESTER. 
 
 391 
 
 ing between break of Day & Sun Iliseing=Jolin Dyad October 2otli : 
 1718— 5lHiy b. Konember ye 10th: 1719: early in yo morning on ye 
 sabath=John vrigbt the 2d son to Joseph wriglit b. Jauewaiy ye 12tli ; 
 1724-5— on Sabiitb Day night abont ten of ye clock- 
 William Chamberliu and Sarah Day m. .lenewary the 4tli: 1710=11 
 —William b. Jenewary ye 22d : 1711— 12=peleg. b.Nonemb; 28: 1713— 
 John B. Jenewary yo 10th : 1715— IG— 
 
 Sarah daughter to John Skiner b. July 17 : 1G97 — An. b. Octobr ye It : 
 1700— John b. August ye 30th : 1703— Daniell b. Angust 30th : 1705— Jo- 
 anah b. Jenewary 27th : 1707— Joseph b. October ye 7th : 1710— Aron b. 
 June yo 14th : 1713— 
 
 Noah Weles & Sarah wyat ware Mari-ied Aprill ye loth ■ 1714. Israel 
 Wyat son to Noah Weles and Sarah his wife was b. Dccemb: 17: 1714 — 
 Jerusha b. Janewary 6th : 1710 : 17— Jernsha Dyed December 17th : 1717 
 =noah b. Septembr 2oth : 171S — Sarah 1). Jenewary ye 12th: 1720=21 
 — Danid b. Septembr 10=1723 — Moses b. October ye 3il. — 1725— Gidion 
 b. Janewary 22d: — 1728-0 — James Brown and Anno wickwire m. Oc- 
 tober ye 14tli : 1714 — James b. Septembr ye 7th : 1715 — 
 
 Abigaiell Daughter to Jonathan Cutler b. August 28th : 1711 — Jonathan 
 h. August nth: 1713— Beach son to Jonathan Cutler b. July 4th : 1710 
 
 James Newton & Susannah Wyat were m. nuiySlth: 171G— Dorotliy 
 b. february 25th : 171%— John b. Sept. 30th : 1710— James b. June 27th : 
 1721— Isreall b. feby ye 17 : 1725— tliomas b. August ye 4th : 1728— i; 
 Died ye 21 Day of Septembr following. Dinah b. febry 24: 1730. 
 
 Samuell Knight l^ Mary Kansom m. Noueinbr. 29: 1716 — Joshua b. 
 June 20th : 1721— Mary b. July 13th : 1724— Lydia h. June 20th : 1730 
 
 Daniell Chapman Oc Retern Wiutworth m. Blarch 22d: 1713 — paul b. 
 aprell ye 12th : 1714 — Return b. Decemb : 23 : 1715— Blarthah b. July ye 
 2d: 1717^another Daughter born aprell 1719 : and was still born — Sarah 
 b. June ye It: 1720 — Daniell b. Aprill ye 10th : 1722 — Silas b. aprell ye 
 18th: 1724 — Elias b. Janewary ye 14th: 172j — barnabus b. ye 2Sth Day 
 of March 1728. 
 
 Sarah Daugter to thomas addams b. februwary ye It : f — .\bigaiell b. 
 March ye 3d : 171Ji;— Thomas b. August ye SOlh : 1719— Elizabeth b. 
 Nouember 3d : 1720— hannah b. July 4th : 1722— Elijah b. may ye 30th : 
 1724— Wary & Marthah twins b. March ye 17th : 1727— Lydia b. July 
 16th : 1729— (The ne.xt & last birth in the hand of Col. Build ey, \iz.) 
 "Elisha b. Septr. 28th 17;i2"— 
 
 Benjamin addams & Mary Loomis m. Nouemby ye 25th=;17l9 — Benj.v 
 min b. Aprell yo 8th=1721— 
 
 Joseph pumery & Sarra beebe were m. August 2d: 1727 — Sarah the 
 wife of Joseph pumery Dyed Septembr 3d :— 172s. 
 
 John nox & Elizabeth Eoberds m. Aprell ye 20th : 1720— Elizabeth b. 
 March 28th— 1720— 
 
 mr Judah Lewes & Sarah Kellogg m. feby 19th— 1728-9. 
 
 february ]5tli: 1715=16 John whitcom & mahitable Dunham m. — Je- 
 mima b. february 24tli : 1716— 17— John b. Janewary ye 13tli : 1718=19 
 — mahitahle b. aprell ye 9th— 1722— Job b. may ye 8th : 1724 — mary b. 
 Septr ye 15th: 172G— Isaac b. august 24th: 1728— (The ne.xt birth re- 
 corded by Col. Bulklcy, viz.) Israeli b. March 13th : 1733— 
 
 Noah pumory & Elizabeth Sterling m. Decembr : 16: 1724— Noah b. 
 October ye 8th : 1726— Daniell b. October 13th— 1727— 
 
 Seth Dean & Ann Skinner m. October 29th : 1721 — Aaron Gillet & hanah 
 Clark m. July 10th: 1728. 
 
 John Brown & marah Chandler m. March ye 20th : 1710— Elizabeth b. 
 December 20th— 1710— John b. Aprell ye 4th: 1715— hannah b. Juno 
 26th: 1717- Sai.ahb. Janewary ye Gth: 1719— 20— timothy b. Decemb yo 
 3d: 1721— Nehemiah b. September ye 2ijth : 1720— Jedediah b. March 
 21 : 1729 
 
 Joseph foot & Ann Clolher m. Decembr 12th : 1719— ambross b. Aprell 
 ye 3d— 1723— Jeremiah b. October ye 11th : 1725— 
 
 Jonathan Kellogg & ann Newton m. ye 3d Day of Janewary 1710—11 
 —Jonathan b. Septernb ye 18th ; 1712— Joseph b. June ye 6th : 1714— 
 Margeree b. augst : ye 10 : 1710— (the three next births in the hand of 
 Col, Bulkley, viz.) Stephen b. Maich 15 ; 1724— Silas b. Janr. 11 : 1732-3 
 —Martin b.Febr. 15: 1734-5— 
 
 Samuell brown & mercy brown m. August 13th: 1724— 
 
 Joseph prat & Edith Kellogg ni. March ye 2d: 1727— lois b. Decembr 
 ye 13 : 1727- 
 
 William Chambeilin & Sarah Day m. Janewary ye 4th 1710— William 
 b. ye 22d day of Janewary 1711-12— Peleg b, Nouember ye 25th— 1713— 
 John b. Janary 10 : 171 1— Sarah was born— Marcy b.— Mary b.— 
 
 Lydya Daugther to Nathaniel Otia b. Janewary yo 20th: 1716—17— 
 hannah b. februwary 29th : 1717— 18— Dorothy b. Aprell ye 16th : 1721 
 — Desier b. May ye 20th— 1723— Nathaniel b. August ye 20th— 1725— 
 John b. Aprell ye It: 1728— (The next two births in the hand of Mr. 
 Bulkley viz.) Delight b. March 16 : 1730— Mercy b. July 3d : 1734— 
 
 Moses Rowleo & Martha Porter m. Septembr: 1707 — Mary b. Decembr 
 15tli— 1708— Jlartha b. feby 11th— 1710— 11— Moses b. Septembr 5tli— 
 1714— Ann b. Aprell ye 5th: 1716— 
 
 Mary Daughter of James Kinion b. December 10th : 1722 — Abigaiel b. 
 October 8tl] : 1724— 
 
 Easter daughter to Daniell Chamberliu b. October ye IStli : 1722 
 
 Joseph Kellogg & Abigaill Miller m. Octobr 23d— 1717— Joseph b. 
 August 8th : 1718— Daniell b. May ye 6tli : 1720— Marcy b. May 20th : 
 1723— Moses b. ye 10th Day: 1726— Elijah b. Janewary ye 16th— 1728. 
 
 John brown & Sarah haris m. August 13th : 17J4 — Sarah b June 20th 
 1725— John b. Septembr 11th: 1727— 
 
 Jonathan Gillet & Sarah Eley m. Janewary 3d: 1717 — Sarah b. Jane- 
 wary ye It: 1718- Jonathan b. March 22d : 1720— Mary b. December 13th 
 —1723-Joseph h. Decembr 30th : 1725— Nehemiah b. March It: 1727-8 
 —Jonah b. Aprell ye lOtli : 1730— 
 
 ebeuezer Day_& Sarah tifline ware m. februwary ye 3d : 1717-18 — Deb- 
 orah b. Nouembr ye 26t: 1718— Sarah b. July ye 12th : 1720— Jonathan 
 b. Septem: 28: 1723— Jonathan Dyed August ye 18tli : 1727— Ebeuezer 
 b. ye 28 Day of July, 1726— Silence b. June ye It : 1728- 
 
 lemewoll son to Jonathan Daniels b. Aprell 0th: 1717 — Jemima b, 
 June 14th: 1720— 
 
 Easter Daughter to Daniell Chamberlin b. October 18th : 1722 — Mehet- 
 nble b. aprell Olh : 1725— Daniell b. Nouembr ye 2d : 1727— 
 
 James haris sou of James haiisb. Janewary 26th : 1719 — thomas Lewis 
 & Mary Eowlee m. feby 25th— 1720— Shubaiel b. Decembr 6th : 1721— 
 Surah b. octobr ye 10: 1723— Abigaill b. nouembr 30th: 1724— Thomas 
 b. octobr 14th : 1726 — Mary b. octobr — 1728 — esther b. december 31 : 
 1730— 
 
 Ebeuezer Northam & Mary Glover m. Janewary ye 15Ui; 1718-19 — 
 Samuell b. October 29th : 1720 
 
 Daniell Jones & Mary Worthington ni. October 13th : 1720 — Mary b. 
 May 10th: 1724 — (the three next births in Mr Bulkley's hand, viz.) 
 Amasai b. Octor 2d: 1726— Mary b. June 13: 1720— Abigail b. May 1: 
 1732— 
 
 Samuell Son to Daniell Landon b. februwary the 19th 1723— John 
 Strong & Abijah Chapell ware m. februwary ye 51h ; 172J— John b. feb- 
 ruary yo 8th: 172^— Zebalon b. decembr lllh: 1720- loes b. nouember 
 22d. 1728 — & Dyed Janewary ye 14th— 1729— Darkis b. february ye 10th : 
 1729-30— 
 
 Noah Clark & Sarah Taintor m. June ye lOtli- 1710— Sa.r:di b. febru- 
 wary ye lOth : abont break of day 1719, and Dyed- Sarah b. the 0th day 
 of march 1721— Noah b. August ye 24th : 1722-3— Jerusha b. feby: 28th : 
 1724— Ezra b, ye 8th day of nouember 1725— elihu b. ye eighth day of 
 Nouember 1727 — Esther b. October ye fowrtenth 1729 — 
 
 Nathaniel Gilbert & Mary bessel m. februwary the 8th : 1720—21. 
 Mary b. Nouembr ye 19th : 1721 : about one of the clock in ye after noon 
 — Samuell b. Janewary 31 : 172;}— abuot half an howr past thre of ye 
 Clock in the morning. 
 
 George Saxton & Elizabeth Dible m. Nouembr 21t: 1723— Elizabeth b. 
 Janewaiy l-lth : 1724-6. 
 
 Jacob Lomis & hannah taylorware m. march 22d: 1710— John Day 
 Junr & S.arah Lomis m. August ye 20: 1723— Stephen tayler Dyed 
 Janoy: 3: 1718-19— 
 
 Ebeuezer son to EOen. Northam b. June 22d : 1721— timothy h. June 
 lOtli : 1723— Mary b. march ye 13th : 1725— Lidia Northam b. October ye 
 2; ; 1727— (the next entry by Mr Bulkley, viz. Elijah b. Juno 18 : 1733.) 
 
 hannah daughter to william brown b. Janewary 25th : 1718 — William 
 b. October 7th : 1720— 
 
 Daniell Skiner & mary brown m. march 21t : 1728— Elijah b. Decembr 
 It: 172S— 
 
 (The next two entries by Mr Bulkley, viz.) Jacob son to Daniel Wor- 
 thington & Elizabeth his wife b. Feby 2d. 1735-6— Sarah b. Novr: 27 : 
 1734— 
 
 John Chapman & Sarah Carier m. Septembr ye 7th : 1707— Jeane b. 
 octobr ye 15 : 1708— Sarah b. aprell yo 25th : 1710— Luse b. Nouemb : ye 
 Sth: 1712— Joljn b. Janewary ye 10th : 1714— 15— Jason b. decembr ye 
 7th: 1716— James b. Janewary ye 31t: 1719— 20- Abner b. March ye 
 Sth: 1722— (Tho three next entries by Mr Bulkley, viz.) Ziporah b. 
 aprell. 22: 1724— Gideon b. July 26th: 1726— Delight b. Octor 16: 
 1725 1~ 
 
 William mariner & abigaiell Welles m. Janewary 27th : 1721—22— 
 abigaeill b. March 4th: 1724— Ebeuezer b. June 30th: 1720— Rachell & 
 Sarah twins & Daughters b. June ye 14tli : 1729— (The three next entries 
 by Mr Buckly, viz) asa b. Octr : 1732— Ephraini b. Septr 26: 1735— 
 Grace b. June Gth 1737. 
 
 fredom son to Joseph Chamberlin h. aprell ye 15th : 1703— John h. 
 Janewary 31t: 1707-8. 
 
392 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Dinah Dtmghter to Isreal WyRt & Sirali (Pratt, c. M. t.) liis wife h. 
 Jauewary 27— 170?— Jerusiah b.Noiiemb 25-1711 .!: Dyed tlio 2d Day of 
 decembr 1711— Isieall Wyat't dyed in the 12th year of his age on tlie 25th 
 Day of June 1712— Mary daughter to Isreall Wyat li. Nouenib : ye 19 : 
 1710. 
 
 Jahez Kowls & tabitlia harris m. foby 20 : 1724— tabitha b. octobr : 20 : 
 1724— Jabez b. Janewary ye 10th : 1720— 
 
 Daniell Worthington & elizabeth Lomis m. Janewary ye 3d : 1720—21 
 — elizabeth b. July 2-lth : 1721— eliaa b. October 31st : 1722— Asa b. June 
 leth : 1724— Sibil b. aprell 19th : 1727— Samuel b. fobvuary llltli : 1728-9 
 — Rhoda b. September ye 26th : 1730— (Tlio next two entries by Mr. 
 Bulkley, viz.,) Mehitabell b. Febr 10th: 1731-2— Daniel b. august ISth : 
 1734— 
 
 Elizabeth daughter to Daniell Galusiah b. October ye 3d : 1719— Nn- 
 thaniell Lomis & Sarah Skiner ni, August ye 7tli : 1721— Sarah b. Sep- 
 tembr ye 15th : 1722— 
 
 Jolin Northam & hannah pumery m. may ye 9th : 1721 — hannah b. 
 June ye Cth : 1722— Lurauah b. may 25th : 1723— (The next 7 entries by 
 Mr. Bulklpy viz.,) Hannah b. May 29th, 1724— Jno. b. May 29 : 1725— 
 Sarah b. August 0; 1720— Euhama & Ann twins b. Octr 15: 1727— 
 Elizabetli b. Aprill 20: 1720— abigail b. Augt.23: 1731— Katherine & Ex- 
 perience Twins b. ApiiU 13 : 1733 — 
 
 Sarah daughter to John Gold b. Aprell 24: 1718— Sarah daughter to 
 Isaac Dauis b. June ye 3d; 1713 — Isaac b. June ye 13th : 17IG — J.aell b. 
 may ye 4th: 1718— easier b. Aprell 20th: 1720— 
 
 Benjamin Warner & Johana Strong m. March ye 17th : 1719 — Samuell 
 Gillet & Mary Chappell m. Janewary yo 30th: 1718-19— Samuell b. 
 Aprell ye 20th : 1719— Isre:ill b. febrnary yo 10th : 1721-2— Adonijah b. 
 May yo 30th: 1724— liphalet b. Nouember ye It: 1720— liphelet Dyed 
 August ye 22 : 1728— Mary b. Aprell ye 11 : 1729. (The next two by Mr 
 Bulkley, viz,) Ruth b. Decembr 17th, 1731— Elilaphlet son to Saml Gillit 
 & Abigl his wife b. Aprill 29 : 1734— William Waters & margeret hills m. 
 Janewary 13th: 1725— Joseph b. June 2 : 1720— 
 
 Caleb son to thomas Carrier b. October tlie 17tli: 1715 — Isaac b. July 
 the 5th : 1718- Racbell b. Septombr 16th : 1720— 
 
 John Carrier & mary brown m. July ye 22d : 1722 — Abiall, daughter b. 
 may ye 7tli : 1723 — Sieble b. Nouembr28th : 1725 — Mary b. deceinber2et : 
 1727— (The last entry in the hand of Mr. Bulkley, viz.,) Titus b. augt. 
 23 : 1733. 
 
 John Welcs & elizabeth Chamberlin m. Septembr 8th: 1715 — Mary b. 
 July 15th : 171G— John b. Nouembr 24th : 1718— 
 
 ebenezer Skiner & Sarah Taylor m. March 17th : 1725 — Sarah b. Jane- 
 wary 10th: 1725-C— Elizabeth b. .July 17th: 1727— Ebenezer b. May ye 
 14th : 1720 (The last entry in Mr Bnlkley's hand, viz.) Mary b. March 
 17 : 1730-7— 
 
 hepsibah Daughter to Samuell Spencer b. Decembr ye 8th : 1701 — 
 Samuell b. March ye 8th : 1704— William b. August ye 9lh : 1708— Ed- 
 ward b. Aprell 29th : 1711— Sarah b. Septemb ye 14 : 1714— Caleb b. June 
 yo 28th : 1718— 
 
 ann Daughter to John holmes b. June ye It: 17 — Dorothy b. august 
 ye 14th: 1726 — Elizabeth the wife of John holmes Dyed Decembr ye 
 14th: 1720— 
 
 Josiah GiUett & Sarah pellet m. March 7tli : 1711 — Josiah b. Nouembr 
 11th: 1712, & Dyed October ye 13: 1714— Daniell b. februwary 2d : 1714 
 —Josiah b. decenib. ye 7th : 1715— Sarah b. Jano 24th : 1717— Dauld b. 
 June ye 30th: 1719— elizabeth b. aprell yo 16th: 1721— timothy b. June 
 27th: 172:i— Mary b. March 3d: 1725 & Dyed yo 17th: day of aprell 
 next following — 
 
 Noah pnmery was b. unto Joseph Pumery & hannah his wife may ye 
 10th : 1700— 
 
 John Lord & hannah ackley m. December 25th : 1718— Sarah b. aprell 
 ye 17th: 1721— John b. march ye 3d : 1722-3— hannah ye wife of John 
 Lord Dyed March ye 3d: 1722-3— 
 
 Josiah Gates & Grace Rnthbou m. the 9th : Day of may 1714 — Mary b. 
 July 3d : 1715- Abigaiell b. August ye 131h : 1719— hannah b. Septr ye 
 6tli : 1721— Josiah b. Janewary 15lh : 1722-3— Thomas b. July yo 3d : 
 1724— Gi-nce b. October yo 8tli : 172."^^— (The next two entries by Mr. Bulk- 
 ley, viz.,) Elizabeth b. May 8th : 1729— Samll b. Deer 2G : 1730. 
 
 James Roberds & Eebecah Dayloe m. Nouember 1718. Eebecah b. 
 Janewary 3d: 1719-20— Edenah Daughter, b. May 11th: 1722. James 
 b. September ye 9th : 1724— Elenah b. Janewary 9th : 1727— 
 
 Micaiell Taintor i; Vni.ss foot ware Married Decembr ye 3d: 1712— 
 Vniss b. Allien ye 13th : 1717— Micaiell Taintor son to Micaiell Taintor 
 was born decembr 31st: 1719— Clmrlea b. foby 8th : 1722-3— John b. July 
 23d: 1725— Mary b. Nouembr ye Cth : 1727— prudence b. Decembr 0th: 
 1729— (The two next entiles by Mr. Bulkley, viz.,) Sarah b. Apiill 3d: 
 1731— Ann b. Octobr 21 : 1734— (Tho next entry is in the hand of Deac: 
 
 Aaron Skinner, viz.,) Ann their Daughter departed this Life Jan ye Slst : 
 1755- 
 
 William Williams & Dorothy Jonson m. October 2lt: 1713— William 
 b. October 13th : 1714— Elizabeth b. March 13th : 1710— John b. July22d: 
 1718— Margery b July 5th : 1720— Isaac b. July ye lOth : 1728— 
 
 Alice daughter to James newton b. ye 28th : Day of februwary 1086 
 
 James b. ye third day of aprell 1090 — Anne b. aprell the 13th; 1692 
 
 Isreall b. ye 5th ; Day of March ; 1094, 
 
 Samuell Lomis & elizabeth holmes m, docemb 12th: 1717. John ad- 
 dams i& Ruth Lomis m. June ye 20th : 1708 — Samuell b. Janewary ye 26 ; 
 1713-14- Ruth b. Jauewy ye 28th : 1713-16 — Joseph b. august 2eth : 1717 
 —David b. Decembr 13th : 1719— Mary b. July yo 9th : 1726— Andrew b. 
 October yo 2d; 1728— Elizabeth b. Decembr 21: 1730— Kachell b. Septr 
 
 1 : 1732— Hannah b. Octobr 6th— 1733 (The last 3 entries by Mr. 
 
 Bulkley). 
 
 Ecabod Chapman & Abigaiell Clother ni. July 4th ; 1723 — abigaiell b. 
 march yelOtli : 1724 — Irene b. februwary ye 2d; 1724-5 — Ann b. febrnary 
 27th; 1720-7- (The three next entries by Mr. Bulkley, viz.,) Irene b. 
 May ye 4th : 1729— Ichabod b. Septr 28th ; 1732— Elisha b. Deer 13th ; 
 17:i5— Lydia b Septemr 16tli : 1738— 
 
 Jonathan Wells & mary Newton m. July ye 11th; 1717 — Jonathan b. 
 Aprell ye 13th: 1718 — Simion b. June 17th: 1720— Rubin b. May ye 23d: 
 1722— Mary b. Septembr Uth : 1724 : Irene b. May ye 4tli : 1729. 
 
 Sarah daughter to James harris b. Septr ye 27th : 1697 — James b. Jane'y 
 20tli: 1009— mary b. Nouemb; It: 1702— Jonathan b. June ye 15th; 
 1705— Alph b. feby 29th ; 1708— & Died August ye 30th ; 1708— Abigaill 
 b. may 17th : 1711- Lebeus b. August lltb : 1713— Alph b. august 31t : 
 1710. Delight b. octobr yo 17th; 1720— 
 
 hannah Daughter to enos Randall b. nouembr ye It: 1717 — Joseph b. 
 august ye 5th : 1721 — Dauid b. August 2lt : 1721 — 
 
 hannah Daughter to ebenezer palmeterb. August 22d : 1720 — ebenezer 
 b. may 10th ; 1723— 
 
 Jonathan Northam & mary day m. Decembr 20 : 1722 — mary b. nonem : 
 28th : 1723— Jonathan b. August 29th : 1725— Dorothy b. march yo 17tli ; 
 1727 — As I b. decembr ye 4th: 1728 — (The next entry is by Deac. Aaron 
 Skinnei-, viz.,) Grace b. January 24tli : 1731 — 
 
 ephreaim foot & Sarah Chamberlain m. June 1708 — Margerit b. mayye 
 13th : 1711— Sarah b. octobr 20th : 17 13— Ephreaim b. Aprell 27th : 1716- 
 
 Isaao Jones & hannah weles m. July 11th ; 1717 — Joel b. August 29 : 
 1718— Elijah b. Janewary 21st: 1719 20— hannah b. March 12th: 1721— 
 Isaac b. June 19 ; 1722 — More of Isaac Jones children are Recorded in 
 ye 3d book of Records— mary daughter to James tredway & Sarah his 
 wife b. July ye 15th : 1709— Sarah b. Aprell 15th : 1711— Lydia Janey 
 ICth; 1714— eunice Nouember ye 4th: 1717— Lois b. febey 2d: 1720— 
 Elijah b. aprell ye 8th: 1722— Anne b. March 9th; 1724— Abigaiel b. 
 may 29th : 1720— 
 
 Joseph pepoon & mary Dibell m. December ye 12th : 1717 Joseph b. 
 may 20th: 1719- mary b. aprell ]8th; 1721— Silas b. Janewary ye 6th ; 
 1722-3— mary the wife of Joseph pepoon Dyed feby 23d: 1724— Joseph 
 pepoon & mary thomas m. Janewary 13th : 1725 — elizabeth b. October ye 
 10th : 1725— Joseph Dyed October ye 20th : 1725— mary Dyed October ye 
 23d: 1725— marcyb. September 26th: 1727— Sarah & Ruth b. December 
 30 ; 1728 & Sarah Dyed March Sit ; 1729— 
 
 abigaiell Daughter to John Clother b. Nouembr 30th : 1704^John b. 
 Janewary 3d: 1707— Sar.ah b. March 13tli ; 1709. Anne b. March 8th: 
 1711— Barbrab. December 3d: 1714— Elizabeth b. Nouembr 29th: 1710 
 — Mary b. Septemb 10th : 1717-18— Lucrese b. June 20th ; 172ll— 
 
 James tredway Dyed ^lay 20th : 1728 in ye 62 year of his age- 
 John bigelow son to John Bigelow b. March 25th: 1709— hannah the 
 wife of John Bigelow Dyed March 31t: 1709— John bigelow aboucsd & 
 Sarah Bigelow m. Nouember 4th ; 1709. Sarah b. July 17th: 1712— Jon- 
 athan b. nuiy 21t: 1714— Asa b. September 3d: 1720 
 
 ansess Daughter to Isreall Newton b. the first D,ay of J:inewary 1710— 
 mary b. march It: 1719— hannah b. June 28: 1721— abigaiell b. octobr 
 17th; 172:5- 
 
 Isaac Phelps son to Josiah phelps Dyed febrnary ye 25th; 1715—10 
 zofaniah Dyed Aprell yo 10th ;— 1710— Josiah b. Septem; 1717— 
 
 Isaac Rowlee & hannah harris m. may ye 30th; 1717— Betern b. au- 
 gust 20th ; 1719— harris b. august ye 1 1 : 1721— thomas b. March ye 4th ; 
 1723— Isaac b. September yo 8th : 1726. 
 
 Ruth Daughter to nathaniell Lomis b. August ye 21 : 1713— timothy 
 son to Joseph pepoon b. August ye 19th: 1730— Hannah Daughter to 
 benjamin Lewes b. Aprell 7th : 1717— Mary b. June ye 17th ; 1720— 
 
 Azariah pratt & hannah Coleman n>. may ye 5th; 1726— hannah h. 
 June ye 8th ; 1720— Lucresee b. Feby 8th : 1727-8— Azariah b. feby 2oth ; 
 1729-30— (The next two entries by Mr. Bulkley, viz.,) Sarah b. Octr 16th : 
 1732— Abigail b. Jan. 8 ; 1733-4— 
 
COLCHESTER. 
 
 Samuel Nortbam Dyed the 12th Day of Noucmher 172G — 
 Geshatn son to Isaac fox b. Decern ler 23d; 1716 — Gidian b. October 
 24th; 1710— 
 
 pliillep Cauerloe & liaiinah addams m. Decombr 20th : 1713 — Next, in 
 another hand is "Saiah ye wife of John Shetland \Vbo vas ye widow 
 Treadwuy, Deceased ; Fcbrnary 28th ; 1753— Old Stile — 
 
 Isaac Bigloe & Abigail Skinner were m. !March ll; 17o4- — Abigail b. 
 Jan. 1: 17:i4-35— Ann b. March 7 ; 173C— Isaac b. Nov. 17 : 1737— Tim- 
 othy b. Nov. IS ; 1739— Amiisai b. Dec. 28 ; 1741— & d. Jan. 18 ; following 
 —Mary b. Feb. 2: 1743— Lydia b. May 2: 1745- Margarott b. .\ng. 2: 
 1747— Joriisha b. March 8; 1748-19- Rubey b. Dec. 14: 1750— Samnell 
 b. Nov. 1 ; 1752 — Amasai b. Feb. 11 ; 1755 — Addi (a son) b. Oct. 18 ; 1757 
 — Knbyd. June5: 1759 — 
 Nathaniel son to Joshua Cole & Mary his wife b. Jan. 31 ; 1734-5 — 
 David Eigloo and EdKha Day ni. Dec. 11 : 1729— Hannah b. Nov. 11 ; 
 1730— John b. Way 7: 1732— Aniasa b. Sept. 3; 1733— E/.ra b. April 10; 
 173G— David b. May 2.-i ; 1738. Eli b. Angnst 25 : 1739— Azaiiah b. Dec. 
 26: 1741— Edithab. Marcli 10; 1744— Editha wife of David ISigclow d. 
 Jan. 19 : 1746 — David Bigelow & Marcy Lewis m. Jan. 21 : 1747 — Stephen 
 b. Oct. 27: 1747— Stephen d. Sept. 13: 1748— Stephen b. Jnne 5: 1749— 
 Moses b. Oct. 4 : 1750, & d. Dec. 23 : 1750— Stephen d. Ang. 5; 1751— Eli 
 d. Aug. 10: 1751— Marcy b. Nov. 23: 1753— 
 
 Susanah Daughter to William Chapman was b. february 2Sth : 1715- 
 10— Mary b. Jenenary 20th: 1717-18, abagaiell b. June ye 28: 1720— 
 ebenezer b. March 22: 1724 — William Chapman & marcy Chapman wer 
 m. Decembr 19th: 1728 — William Cliapmau had a daughter born & Dyed 
 Janawary 3d — 1730 — 
 
 Sarah Daughter to John Clark was b. August 13: 1723 — Johanah b. 
 february: 1725-0 & Dyed Nuuembr ye 5th — 1729 — John b. September 
 22d: 1728— (The next two entries in tlie hand of Sir. Butkley, viz.,) Jo- 
 anna Daughter to Juo. Clark and niiudwell his wife b. July 4tll 17.il — 
 Nathaniell b. Febr. 17Ui : 1733-34— 
 
 Samell son to Isaac Jones was b. aprell ye 22 — 1724— Lydia b. Nouem- 
 ber ye 14tli ; 1725— William b. Septemlier 18tli : 1727— Esekiell l>. March 
 ye 22d, 1729— (Tlie next seven by Mr. Bnlltley, viz ,) Nathan b. Deer, 
 aoih: 1731— Asa b. Oct. 10th: 1733— Eunice March 10th; 1735— Sarali, 
 Feb. lOtli; 1730— MaiT b. July 27: 1737— Lemuel b. Octr. 18; 1720- 
 Jusiah b. Jauy 20th : 1740-1. 
 Noah Coleman & mercy wright ware marled march ye 5th — 1730. 
 Joscpli pr;it & editha kellogg ware married marcli ye 2d, 1727 — Lois 
 b. the 13th Day of Decemb 1727— Lydiali b. March ye 3d, 1730— <Tlie 
 next two entries by Mr. Eulkley, viz.,) Joseph b. .Vugust 2d, 1732 — Peter 
 b. Febr. 8tli, 1734-5— 
 
 Sarah Daughter to John Eowle b. Janewaryl722 — Deborah b. Decembr 
 yel4tli : 1726— John b. July ye 7th : 1727— Seth b. May yc Cth 1730— 
 
 Timothy Carier and fiances Cripiii m. ye 20tli day of february 1729 
 -30— 
 
 Grace daughter to William Dickson & Kebeccahis wife b. March 12tli, 
 1721— John son to William Dickson b. Nouember 12th, 1722— William b. 
 may ye 12th : 1724— Rebccah b. Janewary 12th, 1725— Margaret b. August 
 18th, 1727— & Dyed Nouember 18 ; 1728— 
 timothy b. May ye 5th 1730— Thomas b. May 3d, 1733— 
 Lidia daughter to Joseph Chamberlin b. October 20th : 1721— Joseph 
 b. aprell ye lltli, 1724— Job b. feby the 8th, 1725-20— Jonathan b. July 
 ye Ut Day & Dyed ye hist day of September being thre njontli old : 1729 
 —another son named Jonathan b. lebruary 22d, 1729-30 and Dyed march 
 ye 3d, next after— Lidiah the wife of Joseph Chamberlin Dyed March 
 3d,— 1730— 
 
 John son of John niles b, March 25— 1718— natlian son to John niles 
 b. february ye 20: 1720— Samll b. march 13: 1722 and Dyed in Augst 
 1720- natlian b. may ye 7tli 1724— Mary b. Juno 2Cth 1720— tliomas b. 
 September 28th 1728— Abigaiell b. Septem ye 4th 1730— 
 
 noah puinery & elizabeth Randall ware m. ye 25tli day of December 
 1728 & a Danghter born to Joseph punier lebruary ye 29tli & Dyed to- 
 ward the hitter end of Decembr next after- 
 
 Siinion son to James Crocker b. September ye 19th 1722— Abigaiell b. 
 March 22d, 1724— hannah b. Janewary 17th ; 1726— levy b. may ye 11th 
 1728— Jonathan b. March lOtli 1730— (The next four by Mr. Bulkley, 
 ^lz.,) James b. Apnll 20th 1732— Thankfull b. Jan. 27th, 1733-4— Lydia 
 b. Jan. 141h, 1735-0— Ephraim b. Selit. 21 : 1739— 
 John hopsou & lydiali kellogg waio m. may 28tli, 1730— 
 Samucll Landon jon of Daniell Laiidon was b. February I9th— 1723— 
 Deborah b. february 10th 1726— William b. Aprill 25: 1727— Joahua b. 
 aprell 13th— 1729— 
 Ebenezer lliomas ic unice strong ware maried decembr ye 7th ; 1730— 
 Caleb Lomis & Joauali Skiner ware m. fery (Feb. o. ju. t.) 28 ; 1728-0 
 —Caleb b. Nouember ye 28th, 1729— 
 
 Daniell skiner & elizabeth hitchcock ware maried Decembr ye 22 : 
 1727— Daniell b. februwary ye last Day 1728-9— (The next seven entered 
 by Mr. Bulkley, viz,,) Elizabeth b. March 22— 1733- Sarah h. Novr. 25 ; 
 1735— John b. Augt. 17: 1738— Elijah b. June Stir, 1742— Hannah h. 
 May 26— 1745— Lydia b. Octr 15— 1747— Rubin b. .Vugt 8th, 1750; Lydia 
 died June ye 26th 1753— 
 James trcdway & Sarah mun ware maried June ye 4th — 1729 — 
 hezakiah kilburn & ann Clother ware m. ye 25th Day of December — 
 1728— hezekiah b. ye It Day of December 1720— (The two next entries by 
 Mr. Bulkley, viz ) Asa b. Janr 26 : 1731-2- Ann b. March 25 : 1734— 
 Lcfnt. John holmes & Ann Rockwell m. Decembr ye 3d, 1720. 
 tliomas sou to samuell brovvu was b. ye 9th of Nuvr. 1724 — Ruth b. No- 
 uember ye 2d : 1720— kcsiah b. December ye 6th 1728— (The next by Mr. 
 Bulkley, viz.) .Vinos b. Decenir 1st, 1730 — 
 
 Nathan Williams & elizabetli Lewis ware m. Septbr 10: 1725 — Abra- 
 ham b. July 21 : 1726— elizabeth b. March 30 ; 1729— 
 
 Nathaniel Kellogg & elizabeth Williams were m. July ye — 1725 — 
 Charles b. yo 17th Day of September 1720 — elizabetli b. July ye 8 — 1720 
 — (The next three by Mr. Bulkley, viz.) Sarah b. Febr 22d, 1732— De- 
 light b. Octr 6th 1734— Margarett b. Jnur. 17; 1730-7— 
 
 John Dougles & elzabeth quiteitiekl ware m. Janewary 27th : 1728 — 
 Mary b. Nouember 29th : 1729— 
 
 benjamin quiterfield & unice kellogg ware m. July yelltli: 1728 — 
 benjamin b. Aprell 22— 1739— (The next four by Mr. Bulkley, viz.) Eu- 
 nice b. Febr. 20 : 1730 -1— Asa b. June 28 : 1733— Israeli b. August 28th : 
 1735— Hannah b. Novr. 3d, 1737 & Dyed Dec, lOlh, 1738— 
 
 Coruelious fuller <& patience Chappell ware maried february ye 25th 
 1730— 
 
 John bebe son to John bcbee was b. December ye 5th 1727 — hesekiah 
 b. September ye 20th— 1729— 
 
 Asariali Loniis and Abigaiell Newton ware m. Decembr 25th : 1723 — 
 Diniis b. Septembr 5tli — 1724— (The next two entries by Deacon Aaron 
 .Skiner, \iz) Silence b. January ye 0th, 1737 — Lieut Azariah Lomis 
 Departed this Life February ye 0th .\,D. 1768— 
 
 Jndali Lewes & Sarah Kellog m. february ye 19th : 172S-9— Sarali b. 
 Janey ISth : 1729-30. (The next live entries by Mr. Bulkley, viz.) The 
 KevM Mr Judah Lewis & Mercy Kellog m. Deer. 24: 1734 — Ephraim b. 
 October 4tli 1735— Lydia b. Febr 21 : 1736-7- Judah b, March 14: 1738-9 
 — The Rev'd Mr Judah Lewis Dyed April 15th 1730— (The ne.vt entry by 
 Deacon Skiner, viz,) Lydia d, sept, the 12tli 1748 — 
 
 Nathaniel kellogg & Elizabeth Williams ware m. ye 1st: Day of July 
 1725- Charles b, 17th Day of Septembr 1720— Elizabeth b. ye Sth Day of 
 July 1729— (The next by Mr. Bulkley, viz.) Sarah b. Febr. 22: 1731-32. 
 Elizabeth Daughter to Jonathan kilburn was b. octobr ye 15th — 1713 — 
 Elizabeth Daughter to John hitchcock was b. may the 3d; 1708 — Eli- 
 akim b. febrewaiy ye 14th: 1712-13 — hannah b. October ye 29: 1717 — 
 Easter b, September 1720— 
 
 Elizabeth Daughter to Charles Williams was b. febrewary 13tli : 
 1702— 
 
 Jonathan son to Jonathan kilburn was b. June ye Sth ; 1707 — hesekiah 
 b, Nouenib: ye 2d; 1708- 
 
 Shubaiell Rowleo & hannah Brown ware Mailed may ye 8th : 1700— a 
 Daughter b. Decembr 12 : 1710 & Dyed ye lOtli of Jaiiewry following — 
 exporienc b, august ye Sth: 1718 — Mathew b. octoLier ye Sth: 1720 — pa- 
 tienc b. August ye 10th ; 1723— marcy b. Aprell ye 30th: 1710— hannah 
 b. March ye 10th ; 1712— Elizabeth b. October 3d ; 1714— 
 
 Joseph son to Noah Colinan b. June 28tli : 17O0 — Noah Colmail Dyed 
 Nouember ye 7th; nil- 
 Joseph son to John day b, September yo 27th: 1702 — Benjamin b. 
 febrewary yo7tli: I7U3-4— Eadilha b septemb: loth; 1705— Daniell b. 
 March ye 0th; 1709— Dauid b. July ye ISth; 1710— Abraham b. March 
 ye 17lli ; 1712— Isaac b. May 17lh : 171.3— 
 
 Andrew Carrier A: mary addams ware m. Janewary ye 11th : 1704-5 — 
 Andrew b. febrewary 2d ; 17'l5-6— John b. June yo 14lli ; 1707— Mary b. 
 Aprell lOlh: 1708- thomas b. Juneye 2OII1 : 1711— Bonjumin b. Septemb; 
 17 : 1713 — Kuif Isreall Newton's Negroman : & the Indian woman named 
 Sarah ware m. as he saitli: March ye — 1716 — martlia Daughter to the — 
 said Kulf & Sarah his wife b. Janewary ye 25th; 1710— 
 
 Ebenezer Dibels daughter Elizabeth was b. august ye Sth : 1701 — 
 Mary ye wife of ebenezar Dibell dyed septemb 24th: 170:l— ebenezar 
 Dibell & An hootoli ware Married agust -9th; 1700— Ann b. Juno 27: 
 1708 — Ann the wife of ebenezer Dibell dyed the 22d ; of July 1708. 
 Ebenezer Dibell & mary lewcss ware m. Decem. 30tli : 1708. 
 Jeanies brown dyed may Sth : 1704 — 
 
 Nathaniell Skiner & mary gillet ware m, Juno 13th: 1700— Nathaniell 
 wash. July 10th: 1707— Muiy b. July lOtli; 1700- thomas b. Aprell ye 
 Gth : 1712 — (The next three entries by Mr. Bulkley, viz. :) Eunice daugh- 
 
39i 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ter to Decon Katlill Skincr & mary his wife b. Decembr 15-1715— Daviil 
 son of je iifoiesd persons h. Jan. Ytli : 1717— and died on Janr 31st, Item : 
 David li, Novr. 0th 1719— 
 
 Sanuiell son to thimkfuU brown was b. decembr tlie 5th-1703 — 
 Elizabeth Daugliter to Josiah Strong vas b. tlie 'Jl of October 1706— 
 Mary b. Selitcinb ye 19th: 1707— Joeiah b. September ye 9th: 1709— 
 uniss b. Nuuembr ye 19 : 1711— Caleb b. the 20th : Day of febniary 1713- 
 14— Kachell b. Aprell ye 21t: 1716— Dorotliy b. may 25th: 1718— 
 
 ebenezer kellogg & Maboll Bntler were m. July ye 0th: 1700— Abi- 
 gaiell wash. June 25th: 1707— Ebenezer b. Janewary 30tli: 1709—10— 
 elizabeth b. Septr 25th: 1712— Mary b. June ye 3d, 171.5— pnidence b. 
 Decembr 24th : 1717— 
 
 John son to John Jonson h. Jenewary ye 16tli: 1712 — 13 — Dauid b. 
 february 10th : 1715— 10— elijah b. Septembr 20th : 1718— Elizabeth febu- 
 wary 17th: 17JJ— 21— Eh'slia b. July ICtli: 1724— 
 
 Joshua son to Josiah Strung b, July 20th 1720- Irenab. octobr ye 20tli : 
 1722— Asahcllb. June 22J: 1725— 
 
 Daniell Clark & elesebeth liutler m. the 4t)i: Day of Decemb: 1704— 
 hannah b. June 30th : 170G— elizabeth b. June 29 : 1708— Danicll b. Sep- 
 tembr 2yth: 1711 — a son b. July 17th; 1710 & dyed the same Day — 
 Jonah b. Decembr ye l!lth : 1713— Koger b. Decembr 21th : 1715— Alc.\- 
 ander b. Nouembr ye 0th: 1717— Zuruiah b. MaKli ye 14th: 1710— 
 inabell b. octobr. ye 7lh: 1721 — 
 
 hannah Daughter to ephreani weles was b. Jenewary yo 2d : 1709 — 10 
 — Lidiali b. Jcnewai y ye 18th: 1711 — 12 — Rcbeckali b. Septenib ye It: 
 1715— 
 
 Kebeckah Daughter to Danll Clark b. Jun : ye lOlli: 1720— Darius b 
 febwary the 2d : 1710— 20— Uriah b. Nouembr 2d : 1722— 
 
 ebeneziir son of ebenezar skiner b. August ye Sih; 1703 — Sarah b. 
 AgustOt: ITOJ- Josephb. Jen<.\vary 17tl): 1707 — 8 — Deborah b. Augnst 
 24th: 1710— Gidion b. October 19th: 1712— Abigaiell b, July 9th: 1715 
 — Ann h. Septeniljr ye 8th : 1717— Blary b. septembr ISth : 1719 — 
 
 Joseph plat ami Sarah Colyer ware m. July 22d: 10'I7 — Jo epli b. June 
 30th: 1098— asariah b. decemb. 7th: 1090- Abigaiel b. Nouembr 30th : 
 1702— Kuth b. March 10th: 1705-0— elislia li. AgustyelOlh: 17U7— 
 Dauiell b. .May ye 20th : 1710— Sarah b. August ye— 1713— 
 
 Timothy son to ebenezer skiner b. July 10th : 1721 — Lydia b. Aprell 
 ye 20th: 172J—margaritt b. December 2Slh : 1725— 
 
 Samuell sun of Samuell bruwii b. Decemb ye 12th: 1718. Saninell 
 dyed October 5: 1719— elizabeth b. Nouembr ye 10th : 1720— Samuell b. 
 March 10: 1723- 
 
 Deborah daughter to Thomas Day dyed October 20tli : 1703 Samuell 
 son to Thomas Day b. Septemb IStli : 1701— the Wife of John day Dyed 
 May 12th : 1714— 
 
 John son to Robert Ransom b. Nuuember ye 13tli : 1709 — Mary b. 
 August ye 30th : 1711— James b. March 13th :— 1713— Jusliua b. may ye 
 3d: 1715— Hubert b. Mai-ch 25th: 1717— alee (da\ightei) b. Septembr 
 Cth: 1719— Newton b. februwary ye 2It: 1722— Peleg b, September ye 
 20th : 1724— Amos b. februwary ye 17th : 1727— 
 
 Benjamin sou of cleraenc kitliophell was b. Aprell lllh: 17U4 — 
 Richard b. Septenib: 27th: 1700— eliz ibeth b. June 3J : 1700— John b. 
 Septembr 3d: 1711- Colings son to Clement kiturfleld b. Nouembr yo 
 9th : 1720— 
 
 Asariali son to Decon Samull Loniis b. m,ay ye 2d: 1700 — elisalicth b. 
 Nouemb: 13th: 1702- Sarah b. March yo 7th: 1705- Caleb, b. Septemb. 
 ye 20th: 1707— Daniell b. fubrewary 2Utli : 1708—9- 
 
 Abigaiell Daughter tu James Mnn b. October 17: 1700— James son to 
 James Mun and mary his wife b. febrewary 2d ; 1703— hannah b. Match 
 20th : 1700— Sarah b. June 2Sth : 1708- 
 
 kasiah Daughter to Tliomas Brown b. September 22d: 1707 — Sanuiell 
 brown Jc elisalieth Collins ware m. may ye 12th: 1713 — 
 
 John addaniB son to Joliu addamsJunr b. August 21t: 1709— Daniell 
 b. febrewary ye 12tli, 1711— 
 
 Mary Bntler Dyed march 19th: 1715— 
 
 Samuell kellogg Dyed August 24th : 1708— 
 
 Eemenjbrance Daughter to Richard Carier b. Aprell yo 14tli : 1716— 
 
 Sarah Daughter to Richard Carier dyed Septembr 27 : 1717 
 
 Mary the w ifo of Decon Thomas Skiner Dyed March 20tli : 1704— 
 Benjamin son to henry tomseon b. Jun 19th: 1709— Isaac b. Aprell 
 20th: 1711— thaiikfnllb. Aprell 17th: 1713— 
 
 Sarah Daughter to the Reurent mr John bulkly b. aprell 8tli : 1702— 
 about the niiddell of the aftornooue- another daughter was born May 
 0th : 1701 and dyed about 3 howrs after its birth— John bulkley was b. 
 aprell 19 : 1705 about 3 howrs before day— Dorotliy b. feby. 28 : 170S— 
 Geshom b. febrewary yo 4tli : 1708-9— Charles b. decembr 20lli : 1710— 
 peter b. Nouembr 2lt : 1712-patienc6 b. march 21—1715 about noone- 
 oleuer b. July 29th : 1717-luceo b. Janewary 20lh ; 1719-20, about break 
 
 of Day — Irene & Josepli (twins) son and denghter to mr bnlkley b. feb. 
 loth : 1721-2 about two hours before day — Irene dyed ye 20tli of ye same 
 month following about two howrs before daye — Joseph Dyed ye 25tli of 
 ye same month following about ye daun of ye day — 
 
 Dirndl daughter to henry tomeson b. febniwary ye 18th — 1718-19— 
 elcsebetli Daughter to John liitchcock b. May 23d : 1708— tliomas Brown 
 senr Dyed Aprell ye 18th; 1717 — Shnbaiell Rowlee Dyed March the 
 28th: 1714— 
 
 Daniell son to Samuell Brown and elizabetli Colings his wife b. June 
 ye 12: 1714 — elizabeth ye wife of Samuell Brown Dyed July ye 2d: 
 1714 — Samuell Brown & presilla kent ware m. Aprell ye lltli : 1715— 
 Dauid b. March ye 29tli : 1716— 
 
 Jolin fuller son to Samuell fuller b. Nonomber the 3d : 1701 — Samuell 
 b. the last day of agnst 1706 — Moses b. Jenewary the 30 : 1708 — Aron b. 
 June ye 3d : 1711 — Blahitable b. august 0; 1716 — marcy b. Jnneyo27: 
 1718- Mary b. febry ; ye 28 : 1721— desire b. february 2d: 172!— abnor 
 b. Decembr ye loth : 1724.— (daughter, b. June 1727— 
 
 1099 in July 22d: Timothy Carier son of Richard Carrier was b.— 
 Sarah b. aprell ye 13tli : 1701- Mahitabell b. aprell 10: 1702— elisaletli, 
 the wife of Richard Carier Dyed Blarch ye 0: 1704 — Richard Carier & 
 thankfull Brown ware M. July 29tli : 1707— hannah b. May ye It: 1708 
 — amos son to Richard Caiier b. July ye 3d: 1722. 
 
 Lydia Daughler of Samuell Gilbert b. Septembr 4th: 1707 — Mercy b. 
 Octobr 4tli: 1709— 
 
 AVilliam Roberds & elisebeth Nortliam ware m. ye 20tli: of July 1705 
 — sanill : b. febrewary ye 8th : 1705-0— An b. March yo 8th : 1707-8 Sarali 
 b. Septm : 13th : 1710— Jerusha b. Janewary 31 : 1713— William b. March 
 yo 4tli : 1716— lemewell b. march 24th : 1717— Mary b. aprell 1st: 1721 
 — elizabeth ye wife of William Roberds Dyed Augnst ye 22d: 1728 — 
 
 Caleb Jeffeiis A: hannah parsons the reputed daughter to Jonathan 
 
 parsons late of Northampton deceased ware m. Decembr ye 17th : 1710 — 
 
 Nathaniellfoot & ann Clark m. July yo 4th: 1711. 
 
 Daniell son to Josiah phelps b. Decembr the 17th : 1704 — Ann b. febre- 
 
 arySth: 1708-9— Isaac b. febrewary It: 1710-11— Zefeiiiah b. Nonembr 
 
 7tli: 1712— elizabeth b. may loth: 1715— 
 
 Nathauiell son of Nathaniell kellogg b. May ye 8th: 1703— Sarah b. 
 Decembr 27th: 1707— Lydya b. May 20tli : 1710— ezra b. Seplemlir ye 
 0th: 1724— 
 
 Marcy Daughter to Isaac bigloo b. July 23d : 1711 & dyed about 3 
 months after — Isack son to Isaac biglo b. may 4th: 1713 — marcy b. feb- 
 ruary 4tli: 1713— Mary b. July 31t: 1719— Samuel b. the 21t Day of 
 December 1724— Sal ah b. tlio 27th : day of June 1727— lidia b. aprell the 
 22d: 1729 — (In another place) hannah b. ye 2d: Day of octobr; 1721— 
 abigaiell b. Aprell 13tli : 1723 — 
 thankful Daughter to Richard Caiier b. aprell 29th, 1711— 
 (Here ends the recording of births, marriages, and deaths by Micaiell 
 Taintor Esq.— ^VIlat follows is chiefly in tlie hand of Esq. Bulkley— .'\. 
 small portion of it is in the hand of Capt. Aaron Skinner — ) "Mary 
 daughter of Daniel & Elizabeth Worthiiigton was b. Au::t. 2d: 1737— 
 Telitha b. Nov. 25 ; 1738- Abigail b. March 10 : 1740— Aliiiy b. april 12 ; 
 1741— Mehitabel b. June 27 : 1742 & dyed July 1 ; 1742— William b. oct. 
 20: 1743 & d. Marcli 4th 1744— William b. Jan. 29; 1744-5— Aniasai b. 
 Apiil 10: 1740— 
 Susannah daughter to Joseph Isham b. 14 : Feb. 1 737-8. 
 Samuel Kellogg & Abigail Sterling, m. Jan. 8th, 17J5-C—.Vbigail b. 
 Oct. 29 ; 1730— Samuel b. Deo, 20: 1738— Hannah b. Sept. 30: 1740— Ann 
 b. Novr 30 : 1742- Mary b. April 27 : 1745, New Stile— Eunice b: Fob. 20 ; 
 1747— Daniel b. June 1 : 1749— Ann d. July : 1758, in the lOtli year of 
 her age — 
 
 Martha daughter to Isaac Crocker & Elisabeth his wife b. March 3 ; 
 1731— Abigail b. March 10 ; 173:i— a daughter (still born Sept. 20 : 1730— 
 Elisha Pratt * Ann Porter m. Feb. 27 : 1735-0— Elislia b. Jan. 25 ; 1735 
 -0— David b, April 30 ; 1738— 
 
 Gershom Bulkley & Abigail Robins' m. Nov. 27 : 1733— Sarah b. Nov. 
 10 : 1735— 
 
 Noah Wells & Sarah Wyatt were m. Aprill 15 : 1714— Israeli Wyatt I. 
 Dec. 17; 1714— Jerusha b. Jan. 6: 1710-17 & d. Dec. 17: 1717— Noah b. 
 Sept. 26 : 1718— Sarah b. Jan. 12 : 1721-2— David b. Sept. 10 : 1723— Moses 
 b. Oct. 3:1725— Gideon h. Jan. 22: 1728-9— Silas b.July 8:1730— Jeru- 
 sha b. Jan. 28 ; 1733-i— Amos b. Feb. 28 : 1735— 
 
 Mary wife of Ebenezer Dibble d. March 5: 1730— Elisabeth daughter 
 of Benjamin Carrier & Elisabeth his wife b. Nov. 25 : 173,5— Hannah 
 daughter to Joseph Puniery it Elisabeth his wife b. April 28 ; 1734— John 
 Daley son to Joseph Daley i Patience his wife b. Dec. 11 : 1708— Tlie 
 Rovd Mr. Joseph Lovett & Ann Holms m. Aprill 3 : 1734— Samuel li. Jan. 
 12 : 1734-i>— Benjamin Carrier & Elisabeth Kneeland m. Feb. Olli 1734-6 
 —Thomas Carrier Dyed May 10 : A. D. 1735 aged about 108 or 100 years 
 
COLCHESTER. 
 
 395 
 
 .Tonn. sou to Doac. Niithll Skinner & Mary his wife b. Aug. 15 ; 1721 — 
 Jo^iah b. Ajivil 30: 1724^Joanna b, Marcb 19 ; 1727— Zerviiih b. June 
 26 : 1730— 
 
 John son to Pliilip Caverly & Hannah b. Nov. 24 : 1731 — Phillip (son) 
 d. June 19 : 1V30— John sou to John &■ Elisabeth Douglass b. Oct. 12: 
 1731— Elizabeth b. Dec. 6 : 1733— Daniel b. Oct. 15 : 1735. 
 
 John Adams the first died in Colchester Nov. 22 ; 17.i2 — Joseph'son to 
 ■ Joseph Pratt Junr. b. Aug. 2 : 1732 — Ebenezer sou to John & Ann Beach 
 b. Feb. 17 : 1732-3 — d. on the 5 : April 1734— John son to Ebeur Skinner 
 Jr. & Sarah his wife b. Feb. 23: 1732-3 — Hannah daughter to Evan & 
 Mary Harris b. Aug. 22 : 1732 — James son to James Crocker b. Apiil 20 : 
 1732— Thankful b. Jan. 27: 1733-1. 
 
 Sarah daughter to Josiah & Gi-aco Gates, b. Kov. 12 : 1732 — Leodeniiah 
 daughter to James Newtun Junr. & Susannah his wife b. Blay 7 : 1732 — 
 Susannah b. Jl.arch 15: 1735. 
 
 Elisabeth daughter to Robert & Alice Hansom b. May 1 : 1729 — Amy 
 b. Aug. 2: 17W— Aaron GiUit dyed in Boston Nov. 30: 1730— 
 
 John Chapman & Betliiah Chapman m. April 10: 1740— Bethiah b. 
 Feb. 27: 1743— Sarah b. May 13 : 1745— Jidin b. April 0: 1747— Thomas 
 & Jason b. Feb. 20 : 1749— Rossel b. Jlay 17 : 1751— Ehoda b. Sept, 20: 
 1754— Khoda d. April 20 : 1750— Thomas d. Jan. 21 : 1769— 
 
 Thomas son to Jabez & Ann Jones b. May 21 : 1732 — Jabez b. Jan. 14; 
 1733-1— Amos b. Jan. 2 : 1734-5— Anna b. Oct. 6 : 1736— Israeli b. Jan. 
 7:1737-8— Asa b. June 9: 1739— Hazael b. Jan. 0: 1742-3— Jeliiel b. 
 Sept. 20: 1743— Ariel b. Sept. 28 : 17J5— Sarah h. Jan. 7 : 1740-7— Aliijah 
 b. July 5 : 1750^ 
 
 Asa son to William & Abigail Marriner b. Oct. 9 : 1732— Jonathan son 
 to Edward & Zerviali Bill b. May 5 : 173:1— John Qnitifield & Elisabeth 
 Kilborn m. Dec. 7 : 17-i3— Aniiisai, b. Dec. 11 : 1734— Elisabeth the wife of 
 Charles Williams Dyed Sept. 13: 172.j — Ruben sou to John Strong & 
 Abijah his wife b. May 8 : 1733. 
 
 Benjamin Day & Margaret Foot m. March G : 1729 — Ann b. Feb. 27 ; 
 1730— Benjamin b. Sept. 13: 1731— .Woiiijah b. July 10: 173:J— Asa b. 
 May 16 : 1735 & d. 23 : .Vsa b. June 1 : 1736 & dyed 13 ; Margaret b. Oct. 
 27 : 1737— Aaron b. Sept. 14 : 1740— Amasai b. April 21 : 1742— Lydia b. 
 April 21 : 1744— Danii-l b. July 21 : 1747— David b. Aug. 4 : 1749— Editha 
 b. Jan. 5 : 1752. 
 
 William son of Jabez & Tabitha Rowley b. Oct. 16 : 1727— Phineas b. 
 Oct. 7 : 1729— Lois b. Nov. 14 : 1731— Simeon h. June 17: 1733— Eunice 
 b. April 3 : 1736— Nathan b. Feb. 12 : 1737— Lydia b. June 27 : 1739— 
 Dorothy b. April 28 : 1741. 
 
 Joseph Day & Esther Hungerford m. April 1 : 1729— Ezr.i b. Jan. 18 ; 
 1730 & d. July 23 : Joseph b. Jlay : 1731— Eotlier b. March 12 : 1733— 
 Grace b. March 12 : 1730- Mary b. July 2 : 1733— Ezra b. July 20: 1740 
 & d. March 17 : 1742— Asa b. March 13 : 1743— Rachel b. Nov. 22 : 1754 
 — Jesse b. Jan. 16 : 1748 — 
 
 Richard Qnitifield & Lydia Cripen m. March 1, 1732— Abner b. Aug. 
 27 : 1732— a son still-born Dec. 22 : 1733— 
 
 Jno. Carrier Junr & Rebecca Bauister in. Jan. 13 : 1730-31— .Andrew b. 
 Jan. 13 : 1731-2— Mary b. Dec. 7 : 1733— Andrew d. Jan. -4 : 1736-7— 
 Mary d. Jan. 18 : 1736-7— 
 
 Samuel Brown & Mary Dunham m. Aug. 6; 1729— Sanuicll b. Aug. 17; 
 1729— Abner b. March 25 : 1730— Mary b. Feb. 13: 1732— 
 
 Elisabeth daughter to Daniel Chamberlin b. March 18 : 1720— Esther 
 b. Oct. 18 : 1722— Mobitabell b. April 9 : 1725— Daniel b. Nov. 2 : 17^7- 
 Richard b. July 5 : 17-30- William b. March 10 : 1733— 
 
 Jabez Crippen & ThankfuU Fuller m. July 9 : 17li7— Susannah b. May 
 21: 1708— Frances (daughter) b. June 26: 1710— Lydia b. March 17: 
 1713— Thomas b. May 15 : 1715— Jabez b. July 14 : 1717— John b. March 
 20: 1720— Mahitivbell b. July 6 : 1722— Samuel b. July 7 : 1724— Joseph 
 b. June 7: 1720— Tliankfull b. April 2; 1728— 
 
 Gornehns Hamlin & Mary Mudge m. Dec. 5 : 1732— Cornelius b. Sept. 
 25 : 1733— Stephen Brainerd & Susannah Gates m. Doc. 24 : 1730— Susan- 
 nah b. Sept. 24 : 1731— Elizabeth b. Dec. 17 : 1733— 
 
 Andrew Carrier Junr & Ruth Addams m. Dec. 27 1733— Andrew b. Nov. 
 9: 1734— Ruth liis wife d. Nov. 16: 1734- Andrew Carrier & Rebecca 
 Rockwell m. Oct. 27 : 1735— Ruth b. Aug. 14: 1730— Joseph b. March 3: 
 1738— Samuel b. Jan. 6 : 1739-JO— Israeli b. March 12 : 1741-2— Isaac b. 
 April 21 : 1744— 
 John Ransom & Bethia Lewis m. April 6 : 1732— Robert b. April 8: 1733— 
 John Gates & Sarah Fuller m. April 19 : 1722— Sarah b. Aug. 10 : 1725 
 —John b. Aug. 19 : 1728— Nchemiah b. April 17: 1730— Mathias b. Feb. 
 13: 1733-4— Ezra b. July 20: 1730. 
 
 John Lord & Experience Crippen were m. Dec. 20 : 1724— Jonathan b. 
 Oct. 3 : 1720- Timothy Carrier & Frances Crippen m. Fob. 20 :1720-30— 
 Elisabeth i.. Jan. 18: 1730-1— Elisabeth d. Aug. 20: 1731— Thankful! b. 
 Aug. 6 : 1732— Elisabelh b. Dec. 22 : 1733—4. 
 
 Hannah the wife of BIr. Benjamin Lewis died June 9 : 1732. David 
 Day & Hannah Lewis m. Dec. 12: 1734 — 
 
 Mary, daughter to Stephen & Deborah Pain b. Dec. 29: 1734 — Deborah 
 diuightor.to Ebenr. & Sarah Skinner li. Feb. 23 : 1735— Abigail danghler 
 to Joseph & Susannah Isham b. May 21 : 1732— Jane b. Feb. 2 : 1734— 
 Joseph b. Oct. 15 : 1735— .. 
 
 Elnathiin Piilmitor & Elisabeth Scovelo m. April 10 : 17.34— Sarah b. 
 March 18: 1734-5— Elisabelh b. Jan. 26: 1736-7— Eunice b. April 11: 
 1739— Elisabeth b. Dec. 11 : 1741— Irene b. May 28 : 1745— John b. Jan. 
 7 : 1747-8— Niithan b. March : 1749-60— Charles b. Feb. 15 : 1761-2— 
 
 Daniel Chapman & Katharine Wentworth m. March 22: 1713— Paul 
 b. April 12: 1714— Katharine b. Dec. 23: 1716— Martlia b. July 2: 1717 
 — a daughter still-born April, 1719 — Sarah b. Junel: 1720— Daniel b. 
 April 10: 1722— Silas b. April 8: 1724— Eliasb. Jan. 14 : 1725-0— Bar.abas 
 b. JIarch IS : 1728— Jeremiah b. April 12, 1733— Mercy b. April 14 : 17:33 
 — Ennice b. April 28: 1737— Paul d. Sept. 28 : 1738— Sarah d. Dec. 22 : 
 173S— 
 
 John son to John Dethick b. March 10: 1710— Elisabeth b. Dec. 17 : 
 1721— Susanna b. Dec. 17: 1723— Mary b. March 10: 1725— Sarah b. 
 March 6, 1727— Naomi b. May 11 : 1729— Aniianias b. Dec. 24 : 1730— 
 llaim.ah b. June 29: 1733— Ruth b. July 10: 1734— Aaron Skinner & 
 Eunice Taintor ni. Aug. 4: 1737. — Mary daughter to Ebenezer Skinor b. 
 March 17 : 1730-7. 
 
 ■IJohn Ilopson & Mary Kellogg m. May 28 : 1730— John b. Nov. 5 : 1731, 
 & d July 14 : 1732— John b. Jiin. 29 : 1734— Betty b. Feb 10 : 1736— Sarah 
 b. Jan. 29 : 1737— Lydia b. Aug. 20 : 1739 & d. July : 1740— Lydia b. 
 Oct. 24: 1741. Mary b. Apiil IC: 1746— Hannah b. Sept. 29: 1747— 
 Prudence b. Deo. 10 : 1750— Capt. John Hopson d. Aug, 9 : 1751— In the 
 44th year of his age. March 31 : 1761 died the wife of Capt. John Hop- 
 son late deceased who after his death was joined in ni. to Henry Bliss of 
 Lebanon — Lydia their daughter d. Oct. 6 : 1761 — 
 
 CHAPTEE XXXII. 
 
 COLCHESTER— (Continued). 
 
 Ecclesiastical — Congregational Church, Colchester — Congregational 
 Church, Westchester— Methodist Episcopal Church, Colchester — 
 Baptist Church— Episcopal Cliurch— Roman Catholic Church— Sav. 
 ingsBank— The Hayward Rubber Company- The Pioneer Schools- 
 Bacon Academy— Attorneys— Lyman Trumbull— List of Representa- 
 tives from 1708 to 1882. 
 
 The Congregational Church, Colchester, was or- 
 ganized Dec. 20, 1703, with Key. John Bulkley as 
 pastor. Measures were soon after taken for the erec- 
 tion of a church building, and at a town-meeting held 
 March 20, 1705, "the Town voated to beuld a meeting 
 hows of forty foots square prouided that thare be mony 
 giuen enouf to procure the nailes and Glass — further 
 the towne chose a Committie to Carle on the beuldinge 
 the sd hows namely Serget Kowlee Deoon skiner 
 Johon Skiner Joseph chamberlin Thomas Browne." 
 
 June 11, 1708, "the towne voated to beuld a New 
 meeting hows with all Conuenient speed the length 
 to be forty foots & the bredth to be thirty & six foots 
 with a slatt Koufe— further the town chose Samll 
 Northam Decon Skiner Joseph wright Joseph Pratt 
 & Nathaniell lomis a Comitie to Carie on the beuld- 
 ing & finishing the sd Meeting howse— further the 
 town voated that thare shold be a Bate made to the 
 sum of eighty pounds to carie on & defray ye charg 
 & euery one may pay his part ill work as he Can agre 
 with the Comitie." 
 
 In 1709 " the town sold the old meeting hows to 
 ebenezer Coleman for eight pownds to be payd in 
 
39G 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 nailes at moiij' price oiidly Reserueing the boards of 
 the floor & all other loose bords & the pulpit." 
 
 At a meeting held Dec. 80, 1705, the "townevoated 
 to grant to the Reuerent Mr bulkley 50 pownds in 
 Mony or prouision as mony for the year past for his 
 sallery : & that euery person that hath a two hundred 
 powud right to bringe Mr bulkley one Cord of fire 
 wood & one hundred pownd right to bring half a 
 Cord — All to be brought at or before the last of Jene- 
 Avary next ; & whomsoeuer shall neglect to do it by 
 that time there shall be added to his minesters rate 
 two shillings & six pence to the hundred which the 
 Colecteror shall gather with the rest." 
 
 Dec. 31, 1711, it was " voated and granted to the 
 Reuerant Mr bulkley for his salery the year now past 
 the sum of fiuety & fine pownd in mony or wheat at 4s 
 pr bushell Indian Corn at 2s pr bushell — & mer- 
 chantab: pork at 2\d pr pownd." 
 
 March 4, 1712, "the towne granted to the Reuerant 
 nir bulkley sixty & five pownds as mony for his sallery 
 this yeare he finding himself firewood — further the 
 towne voated to add to mr bulkleys salery yearly for 
 the next fiue years after the first Day of Jenewary 
 next from the aboue Date eigt pownds as mony on 
 the Consideration that he find himself fire wood the 
 sd fiue years : & Continue in the work of the minestry 
 amongst vs." 
 
 A church edifice was erected in 1771, and was con- 
 sidered one of the finest in the State. The building 
 was occupied about seventy years, when it was super- 
 seded by the present building. 
 
 The first seven pastors were Revs. John Bulkley, 
 Ephraim Little, Salmon Cone, Lyman Strong, Joel 
 R. Arnold, Erastus Dickinson, Lucius Curtis. The 
 present pastor is Rev. S. G. Willard. 
 
 Congregational Church, Westchester.— The ec- 
 clesiastical society at Westchester was formed in 1728, 
 and the church was organized in December, 1729, 
 with the following members: Rev. Judah Lewis, 
 George Sexton, Xath. Skinner, Benj. Lewis, Jona- 
 than Lord, John Rowley, Daniel Chamberlin, Sarah 
 Sexton, Mary Skinner, Elizabeth Day, Hannah Lewis, 
 Ruth Adams, Deborah Rowley, Deborah Hungerford, 
 Mary Carrier, and Mary Skinner. The first house of 
 worship was erected in 1730, on land donated by Tim- 
 othy Carrier. The second church edifice was com- 
 pleted in 1791, and was used by the society until 
 March 28, 1847, when it was destroyed by fire. The 
 present edifice was dedicated in 1848. 
 
 The following is a list of the pastors of the church 
 from its organization to the present time: Judah 
 Lewis, Thomas Skinner, Robert Robbins, Ezra S. 
 Ely, D.D., Nathaniel Dwight, Jacob Scales, Joseph 
 Harvey, Daniel G. Sprague, Spofford D. Jewett, A. C. 
 Denison, G. G. W. Rankin, and H. Ball. The deacons 
 prior to 1800 were George Sexton, Noah Skinner, John 
 Gates, John D.iy, Henry Champion, Timothy Dut- 
 ton, Nehemiah Gates, Noah Skinner, Joseph Carrier, 
 Cephas Cone, and John Kellogg. 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church.'— Methodism was 
 introduced into the town of Colchester by the Rev. 
 E. Washburn in the year 1806. This preacher was 
 invited by a Brother Nolan, who, with his family 
 had moved from New London to Colchester, and was 
 the first Methodist in the place. A crowded house 
 listened to the gospel preached from the text John v. 
 6 : "Wilt thou be made whole." That day a number 
 of souls were convicted, and soon after were converted. 
 When the preacher came around again on his circuit 
 he formed a class, with Brother Nolan for leader. 
 The hand of God was in the work, and from this be- 
 ginning a good society was established in Colchester. 
 Circuit preaching continued till 1843, when a 
 church edifice was erected, and Robert AUyn was 
 stationed by the Conference as pastor. 
 
 The list following includes the appointments since 
 made to this church : 1844, Robert Allyn ; 1845, M. 
 P. Alderman ; 1847 (April), Sewell Lamberton; 1847, 
 (September), Lorenzo Bolles; 1848, F. W. Bill; 1849, 
 A. F. Park; 1851, W. O. Cady; 1853, Anthony Pal- 
 mer; 1855, L. W. Blood; 1857, J. M. Worcester; 
 1858, Nelson Goodrich; 1860, V. A. Cooper; 1862, 
 H. S. Ramsdell ; 1863, J. A. Dean ; 1864, G. W. 
 Wooding; 1865, C. S. Sanford ; 1867, A. W. Mills; 
 1869, G. A. Morse and W. 0. Cady; 1870, G. A. 
 Morse; 1871, E. B. Bradford; 1873, A. L. Dearing ; 
 1875, G. A. Fuller; 1877, T. E. Simms; 1879, C. W. 
 Holden. 
 
 Under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Fuller the church 
 building was enlarged and improved, so that it is 
 now admirably adapted for worship. In 1843, at the 
 dedication of the church, its whole membership was 
 forty-four; at the present date (1881) the member- 
 ship numbers one hundred and nineteen. 
 
 The first stewards of the church were Joshua B. 
 Wheeler, Amasa O. Standish, and S. S. Norton. The 
 two former are still connected with the church. The 
 present stewards are B. H. Roper, E. D. Standish, H. 
 H. Saunders, J. H. Reed, N. Palmer, W. M. Palmer, 
 W. P. Clark, E. D. Tracy, C. H. Dawley. 
 
 Trustees.~F. D. Standish, B. H. Roper, G. W. 
 Standish, H. H. Saunders, Ira Clark, E. D. Standish, 
 N. Palmer, J. H. Reed, N. Foote. 
 
 Baptist Church. — This church was organized in 
 1836, and Elder Andrew M. Smith was chosen itsflrst 
 pastor. Services were first held in the Congregational 
 Conference house until August, 1836, when the church 
 edifice was completed and dedicated. 
 
 The following is a list of pastors from its organiza- 
 tion to the present time : Andrew M. Smith, Augustus 
 Bolles, Robert C. Mills, Pierpont Brockett, Augustus 
 Bowles, G. W. Pendleton, Philo Williams, Daniel 
 Robinson, N. M. Matteson, E. N. Watrous, D. D. 
 Lyon, William Ashley, Lyman Teft, C. N. Nichols, 
 W. N. Walden, Joseph Butterworth, present pastor. 
 The present membership is one hundred and sixty. 
 
 1 Coiitriluted by Eev. C. W. Ilolden. 
 
COLCHESTEE. 
 
 397 
 
 Calvary Church.'— Previous to the year 1861 occa- 
 sional services had been held in Colchester by the 
 rector of St. Peter's, Hebron. , 
 
 In 1861 the Eev. Samuel Hall was appointed by the 
 missionary society of the diocese to examine the field 
 in Eastern Connecticut and ascertain the most prom- 
 ising places to plant the church. He officiated several 
 times in Colchester. In 1863 the Eev. AV. S. Bost- 
 wicli was appointed to begin services in Colchester, 
 Salem, Lyme, and Willimantic. He resided in Col- 
 chester till Easter, 1864. On June 1, 1864, the Rev. 
 Henry M. Sherman assumed pastoral charge of such 
 persons as might desire the services of the church in 
 Colchester. He found seven communicants and sev- 
 eral other persons who were desirous of having estab- 
 lished a parish and church of our communion. A 
 room was rented and the work begun. In May, 1865, 
 the parish was organized under the name of Calvary 
 Church. It was admitted into union with the con- 
 vention the following year. The corner-stone of the 
 church edifice was laid by Bishop Williams on the 
 10th of October, 1866, and the building was first used 
 for divine worship, though unfinished, the second 
 Sunday after Trinity, 1867. It cost seven thousand 
 seven hundred and twenty-five dollars. 
 
 Mr. Sherman resigned August, 1870. After the 
 services had been maintained for some time by the 
 Rev. H. A. Metcalf and by lay readers, the Rev. J. D. 
 Gilliland became rector of the parish, in June, 1871. 
 He resigned in 1874, and the two years following saw 
 many changes in the officiating minister, services 
 being kept up by students from the Berkeley Divinity 
 School, and by the Rev. J. F. Pearce, who officiated 
 several months. Jlay 31, 1876, the Rev. William H. 
 Bulkeley took charge of the parish, holding the rec- 
 torship until Jan. 1, 1880. After his resignation 
 services were quite irregular until May 1, 1880, when 
 the Eev. J. W. Ellsworth took charge of the parish 
 in connection with St. Peter's, Hebron, since which 
 time regular services have been held. 
 
 There is also a Roman Catholic Church in the town, 
 but we have been unable to obtain data for its history. 
 The Colchester Savings-Bank was incorporated in 
 1854. The present (1880) officers are as follows: 
 President, S. C. Gillette ; Vice-President, W. H. Hay- 
 ward ; Treasurer, J. N. Adams ; Directors, S. C. 
 Gillette, W. H. Hayward, J. ^. Adams, E. Ransom, 
 J. N. Felton, A. A. Baker, D. H. Hammond, S. G. 
 Willard, Russell Way, H. P. Buell. 
 
 The Hayward Rubber Company.— This company 
 was organized in 1847, the company consisting of Na- 
 thaniel Hayward, Henry Burr, William A. Bucking- 
 ham, James S. Carew, and Israel M. Buckingham. 
 The first ofiicers of the company were Henry Burr, 
 president, and W. A. Buckingham, secretary and 
 treasurer. Mr. Hayward held the oflSce of president 
 until his death, July 18, 1865, when he was succeeded 
 
 1 Contriluted by Kev. J. W. Ellsworth. 
 
 by James S. Carew. In 1S76, Mr. Carew resigned the 
 presidency, and was succeeded by William A. Buck- 
 ingham, son of Israel M. Buckingham. William A. 
 Buckingham continued as secretary and treasurer 
 until his death, Feb. 4, 1875. He was succeeded by 
 Israel M. Buckingham, who held the ofiice of secre- 
 tary until June, 1875, when Charles J. Carew was 
 chosen his successor. Israel M. Buckingham held the 
 office of treasurer until his death in May, 1876, when 
 he was succeeded by James S. Carew. Until 1854 
 Mr. Hayward was the active manager of the mills. 
 He Avas a man of great force of character, and lab- 
 ored persistently to advance the interests of the com- 
 pany. 
 
 Pioneer Schools.- At a meeting held in 1705 it 
 was voted "to hire the present schoolmaster namely 
 James pennock to keep school with what he hath 
 already kept the terra of half a year & to pay him 
 fiueteen pownd in that way & manner as the law 
 directs. 
 
 "At a legall town Meeting held in Colchester Oc- 
 tober the It: 1711 — the town Considering the great 
 necessety of a schole haue Chosen a Comitie to man- 
 age that afaire to finish tlie frame of a howse that 
 Capt gilbert hath set up which stands neare the meet- 
 ing hows : Capt gilbert haueing giuen the sd frame to 
 the town: with the stones that are thare reseruiug 
 the chamber to himself which he the sd Capt Gilbert 
 is to finish on his own charg : also sd gilbert shall 
 haue Liberty to make use of said hows on sabath 
 days : Capt Gilbert John Chapman sener Nathaniell 
 Lomis Nathaniell kellogg ware chosen for the Comitie 
 to manage the afaire abouesd & also to hire a school- 
 master as spedy as thay Can Conueniently for this 
 winter. 
 
 " Colchester Janewary the 26th : 1718—19 was a Le- 
 gall town meeting : & it was voated that Mr. Liyn (?) : 
 chool master shall be paid for keeping school for the 
 time past: that which is Due: which is about six 
 pounds — the one half out of the town tresury & the 
 otlier half to be payd by the Scollers that went to the 
 Said School — further at the same meeting the town 
 voated to keep a school this whoole year — & that it 
 shall be kept remoued unto thre seuerall parts of the 
 town at the Discrestion of the select men— further at 
 the meeting aforesaid it was further voated : that All 
 the children from five years oald to the age of ten 
 years that Hue within one mile and half from the place 
 whare the school is kept, shall pay to the sd school 
 as the law Directs : whether thay go to said School 
 or nott — & those that are aboue ten years of age shall 
 pay ondly for the time as thay do go — further it was 
 voated that the Colecterours shall be acountable to 
 the town : their proportion in gathering the min- 
 esters & town Bate : in perticqler that is to say John 
 Dav to gather or Colect the Rates all that are within 
 the limits of the bounds of Capt wrights train band : 
 &thomas Jones: to gather all within the bounds of 
 Captain Newtons train band : which the sd Colecter- 
 
 26 
 
398 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 , C:ipt. Juseijli Wiiglit, Kalhaniel 
 
 (^A\tun. 
 
 Ciipt. Isi-aol Nowton. 
 Cai>t. Jolm Biilklcy, Cai3t. Ka- 
 
 , Capt. Isiael Kewtou, Cnpt. 
 lias Lord, Capf. Cliailoa Biilkley, dipt. 
 
 1 Kilboin, Capt, Tinio- 
 
 ours define — further the town ahated benjamin graues 
 Jonathan Cutlers & benjamin foxes minesters & town 
 Rats : which he was to gather.'' 
 
 (For present condition of schools, see Chapter 
 VIII.) 
 
 Bacon Academy. — This institution was founded in 
 the year 1800, by Pierpont Bacon, and has ever re- 
 mained among the foremost educational institutions 
 of its class in this old commonwealth. Its alumni 
 include many of the leading men of to-day prominent 
 in the councils of the State and nation* 
 
 Among the lawyers who practiced in this town are 
 mentioned Samuel A. Peters, who was judge of the 
 County Court, State senator, etc. ; Amos D. Scovill, 
 Judge Culver, justice of the Supreme Court, and 
 Jared F. Crocker. Lyman Trumbull, ex-United 
 States senator from Illinois, was born in this town in 
 1813. He adopted the profession of law and removed 
 to Illinois, and first appeared in the political arena 
 in 1840, as a member of the Legislature of that 
 State. 
 
 EEPEESENTATn'ES FROM 1708-1882. 
 nilS.— Michael Taintor, Nathaniul Loomis. 
 1709.— Micliael Taintor, Natliaiiicl Loomis, Josepli Wright. 
 1710.— Michael Taintor, Saiiuic;! Loomis. 
 1711.— Michael Taintor, Joseph Wright. 
 1712.— Michael Taintor, Josepli Wright. 
 1713. — Michael Taintor, James Newton, Josepii Wriglit. 
 1714.— James Newton, iVIichael Taintor. 
 17], 3.— Micliael Taintor, James Newton, Ebenezer Coleman. 
 171G,— Michael Taintor, James Newton. 
 1717. — Capt. Jaines Newton, Ebenezer Coleman. 
 1718.— Michael Taintor, Capt. James Newton. 
 1719.— Michael Taintor, Capt. James Newton. 
 17::0.— Capt. James Newton, Micliael Taintor, Ebenezer Coleman. 
 1721.- Michael Taintor, Capt. James Newton, Capt. Joseph Wright. 
 1722.— Michael Taintor, Capt. James Newton, Capt. Joseph Wiiglit. 
 1723.— Slicliael Taintor, Israel Wjatt, Capt. James Newton. 
 1724.-Caiit. Joseph Wright, Nathaniel Foot, Michael Taintor, Epliraim 
 
 Wells. 
 1720.— Israel Wyatt, Nathaniel Foot, Jlichacl Taintor. 
 1720.— Michael Taintor, John Skiunci 
 
 Foot. 
 1727 -Isiael Wyatt, Ephraim Wells, Nathaniel Foot, John Skirin 
 1728.— Nathaniel Foot, Ephraim Wells, Isiael No 
 1720.— John Bulkley, Jr., Nathaniel Foot. 
 17.OT-31.— John Bulkley, Ephraim Wells, Nathaniel Foot, 
 1732.- John Bulkley, Nathaniel Foot. 
 1733-37.— Job n Bnlkley, Israel Newton. 
 1738.- Capt. John Bulkley, Capt. Nathaniel Foot, 
 1739.— Capt. Israel Nowton, Isaac Jon 
 
 thaniel Foot. 
 1740.— Capt. Jolm Bulkley, Capt. Israel Newton. 
 1741.-Col. John Bulkley, Capt. Israel Newton 
 
 '";-^"l- •'"','" ^'",!","-'' "-"'"■ ^''"''' ^'''"■•°". C"Pt- '-'■^'"'aniel Foot, 
 1743.-C01, John Bulkley, Capt Nathaniel Foot, Epaphias Lord 
 1744.— Capt. Nathaniel Foot, Epaphias Lord 
 
 Charles Bulkley. 
 171,3.— Capt.Nathaniel Foot, Epaplir 
 
 Timotliy Wright. 
 174C.-Capt. Charles Bulkley, Capt. Nathaniel Foot, John Div 
 
 17^n"*'!;~?'!-n- """■'" '"■'""'•^'' ''"'"■ '""""''y ^^''-ia'". J"!'" D.ay 
 
 •"c"' ■ rl T"''' '"""'""" '"'^°'"> ^""" Chaniberl in. 
 
 no2.-Cap . Charles Bulkley, .toll,, Chamberlain, Jonathan Kilhon, 
 
 7 -Ma, a ari 'b ",1'f ''t""^- °'"'^'™ ^""^•^■^■' ^"'■" Chamheriain. 
 17S4.— Maj. Charles Bulkley, Epaphias Loid, John 
 
 thy Wiight. 
 17,33.-Charles Bulkley, Capt. Timothy Wright 
 1760.-C.apt. Timothy Wright, John Kill. 
 
 , fapt Ge-sliom Buckley. 
 
 1707-58.— Capt. Gorshom Buckley, Capt. Elijah Worlliington, Jouatlian 
 
 Kilhoru. 
 1759-00.- Capt, Elijah Wortliington, Dudley Wriglit. 
 17C1 —Capt. Elijah Worthington, Dudley Wright, Capt. Henry Cljam- 
 
 pion. 
 17C2-03.— Capt. Elijah Worthington, Dudley Wright, Daniel Foot, Jolm 
 
 Hopson. 
 1704.— Daniel Foot, Capt. Dudley Wright. 
 1705.— Capt, Dudley Wright, Daniel Foot. (Names of deputies not re- 
 
 corded.) 
 1700.— Daniel Foot, Capt. Peter Bulkley. 
 1707-68.— Capt. Henry Champion, Capt. Peter Bulkley. 
 1709.— Capt. Homy Champion, Daniel Foot. 
 
 1770-71.— Capt. Henry Champion, Daniel Foot, Elias Worthington. 
 1772-73— Maj. Henry Champion, Daniel Foot. 
 1774.— Maj. Henry Champion, Daniel Foot, John Watorliouse. 
 1775. — Maj. Henry Champion, Dr. John Watrons. 
 1770.— Daniel Foot, Peter Bulkley, Henry Champion, John Watrous. 
 1777. — Elias Worthington, Henry Champion. 
 177S.— Henry Champion, Jolm Watrous. 
 1779. — Elias Worthington, Henry Champion. 
 1780.— E. Bulkley, Joseph Isliam. 
 
 1781.— Dudley Wright, Pieiiiont Bacon, Henry Champion, Elias Worth- 
 ington. 
 1782.- P. Bulkley, Asa Foot, Daniel Foot. 
 
 1783.— P. Bulkley, E. Worthington, Daniel Foot, Henry Champion. 
 1784,— P. Bulkley, E. Worthington, J. Watrous. 
 1783-80.- Thomas Skinner, J. Isham, Jr., J. Watrous. 
 1787.— P. Bulkley, J. Isham, Jr., J. Watrous. 
 1788.- J. Watrous, E. Worthington. 
 1789.— B. Bulkley, J. ■\\-atrous, Henry Champion. 
 1790.— E. Bulkley, Henry Champion. 
 1701-92.— E. Bnlkley, John Isham, Henry Champion. 
 1793.— E. Bulkley, II. Champion, Jr., Jolm Isham, J, E. Watrous. 
 1794.— B. Bulkley, H. Champion (2), John Isham (2). 
 1705.— H. Champion, Jr., J. 11. Watrous. 
 1790.- John Isham, J. K. Watrous, 
 1797.— H. Champion (2), Joseph Isham (2). 
 1798.— Koger Bnlkley, H. Champion (2), Joseph Isham (2). 
 1799.— Joseph Isham (2), J. R. Watrous. 
 
 1800.— Roger Bulkley, II. Champion (2), Joel Fort, J. K. Watrous. 
 ISOl.— Itogcr Bulkley, John Isham, Joseph Isham. 
 1802. — Henry Champion, D. "Watrous. 
 1803,— Henry Champion, D. Watrous, J. E. Watrous. 
 1S04.— Henry Champion, John Isham, J. R. Watrous, Joel Worthington. 
 1805.— Henry Champion, John Isham, J. E. Watrous, D. Watrous. 
 1800.— R. Bulkley, J. Worthington, D. Watrous. 
 1807.- R. Bulkley, J. Worthington, S. A. Peters, Benjamin Tnimbull. 
 1808.— E. Bulkley, J. R -^latrons, Joel Worthiugton, John Isham. 
 1809.— B. Trumbull, D. Watrous. 
 1810.— S. A. Petera, J. R. Watrous, Joel Worthington. 
 1811.— D. Deming, J. R. Watrous. 
 1812.— J. R. Watrous, John Isham, Jr. 
 
 1813.— D, Deming, J. R. Watrous, D. Watrous, Benjamin Trumbull. 
 1814.- D. Doming, D. Watrous, B. Trumbull. 
 1S15.— D. Deming, J. R. A\'atrous, D, Watrous, B. Trumbull. 
 ISlC— J. R. Watrous, John Isham, B. Trumbull. 
 1817.— D. Deming, J. E. Watrous, John Isham. 
 1818.- B. Trumbull, J. E. Watrous, S. A. Peters. 
 1819.- J. E. \\-atrous, S. A. Peters. 
 1820.— Henry Champion, S. A. Petcra. 
 1821.- J. E. Watrous, John Isham. 
 1822.- S. A. Peters, C. Cone. 
 1823.— S. A. Petei-s, D. Deming. 
 1824.— S. A. Petors, D. Watrous. 
 1825.— E. Goodrich, Jr., Samuel Kellogg. 
 1826. — I. E. ^^■atrous, Beta Kohbins. 
 1827.— S. A. Peters, Benjamin Trumbull, 
 1828.— M. Biadford, Benjamin Trumbull. 
 1829.— S. A. Peteis, A. Brainard. 
 1830. — S. Brainard, A. Brainard. 
 1831.- S. A. Peters, B. Tiumhull. 
 1832.— J. Clarl;, John C. Cowe. 
 1833. — J. Clark, John Isham. 
 1834.— S. A. Peters, Ealjih Isliam. 
 1836.— Samuel Kellogg, John Isham. 
 183G.— J. B. Eogere, A. Skinner. 
 
X '\" 
 
COLCHESTER. 
 
 39D 
 
 1837- 
 
 163Q. 
 
 IS-IO.- 
 
 1841 
 
 1S42, 
 
 1843. 
 
 1844, 
 
 1815.- 
 
 1840. 
 
 1847, 
 
 1848, 
 
 1849,- 
 
 1860.- 
 
 1851.- 
 
 1852. 
 
 1853. 
 
 1854. 
 
 1856. 
 
 18,56, 
 
 1857, 
 
 1858, 
 
 1869. 
 
 I860.- 
 
 1801. 
 
 1862.- 
 
 1803, 
 
 1864, 
 
 1866, 
 
 1806, 
 
 1867, 
 
 1808.- 
 
 1860, 
 
 1870.- 
 
 1871, 
 
 1872, 
 
 1873, 
 
 1874, 
 
 1875 
 
 1870, 
 
 1877, 
 
 1878.- 
 
 1,S70.. 
 
 1880.- 
 
 1881 
 
 38.— J. B. Wheeler, N. Taintor. 
 
 —A. Morgan, J. Day. 
 
 —A, Otis, John Pucker. 
 
 —J. B. Itogers, J, Staples. 
 
 — S. A, Pelera, D. Speny. 
 
 ,— E. Brown, R, Tracy. 
 
 — Baniel Taylor, Asahel Brown. 
 
 F. Morgan, A. E. Emmons. 
 J. B. Kogers, A. R. Park. 
 
 ,— A. B, Pierce, A. .J. Looniis. 
 .—J. K. Dow, D. Taylor. 
 Henry Burr, S. B. Day. 
 
 G. H. Eogera, A. W. Lord. 
 ,— S. A. Kellogg, W. E. Tracy. 
 — Russell Dutton, Russell Gillett. 
 — George Langdon, E. Adams. 
 —Guy Bigelow, E. Clark. 
 — L. L. Dickinson, E. D.^y. 
 —Joseph Foote, T. L, Buell. 
 —A, 0. Standish, S. Wickwire. 
 ,— D. Kellogg, A. E. Emmona. 
 
 E. Carpenter, S. A. Peters. 
 , — H. Smith, U. Adams. 
 ,— C. D. Strong, E. Beckwith. 
 ,— J. N. Felton, E. S. Day. 
 ,— J. N. Felton, B. S. Bigelow. 
 ,— E. S. Day, E. H. Strong. 
 , — J. C. Hammond, A. E. Emmons. 
 —J. C. Wightman, J. L. Gillett. 
 — L. L. Dickinson, D. Carrier. 
 ,— Wm. H. Hayward, H. N. Lee. 
 , — J. N. Adams, J. D. ^Vatrou3. 
 
 Charles Clark, William Carver. 
 —Charles Taylor, Wm. B. Otis. 
 ,— G. G. Wickwire, N. Foote. 
 — A. R. Bigelow, F. L. Carrier. 
 — E. S. Day, W. H. Hayward. 
 — J. Dinsmore, W. H. Hayward. 
 — L. Chapman, J. A, Dinsmore. 
 — E. H. Strong, Henry Foote. 
 —J. W. Holmes, F. B. Taylor. 
 
 Hoxie Brown, Wm. B. Otis. 
 .-Russell Gillett, E. H. Strong. 
 — Jolin Shea, W. E. Jones. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXXIII. 
 
 COLCHESTER— (Continued). 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 
 
 The Bigelow Family. — The changes through 
 which the name has passed are very curious, viz. : 
 Baguley, Bigullah, BigguUaugh, Bigalow, Bigelow, 
 and later Bigeloe, Bigelo, and Biglow. This family 
 was early in this country, and may be traced to a re- 
 mote period in England, even to the reign of Henry 
 III. (1206), when the name was written Baguley, and 
 was derived from the place where they dwelt. Kich- 
 ard, at that time, was Lord of Baguley, and his de- 
 scendants took the name of the place. In the reign of 
 Henry VII. (1485), Ralph de Baguley was Lord 
 of Allerton Hall. He died in 1540, leaving Eandall 
 and Nicholas. Eandall died in 1556, and his sons 
 Philip and Eobert divided his estate. Eobert died 
 in 1582, leaving a son Eandall, who moved to 
 Wrentham, Suffolk County, England, and died in 
 1626, leaving two sons, Francis and John. Francis 
 
 died in 1657, and gave in will a portion of his prop- 
 erty to his brother John, then residing at Watertown, 
 Mass. 
 
 John Bigelow was a blacksmith in Watertown, 
 Mass., as early as 1630. He was baptized Feb. 16* 
 1617, by the hand of Eev. John Philip, the rector' 
 who came to this country two years after Bigelow did, 
 and lived at Dedham, but fin.ally returned to England! 
 John Bigelow married, Oct. SO, 1642, Mary, daughter 
 of John Warren, of Watertown, Mass., which was the 
 earliest marriage recorded there. They had twelve 
 children, of whom Joshua, born Nov. 5, 1655, was the 
 sixth child. His wife died Oct. 19, 1691, and he mar- 
 ried again. He died July 14, 1703. His inventory 
 shows a good estate. 
 
 His son Joshua married, Oct. 20, 1676, Elizabeth 
 Flagg, and had twelve children, of whom John was 
 the third son, born Dec. 2, 1681. Mrs. Bigelow died 
 Aug. 9, 1729. In June, 1742, Joshua removed to 
 Westminster, Mass., and died, with his youngest son, 
 Eliezer, Feb. 21, 1745. He was wounded in King 
 Philip's war, and received a grant of land at Worces- 
 ter, Mass., for military services. 
 
 John Bigelow was four times married : first, to 
 
 Hannah , who died March 31, 1709 ; second, 
 
 to Sarah Bigelow, Nov. 4, 1709, who died Oct. 13, 
 1754; third wife, Abigail, died Aug. 1, 1760; and the 
 fourth wife was Hannah . 
 
 He had two children by his first wife and three by 
 his second. He lived at Colchester, Conn., where he 
 died March 8, 1770. A gravestone marks his resting- 
 place in the rear of the Congregational church at Col- 
 chester. One of his sons was David, born in 170G ; 
 married Editha Day, Dec. 11, 1729. She was born 
 Sept. 10, 1705, and died Jan. 19, 1746. He married 
 Mercy Lewis, Jan. 21, 1747. He had eight children 
 by his first marriage and four by his second. He 
 lived at Marlboro', Conn., and died June 2, 1799, and 
 was buried in the village yard. His fourth son, 
 Daniel, by his first wife, was born May 25, 1738, mar- 
 ried Mary Brainard, July 8, 1761, and died Nov. 11, 
 1822, aged eighty-eight years. His second wife was 
 Sarah Ingham, who died Oct. 8, 1820, aged seventy- 
 two years. He had seven children by his first wife, 
 one of whom was Stephen, born Jan. 18, 1762 ; and 
 seven children by his second wife. 
 
 Stephen Bigelow married Deborah Gates Smith, 
 March 5, 1793. They had three children, viz. : Mary 
 B., wife of Edmund Bailey, who went West and settled 
 in Eacine, Wis., and their descendants are among the 
 substantial citizens of that county ; Nancy M., wife of 
 Ichabod L. Skinner, and their descendants lived on 
 the AVestern Eeserve, in Ohio ; Jonathan Gates Bige- 
 low, born Dec. 15, 1798. Stephen died March 20, 
 1832, and his wife April 28, 1842. 
 
 Jonathan Gates Bigelow married Hope Skinner, 
 daughter of Deacon David Skinner, of Marlboro', 
 Conn., Sept. 13, 1827, by whom one son, David S., was 
 born, April 3, 1829. Mrs. Bigelow was born July 27, 
 
400 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1798, and died Dec. 13, 1870. Mr. Bigelow died 
 Marcli 23, 1874. Tliis family of Bigelows have been 
 farmers for six generations on the farm now (1881) 
 owned and occupied by David S. Bigelow, and for 
 many generations before. 
 
 David Skinner Bigelow, only son of Jonathan Gates 
 and Hope (Skinner) Bigelow, was born in that part 
 of the town of Colcliester known as Westclrester, 
 Conn., April 3, 1829. He prepared for college at 
 Phillips' Academy, Andover, Mass., and entered Yale 
 College in 1848, from which he graduated with honor 
 in the class of 1852. He has always lived in his na- 
 tive town, where he owns and carries on an extensive 
 grazing farm. His fellow-townsmen have repeatedly 
 elected him to important local ofiices. In 1863 he 
 rej)resented the town in the Legislature ; he has been 
 for twenty-nine years an efficient member of the town 
 school board, and in various ways is active in pro- 
 moting the best interests of his community. In politics 
 he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow are mem- 
 bers of the Congregational Church at Westchester, 
 Conn. He married, at Westchester, Nov. 9, 1852, 
 Abby M., daughter of Eevilo C. Usher. She was 
 horn June 7, 1833, in Colchester, Conn. They have 
 four sons, viz. : Amatus R., born Sept. 18, 1853 ; a 
 son, not named (deceased) ; Jonathan C, horn May 
 24, 1862 ; and David Skinner, born Sept. 6, 1868. 
 
 Amatus E. Bigelow married Lina C. Brown, daugh- 
 ter of Deacon Samuel Brown, June 7, 1877, and have 
 one daughter, Abby E., born March 2, 1878. Mrs. 
 Amatus E. Bigelow was born in Colchester, May 13, 
 1857. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXXIV. 
 FRAKKLO.i 
 
 In May, 1659, the General Assembly authorized the 
 l^lantirigof a colony in the Mohegan country, and the 
 following month Uncas and his brother Wawequa, for 
 the consideration of seventy pounds, ceded a portion 
 of their domain nine miles square, and including 
 within its limits the present towns of Norwich, Frank- 
 lin, Bozrah, Lisbon, and Sprague, with small portions 
 of adjoining towns. 
 
 The first settlement was made at what is now known 
 as Norwich Town, but in 1663 the meadows and up- 
 lands of West Farms, as Franklin was then called, 
 were portioned out among the occupants of the town, 
 to be improved by them, or, if they saw fit, passed 
 over into other hands. Soon after settlements were 
 made on the hillsides and up and down the streams, 
 and in a short time a thriving community occupied 
 the most desirable portions of the territory. 
 
 In 1710 the West Farms contained nearly fifty fami- 
 lies, who all felt that the burdens of maintaining a 
 connection with a society whose centre was so remote 
 
 By Aslibcl WoodwnrJ, M.D. 
 
 were far greater than those growing out of a separate 
 organization. They petitioned the town for leave to 
 organize a separate society, and alleged that the flour- 
 ishing of religion was their only motive, as they were 
 too far away to attend regularly the public services in 
 Norwich. 
 
 On the 19th of September, 1716, the inhabitants of 
 the town of Norwich agreed in general town-meeting 
 that " the West Farmers be allowed to be a society by 
 themselves." They next petitioned the General As- 
 sembly for an act of incorporation, and their petition 
 was readily sanctioned. The new society embraced 
 most of the present town of Franklin, the western 
 half of the town of Sprague, and the eastern part of 
 New Concord, now known as Bozrah. 
 
 The first meeting was held Nov. 1, 1716, and a com- 
 mittee being chosen, it was voted to proceed to the 
 erection of a church edifice, to call a minister, and 
 until the building was ready to meet for divine wor- 
 ship at private houses. The people were poor, and 
 the building of the church progressed but slowly, but 
 in October, 1718, they ordained their first minister, 
 Eev. Henry Willes. 
 
 One of the first acts of'the society was to provide 
 for a society school. It was kept on Meeting-house 
 Hill, and open for six months in the year. The in- 
 convenience experienced by those who resided upon 
 the outskirts of the settlement led, in 1727, to the 
 establishment of four school districts, — Portipaug, 
 Upper Windham Road, Lower AVindham Eoad, and 
 Lebanon Eoad. But the population was too scanty 
 for the maintenance of separate schools, and the di- 
 vision remained inoperative till in 1729 the difiiculty 
 was obviated by a school which traveled from district 
 to district, keeping six weeks in each. This migra- 
 tory school proved a great success. 
 
 The society early took care to provide a suitable 
 cemetery, and the ground, twice enlarged, is the one 
 in use at the present day. A few graves were, how- 
 ever, dug upon a sandy knoll jutting into the Great 
 Pine Swamp, which place is now commonly called 
 the Indian Burying-ground. 
 
 In 1734 the General Assembly permitted the people 
 of New Concord (the western part of the society) to 
 procure preaching by themselves, and two years later 
 incorporated them into a distinct society. The parent 
 society was deprived thereby of a fifth of their terri- 
 tory, and they resisted the movement vigorously, but 
 could they have foreseen the endless trouble destined 
 to follow in its train, they would doubtless have 
 staked their all upon the issue, for this secession 
 proved the first cause of twenty years of the most 
 turbulent commotion, and of a second more vital 
 change. The society had by that time outgrqjyn the 
 first church, probably a rude afi'air, and were nearly 
 agreed concerning the propriety of building a new 
 one, when the withdrawal of New Concord gave an 
 unexpected turn to the matter. Before her with- 
 drawal the church had stood in the exact centre of 
 
FEANKLIN. 
 
 401 
 
 the society, but then it was thrown a mile to one side. 
 About half the society contended for the original lo- 
 cation, and the other half strenuously maintained tliat 
 the church ought to stand farther east, in the new 
 centre. After several years of constant agitation, 
 during which time the society was at a standstill, as 
 the only egress, a majority petitioned the General 
 Assembly for a committee to come and settle the dis- 
 puted point. The committee visited West Farms in 
 the fall of 1741, and reported that it would "tend 
 most to peace and best accommodate the greater' part 
 of the people" to have the new church built on the 
 hill where the old meeting-house stood. The church 
 was finished in 1747, but the discord and dissension 
 were by no means at an end. The pastor, Eev. 
 Henry Willes, stood upon the Cambridge Platform of 
 1608, in which he had probably had the support of 
 his people, but the old division started up in a new 
 form. Half the society attacked their pastor for his 
 adherence to the Cambridge Platform, while the other 
 half were zealous in his defense. In 1748 the Gen- 
 eral Assembly was petitioned to divide West Farms 
 into two societies, one to be planted on the Cambridge, 
 the other on the Saybrook Platform. A committee 
 was sent out, but recommended no change. Four 
 years later another committee was sent out for the 
 same object, and with the same result. The society 
 had for fifteen years been engaged in uninterrupted 
 strife, during which the arbitration of the Legislature 
 had been continually invoked, but always with un- 
 satisfactory results, and both parties wisely concluded 
 that their troubles, if ever settled, must be settled by 
 themselves, and not by the interference of a higher 
 power. After a few years the majority became con- 
 vinced that separation alone could restore peace and 
 tranquillity, and in March, 1758, they consented to 
 the formation of a new society. These proceedings 
 received the ready sanction of the Legislature, and 
 the new society was incorporated as Norwich Eighth, 
 or Portipaug Society. 
 
 During these twenty years there was a display of 
 feeling unparalleled for bitterness and persistency in 
 the ecclesiastical annals of Connecticut. The issue 
 was doubtless best for all concerned, for the existing 
 breach was too wide ever to be healed, yet the loss to 
 West Farms in territory and numbers was a serious 
 one. New Concord and the Eighth Society combined 
 stripped her of over half of her territory and quite 
 half of her grand list. 
 
 In 1749, Mr. Willes' pastorate closed. He was suc- 
 ceeded by the Kev. John Ellis, who retained his 
 charge twenty-seven years. Mr. Ellis was the only 
 chaplain Avho remained in the Revolutionary war 
 from" its beginning to its close. Mr. Ellis hastened to 
 join the army at Eoxbury, in the fall of 1775, and 
 faithfully followed it through all its vicissitudes, es- 
 pecially doing much to cheer the drooping spirits of 
 his comrades during the long and gloomy winter at 
 Valley Forge. West Farms had then no political 
 
 existence ; her deeds were swallowed up in those of 
 the larger community to which she was attached, and 
 hence receive little mention in the local histories, but 
 her men met manfully the duties of those trying days. 
 We can point with pride to particular individuals. 
 Here Lieut. Jacob Kingsbury began his long and 
 honorable military career, serving with distinction 
 during the entire seven years of the war. Capts. Asa 
 Hartshorne, Ebenezer Hartshorne, and Joshua Barker 
 were also in the army for different periods, while upon 
 the water West Farms was well represented by the 
 exploits of Capt. James Hyde. Dr. Luther Water- 
 man was attached as surgeon to the forces under Col. 
 Knowlton in the campaign of 1776. 
 
 The close of the Revolution left the society in a 
 greatly embarrassed condition. During its progress 
 she had contributed freely of her men and means, 
 entering into the contest with such absorbing enthu- 
 siasm as left no room for the consideration of private 
 or local interests, and at its close she found herself 
 utterly prostrated, her school-houses decayed, the ed- 
 ucation of her sons neglected, her farms run to weeds, 
 and her people heavily loaded with debt. At no time 
 in her history had her prospects been more wretched. 
 A fortunate concurrence of circumstances, however, 
 soon placed her upon her feet, and restored her wonted 
 prosperity. In 1782, Rev. Samuel Nott, at the unani- 
 mous request of both church and society, was settled 
 as their pastor. Mr. Nott was a wise, judicious man, 
 eminently fitted to harmonize any discordant feeling 
 which might exist, and fitted by his energy to infuse 
 fresh life into the prevailing stagnation. Another 
 happy event was the incorporation of the West and 
 Eighth Societies as a separate town, which severed 
 the connection of West Farms with Norwich, and 
 insured a more efficient management of local affairs 
 than they had before received. Too much praise 
 cannot be bestowed upon the efforts of Rev. Mr. Nott 
 to ameliorate the condition of his people. Scrupu- 
 lously faithful in the discharge of pastoral duties, he 
 also did a vast deal towards the education of the 
 younger members of his parish, affording them op- 
 portunities of which tli€y gladly availed themselves. 
 During his long ministry more than forty young men 
 were fitted for college under his care, twenty of whom 
 belonged to the town, and between two and three 
 hundred gentlemen, ladies, or children were educated 
 in whole or in part. 
 
 Dr. Nott, by means of his teachings and wholesome 
 counsels, wielded a power for good in the land which 
 it has been the privilege of few to surpass. It was 
 mainly due to his influence that the Franklin Library 
 was established in 1794, an institution which flour- 
 ished for forty years, and furnished for the time a 
 good collection of miscellaneous works. Under these 
 different salutary influences the society rapidly re- 
 trieved her lost ground, and by the beginning of the 
 present century was perhaps as flourishing as ever. 
 
 As an independent, organized township, receiving 
 
402 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the name of Franklin from that of the great Ameri- 
 can philosopher, its history takes date from May, 
 1786. The separation from the parent town was per- 
 fectly amicable. The new town at that period con- 
 tained 133 families, 111 dwelling-houses, and 875 in- 
 dividuals. Its population remained nearly the same 
 till the village of Baltic grew up upon its eastern 
 border, when it attained to a population of 2358 souls, 
 in 1860. In 1861 the town of Sprague was incorpo- 
 rated, including a portion of our territory, so that in 
 1870 we numbered but 731. 
 
 There is no village in the town of Franklin. The 
 people are eminently an agricultural people, as were 
 most of the early settlers of New England. A former 
 resident of the town bequeathed funds for the estab- 
 lishment of a library, and these were augmented by 
 voluntary subscriptions. The library has been well 
 stocked with useful and instructive works, and is a 
 source of great pleasure and profit to the people. 
 
 The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the 
 Congregational Church of Franklin, Conn., was cele- 
 brated with appropriate ceremonies on the second 
 Wednesday (the 14th) of October, 1868. The two hun- 
 dredth anniversary of the settlement of the town had 
 but shortly elapsed, and it was thought proper to in- 
 clude the history of the town within the scope of the 
 historical address. This was delivered by Ashbel 
 AVoodward, M.D. The day appointed opened with 
 threatening clouds and damp, cutting winds, but not- 
 withstanding the inausijicious weather the church 
 was crowded at an early hour with the returning sons 
 and daughters of Franklin, some of whom had jour- 
 neyed from beyond the Mississippi to join in the fes- 
 tivities of the day, while others had come back gray- 
 haired men to once more grasp hands with the 
 playmates with whom they had parted half a century 
 before. 
 
 The town history and the ecclesiastical history are 
 so intertwined that it is almost impossible to separate 
 them. Years of prosperity are usually uneventful 
 years, and as it is tragedy that makes history, the 
 people of Franklin have reason for thanksgiving that 
 their local history is so barren of event. 
 
 Representatives from 1786 to 1881.' 
 
 1780, Barnabas Huntington ; 178Y, John Barker; 1788, Eli Ilydo ; 1789, 
 JolinCager; 1700, Eli Hyde; 1701, Nathan Lord; 1702, Eli Hyde: 
 1703, Thomas Hyde ; 170+, Eli Hyde ; 1705, Salis Hartshorn ; 1700^ 
 Silas Hartshorn, David Mason; 1797, David Mason, Thomas Hyde; 
 1708, Thomas Hyde; 1709, Nathon Lord ; 1800, John Gager, Eleazor 
 Tracy; 1801, Eloazor Tracy; 1802, Kathan Lord; 1803, Elislia Ed- 
 gertou ; 1804, Eleazer Tracy ; 1806, Nathan Lord ; 1806, Oliver John- 
 son ; 1807-9, Eleazer Tracy; 1810, Nathan Lord; 1811, Benjamin 
 Hyde, Joshua Hyde; 1812, Joshua Hyde, Eleazer Tracy; 1813, Ele- 
 azer Tracy, Dudley Tracy ; 1814, Dudley Tracy (seat vacated) ; 1816, 
 Daniel Hastings; 1816, Eleazer Tracy, Eli Hartshorn; 1817, Eli 
 Hartshorn, Joshua Tracy ; 1818, Joshua Tracy, Andrew Hyde ; 1819 
 Ira Ahel ■•> 1820, Alvin Abel ; 1821, Burrell "Woodworth ; 1822, Henry 
 Hagen ; 1823, Alvin Abel ; 1824, Simon Loomis ; 1825, Burrell Wood- 
 
 1 The first named under each year was for the May, and the second for 
 the October session. 
 
 ■ Under the new constitution only one session a year has been held, 
 in May. 
 
 worth ; 1326, Alvin Abel; 1827, Dyer McCall ; 1828, John Armstrong; 
 1820, Alvin Abel; 183C, Henry Hagen; 1831, Gilbert Lamb; 1832, 
 Buriell Woodworth ; 1833, Comfort D. Fillmore ; 1834, Oliver Tracj', 
 Jr.; 1835, Burrell Woodworth; 1836, Henry Hagen; 1837, Gilbert 
 Lamb; 1838, Alvin Abel; 1830, Joshua Tracy; 1840, Oliver Johnson, 
 Jr.; 1841, Charles Dunlap ; 1842, Eliliu M. Kingsley.; 1843, Darius 
 
 Frink ; 1814, Joshua Tracy ; 1845, ; 1840, Backus Smith ; 1847, 
 
 Asa B. Tracy; 1848, Charles T. Hazen ; 1840, Dwiglit Bailey ; 1850, 
 Aaron Bailey ; 1851, Elihu M. Kingsley ; 1852, Tourny Hyde; 1853, 
 John P. Smith ; 1854, George S. Hartshorn ; 1855, Solomon A. Frink ; 
 1856, Herman M. "Willes; 1857, Daniel Hastings; 1868, Henry W. 
 Kingsley ; 1850, Thomas G. Kingsley ; 1860, Charles T. Hazen ; 1861, 
 Samuel J. P. Ladd ; 1802, Bein T. Hastings ; 1863, John Frink ; 1864, 
 "William M. Converse; 1865, Prentice 0. Smith; 1806-67, William 
 M. Converse; 1868, James C. Woodward; 1860, T. H. C. Kingsbury; 
 1870, William M. Converse; 1871, Bela T. Hastings; 1872-73, T. H. 
 C. Kingsbury; 1874, William C. Smith; 1875-70, Henry Bellows; 
 1877, Ch.irles A. Kingsley; 1878, Amos F. Koyce; 1870, Joseph I, 
 Hyde; 1880, Ezra B. Bailej ; 1881, Austin Ladd. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 FRANKLIN— (Continued). 
 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Ashbel Woodward, M.D., son of Abner and Eu- 
 nice (Fuller) Woodward, and the eighth by lineal 
 descent from Richard Woodward, the emigrant an- 
 cestor of the family, was born at Wellington, Conn., 
 during the first decade of the present century. After 
 receiving a thorough preparatory course of education, 
 he graduated at the Medical Department of Bowdoin 
 College in May, 1829, and two months later he com- 
 menced his professional career at Franklin, Conn., at 
 which place, after a period of unusual continuanQe, 
 he is still engaged in active practice.^ He early mar- 
 
 3 The following is taken from the Hartford Daily Covriml of Sept. 8, 
 1879: " A large company of neighbors and friends, numbering between 
 two and three hundred, met at the residence of Dr. Ashbel Woodward, 
 of Frankli ii, on Friday afternoon, the 5th instant, to celebrate the flftieth 
 anniversary of bis settlement among them in the practice of medicine. 
 Except during tbeiirst three yeare, he has been throughout this loug 
 period the only physician in the town, and accordingly, through the 
 sanctities of the sick-chamber, has for several successive geneiutions 
 been brought into close relations with nearly every household. In our 
 land of unrest such instances of long-continued professional service in 
 one locality, particularly in rural communities, are memorable from their 
 infrequency. As the afternoon advanced the gathering throngs filled the 
 house and overflowed on the shady lawn iu front. Among other inci- 
 dents of the occasion, a massive gold-headed cane was presented to the 
 doctor. The head was elaborately wrought, and on the face was en- 
 graved : 
 
 '"1829. 
 
 Presented to 
 
 Ashbel Woodward, 
 
 M.D., 
 
 as a memorial 
 
 of 50 years 
 
 of professional 
 
 service, 
 
 1879.' 
 
 " Bev. F. C. Jones made the presentation speech for the donors, and to 
 
 his words of generous appreciation the recipient feelingly responded. 
 
 The Hon. Lafayette S. Foster, a native of Franklin, followed in a few 
 
 happy remarks, expressing his pleasure at meeting such a gathering of 
 
 his former townspeople under such auspicious circumstances 
 
 "The life of Dr. Woodward has been one of hard labor and of rigorous 
 devotion to duty. Fond of his profession, ho has aimed always to exalt 
 
' '^^■■- Ahn Pai nA - 
 
 'i^^^^^^6 yTcnyrl^o^sXAJi^^oC 
 
/\/,!^/t^^£^ 
 
■C'COC^C^r 
 
FKANKLIN. 
 
 403 
 
 ried Emeline, daughter of Samuel Bicknell, of Ash- 
 ford, and has two sons. 
 
 In 1830 he became a member of the Connecticut 
 Medical Society, and in 1859 was elected to the pres- 
 idency of the association, and was re-elected to the 
 same office during the two succeeding years. 
 
 In 1849 he became a member of the American 
 Medical Association, and in 1876 he was constituted 
 a member of the International Medical Congress. He 
 has likewise, in the past, been elected an honorary 
 member of several different State medical associa- 
 tions. 
 
 In 1855 he received the honorary degree of M.D. 
 from Yale College. 
 
 As a member of the Army Board of Medical Ex- 
 aminers, and as surgeon and medical director in the 
 Department of the Gulf, he served during almost the 
 entire period of our late civil war. 
 
 He has contributed numerous articles for " The 
 Transactions of the Connecticut Medical Society" 
 and other kindred works, but his researches in this 
 direction have not precluded him from exploring 
 other fields of science. The time that could be 
 snatched from more active labor has been devoted to 
 literary works, particularly in the lines of history of 
 our aboriginal tribes, American history, numismatics, 
 and genealogy. He has thus been connected and as- 
 sociated with numerous historical societies on both 
 sides of the water in most honorable positions. 
 
 Henry Williams Kingsley, son of Jason W. Kings- 
 ley and Eunice Hartshorn, was born in Frauklin, 
 Conn., April 9, 1820. His father, Jason W., son of 
 Alpheus Kingsley and Eunice Williams, a descend- 
 ant of the old Williams family of Lebanon, was 
 born in Franklin, Conn., married Eunice Hartshorn, 
 daughter of Silas Hartshorn, and granddaughter of 
 Ebenezer Hartshorn, who lived to be ninety years of 
 age, and who was a magistrate till his death, and 
 whose decision was never reversed by a higher court. 
 Jason had six children, — Silas H., deceased ; Henry 
 W. ; Junius E., proprietor of the Continental Hotel, 
 Philadelphia; Charles A., living on the old home in 
 Franklin ; Julia, died at three ; and Julia A., died at 
 twenty-three. 
 
 Jason Kingsley was a farmer and mechanic. He 
 was prominent in town, church, and society affairs. 
 In politics a Whig and Kepublican, and held all the 
 important town offices. He died in November, 1866, 
 aged seventy-seven, and wife died Dec. 30, 1868, 
 aged seventy-five, and both were buried in the Frank- 
 lin Cemetery. 
 
 Alpheus Kingsley was of Scottish descent, his an- 
 cestors having settled in the town of Scotland, Wind- 
 ham Co., Conn., whither they had come with many 
 others from Scotland. He married in Canterbury, and 
 
 its beneficence. On this occasion it must have been highly gratifying to 
 him to be reminded by numerous toliens of the loving esteem in which 
 ho is held by the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren of his early 
 friends." 
 
 had five sons and five daughters, viz. : Betsey, Nancy, 
 Sophia, Jason, Joseph, Elihu M,, Eunice, Alpheus, 
 Clarissa, and Simon, all married. 
 
 Alpheus Kingsley, Sr., was a Revolutionary sol- 
 dier, and was under Washington at Valley Forge. 
 He was a mason by trade. He died in 1850, at ninety 
 years of age ; wife died in 1840, aged eighty years. 
 
 Henry W. received a common-school education, 
 supplemented with several terms at private schools 
 in the town and vicinity. He was reared on the farm, 
 and farming has been his principal business through 
 life. He married, Feb. 15, 1843, Sarah E., daughter 
 of Azariah Huntington and Lavinia Greenslit, and 
 granddaughter of Azariah Huntington, Sr., and great- 
 granddaughter of Barnabas Huntington. They have 
 had two sons, — Henry H., born May 21, 1849, married 
 Hattie Noyes, of Lebanon, daughter of Wm. C. Noyes, 
 of Lebanon, Feb. 25, 1875. She died March 1, 1881. 
 Henry H. is a farmer and mechanic. Silas H., born 
 June 1, 1851, died October, 1870, at nineteen years of 
 age. He was a very bright boy. 
 
 Mr. Kingsley settled on his present farm of some 
 two hundred acres in March, 1850, having lived some 
 five years in the town of Bozrah, and several years 
 in another part of this town. He is one of the most 
 successful farmers in Franklin. 
 
 In politics he has always been a life-long Eepubli- 
 can. He has been selectman for fifteen years, and the 
 most of that time first selectman. Justice of the peace 
 for many years, and at the present time, September, 
 1881, the only one in town. He has been a member 
 of the Board of School Visitors fol- several years, and ■ 
 at present is its chairman. In 1858 he was in the 
 Legislature, and in 1869 in the State Senate. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley are members of the Congre- 
 gational Church at Franklin. He is now and has 
 been for several years a treasurer of that society. 
 He is a self-made man, social, energetic, and frugal, 
 — a man esteemed by all who know him. 
 
 Benjamin Franklin Huntington, son of Charles 
 Phelps and Maria (Perit) Huntington, was born in 
 Norwich, Conn., Oct. 24, 1813. His grandfather, 
 Andrew (born 1745, died 1824), was son of Gen. Jabez 
 Huntington, who was prominent in the Eevolutionary 
 period, one of the Committee of Safety, and a personal 
 friend of Gen. Washington. Andrew was commissary 
 under AVashington. Gen. Jedediah Huntington was 
 brother of Andrew. He was an aide to Gen. Washing- 
 ton. (See biography, elsewhere in this volume.) Gen. 
 Ebenezer, another brother, was also aide to Washing- 
 ton. Andrew always lived in Norwich ; was a mer- 
 chant and farmer ; was judge of probate for many 
 years. He was twice married, first to Lucy Coit, by 
 whom he had children, second to Hannah, daughter 
 of Dr. Charles Phelps, of Stonington. To this last 
 union were born two children, Chas. P. Huntington 
 and Lucy Coit Huntington, who married Col. Elisha 
 Tracy, of Norwich. 
 
 Charles P. was born Oct. 2, 1779. He was a mer- 
 
404 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 chant, often in public affairs, cool and cautious ; he 
 was prominent in all matters of public interest, and 
 often called to positions of trust, and represented 
 Norwich in the State Legislature several years. He 
 married, first, Charlotte Lathrop ; second, Maria Perit, 
 a descendant of an ancient Huguenot family of France, 
 driven from that country by religious persecution. 
 She was daughter of John and Ruth (Webster) Perit. 
 Her brother Pelatiah was president of the Chamber 
 of Commerce, New York, for twenty years. The 
 children of C. P. Huntington were John Perit, Ch.arles 
 Webster, Euth Leffingwell, Samuel Andrew, Benja- 
 min F., James Monroe, aud William Henry. 3Ir. 
 Huntington always lived in Norwich, and died there, 
 Sept. 28, 1850. 
 
 B. F. Huntington passed his early life in Norwich. 
 At the age of eighteen years he went to New York 
 City to take position as clerk for his brother, Chas. 
 W., where he remained until his health failed, to re- 
 cover which he went to sea and remained three years. 
 He then removed to Ohio, where he remained four 
 years, and returned to Connecticut, settling at Frank- 
 lin, in this county. He married, April 17, 1837, 
 Jlaria Louisa, daughter of James and Zervia (Tyler) 
 Huntington, of Norwich. Her grandfather was Eev. 
 John Tyler, for fifty-four years Episcopal clergyman 
 of Norwich. Their children are Benjamin Franklin, 
 Emily Lee (Mrs. Morton F. Hale, of Brantford, Can- 
 ada), Joseph Lawson Weatherly, Hannah Phelps 
 (Mrs. James M. Meech, of Norwich), Maria Perit 
 (Mrs. Llewellyn P. Smith, of Lebanon, Conn., on the 
 old Trumbull place). 
 
 By the circumstances of fortune placed in a com- 
 fortable position, Mr. Huntington, by reading, exten- 
 sive travel, and association with cultured society, has 
 found life's pathway rather a pleasant way ; and with 
 a large circle of friends, and with the most agreeable 
 family relations, he has learned something of the true 
 philosophy of life, and with a sense of positive enjoy- 
 ment is passing down the slope of age, and in trust- 
 ing confidence awaits the "twilight." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVL 
 
 GEISWOLD. 
 
 Geogmpljical — Topographical — The First Settlements — Eleazer .Tewett — 
 Early BranufactnreB— Later Wiiuufactures— The Slater Will — The 
 Ashland Company — The Water-Power — Je\Yctt City — Villages — Jewctt 
 City Savings-Bank — Knights of Pythias— Masonic — Distinguished 
 Sons of Grisu-old; George D. , Prentice, R. L. Stanton, Henry B. 
 Stanton, Moses C. Tyler. 
 
 The town of Griswold lies in the northeastern part 
 of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the 
 north by Windham County, on the east by Yoltin- 
 town, on the south by North Stonington and Preston, 
 and on the west by Preston and Lisbon. The surface 
 of the town is hilly, and the soil generally consists 
 of a gravelly loam. 
 
 The first settlement in this town was made at 
 Jewett City in 1771 by Eleazer Jewett, from whom 
 the village of Jewett City derived its name. He was 
 a persevering man, of a genial and kindly tempera- 
 ment, happy in doing good, and opening paths of 
 enterprise for the benefit of others without laboring 
 to enrich himself. Beginning with only a small farm 
 and a mill-seat on the Pachaug River, he lived to see 
 a flourishing village spread around him, enriched 
 with mills, stores, mechanical operations, and farms 
 in an improved state of tillage. His tombstone in 
 the cemetery at Jewett City bears the following in- 
 scription : 
 
 " In memory of Mr. 
 
 Eleazer Jewett, who 
 
 Died Dec. 7, 1S17, 
 
 in the SYth year of his age. 
 
 In April, 1771, lie began 
 
 the settlement of this village, 
 
 and from his persevering indnstry 
 
 and active benevolence it has 
 
 deiived its present importance. 
 
 Its name will perpetuate his memory." 
 
 Mr. Jewett had at first a grist-mill, and to this he 
 added a saw-mill, and sold out portions of land to 
 induce others to settle near him. About the year 
 1790 he was joined by John "Wilson, a clothier from 
 Massachusetts, whom he ejcouraged to set up a fiill- 
 ing-mill. We learn from Wilson's advertisement that 
 he was ready at his mill to accommodate the public 
 in December, 1793. 
 
 Li 1804, Elisha Rose had an oil-mill in the neigh- 
 borhood, and the same year John Soholfield, Jr., set a 
 carding-machine in operation upon the same stream, 
 advertising that he had a complete set of machinery 
 for picking, breaking, and carding wool; terms, 
 twelve cents per pound. 
 
 The Soholfield establishment was subsequently pur- 
 chased by Mr. Wilson, whose enterprise assisted 
 largely in the growth and prosperity of the village. 
 He was a man of solid sense and dignified deport- 
 ment, highly valued as a citizen. By a change of 
 boundaries and new acts of incorporation he became 
 an inhabitant of three different towns, and at distinct 
 periods was a selectman of Norwich, of Preston, ;ind 
 of Griswold without changing his abode. 
 
 In 1820, Mr. Wilson sold the woolen-mill to J. G. 
 W. Trumbull and John Breed. It was destroyed by 
 fire in 1827, and not rebuilt by the owners. Slater's 
 magnificent cotton-mill now occupies the site. 
 
 In 1814 the Fanning Manufacturing Company, con- 
 sisting of four partners, — Chas. Fanning, Christopher 
 Avery, Joseph Stanton, and Joseph C. Tyler, — erected 
 a mill upon the river, not far from Soholfield's, and 
 began the manufacture of cotton yarn and cotton 
 cloth. Christopher Lippitt was their agent. 
 
 The largest mill at present in Jewett City is the 
 cotton-mill owned by J. & W. Slater. It is a repre- 
 sentative institution, and one of the most complete 
 establishments of its kind in this section. 
 
'M0k^^j^^^ 
 
 R E S. O F D.A. G E E R, E 
 

 3R1 SWOLD, CONN. 
 
GRISWOLD. 
 
 403 
 
 The Ashland Cotton Company is a joint-stock cor- 
 poration, and is the successor of the firm of Anthony 
 & Adams, who carried on manufacturing at this 
 point. 
 
 J. E. Roberts also carries on quite an extensive 
 business as a " top-roll coverer." The above consti- 
 tute the manufactures of Jewett City. 
 
 But a portion of the immense water-power at Jew- 
 ett City is at present utilized. The Slater Mill and 
 the Ashland Comiaany form in themselves a manu- 
 facturing interest of no small proportion, but within 
 half a mile of the depot and post-ofiice is an un- 
 utilized water-power, cheaply available, capable, with 
 an eighteen-feet dam, of operating one hundred and 
 twenty thousand spindles. 
 
 Mr. H. L. Reade. in speaking of Jewett City, says, 
 " Long before its settlement by the whites it was a 
 noted place of residence for the red men. Along the 
 rapids of Pachaug they caught with curious contriv- 
 ances the fish that frequented that beautiful stream ; 
 in the lone forests along the shores of the Quinnebaug 
 they found game of all kinds in abundance, and prob- 
 Jibly one hundred years before the sound of the white 
 man's axe disturbed the solitudes the number of in- 
 habitants occupying the same territory was greater 
 than that of the present day. No spot for scores of 
 miles around (with one exception) has so long pre- 
 served so many and so curious samples of Indian hus- 
 bandry and war as this. 
 
 " As is usual, those almost inseparable attendants on 
 the earliest civilization, the saw- and grist-mills, were 
 first operated by the deflected waters of the turbulent 
 Pachaug. Flinging across the gorge a wide log and 
 bush-dam, and turning the stream to the nortliward, 
 along the base of the gradual ascent, the waters of 
 the stream that drains several considerable towns and 
 has at length gathered to its shore millions of dollars' 
 worth of property begun. 
 
 "Reading backwards seventy years, thirty years 
 onward from the first settlement, the oldest inhabit- 
 ants mention as the business men and the business of 
 the place Enoch Baker, the hatter ; John "Wilson, the 
 clothier, which by interpretation means a man who 
 converted home-made flannels into broadcloth ; Elea- 
 zer Jewett, who had added to his saw- and grist-mill 
 the hotel business; Frederick Fanning and Charles 
 Fanning, the merchants of the ' city' and country 
 roundabout. 
 
 Jewett City is a beautiful and healthful village, and 
 contains four churches, — Congregational, Methodist, 
 Baptist, and Roman Catholic, — two immense ma.nu- 
 factories, besides numerous mercantile establishments, 
 etc. It is an important station on the Korvvich and 
 Worcester division of the New England Railroad, 
 and is only three hours from Boston, the metropolis 
 of New England, and only six hours to New York, 
 the metropolis of the country, while Hartford and 
 Providence are still easier of access. 
 
 Many of the building sites contiguous to the village 
 
 are as charming as those on the Hudson, with the soli- 
 tary exception that the broader river with its wealth 
 of sails is not in the foreground. The present physi- 
 cians are William Soule and G. H. Jennings. 
 
 Hopeville is a cluster of houses about three miles 
 east of Jewett City. Here was located a cotton- and 
 woolen-mill, which was destroyed by 'fire. 
 
 ClayviUe is a small hamlet in the northwest part 
 of the town, and here is located the linen-thread mill 
 of A. B. Burleson & Son. 
 
 Glasgo is a small hamlet located in the southeast- 
 ern part of the town, and was named in honor of a 
 Mr. Glasgo, a colored man, who in an early day es- 
 tablished iron-works at this point. These works were 
 long since abandoned. The only manufactory now 
 is a paper-mill, which was established some years 
 ago. A post-oflBce is located here, with William P. 
 Young as postmaster. 
 
 The Jewett City Saving's-Baiik was incorporated 
 in 1873 with the following incorporators : Thomas L. 
 Shipman, Daniel S. Anthony, John W. Fanning, 
 Asher P. Brown, Thos. A. Clarke, Alfred A. Young, 
 John R. Tracy, Welcome A. Browning, Ira G. Briggs, 
 Andrew C. Burnham, Jeremiah K. Adams, Philetus 
 Rathbun, George Sanger, James O. Sweet, Erastus C. 
 Kcgwin, Hezekiah L. Reade, Phineas Boyle, Silas E. 
 Sherman, William Soule, Beriah H. Browning, Jo- 
 seph E. Leonard, Henry L. Johnson, F. P. Partridge, 
 John A. Rockwell, Alfred F. Brown, Israel Jlathew- 
 son, Levi J. Branch, Cornelius Murphy, Edwin La- 
 throp, Patrick Murtha. 
 
 The first president was Hezekiah L. Eeade, the 
 first vice-president Asher P. Brown, and the first 
 treasurer and secretary Henry T. Crosby. Both Mr. 
 Reade and ]Mr. Crosby have occupied these positions 
 to the present time. 
 
 The first board of directors were as follows : James 
 O. Sweet, Thomas A. Clark, Andrew C. Burnham, 
 Phineas Boyle, Silas E. Sherman, Welcome A. Brown- 
 ing, John A. Rockwell, Cornelius Murphy, William 
 Soule, Beriah H. Browning, John R. Tracy. Attor- 
 ney, Erastus C. Kegwin. 
 
 The first deposit was made June 23, 1873, by Miss 
 Mary L. Brown ; amount, SIOO. The present (Aug. 
 20, 1881) amount of deposits is $322,975. 
 
 The present board of directors or trustees are as 
 follows : Cornelius Murphy, John R. Tracy, Francis 
 S. Young, Albert G. Brewster, Henry L. Johnson, 
 Joseph E. Leonard, Israel Matliewson, Charles H. 
 Fanning, George W. Brown, Stephen Tiffany, and 
 Allen B. Burleson. E. C. Kegwin, attorney. 
 
 The present members of the corporation are as fol- 
 lows : Thomas L. Shipman, Daniel S. Anthony, John 
 W. Fanning, Alfred A. Young, John E. Tracy, Ira 
 G. Briggs, Andrew C. Burnham, Jeremiah K. Adams, 
 Philetus Rathbun, George Sanger, James 0. Sweet, 
 Erastus C. Kegwin, Hezekiah L. Reade, AVilliam 
 Soule, Beriah H. Browning, Joseph E. Leonard, 
 Henry L. Johnson, Frederick P. Partridge, John A. 
 
406 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Eockwell, Alfred F. Brown, Israel Mathewson, Levi 
 J. Branch, Cornelius Murphy, Edwin Lathrop, Fran- 
 cis S. Young, Albert G. Brewster, Henry Lyon, Dan- 
 iel M. Brown, George W. Brown, Stephen Tiffany, 
 Louis K. Potter, Charles H. Fanning, Allen B. Bur- 
 leson, George A. Ross, Clark W. Eeynolds, Edward 
 F. Burleson. 
 
 The present otfioers are as follows : President, Hez- 
 ekiah L. Reade; Vice-Presidents, James 0. Sweet, 
 Alfred A. Young; Treasurer and Secretary, Henry 
 T. Crosby. 
 
 Knights of Pythias. — A lodge was formed in 
 Jewett City on the 23d of February, 1873, consisting 
 of eighteen charter members. The first officers were 
 George 0. Stead, Past Chancellor ; Pv-obert B. Sher- 
 man, Chancellor Commander; Charles Thomas, V. 
 C. ; Edwin Ingraham, Prelate ; Thomas Chese- 
 borough, M. of E. ; Theodore Dunkerly, M. of F. ; 
 William Sherman, M. at A. ; John Hutchinson, K. 
 of E. and S. ; William Webster, I. G. ; James H. 
 Smith, 0. G. The first officers since the organization 
 to the present time have been Wm. Soule, M.D., Ed- 
 win Ingraham, Edwin Sherman, H. M. Miner, Amos 
 P. Davis, Wm. C. Blivin, and Joseph Eood, who 
 is C. C. at this date. This lodge has been greatly 
 prospered, having 115 names of members upon its 
 roster, and although some have died and many moved 
 away, it is at present a strong and well-working lodge. 
 It has ever relieved its distressed or sick members, 
 furnished watchers for all who have needed them, 
 cared for the dying, and buried with loving hands 
 and sad hearts all its dead. Its ministrations to those 
 who have had need have always been ready, and the 
 source of lasting gratitude from many. It has paid 
 out for relief and burial more than five hundred dol- 
 lars. It has now on hand in property and cash in 
 bank about fifteen hundred dollars. Its beautiful 
 burial service has been read at the grave of all its 
 dead, and touching tributes to their memory have been 
 rendered in all instances. Its aim has ever been and 
 will continue to be to relieve the distressed, lift up the 
 fallen, wipe away the tears of the sorrowing, comfort 
 the widow and the orphan, and thus contribute 
 towards the erection of that monument sacred to 
 friendship, under whose shadow virtue and truth 
 shall ever flourish, and vice and crime shall flee 
 away, and thus hasten the day when every kindred 
 and nation and tongue and people under the whole 
 heavens shall acknowledge the common brotherhood 
 of man and the universal fatherhood of God. 
 
 Mount Vehnon Lodge, No. 75, F. & A. M., was 
 organized Nov. 21, 1871. The charter members were 
 F. H. Fanning, Wm. G. Duce, D. K. Prior, B. M. Gay, 
 Amos Chesbrough, Nehemiah Prentice, L. D. Arms- 
 trong. The first officers were F. H. Fanning, W. M. ; 
 W. G. Duce, S. W. ; D. K. Prior, J. W. The Past 
 Masters are F. PL Fanning, 1871-73; W. G. Duce, 
 1874-75 ; D. K. Prior, 1876-78 ; Israel Mathewson, 
 1879-80. The present officers are Thomas M. Crumb, 
 
 W. M. ; Charles H. Eay, S. W. ; Charles Edward 
 Prior, J. W. ; D. K. Prior, Treas. ; A. E. Young, Sec; 
 Eev. G. N. Kellogg, Chap. ; Alpheus Weaver, Mar- 
 shal ; H. A. Brown, S. D. ; James L. Eay, J. D. ; 
 Gilbert McBroome, S. S. ; Antoine Maynardj J. S. ; 
 Charles Edward Prior, Organist; Thomas E. Lee, 
 Tyler. 
 
 George Denison Prentice was born in this 
 town. He graduated at Brown University in 1823, 
 studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1829, but 
 did not practice. In 1830 he removed to Louisiana, 
 having been editor of the Hartford WeeJdy Review for 
 two years previous. From this time until his death 
 he was editor of the Louisville Journal, a, Whig news- 
 paper, which throughout the war opposed the cause 
 of secession with much vigor. He was a man of great 
 personal courage, keen-witted, bitterly sarcastic, and of 
 high political sagacity. He published various poems 
 of merit, also a life of Henry Clay in 1831, and a 
 collection of witty paragraphs from his paper called 
 Prenticeana. 
 
 E. L. Stanton, D.D., a conspicuous divine in the 
 Presbyterian Church, is a native of Griswold. His 
 brother, Henry B., was also born here. He is a law- 
 yer in New York, best known as the husband of Eliza- 
 beth Cady Stanton. Another son of this town is 
 Moses C. Tyler, who is acquiring an enviable reputa- 
 tion as the author of the " History of American Lit- 
 erature," of which one volume is already before the 
 public. He wields a polished pen. He is now a 
 professor at Ann Arbor University, Michigan. 
 
 Eev. William J. Tuckee, D.D., Bartlet Professor 
 of Sacred Ehetoric and Lecturer on Pastoral Theology, 
 born in Griswold, Conn., first settled as pastor in 
 Manchester, N. H., afterwards settled as the successor 
 of Eev. William Adams, D.D., over the Presbyterian 
 Church, Madison Square, New York. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIL 
 
 GMSWOLD— (CoEtinued). 
 
 ecclesiastical— CIVIL. 
 
 Tlio First Congregational Cluircli of Griswold— Congregational Church, 
 Jewett City — Episcopal Church — Baptist Church — Koman Catholic 
 Church — Methodism in Griswold — Kepresentatives from 1816 to 1882. 
 
 First Church in Griswold. — Griswold was incor- 
 porated as a town in 1815. In the early records of the 
 ecclesiastical society it is designated as North Pres- 
 ton, being originally a part of Preston. 
 
 Precisely what year the people began having divine 
 worship separate from the church in Preston the rec- 
 ords do not show. In 1717, thirty-one years after 
 the town was settled, the people in North Preston 
 were divided on the question of locating a site for a 
 meeting-house. On May 9th of that year the Legis- 
 lature appointed a committee of two to determine the 
 
73 
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 m 
 CO 
 
 r 
 o 
 
 P3 
 
 a 
 n 
 
 D 
 
 z 
 z 
 
GEISWOLD. 
 
 407 
 
 site, which was accordingly clone. But the two parties, 
 designated "petitioners" and "non-petitioners," soon 
 came to a compromise, and changed the location to 
 the place where the present house now stands. 
 
 The following vote will show what signiiicance was 
 attached to the erection of a meeting-house one hun- 
 dred and fifty years ago : 
 
 " Voted, That there shnll be forty-one shillings and eight pence of the 
 Society's money laid out for one hundred weight of cheese for the raising 
 * of our meeting-house." 
 
 In October, 1719, the inhabitants of the society 
 (there was no church) chose Mr. Hezekiah Lord to 
 he their minister. In the year following, Xov. 30, 
 1720, what is now the First Church in Griswold was 
 organized, and Mr. Lord was ordained and installed 
 pastor the same day. 
 
 Mr. Lord was born in Saybrook, and was graduated 
 at Yale College, 1717. His death occurred June 23, 
 1761. 
 
 The second pastor was Eev. Levi Hart, D.D., who 
 was born in Southington. He was graduated at Yale 
 College, 1760, and was ordained and installed pastor 
 Nov. 4, 1762. He died Oct. 29, 1808. 
 
 Kev. Horatio Waldo was the third pastor. He was 
 ordained and installed Feb. 14, 1810, and dismissed 
 Sept. 2, 1828. Near the close of his ministry the 
 Second Congregational Church was organized at 
 Jewett City. Twenty members were dismissed from 
 the First Church to form the Second. Thus what 
 was originally one "became two bands." 
 
 The next pastor was Eev. Spofibrd D. Jewett, who 
 was born in Barnstead, N. H. He was graduated at 
 Dartmouth College, 1826, ordained and installed pas- 
 tor Feb. 3, 1830, and dismissed June, 1836. He was 
 afterwards settled in Windsor and Westchester. 
 
 Eev. William E. Jewett was ordained and installed 
 pastor Jan. 13, 1837. Dismissed July 26, 1843. 
 
 Eev. Calvin Terry succeeded Mr. Jewett. He was 
 ordained Dec. 23, 1846, and dismissed April 22, 1851. 
 
 Eev. B. F. Northrop was graduated at Yale College 
 in 1824. For almost twenty-two years he held the 
 pastorate of the First Congregational Church in Man- 
 chester, which he resigned on account of failing 
 health. After serving the American Sunday-School 
 Union two years as its agent, he was installed pastor 
 of the First Church in Griswold, July 6, 1853. He 
 resigned during 1869, and in April, 1871, Eev. F. E. 
 Fellows became pastor and remained about four years, 
 and was succeeded by the present efficient pastor, 
 Eev. Wm. B. Clarke. 
 
 Previous to the Eevolutionary war a fund was raised 
 for the support of the gospel in Griswold, which was 
 added to early in the present century. This fund con- 
 tinues to the present time, and amounts to about ten 
 thousand dollars. 
 
 The church in its better days, from forty to a 
 hundred years ago, was one of the strongest and the 
 community one of the most intelligent in Eastern Con- 
 necticut. The congregation came from a great dis- 
 
 tance in all directions, and ranked with that in Leb- 
 anon and in Norwich. 
 
 Congregational Church, Jewett City. — On the 
 18th of February, 1825, a meeting of citizens was 
 called to take measures for instituting a Congrega- 
 tional society in Jewett City, to be known and called 
 " The Second Ecclesiastical Society of Griswold." 
 An adjourned meeting being held March 14th, the 
 society was fully organized and the proper officers 
 appointed. 
 
 At the request of the serious people of the Second 
 Ecclesiastical Society in Griswold, Eev. Messrs. Sam- 
 uel Nott, Levi Nelson, and Horatio Waldo met at 
 Jewett City on the 14th day of April, 1825, to organ- 
 ize a church in this place, if it should be thought 
 expedient. Statements having been made by a com- 
 mittee of the society, and certificates presented of the 
 regular church membership of several persons who 
 were desirous of being formed into a distinct church, 
 with the consent of those churches to which they be- 
 longed, the organization was effected in due form, in 
 connection with public services at their house of wor- 
 ship. The church at first consisted of the following 
 twenty-three members, twenty of whom came by let- 
 ter from the First Church in Griswold : Deacon Ste- 
 phen Johnson, Mrs. Lydia Johnson, Daniel Wight, 
 Mrs. Eoxana Wight, Thomas H. Wilson, ]Mrs. Lucy 
 E. Wilson, John Francis (2), Mrs. Esther Francis, 
 Oliver Phillips, Sarah P. Phillips, Mrs. Lydia John- 
 son, Mrs. Elizabeth Barstow, Mrs. Maria P. Morgan, 
 Mrs. Abby C. Wilbur, Mrs. Eunice Cutler, Mrs. Mary 
 W. Fanning, Mrs. Heppy Fanning, Alfred A. Young, 
 Mrs. Lucy P. Young, Thomas Jackson, Mrs. Esther 
 Jackson, Anson S. Cobb, Mrs. Mary Wilson. 
 
 Their place of worship was an unfinished stone 
 structure in the upper part of the village, erected in 
 1814 for Episcopal uses. This organization becoming 
 extinct at the end of four years, the building was then 
 occupied by several other denominations until April, 
 1825, when it was bought by the Congregationalists. 
 Afterwards it was remodeled and dedicated Sept. 3, 
 1828, and continued to be used by them for thirty- 
 eight years. It was then sold to the Eoman Catholics, 
 the avails of which were appropriated towards build- 
 ing a new and more spacious edifice. 
 
 Eev. Seth Bliss was the first pastor of this church 
 and people. He was ordained June 15, 1825. The 
 exercises were as follows : 
 
 Introductory prayer by Eev. Samuel Osgood, of 
 Springfield. 
 
 Sermon by Prof. Fitch, of Yale College : Col. i. 28. 
 
 Consecrating prayer by Eev. Samuel Nott, of 
 Franklin. 
 
 Charge to the pastor by Eev. Joseph Strong, D.D., 
 of Norwich. 
 
 Eight hand of fellowship by Eev. John Hyde, of 
 Preston. 
 
 Charge to the people by Eev. Levi Nelson, of 
 Lisbon. 
 
408 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Mr. Bliss was dismissed April 23, 1832, after a pas- 
 torate of nearly seven years, and subsequently entered 
 the service of the American Tract Society. Fifty-six 
 persons united with this church during his ministry, 
 — thirty-seven by profession and nineteen by letter. 
 
 Eev. George Perkins, from Ashburnham, Mass., 
 was installed as the next pastor, Aug. 8, 1832, — ser- 
 mon by Eev. Dr. Nott, of Frantlin, — and dismissed 
 Sept. 4, 1838. During his ministry of six years there 
 were fifteen additions, — eleven by profession and four 
 by letter. After his dismission he removed to Nor- 
 wich, where he died, Sept. 17, 1852, aged sixty-nine. 
 
 Eev. William AVright was ordained Nov. 8, 1838, — 
 sermon by Rev. Mr. Arnold, of Colchester, — and dis- 
 missed April 28, 1842. Eighteen were added to the 
 church during his ministry, — eight by profession 
 and ten by letter. 
 
 He was succeeded by Rev. T. L. Shipman, who was 
 installed April 5, 1843, having been previously pas- 
 tor of the First Church in Southbury. Sermon by 
 Eev. Dr. Child, of Norwich. During his pastorate of 
 eleven years this church was increased by eighty- 
 seven members, — thirty-six by profession and fifty- 
 one by letter. Mr. Shipman was dismissed Sept. 6, 
 1854, but still continues to reside in tlie place, where 
 he shares the confidence of a people who will cA'er 
 remember him with a warm affection. 
 
 Eev. Henry T. Cheever was installed May 29, 1856, 
 having been previously settled at Lodi, N. J., Christie 
 Street, N. Y., and Greenport, L. I. Prof. Shepard, of 
 Bangor Theological Seminary, preached the sermon. 
 He was dismissed Aug. 12, 1861. Additions under 
 his ministry, thirty-seven,— ten by letter and twenty- 
 seven by profession. 
 
 For several years from this date the pulpit was sup- 
 plied by different ministers, mainly by Eev. Messrs. 
 Shipman, Boss, and Laird. 
 
 The present pastor, Eev. J. W. Tuck, was installed 
 May 3, 1866, having been previously settled in Lud- 
 low and Thorndike, Mass. For better convenience, 
 the services were held in the Baptist meeting-house. 
 
 Invocation and reading of the Scriptures by Rev. 
 N. T. Allen, of the Baptist Church, Jewett City. 
 
 Prayer by Rev. M. M. G. Dana, of Norwich. 
 
 Sermon by Rev. T. P. Field, D.D., of New London. 
 
 Installing prayer, Rev. William M. Birchard, of 
 Collamer. 
 
 Charge to the pastor. Rev. T. L. Shipman, of Jewett 
 City. 
 
 Right hand of fellowship. Rev. R. P. Stanton, of 
 Greeneville. 
 
 Address to the people. Rev. B. F. Northrup, of 
 Griswold. 
 
 Concluding prayer. Rev. J. Edgar, of Eagleville. 
 
 The deacons of the church have been as follows : 
 Stephen Johnson, chosen April, 1825; Joel Hyde, 
 September, 1848; Henry L. Johnson, September' 
 1854; Nehemiah T. Adams, September, 1854; John 
 R. Tracy, January, 1867. 
 
 The venerable and talented Rev. T. L. Shipman, iu 
 an historical address, delivered April 25, 1875, in 
 speaking of the pastors, says, — 
 
 "The first pastor, Mr. Setli Bliss, was installed June 25, 1825, and con- 
 tinned in tliis, his first and last pastorate, nearly seven years. Soon after 
 his dismission he was elected to the office of corresponding secretary of 
 the American Tract Society, from which he retired several years since. 
 He resides at present in Berlin, Conn, Now more than fourscore years, 
 he came to this village yonng, and with a ' mind to work,' and finding in 
 this new field work enough to do. Nor was he suffered to 'labor in 
 vain and spend his strength for naught.' His pastorate included 1831, 
 that ) e.ar so reniiirlviilile for a wide-spread revival of religion, and this 
 infant church shared largely in the outpouring of the Spirit. Twenty- 
 four were added to the church on profession the first Sabbath of July, 
 the first fruits of the work, four in Seijtember, and seven in November, 
 making an aggregate of thirty-five. When Mr. Bliss revisits his old 
 home, as he loves to, he meets few familiarfaces, but he expresses an in- 
 terest in tills churcli which he feels in no other people. May he still 
 live to pray for us and to rejoice in our prosperity. 
 
 "Tlie next pastor was Eev, George Perkins. He was a native of Plain- 
 field, a graduate of Tale College, and a lawyer in early public life. Soon 
 after, changing his profession, he was settled for a few years at Ashburn- 
 ham, Mass, He w.aa instiUled as pastor of this church in August, 1832, 
 and dismissed in September, 183S. I need nut descant upon his ministry. 
 Some of you remember in what manner ho went in and out before you, 
 serving you with all humility of mind, seeking not yours but you. He 
 was never made to be a popular speaker, but he preached seven days iu 
 the week eloquently, by the power of a holy life. I met him at Nor- 
 wich not long before his death. I said to him as we met, ' You seem to 
 walk lame!' He replied, 'I have had a slight par.alytic shock,' 'An 
 uncle of mine,' said I, 'called it death knocking at the door,' and he 
 added, writing to a friend, ' He does not generally knock many times.' 
 'I so regard it,' 'It does not trouble you?' *0h, no; I long to be gone. 
 That last blow crushed me,' referring to the death of his son, who was 
 instantly killed while employed in capturing a whale, by a stroke from 
 the fluke of the monster. 
 
 "Mr, Peikins was succeeded by Mr. William Wright. Mr. Wright 
 came fresh from the theological seminary in New Haven, and after 
 laboring less than three years asked for a dismission, giving as his rea- 
 son inadequate support. He retired in the midst of a reviv.al which 
 added some twenty names to our small church. After leaving here he 
 was employed for some time at Plainville ; his last engagement was for 
 ten years at South Windsor. He now resides near Middletown, farming, 
 and, I believe, occasionally preaching. My own ministry commenced 
 on the Sabbath following Mr. Wright's dismission, the second Sabbath 
 of May, 1842, and W!is protracted, either as stated supply or pastor, to the 
 close of May, 1856,— fourteen yeai-s. I need not speak of my mioistiy, 
 if it were becoming me to speak of it, for it is fresh in your recollection. 
 Suffice to say that whatever was good in it you appreciated beyond its 
 value, and over its faults, many and great, you threw the mantle of 
 charity. On the 29th of May, 1856, Eov, Henry T, Cheever was installed, 
 the late Prof, Shepard, of Bangor, preaching on the occasion. Mr. 
 Cheever was a native of Hallowell, Me., and a graduate of Bowdoin 
 College, in that State, His ministry was fulfilled among us in stirring 
 times, and his soul was stirred to its depths during all the time he was 
 with us. Tlie outrages in Kansas and the execution of John Brown, 
 whom he often styled iu prayer and preaching ' the martyr-hero,' called 
 forth fi-om his lips words of burning indignation, and from his pen de- 
 nunciations couched in language having any element but tamenesg. 
 Whatever may be thought of his modes of dealing with that 'sum of 
 villanies,' American slavery, all will accord him the praise of sincerity; 
 and his gospel sermons, as distinguished from discourses on the times, 
 all will agree were among the best that it was ever their privilege to 
 listen to. During his ministry twenty-seven wero added to the church 
 on profession, the most of them the fruits of a precious revival in 1868. 
 From the time of Mr, Cheever's dismission to the commencement of our 
 present pastor's labors among us tlie pulpit was supplied by various per- 
 sons, for periods longer or shorter, principally by Mr. Boss, Mr. laiixi, 
 and myself. Mr, Laird closed a brief but very faithful ministry at 
 Hollis, N, H,, dying with consumption, Augflst 20, 1874, aged forty-six 
 years, 'Precious in the sight of the Lord is tlie death of His saints,' 
 Our present pastor, Bev, J, W, Tuck, commenced his labors with us as a 
 temporary supply in the autumn of 1805, and was installed, in response 
 to a unanimous call, May 3, 1860, Dr. Field, of New London, preaching 
 on the occasion. Ho has now been with us nearly nine years as a pas- 
 
f '. - " * *! 
 
 res.of Deacon H.L.JOHii 
 
S0N,JEWITT ClTY,CONN. 
 
GRISWOLD. 
 
 409 
 
 tor, diiriug which he has labored diligently and faithfully. I shall not 
 say what I certainly should were he at this moment absent, recreating 
 in Colorado or California, but this much I may record to the praise of 
 divine grace, thiit the church has been strengthened in numbers, and I 
 trust in graces ; also, under his pastoral care two revivals have been en- 
 joyed, the first adding more than twenty, and the last more than forty 
 to the church on profession." 
 
 Episcopal Church, — An Episcopal Church was 
 organized in Jewett City in about the year 1814, and 
 erected an unfinished house of worship, which stood 
 in the upper part of the village. It soon after de- 
 clined, and no other attempt to establish the Episco- 
 pal service has been made. The first and only rector 
 was Eev. Ammi Eogers. 
 
 Baptist Church, Jewett City.'— The first recorded 
 steps towards the formation of a Baptist Church in 
 this place were taken in the spring of 1783. As a 
 result of these efforts a church was formally organized 
 July 6, 1786, at the house of Amos Eead, Lisbon. 
 It took the name of the Preston and Canterbury 
 Church. Subsequently Mr. Read united with the 
 church, was chosen deacon, and in 1802 waS ordained 
 their first regular pastor. They united with the school 
 district in building a school-house sufficiently large 
 for meeting purposes. This house stood on the site 
 of the old " Fenner store." In 1813 they united with 
 the Episcopalians in building a regular house of wor- 
 ship. They now numbered 162, and had as a pastor 
 Rev. Caleb Read, a son of their former pastor. A 
 majority of the stock in this house was bought up by 
 a single individual and the house closed against them. 
 Their subsequent history till 1840 is written out in 
 quite a lively persecution. 
 
 In the spring of 1840, Eev. Benajah Cook came 
 among them to labor. He found the church disor- 
 ganized and dispirited. However, he succeeded in 
 gathering a band of thirty-seven, who on Sept. 13, 
 1840, were organized into what is still known as the 
 Jewett City Baptist Church. They elected Reuben 
 Barber and Eufus Williams to be deacons. They 
 built and dedicated a houseof worship Nov. 30, 1841. 
 This same house, twice enlarged and remodeled, is 
 still used. Its estimated value, with its surroundings, 
 is eleven thousand dollars. 
 
 The church has had seven regular pastors, — Eevs. 
 B. Cook, 1840-49 ; D. D. Lyon, 1850-03 ; N. T. Allen, 
 1855-63 ; N. T. Allen, 1865-67 ; C. W. Eay, 1868-70 ; 
 S. Latham, 1872-73; R. H. Bowles, 1873-76; 0. C. 
 Sargent, 1878. 
 
 The following have served as deacons : Eufus Wil- 
 liams, Eeuben Barber, B. A. Smith, F. S. Howe, and 
 T. G. Read. 
 
 The present membership is two hundred and twenty. 
 The present officers are as follows : O. C. Sargent, pas- 
 tor ; B. A. Smith, T. G. Read, deacons ; E. Bennett, 
 clerk ; D. K. Prior, treasurer. 
 
 The following is a list of the constituent members 
 as they were recorded: Benajah Cook, Rufus Wil- 
 liams, Reuben Barber, Stephen Tift, Albert Wilson, 
 
 1 Contributed by Eev. 0. C. Sargent. 
 
 Nathan B. Peckham, Rufus Bennett, Arnold Bowen, 
 Nancy P. Cook, Olive Wilson, Lydia Park, Margaret 
 Peckham, Nancy Bennett, Thankful Law, Zilphia 
 Ann Howe, Almy L. More, Charlotte Stillman, Mary 
 Ann Brown, Susan Phillips, Maria Olin, Joanna 
 Phillips, Rosanna Ecclestone, Olive Corey, Elijah D. 
 Foster, Loinda Foster, Adah Smith, Cynthia Brooks, 
 Ursula Hawkins, Susan Tift, Adah Bowen, Martha 
 Ecclestone, Jane Street, Susan L. Street, Betsey Pratt, 
 Elizabeth Fry, Margaret Barber, Amy Davis AVright. 
 Catholic Church.'' — In past years the Catholics of 
 Jewett City were few and scattered, their spiritual 
 wants being occasionally attended to by Rev. Father 
 McCabe, of Danielsonville, whose mission then in- 
 cluded several counties in Eastern Connecticut. 
 
 In 1861, Eev. James Quin was stationed atMorsup, 
 and at the same time was given by his bishop juris- 
 diction over the Catholics of the town of Griswold. 
 In April, 1866, he purchased of the Second Congrega- 
 tional Society their church property for seventeen 
 hundred dollars. He continued to watch carefully 
 over the interests of his flock till 1870, when he was 
 removed to Eockville, where he died, November, 1872, 
 He was succeeded by the Eev. Ferdinand Bolenger, 
 who from Morsup still continued the work so well 
 begun by his predecessor. He in turn was succeeded 
 in October, 1872, by the Eev. James B. Eeynolds. 
 He was the first resident pastor. Of a delicate con- 
 stitution, he soon succumbed to the hardships of his 
 extensive missionary field, and died of pneumonia after 
 a short pastorate, December, 1874. In the January fol- 
 lowing Eev. John Eussell, of Minden, assumed charge. 
 Meanwhile the Catholics had increased in numbers; 
 the church proving too small for their accommodation, 
 it was enlarged and embellished at the cost of several 
 thousand dollars by Eev. J. Eussell. For three years 
 and a half he worked incessantly for the good of his 
 people. In June, 1878, he was removed to Norwalk, 
 and the Eev. Thomas P. Joynt was chosen his suc- 
 cessor. Since his ad vent he has built the new beauti- 
 ful parsonage. The Catholics of Jewett City number 
 about one thousand, of whom one-third are French 
 Canadians. 
 
 Methodism in Griswold.'— There are three Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Churches in the town of Griswold. 
 The Bethel Church is the mother-church in this town. 
 A Methodist class was formed there over seventy-five 
 years ago, and for a number of years held their meet- 
 ings in dwelling-houses and school-houses. It is over 
 fifty years since the church was built. 
 
 The next church was in Hopeville. A class was 
 formed there in June, 1830, of twelve members, by 
 Eev. E. Eansom, from England, who, with two or 
 three other ministers, formed classes and circuits in 
 many of the adjoining towns. The church at Hope- 
 ville was built in 1851, the parsonage in 1847. Their 
 
 2 Contiibuted by Eev. Tliomas P. Joynt. 
 
 3 Contiibuted by Eev. S. McKenwn. 
 
410 
 
 HISTOKY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 first pastor was Kev. Mr. H. Robinson. About twenty 
 ministers have occupied tbe pulpit since; over one 
 hundred and fifty have been baptized and joined on 
 probation. Owing to deaths and removals, the church 
 is now small. The pulpit is supplied by the pastor 
 at Jewett City, Eev. Mr. McKeown. 
 
 The church at Jewett City is young but prosperous. 
 Services were first held in Liberty Hall, April 12, 1874, 
 when a class was formed, church and Sabbath-school 
 organized. In April, 1875, the Providence Confer- 
 ence met at New Bedford, Mass., when Bishop James 
 appointed Rev. James Tregaskis to Jewett City. He 
 was their first pastor. A church edifice was com- 
 menced in May, 1875, and on Jan. 27, 1876, was dedi- 
 cated. The next pastor was D. G. Grifiln, for one 
 year, then Rev. George W. Brewster, for three years. 
 Mr. Brewster was succeeded in 1881 by the present 
 pastor. Rev. S. McKeown. 
 
 BEPRESEXT.\TIVES FROM ISIO TO 1SS2. 
 1816, John Tjler, Jimies Lord; 1817, Daniel Huntington, Eisliop Tyler; 
 1S18, Katlmn Geer, William Cogswell; 1819, E. J. Abel; 18:;u, G. 
 Billings; 1821, A. Stewart, Jr. ; 1822, Elijah Lester; 1823-24, Wil- 
 liam Lord; 1825, S.O.Morgan; 1826, Charles Eaiiuiug; 1827, E. 
 Partridge; 1S2S, W.A.Browning; 1829, Nathan Stanton; 1830, S. 
 0. Morgan ; 1831-32, William Tucker ; 1833, W. A. Browning ; 1834, 
 S.C.Morgan; 1836, D. Huntington; 1830, W'jlliam Lord; 1837, F. 
 Brewster; 1838, James Avcrill ; 1839, William ¥. Clarke; 184U, J. 
 T.vler, Jr.; 1S41, Oliver Coit ; 1842, A. Fry; 184.i, 11. L, Morgan; 
 1844, Joseiih Leonard; 1845, IL L. Morgan; 184(i, B. F. BilHugs; 
 1847, Uussel Eix ; 1848, H. L. Johnson ; 1S49, II. A. Lathrop ; 18S0, 
 D. L. CampUell; 1851, H. L, Johnson ; 1852, B. F, Billings; 1853, 
 L. A. Stuart; 1854, Joseph Boardman ; 1855, M. B. Cole; 185G, B. 
 Oamijhell ; 1857, B. M. Gay ; 1858, N. Prentice ; 1850, A. P. Brown ; 
 18(iO, F. S. Young; 1801, E. Lathrop; 18G2, E. C. Kegwin; 1803, 
 Joseph Leonard; 1SC4, Daniel Vaughn; ISUo, George W'eatlierhead; 
 1800, N.T.Adams; 1807, J.E.Tracy; 1808, A.E.Campbell; 1809, 
 Paul Conch ; 1870, J. G. Bill ; 1871, A. M. Leanud ; 1872, Georgo W. 
 Brown; 1873, B.U, Browning; 1874, Joseph Hood; 1875,1. Matliew- 
 son; 1870, J. 0. Sweet ; 1877, J.E.Leonard; LS78, George Board- 
 man; 1870, Frank Hawkins; 1880, A. B, Campbell; 1881, F. H. 
 Fanning. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIIL 
 
 GKISWOLD— (Continued). 
 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Thomas LefRngwell Shipman, son of Judge Na- 
 thaniel Shipman and Abigail Coit, his \vife, was born 
 in Norwich, Conn., in a house situated almost directly 
 across the street from the Benedict Arnold house 
 Aug. 28, 17'JS. His ancestors on both sides were 
 very reputable, and of consequence in early colonial 
 days. R. D. Smith, the famous antiquarian and 
 genealogical student, says, " In a list of the passengers 
 for Virginia embarked in the 'Speedwell,' of Lon- 
 don, was William Shipman, aged twenty-two, May 
 28, 1635." This William was probably the first 
 American ancestor of this line, but it is not clearly 
 shown. 
 
 Nathaniel Shipman, grandfather of Thomas L., was 
 one of the first settlers of Norwich, coming thither 
 
 from Saybrook at a very early day. He married 
 twice : first, Ruth Reynolds, by whom he had three 
 children, Nathaniel, Lucretia (married Rev. Daniel 
 Hall), and Elizabeth (married Andrew Frank, of 
 Canaan, Conn., and has descendants in War-saw, N. Y., 
 and Corning, Iowa) ; second, Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Thomas Leffingwell (4), and granddaughter of Rev. 
 Benjamin Lord, and a lineal descendant of the famous 
 colonial Lieut. Leffingwell (see Miss Caulkins' "His- 
 tory of Norwich"). Her children were Lizzie (mar- 
 ried Peabody Clement, and had two children, Betsy, 
 — Mrs. Charles Bliss, — and Mary Ann, — Mrs. Gilbert 
 Huntington), Nathaniel, and Lydia (married first 
 Asa Spaulding, second Capt. Bela Peck). 
 
 Nathaniel, son of Elizabeth, was born in Norwich, 
 May 17, 17G4 ; died July 14, 1853. Early learned the 
 goldsmith's trade; became of great local importance; 
 was often er called to preside at public meetings than 
 any of his contemporaries ; many times represented 
 Norwich in the Legislature ; was a man of great and 
 varied information, common sense, and good judg- 
 ment; often was called to administer estates and hold 
 prominent oificial positions; was judge of the County 
 Court, and also judge of probate. He read much, and 
 was a repository of local history, from which younger 
 antiquarians drew their supplies. He possessed a rare 
 fund of humor, tradition, and conversation, great so- 
 ciability and warmth of friendship, and none stood 
 higher than he in the community. Miss F. M. Caul- 
 kins wrote thus of him : " Judge Shipman was a man 
 of great simplicity of habits, of vigorous common 
 sense, upright, honorable, and independent, both in 
 his inward promptings and in his whole course of 
 action. He was almost always in oflice, serving the 
 town and State in a variety of ways, — municipal, 
 legislative, judicial, — displaying more than common 
 tibility, and giving general satisfaction in all these 
 departments. Afi'ability and a taste for social en- 
 joyment made him a delightful companion. His 
 readiness to communicate his vivid appreciation of 
 character, his richly-stored memory, and his abundant 
 flow of traditionary and historic anecdote held the 
 listening ear bound to his voice as by an invisible 
 charm. A sentiment of gratitude leads me to speak 
 of another trait, — his kindness and winning attentions 
 to the young. He was indulgent of their presence, 
 of their vivacity and their sports ; was ready to gratify 
 them with some tale of the olden time ; to make them 
 happy with little gifts of flowers or fruit ; to compli- 
 ment their self-respect by asking them to read to him, 
 or leading them to converse on subjects rather above 
 than below their standing. This is a rare character- 
 istic in this hurrying, impetuous age. . . . Pleasant 
 are all the memories connected with this honored and 
 exemplary son of Norwich." He married Abigail, 
 daughter of Judge Benjamin and Mary Boardman 
 Coit. Their children were Lydia Lefhngwell and 
 Thomas LeflSngwell. 
 Thomas L. was graduated from Yale in September, 
 
f y 
 
 A^ 
 
 Lc^l^:^.^, 
 
^ 
 
 ^ m^ 
 
 ^z 
 
 (^^..' 
 
 e f 
 
GRISWOLD. 
 
 411 
 
 1818, and Andover Theological Seminary in Septem- 
 ber, 1821, and entered at once upon his life work, — 
 the Christian ministry. He had been selected during 
 the summer one of six graduates to be employed in 
 missionary labor under the auspices of the "South 
 Carolina Home Missionary Society," and sailed for 
 Charleston early in October, 1821. He engaged 
 heartily in his work, remained there some months, 
 ministering to various churches, but mainly at a rural 
 place, Stony Creek. He has been for years the sole 
 survivor of the little band of sis. Eeturning, after a 
 time, to the North, Mr. Shipman resumed study at 
 Andover until the next November, when he was en- 
 gaged to supply the pulpit of the society at Lebanon, 
 Goshen, where his earnest labors were blessed by the 
 accession of more than thirty names to the little 
 church. In Slarch following he for a few weeks 
 was called to a new congregation in Brooklyn, N. Y., 
 and from there went to Brooklyn, Conn., thence to 
 Vernon, and soon after to Hartford, as a supply at the 
 South Church. Through the winter he preached here 
 and there, and in April, 1824, was tendered a unani- 
 mous call to the First Congregational Church in Leb- 
 anon, which, on account of his youth and short min- 
 is'terial experience, he declined. Shortly after he 
 received a commission from the " L'nited Domestic 
 Society of New York," the predecessor of the Amer- 
 ican Home Missionary Society, and went as a mis- 
 sionary to Huron County, Ohio, a pioneer, where he 
 remained one year, "sowing seed in new ground." In 
 1825, for seven months, he preached to a small con- 
 gregation in Norwich Falls, Conn., and then was or- 
 dained and installed pastor of the First Church of 
 Southbury, Conn. Here he stayed ten years, laboring 
 in season and out of season, and under his faithful 
 services the church was greatly enlarged and strength- 
 ened. Pastor and congregation had a strong mutual 
 affection, and only protracted illness in his family 
 caused his resignation. After brief periods of labor 
 at divers places, in 1837 he began to fill the pulpit at 
 Bozrah, and was there four years. In May, 1842, he 
 was called to the church at Jewett City, and after a 
 year's time became its settled pastor, remaining such 
 for eleven years, when he asked dismissal on account 
 of a shattered nervous system demanding rest, but 
 supplied the pulpit for eighteen months thereafter, 
 mostly by exchanges. Since then, an interval of 
 twenty-five years, he has supplied, for periods ranging 
 from two Sabbaths to eight months, thirty congrega- 
 tions in New London and Windham Counties. 
 
 Such is a bare synopsis of a long and useful life of 
 Christian usefulness. Mr. Shipman has ever been 
 prominent in all movements tending to educate, ele- 
 vate, or benefit humanity. He has the same genial 
 fund of humor possessed by his father, the same love 
 of history, and the same winning cordiality and 
 friendliness of manner. As a pastor he was earnest 
 and laborious, and maintained the warmest social re- 
 lations with his church. As a preacher he is logical 
 
 and convincing, throwing a relief of wit and humor 
 around the dryest subjects, and always eloquent in 
 presenting truth, and successful in awaking and keep- 
 ing the interest of his hearers. He is, at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-three years, hale and hearty, a 
 broad, charitable. Christian gentleman, iu full har- 
 mony with this advanced age, and possessed of quali- 
 ties of head and heart endearing him to an unusually 
 large circle of acquaintances, who "know him but to 
 love him." His first wife was Mary T., daughter of 
 Gen. David Deming and Abby, daughter of Hon. 
 Henry Champion. Their only child, Nathaniel, is 
 the present judge of the United States District Court 
 for Connecticut. He married Mary, daughter of 
 David F. Eobinson, of Hartford, and has had five 
 children, — Frank Eobinson, Arthur Leffingwell, Mary 
 Deming, Thomas Leffingwell (died at two years), and 
 Henry Eobinson. His second wife was Mrs. Pamela 
 L. Coit, of Plainfleld. They had two children, — 
 Lydia Leffingwell (married Dr. George W. Avery, 
 and has one child, Helen Shipman), and Thomas 
 Leffingwell, born Feb. 27, 1851, died Feb. 27, 1858. 
 [This Mrs. Shipman had one child by her first hus- 
 band, j\lary D. She married Lemuel Tyler, had four 
 children, of whom two, Charles Coit and Eobert 
 Shipman, are now living.] The maiden name of the 
 present Mrs. Shipman was Pamela D. Fuller, daugh- 
 ter of Dr. Josiah Fuller, of Plainfield. 
 
 Andrew Lester.' — The Lesters (Leicesters) for 
 ages figured prominently in English history. The 
 subject of this sketch is one of the descendants of 
 Andrew Lester, Esq., who bade farewell to his home 
 and friends, crossed the ocean to the New World and 
 settled in the town of Preston (now Griswold), New 
 London Co., Conn., marrying Lydia Starkweather 
 Dec. " ye" 28th, 1714, and dying May " ye" 22d, 1751. 
 Andrew Lester was one of the largest landholders of 
 the county, employing many hands to assist in tilling 
 his fertile acres. Some records give him the title of 
 lieutenant, but there is some obscurity in regard to 
 his age, and especially the precise place of birth. 
 He had three sons — -Timothy, John,, and Andrew — 
 and two daughters, — Lydia and Hannah. Timothy, 
 born "ye" 27th of August, 1718, married, Oct. 1, 
 1741, Mehitabel Belcher, who died March 9, 1776. 
 He again married, July 3, 1776, Mrs. Eebecca Ayratt. 
 He was the father of a large family, who were all 
 prominent members of society as regards position, 
 wealth, and influence. His four sons — Timothy, Moses, 
 Elijah, and Elisha — were all farmers. Through the 
 munificence of their father they each possessed mag- 
 nificent farms and stock, the best the county boasted. 
 His four daughters as well received large portions of 
 his possessions as dowries and bequests. "Squire" 
 Lester, as he was universally called, was notably es- 
 teemed by all who knew him, admired for his gen- 
 erosity, and respected for his stanch support in the 
 
 I Compiled by Charles Henry BioWD, M.D. 
 
412 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 cause of right. He was a prominent member of the 
 First Congregational Church and society, as well as a 
 large contributor to its support and ministerial en- 
 dowment fund. A strict observer of Christian duties, 
 a praise to all who did well, but a terror to the doers 
 of evil. A true patriot, and at all times actively en- 
 gaged as well as interested in all that concerned the 
 welfare of his town, county, State, and country. In 
 his old age, looking to the close of life lilie the patri- 
 archs of ancient times, he built for himself a tomb, 
 in which, in the Griswold cemetery, his remains have 
 peacefully rested for nearly a century. He died at 
 the ripe age of seventy-seven, Feb. 17, 1795. 
 
 His son Elijah, born May 20, 1753, succeeded to 
 the homestead farm. He married Miss Damaras Lord, 
 of Norwich, Feb. 7, 1782.' Elijah had a family of 
 eight children, seven of whom he brought up, three 
 sons and four daughters, all exemplary and valuable 
 members of society, and nearly all of whom lived and 
 died in their native town or its vicinity. He died 
 Aug. 22, 1823, aged seventy. James Lord Lester, his 
 oldest son, was born Jan. 31, 1785. He was united in 
 marriage to Miss Nancy Wheeler, daughter of Amos 
 Wheeler, Esq., and Miss Lucy Holmes, his wife, of 
 North Stonington, Conn., Nov. 22, 1810. After his 
 marriage he settled on the farm now known as "Wood- 
 side,'' in the eastern part of Griswold, about three 
 miles from the parish church. Here he principally 
 passed his quiet yet busy life, greatly respected and 
 esteemed for his purity, uprightness, and strict integ- 
 rity, and at the venerable age of eighty-five passed 
 away, and now rests amidst his relatives in the family 
 burying-ground. 
 
 His eldest son, Andrew Lester, was born Oct. 10, 
 1813. In the fall of 1830 he left home to embark in 
 business with his esteemed uncle, Gurdon AVheeler, 
 Esq., in the city of New York, where he is still en- 
 gaged in the mercantile business, assisted by his two 
 sons, James Francis and William Christie Lester, 
 under the firm-name of Andrew Lester & Co. In the 
 first year of his city life he devoted much of his time 
 during the winter to the instruction of a class of poor 
 boys who had no other means of securing an education. 
 In the following spring (1882) he took a class in a 
 mission Sunday-school held in the same building, 
 known as "No. 84" of the American Sunday-School 
 Union. The teachers were a choice band, gathered 
 from several denominations of Christians, although 
 the school was connected with and under the patron- 
 age of St. George's Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. James 
 Milnor, pastor, and Jeremiah H. Taylor, Esq., super- 
 intendent. Here he was earnestly engaged in doing 
 good till September, 184ti. He became acquainted 
 while there with many excellent Christian workers, 
 the recollections of whom are to him most dear and 
 
 1 Granddangliter of Die Eev. HezeUiali Lord, flint minister of tlio Gos- 
 pel of the Xoitli Society in Preston. He was born at Siiybrook, MmcIi 
 la, 1698, ordained to tlie ministerial oiBco April 20, 1730, and departed 
 this lil'c June 20, 1701. 
 
 blessed. About 1845, Mr. Lester became acquainted 
 with the lovely as well as beautiful Miss Mary Harris 
 Durkin, at an early age the adopted daughter of the 
 late Thomas Harris, Esq., of New York City, whose 
 country-seat was in New Jersey, at Bellville, near the 
 placid Passaic Elver. It was here he first became ac- 
 quainted with Miss Harris. The mutual regard at not 
 a far distant date deepened into a warmer feeling, 
 which resulted in their marriage on Dec. 20, 1847. 
 They were united by the Eev. Samuel D. Burchard, 
 assisted by the Eet. Charles H. Eeed, in the Thir- 
 teenth Street Presbyterian Church, of which she had 
 recently become a member (Nov. 14, 1847). He, how- 
 ever, soon became interested in this church; became 
 actively engaged in its Sunday-school, Oct. 14, 1849, 
 and united with the church itself Jan. 13, 1850. He 
 soon became a member of the board of trustees (June, 
 1850), and for years was the chosen chairman of that 
 body. He was elected president of the missionary 
 society of the Sunday-school April 7, 1850. He was 
 also elected to the board of elders, which position, as 
 well as his Sunday-school relations as teacher, are still 
 pleasantly continued. 
 
 The children of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Lester are 
 seven in number, four sons and three daughters, all 
 living, viz. : James Francis, Mary Elizabeth, Annie 
 Melvina, Adele Cozzens, Charles Sumner, William 
 Christie, and Andrew Edward. Two are married,^ 
 Annie Melvina, to Charles Henry Brown, M.D., son 
 of the late Henry Weeks Brown, A.M., M.D., of New 
 York ; Adele Cozzens, to AVilliam Eossiter Waters, 
 son of the late Prof. Lemuel H. Waters, of New York. 
 
 One grandchild, Eossiter Lester Waters, was born 
 Oct. 15, 1880. In process of time Mr. and Mrs. Lester 
 celebi'ated their silver wedding, when they and their 
 children received the warm congratulations of many 
 relatives, friends, and church associates, and the pro- 
 nounced blessing of their beloved pastor, who a quar- 
 ter of a century before had married them, and subse- 
 quently had baptized each of their children. 
 
 Mr. Lester was early engaged in the cause for the 
 abolition of slavery ; he was chairman of a city or- 
 ganization which met at private houses weekly to 
 promote the cause of freedom, and as far as possible 
 to counsel, advise, and assist the poor fugitives as 
 they were fleeing from the South to a land where they 
 could be free, and unmolested enjoy the inestimable 
 boon of liberty. The moving spirit of this organiza- 
 tion was the Hon. Alvan Stewart, a prominent lawyer 
 of Uti'oa, who, having retired from his profession, had 
 taken up his residence in New York City. The mem- 
 bers of this society were earnest workers, writing and 
 printing tracts, pamphlets, etc., on this great national 
 sin, and gratuitously distributing them among the 
 people. He was also a member of the noted secret 
 " Vigilance Committee'' who ran the famous " Under- 
 ground Eailroad," by which slaves were transported 
 from the South to Canada, fed, clothed, and sheltered 
 on their way. 
 
wood: 
 homestead of andrew lester,gr 
 
IDE. 
 WOLD, 
 
 NEW LONDON, CO. Conn. 
 
GRISWOLD. 
 
 413 
 
 Having spoken of Mr. Lester's active participation 
 in tlie cause of the abolition of slavery, we would 
 like to add briefly that in October, 1850, the majority 
 of the merchants of New York were signing a peti- 
 tion for a " call" or meeting in the Castle Garden to 
 approve the recent act of Congress (August) in pass- 
 ing the Fugitive Slave Law. A committee of influ- 
 ential merchants endeavored to persuade Mr. Lester 
 to add his name to the already very extensive list. 
 Drawing himself up to his full height and extending 
 his right arm, he exclaimed, with fervent pathos and 
 dignity, " Gentlemen, no ; I would rather see this arm 
 drop off first than do so !" 
 
 Mr. Lester was an early member of the voting 
 " Liberty party," and was one of that well-remem- 
 bered and much-maligned body who in 1844 cast 
 their 62,000 votes for the Hon. James G. Birney, of 
 Ohio, for President, and Thomas Morris for Vice- 
 President, thereby defeating, as charged by the 
 Whigs, the Hon. Henry Clay, who was their candi- 
 date, and causing the election of the Hon. James K. 
 Polk, the Democratic candidate, to the Presidential 
 chair. He was also subsequently, in 1848, an active 
 member of the " Free" Democracy, laboring and vot- 
 ing for the Hon. Martin Van Buren for President, 
 and Charles Francis Adams for Vice-President, who 
 were the well-known candidates of the " Free-Soil" 
 party, though only polling 219,000 votes, yet which 
 made itself felt ; and out of this small beginning that 
 great Eepublican party commenced its existence and 
 began that wonderful career which was to startle the 
 civilized world and fill one of the grandest pages yet 
 made in American history. 
 
 It is unnecessary to say that Mr. Lester has contin- 
 ued from the beginning to be a stanch Eepublican. 
 His heart bled, with many thousand others, at their 
 country's insult, the firing on Fort Sumter, fol- 
 lowed by its terrible train of war and bitter misery. 
 He was not young enough to join the ranks of the 
 brave defenders, but quietly and actively helped with 
 all his might the cause of right at home. Glad was 
 his cry of " Praise God, from whom all blessings 
 flow !" on the receipt of the news of the capture of 
 Eichmond. Still happier and more content was he 
 when he knew and thoroughly realized that the stain 
 and blot of slavery was wiped out, and peace and 
 good will had come to all. 
 
 He has been an earnest advocate of the emancipa- 
 tion of women, believing that Christianity and Ee- 
 publicanism are to be more surely blended when 
 their disfranchisement is abolished. He is a hearty 
 approver of the act now before the Legislature of 
 New York, entitled, "An Act to promote virtue and 
 prohibit disfranchisement," part of which reads, — 
 
 " Section 1. Every woman shall be free to vote, under qualifications 
 required of men, or to refrain from voting, aa she may choose, and no 
 peiBon shall be debarred by reason of sex from Toting at any election, 
 or at any town-meeting, school-meeting, or other choice of government 
 functionaries whatsoever." 
 
 27 
 
 For many years Mr. Lester was one of the execu- 
 tive committee of the American Missionary Associa- 
 tion, which, small in importance at its commencement, 
 has by strict adherence to its professed anti-slavery 
 principles become one of the foremost and prominent 
 missionary associations of the land, being the recipi- 
 ent of the contributions of the Congregational churches 
 in every part of our country, as well as large amounts 
 from Christian philanthropists of Great Britain and 
 Europe. 
 
 He was early engaged in the cause of temperance, 
 and on the formation of temperance alliances in the 
 State and city of New York became president of the 
 Sixteenth Ward Temperance Alliance, whose mem- 
 bers devoted their time, energies, and influence to the 
 promotion of this noble cause. 
 
 He has been for a number of years a trustee of the 
 North Eiver Savings-Bank of New York City. 
 
 Mr. Lester was present at the great flour riots of 
 Feb. 18, 1837, in which Mr. Eli Hart's large ware- 
 house was broken open and partially depleted of its 
 stock of flour by a lawless mob, and saw the mayor 
 of the city, the Hon. Cornelius W. Lawrence, have 
 his staff of oflice and authority taken from him, and 
 he himself escorted by the mob from the field of their 
 operations. He was one of the first to arrive at the 
 building in which the great and disastrous fire of Dec. 
 16, 1835, broke out. The night was very clear and 
 intensely cold, the fire raged fiercely, the very atmos- 
 phere seeming to give it increased vigor. The fire- 
 engines were not equal to the emergency, the strength 
 of the men gave out, and the water froze in the hose. 
 The fire was left almost without control until more 
 than twenty millions of dollars of property was de- 
 stroyed. He with many others did their best to remove 
 the goods from the stores to a place of safety. After 
 prolonged efforts and several repeated removals the 
 merchandise was piled stories high in Hanover Square. 
 Soon, however, they beheld with sorrow and dismay 
 the flames leap the street and quickly consume the 
 evidence of their prolonged and arduous labors. Mr. 
 Lester was also a spectator and participant as well in 
 the great city's jubilee celebration (1842), commemo- 
 rative of the introduction of that inestimable blessing, 
 the Croton water, into the city of New York. We will 
 pass over many other grand as well as sad scenes he 
 has witnessed, and merely mention the imposing civil 
 and military procession of the obsequies of the last 
 general officer of the Eevolution, the illustrious Mar- 
 quis de Lafayette, on June 26, 1834, who died in 
 France, on May 20th of the same year, in the ninety- 
 seventh year of his age. We mention also the solemn 
 and deeply impressive obsequies of our much-beloved 
 and martyred president, the Hon. Abraham Lincoln. 
 The last saddest and, if possible, most lamented be- 
 reavement of our country was the recent occasion of 
 his warehouse, with millions of others through the 
 land, being draped in emblems of deepest mourning, 
 marking the heartfelt sorrow of a deeply-stricken 
 
414 
 
 HISTOEY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 people at the irreparable loss to our country of their 
 much-beloved and honored President, James A. Gar- 
 field, who died Sept. 19, 1881, from a wound received 
 by the ruthless hand of a fanatical yet wicked villain. 
 Like his ancestors, we may say that the history of 
 Andrew Lester is full of simple greatness. It is a 
 narrative colored by a neutral tint of stately dignity, 
 clear in its purity, bright and shining in its Christian 
 loveliness, sharp and decisive in its firmness of right 
 purpose. To him time and work were synonymous, 
 and work meant a blessing to his fellow-man. No 
 one ever exerted a better, gentler, or happier influ- 
 ence. No one has been more reverenced and loved 
 by those who know him. His deeds are written on 
 the papyrus of many hearts, and on the tablets of the 
 memory of his family and friends will ever be en- 
 graved " Amicus humani generis." 
 
 His personal appearance is striking, — six feet in 
 height, weighing about one hundred and eighty 
 pounds, stately, erect, and commanding; a genial 
 face, in spite of the firm and compressed mouth, 
 which gives to strangers an idea of overt sternness. 
 
 Mr. Lester is still a resident of New York City, but 
 spends part of the year at Woodside, together with 
 his family and friends, improving and beautifying 
 the old homestead. Woodside is about five miles due 
 south of Plainfield, and five miles east of Jewett City. 
 It is most delightfully elevated, commanding beau- 
 tiful landscape views of farms and farm-houses 
 churches, and villages in the valleys and on the dis- 
 tant hills, long stretches of undulating color of vary- 
 ing green with its difierent seasons' changes making 
 altogether a magnificent and extensive panorama 
 from the south to the northwest. In fact, it is one of 
 the pleasantest places in New London County. 
 
 Henry Lamed Johnson was born on the old 
 Johnson homestead, in Griswold (a view of which is 
 presented in this work, and where he now resides), 
 Jan. 27, 1808. He is fifth in lineal descent from Ben- 
 jamin Johnson, the first settler on this place. The 
 name indicates Scandinavian extraction, but whether 
 Benjamin was an emigrant, Avhat place he came from 
 even the dates of his birth and death, all are alike 
 unknown. He was a weaver, and in humble circum- 
 stances in life. He loved not a wandering life, and 
 purchased the small place which formed the nucleus 
 of the present broad acres of Deacon Johnson. Ben- 
 jamin had one son, Stephen, whether more is un- 
 known. This Stephen, born about 1717, became a 
 farmer, and also worked at carpentering and bridge- 
 building. He married Mary Kinne; had six chil- 
 dren,— Marcy, Mary, Euamy, Esther, Stephen', and 
 Marcy ; lived to a good old age ; was known as " Cap- 
 tain," and died Nov. 13, 1808, aged nearly eighty-six. 
 His wife survived him, dying June 10, 1814, in her 
 ninety-fourth year. Just previous to her death she 
 rode on horseback to Bozrah from her home, sixteen 
 miles. This shows the wonderful vitality of the 
 women of that day. Her mind to the last retained 
 
 its youthful vigor and brightness. She was a very 
 superior woman, one of the "salt of the earth," a 
 leader in religious matters, a great Christian aid to 
 her husband (a godly man) and her family, and was 
 held in high esteem by the clergy. None of their 
 children settled in Griswold save Stephen, who oc- 
 cupied the homestead. He was born June 29, 1748 
 was a farmer, married Elizabeth Morgan, had but one 
 child, Stephen ^, who attained maturity. Stephen '' was 
 a God-fearing man, and died at the early age of thirty. 
 His widow married one Averill, and by him had 
 several children. Stephen', born Dec. 5, 1771, had a 
 good common-school and academic education, became 
 a farmer on the homestead, and enlarged its acreage. 
 He was diligent in business, of a quiet and reserved 
 nature, prudent and industrious, successful finan- 
 cially ; in early life was captain of militia, and for 
 many years a deacon of the Congregational Church at 
 Pachaug. When the Second Congregational Church 
 (at Jewett City) was organized he was one of the 
 constituent members, was chosen deacon in April, 
 1825, held that office until his death. May 16, 1854. 
 His religion was a principle, and, unactuated by ex- 
 citement, he was one of the strong pillars of the church,, 
 and active in all good works. One of his former pastors 
 says this of him, " A type of the old Puritan stock, 
 plain in dress and address, not given to much talking, 
 but expressing much in few words. At one time he 
 said to a hired man, ' We must get up the hay or it 
 will be caught in the rain.' He answered, ' Trust 
 Providence, Deacon.' ' Providence won't rake up our 
 hay for us.' Having been 'proved' as deacon in the 
 old church of North Preston (now Griswold), at the 
 organization of the church at Jewett City (an offshoot 
 from the old one) he was chosen deacon, and re- 
 mained such till his death. At his funeral his pastor 
 chose, as a peculiarly appropriate text. Psalm xii. 1 : 
 ' Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, the faithful 
 fail from among the children of men.' " He married 
 Lydia Earned (born in Thompson, Conn.), Jan. 2, 
 1800. Their children not dying in youth were Laura 
 (deceased), Stephen*, Henry L., Mary K., Daniel 
 (deceased), Sanford, Lydia L. (deceased). Mrs. 
 Johnson died July 22, 1843. "She was a faithful 
 and affectionate wife and devoted mother, a kind 
 neighbor, a friend of the poor (to whose wants she 
 was ever ready to minister), and above all, and crown- 
 ing all, she was an humble and exemplary follower of 
 Christ. Her sickness, though painful, was brief. She 
 early anticipated its fatal issue, but death had no. 
 terrors for her. She calmly waited the summons 
 which should call her home. The evening before her 
 death, feeling that her time was short, she left mes- 
 sages to her absent children, and particularly to her 
 son, a missionary of the American Board at Bankok, 
 Siam : ' Tell Stephen that if I reach the New Jeru- 
 salem before him, I trust he will be ripening for that 
 happy home. I think I have been strengthened by 
 his prayers.' Comforted by the Saviour's presence. 
 
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GRISWOLD. 
 
 415 
 
 she entered the dark valley, and closing her eyes upon 
 this world, sweetly fell asleep in Jesus." 
 
 Henry L. Johnson was educated at common schools, 
 and a short time attended Plainiield Academy. When 
 ahout eighteen began teaching winter terms of dis- 
 trict school, and taught nine terms, three in East 
 Haddam, the others in close proximity to his home. 
 Rev. T. L. Shipman says of him, " He was bred a 
 farmer, and has never seen the day when he was 
 tempted to change his calling. In this he has shown 
 his good sense, for he never could have changed it for 
 a more honorable or useful one. By patient industry 
 he has acquired a handsome property, given all 
 his children a liberal education, carrying his eldest 
 son through Yale College. He has always been a 
 liberal contributor to the support of the gospel at 
 home and abroad, and fills, and perhaps more than 
 fills, his father's place in both church and com- 
 munity. In his attendance at the sanctuary, occa- 
 sional meetings, and during the week his example is 
 above praise. Living two miles from the village, his 
 has been the least vacant seat at the weekly confer- 
 ence and prayer-meeting. In the cause of temper- 
 ance—yes, total abstinence — he has battled from the 
 beginning. True as steel to his principles, he will 
 war unsparingly against the rum trafiic, both by 
 moral suasion and legal prohibition, and, never re- 
 linquishing the fray, he will die fighting, if he does 
 not live to swell the shout of victory. He has been 
 more than once our honored representative in the 
 State Legislature, and though he has left most of the 
 talking to the lawyers, he has always been in his 
 place when voting was to be done. It is hoped that 
 his life may be long spared, for we feel we can illy 
 spare him from our community." 
 
 Mr. Johnson married. May 14, 1834, Almira D., 
 daughter of Welcome A. and Martha (Hull) Browning. 
 Their children were Martha H., born April 20, 1835 
 (Mrs. E. K. Mathewson, deceased). Her daughter 
 Myra married George Boss, lives in Lisbon, and has 
 one child, Katie. Henry L., born July 11, 1887, is a 
 graduate of Yale College, and a successful banker in 
 New York City. He has two sons, Leeds and Larned. 
 Almira (died young) ; Isabella, born Jan. 23, 1842, 
 married George Tyler, has six children,— Frank, 
 Frederick, Katie, Lucius, Charles, Florence; Lydia 
 (died young) ; Stephen (died young) ; Welcome B., 
 a manufacturer of Milwaukee, Wis., has two sons, 
 Ralph B. and Frank B. Mrs. Johnson died July 24, 
 1865, aged fifty-two. Mr. Johnson married, Sept. 8, 
 1869, Amelia H. Perry. She died Sept. 16, 1877. 
 His present wife, Nancy Wason, was a native of 
 New Boston, N. H., and married Mr. Johnson, Oct. 
 
 28, 1878. 
 
 Mr. Johnson has been selectman, etc. ; has repre- 
 sented Griswold two terms in the State Legislature, but 
 his chief labor and love have been in connection with 
 his church, of which he has been a member since 
 1829, and deacon since September, 1854. He is a 
 
 representative farmer, and enjoys universal esteem in 
 his community. 
 
 Hon. B. F. Billings. — William Billings came from 
 Dorchester, Mass., to Stonington, Conn., where he 
 purchased land and remained until the time of his 
 
 death. He married Mary , Feb. 5, 1658, and 
 
 his will shows that he had eight children, of whom 
 Ebenezer' was one. This Ebenezer^, March 1, 1680, 
 married Anna Comstock. To them were born ten 
 children; one, also named Ebenezer'', married, April 
 2, 1706, Phcebia Denison, daughter of John and 
 Phoebia Denison, and granddaughter of Col. George 
 and Ann Borodel Denison. They had eleven children, 
 the third one of whom was born March 20, 1711, and 
 received the name of Ebenezer. On Nov. 20, 1733, 
 this Ebenezer Billings^, who was a captain in the 
 French and Indian war, married Mary Noyes, and 
 had eight children. Sanford, the second child, was 
 born April 1, 1736, was a commissioned officer in the 
 Revolution, and on 24th of January, 1760, married 
 Lucy Geer. By this marriage there were eleven chil- 
 dren. Gilbert, the fifth child, was born Nov. 25, 1768, 
 was reared a farmer. When fourteen or fifteen years 
 old went to sea, became captain, and led a marine life 
 till after he was forty years of age, and acquired con- 
 siderable property. On retiring he settled in North 
 Stonington and became a farmer. He was quiet and 
 reserved in manner, yet a very agreeable social com- 
 panion. He represented North Stonington twice in- 
 the General Assembly, also represented Griswold one 
 term in same body, and was a man of mark among his 
 townsmen, holding various other positions of trust. 
 
 In politics he was a Federal and a Whig. He was 
 Congregational in religious belief. He married Lucy 
 (born 1770, died Dec. 16, 1854), daughter of John 
 Swan, in 1792. They had children, — Sandford, Lucy, 
 Lucy^, Robert, Joseph, George, Horatio N., John, 
 Benjamin F., Mary. He died May 1, 1856. Benjamin 
 F. was four years old when his father moved to Gris- 
 wold. Received his education at common and private 
 schools, at which he was a diligent student; was 
 brought up as a farmer, to which avocation he has 
 always adhered, but in connection therewith he has 
 been a successful and highly valued teacher. Com- 
 mencing to teach winter terms of school when about 
 sixteen years of age, he taught probably twenty-five 
 terms in all, one of them in Delaware. 
 
 Mr. Billings remained with his father, in care of the 
 homestead in Griswold, and married, Dec. 28, 1834, 
 Ann P., daughter of Luther Palmer, of North Ston- 
 ington. She died Oct. 23, 1866. Their children are 
 Ann S., who married, first, Harris Boardman, and had 
 three boys ; second, Dr. Henry Carpenter, of Lancas- 
 ter, Pa.; James F., now of Kansas; Mary P., mar- 
 ried C. 0. Palmer, of North Stonington, and lives 
 now in Pawtucket; Lucius N.,,of Massachusetts; 
 and Arthur G., who remains with his father on the 
 old homestead. Mr. Billings married Mrs. Abby J. 
 (Starkweather) Stewart, Feb. 12, 1868. She was a 
 
416 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 daughter of John Starkweather, and sister of the late 
 Hon. H. H. Starkweather. 
 
 Mr. Billings has passed his life in Griswold, ex- 
 cepting eight years when he was a resident of North 
 Stonington. He lias held many and prominent public 
 positions, was selectman several terms, and during the 
 entire Eebellion period, when many difficult ques- 
 tions requiring great care and judgment were to be 
 decided by those holding that office. He represented 
 Griswold in the State Legislatures of 1846 and 1852, 
 and the Eighth Senatorial District in the State Senate 
 in 1856. During his residence in North Stonington he 
 represented that town in the Legislatures of 1873-74, 
 and was first selectman when he returned to Griswold 
 in 1880. In politics he has stanchly adhered to the 
 Whig and Eepublican parties. He has been a mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Church for many years, and for 
 several years has held the honored position of deacon. 
 He has all his life been an active, liberal, and public- 
 spirited citizen, a devoted and earnest Christian, an 
 affectionate husband and father, and as he goes down 
 to the twilight of life enjoys the esteem and confi- 
 dence of a large circle of friends. 
 
 Samuel Geer was born in Preston, Conn., Nov. 30, 
 1788. He was the son of John Wheeler and Sally (Den- 
 ison) Geer, and grandson of Ebenezer, who was son 
 of Robert Geer, whose father, George, was the origi- 
 nal emigrant. [For full history of Geer family, see 
 •biography of Erastus Geer, Lebanon.] He was reared 
 a farmer; removed, with his father, two brothers, and 
 two sisters, to Griswold ; purchased a tract of about 
 two hundred acres of land of a Mr. Rose, on what is 
 still known as "Geer Hill." It was an early age for 
 him to commence a farmer's life, but he was success- 
 ful,' and when thirty years of age married, Oct. 3, 
 1820, Anna, daughter of David and Mary (Stanton) 
 Geer, of Ledyard, and granddaughter of the Eben- 
 ezer who was grandfather of Samuel. She was born 
 Aug. 12, 1794. They commenced their married life 
 in Preston, where their three daughters, Mary, Pru- 
 dence Ann, and Lucy Emma, were born. After eight 
 years' residence in Preston, Mr. and Mrs. Geer moved 
 back to Mr. Geer's old home in Griswold, and there, 
 after fifty-six years of happy and quiet married life, 
 he died, Feb. 27, 1877, at the advanced age of eighty- 
 eight years. Mrs. Geer survives him, and is now in 
 her eighty-eighth year. Mr. Geer was always a far- 
 mer, and an excellent one, enjoying the reputation 
 of being one of the best in town, and accumulated a 
 competency. In his social and family relations he 
 was kind and aff'ectionate ; in his business prudent, 
 economical, thoroughly honest, and very active. As 
 a father he was indulgent; as a Christian he was 
 earnest and sincere, giving evidence of both those 
 qualities by the liberality with which he supported 
 the cause of Christ. 
 
 At his death he probably had not an enemy in the 
 world. He was a selectman, and held various other 
 town offices, discharging these duties in the same quiet, 
 
 thorough business way in which his own personal 
 affairs were conducted. He was a pronounced Whig 
 and Republican in politics. Both Mr. and Mrs. Geer 
 were for many years members of the First Congrega- 
 tional (Pachaug) Church of Griswold. Their daugh- 
 ter Prudence married Moses E. Norman, of Ledyard, 
 and had two children, Samuel G. and Hannah A. 
 The latter, a lovely and estimable girl, died May 14, 
 1881, aged eighteen years and two months. Lucy 
 married Erastus Kinne, of Plainfield, Conn. 
 
 David Austin Geer. — On the land once occupied 
 by those famed Mohegan chiefs, Uncas and Owaneco, 
 and by them granted to his ancestors, — a most beauti- 
 ful tract of land, a view of a portion of which may 
 be seen in this history,— resides David Austin Geer. 
 He was born Aug. 17, 1824, on the place where he 
 now resides. He was third son of Elijah D. and Dor- 
 othy Geer. Elijah was son of John Wheeler Geer, 
 and grandson of Ebenezer, who was son of Robert, 
 eighth child of George, the emigrant. (For full his- 
 tory of Geer family, see biography of Erastus Geer, 
 Lebanon.) 
 
 Mr. Geer had common-school advantages for edu- 
 cation, which were diligently used, supplemented by 
 a short attendance at high school. He commenced 
 teaching winter terms of district school when about 
 twenty-one, and acquitted himself creditably as a 
 teacher during the four terms which he taught. But 
 farming has been his life's work. He was bred a 
 farmer, and thoroughly and well was he trained in 
 the principles and details of practical agriculture. 
 From the death of his father, Aug. 10, 1848, he has 
 carried on the old homestead farm, and to-day enjoys 
 the reputation of being the best farmer in town. He 
 has taken pride in his calling, kept his place neat and 
 trim, cleaned out the fence-corners, taken cords of 
 material for his good stone walls from fields now clear 
 as prairie-land, and is, as he well may be, proud of as 
 clean-kept a farm as can be found for many miles. 
 Plain and simple in his habits, but successful in his 
 business, he is a careful, painstaking, industrious man. 
 Neither caring for nor willing to accept office, Mr. 
 Geer has preferred to attend to his own business rather 
 than see that neglected while he worked for the public. 
 He is possessed of a warm social nature, his family 
 circle is a pleasant and affectionate one, and he enjoys 
 the esteem of the community as a man of unassuming 
 yet solid worth. For over thirty years he has been a 
 member of the First Congregational (Pachaug) Church 
 of Griswold. He enjoys the satisfaction of seeing 
 three of his sons now members of the same church. 
 In church he accepts office as a duty ; has served on 
 various committees, and is church treasurer. He 
 married, Sept. 15, 1857, Sarah, daughter of Deacon 
 Joseph Leonard and Laura Johnson, his wife. Their 
 children are Albert S., Edward A., Henry D., and 
 Joseph T., all industrious, intelligent, and enter- 
 prising young men of good habits. 
 All in all, Mr. Geer is pronounced in favor of all 
 
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GRISWOLD. 
 
 417 
 
 things— in religion, in politics, in the social circle and 
 community— which advance honesty, sohriety, and the 
 education, improvement, and elevation of humanity, 
 the betterment of his town, and the pleasing charms 
 of the ''old Geer home.'' 
 
 James C. Lord, — The Lord family is an early and 
 proud New England one, the first American ancestor 
 coming from England at an early date. The first one 
 settling in Griswold was a Congregational clergyman 
 named Hezekiah. He was settled pastor of the North 
 Society of Preston, and lived where B. Campbell now 
 (1881) resides. He had numerous children, one of 
 whom, James, was a school-teacher in the North Dis- 
 trict of Preston. Another son was Elias, grandfather 
 of James C. He died young, about the time of the 
 Eevolution, and left four children,— Joseph, Zerviah 
 (Mrs. A. Benham), James, and Elias. He was a 
 farmer on part of the old homestead, and his wife, 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Mary Coit, was 
 also of an old family. His son James was born in 
 1760, in Preston. By the death of Elias and the 
 consequent sale of his property, of which pay was 
 taken in Continental currency, which rapidly depre- 
 ciated, his family were reduced to poor circumstances 
 and the children were scattered. James went to live 
 with Gen. John Tyler (who married his grandmother), 
 and remained with him from the age of two years to 
 that of forty-six. He was reared a farmer, and when 
 he was about twenty-one was injured so as to inca- 
 pacitate him from labor on the farm, and his hair was 
 turned white by a fever. On partially regaining his 
 health he became a surveyor, and went to Western 
 New York, several times surveying roads in the then 
 wilderness of the Susquehanna and Genesee Valleys. 
 He married Lydia, daughter of John and Mehitabel 
 Coit, and had two children, James Coit and Elias. 
 He purchased the place now occupied by his son 
 James and descendants about 1803, and was there- 
 after a farmer. He was much beloved for his sterling 
 honesty and worth, and his quiet, unobtrusive ways. 
 He held the (at that time) very responsible office of 
 constable and collector of Preston for fourteen years. 
 Both himself and wife were for years members of the 
 First Congregational Church of Preston (North So- 
 ciety). He was successful in business, and died sud- 
 denly, Dec. 22, 1845, at the hale old age of eighty-five. 
 His wife survived him, dying five years later, also at 
 the age of eighty-five. 
 
 James C. Lord was born Feb. 28, 1807, on the 
 farm where he now, in the closing years of an un- 
 usually long and active life, yet lives. He had a com- 
 mon-school education, supplemented by a term at 
 Plainfield Academy. He has always been a hard- 
 working, intelligent, successful farmer, giving his 
 personal attention to his business, and by his judicious 
 care, diligence, and economy has amassed a hand- 
 some competency. All of the buildings, numerous as 
 they are, on the place Mr. Lord has constructed him- 
 self. He married, Feb. 14, 1838, Betsey, daughter 
 
 of John and Betsey (Clift) Prentice. Her maternal 
 grandfather was Amos Clift, and grandmother, Mary 
 Coit. John Prentice was son of Eleazer and Sarah 
 Stanton, all of Preston. Mr. and Mrs. Lord have 
 had only two children who attained maturity,— Elias 
 and Lydia Coit. Elias married Mary Eathbun, and 
 lives in the old home of his father, a view of which 
 is presented on another page. Elias has two chil- 
 dren,— Willie and Charlie. Lydia married Elisha 
 Harris, now of Providence, E. I. Mr. and Mrs. Lord 
 have lived in family relations forty-three years, and 
 for years have been consistent members of the First 
 Congregational Church of Griswold. Mr. Lord has 
 never accepted any church, elective, appointive, or 
 fiduciary office, and devotes to-day as much time to 
 his business in his hale old age as in the days of early 
 manhood. 
 
 Sonaparte Campbell was born in Voluntown, then 
 Windham Co., Conn., Sept. 15, 1801. His great- 
 grandfather came from Scotland a young man, mar- 
 ried, and had children, one of whom, James, born 
 about 1725, was a resident of Voluntown, a farmer, 
 married Dinah McMain, and had three sons — Allen, 
 James, and John — and several daughters. He was an 
 industrious, economical man, successful in his busi- 
 ness, as those days went, lived comfortably, and given 
 to hospitality. Both he and his wife belonged to the 
 Presbyterian Church, and served their day and genera- 
 tion well. He died about 1810. His wife survived 
 him a few years, dying at the age of eighty-five. Dr. 
 Allen Campbell, their son, was born in Voluntown, 
 about 1749, received a good common-school education, 
 studied medicine with that skillful physician. Dr. Per- 
 kins, of Plainfield, and in the Eevolution served as 
 surgeon in the colonial service, and was with Gen. 
 Sullivan's army at the battle of Newport, E. I. After 
 the war he established himself in a professional prac- 
 tice in Voluntown, which became large and lucrative. 
 In this he continued until his death, March 6, 1829, 
 at the advanced age of eighty. He was social and 
 genial, very popular, not only of ability in his pro- 
 fession, but often called to fill positions of honor and 
 trust; represented Voluntown in the State Legislature, 
 was justice of the peace, and noted for the number of 
 marriages he performed ; held at various times all im- 
 portant offices in the gift of his townsmen, was a de- 
 vout Presbyterian, and at one time was licensed to 
 preach. He married Sarah, daughter of Ezra Kinne, 
 of Preston, now Griswold. She was born in 1759, and 
 died in 1834, aged seventy-five. Their children were 
 John, Sarah, Eowena, Lucinda, Harvey, Ezra, Daniel 
 Lee, Bonaparte, Alpha E. They mostly settled in 
 Voluntown. 
 
 Bonaparte was born when Napoleon Bonaparte was 
 in the height of his remarkable career, and Dr. Camp- 
 bell, an ardent admirer of the French general, called 
 the young lad in sport Bonaparte, and it finally be- 
 came fixed on him as his name. He was brought up 
 a farmer on his father's farm, had common-school edu- 
 
418 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 cation, remained at home till he was eighteen, when, 
 Nov. 11, 1819, he married Susan, daughter of Capt. 
 Nathan Brown, a sea-captain of North Kingston, E. I. 
 Of their children only five — Allen B., John L. (de- 
 ceased), Sarah E. (Mrs. B. H. Browning), James H., 
 and Napoleon B. — attained maturity. All were born 
 in Voluntown but James, who was born in Oneida 
 County, N. Y. Mrs. Campbell died in 1846. Mr. 
 Campbell resided in Voluntown until 1826, when he 
 removed to Oneida County, N. Y., where he lived 
 until 1856, then returning to Connecticut, he bought 
 the old Lord place of one hundred and forty acres, in 
 Griswold, and that has been his home ever since. 
 He married Mrs. Maria Cook Campbell in 1847, and 
 after her death in 1869 he has lived with his son Allen, 
 who is joint owner with him now of the old homestead. 
 For nearly fifty years he has been a worthy and es- 
 teemed member of the Baptist Church. In politics a 
 Whig and Republican. He has been first selectman for 
 many years, justice both in Griswold and Voluntown, 
 and has represented Griswold in the State Legislature. 
 He has ever been a quiet, industrious, unassuming 
 man, amiable and pleasing in his ways, and noted for 
 his thorough knowledge of agriculture. 
 
 Beriah. Hopkins Browning, son of Avery and 
 Mary (Arnold) Browning, was born in Exeter, E. I., 
 Sept. 13, 1819. He is a lineal descendant of William 
 Browning, the emigrant, of whom or Sarah, his wife, 
 nothing is known of birth, marriage, or death. They 
 are first known as residing in Portsmouth, E. I. 
 Whether they came from England or not is only to 
 be surmised. Before this time, in 1655, Nathaniel 
 Browning appears on the roll of freemen in Ports- 
 mouth, and soon after, William Browning. William 
 had five children, — Samuel, William (2), John (1), 
 Hannah, and Sarah. Of these, only the descend- 
 ants of William and John can be traced. Samuel 
 is supposed to have settled in South Kingston, but 
 nothing is definitely known of him. John Browning 
 (1) married Anna Hazard. They had ten children, 
 of whom John (2), born Nov. 15, 1742, was grand- 
 father to Beriah H. He was married three times, 
 and had children, — Jedediah and John by first wife, 
 Mary Davis. By second wife, Eunice Williams, he 
 had seven children,— George, Mary, Eunice, Avery, 
 Anne, Jesse, George W. By third wife, Elizabeth 
 Boss, he had no children. He died Feb. 24, 1832. 
 He was a good type of a portly English farmer and 
 " squire," held all prominent town oflices and various 
 positions of trust, owned a large tract of land, never 
 labored himself, but gave his personal superintend- 
 ence to all branches of his extensive farming interests; 
 was a genial man, fond of conversation, of great con- 
 viviality, entertained hospitably, and died nearly 
 ninety years of age. It was his usual practice in hot 
 weather to leave all outside doors open on retiring, 
 and never was troubled by thieves or robbers. 
 
 Avery Browning was born Feb. 8, 1786, in Exeter, 
 R. I. ; remained with his father and became a farmer • 
 
 married Mary Arnold, July 17, 1808. She was born 
 June 8, 1796, died June 22, 1879. Their children 
 were Arnold (deceased), Hiram, Beriah H., and 
 Eunice W. (deceased). Avery Browning was an 
 active farmer, successful in his avocation; was much 
 in public aff'airs, was representative, held all town 
 oflices ; on the passage of the free-school law dis- 
 tricted the town into school districts ; was called to 
 draw many legal instruments, which were carried into 
 the highest courts and never broken. In March, 1884, 
 he purchased a farm in Griswold ; after residing there 
 several years sold out and went to Preston, after- 
 wards to Norwich, and was living there when he died. 
 May 9, 1865. For many years he was a Baptist. 
 Coming of good Democratic stock, he steadfastly ad- 
 hered to the same principles during his life. 
 
 B. H. Browning lived with his father until of age, 
 and for two years was roving around, peddling, etc. 
 Nov. 21, 1842, he married Sarah Elizabeth, daughter 
 of Bonaparte Campbell, and started in trade as a mer- 
 chant at Brooklyn, Conn. In 1845 he went out of 
 trade, removed to Griswold, and became a farmer. In 
 1850 he moved to his father's farm on Plain Hill, in 
 Norwich, and subsequently purchased the farm, his 
 father moving on to the street, where he stayed three 
 years, then returned and boarded with Beriah until 
 he died. In 1866, Mr. Browning sold out his Nor- 
 wich property and moved to Griswold, purchasing the 
 beautiful place where he now resides. His children 
 are Joseph B., a physician in Havana, 111. ; Frank 
 (deceased) ; Lucinda (deceased) ; Sarah E. (Mrs. 
 Simon Brewster) ; Mattie, Nellie, Arba, Mary A., 
 and Ealph. Mr. Browning is an active Democrat, 
 prominent in politics and public afiairs; was ap- 
 pointed justice before he was thirty years old, and has 
 ever since been in some public position. He has set- 
 tled several important and difiicult estates, one in- 
 volving forty thousand dollars ; represented Griswold 
 in State Legislature in 1873. In a strong Eepublican 
 town he was elected by a handsome majority. He 
 has been selectman for a number of years, and in 
 1878 was nominated by the Democratic Senatorial 
 Convention for the Eighth District of Connecticut as 
 senator by a unanimous vote, which nomination he 
 declined. He has been many times on grand jury, 
 and was foreman of the jury in the famous trial of 
 Mrs. Cobb for murder. He is always active in all 
 things tending to elevate, improve, or educate man- 
 kind, and is especially interested in the advancement 
 of his town, and is one of Griswold's leading citizens. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX., 
 
 GROTON.i 
 
 Early History.— The town of Groton,^ originally a 
 part of the town of New London, was of ample area, 
 embracing, as it did, all the territory of the latter 
 
 1 By William H. Potter. 
 
 2 Pronounced Grawton. 
 
/jL^iliifA^(^y[XyJjiuri-.^^^ 
 
GROTON. 
 
 419 
 
 town lying east of the Thames River as far as the 
 Mystic River and its Lantern Hill tributaries, and 
 from the Sound to the Preston line, north of the 
 Poquetanock, measuring north and south about four- 
 teen miles, and east and west an average of over six 
 miles, giving an area of full eighty square miles. At 
 the time of the separation from New London, A.D. 
 1705, these dimensions were confirmed and continued 
 till the town of Ledyard was incorporated in 1836. 
 That town took off the larger part of the area, in- 
 cluding all of the North Parish, but leaving the pres- 
 ent town of Groton a compact, well-defined boundary, 
 and an area of probably about thirty-five square 
 miles. It is noticeable that when New London had 
 land to alienate she did it on a generous scale, as wit- 
 ness her Waterford territory, as well as all of Groton ; 
 but when it came to the alienation of luafer-rights 
 she discovered a weakness for the beautiful river and 
 harbor, which she has retained within her limits from 
 shore to shore, and from Brewster's Neck to the sea. 
 The hills of this eastern part of New London, now 
 Groton, on either border, and its plains in the middle 
 portion form a striking feature of its topography. 
 Groton Heights on the west and Pequot Hill on the 
 east, with an expanse of table-land in the interior, ter- 
 minating in Poquonnoc plains, in the southern part 
 and Preston plains on the north, with a hilly barrier 
 between them, and in the northern part, on both sides 
 of the plain, high hills and deep but fertile valleys 
 well watered predominate, all forming a picturesque 
 and rather attractive picture. Besides the two border 
 streams, the Thames and the Mystic, there is Poquon- 
 nock River, flowing south into the Sound, dividing 
 Poquonnoc plain, and Poquetanoc River, flowing 
 west into the Thames, the latter at that early day 
 being called Pequot River. These are mere inlets of 
 the sea, but they each have their tributaries of spark- 
 ling brooks and rivulets, and skirting these, and ex- 
 tending over its stony hillsides, are numerous farms 
 and hamlets. The soil is in general inferior, but 
 towards the sea and on some of its river-banks it is 
 fertile. Within its bosom Groton has quarries of 
 pure granite, then almost unknown and quite unap- 
 preciated, of which we shall have occasion to speak 
 hereafter. 
 
 But let us now refer to its first settlement. The 
 Morgans and the Averys purchased or received grants 
 of lands on the east side of the Thames River, in 
 what was, nearly half a century later, incorporated 
 under the name of Groton, but then called New Lon- 
 don East Side. Perhaps a year or two earlier, cer- 
 tainly as early as 1651, grants were made at Mystic, 
 and as early as 1653 Messrs. Robert Burrows, John 
 Packer, and Robert Park removed their families to 
 the banks of the Mystic and occupied their posses- 
 sions. Burrows kept the ferry over Mystic River. 
 Two years later Carey Latham was domiciled at Groton 
 Bank and kept the ferry over the Thames, having se- 
 cured its franchise for fifty years from March 25, 1655. 
 
 The highways across the settlement from Groton 
 Bank to Mystic River,^ running through Poquonnoc, 
 was laid out in December, 1652, with a view to facili- 
 tate intercourse between the mother-settlement at 
 New London and the scattered settlers of the East 
 Side, but beyond Fort I-Iill it remained a mere pent- 
 way until 1709, when the new town had it opened and 
 worked through as one of the town's highways. 
 
 After the first few settlers came we find that the 
 Fish family settled north of the Burrowses, on Mys- 
 tic River, their lands running over Pequot Hill west- 
 ward, as early as 1655. The Allyns settled in North 
 Groton (since Ledyard) as early as 1656, while the 
 Bennetts, Culvers, Baileys, Chesters, Geres, and Starrs 
 all became permanent settlers within ten years from 
 the first settlers, embracing portions of Poquonnoc, 
 Groton Bank, and the territory along the east bank 
 of the Thames as far as the Poquetanock. Then Lower 
 Mystic, or Mystic River, — Noank Neck, as it was called, 
 — and a tract west of Lantern Hill was still in the pos- 
 session of a remnant of the straggling Pequots, whose 
 power had been so signally overthrown in 1637, some 
 fourteen years before the settlement of Groton. 
 
 It was not till a.d. 1667 that Cassinamon's party 
 of Pequots, the feeble representatives of that once 
 powerful nation, were removed by order of the Gen- 
 eral Court at Hartford from Noank to their new res- 
 ervation, called Mashantuxet, in North Groton, where 
 they have maintained their distinctive tribal relation, 
 under commissioners appointed by the General As- 
 sembly, to the present time. They laid it much to 
 heart, and loud were their lamentations when they 
 were removed from their old haunts, first at Mystic, 
 and afterwards at Noank. Suffice it to say that the 
 white settlers treated them with marked kindness, 
 and allowed them to visit their former homes at pleas- 
 ure, to gather shell-fish and tautog, and to add the 
 material for succotash from their gardens. A week 
 thus spent by the sea-shore in a temporary wigwam 
 or some outhouse of their white supplanters was 
 highly appreciated, and seemed to add to the happi- 
 ness of the poor Indians, whilst the kindness of the 
 pale-faces was rarely if ever repaid by ingratitude. 
 We leave the history of the Pequots and their over- 
 throw for a separate sketch, and only add that Groton 
 was the seat of power, and the scene of the overthrow 
 of a people in which not only Connecticut but all 
 New England had a deep interest. The field of blood 
 and fire, when five hundred of them perished by the 
 swords and torches of Maj. Mason and his army, on 
 a fair morning in May, 1637, on the summit of Pe- 
 quot Hill, overlooking the valley of the placid Mystic, 
 is still pointed out, and has been designated as the 
 site of a monument properly commemorating an 
 event which formed a crisis in the settlement of New 
 England. The owners of the spot, Messrs. Horace 
 and Edmund Clift, of Mystic River, have generously 
 
 1 Miss CaJilkins says it ran by the head of Poquonnoc River. 
 
420 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 donated the land on this beautiful summit, and the 
 year 1887, just two hundred and fifty years from the 
 overthrow of Sassacus and his stalwart warriors, has 
 been by many designated as the time for erecting this 
 memorial, under the auspices of the New London 
 County Historical Society. 
 
 It may be interesting to know that the Fish and 
 Burrows families, who by purchase or land grants first 
 occupied the hill and region where the Pequot battle 
 was fought so long ago, are still largely its proprietors, 
 their lands having been transmitted by succession, 
 without recourse to deeds, to the present time, as the 
 records of the Probate Court will show. The Avery, 
 Packer, Allyn, and Morgan lands and others have 
 been transmitted in the same way. A part of the 
 unique-looking house and the farm now (1881) owned 
 and occupied by our town clerk, James D. Avery, 
 Esq., of Poquonnock, is the same house which was built 
 and occupied by the first settler, Capt. James Avery, 
 two hundred and thirty years ago, a part of the house 
 having been built in 1652. 
 
 In addition to the early families which settled Gro- 
 ton already named, we may add those of John Spicer, 
 two families of Smith, — Nehemiah and the well-known 
 John, — John Bennett, Edmund Fanning, Edward 
 Culver, branches of the Gallups, Stantons, and Wil- 
 liams families, Anthony Ashbey, Walter Buddington, 
 1679 ; Josiah Haines, 1696 ; Deacon John Seabury 
 and William Walworth, 1690 ; and John Davie, 1692. 
 These settlers continued to be, as we have said, within 
 the corporate limits of New London, and there with 
 great regularity at first they returned to worship on 
 Sundays. Several of them continued to be honored 
 by New London as town officers, — selectmen, justices 
 of the peace, constables, etc., — and as deputies to the 
 General Court. They also retained their influence 
 and honors in ecclesiastical affairs, and bore their 
 proportion of the burden of taxation in the mother- 
 town. 
 
 This new settlement par excellence occupied Indian 
 fighting-ground, and when King Philip's war broke 
 out (1675) its active sons seemed to spring instinct- 
 ively upon the field of battle. Their promptness and 
 energy command admiration. In looking over the 
 list of volunteers we are struck with the recurrence 
 of the familiar family names of Avery, thrice repeated, 
 Morgan twice, Colver thrice, Fanning thrice. Bill, 
 Stark, Watrous, Packer twice, Park twice. Spier, Gal- 
 lup, Billings twice, Larrabee, Fish, and Latham. 
 Their work accomplished, they returned to their peace- 
 ful avocations. 
 
 But as we approach the close of the seventeenth 
 century we begin to see among the East Side settlers 
 greater self-reliance, more independence, and an 
 openly-expressed desire to be a separate township. 
 
 Their meeting-house at Centre Groton, then just 
 passably completed, and their Central Public School, 
 at the same place, under Master Barnard, were evi- 
 dences of the coming ecclesiastical and civic inde- 
 
 pendence. Their idea seems to have been, in the se- 
 lection of the Four Corners, sometimes called Poquon- 
 nock (upper), or, as it is called of late years, from its 
 post-office. Centre Groton, to bind together the settlers 
 of the northern and southern, the eastern and western 
 portions of the settlement on the East Side in a con- 
 venient centre, which possibly might be, as they hoped, 
 a populous village. The location was well calculated 
 for it. It was a spacious plain, accessible from all 
 sides, except where the rugged spurs of Candlewood 
 Hill frowned upon it from the east. But whatever 
 might have been the dreams of the sturdy pioneers, 
 the population mostly clustered around the borders of 
 the town instead of the centre. 
 
 The name of the new town seems to have been a 
 subject of discussion, but finally that of Groton was 
 decided upon, probably in honor of Governor Win- 
 throp's English home in Sufiblk County, for Mr. 
 Wiuthrop had grants of some of the best lands in 
 the new town, and was, with his tenants, admitted 
 to be freemen of the town. But several attempts 
 were made to have the name changed, and the dele- 
 gates from the town to the General Court were in- 
 structed to favor a change to East London or South- 
 wark. The General Court, however, took little notice 
 of their fickleness, possibly not believing in indulging 
 young children or towns in having their own way. 
 
 What the population of New London was at this 
 time, or what was the population of Groton even, 
 cannot now be certainly determined. The inhabitants 
 of Groton were probably about two hundred and fifty 
 souls, for we find the number of freemen three years 
 later but sixty-five, which would indicate perhaps a 
 larger total. 
 
 The following officers were chosen at the first meet- 
 ing of the new town, in December, 1705 : Townsmen 
 or Selectmen, Samuel Avery, Samuel Fish, Nehemiah 
 Smith, James Morgan, and George Gere ; Town Clerk, 
 John Davie; Constable, Jonathan Starr; School- 
 master, John Barnard. 
 
 The schoolmaster, we shall see, was not forgotten ; 
 for at a town-meeting held May 28, 1706, it was voted 
 that ten acres of land be laid out to the north of the 
 meeting-house at the Centre, upon which a house was 
 soon after erected as a dwelling-house for Master 
 Barnard and family, the same to be used for school 
 purposes for the Centre district until a school-house 
 could be built. 
 
 It was also voted that the schoolmaster shall have 
 the improvement of the ten-acre lot in addition to 
 his salary. It was further voted " that the present 
 schoolmaster shall this year keep his school in five 
 several places, viz. : first, at Samuel Avery's ; second, 
 at Sergt. Fish's ; third, at Lieut. Morgan's ; fourth, at 
 Robert Allyn's (or in that neighborhood) ; and lastly 
 at Sergt. Bill's. It was decided and voted that a 
 school-house should be built on the school-lot at the 
 Centre, and that the dimensions be eighteen feet 
 square. The next year, 1707, it was voted that Mr. 
 
GROTON. 
 
 421 
 
 John Barnard be employed for two years from date, 
 and that the town should be divided into four parts or 
 school districts, and that a school be kept one-half a 
 year in each district, going around in two years, and 
 that the inhabitants of each district should by vote 
 decide the place where the school should be kept for 
 each school term ; and here the district boundaries 
 are recorded in full. The town was again divided 
 into five districts in 1709, and Master Barnard's own 
 home upon the ten-acre school-lot was to be the place 
 where the Centre school should be kept. Two com- 
 mitteemen in each of the other four school districts 
 were chosen to locate the school for the half-year en- 
 suing, and to see that the patrons " provide the mas- 
 ter's diet." 
 
 As the first town clerk was liberally educated, and 
 was foremost in laying these first foundations of the 
 school system of the town, which has ever since been, 
 to a laudable extent, the pride of Groton, we give a 
 sketch of him, as first given in the Connecticut Gazette 
 in 1880, viz. : 
 
 "Among the noted historical characters that have 
 arisen in or were identified with this town, that of 
 John Davie, its first town clerk, afterwards Sir John 
 Davie, is not the least. He was the son of Humphrey 
 Davie, of Hartford, and graduated at Harvard Col- 
 lege in 1681. He married a Hartford lady, the 
 daughter of James Richards, of that colonial town, 
 and she was sister of Governor Saltonstall's wife, and 
 this Miss Caulkins conjectures was the reason why he 
 purchased lands in New London, for we find him set- 
 tled on a Groton farm which had been already culti- 
 vated as early as 1693. His first child, Mary, was 
 born at Poquonnoc, June 13, 1693. Six children in 
 all were born on this Groton farm, three sons and 
 three daughters ; for he writes with his own bold hand 
 upon the town records, after giving the name and 
 date of each, ' These were all born in the town now 
 called Groton.' " 
 
 We learn these further facts from Miss Caulkins' 
 history : 
 
 "In 1694, Davie was one of the landholders to 
 whom the Assembly granted letters patent enlarging 
 the territory of the New London settlement or colony. 
 The same year he took a prominent part in building 
 the second meeting-house in New London, being one 
 of the building committee, which shows the activity 
 of the man in public affairs. He had been previously 
 appointed rate-collector and selectman for the East 
 Side. He took a prominent part in the measures 
 which resulted in the agreement to let the East Side 
 become a separate township, by a vote passed in 
 town-meeting Feb. 20, 1705 ; and at the Assembly, the 
 same year, an act of incorporation was passed. After 
 Mr. Davie had been town clerk about two years, and 
 was one day hoeing corn on Poquonnoc plains in 
 company with John Packer, in the midst of a strife 
 as to which of them should prove the faster, sud- 
 denly a messenger appeared at the end of the row 
 
 and inquired of the barefooted men, with their trous- 
 ers rolled up, which was named Davie, and upon being 
 told he was congratulated in these words : ' I salute 
 you, Sir John Davie.' The messenger had been sent 
 him by his brother-in-law. Governor Saltonstall, and 
 tradition has it that the town clerk came out ahead of 
 Packer, winning in the hoeing-match, and that he did 
 not deign to speak to the new-comer until he had 
 won the wager. This same John Packer afterwards, 
 at Davie's request, visited his old friend the baronet 
 in England, and they had a good time together. 
 
 " Mr. Davie was among the few liberally-educated 
 men of that day that helped found the settlement and 
 township of Groton, and left the impress of his cul- 
 ture upon the community. He contributed freely to 
 the building and temporal prosperity of the new 
 church which arose at Centre Groton almost simulta- 
 neously with the incorporation of the town, and aided 
 in settling Mr. Barnard as the permanent school- 
 teacher and the Rev. Mr. Woodbridge as their min- 
 ister. Mr. Davie gave the Groton Church a silver 
 service-set for the communion, and was one of the 
 early benefactors of Yale College, and were he alive 
 to-day it would be uncertain whether he would wear 
 the crimson or the blue at the regattas between Har- 
 vard and Yale. Possibly he would wear the crimson 
 on one side for his Alma Mater, and the blue on the 
 other for his foster-daughter. Sir John Davie soon 
 went to England, and to his estates in Creedy, county 
 of Devon, where he succeeded his uncle of the same 
 name, but he never forgot his American relatives and 
 friends, for he not only showed his beneficent feeling 
 towards the school, the college, and the church, but 
 through Governor Saltonstall he made gifts while 
 living to his relatives in various colonies. The spirit 
 of enterprise and zeal in the cause of education 
 which animated the first town clerk seemed to have 
 characterized all the first settlers and founders of the 
 town." 
 
 The town, however, solemnly and earnestly, by vote 
 in town-meeting, unanimously protested against the 
 removal of the college from Say brook to New Haven. 
 At this time more than a generation had passed away 
 since the first settlers came across the great Pequot 
 River, and a new set of names began to take the place 
 of the honest pioneers. We will here introduce the 
 list of freemen, who were all permanent landholders, 
 as we find them recorded, titles and all, on the town 
 records, a.d. 1708: Capt. James Avery (at this time 
 over sixty years old), Capt. James Morgan (died 
 1712), Capt. John Avery, Lieut. John Morgan, Mr. 
 Ephraim Woodbridge, Mr. George Gere, Robert 
 Gere, Zachariah Main, John Morgan, Jr., Sergt. Ne- 
 hemiah Smith, James Morgan, Jr., William Morgan, 
 Deacon John Seabury, James Avery, Jr., Sergt. 
 Philip Bill, Lieut. Samuel Fish, Deacon Andrew 
 Lester, John Bailey, Sergt. Richard Williams, Joshua 
 Bill, John Burrows, John Williams, John Burrows, 
 Jr., James Packer, John Avery, Jr., William Bailey, 
 
422 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Ralph Stoddard, John Culver, William Stark, Ensign 
 Samuel Avery, Josiah Haines, Joseph Bailey, Thomas 
 Starr, Edward Avery, Ebenezer Avery, Jonathan 
 Avery, Andrew Kenicum, Thomas Dunbar, Richard 
 Packer, Lieut. John Fanning, Christopher Avery, 
 Edward Spicer, Mr. John Allyn, Robert Allyn, 
 Thomas Bailey, Jonathan Lester, Samuel Bill, Jona- 
 than Starr, Joseph Culver, Samuel Lester, Gersham 
 Rice, John Barnard, John Po, Ensign Luke Packer, 
 William Williams, Richard Williams, Humphrey Da- 
 vie, Edward Fanning, John Shaw, Jonas Williams, 
 John Allyn, Robert Allyn, Jr., and Isaac Lamb. 
 
 In 1712 we find the following additional names : 
 Carey Latham, Samuel Packer, Peter Crary, Samuel 
 Whipple, Samuel Fish, Jr., William Leeds, Samuel 
 Morgan, Samuel Avery, Jr., Nathaniel Avery, Wil- 
 liam Bailey, John Bailey, Jr., Samuel Burrows, Rob- 
 ert Burrows, Jeremy Burrows, Walter Budington, Na- 
 thaniel Brown, Nathaniel Bellows, Walter Budington, 
 Jr., Gideon Cobb, Robert Crary, Abraham Chester, 
 John Cook, John Culver, Jr., Joseph Culver, Jr., 
 James Culver, Andrew Davis, John Fanning, Jr., 
 Edwin Fanning, Isaac Fox, Moses Fish, Isaac Gere, 
 Jeremiah Gere, Edward Hemans, John Leeds, Jas- 
 per Latham, John Latham, Joseph Latham, Samuel 
 Morgan, Thomas Lamb, Samuel Newton, William 
 Pool, Luke Perkins, Gersham Rice, Aaron Stark, 
 William Stark, Jr., Stephen Stark, Benjamin Spring- 
 er, Robert Stoddard, Jonathan Smith, Nicholas Treat, 
 Daniel Tyler, Henry Williams, Stephen Williams, 
 Peter Williams, Gabriel Woodmancy, Valentine 
 Wightman, John Wells, and Joseph Wells. 
 
 During the admission of all these freemen Samuel 
 Avery, Esq., was the moderator of the several town- 
 meetings, and, since the return of John Davie to the 
 old country, Nehemiah Smith town clerk. From the 
 preceding list many of the families of Groton are still 
 able to derive their direct descent. The population, 
 it is evident, must have had a wholesome increase to 
 account for the accession of so many landholders 
 within the space of four or five years. 
 
 There seems to have been nothing very remarkable 
 in the history of the town during the few years that 
 followed. They were piping times of peace. They 
 enjoyed an occasional bear-hunt in the region of 
 Gungewamp, or followed a stray wolf into Candle- 
 wood or Lantern Hill, or neighboring swamps. Foxes 
 had always been plenty among these hills, and the 
 town paid a remunerative bounty for their destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 In the wars of the colonies with the foes of the 
 mother-country Connecticut had borne her part, and 
 Groton, always prompt in defense of the country and 
 the honor of the State, had furnished her full quota. 
 Her train-band captains and companies held them- 
 selves ever ready to take the field where duty called 
 or honor led them. They had a, difficult problem to 
 solve with reference to the remnant of the Pequot 
 tribe of Indians, as we have had occasion to see. 
 
 Among the last of these was the controversy in re- 
 spect to jurisdiction of the sequestered lands. 
 
 Capt. James Packer inherited this dispute from his 
 father respecting the extent of his lands towards 
 Noank. The dispute had been commenced before 
 the removal of the Pequots, the Indians being parties, 
 and was now continued by the town. Vote after vote 
 was taken, and committee after committee was sent to 
 settle it, but in vain. An appeal had to be made to 
 the General Assembly, and a.d. 1735 a compromise 
 was effected by disinterested commissioners appointed 
 by the Legislature, who met at Capt. Packer's house. 
 " This," says the historian, Caulkins, " was an occa- 
 sion of great local interest. On the 5th of August, 
 when the commissioners — Maj. Timothy Pierce, Mr. 
 West, of Lebanon, and Sheriff Huntington, of Wind- 
 ham — left New London on their way to view the 
 contested premises, they were accompanied by forty 
 mounted men from the town, and they found their 
 train continually increasing as they proceeded. On 
 the ground a large assembly had already convened. 
 The neighboring farm-houses of Smiths, Burrows, 
 Fish, Niles, etc., were filled to overflowing with 
 guests. This is mentioned as exhibiting a character- 
 istic of the times." Capt. James Packer, the principal 
 actor in this aifair, was then honorably acquitted of 
 any fault and his proper bounds fixed. He was a 
 large land-owner, and a militia captain, selectman, 
 representative in the Assembly, etc. He was, unfor- 
 tunately, in extreme old age burnt to death in his 
 barn, which was consumed a.d. 1765. 
 
 Norwich had formerly bounded the town on the 
 northwest, and in 1734 a committee, consisting of En- 
 sign William Morgan, Jonathan Starr, and Luke Per- 
 kins, was appointed and empowered to settle the 
 boundary, which was not fully effected until four or 
 five years later. About the same time Messrs. Samuel 
 Allyn and Dr. Dudley Woodbridge were appointed 
 to go before the General Assembly to ask for and se- 
 cure a ferry across the Thames River from Ralph 
 Stoddard's, in Groton, to John Comstock's, in New 
 London. This resulted in the establishment of Gale's 
 Ferry. 
 
 The road from Centre Groton to the meeting-house, 
 centre of the North Society, was completed in 1785, 
 and the Flanders highway, from the foot of Fort Hill 
 northerly to Stark's Hill, in 1748. 
 
 The town had a curious way of distributing its al- 
 lotment of the colonial statutes. The number re- 
 ceived from the colonial authorities was twenty-two, 
 and the vote for their distribution gave one to any 
 freeholder whose list amounted to one thousand 
 pounds; but any freeholder of less than the sum 
 named could have one as long as any were left undis- 
 tributed, provided he and his neighbors whose com- 
 bined lists amounted to that sum united in asking 
 for him a copy ; so that every neighborhood could 
 have access to a law book, to be held in possession by 
 the favored custodian until the town otherwise di- 
 
GKOTON. 
 
 423 
 
 rected. Such a distribution of the compilation of 
 A.D. 1750 was carried out in 1752. 
 
 After the more ravenous beasts ceased to trouble 
 the settlers they frequently offered bounties to en- 
 courage the destruction of mischievous animals and 
 birds. We refer to the record. In 1715 we find the 
 following : 
 
 " Whereas, ye money ye law allows for tilling wolves is found by com- 
 mon experience to be too little, for, commonly there are employed twenty 
 orthiity men, who often spend two or three days about if, and then 
 sometimes swamp tnem and do not kill them. Such things ye inhabi- 
 tants of other places have considered, and added considerable money 
 {bounty) to what the law allows. 
 
 " Therefore, the inhabitants of this town are desireJ to add ten shillings 
 for killing a wolf, and three shillings for swamping a wolf or wolves; 
 but six shillings if he be killed ; and three shillings for killing a grown 
 fox or wild cat, or eighteen pence for a young one, and two pence a head 
 for crows ; and a half penny for black birds, which wae voted." 
 
 In 1739 five shillings were offered for every twenty 
 old crows, and three shillings and fourpence for every 
 twenty blackbirds. In 1747 five shillings per head 
 were offered for old foxes, three shillings per head for 
 young ones, and sixpence per dozen for gray squir- 
 rels. In all cases the heads were to be shown to at 
 least two selectmen, while those ofiicials and their 
 families were prohibited from obtaining bounties on 
 their own account. No small Swartwouts or Star 
 Eoute speculators were to be encouraged in those days. 
 We have alluded to the building of the first meet- 
 ing-house at Centre Groton. The town-records con- 
 cerning the minister's rates and the seating of the 
 people in their place of worship are copious. One 
 agrees to fit up a particular seat if he has permission. 
 Here is a sample vote in answer to a petition dated 
 1712. The petition of Deacon Morgan, Deacon Sea- 
 bury, and others was, " That the town would be 
 pleased to grant to them ye hinder short seat and a 
 part of ye long seat in ye northwest corner of ye 
 meeting-house to make a pew for our wives, and in 
 so doing you will oblige your friends to serve." 
 
 Eev. Ephraim Woodbridge's claims or petitions for 
 an exchange of lots or a grant of more land, or whatever 
 they happened to be, were nearly always courteously 
 granted, and these benevolent acts show the estima- 
 tion in which their first pastor was held. His salary 
 at first was eighty pounds a year, and was afterwards 
 increased to ninety pounds. There was then a sepa- 
 rate collector for the minister's rates, and his annual 
 receipt is found written in full and signed with his 
 own hand on the town records. As there is a separate 
 paper on ecclesiastical matters, this sketch touches 
 only upon such as pertain to the town. And here 
 we may say that though Groton was subject to the 
 minister's rates, like other towns, and did not take 
 kindly to the interference of the State in church mat- 
 ters, there was less friction than in most other towns, 
 because the standing order, with such leaders as the 
 Eev. John Owen, were men of liberal sentiment, and 
 showed sympathy for those that were, in addition to 
 church rates, conscientiously supporting a church of 
 their choice by voluntary contributions. The Bap- 
 
 tists early took root in the soil, establishing their 
 church half a year before the town was incorporated, 
 and the two denominations grew up harmoniously 
 together. 
 
 We have already introduced the first town clerk, 
 and noticed John Davie when he left to take posses- 
 sion of his estate. Justice Nehemiah Smith, as he 
 was called, being a magistrate, was chosen as his 
 successor, as will be seen in the table of town clerks. 
 He was also a townsman, and the selectmen or towns- 
 men generally met to transact business at the town 
 clerk's ofiice. In 1718, Samuel Avery was chosen 
 town clerk, and held the ofi5ce till Lieut. Christopher 
 Avery succeeded him ; and when he got to be a col- 
 onel, then his son, Christopher Avery, Jr., took it. 
 
 He was succeeded, as the table will show, in 1768 
 by William Avery, who also held the ofiice of select- 
 man and moderator as well. And as we are naming 
 ofiicers, it may be interesting to posterity to know who 
 successively held these ofiices of trust. Commencing 
 with the organization of the town, they succeeded, as 
 townsmen or selectmen, about as follows, the figures 
 denoting the number of times they held the same 
 ofiice or were one of the five, and sometimes seven, 
 selectmen, their quaint titles being retained, viz. : 
 Samuel Avery (2), Capt. James Avery (19), — father 
 and son, — Justice Nehemiah Smith (6), John Davie 
 (1), Capt. John Avery (5), Capt. John Morgan 
 (5), Lieut. Samuel Fish (8), John Allyn, Sr. (1), 
 Thomas Starr (3), Capt. James Morgan (8), William 
 Latham (2), Samuel Whipple (2), Zachariah Main (1), 
 Josiah Haines (1), Eobert Gere (1), Ealph Stoddard 
 (1), Ensign Philip Bill (1), Capt. James Packer (5), 
 John Bailey (1), Christopher Avery (6), John Bur- 
 rows (2), Capt. Jonathan Starr (14), William Morgan 
 (9), Capt. Moses Fish (8), Joshua Bill (3), Daniel El- 
 dredge (3), Thomas Chipman (2), Ben. Adam Gallup 
 (17), Luke Perkins (12), Deacon Humphrey Morgan 
 (4), Capt. William Williams (4), Col. Ebenezer Avery 
 (6), Eobert Allyn (4), Capt. Nathan Smith (5), Capt. 
 John Chester (1), Ebenezer Allyn (1), Robert Gere 
 (10), Capt. John Burrows (7), Lieut. John Stanton 
 (1), Capt. Joseph Morgan (7), Solomon Morgan (3), 
 Silas Deane (4), Deacon John Hurlbut (6), Hubbard 
 Burrows (4), Benjamin Avery (2), Nathan Avery (1), 
 Capt. Jabez Smith (2), Dr. Dudley Woodbridge (1), 
 Nathan Niles (6), Capt. Jasper Latham (1), Ensign 
 Thomas Mumford, Jr. (9), Ensign Jonathan Latham 
 (5), Benjamin Gere (2), Lieut. Thomas Fish (5), 
 Simeon Avery (5), Capt. Ealph Stoddard (4), Na- 
 thaniel Palmer (1), Capt. Joseph Starr (4), Col. Na- 
 than Gallup (3), John Spicer (3), Capt. Jonathan 
 Fish (3), Nathan Crary (2), Capt. Daniel Williams 
 (3), David Avery (2), Capt. Ebenezer Ledyard (5), 
 Solomon Perkins (2), Ensign Joseph Packer (8), Capt. 
 Stephen Billings (4), Amos Gere (2), Col. William 
 Ledyard (1), Thomas Ap Niles (1), John Bellows (1), 
 Capt. Thomas Fanning (2), Samuel Allyn (2), Daniel 
 Avery (3), Isaac Gere (3), Deacon Peter Avery (4), 
 
424 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Lieut. Eobert Allyn (4), Capt. Elijah Avery (1), Amos 
 Prentice (2), Elisha Williams (1), Eobert Gere, 2d 
 (3), Thomas Avery (4), Nathaniel Niles (2), Christo- 
 pher Morgan (2), Ensign Isaac Avery (3). This 
 brings us to the close of the Revolutionary war. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 GROTON— (Continued). 
 WAR OF THE KEVOLUTION, 
 
 DuMNG this period a choice selection from these 
 names will be found upon the roll of the Assembly 
 from this town. We will hasten to show the patriotic 
 part Groton also took in the agitation which preceded 
 the battles of Concord, Lexington, and Bunker Hill, 
 and the heroic action of her sons at Bunker Hill and 
 during the entire war for independence, culminating 
 in the battle on Groton Heights. We have already 
 said that the town of Groton was settled by men and 
 women that took an interest in the cause of educa- 
 tion, and their successors, at the dawn of the Revo- 
 lution, took a deep interest in the progress of liberty. 
 They viewed with just indignation every measure of 
 repression adopted by Great Britain tending to cur- 
 tail independence of thought and action among the 
 colonies. The presence of such men as Ebenezer, 
 John, and William Ledyard, Silas Deane, Thomas 
 Mumford, and the young men of the Avery, Morgan, 
 Gallup, Allyn, Gere, Packer, Burrows, Billings, Fan- 
 ning, Niles, Williams, Fish, Starr, Latham, Perkins, 
 Stoddard, Hurlbut, Chester, Eldredge, and other 
 families in the frequent town-meetings of Groton 
 accounts for the bold and patriotic spirit which every- 
 where animates their public meetings. To begin with 
 the year 1774, when the colonies were greatly excited 
 by successive acts of Parliament, and especially by 
 the act of Parliament which shut up the port of Bos- 
 ton, we copy the records, mostly verbatim, to justify 
 the claim we make of enlightened patriotism in our 
 country towns, and of this town in particular. At 
 a town-meeting held in Groton on Monday, the 20th 
 day of June, a.d. 1774, William AVilliams, Esq., 
 moderator, — 
 
 "this town taking into serious consideration the dangerous situation of 
 the Britisli Colonies in North America, respecting sundry late acts of the 
 British Parliament, particularly those of shutting up the Portof Boston, 
 the Metropolis of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and abridging 
 their chartered righti, Ac, which, if carried into execution, not only de- 
 prives us all of our privileges, but renders life and property very preca- 
 rious. And as we esteem the inhabitants of Boston, now suftering the 
 tyranny of said acts of Parliament, and in the common cause of America- 
 Voted, That we will join with the other towns in this Colony in such' 
 reasonable measures as shall be judged best for the general good, and 
 most likely to obtain redress of our grievances. 
 
 "Voted. That we esteem a General Congress of all the Colonies the 
 only probable method to adopt a uniform plan for the preservation of 
 the whole. 
 
 "Voted, That if it shall he judged best by said Congress to stop all 
 exports to Great Britain and the West Intlie8,and all imports from them 
 we will most cheerfully acquiesce in their determinations, esteeming the 
 
 benefits arising therefrom mere trifles compared with the rights and 
 privileges of America. Voted, That Capt. William Ledyard, Thomas 
 Mumford, Ben Adam Gallup, Doct. Amos Prentice, Messrs. Charles El- 
 dredge, Jr., Dea. John Hurlbut, and Amos Gere be a Committee to corre- 
 spond with the Committees of the several towns of this and other British 
 Colonies. 
 
 "Voted, That the above resolutions be published in the New London 
 Gazette, 
 
 "William Avery, Town Clerk." 
 
 "Groton, Dec. 12, 1774. 
 " The inhabitants of this town, being sensible that a strict adherence 
 to and observance of the Eesolves of the Continental Congress, held in 
 Philadelphia in September last, is of the utmost importance for the 
 preservation of American rights and liberties, to effect which, agreeable 
 to the nth article of said Congress, we do choose the following gentle- 
 men a Committee of Inspection for the purpose therein contained, viz.; 
 Ebenezer Ledyard, Thomas Mumford, William 'Williame, Benadam Gal- 
 lup, William Avery, Solomon Perkins, David Avery, William Morgan, 
 John Elderkin, Joseph Packer, John Hurlbut, Ebenezer Avery (2), and 
 Amos Gere, as a Committee of Inspection for the ensuing year. 
 
 " Wm. Avery, Town Clerk." 
 
 Silas Deane, Esq., was among the foremost in all 
 the plans of the Groton patriots until the Colonial 
 Legislature sent him to the Continental Congress. 
 [See biographical sketch of Mr. Deane.] 
 
 The Committee of Inspection for 1775 has Hon. 
 William Williams for chairman, and the new names 
 of Simeon Avery, Stephen Billings, Rev. Park Avery, 
 and Nathan Gallup. The others are as before. In 
 January, 1775, Thomas Mumford, Esq., and Lieut. 
 Nathan Gallup were appointed agents of the town 
 "to represent to the Honorable General Assembly 
 the situation and circumstances of said town of Gro- 
 ton, the need and necessity of a Fortification on 
 Groton Heights near the ferry, and to obtain an 
 order to draw money out of the colonial treasury for 
 whatever cost they have been or may be at for the 
 purposes aforesaid, with officers to take care of the 
 same." As the result of this movement, Fort Gris- 
 wold was built, mainly by the hands of the patriotic 
 citizens of Groton. 
 
 Of Thomas Mumford, so often mentioned in town- 
 meetings before, during, and after the war, a passing 
 word may properly be said. He was first chosen to 
 the office of selectman in 1759, and was termed En- 
 sign Mumford as early as 1766. He was in the first, 
 or Groton Bank company, there being five military 
 companies in the town. He was one of the foremost 
 and most efficient of the Sons of Liberty. The histo- 
 rian of New London, already quoted, says, "Thomas 
 Mumford, of Groton, belonged to that company of 
 gentlemen, eleven in number, who in April, 1775, 
 formed the project of taking Ticonderoga. This un- 
 dertaking, so eminently successful, was wholly con- 
 certed in Connecticut, without any authority from 
 Congress. Mumford was first selectman through the 
 earlier years of the war, and was the financial man- 
 ager of the affiiirs of Groton; in constant communica- 
 tion with fellow-patriots in other towns and in other 
 States, a man in whom Governor Trumbull trusted, 
 and the confidential adviser with Deane and others. 
 In 1778 he was one of a committee appointed by Con- 
 gress to receive and sign emissions of bills. He was 
 
If.' ^ 
 
GKOTON. 
 
 425 
 
 also an agent of the Secret Committee of the Conti- 
 nental Congress." 
 
 Ticonderoga was taken early in May, a.d. 1775. 
 About this time Mr. Mumford, being one of a com- 
 mittee of the General Assembly, was appointed to 
 examine the points of defense, and report on the best 
 means of securing the country from successful inva- 
 sion. Groton Heights was one of the places selected 
 for a fortification ; and having thus secured the recog- 
 nition which the town-meeting of Groton in the pre- 
 vious January had sought from the State, under the 
 leadership of Mumford, Ledyard, and others, the 
 Groton patriots went to work with a will, erecting 
 defensive works on the heights overlooking the har- 
 bor. 
 
 The historian further says, " With a spirit of enthu- 
 siasm that did not wait for legislative aid, the inhabi- 
 tants voluntarily threw up intrenchments, excavated 
 ditches, and erected breastworks, and though they had 
 no ordnance, except a few pieces at the principal bat- 
 tery at the Heights, obtained from the supply brought 
 in by Commodore Hopkins, they resolved to defend the 
 position to the last extremity." Prophetic words ! 
 
 In the autumn of 1775 the formal report of the com- 
 mittee on fortifications was made, urging immediate 
 action in addition to what had been accomplished by 
 private and patriotic enterprise. Six persons were 
 designated to superintend the work, among whom 
 were Ebenezer Ledyard and Capt. Peter Avery, two 
 leading citizens. It was in December, 1776, that the 
 ■ name of the Governor was given to the fort on the 
 New London side, and the name of the Lieutenant- 
 Governor to the Groton Heights fort, names never 
 thereafter to be forgotten. Col. Mott was the engineer 
 of the latter fortification. Ledyard first took pos- 
 session of it with his artillery company July 3, 1776, 
 and subsequently, as we shall see, had charge of all 
 the fortifications on both sides of the river and at 
 Stonington. 
 
 " Geoton, Feb. 5, 1776. 
 "At a legal town-meeting held by adjournment this day, Wm. Wil- 
 liams, Esq., was chosen moderator. 
 
 " Voted^ That the Committee on Inspection and Correspondence be di- 
 rected to inspect all persons that shall unnecessarily waete their powder, 
 and count them inimical to the good of the country. 
 " VoUd^ To publish this vote in the New L(mdon Gazette. 
 
 "Wm.Aveey, t. a 
 
 " Apr. 8, A.D. 1776. 
 " At a town-meeting held this day, Col. Ebenezer Avery, moderator, 
 Votedf That the town of Groton, having heretofore chosen a Com- 
 mittee of Inspection, do refer all matters to them respectively, setting 
 prices on things, agreeable to the direction of Congress." 
 
 At the call of the Continental Congress and Gov- 
 ernor Jonathan Trumbull, a large number of volun- 
 teers enlisted from Groton in the patriot army. Many 
 of them served under Putnam at the battle of Bunker 
 Hill. Capt. Abel Spicer started with a full company 
 when the news of the battle of Lexington came boom- 
 ing over the hills, and was present at the battle of 
 Bunker Hill. Others started off on foot, alone or in 
 squads, to take a hand in the impending battle. They 
 
 found places waiting for them at the front, and ac- 
 quitted themselves like men on the 17th of June. So 
 many volunteers had left for the front and remained 
 in the army of Washington that the people first 
 petitioned the General Assembly to let her soldiers 
 come home long enough to gather in the harvest and 
 defend their homes from an immediate attack which 
 threatened this coast, and besides these the town had 
 been further stripped to furnish men for the navy. 
 There was scarcely a week passed without an ominous 
 movement of British men-of-war in sight of Fort 
 Griswold, which was a favorite lookout for officers 
 and citizens. But the soldiers were not recalled from 
 the front. The exigencies of the times stimulated 
 the people to make greater sacrifices for the common 
 cause. The town records reveal a little of this, which 
 we quote : 
 
 " Ghoton, April 1, 1777. 
 " At a legal town-meeting held this day, William Williams, moderator, 
 Voted, That this town will supply the families of those soldiers, on their 
 reasonable requests, who shall engage and go into any of the Continental 
 battalions for the term of three years, or during the war, with the neces- 
 saries of life, as stated by law, so far as those soldiers that enlist into the 
 Continental service shall lodge with or remit money through a commit- 
 tee to be chosen for the purpose aforesaid. Voted, That Messrs. Thomas 
 Mumford, David Avery, Joseph Starr, William Avery, Robert Gere, 
 Thomas Fanning, Col. Ben Adam Gallup, John Hurlbut, Jonathan Fish, 
 and Thomas Ap Niles be a committee, agreeable to the above vote, and 
 e.vecute the same as far as lies in their power. Voted, That this meeting 
 be adjourned to the 7th day of April inst., to the South meeting-house, 
 in said Groton, at 1 o'clock p.m. 
 
 " Wm. Aveuy, Tovm Clerk" 
 
 " Geoton, April 7, 1777. 
 "At an adjourned tx>wn-meeting held this day, William Williams, 
 moderator, Voted, That this town will give, in addition to what has al- 
 ready been offered by the Hon. Continental Congress and this State, Six 
 Pounds to every individual soldier who shall enlist for three years, or 
 during the war, and who shall pass muster (exclusive of Connecticut 
 officers), that shall voluntarily enlist out of this town, and in this State. 
 And if the numherof soldiers should so enlist as to make the number 105, 
 then all those soldiers that have enlisted and who count for this town 
 and in this State are to be entitled to the same sum. 
 
 " Wm. Avery, Town Clerk," 
 
 " Geoton, April 28, 1777. 
 " At a town-meeting held this day, William Williams, Esq., moderator, 
 Voted, That Capt. Joseph Starr, Kalph Stoddard, Hubbard Burrows, Jr., 
 John Morgan, Oliver Spicer, Elijah Avery, Stephen Billings, and Abel 
 Spicer be a committee to inquire how many soldiers have enlisted into 
 the Continental army since the 7th of April, and make return to the 
 next town-meeting. Voted, That this meeting adjourn to the first Tues- 
 day of May, at 11 o'clock a.m., at this place. 
 
 "Attest: Wm.Aveey, T. 0." 
 
 The committee reported that twenty-seven had en- 
 listed in the twenty-one days that had elapsed. 
 
 " May, 1777. 
 " At a town-meeting held this day, William Williams, Esq., moderator, 
 Voted, That Col. Nathan Gallup and Deacon John Hurlbut be a commit- 
 tee to purchase as many of those guns of Col. Mott's as can be obtained, 
 for the use of this town and its inhabitants. 
 
 " Attest: Wm. Aveey, T. O." 
 
 So it seems that the town of Groton not only built 
 and manned the fort, but largely furnished it with 
 ordnance. 
 
 " Gkoton, Sept. 3, 1777. 
 " At a town-meeting held this day, Eev. Park Avery, moderator, Voted^ 
 That the town will comply with His Excellency the Governor's request 
 to procure clothing for the army. Voted, That Messrs. David Avery, 
 
426 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Stephen Billings, Samuel Allyn, Joseph Packer, and Thomas Fanning 
 be a committee to go immediately and take in subscriptions, and receive 
 those articles that are or shall be subscribed for, in order to furnisli 
 those non-commiasioned officers and soldiers that are now in the Conti- 
 nental army from this town with necessary articles of clothing, agree- 
 ably to the request of His Excellency the Governor and Council of 
 Safety. And if said committee should not be able to take in subscrip- 
 tions for said pnrpose, then to procure said articles at the town's cost. 
 
 "Attest: Wm. Avesy, T. O." 
 
 At the annual meeting, December 12tli following, 
 there were added to the Committee of Inspection the 
 names of Dr. Amos Prentice, Samuel Allyn, Daniel 
 Avery, Thomas Ap Niles, Stephen Billings, and Col. 
 Nathan Gallup. 
 
 At the same time the Committee of Correspondence 
 was conducted by Capt. William Ledyard, Thomas 
 Mumford, Charles Eldridge, Jr., and Col. Ben Adam 
 Gallup. A tax of one shilling on the pound was levied. 
 
 " Geoton, Dec. 30, 1777. 
 *'Voted^ Upon the recommendation of His Excellency the Governor, to 
 take into consideration the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual 
 Union recommended by the Congress of the Thirteen United Ameri- 
 can States. Voted, That we approve and accept the same." 
 
 Thus ends the year 1777, a year full of patriotic 
 action from beginning to end, showing the intense 
 interest the people felt in the success of the American 
 cause. But so great and almost unparalleled an in- 
 terest deserves to be reproduced in detail. The first 
 meeting we note in the year following bears date and 
 reads : 
 
 " Groton, March 8, 1778. 
 " At a legal town-meeting held this day, William Williams, Esq., mod- 
 erator, Tot^id, That the committee of supplies be directed to hire so 
 much money as to pay for all the clothing they have already supplied the 
 Continental army. Voted, That David Avery, Esq., Capt. Joseph Morgan, 
 Mr, Hubbard Burrows, Col. Ben Adam Gallup, and Lieut. Theophilus 
 Avery be a committee to supply the non-commissioned offlcera and sol- 
 diers that have enlisted in the Continental army out of said town, to act 
 for the ensuing year. 
 
 " Wm. Ayeet, T. O." 
 
 Capt. William Ledyard is at this time denominated 
 major, which we note because everything about him 
 is interesting, while Capt. William Latham, his suc- 
 cessor, is the commander of the old artillery com- 
 pany. 
 
 " Geoton, Sept. 8, 177S. 
 "Anew committee to procure provisions and clothing for soldiers' 
 families was appointed, containing the new names of James Avei-y, 
 Daniel Packer, and George Gere. 
 
 " Thomas Mumford, Clerhpro tern.'' 
 
 Feb. 2, 1779. At a town-meeting at which Col. 
 Ebenezer Avery presided, and at which David Avery 
 was clerk pro tern., it was voted that William Avery 
 Morgan be added to the Committee of Supply for 
 soldiers' families. 
 
 Feb. 17, 1779. The selectmen were directed to hire 
 one thousand pounds and deliver the same to the 
 Committee of Supplies for soldiers' families. One 
 shilling in the pound was voted to cover expenses. 
 At the same meeting Thomas Mumford and Col. 
 Nathan Gallup were appointed agents for the town 
 to prefer a memorial to the General Assembly, and 
 see if said Assembly will relieve the town from the 
 
 cost that was made by sending and keeping prisoners 
 here. 
 
 This town expresses itself in full accord with the 
 vote of the town of Norwich in the method presented 
 respecting taxation. On the 15th of June, 1779, 
 Capt. Thomas Chester, Deacon Joseph Allen, Elisha 
 Niles, Christopher Morgan, and Isaac Avery were ap- 
 pointed a committee to forward supplies to the soldiers 
 of the town in the Continental army. On the 25th 
 of August following the town voted to allow all of 
 Col. Ben Adam Gallup's account as a Committee of 
 Supply for soldiers' families, though the General As- 
 sembly had not allowed it. September 21st a new 
 Committee of Supply for the soldiers at the front was 
 chosen. At the same time Maj. William Ledyard was 
 appointed at the head of the town's delegation to a 
 county convention to take concerted measures to sus- 
 tain the war. Early in 1780 a tax of four shillings 
 in the pound was laid on levy of 1779, and Col. 
 Nathan Gallup was appointed auditor of accounts, 
 an office that has fallen into disuse, until it was re- 
 vived within a very few years. It is now a permanent 
 ofiice. At the January meeting this year a special 
 committee was appointed to see that no provisions 
 were carried out of the State except such as were 
 sent to feed the army. Capt. John Williams was 
 chairman of this commission. On the 22d of March 
 the recruiting committee reported, advising the town 
 to ofi'er a bounty of five pounds sterling, solid silver, 
 "in addition to all other bounties heretofore offered," 
 and guaranteeing to volunteers all their wages in coin. 
 This was still further increased to six pounds bounty 
 and eight pounds annually, in solid coin, and finally 
 to twenty shillings per month, or twelve pounds a 
 year, in addition to their regular pay. In November 
 following a committee was raised to receive the town's 
 proportion of salt and other provisions, agreeable to a 
 late act of the General Assembly, and the committee 
 were authorized to hire as much money as sixpence 
 in the pound will raise on the grand list for the use 
 of the Continental army. There were at this time, as 
 before intimated, five military companies within the 
 bounds of the town of Groton, and the commanders 
 of each company were appointed to classify those 
 liable to perform military service. This year of 
 grace, 1780, it was voted that Jedediah Leeds, Jr., 
 and Simeon Smith be appointed the committee to 
 supply soldiers' families, and a tax of one shilling 
 on the pound was laid for that object. 
 
 The difiicult task of assessing on the patriotic citi- 
 zens one hundred and ninety-eight pounds, in addi- 
 tion to the sum already raised, to pay soldiers' dues 
 overdue, was imposed on, and the execution of the 
 act was given to the five acting militia captains. 
 They were directed to hire money, and with it put 
 men in the field to fill the town's quota to serve dur- 
 ing the war. 
 
 We now come to the memorable year 1781. It 
 opens by appointing a committee, January 16th, to 
 
GROTON. 
 
 427 
 
 see that soldiers' families were supplied with neces- 
 sary provisions, and it was voted that Capt. Elijah 
 Avery and others named should attend to the supply 
 of clothing for the soldiers in the field, and that what- 
 ever money they have to hire the town pledges itself 
 to pay. The five acting captains of the militia com- 
 panies were appointed recruiting-ofiicers to enlist men 
 to serve one year. A committee was also appointed 
 to take the town's part of grain and flour for the 
 Continental troops, agreeable to a new State law. 
 
 Lieut. Park Avery was authorized to procure such 
 supplies under this law. At the town-meeting held 
 May 9, 1781, Capt. Stephen Billings was appointed to 
 ascertain the number of soldiers from Groton then 
 serving in the Connecticut line of the Continental 
 army that had enlisted for the war. At the same 
 meeting they passed a vote to appoint Lieut. Ebene- 
 zer Avery and others to collect clothing for the boys 
 of the Connecticut line during the year 1781. And 
 now we come to the last recorded vote before the great 
 massacre. It was dated June 26, 1781, and it was an 
 act to provide for the welfare of the soldiers in the 
 field, concluding by directing the collector of taxes 
 to receive no more paper-money. 
 
 The air had for some time been full of rumors in 
 expectation of a final attack of the British fleet. It 
 had chased many a swift and richly-laden privateer 
 into the safe harbor of New London, and the hour of 
 vengeance could not be long delayed. Groton's young 
 men, despite the quotas furnished for the army, still 
 found their favorite pastime on the sea, and had es- 
 caped many a danger. Sometimes it had all resulted 
 disastrously, as was the case with Capt. Conokling 
 and a crew from Mystic, of the fast-sailing ^loop 
 "Eagle," which, hkving taken six prizes in one day, 
 held so many prisoners and had spared so many for 
 prize-crews that her captives, seeing the weakness of 
 the " Eagle's'' crew, rose and killed all on board ex- 
 cept, as some said, a negro concealed under the sail. 
 Lieut. Daniel Eldredge, who was prize-master to one 
 of the fine prizes, saw at a distance the recapture as 
 it proceeded, but being becalmed he could render no 
 assistance. This Lieut. Eldredge was afterwards 
 wounded in Fort Griswold, but lived to be rewarded 
 both by his town and by his country, he having re- 
 ceived a command in the navy-yard established at 
 Washington. A letter-of-marque had come in on the 
 5th of September, and as the officers were dexterous 
 in the handling of guns, some of them went into the 
 fort, among whom was Samuel Edgecomb, a stalwart 
 of over six feet, of the age of twenty-one. He, too, 
 escaped with only a wounded hand. We must ab- 
 breviate the account of the battle, because its inci- 
 dents have all been so fully and so repeatedly told dur- 
 ing the late centennial. Suffice it to say the British 
 fleet consisted of thirty-two sail of all classes, and 
 the troops were landed early on the morning of Sept. 
 6, 1781, from twenty-four transports, eight hundred 
 on the Groton side and one thousand on the New 
 
 London side, both at the mouth of the harbor. The 
 troops, under Col. Eyre, came up stealthily under 
 cover of the woods. Col. Ledyard, who was the com- 
 mandant of all the fortifications on both sides of the 
 river and of Stonington, decided to abandon Fort 
 Trumbull and to concentrate all his forces in defense of 
 Groton Heights, anticipating support from the rapidly 
 assembling militia, who had received a doubtful alarm 
 in consequence of the British firing an extra gun al- 
 most simultaneously with our alarm, thus changing 
 it to the accustomed signal of victory, as when a 
 prize came in. No doubt an uncomfortable panic 
 seized the alarmed and deceived community, which 
 spread to the outside soldiers, while the brave hearts 
 that were shut up with Col. Ledyard in Fort Gris- 
 wold were animated with an indomitable courage, 
 which was expressed in the language of their brave 
 commander, who said, — • 
 
 " If I am to lose to-day honor or life, you who 
 know me can tell which it will be.'' 
 
 The garrison consisted of one hundred and fifty 
 men, more or less, most of them improvised for the 
 time from Groton. There were a few from Fort Trum- 
 bull and adjoining towns. 
 
 Col. Eyre, from a, distance, sent a flag of truce, de- 
 manding the immediate and unconditional surrender 
 of the fort. Col. Ledyard summoned a council of 
 war, in which it was soon decided to reject the terms 
 and defend the fort. A second time Col. Eyre de- 
 manded the surrender, on penalty of incurring a sus- 
 pension of the laws of honorable warfare. The de- 
 fenders of the fort promptly refused to surrender on 
 any terms. The assailing troops now advanced with 
 a double-quick step in solid columns. Col. Ledyard 
 ordered his garrison to reserve their fire until the 
 enemy had reached a specified place, and then, when 
 the word was given, discharged an eighteen-pounder, 
 well loaded with grape-shot, in their faces. The 
 cannon did its work, mowing a considerable space 
 through the British lines, which were at once broken 
 and the men scattered. They rallied, and being led 
 by their officers, came running up, but were met by a 
 steady, quick, and obstinate fire. Col. Eyre, mortally 
 wounded, was borne from the field, and other British 
 officers fell. Maj. Montgomery, seeing a less mur- 
 derous fire on the east and north sides, stormed the 
 fort, overpowering these points with numbers, but he 
 lost his life in the assault in the very moment of vic- 
 tory. After an unsuccessful attempt to open the gate 
 it was at length prostrated, and the exasperated 
 enemy rushed in, breathing slaughter and revenge. 
 Col. Ledyard, perceiving further resistance in vain, 
 ordered his men to lay down their arms, at the same 
 time offering his sword, in token of surrender, to the- 
 officer in command. This sword was accepted, and, 
 horrible to relate, was immediately thrust through 
 and through his breast, a deed unparalleled for its 
 atrocity in the annals of warfare among civilized 
 or half-civilized people, and was so infamous and das- 
 
428 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 tardly an act that the officer in command afterwards 
 totally disclaimed it, and intimated the possibility of 
 a bayonet-wound from an infuriated soldier. But the 
 deed was done, and the officer in command cannot 
 wash his hands of the dreadful crime. The struggle 
 continued after resistance had ceased. Had Arnold 
 himself been there it could not have been worse. The 
 arch-traitor, who watched the fight from the New 
 London side, in his report says, — 
 
 " After an obstinate defense of near forty minutes 
 the fort was carried." 
 
 Of the garrison, eighty-five were killed outright 
 and left in the fort .stripped of all clothing; thirty- 
 five were regarded dangerously or mortally wounded, 
 
 ing the movements of the enemy, the moment they 
 left rushed in, and at great peril of their lives threw 
 water on the train. Others ventured in, and the fire 
 in the barracks was extinguished and the fort saved. 
 That night of horror among the wounded was fol- 
 lowed at early dawn by the presence of gentle forms 
 inquiring for fathers, brothers, and sous. Dr. Joshua 
 Downer, of Preston, surgeon of the Eighth Regiment, 
 seems to have been the first to appear for the relief of 
 the sufferers. Fourteen among the dead and three 
 among the wounded bore the title of captain. Of the 
 killed, sixty belonged to Groton, where forty-two 
 widows were made on this tragic day, — a bereave- 
 ment believed to have been unparalleled in the an- 
 
 UOUSE USED FOlt HOSl'ITAL AT BATTLE OF GKOTON HEIGHTS, SEPT. 0,1781. 
 
 and were paroled to remain ; thirty others, mostly 
 wounded, were carried away to New York. The 
 paroled men, in their blood, some of them dying, 
 were hastily tossed into an ammunition-wagon and 
 suffered to run impetuously down the steep until it 
 was arrested in its headlong course by the trunk of an 
 apple-tree. The shock was so great that instant death 
 followed in some cases and indescribable torture in 
 the survivors, who were carried to Ensign Avery's 
 house, at the foot of the hill (the house now owned 
 and occupied by Mr. Simon Huntington, and show- 
 ing blood-stains on the floor to this day). The enemy 
 intended to blow up the magazine of the fort, and had 
 laid a train of powder to effect that object, but Maj. 
 Peters, of Norwich, who with others had been watch- 
 
 nals of any town in any of our wars. Eleven of the 
 dead bore the name of Avery and six that of Perkins. 
 The names of the killed, wdiich were enrolled on a 
 marble slab inside the lofty granite monument 
 erected fifty years after the event, and the names of 
 the wounded, corrected by Charles Allyn, Esq., in his 
 " Centennial History of the Battle," are as follows : 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel William Ledyard, commanding. 
 
 Captain Elijali Avery 
 
 Captain Elislia Avery 
 
 Lieutenant Ebenezer Avery.. 
 
 Ensign Daniel Avery 
 
 Sergeant Christoplier Avery.. 
 
 Sergeant Jasper Avery 
 
 Sergeant Solomon Avery 
 
 David Avery 
 
 Thomas Avery 
 
 Captain Samuel Allyn 
 
 Captain Simeon Allyn 
 
 Ledyard, 
 
GROTON. 
 
 420 
 
 Bc'lton Allyn Ledvard, Groion. 
 
 HtMiJitlam Allyn ■' " 
 
 Niithauiel Adams " 
 
 Captain Hubbard Burrows " 
 
 Sergfaiit Ezeldel Bailey " 
 
 Corpora] Andrew Billings Ledyard, " 
 
 Andrew Baker " " 
 
 Jnlin P. Babcock " 
 
 .lolui Billin{2;s Preston. 
 
 Sanniel Billings Groton. 
 
 William Boltou Kewlioudou. 
 
 Julin Brown Grotou. 
 
 Jonathan Butler S.iybi'ook. 
 
 Lit'utenant Richard Chapman jSow London. 
 
 Sergeant Eldredge Chester Groton. 
 
 Daniel Chester " 
 
 .ledidiah Chester " 
 
 Frederic Chester " 
 
 John Clark New London. 
 
 Elias Ct'it " 
 
 Lieutenant James Conistock " 
 
 ■\Villiam Cumstock Saybrook. 
 
 J'hilip Covin GrutOQ. 
 
 Daniel Da\is " 
 
 Daniel Eldredge " 
 
 Jordiin Freeman (colored) " 
 
 Captain Elias lleury Halsey Long Island. 
 
 Samuel Hill Ledyard, Groton. 
 
 John Holt, Jr New London. 
 
 Serseant RufusHurlburt Ledyard, Groton. 
 
 Eliday Jones.... " 
 
 Moses Jones Ledyard, " 
 
 Benoni Keuson New London. 
 
 Barney Kinney " 
 
 Cnptrtin Youngs Ledyard Groton. 
 
 Captain Cary Leeds " 
 
 Ivieutenant Joseph Lewis Ledyard, " 
 
 Ensign John Lester " " 
 
 Jianiel D. Lester " 
 
 Jonsis Lester " 
 
 W:iit Lester " 
 
 Thomas Lamb " 
 
 Sambo Latham (colored) " 
 
 Captain Nathan Moore " 
 
 Corporal Edward Mills " 
 
 I'oipoial Simeon Morgan Ledyard, " 
 
 Tliomas Miner " '" 
 
 Joseph Moxley " " 
 
 Corporal Luke Perkins, Jr " " 
 
 David Palmer " 
 
 Elisha Perkins Ledyard, " 
 
 Ijuke Perkins " " 
 
 Asa Perkins " 
 
 Eliiiithan Perkins " 
 
 Simeon Perkins " 
 
 Captain Peter Richards New London 
 
 Ciijitain Adam Shapley 
 
 Captain Amos Stanton Ledyard, Groton. 
 
 Lieutenant Enoch Stantuii Stonington. 
 
 Ser;icant Daniel Stanton 
 
 Sergeant John Stedinan Ledyard, Groton. 
 
 Sergeant Nicholas Starr. 
 
 Ccirporal Nathan Sholes Ledyard, 
 
 Thum>ia Starr, Jr '' 
 
 Daviil Seabury Ledyard, |^ 
 
 Captain John Williams 
 
 Lieutenant Henry Williams Ledyard, ^^ 
 
 Lieutenant Patric Ward ^^ 
 
 Sylvester Walworth 
 
 j;)scph Wedg.-r Ledyard, 
 
 Thomas Williams Stonmgton. 
 
 Daniel Williams Saybrook. 
 
 Juhn Whittlesey 
 
 Stephen Whittlesey 
 
 Cliristordier Wood bridge 
 
 Henry Woodbridge 
 
 Total, 88. 
 
 Names of the Wounded, 
 Paroled and left at home. 
 "A Particular Account of the Men that were Wounded at Fort Gris- 
 wold, in the Battle with the British, on the Gth of Sept., 1781, who 
 were paroled by Captain Bloomfiehl ; and Ebenezer Ledyard, Esq., 
 was taken as Hostage to see them forthcoming, if called for." In 
 the presence of Bnfus Avery. 
 
 Lieutenant Parke Avery, Jr., Ic^t one eye Groton. 
 
 Ensign Ebene/er Avery, in the head ^^ 
 
 Amos Avery, in the hand „ 
 
 Juhn Daboll, Jr., in the hand ,, 
 
 Ensign Charles Eldiidge, knee ^, 
 
 Cluistopher E!dridgc,in the face ,, 
 
 S.inuiel Edgecomb, Jr., in thehand ^, 
 
 Andrew Gallup, in the hip „ 
 
 KubertGallup, in tlie body .•—,-': -kt^^v Tonrlnn 
 
 Sergeant Stephen Hempstead, in the body thLnn 
 
 Corporal (Jehial) Judd, in the knee... Pn.tnn 
 
 Captain William Lntliam, in the thigh uioion. 
 
 Captain Edward Latham, in the body ^^ 
 
 Jomithan Latham, Jr., body 
 
 28 
 
 Groton. 
 
 Christopher Latham, Jr., body Grotou. 
 
 Frederick Moore, body " 
 
 John Morgan, in the knee " 
 
 Jabez Pendleton, in the hand " 
 
 Captain Si'lumon Perkins, in tho face " 
 
 Lieutenant Obadiah Perkins, in the bieast " 
 
 Ebenezer Pel kins, in the face " 
 
 Elisha PiioT-, in the arm " 
 
 Lieutenant William Starr, in the breast " 
 
 John Stiirr, in the arm " 
 
 Daniel Stanton, Jr., in t)ie body Stonington. 
 
 William Seymour, lost liis leg Hartford. 
 
 Ensign Jo^. Wdddmaneee, lost one eye Groton. 
 
 Santord Williams, in tlie body " 
 
 Asael AVdinlworth, in the nefk " 
 
 TlK)mas Woodworth, in the leg " 
 
 Zibe Woodworth, in the knee " 
 
 Additioxal Namks not on Avery's List, but in that phixted by 
 Mr. Harris. 
 
 Samuel Stillman, arm and thigh Snyhrook. 
 
 Tom Wansuc (Pequot Indian), bayonet-stab in neck Groton. 
 
 If to these we add 
 
 Edward Slauton, in the body Stonington 
 
 who is in the list of wounded repotted by the committee of tlie Legisla- 
 ture, we have exactly the number (35) reported by Stephen Hempstead 
 as being paroled. 
 
 Tho large proportion of officers among the killed and wounded is ac- 
 counted for by the fact that after trix years of war many men had been 
 in the army or militia and earned their titles. When ihe alarm was 
 sounded, the same spirit which had raised them to command at once 
 brought them to the fort as volunteers. They were there prompt for 
 duty. Others were officers of privateers or merchantmen Ijing in the 
 harbor, whose fearless hearts prompted them to lend a baud in defense 
 of the fort. 
 
 Others, both Uxuurt and Wouxdfd, kot taken Prisoners. 
 
 Benjamin Bill, wounded in the ankle Groton. 
 
 Joshua Bill, in the leg 
 
 IJenajah Holdridge " 
 
 Samuel W. Jaqnes Exeter, K. I. 
 
 Amos Lester, in Ihe hip Groton. 
 
 Caiy Leeds, died December 28th " 
 
 William Latham, Jr. (a boy of twelve, who wus allowed to 
 
 gnfrce) " 
 
 Heniy Mason, lu the leg " 
 
 Japheth Masmi New London. 
 
 .James Moi'gan, fifteen bayonet-piicKs in back and legs Groton. 
 
 Thomas Mallison " 
 
 Joseph Moxley, Jr., in the body " 
 
 Elisha Jlorjran " 
 
 John Prentis, slightly wounded " 
 
 Wounded on New London Side. 
 Samuel Booth Hempstead, shot in thigh. 
 Elijah Richards, died September 20th. 
 Jonathan Whaley. 
 
 Pkisonehs carried off. 
 
 Sergeant Rufus Avery, Caleb Avery, Peter Avery, Samuel Abraham, 
 Joshua Baker, Reuben Bushnell, Captain William Cuit (taken on 
 New London side), Charles Chester, Nathan Darrow, Elias Dart, Levi 
 Dart, Gilbert Edgecomb, Daniel Eldridge, Ebenezer Fish, Walter 
 Hari'is, Jeremiah Hai-ding, Kilburn, Ebenezer Ledyard (hos- 
 tage), William Latham, Jonathan Jlinor, Is.iac Hlorgan, Isaac Row- 
 ley, Lieutenant Jabez fctuw (of Foit Truuibull), Saybrook, Cuiporal 
 Josiah Smith, Iliilsey Sanford, Solomon Tift, of Grotun, Jloratio 
 Wales, Thomas Welles. ^ 
 
 The loss of SO many brave, enterprising business 
 men, mostly in the prime of life, and of not a few 
 promising youth yet in their teens, was long felt both 
 in the business of life and in the church. The Con- 
 gregational Church was reduced to such an extent 
 that it has been said that only one active male mem- 
 ber remained. According to a report afterwards made 
 to the Legislature of Connecticut, there were fourteen 
 houses burned in Groton by the invading British forces 
 immediately after the massacre on that day. They 
 were owned by the following persons: Elihu Avery, 
 Benjamin Chester, Elijah vVvery, Ebenezer Ledyard, 
 Youngs Ledyard, Capt. Leeds, Micha Jeffers, Edward 
 JcfFers, Dr. Amos Prentice, Thomas Mumford, Ensign 
 
430 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Eldredge, Capt. Moore, and John Chester. The town 
 of Groton at that day was reputed to contain a pop- 
 uhxtion of three thousand four hundred and eighty- 
 eight persons. So soon as tlie shock of battle was 
 over the sorrowful survivors arc on record in town- 
 meeting, Nov. 7, 1781, voting a supply of clothing and 
 provisions for soldiers still in the field, the tax to pay 
 for which was called the half-crown tax ; and the very 
 next spring, viz., A[>ril 5, 1782, they voted to send more 
 men into the field. But the war soon clnr-ed triumph- 
 antly, and none more rejoicfd at the termination of it 
 and the establishment of peace and a free government 
 than did the decimated, liberty-loving inhabitants of 
 Groton. 
 
 Before the war and during the war attempts had 
 been made to separate the Nortli Society of Groton 
 and make a new town. Just before the tragedy on 
 Groton Heights an effort had been made to effect this 
 division, which was no doubt delayed for a half- 
 century in consequence of the reduced numbers caused 
 by the massacre, the sense of consequent weakness in 
 the number of stalwart leaders, and, above all, by 
 the fraternity and common sympathy which had 
 been formed and cemented in blood. 
 
 This effort towards the incorporation of a new town, 
 to be taken from the north part of Groton, called forth 
 the following vote in June, 1781, viz. : " Voted, That 
 Thomas Mumford, Esq., and Capt. John Morgan be 
 agents to represent this town and oppose a memorial 
 preferred to the General Assembly, now sitting in 
 Hartford, by Jonathan Brewster and others, praying 
 for a part of this town to be set to a part of Norwich 
 and Preston for the for.ming of a new town, as they 
 shall be advised by counsel learned in the law." 
 
 In 1784, Robert Allyn was appointed to settle ac- 
 counts with the State treasurer, and the same year 
 Pine Swamp, east of Gale's Ferry, was ordered sold, 
 and the proceeds divided between Groton and New 
 London, for it had been common property between 
 the two towns for procuring masts and spars time 
 immemorial. In 1786 a new committee had to be 
 appointed to oppose the indefatigable Brewster and 
 others in their attempt to divide the town. 
 
 The question, of compensation to the towns that had 
 most suffered during the war had been agitated and 
 memorials presented, but June 13, 1791, the town 
 
 " V>^tt',J, TliatEbenezor Lerlyard, Esq., bo agent for the town to appear 
 before the committee appointed by tlie Geuenil Assembly (to sit at Hart- 
 ford) to loolt into the losses of tlie several t(»wiiH in the Slate by the 
 enemy's burning, ete., to represent anil l;iy before saiil connuittee the 
 losses the inhabitants of said town of Groton have sustained by the 
 enemy's burning during the late war." 
 
 These losses by burning have been given. 
 
 In regard to the custom of towns as to building 
 and repairing highways, it seems the town of Groton 
 ajipealed to the Legislature for authority to lily a 
 separate highway tax. It was granted, and the town 
 was divided into five districts, corresponding to the 
 military districts. 
 
 The same year the town gave its decided vote 
 against alienating its AVestern lands, which were 
 afterwards sold for the benefit of the public schools. 
 
 In 1797 the boundaries were run anew between the 
 North and the South Society, which is tlie line now 
 dividing the towns of Groton and Ledyard. In refer- 
 ring to this perambulation, the committee incidentally 
 indicated the location of the first meeting-house at 
 Centre Groton. "It stood where Charles G. Smith's 
 house now (1797) stands, which is one mile and 
 twenty rods south of the society line." That Mr. 
 Smith's house is still standing, and is owned by Miss 
 Prudence Burrows. 
 
 In the year 1800 petitions for a turnpike to run from 
 Groton Bank easterly to the Hopkinton line were sent 
 to the General Assembly. Messrs. Starr Chester and 
 Vine Stoddard were chosen to further the petition 
 before the General Assembly. This was the origin 
 of the celebrated New London aird Providence Turn- 
 pike Company, a corporation that served its day, 
 but disappeared before the rise and increase of rail- 
 roads. 
 
 It was so late as 1801 that the town voted to buy 
 twenty additional acres of land for the enlargement 
 of the Pequot reservation in North Groton, and it was 
 so purchased and presented to the tribe. In 1808 the 
 representatives were instructed to ask the General As- 
 sembly for power to establish a home or work-house 
 where the paupers might be provided with profit- 
 able employment. The Legislature, by an act, per- 
 mitted the change from the plan of scattered boarders 
 to the system since in vogue, only the town now 
 hires the keeper of its poor instead of owning its 
 own farm, as the vote two years later had nearly ac- 
 complished. 
 
 Ralph Hurlbut, Esq., and others revived the sub- 
 ject of dividing the town, and carried a large petition 
 to the General Assembly favoring it. It was hotly 
 contested ; the representatives were instructed to op- 
 pose it, and the measure again failed. 
 
 About this time the Rogerine Quakers brought in 
 a petition asking relief from taxation, and the town 
 voted to " abate them during the town's pleasure." 
 This was certainly in the interest of peace towards a 
 sect which avowed their belief in the doctrine of non- 
 resistance. (See heading " Rogerines," herein.) 
 
 War of 1812.— But soon the troubles with Great 
 Britain began, and nowhere was the avowed doctrine 
 and practice of the "Right of Search" vaunted by 
 that power more strenuously denied than here where 
 so many seafaring men found employment. 
 
 We have devoted so much space to the history of 
 Groton in the Revolutionary war, in which the records 
 of the town arc so rich, and wdiich are now for the 
 first time more fully brought to light, that we cannot 
 find space to go into detail in giving the part that 
 Groton acted in the "second war for independence.'' 
 Her military were early on duty, and remained so 
 during the war. The arrival of Commodore Decatur 
 
GROTON. 
 
 431 
 
 in the harbor in the frigate " United States," late in 
 the year 1812, followed by his prize, the British ship 
 " Macedonian," which he had captured October 25th, 
 aroused all the old enthusiasm, which had been com- 
 paratively dormant for almost thirty years. Early in 
 the following spring Sir Thomas Hardy, in the flag- 
 ship " Eamillies," and Sir Hugh Pigot, in the " Or- 
 pheus," hovered in sight of our coast. They were 
 attended soon after by a squadron of other vessels 
 bristling with heavy guns, and crowded witli sailors 
 and marines fresh from the brilliant naval victories 
 of the Old World. 
 
 All was excitement along the coast. All remem- 
 bered the 6th day of September, 1781, and Arnold's 
 fleet. Again the fort on Groton Heights was manned. 
 Maj. Simeon Smith, of New London, a native of Gro- 
 ton, and a gallant gentleman, with a company of vol- 
 unteers, repaired the breaches which time had made 
 in its ramparts. Rumors of an instant attack filled 
 the air, and these were confirmed by the mysterious 
 movements of the enemy's fleet. The women and 
 children had mostly left town for a place of safety, 
 when Maj. Smith found he was deficient in wadding 
 for his guns, and he then hastily sent out for flannel 
 to be used for wadding. The stores and dwellings 
 were mostly closed, and so the messenger from the 
 fort was unsuccessful in his search, until he met Mrs. 
 Anna Bailey on the street, who no sooner heard the 
 story than she dropped her flannel petticoat, and bade 
 them give it to the British at the cannon's mouth, and 
 went on her way. The officers and garrison of the 
 fort were much elated with the story, and Commodore 
 Decatur and his oflicers, when the danger was past, 
 made her the heroine of the occasion at a ball given 
 on board the ship " United States." Mrs. Bailey was 
 ever after much noticed for her patriotism, receiving 
 visits from Monroe, Lafayette, Jackson, and other 
 notables. She died in 1851, aged ninety-two years. 
 
 Although no attack was made on Fort Griswold, it 
 was the rallying-point for observation, and was 
 greatly strengthened for defense and annoyance to 
 the enemy in case of an attack. Several 24-pounders 
 were added to her ramparts, and the lower battery 
 was made formidable with heavy ordnance and men. 
 
 Other parts of Groton were made the scene of 
 alarm and conflict, but the British officers were often 
 outwitted and lost not a few men. Such was the re- 
 sult of a Yankee ruse at the mouth of the Mystic 
 Eiver, which separates Groton from Stonington. 
 
 It occurred two days after the gallant repulse 
 which Commodore Hardy met at Stonington. The 
 British fleet was lying oS the Hummocks. Knowing 
 the watchfulness of the enemy for plunder, the militia 
 and sailors planned to decoy a barge from the fleet, 
 filled with armed men. This they did by sending out 
 of the Mystic a large, sharp fishing-boat, formid- 
 ably laden with boxes, bags, and barrels, and manned 
 by Messrs. Haley, Burrows, Park, Washington, and 
 Tufts, who, disregarding the enemy's fleet, were seen 
 
 defiantly crowding all sail westward. Soon the well- 
 known barge appeared, and (Endeavored to bead them 
 ofi" and take them as a prize. The ruse had suc- 
 ceeded, for the American boat, after several vain at- 
 tempts to outsail their pursuers, in great apparent 
 confusion and irregular rowing, started for the sliore, 
 and landed at Groton Long Point, just before they 
 were overtaken by their pursuers, who also landed 
 and gave chase. At this moment a whole company 
 of Groton militiamen, under Capt. Jonathan Wheeler, 
 rose and fired, killing some, wounding others, and 
 driving them into the water, where they surrendered 
 at discretion. The wounded wei'c cared for and borne 
 up to Mystic, and nursed till they recovered, and were 
 exchanged, together with the rest of the crew. The 
 captors sold the barge for twelve hundred dollars, 
 from which a handsome sum was given to the cap- 
 tives when they were exchanged. 
 
 We give this as a single specimen of the mode of 
 warfare that characterized the times. We have only 
 room for one more specimen of their mode of warfare 
 along this harassed coast, whose inhabitants were 
 hemmed in from their accustomed haunts upon the 
 sea, and were kept in a constant state of alarm. The 
 sloop " Fox," of Mystic. Capt. Jesse Crary, was cap- 
 tured by Hardy's marines, but Crary himself and his 
 crew escaped with the loss of his vessel and cargo. 
 The "Fox" was a fast sailer, and her captors soon 
 finding it out, used her to overtake and seize otlier 
 American craft. Capt. Crary now purchased the 
 sloop "Hero," procured letters-of-marque at New 
 London, and being well armed and manned, with 
 Capt. Ambrose Burrows in command, set sail deter- 
 mined to recapture the " Fox.'' They convoyed six 
 or eight sail of trading vessels as far as Point Judith, 
 and then turned in quest of their game. The Amer- 
 icans soon espied the " Fox," when, evidently sus- 
 pecting their object, she tacked ship and ran off- The 
 " Hero," now on her lee, gave chase. Both vessels 
 were equal in their sailing qualities, having been 
 built by the same ship-builder, Capt. Eldredge Packer, 
 but the Yankees knew better how to sail their vessel. 
 The " Fox" wore round_ under a whole sail breeze 
 and attempted to bring her two brass six-pounders to 
 bear on her pursuer, but the manreuvring of the 
 " Hero" prevented the success of the attempt. Small- 
 arms were now within range and were freely used, 
 and the " Hero's" single four-pounder was brought to 
 bear on the enemy. The " Fox" now attempted to 
 change her course, when the impetuous " Plero'' came 
 down upon the British vessel and ran her bowsprit 
 into the "Fox's" mainsail. A rush was then made 
 for the enemy's deck, and the " Fox," under Lieut. 
 Claxton, of the "Kamillies," was soon recaptured 
 and brought into the Mystic Eiver. Capt. Thomas 
 Eldredge, who was wounded through the arm, is the 
 only survivor, and he still lives 'at Mystic Eiver, 
 having retired from active business as sea-captain, he 
 having been for many years on the New York, New 
 
432 
 
 HTSTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, COjSNECTICUT. 
 
 Orleans, and Galveston line of steamships. These 
 conflicts will give an idea of the kind of fighting in- 
 cident to maritime towns. 
 
 During the presence of Decatur's ships in the 
 Thames River, Nathan Daboll, a noted mathematical 
 teacher of this town, and, with his father, of the same 
 name, the originator and publisher of " Daboll's Al- 
 manac," and the author of a world-wide treatise on 
 arithmetic which bears his name, taught the mid- 
 shipmen and boys on board Decatur's pent-up fleet, 
 and was painfully acquainted with the circumstances 
 of a duel fought at Westerly between two midship- 
 men belonging to our fleet, in which one of them fell 
 and was buried in the Ledyard Cemetery, near Groton 
 Heights. A pathetic story as told by Judge Daboll. 
 The senior Nathan Daboll, a resident of Centre 
 Groton, near where the first Congregational meeting- 
 house had once stood, commenced the publication, or 
 rather the authorship, of the " New England Alma- 
 nac and Farmers' Friend" about A.D. 1772. It was 
 generally published in New London, as it has con- 
 tinued to be for over a century. This first author 
 died March 19, A.D. 1818. The Hon. Nathan Da- 
 boll, his successor, who was the teacher on board De- 
 catur's ship, was somewhat of a politician, as well as 
 philomater, and repeatedly filled the offices of select- 
 man, member of both branches of the General Assem- 
 bly, also clerk and judge of the Probate Court. He 
 received the degree of A.M. from Wesleyan Univer- 
 sity, and died Aug. 18, 1863, aged nearly eighty-three 
 years. His son, David A. Daboll, A.M., has followed 
 in the footprints of his father in literary and political 
 honors, but .sketches of the living, like that of the 
 Hon. Erasmus D. Avery and others who have en- 
 joyed the honors and confidence of their fellow-citi- 
 zens, though interesting, belong rather to the future 
 biographer. 
 
 As a large part of the Eighth Regiment was of 
 Groton, so most of its officers time immemorial were 
 of the same town. The Allyns, the Billings, the 
 Averys, the Morgans, the Gallups, and others were 
 noted not only for their high military positions, but 
 for their fine military bearing. Groton bore her full 
 share in the privations of the war of 1812. She held 
 the old fort on Groton Heights, as we have seen, and 
 for many months almost daily expected a warlike 
 raid of fire and sword, similar to the one which their 
 fathers experienced little more than thirty years be- 
 fore. The presence of the American fleet on the 
 borders of the town so long pent up, being watched 
 by the numerous naval armament of Sir Thomas 
 Hardy, accustomed the inhabitants of Groton and 
 New London to the constant alarms of war. Says 
 the historian. Miss Caulkins, " An increase of force 
 or a change of position in the blockading squadron 
 would cause immediate apprehension. 
 
 "A signal-gun from the fort was sufficient to set 
 every living being in motion. There were rumors of 
 spies in town under various disguises, and suspicious 
 
 persons appeared and disappeared strangely. The 
 American ships had in the mean time retreated up 
 the river, and being lightened, passed the bar at 
 Gale's Ferry. 
 
 " Commodore Decatur threw up a light intrenchment 
 on Allyn's Mountain, near Gale's Ferry, where he 
 had a fine view of the Sound and harbor. Some- 
 times a sloop or schooner would be chased ashore and 
 the inhabitants would collect to defend it. This was 
 always the occasion of great and apparently hilarious 
 excitement in the neighborhood. In Mystic Harbor 
 a spirited affair of this nature occurred on the 12th of 
 June, 181S." 
 
 One sloop had been destroyed, and another, the 
 "Victory," had been attacked, but the enemy was 
 driven off after a warm action of fifteen minutes by a 
 party of about twenty Mystic men, under the com- 
 mand of Capt. Haley. 
 
 The peace of 1815 was hailed with inexpressible de- 
 light, and the inhabitants, sick of war and war's 
 alarms, were glad once more to address themselves to 
 peaceful pursuits, which certainly had suffered by the 
 predominance of the military. Yet up to the time of 
 the reorganization of the militia system, Groton, as 
 we have seen, kept up her five militia companies, 
 varying to the phases of flank and artillery compa- 
 nies, and taking a martial pride in the semi-annual 
 pageant of drill and review. A few of these old mi- 
 litia captains and soldiers still live to fight their 
 peaceful battles of parade and plumes, and wassail at 
 the choice of officers over again as they meet to re- 
 count old times. 
 
 CHAPTER XLL 
 
 GROTON— (Continued). 
 GROTON M0NU5IEKT— CELEBBATION, Etc, 
 
 Fkom time to time after the war of 1812 there 
 would be some memorial service on Groton Heights, 
 like that of Rev. Timothy Tuttle on the 6th of Sep- 
 tember, 1821, who preached a memorial sermon on 
 that occasion. Previous to the anniversary of that 
 day in 1825 a movement for a celebration had been 
 made, and as the gathering of that year led to the lay- 
 ing of the corner-stone of the present monument in 
 1826, the aid of the State, and the dedication of the 
 monument afterwards, it is fitting a few words should 
 be said further of those memorial days. 
 
 On the 1st day of August, 1825, "a meeting of citi- 
 zens of New London, Groton, Stonington, eic.,'' was 
 held in New London, in pursuance of a notice given 
 in the public papers, to take into consideration what 
 arrangements could be made " for perpetuating the 
 remembrance of the battle fought at Fort Griswold 
 on the Gth of September, a.d. 1781." Dr. John 0. 
 Miner, of Groton, was appointed chairman, and Lodo- 
 wick Fosdick, of New London, clerk. 
 
GEOTON. 
 
 433 
 
 "Voted, That Ebenczer Avery, Elijah Bailey, Noyes Barber, Cliarlcs 
 Bulkeley, Elias Perliins, Johu P. Trott, George Ilubbari], Samuel F. 
 Denison, and Jonathan Brewster, Esquires, be and tliey are hereby ap- 
 pointed a committee fur the purpose of making arrangements for cele- 
 brating in a suitable manner the coming anniversary of the 6th of Sep- 
 tember, jind to give a seasonable notice thereof. 
 
 " And said committee are also hereby requested to prepare some place 
 for a more permanent perpetuation of said day, and report such plan to 
 the meeting that shall convene on Grotou Heights on the 0th of Sep- 
 tember next." 
 
 This committee called a meeting on the 6th of Au- 
 gust, at Elijah Bailey, Jr.'s, in Groton, himself a sur- 
 vivor of the massacre, as were several others of their 
 number. This was the first direct action towards a 
 monument, though much had been said about it. On 
 the 6th of August the committee met and published 
 the outline of their plans, which was that on the ap- 
 proaching anniversary of the massacre there would 
 be an oration and an outdoor entertainment near 
 Cold Spring, at Groton Bank. Subscriptions to defray 
 expenses were directed to be taken at the several 
 taverns in New London, Groton, Stonington, and 
 Preston. As an inducement, the public were promised 
 a sight of the survivors, who were to be present, and 
 were invited to come as the guests of the public. In 
 the next Gazette notice was given of the expected 
 presence of the Third Regiment, Col. Ely, and of the 
 Eighth Regiment, Col. Joseph D. Mason, also sev- 
 eral volunteer companies attached to other corps. On 
 the 31st of August a full programme was published, 
 Charles Bulkeley, cliairman. On the memorable day 
 the following programme was carried out : A proces- 
 sion, under Marshals Adam Larrabee, of Groton, and 
 Lodowick Fosdick, of New London, was formed in the 
 following order : (1) the escort, composed of the Third 
 and Eighth Regiments of Infantry, Capt. Trott's 
 corps of artillery, Capt. Allyn's corps of infantry, 
 (both of New London), and Capt. Stanton's corps of 
 artillery, of Stonington ; (2) Revolutionary oflicers 
 and soldiers, consisting of eighteen venerable surviv- 
 ors of the massacre, some of whom were disfigured 
 with scars received in the fort, and one wearing a vest 
 perforated with two bullets; (3) committee of ar- 
 rangements; (4) orator, Hon. William F. Brainard, 
 and clergy; (5) officers of the army and navy, and 
 ofiicers of the militia not attached to the escort, in 
 uniform ; (6) citizens. There were ten thousand 
 present as estimated, and they found great diflBculty 
 in getting transportation across the Thames River. 
 During the march, which was delayed till after one 
 o'clock, minute-guns were fired. " They marched 
 with imposing dignity," says the Gazette editor, "to 
 Fort Griswold, where a thousand females, the elite of 
 the towns, were already seated on a platform in the 
 rear of the veterans, and heard the patriotic, vehe- 
 ment, animated, and most eloquent oration of William 
 F. Brainard, Esq.," which was published. The dinner 
 came oflT at the Cold Spring. A company called the 
 "Ledyard Volunteers," improvised for the occasion, 
 temporarily manned the fort, and enlivened the scene. 
 Rev. Dr. McEwen prayed at the beginning, and Rev. 
 
 Timothy Tuttle at the close of the exercises. A meet- 
 ing of citizens on that day 
 
 " Resolved, That a monument be erected on Groton 
 Heights, commemorative," etc., and Governor Oliver 
 Wolcott was put at the head of a committee having it 
 in charge. The Groton members of this committee 
 were William Williams, Ebenezer Avery, Jr., Noyes 
 Barber, James Mitchell, Adam Larrabee, and Jona- 
 than Brewster. 
 
 At the May session of the Legislature, 182G, a lot- 
 tery was granted for the erection of a monument. It 
 was no new idea, for the General Assembly had once 
 granted a lottery to build a meeting-house in Groton, 
 and another in Stonington. The propriety of that 
 method of aid was then unquestioned. The object 
 was patriotic, and the tickets sold like indulgences 
 among the medioevals. The managers named by the 
 Legislature were David Coit, Samuel F. Denison, 
 Erastus F. Smith, Thomas P. Trott, and William H. 
 Law, Groton being represented by Mr. Smith. The 
 scheme gave three thousand seven hundred and 
 eighty-nine prizes, the highest being five thousand 
 dollars. The object of the grant, as expressed in the 
 legislative act, was "to erect a monument on Groton 
 Heights in memory of the brave men who fell at Fort 
 Griswold on the 6th of September, 1781." The man- 
 agers add: "The noble purpose for which the lottery 
 is granted ought of itself to secure to it the counte- 
 nance and support of the public; but, in addition to 
 a motive of patriotism, adventurers have in this 
 scheme a favorable opportunity to enrich themselves, 
 while they contribute to the object for which the lot- 
 tery was granted." Before the first drawing another 
 grand celebration was to occur, and the corner-stone 
 of the monument was to be laid amid enthusiastic 
 thousands. The original committee, headed by Charles 
 Bulkeley, with Lyman Law, James Mitchell, Adam 
 Larrabee, and Charles Griswold, gave out the notices, 
 procured one of their number to deliver the oration, 
 and invited "the Masonic brethren and others" to 
 attend the laying of the corner-stone. 
 
 On the 6th of September, 1826, the programme was 
 fully carried out. The company convened near the 
 house of Capt. Elijah Bailey (now occupied by the 
 Hon. J. G. Harris, the president of the Centennial 
 Committee, 1881), under the direction of Grand Mar- 
 slial Thomas S. Perkins, Esq., of New London, as- 
 sisted by Messrs. Erastus T. Smith, Stephen Haley, 
 Albert Latham, James Mitchell, of Groton, and others. 
 
 1. The military, consisting of the Hartford Foot- 
 Guards, under Maj. Wells; Capt. Stanton's artillery 
 company, from Stonington borough ; Capt. Child's 
 rifle company, of Norwich ; Capt. Allyn's flank com- 
 l^any, of New London ; the United States officers in the 
 vicinity, naval and military; the artillery company 
 stationed at Fort Trumbull, Capt. Green. 2, Oflicers 
 of the Grand Lodge. 3. Officers of subordinate lodges. 
 4, Masonic brethren. 5, Citizens. Being formed, at 
 a signal-gun fired from Fort Griswold the procession 
 
iU 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 moved to the Heights, where, resting under a canopy 
 eighty feet square, tastefully adorned with flowers 
 and evergreens, in festoons and arches, in the centre 
 of which, and at the northeast corner of the foundation 
 .designated for the monument, was suspended by a 
 windlass the corner-stone, which was lowered and 
 laid by the Grand Lodge, Lyman Law, Esq., acting 
 as Grand Jlaster, in the presence of eight thousand 
 people. A Sapphic ode, sung to the tune of " Old 
 Hundred," succeeded; then an oration was pro- 
 nounced by Charles trriswold, Esq., of Lyme. At the 
 dinner which followed an original song was sung to 
 the tune of "Scots wha ha'e wi' Wallace bled." 
 
 The presence in the harbor on the evening before 
 of the steamer " JIcDonough," from Hartford, that 
 " leviathan afloat," as the Gazette described her, 
 with her emblems of military and Masonic display, 
 and her appearance during the day of celebration, 
 very much enlivened the scene. The afiair was a 
 success, and it was soon after succeeded by the first 
 drawing of the monument lottery. The organization 
 of the Groton Monument Association dates from June 
 29, 1826. The act of incorporation appointed Charles 
 Bulkeley its first president; Noyes Barber, James 
 Mitchell, Daniel Burrows, William Williams, Adam 
 Larrabee, etc., vice-presidents. The corporators chose 
 Maj. Thomas P. Trott, secretary, and Hon. Noyes 
 Barber, treasurer. A sub-committee, consisting of 
 the president and Messrs. Mitchell, Larrabee, Gris- 
 Avold, and Law, made the first contracts for a granite 
 monument. 
 
 The monument itself, henceforth to be under the 
 management of this association, was finished in 1831. 
 Every year, on the 6th of September, the members 
 met to choose officers and perpetuate the memory of 
 the heroic deeds of their fathers. Sometimes an ad- 
 dress or a company parade would enliven the anni- 
 versary. Capt. Jonathan Brooks, of New London, a 
 patriotic but ec^centric citizen, was there conspicuously 
 so long as he lived and was able, dressed in full regi- 
 mentals to harangue the assemblage. 
 
 In 1833 the town was again deeply agitated with 
 the old vexed question of a new town in the North So- 
 ciety, but the vote in town-meeting was adverse to 
 it. This was followed the next year by a similar 
 vote, but in 1836 the vote stood 76 for and 63 
 against the division, which was soon after effected, 
 and henceforth Ledyard constituted a separate town. 
 In the spring of 1838 it was voted to ask the Legisla- 
 ture to constitute Groton into a separate probate dis- 
 trict. The town had been well served while united 
 with Stonington, but party spirit, and possibly the 
 itch for offices, prevailed ; and so, in 1839, Groton and 
 Ledyard were each made a separate probate district. 
 (See list of probate ollicers.) Groton voted in 1850, 
 142 to 9, in favor of the constitutional amendment of 
 electing judges of probate and justices of the peace 
 by the people. 
 It was about this time the river road was asked be- 
 
 tween Groton Bank and Gale's Ferry. It was violently 
 opposed, and at length, wearied with the persistence 
 of certain leaders, the selectmen were forbidden to 
 call any more meetings on the subject. But after 
 fighting it for years at great cost before the Superior 
 Court and the Supreme Court of Errors, the petitioners 
 triumphed, and the town laid the foundation of a 
 debt that has been augmented by the cost of other 
 expensive roads and bridges in all parts of the town, 
 some of which have proved very useful to the public. 
 That leading from Mystic Eiver to Mystic, on the we.st 
 bank of the Mystic River, was built in 1853, and that 
 along the east bank of the Thames, from Groton vil- 
 lage to the Sound, at a later period, are noticeable. 
 Unexpectedly to some, this town gave in ISoo a ma- 
 jority of thirty-two against the amendment to the con- 
 stitution requiring the reading qualification for all 
 new electors. 
 
 The same year the Mystic River bridge was made 
 free by an appropriation of the adjoining towns, a 
 contribution of the citizens purchasing the franchise. 
 The Mystic Bridge corporation had been created by an 
 act of the Legislature nearly forty years before, and 
 had been till that time a toll-bridge, having a draw. 
 About this time the fever for road-building ran high, 
 producing the short O. T. Braman (river) road, made 
 necessary, as it was supposed, by the completion of the 
 railroad across the lower part of the town (1857). 
 These were followed by the Alden Fish road, the 
 Giles Haley road, the Solomon Chapman (north) road, 
 and the Gore Lane Street. This brings us to the great 
 Rebellion. 
 
 The part which the town of Groton bore in the war 
 for the Union was in accordance with its patriotic 
 record in 1776 and 1812. When the call for seventy- 
 five thousand came, Hiram Appelman, with others 
 from this and adjoining towns, enlisted in tlie Second 
 Regiment, and took part in the Bull Run fight. The 
 town had not then fully awakened to its duty to en- 
 courage the patriotic impulses of her sons, and so the 
 families of soldiers were at first unprovided for, and 
 no bounties were offered. Before the close of the war, 
 however, the town had spent about eighty thousand 
 dollars for bounties, premiums, and support of fami- 
 lies, which was more than any other town in the 
 county had furnished except Norwich ; and, outside 
 of our cities, only two towns in the State excelled it; 
 or, taking the amount paid by individuiils in this 
 town at twenty-two thousand dollars, as given by 
 Chaplain Morris in his valuable book, there was only 
 the single town of Stonington excelled her in liberal- 
 ity to the soldier, though there were as many as fifteen 
 towns that had a larger grand list. The town, by an 
 act of the Legislature, in 1868 issued bonds to the 
 amount of thirty thousand dollars, in 1865 another 
 thirty thousand dollars, and in 1868 twenty thousand 
 dollars more; so that the debt of Groton, including 
 other indebtedness, so late as 1878 amounted to the 
 large sum of $101,207.96. The Fifth Regiment had 
 
GPiOTON. 
 
 435 
 
 in it Company G, Capt. Warren W. Packer, who 
 partly recruited his company from Groton. Capt. 
 Packer was promoted to be colonel, and led his regi- 
 ment through the well-fought battles of Winchester 
 and Cedar Mountain, whei-e he was wounded, and 
 came home on a furlough while his wound was heal- 
 ing, but soon returned to the front, where his regiment 
 afterwards distinguished itself at Chancellorsville, 
 Gettysburg, Eesaca, Cassville, Peach Creek, Atlanta, 
 and through Georgia to the sea. Capt. Alfred L. 
 Packer, a brother of the colonel, took command of 
 the company made vacant by the promotion of his 
 brother, and went through the war. The Eighth 
 Eegiment had also a company that was partly re- 
 cruited from Groton, viz., Company G, Capt. Hiram 
 Appelman. This regiment fought at Newbern, Fort 
 Macon, and Antietam, where Appelman, who was 
 now a lieutenant-colonel, was severely wounded. First 
 Lieut. J. A. Eathbun was also of Company G, having 
 risen from the ranks. He was also wounded severely 
 in the same battle. Amos Clift, being transferred from 
 the same companj', became second lieutenant of cav- 
 alry. The regiment distinguished itself at Fred- 
 ericksburg, Suffolk, Drury's Bluff, Bermuda Hundred, 
 Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Chapin's Bluff, and Eich- 
 mond. Company C, Twenty-first Connecticut Vol- 
 unteers, enlisted ninety-two men in Groton, and chose 
 Eev. John E. Wood captain, and afterwards chaplain. 
 Capt. James H. Latham, of Xoank, in the same town, 
 succeeded him in the captaincy. John F. Eandall 
 rose to be second lieutenant; and Captain William 
 W. Latham was also from this company. The regiment 
 followed much the same fortune with the Eighth, 
 commencing with Fredericksburg and closing with 
 Eichmond. 
 
 The Twenty-sixth Eegiment had Company K, Capt. 
 Jedediah Eandall, from Groton. Capt. Eandall, a 
 gallant leader, was fatally wounded before Port Hud- 
 son, when Jabez S. Smith was promoted to be captain 
 in his place; Simeon G. Fish, first lieutenant; and 
 Herbert E. Maxson, second lieutenant. 
 
 There were fatally wounded or killed outright of 
 Groton soldiers during the war : Orrin D. Backer, Elias 
 W. Watrous, Horatio N. Fish, Wm. Johnson, Wm. 
 N. Mulkey, Cyrus J. Pease, Edmund F. Smith, Abner 
 N. Spencer, Samuel Vanauken, John Signeous, Wm. 
 P. Latham, George A. Fish, and Thomas Fisher. 
 
 These died of disease, viz. : Augustus E. Maynard, 
 Julius A. Perkins, John F. Putnam, AVm. H. Watrous, 
 Chauncey E. Wilcox, Samuel Eathbun, Adam C. 
 Bentley, Wm. A. Colegrove, Wm. C. Fellows, Thomas 
 Manace, Thomas H. Shirley, James Tinker, Wm. H. 
 Watrous (2), John Brown, John Callahan, Directus 
 F. Belden, John Maynard, George Freeman, Wm. C. 
 Jones, Charles H. Evans, Eaymond Otis, and Jesse 
 Woodson. Many more have passed away since the 
 close of the war. The memory of these martyrs will 
 never perish. A post of the Grand Army, called 
 Harris Post, after the name of a fallen comrade, was 
 
 established, after the close of the war, in the Mystic 
 Valley to decorate the graves and honor the memory 
 of their fallen comrades, both those who fell during 
 the war and those who have died since. The post 
 has passed into a voluntary association of veterans 
 which has taken its place. ]^N^oank and Groton Bank 
 have similar organizations. Sometimes an oration 
 follows the procession and floral decoration. 
 
 The iron bridge across Mystic Eiver, built at the 
 close of the war, is a fine structure, and is another of 
 the causes which helped to swell the town debt alluded 
 to, which debt has been diminished to fifty-two thou- 
 sand dollars, or nearly one-half, under the prudent 
 administrations of successive boards of selectmen. 
 Their best efforts are sometimes thwarted by the ex- 
 pense of new highways, which is only relieved by the 
 possibility that there is so much added to the wealth 
 and convenience of the town. And so the road from 
 the Poquonoc Meeting-house to the railroad station, 
 and thence to the Dark Hollow road, was provided 
 for. The West Mystic Avenue streei (before the 
 war) and the Eastern Point and the Bindloss cross- 
 road followed. Two short roads at Noauk, the Pequot 
 Hill road, and the erection of a brick lock-up at 
 Mystic Eiver came next. The Walker cross-road at 
 Groton Bank, the Forsyth ship-yard piece, the Bank 
 Street road at Mystic' Eiver, and two short roads at 
 Groton Bank soon followed. The short connection link 
 from Town Clerk Avery's, south and the ice-house 
 and Daniel C. Brown road, in 1878, have been followed 
 by Monument and Centennial Streets at Groton Bank. 
 The Eaymond Lamb road by and over Stark's Hill, 
 and the short, ready-made Asa A. Avery road, com- 
 plete the chapter on highways. 
 
 The business of Groton is diversified. The old 
 farms are still cultivated, and in many instances have 
 been greatly improved, yielding double the products 
 which the fathers obtained with greater toil. This is 
 owing in part to improved methods and implements, 
 but more to a soil constantly enriched by cultivation 
 and fertilizers, instead of the old process of annual 
 exhaustion. Unfortunately, perhaps, the lands have 
 been absorbed by large farmers, while the smaller land- 
 holders have sold out and moved West, or settled in 
 the neighboring villages which skirt the borders of 
 the town. 
 
 Groton, at the Bank, is still a flourishing, steadily 
 improving village. Its site for summer residences is 
 unsurpassed, and new cottages arise yearly to adorn 
 its heights and river-slopes. Its chief source of in- 
 dustry is the quarries of granite which underlie its 
 surface and are worked with great skill, and their 
 products, being superior in quality, are everywhere 
 sought for public works, costly structures, and ceme- 
 tery-work. The polish which can be given to its 
 surface would surprise the stone-cutters of the past, 
 equaling that of the finest marble. The daily pay- 
 roll of the quarries is one hundred dollars or more. 
 
 Mystic Eiver, on the Groton side of the Mystic, the 
 
43G 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 choice residence of tlie hauglitj' Pcquots in tlicir day, 
 is still a favorite place of residence and resort. Ship- 
 ping and ship-building did much to give it prosperity. 
 These have declined, but sufficient manufacturing 
 of iron and of wood have come in to make it still a 
 prosperous community. Its public schools are well 
 graded, provided with excellent teachers, and are the 
 pride of the village. It is connected with Slystic 
 Bridge, on the Stonington side, by an iron draw- 
 bridge, and has good railroad facilities. The well- 
 known Whipple Home School for the Education of 
 Deaf Mutes, a beneficiary of the State, is here. 
 
 Noank, two miles below, is another busy village, 
 excelling all others in the town at this time (1881) 
 in business enterprise; and if its ship-building and re- 
 pairs continue, it bids fair to become ere many years 
 the largest and most prosperous village in the town. 
 It has been noted for its fisliing-smacks, but that in- 
 dustry has been less profitable of late years. 
 
 Poquonnoc Bridge, though a, small village, cluster- 
 ing on the plain around the Poquonnoc River, is an 
 industrious community. Its fields, formerly consid- 
 ered of little value, have become by the use of fish- 
 guano, manufactured on its border, and other im- 
 proved modes of culture, among the most fertile in 
 the town. Oysters are successfully grown in the river, 
 and may yet prove a source of considerable profit. 
 
 The fish-works on Pine Island below are on an 
 extensive scale, making large catches of bony fish for 
 the sake of the oil, and then the debris of fish-puniice 
 is made the basis of an important manufacture of fer- 
 tilizers.by greatly-improved machinery. 
 
 Centre Groton, once designed to be the metrop- 
 olis of the town, the site of its first meeting-house 
 and its Central School, is still a farming region. 
 Mystic, at the head of the Mystic River, is partly in 
 Groton, but has most of its business facilities on the 
 Stonington side. The tanning busine.ss has been 
 a profitable employment in years past. Here is 
 located the hou.se of worship of the oldest Baptist 
 Church in the State, on which edifice is the village 
 clock. The church, as an organization, will form a 
 separate sketch; 
 
 It should not be forgotten that some of the farms of 
 Groton are distinguished for raising greatly-improved 
 breeds and grades of cattle, others for the variety and 
 excellent quality of the timber for ship-building and 
 railroad purposes. The population of Groton is about 
 .0:^00, and its grand list about i!52,10O,O00. 
 
 (iroton has always been a no-license town by a 
 large majority, independent of party politics. Its 
 churches form separate sketches, and its divines, 
 some of whom have not been undistinguished, will 
 there be noticed. Charity Lodge of F. and A. M., No. 
 (38, originated at the public-house of the late Gurdon 
 Bill, Esq., in the North Society (now Lcdyard), in 
 18i!r,. It was removed to Jlystic River, where is its 
 lire.sent lodge-room. It is regarded as a very flourish- 
 ing body of Masons. The names of the present ofllccrs 
 
 are as follows: Nathan P. Nobles, W. M. ; Thomas 
 B. Hazard, S. W.; William W. Crandall, J. W. ; 
 Thomas W. Noyes, Treas. ; Allen Avery, Sec. ; B. 
 Walter 3Iorgan, S. D. ; Frank Mabbitt, J. D.; Henry 
 P. Chipman, S. S. ; Frank Dariing, J. S. ; W. W. Kel- 
 log, Chaplain ; John E. Williams, Marshal ; George 
 S. Burrows, Tyler. 
 
 A few words remain to be said of our great centen- 
 nial, which occurred Sept. 6th and 7th, 1881. It be- 
 longed not to Groton but to the whole country, and 
 well did the heart of the people respond to it. There 
 were, however, certain features of the original battle 
 that rendered it peculiarly local. It was fought on 
 Groton soil, and three-fourths of its victims were well- 
 known citizens of the town. Its forty widows in this 
 one town, and the weeping of so many families for the 
 loss of fathers and sons, some falling side by side, 
 made it ever memorable and sorrowful; but the losses 
 in New London and the desolate homes in other towns 
 made the calamity more wide-spread and not to be 
 overlooked. Two years before the centennial, the 
 Groton Monument Association and the New London 
 County Historical Society initiated proceedings. A 
 centennial committee was appointed, which was from 
 time to time enlarged by adding members from adjoin- 
 ing towns. Sub-committees were appointed to pre- 
 pare details of work to be done. They seem to have 
 anticipated everything, and were ready for the great 
 occasion. The sum of three thousand dollars was ap- 
 propriated by the State Legislature for the centennial 
 celebration. Five thousand dollars was given by Con- 
 gress for the celebration itself, and another five thou- 
 sand for the Monument Association to expend in car- 
 rying the lofty shaft up to a symmetrical height, in 
 repairing the column inside and out, and in beautify- 
 ing the grounds. Private contributions were also 
 solicited. Hon. J. George Harris, president, J. J. 
 Copp, secretary, and Christopher L. Avery, treasurer 
 of the centennial committee, and all its members were 
 indefatigable. Hon. Richard A. Wheeler was presi- 
 dent of the Groton Monument Association, A. F. 
 Crumb, secretary, and Philo Little, treasurer. A 
 committee of ladies did most efficient service, es.- 
 pecially in preparing "the Centennial Loan Exhibi- 
 tion," wherein were shown the relics and specimens 
 of art, industry, costumes, implements of war and 
 peace, books and curiosities that belonged to the 
 eighteenth century, and some to the first settlers. 
 
 The centennial committee decided to celebrate both 
 September 6th and September 7th, the latter day hav- 
 ing some reference to Capt. Nathan Hale, the martyr- 
 spy, who was of New London when the Revolution- 
 ary call to arms reached him, before the Bunker Hill 
 fight. It was a grand and successful rally from all 
 parts of the country, and especially Connecticut. 
 Some good judges of numbers estimated the assem- 
 blage from forty to sixty thousand. The 6th was a 
 peculiar day. There were no clouds, but the sun was 
 obscured by a yellow mist or smoke, which tinged 
 
GROTON. 
 
 437 
 
 everything. The presence of a large fleet of United 
 States men-of-war, and of all the military of the 
 State, with the Governor and his staff at the head, 
 of Gen. Sherman and his staff of the United States 
 army, and of the chief justice of the United States, 
 with other distinguished guests, gave ccIat to the 
 scene; but the absence of President Garfield, who was 
 dying from the bullet of the assassin, was deeply felt. 
 A sham-fight, in imitation of the massacre, which en- 
 gaged all the militia and volunteer corps from abroad, 
 the parade of the Knights Templar of the State, the 
 oration of Gen. Joseph R. Hawley, and the remarks 
 of Congressman John T. "Wait, and of Gen. Sherman, 
 the poems of Mrs. Rose Terry Cooke and Rev. L. W. 
 Bacon, D.D., of Norwich, the fir.-it day, and the oration 
 of Hon. Edward Everett Hale, of Boston, on his kins- 
 man, Xathan Hale, and of Dr. Bacon again, the second 
 day, are familiar to the thousands assembled, and need 
 only be alluded to. Col. J. W. Barlow, of the United 
 States army, was chief marshal. 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 GEOTOX— (Continued). 
 ECCLESI.VSTICAL IIISTOKT. 
 
 Congregational Church," Groton. — Thirty-nine 
 years after Mason's victory a remnant of the Pequots 
 were led in the war against King Philip by Capt. 
 James Avery, of Groton. The death of King Philip 
 made the lives of white people more secure in Eastern 
 Connecticut. Settlers began to multiply on the east 
 bank of the Thames, and to extend their habitations 
 towards the Mystic and into North Groton. As they 
 were still within the town of New London, many of 
 them belonged to the church on the West Side, and all 
 were taxed to support the ministry and worship there. 
 No house of worship was yet provided for on this 
 side, but from an early date religious meetings were 
 frequent, generally held in private dwellings. In 
 1684 a new house of worship had been erected in New 
 London, and the old one, after standing about twenty- 
 five years, was sold for six pounds to Capt. James 
 Avery. Having separated it into parts, he floated it 
 by river, sound, and river to his farm in Poquonnoc, 
 where, with additions and improvements, it was re- 
 built into a dwelling for his family. When his family 
 moved into it we can easily imagine that Capt. Avery, 
 speaking for himself and his posterity, might have 
 said, " I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." 
 As he was an active member of the church, doubtless 
 the old audience-room was again often opened for 
 the social prayer-meeting, and sometimes for a preach- 
 ing service. 
 
 In 1687 it was voted in town-meeting that the peo- 
 ple on the East Side should have " liberty to invite the 
 
 1 Compiled from liiatoi ical discourse delivereJ b,v Kev. J. A. Woodliull. 
 
 minister of the town to preach for them on every 
 third Sabbath during the most inclement months of 
 the year." In 1700 a separate organization was asked 
 for, and this was allowed in 1702, viz. . to build a 
 meeting-house thirty-five feet square, to organize a 
 church, to hire a minister, and to pay him a salary of 
 seventy pounds, the whole expense to be paid by the 
 town. According to the records, the meeting-house 
 was built at Centre Groton in 1703, and it was ordered 
 by the town on March 2oth of that year that three 
 hundred acres of land be sold to pay the expense of 
 the building. Perhaps the house was not finished 
 until the next year, since the town voted, April 20, 
 1704, "that eight acres of land be sold to Rev. Mr. 
 Ephraim Woodbridge, the proceeds to be applied to 
 finishing the meeting-house." The land sold to Mr. 
 Woodbridge is described as lying " to the west of the 
 meeting-house," and must have included the plat 
 upon which the ancient building known as the Barber 
 house now stands, and this proves that the first and 
 fourth pastors lived nearly on the same spot. 
 
 While the town of Groton became legally distinct 
 from New London in 1705, there is strong evidence 
 that the Congregational Church of Groton was organ- 
 ized with full powers in 1704. On the 8th of Novem- 
 ber, 1704, Rev. Ephraim Woodbridge, a graduate of 
 Harvard College, was ordained the first pastor of this 
 church, and there is no intimation that he was made 
 a colleague of Mr. Saltonstall, the pastor of New 
 London. 
 
 We find in the town records one or two items of 
 more general interest. In 1707, John Davie, a farmer, 
 and the first town clerk of Groton, who graduated at 
 Harvard in 1781, came into possession of a vast Eng- 
 lish estate and a baronetcy. Upon his departure for 
 England he left a recorded gift of six pounds to pur- 
 chase plate for Mr. Woodbridge's church. This gift 
 has come down to us in the form of a handsome silver 
 communiou-cup, which is still regularly used in our 
 worship, bearing the following account of itself: 
 " The Gift of Sir John Davie to the Church of Christ 
 at Groton." Three other cups used by the church 
 bear each the following record : " The Gift of Mr. 
 Elihu Avery to the First Church in Groton, 1748." 
 
 It appears from the following item that the fathers 
 of this town loved not only the Sabbath, public wor- 
 ship, and good order, but also their own children. April 
 15, 1708, " Voted, that Edward Spisar take charge of 
 the youth on the Lord's day, that they may not play." 
 
 The second meeting-house, located about three- 
 fourths of a mile east of the present house of worship, 
 was erected in about 1765. This church was occupied 
 until 1833, when the third building was erected and 
 dedicated. This was subsequently remodeled, en- 
 larged, and beautified, and is the house of worship of 
 to-day. 
 
 The following is a list of the pastors of the church 
 from its organization : Ephraim Woodbridge, 170-^24 ; 
 John Owen, 1727-53; Daniel Kirldand, 1754-57; 
 
438 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Jonathan Barber, 1757-68; Aaron Kinne, 1769-98; 
 Timothy Tuttle, 1810-34; Jared E. Avery, 1839-51; 
 George IT. Woodward, 1851-56 ; Silvester Hine, 1856, 
 remained five years as a supply ; Samuel W. Brown, 
 1864-66; Joseph E. Swallow, 1867-70; James B. 
 Tyler, 1871-72 (died); J. A. Woodhull, 1872-81; A. 
 J. IMcLeod, 1881, present incumbent. 
 
 Seabury Memorial Church.'— The Ecv. R. M. 
 Duff, of St. James' Church, New London, held the 
 first services which led to the establishment of the 
 mission in Groton on Wednesday evenings in Lent in 
 the spring of 1874. In the following June a regular 
 Sunday-afternoon service w.as begun, and continued 
 without interruption until the appointment of the 
 Rev. ^lillidge Walker as missionary. Mr. W.alker 
 took charge on the first Sunday in October of the 
 same year. By his energy and perseverance sufficient 
 funds were soon obtained to justify the board of di- 
 rectors of the missionary society of the diocese in 
 appointing a committee to superintend the building 
 of a suitable church. Plans, therefore, were drawn 
 by Mr. Walker and adopted by the committee, and 
 ground was broken on the 20th day of July, 1875. 
 On Christmas-day of that year the first service was 
 held in the church, although in an unfinished state, 
 where the congregation continued to worship till the 
 following Whit-Sunda3^, June 4, 1876. They then re- 
 turned for a brief period to Mechanics' Hall (which 
 they had previously used for divine service), in order 
 that the church might be finished. It was soon com- 
 pleted, and on Sunday, Aug. 13, 1876, was again 
 occupied by the congregation, the Rev. J. Ferdinand 
 Taunt officiating. On Sunday, Sept. 3, 1876, Mr. 
 Taunt assumed charge of the mission, having been 
 appointed missionary by the bishop of the diocese, 
 and remained till March 5, 1878. 
 
 During his administration the church was painted, 
 the lot graded, and other improvements effected at 
 considerable cost. He was succeeded by the present 
 rector. Rev. H. T. Gregory. 
 
 The church is a memorial to Bishop Seabury, the 
 first bishop of the American church and of this 
 diocese. 
 
 First Baptist Church.-— In what year the first 
 Baptist believers were found in Groton is not easy to 
 determine, but the first Baptist Church had its origin 
 in 1705, a few months before the incorporation and 
 organization of the town, and less than two years after 
 the Legislature gave permission to the inhabitants of 
 New London residing on the east side of the Thames 
 to form themselves into church estate of the standing 
 order. 
 
 The few scattered Baptists in the vicinity in 1704, 
 especially in the eastern part of the town, asked per- 
 mission from the secular power to hold meetings, but 
 receiving no response, they sent a respectful and fra- 
 ternal request to a young Baptist minister of reputa- 
 
 1 By Rev I-I. T, Gregory. 
 
 2 By W, II. r.ilter. 
 
 tion in Rhode Island, Valentine Wightman by name, 
 to come and be their leader. He accepted, and at 
 once came. The young pastor was presented with a 
 house and twenty acres of land, which became for 
 several generations following the home of the Wight- 
 mans. It was the gift of William Stark, the leading 
 Baptist layman, who was made the first deacon of the 
 church at the time wdien the First Baptist Church 
 was constituted and Elder Wightman was ordained, 
 or soon after. This parsonage, located on Stark's 
 Hill, as it was formerly called, was about half a 
 mile west of the church edifice that was afterwards 
 built. As the original petition to the General Court 
 for a settlement as a dissenting congregation in 1704 
 was signed by "six brethren and six sisters," it is not 
 without reason that we conjecture that the First Bap- 
 tist Church of Groton consisted of not less than twelve 
 communicants, possibly a few more, at the time it was 
 founded. The early records have been lost, and our 
 data at this period are fragmentary. 
 
 This little church was indeed the first organized 
 Baptist Church in Connecticut. It preceded also the 
 advent of the denomination in the colony of New 
 York, for Mr. Wightman himself was the founder of 
 the first church in New York of the same faith. 
 
 The biography of ^Ir. Wightman discloses a very 
 symmetrical, consistent Christian character, and shows 
 him to have been a man of more than ordinary talent, 
 of sound learning, great zeal and pietj', well balanced 
 by discretion, a good debater, and all calculated to 
 make him a suitable leader and pioneer in the main- 
 tenance and pro;iagation of the faith and principles 
 he represented. He was, moreover, a descendant of 
 the Rev. Edward Wightman, the last Protestant min- 
 ister that was burnt for his faith in Christ under the 
 " Bloody Mary," a circumstance in the history and tra- 
 ditions of the family wdiich perhaps made all the de- 
 scendants of the martyr of a similar type of piety, 
 heroism, and independence. Mr. Wightman, how- 
 ever, was not a factious controversialist, but rather a 
 defender of his fiiith, and a firm and discreet leader 
 when assailed. He had no controversy with the 
 standing order and the ministers of his own or ad- 
 joining towns, for they loved and respected him for 
 his eflbrts to improve and ameliorate society, his piety 
 and abilities, and he ever labored side by side in ac- 
 cord with Woodbridge and Owen, the flr.,t two minis- 
 ters of the standing order in Groton. 
 
 Indeed, such was Owen's liberality towards his 
 Baptist neighbors that he incurred considerable 
 criticism, and he was publicly condemned for his 
 sympathy with the great preacher Whitefield, but he 
 was as greatly honored by those who knew him best. 
 
 The Rev. Valentine AVightman's public debate 
 Avith the Rev. John Buckley, of Colchester, on the 
 subject of baptism is a matter of record, each side 
 publishing his account of it; and whatever may have 
 been the merits of the question, all agree that Mr. 
 Wiglitman showed a learning and ability and an ad- 
 
GKOTON. 
 
 439 
 
 mirable temper that did liim credit as a public 
 teacher. The first meeting-house of the Baptists was 
 built in 1718, and was located on Stark's land in the 
 valley, half a mile east of Stark's Hill and the par- 
 sonage. It was a plain square structure, of small 
 dimensions, without paint or embellishments of any 
 kind, and never had fireplace or stoves to warm it. 
 But it had a history and memoi-ies of gospel sermons 
 and worship which greatly endeared it to the two or 
 three generations who successively occupied it. The 
 Eev. Valentine Wightman, the first pastor, died 
 peacefully, June 9, 1747, at the age of sixty-six. 
 
 The Rev. Daniel Fisk, of Rhode Island, was called 
 to succeed their first pastor. He seemed to have had 
 factions in the church, which he was ill adapted to 
 meet. 
 
 The awakening from Whitefield and Davenport's 
 preaching not only divided the Standing Order but 
 the Baptists themselves into strict-communion and 
 mixed-communion Baptists. 
 
 Mr. Fisk resisted the tide in favor of the Separatists, 
 which carried with it the majority of his church, and 
 which allowed them to partake of the elements to- 
 gether. To reconcile them council after council was 
 called to no effect. At length a separation took place, 
 and the church was reorganized about 1754. Mr. 
 Fisk clung to the remnant of the old organization, 
 and went out of sight with those that adhered to him. 
 The records up to the date of this reorganization are 
 found only in fragments, and the historian is puzzled 
 to authenticate his facts. Elder David Sprague, of 
 Exeter, Elder Stephen Gorton, of New London, and 
 Elder James Brown were prominent in this painful 
 schism. During the debate the independency of 
 each particular church of any convention, synod, or 
 association was clearly brought out and agreed to by 
 all parties as fundamental to all churches composed 
 of baptized believers. 
 
 From this time Timothy Wightman, son of the 
 first pastor, became the leader of the church, first as a 
 layman, being first selected as a deacon, and then as 
 a minister and pastor. 
 
 He submitted to the unanimous judgment of his 
 brethren, without asserting his own choice, in being 
 called into the ministry and receiving ordinations, 
 modestly claiming that he did not feel competent to 
 be their leader. With him were associated eleven 
 brethren and seventeen sisters, their covenant dating 
 June 28, 1754. Elder David Sprague, of Exeter, 
 R. I., was their chief counselor. Their persecuted 
 brethren of the Separate Congregational order had 
 their hearty sympathies at this period of their his- 
 tory, and were allowed all the privileges of Baptist 
 members, so far as the records appear, which from 
 this time to the present have been fully preserved ; 
 and it was not until the unhappy season of persecu- 
 tion had passed and the new light of evangelical truth, 
 as preached by Whitefield and his co-laborers, had 
 been recognized by the standing order and had be- 
 
 gun to give new spiritual life to the Congregational 
 Church that the First Baptist Church of Groton and 
 the leading church of that faith in the State, as well as 
 the first-born, permitted the door to be closed against 
 their New Light brethren, usually called Separates. 
 
 They again restricted the communion-table to 
 baptized believers about a.d. 1765, and, as they had 
 under Valentine Wightman, so ever after they have 
 built on the faith that none but baptized believers 
 composed the visible church, and that immersion 
 only was baptism, holding the Christian faith in 
 common with the great body of evangelical churches 
 of various denominations. But in consequence of 
 their return to strict Baptist faith and pi-actice, the 
 Second Baptist Church, sometimes called the Fort 
 Hill Baptist Church, arose, whose history will form 
 a separate sketch. 
 
 Rev. Timothy Wightman was ordained as a minister 
 and pastor of the church May 20, A.d. 1756. Rev. 
 Messrs. Joshua Morse, Abel Palmer, Davis, Wells, Bab- 
 cock, Whipple, and Hammond took part in the ordain- 
 ing council. Deacon Peter Avery, of the church, made 
 the closing prayer. The historian and biographer 
 Sprague says of Elder Timothy, "He was u, man of 
 medium stature, light and erect frame, black hair and 
 eyes, affable manners, serious deportment, and manly 
 bearing. He was wellnigh a model man, easy, serious, 
 kind, ingenuous, earnest. Being once called before 
 the County Court as a witness, and the opposing 
 lawyer attempting to criticise him by cross-question- 
 ing, the judge remarked, reprovingly, " It is not ne- 
 cessary to criticise that man, his veracity and candor 
 are evident in his appearance." As a preacher, 
 Timothy was much like his father, plain, fearless, 
 faithful. The period of his ministry reached through 
 the two great upheavals in the history of our country, 
 viz. : the separation, induced by the great awakening, 
 that culminated in the establishment of evangelical 
 doctrines, and the Revolution that inaugurated our 
 national independence. 
 
 His church furnished its quota of patriotic blood 
 in defense of liberty, and Timothy Wightman taught 
 his people to honor the right. (See Rev. F. Deni- 
 son's sketch of the Wightmans in Sprague's An- 
 nals.) 
 
 The Rogerine Quakers arose during Timothy Wight- 
 man's pastorate, and gave annoyance to orderly 
 Christian worshipers by not only denouncing the 
 Sabbath but interrupting public worship; but the 
 good pastor was a man for the times. With the flash 
 of the martyr's eye whose blood he inherited he 
 united the j)aticnoe and perseverance of the saints in 
 which he devoutly believed. His firm but discreet 
 course not only compelled these erratics to abandon 
 their unlawful and unchristian proceedings, but taught 
 them a wholesome lesson of good order and Christian 
 forbearance. None are at this day more peaceful 
 and quiet in their deportment than modern Rogerines. 
 The notable revivals of 1764, 1765, 1786, and 1787 
 
440 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 illustrated the spirituality of his pastoral and pulpit 
 teachings. Pastor AViglitman died Nov. 14, a.d. 
 1796, aged seventy-seven, and in the forty-third year 
 of his ministry. 
 
 Then followed an interval of four years in which 
 the church was without a pastor, but on the 13th of 
 August, A.D. 1800, Rev. John Gano Wightman was 
 ordained to take the place of his father. Mr. Wight- 
 man was baptized at the age of thirty-one, but he 
 had received a classical education at Plainfield 
 Academy, and after his conversion his mind gradu- 
 ally yielded to his impressions of duty and the call 
 of the church to fill the pulpit of his fathers. He 
 was a logical, fluent speaker, a thorough scripturalist, 
 and a successful minister of Christ. Not less than 
 ten seasons of revival were experienced during his 
 pastorate, greatly strengthening the church and re- 
 pairing the annual loss of membershiiJ occasioned by 
 death and removals to the cities and villages of 
 adjoining towns and the far West, which became al- 
 most a panic in our country churches. 
 
 He died in 1841, aged nearly seventy-five years, 
 after a ministry of forty-one years. During Elder J. 
 G. Wightman's pastorate, in 1831, the Third Baptist 
 Church of Groton was organized as a branch of this 
 church. 
 
 After the death of Mr. Wightman the church was 
 served occasionally by Eev. L. W. Wheeler, Rev. Earl 
 P. Salisbury (temporary pastor), and Kevs. Erastus 
 Denison, of Mystic River, and Mr, B. F. Hedden, of 
 Mystic Bridge. The latter, a licentiate of the Fort 
 Hill Church, was called to preach to this church, and 
 was ordained April 21, a.d. 1842. 
 
 During his short pastorate a revival was enjoyed. 
 Elder John Green aiding as an evangelist. On the 
 22d of February, 1843, the church voted " to remove 
 their location to the Head of Mystic whenever a suit- 
 able house of worship shall have been erected at that 
 place." In February following a branch at Ledyard 
 was constituted an independent church. He resigned 
 April 1, 1843, and was succeeded by the Eev. Charles C. 
 Lewis, who remained with the church until April 1, 
 1844. The new meeting-house in the village of Mystic 
 was dedicated Feb. 22, 1844. Rev. Cyrus Miner ac- 
 cepted their call, and entered upon his labors soon 
 after; but in April, 1845, Mr. William C. Walker, at 
 the call of the church, entered upon his pastorate, and 
 was ordained at a session of the Association with the 
 church, June 18, 1845. His pastorate of five years 
 was marked with a good degree of harmony and pros- 
 perity. Rev. James Squier succeeded as pastor for a 
 single year, when he was in turn succeeded by the 
 Rev. Erastus Miner, and in him they were not united. 
 Their differences grew to be so great that by advice of 
 a council the church was for a time divided into two 
 bands. They were happily reunited under Rev. J. 
 E. Wood, who did a good work and resigned Nov. 1 
 1860. 
 
 They then called Rev. Edgar A. Hewitt as his suc- 
 
 cessor. Upon the resignation of Mr. Hewitt, the Rev. 
 Palmer G. Wightman, grandson of the Rev. J. G. 
 Wightman, accepted a call to the pastorate, and en- 
 tered upon his labors June 4, 1864, and for twelve 
 years remained in the field where his ancestors had 
 sown and reaped. Pie was educated at the Connecti- 
 cut Literary Institution, and his ministry was accept- 
 able, as his labors were indefatigable. Rev. Eli Dew- 
 hurst, his successor, entered upon his duties as pastor 
 May 28, 1876, and closed his pastorate Aug. 1, 1881. 
 Since that time the church has settled Rev. Rich- 
 ardson. They have lost many valuable members by 
 death and removal, and especially successive deacons 
 of the church. The church, too, has been fruitful in 
 the number of young men whom it has cherished and 
 sent forth into the ministry. Since the death of that 
 beloved brother. Deacon Allan Stevenson, in October, 
 1881, the officers stand as follows : Deacons, James C. 
 Lamb and Nehemiah M. Gallup; Standing Com- 
 mittee, Simeon Gallup, Nehemiah M. Gallup, and 
 Collins Chipman ; Clerk, Samuel S. Lamb. Present 
 number of communicants, two hundred and fifty. 
 
 Union Baptist Church of Mystic Eiver.^— This 
 church being composed of two co-ordinate living and 
 flourishing Baptist Churches, and united by common 
 consent and a unanimous vote, August, a.d. 1861, it 
 is necessary to briefly sketch the origin and progress 
 of each of these constituent independent organiza- 
 tions before proceeding further with this sketch. 
 
 1. "The Second Baptist Church" of Groton, com- 
 monly known as the " Fort Hill Church.'' This body 
 arose a.d. 1765, under the leadership of the Rev. 
 Silas Burrows, who was accounted its founder. It 
 had its origin about the time or at the close of a great 
 revival among the Baptists and Separatists from the 
 Congregational order, called New Lights, and was 
 occasioned by the sympathy and fraternity which the 
 Baptists extended to a New Light Church, then under 
 the pastoral care of the Rev. Park Avery, located at 
 Poquouoc. That fraternity and fellowship continued 
 until near the close of the century, when this New 
 Light Congregational body became mostly absorbed 
 in the communion of the Fort Hill Baptist Church, 
 the pastor of the New Lights having passed away in 
 ii good old age. This Fort Hill Church, under Elder 
 Silas Burrows, before the year 1797 returned to the 
 strict-communion sentiments from which they had 
 dissented wdieu they separated from the Wightman 
 Church ; but though now of one faith, they found the 
 field wide enough for both organizations, and both 
 churches worked harmoniously together, heartily co- 
 operating in the consolidation of the two Baptist 
 Associations to which they severally belonged. The 
 Stonington Association and the Groton Union Con- 
 ference became one, and held their first meeting after 
 the consolidation at Fort Hill, on the anniversary of the 
 Conference, in June, 1818. The history of the church 
 
 1 By W. II. Potter. 
 
GROTON. 
 
 441 
 
 during the ministry of its first pastor is not witliout 
 interest. Unfortunately the records for the first forty 
 years, except from fragments, are missing. Its lead- 
 ing members, such as Deacons Simeon Smith, Eufus 
 Smith, and Jabez Smith, and Elisha Packer, Youngs 
 Avery, Caleb Avery, Nathan Daboll, Sr., and others, 
 were well known, not only in the church, but as offi- 
 cers of the town, holding many of its places of honor 
 and trust. The pastor himself was the fifth in descent 
 from Robert Burrows, one of the three earliest settlers 
 of the town. 
 
 The meetings of the Fort HilLChurch were held 
 mostly for many years in the dwelling-house of the 
 pastor. " Here the power of the Lord came down," 
 says a well-known chronicler, the Kev. F. Denison, 
 A.M., " souls were converted, and saints strength- 
 ened. The hill on which Sassacus maintained his 
 royal fort became a strong fortress in defense of the 
 truth. Coming up as a New Light Baptist Church, it 
 believed in revivals, and enjoyed frequent times of 
 refreshing from the presence of the Lord." 
 
 Pastor Burrows took a deep interest in the struggle 
 for national independence. Two of his brothers, 
 Elisha and Nathan, and a large number of his rela- 
 tives were in Fort Griswold on the memorable day of 
 the massacre. He was early on the ground the next 
 morning, with his anxious mother, to look out for the 
 brothers and succor the wounded. His house was 
 thrown open as a hospital to these wounded, and 
 every attention given, while he also visited and com- 
 forted the numerous families of the mourners, for the 
 Angel of Death had come nigh to nearly all the house- 
 holds in his vicinity. His two brothers had been 
 carried into captivity by the enemy, and had at length 
 returned from the prison-ship broken in health, only 
 to communicate the smallpox to the family; where- 
 upon he again opened his house for all to come and 
 be inoculated, and but one of the scores there treated 
 died. 
 
 The church at length, after the war, built a plain 
 one-story meeting-house on the summit of Fort Hill, 
 which Avas afterwards, early in the present century, 
 raised to two stories and a gallery added. It con- 
 tinued to be their place of worship until a separate 
 house of worship was constructed at Noank, and a 
 church there established. This left the centre of the 
 membership at Mystic Kiver. Afterwards the Fort 
 Hill edifice was sold to the town of Groton for a 
 town-house, for which purpose it is still used (1881). 
 Elder Silas took a deep interest in "soul liberty," as 
 they called freedom to worship God without the in- 
 terference of the State in those days, and he, with the 
 Wightmans, was one of the actors in framing, circu- 
 lating, and urging the Baptist Petition, so called, for 
 the complete equality of all men before the law in 
 respect to religious liberty and privileges. He lived 
 to see the principle triumph and incorporated into 
 the State constitution. 
 
 The manner in which he dealt with Jemima Wil- 
 
 kinson, self-styled " The Friend," who claimed in- 
 spiration and infallibility, was characteristic of the 
 man. Her followers, mostly from another State, 
 claimed that Elder Burrows had denounced her with- 
 out a hearing. He then publicly requested her to 
 come to his house and hold a meeting and to set forth 
 her claims, which had been so plausibly put as to 
 deceive some of the best men in the town. He listened 
 patiently to her extravagant pretensions till she had 
 finished, and then calmly but effectually i-efuted her 
 blasphemies and showed up the absurdity and fanati- 
 cism of herself and followers, until she would hear it 
 no longer, but angrily interrupted him and left. This 
 broke up her haunts in Groton. 
 
 The great revival of 1809 brought in large acces- 
 sions to the Fort Hill Church. It continued eighteen 
 months, and during its continuance he was greatly 
 assisted by his son, Rev. Roswell Burrows. The 
 father and the son during the year and a half of its 
 prevalence baptized one hundred and thirty persons. 
 The work continued and spread into the town of 
 Preston, where as a result of it the First Baptist 
 Church in that town was established, which began as 
 a branch of the Fort Hill Church. 
 
 The strong point of Elder Silas Burrows' power was 
 in pra3'er, though he was a good scripturalist and a 
 persuasive preacher. In person he was tall and com- 
 manding, with a mild blue eye and stentorian voice 
 that was heard more than a mile when he was speak- 
 ing in the open air. He fell asleep on his birthday, 
 A.D. 1818, aged seventy-seven years. 
 
 His son, the Rev. Roswell Burrows, was born at 
 Fort Hill, Groton, Sept. 2, 1786. He was an apt 
 scholar, and received a good English education. He 
 became a merchant's clerk at Guilford, but coming 
 home on a visit, during a season of awakening, he 
 was converted and entered upon a religious life. He 
 became, however, a prosperous merchant at Hopkin- 
 ton, R. I., but the conviction grew upon him that he 
 should become a preacher of righteousness. It was not 
 until he was thirty-three years of age that he yielded 
 ' to the call and commenced the public improvement 
 of his gift. He was ordained in 180C. 
 
 His associate pastorate with his ftather, and his pas- 
 torship alone after 1818, was during all these years 
 eminently prosperous. The church continued to grow. 
 In a letter which he wrote to the editor of the Chris- 
 tian Secretary, some time before his decease, he says, 
 "Since December, 1809, the Lord has visited this 
 church with seven special revivals, in which time I 
 have had the unspeakable pleasure of formally intro- 
 ducing into the church 635 members." About 90 
 were added during the year in which this letter was 
 written, and the pastor lived to enjoy another season 
 of refreshing in ]83o. He died May 2S, 1837, aged 
 sixty-nine years. 
 
 Before the close of Mr. Burrows' pastorate, and at 
 his request, the Rev. Erastus Denison supplied the 
 church one year (1830), during the pastor's absence 
 
442 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 on a visit to Western New York, where his sons had 
 settled. (See biographical sketch of Koswell and 
 Lorenzo Burrows.) 
 
 Rev. Ira R. Steward was for some two or three years 
 engaged as associate pastor with Elder Burrows, and 
 was called to ordination. He was an indefatigable 
 laborer, a good preacher, and was solo pastor from 
 1837 to 1844. His church was widely scattered, but 
 after the organization of the Groton Bank and the 
 Noank Baptist Churches the old church removed its 
 place of meeting to the village of Mystic River, at 
 first occupying the ^Mariners' Free church, in common 
 with others, and then having nearly 400 members of 
 its own, many of whom had been brought in during 
 the great revival conducted by that distinguished re- 
 vivalist, Rev. Jabez S. Swan, the Second Church 
 built a commodious conference-house in the centre of 
 the village, where they worshiped and held their Sun- 
 day-school until they built a church edifice. Pastor 
 Steward accepted a call to the First Baptist Mariners' 
 Church of New York, where he continued for many 
 years with great success, and until he was laid aside 
 by his last sickness, which was followed by a triumph- 
 ant death. The Rev. Augustus Bolles, of Colches- 
 ter, was engaged as temporary pastor, and remained 
 until April 1, 184.3, when Rev. Henry R. Knapp en- 
 tered his pastorate of five years. Daring that tijue 
 the church dedicated its new house of worship at 
 a cost of some four thousand dollars. A season of re- 
 freshing was also enjoyed. Elder Knapp was sound 
 in the faith and an acceptable preacher, but resigned, 
 to take effect x\_pril 1, 1850. 
 
 Rev. "Washingtou Munger was the next pastor, who 
 promptly entered upon bis work, and continued three 
 years with the church, a good man and a faithful 
 pastor, but his health prevented his doing much pas- 
 toral work during the last year. In October, 1853, 
 Rev. Harvey Silliman, of Western New York^ be- 
 came pastor, and continued to exercise the pastoral 
 olBce for about two years. 
 
 Rev. J. 51. Phillips, of East Haddam, received a 
 call to the pastorship May 4, 1856, and began his 
 labors in July following. During his four years' pas- 
 toral service a pleasant revival occurred in Quiambog. 
 He resigned in October, 1860, leaving many warm 
 friends behind. The church was variously supplied 
 with preaching from the date of the last resignation 
 to the union with the Third Baptist Church in 1861. 
 The other co-ordinate independent body forming the 
 Union Church we introduce, as follows : 
 
 2. Third Baptist Church.^— This body arose as an 
 outgrowth of the revival of 1881, at which time a 
 number of brethren residing in Mystic River, then 
 called Portersville, felt. that the time had come for 
 the organization of a separate body in the thrivino- 
 village. But a difference arose between members of 
 the First and Second Baptist Churches as to the neces- 
 
 1 By W. II. Potter. 
 
 sity of immediate action, -whicli resulted in consti- 
 tuting a branch of the First Church, leaving most of 
 the resident members of the Second Church aloof 
 and still adhering to its communion. But the little 
 branch, within three years, grew to be the Third 
 Baptist Church of Groton, and purchased a confer- 
 ence-house, and then, after several adverse trials, was 
 admitted into the Sfonington Union Association, 
 being cordially recognized by the Fort Hill brethren. 
 Rev. Erastus Denison was its first pastor, a faithful 
 servant of the church, but after two years he accepted 
 a call to the Second Baptist Church of Waterford, 
 and was succeeded by the Rev. John H. Baker, who 
 served the church for two years. Daring that time 
 there was a large accession by baptism. In April, 
 1839, Rev. E. Denison returned and occupied the 
 field. In June, 1841, the Stonington Union Associa- 
 tion met with this church. During the summer of 
 1842 the great revival under the preaching of Elder 
 Jabez Swan was shared with the Second Church, the 
 two pastors and their congregations cordially co-oper- 
 ating. During its continuance more than five hun- 
 dred conversions were believed to have taken place. 
 The Third Church, as the result of this reformation, 
 received one hundred and fifty to its communion. 
 
 Euv. Erastus Denison resigned the pastoral care of 
 the church in April, 1848. He had devoted the best 
 part of his life and ministerial labors to the care of 
 this church, and he was .justly regarded as its founder 
 and father. The severance of the relation was deeply 
 felt by many. Elder Denison served in the pastoral 
 relation in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Long 
 Island, though he continued to reside in the village, 
 where he built a house during the latter part of his 
 life. His successor was Rev. Simon B. Bailey, who 
 entered upon his labors in April, 1848, and remained 
 two years. He was regarded as a useful minister of 
 Christ. 
 
 Upon his resignation, Mr. Franklin A. Slater was 
 chosen to succeed him, and he was ordained to the 
 work of the gospel ministry on the 6th day of Novem- 
 ber, 1850, and resigned in January, 1853. He was 
 succeeded by Rev. J. L. Holman as a supply. 
 
 Brother Holman came as a Free-AVill Baptist, but 
 in October, 1853, he came before the church, asking 
 admission as a member, and stating his change of 
 sentiment, in accordance with the belief of the church. 
 He received public recognition November 29th, but 
 soon left for another field. 
 
 Rev. William Cathcart received a call in Decem- 
 ber, and entered upon his labors in June, 1854. His 
 commanding talent as a preacher soon gave him a 
 full house, and his success continued to the end of his 
 pastorate. An accession by baptism was enjoyed in 
 the spring of 1855. Brother Cathcart resigned early 
 in January, 1857, to take efTect April 1st. It was ac- 
 cepted with much reluctance. Dr. Cathcart at once 
 became pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Phil- 
 adelphia, where he still officiates (1881). 
 
GROTOX. 
 
 443 
 
 The Eev. Asa C. Broiison was called to the pastor- 
 ate in May followiug, and at once entered upon his 
 labors. The JMariners' Free church, where the church 
 had worshiped mostly on the Sabbath, needing ex- 
 tensive repairs, the trustees of that organization sur- 
 rendered to the church the control of the house, and 
 it was thoroughly repaired and renovated. It was re- 
 opened for public worship in August following, and 
 rededicated, and on the next day at two o'clock the 
 pews were sold. 
 
 During the interval of repairs the Second Baptist 
 Church shared with the Third their house of worship. 
 A revival was enjoyed in 1858, which brought in some 
 twenty members. But the time was approaching 
 when the two churches, occupying nearly the same 
 field, were to be one. Deacons James Gallup, Hora- 
 tio Nelson Fish, and Nathan G. Fish took the lead, 
 and were met by a committee of the Second Church. 
 The union was cordially effected by the unanimous 
 action of both churches, each acting separately, on 
 the 11th day of August, 1861. We are now prepared 
 to resume our sketch of the 
 
 The TJnion Baptist Church, Mystic Eiver.' — 
 The Union Church called Bev. A. C. Brouson, pastor 
 of the Third Baptist Church, to be their pastor, and 
 he entered upon the larger field at once under the 
 most favorable auspices. Either house of worship 
 being too straightened for the now body, the church 
 for a time met alternately in each house. But after 
 deliberation it was decided to unite the two houses, 
 the Second Church edifice being comparatively new 
 and the other in good repair. This was done during 
 the year 1862, the enlarged building occupying the 
 endeared site of the Mariners' church, where such 
 wonderful displays of God's work in former years had 
 been seen, and the house was dedicated Oct. 9, 1862, 
 Eev. Henry G. Weston, D.D., preaching the dedica- 
 toiy sermon. 
 
 Previous to this time the union had been cordially 
 recognized by neighboring churches in council, and 
 the Stonington Union Association had held its annual 
 session in the basement of the edifice. 
 
 During the spring of 1863 there was a season of 
 revival, in which about forty members were added by 
 baptism, besides many by letter, experience, and 
 restoration. It was during this year that Deacon H. 
 N. Fish passed away, much beloved, at the age of 
 sixty-three years. Deacon Elisha Eathbun had pre- 
 viously died, having been for over thirty years a 
 bearer of the Lord's vessels. The Sunday-school 
 Convention met with them in 1864. In 1865 the list 
 of church-members was examined and thoroughly re- 
 vised. It was on the 11th of June, this year, that the 
 one hundredth anniversary of the Second Church, 
 one of the co-ordinate bodies of the union, was cele- 
 brated in a memorial discourse by the pastor. 
 
 In 1866 another revival was enjoyed, and on the 
 
 I By W. II. rottor. 
 
 20th of September of the same year fell asleep in 
 Jesus the Eev. Erastus Denisou, full of years of use- 
 fulness, both in the churches to which he ministered 
 and in the cause of education, he havingbeen for many 
 years acting school visitor for the town of Groton. 
 His age was nearly seventy-five. In 1867 there were 
 seventy baptisms, Eev. Isaac Westcott, of New York, 
 assisting the pastor. 
 
 Brother Lanman Lamb, a former ofBcer in the Third 
 Church, died in October, 1867. Deacons Nathan G. 
 Fish and George N. AVright, with Deacons Albert 
 Edgcomb and William H. Potter, had been continued 
 from tlie constituent churches. Our beloved Deacon 
 Wright soon passed away, aged forty-eight years. On 
 the 11th of January, 1868, Brethren Horace Clift, 
 William H. Smith, John Gallup, and Leander Wil- 
 cox were chosen to the office of deacons. During 
 this year, too, about fifty more were added by bap- 
 tism, the venerable Dr. AVestcott again assisting in 
 reaping the harvest. 
 
 The meeting-house was enlarged, and thirty-six 
 pews added, additional land having been purchased 
 for the extension. Dr. Westcott preached on the occa- 
 sion of the rededication, Dec. 20, 1868. Mr. Bronson, 
 after a successful pastorate of eleven years, resigned 
 April 1, 1869, and preached his farewell sermon the 
 last Sunday in May. 
 
 During the interval of vacancy in the pastorate, 
 viz., Aug. 7, 1869, Judge James Ciallup pa>sed away 
 at the ripe age of nearly seventy-six years. He had 
 been a constituent member, and for several years a 
 deacon of the Third Church, and for a time acting 
 deacon in the Union Church, of which organization 
 he had been a warm advocate and a firm supporter. 
 On the 28th of November, the same year, an invitation 
 was extended to Eev. George L. Hunt, of Northamp- 
 ton, to become the pastor of this church, which he 
 accepted December 10th, and entered upon his labors 
 Jan. 2, 1870. 
 
 Deacon N. G. Fish passed from earth during this 
 year, having been justly regarded as a pillar in the 
 church. Several very pleasant revivals occurred 
 during Dr. Hunt's pastorate of eleven years, ending 
 Jan. 2, 1881. 
 
 The church, after ;i supply of several months, in 
 which it enjoyed the effective preaching of Eev. Ed- 
 win Burnham, who had formerly labored for a few 
 weeks here as an evangelist, and others, unanimously 
 called to the pastorate the Eev. Charles H. Eowe, of 
 Cambridgepoi t, Mass., and he entered upon his work 
 on the first Sunday in October, 1881. Present mem- 
 bership about seven hundred. 
 
 Noank Baptist Church.''— The Noank Baptist 
 Church was constituted on the 11th of March, A.d. 
 1843, by the dismission of over two hundred members 
 from the Second or Fort Hill Baptist Church, a pre- 
 liminary meeting having been held January 5th of 
 
 2 By W. II. Potter. 
 
4t4 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDOiV COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 that year. The next day after their recognition by 
 neigliboring churches the new church gave a call to 
 the Eev. S. B. Bailey to be their pastor. He acceptcJ, 
 and commenced his labors April 1st. The church 
 was admitted into the Stonington Union Association 
 the June following. 
 
 Elder Bailey was ordained Nov. 29, 184.3, sermon 
 by Eev. L. Covill. A season of revival was enjoyed 
 in the spring of 1846, the pastor being assisted by 
 the Eev. John Green, of Hopkinton, E. I. Elder 
 Bailey closed his labors after five years' pastorate, and 
 Eev. David Avery received a call to take the pastoral 
 care of the church, and entered upon his labors April 
 1, 1848, and remained one year. Eev. Wm. A. Smith 
 succeeded to the pastorate, and closed his services April 
 1, 1850. Eev. James 31. Phillips was then called to 
 serve the church, which he did acceptably for four 
 years. Another season of refreshing was enjoyed in 
 1851. In April, 1855, Eev. C. Havens was called as 
 a pastoral supply, and closed his labors November 1st 
 same year. The church had supplies from Eev. W. 
 A. Smith {still a member) and others until June, 1856, 
 when Eev. H. V. Jones, of New Jersey, having ac- 
 cepted the call to the pastorate, entered upon his 
 labors, with a salary of six hundred dollars and his 
 house-rent, which was increased in 1857 to eight hun- 
 dred dollars and house-rent. Brother Jones resigned, 
 to take effect in ricptember, 1859, but was induced to 
 remain until the following April, and then the Eev. 
 Henry E. Knapp accepted the call of the church, and 
 entered upon pastoral work ^Vpril 1, 1860. Deacon 
 John Palmer passed away July 16th of this year, 
 aged seventy-two years, having been for more than 
 fifty years a devoted Christian and a man truly mighty 
 in God's word. Elder Knapp closed his labors with 
 the church in November, 1860, when the church ex- 
 tended ii call to Eev. Charles 8. Weaver, of Norwich, 
 who accepted and began his labors in December. He 
 continued with them until the 1st of April, 1865, when 
 he resigned. Elders Curtis Keeney, Ira E. Steward, 
 Smith, and Bailey supplied the jiulpit until March, 
 1866, when Eev. H. V. Jones, a former pastor, again 
 accepted their call. 
 
 The Stonington Union Association met with them 
 this year. In their letter, in June, they say, "It is 
 our grief that you find us in a divided state. Amid 
 our trials God has appeared for our comfort, and for 
 many weeks the revival went on, till fifty precious 
 souls, chiefly among the young, were gathered into 
 the church." This church was again revived in the 
 early part of 1867, and thirty-five happy converls 
 were buried with Christ in baptism, Eev. P. G. 
 Wightman assisting in the good work. In their 
 letter to the Association in June, 18G8, they say, 
 " Our new house of worship was completed and dedi- 
 cated in December last, at a cost of twelve thousand 
 dollars, of which sum two thousand dollars was con- 
 tributed by our Ladies' Sewing Society." 
 
 Eev. Stephen Howell was called to the pastorate 
 
 in 1871, and continues until this day, being the 
 longest pastorate on their records. During that time 
 another of their deacons, John Palmer, Jr., an earnest 
 Christian, has passed away. Their church clerks from 
 the beginning have been Augustus 3Iorgan and Eob- 
 ert Palmer, the latter still in office ; their deacons, 
 Ebenezer Morgan, Eobert Palmer, Augustus Morgan, 
 Levi Spicer, and Eoswell P. Sawyer. Present num- 
 ber of members, three hundred and forty-six. 
 
 American Union Baptist Church of Noank.'— 
 This church was organized in May, 1865, with seventy- 
 two members, mostly from the senior Baptist Church at 
 Noank. Eev. Charles S. Weaver was their first pastor. 
 They were publicly recognized as a church in their new 
 meeting-house, Dec. 18, 1868, with eighty-nine mem- 
 bers, the following churches being represented in the 
 council, viz.: First, Waterford ; First, North Stoning- 
 ton ; Second Eichmond, Voluntown, and East Had- 
 dam. Since Elder Weaver left they have had as sup- 
 ply Eev. G. S. Bailey, now deceased, and Eev. S. B. 
 Bailey and Eev. J. C. Foster. Their present number 
 is fifty. E. Augustus Morgan, deacon and church clerk. 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, Noank.'— This so- 
 ciety was organized on the evening of April 9, 1878, 
 and consisted of four brethren and three sisters. At 
 the same time Eev. A. N. Bodfish, of Mystic Bridge 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, presided at the first 
 Quarterly Conference, at which the organization was 
 completed by the appointment of stewards. 
 
 At the Quarterly Conference, May 4, 1879, the pre- 
 siding elder, Eev. D. A. Wheeden, was present, when 
 it was found there were fourteen members in full 
 standing, and seven probationers ; Mr. H. N. Brown, 
 preacher in charge ; new chapel completed ; and real 
 estate of the church valued at thirteen hundred dol- 
 lars. At the close of the Conference year 1881, Mr. 
 H. N. Brown was recommended for admission into 
 the traveling connection. Eev. James A. Dean, D.D., 
 pastor in 1881. 
 
 The Centre Groton Mission Chapel' was built a 
 few years ago as a mission chapel, to accommodate 
 the Centre Groton Sunday-school, which school was 
 established by Deacon Coddington Culver (now de- 
 ceased), A.D. 1851, and also as a place for holding 
 religious meetings. It was paid for by subscriptions, 
 but Capt. Ebenezer Morgan, of Groton Bank, was 
 prominent in liquidating the debt of the association, 
 which has official charge of the house and lot, of 
 which association Prof J. K. Bucklyn, of Mystic 
 Bridge, is president. Each of the Baptist Churches 
 of the town elects a trustee. 
 
 Poquonoc Baptist Church.'— The history of this 
 church as such begins with the jeai 1856. But the 
 history of Christian work on this field reaches back 
 to its early settlement. Here Elder Park Avery es- 
 tablished a New Light Congregational Church in the 
 days of Whitefield and his zealous' coadjutors. That 
 
 ' By W. n. PoUer. 
 
GEOTON. 
 
 445 
 
 church flourished while the pastor was in his prime, 
 but declined as he grew old. He died in 1797, aged 
 eighty-seven years. The church at Fort Hill ab- 
 sorbed most of Elder Avery's members, and so it be- 
 came extinct. But religious efforts were continued. 
 The school-house was witness of powerful religious 
 meetings in the days of Deacon Jabez Smith and 
 others. Later, Deacon Eobert Austin Avery, of the 
 Fort Hill Church, took an interest in their Sunday 
 evening meetings. Deacon Albert Edgcomb, of the 
 same church, followed, and established and there 
 maintained a Sunday-school, which has continued 
 through all vicissitudes to the present day. Revs. 
 Silas and Eoswell Burrows and Eev. Ira R. Steward 
 held preaching services when present, and in one way 
 and another this community, notwithstanding an ele- 
 ment of opposition, were never destitute of religious 
 privileges of their own, besides those enjoyed by their 
 near proximity to the Fort Hill Church, whose mem- 
 bership, until it removed its meetings to Mystic River, 
 were ever numerous in Poquonoc. 
 
 The church, which grew out of the Sunday-school, 
 was constituted Aug. 18, 1856. It had twenty-five 
 constituent members. David C. Westcott was chosen 
 its first deacon, and Gen. James Roath, clerk. Rev. 
 S. B. Bailey, who was instrumental in its organiza- 
 tion, became its first pastor. They were received into 
 the Stonington Union Association at its June session 
 following. Their first pastor continued his acceptable 
 ministry among them for about eighteen months. He 
 was succeeded by the Rev. George Mixter, an elderly 
 servant, who continued his pastoral labors one year, 
 during which a revival prevailed. This year death 
 for the first time visited the church, removing Brother 
 William T. Burrows, a valuable member. At this time 
 a division of opinion arose in the church-going com- 
 munity, and a Separate meeting was established. It 
 did not long, however, aflfect the membership or at- 
 tendance of the church. Rev. Alfred Gates com- 
 menced pastoral labor with them in April, 1859, and 
 was succeeded in February, 1861, by the Rev. John 
 E. Wood. Their first deacon, who had been so essen- 
 tial a pillar, removed soon after to another field. Their 
 pastor raised a company of volunteers and went with 
 them to the war. Rev. Thomas Dowling having ac- 
 cepted a call to the pastorate began his labors in April, 
 1863. Mr. Dowling's ministry was doctrinally sound 
 and spiritual, and he was not lacking in fluency. The 
 letter of the church to the Association in 1866 says, 
 " Elder Thomas Dowling left the 1st of May, after 
 nearly three years of faithful pastoral labor, sowing 
 much good seed." Mr. Dowling would have been as 
 acceptable as he was able had he been willing to ab- 
 breviate the length of his services of prayer and 
 preaching to the demands of the times. Few minis- 
 ters in Connecticut surpassed him in natural or ac- 
 quired abilities. 
 
 The Rev. Curtis Keeney labored the five months 
 following with great success, in connection with Rev. 
 29 
 
 William A. Smith, of Groton Bank, who was then 
 called to exercise the pastoral ofiice. Their letter to 
 the Association in June says of Elder Smith's labors, 
 " We are instructed, reproved, and rebuked with all 
 long suffering and doctrine." Sixty were added to 
 the church during this time. Albert Kingsley and 
 Cyrus Avery were chosen to the deaconship. Gen. 
 Roath, a constituent member and their church clerk, 
 died lamented, and Deacon Sanford A. Morgan re- 
 moved West, much to the regret of the church. 
 Deacon Kingsley also removed for the benefit of a 
 change of climate, but his health continued to fail, 
 and he passed away Oct. 17, 1870. A new and larger 
 church edifice was dedicated Nov. 8, 1871. Youngs 
 Avery, their very efficient Sunday-school superin- 
 tendent, also died about this time. After Mr. Smith, 
 Rev. J. C. Foster filled the pulpit for several months. 
 Mr. Louis C. Sands was called to the pastoral office 
 in May, 1871, and Ordained at Mystic River, by a 
 council, July 5th. His pastorate lasted a little over 
 a year. Rev. William A. Smith was again called to 
 the pastorship, which lasted till December, 1873. 
 During the interval they were supplied by various 
 ministers. 
 
 Eev. Stephen Perkins was called to the pastoral 
 office March 4, 1876, and was ordained on the 15th 
 of the following May. He was a very acceptable 
 preacher, but closed his labors with this church in 
 December, 1877. During this time Brother Osmar 
 G. Buddington was licensed to preach. He after- 
 wards graduated at Crozier Theological Seminary, 
 Pennsylvania, and is now exercising the pastoral 
 office over the Baptist Church of Florence, N. J., 
 where he was ordained in 1880. Rev. E. C. Miller 
 was called to the pastorate Oct. 5, 1879, and entered 
 at once upon his duties. He is regarded as a faithful 
 servant of the Most High. The present number of 
 members is one hundred and twenty, and the follow- 
 ing constitute the officers, viz. : Benjamin Gardner, 
 Cyrus Avery, and W. T. Burrows, deacons; Daniel 
 Morgan, church clerk. 
 
 St. Mark's Episcopal Church of Mystic Eiver.^ 
 — Church services were first held in this place in 
 Washington Hall, by Mr. John 0. Middleton, B.A., 
 of New London, a candidate for holy orders in this 
 diocese, in July, 1859. 
 
 A Sunday-school was organized at the same time. 
 Services were continued until March, 1860, when Mr. 
 Middleton was ordained to the deaconry, and entered 
 upon his duties as assistant minister in the Church of 
 the Holy Trinity, Brooklyn, N. Y., in June, 1864. Two 
 or three services were held previous to June, 1864, when 
 the Rev. Mr. Middleton, then of Calvary Church, 
 Stonington, again held services in Washington Hall 
 Sunday evenings. These were continued until the 1st 
 of October the same year. On the 9th of the same 
 month the Eev. Lorenzo Sears, by arrangement with 
 
 1 By H. G. Beete, Jr. 
 
446 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the Eastern Convocation of this diocese, hegan to hold 
 full services. On the 11th of February, 1865, a parish 
 was organized, under the title of St. Mark's, Mystic, 
 when about thirty names were signed to the articles of 
 organization. The first officers of the parish were 
 Daniel W. Denison, senior warden ; Roswell Brown, 
 junior warden ; W. W. Kellogg, John Lee, F. T. 
 Mercer, T. J. Griffing, George Philpot, C. A. Jones, 
 and Amos Watrous were elected vestrymen, and F. 
 S. Bidwell parish clerk. The first confirmation was 
 held on the first Sunday after Trinity, 1865, when six 
 persons were added to the number of communicants. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Sears tendered his resignation to the East- 
 ern Convocation, and closed his labors in the parish 
 on the first Sunday after Easter, April 8, 1866. 
 
 During his rectorship eighteen hundred dollars was 
 raised for building a church edifice, a lot purchased, 
 and the foundations begun. The number of commu- 
 nicants had now increased from fifteen to thirty-one 
 by admission and confirmation. 
 
 The Rev. W. Ingram Magill, late assistant minister 
 in St. John's Church, Stamford, Conn., entered upon 
 his duties as rector of the parish July 14, 1866. 
 
 The corner-stone was laid in the " Sacred Name" 
 Dec. 3, 1866, by the Rev. Dr. Robert A. Hallam, rector 
 of St. James' Church, New London. The clergymen 
 present were Rev. J. C. Middleton, S. Upjohn, Dr. 
 Robert A. Hallam, and the rector of the parish. 
 
 It was purposed at that time to make this a memorial 
 church to Bishop Seabury, who was a native of Gro- 
 ton. The first services in the new church were held 
 Christmas morning, 1867, — a joyous day for all the 
 parish. The Rev. W. Ingram Magill resigned, and 
 accepted an election to Christ Church, Harlem, 111., 
 Oct. 14, 1869. The Rev. O. F. Starkey, of Niagara 
 Falls, N. Y., commenced his labors with the parish in 
 December, 1869. 
 
 During his rectorship the church paid up their debt 
 and purchased a large organ from the First Congrega- 
 tional Church, New London. The church and Sun- 
 day-school were well kept up, and a deep interest 
 taken in the parish. Mr. Starkey resigned his rector- 
 ship in December, 1872, and the church was supplied 
 until Jan. 5, 1873, when the Rev. J. D. S. Pardee be- 
 came its rector. During his rectorship the church, 
 being free from debt, was consecrated by Bishop Wil- 
 liams, April 25, 1873, it being St. Mark's day. 
 
 The church lost one of its most prominent members 
 in the death of the senior warden, Daniel W. Deni- 
 son, Esq. He was one of the first organizers of the 
 church, and it was largely due to his untiring labors 
 that the church attained prosperity. He was always 
 at his post, and took a deep interest in parish-work. 
 
 Mr. Pardee resigned his rectorship May 22, 1881, 
 having received a call to Trinity Church, Seymour,' 
 Conn. The church was supplied until July by the 
 Rev. Peter Shepard, of Saybrook, Conn., when the 
 church extended a call to the Rev. Wm. F. Bielby 
 of St. Philip's Church, Putnam, Conn., who is the 
 
 present rector. The condition of the parish is at 
 present very encouraging, and indicates a gratifying 
 increase in interest and numbers. 
 
 The present number of communicants is one hun- 
 dred and eight. 
 
 The officers of this parish for 1881 are Eoswell 
 Brown, senior warden ; W. W. Kellogg, junior war- 
 den ; F. T. Mercer, L. M. Fairbanks, M. B. Oviatt, 
 F. H. Brewer, E. R. Williams, John Lee, D. C. Brown, 
 Amos Watrous, and W. W. Kellogg, Jr., vestrymen ; 
 F. S. Bidwell, parish clerk. 
 
 The Groton Bank Baptist Church' is situated in 
 the town of Groton, on the river Thames, opposite 
 the city of New London, and was constituted March 
 16, 1843, composed of fifty-one members, fourteen 
 male and thirty- seven female. It has erected two 
 houses of worship, one in 1843— i4, the other in 
 1871-72. The first cost about $1600, the latter, 
 $15,000, with an audience-room with over three 
 hundred sittings, a lecture-room with two hundred, 
 a conference-room with one hundred and fifty, and a 
 ladies' parlor. 
 
 This church has been served by six pastors, viz. : 
 Rutherford Russell, two years ; Isaac Chesebro, four 
 years; George Matthews, two years; Edgar A. Hewitt, 
 one year ; Eli Dewhurst, two years ; and N. T. Allen, 
 the present incumbent, nineteen years, and a number 
 of years they have been supplied. 
 
 There have been added to the church, four hundred 
 and twenty persons, the large majority by baptism. 
 Present number, two hundred and twenty. 
 
 A Sunday-school was commenced in 1843, and has 
 been maintained till now. Present number, two hun- 
 dred and twenty. 
 
 The Morgan ChapeP was built about five years 
 since, by Capt. Ebenezer Morgan, of Groton. It 
 is located about one mile from the Baptist church, at 
 the terminus of the Providence and Stonington Rail- 
 road. It is an out-station, used principally for Sun- 
 day-school work. Occasionally religious service is 
 held there. It cost about $1600, and will seat two 
 hundred persons. It is owned by Capt. Ebenezer 
 Morgan. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIIL 
 
 GROTON— (Continued). 
 BIOGBAPHICAL SKET0HES.2 
 
 Ledyard, the Traveler.— One of the most noted 
 men of Groton was John Ledyard, commonly called 
 " The Traveler." He was a younger brother of Col. 
 William Ledyard, the celebrated hero-martyr of Gro- 
 ton Heights, born in 1751. He was naturally a rover. 
 For a short time he resided among the Six Nations. 
 
 1 By Eev. N. T. Allen. 
 
 2By W. H.Pottsr. 
 
GKOTON. 
 
 447 
 
 We also hear of him exploring the Connecticut alone 
 in a canoe. He made a sea-voyage with his intimate 
 friend, Elisha Hinman. He then went to England, 
 enlisted as a marine, sailed with the celebrated navi- 
 gator, Capt. Cook, on his second voyage around 
 the world, of which he published an account. He 
 next started from London eastward on foot to make 
 the tour of the world ; visited St. Petersburg, and 
 went thence through the most unfrequented parts of 
 Finland. He proceeded through European Russia, 
 and as far as Yakutsk, where the Governor arrested 
 him, and sent him, like a modern tramp, back to the 
 borders, and bid him go and never return to Russian 
 soil, under pain of death. He was next employed by 
 an association for the exploration of the African con- 
 tinent by ascending the Nile with an exploring-party. 
 The adventurous traveler was now in his element, 
 and about to achieve that fame for which his previous 
 exploits had fitted him. But at Grand Cairo he was 
 attacked by a fatal disease, and died a.d. 1788, aged 
 thirty-seven. He was indeed a singular genius, with 
 germs of greatness, and was a poet as well as a fine 
 prose writer. 
 Bishop Seabury.^ 
 Hon. Silas Deane.^ 
 
 Hon. WaitstUl Avery. — Waitstill Avery was born 
 in Groton (Ledyard) in 1741. His father, Humphrey 
 Avery, Esq., was an honored citizen of his native 
 town, having represented Groton in the General As- 
 sembly of Connecticut nine times, commencing with 
 1732. He found means to send his son Waitstill, who 
 was a promising youth, to Nassau Hall, Princeton 
 College, where he graduated with honor in the class 
 of 1767, and having subsequently studied law, we find 
 him in 1769 seeking a Southern home, attracted 
 doubtless by the influence of his classmates in college, 
 many of whom came from the sunny South. He set- 
 tled at Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N. C. Having 
 the true Avery grit, he soon rose to eminence at the 
 bar, and found time withal to assert his fearless patriot- 
 ism, doing much to awaken enthusiasm in the cause 
 of independence. He was a signer and moving spirit, 
 if not the author, of the celebrated Mecklenburg 
 Declaration of Independence, adopted at Charlotte, 
 N. C, May 20, 1775, one year, one month, and four- 
 teen days before the more celebrated, but not more 
 pronounced. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 
 1776, from which we date our birth as a nation. The 
 instructions to the North Carolina delegates in the 
 Continental Congress, accompanying the engrossed 
 copy of the Mecklenburg declaration, were in Avery's 
 handwriting. This was the first concerted utterance, 
 not for redress merely, but for absolute national inde- 
 pendence of Great Britain. It had a powerflil influ- 
 ence in strengthening the cause of freedom when the 
 fear of consequences and a traitor's doom had kept 
 
 ' For life of Bishop Seabury, see history of St. James' Church, New 
 XondoD. 
 2 See Supplement. 
 
 members of Congress discreet in their deliberations, 
 and prepared the delegates from all the colonies for a 
 united declaration a year later. Mr. Avery was the 
 first attorney-general of the State of his adoption, and 
 was Mecklenburg's representative in the Legislature 
 for many years. He was also a commissioner to ne- 
 gotiate with the Indians, a difficult and delicate trust, 
 which he discharged with satisfaction to the State. 
 He died in 1821, aged eighty years, full of honors, 
 leaving an unsullied name to his posterity. A North 
 Carolinian writes, " From his patriotism and activity 
 he was the object of the malevolence of the British, 
 who took particular pains to burn his law-office in 
 Charlotte as the army of Lord Cornwallis passed 
 through the Carolinas." 
 
 His antecedents from his youth did not allow him 
 to approve of the code of honor as it prevailed South, 
 but his rivalry at the bar as he rode the circuit of the 
 courts sometimes led him into serious differences. 
 On one of these occasions a rival lawyer took excep- 
 tion at the severe personalities of Mr. Avery, as it was 
 alleged, and a challenge followed. Mr. Avery felt 
 obliged to accept it or to be brought into disgrace, at 
 which his high spirit revolted. He accepted the 
 challenge, chose his weapons, and with his second 
 and his surgeon went into the field. At the word his 
 rival fired and missed Mr. Avery, who fired his pistol 
 towards the zenith. The seconds now interfered, they 
 shook hands and were friends. That rival lawyer was 
 afterwards the hero of the battle of New Orleans 
 and President of the United States. The challenge 
 itself is still preserved by Avery's posterity in the 
 original handwriting of the giver. Mr. Avery never 
 had occasion to fight another duel. 
 
 Marshal James Mitchell. — James Mitchell, Esq., 
 was born A.d. 1777, and resided at Groton Bank, 
 where his son, Col. William F. Mitchell, now lives. 
 He was a leading townsman in Groton, more than 
 once a representative to the Assembly, and member 
 of the State Senate. President Adams appointed him 
 United States marshal for the State of Connecticut, 
 and he was reappointed by Gen. Jackson, retaining 
 his position until his death in 1831, aged fifty-four 
 years. 
 
 Hon. Noyes Barber." 
 
 Hons. Elisha Haley and Stephen Haley.— The 
 Haleys were not among the pioneers, but towards the 
 close of the last century began to make themselves 
 known in the management of town affairs. Elisha 
 Haley was admitted to be a freeman in 1799 ; was 
 tithingman in 1801 ; was surveyor in 1805 ; was select- 
 man in 1811, and many times afterwards ; representa- 
 tive in the Assembly in 1816, and several times re- 
 elected; member of the State Senate in 1830, and 
 four years a member of Congress. His brother, Hon. 
 Stephen Haley, was well remembered as town-collec- 
 tor, deputy sheriff, selectman, representative, and as 
 
 8 See page 472. 
 
448 
 
 HISTOllY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the first judge of probate after the district of Groton 
 was constituted. 
 
 Hon. Albert Gallatin Stark.— Albert G. Stark, of 
 Mystic Kiver, was another genius who should be men- 
 tioned among the remarkable young men of Groton. 
 He was born in 1824, and received only a common- 
 school education. He was a self-made mathematician, 
 a ready speaker and debater, and no mean poet. He 
 was clerk and then judge of probate, and one of the 
 earliest Free-Soil candidates for Congress, receiving 
 a large and flattering support in his own town, where 
 his admiring townsmen saw the germ of statesman- 
 ship which he was never destined to achieve, as he 
 died in 1853, in the midst of his promising career, 
 while holding the office of probate judge, at the early 
 age of twenty-nine years. 
 
 Hon. Belton Allyn Copp. — Mr. Copp was born 
 near Gale's Ferry, Groton, in 1796. He was by pro- 
 fession a lawyer, and took a prominent part in politics. 
 The first part of his life was spent in Georgia, but he 
 removed to his native town in 1832, where he settled 
 down as a farmer, and yet practiced his profession. 
 He was a member of the Legislature several times, 
 beginning with 1838. In 1847 that body appointed 
 him chief judge of the County Court. He died in 
 1858, aged sixty-two years. 
 
 Hon. Daniel Burrows. — Rev. Daniel Burrows died 
 at Mystic River, in this town, in January, 1858, aged 
 ninety-two years. He was the son of Rev. Silas 
 Burrows, and brother of Rev. Roswell Burrows. (See 
 history of the Second Baptist Church, Groton.) He 
 was born at Fort Hill, Groton, in 1766. He was a 
 first-class business man, and a Methodist Episcopal 
 preacher of some distinction for sixty years. He 
 made Middletown, Conn., his home, of which port he 
 was inspector of customs for twenty-four years. He 
 served in Congress during the last term of Monroe's 
 administration. Congress was not perfect then, for 
 he wrote while in Congress to his brother. Rev. Ros- 
 well Burrows, as follows: "I am sorry to say that 
 every day's experience confirms me in the belief that 
 there is a great want of integrity in men acting in 
 high stations. I consider it very unfortunate for the 
 country that a majority of Congress should be made 
 up of second-rate lawyers, who can spout by the hour 
 to no purpose, but just to be heard. I don't think I 
 was ever before in so wicked a place as Washington. 
 I have declined visits or dinings and tea-parties, be- 
 yond what can be made immediately subservient to 
 the business for which I am sent, which with me shall 
 be paramount.'' 
 
 Hon. Albert Latham, — ^ Another of Groton's repre- 
 sentative men was Mr. Albert Latham. He was the 
 son of the artillery captain, William Latham, who 
 had the command of Fort Griswold during the great 
 fight in 1781, and his heart ever beat warmly towards 
 the Revolutionary defenders of his country. He Avas 
 born in Groton in 1766, and was admitted to be a free- 
 man in 1809. In 1812 he began to fill ofiices of trust, 
 
 and he thus enjoyed almost all the offices within the 
 gift of the town. He was selectman, beginning with 
 1827, eleven times, serving five times in the Assem- 
 bly from 1829, and once in the Senate. He died in 
 1868, aged eighty-one years. 
 
 Capt. Adam Larrabee. — Another of the notable 
 characters that arose in Groton (since Ledyard) is 
 the name of Adam Larrabee. He was born near 
 Allyn's Point, March 14, 1787. He entered West 
 Point Military Academy Jan. 18, 1808, and graduated 
 March 1, 1811, and he received a commission of that 
 date as second lieutenant of light artillery. He was 
 on the Niagara frontier in 1812, and in Gen. Wilkin- 
 son's campaign on the St. Lawrence in 1813 and 1814. 
 He was made captain of light artillery Feb. 24, 1814, 
 and was a participant in the battle of French Mills, 
 on La Cole River. At this engagement he received 
 a severe wound by an ounce musket-ball through the 
 lungs, and was reported killed ; and from the nature 
 of the wound it was not supposed possible that he 
 could live. He was courageous, and was taken to 
 Saratoga, where he was carefully nursed in the family 
 of Chancellor Walworth, and recovered. 
 
 Having resigned his commission, he returned to his 
 native town, represented Groton in the Legislature, 
 and was one of the Harrison electors in 1840. In 
 1828 he was one of the Board of Visitors at West 
 Point. He removed to Windham in 1853, where he 
 died, Oct. 25, 1869, aged eighty-two, full of years and 
 honors. 
 
 Hons. Asa and Nathan G. Fish. — Asa Fish was 
 born and reared in Groton. He is first remembered 
 as an excellent teacher of youth. He married in 
 Stonington, and settled at Mystic Bridge, in that 
 town, to which his subsequent career as a member of 
 both houses of the Legislature and judge of probate 
 for many years, which was certainly an honorable 
 one, belongs. Capt. Nathan G. Fish, a brother of 
 Asa, and son of Deacon Sands Fish, was born and 
 educated near the banks of the Mystic, where the 
 first settler of the name purchased. He was for many 
 years a shipmaster and owner. He was several times 
 elected to the Lower House of the Assembly, and 
 three times represented the Seventh Senatorial Dis- 
 trict. He also served first as clerk and then as judge 
 of Probate Court. 
 
 Capt. Fish, was noted as a member of the General 
 Assembly in 1857, which altered the charter of the 
 Mystic link of the Shore-Line Railroad, requiring 
 the track to be laid where it now is, near the village, 
 and took an important part in the discussion of a 
 question in which the interests of his constituents 
 were so vitally concerned. Capt. Fish was for many 
 years deacon in the Union Baptist Church, Mystic 
 River, and president of the National Bank and of the 
 Groton Savings-Bank. He died in 1870, much la- 
 mented, aged sixty-six. 
 
 Col. Hiram Appelman. — Col. Appelman was born 
 on the banks of the Mystic in 1825. When quite a 
 
GEOTON. 
 
 449 
 
 young man he studied law and removed West. He 
 was a member of the Kansas Senate when the Topeka 
 Constitution was adopted. Coming East about the 
 time of the breaking out of the civil war, he recruited 
 Company G of the Eighth Eegiment, and was wounded 
 at the head of his regiment, Sept. 17, 1862, having 
 been promoted successively major and lieutenant- 
 colonel. He was obliged to return home and resign 
 on account of his shattered limb, but after long ill- 
 ness he partially recovered, and resumed the practice 
 of the law in his native village ; was elected State 
 senator, and then Secretary of State, to which office 
 he was re-elected, and finally died in office in 1873, 
 aged forty-eight years. Mr. D. Webster Edgcomb, 
 his chief clerk, from the same town, was appointed 
 by the General Assembly to fill out his unexpired 
 term. 
 
 Hons. Roswell and Lorenzo Burrows. — These 
 somewhat noted men were born at Fort Hill, Groton, 
 and there received their early training. They were 
 sons of Rev. Roswell Burrows. Having arrived at 
 manhood, about the year 1825 they removed to 
 Albion, N. Y., where the elder Roswell became emi- 
 nent as a banker, and he has recently died. His 
 brother Lorenzo yet lives at the age of seventy-six, 
 having been a member of Congress for two terms, 
 comptroller of the State of New York, and is now 
 one of the oldest of the regents of the university, 
 having enjoyed and honored that distinction for more 
 than a quarter of a century. 
 
 Col. Amos Clift. — Amos Clift was born at Mystic 
 River,, Aug. 7, 1805, and died Aug. 18, 1878, aged 
 seventy-three. He was a leading builder for many 
 years. He was also colonel of the Eighth Regiment ; 
 many times selectman, three times a member of the 
 Assembly, and for eighteen or nineteen years judge 
 of the Probate Court for the district of Groton. His 
 public and private record are alike unsullied. 
 
 Elisha Morgan, Esq. — Elisha Morgan enjoyed the 
 confidence of his fellow -townsmen to a marked degree 
 for many years. He held all the offices in the town ; 
 was selectman for many terms, represented the town in 
 the Assembly five times, ending with 1862. But it is 
 as town clerk he is best known, in which capacity he 
 served the town acceptably for more than twenty 
 years. He wrote a bold, plain hand to the last, and 
 died in office in 1877, aged seventy-seven years. 
 
 Col. Daniel C. Bodman. — Daniel C. Rodman was 
 born in Dover, N. H., Oct. 16, 1826. Before the war 
 he was in the employ of the Colt's Firearms Com- 
 pany of Hartford, in the capacity of agent in the 
 mining districts of Arizona. Returning to Hartford 
 at the outbreak of the Rebellion, he enlisted as a pri- 
 vate in the First Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, 
 being mustered in on the 19th day of April, 1861. 
 Before the expiration of his three months' term of 
 service he was promoted to be first lieutenant, which 
 rank he held when the regiment was mustered out. 
 Immediately . upon his return from the field he re- 
 
 cruited a company for the Seventh Regiment Connec- 
 ticut Volunteers, of which he was chosen captain, and 
 mustered in Sept. 5, 1861. He was successively pro- 
 moted to be major and lieutenant-colonel of the Sev- 
 enth, holding the latter rank when the regiment was 
 mustered out, after more than three years of arduous 
 and honorable service. Among the engagements in 
 which he participated were Port Royal, Fort Pulaski 
 (where he was in command of the battery nearest the 
 enemy's works), James Island, Morris Island, Fort 
 Wagner, Chester Station, and Drury's Bluff. He was 
 twice wounded at the memorable battle of Fort Wag- 
 ner. The more serious wound of the two was inflicted 
 by the fragment of a shell, which, striking the scab- 
 bard of his sword, forced it against his ribs, several 
 of which were broken, and sowed the seeds of the 
 disease which at last terminated fatally. Soon after 
 the close of the war he was appointed United States 
 pension-agent for the District of Connecticut, hold- 
 ing the office and discharging its responsible duties 
 with ability and integrity until it was abolished 
 under the general order consolidating the pension 
 districts. Brave, clear-headed, and thoroughly sin- 
 cere, in his death Connecticut loses one of the most 
 distinguished soldiers of the late war. Having mar- 
 ried a Groton lady, he took up his residence here a 
 few years ago, and died at his home in Groton, Oct. 
 10, 1881, aged fifty-five years. It is said of him by 
 his biographer, " A braver man and a more noble 
 soul never lived." 
 
 Zerah C. Whipple. — Zerah was born in Quaker- 
 town, Ledyard, Sept. 1, 1849. His parents were Jon- 
 athan and Content Whipple, and his grandfather was 
 Jonathan Whipple, the originator in America of the 
 idea and practice of teaching deaf mutes to talk and 
 to read the lips of people when they are talking. 
 
 Zerah was a precocious youth, honest, conscien- 
 tious, inquiring, and he took the lead as a scholar 
 among his classmates. A partial sunstroke while at 
 work in the field, when about fifteen years of age, 
 somewhat retarded his literary progress and impaired 
 his physical strength. He was early an eloquent 
 temperance and peace advocate, but of a sturdy inde- 
 pendence, and refused to pay his military tax, for 
 which he sufiered imprisonment in the county jail. 
 But Zerah Whipple's name will be chiefly remem- 
 bered and honored as a teacher of the system — which 
 his grandfather founded — of instructing deaf mutes to 
 talk. 
 
 He commenced teaching this system when he was 
 nineteen years old, and the next year, 1869, he opened 
 a school at Quakertown on the Whipple plan. But 
 he was a genius, and commenced the formation of a 
 mute's alphabet, which he patented, by means of 
 which the before mute pupil was aided in his attempts 
 at articulation. He and his father removed their 
 Whipple Home School to the heights north of Mys- 
 tic River, where they purchased a fine three-story 
 building for its use. 
 
450 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Meantime he went before the Legislature and asked 
 for a State appropriation to aid every pupil of his 
 school from this State. He finally obtained the same 
 annual appropriation for each pupil as the American 
 Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb received ; and being 
 thus recognized by the State, he had laid the foundation 
 of a prosperous school, when he was stricken down by 
 disease, and died in September, 1879, aged thirty 
 years. The school continues in the hands of his 
 widow and his father. 
 
 Mr. Whipple was at the time of his death secretary 
 of the Connecticut Branch of the Universal Peace 
 Society, having its seat in London. The annual ses- 
 sions of this branch are held in the grove near Mystic 
 Eiver, and they are numerously attended. 
 
 Physicians. — There have been a few prominent 
 physicians in Groton whose biography belongs to the 
 public. The first that we name was Dr. Dudley 
 Woodbridge. He was a son of the first minister in 
 Groton of the standing order, and not only a good 
 physician of liberal endowments and education, but 
 he was known in the administration of town affairs, 
 having been a selectman and nine times a member of 
 the Assembly. 
 
 Dr. Amos Prentice.— This physician lived during 
 the times that tried men's patriotism. He was the 
 resident physician that attended upon the wounded 
 and dying that ofi'ered up their lives at the massacre 
 on Groton Heights in 1781. He was there during the 
 night that followed, and, like a ministering angel, 
 went to the scattered and maimed invalids over the 
 town, and it was owing to his skill and patience that 
 so many of the severely wounded recovered. 
 
 Dr. Prentice was more than once elected selectman, 
 and was enabled to add official weight, as an oflicer, to 
 his benevolence as a physician in supplying the wants 
 of families bereaved or impoverished by the horrors 
 of war. He also had the honor of representing Gro- 
 ton in the General Assembly at the close of the war. 
 We would like to say more of this good Samaritan. 
 
 Dr. John O. Miner.— Dr. John Owen Miner was 
 descended in a direct line from Henry Miner, of 
 county Somerset, England, who was knighted by Ed- 
 ward III. He studied medicine under Dr. Amos 
 Prentice, of Groton Bank. Dr. Prentice will ever be 
 held in grateful remembrance for his services to the 
 wounded at Fort Griswold, and in this attendance his 
 student. Dr. Miner, was with him. Dr. Miner had in 
 his boyhood and youth struggled heroically with ad- 
 versity and labored diligently to help his mother, 
 who was the daughter of Rev. John Owen, from whom 
 young Miner took his name. After completing his 
 medical studies he practiced medicine for a time in 
 Stonington, and then in North Groton, or Ledyard, 
 but finally settled down at Centre Groton, where for 
 half a century he had a large practice, being the only 
 physician in the town after the death of Dr. Prentice. 
 His wife was a daughter of Col. Ebenezer Avery, who 
 perished in the fort in the great massacre. After he 
 
 retired from his profession he lived with his daughter, 
 Mrs. Adelia Eandall, at Mystic River, where he died 
 in 1851, aged ninety years. All of his eight children 
 — seven daughters and one son — were present at his 
 funeral. 
 
 Dr. Benjamin F. Stoddard. — Dr. Stoddard was 
 a native of Groton, and studied medicine under Dr. 
 John 0. Miner, whose daughter Julia he married. 
 He practiced medicine first in a neighboring town, 
 but afterwards settled at Mystic River, in Groton, en- 
 joying there an extensive practice. He was surgeon 
 in the Eighth Regiment during the war of 1812. He 
 died in February, 1848, aged fifty-six, much lamented. 
 
 De. Joseph Durfey. — Dr. Joseph Durfey resided 
 at Groton Bank, and was for many years, during the 
 recollection of the present generation, a popular 
 physician. He was also well known in public affairs, 
 and held a variety of ofiices of trust and honor, and 
 among them, he held the office of judge of probate 
 for two terms. He died March 27, 1864, aged sixty- 
 eight years. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 GROTON— (Continued). 
 STATISTICAL. 
 
 The names of selectmen have been given, in order, 
 to the close of the Revolution ; we now give a full list 
 of representatives in a condensed form, not repeating 
 names. It will be remembered that they were elected 
 twice a year, in April and October, until the adoption 
 of the constitution in 1818. We omit titles in these, 
 and give the years in which they served in abbreviated 
 form. 
 
 James Morgan, 1706, '07, '09, '13, '13, '14, '14, '16, '16, '24, '26, '30, '63; 
 Andrew Lester, 1706; JSTehemiah Smith, 1706, '07, '18, '21, '21, '22, '22, 
 '23, '23 ; Samuel Fish, 1706, '07, '08, '12 ; James Avery, 1707, '08, '08, 
 '10, '10, '11, '12, '15, '16, '17, '18, '24, '24, '25, '26, '27, '27, '28, 28, '29, 
 '30, '31, '31, '34, '35, '36; John Morgan, Sr., 1708, '10, '10, '11, '31; 
 William Latham, 1709 ; Samuel Aveiy, 1709, '16, '18, '19 ; John Mor- 
 gan, Jr., 1711, '21 ; Moses Fish, 1712, '31, '47, '62, '54, '66, '67, '68, '62, 
 '66, '66, '66, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70 (probably father and son of the same 
 name) ; Jonathan Starr, 1712, '13, '13, '14, '14, '26, '28 ; Samuel Les- 
 ter, 1714; William Morgan, 1716, '16; Nicholas Stent (or Treat), 
 
 1716, '17, '29 ; James Packer, 1717, '32, '32, '33, '33, '34 ; Joshua Bill, 
 
 1717, '20, '21, '22, '22, '23, '23, '24, '28, 29 ; John Seabury, 1718; Dan- 
 iel Tracy, 1719 ; Ebenezer Avery, 1720, '20, '26, '36, '41, '46, '60, '52, 
 '64, '63, '64, '68 ; John Burrows, 1720 ; Christopher Avery, 1724, '26, 
 '34, '36, '38, '38, '39, '40, '41, '42, 42, '43, '43, '44, '44, '46' '45, '46, '46, 
 '47, '48, '49, '50, '61, '62, '63, '54, '56, '66, '56, '57, 67, '58, '58, '69, '59, 
 '60, '61, '62, '63, '64 ; Daniel Eldredge, 1727, '29, '34 ; James Eldredge, 
 1730 ; Ben Adam Gallup, 1730, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '67, '68, '69, '70, 
 '70, '71, '76, '77 ; Humphrey Avery, 1732, '32, '33, '33, '34, '36, '38,' '40, 
 '41; Luke Perkins, 1735, '47, '60, '61, '56, '68, '60, '60, '61 ; Dudley 
 Woodbridge, 1735, '36, '39, '39, '40, '40, '67, '61, '62 ; John Chester, 
 1736 ; William Williams, 1741, '49, '60, '56, '63, '64, '65, '68, '69, '78; 
 John Ledyard, 1742, '43, '43, '44, '44, '46, '46, '46, '47, '48, '49; llobert 
 Allyn, 1748, '89, '90 ; Ebenezer Avery, Jr., 1748, '98, '98 ; Nathan 
 Smith, 1749, '63, '66 ; Silas Deane, 1762 ; Robert Gere (2), 1764, '60, 
 '70, '94, '94, '97; Jabez Smith, 1759, '59, '63, 1800 ; William Wood- 
 bridge, 1761, '63; Simon Avery, 1769, '92, '94, '94; Joseph Gallup, 
 1771 ; Nathan Gallup, 1771, '75, '76, '77, '79, '82, '84, '84, '87, '89, '91, 
 '93, '93 ; Nathan Fish, 1771, '72, '72; Ebenezer Ledyard, 1772, '79, 
 '80, '82, '83, '83, '84, ,86, '87, '88, '89, '96 ; Col. Wm. Ledyard, 1773, '76 
 
GROTON. 
 
 451 
 
 ■William Avery, 1773, '79 ; William Morgan, 1773, '7*; Thomas Mum- 
 ford, 1773, '74, '74, '75, '76, '77, '77, '78, '78, '79, '81, '81 ; Stephen 
 Billings, 1774, '78, '81, '87, '88, '88, '91, 1820 ; Park Avery, 1776 ; John 
 Hurlbnt, 1776 ; Thomas Ap Niles, 1780, '84, '85, '86, '86, '87, '88, '89 ; 
 Amos Gere, 1780, '80, '90; John Morgan, 1781, 1810; Blisha Wil- 
 liams, 1782, '83, '83 ; Dr. Amos Prentice, 1782; Isaac Gallup, 1785; 
 Isaac Gallup, Jr., 1785, '86, '86, 1801, '02 ; Nathan Niles, 1790; Thoa. 
 Avery, 1791, '91, '95, '96, 1816, '16, '19; Christopher Morgan, 1792; 
 Simeon Smith, 1793, '93, '99, '99 ; Ben Adam Gallup, Jr., 1795, '95, 
 1801, '02; Ebenezer Morgan, 1796, '98, '98 ; Starr Chester, 1797, '97, 
 1801, '02, '05, '06, '06, 08, '09 ; Isaac Avery, 1799, '99 ; Vine Stoddard, 
 1800, '01 ; John Daboll, 1802, '03, '06, '09 ; Joseph Chapman, 1802, 
 '03; Phineas Hyde, 1803, '04; Thomas Baxter Gray, 1803, '04, '08 ; 
 Bufus Smith, 1804, '05 ; Joseph Morgan, 1804, '06 ; Amos A. Niles, 
 1806, '06, '06, '09 ; John Spicer, 1806, '32, '33 ; Koswell Fish, 1807, 
 '08, '12; Paul F. Niles, 1807, '08, '09, 'U ; John Morgan, 1811, '12, 
 '12; Elijah Bailey, 1812; Noyes Barber, 1813, '13, '18, '18; Seth 
 Williams, 1813, '13 ; Stephen Haley, 1814 ; Elisha Ayer, 1814 ; Rod- 
 man Niles, 1816, '16; Judge William Williams, 181S, '17; Elisha 
 Haley, 1816, '24, '26. '27, '32. '33, '34; James Mitchell, 1816, '17, '23 ; 
 Erastus Williams, 1816, '17, '24 ; Philip Gray, 1818, '18 ; Nathan 
 Niles, 1820; Elisha J. Stoddard, 1821; Roswell Allyn, 1820, '26; 
 James Gallup, 1822 ; Nicholas L. Lester, 1822 ; Adam Larrabee, 1823 ; 
 Erastus T. Smith, 1825, '28; Bufus Chapman, 1825 ; John Brewster, 
 1827; Gardiner Bill, 1828; Albert Latham, 1829, '30, '35, '37, '43; 
 Joseph Tuttle, 1829 ; Guy 0. Stoddard, 1830, '31 ; Cyrus Allyn, 1834 ; 
 Jacob Gallup, 1836, '36 ; Sanford Stark, 1836, '43, '48 ; Elisha Morgan, 
 
 1837, '40, '46, '47, '62 ; Belton A. Copp, 1838, '39, '42, '44 ; Amos Clift, 
 
 1838, '39, '46; Noah Chapman, 1840, '41; Elihu Spicer, 1841, '42; 
 Caleb M. Williams, 1844, '46 ; David A. Daboll, 1846, '47, '71 : Urbane 
 Avery, 1848 ; James C. Lamb, 1849 ; Nathan G. Fish, 1849, '60, '67 1 
 Albert G. Stark, 18.50; Waterman Z. Buddington, 1851, '56, '60; 
 George Eldredge, 1861 ; Wanton A. Weaver, 1862 ; Elisha D. Wight- 
 man, 1852 ; Peter E. Eowland, 1883, '61, '62 ; Hubbard D. Morgan, 
 1863 ; Erasmus D. Avery, 1854, '74, '77, '79; Thomas M. Clark, 1854; 
 Noyes S. Palmer, 1855 ; Elijah B. Morgan, 1865 ; Isaac W. Denison, 
 1856 ; Benjamin N. Green, 1867; Robert Palmer, 1858, '69 ; Isaac C. 
 Ammidon, 1858 ; John W. Miner, 1869 ; William Batty, 1859 ; George 
 W. Ashbey, 1860; Philo Little, 1861 ; John B. Williams, 1863; Jared 
 R. Avery, 1863, '66 ; Benjamin Burrows, 1864 ; Asa Perkins (2), 1864 
 Jeremiah N. Sawyer, 1866; Albert L. Avery, 1866; William E, 
 Maxson, 1866; Asa A. Avery, 1867; Gurdon S. Allyn, 1868, '74 
 Simon Huntington, 1868; William H. Potter, 1869; Lemuel Clift, 
 1870, '72; Daniel Latham, 1870; Cyrus Avery, 1872; William E. 
 Wheeler, 1873, '75 ; James M. Turner, 1875 ; George B. Crary, 1876 
 George M.Long, 1876; Thomas W. Noyes, 1877, '78; Silas Spicer, 
 1878 ; Gurdon Gates, 1879, '81 ; John S. Schoonover, 1880 ; Robert A 
 Gray, 1880, '81. 
 
 Judges or Peobate, 
 residents of Groton when Groton and Stonington constituted one pro- 
 bate district, under the name of Stonington. 
 
 1814-19, Ralph Hurlbut; 1819-31, William Williams; 1836-38, Stephen 
 Haley. 
 
 Cleeks or THE Same. 
 1818-19, Erastus T. Smith ; 1831-38, Nathan Daboll. 
 
 Judges of the Couet of Peobate 
 for the district of Groton (constituted A.n. 1839). 
 
 1839, Stephen Haley; 1840, James Gallup; 1842, Nathan Daboll; 1846, 
 Joseph Dnrfey; 1846, Amos Clift; 1847, Joseph Durfey; 1848, Zebe- 
 diah Gates; 1852, Albert G. Stark; 1864, Nathan G. Fish; 1865, 
 Amos Clift; 1869, Sanford Stark; 1860, Amos Clift; 1863, Hiram Ap- 
 pleman; 1864, Amos Clift; 1874, Lemuel Clift; 1876, William H. 
 Potter, now in ofQce. 
 
 Clebks of Peobate Court. 
 1839, Nathan Daboll ; 1841, Nathan G. Fish ; 1842, David A. Daboll ; 1846, 
 John Hudson ; 1846, Albert G. Stark ; 1864, Nathan S. Fish ; 1869, 
 Amos Clift. 
 Since 1869 the court has mostly acted as its own clerk. 
 
 Town Cleeks. 
 1706, John Davie; 1707, Nehemiah Smith ; 1718, Samuel Avery; 1730, 
 Christopher Avery and Christopher Avery, Jr.; 1768, William Av- 
 ery ; 1787, Charles Eldredge ; 1797, Amos Gere ; 1803, Amos Niles ; 
 1804, Amos Gere ; 1805, Amos A. Niles ; 1821, Nathan Daboll ; 1837, 
 
 Elisha Morgan ; 1846, Sanford Morgan ; 1860, James D. Avery ; 1851, 
 Sanford Morgan ; 1S63, James D. Avery ; 1854, Sanford A. Morgan ; 
 1859, Daniel Morgan ; 1860, Colby M. Morgan ; 1862, Elisha Morgan; 
 1870, David A. Daboll ; 1871, Elisha Morgan ; 1874, James D. Avery, 
 now in office. 
 
 For sketches of ministers, see "Churches."^ 
 
 CHAPTEE XLV. 
 
 GROTON— (Continued). 
 NAVT-TARD. 
 
 The Thames is about sixteen miles in length, with 
 depth of water for the anchorage of the largest ves- 
 sels ten miles above its mouth. It furnishes the best 
 harbor on the Atlantic coast, and perhaps in the 
 world, landlocked and with good holding ground. 
 Upon this river is situated the navy-yard lately estab- 
 lished by the government, a brief account of which 
 is here given. 
 
 On the east bank of the Thames, three miles above 
 New London, the United States has established a 
 navy-yard. 
 
 Early in the year 1862 the government became so 
 deeply impressed with the need of greater facilities 
 for the construction, repair, and dockage of its war- 
 vessels that Congress authorized the Secretary of the 
 Navy "to appoint a board of competent officers to 
 examine the harbor of New London, Narragansett 
 Bay, and League Island, and to report by the selec- 
 tion of which the public interests would be^t be pro- 
 moted." This board spent some eight weeks in 
 making the requisite examination of the different 
 places, and reported " that the harbor of New Lon- 
 don possesses greater advantages for a navy-yard and 
 naval depot than any other location examined by 
 this board." The board said in their report, — 
 
 The harbor of New London "has a fine, clear 
 entrance from the ocean, accessible at all times and 
 all seasons ; from it vessels of any class can proceed 
 to sea with almost any wind, and be clear of the land 
 in a few hours." 
 
 " That no harbor in the United States is more sus- 
 ceptible of defense against the entrance of a fleet than 
 New London." 
 
 "The harbor of New London is well protected 
 from violent winds and sea, and is not obstructed by 
 ice. Vessels of any size may anchor there with per- 
 fect safety at all times." 
 
 " The currents at New London are not rapid, the 
 water is clear, and there is nothing to be appre- 
 hended from deposits at this place after the lines of 
 wharves have been established and the wharves con- 
 structed." 
 
 " At New London an abundant supply of the softest 
 and purest water can be obtained." 
 
 1 End of W. H. Potter's history of Groton. 
 
452 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 This report of the board of officers was referred to 
 the Naval Committee of the House, and in the spring 
 of 1864, after viewing the site and hearing the testi- 
 mony of experts, that committee reported also in 
 favor of the harbor of New London as eminently 
 adapted to naval uses, and recommended the estab- 
 lishment of a navy-yard thereat. There was no im- 
 mediate action on this report. In the year 1867 the 
 following resolution, prepared by John E. Bolles, 
 who had written many pamphlets and documents set- 
 ting forth the advantages of the site, was passed by 
 Congress : 
 
 " Eesolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, au- 
 thorized to receive and accept a deed of gift, when offered by the State 
 of Connecticut, of a tract of land lying on the Thames Eiver, with not 
 less than one mile of water-front, to be held by the United States for 
 naval purposee." 
 
 In accordance with this resolution, the land was in 
 1868 donated by the State and duly accepted by the 
 government. In 1877 a pile-wharf was built. In 
 1874 the first store-house was erected. In 1875 the 
 Navy Department ordered three of its civil engineers 
 to proceed to the New London station and make the 
 necessary examination, and lay out the premises with 
 the view of developing and improving the grounds 
 for building and repairing ships-of-war. This board, 
 consisting of Civil Engineers Chandler, Stratton, and 
 Endicott, matured a plan defining the lines of quay- 
 wall, establishing the grades of the yard, locating 
 docks and dock-basins, hauling-up ways for iron- 
 clads, and shops for all classes of mechanics required. 
 These shojis and store-houses are so grouped that each 
 department is by itself and independent of every 
 other. The plan was adopted by the department, 
 and appropriations have been made by Congress for 
 permanent improvements. Several acres have been 
 graded and substantial buildings commenced. 
 
 Secretary Thompson conceived the idea that Ameri- 
 can boys could be induced to enter the service and 
 ship as apprentices, to be under instruction until ar- 
 riving at the age of twenty-one, and then at their 
 option to remain connected with the navy or enter the 
 merchant service. Several ships-of-war were detailed 
 to test the practicability of this experiment. These 
 ships, composing the " training-fleet," were to go into 
 winter-quarters during the inclement season, and 
 cruise for instruction in seamanship in the summer 
 months. 
 
 As the headquarters of this fleet, the New London 
 navy-yard offers unequaled facilities. The natural 
 advantages are unsurpassed, and the anchorage, wharf- 
 age, abundance of pure water, and protection from 
 the severity of storms has given this the preference over 
 all other points in the opinion of experienced and 
 intelligent men. Temporarily the training-fleet has 
 been anchored in Narragansett Bay, at Coaster's Is- 
 land Harbor. Preparations, however, have been made 
 at the New London station for the reception of these 
 ships, and a large drill-room has recently been con- 
 
 structed for the use of the school. This drill-room is 
 one hundred and eighty-two by forty«feet, and de- 
 signed expressly as a hall of instruction in the use of 
 small-arms and manual exercise. This is said to be 
 the most elegant drill-room east of New York City. 
 
 Estimates have been submitted for the construction 
 of one thousand lineal feet of quay-wall, the granite 
 material to be taken from quarries already opened 
 within the limits of the yard and easy of access. 
 For building purposes this granite is of excellent 
 quality, and there is an abundance of superior sand 
 for mortar and gravel for concrete, all valuable ma- 
 terial in the construction of navy-yard improvements. 
 There are quarters constructed for the civil engi- 
 neer, boatswain, and carpenter, and occupied by them. 
 The commandants have been Commodores Hunt, 
 Worden, Fairfax, Simpson, and Hopkins. 
 
 The officers now in charge are Commodore William 
 E. Hopkins as commandant, and B. F. Chandler, 
 resident civil engineer. 
 
 Benjamin Franklin Chandlek was born in 
 Augusta, Me., Sept. 19, 1816 ; is the seventh de- 
 scendant of William Chandler, who came from Eng- 
 land to Massachusetts as early as 1637. His son, 
 Capt. Joseph Chandler, drowned Oct. 16, 1785, was a 
 soldier in the French war, and had two sons, Joseph 
 (2) and John. They became men of importance, and 
 each held rank as general of militia. John was a 
 Eevolutionary soldier. Joseph (2), his father, born in 
 New Andover, N. H., was appointed captain in the 
 United States army in 1808, in command of forts in 
 Portland Harbor. In 1809 he resigned his commis- 
 sion. In 1811 he was appointed clerk of the courts 
 in Kennebec, and held that position one year. He 
 became cashier of the " Kennebec Bank" at its or- 
 ganization ; was the first president of the " Granite 
 Bank ;'' in February, 1828, was chosen major-general 
 of Second Division of Maine militia; was appointed 
 postmaster of the city of Augusta in November, 1880, 
 by President Jackson. He died suddenly, Sept. 12, 
 1846, aged sixty-six. Nov. 5, 1806, he married Me- 
 hitable, daughter of Maj. Mark Andrews, of Augusta. 
 They had five children, B. F.being youngest. Maj. 
 Andrews was an officer in the Eevolution ; was also a 
 successful merchant. He died at an advanced age in 
 Perry, Wyoming Co., N. Y. 
 
 Benjamin F. received an academic and collegiate 
 education at Waterville and Cambridge. His health 
 failing while at college, by medical advice he ex- 
 changed his college course for the study of civil en- 
 gineering, with which he became so pleased as to 
 adopt it for a profession. 
 
 Mr. Chandler was a natural printer, his love for the 
 " art preservative'' amounting to a passion. When 
 but a small lad his father with his knife cut out of 
 wood the letter "A" to amuse him, and from that 
 small commencement he not only made the acquaint- 
 ance of types (spending almost his first "ninepence" 
 for an alphabet), but was not content until he had in- 
 
t^ 
 
 £n^%'AHRi^'^^'^ 
 
 ,c-i:C^!^^ 
 
 7,. ^^. 
 
GROTON. 
 
 453 
 
 vented a press and was a printer. We extract from 
 the Boston Printers' Exchange of April 23, 1878, this 
 paragraph : " There has lately come into our possession 
 a small newspaper, the Star, size 5 by 7, published 
 in Augusta, Me., 1832, by B. F. Chandler, then a 
 boy of sixteen. This was probably the first amateur 
 paper ever published in this country. It was started 
 with a capital of twelve cents. The boy continued 
 his business for two years, then sold out his office for 
 two hundred dollars, bought books, and entered col- 
 lege, receiving a scientific education, and is now and 
 has been for many years a civil engineer in the United 
 States service, stationed at the Portsmouth navy-yard, 
 where many and great improvements have been made 
 under his superintendence. The ruling passion is, 
 however, still strong. We have lately sold him a 
 Gordon press and a good variety of job type, with 
 which he amuses himself during his leisure moments. 
 He prints for his friends without compensation. He 
 is a printer from an inherent love of the art, like the 
 late ex-Mayor N. B. Shurtleff, of Boston. We have 
 seen specimens of his work, which are equal to that of 
 some of our best printers." Since this was published 
 Mr. Chandler has purchased two entire printing- 
 offices, has had three presses at one time, and nearly 
 two hundred fonts of type. His office is well fur- 
 nished with the signs and characters of all the arts 
 and sciences, astronomical, chemical, mathematical, 
 commercial, etc. It is strictly an amateur office. 
 "Leisure hours, when not engaged in professional 
 duties, are spent in ' s.ticking type' or ' kicking the 
 Gordon,' for the fun of it." 
 
 After studying two years in Boston, Mr. Chandler 
 received an appointment as engineer on the " Bruns- 
 wick and Florida Railroad." He went to Florida for 
 one winter, sleeping on the ground and generally 
 "roughing it,'' and entirely recovered his health. 
 From Florida he went to Augusta, married, Oct. 25, 
 1839, Silvina Parris, daughter of Luther Briggs, of 
 Pembroke, Mass., and continued civil engineering. 
 He became noted for his skill, and was employed by 
 the town, by the State, and by the United States. 
 When Augusta received its city charter Mr. Chandler 
 was made civil engineer of the city, and was often 
 appointed by the courts to survey the boundaries of 
 disputed lands, and also " referee" in many of these 
 claims. This led him to the study of law, but from 
 distaste for the profession he abandoned it shortly 
 after his admission to the bar. 
 
 About 1841, the British government needing a first- 
 class engineer, engaged Mr. Chandler, through Sir 
 John Caldwell, to go to the Grand Falls of the St. 
 John Eiver, New Brunswick, and make surveys and 
 plans for the improvement of the rapids. This en- 
 gaged him for a year, but Sir John suddenly died 
 while on a visit from England. With his death the 
 scheme of improvement ended, and Mr. Chandler 
 returned to Augusta, entered the employ of the " Ken- 
 nebec Locks and Canal Company," and was there and 
 
 elsewhere in active labor for years in his profession. 
 In July, 1852, he was appointed civil engineer in 
 United States naval service, and ordered on duty at 
 Portsmouth navy-yard. This yard was then a very 
 small and poor affair, and Mr. Chandler at once be- 
 gan to build and make permanent improvements. 
 For twenty-seven years he was in charge at Ports- 
 mouth, and he has made it one of the best and most 
 complete navy-yards in the United States. He made 
 all the designs, and the work was done under his 
 supervision. By his advice and through him the 
 national government has expended thousands on 
 thousands of dollars, and has never suffered the loss 
 of one by negligence, carelessness, or trickery of his. 
 In 1875, Mr. Chandler was president of a commission 
 detailed to lay out territory for the development of a 
 first class navy-yard at New London Station, Groton, 
 Conn. Under his direction and superintendence the 
 surveys were made, plans drafted, etc., and in July, 
 1879, he was transferred from Portsmouth to build up 
 the new yard. From the time of his transfer the 
 work of improvement has been going on, and at 
 the present time (September, 1881) he has constructed 
 a large brick building, a drill-room for naval recruits 
 in the training-school. Mr. Chandler has served the 
 longest period of any of the engineers in the naval 
 service on navy-yard duty, and ranks as " comman- 
 der" on the stafil During his service he has been 
 temporarily on duty at Boston, New York, Philadel- 
 phia, Norfolk, and Pensacola, and has been frequently 
 called to Washington by the Navy Department for 
 consultation. 
 
 Of his eight children seven attained maturity, 
 viz.: Silvia P. (deceased), Helen A. (deceased), 
 Benjamin P. (deceased), Josiah A. (deceased), Joseph, 
 Sarah Jane (deceased), and Frank. All were well 
 educated. Joseph and Frank reside in Waverly, Mass. 
 Mr. Chandler is a splendid specimen of the " genus 
 homo," striking in personal appearance, resembling 
 the poet Longfellow, for whom he is often taken. He 
 is leal and loyal to his friendships, and a gentleman 
 of broad, liberal views and intellectual culture, con- 
 sequently an extremely agreeable social companion. 
 His character through life has been marked by hon- 
 esty, integrity, and honor, and he to-day, among the 
 many officers of the navy, holds no second place in the 
 regards of his large circle of friends, while his pre- 
 eminent ability in his profession is conceded by all.^ 
 
 CHAPTER XLVL 
 
 8R0T0N— (Continued). 
 
 The Averys and the Old Avery Mansion.'— The 
 
 old Avery mansion is believed to be the oldest dwell- 
 ing-house in the town of Groton standing on its origi- 
 
 1 Oct. 15, 1881, Mr. Chandler was transferred to the retired and re- 
 served list, with relative rank of commander. 
 
 2 Contributed by J. George Harris. 
 
454 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 nal foundations. It dates back two and a quarter cen- 
 turies. James Avery, born in England in 1620, wlio 
 came to Massacliusetts Bay with bis father, Christo- 
 plier, in 1630, was raised on the farm near the fishing- 
 station on Cape Ann, where Gloucester now stands, 
 married Junna Greenslade at Boston in 1642, and with 
 her and three children came to the Pequot settlement 
 at the mouth of the Thames in 1650, with what was 
 called the Cape Ann colony. He lived on the land 
 allotted to him on the west side of the river until 
 1656, purchasing such other lands there as he con- 
 sidered desirable ; but when he discovered the supe- 
 rior qualities of the broad plains of Pequonoc, a mile 
 or two east of the river, he determined to cross over 
 
 that had been occupied there as a church edifice and 
 watch-tower, which was exposed to sale to make room 
 for a new meeting-house, took it in pieces, trans- 
 ported it over the river and through the woods to his 
 place, and added it with improvements to his dwell- 
 ing, where it still stands as a western part of the old 
 mansion. The first story of the addition was con- 
 tinued as a single great room, and during the balance 
 of his life Sabbath services were generally held there. 
 It is matter of history that dwelling-houses of the 
 better classes of people in those days were of two 
 stories, the upper jutting over the lower about a foot 
 on the front side, with roof high and steep, frames of 
 white oak, timbers much larger than those now in 
 
 THE OLD AVERY MANSION, ERECTED IN 1656. 
 
 and settle there. When he removed he sold his pos- 
 sessions on the western side and invested all his 
 means in the acquisition of lands around his new 
 residence, which was the middle portion, or first in- 
 stallment of this ancient Avery mansion, giving his 
 place the name of Birch Plains. There he resided 
 for nearly forty years, or until his death in 1694, 
 during which time he held most of the principal 
 offices of the new town of New London, of which it 
 was then a part; a magistrate on the bench, and was 
 a representative in the State Legislature for fourteen 
 consecutive years. 
 
 Ten years before his death, when he found it difli- 
 cult to travel two or three miles and cross the river 
 to church every Sabbath, he purchased the building 
 
 use, and smoothly-finished beams all in sight. Be- 
 tween the inner and outer sheathing of the sides 
 burnt or sun-dried clay was built in between " the 
 clay boards," since called clapboards. And the old 
 Avery house is perhaps the best specimen of that 
 class of ancient architecture extant. 
 
 There, after the lapse of two and a quarter centu- 
 ries, stands the old double and triple mansion, which, 
 with its surroundings, has descended through eight 
 or nine generations from eldest son to eldest son; 
 in the early times known as "the two-chimney 
 house," from the many years that it was the only house 
 in town that had more than one chimney, and so di- 
 versified by the additions of later generations in its 
 style of architecture that, in nautical parlance, it 
 
GROTON. 
 
 455 
 
 appears as though it might have been built in a gale 
 of wind. 
 
 If its history could be written, with due regard to 
 the current manners and customs from one generation 
 to another, its pages of eccentricities, from the stand- 
 point of our own times, would be singularly interest- 
 ing. It is to be supposed that the funeral ceremonies 
 at the burial of James Avery were not unsuited to a 
 man of his quality, — not unfashionable, for fashion 
 ruled then as it rules to-day, and while the poor were 
 quietly and silently buried, the rich were carried to 
 the grave on the shoulders of the people with great 
 display. When the Rev. Thomas Cobbett was buried 
 at Ipswich, Mass., in 1685, it was "Voted, that some 
 person be appointed to look to the burning of the 
 wine and heating of the cider for the occasion ;" and 
 it is recorded that the expenses of his funeral was 
 only one shilling short of twenty pounds. Indeed, 
 the indisputable records show that there were used 
 thirty-two gallons of wine, barrels of cider, more than 
 a hundred pounds of sugar, and four dozen gloves, 
 and this was but the funeral of a poor clergyman. 
 Felt says the funeral charges of a highly-respectable 
 man at Salem as late as 1739 were ten times as much. 
 When Wigglesworth, an eminent divine, was buried 
 by his parish, in 1753, six gold rings were furnished 
 for the pall-bearers and eighteen pairs of white kid 
 gloves for attending ministers. It even became ne- 
 cessary for the General Court to interfere and pass an 
 act to prevent extravagant funerals, prohibiting such 
 splendid spectacles on Sunday by declaring that they 
 should not take place " on the Lord's day,'' until no 
 one could be buried on that day without license first 
 being granted by a justice of the peace. 
 
 If the old white-oak timbers, almost petriiied by 
 time, and as enduring of fibre as when they stood 
 under their green foliage on Groton hills, could only 
 tell us of all the interesting vicissitudes of their event- 
 ful years, their tales would equal those of the Arabian 
 I^ights. We might fancy the astonishment of the old 
 timbers in 1718 to see the first tea ever brought to this 
 country, which the women at first knew not how to 
 steep, and by mistake served up as greens with a piece 
 of boiled pork ; and after learning how to make it, 
 how long it was before the people could learn to like 
 it as a beverage. If they could talk they might tell 
 of their surprise at their first sight of wheat-fiour in 
 1720 as an article of food, so high in price that only 
 a very few rich families could afibrd it, the masses for 
 years afterwards continuing, as formerly, to use exclu- 
 sively bread made of rye and Indian corn ; how they 
 drank water and roasted rye until, in 1770, they reluc- 
 tantly learned the use of coffee ; how families sat 
 around the fire and read and worked in the evening 
 by the light of the pine-knots, burning clear and bright 
 from their mixture of pitch and turpentine, until tal- 
 low candles were invented as well as a lamp to burn 
 fish-oil; how much they were surprised to see a 
 horse in a wagon driven up the lawn in 1730, and in 
 
 a sleigh in 1740, the first wagon or sleigh ever seen in 
 town, for at that time all horses paced, and none were 
 taught to trot until forty years afterwards, riding hav- 
 ing always been on horseback, with the gentleman 
 astride on the saddle, and his lady companion behind 
 him, sitting sideways on the pillion, supported by her 
 arm around his waist. They would tell us also of the 
 wonderful curiosity with which the household exam- 
 ined and tasted two or three boiled potatoes on the 
 breakfast-table in 1733, the first vegetable of the kind 
 raised in this country in beds of the garden, as we 
 raise beets and carrots; and also of the care with 
 which, early in the nineteenth century, the ladies 
 of the household cultivated in their flower-beds the 
 round, red, love-apples that they never dreamed of 
 serving up for the table as a dish of tomatoes. The 
 brown weather-boards outside and the smoothly-pol- 
 ished woodwork inside would tell us of their infinite 
 disgust when, in 1734, for the first time in this country, 
 paint was used to cover their bronzed surfaces, and 
 that to themselves none was applied until near a cen- 
 tury later ; when, in 1783, wall-paper first made its ap- 
 pearance, and at a much later period when the white 
 and silver-sanded floors were swept and covered with 
 woolen carpets. And then how many changes have 
 they witnessed in the habits and amenities of social 
 life ! Only captains, merchants, schoolmasters, mag- 
 istrates, and doctors, with their wives and daughters, 
 were entitled to the address of " Mr." and " Mrs." (for 
 common man and wife were called " goodman" and 
 "goodwife," and their children "goody"), insomuch 
 that the General Court of Massachusetts passed a 
 special act that one of its citizens, who had been con- 
 victed of stealing corn from an Indian, should no 
 longer be called " Mr." It was not until after 1730 
 that any person in this country had a middle name, 
 so desirous were the Puritans to avoid the pattern of 
 royalty ; and this desire is apparent up to a much 
 later day, — not one who appears on the battle-roll of 
 the Groton monument tablet has a middle name. 
 The old frame would also tell us of the embarrass- 
 ment in date and records produced in 1752 by an 
 act of the British Parliament changing the beginning 
 of the new year from the 25th of March to the 1st 
 of January, and setting forward the calendar eleven 
 days, so as to make the 1st the 11th of the month, 
 producing the change from old to new style. It 
 would tell us how the good Puritans reluctantly 
 abandoned their plan of simply numbering the 
 months from one to twelve, and adopted the Julian 
 names, which they considered popish and as perpetu- 
 ating the names of heathen idols. And if it were to 
 tell us these things it would but speak as with the voice 
 of true history. 
 
 The ancestral line who have inhabited the ancient 
 edifice, from father to son, if we add Christopher, who 
 came from Massachusetts to reside with his son James 
 about ten years after he settled at Pequonoc, is as fol- 
 lows: 
 
456 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Christopher Avery, L.in England, d. 1681 ; James Avery (l),b.in Eng- 
 land, 1620, d. 1694; James Avery (2), b. Dec. 16, 1646, d. Aug. 22, 1728; 
 Bbenezer Avery, b. May 1, 1678, d. July 19, 1752 ; Elder Parke Avery, b. 
 Dec. 9, 1710, d. March 14, 1797 ; Lieut. Parke Avery, b. March 22, 1741, 
 d. Dec. 20, 1821 ; Youngs Avery, b. April 2, 1767, d. May 30,1837 ; Parke 
 William Avery, and his sod, James D. Avery, its present occupant. 
 
 To the large quantity of arms and ammunition that 
 the first James had accumulated in the course of his 
 service against the Indians — for the State furnished 
 neither one nor the other to any considerable extent — 
 the second James, who from his will was evidently a 
 gun-fancier, made large additions, and bequeathed to 
 each of his seven sons " one-seventh of all my arms, 
 guns, and swords,'' in addition to an equal share of 
 his property, and to each of his five daughters he gave 
 as a last bequest " a silver spoon," that, after the folk- 
 lore of the time, it might be said each of them " was 
 born with a silver spoon in her mouth." Ebenezer 
 became a man of large possessions, his land extend- 
 ing, according to tradition, from Dunbar's Mill (still 
 standing, north of the Stonington turnpike) to East- 
 ern Point, and from river to river. Capt. Parke, 
 sometimes called Elder Parke, turned the great room 
 of the old house into a church after the Revolution 
 on Sundays, and himself preached, without fee or 
 reward, in resistance to the tithe system of the 
 standing order, carefully seeing that his negro ser- 
 vants hitched and fed the horses of his congregation 
 during service. Lieut. Parke was severely wounded 
 in the battle of Fort Griswold. Indeed, the nine 
 Averys who were killed in that battle, and nearly as 
 many more who were wounded, were all of this family, 
 and most of the wounded were taken to the old house 
 and cared for after the battle. His son Youngs mar- 
 ried Eunice, the daughter of Capt. William Latham, 
 who commanded at Fort Griswold on the morning 
 of the battle until Ledyard took command, and their 
 son, Parke William, named after both grandfathers, 
 who were veterans of Fort Griswold, succeeded to the 
 inheritance, which has passed to the next generation, 
 and is now owned and occupied by James Denison 
 Avery, the town clerk. 
 
 CHAPTEE XLVII. 
 
 GROTON.— (Continued). 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 * 
 
 Jeremiah. George Harris was born at Pequonnoc, 
 in the town of Groton, Conn., Oct. 23, 1809. He is de- 
 scended from two old English families, who came to 
 New England about the time that Governor Winthrop 
 located his colony on the shores of Massachusetts Bay. 
 Over the chancel of the church edifice at Pequonnoc 
 is a memorial window, on which are the following 
 inscriptions : " Christopher Avery, born in England, 
 d. 1681 ; James Avery, b. 1620, in England, d. 1694 ; 
 James Avery, 2d, b. Dec. 16, 1646, d. Aug. 22, 1728 ; 
 
 Ebenezer Avery, b. May 1, 1678, d. July 19, 1752; 
 Elder Parke Avery, b. Dec. 9, 1710, d. March 14, 
 1797 ; Lieut. Parke Avery, b. March 22, 1741, d. Dec. 
 20, 1821 ; Youngs Avery, b. April 2, 1767, d. May 30, 
 1837." Mary, eldest daughter of Youngs Avery, 
 born Jan. 19, 1790, was on the 25th of November, 
 1807, married to Eichard Harris, of Norwich, with 
 whom she had two children, Jeremiah and Erastus, 
 and died at Groton, Feb. 2, 1881. 
 
 On the ancestral cenotaph in Groton Cemetery are 
 the following inscriptions : 
 
 " Walter Harris, b. in England, 1600, d. at New London, 1654. 
 Gabriel Harris, son of Walter, b. 1630— d. 1684. 
 John Harris, son of Gabriel, b. 1663— d. 1740. 
 Richard Harris, son of John, b. 1700 — d. 1751. 
 Jeremiah Harris, son of Richard, b. 174.5 — d. 1797. 
 Richard Harris, son of Jeremiah, b. 1786 — d. 1816. 
 Jeremiah George, son of Richard, b. 1809. — 
 Joseph Ewing, son of Jeremiah George, b. 184*i — d. 1865. 
 
 Benaecentur. 
 EICHARD HARRIS. 
 
 husband of 
 
 Maky Avery Harris, 
 
 Died and was buried at sea Sept. 1816, aged 30 years. 
 
 their son 
 
 Eeastus Richard, 
 
 Died and waa buried at Pequonoc, 
 
 May, 1838, aged 26 years." 
 
 When Christopher Avery and son James came to 
 Salem, in 1630, they proceeded at once to the farms 
 adjacent to the European fishing-station on Cape 
 Ann, and settled there as farmers, taking a leading 
 part in local affairs that resulted in establishing the 
 town of Gloucester. Later in life they moved to the 
 then far West, and were among the first who settled 
 at the mouth of the Thames and in the valley of the 
 Pequonoc. It was in 1632 that Walter Harris set- 
 tled with his young family at Weymouth, on the 
 western shore of the bay. As Christopher Avery was 
 influenced by the youthful aspirations of his son 
 James to follow the western way of the star of empire, 
 so was Walter Harris influenced by his eldest son 
 Gabriel. Even at that early period of our history 
 there seems to have been a prevailing desire of the 
 young men to move westward, and we find both these 
 families at the mouth of the Thames as early as 1650, 
 taking a leading part in the formation of the first 
 settlement of Europeans in New London County. 
 
 Mr. Harris became a journalist as soon as he was 
 of age, beginning his career as associate editor of the 
 Political Observer at New London in 1830, afterwards 
 editor of the New Bedford Daily Gazette, and then 
 acquiring celebrity at Boston as a political writer, he 
 was invited in 1838 by distinguished men of Wash- 
 ington City to go to Tennessee, where he established 
 the Nashville Union, which reflected the influential 
 political opinions of Gen. Andrew Jackson, and rep- 
 resented the rising fortunes of James K. Polk from 
 congressman to Governor and President. 
 
 It is well said by a leading journal that in this con- 
 
will 
 
GROTON. 
 
 457 
 
 nection It is not uninteresting to the people of New 
 London County to recall the fact that nearly half a 
 century ago, when the two great political parties of 
 the country were almost as equally divided as they 
 are now, with Henry Clay, of Kentucky, in the lead 
 of the Whigs, and Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee, 
 in the lead of the Democrats, two young men, natives 
 of this county, were invited from the North to con- 
 duct the two leading journals of the West, and shadow 
 forth to the country the ruling opinions and policy 
 of those two distinguished leaders of men, as eman- 
 ating from them in their retiracy at Ashland and the 
 Hermitage. 
 
 George D. Prentice, of Jewett City, had been called 
 to Louisville, Ky., to conduct the Journal as the voice 
 of Mr. Clay, and J. George Harris, of Groton, was 
 invited to Nashville, Tenn., as editor of the Union. 
 It was a time when Jackson and Clay were regarded, 
 in the language of the day, as " the embodiment of 
 the principles of their parties" respectively, and the 
 Journal and Union became perfectly oracular in poli- 
 tics. From their exposed position at the front, when 
 Kentucky and Tennessee were frontier States, where 
 the people were to a great extent a law unto them- 
 selves, these New London boys had repeatedly to 
 stand fire with the wild elements of Western politics. 
 Of course they were wide as the poles asunder, as the 
 representatives of their respective parties in the 
 political arena, but their own personal relations, es- 
 tablished here at an early day, were never disturbed, 
 although, for the amusement of the public, they did a 
 good deal of sharpshooting at each other between 
 Louisville and Nashville with their quills, which had 
 a tendency rather to strengthen than weaken friend- 
 ship. The early prestige of the Journal as the voice 
 of Mr. Clay, and of the Union as that of Gen. Jack- 
 son, established their influence on a foundation so 
 firm that it is still maintained by them in the South- 
 west, and in all public affairs they now have wider 
 influence beyond the mountains than any other politi- 
 cal newspapers. 
 
 In 1842, Mr. Harris married Lucie McGavock, 
 daughter of James McGavock, of Nashville, Tenn., 
 with whom he had two children, Joseph Ewing and 
 Lucie. The former had a brilliant but short career, 
 and was a young man of fine talents and great prom- 
 ise. He died in London, England, Aug. 28, 1865, 
 aged twenty-two, and his remains were brought to the 
 family vault in Groton Cemetery. The latter married 
 Dr. Van S. Lindsley, of Nashville, Tenn., April 16, 
 1868, and their children are Georgie, Harris, Lucien, 
 and Joseph. 
 
 Mr. Harris was commissioned in 1843 by Daniel 
 Webster, then Secretary of State, as a commercial 
 agent for Europe, and went abroad in that capacity. 
 If we may judge from his voluminous reports to the 
 State Department, of which so large a number of 
 extra copies were printed by the United States Sen- 
 ate, his services were highly appreciated. 
 
 After Mr. Polk's election to the Presidency he in- 
 vited Mr. Harris to conduct the official paper at 
 Washington, which he declined, as he had before 
 declined the editorship of the Madisonion, the official 
 paper of Mr. Tyler's administration. Preferring a 
 life-service in the navy to temporary civil service, 
 Mr. Harris accepted in 1845 a commission as disburs- 
 ing officer of the navy, which commission, with pro- 
 motions to the highest rank of his grade, he still holds 
 on the list of officers retired for long and faithful 
 services. 
 
 The official and personal relations of Mr. Harris in 
 the naval service have ever been exceedingly happy. 
 In Hamersly's "Records of Living Naval Officers" 
 it is stated that Pay Director J. George Harris was 
 attached to the Gulf Squadron in 1846-47, and during 
 the Mexican war he was a member of Commodore 
 M. C. Perry's staff on all his shore expeditions ; that 
 he was at the capture of Tuxpan, Tabasco, and Vera 
 Cruz, receiving from the commodore special letters 
 of thanks for services rendered afloat and ashore ; 
 that from 1850 to 1854, inclusive, he was attached to 
 the Asiatic fleet, and again with Commodore Perry 
 when the empire of Japan was opened to the com- 
 merce of the world. 
 
 In his introductory report of the Japan expedition 
 Commodore Perry makes special mention of the aid 
 he had received from Mr. Harris in preparing his 
 volumes for the use of Congress. 
 
 After the treaty with the Japanese was concluded, 
 in April, 1854, in the tents that had been erected for 
 the purpose on the beach of Yeddo Bay, the ship 
 to which Mr. Harris was attached brought it to the 
 United States, having made a cruise of nearly five 
 years. 
 
 Mr. Harris spent two years on the coast of Africa, 
 in the fleet appointed to suppress the slave-trade, and 
 his journals, made while on the shores of Liberia and 
 Guinea, were copiously used by Mr. Gurley, the gov- 
 ernment agent at Liberia, in his reports to Congress. 
 For two years he was attached to the Jlediterranean 
 Squadron. On that cruise he sent home to public in- 
 stitutions some rare and curious antiquities, which 
 are considered the very best specimens of their kind. 
 During the civil war he held some of the most re- 
 sponsible positions of trust in the navy, both ashore 
 and afloat, disbursing several millions of public money 
 without the slightest deficit or loss to the govern- 
 ment. 
 
 In his eventful career Mr. Harris' devotion to his 
 native county has never abated. The great-grandson 
 of William Latham, who commanded at Fort Gris- 
 wold up to the time that Col. Ledyard took command, 
 on the morning of the battle, and also of Parke Avery, 
 his lieutenant, as well as kinsman of many others who 
 fought and fell in the conflict, he took an early and 
 active interest in the plans for the repair and enlarge- 
 ment of Groton Monument, and in making prepara- 
 ■tion for the centennial celebration. 
 
458 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 At the organization of the Groton Heights Centen- 
 nial. Committee, in 1879, he was elected president of 
 the Centennial Commission, and his administration of 
 its affairs, that resulted in such perfect success on the 
 6th and 7th of September, 1881, was characterized by- 
 good judgment and executive ability. His thorough 
 knowledge of the early annals of the county, and of 
 Revolutionary events of a hundred years ago, that he 
 learned in his boyhood from the lips of his aged an- 
 cestors, who had participated in them, found expres- 
 sion, during preparation for the centennial, in the fol- 
 lowing rythmical narrative of the truths of history, 
 replete with beautiful pen-pictures of actual occur- 
 rences and local scenery, followed by graphic illus- 
 trations of aboriginal manners, customs, and misfor- 
 tunes, which we are permitted to reproduce as appro- 
 priate to the pages of our county history. 
 
 THE PEQUOT SHADE. 
 An Indian princess of the Pequot tribe, 
 Arrayed in toilet of the blissful realms, 
 Where her lost people realize their faith 
 In bouudlese hunting-grounds beyond the tomb. 
 Came soaring up with the next morning sun. 
 Wrapt in the wraithlike robes of vapory mist 
 That from the dewy meadows rose and rolled 
 In white, ethereal fleeces o'er the Heights. 
 
 Around her graceful neck and shoulders hung 
 A royal triple strand of purple beads. 
 Made for the sachems and the sagamores 
 From sapphire spots inside the quahaug shell. 
 
 She swathed the creamy drapery round her waist, 
 Threw back her floating locks of raven hair, 
 As tears that fell from her great lustrous eyes 
 Glistened like dewdrops on her pallid cheeks, 
 Waved her brown arms, adorned with glittering gema 
 Of rarest pink and blue and violet shells, 
 Dearer to her than diamonds, gold, or pearls; 
 Gazed round upon the sadly-stricken field. 
 And mourned in sympathy with those who wept 
 Beside the slain within the fort below. 
 
 "So did we grieve with broken hearts (she cried). 
 
 So fell our people all along these Heights 
 
 When we were the sole sovereigns of this soil, 
 
 One hundred four and forty years ago. 
 
 •Tis all of record in the Spirit lands,— 
 
 How the rude white man came with fire and sword, 
 
 Burnt and destroyed our sweet and sacred homes 
 
 We loved so much, that stood upon these lawns. 
 
 Spangled with dandelions and buttercups, 
 
 As night's clear skies are studded with the stars, 
 
 And ere our braves could rally in defense 
 
 Fled to their waiting ships and sailed away. 
 
 " These shores, where brilliant sea-shells so abound, 
 
 Were our rich mines, — our California, — 
 
 Won by our valor on a fair-fought field 
 
 By gallant braves with arrow and with bow, — 
 
 A better title than your paper deeds 
 
 That no one ever ventured to dispute, — • 
 
 Until John Bndicott, with ninety men, 
 
 Armed to the teeth, from Massachusetts Bay, 
 
 Plunged in our midst, like hawks among the dovea, 
 
 Pretending falsely we had slain their friends, 
 
 Demanding what our people could not give, 
 
 And then provoked exterminating war, 
 
 *' They came from lands where money governs all, — 
 Their love of it had brought them to our s 
 Their idol was our coin, with which to get 
 From the interior tribes our wealth of furs, 
 
 So much desired for use beyond the seas. 
 Which their own gold and silver could not buy. 
 
 "We, who were free as joyous mountain-birds, 
 They tried to bind in slavery to tbeir will 
 By treaties formed with heavy wampum-fines, 
 Made to be broke — the robber's shrewd device — 
 In terms that we could never understand ; 
 And, failing, then they came with force of arms 
 To seize our mines and steal our native land. 
 
 "Ye should not wonder we prepared for war, 
 Hardened our hearts against our enemies. 
 Bent our best bows and filled our quivers full, 
 Placed women, children, and our aged sires 
 Within the wigwams on Pequonuc plains, 
 And kept our watch-fires lighted on the hills 
 Around them, as they made the crops of corn, 
 Cut shells with our rude implements of flint. 
 Strung garlands of the glittering wampumpeage, 
 And trapped the alewives at the river-ford, 
 While Sassacus held court at his stronghold 
 On yonder height, o'erlooking sea and land, 
 Sent his young braves to guard the mystic hills 
 Against Miantononioh and his men. 
 But never dreamed our western Saybrook foes 
 Could possibly attack our east frontier. 
 For we had never learned the gross deceit 
 Of cultured warriors, now called strategy. 
 
 "But, sad to tell, as in the Mystic fort 
 
 Oar people soundly slept, near early dawn, 
 
 Just as the full moon had gone down to rest. 
 
 They came in force, with Narragansett aid, 
 
 And like the fell Destroying Angel came, 
 
 Bushed through the matting screens on either side. 
 
 With fire-sped bullets, spears, and blazing torch, 
 
 Burnt everything, and massacred us all 
 
 As your brave men were butchered yesterday. 
 
 " We mourn with you at the soul-sickening scene, 
 Where mercy to the captive was not shown; 
 But now ye know how bled the Indian heart 
 When fathers, brothers, dear as yours to you, 
 Were in this manner slain within our fort; 
 When our young braves, your prisoners of war, 
 Were bound and carried to West Indian isles 
 By austere Massachusetts Puritans, 
 And sold for money as plantation slaves, 
 Or taken out beyond your harbor's mouth 
 And forced to walk a plank and drown themselves, 
 For which ye impiously gave thanks to God. 
 
 " We brood not o'er our people's grievous wrongs, 
 For such was war, war of the ancient years. 
 That silenced human laws and laws divine, 
 Proclaiming the old rule that might is right, 
 And that the strongest always must survive. 
 The poisoned chalice comes back to your lips, — 
 We who have drank it know its bitterness, — 
 A century and a half hath done its work, 
 Then let the curtain drop before the scene. 
 The Indian had no written chronicle, 
 No records of his country, and he heard 
 No philosophic voices from the past, 
 Save mere traditions, household memories. 
 And legendary stories of his tribe, 
 His tale is told by his proud vanquishers. 
 And given to the world as history. 
 
 " Te knew us not, and called us savages, 
 Without the neighbor's love or tenderness. 
 But we ne'er whipt, nor hanged, nor cropt the ears 
 Of those who could not share our own belief. 
 We sheltered them whene'er they fled from you 
 Under the pelting of the winter storm, 
 As we did Roger Williams, whom ye call 
 The great apostle of soul liberty. 
 
GROTON. 
 
 459 
 
 "Ye know iis not, we children of the woods ; 
 Te called us heathen, godless, and devoid 
 Of revelation snch as ye receive ; 
 But Kutchion, the Great Spirit, we believe, 
 And see His mysteries and miracles 
 In all the gloiious things that He hath made. 
 The sun and moon and the full-jeweled sky, 
 With all the elements of earth and air, 
 Tell us of Him who reigns in the free hearts 
 Of His brown children to the forest born, 
 Who never gave us culture of the schools, 
 Nor doth require that which He did not give. 
 He knows how great our provocations were, 
 How the first straggling traders cheated us, 
 And with forbidden lusts disturbed our peace, 
 Until our wrath was that of righteousness. 
 
 " Time in its ever-onward, changeless course, 
 
 Beating its pendulum from age to age, 
 
 A perfect equilibrium preserves, 
 
 Makes all things even, history repeats ; 
 
 Tou had your Arnold, we our Wequash had, 
 
 Who, like the traitor you so much despise, 
 
 Was bom and reared here on Mohegan'e banks ; 
 
 Both once beloved, both are alike condemned 
 
 For piloting their people's enemies 
 
 To the loved homes of those who gave them birth. 
 
 *' Lo, the hereafter ! Let us not repine 
 At the inevitable must-have-been, 
 We have a voice in that which is to be, 
 The might-have-been was never in our grasp. 
 To-day is ours. The guiding beacon-lights 
 Of ever-present, everlasting now^ 
 That brightly blaze along the shores of life, 
 Resplendent on our duty's pathway shine. 
 And to the future throw their beams of hope; 
 Then let oblivion's gulf surge o'er the past 
 And drown remembrance of its deeds of death, 
 As we baptize our souls in living streams 
 Of mercy and forgiveness from on high. 
 But still, beware I Your liberties were ours — 
 We lost them, lost our country and our race. 
 Beware, beware ! nor tempt your destiny, 
 
 " Our star of empire rose in the far west. 
 And crossed against the sun. It now hath set. 
 Yours rose in the far east, and on it goes. 
 Casting effulgent beams around the world. 
 
 " The spell dissolves. Your red and rising sun, 
 That comes to warm and waken all the earth, 
 So painful to my sight, absorbs the mist. 
 I go again unto the Great Beyond, 
 The happy and delightful far-away, 
 Where the calm mountains to the heavens rise, 
 Clad in green velvet and cerulean robes, 
 Forever tinged with sunset's golden glow. 
 
 " Adieu to all these dear, familiar scenes, 
 
 Scenes of my people's sorrows, joj's, and tears; 
 
 Of childhood's sportive, innocent delights; 
 
 Of youthful aspirations, bridal hopes; 
 
 Fields where the sower and the reaper toiled 
 
 And bound the autumn's ripened, yellow sheaves; 
 
 Bright, smiling valleys and secluded dells. 
 
 Where we communed with silent plants and flowers. 
 
 Selected healthful, aromatic herbs 
 
 And graceful, swaying ferns of maidenhair; 
 
 Wide waving woods, where the arbutus trailed 
 
 Its fragrant blossoms, herald of the spring. 
 
 First blush of beauty from the bursting buds ; 
 
 Where great white lilies, with their golden hearts, 
 
 Floated like fairy-queens on woodland ponds. 
 
 Loading the morning air with fresh perfume; 
 
 Where broad-crowned chestnut and tall walnut-trees, 
 
 Vocal with music of the merry birds, 
 
 Showered down their brown and ripe nutritious fruit 
 
 On shaded play-grounds of the little ones; 
 
 Meadows whence iloral exhalations rose 
 Up o'er the hills with rhododendrons crowned, 
 Where we were wont to glory in the chase ; 
 Streams from perennial springs in quiet glens. 
 Rippling along between their rushy banks, 
 Under the willows and the tangled vines, 
 Still singing the same songs they sang of yore, 
 Alive with mountain-trout, wherein we caught 
 Otters and beavers for their silken fure; 
 The glassy Sound, on which our fathers roamed 
 And sped their light and beautiful canoes, 
 Amid the sparkliug spray and sunny sheen 
 Flashed from their arrowy swiftness o'er the sea; 
 The breezy shores, on which we gathered shells 
 And egg-like pebbles, fair and smoothly worn 
 By billowy attrition on the sands, 
 In fancy baskets that our mothers made ; 
 These, and the spots where our ancestors repose 
 Beneath the little daisy-covered mounds, 
 Farewell! farewell! forever fare ye well! 
 Time flies apace. No more Kutchion commands ; 
 We meet again in the great Spirit lands." 
 Thus closed the vision of the phantom-maid 
 That hovered o'er the Heights, — the Pequot Shade. 
 
 GROTON HEIGHTS (FORT GRISWOLD). SEPT. 6, 1781, 
 One Hunobed Years Aqo. 
 On through the darkness of a cloudy nigl^t. 
 Like gloomy spectres brooding o'er the deep. 
 With canvas spread before light southern airs, 
 A naval squadron worked its noiseless way 
 Over the quiet waters of the Sound ; 
 And, as the golden radiance of the dawn 
 Began to gild the steeple-spires on shore 
 And play around the peak of Lantern Hill, 
 That last of landmarks to the outward bound 
 And first to greet him with a welcome home. 
 They met with baffling winds and ebbing tides, 
 Beat up and down, and cast their sounding-leads 
 Abreast the ancient Pequot Harbor's mouth. 
 Then neared the land, and furled their flapping sails, 
 As soaring ospreys closely fold their wings 
 For swift descent upon discovered prey. 
 
 The royal ensign and crossed Union-jack 
 Announced the then proud mistress of the seas 
 As convoy of a British transport-fleet. 
 Laden with all the appliances of war 
 For hostile demonstration on our coast ; 
 And shimmering in the sun, the polished arms 
 Of regiments in scarlet coats were seen. 
 Paraded and prepared to take the field. 
 
 There stood upon the fiag-ship's quarter-deck 
 A fallen champion of our country's cause, 
 Who knew the bearings of the land too well. 
 Where on both sides the wide and waveless Thames, 
 Glistening like burnished steel from bank to bank, 
 The purple hilltops on each other rose 
 In the far distance, even to its source. 
 Casting their shadows o'er familiar scenes 
 Around his native home. 
 
 There he stood. 
 In chief command, surrounded by his staff. 
 With open chart marked off as for a guide. 
 Delivering orders and explaining plans, 
 His arm uplifted and his finger raised 
 In the direction of the batteries 
 Booming with private signals of alarm 
 That he had learned, and had kept up 
 Continued fire from the invading fleet 
 Their rallying indications to pervert. 
 
 He knew how small the force was to be met, 
 The weakness of the points to be assailed ; 
 He knew that six long years of wasting war 
 Had drafted many fighting-men away ; 
 
460 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 That all the gallant seamen of the port 
 Were then abroad ufon the privateers; 
 That not a hundred well-armed men were left 
 The women and tlie children to protect; 
 That in Fort Trumbull, then a mere redoubt, 
 Less than two dozen soldiers served the guns ; 
 That GriHWold's armament was incomplete, 
 And the small garrison so unprepared 
 Perchance an early, vigorous attack 
 Its prompt capitulation might assure; 
 And, facing his battalions of renown, 
 How utterly defenseless was the town I 
 
 On either hand, with frontage to the sea, 
 The snow-white beaches curved around, 
 Where from the slumbering ocean's gentle swell 
 O'erlapping wavelets softlv kissed the shore 
 And whispered in the sparkling silver foam 
 Fretting the pearly borders of the sand ; 
 And there he bade them land in equal force, 
 Two grand divisions, separate of command, 
 And carry both the river-sides at once. 
 Winding their way along up o'er the hills, 
 Then covered with full crops of ripening corn, 
 Its broad and graceful leafage, flowery tops, 
 And flossy tassels of the bronzing ears 
 Aglow with early autumn's mellow hues, 
 Brimful of promise for the harvest-home, 
 He bade them hasten on without delay, 
 Under the foliage of adjacent woods. 
 Fiercely attack and capture by surprise 
 The noisy batteries with their signal-guns. 
 That were awakening all the country round; 
 And if too stubbornly they made a stand. 
 To burn, destroy, and desolate the land. 
 
 Their cause was that of a most faithless king. 
 Who knew no law but his own sovereign will. 
 Who scourged the innocent, oppressed the poor. 
 And robbed his people of their chartered rights. 
 
 What though their disgraced chief they all despised, 
 
 They fought to win — his treason was their gain ; 
 
 His the command, their duty was to serve. 
 
 And on the ignominious traitor's head 
 
 Was all the blood that on that day was shed. 
 
 The hundred men who rallied on Town Hill, 
 
 Bleak and unfortified, could not withstand 
 
 The onset of so much superior force. 
 
 While Trumbull's little guard trained sharp its guns 
 
 Upon the atorming-party rushing o'er 
 
 The dark salt marebes on its western side. 
 
 Let fly a telling blast of whistling grape, 
 
 Beneath which stalwart men were seen to fall. 
 
 Then spiked the pieces, hastened to their boats, 
 
 And crossed the river under rattling fire 
 
 To take a stronger and a better hold, 
 
 To share the perils of the feiirless band 
 
 That in Fort Griswold had resolved to stand. 
 
 Then, like a gang of plunderers, the foe 
 Gave up the town to pillage and to flamfes, 
 Rushing with fire-brands through deserted streets, 
 From house to house, and all along the quay, 
 Until the stores and shipping were ablaze, 
 The lurid smoke upcurling to the sky, — 
 A direful sight, yet but the opening scene 
 Of the great drama coming on the stage. 
 
 That morning to the summit of the Heights, 
 
 Crowned by the enduring monumental shaft 
 
 That in its silence is so eloquent, 
 
 A hundred yeomen of the country-side. 
 
 Roused from their slumbers by the cannonade, 
 
 Had come to join the watch, who through the night 
 
 Their rounds had paced upon the parapets. 
 
 They came with such arms as they each possessed. 
 With spontoons by the village blacksmith made, 
 
 With heirloom, buccaneer, and hnnting-gune, 
 
 Used by their great-grandsires on Pequot Hill, 
 
 And in the fight of Narragansett Swamp, 
 
 Against the savage aborigines; 
 
 Each his cartouch-box, belts, and bayonet-sheath, 
 
 With bullets moulded on his hearth at home. 
 
 His flints well picked, his powder-horn well filled. 
 
 His shoes of cowhide, hat of felt or straw. 
 
 His towcloth frock and leathern overalls, — 
 
 The RevohdiorCs home-made uniform, — 
 
 On which fatiguing watch by night and day. 
 
 The sweat and grime of work and weather-stains, 
 
 Had rudely wrought its own embroidered arms, 
 
 As on the escutcheon of their sacred cause, — 
 
 A lineage patent with heraldic signs 
 
 More emblematical of glorious deeds 
 
 Than the devices blazoned on the shield 
 
 Of the proud house of Hanover. 
 
 There they had come. 
 Hastening on foot and horseback, one by one, 
 To meet a thousand veterans of the line. 
 Arrayed in gorgeous trappings and equipt 
 With all the grand accoutrements of war, — 
 Two chosen regiments, for daring famed. 
 The royal Fortieth and the Fifty-fourth, 
 Detailed for the attack on Groton side. 
 
 Nor was it long delayed. At mid-forenoon 
 The barges of the fleet came sweeping in 
 With the invaders upon Eastern Point, 
 Who hurried up the western woody slope 
 Of Shonnecosset Neck, nor called a halt 
 Until they reached the ancient Indian Field 
 And the adjacent bluff of Packer's Rocks, 
 Where martyred Ledyard's ashes now repose. 
 
 They did not wait for their field-battery, 
 The last to land, that still was in the rear 
 On a mistaken, rough, and pathless route. 
 But sent a flag of truce with the demand 
 Of prompt surrender unconditional. 
 
 Amid the smouldering ruins of their homes 
 
 The brave defenders were not in a mood 
 
 To hesitate in their pronounced reply: 
 
 " Never!" (said they) " We'll try to hold the fort 
 
 Whatever may be the fortunes of the day." 
 
 Then moved the Fifty-fourth upon the work 
 As skirmishers behind the knolls and rocks, 
 Deploying from the bluff" towards the Thames, 
 Crouching and creeping on with trailing arms, 
 Until advantage of the field was gained. 
 When in array of battle they advanced ; 
 While from the vale beyond, where Beaver Dam 
 Crosses the bubbling bruok still rippling down 
 Along Dark Hollow to Pequonoc plains. 
 On which High Rock like a grim giant stands, 
 Covered with moss and seamed by glacial scars, 
 As it hath stood through all the centuries. 
 The Fortieth came dashing o'er the hill. 
 Under the thicket of the cedar glade, 
 Captured the little gun of the redoubt. 
 And joined the Fifty-fourth in the assault. 
 
 The cannon of the fort were brought to bear 
 At shorter range to check their near approach, 
 And many a gap that opened in their ranks 
 Was quickly filled by well-skilled veterans. 
 While the defenders firmly stood their ground. 
 Picked each his man with an unerring aim, 
 Nor fired until the foemen closely came. 
 
 The conflict had begun; the gates were closed; 
 The aiego was now complete. Within the fort 
 How truly was it liberty or death, 
 For there was no more aid and no retreat. 
 
GROTON. 
 
 4G1 
 
 Then raged the storm, 
 As rages the tornado iu its wrath : 
 Their leaders slain, like monsters they become, 
 Jumped in the trenches out of musket-range, 
 And under shelter of tlio frowning work, 
 Sprang on each other's shoulders up the wall, 
 Wrenched the projecting pickets from the frieze, 
 And with such fury the embankment scaled 
 That their united, overwhelming force, 
 Like a resistless torrent in its course, 
 Our little valiant phalanx could not stay. 
 
 When from the ramparts they came leaping down, 
 
 With bayonets fixed and heavy sabres drawn. 
 
 Life's crimson currents dripped from gleaming blades, 
 
 Until our Spartan band was overcome ; 
 
 Then, marching in close order through the gate, 
 
 And under orders, tiring by platoons 
 
 Upon their captives, now no longer armed. 
 
 Coolly shot down sun'eudered prisoners, 
 
 Whose bravery had been worthy of their steel, — 
 
 An act of fell revenge in sight of heaven 
 
 That no mere martial rules should justify, 
 
 A barbarous act, by thern alone surpassed, 
 
 For then with bayonets they speared the dead. 
 
 Slew the severely wounded in their swoon^ 
 
 Brained dying men with beetling musket-stocks, 
 
 And left them thickly lying on the ground 
 
 Through that intensely hot and sweltering day. 
 
 To seethe and sodden in the broiling sun. 
 
 No friend, no surgeon, no physician there, 
 
 No one to help the wounded, none to give 
 
 The simple cup of water that they craved. 
 
 For which instinctively with their parched lips 
 
 Exhausted nature cried unconsciously. 
 
 There, stript and robbed, the martyred patriots lay 
 (Jntil the sun in a black cloud went down. 
 As if to veil and turn his face away 
 From the red carnage of that awful day. 
 
 The darkness of a moonless, starless night 
 Followed the gloaming's pale, expiring light, 
 And whei-e the battle-i'oar had rent the air 
 Silence prevailed, tlie silence of despair. 
 
 Those still suiviving had been borne away 
 
 To Avery's house, now standing, near the shore, 
 
 Where their own ministering angels came 
 
 To raise their drooping heads, bind up their wounds, 
 
 To whisper love's sweet, sympathetic words, 
 
 And soothe them with restoratives. 
 
 But there within the broken battlements 
 
 Lay eighty-four of the defenders, slain, 
 
 Just as they fell, iu rows and sprawling round. 
 
 Their forms so much disfigured, cnt, and bruised 
 
 And so discolored by the scorching sun 
 
 That even dearest friends who knew them hest 
 
 Could not discover tiieir identity. 
 
 There fifty widows that the day had made, 
 
 In lioods and shawls, with flaring torches came, 
 
 And through their midnight vigils groped about, 
 
 Wiping the gore from many a mangled face, 
 
 In quest of those that they so fondly loved. 
 
 There children, too, with lanterns in their hands, 
 
 Were, with their mothers, aiding in the search, 
 
 Hoping to find, and yet afraid to see ; 
 
 And when a recognition was assured 
 
 The piteous wailing of the poor bereaved, 
 
 Their groans of anguish and heart-rending shrieks, 
 
 Gave the nnctiirnal, dark, and ghastly scene, 
 
 Under the lurid glare of flickering lights, 
 
 A semblance of some weird and hideous dream 
 
 Of dismal regions where the demons dwell. 
 
 And there they stayed until the dawn of day. 
 Weeping and wandering round among the slain, 
 30 
 
 Frantic with grief, and inconsolable ; 
 The only show of mercy still vouchsafed 
 Came through a timely providential hand 
 To quench a niatch-tiain kindled by the foe 
 Before he fled ingloriously away 
 With base intent to fire the magazine, 
 Blow up their hecatomb of honored dead. 
 And rob them of the little solace left 
 In sacred burial-rites for their beloved. 
 
 In that half-hour of conflict on the Heights, 
 With the great odds of more thau five to one, 
 What firm and dauntless courage was displayed, 
 What unexampled sacrifices made! 
 
 No one but ho wlto liath in battle been ■ 
 Knows how a good man feels when first he aims 
 His loaded gun to kill a fellow-man ; 
 So, as Parke Avery stood beside his son, 
 A lad of seventeen summers scarcely past, 
 Inside the breastworks, firing at the foe, 
 Thinking the hoy might fiinch, he cheering said, 
 " Fear not, my son, hut do your duty now," 
 The gallant youth as cheeringly replied, 
 " I'll do my duty, father, have no fears," 
 And fell, with " duty" ringing in his ears. 
 
 As Ajax bore Patroclus from the field. 
 The doting father lifted up his son 
 And bore him, lifeless, to the barrack-room, 
 Then, hastening back into the breach again. 
 And with the invader grappling hand to hand. 
 Was himself cnished as by an avalanche, 
 And brained and bayoneted, and left for dead ; 
 But still the veteran lived for twoscore years, 
 And made his annual visits to the spot 
 So sacred to his memory and his tears. 
 Leading hie little grandson by the hand. 
 Over the ramparts and the broken walls, 
 And with his staff uplifted pointing out 
 ■\\'here his brave boy had fallen by his side, 
 Where two of his own brothers were cut down, 
 Where Latham with his battery held a point 
 Until his cannoneers were shot away, 
 Where the first breach was made, and then 
 How like a deluge was the furious storm, 
 Where was the thickest of the hopeless fight, 
 Where Ledyard, his commander, stood aud fell, 
 And how tlie blood of captive prisoners ran 
 When the atrocious massacre began. 
 
 How many aged, venerable sires, 
 Themselves unfit for service on that day, 
 Gave up their children, and did offer them 
 Upon the altar of their native land ! 
 
 When the two Stanton brothers, side by side, 
 Were laid out, cold, in theii" old father's house. 
 He asked to see them ere the coffin-lids 
 Should close their forms foi'ever from his eyes, 
 And entering the room, stood at their heads, 
 Bent down and fondly kissed their marble brows, 
 Then looking up beseechingly to heaven. 
 As hot tears trickled down his furrowed cheeks 
 And dript upon his white and fleecy beard, 
 " God (he cried), how great this sacrifice! 
 But—but— 'tis freely made : thy will be done !" 
 
 What an abiding, pure, and living faith I 
 
 By Father of the Faithful not surpassed. 
 
 Who rose, like them, with brightening of the dawn, 
 
 Without consulting either kith or kin, 
 
 And took his son up to filoriah's mount 
 
 For sacrifice by the divine command. 
 
 But hei'e no guardian angel's arm appeared 
 
 To avert the fatal sacrificial blow : 
 
 'Twaa done, recorded, and the blessing came 
 
 In independence and in liberty. 
 
462 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Fair Freedom, in tlie pall of battle-smolie, 
 Was hovering o'er the hilltop all that night, 
 As mournei's fondly linger ronnd the tombs 
 In which their dear and best-beloved Bleep; 
 Bnt when the flag of the >'oinig rising States, 
 So rudely torn and trampled in the dust, 
 ■\Vn3 the next morning given to the breeze, 
 She soared away to other battle-fields. 
 And left the scene to valor and to hope. 
 
 Oh tell Bie not the "tale of Troy divine" 
 
 In trumpet strains of gladiatorial fame, 
 
 Of battles lost and won in classic lands 
 
 By servile forces witli ambitious chiefs, 
 
 Impelled by thirst for jiower and love of gold, 
 
 Trusting in mythic lieathen deities, 
 
 But tell me of a people, all as one, 
 
 United in defense of fatherlaod, 
 
 With fortunes, lives, and sacred honor pledged 
 
 To stand or fall together in their cause,— 
 
 Patient, enduring, and heroic men 
 
 Of deep convictions, of sincere belief, 
 
 Unfailing headspring of life's purest streams, 
 
 Belief in God, themselves, and in mankind. 
 
 That truth and justice would at last prevail, 
 
 AVhose lion liearts found utterance in their deeds 
 
 Of noble daring to maintain the right 
 
 Eegardless of eventualities, 
 
 AVho fought through yeai-s of desolating war, 
 
 Never discouraged, always undismayed, 
 
 Until the foreign despot left their sho-es 
 
 And their desires became their history. 
 
 Tliese are such men as constitute the State, 
 Tlieirs was the saciifice we celebrate. 
 
 CENTENNIAL ANTHEM. 
 
 Up with the hraie old flagon high 
 
 And let it float along the tky, 
 Salute its stars and streams of light that beam on all below, 
 
 As we, \\ith offeiings divine, 
 
 Bow like the pilgiim at his shrine, 
 "Where our forefathers fouglit and bled a hundred yeare ago. 
 
 All honor to the gallant few 
 
 "Whose locks were glistening with the dew 
 Of that September morning, in the dayspiiug's early glow, 
 
 A\'hen, liastening from beloved ones, 
 
 Kesponsivc to the signal-guns, 
 To fight foi- homo and countiy here a hundred yeare ago. 
 
 Sing priiises to that noble band 
 
 "Who died to save tlieir native land, 
 AVho faltered not when face to face with ttie invading foe, 
 
 Wlio stood like martyrs in the fight. 
 
 Through hope foilorn and fui the riglit, 
 And fell as heroes love to fall, a hundred yeaiy ago. 
 
 Let our united voices libe 
 
 To celebrate their saci ifice, 
 Let clarion strains of gratitude in choral numbers flow, 
 
 Till from the summit of these hills, 
 
 llesounding o'er tlie vales and lills, 
 Shall echo our memorial of a hundred years ago. 
 
 Alfred N. Ramsdell was born in Mansfield, Conn., 
 May 12, 1819. His father, Isaiah, was a native of 
 New Hampshire, a farmer, and one of a numerous 
 family. He possessed it great amount of character 
 and ability, and the Ramsdell family, in its entirety, 
 was quite prominent in that State. He moved to 
 j\Iansfield in early life, and became a representative 
 farmer, much respected by his fellow-townsmen. He 
 had only moderate means, and his sons, as they grew 
 up, became scattered, and were generally successful. 
 Albert left home when about sixteen, came to New 
 
 London, entered the employ of a shoe-house, probably 
 that of an elder brother, and continued as clerk and 
 partner for about six or seven years. He then became 
 identified with banking and railroad business, and 
 continued largely interested therein until his death, 
 May 10, 1873. He was a man of wonderful capacity 
 for business, of great intuition, developing his plans 
 with lightning-like rapidity, and uniformly with suc- 
 cess. He was a natural financier, and became presi- 
 dent of the New London City Bank, and his name 
 was a synonym for ability and highest financial stand- 
 ing. As president of the New London Northern 
 Railroad Company, he exhibited great tact and busi- 
 ness ability. Taking the management at a time of 
 great embarrassment, the stock selling at a mere 
 nominal price, considered by many as worthless, he 
 made it one of the best investment securities, selling 
 at twenty-five per cent, premium. His large means 
 were never withheld from any local enterprises wliich 
 were calculated to promote the interests of the com- 
 munity in which he lived, and his private charities, 
 although unostentatious, were commensurate with 
 his fortune. 
 
 In the following resolutions, adopted by the board 
 of directors of the New London Northern Railroad, 
 we have a fine testimonial to the character of Mr. 
 Ramsdell and the appreciation of his nature by his 
 most intimate associates, than whom none could bet- 
 ter or more accurately judge him : 
 
 " liesolved, That this board has hoard with the greatest sorrow of the 
 death of Albert N. liamsdell, who has been for more than seven years 
 the president of this company. 
 
 "Tu his masterly management of its affairs this corporation mainly 
 owes its past success and its present prosperity. It has lost its firmest 
 supporter, its wisest counselor, and its ablest advocate. His kindness of 
 heart, his fine sense of honor, his clear and ready judgment, and his un- 
 swerving loyalty to his convictions gained him the perfect confidence 
 and esteem of all his associates. 
 
 " In deep grief at his death we offer to his family our waimest sympa- 
 thy and condolence. 
 
 '■'' Resolced, That, out of respect to his memory, the board will attend 
 his funeral, and that the secretary be instructed to enter these resolu- 
 tions upon the records of the company, and to transmit a copy of theui to 
 Mrs. Hamsdell." 
 
 Mr. Ramsdell was twice married, — first, to Caroline 
 A., daughter of Capt. Alfred and Jeannette (Mitchell) 
 White ; she died in 1846 ; second, to Mary J., daughter 
 of Latham and Betsey W. (Lester) Avery, of Groton. 
 
 Col. H. D. Morgan. — James Morgan, the first set- 
 tler of New London, Conn., bearing the name borne 
 by so many of his descendants, was born in Wales 
 in 1607. In March, 1636, he and two younger brothers 
 emigrated to America, and arrived at Boston in 
 April following. AVherever he settled at first, he 
 was at Roxbury, near Boston, before 1640. He mar- 
 ried there Margery Hill, of Roxbury, and was made 
 a freeman May 10, 1643. He was a freeholder there 
 as late as 1650 ; the same year he removed to Pequot, 
 now New London, Conn., and w^as assigned a house- 
 lot. The lands were granted to him, accordingto New 
 London records, and occupied by him as a homestead, 
 and the further entry that *' James Morgan hath given 
 
/Ci^y^/ //^C-2-^ Z/^/^ 
 
GROTON. 
 
 46a 
 
 him about six acres of upland, where the wigwams 
 were, in the path that goes from his house towards 
 Culver's, among the rocky hills." These lands were 
 sterile and dreary, in what is now the western suburbs 
 of the city of New London. James continued resi- 
 dent "on the path to New Street," or "Cape Ann 
 Lane," till on Dec. 25, 1656, he sold his homestead, 
 and shortly after removed, with several others, across 
 the Thames, upon large tracts of land previously 
 granted them by the town, in what is now the south 
 part of Groton. The spot where he first built in 
 Groton, and where he lived and died (in IGSo, aged 
 seventy -eight), is about three miles from Groton 
 Ferry, on the road to Pequonnock Bridge, and has 
 never been out of the possession of his lineal descend- 
 ants, and nearly always occupied by a " James." 
 
 James was a large proprietor and dealer in lands, 
 distinguished in public enterprise, often employed in 
 land surveys, establishing public highways, determin- 
 ing boundaries ; as a magistrate adjusting civil diffi- 
 culties, as a Christian man and good neighbor, enjoy- 
 ing to a marked degree the confidence and trust of the 
 people. He was one of the "townsmen" or selectmen 
 of New London for several years ; was one of the first 
 " deputys" sent from New London plantations to the 
 May session of the General Court at Hartford, 1657, 
 and was nine times afterwards chosen a member of 
 that grave and important assembly. As an evidence 
 of his sterling integrity and the estimation in which 
 he was held by his compeers, we would state that in 
 a controversy between the General Court and the New 
 London plantations about boundaries and jurisdiction 
 it was ordered that the matter be submitted to three 
 arbiters, mutually agreed upon. New London named 
 James Morgan, theiT own townsman, and in their own 
 interests, but the General Coui-t promptly accepted 
 him, agreeing to submit to his sole decision, which, 
 when made, was satisfactory to all. He was an active 
 and useful member of the church, and he was promi-, 
 nent in every important movement. In 1662 his list 
 on the town assessment stands third highest. It was 
 only two hundred and fifty pounds, but this was a 
 large estate in those days, for out of the one hundred 
 tax-payers of that year only seven had a list exceed- 
 ing two hundred pounds. Such a man his descend- 
 ants do worthily esteem and venerate. His sterling 
 qualities of mind and honesty of purpose have been 
 shown on many occasions by his descendants, and 
 throughout the broad land the bearers of the " Mor- 
 gan" name are worthy members of society, occupying 
 positions which reflect credit on the unbending in- 
 tegrity of their progenitor. 
 
 The following " Invocation," prefixed by N. H. 
 Morgan, Jan. 1, 1869, to his "Morgan Genealogy," is 
 well worthy presentation here: "Kinsmen of the 
 name, you I invoke! To you I now make an ap- 
 peal. Hear me for my cause. On the spot where our 
 first American ancestor reared his humble abode, in 
 the ancient land of the Pequots, now the town of 
 
 Groton, and where an unbroken succession of his line, 
 each bearing his own honored name of James Morgan, 
 have continued to dwell, even unto this generation, 
 there, on that hallowed spot, repose the ashes, not 
 only of himself and of his good wife Margery, but 
 also of his children and grandchildren, the patriarchs 
 and mothers of us all. Time has wellnigh obliter- 
 ated from the little, rude, and crumbling headstones 
 the name, the date, and the story ; but by the flicker- 
 ing light of tradition, of old records, and of broken 
 inscriptions, I have been enabled recently, amid the 
 tangled thorns which enshroud them, to trace out and 
 identify every grave. Now is the day and we are the 
 men to mark more suitably this their last resting- 
 place, and thus save from oblivion the story and the 
 memory of this hallowed ground. Ours is the privi- 
 lege and ours the duty to consecrate anew this an- 
 cient necropolis of our family, by erecting thereon 
 to the remembrance of these our sires and mothers a 
 fitting and enduring monument worthy of them and 
 worthy of ourselves. Shall this be done? Have we 
 the motive? These mouldering graves appeal with 
 silent eloquence to the living, — ' E'en from the tomb 
 the voice of nature cries !' Have we the means? Our 
 family is conspicuously marked for its wealth. Have 
 we the wish, the filial desire to preserve and venerate 
 the memory of this sacred ground ? Let a monument 
 be the answer, and let me read it ere I go hence." 
 
 James^ born JIarch 3, 1644, married, first, Mary 
 Vine, of Old England, November, 1666; second, 
 Hannah , and died Dec. 8, 1711, aged sixty- 
 eight. He was one of the two first deacons of the 
 first church in Groton, was the principal magistrate, 
 and at the first town-meeting after the incorporation 
 of the town was moderator, and chosen first townsman 
 or selectman. He was chosen captain of the first 
 "train-band" in Groton in 1692, and had then been 
 two years a captain and commander of the dragoon 
 force of New London County, under special commis- 
 sion from the General Court. He was deputy to the 
 General Court from New London from 1689 to 1700, 
 and one of the first deputies from the new town of 
 Groton in 1706, and was for several years a, commis- 
 sioner to advise and direct the Pequot Indians in the 
 management of their affairs. His children were all 
 by his first wife, and he lived and died in the home 
 in Groton, already described. His oldest son. Deacon 
 James^, born Feb. 6, 1667, lived on the same home- 
 stead in South Groton as his father and grandfather, 
 and was twice married, having four children by his 
 first wife. He was an active and useful man in all 
 church and civil affairs, drafting and taking acknowl- 
 edgments of deeds, wills, and other legal instruments 
 as the principal and almost sole acting magistrate 
 and until a short period before his death his name 
 appears generally as moderator in all town and so- 
 ciety meetings. He died May 4, 1748, aged eighty- 
 one. His children were James*, Daniel, Mary, and 
 Anna. Anna married Eev. John Owen, the second 
 
464 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 minister of Grotoii. James' was born in 1693, and 
 was the fourth lineal occupant of tlie same name of 
 the homestead. He was twice married, having seven 
 children by his second wife, Mary, daughter of Capt. 
 John Morgan. He died Aug. 25, 1770, aged seventy- 
 seven years, and is buried, with his wives, in the family 
 burial-ground near the old home. James*, his oldest 
 child, born 1730, lived and died on the old place. He 
 married Catharine Street, 1758. They had seven 
 children, — James", Nicholas, Moses, Daniel, May, 
 Fanny, and Catharine. He married Mrs. Lydia 
 Miner, April 28, 1779, and had two children, Lydia 
 and Jerusha. Daniel, born March 3, 1765, settled in 
 Groton, and married Jemima Gallup, who had one 
 child, which died in infancy. She died March 25, 
 1800. He married for his second wife, Priscilla, 
 daughter of Capt. D. H. Burrows, who was killed in 
 Fort Griswold at the massacre of 1781. He was a 
 native of Groton, married Sarah Avery, also of an old 
 Groton family. He was in the prime of life when he 
 was shot, the first victim of the British at the mas- 
 sacre. Daniel Morgan was a farmer ; never aspired to 
 political distinction, but was a plain, hardworking, 
 economical man ; Democratic in politics, an attend- 
 ant of the Congregational Church, and mucli re- 
 spected by all. He died Jan. 21, 1838, aged seventy- 
 three, leaving five children by his second wife, — Pris- 
 cilla, Hubbard D., Sarah A., Mary Ann, and Moses E. 
 Hubbard Daniel Morgan was born in Groton, 
 Conn., May 12, 180-t. He remained at work with his 
 father until he became about seventeen or eighteen 
 years of age, when he was made lame by something 
 resembling a fever-sore, and in consequence thereof 
 he went to New London and learned the shoemaker's 
 trade. His opportunities for early education were 
 only those afforded by the common scliool at " North 
 Lane," and it is surely worthy of credit that the spirit 
 of diligence and perseverance which has character- 
 ized him through life should have been manifested in 
 the independence that would give him, although a 
 lame youth, a livelihood by his own exertions through 
 his labors even in the trade of a shoemaker. After 
 learning his trade, Mr. Morgan went to Springport, 
 N. Y., where his sister Priscilla (Mrs. Jabez D. 
 Haley) resided, and followed his trade for one year. 
 He then returned to Connecticut, when his father ex- 
 changed his farm in Groton for one in East Haddam, 
 for the purpose of retaining Hubbard with him. 
 When the exchange was made Hubbard Daniel was 
 about twenty-one. He remained with his father, dili- 
 gently applying himself to keep the family together, 
 and by great toil, as he expresses it, "just making 
 strap and buckle meet," and continued thus occupied 
 for about twelve years, when a younger brother be- 
 came large enough to take his turn in charge of the 
 farm. Mr. Morgan, feeling the necessity of more 
 means than his circumstances had hitherto given 
 him, left the farm without a dollar, and engaged in 
 the wood and lumber business with Elias Loomis, his 
 
 brother-in-law. They were prospered, and after one 
 year's time in partnership Mr. Morgan purchased 
 Mr. Loomis' interest, and continued the business in 
 his own name for two years, drawing and causing to 
 be drawn about five hundred cords of wood each year, 
 besides sawing quite an amount of ship-timber. This 
 introduced Mr. Morgan to the ship-timber trade, 
 which he soon adopted as his sole business. Being in 
 want of a vessel to carry timber to New York, he 
 purchased one-half interest in the sloop "Morning 
 Star," the other half being owned by the commander, 
 Capt. Henry Sisson. On the return voyage of the 
 first cargo of lumber to New York, and en route to 
 Hartford with a cargo of coal and provisions, the 
 sloop was lost on Saybrook bar in a gale of wind. 
 Capt. Sisson was a young man, unused to business, 
 and had signed a bill of lading in which damages by 
 sea was not excepted. As a consequence Mr. Mor- 
 gan not only lost the results of his three years' labor, 
 but was involved in a lawsuit of several years' dura- 
 tion. By the kindness of friends, however, and par- 
 ticularly Governor Oliver Ellsworth, his strong per- 
 sonal friend and legal adviser, the case was with- 
 drawn, at an expense to him of not ten dollars. Gov- 
 ernor Ellsworth charging him nothing for his ser- 
 vices. The opposing parties had costs of about seven 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 When Mr. Morgan was about twenty-five years of 
 age he enlisted in the first company. Second Eegi- 
 ment of Horse Artillery of the militia of Connecti- 
 cut. He became much interested in the service, and, 
 with his usual directness and ambition to excel, at- 
 tracted the attention of his superior ofiicers, and he 
 made many friends by his proficiency. He was rap- 
 idly promoted, held the various commissions of cap- 
 tain, major, and colonel, and was considered one of 
 the ablest officers in that arm of the service. After 
 the loss of the " Morning Star," Col. Morgan resigned 
 his commission, but it was not accepted. The whole 
 of his time was imperatively demanded by his busi- 
 ness, and his reduced finances would not allow of any 
 diversion from business, so at last, much to the regret 
 of all his associates, his often-renewed resignation 
 was accepted. It reads thus : 
 
 *' .\djvtant-Gener.\l's Office, 
 
 " E.\ST Haetfobd, Sept. 10, 183'J. 
 " Sir.— Yom- resignation of the oflice of colonel of the Second Regi- 
 ment of Horse Aitillory, Conuecticnt mijitiil, has heen received hy His 
 Excellency, the conimander-in-cliief, and is accepted. When your suc- 
 cessor shall have been chosen and commissioned, you are hereby lionorn- 
 bly discharged from the duties of snid office. 
 " By His K.\cellency's cununand. 
 
 " Samuel L. Pitkin, 
 
 " Adjtitant-General 
 *'To IlfBUAiiD D. Morgan', 
 
 " Col. commandinj 2d liegt. Horse Artillery." 
 
 Col. Morgan continued shipping chestnut timber to 
 New York for about four years, until the demand for 
 that wood ceased. He then went to Long Island and 
 got white oak and cedar for the same trade. While 
 thus engaged his attention was called to the vast 
 
£nf^tryAHB^tchxe 
 
 ./ 
 
SANPOED MOEGAN. 
 
<v/- 
 
 ^iAy? 
 
GROTON. 
 
 465 
 
 amount of oil in the menhaden fish and the efforts 
 made to extract it. On returning to Groton, through 
 his exertions, a company of seven others witli himself 
 was formed, the crude works of the first experimenter 
 purchased, and an attempt made to extract the oil. 
 This was about 1845. From the difficulties surround- 
 ing the initial steps, the other stockholders became 
 dissatisfied and disgusted, and Col. Morgan, with far- 
 seeing sagacity, purchased their interests, and took as 
 a partner Mr. Franklin Gallup, under the firm-name 
 of Morgan & Gallup. This was the origin and 
 theirs the first successful manufacture of an article 
 which has had large sales, and which has as a busi- 
 ness attained large proportions in this section. This 
 partnership continued for fifteen years, and the part- 
 ners acquired from forty to fifty thousand dollars. 
 Sanford A. Morgan then purchased an interest of 
 one-third, and the business continued for a year or 
 two under the same name as before. Mr. Gallup and 
 S. A. Morgan sold their interest to the Quinnipiac 
 Company of New Haven. Col. Morgan, after get- 
 ting them well under way, sold his property to them 
 and retired from the business. To his sagacity, perse- 
 verance, and business capacity is alone owing the suc- 
 cess of this great enterprise, now employing so many 
 men and so much capital. 
 
 Col. Morgan represented his town one term in the 
 Legislature, being elected by the Republicans. He 
 has been for many years a member of the Baptist 
 Church, and is prompt in supporting all things tend- 
 ing to advance the interests of Groton. He married, 
 Aug. 7, 1844, Lucy A., daughter of Park W. Avery, of 
 Groton. She died Nov. 25, 1851. He married Maria 
 J., daughter of George Slater, of Webster, Mass., Oct. 
 25, 1858. She is of the family so noted in connection 
 with manufactures. 
 
 Sanford Morgan. — The annals of an honest, use- 
 ful, and industrious life are of more value as a lesson 
 for coming generations than those of kings or empe- 
 rors, and perhaps none can better reward the time of 
 the historian than the subject of this sketch. 
 
 Sanford Morgan, son of Nicholas and Pliebe 
 (Avery) Morgan, and seventh 'generation from the 
 first American James, was born in the home of his 
 father, near Pequonnock, Nov. 11, 1798. His early 
 years were passed among the pleasant associations of 
 a father's home, and when eighteen he was appren- 
 ticed to Timothy Daboll & Bros., house carpenters. 
 With them he remained until he was of age, but fol- 
 lowed his trade but a short time thereafter. This 
 work was all done on Long Island, the workmen leav- 
 ing Connecticut in the spring, and remaining until 
 fall, taking with them all materials, supplies, etc., 
 demanded. In September, 1821, Mr. Morgan mar- 
 ried Lovina, daughter of Joshua and Hannah Avery, 
 and commenced married life by working on his 
 father's farm, where he remained seven years. In 
 1831 he engaged in trade as a merchant at Pequon- 
 nock, and for twenty-nine years was steadily pros- 
 
 pered. There was but little trade at some times, and 
 not wishing to pass the time in idleness, Mr. Morgan 
 worked also at his trade in an adjacent shop, making 
 wheels, etc., and in this proverbially thrifty and in- 
 dustrious neighborhood was held high in the estima- 
 tion of the people, His son, Sanford A., succeeded 
 him in merchandising when years suggested less ap- 
 plication to business, and Mr. Morgan only looked 
 after his farming interests, to which, at the hale old 
 age of eighty-two years, he still attends. Brought 
 up in a Democratic household, Mr. Morgan has been 
 unswervingly a Democrat. The people of his town 
 have frequently called on him to discharge important 
 local trusts, such as selectman, town clerk, etc. 
 These have been uniformly done to the satisfaction of 
 his constituents. For many years he has been a 
 member of the Congregational Church and a consist- 
 ent Christian. For over eighty years he has walked 
 among the people of Groton, mingled with them in 
 their labors, their recreations, and their devotions, 
 and never could malice or suspicion whisper aught 
 against his integrity. He leaves his children the 
 legacy of an unblemished name. He has been three 
 times married. By the first wife, above mentioned, 
 he had two sons, Sanford A. and Orlando, wlio died 
 aged three years. His second wife was Harriet, 
 daughter of Samuel Edgecomb. They had two chil- 
 dren, Daniel and Harriet, who died, aged twenty- 
 eight. He married, July 10, 1837, Cornelia, daughter 
 of Cyrus and Micah (Bailey) Avery. Of the seven 
 children of her father's family but two now survive, 
 Mrs. Morgan, aged eighty-one, and Mrs. Hammond, 
 who resides with her, aged eighty-six. Both are in 
 possession of fair health and clear intellects. 
 
 Elista Morgan, son of Dr. Elisha Morgan, was 
 born in Groton, Conn., Feb. 28, 1794. He is a lin- 
 eal descendant from James Morgan, the emigrant, 
 through Deacon William, son of James^, who was 
 born March 4, 1669, and married Margaret, daugh- 
 ter of Capt. James x4.very, of Groton, July 17, 1696. 
 They were members of the church at New Loudon 
 before the church at that part of New London now 
 Groton was founded. At the establishment of the 
 first church in Groton, Nov. 8, 1704, he was chosen 
 deacon. He died Dec. 25, 1750, aged eighty-two. His 
 wife survived him five years. They had nine children, 
 of whom Solomon was born Oct. 5, 1708. To him, 
 shortly before he died, in 1749, William gave a deed 
 of the family homestead in Groton, containing two 
 hundred and fifty acres of land, and he probably 
 lived and died here. He married Mary Walworth, 
 July 1, 1742, and had eight children. He was a dea- 
 con of the church, and died Nov. 22, 1791, aged 
 eighty-three. His tombstone in the family graveyard, 
 on the James Morgan homestead, bears this tribute 
 to his memory : " Esteemed for his integrity, peace- 
 ableness, and fidelity, and his Christian life and char- 
 acter." Dr. Elisha Morgan, youngest son of Deacon 
 Solomon, was born March 7, 1762. He was surgeon 
 
466 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 at Fort Griswold at the time of the massacre, but by 
 feigning death he escaped, and after the British left 
 he extinguished the fuse set by them to explode the 
 magazine. He never practiced very steadily as a 
 physician, but made several voyages to sea. He 
 married, October, 1790, Abigail, daughter of John 
 Morgan (son of James*) and Dorothy Avery, his 
 wife. Both he and his wife died in the same month, 
 April, 1796, he on the 1st, on his passage home from 
 Demerara, aged thirty-four; she on the 22d, aged 
 twenty-five. They left three children, — Frederick, 
 Elisha, and Abigail. 
 
 Elisha was but two years old when his parents died, 
 and he spent his childhood with his grandmother 
 and a bachelor uncle, John, who had a stiff knee from 
 a wound received at Fort Griswold. He remained 
 with them until the war of 1812, when, to prevent 
 his being drafted, his uncle apprenticed him to a 
 woolen manufacturer in Westerly, E. I. His educa- 
 tion was acquired first from the close and analytic 
 teachings of the celebrated mathematician, John Da- 
 boll, and afterwards from Amos Niles, a teacher of 
 note. These advantages were appreciated, and when 
 but sixteen Elisha began teaching district school, 
 and continued teaching winters with great success for 
 several years. After learning his trade he engaged in 
 manufacturing at Centre Groton, with Harry and Gil- 
 bert Williams. When about twenty-five, Jan. 3, 1819, 
 he married Caroline, daughter of Theophilus and 
 Mary (Hinckley) Morgan. She was born Dec. 22, 
 1801. They had ten 'children,— Mary A. (Mrs. Na- 
 than D. Smith, of New London) ; Caroline M. (Mrs. 
 James D. Avery, deceased) ; John A., of Mendocino, 
 Cal. ; Henry E., of Port Townsend, W. T. ; Osmer 
 H., of Whitby Island, Oregon ; Jennette E. (Mrs. N. 
 S. Fish); Ellen A. (Mrs. Palmer B. AVoodward, of 
 Madison, Ga.) ; Colby M. (deceased); Stephen A.; 
 and Sarah H. After marriage Mr. Morgan commenced 
 life as a farmer on the place so many years his home, 
 and where Mrs. Morgan and daughter Sarah yet re- 
 side. He was a man of more than ordinary execu- 
 tive ability, had foresight, and yet was cautious enough 
 not to run rashly into losing speculations, and became 
 an opulent farmer. He built a grist-mill, saw-mill, 
 and blind-factory at Pequonnock, and did more, per- 
 haps, than any other in this part of the town to give 
 employment to others. He was always ready to en- 
 courage any enterprise that 'promised benefit to his 
 town or people, and the first works for the manufacture 
 of fish-oil were constructed on his place. He was for 
 many years a magistrate of wide usefulness, and 
 famed for his skill in drafting wills, deeds, etc. ; was 
 for years town clerk, and often represented Groton in 
 the Connecticut Legislature. He was of social dispo- 
 sition, warm and strong in his personal attachments, 
 and tender and loving as a father and husband. He 
 died much regretted, March lo, 1877. 
 
 Deacon Roswell Augustus Morgan was born in 
 Xoank, Conn., Oct. 14, 1816. His great-grandfather 
 
 was Joshua Morgan, son of James*, born 173.3. He 
 married Esther Stoddard, of Groton, Nov. 13, 1760, 
 had five children, — one son, Joshua, and four daugh- 
 ters,— and died Oct. 10, 1774. Joshua, Jr., born 1767, 
 married, when about twenty years of age, Jemima 
 Fish, settled in Groton, and died July 9, 1796, at the 
 early age of thirty-one. He left four children, — 
 Joshua, Eoswell Avery, Gilbert F., and Prentice. 
 Koswell Avery Morgan was born in Groton, Nov. 22, 
 1789, married Jemima Fish, of Salem, Sept. 24, 1814, 
 settled in Groton, followed coasting in early life and 
 boat-building in later years, and died June 4, 1830, 
 leaving five children, of whom Eoswell Augustus was 
 oldest. He was possessed of some property, but his 
 will was not admitted to probate until more than 
 nine years had passed after his death. ( Vide Morgan 
 genealogy.) 
 
 Eoswell Augustus when a lad enjoyed the advan- 
 tages of the common schools of Groton, supplemented 
 by a number of terms at the " Connecticut Baptist 
 Literary Institute," a very creditable school, located 
 at Suffield, Conn. Acquiring a knowledge of boat- 
 building with his father, after the latter's death Mr. 
 Morgan continued in that business, and has been con- 
 tinuously engaged therein until the present time, 
 ilr. Morgan married IMargaret, daughter of William 
 and Sally (Ingham) Wilbur, Oct. 29, 1839. Their 
 children are Francis W., who married Ella Graham, 
 of Branford, and has one child, Leroy ; Harriet (Mrs. 
 Charles I. Chester), who has three children, Wayland, 
 Harry, and Webster ; Emeline (Mrs. Charles H. 
 Weaver, of Eock Island, 111.), who has three children, 
 Maggie, Charlie, and Hattie; and Augustus "V., re- 
 siding with his parents. 
 
 Mr. Morgan's sons are associated with him in his 
 business. They are good, reliable men, promising to 
 do well their part in the community and in their busi- 
 ness. About 1876, Mr. Morgan began the building of 
 steam-yachts as a specialty, and this branch of his 
 business is steadily increasing. He has had four of 
 them in process of construction at one time. These are 
 only built to fill an order, and these orders come from 
 various States, one coming from Colorado, attesting 
 the value and workmanship of Mr. Morgan's work. 
 
 Mr. Morgan has been for years, as well as Mrs. 
 Morgan, a, member of the American Union Baptist 
 Church at Noank, and is a deacon of the same. He 
 is always in the foreground of all progressive and 
 loyal movements, but never cared to hold office, and 
 has steadily refused nomination for any civil position. 
 In politics he has been a pronounced Eepublican, but 
 is now a Prohibitionist. Industrious, frugal, hone t, 
 and honored and respected by a large range of ac- 
 quaintances, Mr. Morgan is truly a representative 
 man of Noank, and one of whom none of his descend- 
 ants can ever wish to change one quality or trait, and 
 who will never bring discredit on the "Morgan'' 
 name. 
 
 Levi Spicer. — Silas Spicer, the first American an- 
 
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JOHN G. SPICEE. 
 
GKOTON. 
 
 4G7 
 
 cestor of this family, was said to have been of Quaker 
 exti'action. He came from England when a young 
 man, with one or two brothers, and settled in that 
 part of Groton now called Ledyard in the early part 
 of the eighteenth century. He learned the wheel- 
 wright trade in England, and in connection with 
 working at that trade became a farmer. He married 
 Hannah Draper, had a large family, and about 1790 
 moved with most of his family to the western part of 
 New York State, where they bought quite largely of 
 land and became permanent residents. (The father 
 of Silas was Thomas, who married a Button.) Silas, 
 in the latter part of his life, was prospered financially, 
 and when he died was far advanced in years, and an 
 honored man in his community. 
 
 Three of his children remained in Connecticut, — 
 his third son, Levi, the youngest son, Alanson, and 
 his daughter Mary. She married Ralph Carpenter, 
 of North Coventry, Conn., moved thither, and there 
 resided until her death, leaving several children. 
 Levi Spicer was born in Groton, now Ledyard, Feb. 
 20, 1767. He had the advantages for education 
 afforded by the common schools of those early days, 
 was reared a farmer, and also learned the wheelwright 
 trade of his father. His first wife, Lavinia Chese- 
 boro, died April 13, 1794, leaving one child, Levi C. 
 Spicer, who settled in Ohio, and there remained with 
 his family until he died. 
 
 When about twenty-eight years old Levi Spicer 
 moved to Stonington to work as a wheelwright or 
 ship carpenter, became acquainted with and married 
 Prudence, daughter of Elihu and Euth Palmer, and a 
 direct descendant of Walter Palmer, of Wequete- 
 quock. Elihu Palmer was a farmer, and in his last 
 years lived near the present site of Noank ; had sev- 
 eral children, one of whom, Elihu Palmer, was the 
 father of Deacon John Palmer, who established the 
 ship-yard at Noank, now conducted by his son Rob- 
 ert (see biography elsewhere). 
 
 Prudence was born June 5, 1771. Soon after this 
 marriage Mr. Spicer, who had removed to Noank, 
 built him a house, which is now standing (see plate), 
 and became a small farmer, in consequence of a cut 
 in his left knee, which rendered the leg stiff, and so 
 disabled him from successfully pursuing his trade. 
 He, however, in connection with farming, worked at 
 wheelwright and ship-building. Some of his work- 
 manship is still in existence, and shows him to have 
 been a skillful workman. This mode of life he con- 
 tinued until the death of his wife, Aug. 13, 1846. 
 Shortly after he gave up active business and went to 
 live with his son Elihu, with whom he remained 
 until his death, April 26, 1850. 
 
 His children by Prudence Palmer attaining matu- 
 rity were Elihu P., born Oct. 1, 1796 ; Eldredge, born 
 June 23, 1798; Lucy C. (Mrs. Henry Latham), born 
 June 8, 1803; Sally (Mrs. Peter D. Irish), born Nov. 
 10, 1806; John P., born Sept. 14, 1808; and Silas, 
 born April 29, 1811. 
 
 All are now dead but Elihu and Silas. For many 
 years both Mr. and Mrs. Spicer were honored and es- 
 teemed members of the Baptist Church. He was of 
 a genial, social nature, fond of home, family, and 
 friends. 
 
 He loved a good story, and was fond of a joke. In 
 politics he was a Democrat of the old school, be- 
 lieving that the government should be carried on as 
 he did his own affairs, in a frugal and economical 
 manner. 
 
 His lameness was the direct cause of his death, for 
 in climbing over a ledge of rocks he caught his leg, 
 and was precipitated in such a way as to injure him 
 so severely that death resulted therefrom in a very 
 few weeks. 
 
 Capt. Elihu Spicer. — Elihu Palmer Spicer was 
 born at Noank, in a house then standing where the 
 store of Levi Spicer now stands. He received a com- 
 mon-school education. He commenced his sea- 
 faring life when very young as cook of the " Thetis," 
 one of the first fishing-smacks engaged in the busi- 
 ness. From that time he followed the sea until he 
 was about forty-five years old, passing consecutively 
 through the various grades from cook and common 
 hand to that of captain. 
 
 While fishing in open boats during the war of 1812 
 he was often compelled to run the British blockade, 
 was several times chased by their cruisers, and had 
 many narrow escapes. 
 
 The first vessel he commanded was the fishing 
 smack " Luzerne," which was engaged in Southern 
 fishing and wrecking. 
 
 Afterwards he commanded the schooner "Em- 
 press," engaged in Southern coasting and West India 
 trade for several years. He was also master of the 
 schooner "Magellan" for several years, engaged in 
 the same business. He then took charge of the brig 
 " Apalachicola," and was engaged in transporting 
 troops during the Seminole war, under Gen. Scott, 
 after which she was engaged in Southern coasting 
 trade for a number of years. 
 
 As a captain he was careful, prudent, and success- 
 ful, never meeting with a serious accident or loss. 
 
 When Stonington was attacked by the British in 
 the war of 1812 he was placed on duty to extinguish 
 the fires caused by the bursting of the enemy's shells, 
 and also helped to repulse the English troops on their 
 attempts to land. 
 
 On July 21, 1817, Capt. Spicer married Jemima, 
 daughter of Ebenezer and Lydia Fish.' Jemima was 
 born April 28, 1797, died May 22, 1849. The children 
 of Elihu and Jemima were William (deceased), born 
 Aug. 1, 1819 ; Prudence A. (Mrs. Capt. P. T. Brown, 
 dec'd), born May 19, 1821 ; Emeline (deceased), born 
 June 16, 1823 ; Elihu, born April 13, 1825 ; Levi, 
 
 1 Ebenezer was a grandson of Samuel and Sai-ah Fish, and a son of 
 Capt. John and Luoietia Fish. Lydia Fi-^h (his wife) was a granddaugh- 
 ter of Moses and Martha Fish, and a daughter of Capt. Jonathan and 
 Abigail Fish, all born in Groton, Conn. 
 
468 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 born June 1, 1830; Sarah (Mrs. Andrew G. Dicken- 
 son, of Brooklyn, N. Y.),born May 20, 18.33; Hiram 
 (deceased), born Nov. 27, 1839. He married for liis 
 second wife Eliza H. Eoath, April 30, 1850. She 
 died Nov. 1, 1874. 
 
 Capt. Spicer still resides in his home at Noank, with 
 his son Levi and family. Capt. Spicer is a reserved 
 and quiet man, of strong opinions and positive char- 
 acter, of warm friendshiiis, careful and considerate in 
 all his dealings, and successful financially. 
 
 He was appointed by the United States government 
 for several years as tide-waiter of the Mystic Eiver ; 
 represented Groton two terms in the Legislature of 
 Connecticut, and in each position stood high in the 
 esteem and confidence of his townsmen. Democratic 
 in politics, he has never swerved from the principles 
 of Thomas Jefferson. For many years he has been a 
 valued member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 At his advanced age he now can looi back over a 
 long and useful life with pleasurable emotions and a 
 just pride in seeing his descendants occupying honor- 
 able and representative positions in society. 
 
 Capt. John G. Spicer, son of James and Lydia 
 (Pride) Spicer, was born in that part of Groton now 
 Ledyard, Nov. 26, 1804. The first American Spicer 
 of this line was John, who emigrated from England 
 to Virginia, and removed from there to Groton, Conn. 
 He was great-grandfather of the subject of our sketch. 
 John' had three sons— John', Cyrus, and Abel— and 
 several daughters. He married Abby Allen, was a 
 tanner and currier, and died aged forty-seven. John^ 
 was a farmer and carpenter; married Nancy Parks, 
 and had one son, James, and four daughters, Mary, 
 Hannah, Clara, and Eunice. All married save Mary, 
 who lived to the age of ninety-two years. He was a 
 Eevokitionary soldier, and his widow drew a pension 
 for his services. He died aged about sixty-seven. 
 James Spicer .was born Nov. 30, 1779. He married 
 Lydia Pride; she was born Jan. 2, 1778. His second 
 wife was Eunice Pride, born Dec. 18, 1775. Their 
 children of Lydia were William, John G., Herbert P., 
 Lydia M., and Mary ; those of Eunice were Abigail, 
 Sarah, James, and Charles. James, Sr., was a car- 
 penter and farmer. He was an industrious, frugal 
 man, and died in Preston, Conn., whither he moved 
 about 1812, and where he continued to reside until 
 his death, April 2, 1867. Lydia, his first wife, died 
 Jan. 3, 1812 ; Eunice died May 25, 1867. 
 
 John G. married Clarisso, daughter of William 
 Kimball, 18—. She was born Sept. 14, 1805. Their 
 children are John 0., Harriet A. (Mrs. Lucius Bald- 
 win), Susan (Mrs. Noyes B. Meech), Damaris (Mrs. 
 William A. Bedaut, of Preston), William, and Everett. 
 At nineteen years of age Capt. S|)icer wont before 
 the mast on tlie sea; in two years' time became cap- 
 tain of brig "Ann aiaria," in the West Indian trade. 
 After two years spent in her he bought a half-interest 
 in sloop "Eliza Allen," in coasting and Panama 
 trade. In about a year he took command of schooner 
 
 " Planter,'' remaining in her three years. He then 
 commanded, with one-half ownership, the schooner 
 " Chesapeake." She was lost on the first trip on the 
 Henry Banks, Abico. The same year he took com- 
 mand of schooner "Andrew Jackson," with one-half 
 interest, sailing to New Orleans, West India, and 
 Spanish Main. Pie remained in her about eighteen 
 months, and since then has been a farmer. He is a 
 Eepublican, but has never obtruded himself in poli- 
 tics, never sought official position ; is a good citizen 
 and strong friend, and is prized by his circle of friends 
 for his many good qualities and sterling worth. 
 
 Capt. William Clift.— William Clift, the first of 
 the family who came to America, was put ashore in 
 the harbor of Scituate, Mass., when but seven years of 
 age. Tradition reports through Pero, an old negro ser- 
 vant, who died in 1807, aged eighty-one, and who knew 
 the first generation, that William " was sent from 
 England by interested parties, because he was heir to 
 a large estate which they would inherit in case of his 
 death." He married Lydia Wills, and nothing fur- 
 ther is known of him than that he had several chil- 
 dren and was a resident of jMarshfield. 
 
 Capt. William Clift is his descendant in the fifth 
 generation, and is son of Nr.thaniel Clift and Eunice 
 Denison, who were married Aug. 5, 1801. Nathaniel 
 spent the early portion of his life in trading- voyages 
 along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, and rose to the 
 rank of commander. He finally settled in Mystic 
 Bridge (Stonington), engaged somewhat in trade, and 
 became the popular proprietor of a public-house near 
 the present " Hoxie House." 
 
 Capt. William was born in Mystic Bridge (Ston- 
 ington), Conn., April 20, 1805. He was educated 
 at the common schools of Mystic Bridge,- supple- 
 mented by two terms' attendance at the private 
 school of Sheffield & Kirby, at Stonington Borough. 
 He commenced active life by teaching school two 
 years in his native town, and then for three years held 
 a position as clerk in the store of Gilbert Denison, at 
 the head of Mystic Eiver. Plis health, from his 
 sedentary life, was not good, and when twenty-three 
 years old he went to sea in a fishing-smack to im- 
 prove it. In three years' time he had regained his 
 original strength, and then, with eleven others, formed 
 a joint-stock company, bought the sloop "Mont- 
 gomery," altered her to a schooner, and went on a 
 sealing-voyage to the west coast of Patagonia. She 
 sailed from Mystic, Aug. 18, 1831, and was the first 
 vessel that sailed from Mystic in this business. Mr. 
 Clift sailed as a common sailor, yet he appeare to 
 have had the whole management of affairs. The en- 
 terprise and voyage was successful, and Mr. Clift im- 
 mediately started on another voyage, this time as 
 "master" in schooner "Mary Jane." This was also 
 a successful voyage, paying the owners a dividend of 
 one hundred and twenty-five per cent, net profits in 
 twenty months. These two voyages were very labo- 
 rious, replete with hardships and vicissitudes, and 
 
GEOTON. 
 
 469 
 
 Capt. Clift endured great physical discomfort and 
 dangers, being on one rock seventy-three days and 
 nights, and on another forty-six days and nights. On 
 his first voyage in the " Mary Jane" Capt. Clift was 
 selected by the Foreign Missionary Society to convey 
 two missionaries. Revs. Armes and Cowan, to Terra 
 del Fuego. Knowing their lives to be not worth any- 
 thing in the hands of the people of that land, as they 
 were cannibals, Capt. Clift prevailed on them to 
 change their destination and conveyed them to Pata- 
 gonia. The unprecedented success of these voyages 
 gave Capt. Clift great reputation as an able navigator, 
 and he was invited to take command of exploring ex- 
 peditions untrammeled by orders, and could have ac- 
 cepted very high marine positions. But his sagacity 
 and carefulness caused him to decline all these bril- 
 liant offers, and, knowing that his was a commercial 
 mind, he bought th^e schooner "Hudson," and con- 
 tinued as master during the remainder of his nineteen 
 years of seafaring life, the first five years of which 
 were spent " before the mast." He never sailed for 
 wages, but always for a share. His business capacity, 
 shrewdness, and ability were rewarded by very hand- 
 some financial results. When he retired from the 
 sea he owned a part of a number of vessels, and be- 
 came their New York agent, spending the most of 
 his time in that city for fifteen years, taking care of 
 the vessels and managing their business. At the same 
 time he was extensively engaged with iSTathan G. 
 Fish and othei's in ship-building at Mystic, and him- 
 self purchased all the material demanded in New 
 York. In 1865 he retired from active business. Every 
 vessel that he ever had anything to do with was suc- 
 cessful, never failing to declare a dividend. He was 
 a man of careful system, and for many years no policy 
 of insurance was carried on his vessels, and not a dol- 
 lar Avas lost. One of his peremptory rules on ship- 
 board was that no one, sailor, officer, or passenger, 
 should swear, play cards, or drink liquor. 
 
 Capt. Clift was chosen director in " Mystic River 
 Bank," Aug. 1, 1854, and has been in the board since. 
 He was elected its president Aug. 24, 1870, and held 
 the ofiice until June 7, 1881, when he resigned it on 
 account of his failing health. When tlie Groton 
 Savings-Bank was organized, July 3, 1854, he was 
 elected vice-president; elected its president, Sept. 6, 
 1870, and held that position until July 27, 1875, when 
 he declined a re-election, but accepted that of vice- 
 president, which oflSce he still holds. He was presi- 
 dent of the Elm Grove Cemetery Association from 
 April 16, 1866, to April 11, 1881. 
 
 He never held any political office, although doing 
 much as a private citizen to help his party, which in 
 early life was Whig, and since 1856 Republican. In 
 religious matters he has been very active for the 
 last ten or twelve years, using his money very lib- 
 erally and freely in building up not only the Union 
 Baptist Church, of which he has been for years an es- 
 teemed member, but all good enterprises. He is 
 
 always giving, and lavishly, to charitable societies, 
 educational projects, and all good objects, and is par- 
 ticularly generous to the poor. 
 
 Capt. Clift married, June 18, 1833, Bridget, daugh- 
 ter of Sands Fish, of Groton. They had two children, 
 Mary H. (Mrs. Edward Y. Foote) and Hannah F., 
 both of Avhom are living. Their mother died Sept. 
 17, 1845. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. 
 Daniel Burrows, of Middletown, Sept. 16, 1846. She 
 died Jan. 10, 1865. 
 
 In the fullness of years, honored by the confidence 
 and love of the better part of the community, Capt. 
 Clift can have the satisfaction of knowing that he has 
 worthily and honorably passed a useful and laborious 
 career, and that his memory will be forever a sweet 
 remembrance in the hearts of a large circle of friends. 
 
 Hon. Nathan G. Fish. — The Fish family can claim 
 a very early Saxon existence. The original name, 
 traced in the rolls of German nobility, is Fisch, and 
 runs back to a remote era. At a time not definitely 
 ascertained a branch of the family removed to Eng- 
 land, and from this English line three brothers, it ap- 
 pears, emigrated to Massachusetts in the early colo- 
 nization of the country. Their names were Nathaniel, 
 John, and Jonathan. They first settled in Lynn, but 
 in 1637 they went to Sandwich, Cape Cod. Here, it 
 is said, Nathaniel located permanently. Jonathan 
 finally joined the settlers of Newtown, L. I. John, 
 with his wife and at least three children, came to 
 Groton, Conn. At least a John Fish, wife and chil- 
 dren, were living here in 1665, among the first settlers. 
 He is the first-known ancestor of the Fish family of 
 Groton. His children were John, Jonathan, and 
 Samuel. This Samuel (born 1656 or '57, died Feb. 
 27, 1783) had numerous children, among them Na- 
 than^ (born 1699, died July 13, 1732). His name ap- 
 pears in New London records in 1704, the year prior 
 to incorporation of town of Groton. On organization 
 of Groton he became second townsman, and was re- 
 elected many years. He was captain in the French 
 and Indian war. By his first wife, Abigail Havens, 
 he had one son, Nathan^ (born Sept. 11, 1727, died 
 Oct. 22, 1822). By a second marriage he had other 
 children. He was a member of the Presbyterian 
 (now First Congregational) Church of Groton. Rev. 
 F. Denison says, " I infer that Abigail, the first wife, 
 was inclined to the faith of the Friends, as her motlier, 
 Mercy Havens, on Shelter Island, was a decided dis- 
 ciple of that school, and a most estimable woman." 
 Nathan" married twice,— first, Catharine Niles; sec- 
 ond, Catharine Helme. He had four children by the 
 first wife and ten by his second. He was but five days 
 old at the death of his mother, and not five years old 
 when his father died. His grandmother, Mercy Ha- 
 vens, took him home to Shelter Island and kept him 
 seven years, when he was placed in the famous school 
 of " Master Niles," in Groton. He inherited a hand- 
 some estate. He was a quiet man, fond of home and 
 social life, but disinclined to public life and political 
 
470 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 preferment. He was tinctured with the principles of 
 the Friends, yet often invited clergymen to hold meet- 
 ings in his house, and joined the First Baptist Society 
 of Groton, July 25, 17ri5. He lived to he ninety-five, 
 and wore the old-fashioned dress of the last century, — 
 short clothes, long vest, knee and shoe-buckles, flow- 
 ing hair, and broad-brimmed hat. Sands Fish, son of 
 Nathan and Catharine (Helme) Fish, was born in 
 Groton, July 1, 1761, and died Aug. 20, 1838. He 
 married Bridget, daughter of Deacon Benadam and 
 Bridget (Palmer) Gallup, June 17, 1789. They had 
 eight children, of whom Nathan G. was seventh. In- 
 heriting a portion of the paternal acres, industrious 
 and frugal, Deacon Sands acquired as a farmer suffi- 
 cient property for his not extravagant needs and the 
 just demands of charity; he was therewith content. 
 Caring nothing for public or political preferment, he 
 moved chiefly, and always wisely, in religious circles. 
 A member of the First Baptist Church of Groton 
 from 1787, he for many years was deacon, discharging 
 the duties of the office with fidelity until his death, at 
 the ripe old age of seventy-six years, and was honored 
 with the esteem of the whole community. 
 
 Nathan Gall]ip Fish was born in Groton, Conn., 
 Sept. 7, 1804, received an extremely good common- 
 school education, supplemented by some time in at- 
 tendance at Plainfield Academy. His early life was 
 passed until eighteen on the Fish homestead, and after 
 teaching school some time on Long Island he went to 
 sea, and for about twenty years led a seafaring life, the 
 most of the time being master, and made numerous 
 voyages to Southern ports, West Indies, Mexico, and 
 South America. He was very successful, and on re- 
 tiring from the sea was owner in a number of vessels, 
 and became their agent in New York. In company 
 with Capt. William Clift, B. F. Hoxie, and W. E. 
 Maxson, he started a ship-yard at "Old Field," 
 Mystic River, and carried on an extensive business. 
 About 1860, Messrs. Hoxie and Clift retired, and Mr. 
 Fish and Mr. Maxson carried on the yard, building a 
 large fleet of ships, steamers, etc., among them the 
 ironclad steamer " Galena" and gunboat " Vicks- 
 burg." 
 
 He was of positive nature and a leader in the 
 community. Every position he held he filled with 
 dignity, ability, and fidelity, and was immensely 
 popular. He was a Whig and Republican. Repre- 
 sented Groton in the State Legislature in 1849, '50, 
 '57, served as State senator three consecutive terms, 
 1851-53, was elected judge of probate in 1854, and 
 was railroad commissioner of Connecticut. The Gro- 
 ton Bank was incorporated in 1854, and Mr. Fish was 
 chosen president. At the organization of the Mystic 
 River Bank, in 1851, he was chosen second director, 
 and from Aug. 7, 1800, until his death was its presi- 
 dent. The bank became the Mystic River National 
 Bank, Deo. 5, 1864. 
 
 He was kind-hearted, generous, and social, and en- 
 joyed the esteem of a very large range of acquaint- 
 
 ances. For nearly a quarter of a century he served 
 faithfully and acceptably as deacon of the Baptist 
 Church, and his life was ahvays consistent with his 
 professions. He favored all things tending to im- 
 provement, education, and Christian progress, and 
 gave them substantial aid. He was one of the 
 founders of Mystic Academy, and president of the 
 board during its continuance. 
 
 Mr. Fish married Emeline F., daughter of Dr. 
 John 0. Miner, of Centre Groton, Jan. 9, 1833. 
 They had seven children, — Susan L., Ellen M. (de- 
 ceased), Simeon G. (married Eliza Eldredge, and has 
 two children), John O. (married Frances Eldredge, 
 and has two children), Horace W. (married Anna 
 Potter, and has two children), Phebe M. (married 
 Robert P. Wilbur, and has two children), Roswell W. 
 (married Isabel Park, and has one child). Mrs. Fish 
 died in Groton, Jan. 9, 1871. Mr. Fish died Aug. 1, 
 1870. 
 
 Mr. Fish was known as an honest man, faithful 
 to every trust in an age wlien political corruption, 
 bribery, and "rings" for ill-gotten gain seemed to be 
 more than usually prevalent, and never was his in- 
 tegrity doubted, or his gentlemanly. Christian char- 
 acter deemed aught than consistent. He leaves his 
 children what is better than worldly goods, — the 
 legacy, far more precious, of a good name and a long 
 life of good deeds. 
 
 John Palmer, son of Deacon John Palmer, was 
 born July 16, 1818 ; learned the trade of ship-building 
 with his father; was all his life connected with the 
 Noank ship-yard with his father, and in partner- 
 ship with Robert, his brother. He was converted 
 when but fourteen years of age, and joined the 
 same year (1832) the Old Fort Hill Baptist Clmrch, 
 under the ministry of Elder Roswell Burrows, and 
 during the remainder of his life was in act, word, and 
 deed an active and unusually earnest Christian worker. 
 He was a constituent member of the Noank Baptist 
 Church. His heart was bound up in the prosperity 
 of Zion. His church was his delight; her member- 
 ship the excellent of the earth in his estimation. 
 He married Julia, daughter of Peter and Dolly (Fish) 
 Baker, Jan. 1, 1840. Of their seven children, three 
 sons — John, Charles R., and William — are now living. 
 His death occurred, after an illness of seven years, 
 Sept. 30, 1876. 
 
 As a husband he was affectionate, faithful, and 
 thoughtful, endearing himself to his beloved wife by 
 all those worthy qualities and little attentions which 
 bespeak tenderness, appreciation, and interest. One 
 of his marked traits of character was unselfishness. 
 
 Thoughtful of all around him, forgetful only of 
 himself, it might truly be affirmed he lived not for 
 himself but for others ; generous to a fault, fond of 
 his home, true to his friends, given to hospitality, he 
 lives to-day in a thousand hearts. 
 
 As a father he was generous, indulgent, cheerful, 
 and patient, and the three sons who survive him — 
 
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 1 
 
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 ^-''^-/'7'?! €'^' 
 
GKOTON. 
 
 471 
 
 John, Charles, and William — can never refer to an 
 impatient or unkind word from this best of earthly 
 fathers ; but year by year, as the grass springs upward 
 and the flowers bloom over his grave, they can repair 
 to that hallowed spot and say, " Here lies our father, 
 companion, and. friend." 
 
 During an illness of seven years he found in an af- 
 fectionate and loving wife the sympathy and assistance 
 so indispensable to his comfort, and a full repayment 
 of the wealth of affection he had lavished upon her, 
 and it is doubtless due to her skill and watchfulness 
 that he lingered so long among us. 
 
 As a brother he was both respected and loved by 
 his brothers and sisters, and each in their degree 
 sought to comfort him in his last days. 
 
 A life-long and unbroken attachment existed be- 
 tween the deceased and his brother. Deacon Robert 
 Palmer, of the most intimate and spiritual nature, 
 dating from their earliest home associations. Theirs 
 was a truly Christian home. With but six years' dif- 
 ference in ages, reading from the same Bible, bending 
 at the same altar, it is not strange that a love of more 
 than ordinary cohesion should bind them together. 
 I^ot much less, however, was the love given to him 
 by all who knew him ; even the children were attracted 
 by the sweetness and gentleness of his nature, and 
 mourned his loss as much as those of maturer years. 
 
 The day of his funeral was like a Sabbath in its 
 solemn stillness. Work seemed suspended, the flags 
 on the shipping were displayed at half-mast, and the 
 whole village, as if moved by one impulse, gathered 
 in the house of God before the body rested there. 
 
 Eobert Palmer, son of Deacon John and Abby 
 (Fish) Palmer, was born at Xoank, Conn., May 6, 
 1825, and is consequently fifty-six years of age. 
 
 His great-grandfather, Elihu Palmer', was a native 
 of Xew London County, and a resident of Ledyard 
 in early life. He had children, — Elihu', Prudence 
 (who married Levi Spicer), and Lucy (who married 
 Francis Clark, of Greenport, L. I.). He was a farmer, 
 and much esteemed by his neighbors. Elihu' fol- 
 lowed the sea, married Anna, daughter of William 
 and Sarah (Denison) Latham, and was lost at sea 
 while quite young. They had one child, John. Mrs. 
 Palmer married for her second husband Benjamin 
 Ashby. They had children, — JEoses, Benjamin, La- 
 tham, William, and Nancy, all now living but Moses. 
 Benjamin married Hannah Fish, who is now living 
 at a very advanced age. Nancy married Aaron Main, 
 of Ledyard. 
 
 John Palmer was born in Noank, town of Groton, 
 Conn., June 11, 1787. He had common-school ad- 
 vantages for education, and engaged in fishing for 
 several years, but early learned the trade of boat and 
 ship-building; commenced to work at it at Noank, 
 and pursued it until he retired, an old man. He 
 married Abby, daughter of John Fish, of Groton, 
 Oct. 19, 1809, and after her death Asenath Whittle- 
 sey, March 22, 1859. His children were Prudence 
 
 (deceased), Abby (deceased), Elihu (deceased), Lacy 
 (married, first, Capt. William A. Wilbur, of Noank, 
 second, Capt. Jeremiah Wilbur, of Mystic), Abby 
 (Mrs. James A. Latham, deceased), Mary (Mrs. T. J. 
 Sawyer), Caroline (Mrs. P. Chipman, deceased), John 
 (deceased), Lj'dia (Mrs. John D. Latham, deceased), 
 Robert, William (deceased), and Eoswell (deceased). 
 
 Mr. Palmer continued his business in a small way 
 until about 1832, when he entered into partnership 
 with James A. Latham. They enlarged and extended 
 the business somewhat, sometimes employing help 
 and sometimes not. Near 183(3 they commenced 
 building fishing-smacks. Their reputation for good 
 work extended, and the business gradually but stead- 
 ily increased. About 1845, Mr. Palmer retired from 
 active labor, and Mr. Latham not long afterwards 
 formed a co-partnership with his brother, John D., 
 consequently Mr. Palmer's two sons, John and Robert, 
 became successors to their father, who died July 16, 
 1859, aged seventy-two. 
 
 Mr. Palmer was a man of industry, perseverance, 
 and activity in every direction. Whig and Republican 
 in politics, and outspoken and pronounced for his prin- 
 ciples. He was a consistent and faithful Christian, a 
 deacon for over fifty years in the Baptist Church, and 
 very active in all religious or church matters, holding 
 many meetings in the absence of a pastor, and al- 
 though of stern and unyielding manners where prin- 
 ciple or integrity was at stake, was actuated by the 
 broadest Christian charity. He was liberal almost 
 to a fault in every case of distress or need coming to 
 his notice. In connection with his deep piety, he 
 had great Scriptural knowledge, was a wise and dis- 
 creet counselor, a pillar in the church, to whom the 
 Noank Baptist Church is more indebted than any 
 other person for its existence and strength. His 
 loving, Christian influence made itself felt not only 
 in the early development of religion in his children, 
 but through the entire community, doing good to 
 many, and manifesting itself a power. which yet 
 shows a potent influence. 
 
 Robert Palmer had a common-school education. 
 At an early age, say twelve years, he went on the 
 water as a sailor during summer months, and con- 
 tinued there until he was nineteen, when he went to 
 Stonington, to work with Stiles West at boat-building. 
 After remaining there two years, he worked for Charles 
 P. Williams on a ship that he was building, but his 
 father being in need of his services in his ship-yard 
 at Noank, he soon went there and entered into active 
 business, which he has ever since continued. On the 
 withdrawal of Mr. Latham, John and Robert entered 
 into partnership. In October, 1845, Robert married 
 Harriet, daughter of Deacon Ebenezer and Grace 
 (Gallup) Rogers. Their children are Robert (died in 
 infancy), Harriet (died at three years), Jane (Mrs. 
 Simeon W. Ashby), Harriet (Mrs. Harry Knapp, of 
 New York), Robert, Jr. (married Libbie Murphy, 
 of Noank), Jessie (died at five years). The brothers 
 
472 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 continued in business at the upper ship-yard till about 
 1855, when Robert, in company with his cousin, Daniel 
 E. Clark, of East Marion, purchased the lower ship- 
 yard. Mr. Clark, after two or three years, sold his 
 interest to John and Robert, who continued work in 
 both yards until the partnership was closed by the 
 death of John, in 1876. In 1860 the brothers put 
 a set of marine railways (then the largest between 
 New York and Boston) into the upper yard, and busi- 
 ness came in rapidly. During the war they had a 
 very large amount of work to do, rebuilding, among 
 others, two ships for Baltimore parties. In 1879, 
 Robert purchased the interest of his deceased brother, 
 and put in the gigantic steam marine railways now 
 in use. These are probably the largest in the world. 
 Wo give their dimensions : Length of ground-ways, 
 658 feet; timber of ground-ways, 12 by 18 inches; 
 length of cradle, 265 feet; depth of water (high 
 Avater) with cradle lowered, 12J feet at bow; length 
 of chain, 450 feet; diameter of chain, 2 J inches; 
 length of link, 17 inches ; weight of chain, 27,280 
 pounds; incline, one-half inch to the foot; number 
 of iron rollers under the cradle, 475 ; diameter of 
 rollers, 5 inches ; weight of rollers, 29,093 pounds. 
 A 75-horse-power engine is used in the hauling. This 
 is supplied with power by two return flue steam- 
 boilers IS feet long and 36 inches in diameter. The 
 engine is geared to make one hundred revolutions per 
 minute, which moves the cradle three feet. The ma- 
 chinery was made by C. H. Delamater, New York. 
 The construction and erection of machinery was super- 
 intended by Erastus W. Smith, superintending engi- 
 neer of the "Providence and Stonington Steamship 
 Company." No marine-ways in New York or Boston 
 can compare with these. The first vessel placed on 
 them was the steamer "Narragansett," of the Ston- 
 ington line, rebuilt in the winter of 1879-80, after her 
 collision with the "Stonington." June, 1880, she 
 was taken out and rebuilt again. 
 
 She was completed and launched the last day of 
 August, 1880. 
 
 Since September, 1880, Robert Palmer, Jr., and 
 Simeon W. Ashby have each owned a quarter-interest 
 in the yard, and the firm is " Robert Palmer & Sons." 
 Their yard is one of the most active business centres 
 of New London County, employing now (August, 
 1881) about one hundred and twenty men. The 
 largest vessel ever built in the State is now in process 
 of construction here. It is the new " Rhode Island" 
 steamer, which will take the place in the Providence 
 and Stonington Steamship Company's line of the 
 lost "Rhode Island." It is 345 feet long, 40 feet 
 beam, 82 feet wide over guards, 15J feet deep in lowest 
 place. Robert Palmer & Sons enjoy u, high repu- 
 tation as workmen, and have most of the ship-build- 
 ing and repairing of the New Jersey Central Rail- 
 road. They also number among their large patrons 
 the New York and New England Transfer Company, 
 John II. Starin, and many other large companies. 
 
 Robert Palmer is a man of influence in his towa 
 and church, and throughout a business acquaintance 
 reaching along the whole Atlantic seaboard. Repub- 
 lican in politics, he was sent to represent his town in 
 the State Legislatures of 1858 and 1869. He was an 
 early member of the Noank Baptist Church, and 
 for thirty years has been a deacon. He has a kindly 
 affectionate nature, and cherishes home and friends 
 dearly. He has a winning personal magnetism which 
 makes him many friends. To these he is loyal, and 
 he enjoys to an unusual degree the marked confidence 
 of thebetter portion of society and leading business 
 men. He is generous in the highest degree, and even 
 beyond his ability, in contributhig to religious and 
 charitable objects, and no case of deserving need or 
 suffering ever appealed unsuccessfully to him. He is 
 not only a prominent and leading business man, but, 
 higher yet, a consistent Christian, whose active zeal 
 has done much for the church and society of his 
 locality. 
 
 Hon. Noyes Barber. — Noyes Barber was a de- 
 scendant of Thomas Barber, who came to Boston in 
 the ship "Christian" in the year 1635. Stiles' "His- 
 tory of Windsor" says that Thomas Barber came to 
 that town in the same year in company with Stiles, 
 and was made a freeman in. 1645 ; was a sergeant in 
 the Pequot fight, and was mentioned b,y Capt. Mason 
 in his " Brief History of the Pequot War." Thomas 
 Barber had six children, the oldest of whom was John 
 Barber, who afterwards removed to Springfield col- 
 ony, Mass. His son Thomas had a son Jonathan, 
 who at fourteen years of age entered Yale College, 
 and in the year 1726 graduated from that institution 
 and entered the gospel ministry. When Whitefield 
 came to this country he and Rev. Jonathan Barber 
 became fast friends, and as a consequence of their 
 intimacy Mr. Barber accompanied Mr. Whitefield to 
 Georgia, and had charge of his orphan asylum for 
 seven years. At the expiration of that period of labor 
 he came North, and was settled over the Congrega- 
 tional Church at Oyster Pond, Long Island, for ten 
 years, and in the autumn of 1758 was installed pastor 
 of the church in Groton, Conn. Here he twice re- 
 ceived visits from his friend, Mr. Whitefield, and from 
 a platform projected from the upper windows of the 
 minister's house— which is still standing at Centre 
 Groton — multitudes listened to the eloquence of this 
 wonderful man. One of his sons, John Barber, who 
 lived and died on the spot where his father had lived, 
 was the father of Noyes Barber, his mother being 
 Elizabeth Denison, of Stonington, a lineal descendant 
 of George Denison and Anne Boredil, and his grand- 
 mother (the wife of Rev. Jonathan Barber) the daugh- 
 ter of Thomas Noyes, a physician of Westerly, E. I-, 
 and granddaughter of Rev. James Noyes, the first 
 minister of Stonington, Conn. Noyes Barber was 
 born April 28, 1781, and at eleven years of age en- 
 tered the store of William Eldridge, at the village of 
 Groton, where he served as clerk until at the age of 
 
GROTON. 
 
 473 
 
 twenty he bought out the proprietor and engaged 
 himself in business, marrying tlie same year Catlia- 
 rine Burdick, thus assuming all the responsibilities of 
 manhood, depending solely upon his own energy and 
 skill and the good will of his fellow-citizens. He 
 became one of the largest buyers of farmers' products 
 and dealers in farmers' supplies on the Thames River, 
 and carried on besides a considerable trade with the 
 West Indies, and was interested more or less in the 
 various ventures by sea common in a maritime town. 
 With the pecuniary prosperity which followed his 
 efforts came the approval and consideration of those 
 around him. He was elected captain of his company 
 in the Eighth Regiment of Volunteers, and in the war 
 of 1812 was promoted from captain to major, by which 
 title he was known among his neighlbors until his death. 
 He was summoned to Stonington with the volunteer 
 troops on the 10th of August, 1814, when an attack 
 was made on that town, — a day on which he was to 
 have been married (a second time) to Mrs. Mary Smith, 
 the widow of Elijah Smith, and daughter of Starr 
 Chester; but the marriage, delayed by this event, was 
 consummated the next day. Being a Jeffersonian 
 Republican, Mr. Barber supported Mr. Madison's 
 administration and the war, and while Commodore 
 Decatur was blockaded in New London Harbor he 
 sometimes entertained him and his officers at his 
 house, with other men of prominence in the region 
 of differing political views, and all his life addicted 
 to hospitality, and his house was open not only to 
 men of distinction with whom he had intercourse, 
 but to a large circle of friends who were wont to meet 
 under its r'oof. The Republican party of Jefferson 
 was largely in the ascendant at that time, and with 
 this party Mr. Barber heartily sympathized, and every 
 position of honor and trust within the gift of his 
 fellow-citizens was open to him. 
 
 He was twice elected to the Legislature of Connec- 
 ticut, and in 1821 was nominated for Congress, and 
 elected as a member of the House of Representatives, 
 and returned each successive election until 1835, a 
 period of fourteen years, which ha': not been equaled 
 before or since in this State, except by Benjamin 
 Tallmadge, of Litchfield, who served eighteen years 
 in the House of Representatives. When Mr. Barber 
 took his seat James Monroe was President, and 
 Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Thomas H. Benton, John 
 Q. Adams, and Andrew Jackson were members of 
 Congress. It was a brilliant period in our national 
 history, and though the subject of this sketch could 
 not be reckoned among those who moved the House 
 by the power of his eloquence, he faithfully and dili- 
 gently sought to be useful to his constituents and his 
 country, and was as earnest and untiring in his efforts 
 to serve his political opponents as those who favored 
 his own views. The records of Congress assure us his 
 vote was always recorded in the interest of economical 
 administration of the government, liberality to the 
 nation's benefactors and pensioners, and in favor of 
 
 liberty for the oppressed in our own and other lands. 
 Mr. Barber was appointed on the Committee of Claims, 
 of which Elisha Whittlesey, of Ohio, was chairman, 
 and on this committee he served to the close of his 
 congressional career. It was a committee where much 
 hard and difficult work was to be done, and from all 
 that can be learned two more faithful and laborious 
 men could not be found in the Congress of the United 
 States than Elisha Whittlesey and Noyes Barber. No 
 period in the history of the government has been more 
 often referred to for economy in the administration of 
 its finances and righteousness in the adjustment of its 
 claims. A change came over the politics of our 
 country, and in 1824 the Electoral College failed to 
 elect a President, and the House of Representatives 
 being required to do it, John Quincy Adams was 
 elected over his opponent, Andrew Jackson, and the 
 old JeiJersonian Republican party was disrupted, the 
 Jackson Democracy claiming to be the true Democ- 
 racy ; but not so thought Mr. Barber, and, with the 
 sounder and safer men with whom he followed, he 
 was proscribed by the popular party, though returned 
 to Congress by his constituents. As he had done be- 
 fore so he continued to do, — strive to keep fraudulent 
 claimants from thrusting their hands into the treasury, 
 voting in favor of a measure that for each day's unne- 
 cessary absence of a senator, representative, or dele- 
 gate he shall forfeit his eight dollars, and on a motion 
 to adjourn on the 22d of February, in honor of AVash- 
 ington's birthday, voting adversely with a majority 
 of the House, because, as was said by Mr. Forsyth, 
 of Georgia, "the most respectful tribute the House 
 could pay to the memory of Gen. Washington was a 
 due attention to the discharge of their proper duties." 
 In the bitter contest between Gen. Jackson and the 
 United States Bank Mr. Barber was on the side of 
 the bank, and as an evidence of his practical wisdom 
 Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, said 
 to one of Mr. Barber's descendants that at the time of 
 Jackson's famous veto Webster, Clay, and some of 
 the more distinguished men of the party thought it 
 would render him unpopular, but Mr. Barber said, 
 "No, it won't; where he has had one vote he will 
 have two," and events justified the correctness of his 
 opinion. In 1835, Mr. Barber, though receiving more 
 votes than in any previous election, was, with his 
 party, returned to private life, but in all that con- 
 cerned the welfare of the country his interest did not 
 abate, and he was sent regularly from his town to the 
 Whig conventions of the State. At the last one be- 
 fore his death, being unable to attend because of im- 
 paired health, he wrote to a friend of his inability to 
 be present, and expressing a preference for Clay and 
 Davis as candidates for the Presidency and Vice-Presi- 
 dency, concluding his letter with advice characteristic 
 of the man, " Be bold, have no skulking." He died 
 Jan. 3, 1844, at his home in Groton, and the com- 
 ments 'of the various journals of his own State and 
 others on his life and character were such as his most 
 
474 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 intimate friends know to be only just and true. Tlie 
 National Intelliijencer, of Washington, quoting an 
 eulogy from the New York Courier and Enquirer, 
 says of it, "And far from being chargeable with the 
 usual exaggeration of partial friendship in regard to 
 the dead, utters no more than the literal truth of one 
 of the best men, in both his public and his private 
 character, that it has ever been our fortune to meet," 
 and with the editors oi the' Iidelligencer, Messrs. Gales 
 and Seaton, Mr. Barber was on terms of intimacy. 
 Though not a communicant, Mr. Barber was a con- 
 stant attendant upon the services of the Congrega- 
 tional Church, in which he was reared, and a supporter 
 of the institutions of religion, and his house was one 
 ■where the ministers of the church were cordially re- 
 ceived and hospitably entertained. In these days it 
 is well to review the political life of those who repre- 
 sented the country in its earlier history, when the old- 
 fashioned writers of economy, integrity, and devotion 
 to its best interests were not at a discount, and may a 
 review of the public life of the subject of this sketch 
 prove useful to those who have known of him, though 
 living too late to have known him personally. 
 
 Hon. Elisha Haley. — Elisha Haley, son of Caleb 
 and Mary (Helmes) Haley, was born in Groton, two 
 miles from Mystic Eiver, Jan. 21, 1776. He had in 
 early life the common-school advantages of a farmer's 
 boy, and that was all the schools of the land ever 
 gave him. He continued on the farm with his father 
 until his marriage, July 24, 1803, to Nancy, daughter 
 orNathan Crary, of Groton, and until 1816, when he 
 purchased a little piece of land, and lived with his 
 brother Stephen, in a house on the place now occu- 
 pied by Warren Haley. There he continued to reside 
 until 1846 or 1847, when he removed to Centre Gro- 
 ton, and made his home there until his death, Jan. 
 22, 1859. He was a great student, and acquired much 
 more valuable practical knowledge, than many coUe- 
 giates. He was well developed physically, and had a 
 well-balanced mind. He was stirring and active, a 
 leader in society and iu politics. He knew no such 
 word as fail. Whenever he took hold of a measure 
 or principle it was carried to success. He was never 
 a candidate for any office and failed of an election, 
 and he was popular not only in his own town, but 
 throughout the range of his extended acquaintance. 
 He came from good Democratic stock, and was firm 
 and fearless in the advocacy of those principles. He 
 was intrusted with various important positions in his 
 native town, represented it in the General Assembly 
 of Connecticut for several years, was State senator 
 more than once, and was early elected member of 
 Congress from Connecticut. He was always ready to 
 help every scheme of public improvement. In 1816- 
 18 was largely interested in constructing turnpikes in 
 both Connecticut and Ehode Island, and held stock 
 in several of these companies more or less during his 
 life. He was for several years a captain in the State 
 militia, and was universally respected and honored by 
 
 his townsmen. He was a representative farmer, and 
 owned six hundred broad acres in Groton. Mr.s. 
 Haley was born Nov. 30, 1780, and died Sept. 11, I860. 
 She was a consistent member of the Baptist Church 
 for many years. Their children are Henry, born 
 May 11, 1804; Giles, born Sept. 24, 1805 (deceased); 
 Austin, born May 11, 1810 ; Abby A. (Mrs. AVilliani 
 F. Mitchell), born May 28, 1814; and Eliza, born 
 Nov. 13, 1818. 
 
 Henry has always been a farmer, residing at Centre 
 Groton since 1844; had common-school education 
 taught district school several terms, and married, June 
 15, 1853, Mary Ann, daughter of John B. and Betsey 
 (Haley) Burrows. They have had three children,— 
 Virginia (Mrs. Nelson Morgan ; she has one son, 
 John A.), Betsey A. (Mrs. Albert C. Burrows; she 
 has two daughters), John B. (residing with his father; 
 he has four daughters). Mr. Haley is a quiet, law- 
 abiding citizen, never accepting any public position, 
 even refusing to sit on a jury. He owns about three 
 hundred and fifty acres of land, and, like his father, is 
 a strong Democrat. As long as the Democrats were 
 in power the January meetings were held at the Haley 
 residence, and it was the regular place for holding 
 Democratic caucuses. 
 
 John J. and Deacon A, L. Avery.— Capt. James 
 Avery, the first American ancestor of the numerous 
 Avery families of Groton, was born at Salisbury, 
 England, in 1620, and emigrated to America with his 
 father, Christopher, and for a time settled at Glou- 
 cester, Mass., where he married Joanna Greenslade, 
 and afterwards moved to New London, Conn., where 
 he was granted land, Oct. 19, 1650; had 'the fifth lot 
 of six acres on " Cape Ann Lane," and settled there 
 in 1651. In 1652 and 1653 he with others received 
 grants of land in South Groton. He was a man of 
 mark in the community, was a leading member of 
 the first church organization in New London, and was 
 assessed in 1664 on property valued at two hundred 
 and thirty-six pounds. In June, 1668, with Gary La- 
 tham, was apiiointed by the town to treat with the 
 Mohegan chief Uncas and settle the boundary line, 
 a very important trust; was twelve times deputy to 
 the General Court, for fifteen or twenty years was 
 commissioner (justice), was a noted Indian-fighter, 
 and was in active service through King Philip's war; 
 was assistant judge of the County Court, was chosen 
 townsman in 1660, and held the office twenty-three 
 years.- He removed to Pequonnock between 1660 and 
 1670, and died there in 1694. A part of the house 
 now occupied by James Avery, of Groton, a lineal 
 descendant, was built by him, and has been continu- 
 ously in possession of the family for seven genera- 
 tions. He left several children. 
 
 James Avery, Jr., was born at Gloucester, Mass., 
 Dec. 16, 1646 ; married Deborah, daughter of Edward 
 Stallyon, Feb. 20, 1669; with his wife, stands first on 
 church records of Groton, admitted profession not 
 given. They had twelve children. Mr. Avery died 
 
it 
 Ik m 
 
 hi 
 
JOHN J. AVERY. 
 
c4^^UtT^.(y^^ 
 
GKOTOX. 
 
 475 
 
 Aug. 22, 1728. James Avery (3) married Mary Gris- 
 wold. He was born April 20, 1673, and had eiglit 
 children. The line of descent continues through 
 John, his son, born 1700, married Mary Elizabeth 
 Morgan ; Elijah, baptized Sept. 15, 1734, married 
 Prudence Avery, and had three children, — Caleb, 
 Elizabeth, who married Wm. Eldredge, and John J., 
 to Albert L. 
 
 John J., born March 4, 1776, was therefore in the 
 sixth generation from James (1). He was born in 
 Groton, Conn., as were all his ancestors following 
 James. He was a well-to-do farmer, was modest and 
 unassuming in his manners, owned seven hundred 
 acres of land, was one of Groton's leading farmers, 
 and one of the solid, substantial men of his day. He 
 married Nancy, daughter of James Murdoch, of Say- 
 brook, in 1794, and had twelve children, — Maria M., 
 born Jan. 26, 1796, died July 13, 1867 ; Elijah, born 
 May 27, 1798, died 1834 ; Dean Loy, born Feb. 14, 
 1800, died April, 1824 ; George Anson, born Jan. 28, 
 1802, died May 8, 1856 ; Delia A. (Mrs. Samuel B. 
 Wheeler); Carlton M., born April 24,1806; Court- 
 land, born Dec. 18, 1807 ; Erastus, born Dec. 8, 1809 ; 
 Albert L., born July 12, 1812 ; Oscar F. and Amanda 
 M., born May 24, 1813 ; and Solon C, born May 27, 
 1816, died July, 1854. Mr. Avery was a Whig in 
 politics. He died Oct. 25, 18 — . At this writing (June, 
 1881) Carlton, Amanda, and Albert are the surviving 
 children. 
 
 Albert L. was born on the place in Groton, near 
 the Thames, where F. Bill now resides. He received 
 his education at the district schools of Groton, and 
 the then highly-celebrated " Bacon Academy," at 
 Colchester. His home was with his father until his 
 marriage, March 1 5, 1837, to Phebe Esther, daughter 
 of Deacon Charles Wheeler, of North Stonington. 
 She lived but a short time. 
 
 Immediately after bis marriage Mr. Avery removed 
 to Eastern Point, Groton, and has been resident there 
 since. Quite a marked contrast exists between the 
 state of the Point then and now. Surely if the man 
 who makes two blades of grass grow where only one 
 grew before is a public benefactor, why is not Mr. 
 Avery entitled Lo the same distinction? Here has 
 his life-work been given. The best road in Groton 
 runs from the Point to New London, but when Mr. 
 Avery first came there there was no road for quite a 
 distance, and the rest of the way it was but a gate- road, 
 with five gates to open. The nicely-graded streets, 
 the beautiful villages of cottages, evidences of refined 
 and cultured inmates, are most all indebted to Mr. 
 Avery for their existence. Alone, with far-seeing 
 sagacity, he discerned the opportunity of develop- 
 ment, and in spite of the opposition of neighbors 
 and friends, has convinced them that he was right. 
 He commenced his married life with two hundred and 
 fifty dollars cash capital. The next year he built the 
 house where he now resides, at the cost of one thou- 
 sand dollars, and for ten years improved the land. 
 
 At the expiration of that time he had gotten it nicely 
 into improvement, well stocked, and all improve- 
 ments, stock, etc., paid for except one hundred and 
 twenty dollars. He then purchased the land (three 
 hundred acres) from his father, his brother Erastus 
 purchasing the remainder of his father's possessions 
 in this part of Groton, over three hundred acres more. 
 He ran in debt for the entire purchase-money, eight 
 thousand dollars. He had then conceived the idea, 
 for which some persons called him crazy, of making 
 a watering-place and summer resort of the pleasant 
 point. In pursuance of this object he sold to Capt. 
 Fisk, of the "Ocean House,'' a piece of land for a 
 merely nominal price, to secure the building of an- 
 other house. At that time (1842) there was but Mr. 
 Avery's residence and the " Ocean House" on the 
 point. Since then, by Mr. Avery's persistent labor 
 and energy, a three-rod road was laid out on the bank 
 of the river, about 1871, and in addition to the other 
 residences spoken of, thirty-eight summer residences 
 have been built by wealthy gentlemen from various 
 places. In connection with this improvement, the 
 steamboat " Cecil" was built to ply between New 
 London, Pequot House, Edgecombe House, and Ocean 
 House. The round trip was made every hour through 
 the day during the summer season. The travel in- 
 creased so that in 1880 there were two boats on the same 
 route. (Mr. Avery has a free life-pass on this line for 
 his services in developing Eastern Point.) The boat 
 from Norwich to Watch Hill makes two calls a day, and 
 several other lines .make regular stops. The streets 
 have been made under Mr. Avery's personal supervi- 
 sion, at his expense and the cottage-owners', and al- 
 though done by permission of the selectmen, he has 
 never called on the town for a dollar. He paid nearly 
 four hundred dollars himself to improve one street. 
 Mr. Avery married Joanna B. Wheeler, sister of the 
 first wife, Jan. 1, 1839. She died March 5, 1866. 
 Their children are George A., born March 4, 1840 ; 
 Rebecca W., Jan. 17, 1842; Maria L., Feb. 5, 1844; 
 Martha W., who died aged seven years ; Augustus P., 
 June 11, 1849; John D., June 8, 1852; Jerusha P., 
 Sept. 17, 1855 ; Thomas W., Dec. 26, 1858 ; and An- 
 nie H., April 20, 1861. He married Mrs. Abbie J. 
 Burrows, of Norwich, Feb. 8, 1869. Although never 
 seeking office, Mr. Avery has been called to fill various 
 representative positions, was two terms on State Board 
 of Agriculture, was one of the originators of the New 
 London County Agricultural Society, and served as 
 president two years, declining the " third term." He 
 has at various times been selectman ; was chosen in 
 1865 to represent Groton in the General Assembly of 
 the State. Mr. Avery particularly distinguished him- 
 self in the Legislature by his determined opposition 
 to the attempted removal of the county-seat from 
 New London to Norwich, and by a telling speech and 
 active labors he rendered efficient service and ac- 
 quired great popularity. Mr. Avery has been a con- 
 sistent member of the Congregational Church for 
 
470 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 nearly half a century, and succeeded his brother 
 Erastus, who died in 1878, as deacon. For over fifty 
 years he has diligently labored in the Sabbath-school, 
 holding its superintendency for about twenty years. 
 He was an active member of the building committee 
 in rebuilding of the church, and has shown himself 
 to be a worthy son of worthy sires by his active and 
 cordial support of all things tending to improve man- 
 kind or develop the progress of his native town. He 
 is to-day one of its honored and prominent citizens 
 and a leading man in the community. 
 
 The Burrows Family. — In the early settlement of 
 New England, it is said, there came with the Pilgrims 
 three brothers, John, William, and Eobert Burrows, 
 who being Baptists were driven out by religious per- 
 secution from Manchester, England. One finally 
 settled in Pennsylvania, one in New York, and 
 Eobert, who was one of the first who removed from 
 the vicinity of Boston, Mass., settled in Wethersfield, 
 Conn. He there married a widow, Mary Ireland, 
 prior to 1642. About 1643, Robert, with a few others, 
 made a permanent settlement at Pequot, now New 
 London, Conn. After the organization of the town 
 of New London a special grant of land was made to 
 him, dated June 2, 1650. On the division of the 
 lands vacated by the Pequots in Groton, Robert Bur- 
 rows, John Packer, and Eobert Park settled on the 
 west bank of Mystic Eiver. Mr. Burrows' grant, 
 dated April 3, 1651, was a " parcel of land between 
 the west side of the river and a high mountain of 
 rocks.'' The records also say, " Goodman Robert 
 Burrows was chosen the first ferryman to ferry horse 
 and man across Mystic River for a groat" (four- 
 pence). With his house in New London and his 
 estates at Poquonuock and on the Mystic, he was in 
 1664 the third gentleman in the New London set- 
 tlement in the amount of his taxable property. His 
 children were Samuel and John, both presented to 
 be freemen of the colony in 1669. He died in Groton 
 in August, 1682. John was born in 1642, married 
 Hannah, daughter of Edward Culver, Dec. 14, 1670. 
 Their children were John, Mary, Margaret, Samuel, 
 Robert, Jeremiah, and Isaac. Mr. Burrows was one 
 of the patentees of the amended charter of the New 
 London settlement (1704), that up to this date in- 
 cluded Groton. He was evidently of large property 
 and honorable position. His remains, marked by a 
 large granite slab, marked " J. B., 74, dyed 1716," 
 are in the Wightman burying-ground, near the site 
 of the first meeting-house of the Baptists. He was a 
 ■liberal supporter of the first Baptist Church in Groton, 
 which was also the first in Connecticut. His sons, 
 John, Samuel, Robert, and Jeremiah, Avere in 1712 
 among the "accepted inhabitants of Groton." 
 
 John (2), born in Groton, 1671, married Lydia, 
 daughter of Hugh and Jane (Latham) Hubbard, 
 Oct. 14, 1700. Their children were John, Lydia, Mary, 
 Hubbard, Hannah, Silas, Abigail, and Amos. He died 
 in 1752. His remains, with those of his wife, Lydia, 
 
 are in the old Packer burying-ground, in Groton, on 
 the southwestern slope of Pequot Hill. John (3) 
 was born in Groton, Nov. 14, 1701, became both 
 farmer and ship-carpenter, married Desire, daughter 
 of Capt. James Packer. They had thirteen children, 
 of whom Mary, Lydia, Phebe, Lucretia, Waity, De- 
 sire, Nabby, John, Nathan, and Daniel attained 
 maturity. The mother, Desire, died in 1808, aged 
 ninety-three. Of her tradition relates that once, 
 seeing great flocks of pigeons flying past the hill 
 where she lived (now Cliffs Hill), she took a gun 
 and by a single shot brought down more than a score; 
 and also, during the extremely cold winter of 1740-41, 
 she, in a huge chopping-tray for a sled, darted from 
 her chamber-window eastward over the snow-filled 
 valley far away across the river. Nathan, born in 
 1744, married, first, Amy Williams, June 2, 1765; 
 second, Sarah Williams, 1788. By his-first wife he 
 had eleven children, — Joseph, Waity, George, Betsey, 
 Amy, Abigail, James, Nancy, Experience, Lydia, 
 and Desire ; by his second wife seven, — Benjamin, 
 Jesse, Nathan, Simeon, Betsey, Edward (1), and 
 Edward (2). During the Revolution he made two 
 trips with ox-teams from Groton to Boston, Mass., 
 conveying supplies to the patriot army. He died 
 Aug. 18, 1808, in Chenango County, N. Y., whither 
 he had removed. 
 
 Capt. Benjamin Burrows, Sr., was born in Grc- 
 ton, near Mystic River, Oct. 20, 1789. He was oldest 
 child of Nathan and Sarah (Williams) Burrows. He 
 received his education at the common schools of his 
 native town. His parents moving about 1805 to Che- 
 nango County, N. Y., he accompanied them, but not 
 liking a farm-life, he obtained his father's consent to 
 return to Connecticut and follow a seafaring Ufe. 
 He was then about seventeen. He accompanied an 
 uncle on foot to Jersey City, and after reaching his 
 destination he at once went sailing on a fishing-smack, 
 and for nearly a quarter of a century was engaged on 
 the sea as a fisherman. In that pursuit he went as far 
 south as Florida. He was not long in becoming not 
 only captain but owner. One of his smacks was 
 sunk during the war of 1812 to keep her out of the 
 enemy's hands. He enlisted in the " Sea Fencible" 
 at that period, and drew a pension for his services. 
 He was for a long time a member of the Fort Hill 
 Baptist Church, which was the first organization of 
 that denomination in the State. Capt. Burrows was 
 a true type of the old New England man, of plain, 
 simple habits and clear perceptions, resolute, of great 
 energy and force of character, penetrating in reading 
 character, keen to observe, and could unerringly de- 
 tect a sham or fraud in any one. If he had been 
 educated for the bar he would have stood pre-eminent 
 as a lawyer. He was four times married, — to Rebecca 
 Thompson (born June 14, 1787 ; died Nov. 23, 1842), 
 March 17, 1808 ; to Lucy Perkins, Nov. 10, 1844; to 
 
 (Y.) Williams (date unknown); to Sarah (E.) 
 
 Holdredge, Nov. 22, 1864. By his first wife he had 
 
BENJAMIN BUEROWS, Sr. 
 
^ >-l 
 
 OALVIN BURROWS. 
 
GROTON. 
 
 477 
 
 thirteen children,— Nathan (deceased), William T. 
 (deceased), Hannah (Mrs. Franklin Gallup, deceased), 
 Benjamin, Calvin, Edwin S. (deceased), Eoswell S. and 
 Eufus S. (twins, both deceased), Sarah E. (Mrs. Frank- 
 lin Gallup), Simeon S., Mary Ann (Mrs. Geo. W. 
 Morgan, deceased), George. By his second wife he had 
 two children, — Lorenzo D. and Daniel L. (both of 
 these were soldiers in the civil war, and died in 1863, 
 while in service). Capt. Burrows died March 27, 
 1876. From a communication to the Norwich Weekly 
 Courier of April 5, 1876, we extract the following: 
 
 Capt. Benjamin Burrows, Sr., one of our oldest and 
 a highly-respected citizen, passed away on Monday, 
 27th ultimo, after an illness of only a few days, at the 
 house of his son, Benjamin Burrows, Jr., at the age of 
 -eighty-six years and five months. Capt. Burrows 
 was one of a family of eighteen children of Nathan 
 Burrows, of Mystic, living in the house now occupied 
 by Col. Amos Clift, in the north part of our village, 
 his parents removing to Greene township, Chenango 
 Co., N. Y., about 1804. Benjamin came back to his 
 native village in 1806, walking to Jersey City, and 
 coming over to New York, where he embarked on 
 board a Mystic fishing-smack for his place of desti- 
 nation. He then shipped on board a fishing-vessel, 
 and spent the next twenty-two years of his life as a 
 fisherman or marketman at Charleston, S. C, and in 
 New York City. He was known as an enterprising 
 captain in this trade. 
 
 He became an extensive land-owner after he gave 
 up going on the water. Capt. Burrows was a volun- 
 teer in the last war with England, and received a land- 
 warrant. He cast his first vote for President Madi- 
 son in 1812, voting at every succeeding Presidential 
 election to the last, viz. : for Monroe, Adams, and with 
 the anti-Jackson, Whig, and Republican parties. But 
 though punctual and reliable at the polls, he would 
 never take ofiice nor suffer his name to be used. 
 When elected a justice of the peace, and well qualified 
 for such a position, he would not accept. He was a 
 man of sterling virtues, his firmness resembling the 
 old Roman, but he had a kind heart, and his depart- 
 ure will be sincerely mourned, not only among his 
 children and their descendants, but by all who knew 
 him. He was interred in the family burying-place 
 upon Fort Hill. 
 
 Capt. Benjamin Burrows, Jr., son of Benjamin 
 and Rebecca Burrows, was born Feb. 6, 1815. He 
 received a common school education, and when but ten 
 years old accompanied his father on a cruise to Ha- 
 vana. When seventeen he went to sea as a sailor 
 before the mast. After one year became mate of 
 schooner " Bolivar" for one season ; sailed as mate of 
 several vessels. In 1838 became captain of the 
 schooner " Talma," in Southern and coasting trade, 
 and continued in this avocation until 1872, when he 
 retired from the sea and entered into the coal trade 
 at Mystic River, in which he is yet engaged. He is 
 a solid man of Groton, well respected and esteemed. 
 81 
 
 He has been a member of the Baptist Church since 
 1835. In politics he has been a Whig and Republi- 
 can, and represented Groton in the Legislature of 
 1864. 
 
 He married, July 25, 1838, Sarah A., daughter of 
 Thomas and Sarah (Avery) Hammond. She lived 
 
 CAPT. BENJAMIN BUKEOWS, JR. 
 
 only two years. He married, Oct. 23, 1854, Ann M., 
 daughter of Urbane and Amanda Avery. Their chil- 
 dren were Elizabeth A. and Benjamin F. Mrs. Bur- 
 rows died April 12, 1860. For his third wife he mar- 
 ried, March 26, 1867, Frances L., daughter of Isaac 
 and Levina (Fish) Denison, of Mystic Bridge. Capt. 
 Benjamin is pjrudent and careful, of good business 
 faculties and judgments, and has been prospered in 
 his undertakings through the most of his life. 
 
 Calvin Burrows, son of Benjamin and Rebecca 
 (Thompson) Burrows, was born in Groton, Conn., 
 March 22, 1817. He was brought up in Groton, re- 
 ceiving his education at the common schools, and re- 
 mained with his father's family till he was twenty- 
 two years old, when he went as a sailor in fishing-ves- 
 sels for several years. About 1851, Mr. Burrows, in 
 company witli Capt. Darwin Rogers and others, fitted 
 out the schooner " Edward L. Frost" for a voyage to 
 California. They had a pleasant trip of one hundred 
 and seventeen days to San Francisco. On account of 
 ill health Capt. Burrows only remained in California 
 eight months, wdien he returned to Connecticut. 
 After he regained his health he again went fishing, 
 and continued at that avocation until the fall of 
 1855, when he went West, and purchased a farm of 
 one hundred and sixty acres, and became a farmer. 
 He returned to Connecticut on a visit in the spring of 
 
478 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1864. His father, being then advanced in years, de- 
 sired him to purchase the old homestead and remain 
 near him. Calvin at last did so, and since that time 
 has followed farming on Pequonnock Plains. 
 
 He has been twice married, first to Mary A., daugh- 
 ter of Nathan Niles. She died May 27, 1840. He 
 married, April 11, 1842, Catherine, daughter of Zebe- 
 diah and Eunice (Packer) Gates, of an old Groton 
 family. His children are Calvin (captain of steamer 
 "Anna Gallup"), Alice (deceased), Jane (deceased), 
 Esther (Mrs. Elisha Williams), Julia (Mrs. Franklin 
 Manier), and Charles (deceased). Both Mr. and Mrs. 
 Burrows are Baptists. He has been a Eepublican 
 since 1856. Has never held office. By economy, in- 
 dustry, and prudence has attained a handsome com- 
 petency, and is held in high esteem by his fellow- 
 townsmen for his good judgment and practical 
 common sense. He is to-day one of Groton's suc- 
 cessful farmers. 
 
 Franklin Gallup. — Capt. John Gallop and Chris- 
 tobel, his Avife, came to America with John Win- 
 throp's company in 1630, and settled in Dorchester. 
 They subsequently lived for a time on an island in 
 Boston Harbor, which yet bears the name of " Gal- 
 lop's Island." He had a house and lot in Boston, 
 which he occupied alternately with his island home. 
 He joined the first church of Boston, Jan. 6, 1634, 
 and was made a freeman in April following. In 
 naval history he is credited with having fought the first 
 naval battle on the Atlantic coast. He died February, 
 1649. His wife survived him, dying Oct. 27, 1655. 
 They had four children, — Joan, John (2), Samuel, 
 and Nathaniel. The dates of their birth are unknown. 
 His estate, inventoried before the County Court, April, 
 1649, amounted to three hundred and eleven pounds 
 ten shillings and eightpence. The will of Widow 
 Gallop, made Aug. 24, 1655, disposed of property, 
 money, and household goods inventoried at thirty-six 
 pounds and fourteen shillings. 
 
 John (2) married Hannah, daughter of Widow 
 Margaret Lake, who resided with Governor John 
 Winthrop's family. They had nine children, — Han- 
 nah, John (3), Benadam, William, Samuel, Christobel, 
 Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret. John (2) was old enough 
 to serve in the Pequot war with the Massachusetts 
 forces, who arrived at New London, Conn., in June, 
 1637. These forces united with Mason and his second 
 levy of troops, and drove the Pequots to New Haven 
 and beyond. He was probably born in 1616 or 1617, 
 and was nearly sixty years of age when he was killed 
 in the great swamp-fight at Kingston, R. I., in 1675. 
 He was known as " Capt. John Gallup, famed in In- 
 dian warfare." (John Gallup, son of Capt. John 
 Gallup, resided with his father in and around Boston 
 until 1640, when he left and subsequently lived at 
 Taunton, Mass., then Plymouth Colony. In 1651 he 
 removed to New London, Conn., thence to Stonington 
 in 1654, and represented that town in General As- 
 sembly in 1665 and 1667.) Benadam Gallup, son of 
 
 Capt. John Gallup, was born in 1656. He married 
 Esther, daughter of John and Hester Prentice, of 
 New London. They had seven children, — Hannah 
 Esther, Marcey, Benadam, Joseph (1), Margaret, and 
 Lucy. 
 
 Joseph (1), son of Benadam, born Sept. 27, 1695, 
 and married Eunice, daughter of John and Martha 
 (Wheeler) Williams, Feb. 24, 1720. They had nine 
 children, — Martha, Joseph (2), Elisha, Oliver, Eunice 
 William, Eunice, Benadam, and Lucy. 
 
 Joseph (2), called "Captain," was born Feb. 26, 
 1725, and married Mary, daughter of Joseph and 
 Sarah Gardiner, May 18, 1749. Their ten children 
 were Joseph (died aged three years), Sarah, Joseph (3), 
 John, Lucretia, Phebe, Gardiner, Jonathan, Esther, 
 and Gurdon. Capt. Joseph Gallup died Feb. 21, 1778, 
 aged fifty-five years. JHis wife survived him, dying 
 July 11, 1802, aged seventy-two. Both were bnried 
 in the Ashby burial-ground at Pequonnock Bridge. 
 
 Gurdon Gallup, of Groton, youngest child of Capt. 
 Joseph Gallup, was born Dec. 18, 1771. He became 
 a farmer at Pequonnock, and in connection therewith 
 a carpenter and ship-builder as well. He built three 
 vessels — the " Atlas," the " Blossom," and another— 
 right opposite his residence. In the great September 
 gale of 1815 one vessel was driven by the wind nearly 
 one-fourth of a mile up the river, and was left near 
 the old Morgan cemetery. He married Sibell, daugh- 
 ter of Giles and Lucy Capron, Feb. 15, 1795, in 
 Preston, Conn., where she was born Feb. 25, 1771. 
 They had nine children, — Lucy, Gurdon, Grace, 
 Frederic, Joseph, Giles, Mary A., Sabra, and Frank- 
 lin. He died at Noank, Conn., Dec. 17, 1847, aged 
 seventy-five. His wife died April 9, 1852, at Water- 
 ford, Conn., aged eighty -one. Both are buried in the 
 Ashby burying-ground. 
 
 Franklin Gallup, youngest child of Gurdon and 
 Sibell Gallup, was born in Pequonnock, Aug. 18, 1812, 
 within a few rods of where he now resides. He had 
 only the advantages of the common schools of Pequon- 
 nock, and remained with his parents until his twenty- 
 second birthday, when he married Hannah, daughter 
 of Capt. Benjamin and Rebecca (Thompson) Burrows, 
 of Mystic River. His father then removed to Noank, 
 and Franklin continued as farmer on the old home. 
 The children of Mr. Gallup by this marriage were 
 Hannah B. (who married Rev. A. C. Bronson, Baptist 
 clergyman at Lebanon, Conn.), Benjamin Franklin, 
 Loren A., Frederic, and Sarah A. Mrs. Gallup died 
 Jan. 2, 1843, on her father's farm at Pequonnock, 
 which place they lived on and worked in connection 
 with Mr. Gallup's own farm, a short distance away. 
 He married, April 9, 1843, Sarah E. Burrows, sister of 
 his first wife. She was born Feb. 19, 1823. Their 
 children areSimeon S. (deceased), EdwinS. (deceased), 
 Frances D. (Mrs. O. P. Howell, of Port Jervis, N. Y.), 
 Adelaide (Mrs. G. AV. Atkins, of Indianapolis, Ind.), 
 Walter L. (also of Indianapolis), Roswell B. (de- 
 ceased), Lucy M. (Mrs. William R. Avery, of Cin- 
 
x^.j^-^«>^-^>«-*^- ,y '^^' 
 
 c 
 
t^-^^sstfrvC'&^S a..^ 
 
GROTON. 
 
 479 
 
 cinnati, Ohio, deceased), Elmer E. (of Indianapolis), 
 Alice E., and Florence E. 
 
 April 1, 1848, a most distressing calamity fell upon 
 Mr. Gallup and family. His dwelling, with entire 
 contents, — furniture, money, etc., — was burned, with 
 no insurance. The fire was so extremely rapid in its 
 work of destruction that all who were saved were 
 scorched and blistered, and Sarah A., a girl of five 
 years, was burned to death. None of the family, in- 
 cluding his aged mother, then living with him, had 
 scarcely anything to wear, and they were scattered 
 through the community, one at one place and one 
 at another. His numerous friends gave Mr. Gallup 
 liberal aid, and by their kind assistance he had, in 
 a few months' time, his present residence completed 
 on the site of the burned one. After three years' 
 residence here he sold it, bought a farm in Waterford, 
 lived there four years, sold it, repurchased his old 
 home at Pequonnock, and entered into partnership 
 with Col. H. D. Morgan, with the firm-name of Mor- 
 gan & Gallup, for the manufacture of menhaden or 
 "bony-fish" oil. The first season they manufactured 
 over twelve hundred barrels. This partnership con- 
 tinued till 1856, when Mr. Gallup sold out his interest 
 therein, and, with his son Frederic and others, formed 
 a new company in the same business on the coast of 
 Maine. This business is still continued as Gallup, 
 Morgan & Co. The manufacture of this oil has in 
 the past been extremely profitable, not so much so of 
 recent years from the vast number of competing firms. 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Gallup have for about thirty-five 
 years been members of the Baptist Church, and are 
 liberal in support of all good works. Mr. Gallup in 
 early life was a Democrat, but has acted with the Re- 
 publican party since 1856. He has been selectman 
 several terms, held various other town ofiices, and en- 
 joys in a high degree the confidence and esteem of 
 his townsmen. His large family of children has been 
 well educated; they are intelligent and worthy, and 
 are filling their places in life so as to cast credit on 
 the parental care and guidance around the old home 
 hearth. The worthy father and mother are passing 
 on through life's declining day, and, with patience and 
 a well-grounded hope of a reunion hereafter, await 
 the twilight. 
 
 Albert Latham. — From the first settlement of the 
 New Loudon plantation has the name of Latham 
 been associated with the active growth and develop- 
 ment of this part of Connecticut. 
 
 Gary Latham in 1654 was awarded a lease and 
 monopoly of the ferry over Pequot River at the town 
 of Pequot (now New London, on the Thames) for 
 fifty years from March 25, 1655, and, as lessee of the 
 ferry, he was the first to reside at Groton Bank. He 
 was a man of sterling worth, of value and strength in 
 the community ; served in various town offices ; was 
 "townsman'' or selectman for sixteen years, and was 
 six times deputy to the General Court, from May, 
 1664, to 1670. He left several children, and his large 
 
 grants of land enriched his descendants. His death 
 occurred in 1685. 
 
 Albert Latham, Esq., son of Capt. William and 
 Eunice Latham, was born May 5, 1787. Capt. Latham 
 was a farmer, and lived where William F. Mitchell 
 now resides, on the homestead of the Lathams. He 
 was a man of great force of character ; was in 1778 
 captain of artillery at Groton, in the regular Conti- 
 nental army. He removed from Roxbury, where he 
 was on duty for a time, to Fort Griswold a short time 
 previous to the descent of the British under Benedict 
 Arnold, and was in command of that fort when Col. 
 Ledyard made it his headquarters. He was in the 
 massacre at the fort and was wounded there. He 
 died of smallpox. Albert was youngest of nine chil- 
 dren. He stayed with his mother on the farm, his 
 father's death occurring when he was small. He had 
 a common-school education; was indentured to Sam- 
 uel Edgecomb to learn the cabinet trade. After 
 serving five years, his energies could not be satisfied 
 by serving longer, and buying of Mr. Edgecomb 
 the two remaining years of his time, he commenced 
 the business for himself, establishing his 'shop at Gro- 
 ton Bank, and continued there many years. He pur- 
 chased land near Fort Griswold about 1820 and en- 
 gaged in farming. In agriculture, as in everything 
 else, he was successful, and was considered one of the 
 model farmers of Groton. He afterwards purchased 
 quite largely of land in various localities in Groton. 
 He was a man of action, but not of many words. 
 When aroused he had tremendous energy, and rarely 
 failed to accomplish whatever he set out to do. He 
 stood well in the estimation of his townspeople, and 
 was often honored by their preference of him to dis- 
 charge important public trusts, and for many years 
 represented Groton in the State Legislature, and was 
 also chosen State senator by his district. He was a 
 prominent man in the counsels of his political party, 
 and ever a standard-bearer in its conflicts. Brought 
 up in the school of Thomas Jefferson, there was no 
 middle ground to his Democracy. He deemed the 
 Constitution the bulwark of our liberties, and would 
 sanction no intrusion upon its sanctity. Honesty, 
 integrity, and economy in the management of public 
 affairs were cardinal principles in his platform, and 
 always were observed to the letter. Reared among a 
 people who suffered the most fearful ravages of war 
 for devotion to principle and love of liberty, he would 
 give time, money, anything he possessed, to preserve 
 the liberty so dearly bought, and for the principles 
 he deemed necessary to preserve it. He was a liberal 
 supporter and advocate of all things tending to ele- 
 vate and improve mankind. 
 
 He married, April 25, 1812, Nancy, daughter of 
 Francis and Mary (Leeds) Mitchel. She was born 
 Sept. 26, 1787, almost directly across the street from 
 the house where she now lives, and which for nearly 
 sixty years has been her home. She is of French ex- 
 traction. Her father came from France when a child. 
 
480 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 with his parents, to Stonington, Conn., where they 
 located. Mr. Latham's children, six in number, were 
 all sons, viz. . Albert Gallatin, of Providence, E. 
 I.; James Madison, deceased; Francis William, of 
 Brownsville, Texas ; David, died in infancy ; Charles 
 P., deceased; and Andrew Jackson, of Chicago, 111. 
 Mr. Latham died June 20, 1869, much regretted by 
 all. Mrs. Latham, at the advanced age of nearly 
 ninety-four years, survives him, and is a remarkably 
 good type of the woman of the " time that tried men's 
 souls." Her memory is good, and she is as active as 
 a woman in the prime of life. Her reminiscences 
 of the " old times" are vivid and faithful in their 
 portraiture, and, with many pleasant memories of the 
 years of her wedded life, she is waiting till the sum- 
 mons comes to meet her much-loved husband on the 
 " other shore." 
 
 Capt. Gurdon Gates, — Gurdon Gates, son of Zeb- 
 ediah and Eunice (Packer) Gates, was born in Groton, 
 April 15, 1814. His father was a farmer, and Gur- 
 don remained with him, receiving a common-school 
 education, until he was eighteen years old, when he 
 went to sea before the mast, and five years after, in 
 1837, he became master of the schooner "EmeHne,"of 
 the Southern coasting trade. He commanded her 
 three years, then commanded brig " Republic" three 
 years, brig " Metamora" two years, bark "Montauk" 
 three years. In 1850 took command of ship " Wm. 
 H. Wharton," in European, California, and China 
 trade. He was in her three years, then in ship " Elec- 
 tric" three years, and ship " Twilight" four years. 
 In 1862, Capt. Gates took charge of the steamship 
 transport " United States" for six months in United 
 States service. He then ran her between New York 
 and New Orleans as a packet until 1872, when she 
 was cast ■away on East Florida coast. Capt. Gates 
 then terminated his maritime career, and has since 
 resided in Groton as a farmer. In politics was for- 
 merly a Whig, and a Republican from 1856. He en- 
 joys to a high degree the confidence and esteem of 
 the people of his native town, and has by them been 
 called to various important stations. He has been 
 for eight successive years committeeman in charge of 
 his school district, is a member of Board of Relief, a 
 director of First National Bank of Mystic Bridge, and 
 for the last two years has represented Groton in the 
 State Legislature. 
 
 Capt. Gates married, June 11, 1839, Esther D., 
 daughter of Isaac and Esther (Dennison) Miner, of 
 Stonington. They had one child, William Henry. 
 He was lost ofi' Cape Horn in a storm when only 
 nineteen years old. 
 
 Capt. Gates married Martha, daughter of Jonathan 
 and Anna (Brown) Phelps, of Stonington, Oct. 25, 
 1853. Their children are Mary S. (deceased), Gur- 
 don, Henry, Joseph P. (deceased), Kariska S., N. 
 Stanton, and Louise P. Capt. Gates has owned an 
 interest in every vessel he has ever commanded, and 
 is still largely interested in vessels. He is a straight- 
 
 forward, honest man, never idle, and a good repre- 
 sentative of the seafaring element of Groton. He is 
 considered by all a man of much ability and a care- 
 ful, far-seeing, conservative person. His advice is 
 often sought and heeded as valuable by the best citi- 
 zens of his and adjacent towns. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIIL 
 
 LEBANON. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — Indian History — Po-que-chan-neeg— 
 The First White Proprietor — Maj. John Mason — The Claim of Oweneoo 
 ■ — The First Settlement — First Meeting of Inhabitants — Organization 
 of the Town — Organization of Church' — Formation of " Train-Band" 
 — Town Votes — Military Enterprise — The Revolution— Town -Meet- 
 ing of April, 1770^Sub8equent Military Events — Governor Trumbull, 
 etc. 
 
 The town of Lebanon lies in the northwestern part 
 of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north 
 by Tolland and Windham Counties, Conn., on the 
 east by Windham County and the towns of Franklin 
 and Bozrah, on the south by Franklin, Bozrah, and 
 Colchester, and on the west by Colchester and Tol- 
 land County. The surface is moderately hilly, the 
 soil fertile and well adapted to agricultural pursuits. 
 It is one of the leading agricultural towns in the 
 county. 
 
 In presenting the history of Lebanon it is deemed 
 advisable to reproduce as introductory an historical 
 address delivered in Lebanon, July 4, 1876, by Rev. 
 Orlo D. Hine, pastor of the First Church. Herein is 
 embodied a mass of valuable information bearing 
 upon the history of the town. Mr. Hine is an enthu- 
 siast in matters of historic lore, and in this address he 
 builded better than he knew, and delivered an ad- 
 dress that will live as long as Lebanon itself has an 
 existence. The article is reproduced by permission 
 of Mr. Hine, to whom we are under special obliga- 
 tions. 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 The territory which now constitutes the town of 
 Lebanon, called by the Indians, as to its main part, 
 Po-que-chan-neeg, was originally claimed by the In- 
 dian chief Uncas. He belonged to the Pequot tribe, 
 which had its seat in the present town of Stonington, 
 near the village of Mystic. He was of the royal 
 family, and married a princess of the royal family of 
 the same tribe. Aspiring to the leadership of the 
 tribe by means decidedly crooked and summary, and 
 failing in his rash purpose, he was obliged to secede, 
 and with a few adherents withdrew across the Pequot, 
 now the Thames River, where he established himself 
 on lands which have since been held by the remnant 
 of Indians, in the present town of Montville. Here 
 he set up a claim to a territory twenty-two milea 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 481 
 
 wide, bounded on the east by the Thames River, and 
 on the west by the Connecticut, and extending from 
 the sea-shore north indefinitely, embracing large por- 
 tions of the present territory of Tolland and Wind- 
 ham Counties. This included the tract which formed 
 this town. 
 
 After the destruction of the Pequot fort at Mystic 
 by Maj. Mason, in 1637, Uncas seems to have been 
 so impressed by the bravery and power of the Eng- 
 lish, and to have felt so strongly that if he had their 
 friendship they could defend him against any enemy, 
 he ceded from time to time to his many friends among 
 the white settlers, and to the colony of Connecticut, 
 all his lands and possessions, reserving to himself 
 certain rights and privileges. 
 
 The first proprietor of land within the limits of this 
 town was Maj. John Mason. In 1663 the General 
 Assembly of the colony gave him for meritorious ser- 
 vices five hundred acres of land, which he might take, 
 as he should choose, in any unoccupied territory in 
 the colony. Norwich had then purchased to the line 
 which now divides Franklin and Lebanon. Mason 
 came just across that line, and selected his five hun- 
 dred acres in the southwestern part of the town, in 
 what is now the society of Goshen, that section being 
 called by the Indians Pomakuk. This laud was sur- 
 veyed and formally conveyed to him in 1665. 
 
 In 1666 the General Assembly gave Rev. James 
 Fitch, who came from Saybrook to Norwich, and was 
 the first pastor of the church there, and son-in-law of 
 Mason, one hundred and twenty acres of land adjoin- 
 ing Mason's tract. Subsequently Oweneco, son and 
 successor of Uncas, gave to Eev. Mr. Fitch, for favors 
 received, a tract five miles long and one wide, which 
 is described as extending from the southwestern cor- 
 ner of the town, next to the tracts already mentioned, 
 along the Franklin line, to near the Willimantic 
 River. According to this description, it was nearer 
 seven than five miles long; but surveys had not then 
 been made, and boundaries were very loosely drawn. 
 This is familiarly known as " Fitche's, or Mason and 
 Fitche's mile." 
 
 In 1692, Oweneco, who still claimed a sort of own- 
 ership in unoccupied lands here, sold and conveyed 
 to four proprietors — Capt. Samuel Mason and Capt. 
 John Stanton, of Stonington, and Capt. Benjamin 
 Brewster and Mr. John Birchard, of Norwich — a tract 
 called the " Five-mile purchase," adjoining and north- 
 west of " Mason and Fitche's mile," so called. The 
 General Assembly of the colony in 1705 confirmed 
 this deed of Oweneco, and at the same time, and by 
 the same instrument, confirmed a deed from these 
 four proprietors, conveying all their rights and inter- 
 ests in this tract and all that pertained to it to fifty- 
 one persons named who had taken lots, most of whom 
 were inhabitants here. 
 
 Adjoining this on the north and northwest was the 
 Clark & Dewey purchase, made by William Clark, 
 of Saybrook, and Josiah Dewey, of Northampton, 
 
 Mass., in 1700, of Oweneco and Abimelech, Indian 
 chiefs, claiming the rights which Uncas had had; 
 and the deed was also signed by English persons who 
 had gained titles of some sort to portions of the tract. 
 This purchase embraced the northern portion of this 
 town, as it now is, and a part and perhaps the whole 
 of Columbia. 
 
 These several tracts, with two smaller sections, one 
 called the gore, and another the mile and a quarter 
 propriety, constituted the original territory of this 
 goodly town of Lebanon, which one hundred and 
 eighty years ago was a wilderness. 
 
 The four proprietors — Mason, Stanton, Brewster, 
 and Birchard — evidently designed that the " Five- 
 mile purchase'' and "Mason & Fitche's mile" should 
 form the main part of a plantation, and that this 
 street, since called Town Street, should be the centre, 
 and under their direction the street was laid out, and 
 the land adjoining it allotted. 
 
 Having in view the earliest establishment and 
 most eificient maintenance of the worship of God 
 and the means of education, the land along the street 
 was divided into home-lots of forty-two acres each, 
 and there were second and third lots lying back of 
 these, and in other parts of the town. Every one 
 taking a home-lot was entitled to a lot of the other 
 divisions. In this they seem to have had in view 
 access to water in the streams running each side of 
 this ridge, and the possession of meadow-land in the 
 valleys. The second and third divisions, taken from 
 unoccupied land in other parts of the town, were as- 
 signed by lot, and hence were literally lots. 
 
 This broad street and open common, which became 
 so marked a feature of the place, seems to have been 
 formed in this way : Originally it was a dense alder- 
 swamp. When the settlers came to build their houses 
 they would of course set them on the dryer ground of 
 the edge of the slopes, extending back on each side. 
 Thus between the lines of dwellings there was left 
 this swampy space, varying in width, but in general 
 some thirty rods wide. Of course it was owned by 
 the original fifty-one proprietors of the " Five-mile 
 purchase." 
 
 They were organized, had their ofiicers, meetings, 
 and records. They performed acts of ownership of 
 the land in this street, as of other common, undivided 
 land in the purchase; and in 1808 (by William Wil- 
 liams and the second Governor Trumbull, as their 
 representatives) gave to Deacon Samuel Buckingham 
 a deed of a portion of the common in front of his 
 premises, and received of him forty dollars as the 
 price. They had meetings at a still later date. 
 
 The actual settlement of the plantation began in 
 1695, and its increase appears to have been rapid, the 
 number of grants and allotments bearing date No- 
 vember of that year being more than fifty. The Five- 
 mile purchase evidently came then to be fully open 
 for occupancy, and settlers rushed in. They came 
 from different quarters, some from Norwich, others 
 
482 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 from Northampton, still others from other places in 
 this colony and in that of Massachusetts. 
 
 Lebanon has been spoken of as originally a depend- 
 ence of Norwich. No part of its territory was ever 
 embraced in the Nine-miles square, which constituted 
 the territory of Norwich, or was ever under the juris- 
 diction of Norwich ; and there is no evidence that a 
 majority of the early settlers came from that town, — 
 the Clarks, the Deweys, the Trumbulls, the Strongs 
 came from other places. 
 
 The inhabitants held a meeting in 1698, and the 
 earliest record of the town or settlement, as it was 
 properly called, was then made. 
 
 In 1697, under the direction of the first four pur- 
 chasers and proprietors, a lot was set apart for a 
 minister, to be his, when in an orderly way he should 
 be settled among them, and, as worthy of note, it 
 was one of the best lots through the whole length of 
 the street, near and directly opposite the spot which 
 had been selected as the site of the meeting-house. 
 It was the land which the Lyman family and Mr. 
 Asher P. Smith now occupy. And in a house which 
 stood a little south of Mr. Smith's dwelling the first 
 minister, Joseph Parsons, from Northampton, Mass., 
 is supposed to have lived. 
 
 The first inhabitants, of course, had to struggle with 
 the inconveniences and hardships of a new country. 
 Where these dwellings and gardens and farms now 
 are all was forest, and, as we infer from the moisture 
 of the soil and from other evidence, with a thick 
 undergrowth. 
 
 It serves to indicate their condition that in 1700 
 they took action in reference to a grist-mill, and the 
 plantation offered Mr. Joseph Parsons, of Northamp- 
 ton, afterwards of Norwich, as we infer, the father of 
 the minister, as an encouragement to build such a 
 mill, one hundred and twenty acres of land, provided 
 he would maintain it ten years. From the fact that 
 the road running west from the brick church was cut to 
 this mill, the conclusion is warranted that it was built 
 near where the present mill on that road stands. The 
 first saw-mill was built a little below where Hinckley's 
 mill now is, in a tract called "Burnt Swamp." 
 
 In 1699, four years after the settlement of the planta- 
 tion really began, the General Assembly, at its May 
 session, " ordained and appointed a committee to view 
 the lands at Lebanon, and to consider what quantity 
 may be allowed for a plantation there, and to make 
 return to the General Court in October next." There 
 were various "lands"— not a few tracts here— held 
 under different titles and with uncertain boundaries. 
 Though the inhabitants had met to consider their 
 interests, and had their officers, they had not been 
 legally organized, and had not been recognized as a 
 town. 
 
 At the fall session of the General Court there is 
 made a record of this sort : " Whereas differences be- 
 tween Lebanon and Colchester hath proved much to 
 the prejudice of both places, and impedimentall to 
 
 their comfortable proceedings in the settlement thereof, 
 these proposals are the nearest that can be agreed 
 unto which here follow." The bounds are then given 
 as agreed upon by Joseph Parsons for Lebanon, Na- 
 thaniel Foot and Michael Taintor for Colchester. 
 The line thus determined was " approved and con- 
 firmed to be the standing divident line between the 
 above-named towns, the rest of the bounds to be 
 according to the return of the committee in 1699." 
 
 And further, " This Assembly doth grant to the in- 
 habitants of the town of Lebanon all such immunities, 
 privileges, and powers as generally other towns within 
 this colony have and doe enjoy." There is then an 
 order as to the rates for defraying the local charges in 
 the town, and the record proceeds: " Free liberty is 
 by this Assembly given to the town of Lebanon to 
 embody themselves in church estate there, and also 
 to call and settle an orthodoxe minister to dispense 
 the ordinances of God to them, they proceeding 
 therein with the consent of neighbor churches, as the 
 lawe in such cases doth direct." 
 
 The people acted on these grants of privilege, and 
 the town was formally organized in 1700. The church 
 was embodied November 27th of the same year, and 
 Mr. Joseph Parsons was ordained pastor of the church 
 and minister of the town. A military company, called 
 a "train-band," was also formed, yet I find in the 
 public records no mention of any officers commis- 
 sioned until the May session of 1702, when Lieut. 
 John Mason is appointed captain of the "train-band" 
 in Lebanon, Ensign Jeremiah Fitch to be their lieu- 
 tenant, and Mr. Joseph Bradford to be their ensign, 
 and to be commissioned accordingly. In 1708 there 
 was a second train-band here, I conclude in that part 
 of the town now called Goshen. 
 
 It is worthy of notice that though the town was or- 
 ganized in 1700, and invested with all immunities, 
 privileges, and powers of other towns, it did not send 
 deputies to the General Assembly until the May ses- 
 sion of 1705, the reason being, doubtless, that it had 
 not been required by the colonial government to bear 
 any portion of the public expense until a tax was 
 levied on the inhabitants for that purpose at the Oc- 
 tober session, 1704. It was at that time distinctly 
 recognized and a cherished principle that representa- 
 tion should accompany taxation, and "no taxation 
 without representation" at length became the war-cry 
 of the Revolution. 
 
 Though the town was now fully organized, with 
 church and minister and train-band, and about to 
 take its place by its deputies in the General Assem- 
 bly with the other towns of the colony, its settlement 
 was hindered. The bounds and titles to lands were 
 in a very unsettled condition, and growing out of this 
 were uncertainties and controversies and frequent ap- 
 peals to the Assembly for relief. In 1704 the public 
 records say " there were great difficulties and trouble 
 among the inhabitants of Lebanon through the un- 
 settleduess of their lands," and they appointed a sur- 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 483 
 
 veyor to run the south or southerly line of the Five- 
 mile square purchase. The boundary between this 
 town and Colchester was not yet settled, and in 1705 
 several of the inhabitants of the town of Lebanon 
 made complaint of sundry difficulties and inconveni- 
 ences under which they were laboring respecting the 
 purchasing of a tract of land five miles square of 
 Oweneco and the four proprietors. 
 
 It is not surprising that there was this uncertainty 
 as to bounds and titles when we consider that gifts 
 and cessions were made by Indian chiefs, and Sir Ed- 
 mond Andros said their deeds were so indefinite and 
 contradictory as " to be worth no more than the marks 
 of a cat's paw," and that these chiefs, as to ownership, 
 ■were in controversy among themselves, while the set- 
 tlers had gained a variety of titles from them. In 
 1705 the General Assembly passed a broad healing 
 act. Referring to the deed of Oweneco to the four 
 proprietors. Mason, Stanton, Brewster, and Birchard, 
 and to the deed of these proprietors to fifty-one pro- 
 prietors, most of whom were residing there, the act 
 is to this effect: "And the same recited deeds or con- 
 veyances, and the grants, sales, and bargains therein 
 •contained, are hereby allowed, approved, and con- 
 firmed to be firm and effectual to allintents and pur- 
 poses, according to the true meaning and intent 
 thereof, as shall be construed most favorable on the 
 behalf and for the best benefit and behoof of the 
 grantees and purchasers (heretofore named), their 
 heirs and assigns forever." And by this act a degree of 
 satisfaction and quiet seems to have been established. 
 
 At the May session of the Assembly, 1705, Mr. 
 William Clark was deputy from this town to the 
 General Assembly, the first whom it sent ; at the Oc- 
 tober session Mr. Samuel Huntington was deputy. 
 Lebanon was " listed" — i.e., the property was put into 
 the grand list to be taxed for general purposes — for 
 the first time in 1704. In the roll of persons and es- 
 tates presented to the General Assembly in 1705, em- 
 bracing thirty-three towns, Lebanon is rated at £3736, 
 and is the twenty-first in the list ; it has ninety tax- 
 able inhabitants, perhaps indicating a population of 
 550. The next year it stands £4390 and 105 taxable 
 persons ; and this year this town sent two deputies, 
 viz.. Ensign John Sprague and Mr. William Clark. 
 The town sent as deputies the same persons repeat- 
 •edly, the number from which selections were made 
 from year to year being small, in strong contrast to 
 the present practice of rotation, and never more than 
 one term for the same person. 
 
 The next year, 1707, Lebanon stands £5179 and 
 135 taxable persons. For a few years the settlement 
 of the town appears not to have been rapid. Priva- 
 tions and hardships must have been endured by those 
 who came here ; their dwellings must have been log 
 houses among the trees and bushes, with here and 
 there a clearing, and all uncertainty as to the bounds 
 and titles of lands had not ceased to perplex and em- 
 barrass. 
 
 That there was a great amount of danger or annoy- 
 ance from the Indians does not appear, the Indians 
 of this section being friendly to the English, in league 
 with them, and very much dependent on them. 
 
 There is a tradition that some Indians of a tribe at 
 war with the Mohegans — perhaps from a remnant of 
 the Pequots, possibly from the Narragansetts, still 
 farther east in Rhode Island — took a Mohegan child 
 from the house of Mr. Brewster, who lived on the 
 Brewster place, near where Hon. Edwin M. Dolbeare 
 now resides, and killed it, dashing its head against 
 the garden-fence. This tradition comes reliably 
 from one who lived near the time of the alleged event, 
 and who spoke of it as a fact well known. There is 
 also a tradition that the Abel house, which stood 
 where Mr. Robert Beckham's house now stands, was 
 a sort of fort (stockaded, I conclude), to which the 
 inhabitants fled in times of danger. 
 
 If the Indians did not seriously trouble the settlers 
 the wild animals did. So late as 1730 the town offered 
 a bounty of ten pounds for every full-grown wolf 
 that should be killed. Col. James Clark, of Bunker 
 Hill celebrity, who died Dec. 29, 1826, ninety-six 
 years of age, used to relate to his grandchildren, who 
 are now living, that in his boyhood, as, coming from 
 Norwich in the evening, he reached the low ground 
 near where Mr. Jeremiah Mason now lives, he drew 
 his feet up upon the saddle to protect them from the 
 wolves, which he often heard barking and howling 
 in the thickets on each side of the road. Deer and 
 wild turkeys were abundant. The first settlers had 
 common corn-lots, which they joined in clearing, 
 fencing, and guarding. I have queried whether they 
 had the fever and ague, and I am sure they had, and 
 must have shaken soundly with it, but probably it 
 did not frighten people away, for it must have pre- 
 vailed in all the new settlements. 
 
 After about 1707 the number of taxable persons 
 ceased to be given in the public records, and only the 
 property list is noted. The list continued steadily to 
 increase, and to gain on the lists of other towns in 
 the colony. In 1730 it was £19,972 ; 1733, £23,803, 
 and was in amount the eighth in the colony. In 
 1740 it was £31,709, and was the fifth among the 
 forty-eight towns in the list, and more than that of 
 Hartford or New London ; in 1748, £35,570. 
 
 From 1730 to 1760 Lebanon must have gained rap- 
 idly in population and wealth. The colony of Con- 
 necticut had greatly prospered. In 1730 the number 
 of inhabitants, according to a census then taken, was 
 38,000, and about 700 Indian and negro slaves and 
 1600 Indians. In 1756, twenty-six years later, the 
 population of the colony, consisting then of seventy- 
 nine towns and settlements, was 130,612, an increase 
 of 90,312, and Lebanon then had a population of 
 whites, 3171, and blacks, 103 ; total, 3274. Only five 
 towns in the colony had. a larger population, viz. : 
 Middletown, the largest, 6664 ; Norwich, 5540 ; New 
 Haven, 5085 ; Fairfield, 4455 ; and Farmington, 3707 ; 
 
484 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Hartford had only 8027. In 1774, the year before 
 the battle of Lexington, there were but seventy-six 
 towns and settlements in the colony, some of the 
 smaller settlements having been given up ; the popu- 
 lation of the colony had increased to 198,010. The 
 population of this town was then, whites, 3841 ; blacks, 
 119 ; total, 3960, the largest population the town has 
 ever had. Only six towns in the colony then had a 
 larger. In 1784 the population of the State had 
 grown to 208,800, and Lebanon had, whites, 3837, 
 4 less than ten years before ; blacks, 94, 25 less than 
 sixty years before ; total loss, 29. Only eight towns 
 then had a larger population. New Haven having the 
 largest, 7960. 
 
 In 1775 only eight towns had a larger grand list 
 than this town, it being then £41,600, equal to $130,- 
 300, the pound then being $3.S3J. The grand list in 
 1876 was $1,185,047. Though the population has di- 
 minished, the grand list has largely increased. 
 
 The population of the town in 1870 was 2211, an 
 increase on that of the two preceding decades; in 
 1804, Columbia, with a population of about 600, was 
 set off from this town ; it now has a population of 
 891 ; add this to the present population of the town 
 and the total is 3162, showing a total diminution of 
 798 since 1774 within the territory then constituting 
 Lebanon. 
 
 As we have said, the thirty-five or forty years pre- 
 vious to 1774 were a period of great prosperity to the 
 town. Men of character and enterprise came in and 
 grew up here. Capt. Joseph Trumbull came here 
 from Suffield about 1704, evidently without any con- 
 siderable means, for when he bought the place which 
 had been occupied by Rev. Joseph Parsons he mort- 
 gaged it for the sum of three hundred and forty 
 pounds. He had vigorous traits, became a planter 
 and trader, and at length had a ship which carried 
 cargoes of his own, or belonging to his family. 
 
 A fact which comes to us on good authority illus- 
 trates the temper of the man. His business often 
 called him to Boston, and sometimes he went as a 
 drover ; and he would meet Rev. Mr. Wells, who had 
 been pastor here, whose parishioner he had been, and 
 who now lived in Boston. Mr. Wells was a little shy 
 of him, and evidently avoided him now and then, in 
 his plain and perhaps dusty attire, as not quite in trim 
 to be familiarly recognized by a Boston gentleman. 
 When Mr. Wells came here, where he still owned 
 property, and (meeting Mr. Trumbull) accosted him 
 as an old acquaintance, the latter refused to shake 
 hands with him, and turned away, saying, " If you 
 don't know me in Boston, I don't know you in Leba- 
 non." 
 
 Trumbull's son, the future Governor, after being 
 graduated at Harvard College in 1727, went into busi- 
 ness with his father and became a merchant, and en- 
 gaged extensively in commerce, the War Office, now 
 standing, being his store. He and the firms to which 
 he belonged owned ships which traded with London 
 
 and Bristol, England, Hamburg, Germany, and the' 
 West Indies, and took in their cargoes at New Lon- 
 don and Stonington, and at Haddam, on the Connec- 
 ticut Biver. 
 
 All the trades were carried on here, and it became 
 an important business centre. Cloth, leather, boots 
 and shoes, saddles and harness, axes, hoes, scythes, 
 and barrels were made here. Among the town offi- 
 cers appointed every year was an inspector of leather. 
 
 The town appointed Jonathan Trumbull to obtain 
 from the General Assembly leave to hold and regulate 
 fairs and market-days, and they were held twice a 
 year. These streets now so quiet were a place of 
 concourse and bustle, of exhibition and traffic, which 
 the people of surrounding towns frequented, and to 
 which traders came from a distance, Trumbull being 
 engaged in wide commerce and large business. 
 
 And after 1743 there was a renowned school here, 
 which Trumbull was active in establishing, and was 
 controlled by twelve proprietors,' and which was kept 
 for thirty-seven years by Master Nathan Tisdale. It 
 became so widely known that it had scholars from 
 the West Indies, from North Carolina and South 
 Carolina and Georgia, as well as from the more 
 northern colonies. At one time it had students from 
 nine of the thirteen colonies. Tisdale was a genius 
 in his profession, and carried the school to the high- 
 est stage of prosperity which it ever reached. This 
 helped the intelligence and high character, the ac- 
 tivity and pecuniary thrift of the place. 
 
 As a result of this and other agencies, this town 
 had for many years some of its sons in courses of 
 liberal education, and one hundred and twenty-two 
 are known to have received college degrees. The 
 strong interest in education which long prevailed 
 here accounts for the fact that so many of its sons 
 and daughters have risen to eminence. 
 
 And from the first Lebanon has been active in 
 military enterprises. While this town was never di- 
 rectly menaced by the Indians, the frontier towns of 
 this colony and of the colony of Massachusetts were, 
 and this town was required to aid in the common 
 defense. As early as 1709, Mr. Jedediah Strong, one 
 of the original settlers, and an ancestor of the Strong 
 family, which remained and still has representatives 
 here, was killed in an expedition against the Indians 
 near Albany. This colony sent troops to the defense 
 of the county of Hampshire, Mass., in which, in 1704, 
 the Deerfield massacre occurred, and which was ex- 
 posed to the incursions of the French and Indians. 
 
 In 1709, in an expedition against Canada, in Queen 
 Ann's war, the proportion of troops from this colony 
 was one hundred and forty-seven, and the quota of 
 Lebanon eleven. 
 
 In the wars in which the mother-country was en- 
 gaged at this period the colonies were involved, — in 
 the Spanish war of 1739; in King George's war; a 
 war with France in 1744, in which Louisburg, in Cape 
 Breton, a very strong place, termed the Gibraltar of 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 485 
 
 America, was taken ; in the Frencli and Indian war, 
 which began in 1755, and ended in 1763 with the con- 
 quest of the whole of Canada. During .these wars 
 the seas were infested with hostile ships, and the 
 colonists were exposed on every side. The colonies 
 learned how to raise troops, to equip and supply them, 
 and to tax themselves in order to pay them, and thus 
 were in most important training for the crisis now 
 just before them. The drums used at Bunker Hill 
 were the same which had been used at the capture of 
 Louisburg. 
 
 Lebanon, as a town, was among the foremost in 
 this colony in the part it bore in these enterprises and 
 testings. In 1739, Jonathan Trumbull, then young, 
 was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of a regiment 
 raised for an expedition against Canada ; he was 
 afterwards colonel, and early had experience in re- 
 cruiting, furnishing, and moving troops. The people 
 of the town were patriotic and spirited. 
 
 On the surrender of Quebec, in 1759, they observed 
 the general thanksgiving, and Dr. Solomon Williams' 
 jubilant sermon on the occasion was published. He 
 says, "For more than seventy years our enemies 
 have been designing our ruin, and formed and pro- 
 jected a settled design to encompass us, unobserved, 
 with a string of forts from Canada to the Bay of 
 Mexico." He regards " the conquest of Quebec, the 
 capital of Canada, as of more importance than has 
 ever been made by the English since England was a 
 nation." He states his reasons, and calls upon the 
 people triumphantly to praise Him who has given 
 such success. 
 
 Of course a people thus trained, in such a temper, 
 and having such leaders as there were here in Jona- 
 than Trumbull, William Williams, and others, were 
 all ready, when the mother-country began to encroach 
 on the liberties of the colonies, to resist and to main- 
 tain their rights. 
 
 When, in October, 1765, Governor Fitch proposed 
 to take the required oath to enforce the Stamp Act, 
 and called upon his " assistants" to administer it to 
 him, Trumbull was among those who resisted and re- 
 monstrated. The Governor urged that their allegi- 
 ance to the king, the oath of their oflBce, the safety 
 of the charter of the colony, and their personal safety 
 demanded that they administer the oath and aid in 
 the execution of the act. Trumbull was ready with 
 the reply that the act was in derogation of the rights 
 of the colony, in violation of the common privileges 
 of English subjects, and that they had also sworn "to 
 promote the public good and peace of Connecticut, 
 and to maintain all its "lawful privileges," and these 
 they would treacherously sacrifice by submitting to 
 the demand now made upon them. 
 
 When five (the requisite legal number out of the 
 twelve) were found ready to administer the oath, 
 Trumbull refused to be present to witness its admin- 
 istration, and taking his hat hastened from the cham- 
 ber, leading the six other assistants who, with him, 
 
 had stood firm. This, with other clear and courageous 
 conduct, showed him to the colonists as fitted to be 
 their first magistrate, and to have their interest in 
 his hands, and he was chosen Governor in 1769. He 
 already had large experience in public aflairs. He 
 had fourteen times represented his town as deputy to 
 the General Assembly, and had three times filled the 
 ofiBce of Speaker ; had been chosen assistant for 
 twenty-two years ; had been for one year side judge, 
 and for seventeen years chief judge of the County 
 Court of W^indham County ; had been for nineteen 
 years judge of probate for the Windham district; 
 had been once elected an assistant judge, and four 
 times chief justice of the Superior Court of the col- 
 ony ; and for four years had been Deputy Governor. 
 He held the office of Governor fourteen years, and till 
 within two years of his death. 
 
 William Williams was more impulsive and ardent, 
 and fitted to inspire others with enthusiasm. With 
 tongue and pen and estate he gave himself to the 
 cause of the colonies. During the gloomy winter of 
 1777 he sent beef, cattle, and gold to Valley Forge, 
 saying, " If independence should be established he 
 should get his pay ; if not, the loss would be of no 
 account to him." 
 
 With such men active here we are prepared to find 
 on the town records resolutions like the following : 
 
 At a town-meeting held 7th December, 1767, a let- 
 ter received from the selectmen of Boston, as to the 
 oppressive and ruinous duties laid on various ar- 
 ticles, and calling for union in some common meas- 
 ures of relief : "Jonathan Trumbull, the selectmen, 
 and others were appointed a committee by themselves, 
 or in concert with committees from neighboring towns, 
 to consider and devise such measures and means as 
 may more efiectually tend to promote and encourage 
 industry, economy, and manufactures." Under these 
 oppressions, bearing heavily on it as a port, Boston 
 appealed to Lebanon, and this town came into full 
 sympathy and concert with it. 
 
 At the freemen's meeting, Monday, April 9, 1770, 
 on occasion of the " Boston massacre," which occurred 
 the previous 5th of March, after the transaction of 
 other business, " they met and voted, and passed a 
 draft of resolves or declaration of the sense of the 
 rights and liberties which we look upon as infringed 
 by Parliament — and promoting manufactures, etc." 
 
 The following are the resolves, or declaration : 
 
 " The inhabitants of the Town of Lebanon in full Town-meeting aa- 
 sembled, this 9th day of April, 1770,— now and ever impressed with the 
 deepest and most affectionate Loyalty to his excellent Majesty, George 
 the 3d, the rightful king and sovereign of Great Britain, and of the 
 English American Colonies,— and also being most tenderly attached to 
 and tenacious of the precious Eights and Liberties to which, as English 
 subjects, we are by birth and by the British constitution entitled, and 
 which have also (been) dearly earned by the treasures and blood of our 
 forefathers, and transmitted as their most valuable Legacy to us their 
 children : In these circumstances, we view witli the most sincere grief, 
 concern, and anxiety the sufferings and distresses to which this country 
 is subjected and exposed,— in consequence of measures planned by a few 
 artful, designing men, unhappily of too much influence ; and adopted by 
 the Parliament of Great Britain;- the action and tendency of which is 
 
486 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 to deprive these Colonies of their free and happy constitutionB, and re- 
 duce them to a state of bondage ;— Measures which as the event will more 
 fully show,— equally hurtful and pernicious to the British nation;— par- 
 ticularly we deplore the unhappy fate of the town of Boston, in being so 
 long subjected to a grievioua imposition of a standing army quartered 
 upon them,— induced by the false and malicious representations of the 
 late governor Hutchinson and others of odious and detestable memory ; 
 which, though they have not been able, agreefible to the designs of our 
 enemies, to awe the inhabitants or the country into a tame surrender of 
 these liberties, — have been the authors of a great variety of Evils and 
 Distresses to that most loyal people, and lately (the 5th of March last) 
 of the barbarous Murder of a number of the inhabitants of that Town. 
 But in the midst of these calamities, we have occasion to rejoice in the 
 union and harmony which continues tu prevail throughout the Ameri- 
 can Colonies, and in their firm and fixed attachment to the principles of 
 Loyalty and Liberty: — and Do hereby declare our high approbation and 
 grateful acknowledgment of the generous self-denying and truly Patri- 
 otic spirit and Conduct of the respectable Merchants throughout the 
 Colonies, — in refusing to import British manufactures into this distracted 
 and impoverished country, until it shall be relieved of these Burdens 
 and Grievances, — of which we so justly complain ; and while we esteem 
 and respect those who have made so generous and noble a sacrifice, as 
 true friends and lovers of their country, We also abhor and detest the 
 Principles and Conduct of the Few, who from sordid motives, have re- 
 fused to come into so salutary a measure, and Do hereby declai-e and Re- 
 solve that they and their merchandise shall be treated by us with the 
 contempt and Neglect, which their unworthy Behavior most justly de- 
 serves : and We do further Declare and Resolve, that we will to the 
 utmost of our Power incourage, countenance, and promote all kinds of 
 useful manufactures in the country and among ourselves, — to the end 
 that we may soon be able, by a proper use of the Bounties of Providence 
 in the rich production of the American soil, to furnish ourselves with 
 the necessaries and comforts of life, — without any longer depending for 
 them on the. Mother country ; — who are also putting it out of our power, 
 and seem to have forgotten her relation; and to prefer the hazard of 
 obtaining from us the forced and unnatural submission of slaves, — to 
 the certain, durable, free, cheerful, and immensely advantageous De- 
 pendance and subjection of Children." 
 
 It is added, "The above was unanimously voted 
 and resolved. Attest, William Williams, clerk ; and 
 is recorded to perpetuate the sense the town have of 
 their Liberties, etc., etc., by William Williams." 
 
 Here is the very spirit and tone of the Declaration 
 of Independence, and this was six years before the 
 Declaration of Independence was made ; and these 
 resolves and this declaration are as worthy of the town 
 as that important instrument is of the country. And 
 they do perpetuate the sense the town had of their 
 liberties, and will perpetuate it; for those resolves 
 have gone down into history, and were embodied, in- 
 deed, in the men who acted here. They reveal the 
 hand of the firm, fiery patriot, William Williams. 
 They were undoubtedly drafted by him, as they are 
 in his handwriting in the town records. 
 
 It shows the earnestness which then prevailed here, 
 that in August of the same year, 1770, a town-meet- 
 ing was called in reference to sending delegates to a 
 general meeting of the mercantile and landed inter- 
 ests at New Haven, to consider proper measures to 
 support the *' non-Importation Agreement," and the 
 alarming conduct of New York in violating the 
 same. 
 
 They voted unanimously to send two delegates to 
 this convention. Made choice of William Williams 
 and Joshua West, Esqs., a committee or representa- 
 tives to the same. They then voted and passed the 
 following declaration, instruction, and resolve, viz. : 
 
 *' That it is the opinion of the inhabitants of this town that the non- 
 Importation Agreement (so called) which has taken place in the Amer- 
 ican Colonies, — is a virtuous, salutary and Patriotic measure, generously 
 designed and powerfully tending to procure a redress of our grievaucea 
 in the removal of the unconstitutional duties on America, and the most 
 likely to prove effectual of any lenient, moderate, and lawful meaaures 
 that can be devised,— to ensure that great and important end,— in which, 
 We our country and all Posterity are and will be deeply interested and 
 concerned ; — so that the political salvation of the country and a practical 
 approbation of the principles which induced our Fathers' first emigra- 
 tion hither — seem to depend on and be deeply connected with a strict 
 adherence to and steady perseverance in that noble and generous reso- 
 lution." 
 
 "That the conduct of the inhabitantsof New York who had been famed 
 for strict adherence to said Agreement, in falling from and violating the 
 same, is very alarming, and gives the most sensible concern; as a union 
 of sentiment and practice of all the Colonies is of great importance to 
 the common interest of the whole, and that in our opinion, all prudent 
 and lenient measures ought to be used to recover them to their former at- 
 tachments, which, if they should fail of success. They ought in our opinion 
 to be considered lost to every generous sentiment, and all dealings and 
 commercial connection with them broken off by every Friend of his 
 Countrie's welfare, but that (so far as to us appertain) we refer to the 
 Wisdom and Prudence of the General Meeting of the Mercantile and 
 Landed interests, to be holden at New Haven, the 13th of September 
 next, and we hereby instruct you. Gentlemen, to attend such meeting, 
 to conform yourselves to our sentiment in the premises as before ex- 
 
 *' And it is further voted and resolved that we will continue to adhere 
 to the true spirit and meaning of said non-Importation Agreement, and 
 that we will not purchase any Goods, Wares, or Merchandise of any per- 
 son or persons in this or any neighboring town who hath or shall im- 
 port the same contrary to said agreement, or hath or shall have pur- 
 chased of such importer or such imported goods, but shall and will treat 
 such person or persons with an utter neglect and contempt, which bo 
 base and perfidious a conduct justly deserves." 
 
 " The foregoing being unanimously passed, etc., They made choice of 
 Dr. John Clark, Wm. Williams, Mr. Josiah Rockwell, Mr. Benjamin 
 Bill, Capt. Elijah Sprague, Mr. Charles Hinckley, Dea. Samuel Bartlett, 
 Mr. Ansel Clark (persons from the different parts of the town) to ob- 
 serve and inspect the conduct of all Persons in this town respecting their 
 violating the true intent and meaning of said non-Importation Agree- 
 ment, and to use all lawful and prudent measures to prevent the same, 
 and in their prudence and discretion, when they judge requisite, to pub- 
 lish the Names of such Person or Persons, if any shall be found, who 
 have violated and countei-acted the same, and as occasion shall require, 
 to correspond with the Committees of neighboring Towns for the like 
 salutary purpose and design." 
 
 "Then was asked whether he had purchased or not Tea of a 
 
 Rhode Island importer; he owned he had tea from Rhode Island, etc., 
 but yet he would not purchase any more there, or otherwise contrary to 
 Agreement, etc., and would store what he had, etc., and thereupon the 
 Town voted it satisfactory and dismissed." 
 
 This was evidently a hot place for Tories and half- 
 hearted patriots. 
 
 The people here were in the midst of the events 
 which were now hastening the great crisis of the 
 Revolution, and were keenly alive to them. The day 
 on which the infamous Boston Port Bill took effect, 
 the 1st of June, 1774, was noted through the colonies. 
 In Philadelphia muffled bells tolled; in Virginia it 
 was observed as a day of fasting, and the people 
 thronged the churches. Through the Hartford Cour- 
 ant of June, 1774, from a correspondent in Lebanon, 
 we learn something of what was occurring here: 
 
 " Lebanon, June 2, 1774. 
 " Yesterday being the 1st of June, the day on which the cruel edict of 
 the British Parliament respecting the town and port of Boston took 
 place, was observed here with marks of distinction. The bells of the 
 town early began to toll a solemn peal, and continued the whole day. 
 The town-house door was hung with black, with the act affixed thereto, 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 487 
 
 and the shops in the town were all shnt and silent, their windows cot- j 
 ered with blaoli, and other signs of distress. 
 
 "Towards evening a respectable number of freeholders of the place 1 
 and others (upon short notice) appeared at the Town-House, where the 
 act was publicly read and observed upon, when the following address 
 was made and resolutions unanimously passed : 
 
 "'Gentlemen, the occasion of our meeting is interesting and solemn. 
 I hope we are met together with dispositions suitable to the occasion. 
 We are now, my brethren, to determine whether we will tamely submit 
 to every act of cruel oppression or indignantly reject, and with manly 
 resolution remonstrate to every instance of unjust power, by whatever 
 hand attempted. Persnaded you cannot hesitate one moment in the 
 choice of the alternative, I will propose the following resolutions : 
 
 " ' That we do all at this time heartily sympathize with our brethren 
 of Boston in the scenes of distress which this day opens upon them. 
 
 "* That we view with the utmost indignation the cruel act of unjust 
 power which introduces this distress. 
 
 " ' That we consider them as suffering under the hand of ministerial 
 vengeance for their uoble exertions in the cause of liberty, the common 
 cause of all America. 
 
 "'And, That we are heartily willing and desirous to unite our little 
 powers in whatever general measure shall be thought best for the se- 
 curity and permanency of the just rights and privileges of our country, 
 being determined, as far as we are able, to stand fast in the liberties 
 wherein God has made them (us) free, and at the same time would unite 
 our ardent supplications to our Almighty Helper, the Great Father of 
 the distressed, that American Councils may be directed by His wisdom 
 to these measures that shall be most conducive to the desired end.' " 
 
 The speech and the resolutions bear the impress of 
 the mind of Eev. Dr. Solomon Williams, father of 
 William Williams, who in his old age retained his 
 patriotic fervor, and dying the 29th of February, 1776, 
 left to the town a sum of money to be used in aiding 
 the cause of the colonies. 
 
 . Such sympathy with the wrongs and distress of 
 Boston, a sympathy universal through the country, 
 and expressed in forms so impressive, so adapted to 
 touch the popular feeling, powerfully tended to alien- 
 ate the colonies from the mother-country, and to 
 unite them as one people for the common resistance 
 and defense. 
 
 The people of the town could pass resolutions, 
 practice vigilance within their limits, and express by 
 words sympathy for Boston, and they could do more. 
 The alarm consequent on the battle of Lexington, 
 April 19, 1775, stirred the citizens here as deeply as 
 in any other place in the colony. It is said that on 
 the Sabbath subsequent a messenger rode here on a 
 foaming steed, entered the meeting-house in the midst 
 of the services of worship, and beckoning for atten- 
 tion, announced that the blood of their brethren had 
 been spilled in battle and the crisis had come. The 
 services were soon suspended, and the beat of drum 
 called the citizens to take up arms and go to the as- 
 sistance of those who were resisting the troops of 
 Gen. Gage. This traditional incident, which comes 
 to us on good authority, we can readily believe to 
 have occurred. 
 
 An account of moneys paid by the colony to forty- 
 nine towns for services and expenses in this Lexing- 
 ton alarm shows the whole amount to be £7824. 
 The sum paid to Lebanon was £339 Os. Gd., more 
 than was paid to any other town, with two exceptions : 
 Windham receiving £378 15s. 5d., and Woodstock 
 
 £852 13s. Srf., these towns being nearer the scene of 
 action. 
 
 The store of Jonathan Trumbull, which has since 
 been called the War Office, and which is still stand- 
 ing, was the centre from which the soldiers of this 
 vicinity who at this time went to the relief of Boston 
 were supplied ; and it is said the Governor of the 
 colony, his sons, his son-in-law, William Williams, 
 labored with a crowd of neighbors and friends in 
 preparing and hastening forward these supplies. 
 
 In the battle of Bunker Hill, the 17th of the sub- 
 sequent June, Lebanon was represented. Capt. James 
 Clark with resolute haste collected a company in this 
 vicinity and hurried to the scene of action. On hear- 
 ing the call men at once left their work and made 
 ready for the expedition. " Miller" Gay, as he was 
 familiarly called, was needed as a drummer. He left 
 his hoe standing in the row where he was hoeing, and 
 went to the house to consult his wife. She said go, 
 and he started the next morning with the company. 
 
 They reached the low ground of Charlestown Neck 
 on the afternoon of the 16th, having marched ninety 
 miles in three days. The balls from the enemy's 
 ships whizzed by them and rolled at their feet. One 
 of the men, thinking he could stop a rolling ball, 
 put out his foot, which the ball instantly took off. 
 
 In an orchard somewhat protected by the hill 
 Capt. Clark found three companies without officers, 
 one from Connecticut and two from Massachusetts. 
 He ordered them to fall into line, and led them upon 
 the hill to join the other troops ; and he and his men 
 assisted in throwing up intrenchments on the night 
 of the 16th, and fought in the engagement of the 
 next day. 
 
 The year before his death, when he was in his 
 ninety-fifth year. Col. Clark — known then under this 
 title — was one of the forty survivors of the battle who 
 were present at the laying of the corner-stone of the 
 Bunker Hill monument by Lafayette in 1825, on the 
 fiftieth anniversary of the battle. Lafayette, who 
 during the war had repeatedly been in Lebanon, 
 specially noticed Col. Clark, and in the warmth of 
 his Frenchman's heart kissed him ; and on hearing 
 of his three days' march from Lebanon, and of his 
 pressing into the engagement, said to him, " You was 
 made of goode stoof " 
 
 The number of men whom this town sent into the 
 war of the Revolution it is now impossible to deter- 
 mine, so many of the rolls of companies are wanting. 
 Some who have given most attention to the papers 
 existing and to all the evidence estimate that there 
 were periods when as many as five hundred were 
 serving in the army at the same time. Some served 
 for short terms, — three months, six months; some 
 were minute-men, called out when the towns along 
 the coast. New London and New Haven, were me- 
 naced or attacked. This would be one to about every 
 eight of the inhabitants at that time. The quota of 
 this town for the last war, from 1861 to 1865, was 
 
488 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 206; and the population in 1860 being 2174, this 
 would be one to about every ten of the inhabitants. 
 About one hundred actually went from this town, one 
 to every twenty-one of the inhabitants. 
 
 The town records furnish abundant evidence of the 
 resolute effort made to meet the demands for men, — 
 which came year after year as the war went on and 
 tasked the resources and endurance of the colonies, 
 —and to provide for the families of those absent in 
 the army. 
 
 In the later stages of the war, when a given number 
 of men was called for, the number capable of bearing 
 arms had been reduced, and the enthusiasm which in 
 the beginning had prompted men to enlist had sub- 
 sided, the able-bodied men of the town between the 
 ages of fifteen and fifty-five were divided into classes 
 of the same number, ten, and each class was re- 
 quired to furnish a man. 
 
 After the religious services on the Sabbaths, and on 
 Thanksgiving and fast-days, especially in 1777, con- 
 tributions for the suffering soldiers were received in 
 the meeting-houses, when jewelry and every article 
 of clothing and provisions were presented, and the 
 ladies, as individuals and in concert, with the dis- 
 creet and earnest Madame Trumbull encouraging them 
 and setting them an example, bore their part in these 
 contributions. 
 
 How impossible it is for us in quiet Lebanon, as it 
 now is, to picture what Lebanon was and what trans- 
 pired here during the years of the war, the Governor 
 of the State residing here, the counselor and friend 
 and eflicient helper of Washington ; the Council of 
 Safety, which aided the Governor and wielded exten- 
 sive powers in the conduct of the war in this State 
 and in this part of the country, holding here nearly 
 all of its more than twelve hundred sessions held 
 during the war ; messengers from the array and from 
 Washington arriving at and leaving the War Ofiice, 
 bringing and carrying away dispatches ; the Governor, 
 with the agencies he employed, engaged in procuring 
 and forwarding provisions, clothing, and military sup- 
 plies, and these streets often crowded with activity of 
 this sort ; for seven months at one period the Duke 
 de Lauzun's legion of French cavalry here, some of 
 them in barracks in a lot on the right of the Colches- 
 ter road, called "Barracks lot,'' others of them on the 
 Common, a little north of where we are assembled, 
 where still can be seen remains of their ovens and 
 camp utensils ; the soldiers now and then stealing 
 wood, and a sheep, a pig, and convicted and punished ; 
 a deserter shot ; the duke and higher officers having 
 quarters in the house (on the corner), in its original 
 form, now occupied by Asher P. Smith, and some of 
 the officers at Alden's tavern ; these gentlemanly 
 officers in their leisure flirting with the fair maidens 
 of the place ; gay festivities, at which distinguished 
 guests from abroad were present, frequently occurring ; 
 reviews of troops; Washington repeatedly here to con- 
 sult with the Governor; Lafayette here, according to 
 
 Stuart in his " Life of Trumbull" ; Gen. Knox, Dr. 
 Franklin, Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Jay, 
 Thomas Jefferson, and others. 
 
 Lebanon was certainly then a centre of dignity and 
 influence, and was the military headquarters of this 
 part of the country. 
 
 With its other important contributions to the war 
 of independence, this town contributed in Jonathan 
 Trumbull a laborious and efficient war Governor, — 
 at the beginning the only loyal Governor, — to whom 
 Washington gave distinguished confidence, on whom 
 he relied in the most trying emergencies, a man dis- 
 creet, far-seeing, inflexible in following his convic- 
 tions, eminently God-fearing, and a true patriot; in 
 William Williams a member of the Continental 
 Congress in 1776-77, and again in 1783-84, a signer 
 of the Declaration of Independence, ardent, self- 
 sacrificing, passionate in his devotion to his country, 
 one hundred years ago to-day he represented this 
 State, represented this town, in that great proceeding 
 in Independence Hall, Philadelphia; in Joseph Trum- 
 bull a commissary-general, and the first commissary- 
 general of the national army, whose brilliant career 
 was cut short by an early death, hastened by his 
 strenuous devotion to his difficult duties in organ- 
 izing this department of the army ; in John Trum- 
 bull an aide-de-camp to Washington, an adjutant- 
 general to Gen. Gage, and a painter who acquired a 
 distinguished reputation from his delineation of 
 national scenes and from his portraits of distin- 
 guished men of the Revolutionary period ; in Jona- 
 than Trumbull, Jr., a paymaster to the northern de- 
 partment of the army, a first aide-de-camp and private 
 secretary to Washington, a member of his family, and 
 enjoying his high esteem. Capt. James Clark com- 
 manded a company in the battle of Bunker Hill, and 
 was in the battles of Harlem Heights and White 
 Plains. Lieut. Andrew Fitch was in the battle of 
 Bunker Hill, and in the service to the close of the 
 war. John Wheelock, son of President Wheelock, of 
 Dartmouth College, afterwards himself president, 
 served as lieutenant-colonel in the Continental army, 
 and was a member of the staflT of Gen. Gage. 
 
 Lebanon has done well in the men whom in differ- 
 ent periods it has furnished, — six Governors of States, 
 five of them of this State, who held the office thirty- 
 seven years, and one of them (William A. Bucking- 
 ham) a second war Governor, and a worthy successor 
 of the first; resolute, indefatigable, large-hearted, 
 vigorous, and upright in administration, and of a 
 character to command universal esteem and affection; 
 Trumbull and Buckingham I names that honor the 
 town, honor the State, honor the nation. In all 
 the list of honored men from the beginning have 
 there been abler, better Governors than the Trum- 
 bulls, Bissel, and Buckinghams? Four senators in 
 Congress ; seven representatives in Congress, and one 
 of them, Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Speaker of the 
 Second Congress ; five judges of higher courts and 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 489 
 
 two chief justices; a colored man in Prince Saunders, 
 connected for a time with Dartmouth College, who 
 was minister from Hayti to Great Britain, and attor- 
 ney-general of that government ; and a large number 
 of ministers of the gospel and other professional 
 men. 
 
 OHAPTEE SLIX. 
 
 LEBANON— (Continued). 
 
 KEVOLDTIONART INCIDENTS. 
 
 French Troops at Lebanon— Count Eochambeau— The Bourbonnois— A 
 Deserter Shot — Mrs. Anna Hyde and the Assassin — Governor Trum- 
 bull's House and War Office— Council of Safety— Trumbull— Sketch of 
 the Family — Its Yarious Members — The Torab of the Trumbulls. 
 
 French Troops at Lebanon.— Count Eochambeau 
 was at Lebanon about the 1st of June, 1781, with five 
 sparkling regiments of Bourbonnois on their march 
 from Newport, E. I., to join the American army on 
 the Hudson, and camped in Lebanon about three 
 weeks. The Duke de Lauzun, with his legion of 
 about five hundred mounted Hussars, was also quar- 
 tered here from about Dec. 1, 1780, to June 23, 1781. 
 Their barracks were on the slope of the hill west of 
 the Trumbull house, and near the rivulet above the 
 pond. A gay June for Lebanon was there when these 
 six brilliant French regiments, with their martial 
 bands and gorgeous banners, were daily displayed on 
 the spacious and lovely village green. Gen. Wash- 
 ington himself reviewed Lauzun's legion here on the 
 5th of March of that year, and highly complimented 
 them and their commander on their appearance and 
 discipline. He spent three days in Lebanon at the 
 time in a long and close conference with Governor 
 Trumbull, and it is believed that this conference re- 
 lated to the plan of the Southern campaign, which 
 resulted in the surrender of Cornwallis and his army 
 and led to the final termination of the war, and that 
 this confidential disclosure of that plan was one of 
 the first which was made to any one, and was most 
 heartily approved and encouraged by promises of 
 efficient support by Governor Trumbull. This plan 
 was afterwards confidentially considered and perfected 
 at a joint council of the American and French chief 
 commanders, held at the " Webb House," in Wethers- 
 field, on the 21st and 22d of May following.' 
 
 Deserter Shot. — While Lauzun's legion of hus- 
 sars were quartered in Lebanon, in the winter of 1781, 
 some depredations by his troop were committed upon 
 the poultry, pigs, and sheep of the inhabitants, one 
 of the latter being taken from the fold of even good 
 old Parson Williams. When these complaints reached 
 
 1 Gen. WaBhington enters in bis diary, dated at Wethersfield, May 20, 
 1781 : " Had a good deal of private conversation with Governor Trumbull, 
 who gave it to me as his opinion that if any important offensive opera- 
 tions should be undertaken, he had little doubt of obtaining men and 
 provisions adequate to our wants," 
 
 the ears of the duke, in view of the fact that the 
 people of the whole town had vied with each other in 
 extending the most cordial hospitalities and furnish- 
 ing the most abundant supplies to this whole corps, 
 their chivalrous commander was deeply mortified, and 
 resolved on its summary suppression. A few of the 
 suspected hussars, from fear of consequences, deserted 
 from camp and fled into the country. One of the 
 more prominent of these was soon after recaptured 
 and brought into camp about nightfall. A court- 
 martial was immediately ordered, by which the sol- 
 dier was tried that same evening, convicted of deser- 
 tion, and sentenced to be shot, and was shot at sun- 
 rise the next morning in the presence of the whole 
 corps, who were ordered out to witness the execution. 
 This summary example effectually ended all further 
 depredations. 
 
 It is this legend that an ingenious writer of ro- 
 mance has quite recently seized upon as the founda- 
 tion of a very fairly written sensational story of love 
 and mystery about this deserter and a mythical Pru- 
 dence Strong, which was published in the New York 
 Sun and extensively copied by other papers. 
 
 Mrs. Anna Hyde and the Assassin.— The story 
 of the encounter between Mrs. Anna Hyde, the 
 worthy housekeeper of Governor Trumbull, and a 
 suspected assassin of the Governor is well supported 
 by authentic tradition. One evening this good woman 
 was greatly alarmed at the sudden entrance of an un- 
 known man, in the guise of a mendicant, who stoutly 
 persisted in seeing the Governor, then ill and in bed. 
 She knew that to have gained entrance to the house 
 the man must have eluded the sentinels on guard. 
 She well knew, what all knew, that a price had been 
 set upon the Governor's head by British authority ; 
 that he had often been threatened with assassination 
 by malignant Tories and their emissaries; and he re- 
 cords in his own diary that once, while at Newton, 
 a malignant there said "he would Mil him as quick 
 as he would a rattlesnake;" and believing that the 
 purpose of the intruder was the assassination of the 
 Governor, the brave lady at once, seizing the large 
 kitchen shovel in one hand and the tongs in the other, 
 made such a vigorous onslaught upon him that he 
 fled for safety and escaped in the dark from capture. 
 
 War Office— Council of Safety.— The house of 
 Governor Trumbull stood originally and until 1824 
 on the north corner of Town Street and the Colches- 
 ter road, on the present site of the Lyman house, and 
 the War Ofiice was west and near it, on the Colchester 
 road. In the winter of 1823-24, Solomon Gilbert, 
 who in 1821 had bought the premises of John Cham- 
 pion, removed both the house and office a few rods 
 farther north, to the place where they are shown in the 
 accompanying view, and added the portico to the front 
 of the office. The view is taken from a very accurate 
 sketch by Barber in 1836. The Governor's house still 
 remains there in good preservation, but the War Office 
 was again removed, in 1844, a few rods farther north, 
 
490 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 :'m 
 
 where it now stands. In this office Governor Trum- 
 bull conducted his great commercial business, and 
 through the war of the Revolution the Council of 
 Safety, or War Council of the colony, held most of 
 its sessions here, and it became by force of circum- 
 stances not only the military but also the naval head- 
 quarters of all the land and marine forces of the 
 colony during that war. Governor Trumbull was 
 
 TRUMliULL HOt'SE AXI> WAR OFFICE. 
 
 liy virtue of his office commander-in-chief of all the 
 land forces, and by special act of the General As- 
 sembly in 177.5 he was also made com)nander-in- 
 chief of all the naval forces, with power to issue com- 
 missions, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and to 
 establish prize courts. Here also was one of the chief 
 centres of communication between New England and 
 the Southern colonies, and especially between the 
 Northern and Southern armies. 
 
 Council of Safety, or "War Council."— The 
 General Assembly, May session, 1775, established a 
 Council of Safety to as.sist the Governor in the gen- 
 eral conduct of the war, in raising, equipping, and di- 
 recting the troops, and in supplying " every matter 
 and thing that should be needful for tlie defense of the 
 colony." The following gentlemen composed this 
 Council,' viz. : Hon. Matthew Griswold, of Lyme, 
 Deputy Governor ; Eliphalet Dyer, Jcdediah Elder- 
 kin, and Nathaniel Wales, Jr., of Windham; AVm. 
 Williams and Joshua West, of Lebanon ; and Jabez 
 Huntington, Samuel Huntington, and Benjamin 
 Huntington, all of Norwich. 
 
 This Council held its first meeting June 7, 1775, at 
 the War Office, in Lebanon, Governor Trumbull and 
 
 1 Stuart's Note, p. 203, in his " Life of Goveiiior Tnimliull," is an onor, 
 Tlie gentlemen therein named were not tlie ^'Coinii-il of Snfchj,'^ l.nt the 
 regul.ll- "Council 0/ AssisUmls," or Stute Seuute. 
 
 every member of the Council being present. Stuart 
 says (p. 626) that it appears from a memorandum in 
 Governor Trumbull's handwriting that he was per- 
 sonally present at 913 sessions of this Council during 
 the war ; but Hinman, late Secretary of State, in his 
 " War of the Revolution," compiled from the State 
 records and archives in his official custody, states (p. 
 321) that this Council held over 1200 sessions; and 
 he gives the minutes of the proceedings 
 at 371 sessions, held from June 7, above 
 to May 6, 1778, the first three years 
 only of the war. Of these sessions, 355, 
 about 96 per cent, of all, were held at 
 Lebanon, 14 at Hartford, and 1 each at 
 New Haven and Norwich. If the same 
 proportion of these sessions were held 
 at Lebanon during the war, as is more 
 than probable, there were about 1145 
 sessions of this great, important, and 
 _ _ illustrious Council held under the hum- 
 ■^J'. ble roof of that old War Office, still 
 pi'' standing among us, every rafter and 
 every shingle which covers it on all 
 sides, from roof-tree to sill, radiant in 
 memory with the glorious light of our 
 morning of libertj'. 
 
 The threshold of that humble build- 
 ing has thrilled to the tread of Wash- 
 ington, of Lafayette, of Count Rocham- 
 beau, of the Marquis de Chastellux, of 
 Baron de Montesquieu, of the Duke de 
 Lauzun, of Admiral Tiernay, of Gens. 
 Sullivan, Knox, Putnam, Parsons, Spencer, of the 
 fiery Samuel Adams, of John Adams, of John Jay, of 
 Thomas Jefferson, and of Benjamin Franklin (whose 
 recreant son, William, the Tory Governor of New Jer- 
 sey, was also here, but as a prisoner), and a host of 
 other high worthies and patriots, bearing messages of 
 fate and destiny, and taking high council together in 
 "the days that tried men's souls." There it stands! 
 and there let it stand ! — ijreserved with sacred care at 
 public charge! — forever set apart from all ignoble or 
 common uses ! — a consecriited Memorial ! ! 
 
 The Trumbull Family.— The original spelling of 
 Trumbull is believed to have been Turnbull, and is 
 said to have been derived from the following circum- 
 stance. One of the early kings of Scotland, while 
 hunting in the forest, was closely pursued by an en- 
 raged bull. A young Scot, seeing the peril of his sov- 
 ereign, dashed in before the infuriated animal, seized 
 him by the horns, adroitly turned him aside, and the 
 king escaped. The grateful monarch sent at once for 
 the daring young Scot, knighted him by the name of 
 Turn-Bull, granted him an esttrte near Peebles, and 
 a coat of arms bearing the device of three bulls' heads, 
 with the motto " Fortuna facet audaci." This coat 
 of arms is still perpetuated in the American branch 
 of the Trumbull family, and in the war of Ameri- 
 can independence it was demonstrated to the English 
 
-vV'S^ 
 
 il ^^ 
 
 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 491 
 
 " John Bull" that the Lebanon branch at least had 
 fair title to the " Turn-Bull" name and coat of arms. 
 John Trumbull, the ancestor of the Connecticut 
 Trumbull family, came from Cumberland County, 
 England, and settled in Rowley, Essex County, Mass. 
 John, Jr., his second son, was made a freeman there 
 in 1640, a deacon of the church in 1686, a lieutenant 
 of the militia in 1689, and soon after removed with 
 his family to SufiBeld, now in this State, but then 
 claimed by Massachusetts. He, John, Jr., of Suffield, 
 had four sons, viz. : John, Joseph, Ammi, and Be- 
 noni. 
 
 John, the eldest son of John, Jr., of Suffield, was a 
 distinguished clergyman, settled in Watertown, Conn., 
 and was the father of John, the poet and celebrated 
 author of " McFingal" and other works. 
 
 Capt. Joseph, the second son of John, Jr., of Suf- 
 field, went from Suffield to Simsbury, Conn., about 
 1703, when twenty-four years of age, and soon after 
 married Hannah, the daughter of John Highley, Esq., 
 of Simsbury, and thence in 1704 came to Lebanon, and 
 settled as a farmer and merchant on the corner near 
 the church, on the spot where the house of Asher P. 
 Smith now stands. He was distinguished for high 
 integrity and great enterprise as a merchant, active 
 in all the local affairs of the church and the town, 
 and for many years captain of the train-band. He 
 was the father of Jonathan, the "war Governor," and 
 was the founder of the Lebanon branch of the family. 
 He was born in Rowley, Mass., 1679, and died in 
 Lebanon, 16th June, 1755, in the seventy-seventh 
 year of his age ; and his wife Hannah, born in Wind- 
 sor, Conn., 22d April, 1683, died at Lebanon, 8th of 
 November, 1768, in the eighty-sixth year of her age. 
 They had eight children, four sons and four daugh- 
 ters, viz. : Joseph, born 27th March, 1705, married 
 Sarah Bulkley, 20th November, 1727 (lost at sea 
 June, 1733, leaving two children, Sarah and Kate) ; 
 
 John ; Jonathan, 12th October, 1710, the "war 
 
 Governor;" Mary, 21st August, 1713; Hannah, 1715, 
 died an infant ; Hannah, again, 18th September, 1717 ; 
 Abigail, 9th March, 1719; and David, 8th September, 
 1723, drowned in a mill-pond in Lebanon, 9th July, 
 1740, aged seventeen, while home on his college vaca- 
 tion. 
 
 Ammi, the third son of John of Suffield, settled, a 
 substantial farmer, in East Windsor, Conn. 
 
 Benoni, the youngest son of John of Suffield, set- 
 tled in Hebron, Conn., a farmer and merchant, and 
 was the father of Benjamin Trumbull, D.D., the well- 
 known historian, to whom this State is so much in- 
 debted for his able early history of Connecticut. Dr. 
 Trumbull was settled over the church in North Ha- 
 ven, Conn. The birth of two children of Benoni 
 Trumbull and wife Sarah are recorded in Lebanon, 
 viz. : Sarah, bom 26th August, 1710, and Benjamin, 
 11th May, 1712. 
 
 The War Goveenoe and his Family. — Jona- 
 than Trumbull, the war Governor, and third son of 
 
 Capt. Joseph, was born in Lebanon on the 12th day 
 of October, 1710, O. S., in the house which then stood 
 on the south corner, near the church, where the A. P. 
 Smith house now stands. 
 
 In addition to the village school, he was probably a 
 pupil of the Rev. Samuel Welles, then pastor of the 
 First Church, and in 1723, at the early age of thirteen 
 years, he entered Harvard College, whence in 1727 he 
 graduated with honorable distinction, especially in 
 mathematics and the classics, although then only sev- 
 enteen years old. On leaving college he entered upon 
 the study of divinity and theology with the Rev. Solo- 
 mon Williams, D.D., of Lebanon, who had succeeded 
 Mr. Welles as pastor of the First Church; was soon 
 licensed to preach, though yet a minor, and after 
 preaching for a short at Colchester, was invited by 
 that town to become their settled pastor. But while 
 he was considering this call an event occurred which 
 changed entirely his whole career and the purpose of 
 his life. 
 
 In June, 1733, his elder brother, Joseph, then the 
 partner in business with his father, sailed for London 
 on a commercial adventure in a ship which, with its 
 entire lading, was owned by the firm, but no tidings 
 of that brother, ship, or cargo reached the family 
 evermore. For a time there was a forlorn hope that 
 the ship might have been captured by the Algerine 
 pirates who then infested the seas and held for ran- 
 som, but even this hope soon withered and died. The 
 stricken father, doubly bereaved by the loss of his 
 first-born son and of his property by a single blow, 
 appealed to his next son, Jonathan, to come to his aid 
 and rescue. Nor was that appeal in vain. His call 
 to settle in the ministry at Colchester was declined, 
 and he entered at once upon the task of settling the 
 estate of his lost brother and of relieving the embar- 
 rassments of his father, and thus commenced his 
 career as a merchant, which he ever after continued 
 with eminence and success. 
 
 This change in his calling rendered his already 
 strongly-marked abilities more available in the civil 
 service of the public, and, as if conscious of the pro- 
 phetic shadow of that future destiny for which Provi- 
 dence was preparing him, he applied himself every 
 spare hour he could gain from his other great labors 
 to the study of law and civil jurisprudence. In 1783, 
 when less than twenty-three years of age, he was 
 chosen by his native town one of the deputies to the 
 General Court at its May session, and from this on- 
 ward to May, 1754, the town repeated that choice for 
 fourteen sessions. May session, 1789, when under 
 twenty-nine years of age, he was chosen Speaker of 
 the House of Representatives, and again filled the 
 same office in 1752 and 1754. In 1740 he was chosen 
 by the freemen of the colony to the post of assistant 
 and member of the Council of the colony, and re- 
 elected to the same important office until he was 
 chosen Lieutenant-Governor in 1766 (except four 
 years while judge of the Superior Court), serving as 
 
492 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 assistant twenty-two years. In 1745 he was chosen 
 assistant judge of Windham County Court (Lebanon 
 then belonging to Windham County), and in 1746 
 chief judge of that court, which oifice he held by an- 
 nual elections for seventeen years. In 1749 he was 
 chosen judge of probate for Windham District, and 
 continued in that office nineteen years. In 1765 he 
 was chosen assistant judge of the Superior Court of 
 the colony, and in 1766 was elected Deputy Governor, 
 and re-elected annually until 1770, and during this 
 period of four years he held also the office of chief 
 justice of the Superior and Supreme Courts, and as 
 such discharged with ability the high functions of 
 that office. 
 
 In 1770 he was elected Governor, which office he 
 thereafter continued to hold by annual re-elections 
 until he declined, in 1783, any further election after 
 that year, — a period of fourteen more eventful and 
 important years than any other in the history of this 
 country. 
 
 In addition to the vast and incessant duties which 
 the war of the Revolution heaped upon him as chief 
 commander of all the military forces of the State, he 
 was also, by a special act of the General Assembly in 
 1775, made chief officer of all the naval forces of the 
 State, and the whole power of raising volunteers, 
 granting letters of marque and reprisal to privateers 
 and commissions to regular officers, of furnishing sup- 
 plies and equipments, and of establishing prize courts 
 and settling prize claims devolved on him, and was 
 most ably and efficiently exercised during the whole 
 war. Among the very large number of war-vessels 
 fitted out by this State two notedly successful ones 
 bore his own honored name, viz., the frigate "Trum- 
 bull" and the audacious privateer " Governor Trum- 
 bull," the latter bearing aloft on her pennant the 
 Trumbull motto, " Fortuna facet audaci." Two frig- 
 ates were also built and equipped under his special 
 direction, at the request of Congress, for the national 
 service ; one of them, of thirty-six guns, was built on 
 the Thames, and the other, of twenty-eight guns, at 
 Chatham, on the Connecticut. His eminent fitness 
 and aptitude in marine affairs were the. providential 
 fruits of his long familiarity, as a merchant and for- 
 eign trader, with 'every detail of the building and 
 equipment of ships and vessels, and now the ripened 
 fruits of this long experience were happily available 
 to his country in its hour of impending peril. 
 
 His business career in merchandising commenced, 
 as we have seen, in 1733, as the partner of his father ; 
 afterwards for several years alone ; then from 1755 to 
 1764 the firm was Williams, Trumbull & Pitkin, with 
 branches at Norwich, East Haddam, and Wethers- 
 field ; then from 1764 the firm was Trumbull, Fitch 
 & Trumbull, the partners being himself, his son Jo- 
 seph, and Eleazur Fitch, of Lebanon, which contin- 
 ued until he retired from active mercantile pursuits, 
 but a few years before his death. His commercial 
 transactions extended to the West Indies, England, 
 
 and Holland, exporting home produce and importing 
 foreign commodities in exchange, chiefly in ships 
 and vessels owned wholly or in part by his firm, and 
 having agencies and correspondents in the marts of 
 each of these countries. 
 
 To facilitate the home exchange of these commodi- 
 ties he at one time, by permission of the General 
 Assembly, established in Lebanon a county fair or 
 mart, which for many years was held at stated times 
 on the village green, and was attended by distant 
 merchants and country traders, and by the farmers 
 from this and neighboring towns, at which large 
 crowds were gathered and large purchases and sales 
 were made. 
 
 In all the transactions of his eventful life Governor 
 Trumbull was a remarkable man, and in the public 
 service of his State and his country became one of 
 the most distinguished, reliable, and efficient of her 
 great leaders and wise counselors. Washington him- 
 self leaned upon and confided in him, as one of his 
 wisest and truest supporters, throughout the whole 
 trying scenes of our Revolutionary struggle. It was 
 to the zeal and fertile resources of " Brother Jona- 
 than" that he ever turned for supplies to the army, 
 and for " the sinews of war" in every dark and try- 
 ing emergency. The phrase " we must consult Brother 
 Jonathan," used by Gen. Washington when he first 
 took command of the army at Cambridge, was so 
 often uttered by him afterwards that it became a by- 
 word among his staff, and spread through the army 
 and the country. " Brother Jonathan" thus became 
 a national, generic name for an American everywhere, 
 as is that of " John Bull" for an Englishman, and thus 
 it will live to forever perpetuate his honored name. 
 
 In the earliest part of the controversy between 
 Great Britain and the American colonies, Governor 
 Trumbull had ever been conspicuous for his steadfast 
 zeal and patriotism in the cause of American liberty, 
 and when the war broke out this son of Lebanon, 
 among all the Governors of the then thirteen colo- 
 nies, was the only one who stood stanch to the 
 American cause. Governor Thomas Hutchinson, of 
 Massachusetts, his old friend and classmate in college, 
 proved shamefully recreant ; Governors John Went- 
 worth, of New Hampshire, Joseph Wanton, of Rhode 
 Island, William Tryon, of New York, William Frank- 
 lin, of New Jersey, John Penn, Governor both of 
 Pennsylvania and Delaware, Robert Eden, of Mary- 
 land, Lord Dunmore, of Virginia, Joseph Martin, of 
 North Carolina, Lord William Campbell, of South 
 Carolina, and James Wright, of Georgia, all favored, 
 more or less openly and actively, the British cause. 
 But their Tory councils and their authority were 
 spurned by an indignant people, and many of them 
 were forced to seek safety under British protection. 
 The bold and firm position of Governor Trumbull 
 brought down upon him the especial wrath of the 
 British government. He was denounced as "the 
 rebel Governor," and a price set upon his head. 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 493 
 
 All the family of Governor Trumbull were distin- 
 guished for remarkable ability, and all destined to a 
 remarkable career. Each of his four sons were con- 
 spicuous in the Revolutionary war for patriotic zeal 
 and devotion, and the husbands of his two daugh- 
 ters were equally conspicuous. His wife, Faith, the 
 daughter of the Eev. John Robinson, of Duxbury, 
 Mass., whom he married on the 9th day of December, 
 1735, when she was but seventeen years old, was, in 
 moral and mental endowments and greatness of soul, 
 a fitting mate for her illustrious husband. She was 
 born in Duxbury, 11th December, 1718, O.S., and 
 died in Lebanon, 29th May, 1780, aged sixty-one. 
 The Governor, born in Lebanon, 12th October, 1710, 
 died there, " full of years and honors," on the 17th 
 day of August, 1785, at five o'clock p.m., aged seventy- 
 five. Their children were Joseph, born March 11, 
 1737, was commissary-general of Washington's army ; 
 Jonathan, Jr., born March 26, 1740, was paymaster in 
 Washington's army, and afterwards Governor of this 
 State ; Faith, horn Jan. 25, 1743, married Gen. Jede- 
 diah Huntington, of Revolutionary army ; Mary, horn 
 July 16, 1745, married William Williams, signer of 
 Declaration of Independence; David, born Feb. 5, 
 1751, was assistant commissary, etc., and father of 
 Governor Joseph ; John, born June 6, 1756, was aide- 
 de-camp to Washington, and the renowned painter. 
 
 The following further brief notice of the remarka- 
 ble career of each of these six children will be found 
 interesting. 
 
 Joseph, eldest son of the war Governor, had at the 
 breaking out of the war been for several years chiefly 
 residing in Norwich, in the business branch there of 
 his father's firm. His native town still continued, 
 however, to send him to the General Assembly as her 
 representative. In his own town, and also in Nor- 
 wich, he was prominent in all measures of opposition 
 to British oppression. In April, 1775, the General 
 Assembly appointed him State commissary-general, 
 and soon after, in the same year, he was appointed by 
 Congress the first commissary-general of the Amer- 
 ican army, an oflice then of the highest importance 
 to the cause, and bringing with it a crushing weight 
 of perplexing labor and responsibility. For these 
 duties he was eminently fitted by his great natural 
 fertility in resources and his thorough training in 
 the school of his father's wide commercial transac- 
 tions. He continued in this oflSce until July, 1778, 
 when, broken down with his unremitted ardor in these 
 duties, he returned home for a short rest, but it was 
 too late. His vigorous constitution and vital powers 
 had been fatally overstrained. On arriving at Nor- 
 wich, his-anxious friends carefully conveyed him to 
 the house of his father, in Lebanon, where, on the 
 23d day of July, 1778, at the age of forty-one years, 
 he sunk into his final rest, a martyr to the cause of 
 his country. 
 He married Amelia Dyer, but left no children. 
 Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., second son of the Gov- 
 32 
 
 ernor, married Eunice Backus, daughter of Ebenezer 
 of Norwich, March 26, 1767, and has on the records 
 of Lebanon the births of the following children : 
 Jonathan, born Dec. 24, 1767, died young; Faith, 
 Feb. 1, 1769, married Daniel Wadsworth, of Hart- 
 ford, left no children ; Mary, Dec. 27, 1777, died in 
 infancy ; Harriet, Sept. 2, 1783, married Prof. Ben- 
 jamin Silliman, Yale College, Sept. 17, 1809; and 
 Maria, Feb. 14, 1785, married Henry Hudson, Esq., 
 of Hartford. He graduated at Hartford in 1759, witli 
 unusual reputation, and gave early assurance of a 
 useful and patriotic career. At the opening of the 
 Revolutionary war in 1775 he was appointed by the 
 Continental Congress paymaster-general of the north- 
 ern department of the army under Washington, and 
 in April, 1781, succeeded Hamilton as private secre- 
 tary and first aide to Gen. Washington, serving in this 
 post until near the close of the war. He had been 
 before, and was for several years later, a member of 
 the State Legislature, and was twice Speaker of the 
 House, and from 1796 to 1809 — fourteen years — he 
 was annually elected one of the twelve of the Coun- 
 cil of Assistants of the State under the charter, and 
 as such a member of the Senate, or " Upper House." 
 In 1790 he was chosen a representative in Congress 
 from this State, and in 1791 was Speaker of the 
 United States House of Representatives, and continued 
 in that oflice until 1794, when he was elected to the 
 United States Senate. In 1796 he was elected Lieu- 
 tenant-Governor, and in 1798 Governor of the State, 
 and was annually re-elected to this oflice for eleven 
 years, and until his death in 1809. While holding 
 this office he was also chief judge of the Supreme 
 Court of Errors of the State, as the records of that 
 court show. The many and highly honorable and 
 responsible public positions to which he was called, 
 and the confidence of his fellow-citizens which he so 
 long enjoyed, afford the best and most satisfying evi- 
 dence of his great abilities and integrity of character. 
 He died in Lebanon, the 7th of August, 1809, aged 
 sixty-nine years. 
 
 Faith Trumbull, eldest daughter of the Governor, 
 married, May, 1706, Jedediah Huntington, of Nor- 
 wich, as before stated. " She, too," says Stuart, " had 
 a Revolutionary destiny to fulfill, one of singular and 
 startling import. She was to become the wife of Col. 
 Huntington, afterwards a general in the army under 
 Washington; was to follow her husband and a fav- 
 orite brother (John) to the ' camp around Boston,' 
 and reached there, not to see a formidable army, as 
 she expected, in quiet though watchful quarters, but 
 just as the thunders of Bunker Hill broke over a 
 scene of horrible carnage, which, alarming her deep 
 ai}d affectionate nature for the safety of those most 
 dear to her, drove her into madness and to a speedy 
 death." This terrible battle of June 17, 1775, the 
 first shock of war, was in full view from the camp at 
 Cambridge, from whence it was witnessed by this 
 young wife, the smoke and roar of the conflict envcl- 
 
49^ 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 oping with its friglitful pall the whole camp. As soon 
 after as possible she was tenderly removed to Leba- 
 non, but the shock proved fetal, and she died at Ded- 
 ham, on the 24th day of November following, aged 
 thirty-two years and ten months. She left one child 
 only, Jabez, born September, 1767, who was after- 
 wards president of the Norwich Bank. 
 
 Gen. Huntington, her husband, born in Norwich, 
 Aug. 4, 1743, a graduate of Cambridge, 1763, was in 
 July, 177.'i, appointed colonel of the famous Eighth 
 Regiment of Connecticut troops raised for the war. 
 This regiment was finally equipped in scarlet uni- 
 forms, and in the battle of Long Island, Aug. 27, 
 1776, fought with such desperate bravery that six 
 captains, six lieutenants, twenty-one sergeants, two 
 drummers, and one hundred and twenty-six rank and 
 file were among the dead and missing after the battle.^ 
 
 In 1777, Col. Huntington roe to the rank of briga- 
 dier-general, which rank he held until near the close 
 of the war, when he became a major-general. He 
 was afterwards vice-president of the Order of Cincin- 
 nati, high sheriff of New London County, judge of 
 probate for the district of Norwich, first alderman of 
 the city, and representative of the town of Norwich; 
 State treasurer in 1788 ; in 1789 was appointed United 
 States revenue collector for the district of Eastern 
 Connecticut, and August 11th of that year he re- 
 moved to New London and entered upon the duties 
 of his otSce, in which he continued until his death, 
 Sept. 25, 1818, nearly thirty years. 
 
 Mary Trumbull, seccnd daughter of the Governor, 
 married Hon. William Williams, of Lebanon, Feb. 
 14, 1771, afterwards one of the signers of the immortal 
 Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, and the 
 last survivor of the four signers from this State. 
 He was born in Lebanon, April 8, 1731, one of the 
 five sons of Rev. Solomon Williams, who for fifty-four 
 years was pastor of the First Society in this town. 
 
 One of these sous, Eliphalet, was the settled pastor 
 in East Hartford for about the same number of years. 
 Another son, Ezekiel, was high sheriff of Hartford 
 County for more than thirty years. He himself was 
 the town clerk of Lebanon forty-five years, being first 
 chosen in 1752, at the age of twenty-one years, and 
 the next year, 1757, was chosen to represent the town 
 in the General Assembly, and (with a few rare excep- 
 tions, when holding other and higher oflices, and 
 when he was a member of the Continental Congress) 
 was continued in this office until 1784. He was u 
 valuable and leading member of the House, often 
 chosen its clerk, and nine times its Speaker, filling 
 the chair always with dignity and high ability. In 
 1776 he was chosen by the electors of the State at 
 large one of the assistants, and transferred to the 
 " Upper House," to which office he was twenty-four 
 times annually re-elected. It was recorded of him 
 what probably can be said of no other man, that for 
 
 1 Hiiiman'8 War of tlie Rcvolulion, p. SO. 
 
 more than ninety sessions, regular and special, he 
 was scarcely absent from his seat in the General As- 
 sembly, excepting when he was a member of the Con- 
 tinental Congress in 1776 and 1777. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Council of Safety, which annually met 
 at Lebanon during the war, and an active, eflScient, 
 and patriotic selectman of the town during that period 
 in promoting war measures. 
 
 Atthe age of sixteen he entered Harvard College, 
 and after graduating studied theology with his father 
 a few years, but joined the English and Continental 
 forces in the old French war on the staff of his cousin. 
 Col. Ephraim Williams, who commanded a regiment. 
 In the fierce battle at the head of Lake George, in 
 September, 1755, Col. AVilliams was shot through the 
 head by an Indian and killed ; but the French forces 
 were defeated, and their commander, the Baron Dies- 
 kau, wounded and taken prisoner. Soon after young 
 Williams returned to Lebanon, and continued his res- 
 idence here ever after until his death on the 2d day 
 of August, 1811, in the eighty-first year of his age. 
 They had three children, — two sons and a daughter, 
 — who, with his widow, were all living at his death. 
 His widow, Mary, died in Lebanon, Feb. 9, 1831, aged 
 eighty-five years and eight months. Their children 
 were Solomon, born Jan. 6, 1772 ; Faith, Sept. 29, 
 1774; and William T., March 2, 1779. 
 
 The following anecdote is related of him : At a 
 meeting of the Council of Safety in Lebanon, near 
 the close of 1776, when the prospects of our success 
 looked dark, two members of the Council, William 
 Hillhouse and Benjamin Huntington, were quartered 
 at the house of Mr. Williams. One evening the con- 
 versation of the three gentlemen turned upon the 
 gloomy outlook. Mr. Hillhouse expressed his hope 
 that America would yet be successful, and his con- 
 fidence that this in the end would be her happy fate. 
 " If we fail," said Williams, " I know what my fate will 
 be. I have done much to prosecute the war; and one 
 thing I have done which the British will never pardon, 
 — I have signed the Declaration of Independence: 
 I shall be hung." " Well," said Mr. Huntington, "if 
 we fail I shall be exempt from the gallows, for my 
 name is not attached to the Declaration, nor have I 
 ever written anything against the British govern- 
 ment." " Then, sir," said Williams, turning his kind- 
 ling eye upon him, " you deserve to be hung for not 
 doing your duty /" 
 
 David Trumbull, the third son of the war Governor, 
 was born in Lebanon, Feb. 5, 1751 ; married Dec. 6, 
 1778, Sarah Backus, of Norwich, sister of Eunice, the 
 wife of his brother Jonathan. 
 
 The services which he rendered to the cause of his 
 country in her trying struggle for liberty, though less 
 conspicuous, were as devoted and patriotic, and even 
 more constant, than those of either of his brothers. 
 He was the only son reserved by his father to aid and 
 counsel with him in the discharge of the herculean 
 task which the war devolved, in raising and equip- 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 495 
 
 ping troops and furnishing and forwarding supplies, 
 etc., not only to the land and naval forces of the State, 
 but to the whole Northern Army. The minutes of the 
 Council of Safety, or " War Council," show him to have 
 been not only "the right hand" of his father, but of 
 the Council also, as the able, ready, and trusted exec- 
 utive of their important measures. His duties were 
 indeed omnifarious, — now acting as commissary, now 
 as paymaster, quartermaster, prize-agent, etc., wher- 
 ever most needed. He it was who, as one of a com- 
 mittee in 1776, was to buy up all the pork in the State, 
 and hold it for the use of the State and Continental 
 armies ; and if parties refused to sell at fair market 
 price, they were to be prosecuted and made to ^' pay 
 Ihe price of the pork." He it was who, in 1777, was to 
 procure axes and augers for the Continental army, by 
 order of Congress; to take sixty thousand dollars sent 
 to his father by Gen. Washington, per order of Con- 
 gress, and pay otf the Xorthern Army ; to procure the 
 purchase of eight hundred pounds worth of army 
 clothing; to secure and store one hundred barrels of 
 powder ; to go to Boston for a quantity of clothing ; 
 to receive and have repaired all the old firearms sent 
 to Lebanon from Albany ; to send teams to East 
 Hartford for five hundred stands of arms, and take 
 them under his care at Lebanon ; to take one hundred 
 barrels of powder to Farmington, or as much farther as 
 Gen. Washington might direct, for the use of his 
 army ; to receive at Boston from our State agent in 
 Massachusetts, for prizes, such quantities of prize 
 goods, taken by our ship "Oliver Cromwell," — wine, 
 tea, and clothing, — as would load bis teams then going 
 there, and keep them under his care in Lebanon for 
 the army use; to supply the Northern Army with five 
 hogsheads of rum, and as much sugar as would load 
 his three ox-teams ; to purchase and put up three 
 hundred barrels of pork and one hundred barrels of 
 beef; to send twenty ox-teams to Boston for such 
 army clothing as Col. Joseph Trumbull had bought 
 there for the State, and for salt ; to settle all the ac- 
 counts and expenses of bringing into the State the pris- 
 oners taken in the "Antelope" and the " Weymouth," 
 and pay the same. These few items are given as in- 
 teresting samples, to show the wide scope and divers- 
 ity of his labors during the war. For these constant 
 services, rendered often by night as well as by day, he 
 seems to have received no regular compensation, only 
 his expenses were paid, except in a few special cases, 
 where it is noted in the minutes that he was " to be 
 paid the same as others were paid for such services." 
 He served also for some time as assistant commis- 
 sary-general of the United States, under his brother 
 Joseph while commissary-general, for which latter 
 service his widow Sarah afterwards received a pension. 
 His after-life was spent in Lebanon in the general 
 occupation of a farmer; always active in all the local 
 affairs of the town, and twice its representative in the 
 General Assembly. He died in Lebanon, Jan. 17, 
 1822, and his wife, Sarah, died June 2, 1846. 
 
 They had the following children : Sarah, born Sept. 
 7, 1779, married her cousin, William T. Williams, of 
 Lebanon, son of William the "signer;" Abigail, Jan. 
 7, 1781, married Peter Lanman, of Norwich ; Joseph, 
 Dec. 7, 1782, afterwards, in 1850, Governor of this 
 State, and the third of this illustrious family — father, 
 son, and grandson — whom this town has had the high 
 honor of contributing to the gubernatorial roll of the 
 State ; John, Sept. 19, 1784 ; Jonathan, Dec. 27, 
 1786, died in infancy; and Jonathan G. W., Oct. 8, 
 1789. 
 
 John Trumbull, the fourth son and youngest child 
 of the Governor, though, like all of the family, highly 
 distinguished for patriotic zeal and labors in the cause 
 of his country in the war of the Revolution, became 
 afterwards more widely renowned as the most success- 
 ful and celebrated of all our American painters. He 
 entered Harvard in 1772, at the age of sixteen, and 
 graduated the next year, giving token even then of 
 that love and genius for the art for which he was des- 
 tined to become so famous. In April, 1775, when 
 under nineteen years of age, he joined the First Con- 
 necticut Regiment, stationed at Roxbury, just after the 
 Lexington alarm, as adjutant. He soon afteriattracted 
 the attention of Washington, on his arrival there to 
 take command of the Continental army, and was 
 employed by him in sketching the enemy's position, 
 and was appointed his aide-de-camp. In August, 1775, 
 he was appointed major of brigade, and in 1776 adju- 
 tant-general on Washington's staff. Same year he 
 was sent to the Northern Army for the invasion of 
 Canada, and joined Gen. Gates at Crown Point, to 
 whom he had been appointed adjutant-general, and 
 at once applied his brilliant and magnetic military 
 abilities in bringing order into that discomfited and 
 demoralized army. 
 
 In 1777 he returned to Boston, and with the appro- 
 bation of his father, of Gen. Washington, and other 
 friends, resumed there the study of that art which 
 had ever been the passion, and destined to be the 
 glory, of his life, but still holding himself in readi- 
 ness for any pressing emergency in the service of his 
 country, as notably, for example, in 1778, when he 
 volunteered as aide to Gen. Sullivan in the attempt to 
 dislodge the British army and navy from Newport. 
 His bravery on this occasion, the cool valor and dar- 
 ing with which he led his troops into the most deadly 
 of the fierce encounters of that unequal contest, com- 
 manded not only the admiration but the astonishment 
 of Gen. Sullivan and all who witnessed it. In one of 
 these encounters he ibund a Massachusetts brigade 
 in hopeless confusion from loss of its commanding 
 officers, and utterly mixed up and disorganized. His 
 ringing voice at once inspired the mass. Almost in 
 an instant he reorganized them, assigned new officers, 
 and mounted on his own "noble bay," as fiery as 
 himself, led them so steadily into a charge against a 
 larger body of the enemy that they were surprised, 
 routed, and scattered from the field. Gen. Sullivan, 
 
496 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 seeing the order, rapidity, and effect of tliis movement, 
 exclaimed to his staff, "That movement would do 
 honor to the ablest regiment in the army, under its 
 ablest leader." High praise this for a veteran general 
 to apply to a young aide-de-camp only twenty-two 
 years of age. 
 
 His cool daring and exposures this day gave him 
 the reputation of "bearing a charmed life." Early 
 in the day he had lost his hat, and with only a hand- 
 kerchief tied over his head, he had been a conspicu- 
 ous and marked object in every part of the field. 
 "Your escape has been most wonderful," said Gen. 
 Sullivan. " Your preservation," wrote Gen. Mattoon, 
 "in each of these most daring enterprises I have ever 
 considered little short of a miracle, and a most remark- 
 able interposition of Providence for your safety." 
 
 He was the natural and pre-eminent military genius 
 of the family, and had fate led him to follow the pro- 
 fession of arms, would doubtless have been renowned 
 as a military chieftain, but it was otherwise ordered 
 that his future fame should rest upon a more peaceful 
 and permanent foundation. 
 
 In 1780 he went to London, under assurances of 
 safety as a non-combatant, to become a pupil there 
 under the celebrated painter, Benjamin West, his 
 friend and countryman ; but soon after, under the 
 excitement caused by the execution of Maj. Andre, 
 he was arrested and imprisoned eight months. He 
 then left England for Holland, where he assisted 
 largelj' in raising a loan for the American Congress, 
 which his father was then, by his agents, negotiating 
 there. After the war he returned to London and pur- 
 sued his studies under West. His first great histori- 
 cal picture, "The Battle of Bunker Hill," was pro- 
 duced in 1786 ; soon after, his " Death of Montgomery 
 before Quebec" ; and his next was the " Sortie of the 
 Garrison of Gibraltar." In 1789 he returned to Amer- 
 ica to i^rocure likenesses of Eovolutionary officers 
 and heroes for his contemplated series of American 
 national pictures. In 1794 he again went to England 
 as secretary of Mr. Jay, the American minister, and 
 in 1796 was appointed a commissioner in the execu- 
 tion of the seventh article of Jays treaty. The duties 
 of this office occupied him till 1804, when he returned 
 to the United States and pursued his art, producing 
 portraits of Washington, of whom he painted several 
 copies, and other notable officers, and many other 
 historical pictures. 
 
 From 1817 to 1824 he was engaged in painting, by 
 order of Congress, his four great national pictures, viz. : 
 the " Declaration of Independence," the "Surrender 
 of Burgoyne," the " Surrender of Cornwallis," and the 
 " Resignation of Washington" at Annapolis, each on 
 royal canvas, eighteen by twelve feet in view, and for 
 which Congress paid him thirty-two thousand dollars. 
 Afterwards, for many years, he was engaged in finishing 
 his former sketches, and in painting copies of his na- 
 tional pictures on a uniform scale of nine by six feet. 
 l\Iany of these, together with portraits and several 
 
 coijies from the old masters, fifty-four pictures in all, 
 he finally gave to Y^ale College, where they were de- 
 posited in the " Trumbull Gallery," specially erected 
 for their reception. The " Wadsworth Gallery," at 
 Hartford, contains also fourteen of his paintings, viz. : 
 the " Battle of Bunker Hill," the " Declaration of 
 Independence," the "Battle of Trenton," the "Bat- 
 tle of Princeton," and the " Death of General Mont- 
 gomery," all of heroic size of nine by six feet open 
 view ; three portraits, two views of Niagara Falls, and 
 six pictures of classical subjects. The five national 
 paintings at the first glance instantly seize and fix 
 a wrapped attention, and hold the visitor spell-bound. 
 Every townsman of this great artist who will visit 
 this gallery will feel a new and special glow of pride 
 and admiration in the magic power of his pencil. 
 
 He was president of the American Academy of 
 Fine Arts from its foundation, and spent his later 
 years in New York City, where he died, Nov. 10, 1843, 
 aged eighty-seven, and was buried at New Haven, be- 
 neath the gallery bearing his name. Sarah, his wife, 
 died April 12, 1824, aged fifty-one, and was buried 
 in the same place. They had no children. 
 
 Col. Trumbull, in his autobiography, notes the fol- 
 lowing among the reminiscences of his boyhood in 
 Lebanon. A Mohegau Indian, Zachary Johnson, 
 " Old Zach," as he was called, once one of the trusted 
 counselors of his tribe, but for many years debased 
 and degraded by drunkenness, had been often em- 
 ployed by his father, as a hunter and trapper, in col- 
 lecting furs. In those days the State elections at 
 Hartford and New Haven were made the occasions 
 of great ceremony and display, and the Indians used 
 to gather in great numbers and stare at the Governor 
 and the soldiers and the crowds of citizens as they 
 marched through the streets. On one such occasion 
 Old Zach had started from Mohegan, and, as usual, had 
 stopped at Lebanon on his way to Hartford to dine at 
 the house of his old employer. A short time before, 
 aroused by a keen sense of his degradation, and suf- 
 fering from his besetting sin of drunkenness, he had 
 suddenly and resolutely broken off from all intoxi- 
 cating drinks. Y'oung John, then about ten years 
 old, had heard of this, and having but little faith in 
 such reform by an Indian, in a spirit of boyish mis- 
 chief determined to test it. Upon the table, as was 
 the family custom of that day, stood a foaming tank- 
 ard of strong, home-brewed beer. This the mischiev- 
 ous boy kept sipping, smacking his lips with feigned 
 gusto, and extolling its merits, but the Indian was 
 silent. At length the lad pushed the tankard towards 
 the old man. "Zachary," said he, "this beer is ex- 
 cellent : won't you try it?" The knife and fork 
 dropped from the hands of the Indian, he leaned for- 
 ward with a stern intensity of expression, his dark 
 eyes, sparkling with indignation, were fixed upon the 
 young tempter. "John," said he, "you don't know 
 what you are doing. You are serving the devil, boy ! 
 Don't you know that I am an Indian ? I tell you 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 -107 
 
 that I am ; and if I should taste your beer I could 
 never stop till I got to rum, and become again the 
 drunken, contemptible wretch your father once knew 
 me. John, tvhilc you live never again tempt any man to 
 break a good resolution." 
 
 " Socrates," continues Trumbull, " never uttered a 
 more valuable precept. Demosthenes could not have 
 given it in more solemn tones of eloquence. I was 
 thunder-struck; my parents were deeply affected; 
 they looked at each other, then at me, and then with 
 feelings of deep awe and respect at the venerable In- 
 dian. They afterwards frequently reminded me of it, 
 and charged me never to forget that scene." 
 
 It is recorded in history' that Old Zach never after 
 allowed a drop of intoxicating drink to pass his lips, 
 regained his former standing with his tribe, became 
 one of its " regents," and died at Mohegan in the 
 one hundredth year of his age. 
 
 The Trumbull tomb at Lebanon was erected in 
 1785, soon after the death of tlie great " war Gover- 
 nor," by his three then surviving sons, Jonathan, 
 David, and John. Within this family mausoleum 
 rest the sacred ashes of more of the illustrious dead 
 than in any other in the State, or perhaps the coun- 
 try. Here rests the remains of that eminently great 
 and good Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., the bosom friend 
 and most trusted counselor of Washington ; of his 
 good wife. Faith Robinson ; of his eldest son, Joseph, 
 the first commissary-general of the army under Wash- 
 ington ; of his second son, Jonathan, Jr., paymaster- 
 general of the same army, private secretary, and first 
 aide-de-camp to Gen. Washington, and afterwards 
 Speaker of the United States House of Eepresenta- 
 tives, member of the United States Senate, and Gov- 
 ernor of this State, and by his side his good wife, 
 Eunice Backus ; of his third son, David, commissary 
 of this colony in the Revolution, and assistant com- 
 missary-general under his brother in the army of 
 Washington, and by his side his good wife, Sarah 
 Backus; of his second daughter, Mary, and by her 
 side her illustrious liusband, William M'illiams, one 
 of the signers of the immortal Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, and many others who have from these de- 
 scended. What a tomb is here ! What a shrine for 
 patriotic devotion! 
 
 CHAPTER L.^ 
 
 LEBANON— (Continued). 
 
 Proprietors' Meeting — Town Street Title — " No Taxation witliout Eepre- 
 sentation" — The Five-mile Purchase — Deed from Owaneco — Litigation 
 ivith Abimeleck — Indian Schools. 
 
 There is in existence a " Proprietors' Book,'' con- 
 taining a record of the officers and meetings of the 
 original proprietors from 1706 to 1786 ; and there is 
 
 ' Foster's " Indians of Connecticut," p. 479 ; Barber's " Historical Col- 
 lections of Connecticut," p. 300. 
 
 2 For the information contained in the following chapter the author ia 
 indebted to Kev. Orlo D. Hine and the late Nathaniel H. Morgan. 
 
 preserved a record of a meeting as late as Feb. 28, 
 1810, when William Williams was chosen moderator, 
 and Eliphalet Metcalf clerk and treasurer, in the 
 room of the late Governor Trumbull, deceased [the 
 second Governor Trumbull, who died Aug. 7, 1809], 
 and sworn according to law by William Williams, 
 justice of the peace. 
 
 Peopkietohs' Mep.tixg, Februaky, ISIO.— Transcripts. 
 "It was voted that Uliphalet Metcalf, Esq., Maj. Zabdiel lI\Jc, and 
 Col. Jacob Loomis be of the Committee, together willi the survivors of 
 the former Committee (William AViUiams and William Huntington), to 
 warn Pioprietor?' meetings, and to do and perform all the serviced and 
 business proper for the Committee of said Proprietors, and forwhich the 
 former Committees have been chosen, that is needful and e.\pedient to 
 be done." 
 
 TOWNOIEETING. 
 
 "At the annual tciivn meeting, Nov. S, ISOO, tlte selectmen were em- 
 powered to soil to adjoining propiictors all such land in the high way as 
 is not necessaty for the accommodation of the public. Jan. .^1, 1810, the 
 town instructed the select men to dispose of the land they had surveyed 
 between the meeting houses, — which they thought not necessary for the 
 public travel." To tliis action of the town the pi'oprietois presented 
 the protest which is found below, dated Feb. 8, 1810. 
 
 Propriktors' Meeting. 
 
 "Whereas the inhabitants of the Town of Lebanon, at a meeting held 
 by them on the 31st of Jan. last, did without law, or right, as we apjire- 
 liend, vote and agree to take up, discontinue, dispose and sell, for their 
 own benetrt, — part of the land called and used for high way, being the 
 Town Street so called, which has from the beginning, down to this pres- 
 ent day, been used for high way, and common land, for pasturage and 
 feeding for the poor, and also sundry other pieces of land for high ways." 
 
 " Now therefore we the subaciibers, original Proprietors of the common 
 and undivided land in the 5 mile property in s^ town, and legal repre- 
 sentatives of such proprietors, in behalf of themselves and with the pre- 
 sumed and certain consent of the rest, who are scattered and removed 
 into various Towns and Places, do object, declare and protest against s*! 
 .vote, as inexpedient, improper and unlawful and for reasons assigned." 
 
 " First, that s^^ Town street land is not, nor ever was the property of s'l 
 town or the inhabitants thereof, very few individuals accepted, who may 
 legally represent the said original purchasers and proprietors, and say 
 that sd Town street wjis never laid out for high way by order of the Town 
 or any Select-men, but was origin.ally reoeived and laid (out) by a Com^ 
 of their own body, and s<l proprietors always considered it as their own 
 property, all that was unnecessary for high ways; and ever kept meet- 
 ings, clerks, committees, treasurers, and Records of many doings of 
 theirs, respecting s^ town street and many high ways, and the disposition 
 of many strips of land : s* laying <ir reserving b^ wide street, was before 
 the town was incorporated, and any name or otfice of any Select men 
 existed here, so that the Town would have no right to discontinue or 
 alter it, or any part of it, but if necessary to he done, it must be by order 
 of the County Court; and the avails of it belong to the Corpoiation or 
 Person to whom the fee of the land did belong." 
 
 " The s'^ Proprietors have ever considered it as their own property, and 
 have exercised many acts of ownership of the same, more than 100 years, 
 as by the book of records may appear, which never was questioned until 
 now. And at their meeting in March, 1758, the elder Gov^ TrnmbuU, 
 moderator (as of all the meetings in his day), they voted and agreed to 
 divide the common land lying in the woods, with all such smjill strips as 
 may be found lying within this Propriety, save only the common land 
 lying in the main Town street, from Capt. Samuel Huntingtons to Mr. 
 John Popes. And it was provided by law that whatever part or interest 
 the aforesd Proprietors, by custom as well as deed, have in any common 
 or undivided land in any Town, which they have not by their free con- 
 sent as before expressed, or otherwise disposed of, or suffered to be divided 
 or disposed of, shall ho allowed and taken to be their proper estate, and 
 that no person whatsoever, by becoming an inliabitant of such town, or 
 by any other means against and without the consent of such Proprietors, 
 shall he taken or esteemed to have any estate, title, right, or interest 
 therein." 
 
 "Further, all the laws wdiich mention tho subject are clearly in our 
 favor; — So that it was the opinion of Gov^ Trumbull the elder, who was 
 always clerk or moderator in tlieir meetings, and of the late GoV^ Trnm- 
 
493 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 linll, who M-as till his death clerk of »' meetings and of all others,— that 
 the right of said Proprietors coiilil never be taken away. 
 
 " And we would cantion any, if any there he, willing to purchase any 
 of si hind, not to proceed ; for their title will surely he contested. 
 "William Williams, Isiael Loomis, 
 
 ■\Vm. Huntington, Samuel Biiiley, 
 
 Comfort Brewstei', James Baylcy, 
 
 Eliph.ilet Metcalf, Simon Loomis, 
 
 Caleb Abel,. iuti% John Loomis, 
 
 Zabiliel Hyde, Isa.ac Gillet, 
 
 David Trumbull, John Clark, 
 
 William Lyman, James Chirk, 
 
 Daniel Dewey, Eliphalet Huntington. 
 
 "JFe!). 8(7i, ISIO." 
 
 Town meeting. 
 " Feb. 19, 1810, at a special meeting tlie town voted to rescind the votes 
 passed at its former meeting respecting selling and disposing of certain 
 portions of land in the highways. And this was the sole bnsiness done 
 at the meeting." 
 
 "No Ta'xation without Representation." — None 
 of the older towns in Connecticut were ever organized 
 under any formal act of incorporation. The early 
 settlements, during the first century, were made by a 
 iew pioneer families in such new places as seemed to 
 offer the best advantages for a plantation. The new 
 settlers, being thus removed beyond the protection 
 and jurisdiction of the older settlements, were com- 
 pelled, for their own safety and good order, in their 
 isolated condition, to become " a law unto themselves." 
 In many cases these new plantations, from one cause 
 or another, proved to be failures, and after a few 
 years were abandoned ; but when successful they 
 attracted new-comers, and the permanency of the 
 settlement became better assured. 
 
 One of their earliest desires was to secure the ad- 
 v.antages of religious instruction and the offices of a 
 Christian minister among them. The next was, usu- 
 ally, to obtain authority to choose certain civil officers ; 
 and as they increased in numbers they desired that a 
 certain territory, of proper size and description of 
 boundaries, should be assigned to them and invested 
 with " town priveleges." Application for each of 
 these was made from time to time to the General As- 
 sembly as they were severally needed, and they were 
 usually approved, the permission given, and the priv- 
 ilege granted by a short and simple "Order" of the 
 Assembly. 
 
 Take the case of Lebanon as a common example of 
 the simple brevity of these important proceedings : 
 
 Oct. Session!, IfiOT.— " Ordered by tliis Court that the new plantation 
 situate to the westward of Norwich bounds shall be called Lebanon." 
 
 Oct. (S'.'«('»y/, 1700. — "Fi-ee liberty is by this Assembly granted to the 
 inhabitants of Lebanon, to embody themselves in church estate there; 
 and also to call and settle an orthodoxe miiiisfei- to dispense the ordi- 
 nances of God to them; Uiey procediug therein with tiio consent of 
 neighbor chniches, as the laws in such cases doth direct." 
 
 Same Session, 1700.--" Ibis Assembly doth grant to the inbahitants of 
 the town of Lebanon, all such iniiiiunilies, privelidges and powers, as 
 generally other towns within this colony have and doe enjoy." 
 
 But these embryo settlements were never at first 
 called upon to contribute any share of the public 
 expense of the colonial government, even although 
 invested with " town priveleges." The settlers were 
 mostly poor in property, and surrounded and envel- 
 
 oped as they were by an unbroken forest, it required 
 all their powers and energies to win from the unsub- 
 dued soil even the common necessaries of subsistence. 
 In a few years, as the clearings were enlarged, the til- 
 lage increased, and crops became more abundant, the 
 General Assembly would inquire, by a committee, 
 whether they were not able to bear a portion of the 
 ■ public burdens, and if they found they were, an as- 
 sessment of their property was ordered and a tax 
 levied thereon, in common with the other towns. 
 Take again the town of Lebanon as a common ex- 
 ample of the ordering of the General Assembly in 
 this matter, and note that at this date the town had 
 been organized with full powers and privileges for 
 four years, and yet never taxed. 
 
 Oct. Session, 1704. — " This court doe order that the plantations of Leb- 
 anon, Blanstield, Canterbury and P]aiofield,be listed as other townes 
 and plantations in this colonie are, and for performance of said worke, 
 doe appoint the selectmen and constable or constables in each planta- 
 tion, forthwith upon receit hereof, to demand and take tlie rateable 
 estate reall and personall, as the lawe directs, in their respective plantii- 
 tions, and perfect said lists with all convenient speed, and transmit the 
 same to tho Colonie Secretary, to be inrolled in the publick records in 
 order to be transmitted to the Treasurer, tliat thereby he may give forth 
 his warrants for the levying their shares of the Colonie cliarge." 
 
 Whereupon, and without any other authority or 
 permission whatever, the towns chose one or two rep- 
 resentatives, who at the next session walked boldly 
 into the General Assembly and took their seats among 
 the members unchallenged and unquestioned, repre- 
 sentation being the common right, resulting insepar- 
 ably from taxation, — a right settled by the universal* 
 custom from the beginning, not only in this colony, 
 but in every colony in New England, and probably 
 the other colonies. In this right Lebanon chose 
 William Clark, who took his seat in the next session. 
 May, 1705, of the General Assembly at Hartford. 
 
 It \'\'as in this custom in New England that the 
 great " war-cry of the Revolution" had its roots and 
 nerves. "No taxation without representation" rang 
 out as the popular key-note everywhere when the 
 mother-government of England attempted to tax them 
 without any representation in Parliament. But it is 
 not strange that this popular cry had so little effect 
 upon the British rulers. They had but little ac- 
 quaintance with our local customs from which it 
 sprang, and from which it derived its peculiar po- 
 tency. It was a new cry to them, in which they could 
 see but little reason, and they considered it and 
 treated it as only an empty and senseless clamor, 
 set up merely to screen what they deemed the un- 
 ruly spirit of an unjustifiable and uncalled-for re- 
 bellion. 
 
 rive-mile Purchase in 1692.— The Mohegan 
 lands lying northerly from the New London settle- 
 ments and extending up into Windham and Tolland 
 Counties were claimed and held jointly by Uncas and 
 his two sons, Owaneco and Attawanhood, alias Joshua. ' 
 The grant of land to Norwich in 1659 was made and 
 signed by all three of these as grantors. Upon the 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 499 
 
 deatli of Attawanhood his claim to these lands fell 
 to his son and heir, Abimeleck ; and though it does 
 not appear that any actual division of these lands 
 was ever made between these Indian chiefs, yet they 
 had practically each selected a particular range or 
 territory, over which they claimed and exercised a 
 more special and individual right to make grants. 
 These ranges, however, had no well-defined bound- 
 aries or extent, and the grants frequently overlapped 
 and conflicted with each other. The special range 
 claimed by Attawanhood, and afterwards by his son 
 Abimeleck, extended over Colchester, Lebanon, and 
 Windham, and most of the early grants in Colches- 
 ter and Windham, and many in Lebanon, were made 
 by Attawanhood, alias Joshua, or by his son Abim- 
 eleck. 
 
 The "Five-mile purchase," in Lebanon, was made 
 in 1692 from Owaneco by Samuel Mason, of Stoning- 
 ton, Benj. Brewster, of Norwich, John Stanton, of 
 Stonington, and John Burchard, of Norwich, and the 
 deed, bearing date Sept. 6, 1692, is signed by Owaneco 
 alone. This grant was stoutly contested by Abime- 
 leck and others holding under him, on the ground 
 that Owaneco had no right to make grants in this 
 territory ; and the parties becoming involved in per- 
 plexing lawsuits, appealed to the General Assembly 
 for an adjustment of their claims. But the Assembly 
 looked with disfavor upon these large land-grants, 
 which the Indian sachems and chiefs had made to 
 favored friends and land speculators, as being against 
 good public policy. They thought it wiser and better 
 that the lands should be kept free and unsequestered, 
 and open to the purchase of actual settlers in such 
 quantities as they might need for their own use. To 
 gain the favor of the Assembly by conforming to this 
 policy, and thereby to secure the title of their pur- 
 chase. Mason, Brewster, Stanton, and Burchard, by 
 their deed dated Jan. 4, 1700, conveyed the whole of 
 it in fee to fifty-one persons, including themselves, for 
 the sole use and benefit of the grantees and their heirs 
 and assigns, as proprietors in common. 
 
 But still litigation was continued by Abimeleck and 
 others claiming under him, and the progress of the 
 settlement was impeded thereby until 1705, when, on 
 application by the inhabitants of Lebanon, the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, at the May session, approved and con- 
 firmed the deed of Owaneco to Mason and others, 
 dated Sept. 6, 1692, and also the deed of Mason and 
 others to the fifty-one grantees, dated Jan. 4, 1700; 
 and vested the title forever in the said fifty-one 
 grantees, and their heirs and assigns, as proprietors in 
 common. And this, of course, ended all further liti- 
 gation, and put the controversy to its final rest. The 
 fifty-one grantees named in the deed of Mason and 
 others, dated in 1700, are as follows (Mason having 
 probably died between 1700 and 1705, his right was 
 vested in his heirs), viz. : Samuel Mason's heirs, John 
 Burchard, Sr., John Burchard, Jr., Jabez Hide, John 
 Stanton, Benjamin Brewster, Joseph Parsons, Daniel 
 
 Clark, Sr., Daniel Mason's heirs, Hezekiah Mason, 
 James Buttolph, Jedediah Strong, Thomas Hunt, 
 Caleb Chappel, William Clark, John Woodward, Jr., 
 John Brown, John Morgan, Samuel Fitch, John 
 Mason, John Calkin, John Baldwin, Samuel Hunt- 
 ington, Joseph Bradford, Exercise Connant, John 
 Avery, John Buri'oughs, Nathaniel Fitch, Joseph 
 Fitch, George Webster, Edward Culver, James Dean, 
 Richard Bushnell, Thomas Adgate, John Dewey, 
 Micha Mudge, Josiah Dewey, Sr., Nathaniel Dewey, 
 John Woodward, Sr., Richard Lyman, Sr., Samuel 
 Hutchinson, Joseph Mai's!!, Joseph Thomas, John 
 Webster, Joseph Pumery, Josiah Dewey, Jr., John 
 Gillett, Thomas Root, Stephen Lee, John Hutchinson, 
 Joseph Burchard. 
 
 It is a curious fact that nearly a third of these 
 Christian names are John, and more than half of 
 them commence with the letter J. Fortunately the 
 town was already named, or it might have been called 
 Johnstown. 
 
 Indian Schools. — There was also another school, 
 besides the one mentioned in Mr. Hines' address, ex- 
 isting here in Lebanon from 1743 until 1768, of far 
 wider influence and renown than the Nathan Tisdale 
 school, and which, on its removal to New Hampshire, 
 was there established and incorporated as Dartmouth 
 College, that well-known institution deriving its first 
 inception, its birth and origin, and its original and 
 special purposes and objects from this town. 
 
 In 1735, Eleazer Wheelock, a clergyman of fine 
 talents, of earnest character, and of devoted piety, 
 was settled over the Second Congregational Church, in 
 the north part of the town of Lebanon. Like many 
 other ministers of the day and afterwards, he had 
 several young men in his family, whom he taught the 
 higher branches of English and in the classics. 
 
 In December, 1743, a young Mohegan Indian, about 
 twenty years of age, whose name has since become 
 more famous than that of any other of the tribe, un- 
 less, perhaps, the first Uncas, applied to Mr. Wheelock 
 for admission among his scholars. Samson Oocom 
 was born in 1723 at Mohegan, and grew up in the 
 pagan faith and the rude and savage customs of his 
 tribe. During the great religious awakening of 1739- 
 40 he had become convinced of the truth of Chris- 
 tianity and deeply alarmed for his own lost condition. 
 For six months he groaned in the gloom of his dark- 
 ness, but then light broke into his soul, and he was 
 seized with an irresistible impulse to carry this great 
 light to his benighted race, and to become a teacher 
 to his lost brethren, and with his heart swelling with 
 this impulse he now stood before Wheelock, asking 
 to be instructed for this great work. 
 
 It was not in the heart of Wheelock to resist this 
 appeal, and he at once admitted him to his school and 
 family with open arms, and in the spirit of his mis- 
 sion. Occom had already learned the letters of the 
 alphabet, and could spell out a few words, and such 
 was his zeal and devotion to study that in four years 
 
500 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 he was fitted to enter college ; but his health had been 
 so impaired by intense application, and lacking also 
 the means, he never entered. Leaving school, he re- 
 turned to his tribe, preaching and teaching salvation 
 through Christ alone with power and effect, support- 
 ing himself meantime, like the rest of hia tribe, by 
 hunting and fishing, .and the rude Indian arts of 
 making baskets and other Indian utensils, and occa- 
 sionally teaching small Indian schools, but during 
 all this time still pursuing his own studies in theology 
 and Bible literature. 
 
 In this mission he visited other tribes. In 1748 
 he went over to Long Island, and spent several years 
 there among the ]\Iontauk, the Skenecock, and other 
 tribes, preaching and teaching with great success. 
 At one time a great revival occurred under his labors 
 there, during which many Indians were converted. 
 Aug. 20, 1759, he was ordained by the Suffolk Presby- 
 tery of Long Island, and was ever after regarded as 
 a regular member of that ecclesiastical body. 
 
 The case of Occom and its instructive results at- 
 tracted wide attention from the first start, and Mr. 
 Wheelock determined to open his school to other 
 Indian youths who desired to engage in and be fitted 
 for the same work, and in a short time it became 
 exclusively an " Indian School" for missionary pur- 
 poses, so that by 1762 he had more than twenty Li- 
 dian students preparing for the conversion of their 
 countrymen. 
 
 This new movement attracted the earnest attention 
 of the leading clergymen and Christian philanthro- 
 pists throughout all New England and the Northern 
 colonies. To all who looked with anxiety for the 
 conversion and civilization of the aborigines of this 
 part of North America this school was long consid- 
 ered the brightest and most promising ground of hope. 
 Notes of encouragement came pouring in from various 
 sources throughout all the New England colonies, from 
 ministers' councils, from churches, and from eminent 
 leaders and philanthropists, with money contribu- 
 tions, cheering on the movement, and all aiming to 
 increase the numbers in training, and to give to the 
 school a wider sweep in its influence. Probably no 
 school in this or any other land or age ever awakened 
 so wide-spread and intense an interest or seemed 
 freighted with such a precious and hopeful mission 
 as did then this little parochial school, kept in the 
 obscure parsonage of a country minister. 
 
 In 17G5 a general conference of the friends of the 
 school was held, at which it was determined to send 
 Samson Occom to England to show to our English 
 brethren there what Christianity had done for him, 
 and what it eould dp for the natives of North Amer- 
 ica, and that Kev. Nathaniel Whitaker, of Norwich, 
 should go with him, to enlist co-operation in the cause 
 and to solicit contributions in its aid. Occom was 
 then forty-three years old, well educated, and spoke 
 English clearly and fluently. His features and com- 
 plexion bore every mark of his race, but he was easy 
 
 and natural in social manners, frank and cordial, but 
 modest in conversation, and his deportment in the 
 pulpit was such as to command deep attention and 
 respect. He could preach extemporaneously and 
 well, but usually wrote his sermons. Such, then, was 
 this son of the forest, and sueh his sublime mission 
 to the English mother-land, — to convert the natives 
 of a pagan continent to Christianity and civilization 
 through the ministry of pagan converts of their own 
 race. 
 
 His appearance in England produced an extraordi- 
 nary sensation, and he preached with great applause 
 in London and other principal cities of Great Britain 
 and Scotland to crowded audiences. From the 16th 
 of February, 1766, to the 22d of July, 1767, he deliv- 
 ered between three and four hundred sermons, many 
 of them in the presence of the king and the royal 
 family and the great nobles of the land. Large con- 
 tributions were taken up after each of these dis- 
 courses ; the king himself gave two hundred pounds, 
 and in the whole enterprise seven thousand pounds 
 sterling were collected in England and about three 
 thousand pounds in Scotland.^ 
 
 This success resulted in transferring Wheelock's 
 Indian school to New Hampshire, which it was 
 thought would be a better place for an Indian semi- 
 nary, as being more retired and less exposed to dis- 
 turbing influences than the more thickly settled col- 
 ony of Connecticut. It was then incorporated as 
 Dartmouth College (taking its name from the pious 
 and noble Earl of Dartmouth, whom Occom's mission 
 in England had warmly enlisted in the cause, for the 
 special object and purpose of educating and training 
 Indian youths for the ministry and missionary work 
 of their race ; but after the death of Eleazer Wheelock, 
 its founder and president, and especially after the 
 death of his son, John Wheelock, who succeeded him 
 as president, its original and distinctive character as 
 an Indian seminary gradually changed until it be- 
 came, as it still remains, assimilated in character and 
 purpose with the other colleges of the country ; and 
 so the glowing dream, the fervid zeal, and the san- 
 guine hopes and expectations of its great-souled 
 founders faded away. 
 
 In 1771, a Mohegan Indian, named Moses Paul, was 
 tried at New London and condemned to death for the 
 murder, in a drunken brawl, of Moses Clark. A large 
 assembly of English and Indians collected to witness 
 the execution. At the request of the prisoner, Sam- 
 son Occom was appointed by the authorities to preach 
 a funeral sermon in the presence of the poor wretch, 
 as was the custom of the time, just before he was 
 launched into eternity. Upon his own coffin, in front 
 of the pulpit, sat the doomed man. Next around him 
 were seated his brethren of the Mohegan tribe, the 
 audience filling the rest of the church, a great crowd 
 
 ' McClme's " Lifo of Wljeelock," pp. 10, 17, and De Forrest's " History 
 of Couuecticut Indiiins," p. 459. 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 501 
 
 surrounding it, and a military company acting as 
 guard. 
 
 Tiie sermon is still preserved in tlie library of the 
 Connecticut Historical Society at Hartford [Pamph- 
 let No. 225] ; the text from Eomans vi. 23 : " For the 
 wages of sin is death ; but the gift of God is eternal 
 life through Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 
 It is not eloquent, it is not grand orator,v, but it 
 is something higher than eloquence, and in its sad 
 and solemn moaning over the degraded and lost con- 
 dition of his race, in their pagan darkness, their 
 wickedness, the awful consequences of drunkenness, 
 their besetting sin, it has all the moving power and 
 pathos of a Hebrew wail. 
 
 The first part of the discourse dwells at length 
 upon the peculiar meaning and significance of the 
 term death, as used in the text, its endless and eter- 
 nal character, and was addressed to the audience at 
 large, and rising with the vastness of the idea, he 
 exclaimed, "Eternity! O Eternity! Who can meas- 
 ure it? Who can count the years thereof? Arithmetic 
 fails; the thoughts of men and angels are drowned 
 in it. How shall we describe eternity? To what 
 shall we compare it? Were a fly to carry off one 
 particle of this globe to such a distancethat it would 
 take ten thousand years to go and return for another, 
 and so continue till he had carried off, particle by 
 particle, once in ten thousand years, the whole of this 
 globe and placed it in that distant space, just as it is 
 now here, after all this eternity would remain the 
 same unexhausted duration ! And this eternal death 
 must be the certain portion of all impenitent sinners, 
 be they who they may, Negroes, Indians, English, or 
 what nation soever; honorable or ignoble, great or 
 small, rich or poor, bond or free, all who die in 
 their sins must go to hell together, ' for the wages of 
 sin is death.' " 
 
 He next addressed the doomed prisoner upon his 
 cofiin, pointed out to him the enormity of his crime, 
 and how by drunkenness, and by despising the vvarn- 
 ings and counsels of Christian teachers, he had been 
 led to it; explained to him the way of salvation, urg- 
 ing him with pathos and earnest energy at once to 
 accept it, and like the dying thief upon the cross be- 
 side the crucified Saviour, to throw himself upon the 
 mercy of that same Saviour, and so, even at the elev- 
 enth hour, escape eternal death. 
 
 He then turned to the Mohegans present: "My 
 poor kindred !" he exclaimed, " you see the woful con- 
 sequences of sin by seeing this, our poor, miserable 
 countryman, now before us, who is to die for his sins 
 and his great crime, and it was especially the sin of 
 drunkenness that brought this destruction and un- 
 timely death upon him. There is a dreadful woe de- 
 nounced from the Almighty against drunkards ; and 
 it is this sin, this abominable, this beastly sin of 
 drunkenness that has stript us of every desirable com- 
 fort in this life. By this sin we have no name or 
 credit in the world ; for this sin we are despised, and 
 
 it is right and just, for we despise ourselves. By this 
 sin we have no comfortable houses, nor anything com- 
 fortable in our houses, neither food, nor raiment, nor 
 decent utensils ; we go about with ragged and dirty 
 clothing and almost naked, most of the time half 
 starved, and obliged to pick up and eat such food as 
 we can find ; and our poor children suffering every 
 day, often crying for food, and we have nothing for 
 them, and in the cold winter shivering and crying, 
 pinched with cold. All this comes from the love of 
 strong drink. And this is not all the misery and evil 
 we bring upon ourselves by this sin, for when we are 
 intoxicated with strong drink we drown our rational 
 powers, by which we are distinguished from the brute 
 creation ; we unman ourselves, and sink not only to a 
 level with the beasts of the field, but seven degrees 
 beneath them ; yea, we bring ourselves to a level with 
 the devils; and I don't know but we make ourselves 
 worse than the devils, for I never heard of a drunken 
 devil." 
 
 He closed his discourse with a fervid exhortation 
 to his Mohegan brethren to break off from their sins, 
 and especially from their besetting sin of drunken- 
 ness, by a gospel repentance ; to " take warning by 
 the doleful sight now before us," and from the dread- 
 ful judgments that have befallen poor drunkards. 
 " You that have been careless all your day now 
 awake to righteousness and be concerned for your 
 never-dying souls." Fight against all sin, and espe- 
 cially against your besetting sin, "and above all 
 things believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall 
 have eternal life, and when you come to die your 
 souls will be received into heaven, there to be with 
 the Lord Jesus and all the saints in glory, which God 
 in His infinite mercy grant, through Jesus Christ, our 
 Lord. Amen." 
 
 In 1786 he gathered a few Mohegans and several 
 other Indians from other tribes in Connecticut, 
 Rhode Island, and Long Island, and went with them 
 to Oneida County, N. Y., and there formed the 
 nucleus of the clan afterwards known as the Brother- 
 town tribe among the " Six Nations." He continued 
 as their minister, acting also as a missionary among 
 the Six Nations, until his death, which occurred in 
 July, 1792, more than three hundred Indians follow- 
 ing him mournfully and tearfully to the grave. 
 
 Another young Mohegan, Joseph Johnson, educa- 
 ted in Wheelock's school, became also a preacher of 
 great power and influence. He was sent early as a 
 missionary to the " Six Nations" of New York, and 
 afterwards co-operated with Occom in the establish- 
 ment there of the Brothertown clan. At the breaking 
 out of the war of the Revolution the Six Nations, a 
 powerful and warlike Indian confederacy, were at 
 first much inclined to favor the English side, and to 
 become the allies of the British forces of Canada, and 
 to this end were strongly tempted by the insidious 
 wiles of British emissaries, backed by the glittering 
 display and lavish use of British gold. 
 
502 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Against this danger both Johnson and Occom 
 exerted the whole weight of their great moral powers 
 and their wide influence, the former especially ap- 
 pealing for help, in averting this impending danger, 
 to Governor Trumbull and other friends here, and to 
 the Assembly. His zeal and patriotic efforts attrac- 
 ted the attention of Gen. Washington, and while at 
 Cambridge, directing the siege of Boston, he wrote 
 him a letter with his own hand, dated Feb. 20, 1776, 
 thanking him for his patriotic and important services, 
 and in closing he says, "Tell the Indians that we do 
 not ask them to take up the hatchet for us unless 
 they choose it, we only desire that they will not fight 
 against us. We want that the chain of friendship 
 should always remain bright between our friends, the 
 Six Nations, and us. We recommend you to them, 
 and hope by spreading the truths of the gospel among 
 them it will always keep the chain bright." 
 
 CHAPTEE LI. 
 
 LEBANON— (Continued). 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKT. 
 
 The Meeting-honse War — The First Church— Church in Columbia — 
 Goshen Church — Exeter Churcli — Baptist Church — Christian Cliurch, 
 Liberty Ilill — Ministers — College Graduates. 
 
 Meeting-house War. — There was a long and 
 troublesome controversy, which belongs more prop- 
 erly to the ecclesiastical than the civil history of the 
 town, the seeds of which had their birth at the very 
 first commencement of the settlement, and continued 
 their disturbing influence for more than a century, 
 culminating in 1804 in an event that attracted a wide 
 notoriety throughout the State, and which has been 
 animadverted and commented upon in terms derog- 
 atory to the fair fame of the town. But we are fully 
 persuaded that most, or all, of this unfavorable com- 
 ment has arisen from a lack of apprehending the 
 whole case, or of misapprehending the main facts 
 and circumstances relating to it, and that a full and 
 fair statement of these facts will lead to a much 
 more favorable opinion and charitable judgment con- 
 cerning it. 
 
 When the settlement of Lebanon was first com- 
 menced, in 1697, it was agreed by all the proprietors 
 and settlers that a broad street, or highway, and com- 
 mon, nearly thirty rods wide (now Town Street), should 
 be first laid out, and home-lots of forty-two acres each 
 staked off and allotted upon each side of it; that at 
 or near the centre, midway between the south line of 
 their purchase and the most northern of the home-lots, 
 a choice lot should be reserved for a minister's lot, and 
 a meeting-hous? built on the wide highway and com- 
 mon, nearly in front of the minister's lot, and a few 
 rods distant from it (where the church now stands), 
 and that this location for a meeting-house should be 
 
 "fixed and established forever," the object being to 
 prevent any trouble from arising in the future in con- 
 sequence of new-comers, who might so settle in differ- 
 ent parts of the plantation as to change the then 
 centre of population and travel, and therefore desire 
 and claim a removal of the meeting-house to a new 
 location. 
 
 In 1700, William Clark and Deacon Josiah Dewey, 
 two of these settlers, bought of Owaneco and others a 
 large tract of land north of the Lebanon "5 mile pur- 
 chase'' and adjoining it, which they desired and pro- 
 posed to annex to the Lebanon plantation. This was 
 objected to by the Town Street settlers, from afear that 
 the Clark and Dewey settlers, uniting with some of the 
 more northerly of their own, would soon be clamorous 
 for a removal of the meeting-house nearer to them. 
 To allay this fear Clark and Dewey agreed to lay out 
 a street for a village and for a meeting-house thereon, 
 stating that their purchase was large enough for a 
 society by itself, and that the agreement about the 
 location of the Town Street meeting-house should 
 never be violated or disturbed. These terms and con- 
 ditions were satisfactory, the new tract was annexed 
 to Lebanon, the new street laid out, and a location 
 fixed for a meeting-house upon it, and the place has 
 ever since been known as " the village." 
 
 In 1724 the society voted to build a new and larger 
 meeting-house on the old location, but there was so 
 much opposition to this vote that no action was taken 
 upon it ; and when, soon after, in 1727, the society of 
 Goshen was set off from the southwesterly part, the 
 difiiouUy between the First Society and the northerly 
 settlers about the location of their meeting-house was 
 thereby increased, because this setting off" of Goshen 
 Society left the location still farther from the common 
 centre of population and travel. Application was then 
 inade to the General Assembly for relief, and to 
 appoint a committee to fix a location. A committee 
 was appointed in 1731, who, after visiting the place 
 and hearing the parties, fixed the location upon the old 
 spot, as being in accordance with the original agree- 
 ment of the first settlers that it should remain forever 
 there. 
 
 This action of the committee, instead of healing, 
 only intensified the opposition. The northern party 
 denied that the early agreement was of the character 
 of a contract made between two parties, to be legally 
 and forever binding, but had only the force and 
 character of a vote, and as such repealable, and 
 should be so held ; that if it was originally binding, 
 its force was broken and ceased after the setting off 
 of Goshen Society, for by that act the contracting 
 parties were no longer existing as one society, but 
 had become two separate and distinct corporations ; 
 and, over and above all, they stoutly protested against 
 being compelled to pay their full share of the expense 
 of a building so distant from them when they were 
 expecting before long to form a new society and build 
 a meeting-house for themselves. 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 503 
 
 Upon their application another meeting of the so- 
 ciety was called and held in 1732, at which it was 
 voted that within eighteen years thereafter, but not 
 before six years, there should be set off a new society 
 in the northern part by a dividing line agreed upon 
 and described in the vote ; that until the new society 
 should be so set off the northern settlers should con- 
 tinue to pay their share towards the building and 
 keeping in repair of a meeting-house on the old site ; 
 that a separate account of all the moneys so paid by 
 the people north of the line described should be kept; 
 and that when the new society was formed, and had 
 built a meeting-house of their own, all the money so 
 paid by them should be refunded to them by the old 
 society, to be applied towards the building of their 
 own meeting-house; and that application should be 
 made to the General Assembly for an act ratifying 
 and confirming this agreement. Application was so 
 made, and the General Assembly, May session, 1732, 
 by a resolve, sanctioned, ratified, and confirmed this 
 agreement. 
 
 This restored peace ; the meeting-house was rebuilt 
 upon the old spot by the united labors and at the 
 common cost of all the parties ; the rate-book and 
 the amounts paid by the northern parties were kept 
 separate and recorded in the society records, and all 
 continued in harmony until 1767, a period of thirty- 
 five years, although no action had been taken to form 
 a new society as proposed. At that time, 1767, some 
 repairs had become necessary, and at the request of 
 the northern people a meeting of the society was called 
 to ascertain whether the society would then, in case 
 a new society was formed within a reasonable time, 
 agree to repay the moneys which they, the northern 
 people, had heretofore paid under the old agreement. 
 The society voted that if the "village" people would 
 procure an act of incorporation as a society within a 
 reasonable time the old society would so pay back 
 the money advanced in an equal term of time with 
 that in which they had made the advancements. 
 
 No steps, however, were taken under this vote by 
 either party, either to establish the new society or to re- 
 pay the advancements made, doubts arising whether, 
 from the fact that the eighteen years fixed and sanc- 
 tioned by the General Assembly (in 1732) as the limit 
 in which the original agreement was to have been 
 complied with had long since expired, the new vote 
 (of 1767) would be legally binding, and might not be 
 revoked at any future meeting of the society. This 
 vexed question was agitated and the old trouble con- 
 tinued until June, 1772, when a society meeting was 
 called at the request of the village people, at which 
 it was voted, by a majority of two, to take down the 
 meeting-house, and to rebuild it farther north, at the 
 then new centre of population and travel, including 
 the village as a part, many of the southern people 
 uniting with the northern in favor of this vote. 
 
 Immediately upon this a large number of the south- 
 ern inhabitants united in a petition to the General 
 
 Assembly for its further interposition, and at the 
 October session, 1772, a committee was appointed to 
 inquire into the facts and report their opinion. At 
 the May session the committee reported that, after 
 hearing the parties, they found, — 
 
 "That there was an ancieut agreement that the meeting-house should 
 stand upon Jleeting-house Hill, where it now stands; that this agree- 
 ment was entered into for good reasons, and had its influence from the 
 beginning, and ought to be held sacred and inviohible ; that in ancient 
 times it was expected tliat there would be a new society in the northern 
 part, called the village from the beginning ; and a line had been kept up 
 between the old and new proposed societies; that when the present 
 meeting-house was built the place was fi.ted under the ancient agree- 
 ment, and with views and prospects of such now society's being formed 
 in a futui'o time; that provisions were made to reimburse the people 
 living northerly what they should pay towards the building of it ; that 
 it should be and remain where it is now, according to ancient agreement, 
 and be kept in good repair at the expense of the whole society ; and that 
 when the village people should be set off a distinct society they ought 
 to be repaid the sums advanced by them for building and repairing the 
 meeting-house." 
 
 The General Assembly approved the report, fixed 
 the location on the same old place, and provided that 
 it should be kept in repair at the cost of the whole 
 society, and that if the village people should form a 
 new society within five years thereafter the old so- 
 ciety should refund to them all the money which they 
 had already advanced in the past towards building, or 
 which they should thereafter advance towards repair- 
 ing the old society meeting-house. 
 
 But still no further action was taken by the society 
 or by either party. The General Assembly had not 
 in its last resolution confirmed and made binding the 
 last vote of the society, passed in 1767, agreeing to 
 refund the money, nor reaffirmed and extended the 
 terms of and time limited in their former resolve in 
 May session, 1732, ratifying the vote of the society at 
 that time passed upon the subject, and doubts still 
 remained whether the vote of the society of 1767, or 
 any other vote of the society, was legally so binding 
 and final as to be beyond the power of repeal and re- 
 vocation at any time by a major vote of the society. 
 In this state of uncertainty, the village people feeling 
 themselves too weak to build alone without the aid of 
 the certain return to them of their former advance- 
 ments, took no steps towards being set off, and so the 
 whole subject remained in tolerable quietness until 
 1802. 
 
 At that time, 1802, the meeting-house again needed 
 repairs, and at a meeting called to consider it a vote 
 was passed by a majority present refusing to repair it. 
 Several of the southern inhabitants thereupon again 
 presented a memorial to the General Assembly at the 
 October session, 1802, reciting the above facts and ask- 
 ing some relief, whereupon, after hearing, the Assem- 
 bly passed a very singular and peculiar resolve. It au- 
 thorized and empowered the inhabitants south of the 
 line proposed as a dividing line for a new society to tax 
 f/iemselves for the repairs of the meeting-house, and to 
 call meetings, choose certain officers, and to lay and col- 
 lect taxes for such purpose, and to make future repairs, 
 exempting all the inhabitants north of the line from 
 
504 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 any liability for sucla taxes or repairs, but making no 
 division or set-ofl', and consequently impairing none 
 of the legal rights, privileges, or franchises which the 
 village people held in common with all others of the 
 whole society. 
 
 Under this resolve the southern voters met, taxed 
 themselves, raising therefrom about six hundred dol- 
 lars, appointed a committee, and expended the sum 
 raised in repairs. 
 
 But this did not settle the difficulty. And now 
 commenced a more general and serious agitation than 
 ever. At a meeting of the society, legally warned 
 and held March 27, 1804, it was voted, by 75 yeas to 
 39 nays, upon a proposition then made by Daniel 
 Tilden, Israel Loomis, John Dewey, Samuel Bailey, 
 and John Haywood, acting as a committee, — 
 
 "Thattlie society would relinquish all its rigbt iind ioterest in the 
 nieeling-house, and cousent that the materials thereof should ho used in 
 the construclion of a new one ; upon conditions that the said Tilden and 
 others, as committee, would give sufficient honds that they would build 
 a good, commodious meeting-house for the use of the society [at a 
 place about 1 mile northerly] at or near the then centre of the whole 
 society, within one year from the 1st day of April next, at their own 
 sole expense, and give full title thereto to the society, without any cost; 
 and that the people living north of said centre, would fund their propor- 
 tion for the suitport of the ministry forever." 
 
 The terms of this vote were accepted on their part 
 by the Tilden committee, and they thereupon exe- 
 cuted a bond in the penal sum of ten thousand dol- 
 lars, signed by all of the committee, conditioned for 
 the faithful performance of the contract. This bond 
 was accepted by the society and lodged with its clerk, 
 and twenty days after, on the 16th of April, 1804, the 
 contractors, with a force of workmen, began peace- 
 ably to take down the old building in order to use its 
 materials in the construction of a new one. But the 
 sight of the demolition of this long-loved structure, 
 and its removal from the cherished spot for a century 
 held sacred under the ancient agreement, deeply stirred 
 the feelings of the southern people, and the whole so- 
 ciety was soon in commotion. A large crowd assembled 
 from every quarter, with mingled emotions of grief 
 and anger, so highly excited as to forebode actual 
 violence. 
 
 To prevent the progress of the work writs were 
 obtained from the local justices, and several of the 
 workmen were arrested and held under bonds, and 
 thereby the work was interrupted and for that day 
 suspended, but on the 27th a larger force was em- 
 ployed, and again a still larger crowd gathered. To 
 protect the contractors and their workmen retaliatory 
 or counter writs were obtained from other local jus- 
 tices, and arrests were made of those interfering or in 
 any way instigating interference with the contractors 
 or their workmen. These counter measures enabled 
 the contractors to complete during this day the taking 
 down of the building. But this war of writs and 
 counter writs, and the arrests made under them, had 
 only exasperated and intensified the popular feeling, 
 and added fuel to the flame. Doubtless these writs. 
 
 though in the forms of law, were an abuse of civil 
 process and a perversion of its purposes. It was 
 "sharp practice," resorted to in anger by both par- 
 ties, and only to obstruct and harass each otiier. It 
 was an unseemly strife, but it was a strife under the 
 forms, at least, of law ; it was a war of writs and legal 
 processes on both sides, and, however exasperating, 
 no resistance was made to these arrests, so far as it 
 appears, in a single instance. All held in sacred re- 
 gard the symbols and mandates of the law. 
 
 Men of high standing and influence were thus ar- 
 rested upon both sides, among them the Hon. William 
 Williams, one of the signers of the immortal Declara- 
 tion of Independence, and, it is said, at that very time 
 a judg(3 of the County Court, then over seventy years 
 old, and infinitely more venerable throughout the 
 whole land for his distinguished honors than for his 
 years. Look at him ! A town constable approaches 
 him, taps him on the shoulder, arrests him as a pris- 
 oner, marches him off a mile, places him under a 
 keeper, and holds him all day in custody, without the 
 privilege of bail-prize, and the brave old man, whose 
 fiery patriotism so flashed out in the dark days of the 
 Revolution, yielding to all this with the quiet submis- 
 sion of a lamb because of his high sense of loyalty 
 TO LAW ! Why, the whole scene would be sublime if 
 it were not at the same time so supremely ridiculous 
 as to excite our irrepressible laughter. But there was 
 no spirit of laughter there that day in that angry 
 crowd. 
 
 And now came the crisis. One party determined 
 at all hazards to remove the materials and proceed ia 
 the rebuilding on the new site north, and the other 
 party as firmly determined at all hazards to prevent 
 it. The local authorities were powerless to restrain 
 them, for they were themselves divided, some taking 
 one side and some the other, as partisans, and as 
 strongly excited and as active participants in the 
 struggle as the parties themselves; and mingled with 
 all this, as a disturbing element, fierce political feuds 
 and animosities now showed their baneful influence, 
 for it must be remembered that the bitter political 
 war between the old " stalwart" Federalists and the 
 " fierce Democracy" under Jefferson's administration 
 was at this very time at its whitest heat. 
 
 To allay this excitement, and to prevent it from 
 breaking forth into acts of lawless personal violence 
 beyond the power of control by the civil authorities, 
 as was now threatening and imminently impending, 
 the men of high character and influence upon both 
 sides now came forward and strongly counseled for- 
 bearance and a resort for a peaceful solution of all 
 the great questions in controversy to the high judicial 
 tribunals of the State. These wise counsels hap- 
 pily prevailed. Suits in trespass were immediately 
 brought to the Superior Court by Eliphalet Metcalf 
 and others of the southern party against Daniel 
 Tilden and others of the northern party for damages 
 by demolishing the meeting-house, and all became 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 505 
 
 quiet, awaiting peacefully the final determination of 
 the long-standing controversy by due course of law. 
 
 In the trial of the cause before the Superior Court 
 the whole history of the controversy, from the begin- 
 ning of the settlement in 1697, as herein narrated, 
 together with certified copies of all the votes and 
 transactions of the society pertaining thereto, and a 
 copy also of the penal bond of Tilden and others, 
 given to the society for the enforcement of their 
 building contract, were fully presented to the court, 
 and admitted by both parties, and the only issues 
 were the questions of law and equity arising upon 
 these facts. Many issues were raised, but the great 
 question involved, and upon which the whole case 
 turned, was whether the " ancient agreement" fixing 
 forever the location of the meeting-house at the place 
 then established was still valid and irrevocable by 
 any vote of the society however large the majority, 
 for if that agreement was found to remain irrevo- 
 cable, then the vote of the society to change the loca- 
 tion was null and void, and all action under it was 
 without authority and a trespass. But if, on the other 
 hand, that agreement was revocable by a major vote 
 of the society, then the action of the parties, under 
 the authority of such vote, was lawful and justifi- 
 able. 
 
 Upon a full hearing of the whole case the Superior 
 Court found the issue for the plaintiffs, iletcalf and 
 others, thus affirming the valid existence of the an- 
 cient agreement. On a further hearing in damages 
 another great question arose, whether the resolve of 
 the General Assembly of 1802, authorizing apart of 
 the society to tax themselves and repair the meeting- 
 house, gave that part, by itself, a right to sue and re- 
 cover, in trespass, for taking down the building under 
 the authority of a major vote of the xuhole society, the 
 building being the common property of all. The 
 court found this issue also for the plantiffs, Metcalf 
 and others, and awarded that they should recover of 
 the defendants, Tilden and others, the sum of two 
 thousand three hundred dollars damages. 
 
 A bill of exceptions was thereupon filed by the de- 
 fendants, and the case came, by writ of error, to the 
 June term, 1806, of the Supreme Court of Errors, at 
 Hartford, the court consisting of two judges and 
 twelve assistant judges, " His Excellency, Jonathan 
 Trumbull, of Lebanon, Governor," being "chief 
 judge." The whole case, from the beginning, with 
 all the documents, was again presented, and upon a 
 full hearing the court affirmed the judgment of the 
 Superior Court upon both issues, against Tilden and 
 others,^ and this decision ended forever this long and 
 troublesome controversy. All the parties gracefully 
 submitted, though application was made to the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, and granted, for a division of the so- 
 ciety by the old line, as formerly proposed. The 
 society rebuilt the house upon the old ground, and 
 
 1 See TiWen it. Metcalf, 2J of Diiy, p. 201-70, Conn. Bep., for a full re- 
 port of tbis case. 
 
 has ever since remained at peace, but, as was inevit- 
 able from the nature of the controversy, some per- 
 sonal alienations and animosities continued to show 
 their unpleasant influence for many years. 
 
 The taking down of the church solely for the pur- 
 pose of using its materials in the construction of a 
 new one unfortunately gave rise abroad, where none 
 of the circumstances here related were known, to the 
 wild stories that were widely circulated regarding it. 
 These stories represented the transaction merely as 
 the lawless work of a ruthless and infuriated mob, 
 bent only on the wanton destruction, in broad day- 
 light, of their own sacred house of worship. It was 
 called an infidel, a sacrilegious mob ! Such was the 
 bald version of the story abroad, without any explana- 
 tion, palliation, or even knowledge of its real char- 
 acter. It was surely too improbable, too absurd, too 
 monstrous for rational belief or public credence. The 
 high renown which this town had ever maintained, 
 and the world-wide fame of its eminently distin- 
 guished men, should have been sufiicient at once to 
 have stamped such a story everywhere as a manifest 
 misrepresentation, perversion, and calumny. It 
 nevertheless gained a lodgment in the public mind, 
 was published abroad in the newspapers of the day, 
 and has even crept into sober history, and thus 
 brought undeserved reproach upon the fair fame of 
 the town. 
 
 It is time this calumny was swept away, and its 
 true character shown by the still-preserved and in- 
 contestable records of the society itself, and by the 
 records, also, of the high court which adjudicated, in 
 the day of it, the whole transaction. 
 
 Society Statistics.— The churches have been or- 
 ganized as follows, viz. : 
 
 EiRST Church.— Organized Nov. 27, 1700. jNIin- 
 isters, Joseph Parsons, 1700-8 ; Samuel Wells, 1711- 
 22; Sol. AVilliams, D.D., 1722-76; Zebulon Ely, 
 1782-1824; Edward Bull, 182.5-37 ; John C. Nichols, 
 1840-54; Orlo D. Hine, 1856, present pastor. 
 
 Church in Columbia (formerly " Lebanox 
 Crank"). — Organized 1720. Ministers, Samuel Smith, 
 1720-24 ; William Gager, 1725-34 ; Eleazer Whee- 
 lock, D.D., 1735-70; Thomas Brockway, 1772-1807. 
 The town of Columbia was set off from Lebanon in 
 1800, and this society was embraced in the new 
 town. 
 
 Church in Goshen (Lebanon).— Organized Nov. 
 26, 1729. Ministers, Jacob Elliot, 1729-66; Timothy 
 Stone, 1766-97 ; William B. Ripley, 1798-1822; Eras- 
 tus Eipley, 1828-32; Salmon Cone, 1882-34; Israel 
 T. Otis, 1835-44; Joshua R. Brown, 1845-52; Elijah 
 W. Tucker, 1853-58 ; Aaron B. Livermore, 1860-68 ; 
 Daniel B. Lord, 1868-77 ; M. Quincey Bosworth, 1877, 
 present pastor. 
 
 Church in Exeter (Lebanon). — Organized 
 1773, Ministers, John Gurley, 1775-1812; John 
 H. Fowler, 1813-21 ; Daniel Waldo, 1823-34 ; Lyman 
 Strong, 1835-41; Stephen Hayes, 1841-46; John Av- 
 
506 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ery, 1848-73; Charles C. Herbert, 1874-78; David 
 Breed, 1878, present stated supply. 
 
 Baptist Chukch (Lebaxox). — Constituted Sep- 
 tember, 1805. Ministers, Nehemiah Dodge, 1805-15 ; 
 Daniel Putnam, 1815-18; Esek Brown, 1818-34; 
 John H. Baker, 1834-36 ; Levi Meech, 1836-38 ; Na- 
 than Wildman, 1838-51 ; Nathaniel W. Miner, 1851- 
 52 ; T. Bennet, 1853-55 ; 0. Cunningham, 1855-65 ; 
 B. S. Morse, 1865-70 ; George L. Putnam, 1870-79 ; 
 Asa C. Brouson, 1879, present minister. 
 
 "Cheistiax Chuech" {Liberty Hill, Leba- 
 xox). — Organized about 1810 by Elder Plumber. 
 Successive ministers, viz. : Dexter Ballard, Dr. Rob- 
 inson, Warren Hathaway, James Burlingame, Elisha 
 H. AVright, Frederick Coe. Reorganized as a Free 
 Will Baptist Church in 1873, but have no service. 
 
 MixiSTEE.s OF THE GosPEL born Or reared in 
 Lebanon ; list as far as known, not including Colum- 
 bia: Peter Pratt, Eliphalet Williams, D.D., Eliphalet 
 Huntington, Daniel Throop, Joseph Lyman, D.D., 
 William Robinson, David Huntington, John Gris- 
 wold, Eliphalet Lyman, John Robinson, Elijah Par- 
 ish, D.D., Lynde Huntington, Ariel Parish, William 
 Lyman, D.D., Asa Lyman, Andrew Huntington, 
 Abraham Fowler, Richard Williams, Shubael Bart- 
 lett, John Bartlett, Ralph B. Gurley, Ezra Styles Ely, 
 Nathaniel Freeman, Daniel Huntington, Dyer T. 
 Hinckley, Timothy Stone, Jonathan T. Ely, David 
 F. Ely, David Metcalf, Orrin Fowler, Warren B. 
 Dutton, D.D., Flavel Bascom, D.D., Hobart McCall, 
 Samuel G. Buckingham, D.D., Elijah F. Rockwell, 
 James A. Clark, Salmon :JlcCall, William M. Burch- 
 ard, Henry D. Woodworth, Henry Gay. Total, 40. 
 
 College Graduates, who were either natives of or 
 went from Lebanon to college : 
 
 Haevaed. — Jonathan Trumbull, 1727; Nathan 
 Tisdale, 1749; William Williams, 1751; Joseph 
 Trumbull, 1756 ; Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., 1759 ; John 
 Trumbull, 1773; Eliphalet Birchard, 1843. Total 
 7. 
 
 Yale.— James Calkin, 1725; Benj. Throop, 1734; 
 Joshua West, 1738 ; Peter Sweetland, 1740 ; Gersham 
 Clark, Joseph Fowler, Samuel Huntington, Elipha- 
 let Williams, and Solomon Williams, Jr., all in 1743; 
 David Strong, 1745; Pelatiah Webster, 1746 ; Jose]5li 
 Clark, 1747 ; John Clark and Nathaniel Porter, 1749 ; 
 Joseph William Bissell, 1751; Joshua Porter, 1754; 
 Ephraim Fitch, John Siualley, and Thomas \Villiams, 
 M.D., all in 175(5 ; Jonathan Lyman, 1758 ; Eliphalet 
 Huntington, 1759 ; Jonathan B.ascora, 1764 ; Joseph 
 Lyman, 1767; David Huntington, 1773; Abraham 
 Fowler, 1775; Eliphalet Lyman, 1776; John R'jbin- 
 son. Rev., D.D., 1780; Daniel Crocker, 1782; Charles 
 White, 1783; Joseph Eliot, Jabez Huntington, and 
 William Lyman, all in 1784; Dyer Throop Hinckley, 
 1785; Joshua Dewey, 1787; Lynde Huntington and 
 Jeremiah Mason, 1788; Solomon Williams, 1792; Dan 
 Huntington, 1794; Stephen Thatcher and William 
 Trumbull Williams, 1795; Diodate Brockway, Asa- 
 
 hel Clark, Warren Dutton, and Asa Lyman, all in 
 1797; David Young, 1798; Shubael Bartlett, 1800; 
 Roswell Bailey, Samuel Holbrook, and Joseph Tnim- 
 bull, all in 1801; Richard Williams, 1802; Ezra 
 Stiles Ely and Eliphalet Swift, 1804 ; Clark Bissell 
 (Governor of Connecticut), Josiah Bartlett Strong, 
 and Ichabod Brewster, all in 1806; John Bartlett and 
 Jonathan G. W. Trumbull, 1807 ; Orrin Fowler and 
 Andrew Huntington, 1815 ; Rufus Huntington and 
 James Fitch Mason, 1817; Ralph Randolph Gurley 
 1818 ; Joseph Dyer Chapman, 1826 ; Flavel Bascom, 
 1828; Warren Backus Dutton, 1829; Amasa Dewey, 
 1832; Samuel Giles Buckingham, 1833; James Au- 
 gustus Clark and Elijah Frink Rockwell, 1834; Ju- 
 lian Vail Pettis, 1836; William Metcalf Birchard, 
 1837; Henry Strong McCall, 1842; Edwin Wright, 
 1844; Nathaniel Williams Manning, 1847; Albert 
 Hebard and Salmon McCall, 1851 ; John Elderkin, 
 1852; Edward Strong Hinkley and Arthur Williams 
 Wright, 1859; Daniel Hebard, 1860; Alexander 
 Hamilton Wright, 1863; Charles Daniel Hine, 1871; 
 Leroy B. Peckham, 1880. Total, 83. 
 
 Graduates from the Medical Department, Yale. — Jo- 
 seph Peabody, 1821; Charles Hubbard Dutton, 1826; 
 Elisha Hutchinson, 1828; Jeremiah Nathaniel Pea- 
 body, 1831; Oliver Kingsley, 1832; Charles Osgood, 
 1833; Alonzo Fuller, 1842; Jeremiah King, 1846. 
 Total, 8. 
 
 Attended Medical Lectures for a time at Yale, but did 
 not Oraducde. — Jotliam Sexton, 1821 ; Wm. Chauncey 
 Williams, 1822; Samuel W. Biple)', 1830; Wm. Wat- 
 tles, 1831 ; Stephen Champlain, 1837 ; Gilbert Fuller, 
 1843. Total, 6. 
 
 Members of Yale loho did not Graduate. — David 
 Trumbull, drowned, 1740, while in college; Henry 
 Porter, 1782; John Ward Gurley, 1796 (A.M., Yale, 
 1799) ; Eleazer A. Hutchinson and Daniel Strong, 
 1802 (latter d. sen. yr.) ; Solomon W. Williams, 1803; 
 John Trumbull and Edward Young, 1806 ; Ebenezer 
 Dewey and Thomas B. Powers, 1815 ; John Carrier 
 and Solomon Goodrich Gilbert, 1833; George W. 
 Standish, 1843. Total, 13. 
 
 Dartmouth. — John Wheelock (second pres., and 
 son of Eleazer, first pres. of Dartmouth Coll.), 1771; 
 David Huntington, 1773 ; Samuel Collins, 1775; Abel 
 Curtis and Eleazer Wheelock, Jr., 1776 ;■ Jedediah 
 Parker, Buckingham, Elijah Dewey, and Elisha 
 Smith, 1779; Elisha Picknor, 1783; Joseph Clark 
 and Elijah Parish, 1785 ; Erastus Clark and Charles 
 JXarsh, 1786 ; Daniel Ordway Gillett, Walter Harris, 
 and Elijah Lyman, 1787; Ariel Parish and Ezra 
 Woodworth, 17SS ; Josiah Dunham, Lathrop Rock- 
 well, and Joel West, 1789 ; Bezaleel Pinneo and John 
 Walbridge, 1791 ; Richard English Newcomb, 1793; 
 Bezaleel Bliss, 1794. Total, 25. 
 
 Williams.— David Mason, 1796; Samuel Selden 
 Loomis, 1811 ; Alfred Wright, 1812. Total, 3. 
 
 Peinceton.— Josiah Thatcher, 1760. 
 
 SIlDDLEBURY.— David Metcalf, 1819. 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 507 
 
 A:\tHERST.— Henry Dwiglit Woodworth, 1855. 
 Beoayx University. — Luther Eobiiison, William 
 Eandall Sextoii,! 1834. Total, 5. Grand total, 150. 
 
 ASSISTANTS FROM LEBANON" UNDER THE CHARTER. 
 
 Jonathan Trunibiill, 1740 to 1750. 
 Jonatlian Tiiimbull, 1755 to 1707. 
 William Williama, 1776 to 1780. 
 
 William Williams, 178-1 to 1S03. 
 Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., 1790 to 
 1809. 
 
 CHAPTEK LII. 
 
 LEBAXOX— (Continued). 
 
 CIVIL AND MILITARY. 
 
 GoTeruors — United States Senatoi-s— Membei-s of Congress — Assistants — 
 Senatoi-s— Representatives from 1705 to ISS'2— Town Clerks from 1698 
 tolSS2 — Town Clerks — Early Births, Marriages, and Deaths — Slilitary 
 History. 
 
 Civil List. 
 
 GOVERNORS OF STATES NATIVES OF LEBANON. 
 Jonathan Trumbull, of Connecticut, from 1709 to 1781. 
 Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., of Connecticut, from 1793 to 1809. 
 Clark Bissell, of Counecticnt, from 1847 to 1R49. 
 Joseph Trumbull, of Connecticut, from 1849 to 1850. 
 William A. Buckingham, of Connecticut, from 1858 to 1860. 
 Nelson Dewey, tii'st Governor of Wisconsin, from 1848 to 1852. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS NATIVES OF THE TOWN. 
 Jonathan TrnmbuU, from Connecticut, 1795 to 1790. 
 Jeremiah ?Iasun, from New Ilamlt^liire, 1813 to 1817. 
 William .\. Buckingham, from Connecticut. 1869 to 1875. 
 
 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS NATIVES OF THE TOWN. 
 
 William Williams, to Continental Congress, from 1776 to 1777, and 
 from 1783 to 17S4. 
 
 Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. (Speaker of 2d Congress under the Constitu- 
 tion), 1789 to 1795. 
 
 Charles Marsh, from Vermont, 1815 to 1817. 
 
 Henry II. Gurley, from Louisiana, 1823 to 1831. 
 
 Joseph Tiumbull, from Connecticut, Is !9 to 1843. 
 
 Daniel Rose Tilden,from Ohio, 1S43 to 1847. 
 
 Orrin Fowler, from Massachusetts, 1849 to 1852. 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE "COUNCIL OF ASSISTANTS" AND SEN.\- 
 TORS FROM LEBANON FROM THE ORIGIN OF THE TOWN 
 TO 18S0.2 
 
 Under the charter of Charles II., down to the adop- 
 tion of the constitution of 1818, there were annually 
 chosen by the electors at large a Council of Assist- 
 ants, consisting of twelve members, whose functions 
 were, 1st, to act as an advisory council of the Gov- 
 ernor ; 2d, to act as local magistrates for the colony ; 
 and 3d, as an " Upper House" (or Senate) in the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, six of whom, with the Deputy Gov- 
 ernor, constituted a legal quorum for the " Upper 
 House." After the constitution, down to 1830, twelve 
 senators, chosen also annually, and by the electors at 
 large, constituted the Senate, six of whom, with the 
 Lieutenant-Governor, formed a legal quorum. In 
 1730 the State was divided into twenty-one senatorial 
 districts, the dectors of each district choosing one 
 senator, and this provision still remains. 
 
 1 Finished a full course, but twenty-two of his class (himself among 
 tliem), out of a class of twenty-si.'C, declined to participate iu the gradu- 
 ating e.-scrciscs, from conscientious scruples of principle in the bcstow- 
 mcut of college honors. His biographer, however, Buys that ho after- 
 wards, iu 1830, received his degree. He died iu 1837. (See " Memoir of 
 William Randall So.\ton," by Rev. Charles T. Torrey, 1838, pp. 2C-29.) 
 
 2 From tlie State records at Hartford. 
 
 SENATORS FROM LEBANON UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 1830, Stephen D.Tilden. 
 1837, Ellsha Waterman. 
 1843, Amos Fowler. 
 1848, ErastuB Osgood. 
 
 1855, Earned Hebard. 
 1863, Edwin M. Dolbeare. 
 1808, James M. Peckham. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TOWN OF LEB.iNON. 
 
 By the early custom of the colony, each town was 
 allowed two "Deputies to the General Court" (then 
 called), but some of the towns occasionally chose to 
 send but one ; and this custom continued down to the 
 adoption of the constitution in 1818, after which the 
 towns then existing were still allowed to send two, but 
 new towns thereafter incorporated were entitled to 
 but one representative each. 
 
 Under the charter there were two regular sessions 
 of the General Assembly in each year, held alternately 
 at Hartford in May and at New Haven in October, 
 and the deputies or representatives were chosen for six 
 months only, semi-annually, for each session. The 
 constitution of 1818 provided for one annual session 
 only, to be held in May, alternately at Hartford each 
 odd year, and at New Haven each even year. 
 
 1705. — William Clark, Samuel Huntington. 
 
 17U0. — John Sprague, Ens. John Sprague, William Clark. 
 
 1707. — William llolton, Joscpli liradford. 
 
 1708. — John Sl)rague, Samuel Hnntington, William Clark. 
 
 1700. — William Clark, Jeremiah Fitcli, John Sprague, Joseph Bradford. 
 
 1710.— William Clark, William llolton. 
 
 1711.— William llolton, John Sprague, Capt. William Claik. 
 
 1712 — William Clark, Joseph Bradford, Jeremiah Fitch, Joseph Marsh. 
 
 1713. — William Clark, John Spiague, Sanmel Hide. 
 
 1714. — Joseph Bradford, Jerem.ah Fitch, Lieut. John Sprague. 
 
 1715. — Capt. Wm. Clark, Sanjuel Hide, Eleazar Fitch. 
 
 1716. — Joseph March, Thomas Hunt, Lieut. John Sprague. 
 
 1717— Sanmel Hide, Capt. Wiliiani Clark, Capt. .lereniiah Fitch. 
 
 1718. — Capt. Wm. Clark, Liout. Samuel Hyde, Lieut. John Sprague. 
 
 1719. — John Buell, Lieut. John Sprague, Capt. William Clark. 
 
 1720, — Capt. Nathaniel Fitch, Lieut. John Spiague, John Woodward, 
 
 Ebenezer Wet.t. 
 1721. — John Woodward, Ebenezer West. 
 1722. — Lieut. Samuel Hide, Ebenezer West, John Woodward. 
 1723. — Capt. Wm. Clark, C.ipt. Joseph Marsh, John Woodwai'd. 
 1724. — Capt. Wm. Clark, John Woodward. 
 1725. — John Woodward, Jonepli Fowler. 
 
 1720. — John A\'oodward, Joseldi Fowler, Capt. Joseph Marsh. 
 1727. — Capt. John \\'oodward, Capt. Joseph Marah. 
 1728. — Capt. Jolm Woodward, Lieut. Samuel Hide, Joseph Fuwlor. 
 1729. — Ebenezer "W'ett, Capt. Ephraiiu Sprague. 
 
 1730. — Ebenezer \^ e.^t, Capt. ^Villianl Tliroop, Capt. John Woodward. 
 1731. — Ebenezer ^Vest, Capt. Joseph Marsh, Capt. John Woodward. 
 17.12.- Eljenezer West, Capt. Wm. Tliroop. 
 
 1733. — Capt. W^ni. Throop, Jonathan Trumbull, Ebenezer West. 
 ]7:;4. — Capt. Wm. Throop, Ebenezer West. 
 1735.- Capt. Wm. Throop, Ebenezer West. 
 1730, — Ebei.czer A\esr, Jonathan Tiiimbull. 
 1737. — Ebenezer West, Gershom Claik, Jonathan Trumbull. 
 1738-39. — Ebenezer West, Jonathan Trumbull. 
 1740. — Ebenezer West, Jonalhan Trumbull, Gershom Claik. 
 17.11. — Ebenezer M'est, Ebenezer Gray, John Williaiiis. 
 1742 — Gel shorn Clark, Capt. Ebenezer Gray, Eliakim Tupper. 
 1743,— Gershom Clark, John Williams. 
 17.14, — Ebenezer West, Gershom Clark. 
 
 1745. — Ebenezer AVett, Capt. James Fitcli, Ma,}, Joseph Fowler. 
 1740.— Ebenezer West, Maj. Joseph Fowler, Capt. Gershom Chirk. 
 
508 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1717.— Eljenezor West, Capt. Gersliom Clark, Maj. Jusepli Fowlisr. 
 
 17JS.— Ebenezer \\'est, Maj. Joserli Fowler, Cajit. JameB Fitch. 
 
 1749.— Ebenezer West, Caiit. James Fltcli, Maj. Joseph Fowler. 
 
 17,50. — Ebciiezer West, Maj. Joseph Fowler. 
 
 17.51.— Capt. James Fltoli, Capt. Caleb Hyde, Col. Jonathan Trumbull. 
 
 1752.— Col. J. Trumbull (Spealter), Capt. James Fitch. 
 
 1753.- Col. Jonathan Trumbull, Capt. James Fitch, Capt. Joshua West, 
 Nathaniel Hulbrook. 
 
 1754.— Col. J. Trumbull (Speaker), Capt. Joshua West, Col. Joseph 
 Fowler. 
 
 1756.— Capt. James Fitch, Capt. Joshua West, Col. Joseph Fowler. 
 
 1756. — Col. Joseph Fowler, Capt. Joshua West. 
 
 1757.— Col. Joseph Fowler, William Williams, Capt. Joshua West. 
 
 175S.— Capt Josliua West, Col. Joseph Fowler, William Williams. 
 
 1759.— Col. Joseph Fowler, William Williams, Ca;.t. Joshua West. 
 
 1760-61.— Capt. Joshua West, William Williams. 
 
 1762. — Capt. Joshua West, Capt. Ignatius Barker. 
 
 1763-C5.— Capt. Josliua West, William Williams. 
 
 1766.— Beuajah Bill, Capt. Josliua West, Maj. William Williams (clerk). 
 
 1707.— Maj. W. Williams (clerk), Seth Barllett, Capt. Joseph Tiumbnll. 
 
 1768.— Maj. W. Williams (clerk), Capt. William Sjiiims. 
 
 1769.— Maj. W. Williams (clerk), Capt. Joshua West, Capt. Jos. Trumbull. 
 
 1770-71.— Maj. W. Williams (clerk), Capt. Joseph Trumbull. 
 
 1772.- Col. W. Williams (clerk), Capt. Joseiih Trumbull, Beniah South- 
 worth. 
 
 1773.— Col. W. Williams (clerk), Capt. Joseph Trumbull, Beniah South- 
 worth. 
 
 1774.— Col. W. Williams (clerk), Capt. Seth Wright, Jonathan Trum- 
 bull, Jr. 
 
 1775. — Col. W. Williams (Speaker), Jonathan Trumbull, Ji-. 
 
 1776. — Col. MiUiam Williams, Col. Jeremiah Mason, John Clark, Capt. 
 Joshua "West. 
 
 1777. — Johu Clark, Capt. Joshua AVest, Col. Jeremiah Mason, Beriah 
 Southwoitli. 
 
 1778. — Col. Jeremiah Mason, Capt. James Pinney, Jacob Elliott, Peleg 
 Thomas. 
 
 1779.— Jacob Elliott, Elkanah Tisdale, Elkauah Tisdale, Col. Jonathan 
 Trumbull. 
 
 1780.— ElUauah Tisdale, Col. Jonathan Trumbull, Col. William Williams 
 (clerk). 
 
 1781.- Col. W. -Williams (Speaker), Elkanah Tisdale. 
 
 1782. — Col. W. Williams (Speakei-), Capt. Daniel Tilden, Isaiah Elliott. 
 
 1783.— Col. W. Williams (Speaker), Elkanah Tisdale. 
 
 17Si. — Col. William Williams, Elkanah Tisdale, Col. Jeremiah Mason. 
 
 1780.— Elkauah Tisdale, Capt. Vecht Williams, Capt Daniel Tilden. 
 
 1780.— Capt. Daniel Tildeu, Beriah Southworth, Maj. Elijah Hide. 
 
 1787.— Capt Daniel Tilden, Maj. Elijah Hide, Ephiaiiu Carpenter. 
 
 1788.- Col. J. Trumbull (Speaker), Capt. Daniel Tilden. 
 
 1789.— Elkanah Tisdale, Capt. Daniel TilJen. 
 
 1790.— Elkanah Tisdale, Capt. Daniel Tilden, Peleg Thomas. 
 
 1791.— Elkauah Tisdale, Asahel Clark, David Trumbull. 
 
 1702.— Elkauah Tisdale, Asahel Clark, Peleg Thoni.is. 
 
 1793.— Elkauah Tisdale, Peleg Thomas, Ebenezer Biishiiell. 
 
 1794. — Elkanah Tisdale, Peleg Thomas, Elisha Hutchinson. 
 
 1795.— Asahel Clark, Daniel Tilden, Peleg Thomas. 
 
 1796. — Peleg Thomas, David Trumbull, Jeremiah Mason, 
 
 1797.— Peleg Thomas, Elkauah Tisdale. 
 
 1798. — Elkauah Tisdale, Peleg Thomas, James Mason. 
 
 1799. — James Mason, Solomon Williams, Elkanah Tisdale. 
 
 1800. — James Mason, Elkanah Tisdale, Wm. T. AVilliams. 
 
 1801. — Win. T. Williams, James Mason, Elkanah Tisdale. 
 
 1802.— Elkahah Tisdale, Solomon Williams, Daniel Tilden. 
 
 1803.— Solomon Williams, James Mason, Daniel Tilden, Isaiah Loomis. 
 
 1804. — Daniel Tilden, Isaiah Loomis. 
 
 1805. — Daniel Tilden, Jacob Loomis, Peleg Thomas, James Mason. 
 
 1806. — Isaiah Loomis, Elisha Hutchinson, Zabdiel Hyde. 
 
 1807. — Jacob LoomiH, Zabdiel Hyde, Elisha Hutchinson. 
 
 1808. — Jacob Loomis, William Williams, Jr., Stephen Meech, Wm. T. 
 Williams. 
 
 1800.- Wm. T. Williams (assistant clerk), Peleg Thomas, Wm. nunting- 
 ton, Jr. 
 
 1810.— Wm. T. Willliams (assistant clerk), Wm. Huntington, Jr., Ilobert 
 McCall. 
 
 ISll.— Hobert McCall, JacOb Loomis, James F. Mason, Wm. T. Williams 
 (clerk). 
 
 1812.— Daniel Tilden, Wm. Huntington, Jr., Elisha Hutchinson, James 
 F. Masuu. 
 
 1813.— Wm. Huntington, Jr., James F. Mason, Zabdiel Hyde, William 
 
 AA^illiams. 
 1814. — Abel Goodwin, Benjamiu B. Fowler, Samuel Buckingham, Isaiah 
 
 Loomis. 
 1816.— William T. Williams, Samuel Buckingham, Isaiah Loomis, Jr., 
 
 Hobert McCall. 
 1816. — Ebenezer Johnson, John Robinson, 
 1817.— John Robinson, Stephen D. Tilden, Simeon M. Webster. 
 1818. — Simeon M. Webster, Isaiah Loomis, Charles Abell, Joshua Hall, 
 
 The delegates from Ltbanon to the Constitutional 
 Convention of September, 1818, were Stephen D. 
 Tilden and Thomas Badcock.' 
 
 After the adoption of the constitution in 1818 there 
 was only one regular annual session, held in May, at 
 Hartford each odd year and at New Haven each even 
 year. 
 
 EEPRESESTATIVES. 
 1819, Charles Abell, .Joshua Hall ; 1820, Thomas Babcock, Isaiah Loomis; 
 1821, Abel Goodwin, Daniel Hntchiiison; 1822, Wm. T. Williams, 
 Oliver Kingsley; 1823, Wm. T. Williams, AuJereon M.irtin; \iU, 
 Wra. T. Williams, Elisha Waterman; 1825, John Robinson, Oliver 
 Kingsley; 1826, Isaiah Loomis (2), Julius Clark; 1827, Stephen D. 
 Tilden, Elisha Waterman ; 1828, Eliphalet Abell, Oliver Pettis ; 1828, 
 Thomas Babcock, Erastus Osgood ; 1830, Isaiah Loomis (2), Timothy 
 WilMams; 1831, Asahel Dewey, .iacob McCall; 1832, Thomas Bab- 
 cock, Julius Clark ; 1833, Asahel Dewey, John M. Peahody ; 1834, 
 Oliver Pettis, Ebenezer Spatibrd; 1S35, Amos Fowler, Jr., Oliver 
 Kingsley; 1S30, Julius Clark, Eiastus Hutchinson; 1837, George 
 Kingsley, Archippus McCall : 1838, Giirdon Robinson, Elias Wil- 
 liams; 1839, Amos Fowler, Jesse Wright; 1840, Earned Ilobard, Jus- 
 tin Clark; 1841, Ebenezer Johnson, George Kingsley; 1842, John 
 AVattles, Caleb Hayward ; 1843, Peter C.Brown, Henry II. Alell; 
 1844, Edmund Harding, Daniel L. Sherman; 1345, Roswell Babcock, 
 Charles D. Strong; 1846, Azel Rockwell, Julius Clark ; 1847, George 
 U. Hill, Ebenezer Johnson, Jr.; 1S4S, Daniel Wildman, Jr., Joseph 
 Covey (Corey); 1849, Salmon L. Williams, John II. Throop; 1850, 
 Timothy Metcalf, Rufus It. Dimock ; 1861, Robert Champlin, Justin 
 Clark; 1S62, Chailes H. Thomas, Charles Hull ; 1,S53, Geo. M. Stan- 
 dish, Charles L. Loomis; 1854, Geo. D. Spencer, Wm. J. Gray; 1855, 
 Alausoii 0. Abell, George H. Hill ; 1850, Elias L. Williams, David S. 
 Woodworth; 1857, Jabez McCall, Wm. A. Fuller; 1868, Uriel Ladd, 
 Jr., Philo Washburn ; 1859, Joseph Holniesi, Thos. J. Kingsley ; 1860, 
 Edwin M. Dolbeare, Silas P. Abell ; 1861, Nathan Biuis, Peleg G. 
 Thomas; 1802, Anson Loomis, Jeremiah Mason ; 1863, Nathaniel C, 
 Saxton, Sluman L. Gray ; 1804, John Avery, James M. Abell ; 18G5, 
 James M. Peckham, Silas H. Dewey ; 1866, Orlo D. Hine, George E. 
 Bill; 1867, Wm. S. Standish, Shnbel W. Kingsley ; 1868, Lynde L, 
 Huntington, Henry A, Spafford; 1860, David Geer, Daniel Bailey; 
 1870, 'Wm, C. Noyes, John Avery; 1871, David H, McCall, Wm, A. 
 Fuller; 1872, Hart Taloott, Ezokiel Abell ; 1573, Isaac Gillette, John 
 N, Abell; 1874, George E, Hewitt, Cyrns G, Geer; 1875, Alphonzo 
 Browning, Edmund B. Johnson; 1876, Jabez C. Manning, Samuel 
 E. Haynes; 1877, Erastus Geer, Wm. F. Gates; 1878, Joseph 0. Crau- 
 dall, James T. Thomas ; 1879, Jacob McCall, Albert F. Preston ; 1880, 
 Oliver E. Pettis, Silas P. Abell ; 1881, Joseph S. Warner, Joshua B. 
 Card. 
 
 TOWN CLBRKS.2 
 
 As these officers were also chosen near the close of 
 the year, their services were chiefly rendered within 
 the year next after the dates noted. 
 
 William Clark, June 1, 1698, to December, 1703, 4 years. 
 
 M'illiam Holton, December, 1703, 1 year. 
 
 William Clark, December, 1704, to December, 1725, 21 years. 
 
 Gershom Clark, December, 17.^6, to December, 1752, 27 years; died in 
 
 office, 2d November, 1752. 
 ■William Williams, December, 1752, to December, 1796, 44 years. 
 Elkanah Tisdale, December, 179G, to November, 1S05, 9 years. 
 
 1 The record spelling down to this date. 
 
 - The several town clerks have also held the office of town treasurer 
 for eacli of their respective terms, from William Clark down to the 
 present time. 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 509 
 
 Elisba Hutchinson, November, 1805, to October, 1821, 16 years. 
 Anderson Martin, Jr., October, 1821, to October, 1827, 6 years. 
 Eleizer Manning, Jr., October, 1827, to October, 1830, 3 years ; died in 
 
 ofBce, 1830. 
 Charles H. Button, October, 1830, to October, 1835, 6 years ; died in otSce. 
 John Wattles, October, 1836, to October, 1840, 4 years. 
 Asa A. Robinson, October, 1840, 1 year. 
 John Wattles, October, 1841, 1 year. 
 Asa A. Robinson, October, 1842, 1 year. 
 John Wattles, October, 1843, to October, 1849, 6 years. 
 George D. Spencer, October, 1849, to October, 1861, 12 years. 
 Nathaniel C. Barker, October, 1861, to October, 1866, 5 years. 
 George D. Spencer, October, 1866, to October, 1875, 9 years. 
 Walter G. Kingsley, October, 1876, to October, 1880, 5 years; still in 
 
 office. 
 
 CONSTABLES. 
 
 These officers were also chosen near the end of the 
 year noted, and their services were mostly within the 
 year next after the date. 
 
 1698.^ohn Calkins, 31st May, 1698, to December, 1700. 
 
 1700.— Josiah Dewey, Jr. 1701, Philip Smith. 1702, Thomas Hunt. 
 1703, John Woodward, Jr. 1704, Benjamin Brewster, Samuel Hutchin- 
 son. 17U5 (the same). 1706, Caleb Abell, Jonathan Metcalf. 1707, Wil- 
 liam Wattles, Josiah Dewy. 1Y08, John Abell, Nathaniel Grove. 1709, 
 John Abell, John Smith. 
 
 1710. — John Abell, Ebenezer Dewey. 1711, John Abell, Joseph Loomis. 
 1712, John Abell, William Clark, Jr. 1713, John Abell, Ebenezer West. 
 1714, Ebenezer Cass, William Buel. 1715, Samuel Hutchinson, Thomas 
 Hunt. 1716, Stephen Tilden, Jonathan Crane. 
 
 Townsmen were first chosen in May, 1698, when 
 Deacon Josiah Dewey, John Woodward, Sr., and 
 William Clark were elected. Lebanon was not, how- 
 ever, invested with " town privileges" until October, 
 1700. 
 
 Early Eirths, Marriages, and Deaths. 
 
 ABEL. 
 
 John, m. Rebecca Henman, June 2, 1730. Chil., John, b. Mch. 10, 
 1704— died inf.; Sarah, Mch. 2, 1705; Solomon, Jan. 7, 1708; Rebecca, 
 Jan. 18, 1711; Hannah, Sept. 26, 1716 ; Bethia, Oct. 18, 1718 ; David, April 
 1, 1722. 
 
 Caleb, m. Abigail Henman, Feb. 20, 1705. Chil., Daniel, b. Feb. 3, 
 1706; Caleb, April 21, 1709; Abigail, April 11, 1711 ; Mary, Aug. 4, 1714. 
 
 Daniel, m. Sarah Crane, 21 Dec, 1729. Chil., Daniel, b. Nov. 13, 1728 ; 
 Eliphalet, Sept. 10, 1730; Jonathan, Apr. 26, 1733; Mary, Feb. 24, 1736; 
 Betty, Jan. 19, 1739 ; Sarah, Jan. 19, 1741 ; Elijah, Feb. 4, 1744 ; Simon 
 Sept. 5, 1746— died young; Bzekiel, Oct. 12, 1747. 
 
 Caleb, m. Mary Clark, Feb. 7, 1738. Chil., Creta, b. Dec. 6, 1738 ; Abi- 
 gail, Aug. 21, 1740; Elizabeth, Dec. 21,1742; Joseph, Oct, 20,1744; Mary, 
 Nov. 18, 1747; Caleb, Mch. 16, 1749— died young; Caleb again, Feb. 23, 
 1761 ; Lydia, May 21, 1753 ; Lucretia, Oct. 30, 1755. 
 
 ALDEN. 
 John, m. Elisabeth Ripley of Windham, Oct. 9, 1744. Chil., Perthena, 
 b. Sept. 5, 1745; Violette, April 8, 1748; John, June 18, 1750; Judah, 
 March 10, 1762; Roger, Feb. 11, 1754; Elisabeth, Dec. 23, 1767— d. May 
 25, 1858. 
 
 ALLEN. 
 Samuel and wife Catharine had chil., viz. : Joseph, h. Jan. 26,1733; 
 Daniel, Aug. 14, 1735; George, May 11, 1737. (Samuel, the father, died 
 Feb. 22, 1744.) 
 
 ARMSTRONG. 
 
 JOHM, m. Anna Worth, Jan. 19, 1710. 
 
 Joseph, m. Lydia Worth, Dec. 15, 1712. John above was here in 1709, 
 and the name appears a few years later. 
 
 AVERY. 
 
 John, sold all his rights and interests here to Henry Woodward, Jan. 6, 
 
 1702. His home lot was where the sons of Daa. John Avery now live. 
 
 JNew London was his home, and he was active in repelling the inroads of 
 
 -the Narragansett Indians. John Avery and Thomas Avery are mentioned 
 
 as landholders in Preston, 1706. The Avery family now in Lebanon, 
 who came from Preston at a recent date, evidently are of the same stock. 
 
 KOBEET, m. Anna ■ -. Chil., Robert, b. Nov. 26, 1742 ; John, Jan. 29, 
 
 1745 ; Anna, June 26, 1747 ; Josias, Aug, 15, 1749 ; Susanna, Oct. 15, 1751 ; 
 Sarah, Oct. 25, 1755 ; Ruth, March 6, 1756. 
 
 BALDWIN. 
 
 John (from Norwich), selectman in 1699. 
 
 John, Jr., m. Abigail Baldwin, Jan. 31, 1716. Chil., John Baldwin, b. 
 Aug. 14, 1717; Lncy, April 12, 1720; Zerviah, April 18, 1722; Daniel, 
 June 16, 1726 ; Benjamin, April 2, 1727 ; Zervias, March 24, 1729 ; Mr. 
 John Baldwin, Jr., d. Jan. 18, 1746. 
 
 John, 3d, m. Mary Binney, June 12, 1751. Chil., Jacob, b. Aug. 30, 
 1751— d, young; Mary, May 3, 1753; Jacob, May 16, 1755; John, Sept. 
 11, 1767 ; Hannah, Feb. 3, 1760 ; Abigail, Aug. 8, 1762. 
 
 D,\niel, m. Elisabeth Cogswell, Jan. 26, 1749. Chil,, Daniel, b, Jan. 12, 
 1760, d. June 11, 1750; Daniel, Nov. 13, 1751. 
 
 Benjamin, m. Ruth Porter, Sept. 27, 1750. Chil,, Sarah, b. Oct. 1752 ; 
 Ruth, Aug. 12, 1754 ; Ann, July 9, 1766. 
 
 BAILEY. 
 
 Joseph, m. Abigail Ingraham, May 24, 1724. Chil., Mary, b. Jan. 25, 
 1726; Ann, July 9, 1727; Mercy, Oct. 1, 1730; Joseph, May 4, 1733; 
 James, Aug. 22, 1735 ; Elisabeth, Oct. 9, 1738 ; Samuel, b. July 18, 1739. 
 
 Isaac, m, Abigail Hunt, April 16, 1730. Chil., Temperance, b. Feb. 2, 
 1731 ; Isaac, Dec. 6, 1732 ; Joshua, Nov. 25, 1734,— d. young ; Joshua, 
 July 7, 1741. 
 
 SAXT0N,m, Hannah Hunt, June 24, 1731; he d. March 21,1743. Chil., 
 Hannah, b. Aug. 30, 1732 ; Lucy, May 23, 1734; William, May 10, 1736; 
 Amy, May 6, 1738 ; Abner, b. July 13, 1740. 
 
 BARTLETT. 
 
 Josiah and Mercy, his wife. He d. March 16, 1782 ; she d. Feb. 7, 1781. 
 Chil., Ichabod, b. Oct. 20, 1723; Betty, Jan. 28, 1726; Nathaniel, Nov. 
 27, 1727; John, Aug. 16, 1730; Chandler, Jan. 22, 1733; Cyrus, Jan. 14, 
 1739 ; Mercy, May 4, 1740 ; Molle, 1743. 
 
 Ichabod and Desire, his wife. Chil., Lydia, b. May 6, 1748; Desire, 
 April 24, 1750; Judah, June 16, 1752; John, Sept. 24, 1754; Hannah, 
 May 24, 1767 ; Molly, April 4, 1760 ; Lucy, Dec. 19, 1763 ; Seth, June 18, 
 1766. 
 
 John, m. Susannah Southworth, of Duxbury, Dec. 1753. Chil., John, 
 b. June, 1755; Sarah, June 3, 1757; Jedediah Southworth, May 31, 
 1759. 
 
 Chandler, m. Delight McCall, Aug. 7, 1777. Chil., Cyrus, b. July 13, 
 1778; Chandler, Nov. 1, 1780; Julius, April 4, 1782; Mercy, Oct. 11, 
 1783; Betty, July 1, 1786. 
 
 BASCOM. 
 
 Daniel, m. Elisabeth French (no date). She d. Jan. 16, 1750. Chil., 
 Abigail, b. April 4, 1726; Daniel, Feb. 13,1728; Elisabeth, Aug. 26,1729; 
 Thankful, April 20, 1731; Mary, Feb. 21, 1735; Sarah, April 17, 1733; 
 John, Dec, 9, 1736; Elihu, Jan. 13, 1739 ; Jonathan, Sept. 14, 1740; Bille, 
 Oct. 30, 1742. 
 
 BEAMONT— BEAUMONT. 
 
 William, m. Sarah Everet (no date). Chil., Ann, b. Sept. 16, 1749 ; 
 Sarah, May 31, 1751 ; William, March 26, 1753; Samuel, Feb. 23, 1755; 
 Isoiah and Lydia, twins. May 23, 1757; Oliver, May 16, 1769; Abigail, 
 Aug, 30, 1761 ; Dan, April 20, 1763, 
 
 BILL. 
 
 James and Mercy, his wife. Child, James, b. Sept. 20, 1703. 
 
 Lieut. James, Jr., and Kesiah, his wife. He d. Nov. 9, 1781, aged 78. 
 Chil., Lurani, b. Aug. 29, 1728; Peleg, Jan. 8, 1733; James, Jan. 2, 1736; 
 Oliver, Oct. 27, 1737; Kesiah, March 14, 1742; Betty, Sept. 5, 1746. 
 
 Philip and Jane, his wife. She d. July 21, 1731. Chil., Zipporah, b. 
 Feb. 16, 1715; Lucy, Dec. 26, 1717; Elisha, Feb. 7, 1719; Philips, Dec. 
 31, 1723; Solomon, April 25, 1726; Mercy, Jan. 26, 1729; Elijah, July 
 16il731; Jonathan, Sept. 15, 1736; Sybil, March 6, 1740 ; Samuel, July 
 4, 1744.— He m. 2d, Elisabeth, between 1731 and 1734. 
 
 John and Mary, his wife. Chil,, Simeon, b. Nov. 8, 1713; Jonathan, 
 Jan. 6, 1726; Mercy, May 25, 1728; Judah, Feb. 6, 1731 ; John, June 6, 
 1734. 
 
 Benajah and Mary, his wife. Chil., Lucretia, b. July 26, 1743 ; Mary, 
 Nov. 27, 1744 ; Eleazer, March 16, 1747 ; Benajah, June 11, 1749.— d. inf. ; 
 Eliphalet, Aug. 25, 1760. 
 
 James, 3d, and Mary, his wife. Chil., Anna, b. Nov, 23, 1744; Asariah, 
 April 15, 1748. 
 
510 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 BINGHAM. 
 Nathaniel, and Sarali, his wife. Child, Sarah, b. Dec. 16, 1707. 
 Stephen, m. Rebecca Bishop, Nov. 30, 1715. 
 
 Bleazeb, m. Miriam Phelps, July 13, 1738. Chil. Stephen, b. Nov. 30, 
 1740; Kehecka, July 10, 1743; Eleazer, July 7, 1745; Miriam, April 6, 
 1749; Sarah, July 1,1751; Esther, Sept. 21, 1752; Mary, Sept. 17, 1760 ; 
 Aaron, May 12, 1758. 
 
 BIKCHARD. 
 
 John, Sen., d. Nov. 17, 1702. His wife d. Jan. 21, 1723. 
 
 John, Jr., m. Hannah Loomis, Dec. 30, 1708. Tlie records note tlie 
 birth and death of one cliild only, Hannah, but no date of either event 
 is noted. He died June 30, 1735, his wife died Oct. 21, 1746, aged 69. 
 
 Daniel, m. Elizubeth Thomas (uo date). Cbil., Daniel, b. Deo. 13, 
 1722; Samuel, Jan. 4, 1725 ; Elizabeth, Aug. 15, 1726; Joseph, June 3, 
 1734; Lydia, Jan. 28, 1737. [Ko more entries of this name on the early 
 record.) 
 
 BISSELL. 
 
 John, m. Sarah Fowler, Nov. 14, 1714. Child, Abigail, b. Aug. 24, 
 1716. 
 
 Benjamin,! m. Mary Wattles, July 17, 1728— he d. Aug. 19, 1762. 
 Chil. Sarah, b. Oct. 13, 1734; Betty, May 1, 1738; Benjamin, Nov. 23, 
 1740— d. Nov. 1, 1760; Tertias, May 7, 1748. 
 
 Joseph, m. Hannah Partridge, April 12, 1763. Chil., Mary Wattles, b. 
 May 27, 1755. 
 
 Daniel, m. Elizabeth Fitch, Feb. 15, 1747 ; d. Oct. 3, 1776. Chil., Dan- 
 iel, b. Deo. 6, 1747 ; Elisabeth, his wife, d. Dec. 18, 1747. 
 
 BLISS. 
 
 Chil., 
 
 Samuel, m. Lydia Ticknor, Feb. 21, 1723— d. Dec. 15, 1761. 
 Samuel, b. July 23, 1724— d. inf.; Samuel, July 15, 1731. 
 
 Nathaniel, m. Mehitable Spafford, Sept. 4, 1723. Chil., Elijah, b. 
 Sept. 9, 1727 ; Mary, Feb. 21, 1729— d. young ; Mehitable, Aug. 10, 1727; 
 Mary, March 2, 1731; Joseph, Feb. 8, 1733— d. young; Patience, June 
 21, 1734; Nathaniel, Aug. 5, 1736. 
 
 Ebenezer, m. Rebecka Cotton, of Springfield, May 4, 1737, Chil., 
 Joseph, b. Feb. 27, 1738 ; Ebenezer, June 6, 1739 ; Jonathan, May 7, 1741 ; 
 Rebecka, Jan. 17, 1743 ; Jonathan, Feb. 10, 1750 ; Lucy, Oct. 6, 1752 ; 
 Irene, Feb. 26, 1755 ; Dan, July 6, 1759. 
 
 BOSWORTH. 
 
 Datih, m. Priscilla . Oliil., Lydia, b. Oct. 2, 1733; Zadoc, Oct. 14, 
 
 1735. M. 2d, Mary Strong, June 17, 1743. Chil., Lydia, Jan. 28, 1744; 
 David, Jan. 18, 1746 — d. young; Ichabod, March 1, 1748; David, April 
 25, 1750; Jabin, April 2, 1762; Molley, June 6, 1764; Hezekiah, Nov. 14, 
 1757. 
 
 BRADFORD. 
 
 Joseph, ra. Ann Fitch, Oct. 6, 1098. Chil., Ann, b. July 26, 1699- 
 Joseph and Priscilla, twins, April 9, 1702 ; Alithea and Ireny, twin dau., 
 April 6, 1704— d. young; Sarah, Sept. 21, 170C ; Hannah, May 24, 1709; 
 Elisabeth, Oct. 21, 1712; Alithea and Ireny, twins again, Sept. 19, 1715 ; 
 John, May iO, 1717. Anne, wife of Joseph, d. Oct. 7, 1717. He moved 
 to Mohegan in 1717. 
 
 BREWSTER. 
 
 Benjamin, Sr., and wife, Mary, had children, viz. : Benjamin, b. Sept. 
 4,1697; John, May 25,1701; Mary, April 22,1704; Jonathan, Nov. 4, 
 1706— d. 1717 ; Nehemiah, June 26, 1709— d. 1719 ; Comfort, Dec. 2, 1711 • 
 Daniel, Nov. 21,1714. 
 
 Benjamin, Jr., m. Rebecka Blacknian (no date). Chil., Jonathan b. 
 Sept. 9, 1723; Benjamin, Oct. 12, 1726. 
 
 John, son of Benj. Sen., m. Mary Terry (no date). Chil,, Mary, b, Jan, 
 20, 1726 ; Hannah, May 5, 1784. 
 
 Comfort, son of Benj, Sen,, m, Deborah Smith, Dec, 2,1736, Chil. 
 Deborah, b, Dec, 20, 1737, Ann, May 10, 1741 ; Betty, Aug, 20 1743 • 
 Comfort, Aug, 20, 1745 ; Daniel, July 2C, 1761, 
 
 Daniel, son of Benj, Sen,, m, Maiy Dimack, Oct, 10, 1743, Chil, Ne- 
 hemiah, b, Nov, 21, 1735; d, inf,; Nehemiah, April 19, 1738; d, 1761- 
 Ruth, Aug, 28, 1740; Eunice, Jan, 2, 1743; Mary, April 13, 1745; Me- 
 hitable, Aug. 6, 1747 ; d, 1749, Daniel Brewster, d. May 7, 1749. 
 
 Comport, Jun,, m, Elizabeth Abel, Feb, 15, 1770, Cliil., Comfort, b, 
 April 7, 1771 ; Elizabeth, Dec, 2, 1772 ; Lucretia, Feb, 18, 1776 ; Jlelin'da 
 Oct, 30, 1778; Daniel, Aug, 12,1781; Louisa, March 7, 1787, Comfort 
 Brewster, the father, d. May 27, 1822. Elizabeth, his wife, d March 19 
 1826. 
 
 The desceudants of Benjamin Brewster, the original proprietor, con- 
 
 • Ancestor of Gov. Clark Bissell, 
 
 tinned to occupy the home-lot near Edwin M, Dolbear's, and owned now 
 by Ludlow Lyman, down to recent date. The last of the line resident 
 here and occupying the home-lot was Louisa Brewster, 
 
 William, m. Patience , one child, — Ebenezer, b. Feb, 1, 1703, 
 
 The father died Aug., 1728, 
 
 William, m, Mehitable Abel, Dec, 13, 1716. Chil,, Hannah, b. March 
 31,1718; Abel, July 15, 1720 ; William, Feb, 26, 1723— d, young; Blisha, 
 Aug, 22, 1726— d, at Louisburg, 1746 ; Ann, Aug, 28, 1727. 
 
 BROWN. 
 
 John, His name not on the records of marriages and births ; grand- 
 son of Major Mason, d, 1755, 
 
 Ebenezer, his son, m, Sarah Hide, Jan. 25, 1714, Chil,, John, b, Dec; 
 20, 1714; Joseph, June 30, 1717; Lydia, Mch, 19, 1720. 
 
 Joseph, Jr., m. Eunice Allen, Dec. 13, 1736. Chil., Abiab, b. Sept. 9, 
 1741; Elisha, Jan, 11.1744; Sarah, June 5, 1753; Rachel, May 14, 1766. 
 
 Ebenezer, m, Lucy Owen, Jan. 8, 1745. One child, Ebenezer, b. Aug, 
 23, 1746. 
 
 Samuel, perhaps brother of John, m. Joanna Loomis of Windsor, 1721, 
 One child, John, b, Jan. 17, 1723, 
 
 BUEL, 
 
 Benjamin, m, Hannah Hutchinson, June 28, 1710, 
 
 William, Sb,, m, Elisabeth , Chil,, William, b. Sept, 5, 1706; 
 
 Samuel, Nov, 1708; Timothy, Oct, 4, 1711; Abel, June 6, 1714; Elisa- 
 beth, Mch, 27, 1716; Deborah, July 22, 1718; Mehitabel, April 25, 1721 
 — d, young, 
 
 William, Jb,, m, Martha Smith, April 23, 1730. He d, April 7, 1763 ; 
 she d. May 25, 1751, 
 
 Abel, Jr., m, Mehitabel Dewey, April 9, 1734, Chil,, Mehitabel, k 
 May S, 1735; Ann, Aug, 17, 1738; Mary, Sept, 28, 1741; Elizabeth, Oct. 
 6, 1743 ; Eunice, Aug, 16, 1745 ; Abel, April 11, 1740. 
 
 John, m. Mary -, Chil,, Hannah, b, Dec, 7, 1703 ; Lois, March 12, 
 
 1706; Deborah, Jan, 24, 1708; Peter, May 22,1710; Ebenezer, March 16, 
 1713; Solomon, Aug, 3, 1715 ; Jonathan, Dec, 13, 1717; Elisabeth, April 
 27, 1720, 
 
 John, m. Freedom Strong, May 9, 1726, Chil,, John, b, Aug, 31, 1727; 
 Freedom, June 23, 1729; Oliver, Jan. 31, 1732; Abraham, Feb. 19, 1734; 
 Isaac, April 5, 1736 ; Jacob, April 30, 1836 ; David, May 16, 1741 ; Ezra, 
 April 2, 1744; Lois, Feb. 8, 1747, 
 
 The Buel family had representatives here down to a recent period. 
 
 BUSHNELL. 
 
 Richard, son of Richard Bushnell, a first proprietor of Norwich, and 
 one of the most noted and active men there. " Whereas he [Richard 
 Bushnell] had been at considerable charge with the four proprietors of 
 Lebanon in the setting up of said place, they granted him (June 2, 1699) 
 one hundred acres of land ou the hill above Edward Culver's house," 
 Not a home-lot. He was half brother of Thomas Adgate, an original 
 proprietor, 
 
 Nathan, m, Mehitabel , Chil,, Rebekah, b, Nov, 3, 1737, 
 
 Samuel, m, Zerviah Lyman, Oct. 5, 1743, Chil.. Samuel, b. Aug, 7, 
 1744; Elijah, Mch. 30, 1746; Aaron, Aug. 17, 1747; Zerviah, Feb. 9, 
 1750. 
 
 Ebenezer, m. Elizabeth TifTany, Nov. 25, 1766. Chil., Ebenezer, Sept. 
 13, 1767; Elizabeth, Nov, 5, 1761 ; Jerusha, June 16, 1768, Mrs, Bush- 
 nell d. Mch, 26, 1790, 
 
 Ebenezer, Jr,, m, Triphena Clark, Aug, 14, 1780, Child, Hezekiah, 
 b. Sept, 27, 1782. 
 
 CALKIN. 
 
 John, m, Abigail Burchard, Oct, 3, 1700, of Norwich, and moved to 
 Lebanon, Child, James, younger son, b, April 29, 1702. 
 
 John, m, Katliarine Foster, Nov. 5, 1719, Chil,, Solomon, April 24, 
 
 1729 ; Daniel ; Hannah, May 26, 1726 ; Ezekiel, Nov, 4, 1728 ; 
 
 Israel, June 8, 1731 ; Elisabeth, Sept, 14, 1733 ; Simeon, June 10, 1736, 
 
 John, 3d, m, Sarah Huntington, April 9,1721, Chil,, John, b, Mch. 
 23, 1723; Sarah, Aug. 10,1725; Elijah, Fob, 29, 1728; Simon, Deo, 18, 
 1730— d, young; Zerviah, Oct, 4, 1736 ; Simon again, Mch, 9,1738; Wm,, 
 Sept, 19, 1740; Mary and Joseph, twins, Feb, 6, 1744, 
 
 Samuel, brother of John the proprietor, m. Hannah . Chil., Sam- 
 uel, b, Oct, 17, 1699; Nathaniel, Aug, 17, 1703; Stephen, April 4,1706; 
 Aquilla, June 4, 1711, 
 
 CHAPPELL, 
 
 Lieut. Caleb, from New London, probably came about 1695, m, Ruth 
 
 (no date), Chil,, Abigitil, b, April 19, 1695; Caleb, Mch, 7, 1697; 
 
 Jonathan, Mch, 20, 1699; Mary, Oct, 25, 1700; Joshua, Sept. 17, 1702; 
 Abijah, Oct. 19, 1704; Deborah, Sept, 19, 1711; Jabez, Dec. 13, 1714, m. 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 511 
 
 Zipporah Bill, 1735 ; Noah, Dec. 13, 1706. Lieut. Caleb Chiippell d. Mch. 
 29, 1733. 
 
 Caleb, Jr., m. Elisabeth Hutchinson, Dec. 6, 172- Chil., Elijah, b. 
 Dec. 31, 1724; Caleb (no date), m. Elizabeth Crocker, 1744; Ann, Jan. 
 29, 17i:7; Elisabeth, May 10, 1729; Esther, July 21, 1734; Amos, Mch. 
 27, 173C; James, Feb. 20, 1743. 
 
 EujAH, son of Caleb, 2d, m. Jerusha Jones, Dec. 18, 1752 ; Chil., Eli- 
 jah, b. Sept. 6, 1753 ; Dan, Mch. 24, 1766 ; Jerusha, Sept. 26, 1768 ; Elenor, 
 July 27, 1761 ; Huram, Feb. 23, 1764 ; Faith, July 12, 1766; Clare, Oct. 
 18, 1769 ; Elias, Mch. 20, 1772. 
 
 Caleb, 3d, m. Elisabeth Crocker, April 15, 1744, d. April 13, 1760. 
 Child, Sarah, b. Dec. 6, 1765. 
 
 CLARK. 
 
 Capt. William, m. 1st, Hannah Strong, and had Chil., Hannah, b. 
 1682 ; 'William, Feb. 16, 1686 ; Jonathan, May 13, 1688 ; Thomas, April, 
 1690; Joseph, Dec. 31, 1691 ; Benoni, Jan. 31, 1694. She d. 1694, and he 
 m. 2d, Mary Smith, Jan. 31,1695. Chil., Timothy, Oct. 12, 1695; Ger- 
 Bhom, Not. 18, 1697; Mary, Nov. 22, 1799— d. young; David— d. young; 
 David again, 1705 — d. young; Capt. William, d. May 9, 1725, age 69,and 
 his wife Mary d. April 23, 1748, age 87. Five of his sons have mar. and 
 births of children noted on Lebanon records. 
 
 Danifl (prob. son of Daniel the proprietor), m. Esther Bridges, Nov., 
 1730, and had chil.. Charity, b. Aug. 11, 1731 ; Daniel 3d, April 1,'1734; 
 Benoni, Oct. 15, 1737. 
 
 COLLINS. 
 
 Benjamin, m. Elisabeth — 
 
 . Chil., Benjamin, h. March 19, 1722 ; 
 Abraham, June 4,1724; Rufus, Nov. 21, 1726; Julius, Dec. 29, 1728; 
 Phebe, July 9, 1731 ; Zorobabel, Oct. 4, 1733 ; Lucy, Feb. 5, 1736 ; Zelotes, 
 March 23, 173S— d. youug ; Zelotes again, Nov. 12, 1740. 
 
 CONNANT. 
 Exercise, "of Boston," sold his home-lot and all his rights to Daniel 
 Clark in 1700; Clark to John Porter, and Porter to Joseph Tmmbull. 
 Connant empowered "his loving son-in-law, Eichard Hendee of Wind- 
 ham," to sell his land here. 
 
 CKANDALL. 
 
 Petee, m. Mary - 
 
 Child, Samuel, b. Dec. 11, 1729. 
 
 Constant, m. Hannah Brewster, May 18, 1743. Chil., Hannah, b. June 
 22,1745; Ann, Nov. 13, 1747; Lydia, Oct. 24, 1749; Kichmoml, Nov. 2, 
 1751 — d, young ; Kichmond, May 21, 1754. 
 
 CULVER. 
 
 Edwaed, came from Norwich in 1698. He then had seven children, 
 whose births are recorded there. The children recorded here are Dan- 
 iel, b. Dec. 19, 1698; Lydia, Nov. 10, 1700; Ann, Jan. 6, 1702 ; Abigail, 
 Dec. 23, 1704. His name is on the church records here in 1701. The 
 following are probably his children and their families. He acted as sur- 
 veyor. 
 
 Epheaim, m. Martha Hibbard, Nov. 6, 1707. Chil., Martha, b. Aug. 
 20, 1708— d. young; Edward, Jan. 19, 1710; Martha, June 11, 1711 ; (and 
 probably by 2d wife,) Zerviah, Aug. 30, 1712— d. 1718 ; Elishama, March 
 8, 1715— d. 1718 ; Ephraim, July 19, 1717 ; Ruth, Nov. 17, 1720 ; Bereheba, 
 March 15, 1724. 
 
 John, m. Sariih . Chil., Martha, b. Aug. 14, 1713 ; Lemuel, May 
 
 15, 1716. 
 
 Samuel, m. Hannah Hibbard, May 13, 1714. Chil., Benjamin, b. July 
 7, 1715 ; Zebulon, Nov. 30, 1716 ; Zerviah, April 28, 1718 ; Samuel, Oct. 
 27, 1720; Joshua aud Ebenezer, June 13, 1722 — twins. 
 
 DAVENPORT. 
 
 Benjamin, m. Sarah . Chil., Samuel, b. Sept. 17, 1735 — d. 1751; 
 
 Sarah, April 28,1737; Zerviah, April 2,1739; Mollie, March 22,1741; 
 Sarah, Feb. 26, 1743; Bille, Jan. 13, 1745 ; Hannah, Jan. 31, 1747; Jona- 
 than, Jan. 9, 1749; Charles, April 3, 1751. 
 
 DEAN. 
 James, has no births of children recorded. 
 
 JosiAH, m. Bethia . Chil., Bethia, b. Sept. 7, 1718 ; Batbsheba, 
 
 Dec. 19, 1720; John, Aug. 4, 1726 ; Nathaniel, Nov. 27, 1728. 
 
 DEWEY. 
 JosiAH, Sr., was from Northampton, Mass. Nathaniel, John, and Jo- 
 siah, Jr., probably were his sons ; and the four were original proprietors. 
 Josiah Dewey, Sr., was here as early as 1695, and under the four propri- 
 etors. Mason, Stanton, Brewster, and Birchard, assisted in distiiUuting 
 the home-lots and ia making the first division of the common undivided 
 
 land. With William Clark of Saybrook, he bought the northern part of 
 the town, of Thomas Buckingham and John Clark of Saybrook, called 
 the Clark and Dewey purchase. Josiah Dewey, Sr., was one of the nine 
 persons embodied in the first church when it was formed, and would ap- 
 pear to have been chosen deacon. Nathaniel and John and Josiah, Jr., 
 left large families. All the Dewey family seem to have early sold their 
 home-lots aud moved into the northern part of the town. 
 
 DODBLEDAY. 
 Elisha, m. Margaret Adams of Cambridge, Oct. 21, 1736. Chil., Joseph, 
 b. Dec. 27, 1737 ; Elisha, April 15, 1740 ; Margaret, wife of E. D.,— d. May 
 22,1749. He m. 2d, Hannah Bayley, Oct. 2, 1749. Chil., Jesse, July 14, 
 1750; Asahel, March 31,1762; Margaret, July 29,1754; Abner, Feb. 4, 
 1767; Ammi, April 17, 1769; Seth, Aug. 15, 1751 ; Hannah, July 6, 1763; 
 Lydia, Feb. 26, 1766 ; Lois, June 24, 1769. 
 
 EDGEETON. 
 
 RicHAKD, m. 1st, Hannah . Child, Hannah, b. 1744. Mar. 2d, 
 
 Rebecka Wells, and had Child, Rebecca, b. Aug. 10, 1761. 
 
 Joseph, m. Eunice Meigs. He d. Mch. 6, 1763. She d. 1756. Chil., 
 Joseph, b. April 2, 1744; Betty, Dec. 31, 1746; Temperance, Sept. 25, 
 1749. 
 
 ELLIOTT. 
 
 Rev. Jacob, ni. 1st. Mrs. Betty Robinson, May 4, 1732. Chil., Jacob, 
 b. Aug. 27, 1734; Betty, March 16, 1736. Mrs. Betty Elliott d. March 
 22, 1768. He m. 2d, Mias Ann Blancbard of Stratford, June 4, 1760. 
 Cbil., Joseph, b. Nov. 2, 1762; John, June 6, 1764. Kev. Jacob Elliott d. 
 April 12, 1766, in the 66th year of his age. First minister in Goshen 
 society. 
 
 EVERITT. 
 
 ISEAEL, m. Sarah Culver, Nov. 9, 1710. Chil., Israel, b. April 11, 1712 ; 
 Daniel, Jan. 26, 1714; Elisabeth, Aug. 1, 1716. 
 
 FINNET. 
 
 Josiah, m. Elisabeth Shaw, Jan., 1723. Chil., Elisabeth, b. Jan. 19, 
 1724 ; Josiah, Jan. 27, 1726— d. youug; Josiah again, Feb. 24, 1728 ; Keziah, 
 March 6, 1730; Lydia, March 6, 1732; David, June 21, 1734; Jonathan, 
 June, 1, 1737. 
 
 William, m. Elisabeth Clark of Swansea, Nov. 8, 1738. Chil., William, 
 b. Dec. 9, 1739 ; Elisabeth, May 25, 1742. His wife Elisabeth d. in 1742, 
 and he m. 2d, Abigail Blair, Nov. 3, 1747. 
 
 FITCH. 
 Samuel, Nathaniel, and Joseph, sons of Rev. James Fitch, who came 
 from Saybrook to Norwich, was the first pastor of the church there, and 
 died in Lebanon ; b. Dec. 24, 1632, at Booking, Esae.x Co., England, d. 
 Nov. 18, 1702. Samuel did not reside here, but settled in Preston as early 
 as 1698. Nathaniel and Joseph settled here, had large families, a large 
 proportion of which were sons. The Fitches became numerous, aud had 
 capacity, and were prosperous aud iufluenlial. 
 
 FORD. 
 Matthew, m. Mary. Chil., Matthew, b. June 24,1717; Jacob, Feb. 
 19, 1719; John, Feb. 17, 1721; Isaac, Nov. 16, 1722; Benjamin, July 24, 
 1724. 
 
 FOSTER. 
 
 David, m. Alithea . Chil., Reuben, April 3, 1733; Elijah, Feb. 
 
 26, 1736; Eliab, April 18, 1737; Lucy, Sept. 14, 1740. 
 
 Jeremiah, m. Mary Skinner (uo date). Chil., Samuel, b. Feb. 13, 
 1732— d. young; Mary, July 3, 1733; Jeremiah, May 9, 1736 ; Nathaniel, 
 Feb. 27, 1738. 
 
 Asa, m. Hannah . Chil., Mary, b. May 20, 1745,— d. '61 ; Samuel, 
 
 April 6, 1747— d. young ; Daniel, b. Feb. 26, 1748; Asa, April 22, 1750; 
 Mary, Sept. 24, 1763 ; William, Oct. 24, 1756 ; Hannah, May 5, 1767. 
 
 FOWLER. 
 
 Jonathan, (son of Samuel of Windsor,) b. 1 085 ; came early to Lebanon, 
 where he had Joseph, 1722, m. Sarah Metcalf; Jonathan, m. Abigail 
 Bissell; Hannah, Aug. 24, 1725— all born in Lebanon. He then, about 
 1726, removed to Coventry, where he had six children born. He was 
 famousforhis great physical strength, and known as "Fowler the Giant." 
 
 Joseph, Esq , m. Elizabeth Powol, Jan. 8, 171:^. 
 
 Rev. Joseph, J a., m. Sarah, dan. of Rev. Joseph Metcalf of Lebanon, 
 Jan. 3, 1741. Chil., Joseph, b. Dec. 31, 1747. He settled as minister in 
 E. Haddam, 1761, where he had several children, aud d. June 10, 1771. 
 
 Thomas, m. Elisabeth . Cliild, Thomas, b. April 19, 1714. 
 
 John, (son of Mark of N. Haven), b. in N. Haven, March 1, 1681, came 
 
512 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 to Lebanon about 1702, m. Sarah , and had John, Jr , Oct. 31, 
 
 1708 ; Mary, Nov. IS, 1710 ; Mark, Nov. 7, 1712, removed to Salisbury ; 
 Bijah, June 10, 1717 ; Sarah, Dec. 28, 1718, m. Mr. Clark of Lebanon. 
 The first house built by John, Sen., in about 1702, in Goshen Society, 
 remained until 1839, and five generations of the family had occupied it. 
 Capt. Dijah, above, m. Abigail Bigrelow of Colchester, Dec. 18, 1745, 
 and had Abigail, March 1,1747; Dijah, Aug. 14, 1748; Sarah, Jan. 7, 
 1750; Lydia, Fob. 7, 1763; John, Dec. 5, 1754; Mark, M.ay 9,1766; Amos, 
 March 19, 1758. He (Capt. Amos) was corporal in Rev. Army, one of 
 Washington's Life Guards, and was in battle of L. I., and served with 
 honor to near the close of the war. He d. in Goshen Society, Nov. 30, 
 1837, leaving a large family of children, two still surviving in Lebanon. 
 
 FULLER. 
 
 Amos, m. Priscilla Woodworth, June 29, 1721. Chil., Judith, Oct. 22, 
 1721.— d.; Hannah, July 19,1724; Joseph, Sept. 2, 1726; James, Oct. 21, 
 1728; Priscilla, Sept. 21, 1730; Sybil, May 1,1732; Amos, April 6,1839 
 — d. ; James, Oct. 19, 1737 ; Judith, Feb. 2, 1740 ; Isaiah, May 15, 1742; 
 Amos, May 10, 1744; Eleazer, July 28, 1746. 
 
 EsEKiEL, m. Hannah . Chil., David, b. Aug. 17, 1727 ; Nathan, 
 
 Oct. 1, 1731 ; Ebenezer, July 22, 1735 ; Jerusha, Aug. 18, 1733 j Mary, 
 1742. 
 
 Benjamin, m. Tabitha . Chil., Amos, b. April 3, 1721 ; Johni 
 
 Feb. 26, 1723 ; Hannah, Feb. 9, 1725 ; Timothy, July 6, 1727. 
 
 Abiel, m. Ist, Sarah , and had Sarah, Aug. 29, 1730; m. 2d, 
 
 Hannah Porter, Dec. 19, 1732, and had Ann, May 26, 1736 ; Abiel, March 
 6, 1739. 
 
 GAGER. 
 
 WIHIAM, m. Elisabeth Whiting, Nov. 1, 1725— she d. Sept. 2, 1730. 
 Chil., Sarah, b. Oct. 10, 1726; Samuel, April 18, 1728. Mar. 2d, Mehita- 
 ble Taylor, June 11, 1731,— she d. Nov. 15, 1739. Chil., William, b. Jan. 
 12, 1733— d. young; William, Jan. 1, 1733— d.; Mehitable, April 6, 1734. 
 Mar. 3d, Mary Allen, March 3, 1737; William, June 8, 1738; Samuel, 
 Aug. 27, 1743— d. March 3, 1760. 
 
 GAT. 
 
 John. m. Lydia Culver, Dec. 7, 1721. 
 
 Joseph, m. Abigail Thorp, Dec. 26, 1723— she d. May 10, 1730. Chil., 
 Simeon, b. July, 1724 ; Gideon, Nov. 14, 1727. 
 
 Samuei, m. 1st, Mary . Chil,, Abigail, b. Feb. 17, 1743— d.; 
 
 Joseph, July 3, 1744 ; Samuel, Nov. 1, 1747. Mar. 2d , and had 
 
 Betty, May 23, 1760 ; William, July 6, 1762 ; Asael, Jan. 9, 1755. 
 
 Samuel, m. Joanna . Chil., Elisha, b. June 12, 1717 ; Mary, Nov. 
 
 21, 1721 ; Hannah, Jan. 16, 1727. 
 
 GILLET. 
 
 John, m. Experience Dewey, Jan. 3, 1700. Chil., Experience, b. Aug. 
 18, 1701 ; John, Oct. 7, 1702 ; Gershom, June 26, 1711. 
 
 John, Je., m. Abigail Lee, Dec. 1, 1726. Child, Lucy, b. Oct. 11, 1728. 
 
 Cornelius, m. Deborah . Chil., Jonathan, b. July 5, 1716; 
 
 David, March 1, 1720. 
 
 Samuel, m. Mary Chappell, Jan. 30, 1718. 
 
 Nathaniel, m. Sarah . Chil., Nathaniel, b. Nov. 18, 1702; 
 
 Joseph, Oct. 11, 1704; Elijah, July 31, 1706; Jonathan, May 5, 1708; 
 Joshua, Dec. 26, 1710— d. 1711 ; Nathaniel, Sen. — d. July 10, 1714. 
 
 Ebenezer and Mary Ordway, m. Sept. 23, 1730. Child, Experience, b. 
 July 11, 1731. 
 
 Nathaniel, m. Sarah. 
 
 GOVE. 
 
 Child, Nathaniel, b. May 11, 1708. 
 GRAY. 
 
 Dr. Ebenezer, m. Mary . Chil., Samuel, b. April 6, 1721 ; John 
 
 Sept. 21, 1723; Mary, July 27, 1726— d. young; Mary, Nov. 11, 1728; 
 Lucy, June 8, 1730; Susanna and Elizabeth, twins, Dec. 11, 1733; Jona- 
 than, March 26, 1732; William, May 16, 1737 ; Esther, May 20, 1739. 
 
 Simeon, ni. Ann Hide (no date) ; be d. Nov. 13, 1742. Chil., Ann b, 
 July 29, 1732— d. ; Simeon, Oct. IS, 1733; Ann, June 25, 1735. 
 
 HATCH. 
 Moses, m. Mary Bliss Feb. 1, 1735. Chil., Joseph, b. March 14, 1740- 
 Mary, May 1, 1742 ; Bliphalet, Feb. 21, 1745 ; Peletiah, May 7, 1747. 
 
 HIDE— HYDE. 
 
 Capt. Caleb, m. Mary Blackman (no date). Chil., Caleb, b. Feb. 28 
 1724 — d. young ; Joshua, Feb. 7, 1727 ; Sarah, June, 1729 ; Mary, July 3 
 1731 ; Caleb, again, Aug. 1, 1735— d. young ; Eleonar, Dec. 22, 1736 — d. 
 young. Capt. Caleb d. March, 1764. 
 
 Ebenezer, m. Dorothy Throop, Feb. 25, 1729. Chil., Wm., b. April 8 
 
 1730; Ignatius, April ,30, 1731— d. young; Ebenezer, Sept. 10, 1732- 
 Deborah, Oct. 16, 1734; Elizabeth, Oct. 16, 1736- d. young; Ignatius 
 again, April 28, 1738 ; Elizabeth, again, March 14, 1740 ; Submit, Nov. 24 
 1742. (The father died Aug. 21, 1742.) 
 
 Samuel, m. Priscilla Bradford Jan. 14, 1725. Chil., Samuel, b. Oct. 24 
 1726; Anne, Oct. 22, 1727; Priscilla, d. young, and Sybil, twins, April 16 
 1731; Dan, May 7, 1733; Priscilla, again, June 4,1736; Hannah, July 
 19, 1738; Zerviah, Dec. 16, 1740; Abigail, Nov. 4, 1744. 
 
 HILL— HILLS. 
 
 Samuel, m. Hannah ; she d. March 17, 1777. Chil., Phebe, b. Dec. 10 
 1727— d. young; Joseph (no date); Hannah (no date); Eliab, March 9 
 1728; Samuel, .Inly 28, 1729; Lenura. June 4, 1731; Abner, Jan. 19 
 1733— d. young ; Abner, again, July 6, 1736 ; Darius, Aug. 28, 1729 ; Con- 
 sider, Sept. 7, 1741. 
 
 HINCKLEY. 
 
 Gershom, m. Mary Buel Oct. 29, 1712. He d. Nov. 24, 1774. She d. 
 Feb. 22, 1774. Chil., Bethia, b. Jan. 27, 1713 ; Mary, Dec. 7, 1714; Ann,' 
 Oct. 5, 1716 ; Gershom, Sept. 1, 1718 ; Jerusha, Dec. 29, 1720; Thankful 
 April 19, 1723 ; Ebenezer, March 17, 1726 ; Lois, Sept. 24, 1727 ; John, Feb. 
 10, 1730; Jarcd, Oct. 8, 1731 ; Charles, Oct. 11, 1734; Chloe, Nov. 9, 1736- 
 Lucy, March 19, 1738 ; Hannah, April 8, 1739. 
 
 HUNT. 
 
 Thomas, m. Mary . Chil., Clemence, b. Feb. 6, 1690 ; Elizabeth, 
 
 Oct. 20, 1692; Mary, Nov. 17, 1694; Thomas, April 8, 1697; Elizabethj 
 March 18, 1700 ; Hannah, Oct. 3, 1702 ; Gideon ; Jonathan (no 
 
 Chil., Gamaliel, b. March 26, 
 
 Thomas, m. Ruth Thacher Dec. 17, 1730. 
 1733. Thomas Hunt, d. April 24, 1735. 
 
 Gideon, m. Rebecca Ordway June 7, 1732. She died Jan. 20, 1744. 
 Mar. 2, Abigail Culver, Oct. 16, 1744. Chil., Samuel, (by first wife,) b. 
 Jan. 30, 1736 ; Dorothy, Feb. 28, 1738 ; Theodore, March 21, 1741— d. Deo. 
 3, 1747. By second wife— Rebecca, b. Dec. 31, 1745. 
 
 Jonathan, m. Ruth Cushman May 24, 1732. Chil., Huldah, b. Jan. 26, 
 1733 ; Vetta, July 15, 1735 ; Love, Nov. 26, 1738 ; Luther, Jan. 20, 1743 ; 
 Jasper, June 2, 1745; Sarah, July 11, 1747; Jonathan, Feb. 9, 1760; Theo- 
 dore, Jan. 17, 1756. 
 
 Stephen, m. Esther Janes June 18, 1730. Chil., Stephen, b. July 6, 
 1731 ; Esther, Jan. 29, 1733 ; Elijah, June 22, 1734; Lemuel, March 2, 
 1736 ; John, March 3, 1838— d. Jan. 3, 1743 ; Rachel, July 2, 1840 ; Eunice, 
 Feb. 11, 1743. 
 
 HUTCHINSON. 
 
 Chil., Experience, b. March 28, 1698; 
 
 Samuel, m. Sarah — 
 Martha, M.ay 17, 1701 ; Eleaser, March 21, 1704 ; Stephen, March 2, 1707; 
 Hannah, Sept. 14, 1709 ; Jeremiah, July 21, 1712. 
 
 Eleaser, m. Jemima July 15, 1726. Chil., Sarah, b. June 26, 
 
 1726; Anne, Jan. 17, 1728; Rebecka, March 17,1733; Eleaser, Feb. 19, 
 1736; Hannah, Feb. 8, 1737; Martha, Feb. 9, 1739; Samuel, Feb. 10, 
 1742; Lois, July 30, 1744; Jemima, March 15, 1731. 
 
 Stephen, m. Esther Terry Feb. 19, 1730. Chil., James, b. Nov. 26, 
 1731 ; Stephen, Nov. 15, 1733 ; Paul, April 18, 1730 ; John, Dec. 6, 1737 ; 
 Huldah, June 14, 1741 ; Esther, March 27, 1744 ; Sarah, Oct. 29, 1747. 
 
 John, m. Hannah . Chil., Moses, b. Feb. 2, 1700 ; Aaron, April 
 
 4, 1702— d. 1719 ; Mary, July 13, 1705. The father d. Dec. 2, 1719. 
 
 John, m. Hephsiba Wasbburne Oct. 29, 1708. Chil., Margaret, b. April 
 18,1710; John, Feb. 17, 1712; Timothy (no date). John, sen., d. Feb. 9, 
 1727, aged 42 years. 
 
 John, m. Temperance Cogswell Nov. 10, 1737. Chil., Temperance, b. 
 May 10, 1740 ; John, May 2, 1742 ; Ann, Nov. 5, 1738. 
 
 Samuel, m. Thankful Stedman March 25, 1715. Chil., Samuel, b. Dec. 
 26, 1719; Daniel, July 24, 1721 ; Ezra, Nov. 2, 1726; Solomon, Sept. 26, 
 1730. The family numerous and prominent, and remained here down 
 to a recent date. 
 
 HUNTINGTON. 
 
 Lieut. Samuel, m. Mary . Chil., Sarah, b. Oct. 22, 1701 ; John, 
 
 May 17, 1706 ; Simon, Aug. 15, 1708. Lieut. Samuel d. May 10, 1717. His 
 wife d. Oct. 6, 1743. 
 
 Samuel, m. Hannah Metcalf, Dec. 4, 1722. Chil., Samuel, b. Oct. 16, 
 1723 ; Mary, June 1, 1726 ; Zerviah, July 23, 1727 ; Oliver, April 15, 1729; 
 William, Aug. 12, 1731— d. young ; William, Aug. 2, 1732; Sybil, Feb. 6, 
 1835; Eliphalet, April 14, 1737; Jonathan, March 19, 1741; Eleazer, 
 May 9, 1744; Josiah, Nov. 5, 1746. 
 
 JANES. 
 Jonathan, m. Irene Bradford, March 18, 1736. Had large family. 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 513 
 
 JOHNSON. 
 Maverick, m. Bathsheba Janea Oct. 1, 1730. Had a numerous family. 
 
 KINGSLEY. 
 
 Eld*d, m. Prisdlla . CUil., Mary, b. March 6, 1744; Nathan, 
 
 Sept. 20, 1747 ; Lydia, June 6, 1753. 
 
 LEE. 
 
 Stephen, m. Elizabeth . Ohil., Elizabeth, b. Aug. 16, 1698 ; Ste- 
 phen, Dec. 19, 1700 ; Abigail, Feb. 27, 1704; Ann, June 26, 1706 ; Asahel, 
 Dec. 8, 1708; Rachel, April 16, 1711 ; Mary Dec. 19, 1713. Stephen 
 Leo, Sen., d. Sept. 5, 1725. 
 
 Stephen, Je., m. Mary Bentley May 20, 1726. Chil., Deborah, b. March 
 8, 1726 ; Elizabeth, Dec. 31, 1727; Lois, March 7,1732— d. 1765 ; ■William, 
 Feb. 22, 1735— a. 1766 ; Nathan, Aug. 23, 1738 ; Ezra, May 9, 1743 ; Ann, 
 July 12, 1745— d. young; Stephen, March 2, 1730. Mary, wife of Ste- 
 phen Lee, d. Nov. 25, 1755. 
 
 AsAHEL, m. Hannah . Chil., Desire, b. Aug. 21, 1731 ; John, Jan. 
 
 8, 1734. 
 
 Samuel, m. Mehitable Baldwin (no date). Chil., Israel, b. Oct. 21, 
 1720; Samuel, Sept. 11, 1728. 
 
 Daniel, m. Eunice Serl of Northampton, 1739. 
 
 Israel, m. Dorothy Tracey, Dec. 7, 1743. Chil., Israel, b. Dec. 25, 1744 ; 
 Solomon, March 29, 1747 ; Jerusha, May 23, 1749 ; Mehitabel, Nov. 10, 
 1751 ; Dorothy, April 3, 1756 : Dan, July 13, 1752 ; Sarah, June 8, 1761. 
 
 LOOMIS. 
 
 There were many early settlers in Lebanon of this name, but they 
 were each directly descended from Thomas Loomis, who settled in Wind- 
 sor, Conn., 1639. 
 
 Zachariah, b. 1681, (son of Dea. John of Windsor,) m. Joanna Abel, 
 1707 ; had 3 sons, Zechariah, b. 1712 — d. young ; Ebenezer, 1720 ; Zecha- 
 riah again, 1726; and 7 dans., Joanna, 1708; Margaret, 1710, m. Dea. 
 Daniel Rockwell, 1733; Abigail, 1715; Joanna, 1718; Elizabeth, 1722; 
 Zerviah, 1724 ; Ruth, 1729, m. Elijah Strong, 1756. He d. in Lebanon, 
 1751. 
 
 Zachariah, Jr., born 1726, (son of above,) m. Huldah Jones, 1761 ; 
 had 3 sons, Israel, b. 1764, m. Sarah Adams, 1778 ; was soldier in Revo- 
 lutionary war; Ebenezer, 1763, m. Eunice Bowen, 1786; Zechariah, 3d, 
 1770, m. Esther French, 1793, m. 2d, Sarah Stanton, 1811. They had 
 also 6 dans, viz. : Lydia, b. 1761, m. Asa Perkins; Huldah, 1756, m. 
 Epbraim Cook ; Joanna, 1758, m. Abiathar Lyman, 1782 ; Lois, 1761, m. 
 
 Asa Perkins, above, 1800; Eunice, 1761, m. Jas. Cook; Abigail, b. , 
 
 m, Buck. Zachariah, Jr., died in Andover, 1797. 
 
 Ebenezer, b. 1720, (son of Zechariah, Sen., above,) m. Hannah Snow, 
 1751 ; had 2 sons, viz. : Ebenezer, 1852 ; Samuel, 1767 — both d. young ; 
 and one dau., Hannah, 1754, who was living 1762. He d. in Lebanon, 
 1769. 
 
 EzEKlEL, b. 1683 (son of Dea. John of Windsor,) m. Mary Temple, 
 1715; had 5 sons, viz. : Ezekiel, Jr., b. 1716; Abraham, 1721; Phinehas, 
 1723 ; Elijah, 1725 ; Ezrah, 1726 ; had also 2 daus., Mary, b. 1717, m. Elijah 
 Fitch, 1742; Zerviah, 1728. He d. in Lebanon, 1756. 
 
 Ezekiel, Jr., b. 1716 (son of above), m. Elizabeth Colton of Spring- 
 field, 1743— d. 1766— and had 6 sons, viz. ; Ezekiel, 3d, b. 1746, was living 
 in 1768 ; Abuer, 1748, was living in 1768 ; Asa, 1750, m. Mary Stanton — 
 he died in Columbia, 1806 ; Jonathan, 1752; Jesse, 1753, m. Lydia Bar- 
 stow, 1780, and soon after removed to Vermont, and d. there in 1839; 
 Solomon, prob. removed to Windham. Ezekiel, Jr., had no daughters. 
 He d. in Lebanon, 1766. 
 
 Abraham, b. 1721 — d. in Leb. 1791, (son of Ezekiel,) m. Hannah , 
 
 had 2 sons and 2 dans., viz. : Mary, b. 1749, m. Joseph Loomis ; Nathan, 
 
 1760, m. Phebe Freeman — he d. in Columbia, 1824; Lois, 1753, m. 
 
 Salard ; Abraham, Jr., 1767, m. Ruth Allen, and d. in Lebanon, 1822. 
 
 Phinehas, b. 1723, (son of Ezekiel,) had, as supposed, 1 child only, 
 viz.: Phinehas, Jr., b. 1771, m. Lucy Weldon. He d. in Salisbury, 1850. 
 
 Elijah, b. 1726 — d. in Lebanon, 1809, (son of Ezekiel,) m. Elizabeth 
 Throop, 1751, had 2 sons and 3 daus., viz. : Elijah, Jr., b. 1763 ; Alex- 
 ander, 1769, m. Eunice Hartshorn ; removed to Chazy, N. Y., and dl 
 there, 1834; Rebecca, 1776, never m. ; Zerviah, 1778 — d. young; Susan- 
 nah, 1781. 
 
 Ezra, b. 1726, (son of Ezekiel,) m. Rachel Talcott, 1767, had 6 children, 
 but removed to Vernon, Conn. 
 
 John, Jr., b. 1692, (son of Dea. John of Windsor,) came early to Leb- 
 anon, but probably removed to Andover in 1747 ; had 1 son, John, 3d, b. 
 in Lebanon, 1712. 
 
 John, 3d, above, b. 1712, m. Mindwell, 1732, and d. in Lebanon, 1756 ; 
 had 3 sons and 3 daus., viz. ; John, 4th, b. 1733, was living in 1765 ; Anne, 
 
 1735 ; Mindwell, 1737 ; David, 1738, m. Judy Britton, 1760, and d. in Au- 
 relius, N. Y., 1806; Mary, 1742; Daniel, 1747, m. Hannah Wolcott; re- 
 moved 1787 to Scipio, N. Y. 
 
 Joseph, b. 1684, (son of Joseph of Windsor,) m. Sarah Bissell, 1708; 
 had 4 chil., viz.: Sarah, b. 1708; Lieut. Joseph, 1710; Daniel, 1713; 
 Benoni, 1715. 
 
 Lieut. Joseph, above, b. 1710, m. 1st, Sarah Woodward. 1736 ; m. 2d, 
 Abigail Clark, 1738; had 4 sons and 7 daus., viz.: Sarah, b. 1736, m. Jo- 
 siah Webster; Joseph, 3d, 1741, m. 1st, Mary Loomis; ra. 2d, Catharine 
 
 Allen, and d. 1820; Elvira, 1743, m. Huntington; Abigail, 1745, m. 
 
 Jordan Post, 1766; Rhoda, 1747 ; Azubah, 1749, m. Henry Bliss; Irene, 
 1751 ; William, 1763, killed in battle of Bunker Hill ; Simon, 1756, m. 
 Martha Buckingham, 1799; soldier of Rev. war; removed to German 
 Flats, 1812; Jerome, 1757, m. Elizabeth Tippets, 1798; soldier of Rev. 
 war; removed to Geneva, N. Y.; Snrah, Sept. 12, 1759, m. Samuel Bliss. 
 
 Benoni, b. 1716, (bro. of Lieut. Joseph, above,) m. Hannah Woodward, 
 
 1736 ; had 6 sons and 3 dans., viz, ; Daniel, b. 1736, m. Eunice Lyman, 
 
 1762; Asahel, 1738, m. Mary Sims, 1763; Hannah, 1741, m. 
 
 Smalley ; Joel, 1744, m. Jemima Selden ; Reuben, 1746, m. Zareah , 
 
 removed to Vermont; Beuoni, Jr., 1749, m. 1st, Grace Parsons, 1781; m. 
 2d, Esther Crocker, and d. 181 1 ; Phebe, 1751— d. before 1783 ; Ruth, 1764, 
 ni. Joel Wright, 1777. 
 
 Ens. John, b. 1681, (son of Thomas of Hatfield, Mass.,) came early to 
 Lebanon; m. 1st, Martha Osborn in 1706; m. 2d, Ann Lyman, 1726— d. 
 in Lebanon, 1755 ; had 4 sons and 3 daus., viz.: John, Jr., b. 1709 — d. 
 1726; Martha, 1712, m. Ebenezer Brown; Israel, 1716; Timothy, 1718; 
 Jonathan, 1722; Sarah.l726—d. young ; Ann, 1727— d. young. 
 
 Israel, b. 1716, (son of Ensign John, above,) m. 1st, Esther Hunt, 
 1737 ; m. 2d, Mary Holbrook, 1743 ; m. 3d, Mary Marsh, 1747. He d. in 
 Lebanon, 1801; had 7 sons and 3 daus., viz.: John, b. 1733— d. young; 
 Daniel, 1739, m. Mary Sprague, 1762, and d. in Coventry, 1807; Israel, 
 Jr., 1722, m. Rebecca Bingham, 1765, and d. in Lebanon, 1825; Esther, 
 
 174S, m. Eleazer Bingham ; Maiy, 1749, m. Babcock; John,1761, 
 
 m. 1st, Elizabeth Tilden, 1773, m. 2d, Mary , was a soldier in Rev. 
 
 war, and d. in Lebanon, 1841; Rhoda, 1743, ni. Eleazer Manning; Jacob, 
 1755, m. Lucy McCall, was also a soldier of Rev. war, and d. in Leb- 
 anon, 18.15 ; Isaiah, 1758, m. 1st, Sybil Pryor, 1781, m. 2d, Mrs. Sarah 
 Gager, 1817, was also soldier of Rev. war, and d. in Lebauon, 1841 ; Si- 
 mon, 1760, m. Sarah Holbrook, 1783, was also soldier of Rev, war, and d. 
 in Lebanon, 1841. 
 
 Timothy, b. 1718, (son of Ensign John, above,) m. Ann Taylor. He d. 
 in Lebanon, 1785; had 4 sons (no dau.,) viz.: Joseph, b. 1745 — d. 1766; 
 Elihn, 1748, m, Rebecca Terry; bed. In Lebanon, 1820; Timothy, Jr., 
 1762, m, Mary Ortou ; was a soldier in Rev. war, and d. in Jordonville, 
 N. Y., 1838. 
 
 Dan, 1768, m. Sarah Field, 1774. Was also soldier of Kev. war, and d. . 
 1841, in Coventry, Conn. 
 
 Jonathan, b. 1722, (son of Ensign John,) m. , and d. in 
 
 Lebanon, 1786. Had one son and two daughters, viz. : John, b. 1745, m. 
 Irene Lilly, and d. in Leb., 1791; Lydia, 1749, m. Abijah Babcock; 
 Rhoda, 1762, m. Porter. 
 
 Thomas, b. 1684, (son of Thomas of Hatfield,) m. Ist, Elizabeth Fow- 
 ler, 1713, 2d, Hannah Hunt, 1743, and d.iii Leb., 1765; had one son only, 
 viz., Lieut, Thomas, Jr., 1714. 
 
 LiEDT. Thomas, Jr., b. in Leb., 1714, (son of above,) m. Susanna Clark, 
 17:)4, and d. in Leb,, 1792. Had seven sons and four daughters, viz.: 
 Elizabeth, b, 17:J5—d. young; Joseph, 1737— d, young; Isaiah, 1740— d. 
 
 young; Elizabeth again, 1741— m, Payne: Joseph again, 1743, m. 
 
 1st, Lydia Bosworth, 1763, m. 2d, Ruth Bingham, 1787; was a soldier of 
 
 Rev. war, and died in Leb,, 1811 ; Susannah, 174.1, m. Aaron 
 
 Throop; Abijah, 1747, m. Williams; Capt. Isaiah, 1749, m. Abi- 
 gail Williams, 1774; was also soldier of Rev, war, and d, in Lebanon, 
 1834; Amos, 1752— d. young; Desire, 1754, m. Dea. .John Bartlett of East 
 Windsor; Thomas, 3d, 1766, m. Mary Williams, 1777 ; was also a soldier 
 in Rev. war; removed to Hartwick, N. Y., in 1797, and d. in 1842. 
 
 Ephraim, b. 1698, (son of Josiah of Windsor,) m. Mary Tuttle. Had 
 two sons, viz.: Benajah, b. in Leb., 1719, d. 1738; Ephraim, Jr., 1727, m. 
 Hannah , and had one son, Benajah, b. in Leb,, 1747, who prob- 
 ably left no child, 
 
 LYMAN, 
 
 Richard, b. in Windsor, 1647, m. Elisabeth Coles of Hatfield, Mass. 
 Resided in Northampton until 1690, when he removed to Lebanon ; d. 
 Nov. 4, 1708. Chil,, Samuel, b. April, 1676; Richard, April, 1678, d. 
 1745; John, July 6,1680; Isaac, Feb. 20, 1682; Lieut. Jonathan, Jan. 
 
 1, 1684, d. Aug. 11, 1753; Elisabeth, March 26, 1686, m. Smith.; 
 
 David, Nov. 28, 1688 ; Josiah, Feb. 6, 1690, d. 1760; Ann (no date), in 
 
514 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Lebanon, the rest in Northampton ; Ricliard, Jr., John, and Jonathan 
 settled in Lebanon. The descendants of Eiohard, Jr., resided chiefly 
 in "the Crank," now Columbia. 
 
 Lieut. Jonathan, m. Lydia Looniis, who d, July 10, 1775 ; he d. 1753. 
 Chil., Jonathan, b. Sept. 19, 1708— d. early; Lydia, Nov. 23, 1709, m. 
 Thomas Webster, Aug. 17, 1Y27; Jonathan, April 23, 1712 ; Sarah, Jan. 
 24, 1713, m. William Hunt, Dec, 19, 1734; Hannah, Feb. 16, 1715; Jo- 
 seph, July 3, 1718; Jacob and Kachol, twins, May i, 1721; (Jacob m. 
 Mehitabel Burhel, June 26, 174S; Kachel m. Edmund Grandy, May 15, 
 1745 ;) Zerviah, April 14, 1723, m. Samuel Bushnell, Oct. 6, 1743 ; Elijah, 
 July 21, 1727, m. Esther Clark, Dec. 14, 1749; Ann, Jan. 28, 1731, m. 
 Isaiah Tiffany, May 19, 1748. 
 
 MARSH. 
 
 Joseph, m. Hannah. Chil., Hannah, b. Nov. 9, 1704; Peletiah, Dec. 8, 
 1707; Joseph, Dec. 5, 1709; Jonathan, Sept. 23, 1713. 
 
 Peletiah, m. Mary Moore of Southold, May 10, 1731. Chil., Peletiah, 
 b. April 14, 1732 ; Mary, Dec. 22, 1733 ; Lucy, Feb. 14, 1736 ; Isaiah, Feb. 
 31, 1738; Silas, March 3, 1740 : Jesse, Sept. 8, 1743; another March 31, 
 1746. 
 
 Jonathan (son. of Joseph, Sen.), m. Alice Newcomb (no date). Chil., 
 Elisabeth, b. July 26, 1735; Hannah, Nov. 20, 1736; John, March 10, 
 1739; Abraham, May 31, 1742; Joel, June 1,1745; Zebalon and Sarah 
 (twins). May 12, 1748. Alice, wife of Jonathan, d. (no date). He m. 2d, 
 Kesiah Phelps, Dec. 4, 1762. Child, Alice, b. Oct. 11, 1753. 
 
 Joseph, m. Dorothy Mason, Jan. 10, 1750. Chil., Lydia, Nov. 5, 1760 ; 
 Dorothy, April 23, 1752; Rhoda, July 20, 1764. From tliis family was 
 Hon. Charles Marsh, M.C., and George P. Marsh, author, and minister 
 to Rome. 
 
 MARTIN. 
 
 Thomas, m. Ann Clark, Aug. 19, 1744. Chil., David and Jonathan 
 (twins), b. Aug. 25, 1745 ; Ann, May 8, 1747 ; Molley, Oct. 27, 1750. 
 
 MACKALL— McCALL. 
 
 James, m. Hannah . Chil., Archippus, b. Aug. 9, 1723. 
 
 Benajah, m. Hannah Otis, Nov. 6, 1735. Chil., Faith, b. Feb. 12, 1737, 
 m. Asa Harris, July 23, 1761 ; Nathaniel, Sept. 26, 1740 ; Delight, March 
 19, 1744. 
 
 MASON. 
 
 Samuel, b. 1644, d. 1705, at Stonington ; never settled here. He was 
 son of Maj. John. 
 
 Capt. John (grandson of Maj. John), b. 1693, in Norwich; active in 
 the Mohegan controversy. 
 
 Lieut. Daniel (3d son of Maj. John), b. April, 1652, d. in Stonington, 
 Jan. 28, 1737 — schoolmaster — m. 2d wife, Rebecca Hobert of Hingham, 
 dau. of Rev. Jeremiah. Lt. Daniel is ancestor of the Lebanon family. 
 
 Daniel (oldest son of Lt. Daniel), m. Dorothy Hobert, settled in Leba- 
 non, and d. there July 4, 1706, leaving one child, viz. : 
 
 Jeremiah, the first Jeremiah of Lebanon, had son, viz: 
 
 Jeeemiaii, Jr., who settled in Goshen Society, and had Daniel, who 
 settled in Lebanon. Jeremiah 3d, U.S. Senator, New Hampshire, and 
 afterwards renowned lawyer of Boston, and Fitch, who also settled in 
 Lebanon, near Franklin line. 
 
 MUDGB. 
 
 Ebenezer (prob. son of Michael the proprietor), m. Abigail Skinner, 
 Jan. 13, 1709. Chil., Ebenezer, Oct. 23, 1709; Mary, March 30, 1711; 
 Kuth, Feb. 2, 1711. (7) 
 
 Thankful, m. William Nichols, July 19, 1714. 
 
 Martha, m. Isaac Tilden, Dec. 30, 1714. (This is all relating to this 
 family.) 
 
 NEWCOMB. 
 
 Simon, came from Martha's Vineyard to Lebanon, in 1713, and died 
 here, Jan. 20, 1746. He ni. Deborah about 1687, who d. June 17, 1756; 
 Chil., John, b. about 1089— m. Alice Lambert; Thomas, 1692 — m. 1st, 
 Eunice Manning, m. 2d, Judith Woodworth ; Chil., Hezekiah, 1694, m. 
 1st, Jeriisha Bradford, ni. 2d, Hannah ; Obadiah, 1696, m. 1st, Abi- 
 gail , m. 2d, Mrs. Mary Post; Deborah, 1697, m. Capt. Timothy 
 
 Hatch— lived in Tolland; Kent, ■, Sarah, about 1698, m. Jan. 13, 
 
 1720, Ebenezer Nye— one of the first settlers of Tolland; Benjamin, b. 
 about 1700, m. Hannah Clark ; Elizabeth, b. 1702, m. Ebenezer Wright, 
 April 20, 1721— d. at Windham, Jan. 13, 1727 ; Simon, about 1705, m. 1st, 
 Jerusha Lathrop, m. 2d, Jane Worth. 
 
 Thomas, resided in Lebanon from 1714 to 1734, when he removed to 
 Salisbury. 
 
 John, lived in Columbia, became the first deacon of the church when 
 organized, 1718. Hezekiah lived and died in Lebanon— a large land- 
 holder. 
 
 OWEN. 
 Moses, m. Hannah Man, Feb. 4, 1714. Chil., Daniel, b. Nov. 6, 1714; 
 Hannah, Nov. 16, 1718; Bleazer, Jan. 24, 1721; Bathsheba, June 13, 
 1728, d. June 4, 1732; Timothy, April 18, 1731. 
 
 PARTRIDGE. 
 
 Births on record as follows: — Joseph Wm., Feb, 10, 1759; Benjn. 
 March 30, 1761; Annie Bhuhama, Sept. 11, 1766; Guido Sus&ignanus, 
 Apl. 1769. (No parents named.) 
 
 PAYNE. 
 Benjamin, m. Mary Brewster, Oct. 19, 1726— he d. Jan. 14, 1755. Chil., 
 Benjamin, Maich 4, 1728; Mary, Jan. 20, 1730; Lydia, Nov. 6, 1731; 
 Stephen, June 26, 1735; Dan, April 10, 1737; Hannah, June 25, 1739; 
 Selh, Sept. 1, 1742; Sarah, March 22, 1745. 
 
 PHELPS. 
 
 Benjamin, m. Deborah Temple, Oct. 26, 1708. Chil., Deborah, Oct. 23, 
 1709. 
 
 Joseph, m. Sarah Curtice, Nov. 17, 1708. Chil., Joseph, b. Aug. 5, 1709; 
 Sarah, July 23, 1711 ; Aaron, Oct. 12, 1713 ; Abigail, Feb. 17, 1716 ; Eunice, 
 Aug. 16, 1720 ; Miriam, Sept. 1718 ; Moses, March 6, 1722 ; David, Jan. 21, 
 1724— d. May 31, 1747; Esther, Sept. 23, 1725— d. March 22, 1734; Na- 
 thaniel, Dec. 19, 1726; iiesiah, Feb. 26, 1728; Mary, May 31, 1729; Sub- 
 mit, May 16, 1734. 
 
 This family was numerous. 
 
 PINNED. 
 
 James, m. Dorothy . Chil , Submit, b. Oct. 19, 1717 ; Joseph, June 
 
 14, 1720; Peter, May 4, 1723; Dorothy, Dec. 6, 1725. 
 
 James, m. PrisciUa Newcomb, June 16, 1731. Chil., Ann, b. May 15, 
 1732 ; James, April 6, 1734 ; Joyce, April 3, 1736 ; Elizabeth, Oct. 7, 1738 ; 
 Lydia, Jan. 30, 1740 ; Joseph, March 15, 1743. 
 
 PITCHER. 
 Samuel, m. Elisabeth. Chil., Samuel, b. March 17, 1712. 
 
 POMBROT. 
 Joseph, m. Hannah. Chi. Noah, b. May 18, 1700. 
 Daniel, m. Naomi Phelps, Oct. 19, 1749. Chil., Daniel, b. Aug. 3, 1760; 
 Eleazer, Oct. 24, 1752 ; Elizabeth, May 10, 1765. No further record. 
 
 PORTER. 
 
 Nathaniel, m. Mehitabel Buel, Nov. 18, 1701. 1 chi., Nathaniel, b. 
 April 24, 1704. 
 
 Thomas, m. Ist, Thankfull Badcock, Nov. 13, 1707. Chil., Mary, b. Oct. 
 
 10, 1708 ; Mary, Nov. 16, 1710 ; m. 2d, Elizabeth , and had Elisabeth, 
 
 Deo. 20, 1721; Thomas, Sept. 16, 1723; Samuel, Aug. 3, 1725; Sai-ah, 
 March 25, 1727; William, Dec. 13, 1728; Mary, June 18,1731; Bethia, 
 July 29, 1734 ; Nathan, Feb. 15, 1736 ; Elijah, Oct. 12, 1738. This family 
 numerous, and now represented here. 
 
 ROBINSON. 
 
 John, Jr., m. Thankfull Hinckley, Jan. 17, 1743. Chil., Samuel, b. .Tan. 
 22, 1744; Hannah, April 1, 1746; Samuel, June 17, 1762; John, Nov. 12, 
 1753. 
 
 Benjamin, m. Jerusha . Chil., J erusha, b. Aug. 8, 1746 ; Benjamin, 
 
 April 24, 1749. 
 
 RICHARDSON. 
 
 Ebenezer, m. Elizabeth Kendrick, Jan. 14, 1718— d. May 12, 1766. 
 Chil., Abigail, b. Nov. 6, 1718; Ebenezer, Aug. 26, 1720; John, Aug. 17, 
 1722; Sarah, May 29, 1724; Elisabeth, June 16,1726; Esther, April 26, 
 1728 ; Margaret, April 9, 1732 ; Elieser, June 2, 1734. 
 
 ROOT. 
 
 Thomas, had a home-lot, m. Sariih . Chil., Hannah, b. May 12, 
 
 1699 ; Mary, Feb. 14, 1701 ; Thomas, Dec. 13, 1705 : Martha, Feb. 11, 1708; 
 Experience, Jan. 10, 1711. 
 
 Thomas, Jr., m. Hannah . Chil,, Elieser, Jan. 28, 1730; Hannah, 
 
 July 10, 1731. No further record. 
 
 SMALLBY. 
 
 Benjamin, m. Ist, Rebecka Wright, (no date)— she d. July 3, 1726. 
 
 Chil., Benjamin, b. Oct. 26,1724; Rebecka, June 26,1726; m. 2d, Mary 
 
 , and had Mercy, b. July 27, 1728 ; Samuel, April 13, 1732 ; John, 
 
 May 24, 1734; Phebe, May 16, 1736. 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 515 
 
 SMITH. 
 
 Philip, m. Mary. Chi., Sam\iel, b. Dec. 10, 1701. 
 
 Matthew, dj. Mary Lyman, March 22, 1732. Chil., Mary, b. Jan. 21, 
 1733; Hannah, July 31, 1734; Matthew, Not. 3, 1736. 
 
 George, m. Elizabeth Lyman, June 27, 1716. Chil., Joseph, b. Jnly 10, 
 1718; Elizabeth, Sept. 30, 1719 ; George, May 13, 1724. 
 
 John, m. Abigail . Chil., Abigail, b. June 22, 1706 ; Mary, May 13, 
 
 1710. 
 
 Joseph, m. Mary Websler, June 4, 1740. Chil., Elizabeth, b. Oct. 14, 
 1742; Mary, June 4, 1744; Elisha, March 26, 1746. 
 
 SPAFFOED. 
 
 Chil., Samuel, b. Nov. 1, 1718 ; Sarah, May 
 
 Thomas, m. Bethiah 
 13, 1723. 
 
 Amos, m. Hannah Yeach, Jan. 4, 1723. Chil., Elizabeth, b. Feb. 20, 
 1T34— a. 1752 ; Sarah, Jan. 13, 1736; Mary, April 3, 1738 ; Andrew, March 
 -22, 1743. 
 
 SPRAGCB. 
 
 Benjamin, m. 1st, Mary Woodworth, Dec. 29, 1707. Chil., John, b. 
 :Sept. 6, 1709; Eliakim, Oct. 10, 1711; Mary, March 5, 1713; William, 
 Sept. 29,1716; Phineas, Sept. 6, 1717; Jerusha, Oct. 2, 1720; Benjamin 
 June 6, 1725. He m. 2d, wid. Abigail Tisdale of Taunton (who had pre- 
 ■TiouBly two children, Elkana and Elijah Tisdale), and had Silas, Jan. 3, 
 1727; Abigail, Nov. 23, 1729; Elkanah, Jan. 25,1732; Minor, March 5, 
 1734 ; Lydia, March 20, 1736 ; Esther, March 3, 1738 ; Mary, Sept. 10, 1740. 
 
 John, m. Ist, Mary Badcock, Feb. 22, 1711. Chil., Ebenezer, b. Dec. 
 12, 1711 ; Hannah, June 30, 1714 ; Jonathan, April 30, 1716 ; m. 2d, Han- 
 
 ■nah , and had John, Jnly 22, 1723— d. Jan. 13, 1733 ; Thomas, May 
 
 ■S, 1726 ; Huldah, April 15, 1734; Bachel, Aug. 9, 1737. 
 
 Ephbaim, m. Deborah . , (no date). Chil., Peres, b. July 22, 1705; 
 
 Peleg, May 15, 1707 ; Ephraim, March 13, 1709 ; Deborah, April 2, 1712 : 
 3etty, Oct. 28, 1714; Irene, Feb. 9, 1717 ; Mary, Dec. 20, 1721— d. young; 
 Jttary again, March 18, 1725. 
 
 Family numerous, down at least to 1770. 
 
 STRONG. 
 Jehediah, b. Aug. 7, 1667, m. Abiah Ingersoll, Nov. 8, 1688 ; a farmer 
 .at Northampton, Mass., moved to Lebanon, Aug. 24, 1696, when there 
 were but four white families here ; was killed by Indians at Wood Creek, 
 N. T., near Albany, Oct. 12, 1709, aged 42. She d. Nov. 20, 1732, age 69. 
 ■Chil., Azariah, b. Oct. 7, 1689— d. young; Stephen. Nov. 24, 1690— d. at 
 Lebanon, Eeb. 2, 1786, age 94; David, June 19, 169.3— d. 1712 ; Eleazer, 
 Sept. 7, 1695— d. 1780 ; Supply, Oct. 10, 1697— d. in Hebron ; Lieut. Jcde- 
 •diah, Jan. 15, 1700; Ezra, March, 1702: Freedom, May 16, 1704, m. John 
 Bnel. 
 
 SULLAED. 
 
 Joseph, m. Mehitable Ball, Bee. 24, 1735. Chil., Mary, h. March 22, 
 1736; Mary again, Sept. 14, 1744; Mehitabel, June 13,1746; Azubah, 
 May 31, 1748 ; Submit, May 31, 1760 ; Joseph, Feb. 3, 1766. 
 
 SWEETLAND. 
 
 John, m. Sarah . Chil., John, b. Feb. 5, 1708 ; Joseph, April 3, 
 
 1710; Benjamin, Feb. 22, 1712; Rowland, April 7, 1715; Luke, March 
 -M, 1717; Sarah, Feb. 20, 1719; Ebenezer, Feb. 21, 1721 ; William, Feb. 
 11, 1723 ; Agnes, Oct. 13, 1726 ; Jerusha, Deo. 12, 1727 ; Luke, June 16, 
 1729; Mary, May 15,1733. Family numerous here and in Columbia; 
 ileft about 1775. 
 
 TIFFANY. 
 
 Isaiah, Je., m. Ann Lyman, May 19, 1748. Chil., Ann, b. March 29, 
 1749— d. infant; Isaiah, May 29, 1751; Asa, April 14, 1753. 
 
 John, m. Mary Meacham, May 5, 1748. Chil., Edward, b. Jan. 30, 1749 
 — d. young; Edward, June 24,1750; John, Jan. 8,1753 — d. young; John, 
 April 3, 1755; Elisabeth, Dec. 26, 1756; Isaiah, Feb. 16, 1769; Mary, 
 March 27, 1761 ; Lucinda, Jan. 17, 1764 ; Alpame, May 24, 1764. 
 
 TILDEN. 
 
 Isaac, m. 1st, Martha Mudge, Deo. 30, 1714. Chil., Isaac, b. Sept. 20, 
 1715; m. 2d, Rebecca Man, June 14, 1716. Chil., Rebecca, b. March 7, 
 1717; Jonathan, April 21,1719; Judith, Aug. 2, 1721; Martha, Oct. 12, 
 1723; Mercy, Aug. 15, 1725; John, .Tan. 28, 1729. 
 
 Stephen, Sen., m. Ist, Sarah Root, March 5, 1712 ; m. 2d, Mary Powel, 
 May 31, 1716 ; had Zerviah, who d. 1732, and evidently other children 
 'Whose births are not recorded. 
 
 Stephen, Jr., probably son of Stephen above-, m. Abigail Richardson, 
 .April 23, 1749. Chil., Abigail, b. May 19, 1751 ; Stephen, March 19, 1753; 
 Rhoda, July 18, 1765.; Joshua, April 19,1757; Josiah, April 19, 1760; 
 iBnther, May 16, 1762. 
 
 Joseph, m. 1st Elizabeth Brewster, Nov. 11, 1744— one child, Zerviah, 
 b. Sept. 30, 1745; m. 2d, Elizabeth White, June 14, 1750, and had Eliza- 
 beth, b. Nov. 9, 1752 ; Chloe, Oct. 19, 1764 ; Ebenezer, Dec. 19, 1767. 
 
 A Joseph bought land here in 1700; Isaac, in 1709; and Stephen, in 
 1710; (was here in 1708)— may have been brothers; Isaac and Joseph 
 came from Plymouth Colony. Hon. Daniel Rose Tisdale, b. in Lebanon, 
 late M.C. from Ohio, descended from Stephen and Sarah Root, above, 
 and Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, ex-Governor of New York, and late Presi- 
 dential candidate, is also from the Lebanon stock. 
 
 TERRY. 
 
 Dea. Ephkaim, m. Hannah . Chil., Samuel, b. July 21, 1709; 
 
 Ann, Sept. 2, 1710. Dea. Terry d. Dec. 7, 1760, in 90th year of his age. 
 
 Ephraim, Jr., m. Deborah Bailey, Jan. 18, 1728. She d. Aug. 2, 1759. 
 Chil., Elisabeth, b. Sept. 27, 1729 ; Ephraim, Nov. 4, 1731 ; Deborah, July 
 2,1734; Dan— d. young; Mary, Feb. 24, 1739; Esther, May 8,1741 ; Dan, 
 Aug. 2, 1743 ; Christiana, Aug. 10, 1745. 
 
 THATCHER. 
 
 Thomas, m. Mary Dean, Nov. 16, 1704. Chil., Ehodolphus, b. Aug, 
 1709, d. Jan., 1728; Ruth, Feb. 18, 1712; Partridge, Aug., 1714 ; Mary, 
 April 12, 1717 ; Ann, March 29, 1720. 
 
 Peter, m. Abigail Hibberd (no date). Chil., Peter, b. April 28, 1717, 
 d. Aug. 24, 1767 ; John, Aug. 9, 1719, d. April 3, 1739 ; Lydia, Dec. 7, 1720 ; 
 Joseph, Oct. 11, 1722— d. May 13, 1761 ; Abigail, June 20, 1726 ; Ruth, May 
 
 1, 1727; Ehodolphus, April 2, 1729— d. Oct. 12, 1740; Samuel, 1731; Jo- 
 siah, July 8, 173S ; Jared, March 5, 1736 ; Ebenezer, April 2, 1738— d. Oct. 
 
 2, 1740; John, Feb. 22, 1740; Ehodolphus, March 12, 1742. The family 
 continued here until near 1808. Prof. Thomas A., of Yale College, is of 
 this family. 
 
 THOMAS. 
 
 Joseph, m. Mary . Chil., Elizabeth, b. Sept. 1, 1698; Experience, 
 
 March 23, 1701. He probably m. 2d wife, Elizabeth, and had Abigail, b. 
 Oct. 20, 1706; Ruth, Jan. 26, 1708; Eachel, March 9, 1710; Joseph, Sept. 
 12, 1713 ; Mabel, April 10, 1717 ; Miriam, Aug. 15, 1719 ; Hopestill, June, 
 1724; Joseph, Jr., d. in the expedition against Cuba, 1740. 
 
 Samuel, m. Elizabeth Webster, Nov. 6, 1701. Chil., Elizabeth, b. Oct. 
 5, 1702; Samuel, April 26, 1706;_Grace, Oct. 2, 1713. 
 
 John, m. Hannah Spaffard (no date). Chil., John, b. Oct. 6, 1734; Pe- 
 leg, Feb. 1, 1736; James, July 22,1737; Deborah, April 7, 1739; William, 
 March 30, 1741 ; Hannah, June 1, 1743 ; Elihu, April 20, 1746 ; Malachi, 
 Jan. 30, 1747. 
 
 THEOOP. 
 
 Samuel, m. Dorothy. Chil., Samuel b.(no date); Mary, Jan. 23, 1727. 
 
 William, m. Elizabeth. Chil., Joseph, Geoi-ge, Josiah (no date) ; Ben- 
 jamin, b. Jan. 19,1730; John, Oct. 12, 1731; Thomas, Sept. 9, 1733 ; Eliz- 
 abeth, Jan. 8, 1736 ; Martha, May 17, 1739 ; Priscilla, July 1, 1741 ; Mary, 
 Aug. 11, 1744. 
 
 Joseph, m. Deborah Buel, March 20, 1740. Chil., Deborah, b April 
 22,1741; Joseph, April 22,1743; William, Dec. 26, 1745 ; Elizabeth, Jan. 
 10, 1747 ; Dan, Nov. 8, 1748. 
 
 Dan, m. Susanna Carey, of Bristol, Oct. 27, 1737. Chil., Bethia, b. Dec. 
 18, 1738; Dan, April 19, 1740; Susanna, March 18, 1742 ; Benjamin, June 
 
 3, 1746; Jo8eph,'Dec. 23, 1748. 
 
 TISDALE. 
 
 Ebenezer, m. Hope Basset (no date). Chil., Mary, b. Aug. 6, 1731; 
 Nathan, Sept. 19, 1732; William, May 29, 1734; Sarah, May 16,1736; 
 Abijah, June 2, 1738; Abigail, June 18, 1740; Lydia, Jan. 10, 1742, d. 
 1747; Eliphalet, Sept. 16, 1744 ; Mary, Feb. 28, 1746 ; Lydia, March 16, 
 1749. Mr. Tisdale m. again, Mrs. Deborah Gilbert, of Taunton, June 8, 
 1762. 
 
 Elijah, m. Eunice Smith, Nov. 6, 1743. Chil., Elkanah, b. Jan. 22, 
 1746. Mr. Elijah d. Nov, 19, 1796, and his wife d. Sept. 22, 1795. 
 
 TUTTLE. 
 
 John, m. Judith . Chil., Daniel, b. Nov. 11, 1716 ; Martha, July 
 
 3,1718; Judith, Sept. 2, 1720; Freedom, March 1, 1722; Silence, Dec. 
 20, 1723; Desire, April 16, 1728; John, Feb. 20, 1726. 
 
 John, Jr., m. Eunice Allen, July 17, 1747. Chil., Lucy, b. Feb. 4, 
 1748 ; James, Feb. 26, 1740. 
 
 WADSWOETH. 
 
 Joseph, m. Lydia Brown (no date) ; she d. Dec. 27, 1759. Chil., John 
 b. March 16, 1706 ; Mary, Nov. 29, 1707 ; Martha, April 1, 1710. 
 
 John, m. Elizabeth Eichman (no date). Chil., Zerviah, b. May 6, 
 1736; John, June 20, 1737. 
 
516 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 WARNER. 
 IcHABOB, m. Mary Metcalf, March 6, 1712. Chil., Iclmbod, b. Dec. 10, 
 1712; Daniel, July 10, 1714; Isaac, .Ian. 4, 1717; Ebenezer, March 20, 
 1719; Nathaniel, Feb. 18, 1722; Timothy, Dec. 21, 1724; Samuel, Aug. 
 21, 1726; Mary and Hannah, twins, Sept. 13, 1730; Ruth, Oct. 17, 1732; 
 John, May 22, 1734. 
 
 WATTLES. 
 
 William, m. Abigail . Chil., William, b. Nov. 21, 1706 ; Mary, 
 
 March 1 1, 1709. He died Aug. 11, 1737. Slje died Nov. 21, 1744. 
 
 William, m. Abigail Denison, May 29, 173.5. Chil., Abigail, b. March 
 20,1736; Ann, March 20, 1738; William, Dec. 19, 1739; Mary, Oct. 14, 
 1744 ; Belcher, Nov. 3, 1743 ; Sarah, Feb. 26, 1747 ; Andrew, Aug! 2, 1749 ; 
 Denison, July 12, 1754; Daniel, Nov. 6, 17B5. 
 
 WEBSTER. 
 
 John, m. Elisabeth . Chil., Thomas, b. Oct. 12, 1699 ; Elisabeth, 
 
 Feb. 26, 1701 ; Thomas, Feb. 8, 1704; Josiah, Jan. 26, 1706. 
 
 George, m. Sarah , who died April 12, 1721. Chil., Samuel, b. 
 
 Nov. o, 1693; Jonathan, Nov. 6, 1700; Peletiah, Nov. 17, 1702; George, 
 Aug. 6, 1704 ; Noah, Aug. 9, 1706 ; Ebeneser, June 9, 1708 ; Sarah, May 
 6, 1710 ; Jerusha, Jan. 20, 1712 ; Benajah, Deo. 26, 1713 ; Mary, April 1, 
 1718 ; Josiah, May 20, 1720. This family still continue here. 
 
 WEST. 
 
 John, m. Deborah ; (d. Nov. 17, 1741.) Chil., Jerusha, b. Dec. 17, 
 
 1708; Hannah, July 13, 1710; Nathan, Nov. 10, 1712; John, March 12, 
 1715; Priscilla, July 17,1717— d. 1730; Dorothy, Sept, 10, 1719— d. 1730; 
 Solomon, March 15, 1723 ; Caleb, July 3, 1726. 
 
 Nathan, m. Jerusha Hinckley, July 20, 1741. -Chil., Jerusha, b. Oct. 
 21,1741; Samuel, Aug. 23, 1743; Nathan, May 20, 1746— d. young; Molle, 
 June 7, mi ; Nathan, June 8, 1749 ; Lucy, May 16, 1751 ; Walter, May 
 12, 1763 ; Charles, April 22, 1765— d. young ; Charles, July 4, 1766. 
 
 Ebenezer, m. Mrs. Susanna Wales, Jan. 14, 1713. Chil., Sarah, b. Jan. 
 25,1714; Joshua, July 30,1716; Bathsheba, March 8, 1717; Susanna, 
 Jan. 17, 1719 ; Ebeneser, April 11, 1721 — died young ; Jonathan (d. 
 young) and David, twins, Oct. 2, 1723. *'Hon. Ebeneser West, Esq., d. 
 Oct. 31, 1758— Susanna his wife d. Oct. 14, 1723." 
 
 John, m. Rebecka Abel, Nov. 8, 1738. Chil., John, b. Aug. 8, 1739; 
 Dan, Dec. 31, 1741; David, Feb. 4, 1744; Rufus, May 16,1746— d. young; 
 Abel, May 11, 1747; Hannah, Sept. 2, 1749. 
 
 Amos, m. Sarah Cutler of Watertown, July 21, 1738. Chil., Bathsheba, 
 b. May 1, 1739— d. young; Abigail, July 9, 1741; Bathsheba, July 29, 
 1743— a. young; Sarah, Aug. 28, 1745— d. youug ; Abia, March 16, 1748— 
 d. young; Reuben, June 6, 1750; Simeon, May 21, 1761 ; Levi, May 20, 
 1764; Judah, April 4, 1757. 
 
 WOODWARD. 
 
 John, Jr., m. Experience Baldwin, June 2,1703. Chil., Experience, 
 b. Aug. 10, 1704 ; Israel, June 6, 17U7 ; John, March 28, 1709— d. Sept. 8, 
 1741. 
 
 Henry, bought Capt. John Avery's home-lot in 1702; m. Hannah Bur- 
 rows, Nov. 17, 1703. Chil., Samuel, b. Sept. 10,1706; Israel, May 20, 
 1708 ; Hannah, July 19, 1710 ; Abigail, Sept. 21, 1712 ; Sarah, Oct. 25, 1716 ; 
 Martha, Nov. 14, 1717; Henry, Dec. 22, 1720; Ann, Dec. 13, 1721 ; David, 
 May 20, 1725; John, Dec. 2, 1727. 
 
 Israel (sou of John and Experience), ni, Abigail , March 31, 1731. 
 
 Chil,, Nathan, May 13,1732; Anna, Jan. 4, 1734; Abel, April 1,1736; 
 Abigail, Aug. 22, 1738— d. young; Israel, March 31, 1740; John, March 
 22, 1742; Asa, Feb. 1(1, 1744; Eunice, June 6, 1746; Elijah, Juno 10, 
 1748. 
 
 Israel (son of Henry and Hannah), m. Mary Sims, Jan. 24, 1733. 
 Chil., Israel, b. Aug. 1, 1738— d. young; Israel, Oct. 6, 1739; Sarah, Aug. 
 2,1741; Mary, July 7,1743; Bezaliel, July 16,1746; Eleaser, Feb. 26, 
 1748 ; Hannah and Martha, twins, July 9 or 10, 1750— Hannah d. inf. 
 The Woodward family were numerous. 
 
 WOODWORTH. 
 
 Ebeneser, m. Rebecka Smalley, Dec. 27, 1717. Chil., Ebeneser, Jr., b. 
 Sept. 26, 1718 ; Zerviah, Nov. 14, 1720 ; Eliphalot, Sept. 24, 1722 ; Joseph, 
 Oct. 19, 1724 ; Amasa, April 4, 1727 ; Rebecka, July 26, 1729 ; John, Jan. 
 24, 1736; Phebe, Aug. 9, 1737. 
 
 Ebeneser, Jr., m. Hopestill Tryon, Sept. 2, 1742. Chil., Phebe, b. 
 July 31,1743; John, Jan. 31, 1740; Sylvanus, Jan. 2, 1748 ; Elijah, Oct. 
 14, 1749. 
 
 Benjamin, father of Ichabod— d. April 22, 1729. 
 
 lOHABOD, m. Sarah . Chil., Lebbeus, b. Jan. 8, 1723; Silas, March 
 
 22, 1725 ; Jehiel, Sept. 17, 1728; Reuben, Aug. 22, 1733. 
 
 David, m. Hannah Gay (no date). Chil., David, b. Jan. 29, 1738; 
 Obedience, April 6,1740; Prudence, May 26, 1742; Moses, March 7, 1748. 
 
 Silas, m. Sarah English, Sept. 22, 1746. Chil,, Silas, b. March 21, 
 1747; John, Feb. 17, 1749; Solomon, April 16, 1751; Josiah, July 10^ 
 1753; Sarah, July 23, 1765; Esekiel, April 11, 1768. 
 
 Joseph, third of the name, m. Rebecka Wright, May 13, 1747. Chi.. 
 Samuel, b. April 11, 1743. 
 
 WHBBLOCK. 
 
 Rev. Eleaser, m. Ist, Mrs. Sarah Maltby, April 29, 1735. Chil., Theo- 
 dore, b. May 23, 1736; Eleazer, Jr., Aug. 14, 1737— d. young; Ruth, Jan* 
 12, 1740; Rhodolphus, Aug. 18, 1742; ni. 2d, Mrs. Mary Brinsmade, Nov. 
 21, 1747. Chil., Mary, Aug. 28, 1748; Abigail, Dec. 21, 1751 ; John, Jan. 
 28, 1764 ; Eleaser, Jr., again, Aug. 17, 1756; James, March 5, 1769. 
 
 WILLIAMS. 
 
 Daniel, m. Lydia Abel, June 19, 1711. Chil., Daniel, b. Aug. 14, 1712; 
 Isaiah, March 1, 1716 ; Samuel (no date), 
 
 Ebeneser, m. Mary Vetch, July 27, 1721. Chil., Jonathan, b. April 
 28, 172i ; Elisabeth, May 2, 1726 ; Veach, April 23, 1727 ; Isaac, June 1, 
 1729. 
 
 Samuel, m, Deborah Throop, Dec. 3, 1724. Chil , Deborah, b. Sept. 26, 
 1725; Priscilla, Sept. 1, 1727; Joanna, April 26,1729; Submit, Oct. 22,, 
 1731; Rebecka, Feb, 20, 1733; George, Nov. 19, 1734; Bathsheba, May 
 22, 1737; Mary, Sept. 27, 1739; Nathaniel, April 30, 1742; Theody, Deo. 
 11, 1744 ; Samuel, Dec. 11, 1746— d. Aug. 21, 1768. 
 
 Rev. Solomon, m. Mrs. Mary Potter (no date). Chil., Solomon, b. Nov. 
 
 6, 1723— d. young; Eliphalet, Feb. 4, 1727; Esekiel, May 6, 1729— d. 
 
 Feb. 12, 181S; William, April 8, 1731; Mary, ; Thomas, Nov. 12,. 
 
 1735— d. Feb. 10, 1839; Christiana, ; Moses, ; Samuel, ; 
 
 Eunice, . 
 
 Rev. Solomon, d. Feb. 7, 1776 ; Mrs. Mary Williams, d. , 1788. 
 
 WEIGHT. 
 
 Abel, m. Rebecka . Chil,, Ebeneser, b. Feb. 22, 1701 ; Mary, Nov. 
 
 22, 1702 ; Ephraim, Feb. 29, 1704 ; Martha, April 12, 1705 ; Jemima, Sept. 
 4,1707; Ann, June 4,1709; Miriam, Nov. 14, 1711 ; Benjamin, July 29, 
 1712 — d. young; Benjamin, March 3, 1714. Mr. Abel Wright d. June 2, 
 1745. 
 
 Samuel, m. Mary Cass, Nov. 22, 1710. Chil., Aaron, h. March 29,1713;, 
 John, Sept. 23, 1710 ; Mary, May 10, 1721. Abel, m. Mary Calkin, Nov. 
 
 7, 1717, Ebeneser, m. Elisabeth Newcomb, April 20, 1721, 
 
 Benoni, m. Elisabeth Smith, Jan. 7, 1742. Chil., Samuel, b. Sept. 27, 
 1752 ; Theodora, July 9, 1765 ; Dan, April 7, 1757 ; Benoni, May 31, 1761. 
 
 Military Record.' — This town was prompt and 
 earnest to bear its part in supporting the war for the 
 Union. The firing upon Fort Sumter and the imme- 
 diately subsequent events stirred no community more 
 deeply and thoroughly than this. The call for vol- 
 unteers was at once responded to, and it was a marked 
 feature of those who enlisted from this town that 
 they were the substantial and intelligent young men 
 of the town, connected with some of the best families.. 
 Their motives were shown to be patriotic and high 
 from the fact that they had no immediate prospects ol 
 position and office, as had those who enlisted from 
 larger places and centres of influence. Two at least 
 early received lieutenant's commissions, andultimately 
 four from the society of Exeter (perhaps some from 
 other societies) received a captain's commission, and 
 one a colonel's. 
 
 The Governor of the State, William A. Bucking- 
 ham, so distinguished as a war Governor, was a native 
 and spent his early life here, and the town was hon- 
 ored and incited by his enthusiasm and vigor. Here, 
 too, lived and died Jonathan Trumbull, — "Brother 
 Jonathan," — the only Governor among the thirteen 
 colonies who in the beginning was true to the cause of 
 
 1 Contributed by Rev. 0. D. Hine. 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 517 
 
 the colonies, and William Williams, a signer of the 
 Declaration of Independence; and the place contains 
 well-known memorials of the prominence which it 
 held during the period of the Revolution. The ex- 
 amples of the past and present and the associations 
 of the place had educated the people to patriotism, 
 and now incited them to bear their part in the great 
 effort to preserve the integrity of the nation. The 
 ladies were on the alert to do what they could, and 
 during the four years of the war supplies in large 
 amount were sent to be distributed by the Sanitary 
 Commission and the Christian Commission. The 
 pastor of the First Church spent some two months 
 among the sick and wounded of the army in Wash- 
 ington, D. C, under the Christian Commission. 
 
 The town responded earnestly to the calls of the 
 government for troops and promptly filled its several 
 quotas, sent its benevolent contributions, and could 
 but congratulate itself that from its homes came the 
 Governor of the State, who performed so efficient 
 service in the nation's peril, and was a worthy suc- 
 cessor of Connecticut's first war Governor. 
 
 The following are names of soldiers who enlisted 
 from this town during the Rebellion : 
 
 Lewis Beers, three months. 
 
 Joseph K. Corey, three months and three years ; lost a foot. 
 
 Hogea P. Durfee, three month and three years; veteran and corp. 
 
 Orlense Lombard, three months and three years. 
 
 Charles L. Pitcher, three months and three yeai-s ; corp. 
 
 William G. Tracey, three months and three years ; corp. 
 
 The following for three years: 
 
 Joseph Wh eaten. 
 Joseph S. Forsyth. 
 Obadiah S. Roundsville ; veteran. 
 Henry M. Livermore, 8th Eegt., Co. D., coi-p. ; died. 
 Leander Clark. 
 t Edwin Blan chard. 
 William C. Blanchard. 
 Robert W. Burk, veteran. 
 Edwin J. Comstock, 8th Eegt., Co. D; died. 
 Ered. Ellsworth, 8th Eegt., Co. D ; died of wounds. 
 William Huntington, 8th Eegt. ; veteran ; sergt. ; wounded tvrice. 
 Jeremiah Jordan. 
 Michael Hagan. 
 
 Oliver Lathrop, died of wounds. 
 Edgar A. Lockwood, veteran ; wounded twice. 
 Aaron H. Ceball, died. 
 William A. Mason, died. 
 Biodate I. Mitchel, died. 
 George K. Morgan, died. 
 John U. Wheaton. 
 
 Jred. E. Shalk, 1st lieut, 14th Eegt. ; died of wounds. 
 David H. Brown, 13th Eegt. ; veteran ; died. 
 
 The following were in the Eighteenth Regiment: 
 
 Elias Mulliken. 
 
 Henry D. Eose, veteran. 
 
 Kelson M. Sammis. 
 
 Charles H. Sparks. 
 
 Addison J. Thompson, veteran. 
 
 George Zimmerman, veteran. 
 
 Joseph U. Meacb, veteran. 
 
 James C. Jennings, veteran. 
 
 J. A. H. Bowers, veteran. 
 
 Andrew Washburn, sergt. ; capt. of colored company. 
 
 Charles Eobinson, sergt. ; capt. of colored company. 
 
 Edwin S. Hinckley, sergt. and Ileut. 
 
 Charles H. Carpenter, sergt. 
 
 Thomas C. Abel, sergt. 
 
 George E. Bill. corp. and capt. of colored company. 
 
 Rescome Peckbam, sergt. 
 
 Alonzo S. Mather, Ist lieut. 
 
 Judson A. Gager, musician. 
 
 William A. Wetmore. 
 
 John W. Abel. 
 
 Peleg C. Congdon. 
 
 Charles C. Chappel, sergt, 
 
 Joseph E. Davol. 
 
 Abislm P. Durfee, corp.j and wounded. 
 
 Alfred E. Gates, wounded and died. 
 
 Charles F. Geer. 
 
 Asher D. Holmes, killed in battle. 
 
 Edwin M. Kidder. 
 
 Adgate Loomis, capt. of colored troops. 
 
 Nelson P. Lord, severely wounded. 
 
 Marcena Lombard. 
 
 tienry B. Ornisby. 
 
 Lucius G. Pember, starved at Andersonville. 
 
 Myer W. Robinson, M.D., also surgeon of 6th Eegt. 
 
 John Shalk, died. 
 
 Fred. L. Spencer, sergt. 
 
 Albert Sullard, injured at Winchester. 
 
 Charles H. TiUey. 
 
 Joseph A. Tildeo, slightly wounded. 
 
 Ebenezer Tilden. 
 
 George A. Weaver. 
 
 John Williams. 
 
 Alfred J. Comstock, severely wounded; Yet. Ees. 
 
 H. H. McCracken, killed in battle. 
 
 Hiiam D. Eose, killed in battle. 
 
 The following were in the Twenty-first Regiment : 
 
 Isaac G. Avery, Frank Bennett, Bradford K. Green, Michael Kelley, Peter 
 Gallagher, William H. Day. 
 
 The following were in the Twenty-fourth Regiment, 
 nine months : 
 
 Timothy A. Avery, died. 
 
 William H. Hyde, died. 
 
 Maurice Lappe. 
 
 Michael 0. Laughlin, slightly wounded. 
 
 Amos Spafard. 
 
 Augustus Tittel. 
 
 George W. Willcox, died. 
 
 Samuel S. Willcox, slightly wounded. 
 
 Henry J. Wilson. 
 
 The following were in the Twenty-sixth Regiment, 
 nine months : 
 
 Henry L. Gay, 2d lieut. 
 Charles Lamb. 
 William F. Gates. 
 
 The following were in the Twenty-ninth Regiment, 
 three years (colored) : 
 
 Austin W. Seymour, Edwin Hewitt. 
 
 The following were recruits : 
 
 Ludwig Ilaworwas, 18th Begt., lost leg. 
 
 Asa K. Holmes, 18th Kegt., slightly wounded. 
 
 Benjamin Congdon, 18th Eegt. 
 
 John Sullivan, 10th Eegt. 
 
 Edwin Washburn, 18th Regt., slightly wounded. 
 
 Thomas A. Loomis, 18th Regt. 
 
 Aaron Wolf, 18th Eegt. 
 
 Orlando Lombard, 18th Eegt. 
 
 John Nutley, 2l8t Eegt. 
 
 Benjamin B. Brown, 18th Regt., two wounds. 
 
 Pollard. 
 
 Clark. 
 
 Some of the battles engaged in by Lebanon sol- 
 diers were those of Antietam, Berryville, Bristol Sta- 
 
518 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 tion, Bull Run, Camp Bisland, Cedar Creek, Cedar 
 Mountain, Culpeper, Drury's Bluflf, Fort Fisher, 
 Fredericksburg, Georgia Landing, Hall Town, Hat- 
 cher's Run, Lynchburg, Morris Island, Newbern, 
 Piedmont, Fort Hudson, Petersburg, Roanoke Island, 
 Sharpsburg, Snicker's Ford, South Mountain, Spott- 
 sylvania, Sugar-Loaf Mountain, Summit Point, Wil- 
 derness, Winchester. 
 
 In June and July, 1864, the Eighteenth Regiment 
 marched eleven hundred miles. 
 
 Lebanon sent of her sons 106 ; 6 enlisted for three 
 months; later 12 for nine months; all the rest — 88 
 — for three years. Of the 6 three-months 5 re-enlisted 
 for three years, and 1 became a veteran. Whole num- 
 ber of those who re-enlisted as veterans, 12. 
 
 In addition the town sent as substitutes a number 
 sufficient to more than fill its quota by 15, the whole 
 number being about 200. 
 
 Of the 106, 20 died, 3 were instantly killed in 
 battle, 4 died of wounds before they were removed 
 from the battle-field, 2 died in hospitals from the 
 effects of their wounds, 12 died of disease, and 1 died 
 after his return home. Whole number, 20. 
 
 CHAPTER LIII. 
 
 LEBANON— (Continued). 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Thomas Whitmore was born in England in 1615, 
 and came to America in 1635 ; tradition says that he 
 embarked from Bristol. The first mention that we 
 find of his name in the colonial records is in the 
 Wethersfield town records in 1639-40, as owner of 
 certain lands, where it appears he first settled on 
 coming to the Connecticut River. 
 
 He subsequently removed to Hartford, at what time 
 we have no data for determining. 
 
 He was one of the first settlers of Middletown ; the 
 exact date cannot be determined, as a few of the first 
 leaves of the town record are missing. 
 
 May 20, 1652, he was made a freeman. The qualifi- 
 cations necessary to be a freeman were, namely : he 
 had to be orthodox, twenty years of age, and worth 
 two hundred pounds, and was obliged to take the oath 
 of fidelity. 
 
 That we may more fully fix in our minds the age in 
 which he lived we note the following personages of 
 his time : first, he was a subject of James I., Charles I., 
 and Charles II., and Shakespeare was living, and died 
 when he was a year old. He died Dec. 11, 1681, aged 
 sixty -six years. He was three times married, and had 
 some seventeen children. Izrahiah was his fourth 
 son and eighth child by his first wife, Sarah Hall. 
 
 Izrahiah, or Izariah, was born in Middletown, Conn., 
 March 9, 1656, married Rachel Stow, and had eight 
 children, the eldest of whom was Rev. Izrahiah, torn 
 
 June 28, 1693, and married Sarah Booth and had five 
 children, the eldest of whom was Prosper, born March 
 14, 1722. The remains of Rev. Izrahiah Whitmore are 
 interred in the old East burying-ground at Middle- 
 town. He was settled over the Presbyterian Church 
 at Stratford, Conn., soon after his majority. 
 
 Prosper Whitmore early settled in Norwich, Conn., 
 married Keturah Chesbrough and had seven children, 
 the eldest of whom was Nathan, born Aug. 25, 1757. 
 Prosper Whitmore was a sherifi" of New London 
 County for many years. He died Oct. 15, 1787, and 
 his wife died Feb. 13, 1789, aged fifty-three. Both 
 were buried in the old burial-ground at Norwich, 
 Conn. 
 
 Nathan Whitmore married Elizabeth Bushnell and 
 had three children, the second of whom was Augustus, 
 born Nov. 6, 1786. 
 
 Nathan Whitmore (or Wetmore, as the name was 
 spelled by some of the family) was a man of respec- 
 tability and influence, holding the office of deputy 
 sheriff of New London County, at that time a posi- 
 tion of trust and importance, which he retained till 
 his death, Nov. 5, 1791. 
 
 Augustus Wetmore was twice married, — first, to 
 Emily T. Hinckley, Feb. 26, 1816 ; second, to Sarah 
 Hinckley, Nov. 27, 1825. His children by his first 
 wife are William A., Charles H., Edwin D., and Ed- 
 win D. (the second) ; by his second wife, Emily C, 
 Catharine, the wife of William R. Gay, of Lebanon, 
 Sarah J., and William A. (2). 
 
 A correspondent thus speaks of Augustus Wet- 
 more: " He removed with his father to Lebanon in 
 1791, where he has ever since resided, save a few years 
 spent at Millington during his youth. By reason of age 
 and its incident infirmities, though comparatively few 
 have fallen upon him, he no longer confines him- 
 self to business. His threescore years and ten, with 
 their abundant cares and toils, are more than passed, 
 and it surely is befitting that the remainder be spent 
 at ease in the bosom of his family. 
 
 " He united with the Congregational Church at 
 twenty-two years of age. In public life he has been 
 little seen, all his tastes leading another way, but in 
 private he is well known as a man of unimpeachable 
 integrity, strict honesty, warm friendship, unwavering 
 fidelity, the purest life, and sincerest piety. His tastes 
 are simple and manners unaffected, and without osten- 
 tation. 
 
 " Though his efl^orts have not been crowned with 
 affluence, at the call of the poor and needy his benev- 
 olence finds no excuse in that for withholding from 
 his means. In person Mr. Wetmore is about five feet 
 six inches in height, his frame well knit and muscu- 
 lar, inclining of late years somewhat to corpulence.'' 
 
 William R. Gay, of Lebanon, Conn., is a son of 
 Asahel Gay and Mary Reed (see Reed genealogy), 
 and grandson of Asahel Reed, Sr., and Temperance 
 Reed, and was born in Floyd, N. Y., June 17, 1827. 
 His mother dying when he was onlv five months old, 
 
C/X 
 
 /l-C^J'-^l'-- 
 
 / / 
 
■/ ^V C,:y r 
 
 -C^' 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 519 
 
 and his father when he was but seventeen months 
 of age, he was left to the tender care and sympathy 
 of his paternal grandparents and his aunt Temper- 
 ance, who was always a mother to him, and though 
 now they too are dead, yet their names will ever be 
 cherished with the most tender regard, and their kind 
 words and deeds will ever live fresh in his memory. 
 
 Asahel Gay. Sr., was a farmer and distiller by oc- 
 cupation, settled in Lebanon, Conn., at an early day, 
 and continued to reside there till his death, March 
 24, 1843, aged eighty-seven years nine months and 
 ten days. Temperance, his wife, died Sept. 27, 1843, 
 aged eighty-seven years and ten months. Temper- 
 ance Gay, daughter of Asahel and Temperance Gay, 
 died Feb. 17, 1864, aged eighty-two years. 
 
 Asahel Gay, Jr., was born in Connecticut, married 
 Mary Keed, and had two sons, Francis Lafayette, who 
 died at three years and nine months, and William R. 
 Mr. Gay was a merchant. He died Nov. 30, 1828, aged 
 thirty-eight years and two months, and his wife died 
 Nov. 24, 1827, aged twenty-nine years, and both are 
 buried at Whitesborough, N. Y. 
 
 William E. Gay received a common-school educa- 
 tion, and one term at an academy at Westfield, Mass. 
 At the age of two, in 1829, he settled in Lebanon, 
 Conn., and has continued to reside on the same farm 
 purchased by his grandfather. He married, May 24, 
 1853, Catherine (born April 14, 1831), daughter of 
 Augustus and Sarah (Hinckley) Wetmore (see his- 
 tory of the Whitmore, or Wetmore family), and to 
 them have been born Emma F., Mary E., and Sarah 
 Jane, who died at two years. Mr. Gay built his 
 present farm-house in 1858 and '59, and all his other 
 improvements were made by him. 
 
 In politics he is a Eepublican. He never aspired 
 to ofiicial honors, preferring the quiet of domestic 
 lite. Mr. and Mrs. Gay are members of the Con- 
 gregational Church at Lebanon. He is a man of 
 medium height and light complexion. He is very 
 modest and retiring in disposition, and of industrious 
 and frugal habits. As a man he is esteemed by his 
 neighbors, and loved and respected at home. 
 
 His mother descended from Joseph Eead, or Eeed, 
 who married Sarah Eice, Nov. 26, 1723. Children, — 
 James, born 1724; Berthia, born 1725; John, born 
 1728. Mrs. Eeed died Jan. 1, 1729. Joseph Eeed 
 married his cousin Sarah, daughter of Daniel and 
 Sarah Eeed. 
 
 Maj. John Eeed (born 1728) married Hannah God- 
 dard. Children, — John, William (afterwards United 
 States navy surgeon), and Thomas. John Eeed mar- 
 ried Marcia Goodwin, of Plymouth, Mass., daughter 
 of Gen. Goodwin. Children,— John, Betsey, Hannah, 
 George, Charles, William, Joseph, Isaac, Mary, Fran- 
 cis, and Nancy ; also five others who died young. 
 Nancy Eeed married Nathan Viles, of Boston, Mass. 
 
 Dr. Charles Sweet, of Lebanon, the subject of this 
 sketch, we trace back through five successive genera- 
 tions to James Sweet, son of Isaac and Mary Sweet, 
 
 of Wales. He came to America in 1630, and settled 
 in North Kingston, E. I., where members of the family 
 still live. As far back as their history can be ob- 
 tained, and tradition leading us still farther, we find 
 that they have always been accredited with a capacity 
 or ability in an eminent degree for bone-setting, 
 though uneducated in any department of surgery, and 
 as we follow along down the genealogical line we find 
 members of the family that have become especially 
 eminent in the practice of this natural ability. Dr. 
 John Sweet, grandfather of Dr. Charles Sweet, gained 
 a wide-spread notoriety during the Eevolution by his 
 successful practice among the oflicers and men of both 
 the French and American army, though not himself 
 in the government service. His son Benoni, father 
 of Charles Sweet, had for a few years followed in the 
 footsteps of his father in this matter, but removing to 
 Lebanon, Conn., in 1793, he determined not to prac- 
 tice bone-setting more, but give his whole attention 
 to farming. This resolution, however, he was unable 
 to carry out, for a dislocated shoulder in his own 
 neighborhood which bafiied the surgeons forced him 
 again into the practice of this his legitimate and nat- 
 ural calling, which he never afterwards abandoned 
 during active life, and after a long series of years of 
 usefulness he died, Aug. 26, 1840, at the age of eighty 
 years. 
 
 Before leaving Kingston he married Sarah Cham- 
 plin, and had one child. The rest of the family were 
 born in Lebanon, — Susannah, Thomas, Benoni^, Ste- 
 phen, Sally, Mary, Lydia, Hannah, Lucy, and Charles, 
 the last three only still living. Thomas died at the 
 age of nineteen. Benoni, Jr., practiced bone-setting 
 at Guilford, Stephen at Franklin, Sally for a time at 
 Willimantic, and Charles for many years at the old 
 homestead, and for near thirty years at Lebanon 
 Centre, where he now resides. He commenced the 
 practice of bone-setting as young as sixteen years of 
 age, and for nearly forty years he has maintained an 
 office at Hartford, Conn., and at Springfield, Mass., 
 each of which he visits one day in each month, suc- 
 cessfully treating all sorts of bone dislocations, frac- 
 tures, and diseases. 
 
 The greater part of his time is devoted to this call- 
 ing, in which he manifests an intuitive perception 
 truly surprising. 
 
 In the intervals he prosecutes a limited amount of 
 farming, which he does more for a pastime than for 
 pecuniary profit. 
 
 At an early age he was married to Eliza W. Throop, 
 of his native town, and their children, with one ex- 
 ception, are still living,— Sophia, born March 18, 1835; 
 Sarah E., born April 7, 1837; Maria F., born Nov. 28, 
 1838 ; Marietta, born Oct. 24, 1840 ; Charles, Jr., born 
 Jan. 1, 1845 ; J. Henry T., born Nov. 4, 1848 ; Ma- 
 rietta, died Sept. 8, 1873. Their mother died Feb. 14, 
 1860, at the early age of forty-four years. Charles, Jr., 
 is located near home, and practices with his father. 
 Henry T. has been in practice at Hartford, Conn., 
 
520 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 for several years, where he has gained an enviable 
 reputation. Dr. Sweet married for his second wife 
 Sarah Elizabeth Williams, of Mystic, Conn. By this 
 marriage he had three children, — Bessie, born Nov. 
 28, 1869 ; F. Benoni, born Oct. 7, 1870 ; George H., 
 born June 3, 1875. Bessie died Jan. 10, 1870, and 
 their mother departed this life after having been mar- 
 ried about nineteen years. 
 
 His third and present wife was Laura A. Anderson, 
 of Clinton, Conn., whose years run parallel with his 
 own. The doctor has ever been of the strictest tem- 
 perance habits, and his life the life of a Christian, 
 both by profession and practice, in which he has ever 
 had the fullest co-operation of each of his three 
 respective wives. 
 
 Judge Edwin Munford Dolbeare was born in 
 Montville, Conn., Jan. 23, 1806. He is a lineal descend- 
 ant of John Dolbeare, who came from Wales and set- 
 tled in Boston in 1720, where he (John) was a silver- 
 smith by trade. He died there, and was buried in 
 the Old Park Street burying-ground, tomb No. 50. 
 
 John Dolbeare had a, large family of children, one 
 of whom was George, who settled in Montville, New 
 London Co., Conn., and became the father of six 
 children, viz. : Mary, Abigail, John, Samuel, Han- 
 nah (who stood in the door of her house in New 
 London, Conn., and defended her home so heroically 
 from the attack of the British forces, Sept. 6, 7, 1781, 
 that her home was not burned ; she tried hard to 
 shoot the old traitor Arnold), and George B. 
 
 George Dolbeare owned a large tract of land, called 
 Pogwunk, in Montville, Conn. He died far advanced 
 in life. The family for generations has been promi- 
 nent in town affairs and members of the Congrega- 
 tional Church. 
 
 Samuel Dolbeare, son of George, was born March 
 12, 1748, in Montville. He married Hannah Mun- 
 ford, a native of Narragansett, E. L, Nov. 29, 1770, 
 and had the following children, viz. : Munford, 
 Naby, or Abby, and Samuel (2). He was a farmer. 
 He died about 1832. 
 
 Munford Dolbeare, son of Samuel (1), was born in 
 Montville, Conn, (now Salem), Oct. 27, 1771. He 
 was a farmer, married Ehoda, daughter of Col. Jere- 
 miah Mason, January, 1800, and had the following 
 children: Sophia E. (deceased), Edwin M., William 
 A. (deceased), Jeremiah F. and Samuel P., twins (de- 
 ceased), and Rhoda M. 
 
 He was a Whig in politics. He was a magistrate 
 several years, and a member of the Legislature in 
 1821. In 1830 he settled in Lebanon, Conn., and 
 continued to reside there till his death, Sept. 8, 1835. 
 His wife died Jan. 81, 1840, and both were buried in 
 the Second Cemetery, at Lebanon, Conn. 
 
 Edwin M. Dolbeare, the immediate subject of this 
 sketch, received a common-school education. He re- 
 mained at home working on his father's farm till he 
 was nineteen years of age, when he went forth to seek 
 his fortune in the mercantile business. In 1827 he 
 
 went to New York and entered a dry-goods store as 
 clerk, and remained two years, then began business 
 for himself, which he continued some nine years. 
 
 For the following two years we find him in Mis- 
 souri, Illinois, and other parts of the great West. In 
 1838 he settled in Lebanon, Conn., on the farm pur- 
 chased by his father in 1830. Here he has continued 
 to reside to the present time (1881). He has always 
 been a Whig and Republican in politics, and as such 
 has been one of the standard-bearers of the town. 
 He has held all the important offices of the town 
 such as justice of the peace, selectman, member of the 
 Legislature in 1860, and of the Senate in 1863, that 
 being one of the most important sessions ever held in 
 the State. In 1862 he was chosen judge of probate, 
 and continued to perform the duties of that office to 
 the satisfaction of his constituents till 1876, when his 
 age (seventy) exempted him from further duty. For 
 nineteen years he was clerk of the South Congrega- 
 tional Society. He is regarded as one of Lebanon's 
 stanch men, a man of energy and great force of char- 
 acter, prudent and wise in all his counsels. 
 
 Jeremiah Mason (the first Jeremiah Mason of 
 Lebanon) was the son of Daniel Mason (who was 
 the grandson of Maj. John Mason) and Dorothy 
 Hobart, of Topsfield, Mass., daughter of Rev. Jere- 
 miah Hobart and Elizabeth Whiting, and grand- 
 daughter of Rev. Samuel Whiting, of Lynn, and his 
 second wife, Elizabeth St. John. 
 
 Through his ancestress, Elizabeth St. John, Jere- 
 miah Mason was descended from Sir Oliver St. John, 
 Baron of Beauchamp, who upon the coming of his 
 third cousin, Queen Elizabeth, to the throne was 
 created Lord St. John of Bletshoe. Through his 
 ancestress, Margaret Beauchamp (grandmother of 
 King Henry VII.), whose first husband was Sir 
 Oliver St. John, of Penmark, Jeremiah Mason was 
 descended from Gundred, fourth daughter of WiUiam 
 the Conqueror, who married William de Warren, first 
 Earl of Surrey. Through his ancestress, Margery Le 
 Dispenser, and her ancestress, Joan Plantagenet 
 (fourth daughter of Edward V.), who married Gil- 
 bert Le Clair, third Earl of Gloucester, and her an- 
 cestress, Matilda of Scotland, niece of Edgar Ath- 
 eling, and wife of King Henry I., he was descended 
 from Alfred the Great ; and through his ancestress, 
 Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror, and daughter 
 of Baldwin, seventh Count of Flanders, and Adela, 
 daughter of Robert I., of France, he was descended 
 from Charlemagne and Hildegarde of Swabia, his 
 wife. 
 
 The Waterman Family. — Thomas Waterman was 
 nephew of the wife of John Bradford. Robert Water- 
 man and Elizabeth Bourn, of Marshfield, were mar- 
 ried Dec. 9, 1638. Thomas, their second son, was 
 born in 1644, at Marshfield, and probably came to 
 Norwich with his uncle Bradford. In November, 
 1668, he was joined in wedlock with Miriam, only 
 daughter of Thomas Tracy. 
 
Q(£t<^-^^^ /y1^ /9-Z^^<U4.L^ 
 
lEiF-EMEAMI MASOMc 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 521 
 
 The Waterman house-lot was next to that of Maj. 
 Mason, and the dwelling-house was built at a slight 
 turn of the town street, opposite the residence of the 
 late Dr. Turner. It projected awkwardly into the 
 highway which now passes over a part of the site. 
 The old well that stood by the house is under the 
 street. 
 
 A granite stone records in rude capitals the decease 
 of this proprietor. 
 
 The inventory of Thomas Waterman amounted to 
 £855 lis. 4:d. He had ten oxen, ten cows, and abun- 
 dant household goods, showing a condition of thrift, 
 comfort, and independence. He left three sons and 
 five daughters. Elizabeth, the oldest daughter, mar- 
 ried John Fitch, one of the sons of the reverend min- 
 ister of the town, and settled in Windham. 
 
 Martha, the second daughter, went to Lyme, as the 
 second wife of " Lyme's captain, Reinold Marvin." 
 Miriam died unmarried, Sept. 22, 1760, aged eighty- 
 two. Lydia married Eleazer Burnham, a new in- 
 habitant of the Nine-mile square, who came from 
 Ipswich after 1700. Ann, the youngest daughter, 
 became the partner of Josiah De Wolfe, of Lyme. 
 The sons of the proprietor were Thomas, John, and 
 Joseph. Thomas, the first-born of Norwich Water- 
 mans, not waiting to be quite twenty-one years of age, 
 married, June 29, 1691, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert 
 Allyn. Their union was prolonged to a term of sixty- 
 four years, and the memorial stones at their graves 
 show that they had both attained their eighty-sixth 
 year, and died within a few months of each other in 
 the year 1755. They had seven sons and two daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 Lieut. Elisha Waterman, their fifth son, died in 
 Havana, a victim of the fatal expedition undertaken 
 against the Spanish in 1762. He left a large family. 
 Asa Waterman, the sixth son, was the father of 
 Arunah Waterman, who was born at Norwich in 1749, 
 and after taking an active part in the various scenes 
 of the Revolutionary war, both as a soldier and as- 
 sistant commissary, emigrated with his family, about 
 the year 1800, to Johnson, Vt., assisting greatly in 
 the growth and prosperity of that town. At Johnson, 
 Capt. Waterman lived to old age, adhering to ancient 
 principles, simple manners, and old customs, grand- 
 father to the whole village, and wearing to the last 
 the long waistcoat, small-clothes, and shoe-buckles of 
 a former generation. He died in 1838. 
 
 Nehemiah Waterman, seventh son of Thomas and 
 Elizabeth (Allyn), was the first of the Bozrah line of 
 Watermans. He died Oct. 27, 1796, in the eighty- 
 eighth year of his age. His son Nehemiah was an 
 officer of the Revolutionary army, and the repre- 
 sentative of Bozrah for ten sessions, from 1787 to 
 1797. He died in 1802, aged sixty-six. 
 
 Rev. Elijah Waterman, distinguished as a success- 
 ful teacher of the classics, and an able and fearless 
 preacher, was the son of the second Nehemiah Wa- 
 terman, and born in Bozrah, Nov. 28, 1769. He 
 
 graduated at Yale College in 1791, and was ten years 
 pastor of the church at Windham. He was afterwards 
 engaged in the ministry at Bridgeport, where he died 
 Oct. 11, 1825, aged fifty-six. He was a man of large 
 information and an able writer. It is said that he had 
 read " Paradise Lost" several times through before 
 he was nine years of age. He published sermons and 
 treatises ; was fond of poetry, and often composed 
 small poems on fugitive occasions.' 
 
 John Waterman, the second son of the proprietor 
 Thomas, born in March, 1672, married, in 1701, Eliza- 
 beth, daughter of the second Samuel Lothrop. They 
 had a family of six or seven sons and two daughters, 
 the youngest of whom, Hannah, was the mother of 
 Benedict Arnold. A branch of the Waterman family 
 settled in Lebanon, N. H. Col. Thomas Waterman, 
 born July 11, 1766, is said to have been the-first white 
 child born in that town. His parents, Silas and Si- 
 lence Waterman, were from Norwich. 
 
 Joseph Waterman, third son of Thomas Waterman, 
 the original proprietor, married Elizabeth Woodward, 
 and had seven children, viz.: Timothy, Judith, Ezra, 
 Elizabeth, Mehitable, Annie, and Joseph. 
 
 Andrew Waterman was probably a son of Lieut. 
 Elisha Waterman, who lost his life in the West Indies 
 in 1762. Andrew Waterman married Elizabeth Fitch, 
 Sept. 11, 1759. Their children were as follows : 
 Elizabeth, Ezra F., Lebbeus Andrew (2d), Betsey, 
 Sarah, and Elisha. Andrew (1st) settled in Lebanon 
 at an early day, about the time he was iparried. He 
 was a Revolutionary soldier, and was known as Capt. 
 Andrew Waterman. He died Feb. 16, 1822, aged 
 eighty-four years, and his wife died March 25, 1821, 
 aged eighty-four years. 
 
 Elisha Waterman, youngest son of Capt. Andrew 
 Waterman and Elizabeth Fitch, was born in Lebanon, 
 Conn., Oct. 1, 1777. He received such advantages 
 for an education as the common schools of his day 
 afforded, supplemented with a few terms at an acad- 
 emy in Lebanon, Conn., taught by Nathan Tisdale. 
 He early manifested a strong desire to teach, and at 
 an early age began teaching school, and taught sev- 
 eral terms. Sept. 20, 1812, he married Elizabeth 
 Fitch Mason, daughter of James Fitch Mason. (See 
 history of Mason family, Lebanon, Conn.) She was 
 born Oct. 10, 1790. Their children are Andrew (de- 
 ceased), Elizabeth F., James F. M., Elisha (deceased), 
 an infant, Nancy M. (Mrs. James M. Peckham), and 
 Andrew, who is in business with Mr. J. M. Peckham, 
 all of whom were born on the Waterman homestead, 
 in Lebanon, Conn. 
 
 Mr. Waterman was a large farmer of m9re than 
 three hundred acres ; in politics a Whig and Repub- 
 lican. He held all the town offices to the universal 
 satisfaction of his constituents. He several times 
 represented his town in the State Legislature, and 
 district once in the Senate. For many years he was 
 
 1 Spragiie'e Pulpit Annals, vol. li. 
 
522 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 judge of probate. He was a regular attendant upon 
 the services of the Congregational Church, and was 
 ever ready with an open purse to do more than his 
 share. He was thoroughly posted in business matters, 
 and well read on the topics of the day. He was a 
 man of positive character and very energetic. What- 
 ever he did he did with his might. He had the cour- 
 age of his convictions, and right well did he do his 
 work. He died March 30, 1857. His wife died May 
 4, 1862, and both were buried on Goshen Hill, Leba- 
 non, Conn. Their daughter, Elizabeth F., married 
 Nathaniel C. Saxton (deceased). He was a farmer in 
 Lebanon, and a man respected. 
 
 James Iff. Peckham. — William S. Peckham was 
 a native of Rhode Island, but moved to Lebanon, 
 Conn., where he resided till the time of his death. 
 He had twelve children, one of whom, Simeon, was 
 born in Rhode Island, April 9, 1794. He (Simeon) 
 came to Tolland County, Conn., where he remained a 
 short time, and then removed to Lebanon in 1820, 
 and resided on a farm one mile north of the Baptist 
 church of Lebanon Centre a short period. After 
 having changed his location two or three times, he 
 finally settled at Lebanon Centre in 1837, and re- 
 mained there until his death, Aug. 17, 1859. He was 
 a large and progressive farmer for those days. He 
 was twice married, — first, to Lucy T. Avery, daughter 
 of Thompson Wells. They had nine children, viz. : 
 James M., George W., Lucy Ann (deceased), an in- 
 fant (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Abby (deceased), 
 Joseph and Mary (twins, the former of whom died 
 young), and William S., now a real estate broker and 
 wholesale grocer in Milwaukee, Wis., of firm of Ro- 
 midy, Peckham & Co. All of the children save James 
 M. were born in Lebanon. Mrs. Peckham died April 
 26, 1840, and Mr. Peckham married for his second wife 
 Rebecca A. Battey, daughter of Dr. Owen Battey, of 
 Scituate, R. I. They had three children, — Owen D. 
 (deceased), Sarah M. (deceased), who married Dr. 
 W. P. Barber, of Lebanon, and Simeon A., who re- 
 sides on the homestead. 
 
 In politics Mr. Peckham was a Democrat. He was 
 postmaster at the Centre many years, was selectman, 
 assessor, etc. He was for a short time in the war of 
 1812, and was located at New London, and for his ser- 
 vices received a land bounty, and his widow a pen- 
 sion after his death. Both his wife and himself were 
 members of the Congregational Church, in which he 
 was deacon many years. He was noted for his hos- 
 pitality, and his house was always it welcome place 
 to the stranger and the ministry. Prudent, kind, and 
 affectionate, he commanded the respect and esteem of 
 his associates and acquaintances. His second wife 
 died September, 1880. 
 
 James M. Peckham was born in Columbia, Conn., 
 Feb. 3, 1820, was brought up on the farm, working 
 summers and attending school winters, until his sev- 
 enteenth year, when he went to Kingston, R. I., and 
 entered the employ of T. S. Taylor & Co., merchants 
 
 of that place. With this house he remained ten yeara, 
 until 1847, when he returned to Lebanon and com- 
 menced business as a merchant. April 10, 1848, he 
 married Nancy W., daughter of Elisha Waterman 
 and Elizabeth Mason (see history of J. Mason). They 
 had two children, Elizabeth W. and Mary E. (de- 
 ceased). He continued merchandising in Lebanon till 
 September, 1848, when he purchased a half-interest 
 with Elisha AVaterman, Jr., at Bozrahville. October 
 16th of this same year his store at Lebanon was burned, 
 and since that time his attention has been devoted to 
 the establishment at Bozrahville. In 1855, Mr. Water- 
 man died, and Mr. Peckham took a younger brother, 
 Andrew Waterman, in as partner, and the business 
 was continued under the firm-name of Peckham & 
 Waterman. 
 
 Mr. Peckham also has an interest in various manu- 
 facturing companies, has been director of the Second 
 National Bank of Norwich, and has held various po- 
 sitions of trust and honor, such as selectman, town 
 agent, member of board of relief, justice of the peace; 
 was in the Legislature in 1855, and Senate in 1858, and 
 has been postmaster about twenty-five years. In 
 politics he was formerly a Democrat, but is now a 
 Republican. In religion both himself and wife are 
 members of the Congregational Church at Goshen, 
 and Mr. Peckham is one of its chief supporters. 
 
 His partner, Mr. Andrew Waterman, married Julia 
 Emma Stark, daughter of H. N. Stark, Feb. 5, 1873. 
 They have three children, — Elisha, Clarence M., and 
 Frank E. Mr. Waterman is a farmer as well as 
 merchant, and, like Mr. Peckham, is Republican in 
 politics. 
 
 Joseph Holmes, only son of Ozias and Betsey 
 (Tully) Holmes, was born Dec. 17, 1817, at East 
 Haddam, Conn. He received a common-school edu- 
 cation, supplemented with several terms at a select 
 school taught by Rev. George Carrington, and an 
 academy at Mount Parnassus, East Haddam, Conn., 
 under the control of N. Q. Foster, Esq. At twenty 
 commenced teaching, and taught a few terms. His 
 father was a practical farmer, hence Joseph was reared 
 to habits of industry and economy, thus laying the 
 foundation of his future success. December, 1848, 
 he went to Colchester, and began to work for the 
 Hayward Rubber Company, and after two years was 
 put in charge of the grinding department, till March, 
 1851, when he settled in Lebanon, near Bozrahville, 
 on the well-known Mason farm, since which time he 
 has been superintendent of the Hayward Rubber 
 Company at that place. He has an interest in the 
 business, and their particular branch of the trade is 
 to compound the crude material for the more exten- 
 sive works at Colchester, where it is made into goods. 
 They employ about forty men the year round. 
 
 In 1855 he became interested in the manufacture 
 of woolen goods at Rockville, Conn., and subsequently 
 a director in the Rockville Manufacturing Company 
 at that place. 
 
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 ^sf"^ 
 
 mi 
 
 Me.-/^H^u^ 
 
(7 ' 
 
LEBANON. 
 
 523 
 
 Since 1871 he has made valuable investments in 
 real estate, and resides on the original Mason farm, in 
 the southern part of the town of Lebanon, on which 
 he has made extensive improvements. He has been 
 three times married, — first, Maria K. Selden, May 21, 
 1844. She was born in Greenfield, Erie Co., Pa., 
 April 21, 1824, and was the daughter of Joseph and 
 Mary Ann (Kirtland) Selden. She died in Lebanon, 
 Conn., Dec. 30, 1859. Their children are Mary S., 
 wife of Charles DeKay Townsend, of Boston ; Eliza- 
 beth K., married Prof. Henry P. Johnston, of New 
 York; Harriet T., married Charlemagne Holmes, 
 of East Haddam, Conn. ; Adelaide M., married New- 
 ton Eozelle, of East Haddam, Conn. ; and Joseph S., 
 married Hattie E. Wade, of Hartford, Conn. 
 
 June 19, 1860, he married Sarah Eliza, daughter of 
 Griswold E. and Eliza J. (Saxton) Morgan. (See 
 Morgan genealogy.) She was born April 26, 1838. 
 They have one son, Howard M. 
 
 Mr. Holmes married for his third wife Fanny M. 
 Morgan, sister to his second wife. Their children are 
 Dudley T., Grace H., Alice E.,Eoyal G., Bessie E.,and 
 Frederick M. Mr. Holmes is a Eepublican, formerly a 
 Whig. In 1859 he represented his town in the Legis- 
 lature. He has always paid close attention to his busi- 
 ness, and has been successftil. He is industrious, fru- 
 gal, shrewd, and honest. He is of a social disposition, 
 and carries a frank, open countenance. He is a lib- 
 eral supporter of the Congregational Church at Boz- 
 rahville, Conn., and was formerly a member of the 
 Congregational Church at Fitchville. 
 
 Thomas Holmes' (2), of whom our only knowledge 
 is gained from the Letter of Directions written by his 
 grandson, married Mary Thetford, and lived in Lon- 
 don, England. He was a lawyer or counselor of Gray's 
 Inn, and was killed in the civil war at the siege of 
 Oxford, probably in May or June, 1646. Their son, 
 Thomas^ (3), was born in London, England ; thence 
 he came, during the "Great Plague," in 1665, to Vir- 
 ginia, and after a few years made his way to New 
 York, where he married Lucretia Dudley, daughter of 
 Thomas Dudley, of London, England. They settled 
 in New London, Conn., where she died July 5, 1689. 
 He removed to East Haddam, with his son John, at 
 whose house he died, Dec. 12, 1723, aged ninety-eight 
 years. John^ (4), son of Thomas and Lucretia 
 (Dudley) Holmes, born atNew London, Conn., March 
 11, 1686 or 1687, married, at New London, Feb. 11, 
 1706 or 1707, Mary Willey, born at New London, 
 Dec. 10, 1685, daughter of John and Miriam (Moore) 
 Willey. They settled in New London, where in 1710 
 the townsmen leased to him " an acre of rocky land 
 by Cedar Swamp, where his father hath planted some 
 apple-trees." 
 
 He died in East Haddam, May 29, 1734. They 
 had nine children, of whom Christopher was the fifth. 
 Christopher* (22), born at East Haddam, June 4, 
 1715; baptized and joined the church, East Haddam, 
 June 8, 1736; married March 2, 1736, Sarah An- 
 
 drews, born in East Haddam, Feb. 13, 1715 or 1716, 
 baptized July, 1725, and daughter of Samuel and 
 Eleanor (Lee) Andrews. ■ He was a constituent mem- 
 ber of the church in Hadlyme, June 26, 1745, and 
 she became a member soon after. He was chosen 
 deacon Jan. 18, 1750-51. She died Aug. 12, 1782 ; 
 he died April 12, 1792. They had fourteen children, 
 of whom Eliphalet* (48), the seventh, was born in 
 East Haddam, Feb. 3, 1746 or 1747 ; baptized at Had- 
 lyme, March 22, 1746, 0. S. ; married, Jan. 8, 1772, 
 Anne Gates, born at East Haddam, March 21, 1750, 
 baptized June 9, 1750, and daughter of Joseph and 
 Abigail (Fuller) Gates. She died Aug. 24, 1828 ; he 
 died Feb. 14, 1833. Eliphalet's fourth child, Ozias" 
 (83), born in East Haddam, April 2, 1789, married, 
 Jan. 19, 1808, Betsey Tully, born March 18, 1787, and 
 daughter of Elias and Azubah (Kirtland) Tully. He 
 died Aug. 26, 1845 ; she died Dec. 1, 1855, aged sixty- 
 eight years. 
 
 Mary Ann' (seventh generation), born Feb. 4, 1809; 
 baptized and joined the church in Hadlyme, Nov. 18, 
 1827; married, Nov. 8, 1829, Joseph Warner, born at 
 Lyme, Conn., Dec. 3, 1792, and son of Selden and 
 Dorothy (Selden) Warner. They settled in Lyme 
 (Hadlyme Society), where he died June 13, 1861. 
 Their children are Nancy H., Elizabeth A., and Jo- 
 seph S. 
 
 The Pettis Family.- — The paternal ancestor of 
 this branch of the Pettis family was named Samuel 
 Pettis, who came from Watertown, Mass., and settled 
 in that part of Norwich now (1881) known as Frank- 
 lin, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. 
 He had a family of children, one of whom was Peter 
 Pettis, who married Abigail Vail, of Norwich, by 
 whom he had three sons and four daughters. Peter 
 Pettis was a farmer in Franklin. One of his sons was 
 James, born in Franklin, Conn., and settled in Leba- 
 non before his marriage to Temperance Dewey, a de- 
 scendant of one of the early settlers in Lebanon, 
 Conn. Mr. Pettis had four children, viz. : (1) Lu- 
 cretia, married Stephen D. Tilden, father of Hon. 
 Daniel E. Tilden, of Cleveland, Ohio, and a relative 
 of Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, of New York; (2) Oliver; 
 (3) Lucy, married Alfred Howes, of Windham, Conn. ; 
 and (4) James, who died at twenty-eight years of age. 
 Mr. Pettis died in middle life, quite suddenly, and his 
 death was caused by over-exertion. 
 
 Oliver Pettis, son of James and Temperance 
 (Dewey) Pettis, was born in Lebanon, Oct. 18, 1781. 
 He received a common-school education, and several 
 terms at a private school taught by Dyer T. Hinkley, 
 of Lebanon. Oliver was reared on the farm, and 
 farming was his principal business through a long 
 and useful life. In his early life he taught school 
 several terms. Dec. 8, 1807, he married Wealthy 
 Fitch, daughter of Simon Fitch, a lineal descendant 
 of the Eev. James Fitch, first pastor in Norwich. (See 
 "History of Fitch Family, Lebanon, Conn.") Of 
 this union eight children were born, viz. : (1) James 
 
524 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 r., who died at the age of twenty-seven; (2) Jane 
 E. ; (3) Julian V. ; (4) Betsey F., died at twenty-one 
 years of age; (5) Lucy A. ; (6) Martha L., married 
 Shubael Hibard, of Norwich; (7) Eunice H. (de- 
 ceased), married Daniel Fairbanks, of Truxton, N.Y.; 
 and (8) Oliver Ellsworth. Mr. Pettis and his chil- 
 dren were born on the original Pettis homestead, in 
 Lebanon, Conn., and continued to reside there till 
 1831, when he purchased the farm on Lebanon Street, 
 in Lebanon, Conn., where he lived till his death. 
 
 He was a Whig in politics, and as such held all the 
 important offices of the town. He was a selectman 
 many years, and represented his town in the Legisla- 
 ture in 1828, and again in 1834. He was judge of 
 probate several years. In all the positions to which 
 he was called he discharged the duties of his position 
 with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constit- 
 uents. He was chosen captain of militia for many 
 years, and was familiarly known as Capt. Pettis. Mr. 
 Pettis was a member of the Congregational Church 
 at Lebanon for a few years before his death, and his 
 wife became one after his death. Judge Pettis kept 
 the South Society records for many years before his 
 death, and was succeeded by Judge Dolbeare, and he 
 by Oliver Ellsworth Pettis, son of Oliver Pettis. 
 
 Judge Pettis was a man of great force of character, 
 prudent, of a social disposition, and a man of good 
 executive ability, and by his industry and frugality, 
 assisted by his noble wife, left a competency to his 
 family. He died Dec. 10, 1855, and his wife died Feb. 
 18, 1864. 
 
 Oliver Ellsworth Pettis, son of Oliver, was born 
 March 15, 1825, and was educated in the common 
 schools of his native town and in the academy at 
 Westfield, Mass. He is occupied in farming upon the 
 homestead in Lebanon, Conn. Sept. 6, 1853, he mar- 
 ried Mary Almira, daughter of Jabez McCall, of Leb- 
 anon, Conn. She was born Aug. 19, 1834. Their 
 children are Jabez McCall ; Mary Ellsworth, died at 
 three years, July 11, 1864; and Caroline Whitney. 
 Mr. Pettis has held nearly all the important town 
 offices. In 1880 he was a member of the State Leg- 
 islature. He succeeded Judge Edwin M. Dolbeare as 
 clerk of the South Society, which position he still 
 holds. Mr. and Mrs. Pettis are members of the Con- 
 gregational Church at Lebanon, Conn., and he is a 
 deacon of the same. 
 
 Peleg George Thomas.— John Thomas arrived 
 in New England Sept. 11, 1635, in the ship "Hope- 
 well." He was reared by Governor Edward Winslow, 
 and settled on a farm given by him for the " better 
 accommodation of a neighborhood" from his tract in 
 Marshfield. He married, Dec. 21, 1648, Sarah Pit- 
 ney, who came to this country at the age of seven 
 years with her parents on the ship " Planter." They 
 had eight children. The sixth son, James, born Nov. 
 30, 1663, married Mary , name and date of mar- 
 riage unknown. They settled in Duxborough, and had 
 six children. The fourth son, John, born Nov. 7 1700 
 
 came to Lebanon with four other families of the same 
 name, who numbered among them forty-eight chil- 
 dren; forty-four of them lived to manhood and 
 womanhood, and married and spread the name from 
 the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. John married Han- 
 nah Spafard and had six children ; bought the ances- 
 tral farm of John Robinson, one of the first owners of 
 the town of Lebanon. He deeded the farm to his son 
 Pelegin 1765. 
 
 Peleg had a remarkable conversion at the age of 
 three years ; was noted for his piety and honest deal- 
 ing with his fellow-men ; was commissioned lieuten- 
 ant by Jonathan Trumbull during the Revolutionary 
 war. He was something of a poet in his old age, and 
 many houses in Lebanon have in them the .poems 
 written by him when over ninety years of age. He 
 married Mollie Bartlett, a descendant of Elder Brews- 
 ter, of " Mayflower" memory, and had five children. 
 
 His son Peleg married, March 25, 1802, Sally 
 Young, daughter of David Young, and had six chil- 
 dren, viz. : James, David, Edward, Peleg George, 
 Sarah M., and Thomas S., all born in the town of 
 Lebanon, Conn., and all are dead except Peleg 
 George, the subject of this sketch. 
 
 Mr. Thomas was a farmer, was a Whig in politics, 
 and for a long time held the oflBce of justice of the 
 peace. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were members of the 
 Congregational Church, and he one of its deacons 
 for many years. He died Nov. 16, 1860, and she 
 died Aug. 20, 1830, aged fifty-one, having been born 
 in 1779. 
 
 Peleg George Thomas, son of Peleg and Sally 
 Young Thomas, was born in Lebanon, Conn., July 
 24, 1809. He received a common-school education, 
 and at an early age began teaching a district school 
 at seven dollars and a half per month, and twenty 
 dollars a month was the most he ever received, and 
 that was on Long Island. At the age of twenty-two, 
 in 1831, he went to Richmond, Va., where he re- 
 mained one winter, and the following spring returned 
 to his native town, where he has since continued to 
 reside. 
 
 He became the sole owner of the homestead by 
 paying the other heirs their proportion, and by add- 
 ing farm after farm he has now (1881) more than one 
 thousand acres. He has dealt more or less exten- 
 sively in wood, which has proved highly remunera- 
 tive. 
 
 He is a Republican in politics. He has been jus- 
 tice of the peace and selectman many years, and 
 member of the Legislature in 1861. He is more or 
 less interested in railroads, and has settled several 
 estates. 
 
 Jan. 23, 1838, he was married to Mary S., daughter 
 of Josiah Cady, of Providence, R. I. She was born 
 June 18, 1812. Their children are (1) Mary L., de- 
 ceased ; (2) Sarah M. ; (3) Mary C, wife of W. W. Gil- 
 lette, and has three children, — Annie, Louise, and 
 Clara; (4) George H., deceased ; (5) James Y., married 
 
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 Q^- (^/^^y-7 -c^c^ 
 
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LEBANON. 
 
 525 
 
 Ella Avery, of Ledyard, and has three children, — ■ 
 James, Ella, and Eunice ; (6) Caroline S. ; (7) George 
 H., second; and (8) William G. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and the entire family are 
 memhers of the Congregational Church. Mr. Thomas 
 is a man universally respected. He has great force 
 of character, quick perception, a good business tact, 
 industrious and economical. 
 
 Erastus Geer. — The subject of this sketch is a son 
 of David Geer and Anna Gallup, daughter of Isaac 
 and Anna (Smith) Gallup, and was born in the town 
 of Lebanon, Conn., Oct. 9, 1828. His paternal an- 
 cestor was George Geer, who, tradition says, was one 
 of two sons of Jonathan Geer, of the county of Devon, 
 England. 
 
 George Geer was born in Hevitree, England, in 
 1G21, and his brother Thomas was born there in 
 1623. They were bereaved of their parents while 
 young, and were put in charge of an uncle. They 
 came to America, and settled in Boston in 1635, with- 
 out friends or money. George Geer became an early 
 settler in New London, Conn., about 1651, and 
 Thomas about 1682. 
 
 On the 17th of February, 1658, George Geer mar- 
 ried Sarah, daughter of Robert Allyn, one of the 
 earliest settlers in New London, Conn. Immediately 
 after his marriage he settled on a tract of land ad- 
 joining or near the said Allyn's land, on the grant of 
 fifty acres made to him by the town of New London, 
 now called Ledyard. He was one of the first officers 
 of the town. He died towards the close of the year 
 1726, at the age of one hundred and five years. He 
 had a family of eleven children, the eighth of whom 
 was Robert, born Jan. 2, 1675, and died in 1742. 
 Robert married Martha Tyler, and had five children, 
 the second of whom was Ebenezer, born April 1, 1709, 
 and died Aug. 28, 1763. Ebenezer Geer married Pru- 
 dence Wheeler, Jan. 2, 1735. She was born Sept. 25, 
 1712, and died June 2, 1797. They had ten children, 
 the youngest of whom was David, born June 18, 1755, 
 and died Aug. 31, 1835. 
 
 David Geer married Mary Stanton, May 17, 1781. 
 She was born Aug. .28, 1756. Their children were 
 Dorothy, David (2), born Jan. 20, 1784, William S., 
 Prudence, Joseph, Cyrus, Anna, Robert, Isaac W., 
 and Charles, all born in Ledyard, Conn. 
 
 David Geer (2) married Anna Gallup, Jan. 11, 1810. 
 She was born Sept. 3, 1787, and died Feb. 12, 1862. 
 Their children are Cyrus G., William F., Thankful S., 
 an infant son, Sarah A., David, and Erastus, the im- 
 mediate subject of this sketch. David Geer settled 
 in Lebanon, Conn., in the year 1817, on the farm now 
 (1881) owned and occupied by his son Erastus. His 
 farm of five hundred acres is in a good state of cul- 
 tivation, and well watered by the YaMtic River, flow- 
 ing through it. Among Lebanon's substantial men 
 and representative farmers, none perhaps have accom- 
 plished more as farmers than the Geer family, and 
 much credit is due to the indefatigable energy and 
 34 
 
 perseverance of David Geer. He was a Whig and 
 Republican in politics. He died May 19, 1867, and 
 lies buried by the side of his wife in the family bury- 
 ing-ground on the home farm. 
 
 His brothers and sisters settled in New London 
 County, excepting Wm. S., Robert, and Charles, who 
 settled near Syracuse, Onondaga Co., N. Y. His 
 children settled in Lebanon, with the exception of 
 William F., who settled in Syracuse, N. Y., and died 
 there Aug. 26, 1875. 
 
 Erastus Geer was reared on the farm, and early 
 learned the cardinal principles ofsuccess, industry, and 
 frugality. His advantages for an education were spch 
 as the common schools of the day afforded, supple- 
 mented with a few terms at Bacon Academy, at Col- 
 chester, Conn. At the age of nineteen he commenced 
 teaching school, and taught ten terms during the win- 
 ters, working on the farm summers. Being the youngest 
 of the family, he very naturally continued the occu- 
 pancy of the homestead. He is energetic, prudent, 
 and practical, alike in public and private affairs. As 
 a man he is respected at home and abroad ; as a 
 farmer he ranks among the most enterprising of 
 the town. In politics a life-long Whig and Republi- 
 can, and as such has held important offices of the 
 town. 
 
 In 1877 he was a member of the State Legislature, 
 serving on the Committee of Claims. In 1878 he 
 was appointed one of the County Commissioners of 
 New London County, and is now (1881) serving on 
 his second term. He has been twice married, — first to 
 Almira H..Saxton, May 12, 1852. She died May 30, 
 1853, leaving one son, William H. Second, to Frances 
 A., daughter of Joseph and Laura (Witler) Geer, of 
 Ledyard, Conn., Nov. 21, 1861. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Geer are members of the Goshen 
 Congregational Church, in Lebanon, Conn. 
 
 Isaac Gallup Avery, of Lebanon, is a descendant 
 of Isaac Avery, of Groton, who was one of that large 
 and intelligent family of Averys so intimately con- 
 nected with the early history of Groton. For a more 
 extended notice of the ancestry, see history of Gro- 
 ton, Conn., also biography of Albert L. Avery, of 
 Groton. 
 
 Isaac Avery, of Groton, had a son Nathan, who had 
 a son Ellas B., born in Ledyard, Conn., March 6, 1805. 
 He was twice married,— first to Mary Ann Gallup, 
 daughter of Isaac Gallup (see history of Groton), and 
 to them was born, Dec. 20, 1835, Mary Ann, who mar- 
 ried, March 24, 1857, William Geer, of Torrington, 
 Conn. Mrs. Avery died Jan. 4, 1836. Mr. Avery 
 married for his second wife Thankful S., daughter of 
 David and Nancy (Gallup) Geer. She was born in 
 Ledyard, Conn., May 10, 1814. Their children are 
 Sarah A. (married John Williams), Isaac G., Nancy 
 M. (married Everette Stark), Eliza S. (died at twenty- 
 one), and Albert A. (died young). 
 
 Elias B. was a farmer. He settled in Lebanon, 
 Conn, in 1837, and resided there till his death, July 
 
526 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 25, 1864. He was a Whig and Eeiniljlicau, and held 
 the offices of selectman and magistrate. 
 
 Isaac Gallup Avery, son of Elias B., was born on 
 the farm where he now resides, in Lebanon, Conn., 
 July 4, 1841. He worked on the farm summers and 
 attended the district school winters till seventeen 
 vears of age, when he left the school and continued 
 to work on the farm till Aug. 21, 1862, when he 
 enlisted in the Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteer 
 Infantry. He served faithfully his country, and 
 was in all the engagements of his regiment. He was 
 mustered out as corporal, June 16, 1865, at New Ha- 
 ven, Conn. He was in many engagements, but es- 
 caped with a slight wound. He is a farmer on the 
 old homestead. On the 1st of March, 1862, he mar- 
 ried Eliza M. Williams, daughter of James C. and Har- 
 riet A. Williams. She was born in Lebanon, Conn., 
 Jan. 12, 1844. Their children are Anna G. (deceased), 
 Albert G. (deceased), Amorett E., Arthur D., Alice 
 L., and Ada N. 
 
 James C, son of Jasen Williams, was born in Leb- 
 anon. He was a farmer. Jasen was born in Canter- 
 bury, Conn., settled in Lebanon, and died in 1855, 
 aged eighty-eight. His wife died in 1845. 
 
 Silas Palmer Abell, of Lebanon, Conn., is a lineal 
 descendant of Caleb Abell, of Norwich, who married 
 Margaret Post (born in 1653), of Saybrook. She was 
 a daughter of John Post, born at Hartford in 1637, 
 and her mother's name was Hester Hyde, born in 
 England, and daughter of William Hyde, born in 
 England, and died at Norwich in 1681. Caleb Abell 
 had three sons,— Caleb^, born April, 1677, Samuel, 
 and John. 
 
 Caleb- married Abigail Sluraan, Feb. 20, 1705. She 
 was the daughter of Thomas Sluman and Sarah Bliss, 
 and was born March, 1680. Caleb Abell had four 
 children, viz. : DanieP, CaleV, Abigail, and Mary. 
 Samuel Abell married Elizabeth Sluman in 1697, 
 and had five children, — Elizabeth, Margaret, Samuel, 
 Joshua, and Sarah. John Abell married Rebecca 
 Sluman, and had seven children, — John, Sarah, Solo- 
 mon, Kebecca, Hannah, Bertha, and David. Daniel', 
 son of Caleb'^, married Sarah Crane in 1729, and had 
 nine children, viz. : DanieP, Eliphalet, Jonathan, 
 Mary, Betsey, Sarah, Elijah, Simon, and Elizabeth. 
 Daniel married Lucy Bill; Eliphalet married Lydia 
 Williams; Jonathan married Lydia Bliss; Elijah, 
 grandfather of Silas P., married Hannah West ; Mary 
 married J. Clark, grandfather of Col. J. Clark ; Betsey 
 married Daniel Clark, Jr., and had seven children. 
 He was the father of Hosea Clark, who married 
 Esther Williams; Betsey married .losejdi William 
 Bissel, and had a son, Clark Bissel, who was one 
 of the (iovernors of Connecticut. Ruby Clark mar- 
 ried Ambrose Williams, and Lucy Clark married 
 Capt. Charles Williams. Elijah Abell and Hannah 
 West had five children,— (1) Betsey (Mrs. William 
 C. Hills); (2) Elijah, married Lucy Webster; (8) 
 Julia, never married; (4) Daniel, married Jemima 
 
 Burnham ; and (5) Silas, who married Khoda Web- 
 ster, and had seven children, viz. : James M., Wil- 
 liam E., Rhoda C, Betsey M., Julia A., Silas Spauld- 
 intr and Silas Palmer, born Aug. 10, 1822. His 
 
 father dying when he was only three years of age, he 
 was left to the care of his mother, with whom he 
 lived till he was nine years of age, when he com- 
 menced living on the fiirm where he now resides, with 
 one Col. Julius Clark, a successful farmer in Lebanon. 
 Mr. Abell married Sophronia Robinson, March 22, 
 1846, and to them have been born six children, viz. : 
 Julia A., Caroline C, Ida S., Clifford R. and Clifton 
 P., twins, and Myron R. Julia A. died at twenty- 
 five, wife of Leonard A. Horton ; (2) Caroline C. 
 married Chauncey A. Brown, and has two children, — ■ 
 Julia A. and Annie S. ; (3) Ida S. married Elisha 
 P. Spafard, and has two children, — Lottie M. and 
 Henry P. ; (4 and 5, twins) Clifford R. and Clifton 
 P. died at three years and nineteen days and three 
 years nine months and four days respectively; (6) 
 Myron R., born Nov. 18, 1862. Mr. Abell is a Re- 
 publican, and follows the vocation of a farmer. He 
 received his education at the common schools. He 
 has been at different times assessor, grand juror, 
 selectman, town agent, justice of the peace, and 
 member of the board of relief. In 1860 and 1880 
 he was member of the State Legislature. In 1876 he 
 was a candidate from the Ninth District for State 
 senator. Mr. and Mrs. Abell are members of the 
 Congregational Church at Exeter, and he was elected 
 deacon in 1869. 
 
^^^Lzu;l^ 
 
In a letter from Hon. A. J. McCall, of Bath, Steuben 
 Co., N. Y., to Jabez McCall, of Lebanon, Conn., we 
 glean the following imperfect record of the early history 
 of the McCall family, collected from the town records 
 of their old home, Marshfield, Mass. 
 
 The first James McCall married Anna , and 
 
 had children,— James (2), born Oct. 30, 1690, and 
 Anthony, who died May 29, 1688. James (1) was 
 elected constable of Marshfield in 1690. He died May 
 9, 1695. 
 
 James (2) married Rachel Turner, Nov. 16, 1711, and 
 had the following children: Benajah, born in Marsh- 
 field, Aug. 19, 1712; Ebenezer, date of birth not known, 
 baptized Feb. 6, 1715; James (3), born March 16, 1715; 
 Rachel, born Nov. 26, 1716. 
 
 Mrs. James McCall died Dec. 8, 1716, and he married 
 Hannah Green, Jan. 28, 1718. She was the daughter of 
 a clergyman. 
 
 Elisha McCall, probably son of James and Hannah 
 McCall, was baptized in 1720. 
 
 James (2) and his wife Hannah took letters of dismis- 
 sion to the Goshen Church, in Lebanon, Conn., in 1724. 
 (See "History of Lebanon.") James (2) had by his 
 wife Hannah several sons and daughters, one of whom 
 was Arehippus, born in 1723, married Deborah Marsh, 
 and had children, viz.: Jacob, Hobart, Ozias, Roger, 
 Walter, Green, Anna, Mary, and Deborah. Anna mar- 
 ried a Murdock, Mary married Joseph Badcock, and 
 Deborah married Levi Coej-of Litchfield, Conn. 
 
 Arehippus McCall was a farmer; died Dec. 2, 1798, 
 aged seventy-five years. Deborah, his wife, died Feb. 
 
 15, 1820, aged ninety-three years. 
 
 Green McCall, son of the above, was born in Leb- 
 anon, Conn., May 12, 1765; married Asenath Gager, 
 June 5, 1788. She was born Jan. 1, 1767. Their 
 children were William, born July 24, 1790; John, born 
 Dec. 13, 1793; Mary, wife of Daniel Hinckley, born 
 Oct. 5, 1795; Jerusha, bom July 28, 1797, died Aug. 
 
 16, 1814; Joseph, born June 20, 1800; jabez, born 
 
 Jan. 23, 1803; and Harriet, born Oct. 20, 1806, died 
 Feb. 18, 1853. 
 
 Green McCall purchased his farm in Lebanon of one 
 Joseph Brown soon after his marriage, and continued 
 to reside on the same farm where all his children were 
 born till his death, Aug. 18, 1854, aged eighty-nine 
 years. He was a Whig in politics, and held the various 
 offices of his town. His wife died May 12, 1858, aged 
 ninety-one years. 
 
 Jabez McCall, son of Green, was reared on the farm, 
 receiving the advantages of a common-school education 
 till he was eighteen years of age. He continued on the 
 home farm till 1835 or '36, when he purchased a farm 
 within a mile of the old homestead, and lived on it till 
 1850, when he returned to the old homestead, where he 
 now (October, 1881) resides. He has been twice married : 
 first to Almira Loomis, daughter of Joseph Loomis, 
 Sept. 27, 1827. She was born May 12, 1807, and died 
 April 19,1864. Their children are (1) Aurelia, born Nov. 
 9, 1828, married Erastus R. Randall, and has three chil- 
 dren, viz., Abby, Mary, and Lizzie; (2) Mary A., born 
 Aug. 19, 1834, married O. E. Pettis, of Lebanon, and 
 had three children, — Jabez McCall, Mary E. (deceased), 
 and Carrie W. Mr. McCall married for his second wife 
 Cordelia Huntington, daughter of Eliphalet Huntington, 
 Dec. 14, 1865. She was born Aug. 24, 1813. 
 
 Mr. McCall has always been a stanch Republican, and 
 one of the leading men in his town. He has been justice 
 of the peace and selectman many years, and member of 
 the State Legislature in 1857, serving on the Committee 
 of Sale of Lands. Mr. and Mrs, McCall are members 
 of the Congregational Church, as was his first wife, and 
 he has been a deacon of the same for more than twenty 
 years. He is a man of strong will and positive character. 
 He has always been very active in life. He is very 
 economical, yet liberal towards all benevolent institu- 
 tions, and charitable to the poor. He enjoys the confi- 
 dence of all his fellow- townsmen, and is regarded as one 
 of the best and most influential men of the town. 
 
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LEBANON. 
 
 527 
 
 Henry A. Spafard, of Lebanon, Conn., is a de- 
 scendant from John Spafiford (or Spafard, as the name is 
 spelled by some), who came from England and settled 
 in Massachusetts. He had several children, one of 
 whom was named Thomas, born in Eowley, Mass., 
 June 6, 1678, married Bethial West, December, 1701. 
 They had several children, one of whom was Thomas 
 (2). 
 
 Thomas (1) came to Connecticut and settled in 
 Lebanon between 1701 and 1718, and became the pro- 
 genitor of a large and intelligent family. 
 
 Thomas (2) married Sarah West, Nov. 27, 1735, 
 and had one son, Nathan, and several daughters. 
 Nathan married Ann Cole, and had many children, 
 one of whom was Ebenezer, who married Lydia 
 Wells, Oct. 11, 1798, and had four children, viz.: 
 Lucy (Mrs. Jesse Wilcox), Samuel, Augustus, born 
 Sept. 9, 1802, and Polly (Mrs. Henry Porter). Eben- 
 ezer was a farmer, and held the various town ofiices. 
 
 Augustus Spafard was a farmer. In 1831 he went 
 to Choconut, Pa., with his family, and remained till 
 1836, when he removed to Broome County, N. Y., and 
 remained there till 1852, when he returned to Leba- 
 non, Conn., with his family. He married Esther, 
 daughter of Amos Porter and Sarah Webster. Their 
 children were Albert P., Henry A., Amos, and Har- 
 riet P. (Mrs. Thomas A. Carpenter). Augustus Spafard 
 was a Democrat in politics, as were his forefathers. 
 He died March 5, 1873, and his wife died March 22, 
 1870. Both were buried at Exeter, Conn. 
 
 Henry A. Spafard was born in Lebanon, Conn., 
 June 5, 1831, went to Pennsylvania and New York 
 with his parents, returned with them in 1852, at 
 twenty-one years of age. He has always been a 
 farmer, and since his marriage to Mary E., only child 
 of Elisha P. and Mary C. Porter, April 3, 1853, has 
 lived on the Porter homestead, in Exeter, Lebanon, 
 Conn. Their children are Elisha P., Emily P. (Mrs. 
 J. Eugene Tucker), Henry A., Jr., Lizzie, John A., 
 all born on the Porter homestead. He is a Repub- 
 lican in politics, and as such has been selectman four 
 years, three of which he was first selectman, assessor 
 many years, justice of the peace several years, which 
 office he still holds, also all the minor town offices, 
 and member of the Legislature in 1868. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Spafard are members of the Congregational 
 Church at Exeter, and he is one of its deacons. His 
 wife is descended from John Porter, an Englishman, 
 who settled in Lebanon, Conn., at an early day. He 
 had three sons, one of whom was John, who settled 
 at Exeter, in Lebanon, Conn., on a large tract of 
 land near the North Pond. One of his sons was 
 Reuben, who had a son Asahel, who married Mary 
 Pratt, of Cooperstown, N. Y., and had five children, 
 three of whom grew to maturity, viz. : Elisha P., 
 Mary, and Betsey. Elisha P. married Mary C. Porter, 
 and had one daughter, Mary Elizabeth, born May 24, 
 1830. All the above generationshave been farmers, 
 and six generations of them have resided on the farm 
 
 now owned by Henry A. Spafard. Elisha Pratt 
 Porter was born Oct. 24, 1794, and died April 4, 1853. 
 Mrs. Elisha P. Porter was born September, 1802, and 
 died June 27, 1830. 
 
 Mary Porter, sister of Elisha P., always lived on 
 the old homestead, and died April 29, 1881, aged 
 seventy-five years. 
 
 Gideon Hoxie, son of Isaac Hoxie and Cynthia 
 Loomis, was born in Lebanon, Conn., March 9, 1808. 
 His father, Isaac, was a son of Gideon Hoxie, and 
 was born in Rhode Island in 1780, and settled in 
 Lebanon, Conn., in 1794, at fourteen years of age, 
 with his parents, on the farm now owned by his son 
 Gideon. He was always a farmer. He married Cyn- 
 thia Loomis, and had the following children, viz. : 
 (1) Mary Ann, married Daniel Blanchard ; (2) Gideon;' 
 and (3) Abby Jane (deceased), married Joshua Tracy. 
 In politics he was a Democrat. He died about 1845, 
 and his wife in 1865. 
 
 Gideon, Sr., was of English descent, and was a na- 
 tive of Rhode Island, where his ancestors had resided 
 for several generations. Gideon Hoxie, the subject 
 of this sketch, received a common-school education, 
 and worked on his father's farm till 1837, when he 
 went to Franklin and kept public-house with Joshua 
 Tracy. He made a journey to the West, and pur- 
 chased horses, returned, and was engaged as a team- 
 ster six years at South Coventry, Conn., then went 
 West and bought more horses. On his return he set- 
 tled on his farm at Liberty Hill, where he remained 
 until his mother's death in 1865. He was not en- 
 gaged in any business for the next eight years. In 
 1873 he settled on his present beautiful farm, and has 
 resided here since. In 1879 he commenced building 
 his present residence, which is one of the best in the 
 town. He married Phylura Mason, widow of Edward 
 Mason (see history of Mason family), and daughter 
 of Edmund Styles, June, 1858, and to them was born 
 one son, George Henry, Dec. 31, 1858. 
 Mrs. Hoxie died in November, 1860. 
 In politics Mr. Hoxie has always been a Democrat, 
 but on account of a deafness, caused by sickness when 
 he was a young boy, he has not been able to transact 
 any town matters. Religiously, he inclines towards 
 Universalism, as his fathers have done for several 
 generations. 
 
 Daniel Mason was born in Lebanon, Conn., Sept. 
 13 1770. He was a lineal descendant of Capt. John 
 Mason, who was born in England in 1600, and who 
 was Sir Thomas Fairfax's companion in arms in the 
 Netherlands, and was probably a lieutenant. Capt. 
 John Mason settled in America between the years 
 1630 and 1632. We quote the following : 
 
 " The first occurrence of his name in the history of 
 New England is in the year 1632-33, when he and 
 Capt. Gallup, a kindred spirit, were appointed by the 
 magistrate of Massachusetts to suppress the rapine 
 and cruelty of Bull's band of pirates on the coast. 
 The court granted to him (1638) for his service ten 
 
528 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 pounds, and in the terms of the grant he is called ' Lieu- 
 tenant Mason.' In Novemher of the year 1683 he was 
 entitled by the court ' Captain Mason,' when Sergt. 
 Stoughton was chosen the ensign of his company in 
 Massachusetts. Having settled at Dorchester, he was 
 admitted a freeman in 1634-35, and represented this 
 town at the General Court in 1635 and 1636. He re- 
 moved with Mr. Warham's party from their first loca- 
 tion, and thus became (1636) one of the first planters 
 of the new colony at Windsor. He is to be distin- 
 guished from his contemporary, Capt. John Mason, 
 Governor of Newfoundland, the associate of Sir Ferdi- 
 nando Gorgee and others, who claimed the territory 
 of New Hampshire. He and his friend Whiting were 
 for many years distinguished leaders of the people, 
 .celebrated for their care and protection of the col- 
 onies. 
 
 "Ninety men for the Pequotwar were furnished by 
 the three settlements, Hartford, Windsor, and Weth- 
 ersfield; and these, together with seventy Mohegans 
 and other friendly Indians, soon proceeded on their 
 expedition towards Saybrook fort. The friendly In- 
 dians were led by the celebrated Uncas, sachem of 
 the Mohegans, and the whole force was under the 
 command of Capt. Mason. Not long after the termi- 
 nation of the war the captain was (March 8, 1638) 
 appointed, and until his death he continued to be, the 
 major-general of all the forces of Connecticut. 
 
 " For eighteen years (1642 to 1660) he was chosen 
 a magistrate, a commissioner to the Congress of the 
 United Colonies (1647, 1654 to 1657, and 1661), chief 
 judge of the County Court (from 1664 to 1670), and 
 for nine years (1660 to 1669) Deputy Governor. In 
 the settlement of the town of Saybrook, as early as 
 the year 1637, he was one of the five principal plan- 
 ters, and he afterwards (1647) resided there, and was 
 chosen one of the two magistrates to whom was con- 
 fided the government of the town. 
 
 " In testimony of their appreciation of his services, 
 and especially of his exploit at the Mystic Kiver, 
 the General Court, after the example of the ancient 
 Greeks, who gave portions of land to their victorious 
 heroes, bestowed (1641) upon their valiant captain 
 five hundred acres of the Pequot territory, and a tract 
 of equal extent for distribution among his comrades. 
 On a previous occasion (1639) the court had granted 
 to him ten pounds ' for his good service against the 
 Pequots, and otherwise.' While Governor Winthrop 
 was absent in England on the business of the colony, 
 for a renewal of their charter, at the time of the ac- 
 cession of King Charles II., on Deputy Governor 
 Mason devolved the chief conduct of civil afl'airs ; 
 and when the charter was sanctioned by the royal 
 authority he was appointed (1662) by the king 'Dep- 
 uty Governor until an annual election could be had, 
 and at that election his appointment was continued. 
 He was one of the nineteen petitioners to Charles II. 
 who were selected to sign the document in the colony's 
 behalf. 
 
 " Having for many years resided at Saybrook, Maj. 
 Mason removed (1660) to Norwich, where, advanced 
 in years and disabled by bodily infirmities, ' he ex- 
 cused himself from the service of the commonwealth,' 
 and soon after died, before the 4th day of June 
 (1672), in the seventy-third year of his age, honored 
 and lamented, not more sagacious, valiant, and in- 
 trepid as a military leader than he was wise and just 
 as a legislator and a magistrate. His house at Nor- 
 wich was ' a little south of the old court-house, on the 
 old road leading to New London, near the bridge' 
 over the Yantic, and was 'bought by the town (1692) 
 for a parsonage.' In a neighboring field of graves 
 repose his ashes, where a monument designates the 
 grave of the first military officer and the Deputy 
 Governor of the colony of Connecticut." 
 
 He left three sons and four daughters by his second 
 wife, whom he married in 1640, his first wife having 
 died at Windsor. They were Priscilla, born in Octo- 
 ber, ] 641 ; Samuel, July, 1644 ; John, August, 1646 ; 
 Rachel, October, 1648 ; Anne, June, 1650 ; Daniel, 
 April, 1652 ; and Elizabeth, August, 1654. 
 
 To these children are to be traced the genealogies 
 of very many descendants conspicuous for intellectual 
 endowments and moral worth. Daniel, the third son, 
 resided at Lebanon, was for a time (1679) a school- 
 master at Norwich, and died (1736) at Stonington, at 
 the age of eighty-five years. His son Daniel was born 
 at Roxbury in the year 1676, his mother having been 
 sent thither to her friends during the Indian trouble 
 at Norwich, and he was baptized there (a.d. 1676, 
 month 2d, day 9th) by the pastor of the first church 
 at Eoxbury, Eliot, the apostle of the Indians. 
 
 He married, April 19, 1704, Dorothy, daughter of 
 the Rev. Jeremiah Hobart, of Haddam, and died 
 leaving one son, Jeremiah, who was born March 4, 
 1705, and married (May 24, 1727J Mary, daughter of 
 Thomas, who was son of Wm. Clark, one of the first 
 settlers of Haddam. After his marriage he removed 
 to Franklin, Conn., and there had four sons and four 
 daughters. The farm where he settled in Franklin, 
 Conn., is owned by James F. Mason. He was a 
 deacon of the Congregational Church and an influ- 
 ential man in the town. He died in 1779, and his 
 wife died at the advanced age of ninety-six years, in 
 the same house in Lebanon, Conn., where their great- 
 grandson, Jeremiah Mason, now (1881) resides. One 
 of his children was named Jeremiah (2), born in 
 Franklin, Conn., 1730; married Elizabeth, daughter 
 of Rev. James Fitch, who was born at Booking, Es- 
 sex Co., England, Dec. 24, 1632, settled in Saybrook, 
 Conn., thence went to Norwich, Conn., where he was 
 the first pastor of the Congregational Church in Nor- 
 wich, and died in Lebanon, Nov. 18, 1702. 
 
 Elizabeth was born in 1732, and died in 1809. Jere- 
 miah (2) had eight children, viz.: 1, Abigail, who 
 married Capt. Andrew Fitch, a captain in the Revo- 
 lutionary war; 2, Elizabeth (Mrs. John Hillhouse, of 
 Montville) ; 3, Ann, who married Christopher Ray- 
 
LEDYARD. 
 
 529 
 
 mond, of Montville; 4, Mary (Mrs. John N. Pea- 
 body) ; 5, Ehoda (Mrs. Munford Dolbeare) ; 6, James 
 Fitch ; 7, Jeremiah; and 8, Daniel, all born in Leba- 
 non, Conn., except Abigail. He served with distinc- 
 tion in the Revolutionary war, and was known as 
 Col. Mason. He was prominent in town and county 
 affairs, and ever tried to do good. He was a farmer, 
 and reared his children to habits of industry and so- 
 briety. He was a good man, affectionate to his 
 family, kind and obliging to his neighbors, faithful 
 and strict in the observance of all moral and religious 
 duties. He died at eighty-three years of age (1813). 
 His youngest son, Daniel, married Eunice Hunting- 
 ton, daughter of Capt. Wni. Huntington, Dec. 8, 1798. 
 She was born Jan. 14, 1769. Their children were: 
 1, Bithiah H., who married Col. John Wattles ; 2, 
 Eunice E., married Col. Joseph Ambler ; 3, Mary L., 
 married Dr. Charles Dutton ; 4, Ehoda L., married 
 Eev. Nathan S. Hunt; 5, Julia Ann, born Oct. 10, 
 1805; 6, Wealthy F., who died at twenty-four; 7, 
 John G. H., died at twenty-one ; and 8, Abby J. 
 
 Mr. Mason was a farmer and manufacturer of 
 woolen goods ; a Whig in politics. He died March 
 26, 1828, and Mrs. Daniel Mason died March 22, 1857, 
 and both were buried in the First Cemetery, at Leb- 
 anon, Conn. His daughter, Julia A. Mason, inserts 
 the above notice of her ancestry in memory of them. 
 James Fitch Mason, sixth child of Jeremiah (2), 
 was born in Lebanon, Conn., in 1762. He was 
 always a farmer; married Nancy, daughter of Jo- 
 seph Fitch, of Montville, and had eight children, 
 viz. . Elizabeth, married Elisha Waterman ; Nancy ; 
 Jeremiah ; James Fitch, died without issue, Lockport, 
 N. Y. ; Sarah ; Alfred, died in Iowa without issue ; 
 William, no issue ; Edward, who married Phylura O. 
 Styles, and had five children, viz. : James F., Nancy 
 P., George E. (deceased), William A. (deceased), and 
 Jeremiah (deceased). Edward died March 30, 1849, 
 aged thirty-nine. 
 
 James F., Sr., held nearly all the offices of the 
 town, such as selectman and member of the Legisla- 
 ture. He died May, 1836, his wife having died May, 
 1832. 
 
 Elizabeth Mason, who married Elisha Waterman, 
 had the following children: Andrew (1), deceased; 
 James ; Elizabeth, married Nathaniel Sexton ; Elisha ; 
 and Nancy Fitch, who married James M. Peckham, 
 has two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary (deceased), 
 and Andrew (2). 
 
 Jeremiah Mason, only living child of James Fitch 
 Mason, was born in Lebanon, Conn., in the same 
 house where he has always lived for eighty-six years, 
 March 4, 1795. He bears the honored name of his 
 grandfather Jeremiah, and right well has he tried 
 through a long life to honor that name. His advan- 
 tages for an education were limited, yet by that same 
 energy which has always marked his progress he has 
 acquired a good practical education. His life-work 
 ha,s been that of a farmer, and he has by great perse- 
 
 verance and frugality become one of the largest and 
 best farmers in Lebanon. He has been liberal to the 
 church and charitable to the poor. He is a great 
 friend to children, and many there are to-day who 
 enjoy meeting Uncle Jerry. He is a Republican in 
 politics. In 1862 he was a member of the Legisla- 
 ture. He has always been of a retiring disposition, 
 not seeking official honors, but preferring the quiet 
 of home. He is universally respected, being honest, 
 industrious, and frugal. 
 
 Edward Mason, the youngest of eight children, was 
 a great favorite in the family, and after his death 
 Jeremiah invited his widow and three children, the 
 youngest three and the eldest thirteen years of age, 
 to make their home with him and his two sisters, ex- 
 pressing a wish that the family might be kept to- 
 gether, sparing no expense that a father could bestow 
 upon his children. 
 
 The youngest, Wm. Alfred Mason, enlisted in the 
 Eighth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers at the age of 
 seventeen ; lived only six months, and died of con- 
 sumption. 
 
 James Fitch Mason married Fanny G. Hoxie. 
 They have two children, — William Alfred and Fanny 
 Fitch. James Fitch Mason resides on a large farm 
 in Franklin, which was given to him by his uncle 
 Jeremiah, and which has been occupied by the Mason 
 family for six generations. He is a very prosperous 
 farmer. The farm adjoining, known as the " little 
 farm," has been given to Nancy Fitch Mason by her 
 uncle Jeremiah. She is caring for him at the old 
 homestead, where he has always lived. He has two 
 large farms, which he improves and directs at the 
 advanced age of eighty-six years. 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 
 LEDYARD. 
 
 Geographical— Topographical— The Pequots— Indian Burial-Place— The 
 "Last Ketreat"— "MaehantHcket"— The Pioneers— Allyn'8 Point— Or- 
 ganization of the Parisli- First Meeting— Warning-Posts— The First 
 Minister— Name of the Town— Incorporation of the Town— The First 
 Selectmen— Ecclesiastical History-Congregational Church— The Sep- 
 aratists—The Methodist Episcopal Church— The Baptist Church- 
 Prominent Sons of Ledyard— Military Kecord— Judges of Probate— 
 Eepresentatives from 1836 to 1882. 
 
 The town of Ledyard lies southeast of the centre 
 of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north 
 by Preston, on the east by Stonington and North 
 Stonington, on the south by Groton, and on the west 
 by Thames River, which separates it from Waterford 
 and Montville. The surface of the town is hilly, and 
 the soil generally fertile. 
 
 The following history of Ledyard is from the pen 
 of Capt. William T. Cook, who has earned the grate- 
 ful remembrance of his fellow-citizens and the sons 
 of Ledyard in rescuing from oblivion the annals of 
 the town. 
 
530 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The Pequot Indians were the aboriginal inhabitants 
 of this section of the country. They were a warlike 
 race, more savage than the surrounding tribes, and 
 more unfriendly towards the whites, although there is 
 no record of any Indian battle taking place within the 
 limits of what is now known as the town of Ledyard. 
 
 A favorite place of burial seems to have been on 
 the farm now owned by Mr. William Fanning. An 
 old gentleman who was present at the opening of one 
 of these graves many years ago gives this description 
 of it: A circular opening was dug in the earth, and 
 the body placed in a sitting posture. A stake had 
 been forced into the ground perpendicularly in front 
 of it; a nail was driven into the stake, on which was 
 hung a looking-glass opposite the face of the dead, 
 who was supposed to be a female. Two earthen bowls 
 were also deposited in the grave ; these were supposed 
 to contain the succotash to be used as food on the 
 journey to the spirit-land. 
 
 The finding of these articles in this grave shows 
 that the body was placed there after the country was 
 settled by the whites. The glass and bowls dropped 
 in pieces on being exposed to the air. In the grave 
 where another body was laid years after were buried 
 a gun with seven pounds of powder and seven pounds 
 of shot for the use of the hunter when he should ar- 
 rive at the " happy hunting-grounds." A white man 
 is said to have coveted these then precious articles 
 and hired a man to rob the grave, but his courage 
 failed before the time came for the attempt to be made, 
 and the Indian is supposed to still retain his gun and 
 ammunition. 
 
 The "last retreat" (so called) of the Pequots is a 
 portion of it situated in the northeast part of this 
 town. This reservation, consisting originally of nine 
 hundred acres, was called in the Indian dialect, Ma- 
 shantucket. It is now known as " Indian Town." 
 The tribe has been gradually dwindling away, and 
 probably at this day there is not a pure blood left. 
 
 Efforts have been made to Christianize them, but 
 have been attended with little success. The late Gen. 
 William Williams took a deep interest in the remnant 
 of this tribe, employed teachers, and endeavored to 
 gather them into a school, but his labors were una- 
 vailing. 
 
 North Groton, together with Groton, Stonington, 
 and several other towns, were included originally in 
 the township of New London, but not all were con- 
 tained in the township which now belongs to New 
 London County. 
 
 In Miss Caulkins' " History of New London" we 
 find the names of some of the early settlers, as fol- 
 lows : Christopher Avery, Robert Allyn, Philip Bell, 
 Jonathan Brewster, William Chapman, Edward Cul- 
 ver, Silas Deane, Edmund Fanning, George Geer, 
 John Hurlbutt, William Maynard, Benadam Gallup, 
 James Morgan, Isaac Lamb, Eobert Park, Peter Spi- 
 cer, Ralph Stoddard, Ezekiel Turner, and William 
 Williams. Other names were added afterwards. 
 
 In regard to Jonathan Brewster, who died in 1661, 
 bills of sale are recorded, dated in 1658, conveying all 
 his property in the town plot, his house and land at 
 Poquetannook, with his cattle and swine, to his son, 
 Benjamin Brewster, and his son-in-law, John Pickett. 
 
 Mrs. Lucretia Brewster, the wife of Jonathan, was 
 evidently a woman of note and respectability among 
 her compeers. She was one of the first band of Pil- 
 grims that arrived at Plymouth in the " Mayflower,'' 
 December, 1620, being a member of the family of her 
 father-in-law, Elder William Brewster, and having 
 one child, William, with her. 
 
 Her husband came over in the " Fortune," which 
 arrived Nov. 10, 1621. 
 
 The bodies of Jonathan Brewster and his wife now 
 lie in the Brewster Cemetery, and a neat monument 
 was erected to their memory a few years since by their 
 descendants. 
 
 Silas Deane, Sr., seems to have been a prominent 
 member of the ecclesiastical society for about ten 
 years. The following is a copy of a receipt given by 
 him with others a.s members of said society: "Gro- 
 ton, Jany. ye 29, 1754, then rec'' of Lieut. John Stan- 
 ton £295 Is. 3d. old Tenor, being in full of the Rate 
 which sd Stanton collected for said Society. Wee say 
 rec'*, Eb. Allyn, Joseph Morgan, Silas Dean, Com. for 
 sd Society." 
 
 Silas Deane, Jr., was born on the place where Mr. 
 William Fanning and his son George now reside; he 
 graduated at Yale College iu 1758, and was one of 
 the three commissioners appointed by Congress to 
 urge France to acknowledge the independence of the 
 United Colonies. 
 
 The Allyns settled at what is known as " Allyn's 
 Point;" ' the Stoddards, at Long Cove; the Averys, in 
 the northwest part of the town, now known as " Avery 
 Hill" ; the Hurlbutts, about Gale's Ferry. 
 
 Gale's Ferry received its name from a former pro- 
 prietor who established a ferry at that place, and 
 during the Revolutionary war had a ship-yard on the 
 Point, where vessels were built to cruise against the 
 British. 
 
 The Geers settled in the northern portion of the 
 town. Peter Spicer was one of the resident farmers 
 in the northwest part. Capt. Abel Spicer, of the Rev- 
 olutionary army, was of this family. 
 
 1 Allyn's Point, where stood the old homestead of the family, is about 
 six miles below Norwich, on the opposite side of the river from the Mo- 
 hegan fields. The ancient fort of Uncas was in full view from the house. 
 South of the pond and cove is a conspicuous elevation known as Allyns 
 Mountain, from whence the prospect is wide and far-reaching. To this 
 height the neighbors were accustomed to resort as a lookout poet when 
 the river was visited by any unusual craft, or the Indians on the other 
 Bide were gathered for council or sport. From this place on the memo- 
 rable 6th of September, 1781, the conflagration of New London was 
 witnessed by women and children whose husbands and fathers had 
 hastened to the scene of action. In the war of 1812 the three blockaded 
 vessels forming the squadron of Commodore Decatur were laid up in the 
 river near by, and on this hill his men threw up a redoubt and kept a 
 sentry to watch the movements in and near New London Harbor. — Misi 
 Caulkins. 
 
LEDYARD. 
 
 531 
 
 The Morgans settled near the Centre, the Gallups 
 in the southeastern portion, the Williams in the east- 
 ern, and the Chapmans northwest of the centre, the 
 Bills not far from " Allyn's Point." 
 
 The first settlers, with their love for religious liberty 
 united an intense desire for education, and simultane- 
 ously with the erection of churches schools were 
 established, and it appears from the old society rec- 
 ord that a "school committee-man" was appointed 
 by the ecclesiastical society. 
 
 Groton being a large town with great inequality of 
 surface, which rendered it very inconvenient for Sab- 
 bath-day assemblage in any one point, as soon as the 
 advance in population would allow, the northern part, 
 by permission of the Legislature, withdrew and or- 
 ganized a second, which is now the Ledyard Ecclesi- 
 astical Society. North Groton was incorporated as a 
 parish by legislative action in 1724. The first re- 
 corded meeting was held at the house of Oapt. John 
 Morgan, Jan. 3, 1725-26. In November, 1726, a sur- 
 vey was made of the parish of North Groton in order 
 to discover the exact centre, which the inhabitants 
 had determined should be the site for their meeting- 
 house. 
 
 The central point was found to be forty or fifty rods 
 from the southwest corner of Capt. John Morgan's 
 "goat-pasture," on land belonging to Samuel Newton, 
 from whom it was obtained by exchange for the 
 society training-field. The warning- posts, where 
 notices were to be set up, were "at Capt. Morgan's, 
 Ealph Stoddard's, and at Sergt. Eobert Geer's mill." 
 
 The first Congregational minister of whom we have 
 any knowledge was Samuel Seabury, a native of Gro- 
 ton ; he preached here a short time and then became 
 an Episcopalian. The next employed was Rev. 
 Ebenezer Punderson, who remained ten years; his 
 preaching-places before the building of the church 
 were at the houses of Robert Allyn, Ensign William 
 Williams, Capt. John Morgan, and William Morgan ; 
 his residence was on the place now owned by Mr. 
 George H. O'Brien. Mr. Punderson, too, became an 
 Episcopalian, and was dismissed from the society. 
 A church was erected by that denomination for him 
 about one and a half miles north of here, near the 
 present residence of Mr. Israel Allyn. This building 
 was removed to Poquetannock in 1784; it received 
 some repairs in 1814, and continued to be occupied 
 till 1841, when it was sold and taken down, a new 
 edifice having been erected within the limits of the 
 town of Preston. 
 
 The next pastor hei'e was Rev. Andrew Croswell, 
 who received a settlement of two hundred pounds for 
 the first two years, and one hundred and ten pounds 
 per annum afterwards. The settlement was given in 
 those days in order to assist the minister in purchasing 
 a farm, it being expected he would reside permanently 
 with his people. The society had met with so much 
 disappointment in the change of religious sentiments 
 of their former ministers that they seem to have been 
 
 very cautious in giving another a settlement, and 
 stipulated that in case Mr. Croswell should withdraw 
 from the established religion of this government to 
 any other persuasion he should return two hundred 
 pounds to the society. He remained five years, and 
 was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Johnson, whose place 
 of residence was the house on the hill formerly oc- 
 cupied by Mr. Croswell, east of the present residence 
 of Mr. Edmund Spicer. Mr. Johnson remained 
 about twenty-three years. After his departure the 
 Congregational society kept together a short time 
 and then gradually dwindled away, becoming extinct. 
 
 Rev. Timothy Tuttle commenced his ministry here 
 in 1810 ; his pastorate extended to the time of his 
 decease in June, 1864. 
 
 Rev. N. B. Cook supplied the pulpit from that time 
 till Oct. 1, 1867, when the labors of the present pastor, 
 Rev. Charles Cutting, commenced. The ordination 
 of Mr. Tuttle took place at Groton, Aug. 14, 1811. 
 The ministers and delegates were entertained at the 
 house of Capt. Elijah Bailey. We transcribe the fol- 
 lowing bill (presented by Capt. Bailey on that occa- 
 sion) for the purpose of showing the change which 
 has taken place in public opinion since that time : 
 
 " The \sl and 2d Socvily Committee in Groton to Elijah Bailey Br. 
 
 " Groton, Aiigt. 13, 1811. To 24 Dinners at 1» id £6 
 
 " 10 Suppers " Is fid 2 5 
 
 " 14 Breakfiists at 1» 6(1 3 6 
 
 " 14, " 28 Dinners at l»eti Y 
 
 " 12 horses Itept 1 day each 2 
 
 " Liquors, Sugar, &c., &c,, &c 4" 
 
 This town now votes no license to liquor- sellers, 
 and it is said that no ardent spirit can be purchased 
 within its limits. 
 
 A Separatist or strict Congregational Church was 
 formed somewhere between 1745 and 1750. The first 
 pastor was Nathaniel Brown, Jr., who was succeeded 
 by Elder Park Allyn, but the church was short- 
 lived. 
 
 The house in which Elder Allyn resided is now 
 occupied by Mr. Amos G. Avery. The church edifice 
 stood a few rods west of the minister's house ; the 
 doorstep of the church is still seen there, but the build- 
 ing was removed many years since to Gale's Ferry and 
 occupied by the Methodists. 
 
 A Methodist society was established at Gale's Ferry 
 soon after the commencement of the present century. 
 It was supplied for many years by Ralph Hurlbutt, 
 Esq., a native of the place, and a local preacher of 
 that denomination. Mr. Hurlbutt was a man of su- 
 perior talents and an interesting preacher, and the 
 church owed much of its prosperity to his fostering 
 care. Since his decease they have been supplied by 
 the Methodist Conference, Rev. William Turkington 
 being the present pastor. 
 
 The Baptist Church was formed in 1843. The edi- 
 fice stands about two miles east of the centre of the 
 town. Its first pastor was Elder Stephen Peckham, 
 who labored long and faithfully for its prosperity. It 
 has no pastor at present, the pulpit being supplied by 
 different preachers of that denomination. 
 
532 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The town of Ledyard received its name in honor 
 of Col. Wm. Ledyard, who was killed with his own 
 sword by a British officer at the massacre at Fort Gris- 
 wold, Sept. 6, 1781. Tradition says he was a native 
 of this society. 
 
 The town was incorporated June 1, 1836. At a 
 meeting of the inhabitants June 11, 1836, it was voted 
 to have but three selectmen, and Capt. Anson Avery, 
 Capt. Henry Hallett, and Mr. Noah Davis were 
 chosen. 
 
 Nathaniel B. Geer was one of the constables. At 
 the time its charter was received the town contained 
 about two thousand inhabitants, but the number has 
 somewhat decreased, the last census placing the popu- 
 lation in the vicinity of fourteen hundred. 
 
 From time to time many have left the town, we 
 trust to be useful in other fields, and there are prob- 
 ably but few States in the Union that cannot reckon 
 a native of Ledyard among their citizens. California 
 especially has received many who were reared among 
 these hills and prepared here to exert a good influence 
 in the community. 
 
 We have already spoken of Silas Deane, whose 
 power was felt on the other side of the Atlantic, and 
 coming down to more modern times, we may mention 
 the name of Asa Whitney, the projector of the first 
 Pacific Railroad. Mr. Whitney was raised almost 
 under the shadow of Lantern Hill. Rev. Joseph A. 
 Copp, D.D., an eminent divine near Boston, claimed 
 this town as his birthplace. 
 
 The late Henry W. Williams, of Pittsburgh, Pa., 
 one of the judges of the Supreme Court of that State, 
 Elias H. Williams, one of the judges of the Supreme 
 Court of Iowa, and Eev. Robert AUyn, president of 
 McKendree College, were also natives of this town. 
 Eev. James A. Gallup, of Madison, deserves more 
 than a passing notice. A graduate of Yale in 1851, 
 ordained to the work of the ministry in 1854, he has 
 shown himself to be an able and successful preacher 
 of the gospel. 
 
 Of the sons of Ledyard, one in particular has en- 
 deared himself to the dwellers in his native town. 
 We refer to Hon. Henry Bill, of Norwich. The Bill 
 Library, with a circulation of over two thousand vol- 
 umes and a fund of more than $1800, stands as a me- 
 mento of his earnest desire to promote our well-being. 
 We must also remember him whose munificence erec- 
 ted the monument to Ledyard's fallen heroes. 
 
 Laudable mention might be made of the Morgan 
 brothers, of Aurora, N. Y., grandsons of Christopher 
 Morgan, Esq., of this town, men of large wealth 
 and larger hearts, who have been foremost in acts of 
 benevolence. 
 
 The town furnished her quota during the last war. 
 Lieut. Stanton Allyn, of the Twelfth Regiment, was 
 one of our first volunteers. The " Connecticut AVar 
 Record" says, "He was a young man of high promise. 
 Among his comrades and at school he was without a 
 peer. When the war broke out he stepped into the 
 
 line without a moment's hesitation, and went bravely 
 through every battle with his regiment up to the siege 
 at Port Hudson. On the 10th of June, in that disas- 
 trous charge, he was foremost with his men. He was 
 in the column of one thousand heroes which Gen, 
 Banks summoned as a forlorn hope. But the great 
 strain upon his nerves during the progress of the siege 
 was too much for him to bear ; from exposure to the 
 rains and scorching sun, a violent fever seized upon 
 his system and shortly swept him away. He was 
 much loved and deeply mourned by his companions 
 and associates." 
 
 Samuel S. Whipple, grandson of Mr. Henry Wat- 
 rous, was another brave man who fell in the heat of 
 battle. The color-bearer of the First Connecticut 
 Cavalry, he was always where the bullets flew the 
 thickest, calling on the "boys" to "rally 'round the 
 flag !" At Ashland, Va., he received a shot through 
 the body, and turning to a companion at his side said, 
 "I'm shot! Take my horse and the colors and go for- 
 ward," and fell from his horse dead. The colonel 
 wrote, " He was a brave and faithful man, and car- 
 ried his colors as proudly and coolly in the heat of 
 battle as on parade." 
 
 The ladies of the town responded nobly to the call 
 for hospital supplies, consisting of clothing, bedding, 
 and food. A company of earnest workers might be 
 found at that time occupying the basement of the 
 church, day after day and evening after evening, full 
 of patriotism, bent on doing all in their power for the 
 relief of those who had gone to take their part in the 
 struggle for the nation's life on the field of battle. 
 
 Early and Prominent Eesidents.— Scarcely any 
 rural locality in the whole United States may more 
 justly claim distinguished mention than the North- 
 east School District of Ledyard, called for a hundred 
 years and more the "Allyn District.'' In this stood 
 the second Protestant Episcopal church in the county, 
 the old churchyard of which now contains graves 
 of early settlers dating back to 1789. In this httle 
 district were born Silas Deane, of Revolutionary 
 memory, and Stephen Whitney, the projector of the 
 great Pacific Railway. Deane was born here, and 
 certainly was among the most useful servants of the 
 Continental Congress. He was the second of the three 
 commissioners sent to France to arrange commercial 
 intercourse and to find a way by which the king 
 might assist the colonies with arms, ammunition, 
 and supplies, not only without the knowledge of Eng- 
 land, but so that she could not even complain of par- 
 tiality. Deane appears to have been the instrument 
 of completing negotiations begun by Arthur Lee in 
 London, and of dispatching several enterprises which 
 greatly relieved the struggling armies of the colonies. 
 But through the imprudence of Thomas Paine in the 
 first place, who divulged the secrets of the committee, 
 and in the second place through the impatience of 
 certain members of the Congress, who could not be let 
 into the secrets of diplomacy, he fell under suspicion 
 
LEDYAED. 
 
 533 
 
 and was deprived of his authority, and was for a long 
 time regarded as very unwise and almost mischievous. 
 But late researches among documents in Paris have 
 shown that Deane was not only upright and unselfish 
 but shrewd and far-seeing, and almost the wisest of 
 his times. The contracts made by him with Beau- 
 marchaise, really for the king of France, under the 
 name of E. Hortales & Co., did much to relieve the 
 distress of the army and furnish it with arms and 
 money, and contributed to the equipments so useful 
 and even necessary to the capture of Burgoyne. 
 
 Of the Bill family, Philip Bill was the first settler 
 in Connecticut. He came with John Winthrop the 
 younger from Ipswich, in Massachusetts, to New 
 London in 1668. He settled in the eastern part of 
 New London, near what is now Allyn's Point, and 
 which in 1705 was set off as Groton, and in 1836 as 
 Ledyard. His neighbors were Robert Allyn and 
 George Geer, all well-known names in the subsequent 
 history of the town. 
 
 Philip Bill was a large landholder and influential 
 citizen in shaping the destiny of the young colony, 
 planted for the most part by Winthrop, or at least 
 largely by his influence. His son, Joshua Bill, was 
 not less influential than his father, for we see in the 
 records of old Groton that he was one of the commis- 
 sioners to establish a reservation for the remnant of 
 the Pequot Indians, which inhabited this town. The 
 result of their deliberations was the location of the 
 tribe where their reservation now is in Ledyard. He 
 also surveyed and laid out, under the authority of 
 the town, the road leading from Groton Ferry north- 
 ward to the Preston line as it now is ; this was done 
 in 1723. Among his descendants was Gurdon Bill, 
 who settled in the said Northeast District of the town, 
 and after graduation at the Plainfield Academy 
 taught school for seven successive winters, and sub- 
 sequently embarked in merchandising and did a suc- 
 cessful business. His family in many respects are 
 among the most noted of all the families in this por- 
 tion of New London County. Reared to industry 
 and frugality, and aided by a small but choice library 
 of their father, the sons, Edward, Henry,^ Gurdon, 
 Frederic, Ledyard, and Charles, have each in various 
 fields become somewhat conspicuous as public men. 
 The eldest was for several years a member of the 
 Iowa Senate. Gnrdon settled in Springfield, Mass., 
 and has acquired by his economy a large fortune. 
 
 Ledyard, born the same day that the town was 
 chartered, prominent as a business man, of refined, 
 educated tastes, and author of the books entitled "A 
 Winter in Florida'' and " Climates for Invalids," and 
 one of the most carefully and correctly prepared 
 genealogies yet published of his own family, and the 
 generous donor of the soldiers' monument in his na- 
 tive town, — a massive, classical, granite obelisk, stand- 
 ing on Liberty Square, in almost the geographical 
 
 1 See Chapter XXVIII. 
 
 centre and highest point in town, known as Meeting- 
 house Hill. The said monument was erected in 
 1873. He also was engaged for a time in publishing 
 in New York. 
 
 Charles graduated from the Sheffield Scientific 
 School of Yale College; has likewise published some 
 well-known and highly popular books, which have 
 greatly tended to enlighten the youth of the land. 
 His health failing, he visited Europe, and spent two 
 years in travel, visiting all the principal places of 
 note, — Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Ger- 
 many, Italy, and the Nile. 
 
 Frederic Bill has retired from active business and 
 resides in the town of Groton. 
 
 The family of Allyns are likewise so conspicuous 
 in the history of the town we cannot forbear giving 
 sketches of some of them, namely : 
 
 Robert Allyn was of Salem, Mass., and a land- 
 owner in 1637. He came to New London in 1651, 
 where he obtained a house-lot; had land east of the 
 harbor, which is now owned by the heirs of Belton 
 Allyn Copp, who are his descendants. Allyn's Point 
 was among his early possessions. To that place he 
 removed and built a wharf and trading-house, which 
 was maintainedby himself or son during their life, and 
 by his descendants for more than one hundred years. 
 In the settlement of Norwich he was one of the thirty- 
 five original proprietors, and either himself or son re 
 sided there till the emigrant's death in 1683, aged about 
 seventy-five years, when his only son John exchanged 
 his lands in that town for lands nearer home, and 
 occupied the homestead at Allyn's Point. His four 
 daughters married, — first, Sarah, married George Geer, 
 whose descendants are very numerous and highly re- 
 spectable; second, Mary, married Thomas Park; Han- 
 nah, married Thomas Rose; and Deborah, married 
 John Gager, Jr. The males have not been very nu- 
 merous, but count among those who have the making 
 of history, four having gloriously died at Fort Gris- 
 wold, — viz., Capt. Samuel, a selectman of the town at 
 that time, Capt. Simeon, Benadam, and Belton, — and 
 Lieut. Stanton Allyn, one of the highest honored of 
 his rank at the fall of Port Hudson. Of sea-captains, 
 may be mentioned Capt. Robert N., Jacob Christo- 
 pher, Gurdon, who was a sailing-master of one of our 
 large war-vessels during our Rebellion, and is the au- 
 thor of the " Old Sailor's Story," recounting his voy- 
 ages and ventures ; Capt. Francis, who for some time 
 commanded a packet in the New York and Havre 
 line, and had the honor of bringing Lafayette to this 
 country in 1824, he declining the offer by Congress of 
 a ship of the line to take passage in the ship " Cad- 
 mus" with Capt. Allyn, who was a polished gentle- 
 man as well as a popular master. After quitting the 
 sea he resided at New London, where he originated 
 the Cedar Grove Cemetery Association, and was its 
 president till his death. Capt. Allyn is remembered 
 by many for his fine personal presence, ready wit, and 
 for social qualities. 
 
534 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Of legislators, Col. Eoswell and Israel, of Ledyard ; 
 Lyman, of Waterford; Calvin and James, of Mont- 
 ville; Kobert, of East Greenwich, E. I. James, of 
 Montville, was county commissioner of New London 
 County from 1869 to 1875, and one of the commis- 
 sioners to locate and build a building in Norwich for 
 the county of New London, town of Norwich, and 
 city, known as Norwich City Hall. 
 
 In later times the Allyns and Bills have added to 
 its reputation. Gurdon Bill and Charles Allyn in 
 early life were in company in mercantile business, 
 and were ever fast friends, as have their families 
 been. Tlie Bill family consists of six brothers, each 
 of which has been distinguished in their several 
 localities. 
 
 Of the Allyns, sons of Charles, of Ledyard, the 
 eldest, Robert, perhaps has occupied a field of as 
 much importance as any one of the distinguished 
 citizens of which the town is justly proud. His early 
 education was in the district school just mentioned, 
 supplemented by a short attendance at the old Bacon 
 Academy, in Colchester, after which he began teach- 
 ing school in the town of East Lyme at the age of 
 seventeen, and from that time prepared himself for 
 college, teaching school winters, and spending the 
 summer vacations at home with his father, who had 
 removed to Montville and owned and improved a large 
 farm. The farm as managed by his father was no idle 
 place, neither would idleness suit young Allyn. Per- 
 haps the vacation was as valuable for his education as 
 any part of his training ; no more thorough man or 
 one who put a higher estimate on time and care for 
 the time of others than his father, Charles Allyn. 
 
 Robert graduated at the Wesleyan University, Mid- 
 dletown, in 1841, and was immediately employed as 
 teacher in mathematics in the Wesleyan Academy, at 
 Wilbraham, Mass. In 1845 he became principal of 
 that institution. Under his management it increased 
 in number of students and reputation for scholarship. 
 He resigned his place in that institution to accept 
 the position of principal and financial agent of the 
 East Greenwich Academy, in Rhode Island, in 1848, 
 and remained in that position till 1854, when he was 
 appointed commissioner of public instruction in that 
 State. He held that oflice for three years, when he 
 was chosen to represent the town in the State Legis- 
 lature for the years of 1852 and '54. In 1854 was ap- 
 pointed by the President of the United States and 
 commissioned by the Secretary of War (Jeff Davis) 
 visitor at West Point Military Academy ; at that time 
 R. E. Lee was superintendent. While there his fine 
 social qualities helped him to a large and important 
 acquaintance, and he did not fail to profit by his ob- 
 servation of the methods of instruction practiced at 
 that institution. In 1857 he removed to Ohio, and 
 became professor of Greek and Latin in the Ohio 
 University. At the end of two years he removed to 
 Cincinnati, and became president of the Wesleyan 
 Female College in that city, and remained here till 
 
 1863, when he resigned to accept the presidency of 
 McKendree College, in Lebanon, 111. Here he con- 
 tinued till 1874, and then was chosen to be principal 
 of the Lutheran Illinois Normal University, which the 
 State was J\ist opening. Here to a certain extent he 
 was enabled to have his idea of what an American 
 school should be. The male students receive at this 
 institution practice in infantry and artillery each day, 
 taught by a regular graduate of West Point. Such a 
 school in every State would soon leave no excuse for 
 a national school, as each State would have qualified 
 men who would come forward when needed. He 
 holds that position at the present time. 
 
 JUDGES OF PROBATE. 
 Christopher Newton, Brastus Williams, Henry W. Ayery, Samuel W. 
 Wood, Edmund Spicer, Israel Allyn, James A. Billings, Jacob L. 
 Gallup, Nathaniel B. Geer, John Brewster, Oeorge Fanning. 
 
 EEPEESENTATIVES FBOM 1837 TO 1882. 
 1837, Anson Avery; 1838-39, Henry HuUett ; 1840, Sanford Stoddard; 
 1841, D. B. Williams; 1842, Daniel Lamb; 1843, Eoswell Allyn; 
 1844, Jacob Gallup; 1845, S. Thomas; 1846, E.W.Brown; 1847, J. 
 Brewster, Jr. ; 1848, J. Gallup; 1849, B. Spicer; 1850, B. A. Satter- 
 lee; 1851, John Brewster; 1852, E. W, Brown; 1853, William M. 
 Gray; 1854, Ralph Hurlbutt ; 1855, E. W.Brown ; 1856, J. L. Gallup; 
 1857, N. M. Gallup, Jr. ; 1858, William L. Mann ; 1869, P. A. Wil- 
 liams ; 1860, S. Crandall ; 1861, A. Reynolds ; 1862, W. Avery ; 1863, 
 William Fanning; 1864, A. L. Gallup; 1865, B.T.Lewis; 1866, J. 
 L. Gallup ; 1867, N. Gallup, Jr. ; 1868, Henry Larrabee ; 1869, Israel 
 Allyn; 1870, H. Stoddard; 1S71, William J. Brown; 1872, A. W. 
 Turner ; 1873, C. A. Brown ; 1874, L. H. Griswold ; 1875, W. L. Main ; 
 1876, F. Brewster; 1877, N. B. Allyn; 1878, John Brewster; 1879- 
 80, William T. Cook ; 1881, S. A. Crandall. 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 LEDYAKD— (Continued). 
 
 BIOGEAPHICAL SKBTOHES. 
 
 Ralph Hurlbutt.— Rev. Ralph Hurlbutt was born 
 May 19, 1767. On Jan. 10, 1790, he married Mary 
 Jones, daughter of John and Sarah Jones. She was 
 born Dec. 2, 1765, and died Dec. 20, 1851, aged eighty- 
 six years. Rev. Mr. Hurlbutt was descended in a 
 direct line from Lieut. Thomas Hurlbutt, who was 
 appointed to the command of Fort Saybrook, Connec- 
 ticut, 1636, and afterwards settled at Wethersfield in 
 1640. 
 
 Stephen Hurlbutt, great-grandfather of Ralph, set- 
 tled in New London, Conn., between 1680 and 1690. 
 His grandfather, John Hurlbutt, grew up and settled 
 at Groton (now called Ledyard). His father, Rufus, 
 was killed at Fort Griswold in 1776, aged forty years. 
 Rev. Ralph Hurlbutt, the subject of this sketch, early 
 embraced the Methodist faith and became a minister. 
 He was the means of establishing the Methodist 
 Church of Groton, and gave to this church his services 
 as minister free. He preached almost to the last days 
 of his life. He preached his last sermon sitting in his 
 chair, being unable to stand. He was devoted to the 
 interests of his church, and always ready to make any 
 
t 
 
HIBBEED STODDARD. 
 
^<^^<!'7'eO (/J0^^^/i^2,c^ 
 
 ^^^jy'^^:7^a^y\?€ 
 
HENRY DEISIISOISI. 
 
LISBON. 
 
 535 
 
 personal sacrifice for the good of the cause. He was 
 a member of the General Assembly in 1844, also jus- 
 tice of the peace for many years, until his age disabled 
 him for the duties of the office. He was for a long 
 period judge of probate at Groton and Stonington. 
 His life was one devoted in many ways to the interests 
 and good of his fellow-men, and he died mourned by 
 a large circle of friends. 
 
 Ralph Hurlbutt, nephew of Rev. Judge Ralph 
 Hurlbutt, was born 1807, in Colchester (now Salem), 
 Conn., came to Groton 1810, and settled on the farm 
 on which he now resides. He married in 1838 Mar- 
 garet Bolles. They have five children, three living, — 
 Tabitha E., the oldest living child, married Robert M. 
 Bailey; son George W. married Lucia A. Perkins; and 
 H. W. Hurlbutt. 
 
 Henry Denison was born in Stonington, April 8, 
 1793. His father was a farmer. At the age of twenty- 
 one he began the world for himself. Two years after- 
 wards he married Lucy Smith, of Groton. Their 
 children are Lucy A., born Jan. 27, 1818 ; Hannah 
 L., born Sept. 27, 1820 ; Eunice R., born Oct. 30, 1822 ; 
 Julia A., born Feb. 22, 1825; William H., born Feb. 
 18, 1828 ; Harriet A., born Jan. 5, 1831 ; Rowland S., 
 born Oct. 25, 1832; Emily F., born Jan. 16, 1836; 
 Jennie A., born Sept. 5, 1838; Jerome A., born Sept. 
 5, 1838, twin to Jennie, all of whom are now living. 
 Mr. Denison is now living in Ledyard in the eighty- 
 eighth year of his age. He receives a pension, hav- 
 ing served in the war of 1812. 
 
 Hibberd Stoddard was born March 26, 1783. He 
 married Betsey Mallison in 1809. Was a farmer, 
 and served in the war of the Revolution. Their chil- 
 dren, five in number, were Hibberd, Betsey, Mary, 
 Jane, and Stephen James. Jane died in infancy; 
 Betsey married Capt. Benjamin Crowell ; Stephen J. 
 married Susan J. Fish. Mr. Stoddard died June 19, 
 1866. 
 
 Sanford B. Stoddard.— Sanford B., eldest son of 
 Sanford Stoddard, was born in Groton,^ Conn., Dec. 
 4, 1813. His father was a sea-captain. Having re- 
 ceived a common-school education, young Sanford 
 went on the water with his father while yet a boy. 
 At the age of twenty-two he went before the mast; 
 two years later he became mate, serving in that ca- 
 pacity for two years, when he was again promoted to 
 the position of captain. In 1842 he married Miss 
 Mary, daughter of Hibberd Stoddard, of Ledyard, 
 Conn. The children born to them were Mary Eliza- 
 beth, Sanford B., and Jane F. 
 
 Capt. Stoddard left the sea soon after he was mar- 
 ried. He has since devoted most of his time to farm- 
 ing, and now lives in peace and plenty with his family 
 on the old farm which has been in the family since 
 the year 1700. 
 
 1 The town having since been divided, that portion ia now Ledyard. 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 LISBON. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — Indian Claims — The Surrenderei-s — 
 Owaneco's Deed to James Fitch — Pioneer Settlements — Names of the 
 Pioneers — Ecclesiastical History — Civil History — Organization of the 
 Town— KepreBentatives from 1780 to 1882. 
 
 The town of Lisbon lies on the north border of the 
 county and is bounded as follows : on the north by 
 Windham County, on the east by Griswold, on the 
 south by Preston, and on the west by Norwich and 
 Sprague. Its surface is hilly. 
 
 The territory embraced within the present bounds 
 of the town belonged to the Mohegans, and at an 
 early period was inhabited by a band of Indians trib- 
 utary to Uncas, known as the Showtuckets. It was 
 claimed by the town of Norwich, as will be seen by 
 the following record : 
 
 " Feb. 25, 1669. 
 
 " The towne having serionsly taken into their consideration the con- 
 dition of Awaneco, the Sachem, being in hazard of the loss of his Sa- 
 chemship for want of land to accommodate his subjects, for his reliefe 
 herein the towne have seen canse to give unto the said Awaneco a par- 
 cell of land. Thomas Tracy, Thomas LefBngwell, and John Post are to 
 lay out to him 200 or 300 acres at their discretion, near Showtucket 
 Eiver, and abutting southerly on Queenapaug Biver, secured also to his 
 heii-s and successors, but not in their power to alienate any part of it." 
 
 Certain regulations were attached to this grant, and 
 the act concludes as follows : 
 
 " It is further engaged by Oweneco, that whereas as he hath received 
 these lands by gift from the town of Norwich, the town does order that 
 he shall forbear on the Sabbath day from working, hunting, fishing, or 
 any servile labor, and if any of his subjects he found guilty of this vio- 
 lation they shall be liable to be punished, and to these said and above- 
 specified particulars the said Oweneco doth bind and engage himself, 
 his heirs, and lawful successors. 
 
 " Consented to and subsciibed by Oweneco, March 22, 1669. 
 
 " Mark of OwENEKO. 
 " Witnesses : 
 
 " James Fitch, 
 
 "John Mason, Jr. 
 
 "On this grant the sachem gathered his special 
 clan, probably some twenty or thirty families. An 
 annual tribute of ten deerskins was at first demanded 
 of them, but the scarcity of deer in the vicinity ren- 
 dered that regulation a dead letter. Moreover, the 
 village was soon broken up by the war with Philip, 
 which called the sachem and his warriors to the field 
 and scattered the women and children among their 
 neighbors. 
 
 " When the conflict was over a part of this tract was 
 assigned to the Indian fugitives, called Surrenderers, 
 and in May, 1678, Mr. Fitch reported to the govern- 
 ment that twenty-nine families of this class had set- 
 tled upon it under the supervision of the English. 
 
 " By a deed of trust, Dec. 22, 1680, Owaneco as- 
 signed to James Fitch, Jr., the care and disposition 
 of all his lands on Quinnebaug River. A few years 
 later absolute deeds of sale of these and other tracts 
 of land were executed by the sachem in favor of the 
 same Capt. Fitch. 
 
 " In 1695, Owaneco and Capt. Samuel Mason, who 
 
536 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 by his own choice and the authority of the govern- 
 ment had been appointed his trustee, requested that 
 a committee of the town should be empowered to sur- 
 vey the three-hundred-acre grant and fix its bounds. 
 
 "The next year Capt. Fitch, being then proprie- 
 tary clerk, recorded the whole grant to himself, as in- 
 cluded in the large purchases he had made of Owan- 
 eco in 1684 and 1687. The town entered a formal 
 protest against the claims of Capt. Fitch, particularly 
 to the three hundred acres at Quinnebaug Falls, 
 which had been guaranteed to the Indians with a 
 proviso that it should not be alienated. 
 
 " The course of Capt. Fitch in regard to these In- 
 dian purchases was distasteful to the town, and no 
 clear account can be given of the basis upon which 
 the difficulty was settled. Apparently the town, after 
 some murmuring, acquiesced in the claim of Capt. 
 Fitch to what was called the eighteen-hundred-acre 
 grant. 
 
 " Capt. Fitch sold this grant in 1694 and 1695 to 
 certain purchasers from Ipswich, Mass., viz. : Joseph 
 Saiford, Eichard Smith, Meshach Farley, Matthew 
 Perkins, and Samuel Bishop. 
 
 " Joseph and Jacob Perkins, also of Ipswich, pur- 
 chased a tract between the rivers in 1695 of John 
 Fitch, and subsequently bought also a part of the 
 eighteen-hundred-acre grant from the former pur- 
 chasers. 
 
 " Settlements were immediately commenced, and in 
 1718 sixteen persons on the roll of accepted inhabit- 
 ants were characterized as farmers in ye crotch of ye 
 rivers, — Samuel Bishop, Samuel Coy, Eleazar Jewett, 
 David Knight, Daniel Longbottom, Samuel Lothrop, 
 Jabez Perkins, Joseph Perkins, Josiah Read, Josiah 
 Read, Jr., Joseph Read, John Read, William Read, 
 Samuel Rood, Samuel Rood, Jr., Henry Wallbridge. 
 
 "Samuel and John Bishop were early settlers in 
 this district. They were probably brothers, and sons 
 or grandsons of Thomas Bishop, of Ipswich. Samuel 
 married, in 1706, Sarah Forbes. John, in 1718, mar- 
 ried Mary Bingham. Samuel was admitted 1702, and 
 John in 1710. 
 
 "Matthew Coy obtained a grant of land east of the 
 Shetucket in 1685. His cattle-mark was registered 
 still earlier. He was probably that Matthew Coy 
 (son of Matthew) whose birth was recorded at Boston, 
 Sept. 5, 1656. 
 
 " Samuel Coy, of Newent, may have been a brother 
 or a son of Matthew, but no such connection has been 
 traced. He had a son Abraham baptized in 1719. 
 
 " Eleazer Jewett, Dec. 5, 1698, purchased of Messrs. 
 Waterman and Bushnell, agents of the town, seventy- 
 five acres of land near the Shetucket River. He is 
 supposed to have come from Rowley, Mass. His son, 
 the second Eleazer Jewett, died in 1747, at which 
 time the father was still living. The third of the 
 name was the founder of Jewett City village. 
 
 "David Knight married, March 17, 1691-92, Sarah 
 Backus. Land was granted him in 1700 for repairing 
 
 the meeting-house and school-house. He died in 
 1744. 
 
 "Daniel Longbottom was an inhabitant in 1698, 
 and was chosen one of the surveyors in 1702. Him- 
 self, wife, and six children were baptized by Mr. 
 Woodward in September, 1718. He died in 1729. 
 
 " Jabez and Joseph Perkins, admitted 1701, were 
 sons of Jacob Perkins, of Ipswich, and commenced 
 their agricultural improvements between the rivers 
 in 1695, holding their land in common until 1720, 
 when it was equally divided between them. Joseph 
 died in 1726, and Jabez in 1742. They left large 
 estates and thriving families. 
 
 "Josiah Reed has been already noticed as one of 
 the original proprietors of Norwich. His four sons 
 are here enumerated with him as independent land- 
 owners and accepted inhabitants. 
 
 " Samuel Rood was the son of Thomas and Sarah 
 Rood, and born in 1666. In 1687 he became a house- 
 holder, having his residence ' below Showtucket 
 Falls.' 
 
 " Henry Wallbridge was an accepted inhabitant in 
 1702. William is mentioned in 1719, Amos in 1721. 
 
 " Richard Adams, though not on the list of 1718, 
 was an early proprietor between the rivers. He prob- 
 ably came from Sudbury, and may have been the 
 soldier of that name who was wounded in the great 
 swamp-fight with the Narragansetts, Dec. 19, 1675. 
 His wife, Rebecca, was received into full communion 
 by Mr. Woodward in 1708, and three of his children 
 baptized. He died Aug. 24, 1728. His will mentions 
 ten children, among whom were four married daugh- 
 ters, — Hannah Bacon, Mary Baldwin, Abigail Brown, 
 and Rebecca Haggitt. 
 
 " William Adams, perhaps brother of Richard, died 
 in 1727. Eliashib Adams, of Preston, died May 15, 
 1733. 
 
 " John Safford is mentioned as an inhabitant of 
 Norwich in 1698. John, Joseph, and Solomon, of the 
 next generation, were probably his sons. 
 
 " John Lambert was an early resident in Newent 
 Society. He died July 30, 1727. 
 
 " Another name found in this society at an early 
 period is that of Burnham. Eleazar Burnham was 
 recognized as an inhabitant in 1793. He was prob- 
 ably the son of Thomas, and born at Ipswich in Sep- 
 tember, 1678. He married Lydia Waterman, Nov. 20, 
 1708, and died in 1743. 
 
 " James Burnham, admitted as an inhabitant in 
 1710, married in 1728 Elizabeth Hough, and died May 
 22, 1757. 
 
 " Aaron Burnham, a seaman, first mentioned in 
 1718; cattle-mark enrolled in 1720; died Aug. 18, 
 1727. His will was proved at Ipswich, October 9th of 
 that year. His wife was the sole legatee. 
 
 " Benjamin Burnham, admitted in 1726 ; married, 
 April 20, 1727, Mary Kinsman. He died Oct. 15, 
 1737. 
 
 " These four persons came from Ipswich before 
 
LISBON. 
 
 537 
 
 1720. The Kinsinans, Palmers, and Stevenses were 
 later emigrants, probably from the same place. The 
 Lovetts came from Beverly, the Eathbuns from Block 
 Island, and Thomas Crosby from Barnstable. 
 
 " Robert Kinsman was admitted an inhabitant 
 Dec. 5, 1721. He was one of the selectmen in 1725 
 and 1728. 
 
 "The settlement of Newent was for many years 
 obstructed by the diversity of claims arising from a 
 confusion of grants and conveyances. In 1723 a 
 committee was appointed " to enquire into and gain 
 as good an understanding as they can come at re- 
 specting the Indians land in the Crotch of Quinebaug 
 and Showtucket Rivers.' * 
 
 " In 1725 the proprietors of the common and undi- 
 •vided land put an end to all controversy by giving a 
 quit-claim deed to Capt. Jabez Perkins, Lieut. Samuel 
 Bishop, Mr. Joseph Perkins, and Mr. John Saiford of 
 all the Indian land in the crotch of the rivers, and of 
 all contained in Maj. Fitch's eighteen-hundred-acre 
 grant, for the sum of seventy- five pounds money in 
 hand paid to said proprietors, provided that the In- 
 dians shall be allowed to remain arW occupy the tract 
 that had been secured to them. To these purchasers 
 and to those who should claim under them the 
 town confirmed the title of reversion. The Indians 
 dwindled away, and in 1745 the descendants of Owa- 
 neco and other principal Mohegans, for the sum of 
 one hundred and thirty-seven pounds, executed a 
 quit-claim deed of the Indian reservation in favor of 
 the English claimants. This instrument, which ex- 
 tinguished the last aboriginal claim to land in the 
 Nine-miles square, was in substance as follows : 
 
 "Ann alias Cutoili, Betty Aucum widow, Wedemow daughter of Ma- 
 homet deceased, Ann, otherwise young Ben's wife, all of whom are de- 
 scendants of Owaneco, late sachem of Mohegan, and the said young Ben 
 or Ben Uncas Jr. and Daniel Pauganeek, all of Mohegan, for the con- 
 sideration of 137 pounds in bills of credit — to Capt. Samuel Bishop, Jo- 
 seph Perkins, Jacob Perkins, John Safford, Joseph Safford, and Solomon 
 Saflford, to all of them in proportion aa they now possess — do now relin- 
 quish all right and title to the tract of oOO acres more or less in Neweot, 
 in the crotch of the rivers Quinebaug and Showtucket, called the Indian 
 Land, abutting southeasterly on the Quinebaug, April 9, 1745.2 
 
 " Wituesses, Isaac Htj.vtington, 
 
 " Asa W0RTHtNGT0N."3 
 
 Congregational Church.. — The ecclesiastical soci- 
 ety in this place was organized in 1723, the town hav- 
 ing previously appropriated sixty acres of land for the 
 use of the first minister that should settle there. The 
 affairs of the society were entirely under the control 
 of the Perkins family, as appears from the following 
 entry : 
 
 1 After this Indian reservation had been entirely cleared of native oc- 
 cupants one of the English owners found at a certain time an old Indian 
 woman, who had come from a distance, barking his birch-treea and 
 otherwise trespassing upon his grounds, and upon remonstrating with 
 her was met with a fiery and indignant rejoinder. " This land yours !" 
 she exclaimed, " How you get it ? Indian land, nil of it ; you white 
 folks come here, drive away poor Indian, and steal his land ; that the 
 way you get it 1" 
 
 This no doubt expresses in a homely way the feeling of many of the 
 aborigines, as from time to time they have relinquished their ancient 
 seats to the whites and retired iuto the wilderness. 
 
 2 Norwich deeds. ^ Miss Caulkius. 
 
 Jan. 17, 1720. In town meeting ordered, that if the Perkinses at their 
 return from Boston, do not bring with them a minister to preach in the 
 crotch of the river, or satisfy the selectmen they shall have one speedily, 
 the rate-makers shall put them into the minister's rate. 
 
 The church was constituted and Rev. Daniel Kirt- 
 land ordained its minister, Dec. 10, 1723. The orig- 
 inal members were Daniel Kirtland, the pastor, Sam- 
 uel Lathrop and Joseph Perkins, who were chosen 
 deacons, John Bishop, Jeremiah Tracy (son of Thomas 
 Tracy, of Preston), Isaac Lawrence, and Isaac Law- 
 rence, .Ir., — the church resting upon seven pillars, a 
 favorite number in that day. 
 
 The church agreed to profess discipline according to 
 the Cambridge Platform. They professed to believe 
 " that all organized church acts proceeded after the 
 manner of a mixed administration, and could not be 
 consummated without the consent of both elders and 
 brotherhood." In this they agreed with the two 
 older societies of Norwich. 
 
 Before the formation of this church the inhabitants 
 between the rivers had been accustomed to attend 
 meeting at the town plot, the distance for some of 
 them being about eight miles. The older people 
 went on horseback, the women on pillions behind the 
 men, but the young people often traveled the whole 
 distance, going and returning, on foot. 
 
 Church-going in former days was a serious and 
 earnest duty. None stayed away from the house of 
 worship that could by extremest effort get there. On 
 horseback or on foot, over wearisome roads or through 
 lonely by-paths that shortened the distance, they 
 came with their households to obtain a portion of the 
 truth. " Many a time," says Eev. Levi Nelson, 
 " while passing over the society, has my attention 
 been arrested to notice the paths, now given up, where 
 they used to make their rugged way to the house of 
 God almost as surely as the holy Sabbath returned." 
 
 And when there, how intently and with what eager- 
 ness to profit they listened. " To this day," says the 
 same reverend author, " I love to think of their ap- 
 pearance in the house of God, of the seats they occu- 
 pied, and of their significant motions to express their 
 approbation of the truth.'' 
 
 The new society took the name of Newent, un- 
 doubtedly at the suggestion of the brothers Perkins, 
 and, according to tradition, in remembrance of a 
 place of that name in Gloucestershire, England, from 
 whence the family came. 
 
 The meeting-house was probably built immediately 
 after the church was gathered. 
 
 1723. Sixty acres of land granted by the town to the Society in the 
 crotch of the rivers for the flist minister that shall settle there. 
 
 The same to be given to the Society over the Shetucket for their first 
 minister. 
 
 Jan. 4, 1725-6. The proprietors grant that spot of land the Newent 
 meeting house now stands upon and ye common land adjoining to it to 
 that Society for their use so long as they shall have occasion for it. 
 
 Joseph Tracy, Moderator. 
 
 Lieut. Jabez Hyde. Thomas Adgate. 
 
 Deacon Christopher Huntington. Joseph Backus. 
 
 Capt. Benajah Buahnell. Kichard Hyde. 
 
538 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The site of this building was about half a mile 
 south of the present edifice, and continued to be used 
 until about 1770. 
 
 The inhabitants of Newent, in a petition to the 
 General Court, October session, 1727, state that they 
 had been afflicted with a distressing sickness for two 
 successive years, especially in summer. In 1726 
 every family but one was smitten, and about twenty 
 persons died in three months. In the summer of 1727 
 every family, with no exception, felt the scourge, and 
 one-sixth of the male heads of families died. The 
 farmers could not secure their crops, and though 
 kindly assisted by people from other parishes, they 
 lost some of their grain and much of their hay.- 
 
 Rev. Daniel Kirkland (Kirtland) was a native of 
 Saybrook, born in 1701, and graduated ac Yale Col- 
 lege in 1720. His ministry in Newent was of nearly 
 thirty years' duration. He was a man of scholastic 
 habits and high aspirations, but of sensitive organ- 
 ization. His failing health led to his dismission from 
 the pastorate in 1752. Recovering partially, he was 
 installed at Groton in 1755, but after two years of 
 service he again broke down, and returning to his old 
 home in Norwich, there remained till his death, 
 which occurred in May, 1773. 
 
 Mr. Kirkland had ten or twelve children. His sec- 
 ond son, John, born Nov. 15, 1735, was one of the 
 first settlers of Norwich, Mass. Another son, Samuel, 
 born Dec. 1, 1741, is well known as the Oneida mis- 
 sionary, one of the most energetic, faithful, and self- 
 denying men born within the limits of the old town 
 of Norwich. 
 
 Mr. Peter Powers was ordained the second minister 
 of Newent, Dec. 2, 1756. He remained in charge 
 seven or eight years, and then was dismissed at his 
 own request, on account of the insufliciency of his 
 salary. Mr. Powers was a man of marked character, 
 earnest and energetic in action. Frorri Newent he 
 went immediately into the settlements then making 
 in the Coos or Cohos country, on Connecticut River 
 and organized a church in Haverhill, consisting of 
 members from both sides of the river, — that is, from 
 Haverhill, N. H., and Newbury, Vt.,— over which he 
 was installed Feb. 27, 1765, preaching his own instal- 
 lation sermon. Here he was accustomed to meet his 
 appointments and make his parochial visits in a 
 canoe, rowing himself up and down the stream, an 
 easier mode of traveling, probably, than that of 
 mounting a horse and stumbling over half-cleared 
 pathways, as in his former parish at Newent. Mr. 
 Powers died at Deer Island, Me., in 1799. 
 
 The church at Newent, being left without a pastor, 
 gradually declined, and for several years gave but 
 feeble signs of life. Something like a reorganization 
 took place in 1770 ; several of the Separatists returned 
 to their old places, and Mr. Joel Benedict, a man of 
 fine classical attainments, was ordained pastor of the 
 church, Feb. 21, 1771. He continued with them 
 eleven years, when an infirm state of health and the 
 
 old difficulty, want of adequate support, dissolved the 
 connection, and he was dismissed April 30, 1782. 
 
 Dr. Benedict afterwards settled in Plainfield, and 
 acquired a distinguished reputation as a Hebrew 
 scholar. Hebrew, he said, was the language of angels. 
 He died at Plainfield in 1816. 
 
 In June, 1790, Mr. David Hale, of Coventry, was 
 ordained. He was a brother of the accomplished and 
 chivalrous Capt. Nathan Hale, who was executed as a 
 spy on Long Island by order of Sir William Howe. 
 Mr. Hale was a man of very gentle and winning man- 
 ners, of exalted piety, and a fine scholar. He carried 
 his idea of disinterested benevolence to such an ex- 
 tent that, if acted upon, it would overturn all social 
 institutions. He thought it to be a man's duty to 
 love his neighbor, not only as himself, with the same 
 kind of love, but also to the same degree, so that he 
 should not prefer, even in thought, that a contingent 
 calamity, such as the burning of a house or the loss of 
 u, child, should fall on his neighbor rather than on 
 himself. Mr. Hale supplied the deficiencies of his 
 salary by keeping a boarding-school. As an instruc- 
 tor he was populaf ; his house was filled with pupils 
 from all parts of the county, but ill health and a con- 
 stitutional depression of spirits obliged him to resign 
 this employment, and eventually his pastoral oflice. 
 His mind and nerves were of that delicate and sensi- 
 tive temperament which cannot long endure the rude 
 shock of earthly scenes. He was dismissed in April, 
 1803, returned to Coventry, and there died in 1822. 
 
 These four ministers of Newent were all men of 
 more than common attainments, and each was dis- 
 tinguished by peculiar and prominent traits of char- 
 acter. Neither of them died as ministers of the 
 parish. The four pastorates covered respectively 
 twenty-nine, eight, eleven, and thirteen years, with 
 intervals between of four, seven, and eight years. 
 
 Rev. Levi Nelson, a native of Milford, Mass., the 
 fifth pastor, ordained Dec. 5, 1804, was a man of 
 great simplicity of character and purity of life. It 
 was often said of him that he never had an enemy. 
 
 He preached his half-century sermon in 1854. 
 Only one' of the thirty-eight members who received 
 him as their pastor in 1804 was then living, but of 
 the ordination choir four were present and united in 
 singing again the same hymns that formed a part of 
 the original service. The old Kirtland church was 
 then extant, seated in decaying dignity upon gently 
 rising ground, with its barrack-like row of sheds 
 spread out at the side like wings. The outside of the 
 edifice had been covered and recovered, as the wear 
 and tear of years demanded, but no tool or painter's 
 brush, under pretence of improvement or repair, had 
 invaded the interior since it was first completed. The 
 impression produced on the mind upon entering was 
 that of homely, stern solemnity. The pulpit was 
 high and contracted, with a sounding-board frowning 
 
 1 Mi-s. L'llommedieu, of Norwich. 
 
e^^^y^ 
 
 3 
 
 ^■Ip 
 
LISBON. 
 
 539 
 
 over it, and a seat for the deacons in front of it, be- 
 low. The pews were square, with high partitions, 
 the galleries spacious, with certain seats more elevated 
 than others for the tithingmen or supervisors of be- 
 havior. This venerable structure is believed to be the 
 last specimen of the old New England sanctuary that 
 lingered in the Nine-miles square. It was demolished 
 when about eighty-eight years of age, and its place 
 supplied by a new church, dedicated Sept. 15, 1858. 
 
 Rev. David Breed was dismissed in 1862. Since 
 that time the pastors have been Lewis Jessup, R. 
 Manning Chipman, and Josiah E. Willis, the present 
 acting pastor. 
 
 Civil History. — This town was originally known 
 as Newent, and was the third society of Norwich. It 
 was incorporated and given its present name in 1786. 
 
 EEPEESENTATIVES rKOM 1Y86 to 1882. 
 
 The following is a list of representatives from 1786 
 to 1882 : 
 
 1786, Capt. Elisha Lathrop ; 1Y87, Capt. Elislia Lathrop, John Perkins ; 1788, 
 John Perkina, Jacob Perkins; 1789, Jacob Perltius, Joshua Perkins; 
 1790, Ezra Bishop; 1791, John Perkins, Ezra Bishop; 1792-93, Samuel 
 Lovett ; 1794, Samuel LovettjElisbaMorgan; 1795, Samuel Lovett, Levi 
 Perkins; 1796, Levi Perkins; 1797, Levi Perkins, John Kinsman; 
 1798-99, John Kinsman, Luther Manning; 1800, Luther Manniug, 
 Samuel Leavitt; 1801, Joshua Perkins; 1802, Ezra Bishop, Joshua 
 Perkins; 1803, David Hale, Septimus Lathrop; 1804, Joshua Per- 
 kins; 1805, Daniel Branlan; 1806, Barnabas Huntington; 1807 
 Daniel Braman; 1808, Levi Perkins ; 1809, William Adams; 1810, 
 Levi Perkins; 1811, William Adams; 1812, Levi Perkins; 1813, 
 Freeman Tracy; 1814, Levi Perkins ; 1815, Freeman Tracy; 1816, 
 Levi Perkins; 1817, Freeman Tracy, Frederick Perkins; 1818, Fred- 
 erick Perkins, Joseph L- Lyon ; 1819, Thomas Kinsman ; 1820, Joseph 
 Jewett; 1821, Tyler Brown; 1822, Tyler Brown; 1823, Joseph L. 
 Lyon ; 1824, Andrew Clark ; 1825, Samuel Peckham ; 1826, Barzillai 
 Bishop; 1827, Elisha Morgan; 1828, Boswell Adams; 1829-30, 
 John Gray; 1831, Jared Farnham; 1832-33, Bucklin Matthewson; 
 1834, Ebenezer Allen: 1835, James Stetson; 1836, Nathan Brew- 
 ster; 1837, Thomas A. Clark; 1838, Unssel Eose; 1830, Daniel F. 
 Butler; 1840, Thomas G. Bead; 1841, Thomas A. Clark; 1842, Pearly 
 B. Fuller: 1843, Vine Smith; 1844, Henry E. Bobbins; 1845, Thomas 
 M. Jewett; 1846, William C. Cutler; 1847, Edwin Kimball; 1848, 
 Elijah Eathbun, Jr.; 1849, Ebenezer Lyon ; 1850, Asher P. Brown ; 
 1851, Daniel M. Brown : 1852, William C. Cutler ; 1853, Ezekiel Brom- 
 ley; 1854, Sanford Bromley; 1855, Edwin Fitch; 1856, Asher P. 
 Brown; 1857, Norman Smith ; 1858, Thomas A.Clark; 1869, Jacob 
 B, Bachelder; 1860, N. P. Bishop; 1861, 1. S. Geer; 1862, S. L. Hers- 
 kell ; 1863, E. Bushnell; 1864, W. Bliss; 1865, Henry Lyon ; 1866, H. 
 A.Bennett; 1867, G. N. Case; 1868, B. F. Hull; 1869, S. Bromley; 
 1870, G. L. Phillips ; 1871, E. W. Fitch ; 1872, Henry Lyon ; 1873, J. 
 L. Lathrop; 1874, H. G. Palmer; 1875-76, J. B. Palmer ; 1877, Edwin 
 Kimball ; 1878, J. P. Hewitt ; 1879, E. F. Appley ; 1880, C. J. Bromley ; 
 1881, George Eobinson. 
 
 CHAPTER LVIL 
 
 LISBON— (Continued). 
 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCH. 
 
 Daniel Bumham Hyde, son of Elijah and Lydia 
 (Burnham) Hyde, was born in Lisbon, Conn., May 
 12, 1812. He is a descendant in the sixth genera- 
 tion from Jonathan Hyde, who came to America from 
 near London, England, in 1647, settling in New Town, 
 Mass., now Arlington. Jonathan was twice married. 
 
 By his first wife, Mary French, he had fifteen chil- 
 dren ; by his second wife, Mary Rediat, he had eight 
 children. He died in New Town at an advanced age. 
 His son Joseph married Mary, daughter of Isaac 
 Perkins, and had many children, among them loha- 
 bod, who came to Norwich (West Farms, now Frank- 
 lin), Conn., in early life. He was born Aug. 24, 1717 
 (0. S.). He was a farmer, and married Mary, daugh- 
 ter of Daniel Haskins, of Norwich, and was the father 
 of eighteen children. He was a life-long resident of 
 Franklin, dying there April 13, 1779. He was an 
 honest, industrious, and worthy son of the soil. His 
 son Barnabas, born Sept. 17, 1747, married Lydia, 
 daughter of Elijah and Mary (Cady) Armstrong, of 
 Norwich, and settled in Lisbon ; lived there his life as 
 a farmer, dying Jan. 5, 1819. He had four children, — 
 Sally, Lee, Elijah, and Lydia. Lydia died at seven- 
 teen years. All the rest attained great ages. Barna- 
 bas Hyde was proverbially known as an upright, 
 honest, and reliable man. His word was as good as 
 his bond, and neither ever forfeited. He was select- 
 man, but, an unassuming man, neither sought nor cared 
 for oflBce. Elijah Hyde, his son, father of Daniel B., ■ 
 was born in Lisbon, Feb. 4, 1779, married Lydia 
 Burnham, daughter of Daniel, of Hampton, Conn. 
 He was reared a farmer, and was one through life. 
 He was a very reserved man, modest in his manner, 
 and preferred the society of home to that of public 
 meetings, and neither sought nor would accept offices 
 which he was often asked to accept. He was a true 
 son of his father in strict and undeviating honesty. 
 He was a strong friend, sometimes to his injury, a 
 kind neighbor, and devoted to his family. He died 
 Feb. 14, 1854. His children,— Patty P. (Mrs. James 
 H. Kennedy), Daniel B., Eli E., and Lucy A. (Mrs. 
 Charles Palmer, of Preston). 
 
 Daniel B. was born on the old homestead of three 
 generations in Lisbon, was educated at common 
 schools, and became, like his ancestors, a farmer. He 
 commenced teaching school in 1830, and taught win- 
 ters, and worked as a farmer during the summer. 
 He taught two terms, and then attended school, in- 
 tending to prepare for college, but failing health com- 
 pelled him to relinquish his plans. For three years 
 he was an invalid. He then (1838) became a teacher 
 again, and taught six consecutive winters, then by 
 illness was unable to dress or undress himself for three 
 years. All in all, he taught sixteen winters and one 
 summer. He has always been an industrious, thor- 
 ough man, well versed in ancient and modern his- 
 tory, intelligent, yet unassuming, never undertaking 
 to do anything which he could not do thoroughly and 
 well. He has never married, nor ever owned a farm. 
 In politics he has been a Whig and Republican, and 
 in all oflBcial positions he ever could be prevailed 
 upon to accept he has discharged his duties fearlessly 
 and well. For many years— over fifty — he has been 
 a member of the First Congregational Church of Lis- 
 bon, joining Sept. 2, 1831. He is marked by all who 
 
540 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 know him for his strict adherence to truth and hon- 
 esty and his opposition to all things tending to de- 
 grade humanity, — for example, his opposition to rum 
 and slavery has been earnest all his life. 
 
 CHAPTER LVIII. 
 
 LYME. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — The " Loving Parting" between Saybrook 
 and Lyme — Ecclesiastical History — Congregational Cluirch, Graesy 
 Hill — Congregational Church, Hamburg — Baptist Cliurch, North Lyme 
 — Baptist Cluirch, Hadlyme — Civil and Military History — Organiza- 
 tion of Town — Representatives from 1667 to 1882 — Military Record. 
 
 The town of Lyme is located in the southwestern 
 part of New London County, and is bounded as fol- 
 lows : on the north by Middlesex County and the 
 town of Salem, on the east by East Lyme, on the 
 south by Old Lyme, and on the west by the Con- 
 necticut River, which separates it from Middlesex 
 County. Its surface is hilly but generally fertile. 
 Although this portion of ancient Lyme retains the 
 original name, the first settlement was made in what 
 is now Old Lyme, and much of the history of Lyme 
 is given in the history of that town, to which the 
 reader is referred. 
 
 The "Loving Parting" between Saybrook and 
 Lyme. — The following is a copy of the articles of 
 agreement executed between the towns of Saybrook 
 and Lyme when the latter was set off as an independ- 
 ent plantation. It is dated Feb. 13, 1665 : 
 
 " Whereas there bath been several propositions betwixt the inhabit- 
 ants of east side of the River and the inhabitants on the Westsid of tiie 
 River of the towne of Saybrok towards a Loving parting, 
 
 " The inhabitants on the east side of the River desiring to be a plan- 
 tation by themselves ; doe declare that they have a competency of Lands 
 to entertaine thirty families. 
 
 " They declare that they will pay all arears of Rates past and all rates 
 Dew by the 2 of May next insuing that belongs unto the towne and 
 ministry, to be brought into the townsmen in the town plots, to wit: 
 Richard Rayment and Abraham Post now in Place. At the request of 
 thos on the east side of the River to abate them ther proportion belong- 
 ing to ttie ministry from the furst of maye to the Latter end of January 
 next ensuing, the towns doe consent ther unto, and in case they have 
 not a minister selected amongst them, then they are to pay Rate to the 
 minister on the west side, as formerly, unless a minister be settled 
 .amongst them. 
 
 "In reference to the Lands of hamanasuk, they on the east side of the 
 River doe fully and freely Resign all their Riglits, titles, and claims to 
 all and every parcels of the Lands to the inhabitants of the West side, 
 engaging themselves to atford what help they have amongst them for 
 the Recovery of those Lands, they being Resonably considered for their 
 pains. That the Indians at Nehantick have the Land agreed upon by 
 the covenant maid betwixt the inhabitants of Saybrook and them. 
 
 " The above laid articles being agreed upon by the oomites chosen on 
 both sides of the River, the inhabitants east side have Liberty to be a 
 plantation of themselves. In witness whereof the committees chosen on 
 both sides have sett to their hands. 
 
 "John Waluo, " Nathan Gkiswold, 
 
 William Pkatt, William Waller, 
 
 Roer.RT LuzE, Renalu Marvin, 
 
 William Parker, John Luze, Sr., 
 
 Zacuariau Sanfohd, Riciiaro Smith, 
 
 " For the West Side. John Comstook, 
 
 " For the East Side." 
 
 Congregational Church, Grassy Hill. — This 
 church was organized in 1755. Rev. Daniel Miner was 
 the first pastor, who was settled in 1757. The follow- 
 ing is a list of the pastors from that time to the pres- 
 ent: Daniel Miner, 1767, died April, 1799; Seth Lee, 
 1817, died October, 1826; Nathaniel Miner, 1827-29; 
 
 A. Alden, 1830-31 ; Mark Mead, 1833-36; War- 
 ner, 1837-38; Oliver Brown, 1839, died February, 
 1853 ; Alpha Miller, 1853-63 ; Rev. William A. Hyde, 
 1864, died in 1874, while in the ministry Benjamin 
 
 B. Hopkinson, 1875, present pastor. The present 
 (July, 1881) deacons are William Hull and Richard 
 W. Lee. 
 
 Congregational Church, Hamburg.— This church 
 was organized probably in 1727, with Rev. George 
 Beckwith as first pastor. He died in December, 1785. 
 The pastors from that time to the present have been 
 as follows : David Higgins, 1787 ; David Huntington, 
 1803; Asahel Nettleton, 1813; Josiah Hawes, 1814; 
 Harvey Bushnell, 1835 ; Philip Payson, 1838 ; Charles 
 E. Murdock, 1842; James A. Moore, 1844; Daniel C. 
 Tyler, 1844; Samuel Griswold, 1845 ; E.F.Burr,iD.D., 
 1850, to present time. 
 
 Before the division of the town this was the third 
 church in Lyme, now the first. After Mr. Hunting- 
 ton's death the pulpit was supplied one year by the 
 Middlesex Association. There was a revival under 
 Mr. Nettleton's labors, attended with great solemnity 
 and deep conviction of sin, promoted by the preach- 
 ing of the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel ; 
 thirty-one added. Also in April, 1824, a work of 
 divine grace commenced under the ministration of 
 Rev. Noah C. Saxton, progressed rapidly, and forty- 
 eight were added, four of whom entered the ministry. 
 In April, 1831, Rev. Warren G. Jones commenced 
 assisting Mr. Hawes, and a powerful revival followed, 
 adding forty-five to the church. There was also a re- 
 vival in the winter of 1836, and there have been 
 several since. 
 
 The present deacons are Allen Griffin and Thomas 
 B. Peck. 
 
 Baptist Church, North Lyme. — This church was 
 organized in 1810, by the covenant union of six mem- 
 bers. During the year twenty-five others were added, 
 and one in the following year. During the first three 
 years Elder Asa Wilcox administered the church or- 
 dinances. 
 
 In 1813, Brother Matthew Bolles was ordained 
 pastor, and continued three years, during which thirty- 
 seven were added. He was succeeded by Elder Wil- 
 liam Palmer, who continued six years, and twenty- 
 five more were added. In 1822, Brother Jabez S. 
 Swan received a license to preach the gospel. The 
 two succeeding years they had no stated pastor, but 
 sustained the ordinances of the church through the 
 
 1 Dr. Burr is the author of the following well-known works: "Ecce 
 Ccehim," " Pater Mundi," '■ Ad Fidem," " Doctrine of Evolution," " Work 
 in the Vineyard," "Toward the Strait Gate," "Sunday Afternoons," 
 "Thy Voyage," "From Dark to Day," "Dio, the Athenian." 
 
LYME. 
 
 541 
 
 ministry of several of the Lord's ambassadors, and 
 during the time were encouraged by the addition of 
 twenty-four by baptism. 
 
 In 1824, Brother Henry Stanwood commenced la- 
 boring with them, and rendered essential service by 
 setting things in order, and inducing a good degree of 
 discipline. He was subsequently ordained. During 
 his ministry thirty-four were added to the church by 
 baptism. 
 
 In 1827, Elder Tubal Wakefield accepted the pas- 
 torate, and Brother J. Pilgrim and James Stark were 
 licensed. Their numbers continued q,bout the same. 
 In 1830 they were again without a pastor, but the or- 
 dinances of the church were administered to them by 
 Elder B. G. Goff, and though laboring under such 
 disadvantages, the church enjoyed a good degree of 
 prosperity. 
 
 In 1831, Elder Alvin Ackley became pastor, and 
 thus continuing three years, during which the church 
 was strengthened in grace as well as in numbers. The 
 same might be said of the two succeeding years, when 
 Elder Andrew M. Smith dispensed to them the word 
 of life. 
 
 In 1846, Elder Ebenezer Loomis accepted the pas- 
 torate for one year, when he was succeeded by Elder 
 E. Denison, about one year, when he again succeeded, 
 and continued two years. During their pastorship 
 the church prospered. For a few months they were 
 again without a pastor, then for a short time Elder 
 Willson Cogswell labored successfully among them. 
 
 In 1842, Elder Thomas Dowling commenced his 
 labors with them, during whose ministry of almost 
 four years many difficulties were passed through and 
 much good accomplished. 
 
 In 1846, Elder Chester Tilden succeeded to the pas- 
 torate, and was followed by. Elder Simeon Shailer. 
 Brother W. W. Meech was ordained their present 
 pastor in June, 1850. Their present number of mem- 
 bers is one hundred and forty-four. 
 
 Baptist Church, Hadlyme.— Early in the present 
 century a few families had Baptist members, but, scat- 
 tered and disorganized, they were incapable of ex- 
 erting any efficient influence. They were, however, 
 visited occasionally by Elders Matthew Bolles and 
 Simeon Shailer, whose labors were blessed, and thus 
 a branch of the JS^orth Lyme Baptist Church was es- 
 tablished. 
 
 In 1820 this branch was organized into a church, 
 under its present name, and for several years enjoyed 
 a good degree of prosperity, but at length, in 1840, 
 through dissensions, the church became extinct. 
 
 In 1849 it was reorganized, when ten were added, 
 making their whole number thirty-two. They were 
 supplied by Brother William Harris in 1851. 
 
 Civil and Military History.— This town was or- 
 ganized in 1667, and is one of the oldest civil organi- 
 zations in the State of Connecticut. A portion of the 
 present town of East Lyme was set off in 1839, and 
 the town of Old Lyme in 1855. 
 35 
 
 EEPEESENTATIVES FBOM 1670 TO 18S2. 
 1670. — Reinold Marvin. 
 
 1671.— Mathew Griswold, Ens. William Waller. 
 1672.— Mathew Griswold, Lieut. William Waller, Heinold Marvin. 
 1673.— Mathew Griswold, Sergt. Reinold Marvin. 
 1674. — Mathew Griswold, Sergt. Seiuold Marvin. 
 1675. — Lieut. Reinold Marvin. 
 1676. — Lieut. Reinold Marvin, William Measure, Jos. Peck, Thomas Lee, 
 
 absent 
 1677.— Mathew Griswold, William Measure. 
 1678.— Mathew Griswold, Richard Smith. 
 1679.— Mathew Griswold, Richard Smith. 
 16S0. — William Measure, Mathew Griswold. 
 1681. — Mathew Griswold, William Measure. 
 1682. — Mathew Griswold, Lieut. Abram Brunson. 
 1683.— Mathew Griswold, William Measure. 
 1684. — Mathew Griswold, William Measure. 
 1685. — William Measure, Sergt. Thomas Lee. 
 
 1686.— William Measure, Capt. Joseph Scill, Lieut. Abram Brunson. 
 1687. — Lieut. Abram Brunson. 
 1688. — Sir Edmond Androsa, Governor. 
 1689. — Lieut. Abram Brunson. 
 
 1690.— Capt. Jos. Scill, Elis. Jos. Peck, William Ely. 
 
 1691. — Capt. Joseph Scill, abs., Lieut. Abram Brunson, Ens. Joseph Peck. 
 1692. — William Ely, Lieut. Abram Brunson. 
 1693. — William Ely, Lieut. Isaac Brunson, Isack Waterhouse. 
 1694. — William Ely, Lieut. Abram Brunson. 
 1695.— William Ely, Abram Brunson, Ens. Peck. 
 1696.— Wilt Eelie, Mathew Griswold, abs., Joseph Peck. 
 1697.— Capt. Wilt Eelie, Ens. Joseph Peck. 
 
 1698. — Capt. Wilt Eelye, Ens. Joseph Peck, Lieut. Abraham Brownson. 
 1699. — Capt. Wilt Eelye, Eus. Joseph Peck, Lieut. Abraham Brownson. 
 1700.— Capt. Wilt Eelye, Ens. Joseph Peck, Thomas Bradford. 
 1701. — Lieut. Abraham Brownson, Capt. William Eeelye, Deacon Joseph 
 
 Peck. 
 1702. — Ens. Joseph Peck, Capt. William Eely, Ens. Joseph Peck. 
 1703. — Capt. William Eeelye, Ensign Joseph Peck, Lieut. Abraham 
 
 Brownson . 
 1704. — Capt. William Eeley, Ensign Joseph Feck, Mathew Griswold, 
 
 Thomas Bradford. 
 1705. — Capt. William Ely, Ensign Joseph Peck. 
 1706. — Capt. William Ely,l Ensign Joseph Peck. 
 1707. — Capt. William Eely, Mathew Griswold. 
 1708. — Capt. William Eely, Joseph Peck, Thomas Bradford, Mathew 
 
 Griswold. 
 1709. — Capt. William Eely, Joseph Peck, Abraham Brownson, John Lee. 
 1710. — Joseph Peck, Mathew Griswold. 
 
 1711. — Capt. William Eely, Reynold Marvin, Abraham Brownson, Sam- 
 uel JIarvin. 
 1712. — Ensign John Colt, Mr. Renold Marvin, Abraham Brunson, Capt. 
 
 William Eely. 
 1713. — Capt. William Eely, Renold Marvin, Abraham Brunson, Thomas 
 
 Lee. 
 1714. — Lieut. Abram Brunson, Thomas Lee. 
 1715. — Lieut. Abram Brunson, Thomas Lee, Capt. William Ely. 
 1716. — Thomas Lee, Lieut. Abram Brunson, Reginald Marvin. 
 1717, — Abram Brunson, William Minor, Thomas Lee. 
 1718. — Abraham Brunson, Reinold Marvin, John Colt. 
 1719. — Thomas Lee, Richard Ely, Lieut. John Colt, Richard Lord. 
 1720. — Capt. Reignold Slarvin, Lieut. John Colt, Aaron Huntly, Thomas 
 
 Lee. 
 1721,— Capt. Reignold Marvin, John Griswold. 
 1722-23. — Lieut, .lohn Colt, Samuel Marvin, Capt. Reignold Marvin. 
 1724. — Thomas Lee, Richard Ely, Capt. Reignold Marvin, Capt. John 
 
 Colt. 
 1725. — Capt. Reignold Marvin, Jno. Griswold, Thomas Lee, Richard Ely. 
 1726.— Thomas Lee, Richard Ely, Capt. John Colt. 
 1727.— Thomas Lee, Capt. Reignold Marvin. 
 1728.— Capt. John Colt, Capt. Reignold Marvin, Richard Ely, Stephen 
 
 Lee. 
 1729.— Stephen Lee, Daniel Ely, Capt. John Coult, Richard Lord. 
 1730.— Richard Lord, John Lee, Capt. John Colt, Capt. Stephen Lee. 
 1731.— Capt. John Colt, Capt. Stephen Lee. 
 
 1 Names of deputies without towns are given in 1706, but these are 
 undoubtedly correct. 
 
5-12 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1Y32. — Richard Lord, John Lee. 
 
 173:i. — Kichard Lord, Stephen Lee, John Griswold. 
 
 1734. — Jolin Griswold, John Lee, Daniel Ely. 
 
 173S.— John GriBwold, John tee, Richard Lord, Daniel Ely. 
 
 1730,— Kichard Lord, Stephen Lee, John Griswold, John Lee. 
 
 1737.— John Griswold, Kichard Lord, Kichard Ely. 
 
 1738. — John Griswold, Capt. John Lee, Capt. Daniel Ely. 
 
 1739. — John Griswold, Joseph Lee, Capt. Stephen Lee, Capt. Daniel Ely. 
 
 1740. — John Griswold, Joseph Lee, Richard Lord. 
 
 1741. — Capt. Stephen Lee, Maj. Daniel Ely, John Griswold. 
 
 1742.— John Griswold, Richard Lord, Capt. Stephen Lee, Maj. Daniel 
 Ely. 
 
 1743. — John Griswold, Richard Lord, Capt. John Lee. 
 
 1744. — Maj. Daniel Ely, Capt. Samuel Selden, John Griswold, Capt. John 
 Lee. 
 
 1745. — John Griswold, John Lee, Maj. Daniel Ely. 
 
 1746. — John Griswold, Richard Lord, Capt. Elisha Sheldon. 
 
 1747.— Capt. Elisha Sheldon, Richard Lord. 
 
 1748. — Richard Lo]-d, Capt. Elisha Sheldon, Capt. Mathew Griswold. 
 
 1749.— John Griswold, Capt. Elisha Sheldon, Miij. Daniel Ely. 
 
 1750. — Daniel Ely, John Lay, Joseph Mathews. 
 
 1751. — Capt. Mathew Griswold, Eleazer Mather, Capt. Nathan Jewett, 
 Daniel Ely. 
 
 1752. — John Griswold, Richard Lord, Capt. Nathan Jewett. 
 
 1753. — Richard Lord, Capt. Nathan Jewett, Richard Lord, John Gris- 
 wold. 
 
 1754. — John Lay, Uriah Rolland, Kichard Lord, Capt. Matthew Griswold. 
 
 1755.— Capt. William Ely, Richard "Wait, Capt. Matthew Griswold, Capt. 
 Nathan Jewett. 
 
 1756. — John Griswold, Capt. Matthew Griswold. 
 
 1757. — John Griswold, Samuel Ely, Capt. Matthew Marvin. 
 
 1758.— George Dorr, Capt. Matthew Griswold, Uriah Rowland, 
 
 1759.— Capt. Matthew Griswold (chosen assistant), Uriah Rowland (ex- 
 cluded), Capt. Samuel Ely, Eleay.er Matthew, 
 
 1760.— Capt. Samuel Ely, George Dorr, Capt, Richard, Capt. Nathan 
 Jew it. 
 
 1701.— Maj. Daniel Ely, John Lay (2), Richard Mather, William 
 Noyes. 
 
 1762-63. — John Lay (2), Samuel Selden, Samuel Holden Parsons. 
 
 1764. — John Lay, Samuel Holden Parsons. 
 
 1765. — William Noyes, Samuel Selden. 
 
 1766.— John Lay (2), Samuel Selden, Capt. Joseph Mather, Capt. Elisha 
 Marvin. 
 
 1767. — Samuel Holden Parsons, William Noyes, John Lay (2). 
 
 1768. — Samuel Holden Parsons, Ezra Selden, Semuel Selden. 
 
 1769, — Samuel Holden Parsons, John Lay (2), 
 
 1770,— John Lay (2), Capt, Joseph .Malhei, Maj, Samuel Holden Parsons, 
 Eleazer Mather. 
 
 1771.— Maj, Samuel H. Parsons, William Noyes, Samuel Selden. 
 
 1772.— Maj. Samuel H, Parsons, Samuel Selden, John Lay (2). 
 
 1773.— Maj. Samuel H. Parsons, Samuel Selden, William Noyes. 
 
 1774,— William Noyes, John Lay (2), Ezra Selden. 
 
 1775. — Marshfield Parsons, Ezra Selden. 
 
 1776.— S. Selden, M. Parsons, John Lay (2), 
 
 1777.— William Noyes, S. Ely, John Lay (2). 
 
 1778.— E. Selden, M. Parsons. 
 
 1779,— E, Selden, K, Wait, Jr. 
 
 1780. — William Noyes, M. Parsons, Moses Warren. 
 
 1781.— Seth Ely, B. Wait, S. Mather. 
 
 1782.— Ezra Selden, N. Matson. 
 
 1783.— Ezra Selden, N. Matson, Richard Wait, Seth Ely. 
 
 1784.— Ezra Selden. 
 
 1785,— Ezia Seidell, M. Parsons, John Giiffln. 
 
 1786.— Andrew Uriiwold, D, F. Sill, Seth Ely. 
 
 1787.— R. Wait, Jr., M, Parsons, Johu Giilfiii, Ezra Selden, 
 1788.— Seth Ely, D, F. Sill, John Griffin, William Noyes. 
 1789.- Ezra Selden, Mattliew Griswold, U. Parsons, Ezra Selden. 
 1790.— Ezra Selden, Matthew Griswold, Samuel Mather. 
 1791.— William Noyes, M. Leach, Lemuel Lee. 
 1792,— S Mather, M, Leach, Lemuel Lee, Samuel Perkins. 
 1793— S, Mather, James Huntley, Lemuel Leo, I, Reeve, 
 1794,— M, Griswold, D, F. Sill, Samuel Mather, Elisha Way, 
 179o.— Israel Reeve, Ezra Wait, M, Griswold, Jr,, D, F, Sill. 
 1796.— Israel Reeve, E. Selden, M, Griswold, Jr,, D. F, Sill. 
 1797.— L.Lee, Israel Reese, iM, Griswold, Jr,, John Noyes, 
 1798.— D, F. Sill, .M, Giiswold, Jr. 
 1799.— D. F. Sill, Moses Warren, M. Giiswold, Jr., D, M. Jewett. 
 
 1800.— R. Selden, John Noyes, M. Griswold, Jr. 
 
 1801.— M. Warren, D. F. Sill, M. Griswold, Jr., D. M. Jewett. 
 
 1802.— M. Warren, D. F. Sill, M. Griswold, Jr., R. Lord. 
 
 1803,— N. Matson, D. F, Sill, M. Griswold, Jr. 
 
 1S04 — D, M. Jewett, E, Brockway, Jr., M. Griswold, Jr., M. Warren, Jr. 
 
 1805. — N. Matson, Calvin Selden, Roger Griswold, George Beckwith. 
 
 1806-12.— Richard McCurdy. 
 
 1806.— David M, Jewett. 
 
 1806-17.— N. Watson. 
 
 1806-14.— P. Warner. 
 
 1807.— Seth Smith. 
 
 1807-9.— William Noyes. 
 
 1807-15,— C. Selden. 
 
 18118,— D, M. Jewett. 
 
 1809.- Seth Ely, Jr. 
 
 1810-12.— William Sterling. 
 
 1810-16.— E. Selden. 
 
 1811 — Joseph Noyes. 
 
 1812-14, — Henry Perkins. 
 
 1813-15. — Charles Griswold. 
 
 1815-26.— Henry M. Wait. 
 
 1816-31— E. Brockway. 
 
 1816. -H, Tinker, 
 
 1816-17,— Charles Smith. 
 
 1817-23,— R, E. Selden. 
 
 1817-31. — Moses Warner. 
 
 1818-32.- P. Comstock. 
 
 1818-30,— S. B. Mather. 
 
 1821. — D. Andei-son. 
 
 1^21-32.- J.S, Rogers. 
 
 1822-80.— Joel Loomis. 
 
 1834-43.— J, R, Warner. 
 
 1826-29,-0, Couts. 
 
 1827-43,— Charles J. McCurdy. 
 
 1828,— Z. Brockway, Jr, 
 
 1834-38-48.— S, C. Selden. 
 
 1834.- U, Stark. 
 
 1836. — Lodowick Bill, S. Champion. 
 
 1837.— J, L, Smith, N, Tiffany. 
 
 1839, — Joseph Strickland. 
 
 1839^6.-0. C. Griswold. 
 
 1840.— S. I. Lord. 
 
 1841. — William Marvin. 
 
 1812,— D, M, Jewett. 
 
 1843.— .1, AV, Bill. 
 
 1844,- S. S. Warner. 
 
 184.'), — William Spencer. 
 
 1846,— R, E, Selden, Jr., J. M, Beebe. 
 
 1847.— K. Lord, 0. I. Lay. 
 
 1S4S — R, L. Lord, 
 
 1S49-58-09.— Z, Brockway. 
 
 1849. — lames A, Bill, 
 
 1850.— N, Stark, T, W, Swau, 
 
 1861,— M. S Paiker, Joseph Warner. 
 
 1852.— G, 1'. Stalk, J, B. Warren. 
 
 IS.M.— J, 0, Comstock, Charles E. Tiffany. 
 
 18.V1,— F, A. Tiffany, I. Watsun. 
 
 18.'i.^, — Daniel Morley, Joseph Selden. 
 
 18,"ii;,— S. 0, Ely, K. L, Seldeu, 
 
 1857,— C, II, Wood, F. Fosdick. 
 
 18.08-60 ~K. 1), Brockway. 
 
 18511.- WillianiHall, 
 
 1861),— Horace Ely, S, P, Andei-son. 
 
 1861,- E. Geer, A. Stark. 
 
 1802. — Charles A. TitTany, Joseph Beebe. 
 
 18ii:) — I. s, Raymond, J. Comstock. 
 
 1864.— J, L. Lord, Kohert Dawley. 
 
 180.") — Nathan Stark, William Marvin. 
 
 1860-71.— D. C. Warner. 
 
 1867.- A. C. G. Rathbnn, James A. Bill. 
 
 1808.- U, A. Rathhun, I-I, B. Koyce. 
 
 18011. — H. S, Lord, J. F, Laplace. 
 
 1870.— M S. Paiker, Elihu lieer, 
 
 1871,— H. M, Jewett. 
 
 1872,— B. P, Bill, Charles Stark. 
 
 1873-70-78.- H. B. Sissoii. 
 
 1873.- H. L. Parker. 
 
Bny^by AUBAtd'U 
 
 Si^~-z/(7'ZiH-^'A. y^a^^c 
 
OLD LYME. 
 
 543 
 
 1874.— B. E. Brockway, J. M. Lord. 
 
 1875.— J. G. Ely, P. L. Gillett. 
 
 1876.-0. B. Sterling. 
 
 1877.— J. L. Eaymond, J. H. Lord. 
 
 1878.— Reuben Lord. 
 
 1879.— No election. 
 
 1880.— A. Beckworth, J. Sisson. 
 
 1881.— J. W. Bill, J. P. Laplace. 
 
 CHAPTER LIX. 
 
 LYME— (Continued). 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 
 
 lodowick Bill. — The honored subject of this sketch 
 was born in that part of the town of Groton, Conn., 
 now known as Ledyard, Oct. 9, 1784. He remained 
 in his native town until about the year 1805, when he 
 removed to the town of Lyme, where the remainder 
 of his life was passed. 
 
 He located on a pleasant elevation near the central 
 part of the town, and as his family grew up they left 
 the parental roof only to iind homes within easy call, 
 and at this day, and mayhap through all time, the 
 place that he selected for his home is and will be 
 known as " Bill Hill." 
 
 Judge Bill was in personal appearance a man that 
 we at this day would turn and gaze upon after he had 
 passed ; tall, straight, with square-cut features, and 
 chin which denoted firmness of purpose, pleasing ad- 
 dress, yet commanding in its very tone, notable hos- 
 pitality, — these are some of the more prominent traits 
 of his character ; in fact, our recollections of him are 
 those of admiration, amounting almost to awe, so 
 beautifully were kindness and firmness blended. 
 
 His pre-eminent qualifications as a man of execu- 
 tive ability and superior judgment, united with marked 
 energy and uprightness of character, early won for 
 him an enviable place in the hearts of his fellow-citi- 
 zens, and he was called to occupy many positions of 
 honor, trust, and responsibility. He was judge of 
 probate for many years and until constitutionally dis- 
 qualified by age, and it is a noteworthy fact that dur- 
 ing the long period he held this position none of his 
 decisions were ever reversed by the higher courts. 
 
 In the extensive and ordinary transactions of busi- 
 ness life, such was the high sense of honor and integ- 
 rity which characterized his uniform dealings that he 
 succeeded in binding to himself, as with hooks of 
 steel, all who had intercourse with him. 
 
 By nature and culture there were developed in the 
 character of Judge Bill that happy and observable 
 combination of qualities which tend to lift one into 
 prominence, and to give the world assurance of a 
 man. 
 
 In politics he was a true and steadfast Democrat, 
 and it was his proud boast he voted for every Demo- 
 cratic President from the great Jefferson down. 
 
 In religion he maintained that a divine government, 
 like that of a republic, was instituted and ordered for 
 
 the sole good of the governed, and the end of such 
 could not fail to secure the righteous obedience of all 
 created intelligence. In confidence that the end 
 would be in harmony with the design and commen- 
 surate with the means put into operation, he hope- 
 fully cast in his lot with that of a common humanity, 
 and departed this life firm in the faith that he should 
 be gathered to the rapt embrace of his kindred and 
 friends in the spirit's native skies. 
 
 For sixty years he lived in calm fellowship with 
 the venerable order of Freemasons. His amiable 
 and greatly beloved consort, who toiled with him up 
 the hill of life, and with whom he passed by far the 
 largest portion of his prosperous and happy years, 
 went down the opposite declivity only a little in 
 advance, rich in all the gathered treasures of the 
 home and heart. 
 
 By frugality and industry he accumulated a com- 
 petence, which enabled him to idle through the " In- 
 dian summer" days of his life, taking no thought for 
 the morrow, knowing his harvest had been abundant, 
 his granary full, — aye, and to spare. The home of 
 Judge Bill is not noticeably different from many other 
 dwellings of the nineteenth century : it is a square 
 two and a half story frame house, standing very near 
 the road, the house having been built first, simple in 
 its construction, yet invitingly home-like in its sim- 
 plicity. 
 
 No wonder that he, being a lover of domestic hap- 
 piness, should select this delightful place for a home. 
 Hearing the wind as it goes whispering through the 
 grand old stately elms that stand by this familiar home- 
 stead, placed there when mere saplings by his hands, 
 I am reminded of two lines by a gifted author, — 
 
 " Among the leaves tlie wind-harp weaves 
 A requiem for thee." 
 
 Judge Bill died Aug. 17, 1871, leaving three sons 
 and two daughters. The sons, John W., Benajah P., 
 and James A., are all residents of Lyme, and are 
 classed among the enterprising and influential citi- 
 zens and agriculturists of the county, all having rep- 
 resented their native town in the Legislature. 
 
 CHAPTER LX. 
 
 OLD LYME. 
 
 This town lies in the southwestern part of the 
 county, and is bounded as follows : on the north by 
 Lyme, on the east by East Lyme, on the south by the 
 waters of Long Island Sound, and on the west by 
 the Connecticut River, which separates it from the 
 town of Saybrook, in Middlesex County. 
 
 This town was first settled in 1664, and was known 
 as East Saybrook, being at that time a part of the 
 town of Saybrook. 
 
 The following interesting and thorough sketch of 
 
544 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Lyme is from the pen of the gifted Martha J. Lamb, 
 of New York, author of the " History of New Yorlc 
 City," and is reproduced in this worli by permission of 
 the publishers, Messrs. Harper & Brothers. It was 
 first published in Harper's Magazine for February, 
 1876. 
 
 "Lyme is a word of four letters, and it brings the 
 cars on the Shore-line Railroad from New York to 
 Boston to a full stop for the space of perhaps a minute 
 at the eastern end of the Connecticut Eiver bridge. 
 That is as far, probably, as your next neighbor, 
 who is descanting learnedly upon the charms of 
 foreign travel, will be able to enlighten you. The 
 car-window discloses little save a broad stretch of 
 picturesque scenery, including the natural variations 
 between a fine old sea-beach and rough and ragged 
 undulations piled one upon another half a league in- 
 land. Should you suddenly be attacked by the spirit 
 of inquiry, as well as by the notion that, as a native 
 of average intelligence, you are deplorably unfamiliar 
 with the individual features of your own country, you 
 may find yourself, as did the writer on a certain occa- 
 sion, standing conspicuously alone in apparent pos- 
 session of the main outpost of this ancient and inter- 
 esting town. 
 
 "From Noyes Hill, a few rods north of the station, 
 you obtain your first glimpse of the village, or rather 
 of its roofs and chimneys and spires among the tree- 
 tops ; also of Meeting-house Hill beyond, of the salt 
 meadows and Long Island Sound to the right, and of 
 a beautiful river, formerly the harbor for merchant 
 vessels when Lyme was a shipping port, winding 
 lazily to the sea in the foreground. The ferry road 
 crosses a snug New England bridge and guides you 
 to the Pierrepont House, a new summer hotel, which 
 occupies a commanding position just outside the 
 wealth of shade which shields the town. The name 
 of this hotel hinges upon the romantic. It was given 
 in honor of one of the early ministers of Lyme, Eev. 
 Samuel Pierrepont, a brother of the wife of Eev. 
 Jonathan Edwards, who in 1722 was drowned in 
 crossing the Connecticut on his return from a visit to 
 his lady-love in New Haven. 
 
 " Lyme itself is the namesake of Lyme-Eegis, on 
 the south coast of England, which, with its geograph- 
 ical peculiarities, its history, traditions, and romances, 
 has been so graphically described by Mr. Conway in 
 his ' South Coast Saunterings.' It covers seven or 
 eight square miles of territory, bounded on the west 
 by the Connecticut Eiver, and on the south by the 
 Sound. It was settled over two centuries ago (in 
 1666) by an active, sensible, resolute, and blue- 
 blooded people, who gave it a moral and intellectual 
 character which it has never outgrown. Its climate 
 is one of perfect health, and its people live to a great 
 age. The salty, bracing atmosphere tends towards 
 the increase of mental vigor as well as length of 
 years, hence the results which we are about to 
 chronicle. It is a town which has kept pace with 
 
 the times. It has been near enough the metropolis 
 to partake of its literary culture and many-sided op- 
 portunities, and sufficiently remote to escape its dis- 
 sipating wastes, and it has always maintained a self- 
 respecting inner life. It is exceptionally rich in 
 family reminiscences, occupies in a certain sense his- 
 toric ground, and possesses elements of national in- 
 terest. Lyme-Eegis is said to have been famous for 
 its physicians. Lyme is, or ought to be, famous for 
 its lawyers, as it has produced more than any other 
 town of its size on this continent, or any other conti- 
 nent, and not only lawyers, 'whose trade it is to 
 question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the 
 hour,' but eminent judges, senators, and Governors, its 
 latest and grandest achievement being a chief justice 
 of the United States. 
 
 "As you proceed from the hotel, 'The Street' 
 springs upon you like a new character in a novel. 
 There is no warning of its nearness until you are 
 among its soft shadows. It has a fascinating air of 
 easy old-fashioned elegance, is a mile and a half long, 
 is wide enough to swallow a whole family of New 
 York City streets, is lined with handsome grand- 
 fatherly-looking trees, and mansions, some modest, 
 some pretentious, some antique, are planted on either 
 side of it at neighborly distances. Y'our eye will fall 
 also upon two churches, an academy, a post-office, 
 two or three stores, where groceries, hardware, and 
 dry-goods dwell in harmony together, a milliner's 
 shop with peaches and melons to sell, and a wagon- 
 shed where they mend breaks and shoe horses. Signs 
 of business there are none. The scene is one of tran- 
 quillity on a broad scale. 
 
 " One of the first houses which attract attention, 
 through its associations, is a cottage-built, vine-clad, 
 flower-surrounded dwelling, with a body-guard of 
 aged apple-trees. It was the home of the Hon. Henry 
 Matson Waite, chief justice of the State of Connec- 
 ticut, the father of the present chief justice of the 
 United States, and where the latter was reared into 
 manhood. 
 
 " It is only a few months since we witnessed a rare 
 phenomenon, which is fresh in the public memory. 
 An American citizen was elevated to one of the most 
 dignified and important judicial offices in the world 
 without a dissenting voice. When the nomination 
 was announced a fiood of surprise seemed to drown 
 captious politicians and impatient ofBce-seekers. The 
 choice had, singularly enough, fallen outside of their 
 ranks. Ere they came to the surface Congress had 
 bowed its lofty head to merit, the newspaper press 
 had despairingly confessed its inability to find any 
 fault with the nominee, and the question had rung 
 through the length and breadth of the land, and been 
 satisfactorily answered, ' What manner of man is he 
 who is to be henceforth the custodian of the liberties 
 of forty millions of people ?' 
 
 " The office had been entirely unsought. Morrison 
 E. Waite was a lawyer with an immense and valuable 
 
OLD LYME. 
 
 545 
 
 practice. He was the acknowledged leader of the 
 Ohio bar, and had been for a long series of years. 
 He was one whose clearness and dexterity of intellect 
 had never failed to bring order out of confusion in 
 the most complicated law cases which had been placed 
 in his hands. He was, moreover, a thorough gentle- 
 man, with an acute sense of justice, strong opinions, 
 sound judgment, and a spotless private record. He 
 had meddled little in public affairs, although repeat- 
 edly urged to accept a nomination to Congress. He 
 had declined a seat upon the bench of the Supreme 
 Court of Ohio. 
 
 "The few instances in which he had served the 
 government were where the mutual attraction of 
 need and fitness were strikingly apparent. In 1849 
 he wa.s in the Ohio Legislature; in 1871 he' was 
 one of the counsel of the United States at the tri- 
 bunal of arbitration at Geneva, winning special praise 
 for his labor in the commission ; in 1873 he was elec- 
 ted to the Constitutional Convention of Ohio by the 
 unanimous vote of both political parties, and was 
 presiding over that body when he was notified of the 
 action of the administration. He stands out in Amer- 
 ican history bright and clear as sunlight, a living refu- 
 tation of the popular idea that a man must have 
 narrowed and belittled himself with district politics — 
 in short, have gone through the worst possible train- 
 ing for it — before he can receive any national ap- 
 pointment. 
 
 "Chief Justice Waite is so rounded in character 
 and culture that there are few salient points to seize 
 for purposes of description. He is of medium height, 
 broad physique, square shoulders, large and well-poised 
 head, hair and whiskers slightly flecked with gray, 
 complexion heavy, eyes dark and piercing, and mouth 
 indicative of decision. His general bearing is firm 
 and self-possessed. He was born in Lyme, Nov. 29, 
 1816. He studied law with his father, after gradua- 
 ting from Yale, but completed his forensic education 
 in the ofiice of the Hon. Samuel M. Young, of Mau- 
 mee City, Ohio, with whom he subsequently formed 
 a partnership that continued with marked success for 
 nearly a quarter of a century. 
 
 "He removed his family to Toledo in ]850. The 
 name of Waite is both ancient and honorable. It 
 dates back many centuries. The coat of arms used 
 by the family in both Europe and America was granted 
 in 1512. In the time of Cromwell, Thomas Wayte' 
 was a member of Parliament, and one of the judges 
 who signed the death-warrant of Charles I. Shortly 
 after the Restoration the family removed to this coun- 
 try. Thomas Waite, born in Sudbury, Ma.ss., in 1677, 
 settled in Lyme when a young man, and married 
 Mary Bronson, whose mother was the daughter of 
 
 1 From the Waite records it appears that the name anciently was 
 written Wayte, in modern times Waite, and in some instances Wait. 
 It also appears that the names of Thomas, Eichard, John, and .Toseph, 
 especially Ihe former two, were favorite names in the family. — Mistoi-y of 
 the Waite Family, p. 11. 
 
 Matthew and Annah Wolcott Griswold.^ He thus 
 became connected with one of the most influential 
 families in the province, and in an age when the dis- 
 tinctions of rank and caste were held in severe re- 
 spect, even in democratic New England, 'where 
 mental and moral cultivation was the first essential 
 for access to good society, and honest labor esteemed 
 no shame.' He was the father of eleven children. 
 His fourth son, Richard, was twice married ; his first 
 wife was Elizabeth Marvin. 
 
 " I beg pardon for the digression, but I am reminded 
 of a little story. One of the early settlers of Lyme 
 was Reynold Marvin. He was a rich landholder, a 
 militia captain, and a deacon of the church. He 
 professed to be governed by Divine communications. 
 On one occasion he announced that the Lord had di- 
 rected him to distribute his cows among the poor. A 
 shiftless fellow who was omitted in the distribution 
 finally went to the deacon and said he too had re- 
 ceived a communication from the Lord, who had sent 
 him there for a cow. 
 
 " ' Of course, then, you must have a cow,' was the 
 reply. ' But what sort of a cow did the Lord say I 
 must give you, a new milch or a farrow ?' 
 
 " ' A new milch cow, sir.' 
 
 " ' Indeed ! Your communication could not have 
 been from the Lord, for I have no new milch cow.' 
 
 " The bafiied beggar departed. 
 
 " Another time the deacon opposed some church 
 measure, which was carried in spite of him. He 
 promptly refused to pay his church taxes, and was 
 sued, and his saddle taken for the debt. He esteemed 
 himself deeply wronged, and rode upon a sheepskin 
 (wheeled vehicles had as yet hardly appeared in the 
 colonies) forever afterward. And riding upon his 
 sheepskin one day, he reined his horse up to the cot- 
 tage-door of pretty Betty Lee. It was an old Dutch 
 door, cut in two in the middle. She came and leaned 
 upon the lower half, her blue eyes opened wide, and 
 her dainty hands holding fast to a plate which she 
 was wiping. 
 
 " ' Betty,' said he, solemnly, ' the Lord sent me here 
 to marry you.' 
 
 "Betty's eyes fell upon the doorstep, and so did 
 
 2 The Griswolds and Wolcotts were of the old English gentry, Matthew 
 Griswold, the first magistrate of the Sajbrook colony, married Annah, 
 the daughter of Henry Wolcott. Matthew Griswold was a descendant of 
 Sir Humphrey Griswold, whose seat was at Malvern Hall. Henry Wol- 
 cott was the son and heir of John Wolcott, of Golden Manor. The 
 manor-house is still standing, an immense castle of great antiquity, de- 
 signed for the purposes of defense against the excesses of a lawless age, 
 as well as for a permanent family residence. It is richly ornamented 
 with carved work, and upon the walls may be seen the motto of the 
 family arms, " Nullim addiolits jurare tn verha majMfri,"— inclined to 
 swear in the words of no master. It was in keeping with the independ- 
 ent spirit of an English gentleman of the Middle Ages, and with that of 
 a Puritan of a later date who spurned the dictation of ecclesiastical 
 wisdom. Wolcott sold a portion of his estate before he left England. He 
 was a magistrate in the Connecticut colony, and his descendants in the 
 direct line were magistrates, judges, and Governors for a period of over 
 one hundred and eighty successive years. 
 
546 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 the plate. The demure maiden, however, rallied 
 instantly. 
 
 " ' The Lord's will be done,' she replied. 
 
 "The deacon nudged his horse and trotted slowly 
 away, and the maiden iinished washing her dishes. 
 Betty's father was not friendly to the deacon, and tried 
 to break the engagement. He did not succeed, as ap- 
 pears from the publishment which, according to the 
 custom of the times, was posted upon the church- 
 door. It was the production of the prospective bride- 
 groom, and ran thus : 
 
 " * Reynold Marvin and Betty lee 
 Bo intend to marry, 
 And though her dad op-po-sed be, 
 They can no longer tarry.' 
 
 " They were married, and lived in peace, and in a 
 small stone house on the west side of ' The Street' 
 brought up a large family of children, and in due 
 course of events were gathered to their fathers. On 
 a time-worn headstone in the Lyme Cemetery may be 
 seen the folllowing inscription : 
 
 " ' This Beacon, aged sixty-eight, 
 Is freed on Earth from sarving, 
 May for a crown no longer wait 
 Lyme's Captain Reynold Marvin.' 
 
 "The Marvins were a numerous race, and jurists 
 were thick among them in every generation. They 
 seem to have been native bards also. One Reynold 
 Marvin (not the deacon) closes a letter in 1737 to 
 Judge John Griswold in the following manner : 
 
 " 'Sir, this is yours, at any rate, 
 To read if you have leisure, 
 To burn, conceal, communicate. 
 According to your pleasure.' 
 
 " To return to Eichard Waite. He lived on a farm 
 in that part of Lyme known as ' Four-mile River.' 
 He was a leading man and a justice of the peace, 
 which was more of an honor in those days than we 
 of this generation can comprehend. He had ten chil- 
 dren by his Marvin wife, one of whom became the 
 celebrated Judge Marvin Wait, of New London, 
 whose son is the Hon. John Turner Wait, of Nor- 
 wich. He married secondly Rebecca Higgins, the 
 daughter of Capt. Higgins, a large, handsome, im- 
 perious woman, who, as the years rolled on, devoted 
 herself with great zeal to the education of her two 
 sons, Remick and Ezra. When the latter graduated 
 from Yale, and then declined to carry out her wishes 
 by studying divinity, she was grievously disappointed ; 
 and when he crowned his irreverence by declaring in 
 favor of law, she would have nothing more to do with 
 him. She was severely religious, never allowed cook- 
 ing or sweeping in her house on the Sabbath, and 
 always entered church at the precise and proper mo- 
 ment. At one time (just prior to the Revolution) 
 both she and her husband withdrew from the com- 
 munion because of certain charges against their pas- 
 tor, but finding them untrue, offered to return. Capt. 
 Higgins violently opposed such a proceeding. ' What 1' 
 
 said he to his daughter, 'has our Lyme church be- 
 come a tavern, where people may go out and come in 
 when they please, without even knocking ?' Her son, 
 Remick Waite, turned his attention to agriculture ; 
 but the law in his blood found vent. He was made 
 justice of the peace when quite young, and sustained 
 the office with dignity to the end of a long and useful 
 life. He married Susanna Matson, who was a lady of 
 superior talents and great worth and strength of char- 
 acter. It was her sister who was the mother of Hon. 
 William A. Buckingham, late United States senator, 
 and the great war Governor of Connecticut, and of 
 Rev. Dr. Samuel G. Buckingham, long a beloved and 
 honored pastor in Springfield, Mass. ; and she herself 
 was the mother of Chief Justice Henry Matson 
 Waite. 
 
 " The last-named gentleman deserves honorable 
 mention, not only because he gave direction to and 
 helped to mould the mind which now defines for us 
 the limits of even authority itself, but on account of 
 his own personal excellence and valuable public ser- 
 vices in his native State. His career was specially 
 interesting. He graduated from Yale in 1809. The 
 following summer he taught a small select school in 
 New Rochelle, and one of his pupils was William 
 Heathcote De Lancey, afterwards Bishop of Western 
 New York. He studied law with Judge Matthew 
 Griswold, of Lyme, assisted by his brother, the ac- 
 complished Governor Roger Griswold. One of his 
 classmates was Chief Justice Ebenezer Lane, of Ohio. 
 As soon as he was admitted to the bar he grew steadily 
 in importance. Prior to 1854 he had served several 
 terms in the State Legislature, and had been for 
 twenty years judge of the Supreme and Superior 
 Courts. He was then elected by the unanimous vote 
 of both branches of the Legislature to the highest 
 seat on the State bench. A well-known juristsays of 
 him, ' He contributed his full share to the character 
 of a court whose decisions are quoted and opinions 
 respected in all the courts of the United States, and 
 in the highest courts of England.' He was of stately 
 presence, tall, and yet not tall, with a fair, serious 
 face, keen blue eyes, and light hair. He was highly 
 cultivated by study, chose to use his means for educa- 
 tional and religious purposes, and to help others, 
 rather than in a pretentious mode of living, was social 
 in his tastes, and enjoyed the perfect confidence of the 
 entire community. His wife was of the first order of 
 intellect, and, sympathizing in his pursuits, contrib- 
 uted largely to his professional successes. A fit 
 mother was she, indeed, for her distinguished son.' 
 
 1 Chief Justice Waite is not the only lawyer-son of Hon. Henry M. 
 Waite. Richard Waite has been in active and prosperous law practice 
 in Toledo, Ohio, for some nineteen years. Another son, George C. 
 Waite, who died in his twenty-ninth year, was a promising lawyer in 
 Troy, N. Y., and an efficient member of the Troy Board of Education. 
 To him that city is mainly indebted for its present free-school system. 
 Hon. Horace F. Waite, of Chicago, a prominent lawyer, member of the 
 Illinois Legislature, etc., is a nephew of the late Hon. Henry M. Waite, 
 and a native of Lyme. Mr. Baniel Chadwick, a leading lawyer. State's 
 
OLD LYME. 
 
 547 
 
 She was Maria Selden, the daughter of Col. Richard 
 Ely Selden, and granddaughter of Col. Samu-el Selden, 
 a notable officer in the Eevolution, who was himself 
 the grandson of Governor Dudley, of Massachusetts, 
 which carries us again into lordly halls across the 
 water, only that we are too intensely republican to 
 need any such background and perspective. We all 
 began on this side. 
 
 " Chief Justice Morrison B. Waite married his 
 second cousin, Amelia Warner, of Lyme, the great- 
 granddaughter of the distinguished Col. Selden, of 
 Revolutionary memory. She was a beauty and a 
 belle, a leader in fashion and society, and now, with 
 the added grace of years, no lady in the land is better 
 fitted by education, culture, and travel for the posi- 
 tion in Washington circles which destiny has thrust 
 upon her. She carries good sense, refined taste, and 
 a quiet independence of character to the front which 
 will prove an invaluable balance-wheel to the great 
 social structure. 
 
 " Turning north from the Waite mansion, you are 
 confronted by a quaint homestead which seems to be 
 taking life comfortably right in the middle of ' The 
 Street.' Venerable trees rise above it, and their 
 branches droop over its small-paned windows. Its 
 doorstep is foot-worn, its hall of entrance of a pre- 
 Eevolutionary pattern, and its whole architecture 
 one-sided, but it has an unmistakable air of gen- 
 tility. If you enter, you are plunged headlong into 
 an antiquarian mine ; paneled walls, curious cornices, 
 enormous fireplaces, high mantels, and round tables 
 bring all your forefathers and foremothers round you 
 in their powdered wigs and high-heeled shoes. The 
 chairs and pictures are many of them two hundred 
 years old. You may presume before you get to it 
 that ' The Street' ends plump against the little door- 
 yard fence. No; 'The Street' is guilty of no such 
 impertinence. It dodges politely around the edifice, 
 and pursues its otherwise unbending course as if ac- 
 customed to trifling obstructions. 
 
 "To the south another mansion has spread itself 
 squarely across the way. It does not, like its vk-h-vis, 
 offer the apology of antiquity, but is evidently a freak 
 of modern independence. It is high and broad, the 
 front-door swings in the centre, and it has wings on 
 the side and rear. It is embedded in shrubbery, and 
 gay-colored flowers brighten its pretty grounds. The 
 effect of the two houses facing each other, half a mile 
 apart, is novel in the extreme. They impress you 
 as being active participants in human affairs. They 
 both belong to representatives of the Lord family, 
 who were among the first settlers of Lyme, and who 
 have in all the generations since been lavish in their 
 distribution of doctors, judges, and divines throughout 
 the country. 
 
 attorney, etc., residing in Lj'me, is another nephew; and a niece mar- 
 ried the accomplisliefl scholar, Kev. Davis Claris lirainard (recently de- 
 ceased), who for more than a third of a century had been the pastor of 
 the Lyme Church. 
 
 " The Congregational church towers above you like 
 an anciently bound and well-preserved chapter of 
 ecclesiastical history, on the corner where the ferry 
 road enters ' The Street' at right angles. It is an im- 
 posing edifice of the Ionic order of architecture and 
 strikingly ornate. At its right, and under its very 
 droppings, as it were, is a large, square, old-fashioned 
 house, half hidden among stately trees, which is the 
 home of a lady of elegant scholarship and rare ac- 
 complishments, who has for almost half a century 
 been the educator of the ladies of Lyme, and to whom 
 is due in large measure the credit of having developed 
 the artistic and musical talent for which they are 
 celebrated. Nearly opposite the church is the Mather 
 homestead. It is gambrel-roofed, and was clapboarded 
 before the time of sawing clapboards, when they were 
 rived as staves are split. It has been the home of the 
 Mathers — the ancient and learned family to which 
 Increase and John Cotton Mather belonged — for more 
 than a century. In the palmy days before the Eevo- 
 lution, when Governors drove six horses, and all the 
 consequential families in Lyme owned negro slaves, 
 this house was almost without a rival in the elegance 
 of its appointments. 
 
 " Side by side with it stands the oldest house in 
 Lyme, a landmark which has been protected with 
 generous care. Like Sydney Smith's ancient green 
 chariot with its new wheels and new springs, it seems 
 to grow younger each year. It is the residence of 
 Hon. Charles Johnson McCurdy, LL.D., an eminent 
 jurist, who was for many years in the Connecticut 
 Legislature, was Speaker of the House, Lieutenant- 
 Governor of the State, United States minister to 
 Austria, and for a long period judge of the Supreme 
 Court. It was he who, when Lieutenant-Governor of 
 Connecticut, in 1848, originated and carried into effect 
 through the Legislature that great change in the 
 common law by which parties may become witnesses 
 in their own cases, a change which has since been 
 adopted throughout this country and in England. 
 
 " This antique dwelling has the low ceilings and 
 the bare, polished beams of the early part of the last 
 century. Its doors and walls are elaborately carved 
 and paneled. In the south parlor is a curious buffet, 
 built with the house, containing a rare collection of 
 china from ancestral families.^ Between the front 
 windows stands an elegant round table, which de- 
 scended from Governor Matthew and Ursula Wol- 
 cott Griswold, and around which have sat from time 
 to time the six Governors of the family, of whom 
 more presently. The whole house is a museum of 
 souvenirs of preceding generations. In the north 
 chamber is a rich and unique chest of drawers, which 
 
 1 The ancestral families connected with the McCurdy household are 
 the WolcottB, Oriswolds, Lords, Lyndes, Digbys, Willoughbys, Pitkin?, 
 Ogdens, Mitchells (the Scotch family of Mitchells, the same as that of 
 "Ik Marvel"), and the Diodatis. The descent is direct, through the 
 wife of Bev. Stephen Johnson, from Eev. John Diodati (the famous divine 
 and learned writer of Geneva in the time of John of Barneveld), who 
 was from the Italian nobility. 
 
548 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 belonged to the Diodati wife of Rev. Stephen John- 
 son; also mirrors, tables, pictures, and other relics 
 of great antiquity. This apartment was occupied by 
 Lafayette at two distinct eras in our national history, 
 —for several days during the Revolution, when he 
 was entertained by John McCurdy, while resting his 
 troops in the vicinity, and in 1825, as the guest of 
 Richard McCurdy and his daughter Sarah, while on 
 his memorable journey to Boston. 
 
 " The house has historical significance through cer- 
 tain Revolutionary events. It was purchased by John 
 McCurdy in 1750, a Scotch-Irish gentleman of educa- 
 tion and wealth, who was a large shipping merchant. 
 He had no sympathy with the arbitrary measures of 
 the English government, and gloried in the spirit of 
 resistance as it developed in the colonies. (He was 
 the " Irish gentleman'' mentioned by Gordon and Hol- 
 lister as 'friendly to the cause of liberty.') He was 
 an intimate personal friend of Rev. Stephen Johnson, 
 who was then the pastor of the Lyme Church. The 
 two had many conferences upon the subject of a pos- 
 sible independence of the colonies. They grew in- 
 dignant with the serene composure of Governor Fitch 
 and his associates. The first published article point- 
 ing towards unqualified rebellion in case an attempt 
 was made to enforce the Stamp Act was from the pen 
 of Rev. Stephen Johnson, and it was written under 
 this roof. McCurdy privately secured its insertion in 
 the Connecticut Gazette. It was a fiery article, de- 
 signed to rouse the community to a sense of the public 
 danger. Others of a similar character soon followed ; 
 while pamphlets, from no one knew whence, fell, no 
 one knew how, into conspicuous places. Could these 
 walls speak what tales they might reveal ! two saga- 
 cious and audacious men trying to kindle a fire, one 
 feeding it with the chips of genius and strong nervous 
 magnetism, the other fanning it with the contents of 
 his broad purse. The alarm was sounded ; organiza- 
 tions of the 'Sons of Liberty' were formed in the 
 various colonies ; treasonable resolves were handed 
 about with great privacy in New York, but no one 
 had the courage to print them. John McCurdy, being 
 in the city, asked for them, and with much precaution 
 was permitted to take a copy. He carried them to 
 New England, where they were published and spread 
 far and wide without reserve. This was in Septem- 
 ber, 1765, and before the end of the same month the 
 famous crusade (which embraced nearly every man 
 in the town of Lyme) moved from New London and 
 "Windham Counties against Mr. Ingersoll, the stamp 
 commissioner. It was then and thus that the egg of 
 the Revolution may be said to have been hatched. 
 
 " When Governor Fitch proposed that he and his 
 councilors should be sworn, agreeably to the Stamp 
 Act, Col. Trumbull (afterwards Governor) refused to 
 witness the transaction and left the liall. Others fol- 
 lowed his spirited example, until only four remained. 
 Ingersoll, as the agent of Connecticut in England, 
 had ably and earnestly opposed the passage of the 
 
 odious bill, but when all was over he had been duly 
 qualified to ofliciate as stampmaster. He had scarcely 
 landed in New Haven on his return when a rumor 
 reached him that all was not quiet beyond the Con- 
 necticut, and he started at once for Hartford. The 
 same morning five hundred mounted men, carrying 
 eight days' provisions, crossed the Connecticut from 
 the east in two divisions, one at Lyme and the other 
 farther north. Ingersoll and his guard were riding 
 leisurely through the woods near Wethersfield, when 
 they were suddenly met by five horsemen, who turned 
 and joined their party. Ten minutes later they were 
 met by thirty horsemen, who wheeled in like manner. 
 No violence was oiTered and not a word spoken. All 
 rode on together with the solemnity and decorum of 
 a funeral procession. Reaching a fork in the road 
 they were met by the whole five hundred, armed with 
 ponderous white clubs and led by Capt. Durkee in 
 full uniform. The line opened from right to left, and 
 Ingersoll was received with profoundest courtesy. 
 Martial music broke the sombre stillness, and they 
 marched into Wethersfield, halting in the wide street. 
 Capt. Durkee then ordered Ingersoll to resign. 
 
 "The latter expostulated. 'Is it fair,' he asked, 
 ' for two counties to dictate to the rest of the colonies?' 
 
 "'It don't signify to parley,' was the prompt reply. 
 'A great many people are waiting, and you must 
 resign.' 
 
 " ' I must wait to learn the sense of the government,' 
 said Ingersoll. 
 
 " ' Here is the sense of the government, and no man 
 shall exercise your ofiice.' 
 
 " 'If I refuse to resign, what will follow?' 
 
 " ' Y'our fate.' 
 
 "'The cause is not worth dying for,' said the 
 prisoner. 
 
 "A few moments later Ingersoll wrote his name to 
 the formal resignation prepared for him. That was 
 well, but it was not enough. He was required to 
 swear to it in a loud voice, and then shout 'Liberty 
 and Property !' three times. This last ceremony he 
 performed swinging his hat about his head. He was 
 then escorted to Hartford. He rode a white horse. 
 Some one asked him what he was thinking of. ' Death 
 on a pale horse and hell following,' was his retort. 
 
 "They entered the capital four abreast, and formed 
 in a semicircle about the court-house, with Ingersoll 
 in a conspicuous position. He was ordered to read his 
 recantation in the hearing of the General Court. He 
 went through the ordeal to the satisfaction of his cap- 
 tors, even to the shouting of ' Liberty and Property !' 
 three times again. After which the sovereigns of the 
 soil departed in peace. 
 
 " Col. Putnam, who had been one of the instigators 
 of the movement, was prevented by illness from being 
 present. He was shortly summoned before Governor 
 Fitch. In the course of the conversation which fol- 
 lowed the Governor asked, ' What shall I do if the 
 stamped paper is sent to me by the king's order?' 
 
OLD LYME. 
 
 549 
 
 " ' Lock it up until we shall visit you.' 
 
 " ' Wliat will you do ?' 
 
 " ' Demand the key of the room where it is deposited. 
 You may, if you choose, forewarn us upon our peril 
 not to enter the room, and thus screen yourself from 
 blame.' 
 
 " ' And then what will you do?' 
 
 " ' Send the key safely back to you.' 
 
 " ' But if I refuse admission ?' 
 
 '"Your house will be leveled with the dust in five 
 minutes.' 
 
 "Thus the remarkable interview ended. 
 
 " Lyme was not without a Tea Party any more than 
 some of the seaport towns of larger pretensions. On 
 the 16th of March, 1774, a peddler from Martha's 
 Vineyard came into the place on horseback with one 
 hundred pounds of tea in his saddle-bags. He was 
 arrested and examined, and in the evening the ' Sons 
 of Liberty' assembled, built a bright fire on 'The 
 Street,' just above the Congregational church, and 
 committed the peddler's whole stock in trade to the 
 flames, and buried the ashes on the spot. 
 
 " There are several Noyes houses which it would be 
 pleasant to visit. The first minister of Lyme was the 
 Eev. Moses Noyes, who preached sixty-three years. 
 He was one of the first graduates of Harvard and one 
 of the founders of Yale. He was from a clerical 
 family, — his brother was the first minister of Stoning- 
 ton, his father was an eminent divine of Newbury, 
 Mass., and his father's father was a still more eminent 
 divine of England. His wife was the granddaughter 
 of the learned Puritan Elder William Brewster. He 
 was a large landholder, and owned a number of slaves. 
 His house stood for more than a century on the site of 
 the present residence of Richard Noyes, one of his 
 descendants. Its windows were few, and they were 
 located nearly as high as the top of the door. They 
 were small and square, and leaded over the sash. They 
 must have been painfully inconvenient to the poor 
 Indian when he was seeking a bit of useful informa- 
 tion concerning the domestic fireside. The doors were 
 driven full of nails. Ugh ! one can almost catch the 
 glitter of the tomahawk and scalping-knife. 
 
 " Judge William Noyes, the grandson of the Eev. 
 Moses, flourished a hundred years later. He was a 
 tall, grave man, the terror of Sabbath-breakers. He 
 never allowed a traveler to pass through Lyme on 
 the Lord's Day without some extraordinary excuse. 
 He was strictly conventional. When on horseback 
 with his four grown-up sons, the latter never presumed 
 to ride on a line with him, but always at a respectful 
 distance behind. He inherited the large classical li- 
 brary of the Eev. Moses, also a writing-desk which 
 Elder Brewster brought to this country in the ' May- 
 flower,' and which is now in the possession of his grand- 
 daughter, Mrs. Daniel Chadwick, of Lyme. Judge 
 Noyes built the handsome old house in the northern 
 part of 'The Street,' now owned by Mr. Schieffelin, of 
 New York, the father-in-law of Rev. Mr. Sabine. By 
 
 the side of one of the chimneys is a curious hole sev- 
 eral feet deep, supposed to have been an invention of 
 the judge to hide liquor from his negroes. Just 
 south of this mansion, in the midst of English-look- 
 ing grounds, is a great old-fashioned house, with pil- 
 lars in front, the residence of Capt. Robert, the young- 
 est son of Governor Roger Griswold ; and a little 
 farther on is the pleasant home of the Huntingtons. 
 
 " Black Hall is a pleasant drive of three miles from 
 'The Street.' You pass the Lyme Cemetery, with its 
 kindly shade and its ancient and modern headstones, 
 itself a history. You pass also a quarry of what seems 
 to be the genuine porphyritic granite, with compact 
 base, spotted with reddish crystals of feldspar; it is 
 hard, and susceptible of a fine polish. The Swedes 
 and Russians have worked n similar variety with suc- 
 cess, and pronounce it more durable than any other 
 material for building purposes. A polished specimen, 
 beside one of the Scotch granite of which Prince Al- 
 bert's monument in Hyde Park is made, shows that it 
 is of the same general character, only that the Lyme 
 granite is the handsomer of the two. There is enough 
 here to build a city, and it is significantly within a 
 stone's- throw of the railroad track. Two roads diverge 
 at the foot of Meeting-house Hill, one of which as- 
 cends that blustering height (the former site of three 
 successive churches, two of which were burned by 
 lightning), and passes an old burial-ground inclosed 
 by a tumbling stone wall and overgrown by rank 
 weeds, also the original milestone which, according to 
 tradition, Franklin planted with his own hands when 
 he was Postmaster-General of the colonies. It was 
 the old stage-route from New York to Boston, and 
 most of the illustrious men of the olden time have 
 traveled over it. The lower road passes the Champlin 
 house, which was the scene of the marriage of the fa- 
 mous Gen. Buckner to a daughter of Col. Kingsbury. 
 He was then a young West Pointer, and was married 
 in his uniform. Just at the close of the ceremony 
 there was an alarm of fire — a neighbor's house was 
 burning. The bridegroom threw off his coat, and, 
 with the minister and others, ran to extinguish the 
 fiames ; then returned, recoated, kissed his bride, and 
 received the congratulations of his friends. 
 
 " Black Hall, the seat of the Griswolds, is a cluster 
 of half a dozen houses in the midst of a thick grove 
 of trees, on the fine segment of land which slopes into 
 the Sound so far that in winter the sun rises and sets 
 over the water. This large property was a fief or 
 feudal grant to the first Matthew Griswold in 1645. 
 He built a log house — the first house in Lyme — upon 
 the site of the mansion which you see at the end of 
 the private entrance, and dug a well, which is still in 
 existence. He sent a negro slave to occupy the prem- 
 ises, as the Indians were too hostile for him to venture 
 to remove his family so far from the fort at Saybrook. 
 Tradition says that the log house was called the ' blacks' 
 hall,' which is supposed to have been the origin of the 
 pleasant-sounding name which the place now bears. 
 
550 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " The old gubernatorial mansion of Governor Roger 
 Griswold commands a magnificent view of the Sound 
 and its shipping. It is the home of Mr. Matthew 
 Griswold, one of the Governor's sons. It is a well- 
 preserved specimen of antiquity, and one of those 
 dwellings the geography of which cannot be read 
 upon the face of it. The rooms seem numberless, and 
 vary in size and shape until the explorer is hopelessly 
 confused. It is full of suggestion, for Governor Roger 
 Griswold was one of our country's ablest statesmen. 
 He was called, at the age of thirty-two, from a valu- 
 able law practice into the councils of the nation, and 
 was pronounced one of the most finished scholars in 
 Congress, where he served ten years, during a part of 
 the administration of Washington, the whole of that 
 of Adams, and a portion of that of Jeflferson. He 
 was a brilliant talker and profoundly versed in law. 
 He was the first cousin of Oliver Wolcott, who was at 
 the same time Secretary of the Treasury. He was 
 nominated Secretary of State in 1801, but saw fit to 
 decline. He was subsequently apjjointed judge of 
 the Superior Court, elected Lieutenant-Governor, and 
 finally Governor of Connecticut, in which office he died, 
 in 1812. He sleeps in the Griswold graveyard, and his 
 tomb, rising against a background of green, may be 
 seen as you cross Black Hall River. He was the son 
 of Governor Matthew Griswold, who was conspicuous 
 for the energy of his counsels and active measures 
 during the Revolution. Governor Matthew, when a 
 young man, was grave, shy, tall, and somewhat awk- 
 ward. He courted a young lady in Durham, who put 
 him off, delaying to give an answer in the hope that 
 a doctor, whom she preferred, would propose. He 
 finally tired of his long rides on horseback, and sus- 
 pecting the state of her mind, pressed for an imme- 
 diate decision. 
 
 '"I should like a little more time,' reiterated the 
 fair one. 
 
 '"Madame, I will give you u, lifetime,'' was the 
 lover's response ; and rising with dignity, he took his 
 leave. 
 
 " The lady took her lifetime, and died single, as the 
 doctor never came forward. Young Griswold returned 
 to Lyme so deeply mortified with the failure of his 
 suit that he was little disposed to repeat the process of 
 love-making. In course of events his second cousin, 
 Ursula Wolcott, came on a visit to Black Hall. She 
 was a modern edition of her grandmother, the histor- 
 ical Martha Pitkin, bright, beautiful, accomplished, 
 and self-reliant. She was a little older than Matthew. 
 She became assured that his affections were centred 
 upon herself, but he was provokingly reticent. Meet- 
 ing him on the stairs one day, she asked,— 
 
 " ' What did you say. Cousin Matthew ?' 
 
 " ' I did not say anything,' he replied. 
 
 " A few days later, meeting him, she asked, in the 
 same tone, — 
 
 What did you say. Cousin Matthew ?' 
 
 " ' I did not say anything,' he replied, as before. 
 
 " Finally, meeting him upon the beach one morn- 
 ing, she again asked, — 
 
 " ' What did you say. Cousin Matthew ?' 
 
 " ' I did not say anything,' he still replied. 
 
 "'It is time you did!' she remarked, with em- 
 phasis. 
 
 " Whereupon something was said, the result of which 
 was a wedding, and the brilliant bride had a queenly 
 reign at Black Hall. No lady in American history 
 could introduce you to more Governors among her 
 immediate relations. Her father was Governor Roger 
 Wolcott; her brother was Governor Oliver Wolcott; 
 her nephew was the second Governor Oliver Wolcott; 
 her cousin was Governor Pitkin ; her husband was 
 Governor Matthew Griswold ; and her son was Gov- 
 ernor Roger Griswold. 
 
 " Black Hall has always been famous for the beauty 
 and spirit of its women. Governor Matthew Griswold 
 had eight dashing sisters, who were known as the 
 'Black Hall boys,' from being given to all manner 
 of out-of-door sports ; they could ride, leap, row, and 
 swim, and they had withal the gifts and graces which 
 won them distinguished husbands. Phebe married 
 Rev. Jonathan Parsons, the Lyme minister, whose 
 clerical career did not run smoothly, in consequence 
 of his admiration for Rev. George Whitefield. He was 
 a,proteg& of Rev. Jonathan Edwards, and a man of 
 excellent parts. A fair, frank, manly, good-humored 
 face looks down from his portrait. He had a passion 
 for fine clothes, for gold and silver lace and ruffled 
 shirt fronts, which distressed some of the good Puri- 
 tans in his church. His wife was given to practical 
 jokes. One evening, as he was about to leave the 
 house for the weekly prayer-meeting, after taking a 
 last look in the mirror to satisfy himself that every 
 particular hair was stroked the right way, she play- 
 fully threw her arms around his neck, passed one 
 hand over his face and kissed him. As he entered 
 the church he was nettled by a ripple of smiles which 
 ran through the congregation, and he noticed that 
 some of the brethren were eying him suspiciously. 
 Presently it was whispered in his ear that his face was 
 blackened. On another occasion his fun-loving wife 
 wickedly clipped a leaf from his sermon, and sat in 
 the little square pew before him, quietly fanning her- 
 self, and enjoying his embarrassment when he reached 
 the chasm. She was remarkably clever with her pen, 
 and it is said often wrote sermons herself. She was 
 the mother of the celebrated Maj. Samuel Holden 
 Parsons, and grandmother of Simon Greenleaf, Pro- 
 fessor of Law at Cambridge, auther of valuable legal 
 works, etc' 
 
 1 In iUiietration of the statement concerning the remarkable nnmber of 
 lawyers, ae well as other brilliant men and women of Lyme origin in dif- 
 ferent parts of the conntry, I will mention a few well-known names; but 
 it must not be understood that I am in the garden to cull all the flowers. 
 Chief Justice Eltenezor Lane, of Ohio, was a grandson of Governor Mat- 
 thew Griswold, and Judge William Lane is a grandson of Governor Roger 
 Griswold. One of the Bisters of Governor Matthew married Elijah Backus, 
 of Norwich, from whom descended Gen. John Pope, of the late war. 
 
OLD LYME. 
 
 551 
 
 " Two generations farther back we have a curious 
 episode, in which Matthew Griswold the second figured 
 as ' Lyme's champion.' He was a tall, broad-chested, 
 powerful young athlete, and a justice of the peace. 
 There was a troublesome controversy between New 
 London and Lyme about a tract of land some four 
 miles in width, which both claimed. One summer 
 morning in 1671 a party of Lyme haymakers went in 
 to the controverted meadow to mow the grass, led by 
 Griswold. About the same time a company from New 
 London entered upon the other side. They all pitched 
 in together, and such a scrimmage was never witnessed 
 before nor since in the land of steady habits. It be- 
 gan with words, but quickly came to blows with fists, 
 feet, scythes, rakes, whetstones, and clubs. There 
 were other justices of the peace present besides Gris- 
 wold, and the belligerents were pretty generally ar- 
 rested. They went to law, each party indicting the 
 other, twenty-one from New London and fifteen from 
 
 Another sister married Judge Hillliouse, whose descendants are among the 
 proDiinent families of New Haven. Gen. Joseph G. Perkins, of tlie late 
 war, also Col. John Griswold, an accomplished young officer, who fell at 
 Antietam, were grandsons of Governor Roger Griswold Rev. George 
 Griswold, pastor of the East Lyme Church for thirty-six years, and Rev, 
 Sylvanus Griswold, of Feeding Hills, were of the same family ; also 
 Nathaniel Lynde Griswold and George Gnswold, the great East India 
 importers of New York; the wife of Hon. Frederick Frelinghuysen; the 
 wife of Senator Lanman; the wife of Senator Foster; the wife of John 
 Lyon Gardiner, of Gardiner's Island ; the wife of President Tyler : Chief 
 Justice S. T. Hosmer ; and Eleanora, the wife of Virginia Cenci, Prince 
 of Vicovaro, present Grand Chamherlain to the King of Italy. The 
 prince is a lineal descendant of the family of Beatrice Cenci, and resides 
 in the ancient Cenci palace. The Seldens have contributed largely to the 
 eminence of our country. Conspicuous among the jurists of the present 
 generation are Judge Samuel Lee Selden and Judge Henry R, Selden, of 
 New York. We may add to the list Hon. Dudley Selden, member of 
 Congress ; Gen. McDowell, of army notoriety ; President Nott; Rev. Dr. 
 Samuel Nott; Prof. Eaton, of Yale; A. L. Backus, of Toledo ; the wife 
 of Rev. Leonard W. Bacon ; Mrs. Gen. Lewis Cass; and Mrs. Gen. Hunt, 
 of Toledo. A daughter of John McCurdy married the famous and witty 
 ecclesiaatic, Rev. Nathan Strong, of Hartford ; another married Dr. 
 Channing, of Boston. A daughter of Lynde McCurdy married Hon. 
 John Allen, member of Congress; and their son, Hon. John W.Allen, 
 was also a member of Congress. Robert McCurdy, the great importing 
 merchant of New York, is a brother of Judge McCurdy, and the daughter 
 of the latter is the wife of Prof E. E. Salisbury, of New Haven. From 
 the Smiths, Demings, Pecks, Sills, Marvina, Lords, Colts, Elya, Sterlings, 
 Champions, and other Lyme families the army is legion. Senator Tru- 
 man Smith; Senator Nathan Smith; Judge Nathaniel Smith; Rev. 
 Matthew Hale Smith ; Cul. Henry C. Deming, member of Congress ; Rev 
 Dr. Edward Strong, of Boston; Judge Strong, of St. Louis; Judge 
 Strong, of the United States Supreme Court; Rev. Dr. Stone, of San 
 Francisco; Mrs. Rev. Dr. Hubbell, author of " Shady Side;" Hon. David 
 Stone, editor of the Journal of Commerce; Mrs. Prof. Hoppin, of Yale 
 Theological Seminary; Dr. John Peck; Eev. Thomas Ruggles Gold 
 Peck; Judge Seth E. Sill ; Gen. Theodore Sill, member of Congress; 
 Miss Sill, of the Rockford Seminary; Judge William Marvin, of Key 
 West, Fla. ; Judge Richard Marvin, of New York; George Griffin, the 
 famous New York lawyer; Rev, Edward Dorr Griffin, president of Wil- 
 liams College ; the inventor of Colt's revolvers ; Judge Colt, of the Su- 
 preme Court; Judge Colt, of St. Louis; Hon. Alfred Ely, member of 
 Congress, author, etc.; Elias H. Ely,,flfty years a member of the New 
 York bar; Abner L.Ely; D.J.Ely; Z. S.Ely, prominent New York 
 merchants ; Hon. Ansel Sterling, member of Congress ; Gen. Elisha Ster- 
 ling; Hon. Micah Sterling, member of Congress (all lawyers of eminencej; 
 Gen. Epaphroditus Champion, member of Congress ; Rev. Henry Cham- 
 pion ; Hon. Aristarchus Champion, of Rochester ; Chief Justice William 
 L. Storre; Hon. Henry Storrs, member of Congress; the two wives of 
 Governor Trumbull, and a host of others. 
 
 Lyme. The former were fined £9 and the latter £5. 
 The fines were remitted by the General Court of Con- 
 necticut, and the land divided between the two towns. 
 But the dividing line was not determined. Then arose 
 another civil or uncivil war. New London kindly 
 offered to take three miles and give one mile to Lyme, 
 and Lyme made a similar disinterested proposition to 
 New London. The wrangling continued for some 
 months. Tradition says ' it was finally agreed, since 
 the tract was not worth the expense of further litiga- 
 tion, to settle the question by a private combat.' This 
 decision was piously recorded as ' leaving it to the 
 Lord.' Each town chose two champions, appointed 
 a day, and people gathered in great numbers to see 
 the fight. Matthew Griswold and William Ely fought 
 for Lyme, and so valorously and well that they won 
 the victory, and New London relinquished all claim 
 to the property. 
 
 " A pretty little romance once occurred in this 
 same notable vicinity, which gave the name to 'Bride 
 Brook.' In the winter of 1646-47 a young couple in 
 Saybrook were to be married. The only magistrate 
 qualified to perform the rite was absent. They sent 
 to New London for John Winthrop, who replied that 
 he would meet them at the river, which was then re- 
 garded as the boundary line between Saybrook and 
 New London. It was some six or seven miles east of 
 the Connecticut River, but thither the bridal party 
 proceeded through deep snow-drifts. Arriving on the 
 bank of the specified stream, they found it impassable 
 on account of the ice, which was breaking. Conse- 
 quently the marriage service was pronounced upon 
 the New London side, and the loving pair promised 
 to love, honor, and obey upon the Saybrook shore, 
 and went their way rejoicing. 
 
 " Lyme was formerly a part of Saybrook, the set- 
 tlement of which commenced in 1635. The region 
 was selected for the commencement of empire by 
 Cromwell, Hampden, and several English noblemen 
 who had become dissatisfied with the management of 
 civil and religious affairs under Charles I., and fully 
 determined to remove permanently to the wilds of 
 America. They organized a company, and secured a 
 patent for a large portion of Connecticut, and sent 
 .John Winthrop the younger to take possession and 
 build a fort at the mouth of the Connecticut River. 
 It was called Saybrook, in honor of Lord Say and 
 Seal and Lord Brook, who were foremost in pushing 
 the enterprise. It was located on a peninsula, circu- 
 lar in form, and connected to the mainland by a nar- 
 row neck, over which the tide sometimes flowed, and 
 was considered safe from any sudden incursion of the 
 Indians. Two great handsome squares were laid out 
 on the rolling land near the fort, designed as a build- 
 ing site for palatial residences. 
 
 " Col. George Fenwick was the only one of the 
 original patentees who came to abide in Saybrook. 
 Cromwell and some others actually embarked in the 
 Thames, but were stopped by an order from the king. 
 
552 
 
 HTSTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Col. Fenwick was accompanied by his young, lovely, 
 golden-haired, sunny-tempered wife, Lady Alice Bo- 
 teler. She had been reared in the bosom of English 
 luxury and refinement, but could adapt herself to 
 pioneer life, and made her rude home in the quaint 
 fort bright with wild-flowers and merry with laugh- 
 ter. She brought with her a 'shooting-gun,' with 
 which she used to practice, to the great diversion of her 
 neighbors, and she had ' pet rabbits,' and a little gar- 
 den which grew table delicacies. She was fond of 
 out-of-door exercises, and was often seen cantering 
 over the country on horseback. She had few asso- 
 ciates : Mrs. John Winthrop, whose home during that 
 period was on Fisher's Island, Mrs. Lake, a sister of 
 Mrs. Winthrop, Mrs. Annah Wolcott Griswold, and 
 Col. Fenwick's two sisters (one of whom married 
 Eichard Ely) comprised about the whole list. She 
 died after nine years of Saybrook life, and was buried 
 within the embankment walls of the fort. Col. Feu- 
 wick soon after returned to England, where he was 
 one of the judges who tried the unhappy Charles I. 
 He left his private affairs in this country in charge of 
 Matthew .Griswold, who erected the monument over 
 Lady Fenwick's grave, which for two and a quarter 
 centuries was an object of sorrowful interest on the 
 treeless, flowerless, desolate bluff which overlooks the 
 flats and shallows of the mouth of the Connecticut 
 River. It is, however, no longer there, but occupies 
 a shady nook in the old Saybrook Cemetery. Four 
 years since an enterprising railroad corporation found 
 the world so narrow that it must needs plow di- 
 rectly through this sacred spot, and not only rob us 
 of the last shovelful of earth which our heroic ances- 
 tors heaped together, but heartlessly overturn the 
 ' quiet couch of clay' upon which Lady Fenwick had 
 so long rested. Her remains were reinterred with 
 imposing ceremonies. Her golden hair was found in 
 a perfect condition, or nearly so, and a lock of it is 
 preserved in an air-tight box in the Acton Library 
 at Saybrook. 
 
 "By the way, this library, which was dedicated 
 with great enthusiasm on July 4, 1874, will repay a 
 visit. It is an institution which originated with the 
 ladies of Saybrook about twenty years ago, but which 
 remained to take definite shape through the gift of a 
 lot to the trustees by Hon. Thomas C. Acton, the well- 
 known president of .the Board of Police Commission- 
 ers in New York City in the time of the draft riot. 
 He was also chiefly instrumental in raising funds to 
 erect the handsome building, which, in grateful recog- 
 nition, was christened the Acton Library. It contains 
 some seventeeij hundred volumes already, and the 
 germ of a museum of relics and curiosities. It is sit- 
 uated on one of the principal streets of Saybrook, di- 
 rectly opposite the summer residence and attractive 
 grounds of Mr. Acton. 
 
 "An attempt was made in 1675 to annex Snybrook 
 and its surrounding territory to New York. Sir Ed- 
 mund Andros appeared oflT the coast with an armed 
 
 fleet, and demanded the surrender of the fort in the 
 name of the Duke of York. 
 
 " ' We will die first,' was the reply of Capt. Bull, 
 the commander. 
 
 " The garrison was immediately drawn up and pre- 
 pared for action. Andros did not wish to incur blood- 
 shed, and sent pacific messages. He finally proposed 
 an interview with the ofiicers, and landed. He was 
 received courteously. But when he ordered the 
 duke's patent and his own commission to be read, 
 Capt. Bull, whose messenger, sent in hot haste to 
 Hartford, had just returned with instructions from the 
 General Court, stepped forward and forbade the read- 
 ing. The clerk of Andros attempted to go on. 
 
 " ' Silence !' roared Capt. Bull ; and then with deep, 
 sonorous voice he recited the protest of the Hartford 
 authorities. When he had finished. Sir Edmund 
 Andros, pleased with his boldness and soldier-like 
 bearing, asked his name. 
 
 " ' My name is Bull, sir.' 
 
 " ' Bull ! It is a pity your horns were not tipped 
 with silver !' 
 
 " Andros wrote to his royal master after his return 
 to New York that nothing could be done with officers 
 or people in Connecticut, for the existing government 
 was bent upon defending its chartered rights. 
 
 " Saybrook's historical point, where the lordly 
 palaces of Europe were to have been and are not, 
 was the seat of the first Yale College. The building 
 was one story high and eighty feet long, and, together 
 with the lot, was a donation from Nathaniel Lynda, 
 the great Saybrook landholder, who was a grandson 
 of the Earl of Digby. The books which formed the 
 college library were donated by the ministers in the 
 vicinity. The scholarly people of Lyme and Say- 
 brook enjoyed the privilege of attending fifteen 
 commencements, and sixty of the graduates of that 
 period afterwards became distinguished in the min- 
 istry. When the subject was agitated of removing 
 the institution to New Haven, these two ancient 
 towns at the Connecticut's mouth arrayed themselves 
 in open opposition. But potent influences were 
 working elsewhere. The Governor and his royal 
 Council finally visited Saybrook in state — it was in 
 the summer of 1718 — and presently a warrant was 
 issued to the sherifi' to convey the college library to 
 New Haven. He proceeded to the house where the 
 books were kept, and found resolute men assem- 
 bled to resist his authority. He summoned aid, en- 
 tered forcibly, and placed the books under a strong 
 guard for the night. In the morning every cart pro- 
 vided for the journey was found broken, and the 
 horses were indulging in the liberty of a free country. 
 Other conveyances were obtained, and the troubled 
 sheriflf was escorted out of Saybrook by a company of 
 soldiers. But, alas ! the bridges on the road to New 
 Haven were all destroyed. After multiplied delays 
 and vexations the end of the route was reached, when, 
 lo ! three hundred of the books were missing, also val- 
 
OLD LYME. 
 
 553 
 
 uable papers. It was whispered that they had been 
 spirited away and buried. 
 
 "Saybroolc is larger than Lyme, and more given to 
 business. Its streets are broad and beautiful, and 
 well lined with the venerated trees which the first 
 settlers planted. Its homes are mostly surrounded 
 with spacious gardens and grounds. It has a newness 
 hardly in keeping with its length of years, but many 
 houses are standing, nevertheless, which have tasted 
 the salt air for three and four half-centuries, aud are 
 full of historic charms and associations. Prominent 
 among them is the Hart mansion. It was built by 
 Capt. Elisha Hart, the son of the old minister of 
 Saybrook, and brother of Maj.-Gen. William Hart, 
 one of the original purchasers of the three and one- 
 half million acres of land in Ohio known as the 
 'Western Eeserve.' Capt. Hart married the daugh- 
 ter of John McCurdy, of Lyme, and they were the 
 parents of seven of the most beautiful women on this 
 side of the Atlantic. Two of these daughters were 
 courted and wed under this roof by the distinguished 
 naval officers. Commodore Isaac and Commodore Jo- 
 seph Hull. It was the residence of Commodore Isaac 
 Hull and his family for many years. A third daugh- 
 ter married Hon. Heman Allen, United States minis- 
 ter to South America. A fourth married the celebra- 
 ted Rev. Dr. Jarvis. Many a thrilling romance might 
 be gathered from the silent halls of this house. Say- 
 brook has five miles or more of sea-beach, presided 
 over by Fenwick Hall, a great elegant summer hotel, 
 which draws annually hundreds of visitors. 
 
 " Lyme and Saybrook are about ten minutes by 
 railroad apart ; by carriage and the picturesque old 
 Connecticut River ferry-boat, with its white sail, per- 
 haps an hour. Lyme embraces a number of small 
 villages scattered over its wide territory, and the in- 
 tervening drives are exceptionally attractive. The 
 road to North Lyme winds among sharp steeps, wild 
 crags, around glimmering lakes, through weird ravines 
 and darksome gorges, every now and then emerging 
 into the broad sunlight upon the top of some remark- 
 able elevation, where magnificent views may be ob- 
 tained, stretching for miles up the Connecticut and 
 across the Sound, with the valleys of soft green, the 
 pretty curving creeks reflecting the blue sky, and 
 Lyme half hidden among the leaves below. The 
 variety in the landscape would drive an artist to dis- 
 traction. It is a singular mixture of the wild and 
 the tame, of the austere and the cheerful. 
 
 " A beautiful lake some two miles long lies among 
 these hills, seemingly thrown in by nature hap-hazard, 
 as a sort of plaything for her subjects. The Mohegan 
 Indians had a settlement upon its shore in the olden 
 times, and their bark canoes skimmed its polished 
 surface in all weathers. It abounds in legends. 
 
 When piracy was at its zenith, several noted brigands 
 were in hiding for some time in a cave near ' Lion's 
 Rock,' and it was afterwards currently reported that 
 Capt. Kidd had buried a box of treasures under the 
 same overhanging bowlder. Two negro slaves stole 
 away one dark night to dig for it, armed with a Bible, 
 which they had been told it was necessary to read 
 aloud whenever the devil should make his appearance 
 to protect the property. They were followed to their 
 ghostly task by some waggish young men, who hid 
 near by to watch operations. For a time there was 
 no sound save the steady stroke of the pick-axe into 
 the earth. All at once there was a clink as if it had 
 hit some hard substance. 
 
 '"Quick, Sambo, read de Bible; I hear de debel 
 down dar,' cried Pete. 
 
 " Sambo scrambled for the book and turned over 
 the leaves. 
 
 '"Read, Sambo, read! de debel am gettin' hold ob 
 de lid ob de box.' 
 
 " ' I can't find de place, de debel he shake me so,' 
 said Sambo, dropping the Bible and running, followed 
 by Pete, neither looking behind them nor'pausing 
 until they had accomplished the whole five miles to 
 the town. 
 
 " Upon the heights near this lake is the residence 
 of the celebrated Rev. Dr. E. F. Burr, author of 
 ' Pater Mundi,' ' Ecce Crelum,' and other works, who 
 is the pastor of the church in North Lyme. To the 
 west a short distance, near the old homestead of the I 
 Elys, and on one of the highest points in the region, 
 is the elegant country-seat of Mr. Z. S. Ely, of New 1 
 York. This romantic corner of Lyme was the ancient i 
 home of the Seldens and Sterlings, one branch of the 
 Lords, and other notable families. It was here that 
 John Pierrepont, the poet, wooed and won his pretty 
 Lord bride, and it was also here that Henry Howard 
 Brownell's last poem was written. 
 
 " Lyme, notwithstanding its uneven surface, has 
 very little waste land. Agriculture and the raising 
 of horses, mules, and horned cattle have been a great 
 source of wealth to the inhabitants, particularly in 
 former years. The shad-fisheries in the Connecticut 
 have also yielded large profits, and shell and other 
 fish have been taken plentifully from the Sound. The 
 town has a thrifty, well-cared-for appearance even to 
 its remotest borders, and a quiet, unconscious aspect, 
 as if the stormy world had rained only peace and 
 contentment upon its legendary soil and historic 
 homes. It is one of the loveliest nooks on the New 
 England coast, and if its distinguished sons and 
 daughters could all be gathered home, the world 
 might well pause to exclaim, in figurative language, 
 ' However small a tree in the great orchard, Lyme is 
 a matchless producer of fruit.' " 
 
554 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 CHAPTEE LXI. 
 
 OLD LYME— (Continued). 
 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKY. 
 
 Congregational Church.' — An old record reads 
 thus : " Lyme, Mch. the 27th, 1693, at a town meeting 
 it was desired and agreed upon with the inhabitants of 
 this town, as agreed by a unanimous vote, that there 
 may be a church gathered in this town, and Mr. 
 Noyes called to office, if it may be obtained accord- 
 ing to tlie rules of Christ.'' 
 
 "Ye prime Society of Lyme" was thus organized, 
 and the Rev. Moses Noyes was installed its pastor. 
 He had, however, been preaching to the people of 
 Lyme for twenty-seven years prior to this, or from 
 the year 1666, nor does it appear why a church was 
 not earlier organized. The unsettled state of society 
 at that time, when the fathers were attempting a set- 
 tlement among wild and jealous tribes of Indians, 
 may account for it. Preaching, however, was sus- 
 tained by the people of the new settlement, which 
 took the name of Lyme. 
 
 A meeting-house was built shortly after Mr. Noyes 
 began to preach, probably before 1668. Tradition de- 
 scribes it as a small log house erected by the settlers 
 on the brow of Meeting-house Hill, overlooking the 
 Sound and the surrounding country. 
 
 The old Indian trail crossed the hill at this place, 
 and it was by this worn pathway that the men on 
 horseback, with the women on pillions behind them, 
 came to meeting. 
 
 How the aged eyes of the grandfathers lighted up 
 with excitement and the hot blood of youth came 
 again to the sunken cheeks as they described the 
 scenes of those days! The men came with their 
 loaded muskets in their hands, and regularly detailed 
 some of their number to stand guard during the 
 services that they might not be surprised by the 
 Indians. 
 
 The women, by their courageous devotion in sharing 
 privation and braving peril, sustained their husbands 
 and sons in the laudable design of planting a settle- 
 ment and a church here. 
 
 In this primitive house the early settlers held their 
 meetings for about twenty-one years, or until 1689. 
 when the second meeting-house was built. This date 
 appears to be well authenticated from the following 
 minute of the appointment by the General Court of 
 a committee to locate the house and their report 
 thereupon. 
 
 This committee visited Lyme and heard the "sev- 
 eral allegations and reasons" of the people, and "saw 
 reason to pitch upon two places where to set the 
 meeting-house ; and with the consent of the greatest 
 part of the people of Lyme, we, after calling upon 
 the Lord, commended the decision of the case to a 
 lot, which lo t fell upon the southernmost we had ap- 
 
 1 By Rtv. William B. Cary. 
 
 pointed, which is upon the hill where the now meet- 
 ing-house stands, more northerly, in the very place 
 where we shall stake it out." The report is signed 
 by John Talcott, John AUin. 
 
 "This day in Lyme, June 4th, 1686." 
 Also the following minute on the records of the 
 town: 
 
 " September the 26th, 1695, at the same meeting, 
 Joseph Peck demanded of the town £2 19s. 6d., due 
 to him when the new meeting-house was built in the 
 year 1689." Which records establish the fact that 
 there was a meeting-house standing before this one 
 was built, and that this one was built in the year 1689. 
 It was a commodious and substantial building, 
 capable of accommodating all the inhabitants of the 
 town. 
 
 Its location was on the brow of the hill, somewhat 
 to the north and west of the first one, and on the 
 other side of the Indian trail, which had by this time 
 developed into a well-worn track for horses. 
 
 The brow of the hill was chosen as a site for the 
 second house for the same reason probably as before, 
 viz. : on account of the security from surprise by the 
 Indians; also because it was midway between the 
 settlements at Black Hall and the region now called 
 Whippoorwill and the town of Saybrook, opposite to 
 which, on the banks of the Great Eiver, was another 
 growing settlement that demanded church accommo- 
 dations. 
 
 After thirty-eight years of service it seems this 
 house needed some repairs. On the society records 
 of Jan. 4, 1727, there is this minute in the quaint old 
 language of the times : " It was voted yt they will 
 repair ye meeting-house in manner and form as fol- 
 lows : First, to clabord ye fore side of said hows, and 
 part of ye east end, and rectifie ye windows and glass, 
 and what els ye cometee for yt affair think fit, not ex- 
 ceeding forty pounds." 
 
 In the year 1734 the second house was found to be 
 too small to accommodate the increasing population, 
 consequently we find a record to this effect : " Voted, 
 that this Society think it highly necessary and cove- 
 nant to erect or build a new meeting-house in this 
 Society." And the next year the society voted to 
 build a house " 60 ft. long by 40 ft. wide, and 24 ft. 
 between the sill and the plate," and a committee was 
 appointed to go to the General Court and ask the ap- 
 pointment of a committee by that body to locate the 
 site for it, inasmuch as the society could not agree upon 
 any among themselves, and as the former committee 
 had acted so judiciously and well. 
 
 The site selected wa,s still the brow of the hill, a 
 little to the north and west of the old house. 
 
 After the second meeting-house had stood forty- 
 nine years, we find by the society records in 1738 the 
 third meeting-house was inclosed, and a committee 
 was appointed to finish it. There is also the follow- 
 ing minute: " Sept. the 19th, 1738. Voted, that this 
 Society will pull down the old meeting-house, and 
 
OLD LYME. 
 
 555 
 
 improve what timber and boards that will be proper 
 towards iinishing the new meeting-house in this So- 
 ciety.'' 
 
 It was not burned down, as some tradition has it, 
 nor worn out, but was inadequate to the wants of the 
 increasing population. 
 
 The third house was located on the same hill as the 
 second, and a short distance from it. And from the 
 fact that this same site was chosen, it is apparent that 
 the interests of the people settled on the bottom- 
 lands between Meeting-house Hill and the Con- 
 necticut Eiver were so important as to demand con- 
 sideration, as otherwise the meeting-house would 
 have been located nearer to Black Hall. 
 
 In 1754 one Barnabas Tuthill offered to give a bell 
 to the society if the people would build a steeple for 
 it to hang in. A steeple was accordingly built, and 
 the first bell began to summon the people to meeting, 
 in lieu of the horn or trumpet, which, tradition says, 
 they had been accustomed to hear. 
 
 This bell rang in the independence of the colonies 
 in Lyme, and in default of any record as to its final 
 disposition, I suggest the probability that it was 
 given, with others throughout the colonies, to make 
 cannon for the Eevolution, for in the year 1780 the 
 society voted " to procure a bell for the steeple," thus 
 signifying that the old one had been disposed of in 
 some way. I do not ofier it as a historical fact, but 
 make the suggestion that the old bell was melted up 
 for war purposes. 
 
 This same year, 1780, the third meeting-house 
 caught fire in the roof from the tow wad of the old- 
 fashioned flint-lock musket which one of the guar- 
 dians of the house used to shoot some woodpeckers 
 that were boring holes in it. The fire was extin- 
 guished by the light-horsemen stationed in the town, 
 or, as tradition says, by the Hessians, who clambered 
 on the roof like squirrels. The society voted twenty 
 pounds on this occasion "to .'such persons as danger- 
 ously exerted themselves to extinguish the late fire." 
 In the year 1815, after standing seventy-six years, 
 this house was struck by lightning and burned to the 
 ground, very little of the material being saved. 
 
 The present meeting-house, the fourth built by this 
 society, was erected in 1817, near the south end of the 
 main street, a model of architectural beauty in those 
 days, a beautiful and graceful building for any age. 
 
 The corner-stone was laid in 1816, with imposing 
 ceremonies, a copper plate being deposited in it, in- 
 scribed as follows : 
 
 " Old meeting-house burnt by 
 lightning, July 3, A.D. 18ir>. 
 
 ThiB corner-stone laid with 
 religious ceremonies I'y the 
 
 Kev. Lathrop Rockwell, Pastor, 
 June 10th, A.D. 1816. 
 Sam. Belcher, Architect. 
 
 Eben Smith, Master mason." 
 
 The names of the building committee were in- 
 scribed on the other side of the plate. The house 
 
 was seated at first with the old-fashioned square pews 
 at the sides, and " slips" in the centre. 
 
 The first pulpit was a high, circular one, reached by 
 a fiight of steps from either side. Those who re- 
 member it describe it as a beautiful and costly ma- 
 hogany pulpit, and lament its destruction. In 1835 
 it was first lowered. In 1850 it was removed alto- 
 gether, and a high platform was built, and the present 
 pulpit set upon it. At the same time the square 
 pews were removed, and the modern ones substituted 
 in their stead. 
 
 The church was at first surrounded by a picket- 
 fence, which was repaired from time to time, but was 
 finally removed. 
 
 In one corner of the churchyard stood that old relic 
 of primitive times, the whipping-post, the indispen- 
 sable ornament of every New England village. But 
 all traces of it have long since vanished, and the 
 present generation has fortunately only the memory 
 of it, not the fact. 
 
 The stocks were erected on the opposite side of the 
 main street, but the memory of the oldest inhabitant 
 serves only to recall their use as a plaything for the 
 boys. 
 
 The present church has stood sixty-one years, and 
 is now in an excellent state of preservation. 
 
 These grand old elms that so beautify and adorn- 
 the churchyard were planted in the year 1828, when 
 the society appointed a committee " to procure orna- 
 mental trees to set about the meeting-house." 
 
 If we have to thank the fathers for anything, we 
 surely have to for this beneficent act. He who plants. 
 a tree scarcely realizes the bounty of his deed : future 
 generations will rise up and call him blessed. 
 
 The aggregate number of years that this town has 
 had a meeting-house for the worship of God is two 
 hundred and eight, although the society is but one 
 hundred and eighty-three years old. 
 
 In its one hundred and eighty-three years of life 
 the society has had eight pastors, and in reviewing 
 the record the observer is struck by the conviction 
 that it has been wonderfully blessed in the selection. 
 
 First is the veteran founder of the society, Moses- 
 Noyes, a faithful minister to Lyme for twenty-seven 
 years of the infant life of the settlement, and after- 
 wards pastor of the church for twenty-eight years. 
 
 The best blood of England was the best blood of 
 America, well illustrated in the case of Moses Noyes, 
 who was the son of James Noye, of Wiltshire, who- 
 was the son of William Noye, of Salisbury, who was 
 attorney-general of England from about 1608 till 
 alter 1620, whose wife was sister of the Rev. Robert- 
 Parker, " one of the greatest scholars of the English 
 nation." 
 
 James Noye came to New England because, as 
 Cotton Mather says, " he could not comply with the- 
 ceremonies of the Church of England." He had two 
 sons, James and Moses. James, the elder, was mod- 
 erator of the Saybrook Synod of 1708, and Moses,. 
 
556 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 himself a member of the Synod, was, according to Dr. 
 Bacon, " a man of great and extensive learning, an 
 excellent Christian, and a judicious divine." 
 
 He- was followed l)y Samuel Pierpont in 1722, a 
 young man of great promise, son of Rev. Jame.s Pier- 
 pont, of New Haven, a member of the Saybrook 
 Synod, the one who it is said, drafted the articles of 
 its platform, who also laid the foundations of a "col- 
 legiate school" which afterwards grew into Yale Col- 
 lege. " His beautiful and gifted daughter Sarah," as 
 Dr. Bacon says, " a great-granddaughter of Thomas 
 Hooker, was like a ministering angel to her husband 
 (the great President Edwards), that wonderful preacher 
 and theologian, whose name is to this day the most 
 illustrious in the history of New England, but who 
 could never have fulfilled his destiny without her." 
 
 Such were the family connections of Samuel Pier- 
 pont, whose short pastorate of three months in Lyme 
 closed with one of the most romantic yet sad incidents 
 in history. 
 
 In March, 1723, he crossed the Connecticut River to 
 Pettipaug (now Essex) to visit his lady-love living in 
 Middletown. The ferriage was made by the Indians 
 in canoes from near Higgins' Wood to Ferry Point. 
 Returning, young Pierpont embarked on one of these 
 canoes, and had nearly crossed the river when a sud- 
 den squall rendered the canoe unmanageable among 
 the floating ice, and finally capsized it, when, not 
 being able to swim, he was lost, although his Indian 
 guide saved himself. 
 
 This was Lyme's shortest pastorate. 
 
 Next came the theologian and revivalist, Jonathan 
 Parsons, in whose writings we learn there were seven 
 hundred and sixty-eight inhabitants in the pari.sh in 
 17.35. The parish comprised about the same limits as 
 at present, — the North Society having been formed in 
 1727, the East Parish in 1719,— so that since 1735 this 
 parish has increased in numbers five hundred and 
 eighty-two. 
 
 When Whitefield preached in Boston, in 1740, Par- 
 sons, from the strange accounts brought to him of the 
 man and his methods, was inclined to regard him with 
 distrust, and to satisfy himself made the journey to 
 New Haven, and afterwards to other places where 
 Whitefield preached, to hear him. Acquaintance 
 with the great preacher undeceived him, and a close 
 friendship sprang up between the two men which 
 lasted till death. 
 
 Tradition says Whitefield came to Lyme to visit 
 Parsons, and preached to the people, gathered beneath, 
 from the groat rock in the rear of the present church ; 
 and this tradition is probably correct, for he was a 
 great friend of Parsons, who was dismissed from the 
 pastorate of this church in 1745, and followed the 
 fortunes of his friend till his death, which occurred 
 in Parsons' own house, in Newburyport, Mass., on 
 the 30th of September, 1770, and was buried, accord- 
 ing to his own desire, in front of the pulpit of the 
 church of which Parsons was the pastor. 
 
 A glance at Parsons' itinerary work is interesting. 
 About the time of the "great awakening" several 
 ])astors united to invite him to preach for them. He 
 did so. On the 8th of June he preached at Salem, 
 on the 9th at the North Parish of New London. 
 From thence he went to Norwich ; thence to Stoning- 
 ton on the 11th. Returning, he preached at Groton 
 on the 12th, Norwich on the 13th ; remained there 
 over the Sabbath, when there was a powerful exhibi- 
 tion of contrition and repentance in the congregation. 
 On the 15th he preached to the "New Society" in 
 Norwich, on the 16th in New London, where he was 
 invited by Mr. Adams, whose church was divided 
 by the preaching of Davenport, an inflamed orator, 
 against everybody and everything not in accord with ' 
 himself. 
 
 Mr. Parsons endeavored to promote harmony in 
 the churches and establish the Word in its purity 
 and simplicity. 
 
 A singular mania possessed the people of Lyme 
 under his preaching to publicly confess their sins. 
 We find, for instance, a record of July 11, 1733, one 
 " Thos. Graves offered a confession for breaking the 
 peace and contemning the church, which was ac- 
 cepted ;" " Jan. 9, 1732, ■ made and offered a 
 
 confession for giving way to passion, evil speaking, 
 and intemperate drinking, which was read and ac- 
 cepted." Another confession was made by a woman 
 for abusing her neighbors. 
 
 Many confessed the sins of drunkenness and forni- 
 cation, evil speaking, railing against neighbors, 
 etc., and Mr. Parsons himself read a confession of 
 some dereliction of duty, in which he " severely re- 
 flected upon himself." 
 
 These confessions being read before the church, 
 the offending members, upon expression of their peni- 
 tence, were received again into its charity. 
 
 Next comes the longest pastorate of the eight, 
 stretching over forty years, the most trying, in many 
 respects, of the years of its existence. They were 
 those between 1746 and 1786, those years that marked 
 the hardships of the French and Indian war and the 
 struggle of the colonies for freedom from the oppres- 
 sion of the British crown. 
 
 This was the pastorate of him whom Bancroft well 
 calls " the incomparable Stephen Johnson." 
 
 It is the glory of this town and of this society that 
 while among its pastors it has numbered one whose 
 stirring appeals awoke not only the people of this 
 town to righteousness, but also those of a large sec- 
 tion of Connecticut and Massachusetts, through which 
 he itinerated ; it has also numbered one whose clear, 
 bold eloquence, coupled, as it was, with a searching, 
 irresistible logic, discovered to the people of New 
 England God's primal heritage to man, viz. : freedom 
 from oppression, and the inherent right to worship 
 Him, untrammeled by State laws or the decrees of 
 kings. 
 
 Nowhere in this New World was the clarion note 
 
OLD LYME. 
 
 557 
 
 of a people's freedom more fearlessly or faithfully 
 sounded than from the pulpit of the First Congrega- 
 tional Church of Lyme. 
 
 'Twas fitting that God's minister, while teaching the 
 fatherhood of God and the equality of man before 
 him, should proclaim this freedom, and the patriot 
 breast of Johnson, fired with a noble enthusiasm, 
 offered itself to the brunt of regal tyranny in defend- 
 ing and encouraging the liberties of the colonies. 
 
 The next longest pastorate is that which has so 
 lately closed. Davis S. Brainerd began and ended 
 his ministerial life in this church, a life which was 
 given to the work of quiet upbuilding and strengthen- 
 ing of the kingdom of God. Under his pastorate it 
 was that the church passed through the trials of the 
 late war, and steadily prospered from first to last. He 
 was a finished scholar, found worthy to be enrolled 
 among the Fellows of Yale College, whose faculty 
 testified their deep sorrow at his death by their 
 presence at the funeral. He was a man beloved in 
 his parish, and leaves blessed memories behind him. 
 
 The present pastor is Eev. Wm. B. Cary, who was 
 installed Nov. 22, 1876. 
 
 There is unfortunately no record of church mem- 
 bership during the ministry of either Mr. Noyes or 
 Mr. Pierpont, at least none that has come to light as 
 yet, but from Mr. Parsons' time till now the total 
 membership is eleven hundred and eight. 
 
 The largest number added at any one time was 
 during Mr. Parsons' ministry in 1741, when one hun- 
 dred and forty-eight members were received, and 
 during his entire ministry of fifteen years he received 
 two hundred and eighty-eight persons into the church. 
 This was the period of religious awakening. 
 
 During Mr. Johnson's ministry of forty years 
 there were added to the church two hundred and 
 four members. This was the exciting period of 
 civil and political commotion; it is marked by the 
 finger of war in all its length. There was no special 
 religious awakening during these forty years of co- 
 lonial struggle, but a steady, slow growth through- 
 out. 
 
 In 1817, during Mr. Rockwell's ministry,— in the 
 year when the present meeting-house was finished, — 
 there were eighty-two members received. 
 
 In 1832, under Mr. Colton, there were twenty-three 
 additions. 
 
 During Mr. Brainerd'.-* ministry of thirty-five years 
 there were two hundred and sixty-five additions. 
 The largest number received in any one of these 
 years was in 18.58, when sixty-one persons were added 
 to the church. 
 
 Since January, this year, there have been added to 
 the church twenty-eight members, the present total 
 active membership being one hundred and forty- 
 eight. 
 
 Thus it will be seen the years of special interest 
 were 1741, 1817, 1832, 1858, and the present, years 
 which marked a religious interest in all the country. 
 36 
 
 1876 is but half gone; may we hope that it will not 
 close without witnessing large additions to the church 
 of Christ, here and elsewhere, of such as shall be 
 saved ? 
 
 A few interesting notices in regard to the member- 
 ship I will cite in passing. In 1740 the society ap- 
 pointed a committee to "seat men and their wives 
 together ;" thus in the year of the " great awakening" 
 the old, senseless custom of separating husbands and 
 wives in church was broken up. 
 
 In 1798 the society set apart the fore seats in the 
 meeting-house for the use of "men over seventy-two 
 years of age and women over sixty-four." In read- 
 ing such a society vote as this the inquiry naturally 
 suggests itself, where are the aged men and women 
 nowadays ? 
 
 We are apt to think there was a larger percentage 
 of these venerable ones in those days than now. Per- 
 haps there was. Yet on the Centennial Fourth of 
 July there was one man on the grounds, entering 
 heartily into the spirit of the day, whose age was 
 eighty-six. 
 
 Besides him there were a number who are past 
 eighty, while those fathers and mothers present aged 
 between seventy and eighty years might easily be 
 mistaken, from their youthful bearing, for men and 
 women in the prime instead of in the decline of life. 
 It seems as though this air of the mountains and 
 verdant plains, mingled with the sea breezes, has a 
 wonderlul influence in preserving the buoyancy of 
 life. Facts seem to warrant the saying, ascribed to 
 Baron Von Humboldt, that the healthiest district in 
 the United States is the stretch of coast from the 
 Connecticut River to Narragansett Bay. Ponce de 
 Leon, in his search for the fountain of perpetual 
 youth, was seven hundred miles too far south when 
 he entered the Everglades of Florida. He never 
 would have made the fatal mistake of entering be- 
 hind " death's curtains" in Florida if his brigantine 
 had coasted along our shores. 
 
 Our mothers in the olden time braved the cold of 
 winter to enter a church unheated. They carried 
 with them their brass foot-warmers, and ever as they 
 were cooled had them replenished with fresh coals 
 from the neighboring fireplaces. 
 
 Stoves were first introduced into the church in 1829, 
 when the stove-pipes were run out of the windows. 
 Not without opposition, however, were the stoves ad- 
 mitted, yet the people seem readily to have become 
 reconciled to an innovation which soon proved itself 
 a blessing. 
 
 It is not well to make a vain parade of our ancestry, 
 even though it be noble, nor to speak boastingly of 
 our antecedents before strangers, yet in the family 
 it is proper and beneficial to recount the worthy deeds 
 of our immediate predecessors, and to speak in praise 
 of memorable men, if at the same time we inculcate 
 the principles upon which their lives were founded, 
 and exhort the hearers to emulate them. 
 
558 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Inasmuch, then, as it is in the family, let me recall 
 to you the fact that many worthy and honorable men 
 have sat in the councils of this church. 
 
 In the meetings of the society, and serving on its 
 executive committees, we read the names of those 
 whom the State and the whole country delighted to 
 honor, men whose names are linked with the best of 
 modern times. 
 
 That the race of noble bloods is extinct we cannot 
 for a moment believe, but alas ! alas ! they are very 
 much hidden in the background of private life. Let 
 our prayer and our endeavor be to bring them to the 
 light, that they may take the active part in our poli- 
 tics that tlieir fathers did. 
 
 And here let me urge those who are just entering 
 upon manhood's duties to heed the lives of these men 
 of old, these giants of worth and of work, whose deeds 
 beautify history's page ; let me urge you to emulate 
 them. The lesson of the past will be lost to us, and 
 our rehearsal of its worthy deeds will be vain parade, 
 except we profit by it in shaping our lives according 
 to the pattern displayed. Oh, let not the story of the 
 past be fruitless ! But let the seeds of honesty, integ- 
 rity of purpose, and virtue take deep root in your 
 hearts and spring forth in fruit such that the coming 
 time may recount with pride, and say to the children 
 of that day, as we say to ours, " Strive to imitate the 
 virtues and the activities of the fathers." 
 
 During the one hundred and eighty-three years of 
 this church's life it has been officered by eighteen 
 deacons, elected for life. These officers, no less than 
 the pastors, have contributed to the permanent wel- 
 fare and prosperity of the church by their upright- 
 ness of character and the wisdom and justice of their 
 dealings. 
 
 As rapidly now as I may I will sketch the outline 
 of the church's life. 
 
 When the country was almost an impenetrable 
 wilderness from Saybrook to Boston, and the Western 
 Nehantic Indians, associated with the remnant of the 
 once powerful tribe of Pequots, held this whole stretch 
 of coast as their own peculiar property, and the dif- 
 ferent tribes from the interior came yearly down to 
 the beach to feast upon clams and fish and bathe in 
 the waters of the Sound, crossing the country on the 
 top of the ridge known as Meeting-house Hills ; when 
 these dusky warriors battled with each other, and 
 especially with the white man, whom they regarded 
 as an unwarranted intruder, then it was that a party 
 of resolute men crossed the Great River and formed a 
 settlement here ; then it was that the pioneer preacher, 
 Moses Noyes, ministered to them in the little log 
 meeting-house on the hill, and after twenty-seven 
 years of labor formed the First Congregational Church 
 of Lyme. 
 
 By the laws of Connecticut the church society was 
 authorized to tax the people for its support, and em- 
 powered to collect said taxes before the courts. There 
 seems to have been no trouble about the collection of 
 
 these taxes until the year 1738, when the society ex- 
 cepted from its levy " all those persons called Bap- 
 tists." 
 
 At what time the Baptists were here first in any 
 strength it is difficult to determine, but about the 
 year 1727, Mr. Noyes was much troubled by the 
 preaching of their peculiar tenets here, and conferred 
 with Cotton Mather, of Boston, who came to Lyme at 
 that time, in regard to it, and they jointly held some 
 discussion with the Baptists, who, however, continued 
 to increase, and were exempted in 1738 from taxation 
 to support the Congregational Church. 
 
 Religious liberty began to dawn in the colonies, 
 and the right of their own form or method of worship 
 seems to have been easily and gracefully granted to 
 the Baptists in Lyme by the Congregationalists, who 
 were then the dominant sect. 
 
 In 1792 we see a still greater advance of religious 
 liberty. Heretofore a tax had been levied to support 
 the ministry, but in this year the pews of the church 
 were sold for this purpose. 
 
 The idea was that only those who enjoyed the priv- 
 ilege should be obliged to pay for the gospel; but 
 such was the effect of the good old training of families 
 in religious ways that the church was crowded, and 
 the new method of supporting the ordinances gained 
 in favor each year, although it was some time before 
 the formal levy of a tax perished from sight. 
 
 One important epoch in the history of this church 
 was that of the " great awakening," in 1740, to which 
 time we can look back with pride and pleasure as we 
 recognize in the pastor. Parsons, one of the great 
 preachers of that great day. 
 
 The next great period of the church's history is that 
 of the Revolution. 
 
 Into that struggle this church entered with clear 
 knowledge as to its probable hardships, but the men 
 who had planted the standard of Christ in the face of 
 a savage, opposing nation were not the ones to draw 
 back or to yield their liberties. 
 
 The society gave to the Continental army officers 
 and men freely, and among them was one of the four 
 celebrated Connecticut fighting chaplains. 
 
 It is interesting and instructive to glance at the 
 financial condition of the country at that time, as 
 displayed by our society records. The depreciation 
 of the currency of the country after the late war of 
 the Rebellion has been lamented by some people in 
 the most extravagant terms, they freely asserting that 
 no parallel could be found in history. The fact is it 
 was as nothing compared with the depreciation of the 
 old bills of credit issued during the French and In- 
 dian war, and especially with the depreciation of the 
 paper money of the Revolution. 
 
 We find that this society paid its pastor in 1782 
 twenty-five dollars in these bills of credit for every one 
 dollar of " lawful money" due to him, so that a dollar 
 of that depreciated currency was worth just four 
 cents. 
 
^'^--liOh^^'Q^x^ CC^ 
 
OLD LYME. 
 
 559 
 
 Another item of interest is this. In 1776 silver 
 was worth two dollars per ounce. It is now worth 
 one dollar per ounce. It has shrunk in value in the 
 last hundred years just one-half, and at the present 
 rate of production it looks as though it would shrink 
 at least ten times as much in the next hundred years. 
 The next period was one of peace and retrench- 
 ment of expenses, broken in upon by that ripple of 
 trouble, the war of 1812. 
 
 In 1751 wharves were built on the Lieutenant 
 River, near the bridge, for the landing of the ships 
 engaged in the West India trade, whose cargoes were 
 stored in large warehouses built on the shore, but up 
 to the close of the Revolution our merchantmen were 
 constantly harassed upon the ocean ; after which, 
 however, Lyme was a thriving mart of trade. Wealth 
 poured into the town, not only from this source, but 
 also from the great transatlantic passenger lines of 
 ships, many of whose captains were natives of Lyme, 
 who adorned their town with beautiful and commo- 
 dious dwellings, in some of which their children live ; 
 in others they themselves (having laid down the bur- 
 den of active life) are now spending a well-earned 
 time of quiet and repose. 
 
 The next period was one when the tocsin of war 
 again aroused the people into bustling activity. This 
 time it was not a foreign foe who invaded our coasts, 
 but one of those internal retchings and contortions 
 which a nation working out its liberties must un- 
 dergo shook the States from sea to sea. 
 
 With a quick patriotism worthy of any time, the 
 people ran the Stars and Stripes to the masthead, and 
 as of yore this society supplied men and money to 
 the government to sustain the shock of war. She 
 sent men who by their valor earned the shoulder- 
 straps on the field, and she gave a counselor to the 
 nation whose heart was so true, whose judgment so 
 clear, that his merits have been publicly recognized 
 by all the people. 
 
 Baptist Church,— The Baptist Church in Lyme 
 was publicly recognized May 11, 18-13, the services 
 of the occasion being held in the dooryard of Stephen 
 L. Peck, Esq., the Congregational meeting-house 
 having been refused for the occasion, and the Bap- 
 tists at the time being destitute of a place of worship. 
 The church consisted of seventy members, forty of 
 whom were received by baptism and thirty by letter. 
 The sermon of recognition was preached by the la- 
 mented Miller, of Essex. A large number of minis- 
 ters and brethren from neighboring churches were 
 present, and the season was one of deep and thrilling 
 interest. 
 
 This church had its origin principally in a revival 
 enjoyed under the evangelical labors of Elder A. D. 
 Watrous, in which many were converted; and scat- 
 'tered Baptists, who had long resided in the vicinity, 
 were brought together and united in the covenant re- 
 lation. Occasionally, this place has been visited by 
 Baptist ministers for a period of over fifty years. 
 
 Elders West, Dodge, Darrow, Wilcox, Palmer, and 
 Shailer and others have here sown much good seed 
 of the kingdom. Elder Brocket became pastor, and 
 remained about two years. A church edifice was 
 erected in 1842-43, and opened for worship May 25, 
 1843. Among the pastors who officiated since are 
 mentioned the names of Stewart, Brocket, A. D. 
 Watrous, William Smith, J. B. Damon, T. Barber. 
 
 The McCurdy Porphyry-Granite ftuarry. — This 
 quarry is situated on the old McCurdy farm, about 
 seventy-five rods from the New York and Boston 
 Shore-line Railroad, and about fifteen rods from 
 boatable tide-water, leading, at a distance of about 
 three-fourths of a mile, to a navigable arm of the 
 Connecticut River near its mouth. Both ways of ap- 
 proach are within the farm. 
 
 The stone is a carnation-red porphyritic granite. 
 It is remarkable for its rich color, and for its large 
 proportion of brilliant crystals of feldspar, many of 
 which are opalescent. Believed to be without a rival 
 in this country, it is more beautiful than any granite 
 of Scotland, and in appearance mostly resembles the 
 famed Egyptian syenite, though excelling that in 
 richness of color and brilliance of crystals. It is 
 easily quarried, dressed, and sawn, and receives a high 
 polish, is very durable, and is equally well adapted 
 to every form of use, rough or ornamental. The 
 supply is practically inexhaustible. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIL 
 
 OLD LYME— (Continued). 
 
 CIVIL AND MILITARY. 
 
 This town, which is the south part of the ancient 
 town, was organized as a separate town in 1855. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1856-82. 
 The following is a list of the representatives from 
 the organization of the town to 1882. The names of 
 the representatives prior to 1855 will be found in the 
 history of the town of Lyme : 
 
 1868, James Griswold ; 1850, Daniel Chadwicli; ; 1860, John M. Ohad- 
 wicli ; 1861, William B. Toolier; 1862, M. Griswold, Jr.; 1863, Israel 
 Matson; 1804, John B. Swan; lSfj5, Wat. Griswold, Jr.; 1866-67, 
 1877, John S. De Wolf; 1868, 1). M. Watrous; 1800-70, Robert F. 
 Chapman ; 1871, N. S. Lee ; 1872, John G. Rowland ; 1873, K. W. 
 Chadwick; 1874, Joseph A. De Wolf ; 1875, Edward Sheffield ; 1876, 
 Lemuel A. Calkins; 1878, Erastus 0. Clark ; 1879, Richard S. Gris- 
 wold; 1880, Charles W. Morley ; 1881, George W, De Wolf. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIIL 
 
 OLD LYME— (Continued). 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 
 
 Rev. Davis S. Brainerd was born in Haddam, 
 Conn., Oct. 12, 1812. He was the fourth son of Mr. 
 Heber Brainerd. He entered Yale College in 1880, 
 and graduated from there in the class of 1834. 
 
560 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Having early chosen the profession of a minister of 
 the gospel, he studied theology at Princeton and New 
 Haven, with a few months at Andover. 
 
 In 1841, June 30th, Mr. Brainerd was settled as pas- 
 tor of the First Congregational Church in Lyme, and 
 had a long and successful pastorate of nearly thirty- 
 four years, among a highly cultivated and intelligent 
 people. He was elected a member of the corporation 
 of Yale College in 1861, and in 1867 was chosen a 
 member of its Prudential Committee, which honors he 
 held until his death, April 30, 1875. 
 
 He married Anna, the eldest daughter of Capt. 
 Daniel Chadwick, of Lyme. They had five children, 
 one son and four daughters. 
 
 OHAPTEE LXIV. 
 
 EAST LYME. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — The Bride Brook Marriage — Washing- 
 ton's Visit, etc. 
 
 East Lyme lies in the southern part of the county, 
 and is bounded as follows : on the north by Salem, 
 on the east by Montville and Waterford, on the south 
 by Long Island Sound, and on the west by Lyme and 
 Old Lyme. The surface of the town is generally hilly 
 and the soil fertile. 
 
 As the territory embraced within this town origin- 
 ally comprised a portion of New Loudon and Old 
 Lyme, much of its early history will be found in the 
 history of those towns. 
 
 The Bride Brook Marriag-e.— " In JIarch, 1672, 
 when the controversy in respect to bounds between 
 New London and Lyme was carried before the Legis- 
 lature, Mr. Winthrop, the Governor of the colony, 
 being called on for his testimony, gave it in a narra- 
 tive form, his object being to show explicitly that the 
 little stream known as Bride Brook was originally 
 regarded as the boundary between the two planta- 
 tions. The preamble of his deposition is in substance 
 as follows : 
 
 " ' When we began the plantation in the Peqnot country, now called 
 New London, I had a commission from the Massachusetts government, 
 and tlie ordeiing of matters was left to myself. Not finding m;'adow 
 Bufficient for even a small plantation, unless tlie meadows and marshes 
 west of Nahantick Klver were adjoined, I determined that the bounds 
 of the plantation should be to the brook now called Bride Brook, w liich 
 was looked upon as certainly without Saybronk bounds. Tliis was an 
 encouragement to proceed with the plantation, which otherwise could 
 not have gone on, there being no suitable accumniodution near the 
 place.' 
 
 "In corroboration of this fact, and to show that the 
 people of Saybrook at first acquiesced in this boun- 
 dary line, the Governor related an incident which he 
 says ' fell out the first winter of our settling there.' 
 This must have been the winter of 1646-47, which 
 was the first spent by him in the plantation. The 
 main points of the story were these : 
 
 " A young couple in Saybrook were to be m.arried : 
 
 the groom was Jonathan Eudd. The Governor does 
 not give the name of the bride, and unfortunately the 
 omission is not supplied by either record or tradition. 
 The wedding-day was fixed, and a magistrate from 
 one of the upper towns on the river was engaged to 
 perform the rite ; for there was not, it seems, any 
 person in Saybrook duly qualified to officiate on such 
 an occasion. But 'there falling out at that time a. 
 great snow,' the paths were obliterated, traveling 
 obstructed, and intercourse with the interior inter- 
 rupted, so that ' the magistrate intended to go dowB 
 thither was hindered by the depth of the snow.' On 
 the seaboard there is usually a less weight of snow 
 and the courses can be more readily ascertained. 
 The nuptials must not be delayed without inevitable 
 necessity. Application was therefore made to Mr. 
 Winthrop to come to Saybrook and unite the parties. 
 But he, deriving his authority from Massachusetts,, 
 could not legally ofiiciate in Connecticut. 
 
 "' I saw it necessary' (lie observes) ' to deny them in thatway, but told 
 them, for an expedient for their accommodation, if they come to the- 
 plantation it might be done. But that being too difficult for them, it 
 was agreed that they should come to that place which is now called 
 Bride Brook, as being a place within the hounds of that authority 
 whereby I then acted ; otherwise I had exceeded the limits of my com- 
 mission.' 
 
 " This proposition was accepted. On the brink of 
 this little stream, the boundary between two colonies, 
 the parties met, — Winthrop and his friends from Pe- 
 qnot, and the bridal train from Saybrook. Here the 
 ceremony was performed, under the shelter of no roof, 
 by no hospitable fireside, without any accommoda- 
 tions but those furnished by the snow-covered earth, 
 the overarching heaven, and perchance the sheltering 
 side of a forest of pines or cedars. Romantic lovers- 
 have sometimes pledged their faith by joining hands 
 over a narrow streamlet; but never, perhaps, before 
 or since was the legal rite performed in a situation 
 so wild and solitary and under circumstances sO' 
 intere.sting and peculiar. 
 
 " We are not told how the parties traveled, whether 
 on horseback or on sleds or snow-shoes, nor what 
 cheer they brought with them, whether cakes or fruit, 
 the juice of the orchard or vineyard, or the fiery 
 extract of the cane. We only know that at that time 
 conveniences and comforts were few and luxuries- 
 unknown. Yet simple and homely as the accompani- 
 ments must have been, a glow of hallowed beauty 
 will ever rest upon the scene. We fancy that we hear 
 the foot-tramp upon the crisp snow ; the ice cracks as 
 they cross the frozen stream ; the wind sighs through 
 the leafless forest, and the clear voice of Winthrop 
 swells upon the ear like a devout strain of music, 
 now low and then rising high to heaven, as it passes 
 through the varied accents of tender admonition, legal 
 decision, and solemn prayer. The impressive group 
 stand around, wrapped in their frosty mantles, wittf 
 heads reverently bowed down, and at the given sign 
 the two plighted hands come forth from among the 
 furs and are clasped together in token of a life-long. 
 
EAST LYME. 
 
 561 
 
 affectionate trust. The scene ends in a general burst 
 of hearty hilarity. 
 
 "Bride Brook issues from a beautiful sheet of 
 water, known as Bride Lake or Pond, and runs into 
 the Sound about a mile west of Giant's Cove. In a 
 straight line it is not more than two miles west of 
 Niantic Bay. The Indian name of the pond or brook, 
 or of both, was Sunk-i-paugor, Sunkipaugsuck.^ 
 
 *'It received the name of Bride Brook on the spot, 
 at the time of the nuptial celebration. Winthrop, in 
 his deposition (which is on file among the State 
 records at Hartford), says, 'And at that time the place 
 had [i.e. J received] the denomination of Bride Brook.' 
 That a considerable company had assembled is evi- 
 dent from the narrative, which alludes to those pres- 
 ent from Pequot, and to the gentlemen of the other 
 party, who ' were well satisfied with what was done.' 
 
 "Thus it appears that Bride Brook was originally 
 the western boundary of New London. It had been 
 fixed upon as the terminus between her and Say- 
 brook anterior to the marriage solemnized upon its 
 eastern brink, though it obtained its name from that 
 occurrence. 
 
 " The annals of history can furnish but few inci- 
 dents more striking than the Bride Brook marriage. 
 All the accessories of the scene are picturesque and 
 impressive. The little company stood in the midst 
 of a dreary waste of snow, far from any human 
 habitation except the huts of savages ; ancient forests 
 and immense solitudes were around them, beyond 
 which, in shadowy magnificence, vast and indefinite, 
 lay that unexplored world on whose brink they stood. 
 We might, perchance, add to these features the stal- 
 wart forms of natives, a tribe of whom dwelt not far 
 from the place, darting among the trees or looking on 
 at a distance. What sublime scenery for a wedding! 
 There is no marriage upon record that has such ro- 
 mantic associations." 
 
 " When this fair town waa Nam-e-aug, — 
 A bleak, rough waste of hill and bog, — 
 In huts of sea-weed, thatch, and log, 
 
 Our fathers few, but strong and cheery, 
 
 Sate down amid these deserts dreary. 
 
 "'Twaaall a wild, unchristian wood, 
 A fearful, boisterous solitude, 
 A harbor for the wild-fowl's brood, 
 
 Where countless flocks of every pinion 
 Held o*er the shores a bold dominion. 
 
 *' The flea-hawk hung his cumbrous neat, 
 Oak-propp'd, on evei-y highland crest; 
 Cranes through the seedy marshes prest; 
 
 The curlew, by the river lying, 
 
 Looked on God's image, him defying. 
 
 " The eagle-king soared high and free. 
 His shadow on the glassy sea 
 A sudden ripple seemed to be ; 
 
 The sunlight in his pinions burning. 
 Shrouded him from eyes upturning. 
 
 1 " Sunkipaug means cold water. In Elliot's Indian Bible, Prov. xxv. 
 25, he has, 'As eonkipog [cold water] to a thirsty soul,' etc. ; so in Matthew 
 X. 42, 'Whosoever shall give eonlcipog [a cup of cold water] to one of 
 these little ones,' etc.— S. Judd, M8. 
 
 " They came, the weary-footed band ; 
 The paths they cleared, the streams they spanned, 
 The woodland genius grew more bland ; 
 In haste his tangled vines unweaving, 
 Them and their hopes with joy receiving. 
 
 " Then beasts of every frightful name, 
 And wild men with their hearts of flame. 
 By night around them howling came ; 
 
 No arms had they but care ahd caution, 
 And TKUST IN God was all their portion. 
 
 " Firm as the rocky coast they stood. 
 
 And earneet as the rushing flood, 
 
 Disdaining fear, yet fearing God ; 
 
 Each man was both a lamb and lion, 
 With heart of flesh, but nerves of iron. 
 
 " They yoked the eagle to the dove. 
 
 They tamed the wilderness with love, 
 
 Clear light within, clear light above; 
 By faith upheld, by foes undaunted. 
 Home, freedom, country here they planted. 
 
 " Great hearts were those that hither came, — 
 
 A Winthrop of undying fame, 
 
 A Bhewstkr of an honored name ; 
 
 Great hearts, the growth of three great nations, 
 Laid deep for us these firm foundations. 
 
 "The angels as they glided by 
 Some gleams of briglitness lent the sky ; 
 And earth's own angels, too, were nigh, — 
 The choicest of fair England's daughters 
 Came with them o'er the billowy waters. 
 
 " Kow thanks to thee, God of lands I 
 Who settlest lonely men in bands. 
 That brought these angels to our strands ; 
 The Rose of Eden, heavenly woman I 
 To gardens changed these wilds inhuman. 
 
 " See ! like the rose-tree's sudden bloom, 
 Bright visions break the wintry gloom, 
 The evergreens breathe forth perfume. 
 
 Love's purple light the scene is flushing, 
 
 A romance into life is rushing. 
 
 "A streamlet — Nam-e-aug's weatern bound — 
 
 A path by craggy hillsides found, 
 
 Meandering to the distant Sound ; 
 
 A slender stream, but clear and glowing, 
 Down through umbrageous valleys flowing. 
 
 " Forth from a lovely lake it came. 
 Sweet stream witli an ungentle name ; 
 But now, ice-bound, snow-wreathed, and tame. 
 No longer sparkling, prattling, leaping. 
 The Naiad of the brook was sleeping. 
 
 " To this fair stream two sledgy trains. 
 Grotesque and quaint as Lapland wains. 
 Rushed swiftly o'er the dazzling plains : 
 
 Vast earth before, behind all hoary, 
 
 Embosomed in a shroud of glory. 
 
 "How still is all surrounding buow! 
 How dead but for this diamond glow I 
 The sun's exuberant overflow. 
 
 Filling the air with quivering gladness, 
 Relieves earth's spectre of its sadness. 
 
 " No sounding bells waked nature's ear, 
 Tet music, flowing sweet and clear. 
 Rippled the sea of silence drear. 
 
 Cheery they come, — men, maidens singing. 
 And all the echoes round them ringing. 
 
 " They meet : here noble Winthrop stands. 
 Come forth, ye gladsome bridal bands, 
 Ye snow-capt hills, clap all your hands [ 
 Ye spicy cedars, green and towering, 
 Draw round them all your screens embowering 
 
562 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " The woven nets are lightly spread, 
 The spruce boughs yield their fragant aid, 
 The white smoke o'er them curls a shade, 
 
 And fruits and viands, choice and dainty, 
 
 Flow from the ample horn of plenty. 
 
 " Her furry wrappings cast aside. 
 As rosy skies when clouds divide. 
 Forth steps the conscious, blushing bride, 
 A trembling, serions, fadeless beauty. 
 Commingling sweetness, love, and duty. 
 
 "She stood like Summer on the snow, — 
 
 No morning dawn around could throw 
 
 Such rosy light, so warm a glow, — 
 
 And hovering clouds, with seraphs laden. 
 Showered heavenly blessings on the maiden. 
 
 •' She was a dame of fair degree ; 
 Her lover, fearless, bold, and free. 
 Had sulfered ecaith by land and sea ; 
 
 Their hearts long pledged by word and token, 
 
 Now let the sacred rite be spoken. 
 
 " Then hands were clasped, and Winthrop prayed : 
 The life-long covenant was made ; 
 High heaven a mute attention paid; 
 
 Winds, groves, and hills, with reverence lowly, 
 
 Trembled around a scene so holy. 
 
 " * Now Sunk-i-paug is Bridal Lake : 
 
 Flow, ever flow !' — thus Winthrop spake, — 
 ' Kound hearts and homes thy journey take ; 
 
 Love's streamlet out of Bride Lake welling, 
 God leau a branch to every dwelling.' " 
 — Bride BrooJc, a Legend, hy Miss F. M Caulkins, 1852. 
 
 Washington's Visit. — Gen. Washington and the 
 Marquis de Lafayette visited this town, and halted at 
 the residence now owned and occupied by Daniel 
 Calkins, M.D. In speaking of this Dr. Calkins says, — 
 
 " 1 remember in my boyhood heai ing my grandmother speak of Gen. 
 George Washington and M. de Lafayette calling here while passing 
 through. The time was middaj^ and if my memory serves me, as told 
 by my grandmother, they had an escort of men or guard, and those men 
 partook of a meal, while on ' bivouac,' on the hill in front of the house, 
 under the old willow-trees. I have now in my possession the kettle or 
 large iron pot in which the men boiled the meat and potatoes for said 
 meal. 
 
 "The Marquis de Lafayette, in his last visit to this country, made a 
 point to call at all places where he and Washington had called during 
 the Revolutionary struggle. In passing through here from Lyme, where 
 he stayed all night, he made a call at this house sufficient length of time 
 to rest about midday, and was introduced to quite a large concourse of 
 people by Judge Moses Warren. Lafayette addressed the people assem- 
 bled on the hill, under the willows in front of the house, alluding to 
 his former visit with Wa,liington and his memories of those times when 
 they and their men stood on the hill and under the trees, many years 
 before, charging them to look well to and guard the liberties for which 
 their sires had fought, bled, and died. 
 
 "In repairing the house in 1872 I retained the floors where Washing- 
 ton and Lafayette walked, as also the doorstep where Washington and 
 Lafayette's feet have stepped. Although I was beset by many to have 
 the Btepstone recut, it remains as it was a century ago, and shall 
 remain so as long as I live for the memory of Washington and Lafayette." 
 
 CHAPTER LXV. 
 
 EAST LYME— (Continued). 
 ECCLESIASTICAL-MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY. 
 
 The Congregational Church, East lyme, was 
 
 organized in 1719, and Rev. George Griswold was the 
 first pastor. 
 
 Mr. Griswold was an active promoter of the great 
 awakening. He labored not only at home, but also 
 in other parishes. The work continued nearly two 
 years, and one hundred white persons and thirteen 
 Indians became members of the church. From 1761 
 the church was able to have but little preaching 
 until 1793, when it had become virtually extinct. In 
 that year it was reorganized. Henceforth it main- 
 tained public worship constantly by services of the 
 brethren in prayers and the reading of sermons and by 
 occasional preaching. In 1816 domestic missionaries 
 began their labors in this place, under which the 
 church and congregation increased until the settle- 
 ment of Mr. St. John in 1823. Since that time it has 
 been favored with constant preaching, and with oc- 
 casional revivals of religion. The meeting-house 
 erected by them stood at least a century. In its ad- 
 vanced age it was colloquially termed the Old Syna- 
 gogue. It was a small, square building, without 
 steeple, bell, or porch. A pulpit occupied the centre 
 of one side ; doors opening directly upon earth, air, 
 and sky were on the other three sides. The gallery 
 was low, projecting gloomily over the pews. The 
 beams, pillars, and pilasters were so roughly finished 
 as to show everywhere the marks of the hatchet. No 
 varnish or paint in any part overshadowed the native 
 wood, which became in age venerably silver-gray. 
 Here as late as 1820 you might see the old woman's 
 plain linen cap and straight border ; the small, black, 
 mode bonnet, kept on by long bonnet-pins ; the short, 
 red cloak, with the hood falling back; and men 
 with enormous steel shoe-buckles and checkered 
 pocket handkerchiefs. "Old Hundred," "Bray," 
 and " Mear," sung in the pitch, tone, and time of 
 the ancients, harmonized admirably with this inter- 
 esting relic of the past. 
 
 This building was replaced by a stone church, a 
 structure of simple elegance, neatly fitted up and 
 furnished with a marble floor. The society is princi- 
 pally indebted for this church to the liberality of the 
 Griswolds of New York, emigrants from its bosom, 
 who in their adopted homes show this grateful re- 
 membrance of the place of their nativity. 
 
 In the burial-place near lie the remains of the first 
 pastor of the church, Rev. George Griswold, who died 
 in 1761, after a faithful ministry of thirty-six years. 
 During the great awakening of 1740 and 1741 he had 
 a large accession to his church, and it is an interest- 
 ing fact that among the new members were thirteen 
 Niantic Indians. 
 
 First Baptist Church, East Lyme.'— The history 
 of this church is shaded in some obscurity. Baptist 
 sentiments began to prevail here before the year 1730, 
 through the labors of the venerable Valentine Wight- 
 man, who was pastor of the Baptist Church in Groton. 
 As early as 1747, Nathaniel Jewett, of Lyme, was 
 expelled from the Legislature for being a member of 
 
 1 This church was called the Baptist Church in Lyme until 1839, when 
 it was changed to East Lyme on account of the division of the town. 
 
EAST LYME. 
 
 563 
 
 a Separate Churcli, and this is supposed to be the 
 church to whicli he belonged. 
 
 The first records to be found commence in 1752, 
 from which time a faithful account of their walk has 
 been preserved. Elder Ebenezer Mack was then the 
 pastor, and the names of sixty-eight are recorded as 
 members. The first meeting-house was erected in 
 1755. Elder Mack labored faithfully for more than 
 sixteen years, through various vicissitudes of pros- 
 perity and adversity, when, at his request, he was re- 
 leased on account of feeble health from the pastoral 
 care ; yet he continued in covenant relation, though 
 soon after he ceased to walk with them in the ordi- 
 nances, because he thought it inconsistent for a Bap- 
 tist Church to build and commune at the Lord's Table 
 with those who held and practiced infant sprinkling. 
 A Council was called, which gave their decision in 
 favor of Elder Mack, and from this Council originated 
 the Stonington Association. 
 
 While thus without a pastor for several years, they 
 were occasionally visited by Elder Zadoc Darrow, 
 Elder Joshua Morse, and others, who preached and 
 administered the ordinances. In one of his visits in 
 1771, Elder Morse proposed that this church and the 
 church to which he administered should " enter into 
 a sisterly relation." The brethren requested him to 
 state what his articles were. He replied, " That none 
 be admitted to membership but real believers, and 
 nothing be practiced for baptism but immersion." 
 His first proposition was unanimously adopted, and 
 the second by a large majority. 
 
 Yet the church became much scattered, and the 
 few who remained were in great discouragement. A 
 day of fasting was appointed to pray to God, as the 
 Lord of the harvest, for an under-shepherd, and in- 
 quire whether the man was among them. They were 
 soon convinced that he was, and called Jason Lee 
 to be their pastor. He was the son of Elder Joseph 
 Lee, pastor of a church at Southhold, L. I., yet his 
 family lived in Lyme. In 1774 a Council of sister- 
 churches was called, and they proceeded publicly to 
 set him apart to the work of the ministry. From 
 this time a good degree of prosperity was enjoyed. 
 The labors of their pastor were blessed to their edi- 
 fication, and sinners were seen "flying as a cloud, 
 and as doves to their windows." Branches were 
 formed in Marlow and Lemspter, in New Hampshire, 
 and in the North Society, in New London (since called 
 Montville). The Separates, as they were then called, 
 became the most numerous in the society. The Stand- 
 ing Order could not lay a tax on them, as formerly, for 
 the support of their minister, for when they assembled 
 for that purpose the Separates also met with them, 
 and the vote was carried to have " No Tax.'' 
 
 About this time several of the brethren gave evi- 
 dence that they were called of God to a more public 
 work, and in 1782, Eleazer Beckwith was ordained as 
 an evangelist, and " given up" to take the pastoral 
 care of the branch at Marlow. Elder Beckwith after- 
 
 wards became one of the most entertaining preachers. 
 Large crowds assembled to hear him, and some who 
 remember him testify that, above any one else, he 
 seemed to bring heaven near. 
 
 The same year Christopher Miner was called to 
 ordination. He removed the following year to Chat- 
 ham, where a Baptist Church was organized a few 
 months afterwards. 
 
 The next year Richard Sill was set apart by ordina- 
 tion to the work of an evangelist. The church first 
 reported their numbers to this Conference in 1788, at 
 which time there were two hundred and nineteen. 
 In the following year, with the assistance of Council 
 from sister-churches, William Comstock and Nehe- 
 miah Huntley were ordained as evangelists. 
 
 Until the year 1795 occasional communion with 
 the Pedobaptists had been allowed, although a ma- 
 jority had all along been opposed to it. In ■ 1797, 
 Elder William Hill and a large number of brethren 
 from Saybrook united in covenant and labor with 
 them. 
 
 The year 1798 is distinguished by the commence- 
 ment of still better days. Through this and the 
 following year the most powerful revival was enjoyed 
 that this church had ever seen. 
 
 The church called two more of their number to the 
 ministry, — Nathan Champlin, who was ordained in 
 the year 1800, and William Welch, in 1801. In the 
 years 1806 and 1807 ninety-nine were received by 
 baptism. The cause steadily advanced until they 
 were called to part with their beloved leader. In 
 March, 1810, after three months of distressing ill- 
 ness, which was endured with exemplary patience, 
 Elder Lee died, in full expectation of a glorious im- 
 mortality, in the seventieth year of his age, the 
 fortieth of his ministry, and the thirty-sixth of his 
 pastoral labors. 
 
 Elder Asa Wilcox commenced his labors by preach- 
 ing a discourse at the funeral of Elder Lee, from 2 
 Tim. iv. 7, 8. During the eight years of his ministry 
 some seasons of refreshing were seen, and although 
 they encountered many trials, and dismissed twenty- 
 five of their members to form the Waterford and 
 Montville Church, and others were set off to the 
 Second Church in Lyme, their number, which at the 
 death of Elder Lee was four hundred and thirty-one, 
 was increased to four hundred and forty-one. 
 
 In 1816, Mr. James Davis, a minister in the Con- 
 gregational order, was received upon a relation of 
 experience, and baptized by Elder Wilcox. He was 
 ordained a few months afterwards by a Council called 
 for the purpose. 
 
 Elder G. W. Appleton was their next pastor. He 
 remained about four years. In 1821 the brethren in 
 Lempster sent Ezra Miner to the church, requesting 
 his ordination. A Council was accordingly called, 
 and he was solemnly set apart to the work of the 
 ministry. After the resignation of Elder Appleton 
 they were destitute of a pastor for nearly a year. 
 
564 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Eighteen were set off to form the Chesterfield Church 
 in Montville, and their numbers were reduced to less 
 than two hundred. 
 
 About this time Nathan Wildman came among 
 them, and his labors were richly blessed. In 1824 
 they called him to ordination, and prosperity again 
 shone upon them. In the year 1831, William A. 
 Smith was licensed to preach the gospel. 
 
 Elder Frederick Wightman succeeded to the pas- 
 torate in 1832. He was succeeded in 1838 by Elder 
 Wm. Palmer. On account of a division of the town, 
 the name of the church was changed. In the winter 
 of 1841^2, after the resignation of Elder Palmer, 
 Elder Amos D. Watrous held a series of meetings, in 
 which large accessions were received. The spring 
 following twenty were dismissed to form the Lyme 
 Church, and the next winter flfty-five were set off, 
 forming the Second Church in East Lyme. 
 
 Elder F. Wightman accepted a call again to become 
 their pastor, and was soon permitted to see the fruits 
 of his labors. They now (June, 1842) removed to a 
 new house of worship. Here they had previously 
 listened to the experience of young converts who 
 offered themselves for baptism. Their pastor being 
 compelled by sickness to resign, Elder Chester Tilden 
 was called to the charge, who labored with them a 
 little more than two years. 
 
 Rev. P. G. Wightman commenced his ministry 
 among them in the spring of 1846. 
 
 Among the pastors since that time are mentioned 
 Revs. Judd, George H. Lester, Percival Matthew- 
 son, and John W. Holman, present pastor. 
 
 Second Baptist Church. — This church was organ- 
 ized Dec. 29, 1842, with fifty-eight members from the 
 First Baptist Church in this town and the First 
 Church in Waterford. A church edifice was erected 
 and opened for service in September, 1843. The first 
 pastor was Elder James Hepburn. He was succeeded 
 by Elder Frederick Wightman, R. Hedden, George 
 Mixture, Curtis Keeney, John J. Bronson, Rev. Mr. 
 Phillips, Rev. Mr. Temple, Rev. Mr. Wilson, present 
 pastor, Aug. 8, 1881. 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, Niantic.'— This 
 church was organized by Rev. Isaac Sherman during 
 the winter of 1842. There had been a class formed 
 here in 1810, but many of the members of that class 
 had removed to other places; in 1842 there were 
 a few persons living in the vicinity who had formerly 
 belonged to that class, and in the spring of 1843, Rev. 
 Azariah B. Wheeler was appointed to this charge. 
 The church building was commenced. In June the 
 corner-stone was laid, and Rev. Ralph W. Allen, of 
 New London, preached a sermon on the occasion, and 
 October 5th the church was dedicated. Rev. Ralph 
 W. Allen preached the dedicatory sermon. In 1844- 
 45, Rev. Henry Torbush was preacher in charge; 
 1846-47, Rev. Roger Albiston ; 1848-49, Rev. Marvin 
 
 ' By Philo Gates. 
 
 Leffingwell. In 1850, Rev. Isaac Sherman was ap- 
 pointed, and stayed a few weeks, and the church was 
 supplied by local preachers through the year. In 
 1851, Rev. John F. Blanchard was preacher in charge. 
 In 1852, Rev. John F. Blanchard was reappointed, but 
 died early in the year, and the church was supplied 
 by local preachers through the remainder of the year, 
 — Rev. John Standish, of Norwich, and Jesse B. 
 Denison, of New London. In 1853, Rev. Peter S. 
 Mather, preacher in charge ; 1854, Rev. Henry Wes- 
 ton Smith ; 1855-56, Josiah T. Burton ; 1857, Rev. 
 John W. Case. During this year they commenced to 
 build a church parsonage. In 1858, Rev. George 
 Dwight Boynton ; 1859-60, Rev. Lawrence Pierce; 
 1861-62, Rev. Frederick C. Newell ; 1863-65, Rev. 
 Jabez Pack ; 1866-67, Rev. Lewis E. Dunham. 
 
 The first half of the year 1868, Niantic was sup- 
 plied by local preachers; and after September, De 
 Witt C. House was licensed, and stationed here during 
 1869 and 1870. 
 
 From 1871-73, Dwight A. Jordon was preacher in 
 charge, and during his pastorate a new church was 
 built on the main street in the village, and was dedi- 
 cated Sept. 25, 1873. Rev. Dr. J. M. Buckley, now of 
 New York, preached the dedicatory sermon. In 1874, 
 Rev. Anthony Palmer ; 1875, Rev. Alfred A. Pres- 
 brey ; 1876-78, Rev. J. T. Burton ; 1879-81, Eev. 
 Charles H. Ewen. 
 
 During the winter of 1880 the church parsonage 
 was sold and a new church parsonage built; the old 
 church was taken down, and used in building the 
 new parsonage, located on the main street, much 
 nearer the new church, and much larger and more 
 convenient. The church is very largely indebted to 
 the generosity of Capt. Edward Luce in the erection 
 of the house, also in the gift of the land on which it 
 stands. 
 
 Civil History. — The town of East Lyme was in- 
 corporated at the May session of the Legislature in 
 
 1839, and the first town-meeting was held at the 
 " Baptist meeting-house," June 10th, same year, when 
 the following officers were chosen : 
 
 Clerk, Z. D. Beckwith ; Selectmen, Daniel Stewart, 
 Ezra Moore, Jr., Calvin S. Manwaring, Edward Moore, 
 Jr., and Clement Smith ; Treasurer, John L. Smith ; 
 Constables, Roland Rogers, Jr., Ezra Purtlor, and 
 Isaac Burch ; Grand Jurors, Z. D. Beckwith, B. E. 
 Champlin, and Nehemiah Caulkins; Tithingmen, 
 Lemuel G. Crocker and Job Tubbs ; Hay-warden, Eli- 
 sha Smith ; Sealer, Charles M. Spencer ; Key-keepers, 
 Titus Beckwith, Thomas Faber, Calvin S. Manwaring, 
 and Mather Rogers ; Town Agent, John L. Smith. 
 Joel Loomis was moderator of the above meeting. 
 
 REPKESENTATIVES FROM 1839-1882. 
 
 1840, Daniel Watrous; 1841-4'2, no record ; 1843, B. Moore, Jr. ; 1844, J. 
 Tubba; 1846, no record; 1846, E. Moore, Jr.; 1347, F. B. Loomis; 
 1848, William H. H. Comstock ; 1849, J. D. Otis ; 1850, George M. 
 Denison ; 1861-52, Ezra Moore, Jr. ; 1853, George M. Denison ; 1854, 
 F. W. Bolles ; 1866, J. L. Beckwith ; 1866, J. B. Manwaring; 1857, 
 S. F. Perkins; 1868, S. L. Manwaring; 1869, William H. H. Com- 
 

 ■• 1.- 
 
 
 AVERY SMITH, 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 565 
 
 stock; 1860, O. C. Gorton; 1861, E. Howard; 1862, E. Moore, Jr. ; 
 1863, J. M. Chapman ; 186i, F. B. Way ; 1865, E. Luqe ; 1866-67, E. 
 W. Beckwitll ; 1868, T. B. Way ; 1869, E. L. Beckwith ; 18Y0, M. W. 
 Comstock; 1871, George Hentley; 1872, Ezra Moore; 1873, J. W. 
 Luce ; 1874, T. B. Way ; 1 875, L. M. Bacon ; 1876, J. A. Way ; 1877, 
 Edward Luce ; 1878, C. P. Sturtevant; 1879, Charles Babcock ; 1880, 
 John Way; 1881, Asa E. S. Bnsh. 
 
 CHAPTEK LXVI. 
 
 EAST LYME— (Continued). 
 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCH. 
 
 Avery Smith^ was the son of Daniel and Hannah 
 Smith, born in the town of Waterford, June 20, a.d. 
 1794, and in 1824 was married to Emeline H. Mor- 
 gan, of East Haddam, with whom he continued to 
 live until the time of his death, leaving her a widow. 
 The writer of this notice was not acquainted with him 
 until 1829, when he was thirty-five years of age. He 
 was then connected in business with a younger 
 brother, Eoswell ; Eoswell running a small farm, and 
 himself running a vessel in the coasting trade. In 
 1831 he went to New Orleans, and ran a packet from 
 there, through Lakes Pontchartrain and Bourne, to 
 Mobile for several years. In the mean time they pur- 
 chased a farm at the head of Niantic Bay, with a road 
 running through it, and about 1838 he retired mostly 
 from the water and went to farming, but occasionally 
 going on the water for a short time. In the mean 
 time they had purchased another farm adjoining, 
 which nearly surrounded a large natural pond or lake, 
 and about 1841 conceived the idea of putting up ice, 
 and it succeeded so well that by 1846 they had a 
 house of the capacity of about six thousand tons. 
 From their lands, which extended across the head of 
 Niantic Bay, was a beautiful view not only of the bay 
 but across Long Island Sound. In 1841 a party ap- 
 peared and wanted to erect a dwelling-house at the 
 head of the bay, and the 5th of October of that year 
 the house was raised. That was the commencement 
 of the beautiful village of Niantic. Soon after 
 another party appeared for a building-lot. The road 
 through said lands being somewhat crooked, the deeds 
 must be so made as to bring their fronts on one line ; 
 and soon after a party appeared for a lot perhaps fifty 
 rods farther west. Avery Smith, seeming to foresee 
 that the place was beginning to be of some note, de- 
 cided that this also should face the same line, and in 
 the same manner the lots on the other side of the 
 street were also sold, all facing the same line, the 
 result of which was a street about three-fourths of a 
 mile long, as straight as can be found in any country 
 village. 
 
 In 1848 his brother Eoswell died, leaving a widow 
 and nine children, mostly young, Avery Smith buy- 
 ing out Eoswell's interest in the real estate, and as- 
 
 suming the care of the family, apparently as much as 
 though they had been his own, the sons as they grew 
 up working with him in harmony ; but the widow of 
 Eoswell and all the children but two died before him, 
 and his wife having no children, in his will he made 
 them his principal legatees. In 1839 the town of East 
 Lyme was incorporated, taking this part of Waterford 
 into the new town. When the N. H. and N. L. E. R. 
 was laid out he labored hard to have it laid through 
 said lands, and the result was it ran through the same 
 land nearly or quite a mile, a part of the way near the 
 edge of the bank by the bay and across what is called 
 " Eope Ferry Bar," and in front of the village, and a 
 depot established, of which he had the charge for sev- 
 eral years. Eventually he had lands surveyed and 
 streets laid out, all at right angles, on which building- 
 lots were laid out, and they are now considerably built 
 upon ; and upon what was his land now stand two 
 church edifices, one Oongregationalist and one Meth- 
 odist Episcopal, and up to the time of his death he 
 took a strong interest in the building up of the village, 
 and no person should have a lot unless they would 
 put up a respectable building. When I first became 
 acquainted with him he was a member of the Congre- 
 gational Church, and he made it a point to be present 
 at their place of worship, and a liberal contributor 
 to their funds; and near the close of his life, in speak- 
 ing of death, he said to me, "One thing I know: I 
 love the church." He died Feb. 20, 1871. 
 
 In politics he was what may be termed an Old-Line 
 Whig and Eepublican. 
 
 CHAPTEE LXVII. 
 
 M0NTVILLE.2 
 
 1 By F. W. Belles. 
 
 The town of Montville is located on the west side 
 of the river Thames, between the towns of Norwich 
 and Waterford, and its business centre about half- 
 way between the cities of New London and Norwich. 
 It has a front on the river a distance of five and a 
 half miles. Its present area is about forty square 
 miles, and contains about twenty-five thousand acres. 
 
 It is but a little more than two centuries since the 
 territory which now is included in the limits of this 
 town was a savage wilderness, entirely possessed by a 
 race which for more than a century have been steadily 
 but surely fading from existence. 
 
 It was formerly a part of the township of New 
 London, and early called the North Parish of New 
 London. Its early history is indissolubly connected 
 with that of most of the other towns in the county. 
 
 This tract of land, together with that now contained 
 within the limits of adjoining towns, was at the earliest 
 notice of its history in the possession of the Pequots, 
 of which tribe the Mohegans were a fragment, and 
 
 2 By Henry A. Baker. 
 
566 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 occupied by them as their planting and hunting- 
 grounds. 
 
 Within the boundaries of this town was the central 
 seat of the famous tribe of Indians called the Mohe- 
 gans, whose history has been closely identified with 
 that of the whole State. Uncas, the grand sachem 
 of the tribe, being a friend to the English, received at 
 their hands protection from his enemies, and often, 
 when in extreme peril from the hostile advancements 
 made upon him by other tribes, the English rendered 
 him timely assistance. Uncas was always generous 
 to those who befriended him and his warriors, and 
 easily persuaded to confer liberal gifts of his land as 
 a remuneration for friendship. 
 
 Some of the race, though reduced to a mere frag- 
 ment, still cling like ghosts around their ancient habi- 
 tation, — not in their native barbarous condition, but 
 clothed and refined by civilization ; not as wards 
 under the guardianship of the State, but as actual 
 owners of the soil on which they live, with the privilege 
 of citizens. Their advance in civilization and morals 
 has been identical with that of the growth and pros- 
 perity of the town, the Indian having exchanged 
 his rude and native custom for civilization and Chris- 
 tianity. 
 
 Had they remained unmolested and unvisited by 
 Europeans till the present day, they would now have 
 been as rude, as poor, as warlike, as disdainful ot 
 labor, and in every way as uncivilized as when the 
 white man first explored the river Thames or sailed 
 along its virgin shores. The country would still have 
 been covered with forests and unimproved fields, 
 the streams unoccupied except for fishing and game ; 
 tracks of wild beasts would be found where now ex- 
 tends the hard roadway trodden by thousands of 
 human feet ; the ferocious bear would be seen coming 
 out of the hollow trees where now crowds of youth 
 are emerging from the halls of learning. 
 
 If one was to stand upon some of the highest ridges 
 which overlook the town and survey the rippling 
 rivulets coursing and meandering through the valleys, 
 made subservient to man's interests in turning the 
 wheel, the spindle, the loom, and the various kinds of 
 machinery of modern invention, and then glance the 
 eye over the hills and glens which meet it on every 
 side, where now the hum of industry is heard and the 
 voice of the white man and the civilized Indian 
 awake their echoes, where farms and schools, in- 
 dustry and thrift attest the presence of the more in- 
 telligent and elevated race, he would be amazed and 
 wonder at the change that has come over this region 
 of country in the last two centuries. 
 
 These hills and these valleys were then the abode 
 of the untutored Indian, these forests filled with 
 wild beasts and animals of various kinds, some of 
 them beasts of prey, and others suitable for food for 
 the hunter. A continuou.s forest, with but here and 
 there an open space for planting fields, overspread the 
 whole of this territory, adorning these hills with its 
 
 verdure, darkening these valleys with its thick foliage, 
 and bending gracefully over the margins of the silvery 
 stream. Paths led meandering through these forests, 
 marked only by the footprints of the red man and 
 the wild beasts, leading sometimes along the margin 
 of some rippling stream, or on through some open 
 plain and up the declivity of some woody hill, then 
 down through the rocky glen, — not paths of iron, such 
 as those over which the iron horse now flies, nor were 
 they the graded highways for the swift horse and 
 polished carriage, but paths along which the wild 
 beasts and the wild man alike traveled in single file. 
 
 Here nature was in its rudest dress, — hill and vale, 
 forest-tree and cragged rock, the murmuring stream 
 and mirrored lake. Every attempt at improvement 
 by the untutored occupants had only marred their 
 native beauty. The homes, the rude cabin here built, 
 the paths here opened, the soil here disturbed, all at- 
 tempts at change made only begun and ended in forest 
 homes and blinded paths. The utmost of all that 
 Indian art and industry could do scarcely detracted 
 any of nature's gracefiilness. 
 
 Nor had the waters of the beautiful Thames yet 
 felt the keel of civilized commerce or bore upon its 
 rippling surface the paper shell of Harvard and Yale. 
 The rude bark or hollow canoe had been the only 
 means of transport over the bosom of this ''great 
 river." Nor had the sharp crack of the hunter's rifle 
 nor the booming of modern artillery ever yet dis- 
 turbed these solitudes, though instead the twang of the 
 stringed bow and the whizzing flint-headed arrow had 
 often brought to the ground the eagle or the fish-hawk 
 as they stood perched upon the tall mast-like forest- 
 tree on the " mountain," or cut short the fleet-footed 
 deer in his race over the open field, or the prowling 
 wolf in his search for prey. 
 
 In time our forefathers ventured to settle upon the 
 soil, solicited and encouraged by the sachem of the 
 Mohegans, they then owning and occupying the ter- 
 ritory and holding complete sway over this unculti- 
 vated domain. Uncas, the chief sachem, was, from 
 probably selfish interest, a friend to the Englishman, 
 and had sworn to protect him if he would settle upon 
 his grounds. Protection being offered and guaranteed 
 the white man came and built his house, though as 
 rude maybe as his untutored neighbors, and made it 
 his permanent abode. He set up the altars of his 
 faith. He learned the wilderness to become subser- 
 vient to his necessities. He made of the forest-tree 
 his comfortable home. He utilized the water in the 
 streams by erecting saw-mills and grist-mills. The 
 native soil he made to answer his call, and loaded 
 his table with her fruits. It is not strange that a 
 place possessed of such natural advantages, when 
 once known to the Englishman, should have been 
 highly prized by him, or that when obtained should 
 be quickly settled, or since its settlement it should 
 have grown and prospered so extensively. It has 
 never known any serious decline, either in numbers 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 567 
 
 or property, and though at times laboring under dis- 
 advantages from various sources, it has generally been 
 upon the advance. The spirit of enterprise, it is true, 
 has shifted from one part of the town to another, and 
 from one source of industry to another, but has never 
 left its precincts or ceased to advance as a whole. 
 
 Many individuals whose names are inscribed upon 
 the roll of fame and honor have emanated from this 
 community. The records, both of church and State, 
 contain many an honored name whose possessor had 
 his or her origin on this soil. The names of Hill- 
 house, Raymond, Chester, Otis, Jewett, and many 
 others are such as the historian has delighted to 
 honor. In the year 1646, John Winthrop, Jr., and 
 several others from Boston, Mass., commenced to lay 
 out and settle a plantation in the Pequot country, 
 which was afterwards called New London. Win- 
 throp, before laying out the plantation, called all the 
 neighboring Indians together in order to ascertain 
 the legitimate bounds occupied by the Pequot tribe, 
 that no encroachment might be made on the rights of 
 the Mohegans. Uncas at the time made no claim to 
 any land east of the Thames (Pequot) River, nor on 
 the west side any farther south than Cochikuack, or 
 Saw-mill Brook and the cove into which it flowed. 
 This brook (now Oxoboxo) was therefore established 
 as the northern boundary of the New London plan- 
 tation by an agreement with Uncas, sachem of the 
 Mohegans. 
 
 The first grants of land within the Mohegan reser- 
 vation were made by Uncas in 1658 to Richard 
 Haughton and James Rogers, and consisted of val- 
 uable farms on the river at places called Massapeag 
 and Pemechany. The former place was located at 
 the head and north side of the cove afterwards called 
 Haughton's Cove, and the latter was situated farther 
 up the river, at a place called the " Point," near 
 Massapeag Station. The then existing laws of the 
 colony prohibited any individual from contracting 
 with the Indians for their lands ; yet many, from the 
 spirit of avarice, or from the desire to obtain desirable 
 places for permanent settlement on partially cleared 
 and cultivated land, sought by various means to get 
 possession of the land. The result was that many 
 Indian grants were made. Some were gifts of friend- 
 ship, or in requital for favors bestowed. Some were 
 obtained by fair and honest trade, while others were 
 openly fraudulent, or from administering- to the 
 vicious thirsts of the Indians. 
 
 The early history of that portion of the town lying 
 north of Oxoboxo Brook and west of the " famously 
 known" line running north and south runs through 
 a maze of perplexity and confusion. Many of the 
 finest tracts in the section, which had been early ob- 
 tained of the natives, or by grants of the town of New 
 London for speculation or settlement, passed from one 
 possessor to another with great rapidity. A combi- 
 nation of influences served to facilitate the transfer 
 of claims. 
 
 The first actual settler on the Indian lands within 
 the present limits of this town was Samuel Rogers, 
 the eldest soji of James Rogers, then living at New 
 London. Samuel Rogers, as near as the records can 
 show, settled here in 1670. He had for several years 
 been on intimate terms with Uncas, who had anx- 
 iously solicited him to settle in his neighborhood. 
 Uncas gave him a valuable tract of land on the 
 north side of Saw-mill (Oxoboxo) Brook, a portion of 
 which land is now in the possession of his descend- 
 ants, promising Rogers, in case of any emergency, he 
 would hasten with all his warriors to his assistance. 
 
 On this tract Samuel Rogers built his house of 
 hewn logs, surrounded it with a strong wall, and 
 mounted a big gun in front. Uncas would often visit 
 Rogers at his retired abode in the midat of the wil- 
 derness, it being a distance of about four miles from 
 the Indian settlement on the bank of the Thames. 
 Here they would together smoke the pipe and "take 
 a social glass." Here Rogers reared a family of six 
 children, — three sons and three daughters, — ^being the 
 first white children born within the present bounds 
 of Montville. 
 
 On one occasion, when prepared for the experi- 
 ment (tradition says), Rogers fired a signal of alarm, 
 — which was two reports in succession, — which sig- 
 nal had been agreed upon between himself and his 
 tawny friend in case either should be disturbed by an 
 enemy, and in half an hour's time grim bands of 
 warriors were seen on the hill overlooking the 
 " block-house," who soon came rushing down, with 
 the sachem at their head, to the rescue of their white 
 friend. Rogers had prepared a feast for their enter- 
 tainment, having killed an ox and roasted it for the 
 occasion, which was ate and relished by all. It is 
 probable that the Indians relished the trick nearly as 
 much as the banquet, they seeming always delighted 
 with contrivance and stratagem. 
 
 Samuel Rogers' house stood about three-fourths of 
 a mile south of the present Congregational meeting- 
 house, on a plain of land near a small pond in a 
 natural ravine. The well which furnished the water 
 for the Rogers family was filled up a few years since 
 by the owner of the land, for the better cultivation of 
 the land. Oyster-shells can at this day be seen in the 
 soil near where the house stood. The site was on the 
 farm now owned by Albert A. Rogers, Esq. A short 
 distance east of where the house stood is the burying- 
 ground of the Rogers family and near relatives. 
 Nearly one hundred graves cover the spot. 
 
 Samuel Rogers afterwards became a large land- 
 holder in the reservation. He had grants of land 
 not only from Uncas, but from his sons Owaneco and 
 Josiah, in recompense for services rendered to them 
 and their tribe. Gifts of land were also bestowed 
 upon his son, Jonathan Rogers, and his daughter 
 Sarah, wife of James Harris, who also settled here. 
 
 A deed of date 1698, by Owaneco, conveyed to 
 Jonathan Rogers, a cripple, son of Samuel, a tract of 
 
568 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 land "in consideration of his lameness and the con- 
 tinued kindness of his parents shown to Owaneco and 
 his children." This land was "bounded on other 
 lands of Samuel Rogers, and on the Hartford path, 
 and the brook that cometh out of the pond called 
 Obsopogsaut" (Oxoboxo). 
 
 In 1698, Samuel Rogers, Sr., gave to his " loving 
 daughter, Mary Gilbert, wife of Samuel Gilbert, of 
 Hartford," a tract of land consisting of "two parcels 
 west or southwest of certain planting-fields, usually 
 called or known by the name of ' Moheag,' in the 
 township of New London, and northerly of my dwell- 
 ing-house, containing one hundred and fifty acres, 
 bounded on the four corners by trees marked MG, 
 the northerly side being one hundred and seventy-two 
 rods, the southerly side one hundred and seventy-two 
 rods, the westerly side one hundred and fifty rods, 
 and the easterly side one hundred and ten rods. Also 
 one other piece containing ten acres, and lying west- 
 ward of my dwelling-house, and about southwest from 
 a certain house which Samuel Gilbert built upon the 
 aforesaid tract of land, and is distant about sixty or 
 eighty poles, it being meadow and swamp land." 
 
 The General Court sitting at Hartford, in October, 
 1698, granted to their honored Governor, Fitz John 
 Winthrop, and Rev. Gurdon Saltonstall, who had 
 preached the election sermon, conjointly, a tract of 
 four hundred acres of land, "to be taken up where it 
 may not prejudice any former grant to any township 
 or particular person." This land was surveyed and 
 laid out by John Prentis, surveyor, 20th of February, 
 1698-99. It is thus bounded and described : " The 
 north bounds is a line running from a pine-tree by 
 the side of a pond above Samuel Rogers' farm, com- 
 monly called Twenty-mile Pond (Gardiner's Lake), 
 standing on the east side of said pond, due east two 
 hundred and forty rods to a great white oak marked 
 NE, which oak is on the top of a long, fair, plain hill, 
 and in fair sight of a hollow, where there is a small 
 swamp on the east of it; from thence in a line which 
 runs due south to a young chestnut-tree on the east 
 side of the little pond (Oxoboxo), which tree stands 
 within a rod of said pond, under a olift of rocks, and 
 is marked for a southeast corner; and from thence in 
 a line which runs due west two hundred and forty 
 rods to a large, fair, spreading white oak upon the 
 brow of a hill with a plain on the top of it, which 
 oak (since called Governor's tree) is within ten rods 
 of a fresh meadow with high rocks, which tree is 
 marked for the southwest corner ; and from thence in 
 a line running north by the west side of a small island 
 in the aforesaid Great Pond, and on north to the afore- 
 mentioned pine-tree, marked for the northwest corner, 
 containing four hundred acres, more or less." 
 
 This grant was the cause of a long and bitter con- 
 troversy. The Masons, guardians of the Mohegan^ 
 raised an outcry against it, the neighboring colonies 
 caught it up, and the reverberation was loud in Eng- 
 land, where the throne was led to believe that great 
 
 wrong had been done the Indians by giving away 
 their land. It was, however, after a long struggle 
 settled, and the proprietors were permitted to quietly 
 hold possession. After the death of Winthrop and 
 Saltonstall, the land thus held by them was by the 
 courts legally distributed among their respective 
 heirs. In May, 1703, that part of New London which 
 was afterwards called the North Parish of New Lon- 
 don was added to the township of New London by a 
 grant of the General Court. This tract was described 
 in the application for the grant as "being a small 
 tract of land lying on the west side of the Great River 
 (Thames), in the town of New London, and lying be- 
 tween the north bounds of the town of Lyme, and by 
 a straight line from the northeast corner of Lyme 
 bounds to the southwest corner of Norwich south 
 bounds ; then as the bounds of Norwich run down to 
 the Great "River." This grant provided "that any 
 proprietors of lands, whether of English or Indians, 
 within the tract so added, who held legal titles to the 
 same should have it reserved and secured to the re- 
 spective possessors." 
 
 Among the earliest grantees under the Indian deeds 
 were Charles Hill, Samuel Chester, George Tongue, 
 and Daniel Fitch. Charles Hill's tract of several 
 hundred acres was conveyed to him by Uncas in 1678, 
 in exchange for " Betty," an Indian woman taken 
 captive in Philip's war and given to Capt. James 
 Avery, who sold her to Charles Hill. 
 
 Joshua Raymond, who married Elizabeth Smith, 
 daughter of Nehemiah Smith, was an early land- 
 holder on the Indian reservation, and must have 
 erected there a house at a very early period, as he 
 died in 1676. His son Joshua in his will mentions 
 among his bequests, " also my father's homestead farm 
 in New London, in the Mohegan fields.'' 
 
 The Raymond farm in Mohegan was situated near 
 the head of Haughton's Cove. The house stood on a 
 commanding site on the west side of the road leading 
 from New London to Norwich, and was in the pos- 
 session and occupied by the family one hundred and 
 seventy-five years. It was last sold by George Ray- 
 mond, of the fifth generation, in 1841, to Capt. Wil- 
 liam Fitch, the present owner of the farm. Mr. 
 Fitch, soon after his purchase, took down the ancient 
 house and erected a fine mansion on the site. 
 
 Many of the descendants of Joshua Raymond have 
 been among the most active and influential citizens 
 in the town, holding important trusts in both church 
 and State. 
 
 A short time previous to the death of Joshua Ray- 
 mond he had bargained a tract of land to Oliver 
 Manwaring, his brother-in-law. A deed which his 
 widow had executed conveying the previously-bar- 
 gained premises was questioned as to its validity, and 
 in October, 1704, Manwaring petitioned the General 
 Court to grant liberty to and empower Elizabeth Den- 
 nis (Raymond), the relict of Joshua Raymond, to 
 execute a deed of conveyance to all the lands agreed 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 569 
 
 upon by her former husband in his lifetime. The 
 petition was granted and deeds executed. 
 
 The land commonly known by the name of the 
 Indian or sequestered lands, lying between the estab- 
 lished lines of the towns of New London and Nor- 
 wich, lying on the west side of the Pequot (Thames) 
 River, and being a part of the North Parish of New 
 London, was in the year 1710, by consent of Owaneco 
 and his Council, divided into two parts. The eastern 
 part, bordering on the river, was put in trust for the 
 use and benefit of the Indians, by deed of feoffment 
 in favor of Hon. Gideon Saltonstall, Capt. John 
 Mason, Maj. John Livingston, Capt. Daniel Fitch, 
 and Capt. John Stanton, which tract was forever set- 
 tled upon the Mohegan tribe of Indians, " so long as 
 there shall be any Mohegan found or known of alive 
 in the world." Excepting, however, out of the tract 
 described some small parcels then in the possession of 
 persons holding under former grants, which parcels 
 were in the general deed confirmed to them. 
 
 The western part, which was divided from the 
 eastern by a line running north and south, then 
 " famously known," was conveyed by a general deed, 
 signed by Owaneco, Ben Uncas, Ceser, and several 
 counselors and chief men of the tribe, to Maj. John 
 Livingston, Lieut. Eobert Denison, Samuel Eogers, 
 Jr., and James Harris. Excepting, however, out of 
 the tract conveyed all former grants made by the 
 General Court and by the Indians to persons then in 
 actual possession. 
 
 These proceedings gave great uneasiness to the in- 
 habitants of New London, who regarded the land 
 granted to them by the act of addition to the town- 
 ship in May, 1703, and expressly guaranteed by their 
 patent. A town-meeting was held July 17, 1710, and 
 a committee appointed to prosecute Maj. John Liv- 
 ingston and his associates before the General Court for 
 a breach of law. Then began a struggle for posses- 
 sion which continued many years. The North Parish 
 was in an unsettled and disorderly state, and for sev- 
 eral years afterwards no man felt secure of his title. 
 It was not until about the year 1721 that the land 
 matters became tranquil in the North Parish. The 
 General Court had refused to confirm the acts of the 
 town of New London, and consequently all acts of 
 the town and grants made by the same were void. 
 
 In October, 1720, the General Assembly appointed 
 James Wadsworth, John Hooker, and John Hall a 
 committee to settle the difficulties relating to the 
 land titles in the North Parish, and to provide for the 
 settlement of a gospel minister in the parish. 
 
 Two of the committee, Messrs. Wadsworth and 
 Hall, accordingly met at the house of Mr. Joseph 
 Bradford, who then lived on the farm now owned and 
 occupied by J. Randolph Eogers, Feb. 22, 1720-21, 
 and there held a commissioners' court, with power to 
 hear and determine all disputes respecting claims to 
 lands in the Mohegan territory. 
 This court proved to be one of pacification. Almost 
 
 every claimant was confirmed in his possessions. 
 The deed of trust was also confirmed, and the rever- 
 sion of the sequestered lands, when the tribe should 
 become extinct, settled upon the town of New Lon- 
 don. All the General Court grants were ratified, — 
 the farms of Winthrop and Saltonstall, six hundred 
 acres to the schools, two hundred acres to Caleb 
 Watson, the purchase of Livingston and his asso- 
 ciates, — excepting, however, five hundred acres to be 
 secured to the use of the ministry in North Parish, 
 and in general all Indian contracts made previous to 
 1710. 
 
 In May, 1721, the commission reported their doings 
 to the General Assembly held at Hartford, which 
 having heard and considered the same, it was ap- 
 proved and confirmed and ordered to be recorded. 
 
 The tract to be set out to the ministry was left un- 
 determined by the commissioners. The inhabitants 
 could not by any means hitherto used be led to an 
 agreement as to where the meeting-house should be 
 located, and it was desirable to lay out a farm for the 
 minister as near to the meeting-house as practicable. 
 This matter of locating the site for a meeting-house 
 was therefore left unsettled, and, at the request of the 
 inhabitants, referred to the General Assembly. 
 
 That tract of land which was purchased of Owan- 
 eco in 1710 by Maj. John Livingston, Maj. Eobert 
 Denison, Samuel Rogers, Jr., and James Harris was 
 in 1713 surveyed by John Plumbe and laid out into 
 divisions, and subdivided into lots of from one hun- 
 dred to six hundred acres each. 
 
 Theflrst division contained about two thousand nine 
 hundred acres, and was subdivided into five lots of five 
 hundred to six hundred acres each. This division 
 lay on the north side of Stony Brook, that runs into- 
 Haughton's Cove, and extended from Stony Brook to 
 Norwich line, and from the land secured to the In- 
 dians in trust to lands of Winthrop and Saltonstall 
 on the west. 
 
 The second division extended from Stony Brook 
 on the north to a brook that runs into Stony Brook 
 near Cochegan Eock, and from the land secured to 
 the Indians on the east to lands of other persons on 
 the west, following on the south side the small brook 
 so far as it runs northwest, then leaving the brook and 
 running along the north side of the hill called Ray- 
 mond Hill. This division was subdivided into five- 
 lots. In the year 1710, James Harris and Sarah, his. 
 wife, conveyed by deed to John Merritt and Mercy 
 Eaymond, relict of Joshua Eaymond, a tract of land 
 lying west of the Gilbert farm, which Samuel Rogers 
 gave to his daughter, Mary Gilbert, now owned by J. 
 Dwight Baker, containing about two hundred acres. 
 
 The next year James Harris conveyed all his in- 
 terest in the lands conveyed by Owaneco to himself 
 and others in 1710 to Mercy Eaymond and John 
 Merritt. Mercy Raymond at this time was living on 
 Fisher's Island. She removed a few years afterwards 
 on to her land in North Parish, and built the house 
 
570 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 where she afterwards lived, now occupied by S. Deni- 
 son Bradford, about one-fourth of a mile west of the 
 present Congregational church. 
 
 About this time the land was being taken up and 
 settled upon with great rapidity. Speculation in 
 lands had become prevalent. 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE EARLY SET- 
 TLERS. 
 
 James Rogers the first came to America in the 
 ship " Increase" from London, in England, in 1635, at 
 the age of twenty years. He is first known at Strat- 
 ford, Conn., where he married Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Samuel Rowland. In the year 1656, Mr. Rogers 
 having dealings in New London, liked the place so 
 much that he afterwards fixed himself there as a per- 
 manent inhabitant. Here he soon achieved property 
 and influence. His landed possessions became very 
 extensive, consisting of several hundred acres on the 
 Great Neck, a large tract of land at Mohegan, at the 
 place now called Massapeag, several house-lots in the 
 town plot, and two thousand four hundred acres on 
 the east side of the river which was held in partner- 
 ship. 
 
 James Rogers was born about 1615, son of Rev. 
 John Rogers, of Denham, in England, who died in 
 1639. The descendants of James Rogers have claimed 
 that he was descended from Rev. John Rogers, of 
 London, who was burned at the stake in Smithfield in 
 1555, during the reign of " Bloody Queen Mary." 
 Recent genealogical researches have made it quite 
 •doubtful as to the lineal connection of this stock of 
 Rogers with that of the martyr. 
 
 James Rogers died at New London in February, 
 1688. He had seven children, and all but the youngest 
 child were born at Stratford. 
 
 Samuel Rogers, the eldest son of James the first, was 
 born at Stratford, Dec. 12, 1640, and married, Oct. 17, 
 1664, Mary, daughter of Thomas Stanton. They 
 first settled at New London, where they remained 
 only a few years, and then removed to the outlands 
 ■of the town, in the vicinity of the Mohegans, and be- 
 came the first English settlers within the limits of the 
 town of Montville. Uucas, the good friend of Samuel 
 Rogers, had persuaded him to settle in his neighbor- 
 hood, and as an inducement had given him a valuable 
 tract of land on " Cochiknack Brook," now Oxoboxo, 
 and had further promised, in case of inroads by prowl- 
 ing bands of Narragansetts, that he would rally at 
 ■once with his warriors for his protection. Here Rogers 
 builthis home, in the midst of a wilderness, and reared 
 a family of six children, the descendants of which 
 afterwards scattered over the town and became per- 
 manent inhabitants. These descendants are quite 
 numerous at the present time, some still occupying 
 the same lands formerly owned by their ancestor, 
 ■Samuel Rogers. He died Dec. 1, 1713, and was buried 
 in the "old Rogers burying -ground," located on the 
 farm late owned by Oliver Baker, deceased. 
 
 Daniel Rogers, born about 1665, eldest son of Sam- 
 uel, married, in 1702, Grace Williams. He was a 
 farmer, and inherited a large tract of land from his 
 father in Montville, and from time to time purchased 
 other lands in the vicinity where he lived. Several 
 deeds of land to him are extant, dating back from 
 1727, and running down to 1765; also deeds from 
 him to his sons. One of the latter is dated Jan. 24, 
 1753, to' his son Thomas, and one dated April 16, 
 1771, in which, " for the consideration of love, good 
 will, and fatherly affection I have and do bear unto 
 my well-beloved sons, Alpheus Rogers and Thomas 
 Rogers," he conveys to them certain tracts of land 
 near where he then lived. The house in which he 
 lived at the time of his death stood on the south side 
 of the highway leading east from the Congregational 
 church, on the farm now owned by A. A. Parker. He 
 died about 1771, aged one hundred and five years. 
 Tradition says that his appearance in the last years 
 of his life was that of a venerable old man, his long 
 gray hair covering his shoulders, and often seen in 
 the fields without any hat upon his head, gave him 
 the appearance of an old prophet. 
 
 Richard Raymond, the ancestor of that large 
 family of Raymonds who have been residents of 
 Montville since its first settlement, and who have 
 been among its most infiuential and prominent citi- 
 zens, makes his first appearance at Salem, Mass., 
 where he and his wife, Judith, were members of the 
 church in 1634. He was made freeman there the 
 same year. He with his family appear to have left 
 Salem about 1650, and first settled at Noi;walk, pre- 
 vious to 1654, and afterwards removed to Saybrook, 
 where he died in 1692. His sons scattered them- 
 selves along the shore of Long Island Sound. John, 
 his son, settled at Norwalk, where he died and left 
 descendants. Samuel married Mary Smith, daughter 
 of Nehemiah Smith, and settled at New London, 
 where he died without children in 1705. Daniel, an- 
 other son of Richard Raymond, married Elizabeth 
 Harris, daughter of Gabriel Harris, of New London, 
 and had two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah. After 
 the death of his wife he married a second, Rebecca 
 Lay, daughter of John Lay, of Lyme, by whom he 
 had children. He settled at Lyme, where he died in 
 1696. His second wife survived him and married 
 Samuel Gager, of Norwich. 
 
 . Joshua Raymond, second son of Richard, born 
 about 1639, married, Dec. 10, 1659, Elizabeth Smith, 
 another daughter of Nehemiah Smith. He was 
 among the first settlers in the town of Montville, 
 though he did not make it his permanent residence. 
 He first settled at New London, and for a short period 
 may have resided on his farm in Mohegan. Mr. 
 Raymond was actively engaged in the Pequot war, 
 and was by the Council appointed commissary of the 
 troops. A short time before his death he was directed 
 to fit out a vessel at New London for the Barbadoes, 
 to obtain provisions for the troops. He was also one 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 571 
 
 of the committee appointed to survey and lay out a 
 road from New London to Norwicli through the Mo- 
 hegan fields. For his services in laying out this road 
 he received a grant of land in Mohegan, on which he 
 huilt a house, which after his death came into the 
 possession of his descendants. He died at New Lon- 
 don, April 24, 1676. His death was supposed to have 
 been caused by a wound received in the great swamp- 
 fight in December, 1675. After his death his widow 
 married George Dennis, of Long Island. 
 
 Joshua Raymond (2), born Sept. 18, 1660, son of 
 Joshua Eaymoud (1), married, April 29, 1683, Mercy 
 Sands, daughter of James Sands, of Block Island. 
 They resided at Block Island. Mr. Rayniond having 
 his business in New London, was absent from his 
 family much of the time. The care and management 
 of the home affairs devolved upon his wife, who was 
 a woman of great energy and executive ability. He 
 died at his residence on Block Island in 1704. Soon 
 after his death she removed with her six children to 
 the North Parish of New London, now Montville, 
 where she with Maj. John Merritt purchased a tract 
 of land containing about fifteen hundred acres. She 
 built a house on a commanding site, on what has since 
 been called " Raymond Hill." Here with her son 
 Joshua she lived until her death. In his will he gave 
 to his son Joshua "the homestead at Block Island, 
 one hundred sheep, twenty cattle, a team and cart," 
 also "his father's homestead farm in the Mohegan 
 fields." She died at Lyme, while on a visit to her 
 friends. May 3, 1741, aged seventy-eight years, and 
 was buried near the stone church in that town. 
 
 Joshua Raymond (3), born about 1697, son of 
 Joshua Raymond (2) and Mercy Sands, married, 
 Aug. 31, 1719, Elizabeth Christopher, daughter of 
 John Christopher. He was actively engaged in the 
 aiFairs of the town and church, and held ofllces of 
 trust in both; was elected representative several years, 
 and held the office of justice of the peace for New 
 London County from 1738 to 1743. Mr. Raymond 
 and his wife united with the church in 1724, was 
 chosen deacon in 1740, and held the office until his 
 death. She died May 12, 1730, aged thirty-three 
 years. He afterwards married, Nov. 23, 1730, Surah 
 Lynde, of Saybrook. He died Nov. 12, 1763. 
 
 Joshua Raymond (4), born Dec. 22, 1723, son of 
 Joshua Raymond (3), married, Oct. 4, 1750, Lucy 
 Jewett, eldest daughter of Capt. Nathan Jewett, of 
 Lyme. He settled at Montville, upon a portion of 
 the land formerly owned by his grandmother, Mercy 
 (Sands) Raymond. He, like his father, was pos- 
 sessed of large business qualifications. An active 
 member of the church and society, he was chosen 
 deacon of the church in 1763, and held the office until 
 his death ; was elected representative to the General 
 Assembly several years. He died Sept. 14, 1790. She 
 died Feb. 26, 1811, aged eighty-one years. 
 
 John Raymond, born Jan. 18, 1725, son of Joshua 
 Raymond (3), married, in 1747, Elizabeth Griswold, 
 
 daughter of Rev. George Griswold, of Lyme, by his 
 first wife, Hannah Lynde. He owned and occupied 
 the old Raymond farm, situated at the head of Haugh- 
 ton Cove, and first occupied by his great-grandfather, 
 Joshua Raymond (1). He was a military man, and 
 at one time was lieutenant under Col. Whitney in the 
 French war. He was stationed at Fort Edward in 
 November, 1756, from which place he sent home 
 letters written on birch-bark and wrapped in brown 
 paper. She died Jan. 16, 1779, of smallpox. He 
 died May 7, 1789. 
 
 Sherwood Raymond, born Oct. 28, 1786, son of 
 Christopher Raymond, and of the seventh generation 
 from Richard Raymond, married Fanny Fitch, a 
 descendant of Rev. James Fitch, the first minister at 
 Norwich. He settled at Montville, and lived on his 
 grandfather's farm. He was a farmer, owned a large 
 tract of land, and kept a large herd of cattle. He 
 was a man of large business qualifications, and held 
 many important offices in the town. He was elected 
 representative five times, and served with accept- 
 ance. He was elected senator of the Ninth District 
 in 1846, and held the office of justice of the peace 
 many years. In March, 1842, he united with the 
 Congregational Church, his wife having been a mem- 
 ber since 1824. At the time the new Congregational 
 church was built, Mr. Raymond contributed the sum 
 of five hundred dollars towards the erection of the 
 edifice. He died at Montville, much respected and 
 highly honored by the people of his native town. 
 His wife survived him several years, and died at the 
 residence of her brother, Col. Asa Fitch, of Bozrah, 
 in 1879. She was a devoted Christian, and gave large 
 sums to charitable and benevolent objects. None ever 
 knew her but to love and respect her. She was kind 
 and generous to the poor and afflicted. 
 
 Alexander Baker, the common ancestor of a 
 numerous family, probably born in London, England, 
 about 1607, came from London in the ship " Eliza- 
 beth and Ann" in 1635, at the age of twenty-eight 
 years, with Elizabeth, his wife, aged twenty-three 
 years, and two children,— Elizabeth, aged three years, 
 and Christian, aged one year. They landed at Boston, 
 where they settled and became permanent residents. 
 He was a rope-maker. Previous to their departure 
 from London he obtained a certificate from a minister 
 of the Established Church, showing his honorable 
 standing in the church, and before two justices of the 
 peace took the oath of allegiance. After their arrival 
 in Boston they had born to them nine children, who 
 were all baptized, the parents having been admitted 
 to the church in that place. 
 
 Joshua Baker, the fourth son, born April 30, 1642, 
 and lineal ancestor of the Baker families in Montville, 
 removed from Boston about 1670, and settled at New 
 London, where he received shares in the town plot 
 and became a large landholder. Pie was' a carpenter 
 and house-builder. About the year 1700 he received 
 a deed from Owaneoo, the chief of the Mohegans, 
 
572 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 conveying to him a large tract of land in Mohegan, 
 on which he afterwards settled. A portion of this 
 land some of his descendants still occupy. This tract 
 of land was situated in the vicinity of the famous 
 " Cochegan Rock," which stood on the land. 
 
 He married, Sept. 13, 1674, Hannah Mintern, relict 
 of Tristram Mintern, of New London. She was the 
 daughter of George Tongue. Her sister Elizabeth was 
 the wife of Governor Fitz John Winthrop. Another 
 sister married John Wickwire, the ancestor of the 
 Wickwire families who have been residents of Mont- 
 ville. 
 
 Joshua Baker died at North Parish (Montville), 
 Dec. 27, 1717, and left his large estate to his four 
 sons and five daughters. The eldest son, Joshua, Jr., 
 probably received a double portion, and came into 
 possession of the homestead of his father. He mar- 
 ried Marian Hurlbut, March 27, 1705, and had eleven 
 children. His inventory, as exhibited to the Probate 
 Court in New London, was £1029 19s. Id., which was 
 given by will to his seven sons and four daughters. 
 He died in 1740. His wife survived him, and after- 
 wards married John Vibber. James Baker, son of 
 Joshua, Jr., was the executor of his father's will, and 
 inherited the homestead. 
 
 John Dolbeare emigrated from Wales to Amer- 
 ica with his wife, whose name is not known, and set- 
 tled in Boston. His occupation was that of a brass- 
 founder. The " coat of arms of the Dolbeare family," 
 says tradition, " exhibits the family once to have been 
 the fourth family in the kingdom of Great Britain." 
 It is understood that he had twenty-four children, — 
 twenty-two sons and two daughters. He continued 
 his residence in Boston until his death in 1725. He 
 purchased of James Harris, a land speculator living 
 in the North Parish of New London, about 1700, a 
 large tract of land lying between Oxoboxo Pond and 
 Gardiner's Lake, and containing one thousand acres 
 or more. This land was never occupied by him, but 
 afler his death all the land jiossessed by him in the 
 North Parish was taken possession of by his twenty- 
 fourth child, George, who moved on to the land and 
 commenced improvements on it. A pitcher now in 
 the possession of Mr. Samuel Allen, of New Hartford, 
 is said to have been a gift of John Dolbeare. Upon 
 it is the inscription, " The gift of Mr. John Dolbeare, 
 of Boston, to the Church of Christ in New Salem, in 
 Conn., New England, Oct. 1st, 1737." This John 
 Dolbeare was probably the eldest son of John Dol- 
 beare the first, and brother of George, who inherited 
 all his father's land in North Parish of New London, 
 a part of which was located in New Salem Society] 
 now in the town of Salem, Conn. 
 ^ George Dolbeare, born about 1715, married Mary 
 Sherwood, and had three sons and three daughters. 
 Hannah married Guy Richards, of New London ; 
 Mary married William Avery, of Groton; and Abigail 
 married p:iihu PLnman. 
 He died March 27, 1772, aged fifty-seven years. 
 
 She died Jan. 1, 1790, aged eighty years. Large por- 
 traits of Mr. George Dolbeare and his wife, Mary, are 
 now in the possession of Mrs. Lockwood, of New Lon- 
 don, a descendant, and were exhibited, among other 
 valuable relics, at the late centennial at Groton, Sept. 
 6, 1881. 
 
 John Dolbeare, the eldest son of George Dolbeare, 
 married, Dec. 22, 1769, Sarah Raymond, daughter of 
 Christopher Raymond and Eleanor Fitch. He settled 
 at Montville, on land given him by his father, where 
 he lived until his death, April 9, 1806. He had a 
 family of thirteen children, — eight sons and five 
 daughters. 
 
 Another son of George Dolbeare, whose name was 
 George Benjamin, born Dec. 25, 1753, married Mar- 
 garet Fox, daughter of Ezekiel. His eldest daughter, 
 Lucy, was the second wife of Lorenzo Dow, the ec- 
 centric preacher. 
 
 Many of the descendants of John Dolbeare the 
 first still reside in this town. 
 
 Capt. Samuel Chester, "commander, owner, and 
 factor in the West India trade," arrived from Boston 
 and located in New London about 1663, he about that 
 time receiving a grant of land in New London for a 
 warehouse, and at the same time was carrying on 
 business at Boston. 
 
 He was a plain, practical business man. His 
 knowledge of surveying, as well as navigation, proved 
 of great service in laying out the lands in the new 
 settlements. He had a large landed estate, partly on 
 the east side of the river, now Groton, and covering 
 the ground where Fort Griswold and the monument 
 now stands, and partly in the North Parish of New 
 London, now Montville, upon which his grandson, 
 Joseph Chester, settled and gave to New London 
 County a worthy family of sixteen children, who 
 have been a credit not only to their native town, but 
 to other places where they have subsequently located. 
 Deacon Joseph Chester, born March 17, 1731, son 
 of Samuel Chester (2), married, first, Rachel Hill- 
 house, daughter of Rev. James Hillhouse. By this 
 marriage a daughter was born, but died young. Ra- 
 chel, the wife of Joseph Chester, died April 8, 1754. 
 He afterwards married Elizabeth Otis, daughter of 
 Deacon Joseph Otis. Trusty, faithful, loyal, and a 
 consistent Christian, he was esteemed for his wise 
 counsel and Christian virtues. 
 
 He was chosen deacon of the church in North 
 Parish, and held the office until his death. He died 
 Aug. 4, 1803 ; she died much beloved Nov. 2, 1798. 
 Some of his descendants still reside in Montville. 
 
 John Otis was born in Barnstable, Devonshire, 
 England, in 1581, came to New England, and drew 
 house-lots in the first division of lands in the town of 
 Hingham, Mass., in 1635. It is not known with cer- 
 tainty when he landed on the New England shores 
 or in whose company he came ; was admitted freeman 
 March 3, 1635-36, at Hingham. His place of resi- 
 dence was at " Otis Hill," still so called, a beautiful 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 573 
 
 slope of land, then covered by a heavy growth of 
 forest-trees, southwest of the harbor. 
 
 Mr. Otis was married to his first wife, Margaret, in 
 England. She died at Hingham, July 9, 1654. He 
 then removed to Weymouth and married a second 
 wife, who survived him. His death is recorded at 
 Weymouth, May 31, 1657, aged seventy-six. His will 
 is dated at Weymouth the day previous to his death, 
 and proved July 28th in the same year, and gives 
 legacies to his daughters, Margaret Burton and Han- 
 nali Gill ; to Mary and Thomas, children of Hannah 
 Gill ; to daughters Ann and Alice (Otis) ; to wife forty 
 shillings; the balance to his son John, whom he ap- 
 pointed executor. 
 
 The families which have descended from John Otis 
 have produced some eminent persons, and are now 
 widely extended. " Though they cannot exhibit" 
 (observes an historian) "a line of illustrious names, 
 yet they are such as partook in the perils of founding 
 and defending this country, in times when courage, 
 constancy, and patience were indeed common vir- 
 tues." 
 
 John Otis, Jr., born in Barnstable, England, in 
 1620, accompanied his parents in their emigration to 
 New England, and settled first at Hingham, and 
 afterwards, in 1661, removed to Scituate. The name 
 of his first wife is not known. In 1662 he married 
 Mary, daughter of Nicholas Jacob. In 1678 he re- 
 moved to Barnstable and settled. He left there his 
 son John, returned, and died at Scituate, Jan. 16, 
 1683. His will, dated Scituate, 1683, gives to his 
 eldest daughter Mary, wife of John Gowin, and 
 daughters Hannah and Elizabeth fifty pounds each ; 
 houses and lands at Hingham and Barnstable to 
 John, Stephen, James, and Job; to Joseph house and 
 lands in Scituate after his mother's death. Joseph 
 Otis, son of John the second, was baptized at Hing- 
 ham, June 3, 1666, and married, Nov. 20, 1688, 
 Dorothy, second daughter of Nathaniel Thomas, of 
 Marshfield, Mass. Her ancestors successively owned 
 and resided on the estate late the home of the Hon. 
 Daniel Webster. Joseph Otis, with his family, con- 
 sisting of three sons, Nathaniel, Joseph, and James, 
 and eight daughters, removed to New London in 
 
 1721, and bought of James Harris a tract of six hun- 
 dred and fifty acres of land, " lying in the North 
 Parish of New London, adjoining to a pond called 
 Obplmtksok," now Gardiner's Lake. This land was 
 purchased by Thomas Stanton, of Stonington, of 
 Owaneco, Nov. 11, 1698, and by him sold to Lieut. 
 James Harris. He was received to the communion 
 of the church by the Eev. James Hillhouse, Nov. 11, 
 
 1722. He was much in public employment,— moder- 
 ator of town-meetings, on parish and church com- 
 mittees almost yearly, was deacon in the church, and 
 appointed agent of the parish " to manage the case 
 pending between Eev. James Hillhouse and the 
 parish at the Superior Court.' He died June 11, 
 1754, aged eighty -nine. . Previous to his removal to 
 
 37 
 
 the North Parish he held the ofiice of judge of the 
 Court of Common Pleas for Plymouth County, Mass., 
 from 1703 to 1714. In 1710 he was elected under the 
 Governor's orders representative to the General Court. 
 Deacon Joseph Otis, youngest son of Judge Otis, born 
 at Scituate, 1712, married Elizabeth Little, daughter 
 of David Little, of Scituate, and sister of Eev. Mr. 
 Little, a former minister at Colchester. Deacon Otis 
 settled at the North Parish of New London, and was 
 a farmer. He was admitted a member of the church 
 Oct. 4, 1732, and chosen deacon in 1752. His eldest 
 SOD, Joseph, born at North Parish, now Montville, in 
 1739, married, first, Lucy Haughton, daughter of 
 Samson Haughton, of North Parish ; second, Widow 
 
 Carew, of Norwich ; third, Abigail Hurlbert, of 
 
 Westfield. He was chosen deacon of the church in 
 1751, afterwards removed to Suffield, Conn., where he 
 died. His son Joseph, born in 1768, married Nancy 
 Huntington, of Norwich. He was the founder of the 
 " Otis Library," at Norwich. 
 
 Nathaniel Otis, eldest son of Judge Otis, born at 
 Scituate, Jan. 30, 1689-90, married Hannah, daughter 
 of Col. John Thacher, of Yarmouth. He removed to 
 the North Parish of New London, probably before his 
 father came, and afterwards settled on land which his 
 father had purchased of Samuel Gilbert in Colchester. 
 On this land Nathaniel erected a house, which is still 
 standing, and was the home of four successive genera- 
 tions. He held numerous town ofiices, and was one 
 of the original covenanters in the organization of the 
 church at North Parish in 1722. 
 
 Deacon Asa Otis, whose death occurred about three 
 years ago at New London, and whose munificent be- 
 quests to the American Board of Commissioners for 
 Foreign Missions and Colleges has made his name 
 famous around the world, was a grandson of Nathaniel 
 Otis, who married Hannah Thacher. 
 
 A few of the descendants of the ancestor, John 
 Otis, still reside in Montville, of which the writer is 
 one. 
 
 James Harris, born about 1640, married Sarah 
 Denison, of Boston, in 1666. His place of nativity, 
 parentage, and time of advent into this country have 
 never been ascertained. From the best evidence re- 
 covered it appears that James Harris, his wife, and 
 children came from Boston and settled at New Lon- 
 don about 1690, but what was his occupation is not 
 known, though it is probable that he was by trade a 
 weaver. 
 
 Lieut. James Harris, born at Boston, April 4, 1673, 
 eldest son of James, first married, in 1696, Sarah, 
 daughter of Samuel Eogers, and remained at New 
 London until 1698, when he removed to Mohegan and 
 settled upon a tract of land granted by Owaneco to 
 his wife, Sarah, adjoining lands of her father, who 
 had previously settled there. There had ever existed 
 a strong and intimate personal friendship between 
 the sachems of Mohegan and the Eogers family. 
 James Harris himself was an especial favorite of the 
 
574 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 whole tribe. Owaneco and his successors were lavish 
 in their grants of land to James and Sarah, his wife, 
 and they soon became large landholders. She died 
 Nov. 13, 1748. He next married, in 1750, widow 
 Sarah (Harris) Jackson, daughter of Lieut. Joseph 
 Harris, of New London. In 1718 he removed to the 
 south part of Colchester (now Salem), where he con- 
 tinued to reside until a short time before his death in 
 1767. He and both his wives were buried together in 
 the ancient Rogers burying-ground, a double slate 
 stone of the old style still marking the spot. 
 
 " The Harris family, as a whole," says their com- 
 piler, "though not an illustrious one, shows a respect- 
 able and honorable record. But few of its members 
 have been much distinguished in literature, art, sci- 
 ence, or commerce. They are generally agriculturists 
 and artisans, and of that class and rank which forms 
 the stable and solid body of yeomanry of the land, 
 and upon which the chai'acter, strength, and perpe- 
 tuity of its free institutions mainly rest. 
 
 Rev. James Hillhouse came to New England early 
 in the last century. His father, John Hillhouse, of 
 Free Hall, was the eldest son of Abraham Hillhouse, 
 who resided at Artikelly. His uncle, James Hill- 
 house, was one of the commissioners appointed to 
 treat with Lord Mountjoy in the memorable defense 
 of Derry against the forces of James XL, and was 
 mayor of Londonderry in 1693. This Abraham Hill- 
 house was among the signers of an address to King 
 William and Queen Mary on the occasion of the relief 
 of the siege of Londonderry, dated July 29, 1669. 
 
 Rev. James Hillhouse was educated at the famous 
 University of Glasgow in Scotland, and afterwards 
 read divinity at the same college under the care of 
 Rev. Mr. Simson, then Professor of Divinity there; was 
 ordained by the Presbytery of Londonderry, in Ire- 
 land, and appears to have resided at or near the ances- 
 tral home till, by the death of his father, in 1716, the 
 estate descended to his elder brother Abraham. His 
 mother died a few months later, in January, 1717. 
 Not long after that date he came to seek a home on this 
 side the Atlantic, on the soil of New England.* He 
 is supposed to have come over with other Presbyterian 
 emigrants from the north of Ireland, who iu 1719 es- 
 tablished themselves in New Hampshire, where the 
 towns of Derry and Londonderry are the permanent 
 memorials of that migration. 
 
 At the close of the year 1720 he appears at Boston, 
 committing to the press a sermon which he had writ- 
 ten nearly four years before, on the occasion of his 
 mother's death. This work, though entitled " a ser- 
 mon," was more properly a treatise, as it contained 
 more than one hundred and fifty pages. Cotton 
 Mather speaks of its author as " a valuable minister," 
 and again as " a worthy, hopeful young minister, lately 
 arrived in America." 
 
 In the early part of the year 1722, Mr. Hillhouse 
 received a call to become the pastor of the newly- 
 organized church in the North Parish of New London, 
 
 and on the 3d day of October the same year he was 
 installed its first pastor. 
 
 He was born about 1687, and married, Jan. 18, 1726, 
 Mary Fitch, born about 1706, daughter of Daniel Fitch, 
 one of his parishioners, and eldest son of Rev. James 
 Fitch, the first minister of Norwich, by his second wife, 
 Priscilla Mason. 
 
 Rev. James Hillhouse continued as pastor of the 
 church at North Parish (now Montville) until near 
 the time of his death, wdiich occurred Dec. 15, 1740. 
 The affairs of the church were generally harmonious 
 during the first part of his ministry. No serious diffi- 
 culties arose in the parish until about the year 1732, 
 when matters began to assume a serious aspect, which 
 grew worse, ending in litigations and an alienation of 
 a part of the people from their minister. In 1735 a 
 council was called by the parish. This council, upon 
 a careful hearing of all parties, advised a separation, 
 and requested Mr. Hillhouse to resign his pastorate. 
 He, however, refused to comply with their requests, 
 and continued to preach in his own home to a small 
 number of his parishioners who still clung to him. 
 
 The difficulty which caused the great controversy 
 was undoubtedly that for which he afterwards brought 
 a suit against the parish, his unpaid salary. The 
 burden of taxation was greatly felt by the members of 
 the parish. Mr. Hillhouse found his work seriously 
 hindered by the many trials incident to pioneer life. 
 The physical wants of the people were all to be sup- 
 plied, their homes were to be built, their lands to be 
 cleared, roads to be cut through the forests and glens, 
 and all those conveniences which after-generations find 
 prepared for them by the preceding, all these had to 
 be attended to with unwearied industry. 
 
 Owing to the annual taxation for the minister's sal- 
 ary, in addition to the expense incurred in building 
 the church edifice, together with all their necessary 
 expenses, made the burden upon the infant church 
 more than they could endure. Some who were able 
 to pay their rates neglected to meet the demands, 
 while others could not, for want of means, meet the 
 requirements. The minister's salary was consequently 
 in arrears from year to year, and for the paying up of 
 the same Mr. Hillhouse made urgent appeals to his 
 parishioners, and thereby provoked alienation be- 
 tween pastor and people. The care and perplexity 
 attending his troubles and lawsuits probably hastened 
 his death. 
 
 Judge William Hillhouse, born Aug. 17, 1728, 
 second son of Rev. James Hillhouse, married, Nov. 
 1, 1750, Sarah Griswold, who was the sister of the 
 first Governor Griswold. He lived and died on the 
 paternal estate at Montville, greatly trusted and hon- 
 ored by his fellow-citizens. He was one of the most 
 prominent men of the town, and a leading patriot in 
 the Revolution ; was a member of the Council of 
 Safety for Connecticut, and major of the first regiment 
 of cavalry raised in this State. 
 
 He was chosen assistant in the Council, and held 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 575 
 
 the office twenty-four years ; was chief judge of the 
 County Court for New London County, and also 
 judge of the Probate Court. 
 
 Judge John Griswold Hillhouse, eldest son of Judge 
 William Hillhouse, born at Montville, Aug. 5, 1751, 
 married, in 1786, Elizabeth Mason, daughter of Jere- 
 miah Mason. He settled at Montville, was a justice 
 of the peace, a member of the State- Legislature, and 
 a judge of the County Court." He died at Montville, 
 Oct. 9, 1806. 
 
 Hon. James Hillhouse, second son of Judge Wil- 
 liam Hillhouse, was adopted and educated by his 
 uncle, James Abraham Hillhouse, who resided at 
 New Haven. He went to live with his uncle when 
 only seven years old. Passing from youth to man- 
 hood just when the struggle for independence was 
 about to commence, he shared largely in the patriotic 
 enthusiasm of the day. Before he was of age he 
 was hindered from joining with Benedict Arnold in 
 the memorable expedition of 1775 only by a positive 
 prohibition from his uncle. He graduated at Yale 
 College in 1773, and by profession a lawyer, and re- 
 ceived the degree of Doctor of Laws there in 1823. 
 He was trustee of the college fifty years. He mar- 
 ried, June 1, 1779, Sarah Lloyd, daughter of John 
 Lloyd, Esq., of Boston. She died Nov. 9, 1779. He 
 then married, Oct. 10, 1782, Rebecca Woolsey, settled 
 at New Haven, where he was the first commissioner 
 of the school fund from 1789 to 1791, a member of 
 Congress in 1791, and was afterwards sixteen years a 
 member of the United States Senate. 
 
 Deacon Robert Manwaring was born at New 
 London, Dec. 16, 1745, eldest son of Christopher 
 Manwaring and Deborah Denison, daughter of Maj. 
 Eobert Denison, of North Parish. He married, Oct. 
 8, 1772, Elizabeth Eogers, daughter of Capt. James 
 Rogers, of North Parish. He was great-grandson of 
 Oliver Manwaring, who was born in England about 
 1633 and came to New London about 1664, where he 
 bought a house-lot of eleven acres, a portion of which, 
 containing the house and garden, has never been 
 alienated by the family. 
 
 The talented and distinguished authoress of the 
 histories of New London and Norwich, Miss Frances 
 Manwaring Caulkins, was a granddaughter of Deacon 
 Robert Manwaring. Hon. Henry P. Havens, late of 
 New London, deceased, was also a grandson of Dea- 
 con Manwaring, both being in the line of his daugh- 
 ter Frances, who first married Joshua Caulkins, and 
 afterwards Philemon Havens. 
 
 Deacon Manwaring settled in the North Parish of 
 New London, now Montville, after the death of his 
 first wife, about 1800. He married Elizabeth (Baker) 
 Raymond, widow of Josiah Raymond, and daughter of 
 Joshua Baker, of North Parish. He afterwards re- 
 moved to Norwich, where she died, Feb. 13, 1802. 
 He then married Susannah (Hubbard) Bushnell, and 
 died at Norwich, March 29, 1807. Some of his de- 
 scendants are still residents of Montville. 
 
 John Scholfield, the pioneer of woolen manu- 
 facture in this country, sailed from Liverpool, Eng- 
 land, on the 24th day of March, 1798, and arrived at 
 Boston in May following. He was accompanied by 
 his wife and six children, the youngest being about 
 six months old, and his brother, Arthur Scholfield. 
 They took up their residence in Charlestown, near 
 Bunker's Hill. At that place they remained about 
 four months, making some preparations and con- 
 structing machinery for the manufacture of woolen 
 cloth. Mr. John Scholfield and his brother Arthur 
 were introduced to Mr. Jedediah Morse, author of 
 " Morse's Geography and Gazetteer,'' who resided 
 at Charlestown, as being manufacturers and well 
 skilled in the most approved mode of manufacturing 
 woolen goods in England. They were by Mr. Morse 
 introduced to some persons of wealth in Newbury- 
 port, who immediately built a factory at Byfield, in 
 the vicinity of Newburyport, under the supervision 
 of John and Arthur Scholfield, and here was put into 
 operation the first carding-machine that was success- 
 ful in the United States. This machine was at first 
 operated by hand at Charlestown, before removing to 
 Byfield. When all the machinery necessary for mak- 
 ing woolen cloth was completed it was put to practi- 
 cal use, and John Scholfield was employed as agent. 
 The business was prosperous, and the owners were 
 well satisfied with the project. 
 
 Other persons had previous to this attempted to 
 construct and operate woolen-machinery, but had 
 failed through its imperfect construction. 
 
 After remaining in Byfield about five years, having 
 made their business a success, and becoming some- 
 what acquainted with the country in their travels to 
 purchase wool and to introduce and sell their cloth, 
 John Scholfield, on one of his trips into Connecticut, 
 became acquainted with a valuable water privilege in 
 Montville, near the outlet of the Oxoboxo stream. 
 He at once leased the privilege for fourteen years. 
 On his return to Byfield he and his brother Arthur 
 closed up their business there, and removed to Mont- 
 ville. They built a factory on the land leased, put 
 in and started woolen-machinery, which was suc- 
 cessfully operated during the time for which it was 
 leased. This was the first -woolen-factory put in 
 operation in Connecticut. 
 
 Arthur Scholfield continued with his brother John 
 at Montville a few years, and then removed to Pitts- 
 field, Mass. Before the expiration of the lease, Mr. 
 John Scholfield purchased a mill privilege at Ston- 
 ington, and commenced the woolen business there, 
 leaving the mill at Montville with his sons. In 1814, 
 Mr. Schofield purchased another mill-site at Mont- 
 ville, and removed to this place, leaving the mill at 
 Stonington with his son Joseph. He afterwards 
 bought a mill at Waterford, which was managed by 
 his son Thomas, who after the death of his father 
 came into possession of it. Mr. John Scholfield died 
 at Montville in 1820, leaving his mills to his sons. 
 
576 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVIII. 
 
 MONTVILLE— (Continued). 
 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKY. 
 
 That the early settlers of this town were men of 
 religious principle, and that at the commencement of 
 their settlement they urgently demanded a church or- 
 ganization, is manifest from their iirat acts. A church 
 must be organized in this wilderness. The church 
 was the sacred body they were here to preserve, and 
 the society was only the first steps to be taken for her 
 preservation. Whether few or many of the settlers 
 here were members of a Christian church, all felt 
 themselves to be the authorized defenders, and all 
 were cheerful supporters of the church. 
 
 That there were immoral and dangerous men 
 among the settlers is manifest from the records ; that 
 great trials came upon the church from this source is 
 also apparent. As in most churches, so in this, an 
 element creeps in which is not always congenial to 
 Christian progress, and to some extent hinders the 
 usefulness and threatens serious disaster to the exist- 
 ence of the church. 
 
 It would be very remarkable if among the many 
 settlers here there should be none who were impul- 
 sive, wayward, and insubordinate. It would be 
 strange if religion itself, which pledges eventually the 
 peace and harmony of the world, should not prove in 
 the communi y a source of alienations and of earnest 
 conflict, and especially when, as in this case, its pro- 
 fessors alone were to hold most of the responsible 
 oflBces in the people's gift, both in church and State. 
 
 The inhabitants of that part of New London which 
 was added to the township in 1703, and afterwards 
 called the North Parish of New London, petitioned 
 the General Assembly in 1714 that they be allowed to 
 be a distinct and separate parish, and settle an ortho- 
 dox minister of the gospel among them. The people 
 not agreeing upon a site for the meeting-house, were, 
 however, several years after this without any settled 
 minister. In the year 1722, through the influence of 
 Governor Saltonstall, the services of Rev. James Hill- 
 house, then in Boston, were secured. The same year, 
 for the further encouragement of the society already 
 formed, the General Assembly granted them upon 
 their petition a freedom from county taxes for the 
 space of four years, and five hundred acres of land 
 for religious purposes, to be laid out from the general 
 purchase by John Livingston and his associates in 
 1710, two hundred and fifty acres of which was to be 
 settled upon the minister for his support, and the re- 
 maining two hundred and fifty acres to be used for 
 "other pious purposes." The first parish-meeting 
 was held Jan. 22, 1721-22. George Richards was 
 chosen clerk, and Robert Denison, Jonathan Hill, 
 Jonathan Cppp, Joseph Bradford, and Nathaniel Otis, 
 parish committee. 
 
 On the 5tli day of February following the first 
 
 meeting, Mr. Joseph Bradford was appointed to con- 
 fer with the Governor and request him to write to 
 Rev. James Hillhouse, at Boston, inviting him to 
 settle with them as their minister. Mr. Hillhouse 
 accepted their invitation, and entered upon his min- 
 istry the same month. 
 
 The following is found upon the first page of the 
 church record, in the handwriting of Rev. James 
 Hillhouse : " I received my call at Boston, dated 
 Feb. 5, 1721-22. I was installed by the Rev. Mr. 
 Adams, of New London ; Mr. Buckley, of Colchester; 
 Mr. Woodbridge, of Groton, in October the 3d day, 
 1722. Mr. Adams preached from Acts xvi. 9." 
 
 There were only seven persons that had covenanted 
 together and who constituted the church at the time 
 Mr. Hillhouse was installed, — Capt. Thomas Avery, 
 Capt. Robert Denison, W. Nathaniel Otis, Mr. 
 Samuel Allen, Mr. John Vibber, Mr. Jonathan Copp, 
 and Mr. Charles Campbell. Before the close of that 
 year forty-six more persons united with the little 
 band of seven, and thereby laid the foundation of a 
 church which has steadily progressed and prospered 
 until the present time. The salary allowed Rev. Mr. 
 Hillhouse was one hundred pounds yearly so long as 
 he should continue with them. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hillhouse preached his first sermon in 
 this new field of labor in the west room of Mr. Samuel 
 Allen's tavern, vy'hich stood near or on the site of the 
 town's present poor-house. 
 
 In April, 1722, a vote was passed at a parish-meet- 
 ing to annex to the parish the south part of Colches- 
 ter and the north part of Lyme, and to obtain a site 
 convenient, and as near the centre of the parish as 
 practicable, on which to build a meeting-house. 
 
 Jan. 31, 1722-23, Mr. Jonathan Hill, Mr. Samuel 
 Comstock, Mr. George Richards, Mr. Jonathan Mor- 
 gan, and Mr. Jonathan Rogers were chosen a, pru- 
 dential committee; Mr. Nathaniel Otis and Mr. 
 Samuel Comstock collectors to gather the parish tax. 
 
 In February of the same year, it was arranged to 
 have the meeting-house built, and a committee was 
 appointed to attend to the building of the house. A 
 site was agreed upon : it was to be built upon land 
 given to the parish for that purpose by Maj. John 
 Merritt and Mrs. Mercy Raymond. 
 
 The committee at once attended to their duties in 
 the erection of the house, and before the close of the 
 year the building was so far completed as to hold 
 their religious services in it. The cost of building 
 the meeting-house was £195 19«. Sd. Its size was 
 thirty-five by forty-five feet, and twenty feet between 
 joints. 
 
 The committee for the regulation and settlement of 
 the affairs in the North Parish, appointed by the 
 General Court, Jan. 11, 1721-22, consisting of James 
 Wadsworth and John Hall, in their report, made to 
 the court May 10, 1722, considered it necessary that 
 highways be laid out in the parish, and that proper 
 persons be appointed by the parish to lay out the 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 5T7 
 
 same. Maj. John Merritt, Capt. Robert Denison,Mr. 
 Jonathan Hill, and others having been appointed 
 such committee on the part of the parish, entered at 
 once upon their duties, and laid out the following 
 highways : " The first highway to commence where 
 the road that comes from near the house of Nathaniel 
 Otis intersects the county road that leads from New 
 London to Colchester ; thence to the place for build- 
 ing the meeting-house ; thence to the east gate of 
 John Merritt, near Daniel Rogers' ; thence through 
 the land of Daniel Rogers to a large white-oak tree ; 
 thence to a bridge ; thence to a heap of stones by a 
 ledge ; thence to the road that leads from New Lon- 
 don to Norwich ; thence to the cove known as Baker's 
 Cove" (Haughton's). " Also from said Otis' to Capt. 
 Robert Denison's. Also another road from the place 
 selected for the church southeasterly to Widow Com- 
 stock's ; and also a road from John Merritt's east gate 
 northward by Charles Campbell's and John Maples' 
 house to the house of David Steel, thence westerly 
 of Jonathan Hill's house to near the house of Ado- 
 nijah Fitch, thence to Norwich line; also a road from 
 John Merritt's dwelling-house northerly to Jonathan 
 Copp's mill." 
 
 In 1724 a school-house was built near the meeting- 
 house, nineteen feet long, fourteen feet wide, and 
 seven feet high. Mr. Allen Mullen was the first 
 teacher, and had settled upon him a yearly salary of 
 twenty-four pounds and ten acres of land forever. 
 
 During the summer of 1723, while the meeting- 
 house was in process of building. Rev. Mr. Hillhouse 
 made a visit to his native country, Ireland. He was 
 absent about six months, and on his return to his 
 pastorate, the house of worship being completed, he 
 entered with much zeal and faithfulness upon his 
 prospective life-work, each year of his ministerial 
 labors attesting to his fidelity to the church by num- 
 bers being added to it. 
 
 His salary was raised by taxation on the property 
 within the limits of the parish. Owing to this taxa- 
 tion and the expense incurred in the erection of the 
 meeting-house, the burden of paying the assessment 
 necessary to meet the incurred debt and yearly salary 
 was greatly felt by many of his parishioners. Some 
 who were able to pay their rates neglected to meet 
 the demands, while others, who were without sufficient 
 means to meet all the requirements of their own house- 
 holds, from necessity failed to meet their liabilities in 
 payment of the minister's salary. And as a conse- 
 quence of not being able to collect all dues, the min- 
 ister's salary was not fully paid. The affairs of the 
 society were kept along with tolerable harmony and 
 prosperity until about the year 1729, when the arrears 
 relative to the minister's salary were fast accumulating, 
 while Mr. Hillhouse was urging his people to " pay 
 up." A disagreement and dissatisfaction between 
 minister and people soon became manifest. Mr. Hill- 
 house found his work seriously hindered by the many 
 trials incident to pioneer life. The physical wants of 
 
 the people were all to be supplied, their homes were 
 to be built, and their lands cleared ; roads must be 
 cut through hitherto pathless woods; all these and 
 many other conveniences were to be looked after. 
 
 About this time many withdrew their support to 
 the ministry, leaving the burden of its support upon 
 a few of the " faithful ones," who were strongly 
 desirous of sustaining the gospel in the parish and of 
 uniting the people in the work. 
 
 Taxes were continued to be laid, but the property- 
 owners refused to pay the rates assessed ; but it was 
 with much difficulty that collectors could be obtained 
 who would act in the collection of the rates. As 
 matters continued to grow worse, the society in March, 
 1732, called a meeting of the inhabitants of the parish 
 to consider and adjust the matters with their minister. 
 They appointed a committee, and empowered them to 
 adjust and settle all the claims of Mr. Hillhouse from 
 the time of his first settling with them till that time, 
 and take a discharge from him for what he had re- 
 ceived in the past, and render an account to the 
 parish. 
 
 It appears there was a misunderstanding as to the 
 time when his salary should commence, some claim- 
 ing that he should not receive any salary for the time 
 he was absent on his visit to Ireland, and that his 
 salary should not commence until after his return 
 home. Mr. Hillhouse did not so understand it, but 
 claimed full salary from the time of his installment. 
 
 In the year 1735, Mr. Hillhouse brought a petition 
 to the General Assembly, in which he claimed that 
 his parishioners had failed and neglected to fulfill their 
 covenant with him as their minister and prayed for 
 relief, whereupon the Assembly appointed auditors to 
 adjust the accounts between Mr. Hillhouse and his 
 parishioners relative to his salary. The auditors upon 
 a full examination of the case found the parish in ar- 
 rears to Mr. Hillhouse in the sum of £587 9s. 3d, 
 which amount was ordered by the Asembly to be 
 forthwith collected and paid over. 
 
 The Assembly for this act was severely censured by 
 those in the parish who had become the opposers of 
 Mr. Hillhouse. A memorial was at once presented 
 to the Assembly to stay the proceedings. The contro- 
 versy, becoming hotter each year, served to alienate 
 more and more the people from their minister. 
 
 During these proceedings a committee was ap- 
 pointed by the society to confer with Mr. Hillhouse, 
 and if possible effect a reconciliation of matters. 
 
 The following letter was addressed by Mr. Hill- 
 house to the committee : 
 
 " Gentlemen,— You may tissure yourselves it is no delight or pleasure 
 to mo to mnko you trouble or give you occasion of meeting, but neces- 
 sity to the supplying of which if you will assure me of £100 in a short 
 time I will at present dropp that affair. 
 
 " James Hillhouse," 
 
 The committee were instructed by a vote of the 
 society to communicate with Mr. Hillhouse and 
 present him with the following reply : 
 
578 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " The parish comply with your request in procuring a hundred pounds 
 in puhlic bills of credit, provided that shall answer in full for one year's 
 salary, and also to add the words ' in full' to your former receipts." 
 
 In answer to which Mr. Hillhouse said in another 
 letter, — 
 
 " Geutlemen,— lu answer to yours if so be that you will pay me the 
 hundred pounds forthwith or give me suflicient security that I may have 
 it in a short time, I will upon your paying the hundred pounds give asuf- 
 flcieiit receipt, and if there be any injustice in any of the receipts that I 
 have already given, I stand ready to right them. 
 
 "James Hillhouse." 
 
 The above proposition was not accepted by the so- 
 ciety, for the reason, as they say, " it being looked 
 upon as ambiguous and precarious." 
 
 Soon after the above correspondence a Council of 
 the ministers in the county was called by the society 
 to hear and determine the matter between Mr. Hill- 
 house and the society. This Council convened at 
 North Parish on the 1st day of July, 1835, at which 
 time certain articles were presented by the committee 
 on the part of the society, containing charges and 
 complaints against Mr. Hillhouse. What those 
 charges were cannot be known, as the records make 
 no specific mention of them. 
 
 The Council, upon a careful hearing of both parties, 
 advised a separation, and requested Mr. Hillhouse to 
 resign his pastorate. Mr. Hillhouse, however, refused 
 to comply with the request, and continued to preach 
 in his own house to a small number of his friends 
 who still clung to him as their pastor. Another min- 
 ister was engaged for a short time, and in the year 
 1739, Rev. David Jewett was ordained pastor, and 
 continued his pastoral relations with the church until 
 his death in 1783. 
 
 Mr. Hillhouse continued to preach to those who 
 continued faithful to him, and never gave up his re- 
 lations as pastor of the church, nor relinquished his 
 claim for his salary so long as he lived. He died 
 Dec. 15, 1740. 
 
 The salary question was taken before the court, 
 and at his death was not fully settled. The care and 
 perplexity attending the lawsuit probably hastened 
 his death. 
 
 On the 3d day of October, 1739, Rev. David Jewett- 
 was ordained pastor, and by a grant of the General 
 Assembly in 1742, fifty acres of land was settled upon 
 him, on which land he built a house, in which he 
 lived until his death in 1783. 
 
 At a parish-meeting held on the 23d day of Decem- 
 ber, 1771, a committee was chosen to take into con- 
 sideration the matter of building a new meeting-house 
 on a site more convenient to the inhabitants in the 
 easterly part of the parish. 
 
 This committee consisted of the following-named 
 persons : William Hillhouse, John Raymond, Joseph 
 Otis, Ezekiel Fo.x, Capt. Adonijah Fitch, Nathaniel 
 Comstock, Joshua Raymond, Josejih Chester, James 
 Fitch, Ebenezer Weeks, Peter Comstock, and Joseph 
 Ford. This committee agreed upon a site "at the 
 northwest corner of the lueadow of Joshua Raymond, 
 
 at the place known by the name of the White- Oak 
 Stub." 
 
 This site was afterwards approved by the General 
 Court, and a new meeting-house soon after built upon 
 it. This house stood until the year 1847, when it was 
 taken down and the present house of worship erected 
 in its stead. During the forty-five years' ministry of 
 Rev. David Jewett the admissions to the church were 
 one hundred and thirty-six whites and twenty-one 
 Indians. Among those of the Indians who joined in 
 full communion were Widow Anna Uncas, wife of 
 Ben Uncas, the sachem, Lucy Cochegan, JoshuaNone- 
 such, and his wife, Hannah, Andrew Tantapah, Sam- 
 uel Ashpo, Widow Hannah Cooper, wife of John 
 Cooper, and others. 
 
 In 1756, Mr. Jewett obtained leave of absence for 
 several months to act as chaplain in the army, to which 
 service he was afterwards often called, not only during 
 the French war but in that of the Revolution. His 
 animated manner and his energetic language made 
 him very popular as an army chaplain. No minister 
 in the country stood higher among his congregation 
 or in the esteem of his brethren than Mr. Jewett. 
 The old Latin Bible and the old hymn-book he used 
 while pastor here, and also several old sermons 
 preached while here, are now in the possession of a 
 great-grandson, who also is a minister in the city of 
 New York at the present time. 
 
 Rev. Rozel Cook previously settled at Watertown, 
 in this State, succeeded Mr. Jewett, and was ordained 
 June 30, 1784. 
 
 Mr. Cook had settled upon him the sum of two 
 hundred and sixty pounds, and a yearly salary of 
 sixty pounds and thirty cords of wood, ''delivered at 
 his house," so long as he should continue their gospel 
 minister. Afterwards the sum of forty pounds was 
 added to his settlement. With this sum of three 
 hundred pounds he purchased a farm of Peletiah 
 Bliss, on which he lived until his death, April 18, 
 1798. This farm descended to his children, and is now 
 owned by one of his grandsons. 
 
 In 1789 a fund was raised by subscription for the 
 support of the minister. The taxation of the pews 
 having become odious and burdensome, was abandoned. 
 The sum raised by this subscription and to become a 
 permanent fund was £1067. The subscription-list 
 contained ninety names. This fund became the nu- 
 cleus to the present fund of the society. Many of 
 those who subscribed at this time gave their notes to 
 the treasurer of the society, and paid the interest an- 
 nually, while others paid the cash. In 1800 an addi- 
 tional sum was subscribed, which with what was 
 available of the first secured to the society its present 
 fund, amounting to three thousand six hundred and 
 seveuty-two dollars. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Cook died April 18, 1798, in the forty- 
 second year of his age. 
 
 Rev. Amos Thompson succeeded Mr. Cook, and 
 was installed Sept. 26, 1799. He had previously been 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 579 
 
 connected with the Methodist denomination, and 
 had been ordained elder by Bishop Asbury at Lees- 
 burg, Va., in 1790. Withdrawing from that connec- 
 tion in 1798, he offered himself as a candidate for the 
 Congregational ministry. He was examined and ap- 
 proved by the association of Windham County, his 
 ordination accepted as valid, and was received to the 
 fellowship and communion of the Congregational 
 Churches. His ministry there was short. He died 
 Oct. 23, 1801, in the thirty-eighth year of his age. 
 
 Eev. Abishai Alden was successor to Mr. Thompson, 
 and was installed Aug. 17, 1803. Mr. Alden had sup- 
 plied the pulpit for a time previous, and in May, 
 1803, a call was extended to him to settle among them 
 as their pastor, with a salary of three hundred dollars 
 annually. 
 
 On the 25th day of May, 1828, while Mr. Alden 
 was in the act of reading a hymn, the meeting-house 
 was much damaged by lightning. Being on the 
 Sabbath, the people were assembled in the act of 
 worship. Two persons were instantly killed and sev- 
 eral injured. A general consternation seized the awe- 
 stricken worshipers. 
 
 On the 5th day of October following this " awful 
 event" thirty persons were admitted to the church on 
 profession. On the 9th day of November following, 
 thirty-six more were admitted. Within the year 
 following the lightning-stroke ninety persons were 
 admitted to the church on profession. 
 
 Mr. Alden was a faithful pastor for twenty-three 
 years, retaining the love and confidence of his par- 
 ishioners up to within a few years of his dismissal, 
 when differences occurred that resulted in his re- 
 moval. A few of the church-members were strongly 
 opposed to him, but he had also many firm friends, 
 who were true and faithful to him in his trials. A 
 Council was called, and he was dismissed from his 
 charge April 26, 1826. During his ministry of twenty- 
 three years one hundred and eighty-two persons were 
 received to the communion of the church, nearly all 
 on profession of their faith. Mr. Alden continued to 
 reside in the parish for several years after his dis- 
 missal. He afterwards removed to Dover, N. H., 
 where he died greatly respected. 
 
 Shortly after Mr. Alden's dismissal, Eev. James 
 Noyes was engaged to preach five Sabbaths, and after- 
 wards the time was extended to three months. After 
 the close of Mr. Noyes' term for which he was engaged, 
 Mr. Alden was again hired to supply the pulpit for 
 six months, at a salary of five dollars per week. Mr. 
 Alden continued the supply until April 1, 1829. 
 
 On the 30th day of May, 1829, the church and so- 
 ciety extended to Eev. Eodolphus Lanpher a call 
 to settle as pastor. He was installed Aug. 26, 1829, 
 and continued his relations as pastor of the church 
 until he resigned on the 10th day of May, 1832. A 
 Council was called and convened on the 30th day of 
 May following his resignation, by which he was dis- 
 missed and his pastoral relations dissolved. 
 
 The same year Rev. Erastus Ripley was engaged to 
 supply the pulpit, and continued as stated supply 
 until June, 1838. 
 
 Rev. Spencer F. Beard was installed pastor of the 
 church July 5, 1838, and was dismissed by Council 
 June 24, 1846. 
 
 From the time of Mr. Beard's dismissal to the year 
 1874, a period of twenty-eight years, the church had 
 no settled minister, the pulpit being supplied by sev- 
 eral different ministers, at times varying from six 
 months to eleven years. Rev. Albert C. Hurd be- 
 came acting pastor Oct. 1, 1873, and was installed 
 pastor June 17, 1874. 
 
 Chesterfield. — The General Assembly at its session 
 at New Haven, Jan. 5, 1769, upon the memorial of 
 Jonathan Latimer and others, inhabitants of New 
 London and Lyme, constituted an ecclesiastical soci- 
 ety within the bounds described in the memorial, to 
 be called by the name of Chesterfield. 
 
 Mr. James Treadway was their first minister. He 
 was hired from year to year. He commenced his labors 
 October, 1768. In May, 1772, a call was extended to 
 Mr. Chapman to settle among them as their pastor, 
 which call was accepted ; but in February, 1773, by his 
 own request, he was released from his engagement. 
 
 In the year 1772 land was given by Mr. Jonathan 
 Latimer, upon which a meeting-house was erected 
 during the following year. 
 The first society meeting held in the new meeting- 
 I house was on the 17th day of August, 1773, at which 
 meeting a call was made to Mr. Avery to preach two 
 months on probation, and on the 22d day of March, 
 1775, Mr. Avery was ordained as minister of the gos- 
 pel. It appears that before a year had elapsed Mr. 
 Avery desired to be released from his engagement, but 
 the society refused to release him. Soon after the 
 society called a Council of ministers for advice in 
 their church matters. The Council met at Maj. 
 Latimer's, June 25, 1776. What the advice of the 
 Council was does not appear, but Mr. Avery was very 
 soon after released from all contracts relative to his 
 settlement. 
 
 From this time the society seemed to lose all inter- 
 est in church affairs, and for two years previous to 
 1780 the society was without officers and neglected 
 to appoint. 
 
 In 1780 application was made to Abraham Chap- 
 man, a justice of the peace in Lyme, for authority to 
 warn a society meeting. A meeting was called and 
 officers chosen. Some of the old spirit for religious 
 worship was revived, and after several unsuccessful 
 attempts a minister was obtained. A call to settle as 
 their pastor was extended to Mr. Barnabas Lathrop. 
 He, however, preached for them only a few months, 
 and was never settled. Meetings were held by a suc- 
 cession of ministers till about 1824. During the last 
 years of the existence of this Congregational Church 
 the services were principally conducted by the Bap- 
 tist clergy. 
 
580 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 In 1824 the old meeting-house was taken down and 
 a new one erected on a site given by Nathan Latimer, 
 about one-half of a mile north of where the old house 
 stood. About this time another attempt was made to 
 reorganize and revive the church and society. Eev. 
 Nathaniel Miner received a call to settle, which was 
 accepted. He was ordained pastor in 1826. The 
 members of the church at this time were few and 
 widely scattered ; at the end of about five years it 
 was completely overshadowed by a Baptist Church 
 that rose and flourished by its side. 
 
 This Baptist Church since its organization has con- 
 tinued to prosper until the present time. It was or- 
 ganized in 1824 with thirty members, a house of wor- 
 ship was erected, and Elder Simeon Beckwith was 
 their first minister. He was succeeded by Elder 
 Oliver Wilson, who continued his labors as minister 
 to the church about eighteen years. Many during 
 his ministry were baptized and united with the 
 church. During the last years of his labors difficul- 
 ties arose between him and his parishioners which 
 resulted not only in his dismissal, but also in his ex- 
 clusion from the church. Elder N. E. Shailer was 
 his successor, and was an acceptable preacher for two 
 years, when Elder Jonathan Miner succeeded him, 
 and continued his labors two years. 
 
 In 1847, Charles H. Gates was ordained pastor of 
 the church, and continued his relations as such pastor 
 till 1850, when he was dismissed. From 1850 to 1875 
 a succession of ministers were employed from time to 
 time. During the year 1875 a number of its mem- 
 bers withdrew and formed a Methodist Church, and 
 erected a house of worship near the house in which 
 they formerly worshiped. 
 
 Rev. George H. Lester was acting pastor from 1875 
 to 1881. He was an earnest and faithful minister, 
 and was greatly respected, not only in his own church, 
 but by neighboring churches. 
 
 A small society of Separates were gathered in 
 the southeast part of North Parish about the year 
 1747. They were principally from the Chesterfield 
 Congregational Church, but some were from Mr. 
 Jewett's church "on the hill." These Separates 
 were first under the leadership of one Dyer Hyde, 
 a New Light preacher, as they were then called. Hyde 
 succeeded in drawing away from the Congregational 
 Churches many of their number, and formed a Sepa- 
 rate society. 
 
 In May, 1750, Joshua Morse, a resident of North 
 Parish, was ordained their elder. About this time 
 they erected a meeting-house on the site where the 
 old Palmer meeting-house afterwards stood. This 
 society of Separates, or Baptists, kept together about 
 thirty years. They were called Baptists, but it is un- 
 derstood that they held to open communion. Elder 
 Morse removed in 1779 to Sandisfield, Mass., and the 
 church soon became extinct. 
 
 From the remnant of the Morse Church originated 
 the Palmer Baptist Church. A few years previous to 
 
 the organization of the Palmer Church a band had 
 gathered, and Elder Christopher Palmer and Elder 
 Abel Palmer, of Colchester, held occasional services 
 in the old meeting-house. 
 
 On the 23d day of February, 1788, a church was 
 organized by Elders Christopher and Abel Palmer, 
 by giving to those persons whose names had been 
 signed to a covenant the right hand of fellowship. 
 Soon after the church was organized Elder Reuben 
 Palmer was called to be their minister. Mr. Palmer 
 had been ordained to the ministry in Stonington, 
 where he resided until his removal to Montville in 
 1788. He was not installed pastor of the church until 
 several years afterwards. In November, 1798, a Coun- 
 cil was called for the purpose of installing Mr. Palmer. 
 The Council convened December 25th, and publicly 
 installed him as their pastor. The sermon was preached 
 by Elder Asa Wilcox. Elder Zadoc Darrow gave the 
 charge to the pastor, and Elder Wilcox gave the right 
 hand of fellowship. Deacon Oliver Comstock offered 
 the first prayer, and Deacon Jehial Rogers the con- 
 cluding prayer. Elder Palmer continued their pastor 
 until his death, April 22, 1822. His ministry was 
 continued with great success, several hundred being 
 baptized under his ministry. During his ministry 
 connection with this church his son, Reuben Palmer, 
 Jr., was converted, and after his father's death was 
 ordained to the work of the ministry, and continued 
 for a time to conduct the affairs of this church. After 
 the death of Elder Palmer, Sr., the church was irreg- 
 ularly supplied by various ministers, and continued 
 to decline till 1881, when the church was dropped 
 from the Baptist Association, and the body was con- 
 sidered extinct. It, however, struggled on till the 6th 
 day of January, 1842, when by a vote of the few re- 
 maining members the church organization was dis- 
 solved, and the body known as the Union Baptist 
 Church was formed. 
 
 A new meeting-house was erected, and dedicated 
 Oct. 4, 1842. The site for this new church was pur- 
 chased of Calvin BoUes. The church was occupied 
 by the Baptist Society in Palmertown until 1867, 
 when it was abandoned, and a larger and more elabo- 
 rate structure erected on a more eligible site. 
 
 Elder Levi Meach was instrumental in the reorgan- 
 ization of the old Palmer Baptist Church, and was 
 its first pastor. A powerful revival was experienced 
 in the winter of 1841-42, and many were converted 
 and baptized. Forty-eight members united in form- 
 ing the new church in 1842. This church is called 
 the Union Baptist Church of Montville. 
 
 Rev. N. T. Allen was successor to Elder Meach, and 
 was ordained pastor Aug. 12, 1846. He continued his 
 pastoral relations with the church until 1848, when 
 Elder Allen Darrow was engaged as their pastor. 
 After Elder Darrow removed the church had a suc- 
 cession of ministers until 1876, when Rev. 0. H. 
 Hickock was engaged as acting pastor. During his 
 ministry the society erected a parsonage, and after a 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 581 
 
 ministry of about two years Rev. J. J. Bronson was 
 engaged, and continued his services about two years 
 more. In the spring of 1880, Rev. Warren N. Walden 
 became acting pastor, and under his faithful and effi- 
 cient labors the church has been greatly prospered. 
 
 Mohegan Congregational Churcli.— Miss Sarah 
 L. Huntington, residing at Norwich, became, about 
 the year 1827, strongly interested in the moral and in- 
 tellectual condition of the members of the Mohegan 
 tribe of Indians, and at once began the work of lifting 
 them up from the depth of ignorance and degradation 
 into which they had fallen during the quarter of a 
 century of past neglect. The benevolent act con- 
 ceived by Miss Huntington was also seconded by 
 another female of a similar spirit, Miss Sarah Breed. 
 These two ladies established at first a Sabbath-school 
 for the Indian children. This school was opened at 
 the Samson Occom house, the former residence of 
 that noted Indian preacher. After a few months' dil- 
 igent attention and successful efibrt on the part of 
 these ladies, Miss Breed resigned her post as teacher, 
 and was succeeded by Miss Elizabeth Raymond, of 
 Montville. A daily school was then established at 
 the house on Fort Hill farm, occupied by Deacon 
 William B. Dolbem. This school was taught by the 
 two ladies by alternate weeks, both remaining at Mo- 
 hegan on the Sabbath, so as to assist each other in con- 
 ducting the religious exercises of the day. Eighteen 
 or twenty children and three or four adults usually 
 attended the day-school, and were instructed in read- 
 ing, writing, and arithmetic. 
 
 These Christian ladies were not content with simply 
 the efibrt of teaching, but endeavored to obtain such 
 assistance as should secure to the tribe steady public 
 religious services. 
 
 Joseph Williams, Esq., of Norwich, and other be- 
 nevolent individuals took hold of the matter, and a 
 plan was set on foot to build a chapel and engage a 
 missionary, who should settle permanently among 
 them. Subscription lists were circulated, and several 
 hundred dollars were collected for the purpose of 
 building a chapel and a dwelling for the minister. 
 Applications were made by Mr. Williams and Miss 
 Huntington to the Secretary of War, to whose de- 
 partment the superintendence of the Indian affairs 
 then belonged. These appeals were successful, and 
 from the fund for the promotion of civilization 
 among the Indians five hundred dollars were appro- 
 priated for the erection of buildings, and a like 
 amount annually for the support of a teacher. The 
 chapel was built, a dwelling-house erected, and also 
 a school-house. The land on which the chapel was 
 built was given by two Mohegan females, Cynthia 
 Hoscott and Lucy Tee-Comwas. One hundred dol- 
 lars were contributed by the Home Missionary Soci- 
 ety, and this sum, with the appropriation from the 
 general government, was sufficient to enable a minis- 
 ter and teacher to permanently locate among them. 
 
 In the spring or summer of 1831 the chapel was 
 
 completed, and the following year a dwelling-house 
 was finished. The services of Rev. Anson Gleason, 
 who had been a missionary to the Choctaws and 
 Cherokee Indians, were obtained, and settled there as 
 pastor of the church gathered of Indians and a few 
 whites. 
 
 Down to the year 1845 sums of from four hundred 
 to five hundred dollars were annually appropriated to 
 the Mohegan Church out of the civilization fund. At 
 this time it was concluded either that a society num- 
 bering so large a proportion of whites should do more 
 to support itself, or that five hundred dollars was too 
 large a sum to be appropriated for a community so 
 small and so uninfluential as the Mohegans. The 
 appropriation was therefore reduced to one hundred 
 dollars. The consequence of which was that Mr. 
 Gleason, unable to support his growing family on so 
 small an income, the white members contributing but 
 a small amount towards the expense, was obliged to 
 remove to another field of labor. 
 
 During Mr. Gleason's labors among the natives a 
 temperance society was formed, and several much 
 given to dissipation were reclaimed, and many others 
 were induced to sign the temperance pledge and for- 
 sake their cups, and some had become members of the 
 church, who afterwards were pillars in the church. 
 
 Sunday-school and the ordinary services on the 
 Sabbath were regularly kept up. The native mem- 
 bers of the church generally sustained a Christian 
 character, and some would have been ornaments to 
 any church. Several of the Indian youth of both 
 sexes exhibited good musical talents, and their fine 
 voices gave inspiration to the services. One young 
 man became a leader of the choir, and has continued 
 in the position to the present time. 
 
 Miss Maria Morgan proved a very efficient teacher 
 in the week-day school, under the superintendence of 
 Mr. Gleason, during several years of his charge. Miss 
 Susan Tracy was a frequent visitor in Mr. Gleason's 
 family, and often rendered valuable assistance in the 
 Sunday-school. 
 
 After Mr. Gleason's removal, the services of Rev. 
 De Witt C. Sterry were obtained through the influence 
 of Mrs. Wm. P. Green, of Norwich, and were highly 
 appreciated by the people. His stay with them was 
 only about one year. 
 
 In 1851, during a vacancy in the pastorate. Gen. 
 William Williams, of Norwich, became responsible 
 for the maintenance of the usual Sabbath services, 
 either by his own eff"orts or by whatever clergyman 
 he could secure to assist him. For seventeen years 
 Gen. Williams continued a faithful laborer in en- 
 deavoring to promote religious interests among the 
 tribe, and by much personal effort and generous con- 
 tributions provided for all their religious services. 
 With much veneration they now look over the past 
 and remember his faithful devotion to their spiritual 
 interests, and speak of him as their cherished and 
 true friend. 
 
582 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Kinne, of Norwich, at different pe- 
 riods freely volunteered his services both in the pul- 
 pit and in the Sunday-school in conference with Gen. 
 Williams. 
 
 Eev. William Palmer, a Baptist clergyman in Nor- 
 wich, conducted the religious services on the Sabbath 
 about two years, often administering the sacrament. 
 He would sometimes make the pleasing remark that 
 " he found the fellowship of the gospel too sweet, and 
 loved all God's people too well, even to withhold an 
 invitation from any of them when the Supper was 
 set." Rev. Oliver Brown, a young Congregational 
 minister, was employed by Gen. Williams for a year 
 or more about 1854. 
 
 In 1856, Rev. Hiram Haydn, then a young minis- 
 ter', during his vacation in the seminary was intro- 
 troduced to Gen. Williams, who engaged him to 
 supply the pulpit, which was done at intervals for a 
 year or more. He was greatly esteemed, and was a 
 zealous and effective preacher. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Sexton was employed some two years, 
 and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Muzzy, who lived 
 among them and labored with some success for sev- 
 eral years. His labors closed in July, 1873. Soon 
 after the close of his ministry the church building 
 was thoroughly repaired both inside and outside, and 
 some improvements made at a cost of about two 
 thousand dollars. For several years past festivals 
 have been held yearly at the church for the support 
 of the gospel among them. This festival is patron- 
 ized by people from the cities of Norwich and New 
 London and adjacent congregations. 
 
 After the thorough repairs of the church edifice, 
 the services of Rev. H. Forbush were engaged. Mr. 
 Forbush was a local elder in the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. He continues to supply the regular 
 services at this time. He resides in Norwich, and is 
 by profession a dentist. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Churches.— The Meth- 
 odist denomination have three church edifices and 
 regularly organized societies within the limits of 
 Montville, — one at Uncasville, one at Gardnertown, 
 and one at Chesterfield. That at Gardnertown has 
 not often had a local preacher to reside among them, 
 it being supplied by ministers of the denomination 
 residing either at Norwich or adjacent towns. Its 
 membership being small and being located in a 
 sparsely-settled part of the town, in a farming com- 
 munity, they have never been able to fully support a 
 minister who might reside among them; and until 
 the last two years have always been without any 
 local fund or source of income, de]iending wholly 
 upon voluntary gifts by the members of the congre- 
 gation. By the last will of Daniel L. Browning, Esq., 
 this church received a bequest of three tliousand 
 dollars, the income of wliich is to be annually used 
 for the support of its preachers. 
 
 The church at Chesterfield is young and few in 
 membership, being made up principally from seceders 
 
 from the Baptist Church in that place. Their preach- 
 ing is supplied by ministers residing in other towns. 
 
 The Uncasville Methodist Church, being the oldest 
 organization of the denomination in the town and 
 the strongest, deserves more than a passing notice in 
 this history. 
 
 The first fruits of Methodism in that vicinity was 
 Miss Betsey Rogers, daughter of James Rogers. She 
 afterwards became the wife of Rev. David N. Bently, 
 of Norwich. She died as she lived, a consistent and 
 devoted Christian ; hopeful and happy in life, peace- 
 ful and triumphant in death. She died Feb. 25, 1874, 
 aged eighty-four years. She was converted under 
 the labors of Rev. Nathan Emory in 1806, at the age 
 of fifteen years. 
 
 It was not, however, until about 1817 that regular 
 meetings were held in the vicinity of what is now 
 Uncasville, at that time the home of Mr. Charles 
 McNeil was opened for occasional meetings. Mr. 
 McNeil having been converted about that time, be- 
 came a faithful and earnest Christian. He died in 
 1862, aged ninety-two years. 
 
 In 1819, Rev. J. N. Moffitt preached at Mohegan 
 and Trading Cove for a season, at which time a great 
 religious awakening was prevalent in that vicinity, 
 and its influence extended throughout the town. 
 John Tuttle, then residing in Mohegan, near Trading 
 Cove, his mother, and seven brothers and sisters were 
 among the converts of this revival. During the years 
 1820 and 1821, Rev. Lewis Bates baptized five or six 
 persons in the cove near Uncasville, and several more 
 at Massapeag. Lucy Smith and Thomas Rogers 
 were among the number that united with the church 
 during the two years. Mr. Bates probably formed 
 the first class at Massapeag. 
 
 In 1823 and 1824 there was a general work of grace 
 along the west bank of the river Thames, extending 
 from Uncasville to Trading Cove, and many united 
 with the infant church. 
 
 In 1825 the first class was formed at Uncasville. 
 Elias Marble and Reuben Ransom were the preachers 
 in the circuit during three years, and held stated meet- 
 ings at Uncasville. In the year 1826, C. D. Rogers 
 and Elias Marble were the appointed preachers. 
 
 In 1827, Amasa Taylor and N. S. Spaulding were 
 the preachers, alternating between Uncasville, Gales 
 Ferry, and Gardnertown. ' In 1829, Mr. Amos Corn- 
 stock invited JMr. Rawson, the then stated preacher, 
 to hold his religious services in his shop. This shop 
 had been used for spinning and weaving in by hand- 
 power. It was located on the west side of the turn- 
 pike, near the toll-gate, and afterwards became the 
 property of Robert Comstock, Esq., and by him con- 
 verted into a dwelling-house. In the last will of Mr. 
 Robert Comstock this house, together with the dwell- 
 ing-house in which he lived, on the same premises, 
 was bequeathed to the town of Montville. The in- 
 come of its avails to be appropriated for the use and 
 benefit of the schools in the town forever. 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 583 
 
 It was about this time that the first Sabbath-school 
 was organized in connection with this cliurch. During 
 the year 1829 the class, which had become somewhat 
 irregular in its meetings, was reorganized, and Asahel 
 Otis was appointed its leader. Among the persons 
 who joined the class that year was Peter S. Smith, 
 who afterwards became a class-leader, and was an 
 earnest, faithful, -and devoted Christian until his 
 death in 1879. 
 
 In 1833, Nathaniel Bradford, an earnest Christian 
 and thorough Methodist, died suddenly. His funeral 
 sermon was preached by Rev. Ralph Hurlbut, of Gro- 
 ton, who a year or two before had preached that of 
 Mr. Bradford's wife. Mr. Bradford, it is said, " kept 
 a free hotel for Methodist preachers." 
 
 The first watch-meeting ever held at Uncasville was 
 in 1834. Previous to the meeting of the Conference 
 in 1835 arrangements were made to build a meeting- 
 house at Uncasville, and some time in the month of 
 October of that year the house was dedicated. Rev. 
 S. B. Hascall, of New London, preached the dedica- 
 tion sermon. This building cost about one thousand 
 dollars. Three hundred dollars of this sura remained 
 a debt upon the church for eighteen years. 
 
 During the years 1838 and 1839 many were added 
 to the church as the fruits of a general revival. 
 
 In 1840 an ecclesiastical society was formed for 
 the purpose of managing tlie financial affairs of the 
 church. This society existed only about four years. 
 
 In 1843 there was another revival, and about thirty 
 persons were added to the church. After this revival, 
 and during the pastorate of several ministers, nothing 
 of special importance occurred until about 1858, when 
 the church edifice was repainted, carpeted, and fur- 
 nished with new lamps and a new stove, at an ex- 
 pense of one hundred and seventy-two dollars and 
 fifty cents. 
 
 In 1860, W. E. Sheldon was the stationed preacher, 
 and continued only one year. He was succeeded by 
 Rev. Theophilus B. Gurney, who remained two years. 
 He was followed by Rev. L. W. Blood, and during his 
 labors sixteen persons united with the church. Mr. 
 Blood was the first preacher whose term was extended 
 to three years. He was succeeded by Rev. H. W. 
 Conent in 1866. The principal event under his ad- 
 ministration was the purchase of a new parsonage, at 
 a cost of three thousand three hundred dollars, which 
 was paid for by subscription. 
 
 During the three years from 1868 to 1871, Rev. 
 Elisha B. Bradford was the stated preacher, and an 
 increase of membership of sixteen. During his ad- 
 ministration the debt of the three hundred dollars 
 was fully paid, and the church freed from its liabil- 
 ities. 
 
 Rev. Robert Clark was the stated preacher from 
 1871 to 1874, and during his term the present new 
 church edifice was erected at a cost of $12,712.35. 
 The money to meet the cost of the same was raised 
 by subscription, many of the townspeople assisting. 
 
 This edifice was dedicated Feb. 7, 1872, free from 
 debt. 
 
 The old church building was converted into horse- 
 sheds and set in the rear of the new building. From 
 the year 1875 to the year 1878, Rev. Frederick A. 
 Crofts was their preacher. Very few were added to 
 the church during the time, and those during the last 
 month of his term, through the effectual labors of 
 Mrs. Clark, the female evangelist. 
 
 The church became very much divided on account 
 of the disagreement of the stewards in regard to the 
 salary Mr. Crofts was-to receive. 
 
 Rev. Warren A. Luce was the appointed preacher 
 from 1878 to 1881. He was very well received, and 
 proved a faithful and efficient minister of the gospel. 
 He was mucli respected by the other denominations 
 in the town, and did good service in the temperance 
 cause. 
 
 On the 5th day of February, 1879, Daniel L. 
 Browning, Esq., a member of the Uncasville Meth- 
 odist Church of many years' standing, died, leaving 
 by his last will a legacy of four thousand dollars, "to 
 the trustees of the church, in trust, to be put at in- 
 terest, and remain as a fund, the interest of which to 
 be paid annually, and used for the support of the 
 preaching of the gospel at Uncasville for all coming 
 time." 
 
 CHAPTER LXIX. 
 
 MONTVILLE— (Continued). 
 MILLS AND MANUFACTOEIES. 
 
 The only mills in operation within the present 
 limits of this town at the time of its incorporation in 
 1786 were four grist-mills, seven saw-mills, and one 
 fulling-mill. The grist-mills were owned and operated 
 by Ezekiel Fox, Jonathan Minaul, George Latimer, 
 and Levi Lester. The saw-mills by Ezekiel Fox, 
 Atwell Chapel, Deshon, Wheat & Hallem, Matthew 
 Leffingwell, George and Jonathan Latimer, George 
 B. Dolbeare, and Joshua Raymond. The fulling-mill 
 was owned and operated by Joseph Smith. 
 
 The present number of mills and manufactories in 
 operation within its limits are twenty, consisting of 
 three woolen-mills, four cotton-mills, two bed-quilt- 
 mills, two paper-mills, one dyewood-mill, two saw- 
 mills, four grist-mills, one shoddy-mill, and one 
 shingle-mill. 
 
 The most important stream is called Oxoboxo, and 
 takes its rise in the northwest part of the town. On this 
 stream are located all the large mills. It was formerly 
 called Saw-Mill Brook, and at first only saw-mills 
 were built upon the stream. It continued to be 
 called Saw-Mill Brook down to about 1825, when 
 Lorenzo Dow gave to the pond at the head of the 
 stream the name Oxoboxo. This name is derived 
 from the original name given by the Indians, who 
 
584 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 called it " Opsobosket." Its general course from its 
 source is southeasterly, and runs into a cove which 
 makes up from the river Thames, and extends west- 
 erly about three-fourths of a mile. Thi.s cove was 
 called by the Indians Massapeag. 
 
 Near the outlet of the Oxoboxo Eiver is the dye- 
 wood-mill of William G. Johnson, Esq., now leased 
 by Johnson & Co., who carry on the business of 
 manufacturing dye-woods. 
 
 Upon this site the first saw-mill built upon the 
 stream stood. It was built by the direction of John 
 Winthrop about 1653. About a century after the 
 first saw-mill was built, iron-works were started a 
 few rods below the saw-mill, at a place since called 
 " The Forge." It was probably established by one 
 Jeremiah Vallet, in 1758. These iron-works have no 
 special history. The nature of the work done, or the 
 length of time it was in operation, is unknown, but 
 it was probably of short duration. 
 
 In 1788, Jeremiah Vallet sold the premises to 
 George Williams, who, the same year, sold and con- 
 veyed to Amaziah Watson a parcel of land contain- 
 ing ten acres, " with two-thirds of the spot where the 
 late iron-works were erected." Watson built a small 
 shoji on the site where the old saw-mill formerly 
 stood. The shop was never occupied by him, as he 
 died soon after its completion. By the last will of 
 Watson this property was given to his wife, Mary, 
 who afterwards married Andrew Tracy. 
 
 In 1798, John and Arthur Scholfield obtained a 
 loan of the water-privilege, and buildings then con- 
 nected with it, from Mary Tracy. This lease was to 
 run fourteen years. John and Arthur Scholfield, at 
 this place, set up and put in operation the first woolen 
 machinery for the manufacture of woolen cloth by 
 water-power started in this State. Arthur remained 
 here with his brother John a few years, and then re- 
 moved to Pittsfield, Mass., where, in 1808, he manu- 
 factured a piece of broadcloth containing thirteen 
 yards, which was presented to James Madison, and 
 from which his inaugural suit was made. 
 
 After the expiration of Mr. Scholfield's lease in 
 1812, the woolen business was carried on at this place 
 by John R. Comstock — he having purchased the prop- 
 erty — until his death, which occurred in 1821, at which 
 time his father, Nathan Comstock, came into possession 
 of the mill property. 
 
 In 1834, Nathan Comstock sold out to William G. 
 Johnson, who soon after erected and started the pres- 
 ent dye-works. In 1848 the business was enlarged by 
 the erection of a large building for " extract." 
 
 Mr. Johnson being a man of remarkable business 
 enterprise, and bending his whole energy to the busi- 
 ness, was enabled in a few years to achieve success. 
 
 In May, 1870, Mr. Johnson leased to his two sons, 
 Edwin C. Johnson and Charles S. Johnson, the mill 
 premises and the business therewith connected for 
 the term of ten years, with the privilege to re-lease 
 the same after the expiration of term. 
 
 Messrs. Johnson & Co. import and buy yearly dye- 
 woods, all of foreign growth, to the amount of from 
 thirty to thirty-five thousand tons, of which amount 
 they extract from fifteen hundred to two thousand 
 tons, producing the extract dye, amounting to six hun- 
 dred thousand pounds or thereabouts yearly. The 
 balance of the wood is ground and sold in chips. 
 They employ in their business from thirty-five to 
 forty men, keeping the works in constant operation. 
 
 The second mill on the .stream is a cotton-factory 
 belonging to and operated by the Uncasville Manu- 
 facturing Company, a joint-stock corporation formed 
 under the laws of the State in 1848, with a capital of 
 fifty thousand dollars, which was in 1852 increased to 
 seventy-five thousand dollars. George E. Lewis was 
 its first president and Charles A. Lewis secretary. On 
 the site of the present mill Levi Lester, in 1794, built 
 and started a grist-mill. In 1823, Peter Richards and 
 his son, Henry A. Richards, purchased of Levi Lester 
 the grist-mill and water-privilege, and also a tract of 
 land adjoining, of George Williams, and erected the 
 present mill building and a few dwelling-houses. 
 Messrs. Richards failing in business, the premises 
 came into the possession of Charles A. and George 
 R. Lewis in 1830. Since that time the business has 
 been successfully carried on, and many improvements 
 made, a substantial dam built, and several new dwell- 
 ing-houses erected. 
 
 In the summer of 1880 a new steam-engine, with 
 boiler, was put up in a building erected for the pur- 
 pose. The steam-power being connected with the 
 water-power in the main mill, the company was 
 enabled to increase the amount of their machinery 
 and the production of their mill. In 1876 the mill 
 contained one hundred and thirty-eight looms and 
 about six thousand spindles; this number has since 
 been increased. The production of the mill is up- 
 wards of two millions of yards yearly. About two 
 hundred hands are employed by the company in their 
 business. The company have been very fortunate 
 in securing the services of Mr. Charles N. Wittie as 
 superintendent for several years past. 
 
 The Pequot Mills are the next in order as we pass 
 up the stream. Here are two mills ; one is a wooden 
 building and the other a stone building. Connected 
 with the mills are several tenement-houses for the 
 accommodation of the employes of the company 
 owning the mills. 
 
 On the site of the wooden building there formerly 
 stood an oil-mill, which was built by John Congdon 
 and David Congdon about 1803. Previous to the 
 erection of the oil-mill a saw-mill was standing here ; 
 to the operation of this saw-mill the water was first 
 applied. 
 
 These premises were conveyed to Giles Turner by 
 John Congdon in 1822, and by Giles Turner conveyed 
 to his son-in-law, Albert G. Darrow, in 1887. Mr. 
 Darrow ran the oil-mill until near the time he sold it 
 to Messrs. Norton Brothers and Hiram Crosby, of 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 585 
 
 Norwich, in I860. Soon after its purchase by Norton 
 Brothers anrl Crosby the old oil-mill building was en- 
 larged, the stone mill built, and both fitted up for the 
 manufacture of woolen goods. The business was suc- 
 cessfully carried on for several years, until the death 
 of one of the partners, who had the management of 
 the business. His death occurred on the 22d day of 
 November, 1871, and was occasioned by the burning 
 of the steamer " City of New London" on the Thames 
 Kiver. 
 
 In 1877 this property passed into the hands of 
 Henry B. Norton, the oldest and only surviving part- 
 ner of Norton Brothers, and Lorenzo Blackstone, of 
 Norwich. A considerable change was made at the 
 mills by the new company. The woolen machinery 
 was taken out and cotton machinery was substituted. 
 The mills are at the present time in successful 
 operation, under the superintendence of Mr. Daniel 
 Alexander, in the manufacture of print cloths and 
 lawns. They operate two hundred and eighty-eight 
 looms and eight thousand and sixty-four spindles, 
 and employ about one hundred and fifty workmen. 
 The production is from sixty-two thousand to sixty- 
 three thousand yards per week. A new steam-engine 
 has been attached to the mills the present year, which 
 has the capacity of one hundred and fifty horse-power. 
 The woolen-mill of E. G. Hooper & Co. is the fourth 
 iu order passing up the stream. This mill-privilege 
 was first taken up by Col. Francis B. Loomis. The 
 land was purchased by him of Gideon Palmer in 
 1846. Mr. Loomis the same year built the present 
 stone mill, and immediately put into it woolen ma- 
 chinery. Mr. Loomis continued the manufacture of 
 woolen goods until 1854, when he sold out to Orrin 
 F. Smith, who carried on the woolen business until 
 1861, when it again came into the possession of Col. 
 Loomis. 
 
 In 1862, Mr. Loomis sold to the Thames Woolen 
 Company. This company was composed of Andrew 
 M. Farnham, of East Hartford, William W. Billings 
 and Isaac L. Hayden, of Windsor, and Richard G. 
 Hooper, of Glastenbury. 
 
 The business was continued by the company until 
 August, 1875, when a joint-stock corporation was 
 formed under the old name, with a capital of sixty 
 thousand dollars. The business not proving success- 
 ful, in March, 1877, the company made an assignment 
 of all their property for the benefit of their creditors 
 to Freeman M. Brown, of Hartford, trustee. The 
 bankrupt estate was settled in the Probate Court, and 
 the property sold by order of the court. The pur- 
 chaser was E. G. Hooper, a member of the company, 
 who, in January, 1878, formed a limited partnership 
 with Aaron Shaw, of Philadelphia, E. G. Hooper 
 being general partner, and Mr. Shaw special part- 
 ner. This firm is now successfully engaged in the 
 manufacture of cassimeres and other woolen cloths. 
 They have recently put into their mill several new 
 broad-looms and other improved machinery. The 
 
 capacity of the mill consists of four sets of machinery, 
 the product of which is about three hundred thousand 
 yards yearly, employing about sixty workmen. 
 
 Messrs. Palmer Brothers, bed-quilt manufacturers, 
 are the owners and operators of the mill located next 
 above E. G. Hooper & Co.'s woolen-mill, and partly on 
 the site of an old oil-mill built in 1798 by Elder Eeuben 
 Palmer. The first person occupying this privilege 
 was William Hill, who here started a fulling-mill 
 about 1768 or 1770. This water-privilege was pur- 
 chased by Elder Eeuben Palmer of Jeremiah Eogers 
 in 1797. A grist-mill was also started on the prem- 
 ises a short time previous to 1814. This grist-mill 
 was afterwards converted into a distillery, which was 
 run by Elder Palmer and others until it was sold to 
 Gideon Palmer in 1820. The distillery was, soon after 
 its purchase by Gideon Palmer, abandoned, and only 
 the oil business carried on. In 1850, E. H. Palmer 
 and others purchased the oil-mill, together with the 
 water-rights and privileges, and commenced the manr 
 ufacture of cotton rope, twine, and bats. The busi- 
 ness was continued by E. H. Palmer until it came 
 into the possession of Palmer Brothers, the present 
 owners. E. H. Palmer, in 1866, built the stone mill ■ 
 on the north side of the stream, which has since been 
 enlarged by the present owners by an extension of 
 seventy-five feet. The business has been increasing 
 each year since the present firm commenced the 
 manufacture of their bed-quilts. The firm are now 
 turning out two thousand five hundred quilts per day, 
 and allowing three pounds of filling for each quilt, 
 the amount of cotton-waste used is seven thousand 
 five hundred pounds per day, or twenty-two and a half 
 tons per week. Estimating thirteen yards of prints 
 to each quilt, we have thirty-two thousand five hun- 
 dred yards per day, or one htfndred and ninety-five 
 thousand yards per week, used for coverings only. 
 They have in operation about forty sewing-machines, 
 single- and two-gong machines. In addition to the 
 manufacture of quilts, they also make about one hun- 
 dred and fifty pounds of mops and two hundred 
 pounds of calking per day. They employ about one 
 hundred and fifty hands. 
 
 Palmer Brothers have done very much towards 
 building up the village where they are located. Being 
 young men of steady habits, and combining enter- 
 prise with business talent, of which they are in a 
 large degree possessed, they have been instrumental in 
 giving employment to many who otherwise would 
 be without means of subsistence. 
 
 The sixth manufacturing establishment on this 
 stream is the paper-mill owned and operated by C. M. 
 Eobertson. This wat'cr-power was first utilized by 
 the erection of a dam across the stream at this place 
 by Gideon Palmer, about 1852, which pond so formed 
 was used for some years after as a reservoir. In 1859 the 
 entire water-privilege, together with such water-rights 
 and flowage as were possessed by Gideon Palmer at his 
 decease were sold by the executor of his estate to the 
 
58(j 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Montville Paper Company, a joint-stock corporation, 
 of which Oliver Woodworth was president. In 1865 
 the company sold out all their interest in the paper- 
 mill and its business to ,Tohn Robertson, Carmichael 
 Eobertson, and James Bingham. Carmichael Eob- 
 ertson, in 1866, purchased the interest of the other 
 members of the firm, and successfully conducted the 
 paper business to the present time. 
 
 Manilla paper is the principal article of manufac- 
 ture. This mill operates a 56-incli cylinder machine, 
 with three paper engines. The product of the mill is 
 about six hundred thousand pounds of paper yearly. 
 
 Alfred Hurlbut is owner and proprietor of the 
 cotton-twine and rope mill situated next above C. 
 M. Robertson's paper-mill. This mill was first erected 
 in 1866. Mr. Hurlbut did a prosperous business here 
 until the loss of his mill by fire in 1874, with all its 
 contents. The next year it was rebuilt by him, and 
 the business has been continued to the present time 
 with profit. Its production is about ninety thousand 
 pounds of rope per year. 
 
 The Rockland Paper-mill, now owned by C. M. 
 Robertson, was first built of wood in 1850 by John 
 W. Smith, who at that time was running a small cot- 
 ton-batting factory, on the premises and near the site 
 of the present paper-mill. Mr. Smith leased the mill 
 and privilege while the building was in process of 
 erection to Enoch B. Culver for a term of five, ten, or 
 twenty years, the term of lease to commence at the 
 completion of the building. Mr. Smith becoming 
 embarrassed in his financial matters, sold out the 
 whole concern to the lessee the following year. 
 
 On the 24th day of April, 1852, Enoch B. Culver 
 made an assignment of all his property to Benjamin 
 Durfee, of Norwich, in trust for the benefit of his 
 creditors. This property was in November following 
 sold by the trustee to Babcock, Dubuissen & HoU, of 
 New York City, by whom the paper business was car- 
 ried on until 1857, when it was sold to the Rockland 
 Company, a joint-stock corporation, of which David 
 Smith, of Norwich, was president. In 1868 the build- 
 ing was totally destroyed by fire, with all its contents, 
 ^oon after the fire the stockholders sold their stock in 
 the company to Norman B. Church, an enterprising 
 young man of Montville, for the sum of twenty thou- 
 sand dollars. Mr. Church afterwards sold about 
 one-half of the stock to other parties, and was ap- 
 pointed president of the company. The mill was 
 shortly afterwards rebuilt with stone and put in oper- 
 ation. Mr. Church continued to manage the busi- 
 ness until his death in 1873. After his death it was 
 found that the company had not been as successful as 
 was supposed, and in 1874 the- company made an as- 
 signment to Charles W. Butler, Esq., of New Lon- 
 don, in trust for the benefit of all its creditors. On 
 the 19th day of July, 1875, the trustee sold the equity 
 of redemption in the property, the same being en- 
 cumbered by mortgage to C. M. Robertson, who has 
 continued to run this mill, in connection with his 
 
 other one below on the stream, with success. In this 
 mill book and news paper was formerly made, but 
 after it came into the hands of Mr. Robertson the 
 old machine was taken out, which was a Fourdrinier 
 machine, and a new 68-inch cylinder machine put 
 instead ; and since only manilla paper is made. The 
 mill contains three engines of four hundred pounds 
 each, and one Jorden engine. It has the capacity of 
 turning out three thousand five hundred pounds of 
 paper per day. 
 
 Near the site of the Rockland Paper-mill there is 
 still standing an old mill building supposed to have 
 been built by Joseph Smith about 1780, and used by 
 him as a fulling-mill. It was afterwards converted 
 into a cotton-batting mill, and operated by Abel 
 Smith. After the death of Abel Smith, his son, John 
 W. Smith, continued the same business until he sold 
 out to E. B. Culver. Mr. Smith afterwards removed 
 to New York, where he was engaged in the soap 
 manufacture until his death a few years ago. May, 
 1879. 
 
 The Fox Mills, so called, are of ancient origin, and 
 formerly consisted of only a grist- and saw-mill. This 
 site is probably the second one occupied on the stream. 
 Mr. Samuel Fox was the first who occupied this priv- 
 ilege. He owned about fifteen hundred acres of land 
 in the vicinity. Here he first built a saw-mill about 
 the year 1700. The grist-mill was probably built by 
 Ezekiel Fox, to whom the property was devised by 
 his grandfather, Samuel Fox. Ezekiel Fox in his 
 last will gave the mill property to his son Ezekiel, 
 who occupied them only a few years, and sold them 
 to Isaac Turner in 1805. These mills remained in 
 the Fox family over one hundred years. In the 
 year 1811, Isaac Turner conveyed the same to Reuben 
 Palmer, Sr., and in 1813, Reuben Palmer leased to 
 James S. Rogers the privilege to use the water for a 
 machine-shop, and a small strip of land on which to 
 erect the building. Mr. Rogers was engaged in the 
 machine building and repairing only a short time. 
 In about one year from the time he commenced busi- 
 ness Mr. Rogers gave up his lease, yielding posses- 
 sion to the lessor. The building built by Mr. Rogers 
 was afterwards used as a cotton-factory; Reuben 
 Palmer, Jr., having purchased the property of his 
 father in 1817, after the cotton-factory had been con- 
 sumed by fire. In 1837, Henry Wheeler came into 
 possession of the factory -site, rebuilt the factory, and 
 started the manufacture of cotton twine and bats. 
 Mr. Wheeler and his sons, William and Edwin, con- 
 tinued the business until 1871, when the whole prop- 
 erty was sold to the Rockland Company, and is now 
 owned by C. M. Robertson. A grist-mill is still run 
 at this place. 
 
 " Oak Dale Mill" was built by James Bingham in 
 1866, and was occupied by him in the manufacture of 
 manilla paper until April 1, 1880. The property 
 having been foreclosed by the mortgagee, Mr. Bing- 
 ham not being able to redeem it, it was sold by the 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 587 
 
 Savings-Bank of New London to Palmer Brothers. 
 It is now used in the manufacture of bed-quilts in 
 connection with their other mill in Palmertown. This 
 mill is located about two miles up the stream from 
 their other mill. This water-privilege was first pur- 
 chased by James Bingham of Charles F. Scholfield 
 in 1866, and he at once commenced the erection of a 
 stone building and a dam. 
 
 The next mill above Oak Dale Mill belongs to 
 Charles F. Scholfield. This mill was built by Mr. 
 Scholfield in 1868, and was for several years used as a 
 cotton twine mill. In 1878, Mr. Scholfield took out 
 the cotton machinery and filled it with woolen ma- 
 chinery, by which he has since continued to make 
 flannels and kerseymere cloths and to do custom roll 
 carding. 
 
 Scholfield's satinet-factory, owned by Benjamin F. 
 Scholfield, is the oldest woolen establishment on the 
 stream. A fulling-mill was started here about the 
 year 1790, but previous to that time a saw-mill was 
 put into operation. It appears that Joseph Otis first 
 carried on the fulling and clothing business at this 
 place. Afterwards, in 1808, Elijah Beemis was con- 
 ducting the same business at the place. In 1814, Mr. 
 John Scholfield bought the mill property of Daniel 
 F. Kaymond, Esq., enlarged the old building, and put 
 in machinery for the manufacture of woolen cloths by 
 water-power. Looms and other improved machinery 
 were put in operation at this mill. Here was manu- 
 factured the first piece of satinet known to have been 
 made in this State. The manufacture of satinet seems 
 to have been first introduced into this State by Thomas 
 Scholfield, son of John Scholfield, the pioneer woolen 
 manufacturer in this country. This mill property has 
 been owned in the Scholfield family since its purchase 
 by Mr. John Scholfield in 1814. The present owner 
 continues to manufacture "Scholfield's celebrated 
 satinet." 
 
 The woolen-factory, formerly owned and operated 
 by Deacon Harry Vincent, deceased, is the first mill- 
 privilege on the Oxoboxo stream below the reservoir. 
 A saw-mill was first built on this site by Atwell 
 Chapel about the year 1795. This property after- 
 wards came into the possession of Joshua Baker, son- 
 in-law to Atwell Chapel, and in 1827, Joshua Baker, 
 Sherwood Raymond, Caleb Baker, and Clark Bissel 
 erected here a building and started the manufacture 
 of linseed oil. It did not prove to be a very profitable 
 business, and was soon after abandoned. Deacon 
 Harry Vincent purchased the water-privilege with all 
 the buildings thereon in 1829. Having enlarged the 
 old building, he put in machinery for carding wool into 
 rolls, spinning yarn, and the manufacture of flannels 
 and cassimeres. At first Mr. Vincent occupied a part of 
 the mill as a dwelling. He, after living in the mill a 
 few years, built him a dwelling-house a short distance 
 from the mill, in which he lived until his death in 
 1878. Deacon Vincent, by strict economy, close ap- 
 plication to bis business, and honorable dealings in 
 
 carrying on his small business, accumulated suflicient 
 means to place him in very comfortable circumstances. 
 So great was his trust in the Divine Providence that 
 he was emphatically opposed to availing himself of 
 the popular manner of escaping loss to property from 
 fire or the elements, and was never known to have 
 suffered by either. Since his death the factory has 
 remained unoccupied. 
 
 The reservoir at the head of Oxoboxo stream is 
 called Oxoboxo Pond, and covers an area of one 
 hundred and sixty acres of land. The dam has been 
 raised from time to time since the original was built. 
 In the early settlement of the town a small pond 
 ■was raised at a point a few rods above the present 
 structure and a saw-mill started. Afterward, proba- 
 bly about 1725, a grist-mill was put into operation 
 here by Jonathan Maynard. This mill-site and a 
 portion of the land in the vicinity was conveyed 
 Dec. 11, 1698, by Owaneco, then chief of the Mohe- 
 gans, to Thomas Stanton, of Stonington. Stanton 
 afterwards conveyed it to James Harris, a land spec- 
 ulator, who sold it to Joseph Otis. Otis sold it to 
 William Maynard, and Maynard left it by heirship 
 to his son, Jonathan Maynard, who conveyed it by 
 deed to his son, Jonathan Maynard, Jr., and he to 
 his son, Henry Maynard, and Henry Maynard con- 
 veyed it to Lorenzo Dow in 1825. It appears to have 
 been in the Maynard families upwards of one hun- 
 dred years. 
 
 The distance from the reservoir to the outlet of the 
 stream, at the cove and river Thames, is one thousand 
 eight hundred and sixty rods, or five and four-fifths 
 miles by the course of the stream. The surface of 
 the water in the reservoir when full is about three 
 hundred and fifty feet above tide-water in the river 
 Thames, being about twenty-five feet fall to each mill- 
 privilege on the stream. 
 
 During the year 1826, Lorenzo Dow raised the dam 
 at Oxoboxo Pond about four feet, " thinking," as he 
 said, " it would be for the interest of the mill-owners on 
 the stream below." But Peter and Henry A. Richards, 
 who were the owners of the cotton-mill at Uncasville, 
 considered that the raising of the dam by Mr. Dow was 
 an infringement upon their rights to the use of the 
 water, claiming that the raising of the dam prevented 
 the natural flow of the water; and that it being so 
 raised, it was the intention of Mr. Dow to keep the 
 water from flowing down to their mill, thereby in- 
 juring their business. 
 
 Messrs. Richards, in the year 1S27, brought a suit 
 against Lorenzo Dow, charging him with a detention 
 of the water. The case was brought before the County 
 Court for New London County and tried. It was 
 decided in favor of Mr. Dow. The plaintiffs then 
 took out an appeal to the Superior Court. The case 
 was then brought before a jury, who rendered a ver- 
 dict in favor of the plaintiffs in the following words : 
 " In this case the jury find that the defendant is guilty 
 in manner and form as the plaintiff's in their declara- 
 
588 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 tion have alleged, and therefore find for the plain- 
 tiffs to recover thirty dollars damages and their costs." 
 The costs amounted to $60.94. 
 
 Mr. Dow immediately paid the damages and costs, 
 and then raised his gate at the pond, letting the water 
 flow out quite freely, causing a freshet in the stream, 
 which did considerable damage to land and other 
 mills along the stream below the reservoir. 
 
 This mill-privilege, with the reservoir, was sold in 
 November, 1829, by Mr. Dow to Robert Bowzer and 
 Hezekiah Goddard, who shortly afterwards conveyed 
 it to Charles A. and George R. Lewis. The dam was 
 again raised by Messrs. Lewis several feet, and a cot- 
 ton-mill started on the premises, and kept running for 
 several years in connection with their mill at IJncas- 
 ville. About the year 1840 this cotton-mill was 
 abandoned, the buildings taken down and carried to 
 Unoasville, and no manufacturing business has been 
 carried on there since. Willet R. Wood, Esq., was 
 the superintendent of the cotton-mill at this place 
 until it was given up, and he then removed to Uncas- 
 ville, became a stockholder in the company, and was 
 manager of the business until his health failed him 
 and he removed to Norwich, where he died in 1880. 
 
 Ninety-five years ago the assessed value of all the 
 mill property located on " Saw-Mill Brook," now 
 Oxoboxo, was only about two thousand dollars. The 
 present assessed value is three hundred and forty-one 
 thousand four hundred and twenty-four dollars, and 
 is fourteen times greater than the assessment of the 
 whole town in 1820. 
 
 There are several other small streams of water 
 located in different parts of the town on which mills 
 have been erected. In Chesterfield there is a saw- 
 and grist-mill owned by George Latimer. This water- 
 privilege with its mills have been in the possession of 
 the Latimer families more than one hundred and fifty 
 years. A small cotton-mill is operated by David F. 
 Thompson in Chesterfield. A saw- and grist-mill is 
 located near the head of Haughton's Cove, at the out- 
 let of Stony Brook, now owned by William G. John- 
 son, Esq. A grist- and shingle-mill has within a few 
 years been erected, and is now owned by Mr. William 
 H. Palmer. It is located near the source of Stony 
 Brook, in the north part of the town. 
 
 CHAPTER LXX. 
 
 MONTVILLE— (Continued). 
 CIVIL niSTOEY. 
 
 The town of Montville was incorporated and con- 
 stituted a distinct and separate town by an act of 
 the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, 
 held at New Haven, Oct. 12, 1786. 
 
 The first town-meeting was held in the meeting- 
 
 house of North Parish, on Monday, the 13th day of 
 November, 1786. Joshua Raymond, Esq., was chosen 
 moderator, and John Raymond, clerk. At the same 
 meeting Nathaniel Comstock, Asa Worthington, Ste- 
 phen Billings, Joseph Davis, and Peter Comstock 
 were chosen selectmen, and John G. Hillhouse, treas- 
 urer. 
 
 Probably owing to some informality in the call of 
 the first meeting, a subsequent meeting was warned, 
 and held on the 19th day of December following. At 
 this meeting Asa Worthington was chosen moderator, 
 and John Raymond, Jr., clerk ; James Haughton, 
 Jason Allen, Jabez Rogers, Mathew Turner, and Jo- 
 seph Bradford were chosen selectmen. 
 
 A tax of two pence on a pound was voted and laid 
 on the grand list of the town for the year 1786, to de- 
 fray the expense of the town for the ensuing year. 
 
 The collector of taxes was required to procure bonds 
 to the acceptance of the selectmen, and to receive 
 only two and a half pence per one hundred pounds 
 for collecting the taxes. 
 
 The selectmen were not to receive any pay for 
 " time or expense." It appears to have been a cus- 
 tom in those days for the town oflicers to attend to all 
 the duties of their respective oflSces without compen- 
 sation for their services, excepting that of collector of 
 taxes, and that was very small. 
 
 The men of those times appear to have been trained 
 to consider that their services belonged to their coun- 
 try not only in its defense, but in the administration 
 of its government. A very great change has since 
 their day become apparent in the matter of compen- 
 sation for ministerial and judicial services. 
 
 At the present time no oflicial act in the adminis- 
 tration of either town or State affairs is gratuitously 
 rendered. 
 
 The following abstract of the taxable property will 
 show the amount of polls and ratable estate of the 
 
 town as assessed in 1787.: 
 
 f s. d. 
 
 219poU8from21 toYOyearsofageat £18 3,942 
 
 63 " " 16 to 21 '■ " 9 667 
 
 292 oxen and bulls fonr years old and upwards 876 
 
 659 cows and steers 1,318 
 
 250 two-year old steers aud heifers 250 
 
 253 horses three years old and upwards 759 
 
 30 horse kind two years old bO 
 
 33 " " oneyejirold ; 33 
 
 1514V< acres of plow land 757 5 
 
 3810^ " mowing and clear pasture 1,524 4 
 
 334 " boggy meadow, mowed 83 10 
 
 31 " " ■' not mowed 3 2 
 
 221 " low meadow-land 82 17 6 
 
 6892 " bush pasture 689 4 
 
 1136 " uninciosed land, 1st rate 113 12 
 
 2808 " " " 2d rate 140 8 
 
 5656 " " " 3d rate 141 8 
 
 45 tons of vessels 33 15 
 
 2 riding-chairs 6 
 
 28 silver watches 42 
 
 4 brass-whecl clocks 12 
 
 4 wooden-wheel clocks ^ ^ 2 
 
 174 ounces silver plate 3 9 7 
 
 105 pounds money at interest at 6 per cent 6 6 
 
 4 fire-places, Ist rate 3 
 
 7 " 2d rate 3 18 9 
 
 170 " 3d rate 63 15 
 
 277 " 4th rate 61 18 9 
 
 Assessment on trades and business 141 
 
 11,611 13 7 
 2064 sheep deduction at 4 per head 632 16 
 
 11,078 17 T 
 
MONTVILLB. 
 
 589 
 
 The amount of assessed property in 1790 was $40,453 00 
 
 " " " 1800 " 4r),!in.81 
 
 " " " 11810 " 43,1.M.00 
 
 " " " 218i0 " 2:l,.VJ6 00 
 
 " " " 1S30 " 616,659.75 
 
 " " " lS4e " 664,9(jl.00 
 
 " " " 1860 " 777.3.6.00 
 
 " " " 1860 "1,067,02.1.00 
 
 " " " 1870 " l,22l),7liO 00 
 
 " " " 1880 " 1,01)8,046.00 
 
 Between the years 1820 and 1830 the manufacturing 
 interest began to be developed, and by this new start 
 in the manufacturing business the grand list of the 
 town was increased several thousand dollars. A few 
 persons began to invest their money in bank stocks, 
 and money at interest had also increased. The first 
 bank stock assessed to any individual in the town was 
 to Samuel Hillhouse. 
 
 The following statement will show the several 
 amounts of bank stock, manufactories, and money at 
 interest assessed in the town from 1830 to 1880 in 
 every tenth year: 
 
 Bank Manufac- Money at 
 
 Stuck. tuiies. Interest. 
 
 In 1830 Si;00 $42,7(10 $6,700 
 
 " 1840 7,876 (ill,.600 30,^05 
 
 " 18.611 28,867 70,467 77,461 
 
 " ISiiO 64,728 196,626 66,:i30 
 
 " 1870 161,197 266,560 64,262 
 
 " 1880 103,566 297,800 . 18,498 
 
 The following is the summary statement of the 
 town treasurer's account from the year 1800 to the 
 year 1880 inclusive : 
 
 Bat's. Amt. received. Amt. paid out. 
 
 1800 8605.10 S617.75 
 
 1810 837 93 837.93 
 
 1820 1,615 82 1,429.:18 
 
 isao 1,192.96 1,2:12.25 
 
 1840 1,6;;060 1,69690 
 
 1850 1,727.08 l,li97 78 
 
 18UIJ 3,77.1.43 3,801.03 
 
 1861 3,1121.80 3,014 04 
 
 1862 4,9:17.92 4,a39.60 
 
 186:i 10,17-1.19 9,817.26 
 
 1864 10,827.69 10,670 65 
 
 1866 14,680.40 17,628.87 
 
 18116 14,76.5.37 16,606 60 
 
 1867 12.822.40 12,818 65 
 
 1868 12,261.2-) 12,7.S2.76 
 
 1869 17,7.J5.46 17,489..65 
 
 1S7II 17,007.67 17,1107.78 
 
 1871 1s,10.6.:j4 18,026.10 
 
 1872 19,177.97 19,181.66 
 
 187-i , 211,867.16 211,546 87 
 
 1874 30,66".87 30,449-29 
 
 1875 19,061.23 16,880.46 
 
 1876 2U.863.69 16,631.75 
 
 311,496.003 30,496.1I0< 
 
 1877 1.5,708..62 18,:301.25 
 
 1878 21,101.61 19,650.32 
 
 1879 19,6.7.11 18,664.76 
 
 1880 19,370.86 23,168.69 
 
 Representatives from 1787-1882.— The following 
 persons have been elected representatives from this 
 town to represent it in the Legislature of this State 
 since its incorporation : 
 
 1787-90, John G. Hillhouse; 1790, Joshna Kaymond; 1791, Joseph Ches- 
 ter; 1792, John G. Hillhi.use; 1793, Joseph Chester; 1794, Erastus 
 Wurthingtou; 179.5, Mathew Turner; 1796, John G. Hillhouse; 1797 
 -1800, Joshua Raymond; 1800, Adoiiijah F. Bradford ; 1801, John G. 
 Hillhouse; 1802, Nathaniel Uonjstuck; 180:1, Daniel Wortliingtou; 
 .1804-7, John G. Hillhouse; 1807-l:i, Wm. W. Haughton; 18l:-l-15, 
 David Turner; 1815-17, Wm. W. Haughton; 1817, David Turner; 
 
 ' Waterford was incorpuiated a town in 1801, which took off a portion 
 of Montville. 
 
 2 Siilem was incorporated a town in 1819, a part of which was taken 
 from Montville. 
 
 8 Town bonds sold. * Paid outstanding orders. 
 
 38 
 
 1818, Oliver Comstock ; 1819, Mumford Dolbeare ; 1820, Stephen G. 
 Thacher; 1821, Nathaniel Bradford; 1822, Asahel Otis; 1823-26, 
 Sherwood Kaymond ; 1826, Thomas Fitch ; 1827, Sherwood Ray- 
 mond; 1828, William Kaymond; 1829, Sherwood Raymond; 1830,, 
 Ephraim Fellows; 1831-33, Sherwood Raymond; 1833, Azel F. 
 Rogers; 18:14, Mulford C. Kaymond; 1835, Sherwood Raymond; 
 1836, Azel F. Kogel-s; 1837, Joseph L. Chapman ; 1838, Nathaniel 
 Parish; 1839, Robert Comstock; 1840, William Thacher; 1841, Ed- . 
 muud Smith ; 1842, Thos. P. Rogers ; 1843, Albert 6. Darrow ; 1844, 
 Henry C. Beardslee ; 1846, John B. Rogers ; 1846, Robert Comstock ; 
 1847, Nicholas Latimer; 1848, Peter Wickwire ; 1849, Ethan G. Cran- 
 dall ; 1850, George G. Latimer; 1861, Daniel L. Browning; 1852, Na- 
 thaniel B. Bradford ; 1853, Thos. P. Rogers; 1854, Elisha U. Palmer; 
 18.56, Hiram P. Baker ; 1856, Ethan G. Crandall ; 1867, Thomas B. 
 ■Williams ; 1858, Albert G. Darrow ; 1869, Norman B. Church ; 1860, 
 Calvin Allyn ; 1801, Ralph P. Caulkins; 1862, Waterman R. Burn- 
 ham ; 1863, Thos. W. Chaplin; 1804, Elisha H. Palmer; 1866, Willet 
 R.Wood; 1866, Raymond N. Parish ; 1867, Aaron F. Rogers; 1868, 
 William Fitch; 1860, Willet R.Wood; 1870, James Allyn; 1871, 
 Augustus A.Parker; 1872, Elisha M. Rogers; 1873, Anson G.Baker; 
 1874, John L. Comstock ; 1875, Alexander C. Robertson ; 1876, John 
 M. Crumb; 1877, James H. Manwaring; 1878, Eben R. Eaton; 1879, 
 Henry W. Strickland; 1880, John A. Coggshall; 1881, Carmichael 
 Robertson. 
 
 SENATORS. 
 
 1838-46, Sherwood Raymond; 1856, William Thacher; 1866, Elisha H. 
 Palmer ; 1874, Richard G. Hooper. 
 
 TOWN CLERKS. 
 1786-1802, John Raymond ; 1802-3, David H. Jewett; 1803-8, Adonijah 
 F.Bradford; 1808-17, Azel Rogers; 1817-23, Giles Turner; 182:1-26, 
 Joshua Baker, Jr. ; 1826-27, Joseph L. Chapman ; 1827-34, Mulford 
 C. Kaymond; 1834-36, Azel F. Rogers; 1836-48, Mulford C.Ray- 
 mond; 1848-.54, Joseph Brumley; 1854-66, John A. Coggshall; 1855 
 -67, Elisha H. Palmer; 1857-62, Raymond N. Parish; 1862-64, Elisha 
 H. Palmer; 1864-81, Henry A. Baker. 
 
 TOWN TREASURERS. 
 1786-90, David H. Jewett; 1790-91, Joshua Raymond; 1791-92, Isaac 
 Turner; 1792-93, Joshua Kaymond; 1793-94, Adonijah F. Bradford; 
 1794-96, Thomas Hillhouse; 1796-97, John Raymond; 1797-99, 
 Joshua Raymond; 1709-1800, John G. Hillhouse; 1800-10, Atwell 
 Chapel; 1810-16, Wm. W. Haughton ; 1815-17, Azel Rogeis; 1817- 
 20, Giles Turner; 1820-21, Azel Rogers; 1821-23, Nathaniel Brad- 
 ford; 1823-26, Azel Rogers; 182.6-48, Nathaniel Parish; 1848-54, 
 John Fellowes; 1854-55, Daniel L. Browning; 1856-56, Nathaniel 
 B. Bradford; 1856-62, John Fellowes, 1862-69, John B. Rogers; 
 1869-73, Rjiymond N. Parish; 1K73-76, Henry A. Baker; 1876-77, 
 Carmichael Robertson; 1877-79, Lewis Browning; 1879-80, Frank 
 A. Royce;5 1880, Silas H. Browning. 
 
 Probate Judges. — The town of Montville was 
 constituted a probate district by act of the General 
 Assembly of this State at its May session in 1851. 
 
 The following persons have been elected to the oflSce 
 of judge of the probate district of Montville : 
 
 1851-.54, Benjamin F. Bradford; 1864-65, Albert G. Darrow; 1866-69, 
 Joseph Brumley; 1859-61, Henry A. Baker; 1861-64, Mulford 0. 
 Kaymond ; 1864-67, Wm. Fitch ; 1867-82, Henry A, Baker. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXI. 
 
 MONTVILLE— (Continued). 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Elder Eeuben Palmer, born June 12, 1759, was 
 the son of Gershom Palmer and Dolly Brown, of 
 Preston. He was their only son of ten children, and 
 
 6 He was elected for a second term, but resigned after holding the 
 office three months, and the selectmen appointed S. H. Browning to fill 
 the vacancy. 
 
590 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 married, Nov. 16, 1780, Lucretia Tyler, daughter of 
 Caleb Tyler and Hannah Barns, of Preston. He was 
 ordained a Baptist elder at North Stonington, and 
 while pastor of a church at North Stonington re- 
 ceived a call to the old Baptist Church in Montville, 
 and was their acting pastor from May 3, 1788, to Dec. 
 25, 1798, at which time a Council was called, and he 
 was publicly installed pastor of the church. His 
 pastorate continued until his death. 
 
 Elder Palmer's ministry in Montville was continued 
 with great success, several hundred being baptized 
 under liis ministry. In 1797 Elder Palmer purchased 
 a tract of land in the town of Montville containing a 
 mill privilege (the site of Palmer Brothers' present- 
 bed-quilt manufactory). A grist-mill and oil-mill 
 were erected upon the premises. The grist-mill was 
 afterwards converted into a distillery, but was aban- 
 doned soon after his son Gideon came into possession 
 of the property. 
 
 The oil business was continued several years after 
 the death of Elder Palmer. He also bought anotlier 
 mill-site on the same stream, above his oil-mill, called 
 Fox Mills, about 1812, consisting of a saw- and grist- 
 mill. These mills were run by him until 1817, when 
 he sold out to his son, Reuben Palmer, Jr. 
 
 Elder Palmer was the owner of a large tract of 
 farming land, and carried on the farming business to 
 a considerable extent. He possessed a large amount 
 of public enterprise, and to him is due in no small 
 degree the present moral and religious standing of 
 the community in which he lived. To him was also 
 due much of the progress made in the manufacturing 
 interests of the town. The enterprising spirit pos- 
 sessed by him seems to have been transmitted to his 
 descendants without any diminution. 
 
 Elder Palmer died April 22, 1822, after an illness 
 of only five weeks. His wife survived him thirty- 
 three years, and died Aug. 15, 1855. They lived to- 
 gether forty-two years, and reared a family of seven- 
 teen children. They had seventy-five grandchildren. 
 Hon. Elisha H. Palmer, the eldest son of Gideon 
 Palmer, born at Montville, June 28, 1814, and married, 
 Nov. 30, 1837, Ellis Loomis, daughter of Joel Loomis, 
 of Lyme. He was early in life engaged in the manu- 
 facturing interest. Previous to the death of his father 
 he commenced at the old stand the manufacture of 
 cotton-bats, rope, and twine. He converted the oil- 
 mill into a cotton-factory, and for several years carried 
 on the business in the old green oil-mill building. 
 In 1866 he built the stone mill on the north side of 
 the stream and greatly enlarged the business. The 
 old oil-mill was burned down and a small stone mill 
 erected in its place. He continued to carry on the 
 cotton business until his sons commenced the manu- 
 facture of bed-quilts, when he gave up the business to 
 them, but still has an oversight of a portion of the 
 business. 
 
 Although actively engaged in the manufacturing 
 business, he was ever anxious to promote the public 
 
 interests of his native town, and was active in the 
 promotion of all moral reforms. He early enlisted in 
 the temperance cause, and has ever been one of its 
 most radical advocates. Party ties have but little 
 weight with him when the prohibition of the use and 
 traffic in alcoholic drinks has been at stake. In any 
 office or position where he could effectually serve the 
 cause he has never faltered or failed to put forth all 
 his powers to make prohibition a success. He was 
 an early advocate of anti-slavery principles, and 
 fought against the slavery of the African to the last, 
 and saw the day and rejoiced when slavery was abol- 
 ished and the soil of his native country made free. 
 
 He was elected representative in his native town in 
 1854, and voted in the Legislature for the "Maine 
 Law,'' also elected again in 1864. He was elected 
 senator in the Ninth District in 1866, and has held 
 many important town offices. He held the office of 
 town clerk four years, and was selectman several 
 years. For several years he has been an unsuccessful 
 candidate on the Prohibition ticket for member of 
 Congress for the Eighth Congressional District. 
 
 At the convention which organized the late "Pal- 
 mer Reunion" he was chosen its president, and in no 
 small degree, by his energetic and persistent labors, 
 the late reunion was made a success. 
 
 Gideon Palmer, the eighth child of Elem Reuben 
 Palmer and Lucretia Tyler, was born at Montville, 
 Oct. 23, 1793, and married, July 4, 1813, Mercy M. 
 Turner, born at Montville, June 29, 1795, daughter of 
 Isaac Turner and Anna Comstock. He was for several 
 years engaged in the manufacture of linseed oil at 
 the old stand formerly occupied by his father. He 
 was the inventor of an oil-press which has been quite 
 extensively used in the oil business. Gideon Palmer 
 was the first to successfully produce cotton-seed oil in 
 this country. He was a man of enterprise, and pos- 
 sessing a large share of public spirit, he was a great 
 promoter of public improvements. No project which 
 in his judgment appeared to be for the best interest of 
 the community or town in which he resided escaped 
 his thorough consideration, and if to his mind prac- 
 tical, engaged his persistent effort to accomplish the 
 object sought. He was the projector of the mill now 
 owned and occupied by R. G. Jiooper & Co., having 
 purchased the land on which the mill stands, and laid 
 out a sitefora mill and buildings, upon which the mill 
 and dwellings were afterwards erected. 
 
 He was the first to take up the water-privilege by 
 erecting a dura where the paper-mill of C. M. Robert- 
 sou now stands. He was also very cjithusiastic in the 
 laying out of new highways when the public conven- 
 ience seemed to require them ; the present thorough- 
 fare through the village of Palniertown to the railroad 
 station was begun by him, and carried through, against 
 much opposition by his townsmen, to completion by 
 his persi.stent effort. 
 
 In 1840 he purchased a small piece of land which 
 projected into the Thames River, in the town of 
 
-V '-i-i:. 
 
 Qyl--/^i^^z^. 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 591 
 
 Montville, and built thereon a wharf, since called 
 " Palmer's Wharf," which became a public as well as a 
 private convenience. He was at one time engaged in 
 the iron foundry business at his place in Montville, and 
 for a short period did a successful business in that line. 
 Mr. Palmer was an early and stanch advocate of 
 anti-slavery principles, and earnestly defended them 
 until his death. He was also a firm advocate and 
 defender of the temperance cause, and early in his 
 business life was interested in the cause for the sup- 
 pression of alcoholic drinks. 
 
 He was an earnest promoter of the public good of 
 all his countrymen, and died in the harness, in the 
 midst of his usefulness, July, 1854, in the sixty-first 
 year of his age. 
 
 Carmiehael Robertson was born Aug. 17, 1823, 
 at Pennicuck, Scotland. He was son of Duncan (born 
 about 1775, died 1832) and Joan (Hodge) Robertson, 
 and is the sole survivor of their family of six boys and 
 five girls. On his father's side he is connected with 
 the great statesman of England, Lord Gladstone. 
 
 Carmiehael was early left an orphan, had public 
 school advantages of education, and about 1834 was 
 apprenticed to the baker's trade, and worked at it until 
 1838, when he left it and was apprenticed to a paper- 
 maker, and learned that trade thoroughly also. In 
 1845 he with his brother John emigrated to this country, 
 andsettled in Norwich, Conn., as abaker. His entire 
 capital at this time was fifteen dollars. He worked 
 as a baker two years, when, wishing to see more of 
 the country, he went through Massachusetts and Con- 
 necticut, and wrought for two years at paper-making 
 in Chatham and Paterson, N. J. He then returned to 
 Connecticut, and engaged as paper-maker in Green- 
 ville, where his brother had been working ever since 
 his arrival in America. Mr. Robertson was prudent, 
 industrious, and saving, and accumulated a small 
 capital, and in 1851 quit working for others, and with 
 his brother and James Bingham, under firm-name of 
 Robertson & Bingham, established a paper manufac- 
 tory in Waterford, near New London, to manufacture 
 tissue manilla paper. None had previously been 
 made in this country, and to them belongs the credit 
 of being the pioneers in this branch of manufacturing. 
 The firm of Robertson & Bingham soon became widely 
 and favorably known, and the demand for their paper 
 rapidly increased, so much so that a second mill had 
 to be built to enable them to fill their orders. Mr. C. 
 Robertson was financial manager, and conducted the 
 affairs with ability, care, and prudence, and although 
 they lost much by the hard times of 1857, tlieir com- 
 mercial integrity was always maintained, and they 
 were prospered and always paid " one hundred cents 
 on the dollar." In 1865, Robertson & Bingham pur- 
 chased the mill of the Montville Paper Company, in 
 Montville, and in 1866 dissolved partnership, John 
 Robertson remaining in possession of the two mills 
 in Waterford, Carmiehael taking the Montville mill, 
 Mr. Bingham selling his interest in them. 
 
 Mr. Robertson at once removed to and commenced 
 enlarging and improving his Montville property, pur- 
 chased more land (five acres) for a dwelling-lot, on 
 which he erected a residence, and one hundred and 
 twenty acres on Paul's Hill. Here he has been 
 steadily at work, adding by purchase from the Rock- 
 land Paper Company in 1875 three other mills. He 
 has employed twenty employes, running winter and 
 summer. Is now running two mills, with a capacity 
 of two thousand pounds per day to each mill. The 
 mills are situated on the Oxoboxo River, with twenty 
 feet fall at lower (Montville) mill, forty feet at the 
 Rockland mill, and twenty feet at the " Bank'' mill. 
 This last has been converted by Mr. Robertson into a 
 grist-mill and a shoddy-mill. In the grist-mill, which 
 is run as a custom and feed-mill, there are two run of 
 stones, and the shoddy-mill "two pickers." This is 
 leased to the Palmer Brothers. Mr. Robertson has two 
 steam-engines in operation, oneof fifteen horse-power 
 at Montville mill, and one of twenty at the Rockland 
 one. The goods manufactured are purchased by New 
 York jobbers. Mr. Robertson has by his skill, pru- 
 dence, and close attention to business amassed a 
 handsome competency. Is strongly Democratic in 
 politics, and has been often chosen to places of honor 
 and trust. He has been town treasurer, on Board of 
 Education, has been for several years and is now se- 
 lectman, and represented Montville in the State Leg- 
 islature of 1881. He has been for over twenty years 
 a member of the Congregational Church. Among 
 the solid men of Montville none stand higher than 
 he. 
 
 Mr. Robertson married, October, 1847, in Paterson, 
 N. J., Mary, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth 
 Clark. She died Nov. 20, 1877. Their surviving 
 children are Alexander Clark, Elizabeth C. (Mrs. Dr. 
 William M. Burchard, of Lebanon, Conn. ; she has 
 two children, Agnes and Robert), May. B., Tryon 
 Edward (named from a grandson of the celebrated 
 Jonathan Edwards), William R., Joanna W., Helen, 
 and Anna W. All his sons are connected with the 
 paper business. Alexander takes charge of Rock- 
 land mills, and is salesman; Tryon is book-keeper, 
 and in charge of the financial department, and Wil- 
 liam is salesman. 
 
 Daniel Lewis Browning, son of Hazard and Han- 
 nah (Lewis) Browning, was born in Montville, Conn., 
 Sept. 11, 1808, and was one of a family of four daugh- 
 ters and nine sons. His parents, natives of Rhode 
 Island, settled in Waterford shortly after marriage, 
 and after residing there ten or eleven years removed to 
 Montville, and lived there the remainder of their days. 
 His father was a farmer, justice for many years, held 
 in high esteem, and died when seventy-three years 
 old. His mother died, however, when Daniel was 
 but two years old. Daniel was reared a farmer, re- 
 ceived a common-school education, and after arriving 
 at manhood began teaching winter terms of district 
 school. In this he gave great satisfaction, and for 
 
592 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 eleven years engaged in this avocation, and tauglit 
 nine terms in tliree districts. He married, Jan. 17, 
 1833, Fanny C, daughter of Joseph and Susan Lewis, 
 of an old and prominent family in this section. Her 
 father was born in Westerly, R. I., in 1762, and re- 
 moved to New London with his parents when but 
 three years of age. In early life he went on the 
 water; was taken prisoner by the British, and im- 
 prisoned on one of the notorious Jersey prison-ships, 
 and was probably the last survivor of these cruelties. 
 He was a plain, unassuming man ; was an earnest 
 Methodist, and kept " open house" for all its clergy. 
 He was fortunate in the acquisition of property, and 
 died April 14, 1852, in his ninetieth year, well and 
 favorably known by a large circle of acquaintance. 
 
 Mr. Daniel Browning, after marriage, settled on a 
 farm adjoining his father's homestead, and on the 
 death of the father, some nine years thereafter, Mr. 
 Browning took the homestead, and resided there about 
 twenty-two years, when he moved to the place now 
 owned and occupied by Mrs. Browning. Here he 
 continued to reside, leading an active Christian life, 
 and honored by bis fellow-citizens with many import- 
 ant trusts and offices, until his death, Feb. 4, 1879. 
 He, with his wife, belonged to the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, and he was trustee, steward, etc., for many 
 years, and by his cheerfulness of spirit and kindness 
 of heart he endeared himself to all. He was not a 
 strict sectarian, but contributed largely of his means 
 to other denominations than his own. He was strictly 
 temperate, very systematic, industrious, economical, 
 and prudent, yet so honest that everywhere he was 
 known and marked for his sterling integrity in this 
 regard, his motto ever being " Do right, if the heavens 
 fall." He was intrusted with the management and 
 settlement of many estates ; was justice for over 
 twenty years, and represented Montville in the Legis- 
 lature in 1851. In all these various positions he dis- 
 charged his duties faithfully and to the satisfaction 
 of all interested, and in all his candidacy for official 
 positions never asked a vote. His wife survives him, 
 and is steadily persevering in the same steps as he, 
 confident in a blissful reunion in the sunlight of im- 
 mortality after the "twilight" is passed. 
 
 J. C. Bolles, M.D.— John Calvin Bolles, son of 
 Calvin and Esther (Darrow) Bolles, was born in 
 Montville, Conn., near his present residence, Sept. 
 18, 1816. His father was a tanner, and we find him 
 at an early age working at the same business, which 
 he followed until he was fourteen, attending common 
 school during the intervals of labor. From fourteen 
 till twenty he was occupied in various labors, princi- 
 pally farming. When twenty he commenced to read 
 medicine with Dr. J. R. Gay, of Montville, and after 
 attending medical lectures at Pittsfield, Mass., and 
 Woodstock, Vt., was graduated from the latter insti- 
 tution in June, 1840, and at once commenced the 
 practice of medicine in his native town, and for over 
 forty years has been engaged in the arduous duties of 
 
 his profession with eminent success. He has been 
 for years a member of the " New London County 
 Medical Society" and " Connecticut Medical Society," 
 and was a Fellow of the State Society in 1849-55-58. 
 The practice of his profession left him no time to de- 
 vote to anything else, and has brought him a fine com- 
 petency. He cared little for office-seeking, but, as a 
 true citizen, had political sentiments and supported 
 them by his vote. In early years he was a Whig, 
 since 1856 a Republican. He has been a member of 
 the Baptist Church for twenty-three years, and is 
 everywhere esteemed as a man, a Christian, and a 
 physician. Dr. Bolles married, Feb. 7, 1843, Eunice, 
 daughter of Jonathan and Deborah (Jones) Buding- 
 ton, of Groton, Conn. Blrs. Bolles' maternal grand- 
 father was Moses Jones, one of the victims of the 
 massacre of Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781. 
 
 Dr. Bolles has two children, — Harriet E., who mar- 
 ried John W. Hanna (deceased) and has two chil- 
 dren, Grace L. and Agnes, and John C, Jr. 
 
 The name "Boels'' is found in the " Roll of Battle 
 Abbey," as given by HoUingshed, consequently of 
 old and worthy English stock. Duchesne, from a 
 charter in that abbey, among the conquerors under 
 William of Normandy gives the name of "Boels." 
 From those bearing that name the tracing is easy to 
 Joseph Bolles, the first emigrant, who in 1640 was 
 engaged in trade in Winter Harbor, Me., and after- 
 wards was a prominent citizen of Wells, Me., and for 
 years town clerk. 
 
 Thos. Bolles, second child and oldest son of Joseph, 
 settled in the " town plot" of New London, Conn., in 
 1668, soon bought lands on what is even now known 
 as " Bolles' Hill," and removed thither. He married, 
 July 1, 1669, Zipporah Wheeler, of Groton, Conn., 
 and had three children, — Mary, Joseph, and John. 
 June 6, 1678, Zipporah and her two children, Mary 
 and Joseph, were murdered by a boy, John Stoddard 
 [vide Miss Caulkins' " History of New London"). 
 From the surviving son, John, all of this name now 
 in the United States are descended. 
 
 John Bolles, in his day and generation, was an able 
 man of great force of character. He did what he 
 deemed right if all the world opposed. From study- 
 ing the Bible he learned to think slavery a giant 
 evil and unchristian, and manumitted all his slaves, 
 caring for the old, the weak, and helpless till their 
 death. He changed from the Presbyterian belief to 
 that of Baptist, and nearly all his descendants adhere 
 to his last church. He died at the hale old age of 
 nearly ninety years. The last four of his fourteen 
 children were born after be was sixty .years old. His 
 fourteenth son, Samuel, was born after he was sixty- 
 seven, and attained almost ninety-nine years. The 
 four generations were aged, — Thomas, eighty-four; 
 John, ninety; Samuel, ninety-nine; and John, ninety. 
 This Samuel Bolles was born at New London, May 
 10, 1744, and died Aug. 10, 1842. He was a farmer, 
 and lived in a house built by himself in Waterford 
 
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y 
 
 4>. /2^uz^ ui., ^ 
 
Ch Cc^}->-i 
 
 ■'-'-^y t' . c:/C Co>A^.c^ 
 
MONTVILLE. 
 
 593 
 
 when but nineteen. He had thirteen children, of 
 whom Calvin was seventh. Calvin was born Dec. 18, 
 1777. He was a farmer ; lived in Montville, where he 
 died Dec. 21, 1857. He married, first, Rebecca Dar- 
 row, Oct. 24, 1799. They had two children. She 
 died June 11, 1811. Second, Hester Darrow, sister of 
 Rebecca, Dec. 5, 1811. She had three children, and 
 died Nov. 12, 1818. Third, Sarah Turner, July 1, 
 1819. She died, without offspring, February, 1864. 
 The five children of Mr. Bolles were Rebecca D. 
 (Mrs. S. R. Palmer, of Spencerport, N. Y.); Margaret 
 H. (Mrs. D. F. Beebe) ; Francis W., of East Lyme ; 
 Harriet N. (Mrs. A. G. Schofield, of Norwich) ; and 
 John C, subject of this sketch. 
 
 S. S. Harris.— The Harris family is an old English 
 one. The first American ancestor was James Harris, 
 of Boston, Mass., born in England about 1640, and 
 who probably came to New London, Conn., from 
 Boston with wife, Sarah, and several children, and 
 died there in 1714. 
 
 James Harris, his eldest son, born April 4, 1673, 
 in Boston, married, in 1696, Sarah, daughter of Sam- 
 uel Rogers, of New London. In 1698 he removed to 
 Mohegan, now Montville, and settled on land granted 
 by Owaneco, the Mohegan sachem, who was a par- 
 ticular friend of Sarah and her father. Through this 
 favoritism Mr. and Mrs. Harris soon received large 
 grants of land, and he became a noted man, and 
 held commission of lieutenant. Sarah died Nov. 13, 
 1748, in the seventy-second year of her age; they had 
 nine children. 
 
 He next married, in 1750, Mrs. Sarah Jackson, daugh- 
 ter of Lieut. Joseph Harris, of New London. She only 
 lived two years, and died without children. Lieut. 
 James died Feb. 10, 1757, aged nearly eighty-four. 
 He and his wives are buried in ancient Mohegan, in 
 Montville. In 1718 he removed to Colchester, now 
 Salem, and resided there many years. His numerous 
 land patents caused him to be a litigant for many 
 years in the courts, and none in the colony had a wider 
 range of acquaintance. His second son, Jonathan, 
 born at Mohegan, Jan. 15, 1705, married, July 28, 
 1735, Rachel, daughter of Hon. Joseph Otis. He 
 was a distinguished man, and his daughter " was a 
 woman of marked natural abilities, a noble mate to 
 her husband, who was a man Qf commanding force 
 and dignity of character and fine personal appear- 
 ance." In 1739 he with his brother bought a large 
 tract of land from their father, and Jonathan built a 
 mansion on what is still called the " Old Harris Home- 
 stead," in Salem, and lived there his whole subse- 
 quent life. He was selectman of Colchester for sev- 
 eral years. He had thirteen children, and with his 
 good wife, Rachel, and his two youngest children, 
 twins, died suddenly in September in 1761 of a ma- 
 lignant and wide-sweeping fever. 
 
 Nathaniel, son of Jonathan, born in Colchester 
 (Salem), on the homestead above mentioned, April 
 2, 1743, married Mary Tozer, Feb. 1, 1764, and 
 
 settled on the old homestead, where they lived 
 and died, and where their thirteen children were 
 born. All these children lived past middle age, all 
 reared large families, and never a shadow of evil 
 habit, vice, crime, or stain of reputation rested on one 
 of them. He served in the Revolution, and was 
 captain of militia. " He was a proud and high-toned 
 man, proud of his lineage and blood, proud of his 
 little wife and daughters, proud of his farm-stock, of 
 his full crops, and of his abundance and rich variety 
 of choice fruits. Of stalwart frame and stately bear- 
 ing, he was ever tender and gentle as a belted knight 
 to all womankind and to children, but among men 
 he was dignified, austere, and even imperious and 
 lordly. His little wife, Mary, mated him most fitly 
 in her sphere, ruling well her household, and inspir- 
 ing all by the gentleness and potency of her influ- 
 ence and example." He died March 12, 1812, aged 
 seventy-nine. His wife survived him, dying, aged 
 ninety, in 1834. 
 
 Samuel Harris, son of Capt. Nathaniel, was born in 
 Salem, Conn., Dec. 10, 1780; married, Sept. 29, 1806, 
 Anna, daughter of Nathaniel Otis, of Colchester. 
 He was a farmer, and settled first in Salem, and after- 
 wards in East Haddam, Conn., where he died April 
 5, 1857, aged seventy-six. His widow died there Aug. 
 28, 1862, aged seventy-three. Samuel was a man of 
 solid worth and earnestness of purpose, and much es- 
 teemed by his a.ssociates. His children were Rachel 
 Ann (Mrs. Aaron T. Niles), Samuel Selden, Harriet 
 Salome, Lydia Maria (Mrs. James E. Swan), Nathan- 
 iel Otis (a physician of East Haddam, Conn.), Eliza- 
 beth Cone (Mrs. Ephraim Martin). 
 
 Samuel Selden Harris was born in Salem, Conn., 
 March 8, 1809, and passed his early life as a farmer's 
 boy, moving with his people to East Haddam when 
 about nineteen. He was educated at public and pri- 
 vate schools, and taught public school one year. He 
 lived in East Haddam until he was twenty-six, ex- 
 cepting a few years in which he was engaged in ped- 
 dling in the South. (The money gained in those 
 years was deposited in a savings-bank, and has never 
 been drawn out, and by accumulated interest and 
 compound interest has greatly increased.) Mr. Har- 
 ris married in Montville, Dec. 27, 1886, Mercy A., 
 daughter of Joshua and Eliza (Chapell) Baker, and 
 soon after settled in Montville as a farmer, on the 
 place now occupied by him. This was the old Baker 
 homestead and the birthplace of his wife. 
 
 Mr. Harris has always been a farmer, taking pride 
 in his avocation, and has given particular attention 
 to stock-raising. He has had marked success, and 
 has been called the best farmer in the town. His first 
 Presidential vote was cast for Andrew Jackson, but of 
 later years he has been a Republican. He has held 
 various local offices, justice in particular. In 1831 he 
 enlisted in the First Regiment Horse Artillery as a 
 private, was rapidly promoted, showing great capacity 
 and love for military affairs ; he was prompt and ac- 
 
594 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 curate, and became lieutenant-colonel. He has dis- 
 charged his various duties to the great satisfaction of 
 his superiors and constituents. About 1860 he united 
 with the First Congregational Church of Montville, 
 and has been a valued member of the same from that 
 time, ever cherished in its counsels and ever liberal 
 in its support. He has been honored with the office 
 of deacon, and has conscientiously discharged its 
 duties for the past ten years. He takes great interest 
 in Sabbath-schools, and has been teacher of an adult 
 class for many years and with marked good results. 
 All in all, Deacon Harris is a representative farmer, 
 an honest man, a kind neighbor, a warm friend, an 
 earnest Christian, and enjoys in a very high degree 
 the esteem and confidence of the whole community. 
 
 George Drisdale Jerome was born on Plum 
 Island, N. Y., Feb. 8, 1816. He was named by a 
 British officer who was engaged in the war of 1812 
 and was at his birth staying on the island. The emi- 
 grant, Benjamin Jerome, great-grandfather of George, 
 came from England in early colonial days, and settled 
 in New London, near the present site of the " Pe- 
 quot House." He was probably a farmer, had three 
 sons, Richard, Benjamin (2), and William, and died 
 at an old age. Benjamin (2) was a farmer, married a 
 Brown, and settled in New London. He purchased, 
 in advanced life. Plum Island, and improved it from 
 a wilderness state and farmed there. He was always 
 a farmer, always resided in New London, was a Uni- 
 versalist in religious creed, of a social, genial nature, 
 with many friends. He dropped dead on the sea- 
 shore at a very advanced age. He had children, — 
 William, Benjamin, Richard, Jesse, John, Hannah, 
 Fanny, and Abby. Nearly all his sons became sea- 
 faring men, and William and Benjamin died in the 
 West Indies. Jesse was born in 1771, in Groton, 
 Conn., was reared a farmer with common-school edu- 
 cation, married Desire, daughter of Deacon Jehiel 
 Rogers, of Montville, and with his older brother, 
 Richard, settled on Plum Island. After a few years 
 he returned to the mainland, purchased three hun- 
 dred and seven acres of land lying on the line of 
 Waterford and Montville, and ever after resided there. 
 His second wife was Harriet Loomis. He had six- 
 teen children, of whom Emily (deceased), Benjamin 
 (deceased), Jesse, William, John, Susan (deceased), 
 George D., Richard (deceased), and Julia were the 
 children of Desire who attained maturity, and Har- 
 riet, Augustus, Eiias, Frank, Lucretia, and Hannah 
 were children of Harriet. Elias and Frank were 
 killed while serving as soldiers in the late civil war. 
 
 Like his father, Mr. Jerome was a Universalist. In 
 politics was Whig and Republican. He was hon- 
 ored with many public trusts, was selectman for many 
 years, was member of school visiting committee; of 
 strong, positive nature, quick decision, and good judg- 
 ment, he was quite a leader in town matters and 
 universally esteemed. He died Dec. 5, 1867, aged 
 eighty-seven years. 
 
 George D. Jerome was reared a farmer, had a com- 
 mon-school education, when fourteen went to work 
 for a brother-in-law in Waterford, remained six 
 months, returned home, and when eighteen went to 
 Plum Island and remained two years. He then took 
 a farm in Salem, Conn., and married, Nov. 14, 1836, 
 Hannah, daughter of John and Hannah (Chappell) 
 Harrow, of Montville. She was born in New London. 
 For forty-five years this worthy couple have walked 
 hand in hand, leading a life of usefulness, and ex- 
 tending a kindly hand to the unfortunate and sorrow- 
 ing, and in an unostentatious manner endeavoring 
 to do their duty and serve their day and generation 
 well, taking for their motto the teachings of the 
 Golden Rule. For many years they have been earnest 
 and consistent members of the Baptist Church. Mrs. 
 Jerome was one of the constituent members of the 
 Second Baptist Church of Waterford, and her family 
 furnished six of the original sixteen members. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Jerome both held membership there for 
 over forty-three . years, or since 1838. Mr. Jerome has 
 held the office of deacon, discharging its duties with 
 great acceptability to the other members, since Sept. 
 20, 1843. In 1837, Mr. Jerome purchased the place 
 where he now resides, and which is prized by his 
 children and grandchildren as the '' old homestead." 
 Here he has ever since resided in the quiet enjoy- 
 ments of a farmer's life, taking pride in the improve- 
 ment and cultivation of his farm and the education 
 and development of his children. He has always 
 been found in accord with progress. In politics has 
 been a Whig and Republican. He has had four chil- 
 dren, — Henry G. (married Eliza Starr, and has four 
 children, — Idella, Albert, Frank, and Louis) ; Amelia 
 J. (married Dr. W. S. C. Perkins, and resides in Nor- 
 wich, and has two children, — Florence A. and Charles 
 H.) ; Julia W. (married David A. Starr, and has one 
 child, Ada) ; Albert E. (who died at ten years). 
 
 Nathaniel Burr Bradford was born Deo. 9, 1795, 
 in Montville, Conn., the eldest son of Nathaniel and 
 Lucy (Raymond) Bradford. He was a direct descend- 
 ant (sixth generation) of Governor William Brad- 
 ford, who came over in the " Mayflower." In early 
 life he attended the district school, and afterwards 
 Bacon Academy, Colchester, Conn. His business was 
 farming, which he carried on extensively and success- 
 fully. He held several offices of trust and responsi- 
 bility, and represented the town in the Legislature. 
 
 He was a true patriot, deeply interested in the late 
 war, and an active worker in the ranks of the Repub- 
 lican party. He was not a member of any particular 
 religious denomination, but a firm believer in the 
 truths of the gospel, and a liberal supporter of all its 
 interests, especially of foreign missions. 
 
 He was married, April 30, 1835, to Rachel Fitch, of 
 Montville, daughter of James and Abigail (Fox) 
 Fitch. He died Oct. 11, 1870, leaving no children. 
 
 Capt, William Fitoh was bom Aug. 14, 1815, 
 youngest son of James and Abigail (Fox) Fitch. In 
 
/ i^^>av5^<i>^ 
 
 J 
 
(2^^/^^ ys /Tst^4'>«,^ 
 

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 2W/^ ift ^Uh^eJUj 
 
PRESTON. 
 
 595 
 
 early life attended the district school, and when old 
 enough worked on the farm in summer and went to 
 the school in winter. Part of the year 1833-34 at- 
 tended Bacon Academy, Colchester, Conn. 
 
 In 1834 commenced going to sea, and so continued 
 until 1853, during which time he made three voyages 
 as captain of a whaling-ship. 
 
 On leaving the sea he resumed his former occupa- 
 tion of farming, which has been his business to the 
 present time. 
 
 At the age of sixteen he united with the Congre- 
 gational Church in Montville, and in 1859 changed 
 his church relations to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church at Uncasville, that being nearer his resi- 
 dence. Most of the time since he has held the offices 
 of trustee and steward therein. 
 
 He is a Republican in politics, held several town 
 offices, — been justice of the peace, judge of probate, — 
 and represented the town in the Legislature. He was 
 married April 7, 1845, to Lucy A. Fitch, daughter of 
 Adonijah and Anne (Fox) Fitch. Had three chil- 
 dren, — James William, the oldest, is now living, and 
 at the present time editor of the Jefferson Oazette, 
 Ashtabula County, Ohio ; Frank, died at the age of 
 three years and four months ; Lucy Anna, died at the 
 age of seventeen months. 
 
 David Raymond Dolbeare, son of Elisha and 
 Mary (Fox) Dolbeare, was born in Montville, Conn., 
 not one mile from his present residence, Jan. 10, 
 1808. 
 
 The first American ancestor of the name was John 
 Dolbeare, who first settled in Boston and was a 
 tinker. He afterwards became a purchaser of a large 
 tract of land in that part of New London County 
 now Montville, where he settled. It is said that he 
 purchased as much land from the Indians as a cow- 
 skin would cover, and that, cutting the skin into one 
 long strip, he " surrounded" a large tract. Rumor 
 aside, however, he was a large land-owner, and from 
 him David is a direct descendant in the fifth genera- 
 tion. He had several children, and died " full of 
 years." 
 
 John Dolbeare, grandfather of David, born in 
 Montville, married a Raymond, and had several chil- 
 dren. He was quite a man of note in his generation, 
 being called by the people to important trusts, and 
 filling acceptably the responsible position of justice 
 of the peace for years. In religion he was a strict 
 Congregationalist. He died aged sixty-two years. 
 Elisha, his son, was born in Montville, married 
 Mary Fox. He was a very ingenious man, was a 
 farmer and tanner, and could " turn his hand to any- 
 thing." Six of his children arrived at maturity,— 
 Griswold H. (deceased), Mary Ann (deceased), David 
 R., Martha F., Nancy F. (deceased), Fanny (de- 
 ceased). He was a good member of society, unosten- 
 tatious, and a lover of home, and was for years a 
 member of the Congregational Church. He died at 
 the age of sixty-four, and his wife at that of eighty. 
 
 Both were highly esteemed in church and social 
 circles. 
 
 David was brought up a farmer, received the educa- 
 tional advantages of the common schools, and has 
 never departed from the labor of his youth. He has 
 always been an agriculturist, and a hard-working, 
 economical, and prudent man, and by industry and 
 frugality and a judicious judgment has acquired 
 a competency, although by the dishonesty of others 
 he has suffered losses. His first wife was Elizabeth 
 G. Raymond, who lived but a few years. He married, 
 Sept. 11, 1838, Ellen Fitch, daughter of George Dol- 
 beare and his wife, Mary Bradford. They were resi- 
 dents of Montville, where she was born, June 29, 
 1813. 
 
 Mr. Dolbeare in early life was in accord with the 
 political principles of the Whig party, and from 1856 
 has been identified with the Republicans. Both Mr. 
 and Mrs. Dolbeare have been for years consistent and 
 valued members of the Congregational Church, and 
 have been supporters of all good works in the church 
 and community. Their children are James S. (de- 
 ceased) ; Thomas W. ; Henry C. ; Horatio B. ; twins, 
 Mary Elizabeth (who died June 25, 1880, aged thirty- 
 two) and Sarah Ellen (died at two years) ; and John. 
 Thomas married Eliza J. Champlin, and has three 
 children, — Minnie, Willie, and Walter. Henry mar- 
 ried Alice E. Whaley, and resides with his father. 
 Horatio married Jane Ashcraft, and lives in New 
 London. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXII. 
 
 PRESTON. 
 
 Geographical— Topographical— The Indians— Early Grantees— Sketches 
 of the Early Settlere— The War of the R«voliition— Civil and Military 
 Incorporation of the Town — Interesting Documents — Ecclesiastical 
 History, etc. 
 
 The town of Preston lies northeast of the centre 
 of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north 
 by Lisbon and Griswold, on the east by Griswold and 
 North Stonington, on the south by North Stonington 
 and Ledyard, and on the west by Montville and 
 Norwich. 
 
 The surface of the town is uneven, consisting of 
 hills and valleys. The soil is a gravelly loam, gen- 
 erally productive, better adapted to grazing than the 
 raising of grain. 
 
 The Indians. — The lands embodied within the 
 present bounds of Preston were owned by the Mohe- 
 gans, and a deed of the town was given by Owaneco, 
 March 17, 1687, and comprised a tract five miles in 
 length, from Stonington to Norwich. This deed was 
 from 
 
596 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 "Oaneco to Capt. James Fitch, Capt. Josiah Standisb, Thomas Parke, 
 Sr., Jonathan Trasy, Thomas Trasy, Joseph Morgan, and all the rest of 
 the inliabitants living in Xeic Preson, 
 
 "Signed The mark 
 
 'Witnesses : 
 
 "John Morgan, 
 " John Stanton, 
 
 of Oaneco. 
 
 of John Ukoas.' 
 
 The following is from the records of the General 
 Court, dated May 10, 1679 : 
 
 " AVhereas, Uncas his son hath damnified Thomas Tracy, Jun.,in his 
 swine, and Uncas is willing to make him satisfaction for the same in 
 land, this Court granta him liberty to receive of Uncas to the value of 
 100 acres of land for the said damage, if he see cause to grant it to iiim, 
 provided it be not prejudicial to any plantation or former grant made by 
 the Court. Lt. Thomas Tracy and Lt. Thomas Leffingwell are appointed 
 to lay out this grant to the said Thomas Tracy, Jan., according to this 
 grant." 
 
 " Thomas Tracy's farm east of the Shetucket was 
 not far from Owaneco's claim, and it is not unlikely 
 that the swine were lawfully slain in defense of his 
 corn-fields. But this was an easy way of settling dis- 
 putes; the Indians set but little value upon their 
 lands, and the settlers were willing to be slightly 
 ' damnified' for the sake of the indemnity." 
 
 Among the earliest grantees in this town were 
 Samuel Andrews, John Reynolds, Josiah Rockwell, 
 and Robert Roath. Although there were a few per- 
 sons here in 1676, it is not likely that any permanent 
 settlement was made until the close of King Philip's 
 war. Reynolds and Rockwell, the last two of the 
 above grantees, were attacked by Indians in 1676 
 while working on their land. The Reynolds farm for 
 a long period remained in the possession of the 
 family, and a portion of it was sold to the Water- 
 Power Company in 1826. 
 
 Miss Caulkins says, " In all probability Greenfield 
 Larabee was the first settler in this region, and the 
 first actual inhabitant of the town of Preston. Next 
 to him were Thomas Tracy, Jr., Jonathan Tracy, 
 Samuel Fitch, and Nathaniel Leffingwell, who were 
 cultivating farms here in 1680." 
 
 Early Settlers.' — "Hugh Amos probably came 
 from Boston, where a person of his name was living 
 in 1666. He was propounded for freemanship at 
 Norwich in May, 1671, but an earlier notice of him 
 is the following : 
 
 " Sept. 26, 1670. A committee of three persons, John Bradford, Hugh 
 Calkins, and Thomas Leffingwell, are to agree with Hugh Amos to keep 
 the ferry over Sbowtuckett Kiver. 
 
 "This was after the privilege of keeping the ferry 
 had been granted to Samuel Starr and forfeited by 
 him. ' Hugh Amos and his neighbor Rockwell' are 
 mentioned in 1678 as living near the ferry. 
 
 1 From Mias Caulkins' History of Norwich. 
 
 " Amos died in 1707, leaving an e.state valued at 
 £410, consisting principally of housing and 570 acres 
 of land. His children then living were John, Mary, 
 wife of Benjamin Howard, Samuel (of Stonington), 
 and Ann. 
 
 "Samuel Amos, in 1685, obtained a deed of land 
 lying ' between Shunkhungannuck Hill and Conay- 
 tuok Brook' of the sachem Owaneco. A handsome 
 sheet of water called Lake Amos, in the southeast 
 part of Preston, near the line of North Stonington, 
 probably obtained its name from him. 
 
 " John and Joseph Ayer, or Ayers, emigrants prob- 
 ably from Ipswich, Mass., settled at Preston and 
 North Stonington as farmers. 
 
 " Joseph Ayer's farm was within the bounds of 
 Norwich East Society, and he was admitted an in- 
 habitant in 1704. His will, dated at Norwich, Sept. 
 6, 1736, but not proved till 1747, mentions four chil- 
 dren : Joseph, Timothy, Sarah Hazen, and Abigail, 
 wife of Dennis Manough. 
 
 " Joseph Benjamin settled in about 1690. The in- 
 ventory of his estate was taken April 27, 1704. He 
 left a widow, Sarah, and children, according to the 
 inventory, — Joseph, aged thirty; John, twenty-two; 
 Abigail, Jemima, Sarah, Mary, and Marcy, all about 
 twenty. The appraisers of his estate were Thomas 
 Stanton, Jonathan Tracy, and Samuel Lennerson, 
 who were doubtless his neigbors. 
 
 "John Benjamin died Aug. 2, 1716. 
 
 " William Belcher, of Preston, died Feb. 7, 1732. 
 His will, dated Sept. 6, 1731, provides for wife Me- 
 hitabel, son William, and brother Elijah, also his 
 mother and sister. His estate was valued at £2298. 
 Among his bequests was a wood-lot to his pastor, Mr. 
 Hezekiah Lord. 
 
 "Moses Belcher was also an early settler in this 
 town. He was the ancestor in this country of Hon. 
 Nathan Belcher, of New London. (See biography of 
 Nathan Belcher.) 
 
 " William Billings is supposed to have been the 
 oldest son of William Billings, of Stonington, and 
 born in that plantation about 1665. In 1709 he is 
 styled ' Capt. William Billings, of Preston.' He had 
 rights in the volunteer lands, probably derived from 
 his father, who had fought against the Indians in 
 Philip's war. He died in June, 1738.' He was the 
 father of Rev. William Billings, who graduated at 
 Yale in 1720, settled in the ministry at Windham, 
 and died May 20, 1733, leaving an only son, William, 
 afterwards known by the same style and title as his 
 grandfather, viz., Capt. William Billings, of Preston. 
 This last-named Capt. William died Nov. 28, 1813, in 
 the eighty-eighth year of his age, and was buried at 
 Poquetannock. 
 
 "Peter Branch, probably son of John of Scituate, 
 
 2 Joshua Hempstead, of New London, in his private diary says that 
 Capt. Billings, of Preston, and Capt. William Hyde, of Norwich, were 
 buried the same day, June 9, 1738. These were men of note in their 
 respective towns. — Gtiilkins. 
 
PRESTON. 
 
 597 
 
 had his cattle-mark registered at Norwich about 1680. 
 He died in 1713, leaving nine children of ages from 
 twenty-eight years down to seven. In settling the 
 estate it was decided that a division could not be 
 made without prejudice to the children, and testimony 
 to that effect was presented to the court signed by the 
 following persons, who were doubtless freeholders in 
 the district at that time : John Ames, Daniel Brews- 
 ter, Caleb Forbes, John Freeman, Joseph Freeman, 
 James Morgan, Isaac Morgan, Ezekiel Parke, David 
 Koode, Nathaniel Tracy, Thomas Tracy. 
 
 " Tristram, adm. June 21, 1716 ; the birth of Samuel, 
 son of Tristram and Mary, recorded the same year. 
 
 " Trustram Brown and Abigail Parke were married 
 28 Aug. 1722. This was probably a second marriage 
 of the above. 
 
 "Nicholas Cady owned a mill in Preston, and 
 there died in 1725 ; supposed to have come from Kil- 
 lingly. 
 
 "Isaac Cady died in 1730. 
 
 " Joseph Cary had land granted to him in 1687, 
 'near Capt. Standish's farm.' 
 
 "John Clark, carpenter, adm. 1702; died 1709, 
 leaving a wife, Mary, and children, — John, Thomas, 
 Mary, Phebe, Isaac, and James, — all, or most of them, 
 of mature age. 
 
 "Isaac, adm. 1714; selectman 1723. 
 
 "James Clark, of Norwich, died in 1719. 
 
 "Richard Cook. A deed of gift, dated July 21, 
 1680, is recorded, from Greenfield Larrabee to Rich- 
 ard Cooke, of Stonington, of thirty acres of land ' over 
 Showtuckett, where my now dwelling is, provided he 
 removes and dwells upon it.' Richard Cooke ac- 
 cepted the conditions, was afterwards admitted as an 
 inhabitant, and had other lands granted by the town. 
 He died in 1695. His son Obed, born Feb. 1, 1681, 
 was the father of Capt. James Cook, of Preston, who 
 died June 9, 1778, in the sixty-second year of his age. 
 
 "Eliphal, one of the daughters of Capt. Cook, mar- 
 ried Oliver Woodworth, and died Jan. 25, 1842, aged 
 ninety-two, making but four generations from the 
 settlement. 
 
 " The name of Corning is found early in the East 
 Society. Josiah and Nehemiah Corning were born, 
 the former in 1703, and the latter in 1716. Both are 
 interred in the Long Society burial-ground. 
 
 " Thomas Danforth, a land-owner in 1730, perhaps 
 earlier. 
 
 " Peter and Thomas Davison were early inhabitants 
 of the East Society, or Preston. They probably came 
 from Stonington. Peter died in 1706, Thomas in 
 1724, and a second Thomas in 1741. 
 
 "Jonathan Dower, adm. 1716. 
 
 "Samuel, adm. 1721. 
 
 " Andrew, a resident in 1723. Dr. Joshua Dower, 
 of Preston, born Aug. 6, 1735, was a son of Andrew. 
 
 " John Downs and Hannah Rockwell were married 
 March 1, 1693-94. They had five children baptized by 
 Mr. Woodward in 1707. 
 
 " Joshua Downs, of Norwich, and Mercy Raymond, 
 of New London, were married Feb. 12, 1729-30. 
 
 " Mr. Samuel Fitch, son of the Rev. James, was one 
 of the earliest inhabitants east of this town. He died 
 in 1725. His sons were Hezekiah, Jabez, and Ben- 
 jamin. The following inscription is from one of the 
 oldest gravestones in Long Society : ' Here lais the 
 body of Deacon Benjamin Fitch, died Oct. 19, 1727, 
 in ye 37th year of his age.' 
 
 "Caleb Forbes had a land-grant in 1672, and was 
 constable in 1685. His marriage with Sarah, daughter 
 of John Gager, took place June 30, 1681. A deed 
 from Owaneco in his favor of one hundred and ten 
 acres of upland and meadow 'south of Connoughtug 
 brook' bears the date of Dec. 10, 1683. 
 
 " Deacon Caleb Forbes, of Preston, died Aug. 25, 
 1710. His estate was estimated at six hundred and 
 twenty-five pounds. He left a relict, Mary, and five 
 children, — Sarah, Caleb, Mary, John, and Elizabeth. 
 
 "David Francis, adm. 1697. He was on the roll 
 of inhabitants in 1702, and again in 1718, with the 
 title of sergeant. 
 
 " Joseph Freeman, of Preston, 1698. 
 
 " Sert. Joseph Freeman's inventory was presented 
 at the County Court in 1706, and distribution of his 
 estate ordered to his three sons, John, Ebenezer, and 
 James. 
 
 " Stephen Gates, an inhabitant in 1720. 
 
 "Thomas Gates died Oct. 24, 1726. 
 
 "The farm of George Geer was near the dividing 
 line between New London and Norwich, east of the 
 river, and was afterwards included in Groton. He 
 married, in 1659, Sarah, daughter of John Allyn. 
 His sons, Joseph and Jonathan, were reckoned as in- 
 habitants of Preston in 1687. 
 
 " Nathaniel Giddings, son of Nathaniel, born 1705 ; 
 daughter Elizabeth baptized Sept. 19, 1715. 
 
 "John Glover, a grantee of 1680, is on the roll of 
 inhabitants in 1702 and 1718. He married May 29, 
 1682, Hannah , the family name not given. 
 
 " March, 1684. Granted to Mr. Brewster and John Glover two bits of 
 land near their own land, on the east side of Showtucket River. 
 
 " Dyer Haskell, adm. Dec. 1, 1713. 
 
 "Roger, adm. 1716; Daniel, 1723. 
 
 " Roger and Daniel Haskell were brothers. The 
 former died in 1727. The decease of Daniel and two 
 sisters, Judith and Sarah, took place during the year 
 1730. Daniel left an estate of eight hundred and fifty 
 pounds. In the last will and testament of Judith 
 several of the bequests are suggestive of the fashions 
 of the day, — ' I give to brother Roger's daughter Zip- 
 porah my Bible, my silk apron and pinners, and two 
 ribbons. I give to brother Fitch's daughter Abigail 
 my chince frock and stays with green covering,' 
 
 etc. 
 
 " A second Roger Haskell, who died in 1759, aged 
 sixty-seven, and a third of the same name in 1791, 
 have stones to their memory in the Long Society 
 burial-ground. 
 
598 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 "John Hewit, member of Norwich Church in 1726, 
 had a son Solomon baptized March 30, 1729. 
 
 " Joseph Hillard, 1738. 
 
 "Greenfield Larrabee, from Saybrook, son of an 
 original emigrant of the same name, married Alice, 
 daughter of Thomas Parke, in March, 1673, and set- 
 tled upon a farm east of the river, near his father-in- 
 law. In this new location he prospered, acquired large 
 lands, brought up a family of eight sons and daugh- 
 ters, and lived to be upwards of ninety years of age. 
 He was born April 20, 1648, and died Feb. 3, 1739. 
 
 " Zachariah Mainer, 1722. 
 
 "Mix, or Meeks. Thomas Meeks, son of Thomas, 
 of New Haven, and there born in 1635, married, June 
 30, 1677, Hannah, daughter of Rev. James Fitch. 
 He settled upon a farm belonging to Mr. Fitch, east 
 of the Shetucket. A tract of twenty acres, ' where 
 his house stands,' was confirmed to him July 16, 1680, 
 as a free gift from Mr. Fitch to his daughter. They 
 had nine children. 
 
 " Mr. Mix died July 80, 1706. His son Daniel was 
 a selectman in 1725 and 1726. 
 
 " Joseph Morgan, of Preston, son of James, of 
 New London and Groton, married Dorothy, daughter 
 of Thomas Parke, ' some time in April, 1670,' says the 
 record. He died April 5, 1704. He had one son, 
 Joseph, and six daughters who lived to maturity. 
 Estate, five hundred and twenty-two pounds. 
 
 "Samuel Parish, adm. 1716; Benjamin, a little 
 later ; probably sons of John, of Stonington, who died 
 in 1715. 
 
 " Parke, or Parks. The farm of Thomas Parke was 
 so ambiguously situated that it took a course of years 
 to get it settled into an abiding position. In 1681 he 
 was a collector of taxes for New London, and his son, 
 Thomas Parke, Jr., a constable of the same town. In 
 1686 the latter, without any removal of residence, was 
 chosen constable for Norwich. A year later they 
 were both included in the new town of Preston. 
 Deacon Thomas Parke died July 30, 1709 ; his son, 
 Thomas, Jr., had previously deceased. 
 
 " Robert Parke, second son of Deacon Thomas, mar- 
 ried Rachel Leffingwell, Nov. 24, 1681. He also died 
 before his father (1707), leaving a second wife, Mary, 
 and ten children between the ages of nine months 
 and twenty-three years. Robert Parke's homestead 
 farm was within the bounds of Groton ; he had also 
 a farm at Pachaug. 
 
 " Capt. John Parke, of Preston, another son of 
 Deacon Thomas, and probably the oldest, died in 
 1716. The widow, Mary, received that part of the 
 farm ' on which old Deacon Thomas dwelt by the 
 Great Pond.' She afterwards married Salmon Treat. 
 
 " Nathaniel Parks in 1683 was a neighbor of Josiah 
 Rockwell. 
 
 " In 1713, Deacon John Richards, of Preston, asked 
 for a confirmation of his land. William Richards, 
 probably a brother of John, was also an early in- 
 habitant of Preston. No connection between them 
 
 and the Richards family of New London has been 
 traced. William died in 1724 ; John in 1756. Both 
 left descendants. 
 
 " Robert Roath married in October, 1668, Sarah 
 Saxton, and in 1672 was living at Norwich, near the 
 Shetucket ferry. In 1680 the road to Poquetannock 
 was laid, out, beginning at the house of Robert Roath, 
 and running south through land of Owen Williams. 
 Robert Roath had three sons, John, Daniel, and Peter, 
 who all became heads of families. 
 
 " Peter Robinson came from Martha's Vineyard 
 about 1708 ; adm. 1712 ; had three children baptized 
 by Mr. Woodward (1711, 1713, 1714), all daughters; 
 removed to Windham, probably about 1720, and was 
 one who assisted in forming the church in Scotland 
 Parish, 1735. 
 
 " Israel Robinson was a resident of Norwich in 
 1720. 
 
 " Josiah Rockwell settled at Norwich about 1670, 
 and was slain by the Indians in January, 1676. His 
 farm was on the eastern side of the Shetucket, near 
 the road to Poquetannock. 
 
 " The parentage of Josiah Rockwell has not been 
 determined by actual records, but presumptive evi- 
 dence connects him with the family of William Rock- 
 well, who died at Windsor in 1640. Though only 
 three sons of William are found on record at Wind- 
 sor, viz., John, Samuel, and Joseph, it is not improb- 
 able that Josiah was an older son by a previous mar- 
 riage. He was at New London in 1658, and remained 
 there ten or twelve years. He then removed to Nor- 
 wich, where one of William Rockwell's family — Ruth, 
 wife of Christopher Huntington — had settled. Among 
 his children we find the names of the three brothers 
 of Windsor, Joseph, John, and Samuel, perpetuated; 
 and in the family of Samuel, at Windsor, we find a 
 Josiah. These are hints suggestive of a relationship. 
 
 " Josiah Rockwell had seven children, the births 
 ranging from 1658 to 1676, inclusive. The oldest died 
 in infancy. His marriage is not recorded, and the 
 name of his wife has not been traced. 
 
 " John, son of Thomas and Sarah Rood, of Nor- 
 wich, had a home-lot granted him in 1679, 'on the 
 other side of Showtucket River, near to his Uncle 
 Leffingwell's.' He died in September, 1706, leaving 
 a wife, Mary, and six children, the oldest, John, 
 aged sixteen, and the second, Zachariah, aged four- 
 teen. The last mentioned was probably the vener- 
 able centenarian whose gravestone in the Preston 
 burial-ground has the following interesting record: 
 
 " ' In Memory of 
 
 Mr. ZacliariHh Rude 
 
 who died Feb. 10th 
 
 1795. 
 
 in the 103d year 
 
 of his age. 
 
 " ' Here in the liistory of my age. 
 Men who review my days, 
 Miiy read God's love in every page, 
 In every line his praise.' 
 
PRESTON. 
 
 599 
 
 "Thomas Eose was an early settler in the southern 
 part of Preston. His name acquired notoriety from 
 the situation of his dwelling-house. A large oak-tree 
 near the house was a noted boundary-mark between 
 Norwich and New London, standing as a stately 
 warder precisely at the southeast corner of Norwich. 
 It was directly upon the line running east from the 
 head of Poquetannock Cove to the bounds of Stoning- 
 ton, and is referred to in several surveys, acts, and 
 patents. 
 
 "Thomas Rose married Hannah, daughter of Rob- 
 ert AUyn. Under the shadow of the great boundary- 
 tree they both lived to a good old age. He died in 
 1743, leaving an estate valued at £2498. His wife 
 survived him, and he left also a son, Joseph, and six 
 daughters. Another son, Thomas, died before his 
 father, in 1733, leaving a family. 
 
 " Jonathan and Mercy Rudd were married Dec. 19, 
 1678, and probably settled in Norwich about that time. 
 His land east of the Shetucket was held by a deed of 
 purchase from Owaneco, dated Dec. 10, 1683, and 
 consisted of one hundred acres on Connoughtug 
 Brook, and one hundred and eight acres betwixt 
 Shunkhungannock Hill and Norwich bounds. He 
 appears also to have had other lands. 
 
 " He died in 1689. In the distribution of his estate 
 his wife received £60 ; the oldest son, Jonathan, £117 ; 
 Nathaniel and Abigail, each £58 lOs. ' At the desire 
 of the widow, Joseph and Richard Bushnell, Nathan- 
 iel Rudd, Thomas Tracy, and Caleb Forbes were ap- 
 pointed overseers of the widow, children, and estate.' 
 
 " The first Peter Spicer was of New London in 1666, 
 and died in 1695. The second Peter was of Norwich 
 in 1702 and 1716. Samuel, adm. Dec. 20, 1715. 
 
 " Josiah (or Josias) Standish was a son of the re- 
 nowned Miles Standish, of Duxbury. His first wife, 
 Mary, 'dyed and was buried at Duxborough, July 1, 
 1665.' His second wife is supposed to have been 
 Sarah, daughter of Samuel Allen, of Braintree. The 
 earliest notice we obtain of him in this neighborhood 
 is from a deed of sale dated Feb. 5, 1686, from 'John 
 Parks, of the new plantation east of Norwich' (Pres- 
 ton), to 'Capt. Josiah Standish, now in Norwich,' of 
 one hundred and fifty acres of land 'over Show- 
 tucket River upon the hill between Mr. Fitch's farm 
 and Pocketannuck,' — consideration, £22. Witnesses, 
 Thomas Bradford and Simon Huntington, Jr. The 
 same year he purchased a thousand-acre right in 
 Windham, near where Willimantic now stands. 
 
 " Capt. Standish died in 1690. The widow and son 
 Miles were appointed administrators on his estate. 
 We may assume that Samuel Standish, licensed to tan 
 leather in Preston, 1706, Israel Standish, of Preston, 
 1709, Josiah, who went from Preston, and was one 
 of the first settlers of Stafford, 1719, and Lois, who 
 married Hugh Calkins in 1706, were children of Capt. 
 Josiah. 
 
 "Miles Standish, of Preston, died in 1728; left rel- 
 ict Elizabeth ; estate appraised at £919 lis. 3d 
 
 " In his inventory are articles that harmonize well 
 with his name, viz. : gun, sword, belt, pouch, and 
 bullets, a Bible and confession of faith. 
 
 " John Starkweather was an early inhabitant. He 
 died Aug. 21, 1703, leaving a widow and seven chil- 
 dren between the ages of twelve and twenty-six years. 
 
 "Hopestill Tyler, 'an aged man,' died in 1783. 
 He left a wife, Mary, and four children, viz. : Han- 
 nah Buswell, Daniel, James, and Hopestill. Estate, 
 £813. In the inventory of his wardrobe is ' a close 
 bodied coat,' valued at £4 5s., a beaver hat, an orange- 
 colored cloak, and a muff. 
 
 "Thomas Wedge. Deborah, relict of Thomas 
 Wedge, died in 1703, leaving seven children, viz. : 
 John, Mary, Joshua, Isaac, Deborah, David, and De- 
 liverance. John Richards and John Tracy witnessed 
 her will. 
 
 " Joshua was on the roll of Norwich inhabitants 
 in 1716. 
 
 " Paul Wentworth, a son of Elder William Went- 
 worth, of Dover, N. H., obtained from Owaneco, the 
 Indian sachem, a lease of certain lands in Mohegan, 
 to which he removed with his family. He was dis- 
 missed, with his wife Katherine, from the church at 
 Rowley, where he had lived, to the church at New 
 London, June 29, 1707. But his name does not ap- 
 pear on the list of church-members at New London. 
 His farm, though within the limits of the ecclesiasti- 
 cal parish, was at least ten miles from the church, and 
 the intervening country was almost a wilderness. He 
 afterwards purchased lands of David Francis in East 
 Society, Norwich ; removed thither, and was accepted 
 as an inhabitant of the town Dec. 20, 1715. He had 
 thirteen children, all born before he came to this 
 colony, the dates ranging from 1680 to 1700. He 
 died in 1750. 
 
 " Benjamin, his seventh son, married, in 1726, Me- 
 hitable Carrier. Jared Wentworth, son of Benjamin 
 and Mehitable, born in 1728, married Abigail Wilson, 
 of Ashford. The residence of this couple was in the 
 western part of Norwich, near Bean Hill. One of 
 their daughters, Zerviah, born April 12, 1767, was 
 united, Nov. 28, 1790, to Ezekiel Huntley. The only 
 child of this union, Mrs. L. H. Sigourney, acquired a 
 literary fame second to that of no female in the coun- 
 try. Her numerous writings, in prose and verse, are 
 all of a pure and elevated tone, calculated to charm, 
 console, and entertain all willing readers, and partic- 
 ularly to mould and invigorate the character of the 
 young. 
 
 " Williams. Several of this name settled here at 
 an early date. 
 
 " Owen Williams is mentioned in 1669. He obtained 
 a grant of land in 1670, ' near Brewster's in the path 
 that goes from Showtuck to Pocketannuck.' He died 
 in 1680, leaving a family. 
 
 "Joseph Williams, adm. 1702, and a vote passed 
 that he be 'entered as a whole share man respecting 
 lands.' 
 
600 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " John Williams, apparently an original emigrant, 
 not connected with others of the name in this neigh- 
 borhood, appears early in the next century among the 
 inhabitants. According to family traditions, became 
 irom Wales, and was born in 1680. His first wife was 
 Hannah Knowlton. His residence was at Poquetan- 
 nock village, but within the bounds of Norwich, as is 
 evident from his serving repeatedly as one of the 
 selectmen of the town, in 1721, 1728, and afterwards. 
 He died early in the year 1742, leaving a widow, 
 Mary. His will provides for his only son, Joseph, 
 and sons-in-law, Nathaniel Giddings and James Geer. 
 His estate comprised the homestead farm, agrist-mill, 
 fulling-mill, a wharf, and two warehouses at the Land- 
 ing. Among his personal effects were five negroes, 
 valued at £600. Total estate, £21,727. 
 
 "The following is a contemporary notice of his 
 death, Jan. 12, 1741-42: 
 
 " ' Ciipt. John' Wiilijims died at Pockatorinock of pleurisy lifter 7 days' 
 illiiesfi. He w:is a giiod CMnimoiiwealth's Diaii, traded much by sea and 
 hind with goud sut:ce.S8 fur many years, and acquired wholly by his own 
 industry a great estate. He was a vei-y just dealer aged about 60 years.' 
 
 " Brig.-Gen. Joseph Williams, of Norwich, one of 
 the purchasers of the Connecticut Reserve, was a 
 grandson of Capt. John. He died Oct. 3, 1800, aged 
 forty-seven. 
 
 " Ebenezer Witter, of Preston, died Jan. 31, 1711 
 -12. He left a wife, Dorothy, and seven children, — 
 Joseph, Ebenezer, William, Elizabeth, Mary, Dorothy, 
 Hannah. Estate, £729. 
 
 "Daniel Woodward, of Preston, died in 1713; 
 left wife, Elizabeth, and twelve children from eleven 
 to thirty-three years of age. Daniel Woodward, Jr., 
 administered on the estate. 
 
 "In 1718 the proprietors of Norwich east of the 
 Shetucket were enumerated. The list includes only 
 property-holders who were voters and paid rates to 
 the ministry: Benjamin Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, 
 John Clark, Obed Cook, John Downs, Mr. Samuel 
 Fitch, David Francis, John Glover, Matthew Hunt- 
 ington, Andrew Huntington, Greenfield Larrabee, 
 Nathaniel Larrabee, John Larrabee, Daniel Lefflng- 
 well, Nathaniel Leffingwell, Daniel Mix, James Mix, 
 Daniel Roath, John Rockwell, Joseph Rockwell, Jo- 
 siah Rockwell, Samuel Rockwell, John Williams, 
 Joseph Williams. 
 
 "To these were added Mr. Worthington, if he 
 settle there; Isaac Huntington, in right of Matthew 
 Coy ; and tliree half-share men,— Hezekiah, Benjamin, 
 and Jabez Fitch." 
 
 War of the Eevolution.— The records of Preston 
 show that its inhabitants were early and determined 
 in opposing the measures of the Britijh government 
 which led to the Revolution. As far back as 1770 
 they voted in town-meeting to use no goods imported 
 from Great Britain, and prohibited the sale of such in 
 town, and at the same time appointed a committee to 
 enforce the observance of their vote. In July, 1774, 
 they passed resolutions of sympathy with Boston, 
 
 and protested against the acts of Parliament passed 
 in hostility to that town and to the colony of Massa- 
 chusetts. Later in the same year they appointed a 
 Committee of Observation and Correspondence, whose 
 duty was to see that the inhabitants of Preston and 
 all persons within the limits of the same complied 
 strictly with the several acts of the Provincial Con- 
 gress. They were also to communicate with the towns 
 of this and the neighboring colonies on matters of 
 public interest and safety. 
 
 The Massachusetts Historical Collections, fourth 
 series, volume four, contain a letter from this com- 
 mittee, dated Aug. 20, 1774, addressed to the Com- 
 mittee of Correspondence for the town of Boston, in 
 which, after referring to the condition of public af- 
 fairs, they say, — 
 
 " Capt. Belcher, who is one of our committee, and a zealous friend to 
 the liberties of this country, waits on you with this, and will acquaint 
 you with the spirit of our people, and give you a copy of the doings of 
 our town on the 11th of July last. He will also bring you a small sum 
 of money towards the relief of your poor. For these our subsci-iptions 
 are still out, and we expect to make up in all about fifty pounds lawful 
 money. 
 
 [Signed] " Samuel Mott, per order of Committee." 
 
 To this communication a reply was made Aug. 24, 
 1774, saying, — 
 
 " We have received by Capt. Belcher your letter of the 20th, and the 
 sum of money you were kind enough to send for the support of nnr poor, 
 and it gives us pleasure amidst our sufferings to find our brethren deter- 
 mined to aid and support us while we are struggling for American free- 
 dom. 
 
 [Signed] "Joseph Warren, per order of Committee." 
 
 From the military rolls in the Connecticut State Li- 
 brary it appears that in April, 1775, on hearing of 
 the skirmishers at Concord and Lexington, three com- 
 panies of militia were enrolled in Preston, commanded 
 respectively by Capt. Ebenezer Witter, William 
 Belcher, and Roger Billings, and held in readiness to 
 march for the relief of Boston should their services 
 there be found necessary. But it appearing by the 
 intelligence next received that no further hostilities 
 were occurring, they were after a few days' waiting 
 dismissed. Immediately after the battle of Bunker 
 Hill, however, in June of the succeeding year, two of 
 the companies at least, those of Capts. Witter and 
 Belcher, and probably also that of Capt. Billings, were 
 again enrolled and at once placed in active service, 
 and from thence forward until the close of the war 
 the town of Preston continued to furnish its full pro- 
 portion of men for the field, and to provide for them 
 when necessary during their term of service. In 1781 
 a committee was appointed by the town to enlLst from 
 it fifteen soldiers for three years' service, being author- 
 ized to offer them £6 bounty in silver, or .such other 
 articles as they might be willing to receive as an 
 equivalent for it, together with forty shillings per 
 month wages, made equal to them in Indian corn at 
 three shillings per bushel, and good pork at three pence 
 per pound, they to receive in addition all bounties, 
 clothing, and refreshments given by the State or Con- 
 tinental authorities. Later in the vear a further 
 
PEESTON. 
 
 6(11 
 
 committee was appointed to divide the town into 
 twenty classes, each class to furnish one soldier, and 
 thus fill up the town's quota in the Continental 
 army. 
 
 The Connecticut State records show by quarter- 
 masters' receipts there on file that in 1777 the select- 
 men of Preston sent to that part of the army stationed 
 on the Hudson River four bales of clothing for the 
 use of the soldiers from that town, and again the same 
 year, and for the like purpose, arms, blankets, and 
 accoutrements of the value of £67 Is. 6rf. At the 
 commencement of the war, however, with their in- 
 ■complete organization and restricted means, it was 
 not always practicable for either the town or State to 
 promptly meet all the necessities of their condition, 
 and instances are not wanting where the requisite 
 provision was made by individual sacrifice. One 
 such deserves to be commemorated. At the session of 
 the General Assembly, May, 1777, Ebenezer Witter, 
 of Preston (as appears by the legislative record), pre- 
 sented a memorial, stating that on the 20th of June, 
 1776, he had been by the General Assembly appointed 
 a captain in Col. Selden's regiment, to serve to Dec. 
 25, 1776, that he did serve and until the regiment 
 was discharged, but that no means had been furnished 
 him with which to pay his company, and that, fearing 
 lest the failure of payment might be a detriment to 
 the service, he had hired four hundred pounds lawful 
 money, and with the same had paid oS all his soldiers 
 to save the credit of the State, and for the sum so ex- 
 pended he asked to be reimbursed. 
 
 Civil and Military. — The petition of the inhabit- 
 ants of the town for incorporation was presented to the 
 Legislature in 1686, and signed by the following per- 
 sons : Thomas Parke, Sr., Thomas Parke, Jr., Thomas 
 and Jonathan Tracy, Hugh Amos, Jonathan Rudd, 
 Caleb Forbes, John Amos, John Rude, Peter Branch, 
 Joseph Morgan, Thomas Rose, Daniel Brewster, Na- 
 thaniel and John Parke, Charles Williams, Jonathan 
 Geer, Edward Litell, and James Smith. The petition 
 was granted in January, 1687. 
 
 The plantation act is dated Jan. 15, 1686, in which 
 fifteen persons are named, viz. : Hugh Amos, John 
 Avery, Thomas Avery, Benjamin Brewster, Caleb 
 Forbes, Capt. Samuel Mason, Ephraim Miner, John 
 Parke, Thomas Parke, John Plumbe, Thomas Rose, 
 Jonathan Rudd, John Stanton, Jonathan Tracy, and 
 Thomas Tracy. 
 
 INTBRESTIKG DOCnMENT. 
 "To Samuel A. Ooit, Esq., of Preston, in New London County, one of 
 his majesties Justices of Peace for said county, comes Josliua Douner, of 
 «aia Preston, and complains and prosecutes in behalf of our sovereign 
 Lord and King against Consider Tiffany, of said Preston, and says that 
 the said Tiffany with sundry other persons who were good and faithful 
 subjects of our Lord and King, being at the dwelling house of the Kev. 
 Mr. Asher Kossiter, of said Preston, sometime in the month of March 
 last past, the said Tiffany, not having the fear of God before his eyes, 
 and being moved and instigated by the Devil to move and stir up strife, 
 envy and discord among neighbors, and to give tlio said Mr. Rossiter and 
 otljers an iil opinion of said complainant and to lessen his, the said com- 
 plainanl's character, he, the said Tiffany, did wittingly, willingly and 
 
 wickedly contrive, make and publish the fDllowing false sentences and 
 reports (viz.) Dr. Douner, meaning complainant, says tliat Mr. Rossiter 
 cannot pray and is a man of no religion and tliat Paul I'aj-ks wiis not 
 such a fellow as Mr. Rossiter was to go to thi' tavern aSahbatli day in'glit 
 and buy tickets, wliich false reports spoken as aforesaiii has a direct and 
 natural tendency to disturb, disquiet and destroy the peace, order, friend- 
 ship and unanimity among neighbors and is against tlie peace of our 
 sovereign Lord and King, his crown and dignity, and contraty to the 
 laws of this colony in the colony law book, page 14;i, entitled an act for 
 tile punishment of lying, and page 185, entitled an act against Itreaking 
 the peace, the complainant having given bond for piosecntioli as tlie 
 said law directs and prays for process again.«t said Tiflany that he may 
 be h.ad on examination on the premises and dealt witll as the liiw directs. 
 Dated at Preston the 22d day of April, a.d. 1760. 
 
 "Joshua Dounkr." 
 
 Long Society, — " This ecclesiastical society com- 
 prised a long and comparatively narrow strip, lying 
 east of the rivers Shetucket and Thames. Well might 
 it be called Long,^ for it originally extended over the 
 whole eastern border of the Nine-miles-square, from 
 Plainfield to Poquetannock, and this line of the origi- 
 nal purchase, in its liberal measurement, was proba- 
 bly ten or twelve miles. 
 
 ''The farmers on this side of the rivers petitioned 
 the town as early as 1699 to be released from paying 
 ecclesiastical rates in Norwich, on account of the 
 great inconvenience they found in attending divine 
 worship, by reason of the ferry and their distance 
 from the town plot. After crossing the river at the 
 old fording-place it was necessary to traverse a 
 tedious winding path around the Chelsea hills to get 
 into the town street and pass on to the meeting-house. 
 The desired permission was not then granted, but 
 twenty-one years later they were freely allowed to 
 become a distinct parish, and sixty acres of land set 
 apart for their first minister. 
 
 " The church was constituted in 1726, under the 
 Rev. Jabez Wight, the first and only pastor ever set- 
 tled among them. Mr. Wight was a native of Ded- 
 ham, Mass., and a graduate of Harvard College. His 
 wife was Ruth Swan ; they had four sons, who became 
 worthy members of society. Pie died in 1782, and 
 the church seems to have died with him. No regular 
 public worship was held, and the meeting-house was 
 allowed to decay and fall to pieces. 
 
 " In 1786, Long Society was annexed to Preston, 
 and instead of the designation of ' 5th of Norwich,' 
 took that of ' 2d of Preston.' 
 
 " In the year 1817 a fresh attempt was made to es- 
 tablish a worshiping assembly in this old society. A 
 new meeting-house was built upon the ancient site, 
 which was open to all denominations of Christians. 
 The services were kept up for a time on the system of 
 voluntary contributions, but could not be perma- 
 nently maintained, and soon ceased altogether. 
 
 "In August, 1837, still another effort was made, 
 and at this time a small Congregational Church was 
 gathered with the assistance of Rev. Anson Gleason, 
 who had been officiating as a missionary at Mohegan. 
 The communion-plate belonging to the old church of 
 
 1 Sometimes called " Fifth Society," and also " East Norwich." 
 
602 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Mr. Wight, which had not been used for forty years, 
 was brought out on this occasion. The attempt to re- 
 suscitate the church, however, was not successful. 
 The members soon disbanded, and in 1857 the edifice 
 was sold to the town of Preston for municipal use. 
 
 "The ancient burial-ground of Long Society lies 
 around this building. Here we find the names of 
 many of the early inhabitants, — Corning, Fitch, Gid- 
 dings, Haskell, Harvey, Hilliard, Pride, Koath, Tru- 
 man, Wight, Williams, etc. 
 
 '' One of the oldest inscribed stones perpetuates the 
 memory of the first deacon of Mr. Wight's church : 
 
 '" HiM-e laia the body of Deacon Benjamin Fitch, died Oct'' 19, 1727, 
 in y^ STfJ year of hits iige.' 
 
 " Iimcriiitiiin on llie Gravestone of Rev. Mr. Wight. 
 
 '"Sacred to tiio memory of Rev. Jiibez Wiglit, late Pastor of the 
 
 Cliiirrli of Uliii-t in tlie d Society in Piestou, wlio in tiie 50th jear of 
 
 liis miMJstiy anil %'l<\. of his ajie, on the 15th day of Sept., 17S2, Entered 
 
 into til e joy of his Lord. 
 
 " ' Zion may in his fall bemoan, 
 A Beauty and a pillar gone.' 
 
 " An obituary notice of Mr. Wight says of him, — 
 
 '" Ftmd of relirement from the bustling world, he was apparently 
 never .so happy as wlien traveling the road of an unnoticed humility.' " 
 
 Mr. Wight was succeeded by Eoswell Whitmore 
 and Jacob Allen. Dr. Benjamin Lord, of Norwich 
 Town, preached Mr. Wight's ordination sermon in 
 1726, which was published. The records speak in 
 1758 of a meeting-house and a minister then settled 
 in the " East Society of Norwich." None has been 
 settled since his death. After that the meeting-house 
 was opened to all denominations who chose to occupy 
 it. The second house was built in 1817, and subse- 
 quently sold to the town for a town-house. At one 
 time it was voted that any one in the society might 
 invite a minister of any denomination to preach, and 
 a collection would be taken up to pay him. The 
 records often speak of unsuccessful efforts to raise 
 money to support preaching for six months at a time. 
 An attempt was made to resuscitate this waning 
 church in October, 1837, but paucity of members and 
 inefficiency finally prevailed, and it was disbanded in 
 1857. 
 
 Congregational Church in Preston.— This church 
 was organized Nov. 16, 1698, and Eev. Salmon Treat 
 was the first pastor. His successors have been as fol- 
 lows: Asher Rosseter, Jonathan Fuller, Lemuel 
 Tyler, John Hyde, Augustus B. Collins, Nathan S. 
 Hunt, Elijah W. Tucker. 
 
 The church was very small for forty or fifty years, 
 having become reduced during the ministry of Mr. 
 Rosseter to seventeen, and numbering only twenty- 
 eiglit at the death of Mr. Tyler. In the next fifty 
 years it increased to more than one hundred, being 
 nearly as large as at any time in its history. A large 
 fund renders the support of the gospel very easy. 
 The house of worship was repaired and remodeled in 
 1849. 
 
 Hall's Mills, situated at Hallville, in the town of 
 Preston, are owned by Joseph, Benjamin, and George 
 
 Hall, constituting the firm of Hall Brothers. These 
 mills came into their possession in 1862. Previous to 
 this it was known as the Old Kimball Factory, where 
 custom and roll-carding was done for many years. In 
 1866 its building and water-power was enlarged to a 
 three-set mill, which was run in the manufacturing 
 of woolen yarn until June 3, 1873, at which time it 
 was burned, and rebuilt as a wool-scouring mill. 
 Started in 1874 cleaning and scouring California 
 wool. During the past year (1880) they have added 
 a new five-set woolen-mill, which is now running in 
 the manufacture of colored flannels. 
 
 EEPIIESENTATIVES FEOM 1693 TO 1881. 
 
 169.S,— Capt. Benj. Brewster, Lieut: John Morgan, Ensign John Parke. 
 
 1694. — Tho. Tracey, Lieut. John Morgan, John Parke. 
 
 1695. — Lieut. John Tracey, Jos. Freeman, Tho. Rose. 
 
 1696.— Tho. Tiacey. 
 
 1697. — Ensiyn John Parkes, Joseph Freeman. 
 
 1698.— Caleb Fobes. 
 
 1699. — Lieut. Jonathan Tracie, Ensign John Park, John Parker. 
 
 1700. — Jonathan Tracie, Thomas Tracie. 
 
 1701. — John Parks, Thomas Tracie. 
 
 1702. — Ensign Jolin Parks, John Starkweather, John Richards. 
 
 1703.— Caleb Fobes, William B.lling, John Richards. 
 
 1704.— Capt. John Parks, Caleb Fobes, Daniel Brewster. 
 
 1705.- Thomas Tracy, Caleb Fobes, Daniel Brewster. 
 
 1706— Capt. John Park, Lieut. Daniel Brewster.l 
 
 1707. — Capt. John Parke, Ensign Wm. Billing, Lieut. Daniel Brewster. 
 
 1708. — Lieut. Daniel Brewster, Caleb Fobes, Daniel Brewster. 
 
 1709. — Capt. John Parke, Thomas Tracy, Daniel Brewster. 
 
 1710. — Daniel Brewster, Thomas Tracy, Capt. John Park, Jonathan 
 Tracey. 
 
 1711. — Capt. John Parks, Daniel Woodward. 
 
 1712. — Capt. JollEi Park, Lieut. Daniel Brewster. 
 
 1713. — Capt. John Parke, Lieut. Daniel Brewster, John Richards, Ensign 
 Wm. Billings. 
 
 1714. — Capt. John Park, Lieut. Daniel Brewster, Ensign Wm. Billings, 
 
 1715. — Capt. John Park, Lieut. Daniel Brewster. 
 
 1716. — John Park, John Brown, Capt. Daniel Brewster. 
 
 1717. — Capt, Daniel Brewster, Wm. Billing, John Freeman, John Brown. 
 
 1718. — John Freeman, John Amos, Capt. Daniel Brewster, Joseph 
 
 Kenny. 
 1719. — John Brown, John Freeman, Capt. Daniel Brewster. 
 
 1720.— Caleb Fobes, Thomas Rose. 
 
 1721. — Capt. Daniel Brewster, Moses Belcher, John Brown. 
 
 1722. — Capt. Daniel Brewster, Thomas Rose, Caleb Fobes, John Keeny. 
 
 1723. — Capt. Daniel Brewster, Thomas Rose, Joseph Gates, John Cook. 
 
 1724. — .losepli Gales, Thomas Rose. 
 
 1725. — Capt. Daniel Brewster, John Brown. 
 
 1726. — Capt. Daniel Brewster, John Brown, John Ames, Caleb Fobes. 
 
 1727-28. — Capt. Daniel Brewt-ter, John Brown. 
 
 1729. — Joseph Winter, Thomas Rose, Joseph Billings. 
 
 1730. — Joseph Witter, Joseph Billings, John Cook. 
 
 1731. — Capt. Daniel Brewster, John Cook, Joseph Witter. 
 
 1732. — llezekiah Packer, John Cook, Joseph Witter. 
 
 1733. — John Brown, Hczekiah Packer, Jedediah Tracey, Mark Williams. 
 
 1734. — .lolin Brown, Hezekiah Packer, Jedediah Tracey. 
 
 1735. — Jedediah Tracey, John Cook, Joseph Gates, John Brown. 
 
 1736.— Hezekiah Park, John Cook, Mark Williams. 
 
 1737. — Jedediah Tracey, John Cook, Hezekiah Parks. 
 
 1738.— Jedediah Tracey, John Cook. 
 
 1739. — Jedediah Tracey, Nathaniel Brown, Hezekiah Park. 
 
 1740.— Wm, Witter, Joseph Billinscs, 
 
 1741. — Hezekiah Parkes, Joseph Billings, Nathaniel Brown, Samuel 
 
 Morgan, 
 1742, — Hezekiah Parkes, Joseph Billings, Capt, John Avery, Capt, Sam- 
 uel Coit, 
 1743,— Samuel Morgan, Capt, Samuel Coit, Capt, John Avery, Nathaniel 
 Brown, 
 
 1 The names of deputies without towns appear in the record for 1706. 
 
PRESTON. 
 
 603 
 
 1744. — Samuel Morgan, Capt. Ebenezer Leonard, Wm.Wittur, Nathaniel 
 
 Brown. 
 1745. — Wm. Wittar, Capt. Ebenezer Leonard, Samuel Morgan, Nathaniel- 
 Brown. 
 1746.— "Win. Wittar, Capt. Samuel *Coit. 
 
 1747. — Humphrey Avery, Roger Billinga, Samuel Morgan, Capt. Eben- 
 ezer Leonai"d. 
 1748. — Joseph Wittar, Nathaniel Brown, Sam'l Morgan, Elijah Belcher. 
 1749. — Wm. Wittar, Maj. Samuel Coit, Samuel Morgan, Roger Billings. 
 1750, — Samuel Morgan, Samuel Coit, Capt. Wm. Wittar, Capt. Ebenezer 
 
 Leonard. 
 Vjai. — Cyprian Strong, Maj. Samuel Coit, Samuel Morgan, Nathaniel 
 
 Brown. 
 1752. — Capt. Wm. Wittar, Capt. Roger Billings, Capt. Samuel Morgan. 
 1753. — Capt. Wm. Wittar, Maj. Samuel Coit, Capt. Samuel Morgan, Capt. 
 
 Nathaniel Brown. 
 1754. — Capt. Wm. Witter, Maj. Samuel Coit, Capt. Samuel Morgan, Capt. 
 
 Daniel Gates. 
 1755. — Wm. Witter, Samuel Brown, Capt. Samuel Morgan, Nathaniel 
 
 Brown. 
 1756. — Capt. Wm. Witter, John Tyler, Capt. Samuel Morgan, Nathaniel 
 
 Brown. 
 1757. — Capt. Wm. Witter, Nathaniel Brown, Capt. Samuel Morgan, Maj. 
 
 Samuel Coit. 
 1758.— Capt. Wm. Witter, Nathaniel Brown, John Tyler. 
 1759. — Samuel Morgan, Capt. Nathaniel Leonard, Capt. Wm. Witter, 
 
 Nathaniel Brown. 
 1760. — Capt. Samuel Morgan, Col. Samuel Coit, William Blodget, Capt. 
 
 Mosea Tyler. 
 1761. — Capt. Samuel Morgan, Col. Samuel Coit, Capt. Joseph Tyler. 
 1762.— Col. Samuel Coit, Capt. William Witter, v apt. Samuel Morgan. 
 1763. — Juaeph Kinnee, John Tyler, Simon Brewster, Timothy Lester. 
 1764._Capt. Samuel Morgan, Col. Samuel Coit, Robert Creary. 
 1765. — Capt. William Winter. Names of deputies not recorded. 
 1766.— Capt. Samuel Morgan, Col. Samuel Coit, Simon Brewster, John 
 
 Tyler. 
 1767.— Capt. Samuel Morgan, Col. Samuel Coit, Robert Creary. 
 1768.— Capt. Samuel Morgan, Col. Samuel Coit, Simon Brewster, Capt 
 
 Joseph Tyler. 
 1769.— Capt. Samuel Morgan, Col. Samuel Coit, Capt. Roger Sterry, Capt. 
 
 Moses Tyler. 
 1770.— Robert Creary, Capt. John Tyler, Ca^t. Roger Sterry. 
 1771.— Capt. William Witter, Col. Samuel Coit, John Avery, Timothy 
 
 Lester. 
 1772.— Samuel Mott, Col. Samuel Coit, Jonathan Brewster, Benjamin 
 
 Cuit. 
 1773.— Samuel Mott, Col. Samuel Coit, Capt. Roger Sterry, C^pt. John 
 
 Tyler. 
 1774.— Edward Mott, Capt. John Tyler, Robert Crary, Capt. James Mor- 
 gan. 
 1775._Capt. Roger Sterry, Col. John Tyler, Capt. Roger Sterry. 
 1776.~J. Halsey, S. Tyler, William Witter, Asa Kinne. 
 1777,_j. Halsey, S. Tyler, D. Adams, S. Mott. 
 1778.— J. Halsey, Benj. C-oit, James Morgan. 
 1779. — J. Halsey, Asa Kinue. 
 
 1780.— J. Avery, A. Huntington, J. Downer, N.Lord. 
 1781.— S. Mott, E. Tucker, E. Brown. 
 1782.— J. Halsey, Samuel Mott, E. Brown, Benj. Coit. 
 *]783.— N. Peters, Robert Cray, E. Brown, John Tyler. 
 1784.— Samuel Mott, Alex. Stewart, Jolm Avery, Benj. Coit. 
 17g5._Saniufl Mott, Nathan Peters, Nathaniel Lord, Benj. Coit. 
 1786.— Jeremiah Halt^ey, Samuel Mott, Benj. Coit. 
 1787.— Amos Avery, Oliver Crnry, John Tyler, Benj. Coit. 
 1788.— Simon Brewster, Nathaniel Lord, Jeremiah Halsey. 
 1789.— iBaiic Avery, Alex. Stewart, Samuel Mott, Wm. Belcher. 
 1790.- Samuel Mott, Daniel Morgan, Isaac Avery, Nathaniel Lord. 
 1791.— Samuel Mott, James Morgan, Jonathan Brewster, Alex. Stewart. 
 1792.— Jeremiah Halsey, Charles Fanning, John Crary, Moses Lester. 
 ]793,_Samuel Mott, Nathaniel Lord. Isaac Avery, Wheeler Coit. 
 17<(4,_JohD Crary, Charles Fanning, Jonathan Brewster, John Wilson. 
 1795._Ieaac Avery, Elisha Brown, Samuel Mott, Nathaniel Lord. 
 1796.— Jeremiah Halsey, Charles Fanning, Samuel Mott, Nathaniel Lord. 
 1797.— Isaac Avery, Daniel Morgan, Jr., Amos Avei-y, Moses Tyler. 
 1798._l8aac Avery, Alex. Stewart, Elias Brown, Nathaniel Lord. 
 1799.— Elias Brown, Alex. Stewart, Nathaniel Lord. 
 1800.— Elias Brown, Alex. Stewart, Amos Avery, Nathaniel Lord. 
 1801.— Elias Brown, Alex. Stewart, Amos Avery. 
 
 1802. — John Crary, Alex. Stewart, John Wittar, John Wilson. 
 1803. — Amos Avery, Alex. Stewart, Elias Brown, Charles Fanning. 
 1804. — Alex. Stewart, Elias Brown, Charles Fanning. 
 1805. — Avery Downer, Alex. Stewart, Joshua Duwner, Fred. Fanning. 
 1806. — Avery Downer, Alex. Stewart, Isaac Avery, Charles Fanning. 
 1807. — John Wilson, Dennison Palmer, Isaac Averj', Charles Fanning. 
 18U8. — James Treat, Benj. Coit, Isaac Avery, Elijah Lester. 
 1809. — Alex. Stewart, Isaac Hewitt, Isaac Avery, Hezekiah Boardman. 
 1810. — James Cook, Jedediah Bsirstow, Stephen Meech, Wm. Cogswell, 
 1811. — Nathaniel Kimball, Alex. Stewart, Avery Downer, Charles Fan- 
 ning. 
 1812.-^ Robert S. Avery, Alex. Stewart, Jr., John Morgan, Jr. 
 1813. — John Morgan, Jr., Charles Fanning, Stephen Meech, Nathan 
 
 Geer. 
 1814. — Isnac Avery, Charles Fanning, Joseph W, Brewster, Samuel 
 
 Leonard. 
 1815.- Eli&ha Crary, Alex. Stewart, Jr., Alex. Stewart, Erastus T. Smith. 
 1816. — Avery Downer, Nathaniel Kimball, Ebenezer Avery, Henry F. 
 
 Lamb. 
 1817. — John T. Mott, John Brewster, Ebenezer Avery, Henry F. Lamb. 
 1818. — John T Mott, John Brewster, James Cook, Jonathan Brewster. 
 1819. — James Cook, Jonathan Brewster, 
 1820. — Henry Palmer, Elisha Brewster. 
 1821. — Henry Brown, Joseph Brewster. 
 1822. — Amos Avery (2), Jonathan Brewster. 
 1823. — Stephen Meech, William Kimball. 
 1824. — Dennison Palmer, William Kimball. 
 ]825. — James Cook, Allyn Chapman. 
 1826. — Elisha Crary, Billings Brown. 
 1827. — Amos Avery, Jonathan Brewster. 
 1S28. — Asa A. Gore, Charles Hewitt. 
 1829. — Amos Avery, Jonatlian Brewster. 
 1830. — Avery Downer, Joseph Harvey. 
 1831.— Jonas Ayer, Walter Palmer. 
 1832.— Jonas Ayer. 
 
 1833.— Aslier P. Brown, William Kimball, Jr. 
 1834.— David Baldwin, Tracy Gates. 
 1835.— Isaac Avery, Joseph Harvey. 
 1836.— John T. Mott, Erastus O'Brien. 
 1837. — David Baldwin, Frank Kimball. 
 1838.— Elisha Crary, J. S. Halsey. 
 1839.— Asher P. Brown, Isaac Williams (2). 
 1840.— Tracy Gates, Erastus Morgan, Jr. 
 1841.- George Loving, Asa L. Latham. 
 1842.- Joseph Harvey, Charles Hewitt, Jr. 
 1843.— Oliver Hewitt. 
 1844.— John P. Gates, Albert G. Ayers. 
 1845.— Avery Browning, Stanton Hewitt. 
 1846.— Erastus O'Brien, Asa A. Gore. 
 1847.— Edwin Palmed, Charles Hewitt. 
 1848.— Elijah B. Dewey, Nathan Rude. 
 1849.— William Pendleton, Amos A. Gore. 
 1850.— Asa L. Latham, E. B. Downing. 
 1861. — 'ohn W Gallup, E. F. Hewitt. 
 1852.— N;ithan Stanton, Charles B. Ayer. 
 1853.— William P. Witter, Warren Andrews. 
 1854. — Henry P. Marion, Stanton Hewett. 
 18n5.— Oliver P. Avery, J. W. Gallup. 
 1856.— Alba Hude, George G. Benjamin. 
 1857.— Dixon S. Hall, John S. Lester. 
 1858.— Henry Harvey, E. F. Hewett. 
 iy59,_Su]. S. Pendleton, Luth. F. Carter. 
 I860.— Niih. B. Bates, A. B. Latham. 
 1861.— Oliver Hewitt, William Briggs. 
 1862.— Asahel Tanner, Joseph T. Button. 
 1863.— Sol. Lucas, Charles Hewett. 
 1864.— Alexander Yerrington, Charles D. Hedge. 
 1865.— Amos Stanton, E. O'Brien. 
 186ti.— W. I>. Huxie, William Roath, 
 1867._Charie8 Hewitt, E. B. Dewey. 
 1868.— Horace A. Fitch, William P. Witter, Jr. 
 1869.— Daniel S. Guile, Prentice Avery. 
 iy70.— Henry J. Gallnji, N. D. Bates. 
 1871.— Seth Maine, Charles W. Carter. 
 1872.— Harvey D. Corning, Alfied C. Guile. 
 1873.— Nich. B. Bates, II. H. Roath. 
 1874.— Austin A. Chapman, George Ayer. 
 
604 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1875.— B. F. Hewitt, Ed. Benjamin. 
 1876.— James F. Forsyth, Alfred 0. Guile. 
 1877.— CLalies Hewitt, W. K. Cliapman. 
 1878.— George A. Sjdleman, Jr., James H. Fitch. 
 1879. — Edwin Beiijaniiii, Benjamin Lucas. 
 1880.— Charles A. Burdicli, William Burton. 
 1881.— James E. Peckliam, W. H. Bennett. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIII. 
 
 PRESTON— (Continued). 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 
 
 Capt. George G. Benjamin, eldest child of Capt. 
 Ephraim Benjamin, was born in Preston, Conn., Feb. 
 11, 1814. His grandfather was Maj. Asa Benjamin, 
 a native of Connecticut. He was a Revolutionary 
 soldier, and a liarness-maker and saddler by trade. 
 He left one son, Ephraim, who married Sarah Green, 
 daughter of Peter and Sarah Green, of East Green- 
 wich, R. I., and had eight children, viz. : George G., 
 Harriet, Charles (deceased), William (deceased), Sa- 
 rah, Asa (deceased), Mary, and Edwin, all born in 
 Preston, Conn., and all the sons engaged in the 
 whaling business. 
 
 Capt. Ephraim Benjamin was a captain of the State 
 militia, and politically was a Democrat. He held the 
 various offices of his town, and was a man much re- 
 spected. He was a farmer by occupation. He died 
 about 1859 or '60, aged seventy-three years, and his 
 wife died in 1876, aged eighty-two years, and both 
 were buried in the cemetery at Long Society. 
 
 Capt. George G. Benjamin, the immediate subject 
 of this sketch, remained at home on his father's farm 
 till he was seventeen years of age, when, being de- 
 sirous of going to sea, he presented himself to Maj. 
 Thomas W. Williams, of New London, who imme- 
 diately employed him, and sent him out as a common 
 sailor before the mast in his ship "Connecticut," 
 Capt. Robert Tate in command. They went on a 
 whaling voyage to the South Seas, and were gone ten 
 months. 
 
 He made six different voyages to the South Seas 
 and elsewhere before he was made captain of a vessel 
 named " Clematis,'' owned by Williams & Barnes, in 
 which he made two voyages, both of which were suc- 
 cessful, but the first voyage merits a special mention. 
 
 The single voyage that perhaps before any other 
 merits special notice is that of the " Clematis" (Capt. 
 Benjamin), fitted out by Williams & Barnes, and ar- 
 riving July 4, 1841. She was out ten months and 
 twenty-nine days, went round the world, and brought 
 home two thousand five hundred and forty-eight bar- 
 rels of oil. This voyage, when the time, the distance 
 sailed, and the quantity of oil brought home are con- 
 sidered in connection, merits to be ranked among re- 
 markable achievements. 
 
 There is no associated line of business in which the 
 profits are more equitably divided among those en- 
 
 gaged in it than in the whale-fishery. The owners, 
 agents, officers, and crew are all partners in the 
 voyage, and each has his proportionate share of 
 the results. Its operation, therefore, is to enlarge 
 the means and multiply the comforts of the many, as 
 well as to add to the wealth of the wealthy. The old 
 West India trade, which preceded it, was destructive 
 in a remarkable degree to human life and health, 
 and engendered habits of dissipation, turbulence, 
 and reckless extravagance. The whaling business 
 is a great advance upon this, not only as it re- 
 gards life, but also in its relation to order, happiness, 
 and morality. The mass of the people, the public, 
 have gained by the exchange. The -improvements in 
 the aspect of the city of New London, Conn., during 
 the last twenty years may be traced to the success- 
 ful prosecution of the whale-fishery. 
 
 He made two voyages in the ship " Lowell" as cap- 
 tain, owned by Messrs. Williams & Barnes. His third 
 vessel was the " Montezuma." Besides visiting the 
 South Seas many, many times, he has circumnavi- 
 gated the globe seven times, and visited nearly all the 
 important islands of the seas. 
 
 He was a captain sixteen years, till 1854, working 
 more than twenty-three years as a whaler. In 1854 
 he settled in Preston, in that part of the town known 
 as Poquetannock, on a farm of some one hundred and 
 sixty acres. 
 
 March 29, 1843, he married Elizabeth M., daughter 
 of Henry C. and Sarah (Chatman) Avery. Mrs. Ben- 
 jamin was born June 22, 1817. Their children are 
 Henrietta A. (died in 1864, aged fifteen years) and 
 Amanda W. (born June 28, 1855). 
 
 Capt. Benjamin is a Democrat, as all' his fathers 
 were. About 1855 he was elected to the Legislature 
 by both parties, only one vote being cast against him. 
 He has also held the other principal oflSces of his 
 town. Mrs. Benjamin is a member of the Baptist 
 Church, and the captain is a liberal supporter of the 
 Episcopal Church, of which his daughter is a mem- 
 ber. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIV. 
 
 SALEM.i 
 
 The precise time of the first settlement made within 
 the present limits of Salem remains in doubt, but from 
 what we have been able to gather from the first histories 
 of the colonies we think it can be safely asserted that 
 the first settlements were made in the southern portion 
 thereof, near the last residence of Deacon Josiah Ray- 
 mond, as we will subsequently show. On the 24th day 
 of May, 1685, the General Court granted to Lyme a 
 tract lying north of that township, nine miles in length 
 by two in breadth. 
 
 1 By Hon. A. 0. Gallup. 
 
^^.^■u^ ^ 
 
 -(-^ / u 
 
SALEM. 
 
 605 
 
 This had hitherto been claimed by the Mohegans, 
 and long afterwards they asserted, in their petitions 
 to the crown, that for this large tract they had never 
 received any remuneration whatever. 
 
 In 1699, Colchester was bought by one Nathaniel 
 Foote, who acted as agent in behalf of a company of 
 purchasers. If we may believe the subsequent peti- 
 tions of the Mohegans, this purchase was effected in 
 a manner by no means honest, Owaneco being under 
 the influence of liquor at the time, and the only con- 
 sideration given by the said Foote being some five or 
 six shillings. The settlers, however, may have acted 
 on the ground that the JMohegan country was already 
 justly the property of the colony. This purchase took 
 in nearly all of what were called the "Mohegan Hunt- 
 ing-Grounds," and the town grant was enlarged soon 
 after, so as to comprehend them entirely; but this last 
 act, it is probable, was not intended to extinguish the 
 Indian right. 
 
 A quarrel arose, doubtless on account of these trans- 
 actions, between the Mohegans and the settlers of Col- 
 chester, and each inflicted petty insults and injuries 
 upon the other. Daniel Mason took the part of the 
 Indians, and so excited the wrath of the townsmen 
 that as he was riding through Colchester one day 
 some of them threatened to shoot his horse under him. 
 But the dissatisfaction of the Mohegans still con- 
 tinued respecting the territory which they had lost in 
 Colchester. They acknowledged, indeed, that this 
 land had been purchased, but they asserted that the 
 manner of the purchase was illegal and its terms un- 
 fair, — illegal, because made without the consent of 
 Mason, their overseer; unfair, because Owaneco was 
 intoxicated at the time, and because the price bore no 
 proportion to the value of the property. History in- 
 forms us that Nicholas Hallam, a strong friend of the 
 Mohegans, drew up a petition enumerating all their 
 wrongs and presented it to Queen Anne. A commis- 
 sion was issued July 29, 1704, for the trial of the case, 
 and twelve commissioners were appointed, at the head 
 of whom was Joseph Dudley, Governor of Massa- 
 chusetts. Dudley was in private life an estimable 
 man, a lawyer, a scholar, a gentleman, and a Chris- 
 tian. He was, however, stigmatized as the tool of Sir 
 Edmund Andros, and was long regarded as the bitter 
 enemy of the colony of Connecticut. 
 
 The commissioners were empowered to restore the 
 Mohegans their lands if it appeared they had been 
 unjustly taken away ; yet their decision was not irre- 
 vocable, an appeal might be had to the crown. 
 
 The court was appointed at Stonington. The com- 
 missioners met, and the Governor and company of 
 Connecticut, with all persons holding lands claimeJ 
 by the Mohegans, were summoned to appear. 
 
 In reply the government of the colony appointed a 
 committee with the following instructions: If the 
 court was simply to act as a court of inquiry, they 
 were to defend the cause of the colony, and show the 
 unreasonableness of the Mohegan claims ; if the de- 
 39 
 
 sign of the court appeared to be to decide definitely 
 upon the case, they were to enter a protest and with- 
 draw. They, of course, protested, and their protest 
 was founded on the assertion that the crown had no 
 right to issue such a commission, it being contrary to 
 a statute of Charles I. and to the charter of Connecti- 
 cut. 
 
 All subjects of the colony were likewise forbidden 
 to present themselves before the court, or in any other 
 manner to acknowledge its authority. 
 
 Thus no defendants appeared to support their case. 
 It was not claimed, however, that the Mohegans 
 ought to possess all this territory, but only that por- 
 tion which they had remaining to them when the last 
 treaty was made in 1680 between Uncas and the col- 
 ony. The commissioners went over the circumstances 
 by which, in a space of twenty-two years, the Mohe- 
 gans had been deprived of land measuring, as they 
 said, more than forty square miles, almost without re- 
 ceiving any compensation at all. This land referred 
 to covers the whole of Colchester, a portion of Salem, 
 Lyme, and Montville. 
 
 They referred also to an enactment of the colony 
 by which Daniel Mason was acknowledged as trustee 
 of the Indian lands, and pointed out the number of 
 grants which had been made of those lands, some by 
 Owaneco, some by the colony, without the concur- 
 rence of Mason. 
 
 The decision was then pronounced that the Gover- 
 nor and company of Connecticut should replace the 
 Mohegans in possession of all the lands which they 
 held at the death of Uncas. 
 
 These consisted of three tracts, two of which em- 
 braced nearly all of the town of Salem, one of them 
 eighteen square on the northern bounds of Lyme, 
 since incorporated a portion thereof of this town, 
 and the other comprising the whole township of Col- 
 chester. A bill of costs was filed against the colony 
 of £573 12s. Srf. Owaneco and Ben Uncas thanked 
 the commissioners for their decision, expressed their 
 complete satisfaction with it, and begged that their 
 acknowledgments might be sent to the queen for her 
 kind care of the Mohegans. 
 
 Owaneco next requested that, as Samuel Mason, 
 who had acted as their guardian, was lately deceased, 
 his nephew, John Mason, of Stonington, might be 
 appointed in his place. John Mason was accord- 
 ingly appointed guardian to Owaneco and his people, 
 with authority to manage all their affairs. 
 
 Connecticut appealed against the decision, and on 
 the 15th day of February, 1706, the queen granted a 
 commission of review. John Mason, now the guar- 
 dian of the Mohegans, fell in a low state of health 
 so as for several years to be confined to his house. 
 The government of Connecticut had little interest in 
 prosecuting the affairs, and thus the commission was 
 never used. 
 
 Up to this period in the history of the country the 
 sound of the woodman's axe was not heard, and the 
 
606 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 wild animals of the forest roamed undisturbed by 
 the white man. The feathered flocks filled the air, 
 and the aquatic bird swam on the bosom of her many 
 lakes in undisturbed quietude; but gradually her 
 hills and her valleys were occupied by the hardy 
 pioneer from the Old World, where they one and all 
 could enjoy the freedom of religious liberty, and be 
 the humble possessors in fee simple of an heritage 
 not immediately under the mandate of kings and 
 potentates, but breathe the air of liberty and freedom, 
 and feel that they were lords of their own manors. 
 Society began to shape itself by the stern reason of 
 necessity. Laws were enacted and scrupulously kept, 
 both religious and secular, and the preacher was re- 
 garded as a man of such superior mind and intelli- 
 gence that his word was regarded as the highest 
 authority. The presumption is strong in support of 
 the theory that there were few or no settlers in this 
 town prior to the year 1700, yet tradition says there 
 was in that portion of Lyme now Salem, originally 
 embraced on the two-mile-wide section formerly 
 known as the Lyme Indian hunting-ground. 
 
 Among the early settlers, James Harris, son of 
 James Harris, came to this town from Massapeag, 
 near Uncasville, in 1718, and erected his rude dwell- 
 ing near where Gilbert, Murray now resides, and con- 
 tinued his residence there until 1738, when he re- 
 moved farther north on his extensive tract, and 
 erected a house only a few rods east of the old Harris 
 homestead. 
 
 James Harris had two sons, Jonathan and Lebbeus. 
 Jonathan built the old family bee-hive in about the 
 year 1740, and it is now owned by Justin Harris, a 
 lineal descendant of James. 
 
 Lebbeus moved to the farm now owned by Alvah 
 Morgan, known to this day as the old Sterling place. 
 
 The said James Harris was admitted an inhabitant 
 of Colchester by vote in town-meeting, Dec. 22, 1718. 
 In 1720-21-22, and perhaps later, he was licensed by 
 the General Court at Hartford as " taverner," and 
 probably kept the first " hotel" within the present 
 limits of Salem, on the ground where Gilbert Murray 
 now owns and resides. In October, 1725, he and his 
 son James and sixteen others petitioned the General 
 Court for a new military company in the parish of 
 New Salem, and presented a roll of sixty-four men 
 ready to enlist. Of this number he was chosen and 
 commissioned captain. 
 
 The parish of New Salem was constituted from the 
 south part of Colchester, the north part of Lyme, and 
 a part of Montville by the General Court, April 27, 
 1726, on the petition of Lieut. James Harris and 
 others, with power to settle and support a minister ; 
 and in 1819 the same territory was constituted the 
 present town of Salem, the old boundary line between 
 Colchester and Lyme being what was called the Old 
 Lyme road, or more generally " the Governor's road," 
 leading from Salem Centre, near Music Vale Semi- 
 nary, eastward towards Montville and Norwich. 
 
 Nov. 10, 1726, he gave a deed for the benefit of the 
 new parish of a meeting-house lot, burying-ground, 
 and training-field, and upon this lot was erected the 
 first meeting-house and school-house. The original 
 lot embraced two acres. By a recent act of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly liberty was granted to dispose of one- 
 half of said lot, and Nathan Minard was empowered 
 to make the conveyance, and Gilbert Murray was the 
 purchaser. 
 
 The original trustees were John Holmes, Thomas 
 Jones, and Peletiah Bliss. 
 
 The next church edifice was erected in the north 
 part of the parish, in front of the residence of 
 Henry Smith, two churches in succession occupy- 
 ing this site, and in 1838 the present church edi- 
 fice was erected, and in the year 1875 underwent 
 thorough repairs at a cost of over one thousand dol- 
 lars, which presents as fine an interior as any country 
 church in the county. The church membership num- 
 bers ninety-seven, under the pastorate of Rev. Jairus 
 Ordway, who was settled in 1874. 
 
 Tradition says that one " Lord Gardner" opened the 
 first land-office in Salem for a Boston and Salem Com- 
 pany which was located Avhere Alvah Morgan now re- 
 sides. This company owned large tracts of land, and 
 the purchasers, many of them paying one dollar per 
 acre in wheat, which had to be conveyed by team to 
 Boston, over one hundred miles. The following names 
 appear on the old records as early settlers, viz. : Har- 
 ris, Daniels, Treadway, Kathbone, Gates, Dodge, Bliss, 
 Jones, Morgan, Rogers, Carr, Wells, Watrous, Ransom, 
 Muraford, Miller, Otis, Perkins, Woodbridge, Kill- 
 burn, Gustin, Prince, and Dolbeare. 
 
 During the -war between England and France, in 
 1768 to 1760, a number of families emigrated to Hor- 
 ton, Kings Co., Nova Scotia, on the Bay of Fundy, 
 known as the land of neutral French, from whom 
 have sprung numerous families of wealth and influ- 
 ence, occupying prominent positions in the councils" of 
 the Dominion. 
 
 During the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812 
 Salem furnished a large quota of soldiers for the de- 
 fense of the Union. 
 
 Tradition says that " Cuckold Hill" furnished for 
 the Revolutionary war fourteen soldiers, where now 
 only one solitary family resides. In the late war of 
 the Rebellion thirty-two men were credited to her 
 quota, several of whom surrendered their life in de- 
 fense of the Union, of whom particular mention 
 should be made of Lieut. John T. Maginnis, of the 
 Eighteenth Regiment; John Niles, John 0. Chapel, 
 and Albert Smith, of the Twenty-sixth Regiment. 
 
 Salem is situated on the western border of New 
 London County, the larger portion properly lying in 
 the Connecticut Valley. Its waters, however, are 
 drained into the Thames on the east, and the Nian- 
 tic on the south, and the Connecticut River on the 
 west, the culminating point being on Gates Hill, 
 near the residence of B. F. Chapman, from which 
 
SALEM. 
 
 607 
 
 point, looking eastward, can be discovered the blue 
 distant hilk of Rhode Island, and on the north are 
 distinctly visible the high points of Massachusetts; 
 thence, looking southward. Long Island Sound is seen 
 stretching along the southern horizon until lost in the 
 hazy mist so peculiar to distant views. 
 
 Music Vale Seminary was founded by the late Hon. 
 Orramel Whittlesey in the year 1835, and the first 
 public examination in the year 1840, being the oldest 
 school of the kind in the country. Many hundred 
 young ladies have been ediicated in music there. 
 
 The original Normal Academy of Music was de- 
 stroyed by fire on the 22d of January, 1868, and a 
 new and commodious seminary erected the same year 
 at a cost of $25,000. 
 
 The proprietor, Hon. O. Whittlesey, died Sept. 9, 
 1876, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, hav- 
 ing been prominent in public life, representing the 
 town in the House of Representatives, and senator of 
 the old Ninth Senatorial District, and often held 
 other and important oflices at the hands of the peo- 
 ple. His remains are deposited in his family ceme- 
 tery, beside his wife and other members of the family, 
 on a beautiful spot of ground at the western portion 
 of his former possessions, and a splendid granite 
 monument marks his last resting-place. Only one 
 member of the family, Mrs. Eliza T. Maginnis, still 
 remains in Salem, and occupies the old Hannah Mil- 
 ler cottage, only a few rods north of the seminary. 
 
 During the year 1814 the first parsonage was built 
 by the New Salem Ecclesiastical Society and occu- 
 pied by the Rev. Amasa Loomis, Jr., now owned 
 and occupied by the Hon. A. O. Gallup. 
 
 Since 1813 the following-named clergymen have 
 had the pastoral charge over the society : Rev. Amasa 
 Loomis, Jr., Rev. Royal Tyler, Rev. Eli Hyde, Rev. 
 Charles Thompson, Rev. B. B. Hopkinson, Rev. Na- 
 thaniel Miner, Rev. Warren Jones, Rev. John Elder- 
 kin, and the Rev. Jairus Ordway, the present settled 
 pastor. 
 
 The first post-office established in 1816, in the store 
 now owned and occupied by Thomas Strickland. 
 The first postmaster was Sherbun Williams, while 
 the present incumbent is N. N. Williams, son of the 
 late Hon. Henry Williams. 
 
 Episcopal church organized in 1829, and church 
 edifice sold for a town-house in about 1848. 
 
 First church organized, called Christ's Church, in 
 1719. Edifice erected in 1726, in the old cemetery 
 near Gilbert Murray's. 
 
 Second and third church edifices erected on the 
 grounds of the cemetery, under the control of the New 
 Salem Ecclesiastical Society. 
 
 Fourth, erected in 1838, near the centre of the vil- 
 lage. The old Methodist church which formerly stood 
 near Music Vale Seminary was demolished in 1878. 
 
 Second Methodist organization in Capt. David H. 
 Seaman's chapel, July 17, 1881, with ten members, 
 under the charge of the Rev. Henry N. Brown. 
 
 The organization of the Baptist society on Gale's 
 Hill is lost, the old building having been demol- 
 ished many years since, and a new house of worship 
 built one-third of a mile to the southward on the old 
 New London and Colchester road. 
 
 The church has recently bought the Firman place 
 for a parsonage, and intends putting it into repair for 
 the use of a minister. 
 
 Salem was organized into a probate district by the 
 name of the district of Salem by an act of the General 
 Assembly in the year 1841, and the following have 
 been judges of the district in the order of their several 
 elections : First, Nathan Minard ; second, John C. 
 Daniels ; third, Nathan Minard ; fourth, Orramel 
 Whittlesey; fifth, John C.Daniels; sixth, Orramel 
 Whittlesey ; seventh, Austin O. Gallup ; eighth. Hill 
 Rising ; ninth, Austin O. Gallup ; tenth, Robert A. 
 Williams; eleventh, Austin O.Gallup; twelfth, Fred- 
 erick E. Chadwick ; thirteenth, A. O. Gallup. 
 
 Many of the sons and daughters of Salem have 
 emigrated to various sections of the country who 
 were renowned in Christian virtues and political dis- 
 tinction, some settling in New Hampshire, others 
 in Vermont and New York, and, in fact, peopling 
 nearly every Northern State in the Union. 
 
 We copy from the " Harris Genealogy" the follow- 
 ing incident : Bertha Harris, daughter of Jonathan 
 Harris, born in Salem, Sept. 14, 1752, married Col. 
 John Jenkins, of Wyoming, Pa. They were married 
 in Jenkins' Fort, Wyoming, by Rev. James Benedict, 
 ten days before the memorable Indian massacre at 
 Wyoming, and twenty days after Col. Jenkins, in the 
 colonial service of the Revolutionary war, had re- 
 turned from a long, bitter, and perilous captivity of 
 six months among the Indians, from whom he had 
 effected his escape. 
 
 His father came to Colchester, Conn., in 1750, and 
 married Lydia, daughter of Stephen Gardner, a hotel- 
 keeper on the east side of Gardner's Lake. 
 
 Among the many sad stories of the trials and perils 
 of the pioneer settlers of our American colonies, the 
 story of the early settlement of this lovely valley of 
 Wyoming is the most mournful and memorable of all, 
 and has a peculiar interest to the Harris family, as 
 well as others who emigrated there. In the events 
 and perils John Jenkins, Sr., was the recognized 
 champion and head, the founder, leader, and de- 
 fender of the settlement. He was appointed by Con- 
 necticut its first general agent for the settlement of 
 Wyoming. He was a surveyor, drafted most or all 
 of its first public documents; was first magistrate and 
 justice of the peace, and its first presiding or chief 
 judge of court; was five times sent as its representa- 
 tive to the Colonial Assembly of Connecticut from 
 Wyoming, then called Westmoreland, and made part 
 of Litchfield County, Conn., a circumstance which 
 may seem a little strange to this generation. 
 
 John Jenkins, Jr., served as lieutenant in the army 
 of the Revolution until the close of the war, and was 
 
608 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 afterwards a major and colonel of militia, sheriff of 
 Luzerne County, county commissioner, member of 
 Assembly, held many local offices for many years, 
 town clerk, supervisor, etc., was surveyor-general of 
 the Connecticut Susquehanna Company, and for some 
 time the general agent. He settled in Exeter town- 
 ship, on the site of the battle-ground where stood 
 old Wintermoot fort, where he died March 19, 1827, 
 aged seventy-iive. His widow Berthia, a woman of 
 rare mental and moral worth, endowments, and cul- 
 ture, who had shared conspicuously in all the perils 
 and hardships of the valley, and whose sufferings 
 amid those wild scenes of blood and carnage were 
 the nursery tales in years gone by in the old hive of 
 the Harris family in New London County, she died 
 Aug. 12, 1842, aged ninety years. 
 
 Others left their homes and went to the celebrated 
 Wyoming Valley, where their numerous descendants 
 yet remain, and the records of Pennsylvania show 
 that good old New England blood courses in the veins 
 of many of her prominent citizens, and that this was 
 a good country to form the habits of a life of future 
 usefulness to emigrate from. Among the many who 
 have distinguished themselves we notice Donald G. 
 Mitchell, who for a long time resided in Salem, on 
 the farm now owned and occupied by Charles Henry 
 Bailey. Here he wrote his celebrated, novel, " The 
 Eeveries of a Bachelor," under the nom de plume of 
 " Ik Marvel." He has since gained a world-wide 
 reputation as an author, and now resides at his coun- 
 try residence near New Haven, Conn. 
 
 If space would permit in this volume, we could give 
 many more striking illustrations of the adventurous 
 men and women wlio have gone forth to settle and 
 populate other lands, whose high standard of moral 
 worth and Christian virtues gives an exalted, high- 
 toned sentiment which yet lives in their numerous 
 descendants. 
 
 Incorporation of Salem.— At a General Assembly 
 of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford, in 
 said State, on the first Wednesday of May, a.d. 
 1819,— 
 
 " Upon the petition of Joseph Morgan and others, inhabitants of the 
 "i'owns of Colchester, Lyme, and Montrille, in the county of New Lon- 
 don, lying within the limits hereinafter mentioned, stating the popula- 
 tion, extent, Bituation, and amount of Lists included in said limits, and 
 praying, for reasons set forth at large in said petition, to be incorporated 
 into a distinct Town, aa per petition on file, dated April 22, 1819. 
 
 " Said petition having been duly served upon said towns of Colchester, 
 Lyme, and Montville, the parties appeared and were fully heard upon 
 the merits of said petition ; the facts therein alleged were found to be 
 true, and the prayer thereof granted. 
 
 "Besolved by this assembly, that all those parts of the towns of Col- 
 chester, Lyme, and Montville lying within the following limits, viz.; 
 Beginning at the southeast corner of East Haddam, thence running 
 easterly by the southerly line of the late forfeited lands of William 
 Brown to the line that formerly divided the towns of New London and 
 Lyme; thence northerly by said line and the former east line of Col- 
 chester to Gardner's Lalle, and still northerly through said lalie to the 
 west line of the town of Bozrah; thence still northerly by the west line 
 of Bozrah to Lebanon corner ; thence wcstei-ly by the south line of the 
 First Society of Colchester to the East line of East Haddam ; thence 
 southerly by said East Haddam line to tlie place of beginning, with all 
 the inhabitants residing in said limits, be and the same are hereby in- 
 
 corporated into a distinct town by the name of Salevi, and the inhab- 
 itants aforesaid and their successors forever residing within said limits 
 shall have and enjoy all the powers, privileges, and immunities which 
 are enjoyed by other towns within this State, with the right of sending 
 one Kepresentative to the General Assembly of the State, and said town 
 of Salem shall pay its proportion of all debts, charges, expenses, suits, 
 petitions, and claims already due and accrued, commenced and existing 
 against said towns of Colchester, Lyme, and Montville respectively, or 
 for which the said towns may respectively be made liable hereafter, by 
 force of any claims now existing, and the poor now supported by said 
 respective towns, who belong to such parts of said towns respectively as 
 is hereby incorporated into the town of Salem, shall be deemed inhab- 
 itants of said town of Salem, and be maintained accordingly, and said 
 town of Salem shall take of the poor persons now maintained by the 
 said towns of Colchester, Lyme, and Montville respectively such pro- 
 portion as, counting in the Grand List of the year of our Lord one Thou- 
 sand eight hundred and eighteen, the list of such part of said respective 
 towns hereby embraced in the town of Salem shall bear to the whole 
 List of said towns respectively and no more, except as provided in case 
 of absentees ; and the selectmen of the respective towns, with the select- 
 men of Salem, associating with them Sylvester Gilbert, Esq , in case of 
 disagreement of the town of Hebron, are hereby empowered to appor- 
 tion the poor according to the rule aforesaid, and the said town of Salem 
 shall be liable to maintain all such poor of said respective towns as are 
 or may be absent therefrom, provided such poor pel-son or pei-sons 
 at the time of departure belonged in such part of said respective Towns 
 as is by this resolve hereby incoi-porated into the town of Salem. The 
 collectors of the State taxes for the year 1819, already appointed in said 
 respective towns, are hereby authorized and empowered to collect of the 
 inhabitants of said town of Salem their proportion of said tax according 
 . to the lists on which the same was laid, in the same manner as though 
 this resolve had not passed. 
 
 " The first town-meeting in said town of Salem shall be holden at the 
 Presbyterian Meeting-Honse of New Salem Society on the third Tuesday 
 of June next. Mumford Dolbeare, Esq., shall be the moderator of said 
 meeting, and shall call said meeting by setting up a notification thereof 
 on the public sign-post in said New Salem Society at least eight days 
 before said first meeting, and in case of the death, incapacity, or absence 
 of said Dolbeare, the duties assigned to him shall be performed by Jo- 
 seph Morgan, Esq., aforesaid, and said town of Salem at said first meet- 
 ing, and at all other successive meetings, shall have all the powers, priv- 
 ileges and immunities incident to other towns in Connecticut. The 
 officers elected at said first meeting shall hold their offices respectively 
 until the next meeting of said town provided by law for the choice of 
 its annual officers, and the town-meeting and the meeting of the elec- 
 tors shall be holden at the meeting-house in the said society of New 
 Salem. 
 " A true copy of Record examined by 
 
 "Thomas Day, Secretary, 
 " Eeceived for record Dec. 3, 1810. Kecorded by 
 
 " Elijah Theadwat, Register.^' 
 
 At a town-meeting held at the Presbyterian meet- 
 ing-house in Salem on the 15th day of June, 1819, 
 Mumford Dolbeare, Esq., moderator, appointed by 
 the General Assembly: at said meeting Elijah 
 Treadway was chosen clerk; Henry Perkins, Esq., 
 Joseph Morgan, Esq., George Minard, Seth Lathrop, 
 Esq., and Daniel Jones, selectmen. 
 
 Voted, John' Billings be treasurer ; Mark Dodge be 
 head constable; Amasa Rathbun, Charles Tiffany, 
 and Avery Morgan, constables. 
 
 Oct. 2, 1819. George Minard, David Patten, Asa 
 Randall, assessors. 
 
 Oct. 2, 1819. Henry Perkins, Mumford Dolbeare, 
 and Seth Lathrop, Esq., board of relief. 
 
 The above names comprise the first town officers 
 of Salem, as appears of record. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1819-82. 
 1820, Henry Perkins ; 1821, M. Dolbeare; 1822, Jos. Morgan ; 1823, E. 
 Treadway ; 1824-34, E. A. Packer ; 1825, John Billings ; 1826, David 
 Patten; 1827, J. S. Ransom ; 1828, Nathan Minard; 1829, Asa Wil- 
 
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 u 
 

 ily<^^'M.^-^-OcZ y^^c^ru-a^i^--. 
 
SALEM. 
 
 609 
 
 oox; 1830, John 'Whittlesey; 1831, Jos. Morgan ; 1832, Chas. Hewitt; 
 1833, John WhittleBey; 1835-39, Eichard Titfany ; 1836, no record; 
 1837-S4, Sidney Morgan; 1838, Warren Williams; 1839-52, Eichard 
 Tiffany ; 1840, Josiah Eaymond ; 1S41, Orramel Whittlesey ; 1841-50, 
 Abel Bathbone; 1843, M. W. Baker; 1844, no choice ; 1846-62, D.G. 
 Patten; 1846-66, J. C. Baniels; 1847, Mark Dodge; 1848, Sidney 
 Morgan ; 1849, Alfred Gallnp; 1861, Wm. Tew: 1863, M. W. New- 
 ton ; 1865-56-63, J. M. Fitch ; 1857, H. P. Whittlesey : 1868-61, D. 
 A. Patten : 1859, D. P. Otis; 1860, Geo. Pratt; 1864-68-70, J. C. May- 
 nard; 1866, C. W. Scott; 1867, Frank Burdick; 1869-79, G. F.Allen; 
 1871-73, Gilbert Murray ; 1872, C. B. Harvey ; 1874, .1. C. Bushnell; 
 1875, W. S. Gott; 1876, F. K. Chadwick ; 1877, Austin 0. Gallup; 
 1878, Samuel N. Morgan ; 1880, F. N. Harris ; 1881, Charles T. Wil- 
 liams. 
 
 CHAPTEE LXXV. 
 
 SALEM— (Continued). 
 BIOGK-iPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Henry Williams. — The subject of this sketch is a 
 lineal descendant of the first Williams, who came 
 from Wales and settled in Stonington, Conn., at an 
 early day. For a complete history of the ancestry of 
 Henry Williams, see " History of the Williams 
 Family in Stonington, New London Co., Conn." 
 
 Henry Williams was born in the town of Stoning- 
 ton, Conn., Oct. 13, 1796, and died at his residence in 
 Salem, New London Co., Conn., Aug. 16, 1871. His 
 father, Joshua Williams, was born in Stonington, 
 Conn. He was three times married. By his first wife 
 he had two sons, Joshua and Nathan ; by his second 
 wife he had one sou, Jabez; and by his third wife, 
 Hannah Hurlburt, he had two sons and four daugh- 
 ters, viz.: (1) Avery, who lost his life by drowning; 
 (2) Henry, the immediate subject of this sketch ; (3) 
 Hannah, married Robert Fellows,- of Stonington, 
 Conn. ; (4) Sally, married Elisha Daboll, of Groton ; 
 (5) Harriet, married Henry Finch; (6) Freelove H., 
 married William H. Starr, of Groton. 
 
 Mr. Williams was a mechanic and ship-builder by 
 trade. He died at the age of eighty years. Henry 
 Williams received a common-school education, and 
 , at an early age began as an apprentice to learn to 
 manufacture woolen goods, which he followed for 
 many years. After he had become sufficiently versfed 
 in the manufacturing business he commenced in 
 Groton manufacturing for himself, in company with 
 one Gilbert Williams as a partner. After a few years 
 they dissolved partnership, and Henry Williams con- 
 tinued in the business till about 1832 or 1833, when 
 he settled in the present town of Salem, about one- 
 half mile from where his family now reside, on a 
 farm known as Theophilus Morgan farm. 
 
 In 1839 he settled on the farm, where he continued 
 to reside till his death. His farm, of some three hun- 
 dred acres, was in a good state of cultivation, and was 
 purchased of Deacon Warren Williams. Mr. Wil- 
 liams was considered one of the best farmers in town. 
 In all his business relations he was successful, and he 
 carried into his public life the same tact and energy 
 
 that he displayed in his private affairs. He was 
 twice married, — first to Patty A., daughter of Amos 
 A. Niles and Anna Allyn, Dec. 26, 1824. She was 
 born in Groton, Nov. 2, 1800. Their children were (1) 
 Henry E. ; (2) Patty A., deceased, wife of James 
 Allyn, of Montville ; (3) Nelson N. ; (4) Julia, widow 
 of Colby Morgan. Mrs. Williams died Jan. 9, 1831. 
 Nov. 26, 1835, he married Julia A. Niles, sister of his 
 first wife. She was born Sept. 9, 1810, in Groton. 
 Their children are Hannah H., Eleanor C, William 
 F., Daniel W., Leonora, died at sixteen, and Charles 
 T., all born in Salem, Conn. 
 
 Mr. Williams was a Republican in politics, and as 
 such was one of the leading men of the town. He 
 held various town offices, and was elected to the State 
 Senate, where he was made chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on Federal Relations. He was a man of great 
 force of character; tender-hearted, a good husband 
 and father, and his domestic relations were very 
 pleasant. He was a strong temperance man. He 
 was universally respected, and was an upright, honest 
 citizen. 
 
 Roswell Morgan, a son of Samuel Morgan, was 
 born in Salem, Sept. 22, 1797. His grandfather, 
 Timothy Morgan, was a native of Groton, Conn.' 
 Timothy had eleven children, one of whom was Sam- 
 uel, born May 12, 1763, in Groton. Timothy was a 
 farmer. He died Oct. 13, 1795. 
 
 Samuel Morgan was a farmer by occupation ; mar- 
 ried Mary Holmes, Oct. 14, 1786, and had nine chil- 
 dren, viz. : Mary, Samuel, Zerbiah, Aaron, Hannah, 
 Mary (2), Eoswell, Timothy, and Elmira L. Sam- 
 uel Morgan settled in Salem as early as 1793 or 1794, 
 where he died Dec. 5, 1819. His wife died Aug. 10, 
 1841. 
 
 Roswell Morgan received a common-school educa- 
 tion, and taught school several terms in Pennsylvania. 
 He succeeded his father on the home-farm in Salem, 
 where he lived all his life, except a few years spent 
 on a farm in another part of the same town. His 
 farm of two hundred and seventy acres was always in 
 a good state of cultivation, and he was justly consid- 
 ered one of the best farmers in town. On the 28th of 
 February, 1830, he married Abby, daughter of Capt. 
 Thomas Barber and Mary Palmer, daughter of David 
 Palmer, who was killed at Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 
 1781. Mrs. Roswell Morgan was born in Groton, 
 Sept. 8, 1804. 
 
 Their children are Elizabeth, Emeline (Mrs. Simeon 
 A. Chatman, of Groton), Jane, Samuel N., and Al- 
 bert, all born in Salem. 
 
 In politics Mr. Morgan was a Democrat till the Re- 
 publican party was organized, when he joined it. He 
 held some of the town offices, but as a rule preferred 
 the quiet of domestic life to official positions. He 
 was a member of the Baptist Church at Colchester, 
 Conn., and was known for his charity towards all hu- 
 
 1 See history of the family in Groton. 
 
610 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 mane interests. He was a bright Mason. He died 
 Oct. 6, 1865, and was buried at Salem, the last honors 
 being paid him by his brother Masons. 
 
 Samuel Noyes Morgan was born in Salem, Sept. 
 22, 1842, and after going through the common school 
 completed his studies at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbra- 
 ham, Mass. He has held many offices of trust in his 
 native town. He was sent to the Legislature for the 
 first time in 1878. He has followed successfully the 
 business of a farmer, and is a Republican. 
 
 He married Louisa S. Davis, of Brooklyn, N". Y., 
 Dec. 4, 1879. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVI. 
 
 SPRAGDE. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — Manufactures — Organization of Town — 
 First Town-Meeting — Ecclesiastical History — Congregational Church, 
 Hanover — Representatives from 1861 to 1882. 
 
 This town lies on the north border of the county, 
 and is bounded as follows : on the north by Windham 
 County, on the east by Lisbon, on the south by Nor- 
 wich, and on the west by Franklin. Sprague is prin- 
 cipally a manufacturing town, although there are 
 many excellent farms within its borders. 
 
 This town in the rapidity of its growth resembles 
 the changes that often take place in Western clear- 
 ings. Lord's bridge, where the Shetucket was spanned 
 to unite Lisbon and Franklin, and near which the 
 Lord family had dwelt in quiet agricultural pur- 
 suits for more than a century, — father, son, and grand- 
 son living and dying on the spot, — was a secluded 
 nook, without any foreshadowing of progress or visi- 
 ble germ of enterprise. A grist-mill, a saw-mill, 
 coevals of the first planters, a respectable farm-house, 
 with its sign-post promising entertainment, and two 
 or three smaller tenements constituted the hamlet. 
 Only the casual floods and the romantic wildness of 
 the river-banks interfered with the changeless repose 
 of the scene. 
 
 Suddenly the blasting of rooks and the roar of 
 machinery commenced ; hills were upset, channels 
 were dug, the river tortured out of its willfulness, and 
 amid mountainous heaps of cotton-bags the rural 
 scene disappeared, and Baltic village leaped into ex- 
 istence. In the course of five years more than a 
 hundred buildings, comprising neat and comfortable 
 houses, several shops, a church, and a school-house, 
 grouped around the largest mill on the Western Con- 
 tinent, had taken possession of the scene, the whole 
 spreading like wings each side of the river, and link- 
 ing together two distinct towns. 
 
 These changes commenced in July, 1856, when the 
 elder Governor Sprague, of Rhode Island, purchased 
 three hundred acres of land on the Shetucket and 
 laid the foundation of the great cotton-mill. In Oc- 
 tober of that year the projector and proprietor of this 
 
 grand enterprise was removed from his work by sud- 
 den death, and it was feared that his magnificent 
 schemes would never be realized. But his son and 
 nephews continued the work without intermission, 
 filling out his plans, and even enlarging the sphere of 
 operation, till Lord's bridge became the site of a mam- 
 moth factory and the centre of a new town. 
 
 The great mill is nine hundred and fifty-four feet 
 long, sixty-eight feet wide, and five stories high. The 
 motive-power is furnished by six water-wheels, each 
 over thirty feet in diameter. In 1864 more than eigh- 
 teen hundred looms had been put in operation, and 
 fourteen hundred persons were employed by the com- 
 pany. 
 
 In 1861 the new town was incorporated by the name 
 of Sprague. It comprises about twelve square miles 
 of territory, taken from Lisbon and Franklin, the 
 Shetucket running through it from north to south. 
 It is intersected also by the Hartford, Providence 
 and Fishkill Railroad, which gives it the advantage 
 of direct and easy transportation. Within its bounds, 
 besides the villages built up by the Spragues, it in- 
 cludes the greater part of Hanover Society and the 
 Eagleville manufacturing village on the east side of 
 Lovett's bridge. Sprague is pre-eminently a collec- 
 tion of mill villages. 
 
 The first town-meeting in Sprague was held June 
 10, 1861, and this was celebrated as the birthday of 
 the town. Col. Ethan Allen, of Hanover, moderator 
 of the meeting, was chosen the first selectman. The 
 mileage, as fixed by the Legislature, is sixty-two miles 
 to New Haven, and thirty-eight to Hartford. 
 
 Lovett's bridge and Lovett's grist-mills are old fa- 
 miliar names originally belonging to Norwich. After 
 the name of Lovett passed away, the fine mill situa- 
 tion in this neighborhood became the seat of the Tar- 
 box cotton-factory. In 1852 the place was purchased 
 by Mr. John Batchelder and his associates, and the 
 old mill being soon afterwards destroyed by fire, a 
 large brick building was erected on the site and de- 
 voted to the manufacture of seamless cotton bagging. 
 Before the war this mill gave employment to seventy 
 or eighty persons, men, women, and children. It has 
 since been enlarged and transformed into a woolen- 
 mill. 
 
 This place. is now within the limits of Sprague, and 
 is the seat of the Lisbon post-office, but is currently 
 known as Eagleville.' The Providence division of 
 the New York and New England Railroad extends 
 through the town, with a station at Baltic. 
 
 Congregational Church, Hanover. — Hanover 
 Ecclesiastical Society was incorporated in 1761, and 
 included a small portion of Canterbury and Wind- 
 ham. A fund of £1400 was raised by subscription for 
 the support of the ministry, and a church of fourteen 
 
 1 This name is said to have been suggested hy the lighting of an eagle 
 upon the cupola or summit of the belfry just before the mil] was com- 
 pleted, which the workmen hailed as a favorable omen, and named the 
 place in honor of the royal bird. 
 
SPRAGUE. 
 
 611 
 
 members gathered May 13, 1766, under the tempo- 
 rary ministry of Rev. Timothy Stone. A house for 
 worship was erected about the same time. Rev. 
 Andrew Lee, the first pastor, was ordained Oct. 26, 
 1768, and continued in office, fulfilling its duties 
 without special assistance, for sixty-two years. In 
 1830 the Rev. Barnabas Phinney became his col- 
 league. Dr. Lee died Aug. 25, 1832, aged eighty- 
 seven. Mr. Phinney was dismissed the November 
 following. 
 
 Dr. Lee was a man of generous impulses, candid 
 and liberal in sentiment. He was a son of John Lee, 
 of Lyme, and born in 1745. His mother was Abigail 
 Tully. Though a graduate of Yale College, he re- 
 ceived the degree of S.T.D. from Harvard. 
 
 Since the dismission of Mr. Phinney the church 
 has had the following pastors : Rev. Philo Judson, 
 installed June 6, 1833, dismissed in December, 1834; 
 Daniel Waldo, Edward Cleaveland, Joseph Ayer, 
 Ebenezer W. Robinson, James A. Hazen. 
 
 EEPEESENTATIVBS FROM 1862 TO 1881. 
 1862, H. T. Potter; 1863, J. B. Bachelder; 1864-66, C. W. Scott; 186T-68, 
 Frank Bendick; 1869, G. B. Loveland ; 1R70, John Nolan ; 1871, N. 
 Smith ; 1872-73, C. W. Scott ; 1874, E. R. Kowell ; 1876, G. W. Love- 
 land ; 1876, P. Burns ; 1S77, L, Brewster ; 1878, C. H. Ladd ; 1879, C. 
 FalTey ; 1880, C. D. Weaver; 1881, P. S. Cote. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVIL 
 
 SPRAGUE— ^ Continued). 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Ethan Allen, of Sprague, Conn., is a lineal de- 
 scendant of one Samuel Allen, who settled at an 
 early day at Hanover, Conn., where he built a saw- 
 mill and made other improvements, then removed to 
 Windham County, Conn., and was there engaged in 
 farming. Samuel Allen died in Windham County. 
 One of his descendants was Asa Allen, who had sev- 
 eral children, one of whom was Pratt Allen, born in 
 Scotland, Conn., married Rhoda Witter and had four- 
 teen children, of whom Ebenezer was one. Pratt 
 Allen was a farmer in Canterbury, Conn., and a manu- 
 facturer of woolen goods at Hanover, Conn., with his 
 son Ebenezer. He was a Revolutionary soldier a 
 short time during the years 1780-81, being only about 
 sixteen years of age. He died about 1851, aged 
 eighty-six years. His son Ebenezer was born at 
 Canterbury, Conn., Nov. 28, 1792. He worked on 
 the farm and taught school till he was twenty-one 
 years of age, when, in 1813, he settled at Hanover, in 
 the town of Sprague, Conn.,, and commenced the 
 manufacture of cotton and woolen goods with his 
 father. The original woolen-mill was built by his 
 father, Pratt Allen. It was destroyed by fire in 1834, 
 and was rebuilt by him (Ebenezer). This mill was 
 destroyed by fire in 1862, and rebuilt by his son. 
 
 Ethan Allen. Ebenezer Allen was three times mar- 
 ried, — first to Eliza Bingham, and had one son, Eben- 
 ezer B. He became a physician, married, and had 
 two children. 
 
 Mr. Allen's second wife was Elizabeth Bass. To 
 them were born two children, one of whom was Eliza- 
 beth, who married for her second husband Myron 
 Downs, of Chicago, and has nine children, all living 
 in Chicago. 
 
 His thii-d wife was Harriet Morgan, daughter of 
 Elisha Morgan and Olive Coit, by whom he had six 
 children, viz. : Ethan, Elisha M., Samuel C. M., died 
 at forty-nine years, leaving five children ; Lucretia M., 
 married, first, Eugene Hyde (deceased), of Norwich, 
 and has two sons ; second, to Dr. Elisha Morgan, of 
 Wisconsin ; Barnabas Huntington, and Harriet M., 
 who married Giles B. Williams, of Passaic, N. J. 
 
 He was a Whig and Republican in politics, and as 
 such held the various town offices. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Allen were members of the Congre- 
 gational Church, and he was a deacon of the same 
 from 1817 until his death, Oct. 14, 1844. Mrs. Allen 
 died March 16, 1880, aged eighty-three years, and at 
 the same place and day Mrs. Hubbard Adams (mother 
 of Mrs. Ethan Allen) died, aged eighty-one years. 
 
 Ethan Allen, son of Ebenezer, was born in Lisbon 
 (now Sprague), Conn., Sept. 9, 1822. He received a 
 common-school and academic education, and at sev- 
 enteen began teaching, and taught four terms. Ever 
 since he was eight years of age he h^s been engaged 
 in the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods, first 
 with his father till his death in 1844, then till 1860 
 with his brother, Elisha M., under the firm-name of 
 E. & E. M. Allen, then till 1877 with his brother, 
 Samuel C. M., firm-name being Allen & Bro. Upon 
 the death of Samuel C. M., in 1877, Mr. Allen took 
 in his original partner and brother, Elisha M., under 
 the same firm-name, Allen & Bro. He is also inter- 
 ested in the manufacturing business at Pittsfield, 
 Mass., with his brother. While the manufacture of 
 cotton and woolen goods is his principal business, yet 
 he has dealt more or less extensively in wool. 
 
 He is a Republican in politics. He has been first 
 selectman two years, and in 1857 was a member of 
 the State Senate, serving as chairman of the Military 
 Committee. 
 
 In his early life he took a deep interest in military 
 affairs, and gradually rose from sergeant of a com- 
 pany to that of colonel of the Third Connecticut 
 National Guards. 
 
 Dec. 9, 1855, he married Mary E., daughter of Hub- 
 bard and Sabrina Adams, and to them have been born 
 (1) Ebenezer, a graduate of Highland Military Acad- 
 emy, Worcester, Mass., and now in business with his 
 father ; (2) Mary M. ; (3) Sarah A., died at fourteen ; 
 (4) Thomas H., a graduate of Highland Military 
 Academy at Worcester, Mass. ; (5) Morgan, died at 
 four years ; (6) Harriet B. ; (7) Olive C. ; and (8) 
 Maud E. 
 
612 
 
 HISTOEY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Charles T. Hazen, son of Simeon Hazen and 
 Temperance Sabin, was born in the town of Franlilin 
 (now Sprague), July 13, 1818. His great-grandfather 
 was Thomas Hazen, a native of England, and settled 
 in the town of Franklin at an early day. He was ac- 
 companied by one or two brothers, who settled in 
 other parts of New England. Thomas was a farmer. 
 He had several children, one of whom was Moses, 
 born in Franklin, and always remained there, in that 
 portion which comprises the western part of Sprague. 
 His children were Andrew, Levi, William, Simeon, 
 and Sarah. He died at eighty-four years of age, on 
 the farm now owned by his grandson, Charles T. 
 Simeon Hazen was twice married, — first to a Miss 
 Sampson, and had five children, viz. : John, Polly 
 (Mrs. Darius Armstrong), Lara (Mrs. Jeremiah K. 
 Dow), Prosper, and Lois (Mrs. Calvin Ladd). 
 
 Mr. Hazen married for his second wife Temperance 
 Sabin, and had five children, — Caroline, married Wil- 
 liam H. Hazen; William, Eli H., Charles T., and 
 Abby E. 
 
 Simeon Hazen held the various town offices ; was a 
 man esteemed for his many noble qualities. He died 
 at the advanced age of ninety-five years, in July, 
 1864. 
 
 Charles Thomas Hazen received his education at 
 the common schools. Mr. Hazen taught school some 
 sis terms during the winters, working on the farm 
 summers. He has always been a farmer on the " Old 
 Hazen" homestead jn Sprague, except some seven 
 years (from 1842 to 1849), when he lived on the Old 
 Hartshorn place, near the centre of the town of 
 Franklin. He married Mary, daughter of Ambrose 
 and Elizabeth Armstrong, and granddaughter of Amos 
 and Mary (Tinney) Armstrong, Jan. 9, 1842, and to 
 them have been born Mary E. (Mrs. Daniel F. 
 Tucker, of Columbia County) ; (2) Phebe E., married 
 Adelbert E. Young, and have one daughter, Mabel 
 Adell; and (3) James H., married Emma Jane Bar- 
 low, and have two children, viz. : Mary W. and Flor- 
 ence E. 
 
 In politics Mr. Hazen has alway.s been a Democrat, 
 as his fathers had been for generations before. He 
 has held all the more important town offices for many 
 years, not only in Sprague but in Franklin, such as 
 assessor, first selectman, justice of the peace for more 
 than twenty years, which he still retains, member of 
 the board of relief, and member of the Legislature in 
 I860, serving on the Committee of Agriculture. 
 
 Mr. Hazen is an attendant and supporter of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church at Baltic. He is gener- 
 ous towards all public enterprises. 
 
 His father-in-law, Ambrose Armstrong, was a farmer 
 and cabinet-maker, a Democrat in politics ; held the 
 various town offices; died June, 1863, aged eighty- 
 two ; wife died the same month, aged seventy-seven 
 years. They left eight out of eleven children who 
 grew to maturity, of which Mary, wife of Charles T. 
 Hazen, was the fifth. 
 
 OHAPTEE LXXVIIL 
 
 STONINGTON.i 
 PIONEEB AND INDIAN HISTORY. 
 
 The claim of the Anglo race to the territory now 
 embraced in Connecticut originated in the discoveries 
 of Sebastian Cabot in 1497, while he was in the em- 
 ployment of King Henry VII. of England. 
 
 No apparent effort was made on the part of that 
 government to profit by Cabot's discoveries for more 
 than a century, nor until 1606, when King James I. 
 granted a charter to Thomas Hanham and others, 
 which included our State in the boundaries. 
 
 But no permanent settlement took place under that 
 charter in Connecticut. Soon after the Pilgrims left 
 England for America, and before their arrival at 
 Plymouth, to wit : on the 3d day of November, 1620, 
 King James I. by letters patent under the Great Seal 
 of England, incorporated forty noblemen, knights, and 
 gentlemen, by the name of the Council established 
 at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for the planting, 
 ruling, and governing New England in America. 
 
 The territory included in that patent extended from 
 the fortieth to the forty-eighth degree of north lati- 
 tude, and east and west from sea to sea. It was or- 
 dained by this patent that -the country embraced in 
 its boundaries should be called New England in 
 America, and by that name have continuance forever. 
 In 1629 the Council of Plymouth granted to its 
 president, Eobert, Earl of Warwick, the territory 
 granted by him in March, 1631, to William Viscount 
 Say and Seal and others, as and for Connecticut; 
 which grant the noble earl had confirmed to him by 
 King Charles I. The territory now embraced in the 
 town of Stonington was included in all of the fore- 
 going discoveries, grants, patents, and charters. 
 
 The colony of Massachusetts having provided men 
 and munitions of war for the conquest of the Pequot 
 Indians in 1637,^ claimed an interest by right of con- 
 
 1 By Hon. Richard A. Wheeler. 
 
 2 "At a General 1 Corte, at Boston, the 6'b 3^^ m", 1646, Whereas John 
 Winthrope, Junior, & oth" have by alowance of this Co'te, begun a plan- 
 tation in yo Pequod country, w^ appertaines to this iurisdiction, aa ptof 
 or pponion of y conquered country, tfc whereas this Co^te is informed 
 y' some Indians, who are now planted upon ye place where this said 
 plantation is begun, are willing to remove from their planting ground 
 for yo more quiet & convenient settleing of y^ English there, so that they 
 may have anoth^ convenient place appointed — It is therefore ord^ed, y' 
 y said Mr. Wiuthrop may appoint unto such Indians as are willing to 
 remove oth' lands on y otlir side, y* is, on yo east side of y** great ryver 
 of the Pequod country, or some other place for their convenient planting 
 & subsistence, v/°^ may be to y good likeing and due satisfaction of yo 
 said Indians, & liltewise to such of y Pequod Indians as shall desire to 
 live there, submiting themselves to y English govern^, (reserving to y« 
 commissionia of y United Colonies what pply belongs to their disposing 
 conci'ning y° said Pequods), & also to set out y place for y« said planta- 
 tion, & to set out lota for such of y English as are there already planted, 
 or shall come to them, and to governe yc people according to lawe, as 
 occasion shall require, untill this Cone shall take further ordr therein; 
 & whereas Mr. Thom ; Peter is irjtonded to inhabite in y" said plantation, 
 this Co'te doth thinke fit to joyne him to assist y« said Mr. Winthrope, 
 for yo better cariing on ye worko of ye said plantation according to this 
 ordr." — Records of the Governor and Company o/ the Massachusetts Bay, 
 vol. i. 160,161. 
 
"Z^^-C^ 
 
 ^^i^^Z. 
 
 ^ 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 613 
 
 quest in all the lands held by the Pequots before 
 their overthrow, and determined to occupy it in ad- 
 vance of any settlement on the part of the Connecti- 
 cut authorities, though they had asserted jurisdiction 
 as early as 1640-41^2 by granting lands thereof to 
 Capt. John Mason and others. But, notwithstanding 
 all this, Mr. John Winthrop, Jr., located himself at 
 Pequot as early as 1645. The next year the Massa- 
 chusetts General Court gave Mr. Winthrop a com- 
 mission to begin a plantation there in behalf of that 
 colony. Connecticut resisted the claims of Massa- 
 chusetts, and in order to reach a peaceable settlement 
 of all questions in' dispute relative to jurisdiction, 
 both colonies united in referring the whole matter to 
 the commissioners of the United Colonies, who, after 
 an exhaustive hearing in the premises,, decided in 
 favor of Connecticut.' Massachusetts, dissatisfied 
 with the result, brought the matter up again the next 
 year before the commissioners, who refused to change 
 their findings.^ Mr. Winthrop's planting at Pequot, 
 or Nameaug, now New London, was the first settle- 
 ment in Eastern Connecticut, and after the last de- 
 cision of the commissioners he recognized the juris- 
 diction of this colony, who in 1649 established the 
 boundaries of his new township at four miles wide on 
 each side of the river Thames, and six miles from the 
 sea northwardly. 
 
 During the time that Mr. Winthrop was engaged in 
 the early settlement of New London he became ac- 
 quainted with William Chesebrough, then a resi- 
 dent of Rehobeth, in the Plymouth Colony, and in- 
 
 1 " At a Meeting of the Commissioners for the United Colonies of New 
 England at New Haven, September 9, 1646. 
 
 " An English plantation being lately begun by Mr. John Winthrop 
 junior at Pequat, a question grew to which Colony the jurisdiction should 
 belong. The Commissioners for the Massachusetts propounded an inter- 
 est by conquest, the Conimissiunera for Connecticut by patent, purchase 
 and conquest. It was remembered that in a treaty betwixt tbem at Cam- 
 bridge 1638, not perfected, a proposition was made that Pequat River 
 in reference to the conquest should be the bounds between them, but 
 Mr. Fenwick was not then there to plead the patent, nor had Connecti- 
 cut then any title to those lands by purchase or deed of gift from Uncas. 
 But the plantation is on the west side of Pequat, and so within the 
 bounds at first propounded for Connecticut. The Commissioners jointly 
 agreed that an English plantation there being well ordered may in sun- 
 dry respects be of good use to all the Colonies, and thought fit it should 
 have all due encouragements, only they conceived unless hereafter the 
 Massachusetts shew better title the juiisdiction should belong to Con- 
 necticut." — C. J. Hondtey. 
 
 2 " At a Meeting of the Commissioners for the United Colonies of New 
 England, held at Boston the 26th of July, 1647. 
 
 " The question concerning the jurisdiction of the English plantation 
 lately settled on the west side of Pequat Biver was again taken into con- 
 sideration by the Commissioners. 
 
 " Mr. John Winthrop now present exprcst himself as more indifferent 
 but affirmed that some of the planters sat down there in reference to the 
 government and in exjicctation of large privileges from the Mattachu- 
 setts, and should be much disappointed if that plantation fall and be sot- 
 tied under any other jurisdiction. 
 
 "The Commissiouers considering what passed at New Haven last yrar, 
 ard that in all the Colonies though the title to land may be several ways 
 acquired, yet jurisdiction goeth constantly with the patent, they told Mr. 
 John Winthrop that they doubted not but Connecticut would tenderly 
 consider and afford such priviledges as may suit a plantation so remote, 
 but concluded that the jurisdiction of that plantation doth and ought to 
 belong to Connecticut."— C. J. Hoadley. 
 
 vited him to join in the settlement of his new planta- 
 tion. Mr. Chesebrough visited the place during the 
 year 1645, but finding it unsuitable to his expecta- 
 tions, did not conclude to settle there. On his way 
 home he examined our town and selected a place for 
 his future residence, and on which he erected a dwell- 
 ing-house, and removed his family there during the 
 year 1649, supposing that his new home was with- 
 in the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. Connecticut 
 having assumed jurisdiction and asserted her au- 
 thority over all the territory embraced within her 
 chartered limits, summoned Mr. Chesebrough to ap- 
 pear before Capt. Mason at Saybrook, or some other 
 magistrate upon Connecticut River, to give an ac- 
 count to him or them of what he was doing alone in 
 the wilderness outside the limits of any recognized 
 township. 
 
 Mr. Chesebrough at first disregarded this order, 
 claiming that his new home was within the jurisdic- 
 tion of Massachusetts, but subsequently, acting under 
 the advice and assurance of Mr. Winthrop and other 
 friends at Pequot, he so far yielded to the authority 
 of the colony of Connecticut as to appear at the Gen- 
 eral Court at Hartford in March, 1651, and in answer 
 to their summons said that he was not engaged in 
 any unlawful trade with the Indians, and also as- 
 sured them that his religious sentiments were in ac- 
 cordance with those of the General Court ; that it was 
 not his intention to remain alone and lead a solitary 
 life in the wilderness, but that he should endeavor to 
 induce a suitable number of his friends to join him 
 and establish a new township. 
 
 On hearing his statement, the court so far changed 
 its determination as to permit him to remain, on con- 
 dition that he would give bonds not to engage in any 
 unlawful trade with the Indians, and furnish to the 
 court before the next winter the names of suQh per- 
 sons as he might induce to settle with and around 
 him at Wequetequock. The planters at New London 
 were friendly with Mr. Chesebrough, and did not 
 want him to remove unless he went there to live, nor 
 did they like the idea of a new township in this region. 
 After repeated conferences with him, they engaged 
 that if he would put himself on the footing of an in- 
 habitant of that town, they would confirm to him the 
 title to his lands at Wequetequock. To this propo- 
 sition he acceded, but the townsmen of New London 
 soon discovered that they were making pledges that 
 they had not the power to fulfill, for the eastern 
 boundary of their then township did not extend but 
 four miles east of the river Thames. 
 
 However, on request the General Court extended the 
 eastern boundary of New London to Pawcatuck Eiver, 
 and then New London gave to Mr. Chesebrough a 
 home-lot over there, which he never occupied. 
 
 In January, 1652, the town of New London re- 
 deemed its promise to him, and gave a grant of con- 
 firmation to Mr. Chesebrough and his sons of all the 
 land they claimed in Stonington. Previous to the 
 
614 
 
 HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 agreementof the General Court with Mr. Ohesebrough, 
 and the confirmation of his land to him and his sons 
 by the town, Thomas Stanton, in 1650, procured of the 
 General Court a license to erect a trading-house at 
 Pawcatuck, with the exclusive right of trade in that 
 region for three years. He immediately built and 
 occupied the trading-house, but did not bring his 
 family to Stonington until 1658. Thomas Miner, a 
 former resident of Charlestown, Mass., and then of 
 Hingham, came to New London in 1645, received a 
 home-lot there, and built a house on it the same year. 
 He continued to reside there until 1652, when he 
 came to this place, and took up a tract of land east of 
 and adjoining Wequetequook Cove, and during that 
 year and the next erected a house thereon. 
 
 On the 30th day of June, 1652, the town of New 
 London granted a tract of three hundred acres of land 
 to Governor Haynes for a farm lying together on the 
 east side of Wequetequock Cove. When Walter Pal- 
 mer (yielding to the request of his old friend Chese- 
 brough to join him in settling the new township) 
 came here and purchased this tract of land of Gov- 
 ernor Haynes, but before he took his deed he found 
 it covered and embraced the house and lands of 
 Thomas Miner. So he and the Governor entered into 
 a written agreement that Palmer should give a hun- 
 dred pounds for the place, and such cattle as Mr. 
 Haynes should select out of Palmer's stock. If any 
 disagreement should arise as to the price of the stock, 
 it should be decided by indifferent persons. This 
 contract recognized the title to the house and lands 
 occupied by Mr. Miner, and was dated July 15, 1653. 
 Mr. Miner was selected to put Mr. Palmer in posses- 
 sion of the land purchased of Governor Haynes, and 
 did so by a written instrument, embodying therein a 
 conveyance of his own land and dwelling-house (in- 
 cluded in the boundaries of the Haynes land) to Mr. 
 Palmer, reserving the right, however, to occupy his 
 said house until he could build another at Mistuxet, 
 now Qttiambaug. The western boundary of Governor 
 Haynes' land sold to Walter Palmer, including the 
 house and lot of Thomas Miner, rested on the cove 
 and the rivulet that enters the cove. 
 
 The other grants and purchases of land to and by 
 Walter Palmer lay south of this purchase, and on the 
 eastern slope of Togwonk, crossing Anguilla Brook, 
 and embracing the large farms of the late Col. Wil- 
 liam and Dudley Randall, in all some twelve hundred 
 acres. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Miner built his new house at Mistuxet 
 in 1652-53. Capt. George Denison and family joined 
 the new settlement in 1654, erecting his house near 
 Pequotsepos Brook. Capt. John Gallup and Robert 
 Park, with their families, came the same year, and 
 settled near Mystic River. The new settlement being 
 composed of men of note, progressed as rapidly as 
 could be expected under the circumstances. 
 
 Mr. Ohesebrough was now surrounded by a suffi- 
 cient number of inhabitants to claim corporate powers 
 
 from the General Court. The first local name that 
 the settlement received was Mystic and Pawcatuck, 
 Mystic embracing the territory between Mystic River 
 on the west and Stony Brook on the east, Pawca- 
 tuck embracing the territory between Pawcatuck 
 River on the east and Stony Brook on the west. It 
 being understood by the planters here, as a condition 
 precedent to the new settlement, that as soon as a 
 suitable number had joined them they should be in- 
 corporated as a new town. So in 1654 they applied 
 to the General Court for corporate powers. But no 
 sooner made than it was opposed by New London, 
 embracing Groton, and defeated. 
 
 The planters did not rest satisfied with their defeat, 
 and resolved to agitate the matter until they suc- 
 ceeded sooner or later. They were of the independ- 
 ent Puritan stamp, and ready to make any sacrifice 
 in defense of the right to worship God according to 
 the dictates of their own conscience. But to be taxed 
 for a minister at New London, some twelve miles 
 away, with two rivers to cross to get there, and no 
 ferry-boats, was a little too much for their Puritan- 
 ism, so they were determined to have a town and a 
 church of their own, and they continued to ask for 
 them of the General Court, but were denied as often 
 as they applied. In the early part of 1657 the Eev. 
 William Thompson came here to reside, and preached 
 to the planters a part of the time, and the rest of the 
 time to the Pequot Indians. He was employed by 
 the commissioners of the United Colonies, who were 
 acting as the agents of the London Missionary So- 
 ciety. 
 
 The first religious services were held at the dwelling- 
 house of Walter Palmer, March 22, 1657. Services 
 were subsequently held at the dwelling-houses of the 
 planters, whose efforts were continued with unremit- 
 ting determination to break loose from New London 
 and organize for themselves a new town and church. 
 They remembered that Massachusetts had previously 
 claimed a. part or all of -the Pequot territory, em- 
 bracing Groton, Stonington, and Westerly, so they 
 sought the friendship of Massachusetts in their con- 
 test, and in October the planters, joined by the Eev. 
 Mr. Thompson, prepared a memorial to the Massa- 
 chusetts General Oourt,^ complaining of the course 
 
 1 "To the Honoured Goueruoxir, Deputy Gouernour & Magistrates, to- 
 gether with the Deputies now assembled in the Generall Court, the peti- 
 tion of the Inhaliitants of Mistick & Pawquatuck, humbly shewetli that 
 whereas we have tnken severall grants of lands that we are now pos- 
 sessed of from the Gouerment of Coneticot, lying upon the east side of 
 Pequid lUver, being conquered land from the Pequidti ; & since under- 
 standing, that tlie Jurisdiction their of belongs not unto but is claimed 
 by your selves & and that as we conceiue. iustly, as apeares by the acts 
 of the Commissionei-s in forty six, & forty seauen, we theifore humbly 
 request the confirmation of those grants frqan this Honoured Court unto 
 the present inhabitants: & that you would please to accept us under your 
 Gouermeu' ; & grant unto us the Liberties & priuelledges of a Towne- 
 shipp their being allreadysetled in this place about twenty families: And 
 this conquered land being accepted of & owened by you, we hope may 
 not he unprofitable to this common-wealth, it being sufficient to afford 
 accommodations for another towne-shipp, which may (if it should seeme 
 good to this Honoured Court so to dispose of it) be sulficient to grattify 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 615 
 
 pursued against them by the Geueral Court of Con- 
 necticut.i Massachusetts notified Connecticut, who 
 appointed a committee to confer with the planters 
 here and bring the contest to an issue if possible. 
 What was done in the premises cannot now be ascer- 
 tained, for no records of their proceedings have been 
 preserved. In May, 1658, William Chesebrough, 
 Thomas Stanton, and Walter Palmer, in behalf of the 
 planters, petitioned the Massachusetts General Court 
 again, stating that some of them were settled here by 
 Governor Winthrop in 1649, by virtue of a commis- 
 sion from that court, notwithstanding which they had 
 been called to account for their doings under their 
 authority, and asking for relief from such interfer- 
 ences from the Connecticut authorities, and also for 
 confirmation of their lands.^ But this was denied 
 
 such peraoua as have been deseruing in the conquest of that land; be- 
 sides the commodity of one of the most conuenient harbours in the land 
 And will we hope be a meanes conducing much to our settlement & 
 comfort, which we humbly expecting under your Gourment wher of we 
 haue had former experience shaU heartily pray : etc, 
 "Octob:15 (57) 
 
 "George Desison 
 '*Wm: Thomson 
 " Walter Palmer 
 "Tho: Stanton 
 " John Gallup 
 " In the name of the rest of the Inhabitants & with their consents." 
 " The depu^s desire o= hono^d magists, would be pleased to give answer 
 to this petn in the first place. 
 
 "William Toreey Cleric.'' 
 " 20, 8 mo. 57, In Ans^ to this peticon ye magists Judge meet y* y lette' 
 . here to Anext should be sent from y^ Court to ye Genii Court of Conecti- 
 cott if theire brethren the dep^^ Consent thereto. 
 
 " Edward Bawson, Secrety:^ 
 " Consented to by the deputyes 
 
 " William Torrey, Cleric:^ 
 
 1" Answer to Captain Denison's Petition. 
 
 " Court Records, vol. vi,, page 266. 
 "Inansrto the peticon of Georg Dennison, Wm Thompson, Walter 
 Palter, Tho Stainton, and Jno Gallop, the Court judgeth it mete to 
 order, tbat the letter here under writt be sent to the Generall Court of 
 Conecticott by ye secretary. 
 
 "Gent"" — Wee cannot but take notice of your claime unto and dis- 
 posinge of the lands in the Pequot country wherein wee have alwaies 
 challenged an interest, and yet see not reeson to lay downe the same 
 wee have perused the judgment of the ComisB" in 46 and 47 that the 
 Jurisdiction on the west side of Pequot river ought to belong to Conet- 
 ticut till the Masaatusets shew reason to the contrary, against web ^^ 
 Bhal not at pros' object conceiving there by our title to the lands on the 
 east side the river to be (at least tacitely) yielded to us,notwithBtaneting 
 w=b you have proceeded to dispose of these lands to diverse persons and 
 to exercise Jusidiction over them, w^h desire and expect you doe friendly 
 yield up these afores^ lands on the east side of Pequot river unto us, and 
 that you doe not further proceede to exercise authority over the Inhab- 
 itants there, or to begrieveious to them, w*h-out their owne consent till 
 the matter be determined according to the articles of confederation if 
 (at least) your owne justice shall not prevaile with you to yield it to us 
 w^Nyut that trouble, wee are moued at present to make knowne our 
 claime to you, by a petition p'sented to us from the Inhabitants thereof, 
 supposing it will not be unacceptable to you that this business be issued 
 peaceably & friendly, accordinge to the relation wherein wee nmtually 
 etand engaged, we shall not ad further at present but Comitt you to god 
 & rest. 
 " Oct. 21st, 1657." 
 
 — Mctasachuaetli Archives, vol. xxx., pages 66 and 67, hy William B. 
 Tratk. 
 
 2 " To the Honorable General] Court Assembled at Boston, the Humble 
 petition of the Inhabitants of Mistic and Pawcatuck : May it pleas you, 
 
 them, accompanied, however, by a suggestion that the 
 whole matter in dispute be referred to the commis- 
 sioners of the United Colonies, and meantime to 
 order their own affairs by common agreement until 
 provision be made in their behalf.^ 
 
 — Whereas your pore Petioners by the provydec of God are setled in 
 theas pt» of the Pequit Country Soomn of Vs being settled bear in the 
 yeare 1649 by the Honnered John Winthrop Esquire now Governor of 
 the CuUony at Conectycoat by Yertu of a Comition from this houerable 
 Court but in short tyme we weare Caled to the Court at Conctycoat to 
 give acouut by what athoryty we heare settled we answered as afore- 
 said but the Court answered that theas parts did belong to them by 
 Patent & Purchas &, the agrement of the Comiconers tfe did require our 
 subjection but now all of v^ vnderstanding that it doth of right belong 
 to this Jurisdiction & that you have bene pleased gratiously to acsept a 
 petition From vs alredy we are bould still to petition that you will please 
 to Confirme our lands and Possestions & to grant vs the liberty of a 
 Township & the privyledges thearof & likewise Charrytably to Consider 
 our renioatnes as also being surournded with many indyans & many 
 malignant percons often passing this way as quakers and others that you 
 will be pleased thearfore to establish soomm such athoryty among vs as 
 that we may be perserved in righteousnes & peac we have with this our 
 peticon sent our Honnered Friend Cap. George denuysoun home we 
 Judge FaithfuU he knos well in what stait we are to hose Care and 
 Faithfulnes we Comit the transaction of all our matters with the Hon- 
 norable Court thus Craueing Pardon For the rudenes of our lynes with 
 desire you may Find more vertu in our actions we rest & wait your 
 Charatable answer. Your peretetioners 
 
 " Willm Chesebrough 
 " Walter Palmer 
 " Tro: Stanton 
 " in the p^sance of the Rest. 
 "May lO'h 1658." 
 
 "In Answei- to ye Petition of the Inhabitants of mistlcke, The Court 
 Considering there hath bene no Answer Retourned from the General! 
 Court of Conecticott to our letter directed to them which Giues vs Cawse 
 to Imagine they are not Resolved to give vp theire Claime to those landi 
 so that the matter is likely to Come to be Judged by the Comissionrs, 
 The Court thinks meete to forbeare further Acting therein till the 
 meeting of the Comissionefs and doe expect & Require the Inhabitants 
 to CaiTy themselves & order theire Comissionerg and doe expect & Re- 
 quire the Inhabitants to Carry themselves & order theire affaires peace- 
 ably & by Comon Agreement in the meane while and till other provision 
 be made in their behalfe : And further doe desire our Comissioners to be 
 mindfull of this busines tfe endeavo^ Issue thereof at the next meeting. 
 The magists have past this wt"" Referenc to y^ Consent of theire brethren 
 . the deputys thereto 
 
 "EnwARD Rawson Secrety 
 " Consented to by the deputies 
 
 " William Torrey, Cleric 
 "25th 3d 1658" 
 
 — Mass. Archives, vol. 112, pp. 105, 106, by William B. TrasJc. 
 
 3 " The Asotiation of Puquatuck Peple, June 30th 1658 : Whereas thear 
 is a difference betwene the 2 Cullonyes of the Matachusetts and Conec- 
 ticoate about the government of this plac, whcarby we are deprived of 
 Expectation of protection from either, but in way of Curtecy, & 
 wheareas we bad a command from the generall Court of the Matachu- 
 setts to order our own busines in peac with common consent till further 
 provitiou be maid for us, in obedyience tu which command we have 
 adressed our selvs thearunto,but cannot atain it in refiard of soomm dis- 
 tractions among ourselves, and thear hath bene injurious insoleucys 
 done unto soom persons, — the cattell of others threatened to be taken 
 away, — and the chattell of soom otliers alredy taiken away by violence. 
 
 " We haveing taken into consideration that in tymes so full of danger 
 as theas are, unyon of our harts and percons is most conducing to the 
 publick good & safety of the place,— thearfore in pursuance of the same, 
 the better to confirm a mutual confydence in one another & that we miiy 
 be perserved in righteousness and peac with such as do commerc with 
 us, & that misdemeanors may be corrected and incorrygable persons 
 punished; — we hose names are hereunto subscribed do hearby promis, 
 testify & declare to maintain and deflfend with our persons and estait 
 the peac of the plac and to aid and assist one another acoarding to law 
 & rules of righteousness acoarding to tho true intent & meaning of our 
 asociation till such other provition be maide ffor us as may atain our 
 
616 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Following out these suggestions, George Denison 
 and his associate planters assembled on the 30th day 
 of June, 1658, and formed a compact called by them 
 '*The Association of Pawcatuck People," which was 
 organized for municipal purposes only, and not in 
 defiance of the laws of either colony, but was estab- 
 lished by them with a firm, purpose to maintain it 
 until some provision adequate to their wants should 
 be made for them. The question in dispute between 
 the Massachusetts and Connecticut colonies as to ju- 
 risdiction was referred to the commissioners of the 
 United Colonies, who in 1658 rendered a decision^ 
 
 end above written, whereunto we willingly give our assent, & nether ffor 
 
 ffear hoape or other respects shall ever relinguish this promis till other 
 
 provition be maide ffor us. And we do not this out of anny disrespec 
 
 unto ether of the afoarsaid governments which we are bound ever to 
 
 honnor, but in the vacancy of any other aforesaid. 
 
 "George Denison "Moses Palmf-R 
 
 "Thomas Shaw "Walter Palmer 
 
 " Nathaniel Chesebrotjgh " Ths Stanton 
 
 "Elihtj Palmer " Willm CniiSEBROUGH 
 
 "Thomas Stanton "Samuel Chesebrouqh 
 
 " Elisha Chesebrough 
 
 "Upon the request of severall among na to enter into this asociation 
 
 with us theay are admitted and have accordingly subscribed thear 
 
 names 
 
 "June 30th 1658 
 
 " By vertue of this Asociation, that justice may not be obstnicted, &c 
 
 the peac preserved, — we maid choise of Captain Georg Dennyson & 
 
 Willni Chesebrough to be comytioners tu issue out warrants & to cause 
 
 to be brought before them aniiy suspitioua percons, or ffor anny misde- 
 
 menor, & and to hear & determine the casses, and to pronounce sentence 
 
 upon then & to see the judfiment executed, provided it extend not to the 
 
 los of life or limb or banishment or stigmatizing; in such casses as thear 
 
 power will not reach due punishment ffor the Crime, then to taik order 
 
 thear percons may be secured, and sent whear justice may precede 
 
 against them. 
 
 " And ffurther they are to issue all other difTerences, whether of debts 
 
 or cases, and to kepe a register of thear actions provided allwiiies the 
 
 action excede not fforty pound. 
 
 "This choise is the act of the houle body of the Asociates. 
 
 " Walter Palmer 
 
 "Tho. Stanton'' 
 — Slonington Records. 
 
 1 "September 1658— The Issue of the difference betwixt the two Colo- 
 nies of the Massachusetts and Conecticott about the Pequot Country 
 being jointly referred to the Commissioners of the other two Colonies. 
 
 '* Whereas there ia a controversy again revived betwixt the two Colo- 
 nies of Massachusetts and Connechcut concerning their interest in the 
 Pequott country, and many pleas have been made on both sides for their 
 greater interest; we having seriously weighed wlmt hath been by each 
 of them alledged, conceive the determination doth arise only from their 
 several rights by conquest, the which for ought we can understand is not 
 greatly different: yet being tender of any inconveniency or disturbance 
 that may accrue to those that are already possessed either by commission 
 from the Massachusetts or Connecthcut in any pait thereof (should they 
 now be put off their improvements) and also upon inquiry finding that 
 the Pequot country which extendeth from Kinnticke to a place called 
 Wecopaug about ten miles eastward from Mistict river may conveniently 
 accommodate two plantiitions or biwnsliips we thereiore (respecting 
 things as they now stand) do conclude that Mistick Uiver be the bounds 
 between them as to proprietie and to jurisdictioM srifar as conquest may 
 give tiUe thereunto; always provided that such as aie already accomo- 
 dated by commission from either of the governments, or have giants of 
 any tracts of land on any side of the said Mistick river be not molested 
 in their possessions or rights by any after grants, and that all due care 
 be had that Christian society and ordinances may be provided for and 
 upholden according to God, in each plantation. 
 
 " Thomas Prexpe 
 
 " JOSIAS WiNSLOW 
 
 "Francis Nlwman 
 
 .. T> ^ ,« , "William Leete 
 
 "Boston, Ifith of Septem. 1658. 
 
 that all of the Pequot territory west of Mystic Eiver 
 belonged to Connecticut, and all the territory east of 
 it, including Stonington, North Stonington, and part 
 of the town of Westerly, belonged to Massachusetts.^ 
 At the next session of the Massachusetts General 
 Court, after this decision was rendered, they passed 
 an act that the English plantation between Mystic 
 and Pawcatuck Rivers should be named Southern- 
 town, and belong to the county of Suffolk, Mass., and 
 appointed Capt. George Denison and others to man- 
 age the prudential affairs thereof until the court take 
 further orders. 
 
 Walter Palmer was appointed constable, and the 
 bounds of the plantation were extended into the 
 country northward eight miles, from the mouth of 
 Mystic Eiver.^ Thus, after a severe and protracted 
 struggle, they succeeded in obtaining a local govern- 
 ment. 
 
 It should be borne in mind that the Massachusetts 
 General Court did not create or even organize a new 
 township, but simply declared that the English plan- 
 tation between Mystic and Pawcatuck Elvers should 
 
 *' By bounding it by Misticke River we intend that river shall be the 
 bounds so far as the pond by Lanthorn Hill, and thence from the middle 
 of the said pond to run away upon a north line." — Records of the United 
 Colonies — Plymouth Colony Records, vol. x., p. 209. 
 
 - " At the second session of the General Court held at Boston the 19th 
 of October 1658. In answer tu the petition of the inhabitants of Mystic 
 and Pawcatuck the Court jndgeth it meet to grant that the English 
 plantation between Mystic and Pawcatuck be named Southertown and 
 to belong to the County of Suffolk and order that all the prudential af- 
 fairs thereof be managed by Capt. George Denison, Robert Purk, William 
 Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, Walter Palmer and John Meinot sen., til 
 the court take further order and that Capt. George Denison, William 
 Cheesebrooke, and John Minot (Thomas Minor meant) be commission- 
 ers to end small causes there and to deal in criminal matters as one 
 magistrate may do, and that Walter Palmer be Constable, Capt. Denison 
 Clerk of the writs, and he also is hereby empowered and authorized to 
 solemnize marriages between such as are published according to law: 
 that the said Capt. Denison taking his oath be empowered to the oath to 
 the other two, provided always the bounds of the town is not hereby de- 
 termined, (at the same court.) In answer to petition of Inhabitants of 
 Southertown, humbly desiring for several reasons, that the bounds of 
 their plantation may extend into the country ^^^^'^ ward between We- 
 
 acapauge and Mystic river eight miles from the month of Mystic Kiver. 
 
 "The Court judgeth it meet to grant their request." — Mass. Archives, 
 Wm. B. Trash. 
 
 3 " We whose names are vender written being chosen by the Towns of 
 Southertowne to lay out the bounds according to the Courts grant, the 
 wliich we did as followeth ffii-st we began at Misticke Rivers mouth, and 
 ffrom thence we run six miles to the north, northeast to the pond lying 
 by Lanthorne hill, where we marked a chestnut tree with six uoches 
 right against the middle of the pond, which pond weffuund to be seuen 
 chains and one pole wide, and ffrom thence we run two miles due north 
 to an ash tree which we maikod ffouer ways and set eight noches ffor the 
 eight miles: lying by a little still brooke, and we run ffrom thence due 
 east tenu miles and one quarter and twelve chains to white oake tree 
 marked with an X and SV. and ffrom thence we run due south six miles 
 and three quarters there we crossed Poquatucjk Riuer and ffrom thence 
 vpon the same line to a place called Quanaquutag which line poynted 
 vpon Block Island which Quanaquatag lies east of Weeckapoug two 
 miles and quarter, which two miles a quarter we took possession ffor 
 the countrie to dispose of either ffor us or as the contrie shall cause. 
 " George Dknison Thomas Miner 
 
 " Thomas Parke Thomas Stanton 
 
 " Samuel Chesebbrough 
 
 " Dated the 2nd of March 1659." 
 
 — Stonington Town Records. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 617 
 
 be called Southerntown. They recognized in part 
 the local association of the people, and extended 
 and confirmed their bounds. 
 
 During the years 1659, 1660, and 1661 several town- 
 meetings were held for the purpose of building and 
 locating a meeting-house, which was raised May 13, 
 1661, and was so far completed as to be ready for use 
 in September of that year, when the commissioners 
 of the United Colonies being in town attended wor- 
 ship there, and were addressed by that stern old 
 warrior statesman, Capt. John Mason. 
 
 This, the first meeting-house of Stonington, stood 
 a short distance northwest of the residence of Henry 
 M. Palmer. It is not known how large it was, or 
 what its shape or style, but from some facts that may 
 be gleaned from the old town records, it is probable 
 that it was a small building and but partially finished, 
 for as early as 1667, six years after it was raised, a vote 
 was passed in town-meeting to repair it and make it 
 more comfortable'; and even after it was repaired the 
 people did not use it in cold weather, but held their 
 meetings at the house of Amos Richardson, which was 
 situated a little way east of the meeting-house. 
 
 Eev. Mr. Thompson remained here until 1659, when 
 he removed to New London. September 30th of that 
 year the Rev. Zachariah Brigden, of Boston, Mass., 
 preached here by invitation of the town, which sub- 
 sequently held a meeting for the purpose of securing 
 his services. Mr. Brigden labored here until his 
 death, which took place April 24, 1662. 
 
 After his death Mr. Chauncy and Fletcher preached 
 for the town until the spring of 1664, when the town 
 appointed a committee to go to the Bay (Massachu- 
 setts) and procure a minister for the town, who in- 
 vited Mr. James Noyes, of Newbury, to become their 
 gospel-preaching minister. He accepted the invita- 
 tion, and came here in the latter part of June, 1664, and 
 continued his labors in July following, and preached 
 as a licentiate until 1674, when he was ordained. 
 
 In 1660-61 an old Pequot captain, known as Socho, 
 laid claim to that part of Southertown called Mis- 
 quamicut, and lying east of Pawcatuck River, and 
 sold it to a number of planters from Newport, Mid- 
 dletown, and Portsmouth, E. I., who took possession 
 and held it as a part of Rhode Island colony. The 
 planters here were greatly vexed by the conflict of 
 jurisdiction, and serious trouble grew out of it. In 
 some instances the same territory was granted by 
 each of the then colonies to difierent persons, and long 
 years of litigation was the result. 
 
 Sorely pressed by these difiiculties, and annoyed by 
 the apprehension that the' Connecticut colony medi- 
 tated their subjection, the selectmen, or townsmen, as 
 they were then called, in behalf of the town, under 
 Jan. 19, 1662, again petitioned the Massachusetts 
 General Court for redress of grievances,^ to which no 
 
 1 " To the Honored Governor deputye Governor and magistrates to- 
 gether with the Counsell of Generall Court of the mattachueetea the 
 petition of the inhabitants of southertowne humbly sheweth that 
 
 response seems to be made. On the 22d of April, 
 1662, Governor Winthrop succeeded in obtaining a 
 new charter of Connecticut from King Charles II. 
 The eastern boundary of the colony was therein 
 fixed at Pawcatuck River, thus placing a large part 
 of the town of Southertown under the jurisdiction of 
 Connecticut, leaving that part east of Pawcatuck 
 River under the control of Rhode Island. Massa- 
 
 whereas by the Good providence of God we have bin orderly put vnder 
 your Goverment by the cometioners of the vniglited Collonies, acording 
 vnto articles of confederation : by which means through your Faviuur 
 we have for this severall years inioyed our peace, with many other liber- 
 ties and privilidges both sivell and spirituall, which we could not formerly 
 inioy, or bee made pertakers of, notwithstanding all uurindevers and 
 adreses made vnto those, who claimed aproprietye in tlies parts, the which 
 peace of ours, together with your aathoritye amongst vs hath bin much in- 
 terrupted, and your authoritye together with all our priviledges much im- 
 pugned by the anthoi-hye of Coneticots sending dowtie amongst vs there 
 warrants, and prohibiting vs the exersice of any authoritye amongst vs 
 but such as shall be deriued from them ; indevering to make a fiiction, 
 or to incorage the same amongst vs, that so tliay might attaine there 
 owne eandes, which how reguler it is we leaue vnto your visdoms to 
 judge, — these things liaue ocationed vs to make seuerall adresea vnto 
 your honored selues and we have had your faiourable acseptance therein, 
 as manifestly apeara by your letters vnto Coneticot, and orders vnto our 
 selues, for the preservation of our peace and the I'etainingvs vnder your 
 Goverment (which faviour we cannot but thankfully take notis of, and 
 doth Firther oblidg vs vnto your service and our owne fidellitye and 
 dutye) : yet not withstanding all your indevers and letters vnto Coneti- 
 cut, for the preservation of our peace etc. it doth two manifestly apear 
 that thay doe slight both your letters, and power, for thay still contnue 
 Jrrouble vs with tlieie warants, requireing our obedienc, and seeke to tir- 
 rifye va with there threats if we shall not attend there orders, which 
 may apear in part vnto your selues, by sum letters or orders which of 
 leate came vnto sum of our facktious persons, the which we thought 
 meete to aease, and send downe with these, for your better information ; 
 what their intentions are we know not, fur it is giuen out and we have 
 cause to feare, that tliey will not at least willingly be tryed by the come- 
 tioners. but that they will force vs by power, it haueitig bin Giuen out 
 that thay will haue Capt. denison alife or dead, and that there will bee 
 many widowes and fatbei'less Children amongst va are long, together 
 with there Conntinancing and complyanc with those vnreasonable men 
 of road Hand now at paquatuck one of these cheefe saying openly that 
 thay had rather the road Hands should haue that laud than the bay, 
 with many high and slighting wordes respecting the bay and the inter- 
 est, thretening the nullifying of what ever the hay hath done hear, 
 respecting privilidges or proprietyes; things being thus, or thus apear- 
 ing vnto vs, we being weeke and vnexperienced in the manageing of 
 cases of this natures, causeth vs with all huniilitye to sped these things 
 before your worships and this Honerable asembly, humbly begging your 
 firther faviour and couotinanc in thes respects, foi- our incoragement in 
 the manifestation of our fidellitye, vnto which we haue ioyntly bound 
 our selves : wherefore we doe earnistly intreat that since we haue bin 
 and are orderly vnder your care and Goverment, that you would be 
 pleased to doe your vtennost for vs to contenew us So, and that we may 
 not bee left vnto the mercyes of those of coneticote, whose wordes and 
 actions speakes (unto vs) nothing hut our ruin, who haue aproned our 
 selues faithful!, yee and the onerturning of the authoritye of the bay to 
 there vtmost power: and becaus we doe not know how soone they may 
 macke sum further attemtes against vs, we doe earnistly crane sum fur- 
 ther orders and instructions may be sent unto va, by this messenger if 
 posably, that so we may not be in the darke what to doe, if such attemta 
 should be made against vs, which the lord in mercy prevent, by your 
 wisdome, and if to that purpose you would send any letters unto coneti- 
 cot our mesenger can speedily convey them vnto there debutya Gover- 
 nor, which posably may abate there furye, and may be a means to 
 prevent our further truble and of the continuance of our peace, to- 
 gether with your authoritye and interest: pardon we beseech you our 
 bouldness, and let our preaing neaesitye, together with our earnest desire 
 after peace, and order, and the attending your orders and instrucktiona 
 to that eand speake for va ; and if the lord shall macke your worships 
 instrumentall for the preservation of our peace and comfort, by the im- 
 prouement and vpholding your authoritye amongst vs, we and ours ahaU 
 
618 
 
 HISTOKY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 chusetts gracefully yielded obedience to the new 
 charter. 
 
 At the October session of the General Assembly for 
 that year the charter was publicly read to the assem- 
 bled freemen of Connecticut, and from that time for- 
 ward became the recognized law of the land. At the 
 same session it was ordered that "ye inhabitants of 
 Mystic and Pawcatuck, not Southertown, shall from 
 henceforth forbear to exercise authority by virtue of 
 Commissioners from any other Colonies, and in case 
 any differences that may arise, they repair to our 
 Dept. Governor for help, and that they choose a Con- 
 stable for the year ensuing, and ye said constable to 
 repair to the Dept. Governor for his oath. And they 
 are required to pay unto Mr. James Noyes, Lt. 
 Samuel Smith, and Ensign Avery, for and in behalf 
 of the charge of the Charter, the sum of twenty pounds 
 as this Towns proportion, two thirds in wheat at four 
 shillings and one third in peas at three shillings 8 
 pence, by the last of November next." It does not 
 appear that the town of Southertown was represented 
 in the General Court of Massachusetts while it was 
 under the jurisdiction of that colony ; nor were the 
 planters represented in the General Assembly of 
 Connecticut until the October session for 1664, when 
 William Chesebrough was elected, and at the com- 
 mencement of the session presented a petition^ in be- 
 half of the planters, asking their pardon for pasf 
 offenses, and their favor for the future, which was 
 granted to all except Capt. Denison.' 
 
 haue cauB as to owue hia Goodnea ao to acknowledg youre favioure, and 
 shall continue to pray . 
 
 " Yours in all Loyallty, though vnworthy to be owned, 
 "Gkorge Denison 
 " William CHESEBnouGH 
 *' Tho Stanton 
 " Samitell Chesebrough 
 " Elihu Palmer 
 
 " Townsmen 
 " From Soutbertowne ; this : 19 of January 16G2 
 "In the name and with the consent of the towne," 
 — Mass. Archives^ vol. ii., page 34, btj William B. Trash. 
 '"To the Honorable Genrall Court now Asembled at Hartford in the 
 CoUony of Connectycoat, Hounorable may it please you — We your 
 poore petitioners being summoned by the Houuored Counsel of this 
 jurisdiction to yield our obedience & subjection to this jurisdiction 
 acording to his maiestyes letters patent grationsly granted to this Col- 
 lonie & to make choise of a percon to be a Comishonor & to atend the 
 servis of this present Court in obedience to thia aummons we have 
 yielded our selves & aent vp one to be a Comishonor to atend the aervis 
 of the Court. We humbly beaech you thearfore that you will pardon all 
 such mistaiks or miscariges w* through humain frailty hath bene offen- 
 cive or grevious vuto you & receane va with a loving aspect & renue your 
 former favor vnto vs tliat we may be remembrerd with equall priviledgea 
 of other Townea acording to our Capacitie that we male be preserved in 
 truth & peace & that acandals may be removeed for the forme we may 
 not be BO bould as to preacrib knowing the wisdom & prudenc of the 
 Hounei-ed Court hose wisdom & favor we do commit ouraeluea vnto. 
 
 " We humbly do beaech allso that the bounds of our plantation may 
 be confirmed w-h was granted vnto vs by the Bay, thus being loath to 
 trespas vpon your patenc we humbly talk our leave & rest your pore 
 petichoners. 
 
 "WllLM CllESEUBltouGH in the name of the rest 
 "October 14: 64" 
 — Conn. Archiuez. 
 
 2"Mistick & Pawcatuck haveing by Mr Cheesebrook petitioned this 
 Court for their fanoure to pass by their offences the Court haueing con- ' 
 
 In 1665 the name of Southertown was by the Gen- 
 eral Court changed to that of Mystic, in memory of 
 that victory God was pleased to give this people of 
 Connecticut over the Pequot Indians. In May, 1666, 
 an act was passed as follows : " The town of Mystic 
 is by this Court named Stonington, the Court doth 
 grant to the plantation to extend the bounds thereof 
 ten miles from the sea up into the country northward, 
 and eastward to the river called Pawcatuck. This 
 Court doth pass an act of indemnity to Capt. George 
 Denison upon the same grounds as was formerly 
 granted to other inhabitants of Stonington." Mr. 
 Noyes did not at first make arrangements to remain 
 for any given length of time, but subsequently, in 
 1668, the town passed a vote that they would freely 
 contribute, or give towards his building a dwelling- 
 house among them in order to his settling in the town, 
 and carrying on the work of the ministry among them. 
 They also voted to give him a salary of fifty pounds 
 currency annually for seven years, and in 1671 the 
 town added the use of the ministry land to Mr. Noyes' 
 salary, and subsequently raised it to one hundred 
 pounds, with several grants of land and other dona- 
 tions. 
 
 About this time a movement was set on foot to 
 build a new and better meeting-house, to lay out 
 public lands for the support of the gospel ministry, 
 and to form a church in accordance with the estab- 
 lished religion of the colony. In 1667 the planters 
 convened in town-meeting and decided to set apart 
 and lay out five hundred acres of land, to be styled 
 the ministry land, the avails of which were to be 
 applied to the support of the gospel ministry. In 
 July of the same year the town established what they 
 called a town plot, and appointed a committee to lay 
 out as many lota as there were inhabitants then living 
 in the town. Their home-lots contained twelve acres 
 each, and were so arranged that each lot had a street 
 front. Two hundred acres of this ministry land was 
 laid out around the place where the Eoad Meeting- 
 house now stands, the eastern line of which extended 
 along a few feet east of said meeting-house, running 
 nearly north and south. The western boundary was 
 Mistuxet Brook. The northern and southern lines 
 cannot now be traced, but the form of the plot can 
 nearly be seen when we look at the distance between 
 the east and west lines and the number of acres that 
 were laid out. The home-lots were laid out around 
 and upon each side of the ministry land. They ex- 
 tended as far east as Stony Brook, and south as far as 
 Smith's Mill; one tier was located north, and the 
 remainder west and south of said land. 
 
 sjdered the aame doe hereby declare that what irregularties or abuBiue 
 practices haue proceeded from them, whereby they haue aeemed to olfer 
 contempt to the authority here eatablislied it shall be forgiuen and 
 buryed in perpetuall oblivion and forgetfullness, and this to extend it 
 selfe to all ye members of the afoai-sayd plantation, Captayn Denison 
 onely excepted whoe hath neglected or refused to submitt himselfe 
 peaceably to the order of the Councill of this Colony." — TmmtmlVs Co- 
 lonial Records^ vol. i., p. 499. 
 
STONINQTON. 
 
 619 
 
 In 1668 a census of the inhabitants of the town was 
 ordered to be taken, embracing those only who were 
 inhabitants or heads of families. February 2d there 
 were found to be forty-three inhabitants, viz. : Thomas 
 Stanton, George Denison, Thomas Miner, John Gal- 
 lup, Amos Richardson, Samuel Chesebrough, James 
 Noyes, Elisha Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, Jr., 
 Ephraim Miner, Moses Palmer, James York, John 
 Stanton, Thomas Wheeler, Samuel Mason, Joseph 
 Miner, John Bennett, Isaac Wheeler, John Denison, 
 Josiah Witter, Benjamin Palmer, Gershom Palmer, 
 Thomas Bell, Joseph Stanton, John Fish, Thomas 
 Shaw, John Gallup, Jr., John Frink, Edmund Fan- 
 ning, James York, Jr., Nathaniel Beebe, John Rey- 
 nolds, Robert Sterry, John Shaw, John Searls, Robert 
 Fleming, Robert Holmes, Nathaniel Chesebrough for 
 Mrs. Anna Chesebrough, his mother, Gershom Palmer 
 for Mrs. Rebecca Palmer, his mother, Henry Stevens, 
 and Ezekiel Main. A home-lot was laid out for each 
 inhabitant, and the title was obtained by lottery on 
 the following conditions, namely: if built upon within 
 six months and inhabited the title would be complete, 
 except that each proprietor must reside on his lot two 
 years before he could sell it, and then he must first 
 offer it to the town and be refused before he could 
 sell the same to any person and give good title. How 
 many of these home-lots were built upon by the then 
 inhabitants cannot now be ascertained. 
 
 Up to this time all religious services had been pro- 
 vided for and conducted by the authorities of the town. 
 Ministers were employed by the selectmen, and paid 
 from the town treasury. The town also appointed 
 committees to examine candidates for the ministry, to 
 see if they were sound in the fundamentals. " They 
 did not by their acts recognize Councils, Assemblies, 
 or ecclesiastical machinery in any way until 1669, 
 when they preferred a petition to the General Court 
 of the colony asking liberty to settle themselves in 
 church order, which was granted at once;'' but the 
 church was not formed until 1674. During the time 
 that these preliminary steps were moving for church 
 organization the inhabitants were worshiping at Pe- 
 quot, in their dwelling-houses and the old meeting- 
 house. They had repaired it several times, in pur- 
 suance of town votes. It was also occupied by the 
 town for holding town-meetings. At a meeting held 
 therein in June, 1670, it was voted, with a joint con- 
 sent, " that a bigger and better meeting-house shall 
 be built." Nothing appears to have been done about 
 building a new house, for the reason that they could 
 not agree upon a location. In April, 1671, another 
 meeting was held, which voted, " That the meeting- 
 house agreed upon shall stand upon the most conve- 
 nient place of the ministry land," and the selectmen 
 were directed " to view said land and approve the 
 place where they find it most convenient, according to 
 the order of the town, to set the meeting-house." 
 
 The selectmen could not agree upon a location, 
 and called another town-meeting, which was held 
 
 Thursday, Dec. 14, 1671. At this meeting, after 
 spending most of the day in fruitless motions and 
 discussions, it was voted. That the meeting should 
 continue till Friday night, and that all the inhabit- 
 ants meet Friday morning by nine of the clock at the 
 meeting-house, and to go from thence to view a place 
 to set the new meeting-house on. 
 
 They met the next day, and looked over the minis- 
 try land, and unanimously agreed upon a location for 
 their new house, and then went back to the old meet- 
 ing-house and passed the following votes, viz. : "That 
 the New Meeting House shall for time to come be set 
 up and stand without removing upon the hill called 
 Agreement Hill, so named by the town at the same 
 place." The dimensions of this house were agreed upon 
 at this meeting, and were as follows : " Forty feet long, 
 twenty-two feet wide, and fourteen feet posts from 
 joint to joint." It was also voted at this meeting 
 " That the present minister, Mr. James Noyes, for the 
 time that he continues to be the minister of this place, 
 shall have the use of all the ministry land to himself, 
 besides his fifty pounds currency per annum, and at 
 his death or departure to leave it wholly to the town." 
 A committee of five were appointed to superintend 
 the erection of the new meeting-house. It was built 
 by subscriptions of timber, planking, shingles, ceiling, 
 nails, and labor of men and teams, etc. At the time 
 the meeting-house was located upon Agreement Hill 
 by the town the hill was covered with heavy tim- 
 ber, which was removed by the inhabitants by volun- 
 tary labor, who then laid the foundation for the new 
 house, and raised it Jan. 15, 1673. This house stood 
 a few rods west of the present meeting-house at the 
 road. It was not finished for several years. At first 
 there were no slips or pews, except for the deacons, 
 magistrates, and minister's family ; benches were used 
 by all people, and a committee was appointed to seat 
 them according to their notions of propriety. This 
 state of things did not last long, for the town voted 
 the next year to have the floor of the house and of the 
 gallery assigned to the inhabitants for pews. A com- 
 mittee was appointed to make the assignment, who 
 encountered much opposition, but finally agreed upon 
 a plan, which was submitted to the town and accepted. 
 Those who were dissatisfied with the section assigned 
 them did not make their pews, and occupied the old 
 benches. Some of them after a while reconsidered 
 their determination and built them. The inside of 
 the house was never lathed and plastered. After the 
 pews were built the space between them and the gal- 
 lery was ceiled, and this was done by sections, which 
 had been assumed by some of the wealthier inhabit- 
 ants. When this house was dedicated is not known. 
 Religious meetings were held there in the summer of 
 1673, and ever after that until it was taken down to 
 make way for a larger one, which was erected in 1729. 
 Soon after this town was incorporated by the Gen- 
 eral Court of Massachusetts the planters became 
 apprehensive of trouble with the Narragansett and 
 
620 
 
 HISTOKY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Wampannoag Indians, whose western limits bordered 
 along oh the eastern boundary of Southertown. The 
 danger of the planters here had been increased by a 
 union with the Massachusetts Colony, for the reason 
 that it was with that and the Plymouth Colony that 
 the trouble originated that finally culminated in King 
 Philip's war. Becoming a part of the Massachusetts 
 Colony, they were regarded by the Indians as their 
 enemies. Their isolated condition and the neutral 
 position of Rhode Island marked them as an easy 
 prey for savage vengeance. 
 
 Nor did the new charter in 1662 and their annexa- 
 tion to the colony of Connecticut better their condi- 
 tion, for as the difficulties with the Indians increased 
 the whole of New England became involved in the 
 conflict. 
 
 King Philip's emissaries visited the remnant of the 
 Pequot Indians, and besought them to join in the 
 grand plan of exterminating the English. They were 
 partially successful at first in their endeavors, but the 
 influence of Chesebrough, Stanton, Denison, Gallup, 
 and others prevailed with the Pequots, and they re- 
 mained friendly with the English, and rendered them 
 most important services when the war actually com- 
 menced. They participated in the great swamp-fight 
 in Kingston, R. I., which took place Dec. 19, 1676. 
 Capt. John Gallup, of Stoningtot^, commanded the 
 Pequots and Mohegans, who, urged on by Oneko, 
 fought with unyielding determination. Capt. Gallup 
 was among the slain, but how many of lesser grade, 
 and of the rank and file of our town, were killed and 
 wounded cannot now be ascertained. 
 
 Almost alLof the able-bodied men of Stonington 
 were engaged in the Indian wars of their time. Capt. 
 George Denison raised and mustered into the service 
 of the colony a large force of English and Indians. 
 He was provost-marshal for New London County and 
 Rhode Island. He had a stockade fort just west of 
 his dwelling-house in Stonington, where his soldiers 
 encamped previous to their forays into the Indian 
 territory. During the year 1676, Capt. Denison or- 
 ganized three expeditions, who pursued with unre- 
 lenting vengeance the shattered remnants of King 
 Philip's forces. It was during the third of these ex- 
 peditions—which began March 28, 1676, and ended 
 April 10, 1676— that the brave Narragansett chieftain, 
 Canonchet, was taken prisoner. He was brought to 
 Stonington, where a council of war was held at Au- 
 guilla, near the present residence of Gideon P. Chese- 
 brough. He refused to negotiate for peace, or for the 
 cessation of hostilities on any terms, so the council 
 decided that he must die, and when told of his fate 
 replied " that he liked it well, and should die before 
 his heart had grown soft, or he had said anything un- 
 worthy of himself." He was executed after the Indian 
 mode, being shot by Oneko and two Pequot sachems, 
 the nearest to his own rank among his conquerors. 
 This was done by his captors without consulting or 
 advice from any one superior to them in authority. 
 
 No list or roll of the Stonington men who partici- 
 pated in the early Indian wars has been preserved. 
 The nearest approach to which may be found in " a 
 list of the English volunteers in the late Narragan- 
 sett war," as prepared by a committee for that pur- 
 pose in order to secure a grant of land for their ser- 
 vices, as follows : Capt. George Denison, Sergt. John 
 Frink, Capt. John Stanton, Capt. Samuel Mason, 
 Rev. .lames Noyes, Lieut. Thomas Miner, Samuel 
 Youmans, John Fish, George Denison, Jr., William 
 Denison, Nathaniel Beebe, Henry Stevens, Edmund 
 Fanning, Thomas Fanning, John Bennet, William 
 Bennett, Ezekiel Main, William Wheeler, Gershom 
 Palmer, Samuel Stanton, Daniel Stanton, Manasseth 
 Miner, Joseph Stanton, James York, Henry Bennett, 
 Capt. James Pendleton, Robert Holmes, Thomas 
 Bell, Henry Elliott, Isaac Wheeler, John Gallup, 
 Nathaniel Chesebrough, Ephraim Miner, Joseph 
 Miner, Samuel Miner, John Ashcroft, Edmund Fan- 
 ning, Jr., John Denison, William Billings, and 
 Samuel Fish. 
 
 After the close of King Philip's war nothing oc- 
 curred to interrupt the progress of the settlement. 
 Some matters, however, connected with the contests 
 between the colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Isl- 
 and, relative to the boundary line between them, 
 lingered to make trouble for the adjoining towns of 
 Stonington and Westerly. 
 
 The boundaries between Connecticut and Rhode 
 Island as fixed by the new charter were not satisfactory 
 to the Connecticut people, norentirelyso to the Rhode 
 Island people. But after years of contention and litiga- 
 tion measures in the interest of peace prevailed, and the 
 present boundary line; was established. The attempted 
 overthrow of the charter of the colony by Sir Edmund 
 Andros, acting in pursuance of the policy of King 
 James II., did not particularly aflfect the interest of 
 the planters here, though they were bitterly opposed 
 to the measures adopted by the king for the purpose 
 of consolidating all of the New England colonies into 
 one, shorn of the liberties granted them by the char- 
 ter of 1662. The sudden collapse of King James, 
 his abdication of the government of England in 1688, 
 the arrest of Andros in Massachusetts, and his forced 
 return to England gave great satisfaction to the inhab- 
 itants of this town, as well as to all of New England ; 
 and when William and Mary ascended the throne 
 in 1689 they were hailed with universal respect and 
 esteem. Their beneficent policy was felt on this side 
 of the Atlantic, and with the restoration of the char- 
 ter and the assurance of the protection of the mother- 
 country, the planters here went on from year to year 
 electing their town and colonial officers, levying and 
 collecting taxes for church, town, and state, and fur- 
 nishing without dissent their quota of men to resist 
 the invasion of the French and Indians from the 
 north. 
 
 During the latter part of the Rev. Mr. James Noyes' 
 pastorate his health began to fail him, and the people 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 621 
 
 of his charge were anxious to aflFord him all the as- 
 sistance in their power. 
 
 By this time the northern part of Stonington, now 
 North Stonington, had become settled, and the old 
 place of worship at Agreement Hill was felt to be too 
 remote for them to attend. 
 
 So they began to take measures to divide the town 
 into two societies for religious purposes, pending 
 which the town held a meeting in 1715, and voted 
 and agreed to call the Eev. Joseph Noyes' to assist 
 his father in the work of the ministry, one of whom 
 was to preach to the people remote from the old meet- 
 ing-house. Mr. Joseph Noyes did not accept of this 
 call, anticipating one from New Haven, which he 
 subsequently received and accepted. Another town- 
 meeting was held in 1717, and adopted measures for 
 the division of the town, which was consummated by 
 the General Court in 1720.^ 
 
 1 "At an adjourned Town Meeting held April the 14th, 1715, It was 
 voted and agreed to call Mr. Joseph Noyes to he helpfiill to the Rev. Mr 
 James Noyes in carrying on ye work of ye Ministry amongst ue in this 
 town, and that one of ye two Miuifiters shall pi'each to the People living 
 remoat from the Meeting House, at sum conveiiiant place where they ye 1 
 People agreived shall unanimously agree upon, and that after the death, 
 reniovall or inahility of either of ye two Ministeis to carry on ye work 
 of ye Ministei-y, or so soon after as the uper people shall so cause the 
 Town to be divided into two Sosiaties for cariyingon ye work of ye Min- 
 istery : And ye Town to he devided so as may be consistant with ye rule 
 of Justice & rightorasness and the Northern Sosiaty when set out as 
 above shall have an equal part of the Miuistery Land in this Town and 
 for incurigmeutof ye upper susiaty the lower sosiaty shall wlien divided 
 as aforesaid, pay unto them the sum of One hundred pounds towards ye 
 settleing of a minister amongst them. It was also Voated that if Mr 
 James Noyes shall except of a call of this town to be miniHter with his 
 father the Rev^ Mr. James Noyes that then ye Town will give him ye 
 8^ Mr Joseph Noyes for his incui-agement ye sum of one hundred 
 pounds towards settling him amongst us, and to pay him anuually ye 
 sura of seventy pounds as money so long as they ye b* Mr James and 
 Mr Joseph Noyes shall carry on ye work of ye ministry amongst us in 
 this town, and if it please God that Mr Joseph Noyes shall succeed ye 
 Revd Mr, James Noyes, and doe continnew to can-y on ye work of ye 
 Ministry amongst us that then he shall have his salloroy raised to make 
 it a comfortable and credable maintainance from this Town." — Stonington 
 Town Records. 
 
 2 "General Assembly May Session a.d. 1720 Holden at Hartford— Upon 
 consideration of the petition of the inhabitants dwelling in tlie north- 
 ward part of Stonington, praying that a committee m.iy be appointed to 
 settle and establish a line that shall divide Stonington into two societies: 
 Ordered, by this Assembly, that Mr John Plumb of Nrw London, Lt. 
 John Sprauge of Lebanon, Lt. Joseph Bacchus of Norwich, and Lt. Tim- 
 othy Peirce of Plainfield, or any three of thein, he a committee to settle 
 the line desired, and make return of their doings theiein to the Assembly 
 in October next, and that the town of Stonington beat the charge of 
 it." — Hoadlet/a Colonial lieeords, vol. v., page 180. 
 
 " Whereas the Generall Assembly held in May 12th 1720: Did appint 
 us ye subscriber to fix and settle a line in Stonington to divide it into 
 two societies, and we having heard ye Parties what they had to offer in 
 ye premises and viewed ye list of Estates as also taken a view of severall 
 Quarters in ye s'^ town and seriously considered ye Siime, do fix andsittle 
 ye afores<* line which divides ye s** town into two societies as follows. Be- 
 ginning at ye house and farme of Mr ■William Wheeler, fmm thence 
 west north west line to Mistick River brook about one mile, and fiom ye 
 8^ house and farme of Mr. William W heeh-r a line easteily to ye house 
 and farme of Mr Josiah Grant and from thence a line eastwardly to ye 
 house and famie of Mr John Brown an^from thence a line easterly to 
 ye house and farme of Mr. Thomas Brown, and from thence a line east- 
 erly to ye house and farm of Mr John Randall, and from ye s<i Mr Ran- 
 dall's house, an east line to Shoonuck River and so by Shoonuck River 
 to Pawcatuck River, the aforesaid line taking in ye sd Mr William 
 Wheeler, Mr Josiah Grant, Mr John Brown, Mr Thomas Brown, and 
 40 
 
 The legal effect of these proceedings thus far was 
 to divide the town into two societies, and leave them 
 without authority to assemble and elect their officers, 
 there being no general statute at the time providing 
 for calling the first society meeting for that purpose. 
 Whereupon a petition was preferred to the Governor 
 and Council in December, 1720, asking that a time 
 might be fixed for a meeting of the inhabitants of 
 said parish qualified to vote in the affairs thereof. 
 The petition was granted, and the 28th day of De- 
 cember, 1721, at the old meeting-house, at twelve 
 o'clock noon, was designated as the time and place for 
 said meeting, and three men were selected to warn it, 
 by giving five days' notice thereof; and when assem- 
 bled either of said persons was to preside and lead the 
 parishioners to a choice of society officers.^ 
 
 The meeting assembled in response to the notice 
 and elected Samuel Stanton, Jr., clerk ; Samuel Stan- 
 ton, Sr., Daniel Palmer, James Miner, Joseph Deni- 
 son, and Samuel .Chesebrough, Sr., committee; and 
 Nehemiah Williams, collector. These proceedings 
 completed the organization of the First Ecclesiastical 
 Congregational Society of Stonington. 
 
 Ministers' rates were no longer laid and collected by 
 the town, that duty devolved upon the society; also 
 the settling of ministers in connection with the church, 
 building of meeting-houses, and all the temporal 
 matters of the church. 
 
 Pending the proceedings that Avere instituted in 
 England for the subversion of the charter of 1662, 
 and the overthrow of the colonial government estab- 
 
 Mr John Randall with their present improvements into ye North Society 
 and to be a part of it as witness our hands, 
 
 "John Speague, 
 "John Plumb, 
 ^ "JosKPH Bachus, 
 
 "Timothy Peirce, 
 
 " Commiitee. 
 "Stonington, June 25th 1720." — Society Itecords. 
 
 3" At a meeting of the Governor and Council in New London, Decem- 
 ber 20tl), 1720. Present. The (looorable Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq., Gov- 
 ernor, Richard Chiistophers, Esq., Assistant; Jonathan Prents, Esq., 
 John Picket, Chribtopher Christophers, Jonathan Star. * Upon applica- 
 tion made by several inhabilants of the southermost of the societies or 
 parishes in Stoningtown, lately established by the General Court, desir- 
 ing that a time mny be appointed for the meeting of the inhabitants of 
 said parish, qualified to vote in the affairs thereof, and an order given for 
 notifying them of the time for their convening fur that end. 
 
 •' Ordered, That Wednesday the 28th of this instant December at 12 of 
 the clock at noon, and at the old meeting house in said parish, be the 
 place and time for the meeting of the said inhabitants parishioners. 
 
 "Ordered, That Capt. Manaasah Miner, Mr Adam Gallup, and Mr 
 Sylvester Baldwin, all of the said parish, or either of them, do give at 
 least five days notice to the inhabitants within the precint of said 
 parish, who are qualified voters in the said society, that on the said Wed- 
 nesday the ^8th instant at twelve of the clock at noon, at tlie old meet- 
 ing-house in said parish, a meeting of the said society is appointed and 
 ordered by this board for choosing a clerk and committee, and for man- 
 aging other affairs of the said society or parish. And the said Capt. 
 Minor. Mr Gallup and Mr Baldwin, or either of them, are appointed to 
 lead the said pariHlnoners at the said meeting to the snid choice. 
 
 " Ordered, That the clerk of the council inclose in a letter to the said 
 Messrs. Minor, GaUnp & Baldwin or either of them, a copie of this 
 order, attested by him, which shall be a sufficient warrant for their at- 
 tending to the service which they are herein directed to." — Koadley'e 
 Colonial liecords, vol. v., pages 228, 229. 
 
622 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 lished by virtue thereof, the General Court in May, 
 1686, enacted that " This court, for the prevention of 
 future trouble, and that every township's grants of 
 land, as it hath been obtained by gift, purchase, or 
 otherways of the natives and grants of this court, 
 may be settled upon them, their heirs, successors, and 
 assigns forever, according to our charter granted by 
 his late majesty of happy memory, this court doth 
 order that every township in this colony shall take 
 out patents for their said grants of the Governor and 
 company, which this court doth hereby order shall be 
 granted unto them for the holding of such tracts of 
 land as have been formerly or shall be hereafter 
 granted to them by this court, and to their heirs and 
 successors and assigns firm and sure, according to the 
 tenure of our charter in free and common vocage, 
 and not in capite nor by knight service, which patent 
 shall be sealed with the seal of the colony, and signed 
 by the Governor and by the secretary in the name of 
 this court and entered upon record, which patent or 
 record of the patent shall be sufficient evidence for all 
 and every township that hath the same to all intents 
 and purposes, for the holding of the said lands firm 
 to them, their heirs, successors, and assigns forever." 
 The town of Stonington, for reasons not now under- 
 stood, did not take out a patent under the act afore- 
 said until 1716, which is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " To al] persons to whom these presents shall come. The Governor 
 and company of his magesties colony of Connecticut, in general Court, 
 assembled send Greeting. Whereas we ye said Governor and company, 
 by virture of Letters Pattenta to ns, granted by his Eoyal Majesties 
 Charles ye Second of England &c King, bearing date ye (2:W) twenty- 
 third day of April in ye fourteenth year of his Reign, Annoque Domini 
 1663, Have tirml.v by certain acts and grants passed in General Assem- 
 bly, given and granted to Thomas Stanton Esq., Ephraim Miner Esq., 
 Nehemiah Palmer Esq., Nathaniel Chesebrough Esq., the Revend Mr. 
 James Noyes, Mr. Daniel Mason, Mr. John Gallup, Mr. Daniel Deniaon, 
 Mr. Isaac Wheeler, j\[r. Stephen Richardson, Mr. John Erink, Mr. Wil- 
 liam Bennet, Mr, Robert Stanton, Mr. Samuel Stanton, Mr. Joseph 
 Stanton, Mr. Gershom Palmer, Mr. Moses Palmer, Daniel Palmer Esq., 
 Lieut. Ichabod Palmer, Joseph Palmer, William Palmer, George Palmer 
 Walter Palmer, Samuel Stanton Secundne, Samuel Stanton Jr., Daniel 
 Stanton, Capt. Manasseh Miner, Capt. Ephraim Miner, Mr. Joseph 
 Miner, Ensign Elnathan Miner, Ensign Samuel Miner, ,Umes Miner, 
 John Miner, Thomas Miner, Mr. Samuel Chesebrough, Mr. William 
 Chesebrough, Mr. Elihu Chesebrough, Elisha Chesebrough, Samuel 
 Chesebrough Secundus, Ebenezer Sear], Thomas Noyes, John Noyes Mr. 
 Benadam Gallup, Lieut. William Gallup, William Denison, William 
 Denison Secundus, William Wheeler, Capt. John Mason, Samuel Mason, 
 Mr. Benjamin Hewit, Mr. Henry Stephens, John Frink, Jun., Mr. Eben- 
 ezer Billing, Jeremiah Main, Daniel Shaw, Thomas Tork, Mr. George 
 Denison and to their heirs and assigns or such as shall legally succeed 
 or represent them or either of them a just and legal propriety in a cer- 
 tain tract of land, now commonly called and known by the name of 
 Stoningtown, lying and being withiu ye Colony aforesaid (to us by ye 
 said Letters Pattents granted to be disposed ofj, and bounded as herein- 
 after foUoweth. And ye said Thomas Stanton, Ephraim Miner, Nehe- 
 miah Palmer, Nathaniel Chesebrough, Mr. James Noyes, and ye rest of 
 ye above named persons, with such other persons, as are at 'this present 
 time by virtue of ye aforesaid grants and acts, proprietors of the said 
 tract of land having made application to us, for a more ample confirma- 
 tion of their propiiety in ye said tract of land (which they are now in 
 possession of,) by a good and sulficient instrument, signed and sealed 
 with ye seal of this corporation. Therefore, know ye that we ye said 
 Governor, and company in general Court assembled by virtue of ye 
 aforesaid Letters Patents, and for divera good causes and considerations 
 pursuant to ye end of said Letters Patent, us hereunto moving, have 
 Given, Granted, Rattifled, and confirmed, and by these presents do fur- 
 
 ther, fully, clearly, and amply. Give, Grant, Rattifie, and confirm unto 
 ye aforesaid Thomas Stanton, Ephraim Miner, Nehemiah Palmer, Na- 
 thaniel Chesebrough, Mr. James Noyes, with ye rest of ye above-named 
 persons aforesaid, and to all other persons at this present time pro- 
 prietois with them of this said tract of land, now being in their full and 
 peaceable possession and seisin, and to their heirs and assigns, or such 
 as shall legally succeed or represent them or either of tbem, forever ye 
 aforesaid tract of land commonly known by ye name of Stoningtown, 
 lying in ye colony aforesaid, and bounded as foUoweth — beginning at ye 
 mouth of Mistick River, and northerly up said River and brook, falling 
 in ye said river to ye poud by Lanstrom Hill to ye north end of ye pond, 
 where ye pond is seven chains and one pole wide, thence north to an ash 
 tree formerly marked with eight notches, standing by a still brook, 
 thence north to a white oak tree, formerly marked with ten notches, 
 known by ye name of Stoningtown, northwest comer tree, from thence 
 extended a line due east by heaps of stones, marked trees, and monu- 
 ments in ye line nine miles to a rock, about four foothigh, of ye form of 
 an ovell, marked with a letter S on ye south side, and a white oak 
 standing by it marked with ye letter R, which rock is about one hun- 
 dred rods to ye southeast of a cedar swamp, and from said rock south 
 somewhat westerly to ye mouth of Ashowanze River, where said river 
 falls into Pawcatuck River, and by ye middle stream of said Pawcatuck 
 River unto ye sea, taking in ye small adjacent islands to ye mouth of Meis- 
 tick River aforesd, together with all and singular ye messuages, tenna- 
 ments, meadows, pastures, commons, woods, underwoods, waters, fishings, 
 small islands, isletts, and herridittiiments, whatsover being belonging or 
 anywise appertaining to ye said tract of land aforesaid, and do hereby 
 grant and confirm to ye said proprietors, their heirs and assigns, or such 
 as shall legally succeed or represent them, his or their several particular 
 respective proprietors in ye premises, according to such alotments, or 
 divisions as ye ancestors of ye said present proprietors or said proprietors 
 themselves have already made by virtue of any gifts or grants of said 
 town or townsmen of Pequot, now called New London, or shall here- 
 after make of ye same. To Have and to hold the said tract of land with 
 ye premises aforesaid to them ye said Thoma-s Stanton, Ephraim Miner, 
 Nehemiah Palmer, Nathaniel Oliesebrougli, James Noyes, and all others 
 ye present proprietors of ye said tract and premises their Heirs and As- 
 signs, or such as shall legally succeed or represent them forever, as a 
 good, sure, rightful, perfect, absolute, and lawful estate, in fee simple, 
 according to ye aforesaid Letters Patents after ye most free tenure of his 
 majisties manner of Efist Greenwich in the county of Kent. To ye sole 
 only proper use and behoff of them, ye said Thomas Stanton, Ephraim 
 Miner, Nehemiah Palmer, Nathaniel Chesebrough, James Noyes, with 
 all other ye present proprietors of ye said tract and premises, their heirs 
 and assigns, or such as shall legally succeed or represent them forever, 
 as a good, sure, rightfuU estate in manner as aforesaid, reserving only 
 to his majestic our sovereign Lord George of England, King, and his 
 successors forever one fifth part of all gold or silver miues or oar that 
 have been or shall be found within ye premises, so grauted and con- 
 firmed and further we ye said Governor and company, the aforesaid tract 
 of land, and premises, and every part and parcell thereof, hereby granted 
 and confirmed to ye said Thomas Stanton, Ephraim Miner, Nehemiah 
 Palmer, Nathaniel Chesebrough, James Noyes, Daniel Mason, John Gal- 
 lup, Daniel Denison, Isaac Wheeler, Stephen Richardson, John Frink, 
 William Bennet, Robert Stanton, Samuel Stanton, Joseph Stanton, Ger- 
 shom Palmer, Moses Palmer, Daniel Palmer, Ichabod Palmer, Joseph 
 Palmer, William Palmer, George Palmer, Walter Palmer, Samuel Stan- 
 ton Secundus, Samuel Stanton, Junr., Daniel Stanton, Manassah Miner, 
 Ephram Miner, Joseph Miner, Elnathan Miner, Samuel Miner, James 
 Miner, John Miner, Thomas Miner, Samuel Chesebrough, William 
 Chesebrough, Elihu Chesebrough, Elisha Chesebrough, Samuel Chese- 
 brough Secundus, Ebenezer Searle, Thomas Noyes, John Noyes, Benadam 
 Gallup, William Gallup, William Denison, William Denison Secundus, 
 William Wheeler, John Mason, Samuel Mason, Benjamin Hewit, Henry 
 Stephens, John Erink Junr, Ebenezer Billing, Jeremiah Main, Daniel 
 Shaw, Thomas York, George Denison, and to ye rest of ye present pro- 
 prielors thereof, their Heirs and assigns, or such as shall legally suc- 
 ceed or represent them to their own proper use in ye manner and under 
 ye limitations above expressed Against us, and all, and every orther per- 
 son or persons, lawfully claiming by from or under us. Shall and will 
 warrant and forever defend by these presents. 
 
 " In Witness whereof wo have agreed and concluded that this present 
 instrument be signed in our name by ye Governor and Secretary of this 
 corporation, as also that our common seal be affixed hereunto. 
 
 " Dated in New Haven ye 24 day of October Anno Domini 1716. An- 
 noque Begni Regis, Georgi, Mognes, Biitanies, Tertia. 
 " By order of ye Governor. G. Saltonstall Gov." 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 623 
 
 In 1726 the First and South Society in Stonington 
 decided to build a new meeting-house, and to locate 
 it at the Centre, at a place now known as Putnam Cor- 
 ners, about half a mile east of the old meeting-house. 
 The action of this meeting gave dissatisfaction to a 
 large number of the members of the society, who 
 preferred the old site at Agreement Hill. Other 
 town-meetings followed relative to the location of the 
 proposed new house, the result of which M'as that no 
 definite action was reached for several years. 
 
 Petition after petition was addressed to the General 
 Assembly until 1731, when an agreement was reached 
 to divide the society north and south. Previous to 
 this two meeting-houses had been raised, one on 
 Agreement Hill, and the other at Putnam Corners, 
 neither of which were completed for a number of 
 years. After this the east and west societies acted 
 wholly independent of each other. 
 
 The meeting-house at the Putnam Corners was the 
 largest, with two tiers of galleries one above the other, 
 with an immense sounding-board. After the division 
 of the old society, Mr. Rossiter, who was the second 
 settled pastor here, continued his labors until his 
 death, which took place in 1762. Previous to his 
 death and during his pastorate the town sold the old 
 ministry land, and divided the avails of the sale 
 equally among the then three societies of the town. 
 After the death of Mr. Rossiter some of the more 
 prominent men in the two south societies favored a 
 reunion, which was seconded by the pastors of the 
 neighboring churches.^ 
 
 1 Terms of the Union. — "Ist. That ye two meeting houses now 
 Btandiug in said society shall be common property and joint interest of 
 ye two parishes to be united. When they are united and as ye peues in 
 each meeting house are a personal property we ye 8^ committees agree 
 to give up our right and title to said peues that they may become a 
 common stocli with said houses and also to recommend it to ye other 
 proprieters of ye peues to do ye same that they may become ye legal 
 property of all in common and improved as such with the said two meet- 
 ing houses. 
 
 "2d, We agree that after ye b^ societys are united as afourd and by 
 their legal vote think it convenant & best to build another meeting- 
 house for publick worship in ye room & stead of ye b^ two meeting- 
 houses now standing in said societyes for ye better accomidation of b* 
 society that ye s'* meeting house sliall be built on that acor of land that 
 Nathan Chesebrough Esq. has generously giuen by promis for to erect a 
 meeting-house on near ye dwelling house of Mr Nath" Hewitts s* Na- 
 than Chesebrough Esq. having first given a deed of s^ land for ye purpose 
 afours^. 
 
 "3d. It is also agreed that the ministry and school money of both 
 ministry land money in each society be made equal by each society if 
 either be wanting, and that ye scliool money in ye said east society be 
 improued in ye s*! east society on the east side of Stoney brook, and that 
 ye school money in ye said west society be improued in said society on 
 ye west side of Stoney brook, & this to be a standing rule for said so- 
 cietyes when made one but to be so understood as not to hinder any that 
 desire to take benefit of ye whole. 
 
 "4th. That ye Rev«i Nath" Kells shall have ye Paatoral charge and 
 care of said societyes when united and ye church of Christ therein with 
 ye same jurisdicktion and athority ouer ye whole as he is now uested 
 with ouer ye said east society and that his anowell sallery shall be raised 
 and paid him att ye joint charge of ye b^ united society. 
 
 "5th. It is agreed ye two societyes shall assemble at ye east meeting 
 house to worship six months each year, and in ye west meeting-house 
 the other six months and when a meeting-house is erected on ye place 
 
 In 1763 the matter was brought before both societies, 
 and finally a plan of union was prepared and agreed 
 upon, and subsequently adopted by both parishes, and 
 accepted by the churches. 
 
 The Assembly established the same,^ with such 
 provisions as were necessary to enable the old socie- 
 ties to merge and hold their property, and then directed 
 the mode of organizing the new society. After the 
 reunion they called the Rev. Nathaniel Eells (the 
 pastor of the East Society) to become the pastor of the 
 reunited societies, which he accepted, and for several 
 
 agreed on, then said societys so united as aforesaid shall meet and wor- 
 ship in said house as afours"*. 
 
 " 6th. It is allso agreed in order to confirm each and euery artical of 
 ye fourgoing terms of agreement ofred to ye consideration of s^ societyes 
 that they may bee made sertain and unchangeable that ye said so- 
 cietyes by their agents address ye Honourable and General Assem- 
 bly in May next by a proper memoral to rattify and confirm their 
 afoursd proposals of agreement that we may by their athority established 
 our own acts herein be again one united ecclesiastical society which is 
 ye sincear and harty wishes and desire of &. 
 
 " Dated Stonington Jan. ye 17th a.d. 1765 all ye aboue and fourgoing 
 articals was agreed on and voted by ye afoursi^ Comtek in ye afi'ermative 
 " John Hallam " Simon Rhodes 
 
 "Elihu Chesebrough " Phineas Stanton 
 
 "Nehemiah Williams "John Denison ye S"^ 
 
 "Amos Chksebrough "Joseph Page 
 
 "Nathan Palmer "Joseph Miner 
 
 '■Joseph Denison "Daniel Denison 
 
 "John Williams " Nath" Gallup 
 
 " Tuted, That said report with ye additions to & alterations of ye 3''^ 
 Paragraph in said Report following, be inserted in said report, viz, That 
 all ye school moneys belonging to s^ east society at this time, shall when 
 8'* societyes are united and became one intire ecclesiatical society, be 
 improued within ye limmits theirof or ye side of Stoney brook, and that 
 ye school moneys now belonging to said west society be improued within 
 ye limmits thereof on ye west side of Stoney brook, and that be a sure 
 and unalterable rule. 
 
 " Dated March 25ti> 1725."— Socief^ Records. 
 
 2 " At a General assembly of the Governor and company of the Colony 
 of Connecticut holden at Hartford May Second Thursday, a.d. 1765. 
 Upon the memorial of the East and West Society's in Stonington, shew- 
 ing to this Assembly that on tlie Death of the Rev^ Mr Ebenezer Rosseter 
 Pastor of the Church in said West Society being advised by the Rev^ 
 Benjamin Lord, Asher Rosseter, and Jonathan Barker Associations Com- 
 mittee again to unite into one Ecclesiastical Society, and the said East 
 and West Society's having accordingly agreed thereupon, and made ap- 
 plication to this Assembly for that purpose as p' Memorial on file, &c. 
 
 " Kesolved by this assembly that the said East and West Society's in 
 said stonington, be again united and become one entire Ecclesiastical 
 Society, to be for the future called and known by the name of the first 
 Society, in said Stonington, and they are hereby united, created, and 
 made one entire Ecclesiastical Society with all tlie Priviledges and Im- 
 munities by Law allowed to other Ecclesiastical Society's in this Colony, 
 vested with and enjoyed the same Priviledges and Advantages which the 
 said East and West Society's have heretofore seveially had and enjoyed, 
 
 and that they the said East and West Society's be and they are hereby 
 
 enabled and empowered as separate and distinct Society's to act and 
 transact any society or Parish affairs to compleat the settlements re- 
 ferred to in said memorial until the first day of December next, and Jo- 
 seph Denison Esq-" of said Stonington shall he, and he is hereby fully 
 empowered, authorized by himself or other Person by him for that pur- 
 pose appointed and directed after said first day of December next, and 
 during said month of December to give legal warning to all the inhab- 
 itants of said first Society that are qualified by Law to vote in Society 
 affairs to meet at such time and place as he the said Joseph shall for that 
 purpose in said first Society appoint, and being so met, that he preside 
 as Moderator of such meeting, in the forming of said Society, and choice 
 of all officers, and other Prudentials of said Society as Occasion may re- 
 quire. A true copy of Record Examined by George Wyllys Secretary, 
 GoQB."— Colonial Records. 
 
624 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 years preached alternately for six months in the east 
 house and six months in the west house. A majority 
 were looking forward to the erection of a new meeting- 
 house at the place designated by the terms of the 
 union. But they were doomed to disappointment. 
 Long Point, now Stonington borough, was not settled 
 until 1752, but the settlement increased so rapidly that 
 they demanded and secured the afternoon service of 
 Mr. Eells. This produced great dissatisfaction in the 
 east and northern part of the society, and various so- 
 ciety meetings were held,, and petitions to the General 
 Assembly were preferred without satisfactory results. 
 Finally eighty-three of the inhabitants of the village/ 
 
 1 " To the Honorable G.eneral Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut to 
 be held at Hartford on the second Thursday of May instant. The me- 
 morial of William Morgan, Benjamin Paik, John Deuisoii 4ti>, Josej^h 
 Denison 2^, Oliver Hilbard, Edward Hancox, Oliver Sniith, & the rest of 
 the subscribers hereto in behalf of themselves & the profossurs of the es- 
 tablish'! Religion of the Colony, living at a plnce called Long Point in 
 Stonington in the County of New London humbly shew(tth, that they 
 are scituate near four milea from any meeting house & that the inhabit- 
 ants living at B'^ Long Point are geneially poor they living principally 
 by the whale & cod-fishery, there carried on, to the public advantage, by 
 which means within a few years said place has increased to upwards of 
 eighty fumilies among which are twenty widows, seventeen of which 
 have children as families there that the whole number of inhabitants are 
 nigh to five hundred, that there is not among them more than one horse to 
 ten families, so that but very few are able to attend meeting at the meet- 
 ing-house except those that are robust hardy & us'd to travel on foot, 
 which are very few, the greater number of said inhabitants consisting of 
 women & children, that thereupon the society have for several years 
 consented to have one sermon preached at s'^ point evpiry sabbath by 
 their Revd Pastor, which he has performed & is still willing to continue, 
 but their number has so increas'd that it is very inconvenient for those 
 that do attend public worship (as they have no where to convene but in 
 a small school house or private houses) & many more than at present do 
 attend would if there was room to accommodate them ; that for the want 
 of aproper place to meet in for the celebrating divine service, many who 
 means the sabbaths are misspent & may be more & more misspent & 
 prophaned, that those wlio would be glad to build a house &, maintain 
 preaching & good order among them have been &. continue unable of 
 themselves to bear the expense, by which tlie cause of religion much 
 suffers there, & the good people among them greatly fear the increase of 
 vice & irreligion. That the town of which y memorialists are a part, 
 have lately paid & are liable to pay upwards of one thousand pounds for 
 the deficiency of several collectors that have lately faiPd that your me- 
 morialists from great necessity, by their being very remote from any 
 consant grist mill, have lately contributed about £70 as an incourage- 
 ment to an undertaker to build a wind mill at s^ point, which with 
 about the same sum lately subscribed by e"! inhabitants for a school 
 house, with the great labour & expence they have been at to malte roads 
 & causeways to s*^ point, all which with the poor success tbat attended 
 the last years fishery, & the lownesa of markets & the various & different 
 sentiments in tlie religious denomination of christians among them, viz. : 
 First day Baptists, Seven day Baptists & the Quakers or those call'd 
 Friends, are such real grief & great discouragements to your memorial- 
 ists, who are of the establish*! Religion of tins Colony, that they can no 
 longer think of obtaining a meeting-house by subscription or any other 
 ways among themselves. 
 
 '* Wheie fore they humbly pray tliat liljerty may be granted to build 
 a meeting house for public worship at said Long Point. & that your 
 Honours would in your greiit goodness grant them a Lottery for raising 
 a sum sufficient fur the purpose aforesaid or bo mucli as your Honours 
 shall think pnjpcr under such restrictions & regubitiona as your Hon- 
 ours shall thiuk fit, & your memorialist as in duty bound shall ever 
 pray. 
 
 " Pated at Stonington May 10th, 1774 
 "William Morgan, Benjamin Park, John Denison 4'i', Joseph Denison 
 2d, Edward Hancox, John llathbun, Edward Eells, John Blown, 
 junr., Acors Sbeifield, James Tripp, John Brown, John Brown jun., 
 Andiew Brown, Paul Champlin, John Lamb, Thomas Burtcli, An- 
 drew Stanton, Nath' Crandal, Nathi Hancox, Joseph Hilhird, Jore- 
 
 in 1774, addressed the Assembly for liberty to build a 
 meeting-house by lottery, which was granted at the 
 October session of 1774, limiting the amount to be 
 raised thereby to four hundred pounds.^ The man- 
 agers of the lottery did not at once inaugurate their 
 scheme, nor did they accomplish it until 1777, which 
 was successfully drawn and the necessary funds se- 
 cured. 
 
 But the Revolutionary war so absorbed the means 
 of the people that a large part of this sum was used 
 for the defense of the place, and the balance invested 
 in Continental bills, which after the close of the war 
 became worthless. Whereupon, in 1785,^ another 
 
 miah Tenny, Nathan Palmer junr., Benjamin C. Grofton, Eliphalet 
 Buddington Jr., Samuel Bebe, Thos. Littlefield, Sam* Niles, Nathan- 
 iel Hall, Nathaniel Minar, Oliver Hillard, David Palmer, Wait 
 Rathbun, ElcannhCobb, Ebenezer Cobb, Stanton York, Mary Elliot, 
 John Rathbun jun., Ab™ Borden, Sands Niles, Peter Crary, Nathan- 
 iel Babcock, W™ Avery, James Beebee, Stephen Minar, Oliver 
 Smith, John Denison b^^, Jared Crandal, John Minar, David Sea- 
 bury, Elisha Satterlee, Peleg Brown, Abigail Chesebrouirh, Asa Pal- 
 mer, Robert Robihon, Simeon Ashcroft, Job Irish, William Chester, 
 Erastus Rosseter, Thankful Callaway, Boradel Sparhawk, Patieuce 
 Avery, Nathaniel Dyer, Dav^d Hillard, Elizabeth Stanton, Sam' Sat- 
 terlee, Billingri Burtch, Nathi Tiipp, W"" Fellows, Michael Ash, Ed- 
 ward S. Coleman, Prudence Cobb, Culbert Fanning, Jerusha Grif- 
 fing, Rebecca Chesebrough, Paul Crandal. Persilla Randall, Anna 
 Cooper, Lucy Beebee, Moses Palmer, Sam' Babcock, Martha Burch, 
 Israel Lewis, Simeon Aams, Jeremiah Wilbur." — Conn. Archives, by 
 a J. Hoadley, No. 83. 
 2 " Anno Kegni Regis Georgii tertiis 14 to. — At a General Assembly of 
 the Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut in New 
 England in America huldeu at New Haven in said Colony on the second 
 Thursday of October being the 18'iJ day of said month, and continued 
 by several adjournments of the fourth day of November next follow- 
 ing, annoq: Domi', 1774. Upon the memorial of Nathaniel Minor Esq"", 
 William Morgan and othei-s, inhabitants of the firat society in Stoning- 
 ton, shewing that they live at Long Puintin said society &are far remote 
 from the place of public worship there, that said place has greatly in- 
 creased in numbers within a few years past, that the inhabitants of said 
 point & thereabout are generally poor & unable to build a house to meet 
 for public worship, that it they had a house to meet in for that purpose 
 they apprehend the growth of irieligion & impiety would be prevented, 
 &c, praying for a lottery to build a meeting house &c — on which a com- 
 mittee have been appointed who have reported in favourof said memorials 
 & aifixed a place for building &c, which report is accepted it there upon 
 Besolved by this assembly that the memorialists have liberty & they are 
 hereby authoiized to raise by way of lottery the sum of £400..0..0 lawful! 
 money to be applied for the purpose mentioned in said memorial Sl also 
 the fui-thersum of £30..0..0 lawfull money, to defray the expense of such 
 lottery, & Nathaniel Minor Esqr, Joseph Denison 2^1, John Denison 4ti', 
 Peleg Chesubrough, &, John Brown junr, all of said Stonington, or any 
 three of them accepting said trust, are hereby appointed managers k 
 directors of said lotteries who shall be jointly holden to make good all 
 benefit tickets drawn in such lotteries & shall be sworn to a faithfuU dis- 
 charge of their said trust & the adventurers in said lotteries, shall have 
 theirremedy against said managers forthebenefitiickets by them drawn 
 in manner aforesaid & the monies so raised by said lotteries shall be laid 
 ont& applied to the purposes aforesaid & an account thereof be rendered 
 to the Genei-al Assembly wheu demanded."— Conn. Archives, by C. J. 
 Hoadleii, 
 
 ^ " At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut holden at Hart- 
 ford in said State on the second Thursday of May, being the 12*^ day of 
 said month, and continued by adjournments untill the ninth day of June 
 next lollowitig Anno Dom. 17H5. Upon the memorial of Nathaniel Minor 
 John Denison 3^ &. Joseph Denison 'i'^ all of Long Point in Stonington, 
 betting fortli that they with others of tlie first Society in said Stoning- 
 ton wore on the second Thursday of October 1774, appointed Managers 
 of a Lnttory granted by the Honbic General Assembly to your Memorial- 
 ists William Moi'gnn and othei-s of the established Religion of the then 
 Colony of Connecticut for the purpose of raising the sum of £400, to 
 bnild a Meeting House at said Point. Tbat said Managers proceeded b^ 
 
STONINOTON. 
 
 625 
 
 petition was preferred to the Assembly, for liberty and 
 authority to raise by lottery money enough to make 
 up the four hundred pounds, which was granted, and 
 the money raised. Instead of building a new house 
 at the Point, they took down the old meeting-house 
 at the Putnam Corners and moved it down there, and 
 with their scheme fund, old house, and subscription 
 erected a meeting-house in 1785-86. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIX. 
 
 STONINGTON— (Continued). 
 WAR OF THE KEVOLUTION. 
 
 Pending the agitation that preceded the Revolu- 
 tionary war in all of the colonies, that subsequently 
 united in the Declaration of Independence, the town of 
 Stonington was not indifferent to the momentous strug- 
 gle, and in order to give force and effect to their 
 political sentiments assembled in town-meeting, 
 passed patriotic resolutions,^ and elected a Committee 
 
 way of Lottery to raise said sum in Continental Bills toward the Close of 
 the Summer of 1777, when your Memorialists for whom the Grant was 
 made, not being appiehensive of the depreciation that would attend said 
 Bills and considering the great scarcity and dearness of materials for 
 building said House and the danger they were then exposed to from the 
 enemy who were then at New York, Newport and Long Island, thought 
 best for the Grantees not then to proceed in building said House, since 
 which the Bills in the Hands of your Memorialists have depreciated to 
 almost nothing except a part which has been turned into Public Securi- 
 ties, Praying that a Judicious Committee may be appointed to examine 
 into the matters' of said Memorial and the true Stale and Circumstances 
 of the money whicli they hold in trust, put a just value thereon, and tijat 
 said Committee be enabled to direct said Managers, to raise on said Grant 
 such Sums with what they .already have as to make up the £400. Granted 
 by your Honors as pr memorial &c. 
 
 ^^ Resolved, by this Assembly that said Nathaniel Minor John Denison 
 3^, & Joseph Denison 2^ be continued as Managers of said Lottery with 
 the addition of James Rhodes and Elijah Palmer of said Stonington, and 
 that the Honorable William Hillhouseand Benjamin Huntington Esqrs, 
 and Elisha Lathrop Esq. be and they are hereby appi irited a committee 
 to enquire into the state and circumstances of said lottery and liqui- 
 date and settle the Accounts thereof, and ascertain the value of the avails 
 thereof in the Hands of said Managers, and in case said Committee shall 
 judge it to be reasonable, they may and they are hereby Authorized and 
 impowered to direct that said Managers proceed to Issue and draw such 
 further numbers of tickets in said Lottery as to raise such sum of money 
 for the purpose of building a meeting House at said Point aa shall be 
 thought by said Committee to be proper, not exceeding £400, including 
 what is already on hand as aforesaid and exclusive of the cost of said 
 Lottery, said managers to be accountable to the General Assembly when 
 requested for their Doings in the premises." — Conn. Archives, by D. W. 
 Edgecomb. 
 
 lAt a legal town-meeting held in Stonington the 11th day of July, 
 1774, the following resolution was passed; 
 
 "Deeply impressed with the alarming and critical situation of our 
 Publick affaii-s, by the many repeated attacks upon the liberties of the 
 English American (.'olonles, by sundry acts of parliament, both for the 
 purpose of raising a revenue in America, as well as the late most extraor- 
 dinary act for blocking up the port of Boston. Think it our indispen- 
 sible duty to manifest our sentiments upon the important occasion. And 
 are most clearly of the opinion that they are repugnant to the spirit, 
 freedom and fundamentals of the British Constitution, and in direct vio- 
 lation of Magna Charter. Their surprising exertions of power which so 
 remarkably distinguish the inauspicious times and necessarily alienate 
 the affections of the Americans from their Mother Counti-y, and the 
 British Merchants and manufacturers will of course be extreme in loos- 
 
 of Correspondence, who addressed "Maj.- Gen. War- 
 ren, of Boston," who replied in a letter glowing with 
 the loftiest sentiments of patriotism.^ 
 
 The people of this town not only sympathized with 
 the people of Boston in their resistance to British ag- 
 gression, but furnished men and means to enable them 
 
 ing the most beneficial commerce tliat they derive from any part of the 
 Globe. We recommend as our best advice to the publick, that a general 
 convention of delegates from all the colonies, be convened, with all pos- 
 sible dispatch and what they iu their wisdom, upon the most mature de- 
 leberation shall agree upon as most expedient for the interfst of this 
 growing, fertile and extensive continent; shall be adopted by us, and 
 that in the interim as a necessary step to open the eyes of the present 
 Administration, and to obtain that justice that is due to the worthy de- 
 scendants of Great Britain, which has of late through an extreme mis- 
 guided policy been denied, we Wherefore recommend a suspension of all 
 commerce with Great Britain immediately take place. 
 
 "We are bound in justice to ourselves, to declair, that we have ever 
 manifested (and are still ready on all occasion) the most affectionate loy- 
 alty to the illustrious House of Hanover ; which we are truly sensible 
 consists in nothing more evidently, than in a well regulated zeal for 
 liberty and the Constitution ; 
 
 "A sense of real honor grounded upon principles of religion, and ex- 
 perience, will warrant us to affirm that their endowments of loyalty 
 public spirit of honor, and religion are no where found in higher per- 
 fection than in the British Colonies. Notwithstanding what is passed, 
 we are still desirous to remain upon our former good understanding, 
 with the mother country, and continue to them their gaiiifull com- 
 merce, provided a repeal of those grievous acts take place. 
 
 " "We heartily sympathize with our distressed brethren, the Bostonians, 
 whom we view as victims sacrificed to the shrine of arldtrary power, 
 and more immediately suffering in the general cause. We rejoice to see 
 so many of the neighboring colonies and even towns vyeing with each 
 other in their liberal benefactions, to the distressed and injured town of 
 Boston. Wherefore we have opened a subscription for the relief of the 
 inhabitants of the town of Boston, which the Committee of Correspon- 
 dence, viz, Charles Phelps Esq., Doctor Dudley Woodbridge, Col. Henry 
 Babcock, Joseph Denison Esq., Mr. John Dean, Paul Wheeler Esq., Na- 
 thaniel Miner Esq., Cap. Daniel Fish, Joseph Palmer Esq., Mr. Benja- 
 min Clark and Mr Samuel Prentice, are appointed to receive and for- 
 ward to the selectmen of the town of Boston, and said committee are 
 instructed to correspond with the committees of the different colonies 
 and transmit a copy of this vote to the corresponding committee of Bos- 
 ton whose well timed zeal, vigilance, and watchful fidelity, in the great 
 and most interesting cause of liberty we cannot sufficiently thank." 
 
 Passed in a very full meeting without a single dissenting voice. 
 
 2 " Boston, August 24th 1774 
 
 "Gentlemen, — Your elegant and benevolent favor of the 1st instant 
 yielded us that support and consolation amid our distresses which the 
 generous sympathy of assured friends can never fail to inspire. 'Tis the 
 part of this people to frown on danger face to face, to stand the focus of 
 rage and malevolence of the inexorable enemies of American freedom. 
 
 "Permit us to glory in the dangerous distinction and be assured that, 
 while actuated by the spirit and confident of the aid of such noble aux- 
 iliaries, we are compelled to support the conflict. 
 
 "When liberty is the prize, who would shun the warfare? Who would 
 stoop to waste a coward thought on life? We esteem no sacrifice too 
 great, no conflict too severe, to redeem our inestimable rights and privi- 
 leges. 'Tis for you, brethren, for ourselves, for our united posterity, we 
 hazard all ; and permit ua humbly to hope, that such a measure of vigi- 
 lence, fortitude, and perseverance will still be afibrded us, that by pa- 
 tiently sufi'ering and noble daring, we may eventually secure that more 
 precious than Hesperian fruit, the golden apples of freedom. 
 
 " We eye the land of Heaven in the rapid and wonderful union of the 
 colonies ; and that generous and universal emulation to prevent the suf- 
 ferings of the people of this place, gives a prelihation of the cup of de- 
 liverance. May unerring wisdom dictate the measures to be recom- 
 mended by the Congress. May a smiling God conduct this people 
 through the thorny paths of difficulty and finally gladden our hearts 
 with success. 
 
 "We are, gentlemen, 
 
 "Your friends in the cause of Liberty, 
 "Joseph Warren, Chairman. 
 
 " To the Committee of correspondence of Stonington." 
 
626 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 to maintain their liberties. They were represented at 
 the battle of " Bunker Hill" by true and determined 
 men, as they were in almost every battle-field of the 
 Kevolution. After the battle of Bunker Hill, when 
 the American army pressed close around Boston, they 
 cut off the supplies of the British army to such an 
 extent that they were compelled to forage for supplies 
 all along the coast of New England. In doing so 
 they made an attack on Long Point, which is so well 
 told by Dr. David Sherman Hart that his communi- 
 cation is inserted entire. 
 
 "After the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775, 
 thousands of Minute-men, led by Cols. Thomas, 
 Heath, Stark, Putnam, and others, marched from 
 various points, and established posts at Cambridge, 
 Roxbury, and other commanding positions in the 
 vicinity of Boston, with the object of besieging the 
 British forces in Boston under the command of Gen. 
 Thomas Gage. Col. Artemas Ward, who led a regi- 
 ment from Shrewsbury, was appointed by the Com- 
 mittee of Safety of the Massachusetts Provincial Con- 
 gress to be commander-in-chief of the colonial troops. 
 The first enterprise of Gen. Ward, after fortifying his 
 positions, was to cut off supplies of cattle, sheep, and 
 provisions of every kind from the enemy in Boston. 
 This was done in order to force Gen. Gage to surrender 
 or to evacuate Boston. Detachments were sent to 
 strip the islands in Boston Harbor of the live-stock 
 and all property which could in any way benefit the 
 enemy. This was done in gallant style, in spite of 
 the most strenuous efforts in opposition. When Gen. 
 Washington, on July 3d, assumed the command pf all 
 the colonial forces, with his headquarters at Cam- 
 bridge, he carried out the plan of Gen. Ward to a still 
 greater extent, so as to distress not only the British 
 land and naval forces, but also the people of Boston. 
 In this emergency. Admiral Graves equipped three 
 small frigates and several tenders, and placed them 
 in command of Commodore Sir James Wallace, with 
 orders to land his crews at all accessible points and 
 seize and carry off" live-stock and produce to supply 
 the necessities of the fleet and garrison. These orders 
 Capt. Wallace carried into effect as well as he was 
 able. He met with resistance at some places on the 
 coast of Massachusetts, for which he retaliated by 
 burning their houses and other acts of violence. 
 The farmers near the coast anticipating his approach, 
 had for the most part driven their stock into the in- 
 terior, in accordance with orders from Gen. Washing- 
 ton. The principal field of Capt. Wallace's depreda- 
 tions was Narragansett Bay and the adjacent shores 
 of Massachusetts and Connecticut. He landed on the 
 island of Conanicut, and burned twenty houses and 
 barns and carried off the live-stock. He appeared 
 before Bristol with his three frigates, and sent word to 
 the magistrates to come on board his ship (the ' Kose') 
 and hear his demands. As they were not in a hurry 
 to pay him a visit, he opened his broadsides upon the 
 place, and did a great amount of damage, although 
 
 no lives were lost. His demands were for cattle and 
 provisions, and were promptly complied with. Capt. 
 Wallace sailed along the coast of Connecticut as far 
 as New London, where he landed aud spiked the 
 guns of a small battery, threatening to return and do 
 more damage. It may be mentioned here that, pre- 
 vious to the battle of Lexington, none of the exposed 
 towns on the coast of New England were fortified. 
 After that battle, and especially after the burning of 
 Falmouth (now Portland), Me., measures were taken 
 to remedy this defect. Gen. Sullivan was dispatched 
 from the camp at Cambridge to complete the fortifi- 
 cation of Portsmouth, N. H., which had already been 
 commenced. Gen. Lee was sent to Newport, E. I., to 
 erect a fort and regulate the Tories, who had for a 
 long time secretly communicated with Capt. Wallace 
 and supplied him with what he wanted. He exacted 
 a stringent oath of these Tories that they would hold ■ 
 no further communication with the enemy. Jona- 
 than Trumbull, the war governor of Connecticut 
 (familiarly styled by Washington 'Brother Jona- 
 than'), caused Forts Trumbull and Griswold to be 
 erected at New London, and Fort Hale at New 
 Haven. 
 
 " The inhabitants of Block Island, apprehensive of a 
 raid upon them by Capt. Wallace, placed their live- 
 stock on board of vessels and transported them to 
 Long Point, a village containing about seventy-five 
 houses and five hundred inhabitants. They were 
 landed at Pine Point, the junction of Hallam's and 
 Lambert's Coves, and distributed over the plain of 
 Quonaduck and its neighborhood. Capt. Wallace 
 being informed of this transaction, sailed forthwith in 
 the frigate ' Rose,' and appeared off Long Point 
 Aug. 30, 1775. He sent a boat with a peremptory 
 demand for the delivery of the cattle to him, threat- 
 ening terrible vengeance in case of non-compliance. 
 Refusal having been returned as peremptory as the 
 demand, Capt. Wallace sent his tenders up the harbor 
 to seize and bring off the cattle. By this time a large 
 number of men from the country had arrived at the 
 Point to co-operate with the inhabitants in its defense. 
 A company of men at the time rendezvoused at the 
 road under the command of Capt. William Stanton. 
 
 " They assembled and marched directly to the Point, 
 and joined the company there under the conlmand of 
 Capt. Oliver Smith. Sergt. Amos Gallup, George 
 and William Denison, and others to the number of 
 twenty, composed the company of Capt. Stanton. 
 They were armed with Queen Anne muskets, which 
 were very effective at long range. The troops were 
 at first stationed in the Robinson pasture, just north 
 of the Hotel Wadawanuck. 
 
 " When the tender of the ' Rose' came up the har- 
 bor the troops were marched down to Brown's wharf, 
 where they opened a very effective fire upon the 
 enemy, which compelled them to get out of the har- 
 bor as fast as they could, with a severe loss. They 
 reported their ill success to their commander. Capt. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 627 
 
 Wallace had for his pilot a Tory, Stephen Peckham 
 by name, and the 'Rose' was moored in a favorable 
 position, with springs on her cables. A severe can- 
 nonade was opened upon the village and kept up for 
 several hours. Some of the inhabitants for protec- 
 tion went down into the cellars of their houses, 
 others placed themselves behind some large rocks. 
 One of these rocks, situated at the junction of Water 
 and High Streets, was struck by a shot, but no one 
 behind it was injured by the splinters that flew from 
 it. Others again fled into the country. The greater 
 part of the houses were more or less injured by 
 the cannonade, but no lives were lost, and only 
 one wounded. Capt. Wallace did not venture to 
 land and burn the village as he had designed, being 
 deterred by the formidable appearance of matters on 
 shore, as well as by the drubbing his tenders had re- 
 ceived. He hovered on the coast for about a week 
 and then disappeared. Long Point was the only 
 place that resisted successfully this prince of ma- 
 rauders, whose operations partook of the nature of 
 both land and sea piracy. This place has had the 
 honor of resisting two attacks by two commodores, 
 one as just related, the other on Aug. 10, 1814, by 
 Commodore Thomas M. Hardy. Long Point had no 
 cannon, but only small-arms to resist a landing, and 
 solid shot were the only offensive weapons employed 
 by the enemy. Stonington borough, as the place was 
 called in 1814, had two eighteen-pounders and a six- 
 pounder, while Commodore Hardy had one seventy- 
 four, one frigate, one brig, one bomb-ship, and several 
 rocket-boats. 
 
 " It may beinteresting to relate several incidents that 
 occurred during and after the attack on the village of 
 Long Point. There was residing here at that time a 
 Quaker, James Tripp, who, though a man of peace, 
 felt his soul stir within him when the cannon-shot 
 struck the houses in quick succession. Seizing a mus- 
 ket, he said to one of his neighbors, ' Canst thou 
 bear this? I cannot.' He then ran down to the 
 shore and fired off" his musket in the direction of the 
 frigate 'Rose,' in token of defiance. There was a 
 windmill at the extremity of the village, where the 
 corn of the villagers was ground. It was built by a 
 member of the branch of the Rathbone family called 
 'Windmill Rathbones,' because they made it their 
 business to erect windmills. Just before the attack 
 on the village, Joseph Elliot, a young man of weak 
 intellect, was sent to the mill with some corn. The 
 proprietor, alarmed by the movements of Capt. Wal- 
 lace, hastily left the building, locking the door. 
 During the whole of that terrible cannonade young 
 Elliot was shut up in the mill, which was struck by 
 several shot. When at length he was released he 
 was found to have lost the greater part of what little 
 intellect he possessed. 
 
 "Sometime after this, Stephen Peckham, the Tory 
 pilot of the ' Rose,' was caught, and brought to Long 
 Point that he might receive such punishment as the 
 
 aggrieved inhabitants saw proper to inflict. There 
 was a large sycamore- (buttonwood-) tree standing a 
 little southwest of the mansion of Nathaniel Minor, 
 Esq. (now occupied by the widow of Capt. Jonas 
 Horn). Mr. Minor was one of the leading patriots of 
 Stonington at that time. That tree was called ' Lib- 
 erty tree' because the association of young men 
 styled ' Sons of Liberty' and other patriots were ac- 
 customed to meet under it and transact business re- 
 lating to the public welfare. A platform was erected 
 under it, and Stephen Peckham was ordered to stand 
 upon the platform and hear his confession read, to 
 which he had previously assented. This was done by 
 Esquire Minor in the presence of a great concourse. 
 The purport of this confession was: 'I, Stephen 
 Peckham, do hereby acknowledge that, being insti- 
 gated by the devil, I did great injury to the inhab- 
 itants of this place, for which I profess my hearty 
 sorrow, and do humbly ask their forgiveness.' Es- 
 quire Minor would now and then interrupt the read- 
 ing by saying, ' Not I, but that fellow on the plat- 
 form.' All will admit that this Tory deserved much 
 greater punishment than having his confession read, 
 but the people of Long Point were disposed to show 
 lenity, and let him off with a very light punishment. 
 
 " Evidences of this attack yet remain in some of the 
 oldest houses. In one house are vestiges of the pas- 
 sage of two cannon-shots through it. 
 
 " A fort or water-battery was erected soon after this 
 on a hill at the southern part of the village, a short 
 distance from the site of the lower school-house, with an 
 armament of several long six- and nine-pounders and 
 one twelve-pound carronade. A barrack was also erec- 
 ted for the accommodation of soldiers, which stood 
 between the houses of Rev. A. G. Palmer and the late 
 Mrs. Fanny Kean. No attack was made on the vil- 
 lage during the remainder of the Revolutionary war, 
 after which the battery was allowed to fall to ruin, 
 and the guns to be dismounted and gradually to lie 
 half buried in the earth ; and the barrack was altered 
 to a dwelling-house, which was burned a few years 
 since through the carelessness of the tenant. 
 
 " When Gen. Howe by the force of circumstances 
 was compelled to evacuate Boston, March 16, 1776, 
 Capt. Wallace was by the same force obliged to evac- 
 uate the coast of New England. Gen. Washington, 
 fearing from certain indications that New York would 
 be the next object of attack, sent Gen. Lee to fortify- 
 that city at every exposed point. After Lee had been 
 sent to South Carolina to protect Charleston, Gen. 
 Putnam was ordered to New York to complete the 
 fortifications which had been begun by Gen. Lee. 
 Powerful batteries were erected at the Battery (the 
 southwest point of the city), and at Paulus Hook, in 
 New Jersey, immediately opposite. Strong forts were 
 also erected at Washington Heights, at the upper end 
 of Manhattan Island, and on the Jersey shore nearly 
 opposite, viz.. Fort Washington and Fort Lee. The 
 object of these fortifications was to prevent ships-of- 
 
628 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 war from passing up the Hudson River. Detach- 
 ments of these ships and transports filled with troops 
 had entered the lower hay in the course of the month 
 of June, but on July 12th another detachment entered 
 the bay, among which were the frigates ' Phcsnix' 
 and 'Rose,' commanded by the notorious Oapt. Sir 
 James Wallace. These ships, with three tenders, 
 steered up the Narrows, and, notwithstanding a heavy 
 fire, Jiassed between the batteries with little damage 
 or loss of men, as sand-bags had been piled up along- 
 side of the bulwarks to shelter the men. As the upper 
 forts had not been completed, they found no difficulty 
 in passing up the Hudson River as far as the High- 
 lands. The country on both sides of the river was in 
 a state of great alarm. All vessels and boats of every 
 description were placed in security ; canijon were sent 
 to points favorable to annoy the ships and tenders 
 and prevent a landing. But Capt. Wallace, by the 
 aid of the Tories of that region, as well as by preda- 
 tory incursions, easily procured provisions. If any 
 resistance was made houses and barns were burned, 
 as was the case on the coast of New England. Now 
 and then a tender would come within gunshot of the 
 shore batteries, or within range of riflemen stationed 
 along the shore, and would receive serious injury. 
 In August, Commodore Tupper with six row-galleys 
 made an attack on the 'Phcenix' and ' Rose' frigates. 
 The galleys, each armed with a heavy cannon, re- 
 peatedly hulled the ships, and for two hours bravely 
 sustained the fight till they withdrew, having them- 
 selves received much damage. This was one of the 
 best-fought actions of the kind during the war. 
 
 " By this time Gen. Putnam had finished Forts Wash- 
 ington and Lee, and had placed obstructions in the 
 river, with the purpose of destroying the ships on 
 their return. Two fire-ships were sent against them ; 
 one grappled the ' Phcsnix,' and would have burned 
 her but the fastenings gave way, and the fire-ship 
 drifted away. The other, making for the 'Rose,' 
 fell foul of one of the tenders, and burned her. Capt. 
 Wallace finding his situation critical stood down the 
 river, and succeeded, after receiving much damage, in 
 passing the forts. This was the last of his exploits 
 on the American coast." 
 
 The attack on Long Point aroused the people of 
 Connecticut to a sense of their danger, especially those 
 residing near the sea. At the special session of the 
 General Assembly held in April, 1775, a Council of 
 Safety was appointed, consisting of the Hon. Mathew 
 Griswold, Hon. Eliphalet Dyer, J. Huntington, Wil- 
 liam Williams, N. Wales, Jr., J. Elderkin, Joshua 
 West, and Benjamin Huntington, Esq., to assist the 
 Governor when the Assembly was not in session, with 
 power and authority to direct the marshals and sta- 
 tions of the troops, then to be raised for the defense 
 of the colony, as tliey should judge best, and to see 
 they were furnished in every respect and for every 
 purpose. At a session of the Governor and Council 
 at Lebanon, Mr. Huntington reported that he had 
 
 found one small vessel, and that could be purchased 
 at two hundred pounds of Edward Hancox, of Ston- 
 ington. Ordered by^the Governor and Council that 
 said schooner, called the " Britannia," should be pur- 
 chased for the colony, and B. Huntington, Esq., Capt. 
 Deshon, and Capt. Niles were appointed to purchase 
 her at said price, and have her rigged and fitted as 
 splendidly as possible; they also appointed Robert 
 Niles, of Norwich, to be her commander. 
 
 In session, Sept. 4, 1775, Col. Saltonstall and Capt. 
 Deshon were present as a committee from New Lon- 
 don, and Maj. Smith, Oliver Smith, and Capt. Palmer 
 from Stonington. The latter stated that Stonington 
 had been lately attacked and fired upon, and asked 
 the Governor and Council for some military compa- 
 nies to be stationed at Stonington, and both commit- 
 tees prayed for aid to erect Works for defense. 
 
 In session, Sept. 14, 1775, it was ordered to enlist 
 fifty men, under Maj. Oliver Smith, for the defense of 
 Stonington, and for carrying on the works began 
 there until the 20th of October, 1775. Widow Smith, 
 of New London, stated the prisoners who had lately 
 been driven back to New London by stress of weather, 
 in a vessel piratically taken from Stonington by Capt. 
 AVallace, of the "Rose" man-of-war, were confined at 
 Windham, and prayed that said prisoners might be 
 exchanged for her son, Amos Smith, B. Green, and N. 
 Comstock, who had been taken by said Wallace in 
 New London, which was agreed to, so ordered, and 
 done. 
 
 The General Assembly in session at New Haven, 
 Oct. 2, 1775, granted a bounty as follows : Jonathan 
 Weaver, Jr., of Stonington, who was a musician in 
 the company of Capt. Oliver Smith, and was danger- 
 ously wounded at Stonington, Long Point, was al- 
 lowed £12 4s. 4(7. by the Assembly ; also Capt. Oliver 
 Smith, of Stonington, was promoted to the office of 
 major. 
 
 At a session of the General Assembly at New Haven, 
 Dec. 14, 1775, it was ordered "that the battery at 
 Stonington should be supplied with six cannon, two 
 eighteen- and four twelve-pounders." At a session 
 of the Governor and Council, Feb. 2, 1776, the Gov- 
 ernor and Council had been authorized by the As- 
 sembly to supply the batteries at Groton, Stonington, 
 New Haven, etc. ; to effect this was extremely diflBcult, 
 except that they should be cast in the furnace of Mr. 
 Smith, in Salisbury, Conn. Col. Elderkin was ap- 
 pointed to go immediately to Salisbury and give the 
 proper orders and direction. 
 
 In session, Feb. 23, 1775, Maj. Smith, of Stoning- 
 ton, urged an addition to be made to his men in 
 Stonington for the defense of the town and harbor. 
 The Governor and Council ordered said company of 
 forty men to be augmented to ninety men by volun- 
 tary enlistment, and to be continued in service until 
 the 1st day of December (next), unless sooner dis- 
 charged, and to be stationed at or near the fortifica- 
 tion in Stonington. Nathan Palmer, Jr., was ap- 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 629 
 
 pointed first lieutenant, John Belcher second lieuten- 
 ant, and Clement Miner ensign of the company above 
 mentioned, under Maj. Oliver Smith, who was author- 
 ized to enlist said men with all speed. Nathaniel 
 Miner, Esq., was appointed commissary to provide 
 supplies for the company at said fort. 
 
 In session, March 23, 1776, Capt. Theophilus Stan- 
 ton, of Stonington, was appointed captain of the row- 
 galley (then) building at Norwich, Conn. 
 
 In session, April 10, 1776, an order was given Na- 
 thaniel Miner, Esq., for one hundred and fifty pounds 
 as commissary to the troops at the fort at Long Point, 
 in Stonington ; the order was delivered to Nathaniel 
 Gallup. 
 
 In session, April 29, 1776, Mr. Miner, the commis- 
 sary for the company at Stonington, asked for a further 
 sum of money ; and the sum of two hundred and fifty 
 pounds was allowed him to provide for said company. 
 Zadoch Brewster was appointed lieutenant of the row- 
 galley under the command of Capt. Theophilus Stan- 
 ton, of Stonington. 
 
 At a session of the General Assembly held in May, 
 1776,(Kev. Nathaniel Eells, of Stonington, was ap- 
 pointed chaplain of the regiment to be stationed at 
 or near New London.; 
 
 At a session of the Governor and Council held 
 July 2, 1776, Oliver Smith, of Stonington, was ap- 
 pointed lieutenant-colonel of the regiment at New 
 London in place of Col. Mott, promoted. Nathan 
 Palmer was appointed captain of the company sta- 
 tioned at Stonington in the place of Col. Oliver Smith, 
 promoted. John Belcher first lieutenant, Clement 
 Miner second lieutenant, Moses Palmer second ensign 
 in said company. 
 
 N. Shaw was ordered to deliver to the commanding 
 officer at New London, or to Col. Smith, for the use 
 of the fort at Stonington, five hundred pounds of can- 
 non-powder. 
 
 The delay in procuring the necessary means of de- 
 fense, and the detention of some of the heavier guns 
 designed for the place, caused great dissatisfaction 
 among the people of Stonington, who memorialized 
 the General Assembly as follows, viz. : 
 
 *' To the Honorable the General Assemhly, now Betting at New Haveii. 
 
 "The memorial of the committee of correspondence and inspection of 
 the town of Stonington, and sundry of the inhabitants of said town, 
 most humbly sheweth — That whereas your Honors thought fit in your 
 last session, in May, to grant for the defence and protection of their 
 place, a captain and ninety men ; since which one-half have been ordered 
 to New London. Tour Honors may remember, that this town, is the 
 only one in this State, that has received any damage from those sons of 
 tyranny and despotism, sent by that more than savage lyrant, George 
 'the Third, to deprive us of those unalienable rights that the Supreme 
 <5overnor of Heaven and Earth has invested us with. 
 
 "Your memorialists therefore pray that the number of men ordered 
 and destined aa above, may still be continued ; and that the two eighteen 
 pounders and four twelve pounders, and shot, &c., that were ordered in 
 your former session for this place, may be delivered as soon as possible ; 
 as the harbor is perhaps more used by coasters, and vessels bound to sea, 
 than any harbor in this State; and is a place of great consequence, not 
 only to this, but other States. We therefore beg leave to inform your 
 Honors, that several vessels have lately been chased into this harbor by 
 the King's ships, and have here been protected. 
 
 " Your memorialists further pray, that the three large cannon (now at 
 New London) belonging (o this town, be likewise oidered to this place; 
 and the two field pieces that were lent by this town to tlie town of New 
 London, be ordered back to the town of Stonington. We therefore flat- 
 ter oui-selves that this our most reasonable request will be granted. 
 " And your memorialists as in duty bound shall ever pray. 
 (Signed) 
 " Nathaniel Minor, Paul Wheeler, John Brow Jr., John Denison, Henry 
 Babcock, Simon Uhodi-s, Committee; Joseph Denison, Alexander 
 Bradford,Robert Stanton, Nathan Palmer, Nathaniel Palmer, Nathan 
 PalnierJr., John Daviss, Andrew Palmer, Michael Ash, Lemuel 
 Dewey, John Rathbun, John Eathbun Jr., Peleg Brown, Elisha Deni- 
 son, Asa Palmer, Edward Hancox Jr., Oliver Milliard, John Dodge, 
 Peter Crary, Clement Minor, Naboth Chesebrough, John Minor (2), 
 John Newmon, Andrew Brown, Elkanah Cobb, Samuel Salterlee, 
 Sands Niles, Thomas Robinson, John Denison (5), Elijah Utley, James 
 Tiipp, Edward Ells, Zebulon Chesebrough, John Hancox, Samuel 
 Chesebrough, Moses Bruniley, Jonathan Gray, William Stak, Henry 
 Bnrtich, William Chesebrough, James Palmer, Nathaniel Crandall, 
 Jared Crandall, Kufus Palmer, Elijah Palmer, Thomas Stanton 
 (4), Asa Lewis, Nathan Hinckley, Elijah Hinckley, John Rock, 
 James Noy.es Jr., Edward Crosby, Wiatt Hinckley, Elihu Babcock, 
 George Batolph, Abel Hinckley, James Noyes, Peleg Noyes, John 
 Randall, Eliphalet Budington, James Cornish, John Breed Jr., Isaac 
 Brown, Fish Brown, Hempted Minor, Thomas Randall, John Denison, 
 Joseph Champlin, Walter Palmer, Jedediah Thompson, Thomas 
 Palmer, David Thompson, Charles Thompson, William Thompson, 
 Joseph Vincent, Nathaniel Fanning, Thomas Leeds, Phineas Stan- 
 ton Jr., Stephen Babcock, Joseph Page, Gilbert Fanning, Daniel 
 Habart, John Cotton Rossiter, Eliphalet Hobart, James Hancox, 
 John Hailey, Peleg Chesebrough, Kalhaniel Fellows, Nathaniel 
 Fellows Jr., Simeon Hiscox, Thomas Hiscox, Israel Lewis, Sylvester 
 Pendleton, Akors Shiflfleld, William Palmer, Eliphalet Budington 
 Jr., Charles Welch, Job Taylor, William Scovlll. 
 "October 14, 1776." 
 
 At a session of the Governor and Council, Feb. 15, 
 1777, Capt. William Ledyard, of Groton, and Capt. 
 Nathan Palmer, of Stonington, were sent for to con- 
 sult about raising artillery companies. 
 
 Gen. Parsons was desired to draw on Cols. Hunting- 
 ton's and Durkee's regiments at the posts and forts at 
 New London, Groton, and Stonington for defense at 
 those places. Capt. Nathan Palmer, at Stonington, 
 was directed to dismiss his company as soon as Gen. 
 Pa.rsons should send to that place a sufficiency of 
 Continental troops for the defense of that post. The 
 Governor and Council also voted to raise a company 
 of artillery to be stationed at Groton and Stonington 
 until Feb. 1, 1778. Capt. William Ledyard was ap- 
 pointed captain of said company. 
 
 In session, March 20, 1777, an order was given to 
 Nathaniel Miner to purchase or seize ten thousand 
 pounds of cheese in Stonington for the State. Capt. 
 Nathan Palmer, of Stonington, was directed to pur- 
 chase twenty thousand-weight of cheese to supply the 
 State troops at the price fixed by law ; provided he 
 should be unable to purchase the same, and found in 
 the hands of any person more than was sufficient for 
 their family use, he was authorized to seize and take 
 the same for the purpose aforesaid, and pay them the 
 price fixed by law, and make report of his doings. 
 
 In session, March 26, 1777, Capt. Nathan Palmer 
 seized eleven thousand six hundred and eighteen 
 pounds of cheese per order of the Governor and 
 Council, the property of Church & Hakes, at six- 
 pence per pound, with one and a half per cent, for 
 commissions, being £299 16s. 6d. ; cheese sent to Nor- 
 
630 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 wich ; also, for services about the fort at Stonington, 
 £15 7s. 6rf. 
 
 In session. May 12, 1777, Capt. Palmer was directed 
 to remove the public stores at Stonington back into 
 the country to a place of safety. Orders were also 
 given to the commanding officers of the forts of New 
 London and Groton to order the troops drafted from 
 northern companies in Stonington to march directly 
 to the forts at Stonington to man that place for de- 
 fense, and those drafted from northern companies in 
 Stonington to return home and hold themselves in 
 readiness to move on the shortest notice for the de- 
 fense of those posts. 
 
 In session. May 31, 1777, it was ordered that one- 
 half of the militia at the forts of New London and 
 Groton were ordered to be drawn off" by lot and dis- 
 missed, and all the militia companies at Stonington 
 dismissed, and the officers at those posts were directed 
 to execute the same. Their orders were not executed 
 fully, and before the troops were dismissed at Ston- 
 ington they were ordered to remain by Governor 
 Trumbull. 
 
 In session, Sept. 27, 1777, it was ordered that a 
 lieutenant and thirty men were to continue at Ston- 
 ington. 
 
 Sept. 26, 1777, a ship of two hundred tons, prize to 
 Capt. Conklin, of the privateer " Revenge," arrived 
 at Stonington, laden with seventy-five thousand feet 
 of mahogany and thirty tons of logwood. About an 
 hour after his prize came to anchor Capt. Conklin 
 was chased by a man-of-war and schooner of twelve 
 guns belonging to the English fleet, and the English 
 vessels, in attempting to head Capt. Conklin and cut 
 him off" from land, ran on Watch Hill reef, about one 
 mile from Capt. Conklin, who came to anchor within 
 Watch Point, now Sanday Point. A brisk fire was 
 kept up between them for several hours, and the 
 man-of-war came to anchor just without the schooner, 
 to protect her against Capt. Conklin. The schooner 
 remained on the reef until the next morning, when 
 the British set her on fire in the hold, and then went 
 on board the man-of-war's boat and left her, and she 
 was blown up by her magazine. The guns, some small- 
 arms, and anchors were saved, and a man found dead 
 by the side of her. Capt. Conklin escaped unhurt. 
 
 At a session of the Governor and Council, Nov. 18, 
 1777, orders were sent to Gen. Tyler to send from his 
 brigade (by draft) twenty men, to be stationed at 
 Stonington, to serve for two months from the time of 
 their arrival there. 
 
 In session, Feb. 6, 1778, Capt. William Ledyard, in 
 pursuance of an act of the General Assembly, on the 
 second Thursday of .Tanuary, A.D. 1778, was appointed 
 captain of a company of fifty men, including one 
 captain, one lieutenant, one second lieutenant, fire- 
 workers, two sergeants, and two corporals, to be sta- 
 tioned at Groton and Stonington, and to be con- 
 tinued in service until Jan. 1, 1779, unless sooner 
 discharged. 
 
 In session, March 25, 1778, William Ledyard, Esq., 
 was appointed to command the forts at New London, 
 Groton, and Stonington, with the rank and pay of 
 major. Achors Sheffield-was appointed first lieuten- 
 ant of the company of twenty men at Stonington. 
 
 In session, April 21, 1778, Henry Denison, of Ston- 
 ington, was appointed second lieutenant of the artil- 
 lery company under Col. Latham, at Groton, and 
 commissioned. It was resolved that four men should 
 be allowed, in addition to the number of artillerymen 
 under Lieut. Achors Sheffield at Stonington, and said 
 Sheffield was ordered to enlist them. Twelve hun- 
 dred pounds of cannon-powder for William Ledyard, 
 to be used at Groton, New London, and Stonington. 
 
 Capt. Nathan Palmer was directed to deliver to 
 Lieut. Sheffield as many guns, over and above the 
 eight guns he had, to arm his whole party of twenty- 
 four men. Owing to the scarcity of the munitions 
 of war, it was with the greatest difficulty that the 
 troops could be properly armed and equipped. The 
 fort or battery at Stonington never received the cannon 
 designed for it ; they were used at New London and 
 Groton. Some of the British ships lay off in sight of 
 the town during a greater part of the war, but made 
 no further attempt to take or destroy the place. To- 
 wards its close the danger of invasion was not con- 
 sidered so imminent, and the detail of the men at the 
 fort was discontinued. 
 
 Unfortunately, no rolls of the soldiers that served 
 at Stonington during the Revolution has been pre- 
 served. Nor have we any means of knowing the 
 names of all the men of our town who served else- 
 where during the Revolutionary war, or during the 
 French and Indian wars that preceded it. We know, 
 however, that Stonington has in every case, when 
 called upon, filled up her quota of men and munitions 
 of war. Five men from this town were in the battle 
 and massacre at Fort Griswold ; Thomas Williams,^ 
 Lieut. Enoch Stanton,' and Sergt. Daniel Stanton 
 
 1 Thomas Williams, of Stonington, who was killed at llie battle and 
 massacre of Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781, was the son of Col. John and 
 Desire (Denison) Williams, born Sept. 20, 1721, consequently he lacked a 
 few days of being sixty years old when he was killed. He married, Oct. 
 11, 1742, Miss Mary Raymond, and they became the parents of four chil- 
 dien. Mr. Williams was a farmer by occupation, and engaged with his 
 brothers in tlie West India trade before the Revolution, and in priva- 
 teering during the war. Hearing the alarm-guns in the morning, he 
 hastened on horaeback to the fort, and tliough in infirm health volun- 
 teered to defoiid it, and fell bravely fighting for his counti-y. Mr. Wil- 
 liams descended maternally from the famous Indian warrior, Capt. 
 George Denison, from Thomas Stanton, the inlerpreter-general, and from 
 John Howland, of the " Mayflower." Paternally, he descended from the 
 same source that Mao.-Geu. Joseph Warren, of Bunker Hill fame, did 
 maternally. 
 
 2 Lieut. Enoch Stanton and his brother, Sergt. Daniel Stanton, of 
 Stonington, fell at the battle and massacre of Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 
 1781. 
 
 They were the sons of Capt. Phineas and Elizabeth Stanton. Enoch 
 was thirty-five and Daniel twenty-five yeara of age. Enoch left a widow 
 and seven children; Daniel was unmarried, but aflianced to a young 
 lady, to whom, but a few days before, he had preseuted a pattern of 
 splendid brocaded silk for her wedding dress, which he had taken from 
 the prize-ship " Hannah" as a part of his share of her cargo. The next 
 day after the massacre their mangled bodies were taken to their old 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 631 
 
 were killed, and Edward^ and Daniel Stanton were 
 dangerously wounded. After the close of the war the 
 surviving soldiers returned to their homes, finding 
 their families in a destitute condition, and themselves 
 in possession of worthless Continental bills, received 
 of the government for their services. But all of their 
 privations were cheerfully borne, for they had reached 
 and gained the measure of their ambition. They had 
 brought the British lion to his knees, and wrested 
 
 home in Stonington aod laid otit in the room where they were born 
 ■when their aged father, who had been one of the firmcRt patriots of the 
 Revolution, came in, trembling with the Infirmities of years, and laid 
 his hands upon theirforeheads, and with nplifted eyes said, "Oh, Father, 
 this is a costly sacrifice for liberty and my country, but it ia cheerfully 
 given." Their funeral was attended the next day by an immense con- 
 course of people, who tenderly conveyed their remains to the old Stan- 
 ton burial-place, where they were both buried in one grave. An appro- 
 priate headstone marks their last resting-placp, which was erected by 
 their. father, and bears the lollowing inscription, written by his own 
 hand: 
 
 "Lieut. Enoch Stanton, died 
 
 in ye 36th year of 
 
 his age. 
 
 Sergt. Daniel Stanton, died 
 
 in ye 26th year of 
 
 his age. 
 
 "Here interred are the bodies of two brothers, sons of Capt. Phineas 
 
 Stanton and Elizabeth, hia wife, who fell with many of their friends 
 
 Sept. 6, 1781, while manfully fighting for the liberty of their country 
 
 and in defense of Fort Griswold. The assailants were troops commanded 
 
 by that most despicable parricide, Benedict Arnold. 
 
 " Paternally these brothers descended from Thomas Stanton, thefamous 
 * interpreter-general of New England,' who was one of the most dis- 
 tinguished men of our colonial days, and also from Capt. George Deni- 
 son, who, next to Capt. John Mason, was the most brilliant soldier of 
 Connecticut. 
 
 *' Maternally they descended from the same sources and John Rowland 
 of the ' Mayflower.' " 
 
 1"! read in the New London Telegram of the 22dviU. what purported to 
 be a correct list of the brave men who were killed and wounded at the 
 battle and massacre at Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781. The list was evidently 
 prepared with great care, and yet it does not contain the names of all who 
 were wounded on that memorable day. Sergt. Daniel Stanton, of Ston- 
 ington, received twenty-six wounds. A musket-shell broke his leg at 
 the ankle, which brought him to the ground, when he received twenty- 
 five bayonet-stahs. A British ofiicer seeing his condition drove off the 
 drunken harpies and saved his life. His bi'other, Edward Stanton 
 (whose name is omitted in your list), received a gunshot wound in his 
 left side, leaving his heart in plain view. The same ofiicer who rescued 
 his brother saw him vainly endeavoring to stop his ebbing tide of life, 
 approached him, and kindly taking a linen night-cap from his pocket, 
 rolled it into a duct, and then pressed it into the orifice of his wound, 
 and refreshed him from his flask. He was at lirst considered mortally 
 wounded, but a powerful constitution, aided by the best of surgeons and \ 
 loving care, saved his life. He lived to a good old age, and lies buried 
 on the western slope of Togwonk, in Stonington, in the old Stanton 
 burial-place, and whoever visits that old receptacle of the historic 
 dead will see a marble slab on which is written : 
 'In 
 Memory of 
 Edward Stanton 
 A 
 Kevolutionary Hero 
 And a 
 True patriot. 
 Who died July 27, 1832, aged 71 years. 
 " ' He was dangerously wounded near the heart at the massacre at Fort 
 Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781, 
 
 "'As a patriot he was justly ranked in the highest order, volunteering 
 to defend his country in her darkest hour and amid the most fearful 
 perils. 
 
 " ' Honor to the Brave.' " 
 
 from his grasp thirteen of his best colonies. They 
 had laid the foundations of liberty in blood, which 
 has culminated in the land of the free and the home 
 of the brave. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXX. 
 
 STONINGTON— {Continued). 
 WAR OF 1812. 
 
 Nothing of interest beyond the ordinary transac- 
 tions of business occurred here until the war-clouds 
 again appeared between the United States and Great 
 Britain. The embargo acts of Congress, which were 
 so severely denounced and resisted in almost all of 
 New England, found active and influential defenders 
 here. In order to give force and expression to their 
 views on that subject, a town-meeting was called and 
 held as follows : " At a town-meeting legally warned 
 and held at Stonington, on the 27th day of March, 
 A.D. 1809, the following preamble and resolutions 
 were adopted by a major vote: 
 
 "At a time like the present, when almost the whole civilized world 
 exhibits a singular btate of political and warlike agitation, when a com- 
 bination of events, both foreign and domestic, unprecedented in the an- 
 nals of Nations, threatening our Country from without with the Evils 
 of war, and from within with evils still more to be drpaded of Insurrec- 
 tion, Anarchy and dismemberment of the Union. It behove the people, 
 who are the only safe repositories of their rights and liberties, to take 
 cognizance of these events, and consider their relative effects upon their 
 rights, and those of posterity. It becomes every friend uf these United 
 States to rally around the Constitution and government, and iti a firm 
 and decided manner to express his sentiments ol, and give his aid to the 
 measures which have been adopted to avert these impending evils, and 
 without hesitation to pledge himself to his country for tlie support of its 
 Laws, .... Liberties, and Independence ; and considering that the en- 
 joyment of Liberty and even its preservation and support consists in 
 every Persons being free to lay upon his own opinion and express his 
 own sentiment; and whereas by the constitution of the United States, 
 the people have a right in an orderly and peaceable manner tu assemble 
 and consult for the general good, and considering the legitimacy of Gov- 
 ernment the sovereignty of the People; and viewing it a right we pos- 
 sess, coequal with the Constitution, that whenever the Public exigencies 
 shall require the expression of the individual opinion, it should be fully 
 and freely declared ; and whereiis the constitution of the United States 
 and Laws made in pursuance thereof are expressly declaied to be the 
 supreme laws of the land, and all Combinations to abstract the same 
 under whatever plausible pretences they may be disguised are destruc- 
 tive of social order, and tend indirectly to the dissolution of the Union; 
 and whereas the Legislature of the State of Connecticut were especially 
 convened at Hartford on the 23'<* of February last, and did during their 
 extraordinary session passed certain resolutions and issued a certain ad- 
 dress to the people of this State, which in the opinion of this meeting is 
 derogatory to the sentiments of the fiienda of the Union and peace of 
 the Citizens of tlie United States, inasmuch as said legislature have de- 
 clared thdt in their opinion the Congress of the United States have es- 
 tablished a system of measures in regard to foreign commerce which 
 contains provisions oppressive and unconstitutional, and likewise have 
 discovered a spirit as unwise as extraordinary to oppone the general gov- 
 ernment, by declaring that persons holding executive offices under this 
 State are restrained by the duties they owe the State fi'om affording any 
 official aid or co-operation in the execution of the acts aforesaid (mean- 
 ing certain laws of the general government), it is the opinion of the 
 freemen of this town that such language and proceedings disclose a plan 
 or determination to foster the favorite principles of the enemies of the 
 Union of the United States, and such sentiments are incongruous with 
 the ideas of every true friend of this Country; we the inhabitants of the 
 town of Stonington in legal town-meeting assembled conceive and be- 
 
632 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LOxXDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 lieve it to be our duty as well as the duty of every American peaceably 
 to assemble and protest against, and disavow any belief in principles 
 which can only liave a tendency to distract and dreiicli our happy coun- 
 try in blood if persevered in. Therefuie, Kesolved that we are firmly 
 attached to the constitution of the United States considering it as the 
 Palladium of cur liberties, the ark of our political safety, believing it is 
 admirably calculated to secure our liberties and promote the prosperity 
 and liappiness of the communily, that in the language of the illustrious 
 Washington, it keeps steady in view what appears to us the best interest 
 of eveiy true American, the consolidation of our union in which is in- 
 volved our prosperity, felicity, safety, and perhaps our national exist- 
 ance— and knowing that it was adopted by the sages and Iteroea who 
 achieved our glorious revolution, we do hereby solemnly and in the face 
 of the world iiledge ourselves to maintain it at the risk of our lives and 
 property. 
 
 " Befiolved, That we view with deep regret and fearful apprehensions 
 the late extraordinary proceedings of our State legislature as tending 
 to subveit the constitution of the United States, and produce national 
 anarchy; that we contemplate with horror the idea of the interminable 
 consequences that a division of the Union will produce, and in the 
 language of our departed patriot we will frown indignantly upon 
 those who shall attempt to alienate one portion of our Union from the 
 other or even to enfeeble the sacred ties which link together its various 
 parts. 
 
 " liesolved. That the administration of the general government since 
 the 4th March, ISOl, hath been wise, dignified, and patriotic, and merits 
 the approbation of the United States, and that the measures and expedi- 
 ents adopted to avoid war were highly judicious and honorable, while 
 their direct teudeuc.v, besides annoying those who had rendered a resort 
 to them necessary, hath preserved our seamen and property from the 
 piratical grasp of the lielligerent powers. 
 
 " Resolved, That in the late acts of Congress and the measures pursued 
 for enforcing them, we recognize no unconstitutional or unjust restric- 
 tions, neither do we discern any new principles to alarm us, or any un- 
 necessary severity. 
 
 " liesolved, Tliat the attempt to form a combination of the legislatures 
 of several of the States for the purpose of controling or counteracting 
 the measures of the general government are unjustiiiable and foreign 
 to the duties of State legislatures, hostile to the existence of our Union, 
 and if persisted in will produce evils dreadful and fatal in their conse- 
 <]uences. 
 
 " Resolved^ That we consider our all^gieuce and duty to the govern- 
 ment of the United States as paramount to all others, and will in times 
 of danger and alarm at the call of its laws, rally around the standard of 
 our country to protect and defend its cunstitutiou, laws, rights and lib- 
 erties against foreign and domestic foes, and that we will cordially unite 
 with our fellow-citizens in affording effectual support to such constitu- 
 tional measures as our general government may adopt in the present 
 crisis of our aflairs. 
 
 "liesolved, That the minority in the late extra session of the legisla- 
 ture of this State deserve the encomiums and unfeigned thanks of their 
 fellow-citizens, in firmly protesting against the proceedings of the ma- 
 jority. 
 
 "liesolved. That George Hubbard, Esq., and Mr, Peleg Denison be a 
 committee to draft and forward to the President of the United States, in 
 belialf of this town, a respectful address together with a copy of the 
 doings of this meeting, assuring him of the willingness of at least a 
 small part of the citizens of Connecticut to support the general govern- 
 ment and its laws." 
 
 The determination of the British government to 
 impress American seamen into their service, and 
 other belligerent acts on her part, led to several 
 armed collisions, and finally culminated in a declara- 
 tion of war by the United States government against 
 Great Britain, June 18, 1812. Very little had ever 
 been done by the general government for the defense 
 of our sea-coast. Long Point, since the close of the 
 Revolution, had materially increased in population 
 and wealth. The General Assembly had incorpo- 
 rated the place into a borough in 1801. Mystic was 
 but a small village at the time, composed .largely of 
 enterprising seafaring men. Before the embargo the 
 
 foreign trade of the town of Stonington was almost 
 entirely with the West Indies, and generally pro- 
 ductive of large gains. During the war, and espe- 
 cially after the spring of 1813, our sea-coast was 
 blockaded by a British squadron, which at first 
 wellnigh annihilated all our commerce, but a few 
 brave, resolute, enterprising men ran the blockade 
 and carried on business with New York. Privateers 
 were fitted out, and were successful in most cases in 
 capturing English vessels. We lost the sloop " Fox" 
 in 1813, which was retaken by the privateer " Hero," 
 fitted out at Mystic and manned by Stonington and 
 Groton men. Other feats of heroism and successful 
 daring, by Groton and Stonington men combined, 
 took place on the ocean before the close of the war. 
 During its first year England had her hands full with 
 European conflicts, but in the spring of 1813 she 
 managed to send a formidable fleet to our shores and 
 blockaded Long Island Sound. Stonington borough 
 had received two eighteen-pounders from the general 
 government for the defense of the place. A battery 
 had been erected there during the Revolution which 
 had almost disappeared. But the inhabitants, with 
 the guards stationed there, drafted from the militia 
 of the State, had erected another battery, the north 
 end of which terminated at the southeast corner of 
 the Messrs. Atwood's silk-machinery establishment. 
 So apprehensive were the people of Stonington bor- 
 ough that their village would be attacked and burned 
 by the British fleet that they sought the aid of the 
 State, the Governor of which ordered detachments 
 from the militia to be drafted and stationed there. 
 There were six of these military drafts and detach- 
 ments,— three in 1813, and three in 1814-15,— four of 
 which were commanded by Lieut. Horatio G. Lewis, 
 one by Lieut. Samuel Hough, and one by Sergt. Peleg 
 Hancox. 
 
 The first detachment, under the command of Lieut. 
 Lewis, served at Stonington from June 13 to June 29, 
 1813, consisting of twenty-three men, a^ follows, viz.: 
 Horatio G. Lewis, lieutenant commanding; Allen 
 Palmer, sergeant; Hosea Grant, corporal; Joshua 
 Brown, corporal ; Augustus L. Babcock, drummer ; 
 George Hemstead, fifer; James Crandall, Thomas 
 Geer, Harris Geer, Jesse Chapman, jDlias Chap- 
 man, Thomas H. Edwards, John Coats, Richard W. 
 Berry, Ezekiel Bailey, Eldridge Whipple, Amos 
 Baldwin, Caleb Woodward, ■ Daniel Dewey, Samuel 
 A. Burdick, Amos Chesebrough, Russel Bentley, 
 and Nathan Lewis, privates. Another detachment 
 had been ordered to succeed this, which served from 
 June 29 to Aug. 11, 1813, consisting of twenty-two 
 men, as follows, viz. : Horatio G. Lewis, lieutenant 
 commanding ; Gurdon Trumbull, sergeant ; David 
 A. Starr, corporal; Alexander G. Smith, corporal; 
 Samuel Bottum, Jr., Elihu Chesebrough, Jr., David 
 T. Chesebrough, .loseph Cutler, Joseph Frink, Amos 
 Hancox, Isaac Leaper, Benjamin Merritt, Otis Pen- 
 dleton, Zeba D. Palmer, James Stanton, Joshua 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 fi33 
 
 Swan, Jr., John Territt, Aaron Taylor, Hamilton 
 White, Nathan Wilcox, and Samuel Burch, privates. 
 
 While this detachment was stationed at Stonington, 
 on the 19th day of June, 1813, a portion of the British 
 fleet, under the command of Capt. T. M. Hardy, ap- 
 proached New London, creating fearful apprehension 
 on the part of the people of that place and Groton 
 Bank. Memories of the battle and massacre at Fort 
 Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781, intensified the excitement 
 and alarm. Brig.-Gen. Jirah Isham, then in com- 
 mand, immediately summoned his brigade by orders 
 borne by post-riders, directed to the lieutenant-colo- 
 nels commanding each regiment. 
 
 The following is a copy of the order directed to 
 Lieut.-Col. Eandall, then in command of the Thir- 
 tieth Regiment, composed of eight companies of in- 
 fantry, four from Stonington and four from North 
 Stonington : 
 
 " To Lieut.-Col. William Eandall, commanding the 30tli Regiment, in 
 the 3d Brigade Conn. Militia : 
 " SiE, — Tou will immediately on the receipt of this order the regi- 
 ment under your command to march to the defence of New London and 
 Groton and vicinity, giving them notice to be armed and equipped accord- 
 ing to law. Lose no time, as those places are in such imminent danger of 
 invasion as will admit of no delay, 
 " Headquarters at New London, June 19, 1813. 
 
 " Jirah Isham, 
 Brig.-G&nl. 3d Brigade, Commanding. 
 " By order : Geo. L. Perkins, Maj, 3d Brigade." 
 
 Immediately on receipt of this order, Col. Randall, 
 though living in the country, and widely separated 
 from his staff and from most of the officers of his 
 regiment, acted with such energy and dispatch that 
 his whole regiment paraded on Groton Bank the next 
 morning, after marching nearly all night in a raging 
 tempest to assemble and reach the place, some fifteen 
 miles away. The roll-call showed the presence of 
 Lieut.-Col. AVm. Randall, First Maj. Nathan Wheeler, 
 Second Maj. Nathan Pendleton, Adjt. Cyrus Wil- 
 liams, Paymaster Samuel Chapman, Quartermaster 
 Latham Hull, Surgeon's Mate John Billingsj(gergt.- 
 Maj. Nathan Stpi^^Quartermaster's-Sergt. John P. 
 Williams, Drum-Maj. Augustus A. Babcock, Fife-Maj. 
 Christopher Dewey, six captains (one absent, and one 
 vacancy), seven lieutenants, eight ensigns, twenty-six 
 sergeants, twenty-one corporals, two hundred and nine 
 privates ; total, three hundred and one men. This 
 muster of a regiment that made up a roll at its review 
 and dress-parade in October following of only two 
 hundred and forty-two men shows something of the 
 spirit of our citizens and soldiers in the face of the 
 threatened invasion, and of the confidence reposed in 
 their commander. Col. Randall was a brave, efficient, 
 and energetic officer, and during the whole war com- 
 manded the Thirtieth Regiment, who were proud of 
 him, and most cheerfully obeyed his orders under all 
 circumstances. 
 
 The British fleet, after making a showy demonstra- 
 tion at the mouth of the Thames, went back to their 
 anchorage-ground in Gardner's Bay, relieving the 
 inhabitants of Groton Bank and New London of 
 
 their impending danger. Gen. Isham's brigade re- 
 mained in camp at New London and Groton Bank 
 for several days, awaiting another demonstration from 
 Capt. Hardy, who wisely kept his fleet at their old 
 anchorage. On the morning of June 25th, Gen. 
 Isham ordered the lieutenant-colonels commanding 
 each regiment of his brigade to detach about one-half 
 of the officers and men of their respective regiments 
 to remain in service, the remainder thereof to be dis- 
 charged and to return to their homes. In pursuance 
 thereof. Col. Randall issued the following order : 
 
 "Regimental Orders, 30th Regiment, 3d Brigade Conn. Militia, 
 "I am directed by Brig-Gen, Jirah Isham to detach from the regi- 
 ment under my command, now in service at Groton Bank (omitting in 
 said detachment the Eighth Company, who were from Stonington 
 Borough, and were then needed for the defense of that place), thus, 
 1 major, 1 adjutant, 1 quartermaster, 1 chaplain, 1 surgeon's mate, 2 
 captains, 2 Ijeutenants, 2 ensigns, 8 sergeants, 8 corporals, 120 privates, 
 who are to remain in service until further orders. Pursuant to which I 
 do hereby detacli Maj. Nathan Pendleton, Adjt. Cyrus Williams, Quarter- 
 master Latliam Hull, Chaplain Rev, Ira Hart, Surgeon's Mate John Bil- 
 lings, Capt, Asa A. Swan of the Second Company, and Lewis Kenyon of 
 the Sixth Company, Lieut, Thomas Lewis of tlie First Company, Lieut. 
 John Hyde of the Fifth Company, Ensign George W. Baldwin of the 
 Second Company, Ensign Phineas Wheeler of the Seventh Company, 
 Sergt, George Sheffield of tlie Fiist Company, Thomas Browing of the 
 Second Company, Roswell R. Avery of the Third Company, Cyi-us Swan 
 of the Fourth Company, Daniel Hobart of the Fiftli Company, Nathan 
 Chapman, Jr., of the Sixth Company, Cliandler Main and Jesse Main of 
 the Seventh Company, Corporals Sanford Billings of tlie Second Com- 
 pany, Isaac Burdick of the Third Company, David Coats and Henry 
 Gi'ant of the Fourth Company, William Bailey and Richard Hempstead 
 of the Fifth Company, Alien Breed of the Sixth Company, John H. 
 Reynolds of the Seventh Company, Fifers Elias Wheeler of the Second 
 Company, Daniel Hempstead of the Fifth Company, David Crumb of the 
 Seventh Company, Drummers Henry Davis of the Third Company, Au- 
 gustus L, Babcock and Stephen Wilcox, or his substitute, of the Fourth 
 Company, Lieut, Thomas Lewis of the First Company will forthwith 
 detach from the company under his command fifteen privates; Capt, 
 Asa A, Swan of the Second Company will detach eighteen privates; 
 Capt. Jesse Breed of the Third Company, fourteen privates; Capt, Lath- 
 rop Williams of the Fourth Company, twelve privates; Lieut, John 
 Hyde of the Fifth Company, thirty privates ; Capt, Lewis Kenyon of the 
 Sixth Company, twenty-one privates; Capt. Daniel Miner of the Seventh 
 Company will detach ten privates. Immediately thereon they will 
 make a return to the adjutant of the men detached, including the offi- 
 cers above named, which belong to their respective companies. The 
 residue of officers and privates will lie discharged for the present from 
 further service at three o'clock this afternoon, after delivering the arms, 
 ammunitions, and camp utensils, for the purpose of delivering which 
 they will parade at two o'clock in front of headquarters, 
 
 "In behalf of the brigadier-general, I have to express his warmest 
 thanks to the officers and soldiers of this regiment for the alacrity and 
 unusual promptitude manifested by them, while, disregarding the tem- 
 pestuous state of the weather, they ai'peared in defense of the rights 
 and sovereignty of their country when threatened with immediate dan- 
 ger. Dated at headquarters, June 2-5, 1813, 
 
 " William Randall, Lknt.-Col. Cnmmanding. 
 "By order: Ctros Williams, ,l./jii(uBi," 
 
 The immediate return required by the foregoing 
 order showing the officers and men detached in pur- 
 suance thereof, is as follows, viz. : 
 
 Cyrus Williams, adjutant; Latham Hull, quartermaster; Rev, Ira Hart, 
 chaplain; John Billings, surgeon's mate; Asa A. Swan, Lewis 
 Ken von, captains ; Thomas Lewis, John Hyde, lieutenants; Phin- 
 eas Wheeler, George W, Baldwin, ensigns. 
 
 From First Comjjanj,— George Sheffield, sergeant; Privates, Charles 
 Palmer, John Noyes, Ezra Chesehro, Samuel Hejme, Heiiry Palmer, 
 Constant Taylor, Peleg West, Nathaniel M, Noyes, William Cran- 
 dall Thomas B, Stanton, Ephraim Williams, Elias Stanton, Enoch 
 Willcox, Oliver Dodge, Daniel L, Sisson, 
 
634 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 From Second Company. — Thomas Browing, sergeant; Sanford Billings, 
 corporal ; Elias Wheeler, fifer ; Privates, Samuel H. Prentiss, Thomas 
 Hall, Jonathan Wilkinson, Ezra B, Smith, Alvin Green, George Wil- 
 kinson (2), EHas Hewitt (2), James Wlieeler, John Smith, Rus- 
 sel Lewis, Charles Church, Jonas Hewitt (3), Joseph Ayre (2), John 
 Yeomans, Amos Gerret. 
 From the Third Company. — Roswell K. Avery, sergeant; Isaac Burdick, 
 corporal; Privates, Simon Baldwin, Esquire P. Bromley, Isaac Miner, 
 Oliver ]>liaer, Eoswel] Breed, Samuel Frinlt, Samuel Breed, Jr., Gur- 
 don Ingraliam, Asa Baldwin, Jr., William P. Frink, David Brom- 
 ley, Loduwick Babcock, Chiistopher Burdick (3), Roswell Brown, 
 Levi Amsbury, Avery Prentiss, Isaac Miner. 
 From the FourUt Company. — Cyrus Swan, sergeant; David Coats, Jr., 
 Harry Grant, corporals; Privates, Dudley Denison, Jabez Edgecomb, 
 Joshua H. Tliompson, Ansel Coats, Harry Chase, Janres Holmes, Jr., 
 John Dean, Simeon Avery, Rufus Wheeler, Sanford Brown, Nathan 
 Stanton; Augustus L. Babcock, drummer; Natlian Champlin, 
 drummer. 
 From the Fifth Company. — Daniel Hobart, sergeant; Richard Hempstead, 
 William Bailey, corporals; Daniel Hempstead, fifer; Privates, David 
 Leeds, John Bennett, Edward Lewis, Joshua Wheeler, Jr., Daniel 
 Wheeler, Amos Gallup, David Wheeler, John P. Breed, Oliver Ben- 
 nett, Josliua Brown (2), Gilbert Williams, Joseph Hobart, Henry 
 Lewis, Jared Starr, Eleazer Williams, Jr., Amos Denison (3), Edward 
 C. Williams, Andrew Denison, John Leroy, Amos Miner, Henry 
 Brightman, Elijah Brown, Saml. M. Wilcox, Charles P. Noyes, Jona- 
 than M. Williams, Frederick Denison, John S. Berry, Jesse Miner, 
 Sylvester Coon, Robert Fellows. 
 From the Slrth Company. — Nathan Chapman, sergeant ; Allen Breed, cor- 
 poral ; Privates, Elisha Coon, Resolved WiUcox, Luther Palmer, 
 Stephen Tift, Aaron Thompson, Luke C. Reynolds, John Burdick, 
 Sanford Chapman, Ezra Geer, Zebulon York, Lyman Willcox, 
 Elijah Crary, Benjamin Peabody, Daniel Green, Robert Palmer, 
 Jeffry Champlin, Amos Chapman, Amos Miner (2), Noah Willcox, 
 Lewis Ch.ipman, Nathan Tucker. 
 From the Sevfnth Company. — Chandler Main, sergeant; Jesse Main, ser- 
 geant; Jolin H Reynolds, corporal; Privates, Avery Brown, Cyrus 
 L. Park, John Brown, James Brown, Ethan Allen, John Miner, Jonas 
 Partelo, Nathan Y''ork, Latham Brown, Jon» Allen, Jr. 
 Wm. Eaudall, lieutenant-colonel Comi', 30th Regiment, 3rd Brigade. 
 
 The foregoing detachments were organized into 
 two companies, and served under the field, staff, and 
 company officers specially detached to command 
 them. 
 
 The company organized under the command of 
 Capt. Lewis Kenyon consisted of the following num- 
 ber of officers and men : 
 
 Lewis Kenyon, captain; John Hyde, lieutenant; Phineas Wheeler, en- 
 sign; Daniel Hobart, sergeant ; Nathan Chapman, sergeant; Chan- 
 dler Main, sergeant; Jesse Main, sergeant; Richard Hemstead, cor- 
 poral ; William Bailey, corporal ; John H. Reynolds, corporal ; Allen 
 Breed, corporal ; Nathan Chaniplain, drummer; David Crumb, fifer- 
 Daniel Hampstead, flfer; Privates, David Leeds, John Bennett^ 
 Edwin Lewis, Jonathan Wheeler, Jr., David Wheeler, Amos Gallup^ 
 Jr., Daniel Wheeler, John P. Breed, Oliver Bennett, Joshua Browii 
 (2), Gilbert Williams, Joseph Hobart, Henry Lewis, Jared Starr, 
 Eleazer Williams. Amos Denison (2), Edward 0. Williams, Andrew 
 Denison, .John Leroy, Amos Miner, Henry Brightman, Elijah Brown, 
 Samuel M. Brown, Jonathan M. Williams, Charles P. Noyes, Fred- 
 erick Denison, John S. Berry, Jesse Miner, Sylvester Coon, Robert 
 Fellows, Elisha Coon, Resolved Willcox, Luther Palmer, Stephen 
 Tift, Aaron Thompson, Luke 0. Reynolds, John Burdick, Sanford 
 Chapman, Ezra Geer, Zebulon York, Lyman Wilcox, Elijah Crary, 
 Benjamin Peabody, Robert Palmer, Jeffry Clmmplin, Amos Chapman^ 
 Amos Main (2), Noah Wilcox, Lewis Chapman, Nathan Tucker^ 
 Avery Brown, Cyrus L. Park, John Brown, James Brown, Ethan 
 Allen, John Main, Jonas Partelo, Nathan York, Latham Brown 
 Jonathan Allen, Jr. ' 
 
 The company under command of Capt. Asa A. 
 Swan was a.s follows, viz.: 
 
 Asa A. Swan, captain ; Thos. Lewis, lieutenant ; Geo. W. Baldwin, ensi-n ■ 
 Geo. Sheffield, sergeant ; Roswell R. Avery, sergeant ; Thos. Browing| 
 
 sergeant; Cyrus Swan, sergeant ; David Coats, Jr., corporal ; Harry 
 Grant, corporal; Sanford Billings, corporal; Asa Burdick, corporal; 
 Elias Wheeler, fifer ; Augustus L. Babcock, drummer ; Privates, Chas. 
 Palmer, John Noyes, EzraChesebro, Samuel Ilelme, Henry Palmer, 
 Constant Taylor, Peleg West, Nathaniel M. Noyes, W^m. Crandall, 
 Thomas B. Stanton, Ephraim Williams, Ellas Stanton, Enoch Wil- 
 cox, Oliver Dodge, Daniel L. Lisson, Samuel H. Prentice, Thomas 
 Hall, Jonathan Wilkinson, Ezra B. Smith, Alvin Green, George Wil- 
 kinson (2), Elias Hewitt (2), James Wheeler (2), John Smith, Russel 
 Lewis, Charles Cliurch, Jonas Hewitt (3), Joseph Ayer (2), John 
 Yeomans, Amos Grant, Levi Amsbury, Avery Pendleton, Israel Main, 
 Simeon Baldwin, Esquire P. Bromley, Isaac Miner, Oliver Miner, 
 Roswell Breed, Samuel Frink, Samuel Breed, Jr , Gurdon Ingraham 
 Wm. P. Frink, Lodowick Babcock, Christopher Burdick (3), Roswell 
 Brown, Dudley Denison, Jabez Edgcomb, Joshua Thompson, Ansel 
 Coats, Harry Chase, James Holmes, Jr., John Dean, Simeon Avery, 
 Rufus Wheeler, Sanford Brown, Nathan Stanton. 
 
 Towards the end of June of that year Maj.-Gen. 
 Henry Burbeck arrived in New London and assumed 
 the military command of the district, which had been 
 assumed by the general government. The troops then 
 on duty probably did not exceed eight hundred men, 
 and belonged to the militia of the State, and were un- 
 der no orders but of the Governor. The refusal of 
 Connecticut to place her militia under the orders of 
 the United States to be marched away from her pro- 
 tection to Canada and elsewhere had greatly vexed 
 the general government, who had determined on a 
 change. So Gen. Burbeck, on the 12th day of July, 
 1813, in pursuance of an order from the Secretary of 
 War, dismissed the whole force, and our Stonington 
 men then on duty returned to their homes. But Gen. 
 Burbeck did not dismiss the guard in Stonington, then 
 under the command of Lieut. Horatio G. Lewis. But 
 the evacuation of Forts Griswold and Trumbull, with- 
 out a man on duty to protect the property even, and 
 at a time too when the British fleet in the Sound was 
 being largely augmented, created a panic not only 
 among the inhabitants over there, but at Stonington, 
 who felt the protection of a large force at New Lon- 
 don and Groton Bank. By some underground com- 
 munication the officers of the British squadron had 
 learned of the discharge of our military force, and 
 the next day the " Eamillies" and her consorts came 
 up to the mouth of the harbor and saluted the panic- 
 stricken inhabitants with a tremendous cannonade. 
 Gen. Burbeck realizing the danger of the situation, 
 on his own responsibility applied to the Governor for 
 a temporary force, who authorized Brig.-Gen. Wil- 
 liams to call out as large a body of militia as emer- 
 gencies should demand. But no additional requisi- 
 tion was made on Col. Randall for any more troops 
 from Stonington. 
 
 During the latter part of July, August, and Sep- 
 tember the British squadron were so much engaged 
 in blockading the river Thames and the eastern ap- 
 proach of Long Island Sound through the Race, and 
 in pursuing the Yankee privateers that vexed their 
 commerce, that they did not molest the village of 
 Stonington ; but during October their threatening at- 
 titude alarmed the inhabitants, who petitioned the 
 Governor, under the approval of Brig.-Gen. Burbeck 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 635 
 
 commanding the United States troops at New London, 
 who in reply issued the following order : 
 
 "New Haven, 29 Oct., 1813. 
 *' Col. William Kandall, 30^^ Regiment of Militia : 
 
 " Sir, — Pursuant to a request of certain inhabitants of the Town of Sto- 
 nington, and of Brigadier Gen. Burbeck, commanding tha United States 
 troops at New London, I do herebv, in conformity to advice of the Coun- 
 cil, direct you to detach from your Regiment one subaltern, two sergeants, 
 two corporals, and twenty-six privates, for u guard at Stonington Point, 
 to serve from the fii-st day of November next to the 30th of the same 
 month, inclusive, unless sooner discharged. Application must be imme- 
 diately made to Brigadier- General Burbeck, at New London, for provis- 
 ions, to whom also the subaltern commanding the detachment will apply 
 for orders, and to whom he must make a report from time to time as he 
 shall be directed. 
 
 " I am. Sir, your Obt. servant, 
 " John Cotton Smith, Capt. GeneraV 
 
 " Regimental Oeders, 30th Regibient Conn. Militia : 
 
 "Pureuant to orders from the Capt. Genl directing a detachment from 
 the 3Uth Regt., consisting of 1 Subaltern, 2 Sergeants, 2 Corporals, and 
 twenty-six privates, to serve as a guard at Stonington Point, from the 1st 
 of Nov., 1813, to the 30th of the same month, inclusive, unless sooner 
 discharged, I do therefore direct that the officers commanding companies 
 to detach in the following manner: 
 
 " From the First Company, 3 privates ; Second Company, 3 privates ; 
 Third Company, 3 privates; Fourth Company, 1 corpl., 3 privates; Fifth 
 Company, 1 corpl., 4 privates; Sixth Company, 4 privates; Seventh 
 Company, 3 privates; Eighth Company, 1 sergt., 3 privates: all able 
 bodied, effective men, and as far as practicable well equipped and in 
 uniform, and forward this forthwith, together with a muster-Roll, to 
 the care of Lieut. H. G. Lewis, of the 8th Conn*., who is detached to 
 take command of said Guards. Officers commanding companies will 
 return a list of the men's names to the adjt. of the 30th Regiment. 
 " Given under my hand at Stonington this 4^^ day of November, 1813. 
 " William Randall, Lieut.-Col. Conn, SOlh RegC 
 
 Roll of the aforesaid guard : 
 
 Horatio G. Lewis, lieutenant ; Charles H. Smith, sergeant ; Ralph Miner, 
 sergeant; William Wheeler, sergeant; Privates, Asher Baldwin, 
 James Bliven, Joshua Brown, Cyrus W. Brown, Simeon Cai'ew, Lewis 
 Chapman, David T. Chesebrough, Jarius Frink, Jr., Joseph Holmes, 
 Isaac Morgan, William Niles, Henry Palmer, Isaac Partelo, Thomas 
 ^ Spencer, Benison Swan, Joseph Tift, Gilbert Williams, Enoch Wil- 
 cox, Phinias Wilcox. 
 
 "Lieut. Hobatio G. Lewis, of the 8 Compr., 'Ai)^^ Regt., Connecticut 
 
 Militia : 
 
 ** Sir, — Pursuant to an order received from his Excellency the Capt. 
 General, Dated Oct. 29**', 1813, Directing me to detach from said Regt. 
 one Subaltern, two Sergts., two Corps., and 26 privates for a guard at 
 Stonington to serve from the first of November, 1813, until the 30*'i of 
 the same, inclusive, unless sooner Discharged, you are therefore De- 
 tached to take command of said guard, and will Receive them under 
 your care as they arrive, you will make immediate application to Briga- 
 dier General Burbeck at New London lor provisions, to whom also you 
 will apply for orders, and to whom you will make report from time to 
 time as he shall direct. 
 
 "Given under my hand at Stonington this 4'*" day of November, 
 1813. 
 
 "William Randall, 
 
 •'Lieut. Col. Comd. SO^h Regt." 
 
 During the winter months of 1813 and 1814 no 
 alarming demonstrations were made by the enemy, 
 but as soon as the spring opened unusual activity was 
 observable on their part, which was so formidable 
 that another draft upon the militia was made for a 
 detachment to be stationed at Stonington under the 
 command of Lieut. Horatio G. Lewis. They num- 
 bered forty-one men, as follows: 
 
 Horatio G. Lewis, lieutenant; Peleg Hancox, Russel Wheeler, sergeants; 
 John Yeomans, Elias Miner, corporals ; John Hewitt, drummer ; John 
 Davis, fifer; Privates, Paul P. Babcock, John H. Miner, Gurdon 
 
 Ingraham, James Brown, Moses Palmer, Elijah Kenyon, Ansel 
 Coats, John Noyes, Elihu Robinson, Uriah Main, Allen Wlieeler, 
 John Dodge, Palmer Chapman, Elisha Coon, Benjamin F. Stanton, 
 Paul Mason, Jesse Chapman, Israel Palmer, David Wheeler, Nathan 
 York, Frederick Denison, Jr., Andrew Breed, Henry Brown, Wil- 
 liam Crandall, Benjamin H. Frink, Stephen Babcock, Jr., Ethan 
 Allen, Luke C. Reynolds, John Deane Gallup, Avery Prentice, Geo. 
 Stewart, Paul Prentice, Elder Levi Meecb, Silas E. Burrows. 
 
 This detachment served from May 31 to June 30, 
 1814j when they were dismissed, and another detach- 
 ment drafted from the militia in the northern part of 
 the State took their places, and served from June 29 
 to Aug. 29, 1814, when they were dismissed. This 
 detachment was under the command of Lieut. Samuel 
 Hough. Being present at Stonington on the 10th of 
 August, they participated in the battle and defense of 
 the place. They numbered forty men, as follows: 
 
 Samuel Hough, lieutenant; Job Pitts, Benjamin Taylor, sergeants; 
 Caleb Whitfurd, John Trowbridge, corporals; John Potter, drummer; 
 Henry Bush, filer ; Privates, Allen Anderson, James D. Almy, Ma- 
 zaldas Brown, Daniel Bulfingtou, Cyrus Babcock, Augustus Birge, 
 Palmer. Carpenter, Christopher Cond, Stiul Curtis, Rufus Grain, 
 Simeon Dalbie, Alexander Home, Jehiel Home, Amos Hayward, 
 Robert Hall, Elisha Ingraham, Reuben Johnson, Sylvester Kenyon, 
 Clark Payne, Jerrie Root, Marshall Robbins, Stephen Skinner, Wm. 
 T. Sloan, Daniel E. Sweet, Seth Spalding, James Tillinghast, Charles 
 B. Titus, Jonathan Watrous, Jr., Morgan Watrous, John Wheaton 
 (Charles P. Wheeler substitute), Marham B. Walker, Flanl Whiton, 
 Joshua Yeomans, Northrop W. Young, Benjamin T. Cutter. 
 
 The war thus far had progressed with varying suc- 
 cess. The navy of the United States had immortal- 
 ized itself upon the ocean, while on the land our 
 armies, though small in numbers, had performed prod- 
 igies of valor. The early part of this year was marked 
 by some of the most momentous events of the world's 
 history. Napoleon was overthrown after a fearful 
 struggle, and the treaty of peace at Fontainebleau, 
 which was concluded April 4, 1814, between France 
 and the allied powers of Europe, released the larger 
 part of the British army from active service there ; 
 and as soon as the exigencies of the case would ad- 
 mit, were transported to this country and employed 
 against the United States. 
 
 So all-pervading was the apprehension of an attack 
 from the enemy on our sea-coast that the captain- 
 general of our State, in the early spring of 1814, 
 issued orders to the militia, through their superior 
 officers, as follows, viz. : 
 
 BRIGADE ORDERS. 
 
 " 3d Brigade, Conn. Militia. 
 "Pursuant to orders and instructions from his Excellency the Com- 
 mander in chief. The Brigadier General directs that an inspection be 
 made without delay of the troops under your command, and you will see 
 that they are in every respect prepared, as the law directs, for iuimedi- 
 ate service. If orders cannot be furnished to the respective Captains in 
 season to have the inspection made on the first Monday in May next, it 
 is the pleasure of the Captain General that the inspection may be per- 
 formed by the Commissioned officers at the dwellings of the men to pre- 
 vent burdensome meetings of the militia. The Captain General relies 
 with confidence on the zeal and fidelity on the several ofiicers in the 
 performance of the duty so essential at the present juncture. From the 
 recent movements of the Hostile Squadron in our waters. There is rea- 
 son to apprehend that further attempts will be made to invade the terri- 
 tory of the State, as well as to destroy the vessels in our harbor. For 
 these reasons the Brigadier General is directed by his Excellency the 
 Commander in Chief to call upon all the officers and soldiers of the 3rd 
 
636 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Brigade to hold tliemselves in readiuesB to march at a moment's warn- 
 ing, completely equipped and furnished for immediate and actual ser- 
 vice. The respective Lieut. Col" Commandant of Eeginieiita will imme- 
 diately on the receipt of this establish some suitable place on the most 
 elevated ground and as near the center uf their Kegimenr, as possible, 
 which they will provide at the expense of the state 'for a signal to give 
 notice to Iheir men, in case of an alarm) several Tar Barrels to be raised 
 one at a time, on the end of a pole to be erected for that purpose, and 
 burnt in succession as circumstances will require, the Barrels to be fur- 
 nished with such a quantity of tar and other articles as to burn the 
 longest time practicable and emit the largest quantity of fire and smoke, 
 particularly the latter, if fired in the day time, and have them so ar- 
 ranged that fire may be put to them in a moment, and some proper 
 officer must be entrusted with this duty residing near the spot. Let this 
 be done without delay in each Regiment, and notice given as soon as 
 possible to the brigadier of the place where these signals are erected, and 
 also the names of the officers who are appointed to take charge of them. 
 Should an alarm first come to the knowledge of the Brigadier, he will 
 send expresses to the oflHcer who has charge of the signal in those Regi- 
 ments who^e services may he required, and the Commandant will do the 
 like, in their respective Regiments, should the alarm first reach them, 
 and should the signals be made at any time of day or night, the troops 
 in the Regiment will forth with and with out further order, assemble at 
 some alarm post, {as near the southern limits of their Regiment as can 
 be with convenience,) to be previously designated by the respective com- 
 mandants and notified in their orders, from which alarm posts (to be also 
 communicated to the Biigadiers) the men will march as soon as a com- 
 pany or part of u company has assembled, to such point as the Com- 
 mandant of Regiments shall direct, if they first notify the alarm, or as 
 shall be directed by the brigadier, in case he gives notice, and in that 
 case he will by express, at the same time ho notifies the officer in charge 
 of the signals, also give notice to the colonel where to march his men. 
 In addition to these signals a Capt. commanding artillery companies 
 will, when the signals are made, immediately fire three alarm guns in 
 quick succession. 
 
 "Given under my hand at New London this 28th day of April one 
 thousand eight hundred and fourteen. 
 
 "JiRAH IsHAM, Brigadier General. 
 "By order: George L. Perkins, Brig. Mnj. 
 
 "To William Randall, Esq., Lieut. Col. Command. 30 Regt. Conn. 
 Militia, Stonington." 
 " General Jirah Isham : 
 
 "Sir,— Your order of the 28th of April, 1814, caine to hand the 9th of 
 May, and I have given the uecessaiy orders as therein directed. I have 
 established the place for the signals near the dwelling-house of Mr. 
 Nathan Wheeler, on what is called Grant's Hill, and have directed Mr. 
 Wheeler to erect a pole and procure tar barrels to burn in case of an 
 alarm ; who will also take charge of the signals and give notice to the 
 Brigadier should an alarm take place in this regiment, and the quarter- 
 master and quartermaster-sergeant of the regiment will also attend to 
 his orders and assist in giving the signals, and such other duties as cir- 
 cumstances may I'equire. 
 
 " William Randall, 
 "LieiU.-Col. Commandant St) Hegl. Connecticut Militia. 
 " Dated at Stonington, May 15, 1814." 
 
 " Regimental Head Quarters, May 9tlj, 1814. 
 
 "Sir,— My Regimental Order was issued in conformity to orders and 
 instructions from the Brigadier, and that order being general, I have 
 thought proper to give some instructions to the officers commanding the 
 company adjoining the Sound, where an attack would be most likely to 
 be made by the eneniy. Should an attack therefore be made by the 
 enemy, or an alarm be given in or near the limits of your company, you 
 will collect all the force under your command and defend the lives and 
 property of the citizens, and you will at the same time and without delay 
 give notice of the same to the commanding officer of the Regiment and 
 to MajorNathan Wheeler, who has charge of the signals, that notice may 
 be given to the Biigaclier, and the signal be made to the other parts of 
 this Regiment; should an alarm be given from some other quarter, and 
 the signal made in this Regiment, yon will, together with your company, 
 immediately assemble at the alnrm-post as directed in the former order! 
 "William Randall, Limt.-O.l. Com. mth liegt. Militia. 
 
 "To WiLLl.vji Potter, Capt. 8th Comp. 30th Conn. Militia. 
 
 "Daled at Stonington this 15th day of May, 1814." 
 
 By the 1st of July, 1814, the British squadron in 
 Long Island Sound was largely augmented, and so 
 
 imposing was their armament and so imminent was 
 the danger of invasion, and so divided were the 
 American people relative to the origin and mode of 
 prosecuting the war, that President Madison, on the 
 8th of August, 1814, issued a proclamation calling an 
 extra session of Congress. The language of the 
 proclamation indicates the danger apprehended by 
 the President, for he said, " Whereas great and 
 weighty matters claiming the consideration of the 
 Congress of the United States form an extraordinary 
 occasion for convening them," etc. The blockade of 
 the harbors on the Connecticut coast was so close and 
 effectual that it was almost impossible for an Ameri- 
 can vessel to leave or enter our ports, but now and 
 then a privateer would slip by or through the British 
 fleet. 
 
 On the 30th of July, 1814, a privateer disguised as 
 a merchant vessel, with a crew of fifty men, made her 
 appearance in Long Island Sound, running in for the 
 north shore. She was discovered, and a British barge, 
 under the command of Midshipman Thomas Barret 
 Powers, was dispatched in pursuit. Not knowing her 
 true character, and seeing but a few men on deck, not 
 more than were necessary for the navigation of the 
 vessel, Powers pressed on for a prize. The wind 
 being light he soon overhauled her, and when within 
 short musket-range the men rushed upon deck, and 
 Powers immediately took off his hat in token of sur- 
 render. A Dutchman among the crew without orders 
 leveled his musket and shot Powers through the head, 
 killing him instantly. The barge surrendered and 
 was brought into Stonington borough. The remains 
 of the young midshipman were buried with military 
 honors in the burial-place now embraced in the Ston- 
 ington Cemetery. The Rev. Ira Hart, then chaplain 
 of the Thirtieth Kegiment, delivered an appropriate 
 address on the occasion, which was listened to with 
 deep feeling, drawing tears from many an eye unused 
 to weep. 
 
 This unfortunate young officer was but eighteen 
 years of age, and great sympathy was manifested for 
 his untimely end. 
 
 After peace took place with England, late in the 
 summer of 1815, a grave and elderly gentleman came 
 to Stonington and quietly took lodgings at the hotel 
 kept by Capt. Thomas Swan. Soon after he arrived 
 he inquired for the clergyman of the place, who was 
 sent for and introduced. He then revealed to him 
 his name and his mission, telling him that he had come 
 all the way from England to visit the grave of his 
 only son, and to thank him and other kind friends for 
 the Christian burial extended to his dear boy. Mr. 
 Hart, who was a man of strong sympathies, was deeply 
 moved for his stranger friend, and procuring a carriage 
 took him to the burial-place of his son. 
 
 Before the British ffeet left our waters, the Hon. 
 Capt. Piget and his brother officers "of the ship 'Su- 
 perb' erected a monument to the memory of the fallen 
 midshipman." When the monument that marked 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 ()37 
 
 the last resting-place of his son came in view, he re- 
 quested Mr. Hart to remain, as he wished to be alone 
 by the grave. Slowly and with reverent steps he ap- 
 proached it, when, overpowered with the agony of his 
 own sorrows, he fell upon the grave and wept with 
 unrestrained emotion until the fountains of nature 
 were exhausted. Composing himself at length, he 
 rejoined Mr. Hart, who had witnessed his grief, when 
 together they returned to the hotel. Before leaving 
 Mr. Powers expressed himself in grateful terms for 
 the kindness and consideration to his feelings which 
 Mr. Hart had manifested, and warmly shook his hand 
 at parting. 
 
 On the 9th day of August, 1814, a portion of the 
 British fleet were seen to be in motion. At first they 
 were supposed to be moving towards New London, 
 but it was soon discovered that the ships were coming 
 past the mouth of the river Thames, probably intend- 
 ing an attack upon Newport, or some other place at 
 the east. No one here could at first believe that so 
 formidable a fleet designed an attack upon so small a 
 village as Stonington, consisting of about one hun- 
 dred dwellings. But as soon as the ships were seen 
 coming in between Fisher's Island and the mainland 
 the people in Stonington borough began to realize 
 that their village was the object in view. At about 
 five o'clock in the afternoon the fleet came to anchor 
 ofi'the harbor, and sent a flag on shore ; and for what 
 happened afterwards the reader is referred to the Con- 
 necticut Gazette of Aug. 17th, 24th, 31st, and Sept. 
 7, 1814; also to Mies' Weekly Begister, Oct. 21, 1815, 
 thus : 
 
 " RECOKD OF THE EXTRA ORDINARY ATTACK ON STONINGTON .1 
 
 " New London, Aug, 17, 1814. 
 
 "On Tuesday, the 9th instant, at 5p.m., the ' Ramillies,'24, 'Pactolus,' 
 38, a bomb-ship, ana the 'Dispatch,' 22-gun brig, arxived off Stonington, 
 and a flag was sent on shore with the following note: 
 
 "* His Britannic Majesty's Ship " Pactolus," 9th August, 1814, 
 
 " ' ^ past 5 o'clock p.m. 
 
 " ' Not wishing to destroy the unoffending Inhabitants residing in the 
 Town of Stonington, one hour is granted them from the receipt of this 
 to remove out of the town. 
 
 " ' T. M. Hakdy, Captain of H. M. Ship " RamiUiesy 
 
 " ' To the Inhabitants of the Town of Stonington.' 
 
 *'This notification waa received by two magistrates and Lieut. Hough 
 of the drafted militia, who went off to meet the flag. The officer was 
 asked whether a flag would not be received on board. He said no ar- 
 rangements could be made. They inquired whether Com. Hardy had 
 determined to destroy the town. He replied that such were his orders 
 from the admiral, and that it would be done most effectually. When 
 the gentlemen reached the shore a crowd waited with great anxiety for 
 the news, which, being stated, consternation flew through the town. An 
 express was dispatched to Gon. Gushing at New London, A number of vol- 
 unteers hastened to collect ammunition, others ran to the battery, which 
 consisted of two eighteen-pounders and a four-pounder on field-carriages, 
 with a slight breastwork four feet high. The sick and the aged were 
 removed with haste, the women and children, with loud crlea, were seen 
 running in every dirertion. Some of the most valuable articles were has- 
 tily got off by hand, others placed in the gardens and lots, orthrown into 
 wells to save them from the impending conflfigration. The sixty min- 
 utes expired, but the dreaded moment did not bring the attack. Nelson's 
 favorite hero and fnend was seized with the compunctions of magnan- 
 imity : he remembered what ancient Britons were; he remembered that 
 something was due to the character of Sir Thomas M. Hardy. Three 
 
 1 From the Connecticut Gazelle, Aug. 17, 1814. 
 
 hours, in fact, elapsed, when, at eight in the evening, the attack was com- 
 menced by a discharge of shells from the bomb-ship. Several barges and 
 launches had taken their stations in different points, from whence they 
 threw Congreve rockets and carcasses. This mode of attack was con- 
 tinued incessantly until midnight, and the fire was returned occasionally 
 from the battery as the light of the rockets gave opportunity with any 
 chance of success. The few drafted militia which bad been some time 
 stationed there, under command of Lieut. Hough, were placed in the 
 best directions to give an alarm in case a landing should be attempted. 
 
 "During the night the volunteers and militia had assembled in con- 
 siderable numbers, and the noii-combatant inhabitants had generally 
 removed to the neighboring farm-houses in the momentary expectation 
 of seeing their abandoned dwellings in flames. It was a niglit of inex- 
 pressible anguish to many a widow or orphan, to many aged and infirm, 
 whose little pittance they were now apparently to lose forever. But 
 Providence directed otherwise. This compact little villnge of one hun- 
 dred dwellings had been for hours covered with tlames of fire and bomb- 
 shells, and not a single building was consumed, nor a person injured. 
 
 " At the dawn of day on the 10th the approach of the enemy was an- 
 nounced by a discharge of Congreve rockets from several barges and a 
 iHunch which had taken their station on the east side of the town, and 
 out of reach of the battery. Several volunteers with small-arms and the 
 four-pounder hastened across the Point, supposing the enemy were at- 
 tempting a landing. Col. Randall, of the Thirtieth Regiment, who at 
 the time was moving towards the battery with a detachment of militia, 
 ordered them to assist the volunteers in drawingover oneof theeighteen- 
 poundere to the extreme end of the Point, the fire of which in a few mo- 
 ments compelled the barges to seek safety in flight. During this time 
 tlie brig was working up towards the Point, and soon after sunrise 
 came to anchor short of a mile from the battery (or, more correctly, 
 the breastwork). Our ammunition being soon exhausted, the guns 
 were spiked, and the men who fought them — being only about fifteen 
 or twenty — retired, leaving them behind for want of strength to drag 
 them off. The brig now continued deliberately to pour her thirty-two- 
 pound shot and grape into the village, without our having the power of 
 returning a shot, for an hour, and the bomb-ketch occabionally threw 
 the shells. A fresh supply of ammunition being obtained, the eighteen- 
 pouuder was withdrawn from the breastwork, the vent drilled, and the 
 piece taken back again, when such an animated and well-directed fire 
 was kept up that at three o'clock the brig slipped her cable and hauled 
 off, with her pumps going, having received several shuts below her 
 •water-line, and considerable damage in her spars, etc. During this ac- 
 tion between the eighteen-pounder and the brig, Mr. Frederick Denison 
 was slightly wounded in the knee by a fragment of a rock, and I\Ir. John 
 Miner badly burnt his face by the premature discharge of the gun. The 
 flag, which was nailed to the mast, was pierced with seven shot-hules, 
 the breastworks somewhat injured, and six or eight of the dwelling- 
 houses in the vicinity effectually injured. At this time a considerable 
 body of militia had arrived, and Brig.-Gen. Tsham had taken the com- 
 mand. The inliabitants had recovered from the constej'nation of the 
 first moments, and were deliberately moving off their furnituie and 
 goods. At one o'clock the ' Kamillies' and ' Pactolus' had taken stations 
 about two and a half miles from the town, when resistance appearing 
 hopeless, the magistrates as a last resort applied to the general for per- 
 mission to send a tiag off, being impressed with the opinion that there 
 must exist some latent cause of a peculiar nature to induce a commander 
 who had heretofore distinguished himself for a scrupulous regard to the 
 claims of honorable warfare to induce him to commit an act so repug- 
 nant to sound policy, so abhorrent to his nature, so flagrant an outrage 
 on humanity. The general, we understand, would not sanction, nor did 
 he absolutely prohibit, a flag being sent. They therefore, on tlieir own 
 responsibility, sent on board the ' Ramilliee' Isaac Williams and Wm. 
 Lord, Esquires, with a letter to which the following reply was subse- 
 quently received : 
 
 "•"Ramillies," off Stonington, 
 
 '"lUth August, 1814. 
 
 " ' Gent" — I have received your letter and representation of the State 
 of your Town, and as you have declared that Torpedoes never have 
 been harbored by the Inhabitants, or ever will be as far as lies in their 
 power to prevent, and as you have engaged that Mrs. Stewart, the wife 
 of the British vice consul, bite resident at New London, with her family, 
 shall be permitted to embark on board this ship to-morrow morning, I 
 am induced to wave the attempt of the total destruction of your Town, 
 which I feel confident can be effected by the squadron under my Ordera. 
 
 " ' I am, Genfi, Your most obedient servant, 
 
 "' T. M. Hardy, Captain. 
 
 " ' To Doctor LoRB and Colonel Williams, Stonington.' 
 
 41 
 
638 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " Tliis letter was received indignantly. No answer was given. It was 
 a fact well known that no torpedoes have been fitted out at Stoiiington, 
 and that the inhabitants are unfriendly to the system ; but neither in- 
 dividuals nor the town have power to prevent their resorting to that 
 place. The condition fine qua non is truly tragi-farcical. Neither the 
 town of Stouington or the State of Connecticut had any legal power to 
 comply with it, which C'apt. Hardy well knew. And if Stony Point, 
 with its rocky foundations, had been in danger of being blown up, 
 scarcely a voice would have been raised to have saved it on such dis- 
 graceful terms. The first duty of a citizen, we are taught in Connecti- 
 cut, is to obey the laws. Mrs. Stewart is under the protection of the 
 government of the United States, and the petition of her husband for a 
 permission for a departure is in the hands of a proper authority, who 
 will undoubtedly decide correctly in the case. 
 
 " Our countrymen at a distance, from the importance Capt. Hardy has 
 attached to the circumstance of Mrs. Stewart's being sent off to the 
 British squadron, may possibly apprehend that she has received insult, 
 or signified somefears for the personal safety of herself and children. So 
 far from this being the fact, no lady ever experienced greater civilities 
 from the citizens — as no one has better deserved them. And her feelings 
 during the proceedings at Stoning(on demanded the sympathy of her 
 friends. 
 
 *' By the terms offered by Capt. Hardy, it was impossible to discover I 
 whether he was most doubtful of his ability to accomplish the destruc- 
 tion of the town or desirous of a pretext to save it. He assured the 
 gentlemen who accompanied the flag that this was the most unpleasant 
 expedition he had undertaken. The truce on the part of the enemy 
 having expired at 8 o'clock on Thursday morning, a flag was soon after 
 observed at the battery to be coming on shore, and there not being suf- 
 ficient time to give information of the fact at headquarters and receive 
 instructions, it was determined by the officer then commanding to send 
 a boat off to receive the communication. Mr. Faxon, of Stouington, 
 took charge of the boat, met the flag, and offered to convey the dispatch 
 agreeable to its directions. The British officer, Lieut. Claxton, ques- 
 tioned his authority to receive it; inquired whether Mrs. Stewart would 
 be sent off, and said he would go on shore. Mr. Faxon replied that he 
 knew nothing of Mrs. Stewart, and that if he attempted to proceed for 
 the shore he would undoubtedly be fired on. He continued his course 
 when a sentinel was directed to fire forward of the boat, but the ball 
 passed through the after-sail. They immediately put about and steered 
 for the ship, the liei^tenant swearing revenge for what he termed an in- 
 sult to his flag. An explanation of the circumstances was immediately 
 transmitted by Gen. Isham to Capt. Hardy, which he received as satis- 
 factory. 
 
 " At the moment a flag had started for the ' RamiHies' from the civil 
 authority of the town, which was received on board, by which was sent 
 the following letter : 
 
 " ' Stonington Boro', Aug. 14th, 1814. 
 " ' To Thomas M. Hardy, Commander of H. B. M. Ship " Kamiliee." 
 
 '*' Sir,— Since the flag went into New London for Mrs. Stewart and 
 family, Gen. Cushing, who commands at New London, has written, we 
 are informed-, to the Secretary of "War on the subject, and it is our opin- 
 ion that the request will be complied with. But whatever may be the 
 result of the communication from Gen. Cushing, you will be satisfied it 
 is not in our power to enter into any arrangement with you respecting 
 
 her. 
 
 'From yours, &c., 
 
 " ' Isaac Williams, 
 
 "' William Lord, 
 
 " ' Alexander G. Smith,' 
 
 " ' Magistrates. 
 ' "Joseph Smith,' ll^orden. 
 "'Geo. Hubbard, 
 '"Amos Denison. 
 
 " To this letter Capt. Hardy replied, verhally, that he should allow till 
 12 o'clock for Mrs. Stewart to be brought on board. At this time the 
 principal part of three regiments of militia had arrived, and the town 
 was perfectly secure against a lauding. 
 
 "At 3 o'clock the bomb-sliip 'commenced throwing shells into the 
 town, and I.eing out of reach of our cannon, the General withdrew the 
 militia, excepting a guard of 50 men, who were ordered to patrol the 
 streets for the extinguishment of fire should any happen. The bom- 
 bardment continued till evening. 
 
 " On Tuesday morning the bomb-ship renewed her operations a little 
 before sunrise, while the ' Ramil lies' and ' Pactolus' were waiping in 
 At eight o'clock the frigate opened her fire, and was soon followed by 
 
 the ' Ramillies.' At this time the cannons were ordered to be moved to 
 the north end of the town, where they would have been serviceable if 
 any attempt had been made to land under cover of the ships. This was 
 a very hazardoutj service, as the party would be entirely exposed to the 
 fire of the enemy. Volunteers in sufficient numbers instantly offered 
 their services, among whom were upwards of twenty of the Norwich 
 artillery. 
 
 " The command of the party was intrusted to Lieut. Lathrop, of that 
 corps. They marched to the battery and brought ofl' the piece without 
 the smallest accident, exhibiting all the steadiness which characterizes 
 veteran soldiers. This tremendous cannonade and bombardment con- 
 tinued till nearly noon, when it ceased, and about four o'clock the ships 
 hauled off to their former anchorage. During the succeeding night a 
 large force was kept on guard, in ihe expectation and hope that a land- 
 ing would be attempted. The militia during this affecting scene dis- 
 covered the very best disposition, and were eager to take revenge of the 
 enemy or sacrifice their lives in the contest. 
 
 " It may be considered miraculous that during the several attacks, 
 while so many were exposed to this terrible and protracted bombardment 
 and cannonade, not a person was killed, and but five or six wounded, and 
 those but slightly. Among the wounded is Lieut. Hough of the drafted 
 militia. 
 
 "On Saturday morning the enemy relinquished the hope of burning 
 the town, weighed anchor and proceeded up Fisher's Island sound. 
 
 "The volunteers who so gloriously fought in the battery deserve the 
 thanks of their country. No men could have done better. Their ex- 
 ample will have the happiest influence. 
 
 " About forty buildings are more or less injured, eight or ten essenti- 
 ally so, and two or three may be considered as ruined. The damage was 
 principally done by the bng. Many shells did not explode. The Con- 
 greve rockets, which were frightful at first, lost their terrors and effected 
 little. 
 
 " The inhabitants, fearing another attack, have not returned to their 
 dwellings, and their desolate situation calls loudly upon the philanthropy 
 of their fellow-citizens. If a brief should be granted for collections in 
 the churches of the State, we trust very essential aid will he furnished. 
 Nineteen-twentieths of the inhabitants, it is said, have no other property 
 than their dwellings. 
 
 "A Nantucket man has been on board the British fleet to redeem his 
 boat, and learned that the ' Dispatch' had two men killed and twelve 
 wounded; her loss was undoubtedly much greater." 
 
 NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS.i 
 " The following is handed us as a list of the volunteers (though pre- 
 sumed not entirely perfect) of those who so bravely stood the brunt of 
 the attack of Stunington Point: 
 
 " Of Sloinngton.~Capt. George Fellows, Capt Wm. Potter, Dr. Wm. Lord, 
 
 Lieut. H. G. Lewis, Ensign D. Frink, Gurdon Trumbull, Alex. G. 
 
 Smith, Amos Denison, Jr., Stanton Gallup, Ebenezer Morgan, John 
 
 Miner. 
 " Of Mystic.— Jesse Deane, Deane Gallup, Fred. Haley, Jeremiah Holmes, 
 
 N. Clift, Jedediah Eeed. 
 " Of Grotun.—AUred White, Ebenezer Morgan, Frank Daniels, Giles 
 
 Moran. 
 " Of New Londo7i.---M.aj. Simeon Smith, Capt. Noah Lester (formerly of 
 
 the army), Maj. N. Fnnk, Lambert Williams. 
 *^From Massachusetts. ~Ga,pt. Leonard and i\lr. Dunham." 
 
 From the Connecticut Gazette, August 31st: 
 
 " By an error of the compositor the following names were omitted in 
 the list published in our last paper of volunteers who so greatly con- 
 tributed to the glorious defence and preservation of Stonington, viz. : 
 Simeon Haley, Jeremiah Haley, Frederick Denison, John Miner, Asa 
 Lee, Thomas Wilcox, Luke Palmer, George Palmer, Wm. G. Bush. 
 
 " There were probably others whom we have not learnt." 
 
 Account of the attack furnished for publication by 
 the magistrates, warden, and burgesses. From the 
 Connecticut Gazette, September 7th : 
 
 "Stonington Borough, Aug. 29th, 1814. 
 " Mr. Grekn,— In relation to the extraordinary attack of the enemy 
 of the 9th inst. on this village, the public have been furnished with 
 various accounts; and though the circumstantial and generally correct 
 
 1 From the Conneclkut Gazette, August 24th. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 639 
 
 accouBt given in your jiaper (of the 7th of August) precludes the ne- 
 cessity of a recapitulation of the whole transaction, yet this village 
 having been the object of the attack and resentment of Sir Thomas, the 
 Magistrates, Warden, and Burgesses I'esiding therein feeling deeply in- 
 terested that some official document comprehending a supply of some 
 facta not given, an alteration of others, and a general statement relative 
 to the whole should be published, offer the public the following state- 
 ment. 
 
 *'0n Tuesday afternoon of the 9th inst. anchored off our harbor the 
 frigate ' Pactolus,' the ' Terror,' a bomb-ship, and the brig ' Dispatch,' of 
 20 guns. From the difficulty of the navigation in Fisher's Island Sound 
 we have been generally impressed that such ships-of-war dare not ap- 
 proach us, but the presumption of the enemy has created new fears, and 
 we think it our duty to say that further means of defence and protection 
 ought to be afforded us ; this we have often requested. Various were 
 the opinions respecting the object of the enemy, but soon all was settled. 
 A flag was discovered to leave the frigate and row towards the town. 
 The impropriety of suffering them to come on shore was suggested, and 
 a boat was immediately obtained, Capt, Amos Palmer, William Lord, Esq., 
 and Lieut. Hough, of tiie detachment here, selected, and the flag of the 
 enemy met by ours, when we received the following unexpected and 
 short notice; (This not having been furnished the public correctly we 
 giv* it at length.) 
 
 " ' His Majesty's Ship " Pactoltjs," 
 " ' 9th of Aug., 1814, half-past 5 o'clock p.m. 
 "'Not wishing to destroy the unoffending inhabitants residing in the 
 town of Stonington, one hour is given them from the receipt of this to 
 remove ou,t of the town. 
 
 " ' T. M. Hardy, Capt. H. B. M. Ship " Bamillies." 
 "'To the Inhabitants of the Town of Stonington.' 
 " From the date of this communication it will appear that Commander 
 Hardy was himself on board the ' Pactolus' to direct the attack, the 
 *Ilamillies' then laying at anchor at the west of Fisher's Island. The 
 people assembled in great numbei-s to hear what was the word from the 
 enemy, when the above was read aloud. The enemy in the barge lay 
 upon their oare a few moments, probably to see the crowd and if some 
 consternation might not prevail. 
 
 " Whatever effect was produced this we know, that Sir Thomas's ' un- 
 offending inhabitants' did not agree to give up the ship, though threat- 
 ened by a force competent, in a human view, to destroy them when 
 compared with the present means of defence in their power. It was ex- 
 claimed from old and young, ' We will defend.' The male citizens, though 
 duly appreciating the humanity of Sir Thomaa in not wishing to destroy 
 them, thought proper to defend their wives and their children, and, in 
 many instances, all their property, and we feel a pleasure in saying that 
 a united spirit of defence prevailed, and, during the short hour granted 
 us, expresses were sent to Gen. Gushing at New London, and to Col. Ran- 
 dall, whose regiment resided nearest to the scene of danger. The de- 
 tachment stationed here under Lieot. Hough was embodied; Capt. Pot- 
 ter, residing within the borough, gave orders to assemble all the officers 
 and men under his command that could be immediately collected. They 
 cheerfully and quickly assembled, animated with the true spirit of 
 patriotism. The Hmmunition for our two IS-pounders aud 4-pounder 
 was collected at the little breastwork erected by ourselves. The citi- 
 zens of the Borough, assisted by two strangers from Massachusetts, 
 manned the IS-pounders at the breastwork, and also the 4-pounder. 
 One cause of discouragement only seemed to prevail, which was the de- 
 ficiency of ammunitiun for the cannon. This circumstance, however, 
 together with the superior force arrayed against us, did not abate the 
 zeal for resistance. Such guards of musketry as were in our power to 
 place were stationed at different points on the shores. In this state of 
 preparation we waited the attack of the enemy. About 8 o'clock in the 
 evening they commenced by the fire of a shell from the bomb-ship, 
 which was immediately returned by a shot from our 18-pounder. This 
 attack of the enemy was immediately succeeded by one from three 
 launches and four barges, surrounding the point, throwing rockets and 
 shot into the village. This also returned as often as by the light of the 
 rockets streaming from the barges we could discover them. Assisted by 
 the above military force, the inhabitants alone, some seventy years old, 
 defended the town until about 11 o'clock, and had it not been for the 
 spirited resistance manifested a landing no doubt would have been 
 effected. At this time Col. Randall had arrived, and having issued orders 
 to the militia under his command, they began to assemble, and from the 
 short notice given them were truly prompt and active in appearing at 
 the post of danger; some volunteers had also arrived. From this addi- 
 tional strength the apprehensions of the enemy's landing in a measure 
 vanished. Their shells, rockets, and carcasses having been prevented 
 
 from spreading the destruction intended, they ceased firing them about 
 12 o'clock. All was still from this time until daylight. A fire of rock- 
 ets aud shots from the launches and barges again commenced, which was 
 spiritedly returned from our artillery taken from the breastwork, in 
 open view of the enemy and exposed to their shot, on the end of the 
 point, and they (were) compelled to recede. This truly hazardous ser- 
 vice was nobly performed. Col. Randall having been prompt in his ap- 
 pearance, as were all the officers andsoldiere of his regiment, they were 
 now organized, ready, and eager to receive our.invadere. From the 
 spirit manifested among the citizens, volunteers, and soldiers, and the 
 judicious arrangements made of the troops assembled, had a landing 
 been attempted a good account would no doubt have been given of them. 
 We were now also assisted by numbers of volunteers. 
 
 " The barges having receded from the fire of our four and eighteen 
 pounder on the Point, they were taken back to the breastwork. 
 
 "About eight o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, the brig 'De- 
 spatch' hauled within hulf a-mile of our breastwork, and opened a well- 
 directed and animated fire. 
 
 " Our few guns being now well manned by citizens and volunteers from 
 Stonington, New London, Mistick, and Groton, they were ready to re- 
 ceive her. 
 
 " Her fire was returned with aspiiit and courage rarely to be equalled, 
 and of those gallant souls who stood this conflict we can only say they 
 gloriously did their duty. Heroes having so nobly acted, with ours will 
 receive the plaudits of their country. 
 
 '* What effect such bravery had on the enemy will appear from the 
 fact that the brig was compelled to cut her cable and retire out of reach 
 of our shot. 
 
 "Her anchor has since been taken up, with a number of fathoms of 
 cable. No attack was afterwards made by the brig. This contest with 
 the brig (called the ' Despatch') continued on our part from the breast- 
 work until the ammunition was expended. To this circumstance, un- 
 fortunately for the village, and mortifying to those so gallantly engaged 
 in the defence, may he attributed the principal injury sustained by the 
 buildings. For two hours or more she kept up a constant fire without 
 having it in our power to return a shot, during which time we are con- 
 fident, had there been a supply of ammunition, she would have been 
 taught the use and meaning of her name. The further particulars which 
 transpired on Wednesday and Thursday having been noticed by you in 
 the publication above referred to very correctly, the public must be sat- 
 isfied without any comments from us. 
 
 "In the publications of the transactions of Friday we have discovered 
 one error. Amidst tlie combined fire of the ' Ramillies' frigate and 
 bomb-ship, Lieut. Lathrop and volunteers from the Norwich artillery, in 
 fact did proceed to undertake in assistiug to get off the cannon from 
 the breastwork ; but they met other brave lads who had accomplished 
 this hazardous duty. 
 
 " The praise, therefore, of this performance, however they may have 
 
 i distinguished themselves in other duties, is not correctly bestowed. In 
 
 passing the proceedings of Thui-sday and Friday, we would not overlook 
 
 the singular communication received from Commodore Hardy, which 
 
 preceded the fire on Thursday. 
 
 "Two subjects, esteemed very important by Sir Thomas, seem con- 
 nected, Torpedoes and Mrs. Stewart,— a lady, we presume, worthy of the 
 notice even of Commodore Hardy. But a demand made on those with 
 whom, it was well known, no power existed to comply is not a little ex- 
 traordinary ; besides, this commuuication is totally different from aud 
 unconnected with the one it wad sent as an answer to. It would appear 
 from reading the documents that assurances were given that no torpe- 
 does ever did, or ever should, go from this place. This was not the fact; 
 no promises or concessions of any kind ever were made. To this singular 
 letter no general reply was given ; that part only was noticed relative 
 to Mrs. Stewart. The enemy left us on Friday without having accom- 
 plished that destruction which they told us was to be effected. The 
 damage done the buildings is e-timated at about four thousand dollars. 
 
 "This would undoubtedly have been much greater had not the vol- 
 unteer vigilant firemen from Capt. Potter's company, before mentioned, 
 and others, continued firm at their posts, determined that not a flame 
 kindled by those fiery engines of the enemy but should be extinguished, 
 and it was done. This duty, perhaps, was us important and useful for 
 the salvation of the village as any performed during the conflict. 
 
 "The list of individuals given to the public as distinguishing them- 
 selves during the contest we esteem very imperfect. To give a correct 
 list of all those who did distinguish themselves in the various duties that 
 were performed is not easy to do; we shall, therefore, forbear. Having 
 thought proper to bestow a just tribute of praise on the officers and sol- 
 diers of the thirtieth regiment, who first arrived at the scene of action, 
 
640 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 > Magistrates. 
 Warden. 
 
 V Burgesses.'' 
 
 it becomes us to express, also, the liigh sense which we entertain of the 
 services and judicious and soldier-like conduct of the eighth and twen- 
 tieth Regiments, assembled under liis command. Dming this protracted 
 bombardment nothing more excited our astonishment and gratitude than 
 this, that not a man was killed on our part. We understand from good 
 authority the enemy had a number killed and several badly wounded in 
 their unprovoked attack upon us. 
 
 "We have made some estimate of the number of shells and fire 
 carciissee thrown into the village, and we find tliere has been about 
 three hundred. The amount of metal fired by the enemy will exceed, 
 we think, fifty tons. About tliree or four tons of bombs, carcasses, and 
 shot have been collected. 
 
 *' William Lord, 
 
 " Alex. G. Smith, 
 ■' ■, io-iL,/a,'i^ "Joseph Smith, -. 
 
 "Amos Palmer, 
 
 " Amos Denison, 
 
 "Geo. Hubhard, 
 
 "Thomas Ash, 
 
 " Reuben Chesebrough, 
 
 Letter from Capt. Amos Palmer to the Secretary of 
 War. From Niles' Weekly Register^ Oct. 21, 1815: 
 
 "DEFENCE OF STONINGTON. 
 " The defence of Stonington by a handful of brave citizens was more 
 like an effusion of feeling warm from the heart than a concerted mili- 
 tary movement. The result of it we all know, and it afforded sincere 
 delight to every patriot. But the particulai's we have never seen so ac- 
 curately described as in the following concise narrative from the chair- 
 man of the committee of defence to the Secretary of War, of which we 
 have been provided with a copy for publication. — Nat. InielUgencer. 
 
 " ' Stonington Borough, Aug. 21, 1815. 
 "' To the Hon. William H. Crawford, Secretary of War. 
 
 " ' Sir, — The former Secretary of War put into ujy hands, as chairman 
 of the committee of defence, the two eighteen-pouuders and all the mu- 
 nitions of war that were here belonging to the general government, to 
 be used for the defence of the town, and I give my receipt for the same. 
 
 " 'As there is no military officer here, it becomes my duty to inform 
 you (p{) the use we have made of it. That on the 9th of August last 
 (year) the "Raniiilies," seventy-lour, the "Pactolus," forty-four, the 
 "Terror,'' bomb-ship, and the " Despatch," gun-brig, aucliored off the 
 harbor. Commodore sent off a boat with a flag ; we met liim with an- 
 otlier from the shore, when the officer of the flag handed me a note from 
 Commodore Hardy, informing that one hour was given the unoffending 
 inhabitants before the town would be destroyed. 
 
 "' We returned to the shore, where all the male inhabitants were col- 
 lected. When I read the note aloud, they all exclaimed tliey would de- 
 feud the place to the last extremity, and if it was destroyed they would 
 be buried in the ruins. 
 
 " ' We repaired to the small battery tliat we had hove up ; nailed our 
 colors to the flag-staff. Others lined the shore with their muskets. 
 About seven in the evening they put off five barges and a large launch, 
 carrying from thirty-two- to nine-pound carronadee in their bows, and 
 opened fire from their shipping with bombs, carcasses, rockets, round-, 
 grape-, and canister-shot, and sent their boats to land under cover of 
 their fire. We let them come within small grape distance, when we 
 opened our fire upon them from our two eighteen-pounders with lound- 
 and grape-shot. They soon retreated out of grape distance and attempted 
 a landing on the east side of the village. We dragged a six-pounder 
 that we had mounted over and met them with grape, and all our mus- 
 kets opened fire on them. So tliey were willing to letreat the second 
 time. They cuutiuued their fire until eleven at niglit. The next morn- 
 ing at seven o'clock the brig " Despatch" anchored within pistol-shot of 
 our battery, and they sent five barges and two large launches to land 
 under cover of their whole fire (being joined by the " Nimrod," twenty- 
 gua brig). When the boats approached within grape distance, we opened 
 our fire on them with round- and grape-shot. Tliey retreated and came 
 round the east siile of the town. We checked them with our six- 
 pounder and nmskets till we dragged over one of our eighteen-pound- 
 ers. We put ui it a round-shot and about forty or fifty pounds of grape 
 and placed it in the centre of their boats as tliey were rowing up in a 
 line and firing on us We tore one of their barges all in pieces, so that 
 two, une on each side, liad to lash her up to kfep her from sinking. 
 They retreated out of grape distance, and we turned our fire upon the 
 brig, and expended all our cartiidges but five, which we reserved for 
 
 the boats if they made another attempt to land. We then lay four hours, 
 being unable to annoy the enemy in the least, exc"pt from muskets on 
 the brig, while the fire from the whole fleet was directed against our 
 buildings. After the third express from New London, some fixed ammu- 
 nition arrived. We then turned our cannon on the brig, and she soon 
 cut her cable and drifted out. The whole fleet then weighed and an- 
 chored nearly out of reach of shot, and continued this and the next day 
 to bombard the town. They set the buildings on fire in more than 
 twenty places, and we as often put them out. In the three days' bom- 
 bardment they sent on shore sixty tons of metal, and, strange to say, 
 wounded only one man, since dead. We have picked up fifteen tons, in- 
 cluding some that was taken up out of the water and the two anchors 
 that we got. We took up and buried four poor fellows that were hove 
 overboard out of the sinking barge. 
 
 " ' Since peace, the officers of the " Despatch" brig have been on shore 
 here. They acknowledge they had twenty-one killed and fifty badly 
 wounded, and further say, had we continued our fire any longer, they 
 should have struck, for they were in a sinking condition ; for the wind 
 then blew at southwest, directly into the harbor. Before the ammuni- 
 tion arrived it shifted round to the north, and blew out of the harbor. 
 All the shot suitable for the cannon we have reserved. We have now 
 more eighteen-pound shot than was sent us by government. We have 
 put the two cannon in the arsenal and housed all the munitions of 
 war.' " 
 
 No history of the battle of Stonington, during 
 the last war with England, has yet been written 
 wherein the part acted by the militia has been fully 
 given. No sooner were the British ships seen inside 
 of Fisher's Island, on the 9th of August, 1814, than 
 the tar-barrel signals were ablaze. Col. Randall, 
 ever on the alert, reached the place before dark, and 
 issued the following order : 
 
 " Regimental Ordebs. 
 "30th Regiment C. M. 
 " In consequence of an attack on Stonington Point, and agreeable to 
 orders received from the Brigadier, this Regiment is called into active 
 service, and will assemble at the dwelling house of Oliver York forth- 
 with, and all ofBcers and soldiers will attend to this order, and warn 
 others, and assemble accordingly, 
 
 " Given under my band at Stonington Borough this 9»h day of August, 
 18U. 
 
 " William Randall, Lieut. Col. Comdr." 
 Maj.-Gen. Wm. Williams, of Stonington, living in 
 New London at the time, issued an order to Brig.- 
 Gen. Jirah Isham to call out his brigade for the defense 
 of Stonington, Avhich was immediately done. The 
 following is a copy of the order issued by him to 
 Lieut.-Col. Wm. Eandall, of the Thirtieth Regiment, 
 which did not reach him until long after he had 
 issued his orders and nearly all of his regiment had 
 reached the scene of battle : 
 
 " Lieut. Col. Wm. Randall, Comra. of the SQtii Regt., Third Brigade, 
 Conn. Militia. 
 "Sir,— Pursuant to ordei-s from the Major General of the 3"^ Division 
 you will immediatt'ly call your Regt. into service in addition to the sig- 
 nals to be given at your signal pole (if not already done) you will use 
 every exertion to get all your Regt. out" as soon as possible and march 
 them immediately to Stonington Point that place being in imminent 
 danger of invasion. 
 " Lose no time. 
 
 "Yonrs Respectfully 
 
 "Jirah Isham, Brig. Genl. 3rd Brigade. 
 '* New London, Aug. 9, 1814, 
 " half pnst 8 p.m." 
 
 * Col. Randall's regiment was rallied and called out 
 by the blazing tar-barrel signals, and without stopping 
 to form as companies went immediately to Stonington 
 borough, and were organized out of reach of the 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 641 
 
 enemy's guns, and held in readiness to repel any 
 landing that they might attempt. 
 
 The militia of the State of Connecticut at the time 
 of the last war with England were organized in con- 
 formity to a law of Congress enacted in 1792, consist- 
 ing of divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, and 
 companies. The eastern division of the State militia 
 was at that time commanded by Maj.-Gen. Williams, 
 assisted by staif-oflBcers Maj. Francis Richards, Maj. 
 Thomas Shaw Perkins, aides-de-camp ; Lieut.-Col. 
 Coddington Billings, inspector ; Eobert Coit, quarter- 
 master. 
 
 The Third Brigade of said division was commanded 
 by Brig.-Gen. .Tirah Isham, assisted by staff-officers 
 Martin Lee, aide-de-camp ; George L. Perkins, brigade 
 major ; Henry Wheat, brigade quartermaster. 
 
 The Thirtieth Regiment of said brigade was com- 
 manded by Lieut.-Col. Wm. Randall, and the follow- 
 ing is a correct roll of the field- and staflf-officers of 
 said regiment and their attendants at the battle of 
 Stonington, Aug. 10, 1814: 
 
 William Randall, lieutenant-colonel ; Nathan Wheeler, first major ; 
 Nathan Pendleton, second major; Henry Ohesebro, adjutant ; Sam- 
 uel Chapman, quartermaster; Giles R. Hallam, paymaster; Ira 
 Hart, chaplain; William Lord, surgeon; John Billings, surgeon's 
 mate; |Iathan Smith, sergeant-major ;| John P.Williams, second 
 sergeant-major; Augustus L. Babcock, drum-major; Christopher 
 Dewey, fife-major; John Champlin, private; Henry Newgear, Giles 
 Wheeler, Ira R. Wheeler, Nathan S. Pendleton, John Frink, Chas. 
 T. Hart, Thomas Brooks, waiters. 
 
 The following roll-copies of the eight companies of 
 said regiment show the names of the men who re- 
 sponded to their country's call and marched to Ston- 
 ington borough to defend the place when attacked by 
 the British fleet, Aug. 10, 1814: 
 
 Thirtieth Regiment. 
 
 First Company. — Denison Noyea, captain ; Eeuben Palmer, Jr., lieuten- 
 ant; Ephraim Williame, ensign; William S. Bradford, sergeant; 
 George Sheffield, second sergeant; Joseph Noyes, third sergeant; 
 Isaac Wheeler, third, fourth sergeant; John Yeomans, Eleazer 
 Wheeler, Jr., Perry Barber, Jr., corporals; Privates, John Davis, 
 Charles Palmer, John Noyes, Samuel Helme, Benjamin F. Stanton, 
 Nathaniel M, Noyes, Peleg West, Constant Taylor, Samuel Chese- 
 brough (2J, Thomas B. Stanton, Elihu Robinson, Charles P. Noyes, 
 Ellas Stanton, Stephen F. Stanton, Ezra Witter, John Dodge, Na- 
 thaniel Robinson, Paul Bradford, William Chesebrough, Ross 
 Austin, Stiles Stanton, Jabez Swan. 
 
 Second Company. — Asa A. Swan, captain; Samuel Prentice, lieutenant; 
 George W. Baldwin, ensign; Ephraim Meech, John Prentice, ser- 
 geants; John S.Hewitt, drummer; Elias Wheeler, fifer; Privates, 
 Andrew Baldwin, Edward Coats, Jr., James Wheeler, George P. Stew- 
 art, Avery Prentice, Coddington Swan, Samuel W. Prentice, Stephen 
 Main, William Jackson, Christopher Avery (3), Joseph Ayer, Jr., 
 Gurdon Chapman, Charles Church, Denison Swan, Sanford Brown, 
 Eldridge Whipple, John Wilkinson, Levi Meech, Gardiner Mory, 
 John Stewart, Thomas Davison. 
 
 Third Company. — Jesse Breed, captain; William Frink, lieutenant; 
 Dudley Brown, ensign ; Daniel Bentley, Perez Wheeler, Roswell 
 R.Avery, Ralph R. Miner, sergeants; Elias Miner, Isaac Burdick, 
 corporals; Privates, Asa Baldwin, Jr., Prentice Cook, Jonas Breed, 
 Roswell Breed, Samuel Frink, Stephen Babcock, Jr., Roswell Breed, 
 Thomas Hinckley, Jr., Simeon Baldwin, Roswell Brown, Oliver 
 Miner, William Crandall, John Davis, Oliver Denison, Peleg L. 
 Barber, James Bliven, John Breed, Oliver Wheeler, William S. 
 Frink, Benjamin F. Frink, Christopher Bill, Shephard Brown, 
 Thomas B. Miner, David Bromley, Peleg Wheeler, Cyrus W. Brown, 
 Samuel Clarke (drummer), Charles P. Randall, Jesse Breed, Jr., 
 Pitts D. Frink. 
 
 FourOi Company. — John W. Hull, captain; Silas Chesebrough, ensign; 
 Henry Grant, Russell Wheeler, Elias Hewitt, Jr., sergeants; David 
 Coats, Gilbert Miner, John D. Gallup, corporals; Joahua Clark, fifer; 
 Stephen Wilcox, drummer; Privates, John Breed, Ezra Stanton, 
 Denison Miner, William Cogswell, Elijah Kenyoo, James Holmes, 
 Jr., Dudley Denison, Gilbert Brown, Luther Miner, Ansel Coats, 
 Moses Palmer, Coddington Brown, John L. Berry, Obadiah Mathew- 
 son, William Alexander, Robert Miner, Caleb Green, Nathan Stan- 
 ton, Sanford Brown, Elias Irish, Joseph Tift, Benjamin F. Breed, 
 William Chesebrough. 
 
 Fifth Company. — John Hyde, lieutenant; Noyes Palmer, ensign ; Joseph 
 D. Mason, Daniel Hobart, William Bailey, sergeants; William 
 Wheeler, Jonathan Wheeler, corporals; Edwin Lewis, drummer; 
 Privates, Amos Miner, Amos Gallup, Jr., Andrew Chesebrough, Amos 
 Chesebrough, Andrew Denison, Cyrus Peckbam, Daniel Wheeler, 
 Daniel Mason, Elisba Frink, Elisha Brown, Elani Denison, Edward 
 C. Williams, Frederick Denison, Frederick Denison (2), Gilhert 
 Williams, Hazard Holmes, Henry Denison, Henry Lewis, Isaac 
 Morgan, Jeremy Crandall, Jabez Gallup, John Leroy, John Miner, 
 Justin Denison, John Bennet, Jesse AA'heeler, Nathaniel Lewis, 
 Noyea Lewis, Paul Miner, Robert Fellows, Samuel Stiinton, Jr., 
 Samuel Wheeler, Thomas Leeds, Theophilus Rogers, Gilbei-t Wheeler, 
 Franklin Chesebrough, Franklin Palmer. 
 
 Sixth Company. — Daniel Carr, captain ; Gideon Chapman ; Nathan Chap- 
 man, Henry Babcock, Moses Thomson, Jr., Simon Pendleton, ser- 
 geants; Eeuben York, Cyrus Palmer, corporals; Privates, Horace 
 Grant, Henry Grant, Julius Palmer, James York, Jr., Andrew Breed, 
 Charles Chapman, Elias Chapman, Sanford Chapman, Palmer Chap- 
 man, Freeman Pierce, Lewis Chapman, Amos Chapman, Robert 
 Thompson, Jesse Chapman, Reuben Chapman, Joliu Grey, Jr., Luke 
 C. Reynolds, Gershom Breed, Robert Palmer, Jeffrey Chapman, Zeb- 
 ulon York, Amos Thompson, George L. Chapman, Thomas Geere, Ezra 
 Geere, George Geere, Jr., Lyman Willcox, Noah Willcox, Elisha 
 Coon, John W. Eccleston, Rowland Eccleston, Amos Main (2), Elijah 
 Perry, Simeon P. Kenyon, Joshna H. Thompson, Israel Palmer, Jr., 
 Joseph Burton, Daniel Palmer, Richard Slocum. 
 
 Seventh Company. — Daniel Miner (2), captain ; Amos Holmes, lieuten- 
 ant; Phineas Wheeler, ensign; Thomas Partelo, Chandler Maine, 
 Jesse Maine, sergeants; Joshua Brown, Avery Brown, Prentice 
 Holmes, Benadam Palmer, corporals ; Arnold Crumb, drummer ; 
 Privates, James Brown, Lathan Brown, Sanford Brown, Joshua 
 Brown (3), Mathew Brown, Peter Eldridge, Jonathan Allen Jr., 
 Isaac Partlo, Jonas Partlo, Samuel Maryott, Amos Brown, Cyrus 
 L. Park, Gurdon Ingraham, J. Ross Burdick, Isaac R. Taylor, John 
 Allen, Allen Wheeler, Nathan York, John Maine, Daniel Dewey, 
 John Brown, Beriah Lewis, Royal Maine, Joseph Kennedy, Nathan 
 Kenyon, James Crandall, Joseph Holmes, Shepard Wheeler, Rufus 
 Wheeler. 
 
 Eighth CoTHjjany.— William Potter, captain ; Horatio G. Lewis, lieuten- 
 ant; Daniel Frink, ensign ; Francis Amy, Charles H. Smith, Peleg 
 Hancox, sergeants ; Gurdon Trumbull, Azariah Stanton, Jr., Junius 
 Chesebrough, Joshua Swan, Jr., corporals ; Privates, Phineas Wilcox, 
 Hamilton White, Henry Wilcox, Nathan Wilcox, Samuel Burtch, 
 Jonathan Palmer, Andrew P. Stanton, James Stanton, Thomas 
 Breed, Amos Loper, Samuel Bottum, Jr., Benjamin Merritt, Elihu 
 Chesebrough, Jr., Christopher Wheeler, Amos Hancox, Zebediah 
 Palmer, Nathaniel Waldron, Thomas Spencer, Nathaniel M. Pen- 
 dleton, Simon Carew, Elisha Faxon, Jr., Ebenezer Halpin, Asa Wil- 
 cox, Jr., Warren Palmer, Joseph Bailey, Jr., Nathaniel Lewis. 
 
 " HEAnQUARTERS, Aug. 11, 1S14. 
 
 " giR^ — By order of the Gen. commanding you will detach one com- 
 pany (of about 30 men) from the Regiment under your command to 
 stand guard at or near the bridge during the night, from which a pati'ol- 
 ling party will be kept out, and be relieved from time to time ; the party 
 will be extended about one mile from the west end of the bridge to give 
 information of the movements of the enemy, and communicate the 
 same to Head Quarters. 
 
 '* By order : General Perkins, Maj. Brig. 
 
 " To Col. Wm. Randall, 10th Regt." 
 
 " Head Quarter, 
 "Stonington, 12th August, 1814. 
 
 " Sir,— By order of the Gen. commanding you will please detach Major 
 Wheeler, of the 30th Regt., to take command of the Guards to be sta- 
 tioned conformable to the enclosed order, which you will please hand to 
 him, at the same time direct that he repair to this place at an early 
 period for the above purpose. 
 
642 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " Major Wheeler will not neglect to station the said detachment be- 
 fore sun-setting, and report from time to time dnring the night, as is re- 
 quired by the enclosed order directed to Lieut.-Col. Tracy, of the 20th 
 Kegiment. 
 
 " Geo. L. Pebkins, M'tj. Brigade. 
 " LlETjT.-CoL. Wm. Kandall, 30(7i ffe^f ." 
 
 " SiH, — The General commnnding has directed Col. William Belcher 
 to furnish forty men to be put under your command for the purpose of 
 extinguishing fires. Ton can call on him fur the whole or any part of 
 that number of men at any time when they are required. 
 
 "By order: Martin IjEE, Aid-de-Camp. 
 " Capt. William Potter, 
 " Aug. 12th, 1814." 
 
 " Head Quarters, Stoninqton, 13th Aug., 1814. 
 
 "Sir, — I am ordered by the Brigadier-General commanding to direct 
 that you detach two companies from your Kegt. for the purpose of stand- 
 ing guard for the night, one company to be stationed on the east, and 
 one on the west side of the Point. 
 
 "Col. Tracy will report his detachment for guards to you. Lieut. 
 Hough is ordered to guard the Battery, who will also, if necessary, re- 
 port to you. 
 
 "The Brigadier-General commanding being about to leave for New 
 London, you will consider yourself the commanding olflcer here until 
 his return, and will repair for the night to Head Quarters. 
 
 "Martin Lee, Aid-de-Camp. 
 
 " LlEUT.-CoL. Wm. Bandael, 30ft Regt," 
 
 " Detached -Militia, 
 " Head Quarters, Stonington Point, 
 " Aug. 14, 1814. 
 "Sir, — By order of the General Commanding you will take command 
 at this Post, as very une.xpectedly the 20th and the remainder of the 8 
 Eegt. are ordered to Mystic and Groton Bank. Lieut. Hough's detach- 
 ment is joined to your Kegt., and you will furnish him with a copy of 
 this order; you will station a guai-l at the Arsenal, and remove all the 
 ammunition and provision at Mr. Phelps' to that place ; you will be very 
 particular in stationing your guards, and keep a vigilant look-out for 
 the enemy, and report from time to time all movements of the enemy, 
 and report the strength of your Eegt. as often as practicable. 
 
 "By command: G. L. Perkins, MaJ.-Brigadier. 
 " LiEUT.-OoL. Wm. Kandall, 30ft Begl." 
 
 " Kegimental Orders 30th Kegt. Conn. Militia, in actual Service at 
 
 Stonington, Aug. 14, 1814. 
 
 "Officers commanding companies will ascertain this evening what 
 difBciencies there are in arms, amnmnition, and flints, and report the 
 same to the Adjutant to-morrow morning at 6 o'clock a.m., and also di- 
 rect the men to retire to their respective Quarters precisely at 9 o'clock 
 in the evening, and if found patrolling the streets after the time fixed, 
 they will he taken to Head Quarters and a reasonable excuse will be 
 exacted for a non-compliance of orders. 
 
 " William Randall, Liettt.-Com. 
 "By order: Henry Ckesebro, Adjl." 
 
 On the 4th of July, 1814, a requisition from the 
 President was made on the States most exposed for a 
 corps of ninety-three thousand five hundred militia, 
 with a request to the executives to hold in readiness 
 for immediate service their respective detachments, 
 and to fix on the places of rendezvous with a view to 
 the more exposed points. The quota assigned to 
 Connecticut was, three thousand men. The Governor, 
 after advising with the Council, decided to call on the 
 militia by draft for that number of men, as per order 
 annexed: 
 
 "STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " General Orders. 
 
 " Hartford, 28th .Tuly, 1814. 
 "The Commander-in-Chief has received a communication from the 
 President of the United States inviting the Executives of certain States 
 to organize and hold in readiness for immediate service a corps of ninety- 
 three thousand five hundred men, 'as a measure of precaution to 
 strengthen ourselves on the line of the Atlantic,' and assigning as the 
 quota of Connecticut three hundred artilleiy and two thousand seven 
 
 hundred infantry, with a detail of General and Staff Officers. The Com- 
 mdnder-in-Chief having thought proper, by advice of the Council, to 
 comply with the recommendation, directs that dispositions be imme- 
 diately made for carrying the same into effect. 
 
 " Accordingly the number of artillery and infantry above mentioned, 
 including the usual regimental officers, will be detached from the militia 
 of the State, exempting from the draught such as have either in person or 
 by substitute performed a tour of duty the present season. Volunteer 
 uniform companies will be accepted. The whole to be formed into four 
 regiments and duly officered, their places of rendezvous as follows, to 
 wit : for the first regiment, Hartford ; for the second. New Haven ; for 
 the third, Norwich ; and for the fourth, Fairfield. One Major-General 
 and one Brigadier-General will be detailed in the usual manner, also one 
 deputy Quartermaster-General, and instead of an assistant Adjutant-Gen- 
 eral {there being no such officer in the militia of this State) there shall 
 be detailed one Division Inspector. 
 
 " The troops thus detached are to be completely armed and equipped 
 according to law, and, until otherwise directed, will be held in readiness 
 to march at a moment's warning for the purpose of repelling invasions 
 of the enemy, under such orders as they shall receive from the com- 
 mander-in-chief. 
 
 " By order of his E.xcellency the Commander-in-chief. 
 
 " Eben. Huntington, Adjl.-GeiieraV 
 
 BRIGADE ORDERS. 
 
 " Third Brigade Conn. Militia. 
 "To Lieut. Col. William Randall, 30th Regiment. 
 
 "Sir,— In obedience to orders from his excellency the Capt.-Gen- 
 eral, you will forthwith detach from the Thirtieth Regiment under 
 your command your proportion of the required Quota of Militia as an- 
 nexed, exempting from the Draught such as have either in Person or by 
 Substitute performed a tour of duty the present season. The infantry de- 
 tailed from the 3nl Division will form Two Battallions and the Artilleries 
 will form one company, the whole to compose One Regt to be called 
 the 3'<i Kegiment, & Norwich their place of Rendezvous. lieut.-Col. 
 Wm. Belcher, of the 8th Kegm' is detail^ to command said Regiment; 
 Maj. James Gordon, of the 20th Kegiment, is detail^ as major. 
 
 "In detaching from the matross companies. Gunners, Bombadiers, & 
 Matrosses are to be considered as privates. The officers and men are not, 
 in consequence of being detachii, to be consider^ as exempted from any 
 military duties in the corps to which they now respectively belong; you 
 will take the offlcei-s by seniority, as far as practicable, leaving no com- 
 pany without a commission^ officer. To complete Lists of the names of 
 the officers and men detached and two muster Rolls must be made out 
 and transmitted to the Brigade Inspector at Norwich as soon as you have 
 completed the Detachment, which it is expected will be without delay. 
 Maj'.-Geni. Taylor, of the 4th Division, & Brigadier-Gen'. Lusk, of the 7th 
 Brigade, have been detached as the Sen' Officers. 
 
 " Given under my hand at New London this 4th day August, 1814. 
 
 " JlRAH IsHAM, Brig.-Genl. 
 
 " By order: Geo. L. Perkins, Ulajor Brigade." 
 
 "Regimental Orders 30th Regiment Conn. Militia. 
 
 " Captain : Sir,— To carry the foiegoing Ordera into execution you will 
 forthwith detach from the company under your command your propor- 
 tion of the i-eqnired quota of Officers, non-commission'i officers, musi- 
 cians, and Privates as annexed hereto, the whole to be mustered, in- 
 spected, & notified to hold themselves in readiness to march at a 
 moment's warning. Two inspection returns of those detached from 
 your company, imbracing a list of their names and the actuals State of 
 their arms and equipments, must bo made out and transmitted to the 
 commandant of the Regiment immediately. Giles R. Hallam, Pay 
 Master, John Billings, Surgeon's Mate, are detached as Staff officers. 
 Lieut. Amos Holmes, of the 7th Co., and Dan>. Frink, Ensign of the 8th 
 Co., are detached as commission'! officers of the 30th Bigiment. The 
 present being a period of unusual difficulty and danger, and the abso- 
 lute necessity of being in a state of complete and constant readiness To 
 march for the Protection and defence of our Sea Coast, which is obvious 
 that the Lieut.-Col. comm-'t feels confident no exertion on the part of the 
 offlcei-s or soldiers of the 30th Regiment will be wanting to have their 
 respective companies in a State of perfect readiness for the purpose. 
 Given under my hand at Stonington This 16th day of August, 1814. 
 
 " Wm. Randall, Lleut.-Comd'. 
 
 " By Order : Henry Chesebro, Adjutant." 
 
 Also in pursuance of said orders forty-seven men 
 were detached from said regiment, as follows : From 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 643 
 
 Company 1, 5 men ; Company 2, 6 men ; Company 3, 
 5 men ; Company 4, 6 men ; Company 5, 8 men ; 
 Company 6, 7 men ; Company 7, 6 men ; Company 8, 
 
 5 men, — 47. 
 
 " Brigade Conn. Militia, 
 " Head Quarters, New London, Aug. 2Uth, 1814. 
 "Sir, — I have it in charge from Brig.-Gen. Gushing, commanding 
 Military District No. 2, to say tliatthe men now on duty in the Brigatle 
 under Brig.-Gen. Isliam, who are detached for more permanent service 
 under the command of Brig.-Gen. Lusk, cannot be discharged from the 
 corps in whicli they now serve at the present moment ; but tlie com- 
 manding general assures them that immediately after the Regiment in 
 which they are to serve shall have been formed, they shall be indulged 
 with leave of absence a reasonable time to visit their families and pre- 
 pare themselves for the service for which they have been drafted. 
 " By command of Brig.-Gen. Isham. 
 
 " Martin Lee, Aide-de-Camp. 
 " Lieut. Wm. Eandali, Col. of 30th Eegt." 
 
 '• Brigade Conn. Militia, 
 " Head Quarters, New London, Aug. 21, 1814. 
 *' Sib, — I have it in charge from Brig.-Gen. Gushing, cohimanding Mili- 
 tary District No. 2, to say, That the Brigade of Conn, Militia now in ser- 
 vice of the United States, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Isham, will 
 be mustered for payment and discharged on the following days, unless 
 the future movements of the enemy should render it necessary to con- 
 tinue it in service a few days longer, viz.: 
 
 " 20th Regiment on Tuesday, the 23d inst. 
 " 8th " " Wednesday, the 24th inst. 
 
 "33d " " Thursday, " 26tb " 
 
 " 3d " " Friday, " 26th " 
 
 " 30th Regt. general Brigade Staff, on Saturday, 27th iust. 
 t 
 
 " The muster to be made by the Adjutant-General or assistant Adju- 
 tant-General of the District, and to commence at 6 o'clock a.m. of each 
 day on the Regimental parade, and it is expected all concerned will give 
 due attention. 
 
 " Brig.-Gen. Isham directs that the men who are detached to serve 
 under Brig.-Gen. Lusk, who are not present with their Regiments, are 
 immediately to be notified to join the regiment under Col. Belcher, 
 either at New London or Groton, at whichever place he may be sta- 
 tioned, they are to appear immediately. 
 
 "On the day the respective regiments are to be mustered and dis- 
 charged as above, it is expected the officers and men will receive their 
 pay. 
 
 " Five muster rolls must be made out for each company, two pay rolls 
 and four Receipt Rolls also for each company will be required. 
 
 " To this you will instruct your Regimental Paymasters to attend 
 without delay, as the pay cannot be received without all their vouchers. 
 
 " The Muster Rolls must contain the names of those men only who 
 have joined their companies, with their rank and commencement of sei-- 
 Tice, nothing to be noted of the termination of service, with the pay and 
 receipt Rolls, and you will observe the same directions. 
 
 " Tbe termination of service and amount of pay can be added after- 
 wards. 
 
 " By order of Brig.-Gen. Isham, Commandant 2d Brigade. 
 
 " Martin Lee, Aide-de-Camp,^^ 
 
 " Brigade Conn. Militia, 
 " Head Quarters, New London, Aug. 22d, 1814. 
 "LlEUT.-CoL. Wm. Randall, of the 30th Begt. 
 
 " Sir, — The Brigadier-General directs that the officers and men de- 
 tached from your regiment in pursuance of the late General and Brigade 
 orders, be directed to assemble at New London to-morrow, the 23d inst., 
 at 4 o'clock P.M, You will notify them accordingly. They are ordered 
 by the commander-in-chief of this State into service under command of 
 Brig.-Gen. Lusk. The officers and men thus mustered into service will 
 be mustered in the corps under Brig.-Gen. Lusk, and the indulgence 
 promised in the order of the 20th inst. will then be granted. 
 
 " JiRAH Isham, 
 *^ Brigadier-General Commanding Brigade. 
 
 " By command : Martin Lee, Aide-de-Camp.^' 
 
 The battle of Stonington was not a victory for the 
 British fleet. They doubtless intended to burn the 
 place. In fact, they declared that, having ample 
 means in their possession, they would destroy it, and 
 
 that they did not was owing to the bravery of its 
 defenders. From some unaccountable neglect on the 
 part of the authorities of the State or nation there 
 was not a dozen rounds of ammunition for our can- 
 non on hand at the time of the attack. It seems al- 
 most incredible that a place as much exposed as the 
 borough, with a succession of military detachments 
 detailed for its protection, with three cannon and a 
 battery erected for defense, should all have been pro- 
 vided without ammunition for an hour's fight. But 
 so it was, and but for the powder obtained from New 
 London during the bombardment, and some gathered 
 from Capt. George Fellows and others, our battery 
 with its guns would have been wellnigh useless. 
 'Sergt.-Maj. Nathan Smith, then residing in the bor- 
 ough, communicated to Col. Randall the approach of 
 the hostile fleet; who gave the alarm through his 
 signals on Grant's Hill, and hastened to the borough 
 with all the men he could rally on his way, some five 
 miles. Capt. William Potter, then in command of the 
 Eighth Company of the Thirtieth Regiment, imme- 
 diately assembled all of his command in reach, con- 
 sisting of twenty-one men, including ofiicers, out of 
 a roll of thirty-four men. He joined Lieut. Hough 
 with his detachment, numbering forty-two men, which 
 added to the militia under the command of Col. 
 Randall, assisted by a number of volunteers, de- 
 fended the place as best they could during the even- 
 ing of August 9th until nearly midnight, when the 
 enemy ceased firing ; and but for the spirited resist- 
 ance that the barges and launches received from the 
 militia and volunteers under the command of Col. 
 Randall, the enemy would have landed and burned 
 the place. During the remainder of the night a large 
 part of Col. Randall's regiment, observing the signals, 
 hastened to the place, and before the break of day 
 two hundred and twenty-seven men, including offi- 
 cers, had reached headquarters, and were assigned to 
 their respective companies, which, added to Capt. 
 Potter's and Lieut. Hough's men, aggregated a force 
 of two hundred and ninety men, not including Col. 
 Randall's staff. Thus marshaled they awaited the 
 coming day, and at the early dawn of August 10th 
 another attempt was made by the enemy to land 
 from their barges and launches, coming around on 
 the east side of the borough, firing shot and shell 
 into the place. As soon as the approach of the 
 enemy was discovered some of the volunteers drew 
 the four-pounder across the Point to prevent the 
 enemy from landing. Col. Randall observing the 
 movement of the enemy, ordered his whole force 
 down to the lower end of the Point to meet them, 
 and when he reached the battery he ordered a detach- 
 ment of his men and the volunteers who were acting 
 under military orders to draw one of the eighteen- 
 pounders across the town, so as to repel the appre- 
 hended landing. The gun was manned and directed 
 by Ensign Daniel Frink, of Capt. Potter's company, 
 and so well was it handled that the enemy was com- 
 
644 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 pelled to recede and seek safety in flight. The 
 prompt assembling of Col. Randall's regiment, and 
 their presence at this moment, prevented the enemy 
 from attempting another landing during the bombard- 
 ment of the place. 
 
 During the engagement on the east side of the 
 place the brig " Despatch" was working up towards 
 the battery, doubtless intending to protect and cover 
 with her guns the landing of the enemy, but was 
 too late for that purpose. She came to anchor within 
 a half-mile of the battery, and opened a well-directed 
 fire on the town and battery, which had been manned 
 by volunteers, some of which belonged to the militia, 
 some were seafaring men, and others residents of 
 the town. It is difficult to tell at this distance of 
 time how many men actually entered the battery 
 and handled the guns on the 9th and 10th of Au- 
 gust, 1814, or how many assisted in bringing am- 
 munition to them or making cartridges for their use. 
 From the best attainable information on hand the 
 Stonington borough men were Capt. George Fellows, 
 Capt. William Potter, Lieut. Horatio G. Lewis, En- 
 sign Daniel Frink, Alexander G. Smith, Amos Deni- 
 son, Jr., Elihu Chesebro, Jr., Rev. Jabez S. Swan, 
 Luke Palmer, George Palmer, Thomas Wilcox, and 
 Asa Lee. 
 
 The Mystic Bridge men were Capt. Jeremiah 
 Holmes, Capt. Nathaniel Clift, Capt. Simon Haley, 
 Capt. Jeremiah Haley, Frederick Denison, Ebenezer 
 Denison, Isaac Denison, and Frederick Haley. From 
 the rural districts in Stonington were John Miner 
 Jesse Dean, John Dean Gallup, Charles T. Stanton, 
 Charles P. Wheeler, and Jonathan Denison, who re- 
 fused to enter the battery, but fought the enemy from 
 the shore with his musket at long range. The Gro- 
 ton men were Ebenezer Morgan, Stanton Gallup, 
 Alfred White, Frank Daniels, Giles Moran ; the New 
 London men were Maj. Simeon Smith, Capt. Noah 
 Lester, Maj. N. Frink, and Lambert Williams ; the 
 Massachusetts men were Capt. Leonard, Wm. G. Bush, 
 and Mr. Dunham, and no doubt others. The fire 
 from the battery on the 9th was under the command 
 of Capt. George Fellows, and under the command of 
 Capt. Jeremiah Holmes on the 10th of August Both 
 were brave men and true. Capt. Holmes' three years' 
 service on board of a British man-of-war, the greater 
 part of which he served as captain of a gun, enabled 
 him to direct the guns in the battery with great pre- 
 cision. He double-shotted the eighteen-pounders, 
 and sent the shot plunging through the brig below 
 her water-lines. 
 
 There were other volunteers who rendered impor- 
 tantservices in extinguishing fires, and in other ways, 
 which the Government has recognized, and granted to 
 the participants land warrants under a law of Con- 
 gress enacted in 1856, viz. : Henry Smith, Benjamin 
 T. Ash, Pilts D. Frink, William C. Moss, Peyton R. 
 Randall, and Jesse Breed, and perhaps others. 
 Edward Stanton, a Revolutionary hero, who was 
 
 fearfully and dangerously wounded at Fort Griswold, 
 Sept. 6, 1781, living some five miles away from the 
 scene of action, immediately, on hearing the first gun, 
 took his trusty musket and marched for the borough, 
 saying, with emphasis, that he had shed a part of his 
 blood for his country in the Revolution, and if neces- 
 sary was fully prepared to shed the last drop of it in 
 defense of his country. 
 
 It was plainly evident that the enemy were de- 
 termined to burn the village of Stonington, not only 
 from the declared purpose of Capt. Hardy, but from 
 the use of rockets and carcasses in the bombardment. 
 In order to prevent the consummation of this pur- 
 pose. Col. Randall, on the evening of the 9th, de- 
 tached Charles H. Smith, then the second sergeant of 
 Capt. Potter's company (and afterwards its captain), 
 and twenty men of the regiment to follow up and 
 extinguish all the fires that might be kindled by the 
 missiles of the enemy. This service was bravely and 
 efficiently done, and a large number of fires extin- 
 guished. This duty was as perilous as a place in the 
 battery. It is to be regretted that a list of these brave 
 men has not been preserved. They were daily relieved 
 by detachments taking their places. Gen. Isham 
 and staff arrived from New London about noon, Au- 
 gust 10th, and took command, fixing his headquarters 
 at the dwelling-house of Capt. Nathaniel Palmer. 
 Col. Randall's headquarters were at the house of Oliver 
 York, that stood on the southeast corner of the Wada- 
 wansuok Hotel grounds. 
 
 The glory of the battle of Stonington cannot all be 
 showered upon the men who worked the guns in the 
 battery, though they immortalized themselves by 
 their heroic conduct and Spartan bravery. 
 
 Col. Randall, his staff, and the officers and men of 
 his regiment, for their prompt and energetic behavior 
 in meeting and repelling the enemy's boats in their 
 efforts to land and burn the place on the evening of 
 the 9th and the morning of the 10th of August, en- 
 titles themi to the highest honors. Especially should 
 that brave band of soldiers who watched the carcasses 
 and rockets in their fiery circles, and extinguished 
 them before they could kindle a flame, be remem- 
 bered with everlasting gratitude. To every one who 
 participated in the defense of Stonington in August, 
 1814, Stonington cheerfully awards a full measure of 
 praise, and will cherish their memory and gratefully 
 appreciate their heroic services. The foregoing, with 
 >the extracts copied from the newspapers at the time, is 
 offered as an imperfect history of the battle of Ston- 
 ington, Aug. 10, 1814. 
 
 Col. Randall's regiment and the detachment of 
 Lieut. Hough were honorably discharged from service 
 Aug. 27, 1814. 
 
 A Heroine.— An elderly lady, by the name of Hul- 
 dah Hall, lived at Stonington borough during the last 
 war with England. She was in feeble and rapidly- 
 declining health, when Capt. Hardy, on the 9th of 
 August, 1814, gave one hour's notice for the unofl^'end- 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 645 
 
 ing inhabitants of the place to be removed. She was 
 attended by an only daughter bearing her name, who 
 had been her sole companion during her weary de- 
 clining years. During the excitement and alarm 
 caused by Capt. Hardy's order, and the hasty de- 
 parture of the unoflfending, there were no efforts made 
 for the removal of Mrs. Hall. Nor is it certain that 
 she was able to be removed at the time, if an effort 
 for that purpose had been made. The house occupied 
 by Mrs. Hall stood close in the rear of the battle, and 
 was dangerously exposed to the shot and shell of the 
 enemy. During the evening of the 9th of August it 
 became apparent that Mrs. Hall was rapidly sinking, 
 doubtless hastened by the bombardment of the place, 
 and on the 10th of August, amid the thunders of the 
 bombardment and the deafening roar of the guns in 
 the batteiy, she breathed her last. Beside her bed 
 during all of the excitement and dangers of battle 
 stood the brave-hearted daughter, tenderly watching 
 with loving ministrations her dying mother, though 
 shot and shell crushed through the house, and through 
 the room where they were. No sooner was life ex- 
 tinct than the daughter, throwing a light shawl over 
 her head, went down to the battery amid the flying 
 shot and shell to get assistance to remove and bury 
 her mother. When seen approaching by the men in 
 the battery they were awe-struck, trembling for her 
 safety, though reckless of their own. When informed 
 of her errand, four men were detached and went with 
 her to the house, carefully and tenderly inclosed her 
 remains in the bed and bedclothes where she lay, and 
 bore her to the old Robinson burial-place in the bor- 
 ough, attended by the daughter ; and in a deep cut made 
 by the explosion of a bomb-shell, without any form or 
 ceremony, except the thunders of the bombardment, 
 they buried her remains. While cheerfully awarding 
 the highest honors to the men who so bravely de- 
 fended Stonington, let us drop a tear to the memory 
 of this heroic child, believing that the viewless artists 
 of the skies have woven for her garlands of immortal 
 glory. 
 
 The British fleet did not again attempt to destroy 
 the village of Stonington during the war, but an ap- 
 prehension resting on the part of the people that they 
 might again do so, caused them to apply for another 
 detachment of militia to act as a guard for the place. 
 Col. Randall detached Sergt. Peleg Hancox and four- 
 teen men from Capt. Potter's company to act as said 
 guard. 
 
 They served from Nov. 18, 1814, to Sept. 27, 1815, 
 as follows, viz. : Peleg Hancox, sergeant ; Joshua 
 Swan, corporal; Elihu Chesebro, Jr., corporal; Pri- 
 vates, Edward Stanton, Thomas Booth, Robert Bot- 
 tom, George Taylor, Noyes Brown, Warren Palmer, 
 Thomas Spencer, Nathaniel Chesebrough, George 
 Howe, James Chesebrough, James Stanton, Joseph 
 Swan. 
 
 Peace with Great Britain came in February, 1815, 
 and with it universal prosperity. In celebrating the 
 
 event a young man by the name of Thomas Stanton, 
 of Pawcatuck, was instantly killed at Stonington by 
 the premature discharge of a cannon fired in honor 
 of the event. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXI. 
 
 STONINGTON— (Continued). 
 EARLY RESIDENTS. 
 
 Among the early families of Stonington few have 
 been more distinguished than the Fannings. Edmund -h 
 Fanning, the pioneer settler, came to this country 
 from Dublin, Ireland, and settled in New London as 
 early as 1662, removed to Stonington in 1670, pur- 
 chasing and receiving liberal tracts of land, and died 
 in 1683. His wife, Ellen, survived him, to whom, 
 and four sons and two grandsons, his estate was di- 
 vided. It was from this family that Edmund Fanning, 
 the distinguished navigator, descended, and his still 
 more distinguished brother, Lieut. Nathaniel Fan- 
 ning, who commanded the maintop of the " Good-man 
 Richard," under John Paul Jones, in her famous 
 fight with the English ship "Serapis." He so distin- 
 guished himself in that action as to draw from Cap- 
 tain Jones the following certificate : 
 
 *' Certificate to Congress. 
 
 "I do hereby certify that Nathaniel Fanning, of Stonington, State of 
 Connecticut, has sailed with me in the station of midshipman eighteen 
 months, while I commanded the 'Good-man Richard,* until she was lost 
 in the action with the ' Serapis,' and in the ' Alliance' and 'Ariel' Frigates. 
 His bravery on board the first-mentioned ship in the action with the 
 'Serapis,' a King's ship of fifty ^ns, oft Flamborough Head, while ho 
 had command of the main top, will, I hope, recommend him to the notice 
 of Congress in the line of promotion with his other merits. 
 
 "John Paul Jones. 
 
 "December 17th, 1780." 
 
 He was promoted to a lieutenancy in the United 
 States navy, and died of the yellow fever while in 
 command of the United States naval station at 
 Charleston, S. C, Sept. 30, 1805. 
 
 Capt. Richard Fanning Loper, a relative of this 
 distinguished officer, was a native of Stonington, and 
 his life was so fraught with stirring events of historic 
 interest that the following biographical sketch of this 
 remarkable man, kindly furnished by a friend, is 
 deemed worthy of a prominent place in the history of 
 his native town : 
 
 ^Capt. Richard F. Loper was born in Stonington, 
 Conn., Feb. 3, 1800. Like most boys brought up in 
 the seaport towns, he formed an early affection for a 
 seafaring life, and being robust for one of his age, and 
 possessing a vigorous constitution, he made his first 
 voyage at the age of ten years. Six years later he had 
 attained the dignity of first mate of a coasting vessel, 
 and during the following year, 1817, he was placed in 
 command of the schooner " Nancy Cobb." He com- 
 manded this vessel, carrying freight and passengers 
 between Hartford, Conn., and Philadelphia, Pa., 
 
646 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 until 1819, when, wishing to have a more thorough 
 training as a sailor, he shipped as second mate of the 
 sloop " Hero," Capt. Nathaniel B. Palmer, and was 
 with Capt. Palmer when he discovered " Palmer's 
 Land," on this voyage to the South Seas. After this 
 voyage Capt. Loper returned to Philadelphia and 
 started a line of packets between that port and 
 Hartford, Conn., taking command of the schooner 
 " Alonzo" ; afterwards built a new schooner named 
 the "Maid," which he took command of. 
 
 In 1831, after a life of over twenty years on the sea, 
 he took up his residence in Philadelphia, having mar- 
 ried there in 1825, and started as a ship-builder and 
 contractor, his line of packets still running between 
 Philadelphia, New York, and Hartford. Steam now 
 interfering with his packets, he took to steam, and on 
 Feb. 28, 1844, took out a patent-right for a propeller 
 wheel. The government anxious to ascertain the best 
 propelling power for its ships, arranged a trial of the 
 three wheels then in use. The result will be found 
 in a pamphlet published by the government, entitled 
 " Eeport of Trials of Speed with the Revenue Steam- 
 ers ' Spencer,' ' Jefferson,' and ' Legare,' with Hun- 
 ter's Submerged Wheels, and Ericsson's and Loper's 
 Propellers, made by Direction of the Secretary of the 
 Treasury, and under the Superintendence of Capt. 
 Alexander V. Fraser, United States Revenue Marine, 
 1844-45." 
 
 Page 7 of this report Capt. Fraser says, in a letter 
 dated Washington City, May 30, 1845, to Hon. Robert 
 J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, — 
 
 "I would respectfully recommend, as the machinery of the above- 
 named vessels {'Spencer,' ' Jefferson,' and * Legare') is adapted to Loper's 
 as well as Ericsson's propeller, and as the propeller may be made, sent to 
 the vessels, and applied by their own engineers, that that of Loper may 
 be used. I am satisfied, by my own observations, as well as the assur- 
 ances of individuals who are engaged in steam navigation, that the Loper 
 propeller is far superior to the others in every point of view, particularly 
 in strength, and consequently in durability, 
 
 " I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, 
 "Alexander V. Fraser, Captain U. S. Revenue Marine" 
 
 Capt. Loper then invented and patented a propeller 
 engine, and was assured of the success of these two 
 inventions by the receipt of the following letter : 
 
 "Navy Department, 
 " Bureau of Construction, 
 " June 26, 1847. 
 "Sir,— You are requested to inform this Bureau, at the very earliest 
 practicable date, forwliat sum j ou will transfer to the Navy Department, 
 during the unexpired term of your patents, the right to use on steamers 
 of war, about to be constructed, your screw propeller, driven by cylinders 
 with a combined capacity of 353.4 cubic feet. 
 
 " I am, respectfully, yours, etc., 
 
 "Chas. Wm. Skinner. 
 "Capt. E. F. Loper, Philadelphia." 
 
 The price set by Capt. Loper was paid by the gov- 
 ernment, and his invention adopted and used. 
 
 Capt. Loper held in all thirteen patent-rights, all of 
 which were valuable. He invented and patented the 
 construction of a ship with an iron frame and planked 
 outside with wood on to the frame. 
 
 On or about the 25th of August, 1846, Gen. Scott 
 was at or near Brazos, Texas, with his army ; he made 
 a requisition on the War Department for one hun- 
 dred and fifty surf-boats, to be fifty feet long, twelve 
 feet wide, and four feet deep, and stated in a letter to 
 (len. Marcy (then Secretary of War) that the boats 
 must be shipped on or before Jan. 1, 1847, or he 
 would be compelled to put off his expedition against 
 Yera Cruz until the following year ; as the season of 
 northers would commence soon after January, the 
 fulfillment of this urgent order would save the entire 
 expense of the Mexican war for one year. In this 
 emergency the War Department applied to the Navy 
 Department for assistance, the Secretary of the Navy 
 called the naval constructors to Washington to consult 
 with them, and on the 27th of November the board 
 of naval constructors decided that it would take at 
 least ninety days to complete the one hundred and 
 fifty surf-boats and have them ready for shipment, 
 provided all the navy-yards in the country could be 
 used for that work alone. 
 
 Secretary Marcy telegraphed to Capt. Loper at 
 Philadelphia to come immediately to Washington. 
 On his arrival there he met Col. Henry Stanton, act- 
 ing quartermaster-general, with Secretary Marcy. 
 This vital business and the decision of the naval con- 
 structors was made known to him by Col. Stanton. 
 Capt. Loper asked if Mr. Lenthall, the naval con- 
 structor, was then in Washington. Col. Stanton in- 
 formed him he was, and sent for him. Upon his 
 arrival Capt. Loper asked him if he had made cal- 
 culations himself, and was sure the boats could be 
 built and ready for shipment in ninety days. Mr. 
 Lenthall said he had made the calculations, and knew 
 the work could be accomplished in that time. Capt. 
 Loper then informed the Secretary that he would 
 build the boats and have them ready for shipment in 
 thirty days, upon one condition, that being, the gov- 
 ernment to give him authority to contract where he 
 wished, at the best he could, and the government to 
 pay the bills ; in fact, to give him a carte blanche in 
 writing. The Secretary and acting quartermaster- 
 general told him they would not give such a docu- 
 ment. Capt. Loper then returned to Philadelphia. 
 The following morning Capt. Loper received the fol- 
 lowing letter by special messenger from Washington : 
 
 " Qu.vrtermasteR'General's Office, 
 " Washington, Nov. 29, 1846. 
 "Sir, — The Quartermaster's Department is desirous of availing itself 
 of your well-known intelligence, judgment, and practical experience in 
 the discharge of its duties connected with the construction, purchase, or 
 charter of vessels, boats, and other objects required in the prosecution 
 of military marine operations, and therefore name, and by these presents 
 appoint you one of its special agents, at a salary or per diem allowance 
 of per day, besides traveling and other expenses incident to the ser- 
 vice on which you m.-vy be employed, during the continuance of your 
 special agency. T'lu will please signify, as early as may be, your accept- 
 ance or non-acceptance of the agency proposed, and in case of the former, 
 you will please regard the following as instructions upon the subject 
 therein specially referred to. The Depiu-tment has been recently required 
 to provide, at an embarrassingly short notice, one hundred and fifty boats 
 or barges of the description indicated in the drawings and specifications 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 647 
 
 handed j'ou yesterday by the first day of January, and it is to provision 
 and proper equipment of this required Boat Fleet your individual atten- 
 tion is now invoked, and it is on your efforts the Department mainly re- 
 lies for the timely execution of one of the most important as well as diffi- 
 cult orders which the exigencies of the war have thrown upon it. You 
 will please take early and the roost energetic and prompt measures which 
 your experience may suggest for the procurement by contracts, with re- 
 sponsible individuals, of the number of boats or barges iu question, in 
 your city, Baltimore, New York, Boston, and elsewhere, impressing 
 strongly upon the attention of all persons disposed to contract, the im- 
 portance to contractors, as well as all others concerned, of having the 
 work done within the time specified by contract, and of good materials 
 and workmanship, and in strict conformity to the drawings and specifi- 
 cations referred to, a copy of each of which you will hand to each of the 
 contractoi-s for their guide and gnveninient in the work. Special care 
 should be taken in the construction of the boats designed for the landing 
 of heavy ordnance. 
 
 "Any assistance, with the power of the ofBcers of this Department, at 
 the places where' you may be operating, as well as the officers of the 
 Navy- Yards, will be promptly accorded to you. The entire confidence in 
 your judgment and discretion renders more detailed instructions unne- 
 cessary; as to price, It is not deemed expedient to limit you, further than 
 to intimate the hope that you may be able to resist any combination 
 which may be formed to take advantage of the urgent necessities of the 
 Government on the part of bidders, and be able to accomplish our object 
 at what may be fairly considered, under the circumstances, a fair price. 
 
 " The estimate made by officers of the navy, as well as naval construc- 
 tors, is about four hundred dollars per boat. I shall be agreeably disap- 
 pointed if you are not compelled by untoward circumstances to pay 
 considerably more. 
 
 "But I am entirely confident you will, in this important respect, do 
 the best that can be done. Should you find, alter due efforts (what I fear 
 you will find), it impracticable to secure contracts for the whole number 
 of boats required, of the description indicated in the drawings and speci- 
 fications already referred to, you will secure the greatest number possible, 
 and build or cause to be buiU the number of flat-bottomed boats of the 
 description, and from which you may think best adapted to the service 
 for which they are required, necessary to make up the deficiency. 
 
 "Keep this office advised of your measures in the prosecution of the 
 work confided to you, and rely at all times upon all the aid and assistance 
 on the part of the Department. 
 
 " I remain, sir, with great respect and esteem, your Ob't Sr't, 
 
 "Henry St.inton, AmH. Qr. Mr. Genl. 
 
 " Capt. B. F. Loper, Philadelphia." 
 
 This letter was, in fact, what Capt. Loper had asked 
 for, and after handing the messenger his acceptance, 
 he started for the ship-yards, and inside of thirty-six 
 hours had the boats under contract, and on Dec. 30, 
 1846, the one hundred and fifty surf-boats were on 
 board transports, and on their way to Vera Cruz. 
 The army under Gen. Scott landed in these boats 
 during the following March at Sacrificios, three miles 
 from Vera Cruz. 
 
 In answer to a letter to the quartermaster-general, 
 asking to be considered out of the service, Capt. Loper 
 received the following letter : 
 
 " Quartermaster-General's Office, 
 
 " 'Washington City, August 10th, 1848. 
 
 "Captain, — I have received your letter of the 9th instant. As you 
 held an appointment, and not an office, the same course was pursued in 
 your case that is pursued in all similar cases ; you were considered out of 
 service from the time you intinjated a wish to be no longer considered 
 in the service. Entertaining as I did very high regard for you, and 
 being entirely satisfied with the valuable services you had rendered, I 
 'would have given you a written testimonial had I considered it of any 
 importance, but it affords me sincere pleasure now to aasure you that I 
 shall always hold in grateful remembrance the energy and ability with 
 which you performed every duty confided to you during the whole 
 period you were employed by this Department. 
 
 " I am, Captain, most respectfully your obedient servant, 
 
 "Thos. Jbssup, QuartermoBler-Genei-al. 
 "Capt. E. F. Loper, Philadelphia." 
 
 Capt. Loper then gave his attention to ship-build- 
 ing and steamship improvement ; the number of ves- 
 sels contracted for and built by Capt. Loper up to 
 and including 1866 were over four hundred, the 
 largest being the steamship "S. S. Lewis," of fifteen 
 hundred tons, for the Boston and Liverpool Steam- 
 ship Company, and thirteen steamers of like size for 
 the Parker Vein Steamship Company, also steamers 
 of the Philadelphia Steam Propeller Company (Swift- 
 sure Transportation Company), the Bangor and 
 Boston Steam Navigation Company, and the Phila- 
 delphia and Hartford Line of Steamers. He was 
 president of the Philadelphia Steam Propeller Com- 
 pany and Swiftsure Transportation Company from 
 1848 until 1877 ; was also president of the Philadel- 
 phia and Trenton Eailroad Company for several 
 years; president of the Gloucester Ferry Company, 
 running from Philadelphia to Gloucester, N. J., for 
 twelve years ; was appointed a director in the South- 
 wark National Bank of Philadelphia, June 14, 1866, 
 and served continuously until the date of his resigna- 
 tion, Nov. 13, 1876. 
 
 At the commencement of the late war, Capt. Loper 
 was again made transport agent of the government. 
 At the time communication was cut off between Phil- 
 adelphia and Washington the Governor of the State 
 of New Jersey telegraphed to Capt. Loper that the 
 State troops were at Trenton awaiting transportation. 
 Capt. Loper took the steamers of the Philadelphia 
 Steam Propeller Company, thirteen in all, and within 
 twelve hours had them at Trenton, ready for the 
 troops. After taking the troops on board the steamers 
 he received the following letter : 
 
 " State of New Jkksey, 
 
 " Executive Department, 
 
 "Trenton, May 2, 1861. 
 " Capt. K. F. Loper : 
 
 "Sir,— You will proceed with the transport fieet carrying the New 
 Jersey Brigade to Annapolis under the command of Brig.-Gen. Eunyon, 
 whose orders you will obey. As soon as Brig.-Gen. Eunyon shall surren- 
 der the transports into your charge, you will return with them without 
 delay to the ports where they respectively belong and deliver them to 
 the parties from whom they were obtained. 
 
 " I am, sir, yours, &C. 
 
 " Chas. S. Oluen, Commander'in-Chief." 
 
 The following letter shows how Capt. Loper carried 
 out this order : 
 
 "State of New Jersey, 
 
 " Executive Department, 
 
 " Trenton, May 7, 1861. 
 
 " Cap«. E. F. Loper : 
 
 " Dear Sir,— Permit me to tender you my thanks for the great service 
 you have rendered New Jersey in the transportation of the troops lately 
 despatched. I must attribute, to a very great extent, the success of the 
 expedition to your services in the providing, equipping, and command- 
 ing the Fleet. You will also please convey to your son my thanks for the 
 very valuable assistance rendered by him. 
 
 " Very respectfully your obedient servant, 
 
 "CiiAs. S. Olden." 
 
 Again, 
 upon : 
 
 on Dec. 26, 1861, Capt. Loper was called 
 
648 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " Philadelphia, December 26, 1861. 
 " Oapt. R. F. Loper : 
 
 " Dear Sir,—1 am requested by General A. E. Buriiside (by Telegraph) 
 to ask you to go at once to Annapolis. You will oblige me by doing so, 
 and by aiding him in any way he may desire. 
 
 " Yours very respectfully 
 
 " John Tucker, Asst. Sec. of War." 
 
 Capt. Loper went to Annapolis, and the services 
 rendered were acknowledged by Gen. Burnside in the 
 following letter : 
 
 " Annapolis, January 7, 1862. 
 "Hon, Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, Washington. 
 
 " Dear Sir,—l beg leave to express to you my hearty appreciation of 
 the services rendered nie in fitting out the Expedition under my com- 
 mand by Capt. R. F. Loper. The interest and zeal manifested by this gen- 
 tleman in this work has been constant and untiring, and he has in 
 every instance fully answered every demand made upon his nkill and 
 patience. 
 
 " I most cheerfully acknowledge my obligations to him, and take great 
 pleasure in recommending him as a competent and efficient man, whose 
 experience and mature judgment cannot fail to be of great service in 
 any case of emergency. 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 "A E. BvRNSlDE, Brigadier-GeneraV 
 
 In March, Capt. Loper went to Alexandria to assist 
 in moving the Army of the Potomac, and received 
 the following authority : 
 
 " Alexandria, Va., March '25, 1862. 
 " This is to certify that Capt. Loper is a duly authorized agent of the 
 Quartermaster's Department, and empowered to act in my name as may 
 best suit his judgment. It is the wish of the Secretary of War, as well 
 as mine, that his advice he respected, 
 
 "RuFus l^GALLS, Lieutenant-Colonel j4.D.C" 
 
 After the army was moved, and being about to re- 
 turn to Philadelphia, Capt. Loper received the fol- 
 lowing letter: 
 
 " ALEX.1NDHIA, April 2, 1862. 
 
 " My dear Friend, — I have now transferred my vessels, ,etc., to Col. 
 Rucker and Lieut. Ferguson, and shall leavt this evening. Botli these 
 officers greatly desire your assistance until Gen. McDowell's command 
 has embarked. 1 trust you will add to existing obligations a few days 
 moreof your valuable counsel and personal supervision. In making this 
 request I claim it is a cheerful duty to express to you how profoundly 
 sensible I am of your generous aid to me. 
 
 " I hardly know what I could have done without you, while with your 
 assistance we have achieved an unparalleled success in the embarkation 
 of troops. I hope Col. Rucker will have as good fortune. I hope to see 
 you again and again for long years to come, and fervently trust your 
 days will be long here, where your abilities, kind-heartedness, and char- 
 ities are so well appreciated. Let us both have faith to believe and ex- 
 pect that peace and prosperity will soon be restored to our afflicted 
 country. Visit us when you can, and let me hear from you at your 
 leisure. 
 
 " In haste, yours truly, 
 
 "RuFus Ingalls, Lieutenant- Colonel vi.D.C." 
 
 On the 22d of December, 1862, a select committee 
 of the Senate, with J. W. Grimes as chairman, was 
 appointed to investigate the chartering of transports 
 for army transportation. After making their report 
 they placed it in the hands of the Hon. Wm. Whiting, 
 solicitor of the War Department. This report reflected 
 upon the actions of Capt. Loper while acting as trans- 
 port agent of the government. Capt. Loper had up 
 to this time given his services to the government and 
 paid his own traveling expenses (never charging or 
 receiving one dollar for services rendered or traveling 
 expenses). He immediately withdrew from the posi- 
 tion and awaited the action of the solicitor. After 
 waiting until 1865 he received the following letter, 
 
 engrossed upon parchment, as a present from Senator 
 J. W. Grimes : 
 
 " Washington, Feb. 9, 1865. 
 " Hon. J. W. Grimes, U. S. Senate: 
 
 "Mv DEAR Sir, — I have just received your note of to-day, inquiring 
 whether I have examined into the transactions of Capt. K. F. Loper 
 with and for the government in connection with army transportation, 
 and requesting me, if willing, to communicate the result of such exami- 
 nation. Capt. Leper's transactions were hrought to my attention 
 through the Quartermaster's Department, to which he had presented 
 claims for adjustment, and also by the report of the committee of the 
 Senate referred to me by the Secretary of War. As great frauds had 
 been committed by certain persons on that department, suspicion had 
 fallen on many others, and the government was anxious to protect itself 
 as far as possible from injustice by a searching examination of the trans- 
 actions relating to the chartering of vessels for transportations. 
 
 " From the great respect I entertained for the committee who investi- 
 gated and reported on these subjects, and with whose conclusions on the 
 facts as presented to them I generally agreed, I was led to believe that 
 Capt. Loper'fa conduct had been censurable, although not such as would 
 subject him to legal liability to the United States. 
 
 "But during my investigation of hie case a large mass of evidence was 
 disclosed which had not been made known to the committee, nor until 
 then to the department. From my examination of all the facta in the 
 case I was brought to the unhesitating conclusion that Capt. Leper's 
 conduct in his transactions with the government had been honest, hon- 
 orable, and patriotic, and that he was entitled to the respect and confi- 
 dence of the government and the country. 
 
 " Very respectfully your obedient servant, 
 
 *' William Whiting, 
 " Solicitor of the War Department. 
 
 " The conclusion of Solicitor Whiting stated above is approved by me. 
 
 "A. Lincoln. 
 
 "April 12,1865. 
 
 " The above is a true copy. 
 
 "William Whiting, 
 
 " Solicitor of the War Department.^* 
 
 The indorsement by President Lincoln is written in 
 his own hand. 
 
 In 1855, Capt. Loper joined the New York Yacht 
 Club, and continued a member until 1878. -During 
 that time he built and owned some of the fastest 
 yachts in American waters, the first being the schooner 
 "America," of sixty tons (not the Steer's "America," 
 of Queen's Cup fame); next the schooner "Madgie," 
 one hundred and twelve tons, now called the " Magic/' 
 and winner of more prizes than any other yacht in 
 the club; then the schooner "Josephine," of one 
 hundred and forty-five tons ; then the celebrated clip- 
 per-yacht " Palmer," one hundred and ninety-four 
 tons; and last the schooner-yacht "Madgie," one 
 hundred and sixty-four tons. In 1870 the " Madgie" 
 came in fourth in the Queen's Cup race, beating the 
 English schooner "Cambria." The following year 
 she won the Challenge Cup for schooners from the 
 New York Yacht Club, over the ocean course at 
 Newport. All of the above yachts were modeled and 
 designed by Capt. Loper, the models being made or 
 altered by his own hands, as well as all the vessels 
 built by him. 
 
 April, 1870, Capt. Loper retired from active busi- 
 ness and removed with his family to his native town, 
 where he spent the remaining years of his life. In 
 the latter part of October, 1880, he went to New York 
 to spend the winter,, but was taken away from the 
 scenes of his great business career on the 8th day of 
 November following. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 649 
 
 '' Names of vessels of which the hulls or mach'mery were hvUt by the Penn 
 WorJtSf Philadelphia^ Pa., under the orders of Capl. R. F. Loper, from 
 184Y to 1866. 
 
 Parker Vein. 
 
 Georgia Creek. 
 
 Picket. 
 
 J. S. Iile. 
 
 Autliracite. 
 
 Dashing Wave. 
 
 Governor Marcy. 
 
 Commodore Stockton. 
 
 Novelty. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 John Stevens. 
 
 Eastern State. 
 
 J. K. Tliompson. 
 
 Westernport. 
 
 Arispe. 
 
 General Meigs. 
 
 Josepbiue (2). 
 
 Colonel Rucker. 
 
 " New Haven. 
 Fashion. 
 Nonpareil. 
 Erie. 
 
 William Penn. 
 Hartford. 
 Granite State. 
 Eclipse. 
 Mount Savage. 
 Victoria. 
 L. G. Cannon. 
 Ironsides. 
 Vulcan. 
 Express. 
 C. H. Harwell. 
 Cayuga. 
 Experiment. 
 Albany. 
 Middlesex. 
 
 *' Representing 9846 tons, 0. M. 
 "From the foregoing list of steamei-s (which by no means represents 
 all that were built to the orders of Capt. R. F. Loper, as he largely built 
 at various other establishments) it will serve in a measure to impress 
 any one with the fact that he was a pioneer in the use of steam vessels 
 of all descriptions. The shipping interests of this country have been 
 greatly benefited by the experience gained in carrying out his enter- 
 prises, which have served a^ landmarks to guide others who have em- 
 barked in the same business. 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 " Neafie and Levy, Philadelphia. 
 " Oct. 18, 1881." 
 
 " WllMlNGTON, Del., Oct. 19, 1881. 
 " Deab Sib, — Absence from home has prevented an earlier reply to 
 your favor of the 13th instant. 
 
 "We now, however, take pleasure in giving you the desired informa- 
 tion concerning the boats which we built for Capt. R. F. Loper. 
 " Steamer ' Thomas Sparks,' 600 tons, 1853. 
 " 'Planet,' 390 " 1864, 
 
 " 'Sophia,' 390 " 18S4. 
 
 " ' Geueral Burnside,' 650 " 1861. 
 
 "We trust these points will be found to cover the required data. 
 "We refer with great pleasure to our business intercourse with Capt. 
 R. F. Loper, for whom we always entertained the highest regard. We 
 know of no man who in his day contributed more to the development of 
 steam transportation than he. We might, indeed, say that he was the 
 father of the freight propeller and pioneer in the steam transportation 
 business, 
 
 " Very truly, etc., 
 "Harlan and Hollingsworth Company, 
 
 " Per J. T. Gatjse, Vice-President" 
 
 " New York, Oct. 17, 1881. 
 " Dear Sir, — Regarding the design of a composite hull of a vessel, that 
 is, iron frame and wood planking, Capt. B. F Loper was the first pei-son 
 who ever brought it to my notice (1847), and I am fully of the conviction 
 that the design was original with him. He obtained letters patent for 
 the invention, and I have not known his claim to be disputed. This 
 construction has been successfully adopted both iu this country and 
 Europe, and I have very lately applied it with full success and satis- 
 faction. 
 
 " Respectfully, 
 
 " Chas. H. Haswell." 
 
 William Chesebrough, the first white man who 
 made what is now Stonington, in Connecticut, his per- 
 manent place of abode, was born in Boston, Lincoln- 
 shire, England, in the year 1594, where he married 
 Anna Stevenson, Dec. 6, 1620. He was a gunsmith, 
 and worked at his trade in England and in this 
 country until he came to Stonington, in 1649, when 
 he changed his occupation to that of farming and 
 stock-raising, occupying and improving the large 
 
 grants of land given him by the town of Pequot, now 
 New London. In the early part of the year 1630 he 
 joined a large party of emigrants who came with 
 John Winthrop, Esq., to this country. Mr. Chese- 
 brough located himself in Boston, Mass., and soon 
 after became a member of the First Church. 
 
 He was admitted a freeman of the Massachusetts 
 colony in May, 1631, and afterwards took an active 
 part in public affairs. In 1632, Mr. Chesebrough was 
 elected as " one of two" from Boston, to unite with 
 two from every plantation, to confer with the court 
 about raising a public stock, and Prince in his 
 " Annals" says that this seems to pave the way for 
 a house of representation in the General Court. In 
 1634, Mr. Chesebrough was elected constable of Bos- 
 ton, where he continued* to reside for several years. 
 Previous to 1640 he removed to Braintree, and that 
 year was elected deputy to the Massachusetts General 
 Court, soon after which he removed his residence to 
 Rehoboth, Plymouth Colony, where in 1643 his list 
 was returned at four hundred and fifty pounds. 
 
 The next year lots were drawn for a division of the 
 woodland near the town, and Mr. Chesebrough re- 
 ceived lot No. 4. During this year the planters of 
 Rehobolh drew up and signed a compact by which 
 they agreed to be governed by nine persons " accord- 
 ing to law and equity," uTitil we ahalj subject our- 
 selves jointly to some other government. Mr. Chese- 
 brough was a party to that transaction, which was 
 participated in by thirty of the planters of the new 
 settlement. He had taken an active and prominent 
 part in organizing the town of Eehoboth, and at a 
 public meeting held July 12, 1644, his services were 
 recognized by the town in ordering that he " should 
 have division in all lands of Seakunk, for one hun- 
 dred and fifty-three pounds, besides what he is to 
 have for his own proportion, and that in way of con- 
 sideration for the pains and charges he hath been at 
 for setting off" this plantation." 
 
 He was propounded for freeman at the General 
 Court at Plymouth in 1645, but was not admitted 
 until 1648. Notwithstanding the prominent part he 
 acted in establishing the plantation of Eehoboth, and 
 the recognition of his services by the new town, he 
 was not treated with much favor by the General 
 Court, which ordered him to be arrested for an affray 
 with an Indian by the name of Vasamequine, and 
 harshly treated him in other respects. This led him 
 to look farther for a permanent place of abode. About 
 this time John Winthrop, Jr., acting under a commis- 
 sion from the Massachusetts General Court, com- 
 menced a settlement at Nameaug, afterwards called 
 Pequot, and then New London. Mr. Chesebrough 
 visited the place in 1645 for the purpose of making it 
 his future home. He was kindly treated by Mr. Win- 
 throp, and urged to settle there, but finding the place 
 in several respects unsuitable to his expectations, he 
 concluded not to stay. Subsequently he examined 
 the Pawcatuck region, and finally concluded to settle 
 
650 
 
 HISTOKY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 at the head of Wequetequoo Cove. He shared the 
 friendship of Roger Williams, and was encouraged 
 and assisted by him in removing his habitation to 
 Pawcatuok. He did not, however, immediately re- 
 move his family here, and not until he had provided 
 for them a comfortable place of abode. It was during 
 the summer of 1649 that his family came to Weque- 
 tequoc and occupied their new home in the wilder- 
 ness. The marsh land bordering on Wequetequoc 
 Cove furnished hay for his stock in abundance. 
 
 He brought his entire family with him, which con- 
 sisted of his wife and four sons, namely, Samuel, Na- 
 thaniel, John, and Elisha. The two eldest and the 
 youngest subsequently married and had families, and 
 after the death of each their widows married again. 
 John died single, 1660. Mft Chesebrough, like most 
 of the early planters, traded more or less with the In- 
 dians, and was also engaged in trade with the people 
 of Long Island and elsewhere. The first act of the 
 General Court of Connecticut was an order prohibit- 
 ing all persons selling firearms and ammunition to 
 the Indians ; another act was passed in 1642 " forbid- 
 ding smiths from doing any work for the Indians, or 
 selling them any instrument or matter made of iron 
 or steel, without a license from two magistrates." 
 Various other acts were passed regulating and in some 
 oases prohibiting trade with the Indians. Mr. Chese- 
 brough while living at Eehoboth had incurred the 
 displeasure of certain parties in the Plymouth colony, 
 and no sooner was he located here than they informed 
 the General Court of Connecticut that he had removed 
 here for the purpose of selling firearms to the In- 
 dians ; whereupon the court, in November, 1649, is- 
 sued a warrant "to the constable of Pequot to repair 
 forthwith to Chesebrough of Long Island (where he 
 was trading at the time), and to let him understand 
 that the government of Connecticut ' doth dislike and 
 distaste the way he is in and trade he doth drive 
 among the Indians,' and that they do require him to 
 desist therefrom immediately, and that he should re- 
 pair to Capt. Mason, of Seabrook, or some of the 
 magistrates upon the river (Connecticut), to give an 
 account to him or them of what he hath done hith- 
 erto." 
 
 Mr. Chesebrough at first disregarded this order, 
 claiming that his new home was within the jurisdic- 
 tion of Massachusetts, but subsequently, acting under 
 the advice and assurance of Mr. Winthrop and other 
 friends at Pequot, he so far yielded to the authorities 
 of Connecticut as to engage to appear at the General 
 Court at Hartford in March, 1651, some sixteen 
 months after the issue of said order, and related to 
 them the reason why he had taken up his abode at 
 Wequetequoc, and that he was not engaged in any 
 unlawful trade with the Indians, and assured them 
 that his religious opinions were orthodox, neither did 
 he intend to remain alone in the wilderness, and was 
 in hopes that in a short time he should be able to pro- 
 cure a competent company of desirable persons for the 
 
 planting of the place. The court reluctantly per- 
 mitted him to remain on condition that if he would 
 give a bond of £100 not to prosecute any unlawful 
 trade with the Indians, and that he would furnish 
 them with the names of such persons as he could in- 
 duce to settle at Pawcatuck before the next winter, 
 they would not compel him to remove. 
 
 While the planters of Pequot were friendly to Mr. 
 Chesebrough, they preferred that he should become 
 an inhabitant of that settlement rather than to estab- 
 lish a new township. In September of the same year 
 Mr. Chesebrough again visited Hartford for the pur- 
 pose of obtaining a legal title to the land he occupied. 
 Mr. Winthrop and the deputies from Pequot engaged 
 that if he would put himself on the footing of an 
 inhabitant of Pequot he should have his lands con- 
 firmed to him by a grant of the town. To this he ac- 
 ceded, but the bounds of Pequot did not include his 
 lands, whereupon, " on request," the court extended 
 the bounds of the settlement to Pawcatuck Eiver, and 
 the town in November following gave him a house- 
 lot at Pequot, which he never occupied. In January, 
 1652, a large tract of land was given by the town of 
 Pequot, which was afterwards liberally enlarged until 
 it embraced between two and three thousand acres, 
 and was included within the following boundaries, 
 namely, beginning at the harbor of Stonington, run- 
 ning northerly up the same and Lambert's Cove and 
 Stony Brook to the old Post road, thence following 
 said road eastwardly to Anguilla Brook, thence down 
 said brook and Wequetequoc Cove and the Sound to 
 the place of beginning. 
 
 Mr. Chesebrough succeeded in drawing around him 
 a sufficient number of "acceptable persons" to satisfy 
 the General Court, and the settlement of the town 
 begun, went on in a fiourishing condition until 1654, 
 when the planters here desired a separation for re- 
 ligious as well as civil purposes. 
 
 This measure was resisted by the planters at Pequot. 
 Meantime Massachusetts laid claim to the settlement, 
 and the controversy went up to the Court of the Com- 
 missioners of the United Colonies, and terminated in 
 1658, in awarding all the territory east of Mystic 
 River to the Massachusetts colony, under the name 
 of Southertown, and so remained until 1662, when it 
 was included in the new charter and again became a 
 part of the colony of Connecticut. In 1665 the name 
 of Southertown was changed to that of Mystic, and in 
 1666 it was again changed to Stonington. 
 
 Mr. Chesebrough was a man of more than ordinary 
 ability, and held positions of trust not only in the 
 Massachusetts colony, but was prominent at the settle- 
 ment of the town of Rehoboth, in Plymouth colony. 
 After his place at Wequetequock was included in the 
 township of Pequot he was elected deputy thereof to 
 the General Court at Hartford in 1653-54-55, and on 
 one occasion rate-maker or assessor. 
 
 When, in 1658, the Massachusetts General Court 
 asserted jurisdiction over this town, Mr. Chesebrough 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 651 
 
 with others were appointed to manage the prudential 
 affairs thereof, and '*one of the commissioners to end 
 small causes and deal in criminal matters." He held 
 the office of townsman (selectman) until Southerton 
 was reannexed to Connecticut, and was the first man 
 elected deputy after the reunion, and succeeded in 
 restoring amicable relations with the court, which 
 had been seriously disturbed by the jurisdictional 
 controversy. After his return he was elected first 
 selectman of the town, and re-elected every year up 
 to the time of his death, which took place June 9, 
 1667. His dwelling-house stood upon the site formerly 
 occupied by Abel Crandall. Esq. 
 
 Children of William and Anna Chesebrough : 
 
 Maria, baptized in Boston, England, May 2, 1622 ; 
 buried June 9, 1622. 
 
 Martha, baptized in Boston, England, Sept. 18, 
 1623 ; buried Sept. 26, 1623. 
 
 David, baptized in Boston, England, Sept. 9, 1624; 
 buried Oct. 23, 1624. 
 
 Jonathan, twin of David, baptized Sept. 9, 1624; 
 died young. 
 
 Samuel, baptized in Boston, England, April 1, 1627. 
 
 Andronicus, baptized in Boston, England, Feb. 6, 
 1629 ; buried Feb. 8, 1629. 
 
 Junice, twin of Andronicus, born and buried Feb. 
 6, 1629. 
 
 Nathaniel, baptized in Boston, England, Jan. 25, 
 1630. 
 
 John, baptized in Boston, Mass., Sept. 2, 1632 ; died 
 at Southertown, 1660. 
 
 Jabes, baptized in Boston, Mass., May 3, 1635 ; died 
 young. 
 
 Elisha, baptized in Boston, Mass., June 4, 1637. 
 
 Joseph, baptized and born at Braintree, Mass., July 
 18, 1640 ; died young. 
 
 The wills of Mr. and Mrs. William Chesebrough, 
 our first Anglo-Saxon planters, are not to be found 
 on record anywhere in Connecticut, but copies of 
 them have been preserved, and are now in the pos- 
 session of Thomas W. Chesebrough, of Syracuse, 
 N, Y., who kindly furnished copies thereof, and of 
 an amicable adjustment of a controversy that arose 
 between their children and grandchildren in conse- 
 quence of an apparent contradiction of their wills. 
 
 " Stonington, Maj' ye 2:id, 1667. 
 ' " The Last will & Testament of William Chesebrough Aged 73 years, 
 as foUoweth. First I give unto my son Sam'^ all Lands formerly granted 
 to him & taken in by his fence. Nextly, I give unto my sons Nathaniel 
 & Eliaha ye neck of Land called Waddawonnet w"^ was formerly granted 
 to them, bounded by ye fence yt crosses ye afores^ neck called Wadda- 
 wonnet, w*^ their Broken up lands v/*^^ they now have in Possession, all 
 other Lands, vf°^ is in my manadging, Broken up or meadow, and two or 
 three acres my son Elisha Improveth this year, I give to my Loving 
 Wife wth commons answering to it during ye time of her Life, & after 
 her Decease I give unto my son Samuel two acres,— next to ye a^ Sam- 
 uellsnow Dwelling Houss, and ye Remainder of my Broken up Lands 
 and meadow, to be divided equally between my two sons Nathaniel & 
 Elisha: The Little Island I give to my son Nathaniel, and ye pees of 
 meadow Land by Goodman Yorks I give to my son Elisha, and all other 
 Lands yt I had from New London I give to my three sons, every one of 
 them an equal share. And if these do want Advise about ye Dividing 
 of it, I do Ordain my trnsty & well Beloved Friends Mr. Amos Richard- 
 
 son to be helpfull to them about ye Dividing of it. And yt farm of Land 
 & meadow, Throe Hundred and fifty Acres more or leas, near to a place 
 called Cowsatuch, I give to my sorf Samuel's second son William ; Fur 
 all my Housing I give to my loving Wife to be wholly ather dispossing, 
 to keep or sell, or dispose of as she shall please, & likewise ye pastor by 
 ye Houss, only a pieace, to my son Elisha, from y« place where his House 
 joyneth to mine, throughout ye pastor to ye stone wall, next to y° high- 
 way, and for my son Samuel's Eldest son Samuell and his youngest 
 daughter Sarah, & y* his wife is now wtii Child with, I give five pounds 
 a piece, and likewise my son Nathaniels three children five pounds a 
 piece which is to be paid within six years, all y rest of my goods & chat- 
 ties, my debts being paid, I give to my loving wife, whom I make full 
 and lawfull Executrix. 
 
 " William Chesebrouoh. 
 
 '' Gersham Palmer. 
 
 " Thomas Bell." 
 
 '* The Last Will & Testament of Anna Chesebrough, uged 75 years or 
 thei-eabouts. 
 
 " I give to my two sons Sani^i &, Nathaniel yt land woh was given to 
 me by my Husband upon his Will, y' my sou Elisha should have had if 
 he had outlived me. 
 
 " I give to my sou Natlianiel my Barn, I give to my son Sam^' my 
 yard, between my Barn & his orchard. 
 
 " I give to William Chesebrough, my son Sam" second son, my Dwell- 
 ing House wtii y pastor to y" yard. 
 
 " I give to my sou Samuell, my fifteen acres of land on ye east side of 
 Pawcatuck River, I give to my son Natlianiel one of ye mares y' my son 
 Elisha leased or hired of me, & ye other mare I give to my son Samuell's 
 son William. My bay Horse I give to my son Nathaniell. My Black 
 Horse I give to my Son Samuell. I give to my son Samuell a feather 
 bed. 
 
 " I give to my Daughter Abigail & Hannah, my cloatlis and liueu. 
 The rest of my estate (my debts being paid) I give to my two sons an 
 equal share, whom I make my fall & lawfull Executors. Dated in 
 Stonington this IQtb of March 167%. 
 
 "Anna A. Chesebrough. 
 
 ' her mark and seal ■] seal [■ 
 
 " Signed Sealed & D.D. in presence of us 
 
 " Thomas Stanton, Sen"-. 
 "James Noyes." 
 
 " A Court of Assistants held at Hartford, Oct. 7, 1673. 
 
 " Whereas, ye County Court held at New LoLidon Sept. 19,1673, Recom- 
 mended totliis Court a Difference between Mr. Nathaniel Chesebrough 
 & y« Relict & heirs of Mr. Sam'i Chesebrough & ye Overseer of Elihu yo 
 only sou of Elisha Chesebrough A his Successors w*''' differences arose by 
 reason of some Contradiction (seemingly at least) between yo last will 
 and testament of Mr. William Chesebrough and Mrs Ann his wife, y>-°^ 
 ye Court having considered, after ye serving of ye e^ wills, advised ye 
 parties concerned to labor an accommodation between themselves w^^ 
 they have attempted and presented to y" Court an Agreement, under ye 
 hands, bearing Date October 9^'^, 1673. This Court having perused ye 
 same do approve thereof, & order it to be recorded amongst yo records as 
 a final issue of y" s* difference. 
 
 " It is agreed this 9. of October, 1673, Betwixt Nathaniel Chisebrough. 
 iu behalf of himself & his children & Abigael Chisebrough, Relict of 
 Sam" Chisebrough, Deceased, in behalf of herself and children, on ye 
 own part & M^ Amr Richardson & Mr. Thomas Minor, as Gardiants to 
 Elihu ye son of Elisha Chisebrough on ye other Part y* Elihu ye son 
 of Elisha Chisebrough shall have, enjoy, and poses as his own propriaty 
 for ever, to him & his heirs all y land within y fence in ye Neck yt 
 Samuell & Nathaniell Chisebrough have bounded out to him, w"* ye 
 house and house lot yt Elisha Chisebrough died possessed of, & also yt 
 there shall be laid out unto y" s<i Elihu six hundred acors of ye land, with- 
 out ye fence where of three hundred shall be laid out along as ye Mill 
 Brook runs & to set ye line att ye corner of Elisha his fence leaving four 
 Rods in breadth betwixt ye fence & y" line or beginning of ye Running 
 of y" breadth of this three hundred acres for a constant highway, and ye 
 8^ Elihu is to run so far w"' a straight line according to ye breadth fore 
 mentioned as may make good three hundred acres, and ye other three 
 hundred acres is to begin at y** bound tree yt divides between Mr. 
 Minor's land & ye land yt was laid out to Mr. Chisebrough, & so to run 
 in breadth ye whole breadth of Mr. Minor's land towards Torks, & in 
 length by y" stony brook till ye three hundred acres be made up, & ye 
 afores^ trustees or Gardiants in behalf of y° sd Elihu doe relinquish all 
 
652 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 further clainiB to all of ye estate veal of M' William Cliisebroiigh, de- 
 ceased, it is also agreed by ye sd parties, y' two indifferent men shall be 
 chosen who shall be Impowered to judge y laud within y= Neck fence, & 
 to proportion ye fence to Elisha his son according 'O ye quality, not ac- 
 cording to ye quantity of land within y^ Neck fence. 
 
 "It be further agreed y* in case ye running of ye line for ye first three 
 hundred acres do not extend so far towards Yorks as to fetch in y' par- 
 cell of meadow y' was given to Elisha, yet y' meadow shall belong to y' 
 three hundred acres, belong to Blihn A^iis heirs. Provided y' by mutual 
 consent convenient highways are to be laid out y' may answer each 
 parties occasion. In confirmation of ye premises ye parties concerned 
 wth ye approbation of ye court of Assistance have hereunto subscribed ye 
 Day and year above written. 
 
 " The above written was delivered in Court by ye parties Subscribed & 
 they acknowledge y' subscription before ye court as a list. 
 
 " Thomas BIinor, 
 " Amos RiciiAEnsoN, 
 "Nathaniel Chisebrotjgh, 
 " Abigail Chisebrough. 
 "We as gardiants to Samuel Chisebrough 's children do agree & con- 
 sent to this agreement of ye land spessified herein shall forthwith be 
 laid out to ye son of Elisha Chisebrough by Mr. Thomas Minor & Wil- 
 liam Lord as witness our hands this IG"* of December, 1673. 
 
 "Nathaniel Chisebrough, 
 " Thomas Stanton, Sen"", 
 " William Loru, 
 "Renald Marvin." 
 
 Thomas Stanton, who became distinguished among 
 the first planters of Stonington, was in his early man- 
 hood in England designed and educated for a cadet, 
 but not liking the profession of arms and taking a 
 deep interest in the religious principles of the mi- 
 grating Puritans, he left his native land, embarking 
 on board of the good ship " Bonaventure" in 1635, 
 sailed for this country and landed in Virginia, but 
 left there almost immediately for Boston, mingling 
 with the natives on his way, and rapidly acquired a 
 thorough knowledge of their language and customs. 
 On his arrival in Boston he was recognized by Win- 
 throp and his associates as a valuable man worthy of 
 the most unlimited confidence, for the very next 
 year he was selected by the Boston authorities to ac- 
 company Mr. Fenwick and Hugh Peters as interpre- 
 ter on a mission to Saybrook, Conn., to hold a con- 
 ference with the Pequot Indians relative to the mur- 
 der of Capt. Stone and Newton. After the close of 
 the conference Mr. Stanton went up to Hartford, and 
 there fixed his permanent abode in 1637. During that 
 year he was married to Anna, daughter of Thomas 
 and Dorothy Lord, of Hartford. Mr. Stanton's ac- 
 curate knowledge of the language and character of 
 the Indians soon gave him prominence in the then 
 new settlements of Connecticut, for the very first year 
 after he came to Hartford the General Court gave him 
 ten pounds for the service he had already done for 
 the country, and declared that he should be a public 
 ofiicer for to attend the court upon all occasions, 
 either general or jiarticular, as also the meetings of 
 the magistrates, to interpret between them and the 
 Indians, at a salary of ten pounds per annum. Mr. 
 Stanton did not always agree with the policy of Capt. 
 Mason and the court relative to the treatment of the 
 Indians, and drew upon himself their displeasure ; 
 but being a man accustomed to speak his own mind 
 and act upon his own convictions, maintained his 
 
 position, though they discontinued his salary for two 
 years, alleging long absence as the cause, and ap- 
 pointing Mr. Gilbert to take his place ; but in 1648 
 they restored him to the place with the compensation. 
 He became the intimate and especial friend of Gov- 
 ernor Winthrop, of Connecticut, acting as his inter- 
 preter in all of his intercourse with the Indians. It 
 was while thus employed, in an interview with Nini- 
 gret in the Narragansett country, that Mr. Stanton 
 became acquainted with the Pawcatuck Valley and 
 selected it for his future residence. Soon after he 
 petitioned the General Court for liberty to erect a 
 trading-house there, which was granted in February, 
 1650. In the spring following he came to Pawcatuck 
 and erected his trading-house, and in the fall of the 
 same year removed his family to New London. He 
 received and purchased large tracts of land in Paw- 
 catuck, and having erected a dwelling-house there 
 was joined by his family in 1657. Here he spent the 
 remainder of his days, dying in 1678, aged sixty-eight 
 years. 
 
 After the articles of confederation between the New 
 England colonies had been established in 1643, 
 among all of the distinguished interpreters of New 
 England, Mr. Stanton was selected as interpreter- 
 general, to be consulted and relied upon in all emer- 
 gencies. In this capacity and in their behalf he acted 
 as interpreter, especially between the ministers em- 
 ployed by the commissioners of the United Colonies, 
 acting as agents of the London Missionary Society, 
 and the Indians to whom they preached. He also 
 aided the Rev. Abraham Pierson in the translation 
 of his catechism into the Indian tongue, certifying to 
 the same in his official capacity. Mr. Stanton and 
 his sons carried on an extensive trade in furs at his 
 Pawcatuck store, purchasing of the Indians in the 
 region round about, and selling the same at Boston 
 and in the West Indies. After Mr. Stanton became an 
 inhabitant of Pawcatuck, in Stonington, he took an 
 active part in town affairs, became prominent, and 
 was elected to almost every position of public trust 
 in the then new settlement. In 1658, when Pawca- 
 tuck was included in the town of Southertown, under 
 the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, he was appointed 
 selectman and magistrate. After Pawcatuck was set 
 to the Connecticut colony by the charter of 1662, Mr. 
 Stanton was appointed magistrate and commissioner, 
 and reappointed every year up to the time of his 
 death. He was elected deputy or representative in 
 1666, and re-elected every year up to 1675. 
 
 When county courts were first established in New 
 London County in 1666, Maj. Mason, Thomas Stan- 
 ton, and Lieut. Pratt, of Saybrook, were appointed 
 judges. Thus it appears that Mr. Stanton acted a 
 prominent part in town, county, and State affairs from 
 1636, when he acted as interpreter at Saybrook, until 
 near the close of his life ; his name is connected with 
 the leading measures of the colony, and with almost 
 every Indian transaction on record. In 1670, Uncas, 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 653 
 
 the Mohegan sachem, went from Mohegan to Pawca- 
 tuck for Mr. Stanton to write his will, taking with 
 him a train of his noblest warriors to witness the same, , 
 giving to the occasion all the pomp and pageantry of 
 savage royalty. 
 Children : 
 
 1. Thomas Stanton, Jr., born in 1638, and married 
 Sarah Denison, daughter of Capt. George and Bridget 
 Thompson Denison. 
 
 2. JNIary Stanton, born in 1640, and married Samuel 
 Rogers, of New London, Nov. 17, 1662. 
 
 3. John Stanton, born in 1642, and married Han- 
 nah Thompson. 
 
 4. Hannah Stanton, born in 1644, and married Ne- 
 hemiah Palmer, Nov. 20, 1662. 
 
 5. Joseph Stanton, born in 1646, and married, first, 
 Hannah Mead, June 19, 1673 ; second, Hannah Lord, 
 Aug. 18, 1678, and subsequently had two other wives. 
 
 6. Daniel Stanton, born in 1648, married and went 
 to Barbadoes and died there, leaving an only son, 
 Richard Stanton. 
 
 7. Dorothy Stanton, born in 1651, and married Rev. 
 James Noyes, Sept. 11, 1674. 
 
 8. Robert Stanton, born 1653, and married Joanna 
 Gardner, Sept. 12, 1677. 
 
 9. Sarah Stanton, born in 1654, and married, first, 
 Thomas Prentice, of Massachusetts, April 20, 1675 ; 
 second, William Denison, son of Capt. George and 
 Ann Borodel Denison, in 1686. 
 
 10. Samuel Stanton, born in 1657, and married 
 Borodel, daughter of Capt. George Denison and wife, 
 Ann Borodel, June 15, 1680. 
 
 Walter Palmer was born about 1585, and married 
 first in England, and came to this country in the year 
 1629 ; landed at Salem, and soon after went with his 
 family to Charlestown, Mass. Subsequently, in 1643, 
 he went to Rehoboth to reside, and afterwards removed 
 to Southertown, now Stonington, in 1653. Children: 
 Grace Palmer, born in England, and came to this 
 country with her father and family ; went with him 
 to Charlestown, and joined the church there June 1, 
 1632, and was married to Thomas Minor, April 23, 
 1634. They resided in Charlestown, Mass., until 
 1636, where their son John was born and baptized, 
 soon after which they removed their habitation to 
 Hingham, Mass., where four of their children were 
 born and baptized, as follows: Clement Minor, bap- 
 tized March 4, 1638 ; Thomas Minor, baptized May 
 10, 1640; Ephraim Minor, baptized May 1, 1642; 
 Joseph Minor, baptized Aug. 25, 1644. 
 
 In 1645 they left Hingham, and joined the first 
 planters of New London, and received a grant of a 
 home-lot;' built a house thereon, and continued to 
 live there until 1652, when he came to Stonington, 
 and took up a tract of land on the eastern side of 
 Wequetequock Cove, and erected a dwelling-house 
 thereon the same year. 
 
 April 5, 1652, the town of Pequot, now New Lon- 
 don, granted to Governor John Haynes, of Hartford, 
 42 
 
 three hundred acres of land, which was located by 
 the grant east of Chesebrough's land, and laid out by 
 Governor Haynes on the east side of and adjoining 
 Wequetequock Cove, overlapping Thomas Minor's 
 land. Walter Palmer was then living at Rehoboth, 
 and being anxious to locate himself near his old 
 friend Chesebrough, efetered into negotiations with 
 Governor Haynes for the purchase of this land. The 
 bargain was made some time before the deed was exe- 
 cuted ; in fact. Governor Haynes gave Thomas Minor 
 a written authority to put Walter Palmer in possession 
 of this land Feb. 15, 1653, which he did May 30, 1653. 
 But the conveyance of Haynes to Palmer was not 
 executed until July 15, 1653. 
 
 When Thomas Jlinor put Walter Palmer into pos- 
 session he conveyed to him in the same instrument his 
 said land and new dwelling-house, which Palmer oc- 
 cupied that year, though Minor continued to live there 
 until he built his new house at Quiambaug. 
 
 William Palmer was born on the other side of the 
 ocean, and came with his father's family to this coun- 
 try ; lived with them in Charlestown, Mass., but did 
 not go down to the Plymouth colony with him. He 
 was admitted freeman in Massachusetts colony in 
 1639, and was admitted to the church there March 
 28, 1641. He remained with his brother John in 
 Charlestown after his father removed to Plymouth, 
 and continued to reside there until after his father's 
 death, when soon after he sold the land that his father 
 gave him in Rehoboth, and came to Stonington and 
 stayed with his brother-in-law, Thomas Minor, from 
 June 18, 1664, to April 29, 1665, when he left him and 
 went over to Killingworth, Conn., and received an 
 allotment of land in the settlement of that town. He 
 continued to reside there during the rest of his days, 
 but the time of his death is not known, nor is it cer- 
 tain that he ever married. His brother, Gershom 
 Palmer, under date of March 27, 1697, executed the 
 following instrument : 
 
 "Know all men by these presents, tliat while as my brother William 
 Palmer, deceased, did give and bequeath unto me his house and all his 
 lands in Killingworth, Conn., forever, I, settlingcne of my sons thereon, 
 and ill compliance to my deceased brother's will, I do order my eldest 
 son, Gershom Palmer, to settle in said house upon said land. I, the said 
 Gershom Palmer, Senior, do give and bequeath the aforesaid house and 
 land with all the priveleges ami appurtenances thereto belonging to my 
 eldest son Gershom Palmer, to him forever according to the tenor of the 
 will of my brother, William Palmer deceased." 
 
 This renders it certain that he left no wife or chil- 
 dren. Whether he was ever married is not so clear. 
 If he married it must have been late in life, or, what 
 is more probable, he, like his brother John, lived and 
 died a bachelor. 
 
 John Palmer, born in 1615, came with his father 
 and family to this country in 1629. He was admitted 
 a freeman of the Massachusetts colony in 1639 ; ad- 
 mitted to the church Oct. 23, 1640 ; died Aug. 24, 1677, 
 aged sixty-two years. He left a will giving the bulk 
 of his property to his brother Jonas and sister Eliza- 
 beth. He was never married. 
 
654 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Jonas Palmer was a son of the first wife; came with 
 his father and family to this country in 1629; lived in 
 Charlestown until 1657, when he married Elizabeth 
 Grissill, and moved to Eehoboth, where he remained 
 the rest of his days. They had six children. He 
 married a second wife, Abigail Titus. 
 
 Elizabeth Palmer, one of the first wife's children, 
 came to this country with her father and family in 
 1629; married first Thomas Sloan, and second a Mr. 
 Chapman, but no children by either husband have 
 been traced. 
 
 In the old church records of Eoxbury, Mass;, the 
 following appears : " Rebecca Short came in the year 
 1632, and married Walter Palmer, a Godly man of 
 Charlestown Church, which they joined June 1, 1633." 
 The children of this union were Hannah Palmer, 
 baptized in Charlestown, June 14, 1634, came with 
 her father to Stonington via Eehoboth, and matried 
 first Thomas Hewitt, April 26, 1659, by whom she 
 had two children, Thomas and Benjamin Hewitt. 
 For her second husband she married Eoger Sterry, 
 Dec. 27, 1671, by whom she had two children. For 
 her third husband she married John Fish, Aug. 25, 
 1661. An interesting jointure between them is still 
 preserved on our old town records. 
 
 Elihu Palmer, baptized in Charlestown church, 
 Jan. 25, 1636, came with his father to Stonington, and 
 died Sept. 5, 1665. It is not probable that he left any 
 children, for the reason that he left a will in which he 
 gave his property to his nephews. 
 
 His will was lost in the burning of New London, 
 Sept. 6, 1781, and the only knowledge we have of it 
 is from a deed on the Stonington record, where lands 
 were set to his executors and vested in his nephews. 
 If he had any children surviving him or living at the 
 date of his will they would have been the subjects of 
 his bounty, but dying at the age of twenty-nine and 
 leaving such a will is proof wellnigh positive that no 
 children survived him. 
 
 Nehemiah Palmer, born Nov. 23, 1637, came to 
 Stonington with his father from Charlestown via 
 Eehoboth, and married Hannah, daughter of Thomas 
 and Dorothy Lord Stanton, Nov. 20, 1662, and had 
 seven children. He was a prominent man in church 
 and State. 
 
 Moses Palmer, born April 6, 1640, also came to 
 Stonington with his father's family, and married 
 
 Dorothy , and had five children. He was deacon 
 
 of the First Church, and prominent in town affairs. 
 
 Benjamin Palmer, born in Charlestown, Mass., 
 May 30, 1642, came to Stonington via Eehoboth with 
 his father's family, and joined the church and became 
 a large landholder. He married, and brought his 
 wife home Aug. 10, 1681. 
 
 The fact of this marriage appears in Thomas 
 Minor's diary, but who she was or where she came 
 from does not appear. He died April 10, 1716, aged 
 seventy-four years. 
 
 In February, before he died, he gave a deed of his 
 
 lands to two of his nephews, on condition that they 
 should take care of him through life, and at his death 
 give him a Christian burial-. I regard this fact as a 
 proof beyond doubt that he left no offspring. 
 
 Gershom Palmer was born at Eehoboth, and came 
 with his father to Stonington; married first Ann 
 Denison, daughter of Capt. George and Ann Borodel 
 Denison, Nov. 28, 1667. They had ten children. 
 For his second wife he married Elizabeth, the widow 
 of Maj. Samuel Mason. They made and recorded a 
 jointure, which appears at large on the Stonington 
 land records. He was a deacon of the Stonington 
 First Church, and held various positions of trust in 
 civil affairs. 
 
 Capt. George Benison. — He came here to reside 
 in the year 1654. He received several large grants of 
 land from the towns of Pequot and Stonington, also 
 large tracts from Oneco and Joshua, sons of Uncas. 
 He erected his dwelling-house near Pequotsepos, a few 
 feet west of the late residence of Oliver Denison (de- 
 ceased), and subsequently surrounded it by a stockade 
 fort. His homestead place was bounded on the west 
 by John Stanton's farm, on the south by the Mason 
 highway eastward to Palmer Hill, and then by Amos 
 Eichardson's land, easterly by Eichardson's land and 
 the town lots, and northerly by said lots and lands of 
 Capt. John Gallup. 
 
 Capt. Denison was the youngest son of William and 
 Margaret Denison, and came to this 6ountry in 1631, 
 in company with the Rev. John Eliot, and settled in 
 Eoxbury, Mass., where he married Bridget Thomp- 
 son in 1640. She died in 1643, leaving two children. 
 After her death he returned to England and engaged 
 in the civil conflict with which the kingdom was 
 convulsed. On his return to this country, about two 
 years afterwards, he brought with him his second 
 wife, Ann, daughter of John Borodel, of Cork, Ire- 
 land, and one son, John Denison. He was chosen 
 captain in Eoxbury, and was called a young soldier 
 lately come out of the wars in England. " In 1651 
 he came to Pequot to reside, bringing his family with 
 him, consisting of his wife and four children, and had 
 a house-lot given him by the town, which he occu- 
 pied until 1654, when he sold out and removed to this 
 town. 
 
 Capt. Denison took an active and decided part in 
 1656 in favor of having "Mystic and Pawcatuck" set 
 off" from Pequot, and a new township with a ministry 
 of its own established. By this course he incurred the 
 displeasure of the leading men of Pequot, and by fa- 
 voring the claims of Massachusetts to the jurisdiction 
 of the place he drew upon himself the censure of the 
 General Court, and when Southertown was incor- 
 porated and annexed to Suffolk County, he was ap- 
 pointed first townsman, commissioner, and clerk of 
 the writs. He was active and influential in securing . 
 the favor of the Massachusetts court, and aided in 
 securing large grants of land here to parties there, 
 which overlapped grants made to Chesebrough, 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 655 
 
 Palmer, Stanton, and others by the General Court of 
 Connecticut. 
 
 This alienated some of his friends. But the re- 
 union of the settlement by means of the new charter 
 had the effect of extinguishing these Massachusetts 
 claims, and the Connecticut grants were left un- 
 disturbed. 
 
 When Mr. Chesebrough, in 1664, asked the General 
 Court of Connecticut for amnesty for the planters 
 who had favored the claim of Massachusetts to this 
 place, it was extended to him, and ever afterwards he 
 was regarded with favor by the General Court. 
 
 From 1671 to 1694 he represented Stonington for 
 fifteen sessions of the General Court. He was ap- 
 pointed magistrate, selectman, and held almost every 
 office in town. While Capt. Denison was prominent 
 and active in civil aflfairs, he was more distinguished in 
 military matters. With the exception of Capt. John 
 Mason, he was the most conspicuous and daring sol- 
 dier of New London County, and was, in fact, the 
 Miles Standish of the settlement, a natural military 
 leader, and though holding the rank of captain, he 
 often commanded expeditions against the Indians, 
 and was always most successful when commander-in- 
 chief, and at one time he was provost-marshal for 
 Eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island. He partici- 
 pated in the Narragansett swamp-flght in 1675, and 
 performed prodigies of valor. As early as February 
 following a series of forays were commenced against 
 the Narragansett Indians. They were commanded by 
 Capt. Denison, Capt. John Gallup, and Capt. James 
 Avery. These partisan bands were composed of vol- 
 unteers, regular soldiers, Pequots, Mohegans, and 
 Niautics. It was the third of these roving excursions, 
 begun in March and ended April 19, 1676, in which 
 the celebrated Narragansett chieftan, Canonchet, was 
 taken prisoner. He was brought to Stonington, and 
 was put to death at Anguilla, near where Gideon P. 
 Chesebrough now resides. A council of war was 
 held, during which his life was promised him if he 
 would use his influence with the Indians to put a stop 
 to the war, but he indignantly refused, saying that the 
 Indians would not yield on any terms. 
 
 He was told of his breach of faith in not keeping 
 the treaties which he had made with the English, and 
 of the men, women, and children that he had massa- 
 cred, and how he had threatened to burn the English 
 in their houses, to all of which he haughtily and 
 brieily replied " that he was now in their hands, and 
 they could do with him as they pleased." He was 
 importuned and urged to let a counselor of his go and 
 treat with his people, but he haughtily refused, where- 
 upon the council voted for his immediate execution. 
 
 When Canonchet was told that he must die, he 
 seemed not at all moved, but coolly answered " that he 
 liked it well, and that he should die before his heart 
 had grown soft, or he had said anything unworthy of 
 himself." 
 
 He was shot by Oneco, son of Uncas, and by Cas- 
 
 sasinamon and Herman Garrett, two Pequot sachems. 
 The Mohegans quartered him, and Niantics built the 
 fire and burnt his remains. His head was sent as a 
 "token of love" to the council at Hartford. In June 
 following Capt. Denison commanded a company 
 raised in New London County for Maj. Talcott's ex- 
 pedition against the Indians in Massachusetts. They 
 went as far north as Northampton, and returned after 
 having scoured the country far up the Connecticut 
 River, but met with a few of the Indians. After a 
 few days' rest this army again went in pursuit of the 
 Indians. This time they went first to the northwest 
 of Providence, then south to Point Judith, then 
 home through Westerly and Stonington to New Lon- 
 don. After a short respite they started again, July 
 18, 1676, and made their way this time into Plymouth 
 colony. They went to Taunton, from whence they 
 returned homeward, but hearing that a large number 
 of Indians were working their way westward, making 
 depredations as they went, they pursued and overtook 
 them, and had a sharp and final struggle with them 
 beyond the Housatonic, after which they returned 
 and the men were disbanded. There were ten of these 
 expeditions, including the volunteer forays under 
 Denison and Avery. They inflicted speedy ven- 
 geance upon the Indians, and broke their power for- 
 ever. The remnants of the Indian tribes were gathered 
 together and located wherever the English desired. 
 In all these military expeditions Capt. Denison bore 
 a conspicuous part, and won for himself undying fame. 
 Capt. Denison was born in 1618, and died at Hart- 
 ford, Oct. 24, 1694, during the session of the General 
 Court, which he was attending officially, and was 
 buried there. The following is a copy of his will : 
 
 "I George Denison of Stonington, in the county of New London and 
 Colony of Connecticut in New England being aged and crazy in body, 
 but sound in mind and memory, and being desirous to make preparation 
 for death, and to set mj' house in order before I die, I do, therefore, as it 
 becometh a Chnstian, first, freely and from my heart, resign my soul, 
 through Christ, into the hands of God who gave it me, and my body to 
 the earth from whence it came, and to be buried in decent manner by 
 my executor and friends, in the hope of a joyful and a glorious resurrec- 
 tion, through the perfect merits and mediation of Jesus Christ my strong 
 Kedeemer. 
 
 " And as concerning my outward estate, which the Lord hath still en- 
 trusted me with, after all my just debts are paid, I give and dispose 
 of as followeth: First, I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving 
 wife, Ann Denison, my new mansion place, to wit, the house we live in 
 the barns and buildings the orchards and the whole tract of land and 
 improvements thereon, as far as Mistuxet eastward and as it is boun'ded 
 upon record, south, west, and north, except only thirty acres given to 
 my son, John Denison, which is to lie on the south side next to Capt. Ma- 
 son's, east of our field, and also one hundred pounds in stock, prized at 
 the country price, all which is and hath been under our son William 
 Denison's improvement and management for these several years, to mu- 
 tual comfort and content, which I do will and bequeath unto juy said 
 wife for her comfortable supply during her natural life. 
 
 " And I give unto my said wife, all the household stuff that was and 
 is properly belonging unto us, before my son William took the charge 
 of the family, to be wholly at her disposal, to bequeath to whom she 
 pleaseth at her death. 
 
 " Unto my eldest son, John Denison, I have already given his portion, 
 and secured to him by a deed or deeds, and I do also give unto him, his 
 heirs or assigns, forever, a country grant of two hundred acres of land, 
 or two hundred pounds in silver money, which grant may be found on 
 the General Court Records. 
 
656 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 "Also, I give »nto him, my great sword and tlie gauntlet which I 
 wore in the wars of England and a silver spoon of ten shillings marked 
 G. & A. 
 
 "Unto my son, George Denison, I have formerly given a farm, lying 
 and being at the northwest angle of Stonington hounds, and adjoining 
 the ten-mile tree of the same bounds, which farm containeth one 
 hundred and fifty acres, more or less, as also, the one-half of a thou- 
 sand acres of land, lying to the northward or northwest of Norwich, 
 given to me as a legacy by Joshua the son of Uncas the same time 
 Mohegan sachem, the said land to be divided as may more fully ajtpear 
 in the deed, which I then gave him of both those tracts in one deed, 
 signed and sealed, with botli my own and my wife's hand, and delivered 
 to him and witnessed, and I have several times tendered to him to ac- 
 knowledge it before authority, that so it might have been recorded ac- 
 cording to the formality of law, the which he had wholly neglected or 
 refused, and will not comply with me, therein, and yet hath sold both 
 those parcels Of land and received pay for them ; what his motive may 
 be I cannot certainly divine, but have it to fear they are not good, nor 
 tending to peace after my decease, Wlierefure to prevent further trouble, 
 I see cause herein to acknowledge said deed, and to confirm those said 
 parcels of land unto him according to the date of said deed, and the con- 
 ditions therein expressed, but do hereby renounce any other deed not 
 herein expressed, the which two tracts of land before mentioned, with 
 two Indian servants, to wit, an Indian youth or young man, and a woman, 
 together with a considerable stock of neat cattle, horses, sheep, and swine, 
 I then give him, and permitted him to have and carry with him, I do 
 now confirm to him, the which was and is to be, the whole uf his portion, 
 I either have or do see cause to give him, only I give unto him twenty 
 shillings in silver, or a cutlas or rapier, the which I leave to the discre, 
 tion of my executor, to choose which of them to do. 
 
 " Unto my son, William Denison, I have formerly given him one hun- 
 dred and thirty acres of land, to be more or less, to wit, all of the laud 
 to the eastward of Mistuxet Brook, which did originally belong unto 
 my new mansion place, and is part of three hundred acres granted unto 
 me by New London, as may appear upon record, and three hundred 
 acres of land, lying and cutting upon the North boundary of Stonington, 
 as may more fully appear upon record in Stonington, and the native 
 right thereof, with some addition, confirmed to me by Oneco, as may 
 more fully appear by a deed under his hand and seal, acknowledged lie- 
 fore Capt. Mason, and recorded in Stonington. Also, I then gave him 
 two Indian servants, viz., John, whom I bought of the country, and his 
 son Job, which was born in our house, together with one-third part of 
 stock, which we have together, all which as aforesaid we formerly gave 
 unto my son, William Denison, by a former deed, under our hands and 
 seals, and I see just reason to confirm the same unto my son William 
 in this my last will, that so I may take off" all scruple or doubt respecting 
 the said deed. Moreover, I give unto my son, William Denison, fifty 
 acres of land as it was laid out and bounded unto me by Stonington sur- 
 veyors, and joins upun the before-mentioned three hundred acres, on 
 south side thereof, cute also upon land belonging to my son, John Deni- 
 son, to be to him, my said son, William Denison, and his heirs forever. 
 Also, I give unto my son William Denison, and hie heirs forever, the 
 one-half of my allotment at Windham, to wit, five hundred acres of 
 land, which is part of a legacy given me by Joshua, the son of Uucas, 
 the same time sachem of Mohegan, as may more fully appear upon the 
 Court Records at New London, as also, upon that former experience, we 
 have had of his great industry and childlike duty in the management of 
 all our concerns for our comfort, and comfortable supply, Ac., it is there- 
 fore my will, and in confidence of his love, duty, and wunted care of his 
 loving mother, my dear wife, after my decease, I say I do still continue 
 him in the possession and improvement of my new mansion place, with 
 the stock mentioned herein in my deed to my loving wife, he taking 
 care of his said mother for hev comfortable supply, with what may be 
 necessary for her comfort, during her natural life, and do, or cause to be 
 paid to his said mother, forty shillings in silver money, yearly, or lialf- 
 yearly, while she shall live, and at her decease, I fully and absolutely 
 give and bequeath that my aforesaid mansion place, together with the 
 stock mentioned before, unto my said son, William Denison, and his 
 heirs forever. Also, I give unto my son, William Denison, my rapier 
 and broad buff belt, and tin cartridge-box, which I used in the Indian 
 wars, together with my long carbine, which belt and sword I used in 
 the same service. 
 
 " Unto my eldest daughter, Sarah Stanton, as I have given her form- 
 erly her portion as I was then able, as I do now give unto her ten pounds 
 out of the stock as pay, and one silver spoon of ten shillings price 
 marked G. & A. 
 " Unto my daughter, Hannah Saxon, as I have given unto her, also, her 
 
 portion as I was then ahle, as I do now give unto her ten pounds out of 
 the stock as pay. 
 
 " Unto my daughter Ann Palmer, besides tliat'I have formerly given 
 her, I do now give her ten pounds out of the stock as pay. 
 
 " Unto my daughter Margaret Brown I have given already her portion, 
 and give her ten pounds out of the stock as pay. 
 
 "Unto Diy daughter Borodel Stanton I have formerly given, and do 
 now give her five pounds out of the stock as pay, and commend it to my 
 beloved wife, that at or before her death, she would give her silver cup, 
 which was sent us from England, with brother Borodel's name, J. B. 
 under the head, to her. 
 
 " Unto my grandson, George Denison, the son of my oldest son John 
 Denison, I give my black fringed shoulder belt, and twenty shillings in 
 silver money, toward the purchase of a handsome rapier to wear with it. 
 " Unto my grandson George Palmer I give the grant of one hundred 
 acres of land, which was granted unto me by the town of Stonington 
 not yet laid out, or forty shillings out of my stock, as pay, at the discre- 
 tion of my executor to choose which. And whereas there is consider- 
 able rent due me for a house of my wife in Cork, iu Ireland, which was 
 given unto her as a legacy by her father John Borudell, at his death, and 
 no doubt may appear upon record in Cork, the which house stands upon 
 lands which they call Bishop's land, and was built by our said father he 
 to have lived in the same, whereof my said wife was next to himself, as 
 may also appear there upon record ; and whereas I have a right to land 
 in the Narragansett country, which is mine by deed of the native right 
 from the true proprietors thereof, as may appear upon record in Boston, 
 and in the records of Stonington, the which my rights, have been and 
 are under the possession and improvement of those who have no just 
 right to them, to which by reason of the many troubles, wars and diffi- 
 culties which have arisen, together with our remoteness, we have not 
 been able to vindicate our just rights, but have been great sufferers, 
 thereby ; but if it please God to send peaceable times, and our rights be 
 recordable in law, I do by this my last will, give and bequeath my said 
 right unto my sons John Denison and George Denison, to be equally di- 
 vided betwixt them, pi-ovided that they each one bear their equal share 
 in the trouble and recovery of the same. Provided, also, that my son 
 George Denison, do relinquish and deliver up any right he may pretend 
 unto by a former deed which I gave him of the one half of Achagrome- 
 consest, according as I fonnerly obliged him to do in a deed I gave him 
 of the otlier farm, and gave him upon that consideration. 
 
 " And in reference with Nathaniel Beebe, who hath been a retainer 
 and boarder in our family between thirty and forty years: and for his 
 board at our last reckoning, which wa-s March 20th 1680, he was indebted 
 to me forty-.six pounds, six shillings and three pence,— I say £46 68. A;;rf. 
 aa may appear under his hand to said account in my book,— since which 
 time he hath boarded in the family near upon fourteen years, which at 
 four shillings and six-pence the week, amounts to one hundred and sixty- 
 three pounds, sixteen shillings, out of which I do give unto Nathaniel 
 Beebe, fifty pounds in way of gratification and satisfaction for his love 
 to me ;ind my children, and offices of luve shown unto myself, and any 
 of them, in mine or their sickness or weakness, which fifty pounds must 
 be deducted from the one hundred and sixty-three pounds, sixteen shil- 
 lings, and the remainder will be one hundred thirteen pounds, which 
 one hundred and thirteen pounds, sixteen shiUings, together with the 
 furty six pounds six shillings and three pence due upon book, under his 
 hand, at our last reckoning as aluresaid, being added unto one hundred 
 and thirteen pounds, sixteen shillings, the whole will be £160 2s. 3d. the 
 which I give unto my son William Denison, and his heirs forever, for 
 him or them or any of them, or if they see cause to demand, receive and 
 improve as their own proper estate. Also, I give unto my son William 
 Denison, all and singular, whatsoever that belongeth untome. notalready 
 disposed of, and tu be to him and his heirs fmever, whom also I do hereby 
 constitute, appoint, and make my sole executor, to pay all ju^t debts, if any 
 shall appear of which I know not any, and to receive all dues, which 
 either are or shall be due to me, and to pay all legacies according to this 
 my will, within twelve months after my wife's decease, and to take care 
 for my decent burial. But iu case my son William Denison shall decease 
 before he hath performed this my will, or before his cliildreu are of age, 
 then my will is that the whole estate be under the improvement of his 
 wife, our daughter-in-luw Sarah Denison, during the time of her widow- 
 hood, lor her comfortable supply, and the well educating and biinging 
 up their children in religion and good learning: all which she shall do 
 by the advice of the Reverend and my loving friend Mr James Noyes, 
 my son John Denison and my son-in-law, Gershom Palmer, them or any 
 two of them, if three cannot be obtained ; but without advice she may not 
 act, which three my dear friends, I do earnestly desire and hereby ap- 
 point as overseers for the children, and to take effectual care that thU 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 657 
 
 my will may bo performed according to the true intent thereof; but if 
 my said daughter-in-law, shall marry again, then this whole estate to 
 fall into the hands of those my overseers and by them to be secured for 
 my son William Denison's children, to wit William Benison, George 
 Denison, and Sarah Denison, and by those overseers, to be improved for 
 their well bringing up as aforesaid, and faithfully to be delivered unto 
 the children as they shall come of age, to wit : the males at twenty-one 
 years of age, and the females at eighteen ; and if any of the said children 
 should die before they come of age, the survivors shall inherit the samp, 
 and if they should all die before of age, (the which God forbid, but we are 
 all mortal,) then it is my declared mind and true interest of this my will 
 that my grandson George Denison the son of my oldest son John Denison, 
 shall be the sole heir of that estate, out of which he shall pay unto his 
 four brothers to wit. John Denison, Robert Denison, William Denisoni 
 and Daniel Denison, ten pounds apiece in current pay, and also ten 
 pounds in current pay unto his cousin Edward Denison, the son of my 
 son George Denison ; and in token that this is my last will and testament, 
 I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 24"" day of January in the 
 year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and ninety three-four. 
 
 " George Denison" (Seal.) 
 
 CHAPTEK LXXXII. 
 
 STONINGTON— (Continued). 
 COMMON SCHOOLS— THE PRESS. 
 
 The men who settled Connecticut left their homes 
 in England "and emigrated to this country not to ac- 
 quire wealth or worldly honor, but to enjoy civil and 
 religious freedom. 
 
 At home the laws forbid the free exercise of their 
 religious opinions, and they had often been perse- 
 cuted for them. They believed and taught the doc- 
 trine that every man had the right to worship God 
 according to the dictates of his own conscience, and 
 to read the Bible and interpret it for himself. 
 
 Now, in order to found a church based upon these 
 principles, it became necessary that every member 
 thereof should be sufficiently educated to read the 
 word of God. Hence we find that every choarch of 
 their order had its teacher, as well as its preacher. 
 
 The principal duty of the teacher was to educate 
 the children of the church, to bring them up in the 
 nurture and admonition of the Lord. After they 
 were settled in this country, many of the churches 
 continued their services in the churches : this was the 
 case of the Plymouth and some of the Massachusetts 
 churches. But in Connecticut, as soon as the popu- 
 lation was sufficient, such teachers were employed in 
 most cases to instruct the youth of the town. This 
 was done in advance of any colonial legislative en- 
 actments on the subject of common schools ; and in 
 fact when laws were passed in relation to them they 
 did little more than to make obligatory the practices 
 which had grown up and been established by the 
 founders of the several towns which composed the 
 original colonies of Hartford and New Haven. These 
 men did not come here either as isolated individuals 
 from widely separated homes, entertaining broad dif- 
 ferences of opinion on all matters of civil and religious 
 concernment; they came with earnest religious con- 
 victions, made more earnest by the trials and persecu- 
 
 tions which they experienced in the Old World, and 
 such trials and sufferings doubtless nerved them to 
 make greater effisrts and nobler sacrifices in behalf of 
 their jeligious convictions. The constitution of civil 
 government which they adopted at the outset de- 
 clared all civil officers elective, and gave to every in- 
 habitant who would take the oath of allegiance the 
 right to vote and to be voted for, and which practi- 
 cally converts society into a partnership; made uni- 
 versal education identical with self-preservation, for 
 how could a government which derived its power 
 from the people be preserved unless the people are 
 sufficiently educated to read and understand all 
 questions connected with the administration of pub- 
 lic affairs? and how could the masses be educated 
 and fitted for the discharge of a freeman's duty un- 
 less some system of common schools are adopted by 
 the State ? It was for this object, and to enable all to 
 judge for themselves, in civil and religious matters, 
 that common schools were instituted in Connecticut. 
 The founders of this State were educated men, as 
 thoroughly educated as the best endowed grammar 
 schools in England could educate them at that period, 
 and not a few of them had enjoyed the advantages of 
 the great universities. These men would naturally 
 seek for their children the best opportunities for edu- 
 cation which could be provided, and it is the crown- 
 ing glory of these men that, instead of sending their 
 own children back to England to be educated in 
 grammar schools and universities, they labored to 
 establish free grammar schools and a college here 
 amid the stumps of the primeval forests ; that instead 
 of establishing family and select schools for the min- 
 ister and magistrates' children, they labored to es- 
 tablish a system of common-school education. The 
 minister and magistrates were found not only in 
 town-meeting pleading for an allowance out of the 
 common treasury for the support of public or com- 
 mon schools, and in some instances for a free sooool, 
 but among the families entreating parents of all classes 
 to send their children to the same school with their 
 own. 
 
 How unlike the wealthy men of the present day 
 was the course pursued by these men. Now select 
 schools and boarding-schools are sustained by the 
 aristocracy, neglecting the common school, once re- 
 garded with so much confidence by the most eminent 
 men of Connecticut. 
 
 The first law upon the subject of common schools in 
 Connecticut was enacted by the town of New Haven, 
 March 25, 1641, which provided for a free school in 
 that town, under the care and management of the 
 minister and magistrates, with authority in them to 
 decide how much of the expense of such schools 
 should be taken from the common stock of the town, 
 and to adopt such rules and orders as they might deem 
 best for the government of the schools. The next 
 law passed in Connecticut relative to common schools 
 was enacted by the town of Hartford seven years after 
 
658 
 
 HISTOEY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 its settlement, appropriating thirty pounds for its 
 schools,— not as a new thing, but as one of the estab- 
 lished institutions of the town,— providing also for a 
 tuition fee in part for all able to pay, but poor chil- 
 dren were to be educated at the expense of the town. 
 In 1646, Roger Ludlow, Esq., compiled a body of 
 laws for the colony of Connecticut, which provided 
 that every township of fifty families shall maintain 
 a school for the education of all their children, and 
 as soon as such townships contain one hundred fami- 
 lies they were to maintain a grammar school. 
 
 After the union of the two colonies of New Haven 
 and Connecticut, which took place under the charter 
 of 1662, various public acts were passed relative to 
 common schools up to 1700, when the code of Con- 
 necticut was revised, and the school laws in force at 
 that time embraced the following particulars : that 
 every town within this colony having the number of 
 seventy householders or upwards, should be constantly 
 provided with a sufficient schoolmaster to teach chil- 
 dren and youth to read and write ; and every town 
 having a less number of householders than seventy 
 should yearly, from year to year, be provided with a 
 sufficient schoolmaster to teach children and youth 
 to read and write for one-half of the year; and also 
 there should be a grammar school set up in every 
 shire-town of the several counties in the colony, viz. r 
 Hartford, New Haven, New London, and Fairfield, 
 and some discreet person of good conversation and 
 well instructed procured to keep such schools for the 
 encouragement and maintenance of such schoolmas- 
 ters. It was further enacted that the inhabitants of 
 each town in the colony should annually pay forty 
 shillings for every one thousand pounds in their re- 
 spective county lists, and proportionably for a lesser 
 sum, towards the maintenance of the schoolmaster in 
 the town where the same was levied ; and in such towns 
 where the said levy should not be sufiicient for the 
 maintenance of a suitable schoolmaster, and there was 
 not any estate given by charitable persons, or not 
 sufficient, together with the levy aforesaid, for that 
 use, in every such place a sufficient maintenance 
 should be made up, the one-half thereof by the in- 
 habitants of such towns and the other half by the 
 parents or masters of the children that went to 
 school. In this revision the same obligation was im- 
 posed upon parents and masters that was contained 
 in the code of 1650, relative to the training and edu- 
 cation of children. The forty-shillings tax was col- 
 lected in every town with the State tax, and paid pro- 
 portionably to those towns only which should keep the 
 school according to law. In 1708 a change in the school 
 law was effected, so that the forty-shilling tax was made 
 payable to the school committee, and this is the first 
 mention of the appointment of a school committee 
 distinct from the regular officers of the town. The 
 provision requiring the money collected to be paid as 
 above was repealed in May, 1726, re-enacted in 1728, 
 and again repealed in 1750. 
 
 In 1712 another change was brought about by sub- 
 stituting parishes for towns in the payment of the 
 forty-shillings tax, etc. This is the first recognition 
 of ecclesiastical societies in the management of com- 
 mon schools, and was the first departure from the 
 New England organization of common schools. By 
 this act, however, the parishes were simply made 
 school districts, and were still subordinate to the 
 towns ; by degrees they came to occupy the place of 
 towns in the system. Societies or parishes for relig- 
 ious purposes were first established within the limits 
 of incorporated towns to accommodate settlers too far 
 removed from the old place of worship. About 1700 
 they -were authorized to choose a clerk ; in 1716, a 
 committee ; in 1717, a collector ; in 1721, a moderator ; 
 and a treasurer in 1764. In 1726 a general law was 
 passed providing for the organization of new socie- 
 ties, and directing the time and manner of holding 
 ing meetings. In 1717 the right of taxation for sup- 
 port of the ministry was extended to schools, and by 
 an act of 1795 the inhabitants were authorized to 
 meet in a new capacity, and in 1798 this organization 
 was perfected and substituted in the place of towns 
 and ecclesiastical societies in our school system, and 
 was continued until 1856, when the Legislature dis- 
 solved these school societies and placed the school 
 under the care of the town, thus returning to the first 
 system of common schools established in Connecticut. 
 It will be observed that up to 1714 the laws of Con- 
 necticut did not require the schools to be visited ; but 
 that year an act was passed constituting the civil 
 authority and selectmen a board of visitors, and di- 
 recting them to report to the General Assembly any 
 disorder or misapplication of the public money. 
 
 In 1717 the school laws were so changed that every 
 society of seventy families were required to keep a 
 school for eleven months of the year, and societies of 
 less than seventy families half of the year, and the 
 majority of householders in every parish or society 
 were authorized to lay taxes for the support of the 
 schools, and to choose a clerk and committee to order 
 the affairs of the society. This was the first law con- 
 ferring power upon societies to tax for support of 
 schools. 
 
 From 1717 to 1750 but few laws were enacted con- 
 cerning our schools, and those unimportant, save the 
 one by which the seven townships belonging to the 
 colony were disposed of and the avails applied to 
 common schools. As this was the first fund consti- 
 tuted by Connecticut for the benefit of her schools, I 
 will give a brief history of it. 
 
 By the royal charter obtained in 1662 from King 
 Charles, a title was secured to large tracts of uncul- 
 tivated lands outside of the limits of the original 
 townships, and the Legislature from time to time 
 selected convenient tracts of land and laid them out 
 into townships, and gave all proper encouragement to 
 those who were willing to encounter the dangerous 
 hardships of a new settlement. While many settle- 
 
STONINGTOX. 
 
 659 
 
 ments were making in the northeastern part of the 
 colony, a number of gentlemen from Hartford and 
 Windsor in 1720 began the settlement of Litchfield, 
 on the lands held in dispute by the Governor and 
 company under the charter and the towns of Hart- 
 ford and Windsor. 
 
 The town was laid out into sixty-four allotments; 
 thirteen of them were reserved for public uses, two 
 for a clergyman, and three for schools. The origin 
 of the controversy between the Legislature and Hart- 
 ford and Windsor was this : 
 
 After the accession of King James II. to the throne 
 of England, in 1685, the colony perceived that their 
 chartered rights and liberties were in danger, and to 
 preserve from the grasp of Sir Edmund Andros the 
 lands unappropriated the General Court of Connecti- 
 cut, on the 26th day of January, 1686, made a grant 
 to said towns in the following words : " This court 
 grants to the plantation of Hartford and Windsor 
 those lands on the north of Woodbury and Matta- 
 tuck, and on the west of Farmington and Simsbury 
 to the Massachusetts line north, to run west to Housa- 
 tonic River, provided it be not, or part of it, formerly 
 granted to any particular person or persons to make 
 a plantation or village." The design of this convey- 
 ance, as stated by Dr. Trumbull in his "History of 
 Connecticut," was that these towns should hold the 
 land for the Governor and company or colony ; and 
 as they had paid no valuable consideration for them, 
 after the danger from Andros was past the Governor 
 and colony claimed the land as fully as though no 
 grant had been made. Hartford and Windsor, how- 
 ever, on the strength of the grant of the court, and of 
 their grant and settlement combined under it, deter- 
 mined to persist in their claim and oppose the claim 
 of the General Court. Finally, however, in 1726, the 
 dispute was settled, and the General Assembly re- 
 solved that the lands in controversy should be divided 
 between the colony and said towns, and that the 
 colony should have the western division, comprising 
 the towns of Norfolk, Goshen, Canaan, Cornwall, 
 Kent, Salisbury, and Sharon ; and Hartford and 
 Windsor the eastern, comprising Torrington, Bark- 
 hampsted, Colebrook, Harwinton, Hartland, Win- 
 chester, and New Hartford, and that Litchfield 
 should not come into the division. The General 
 Assembly appointed a committee to view these town- 
 ships belonging to the colony, who reported in May, 
 1733, as their opinion that an act be passed by the 
 Assembly granting all the moneys which shall be 
 received from the sale thereof to the towns in the 
 colony which were then settled, to be divided to them 
 in proportion to the list of polls and ratable estate in 
 the year last passed, to be secured and improved for- 
 ever to the use of the schools kept in the several 
 towns according to law. 
 
 This recommendation subsequently became the law 
 of the colony, and in 1737 a committee was appointed 
 to make sales of said land, and the moneys thus 
 
 realized and distributed constituted a fund for the 
 support of common schools in the difl'erent towns of 
 the colony. 
 
 In 1750 another revision of the laws took place, in 
 which the main feature of the code of 1700 was re- 
 tained, with some additional enactments concerning 
 the funds of the Colony derived from the sale of the 
 seven townships, the principal one being a law pro- 
 viding that on any misapplication of the avails of 
 said fund, the town misapplying should pay back to 
 the Colony its share of said fund, and another pro- 
 vision was that the selectmen and society committee 
 were made a board to oversee and take care of said 
 fund. 
 
 In 1766 a law was passed authorizing each town and 
 society to divide themselves into proper and necessary 
 districts for keeping their schools, and to alter and 
 regulate the same as they shall have occasion, which 
 districts shall draw their equal proportion of all public 
 moneys belonging to such towns or societies, accord- 
 ing to the lists of each district therein. By the prac- 
 tical operation of the laws of Connecticut thus far 
 cited, instead of embracing schools of different grades, 
 was gradually narrowed down to a single district 
 school, taught by one teacher in the summer and 
 another in the winter, for children of all ages and 
 in every variety of study. In 1784 the statutes were 
 again revised, and that, too, by no less personages than 
 Roger Sherman and Richard Law. At that period of 
 our history the laws of Connecticut relative to com- 
 mon schools embraced the following particulars : first, 
 an obligation resting upon every parent and master 
 not to suffer so much barbarism in any of their fam- 
 ilies as to have a single child or apprentice unable to 
 read the Word of God or the good laws of the colony, 
 and also to bring them up to some lawful calling 
 or employment, under a penalty for each offense. 
 Second, a tax of forty shillings on every one thousand 
 pounds of the lists of the estates was collected in 
 every town with the State tax, 'and payable propor- 
 tionably to those towns only which should keep the 
 school according to law. Third, a common school in 
 every society having over seventy families, kept 
 throughout the year, and in every society with less 
 than seventy families, six months of the year. Fourth, 
 a grammar school in every head county town to fit youth 
 for college, two of which should be free. Fifth, in case 
 of any deficiency arising in the payment of the teacher, 
 after the amount raised by the forty-shilling tax and 
 the local school fund, the sum required to be made up 
 should be raised from the property of the society one- 
 half, and the other half by a tuition fee to be paid by 
 the parents or guardians of the scholars that attend 
 school, paying alike to the head. Sixth, the selectmen 
 and civil authority of each town or society were con- 
 stituted a board of school visitors, and the selectmen 
 were managers of all local funds belonging to the 
 town or society, the interest of which was applied to 
 school purposes. Seventh, societies were empowered 
 
660 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 to divide their territory into school districts, and to 
 tax themselves for purposes of common-school educa- 
 tion. In 1786 Connecticut surrendered to the general 
 government for the benefit of the people thereof all 
 its claims to a vast unappropriated domain stretching 
 west beyond the western limits of Pennsylvania and 
 New York, and which was included in her boundaries, 
 as described, both in the charter of confirmation gran- 
 ted by Charles the First, in 1631, to Lords Say and 
 Seal, Lord Burk and others, and in the charter of 
 government obtained from Charles II. in 1662, re- 
 serving that portion of Ohio known as the Western 
 Reserve, from the sale of which w.e derived our present 
 school fund. 
 
 These lands were sold by order of the General 
 Assembly in 1795 for $1,200,000, but what to do with 
 the money was a most perplexing question. The 
 General Assembly at first enacted that the moneys 
 arising from the sale of the territory belonging to this 
 State lying west of the State of Pennsylvania be, and 
 the same is hereby established a perpetual fund, the 
 interest whereof is granted and shall be appropriated 
 to the use and benefit of the several ecclesiastical 
 societies, churches, or congregations of all denomina- 
 tions in this State, to be by them appropriated to the 
 support of their respective ministers or preachers of 
 the gospel and schools of education, under such rules 
 and regulations as shall be adopted "by this or some 
 future session of the General Assembly." The pas- 
 sage of this resolution as a public act created a great 
 deal of dissatisfaction throughout the State, and a 
 repeal of this act was made a test question upon which 
 the representatives were elected at the next election. 
 The opponents to this measure finally triumphed, 
 and at the next session of the Assembly this act was 
 repealed. After an able and animated discussion as 
 to the time and mode of sale, and the object to which 
 the avails of the sale should be applied, in the public 
 press, in town-meeting, in both branches of the Legis- 
 lature, in every placfe and way in which the public 
 mind could be reached, the subject was finally settled 
 by the General Assembly at the May session of 1795, 
 as follows : 
 
 That the land should be sold, and the avails should 
 become and remain a perpetual fund, and the interest 
 of the same should be applied to the support of schools 
 in the several societies in the State, and divided among 
 them according to the polls and ratable estate. By 
 another section of this act, societies might by a two- 
 thirds vote apply to the Legislature to have their pro- 
 portion of said avails applied to the support of the 
 ministry of all denominations in said society. This 
 school fund was first controlled by a board of mana- 
 gers ; during thirteen years it was managed by them, 
 and the interest divided amounted to $426,757. The 
 thirty-six bonds given by the original purchaser, and 
 resting on personal security alone, had increased up to 
 May, 1810, to nearly $500,000, most of which had from 
 time to time been secured by mortgages on real estate. 
 
 In 1809, at the October .session, a committee was 
 appointed to look after the interests of said fund, and 
 they reported that it would be best to intrust the care 
 of the fund to one person. 
 
 In 1810 the Hon. James Hillhouse was appointed 
 sole commissioner of the school fund, which oflice 
 he held for fifteen years, and greatly improved the 
 condition of the fund, increasing its value from 
 $1,200,000 to $1,719,000. 
 
 The expense of keeping a district school in 1810 
 over the amount of the public money was appor- 
 tioned among the proprietors of the schools according 
 to the daily attendance ; and in 1811 this was altered 
 so as to authorize the apportionment according to the 
 number of persons in attendance. 
 
 In 1818 the proprietors of factories and manufac- 
 turing establishments were compelled by law to see 
 that the children in their employ were taught to read 
 and write and cipher, and that due attention is paid 
 to the preservation of their morals. In 1818 our 
 present constitution was adopted as the fundamental 
 law of the State. By that instrument the school fund 
 is consecrated as a perpetual fund in the following 
 words: " The fund called the school fund shall re- 
 main a perpetual fund, the interest of which inviola- 
 bly appropriated to the support and encouragement 
 of the public or common schools throughout the 
 State, and for the equal benefit of all the people 
 thereof, and no law shall ever be made authorizing 
 said fund to be directed to any other use than the en- 
 couragement and support of common schools among 
 the several school societies as justice and equity shall 
 require." At several periods subsequent to 1820 efforts 
 were made through the Legislature and elsewhere to 
 improve the condition of our schools. At this time 
 an impression seemed to prevail that the improve- 
 ment in the common schools did not correspond with 
 the increase of public money derived from the school 
 fund. So in order to make the money more avail- 
 able, and deepen the interest in common schools, the 
 General Assembly by repeated enactments has changed 
 its legislation relating thereto. In 1810 a law was 
 passed providing that the public money should be 
 divided according to the days of attendance of each 
 person at school. The next year this law was so 
 changed as to authorize the apportionment of the 
 public money according to the number of persons at- 
 tending school. In 1825 the Hon. Seth P. Beers was 
 appointed sole commissioner of the school fund. 
 Under his administration, which lasted up to 1849, 
 the fund increased and reached the sum of $2,049,482. 
 The annual dividends to the several school societies 
 in the State amounted to $97,815.16. Notwithstand- 
 ing the splendid manner in which Mr. Beers man- 
 aged the school fund, and the large increase of its 
 dividends received and applied to the schools, there 
 was a manifest lack of interest in their success on the 
 part of the proprietors and parents of the children. 
 To remedy this was the main object of the legislation 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 C61 
 
 of the State, which fell far short of its expectations. 
 Nevertheless the General Assembly moulded its legis- 
 lation to reduce our common schools to a more per- 
 fect system, and at the time to impress on the public 
 mind the great importance of education. 
 
 In 1836 the town depo.sits fund cameinto existence 
 from the general government, by a distribution of 
 certain surplus revenues between all of the States of 
 the Union, this State receiving $764,670.60, which was 
 distributed between the several towns in the State 
 according to the population. One-half of the income, 
 by a law of our State, was annually appropriated and 
 used for the benefit of common-school education. In 
 1855 another law was passed dovoting all of the in- 
 come of this fund to the support of common schools. 
 
 The amount of said fund received by this town was 
 $8734.91. In 1837 a law was passed requiring school 
 visitors and society committees to make annual re- 
 turns of their doings in the premises to the comp- 
 troller of the State. In 1838 an act was passed 
 creating a board of commissioners of common schools, 
 to consist of the Governor, commissioner of the 
 school fund, and eight persons, one from each county, 
 to be appointed by the Governor, and the returns 
 required the previous year to be made to the comp- 
 troller were to be made to this board. In 1839 an act 
 concerning schools was passed, in which a school 
 district is for the first time made a " body corporate,'' 
 so far as to be able to purchase, secure, hold, and con- 
 vey real and personal estate for the benefit of common 
 schools. This act empowered school districts to ap- 
 point their committees, which before this had been 
 done by the school societies. It specified the branches 
 which a person must be found qualified to teach be- 
 fore he could receive a certificate from the school 
 visitors, providing also that school societies might 
 apportion the public money among the district, either 
 according to the number of persons between four and 
 sixteen, or according to the number in attendance 
 for a period of six months in each year. It also gave 
 the digtrict authority to tax themselves for school 
 libraries, and that two or more districts might asso- 
 ciate for supporting a high school. 
 
 In 1841 an act was passed authorizing the school 
 societies to divide the public money either according 
 to the number of persons in the district between four 
 and sixteen years of age, or according to the number 
 who had attended school, but no district was to receive 
 less than fifty dollars. Dividends from the school 
 fund were not to be paid to any district unless its 
 school had been kept at least four months of the year. 
 Union schools were provided for in this act. In 1842 
 the act constituting a board of commissioners was 
 repealed. The purpose for which it was enacted was 
 not attained, and so the State control of the schools 
 for the time was abandoned, to be subsequently re- 
 enacted in a different form. 
 
 In 1845 the school fund commissioner was made 
 e.r officio superintendent of common schools, with the 
 
 same duties imposed upon the secretary of the former 
 board of commissioners. In 1846 the act passed in 
 1841 requiring the school societies to appropriate to 
 each district at' least fifty dollars was amended, re- 
 ducing the amount to thirty-five dollars, provided 
 there were not less than twelve children in the district 
 drawing school-money. 
 
 The object of the constitution and laws of this 
 State relative to all school-moneys is to afford to each 
 child between four and sixteen years of age an equal 
 educational privilege. But to reduce it to practice 
 under the attending circumstances so as to secure 
 that result is not an easy task. The children in the 
 rural districts are notsuiiiciently numerous to furnish 
 but a limited number of scholars from an area where 
 small children can conveniently reach the school, 
 especially in winter weather. So it is impossible to 
 provide schools in the rural districts of so high an 
 order as can be afforded in the cities and villages, 
 where the children are more numerous and the means 
 from that cause more abundant and available to 
 secure and pay more advanced and experienced 
 teachers. The want of some general superintendence 
 of the common schools of our State had long been 
 felt. But the people were divided as to the best way 
 of doing it. Some preferred the board of commis- 
 sioners on the part of the State, others that the school 
 fund commissioner could exert all the influence 
 necessary to advance the interest of the schools. 
 But a few years' practice convinced all parties that 
 further and different legislation was indispensably 
 necessary to arouse public sentiment in favor of com- 
 mon schools. So in 1847 a resolution was passed 
 directing the superintendent of common schools to 
 employ four or more suitable persons to hold " schools 
 of teachers, for the purpose of instruction in the best 
 modes of governing and teaching common schools, 
 between the 15th of September and 30th of October 
 in that year." In 1848 this law was amended, and 
 improved the next year. In 1849 an act was passed 
 to establish a State normal school, providing for a 
 board of eight trustees. The object of this institu- 
 tion is to educate young persons for teachers of our 
 common schools, to fit them by experience for that 
 occupation with the best possible qualifications. The 
 principal of this school was made ex officio superin- 
 tendent of common schools, and authorized to hold 
 schools or conventions of teachers in each county. 
 In 1852 the time for the enumeration of scholars was 
 changed from August to January, and that the public 
 money should be distributed in March only in each 
 and every year. 
 
 Notwithstanding the repeated acts of legislation 
 relative to common schools, it was painfully apparent 
 that the people did not manifest that interest in them 
 that their importance would seem to demand. The 
 schools were so much neglected in this town that the 
 active friends of education induced our selectmen to 
 call a town-meeting, which was held Oct. 31, 1853. 
 
662 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 After an exhaustive discussion the town voted to lay 
 a tax of one cent on a dollar of the grand list for the 
 benefit of common schools in this town. Also, that 
 the money raised by said tax should be expended 
 under the direction of Benjamin F. Langworthy, 
 Charles H. Mallory, and Richard A. Wheeler for the 
 benefit of the schools : first, in paying lecturers for their 
 services ; second, to bring up the funds of the small 
 districts to seventy-five dollars; third, to divide the 
 balance among the children of all the districts equally. 
 This additional expenditure for educational purposes 
 did not make any perceptible difference in the schools, 
 except perhaps in some of the modes of instruction, 
 which required time to develop. But this measure 
 adopted here for the benefit of common schools made 
 an impression all over the State, and resulted the next 
 year in a public act requiring each town to raise by tax- 
 ation a sum equal to one cent on the dollar on their re- 
 spective grand lists for the support of common schools, 
 and the whole amount so raised to be distributed un- 
 der the direction of the selectmen and town treasurers. 
 Towns that did not embrace a city were authorized to 
 consolidate their school districts, and were required 
 to keep a school six instead of four months. All dis- 
 tricts receiving under the then existing mode of dis- 
 tributing the public money less than thirty-five dol- 
 lars were to be made up to that amount from any 
 moneys raised for the purposes of education. Still, 
 the interest in the common schools was so indifferent 
 that it became necessary to institute some new meas- 
 ures to arouse public sentiment. The old school so- 
 cieties were then taken in hand, and declared to have 
 outlived their usefulness ; that popular education 
 was so intimately connected with all the other inter- 
 ests of the town that it would be far better to abandon 
 and dissolve the old school societies and put the 
 towns in charge of the schools. This was done by the 
 Assembly in 1856, and the old school societies, which 
 had controlled our schools in one way and another 
 ever since 1799, were laid aside, and a new era dawned 
 on the hopes of the people. But further legislation 
 became necessary, and in 1858 school districts were 
 authorized to fix a rate of tuition, not exceeding two 
 dollars for any term, but they might exempt there- 
 from all persons whom they considered unable to pay 
 the same, and the town was to pay the amount abated. 
 From this time up to 1865 various acts were passed by 
 the Legislature relative to common schools, not par- 
 ticularly affecting them one way or the other. But 
 the Legislature of 1865 made some important changes. 
 It repealed the act that made the principal of the 
 • normal school ex officio superintendent of the com- 
 mon schools, and constituted a State Board of Educa- 
 tion, to consist of the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, 
 and four persons to be appointed by the General 
 Assembly, one in each year, and selected one from 
 each congressional district, with the general super- 
 vision and control of the educational interests of the 
 State, with power to direct what books should be 
 
 used in all of the schools of the State ; but no book 
 shall be changed oftener than once in five years; 
 shall prescribe the form of registers for the schools, 
 and all other forms necessary to enforce the act. 
 Educational conventions were provided for under the 
 control of the Board of Education, for the purpose of 
 instructing in the best modes of administering, gov- 
 erning, and teaching public schools, with power also 
 of appointing a secretary, who shall exercise a gen- 
 eral supervision over the public schools of the State, 
 gathering necessary information from the school 
 visitors and other sources to make such reports as the 
 law provides for. He shall visit, as often as is prac- 
 ticable, different parts of the State, for the purpose of 
 awakening and guiding public sentiment in relation 
 to the practical interests of education. In 1868 a law 
 was passed laying the burden of maintaining common 
 schools on the several towns of the State, and were 
 required to make them free, specifying the amount to 
 be raised by taxation, etc. Small districts were to 
 have fifty dollars anyhow, and the balance to be di- 
 vided according to the average daily attendance. In 
 1870 the law was so changed that the time schools 
 must be kept in each year in order to secure the 
 public money was fixed at thirty weeks in districts 
 where there were twenty-four or more persons between 
 four and sixteen years of age at the last enumeration, 
 and for at least twenty-four weeks in the other dis- 
 tricts ; but no school need be maintained in any dis- 
 trict in which the average attendance of persons at 
 the school in said district during the preceding year 
 was less than eight. Boards of school visitors, com- 
 posed of six or nine members, as each town may de- 
 termine, divided into three classes, the first to hold 
 office to the next annual meeting ; the second, until 
 the second annual meeting ; the third, until the third 
 annual meeting following, and until others are elected 
 in their places. 
 
 In 1872 the General Assembly determined the mode 
 of their election, viz. . no person can vote for more 
 than two-thirds of the members to be chosen, and 
 those having the highest number of votes will be 
 elected ; school visitors may be authorized by the towns 
 to employ the teachers for all the public schools. 
 The law further fixed ' the obligation of the several 
 towns, prescribed the duties and power of the board 
 of school visitors, establishes districts, with clearly 
 defined powers, privileges, and obligations. In 1872 
 a thorough overhauling of the school laws was taken 
 in hand by the Legislature, and all the laws relating 
 to common schools were re-enacted with slight vari- 
 ations, fixing with more certainty the powers and 
 duties of each department of public trust. The towns 
 now receive all the public moneys designed and ap- 
 propriated for common schools, and in turn they are 
 bound and held liable to maintain common schools 
 in districts numbering one hundred and ten at the last 
 preceding enumeration for at least thirty-six weeks, 
 and in all other districts for at least thirty weeks, 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 663 
 
 where the last enumerated persons of lawful age 
 should be twenty-four or more, and in all other dis- 
 tricts for at least twenty -four weeks ; but no school 
 need be maintained in any district in which the aver- 
 age attendance of persons at the school in said district 
 during the preceding year was less than eight. The 
 statute still further provides all the necessary machin- 
 ery to establish and maintain common schools on the 
 foregoing basis. Such is a brief outline of the laws 
 of Connecticut relating to her common schools, and 
 an imperfect sketch of the same. Connecticut was 
 the first State in the Union to set apart and establish 
 a fund for the support of common schools. 
 
 The first schoolmaster in Stonington was the Rev. 
 James Noyes. He came to Stoniugton in 1664, and 
 preached as a licentiate for ten years before he was 
 ordained and settled, during which time he was en- 
 gaged in teaching more or less. Mr. John Searls 
 taught school here at the same time, and was suc- 
 ceeded by his son, Ebenezer Searls, John Fish, and 
 others. 
 
 The Press of Stonington.'— The peninsula upon 
 which the greater part of the borough is built was, 
 from its settlement to the year 1753, called "Long 
 Point." In that year the village of "Long Point" 
 was constituted a port of delivery and called " Stoning- 
 ton Port," which name it retained till 1801. Having 
 obtained a charter from the Legislature of Connecti- 
 cut, the freemen met and organized a borough gov- 
 ernment June 15th of that year, choosing a warden, 
 eight burgesses, secretary, treasurer, and bailiff. From 
 1801 the village has been known as Stonington 
 Borough. It has also been called "Stonington 
 Point." 
 
 In 1798, Mr. Samuel Trumbull, son of John Trum- 
 bull, printer, of Xorwich, Conn., came to this village 
 {known then as "Stonington Port"), and on October 
 2d issued the first number of a newspaper entitled 
 The Journal of the Times. The motto of the paper 
 was, — 
 
 "Pliant as reeds where streams of freedom glide. 
 Firm as the hills to stem oppression's tide." 
 
 The first twelve numbers were printed on small- 
 sized paper, but in January, 1799, paper of demi- 
 folio size was used. The next year the title of the 
 paper was changed to The Impartial Journal. Mr. 
 Trumbull conducted his paper with as much ability 
 as the editors of contemporary papers. He was a 
 Democrat in politics, and a firm supporter of Thomas 
 Jefferson, and wrote many articles in defense of the 
 President and his policy. His paper was discontinued 
 in 1806, the editor becoming a merchant. 
 
 Mr. John Munson, of New Haven, came to Stoning- 
 ton, and on July 6th issued the first number of a 
 newspaper entitled America's Friend. How long this 
 paper continued is not known, as but few numbers 
 have been preserved, but probably not more than one 
 or two years. 
 
 » By David S. Hart, M.D., A.M. 
 
 In March, 1824, Mr. Samuel A. Seabury came here 
 from Long Island, and commenced the publication of 
 a newspaper entitled The Stonington Chronicle. Only 
 one number was issued. The editor did not live to 
 issue another number. He died suddenly from bleed- 
 ing at the lungs. 
 
 In July, 1824, Mr. William Storer, Jr. (who had 
 previously published a newspaper at Caldwell, situ- 
 ated at the head of Lake George, Warren Co., N. Y.), 
 came here, and on July 28th was issued the first 
 number of a newspaper entitled The Yankee, and took 
 for its motto, — 
 
 " Where liberty dwells there is my country." 
 
 After three years the title was changed to The 
 Stonington Telegraph, under which title the paper 
 existed till July 22, 1829, when it was discontinued. 
 Nearly complete files of these two papers are in the 
 possession of the writer. 
 
 Mr. Storer was an experienced and able editor, but 
 his enterprise was a financial failure. He was deeply 
 in debt when he came here, and after a desperate 
 struggle with fate for five years, he departed, if possi- 
 ble, still more deeply in debt. During his residence 
 here Mr. Storer was chorister at the Congregational 
 Church, and was an ardent admirer of the order of 
 Free and Accepted Masons, in which he attained 
 high degrees. 
 
 The next adventurers in the newspaper line were 
 Charles W. Denison, a native of the borough, and 
 William H. Burleigh, son of Rinaldo Burleigh, the 
 famous one-armed preceptor of Plainfield Academy. 
 With these editors E. B. Kellogg, of Hartford, was 
 associated as printer. Messrs. Denison & Burleigh 
 were both good writers, and many excellent articles 
 appeared in The Stonington Phenix and The Stoning- 
 ton Chronicle, the successive titles under which their 
 paper was issued. The first number was published 
 in May, 1832, and the last number in May, 1834. 
 The enterprise was a complete failure, since the re- 
 ceipts from subscribers and advertisers were not sufii- 
 cient to support two editors, a printer, and that neces- 
 sary functionary, the printer's devil. 
 
 Notwithstanding the ill success which had hitherto 
 attended newspaper enterprises, Thomas H. Peabody, 
 of North Stonington, came here and commenced the 
 publication of a newspaper entitled The Stonington 
 Spectator, the motto of which was, — 
 
 " We are the advocates of no party." 
 
 Mr. Peabody at first was assisted by David Austin 
 Woodworth, of North Stonington, and after he left 
 by Marcus B. Young, of Norwich. The health of 
 the editor under his exhausting labors broke down, 
 and he was forced to discontinue the paper after it 
 had existed six months from May, 1834. Mr. Pea- 
 body was a young man of excellent character, and 
 his paper was conducted with considerable ability. 
 
 After him a few ephemeral attempts were made at 
 newspaper publishing, when at length Mr. Jerome S. 
 
66-i 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Anderson (who had many years ago, when a very 
 young man, in vain attempted to publish a newspaper 
 here) commenced the publication of The Stonington 
 Mirror, Nov. 27, 1869. This paper has been continued 
 without intermission to the present time (September, 
 1881), a period of nearly twelve years. Its circula- 
 tion is becoming more and more extensive, and reaches 
 nearly every State in the Union. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIII. 
 
 STONINGTON— (Continued). 
 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKT. 
 
 The first church organized in the town of Stoning- 
 ton was formed June 3, 1674. The preliminary steps 
 taken for the organization of the church originated in 
 the following vote, passed at a town-meeting held at 
 Stonington on the 6th day of April, 1669 : 
 
 " It was voted that those of the inhabitants whose 
 hearts God shall move that way may have liberty to 
 address themselves to the General Court for liberty 
 to erect and gather a Church amongst us. 
 
 " It was legally passed by vote that there should be 
 another town meeting on thursday next come a 
 seven night, being the 15th day of April next ensuing 
 the date hereof, for any who have a desire to pro- 
 pound themselves as to be beginners of the Church, 
 may give in their names to Mr. Noyes at that meet- 
 ing, at the meeting House about nine of the clock in 
 the forenoon." 
 
 Whether this adjourned meeting assembled or not 
 does not appear from the record, but a petition to the 
 General Court was preferred, asking liberty to asso- 
 ciate in church order, which after due consideration 
 was passed upon as follows, viz. : several inhabitants 
 of Stonington petitioning this court for their appro- 
 bation that they might settle themselves in church 
 order, this court grants them their petition. But be- 
 fore they organized themselves into church order they 
 (the town) set out five hundred acres of land for the 
 support of the ministry, met and agreed to build a 
 new meeting-house and fixed the site, and laid out 
 home-lots of twelve acres each for every inhabitant 
 around it. Built the meeting-house in 1672-73, dedi- 
 cated it, and on the 3d day of June, 1674, organized 
 the church with nine members, viz. : Mr. James 
 Noyes, Mr. Thomas Stanton, Mr. Nathaniel Chese- 
 brough, Mr. Thomas Miner, Mr. Nehemiah Palmer, 
 Mr. Ephraim Miner, Mr. Thomas Stanton, Jr., Mr. 
 Moses Palmer, Mr. Thomas Wheeler. They estab- 
 lished a covenant when they formed the church, as 
 follows : 
 
 " Ck>venanL~\n order to begin and Geather a Church of Christ in 
 Stonington, this third day of June 1674 do Covenant that whereas God 
 having Graciously received ua into the Covenant of his Grace, wliicli he 
 hath sealed to ua in Baptiam, we acknowledge ourselves indispensably 
 hound to hold fast the Doctrine of faith and manners contained in the 
 
 scriptures, of Truth, and attend all those duties wherein prescribed for 
 the inciease of our Faith and growth in holiness, and maintaining a 
 good conscience, and knowing that the confession of the name of Christ 
 is not to be separated from faith in tlje Heart, Eom. 10th, 9th, and that 
 he that is united unto Christ, and hath Communion with him, ought to 
 maintain Communion regularly with all his members. We whose hearts 
 God hath moved m this place to joyu together in the worship of God, and 
 partake of the Lord's Table, and therein desire to have the Prayers and 
 approbation of the Churches of Christ who may take knowledge of us, 
 do for the satisfaction of all men declare as followeth, that we un- 
 feignedly resine ourselves and our seed unto the Lord, receiving Jesus 
 Christ the Son of the living God, being God, being Man, and the only 
 Mediator between God and Man, as our Lord and Saviour, relying upon 
 the Grace of God for salvation and Blessedness, heartily submitting our- 
 selves to be ruled by his word and spirit, and as he is the author of 
 Unity and peace, we solemnly promise that by the assistance of God's 
 Grace we will Labor mutually to watch over one another, and to observe 
 all other Cliristian or Brotherly ofBces over one another which Christ 
 hath enjoyned, according to our respective places in this Church, and to 
 submit to the discipline of Christ, which we desire may take place 
 amongst us, and the worship of God to be upheld in the power and 
 spirituiilness thereof, as also to oppose Error, and teach all under our- 
 care as far as in us lies to know and serve the Lord. 
 
 " A Confemion of Faith.— We believe that there is one only God. Being 
 from himself and for himself, of whom and for whom are all things, wlio- 
 is infinite, Eternal, and unchangeable, in power, w isdom, Goodness, jus- 
 tice, Holiness, and truth. 
 
 " There are three sacred Persons of the Godhead : God the Father, God 
 the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, equal God and yet but one God. God 
 hath from all eternity fore ordained what shall come to pass, and did not 
 only fore see but fore determined. The eternal estate of Men aud Angels^ 
 together with God's general providence, which is exercised about all 
 things, there is a special Government over the rational Creatures. God 
 made the Angels aud IMan in holiness, but some of the Angels abode not 
 in the truth, which are nailed Divils. God gave to man when he made 
 him a rule of obedience for Life, and thretned Death in case of disobe- 
 dience, which rule of Obedience our first Parents transgressed by eating 
 the forbidden fruit, and we in them, and so Death passed upon all men ; 
 the sin of our first Parents became the fain of all mankind byimputation- 
 and derivation, and in such as are Adult by invitation and approbation. 
 God and father having eternally elected some of mankind unto life, did 
 in the fullness of time send his son to redeem them, and God the Father,, 
 and God the Son sent the spirit to sanctify them. We believe that Jesus 
 Christ, taking our Nature upon him as Mediator between God and man, 
 hath made full satisfaction to God for the sins of his Elect, and pur- 
 chased life for them by the merit of his active and passive righteousness, 
 and having received all power from the Father, doth in Execution of 
 hie prophetical, Priestly, aud Kingly office reveal unto and work in his 
 Elect whatsoever is necessary for salvation by his holy and blessed spirit. 
 "In the new Covenant God hath promised to all that believe in his 
 name, through Jesus Christ, and the immediate object of Justifying faith 
 in Jesus Christ in person and office as he is revealed in the Gospel, 
 and by Union with Christ by Faith, believei-s are made partakers of his- 
 Kighteousness, sonship, grace, and glory. Whereby through his Grace 
 they are Justified, Adopted, Sanctified, and shall enjoy ctarnal life. We 
 believe the scriptures of the old and new testament to be the word or 
 God, by the dispensing which the spirit, convinsing of sin and misery,, 
 and giveing knowledge of Christ, doth beget Faith, Repentance, and new 
 Obedience in the Elect. 
 
 " We believe that the Moral Law in the hand of Christ is a rule of 
 Obedience to believers, and that the sum of the Law is to love God with 
 all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. 
 
 "We believe that theie are two seals of the Covenant of Grace, Bap- 
 tism and the Lord's Supper ; Baptism is a sign of our entrence into- 
 Grace, and the Lord's Supper is a sign of our groth in Grace. 
 
 " We believe the Communion of Saints, the Resurrection of the body, 
 aud lij'e everlasting. Amen. 
 
 "We believe. Lord help our Unbelief." — Church iiecords, 
 
 Mr. James Noyes, who had been preaching here- 
 for the town since 1664, was ordained pastor of the- 
 church Sept. 10, 1674, and was married the next day 
 to Dorothy Stanton, daughter of Thomas and Anna 
 (Lord) Stanton. 
 
 The pastorate of Mr. Noyes was very acceptable to- 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 665 
 
 the people with whom he labored for about fifty-five 
 years ; dying Dec. 30, 1719. During his pastorate 
 he baptized eleven hundred and seventy-six persons ; 
 admissions to the church were three liundred and 
 twenty-nine persons. Previous to 1693 marriages in 
 Connecticut were celebrated by magistrates. After 
 that year ministers were invested with power to per- 
 form such ceremonies. But even then, such was the 
 feeling against the forms of the Church of England 
 that but few comparatively were married by the 
 ministers. Mr. Noyes celebrated forty-four marriages. 
 Previous to the death of Mr. Noyes, the planters in 
 the northern part of the town complained of the 
 distance they were compelled to go to attend church, 
 and often asked to have services in that part of the 
 town. Their request, being reasonable, was complied 
 with, and soon after his death the town was divided 
 into two religious societies, June 25, 1720, and was 
 duly organized as such the same year, and on the 8th 
 of February, 1721, met and voted to build them a 
 house of worship. 
 
 The Eev. Ebenezer Eosseter was the next settled 
 minister with the first church of Stonington. He was 
 ordained Dec. 19, 1712, and immediately commenced 
 his pastorate. The church and people were evidently 
 united in the call to Mr. Eosseter, and his preaching 
 was blessed to them. But the subsequent divisions in 
 the society greatly embarrassed him and impaired his 
 usefulness. The old meeting-house was too small to 
 accommodate the people that usually attended them, 
 and soon after the settlement of Mr. Eosseter a move- 
 ment was set on foot to build a larger and a better 
 meeting-house; but no definite action was taken until 
 1726, when a society-meeting was called to agitate the 
 matter, which resulted most unhappily, nor did the 
 trouble end there. Society and church meetings fol- 
 lowed each other for several years, and all about the 
 place to build their new meeting-house. This con- 
 troversy divided the church and society in 1731, when 
 each society erected a meeting-house of their own, 
 and had the pleasure of locating them just where 
 they pleased. 
 
 After the division of the society and church, the 
 «;. Eev., Nathaniel Eells was ordained over the east 
 church (whose meeting-house had been erected at the 
 Putnam Corners), June 14, 1783. Mr. Eosseter contin- 
 ued his labors with the West Society until his death, 
 which took place Oct. 11, 1762. It is worthy of note 
 that Mr. Eosseter retained the confidence of the people 
 in both churches during the whole controversy and as 
 long as he lived. The preaching and pastorate of 
 Mr. Eells with the East Society and church was most 
 acceptable to them, and was productive of great good. 
 After the death of Mr. Eosseter, Mr. Eells was called 
 to preach with the west church and society, dividing 
 his time between them. This arrangement was most 
 happy, and led to a reunion of the two churches and 
 societies in 1765. 
 
 Notwithstanding the reunion of the churches and so- 
 
 cieties on the basis of erecting and havingbut one meet- 
 ing-house in the future on a certain lot of land therein 
 agreed upon as a site, yet there was a growing feeling in 
 some localities to abandon the agreement and erect the 
 new meeting-house at Long Point. This plan was 
 finally consummated, and a new house, or rather the 
 old house at Putnam Corners, was taken down and re- 
 built at the boi-ough. Mr. Eells was greatly embar- 
 rassed and perplexed in his old age by these divisions 
 in his church. No man could have managed them any 
 better than he did. 'He was a man of fine, genial 
 presence, and his influence was exerted for the gen- 
 eral good.' Death found him at his post of duty, June 
 16, 1786. During his pastorate he baptized 747 per- 
 sons; admitted to the church, 115; marriages, 455. 
 
 The next settled pastor was the Eev. Hezekiah 
 North Woodruff. He was called and ordained July 
 2, 1789. He was settled on condition that he would 
 preach one-half of the time at the old meeting-house 
 and the other half at the new raeeting-house at Long 
 Point. His salary was to be one hundred pounds, 
 with firewood cut and delivered annually. He con- 
 tinued to labor with the people of his charge for a 
 number of years, and was finally dismissed by a mu- 
 tual council in June, 1808. During his pastorate he 
 baptized 88 persons; 52 were admitted 'to the church; 
 and he celebrated 106 marriages. 
 
 For several years the church was without a settled 
 pastor. In the mean time the pulpit was supplied by 
 the Eev. Jonathan Nigh, the Eev. Andrew Eawson, 
 Eev. Eoswell E. Swan, the Eev. Thomas Holt, and 
 the Eev. Mr. Bingham. Sept. 6, 1809, a committee 
 was appointed to wait on the Eev. Ira Hart and 
 procure his services for a few Sabbaths. , He came 
 and labored with them for a short time, and his labors 
 were so acceptable that he received a unanimous call 
 from the church and society, and was installed Dec. 
 6, 1809. Mr. Hart was a native of Bristol, Conn., and 
 graduated at Yale College in 1797. He was first set- 
 tled at Middlebury, Conn., where he remained until 
 1808, when his relations to that church was dissolved 
 by a mutual council, giving him the highest testimo- 
 nials of ability, character, and usefulness. After he 
 left Middlebury he preached at North Stonington as 
 a supply for four months, and was there when he was 
 called to this church. During the last war with 
 England he was appointed chaplain of the Thirtieth 
 Eegiment of Connecticut Militia, Col. William Ean- 
 dall, and served at New London and Stonington. 
 
 He was a man of superior talents, and was constant 
 in season and out of season. His great energy drove 
 him beyond his strength, his constitution gave way 
 under the pressure of increasing labors ; his health 
 rapidly failed him after a pastorate of almost twenty 
 years, and on the day fixed for the dedication of a new 
 house of worship erected for him he breathed his last, 
 dying Oct. 29, 1829. During his pastorate he bap- 
 tized 288 persons ; admitted to the church, 153 ; and 
 celebrated 148 marriages. 
 
66fi 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDOxV COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 The Eev. Joseph Whittlesey, of New Preston, Conn., 
 was next ordained and settled here, May 21, 1830, and 
 remained with this people until December, 1832, when 
 at his own request he was dismissed by a mutual 
 council held Dec. 4, 1832. He was settled on the 
 same conditions that Mr. Hart was. He baptized 
 twenty persons, and admitted to the church one hun- 
 dred and eight, celebrating twenty marriages. It was 
 during his pastorate that the Second Congregational 
 Church of this town was formed, by seceders from 
 this church residing at Stonington Borough and vi- 
 cinity. After him came the Rev. Peter H. Shaw, 
 installed Jan. 3, 1835, who remained a little over 
 two years ; dismissed by a mutual council in May, 
 1837, and afterwards assumed the pastorate of the 
 Congregational Church in North Stonington. After 
 the Second Church was organized at the borough, 
 Mr. Shaw preached in the morning at the Boad meet- 
 ing-house, and in the afternoon and evening at the 
 Mariners' church at Mystic River. Mr. Shaw bap- 
 tized seven persons, and admitted fourteen to the 
 church. After his departure the Eev. Nehemiah B. 
 Cook was called and settled by installation, March 
 7, 1838. He preached first at the Road meeting- 
 house in the morning, and at the Mariners' church 
 at Mystic River in the afternoon and evening. 
 
 This arrangement was continued up to 1847, when a 
 proprietors' meeting-house was erected at Mystic 
 Bridge, which was used by Mr. Cook and his congre- 
 gation every Sabbath afternoon and evening. During 
 the pastorate of Mr. Cook six members of this church, 
 with sixteen members of the Second Church at the 
 borough, residing in the vicinity of Pawcatuck Bridge, 
 formed the Pawcatuck Congregational Church on the 
 14th day of February, 1848. In 1851 thirty-seven 
 members of this church withdrew and formed the 
 Mystic Bridge Congregational Church, Jan. 20, 1852. 
 Previous to the secession of these members Mr. Cook 
 had preached in the afternoon at the Mystic Bridge 
 meeting-house ; subsequently the afternoon and even- 
 ing services were held at the proprietors' meeting- 
 house in the village of Mystic until 1859, when Mr. 
 Cook resigned his charge and united with the church 
 and society in calling a mutual council, which as- 
 sembled May 31, 1859, and dissolved the relation that 
 he sustained to this church and society. 
 
 During the pastorate of Mr. Cook he baptized sixty 
 persons, and celebrated seventy marriages. There 
 were admitted to the church one hundred and fifty-six 
 persons. 
 
 The pulpit was then supplied by the Rev. Dr. Peters 
 and others until the next year, when Mr. Pliny F. 
 Warner was called, and ordained Oct. 31, 1861, which 
 relation he sustained until Feb. 23, 1863, when a 
 council which had been mutually convened dissolved 
 the relation which he sustained to this church. He 
 was succeeded by the Rev. Paul Couch, of Jewett 
 City, Conn., a native of Newbury, Mass., which was 
 the birthplace of Mr. Noyes, our first settled minister. 
 
 Mr. Couch was educated at Dartmouth College. He 
 was invited to supply the pulpit at first for a single 
 Sabbath, and was so well liked that he was invited to 
 come and preach again. He came and supplied the 
 pulpit for a few Sabbaths, and was then engaged to 
 supply the pulpit without limit, which he has done 
 with great acceptance until the present time, and will 
 do so as long as he lives. Few abler and no better 
 man than he is engaged in the work of the ministry. 
 He is worthy of all praise and commendation for his 
 unselfish devotion to the interest and welfare of his 
 fellow-men. Long may it be before the sunset signal 
 shall call him away from this church and people ! 
 
 This church at present has a membership of one 
 hundred and one. A Sunday-school has been con- 
 nected with it since 1819, numbering seventy-five 
 scholars, under the superintendence of Deacon. B. F. 
 Williams, who is also deacon of the church. Society 
 committee, Richard A. Wheeler, Benjamin F. Stan- 
 ton (2), Thomas W. Palmer, Benjamin F. Williams, 
 and Avery W. D. Noyes. 
 
 The First Baptist Church in what is now the town 
 of Stonington was organized in the year 1775, and 
 located at Long Point, where most all the members 
 resided. This was the year in which Sir James Wal- 
 lace bombarded the place, which, with other scenes of 
 the Revolutionary war, doubtless retarded the progress 
 of the church. From 1777 onward the church had 
 its regular meetings. It is not known how many were 
 embodied in its organization, nor certainly who they 
 were, but Mr. Sands Niles and Mr. Nathaniel Palmer 
 and wife were among the number. This church was 
 gathered under the pastorate of the Rev. John Eath- 
 bone, and in 1781 reported to the Association a mem- 
 bership of thirty-two, and at the close of the first half- 
 century numbered fifty. The first meeting-house was 
 built after the close of the Revolution, and was a plain 
 substantial building some forty feet square, with box 
 pews, deep, slanting galleries, double doors on the 
 south, with a tower outside the body of the house on 
 the west, and steel triangle for a bell. It was a homely 
 structure, of the Puritan style, and was one of the 
 first meeting-houses erected in the village, and holds 
 an important place in its religious culture and history. 
 It was the scene of many revivals, and the birthplace 
 of many a new life. From this small beginning the 
 church grew to be a strong body, reaching a member- 
 ship at one time of three hundred and fifty. It has 
 had eleven pastorates, the most very brief. Rev. 
 Elihu Chambers' twenty years ; that of the Rev. Mr. 
 Anderson the same length of time ; that of the Rev. 
 A. G. Palmer, D.D., including two settlements, thirty 
 years. At present the church is not numerically as 
 strong as at some former periods, owing to the death- 
 roll and the changes incident to the fluctuations of 
 business. It reports a membership of three hundred, 
 with a flourishing Sunday-school of great and increas- 
 ing promise. The present house of worship was 
 erected under the ministry of the Eev. J. S. Anderson, 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 667 
 
 and subsequently enlarged. It is a fine building of 
 modern architecture, tastefully furnished, and admi- 
 rably arranged. The property of the church, includ- 
 ing a fine parsonage, is controlled and managed by a 
 board of trustees, elected annually. The pastor of 
 the church is Eev. N. G. Palmer, D.D. Deacons, 
 Simeon Palmer, O. B. Grant, F. D. Chambers, E. H. 
 Smith, Albert Gates. 
 
 The Eev. A. G. Palmer, D.D., the present incum- 
 bent, was born on Pung-hung-we-nuck Hill, in North 
 Stonington, Conn., on the 11th day of May, 1813. 
 His father, Luther Palmer, Esq., was an enterprising 
 and successful farmer, and a prominent man in the 
 community where he lived. The early life of the son 
 was devoted to farming in the summer, and to study 
 during the winter in the public schools. 
 
 At the age of nine years he experienced religion, 
 and became so interested in the cause that it changed 
 and shaped the purpose of his life. Working his way 
 on, he devoted all of his spare time to the study of 
 such books as he could command. In 1829 he was 
 baptized, after which he became all the more inter- 
 ested in the cause of religion, studying now for the 
 ministry. Coming up to manhood self-educated, he 
 began to preach the gospel, and at the age of twenty- 
 two years he was ordained, and was settled at West- 
 erly, E. I., in 1837, where he continued to preach for 
 six years most successfully, the membership at the 
 phurch increasing during his pastorate there from 
 thirty to three hundred. In 1843 he was settled at 
 Stonington Borough, where he continued to labor for 
 nine years, when he accepted a call from the First 
 Baptist Church of Syracuse, N. Y., where he re- 
 mained until 1855, when he received and accepted a 
 call from the Baptist Church in Bridgeport, Conn. 
 He labored with this people for three years, and in 
 1858 accepted a call from the Baptist Church at Wake- 
 field, E. I., and in 1861 returned to Stonington in re- 
 sponse to a call from the First Baptist Church, where 
 he had formerly labored. His pastorates have all 
 been productive of great good, and have left their 
 impress upon the churches with which he has labored. 
 Dr. Palmer stands deservedly high in his profession, 
 both as to character and ability. His action in speak- 
 ing is easy, fervent, and impressive, moving others by 
 the intensity of his own convictions, thereby exert- 
 ing a powerful influence over his audience. In all of 
 his intercourse with his fellow-citizens he sustains 
 the character of a Christian gentleman, favoring 
 every reform with unflinching devotion for the right. 
 His pastoral ministrations reach all classes of society, 
 especially the poor, the sick, and sorrowing, lighting 
 up the dark shadow of the valley of death with as- 
 suring hope and sustaining grace. Cheerfully bear- 
 ing every burden that falls to his lot, he strengthens 
 others to sustain theirs, giving to every passing event 
 its sunny side. On bridal occasions he is most happy, 
 imparting the influence of his own genial disposition 
 to enliven and make more assuring their plighted 
 
 faith. When called to the home of mourning he is 
 sympathetic and impressive, often solacing the sor- 
 rowing of the aiHicted by some sacred song, sung by 
 him with thrilling pathos and surpassing beauty. 
 Though not a graduate of any college, his ability and 
 culture were recognized by Madison University of 
 New York, which conferred upon him the honorary 
 title of D.D. 
 
 Dr. Palmer has become distinguished as a poet, 
 writing some very fine poems. In his bi-centennial 
 at the Old Eoad church, in 1874, alluding to the place 
 and scenes of his childhood, he speaks with match- 
 less beauty of his old, old home thus : 
 
 " Hail, old Pung-hung-we-nuck, land of my birth, 
 Thy airy heights o'ersweeping wide the sea, 
 To me thou art the dearest spot of earth, 
 Home of a proud and noble ancestry ; 
 I never may forget, where'er I roam, 
 The beauties of my childhood's Highland home." 
 
 Dr. Palmer descends from the Puritan Walter Pal- 
 mer, as follows : Walter Palmer and wife, Eebecca 
 Short ; Gershom Palmer and wife, Anna Denison ; 
 Ichabod Palmer and wife, Hannah Palmer; Ichabud 
 Palmer and wife, Elizabeth Noyes ; Elias Sanford 
 Palmer and wife, Phebe Palmer ; Luther Palmer and 
 wife, Sarah Kenyon. 
 
 Eev. Albert Gallatin Palmer descends maternally 
 from some of the most eminent and distinguished 
 families of Connecticut and Ehode Island, — from 
 Capt. George Denison and wife. Lady Anna Boro- 
 del ; Mr. Thomas Stanton, the interpreter-general of 
 New England ; the Eev. James Noyes ; Governor 
 William Brenton ; and Governor Peleg Sanford. 
 
 Baptist Church at AnguiUa. — During the year 
 1833 a subscription paper was circulated for the pur- 
 pose of raising money to build a meeting-house at 
 Anguilla, to be used as a branch of the Baptist Church 
 in Stonington borough. The project was successful, 
 the necessary funds were raised, and the house was 
 built and dedicated in August of the same year. Eev. 
 J. S. Anderson, then pastor of the borough church, 
 gave up his afternoon services in the village and held 
 them at Anguilla. In the autumn of 1834 the mem- 
 bers of the borough church living at Wequetequoc 
 and Anguilla were regularly set ofi"as a branch church, 
 and chose Gilbert Collins and Jedediah Eandall 
 deacons. Elder Anderson continued his afternoon 
 services there until the year 1837, when, yielding to 
 the wishes of the borough church, he labored with 
 them all the time. The next pastor was Elder F. 
 Bestor, who continued his labors about a year. In 
 the course of the year the people worshiping at An- 
 guilla receiving no ministrations from the borough 
 church, felt it their duty to organize as an inde- 
 pendent church. They were still members of other 
 churches, and in order to associate they obtained let- 
 ters of dismission, and then agreed upon articles of 
 faith and a covenant, which were publicly recognized 
 by a council of elders and brethren as the " Anguilla. 
 
668 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Baptist Church of Stonington," with a membership of 
 thirty-three. Elder Anderson succeeded Elder Bes- 
 tor in 1838, and in June of that year this church was 
 admitted into the Stonington Union Association, and 
 on the 15th day of December, 1888, Charles M. Davis 
 was chosen deacon of the church. Elder Anderson 
 continued his labors there until 1829. He was suc- 
 ceeded by Elder Chesebrough, Elder Erastus Denison, 
 and Brother Harlam Hedden, a licentiate from the 
 Second Church in Groton. On the 26th of May, 1844, 
 the church invited him to accept of ordination and 
 become their pastor. This invitation he accepted, 
 and was ordained to the work of the ministry and 
 the pastorate of this church on the 9th of June fol- 
 lowing by a council of el.ders and brethren from sister 
 churches. Elder Hedden continued his labors for a 
 few years, but the centralizing influences that attract 
 business and almost everything else to the villages 
 and business centres reduced this membership, so that 
 they all again sought a home in the surrounding Bap- 
 tist Churches, and public services were no longer held 
 at Anguilla, and the meeting-house, under the pro- 
 visions of its deed, reverted to the original grantor, 
 and is now used for a barn. 
 
 Second Baptist Church, Stoning'ton Borough.— 
 This church was gathered and organized in 1846. 
 The first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Lewis, who has 
 been succeeded by other ministers, laboring success- 
 fully with this people down to the present time. 
 
 The present pastor is the Rev. Solomon Gale, who 
 -has labored very successfully with the people, and is 
 highly esteemed by them. Membership, fifty-five; 
 Sunday-school scholars, twenty-one. Deacons, Hor- 
 ace Ross, Abraham Morrison. 
 
 Mystic Methodist Episcopal Church.— As early 
 as 1816 several Methodist clergymen visited Mystic 
 and preached occasionally. But no efforts were made 
 to organize a class preparatory to the promotion of a 
 church until 1824, when a class was organized con- 
 sisting of seven persons. No minister was stationed 
 at Mystic until 1826, when the Rev. Newell S. Spald- 
 ing was assigned to that place. The first Quarterly 
 Conference was held Aug. 13 and 14, 1828. The first 
 house of worship erected by the Methodist Society 
 was dedicated January, 1849. Prior to this time they 
 had worshiped in the Union meeting-house, now used 
 as a livery stable. The first house of worship (Meth- 
 odist Episcopal) was forty-two by thirty-three feet, 
 costing about eighteen hundred dollars. Unfortu- 
 nately it was destroyed by fire Feb. 17, 1851. The 
 loss was very severe, but undismayed, the church and 
 society resolved to build another and a better church, ' 
 which was completed before the close of the year, and 
 the people were again worshiping God under their 
 own vine and fig-tree. The present i)astor, the Rev. 
 D. L. Brown, is an able and interesting preacher, 
 laboring very successfully with the people of his 
 charge. The membership is ninety-two, with a flour- 
 ishing Sunday-school. Trustees, Elijah A. Morgan, 
 
 William R. Targee, Horace 0. Williams, Dr. A. T. 
 Chapman, Dwight Gallup, and F. M. Manning. 
 
 Second Congregational Church. — The first Con- 
 gregational Society of Stonington, after several un- 
 successful attempts to divide itself into two societies 
 by metes and bounds, called a meeting to assemble on 
 the 28th day of September, 1833, and after mature de- 
 liberation took a new departure and adopted a plan 
 for organizing a new church and society in Stoning- 
 ton, as follows : " that whenever forty members of the 
 First Society should withdraw and organize a new Con- 
 gregational Society at the borough, and elect society 
 officers, and shall give notice to the old society of 
 their doings within thirty days from the day of the 
 meeting, the new society shall then be regarded as 
 organized and receive $1825 of the old society's fund." 
 The conditions were immediately complied with 
 at the meeting. Forty-five members of the society 
 withdrew, formed a new society, and took their money 
 and invested it in a new meeting-house. As soon as 
 the new society was formed ninety-three members of 
 the First Church seceded and organized the Second 
 Church in connection with said society, Nov. 13, 1833. 
 Their first settled minister was the Rev. John C. 
 Nichols, who was called and installed May 15, 1834. 
 After laboring with that people for about five years, 
 he was dismissed by a mutual council. Since then 
 that church has had a succession of pastors whose 
 labors have been blessed to them. At present the 
 church is under the pastoral care of the Rev. Henry 
 B. Mead, an able, searching preacher, with a member- 
 ship of one hundred and eighty-four. Sunday-school 
 scholars, one hundred and twelve. , 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church at Mystic Bridge. 
 — This church was organized in 1885, under the labors 
 of a circuit preacher, the Rev. Hermon Perry. The 
 first house of worship was built, and the Rev. Wm. S. 
 Simmons was the first pastor. In 1867 their present 
 house was built, the other having been sol'fi to the 
 Roman Catholics. The present membership is 150, 
 with a Sunday-school numbering 100 scholars. The 
 church is now under the pastoral care of the Rev. 
 George C. King, whose labors have been most suc- 
 cessful and acceptable to the people of his charge. 
 Trustees, George W. Mallory, Ebenezer Morgan, John 
 E. Williams, A. C. Teft, Charles Grinnell, J. B. Sut- 
 ton, D. D. Mallory, D. L. Weems, M. C. Hill. 
 
 Pawcatuck Congregational Church.— During the 
 year 1843 six members of the First, with sixteen 
 members of the Second Congregational Church of 
 Stonington residing in the vicinity of Pawcatuck 
 Bridge united, with the advice and consent of a coun- 
 cil of neighboring churches with them assembled, and 
 formed a new church there, Feb. 14, 1843, under the 
 name and title of the Pawcatuck Congregational 
 Church. Their first public religious services were 
 held at the old Union meeting-house and in the hall 
 of the Academy until 1849, when they erected their 
 new meeting-house, which, to accommodate their iu- 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 669 
 
 creasing congregation, has since been enlarged. The 
 first settled minister was the Rev. S. B. Goodenow, who 
 was called and settled April 1, 1844. He remained 
 but one year. The next pastor was the Rev. Joshua 
 Brown, settled May 12, 1844, and after two months' 
 labor terminated his connection with the church. 
 Rev. James D. Moore commenced his labors July 21, 
 1844, and remained until 1846, when Mr. Whitmore 
 came and remained for one year. Rev. A. L. Whit- 
 man was settled in 1847, and continued to labor with 
 the church until 1866, when he resigned, and was dis- 
 missed by a mutual council that year. Mr. Whitman 
 was followed by the Rev. E. W. Root, who came in 
 1867 and remained until 1870. Then came the Rev. A. 
 H. Wilcox, who was settled in 1872, but whose failing 
 health compelled him to resign. He was succeeded 
 by the Rev. D. N. Brush, who in turn was followed 
 by the Rev. John P. Hawley, the present pastor, 
 whose services commenced April 1, 1881. Mr. Haw- 
 ley's pastorate has been very successful thus far, and 
 his known character and ability promise the best 
 results. Deacons, James G. Eells, Millon S. Green ; 
 Society Committee, Harvey Campbell, Nathan F. 
 Dixon, Millon S. Green, John E. Brown. 
 
 Calvary Episcopal Churcli. — The Calvary parish, 
 under the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United 
 States, diocese of Connecticut, was formed May 31, 
 1847. The corner-stone of this beautiful little stone 
 church (built from plans by Upjohn, the celebrated 
 architect) was laid Sept. 3, 1847. This church went 
 forward to completion, and was consecrated May 31, 
 1849. The Rev. Junius Marshall Willey was the first 
 rector, and has been succeeded by others, whose labors 
 have been productive of the best results. 
 
 The Rev. Alfred Goldsborough is the present rec- 
 tor, officiating very acceptably and successfully. 
 
 Officers of the parish are Alexander S. Palmer, 
 senior warden; Ephraim Williams, junior warden; 
 Vestrymen, B. F. States, R. F. Loper, R. H. Taylor, 
 E. P. Hubbard, I. R. Stevens, Thomas Wilkinson, 
 George W. Burtch, George Taylor, George Heydecker; 
 Collector and Treasurer, George Taylor ; Parish Clerk, 
 R. F. Loper. Parish members, one hundred and 
 twenty -five; communicants, eighty -five. 
 
 Sunday-school teachers, ten; scholars, seventy-five. 
 There is a memorial chapel connected with this 
 parish, located at Wequetequoc, but not now in use. 
 
 Greenmanville Seventh-Day Baptist Church.— 
 This church was organized in 1860, consisting of about 
 forty members. Their meeting-house was erected in 
 1851. The Rev. Sherman S. Griswold was the first 
 regular pastor, and held the position for about fifteen 
 years. During his pastorate he became interested in 
 our common schools, and held the position of school 
 visitor for several years, laboring very successfully 
 for the promotion of public education. 
 
 The present pastor, Rev. O. D. Sherman, has labored 
 very successfully among the people of his charge, and 
 stands deservedly high in his profession. 
 43 
 
 The temporal aflairs of the church are held and 
 managed by a board of trustees, consisting of David 
 Langworthy, Warren Lewis, and William B. Haynes. 
 Membership, thirty-eight; Sunday-school scholars, 
 thirty. 
 
 Mystic Bridge Congregational Church.— This 
 church was organized by thirty-seven seceding mem- 
 bers from the First Congregational Church of Ston- 
 ington, with five persons from other churches, on the 
 30th day of January, 1852, under the approval of a 
 committee of the Consociation of Congregational 
 Ministers and Churches of New London County, con- 
 sisting of Rev. Messrs. A. McEwen, D.D., Moderator, 
 Timothy Tuttle, Jared R. Avery, William Clift, and 
 Myron N. Morris, clerk. 
 
 For the first year the pulpit was supplied by several 
 ministers of the gospel. A call to settle was first 
 extended to the Rev. D. R. Austin, which was de- 
 clined. An invitation was then extended to the Rev. 
 Walter R. Long to become the pastor of the church, 
 which he accepted, and was duly installed Sept. 15, 
 1853. He continued with the church for about ten 
 years, preaching very acceptably to the people of his 
 charge. He was dismissed by a ministerial council 
 March 29, 1863. He was succeeded by the Rev. 
 Charles H. Boyd, who was settled as the second pas- 
 tor of the church in May, 1869, and continued to labor 
 with the church and people until May 6, 1865, when, 
 on account of failing health, he was obliged to resign. 
 He was formally dismissed by mutual council in 
 January, 1866, and died soon after. 
 
 Mr. Boyd was succeeded by several divines, both as 
 acting and settled pastors, down to the present time, 
 when the Rev. Charles O. Oliphant has become the 
 acting pastor of the church, preaching to great accep- 
 tance. The membership is one hundred and forty- 
 eight. Sunday-school officers, four ; teachers, seven- 
 teen; scholars, eighty-nine. The deacons are Nathan 
 Noyes, Hiram C. Holmes, Henry K. Sparks, and 
 George 0. Hopkins. The corner-stone of the present 
 church edifice was laid with appropriate ceremonies 
 on Thanksgiving-day, Nov. 24, 1859, and went on to 
 completion and dedication. It was enlarged in 1869, 
 by the addition of about fourteen feet to its length. 
 Society committee, Benjamin L. Holmes, Edwin B. 
 Noyes, and Charles M. Gallup. 
 
 St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church at Paw- 
 catuck. — Some thirty-eight or forty years ago Father 
 James Felton, 'of Boston, Mass., came to Pawcatuok 
 to celebrate mass and preach for the benefit of the 
 Catholics then residing at Pawcatuck and Westerly. 
 There being no church edifice of that order then at 
 Pawcatuck, he held and conducted his services in the 
 open air. The trustees of the Union meeting-house 
 tendered him the use of that building for religious 
 services as he might have occasion to use it. He con- 
 tinued his ministrations for about five years, and was 
 succeeded by Father Daley for one year, who was fol- 
 lowed by Father Duffy, under whose regime the Roman 
 
670 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Catholic church at Stonington Borough was erected, 
 and dedicated by Bishop O'Reilly in the year 1851, who 
 afterwards perished at sea in the ill-fated " Pacific." 
 Father Duffy remained pastor for two years, and was 
 succeeded by Father Tlioraas Dray, who remained 
 for six years, who in turn has been succeeded by sev- 
 eral priests, whose ministrations have been accept- 
 able to the people of their charge. 
 
 The pastorate of Father Lynch, the present incum- 
 bent, has thus far been very successful. In his pa- 
 rochial school there are one hundred and fifty children, 
 in the Sunday-school about four hundred and fifty, 
 and the total Catholic population two thousand two 
 hundred. 
 
 Trustees, Right Rev. Bishop McMahon, D.D., 
 Very Rev. Thomas Walsh, V.G., Rev. T. L. Lynch, 
 Laughlin Harty, and Thomas Bennett. 
 
 St. Mary's Eoman Catholic Church, Stonington 
 Borough. — This church was formed in 1851, and its 
 edifice was erected the same year by subscriptions from 
 the Catholics of Stonington, Westerly, and the Mys- 
 tics, under the supervision of Rev. P. Duffy, who was 
 its first pastor. At present it is joined to Mystic as 
 an out-mission, and attended by Rev. J. B. A. Dough- 
 erty. Trustees, Right Rev. Bishop McMahon, D.D., 
 Very Rev. Tlioraas Walsh, V.G., Rev. J. B. A. 
 Dougherty, pastor, Daniel Gilmore, and Jeremiah 
 Sullivan. Membership, six hundred and thirty ; 
 Sunday-school scholars, one hundred and ten. 
 
 St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Mystic 
 Bridge. — The church was purchased from the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Society, and dedicated 1870. Rev. P. 
 P. Lalor, first pastor ; present pastor. Rev. J. B. A. 
 Dougherty. Trustees, Right Rev. Bishop McMahon, 
 D.D., Very Rev. Thomas Walsh, V.G., Rev. J. B. A. 
 Dougherty, Anthony Ryan, Dennis Craddock. Mem- 
 bership, five hundred and thirty; Sunday-school 
 scholars, one hundred and sixteen. 
 
 The pastorate of the Rev. J. B. A. Dougherty (who 
 has the care of both of these churches) has but just 
 commenced, and bids fair to be successful. 
 
 The Advent Christian Association was organ- 
 ized in Stonington Borough, Sept. 1, 1874, by Capt. 
 George S. Brewster, William H. Smith, William F. 
 Tannar, and Benjamin 0. Brown, who commenced 
 religious services at the dwelling-houses of the asso- 
 ciated brethren until they secured the rooms of the 
 Young Men's Christian Association, where they now 
 worship. The organization of this association was 
 brought about by a few conscientious devoted men, 
 whose efforts have been blessed until their members 
 have increased beyond their expectations. Like all 
 of the primitive churches of New England, they 
 started with a fixed purpose, disregarding all opposing 
 forces, and with unshaken faith trusted in Him who 
 doeth all things well. They ha.ve no settled pastor, 
 but enjoy a stated supply from neighboring churches. 
 The church is greatly indebted to Capt. George S. 
 Brewster for his unselfish devotion to its interests. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIV. 
 
 STONINGTON— (Continued). 
 Manufactures — Sbip-building — Commerce, etc. 
 
 Mills and Manufacturing. — The first mill for any 
 purpose erected in the town of Stonington was built 
 in 1662, under the following stipulations, viz. : 
 
 " Articles of Agreement between us whose names are here under- 
 written as followeth this IC'i day of December, 1G61. We Thomas 
 Stanton senior, Samuel Chesebrough, Nath' Chesebrough, Elihu Palmer, 
 Nehemiah Palmer, Elisha Chesebrough, Thomas Miner, Sen., »& Clement 
 Miner, do bind ourselves each to the other in a bond of twenty pounds 
 to build a grist mill at the We-que-te-quock upon the river that runs by 
 Goodman Chesebrough's between this and Michaelmas next, each man to 
 be at equal charges, either in good pay or work, & each man to have 
 equal shares in the Mill A beneiits thereof, when it is built, and no man 
 to sell his share to any other person, if any of those will give as much for 
 it as another will ; & hereto we set our hands interchangably this lOtJi 
 of December, 1661. 
 
 " Thomas Stanton, Neh. Palmee, 
 
 " Samuel Chksebrough, Elisha Chzsebsoogh, 
 
 "Nathl. Chesebrough, Clement Miner, 
 
 " Elihu Palmer, Thomas Miner." 
 
 This agreement was followed by another between 
 the proprietors of the land to be used in building and 
 flowing, viz. : 
 
 " We William Chesebrough & Elihu Palmer, do hereby engage for 
 ourselves Sc our relations, that whatever land is taken up for the Dam 
 of the Mill before mentioned, or for any trench work, or that the water 
 in draining overflows or for the setting of the Mill & Mill house shall 
 go free without cost or pay to the undertakers of ye work as witness our 
 hands this lO'ii day of Dec. 1661 & this land is to remain to the mill 
 & undertakers as long as the mill continues in use; if it be defective and 
 not sold, to return to the above mentioned William Chesebrough & 
 Elihu Palmer, as witness our hands. 
 
 " William Chesebrough, 
 " Elihu Palmes. 
 
 " Witness : Thomas Miner." 
 
 This mill has been kept up and in operation ever 
 since, and is now the property of Mr. John F. Chese- 
 brough. 
 
 Farther up stream Mr. Chauncey Johnson, a few 
 years ago, built another grist-mill, on lands piirchased 
 of Capt. Charles P. Williams. 
 
 The second grist-mill was on the Pawcatuck River, 
 and was built before 1666. 
 
 During the early settlement of the town the wives 
 and daughters of the planters spun and wove all of 
 their linen and woolen cloth, and at first and aloDg 
 dressed the woolen goods by hand fulling-mills, color- 
 ing the same to suit their fancy in the old-fashioned 
 dye-tubs. The first movement to establish fulling- 
 mills in town for the dressing of woolen cloth came up 
 for consideration in town-meeting in 1624, when favor- 
 able action was taken upon a letter addressed to the 
 towns of New London, Norwich, and Stonington by 
 Roger Playsted, of Rhode Island, which, with the 
 answer of the town, is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " This may certify, the towns or the inhabitants of the township of 
 New London, Stonington and Norwich that in answer to ye request of 
 John L.imb, concerning building of a fulling mill at or about the head 
 of the Biver,for ye milling of the cloth that shall be raised in those 
 towns. Now if those towns shall please to engage certainly that they 
 will bring all the cloth they shall have occasion to have milled to this 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 671 
 
 mill mentioned, without suffering othei-s to be built within those town- 
 ships, or sending their cloth unto other places, so long as this mill can 
 answer, or in case this cannot, that one may he erected in some other 
 convenient place allowed and freely granted with what accommodation 
 is requisite for the carrying along of such a design by any of the afore- 
 said towns from time to time and at all times need shall require. 
 
 "Now this may certiinly inform you that if God shall spare my life 
 and afford me strength to go on with this design, that I will build a sub- 
 stantial fulling mill with fixtures to dry your cloth which shall be under 
 one yard and half in breadth, unto what size of thickness yourselves 
 shall direct, you paying me for doing, three pence for each yard, so 
 milled and dried, in money or pay equivalent, brought home to the said 
 mill or some other convenient place not witliholding my pay above six 
 months after the work is done, and it be conchided on in some short 
 time, I doubt not but in eighteen months after the mill may be finished 
 and ready to go, and if after this is done, any shall desire to have their 
 cloth sheared and dried, I shall join my sou to that work provided those 
 that have it so done shall pay what in reason such work is worth, and to 
 conclude if what above said be granted, I to the performance of what is 
 written have subscribed my hand this IS*-^ of June 1674. 
 
 "Roger Platsted. 
 
 "Stonington" 
 
 "Stonington answer to Mr. Plays ted's petition, that they are freely 
 willing that Mr. Playsted .'should go on about erecting a fulling mill in 
 these parts and to manifest their liking of the petitions made by the said 
 Playsted unto them and their acceptance of the same; this was agreed 
 upon and manifested by a vote at a public town meeting and ordered to 
 be recorded by the selectmen, &c. 
 
 " December 29, 1674." 
 
 The towns of New London and Norwich did not 
 accept of his proposition, so the whole matter failed. 
 
 John Shaw built the first fulling-mill in town on 
 Stony Brook, west of the present residence of Latham 
 H. Miner, and on land owned by him. The date of 
 its erection is not certainly known. The location of 
 the dam and the margin of the pond can now be 
 traced. It is more than a hundred years since it went 
 out of use. 
 
 " Weave-shops" were introduced and in use as 
 early as fulling-mills. The one manufactured the 
 cloth and the other dressed it. The wool was carded 
 and spun by hand ; the flax was pulled, rotted, broke, 
 swingled, hetcheled, spun, wove, and bleached by 
 hand. Later on these " weave-shops" became a sort 
 of manufacturing establishment for the production of 
 first-class goods. As early as 1760 the basement of 
 the dwelling-house of Capt. Richard Wheeler was 
 used by him for a weave-shop. He was also engaged 
 in tanning leather, using vats made of large chestnut 
 logs, dug out and imbedded in the ground near Stony 
 Brook. Apprentices for this trade were regularly in- 
 dentured and served for a given time, and then set up 
 business for themselves. 
 
 A mill for the manufacture of potash, saltpetre, 
 and powder, before and during the Revolutionary 
 war, stood near Stony Brook, on land now owned by 
 Nelson H. Wheeler, owned and operated by the 
 Shaws. During the Revolutionary war the blockade 
 of our sea-coast by the British was so close and effect- 
 ive that sugar and molasses became so scarce that it 
 was wellnigh impossible to get any for use. So a 
 sugar-mill was erected on lands of Deacon Joseph 
 Denison and operated by horse-power, in which sweet- 
 corn stalks were ground up and the juice pressed out 
 and boiled down for molasses and sugar. Before the 
 
 Revolution a grist-mill was erected on Stony Brook, 
 and known for a time as the Fellows' Mill. After- 
 wards it became the property of Dr. William Lord, 
 who held it until he left town, when it was purchased 
 by the late Capt. Charles H. Smith, who erected a 
 new dam, increasing the area of the pondage, and 
 built a new mill below the old one, with a powerful 
 water-fall, which made it one of the best grist-mills 
 in the State. 
 
 After the death of Capt. Smith the property was 
 sold to Frank Sylvia, who in turn sold it to the New 
 York, Providence and Boston Railroad Company for 
 a reservoir. 
 
 Mechanics and artisans are important persons in 
 any community, more especially in a new settlement, 
 where a large share of the capital is used in new 
 buildings. Carpenters, masons, and blacksmiths are 
 indispensable in a new settlement. William Chese- 
 brough, our first planter, was a blacksmith and gun- 
 smith, but did not follow either branch of his trade 
 after he came here to reside. James Babcock, of 
 Westerly, was a blacksmith, and continued the busi- 
 ness nearly as long as he lived. John Frink was our 
 first carpenter, and resided on Taugwonk. In 1673 
 there were blacksmiths in New London and Westerly, 
 but none in Stonington. At a town-meeting in 1671, 
 two twelve-acre lots were given to Jeremie Burch, if 
 he would come here and do the town smithery, which, 
 however, he declined. Whereupon the town ordered 
 the lots given to him to be attached and restored to 
 the town, which was done July 24, 1874. The town 
 did not procure a blacksmith for a year or more, nor 
 until James Dean, of Taunton, Plymouth colony, 
 came here and entered into an arrangement with the 
 town, which was adopted at a town-meeting as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 "At a public town meeting Legally warned and held on February the 
 28* 1676. 
 
 " For encouragement of James Dean in order to his settlement in our 
 town. Sundry inhabitants do engage themselves to pay unto the said 
 Dean a certain sum, which, for, and in consideration the said Dean 
 promiseth to repay all such persons in smithery work as each person 
 shall have occasion for, and that these presents shall reciprocally be 
 binding each to the other. 
 
 " The first, Mr Stanton Sen. promiseth five pounds, Mr Amos Richard- 
 son & his Son Stephen five pounds, Neliemiah Palmer twenty shillings, 
 Nathaniel Chesebrough twenty shillings. Thomas Stanton Jun. twenty 
 shillings, Ephraim Miner twenty shillings, Joseph Miner twenty shil- 
 lings, Goodman Reynolds and his son Thomas four shillings, Thomas 
 Bell twenty shillings, Henry Stephens twenty shillings, Edmund Fan- 
 ning twenty shillings, Joshua Holmes twenty shillings, Ezekial Main 
 twenty shillings, Samuel Minor twenty shillings, Adam Gallup twenty 
 shillings, Mr James Noyes ten shillings, Goodman Searle twenty shil- 
 lings. 
 
 "Tlie sum above mentioned is to be payed to James Dean at some 
 place in Stonington where he may or shall dwell, in either pork, butter 
 or wheat at oj before the last of November next ensuing after the date 
 hereof: the species mentioned are to be paid at price currant. 
 
 "The same day was granted to James Dean twenty four acres of up- 
 land which was foi-merly reserved by the town fur the accommodation of 
 a smith, which grant is to him and his heirs or assigns, provided he doth 
 the towns iron work for and duiing the full term of three years, but if 
 the said Dean shall decease in our town within the term, then the said 
 grant shall properly appertain to the heirs of the said Dean without mo- 
 lestation by or from the town, and this grant obligeth no further, but 
 
672 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 that for, the future each person payeth honestly for what work they have 
 done." 
 
 " At a Town meeting legally warned, Sept. 6, 1677, it was voted for the 
 smith's encouragement, Mr Richardson proniiseth to cart the thatch to 
 cover his house, and to allow him ten days work more. 
 
 " Adam Gallup, Thomas Edwards, and Thomas Fanning promiseth to 
 cut the thatch for his house. 
 
 "Lieutenant Mason and Gershom Palmer, each of them one days 
 work in carting. 
 
 " Mr Wheeler promiseth him two hundred of laths. 
 
 "At the same day James Dean had granted him one hundred acres of 
 land, where he can And it upon the commons, provided it intrench not 
 upon any former grant i. e: all former grants heing first satisfied. 
 
 " The selectmen vide." 
 
 " At a legal town nieethig held June 1", 1682, it was passed hy vote 
 that James Deane hath performed his couJilion made with the town. 
 
 " February the iSt', 1B76." 
 
 The two twenty-four-acre lots, or double lots, as 
 they were sometimes called, set apart and designed 
 for the use of a blacksmith, were situated a little way 
 easterly of the quarry ledge at Quiambaug. 
 
 Here Mr. James Dean erected his home and shop, 
 and commenced business in 1676. Subsequently he 
 received other grants of land, and became a promi- 
 nent man in the affairs of the town. He continued 
 to reside in Stonington until 1698, when he and sev- 
 eral other of the planters of Stonington went up and 
 joined the new settlement of Plainfield, Conn., and 
 was chosen town clerk there in 169S). 
 
 His son, James Dean, Jr., remained and built what 
 in our early days was known as the " Old Dean House," 
 at Dean's Mills, about the year 1700, which was de- 
 stroyed by fire in 1848. James Dean, Jr., did not 
 confine himself to blacksmithing, but learned the 
 business of fulling and dressing woolen cloth, and 
 for that purpose erected a fulling-mill on Caulkins' 
 Brook, afterwards known as Dean's Brook, about one- 
 third of the way from the old post road down to the 
 Dean's Mills. There he continued both branches of 
 business until his son, John Dean, reached manhood, 
 when he and his father built a new dam and erected 
 another fulling-mill near his dwelling-house, where 
 the dam now crosses the brook. After this arrange- 
 ment was effected they devoted their time and atten- 
 tion to cloth-dressing until 1807, when the fulling- 
 mill was enlarged into a factory building, with a 
 grist-mill, new machinery for cloth-dressing, wool- 
 carding, and for the manufacture of cotton and woolen 
 goods. These were introduced by Mr. James Dean, 
 the son of John Dean, with whom he had been en- 
 gaged in business from his early manhood. 
 
 Mr. James Dean continued in business until 1830, 
 when he retired. The property was subsequently 
 purchased by Capt. Charles H. Smith, who improved 
 the premises by raising the dam, increasing the pond- 
 age, and deepening the raceway, and leasing it to 
 parties for cloth-dressing, wool-carding, and for manu- 
 facturing purposes generally. 
 
 Samuel Gallup built a saw-mill and dam and the 
 mill-house, now standing, about 1765. The site of 
 this saw-mill is now overflowed by the pond of Capt. 
 Alexander Palmer's grist-mill. 
 
 Farther up this brook and west of the residence of 
 Uriah D. Harvey, Mr. Amos Denison built a saw- 
 mill more than one hundred years ago, which for a 
 while commanded a good share of business, but after 
 his death ran down and was discontinued. 
 
 Still farther up the stream the late Samuel Wheeler 
 erected a saw-mill in 1845, which was run success- 
 fully for several years, and after his death became 
 the property of his son, Samuel P. Wheeler, who 
 kept it in use while he lived, but after his death it ran 
 down, and has since been abandoned. 
 
 Previous to the year 1800 a grist-mill was erected 
 on Mystic Brook, above the village of Mystic, which 
 from its location and its water-power was considered 
 very valuable property. 
 
 In 1814 the General Assembly of this State incor- 
 porated the Mystic Manufacturing Company " for the 
 purpose of manufacturing cloths and other fabrics of 
 cotton and of wool, and of cotton and wool together; 
 and of brass, iron, and wood into tools, engines, and 
 machines for mechanical use; and also of grain into 
 flour and meal in the most advantageous manner.'' 
 Capital stock not to exceed two hundred thousand 
 dollars. 
 
 This company organized immediately and com- 
 menced business, leasing the grist-mill property above 
 the village, and the erection of two factories at the 
 north end of the village, which were successfully 
 managed and finally purchased by the late John 
 Hyde, Esq. The south factory has been destroyed 
 by fire. The north one is still standing, and is occa- 
 sionally leased for manufacturing purposes. 
 
 In 1850 another Mystic Manufacturing Company 
 was organized as a joint-stock corporation "for the 
 manufacture of cotton or woolen goods, or both," with 
 the late Henry Harding, Esq., as president. Capital 
 stock, fifteen thousand dollars. The company built 
 the factory at the south end of the village, which, 
 with steam-power and apparatus, was transferred to 
 A. B. Taylor in 1864, who ran it successfully for 
 about ten years. Afterwards it became the property 
 of the Groton Savings-Bank, who sold it to the Messrs. 
 Eawitser & Bros. 
 
 The firm of George Greenman & Co. built a factory 
 in 1849, at Greenmanville, which was owned by a 
 corporate company, and at first was managed by 
 Messrs. Crandall & Barber for seven years, since 
 which the factory has been enlarged and run by va- 
 rious parties down to 1873, when it was purchased by 
 W. F. Prosser and George H. Greenman, and they, 
 in company with George Greenman & Co., have run 
 it to the present time. During the late Rebellion a 
 large amount of capital was invested in an establish- 
 ment for the manufacture of machinery, and located 
 at Pistol Point, in the village of Mystic Bridge. 
 
 After, the close of the war it was changed so as to 
 manufacture cotton and woolen goods, After various 
 changes as to ownership and management, it was de- 
 stroyed by fire in 1875. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 673 
 
 Hitherto a planing-mill, in connection with the 
 sash and blind business, was established at Mystic 
 Bridge, but after various business changes and alter- 
 ations in the astablishment, and introduction of new 
 machinery, it is now known as the Lantern Hill Silex- 
 Works. 
 
 A windmill at Long Point was erected before the 
 Revolutionary war, and was used for several years, 
 but could not successfully compete with the water- 
 power mills in town, and so was given up. 
 
 John F. Trumbull, Esq., in 1861 built a stone fac- 
 tory in the borough of Stonington, which was first 
 used for the manufacture of horse-shoe nails. 
 
 In 1861 " The Joslyn Firearms Company" was 
 formed, under the joint-stock corporation laws, and 
 leased the building for their business. The close of 
 the war ended the demand for their goods, and the 
 company went out of business in 1864. 
 
 The Standard Braid Company was organized in 
 1866, with a capital of i?100,000, purchased this build- 
 ing and went on with their business, but the great 
 reduction in the price of their goods and heavy losses 
 compelled them to suspend. 
 
 Nothing was done in the factory for some time, nor 
 until the Atwood Machine Company purchased the 
 building and commenced making machinery for the 
 manufacture of silk goods. Under the skillful man- 
 agement of this company their business has increased 
 to such an extent that they have been compelled to 
 enlarge the building, and are still unable to fill their 
 orders. They give constant and remunerative em- 
 ployment to about one hundred and fifty men. 
 
 A company for the manufacture of textile goods 
 has just been organized in the borough, under the 
 presidency and principal management of Capt. George 
 Hubbard. 
 
 The Stonington Manufacturing Company was or- 
 ganized in 1869, with a capital of ten thousand dol- 
 lars, for the purpose of making household furniture ; 
 commenced and carried on business for a short time, 
 and then closed out its business. 
 
 The Stonington Jewelry Company was organized 
 in 1873, and subsequently its capital was increased, 
 and after about two years went out of business. 
 
 The Stonington Steamboat Company was organized 
 in 1867, with a capital of five hundred thousand 
 dollars. But in order to make a satisfactory terminus 
 for its new line of boats in Providence, changed their 
 base and organized the company as a Ehode Island 
 corporation. 
 
 The first dam built across the Pawcatuck Eiver was 
 located just below Pawcatuck Bridge, and a grist-mill 
 was erected on the Stonington side before 1666. The 
 next grist-mill in the Pawcatuck Valley was built on 
 the south side of Shunnseck River, a little way west of 
 its junction with the Pawcatuck, before the year 1700. 
 Another dam was built across the Pawcatuck River 
 before 1785, and a grist-mill was built on the Westerly 
 side soon after by Mr. Samuel Brand. About this 
 
 time a saw-mill was built on the Stonington side, and 
 afterwards an oil-mill, owned by Mr. John Congdon, 
 who sold out the property to Mr. John Schofield in 
 1806. Mr. Schofield enlarged the premises and intro- 
 duced machinery for wool-carding, spinning, weaving, 
 and fulling woolen goods, and carried on the business 
 during the war of 1812. The business after the close 
 of the war was not as good, but the establishment 
 continued its wool-carding and cloth-dressing and 
 manufacturing until 1831, when the late O. M. Still- 
 man purchased the entire property and carried on the 
 business. In 1848 he built the brick factory now 
 standing at Stillmanville, in operating which, with its 
 appendages, he contributed largely in building up 
 the village of Stillmanville. 
 
 Since Mr. Stillman's death the property has passed 
 into the hands of Ehode Island parties, who operate 
 it in connection with property on the other side, under 
 the name and style of the Westerly Woolen Company. 
 It is not certainly known who have been the succes- 
 sive owners of the mill privilege below Pawcatuck 
 Bridge from its erection in 1666 to the present time. 
 The present factory building there was erected by 
 Stillman Bros. & Co. in 1862, and is now owned and 
 operated by the Charmichael Manufacturing Com- 
 pany. A machine shop in the building is run by 
 F. V. & V. C. Stillman. The steam mill on Me- 
 chanics' Street is owned and run by the Moss Manu- 
 facturing Company, making cotton goods. Messrs. 
 Cottrell & Babcock commenced business at Pawcatuck 
 in 1855, employing a large number of men in manu- 
 facturing machinery of all kinds. In 1880, Mr. 
 Cottrell bought out the interest of his partner, and the 
 business is now carried on under the name of 0. B. 
 Cottrell & Co., engaged principally in making printing- 
 presses. 
 
 A large steam grist-mill and soap-factory on Me- 
 chanics' Street, principally owned by Peleg S. Barber, 
 Esq., has been in successful operation for several 
 years, doing a large and extensive business. 
 
 A carpenter's shop, south of the mill of Stillman 
 Bros. & Co., operated by water-power, is used for 
 making doors, window-sash, and everything in the 
 wood line necessary for first-class builders. It has 
 been run for several years by the late firm of C. Mason 
 & Co., and has furnished goods for all of the builders 
 in the vicinity, and is now operated by their suc- 
 cessors, doing first-class work. 
 
 Two quarries have been opened and worked in this 
 town ; one at Quiambaug, and the other at Taugwonk, 
 but neither successfully thus far. With abundant 
 capital and proper management they may yet prove 
 a success. 
 
 Formerly our citizens associated their wealth and 
 sent ships to the uttermost parts of the earth to pro- 
 cure oil from the leviathans of the deep. But 
 latterly they have associated for the purpose of gather- 
 ing it from the tiny, bony fish that float along our 
 coast in countless myriads. Two companies, organ- 
 
674 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ized as partnerships, are engaged in the prosecution 
 of the business, one at Noyes' Neck, and the other 
 on Mason's Island ; both under able and effective 
 management, aided by resolute and intelligent em- 
 ployes. 
 
 A machine- and repair-shop, operated in connec- 
 tion with the railroad and steamboat companies at 
 the borough, under the supervision of the Messrs. 
 Slades, is doing a large business, and is adding largely 
 to the net profits of both companies. 
 
 Ship-building. — The first ship-builders in this 
 region were Thomas Wells and George Denison. 
 They resided in what is now Westerly, though at the 
 time claimed as a part of the present town of Stoning- 
 ton. Joseph, the son of Thomas Wells, was also a 
 ship-builder. 
 
 On the 3d day of January, 1680, Joseph Wells 
 signed a contract to finish up a vessel then on the 
 stocks at Pawcatuck. On the 20th of May, 1680, he 
 signed another contract for the building of a vessel, 
 wherein he describes himself as of Mystic, Conn. He 
 married Hannah Reynolds, of Stonington (Mystic), 
 Dec. 28, 1681, and settled in Groton, where he died, 
 Oct. 26, 1711. Joseph Wells, soon after his location 
 at Mystic, built a ship for Amos Richardson, of Ston- 
 ington, which ended in litigation. To what extent 
 ship-building was carried on in Stonington from the 
 days of Joseph Wells down to the Revolution it is 
 now impossible to tell, for no known record thereof 
 exists. Several small craft were built at Stonington, 
 Long Point, and on the Mystic River before and 
 during the war of the Revolution, but their owners 
 and tonnage is not certainly known. 
 
 Before the Revolution the accumulated wealth of 
 the inhabitants was largely invested in commerce, 
 building most of their vessels. Long before the Revo- 
 lution, Col. Joseph Pendleton, of Westerly, built a 
 brig on the west bank of the river below Pawcatuck 
 bridge, which was launched and floated down the 
 river with much difficulty. She was sent to New 
 York under command of his son, Capt. Joseph Pen- 
 dleton, and was loaded with a cargo for the West 
 Indies, which she carried in safety. After discharging 
 and reloading with molasses, etc., she started on the 
 home voyage, after which nothing was heard of the 
 vessel or crew. The General Assembly of Rhode 
 Island, in consideration of his heavy loss and other 
 misfortunes equally as great, gave him a lottery grant 
 of a tract of land, on part of which is now located 
 Lottery village. This land was laid out in one hun- 
 dred and twenty-six house-lots, and put up in a lot- 
 tery, each successful ticket-holder drawing a house- 
 lot. The grant was dated Feb. 27, 1750, and was 
 executed by Isaac Sheffield and Elias Thompson, 
 aided by W. Babcock as surveyor. 
 
 Near the old Tristam Dickens house, on the west 
 bank of Pawcatuck River, opposite Lottery village, 
 there was built in 1823 the schooner Julia Ann, 60 
 tons, Capt. Nathan Barber. 
 
 The following vessels were built by Mr. George 
 Sheffield, of Pawcatuck : 
 
 1818, sloop Connecticut, 50 tons; Capt. Stephens. 
 
 1823, brig Rimack, 175 tons ; Capt. Basset. 
 
 1824, brig Pomona, 225 tons; Capt. Newton. 
 
 1825, schooner Phrenix, 150 tons; Capt. Spicer. 
 
 1826, schooner William, 175 tons ; Capt. Peleg 
 Wilbur. 
 
 1829, brig Christopher Burdick, 165 tons ; Capt. 
 Burdick. 
 
 He built two ve.ssels at Stonington borough. 
 
 1821, ship Stonington, 250 tons ; Capt. Hull. 
 
 1822, brig Pomona, 175 tons; Capt. Barnes. 
 George Sheffield & Sons built the following ves- 
 sels: 
 
 1830, sloop Caspian, 50 tons; Capt. William C. 
 Pendleton. 
 
 ] 832, sloop New York, 60 tons ; Capt. Wilcox. 
 1833, sloop Pioneer, 75 tons; Capt. Wilbur. 
 
 1838, sloop George Eldredge, 75 tons ; Capt. Eld- 
 redge. 
 
 1839, brig George Moon, 250 tons ; Capt. Moon. 
 
 1840, brig Edward, 275 tons ; Capt. Magna. 
 
 1842, sloop Pawcatuck, 30 tons; Capt. Ethan Pen- 
 dleton. 
 
 1843, ship Ann Welsh, 450 tons ; Capt. Dunham. 
 
 1844, sloop China, 40 tons ; Capt. Ethan Pendleton. 
 
 1845, three-masted schooner Arispa, 100 tons ; Capt. 
 Gates. 
 
 H. & F. Sheffield built the following vessels : 
 1847, schooner Phoenix, 80 tons; Capt. James R. 
 Dickens. 
 
 1849, schooner Frances, 130 tons; Capt. Hawley. 
 
 1850, steamer Water Lily, 75 tons; Capt. J. A. 
 Robinson. 
 
 1851, schooner Nebraska, 200 tons; Capt. Blake. 
 
 1852, brig Escambra, 250 tons ; Capt. Magna. 
 
 1852, steamer Tiger Lily, 100 tons; Capt. J. A. 
 Robinson. 
 
 1853, schooner Hannah Martin, 230 tons; Capt. 
 Morgan. 
 
 1854, schooner Sarah Starr, 250 tons; Capt. Bun- 
 nell. 
 
 1856, sloop Tristam Dickens, 70 tons ; Capt. J. R. 
 Dickens. • 
 
 1856, schooner George Sheffield, 260 tons; Capt. 
 Stiles. 
 
 The following vessels were built by Mr. John 
 Brown : 
 
 1821, sloop Flying Fish, 30 tons; Capt. Brown. 
 
 1822, sloop Franklin, 30 tons ; Capt. E. Brown. 
 1825, sloop Fame, 46 tons ; Capt. E. Brown. 
 
 All three built where C. Maxon & Co.'s carpenter- 
 shop is now located. 
 
 1830, schooner Fox, 60 tons ; Capt. Elias Brown ; 
 built where C. Maxon & Co.'s barn is now located. 
 
 1832, sloop John Brown, 50 tons ; built for a Mr. 
 John Brown, of Fall River, Mass., on the lot formerly 
 occupied by Hull & Dickinson as a lumber-yard. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 675 
 
 1832, schooner Flash, 75 tons ; Capt. Elias Brown, 
 built at the same place as the above. 
 
 There was framed in the yard in the rear of the 
 late Jesse Breed, West Broad Street, a small sloop 
 named Willie SheiBeld, between 20 and 80 tons, which 
 was conveyed to the river and launched in April, 
 1867, commanded by Capt. N. M. Card. 
 
 In 1867, June 12th, there was launched near the 
 residence of Timothy Gavitt the sloop Glide, 24 tons ; 
 Capt. Timothy Gavitt. 
 
 There were built west of C. Maxon & Co.'s barn. 
 West Street, and launched sideways, the following : 
 
 1855, schooner Niantic, 80 tons, Capt. George P. 
 Barber. 
 
 1865, schooner Josephine, 50 tons ; Capt. Charles A. 
 Maxon. 
 
 There were built on the lot formerly occupied by 
 Hall & Dickinson as a lumber-yard, Mechanic Street, 
 by Stephen L. Dickerson, for Oliver D. Wells, the 
 following vessels : 
 
 1842, schooner Urbanna, 137 tons ; Capt. Small. 
 
 1848, schooner Tallahassee, 120 tons ; Capt. Oliver 
 Gavitt. 
 
 1842, ship Wabash, 500 tons ; Capt. Charles T. Stan- 
 ton. This vessel was built near " Cuff's house," 
 below Pawcatuck Rock. 
 
 Christopher Leeds built several small vessels at 
 Upper Mystic after the close of the last war with 
 
 England, viz. : brig Hersilia, schooner , and 
 
 others. He built two small steamboats for Silas E. 
 Burrows, viz. : Cadet and New London. 
 
 Messrs. Greemans commenced ship-building at the 
 head of Mystic in 1827, where they built a number of 
 small vessels, mostly smacks and sloops. When they 
 moved down to their present location, in 1838, then 
 called Adam Point, they commenced building fishing- 
 vessels, schooners, and brigs for Southern coasting 
 trade. As business increased, the demand came for 
 larger vessels, and they built a number of ships for 
 European trade, and finally, when the California 
 trade opened, they built several large ships for that 
 and other trades, building for one house in New York 
 fifteen large ships, averaging about 1500 tons each. 
 They have also built quite a number of screw- 
 steamers and side-wheel steamboats, three-masted 
 schooners, yachts, pilot-boats, and, in fact, all kinds 
 and descriptions of vessels, both sail and steam, as 
 many as one hundred and twenty-five in all. 
 The following is an incomplete list : 
 
 Ship Silas Greenman, for Everett 
 
 & Brown. 
 Ship William Bathbone, for Everett 
 
 & Brown. 
 Ship John BaseoD. 
 Ship E. C. Scranton, for Everett & 
 
 Brown. 
 Ship Caroline Tucker, 1863. 
 David Crocket, 1863. 
 
 Ship Belle Wood, 1864. 
 
 Ship Leah,i 1866. 
 
 Ship Atmosphere, 1858. 
 
 Ship Prima Donna, 1858. 
 
 Bark Texana,2bniltin 1869. 
 
 Screw-steamer New London, built 
 
 in 1869. 
 Bark Lucy B. Ashby, built in 1859. 
 Bark Heiress, built in 1860. 
 
 1 Lost at sea. 
 
 2 Burnt by the rebels on Florida coast. 
 
 Brig Belle of the Bay, built in 1860. 
 Bark Diadem, built in 1861. 
 Screw-steamer Blackstone, built in 
 
 1861. 
 Screw-steamer Thames, built in 
 
 1861. 
 Screw-steamer Oriole, built in 1861 
 
 Side-wheel steamer San Juan, built 
 
 in 1862. 
 Screw-steamer Delaware, built in 
 
 1862. 
 Side-wheel steamer Escert, built in 
 
 1862. 
 Ship Favorite, built in 1862. 
 Screw-steamer Constitution, built 
 
 in 1862-63. 
 Screw-steamer Weybossett, built in 
 
 1863. 
 Side-wheel steamer Rafael, built in 
 
 1863. 
 Screw-steamer Montauk, 1863. 
 Side-wheel steamer Ann Maria, 
 
 built in 1863-64. 
 
 Screw-steamer Idaho, built in 1864. 
 Side-wheel steamer W. W. Coit, 
 
 built in 1864. 
 Side-wheel steamer Fountain, built 
 
 in 1864. 
 Side-wheel steamer City Point, 
 
 built in 1864. 
 Steam-tug George, built in 1864. 
 Brig William Edwards, built in 
 
 1865. 
 Brig Amanda Guion, built in 1865. 
 Ship Ould Stream, built in 1866. 
 Bark Cremona, built 1867. 
 Ship Frolic, built in 1868-69. 
 Schooner G. P. Pomeroy, three- 
 masted, built in 1872. 
 Three-masted schooner Nellie 
 
 Lamper, built in 1873. 
 Two steam-lighters, built in 1874. 
 Schooner William H. Hopkins, 
 
 three-masted, built in 1876. 
 Side-wheel steamer G. R. Kelsey, 
 
 and others. 
 
 Vessels built by Charles Mallort, Esq., at Mystic Bridge. 
 Steamers. 
 
 Launched. Tou. 
 
 Penguin 
 
 Vjiruna 
 
 Owasco, U. S. gov't 
 
 Falcon 
 
 Eagle 
 
 Haze 
 
 Thorne 
 
 Stars and Stripes 
 
 Union 
 
 Oreole 
 
 Augusta Dinsmore 
 
 Mary Sanford 
 
 Governor Buckingham 
 
 Yazoo 
 
 Varuna 
 
 Victor 
 
 General Sedgwick 
 
 Atlanta 
 
 1869 
 .1860 
 186] 
 1861 
 1861 
 1861 
 1861 
 1861 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 400 
 
 676 
 
 875 
 
 198 
 
 210 
 
 210 
 
 410 
 1100 
 1066 
 
 727 
 
 721 
 
 912 
 1285 
 1007 
 1340 
 
 817 
 1054 
 
 Clipper-^ 
 
 Launched. Ton. 
 
 Ella, side wheel 1864 246 
 
 Ariadne 1864 792 
 
 Euterpe 1864 824 
 
 Loyalist 1864 335 
 
 Twilight 1865 644 
 
 A. J. Ingersoll 1865 803 
 
 Varuna 1869 670 
 
 8 Spanish gunboats 1869 8174 
 
 Bolivia 1869 609 
 
 City of Galveston 1870 1110 
 
 City of Austin 1871 1492 
 
 Carondelet 1873 1461 
 
 Aurora 1874 869 
 
 Sisson 1875 94 
 
 jEronaut 1876 94 
 
 Gerett Polhimua 1875 78 
 
 Telegram 1876 46 
 
 Launched. Ton. 
 
 Eliza Mallory 1851 647 
 
 Alhoni 1862 916 
 
 Pampero 1853 1376 
 
 Hound 1853 714 
 
 Samuel Willets 1854 1300 
 
 Elizabeth F. Willets.... 1864 826 
 
 Mary L. Sutton 1865 1448 
 
 Launched. Ton. 
 
 Constitution 1867 600 
 
 Twilight (1) 1867 1482 
 
 Haze 1869 800 
 
 Twilight(2) 1866 1303 
 
 Annie M.Smull 1868 1064 
 
 Part of his whaling fleet. 
 
 Baris. 
 
 Launched. Ton. 
 
 Ann 1864 700 
 
 Frances 1865 600 
 
 Lapwing 1859 690 
 
 Launched. Ton. 
 
 Tycoon 1860 736 
 
 Galveston 1806 622 
 
 Schoanere. 
 
 Eliza A. Potter.. 
 
 Launched. Ton. 
 1867 247 
 
 Vessels built by Irons & Ghinnell, Mystic Bridoe, in and after 
 1840. 
 
 Tonnage. 
 
 BrigAlmeda 250 
 
 Ship Han let Hoxie 700 
 
 Ship Charles Mallory 800 
 
 Ship Asa Fish 400 
 
 Cavalo.bark 300 
 
 Electric, clipper-ship 1200 
 
 Harvey Burtch,ahip 1500 
 
 Tonnage. 
 Andrew Jackson, clipper-ship. 1600 
 
 Eacer,ship 800 
 
 4 brigs, East, West, North, and 
 
 South MOO 
 
 6 schooners, names and tonnage 
 
 not preserved. 
 Ship Montauk 400 
 
 Mr. Dexter Irons died in 1858, and a new firm 
 of Hill & Grinnell was established, who carried on 
 the business. 
 
676 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 "Vessels built by Hill & Grinnbll at Mystic Bbidge. 
 
 Built. Tonnage. 
 
 Steamer Linda 1884 450 
 
 Belief 1865 SOU 
 
 Bark Marv E. Packer 18fi6 800 
 
 " Acquiilnick 1865 350 
 
 " More OfLStle 1888 460 
 
 Five Spanish Kunboate 1869 ZOO (each.) 
 
 Schooner Nettie M. Rogers 1870 60 
 
 Raven's Wing 1870 230 
 
 Pilot-boat Eclipse, schooner.. 1870 70 
 
 Ferry-boat Union 1872 126 
 
 Sloop-smack Florida 1873 60 
 
 Bark George Moon 1874 1000 
 
 Vessels built by Mason C. Hill. 
 
 Built. Tonnage. 
 
 Steamer Gypsey 1876 70 (about.) 
 
 Annie L. Wilcox 1877 130 
 
 G.S.Allen 1877 1.30 
 
 " Manhanset 1879 128 
 
 Vessels Built at Stonington Borough. — Pe- 
 leg Brown and Eliaba Denison were in their day en- 
 gaged in sliip-building and in the West India trade, 
 but the names and tonnage of the vessels built and em- 
 ployed by them has not been preserved. Mr. Brown, 
 in his will, dated in 1796, provides for finishing a ves- 
 sel then on the stocks in which he was interested. In 
 1811, Capt. Nathaniel Palmer and Mr. Morrill built 
 the ship " Volunteer," which was sold in New York. 
 The ship " Cotton Planter" was built by Mr. Giles R. 
 Hallam, which was also sold in New York. Ship 
 " Hydaspy" was built in 1822 by Capt. Edmund 
 Fanning. He also built the ship " Almyra," which 
 was sold in New York. The schooner " George" was 
 built by William Miller. Gen. William Williams 
 built ships "General Williams," "Robert Brown," 
 and "Pomona." Brigs "Seraph," "Othello," and 
 " Bogatar" were built by Captain Edmund Fanning. 
 The brigs "Bunker Hill" and "Dandy" were built 
 by Mr. William A. Fanning. 
 
 The following vessels were built by various parties, 
 viz. : Ships, " Charles Phelps" and " Glen." Brigs, 
 " James," " Lawrence," and " Tampico." Schooners, 
 " Joseph Warren," " J. C. Waldron," " Breakwater," 
 " Pacific," " Defence," " Hancox," " James I. Day," 
 and "Williams." Sloops, " Hero," "James Monroe,"* 
 "Paulino," and "Deacon Fellows." The ship "Betsey 
 Williams" was built by Charles P. Williams in 1846. 
 Schooners, "Juliet" (yacht), by N. B. Palmer; 
 "White Wing" (yacht), by 0. P. Williams; "Jo- 
 sephine," "America," 60 tons, "Madgie," 112 tons, 
 "Palmer," 194 tons, "Madgie," 164 tons (yachts), by 
 E. F. Loper; "Nora" (yacht), by N. B. Palmer; and 
 "Juliet" (yacht), by N. B. Palmer (2). There were 
 built at Quiambaug, by Jesse Wilcox, sloops " Hattie," 
 " Inthia," and several others. 
 
 Before the Revolution, and when the West India 
 trade was so profitable, vessels of all sorts and descrip- 
 tions were pressed into the business. 
 
 Vessels from fifteen tons and upwards were used, 
 and some of them were framed and set up in the 
 woods where the timber grew, and then taken down, 
 carried to some suitable place on the shore, com- 
 pleted, and launched. Four such vessels were framed 
 in the woods of Deacon Joseph Denison, and two in 
 
 the woods of Mr. Jonathan Wheeler, besides others 
 in different parts of the town. 
 
 The " Royal Limb," a famous canoe, was made 
 Irom the limb of a tree so large that a barrel of mo- 
 lasses could be easily rolled on the inside from one 
 end to the other. The butt of the tree from which 
 the limb was taken was forty-eight feet in circum- 
 ference. The heart rotted out in its old age, leav- 
 ing an aperture in the south side, and before it fell 
 a score of sheep could easily find shelter from the 
 weather in the cavity of the tree. 
 
 Commerce. — The license granted by the General 
 Court of Connecticut in 1650 to Thomas Stanton for 
 the exclusive trade of Pawcatuck River for three 
 years laid the foundation of the commercial relations 
 of this town with the West Indies. Parties in New 
 London became interested with Thomas Stanton & 
 Sons, and carried on a successful trade with the In- 
 dians and the West Indies, principally with Barba- 
 does. Trade was also carried on with Boston and 
 the Plymouth colony to a considerable extent. 
 Thomas Hewitt, of Hiugham, came into Mystic River 
 in 1656 and bought up the surplus produce of the 
 planters in that region. He subsequently married 
 Hannah, daughter of Walter Palmer, in 1659, bought 
 and built him a house on the grounds of the Elm 
 Grove Cemetery and continued his coasting trade, 
 and left for the West Indies in 1661 and was never 
 again heard of, vessel or crew. The Messrs. Stanton 
 continued and increased their fur trade, and in order 
 to reap all of its advantages Daniel Stanton, one of 
 the firm, went and resided at Barbadoes, where he 
 remained until his death. Edward Denison, son of 
 the ship-builder, George Denison, of Westerly, re- 
 moved to Stonington and built the house lately occu- 
 pied by the town clerk's office at the Road in 1714, 
 where he remained until 1752, when he built the first 
 house in Stonington Borough, and that year built the 
 first wharf of the place, and he and his son, John 
 Denison, continued their West India trade, in which 
 they had previously been engaged at Pawtucket. 
 
 Samuel Stanton, grandson of Thomas Stanton, .soon 
 sold out his real estate at Pawcatuck, and with his 
 son Nathan came over to the borough and built the 
 Polly Breed house, and engaged in the West India 
 trade, which was followed by Capt. Ebenezer Stanton, 
 son of Nathan. 
 
 William Williams, living near Mystic, became 
 largely interested in commerce. His son William 
 commanded one of his vessels, and died at sea in 
 1770. His wife died at home a few days after, 
 leaving two children, — William, the late Maj.-Gen. 
 William Williams, and Eunice, first the wife of Rufus 
 Wheeler, and after his death the wife of the Hon. 
 Coddington Billings, and mother of his sons, Noyes 
 and William, and daughter, Mrs. Eunice Farnsworth, 
 of Norwich, Conn. 
 
 Deacon Joseph Denison was also interested in com- 
 merce, and later the Haley family participated. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 677 
 
 The Eevolutionary war almost annihilated com- 
 merce. After its close it slowly recovered, but before 
 it had assumed its former proportions the embargo 
 acts of Congress and the complications with European 
 powers prostrated it again. 
 
 Then came the last war with England, with a close 
 blockade of our harbor, crippling our commerce. 
 
 After the close of the war commerce again revived, 
 and has been prosecuted with great success in almost 
 every department of trade. Fishing and the whaling 
 business very early attracted the attention of our 
 people. 
 
 In 1647 the General Court enacted this: "If Mr. 
 Whiting, with any others, shall make trial and prose- 
 cute a design for the taking of whale within these 
 liberties, and if upon trial within the term of two 
 years they shall like to go on, no others shall be suf- 
 fered to interrupt them for the term of seven years.'' 
 Whether Mr. Whiting engaged in the business or not 
 does not appear. 
 
 As early as 1701, and for several years thereafter, 
 whales were taken and brought on shore at Wada- 
 wamuck, the oil tried out and sold in Boston and the 
 West Indies. After the close of the Revolution a law 
 was passed exempting all vessel property engaged in 
 the fish and whaling business from taxation. Also the 
 polls of the men employed four months on board a 
 fishing or whaling vessel was exempted from taxation. 
 After 1790 the exemption of the vessel property was re- 
 pealed, but the exempting of poll-tax was continued. 
 Under the patronage of the State, whaling was car- 
 ried on principally at and from New London, but 
 nothing of the kind was done here until some time 
 after the close of the last war with England. On and 
 after 1880 severafprominent business men in Stoning- 
 tongave their attention to the whaling business, viz. : 
 Capt. Charles P. Williamsfcfiarles Mallory, John F. 
 Trumbull, Francis Pendleton, Joseph E. Smith, and 
 Moses Pendleton, aided by a most intelligent and able 
 set of captains and subordinates, successfully prose- 
 cuted the business, and for several years it was the 
 is most lucrative business of the town. The following 
 a list of the vessels employed in whaling and sealing : 
 
 Vessela. Tonnage. 
 
 America 464 
 
 Bolton, bark 220 
 
 Charles Phelps 362 
 
 Caledonia 446 
 
 Corvo 349 
 
 Calumet 300 
 
 Eugene 297 
 
 Fellowes 268 
 
 George 251 
 
 Herald 241 
 
 Thomas Williams 340 
 
 ■United States 244 
 
 Mary and Susan 392 
 
 Autumn 220 
 
 Betsey Williams 400 
 
 Cavalier « 295 
 
 Bebecca Groves, brig 128 
 
 Beaver 427 
 
 Prudent .398 
 
 8. H. Waterman, bark 480 
 
 Cxor, brig 100 
 
 Francis, brig. 
 
 = Acasto • 330 
 
 Henrietta, schooner 139 
 
 Colossus, schooner 85 
 
 Owners and Agents. 
 Charies P. Williams. 
 
 Tonnage. Owners and Agents. 
 
 Paciflc, schooner 96 Charles P. Williams. 
 
 Penguin 82 " " 
 
 Sovereign ; 95 " " 
 
 Byron, bark 178 John F. Trumbull. 
 
 Cabinet 305 " '» 
 
 Cynosure 230 " " 
 
 ♦Tiger an ," yl ^ /»— //' ,,^ 
 
 • PhKletus, bark 278 Y " c^i^,/3i-o^ ypl~</l^ 
 
 Richard Henry, bark 137 " ', " ,^ /. 
 
 » Tybee 299 " '''i " , //l>t'-TM^^ 
 
 Sophia and Eliza 206 " " ^ 
 
 Sarah E. Spear, bark 160 " /i^" c J -'is^ 
 
 Flying Cloud, schooner 100 " " 
 
 Toka 145 " " 
 
 jEronaut, ship 2li5 Charles Mallory. 
 
 Bingham, ship 375 " " 
 
 Blackstone. ship 280 " " 
 
 Leander, ship 213 " " 
 
 Romulus, ship 365 " " 
 
 Vermont, ship 292 " '* 
 
 Coriolanus.ship 268 " " 
 
 • Eleanor, ship 301 " " 
 
 Leander, ship 213 " " 
 
 Eobinhood,ship 395 " " 
 
 Prescott, ship 341 " " 
 
 Vermont, ship 292 " " 
 
 Bolina 200 " " 
 
 Tampeco. brig 225 " " 
 
 Uxor, brig 180 " " 
 
 Wilmington, schooner 100 " " 
 
 Lyon, schooner 150 " " 
 
 Cornelia, schooner 150 " " 
 
 Frank, schooner 200 " " 
 
 Mercury, schooner 305 Pendleton & Trumbull, and 
 
 Joseph E. Smith & Co. 
 
 ^ Newburyport, schooner 341 Pendleton & Trumbull. 
 
 Autumn, schooner 181 Elisha Faxon, Jr. • 
 
 Boston, schooner 220 '• " 
 
 Cincinnati, schooner 467 F. Pendleton & Co., and 
 
 Stanton & Pendleton. 
 
 Warsaw, schooner 332 Pendleton & Stanton. 
 
 In July of 1819 the brig "Hersilia" sailed from 
 Stonington on an exploring and sealing voyage under 
 the command of Capt. James P. Shefiield, William A. 
 Fanning supercargo, and Nathaniel B. Palmer mate, 
 for Cape Horn and the South Shetlands and the Ant- 
 arctic Circle, made a splendid voyage and returned 
 safely to Stonington. The next season a fleet of ves- 
 sels, consisting of the brig " Frederick," Capt. Benja- 
 min Pendleton, the senior commander; the brig 
 "Hersilia," Capt. James P. Sheffield; schooners 
 "Express," Capt. E. Williams; "Free Gift," Capt. 
 F. Dunbar ; and sloop " Hero," Capt. N. B. Palmer, 
 was fitted out at Stonington, Conn., on a voyage to 
 the South Shetlands. They reached a place known as 
 Yankee Harbor, Deception Island, during the season 
 of 1820 and '21, where, from the lookout of an ele- 
 vated station on a very clear day, the discovery of a vol- 
 cano in operation was made. To examine the newly- 
 discovered land Capt. N. B. Palmer was dispatched 
 in his sloop " Hero" for that purpose. He found it 
 to be an extensive mountainous country, sterile and 
 dismal, loaded with snow and ice, though it was in 
 the midsummer of that hemisphere, and a landing 
 was difficult. On his way back he got becalmed in a 
 fog between the South Shetlands and the newly-dis- 
 covered continent, but nearest the former; when the 
 fog began to clear away, Capt. Palmer was surprised 
 to find his little bark between a frigate and a sloop-of- 
 war, and instantly ran up the United States flag. 
 
 The frigate and sloop-of-war then set the Russian 
 colors, and sent a boat to the " Hero," and when along- 
 side the lieutenant presented an invitation from his 
 commander for Capt. Palmer to go on board, which 
 he accepted, and found that their ship was on a voy- 
 
 ^ V J^/l;.■/,L,,. i„A\ , I 
 
678 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 age of discovery around the world, sent out by the 
 Emperor Alexander of Russia. 
 
 After an interesting interview, followed by an invi- 
 tation from Capt. Palmer to the Rus.sian admiral to 
 visit Yankee Harbor, where the American fleet lay, 
 where he might procure water and refreshments, which 
 he declined, complimenting Capt. Palmer on the fine 
 appearance of his vessel, adding that he thought he 
 had discovered some new land, but now here we are 
 in the presence of an American vessel. But his as- 
 tonishment was yet more increased when Capt. Pal- 
 mer informed him that away in the dim distance 
 might be seen an immense extent of land. Capt. 
 Palmer while on board the frigate was treated in the 
 most friendly manner, and the commodore was so 
 forcibly struck with the circumstances of the case 
 that he named the coast far away to the south Pal- 
 mer's Land, and by this name it is recorded on the 
 Russian and English charts and maps. The Stoning- 
 ton fleet returned richly laden with fur, and went 
 back again the next season to the same latitude, 
 t Capt. Palmer, in the sloop y James Monroe," a vessel 
 of eighty tons or more, traced his new-discovered land, 
 finding the shore barred by fast ice firmly attached to 
 the shore; after coasting eastward he returned to the 
 fleet, and with them to Stonington, richly laden with 
 furs. Soon after Capt. Palmer was joined by his 
 younger brother, Alexander S. Palmer, who accom- 
 panied him on several voyages, and both became 
 distinguished navigators. 
 
 Capt. Nathaniel Palmer rose to a high position 
 among the importers of New York, and gained their 
 confidence to an unlimited extent, superintending the 
 construction of their ships for the European and 
 China trade, notably the " Great Republic." He was 
 known and respected not only in this country but in 
 Europe. 
 
 The sealing business so successfully begun by Capt. 
 Fanning, Capt. Palmer, Charles T. Stanton, and others 
 did not prove to be as profitable as the whaling busi- 
 ness. 
 
 The following is an incomplete list of the vessels 
 employed by Stonington and Mystic men in the 
 sealing business: 
 
 Brig Frederick Capt. Benjamin Pendleton. 
 
 " Hereilia " P. Sheffield. 
 
 " Bogatar " .E. Fanning. 
 
 " Sarali " " '■ 
 
 Schooner Free Gift Charlea P. Williams, 
 
 " Express " » 
 
 Brig Enterprise Stiles Stanton and Joseph 
 
 E. Smith. 
 
 Schooner Eveline Joshua Pendleton. 
 
 Courinr Edward Phelps. 
 
 " Carolina " ■< 
 
 " Summerset, elph, oil Pendleton & Faxon, 
 
 " Thomas Hunt Joseph N, Hancox. 
 
 " Express " '* 
 
 Charles Shearerl 
 
 Brig Henry Trowbridge 
 
 Schooner Montgomery Joseph Cottrell, Agent. 
 
 Plutarch " " 't 
 
 J. E. Smith and Stanton Shefiield owned and suc- 
 cessfully operated a marine' railway at Stonington 
 
 1 Lost at sea with all her crew. 
 
 Borough for several years, and finally sold it to the 
 railroad company for terminal facilities. 
 
 Bridges and Ferries. — Stonington is the southeast 
 town in the State of Connecticut, and is bounded on 
 the south by Fisher's Island Sound, on the east by Paw- 
 catuck River, separating it from the State of Rhode 
 Island, on the north by North Stonington, and on 
 the west by Mystic River, separating it from the town 
 of Groton. While the sound and rivers furnished the 
 planters with an abundant supply of shell and float- 
 ing fish, the rivers obstructed the cross town travel 
 and the planters in going east and west, and necessi- 
 tated bridges and ferries. 
 
 As early as 1712, Capt. Joseph Saxton, of Stoning- 
 ton, and Capt. John Babcock, of Westerly, prepared 
 and circulated a brief to raise funds by subscription 
 " for the building a good cart bridge over Pawcatuck 
 River, to be erected and finished within eighteen 
 months.'' 
 
 On the 8th day of April, 1712, the Governor and 
 Council of Connecticut, .sitting at New London, gave 
 their consent to this method of collecting money for 
 the erection of said bridge. It is not known when 
 this bridge was completed, but as the conditions of 
 the brief required it to be finished within eighteen 
 months, it doubtless was completed within the time 
 limited, else the subscriptions to the bridge fund could 
 not have been collected. In 1720 this bridge needed 
 repairs, and the General Assembly sitting in New 
 Haven in October passed an order, — 
 
 " that there be paid out of the Public treasury the sum of ten pounds 
 towards the good repairing of the one half of the bridge betweene the 
 towns of Stonington and Westerly, in such manner and specia as the 
 rates of this colony for defraying the public charge shall hereafter be 
 paid in, and the remainder of the charge of the repaiiing of the said 
 half shall be paid by the town of Stonington; and that the selectmen 
 of said town shall take effectual care that the said half part of said 
 bridge be well repaired forthwith, 
 
 " And whereas the town of Stonington are at no great charge about 
 the bridges in the county and within their town, in comparison of what 
 many other towns are, 'tis therefor ordered by this court, that after the 
 said half part of the bridge is well repaired, it shall always be main- 
 tained, and kept in good repair by the said town, until! this Court shall 
 order otherwise." 
 
 The town of Stonington not relishing the idea of 
 being compelled to keep the bridge in repair, and be- 
 lieving it to be the duty of the colony and not of the 
 town, neglected to repair it, nor did the colonial au- 
 thorities move in the matter at all until the October 
 session of the General Assembly of 1721, when they 
 passed this act, — 
 
 ^'Whereas this Assembly has been certified that the bridge between 
 Stonington and Westerly is so far gone out of repair, that the limbs and 
 arms of travellers are endangered thereby, not^Wthstanding the provision 
 made formerly by this Assembly for repairing it in conjunction with tlie 
 Government of Khode Island, upon which nothing has yet been done, 
 and whereas the Govei-nor upon Correspondence with the Government 
 of Rhode Island, for that end has received a letter from Isaac Thompson, 
 Esq,, of Westerly, a justice of the peace, signifying that the Assembly of 
 Khode Island has offered fifteen pounds to be drawn out of the Treasury, 
 of that colony for repairing half the said bridge, and that he has the 
 order of that government to cause the said money to be applied to that 
 service, if this government shall agree to repair the other half of the 
 same. It is therefore ordered that fifteen pounds in the whole shall in 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 679 
 
 like manner be drawn out of the Treasury of this Colony for the said 
 end, and that it shall be put into the hands of Mr. John Noyes and Mr. 
 Stephen Kichardson of Stonington, who are hereby empowered to apply 
 the said money to the said end, in conjunction with the said Thompson, 
 or any other person who shall be employed, to apply the like sum to the 
 repair of the said bridge on the behalf of the Government of Rhode 
 Island. 
 
 "And the said Mr. Noyes and Mr. Richardson are hereby ordered to 
 use their best endeavors to cause the said repairs to be made as soon as 
 may be, and in the mean-time to endeavor that the said bridge may be 
 so barricaded at each end as to prevent the hurt which travellers are in 
 danger of." 
 
 Though the government of Rhode Island had as- 
 sumed the liahility of repairing one-half of said 
 bridge, yet the colony of Connecticut did not intend 
 by the act of their Assembly to expend more than ten 
 pounds in repairing the bridge, so they supplemented 
 their act of 1721 by the following proviso : 
 
 "And whereas it was ordered by this Assembly in October last, that 
 the town of Stonington should be at all the charge for repairing one half 
 of the said bridge above the sum often pounds, which was then ordered 
 to be drawn out of the public treasury for that end. 
 
 "It is now ordered that instead tliereof the townsmen or selectmen of 
 said Stonington, do raise, in the usual manner upon the inhabitants of 
 said town the sum of five pounds in money, and cause the same to be 
 paid into the treasury of this colony at or before the first of May next." 
 
 In obedience to the order of 1721, the selectmen of 
 Stonington, acting in conjunction with the Ehode 
 Island authorities, repaired the bridge so as to make 
 it passable. It was a slim concern, barely wide 
 enough for a single ox-team to pass, but as all the 
 travel of those days was on horseback (except by ox- 
 team), it answered very well the purpose for which it 
 was designed. The bridge then repaired lasted for 
 about ten years. The town of Stonington still adher- 
 ing to their belief that a bridge uniting two colonies 
 should be erected and kept in repair by the colonies, 
 and not by the town, that simply furnished the ground 
 for the abutment thereof to rest upon, so they refused 
 to repair the west end of the bridge, until it became 
 unsafe and almost impassable, when, in 1731, the Gen- 
 eral Assembly of the colony of Ehode Island passed 
 an act relative to said bridge as follows : " Upon the 
 petition of Capt. Oliver Babcock and Capt. William 
 Clark, setting forth to this Assembly the necessity of 
 rebuilding Pawcatuck bridge, which is now quite gone 
 to decay, and rendered impassable either for man or 
 horse; and praying that a sufficiency of money may 
 be drawn out of the general treasury for rebuilding 
 this government's part thereof. It is voted and 
 enacted that there be allowed and drawn out of the 
 general treasury a sufficiency of money for building 
 the one half of said bridge, in case the colony of Con- 
 necticut will build the other half, and that the colony 
 of Connecticut be acquainted therewith." This act 
 of the Assembly of Ehode Island was transmitted to 
 Connecticut, and at the May session of its General 
 Assembly the following act was passed : " Upon 
 consideration had on the act of the General Assembly 
 of the colony of Ehode Island, respecting the build- 
 ing of a bridge over Pawcatuck Eiver, ordered by 
 this Assembly, that the secretary of this colony send a 
 
 copy of that act of this Assembly to the secretary of 
 the colony of Ehode Island, made at this session in 
 October, 1720, wherein the town of Stonington is or- 
 dered for the future to keep in repair one half of the 
 bridge over Pawcatuck Eiver at their own charge; 
 and that the town of Stonington take notice thereof 
 and conform themselves accordingly." The town of 
 Stonington did not readily yield to the act of the As- 
 sembly, nor did they repair the bridge as ordered for 
 several years. They were strengthened in their posi- 
 tion by the act of the General Assembly of Ehode 
 Island in assuming the entire expense of one half of 
 the bridge on the part of that colony. They reasoned 
 that if the colony of Rhode Island should build or re- 
 pair the east end of the bridge, then the colony of Con- 
 necticut should build and repair the west end of the 
 bridge ; but the colony of Connecticut thought other- 
 wise ; they said that because the town of Stonington 
 was subject to less expense than most other towns in 
 the colony on account of bridges that they should build 
 and maintain one-half of the bridge over Pawcatuck 
 Eiver, no matter what tlje colony of Ehode Island 
 should do in the premises. The town of Stonington 
 still refused to repair said bridge, but the colony of 
 Connecticut was equally determined that they should 
 repair it at their own expense. This state of things 
 continued until 1734, when at the October session of 
 the General Assembly, and after a protracted discus- 
 sion of the subject-matter, the following preamble 
 and act was passed : 
 
 " whereas this Assembly did at their session .it New Haven, in October, 
 1720, order tlie sum of ten pounds to be paid out of rlie public treasury 
 of this Colony toward repairing the lialf of the bridge between the towns 
 of Stonington and Westerly, and the remainder of the charge thereof to 
 be paid by the town of Stonington, and that the selectmen of said town 
 should take effectual care tliat said lialf part of said bridge should be 
 always maintained and kept in good repair by said town of Sloiiiiigton 
 until this Assembly should order otherwise. And wheieas tlie said 
 seleclmen of Stonington have been very negligent in said afTaii-, for want 
 of some suitable provision in said act to enforce it, uotwilbstaiiding the 
 little charge they are at to maintain any other bridges on the country 
 roads. Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Council, and Represen- 
 tatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same. 
 That in case the said town of Stonington shall not meet and complete 
 the one half of said bridge within nine months next after, any one of 
 their selectmen being duly certified oT the readiness of the Government 
 of Rhode Island, or town of Westerly, to join with them in said affair, 
 then the treasurer of this Colony upon due certification theieof shall 
 immediately send forth his warrant directed to the Constable of said 
 Stonington, requiring him to levy and collect of the inhabitants of said 
 Stonington the sum of three hundred pounds, which sum so collected 
 shall be paid to said treasurer by said Constable of Stonington within 
 three months after his receiving said warrant, in order to be impioved to 
 the use aforesaid, and in case the said town of Stonington shall not main- 
 tain and keep in due repair according to the aforesaid act, the one half 
 of said bridge, after it is thus erected, they shall forfeit the sum of 
 fifty shillings per week, to be collected iu manner aforesaid, and it is 
 further enacted that a copy of this act be forthwith transmitted to the 
 Governor of Rhode Island." 
 
 This act of the General Assembly of Connecticut 
 settled the matter, and during the years of 173,4 and 
 1735 the said bridge was widened and substantially 
 rebuilt by the colony of Ehode Island and the town 
 of Stonington, stood for a good many years. About 
 ninety-five years ago the Stonington approach was 
 
680 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 raised and one of the sluices removed, shortening the 
 wood-work some twenty-five feet. With repairs of 
 timber and plank, the bridge so remained until 1873, 
 when it was widened and sidewalks appended, and in 
 this condition remains at present, subject to occa- 
 sional repairs. 
 
 Mystic Bridge. — During the early settlement of 
 the towns of Stonington and Groton, Mystic River 
 was crossed by ferry-boats from Elm Grove Cemetery, 
 in Stonington, to the Burrows' Half-way House, in 
 Groton. Later, and down to the present century, the 
 crossing was by ferry-boats from Parker's village, in 
 Groton, over the river to Pistol Point, in Stonington. 
 At the General Assembly of 1819 the Mystic Bridge 
 Company was chartered as follows : 
 
 "Resolved by this Assembly, That George Haley, Nathaniel Clift, Jere- 
 miah Haley, Ebenezer Denison, Manasseh Jliner, William Stanton, 
 Ambrose D. Grant, Jeremiah Holmes, and such others as may be asso- 
 ciated with them, be and they are hereby incorporated and made a body 
 politic, by the name of the 'Mystic Bridge Company,' and by that name 
 may sue and be sned ; that said company shall have a clerk, who shall 
 record all votea and by-laws of said company, and be sworn to a faithful 
 discharge of hia duty, and who shall be appointed by the president and 
 directoi-s of said company: that the said company shall choose a presi- 
 dent and two directors, who, or a major part of them, shall manage all 
 the concerns of said company. The stockholders of said company shall 
 hold their first meeting on the second Monday of July next, at the 
 dwelling-house of Ebenezer Denison, in said Stonington; and said meet- 
 ing shall be warned by the petitioners before named, by publishing no- 
 tice thereof in the Omueclicut Gaee^e, printed in New London, two weeks 
 successively Iiefore said second Monday of July ; and when met, the stid 
 company shall choose the aforesaid officers, wlio shall continue in office 
 until others are chosen in their place and accept their appointment, and 
 said company, when so as aforesaid formed, shall immediately raise suf- 
 ficient mouey to erect a bridge across said river at the place already des- 
 ignated by the committee who have reported thereon; and when the 
 commissioners on said bridge shall have accepted the same, they shall 
 give the company a certificate of the same, adjust the accounts and all 
 the expenses incurred relative to said bridge, and give them a certificate 
 of the amount due said company; and said company shall continue to 
 keep up and maintain said bridge in good repair; and to reimburse 
 them their expenses, with ten per cent, interest on the sums expended 
 in erecting said bridge, shall have right and they are hereby authorized 
 and empowered to erect a gate on or near said bridge, at which gate said 
 company shall have right to collect for crossing said bridge the following 
 
 toll, viz, ; 
 
 cts. m. 
 'Foreaf.h coach or hack, or other four-wheeled carriage, drawn 
 
 by two hoi-.'ies abreast 25 
 
 Each additional diatt hursi' \j, q 
 
 Each chaise, sulkey, or other wheeled cai-riage drawn by one 
 
 horse '. 12 5 
 
 Additiiinal draft hursn 3 q 
 
 Each wagon drawn by two horses, loaded 12 5 
 
 " " " " empty 6 2 
 
 Each light wagon drawn by one hoi-se, with two persons or less.... 8 
 
 Additional hoise 3 
 
 Each loaded cart or wagon drawn by four beasts 12 5 
 
 " eiiipty " " " " 6 2 
 
 Additional draft beasts, each 2 
 
 Man and horse 5 
 
 Foot person 2 
 
 Drift hoise 3 
 
 Neat cattle..,, .'...'..'.*.. . 2 
 
 Mules .'.....".'',..'.".".'."!.. 2 
 
 Sheep or swine, each 1 q 
 
 "Resolved, however, and it is hereby resolved, that the aforesaid rates 
 of toll shall not be collectc^d from pei-sons traveling to attend public wor- 
 ship, funerals, or town, society, or freemen's meetings, and returning 
 thert-from; officers and soldiers going to or returning from military 
 duty ; persons going to or returning from mill for the use of their fami- 
 lies; all of which persons sliall be exempted from paying toll, as afore- 
 said. 
 
 "Bonds shall be given to the Treasurer of this State to his acceptance 
 onoi before the last day of August next.in the penal sum of five thou- 
 sand dollars, conditioned that said bridge shall be built by said company 
 
 to the acceptance of said commissioners by the first Monday of Septem- 
 ber next, and in default of such bond this grant shall be void. 
 
 "The stock of said company shall consist of fifty shares, which shall 
 be transferable on the books of said company, and each member of said 
 company, present at any legal meeting thereof, shall have power to give 
 one vute for each share standing in the name of such member, and the 
 said stockholders, at any legal meeting, shall have power to direct, by 
 major vote, the amount to bo paid from time to time on the shares of 
 said capital stock ; provided, that this act may be altered, revoked, or 
 amended at any time hereafter at the pleasure of the General Assembly. 
 
 "The road on the west side of Mystic River, leading from the Mystic 
 bridge to the old road, as laid and reported by the committee to this As- 
 sembly at the last session, remain as laid by said committee till it comes 
 six rods on the land of Ambrose H. Grant, and be thence discontinued; 
 that the former committee, viz., Moses Warren, William Randall, and 
 John O.Miner, be reappointed to lay out a road from the place last 
 mentioned, where said road is discontinued, to the village at Parker's 
 Ferry, four rods wide, and assess the damages to the owners of the land 
 over which the road may pass, and report to this or some future Assem- 
 bly." 
 
 The bridge was erected under the charter, and main- 
 tained by the company as a toll-bridge down to 1854, 
 when the toAvns of Stonington and Groton, at town- 
 meetings legally warned and held for that purpose, 
 voted to buy the bridge and franchises of the com- 
 pany for eight thousand dollars, two thousand dollars 
 in addition having been subscribed by the citizens of 
 the villages of Mystic Bridge and Mystic River. 
 Deacon B. F. Langworthy and Capt, John Holbridge, 
 the representativets of the town of Stonington for that 
 year, were charged with the management of the mat- 
 ter before the Legislature in connection with the rep- 
 resentatives of the town of Groton. During the ses- 
 sion of the General Assembly for 1854 the following 
 enabling act was passed, " authorizing the Mystic 
 Bridge Company to sell their bridge:" 
 
 ^'Resolved, That the towns of Stonington and GrotoQ he, and they 
 hereby are authorized to purchase of the Mystic Bridge Company their 
 bridge and drawbridge over the Mystic River, between said towns, at 
 the price of eight thousand dollars ; and in case said bridge shall be so 
 purchased, the president of said company shall lodge a certificate to that 
 effect in the office of the Secretary of Slate. And from and after the time 
 said purchase shall be made, said bridge shall be and remain a public 
 bridge, free for public travel, and shall be forever supported, and main- 
 tained by said towns of Stonington and Groton together, with the draw 
 tlierein, at their joint expense; and said draw sliall always he maintained 
 at not less than its present width, and the same facilities shall be afforded 
 for the navigation of said river Through said draw at the like joint ex- 
 pense of said towns as are now furnished by said bridge company. 
 
 " And after said purchase shall be perfected, and^aid certificate lodged 
 on file as aforesaid, the said bridge company shall he discharged from all 
 liability for or on account of said bridge, and deprived of all right to col- 
 lect toll for the passage of the same." 
 
 At a town-meeting legally warned and held on the 
 7th day of August, 1854, it was voted that Asa Fish 
 and Richard A. Wheeler be a committee to join with 
 the selectmen or committee of the town of Groton, 
 appointed for the purpose of receiving the transfer of 
 the Mystic bridge and all of its appurtenances from 
 the Mystic Bridge Company to the towns of Groton 
 and Stonington, in pursuance of a special act of the 
 Legislature for that purpose, and in accordance with 
 the vote of this town, passed May 12, 1854; also that 
 they pay to the said company the sum of four thousand 
 dollars, with interest from the 1st day of April, 1854, 
 deducting the net tolls for the same time, and that 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 681 
 
 the selectmen are to draw their orders on the town 
 treasurer for the necessary amount to liquidate and 
 pay the liability of the town of Stonington for the 
 purchase of said bridge, and to employ a suitable per- 
 son in connection with the town of Groton to tend the 
 draw in said bridge and care generally for the same. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXV. 
 
 STONINGTON— (Continued). 
 BANKING AND EAILEOAD INTERESTS. 
 
 The first effort of the citizens of Stonington to ob- 
 tain banking facilities was in the year 1805. A few 
 prominent men associated themselves under written 
 articles, which, when approved and adopted by the 
 Legislature, were designed to become the funda- 
 mental articles of the constitution of the bank, as 
 follows : 
 
 "Articles of Agreement between the suhseribei-s to Vte Washington Banfc, 
 
 to he established in Stonington, Connecticut, are as follows: 
 
 " Article 1st. — The capital stock of the bank shall consist of not less 
 than fifty thousand, nor more than one hundred thousand dollars, and 
 shall consist of one thousand sharRs of fifty dollars each. 
 
 "Article 2d. — The subscription shall be payable in four equal pay- 
 ments, the first to be made on the 1st day of March next, when the sub- 
 scription shall be closed, the second on the 1st day of May, the third at 
 the distance of three calendar months from the second, and the fourth at 
 the distance of three calendar months from the third, unless the directors 
 shall think best to suspend or postpone the payment of the fourth pay- 
 ment such time or times as the directors may think proper, in which 
 case the directors shall give reasonable notice to the stockholders. The 
 payment to be made in silver or gold coin current in the United States. 
 If there shall be any failure of the first payment on any share, the sub- 
 scription for such share shall be void. If there be any failure of the sec- 
 ond payment, the first shall be forfeited to the bank, and the subscriptiun 
 shall be void ; and in case of any failure of the third and fourth payment 
 of any shares, the money paid in previously to such failure on said 
 shares shall be forfeited to said bank and the subscription be void. 
 
 "3d. — The capital of the company shall not be employed othenvays 
 than in the ordinary couree of banking business, and shall not trade 
 in anything except bills of exchange, gold, negotiable notes, or silver 
 bullion, or in sale of goods pledged for money lent and not redeemed 
 in due time, or in lands taken for debts previously contracted, nor shall 
 the corporation take more than at the rate of six per cent, for or upon its 
 loans. 
 
 "4th. — The stock of said corporation shall be assignable or transferable 
 only at the bank by the stockholder owning such stock, or by his agent 
 or attorney duly authorized for that purpose, in such way, manner, and 
 under such regulations as may be instituted by the laws of said corpora- 
 tion. 
 
 "5th.— The affairs of the bank as to all matters not herein regulated 
 shall be under the management of eight directors, and there shall annu- 
 ally, on the day of in each and every year, after the first meet- 
 ing, be a choice of directors to serve for one year, and the directors, at 
 their first meeting after their election, shall choose one of their number 
 as president, and none but stockholders shall be eligible as directors. 
 
 "6th. — The number of votes to which each stockholder shall be en- 
 titled shall be according to the number of shares he may hold, one vote 
 to each share to be given in by himself, or by any person by him legally 
 authorized and appointed for that purpose. 
 
 "7th. — Anyone stockholder or more who hold sixty shares in said 
 company may call a general meeting of the stockholders for purposes 
 relative to the institution, giving at least one week more notice in the 
 public Gazette, or by giving personal or actual notice under his or their 
 hand to each stockholder, specifying the time, place, and object of said 
 meeting. 
 
 "8th.— No director shall be entitled to any compensation for his at- 
 tendance on the business of the bank, unless allowed him by the stock- 
 holders at a general meeting, and not less than three directors shall con- 
 stitute a board for doing or transacting any business of the bank, and in 
 case of death, resignation, or removal from office of any director, his 
 place may be filled by a new choice for the remainder of the year. 
 
 "9th.— Dividends of the profits of the bank shall be made once in 
 every six months of so much thereof as shall appear to the directors 
 advisable, and the state of the bank shall be made known by the di- 
 rectors at a general meeting of the stockholdei-s whenever they are 
 thereto required. 
 
 " 10th.— Every cashier, treasurer, or clerk employed in the bank shall, 
 before entering on the duties of his office, f^ive bond with two or more 
 sureties, to the satisfaction of the directors, in anch sum as the di- 
 rectors shall order, conditioned for the faitliful discharge of his trust. 
 
 "In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 12th day of 
 October, 1805. 
 
 " William Williams, 
 " coddinqton billings, 
 " John Dfnison, Jr., 
 " Thomas Swan, Jr., 
 "Stiles Phelps, 
 "Jonathan Phelps, 
 "William Lord, 
 " Blisha Dknison." 
 
 For reasons not now fully understood the Legisla- 
 ture did not charter the bank provided for in the 
 foregoing articles of association, nor was there any 
 bank chartered and established in this town until 
 1822, when the Stonington Bank was chartered and 
 located at Stonington Borough. Col. William Ran- 
 dall was in the Senate that year, and it was mainly 
 through his influence that the charter for the bank 
 was obtained. He was elected its first president, and 
 held the office until his health compelled him to re- 
 sign. He was succeeded in the presidency by Gen. 
 William Williams, who in turn was succeeded by 
 the Hon. Ephraim Williams, followed by Francis 
 Amy, Esq., and James J. Day, Esq. The bank com- 
 menced and carried on business successfully until 
 after the close of the Rebellion, when heavy losses 
 compelled it to suspend, and its affairs soon wound 
 up by receivers, paying forty per cent, on the dollar 
 of the original stock. 
 
 Mystic National Bank. — This bank was chartered 
 by the General Assembly in June, 1833, with a capi- 
 tal of fifty thousand dollars. The stock was assigned, 
 and the officers elected were as follows, viz. : Elias 
 Brown, Elisha Faxon, Elisha Haley, John Hyde, Asa 
 Fish, Latham Hull, Nathan Daball, Stephen Haley, 
 Silas Beebe, George W. Noyes (2), Elias Hewitt, 
 and William H. Woodbridge, directors, who elected 
 Elias Brown, president, and George W. Noyes (2), 
 cashier. 
 
 In 1865 this bank was changed into a national in- 
 stitution, under the laws of Congress, The officers 
 at present are John S. Schoonover, Mason Manning, 
 Stephen H. Wheeler, Erastus J. Williams, Nehemiah 
 M. Gallup, and Allen P. Williams, directors; John 
 S. Schoonover, president; Jabez Watrous, Jr., cashier. 
 
 Pawcatuck National Bank. — This institution was 
 chartered by the Legislature in July, 1849, with a 
 capital of seventy-five thousand dollars. The bank 
 was organized, and elected its officers as follows, viz. : 
 
682 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 O. M. Stillraan, John Brown, Thomas Hinckley, Jon- 
 athan Maxon, Jr., Francis Sheffield, 1). C. Pendleton, 
 and Asa Fish, directors; O. M. Stillman, president; 
 John A. Morgan, cashier. 
 
 In 1866 this bank was changed under a law of 
 Congress into a national institution, with a capital of 
 eighty-five thousand dollars. The present board of 
 directors are Peleg Clark, Jr., James li. Dickens, 
 Peleg S. Barber, Charles H. Hinckley, and Stanton 
 Hazzard; Peleg Clark, Jr., president; J. A. Brown, 
 cashier. 
 
 First National Bank of Stonington. — This bank 
 was chartered by the Legislature of 1851 as the Ocean 
 Bank, with a capital of one hundred thousand dol- 
 lars. The bank was duly organized under its charter, 
 and the stock regularly assigned. The first board of 
 directors were Charles P. Williams, Gurdon Trum- 
 bull, William Hyde, Jr., Stiles Stanton, A. S. 
 Matthews, Lathum Hull, Jr., and F. 0. Walker; 
 Charles P. Williams, president; W. J. H. Pollard, 
 cashier. 
 
 This bank was nationalized Feb. 1, 1865, and its 
 capital increased to two hundred thousand dollars, 
 and the board of directors were reduced from seven 
 to five persons, and at present are as follows: Stiles 
 Stanton, 0. B. Grant, Moses Pendleton, William E. 
 Brewster, and Andrew S. Matthews ; Stiles Stanton, 
 president ; W. J. H. Pollard, cashier ; N. A. Pendle- 
 ton, teller. 
 
 First National Bank of Mystic Bridge.— This 
 bank was organized Feb. 8, 1864, by articles of asso- 
 ciation bearing that date, with a capital of one hun- 
 dred thousand dollars, which was increased to one 
 hundred and fifty thousand dollars, with which busi- 
 ness was commenced. The first board of directors 
 were Charles Mallory, Charles H. Mallory, David D. 
 Mallory, George W. Mallory, and Benjamin E. Mal- 
 lory ; Charles Mallory, president ; Elias P. Eandall, 
 cashier. The present board of directors are Charles 
 Mallory, Thomas S. Greenman, John E. Williams, 
 Gurdon Gates, and George W. Mallory; Charles 
 Mallory, president ; Elias P. Randall, cashier. 
 
 Stonington Savings-Bank.— This bank was char- 
 tered in 1850, incorporating Charles P. Williams, 
 Gurdon Trumbull, William Hyde, Jr., Ephraim Wil- 
 liams, John F. Trumbull, Stiles Stanton, Hiram 
 Shaw, Oliver B. Grant, Jesse N. Brown, Benjamin 
 Pomeroy, Francis Pendleton, Joseph E. Smith, and 
 Horace L. Niles, under the name and style of the 
 Stoninglon Savings-Bank. Commenced business, 
 and now holds $653,196.71 of deposits. The present 
 board of directors consists of Oliver B. Grant, Stiles 
 Stanton, George Hubbard, George S. Brewster, Wil- 
 liam E. Brewster, Oliver D. Chesebro, Joseph E. 
 Smith, Alanson Brown, Lodowick N. Lathum, 
 Thomas Burtch, and Richard A. Wheeler; B. Grant| 
 president; D. B. Spalding, secretary and treasurer. 
 
 B,aiIroads.— The first railroad in Stonington was 
 incorporated in May, 1832, under the name of the 
 
 "New York and Stonington Railroad Company," 
 with the following-named persons as corporators, viz. : 
 Charles H. Phelps, Gurdon Trumbull, Peter Crary, 
 William H. Woodbridge, William W. Rodman, Geo. 
 E. Palmer, Charles H. Smith, William C. Denison, 
 Courtlandt Palmer, N. A. Norton, Joseph Goddard, 
 and their associates, successors, and assigns. The 
 first board of directors were John S. Crary, S. F. 
 Denison, Charles H. Phelps, Gurdon Trumbull, Court- 
 landt Palmer, F. A. Norton, and Joseph Goddard. 
 
 The May session of the General Assembly of this 
 State, in 1833, passed a resolution merging the New 
 York and Stonington Railroad Company in the New 
 York, Providence and Boston Railroad Company, a 
 corporation previously chartered by the State of Rhode 
 Island, to take effect on the 1st day of July, 1833, on 
 condition that the Legislature of that State would 
 before that time pass a similar act of merger of their 
 company with ours ; which, when accepted and adopted 
 by such aforesaid corporations, the railroad from 
 Stonington to Providence should be known and oper- 
 ated under the name and title of the " New York, 
 Providence and Boston Railroad Company." The 
 State of Rhode Island passed such an act, and both 
 corporations accepted and adopted the merging acts 
 of both States, and the railroad has been so known 
 and operated ever since. 
 
 The next and only other railroad company in Ston- 
 ington was chartered in 1852, under the name of the 
 " New London and Stonington Railroad Company," 
 embodying as corporators Charles P. Williams, Thomas 
 Fitch (2), Charles Mallory, Asa Fish, Frederick R. 
 Griffin, Heniy L. Champlain, Nathan G. Fish, Charles 
 C. Griswold, Belton A. Copp, E. E. Morgan, B. C. Bax- 
 ter, Henry Hotchkiss, William P. Burrall, N. S. Per- 
 kins, Jr., F. W. Lawrence, J. Hammond Trumbull, 
 Benjamin F. Palmer, Isaac Randall, Louis Bristol, 
 Matthew Morga-n, John W. Hull, John P. C. Mather, 
 and Ralph D. Smith, et al. This road was to ex- 
 tend from the river Thames easterly to a junction 
 with the track of the New York, Providence and 
 Boston Railroad in Stonington. It was not built for 
 several years, nor was it finished until it was con- 
 solidated and merged with the New Haven and 
 New London Railroad Company in 1856, under the 
 name of the New Haven, New London and Ston- 
 ington Railroad Company, with authority as such 
 to establish a ferry across the river Thames. This 
 consolidation resulted in the completion of the 
 road from Stonington to New London. This exten- 
 sion road, as it was sometimes called, though furnish- 
 ing the last link of railway communication between 
 Boston and New York, did not prove successful. It 
 became embarrassed, and in the year 1858 the Legis- 
 lature authorized the New York, Providence and 
 Boston Railroad Company to lease this road from 
 New London to Stonington for a term of two years, 
 provided such a lease would be acceptable to such 
 corporation. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 683 
 
 The next year the General Assembly authorized 
 and empowered these railroads to extend their lease 
 or contract for twenty years, provided it was accept- 
 able to both corporations. The leasing operations did 
 not result in a financial success to the new road, nor 
 were they able to pay the interest on their bonded 
 indebtedness. So the bondholders petitioned for a 
 foreclosure of their mortgages, and while they were 
 pending the aid of the Legislature was invoked to 
 enable the trustees of the bondholders to run, lease, 
 or sell the road for their benefit. 
 
 The Legislature finally, in 1864, reorganized the 
 New Haven, New London and Stonington Kailroad 
 Company, giving a new charter to the holders of the 
 first mortgage seven per cent, bonds of the old New 
 Haven and New London Railroad Company, under 
 the name of the Shore Line Railway, extending from 
 New Haven to New London. The Legislature the 
 same year also reorganized the old New London and 
 Stonington Railroad Company, embracing the railroad 
 between New London and Stonington, by associating 
 seven corporators to form a new company and buy 
 out the bondholders, and authorizing the trustees to 
 sell or lease their interest in the road ; dissolving the 
 connection between the old New Haven and New 
 London and the old New London and Stonington 
 Railroad Companies, formed by the merging act of 
 1856. 
 
 The New York, Providence and Boston Railroad 
 Company purchased this railroad, ferry property, and 
 franchises on the 1st day of December, 1864, and has 
 operated it ever since. 
 
 In 1875 the Legislature amended the charter of the 
 New York, Providence and Boston Railroad Com- 
 pany, so as to enable them to form a connection be- 
 tween their tracts west of the borough of Stonington, 
 and as so arranged it is now in successful operation, 
 being one of the best ballasted, best equipped, and 
 best managed railroads in the United States. 
 
 Officers: Samuel D. Babcock, president; David S. 
 Babcock, vice-president; Henry Morgan, treasurer; 
 A. R. Longley, Jr., secretary; A. S. Mathews, engin- 
 eer in chief; J. B. Gardner, superintendent; Giles F. 
 Ward, assistant superintendent and purchasing agent. 
 Directors: Samuel D. Babcock, New York City; 
 David S. Babcock, New York City; Wm. F. Carey, 
 Jr., New York City ; Henry Morgan, New York City ; 
 James B. Johnson, New York City; George M.Miller, 
 New York City ; Nathan F. Dixon, Westerly, R. I. ; 
 John A. Burnham, Boston, Mass. ; Charles H. Salis- 
 bury, Providence, R. I. ; Henry Howard, Coventry, 
 R. I. ; A. S. Mathews, Stonington, Conn. Other 
 officers: F. B. Noyes, general ticket agent and pay- 
 master; Joel R. Prouty, freight clerk and ticket agent; 
 J. L. Hayden, clerk for purchasing agent; E. P. 
 Hubbard, clerk for secretary's office ; George W. Allen, 
 acting auditor of freight accounts ; A. T. B. Hunt 
 and Ira F. Noyes, clerks for general ticket agent; 
 Mat. Baker, messenger-boy. 
 
 The Providence and Stonington Steamship Com- 
 pany, incorporated and managed under and by virtue 
 of the laws of the State of Rliode Island, employ two 
 lines of boats : one from New York to Stonington, 
 connecting with the New York, Providence and Bos- 
 ton Railroad, the other from New York to Providence. 
 Edward C. Denison, agent at Stonington. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVL 
 
 STONINGTON— (Continued). 
 CIVIL AND MILITARY. 
 
 The following is a list of the judges of the County 
 Court, sheriff's, probate judges, assistants, senators 
 representatives, selectmen, and town clerks of Ston- 
 ington, etc. 
 
 Judge of the Couiity Court. 
 
 BenjamiQ Pomeroy. 
 
 Associate Judge. 
 
 William Randall, for sixteen years. 
 
 Sheriff. 
 
 Richard A. Wheeler was elected sheriff in 1860, and re-elected in 1863, 
 1866, and 1869, holding the offlce for twelve years ; then declined. 
 
 Assistants under the Old Charter. 
 
 1683-87, Samuel Mason; 1818, Enoch Burrows. 
 
 Senators under the Constitution. 
 
 1819-21, Enoch Burrows ; 1822, William Randall ; 1831, Jesse Dean ; 1832, 
 Samuel F. Denison ; 1838, Asa Fish; 1840, Asa Fish ; 1843, William 
 Hyde, M.D.; 1847, Ephraim Williams, Sr.; 1848, Ephraira Williams; 
 1849, Asa Fish ; 1864, Clark Greenman ; 1857, Franklin A. Palmer ; 
 1801, Elisha D. Wiglitman ; 1866, Charles H, Mallory ; 1867, Ephraim 
 Williams; 1870, Amos B. Taylor; 1876-77, Alexander S. Palmer. 
 
 The probate district of Stonington was established 
 in 1767, including the present towns of Stonington, 
 North Stonington, Groton, and Ledyard. 
 
 1767.— Charles Phelps, M.D., judge; Paul Wheeler, clerk. 
 
 1770, — June 26th, EInathan Rossiter, clerk. 
 
 1786.— January 4th, Charles Phelps, Jr., clerk. 
 
 1785.— August, William Phelps, clerk. 
 
 1786.— August 1st, John Denison (4), clerk. 
 
 1787.— November 6th, John Denison (3), clerk. 
 
 1800.— September 1st, Stiles Phelps, clerk. 
 
 1806.— Latham Hull, Esq., judge ; Coddington Billings, clerk. 
 
 1806.— August 6th, Wm. Lord, M.D., clerk. 
 
 1806.— Coddington Billings, clerk. 
 
 1807. — December, Edward Smith, clerk. 
 
 1810.— Edward Smith, appointed special judge; Alexander G. Smith, 
 clerk. 
 
 1811.— Coddington Billings, judge; Edward Smith, clerk. 
 
 1811.— June 4th, Alexander G. Smith, clerk. 
 
 1814.— Ralph Hurlbnrt, judge; Alexander 6. Smith, clerk. 
 
 1818.— March 17th, Erastus T. Smith, clerk. 
 
 1819 _Wm. Williams, Esq., judge: George Hubbard, clerk. 
 
 1831.— Asa Fitch, Esq., judge; Nathan Daboll, clerk. 
 
 1835,— The town of North Stonington was set off by an act of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, and established as an independent district. 
 
 1836.— Stephen Haley, judge; John D. Noyes, clerk. 
 
 1837, The town of Ledyard was set off' by an act of the General Assem- 
 bly, and established as an independent district. 
 
 1838.— Asa Fish, Esq., judge; John D. Noyes, clerk. 
 
 1839, The town of Groton was set off by an act of the General Assem- 
 bly, and established as an independent district, 
 
684 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1846.— Ephraim Williams, Esq., judge; \Vm. H. Woodbridge, clerk. 
 1847.— Asa Fish, Esq., jurtge ; John D. Noyes, clerk. 
 1860.— Stiles Stanton, Esq., judge; John D. Noyes, clerk. 
 1863.— Eliaa P. Randall, Esq.; John D.Noyes, clerk. 
 1864.— Richard A. Wheeler, judge; John D. Noyes, clerk. 
 1872.— John D. Noyes, clerk. 
 1873. — Moses A. Penibeiton, clerk. 
 
 Stonington Representatives. 
 
 Under the charter of King Charles II. representa- 
 tives were elected semi-annually. 
 
 1664.— William Chesebrough. 
 
 1665.— Thomas Miner, Samuel Chesebrough, John Gallup. 
 
 1666. — Thomas Stanton, Samuel Chesebrough. 
 
 16G7.— Thomas Stanton, John Gallup, John Miner. 
 
 1668.— Thomas Stanton, Nehemiah Palmer. 
 
 1669. — Thomas Stanton, Nehemiah Palmer, Elisha Chesebrougli. 
 
 167U. — Thomas Stanton, Samuel Chesebrough, Thomas Miner. 
 
 1671. — Thomas Stanton, Samuel Chesebrough, George Deuison. 
 
 1672.— Thomas Stanton, Samuel Chesebrough, Thomas Miner. 
 
 1673. — Thomas Stanton, Samuel Chesebrough, Thomas Wheeler. 
 
 1674. — Thomas Stanton. Nehemiah Palmer, George Denison. 
 
 1675. — George Denison, John Gilbert. 
 
 1676. — Nehemiah Palmer, Amos Richardson, Ephraim Miner. 
 
 1677. — Thomas Miner, Amos Richardson, Ephraim Miner. 
 
 1678. — George Denison, Samuel Mason. 
 
 1679. — Thomas Miner, Amos Richardson, Samuel Mason. 
 
 1680 — Amos Richardson, Thomas Miner, Samuel Mason, Ezekiel Maine. 
 
 1681.— -Samuel Mason, Nehemiah Palmer, Amos Richardson, Ephraim 
 Miner. 
 
 1682. — George Deuison, Samuel Mason. 
 
 1683. — George Denison, Thomas Stanton. 
 
 1684. — George Denison, Daniel Mason. 
 
 1685. — George Denison, Nehemiah Palmer, John Gallup. 
 
 1686. — George Denison, Nehemiah Palmer, James Avery for New Lon- 
 don and Stonington. 
 
 1687. — George Denison, Steven Richardson. 
 
 1688. — No sessions were held. 
 
 1689. — Nehemiah Palmer, Thomas Miner. 
 
 1690.— Ephraim Miner, John Stanton. 
 
 1691. — Nehemiah Palmer. 
 
 1692.- Isaac Wheeler. 
 
 1693. — George Denison, Nehemiah Palmer. 
 
 1694. — George Denison, Nehemiah Palmer, John Denison. 
 
 1695, — John Holborn, Nehemiah Palmer, John Denison, Nathaniel 
 Chesebrough. 
 
 1G96. — John Gallup, Joseph Miner, Ezekiel Maine. 
 
 1697.- John Gallup. 
 
 1698. — Manasseh Miner, Robert Denison, John Gallup. 
 
 1699. — Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Bliner, Henry Stephens. 
 
 1700. — Nehemiah Palmer, Manasseh Miner, Henry Stephens. 
 
 1701. — Ephraim Miner, Henry Stephens. 
 
 1702. — Manasseh Miner, Henry Stephens. 
 
 1703.— Will. Gallup, Nehemiati Palmer. 
 
 1704. — Ephraim Miner, Samuel Stanton. 
 
 1705. — Nehemiah Palmer, Manasseh Miner, Nathaniel Chesebrough, 
 Elnathan Miner. 
 
 1706. — Joseph Miner, Gershom Palmer, Ephraim Miner, Jr., Henurie 
 Hopkins. 
 
 1707. — Ephraim Miner, Henerie Hopkins, Manasseh Miner, Ichabod 
 Palmer. 
 
 1708. — Ephraim Miner, Samuel Stanton. 
 
 1709.— Daniel Eldredge, William Gallup, Ephraim Miner. 
 
 I7l5.— Nathaniel Chesebrough, Manasseh Miner, William Gallup. 
 
 1711. — Ephraim Miner, Manasseh Miner, Jr. 
 
 1712.— Manasseh Miner, William Gallup, Daniel Palmer. 
 
 1713. — William Gallup, Thomas Noyes, Joseph Miner, 
 
 1714.— Ephiaim Miner, Daniel Palmer, Samuel Chesebrough, Francis 
 West. 
 
 1715.— William Gallup, Ebenezer Searles, Nathaniel Chesebrough, Na- 
 thaniel Miner. 
 
 1716.— Natiianiel Chesebrough, Wm. Gallup, Manasseh Miuer, Samuel 
 Stanton. 
 
 1717. — Manasseh Miner, William Gallup, Thomas Noyes. 
 
 1718. — Manasseh Miner, Thomas Noyes, John Noyes. 
 
 1719.— Daniel Palmer, Stephen Richardson, William Gallup, Joseph 
 
 Stanton. 
 1720. — Joseph Stanton, John Noyes.. 
 
 1721. — Joseph Stantou, Ebenezer Billings, John Noyes, Samuel Prentise. 
 1722. — John Mason, Ebenezer Billings, Ephraim Miner. 
 1723.— William Gallup, Samuel Chesebrough, Daniel Palmer, Ephraim 
 
 Miner. 
 1724. — John Mason, Samuel Prentise, Daniel Palmer, Ephraim Miner. 
 1725. — Thomas Noyes, Ebenezer Searles, Jamea Miner, William Gallup. 
 1726.— James Miner, William Gallup. 
 1727. — John Williams, Increase Billings, Thomas Noyes. 
 1728.— Daniel Palmer, Increase Billiugs, Ephraim Miner, John Noyes. 
 1729. — John Noyes, Theophilus Baldwin, Thomas Noyes, Increase Bil- 
 lings. 
 1730. — John Noyes, Theophilus Baldwin, Daniel Palmer, Increase Bil- 
 lings. 
 1731. — John Noyes, Theophilus Baldwin, Joseph Miner. 
 1732. — John Noyes, Increase Billings, Daniel Palmer, Theophilus Bald- 
 win. 
 1733. — Thomas Noyes, Increase Billings, John Noyes. 
 1734. — John Noyes, Increase Billings. 
 
 1735. — Daniel Palmer, Israel Hewilt, Theophilus Baldwin, John Breed. 
 1736. — Joseph Palmer, Theophilus Baldwin, 
 1737. — Daniel Palmer, Theophilus Baldwin, Increase Billings, John 
 
 Noyes. 
 1738. — Joseph Palmer, Increase Billings, Joseph Denison. 
 1739. — Joseph Palmer, John Williams, Amos Chesebrough, Simeon 
 
 Miner. 
 1740. — Joseph Palmer, Joseph Denison, Increase Billings. 
 1741. — John Breed, Simeon Miner, Amos Chesebrough, Joseph Denison. 
 1742. — Joseph Palmer, Increase Billings, John Whiting, Joseph Denison. 
 1743. — Joseph Denison, Simeon Miner. 
 1744. — Joseph Denison, Simeon Miner. 
 
 1745. — Israel Hewitt, Amos Chesebrough, Joseph Denison, Eufus Miner. 
 1746. — Simeon Miner, John Breed, John Noyes, Joseph Denison. 
 1747. — .Joseph Denison, Rufus Miner, Jonas Prentice. 
 1748. — John Williams, Rufus Miner, Joseph Denison, Nehemiah Palmer. 
 1749.— Simeon Miner, Joseph Denison, Samuel Prentice, Nehemiah 
 
 Palmer. 
 1750. — Joseph Denison, Amos Chesebrough, Samuel Prentice. 
 1751. — Rufus Miner, Josiah Prentice, Simeon Miner. 
 1752. — Simeon Miner, Joseph Prentice, Jonas Prentice. 
 1753. — John Williams, Simeon Miner, Samuel Prentice. 
 l'^54.— Simeon Miner, John Williams, Jonah Prentice. 
 1755. — Simeon Miner, Joseph Denison, John Williams. 
 1756. — Simeon Miner, Joseph Prentice, Amos Chesebrough. 
 1757. — Simeon Miner, John Williams, Samuel Prentice, Amos Chese- 
 brough. 
 1758. — Simeon Miner, Phineas Munson, Joseph Denison. 
 1759.— John Williams, John Baldwin, Simeon Miner, Amos Chese- 
 brough. 
 1760.— Simeon Miner, Amos Chesebrough, John Denison. 
 1761. — Simeon Miner, John Williams, Amos Cheseborough, Phineas 
 
 Stanton. 
 1762.— Simeon Miner, Joseph Denison, Jonas Prentice, Cliarles Phelpa. 
 1763. — Joseph Denison, Simeon Miner. 
 
 1764.- Joseph Denison, Charles Phelps, Jonas Prentice, Paul Wheeler, 
 1765.— Joseph Denison, Charles Phelps, Paul Wheeler. 
 1766.— Amos Chesebrough, Paul Wheeler, Henry Babcock, Charles 
 
 Phelps. 
 1767.— Paul Wheeler, Charles Phelps, Joseph Denison. 
 1768.— Amos Chesebrough, Paul Wheeler, Charles Phelps, Phineas Stan- 
 ton. 
 1769.— Charles Phelps, Paul Wheeler, Henry Babcock. 
 1770.— Cliarles Phelps, Phineas Stanton, Benjamin Clark. 
 1771.— Charles Phelps, Jolin Williams, Daniel Fish. 
 1772.— Charles Phelps, Daniel Fish. 
 1773.- Charles Phelps, Benjamin Clark, Daniel Fish. 
 1774.— John Dean, Nathaniel Miner, Charles Phelps, Samuel Prentice. 
 1775.— Charles Phelps, Nathaniel Miner, William Williams. 
 1776.— John Dean, Charles Phelps, Daniel Fish, Joshua Prentice. 
 1777.— Charles Phelps, Nathaniel Miuer, Paul Wheeler. 
 1778.— John Williams, I'L-leg Chesebrough, Paul Wheeler, John Swan. 
 1779.— Jonathan Palmer, Oliver Smith, Phineas Stanton, Benjamin 
 
 Clark. 
 1780.— Charles Phelps, Oliver Smith, Henry Babcock. 
 1781.— Gilbert Fanning, Sanford Billings, Paul Wheeler, Henry Miner. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 685 
 
 1782.— Paul Wheeler, Oliver Smith, Henry Miner. 
 
 1783.— Charles Phelps, Gilbert Fanning, Samuel Prentice, John Ean- 
 
 dall. 
 1784. — CharleB Phelps, William Williams. 
 
 1785. — William Williams, Nathaniel Miner, Jonathan Palmer. 
 1786. — Jonathan Palmer, Jr., Joshua Prentice, Elisha Denison, John 
 
 Randall. 
 1787. — Jonathan Palmer, Jr., Charles Phelps, Elisha Denison. 
 1788. — Latham Hull, Jonathan Palmer, Jr., Charles Phelps, Sanford 
 
 Billings. 
 1789, — Jonathan Palmer, Jr., Latham Hull, Thomas Swan. 
 1790. — Charles Phelps, Jonathan Palmer, Elias S. Palmer. 
 1791. — Charles Phelps, Jonathan Palmer, Latham Hull. 
 1792. — Charles Phelps, Amos Palmer, Edward Swan, Isaac Williams. 
 1793. — Charles Phelps, Latham Hull, Daniel Denison. 
 1794. — Latham Hull, Charles Phelps, Elias S. Palmer. 
 1795. — Latham Hull, Sanford Billings, Amos Palmer, Isaac Williams 
 
 (2). 
 1796. — Amos Palmer, Charles Phelpa, Latham Hull, Elias S. Palmer. 
 1797. — Latham Hull, Amos Palmer, Edward Swan, Elisha Swan. 
 1798. — Latham Hull, Elisha Denison, Thomas Swan, Isaac Williams 
 
 (2). 
 
 1799.— Latham Hull, Elisha Denison, Stephen Avery (2), Elias S. 
 Palmer. 
 
 1800. — Latham Hull, Elisha Denison, Edward Smith, Coddington Bil- 
 lings. 
 
 1801. — Latham Hull, Edward Smith, Amos Palmer, Sands Cole. 
 
 1802. — Amos Palmer, Latham Hull, Williara Williams, Nathaniel Pen- 
 dleton. 
 
 1803. — Latham Hull, Nathaniel Pendleton. 
 
 1804. — Latham Hull, Amos Palmer, Nathan Pendleton. 
 
 1805. — Nathan Pendleton. Amos Gallup, Latham Hull, Edward Smith. 
 
 1806. — Latham Hull, Nathaniel Pendleton, Amos Gallup. 
 
 1807. — Latham Hull, Nathan Pendleton, Amos Gallup, Amos Palmer. 
 
 1808. — Coddington Billings, Amos Gallup. 
 
 1809. — Amos Palmer, Coddington Billings, Nathaniel Palmer, Jr. 
 
 1810. — Coddington Billings, Nathaniel Palmer, Amos Palmer, Enoch 
 Burrows. 
 
 1811.— Coddington Billings, Enoch Burrows, Jesse Dean, Amos Palmer. 
 
 1812. — Jesse Dean, William Randall, Peleg Denison. 
 
 1813. — William Randall, Peleg Deniaon, Amos Denison, Amos Gallup. 
 
 1814. — Amos Gallup, Amos Denison, Enoch Burrows, John Hallam. 
 
 1815.— Enoch Burrows, John Hallam, Jesse Dean. 
 
 1816.— William Randall, Amos Denison, Enoch Burrows, Jesse Dean. 
 
 1817. — Jesse D. Noyes, Enoch Burrows, George Hubbard. 
 
 1818.— George Hubbard, William Randall, Samuel F. Denison, Amos 
 Williams. 
 
 Under the constitution representatives were elected 
 annually in May. 
 
 1819.— Samuel F. Denison, Amos Williams. 
 1820.— Giles R. Hallam, Asa Fish. 
 1821.— Giles R. Hallam, Asa Fish. 
 1822.— Elisha Faxon, Amos Gallup. 
 1823. — Elisha Faxon, Jesse Dean. 
 1824. — Jesse Dean, Jesse D. Noyes. 
 1826.— Jesse D. Noyes, William Randall. 
 1826.— Jesse Dean, William Williams. 
 1827.— Jesse Dean, William Williams. 
 1828. — William Williams, John Hyde. 
 1829.— John Hyde, Elisha Faxon, Jr. 
 1830. — Ephraira Williams, Jesse Dean. 
 1831.— Asa Fish, George E. Palmer. 
 1832.— Samuel Chesebrough, Elias Brown. 
 1833.— Elias Brown, Gilbert Collins. 
 1834.— Gilbert Collins, John D. Noyes. 
 1835.— John D. Noyes, Charles H. Smith. 
 1836.— Thomas Hinckley, Samuel Chesebro. 
 1837.— Eleazer Williams, Jesse D. Noyes. 
 1838.— Jesse D. Noyes, John F. Trumbull. 
 1839.— George Sheffield, John N. Trumbull. 
 1840.— Gurdon Trumbull, George Sheffield. 
 1841.— Jeremiah Holmes, Stiles Stanton. 
 1842.— Henry Harding, Ezra Chesebro. 
 1843.— Asa Fish, Charles T. Stanton. 
 1844.— Jesse D. Noyes, Elias B. Brown. 
 44 
 
 1845.- Benjamin F. Palmer, Oliver B. Grant. 
 1846.— Benjamin F. Palmer, Charles H. Allyn. 
 1847. — Charles H. Allyn, Joseph Noyes, Jr. 
 1848. — Joseph Noyes, Jr., Gurdon Trumbull. 
 1849. — Williara Hyde, Jr., Noyes Palmer. 
 1850. — William ll.vde, Jr., Noyes Palmer. 
 1851.— Gurdon Trumbull, Richard A. Wheeler. 
 1852. — Jeremiah Holmes, Ozsemus M. Stjilman. 
 1853. — Erastue Wentworth, Benjamin F. Laiigworthy. 
 1854. — Benjamin F. Langworthy, John Holilridge. 
 18oD. — Franklin A. Palmer, Daniel W. Denison. 
 18B6.— John F. Trumbull, Thomas W. Russell. 
 1857. — Alexander S. Palmer, Joseph Wheeler. 
 1858. — George E. Palmer, Alexander S. Palmer. 
 1859.— John F. Trumbull, Elias P. Randall. 
 I860.— Joseph Cottrell, Horace N. Trumbull. 
 1861.— Charles Griunell, Joseph E. Smith. 
 1862.— Horace N. Trumbull, Jesse D. Noyes (2). 
 
 1863. — Horace R. Hall, Geoige E. Laraphere. 
 
 1864.— Charles H. Mallory, John F. Trumbull. 
 
 1865. — Jonathan Maxon, Amos R. Taylor. 
 
 1866. — Thomas S. Greenman, Gurdon S. Crandall. 
 
 1867.- George Slieffield, Joseph 0. Cottrell. 
 
 1868.- Giles Babcock, Asa Fish. 
 
 1869.— David D. Mallory, Benjamin B. Hewitt. 
 
 1870. — Benjamin F. Stanton (2), George S. Brewster. 
 
 1871.- Henry B. Noyes, De Witt (!. Pencllnton. 
 
 1872.— Alexander G. ITrink, Nathan S. Noyes. 
 
 1873. — Giles Babcock, Benjamin F. Stanton (2). 
 
 1874. — Samuel H. Chesebro, John Forsyth. 
 
 1875. — Alexander S. Palmer, Charles Perrin. 
 
 1876.— Joseph S. Williams, Jr , George W. Bliven. 
 
 1877. — Benjamin F. Lewis, Joseph E. Smith. 
 
 1878. — Ephraini Williams, George W. Bliven. 
 
 1879. — Joseph B. Smith, Elijah A. Morgan. 
 
 1880.— Alexander G. Friuk, Elins Williams. 
 
 1881.— Elijah A. Morgan, Stiles T. Stanton. 
 
 1882.— Stiles T. Stanton, Alexander S. Palmer, Jr. 
 
 Town Clerks, 
 
 SODTHERTOWN. 
 In 1658, Capt. George Denison was elected town clerk, and held the 
 office up to 1660. 
 
 In 1660, Thomas Miner was elected town clerk, and held the office up 
 to 1662. 
 
 In 1662, Capt. John Stanton was elected town clerk, and held the office 
 up to 1664. 
 
 MYSTIC. 
 In 1668, Capt. John Stanton was elected town clerk, and held the office 
 for one year. 
 
 STONINGTON. 
 
 In 1666, Capt. John Stanton was elected town clerk, and held the office 
 up to 1669. 
 
 In 1669, Thomas Miner was elected town clerk, and held the office up 
 to 1674. 
 
 In 1674, Capt. John Stanton was again elected town clerk, and held 
 the office up to 1699. 
 
 In 1699, Deacon Nehemiah Palmer was chosen town clerk, and held 
 the office up to 17u2. 
 
 In 1702, Elnathan Miner was chosen town clerk, and held the office up 
 to 1729. 
 
 In 1729, Joseph Palmer was chosen town clerk, and held the office up 
 to 1743. 
 
 In 1743, Samuel Prentiss was chosen town clerk, and held the office 
 up to 1773. 
 
 In 1773, Peleg Chesebrough was chosen town clerk, and held the office 
 until 1791. 
 
 In 1791, Stephen Avery (2) was chosen town clerk, and held the office 
 until the division of the town in 1807. 
 
 In 1807, Jesse Dean was chosen town clerk, and held the office up to 
 1831. 
 
 In 1831, John D. Noyes was chosen town clerk, and held the office up 
 to 1873. 
 
 In 1873, Moses A. Pendleton was chosen town clerk, and has held the 
 office up to the present time, 1881. 
 
686 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Selectmen of Southertown. 
 
 1658.— Capt. George Denison, Robert Park, Wil liam Chesebrough, Thomas 
 
 Stanton, Walter Palmer, Thomas Miner. 
 1659._CEipt. George Denison, Thomas Park, Thomas Miner, Thomas 
 
 Stanton, Samuel Chesebrough. 
 1660.— "William Chesebrough, Walter Palmer, Thomas Stanton, Thomas 
 
 Miner, Eiihu Palmer. 
 1661.— William Chesebrough, Walter Palmer, Thomas Stanton, Thomas 
 
 Miner, Elihu Palmer. 
 1662.— Capt. George Denison, AVilliam Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, 
 
 Samuel Cljesebrongh, Elihu Palmer. 
 1663.— Capt. George Denison, William Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, 
 
 Thomas Miner, Elihu Palmer. 
 1664.— William Chesebrough, Samuel Chesebrough, Elihu Palmer, John 
 
 Gallup, Sr., Thomas Stanton, Sr. 
 
 In 1665 the General Court enacted as follows : 
 Southertown is by this court named Mystic, in mem- 
 ory of that victory God was pleased to give this people 
 of Connecticut over the Pequot Indians. 
 
 1665. — William Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, Sr., Samuel Chesebrough, 
 John Gallup, Sr., Elihu Palmer. 
 
 In 1666 the General Assembly enacted as follows : 
 The town of Mystic is by this court named Stoning- 
 ton. 
 
 1666. — William Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, Sr., Thomas Miner, John 
 Gallup, Samuel Chesebrough, Amos Pdchardson, and Nehemiah 
 Palmer. 
 
 1667. — William Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, Sr., Goodman Gallup, 
 Nehemiah Palmar, Thomas Stanton, Jr. 
 
 1668. — Thomas Stanton, Thomas Wheeler, Samuel Chesebrough, Nehe- 
 miah Palmer, John Gallup. 
 
 1669. — Thomas Stanton, Sr., Thomas Wheeler, Samuel Chesebrough, 
 Nehemiah Palmer, Thomas Miner. 
 
 1670. — Thomas Stanton, Sr., Samuel Chesebrough, John Gallup, Sr., Ne- 
 hemiah Palmer, Thomas Miner. 
 
 1671. — Thomas Stanton, Sr,, Samuel Chesebrough, John Gallup, Sr., Ne- 
 hemiah Palmer, Thomas Miner. 
 
 1672. — Thomas Stanton, Sr., Capt. George Denison, Samuel Chesebrough, 
 Nehemiah Palmer, Amos Richardson. 
 
 1673. — Thomas Stanton, Sr., Samuel Chesebrough, John Gallup, Sr., 
 Samuel Mason, Nehemiah Palmer. 
 
 1674. — Thomas Stanton, Sr., Nathaniel Chesebrough, George Denison, 
 Sr., Samuel Mason, John Denison. 
 
 1675. — Nehemiali Palmer, Samuel Mason, Nathaniel Chesebrough, Thos. 
 Stanton, Jr., Ephraim Miner. 
 
 1676. — Neheuiiah Palmer, Samuel Mason, Nathaniel Chesebrough, Thos. 
 Stanton, Jr., Ephraim Miner. 
 
 1677. — James Pendleton, Nehemiah Palmer, Tobias Sanders, Ephraim 
 Miner, Capt. George Denison. 
 
 1678. — James Pendleton, Amos Richardson, Samuel Mason, Nehemiah 
 Palmer, Ephraim Miner. 
 
 1679. — Jamea Peudleton, Amos Richardson, Samuel Mason, Nehemiah 
 Palmer, Ephraim Miner. 
 
 1680. — Samuel Mason, Capt. George Denison, Nehemiah Palmer, John 
 Denison, Ephraim Miner. 
 
 1681. — John Baldwin, Thomas Stanton, Ephraim Miner, Nehemiah Pal- 
 mer, John Gallup. 
 
 1682. — Samuel fllason, Thomas Miuer, Ephraim Miner, Nehemiah Pal- 
 mer, John Denison. 
 
 1683, — SaniUL-1 Mason, Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Miner, Juhn Denison, 
 Thomas Stanton. 
 
 1684. — Samuel Mason, Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Miner, Thomas Stan- 
 ton, John Denison. 
 
 1685. — Samuel Mason, Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Miner, Tliomas Stan- 
 ton, John Denison. 
 
 1686.— Samuel Mason, Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Miner, Thomas Stan- 
 ton, John Denison. 
 
 1687. — Samuel Mason, Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Miner, Thomas Stan- 
 ton, John Denison. 
 
 1688.— Samuel Mason, Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Miner, Thomas Stau- 
 tou, Juhn Denison. 
 
 1689.- Samuel Mason, Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Miner, Thomas Stan- 
 ton, John Denison. 
 1690. — Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Miner, John Denison, Moses Palmer, 
 
 John Gallup. 
 1091.— Fergus McDowel, Daniel Mason, Gershom Palmer, Robert Stan- 
 ton, James Dean. 
 1692.— Capt. George Denison, Nehemiah Palmer, William Billings, Sr., 
 
 Ephraim Miner, John Gallup. 
 1693.— Capt. George D^'uison, Nehemiah Palmer, William Billings, Sr., 
 
 Ephraim Miner, John Gallup. 
 1694.— Deacon Nehemiah Palmer, Thomas Stanton, Sr., Joseph Miner, 
 
 John Denison, Isaac Wheeler. 
 1695.— Deacon Nehemiah Palmer, Joseph Miner, Isaac Wheeler, Joha 
 
 Gallup, Nathaniel Chesebrough. 
 1696.— Deacon Nehemiah Palmer, Joseph Miner, Joseph Saxton, Henry 
 
 Stevens, Benadam Gallup. 
 1697. — Deacon Nehemiah Palmer, Joseph Miner, Joseph Saxton, Henry 
 
 Stevens, Benadam Gallup. 
 1698.— Deacon Nehemiah Palmer, Joseph Saxton, Joseph Miner, Henry 
 
 Stevens, Benadam Gallup. 
 1699.— Ephraim Miner, Sr., Henry Stevens, Joseph Saxton, Manasseth 
 
 Miner, Nathaniel Chesebrough. 
 1700. — Ephraim Miner, Joseph Saxton, Gershom Palmer, William Den- 
 ison, Nathaniel Chesc-brough. 
 1701. — Ephraim Miner, Sr., Gershom Palmer, Joseph Saxton, Nathaniel 
 
 Chesebrough, Mauasseth Miner. 
 1702.— Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Miner, Henry Stevens, Nathaniel 
 
 Chesebrough, Joseph Saxton. 
 1703.— Samuel Ma-^on, Nehemiah Palmer, Ephraim Miner, Henry Ste- 
 phens, Nathaniel Chesebrough. 
 1704. — Ephraim Miner, Sr., Nathaniel Chesebrough, Joseph Miner, Sr., 
 Henry Stephens, Benadam Gallup, Gershom Palmer, William Ben- 
 net. 
 1705. — Nathaniel Chesebrough, Ephraim Miner, Robert Denison, Daniej 
 
 Palmer, Ebenezer.Searle, Ebenezer Billing, William Bennet. 
 1706.— Nathaniel Chesebrough, Daniel Mason, John Gallup, Isaac 
 
 W' heeler, Ebenezer Searle, Samuel Richardson, Ebenezer Billings. 
 1707. — Nehemiah Palmer, Henry Stephens, Joseph Saxton, Benadam 
 
 Gallup, Benjamin Hewitt. 
 1708. — Nehemiah Palmer, Daniel Eldredge, Nathaniel Chesebrough, 
 
 Deacon Manasseh Miner, Benjamin Hewitt. 
 17U9.— Nathaniel Chesebrough, Josepli Miner, Sr., William Gallup, 
 Samuel Fiink, Ichabod Palmer, Benjamin Hewitt, William Bennet. 
 1710.— Nathaniel Chesebrough, Joseph Miner, Sr., Robert Denison, Eph- 
 raim Bliner, Joshua Holmes, William Gallup, Benjamin Hewitt, 
 1711.— Manaeseh Miner, John Gallup, Thomas Noyes, Benjamin Hewitt, 
 
 Samuel Stanton, Sr., Samuel Frink, Joshua Holmes. 
 1712. — Nathaniel Chesebrough, Deacon Manasseh Miner, Ephraim Miner, 
 Daniel Palmer, William Gallup, Benjamin Hewitt, Joshua Holmes. 
 171;j.— Ephraim Miner, Daniel Palmer, Benjamin Hewitt, Joseph Miner, 
 
 Ichabod Palmer, William Bennet, Sr., Samuel Chesebrough, Sr. 
 1714.— Capt. Nathaniel Chesebrough, Lieut. William Gallup, Thomas 
 Noyes, David Hilliard, Isaac Wheeler, Ichabod Palmer, Josiah 
 Grant. 
 1715.— Capt. Nathaniel Chesebrough, William Gallup, Thomas Noyes, 
 
 David Hilliard, Isaac Wheeler, James Miner, Moses Palmer. 
 1716.— Capt. Nathaniel Chesebrough, William Gallup, Thomas Noyes, 
 
 Isaac Wheeler, Benjamin Hewitt, James Miner, Moses Palmer. 
 1717.— Capt. Nathaniel Chesebrough, William Gallup, Thomas Noyes, 
 Daniel Deuison, Stephen Richardson, Samuel Prentis, Benjamin 
 Hewitt. 
 1718.— Capt. Nathaniel Chesebrough, Manasseh Miner, John Gallup, Ste- 
 phen Richardson, Dauiel Denison, Samuel Prentis, AVilliam Bennet. 
 1719.— Ichabod Palmer, Benjamin Hewitt, Adam Gallup, Joseph Deni- 
 son, James Miner, Samuel Chesebrough, Sr., Joshua Holmes. 
 1720. — Deacon Manasseh Miner, Joseph Stanton, Stephen Richardson, 
 
 John Noyes, Samuel Prentis. 
 1721.— Ichabod Palmer, Elihu Chesebrough, Joseph Denison, James 
 
 Miner. 
 1722. — Capt. John Mason, Thomas Noyes, James Minor, Samuel Prentis, 
 
 Joshua Holmes. 
 1723.— John Mji'-oii, Thomas Noyes, James Miner, Daniel Denison, Elihu 
 
 Chesebrough. 
 1724.— Capt. Nathaniel Chesebrough, Capt. Thomas Noyes, Daniel Palmer, 
 
 James Miner, Samuel Prentis. 
 1725.— Capt. Nathaniel Chesebrough, Ephraim Miuer, Thomas Noyes, 
 Isaac AVheeler, John Friuk. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 687 
 
 1726.— Capt. Nathaniel Chesebroiigh, Dauiel Denison, Thomas Noyes, 
 
 Israel Hewitt, Samuel Prentis. 
 1727. — Capt. Daniel Denisun, Joseph Stanton, Ephraim Miner, Samuel 
 
 Prentis, Israel Hewitt. 
 1728. — Capt. Nnthauiel Clieseb rough, Joseph Stanton, Daniel Denison, 
 
 Daniel Palmer, Israel Hewitt. 
 1729. — Daniel Palmer, Joseph Miner, Deacon John Noyes, Israel Hewitt, 
 
 Increase Billings. 
 1730. — Jos. Miner, Daniel Palmer, John Noyea, Israel Hewitt,!. Billings. 
 1731. — Joseph Miner, lehabod Palmer, Daniel Palmer, John Noyes, Israel 
 
 Hewitt, Increase Billings, Mathew Randall. 
 1732. — Joseph Miner, Ichabod Palmer, Daniel Palmer, John Noyes, Is- 
 rael Hewitt, Increase Billings, Mathew Randall. 
 1733. — Daniel Palmer, Joseph Miner, John Noyes, Samuel Hinkley, 
 
 Israel Hewitt, Increase Billings, John Williams. 
 1734, — Daniel Palmer, Joseph Miner, John Noyes, Israel Hewitt, Samuel 
 
 Hinckley, Increase Billings, Thomas Miner. 
 1735. — Daniel Palmer, Jr., John Noyes, Capt. Israel Hewitt, Samuel 
 
 Hinckley, Increase Billings, Daniel Brown, Silas Greenman. 
 1736. — Daniel Palmer, Jr., John Noyes, Capt. Israel Hewitt, Samuel 
 
 Hinckley, Increase Billings, Daniel Brown, Silas Greenman. 
 1737. — Daniel Palmer, Daniel Denison, Israel Hewitt, Samuel Hinckley, 
 
 Increase Billings, John Denison, Silas Greenman. 
 1738. — John Noyes, Israel Hewitt, Capt. John Williams, Increase Bil- 
 lings, Nathan Chesebrough, Simeon Miner, John Denison. 
 1739. — John Noyes, Israel Hewitt, John Williams, Increase Billings, 
 
 Nathan Chesebrough, Simeon Miner, John Denison. 
 1740. — John Noyes, Israel Hewitt, Increase Billings, Nathan Chese- 
 brough, John Breed, George Denison, Simeon Miner. 
 1741. — John Noyes, Israel Hewitt, Increase Billings, Nathan Chese- 
 brough, John Breed, George Denison, Simeon Miner. 
 1742.— Capt. Israel Hewitt, Nathan Chesebrough, George Denison, 
 Thomas Wheeler, John Whiting, Nehemiah Palmer, Daniel Brown. 
 1743.— Israel Hewitt, Nathan Chesebrough, John Williams, Increase 
 
 Billings, Joseph Denison, Simeon Miner, Nehemiah Palmer. 
 1744,_Israel Hewitt, John Williams, Nathan Chesebrough, Thomas 
 
 Wheeler, Joseph Denison, Simeon Miner, John Holmes. 
 1745.— Israel Hewitt, John Williams, Nathan Chesebrough, Thomas 
 
 Wheeler, Joseph Denison, Simeon Miner, Clement Miner. 
 J746. — Capt. John Williams, Nathan Chesebrough, Rufus Miner, Nehe- 
 miah Palmer, Daniel Brown, William Denison, John Holmes. 
 1747.— John Williams, Nathan Chesebrough, Bufus Miner, Nehemiah 
 
 Palmer, Daniel Brown, William Denison, John Holmes. 
 1748. — John Williams, Nathan Chesebrough, Rufus Miner, Daniel 
 
 Brown, John Palmer, William Denison, John Holmes. 
 1749. — John Williams, Nathan Cliesebrough, Joseph Denison, William 
 
 Denison, Nehemiah Palmer, John Holmes, John Randall. 
 1750.— Israel Hewitt, Nathan Chesebrough, Rufus Miner, John Palmer, 
 
 Daniel Brown, Joseph Hewitt, Joims Prentice. 
 1751.— Israel Hewitt, Nathan Chesebrough, Rufus Miner, John Palmer, 
 
 Daniel Brown, Jonas Prentice, Joseph Stanton. 
 1752.— Israel Hewitt. Nathan Chesebrough, Rufus Miner, John Palmer, 
 
 Daniel Brown, Jonas Prentice, John Hallam. 
 1753.— Israel Hewitt, Nathan Chesebi-ough, Rufus Miner, John Palmer, 
 
 Jonas Prentice, Daniel Brown, John Hallam. 
 1754.— Maj. Israel Hewitt, John Williams, Nathan Chesebrough, Thomas 
 
 Wheeler, John Palmer, Daniel Brown, Jonas Prentice. 
 1755.— Israel Hewitt, John Williams, Nathan Chesebrough, Daniel 
 
 Brown, John Palmer, Jonaa Prentice, John Hallam. 
 1756.— Israel Hewitt, John Williams, Nathan Chesebrough, John Palmer, 
 
 Daniel Brown, John Hallam, Jonas Prentice. 
 1757._l8rael Hewitt, John Williams, Nathan Chesebrough, John 
 
 Palmer, Daniel Brown, Jonas Prentice, John Hallam. 
 1758.— Israel Hewitt, John Williams, Nathan Chesebrough, Daniel 
 
 Brown, John Palmer, Jonas Prentice, Phineas Stanton. 
 1759.— Israel Hewitt, John Williams. Nathan Chesebrough, Daniel 
 
 Brown, Jonas Prentice, Phineas Stanton, John Denison. 
 1760.— Maj. Israel Hewitt, Nathan Chesebrough, Jonas Prentice, Phineas 
 
 Stanton, Benjamin Clark, Robert Stanton, John Williams. 
 1761.— Maj. Israel Hewitt, Nathan Chesebrough, Jonas Prentice, Phineas 
 
 Stanton, Benjamin Clark, John Williams, James Noyes. 
 1762.— Jonas Prentice, Benjamin Clark, John Williams, James Noyes, 
 
 Samuel Miner, Amos Denison, Capt. Samuel Hubbard Burdick. 
 1763._jonaa Prentice, John Williams, James Noyes, John Breed, Amos 
 
 Denison, Paul Wheeler, Daniel Brown. 
 1764._joDas Prentice, John Williams, James Noyes, John Breed, Paul 
 Wheeler, Daniel Brown, John Dean. 
 
 1765.— Simeon Miner, Paul Wheeler, Henry Babcock, Samuel Hubbard 
 
 Burdick, George Denison, Thomas Prentice, Edward Hancox. 
 1766. — Paul Wheeler, John Denison (2), Thomas Prentice, Samuel Hub- 
 hard Burdick, Edward Hancox, Joseph Page, Joseph Palmer. 
 1767. — Paul Wheeler, John Denison (2), Thomas Prentice, Samuel Hub- 
 bard Burdick, Edward Hancox, Daniel Denison, Joseph Palmer. 
 1768. — Paul Wheeler, John Denison (2), Thomas Prentice, Samuel Hub- 
 bard Burdick, Edward Hancox, Joseph Palmer, Daniel Denison. 
 1769. — Charles Phelps, Thomas Prentice, Samuel Hubbard Burdick, Jo- 
 seph Palmer, William Williams, Nathaniel Miner, Simon Rhodes. 
 1770, — Charles Phelps, Thomas Prentice, Samuel Hubbard Burdick, Jo- 
 seph Palmer, William Williams, Nathaniel Miner, Elnathan Ros- 
 setter. 
 1771.— Charles Phelps, Thomas Prentice, Samuel Hubbard Burdick, Jo- 
 seph Palmer, William Williams, Nathaniel Miner, Elnathan Ros- 
 setter, 
 1772. — Charles Phelps, Thomas Prentice, Samuel Hubhard Burdick, 
 Joseph Palmer, William Williams, Nathaniel Miner, Elnathan Ros- 
 setter. 
 1773.— Charles Phelps, Avery Denison, Cyrus Wheeler, Joseph Palmer, 
 
 William Williams, Nathaniel Miner, John Breed. 
 1774.— Charles Phelps, Avery Denison, Cyrus Wheeler, Nathaniel Miner, 
 
 Joseph Palmer, Elnathan Rossetter, John Breed. 
 1775,— Charles Phelps, Cyrus Wheeler, Joseph Palmer, Nathaniel Miner, 
 
 John Breed, Jr., Elnatlian Rossetter, Joshua Prentice. 
 1776. — Charles Phelps, Joseph Palmer, Nathaniel Miner, John Breed, Jr., 
 
 Elnathan Rossetter, Joshua Prentice, Samuel Mason. 
 1777.— Charles Phelps, Paul Wheeler, John Williams, Peleg Chese- 
 brough, Jonathan Palmer, Christopher Brown, Joseph Smith. 
 1778.— Charles Phelps, Paul Wheeler, John Williams, Peleg Chese- 
 brough, John Denison (3), Joshua Prentice, Jonathan Palmer. 
 1779.— Charles Phelps, Jonathan Palmer, Christopher Brown, Paul 
 
 Wheeler, James Rhodes, Henry Miner, John Davis (2). 
 1780.- Charles Phelps, Paul Wheeler, Henry Miner, James Rhodes, John 
 
 Davis, Joshua Prentice, Gilbert Fauning. 
 1781.— Charles Phelps, Paul Wheeler, Henry Miner, James Rhodes, 
 
 Joshua Prentice, Gilbert Fanning, Elisha Denison (2). 
 1782.— Charles Phelps, Paul Wheeler, Henry Miner, James Rhodes, 
 
 Joshua Prentice, Gilbert Fanning, Elisha Denison. 
 1783.— Charles Phelps, John RandalL William Williams, Christopher 
 
 Brown, John Swan, Josepli Denison, Joshua Prentice, 
 1784.— John Randall, AVilliam Williams, Paul Wheeler, Joseph Denison, 
 
 John Swan, Joshua Prentice, Christopher Brown. 
 1785^— John Randall, Jonathan Palmer, Joshua Prentice, Nehemiah 
 
 Mason, Christopher Brown, Sanford Billings, John Holmes. 
 1786. — John Randall, Jonathan Palmer, Joshua Prentice, Nehemiah 
 
 Mason, Chiistopher Brown, Sanford Billings, John Holmes. 
 1787. —juhn Randall, Jonathan Palmer, Joshua Prentice, Nehemiah 
 
 Mason, Chri&topher Brown, Sanford Billings, John Holmes. 
 1788. — Charles Phelps, Jonathan Palmer, Lathan Hull, Thomas Swan, 
 
 John Holmes, William Woodbridge, William Chesebrough. 
 1789.— Lathan Hull, John Palmer, William Woodbridge, John Holmes, 
 
 Christopher Brown, Thomas Swan, Ichabod Eclestone, Jr. 
 1790. — Latham Hull, Jonathan Palmer, Samuel Stanton, John Holmes, 
 
 William Woodbridge, Thomas Swan, Charles Phelps, Jr. 
 1791._Lathitm Hull, Daniel Denison, William Woodbridge, Blias S. 
 
 Palmer, Rufus Wheeler, Daniel Slain, Amos Palmer. 
 1792,_-Latham Hull, Daniel Denison, Amos Palmer, Rufus Wheeler, 
 
 Elias S. Palmer, Daniel Main, James Dean. 
 1793._Latham Hull, Daniel Denison, Amos Palmer, Elias S. Palmer, 
 
 Daniel Main, James Dean, Samuel Palmer. 
 1794.— Latham Hull, Esq., Daniel Denison, Capt. Amos Palmer, Elias S. 
 
 Palmer, Daniel Main, James Dean, Capt. Thomas Noyes. 
 1795._Latham Hull, Elias S. Palmer (2), Edward Swan, Nathan Brown, 
 
 William Woodbridge, Joshua Swan, Elisha Denison. 
 1796.— Latham Hull, Elisha Denison, Noyes Palmer, Edward Swan, Elias 
 i S. Palmer, Stephen Hull, Edward Smith. 
 
 1797._Ijntham Hull, Elisha Denison, Edward Swan, Edward Smith, 
 
 Stephen Avery, Stephen Hull, Elias S. Palmer. 
 1798._-Latliam Hull, Elisha Denison, Edward Smith, Edward Swan, 
 
 Stephen Hull, Gabriel Rogers, Nathan Pendleton. 
 179g._Latham Hull, Elisha Denison, Edward Smith, Edward Swan, 
 
 Stephen Hall, Nathan Pendleton, Luther Avery. 
 1800.— Latham Hull, Elisha Denison, Nathan Pendleton, Edward Smith, 
 
 Luther Avery, Chester Smith, Gershom Palmer. 
 1801.— Latham Hull, Elisha Denison, Nathan Pendleton, Luther Avery, 
 William Williams, Chester Smith, Gershom Palmer. 
 
688 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1802.— Latham Hull, Elislia Denison, Nathan Pendleton, Luther Avery, 
 
 William Williams, Chester Smith, Gershom Palmer. 
 1803.— Latham Hull, Nathan Pendleton, William Williams, Chester 
 
 Smith, Gershom Palmer, Coddington Billings, William Stanton. 
 1804. — Latham Hull, Nathan Pendleton, Chester Smith, Oliver York, 
 
 Amos Gallup, Jeremiah York, John Davis. 
 1805.- Latham Hull, Nathan Pendleton, Chester Smith, Amos Gallup, 
 
 John Davis, Jeremiah York, Coddington Billings. 
 1806. — Latham Hull, Nathan Pendleton, Chester Smith, Amos Gallup, 
 
 John Davis, Coddington Billings, David Coats. 
 1807.— Latham Hull, Nathan Pendleton, Chester Smith, Amos Gallup, 
 
 John Davis, Jeremiah York, Coddington Billings. 
 1808.— Coddington Billings, Amos Gallup, Enoch Burrows, William 
 
 Randall, Amos Denison, Adam States, Eichard Wheeler. 
 1809. — Coddington Billings, Amos Gallup, William Randall, Elisha 
 
 Faxon, Amos Denison, Nathaniel Clift, Adam States. 
 1810.— Coddington Billings, Amos Gallup, William Randall, Elisha 
 
 Faxon, Amos Denison, Nathaniel Clift, Adam States. 
 1811. — Coddington Billings, Amos Gallup, William Randall, Amos Deni- 
 son, Nathaniel Clift, Adam States, Ludowick Niles. 
 1812. — Coddington Billings, Amos Gallup, William Randall, Amos Deni- 
 son, John Brown, Nathaniel Clift, Adam States. 
 1813. — Amos Gallup, William Randall, Amos Denison, Enoch Burrows, 
 
 Adam States, George Haley, Jesse Breed. 
 1814. — Amos Gallup, William Randall, Amos Denison, Enoch Burrows, 
 
 Jesse Breed, Adam States, Jeremiali Holmes. 
 1815. — Amos Gallup, William Randall, Amos Denison, Enoch Burrows, 
 
 Adam States, Jesse Breed, Joseph D. Mason. 
 1816. — Amos Gallup, William Randall, Amos Denison, Enoch Burrows, 
 
 George Hubbard, Joseph D. Mason, Elias Chesebrough, 
 1817. — William Randall, Amos Denison, George Hubbard, Eliaa Chese- 
 brough, Samuel Stanton (2), Amos Williams, Alexander Bradford. 
 1818. — William Randall, Amos Denison, Giles R. Hallam, Elias Chese- 
 brough. Samuel Stanton (2), Amos Williams, Alexander Bradford. 
 1819. — William Randall, Aniub Denison, Giles R. Hallam, Elias Chese- 
 brough, Amos Williams, Alexander Bradford, Thomas Palmer. 
 1820. — William Randall, Amos Denison, Giles R. Hallam, Elias Chese- 
 brough, Amos Williams, Thomas Palmer, John Davis. 
 1821. — William Randall, Amos Denison, Giles R. Hallam, Elias Chese- 
 brough, Asa Fish, Thomas Palmer. John Davis. 
 1822. — William Randall, Amos Denison, Giles R. Hallam, Elias Chese- 
 brough, Jesse D, Noyes, Thomes Palmer, Asa Fish. 
 1823.— William Randall, Amos Denison, Giles R. Hallam, Elias Chese- 
 brough, Henry Harding, Thomas Palmer, Asa Fish. 
 1824.— William Randall, Amos Dt-nison, Giles R. Hallam, Thomas 
 
 Palmer, Elias Chesebrough, John Davis, Henry Harding. 
 1825. — William Williams, Elisha Faxon, Jasper Latham, Nathaniel Clift, 
 
 David C. Smith, Denison Palmer, Thomas Hinckley. 
 1826. — William Williams, Elisha Faxon, Jasper Latham, Nathaniel Clift, 
 
 David C. Smith, Denison Palmer, Thomas Hinckley, Jr. 
 1827. — William Williams, Reuben Chesebrough, Jasper Latham, John D. 
 
 Noyes, David C. Smith, Denison Palmer, Nathaniel Clift. 
 1828. — William Williams, Elias Chesebrough, Benjamin F. Babcock, 
 Jasper Latham, John D. Noyes, Thomas Hinckley, Jr., John Davis. 
 1829.— William Williams, George E. Palmer, Joseph D. Mason, John 
 
 Davis, Thomas Hinckley, Jr. 
 1830.— Eliaa Brown, George E. Palmer, Joseph D. Mason, George Shef- 
 field, Denison Palmer. 
 1831. — Elias Brown, George E. Palmer, Joseph D. Mason, Mason Man- 
 ning, Thomas Hinckley, 
 1832.— Jesse Dean, Mason Manning, Thomas Hinckley, Gilbert Collins, 
 
 Jesse Yoi k. 
 1833.— William Randall, Mason Manning, Gilbert Collins, Thomas Hinck- 
 ley, Denison Palmer. 
 1834.— William Randall, Mason Manning, Thomas Hinckley, Eleazer 
 
 Williams, Charles Bennet. 
 1835.— Thomas Hinckley, Eleazer Williams, Charles Bennet, Samuel 
 
 Chesebrough, Daniel Bentley. 
 1836.— Thomas Hinckley, Eleazer M'illiams, Charles Bennet, Samuel 
 
 Chesebrough, Daniel Bentley. 
 1837.— Asa Fish, J. D. Noyes, C. H. Smith, W. C. Moss, Gilbert Collins. 
 1838.— Asa Fish, Jesse D. Noyes, Charles H. Smith, William C. Mose, 
 
 George W, Nojes. 
 1839.— Asa Fish, Jesse D. Noyes, Charles H. Smith, George W. Noyes 
 
 Daniel Bentley. 
 1840.— Asa Fish, Jesse D. Noyes, Charles H. Smith, George W. Noyes, 
 Daniel Bentley. 
 
 1841.— Charles T. Stanton, George W. Noyes, Daniel Bentley, Benjamin 
 
 F. Langworthy, Eliiis B. Brown. 
 1842.— Charles T. Santony Elias B. Brown, Benjamin F. Langworthy, 
 
 Francis Sheffield, John Davis. 
 1843. — Ephraim Williams, Elias B. Brown, Benjamin F. Langworthy, 
 
 John Davis, Henry Noyes, Oliver B. Grant. 
 1844.— Ephraim Williams, Elias B. Brown, John Davis, Oliver B. Grant, 
 
 Henry Sheffield, Ezra Miner. 
 1845.— Elias B. Brown, Oliver B. Grant, Benjamin F. Palmer, Henry 
 
 Sheffield, Richard A. Wheeler. 
 1846.~Ephraim Williams, Benjamin F. Palmer, Henry Sheffield, Richard 
 
 A. Wheeler, Hiram &haw, Perez Wheeler, Giles C, Smith. 
 1847.— Benjamin F. Palmer, Hiram Shaw, Perez Wheeler, Giles C. Smith, 
 
 John W. Hull, Francis Sheffield, Samuel Copp. 
 1848.— Hiram Shaw, Giles C. Smith, John W. Hull, Samuel Copp, Eliaa 
 
 P. Randall, Pitts D. Frink, Heniy Harding. 
 1849.— Giles C. Smith, Elias P. Randall. Pitts D. Frink, Peleg Noyea, 
 
 Daniel P. Collings, David N. Prentice, George D. Hyde. 
 1850.— Giles C. Smith, Pitts D. Frinic, Peleg Noyes, David N. Prentice, 
 
 Ezra Chesebro. 
 1851.— Giles C. Smith, Pitts D. Frink, Peleg Noyes, David N. Prentice, 
 
 Ezra Chesebro, 
 1852.— Giles C. Smith, Pitts D. Frink, Peleg Noyes, David N. Prentice, 
 
 Ezra Chesebro. 
 1853.— John W. Hull, Elisha D. Wightman, Ezra Chesebro. 
 1854. — John W, Hull, Clark Greenman, Henry Sheffield. 
 1855.— Henry Sheffield, Harris Pendleton, Mason C. Hill. 
 1856.— Henry Sheffield, Harris Pendleton, Jr., Mason C. Hill. 
 1857-58.— Alexander S. Palmer, William C. Mo&s, Leonard C. Williams, 
 1859-60.— Horace K. Hall, William S. Noyes, Franklin Williams, Leucard 
 
 C. Williams, Benjamin B. Hewitt. 
 1861. — Horace R. Hall, William S. Noyes, Leonard C. Williams, Benjamin 
 
 B. Hewitt, Harris Pendleton, Jr. 
 1862. — Horace R, Hall, William S. Noyes, Leonard C. Williams, Benja- 
 min B. Hewitt, Thomas E. Swan. 
 1863.— Horace R. Hall, William S. Noyes, Benjamin B. Hewitt, Thomas 
 
 E. Swan, Benjamin F. Stanton (2). 
 1864-65.— Horace R. Hall, Benjamin B. Hewitt, Benjamin F. Stanton (2J, 
 
 Gurdon S. Crandall, Charles H. Denison. 
 1866.— Horace R. Hall, Benjamin B. Hewitt, Benjamin F. Stanton (2), 
 
 Gurdon S. Crandall, Charles Griunell. 
 1867.- Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Gurdon S. Crandall, Charles Giinnell, 
 
 Nathan G. Wheeler, Charles H. Rhodes. 
 1868. — Horace R. Hall, Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles Grinnell, George 
 
 S. Brewster, Nathan G. Wheeler. 
 1869.— Horace R. Hall, Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles Grinnell, Geo. 
 
 S. Brewster, Nathan G. Wheeler. 
 1870.— George S. BrewsttM-, Charles Burch, Joseph S. Williams, Sr., 
 
 Charles S. Bennett. 
 1871. — Leonard C. Williams, Benjamin F, Stanton (2), Charles Grinuell, 
 
 Amos B. Taylor, Samuel H. Chesebro. 
 1872.— Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles H. Rhodes, Joseph S. Williams, 
 
 Nathan G. Wheeler, William E. Brewster. 
 1873.— Benjairiin F. Stanton (2), Charles H. Rhodes, Joseph S. Williams, 
 
 Nathan G. ^Vheele^, William E. Brewster. 
 1874,— Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles H. Rhodes, Joseph S. Williams, 
 
 Nathan G. Wheeler, William E. Brewster. 
 1875.— Benjauun F. Stanton (2J, Charles H. Rhodes, Joseph S. Williams, 
 
 William E. Brewster, Leonard C. Williams. 
 1876.— John Forsyth, Samuel H. Chesebro, Abel H. Hinckley, George 
 
 W. Bliven. 
 1877.— Elijah A. Morgan, Charles Grinnell, Samuel H. Chesebro, John 
 
 Forsyth, George W. Bliven. 
 1878.— Eliaa Babcock, Joseph S. Williams, Jr., Elijah A. Morgan, Charles 
 
 Grinnell, George W. Bliven. 
 1879.— Elias Babcock, Alexander G. Frink, Joseph S. Williams, Jr., 
 
 Joseph E. Smith, Benjamin F. Stanton (2). 
 1880.— Elijah A. Morgan, Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Elias Babcock, Joseph 
 
 S. Williams, Jr., Laughlin Harty. 
 1881.— Elijah A. Morgan, George S. Brewster, Laughlin Harty, Benja- 
 min F. Stanton (2), Joseph S. Williams, Jr. 
 
 Stonington Boroug-h was organized as such by a 
 charter in 1801, making all needful rules and regula- 
 tions for the government thereof. It was organized 
 with the Hon. Charles Phelps, warden; Nathaniel 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 689 
 
 Miner, Esq., Capt. Amos Palmer, Mr. Edward Smith, 
 Elijah Palmer, Esq., Col. Joseph Smith, Mr. Benja- 
 min Smith, Mr. Jubish Holmes, Capt. Nathan Smith, 
 burgesses ; Dr. William Lord, treasurer ; Capt. Na- 
 thaniel Fanning, clerk; Mr. Oliver York, bailiff. 
 
 Custom-House Officers. — The Stonington district 
 was established in 1842, since which the following 
 persons have held the office of collector : Giles R. 
 Hallam, Oliver York, Ezra Ghesebrough, B. F. States, 
 Ephraim Williams, Franklin A. Palmer, Horace H. 
 Trumbull, George Hubbard. At present William 
 Williams is deputy collector in charge. 
 
 WAE OF 1861-65. 
 
 Stonington was largely interested in commerce be- 
 fore the war of 1812, which revived after its close. 
 Manufacturing was introduced and successfully pur- 
 sued on a large scale in the State of Connecticut, this 
 town having a full share. Nothing of importance 
 beyond the yearly routine of town and State elections, 
 with a Presidential election every four years, hap- 
 pened in our midst to attract particular attention 
 until the Mexican war. But that did not materially 
 affect our interests ; it only served to stimulate the 
 politics of the day. Later on the acquisition of terri- 
 tory resulting from the war brought to the surface 
 again the irrepressible conflict between slavery and 
 freedom. The conflict of opinions between the North 
 and the South began to assume a more violent form, 
 and finally culminated in open rebellion. 
 
 After the election of Abraham Lincoln as President 
 of the United States, in 1860, and the Southern States 
 began to secede, this town favored coercive measures 
 at once, and sent to our armies many of her best and 
 bravest sons. The following list shows the men who 
 enlisted from this town, not the men who made up 
 the quota that we were required to fill : 
 
 THE EOLL OF HONOR. 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 FIRST REGIMENT. 
 
 Company G. 
 James B. Anderson. 
 
 SECOND REGIMENT. 
 
 Rifle Company B. 
 Peter McEwen. 
 
 RiFLK Company G. 
 James H. Lathan, William W. Latham, Herbert E. Maxson, Theodore C. 
 Smilh, Robert P. Wilbur. 
 
 THIRD REGIMENT. 
 Rifle Company D. 
 Charles J. Edwards. 
 
 FIFTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Company G. 
 Albert L. Gavitt (sergt.), George W. Wilcox, Albert C. Burdick, Albert 
 C. Andrews, John 0. Briggs, Charles C. Brightman, George Bedford, 
 Wm. H. Noyes (pro. Ist lieut.), Isaac E. Norman, Frank Vanaken, 
 Francis Alvey. 
 
 Company K. 
 Joseph N. Banks, Edward L. Cordner, John H. Nye, Erastns D. Smith, 
 Nathaniel P. Wolf. 
 
 EIGHTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Company D. 
 Horace Burton. 
 
 Company E. 
 Capt. Thomaa D. Sheffield (pro. lieut.-col.), Lafayette Starr. 
 
 ' Company G. 
 
 1st Lieut. Thomas D. Sheffield (pro. capt.) ; 2d Lieut, Henry E. Morgan 
 (pro. 1st lieut.) ; Sergeants A ndrew M. Morgan (pro. capt.), Joseph 
 
 C. Langworthy; Corporals Leonidas A. Barter, ^Vm. H. Lamphear, 
 Francis V. D. Sloan, Thos. 0. Curtis, John H. Smith, Oscar W. Hewitt; 
 John B. Averill, FranklinH. Crumb, James A. Peabody, Isaac Allen, 
 George H. Barney, Charles Baird, Thomas Bedford, Henry Brunnan, 
 Thomas Brannan, Sanford P. Burdick, Horace Burton, David S.Bry- 
 ant, Thomas Casey, Charles W, Clarke, William P. Clarke, Patrick 
 Conloii, Etliim A. Collins, James P. Conlan, Charles H. Culver, Ben- 
 jamin CrossLey, Alpheus G. Davis, Alfred Dixon, Oliver A. Eccleston, 
 Albert S. Edwards, Charles J. Edwards, John L. Edwards, George W. 
 Foster, Mariua E.French, Edward Gavin, Dennis Geary, Wm. Geary, 
 Charles W. Hall, Henry Halbim, Ilazzard Holland, James E. Hol- 
 dredge, Francis J-iger, Henry G. Knowles, Charles D. L.imphear, 
 Clark P. Lamphear, Wm. Lamphear, Michael Lombard, Thomas H. 
 Lord, John McCarthy, Franklin Mason, John M. Maynard, Erastus 
 
 D. Miner, Joseph D. Nye, Stephen F. Nye, Jerome A. Palmer, Wm. 
 R. Palmer, Wm. H.Potter, David W. Price, Jr., Wm.Keed, Ebenezer 
 Rose, Patrick Shay, Horace Slocum, Henry Staplim, George H. Shep- 
 ard, Charles Stebbins, Wm.Terwilliger, Nehemiah D. Tinker, George 
 Usher, Charles B. Wilcox, John Walker, Wm. D. Wilcox, Edward 
 Willis, John F. Cory, Courtland H. Durfee, Michael Farly, John C. 
 Knowles, Benjamin A. Kempton, Ebenezer Rose, Ebenezer Rose, 
 Jr., George Randall Jr., Barney Sisson, Henry E. Wells. 
 
 John Miner, Joseph Milners, Wm. C. Macomber. 
 
 NINTH REGIMENT. 
 Company G. 
 Oswald Reed, Thomas McGregor. 
 
 Company H. 
 Coi-poral Dudley Lewis. 
 
 TENTH REGIMENT. 
 Company F. 
 Samuel Bentley. 
 
 Company H. 
 
 William Pond. 
 
 TWELFTH REGIMENT. 
 Company K. 
 let Lieut. James D. Roach (pro. capt.); Sergeants William B. Lucas, 
 George W. Stedman (pro. 1st lieut.); Stanton Allyn, Gurdon Green, 
 Patrick Barnes, Charles W. Bicknell, Cornelius Burgoyne, William 
 Buttei-worth, Ori B. Chapman, Levi A. Clarke, Charles H. Comstock, 
 Edmund Oongdon, James Crowley, Nathan Davis, George Fitzger- 
 ald, Richard Lever, John Lucy, Felix MoArdle, Hugh McColIigan, 
 John Murphy. Henry B. Pinney, Michael Ryan, William H. Rey- 
 nolds, William Scott. 
 
 THIRTEENTH REGIMENT. 
 Company K. 
 Clarence D. Payne, John B. Wheelock. 
 
 FOURTEENTH REGIMENT. 
 Company A. 
 WilUam Brown, Charles F. Chester, George H. Snyder. 
 Company B. 
 
 Thomas Holt, George Harris. 
 
 Company D. 
 
 Andrew Lovejoy, James Needham. 
 
 Company E. 
 Samuel Steele. 
 
 Company F. 
 Michael Henderson. 
 
 Company G. 
 
 Thomaa Kain, George W. Starr. 
 
 Company H. 
 Charles Duncan, Charles B. Jones, John McDonald. 
 
 Company I. 
 Ist Lieut. William Thompson. 
 
690 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Company K. 
 Corporal Paul P. NoyeB, Frank Coleman. 
 
 EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT. 
 Company K, 
 John Loonnuii, George Williams. 
 
 TWENTIETH REGIMENT. 
 Company A. 
 
 Company G. 
 TWENTY-EIEST REGIMENT. 
 
 Joseph Lombra. 
 Maurice L. Nuuan 
 
 Company E. 
 Capt. Charles T. Stanton, Jr. (pro. maj.); 1st Lieut. Henry R. Jennings; 
 2d Lieut. Franklin H. Davis; Sergeants James B. Yanderwater, 
 James H. Carter, Howard E. Miner, John F. TnimbuU (pro. 1st 
 lieut.), Walter P. Long (pro. capt); Corporals Seth Slack, John L. 
 Hill, William R. Targee, Jr., Charles H. Cmmb, Nelson Wilcox, 
 John J. McMillen, Joseph H.Newberry, Erastns Holmes; Charles 
 G. Avery, Jesse Bennett, William C. Burdick, Oliver A. Brown, Al- 
 fred L. Burdick, Joseph L. Burdick, Denison Brightman, Joseph 
 W. Carpenter, William W. Crandall, William Conway, Charles L, 
 Cordner, William Dunham, John C. Douglas, Samuel Denison, Elias 
 N. Davis, George Eccleston, George W. Eldridge, George W. Frazier, 
 Jr., William H. Frazier, Arvine A. Frazier, Lewis H. Gerry, Lyman 
 Greene, William Gardner, John Hevy, Anius F. Heath, William F. 
 Hancox, Amos S. Hancox, Albert F. Harris, Joseph E. Harrington, 
 Palmer Hulet, Ranson Jackson (pro. 1st lieut.), Robert Kulbeck, 
 Leonard 0. Lamphere, Richard Lever, Patrick H. Mulligan, Bene- 
 dict W. Morgan, Charles L. Miner, Francis J. Musgrave, George R. 
 Newberry, Nathan Noyes, Wait W. Ridabock, George Root, William 
 H. Robinson, Henry D. Smith, Garduer B. Smith, Charles Smith, 
 Daniel D. Tift, John L. Tift, Frederick 0. Tucker, Charles H. Tay- 
 lor, Abram Vanauken, Leonard Wilcox, Harlem H. Wilcox, Rufus 
 C. White, Charles H. Williams. 
 
 Stafford Holland. 
 Robert Sutcliff. 
 Charles F. Brown. 
 Alexander Buchanan. 
 
 Company F. 
 Company G. 
 Company H. 
 Company K. 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. 
 Company H. 
 Capt. David Champlin; 1st Lieut. John F. Jencks; 2d Lieut. Samuel 
 K. Tillinghast (pro. 1st lieut.) ; Sergeants Henry H. Packard, Johu 
 H. Morgan, Thomas W. Grace, William M. Sherman, Thomas W. 
 Gardiner; Corporals George E. Brayton, Frank W. Gard, Jacob R. 
 Lockwood, Charles H. Burdick, George D. Edwards, Charles Bennett 
 (2), George H. Burgess, Andrew H. Brown ; Elias L. Maynard, Par- 
 don L. Babcock, John R. Prentice, Erastns D. Appleman, Elias Bab- 
 cock, Jr., Richard A. Brown, Horace F. Burdick, Amos D. Barnes, 
 Thomas H. Brown, Orville M. Brigga, Henry L. Babcock, Amos A. 
 Crandall, Joseph W. Coleman, Thomas Crowley, William F. Eccles- 
 ton, Samuel R. Eccleston, Alexander B. Frazier, Charles H. Glad- 
 ding, John E. Holberton, Shubael Holmes, Philip A. Irons, George 
 A. Latham, Christopher A. Lyman, James A. Lord, David S. Merritt, 
 John O. Moore, Stephen D. Merritt, Jr., Charles A. Miller, John M. 
 Mosher,SamuelM.Macomber. John Nye, Avery E. Parkes, Chauncey 
 D. Rice, Elisha K. Rathbun, Edwin N. Shirley, Nathan S. Sheffield, 
 James W. Targee, Warren P. Thompson, James 0. Thompson, Charles 
 W. Taylor, Thaddeus M. Weems. 
 
 Isaac J. Hill. 
 Isaac H. Antone. 
 
 TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 
 Company D. 
 
 Company H. 
 
 THIRTIETH REGIMENT. 
 Company A. 
 Corp. Courtland Thomas, Henry Demarest, James W. Darrell, George 
 Fisher. 
 
 Company B. 
 Henry Hall. 
 
 Augustus Jackson. 
 
 Company C. 
 
 Artillery. 
 
 FIRST REGIMENT. 
 
 Company 0. 
 
 Ichabod B. Slates, Chas. E. Staplis. 
 
 Company D. 
 
 Courtland F. Hall, Joseph H. Pendleton, John P. Trant. 
 
 Company F. 
 John Merklee. 
 
 Company G. 
 
 Elias Babcock, Jr., Dennis S. Gilmore, James McCaffrey, Hiram P. Shaw. 
 
 Company H. 
 George Walker. 
 
 Company I. 
 
 2d Lieut. William C. Faxon (pro. capt.). 
 
 SECOND REGIMENT, 
 
 David Bradford. 
 
 Cavalry. 
 
 FIRST REGIMENT. 
 Company C. 
 Capt. William S. Fish (pro. col.); 1st Lieut. Charles P. Williams, Jr., 
 died ; Q.-M. Sergt. William T. Cork (pro. 1st lieut.) ; Sergt. Edwin W. 
 French (pro. capt.); Corporals George H, Lord, John G.Williams, 
 William C. Harris (pro. q -m.) ; John Bentley, George Braman, John 
 H. Bliven, Isaac T. Bliven, Henry D. Bennett, Alfred V. Barnum 
 (pro. 1st lieut.) ; James L. Eggleston, Charles W. ShefBeld, James A. 
 Edwards, John O'Rourke, Joshua Perkins, Thomas I. Price, Chris- 
 tian Pflaum, Zachariah Patterson. 
 
 Company D. 
 John McGovethy, Peter Maines. 
 
 Company I. 
 Peter Wright, Reuben G. Weeks. 
 
 Company K. 
 Lyman Doolittle, John N. Mitchell. 
 
 Company L. 
 Myron H. Crandall. 
 
 Company M. 
 John Smith, Michael Begg, John Burgan. 
 
 Since the close of the Rebellion our town has suf- 
 fered its full measure from the inflation and contrac- 
 tion of the currency. Since specie payment has been 
 resumed business has revived and confidence in busi- 
 ness circles has been established. 
 
 Thus the town of Stoniugton, where William 
 Chesebrough first built his forest home in 1649, 
 has grown to be a community of 7353 inhabitants, 
 with a grand list of $5,390,130. The people, for in- 
 telligence and enterprise, are the equal of any town- 
 ship in the State. The soil is strong, rugged, and 
 hard to cultivate, but when properly cared for yields 
 remunerative crops. 
 
 CHAPTEE LXXXYIL 
 
 STONINGTON~(Continued). 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Hon. Eichard A. Wheeler, the subject of the fol- 
 lowing notice, was born Jan. -29, 1817. He is the son 
 of Richard Wheeler and Mary Hewitt Wheeler. His 
 mother was from one of the best families of North 
 
 Note.— The Biographical Sketch of the Hon. Richard A.Wheeler was prepared by Rev. A. G. Palmer, D.l?. 
 
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 -^^Z)j/ A.Siiitc:?t?-C 
 

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 f ~n m:^^W'^^'M^ 
 
 Bn^ ' ry Al-r BMclne 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 691 
 
 Stonington. His father was an industrious, thrifty 
 farmer, and so his boyhood was under the discipline 
 of the typical " New England home," which has fur- 
 nished some of the best specimens of American man- 
 hood. The period of his minority was divided be- 
 tween the industries of the farm during the spring, 
 summer, and autumn and the educational culture of 
 the common school for the winter. 
 
 The range of studies in these "seminaries" at that 
 time was very limited, Webster's Spelling-Book, 
 Daboll's Arithmetic, Morse's Geography, Murray's 
 English Grammar, and Murray's English Reader 
 being the exclusive text-books. But the teaching 
 and discipline were often severe, and the scholarship 
 had a corresponding value of thoroughness and sol- 
 idity for all practical ends. 
 
 Judge Wheeler's industrious use and improvement 
 of the common school is seen in the fact that this 
 rudimental education has been equal to all the varied 
 positions of responsibility he has, during his opening 
 and ripening manhood, filled with so much credit to 
 himself, with honor to his town, and to the full satis- 
 faction of his friends and fellow-citizens. Early 
 called to important civil trusts, he has attained to a 
 degree of legal culture that gives to his counsel great 
 weight and value, and often renders his rulings deci- 
 sive and final. In genealogical lore Judge Wheeler 
 has no rival and few if any equals. His researches 
 here are thorough and fearless, dispelling many a 
 beautiful tradition, but fixing the plain prosaic truth 
 by figures and data that will not lie. His discourse 
 at the late Palmer retmion at Stonington, a masterly 
 grouping of events scattered over a period of two 
 hundred and fifty years, held the attention of a large 
 and promiscuous crowd to its close. 
 
 Judge Wheeler has been twice married, — first to 
 Miss Frances M. Avery, of North Stonington, Jan. 12, 
 1843, and second to Miss Lucy A. Noyes, of Stoning- 
 ton, Nov. 5, 1856. He is descended from the following 
 New England families: Wheeler, Park, Thompson, 
 Kayson, Tilestone, Elliott, Burrows, Culver, Latham, 
 Hubbard, Gore, Draper, Denison, Prentiss, Gallup, 
 Lake, Stanton, Burch, Fanning, Breed, Chaplin, Hew- 
 itt, Lord, Borodel, Short, Palmer, and others. 
 
 In 1838, when twenty-one years old, he was one of 
 the society committee of the Koad Church, and has 
 held that office for forty-three years to the present 
 time, He was chosen selectman in 1847 and '48 ; 
 representative to the Legislature, 1851 ; sheriff of 
 New London County, 1860 ; re-elected 1863, '66, and 
 '69, and holding the office until 1872, when he de- 
 clined re-election. In the spring of 1864 he was 
 chosen judge of probate, and by successive re-elec- 
 tions has held the office until the present time. 
 
 The above are the principal events of Judge 
 Wheeler's active and varied life. He has a fine 
 physique, an open countenance, pleasing address, and 
 genial manners. Besides, he has an inexhaustible 
 fund of genealogical anecdotes, can tell a good story 
 
 of olden or modern times, and excite and enjoy an 
 honest, hearty, healthy laugh. 
 
 The proverb "a prophet is not without honor save 
 in his own country'' is not applicable to Judge 
 Wheeler, for nowhere is he more popular than among 
 his own townsmen, and by none more highly esteemed 
 than by his own immediate neighbors. 
 
 Charles Mallory, son of David and Amy (Crocker) 
 Mallory, was born in Waterford, Conn., on the Lyme 
 turnpike, Feb. 24, 1796. His father was a native of 
 Milford, Conn. When but sixteen David took the 
 place of his father, who was drafted for six months 
 in the Continental army, and after serving his time 
 enlisted for service during the war. He served three 
 years under Washington, and was in numerous en- 
 gagements. While the army was marching through 
 Connecticut his captain told him he was going to re- 
 sign on reaching Milford. David told hiin if he left 
 he, David, would do the same. At Milford the cap- 
 tain resigned, his resignation was accepted, and 
 David "resigned," as he had said he would do, went 
 to New London, and shipped under a fictitious name 
 as sailor on a privateer. In nine days he was a pris- 
 oner on a Jersey prison-ship. After some time he was 
 exchanged, shipped again, and was again captured. 
 Three times in all he was a prisoner on the prison- 
 ships, and three times was exchanged. On arriving 
 at Waterford, on one of the first of these exchanges, 
 being then about twenty years old, he married, and 
 again shipped on a privateer, had a fight off Long 
 Island, and spent most of his honeymoon a prisoner. 
 The fourth time he shipped he returned with prize- 
 money. His share was paid him in goods. As an 
 evidence of his devotion to the American cause, we 
 will say that although during Gen. Arnold's march 
 to New London David was secreted to keep him from 
 the American army, there were some Hessians who 
 came to him for a drink, and leading one of them to 
 a case of gin, he secured his gun while he was drink- 
 ing, made him his prisoner, and marched him to the 
 American line and surrendered him. This occurred 
 the same day New London was burned. After the 
 war David worked at farm labor and at butchering. 
 He had ten children,— Frances ; Sally, who married 
 Nathan Beebe, a sail-maker of New London ; Eebecca, 
 who married a Mr. West, and went West soon after; 
 David ; Amy, who married John Eogers, a caulker of 
 New London ; Richard, who was a cooper, and sailed 
 many years for Charles; Amos; Charles; Benajah; 
 Nathan, who served his time at sail-making with 
 Charles, and died at twenty-eight years of age. 
 
 David Mallory had a strong physical nature, and 
 lived till he was about seventy-nine. His wife sur- 
 vived him, and was taken care of by Charles until 
 her death at the very advanced age of ninety-three. 
 
 Charles Mallory inherited a strong constitution and 
 a persistency of purpose from his parents. These 
 have enabled him to commence at the lowest round 
 of the ladder, and step by step rise to the top, a 
 
692 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 true type of a successful, self-made man. He lived 
 with his parents till he was twelve years old, having 
 common-school advantages for education, then was 
 placed at service for six months at three dollars and 
 fifty cents per month. In this employment he re- 
 mained two years, receiving, however, four dollars 
 per month the second year, and six months' school- 
 ing each year, but could never arrive at the school till 
 10 A.M. 
 
 When he was fourteen years old Charles was in- 
 dentured for seven years to his brother-in-law, Nathan 
 Beebe, to learn the sail-making trade. His was not 
 an easy life, and Charles ran away twice, but volun- 
 tarily went back, and Mr. Beebe told him if he would 
 stay till he was twenty he would release him. The 
 qualities of thoroughness, self-reliance, and integrity 
 which have characterized Mr. Mallory through life 
 were shown at that early age, and at eighteen we find 
 him the foreman of Mr. Beebe's establishment. He 
 continued in this capacity till the expiration of his 
 time, and for six months thereafter, receiving then for 
 his services one dollar and twenty-five cents per day, 
 twenty-five cents more than ordinary pay. He 
 boarded with Mr. Beebe, and in the six months' 
 time had only taken up two dollars in cash, and of 
 this had loaned Mr. Beebe seventy-five cents. On 
 settling Mr. Beebe claimed to have paid this amount, 
 and accused Charles of falsehood, and said he never 
 would employ him again. Charles indignantly re- 
 sponded that he would never work for him again, 
 and he kept his word, although Mr. Beebe endeavored 
 afterwards to retain him. Christmas morning, 1816, 
 the young man crossed Groton Ferry, en route for Boston 
 and walked to Mystic, carrying all his worldly goods 
 and tools for his trade upon his back. On crossing the 
 ferry over the Mystic Eiver his cash capital was one 
 dollar and twenty-five cents. Finding an amount 
 of work to do here on a vessel, he engaged the same, 
 and Jan. 1, 1817, commenced his long, active, and re- 
 markable business career in Mystic. His sail-loft 
 was a small room, unclapboarded and exposed to the 
 weather. To make himself comfortable it was sug- 
 gested that he get a stove (almost an unknown thing 
 then), and some one told him Mr. Dennison, at the 
 head of the river, had one for sale. Mr. Mallory went 
 up, saw the stove — a sheet-iron one — and asked its 
 price. Mr. Dennison told him '' Two dollars and a 
 half." "Well," says Mr. Mallory, "there is some- 
 thing else." "How is that?" responded Mr. Den- 
 nison. " If the stove suits you, and the price is not 
 too high, what else can there be?" "I have not the 
 money to pay for it," said Mr. Mallory, and stated his^ 
 circumstances. " How were you going to get the stove 
 down to your room 1" " Carry it down on my back." 
 " If that's the case I will wait on you for payment." 
 A nd Mr. IMallory carried his stove three miles, through 
 snow six inches deep. From this small beginnino- 
 have the extensive interests of Mr. Mallory grown. 
 Work continued to come in, and when sail-makino- 
 
 was not brisk the young man was ready to turn his 
 hand to any honest industry, and would often scow 
 wood down the river. 
 
 Feb. 22, 1818, Mr. Mallory married Eliza, daughter 
 of John and Hannah Rogers, of New London. Her 
 ancestors were from England, and trace their lineage 
 back through John Rogers, the martyr, to an honor- 
 able family of Wiltshire.' For sixty-three years this 
 worthy couple walked hand in hand through life, in 
 good health and in the enjoyment of life, and in the 
 latter years with three generations of descendants to 
 do them honor, until the sudden death of Mrs. Mal- 
 lory, Sept. 4, 1881. Their children now surviving 
 are Charles Henry (senior partner of the large house 
 of C. H. Mallory & Co., New York City), David D., 
 George W., Franklin 0., and Benjamin E. 
 
 Mr. Mallory engaged in sail-making until he was 
 about forty years old. For the sake of getting the 
 making and repairing of their sails, he became inter- 
 ested in a small way in numerous vessels, at one time 
 having an interest in thirty. From this he invested 
 more and more in vessels, and owned at one time ten 
 whalers. They were all successful. About 1848, Mr. 
 Mallory purchased the lease of the Mystic ship-yard 
 from Capt. Forsyth, and engaged extensively in 
 ship-building. He built fifty steamers apd many 
 sailing vessels. A great many of them were sold to 
 the United States, and became historic from the part 
 they contributed to the annals of the late civil war. 
 
 At present Mr. Mallory has given up much of his 
 business, but, among others, retains an interest in the 
 New York and Galveston and New York and Fer- 
 nandina Steamship Companies. 
 
 When the Mystic Eiver Bank was organized Mr. 
 Mallory was made its president, and occupied that 
 position for many years. On the ^inauguration of the 
 national banking system, Mr. Mallory founded the 
 First National Bank of Mystic Bridge, and owned 
 the entire stock of one hundred thousand dollars. 
 This is still retained in the family, but to accommo- 
 date other friends fifty thousand dollars was added to 
 the capital. 
 
 From the time he came to Mystic, Mr. Mallory has 
 been prominently identified with all departments of 
 its development and growth, and in this necessarily 
 brief sketch it is impossible to do more than to trace 
 the outlines of a busy life. In all his varied interests 
 Mr. Mallory has been an advocate of peace. He has 
 never in any of his dealings on his own account been 
 sued or sued any one. He was an " Old- Line Whig," 
 latterly a Republican, and gave his heartiest co-oper- 
 ation and assistance to the government in putting 
 down the monster Rebellion. 
 
 Since 1817 both Mr. Mallory and wife have been 
 members of the First Congregational Church of 
 Mystic Bridge, and their aid has never been withheld 
 
 1 1'or full history of Rogers family, see History of Litchfield County, 
 town of Cornwall. 
 

 ■^■'u?:-' 01/ A-HRdc'vil 
 
 ^ 
 
 Or-^-'^i. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 693 
 
 from all deserving causes. He has never held office, 
 but, as a private citizen, has always taken an interest 
 in everything tending to the betterment of his town 
 and village, and throughout the world-wide range of 
 his acquaintances there will be nowhere found a 
 tongue to whisper aught against his integrity or his 
 broad Christian charity. It is the universal expres- 
 sion of all who knew him that " Charles Mallory is 
 an honest man." 
 
 Quiet, unostentatious, and modest, with all his 
 caution and far-seeing sagacity in business, Mr. Mal- 
 lory can, at the close of an unusually long life of 
 unintermitting toil, look back through memory's 
 book, without a wish to blot out one entry made 
 therein, and forward with a clear conscience to the 
 lifting of the veil shutting out the view " over the 
 river." 
 
 An event of his life, the purchase of the place in 
 Waterford where his father resided in his old age, 
 illustrates too well his character and that of his wife 
 to be left out of this record. When ten or eleven 
 years old, while playing with the Sistare boys, whose 
 father owned the little place of six acres, he told 
 them that if be lived and that lot of land was for 
 sale he would buy it for his father as a home. After 
 their father's death (Mr. Mallory, then a young man 
 of twenty-eight, struggling by hard work to keep 
 " the wolf from the door") the Sistare boys reminded 
 him of the remark (doubtless often repeated), and 
 told him he could have it for thirty dollars per acre, 
 one-half down, and note for balance for one year, se- 
 cured by mortgage. He accepted their offer, and set 
 a day to transact the business in New London. As 
 the day drew nigh the amount seemed so immensely 
 large that he became despondent, and thought he 
 could never pay it. It seemed a gigantic load. It 
 weighed him down heavily, so that he could hardly 
 work. On going to his dinner he told his wife his 
 trouble, and said that he "could never pay for the 
 place in the world." She told him to dismiss his 
 fears, and by all means buy it ; also saying, " You 
 are smart, and I can do a great deal of work myself to 
 help you." She encouraged him, and he concluded to 
 try, ate his dinner, and went to work. In an hour's 
 time the same deep despondency again came on him. 
 He felt so badly and so appalling seemed the effort 
 that he pulled off" his overalls, and without a word to 
 his wife started for New London on foot, to tell them 
 that he could not take the land, for he never should 
 be able to pay for it. He had gone about half his 
 journey, when something stopped him suddenly, and 
 an apparent voice told him, " You can pay it." Al- 
 though walking very fast, he was stopped instantly. 
 He returned to Mystic and to work, and the next day 
 went to New London and bought the place. It took 
 about every dollar he could raise to pay the first half, 
 and where the money to pay the note for the bal- 
 ance and lift the mortgage was coming from was en- 
 tirely unknown. Shortly after a very profitable and 
 
 unexpected job came in, enabling him to take up his 
 note and give his father the very home so many 
 years thought of In a few years' time an acre of 
 this land was sold off for building-lots for $200. 
 This Charles told his father to use for himself. An- 
 other sale of two or three hundred dollars was made 
 afterwards from the same lot, and yet it kept a cow, 
 furnished a garden, and enough money for the old 
 gentleman, — as he said, " all he needed." This was 
 his home until his death, and there his widow re- 
 sided for several years. After her ceasing to occupy 
 it, Charles sold the remainder for more than enough 
 to pay compound interest on the purchase-money, and 
 he calls it " the best investment I ever made." 
 
 C. H. Mallory. — Among the representative and 
 successful business men of the United States who 
 claim New London County as the place of their na- 
 tivity none are more worthy a passing notice than 
 Charles Henry Mallory. He was born at Mystic 
 Bridge, Stonington, Conn., Sept. 30, 1818. His child- 
 hood was passed in Mystic, where he received an ex- 
 cellent com mon-school education, which was improved 
 by one year's attendance at the private school of John 
 Kirby, one of the best teachers of his day, at Ston- 
 ington. Charles Mallory, his father, early taught his 
 children the value of labor, and trained them in those 
 habits of patient industry and thoroughness of exe- 
 cution which were so marked characteristics of his 
 own successful life. Thus Henry was early taught 
 the sail-maker's trade by his father, and worked with 
 him until September, 1833, when, at fifteen years of 
 age, he went to sea. He rapidly passed through the 
 various grades of promotion, and in 1839, before he 
 was of age, became master of the brig " Appalachi- 
 cola." From this time to 1846 his life was passed on 
 the water, undergoing the various changes and vicis- 
 situdes incident to a maritime life. At this time 
 Charles Mallory was in full tide of his business career, 
 and the magnitude of his business and its many and 
 varied interests demanded a competent and confiden- 
 tial manager in New York City. Henry was selected 
 for this position, and leaving the water, he was for 
 the greater part of the time until 1865 in New York, 
 conducting his father's affairs, to the full satisfaction 
 and monetary advantage of his principal. 
 
 In 1865 the firm of C. H. Mallory & Co., a ship- 
 ping and commission house, was established. The 
 original members • were C. H. Mallory and Elihu 
 Spicer, Jr., and the firm continued thus until about 
 1870, when Charles Mallory (2) and Henry R. Mal- 
 lory, sons of C. H. Mallory, were admitted members. 
 This firm has been very prosperous, and stands among 
 the leading houses of the metropolis. In connection 
 with other interests, C. H. Mallory & Co. own and 
 run three steamship lines,— one to Texas, one to Flor- 
 ida, one to Nassau and Matanzas, Cuba,— and they 
 also for three years ran one to Brazil, but that is now 
 temporarily discontinued. 
 
 Mr. Mallory married, July 25, 1841, Eunice Deni- 
 
694 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 son, daughter of Nathaniel and Eunice (Denison) 
 Clift. She is descended from two old and honored 
 families of Stonington. Their children are Charles, 
 Fanny (Mrs. C. P. Williams), Henry E., Kate, and 
 Eobert. 
 
 Whig and Eepublican in his political affiliations, 
 Mr. Mallory was elected as such to represent Stoning- 
 ton one term in the Connecticut Legislature, and also 
 to represent his district one term as senator in the same 
 body. He was pronounced in opposition to the great 
 Eebellion, and did much to sustain the government 
 in the long civil war that ensued. He is a member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, uniting with it 
 in 1842. 
 
 Although his life has been one of incessant business 
 activity, he has not remained a silent observer of 
 events, or of the growth of his town or prosperity of 
 his city, but has borne a conspicuous part in all works 
 intended to promote the causes of morality, religion, 
 and education, to further the interests of society, and 
 to advance the sway of law and the prevalence of 
 order. 
 
 Mr. Mallory possesses a strong and vigorous mind, 
 with integrity of purpose and great firmness of char- 
 acter. He has discharged the duties of important 
 public trusts with conceded ability. As a citizen, he 
 enjoys universal confidence and esteem. He has 
 always acted upon the principle that whatever is 
 worth doing at all should be done thoroughly and 
 well. Without pretension as a speaker or writer, few 
 men are able, either orally or in writing, to present 
 reasons and arguments more forcibly or tersely. In 
 every work committed to his hands, in public or pri- 
 vate life, Mr. Mallory has labored with diligence, 
 perseverance, and efficiency, and wholesome practical 
 results testify to the value of his services. 
 
 Williams Family.'— It will not be inappropriate 
 in this work to give a short account of the ancestors 
 of those Williamses whose portraits and biographies 
 are here presented, and of some of their kindred, 
 pioneers and settlers elsewhere, brothers of the first 
 settlers in Stonington of that name, and their descend- 
 ants, who for several generations, when there were 
 few facilities to travel, were far distant from each other 
 by land, but were not far distant from each other 
 either by blood or good deeds. 
 
 Eobert Williams, from whom are descended all of 
 that surname in this part of New London County, 
 came from Norwich, England, and settled in Eoxbury, 
 Mass., in 1637; was made a freeman there in 1638; 
 reached the great age of one hundred years, having 
 been born in 1593, and died at Eoxbury, Sept. 1, 1693. 
 
 Farmer, in his genealogy, says, " Eobert Williams, 
 of Eoxbury, was the common ancestor of the divines, 
 civilians, and ancestors of the name who have hon- 
 
 1 This sketch was compiled and written by Hon. Ephraim Williams, 
 of Stonington. The facts of record were mostly taken from the history 
 of the Williams family, published over thirty years ago by Dr. Stephen 
 West Williams. 
 
 ored the country of their birth.'' It is also related that 
 liis wife, Elizabeth Stratton, who died July 28, 1674, 
 aged eighty, was very reluctant at first to come to this 
 country, but being impressed by a strange dream that 
 if she did so she would become the mother of a long 
 line of ministers, was encouraged to leave her old 
 home, to find a new, amid the perils and discomforts 
 of the Pilgrims. And it is certain that for several 
 generations after her arrival here there were more in 
 New England eminent in that profession of her line- 
 age than of any other, and the record of her off- 
 spring for a long period embraced a considerable por- 
 tion of the history of New England if not of the 
 United States. There was scarcely a battle of im- 
 portance fought, particularly in the northern section 
 of the country, either with the Indians or with a for- 
 eign enemy, in which one or more of the name does 
 not appear. On Groton Heights, among the martyrs 
 for their country's independence (whose self-sacrifice 
 and patriotism the State and nation ceremoniously 
 and grandly commemorated on the centennial anni- 
 versary of their massacre at Fort Griswold), in the 
 sublime language written on the monument there, 
 John, Henry, Thomas, Daniel, " were a people that 
 jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places 
 of the field." Eoger Williams probably rendered 
 more efficient services to Capt. Mason than any other 
 man, by aiding the Massachusetts troops with provis- 
 ions, advice, and even attendance on a part of the 
 route of these troops in that signal engagement near 
 Mystic, in this county, when nearly seven hundred 
 Pequot Indians were destroyed and their power com- 
 pletely broken. 
 
 Eobert had three sons, — Samuel, Isaac, and Stephen. 
 The sons of Samuel and Isaac came to this town about 
 1685, consequently this sketch will trace partially their 
 line of descent only, and to make it more easily fol- 
 lowed Samuel and Isaac will be numbered as of the 
 second generation, and so in order. 
 
 Samuel (second generation), eldest son of Eobert, 
 was born in England in 1632 ; became a freeman in 
 Eoxbury, Mass., in March, 1658. He was a man of 
 considerable repute, and held the office of deacon in 
 the church in that place for many years, which was 
 then considered a distinguished honor. He married 
 Theoda Park, sister to Martha, who married his brother 
 Isaac, daughters of Deacon William Park, of Eoxbury, 
 who was a man of note and represented the town in 
 General Court for many years. Ebenezer (third gen-, 
 oration), his son, born Dec. 6, 1666, died Feb. 13, 
 1746-47, came to Stonington about 1685, and lived 
 upon land purchased of Owaneco, an Indian sachem, 
 near Mystic, and I am told that a portion of that tract 
 is now owned by some of his descendants. He mar- 
 ried, Jan. 24, 1687, Mary AVheeler, daughter of Isaac, 
 whose wife was Martha Park, cousin to the Martha 
 Park who married Isaac Williams the same day that 
 his cousin, John Williams, married Martha, sister to 
 Mary. 
 
STONINGTOlSf. 
 
 695 
 
 Rev. John (third generation), son of Samuel, horn 
 at Eoxhury, Dec. 10, 1664, died June 12, 1729, was 
 the first minister at Deeriield, Mass., in 1686. The 
 vote of the town upon his settlement was "That they 
 would give him sixteen cow-commons of meadow- 
 land, with a home-lot that lyeth on the Meeting-house 
 Hill ; that they will build him a house forty-two feet 
 long, twenty feet wide, and a linto on the back side 
 of the house ; to fence his house-lot ; and within two 
 years after this agreement to build him a barn and 
 break up his ploughing-land. For yearly salary to 
 give him sixty pounds a year for the present, and four 
 or five years after this agreement to add to the salary 
 and make it eighty pounds." 
 
 He was taken captive by the French and Indians 
 Feb. 29, 1703-4; his two youngest sons were mur- 
 dered at the time. The town was attacked by two 
 hundred French and one hundred and forty-two In- 
 dians from Canada, under command of Maj. Hertel 
 De Eouville. There were then no settlements be- 
 tween Deerfleld and St. John's, in Canada. The pris- 
 oners with Mr. Williams numbered one hundred, four- 
 teen of whom, with his wife, were murdered on the 
 journey, and two starved to death among the savages 
 at Coo's, in Vermont. After a journey of twenty-five 
 days the captives reached Shamblee. He was a pris- 
 oner in Canada for a year and nine months, when he 
 was redeemed, and left Quebec Oct. 25, 1706, arriving 
 at Boston November 21st, with fifty-seven others, 
 among whom were two of his sons. His daughter 
 Eunice and others were left behind. An account of 
 this attack and their captivity may be found in the 
 "Redeemed Captive,'' published by him. He is rep- 
 resented by his cotemporaries, who have witnessed 
 his efforts before the most enlightened and powerful 
 auditories in the province, as a powerful and affecting 
 preacher. His daughter Eunice- died in captivity at 
 the age of ninety. Though a mere child, no efforts 
 could procure her redemption. She forgot the Eng- 
 lish language, became an Indian in her habits, and 
 married an Indian. Her daughter Sarah married an 
 English physician by the name of Williams in 1758, 
 who was a son of the Bishop of Chester in England ; 
 they had a son Thomas, who married a Frenchwoman, 
 and were the parents of the Rev. Eleazer, born about 
 1790, the reputed " Lost Prince,'' a missionary among 
 the Green Bay Indians. He married May Hobart 
 Jourdan, a relative of Louis Philippe, king of France, 
 and their son John was staying with him about the 
 time he abdicated the throne. 
 
 Park (third generation), son of Samuel, born Jan. 
 11, 1676, died 1757, settled in Lebanon, Conn. ; had 
 a son, Col. John, who moved to Sharon, Conn., in 
 1744 ; died there March 14, 1774, aged sixty years. 
 He was chief judge of the County Court of Litchfield 
 County, and a representative of the town of Sharon 
 twenty-seven times, and commanded a regiment of 
 colonial militia. 
 
 Deborah (third generation), a daughter of Samuel, 
 
 born Nov. 20, 1668, married Joseph Warren, and was 
 grandmother of Gen. Joseph Warren, who fell at 
 Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. 
 
 Rev. Eleazer (fourth generation), a son of Rev. 
 John, of Deerfield, born July 1, 1688, graduated at 
 Harvard in 1708, was absent from Deerfield when 
 his father and family were captured. He was or- 
 dained minister at Mansfield, Conn., Oct. 10, 1710. 
 The following quaint inscription is on his monument 
 there : 
 
 " Here lies the body of ye Rev. Mr. Eleazer Winiama, pastor of ye 
 Clih. in Mansfield, descended from venerable ancestors, but more nobly 
 born from above, and with faithfulness, prudence, zeal, and courage im- 
 proved the gifts and graces bis Divine Lord had entrusted bim with, 
 in ye work of the ministry here, being found with his loynes girt and 
 looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus to eternal life, at bis Master's 
 call be quietly fell asleep in Jesus Sept. 21, 1742, in tlie 66"' year of his 
 age and ye 32'1 year of bis pastoral work. Them that sleep in Jesus 
 will God bring with him." 
 
 Rev. Stephen (fourth generation), son of Rev. John, 
 of Deerfield, born May 14, 1693, was taken captive 
 with his father and carried to Canada; was redeemed, 
 and returned to Boston Nov. 21, 1705. He wrote, 
 when a boy, a long narrative of his captivity soon 
 after his return, which is curious and interesting. 
 He graduated at Harvard in 1713, was a chaplain for 
 the armies in the campaigns at Cape Breton in 1745, 
 at Lake George in 1755 and '56, in the regiment of 
 Col. Ephraim Williams, and the day before he was 
 killed, being Sunday, preached to the troops from the 
 text, " AVhich remain among the groves and lodge in 
 the mountain." In 1756 he was chaplain in the regi- 
 ment commanded by Dr. Thomas, brother of Col. 
 Ephraim. He settled at Longmeadow, and had sons 
 —Rev. Stephen, Rev. Warham, and Rev. Nathan- 
 all graduated at Yale College. The first settled at 
 Woodstock, Conn., the second at Northfleld, Conn., 
 and the Rev. Nathan at Tolland, Conn. 
 
 Rev. Warham (fourth generation), another son of 
 Rev. John, of Deerfield, was taken captive to Canada 
 with his father. Born Sept. 16, 1699 ; graduated at 
 Harvard in 1719; died June 22, 1751 ; settled and re- 
 mained for twenty-nine years, until his death, a min- 
 ister at Waltham, Mass. On his gravestone is en- 
 graved : 
 
 " Here lie the remains of the excellent, pious, and learned divine, the 
 late Bev. Warham Williams, the first and beloved Pastor in the church 
 at Waltham. He was indeed a burning and shining light of >uperior 
 natural power and acquired abilities, diligent in study, apt to teach, fer- 
 vent in prayer, accurate and instructive in preaching, pradent and faith- 
 ful in discipline, tender and skillful in comforting, grave in his deport- 
 ment, agreeable and edifying in conversation, meek towards all men, 
 constant and candid in friendshjp, endearing in every relation, resigned 
 in adversity, a bright example in behavior and doctrine, universally es- 
 teemed, and died greatly lamented." 
 
 He had a son, the Rev. Samuel, born at Waltham, 
 April 23, 1743 ; graduated at Harvard in 1761 ; died 
 June 1 , 1817, a very talented and learned man. While 
 at Harvard as a professor received the honorary de- 
 gree of Doctor of Laws from Yale College, and also 
 from the University of Edinburgh ; was an active 
 member of the American Academy of Arts and 
 
696 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Sciences, a member of the Meteorological Society of 
 Mannheim, Germany, and of the PhilosoiDhical So- 
 ciety in Philadelphia, and was the author of many 
 valuable works; and his son. Gen. Charles Kilbourne 
 Williams, born Jan. 24, 1782, graduated at Williams 
 College in 1800, was at one time chief justice of the 
 State of Vermont. 
 
 Maj. Elijah (fourth generation), son of Eev. John, 
 of Deerfield, by his second wife, born Nov. 13, 1712, 
 graduated at Harvard in 1732, died July 10, 1771, 
 was an able magistrate and one of the judges of the 
 County Court; he inherited his father's mansion and 
 home-lot at Deerfield, where he lived, and he had a 
 son John, born Jan. 6, 1751, graduated at Harvard, 
 1769, died at Deerfield in 1816, who was a member of 
 the Senate and House of Representatives of Massa- 
 chusetts, one of the trustees of Williams College, one 
 of the founders of the Deerfield Academy, and at his 
 death left several thousand dollars to that institution. 
 
 Eev. Ebenezer (fourth generation), a grandson of 
 Samuel (second generation), of Eoxbury, born Aug. 
 12, 1690, graduated at Harvard, 1709, was ordained 
 minister at Pomfret, Conn., Oct. 26, 1715, and died 
 March 28, 1753, was also a very distinguished divine. 
 His daughter Hannah married Gen. Huntington, and 
 was the mother of Gen. Ebenezer and Zachariah 
 Huntington, and grandmother of Hon. Jabez W. 
 Huntington, of Norwich, who was a United States 
 senator from Connecticut. The Rev. Ebenezer had 
 sons, — the Rev. Chester and Col. Ebenezer. The Rev. 
 Chester, born 1719, died Oct. 13, 1755, graduated at 
 Yale, was a minister at Hadley, Mass. Upon his 
 gravestone is inscribed : 
 
 " Here rests the body of the Eev. Mr. Chester Williams, in whom 
 bright parts, solid learning, unfeigned piety, happy elocution, universal 
 benevolence, liospitality, and Christian love combined to form the exem- 
 plary Pastor, the kind husband, the tender parent, the delightful com- 
 panion, and the faithful friend, who departed this life 13th October, 
 1756, aged 36." 
 
 His son, the Rev. Nehemiah, was for nearly twenty- 
 two years a minister at Brimfleld, Mass.; graduated 
 at Harvard, 1769 ; distinguished for the energy and 
 pathos with which his sermons were delivered, and 
 was an able advocate of the doctrines held by the 
 strict Calvinists, and one of the first members of the 
 American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 
 
 Col. Ebenezer (fifth generation), son of Rev. Eben- 
 ezer, born Nov. 22, 1723, died in Pomfret, 1783, often 
 represented the town in General Court; was an oflicer 
 in the Revolutionary war, and had a command at Fort 
 Edward in 1757. His son, the Hon. Elisha (sixth 
 generation), of Hudson, N. Y., born Aug. 29, 1773, 
 died in New York, June 29, 1833, was one of the 
 ablest lawyers in his State of his time. Chancellor 
 Kent says of him, "When I was judge, until 1814, 
 he frequently tried cases before me at the circuit, and 
 he was eloquent, ingenious, and impressive, and 
 showed especially his sagacity and judgment in the 
 examination of witnesses ; and his addresses to the 
 
 juries were always forcible, witty, argumentative, and 
 singularly attractive, and heightened by a volubility 
 of his language and melody of his voice, and his 
 commanding eye and dignified and attractive per- 
 son.'' At a sitting of the Supreme Court this reso- 
 lution was adopted, among others, by members of the 
 bar: 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of live be appointed by the chairman to 
 consider and report to a meeting of the bar at the next October term of 
 the Supreme Court of the expediency of some permanent memorial of 
 our regard for the public and private character of our deceased brother, 
 the Hon. Elisha Williams." 
 
 The committee were Messrs. Benj. F. Butler, Mar- 
 cus T. Reynolds, Ambrose I. Jordan, Aaron Vander- 
 poel, and John C. Spencer. 
 
 Another descendant of Samuel (second generation) 
 was John Chandler Williams, born at Roxbury, Aug. 
 6, 1755 ; graduated at Harvard, 1777 ; settled at Pitts- 
 field ; a distinguished lawyer and an accomplished 
 scholar. He joined the American forces, and was at 
 the battle of Lexington, and employed, as appears by 
 the journals of the Provincial Congress of Massachu- 
 setts, 1774-75, by the Committee of Safety on some 
 secret service. "The service was to discover the 
 letter-book and other public records of Governor 
 Hutchinson," and was successful. 
 
 Having thus given some of the prominent descend- 
 ants of Samuel, we will now revert to his brother 
 Isaac, whose sons, John and Eleazer, came to Ston- 
 ington about 1685, and about the time that Samuel's 
 son Ebenezer did, as referred to. 
 
 Isaac Williams, second son of Robert, was born 
 at Roxbury, Sept. 1, 1638; died there Feb. 11, 1707; 
 married Martha, a daughter of Deacon William Park; 
 settled at Newton ; represented the town in General 
 Court five or six years, and commanded a troop of 
 horse. Of his children we will follow William, John, 
 Eleazer ; and by his second wife, Judith Cooper, 
 Ephraim, and a few of their descendants. 
 
 William (third generation) was born Feb. 2, 1665; 
 graduated at Harvard, 1683 ; died Aug. 29, 1741 ; set- 
 tled a minister at Hatfield, Mass., in 1685, and pos- 
 sessed remarkable talents. Dr. Chauncey, in his 
 sketch of eminent men in New England, in a letter to 
 the Rev. Dr. Stiles, of New Haven, May 6, 1768, says 
 of him, "I have read all Rev. Solomon Stoddard's 
 writings, who, says Elliot, has always been considered 
 one of the greatest divines of New England, but I 
 believe Mr. Williams, of Hatfield, his son-in-law, to 
 have been the greater man." 
 
 President Edwards, in a sermon at his funeral, said, 
 " He was a person of unnatural common abilities and 
 distinguished learning ; a great divine, of very com- 
 prehensive knowledge, and of a solid, accurate judg- 
 ment. Judiciousness and wisdom were eminently his 
 character. He was one of eminent gifts, and there 
 followed a savor of holiness in the exercise of these 
 gifts in his public and private life." He had sons, — 
 Rev. William, of Weston; Rev. Solomon, of Leb- 
 
STONINQTON. 
 
 697 
 
 anon ; Eev. Elisha, president of Yale College ; and 
 Col. Israel, of Hatfield. 
 
 The Kev. William (fourth, generation), born May 
 11, 1688 ; graduated at Harvard, 1706 ; died March 6, 
 1760 ; oi'dained minister at Weston, 1709 ; was es- 
 teemed a fine scholar and excellent sermonizer ; was 
 widely known from his artillery election sermon in 
 1737, and the general election sermon of 1741, both 
 of which were published ; also sermons x>n the ordi- 
 nation of Dr. Hall Sutton, on the execution of P. 
 Kennison for burglary, 1738, on saving faith, 17-11, and 
 on the death of Caleb Lyman, 1742. He had son, Col. 
 William, of Pittsfield, born 1713, died June, 1788, 
 one of the first settlere there, who was an officer in 
 the French and Indian war, and took part in the at- 
 tack on Ticonderoga, July 5, 1758, and a judge of the 
 court in Berkshire County. 
 
 Kev. Solomon (fourth generation), son of Rev. Wil- 
 liam, of Hatfield, born June 4, 1700 ; graduated at 
 Harvard, 1719 ; died 1776 ; ordained minister at 
 Lebanon, Conn., Dec. 5, 1722 ; was one of the learned 
 divines of the day. Many of his works were published, 
 among which were " Christ the Living Witness of the 
 Truth," 1744 ; " A Vindication of the Scripture Doc- 
 trine of Justifying Faith," in answer to Andrew Cros- 
 well, 1746 ; and " The True State of the Question Con- 
 cerning the Qualifications for Communion," in an- 
 swer to Jonathan Edwards. He had sons, — the Rev. 
 Eliphalet, Ezekiel, and the Hon. Williams. 
 
 The Eev. Eliphalet (fifth generation), born Feb. 
 24, 1727, died 1803 ; settled at East Hartford ; mar- 
 ried a daughter of Rev. Elisha, president of Yale Col- 
 lege, and had sons, — Rev. Elisha, born Oct. 7, 1757 ; 
 graduated at Yale, 1775 ; died 1845 ; settled in New 
 Hampshire ; and the Rev. Solomon, born 1752 ; grad- 
 uated at Yale, 1776 ; died Nov. 9, 1834. Minister at 
 Northampton, Mass., for fifty-five years ; was a strong 
 preacher, and at the time of his death had one of the 
 largest congregations in Massachusetts. 
 
 Ezekiel (fifth generation), son of Rev. Solomon, 
 was born May 4, 1729, died Feb. 12, 1818; was a 
 distinguished civil and military oflicer daring the 
 American Revolution ; was commissary of provisions 
 for the State of Connecticut, sheriff of Hartford 
 County for twenty-two years, and deacon for many 
 years of the church in Wethersfield, and is noticed in 
 Hinman's " History of the Actors of the American 
 Revolution." He had sons, — Samuel P., John, Thos. 
 Scott. 
 
 Samuel P. (sixth generation), son of Ezekiel, born 
 1779, graduated at Yale, 1796 ; was an able minister at 
 Mansfield, Conn., and afterwards at Newburyport, 
 Mass. John (sixth generation) was born at Wethers- 
 field, Sept. 11, 1762, died 1840 ; graduated at Yale, 
 1781 ; studied law in the ofiice of Judge Chauncey, 
 in New Haven. He had a comfortable fortune, and 
 gave up the practice of law and devoted himself to 
 the study of theology and general literature. He was 
 an ardent patriot, and to an uncommon fine personal 
 
 appearance he added the courtliness of manner and 
 dress of the Revolutionary age. Thomas Scott (sixth 
 generation), the last maternal son of Ezekiel, was born 
 at Wethersfield, June 26, 1777 ; graduated at Yale, 
 1794; represented the town of Hartford in the Legis- 
 lature ; member of Congress from 1817 to 1819, and 
 was chief justice of Connecticut. 
 
 Hon. William (fifth generation), son of Rev. Solo- 
 mon, of Lebanon, signer of the Declaration of In- 
 dependence, was born at Lebanon, April 8, 1731 ; 
 entered Harvard at the age of sixteen, honorably 
 graduated, and for a time devoted himself to theo- 
 logical subjects under direction of his father ; was on 
 the staff of Col. Ephraim Williams at the battle of 
 Lake George, September, 1755. In 1756 was chosen 
 town clerk of Lebanon, and held the ofiice for forty- 
 five years, and during that time often represented 
 the town in the Legislature ; frequently chosen its 
 clerk, and also Speaker; was annually elected an 
 " assistant" from 1776 to 1780, and from 1784 to 1803. 
 The session was then semi-annual, and for more than 
 ninety sessions he was scarcely absent from his seat, 
 except when a member of the Continental Congress 
 in 1776-77. At the age of forty-one he married Mary, 
 daughter of Jonathan Trumbull, at that time Gov- 
 ernor of the State. He died, and was buried at Leb- 
 anon, Aug. 2, 1811. It will be remembered that Rev. 
 William, of Hatfield, had two other sons, — Elisha 
 and Israel. 
 
 Rector Elisha (fourth generation), born Aug. 26, 
 1694 ; graduated at Harvard, 1711 ; died July 25, 1755 ; 
 ordained minister at Newington, Conn., Oct. 22, 1722. 
 He studied law, and for several years was member 
 of the Legislature from Wethersfield. In 1726 was 
 chosen president of Yale College; resigned in 1739 
 from ill health ; was again returned to the Legislature, 
 and appointed a judge of the Superior Court. After- 
 wards was chaplain of the regiment sent by the State 
 to Cape Breton, and soon after commanded a regi- 
 ment raised for the reduction of Canada. He was 
 sent to England to raise money for the troops in 
 December, 1749 ; left on his return in 1751 ; narrowly 
 escaped shipwreck, and after spending some months 
 in Antigua, arrived home in April, 1752. This is a 
 copy of the memorial on his tomb : 
 
 " The Honb'le. Con. Elisha Williams shia'd in excelling Gifts of Na- 
 ture, Learniog and Grace, in Benevolence universal. Firm in Friend- 
 ship, in Conversation pleasant and Instructive. In Eeligion Sincere, 
 unaffected cheerful ; Truly Humble., of Conjugal & Parental Affection 
 and Humanity, A Wise, Great & Good Man. 6 Years he was an Hon'r 
 to the Sacred Ministry, in Newington. 13 years Yale College flourished 
 under his Pious, Learned & Faithful Instruction and happy Govern't ; 
 the Glory of ye college & Ornament of his Country. He often filled & 
 adorned several Civil & Military characters. Heaven claimed what was 
 Immortal that Glad obeyed & dross'd here the Dust to Rest till Jesus 
 conies. 
 
 " Oblit 26"' July 175B, iEtates 61 yrs." 
 
 Dr. Doddridge, who knew him in England, said, 
 " I look upon Col. Williams to be one of the most 
 valuable men upon earth. He has joined to an ar- 
 dent sense of religion, solid learning, consummate 
 
698 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 prudence, great candor and sweetness of temper, and 
 a certain nobleness of soul capable of containing and 
 acting the greatest things without seeming to be con- 
 scious of having done them." 
 
 Col. Israel (fourth generation), of Hatfield, son of 
 Eev. William, born Nov. 30, 1709 ; graduated at Har- 
 vard, 1729 ; died in 1789 ; was an officer in the 
 French and Indian wars of 1744 and 1755. Had 
 command of the forces on the western frontiers of 
 Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and as Hoyt says 
 in his " Antiquarian Researches," " to whom the early 
 settlers in that section were much indebted for, long 
 and able service." 
 
 These were descendants of the Rev. William, of 
 Hatfield. We will glance at a few of the descendants 
 of his brother Ephraim, of Stockbridge. 
 
 Ephraim (third generation), a son of Isaac, born 
 Aug. 21, 1691; died 1754; settled in Stockbridge, 
 Mass., June, 1739. There were no roads except horse- 
 paths between the Connecticut River and Stockbridge 
 at that time. The country was a wilderness, and 
 only three families with him then settled what is now 
 that town. He is spoken of by the Rev. Dr. Colman 
 as a worthy man ; was appointed by the government 
 to survey and apportion plots of land to the Indians, 
 and was made a colonel. He had sons, — Col. Eph- 
 raim and Dr. Thomas. 
 
 Col. Ephraim (fourth generation), born Feb. 24, 
 1715 ; killed at Lake George, Sept. 8, 1755. He made 
 several voyages to Europe, visiting England, Spain, 
 and Holland; was a representative to the General 
 Court from Stockbridge, and afterwards deputy sheriff 
 under Col. Oliver Partridge. He possessed brilliant 
 military talent, served in the Canada expedition, and 
 was in constant service during the French and Indian 
 wars. He was killed near the post-road from Glen 
 Falls to Caldwell, at the head of Lake George. A 
 large rock, upon which was cut E. W., and upon 
 which was afterwards placed a marble monument, is 
 marked as near the spot. He never married, and left 
 provisions by his "Will" which founded Williams 
 College. The will was made at Albany, July 22, 1755. 
 The executors were Israel Williams, of Hatfield, John 
 Worthington, of Springfield; witnesses, William Wil- 
 liams, Noah Belding, Richard Cartwright. 
 
 Dr. Thomas, his brother, born April 10, 1718, died 
 Sept. 18, 1775, was a surgeon in the army, and in 1756 
 lieutenant-colonel of a regiment at Lake George. Was 
 
 with Ephraim when he was killed. He had sons, 
 
 Dr. William, Col. Thomas, and Ephraim. Dr. Wil- 
 liam Stoddard Williams (fifth generation), born Oct. 
 11, 1762, died Jan. 8, 1828, was an eminent physi- 
 cian, and had a son, Dr. Stephen West Williams, a 
 very learned man and author of many works and 
 essays. Col. Thomas (fifth generation), son of Dr. 
 Thomas, born May 5, 1746, died July 10, 1776, was a 
 lawyer in Stockbridge in 1770-71. In 1775 went to 
 Cambridge in command of a party of minute-men, 
 and volunteered to follow Col. Arnold up the Ken- 
 
 nebec River to Quebec. The next year was made lieu- 
 tenant-colonel, and ordered to Canada. On his way 
 fell sick, and died at Skenesboro', now Whitehall, 
 N. Y. 
 
 Ephraim (fifth generation), son of Dr. Thomas, born 
 Nov. 19, 1760, at Deerfield, died Dec. 27, 1885, was con- 
 sidered one of the first and best counselors in Massa- 
 chusetts, frequently elected to the Legislature, a mem- 
 ber of the Senate, and counselor to the Governor. He 
 was gifted with intellectual powers of a high order, 
 and his mantle has worthily fallen upon his son John, 
 the present Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut. 
 
 I have thus sketched some of the family not of this 
 town who were conspicuous in the history of the 
 Massachusetts and Connecticut colonies at and for a 
 few generations after the coming of Ebenezer, son of 
 Samuel (second generation), and John and Eleazer, 
 son of Isaac (second generation), to Stonington. 
 
 Their descendants did not furnish as many profes- 
 sional men as did those of the other sons of Samuel 
 and Isaac we have noted. They were located where 
 there were less opportunities for study and education 
 and the public display of acquired powers, but in 
 business occupations they exhibited eminent qualities 
 and those inherited natural abilities which were more 
 necessary here during that time to develop the re- 
 sources of the land, originate industries and improve- 
 ments, and earn, by toil and financial operations, 
 property for themselves and others than the wisdom 
 of colleges or the pursuits and accomplishments of the 
 learned professions. And it would be to the general 
 advantage now if we had more old-fashioned impres- 
 sive integrity and hard-headed business method in 
 public affairs, and less new-fangled notions, "vain 
 babblings and pettifogging oppositions of science, 
 falsely so called." 
 
 John (third generation) was born Oct. 81, 1667; 
 died Nov. 5, 1702 ; married, Jan. 24, 1687, Martha 
 Wheeler, granddaughter of Thomas, the first in Sto- 
 nington of the name, who came in 1664, and sister of 
 May, who married his cousin, Ebenezer Williams. 
 John's mother and Martha's were also cousins. He 
 and his brother Eleazer (born in 1670, died March 
 19, 1725) took up land adjoining about 1685. Their 
 residences were in sight of each other, Eleazer's 
 being on the hill called Williams' Hill, commanding 
 a most beautiful view of Long Island Sound, pictur- 
 esque islands, the Mystic River valley, and the bold 
 country surrounding, and was near the burying- 
 ground where many of the family are buried. The 
 burying-ground is near the fort which was taken by 
 Capt. Mason from the Pequots in 1637, and a portion 
 of the land has been in the almost uninterrupted pos- 
 session of an Eleazer Williams in a direct line until 
 a few years ago, when the last died, and it now re- 
 mains in the occupancy of some of the descendants ; 
 and among them and also those of Ebenezer there 
 have been many substantial, prominent men, useful 
 where they lived, filling many important ofiices, sue- 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 699 
 
 cessful in various business vocations, and influential 
 contributors in the forming and progress of social, 
 civil, and religious society. John " promised subjec- 
 tion to ye Government of Christ in this (the First 
 Congregational) Church, Eev. James Noyes, pastor, 
 April 18, 1689. His wife, Martha, ye June 16th fol- 
 lowing." He died at the early age of thirty-five. On 
 his gravestone, erected by Gen. William Williams, 
 of Norwich, is written : 
 
 " To the Memory of Johu Williams, who came from Koxbury, Mass., 
 settled at Stonington, and married Martha, daughter of Isaac Wheeler, 
 one of the ancient proprietors of this town; died Nov. 15, 1702, aged 
 35 yeara. His father, Capt. Isaa€ Williams, died in Massachusetts, Feb. 
 11, 1707, aged 69. His grandfather, Kobert Williams, came from Nor- 
 wich, England, and died in Roxbury in 1693." 
 
 John and Martha had eight children, viz. : Isaac, 
 John, Martha, Deborah, William, Nathan, Eunice, 
 and Benaiah, of whom Col. John (fourth generation, 
 horn Oct. 31, 1692, died Dec. 30, 1761) married, Feb. 
 19, 1711, Desire Denison. From this time down to 
 the present the blood of these families has frequently 
 intermingled, and mention of her ancestry will be ap- 
 propriate. She was the daughter of George and Mercy 
 Gorham Denison. Mercy's mother was Desire How- 
 land, the daughter of John, the last male survivor of 
 the Pilgrim Fathers who came over in the " May- 
 flower" in 1620. Her father, Capt. John Gorham, died 
 in command of a company in Philip's war, at Swanzey, 
 Mass. George was the son of Col. George and Ann 
 Borradell Denison, the first of the name who settled 
 in Stonington in 1654. His father, William, came to 
 Roxbury, Mass., in 1631 . Col. George, after the death 
 of his first wife, Bridget Thomson, by whom he had 
 two daughters, returned to England, served under 
 Cromwell as colonel of cavalry, and was wounded at 
 the battle of Nasehy. He remained in England six or 
 seven years, and visited Ireland to renew his acquaint- 
 ance with Ann Borradell, between whom a romantic 
 attachment had formerly existed, but at the time she 
 was unwilling to join her fortunes with his and come 
 to this country. His visit at this time, however, was 
 more successful, and he returned here with her as his 
 wife. 
 
 Col. George was a brave and .experienced soldier, 
 and took an active part in warfare against the Indians. 
 Miss Caulkins, in her history, says, " Our early history 
 presents no character of bolder and more active 
 spirit than Capt. George Denison : he reminds us of 
 the bordermen of Scotland." He was the first rep- 
 resentative of the town in General Assembly at Hart- 
 ford, and died while attending its session, and lies 
 buried there in the ground of the First Congregational 
 Church, on Main Street. His wife was always called 
 "Lady Ann," by virtue of her father, who was Lord 
 John of Ireland. 
 
 Col. John Williams was left at the age of ten with- 
 out a father, " to make or mar a man'' out of his own 
 resources and capabilities, in a rugged time, when 
 wealth and even the necessaries of life were dependent 
 
 solely on the fruit of the ground, and he met the stern 
 necessities and emergencies of those primitive days, 
 and proved the stuff that was in him by working out 
 a life of useftilness and honor. At a period wlien 
 such positions were won by the sword that was brave 
 and true, and not by luck, he cut his way up to the 
 rank of colonel, represented the town in the Legisla- 
 ture, and was frequently intrusted by his townsmen 
 to discharge the duties of some of the highest civil 
 offices they had to bestow. Out of him grew sons and 
 daughters who, under more favorable circumstances, 
 enjoying the benefits of his labors, well maintained 
 the dignity of his reputation. They were Desire, 
 John, William, Thankful, Mercy, Thomas, who was 
 killed at Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781, Robert, and 
 George ; and by his second wife, Mary Helme, Mercy, 
 and Edward, who died on board the prison-ship at 
 Newport, R. I. William (fifth generation), son of 
 Col. John and Desire, born May 1, 1716, died July 
 27, 1801, married, Feb. 15, 1738, Martha, daughter of 
 William Wheeler, brother to the Martha .who married 
 John Williams (third generation). William was a 
 highly respectable citizen, held many ofiices, select- 
 man and others, and represented the town in the Leg- 
 islature ; he acquired considerable property, and was 
 a liberal supporter of the church to which he belonged. 
 He and Martha had William, Benadam, Martha, John, 
 Esther, Ephraim, Desire, Hannah, and Isaac. 
 
 William (sixth generation), born Aug. 14, 1740, 
 died at sea, Oct. 25, 1770 ; married Eunice Prentice ; 
 they had William (see portrait and sketch) and Eu- 
 nice, born Jan. 3, 1767, died Aug. 5, 1811, who mar- 
 ried Coddington Billings, and were parents of Hon. 
 Noyes Billings, Lieutenant-Governor of Connecticut, 
 and William W. Billings, now living in New Lon- 
 don. 
 
 John (sixth generation), born Dec. 23. 1744, mar- 
 ried Keturah Randall ; they had nine children, and 
 were grandparents of Joseph S. Williams, a worthy 
 farmer, who has been selectman a number of times, 
 and his sons, Elias and Joseph, representatives of the 
 town in General Assembly. Joseph has also been 
 and now is one of the selectmen of the town. 
 
 Ephraim (sixth generation), born May 31, 1756, 
 died July 6, 1804, married first Sarah Potter, of South 
 Kingston, R. I. ; they had no children ; married after- 
 wards, Dec. 23, 1787, Hephzibah Phelps, daughter of 
 iDr. Charles and Hannah Denison Phelps, a descend- 
 ant of Col. George and Ann Borradell Denison by 
 their son John. Capt. Ephraim was a large land- 
 owner and of well-known business reputation, and 
 devoted himself principally to the enjoyment and in- 
 crease of his estate. He held offices, civil and mili- 
 tary, and was captain of a company. He and Heph- 
 zibah had Ephraim (see portrait, etc.), Charles 
 Phelps (see portrait, etc.), and Sarah, born July 15, 
 1802, died July 24, 1824, unmarried. His sister Han- 
 nah,'born June 17, 1753, died July 19, 1829, married, 
 July 3, 1777, Amos Denison, a descendant of Col. 
 
 ,, Ur>t4j illciJL. Jyum/uUci- /f//Li.i^n.^LJ.^^.i 
 
700 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 George and Ann through their son George ; and their 
 daughter, Hannah Eliza, born Jan. 11, 1799, died June 
 20, 1877, married, April 13, 1815. Ephraim, his son. 
 
 Col. Isaac Williams (sixth generation), born March 
 23, 1758, died Oct. 10, 18-14, married, Dec. 13, 1780, 
 Phebe, daughter of Warhum Williams, whose father, 
 Isaac, the son of John the first settler, married Sarah, 
 daughter of John Denison, a son of Col. George and 
 Ann. Col. Isaac was a highly respectable man, repre- 
 sented the town in the Legislature, held many civil 
 and military offices, was a colonel of commanding 
 presence, and an intelligent farmer of sound judgment 
 and unusual business cajjacity. Some of his grand- 
 children live on the homestead. 
 
 Maj.-Gen. William Williams.— Maj. -Gen. Wil- 
 liam Williams (seventh generation), son of William 
 and Eunice Prentice, was born June 30, 1765, died 
 May 15, 1838, married Mercy Wheeler; they had Gen. 
 William, of Norwich, and Maj. Thomas W., of New 
 London. Maj.-Gen. William, of Stonington, was 
 prominent in business and also in public afl'airs, was 
 of powerful frame, and had great individuality of 
 character. He was a large land-owner, and for a time, 
 at New London, was engaged in the West India trade. 
 He returned to Stonington, and after residing a time 
 on one of his farms, adjoining that of Mr. Billings, 
 who married his sister, he built a fine residence on a 
 tract of land near the village, where he died. Few 
 men have been more active, enterprising, or useful. 
 For more than thirty years he was extensively engaged 
 as a shipping merchant. As a landholder, he was 
 always a promoter of the interests of agriculture, as 
 well as of manufactures. 
 
 He held various town offices, was a selectman for 
 six years, often a representative in the Legislature, 
 president of the Stonington Bank from 1827 to 1835, 
 when he resigned. He took an active part in the pre- 
 liminary steps which opened through Stonington the 
 steamboat and railroad communication between New 
 York and Boston. He rose from the command of a 
 troop of cavalry, through the various grades of office, 
 to the rank of major-general of the Third Division of 
 Connecticut militia. He held that office in war and 
 in peace, and always had the confidence and respect 
 of those under his command. 
 
 A notice of his death by the editor of the Nev} Lon- 
 don Gazette, to whom he was politically opposed in 
 several severely contested elections, justly outlines his 
 sterling character : 
 
 *' Gen. WillianiB was a man of UDcommon cliaracter. Starting in life 
 with no otiier reliance than his own resouices, lie was tlie architect of 
 his own fortune. He was a man of great and eiiteipiising sagacity and 
 indefatigable perseverance, which qualities commended liim to the es- 
 teem of a nunjeroue circle of friends. He was more e.xtensively and 
 variously concerned in business than auy man in Now London County. 
 In commerce, agriculture, and manufactures he gave employment to 
 many, to their own satisfaction and his own success. He had frequently 
 received high offlces from his fellow-citizens, a]]d died greatly lamented, 
 with the cheering assurance of a well-grounded hope to himself and his 
 family of receiving that inheritance which is beyond value or vicissi- 
 tude." 
 
 His second wife was Rhoda Babcock ; no children. 
 His third, Ann Babcock, by whom children now liv- 
 ing are Franklin, postmaster in Stonington, which 
 office he has held through both party administrations, 
 and for a longer time than the like office has been 
 held by any one in the United States, and Ellen, who 
 married Dr. William Hyde (see portrait, etc.). 
 
 I have thus endeavored as briefly as I could in this 
 imperfect delineation of their character to trace down 
 to within the memory of a few now living the lineage 
 of those whose lives and influence largely contributed 
 to the growth and prosperity of this county. They 
 were worthy descendants of a respectable ancestry, 
 and their record all along forms no inconsiderable part 
 of tlie history of the towns in which they settled and 
 made their homes. Of some of these, who have rested 
 from their labors, immediately preceding those now 
 acting their part in life, the recollection is too near 
 and dear ; affection, respect, and the ties of blood pul- 
 sate too closely and warmly, at least towards one whose 
 bodily presence, though twenty years have passed over 
 his grave, seemed of yesterday, for this pen to attempt 
 a portraiture of either his public or private character. 
 That is gratefully done by the venerable hand' of one 
 who knew him well and kindly requested the privi- 
 lege of paying that tribute to his memory, whose 
 years, though numbering fourscore and more, have 
 in nowise dimmed the mental eye nor abated the 
 force of a vigorous, scholarly pen, and whose attain- 
 ments in the classics and skill in special branches of 
 mathematical science, known and respected by mas- 
 ters in this country and in Europe, give sure warrant 
 that his exactness, habit, and pureness of thought 
 would not permit him to set down aught in praise of 
 a friend that was not justly due. 
 
 Hon. Ephraim Williams^ was born in Stonington, 
 July 3, 1791. When a young man he was engaged 
 in buying and selling produce for the New York 
 market, which business he followed several years. In 
 1817, Capt. Edmund Fanning, of New York, but for- 
 merly of Stonington, an old and experienced ship- 
 master and sealer (having already made several voy- 
 ages to the southern coasts of South America and the 
 islands adjacent), began to fit out vessels at Stoning- 
 ton for the prosecution of the seal-fishery in those 
 regions, and soon after at New South Shetlands, 
 which had been discovered a short time previous by 
 
 Capt. Smith, an Englishman. 
 
 Among the first to embark capital in the sealing 
 business was Mr. Williams. In 1820 (July 31st) he 
 sailed from Stonington as captain of the schooner 
 " Express," and after an absence of nine months re- 
 turned with a full cargo of sealskins, having made 
 one of the most successful voyages in that line on 
 
 1 By Br. D. S. Hart. 
 
 2 By Dr. David Sherman Hart, son of Kev. Ira Hart, a noted classical 
 and mathematical scholar, and sometime a private teacher, who has 
 fitted many of our boys for college, and imparted instruction to many 
 others, by all of whom he is affectionately remembered. 
 
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STONINGTON. 
 
 701 
 
 record. He did not go to sea again, but engaged in 
 the sealing business, whicli at that time was so profit- 
 able that in 1823 twenty sealing vessels were owned 
 here, more than at any other port in the United States, 
 
 Mr. Williams was president of the Stonington Bank 
 from 1835 to 1859, when he resigned ; and when the 
 Stonington Cemetery Association was incorporated, 
 in 1849, chiefly through his exertions and those of 
 Dr. William Hyde, Jr., he was elected its first presi- 
 dent, which office he retained during his life. He 
 held the office of selectman, and was on the board of 
 relief in this town. He was also for a time judge of 
 probate, having for his clerk Mr. Wm. H. Wood- 
 bridge, to whom he generously gave the avails of the 
 office. In 1830 he was elected to the Lower House 
 of the Legislature of Connecticut from this town, and 
 in 1847 and 1848 he was elected to the Upper House 
 from the Seventh senatorial district. 
 
 When the New York, Providence and Boston Rail- 
 road Company was chartered by the Legislatures of 
 Connecticut and Rhode Island, in 1836, three ap- 
 praisers of the lands needed by the company were 
 appointed on the part of Connecticut, and also two 
 commissioners for the purchase of the lands. Mr. 
 AVilliams was one of them, and by skillful manage- 
 ment and fair dealing he succeeded in purchasing 
 lands at prices satisfactory to the owners where others 
 had failed. 
 
 Mr. Williams was a man of strict integrity and 
 honor in his business transactions, and by his pru- 
 dence and sagacity acquired a handsome estate. He 
 possessed a genial disposition, was a kind and affec- 
 tionate husband and father, a good neighbor, and an 
 estimable citizen. He was a man of excellent judg- 
 ment, a wise counselor, and liberal and judicious in 
 his benefactions. The writer of this memoir can bear 
 testimony to his kindness to him personally, having 
 by his advice been saved from pecuniary loss. He 
 died March 23, 1861, aged sixty-nine years and nearly 
 nine months, regretted not only by his family but by 
 every one to whom he was known. 
 
 Mr. Williams was married by Rev. Ira Hart, April 
 13, 1815, to Hannah Eliza, daughter of Amos and 
 Hannah (Williams) Denison. They had nine chil- 
 dren who reached a mature age: 
 
 1. Hephzibah Phelps, born Feb. 9, 1816 ; married, 
 March 2, 1836, Dr. William Hyde, Jr., and died May 
 2, 1841. 
 
 2. Elizabeth, born Nov. 16, 1817 ; married, Sept. 9, 
 1841, Cortlandt P. Dixon. 
 
 3. Sarah Potter, born May 1, 1825 ; married, Oct. 
 21, 1846, William L. Palmer, and died May 18, 1877. 
 
 4. Ephraim, born Dec. 1, 1826; married first, Oct. 
 19, 1849, Pauline Denniston, who died Nov. 26, 1870, 
 and second, July 3, 1873, Mary Denison Babcock. 
 
 5. Emeline P., born March 18, 1832 ; married, Oct. 
 23, 1855, Jabish Holmes. 
 
 6. Amos Denison, born June 30, 1834; married, 
 Dec. 24, 1860, Elizabeth Fitch. 
 
 45 
 
 7. Joseph Phelps, born Aug. 8, 1836 ; married, Oct. 
 24, 1866, Elizabeth Towne. 
 
 8. Jane, born July 27, 1838; married, Sept. 9, 1868, 
 John H. Hunter. 
 
 9. Charles Phelps, born Aug. 19, 1840; married, 
 Oct. 28, 1868, Fanny Mallory. 
 
 Mrs. Hannah Eliza (Denison) Williams, born Jan. 
 11, 1799, died June 20, 1877. 
 
 Charles Phelps WiUiams was born at Wequete- 
 quoc, in the town of Stonington, Conn., June 11, 1804. 
 He was the youngest child of Ephraim Williams and 
 Hephzibah Phelps, his wife. On both sides his pa- 
 rentage connected him with the oldest families of the 
 town. His mother was the daughter of Dr. Charles ''^' 
 Phelps, a physician who in those days, when a liberal , ' 
 education and professional acquirements were much 
 more rare than now, wielded great influence in thei'''''^ 
 section where he lived and practiced. Ij 
 
 Mr. Ephraim Williams died shortly after his son's 
 birth, and the family removed to the borough of Ston- 
 ington, a place even at that time somewhat interested 
 in foreign commerce, and here Mr. Williams passed 
 his boyhood. He displayed at an early age marked 
 business capacity, and in 1821, before he was seven- 
 teen, he sailed to Bilboa, Spain, as supercargo of a 
 vessel. Developing unusual capacity in this position, 
 he sailed again to the same port, and before he was 
 twenty made a voyage to the African coast as master 
 of what in those days was a large vessel. At this 
 time the sudden rise to importance of the seal-fisheries 
 attracted his attention. He established himself per- 
 manently in the village of Stonington, and became 
 interested in them, laying, before he abandoned 
 them, the foundation of his large fortune. On their 
 decay he entered into the whaling business, and dur- 
 ing the prosperous period in which New England 
 gained wealth and renown he was one of the largest 
 individual ship-owners engaged in that important 
 pursuit. With its decadence he withdrew from active 
 commercial life, and was one of the first corporators 
 under the State laws of the Ocean Bank of Stoning- 
 ton, of which he was elected president, and whose 
 immediate and continued prosperity was largely due 
 to his admirable management. In 1856 he went to 
 Europe with his family, and resigned the presidency, 
 but on his return he was elected first director, a posi- 
 tion which he retained in the reorganization of the 
 bank as the First National. 
 
 Mr. Williams took an active part in the building of 
 the Providence and Stonington Railroad, and was for 
 many years president of that corporation. 
 
 His keen business foresight had at an early period 
 in the development of the West convinced him of its 
 importance and future greatness, and he became 
 largely interested there. The management of his 
 accumulating property occupied the later years of his 
 life, and he withdrew entirely from active business. 
 In 1878 the severe strain of a life of intense mental 
 activity culminated in failing health, and on Oct. 28, 
 
 
702 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1879, he died of a rupture of a blood-vessel in the 
 brain. 
 
 To give more than a sketch of his life would be to 
 give a history of the business interests of the county 
 for half a century, for in his long and active career 
 he was prominently connected with many and widely- 
 deviating enterprises. No man in Eastern Connecti- 
 cut was better known in business circles throughout 
 the country, and his wide experience and unvarying 
 success gave pre-eminent value to his judgment and 
 opinion on all matters of finance. In this respect he 
 was a counselor among counselors, not only with con- 
 temporaries, but in his younger days with men older 
 in years and experience than himself, and his remark- 
 able sagacity rarely erred. 
 
 One of the most marked features of his personal 
 character was the thorough simplicity of his life. He 
 never sought office of any kind. A man of distin- 
 guished and commanding presence, of most courteous 
 and polished manners, he was averse to all ostentation 
 and avoided public life. His integrity was spotless, 
 and in the management of all the vast interests which 
 he controlled, with the innumerable attendant possi- 
 bilities of error, his reputation stood always above 
 reproach. A man of generous impulse, his charities 
 were as unostentatious as his life, and in his death the 
 poor lost a true and a liberal friend, and the State an 
 upright and valued citizen. 
 
 Maria Stanton. — Humanity is one and manifold ; 
 in the constituted whole there is a place and use for 
 every one. No man liveth to himself and no man 
 dieth to himself, and yet there is infinite diversity in 
 the kind and degree of individual actions and influ- 
 ence. Many glide along quietly and unostentatiously 
 in their spheres, are good and useful and hapi)y, but 
 make no popular demonstration. They pass away 
 not indeed unknown and unremembered within their 
 circles of friendly intimacy. 
 
 There are those so constituted, predisposed, and 
 conditioned that they become organizing and con- 
 trolling forces in society, they make their mark early, 
 they stand out distinct in their individuality, they 
 assume and have conceded to them place and power. 
 It is so in the family, in the school, and in the neigh- 
 borhood. The future is foreshadowed in the present 
 and the passing. 
 
 As time moves on they become more prominent and 
 efficient in social life. The widening sphere of op- 
 portunity reveals to themselves and others increasing 
 powerof adaptability and beneficent enterprise. They 
 are ready, and others are ready, to have them launch 
 out into new and larger schemes of reforming experi- 
 ment and accomplishment. Of this class was Miss 
 Stanton ; she was from early life a person of quick 
 discernment, positive convictions, honest purpose, and 
 prompt action. Her natural gifts, properly developed 
 and trained at home and in the public school, were 
 early swayed by Christian convictions and consecrated 
 to Christian life and activity in the best and broadest 
 
 sense, as conditions and opportunity might present. 
 She was a Christian by profession and a Christian in 
 fact, the fact giving credit to the profession. Her 
 Christianity was acknowledged, and the practical evi- 
 dences were expected and given. They were given 
 whenever she was called upon to act. Her idea of 
 Christian life was to task all her powers in obedience 
 to Christ in all relations and conditions. She aimed 
 by skillful management and fidelity to make a happy 
 and a prosperous home ; and in this her wise counsels 
 and efficient co-operation were fully appreciated. 
 When the Sunday-school commenced in the Eoad 
 Church she became a member, and continued to be till 
 the day of her death. She was an industrious, en- 
 thusiastic, and skillful teacher. She was not content 
 with routine duties, but was earnest and inquisitive 
 to devise ways and means to give energy, life, and 
 progressive movement to the school. She was studious 
 herself and incited her scholars to be studious. She 
 was intent to have them understand and appreciate 
 their lessons. She prepared many to be teachers, and 
 many more she led to Christ, even the most that were 
 in her class at different times, and will have them as 
 jewels in her crown of rejoicing in the day of the 
 Lord Jesus. By her own written articles, and by 
 stimulating the scholars to write, she gave intellectual 
 and spiritual character to the concerts. 
 
 She was indefatigable in the collection and care of 
 the library, and in stimulating the young to reading 
 habits, and in every way the prosperity of the school 
 was largely the result of her sagacious and untiring 
 labors. 
 
 As in the Sunday-school, so in the church, her will 
 to co-operate for its welfare was prompt, discreet, and 
 persistent. She was always in her place, and always 
 ready to act and give her reasons for acting. She was 
 a leader from the clearness of her judgment, the 
 warmth of her feelings, and the earnestness of her 
 purpose to have things done and well done ; and she 
 was a leader by the assent, cheerful consent, and co- 
 operation of those who appreciated her ability to plan 
 and execute. The Eoad Church was dear to her,— its 
 unity, its numerical and spiritual growth, and its use- 
 fulness. This was manifest, and manifested in such 
 ways that everybody knew it, felt it, and was en- 
 couraged. Even in the affairs of the society her mind 
 and hand were visible. In the improvement of the 
 meeting-house— in its internal arrangement, and in 
 Its exterior and surrounding adornments— her skill 
 and taste and power of accomplishment are most ob- 
 vious. 
 
 In the memorable bi-centennial of the church she 
 was not only one of the managers, but was so wise, 
 so earnest, and so practical that the marked success 
 of the celebration was in a great measure due to her, 
 and so acknowledged by the people. Not long after- 
 wards, in memory of her services on this occasion, 
 and her long and varied activity for the church, she 
 was presented with a large silver salver and tea-ser- 
 
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 ^C-CO Cy L OyfU (TT^ 
 
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 7 
 
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STONINGTON. 
 
 703 
 
 vice and coffee-urn. But more precious memorials 
 of her are in the hearts of the people. Though dead, 
 she yet speaketh in the Road Church. A marked 
 characteristic and habit of hers was a generous sym- 
 pathy with the afflicted, and abundant kind and 
 judicious ministrations for their relief. Quick to 
 hear, of a tender heart and a helping hand, she was 
 at home in the families tried and saddened by sick- 
 ness, pain, and bereavement. Any call for help had 
 a quick response. But she did not wait to be called. 
 She was in scenes of suffering and sorrow in fulfill- 
 ment of a ministry which she had received of the 
 Lord Jesus to raise up the bowed down, to comfort 
 those that mourn, to bind up the broken-hearted, 
 to soothe the aching head and wipe away the falling 
 tear. She was really a Sister of Charity, a Dorcas in 
 good works. 
 
 Miss Stanton's tact and ability in the management 
 of public affairs became so well known and acknowl- 
 edged that she was appointed lady manager of the 
 Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union for 
 New London County, to raise money to purchase the 
 house and grave of Washington ; therefore she felt a 
 special interest in visiting Mount Vernon with a party 
 of ladies from the Baltimore Convention in 1878. It 
 was at her suggestion and due to her efforts that a 
 tree was planted near the grave of Washington, and 
 it is especially gratifying to her friends that the 
 Women's National Christian Temperance Union, at 
 their .last session in Washington, visited Mount Ver- 
 non and held a memorial service around the tree in 
 honor and memory of Miss Stanton, and unanimously 
 resolved to place a tablet by the tree, to carry down 
 the ages the memory of Miss Stanton, whose hand 
 set and held the tree while the other ladies filled in 
 the soil around it. 
 
 Looking away from home and abroad upon the 
 great world so greatly stirred with Christian sentiment, 
 so prolific in schemes of Christian enterprise, and so 
 intent in their accomplishment, she felt that she was 
 one in the great host of Christian philanthropy. 
 She was interested in the many forms of evangelizing 
 effort, glad in their success, and glad in the contribu- 
 tions of aid which she was permitted to make and 
 prompt others to make. 
 
 During her later years the women's temperance 
 crusade struck a chord in her heart of quick re- 
 sponse. Of life-long temperance habits, and bidding 
 God-speed to all discreet and earnest measures of ref- 
 ormation, she hailed this new women's enterprise as 
 opening to her the field in which to work, and she at 
 once girded herself to the work. Her neighbors felt 
 her inspiring influence, and gave her her place, and 
 co-operated heartily with her. As she moved out 
 from the home circle and found companionship in 
 the larger county, State, and national associations, 
 she was soon and extensively felt to be an acquisition 
 of deliberative wisdom and executive power, and was 
 honored with place and opportunity to give scope to 
 
 her aspirations, and to combine with the wisest and 
 best of her sex in their assault upon the strongholds 
 of intemperance, in their warfare, not with flesh and 
 blood merely, but with principalities and powers, 
 with the rulers of the darkness of this world, with 
 spiritual wickedness in high places, in their God-ap- 
 pointed labors to emancipate their suffering sisters 
 from a cruel and degrading bondage, and to promote 
 the home-training of children now hungry and ragged 
 and exposed to vicious habits, that, instead of being 
 a curse to the world and fuel for the never-ending fire, 
 they may be blessings to the world and heirs to an 
 eternal inheritance of glory and blessedness. This 
 was to her a promising field of labor. Her mind and 
 her heart seemed to enlarge with her opportunities, 
 and her future to grow bright with promise. Her as- 
 sociates thought she was the right person brought for- 
 ward at the right time. 
 
 But He that doeth all things well had another pur- 
 pose. He who (as she was wont to say) never makes 
 mistakes called her away from earth to go up higher 
 and serve Him in his immediate presence. Those 
 who esteemed and loved her most will say that what 
 is their loss will be her eternal gain. 
 
 William Hyde, son of Dr. William and Rhoda 
 (Palmer) Hyde, was born in Stonington, Conn., Oct. 
 27, 1808. His early life was passed in that quaint 
 village. He received his education at Partridge's 
 noted military school at Middletown, Conn., where 
 he was a classmate of the distinguished Governor 
 Thomas H. Seymour. He studied medicine with his 
 father, and was graduated at the Medical Department 
 of Harvard University in 1830, when he returned to 
 Stonington and commenced practice with his father, 
 who was a physician of celebrity, enjoying a large 
 practice. From that time till his death, Sept. 25, 
 1873, he was in active and unceasing practice, and 
 although of a frail organization and for years in poor 
 health, never neglected a case, nor refused to go to 
 the relief of the suffering, and perhaps there never 
 was a physician more popular in his community than 
 he, or one who had so large a number of warm, loving 
 friends. His time was too much engrossed in his 
 profession to often admit of his acceptance of public 
 trust. At the earnest solicitations of his fellow-citi- 
 zens he consented to be placed in candidacy, and was 
 elected to represent Stonington in the Legislatures of 
 1849 and 1850. 
 
 It was through Mr. Hyde's instrumentality that 
 the Stonington Savings-Bank was chartered. He 
 was elected its president, and held that oflSce during 
 his life. The able management of this institution 
 will illustrate his financial as well as professional 
 ability, for the bank is one of the most reliable and 
 prosperous savings institutions in the State. The fol- 
 lowing preamble and resolutions, passed at a meeting 
 of the corporators of this bank, give a just tribute 
 to his memory, and show the opinion of his worth of 
 those who knew him best and most intimately : 
 
V04 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNIJCTICUT. 
 
 " Whereas, God, in his good Providence, has seen fit to remove from 
 among us Dr. William Hyde, who was not only the founder of this bank 
 but the first and only president of this corporation, therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That it is peculiarly our duty, as well as our grateful privi- 
 lege, to express at this time our high appreciation of the great benefits 
 he was the prime means of conferring upon this community by his action 
 in securing the charter of this bank, and by his earnest and arduous 
 labors for its prosperity and success; and recognizing the wide-extend- 
 ing influences of his work, we regard with pride this monument he has 
 builded to himself in its beneficial effects, and which, while prudence, 
 economy, and thrift remain to be encouraged, shall be the fairest man can 
 build. 
 
 "Resolved, That no less as his colleagues in office than as individuals 
 is his death our affliction. A man of sterling integrity, whose action in 
 any and everything we regarded as the stamp of candor and honesty, 
 whose rare judgment was never warped by personal interest or misled 
 by fraudulent pretence, and withal a man of generous heart and warmest 
 sympathies, whose only leaning was towards humanity, — these were 
 qualities which rendered him invaluable in counsel, and which, in the 
 simplest and most intricate transactions of business, we had learned to 
 honor and to respect. 
 
 " Resolved, That our personal loss is one which is irreparable. We feel 
 that words can but feebly express the sense of bereavement which we 
 bear. But while we sorrow, we rejoice that in the good providence of 
 Him who doeth all things well our friend has finished his course as he 
 has, that his pathway through life is still fragrant with his deeds of 
 kindness and of love, and that, though dead, he still lives in the affec- 
 tionate remembrance of those for and with whom he lived and worked, 
 and who will keep his memory forever green." 
 
 Words of eulogium can but feebly express the 
 esteem and affection with which Dr. Hyde was re- 
 garded by the whole community. Early in life he 
 united himself with the Congregational Church, and 
 was a constant attendant and liberal supporter of it. 
 His was truly a life of an unspotted Christian and an 
 unsullied moral character. As a physician, he ex- 
 celled in diagnosing a case. Intuitively he knew at 
 once the exact disease, the extent of its ravages, and 
 the proper remedial agencies to u.se. His judgment 
 was clear and comprehensive, and he was soon in the 
 front rank of his co-laborers, and won a warm place 
 in the hearts of his patients. 
 
 During the session of 1849 he secured the incor- 
 poration of the Stonington Cemetery Association, 
 and was its president for twelve years. The choice 
 selection and arrangement of fiowers and shrubbery 
 and some of the finest specimens of monumental 
 architecture in this most beautiful resting-place of 
 the dead, were the results of his cultured taste. 
 
 Dr. Hyde married, March 2, 1836, Hephzibah P., 
 daughter of Hon. Ephraim Williams, of Stonington. 
 She died May 2, 1841. Of their four children one 
 only, William Williams Hyde, approached maturity, 
 and he died aged only nineteen years. Sept. 11, 1843 
 he married Ellen, daughter of Gen. William Wil- 
 liams, of Stonington, who survives him. 
 
 Hon. J. F. Trumbull.— Among the old families of 
 honorable English lineage in New England, and in 
 every generation distinguished in art, literature, or 
 public affairs, we find the Trumbull family. The 
 historian pauses for a short period from the record of 
 events to give au appropriate sketch of one of that 
 name long identified with Stonington and its inter- 
 ests, and without which its history would be incom- 
 plete. 
 
 John Franklin Trumbull, youngest child of John 
 and Lucy (Springer) Trumbull, was born July 21, 
 1796, at Norwich, Conn., where his father published 
 the Norwich Packet and Country Journal, the first 
 paper printed at that place. When but fifteen years 
 old he came to Stonington, and commenced his busi- 
 ness career in the store of his brother, Gurdon Trum- 
 bull. There he remained but a short time, but went 
 to New York, where he in a few years engaged in 
 mercantile pursuits with marked success. When the 
 whaling business was in its prime he returned to the 
 village of Stonington and became largely interested 
 in the whaling interests of that place, and was the 
 head of one of the largest firms engaged therein. 
 This becoming unprofitable, in 1851 Mr. Trumbull 
 built the large stone factory adjoining the break- 
 water, and for several years was manufacturing ma- 
 chinery. He was always an apparently frail man, 
 and ill health caused his withdrawal from business 
 several years previous to his death, which occurred at 
 Stonington, Oct. 28, 1874. Mr. Trumbull married 
 Eliza M., daughter of Lodowick and Betsey Niles, of 
 Stonington, Nov. 25, 1823. She was born Dec. 28, 
 1798, and died at Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb. 29, 1828. 
 Their children were Horace N. and Eliza M., who 
 died in infancy. Mr. Trumbull's second wife was 
 Ann Eliza, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Smith, of 
 Stonington. She was born Nov. 22, 1809, at Oxford, 
 Chenango Co., N. Y., and was married Sept. 21, 1829. 
 Of their fourteen children the following survived 
 their father: Edwin B., Eliza N. (Mrs. H. C. Robin- 
 son, of Hartford), Harriet (Mrs. Ira H. Palmer), 
 Lucy (Mrs. D. W. Hakes, of Framingham, Mass.), 
 Stiles S., James Van Alen, and Maria B. 
 
 Mr. Trumbull was always a leader. In business 
 enterprises, in improvement of his village and matters 
 of public interest, he was one of the first to assist, 
 and whatever his hand found to do was done with all 
 his might. To his liberality and energy much of the 
 growth of Stonington was due. Politically he was 
 well known in State and county circles, represented 
 Stonington in the General Assembly in 1859 and 
 1864, and was honored with many other important 
 trusts by his people, which were discharged without 
 fear or favor, and to the satisfaction of his constitu- 
 ents. Long before the organization of the Repub- 
 lican party his speeches in Whig State conventions 
 were among the most notable and pleasing events of 
 those occasions. He was a candidate for Presidential 
 elector on the Whig ticket in Gen. Scott's campaign. 
 He went into the anti-slavery movement with zeal, 
 and assisted in the nomination of at least half of the 
 Republican State tickets from 1856 till his death. 
 His campaign speeches will be long remembered by 
 older people throughout this section of the State. 
 He was a man of no little humor, with a fund of 
 anecdote, and a quaint method of expression that 
 won the attention and promoted good nature. He 
 was in many respects not unlike Abraham Lincoln, 
 
umMu^_^ 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 705 
 
 for whom lie cherished an ardent friendship, and with 
 whom he corresponded. They liad the same qualities 
 of story-telling and strong, positive action, coupled 
 with original and scintillating wit, and in their 
 speeches there was the same hard, practical common 
 sense, illumined by off-hand humor, and the same 
 faculty of always saying a good thing to point a 
 moral. He was an effective temperance worker and 
 speaker. In all his dealings he was honorable, in his 
 friendships true and loyal, in his family a kind hus- 
 band and a loving father, and when his life closed 
 the whole community and a broad range of acquaint- 
 ance were shrouded in gloom. He was for many 
 years a consistent member of the Second Congrega- 
 tional Church of Stonington, and was deeply imbued 
 with the spirit of practical Christianity, and generous 
 in its support. 
 
 A. S. Mathews. — The history, of the Providence 
 and Stonington Eailroad is one of marked interest to 
 this section of the State, and also to Rhode Island. 
 No history, however, would be complete nor give a 
 correct description without a personal sketch of one 
 so long and so closely identified with its construction, 
 management, and interests as Andrew S. Mathews. 
 
 He was born at Elk Ridge, Anne Arundel Co., Md., 
 Sept. 1, 1814. His father. Dr. Wm. P. Mathews, was 
 a native of Ireland, was educated and graduated at 
 the University of Dublin, and shortly after emigrated 
 to America, where he married Eliza Sterritt, of an 
 old and honorable Maryland family, and at once took 
 a high rank in his profession. They had seven chil- 
 dren, of whom Andrew was sixth. His parents dying 
 when he was but seven years old, Andrew went to re- 
 side with an elder brother, but early commenced to 
 take care of himself. He was educated at Same's 
 Seminary, at EUicott City, Md. He left school, how- 
 ever, when but twelve years of age, and went on a 
 railroad to work with his brother Charles, who was a 
 large railroad contractor. When he was sixteen 
 years old he was in the service of the Baltimore and 
 Ohio Railroad Company as assistant to a civil en- 
 gineer, and continued in that capacity two years. He 
 next went to work on the Harlem Railroad, in New 
 York, as superintendent of a gang of hands who 
 were working for his brother Charles, who had a con- 
 tract for grading that road. During the same time 
 he was in the same employment for his brother on 
 the Paterson and Hudson Railroad, and was on these 
 roads about eighteen months. As he advanced in 
 years he was advanced rapidly to responsible posi- 
 tions. He went to Boston and took a position as 
 civil engineer in the service of the Boston and Provi- 
 dence Eailroad Company, and occupied it three years. 
 During that time he was also employed by the Taun- 
 ton Branch Railroad Company as civil engineer in 
 constructing that road. In the summer of 1836, Mr. 
 Mathews entered the service of the New York, Prov- 
 idence and Boston Eailroad, more generally known 
 as the Providence and Stonington Railroad, and from 
 
 that time to the present has been in some highly 
 responsible position connected therewith. His first 
 capacity was assistant engineer, in which he was two 
 years. In November, 1837, the road was completed 
 to Stonington, and Mr. Mathews was chosen chief 
 engineer and road-master. During the year 1840 he 
 was for most of the time assistant engineer on the 
 Boston and Albany Railroad, retaining, however, his 
 positions on the New York, Providence and Boston 
 Railroad. From 1840 to 1848 he was acting superin- 
 tendent and master of transportation on same road. 
 In 1848 he was appointed general superintendent, 
 holding that position until his resignation, Nov. 15, 
 1878, on account of ill health. He was at that time 
 the oldest railroad superintendent of New England. 
 He was immediately appointed chief engineer, and 
 still holds that position. All the engineering done 
 on the road since its opening in 1837 has been done 
 by Mr. Mathews, and the freedom his road has en- 
 joyed from accident is one tribute to the honest efii- 
 cacy of his labor. The following expression of the 
 board of directors of his road is an appropriate testi- 
 mony to his worth from those who in an oflBcial char- 
 acter knew, him more thoroughly than any others 
 could do : 
 
 "In accepting tbe resignation of Superintendent MatliewB, the board 
 of directors of the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad Com- 
 pany desire to place upon the minutes of their proceedings a formal ex- 
 pression of their regard in losing the services of Mr. Mathews as super- 
 intendent, of their regard for him personally, and of their high appre- 
 ciation of the value of his continuous connection with the affairs of the 
 company as engineer and superintendent for overforty years, and there- 
 fore 
 
 " Resolved, that although, because of the condition of his health no 
 longer permitting bim to attend to its active duties, we are constrained 
 to accept Mr. Mathews' resignation, we do so with much regret, both 
 on account of the cause which compels it and because his withdrawal 
 from the position be has occupied from the infancy of the company will 
 deprive us of a superintendent who combined with bis ability and con- 
 scientious attention to duty a knowledge of everything relating to the 
 structure of the road and tbe growth and management of our business, 
 which it will be almost impossible to find in another. 
 
 "Besolved, That Mr. Mathews' present salary, , be continued to 
 
 bim as chief engineer of the company. 
 
 " Betolved, That a copy of these i esolutions, properly engrossed, be sent 
 to Mr. Mathews by the secretary. 
 
 " Signed, J. P. Williams, Secretary, 
 
 "New Yokk, October 31, 1878." 
 
 The success of the road is due in a large measure 
 to the watchful interest of Mr. Mathews, and his in- 
 telligent supervision of the affairs of the concern has 
 satisfactorily met the most exacting demands of his 
 employers. 
 
 Mr. Mathews married, March 15, 1836, Eliza A., 
 daughter of Garius Smith, of Marlboro', Mass. Her 
 birthplace was Medbury, Mass. They moved to 
 Stonington, Conn., in 1837. Their children are 
 Charles Andrew (now of Providence, R. I.), William 
 Alexander (a postal clerk in the New York and Boston 
 postal service, residing at New London), and George 
 Whistler, of Stonington. In politics Mr. Mathews 
 has always been identified with the Whig and Repub- 
 lican parties, but has not held any civil oflSce. He is 
 
706 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 a member of the Episcopal Church, and was at one 
 time vestryman of Calvary Church, Stonington. 
 
 For nearly half a century Mr. Mathews has been a 
 resident of Stonington, and from the high positions 
 he has held he has been among the observed of all 
 observers, yet he is found to-day, as then, the same 
 conscientious, vigilant, honest man, a warm and faith- 
 ful friend, a genial, social companion, and an efficient 
 and capable holder of important trusts. He has the 
 satisfaction of knowing that although his life has 
 been an open book, none stand higher than he in the 
 estimation of the community where he has been so 
 long resident, and also that liis children occupy a 
 high position in the regards of a large circle of the 
 best people of the country, and are worthily and 
 honorably discharging their several duties in life. 
 
 This article, from Hon. E. H. Hazard, in the Provi- 
 dence {E. I.) Journal of May 14, 1873, is not out of 
 place here : 
 
 "STONINGTON KAILROAD. 
 "I often think how little the present generation appreciates its mode 
 of travel and transportation. I saw the first steamboat that ever passed 
 Point Judith, as she slowly steamed around it, and Dr. Weeden, of West- 
 erly, and his brother George, of Shannock, will tell you with what in- 
 terest they watched for her coming while delving on the farm at the 
 Backside. We had the Newport Mercury once a week, and it was ru- 
 mored that such a thing was to be. I soon after went on board of her, 
 and a queer-looking tub she was. 5Iy Lather, who was a practicing phy- 
 sician, came twice a year to Providence to buy medicines, and his boys 
 had their turns to come with him. My turn came in 1822. It took a 
 portion of three days to make tlte journey. Leaving South Kingston 
 after an early breakfast, we dined at Updike's, in Greenwich, and ar- 
 rived at old Nick Gardner's, near the Merchants' Bank, at early evening ; 
 the next day we did the business, and the third day journeyed home. I 
 can leave the same place now at five o'clock in the morning, and reach 
 Montreal at nine the same evening. 
 
 "After the business of the day was over, my father said to his neigh- 
 bor, John B. Dockray the elder, ' Let us go down and see this fire-ship,* 
 and I followed on like ^jiarvus lulus non passihus (xquis.^ Slie was lying 
 on the east side, a long way above Vox Point, at what I have since .ascer- 
 tained to be Bishop's wharf. She was the ' Connecticut,' comnninded by 
 Capt. Blihu Bunker, an old shipmaster from Nantucket, who had been 
 running her between New Haven and New York before he came here. 
 Many of our older citizens will remember Capt. Bunker. The ' Con- 
 necticut' was about three hundred and fifty tons burthen, and had an 
 engine of from fifty to sixty horse-power. It took her from sixteen to 
 eighteen hours to go to New York. She left the wharf in Providence at 
 twelve o'clock noon, and arrived at Hell Gate the next morning. Our 
 much-respected fellow-citizen, Capt. William Comstock, whom every- 
 body in Providence knows, took command of the old 'Tulton' in Janu- 
 ary, 1824, and continued OTi the Sound for sixteen years, during which 
 time he superintended the building of and commanded the ' Boston ' 
 ' Massachusetts,' and ' Rhode Island.' He had previously comniiflided a 
 sailing-packet for seventeen years between Providence and New York. 
 " The steamers afterwards landed for many years at Fox Point, where 
 the eastern passengers were taken in stage-coaches to Boston, and so on 
 to Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. I have seen twenty coach- 
 loads leave there at a time. When Congress and the Supreme Court ad- 
 journed, I always went down from college to see Mr. Webster, Judge 
 Stoiy, and the other great men of the nation, Joel Blaisdell, whom 
 many of my readers must remember, was as intimately connected with 
 the line of coaches as were Capt. Bunker and Capt. Comstock with the 
 steamboats. He was an excellent business man, and liked a good time. 
 He was drowned in Dutch Island Harbor while on a fishing excuraionj 
 some five and twenty years ago. 
 
 "After the Providence and Boston Railroad was built the steamers 
 landed at India Point. Prior to 1822 most of the travel between Boston, 
 Providence, and New York was by sailing-packets from Providence! 
 The Boston passengers came in coaches to Providence, and took the 
 packets, engaging their passages in advance. The packets were fitted 
 up to accommodate about twenty passengers, but eight or ten was con- 
 
 sidered a good freight; and the time occupied was from twenty hours to 
 a week according to the weather. Some went inland, through Hartford 
 and Plainfield. The New London turnpike was built, I think, in 1820, 
 and was considered a great improvement. It was a popular line to New 
 London, where they took steamer. I have seen the coaches many a 
 time in my youth drawn up in front of the tavern in Mopkinton City 
 kept hy Joseph Spicer, father of our Alderman Spicer. Such was the 
 mode of travel from Eastern New England to New York up to the fall 
 of 1887, when the Stonington Railroad was opened. 
 
 " The people of Rhode Island cannot overestimate the advantages 
 which they have derived from the Stonington Railroad. It has done 
 more than all other public improvements for the advancement of the 
 interests and development of the resources of the State, and we are in- 
 debted for its construction almost wholly to those two good men and 
 public-spiiited citizens, the late Hon. Nathan F. Di.\on, of Westerly, 
 and Samuel F. Denison, Esq., of Stonington. They conceived the pro- 
 ject, and having rich relations and friends in New York, were enabled 
 to carry it into execution. The charter was applied for, I think, in 1832. 
 The late Hon. ElishaB. Potter said in the Genei-al Assembly, 'Give them 
 the charter, but they can never build the road.' He did not live to see 
 it completed. He died in 18:!6. It was, built in 1835, 1836, and 1837. 
 The engineers were Gen. William Gibbs McNeal and his brother-in-law, 
 Maj. Whistler, two graduates of West Point, and fii-st-rate engineers of 
 the old school. Maj. ^Vhistler went from this road to Russia, where he 
 was employed by the Czar to construct the road from St. Petersburg to 
 Moscow. There is no more thoroughly and well-bnilt railroad in the 
 United States, although it was among the very earliest constructed. No 
 expense was spared in any department. All its bridges and causeways, 
 built nearly forty years ago, stand to-day as firm as when they were put 
 up, master-pieces of masonry. Look at the one in the village of East 
 Greenwich, wliich forms the passage from the town to the wharves, so 
 situated that it is open to the inspection of everybody. Not one stone 
 in abutment or arch has moved a line in all this period, and this one isa 
 fair sample of all the rest. 
 
 " Gen. William Gibbs McNeal was in many respects a very remarkable 
 and extraordinary man. He was in his prime when he built the Ston- 
 ington Railroad, and a more elegant gentleman iu person, manners, and 
 address it would be hard to find in this country or in England. He was 
 at this period consulting engineer for many other railroads and public 
 works, and his aggregate yearly salaries amounted to more than that of 
 the President of the United States, and he had with him a most reliable 
 and invaluable assistant, who helped build the road, and has been its 
 Nestor ever since. He is to-d.ay its superintendent. 
 
 " A. S. Mathews came here in 1835 from Maryland, where he was 
 born, to join McNeal in the building of this road. He had been his 
 assistant engineer on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad previously. The 
 people of Rhode Island and the whole traveling public can never know 
 the debt of obligation and gratitude they owe this faithful public ser- 
 vant for the preservation of life and limb for the last thirty-six yeai-s 
 over this great thoroughfare,— as perfect master of his business, from the 
 building and equipping of the road down to the minutest duties of a 
 brakeman, as was Napoleon of the art of war. By nature cold, phleg- 
 matic, incapable of excitement, firm as a rock, and strictly conscientious, 
 his whole active life, by night and. by day, in sunshine and storm, in 
 health, and, I may add, in sickness too, has been given to the security 
 of the lives of the traveling public. I am not writing an obituary now, 
 and know the truth of what I alflrm. 
 
 "On the first week of November, 1837, the General Assembly held its 
 October session at Kingston, under the old charter. George Eivera and 
 myself were elected clerks of the House. All the members from the 
 north part of the State came to Kingston in their private carriages. 
 I was a student at the time with Mr, Updike, and well remember stand- 
 ing beside him in his oflice-door and listening to his comments upon the 
 dWerent members as they drove past. I shall never forget with what 
 discriminating praise he directed my attention to James F. Simmons. 
 
 "On Saturday, when the General Assembly adjourned, the railroad 
 commenced running for the firat time, and I came up to Providence with 
 George Rivers on it. I would he were here now ! From that time to 
 the present day I have rode over it almost weekly, and in the summer- 
 time daily. Therefore it is that I claim to know something about the 
 Stonington Railroad, and I challenge contradiction when I aifirm that 
 no other road in this country, for this long period of time, or anything 
 like it, has been managed with any more regard for the safety of human 
 life than has the Stonington Railroad." 
 
 Deacon Oliver Burrows Grant was born in that 
 part of Stonington now included in North Stoning- 
 
« »' 
 
 s-^ 
 
 -;.'L?'--5t/ j-iSTlit^ta^- 
 
^M^ <f-^^-^^^-^^^ 
 
yJ'UJL 
 
STONINGTOiSr. 
 
 707 
 
 ton, Oct. 13, 1804, and was the second of four chil- 
 dren, himself and three sisters. His parents were 
 engaged in farming, and were rearing their children 
 to farm-life. But before the son had reached nine 
 years his father died, leaving his family dependent 
 upon the exertions of the son and his mother, who 
 labored together for the family up to his manhood, 
 hiring and successfully improving farms in Lisbon 
 and North Stonington, and by good judgment and 
 wise economy they accumulated a competence. 
 
 Fortunately for the son, in childhood and in manhood 
 he was blest with a noble mother of the New England 
 type, whose interest in and affection for him knew 
 no bounds, and well did he requite her devotion by 
 the tenderest ministrations of thoughtful, attentive, 
 loving care, until the sunset signal summoned her 
 away at the age of seventy-eight years. Nothing 
 that he could do was ever left undone that would 
 promote the comfort and happiness of his mother and 
 sisters. Their early bereavement and struggles bound 
 them to each other with bands of steel, broken only 
 by the fell destroyer. 
 
 Deacon Grant successfully followed farming until 
 1839, when he sold out and removed to Stonington 
 Borough, and engaged in the grocery business, which 
 he followed successfully for eleven years. Selling 
 out in 1850, with the design of engaging in business 
 in New York, he was about to remove to the city, 
 when his friends induced him to forego his plans and 
 accept a place in the management of the Stonington 
 Savings-Bank, of which he had been made a corpora- 
 tor by the provisions of the charter. 
 
 The bank was organized in 1850, and he was elected 
 one of the directors, and its secretary and treasurer, 
 which oflBces he held with unquestioned integrity and 
 ability until 1876, when, in honor of the character he 
 had established in the community, he was unani- 
 mously elected president of the bank, which position 
 he has held by successive annual elections until the 
 present time. 
 
 For twenty-five years he has been a director in the 
 Ocean and First National Bank of Stonington. 
 
 Wh^n Capt. Charles P. Williams' failing health 
 induced him to retire from the vice-presidency of this 
 bank, in view of the fidelity and financial ability of 
 Deacon Grant he was elected vice-president thereof, 
 which position he now holds. 
 
 In early life Deacon Grant became interested in 
 the subject of religion, and united with the Baptist 
 Church in Preston City, which relation was severed 
 and taken up in the Baptist Church in Stonington 
 Borough when he commenced business here. 
 
 Twenty-eight years ago he was chosen deacon of 
 this church, holding that position continuously to 
 the present time, becoming an honored father of the 
 church. 
 
 He has held various town offices very acceptably, 
 and was elected representative to the General Assem- 
 bly from Stonington in the year 1845. 
 
 Paternally, Deacon Grant descends from Deacon 
 Mathew Grant, who came to this country in 1630, 
 settled first at Dorchester, Mass., removed to Wind- 
 sor, Conn., in 1636, where he became a prominent 
 man, and after a long life of usefulness died Dec. 16, 
 1681, being the ancestor of Gen. U. S. Grant. 
 
 Maternally, Deacon Grant is connected with some 
 of our best Stonington families, viz. : Stanton, Deni- 
 son. Palmer, Miner, Wheeler, Burrows, and Gallup. 
 
 Elder Elihu Chesebroug^h was born March 26, 
 1769. His first wife was Lydia Chesebrough, to whom 
 he was married March 20, 1791. His second wife was 
 Mary Fish, to whom he was married Oct. 10, 1843. 
 
 He was ordained at Stonington, Conn., March 31, 
 1810, and held the pastorate of the First Baptist 
 Church there for twenty years. 
 
 Elder Chesebrough by genealogy and birth belonged 
 to the Congregational order, and up to his conversion 
 recognized that relation. He had, however, under the 
 preaching of Murray and Elnahan Winchester, em- 
 braced the theory of universal salvation, but was ill 
 at ease and soon shaken from his security. His con- 
 version was of the New Light type, strongly marked by 
 the searching power of the law of God in the con- 
 science, by a withering sense of guilt, and by the 
 brooding horrors of a great darkness shutting out the 
 hope of pardon and heaven. But when deliverance 
 came it came with corresponding light and joy and 
 peace. This experience was the inspiration of his 
 ministry. He immediately began to tell how great 
 things God had done for him. 
 
 His education was simply such as the common 
 school of that period afforded. He had neither 
 rapidity of thought, readiness of speech, or smooth- 
 ness of utterance, and yet when his soul was stirred 
 with the love of Christ he would preach with an unc- 
 tion and power that made sinners tremble and saints 
 rejoice. 
 
 He died April 29, 1868, aged ninety-nine years 
 eleven months and three days. 
 
 Rev. Ira Hart was born in Farmington, Bristol So- 
 ciety, Hartford Co., Conn., Sept. 18, 1771. His occu- 
 pation was that of a farmer, but in 1791 he began his 
 preparatory studies for college, under the instruction 
 of his pastor, Rev. Giles H. Oowles, and entered Yale 
 College as sophomore in 1794. He graduated in 1797, 
 and continued his theological studies, which he had 
 commenced while an undergraduate, under the direc- 
 tion of Rev. Timothy Dwight, LL.D., president of 
 the college and pastor of the College Church. He 
 united with that church in 1795, and ever regarded 
 its pastor with reverence and filial affection. In 1798 
 he was licensed to preach by the New Haven West 
 Association, and immediately began his labors as a 
 candidate for settlement at Middlebury, a society of 
 Waterbury, New Haven Co., Conn. In November, 
 1798, he was ordained pastor of the church and society 
 in that place. When Middlebury Society was consti- 
 tuted a town, in 1807, he delivered an address to the 
 
708 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 freemen on the new relations they had assumed, and 
 their duties in consequence thereof, which was well 
 adapted to the occasion and called forth much com- 
 mendation. Twice during his pastorate he was sent 
 by the Connecticut Missionary Society to labor in the 
 destitute settlements of Northern New York. Here 
 he did much good in breaking up ground and form- 
 ing nuclei of churches, thus facilitating the labors of 
 succeeding missionaries. The church during his ab- 
 sence was supplied by the neighboring ministers. 
 Three revivals of religion occurred during his ministry 
 here, and there were many accessions to the church. 
 A particular account of the first of these revivals was 
 published in Vol. III. of the "Connecticut Evangelical 
 Magazine," and was written by the pastor. 
 
 Mr. Hart received the small annual salary of four 
 hundred dollars, which he was obliged to supplement, 
 partly by teaching a public school, but chiefly by fit- 
 ting young men for college or business. Some of his 
 pupils in after-life filled distinguished positions. One 
 of them was Hon. Garrick Mallory, LL.D., judge 
 of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; another was 
 Eev. Bennett Tyler, D.D., president of Dartmouth 
 College, at Hanover, N. H. 
 
 After a pastorate of ten and a half years, Mr. Hart 
 was dismissed by a Council, April, 1809, and received 
 from it high testimonials to his ministerial character 
 and ability. He immediately proceeded to labor 
 among some of the many churches in Eastern Con- 
 necticut which were destitute of a stated ministry. 
 He went first to North Stonington, where the church 
 had been destitute since the death of its last pastor, 
 Rev. Joseph Fish, a period of twenty-eight years. 
 Here he labored successfully for four months, and, 
 at the urgent request of the church and society, would 
 have become their pastor had they been able to give 
 him an adequate salary. He finally accepted a call 
 from the church and society in Stonington, and was 
 installed in December, 1809, as their pastor. Here he 
 labored for twenty years, in season and out of season, 
 instant and prompt to act where duty called him. He 
 was truly a Barnabas, a sou of consolation to the sick 
 and afflicted. In these pastoral ministrations but few 
 equaled, none surpassed him. In attending funerals 
 and performing marriage ceremonies he Avas fre- 
 quently called upon to officiate in the adjacent towns, 
 and especially in North Stonington, his first field of 
 labor. When his brethren in the ministry called for 
 his advice and assistance in circumstances of difii- 
 culty they were cheerfully given, and often with good 
 effect. He devoted much time to building up the 
 waste places, and was instrumental in the settlement 
 of ministers in Groton, North Stonington, and West 
 Kingston, E. I. During the war of 1812 he was 
 chaplain of the Eighth Regiment of Connecticut 
 Militia, Col. William Randall commanding, perform- 
 ing the duties of his office acceptably to both officers 
 and soldiers. When Commodore Hardy attacked 
 Stonington Borough, Aug. 10, 1814, and allowed the 
 
 non-combatants one hour to leave their homes, there 
 was much crying and lamentation among the women 
 and children, the greater part of whom took up their 
 temporary abode at and near the residence of Mrs. Jo- 
 seph Phelps, one mile distant. Blr. Hart spoke words 
 of comfort to these mourners, held meetings for prayer 
 with them, and succeeded in some measure in allaying 
 their fears. 
 
 As his salary, from the pressure of the times, had 
 been much diminished, he was obliged, as at Middle- 
 bury, to eke out a support by teaching. He was pre- 
 ceptor of Stonington Academy for about nine years, 
 during which time he had many young gentlemen 
 and ladies as his pupils from Stonington and the ad- 
 joining towns. Besides these, he had a few young 
 men to prepare for college under his direction. As a 
 preacher he was earnest and popular ; his mind was 
 active and ready, no exigency finding him unprepared 
 with thoughts and language adapted to the occasion. 
 Many of his extempore efforts were as good as his 
 best-prepared discourses. 
 
 He married, December, 1798, Miss Maria Sherman, 
 of New Haven, Conn., a daughter of Mr. John Sher- 
 man, merchant in that city, and granddaughter of 
 Hon. Roger Sherman, of Revolutionary fame. They 
 had five children, the sole survivor of whom is the 
 eldest.^ His second son, Charles Theodore Hart, died 
 Oct. 13, 1819, while a member of the sophomore class, 
 Yale College. He was a pious youth of great promise. 
 The health of Mr. Hart, which, through his very 
 arduous and exhausting labors, had been gradually 
 failing for some years, at length completely broke 
 down, and he jiassed from earth Oct. 29, 1829, aged 
 fifty-eight years. " The memory of the just Is blessed." 
 
 Capt. Nathaniel Brown Palmer was born in Ston- 
 ington, Conn., Aug. 7, 1799. On both his father's and 
 his mother's side he came from a distinguished ances- 
 try, the one being a descendant in direct line of Wal- 
 ter Palmer, one of the original settlers of Stonington, 
 and the other of Capt. George Denison, a man of emi- 
 nence and wealth in the earlier colonial period. At 
 the time of his birth his family was one of much con- 
 sequence in the town. His grandfather's only brother 
 fell at the battle of Groton Heights, in Fort Gris- 
 wold, in 1781. ' His own father was a lawyer and a 
 merchant, and a man of ability. On his mother's 
 side his connections were numerous and influential. 
 Under these circumstances, as the eldest son, the 
 choice of the gentler professions of civil life lay open 
 to him. But born and bred as he was on the shore of 
 the ocean, and in constant association with the bold 
 and adventurous seamen of that day, Its mysterious 
 charm possessed him, and decided his remarkable 
 career. 
 
 When only fourteen years of age he shipped on a 
 coasting vessel, and what is called in common phrase 
 his education (which had been limited to the common 
 
 1 David S. Halt, M.D., A.M., writer of this memoir. 
 
V%S4 
 
 :' ~3 r^.'rfs'J S ^r'~.r- Tl' ^cjfi'^ 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 709 
 
 schools of the town) was ended so far as books go. 
 He continued in the coasting trade, along the New 
 England coast from Maine to New York, till he was 
 eighteen, when he was made second mate of the brig 
 " Herselia," bound to Cape Horn for seals. 
 
 It was a period of great competition in these fish- 
 eries. Stonington, New London, New Bedford, and 
 Nantucket were rival ports, and the skill and daring 
 of a race of pre-eminently daring and skillful men 
 were constantly called upon and pitted against each 
 other in their pursuit. It was, too, a period of ro- 
 mance and mystery. Little was known of the seas 
 south of Cape Horn, and a sealing voyage was also a 
 voyage of discovery. In all the ports mentioned 
 there were rumors of mythical islands east of the 
 Horn called the Auroras ; the air was filled with 
 sailors' stories of Southern wonders ; and although 
 little was actually known, hardly any tale of those 
 marvelous seas, where nature seemed to have ex- 
 pended its forces in currents and storms, was too in- 
 credible for belief. 
 
 The commander of the " Herselia," Capt. J. P. 
 Sheffield, touched at one of the Falkland Islands, 
 and then, like all the commanders of the period, 
 sailed in search of the fabulous Auroras. At the 
 former place h-e left " Young Nat," as he was univer- 
 sally known, and a sailor, to kill bullocks for provis- 
 ions. A short time after the departure of the brig a 
 ship hove in sight, and young Nat piloted her into 
 the harbor and supplied her with fresh meat. She 
 proved to be the " Esprito Santo," from Buenos 
 Ayres, and before she sailed her captain informed the 
 young American that he was on his way to a place 
 where there were thousands of seals, and where a 
 cargo could be secured almost without effort, hut re- 
 fused to divulge its situation or direction. Three 
 days after the stranger sailed the " Herselia" returned 
 from a fruitless search for the Auroras, as hundreds 
 had returned before her. Young Nat related to his 
 commander what he had learned, and boldly said 
 that he believed that he could follow and find the 
 ■'Esprito Santo." Capt. Sheffield had great confi- 
 dence in his young mate, and following his advice, in 
 a few days discovered the South Shetlands, at that 
 time unknown on the Northern Continent of Amer- 
 ica, and ever since famous sealing islands. The 
 crew of the Buenos Ayres vessel, which was an- 
 chored there, were much surprised to see the brig, 
 but their admiration for young Nat's skill was so 
 great that they even assisted in loading her, and she 
 returned with 10,000 of the finest skins. 
 
 The story of young Nat's exploit spread through 
 all the sealing ports, and the next year, at the age of 
 twenty, secured for him his first command and the 
 title of "Capt. Nat," by which he was subsequently 
 everywhere known, and which clung to him for life, 
 his family name being as completely eliminated as if 
 it were recognized as impossible that nature could 
 produce another. The vessel was the sloop " Hero," 
 
 and in this little craft, of only forty-five tons burden, 
 he sailed again for the South Seas, as tender to the 
 " Herselia" and three other vessels. A mere boy at 
 the time, an incident may be given here of the daring 
 spirit, the keen appreciation of circumstances, and 
 the determination which characterized his entire life. 
 The Southern waters being at that time but poorly 
 charted, the larger vessels remained in snug harbors, 
 and the tenders were sent to cruise for seal, killing 
 them on distant grounds, and bringing the skins back 
 to the ships. At one time Capt. Palmer and the ship 
 to which he was tender were so situated that unless a 
 narrow passage between two islands was navigable a 
 long and tedious sail was before him. He tried the 
 passage, but his vessel touched and he abandoned the 
 attempt as useless. But while he was repairing the 
 damages he noticed a whale pass through an opening 
 where he had believed a reef to lie, and reasoning 
 that where a whale could go his little vessel would 
 float, without a moment's hesitation he got under 
 way and followed its course, passing through in 
 safety. 
 
 The seals at the newly-found South Shetlands were 
 soon exterminated, and after circumnavigating the 
 islands, Capt. Nat sailed again for the South on a 
 voyage of exploration, which resulted in the discov- 
 ery of the land which bears his name on every map 
 and chart of the world. 
 
 Through the kindness of the Hon. Frederic Bush, 
 for many years United States consul at Hong Kong, 
 who furnishes it to the Hon. Alexander S. Palmer, 
 we are enabled to give Capt. Nat's own account of 
 this famous event. 
 
 " It was," sa.V8 Mr. Bush, " at the time of Jiis second voyage to Cliiiia. 
 He was hi a i:lipper-sbiii, the ' Hoiiqua,' a vessel of his own designing, and 
 owned l)y A. A. Low & Brothei-s and liimself. He was niy gnest at din- 
 ner in Hong Kong, and after much persuasion I heard him repeat the 
 following to Admiral Sir John Francis Austin, to whom he was presented 
 by myself as the discoverer of Palmer's Land, the euuthcrn point of the 
 globe. I pass over his account of the voyage in the ' Hero' to the South 
 Shetlands. the scarcity of seal there, and liis determination to seek better 
 hunting-grounds; but I can never forget the enthnsiasni tie manifested 
 when he said, 'I pointed tliebowof the little cnift to the snutlnvaid, and 
 with her wings spread, mainsail abeam, and jib abreast the opposite bow, 
 she speeded on her way to new sealing-grounds lik'' a thing of life and 
 light, and she was light; with her flowing sheet she seemed to enter 
 into the spirit which possessed my ambition, flew along the wave and 
 over billow, until she bronght us in siglit of laLid not laid down on my 
 chart. I cruised for several days in order to satisfy myself it was not an 
 island. I ran into several bays without meeting with seal, and headed 
 northward, drifting along under easy canvas, '■ laying to" at nijiht, which 
 consumed the majority of the day, most of the time the mist so dense I 
 could not see the lookout OTi tlie foiecastle. One night I came on deck 
 at midnight, relieved my mate, and took the watch. I Rtruik one bell, 
 which brought a response that startled me ; but I soon resumed my pace, 
 turned my thoughts homeward, and applied myself to the occupation of 
 building castles in the air till the binnacle time-keeper told the first hour 
 of the day. I struck two bells, that were answered by a human hand, 
 though I could not credit my ears, and thought I was dreaming, except 
 for the screechingof the penguins, albatross, pigeons, and Mother Gary's, 
 I was sure no living object was within leagues of the sloop. But the 
 sound of bells continued until the sun lilted the fog. My chief otticer, 
 who laughed at the idea of a human soul being close on board, insisting 
 that sound was " tricky,'' called me at seven bells, during his watch, say- 
 ing that voices were heard, and before the trencher board was laid the 
 fog lifted, presenting to our view a frigate on the starboard bow and a 
 
710 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Bloop-of-war on tlie lee quarter with Russian colors ilying. Close along- 
 side was a boatwitli anofBoer in full uniform, whostepped into the waist 
 of the sloop and gave me a message from Admiral Krustenstien, of his 
 Eussian Majesty's frigate " Rostok," requesting that I wonld repair on 
 board of his ship. I assented, at once entered the boat, was laid along- 
 side, mounted on deck, and with sou'wester on my head, and a sealskin 
 coat and boots, I was ushered into the presence of the venerable com- 
 mander, who was sitting at the table in liis cabin, himself and a group 
 of ofBcers in full dress. The gray-headed mariner rose, took me by the 
 hand, saying, through the medium of his interpreter, ' You are welcome, 
 young man: be seated.' He placed a chair by his side, and put the follow- 
 ing questions to me : 
 
 " 'What is your name?' 
 
 '"Nathaniel B. Palmer.' 
 
 " ' Where are you from ?' 
 
 "'Stonington, Conn., U.S.A.' 
 
 " ' The name of your boat?' 
 
 '""Hero," sir.' 
 
 " ' What are you doing here ?' 
 
 " ' On a sealing expedition.' 
 
 '" What success?' 
 
 '"I gave him an account of my voyage, tonnage of sloop, luimber of 
 men, and general details, when he said, " How far south have you been ?" 
 I gave him the latitude and longitude of my lowest point, and told what 
 I had discovered. He rose, much agitated, begging I would produce my 
 log-book and chart, with which request I complied, and a boat was sent 
 for it. In the mean time luncheon was served, many questions put con- 
 cerning the seal-lishery, population of my hailing-port, etc. When 
 the log-book and chart were laid upon the table he examined them 
 carefully without comment, then rose from his seat, saying, " What do 
 I see and what do I hear from a hoy iu his teens — that he is commander 
 of a tiny boat of the size of a launch of my frigate, has pushed his way 
 to the pole through storm and ice and sought the point I, in command 
 of one of the best-appointed fleets at the disposal of my august master, 
 have for three long, weary, an.Ttious, years searched day and night for," 
 With his hand on my bead he added, " What shall I say to my master? 
 what will he think of me? But be that as it may, my grief is your joy. 
 Wear your laurels, with my sincere prayers for your welfare. I name 
 the land you have discovered, in honor of yourself, noble boy. Palmer's 
 Land.' 
 
 "And to my old and loved friend," adds Mr, Bush, " is due the honor 
 of this discovery, though England, I am sorry to say, through one of her 
 naval officers, attempted to steal the tbundei", which Admiral Austin 
 assured Capt. Palmer that he would endeavor to correct and give to him 
 the proper credit." 
 
 Such were the opening incidents in a life marked 
 to its close by exceptional ability and invincible 
 determination. Filled with daring and adventure, 
 its story reads like a romance, and it is to be deeply 
 regretted that the narrow limits of this brief sketch 
 preclude more than an outline of a remarkable and 
 successful career. 
 
 Capt. Palmer's discovery had made him famous, 
 and the following year he sailed again for the South 
 Shetlands with a fleet of six vessels, among them the 
 brig "Alabama Packet,'' commanded by Capt. Wil- 
 liam A. Fanning, a celebrated navigator, with whom 
 Capt. Alexander S. Palmer, of Stonington, scarcely less 
 well known in later years than his famous brother, 
 made his first voyage. Capt. Nat, returning from 
 this cruise, sailed from New Haven to Santa Cruz, 
 making the round trip in thirty-one days. He then 
 took command of the schooner " Cadet," owned by 
 Messrs. Silas E. Burrows and Baldwin & Spooner, of 
 New York, and sailed for the Spanish Main, Capt. 
 Alexander Palmer accompanying him on the second 
 voyage of the " Cadet" as mate. It was at the period 
 of the rebellion of Venezuela and Colombia against 
 
 Spanish rule, and the " Cadet" was employed by the 
 Colombian government to transport a part of Bolivar's 
 army from Carthagena to the river Chagres, carrying 
 on her return trip a number of Spanish prisoners to 
 Santiago de Cuba. On her second voyage the 
 "Cadet" was cast away oif Long Branch. Capt. 
 Alexander Palmer and a sailor started for the beach 
 in the long-boat with a rope ; but the boat capsized, 
 and they swam ashore with the rope, saving the lives 
 of the passengers and crew. 
 
 In 1826, Capt. Nat took the brig " Tampico" to 
 Carthagena, and on his return, on December 7th, 
 married Eliza T., daughter of Maj. Paul Babcock, and 
 quit the sea for a time; but his early inclinations 
 were overpowering, and he took the brig " Francis" 
 several trips to Europe. In 1829 he was in command 
 of the brig " Anawan," after seals and new sealing- 
 ground, reaching Staten Land. On his second voyage 
 in the "Anawan," he stopped at the island of Juan 
 Fernandez (immortalized as the scene of De Foe's 
 " Robinson Crusoe") for provisions and water. It was 
 at the time a Chilian penal colony, and the convicts 
 had risen in revolt and obtained control of the island. 
 Unsuspicious of danger, Capt. Nat landed, and was 
 immediately captured with his boat's crew. The con- 
 victs demanded that he should laud them on the 
 main coast of South America, and making a virtue 
 of necessity he consented to do so. That his life was 
 spared was due, he always maintained, to the circum- 
 stance that he was a Freemason, and indeed he was 
 told that his death had been settled upon when it was 
 accidentally discovered that he belonged to the great 
 brotherhood. His wife had accompanied him on the 
 voyage, and he was overwhelmed with anxiety for her 
 safety, but he managed to send word to her of her 
 danger and she secreted herself in the hold. There 
 she remained for ten days while the convicts were in 
 possession of the ship, till, failing in his purpose to 
 hand them over to the authorities, he landed them at 
 an obscure point on the Chilian coast, and she emerged 
 from her hiding-place, both husband and wife nearly 
 crazed with the ordeal they had undergone. 
 
 By this time Capt. Nat was famous, not only locally, 
 but in seafaring circles throughout the country, and 
 many advantageous offers were made him. In 1833 
 he withdrew from the seal-fisheries and took com- 
 mand of E. K. Collins' packet-ship " Huntsville," in 
 the New York and New Orleans trade. After two or 
 more years he made one voyage to Liverpool, and 
 then took the " Hibernia'' to Rio Janeiro. He was 
 in this ship for one or two voyages, when he was made 
 captain of the well-known ship " Garrick," of the Col- 
 lins Line, and sailed for Liverpool. He subsequently 
 commanded the "Siddons," of the same line, his 
 brother, Capt. Alexander S., succeeding him in the 
 " Garrick." He continued in this vessel till about 
 1841, when he took the "Paul Jones" to China, and 
 subsequently built the clipper-ship "Honqua" for 
 Messrs. A. A. Low & Co., of New York, and carried 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 711 
 
 her to Canton and back, his brother, Capt. Alexander 
 S., again succeeding him in command. 
 
 About this time tliere was much competition in the 
 tea trade. Speed was a desideratum, and some of the 
 finest sailing-vessels of the century were built. Capt. 
 Nat possessed great constructive and mechanical 
 ability, and modeled some of the fastest clipper-ships 
 the world has ever known, making the United States 
 pre-eminent in the carrying trade on the sea. Under 
 his direction were successively built the clipper-ships 
 the "Sam Eussell," the "Oriental," the "David 
 Brown," and the "N. B. Palmer," and he commanded 
 in turn the " Sam Eussell" and the " Oriental" in the 
 China tea trade. In the last vessel, so celebrated was 
 she for speed, that while the ruling rates for freight 
 at Whampoa were £3 10s. a ton, he secured a cargo 
 for England at £6, and beating down against the 
 southwest monsoon in the China Seas, to the utter 
 astonishment of the merchants in England, reached 
 London in the unprecedented time of ninety-seven 
 days. In 1848, Capt. Nat retired from the tea trade 
 and took the steamer " United States" to Germany, 
 and in 1849 he retired entirely from active service. 
 
 It was impossible, however, for a man of his habits 
 and character to remain inactive, and his energetic 
 disposition displayed itself in many ways. He be- 
 came deeply interested in the modeling of vessels 
 and in improving the lines of pleasure craft, building 
 and owning no fewer than seventeen yachts. He was 
 an enthusiastic yachtsman, and was one of the 
 founders of the New York Yacht Club, and the sev- 
 enth man to sign its roll. He built many fine yachts, 
 and sailed many races, and wherever yachtsmen were 
 his name and opinions were held in highest rever- 
 ence. 
 
 An ardent sportsman, he was for many years a 
 member of the Currituck Club, and at the age of 
 seventy-eight, on his annual cruise to the Thimble 
 Islands for duck-shooting, few men held as steady a 
 gun or could endure the fatigue and exposure of 
 which he seemed to think nothing. He was a mar- 
 velous pilot, and it was said of him that he could 
 judge of the bottom by the appearance of the surface 
 of the water. It was he who corrected the United 
 States coast survey chart for the harbor of Stoning- 
 ton, probably as perfect a piece of work as was ever 
 done. 
 
 Capt. Palmer's instincts naturally connected his 
 business interests with the element he loved. He 
 was one of the founders of the Neptune Line, and 
 had more or less the supervision of building nineteen 
 steamers for it, but lost heavily by that disastrous 
 enterprise. He bought the largest sailing-ship ever 
 built, the "Great Republic," which took fire and sunk 
 in New York Harbor after one trip to Liverpool. He 
 raised her and took her to England, subsequently 
 chartering her to the French government. In the 
 war of the Rebellion he rendered most valuable 
 service to the government in furnishing transports 
 
 and devising means for the protection of American 
 shipping in a cause in which all his sympathies were 
 enlisted. During the latter years of his life he with- 
 drew from business speculation, and spent his time 
 almost entirely in sporting on the water and onshore, 
 and about his home and elsewhere. He held no civil 
 office, but was a warden of Calvary Episcopal Church 
 in Stonington, and an earnest Freemason. 
 
 Capt. Palmer had no children. In 1876 he accom- 
 panied his nephew, Nathaniel B. Palmer (second 
 named after him), and his brother Alexander's oldest 
 son, who was in feeble health, to Santa Barbara, Cal. 
 The latter derived no benefit there, and they went to 
 China in a sailing-vessel. His health continuing to 
 fail, they left Hong Kong on the steamer " City of 
 Pekin" on May 15th, and when one day out Mr. 
 Palmer died. The death of one to whom he was so 
 devotedly attached was a terrible blow to Capt. Nat, 
 and one from which he never recovered. He was 
 compelled to take to his bed on reaching San Fran- 
 cisco, and though sympathetic and loving friends 
 gave him every care, he died there on the 21st of 
 June, 1877. On July 5th the remains of the devoted 
 uncle and nephew, surrounded by those they loved, 
 were laid away together in the beautiful cemetery at 
 Stonington. 
 
 So ended the remarkable life of a remarkable man. 
 He was the eldest of four sisters and five brothers, 
 — Lambert, Alexander S., William L., and Theodore 
 D., — all of whom attained eminence in their callings. 
 Capt. Palmer himself had the look of one born to 
 command. He was over six feet in height and 
 weighed more than two hundred pounds, and wher- 
 ever he was men recognized in him a master-spirit. 
 On his last voyage, in the " City of Pekin," though 
 merely a passenger, he seemed to be the natural com- 
 mander of the vessel, and her master, Capt. Tanner, 
 said, with much amusement, that he felt that he was 
 merely a subordinate oflBcer. 
 
 Though a strict disciplinarian on shipboard, there 
 was never a man to whom the gentler ties of family 
 and domestic life were dearer. Though his nature 
 was rugged and his determination invincible, his 
 heart was as tender as a child's, and those who 
 knew him best loved him best. This was not only 
 true of his home but of all the world, for he was a 
 genuine cosmopolitan. " My home," said his brother, 
 the distinguished sailor, Capt. Alexander S. Palmer, 
 " is in Stonington, but his home was the world." 
 Everywhere, where American vessels went and Amer- 
 ican sailors were known, his name was held in highest 
 respect and esteem. Wherever he landed, whether 
 in Stonington, or New York, or London, or Hong 
 Kong, he was sure of finding a warm welcome and 
 the cordial reception of loving friends. He knew in- 
 timately most of the leading men of the United States, 
 and counted among his acquaintances some of the most 
 distinguished people in Europe. His fame as an ex- 
 plorer was world-wide, he was eminent as one who had 
 
ri2 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 done great things for the improvement of American 
 shipping, circumstances which gave him exceptional 
 social advantages in foreign countries. The Hon. 
 Mr. Bush, to whom allusion has been already made, 
 one of his contemporaries and for many years his firm 
 friend, writes of him as follows : 
 
 " My fil-st introduction tu Capt. Nat was at the Astor House in 1838, iit 
 the hands of Capt. Charles Mansfield, then in command of tlie sliip 
 'Kohert Bowne,' the ship I was about to eml)arlc in for the Cape of Good 
 Hope. 
 
 " Capt. Nat was at that time in command of tlie Liverpool packet 
 'Garrick,' or ' Siddons,' I am not positive wllich, and tliongh in tender 
 years, he made a lasting impression upon me that clingsasclosely as the 
 indelible print. Tall in figure, of commanding physique, courteous in 
 address, and modest withal, he was the central figure on all occasions, 
 whether on the deck of his ship, at the mess-fable, or in the hall of the 
 hotel. Civilians as well aa mariners sought his ear, advice, and assist- 
 ance too, which latter he never refused. In truth, he was a great and 
 deserved favorite, the equal of any man it has been my good fortune to 
 meet with on life's cruise, and in saying that I have had the good hide 
 to enjoy the confidence, friendship, yes, Zoue of noble men, who have made 
 proud records in history, their names recording noble deeds on the last- 
 ing tablet. I profess to know the man that he was. He was possessed 
 of all the endearing traits to make one valued in companionship, a fast 
 friend and generous enemy. Master of his chosen profession, there was 
 never a braver, more accomplished sailor trod the deck, while he was 
 a rare sportsman and genial gentleman at home, at court, or in the 
 domestic circle." 
 
 Mr. Bush's epitome of his character is well and 
 justly made. No better type of the American seaman 
 was ever shown to foreigners, uniting as he did the 
 thorough knowledge of his calling with the dignity 
 and agreeable qualities of more polished and gentler 
 professions. He helped to make his country and his 
 native town famous, and they may well take pride in 
 his career. In his death they sustained an irreparable 
 loss, though they hold his name in affectionate and 
 honored remembrance. "No man," said the greatest 
 of the heathen philosophers, "can deserve well of 
 his country without doing good," and the gallantry 
 and daring of Capt. Nat, no less than his generous 
 qualities of heart and his broad and liberal spirit, will 
 have their influence for all time. His life of strange 
 experiences and his death, full of years and honors, 
 are constant incentives and inspiration. Of no one 
 can it be more truly said that though he rests from 
 his labors his works do follow him. 
 
 Nathaniel Brown Palmer, son of Capt. Alex. Pal- 
 mer, and nephew of Capt. N. B. Palmer, was thirty- 
 seven years of age at the time of his death, and was 
 in many ways a remarkable man. His mother's 
 family, the Dixons of Ehode Island, have for years 
 been prominent as lawyers and public men. His 
 grandfather represented Rhode Island in the United 
 States Senate. Mr. Palmer's uncle was nearly a fifth 
 of a century in Congress. The oldest member of the 
 third generation is United States District Attorney for 
 Ehode Island. Mr. Palmer wished to follow the sea, 
 like his father, but was persuaded at the age of six- 
 teen to enter the hardware house of Messrs. Bruff' 
 Bros. & Seaver, New York. When the firm opened 
 a branch house in New Orleans he became the head 
 salesman there. He came North when the war was 
 
 begun, and was given control of the firm's manu- 
 facturing of muskets and pistols under the Joscelyn 
 patent. A large manufactory was established in 
 Stonington. In 1865 he became a member of the 
 firm of Messrs. Phelps, Dodge & Co., extensive man- 
 ufacturers and dealers in boots and shoes in Chicago, 
 and was an active worker. In the summer of 1871 
 he contracted a severe cold, which attacked his left 
 lung. He spent the winter in Southern France, re- 
 turned to this country much improved in health, and 
 was married in October, 1872. In November, 1876, 
 he went to Santa Barbara, Cal., with his uncle, Capt. 
 Nat. The climate disagreed with him, and he and 
 his uncle went to China in a sailing-vessel. The 
 young man's health rapidly failed, and he sailed for 
 San Francisco with Capt. Nat in the " City of Pekin" 
 on May 15th. When one day out Mr. Palmer died, 
 May 16, 1877. He kept his inherited love for the sea 
 to the last. 
 
 Alexander Smith Palmer, son of Nathaniel and 
 Mercy Palmer, was born at the site of his present 
 home (called Pine Point), at Stonington, Jan. 26, 
 1806. AVhen an infant his parents moved into the 
 borough of Stonington. His education was confined 
 to the common schools. After leaving school was 
 placed in a lawyer's office, but not liking the confine- 
 ment of a lawyer's life, decided to be a sailor, and 
 started on his first voyage June 21, 1821, in the brig 
 "Alabama Packet," Capt. Wm. A. Fanning, bound on 
 a sealing voyage to the South Shetland Islands, sealing 
 also the coasts of Chili and Peru. These countries 
 being at war' with Spain at this time, fighting for 
 their independence, he was in danger of being cap- 
 tured, as the brig " Herselia," Capt. James P. Shef- 
 field, of Stonington, had been by the Araucanian 
 Indians (who adhered to Spanish rule) but a short 
 time before his arrival. After a two years' voyage 
 returned to Stonington. Then made two coasting 
 voyages to Philadelphia in the schooner "Alonzo," 
 Capt. E. F. Loper. Next made a voyage to the West 
 Indies in the brig " Thetis," Capt. Savage, from Mid- 
 dletown. Conn. On return sailed from New York, 
 July 5, 1824, for Cartagena, in the schooner "Cadet," 
 Capt. N. B. Palmer. From Cartagena went to 
 Chagres, carrying part of Gen. Bolivar's array, who 
 was assisting the Peruvians to drive out the Spanish. 
 From Chagres carried Spanish prisoners to St. Jago, 
 Cuba. On the return voyage to New York, in No- 
 vember, 1824, the schooner was wrecked at Long 
 Branch, and all hands saved by means of a rope 
 carried to the shore by a sailor and Capt. A. S. 
 Palmer, swimming through the surf. Then made 
 seven voyages from New York to the Spanish Main 
 in the brig "Tampico," Capt. N. B. Palmer. During 
 the summer of 1826 was made commander of the brig 
 " Tampico," and made two voyages from New York 
 to the Spanish Main, Porto Cabello, and Cuba. Then 
 commanded respectively the schooner "Penguin'' 
 (Sept. 5, 1827) and ship "Charles Adams" (Sept. 1, 
 
^ 
 
--■'ly ''hyABnttchic 
 
 ^^^njA 
 
 i^-U. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 713 
 
 1831). Sailed from Stonington, Conn., on whaling 
 and sealing voyages to Cape Horn, South Shetlands 
 and Falkland Islands. Returned to Stonington in 
 ship "Charles Adams," Sept. 1, 1833. The next 
 command was the New Orleans packet-ship "Louis- 
 ville," from New York, October, 1834. Remained 
 captain of this ship until 1838, when he took com- 
 mand of the ship "Shakespeare" for one year, sailing 
 from New York to New Orleans. In February, 1839, 
 commanded the Liverpool packet-ship " Garrick," 
 belonging to what then was known as the "Dramatic 
 Line." Remained in the "Garrick" until October, 
 1841, when Capt. Palmer took command of the ship 
 "Southerner," in the Liverpool and Charleston trade. 
 Remained in the " Southerner" until 1845, when he 
 commanded the ship "Hoqua" on a voyage from 
 New York to China, being the second ship to enter 
 the port of Shanghai after the port was opened to 
 commerce. Capt. Palmer brought to this country the 
 first Shanghai fowl. The last voyage was made in 
 1847 to Liverpool from New York in the ship 
 " Southerner." 
 
 Capt. Palmer's present house was built in 1852, 
 nearly on the site of the old homestead, burnt down 
 Nov. 17, 1850. Has always been a Democrat in poli- 
 tics, but, although living in a Republican district, has 
 received their votes, which were accepted as tributes 
 of esteem and appreciation of an honest life. Has 
 been elected first selectman of the town twice, viz. . 
 1858 and 1859 ; three times State representative, viz. : 
 1857, 1858, and 1875 ; and State senator twice, viz. : 
 1876 and 1877, serving as chairman of committee on 
 temperance, and capital punishment in 1876, chairman 
 of agriculture in 1877, when was introduced the agri- 
 cultural experimental station ; served on committees of 
 finance, State boundaries. An Episcopalian ; junior 
 warden since 1868, and senior warden since 1876, of 
 the Calvary Episcopal Church. Capt. Palmer was 
 married June 19, 1837, to Priscilla D. Dixon, daugh- 
 ter of Hon. Nathan F. and Betsey Palmer Dixon. 
 Children were Nathaniel Brown Palmer, born Nov. 
 16, 1840; Alexander Smith Palmer, born May 29, 
 1843; Louis Lambert Palmer, born July 21, 1845; 
 Elizabeth Dixon Palmer, born June 6, 1848. Na- 
 thaniel B. Palmer married Harriet Wilder, Oct. 10, 
 1872. Elizabeth D. Palmer married Richard F. Lo- 
 per, Jr., Sept. 3, 1873. Priscilla Dixon Palmer died 
 Jan. 12, 1851, aged thirty-five years. Nathaniel Brown 
 Palmer died May 16, 1877, on board steamship " City 
 of Pekin," one day out from Hong Kong ; buried at 
 the family burying-ground at Stonington, Conn. 
 
 Capt. Palmer's ancestors -were among the earliest 
 settlers of the town of Stonington, in the persons of 
 Walter Palmer and George Denison. His grand- 
 father's only brother, David Palmer, was slain in 
 Fort Griswold, Groton, Sept. 6, 1781. Capt. Palmer's 
 father was one of the defenders of Stonington in the 
 attack of the fleet under command of Sir Thomas 
 Hardy, Aug. 10, 1814. Capt. A. S. Palmer has been 
 
 instrumental in saving lives ; while captain of the 
 " Charles Adams," July 24, 1833, rescued the crew of 
 the English ship " Dorothy," Capt. Garnock and 
 twenty-four men. While in command of the " Gar- 
 rick," 1840, saved the crew of the English brig " Eu- 
 genia.'" During the winter of 1865 saved alone seven 
 men, being the crew of a schooner (name not remem- 
 bered) which came ashore at Currituck, N. C, during 
 a gale of wind. 
 
 Connected by blood or marriage with many leading 
 families in New England and New York, and ac- 
 quainted with the leading men of Connecticut and 
 many of the country, also having a wide personal ac- 
 quaintance, he has strong influence, which has ever 
 been exerted for the good of his town and its citizens, 
 among whom he has lived, except while absent at 
 sea, for three-quarters of a century, and is to-day, 
 wherever known, loved, honored, and esteemed. 
 
 Capt. Palmer has always been an ardent sports- 
 man, and realizing the fact that fish and game were 
 of great importance to the country, was mainly in- 
 strumental in securing the passage of the game law 
 that now honors the statute-book of Connecticut. 
 
 Silas Enoch Burrows,^ of Stonington, was the 
 son of the Hon. Enoch Burrows, who paternally de- 
 scended from Robert Burrows, one of the first plant- 
 ers of New England, residing first in this country at 
 Wethersfield, Conn., wherein 1645 he married Mary, 
 the widow of Samuel Ireland, by whom he had two 
 children, — John and Samuel Burrows. He did not 
 long remain in Wethersfield, for, attracted by the 
 reputation of Mr. Winthrop's new plantation at Pe- 
 quot, now New London, he came in 1651 and located 
 himself on the west branch of Mystic River, on a 
 grant of land embracing the territory now occupied 
 by the village of Mystic River, where he lived the 
 remainder of his days, dying in August, 1682. His 
 wife died before him, in December, 1672. He was an 
 intimate friend of Governor Winthrop, who often 
 visited him after he was domiciled at Mystic. Like 
 most of the leading men of his day, he engaged in 
 farming and stock-raising, marketing his stock and 
 
 1 Ciipt. Palmer received a testimonial from the queen for saving the 
 crew of the brig " Eugenia." 
 
 Another testimonial to the captain is a large silver vase, gold lined, 
 standing upon a heavy silver standard. The following inscription tells 
 suiBcient: " Presented hy the Owners of the Ship Dorothy to Capt. Alex- 
 ander S. Palmer of the ship Charles Adams of Stonington, in testi- 
 mony of his humane and generous conduct towards Captain Garnock and 
 the Crew of the ship Dorothy of Liverpool, which foundered at sea in 
 Lat. 29 S., Long. 20 W., on the 4*'' of July 1833, who after having been ex- 
 posed in open boats for 20 days, were picked up by Capt. Palmer, and 
 e.Kperienced from him the greatest possible kindness during four days 
 they were on boaid the Charles Adams, and safely landed at Pernambuco. 
 Liverpool, MDCCCXXXIII." 
 
 An open-faced gold watch has upon the inside back cover, " Presented 
 to Capt. A. S. Palmer as a token of Esteem, New York, Feb. 12*^, 1836" 
 by 25 gentlemen, whose names are there inscribed. 
 
 Another communication begins as follows : "I have the honor to in- 
 form you that at the last meeting of the ' Council of the General Ship- 
 wreck Relief Society,' held in Paris, yon were elected one of its nine 
 Presidents." Signed by its presidents, Paris, Oct. 31, 1839 (France). 
 
 2 By Eichard A. Wheeler. 
 
714 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 surplus produce at Boston for a while. Subsequently 
 the planters opened trade with the West Indies, which 
 was continued for a good many years. 
 
 His son, John Burrows, married Mary Culver, 
 daughter of John Culver, Deo. 14, 1670, and their 
 oldest son, John Burrows, married Lydia Hubbard, 
 daughter of Hugh Hubbard, of Derbyshire, England, 
 in 1694, and became the parents of eight children, 
 four sons and four daughters. Amos, the third son, 
 married Elizabeth Eathbun, of Colchester, Conn., and 
 had ten children, seven sons and three daughters. 
 Silas, their second son, became an eminent Baptist 
 clergyman of the open-communion persuasion. Es- 
 tablished a church at Fort Hill, in Groton, to the inter- 
 est and success of which he devoted his whole life. 
 He married' for his first wife Mary Smith, of Groton, 
 April 7, 1764. For his second wife he married the 
 widow Phebe Smith, Feb. 18, 1818, in the seventy- 
 eighth year of his age. By his first wife he had ten 
 children. His third son, Enoch Burrows, was born 
 July 28, 1770, received an ordinary education, and by 
 his own unaided efforts rose to prominence and be- 
 came a merchant and an honored citizen of Stoning- 
 ton. He shared to the fullest extent the confidence 
 of his fellow-citizens, held almost every public posi- 
 tion in town affairs, and was elected representative to 
 the General Assembly in the years 1810, 1811, 1815, 
 1816, 1817. He was also elected an assistant under 
 the old charter, and State senator under the constitu- 
 tion for the years 1819, 1820, and 1821. 
 
 He married for his first wife Esther Denison, Aug. 
 28, 1791, and became the parent of Silas Enoch Bur- 
 rows, who was born Oct. 29, 1794, who descended ma- 
 ternally from Capt. George Denison, of Indian war- 
 rior fame, and from Thomas Stanton, the distinguished 
 interpreter-general of New England, and from Capt. 
 John Gallup, of Boston, who has the honor of fight- 
 ing the first naval battle in New England waters. 
 
 Mr. Burrows was educated in the public schools of 
 his native town, and in early life was trained to mer- 
 cantile pursuits, aiding his father in business at 
 Mystic. 
 
 During the last war with England in 1814 he served 
 in a detachment of militia detailed for the protection 
 of Stonington Borough and vicinity, and participated 
 as a volunteer in the heroic defense of that place, 
 August 10th of that year, bringing cartridges from 
 New London for use in the Stonington battery, with 
 which the British ship " Dispatch" was forced to 
 abandon her position and get out of reach of our 
 guns as fast as possible. 
 
 After the close of the war with Great Britain, not 
 content with the limited opportunities for business at 
 Mystic, he enlarged his operations and became en- 
 gaged in commercial pursuits in New York, where 
 he not only established a line of packets between that 
 city and Cartagena, New Granada, but became ex- 
 tensively engaged in the whaling and sealing business, 
 many of his vessels having been built at Mystic. 
 
 In 1835 he made his first visit to the Brazils and 
 the river La Plata, taking his eldest son Silas with 
 him, returning there again the following year; and, 
 on his return to the United States, in the same year, 
 he sent his son to Buenos Ayres in the United States 
 sloop-of-war " Fairfield," under the care of Capt. 
 Charles Boarman, to be placed in the Jesuit College 
 of that city to acquire a perfect knowledge of the 
 Spanish language. 
 
 In 1842, Mr. Burrows having lost his second wife, 
 went with all his children and settled in Montevideo, 
 establishing a commercial house there, and was ac- 
 tively engaged in the shipping business, aided by his 
 two eldest sons, Silas and Ogden Hoffman Burrows. 
 Eeturned to the United States in 1848, leaving there 
 two sons in charge of his business. 
 
 In 1851 he joined them in San Francisco, and then 
 and there the house of S. E. Burrows & Sons was 
 formed, which in 1853 was established in Hong Kong, 
 China, his eldest son, Silas, being the pioneer of 
 the firm in the East, Mr. Burrows following in his 
 clipper-ship, the " Race-Hound," the year after, and 
 his second son, Ogden Hofl^man Burrows, the year 
 after that. 
 
 Mr. Burrows made several trips to Europe from 
 Hong Kong, taking his youngest son, John Euss 
 Burrows, with him, and in 1859 he left China for the 
 last time, and returned to his native village of Mystic, 
 Conn. Mr. Burrows was a successful business man. 
 All of the enterprises in which he was engaged were 
 made to contribute to his fortune. Possessed of a 
 powerful will and untiring energy and industry, he 
 overcame all obstacles that confronted him. Endowed 
 with a high order of business talent, and fully con- 
 scious of his strength and abilities, he knew no such 
 thing as fear or failure. After his departure from 
 China his sons conducted the business of the house 
 very successfully until 1876, when the business was 
 wound up and they also retired from China. 
 
 Mr. Burrows was twice married, — first to Mary Van 
 Buskirk, Nov. 20, 1820, by whom he had four chil- 
 dren, viz. : Enoch, born June 7, 1822, died Aug. 28, 
 1823 ; Silas E. Burrows, Jr., born March 28, 1824; Mary 
 Jane, born June 2, 1826 ; Ogden Hoflthian, born July 
 22, 1828. His first wife died in New York, Jan. 30, 
 1831. 
 
 Second, to Mary D. Russ, May 19, 1834, by whom 
 he had three children, viz. : Mary Riiss, born Dec. 14, 
 1836, died April 23, 1857 ; John Russ, born Sept. 13, 
 1838, died Aug. 11, 1871 ; William Henry, born 
 Dec. 21, 1840, died August, 1841. His second wife 
 died March 22, 1841. Mr. Silas E. Burrows died Oct. 
 12, 1870, aged seventy-six years. 
 
 The Greenman Family.— There is perhaps no 
 one family more worthy of notice in the history of 
 the last seventy-five years of Stonington than the 
 Greenman family. It has been prominently identi- 
 fied with ship-building in the height of its prosperity, 
 and has furnished employment for many persons, no 
 
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 Jinqdl,^ ^Ji±tiJJ:^^^■l 
 
 '^ ^'i.-^^-'^^ 
 
^"S'-uy Aallt'?"-' 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 715 
 
 only in ship-building but in other manufacturing. 
 For the sake of justice to coming generations, we will 
 leave a tracing of the various persons of the name 
 who have made their impress upon the town and laid 
 the foundation of success broad and solid, and have, 
 in their waj', done so much to make the name hon- 
 ored and esteemed. 
 
 Silas Greenman, 1st and 2d. — Silas Greenman, 
 first of the name we can now trace, was a resident of 
 Charlestown, R. I., probably removing from there 
 to Westerly, R. I., as his son Silas, born Sept. 29, 
 1770, always lived in that town or in Hopkinton. 
 He, Silas, Jr., was a ship-carpenter, and a diligent, 
 honest. God-fearing man, serving, in his quiet, unos- 
 tentatious way, his day and generation well. He was 
 of positive character, firm and unflinching in every- 
 thing he deemed right, but did not promulgate his 
 opinions from the house-top. They formed his char- 
 acter, were acted in his life, and were made the fun- 
 damental principles of the education of his family. 
 Devotion to right, loyalty to country, and obedience 
 to law were leading characteristics of his life. He 
 was a devoted Christian, and a member of the Sev- 
 enth-day Baptist Church ; a man of warm affections, 
 but also of a strong sense of duty, which sometimes 
 concealed their expression in words. He married 
 Mary, daughter of George and Esther Still man. Her 
 ancestors came from England in the early days of 
 New England, and were the progenitors of a numer- 
 ous and able family. Of this union were born nine 
 children, — Sally (Mrs. Joseph Lampher, deceased), 
 Silas, 3d (deceased), Mary (Mrs. Green Champlin, 
 deceased), Lucy (died early), Catherine (Mrs. John 
 Edmondson), George, Clark (deceased), Thomas S., 
 and William (died young). Mr. Greenman died 
 June 5, 1846, aged nearly seventy-six ; Mrs. Green- 
 man in April of the same year. 
 
 Silas Greemnan, 3d. — Silas (3), eldest son of Silas 
 (2), was born in Hopkinton, R. I., Nov. 26, 1796. 
 He passed the years of his minority with his parents, 
 and was subject to the vicissitudes incident to the 
 limited circumstances of that early period. His edu- 
 cational advantages were of the most primitive kind, 
 and he, in the labor incident to " earning a living," 
 had not much time to devote to school. Such time 
 as could be given for that purpose was faithfully im- 
 proved. He learned the trade of ship-carpenter from 
 his father, giving him his wages until he became of 
 age. Working steadily at his trade, he soon became 
 an unusually good workman, and went to the head of 
 Mystic River as master-builder for Silas E. Burrows, 
 and in 1827 engaged in partnership with his brother 
 George in ship-building at that place. This copart- 
 nership continued until the spring of 1835, when he 
 removed to Westerly, and continued to reside there 
 until his death. He followed ship-building here also 
 for many years, part of the time alone, and in com- 
 pany with his son, George S. He was a most indus- 
 trious, careful, conscientious, honest man. 
 
 He was a Republican in politics, but not an ex- 
 tremist. When, in 1840, the Pawoatuck Seventh-day 
 Baptist Church was organized, he was one of the 
 constituent members, and remained in its fellowship, 
 a worthy member, until summoned up higher, April 
 6, 1881, at the advanced age of more than eighty-four 
 years. Through life we find him to have been re- 
 garded as an altogether solid, brotherly, genuine man, 
 yet amiable, cordial, companionable, jocose even, — 
 a good laugh in him withal, — and when, in the full- 
 ness of time, he was called away a multitude of friends 
 were left in gloom. He married, Dec. 20, 1821, 
 Thankful, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Potter) 
 Wells. She was born Aug. 7, 1802, and died April 
 27, 1870. They had seven children, — William, born 
 Oct. 24, 1822 ; followed the sea, became captain ; was 
 twice married ; for first wife married Fannie, daugh- 
 ter of Stanton and Nancy (Perkins) Hall ; they had 
 two daughters, Mercy (deceased) and Katie. George 
 S., born July 13, 1826 ; has always been a ship-car- 
 penter ; worked with his father, and in company with 
 him for years, but latterly has been by himself. He 
 married, Feb. 14, 1863, Patience, daughter of Oliver 
 and Hannah (Saunders) Crandall. E. Jane, born 
 Dec. 14, 1830 ; married Welcome Wilcox, September, 
 1857, and has one child, William. Silas B., born 
 Sept. 16, 1833; followed the sea, rose to be captain; 
 married, Jan. 7, 1856, Ellen L., daughter of Elisha 
 and Lucy (Hinckley) Peck, and has one son, Earle. 
 Silas was lost on the ill-fated steamship " City of 
 Waco," of which he was captain, in Galveston Har- 
 bor, Texas, Nov. 9, 1875. Susan, born March 8, 1836 ; 
 married William M. Williams, Nov. 11, 1857 ; has no 
 children. Charles W., born Feb. 13, 1841; never 
 married ; followed the sea, became mate, and was lost 
 on steamship " Constitution," Dec. 25, 1865. Mary 
 C, born Dec. 18, 1845 ; married Merton E. Stillman, 
 Nov. 9, 1874, and has two children, Mabel and Ar- 
 thur. 
 
 George Greenman was born at Westerly, R. I., 
 Aug. 27, 1805. During his early years he had the 
 experience that the children of a family of humble 
 circumstances of that day usually had, — labor, inter- 
 spersed with three months' attendance at the common 
 schools in the entire year, and then oftener arriving 
 at the school-room at ten o'clock than earlier. After 
 he was sixteen he learned the ship-carpenter's trade 
 of his father; remained with him until lie was of age, 
 giving him all his wages, and commencing life for him- 
 self with only the capital of the customary " freedom- 
 suit," and not a dollar. In 1827 he went into partner- 
 ship with his brother Silas in ship-building at the 
 head of Mystic River. This partnership continued 
 until 1835, and George continued alone one year, and 
 then admitted his brothers, Clark and Thomas, in 
 company with him, under the firm-name of George 
 Greenman & Co. They could only build small ves- 
 sels on account of the shoal water, and they built one 
 yessel— ship " John Baring"— at the " Narrows" for 
 
716 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Silas C. Burrows, and one— ship " Tiiomas Williams" 
 —at Westerly for Charles P. Williams. Mr. F. Deni- 
 son, in his " Westerly and its Witnesses," has this to 
 say 'about this ship : " Near 1822-23 there was built in 
 the town of Westerly, a few rods north of the tan- 
 yard, a iine ship of about three hundred and fifty 
 tons, called the 'Thomas Williams,' owned largely in 
 AVesterly, and fitted expressly for the whaling busi- 
 ness. On her second voyage, iii 1837-38, which was a 
 very prosperous one, she was commanded by Capt. 
 Palmer Hall, and cruised in the South Pacific. On 
 her third voyage, under Capt. Manwaring, she was 
 burned at the Azores, having been fired by the Portu- 
 guese." 
 
 In 1838, having a large amount of work to do at 
 Mystic, and being solicited to make larger vessels 
 than could be built at their yards, they removed to 
 Adams' Point, and established the first ship-yard in 
 the place. For a time they built sloops, brigs, and 
 schooners for coasting trade. The first vessel built 
 was schooner " Lion," for Capt. Wm. Clift. They 
 built several for Capt. Clift, Nathan G. Fish, and 
 others at this time. As business increased and their 
 reputation for skill extended, people came for larger 
 vessels. They built brigs " Mayflower'' and " Rose 
 Standish" and others for E. D. Hurlbut & Co., of New 
 York, for European trade. Increasing the capacity 
 ■of their yard, they built ships " Silas Greenman," 
 ■"William Rathbone," "E. C. Scranton" (largest class 
 ships of that day) for Messrs. Everett & Brown, of New 
 York. At this time their business was so large as to 
 employ from fifty to seventy-five men constantly. They 
 built in 1853 the largest vessel they have ever made, 
 the '■ David Crockett." She was a three-decked ship, 
 built for Capt. Joseph Spencer by Everett & Brown. 
 She was of about seventeen hundred tons burden, and 
 cost ninety-four thousand eight hundred dollars. She 
 went into California trade, is now (July, 1881) on her 
 twenty-third voyage to San Francisco, and has paid 
 her owners over four hundred thousand dollars. In 
 1854 they built the "'Belle Wood," sixteen hundred 
 tons, for John A. McGaw, of New York City; then 
 followed several for the same person, — " Caroline 
 Tucker," and in 1856 the ship " Leah," of fifteen 
 hundred tons. She was lost on her first voyage in 1857, 
 never being heard from after leaving New York. The 
 ship " Atmosphere" was built from the same model 
 to replace the " Leah," and in the same and succeed- 
 ing year they built the " Prima Donna," of about six- 
 teen hundred tons. She has been a very successful 
 ship, and the Greenman Brothers have for years 
 enjoyed the reputation of building the most successful 
 •flat carrying ships afloat. They owned an interest in 
 all built for Mr. McGaw, and have owned interests in 
 several others, at present in ships "David Crockett" 
 and "Prima Donna" and steamers " W. W. Coit" and 
 ■" G. R. Kelsey." Among others built for Mr. Mc- 
 Gaw were the barques " Texana,'' four hundred tons 
 (burned by the Confederates), " Heiress," eight hun- 
 
 dred tons, " Diadem," seven hundred tons, " Cremona," 
 six hundred and fifty tons, and ships "Favorita," 
 thirteen hundred tons, and " Frolic," fourteen hun- 
 dred tons. From 1869 to 1864 they built seventeen 
 steamers, among them the " Blackstone," "Thames," 
 "Constitution," " Weybossett," screw-steamers, and 
 "Escort," "Ann Maria," " W. W. Coit," "City 
 Point," and others, side-wheelers. 
 
 George Greenman married, Feb. 10, 1828, Abby, 
 daughter of Charles and Martha (Birch) Chipman, of 
 Mystic. Their children are Mary A., born March 7, , 
 1829, married Edwin G. Champlin, and has one son, 
 George G. ; Harriet P. (deceased) ; George (died 
 young) ; George H., born April 8, 1837, married, June 
 13, 1864, Ann E. Bowles, of Allegany Co., N. Y. 
 He has six children, — Annie, William C, Bessie, 
 George B., Laura A., and Mary F. He has been 
 connected with the interests of Greenman Brothers 
 as book-keeper in the ship-building business, as 
 treasurer of the Greenmanville Manufacturing Com- 
 pany, and as treasurer of the Standard Machinery 
 Company. Martha B., born May 5, 1841, married 
 Lon Weston, of Brockton, Mass., and has two chil- 
 dren, — Robert S. and Lawrence G. ; Laura A., born 
 Sept. 13, 1 843, married "W alter Price, Oct. 24, 1872 
 (died March 17, 1S74, in San Domingo) ; Marie An- 
 toinette (died early) ; Lucia Annette, born May 28, 
 1852, married Walter Price, Feb. 14, 1877, and has one 
 child, Abby C. 
 
 All his life George Greenman has been an indus- 
 trious, faithful worker, not only with tools but with 
 his brain, and he never was satisfied until his work 
 was done in the very best possible manner. To his 
 shrewd common sense, thorough workmanship and 
 ability much of the success of the firm is due. From 
 his early childhood he has been pronounced in favor 
 of everything he deemed in harmony with right and 
 in accordance with Christianity. " There is a minor- 
 ity nearer right than the majority," and with this mi- 
 nority, however small, George Greenman, nor any of 
 his brothers, was not ashamed to be enrolled. " Anti- 
 slavery'' when it meant almost social ostracism, " anti- 
 rum" when the first slight swell of the great temper- 
 ance wave was felt, " anti-Mason" because they 
 deemed Masonry anti-Christian, everywhere and at 
 all times they have been true to their professed prin- 
 ciples, and no opposition, however numerous or im- 
 posing, could swerve them from the course of right. 
 And back of all this persistency were warm, loving 
 hearts, and if they erred ever, it was the error of the 
 head, and never that of the heart. 
 
 Kind and loving as a father and husband, firm and 
 unfaltering in his friendships, a prudent and wise 
 counselor, George Greenman, in a ripe old age, is es- 
 teemed and honored by all ; and in an unusually 
 large range of personal acquaintance none can be 
 found to whisper aught against his integrity or genu- 
 ine Christian worth. He has always been a Seventh- 
 day Baptist, and was one of the constituent members 
 

 ^^-t^ 
 
 ^. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 717 
 
 of the church at Greenmanville, which owes its or- 
 ganization and continuance to him and his brothers. 
 He is unswervingly a Republican, and a pronounced 
 Prohibitionist. He has been for years fi director of 
 Mystic River National Bank. 
 
 Clark Greenman. — The following, from the pen of 
 an intimate personal friend,, is a just rhumi of the 
 character and life of Clark Greenman, and tells the 
 story of his life better than words of ours : 
 
 " Clark Greenman was born in Hopkinton, R. I., 
 June 23, 1808, and died at Mystic Bridge, Conn., 
 April 26, 1877, having almost completed his sixty- 
 ninth year. He was the son of Silas and Mary Still- 
 man Greenman, parents of sterling integrity and ex- 
 emplary Christian lives, a fact that was held in grateful 
 remembrance by him, who often declared that whatever 
 eminence he had reached in the line of true manhood 
 and Christian integrity was due to the careful instruc- 
 tion of a Christian mother and exemplary life of a 
 devoted fsither. Under the pressure of .such limited 
 circumstances as was common in primitive days, and 
 with few advantages for mental culture, they felt that 
 the best fortune they could bequeath their children 
 was that of moral power with the ' true riches ;' there- 
 fore they were untiring in their efforts to lead their 
 children in the way of everlasting life. 
 
 "At about the age of fifteen Clark embraced the 
 religion of Jesus, and united with the old Hopkinton 
 Church, under the pastoral labors of Elder Matthew 
 Stillman. He afterwards removed his standing to the 
 church in Westerly, where he remained a member 
 until the organization of the church in Greenman- 
 ville, of which he was a constituent member, and 
 where he was an earnest and faithful worker until his 
 final sickness. Even in early life he was remarkably 
 conscientious and trustworthy, scrupulously honest in 
 dealing, and greatly pained at the thought of having 
 done wrong. 
 
 " His work was that of a cotnmon laborer, and when 
 a mere boy he went out among farmers and manufac- 
 turers, laboring for l)ire to aid his father in support- 
 ing the family. Thus early he began to develop those 
 habits of thoroughgoing industry and earnestness 
 which characterized him through life. At the age of 
 eighteen he began ship-building with his father and 
 brothers, carrying their tools from place to place, 
 seeking jobs far and wide, and often walking long 
 distances to reach their work. Recognizing his father's 
 right to his services during all the years of his mi- 
 nority, his wages were freely given over until he was 
 twenty-one years old. At the age of twenty-four he 
 entered into partnership with his three brothers, 
 Silas, George, and Thomas, and labored in ship-build- 
 ing from the spring of 1832 till the autumn of 1834. 
 The following summer he accompanied his brother 
 Thomas and W. B. Lewis to South America for the 
 purpose of building a steamer, and on returning con- 
 tinued labor with his brother George until the spring 
 of 1838. At this date the firm of George Greenman 
 46 
 
 & Co. was formed, of which he was a member until 
 the day of his death. The willingness with which he 
 always carried his part, the earnestness with which 
 he applied himself to toil, and his wonderful thor- 
 oughness in all he undertook made him an example 
 in industry, and won for him a place in the affections 
 of many a fellow-laborer. 
 
 " But his noblest record was not made in the ship- 
 yard. He valued human souls too highly to spend all 
 his energies in labor for the perishable things of earth. 
 His desire for the elevation of fallen man was too 
 great for him to withhold his influence and neglect to 
 labor in the moral realm. His recognition of hu- 
 manity as a common brotherhood enabled him to feel 
 for every sufferer and sympathize with the oppressed, 
 and he could not rest until every effort had been 
 made to disenthrall men from both moral and physi- 
 cal bondage. Thus in the higher field of life, and in 
 the truest sense of the word, Clark Greenman was a 
 reformer. Unaided by school advantages, he was 
 obliged to gather his education from the world, and 
 whatever information he could gain from general 
 reading. In this respect he was no idler, and his 
 naturally keen mind and uncommonly quick percep- 
 tions, penetrating and sifting every moral question 
 with which he grappled, until the very bottom prin- 
 ciple was reached and the foundation tried, enabled 
 him to think clear ahead of the masses, reaching the 
 ultimate truth, and occupying an advanced position 
 that others only gained through long successive 
 stages. On this account he received many a severe 
 criticism, and was many times misunderstood. Men 
 far behind in moral reforms could not comprehend 
 the feelings and solicitude of one whose keener con- 
 science and moral intuitions placed him far in ad- 
 vance. And he in turn could not understand why 
 others should be so slow to apprehend truths that to 
 his far-reaching mind seemed self-evident, and which, 
 as the result has shown, were the very ones to which 
 they would come after years of resistance. It was for 
 such reasons that he sometimes seemed severe, when 
 in his heart of hearts there was none but the kindest 
 feelings. We need no further explanation than this to 
 account for his position even in the very earliest days 
 of the temperance reform. It was this same far-reach- 
 ing, conscientious moral judgment that enabled him, 
 in a time when intemperance was most popular and 
 every influence favored the use of ardent spirits, to 
 take the advanced and consistent ground of " total 
 abstinence " — a position that was not reached, even 
 by some of the most avowed temperance workers, for 
 several years after. From that early day onward he 
 was an earnest worker, both by moral support and 
 financial aid, in the cause of temperance. 
 
 " Again, in the early anti-slavery days, when op- 
 pressed humanity sent up that bitter wail of woe, and 
 the clanking chains of outraged millions gave the 
 falsehood to America's boasted liberty, Clark was an 
 earnest champion of freedom and in the first line of 
 
718 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 battle. From the depths of his soul he pitied the 
 oppressed, and conscientiously accepted the truth of 
 human equality. "Therefore no amount of penalties 
 imposed by a sinful nation's law, nor yet the oppro- 
 brium attached to an unpopular movement, could 
 swerve him for a single moment from an appre- 
 hended line of duty. He was true and unflinching 
 in a time when it required moral stamina to be an 
 Abolitionist. In a time when the great mass of the 
 Christian world was against them, and it was almost 
 impossible to obtain a house in which to advocate the 
 cause of freedom for the slave, his home, with that of 
 his brothers, was always headquarters for advocates 
 of reform, and in him they found a true and willing 
 supporter. In 1856, while the contest of this reform 
 was still raging, he was elected to the State Senate, 
 where he was an efficient and earnest worker, and 
 won many commendations for the keen insight and 
 good judgment there displayed. He also did good 
 service in the passage of the " Maine Law" bill. 
 While selectman of the town he won the love and 
 esteem of the poor by his efforts in their behalf and 
 heartfelt sympathy with them in time of need. 
 
 " In matters of religion he was eminently practical, 
 sincere, and thoroughly in earnest. He saw little 
 advantage in and had little sympathy with a mere 
 sentimental theory that did not change men's lives 
 and make them better. While he had a high regard 
 for the forms and externals of religion as helps, he 
 would still make them secondary, and plead for a 
 Christianity of working faith, and that by love of 
 deeds as well as words, of watching as well as pray- 
 ing, of fruitage as well as blossoms. Therefore he 
 made religion cover a man's whole life. Towards the 
 last of his life he embraced with all his soul the love- 
 teachings of Christ regarding the non-resistant peace 
 principles that pertained to his kingdom. 
 
 " During most of his last painful sickness he had 
 little hope of recovery, and felt perfectly confident 
 that his work was done. He was ready and anxious 
 to go, and only expressed a desire to live on account 
 of those who would be bereaved by his loss, and who 
 would miss bis counsels and need his care. 
 
 " In his death the church lost a willing and earnest 
 worker, society a benefactor, and all a wise and com- 
 petent counselor.'' 
 
 He married, Jan. 4, 1841, Harriet, daughter of 
 Peleg and Hannah Almy, of Portsmouth, E. I. She 
 was born July 30, 1812. Of their five children one 
 only is now living,— Harriet E., wife of Dr. Charles 
 F. Stillman, a prominent surgeon, of 104 West Thirty- 
 fourth Street, New York City. They have one son, 
 Kirtland. 
 
 Thomas S. Greenman.— Thomas S. Greenman was 
 born Oct. 5, 1810, in Westerly, R. I. Like his brothers, 
 his life was passed in labor from very early years and 
 with the same limited advantages of education. ' He 
 learned from his parents the same love of labor and 
 directness of purpose so characteristic of the name, 
 
 and commenced life for himself at his majority with 
 a determination to do honest work, and an inflexible 
 purpose to be ever found first right, next laborious. 
 It was a hard task the young man had, from humble 
 circumstances to carve competency and position from 
 the great world careless of his existence. And yet, 
 as foundation for that success, the goal of youthful 
 ambition, did he not have the very best possible ma- 
 terial ? Who knows but that same honest, industri- 
 ous poverty was the most important factor of the sub- 
 sequent successful career ? Money can do much in 
 life, but it cannot do all. We must know the province 
 of it, and confine it there. Thomas Greenman knew 
 this, and money has never been the sole or even first 
 aim of his life. He learned the trade of ship-car- 
 penter with his brothers, worked in perfect harmony, 
 and acting on the old maxim of " Union is strength," 
 they have always worked together, and thus they have 
 won success financially, and an enviable position in 
 society. The details of their business career have 
 been given in connection with George Greenman's 
 biography, and need not be recapitulated here. 
 
 Thomas married, Nov. 21, 1842, Charlotte, daughter 
 of David Rogers, of an early Connecticut family of 
 high repute, and which traces its genealogy away 
 back through the English martyr, John Rogers, to 
 the early days of England, and to men in high po- 
 sition even then. They have one daughter, Charlotte 
 Elizabeth, who married Thomas E. Stillman, a lawyer 
 of Brooklyn, N. Y. She has four children, — Jessie, 
 Ellen, Mary, and Charlotte. Mrs. Greenman died 
 May 14, 1879. 
 
 In 1836, Thomas accompanied his brother Clark to 
 South America, under an agreement with Silas E. 
 Burrows to build a steamer for the Magdalena River. 
 Burrows relinquished his contract, however, and the 
 brothers returned home. Thomas then went as car- 
 penter on a ship bound for the same place, and re- 
 mained absent from Connecticut about two years. He 
 is a good and fluent speaker, with an analytical and 
 legal mind, and has always been a debater in society- 
 meetings and town-meetings, holds pronounced opin- 
 ions, and can support them by logic and reason. A 
 strong Whig, a pronounced Free-soiler and Repub- 
 lican, he was always a Prohibitionist ; was elected 
 justice of the peace on the temperance issue, and held 
 that office twenty-five years, and until disqualified 
 by age. For the last thirty years he has been grand 
 juror, and represented Stonington in the State Legis- 
 lature of 1866. He is a director of the First National 
 Bank of Mystic Bridge. 
 
 Among the active, positive men of Stonington prob- 
 ably few enjoy the friendship and esteem of a larger 
 number than Thomas Greenman. His social nature 
 and warm sentiments have caused his home to beever 
 a pleasant one, and strangers to be attracted by his 
 personality, although holding very different political 
 sentiments. 
 Greenmanville and Business Interests in 1881.— 
 
:^.^>2^C 
 
 ' ■■^'^C^>-7-z^t-cy^'^<! 
 
^^ny A-snLtcw-c 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 719 
 
 Greenmanville was named in 1849. When bought by 
 the Greenmans, in 1838, it was Adams' Point, and 
 was given to the little village springing up around 
 their works for the sake of convenience, and to name 
 the Greenmanville Manufacturing Company, then 
 started to manufacture fine woolen goods, and for 
 which a mill was erected. This mill was not large 
 enough to satisfy demand for goods, and in 1860 
 Messrs. Stillman & Brown, of Westerly, bought one- 
 half interest, thus giving an accession of capital, en- 
 larged the mill to its present size, and ran the busi- 
 ness in their own name, the Greenmans only owning 
 the property, until Stillman & Brown were succeeded 
 by Thomas Clark & Co., and the failure of the new 
 firm in 1873, when George Greenman & Co., W. F. 
 Prosser, and George H. Greenman reorganized it 
 under the old name of Greenmanville Manufacturing 
 Company, Mr. Prosser becoming superintendent, and 
 G. H. Greenman treasurer. The capacity of the mill 
 is five sets of machinery. 
 
 George Greenman & Co. are controlling stockhold- 
 ers of the Standard Machinery Company of Mystic 
 Eiver. This company manufactures a full line of 
 bookbinders' machinery, power paper-cutters, and all 
 kinds of cotton-gin machinery and materials. It is a 
 stock company, organized about 1878, with capital 
 stock of $103,000. George Greenman & Co. estab- 
 lished a general store at Greenmanville in 1863 to 
 supply their many employes and others. It is still 
 in prosperous existence, under care of George H. 
 Greenman. The same firm also owns ten dwellings 
 in Greenmanville, and two fine farms of about two 
 hundred acres. 
 
 C. A. Fenner & Co., Mystic River, Groton, manu- 
 facturers of extension toy cribs, cradles, and exten- 
 sion canvas boats, commenced business in 1877. Their 
 success has been great and their sales have increased 
 rapidly. In 1879 they sold 20,000; 1880, 40,000; 
 1881, 50,000. These goods are made under patent of 
 Mr. Fenner for his invention of a new application, 
 and are manufactured under his personal supervision. 
 
 Calvert B. Cottrell, son of Libbeus Cottrell and 
 Lydia Maxson, was born in Westerly, E. I., Aug. 20, 
 1821. In 1840, at the age of nineteen, he went to 
 learn the machinist business with Messrs. Lavally, 
 Lanphear & Co., of Phenix, E. I., manufacturers of 
 cotton-machinery, by whom he was employed fifteen 
 years, most of the time as contractor. He saved dur- 
 ing that time sufficient money to start in business, 
 and in July, 1855, he came to Westerly and settled on 
 the Stonington side of the Pawcatuck Eiver (which 
 for a number of miles is the boundary line between 
 Connecticut and Ehode Island), forming a copartner- 
 ship with Nathan Babcock, under the firm-name of 
 Cottrell & Babcock. They engaged in the manufac- 
 ture of cotton and wood-working machinery, also 
 printing-presses, and continued in these branches of 
 the machine business until 1861, when they began 
 also manufacturing woolen-machinery, building all 
 
 the machinery necessary for the production of fancy 
 cassimeres and woolen goods. In connection with 
 this, they were also engaged during the war in manu- 
 facturing gun-appendages, supplying largely the ap- 
 pendages for the Springfield armory and private 
 armories. 
 
 In the year 1868 they turned their attention to the 
 manufacture of printing-presses as a specialty. In 
 July, 1880, twenty-five years from the beginning of 
 the copartnership, Mr. Cottrell purchased Mr. Bab- 
 cock's entire interest in the concern, since which time 
 the business has been continued by C. B. Cottrell & 
 Sons. 
 
 Mr. Cottrell had only such educational advantages 
 as the common schools of his early day afforded, but 
 having an ambition for a better education, employed 
 a large portion of his leisure time for many years in 
 study, setting apart a portion of each day after work- 
 ing hours for that purpose. 
 
 Mr. Cottrell has done much in the way of improving 
 the printing-press, having within the last few years 
 obtained some fifteen different patents for various im- 
 provements, which have given their machinery a lead- 
 ing place in the market. Among the improvements 
 may be mentioned the patent sheet-delivery, dispens- 
 ing with the tapes formerly used for carrying the 
 printed sheet to the fly, thereby saving much time 
 and trouble ; a patent hinged roller-frame, the dis- 
 tributors being arranged in a frame, thus enabling 
 the operator by a simple movement to swing them 
 clear of the form-rollers, leaving them free for remo- 
 val, and a patent device for controlling momentum of 
 the cylinder. By this device a higher rate of speed 
 is obtained, and perfect register is secured as a natu- 
 ral result. A patent air-spring, enabling the operator 
 to obtain at will the amount of power necessary for 
 stopping and reversing the bed. The spring can be 
 accurately graduated from the greatest amount of 
 power necessary to the least with the utmost ease. 
 A patent governor-attachment for throwing the spring 
 on or off automatically when starting or stopping the 
 press ; a patent geared bed and slider-arrangement, 
 insuring perfect travel between bed and slider, and 
 preventing sliders from bumping against the end of 
 the tracks ; patent vacuum valve, etc. 
 
 Messrs. Cottrell & Sons have an extensive establish- 
 ment. They at present employ about two hundred 
 and fifty hands, and are rapidly extending their 
 works. The buildings, including main structure, 
 pattern-shop, foundry, blacksmith-shop, engine-room, 
 etc., cover about two acres of ground. The location 
 is an admirable one, on the Pawcatuck Eiver, about 
 five miles from Long Island Sound, where coal and 
 iron can be brought direct to the firm's docks, and 
 whence their heavy machines may be shipped at but 
 a small cost for freight. 
 
 The reputation of their presses extends not only 
 throughout the United States, but to Mexico and the 
 South American country and Europe as well. 
 
720 
 
 HISTORY .OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Mr. Cottrell was formerly a Whig until tlie Repub- 
 lican party was organized in 1856, when he joined 
 that party, and has since been one of its stanch sup- 
 porters. 
 
 At an early age he identified himself with the tem- 
 perance movement, and has been all his life a total 
 abstainer from intoxicating liquors. 
 
 He married, May 4, 1849, Lydia W. Perkins, daugh- 
 ter of Elisha Perkins and- Nancy Russell. They have 
 six children, viz. : Edgar H., Hattie E., Charles P., 
 C. B., Jr., L. Angienette, and Arthur M., all born in 
 Stonington except the first two mentioned. 
 
 The three eldest sons are connected with their father 
 in the manufacturing business. Mr. Cottrell is a man 
 of great forte of character, of quick perception, of a 
 social disposition, prudent, yet very liberal towards all 
 charitable institutions. He is a member of the Sev- 
 enth-day Baptist Church, and one of the leading 
 citizens in his community. 
 
 Natlian Babcock, the subject of this sketch, was 
 born in Westerly, E. I., Nov. 19, 1824, and was the 
 eldest child of Oliver and Phebe Babcock. James 
 Babcock, the progenitor of the family from which Mr. 
 Babcock sprang, was born in Essex, England, about 
 the year 1580 ; he was a Puritan, and emigrated with 
 his family to Leyden, Holland, in 1620, and subse- 
 quently sought the shores of America, arriving about 
 July, 1623. He had four children born in England, 
 — James, John, Job, and Mary, — who came with him 
 to this country. About 1650 he married a second 
 wife, by whom he had one son, Joseph, who subse- 
 quently settled near Saybrook, Conn. 
 
 A legend of the family states that John Babcock, 
 second son of James, Sr., came from Plymouth, Mass., 
 to " Acquidneck" (the island of Rhode Island), where 
 he was employed by Thomas Lawton, a prosperous 
 man, who had one lovely daughter, Mary. Lawton 
 soon discovered signs of an attachment ripening be- 
 tween his workman and his daughter, and being a 
 true aristocrat, determined to put an end to the whole 
 matter by dismissing the man from his employ and 
 forbidding him his house. The old adage that " love 
 laughs at locksmiths" was herein exemplified. John 
 and Mary, as the story goes, sailed away together in 
 a small boat, and made their way to the mouth of the 
 Pawcatuck River, which they entered, and landed at 
 Massatuxet Cove, in the present limits of Westerly. 
 
 This was about the year 1648, before the purchase 
 of the Narragansett country from "Sosoa," an Indian 
 chief, by a company formed in Newport. This pur- 
 chase was perfected in 1660. 
 
 John Babcock and his wife Mary were the first 
 white settlers in Westerly, R. I. They had a family 
 of eight sons and two daughters, and lived to a ripe 
 old age. Several of these children settled in the east- 
 ern part of Connecticut, where many of their de- 
 scendants are still living. Their eldest son, James, 
 was the first white male child born in Westerly ; he 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of Tobias Saunders, of 
 
 Westerly, and had six children, four sons and two 
 daughters, of whom the eldest son, James, was the 
 paternal, and the second son, Daniel, the maternal 
 ancestor of the subject of this article. 
 
 Daniel Babcock, paternal grandfather of Nathan, 
 was the grandson of James last mentioned, and son of 
 Oliver and Anna Avery Babcock, both of North 
 Stonington, Conn., being the youngest of nine chil- 
 dren. His father died when Daniel was but nine 
 years of age. He was born in North Stonington, 
 Conn., Aug. 31, 1762. Arriving at manhood, he be- 
 came a blacksmith, and commenced business at Potter 
 Hill, where in 1783 he married Content, daughter of 
 Joseph Potter. They had nine children, eight of 
 whom grew to maturity : Daniel, Betsey, Jacob D., 
 Nancy, George, Oliver, Lucy, Mary, and Emily H. 
 Of him Rev. Frederick Denison, in his " Westerly 
 and its Witnesses," speaks as follows :' " As one of 
 the witnesses and noble representatives of Potter Hill 
 and Hopkinton, mention should be made of Deacon 
 Daniel Babcock, or Judge Babcock, as he was often 
 called. For forty-six years he was a justice of the 
 peace ; for nine years he was a member of the Upper 
 House of the State, elected by general proxy, and car- 
 ried with him the suffrages of all parties, retaining 
 the office by a unanimous vote. For ten years he 
 was a judge of the County Court of Washington 
 County; he was the intimate friend and counselor 
 of Governors Fenner, Knight, and others. As a 
 Christian man, he honorably maintained his profes- 
 sion for sixty-three years, and for fifty-eight years he 
 was a deacon in the stanch old Sabbatarian Church 
 in Hopkinton, in which church he also served as 
 chorister for nearly half a century. He belonged to 
 the soundly evangelical portion of his denomination, 
 was the intimate friend and relative of Rev. Rufus 
 Babcock, was loved and honored by Rev. Stephen 
 Gano and others of Providence, and was sent for far 
 and near as arbiter and counselor in difficult cases in 
 church and in private life. He served for a short time 
 in the Revolutionary war, and died in Hopkinton, 
 Sept. 18, 1846." 
 
 Oliver Babcock, fourth son of Daniel and Content, 
 and father of Nathan, was born Dec. 12, 1797 ; he 
 learned his father's trade, and subsequently wrought 
 at it for a few years near the Road meeting-house, in 
 Stonington, Conn. In 1823 he formed a partnership 
 with his brother Daniel at Potter Hill, R. I., under 
 the firm-name of D. Babcock, Jr., & Co., for the manu- 
 facture of edged tools. Their work was noted for its 
 excellence, and patronage came from far and near. 
 
 In January, 1824, he married Phebe, daughter of 
 Stephen and Phebe (Burtch) Babcock, of Stonington, 
 Conn., by whom he had eleven children, eight of 
 whom lived to be men and women, as follows: Na- 
 than, Amanda, Daniel, Ann Elizabeth, Stephen, 
 Lucy, Almy, Phebe Jane, and Julia M. ; these all 
 are still living (1881) except Ann Elizabeth. 
 
 The partnership of Oliver with his brother con- 
 
^/^^ 
 
 ^c 
 
 O-i-Vi 
 
STEPHEN BABCOCK. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 721 
 
 tinued until 1860, when advancing age and failing 
 health of both compelled them to give up business. 
 
 He was from twelve years of age a member of the 
 First Seventh-day Baptist Church of Hopkinton, and 
 held a high place in the regards of his fellow-towns- 
 men. He was a man of unusually strong convic- 
 tions, and dared to carry those convictions into action. 
 A Whig, and later a Kepublican in politics. He was 
 an ardent temperance man, being among the first who 
 dared to be so unpopular as to sign the temperance 
 pledge. He died Sept. 9, 1869, aged seventy-one 
 years. His widow still survives (December, 1881), 
 now nearly eighty years of age, with her mental facul- 
 ties unimpaired, enjoying that love and esteem which 
 come from a long life of active usefulness and untir- 
 ing devotion to her family. 
 
 Nathan Babcock, the subject of this sketch, spent 
 the most of his life until fifteen years of age with his 
 maternal grandparents, Stephen and Phebe Babcock, 
 in Stonington, Conn., where he attended common 
 school; afterwards he went to his father's, where he 
 attended school two winters. In May, 1842, he went 
 to Warwick, K. I., and became an apprentice to the 
 machinist trade ; he worked there as apprentice, jour- 
 neyman, and for the last seven years sub-contractor ; 
 in all, thirteen years. 
 
 March 2, 1847, he married Phebe W., daughter of 
 Eay and Esther (Eussel) Johnson, of Warwick. 
 
 In April, 1855, he entered into partnership with C. 
 B. Cottrell, under the firm-name of Cottrell & Babcock, 
 for the manufacture of cotton and woolen machinery, 
 and in July of the same year moved to the village 
 of Pawcatuck, in Stonington, Conn., where the firm 
 began business, employing at first not more than 
 half a dozen men. In a short time the manufac- 
 ture of power printing-presses was commenced, and 
 soon became the principal branch of the business. 
 Mr. Babcock was identified with the business for 
 twenty-five years, during which time it increased 
 until the number of men employed was nearly two 
 hundred. During this time he had the entire man- 
 agement of the works ; from the first he attended to 
 all the details of the business, devised plans for build- 
 ings, organized the several departments of work, no 
 part of which escaped his observation, and no machi- 
 nery was sent away from the manufactory without his 
 personal inspection and approval. So close was his 
 application to the business that for years together he 
 was not absent for a single day. 
 
 It is not too much to say that the successful estab- 
 lishment of this enterprise, which for a quarter of a 
 century has given employment to so large a number 
 of men, is due largely to the ability and untiring 
 energy of Mr. Babcock. He took an especial interest 
 in the men in his employ, as many can now attest, 
 giving them counsel as a friend, and visiting and car- 
 ing for them when sick. Hundreds of men who have 
 been employed by the firm remember Mr. Babcock, 
 notonly as a just employer, but also as a sympathizing 
 
 neighbor and friend. The partnership continued 
 until July, 1880, when Mr. Babcock sold his half-in- 
 terest to Mr. Cottrell and retired from the firm. 
 
 He has one child, a daughter, Hannah A. He is a 
 Seventh-day Baptist. In politics a Eepublican. Is a 
 strong believer in and an active worker for prohibi- 
 tion. A man of strong physique and resolute nature, 
 he has been amanof one work, — his business. Public- 
 spirited, energetic, and wide awake, Mr. Babcock is 
 to-day a good representative of the clear-headed, 
 active, successful business men of Stonington. 
 
 Stephen Babcock, whose likeness is given here- 
 with, was born in Westerly, E. I., Feb. 27, 1772. He 
 was the fifth son of Christopher, of Westerly, and 
 Mehitable Chalker Babcock, of Saybrook, Conn. His 
 great-grandfather, Daniel, was the son of James Bab- 
 cock, the first white male child born in Westerly, E. I. 
 In his early life he followed the sea for a period, and 
 at one time he read medicine with a physician in 
 Westerly, but gave up the study and became a farmer, 
 teaching school during the winters, and taking charge 
 of a farm at Watch Hill for the owner during the 
 summer months. 
 
 His father, with the rest of the family, seven in all, 
 emigrated to New York State, but Stephen remained 
 in New England. 
 
 In March, 1801, he married Phebe Burtch, who was 
 born and reared in Stonington, Conn. For a few 
 years after his marriage he rented and improved a 
 farm in Hopkinton, E. I., but on March 4, 1806, he 
 removed with his family — wife and two young chil- 
 dren — to Stonington, Conn., a distance of about ten 
 miles, he and his wife riding upon one horse, with a 
 saddle and pillion, carrying the youngest child before 
 them, while the elder child, Phebe, not quite four 
 years old, rode the entire distance upon a pillion be- 
 hind a friend who drove the second horse. In less 
 than three weeks a third child was born. These 
 three— Phebe, Stephen, and Elias— were their only 
 children who attained to maturity. 
 
 From 1806 Mr. Babcock remained a citizen of 
 Stonington during the rest of his life. He was a man 
 of strict integrity, and held a high place in the re- 
 gards of his compeers. In politics he was a Democrat, 
 and always exercised his privileges as a citizen, but 
 attended strictly to his private business, through 
 which he acquired a comfortable competency. His 
 daughter Phebe married Oliver Babcock, of Hopkin- 
 ton, and removed to Ehode Island. His eldest son, 
 Stephen, settled in Simsbury, Conn., where he died 
 in 1856, at the age of fifty-one years, leaving a widow 
 and four children. Elias, the younger son, remained 
 with his father until his death, then sold the farm 
 and removed to Stonington Borough, where he be- 
 came a merchant. He died in March, 1881, aged 
 seventy-five years, leaving a widow and two children, 
 a son and daughter. Both the children are married 
 and settled in Stonington. Mr. Babcock died March 
 23, 1852, aged eighty years. 
 
rn 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Trustum Dickins was born on Block Island about 
 1775. He was a seafaring man. He married Martha 
 Wilcox, and had five sons and five daughters,— Syl- 
 vester, Hezekiah, Amos, Trustum, Henry, Martha, 
 Margaret, Susan, Abby, and Hannah. When a young 
 man he removed to Stonington and settled on the 
 Pawcatuck Biver, opposite Lotteryville, where he 
 purchased a tract of land and followed farming in the 
 latter part of his life. He was of a very social nature, 
 of an even temperament, much attached to his fam- 
 ily. He had good health until his death at a very 
 advanced age. 
 
 Trustum Dickins, Jr., was born in Stonington, 
 Conn., on the place above spoken of, Nov. 14, 1793. 
 His childhood till he was fourteen years old was 
 passed on the farm. At that age he accompanied his 
 father, who was sailing in the coasting trade and 
 fishing in the Straits of Belle Isle, and when but a 
 young man took command of the sloop " Julia Ann," 
 in the coasting trade. He followed the sea until he 
 was about sixty years of age, and then settled on the 
 place now occupied by his son, Capt. James E. Dickins, 
 on the Pawcatuck Biver. The remainder of his life 
 was passed in that beautiful location, and here he died, 
 at the hale old age of seventy-six years, April 5, 1870. 
 He married Hannah, daughter of James and Esther 
 (Burdiok) Boss, of Westerly, E. I. Their children 
 were Martha (Mrs. Oliver Babcock), James B., Sally 
 F. (Mrs. Nathan Barber), Charles W. (died young), 
 Mary Esther (Mrs. Elias Watrous), Lois B. (Mrs. 
 Hoxie Noyes), Samuel L. (married Margaret, daugh- 
 ter of William T. and Amanda E. Pendleton). In 
 personal characteristics he resembled his father, — 
 quiet, unassuming, and genial. He was a thorough 
 seaman and an able navigator. He was attached to 
 a gunboat for the defense of Stonington when that 
 village was attacked by the British, but was not called 
 into action. In politics he was formerly an " Old- 
 Line" Whig, afterwards a Eepublican from 1856. 
 
 James E. Dickins was born Feb. 29, 1821, on the 
 place where he now resides. Had education at com- 
 mon schools until he was sixteen, when he went on 
 the sea with his father in coasting trade, and to New 
 York, and at nineteen took command of a packet, 
 the sloop " China," running from Westerly to New 
 York City, and for thirty years continued to run as 
 captain in that service, and was very successful finan- 
 cially. When about forty-five years old he retired, 
 and since has nominally been a farmer. He is inde- 
 pendent in politics, but generally votes the Eepubli- 
 can ticket. He married, Jan. 25, 1860, Phalla M., 
 daughter of Thomas and Mary (Scholfield) Hinckley, 
 of Stonington. Of their three children, two survive, 
 Martha Ann and Hannah Francis. 
 
 Mrs. Dickins' mother came from England when 
 six years old, and is now in fair health, physical and 
 mental, in her ninety-fifth year. Her brother, James 
 Scholfield, now lives in Montville, aged ninety-six 
 years, and is now reading Csesar. 
 
 Mr. Dickins is a man of fine social and neighborly 
 qualities, is considered a shrewd and careful business 
 man, has been a director of the Pawcatuck National 
 Bank for several years, and is one of the substantial 
 farmers of this part of the town. 
 
 George W. Noyes, eldest child of Thomas and 
 Mary Noyes, was born in Stonington, Conn., Jan. 
 15, 1800. He married, in 1845, Miss Martha Babcock 
 Noyes, and died March 6, 1849, leaving his wife and 
 one child, a daughter. 
 
 A descendant of an old family, his line of ancestry 
 reaches back to the first days of our country. 
 
 In 1634, Bev. James Noyes and his younger brother, 
 Nicholas, sons of Bev. William Noyes, came to New 
 England from Wiltshire, England, and settled at 
 Newbury, Mass. Bev. James Noyes (second son of 
 first) came to Stonington about 1670, and to this 
 branch of the family the subject of this sketch be- 
 longed. 
 
 The records show a long line of professional men, 
 especially clergymen, who were stanch supporters of 
 civil and religious liberty, Col. Joseph Noyes (grand- 
 father of George), with three ofhis sons, having served 
 his country in the war of the Eevolution. 
 
 With such an ancestry it was not strange that Mr. 
 Noyes should have inherited a strong love of right 
 and freedom, and an equally strong hatred of wrong 
 and oppression. He grew to manhood under the care 
 of one of the best and sweetest of mothers, to whom 
 he was always the most loyal and affectionate of sons. 
 
 Though possessing literary tastes which were well 
 cultivated, he chose a business life rather than a pro- 
 fession, and established himself in Salem, Conn., about 
 1828. After two or three years, at the advice and wish 
 of his father, to whom he was strongly attached, he 
 returned to Stonington, and continued his business as 
 a merchant at Pawcatuck, in the eastern part of the 
 town. At the time of his death he had nearly com- 
 pleted his arrangements to enter permanently the 
 manufacturing business. 
 
 In the political affairs of the nation he was greatly 
 interested, warmly espousing the anti-slavery cause. 
 In 1844 he was the first and only voter in his town of 
 the Abolition ticket. The next year he was joined 
 by Mr. William Bryant, and after two or three years 
 another gentleman joined them. 
 
 At that time the excitement upon slavery ran high, 
 and those who avowed themselves friends of the 
 negro had to withstand much opposition.^ Lecturers 
 were traversing the country, making earnest appeals 
 for the oppressed African, and to such Mr. Noyes 
 always gave the most liberal hospitality and active 
 sympathy. 
 
 The growing evils of the slave system and the dread 
 retribution which its continuance was sure to bring 
 the nation were fully impressed on his mind. His 
 fine sense of right and justice recoiled with horror 
 from the national crime, and he made every effort in 
 his power to assist its overthrow. 
 
^'iqr- uy jL.'i 
 
 {/U^dyUl'^^'?y ^i^cf-oeyriJ 
 
A./fr.-^^ 
 
THOMAS HINCKLEY. 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 723 
 
 Another thing to which Mr. Noyes had a most 
 sincere hatred was intemperance. In an old journal, 
 continued through many years, frequent reference is 
 made to the subject, in which he expresses himself as 
 firmly opposed to the granting of licenses for the 
 selling of intoxicating liquors. 
 
 He served his town officially in various ways, al- 
 ways with stern integrity and faithfulness. 
 
 His life was just at its prime when, contracting a 
 slight cold, an attack of membranous croup followed, 
 and after two days' illness he died, having but just 
 passed his forty-ninth birthday. 
 
 Joseph Noyes.— The subject of this sketch was 
 born Feb. 25, 1793, and was reared to farm-life with 
 his parents, enjoying the advantages of public-school 
 education. During his early manhood he taught 
 school in the winter, and engaged in farming the rest 
 of the year. He married Grace B. Denison, of Ston- 
 ington, Nov. 19, 1818, and together they started on 
 life's journey, following agricultural pursuits. They 
 became the parents of eleven children, eight sons 
 and three daughters, only three of whom are now 
 living, two sons, and one daughter, who is the wife of 
 Eichard A. Wheeler. With an interesting family of 
 children around them, they gave to farm-life the 
 added charm of intelligent, social intercourse at home 
 and in society. 
 
 Mr. Noyes was a man of upright dealings with his 
 fellow-men ; intelligent, courteous, and honest, he 
 shared largely the confidence of the public, and was 
 elected to various town offices. He was chosen repre- 
 sentative of his native town to the Legislature for 
 the years 1847^8 ; discharged the duties thereof faith- 
 fully and well, honoring himself thereby as well as 
 his constituents. Paternally and maternally Mr. 
 Noyes descended from some of the best families of 
 New England. Paternally from- the Rev. James 
 Noyes, the first settled minister of Stonington, whose 
 father, the Rev. James Noyes, was educated at Brazen 
 Nose College, in the University of Oxford, England, 
 and entered the ministry, and for his disinclination to 
 adopt all of Queen Elizabeth's forms was driven to 
 Holland, but subsequently returned to England, and 
 married Sarah, eldest daughter of Mr. Joseph Brown, 
 of Southampton, in 1634, and in March of that year 
 embarked with his brother Nicholas in the ship 
 "Mary and John,'' of London, for Boston. After 
 his arrival in this country he settled in Newbury, 
 Mass., where his son, our Eev. James, was born, 
 March 11, 1640. His father, William Noyes, was a 
 clergyman, and was instituted rector in the diocese of 
 Salisbury, England, in 1602, which position he re- 
 signed in favor of his brother, Nathan Noyes, in 
 1620, and was then appointed attorney-general to the 
 king of England. 
 
 Maternally from the Rev. Thomas Shepard, of 
 Boston, one of the most distinguished divines of New 
 England, by his third wife, Margaret Borodel, sister 
 of Ann Borodel Denison, of Stonington, from whom 
 
 Mr. Noyes descended maternally and paternally. 
 Mr. Noyes died June 12, 1872. 
 
 Thomas Hinckley.— In the review of Mr. Hinck- 
 ley's life, which invites our thought, we are carried 
 back to the last century, to the year 1787, the full 
 period embraced by the history of our national Con- 
 stitution. In that generation of long ago he was born 
 and educated, among a peculiar, tried, and worthy 
 people; among plain, frugal, solid, toiling, patriotic 
 farmers, a people quite different from the society of 
 the present times. 
 
 Our country had just emerged from the long and 
 exhausting Revolutionary struggle. A national com- 
 merce had not yet sprung up. Manufactures were 
 very few, and all in their infancy. Our people were 
 chiefly agriculturists, and compelled to exercise the 
 utmost economy. Most of them were dependent upon 
 home productions, both in respect to their wardrobes 
 and their tables. The principal capital of those days 
 consisted in the virtues and personal energies of the 
 people. How different in almost all respects the con- 
 ditions and habits of the present day ! 
 
 In recalling Mr. Hinckley's life, and in estimating 
 his character and influence, there are several points 
 to be noticed. To appreciate his labors and the 
 legacy he has left to his family and the town we must 
 give these points their proper weight. 
 
 1. He was of a good family. By this I mean he 
 was of good blood, and inherited a sound constitu- 
 tion, and withal inherited those biases, inclinations, 
 and tastes which are transmissible in blood. It is 
 said in common parlance that "blood will tell;" so 
 it will, and this is a matter worthy of remembrance. 
 Not without reason, farmers think much of good 
 stock and breed. It were well if a like law of selec- 
 tion gained credence and observance in all human 
 families. In some families there seem to be inherent 
 weaknesses, follies, and vices. In others there are in- 
 herited excellencies and virtues, both of body and of 
 mind. The law of inheritance is a potent one, and 
 often reaches to the third and fourth generation. 
 The good or evil in us lives after us, virtues and vices 
 linger in family veins. "No man liveth to himself, 
 and no man dieth to himself." In Mr. Hinckley's 
 physical constitution, that stood the wear of eighty- 
 nine years, and in his natural temperament and his 
 habits of thought and conduct we have no insignifi- 
 cant eulogy on his parents and the Puritan stock 
 from which he sprung; and his inherited qualities 
 and tastes were also happily evinced in his wise se- 
 lection of a consort, who survives him in her ninety- 
 fifth year. 
 
 2. He had a sound education. For his times, his 
 culture was broad in extent and excellent in char- 
 acter. In his boyhood our country knew very little 
 of newspapers, magazines, libraries, academies, and 
 colleges ; it knew chiefly country school-houses and 
 thinking men and women. Mr. Hinckley, from the 
 famed Connecticut common school and such books 
 
724 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 as were accessible, and the society of educators and 
 public men, secured a mental training and a measure 
 of knowledge superior to that of most of his ootem- 
 poraries, so that he became a famous school-teacher 
 in his day. His proficiency in what were then the 
 higher branches of mathematics qualified him to act 
 largely as a practical surveyor in the township, and 
 many are the metes and bounds of farms and high- 
 ways and lots of land that now testify to his ability 
 and skill, and he continued to thus serve his fellow- 
 townsmeu until within a few years of his death. 
 Could we to-day call' up the multitude of his old 
 pupils from the old school-houses, we could confi- 
 dently rely upon their verdict as to his virtues as a 
 man and his success as an instructor. The name of 
 Master Hinckley is still pronounced with the greatest 
 respect. Some light may be thrown upon the general 
 trade and correspondence of this region of country 
 during his early manhood by the fact that he was 
 the agent of the government for twenty years in 
 transporting the weekly mail between New London 
 and Westerly, and that he carried the mail matter in 
 saddle-bags on horseback. His term of office speaks 
 for his fidelity. 
 
 3. He was a man of good personal habits. He 
 adopted and maintained through life good rules of 
 thought and good principles of conduct. He was 
 sober, calm, upright, moral, consistent, and faithful. 
 He governed himself wisely. And Solomon tells us 
 that " he that ruleth his spirit is better than he that 
 taketh a city." Good self-government is one of the 
 highest achievements of man. 
 
 Mr. Hinckley governed himself by the soundest 
 and best of rules, as his long life and his success in life 
 fully testify. In this respect he was like a prince, as 
 compared with many around him that bowed to their 
 own vices and became only disgraces in the commu- 
 nity. 
 
 Nor was he devoid of public spirit. He was a 
 faithful citizen, holding, first and last, important posi- 
 tions of trust and responsibility in the township. As 
 a counselor, as a conservator of the public peace, as an 
 arbitrator, as a defender of the laws of the land, he 
 held no inferior rank. In the war of 1812 he buckled 
 on his cartridge-box and shouldered his gun and 
 marched manfully to the front as a true patriot. Nor 
 did he return with any stain upon his shield. He was 
 wise enough not to be a lover of party political offices, 
 but he was a lover of the interests of his fellow-men 
 and of his country. 
 
 4. He was a man of unwearied industry. He obeyed 
 the ancient law of our race,— by the sweat of his brow 
 he gained his bread, and hence his bread was always 
 sweet, and he knew how to estimate it. He was 
 trained to work when a boy; he never became too 
 proud to work, even when he had acquired wealth ; 
 he worked till within a few days of his death. 
 Through eighty long years he was a worker, a producer, 
 and not a mere consumer. He continually added to 
 
 the wholesome wealth of the community, and of the 
 town and of the country. And he taught his chil- 
 dren to walk in the same steps. His house and farm 
 were like the honey-bees' hive, — with the hum there 
 was honey-making; and there was wax for retaining 
 the honey when made. 
 
 Pursuing the olde.st and most honorable calling 
 among men for sixty-six years on the same farm, it is 
 no wonder that he acquired a competence as well as 
 a good name. He was a reliable director in the Paw- 
 catuok Bank (now national) from its organization 
 until quite recently, when he was succeeded in the 
 directorship by one of his sons. He was a very con- 
 servative and wise director, inasmuch as he had been 
 schooled in carefulness, and was also a large stock- 
 holder. 
 
 5. He was a true economist. He was educated in 
 an economical family and in economical times, so 
 that thoughtfulness and prudence were ingrained in 
 his life. He accepted the golden rules of duty and 
 thrift found in the Bible and in the writings of Dr. 
 Franklin. To be convinced of his wisdom and care 
 you had only to look on his fields and meadows, his 
 walls and buildings, his barns and stalls, his stacks 
 and cribs. And that he was felicitously seconded and 
 supported in his forethought and skill by his loving 
 consort you had only to look in and around his home. 
 The dwellers here never lived on the earnings of others. 
 
 6. He was an honest man. He was always so in 
 principle, and always so in practice. This is no small 
 praise considering the world we live in and the times 
 upon which we have fallen. Pope was orthodox when 
 he wrote the line, — 
 
 "An houest man is the noblest work of God." 
 
 7. He held the old-school principles. I mean such 
 doctrines as were established and current in the 
 period of his early manhood; for men rarely change 
 their views and habits after they pass the boundary 
 of middle life. Socially, he was an old-fashioned, 
 plain, unpretending, incorruptible Connecticut farmer. 
 Politically, he was of the Jeffersoniari school, and re- 
 mained true to those old Jefiersonian and Jacksonian 
 ideas. If political parties in his day changed their 
 principles, and even their names, he changed not. 
 His political consistency was like the ecclesiastical 
 persistency of the famous and patriotic Mother Bai- 
 ley, of Groton, Conn., who, when the new meeting- 
 house was built on Groton Bank, not having faith in 
 the novel steeple-crowned edifice, with its modern 
 improvements, obtaining the key to the old square, 
 weather-beaten house, and every Sabbath walked out 
 to the lonely, deserted building, unlocked the door, 
 entered her pew, and in thought and heart recalled 
 the holy services of the days of ' auld langsyne.' Ee- 
 ligioftslyMr. Hinckley held to the Bible, and rested 
 his hopes on the New Testament as he understood it. 
 His theological.views were best expressed by his life ; 
 his words were few, but his deeds were many. 
 
^jiJ^z^e.^.^....^^ 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 725 
 
 He is gathered to his fathers. All his early asso- 
 ciates — Vincents, Browns, Davises, Stateses, Bab- 
 cocks, Gardners, Noyeses, Randalls, Chesebroughs— 
 passed on before him. He now rests from his labors, 
 and his works do follow him. Very tender and sa- 
 cred are the memories that now (1881) throng to 
 the heart of his widow, to the hearts of his sons and 
 daughters, and to the hearts of his grandchildren. 
 
 Family Records. — Thomas Hinckley was born in 
 Stonington, Conn., Dec. 6, 1787; Mary Scholfield was 
 born in Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England, Feb. 3, 
 1787; Thomas Hinckley and Mary Scholfield were 
 married Dec. 9, 1810. Mary Ann Hinckley was born 
 Oct. 9, 1811; Thomas S. Hinckley was born Dec. 22, 
 1813; John S. Hinckley was born June 30, 1816; 
 Charles H. Hinckley was born May 23, 1818 ; Han- 
 nah M. Hinckley was born Oct. 21, 1820 ; Phalla M. 
 Hinckley was born Dec. 5, 1822 ; William R. Hinck- 
 ley was born May 8, 1826 ; Joseph H. Hinckley was 
 born July 29, 1830. Joseph H. Hinckley died April 
 3, 1833; Thomas S. Hinckley died Nov. 80, 1853, 
 aged forty years; Thomas Hinckley died Dec. 11, 
 1876, aged eighty-nine years. 
 
 0. M. Stillman. — The first American ancestor of 
 Orsemus M. Stillman was George Stillman, who came 
 from England about 1695, settling with his wife, Re- 
 becca (Smith), first in Hadley, Mass., and in 1704 or 
 1705 in Wethersfield, Conn. He was born in 1654, 
 married in 1685, and died in 1728, aged seventy-four. 
 He had twelve children. His son, George(2), born 
 1686, married Deborah Crandall in 1710, was an able 
 physician and a large land-owner. He was an earnest 
 Christian, a Seventh-day Baptist, the.firstof his name 
 holding that day. He had six children. His son 
 Elisha, born in 1722, married, first, Hannah Rogers, 
 and second, Mary Davis, Jan. 3, 1759, by whom he 
 had nine children. He had a long life of usefulness, 
 and died in 1796. Ethan was the sixth of the nine 
 children, and was born Dec. 27, 1768. He was a gun- 
 smith and machinist. He had large government con- 
 tracts for guns during the war of 1812, by which he 
 lost heavily. He was a loyal, peaceable, and useful 
 citizen, and a prominent member of the Seventh-day 
 Baptist Church. He married Polly Lewis, Mehitable 
 Tefft, and Anna Harrow. He had eight children by 
 his first wife, and three by the second. He died July 
 4, 1846, much respected and full of years. 
 
 Orsemus M. Stillman, so long and intimately con- 
 nected with the interests of Stonington and Westerly, 
 was son of Ethan and Polly (Lewis) Stillman, and 
 was born in Farmington, Conn., Nov. 4, 1801. He 
 learned the trade of machinist with Jacob D. Bab- 
 cock at Cornwall, N. Y. Soon after attaining his 
 majority he went to Unadilla Forks, Otsego Co., 
 N. Y., whither his parents had removed from Bur- 
 lington, Conn., and was employed for a time with Mr. 
 Babcock in fitting up a cotton-factory. Afterwards 
 he had a shop at Leonardsville, N. Y. In 1825 he 
 and Asher M. Babcock, now a resident of Westerly, 
 
 R. I., were employed in a machine-shop near San- 
 quoit, Oneida Co., N. Y., and while there Mr. Still- 
 man invented the well-known self-adjusting "temple," 
 which has done so much to facilitate power-weaving. 
 Having secured letters patent from the United States 
 Patent Office for his invention in 1827, he came to 
 Westerly and began the manufacture of temples in 
 the shop of Deacon William Stillman, where was af- 
 terwards erected the woolen-mill of the Stillman 
 Manufacturing Company. After this Mr. Stillman 
 bought the small factory of Joseph Scofield, on the 
 west side of the Pawcatuck River, at the place now 
 known as " Stillmanville." There he continued the 
 manufacture of temples, and after his invention of 
 the drop-box loom, he also began to manufacture 
 plaid linseys. For about forty years he carried on 
 manufacturing on the same site, extending his works 
 from time to time, until he had a model woolen-mill, 
 giving employment to many people, and turning out 
 some of the very finest woolen goods. Mr. Stillman 
 always took great interest in mechanical inventions 
 and improvements, for several of which he himself 
 obtained patents. Among them were the temple, 
 plaid-weaving loom, steam-engines, hot-air engines, 
 gasometer, etc. We give in connection the following 
 impartial and correct statement by one of Mr. Still- 
 man's townsmen (John E. Weeden), who knew him 
 intimately for more than forty years : 
 
 " For more than half a century Mr. Stillman filled ti conspicuous posi- 
 tion in the social and religious life of Westerly, and by the exercise of 
 his extraordinary inventive genius and patient labor did more to origi- 
 nate and build up its mechanical and manufacturing business than any 
 one of its many enterprising citizens. His first important invention 
 was the self-adjusting temple, which made a very great improvement in 
 the weaving of cloth. He started a machine-shop, and for several years 
 continued the manufacture of these convenient and useful articles. He 
 then invented the drop-box loom to weave 'plaids, which at once revolu- 
 tionized.that business and made it for years the chief industry of West- 
 erly. One lirm alone made about two million yards of plaid linseys a 
 year with these looms. Mr. Stillman engaged largely and successfully 
 also in the making of these goods. He was a genius, a mechanic, and 
 a man of sense, attributes very rarel.y combined in one individual, and 
 is distinguished from most inventors by his ability to make a practical 
 application of his inventions. He was not ambitious, had no desire for 
 notoriety, did not appreciate the importance and value of his own in- 
 ventions. They seemed to be the natural suggestions of liis mind for 
 the removal of obstacles in the way of his business. They were much 
 more conspicuous in their effects on the growth and prosperity of West- 
 eriy than from any individual display which he made of them or from 
 them. 
 
 " But it was not this prominent feature in Mr. Stillman's mind which 
 made liim the favorite of this community for more than half a century. 
 It was his uniform and universal benevolence, his active and co-operative 
 sympathy with all who applied to him for advice or assistance in their 
 trouble. Genial, humane, and kind, he was always accessible to tbe 
 poorest and most humble of his neighbors. His generosity showed itself 
 not only in liberal chanty to the poor, but the store-houses of his vast 
 experience and skill in business were freely opened to younger men 
 even when competitors in tlie same branches of manufacturing. There 
 was no limit to his patient kindness and sympathy with those who 
 sought his aid in cases of this kind. Not his neighbors only, but manu- 
 facturers from all parts of New England, who were attracted by his well- 
 known ingenuity and skill, made large drafts on him for his valuable 
 advice and opinions. He was always, at home audio his business, de- 
 voted to the happiness of his family and the welfare of his help. He 
 was prudent, but always liberal in the promotion of every benevolent 
 object and every institution for the advancement of education, morality, 
 and religion." 
 
Y26 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 When the Pawcatuck Bank was organized, in 1849, 
 Mr. Stillman became its president, and held that posi- 
 tion for about twenty-eight years. For a year previ- 
 ous to his death, which occurred Jan. 5, 1879, Mr. 
 Stillman was in failing health, and for three months 
 was confined to his house by the cause of his death, 
 which a post-mortem examination showed to be a 
 scirrhous cancer affecting several vital organs. 
 
 Mr. Stillman married, Aug. 20, 1829, Martha C, 
 daughter of John and Fanny (Gardner) Hazard, of 
 Narragansett, B. I. She only lived a short time, 
 dying March 10, 1831. Their only child, Edwin, died 
 in infancy. He married, Nov. 5, 1832, Mrs. Frances 
 G. (Hazard) Brown, of Westerly, E. I. They had 
 no children. By her first husband Mrs. Stillman had 
 one daughter, Fannie H., who married T. R. Hyde, 
 of Mystic, Conn., who was for several years Mr. Still- 
 man's partner in the manufacturing business, and 
 with whom Mrs. Stillman now resides, awaiting in 
 the calm twilight of declining years the lifting of the 
 veil which separates us from the glorious eternities of 
 the life to come. 
 
 Alexander G. Frink, son of William Frink, was 
 born at Stonington, April 5, 1807, and was educated 
 in the district' and private schools of that place. He 
 held the ofiioes of notary public and deputy sheriff, 
 and was a director and financial agent of the St. Paul 
 and Pacific Railroad Company. He was on the Com- 
 mittee of Claims in the House of 1872 at New Haven. 
 He was a member of the board of selectmen in 1880. 
 He generally pursued the business of railroad con- 
 tractor and negotiator. In politics he was a Republi- 
 can, and was in favor of short sessions, little or no 
 special legislation, and was of the belief that the 
 chief labor of the session should be to perfect exist- 
 ing laws. 
 
 He died in 1880 or '81. He was a lineal descend- 
 ant of John Frink, one of the early settlers of Ston- 
 ington, Conn. . 
 
 1. John Frink came to Stonington in 1660, and 
 married Grace Stevens in 1666. 
 
 2. Samuel Frink, born Feb. 1, 1668, and married 
 Hannah Minor, Jan. 6, 1692. 
 
 3. Samuel Frink, born Feb. 19, 1693, and married 
 Margaret Wheeler, May 26, 1714. 
 
 4. Isaac Frink, born Dec. 25, 1717, and married 
 Anna Noyes, Nov. 6, 1738. 
 
 5. Isaac Frink, born July 20, 1741, and married 
 Margaret Stanton, Jan. 21, 1761. 
 
 6. Deacon William Frink, who was the father of— 
 
 7. Alexander G. Frink, born April 5, 1807. 
 Charles M. Davis was born at Stonington, Conn., 
 
 Dec. 14, 1808: His father, Clark Davis, was born in 
 Westerly, R. I., and married Mary Miner. Of this 
 union were born nine children, viz. : Eunice, Clark 
 (deceased), Oliver (deceased), Henry (deceased), 
 William (deceased), Charles M. (deceased), Joseph 
 (dec'd), Dudley, and Lucretia. All married and had 
 children except Eunice. 
 
 Clark Davis was an extensive farmer at Togwank, 
 in Stonington, Conn. He believed in the perpetuity 
 of Democratic principles, was a prominent member 
 of the Baptist denomination, and died at an advanced 
 age. 
 
 Charles M. was reared on his father's farm at 
 Stonington, where, Sept. 26, 1832, he married Mary 
 Esther, daughter of Samuel H. Whiting and Abigail 
 Helme. Mrs. Mary E. Davis was born in Stonington, 
 Conn., April 11, 1811. To them were born Charles M. ; 
 Mary Abby, wife of Charles J. Closson, of Hartford, 
 Conn. ; Franklin H. (deceased) ; Sarah H. (deceased) ; 
 Lucretia B. ; George C. ; Ellen H., wife of Curtis Har- 
 ris, of Brooklyn ; Henry H. ; Cortland P. ; Horace B., 
 who was accidentally killed by a train, Oct. 21, 1880; 
 and Emma J., who remains at home. 
 
 In politics and religion Charles M. Davis followed 
 in the footsteps of his father. He was a Jacksonian 
 Democrat, and for a considerable length of time was 
 a deacon of the Anguilla Baptist Church. He died 
 Aug. 24, 1878, and his remains were entombed in the 
 beautiful cemetery at Stonington. 
 
 Mrs. Davis remains on the farm which has been her 
 home for nearly half a century, and where she has 
 reared her entire family. 
 
 Mr. Davis aspired to no rank in politics, but was 
 contented to confine his energies to the farm, the 
 home, and the church. 
 
 He was industrious, economical, and liberal, and 
 considered by those who best knew him as a model 
 farmer, a patriot in every respect, and a man of great 
 influence. 
 
 For history of his ancestry, see history of Stoning- 
 ton, by Judge R. A. Wheeler. 
 
 Charles S. Hewett, son of Isaac Hewett and Cyn- 
 thia Swan, was born in Preston, Conn., May 9, 1804. 
 He has always been a successful farmer. He began 
 life very poor. The first year after his majority he 
 gave his wages to his widowed mother and sisters. 
 He has been twice married, — first to Cynthia W., 
 daughter of Peres and Nancy (Williams) Hewett, 
 May, 1825. Of their children, one only, Mrs. Eliza 
 A. Gallup, survives. 
 
 Mrs. Hewett died April 28, 1836, and he married 
 for his second wife Mary Gray, daughter of Philip 
 and Sarah (Morgan) Gray, May 8, 1837. She was 
 born in 1807, and died April 16, 1881. 
 
 Mr. Hewett has been very fortunate in his marriage 
 relations, as both of his wives were very fine ladies 
 and devoted wives. 
 
 John Randall, son of Dudley Randall and Lucy 
 Grant, was born in Stonington, Conn., Feb. 15, 1805. 
 His father, Dudley Randall, was a son of Capt. John 
 Randall, a farmer in Stonington, Conn. For a more 
 extended notice of the ancestors of this family, see 
 history of Stonington, by Judge Wheeler. 
 
 John Randall received a common-school education, 
 and by his reading and reflection became well posted 
 on all matters of practical interest. He was a sue- 
 
ALEXANDER G. FEINK. 
 
CHAELES S. HEWITT. 
 
JOHN KANDALL. 
 
CHAS, M„ IjjJiJ./13, 
 
STONINGTON. 
 
 727 
 
 cessfiil farmer on the old homestead, which has been 
 in the family for four generations. He married Eliza 
 A., daughter of Charles S. and Cynthia Hewett, Sept. 
 27, 1860. She was born April 15, 1826. They had 
 three children, viz. : Lucy M., Charles H., and Nancy 
 E. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of 
 the Anguilla Baptist Church. He died Jan. 17, 1873. 
 His only brother, Elisha D., died April 10, 1873. 
 Mrs. John' Eandall married for her second husband 
 Rufus M. Galhip, who died Sept. 14, 1880. 
 
 Mr. Randall was a man universally respected ; of a 
 quiet, social disposition, and a man possessing great 
 energy. 
 
 Henry D, Langworthy. — The name " Lang- 
 worthy" carries with it in its signification and in its 
 pronunciation two evidences of a good English an- 
 cestry in the early days of " merrie England," when 
 feats on martial fields and exploits in the chase went 
 almost hand in hand and received high reward. 
 "Langworthy" — the "long worthy" — is a noble 
 name, and in the time of our plain-spoken Saxon 
 forefathers would not have been applied without good 
 reason. In the days of chivalry the " Langworthys" 
 were knights of no mean repute, and resided in Som- 
 ersetshire. Their coat of arms, as shown from rec- 
 ords in the Herald's College, London, England, was 
 granted by King Henry VIH. in 1600 for some dis- 
 tinguished feat in the hunting-field. The description 
 is : crest, a demi-stag, argent ; three greyhounds 
 superimposed on shield (curran in pace), with motto, 
 "pro Ariset focis." No "bar sinister" crosses its fair 
 face, and the absence of any " quartering" of the arms 
 of any other house shows its comparatively modern 
 origin. 
 
 Henry D. Langworthy, son of Samuel, Jr., and 
 Ethelinda (Davis) Langworthy, was born in Ston- 
 ington, Conn., Aug. 11, 1809. 
 
 Samuel, Jr., son of Samuel, was born Sept. 11, 
 1771, in Hopkinton, E. I. ; was a farmer, Democratic 
 in politics, a thoroughly good man, for years a dea- 
 con of the Baptist Church ; married, July 13, 1796, 
 Ethelinda Davis (born June 7, 1767, at Westerly, 
 
 E. I., and died ). He remained with his father, 
 
 Samuel, till he was of age, received his educa- 
 tion at the migrating schools of those days, re- 
 moved to Stonington shortly after marriage, pur- 
 chased two hundred acres of land at the head of 
 Mystic River, and afterwards purchased the place 
 where Henry D. now resides. Here he lived until 
 1836, when, marrying, January 12th, Lydia Fellows, 
 he removed to Stonington Borough, and resided till 
 his death, Sept. 6, 1853. He was a prudent man, of 
 good judgment, and was financially successful, very 
 few in the town being better off. He was truly a rep- 
 resentative farmer. His children were by his first 
 wife,— Samuel, Ethelinda, Asa, George F., and Henry 
 Davis. 
 
 Samuel, grandfather of Henry D., was a farmer in 
 Hopkinton, of Democratic principles; was a Baptist, 
 
 and much esteemed in his community. He married 
 a Saunders and reared six sons and six daughters, 
 half of whom settled in this vicinity and half in 
 Western New York. He died at a hale old age. His 
 father, Samuel, the emigrant, was brought, a child, 
 from England by his uncle .Joseph to Newport, E. I., 
 and put out as an apprentice. Joseph wished to se- 
 cure certain properties for himself, and expected that 
 Samuel would never more be heard from. Samuel 
 survived his apprenticeship, married, had two sons, 
 — Samuel and Joseph. He resided all his life near 
 Newport. 
 
 Henky D. had common-school education, was for 
 two years a merchant at Mystic Bridge, and after- 
 wards went back to the old home to remain with his 
 father, and has ever since been a farmer, and an in- 
 telligent, successful one. He has steadily held to the 
 Democratic principles of his ancestors, and always 
 has opposed the wild attempts of certain parties to 
 abrogate the Constitution and its teachings, believing 
 that each departure from the original system of the 
 republic only tends to weaken its cohesive power. 
 He has always refused political ofiice, but in 1831-32, 
 when it was considered an honor, held the commis- 
 sion of captain in the " Old Eoad" military company. 
 
 For fifty-eight years he has been a consistent member 
 of the Baptist Church, and has enjoyed the friendship 
 of a large circle of friends. He married, Sept. 23, 
 1839, Maria Pearce, daughter of Eussell and Eliza- 
 beth (Langworthy) Clarke. Their children were 
 Henry Cortland, born July 2, 1840; Ethelinda, born 
 Sept. 8, 1841, died Nov. 11, 1867. She was a fine 
 musician, playing the harp, piano, guitar, and other 
 musical instruments well. She was graduated from 
 Music Vale Seminary, Salem, Conn., in 1860, when 
 not nineteen years of age. Ann Maria, died young ; 
 James Hamilton C, born June 16, 1845 ; Irven New- 
 ton, born Aug, 16, 1856, killed April 19, 1864. 
 
 Eussell Clarke was born in Newport, E. I., April, 
 13, 1787 ; was thrice married, the third wife being 
 Sarah Elizabeth Langworthy, born May 9, 1789, mar- 
 ried May 21, 1815. They had fourteen children, of 
 whom Maria P. (Mrs. H. D. Langworthy) and Mrs. 
 Mary Taylor Clarke are twins, born April 18, 1821, 
 in Lebanon, Conn. Mr. Clarke was a farmer and a 
 man of mark. He was a Democrat of Jeffersonian 
 and Jacksonian schools, and as such became judge 
 and State senator. He died Jan. 11, 1839, aged fifty- 
 nine years eight months and twenty-nine days ; his 
 third wife March 13, 1871, aged eighty-one years 
 eleven months and twenty-seven days. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Langworthy have known peculiar joys 
 and peculiar sorrows. Perhaps the saddest sorrow 
 which could be experienced was that accompanying 
 the murder of their son Irven and its attendant hor- 
 rors. Mr. Langworthy had a hired man, William 
 Libby. He had worked for him five months, and was 
 apparently as one of the family. He was left in charge 
 of the children by his own consent one Sunday even- 
 
728 
 
 HISTUKY OF XEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ing, and as subsequent events showed, and according 
 to Libby's confession, wliile Irven was sitting by the 
 table in a rouud-bacl^ed cliair, reading a Sunday- 
 school book, be was struck a blow by Libby with a 
 long iron drill, which split his skull, killing him in- 
 stantly. Another child was also injured for life. The 
 object of this murder was not robbery, not a valuable 
 being taken. What it was will probably never be 
 known. Though many wild surmises and specula- 
 tions were rife, it will be probably a mystery never 
 to be explained. Mr. and Mrs. Langworthy through 
 all their trials have borne themselves with Christian 
 patience, and now, in the fast thickening twilight of 
 life, are awaiting the summons to join those " gone 
 before" in the land where all mysteries are explained 
 and the ills of life-remembered no more. 
 
 Dr. Mason Maiming.— Hezekiah Manning was a 
 farmer of Scotland, Conn., in the colonial days prior 
 to the American Eevolution. He was born, passed 
 his life, and died there in 1800, aged eighty years. 
 He was twice married, to sisters named Webb, natives 
 of the same locality. He had several children, one 
 of whom, Luther, was born in 1748. Hezekiah was a 
 man of shrewd common sense, had a clear, incisive 
 way of arriving at truth, and a quaint, original way 
 of expressing himself, and they did him good service 
 in his official duties as justice of the peace, in which 
 capacity he served many years, highly esteemed by 
 his constituents. 
 
 Luther Manning became a physician, and was an 
 assistant surgeon in the Continental army of the Rev- 
 olution. He was stationed at New London, and was 
 on service there when the town was burned by the 
 British. He married Sarah Smith, and after the Rev- 
 olution settled at Norwichtown (now Lisbon) in the 
 practice of his profession, and had for those days a 
 large ride. He was often called to consult with the 
 leading physicians of Eastern Connecticut, and was 
 prominently connected with the formation of the 
 State and County Medical Societies. He was select- 
 man, etc., and represented Lisbon in the State Legis- 
 lature several terms. He was in active practice in his 
 profession until his death. May 7, 1813, at sixty-five, 
 and for many years was a member of the Congrega- 
 tional Church. His children were Olive (Mrs. Abijah 
 Perkins), Luther, Lucius (died young), and Mason. 
 
 Dr. Mason Manning was born in Norwichtown, 
 Conn., Aug. 27, 1796. He had a common-school edu- 
 cation, supplemented by attendance at Yale College, 
 where he was graduated in the medical department 
 in 1818. He at once entered into copartnership with 
 his brother Luther, a practicing physician of Scotland. 
 This partnership continued two years, when the young- 
 doctor went to Milltown, and soon after to Stoning- 
 ton, where he .settled at the head of Mystic River, 
 and entered into practice. He shortly after married, 
 Nov. 20, 1821, Fanny, daughter of Dudley and Mary 
 Hovey, of Scotland. They have one son, Francis 
 Mason, now a resident of Mystic. 
 
 Dr. Manning soon was in a large and lucrative 
 practice, and devoted himself to his profession ; was 
 not satisfied to rest with the knowledge already 
 acquired, but was always a student, and took rank 
 with the first physicians of the county. His quiet, un- 
 
 JIASON ilAXNING. 
 
 obtrusive ways and sympathy with the suifering made 
 him extremely popular, and his acknowledged skill 
 did not cause him to relax any of his labors to keep 
 abreast of the times. He was an active member of 
 the New London County Medical Society and Con- 
 necticut Jledical Society, and was several times 
 elected delegate to the annual meetings of the Na- 
 tional Medical Association. He continued in active 
 labor in his life-work of relieving suffering until dis- 
 qualified by age, and is now one of the oldest physi- 
 cians in the county, having attained eighty-five years 
 of age. 
 
 He has been too much occupied by his professional 
 duties to accept public office. His political creed has 
 been Whig and Republican. His church affiliation 
 in early life was Congregational ; in later years a 
 Methodist Episcopal. 
 
 Dr. Manning has been one ot the ])illars of society 
 in Stonington for many years. The best people have 
 given him their confidence and warmest friendship, 
 and among the worthy citizens of the town none are 
 more esteemed or occupy a higher position in their 
 regards. He has ever been modest and uniu'cten- 
 tious, yet social and genial, and a man of sterling 
 qualities, — upright, honorable, and possessed of great 
 sympathy and kindness of heart for the welfare of all 
 witli whom he comes in contact, and especially for 
 those in need. Morally, he has ever been an example 
 of imitation by the rising generation. 
 
NORTH STONINGTON. 
 
 729 
 
 He married, Jan. 26, 1829, Harriet, daughter of 
 John and Harriet (Chesehrough) Leeds, of Stoning- 
 ton. 
 
 Rev. Alphonso Loring Whitman.— Alphonso L. 
 Whitman was born in Turner, Oxford Co., Me., July 
 28, 1805. He was one of the nine children of Oakes 
 and Susanna (Barrele) Whitman, and after abandon- 
 ing other plans for life, at the age of twenty-one he 
 began a preparation for the gospel ministry, gradu- 
 ating at Bangor Theological Seminary in 1834, at the 
 age of twenty-nine. He was ordained and installed 
 pastor of the church in East Brewer (now Holdeu), 
 Me., Sept. 17, 1834, where he remained until Nov. 6, 
 1838, when he asked a dismission, and Dec. 14, 1838, 
 was installed pastor of the Fourth Congregational 
 Church in Norwich, Conn., Dec. 14, 1838, and was 
 dismissed March 25, 1846. He began his labors as 
 stated supply in a newly organized church in Westerly, 
 E. I., April 25, 1847, and was installed pastgr March 
 23, 1853. This, his longest settlement, covered a 
 period of nearly twenty years, when, with health 
 somewhat impaired, he began his labors, July, 1866, 
 with the church in Tiverton, R. I., and continued 
 until April, 1872, at which time his strength utterly 
 failed, and his public labors were ended. He came 
 to Groton, Conn., and after two years' residence among 
 his friends entered the mansion " where there is no 
 more night," Oct. 29, 1874. He married, Oct. 10, 
 1834, Miss Almira Waters, of West Millbury, Mass., 
 who died in Norwich, Conn., and April 26, 1843, a 
 second time, Mary Elizabeth Barber, daughter of 
 Hon. Noyes Barber, of Groton, Conn. The necrology 
 of the General Conference of Maine, with a notice of 
 his death, says, "He was faithful, earnest, and reli- 
 able as a pastor, ready to every good work, and more 
 than ordinarily gifted as a preacher." 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 
 
 NORTH STOXINUTON. 
 
 As early as 1717 the town of Stonington voted at a 
 regular meeting that it was necessary to divide the 
 town into two societies for public worship of God, 
 and directed that the inhabitants north and remote 
 from the meeting-house might hold a meeting to fix 
 upon a boundary line, and then adjourned the meet- 
 ing to Jan. 9, 1718, to hear the result. When the 
 freemen reassembled, the north men submitted a re- 
 port, which was adopted by the town. But subse- 
 quently a controversy arose respecting this line, which, 
 in May, 1720, was submitted to the General Assembly 
 with a request that a committee might be appointed 
 to settle and establish a boundary line. The commit- 
 tee was appointed, repaired to Stonington, examined 
 the premises, and agreed upon a boundary line, and 
 reported their findings to the Assembly in October of 
 the same year. But the committee findings were not 
 
 satisfactory to certain interested parties, who remon- 
 strated, assigning reasons. Whereupon the whole 
 matter was heard by the Assembly, who set aside the 
 committee's report and adopted the following described 
 line, viz. : 
 
 " This Assembly taking into consideration tJie controversy of the nortli 
 society and tlie soutli society in Stonington, witti respect to the dividing 
 bounds of said society : 
 
 " It is thereupon ordered by this Assembly tliat the dividing bounds 
 of said societies shall be a line drawn from the house of Mr. William 
 "Wheeler west, northwest to Mystic Eiver broolv, and from said house 
 eastward on a direct line to Mr. John EandalPs now (then) dwelling- 
 house, and from said Randall's house east to Sliunnuck River, and by 
 Shununck River to Pawcatuck River ; and the said Messrs. Wheeler and 
 Randall and their farms to belong to the south society, and to pay their 
 taxes there." 
 
 Previous to and for several years, and while these 
 proceedings were pending, religious meetings had 
 been held in various parts of the new society, some- 
 times on Cosatuck Hill, then at the village of Mill- 
 town, and as often as at either place in the easterly 
 part of the society. So while the controversy about 
 the boundary line was pending, the people found 
 themselves divided about locating their meeting-house, 
 arising mainly from the desire of the inhabitants re- 
 siding near the several localities where their religious 
 services had been held to have the new house located as 
 near as possible to them. Such feelings of course led 
 the people into a controversy respecting the location 
 of their proposed new house of worship. So, in order 
 to have the matter speedily determined, the inhabit- 
 ants of the North Society united in preparing a peti- 
 tion to the General Assembly for a disinterested com- 
 mittee to visit them and locate their house, also for 
 the same powers and privileges belonging to other 
 parishes or societies in the colony. Whereupon at 
 the same session the Assembly passed the following : 
 
 "Upon consideration of the petition of the inhabitants of the north 
 society in Stonington : This Assembly do appoint and impower Capt. 
 Christopher Christophers, Mr. John Plumb, and Capt. Daniel Brewster, 
 or any two of them, to hear the allegations of the several persons in said 
 society respecting the place where the same shall stand. And it ia further 
 granted that the inhabitants in said society shall have the same powei"S 
 and privileges belonging to other parishes or societies in the Colony : and 
 particularly they are enabled by their major vote to levy a tax on the 
 polls and rateable estate in said society, to defray the charges of the 
 Rev. Mr. Richard Treat, his preaching to them the last fourteen weeks he 
 was with them." 
 
 In order to enable the North Society to organize as 
 such, in conformity to law, the matter was passed 
 upon by the Governor and Council as follows : 
 
 " At a meeting of the Governor and Council in New London, Jan. 2nd, 
 1720-21. 
 
 " Present, the Honorable Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq., Governor ; Richard 
 Christophers, Esq., Assistant ; Jonathan Prentfs, John Plumbe, Esqrs., 
 Christopher Christophers, John Picket, Joshua Hempstead. 
 
 "Upon application made by several inhabitants of the northermost of 
 the societies or parishes in Stonington lately established by the General 
 Court, desiring that a time may be appointed for the meeting of the in- 
 habitants of said parish qualified to vote in the affairs thereof, and an 
 order given for notifying them of the time for their convening for that 
 end, 
 
 " Ordered^ That Wednesday, the 18th of this instant, January, at twelve 
 of the clock at noon, and at the house of Mr. Joseph Babcock in said 
 parish, be the time and place for the meeting of the said inhabitants 
 parishioners. 
 
730 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " Ordered, That Mr. Jonathan Palmer, Mr. William Avery, Mr. John 
 Swan, and Mr. William Wilcox, all of the said parish, or either of them, 
 do give at least five days' notice to the inhabitants within the precincts 
 of said parish, who are qualified voters in the said society, that on the 
 said Wednesday, the 18th instant, at twelve of the clock at noon, at the 
 house of Mr. Joseph Babcock, in said parish.ameetingof the said society 
 isappointed and ordered by this board for choosing a clerk and committee, 
 and for managing other affairs of the said society or parish. And the 
 said Mr. Palmer, Mr. Avery, Mr. Swan, and Mr. Wilcox, or either of 
 them, are appointed to lead the said parishioners at the said meeting to 
 the said choice. 
 
 " Ordered, That the clerk of the Council inclose in a letter to the said 
 Messrs. Palmer, Avery, Swan, and Wilcox, or either of them, a copy of 
 this order, attested hy him, which shall be a sufficient warrant for their 
 attending to the service which they are herein directed to." 
 
 The inhabitants of said society met on the 18th of 
 January, 1721, at Mr. Babcock's house, and elected 
 society officers, and voted a tax for ministerial pur- 
 poses. The society committee, almost immediately 
 after their election, decided to warn a meeting to 
 build a meeting-house and to procure a minister. 
 The society assembled agreeably to this notice on the 
 8th day of February, 1721, and voted to build a meet- 
 ing-house, and appointed a building committee of 
 three, and extended a call to the Rev. William 
 Worthington to preach to them until the last of May 
 following, which call he accepted, and was with them 
 for more than a year and a half. The boundary line 
 adopted and established by the General Assembly at 
 its October session in 1720 was so unsatisfactory to the 
 inhabitants that they again petitioned the General 
 Assembly to change it, which, after a full hearing 
 thereon had, enacted as follows : 
 
 " Upon consideration of the petition of the North Society in Stoning- 
 ton : This Assembly do resolve that the dividing line between the two 
 societies shall be as the committee lately appointed for that end did de- 
 scribe; always provide that Mr. William Wheeler, who by this act is 
 taken into the North Society, shall belong to the Soutl^ Society, provided 
 he shall choose to belong to tlie said South Society and signify the same 
 to the Govenor and Council within six weeks next after the sessions of 
 this Assembly shall be ended." 
 
 The line of the committee referred to above was as 
 follows : 
 
 " Whereas the General Assembly held in May VZ^'*^ 1720: Did appoint 
 us ye subscribers to fix and settle a line in Stonington to divide it into 
 two societies. And we having heard ye Parties what they had to offer 
 in ye premises and viewed ye list of estates as also taken a view of sev- 
 eral Quarters in ye said town and seriously considered ye same, do fix 
 and settle the aforesaid line which divides ye said town i nto two societies as 
 follows : Beginning at the house and farm of Mr. William Wheeler, from 
 thence west north west line to Mystic Eiver brook about one mile, and 
 from ye said house and farm of Mr. William Wheeler a line easterly to 
 ye house and farm of Mr. Josiah Grant and from thence a line eastwardly 
 to ye house and farm of Mr, John Brown, and from thence to ye house 
 and farm of Mr. John Eandall, and from ye said Mr. Randall's house an 
 east line to Shunnuch Biver, and so by Shunnuch River to Pawcatuck 
 River. The aforesaid line talcing in ye Said Mr. William Wheeler, Mr. 
 Josiah Grant, Mr. John Brown, Mr. Thomas Brown, and Mr. John Ran- 
 dall, with their present improvements into ye North Society and to be a 
 part of it as witness our hands. 
 
 " John Speague 
 "John Plumb 
 " Joseph Bachus 
 "Thimotiiy Peirue 
 
 *' Committee. 
 "Stonington, June 25"', 1720." 
 
 The committee appointed by the General Assembly 
 at the October session of 1720 visited said society, 
 
 and after a patient hearing of all parties decided to 
 locate, and did fix upon a site for the house, but 
 when the society assembled, on the 8th of February, 
 1721, for the purpose of building and locating their 
 meeting-house, the vote was made unanimous as to 
 building the house, but a serious contest arose as to 
 its location. 
 
 The Assembly committee had fixed the site in a 
 place unsatisfactory to a good many, and after a 
 stormy debate they decided by a major vote to locate 
 and build their meeting-house "remote from the 
 place'' where the Assembly's committee had located 
 it, viz, : about twenty-eight rods northwest of Mr. 
 Ayers Mills, not far from the late residence of Deacon 
 Jeremiah Fellows. An active, vigorous minority were 
 opposed to this site, and appealed to the Assembly of 
 1721 for redress, as follows : 
 
 " upon consideration of the petition of Mr. Eben^ Billing, of Stoning- 
 ton, ill behalf of the upper society in Stonington, showing that whereas 
 this Assembly did, at their session in October last, appoint a committee 
 to state a place for setting up the meeting-house in the said society, and 
 that the said committee did settle and ascertain the place for setting the 
 said house at, and made report of their doings therein in writing unto 
 the said society, which wiiting hapeniug to fall into the hands of the 
 clerk of said society, he refuseth either to record the said report or 
 suffer the original to go out of his hands; praying thereupon that this 
 Assembly will give order to the Secretary to enter and record a copy of 
 said report (under the attest of the said clerk) in the public records of 
 this Colony, as tho it were the oiiginal : 
 
 "This Assembly do grant the said prayer of the petitioner, and do 
 order the secretary to record the said report accordingly." 
 
 The opposition to this site increased ; two of the 
 building committee protested against it, which 
 strengthened the opposition so much that they peti- 
 tioned the Governor and Council to intercede and 
 stay further proceedings in building the meeting- 
 house at a place remote from that fixed by the Assem- 
 bly's committee, as follows : 
 
 " At a meeting of the Governor and Council iu New London, January 
 16th 172^. 
 
 "Present, The Honorable Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq., Governor, Richard 
 Christophers, Esq., Assistant, Jonathan Prentts, John Plumbe, Esqa., 
 Christopher Christophers, John Gardiner. 
 
 " Upon consideration of a petition signed by several persons of the 
 North society of Stonington against the said society proceeding to erect 
 a meeting house at a place remote from that which was fixed upon by 
 the committee sent for that end, at their desire, by the General Court. 
 
 " Resolved, That the proceeding in an affair of such a nature contrary 
 to the regulation of the General Assembly is a bx'each of order. 
 
 "And that the clerk of the Council shall by a letter directed to Mr. 
 Ebenezer Billings and the rest of the committee of the said society, to 
 be communicated to the said society, signifying to them that if they find 
 any inconveniency in setting up their meeting house where the General 
 Court's committee fixed the place for it, they ought to represent the same 
 to the General Assembly, and not proceed in contradiction to what the 
 said Assembly have appointed, and that they conform themselves ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 " And if they suppose any circumstances of their case unknown to the 
 Governor and Council, are such as might induce them to approve of any 
 variation from the order of the Assembly, about the place of their meet- 
 ing house, before they can have an opportunity to address the next As- 
 sembly concerning the same, they should by the aforesaid letter be 
 directed by their committee to lay the same before the Governor and 
 Council, and for that end should attend them at the house of Capt. Chris- 
 tophers, in New London, on the 1st Monday in February next, at two of 
 the clock, afternoon." 
 
 " At a meetingof the Governor and Council in New London, February 
 5'", 172>^. 
 
NORTH STONINGTON. 
 
 731 
 
 " Present, The Honorable Guidon Saltonstall, Bsq., Governor, Jonathan 
 Prentts, John Plumbe, Christopher Christophers, Kichard Christophers, 
 Jun., Benjamin Starr. 
 
 "Pnrsnant to the order of this hoard of the 16"> of January last, 
 Ebeoezer Billings, Benjamin Huit, Henry Stevens, John Swan, Samuel 
 Prentice, William Denison, Ephraim Fellows, John Smith, Joshua 
 Holmes, and William Wilcox, inhabitants of the north society in Sto- 
 nington, appeared in Council and were heard in the affair relating to 
 the setting up their meeting house at the Gravel Nole : And it was rec- 
 ommended to them that they should not presume to set up their meet- 
 ing house in any other place than that appointed by the General Gourtts 
 committee, unless they did unanimously agree among themselves, until 
 they had addressed the General Assembly on that head, to which they 
 concurred, and the matter was dismissed." 
 
 At a meeting of the next General Assembly at 
 Hartford in May this matter came up by petition 
 from both of the opposing parties, and after a full 
 hearing thereon had enacted as follows : 
 
 " This Assembly having considered the difference that hath arisen in 
 the North Society of Stouington, as appears by the petition of the oppo- 
 site parties now before this Assembly, respecting the meeting house in 
 said society being fixed, have resolved, that Capt. James Rogers and 
 Capt. Thomas Huntington and Capt. Jabez Perkins, be appointed; and 
 they are hereby appointed a committee, at the charge of said Society, to 
 endeavor to bring the inhabitants of said society to an amicable agree- 
 ment and loving accommodation of the matters wherein they dilfer ; and 
 if no such agreement and accommodation can be obtained, that then the 
 said James Rogers, Thomas Huntington, and Jabez Perkins, or any two 
 of them agreeing, shall have full power to decide the said difference and 
 fix the place where the first meeting house in said society shall be 
 built." 
 
 In June following two of the Assembly's committee 
 appointed, viz., Roger Huntington and Jabez Per- 
 kins, came to North Stonington, and spent several 
 days in an unsuccessful attempt to effect an agreement 
 among the people, and finally decided upon a place 
 themselves. But their findings did not suit the in- 
 habitants, and the struggle went on, and finally about 
 fifty members of the society agreed upon another 
 place and sent again for the Assembly's committee, 
 who came in February, 1723, and, after patient and 
 exhaustive hearings, decided that the house should 
 be built a few rods northwest of the present town 
 hall. Their decision was so far acceptable that the 
 society proceeded forthwith to build the house thereon, 
 and in the month of May following it was raised. 
 
 When the meeting-house question was so far settled 
 as to permit the house to be raised, the General As- 
 sembly, in 1724, decided to affix the following appel- 
 lation to the North Society, thus : 
 
 " Bemlved by this Assembly, that the North Society in Stonington for 
 the future be called by the name of North Stonington." 
 
 And in May, 1725, the Assembly decided as follows : 
 
 " This Assembly grants liberty unto the inhabitants of the North So- 
 ciety of Stonington to embody themselves into church estate with the 
 approbation of the neighboring churches, and to settle an orthodox min- 
 ister among them." 
 
 When the meeting-house was dedicated does not 
 appear. The people were at first seated on benches, 
 and so continued until 1728, in January, when places 
 for pews were assigned to individuals, who were to 
 make them at their own expense. 
 
 In March following a committee was appointed to 
 employ workmen to make the seats in the house. 
 
 These seats were in the body of the house, the pews 
 being around the walls. Seven years had now elapsed 
 since the building committee were appointed and five 
 years since the house was raised before the seats were 
 made, and four more years were added before the 
 gallery was completed. The house was built forty 
 feet in length by thirty-five in width. It was re- 
 paired in 1771, and taken down in 1817, and was gen- 
 erally known as the " old Black meeting-house." 
 
 Notwithstanding the protracted controversy over 
 the location of their meeting-house, the society very 
 early commenced making provision for the stated 
 preaching of the gospel. At their second meeting 
 they voted to employ the Rev. William Worthington 
 to preach for them until the last of May following. 
 In 1722 the society gave him a call to become their 
 pastor, which he declined. Sept. 4, 1722, it was voted 
 to employ the Rev. Thomas Craghead to preach six 
 months. Another meeting, held in October follow- 
 ing, appointed a committee of seven to " treat with 
 Mr. Craghead concerning the principles of religion, 
 and to obtain his written answer to their questions, 
 and to make their report." 
 
 The committee waited upon Mr. Craghead, obtained 
 satisfactory answers, and reported the same to the 
 society at its meeting the next day, whereupon they 
 gave him a unanimous call for settlement, which he 
 accepted. 
 
 From causes not now apparent his settlement was 
 subsequently opposed, and to such an extent that the 
 society voted to call a council of ministers, to advise 
 with them in their difiiculties. Whether this council 
 met or not does not appear ; however, a day of fasting 
 and prayer was set apart, and the three deacons of the 
 church in Preston were appointed arbitrators to deter- 
 mine between the parties at variance. Mr. Craghead 
 preached for about a year. The arbitration came to 
 naught, and the preconceived notions of the people 
 remained as their conscientious convictions. 
 
 The next society preacher was the Rev. Jabez 
 Wight. He commenced preaching in February, 
 1724, and labored for about two months, and received 
 from the society a call for settlement. 
 
 The society made several additions to his salary, 
 after which lie accepted of their call, but he was 
 never installed, — in fact, how could he be? There 
 was no church then in existence over which to install 
 him. After two years of labor he manifested a desire 
 to leave, which the society reciprocated, and granted 
 him his request. 
 
 In February, 1726, the society again invited the 
 Rev. William Worthington to settle with them, but 
 this invitation he also declined. 
 
 In February, 1727, the society invited Rev. Eben- 
 ezer Russell, then resident of Stonington, to become, 
 as they expressed it, their "gospel-preaching minis- 
 ter," which call he accepted in January, 1727, when 
 the society made arrangements with him to be or- 
 dained Feb. 22, 1727, at which time a church was 
 
732 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 formed for him to be ordained over, as will appear 
 by the following extracts from the records of the First 
 Church of Stonington, as well as from his own : 
 
 "Feb. 19, 1727.— Mr. Ebenezer Billings, Sylvester Baldwin, William 
 Wilcox, Natlianiel Ayers, Tlieopliilus Baldwin, Jeremiah Main, and 
 Josiali Grant were dismissed from the church (it having been by tliem 
 requested), in order to be embodied in Church Estate in North Stoning- 
 ton, in which Society they were inhabitants. 
 
 "Feb. 22, 1737.— A Church formed at North Stonington. 
 
 " April 9, 1727. — Anne Billings, Dorothy Wilco-\, Mary Randall, Anna 
 Ayers, Sarah Stewart, Dorothy Babcoclt, Rutli Main, Kebeliah Grant, 
 Bridget Grant, Lydia Clark, and Mercy Palmer, were recommended to 
 the communion of the Church of Clirist in North Stonington, who de- 
 cided to receive them under ecclesiastical watch as members ift full com- 
 munion with tliem. 
 
 "May 7, 1727. — It was proposed and consented to by ye church that 
 Eleazer Brown should stand in the relation of a communicant in ye 
 church of Christ in North Stonington. The same day James Babcoclc 
 and his wife, Shadrach Lampbere's wife, and the widow Fellows were 
 dismissed from this Church, and recommended to ye communion of ye 
 Church of Christ in North Stonington. 
 
 "May 16, 1727. — Elizabeth Ashbee was dismissed from this church 
 and recommended to ye communion of ye Church of Christ in North 
 Stonington. 
 
 "July 3th, 1727.— Sarah Ellis was dismissed from this church and 
 recommended to ye communion of ye Clmrch of Christ in North Ston- 
 ington. 
 
 " Oct. 15, 1727. — Mary Hewitt was dismissed from this church, and 
 recommended to ye communion of ye Church of Christ in North Ston- 
 ington." 
 
 Mr. Russell's record is as follows : 
 
 **Feb. 22, 1727. — I took upon me ye pastoral charge of Christs Church 
 in No. Stonington. God give me grace faithfully to discharge ye same ; 
 the persons then embodied in Church fellowship were Ebenezer Russell 
 Pastor, Ebenezer Billings, William Wilccx, Silvester Baldwin." 
 
 The following historical sketch of this church is 
 taken from an able and interesting sermon preached 
 by the Eev. Myron N. Morris at the dedication of 
 the new meeting-house erected in that society in 
 1848: 
 
 Mr. Russell died May 22, 1731, having been pastor 
 of the church four years and three months. During 
 this time there were added to the church thirty-six 
 members, — fifteen by profession and twenty-one by 
 letter, — besides five who were received on what has 
 commonly been termed the " Half-way Covenant." 
 Mr. Russell baptized sixty-one children, and united 
 eighteen couples in marriage. He graduated at Yale 
 College in 1722. After the death of Mr. Russell the 
 church was destitute of a pastor about a year and a 
 half. In August, 1732, the society invited Mr. Joseph 
 Fish to settle with them, but as their call was not in 
 the usual form, as they made provision for his support 
 only while he should preach for them, and not so long 
 as he should continue their pastor, and as they asked 
 him to relinquish all his interest in the ministry land 
 which he thought in the existing circumstances of the 
 society might impair their title to it, he gave them a 
 negative answer. In this answer he said that he 
 should regard the peaceable temper, the love and 
 unity of the people, infinitely more than his secular 
 interest, and that unless there was "a prospect of 
 finding such a happy disposition" among them, " not 
 all the temporal good things" which they could pro- 
 pose would induce him to engage in the work of the 
 
 ministry among them. The society renewed their 
 call, putting it in the usual form, and engaging to pay 
 him his salary so long as he should continue their 
 pastor. This call he accepted, and was ordained 
 Dec. 27, 1732. 
 
 At the time of his ordination the church consisted 
 of thirty-nine members, — thirteen males and twenty- 
 six females. The ministry of Mr. Fish during the 
 first ten years was eminently successful. In the lat- 
 ter part of this period occurred that " great awaken- 
 ing" in which the whole country was aroused, and 
 the powers of light and darkness were engaged in 
 desperate conflict, and the results of which were so 
 glorious to the cause of truth and experimental re- 
 ligion. In that revival this church shared largely, 
 receiving in a single year (1742) as the fruits of it an 
 addition of ninety-nine members. During the pre- 
 ceding nine years sixty-five members had been 
 added. 
 
 But the church, though rejoicing in a glorious work 
 of grace, was soon to pass through a fiery trial. In 
 the building there was much " wood, hay, stubble," 
 that were to be consumed. 
 
 The fire was to try the materials and make it mani- 
 fest of what sort they were, so that although some 
 loss might be suffered, coming generations might be 
 able to rear upon that same foundation an imperish- 
 able structure. 
 
 There was wanting a principle of cohesion that 
 should hold the elements of society together. There 
 had been from the first a strong tendency to party 
 spirit, a disposition to contend for individual prefer- 
 ence, and to withdraw from all friendly intercourse 
 and co-operation with each other when not agreed, 
 instead of making concessions for the sake of peace 
 and the common weal. This was seen in the great 
 difficulty which was experienced in fixing upon the 
 location of their house of worship, and was one cause, 
 the principal one probably, of the delay in its com- 
 pletion; it was seen in the difficulties which pre- 
 vented the settlement of two candidates who had 
 accepted their calls ; it is set forth with precision in 
 Mr. Worthington's reply to their first call to him. 
 
 Says Mr. Worthington, " But that which hath ever 
 been a discouragement in my mind whensoever I have 
 had any transient thoughts of a settlement with you 
 still remains, viz. : tha.t party-spirit and self-willedness 
 which hath showed itself from time to time, even in 
 trifles as well as in greater things, and which I fear 
 will still appear unless you are better affected one to- 
 ward another, if not before ; yet when anything of 
 moment is managed in the church, to the making of 
 schisms and breaches, so as to render your minister 
 the most uncomfortable of any man in the world." 
 The events which followed proved the correctness of 
 Mr. Worthington's views. If we would rightly un- 
 derstand the history of the church subsequently to. 
 the revival, we must not lose sight of this trait in the 
 character of the people. At that day the people en- 
 
NORTH STONINGTON. 
 
 733 
 
 joyed but few advantages for education. It is not 
 strange, therefore, that their views of things were not 
 always altogether the most enlightened. 
 
 Although they were favored with the ministration 
 of an able, sound, and faithful pastor, they had not 
 become accustomed to make accurate discriminations 
 in religious doctrine or practice. There were in the 
 church some erroneous views which belonged to the 
 times and were universally prevalent. The practice 
 of receiving members on the " Half-way Covenant" 
 opened the door for the admission of many whose 
 only qualification was a moral life and a general re- 
 spect for religion. Although from time to time mem- 
 bers had been added to the church, the tone of piety 
 appears to have been low. Scandalous offenses 
 abounded, and, unhappily, cases of discipline were of 
 frequent occurrence. Then came the revival. It was 
 the first general awakening which the people had ever 
 experienced. The power of God was wonderfully dis- 
 played. The Holy Spirit aroused the conscience, and 
 opened the eyes of sinners to their guilt and danger. 
 They, unaccustomed to such views, trembled, and 
 sometimes uttered shrieks, of despair, as though just 
 sinking to perdition, and Satan to the extent of his 
 power practiced his deceptive arts in opposition to 
 the Divine Spirit. And men at that time. Christians 
 even, had not learned to discriminate between the 
 good and the bad, and what was indiiferent. Some 
 attributed the whole movement — alarm, conviction, 
 sympathetic excitement, and even the bodily effects 
 — directly to the agency of the Holy Spirit; others 
 were disposed to call it the work of the devil. But 
 the judicious pastor endeavored to guide the people 
 by the light of God's word, preventing discriminating 
 views of the nature of true piety, and at the same time 
 discouraging those outbursts of feeling which caused 
 confusion, and which were exceedingly unfavorable 
 to clear perceptions of divine truth. Many were 
 hopefully converted, and a large number, as I have 
 already stated, were added to the church, and the 
 work was going steadily forward. Such was the state 
 of things when Davenport — that wandering star 
 which shot across the moral horizon, carrying desola- 
 tion in its course — made a visit to this place. 
 
 Immediately the discordant elements, in the church 
 and out of it, were in motion. Doubtless Mr. Daven- 
 port was a good man, but he was evidently laboring 
 • • under a delusion. He mistook inward impressions 
 and impulses for an indication of the will of God, 
 and believed himself to be specially commissioned 
 of heaven to separate the real disciples from the old 
 churches, which he regarded as corrupt, and to form 
 a pure church. He encouraged noise and confusion, 
 because he did not discriminate between the convicting 
 influences of the Holy Spirit and the writings and ra- 
 vings of poor depraved nature under those influences. 
 To check the outcries and incident outward manifes- 
 tations of those who did not control their feelings in 
 time of public worship was, in his view and that of 
 47 
 
 his followers, the same as to interfere with the Spirit's 
 work. He held that Christians could decide with 
 certainty as to the existence of piety in others, and 
 he took it upon himself to decide who among the 
 ministers were converted and who of them were 
 hypocrites. There were pernicious evils in the 
 churches at that day. There was much coldness and 
 formality in religion. All who offered themselves for 
 admission to the church, if unexceptional in their 
 external conduct, were received. To question them 
 in regard to their exercises of mind — their inward 
 experience — was deemed fanatical and dangerous. 
 Hence there were great numbers in the churches, and 
 many ministers doubtless, who could give no evidence 
 of having experienced a change of heart. Against 
 these evils Mr. Davenport took his stand, and called 
 upon the converts to come out and separate themselves 
 from the dead churches and the ministrations of un- 
 converted pastors. 
 
 The pastor of this church was distinguished for his 
 consistent piety, but he did not approve of this blind 
 zeal and disorganizing spirit. Accordingly, Mr. Dav- 
 enport took the same course here as in other places. 
 A large proportion, probably riot less than two-thirds 
 of the church and congregation, seceded. Some of 
 these became Baptists. Others formed themselves into 
 a Separate Church, and styled themselves " Strict Con- 
 gregationalists," but were generally denominated 
 " Separatists." 
 
 Several " Strict Congregational" Churches were 
 formed about the same time, mostly in this part of 
 the State and on Long Island, but we have not time 
 to go into their history. I am not aware that a single 
 one of them exists at the present time. Many years 
 ago they became extinct, or were merged in other 
 churches. Davenport's retraction of his errors is well 
 known, but their effect in misleading others he could 
 not recall. But how could a deluded fanatic succeed 
 in alienating the affections of so large a proportion of 
 the church from their excellent pastor and drawing 
 them away from his ministrations? We have seen 
 that the bond of union among the people had never 
 been strong, — that they were predisposed to dissen- 
 sion. The prevailing ignorance on religious subjects 
 still further prepared the way for the separation. 
 There were other causes. The " Standing Order," as 
 the regular churches were called, propped up as it 
 was by legal support, was with many becoming 
 odious. The story of their taking the last cow from 
 some poor family and selling it at auction to pay the 
 " priest tax" was told again and again with due 
 pathetic effect. Eastern breezes brought sad com- 
 plaints that the people of this " Standing Order" were 
 notorious for persecuting men for righteousness' sake ; 
 that is, if the truth had been told, for flagrant con- 
 tempt of the civil laws. The very name of " Presby- 
 terian," which was improperly applied to the churches, 
 came to the mind with a peculiar tinge, and awakened 
 thoughts of oppression and priestly rule. 
 
734 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Now when, in addition to these things, we consider 
 the fact that Davenport appeared as the represen- 
 tative of experimental religion, in opposition to cold 
 formalism, that he claimed to be specially comniis- 
 sioned by God to form a pure church, and that the 
 most wonderful manifestations of feeling attended 
 his preaching, we shall hardly be surprised that so 
 many became his followers. 
 
 Some doubtless sincerely believed that in leaving 
 the church they were bearing their testimony to the 
 religion of Jesus Christ. Some honestly believed that 
 the pastor, in attempting to prevent confusion, and to 
 discriminate between true piety and the mere excite- 
 ment of natural feeling, was taking part with the 
 enemies of the revival. The Separate brethren adopted 
 their " Articles of Faith and Church Covenant" Sept. 
 11, 1746. 
 
 Soon after the new church was organized the old 
 church " voted to call" their Separate brethren, and 
 all who had (in a stated way) absented themselves 
 from public worship and communion with them, "to 
 give a reason of their conduct at the next church- 
 meeting.'' In compliance with their " call" several 
 of them appeared at the next meeting, and at subse- 
 quent meetings, and gave their reasons, which were 
 judged by the church to be insufficient. "The rea- 
 sons" of each individual, and the judgment of the 
 church thereupon, with such passages of Scripture as, 
 in their views, supported their judgment, were placed 
 upon the records of the church. An invitation was 
 then sent to those who had given their reasons for 
 separation to meet the church at a given time and 
 hear their judgment in the case. But they declined 
 coming, nor could they be prevailed on by the most 
 earnest expostulation and entreaty to return to their 
 former communion. For several years afterwards 
 their case was before the church, and was finally 
 dropped, as the members were unable to agree upon 
 a proper course of discipline. After the separation 
 the church gradually declined. From the latter part 
 of 1743 to the death of their pastor in 1781, a period 
 of almost thirty-eight years, only seventeen were 
 added on the profession of their faith. Mr. Fish 
 died May 22, 1781, in the seventy-sixth year of his 
 age, having had the pastoral care of the church forty- 
 eight years and five months. During his ministry 
 there were added to the church one hundred and 
 ninety by profession of their faith, thirty-six by letters 
 from other churches, and one hundred and twenty- 
 nine on the half-way covenant. He baptized six hun- 
 dred and six children, and officiated at three hundred 
 and sixty-three marriages. 
 
 Mr. Fish was a graduate of Harvard University. 
 He possessed a clear, discriminating mind, and was a 
 logical reasoner. He was an excellent preacher, an 
 affectionate and faithful pastor, but his Master as- 
 signed him a difficult part in times of trouble. He 
 acted well his part. Eepeatedly was he called to 
 other inviting fields of labor; but although a large 
 
 part of his own church and congregation had left 
 him, and he had to contend with various difficulties, 
 yet, as his little flock seemed unwilling to give him 
 up, he did not forsake them. His ministry subse- 
 quent to the first ten years might appear, upon a 
 superficial view, to be comparatively fruitless. Dur- 
 ing ten years after the separation but a single mem- 
 ber was added to the church by profession, yet his 
 labors during this period may be found in the " great 
 day" to have contributed more to the perfecting of 
 " God's building" than during the preceding ten years, 
 which were crowned with such visible success. 
 
 For thirty-six years after the death of Mr. Fish the 
 church was destitute of a pastor, and even of stated 
 preaching. At each annual meeting of the society a 
 committee was appointed to supply the pulpit. This- 
 duty they performed so far as they were enabled by 
 the society's fund, which at that time was small. 
 From May, 1783, Mr. Barnabas Lathrop preached 
 nearly two years. After that time there was but little 
 preaching till the summer of 1790, when Mr. Asahel 
 Hooker preached nearly four months. Through the 
 summer of 1791, and occasionally for two or three 
 years afterwards, Mr. Reuben Moss supplied the pul- 
 pit. At this time the church was in a very low state, 
 virtually almost extinct. In August the surviving 
 members and other serious persons held a meeting to 
 consider the state of the church. Fifteen persons ex- 
 pressed a desire that it should be built up again. Of 
 these only six were professors, but the others de- 
 sired to become members. It was thought best to 
 begin anew. August 11th was set apart as a day of 
 fasting and prayer. A solemn meeting was held, at 
 which the Rev. Messrs. Levi Hart, L. Tyler, and H. 
 N. Woodruff, pastors of neighboring churches, were 
 present, and assisted in the exercises. Also licen- 
 tiates Messrs. Moss, Smith, and Newell. Sabbath, 
 the 28th of August, was a memorable day. 
 
 The six members of the church, two more who- 
 brought letters from the South Church, and ten who 
 had never before made a public profession of religion, 
 eighteen in all, presented themselves before a large 
 congregation, and gave their public assent to a confes- 
 sion of faith and covenant which had been previ- 
 ously adopted. The Rev. Levi Hart officiated, and 
 administered the Lord's Supper to the newly-organized 
 church. At the close of the services fourteen children 
 were dedicated to God in baptism. 
 
 About this time a committee was appointed to wait 
 on ]\Ir. Moss and ascertain whether he would be in- 
 clined to listen to a call for settlement, but he appears 
 to have given them no encouragement. For several 
 months during the years 1798-99 the pulpit was sup- 
 plied by the Rev. Ebenezer Lazell. In the summer 
 of 1800, Mr. Ephraim T. Woodruff" preached several 
 Sabbaths. During the summer of 1802-3 the Rev. 
 Micaiah Porter preached a considerable part of the 
 time; in 1804, Mr. John G. Dorrance three months; 
 in 1805, Mr. Daniel Farrington four months; in 1809, 
 
NORTH STONINGTON. 
 
 735 
 
 the Kev. Ira Hart about four months ; in 1811, Eev. 
 Henry Sherman three months. The Eev. Amos Bing- 
 ham preached during the summer of 1814, and was 
 invited by the church and society to settle, but he 
 declined. 
 
 From 1806 to 1822 the following persons preached 
 from one to ten Sabbaths each, viz. . Messrs. Luke 
 Wood, James Davis, Clark Brown, Oliver P. Ser- 
 geant, Walter King, Asahel Nettleton, David A. 
 Sherman, Gordon Johnson, Nathan Waldo, Heze- 
 kiah N. Woodruff, John Hendrick, Seth Chapin, 
 George A. Woodbridge, Joseph Hurlbut, and Charles 
 F.Butler. During the same time, also, the pulpit was 
 not unfrequently supplied by the pastors of neighbor- 
 ing churches. 
 
 We must now return and take a hasty view of the 
 other branch of the church. 
 
 I have already stated that the Separate brethren 
 adopted their articles of faith and covenant, Sept. 
 11, 1746. They met November 27th, and chose Mat- 
 thew Smith for their pastor. They also chose two 
 elders and two deacons. There were at that time 
 thirty-one members, — twelve males and nineteen fe- 
 males. Mr. Smith was ordained on the 10th of De- 
 cember. On the 3d of August, 1749, he was excom- 
 municated from the church. Their next pastor was 
 Mr. Oliver Prentice, who had been one of their elders. 
 He was ordained May 22, 1753, and died Oct. 18, 1755, 
 in the third year of his ministry. The next minister 
 was Rev. Nathan Avery, who was ordained April 25, 
 1759, and died Sept. 7, 1780, in the sixty-sixth year 
 of his age and twenty-second of his ministry. The 
 church was then without a pastor more than six years. 
 Their next minister was Elder Christopher Avery, 
 who had recently been received by letter from Elder 
 Park Allyn's church in North Groton. He was or- 
 dained Nov. 29, 1786, and died July 5, 1819, in the 
 thirty-third year of his ministry. The Strict Congre- 
 gational Church had four pastors, and from its for- 
 mation to the death of Elder Christopher Avery, a 
 period of nearly seventy-three years, it was without a 
 pastor in all about fourteen years and six months. 
 
 I have no means of ascertaining how many were 
 added to the church during the ministry of the suc- 
 cessive pastors. 
 
 It received, however, frequent additions. In 1754 
 it had forty-three members. Fifty years afterwards 
 (1804) the number had increased to seventy-five. 
 
 It contained a great amount of warm-hearted piety, 
 and was therefore prosperous. Many of its members 
 were eminently praying people. So far as I can 
 learn, it was in a good degree flourishing until it was 
 reunited with the other church. 
 
 The house in which it worshiped stood more than a 
 mile west of the village. It was probably built not 
 long after the formation of the church, though I am 
 unable to ascertain in what year. 
 
 To the eye of Omniscience it appeared best that the 
 church should be separated. Thus could the mem- 
 
 bers, too diverse in sentiment to walk together in 
 harmony, serve their Master more in accordance with 
 their own views. Thus could the working of their 
 distinctive principles be more clearly seen, and truth 
 and error be better distinguished. 
 
 Such, too, was the character of the community 
 that more would taste the waters of salvation if they 
 flowed in separate channels. 
 
 Considering the times and the character of the 
 people, each branch of the church was important. If 
 the one was useful in defending the purity of the 
 gospel, and in preserving the principles of gospel 
 order, the other was also useful in exhibiting its life- 
 giving power. If the one held to the necessity of a 
 learned and evangelical ministry, the other main- 
 tained that it should be a ministry that would reach 
 the hearts of the people. 
 
 The object of the separation was nearly accom- 
 plished. Years before, Edwards had applied his dis- 
 criminating logic to the " Half-way Covenant," and it 
 had fallen into disuse. Evidence of a renewed heart 
 was now admitted on all sides to he a requisite quali- 
 fication for admission to the church, and especially 
 to the sacred ofiice. With the strict Congregationalists 
 the duty of maintaining the order of the gospel, and 
 of contributing for the support of the ministry, was 
 more insisted on than formerly. The two churches 
 had become greatly assimilated in doctrines and 
 practice. Old prejudice was in a good degree for- 
 gotten. Each church invited the members of the 
 other to occasional communion. God was preparing 
 the way for a reunion. 
 
 The two churches were next to have a house of 
 worship in common. Each of the did meeting-houses 
 having become unfit for use, a subscription was opened 
 for the building of a new one. This was erected in 
 1817, and was to be equally enjoyed by both societies. 
 By the terms of subscription it was provided that the 
 pastor of the Strict Congregational Church, Elder 
 Christopher Avery, should have the privilege of 
 preaching in the new house during his life, and that 
 afterwards, when both societies had preachers, they 
 should occupy it alternately, and that when one was 
 destitute the other might occupy it the whole time. 
 
 In 1824, the Rev. Joseph Ayer commenced preach- 
 ing here by invitation from both churches. He was 
 ordained June 29, 1825. The way was now prepared 
 for a reunion of the churches. They worshiped in 
 the same house, they enjoyed the labors of the same 
 minister, — why should they not become one? With 
 great harmony they were united March 15, 1827. At 
 this time the church, thus united, consisted of more 
 than sixty members. Mr. Ayer was not installed 
 pastor, but performed pastoral duties until the latter 
 part of March, 1837, when his labors in this place 
 terminated. He appears to have been raised up to 
 perform a special and important office in " God's hus- 
 bandry.'' 
 
 Under his ministrations the fragments of this 
 
736 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 church, so long dissevered, were brought together 
 again, and the church, one and entire, took its place 
 in regular standing among the churches of our order. 
 During the ten years of Mr. Ayer's ministry subse- 
 quent to the union of the churches there were added 
 to the church, by profession and by letter, upwards 
 of eighty members. 
 
 In April, 1837, the church and society gave a call 
 to the Rev. Peter H. Shaw to become their pastor. 
 He accepted it, and was installed on the 24th of May 
 following. Feb. 5, 1839, his pastoral relation to the 
 church was dissolved. 
 
 The Rev. Philo Judson succeeded Mr. Shaw, and 
 preached here as stated supply until the close of 1844, 
 more than five years. 
 In 1842 several were added to the church. 
 During the summer of 1845 the pulpit was supplied 
 by the Rev. William Case. 
 
 The Rev. Myron N. Morris commenced preaching 
 in January, 1846, and was ordained on the 15th of 
 the following April. 
 
 At that time the church consisted of eighty-three 
 resident and thirty-four non-resident members. 
 
 Mr. Morris labored most successfully with the 
 church and society. For several years since his de- 
 parture the church has been fortunate in their pas- 
 toral relations, especially in the present pastor, Mr. 
 J. W. Savage, whose labors thus far have been mast 
 acceptable, promising the best results. The church 
 has a membership of ninety-nine, and a flourishing 
 Sunday-school of great promise. 
 
 First Baptist Church of Nortli Stonington. — 
 This church was organized in 1743, and was the out- 
 come of the " Great Awakening," which commenced 
 under the searching preaching of Dr. Edwards, and 
 like a wave of light spread over New England in 
 1741-42-48. Whitefield and Davenport were the most 
 important actors in the drama. Their labors were 
 incessant and were crowned with abundant success. 
 Mr. Wait Palmer, one of the members of the church, 
 became their first pastor, and was set apart to that 
 work. But of the names and numbers of its original 
 members, and of the churches and ministers who 
 composed the council of recognition, we have from 
 the records no information. Nor is it certain that 
 Mr. Palmer was ever ordained in the usual order of 
 councils. It is more probable that he was set apart 
 to his work by the members of the church, by laying 
 on of hands by his brethren. This at first was the 
 plan of ordination adopted by the Separatist churches, 
 who came into existence during the " Great Awaken- 
 ing." 
 
 Unfortunately, the records of this church are lost 
 from its organization to 1762, and little can be known 
 save what can be gleaned from tradition and collateral 
 history. Mr. Palmer was an intelligent, sagacious 
 business man, and acquired a handsome property for 
 his time. 
 
 He was excluded from the church after nearly 
 
 twenty years' service. The charges against him were 
 as follows : first, that he was actuated by a hireling 
 spirit in demanding a stated salary for his ministe- 
 rial services ; and, second, that he professed to have 
 an internal dismission from the church, and in virtue 
 thereof pronounced the church dissolved. There is 
 no evidence extant to show that he did not sustain 
 a good moral character. That he might have cher- 
 ished delusions and labored under mistaken impres- 
 sions, like a good many of the leading men of his 
 time, is not unlikely. But to be arraigned for asking 
 to know how much he should receive for his services, 
 and then to be tried and convicted by his brethren 
 and excluded from their fellowship, must have been 
 a severe ordeal. But it was in accordance with the 
 ideas of the reformers of his day, whose theory was 
 that salvation teas free, and that God inspired the men 
 he called to preach. He gave them thoughts, ideas, 
 and words, and he who wanted a stated salary was a 
 hypocrite, a hireling, an unconverted man. Over all 
 these things let the mantle of charity be thrown, and 
 let men and institutions be weighed and judged by 
 their labors, for it is by their present works that you 
 shall know them. In the early part of Mr. Palmer's 
 ministry he traveled somewhat extensively, penetra- 
 ting the adjoining towns and counties; preaching the 
 gospel wherever God in his providence opened the 
 way for him. No record is kept of the number of 
 members received under his ministry. Mr. Palmer 
 was succeeded in his ministry by Mr. Eleazer Brown, 
 who entered upon his ministry under discouraging 
 circumstances. The removal of Mr. Palmer from the 
 ministry of the church had embittered his friends and 
 weakened the bond of union among the members. 
 The church was in a scattered, languishing condi- 
 tion, yet his call to the pastorate seems to have 
 been unanimous, and productive of great good. Mr. 
 Brown was not of the Davenport style, but a sound, 
 able, and efiective speaker, and it required all the 
 power that he possessed to arrest the blacksliding 
 from the standard of the great awakening, which was 
 everywhere succeeded by the most lamentable reli- 
 gious declension ; however, he kept good the mem- 
 bership of his church. In 1784 the church num- 
 bered ninety-seven, and kept steadily gaining. In 
 1792 the church enjoyed a precious revival, in which 
 it received an accession of fifty-two members, making 
 the whole number one hundred and fifty-four. 
 
 On the 25th of October, 1792, Peleg Randall was 
 ordained an evangelist, and assisted Mr. Brown in the 
 work of the ministry. Mr. Brown died June 20, 
 1795. His early educational advantages were limited, 
 but he educated himself as he advanced in his work, 
 which gave real strength to his strong native powers, 
 and he was justly esteemed as among the most emi- 
 nent of the preachers of his day. 
 
 He was succeeded by Mr. Randall, whose pastorate 
 was distinguished by no remarkable elevations or de- 
 pressions, but gradually increased Irom year to year. 
 
NORTH STONINGTON. 
 
 737 
 
 He closed his labors with the church Oct. 8, 1813. 
 He was succeeded by the Rev. Jonathan Miner in 
 1814, who received a call from the church, and soon 
 after became their pastor. His labors with the church 
 were productive of the happiest results. During the 
 first month between thirty and forty were admitted to 
 the church by baptism, and within the period of three 
 months fifty-six were baptized. This for the times 
 was an extraordinary accession. The years 1822, 
 1828, and 1831 were years of revivals in Mr, Miner's 
 ministry. 
 
 Down to the present time this old church has 
 been visited by many precious revivals, and many 
 of all ages have been gathered into its sacred folds; 
 but the unrelenting death-roll, and the migration of 
 so many of its sons and daughters to other fields of 
 labor and usefulness, lessens their numbers and weak- 
 ens the church. But under the pastoral care of the 
 Rev. Daniel F. Chapman, who has been connected 
 with the church for about three years, a happier bond 
 of union is manifest, and more practical religion is 
 developed. A well-arranged parsonage has been built, 
 exhibiting not only an increasing interest in the old 
 church, but a respectful consideration for their worthy 
 pastor and his interesting family. The Sunday-school 
 connected with this church is well organized, and the 
 teachers and scholars are all benefited by the instruc- 
 tion received and imparted. It is in fact as well as in 
 name a nursery of the church. 
 
 The Second Baptist Cliiircli in North Stonington 
 was organized in 1765, and Deacon Simeon Brown was 
 ordained their pastor in March of that year. He was 
 a native of Stonington and a man of sterling worth, 
 but not a natural pulpit orator. He was greatly be- 
 loved by his parishioners, and gathered about him a 
 church of respectable numbers, who loved and sus- 
 tained him under all the circumstances in which he 
 was placed. Other ordained ministers have been 
 raised up in this church or employed by it, viz. : Asher 
 Miner, Asa Spalding, Jedediah Randall, Foronda 
 Bestor, Amos R. Wells, Levi Meech, John Green, 
 Erastus Denison, Levi Walker, also a number of li- 
 centiates. There has been a good many special sea- 
 sons of refreshing from the Lord enjoyed by this 
 church, mingled with the depressing influence of re- 
 ligious declension. At present they are enjoying the 
 preaching and pastoral care of the Rev. E. P. Mathew- 
 son, who is greatly respected and beloved. The church 
 numbers one hundred and sixty-eight, with a Sunday- 
 school well organized and progressing finely. 
 
 The Third Baptist Church in North Stonington 
 was organized on the 23th day of December, 1828. 
 The following extract from their covenant exhibits 
 their motives and feelings: "We whose names are 
 hereunto annexed, feeling an interest for the cause of 
 God, and being located by Providence where we can 
 but seldom have an opportunity of meeting the 
 churches to which we severally belong, feel that it is 
 high time for us to set up a banner for God." An 
 
 ecclesiastical council, consisting of Elders William 
 Bentley, J. G. Wiglitman, W. Palmer, Luther God- 
 dard, B. M. Hill, J. S. Swan, Jonathan Miner, and 
 Asher Miner. But eight individuals were originally 
 recognized as the church, because they only had been 
 purposely dismissed by their respective churches. 
 
 Many others who were anxious to be recognized 
 with their brethren united the first opportunity after- 
 wards. As a church their labor was indeed a work of 
 faith, but they were strengthened for the undertaking. 
 Their meetings were held in a school-house, which 
 was frequently too small for them, and they were de- 
 pendent on transient supplies for the ministry of the 
 word. Nevertheless, at the close of the first year of 
 their existence as a church they numbered thirty- 
 seven. In June of 1829 they united with the Sto- 
 nington Union Association, at their anniversary in 
 Plainfield. The following September the church en- 
 gaged the ministrations of Elder Seth Higby for six 
 months ; the last four months of his engagement he 
 officiated as pastor of the church at their particular 
 request. From the spring of 1829 they were without 
 the pastoral care of an under-shepherd for five years. 
 During this period the question of life or death was 
 many times difficult to answer. Those were days of 
 darkness and trial, but the great Shepherd of Israel, 
 true to His promise, upheld and sustained them. 
 The church was favored with occasional preaching by 
 Revs. J. H. Baker, R. Mowry, J. White, 0. Denison, 
 and others, and a few names were added to the roll of 
 members. Once during this period light seemed to 
 illumine their path. The place of meeting became 
 altogether too small for them, and they were obliged 
 to repair to a neighboring grove, where, in the great 
 temple of God, his word was preached with great 
 power to an attentive and anxious auditory. 
 
 Many were quickened into life by the influences of 
 the Holy Spirit, though but few joined the church, 
 as they had no pastor. The neat and commodious 
 house in which they now worship was erected, in 
 1833. Early in 1834 they secured the services of the 
 Rev. Foronda Bestor, in whom the church were 
 greatly united. During his pastorate thirty-eight 
 were added by baptism and forty-seven by letter, 
 most of them being the additions of a single year. 
 
 After three years of prosperous labor, Elder Bestor 
 was succeeded by the Rev. Alfred Gates, who re- 
 mained with the church only one year. This year 
 will long be remembered for a large increase of the 
 membership of the church, by the admission of twen- 
 ty-seven converts. In the spring of 1838 the Rev. 
 Pierpont Brocket commenced his pastoral labors with 
 them, and ministered with great acceptance to the 
 church and society until the fall of 1839, when he re- 
 signed the pastorate, and they were again left desti- 
 tute of an under-shepherd, though they were supplied 
 with preaching through the winter by the Rev. Silas 
 Leonard. For the subsequent two years they enjoyed 
 the ministry of the Rev. Thomas Dowling, by whom 
 
HISTOEY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ire strengthened and built up in their faith by 
 iar and faithful preaching of the important, but 
 Tto^^'ten neglected, doctrines of practical religion. In 
 the summer of 1842 the Eev. B. C. Grafton accepted 
 a call to the pastorate of the church, and entered 
 upon his duties. 
 
 This year is also worthy of note for a church act 
 prohibiting the use of all intoxicating liquors as a 
 beverage, and especially for a gracious visitation of 
 the Holy Spirit. 
 
 Nearly sixty were received into the fellowship of 
 the church as the blessed fruits of this revival. Mr. 
 Grafton resigned in 1848, and was ably succeeded by 
 the Rev. E. T. Hixcox, a graduate of Hamilton Sem- 
 inary, N. Y., who supplied the pulpit for about four 
 months. By request of the church he was ordained 
 to the work of the ministry, Jan. 18, 1844. Rev. John 
 Blain preached the sermon ; Revs. E. Denison, C. 
 Randall, H. E. Knapp, A. G. Palmer, and S. Wake- 
 field took part in the exercises. Mr. Hixcox's en- 
 gagement was for but one year, and at the expiration 
 of which he removed to Westerly, R. I., when the 
 church aud society united in calling the Rev. James 
 R. Stone to the pastorate, with whom the church 
 were greatly edified and blessed. Since Mr. Stone's 
 departure they have had a succession of able and de- 
 voted ministers, who have kept up and increased the 
 membership of the church. A large and interesting 
 Sunday-school is held in connection with the church. 
 
 The present clergyman. Rev. J. Eldred Jones, has 
 assumed the pastorate upon the unanimous call of the 
 church, whose labors thus far have been very success- 
 ful. 
 
 At a town-meeting legally warned and held at 
 Stonington on the 5th day of April, A.D. 1806, it was 
 voted to divide the town of Stonington into two sep- 
 arate towns, beginning at Mystic River, at the west 
 end of the society line that divides the said town into 
 two societies, thence southerly and easterly a straight 
 line to Pawoatuck River, where Shunnock River 
 enters said Pawcatuck River. 
 
 Also voted, that the town being northward of the 
 above said line shall be called by the name of Jeffer- 
 son. 
 
 When the Legislature assembled in May following 
 the foregoing vote of the town was taken into consid- 
 eration and adopted, and the town was divided on the 
 line therein suggested. But the name of Jefferson 
 for the new town was not adopted, for the reason that 
 the society of North Stonington had been so named 
 by the General Assembly, and had had charge of the 
 schools for a great many years, aud the name had be- 
 come so identified with its vital interests that it was 
 considered best not to change it, so the new town was 
 called North Stonington. 
 
 Mills and Manufacturing.— The town of North 
 Stonington is noted for being the sources of the 
 Mystic, Shunnuck, and the western branches of Ash- 
 away River. One of the Ashaway branches has its 
 
 main source in Wyassup Lake (raised now into a 
 reservoir, with its floating island), and courses its way 
 along, giving water-power to Peabody's saw-mill, and 
 through the old dam on the Holmes estate, where in 
 the long ago was a mill, and enters the Spalding 
 Pond, where it mingles with the rivulet that rises on 
 the southern and western slopes of Pung-hung-we- 
 nuck Hill, then on and by the old Spalding mills 
 into the Burch or Clark Mill-pond. Another source 
 of the Ashaway rises in Voluntown,- and its down- 
 ward course is fed by the rivulet from the eastern 
 slope of the Pung-hung-we-nuck range of hills, form- 
 ing the vyater-power for the manufacturing establish- 
 ments at Laurel Glen, mainly erected and run at first 
 by Charles Kenyon, but now successfully operated 
 by Deacon Barber and others. Passing Laurel Glen, 
 the stream enters Burch or Clark Pond, forming the 
 water-power for Clark Falls Mill, which was erected 
 by the late Alfred Clark and Peleg S. Tift, in equal 
 partnership, in 1864, costing $33,762,282. A manu- 
 facturing company was organized and known as the 
 Clark Falls Manufacturing Company, hired the mill 
 and supplied the machinery at a cost of twenty thou- 
 sand dollars, with a lease at ten per cent, on the actual 
 cost of mill aud privilege, or at a rent of three thou- 
 sand three hundred and seventy-six dollars per annum, 
 which was operated under the superintendence of A. 
 S. Briggs, manufacturing army goods until the close 
 of the war, since which they have manufactured flan- 
 nels, suitings, and various patterns of woolen goods. 
 The firm-name of the company has never been 
 changed, though there has been successions in the 
 ownership. 
 
 Three-fourths of the mill property is now owned by 
 Alfred M. Clark, and the balance by Mrs. B. F. Lang- 
 worthy. 
 
 Mr. Briggs has had control of the operations of the 
 mill ever since its erection, and now owns a half-in- 
 terest in the manufacturing company, and acts as 
 their agent. The mill is now in successful operation, 
 using raw stock to the amount of one hundred thou- 
 sand dollars per annum, and, with the tenement- 
 houses, are in good repair. Some of the sources of 
 the Shunnuck River are found on the western slope 
 of Cosatuck Hill and the eastern side of Swan's 
 Hill, merging in the valley between, and furnishing 
 water-power for Denison Hewitt's saw-mill ; coursing 
 on, the waters soon reach the manufacturing estab- 
 lishment of John D. Gallup, not now in use, then 
 onward, gaining additional volume from auxiliary 
 rivulets, until it is met by the old dam near the vil- 
 lage of Milltown, where the water is taken in a canal, 
 mostly underground, to the factory-wheel on the east 
 side of the village. Other sources of the Shunnuck 
 River may be found on the eastern and southern 
 slopes of Win-che-choog Hill, joining at the foot, and 
 passing on through Assekonk Swamp, gaining addi- 
 tional volume until it reaches the village of Milltown, 
 where it unites with the branch of the more northern 
 
NORTH STONINGTON. 
 
 739 
 
 sources. United, they pass on down over the saw- 
 mill dam and merge with the factory-flume waters, 
 and form the water-power of the Frink Mills. 
 
 The first mill in the village was known as Ayres' 
 grist-mill, which was subsequently owned by Joseph 
 Hewitt and others, and later became the property of 
 Luther Avery, who conveyed it to Hosea Wheeler in 
 1803, who sold it to Nathan Pendleton in 1813. 
 After his death his widow, Phebe Pendleton, conveyed 
 it to George W. Bentley in 1840. Up to this time it 
 was described as a grist-mill, turning-shop, and full- 
 ing-mill. Mr. Bentley built the present factory build- 
 ing soon after he purchased the property, and the 
 same was operated until after 1850, in the manufac- 
 ture of cotton yarns and cotton cloth, when the 
 cotton machinery was removed and woolen put in its 
 place, and operated ever since. George W. Bentley 
 sold the property to Eussel Bentley in 1842, afterwards 
 it was reconveyed to Mrs. Phebe Pendleton before 
 185&, when it was leased and operated by Thomas 
 Clark, Welcome Stillman & Co., until Stillman's death. 
 Before his death Clark & Stillman purchased the mill, 
 and Clark sold Stillman one-half of the machinery, 
 and after his death operated the mill until 1871, when 
 he sold it to James M. Pendleton, who now owns it. 
 Passing downwards, the accumulated waters are met 
 by Vincent's dam, just north of the old turnpike, and 
 the waters of the pond are taken by canal across the 
 road and used to run his saw-mill and sash and 
 blind manufacturing establishment. Still farther on 
 the Messrs. Brown arrested the natural flow of the 
 river by a dam for a grist-mill, which, after several 
 years, has passed away out of use. The river, un- 
 vexed by any more dams, passes on by the remains of 
 an old dam, where in the long ago the Eichardsons 
 owned a mill, down into the "White Eock Pond," 
 where it mingles with the Ashaway waters, previously 
 merged at Potter Hill with the calm-flowing Pawca- 
 tuck, then all on together, moving looms and spindles 
 by the millions, and the buzzing wheels of industry,' 
 till they are lost in the ocean. 
 
 The sources of the Mystic Eiver are found on the 
 northern slope of Lantern Hill and the hills that rise 
 to the north ; moving down they soon reach Lantern 
 Hill Pond, where they meet a dam that utilizes the 
 water in running Main's mills. Then on and into 
 Indiantown Pond, at the south end of which, in 1814, 
 the Williams manufacturing establishment and dam 
 were erected by Cyrus Williams, and by Henry and 
 Silas Chesebro, and by them operated for a number of 
 years, when the mills and water-power were sold to 
 late John Hyde, and operated for a while by the late 
 George W. Moss, and then were operated by Mr. 
 Hyde at intervals until his death. Passing on, the 
 Mystic waters were stopped and raised by an upland 
 Fish, who built one of the first saw-mills erected in 
 this region, some two hundred years ago. 
 
 The mill remained until the Mystic Manufacturing 
 Company, chartered in 1814, purchased it. Still far- 
 
 ther down, within the last two years, the Messrs. 
 Whitfords have built a mill-dam across its waters 
 for sawing and other purposes. The Lantern Hill 
 Silex Company was formed, as a joint- stock com- 
 pany, to excavate and draw from the everlasting hills 
 that cluster around old Lantern Hill their mineral 
 wealth, commenced and are still in operation there 
 and at Mystic Bridge. 
 
 Population in 1880, 1769. Grand List, $734,798. 
 
 TOWN CLERKS. 
 1807, Stephen Avery; 1S2S, Ansel Coats; 1829, Tudley R. Wheeler; 
 1831, Isaac P. Langwurthy; 1832, Henry 0. Brown ; 1833, Oliver 
 Hewitt; 18S0, Thomas W. Wheeler; 185B, Charles N. Wheeler; 
 1862, Thomas W. Wheeler, 1866, William H. Hilliard; 1879, 
 Henry 0. Green ; 1880, William H. Hilliard; 1881, William H. Hil- 
 liard. 
 
 The probate district of North Stonington was set 
 off from the probate district of Stonington in 1835. 
 
 JUDGES. 
 1835-37, Elias Hewitt; 1838, William Randall, Jr.; 1839-45, Elias Hew- 
 itt; 1846, Thomas P. Wattles, M.D.; 1847, Elias Hewitt; 1848, 
 Ansel Coats: 1849, the Legislature failed to appniitt; 1850-54, 
 Thomas P. Wattles, M.D. ; 1855-57, Cliarles Perry White; 1868-59, 
 Thomas W. Wheeler; 1860-62, Charles Perry White; 1863-64, 
 Francis S. Peabody ; 1865, William B. Hull; 1866-82, Charles Perry 
 White. 
 
 SENATORS. 
 1837, Elias Hewitt, Stanton Hewitt, Jr. ; 1845^6, Dudley B.Wheeler; 
 1855, Francis S. Peabody; 1867, Thomas Clark; 1881, Charles P. 
 White. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 When North Stonington was first organized as a 
 town it was entitled to but one representative. 
 
 1808.— Elias Hewitt. 
 18IJ9.— Sands Cole. 
 1810.— Chester Smith. 
 1811. — Nathaniel Pendleton.l 
 1812.— Bavid Coats, Sanils Cole. 
 1813. — Thomas Wheeler, Elias S. Palmer. 
 1814.— Parez Hewitt, Gilbert Billings. 
 1815.— Nathan Pendleton, Latham Hull. 
 1816.— Chesti-r Smith, Daniel Packer. 
 1817. — David Coats, John Brown. 
 1818. — Nathan Pendleton, Stanton Hewitt. 
 1819. — Samuel Chapman, Daniel Packer. 
 182U. — Nathan Pendleton, David Coats. 
 Iy21. — John Langworthy, Benjamin Pomeroy. 
 1822,— John D. Gallup, Nathan Pendleton. 
 1823. — William Randall, Jr., Asher Coats. 
 18i4._0hester Smith, Thomas T. Wells. 
 1826.— Sands Cole, Stanton Hewitt. 
 1826. — Nathan Pendleton, Latham Hull. 
 1827.— Cyrus Williams, Stanton Hewitt, Jr. 
 1828. — Latham Hull, Samuel Chapman. 
 1829.— Latham Hull, John D. Gallup. 
 1830.— Ezra Hewitt, Stanton Hewitt, Jr. 
 1831.— Elias Hewitt, Stephen Mail). 
 1832.— Latham Hull, Stanton Hewitt, Jr. 
 1833.— Latham Hull, David Coats. 
 1834._01iV6r Hewitt, Ephraim Wheeler. 
 1835.— Latham Hull, Stanton Hewitt, Jr. 
 1836. — Gurdon Hewitt, Latham Hull, Jr. 
 1837.— John D. Gallup, Amos Hull. 
 1838.— Latham Hull, John D. Gallup. 
 1839.— Elias Hewitt, Thomas H. Hewitt. 
 1840.— Latham Hull, Nathaniel M. Crary. 
 1841.— Oliver Hewitt, Peleg Clark. 
 
 1 In 1811 the General .Assembly gave the town two members. 
 
740 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1842.— Charles G. Simon, Latham Hull, Jr. 
 1843.— John D. Gallup, Oliver Hewitt, 
 1844._Latham Hull, Charles S. Brown. 
 1845.— Allen Wheeler, William B. Hull. 
 1846,_-W"illiam B. Hull, Nathaniel M. Crary? 
 1847.— John D. Gallup, John Sheffield. 
 1848.— Latham Hull, Oliver Hewitt. 
 1849.— Oliver Hewitt, Francis H. AVheeler. 
 1850. — Francis H. Wheeler, Christopher Hull. 
 1851. — Allen Wheeler, Asher Prentice, Jr. 
 1852.— Asher Prentice, Jr., Ephiaim W. Maris. 
 185;i.— William B. Hull, Charles P. White. 
 1854. — John D. Gallup, Denison Hewitt. 
 1855.— Robert T. Latham, C. H. Ketiyon. 
 1856.— Samuel B. Wheeler, Dudley W. Stewart. 
 1857.— Cyrus W. Brown. Jr., Chester S. Prentice. 
 1858. — Zehulon Treat York, Boger Griswold Avery. 
 1859.— Dudley R. Wheeler, Stephen A. Brown. 
 I860.— Dudley R. Wheeler, Cyrus W. Brown, Jr. 
 1861.— Samuel B. Wheeler, Thomns Clark. 
 1862.— Thomas Clark, Chester S. Prentice. 
 1863. — Stephen A Brown, Charles Stanton, 
 1864.- LotW. Kumey, John D. Babcock. 
 1865. — Thomas W. Wheeler, Samuel L. Main. 
 1866.— Richard Wheelei', Thomas Clark. 
 1867.— John D. Gallup (2), Alphonso Browning. 
 1868.— John D. Gallup (2), Alfred Clark. 
 1869.— Alfred Clark, Roger G. Avery. 
 1870. — Joseph D. Hewitt, Ashur H. Chapman. 
 1871. — Joseph D. Hewitt, Ashur H. Chapman. 
 1872. — Samuel Thompson, Amos A. Browning. 
 1873.— Samuel B Wheeler, Benjaniin F. Billings. 
 1874.— Samuel L. Main, B. F. Billings. 
 1875. — Andrew Avery, Edgar H. W^heeler. 
 1876.— Andrew Avery, Edgar H. Wheeler. 
 1877.— Alfred Clark, William H. Hillard. 
 1878.- Alfred Clark, Orren Chapman. 
 1879.— Charles L. Brown, John S. Bentley. 
 1880.— Alfred M. Clark, John S. Bentley. 
 1881.— Alfred M. Clark, Samuel T. Browning. 
 1882. — Orren Chapman, Charles Brown. 
 
 SELECTMEN. 
 
 The first election for selectmen in North Stoning- 
 ton took place June 15, 1807 : 
 
 Latham Hull, Sr., Chester Smith, David Coats, Sanford Palmer, Elias 
 Hewitt, Sr. 
 
 The next election took place November 24th of the 
 same year, and after that they have been elected 
 annually, as follows : 
 
 Chester Smith, David Coats, Elias Hewitt, Sr., Nathan Pendleton, Jere- 
 miah York. 
 1808.— Chester Smith, David Coats, Elias Hewitt, Sr., Nathan Pendleton, 
 
 Jeremiah York. 
 1809.— David Coats, Elias Hewitt, Jeremiah York, Asa Prentice, Sanda 
 
 Cole. 
 1810.— David Coats, Elias Hewitt, Sr., Asa Prentice, Sanda Cole, Wm. T. 
 
 Browning. 
 1811.— David Coats, Elias Hewitt, Aaa Prentice, Sanda Cole, Robert 
 
 Wheeler, Sr. 
 1812.— David Coats, Elias Hewitt, Asa Prentice, Sands Cole, Robert 
 
 Wheeler. 
 1813.— David Coats, Eliaa Hewitt, Sr., Asa Prentice, Sanda Cole, Robert 
 
 Wheeler. 
 1814.— Elias Hewitt, Sr., Asa Prentice, Sands Cole, Gilbert Billings, 
 
 Joseph Ayre. 
 1815.— Asa Prentice, Joseph Ayre, Daniel Packer, Luther Palmer, Chester 
 
 Smith. 
 1816.— Chester Smith, David Coats, Daniel Packer, Luther Palmer, John 
 
 Langworthy, Jr. 
 1817.— Elias Hewitt, Sr., Wm. T. Bmwning, John Langworthy, Jr., Wm. 
 
 Randall, Jr , Christopher Brown, Jr. 
 1818.— Elias Hewitt, Sr., Sands Cole, Wm. Randall, Jr., Perez Hewitt, 
 
 Asa A. Swan. 
 
 1819.— John Langworthy, Jr., Wm. Randall, Jr., Perez Hewitt, Asa A. 
 Swan, Benjamin Ponieroy. 
 
 1820. — John Langworthy, Jr., Wm. Randall, Jr., Benjamin Pomeroy 
 Ethan Foster. John Brown. 
 
 1821.— Latham Hull,Wm. Randall, Jr., John Dean Gallup, Elias Smith, 
 Daniel Carr. 
 
 1822. — Latham PIulI, John Dean Gallup, Daniel Carr, Samuel Prentice, 
 Asher Coats. 
 
 1823. — Nathan Pendleton, Asher Coats, Sands Cole. 
 
 1824. — Latham Hull, Nathan Pendleton, Sands Cole, Russel Wheeler, 
 Ezra B. Smith. 
 
 1825.— Latham Hull, Ezra B. Smith, Stanton Hewitt, Jr., Allen Wheeler, 
 Smith Chapman. 
 
 1826.— Latham Hull, Stanton Hewitt, Jr., Allen Wheeler, Smith Chap- 
 man, Asher Prentice, Jr. 
 
 1827.— Latham Hull, Stanton Hewitt, Jr., Smith Chapman, Asher Pren- 
 tice, Jr., Stephen Main. 
 
 1828. — Latham Hull, Stanton Hewitt, Jr., Stephen Main, Thomas Brown- 
 ing, Abel Collins. 
 
 1829. — Latham Hull, Stanton Hewitt, Jr., Stephen Main, Thomas Brown- 
 ing, Abel Collins. 
 
 1830. — Latham BIull, Smith Chapman, Stephen Main, Thomas Browning, 
 Stanton Hewitt, Jr. 
 
 1831. — Latham Hull, Stanton Hewitt, Jr., Stephen Main, Thomas Brown- 
 ing, Elias Hewitt. 
 
 1832.— Latham Hull, Ezra Hewitt, Amos Hull, Matthew Brown, An- 
 drew Chapman. 
 
 1833. — Ezra Hewitt, Amos Hull, Matthew Brown, Andrew Chapman, 
 Thomas P. Wattles. 
 
 1834. — Ezra Hewitt, Amos Hull, Matthew Brown, Andrew Chapman, 
 Thomas P. Wattles. 
 
 1835 — Ezra Hewitt, Amos Hull, Matthew Brown, Andrew Chapman, 
 Thomas P. Wattles. 
 
 1836. — Amos Hull, Matthew Brown, Andrew Chapman, Amos C. Main, 
 Elias Hewitt. 
 
 1837.— Latham Hull, William Randall, Jr., Peleg Clark, Ansel Coats, 
 Jabez Gallup. 
 
 1838.— Latham Hull, Peleg Clark, Francis S. Peabody. George W. Bent- 
 ley, Thumaa H. Hewitt, David Stillman, Peleg Kenyon. 
 
 1839.— Latham Hull, Francis S. Peabody, Thomas H. Hewitt, Percy 
 Kenyon, George W. Bentley, David Stillman, Peleg Clark. 
 
 1840.— Latham Hull, John Dean Gallup, Robert Wheeler, Peleg Clark, 
 George W Bentley, David Stillman, Charles H. Babcock. 
 
 1841. — Latham Hull, John Dean Gallup, Charles S. Brown, Euasel Bent- 
 ley, Allen Wheeler. 
 
 1842. — Latham Hull, John Dean Gallup, Charles S. Brown, Russel Bent- 
 ley, George H. Lewis. 
 
 1843. — Latham Hull, John Dean Gallup, Russel Bentley. 
 
 1844. — Latham Hull, John Dean Gallup, Matthew Brown, Charles H. 
 Babcock, Russel Bentley, Nathan York, Jr., Nathaniel M. Crary. 
 
 1845. — Latham Hull, John Dean Gallup, Nathaniel M. Crary, Russel 
 Bentley, Palmer N. Miner, Charles H. Babcock, Matthew Brown. 
 
 1846. — John Dean Gallup, Nathaniel M. Crary, John Sheffield, Russel 
 Bentley, Charles H. Babcock. 
 
 1847.— Latham Hull, Andrew Chapman, Thomas P. Wattles, William 
 Vincent, Siinford Main, Oliver S. Eccleatoue, Reuben W. York. 
 
 1848. — Latham Hull, Andrew Chapman, William Vincent, Oliver S. 
 Eccleatone, Reuben W. York, Isaac W. Miner, Charles H. Main. 
 
 1849. — John Dean Gallup, William Vincent, Isaac W. Miner, Andrew 
 Chapman, Charles H. Main, Luke C. Reynolds, Charles P. White. 
 
 1850.— John Dean Gallup, William Vincent, Isaac W. Miner, Luke 0. 
 Reynolds, Charlea P. White. 
 
 1851.— John Dean Gallup, William Vincent, Isaac W. Miner. 
 
 1852.— John Dean Gallup, William Vincent, Isaac W. Miner. 
 
 1853.— John Dean Gallup, William Vincent, William B. Hull. 
 
 1S54.— William B. Hull, Ephraim W. Main, Charles H. Babcock. 
 
 1855.- Ansel Coats, Robert Wheeler, Matthew Brown, Joseph Frink, 
 Alfred Clark, Chester S. Prentiss, Asher H. Chapman. 
 
 1856.— William Vincent, Ansel Coats, Sanford Main, Luke C. Reynolds, 
 Samuel H. Prentice. 
 
 1857.— Peleg Clark, Wm. T. Browning, Cyrus W. Brown, Jr. 
 
 1858.— Wm. B. Hull, Wm. M. Hillard, Charles H. Babcock. 
 
 1859. — Chester S. Prentice, Reuben W.York, Samuel B.Wheeler. 
 
 1860.- Chester S. Prentice, Asher H. Chapman, Reuben W. York. 
 
 1861. — Chfster S. Prentice, Reuben W. York, Robert Palmer. 
 
 1862-63.— Wm. E. Hull, Charlea H. Kenyon, Denison Hewitt. 
 
 1864, — Wm. B. Hull, Deuiaon Hewitt, Henry L. Miner. 
 
NORTH STONINGTON. 
 
 741 
 
 1865-68.— Cliester S. Prentice, Dudley W. Stewart, Bichard Wheeler. 
 1869.— Chester S. Prentice, Dudley W. Stewart, Reuben W. York. 
 1870.— Chester S. Prentice, Dudley W. Stewart, John D. Babcock. 
 1871.— Chester S. Prentice, Alfred Clark, John D. Babcock. 
 1872.— Samuel B. Wheeler, Andrew Avery, John C. Coats. 
 1873.- Samuel B. Wheeler, Alfred Clark, Andrew Avery. 
 1874.— Andrew Avery, Samuel B. Wheeler, William B. Hull. 
 1875.— Samuel B. Wheeler, Andrew Avery, Alfred Clark. 
 1876. — Samuel B. Wheeler, Andrew Avery, Alfred Clark. 
 1877.— Andrew Avery, Orrin B. Allen, Alfred Clark. 
 1878.— Andrew Avery, Robert P. Palmer, Nathan S. Edgcomb. 
 1879.- Benjamin P. Billings, Alfred M. Clark, Orrin B. Allen. 
 1880.— Alfred M. Clark, Isaac D. Miner, Onin B. Allen. 
 1881. — Orrin Chapman, Horace F. York, George W. Stewart. 
 
 Slilitary. — Four of the militia companies assem- 
 bled at Groton Bank during the last war with Eng- 
 land, on the 20th day of June, 1813, belonged to this 
 town ; also four of the militia companies that rallied 
 and repelled the British at Stonington in 1814 be- 
 longed to this town. As they have been included in 
 Col. Randall's regiment on both occasions, in the his- 
 tory of Stonington, it is not deemed necessary to enter 
 their names again. 
 
 The companies were No. 2, commanded by Asa 
 A. Swan ; No. 4, commanded by John W. Hull ; 
 No. 6, commanded by Daniel Carr ; No. 7, commanded 
 by Daniel Miner. 
 
 The following list shows the names of the men who 
 volunteered and entered the Union army from North 
 Stonington during the late war of the Rebellion : 
 
 THE ROLL or HONOR. 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 THIRD REGI.MENT. 
 Company D. 
 Lorenzo D. Knapp, Augustus Terwillinger. 
 
 FIFTH REGIMENT. 
 Company G. 
 Partelo Burrows, corporal ; Horace E. Partlo. 
 SIXTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Company D. 
 EIGHTH REGIMENT. 
 Company B. 
 Edward Williams, Peter Gourley. 
 
 Company G. 
 Henry Bentley, John F. Edgcomb. 
 
 TENTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Company F. 
 
 Company H. 
 
 ELEVENTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Company A. 
 
 Andrew Hogan. 
 
 Thomas Johnson. 
 John E. Brooks. 
 
 Matthew M. Brown. 
 Charles W. Harris. 
 
 Company B. 
 
 Company D. 
 Henry Burns, Charles Halpin, Edward Riley, George Smith. 
 twelfth regiment. 
 Company K. 
 Amos Bray, George W. Edwards, John C. Smith. 
 
 THIRTEENTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Company H. 
 Edward C. Grafton. 
 
 Company K. 
 Francis T. Hagadon. 
 
 FOURTEENTH REGIMENT. 
 Company C. 
 
 Company D. 
 
 Company E. 
 
 Company G. 
 
 John Burton. 
 
 James Drew. 
 
 James P. Bentley. 
 
 James M. Brown. 
 
 Company H. 
 Jeremiah Haggerty, George McCracken, Francis French. 
 
 Company I. 
 John Custenson, Thomas Waters. 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 
 
 Elias P. Bliven. 
 
 Company E. 
 Company G. 
 
 Capt. James F. Brown {pro. lieut.-col.) ; 2d Lieut. E. Perry Packer (pro. 
 capt.); Sergeants Darius H. Randall (disch. for app. in U. S C. T.), 
 John B. Brown (pro. 2d lieut.), Wm. P. Frink, Courtland G. Stanton 
 (pro. 1st lieut.) ; Corporals Geo. H. Oeliison, Wm. R. Coats, Wm. G. 
 Hawkins (pro. 2d lieut.), Chas. A. Staple, Chas. A. Clark, Albert T. 
 Crumb ; Nathanl W. Perkins, Albert C. Babcock, Franklin T. Bent- 
 ley, San ford N. Billings, Elislia C. Brown, Erastus S. Brown, Edw. J. 
 Buddington, Henry D. Brown, Jesse Brown, Jr., John T. Button, 
 Bradford Clark, Wm. H. Clark, John C.Coon, John H. Coon, Geo. S. 
 Congdon, Jas. A. Davis, Chas. Dougherty, John Dunham, Latham 
 M. Eccleston, Jas. M. Geer, John B. Geer, Thos. H. Gray, Paul H. 
 Hillard, Ransom Kenyon, Lorenzo D. Kiiapp, Edwin A. Lewis, 
 Stephen A. Main, Jesse M. Main, Latham H. Main, Silas W. Main, 
 James Maples, James H. Merritt, Lathsm H. Paik, Asher M. Palmer, 
 Joel W. Pitcher, Edward Pitcher, Edward C. Prentiss, Hewitt Peters, 
 Calvin H. Ilobin<on, Charles F. Sherman, Joseph W. Stanton, Wil- 
 liam N. Stedman, Charles M. Terwilligei-, August Terwilliger, Ed- 
 ward Toal, Alfred M. West, Michael Welch, Alvan H. Wright, Ed- 
 win S. Wheeler (pro. qr.mr.-sergt.), Andrew J. Allen, Edwin M. 
 Brown, John Davenport. 
 
 Company H. 
 2d Lieut. William L. Hubbell (pro. capt.). 
 
 TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Company A. 
 
 Sergt. William T. Hnbbell (pro. 2d lieut.), George A. Avery. 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Company A. 
 
 Russell Andrews, Charles L. Burdick. 
 
 Company B. 
 Dexter A. Johnson. 
 
 TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 
 Company B. 
 Robert Cole, James H. Russell, Henry Seale, George W. Williams. 
 
 Company D. 
 David Branch, William Cole, Andrew Cominger, Harry Crawford, Henry 
 Gaunt, Isaac P. George, Alexander Jackson, Jeffeison Miller, Wil- 
 liam H. Smith, John R. Swingler, William M. Taylor, Henry J. 
 Wells, John Edwards, Anthony Lucus. 
 Company E. 
 George W. Boyd, Edward 0. Carroll, George W. Odell, Charles Robin- 
 son, Dennis W. Williams. 
 
 Company F. 
 John H. Brown, William A. Washington. 
 
 Artillery. 
 
 FIRST REGIMENT. 
 Company H. 
 
 Andrew Allen. 
 
 William N. Cockfair. 
 
 SECOND REGIMENT. 
 Company D. 
 
 Company M. 
 Theodore Doune, George Jones. 
 
742 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Cavalry. 
 
 riEST KEGIMBNT. 
 Company C. 
 George G. Hall, John Halpin, Joseph M. Brackett, George N. Chapman, 
 William 0. Whipple. 
 
 During the first century after the settlement of 
 Stonington the ocean and rivers that largely formed 
 its boundaries swarmed with flsh of almost every 
 variety, furnishing subsistence for the inhabitants. 
 The area of the town was almost entirely a wilder- 
 ness, save where the Indians had burned down the 
 forest-trees to plant their maize and the marsh -lands 
 bordering on the coves and rivers, where the flowing 
 tides had held everything in check except the back 
 and fox- tail grasses. Game in endless variety roamed 
 through the wilderness, subject only to the bow and 
 arrow of the Indian and the white man's rifle. While 
 most of the game was made to contribute to the 
 planters' benefit, some of them were dangerous and 
 destructive, and preyed upon their herds at pleasure. 
 Goats, sheep, and swine at all ages were taken and 
 destroyed by the wolves and bears, who claimed a prior 
 right to them. So bold and daring at times did they 
 become that they would enter the barnyards of the 
 planters at night and feast upon their herds, taking 
 especial pleasure in the young, warm blood of kids 
 and lambs. As the settlement progressed the more 
 available places for cultivation were taken up, which 
 compelled these foraging animals to seek shelter in 
 caverns and the deepest recesses of the ledges and 
 hills, where they might remain in secret safety dur- 
 ing the day, and when the darkness of the night over- 
 hung the hills and valleys alike they sallied forth in 
 pursuit of their prey. 
 
 Not far from 1750,%aj. Israel Hewitt, who lived 
 on Win-che-choog Hill, in North Stonington, became 
 a noted hunter, kept a kennel of bloodhounds, and 
 for pastime and pleasure devoted much of his time 
 in hunting these dangerous animals. One old bruin, 
 who rendfezvoused in an undiscovered cavern in the 
 upper part of the town, became so destructive among 
 the farmers' herds in that vicinity that Maj. Hewitt 
 was invited to hunt the rascal down and relieve them 
 from so formidable a pest. So the old hunter, on 
 horseback, in regal style, with servants, munitions of 
 war, and a full corps of bloodhounds, started out in 
 pursuit of the dreaded monster. The hounds soon 
 came upon his foraging tracks, and with that heav- 
 enly, or at least unearthly, music that nothing but 
 bloodhounds can chant, they followed with unerring 
 certainty the old mugwump to his den. The practiced 
 ear of the major assured him that the game was 
 bagged. So riding up to the place he saw from the 
 tremulous murmur of his dogs that they had a dan- 
 gerous animal in hand. After examining the mouth 
 of the cavern and in vain trying to induce the hounds 
 to enter (which they could easily have done), he re- 
 solved to enter himself and force old bruin to a fight 
 in his own den. 
 
 The major closely examined his rifle to see if it was 
 well loaded, then picking the flint and throwing off 
 his hunter's rig, he entered the cavern and cautiously 
 crept along upon his hands and knees until he reached 
 its lower chamber. By this time the darkness was 
 all-pervading, except two headlights glaring at him 
 ■from the farther end of the cavern, accompanied by 
 a terrific growl, that told the hunter that his or old 
 bruin's time had come. But the major was equal to 
 the occasion. He, raising his rifle and taking delib- 
 erate aim, added another glare to the infernal dark- 
 ness which shook the cavern from its foundation to 
 its summit. Slowly moving backwards, he reached the 
 surface almost stifled with the sulphurous air of the 
 den. Reloading his rifle and lighting a torch, he again 
 descended into the cavern, and at the farther end 
 he found old bruin with his headlights dim, beyond 
 his growling and his howling, — he was dead. He re- 
 moved the bear, and with the aid of an Indian servant 
 took him on horseback and carried him home and 
 dressed him, but none of the hounds would touch his 
 meat. The site of this. cavern, familiarly known as 
 the " Bear's Hole," is situated some three miles north 
 of the village of Milltown, and in former years was a 
 famous resort for sight-seers and parties of young peo- 
 ple. But a few invading red snakes having been seen 
 guarding its portals, have sent it back to the silence 
 and solitude that it enjoyed in the olden time. 
 ■^1' Charles Hewitt, a grandson of Major Israel Hewitt 
 through his son Charles and wife Hannah Stanton, 
 was one of the forty volunteers who composed the 
 heroic band, who, under the command of Gen. Bar- 
 ton, of Khode Island, on the 10th day of July, 1777, 
 crossed over Narragansett Bay from Tiverton to War- 
 wick Neck, and from there back to Portsmouth, on 
 Newport Island, and captured the British Gen. Rich- 
 ard Prescott, taking him from his bed at midnight, 
 and recrossed the bay in safety with their royal 
 prisoner. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIX. 
 
 NORTH STONINGTON— (Continued). 
 BIOQKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Hon. Charles Perry White was born at North 
 Stonington, Conn., Nov. 12, 1813. He received a 
 common-school and academic education, studying in 
 his native town and in Rhode Island. He has held 
 the office of judge of probate at North Stonington for 
 twenty-two years, and was a member of the House 
 from that town in 1863. He was at that time a mem- 
 ber of the Democratic party, but since then he has 
 been associated with the Republican in politics, and has 
 done long and faithful service in behalf of the prin- 
 
CHARLES P. WHITE. 
 
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NORTH STONINGTON. 
 
 743 
 
 ciples of that organization. He has held the office of 
 justice of the peace for twenty-five years, and has held 
 other local offices and trusts of responsibility. When 
 he was elected to the House in 1853 by the Demo- 
 crats he declined giving any pledges in regard to the 
 subject of temperance, but when the test vote was re- 
 quired in the Legislature that year, he was found to 
 be firmly on the side of restriction. He was elected 
 senator for the Eighth District in the fall of 1880, for 
 two years, by a majority of eight hundred. His 
 father, Charles White, was a soldier in the war of 
 1812, and his paternal grandfather served as a soldier 
 in the Revolutionary war. His mother, Ruth Perry, 
 was a descendant of Commodore Perry. 
 
 Senator White is a farmer by occupation ; a man of 
 great force of character, and possesses the confidence 
 and esteem of all classes. 
 
 Asher H. Chapman was born in Ncfrth Stonington, 
 Dec. 18, 1807, where he has resided ever since, except 
 fourteen years of his early life, which were spent in the 
 town of Griswold. His emigrant ancestor was named 
 John Chapman, who in early life learned the weaver's 
 trade near London, England. After his apprentice- 
 ship of seven years had expired he visited London, 
 and being unaccustomed to the dangers of the city, 
 and while lingering about the docks, he was pressed 
 on board a man-of-war, where he remained until the 
 ship came to Boston, when Mr. Chapman escaped, 
 fled into the country, and finally reached Wakefield, 
 R. I., where, under the hospitable roof of Samuel 
 Alden, he found shelter, and for whom he subsequently 
 worked at his trade. After a few years we find him 
 in Stonington, where he married Sarah Brown, Feb. 
 17, 1710, locating himself within the present limits of 
 North Stonington. They were blessed with eight 
 children, one of whom, Andrew Chapman, born 
 March 3, 1719, married Hannah Smith in 1747. They 
 resided in North Stonington, and became the parents 
 of ten children ; and their son, Andrew Chapman, 
 born May 10, 1754, married Ann York, March 30, 
 1780, and they became the parents of six children; 
 and their son, Andrew Chapman, born Nov. 27, 1785, 
 married a Miss Palmer; and their son, Asher H. Chap- 
 man, born Dec. 18, 1807, was reared to farming among 
 his native hills, and received a public-school educa- 
 tion ; married Lucy A. Palmer, daughter of Capt. 
 Frederick Palmer, of Stonington, June 5, 1871. Mr. 
 Chapman enjoys to an unlimited extent the respect 
 and confidence of his fellow-citizens. He has held 
 the office of selectman and other town offices, and in 
 1870 and 1871 was elected representative to the Gen- 
 eral Assembly. Mr. Chapman devotes the most of 
 his time to farming on the old homestead, a portion 
 of it, however, he employs in brokerage and assisting 
 his friends in investing their funds. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Chapman trace their ancestral line 
 back to Thomas Stanton, George Denison, Walter 
 Palmer, and others, who were the most respectable of 
 our early families. 
 
 Zebulon Treat York, of North Stonington, was 
 born July 19, 1817. His parents were Zebulon York 
 "and Betsey Chapman, who were married March 17, 
 1803. Mr. York's emigrant ancestor was James York, 
 who was born in 1608, and came to this country among 
 its early settlers, and located himself first at Brain- 
 tree, Mass. He married Joannah , in 1646, at 
 
 Braintree, where their first son, James, was born, 
 Aug. 14, 1648. James York, Sr., came to Stonington 
 (or Southertown, as it was then called) in 1660, 
 and settled on a tract of land at Anguilla. 
 
 He died in 1683; his widow in 1685. His son 
 James went to Boston to reside, and there married 
 Deborah Bell, daughter of Thomas and Anne Bell, 
 Jan. 17, 1669, and came to Stonington in 1670. Sold 
 his real estate in Boston in 1672 ; was made free in 
 1673, and died Oct. 26, 1676. They had four chil- 
 dren, the youngest of whom, Thomas, was born Oct. 
 14, 1676, and married Mary Brown, Jan. 9, 1704. 
 Their son, Bell York, born in 1725, married, Feb. 18, 
 1747, Ruth Miner, and they were the great-grand- 
 parents of Mr. Z. T. York, who spent his boyhood 
 with his parents, until he left home to complete his 
 education and seek his fortune. 
 
 His education was finished under Prof Joseph H. 
 Gallup, a man eminent and widely known as a mathe- 
 matician. Mr. York taught school more or less for 
 fourteen years, and canvassed a large extent of terri- 
 tory as a book agent. His home has always been in 
 North Stonington, though not always there himself 
 He married Elizabeth S. Stanton (a direct descendant 
 of the famous Indian interpreter-general of New Eng- 
 land), and went to keeping house and farming on the 
 southern slope of Pung-hung-we-nuck Hill, which he 
 followed successfully, and a few years later established 
 a line of brokerage in connection with his farming 
 operations, which has been productive of the best 
 results. Without aspiring to political honors, Mr. 
 York has been elected repeatedly to positions of trust, 
 holding a variety of town ofiices, and in 1858 was 
 elected representative to the General Assembly. The 
 ancestors of Mr. York were among our most respect- 
 able citizens. 
 
 Deacon Charles Wheeler, of North Stonington, 
 was born Sept. 20, 1789, consequently he was ninety- 
 two years old last September. His body and mind 
 are wonderfully preserved, largely owing no doubt to 
 his temperate and industrious habits. Deacon Whee- 
 ler was reared to farm-life in a model New England 
 home, where, in addition to a good common-school 
 education, he enjoyed the benefit of religious instruc- 
 tion. Coming up to manhood with a mind well 
 stored with useful and practical knowledge, he intel- 
 ligently pursued his vocation, and gained the confi- 
 dence of his fellow-citizens. 
 
 Feeling the want of intelligent and sympathetic 
 companionship and the sweet counsel of womanly 
 devotion, he sought the heart and hand of a young 
 lady whom he had known from childhood, and on the 
 
74i 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 26th day of January, 1812, Charles "Wheeler and Ee- 
 becoa Williams were married. 
 
 The union thus formed was productive of the hap- 
 piest results, and strengthened with increasing years; 
 blessing each other, their children, and friends with 
 the light of a happy home. 
 
 His early religious training left its impress upon 
 his heart, and when he reached maturer years the 
 monitions that guided his youth led him to the throne 
 of grace, imploring the divine forgiveness. The min- 
 istry of the Holy Spirit renewed his heart, and he 
 united with the First Congregational Church of North 
 Stonington Oct. 4, 1834. 
 
 Later the church was summoned to choose a dea- 
 con, and the choice fell upon him, June 17, 1838, 
 which he modestly accepted, and all through the in- 
 tervening years he has been constant in season and 
 out of season. Death has summoned away his wife 
 and all his children except one, who resides in a dis- 
 tant State, yet with trusting confidence and un- 
 shaken faith in "Him who doeth all things well," 
 he is waiting for the sunset signal. 
 
 Paternally, Mr. Wheeler descends from some of 
 our best Stonington families, and through them he is 
 connected with John Howland, of the "Mayflower." 
 
 Alfred Clarke, son of Peleg and Fanny Clarke, 
 was born in North Stonington, Conn., Sept. 24, 1817, 
 and died Feb. 7, 1878. During his youth he worked 
 on a farm, and also served an apprenticeship at tan- 
 ning and currying leather, which business he followed 
 quite a portion of his life at Clarke's Falls, the place 
 of his residence. In connection with the tannery he 
 operated a saw-, grist-, and bark-mill, and in com- 
 pany with Mr. Spicer Tefft he erected a large factory 
 building and its adjacent houses, which now consti- 
 tute the enterprising village of Clarke's Falls. During 
 his apprenticeship a large tumor formed in his side, 
 which was removed by Dr. Miller, of Norwich, Conn. 
 Although the operation was a most painful one, yet, 
 seating himself in a chair, he submitted to it without 
 a groan, refusing to let any one hold even his head 
 or hands, exhibiting a calmness and courage quite 
 remarkable for one of his years. 
 
 On Sept. 22, 1839, at the age of twenty-two years, 
 he married Altana B. Langworthy, daughter of 
 Deacon John and Sarah Langworthy, of North Ston- 
 ington, Conn. She died April 2, 1841, leaving an 
 infant daughter, who is now living, and the wife 
 of Deacon Benj. P. Langworthy (2). On Oct. 2, 
 1841, he married Mary N. Palmer, daughter of Israel 
 and Lucy Palmer, of North Stonington. Of this 
 marriage five children were born, but only two are 
 now living, — Alfred M. Clarke, who married Martha 
 Witter, and Maria P. Clarke, who married B. Clay 
 Pierce. At his death Mr. Clarke left .surviving him, 
 his wife, three children, and five grandchildren. 
 
 When eighteen or nineteen years of age Mr. Clarke 
 became a Christian, and made a public profession of 
 religion by baptism, connecting himself with the 
 
 Second Seventh-day Baptist Church at Hopkinton 
 City, of which he continued a worthy and respected 
 member till his death. His wife and children are 
 also members of the same church. 
 
 The Providence Journal, under date of Feb. 9, 1878, 
 in speaking of Mr. Clarke, says, — 
 
 "Hon. Alfred Clarke died at his reeidence at Clarke's Falls to-day, 
 February 7th, from a long sickness, which has been of a rheumatic char- 
 acter, and hjie been extremely painful. He has long been a very promi- 
 nent and highly-esteemed citizen of his town (North Stonington), having 
 filled with great acceptance many offices of profit and trust therein. At ' 
 the time of his death he was a member-elect of the Legislature, having, 
 however, been unable to attend the present session on account of his 
 sickness. He was a member last year also. He was one of the select- 
 men of the town, and a director in the Ashaway National Bank. By in- 
 dustry and economy he bad secured a competence, and by his sterling 
 integrity be had eudeared himself to a host of friends. He will be 
 greatly mourned and missed in this community. He was in his sixty- 
 first year, and leaves a widow and three children." 
 
 Charles G. Hewitt, the subject of this sketch, was 
 born in Stonington, now North Stonington, Dec. 20, 
 1801. His early life was spent with his parents, who 
 resided on Win-che-choog Hill, a mile or two west of 
 the village of Milltown. He was educated in the 
 public schools of the times, and very early developed 
 a strong attachment for farm-life, and became a suc- 
 cessful farmer, preferring the quiet enjoyment of 
 agricultural pursuits to public life in any form. He 
 married Lucy Kandall, of Stonington, Dec. 25, 1823, 
 and they became the parents of two children, — Dud- 
 ley K. and Lucy A. Hewitt. His first wife died April 
 19, 1839, and on the 19th day of January, 1843, he 
 was married to Mary Wheeler, of Stonington. Mr. 
 Hewitt was an upright and honest man, of superior 
 judgment and fixed principles, kind and genial in all 
 of the relations of life; devotedly attached to his 
 family, he deemed no sacrifice too great for their com- 
 fort and benefit. His ancestors were some of the 
 most prominent families of our town and State, no- 
 tably Capt. George Denison, Thomas Stanton, Wal- 
 ter Palmer, Thomas Hewitt, and John Howland of 
 the " Mayflower," and Robert Williams, of Roxbury, 
 Mass. 
 
 Deacon Solomon Barber, sixth son of Col. Moses 
 Barber, of South Kingston, Washington Co., R. I., 
 was born Feb. 6, 1823. Like, most farmers' sons, his 
 early boyhood was employed alternately in work on 
 the farm and in attending school ; by this means he 
 obtained a fair education, and as he grew up he early 
 manifested a strong desire to engage in the manufac- 
 ture of cloth, and so he directed his energies in that 
 channel, and became established in that pursuit at 
 the age of twenty-four. His life has been devoted to 
 the building up and in a legitimate manner extend- 
 ing that business, and is now the proprietor of a large 
 manufactory at Laurel Glen, Conn. Mr. Barber was 
 married Aug. 18, 1844, to Miss Ellen M., daughter of 
 Asa Dye. They have four children, — RensaellerW., 
 Moses, Ellie M., and Sarah S. The latter married 
 A. F. Knight, of Bozrahville. They have one child, 
 a daughter, named Bertha. Rensaeller married Kate 
 
CHAELBS WHEELER. 
 
CHAELES G. HEWITT. 
 
SOLOMON BAEBEK. 
 
VOLUNTOWN. 
 
 745 
 
 L. Lander, of Coventry, Conn. They have two chil- 
 dren, — Anna E. and Edwin P. Moses married Maria 
 Edgerton, of Coventry, Conn. Mr. Barber has long 
 been a consistent member of the church, is a man of 
 pleasant, agreeable manners, honest, upright, and in- 
 dustrious, a successful business man, and commands 
 the respect and esteem of those who know him. He 
 will leave to his children the rich heritage of an hon- 
 orable, honest man. 
 
 CHAPTEE. XC. 
 
 VOLUNTOWN. 
 
 Geographical— Topographical— The Volunteers' Grant— Original Bounds 
 — Claimed by the Mohegans — Massushowitt's Claim — First Meeting of 
 Proprietors — Survey of the Town — The Pioneers — Ecclesiastical — Con- 
 gregational Church— The Separate Church— The Schools— Beachville 
 — Manufacturing — Civil and Military — Organization of Town — Fii-st 
 Town-Meeting — OflBcera Elected — Organization of Probate Court — First 
 Officers — Military Record — List oi Representatives from 1740 to 1882. 
 
 VOLUNTOWN lies in the extreme northeastern part 
 of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north 
 by Windham County, on the east by the State of 
 Rhode Island, on the south by North Stonington, and 
 on the west by Griswold. The surface of the town is 
 uneven, but the soil is generally fertile. 
 
 The Volunteers' Grant. — The greater part of the 
 tract embraced within the bounds of the present town 
 of Voluntown. was granted in 1700 to the volunteers 
 in the Narragansett war, from which circumstance 
 the town derives its name. From the organization of 
 the colony it had been customary to make grants to 
 officers and soldiers who had distinguished themselves 
 in the service of their country. Capt. Mason and, 
 others engaged in the Pequot war were granted lands, 
 which stimulated those who had performed such sig- 
 nal feats in the Narragansett war to ask for a grant of 
 a town in acknowledgment of their services. The 
 petition to the General Court for the grant was pre- 
 sented in 1696 by Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell, of Nor- 
 wich, and Sergt. John Frink, of Stonington, "that 
 they with the rest of the English volunteers in former 
 wars might have a plantation granted to them." The 
 petition was formally received, and a tract six miles 
 square was granted, " to be taken up out of some of 
 the conquered land." 
 
 A committee " of discovery" was at once sent out 
 in search of suitable land for a plantation, but found 
 their choice very limited, as most of the conquered 
 land had already been appropriated by Major Fitch, 
 the Winthrops, and others. The committee reported 
 that the only available land remaining within the 
 Connecticut limits was lying a short distance east of 
 Norwich, bordering on Rhode Island. A committee 
 consisting of Capt. Samuel Mason, Mr. John Gal- 
 lup, and Lieut. James Avery was appointed to view 
 the said tract and report whether it " would accom- 
 modate a body of people for comfortable subsistence 
 
 in a plantation way." After a deliberation of three 
 years th.e committee reported favorably, and in Octo- 
 ber, 1700, Lieut. Leffingwell, Richard Bushnell, Isaac 
 Wheeler, Caleb Fobes, Samuel Bliss, Joseph Morgan, 
 and Manasseh Minor moved that the grant be con- 
 firmed. The original bounds of the grant were nearly 
 identical with those of the present township, except 
 it extended on the east to Pawcatuck River. 
 
 Voluntown was a barren tract of but little value, 
 and after the Narragansett war was claimed by the 
 Mohegans. The Quinnebaug sachem Massashowitt 
 also laid claim to it. 
 
 The first meeting of the proprietors or grantees was 
 held at Stonington, July 1, 1701, to make arrange- 
 ments for survey and appropriation. Richard Bush- 
 nell was chosen clerk of the company, and S. Leffing- 
 well, James Avery, John Frink, and Richard Smith 
 were appointed a committee " to pass all those that 
 offer themselves as volunteei's." 
 
 A number of years, however, passed before the di- 
 vision was completed, as the territory was still in dis- 
 pute, and it was not until 1705 that the Mohegans' 
 claim was adjusted. In that year the town was for- 
 mally surveyed and the bounds established. 
 
 But a narrow strip of land was accorded to the Mo- 
 hegans under this survey, but during the same sum- 
 mer a considerable portion of the town was taken by 
 Rhode Island. So greatly did it damage the grant 
 " that they feared their intended purpose of settling 
 a plantation so accommodable for a Christian society 
 as they desired was frustrated." 
 
 At a meeting of the volunteers, held Nov. 14, 1705, 
 it was decided to have the town resurveyed, computed, 
 and laid out in as many lots as there was volunteers, 
 and to number them, etc. 
 
 April 17, 1706, a meeting was held, when it was 
 voted " to go on and draw lots upon that part of the 
 land laid out," and the grant was made to one hundred 
 and sixty persons who had enrolled their names as de- 
 siring to share the benefit of the grant. These were 
 residents of New London, Norwich, Stonington, 
 Windham, Plainfleld, and other neighboring towns. 
 The list embraced officers, soldiers, ministers, chap- 
 lains, and others who had served the colony in a civil 
 capacity during the war. 
 
 Notwithstanding the survey of the town had been 
 made and the various lots designated, very little pro- 
 gress was made for several years in its settlement. 
 Its soil was poor and its location remote and incon- 
 venient. " A pair of come four year old steers" was 
 once given in exchange for eighty-six acres. 
 
 The first settler in what is now Voluntown was 
 doubtless Mr. Samuel Fish. Other pioneers were 
 John Gallup, John and Francis Smith, Robert Parke, 
 Thomas Reynolds, Thomas Coles, John Campbell, 
 John Safford, Obadiah Rhodes, and Samuel Whaley. 
 
 The loss of so important a portion of the town as that 
 taken by Rhode Island caused the volunteers at once 
 to appeal to the General Assembly for an equivalent. 
 
746 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 and they petitioned that body that the vacant colony 
 land lying on the north might be annexed. After 
 various earnest petitions, four years later, 1719, the 
 prayer of the petitioners was granted, and what is 
 now the present town of Sterling, except a small strip 
 on the north border, was annexed to Voluntown. 
 The annexed territory was surveyed as rapidly as pos- 
 sible by John Plumb, surveyor for New London 
 County. Thirty lots were laid out and assigned to 
 nineteen persons. 
 
 Congregational Church.— Voluntown, like other 
 towns in the colony, gave its first attention to the 
 business of securing a minister for the plantation, 
 and in the autumn of 1720 a Eev. Mr. Wilson was 
 employed, and the first recorded public act of the in- 
 habitants, March 14, 1721, was the choice of Eobert 
 Park and Jacob Bacon " to go to treat with y" Rev- 
 erend Mr. Wilson of y" reason of his inclining to de- 
 part from us and whether we can possibly keep him." 
 The Rev. Mr. Billings preached to the little settle- 
 ment a short time, but declined a call. Rev. Samuel 
 Dorrance, a Scotch Presbyterian, lately arrived from 
 Ireland, and a graduate of Glasgow University, was 
 called in 1723, and on the 15th of October of that 
 year Mr. Dorrance was ordained and the church or- 
 ganized with the following members : Samuel Dor- 
 rance, Robert Gordon, Charles Cole, John Kasson, 
 John, Robert, and Samuel Campbell, John and Alex- 
 ander Gordon, Ebenezer Dow, John Keigwin, Wil- 
 liam Hamilton, Robert Hopkin, John Smith, Daniel 
 Dill, Thomas Welch, Jacob Bacon, Daniel Cass, John 
 and George Dorrance, Samuel Church, Jr., John 
 Dorrance, Jr., Nathaniel Dean, Vincent Patterson, 
 Robert Miller, Patrick Parke, Samuel Church, Adam 
 Kasson, William Kasson, David Hopkins, Charles 
 Campbell, Nathaniel French, John Gibson, James 
 Hopkins, John and Robert Parke, William Rogers, 
 and John Gallup. The church thus organized 
 adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith, and 
 was the first and long the only Presbyterian Church 
 in Connecticut.' The location of the meeting-house 
 caused a great deal of discussion among the good 
 people of Voluntown, and it was not until 1731 that 
 the church edifice was completed. It was erected upon 
 the original site agreed upon by the inhabitants and 
 proprietors, April 27, 1722. It stands on the line be- 
 tween the present towns of Voluntown and Sterling. 
 The present church was erected in 1868. 
 
 The following is a list of pastors from the organiza- 
 tion of the church to the present time : Samuel Dor- 
 rance, Micajah Porter, Elijah S. Wells, Otis Lane, 
 Jacob Allen, Charles L. Ayer. 
 
 The Separate Church.— -The date of the organ- 
 ization of a Separate Church in Voluntown is uncer- 
 tain, but it was doubtless about the year 1745, and 
 among the members were Peter Miller, Thomas 
 Thompson, Benj. Park, Robert Campbell, James and 
 
 1 It was reorgauized as a Congregational Church, June 30, 1779. 
 
 Thomas Douglass, John Kennedy, Isaac Gallup, Sam- 
 uel Smith, Matthew Patrick, John Gaston, Robert 
 Hinman, Robert Gibson, and James Stranahan. 
 After a few years the church was abandoned and 
 united with that of Plainfleld. 
 
 The Catholics of Voluntown are few in number, 
 and are attended by the resident pastor at Jewett 
 City. Services are held once a fortnight in Union 
 Hall. Rev. Thos. J. Joynt is now building in that 
 village a neat church, which he expects to have dedi- 
 cated this fall. The Catholics number about three 
 hundred, and are mostly of French-Canadian extrac- 
 tion. 
 
 The Schools. — The first reference to schools found 
 upon the old town records is under date Dec. 4, 1732, 
 when it was voted " that there shall be a surkelating 
 school kep and a schoolmaster hired at ye town's 
 charge." In March, 1735, it was voted "that the 
 school be kept in four places, three months in a place, 
 six months in ye north end and six months in ye 
 south end, dividing ye town by a line from Alexander 
 Gordon's to Ebenezer Dow's house, and that the 
 master, John Dunlap, should have thirty pounds 
 money, and sufficient meat, drink, washing, and lodg- 
 ing, for keeping school eleven months and eighteen 
 days, and in ye night when convenient." 
 
 The first school-house was built in 1737. It was 
 located " four rods from ye northwest corner of ye 
 meeting-house, and a rente of two pence allowed for 
 the same." 
 
 Seachdale. — This is a little hamlet located in the 
 western part of the town, on the Pachaug River, and 
 is the seat of the cotton manufactory of Ira G. 
 Briggs & Co. 
 
 A library association was formed in 1792, and a 
 hundred volumes procured. 
 
 Manufactures. — The Pachaug at this point fur- 
 nishes an excellent water-power, and one of the 
 earliest factories of cotton yarn in New England was 
 established here, that of the Industry Manufacturing 
 Company, which was formed March 12, 1814, by 
 James Treat, of Preston, and others. This property, 
 after various vicissitudes, passed into the hands of 
 the present firm of Ira G. Briggs & Co. The village 
 contains two churches, Methodist and Baptist. George 
 Weatherhead, a Killingly manufacturer, now deceased, 
 was also engaged in business here. 
 
 Dr. Harvey Campbell, the beloved physician, who 
 so long and faithfully administered to the medical 
 wants of the people here, died in 1877, after a long 
 infirmity. He was a prominent citizen and " a leader 
 in every good work." The present physician in Vol- 
 untown is Dr. Ransom Young. Drs. Allan and Wil- 
 liam Campbell were widely known as medical practi- 
 tioners prior to Dr. Harvey Campbell. 
 
 Civil and Military. — Voluntown was incorporated 
 as a town in 1721, and in addition to its present terri- 
 tory embraced the present town of Sterling, and so 
 remained until 1794, when Sterling was constituted a 
 
VOLUNTOWN. 
 
 747 
 
 separate town. In 1739 the vacant mile north of 
 Voluntown was annexed to the town by formal act of 
 the General Assembly. Voluntown remained a por- 
 tion of Windham County until 1881, when it was an- 
 nexed to New London County. 
 
 The Voluntown Probate Court was established in 
 1830, with Sterry Kinnie judge, and Minor Bobbins 
 clerk. 
 
 June 20, 1721, the first town-meeting was held, 
 when the following officers were chosen : Selectmen, 
 John Gallup, John Safibrd, Ebenezer Cooper, Samuel 
 Whaley, and Nathaniel French ; Town Clerk, Jacob 
 Bacon ; Constable, Thomas Cole ; Toller, Francis 
 Smith. 
 
 In the following December John Tyler, Obadiah 
 Eogers, and Ebenezer Dow were added to the select- 
 men. Various votes were passed. A pound was 
 ordered. Three men were appointed " to lay out 
 highways least to ye damage of ye owners of land 
 and ye best advantage for the neighborhood." 
 
 EEPEESENTATIVES FROM 1740 TO 1881. 
 
 1740.— Bobert DixSon. 
 
 1741. — John KessoD, John Dickson, Robert Dickson. 
 
 1742. — Robert Dixon, Charles Campbell. 
 
 1743-44. — Robert Dixon, Charles Campbell, John Dixson. 
 
 1745. — John Dixson, John Kesson, Thomas Kesson. 
 
 1746. — John Dixson, Joseph Palmer, Robert Dixson, Thomas Kesson. 
 
 1747. — Capt. Robert Dixeon, Capt. Isaac Gallopp, Capt. Thomas Kesson. 
 
 1748. — Capt. Robert Dixson, Thomas Kesson, John Smith. 
 
 1749. — Joseph Palmer, Capt. Robert Dixson, Joseph Park. 
 
 1750-51. — Capt. Robert Dixson, John Smith. 
 
 1752. — Capt. Robert Dixson, John Smith, Jr. 
 
 1753. — Joseph Park, Capt. Isaac Gallup, Jeremiah Keeney, John Kesson. 
 
 1754.— Capt. Bobert Dickson, John Smith. 
 
 1755. — Capt. Robert Dickson, John Smith, Capt. Isaac Gallup. 
 
 1756. — Robert Jameson, Capt. Robert Dickson, John Smith. 
 
 1757. — Capt. Robert Dixon, John Smith, John Gordon, Capt. Daniel Fish. 
 
 1758. — Capt. Robert Dixon, John Smith. 
 
 1769. — Capt. Robert Dixon, Robert Jemison, John Smith. 
 
 1760.— Capt. Bobert Dixon, John Smith. 
 
 1761.— Capt. Bobert Dixon, John Smith. 
 
 1782.— John Gordon, Capt. Bobert Dixon, John Gordon. 
 
 1763. — John Gordon, Bobert Jameson. 
 
 1764.— Capt. Bobert Dixon, John Gordon, Bobert Jameson. 
 
 1765. — John Gordon, Mosea Kinney. 
 
 1766. — John Gordon, Bobert Dixon, John Smith. 
 
 1767.— Capt. Robert Dixon, Samuel Stewart. 
 
 1768. — John Gordon, Capt. Isaac Gallop. 
 
 1769-70. — Capt. Bobert Dixon, Samuel Stewart. 
 
 1771. — Capt. Robert Dixon, Samuel Stewart, Capt. Isaac Gallopp, Moses 
 
 Kinney. 
 1772.— Capt. Isaac Gallop, Samuel Stewart, Samuel Gordon. 
 1773.— Capt. Isaac Gallop, Samuel Gordon. 
 1774-75, — James Gordon, Robert Hunter. 
 1776. — John Gordon, Ezra Crary, James Gordon. 
 1777.— Robert Hunter. James Gordon. 
 
 1778.— Robert Dixon, Moses Campbell, James Gordon, Matthew Newton. 
 1779. — Robert Hunter, James Gordon. 
 
 1780. — Isaac Gallop, John Cole, James Gordon, Robert Dixon. 
 1781.— Solomon Morgan, Isaac Gallup, Moses Kinne. 
 1782.— Joseph Frink, Isaac Gallup, James Gordon, Joseph Wyley. 
 1783.— James Gordon, Joseph Wyley. 
 1784, — Moses Campbell, James Gordon, Joseph Wyley. 
 1785.— Joseph Alexander, James Gordon, Joseph Wyley. 
 1786. — Benjamin Dowe, Benjamin Gallup, Joseph Wyley. 
 1787.— John Wyley, Allen Campbell, Benjamin Gallup. 
 1788.— Titus Bailey, Isaac Gallup, Joshua Frink. 
 
 1789. Robert Dixon, Samuel Robbins, Titus Bailey, John Stewart. 
 
 1790. Benjamin Dowe, Samuel Robbins, Moses Campbell, John Stewart. 
 
 1791. — Robert Dixon, .Joseph Wyley, Benjamin Dowe, Samuel Bobbin. 
 
 1792.— John Gaston, Thomas Gordon, Benjamin Dowe, Samuel Bobbin. 
 
 1793. — Johu Gaston, David Gallup, Samuel Kinney, Samuel Bobbin. 
 
 1794. — Lemuel Dorrance, Joseph Wylee. 
 
 1795-96.— Samuel Bobbin. 
 
 1797. — James Alexander, Samuel Bobbin. 
 
 1798.— Joseph Wylie, Samuel Bobbin. 
 
 1799. — Allen Campbell, Moses Bobbins. 
 
 1800. — Samuel Robbins, Moses Bobbins. 
 
 1801.— Nicholas Randall, Allen Campbell. 
 
 1802.— Samuel Bobbins, Allen Campbell. 
 
 1803. — Samuel Robbins, Moses Bobbins. 
 
 1804. — Samuel Robbins, Nicholas Randall. 
 
 1805.— Wm. Gallup. 
 
 1806.— Nathaniel Sheffield, Allen Campbell. 
 
 1807.— Wm. Gallup, Loring Bobbins. 
 
 1808. — Daniel Keigwin, Samuel Bobins. 
 
 1809.- Wra. Gallup, Samuel Kinne. 
 
 1810. — Allen Campbell, Samuel Bobbins. 
 
 1811. — Wm. Gallup, Daniel Keigwin. 
 
 1812.— Amos Treat, Wm. Gallup. 
 
 1813. — Samuel Bobbins, Sterry Kinne. 
 
 1814. — Allen Campbell, James Alexander. 
 
 1815. — Wm. Gallup, Daniel Keigwein. 
 
 1816. — James Alexander, Daniel Keigwein. 
 
 1817. — Minoi- Bobbins, Daniel Keigwein. 
 
 1818.— Wm. Gallup, Sterry Kinne. 
 
 1819-20. — James Alexander. 
 
 1821.- Minor Robbins. 
 
 18:^2.— Sterry Kinne. 
 
 1823.— Minor Bobbins. 
 
 1824.— Sterry Kinne. 
 
 1825. — Jonathan Stanton. 
 
 1826. — Sterry Kinne. 
 
 1827.— Kinne Gallup. 
 
 1828.— Joel Kinney. 
 
 1829!— Sterry Kinue. 
 
 1830.— Joel Kinney. 
 
 1831.— Harvey Campbell. 
 
 1832.— Joel Kinne. 
 
 1833.— Joseph Wylie. 
 
 1834.— Elisha Patten. 
 
 1835.— John C. Smith. 
 
 1830.— Elisha Patten. 
 
 1837.— John C. Smith. 
 
 1838.— Harvey Campbell. 
 
 1839.— Samuel R. Kinney. 
 
 1840.— Ira K. Crandall. 
 
 1841-42.— Elisha Patten. 
 
 1843.— Wm. C. Stanton. 
 
 1844.— Elisha Patten. 
 
 1845-46.— Benj. Gallup (2). 
 
 1847.— Samuel Gates. 
 
 1848.— G. D. Campbell. 
 
 1849.— Benj. Gallup, Jr. 
 
 1850.— Bras D. Campbell. 
 
 1851.— Elisha Patten. 
 
 1862.— Stephen S. Kegwin. 
 
 1853. — Kinney Gallup. 
 
 1864.- Elislia Patten. 
 
 1855.— N. S. Gallup. 
 
 1866.-0. H. Smith. 
 
 1857. — Christopher Colegrove. 
 
 1858.— Benj. Gallup. 
 
 1859.— Martin Kinne. 
 
 I860.— Caleb P. Patteu. 
 
 1861.— Charles E. Main. 
 
 1862.— Bobert H. Dixon. 
 
 1863 —Charles E. Main. 
 
 1864.— Ira G. Briggs. 
 
 1865.— Harvey Campbell. 
 
 1866.— Ira G. Briggs. 
 
 1867. — Albert Campbell. 
 
 1868.— Ira G. Briggs. , 
 
 1869.— Albert Campbell. 
 
 1870.— Edmund Hall. 
 
 1871.— Benj. Gallup. 
 
748 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1872.- 
 1873.- 
 1874.- 
 1875.- 
 1876.- 
 1877.- 
 1878.- 
 1879.- 
 18S0.- 
 1881.- 
 
 -Ezra Brig:g8. 
 -Charles S. Weaver. 
 -Charles E Main. 
 -Jared A. Gallup. 
 -E. Byron Gallup. 
 -James M. Cook. 
 -Joseph C. Tanner. 
 -Robert H. Dixon. 
 -Hiram Jencks. 
 -James M. Cook. 
 
 CHAPTEE XCI. 
 
 VOLUNTOWN— ( Continued). 
 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCH. 
 
 Ira G. Briggs & Co. — Among the early factories 
 of cotton yarn in New England was that of the 
 Industry Manufacturing Company of Voluntown, 
 Conn., which was formed March 12, 1814, by James 
 Treat, of Preston, and others. 
 
 Mr. Treat was one of the most enterprising busi- 
 ness men of that vicinity. He was largely engaged 
 in trade, and invested in several manufacturing in- 
 terests, among which was the Jewett City Cotton 
 Manufacturing Company, organized in 1811, the 
 germ of the present manufacturing enterprises of that 
 place. In the Industry Manufacturing Company he 
 owned at first five of the twenty shares, and by suc- 
 cessive purchases from the other owners increased 
 his interest until Nov. 4, 1823, when he became sole 
 •owner. 
 
 On Aug. 9, 1824, he conveyed an interest of one- 
 third to his son-in-law, Joseph H. Doane, and on 
 April 18, 1828, an additional one-sixth. Mr. Doane 
 sold his interest to James S. Treat, son of James 
 Treat, Dec. 29, 1832. The latter also sold his in- 
 terest to his son, Sept. 18, 1843. James S. Treat 
 operated the mill until Feb. 12, 1855, when he made 
 an assignment. On the 18th of April of the follow- 
 ing year the property was sold to a company, one of 
 whom was Ira G. Briggs. 
 
 Ira G. Briggs was born in Coventry, B. I., April 
 29, 1820. His father, Wanton Briggs, was a farmer 
 and a justice of the peace. He was the father of eight 
 sons and four daughters. Of the sons, Ira was the 
 elde-t, except one who died in infancy. He worked 
 on the farm until he was twelve years of age, when 
 his father removed to tl»e village since known as 
 Harrisville, where he was employed by Elisha Harris, 
 the well-known manufacturer, and afterwards Gov- 
 ernor of the State. 
 
 Ira entered Mr. Harris' factory, beginning in the 
 picker-room, where he remained four years. He then 
 worked about two years in the other parts of the fac- 
 tory, and became expert in all the processes of cotton 
 manufacturing. At eighteen he entered the machine- 
 shop of Lavalle, Lamphear & Co., in the adjoining 
 village (Phenix), that firm being then engaged as its 
 successor. The Lamphear Machine Company is now 
 
 engaged in the manufacture of cottcm machinery. He 
 worked here three years, becoming familiar with the 
 building of cotton machinery. Having attained his 
 majority, he again entered the employment of Mr. 
 Harris, and remained in it for seven years, having 
 charge of the repairs of the machinery. 
 
 At the end of that period the factory of Brown & 
 Ives, at Hope village, two miles above Harrisville, on 
 the same stream, was being built under the supervision 
 of David Whitman, and Mr. Briggs was employed to 
 superintend the putting up of the shafting and setting 
 the machinery in running order. Having finished this 
 task, he was engaged by Brown & Ives to take charge 
 of the machinery and repairs, and remained in that 
 capacity at the Hope factory until 1852. He was 
 then appointed superintendent of the Rookville Mills, 
 in Hopkinton, R. I. These mills, built in 1845, were 
 then owned by John C. Harris, Oliver D. Wells, and 
 Harris Lamphear, the latter, a brother-in-law of Mr. 
 Briggs, had been superintendent. The business had 
 not been successful, and the company was embarrassed 
 in its finances. In the four years of Mr. Briggs' 
 agency, by his able administration, the indebtedness 
 was materially reduced and the aflfairs of the company 
 became more prosperous. Early in 1856, with other 
 gentlemen, he purchased from the insolvent estate of 
 James S. Treat the mills and adjacent real estate 
 formerly belonging to the Industry Manufacturing 
 Company, and at once commenced business as the 
 Beachdale Manufacturing Company, in the manufac- 
 ture of cotton cloth. In the same year such changes 
 in the ownership occurred that at its end Mr. Briggs 
 owned two-fifths and Jonathan R. Wells and Thomas 
 R. Wells three-fifths of the whole interest, and in 
 this proportion it was held by the same persons until 
 Nov. 20, 1857, when the Messrs. Wells sold their inter- 
 est to John L. Ross, of North Providence, R. I. This 
 partnership continued for three years. It was then 
 dissolved, Mr. Briggs purchasing the interest of his 
 partners and becoming sole proprietor, Nov. 17, 1860. 
 On the 12th of December ensuing he sold an interest 
 of two-fifths to his brother-in-law, Jonathan L. Spen- 
 cer, of Hopkinton, R. I., forming with him the firm 
 of Briggs & Speneer. On Feb. 15, 1861, Briggs & 
 Spencer bought a mill and privilege half a mile be- 
 low the Beachdale Mill, on the same stream, from 
 Samuel Gates. Mr. Gates had, several years before, 
 built the mill and a temporary dam, but had not op- 
 erated the mill. Briggs & Spencer did not occupy it, 
 but leased it to Hiram Jenckes for four years as a 
 twine-mill. The partnership continued until Oct. 1, 
 1863, when Mr. Spencer sold his interest to John L. 
 Ross, the style of the firm being changed to Ross & 
 Briggs. 
 
 On July 1, 1865, Mr. Briggs conveyed to his young- 
 est living brother, Ezra, one-sixth of his interest, 
 amounting to one-tenth of the whole interest, the 
 business being afterwards conducted under the style 
 of Ross, Briggs & Co. On Aug. 21, 1868, Ira G. 
 
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VOLUNTOWN. 
 
 r49 
 
 Briggs purchased John L. Koss' interest, and con- 
 veyed to his brother Ezra an additional one-tenth of 
 the whole business and mill property, forming with 
 him the firm of Ira G. Briggs & Co. Their interests 
 in it were respectively four-fifths and one-fifth. The 
 firm-style and the relative interest remain the same 
 to this day. During both of the periods of the part- 
 nership of Ira G. Briggs and John L. Eoss the latter 
 had no active connection with any part of the busi- 
 ness, his capital only being invested. 
 
 On Sept. 21, 1870, Ira G. Briggs & Co. purchased, 
 for further uses, the mill-privileges below the Gates 
 mill, formerly belonging to Alice Branch, having a 
 fall of twenty-four feet, and a capacity nearly double 
 that of either of the privileges owned by them, which 
 had been leased to supply power for a saw-mill, a 
 grist-mill, and a shoddy-mill. The next year, 1871, 
 they purchased the Doane mill, on the same stream, 
 below the Branch privilege. This property had passed 
 from the ownership of Joseph H. Doane, by the fore- 
 closure of a mortgage, Dec. 7, 1852. During the 
 period between that date and its purchase by the 
 Messrs. Briggs it had been owned by different firms, 
 neither of whom had been successful in- operating it. 
 Since it has come into the hands of its present pro- 
 prietors it has been profitably used for the manufac- 
 ture of yarns and warps. Since Mr. Briggs acquired, 
 in 1860, the controlling interest in the Beachdale 
 Mills, he has expended large amounts out of his 
 profits in increasing the capacity and facilities of his 
 mills, by erecting new buildings, introducing im- 
 proved machinery, and providing a larger and more 
 continuous supply of water-power. He has pur- 
 chased the right of persons controlling the outlet and 
 flowage of Beach Pond, — a principal means of supply 
 of water-power to the mills in Voluntown, and below 
 on the Pachaug River, — and has erected a new dam at 
 the outlet of the pond, and raised the highway for 
 half a mile. These works have enlarged the area of 
 this natural reservoir to some twelve hundred acres, 
 and increased the depth of the water by ten feet, 
 thus enabling the Messrs. Briggs to run their mills 
 throughout the year instead of nine months. The 
 work was done under the personal supervision of Ira 
 G. Briggs, and mainly at the expense of the firm. In 
 1873, Mr. Briggs became a stockholder, and the next 
 year a director, in the Eockville Mills, at Hopkinton, 
 E. I., in which, from 1852 to 1856, he had his first ex- 
 perience in mill management. He has been the gen- 
 eral manager and agent since 1874, with the personal 
 supervision of the purchase of material and the man- 
 ufacture and sale of the goods. There are three of 
 these mills, situated on successive privileges of the 
 same stream, like the mills of the Messrs. Briggs at 
 Voluntown. 
 
 The Eockville Mills have been ably managed, and 
 
 in a period of general depression have been kept in 
 
 constant operation, paying their current expenses, 
 
 together with the interest on a large debt, and heavy 
 
 48 
 
 expenditures in improvements in mills and ma- 
 chinery. In the same year, 1873, Ira G. Briggs & Co. 
 bought an interest of one-fifth in the Stillman Manu- 
 facturing Company, at Westerly, E. I. This mill, en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of cassimeres, has been in 
 operation about six years, and operates eight sets of 
 machinery. Ira G. Briggs has been president since 
 October, 1876, and has devoted much personal atten- 
 tion to its afiairs. The result is seen in the marked 
 improvement of its condition and prospects. 
 
 While Mr. Briggs has been engaged in these enter- 
 prises he has occupied many public positions of 
 honor and trust. He was first selectman of the town 
 nine years in succession, a member of the lower 
 branch of the General Assembly in 1865, 1866, and 
 1868," and of the Senate in 1870. In the Senate he 
 was chairman of the Joint Committee on Banks and 
 Banking. 
 
 The junior partner of the firm, Ezra Briggs, is the 
 youngest son but one of Wanton Briggs, and was 
 born in Coventry, E. I., Oct. 9, 1830. He attended 
 the district school until he was about nine years old, 
 when he was placed at work in the factory. He was 
 employed there, except a brief interval of labor on a 
 farm and about six months at school, until the spring 
 of 1846, when his father's family removed to Phenix, 
 E. I. There Ezra went to work in the Phenix Cotton- 
 Mill, continuing in it until the spring of 1849. 
 
 He next obtained employment in the machine-shop 
 of Lavalle, Lamphear & Co., a,nd worked at building 
 machinery about two years. He then went to school 
 and engaged in teaching for three years. In the 
 spring of 1854 he became book-keeper in the Harris 
 Lime-Eock Company, in Smithfield, E. I., and in the 
 summer of 1856 engaged in the same capacity with 
 James H. Eead & Co., wholesale dealers in woolens, 
 in Providence, E. I. 
 
 In the autumn of the same year he engaged with 
 Brown & Ives as book-keeper in their factory at Hope-' 
 ville, E. I. Here he remained nearly nine years, re- 
 moving in June, 1865, at the invitation of his brother 
 Ira, to Voluntown, Conn. On July 1,.1865, he became 
 a member of the firm of Eoss & Briggs, as above 
 stated, the style being changed to Eoss, Briggs & Co., 
 and on Aug. 21, 1868, Mr. Eoss retiring, the firm' 
 style was changed to its present form of Ira G. Briggs 
 & Co. The senior member of the firm has since that 
 date retained the general management, while to his 
 brother has been committed the details of business at 
 the mills, with special charge of the books, accounts, 
 and correspondence. 
 
 Ezra Briggs is a man of large public spirit and in-- 
 fluence in the community, and served the town in 
 1872 as its representative in the General Assembly of 
 Connecticut. 
 
 Both of the members of the firm are in the prime 
 of mental and physical vigor, with ripe experience 
 and ample capital, and with mills well supplied with 
 machinery, and of a high industrial reputation. 
 
750 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 CHAPTER XCII. 
 
 WATERFORD. 
 
 Geographical — Topographical — Early Grants — The Pioneers — War of 
 the Revolution — Ecclesiastic al History — First Baptist Church — Second 
 Baptist Church — Civil History — Organization of Town — Name of the 
 Town— The First Town-Meeting— Officers Elected. 
 
 The town of Waterford lies in the southern part 
 of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the 
 north by Montville, on the east by the Thames River, 
 which separates it from Ledyard and Groton, and by 
 New London, and on the south by Long Island Sound, 
 and on the west by East Lyme. 
 
 The early history of the town will be found prin- 
 cipally in the history of New London, of which this 
 town formed a part until 1801. The early record 
 history, Revolutionary, names of early settlers, etc., is 
 incorporated in the history of the mother-town. 
 
 Early Grants. — The first location, in the south- 
 western part of the present town, was made by John 
 Winthrop, the founder of New London. It consisted 
 of about seven hundred acres of land, and included 
 what is now Millstone Point. In 1660 the General 
 Court added to this farm the privilege of keeping the 
 ferry at Niantic River, which gave it the name of the 
 Ferry farm. It was a part of the portion bestowed 
 by Mr. Winthrop on his daughter Lucy, the wife of 
 Edward Palmer. 
 
 "Adjoining the Ferry farm was that of John Pren- 
 tis, and north of these, on the bay, Hugh Caulkins 
 and William Keeny ; at Pine Neck, Mr. Blinman ; 
 'rounding the head of the river,' Isaac Willey; and 
 yet farther west, Matthew Beckvvith, whose land, on 
 the adjustment of the boundary with Lyme, was 
 found to lie mostly within the bounds of that town, 
 though his house was on the portion belonging to 
 New London. 
 
 " Mr. Bruen had an early grant on the west side of 
 Jordan Cove, which is still known as Bruen's Neck ; 
 George Harwood's land joined Bruen's. This locality 
 was designated as ' old ground that had been planted 
 by Indians.' Robert Parke had a valuable grant at 
 Poquiogh (the Indian name of the tract east of the 
 cove), and next to him smaller portions were laid out 
 to the Beeby brothers. ' The three Beebys' had also 
 divisions at Fog Plain, a name which is still in famil- 
 iar use. Many of the small grants on this plain were 
 bought up by William Hough. 
 
 " In the course of a few years James Rogers, by 
 purchasing the divisions of Robert Hempstead and 
 Robert Parke, called Goshen, and various smaller 
 shares of proprietors, became the largest landholder 
 on the Neck. Himself, three sons, and son-in-law 
 Samuel Beebe, all had farms in this quarter. The 
 Harbor's Mouth farm was an original grant to Mr. 
 Blinman, but was afterwards the property of John 
 Tinker. Andrew Lester was another early resident 
 upon the Neck. 
 
 " In the district called Cohanzie, northwest of the 
 
 town plot, was Mr. Winthrop's Mill-pond farm, which 
 was probably a grant attached to his privilege of the 
 mill-stream. His right to a portion of it being after- 
 wards contested, the witnesses produced in court tes- 
 tified that Mr. Winthrop occupied this farm 'before 
 Cape Ann men came to the town.' Not far from the 
 town plot, on the north side of the mill-brook, was a 
 swampy meadow called Little Cove Meadow. This 
 was given to James Avery. Advancing still to the 
 northward, we meet with a tract of high, ridgy land, 
 often called the Mountain. Here Edward Palmes 
 and Samuel and Nathaniel Royce had grants, which 
 were called Mountain farms. This was a rough and 
 barren region. An English emigrant at a later day 
 settled on one of these farms, and the witticism was 
 current that he selected the spot on the supposition 
 that from the tops of the rocks he could see Eng- 
 land." 
 
 Among the grants north of the present city of New 
 London were those of Winthrop, Stebbins, Blinman, 
 Lothrop, Bartlet, and Waterhouse. The Blinman 
 grant included Upper Mamoquack Neck, and the 
 grant of Waterhouse covered "the neck at the strait's 
 mouth." " Winthrop had other important grants in 
 this quarter. April 14, 1663, the whole water-course 
 of Colewife's Brook was granted him, with privilege of 
 erecting mills, making dams and ponds, cutting down 
 timber, and taking up land on its banks." In the 
 same year, 1653, he erected a house near the mill, 
 which was without doubt the first on the west side of 
 the river as far north as this. A few months later a 
 grant of land with saw-mill privileges was made still 
 farther north, near Uncasville, in the present town of 
 Montville. 
 
 The Pioneers.— In addition to those mentioned 
 previously, the following were among the pioneers of 
 this town : Henry Brooks, living at Nahantick in 
 1679 ; William Cary, in the Jordan district before 
 1690; David Carpenter, at Nahantic Ferry, 1680; 
 Aaron Fountain, son-in-law of Samuel Beebe,— his 
 house on the Great Neck is mentioned in 1683 ; Roger 
 Gibson and son William, Great Neck, 1680; Peter 
 Huckley erected a fulling-mill at Jordan in 1694; 
 John Harvey was living at Nahantic in 1682, and 
 Thomas Munsall, or Munson, on the Great Neck in 
 1683. 
 
 First Baptist Church.— The town of Waterford 
 was known until 1801 as New London, of which it 
 was a part. The accounts of the early movements of 
 Baptists are therefore put down to New London, 
 though the seat of those movements was in those 
 parts now known as Waterford. The first baptisms 
 in the colony of Connecticut, after the primitive mode, 
 took place in this town in the year 1674, by regular 
 Baptist ministers from Rhode Island. An excite- 
 ment was raised on account of it, and the General 
 Court was invoked to suppress the innovation. Sev- 
 eral of these Baptists remaining firm to their senti' 
 ments, on the organization of the First Baptist Church 
 
WATERFORD. 
 
 751 
 
 in Groton, in 1705, put themselves under the watch- 
 care of that church, and were visited from time to 
 time by its pastor. Elder Wightman, till about the 
 year 1710, when they were organized into a distinct 
 church, which is called by Backus " The Second 
 Baptist Church in Connecticut." 
 
 For several years the church remained destitute of 
 a pastor, but received the occasional visits of Elders 
 Wightman, of Groton, Tillinghast, of Providence, 
 Wm. Peckham, of Newport, and others, who broke 
 unto them " the bread of life." 
 
 Stephen Gorton, from Rhode Island, commenced 
 visiting the church about the year 1720, and was or- 
 dained as their pastor Nov. 28, 1726. Previous to the 
 settlement of Elder Gorton the church had erected 
 a commodious house of worship on East Neck, which 
 was a " Bethel" to multitudes of souls for more than 
 a century. The church also, as it grew stronger, pur- 
 chased a joaraoraaj'e, including a small farm, which El- 
 der Gorton occupied while he remained in Waterford. 
 Great success attended the ministry of Elder Gorton 
 for many years. He won the aflfection of his people 
 at home, and was respected abroad for his talents as 
 a speaker. Under his ministry the church rapidly 
 increased, and spread into the adjoining towns and 
 across the Connecticut River. His labors greatly pro- 
 moted the progress of Baptist sentiments in Lyme and 
 Saybrook, and in 1731 " a branch of Elder Gorton's 
 church was planted in Wallingford, which remained 
 under the watch-care of the New London (Water- 
 ford) Church till Aug. 20, 1739, when they were 
 formed into the Third Baptist Church in Connecticut. 
 The preaching of Whitefield and Devenport in 
 New London was attended with vast success, thou- 
 sands hearing the Word of God from those devoted 
 servants of their Master. But amid the general joy 
 of Zion and increase of her converts which followed 
 " The Great New Light Stir" (so called), an event 
 occurred which threw this church into trial, and pro- 
 duced much division and alienation, and subsequently 
 the destruction of Elder Gorton's church and the for- 
 mation of a new interest. That a minister of so long 
 standing and usefulness as Elder Gorton should per- 
 mit his moral character to be compromised was so as- 
 tonishing and sorrowful that the church was thrown 
 into a state of division. The majority, however, dis- 
 believing the accusation alleged against him, adhered 
 to the pastor, but the minority withdrew, and subse- 
 quently, at about 1748, with some new converts, 
 gathered under the preaching of Elder Wm. Peckham 
 and Daniel Green, formed " a new interest," which 
 was recognized as the First Church, the old having 
 been considered as out of gospel order, and lost 
 the fellowship of the other two churches. Elder 
 Peckham's labors were highly conducive to the re- 
 establishment of the Baptist cause in Waterford, and 
 in vindicating the great Baptist doctrine of religious 
 liberty. This venerable apostle extended his labors 
 to Saybrook, where he "baptized both, men and 
 
 women" believing in Christ, regardless of the fierce 
 opposition which met him. But his bold and open 
 advocacy of Baptist sentiments, and the doctrine of 
 religious and civil liberty in general, procuredfor him 
 and the intrepid Green and many of their followers a 
 lodgment in New London jail for several weeks in 
 midwinter, and where they were allowed no fire or 
 bedding, and but insufficient food. 
 
 The imprisonment of these brethren called forth 
 the deepest sympathy from many of "the Standing 
 Order." The president of Yale College, Col. Elisha 
 Williams, issued immediately a pamphlet, entitled 
 " The Essential Rights of Protestants," in which he 
 gave a masterly expos6 of the intolerance of the exist- 
 ing ecclesiastical laws, and advocated the rights of 
 conscience and the principles of civil and religious 
 liberty, which have in every age been cherished by 
 Baptists. 
 
 This church was also visited from time to time by 
 Elders Cooley, Mack, and Sprague, whose labors were 
 owned of the Lord among them. Elder Mack, who 
 was ordained in Lyme in 1749 over a Separate Con- 
 gregational Church, on becoming a Baptist, frequently 
 visited this church, and carried the gospel to the 
 Montauk Indians, on Long Island, where a branch 
 of this body was planted among that tribe, which 
 continued for more than a half-century. 
 
 About this time (1752) the attention of the church 
 was attracted to the gift of Nathan Howard, one of 
 the constituent members of the church, who seemed 
 designed of the Lord as their future pastor. He was 
 called to ordination and the pastoral care of the 
 church, and for more than twenty years served his 
 brethren in this holy office. He died suddenly, of 
 smallpox, March 2, 1777, aged fifty-six years. The 
 praise of his life still lingers in the church. His oc- 
 cupation in life, like some of the apostles, was that of 
 a fisherman. He discovered a favorite fishing-ground, 
 now well known to navigators of the Sound, which 
 still bears the name of Howard's Ledge. He was 
 eminently a man of faith and prayer, and earnest in 
 his warnings to sinners in public and by the wayside. 
 His memory is yet cherished with a hallowed enthu- 
 siasm by the aged pilgrims in Zion, and the precious 
 influence of his pious example and unwonted faith 
 are yet in the church he loved so much and served so 
 long. His remains were interred in a burying-ground 
 given by himself to the church, which has since been 
 enlarged by purchase. 
 
 It was during the ministry of Elder Howard that 
 Elder Eliphalet Lester resided at Jordan, near the 
 spot where the present house of worship is located. 
 It was in this vicinity Elder Lester was born in 1730, 
 and here he buried his first wife, who died of small- 
 pox. He had been awakened and converted under 
 the preaching of Whitefield in 1745 or 1746, and 
 was reputed to be " a man mighty in the Scriptures." 
 The efficient aid he rendered to Elder Howard and 
 the church, previous to his removal, causes his name 
 
Y52 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 to be embalmed in the early history of this body. 
 After his settlement at Saybrook, in 1776, his frequent 
 visits in these parts made him, under God, the instru- 
 ment of much good. 
 
 Zadoc Darrow, the third pastor of the church, was 
 born in New London, (O. S.) Dec. 25, 1728. He was 
 the only son of Ebenezer Darrow, and his mother 
 was a Rogers, "a lineal descendant of him that was 
 burnt at Smithfield in the reign of the Bloody Mary." 
 That the blood of the martyr flowed in his veins 
 has been several times before published to the world. 
 The evidence on which this claim is based is, so far 
 as we know, undeniable. Though educated in the 
 forms of the Church of England, he had never en- 
 tertained very serious impressions till he went, out 
 of curiosity, to hear Elder Joshua Morse, then known 
 as a great " New Light preacher." The thoughtless 
 young man was unexpectedly arrested by the impor- 
 tant truths he then, for the first time, heard, and after 
 a severe struggle with the pride of his heart, he was 
 led to embrace the Saviour. Though surrounded by 
 friends that despised "this way," and treated his 
 newly-adopted opinions with worse than mere con- 
 tempt, he nevertheless boldly confessed Christ, and 
 was not ashamed to identify himself with the infant 
 Baptist cause. Following up the preaching of Elder 
 Morse, whom, it is said, he uniformly went several 
 miles to hear, he persuaded his spiritual instructor to 
 hold meetings near the city, and from these meetings 
 a small Baptist Church arose, "of which," the account 
 says, " young Zadoc became the first deacon." This 
 church secured the pastoral services of Elder Noah 
 Hammond, and attempted to build a meeting-house 
 just west of the city of New London; but things 
 wearing an unfavorable aspect. Elder Hammond ac- 
 cepted a call from a church on Long Island, where 
 he resided some twenty years, a useful minister of the 
 gospel. His bereaved church, from the smallness of 
 their number and their proximity to Elder Howard's 
 church at Niantick, was dissolved, and united with 
 the First Church. The accession of Deacon Darrow 
 and his brethern to the body of which Elder Howard 
 was pastor bears date of about a.d. 1756. 
 
 His views in regard to " mixed communion" were 
 said to be rather stricter than those generally enter- 
 tained by the brethren to whom he had now attached 
 himself, and this accounts for his attempt to estab- 
 lish the Hammond interest. But in 1756 the old 
 church seem to have been returning to their original 
 ground of admitting only such to the communion of 
 the church as " were baptized into it" according to 
 apostolic usage. Mr. Darrow's growing public gift, 
 the well-known "good report" of his integrity, his 
 intimate knowledge of the Scriptures and soundness 
 in the faith, his undaunted zeal for the doctrines of 
 the cross, and his fearless advocacy of the rights of 
 conscience, then so little understood, all seemed to 
 lead his pastor and his brethren to regard him as 
 their future leader. Unconscious of his own qualifi- 
 
 cations for the sacred office, he steadily declined re- 
 ceiving ordination till the failing health and resigna- 
 tion of Elder Howard induced him to give way to the 
 unanimous call of the church and entreaties of his 
 beloved pastor, whom he finally succeeded in office 
 about A.D. 1775, possibly a little earlier, as we have 
 lost the exact date. Ebenezer Rogers was chosen 
 deacon in his stead. 
 
 The number of communicants at this time was 
 small. There were many trials incident to the pas- 
 toral office which the present generation can but 
 faintly appreciate. 
 
 The law of the colony, which at first enacted 
 "That no persons within this Colony shall at any 
 time embody themselves into Church estate without 
 the consent of the General Court and the approbation 
 of neighboring Elders ; That no ministry or Church 
 administration shall be attended by the inhabitants 
 of any plantation or colony distinct or separate from, 
 and in opposition to, that which is openly observed 
 and dispensed by the approved minister of the place" 
 [i.e., standing order). These laws had been so far 
 modified as to secure the Baptists from open per- 
 secution, but securing little beyond it. Elder Darrow 
 witnessed with pleasure the catholicity of Messrs. 
 Adams and Byles, — successive Congregational clergy- 
 men of New London ; men ahead of their times 
 in their enlightened views of the rights of conscience, 
 — who did not permit their names to come down to 
 us as the abettors of those petty annoyances to which 
 his brethren in less favored parishes were then ex- 
 posed. From these and other streaks of light that 
 began to illuminate the horizon of the church of 
 God he anticipated the not distant rising of the sun 
 of religious liberty. But there was a darker shade 
 upon some parts of the picture which at times led 
 him and his Baptist co-laborers to despond. The 
 process of exemption from taxation to support the 
 religion of the State was difficult and often extremely 
 vexatious, and there had grown up among the " steady 
 habits" of the good people of Connecticut an almost 
 holy horror of dissenters of the Roger Williams school, 
 who were said to seek the undermining of all the 
 staid religious institutions of the land founded by 
 the pious Pilgrim fathers. 
 
 Time-honored prejudice so blinded the eyes of many 
 good men in the church and in the State that they 
 could not (it seems as if they dared not) distinguish 
 between a conscientious opposition to religious intol- 
 erance and an opposition to religion itself. The Bap- 
 tists of. Connecticut were then few in number,— their 
 churches counting less than twenty,— their aggregate 
 membership less than a thousand,— without meeting- 
 houses, or with but poor apologies for them, located at 
 a most obsequious distance from thickly-populated 
 points, as if afraid to offend the eye of the multitude. 
 As a sect, taunted with their poverty of this, world's 
 goods and honors, accounted but illiterate and design- 
 ing men, they felt that they were made the common 
 
WATERFORD. 
 
 753 
 
 pack-horse of all the sins of all the opprobrious sects 
 from the days of the first Baptist to that time. In ad- 
 dition to these general discouragements, there were 
 some special trials which Pastor Darrow had to en- 
 counter. The exciting scenes of the Revolutionary 
 war were nowhere in the land more strikingly ex- 
 hibited than in this patriotic portion of our State. 
 But while the soul-stirring call of a suffering country 
 aroused the patriotism of all good men, and resulted 
 in the nation's liberty, yet the war was undeniably 
 attended and followed by an alarming increase of in- 
 fidelity, with a consequent laxity of morals, which were 
 felt most where the martial influence entirely pre- 
 Tailed, as it did for a long time in this unhappy region 
 where the treachery of Arnold, the abandonment of 
 Fort Trumbull, the sacking of New London, the mas- 
 sacre at Fort Griswold, then the sight of families fly- 
 ing from the city to the country, and of warriors hast- 
 ening to the points of danger, — all together had fanned 
 the hitherto gentle flame of liberty into a sublime and 
 sweeping conflagration, which not only threatened 
 destruction to the common enemy from abroad, but 
 menaced the quiet fireside of our brave ancestors 
 with a more insidious and not less dangerous foe at 
 home. Infidelity, an ever-present ally of war. It re- 
 garded not the sacredness of the cause for which our 
 fathers mingled in the strife of arms. Infidelity, 
 keenly scented on the track of war, like the jackal on 
 the battle-field, cares not whose cause is just, or who 
 triumphs, so it can find victims to gorge a carrion, 
 craving appetite. 
 
 Against this new and formidable enemy Father 
 Darrow arrayed himself, conscious of the power of 
 the gospel to subdue the hearts of the wicked, and to 
 roll back the swelling tide of skepticism which came 
 from the camp or had been brought from France. The 
 gibes of the open unbeliever and the ribald songs of 
 the free-thinker made both pastor and people their 
 unblushing butt of ridicule, as we are told by men 
 who remembered the shameless songs and coarse jests 
 of a large class in this vicinity at the close of the war. 
 It was at this time that all his energies were called 
 forth to stand in defense of the gospel ; and signally 
 did the cause of Christ triumph in that day that tried 
 the fidelity of his people. The discipline of the 
 church, which the war had affected unfavorably, was 
 restored with gospel strictness ; the articles and cove- 
 nant of the church were carefully digested and placed 
 on record ; mixed communion formally, as it had long 
 been practically, renounced; backsliders reclaimed, 
 and scores, from time to time, brought into the 
 church, many of whom had been revilers of the 
 truth, till this ancient body, which at Elder ©ar- 
 row's accession in 1756 had numbered, as we learn, 
 but twenty-five, rose to be, numerically, one of the 
 largest Baptist Churches in the State. 
 
 It was during this season of prosperity, some sixty 
 or seventy years since, that the first decided "mis- 
 sionary movement" in this church occurred, which. 
 
 from its early date and singular origin, deserves to be 
 mentio^ied. It seems the General Assembly of the 
 State of Connecticut had authorized the Governor to 
 invite every religious society in the Commonwealth to 
 contribute funds for the support of missionaries, to be 
 sent out under the patronage of the (Congregational) 
 Association of Connecticut to "preach the gospel in 
 the Northern and Western regions of America.'' A 
 scheme so fraught with benevolence would, it was 
 hoped, reconcile even dissenters from the State estab- 
 lishment to a temporary and indirect alliance between 
 it and the churches. Here was a dilemma. To com- 
 ply with the request would be to countenance -this 
 alliance; to reject it was to disregard the cause of 
 missions. The church, having received His Excel- 
 lency's proclamation and request, promptly voted, — - 
 1. Their cordial approval of missionary objects as "a 
 laudable and benevolent design.'' But 2. This par- 
 ticular request could not be complied with in the 
 manner suggested, because "the Association of Con- 
 necticut did not appoint the said missionaries in what 
 we (the church) consider an equal and impartial 
 manner, the Association representing but one denom- 
 ination." 3. They wished to have it distinctly un- 
 derstood by all that they "do not recognize the right 
 of the General Assembly to control them as a religious 
 body, but only as members of civil society." Yet, 4. 
 Lest this refusal to meet the Assembly's wishes might 
 be interpreted by the world as a virtual disapproval 
 of sustaining missionaries, the church " appointed a 
 special committee to solicit subscriptions for mission- 
 ary purposes," voting further, that " such funds, so 
 raised, should be placed at the disposal of any ' Bap- 
 tist Missionary Society' that might be formed ; and 
 to promote this good object the church stood pledged 
 to co-operate with any sister church or churches, or 
 with any individual brethren who might be disposed 
 to unite in carrying out this worthy object." Accord- 
 ingly the subscription-paper was circulated, and 
 some fourteen dollars raised, which was not so small 
 a sum for a church to raise in those days. And from 
 that time to the present, it is believed, this branch of 
 Zion has continued to cherish a steady attachment to 
 the cause of missions, which, if not manifested in 
 casting munificent sums into the treasury, has yet 
 been felt as a duty and prized as a privilege. 
 
 The field of Elder Darrow's labors at this time was 
 wider than that of modern Baptist pastors. His little 
 army lay encamped on the shores of the Niantick 
 and in the valley of Jordan, but his outposts were 
 scattered over New London, Montville, Black Point, 
 Colchester, Norwich Plains (Bozrah), and even Long 
 Island. The " Norwich Plains" Church (as it stands 
 on the record) was for some time held as a branch of 
 this body, the names of all the constituent members 
 being on the books of the mother-church. Busy in 
 strengthening feeble interests around him, constantly 
 holding forth the Word of life to the destitute, plant- 
 ing new churches abroad, for which his own flock 
 
754 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 furnished a liberal quota of original members, he did 
 not on that account neglect his duties at hom,e. Be- 
 sides attending to his farming, he yet found time to 
 hold meetings at River Head, Harbor's Mottth, Great 
 Neck, Lake's Pond, Jordan, Rope Ferry, and Quaker 
 Hill. He preached on the Sabbath and administered 
 the sacrament monthly, except at stated intervals, at 
 the house of one of his deacons — John Beckwith — 
 till 1788, when the unfinished " Hammond meeting- 
 house" was removed from its old site, near Finger's 
 Brook, placed on land given by Elder Harrow, near 
 the " Howard burying-ground," and put in comfort- 
 able order by the church. It continued to be their 
 principal place of worship till 1848, having been 
 from time to time enlarged and repaired to accommo- 
 date a growing congregation. At stated times the 
 church held their meetings on the Sabbath, and com- 
 munions in the court-house, or at the dwellings of 
 Coit and Clark, in the city of New London, and at 
 the old " Groton meeting-house," on East Neck. 
 The latter was from time to time repaired, and occu- 
 pied for one hundred and twenty or thirty years. 
 
 This church united with the Second Groton and 
 other churches in forming, at Elder Burrows' meet- 
 ing, an association called the " Groton Conference," 
 which body in 1789 embraced fourteen churches, 
 fourteen ministers, and about thirteen hundred com- 
 municants. But Elder Harrow and his people not 
 approving of mixed communion, as practiced by some 
 of the associated churches, withdrew and united with 
 the "Stonington Association." The minutes of sev- 
 eral of the first sessions of the " Conference," com- 
 mencing with 1786, are written out in full on the 
 records. 
 
 To give an idea of the flourishing state of this Zion 
 in the palmiest days of Father Harrow's ministry we 
 subjoin a few statistics : 
 
 In 1786, added by baptism, 6 ; in 1787, 58 ; in 1788, 
 30; in 1789, 13; in 1790, 5; in 1794, ill. 
 
 It was during the extensive revival of 1794 that 
 Francis Harrow was converted and united with the 
 church. A late act of the General Assembly, which 
 took eflfect about this time, graciously exempted all 
 dissenters from the ecclesiastical establishment from 
 paying for its support, provided they " certified their 
 attachment and aid to dissenting bodies of their 
 choice." To show how grateful an almost disfran- 
 chised people were for small concessions, we need 
 only to remark the lively joy which the Baptists of 
 that day manifested for this deliverance. True, it 
 was not the complete enfranchisement which was 
 embodied in the constitution of our State at a later 
 period. But it was hailed with a delight which was 
 never surpassed by our Baptist fathers at any period 
 of their history, for in it they realized the speedy tri- 
 umph of full religious liberty. From the point of 
 time which they occupied they could review the per- 
 secutions, the ignominy which their predecessors and 
 some of their contemporaries had suffered for vindi- 
 
 cating the very principle which the masses in " the land 
 of steady habits" were beginning to understand. By 
 none was this reaction in favor of liberty of conscience 
 received with more unmingled satisfaction than by 
 Father Harrow. For his tenacious memory, had it 
 been disposed to forget (as his heart was to forgive), 
 could scarcely fail at times to recall the position which 
 himself and brethren had occupied when branded as 
 " followers of the mad men of Munster, aiming to sub- 
 vert all the established forms of religion in the land," 
 and this slander reiterated till it came to be believed 
 by many good men. He could not wholly forget the 
 open opposition, the civil disabilities, and the count- 
 less embarrassments which had been imposed upon 
 them solely for a steady but respectful adherence to 
 their convictions of truth and duty. 
 
 In 1801, Budge Smith, an intelligent colored man, 
 licensed some time before, was ordained as an evan- 
 gelist. He was a sound, edifying preacher, whose 
 memory is yet precious in Zion, but he did not live 
 many years to serve his heavenly Master in this field. 
 Budge had been a slave. The little property he had 
 accumulated he left to the church. 
 
 George Atwell, another licentiate of this church, 
 was ordained in 1802, and settled over the Saybrook 
 Church. He finally finished his useful life at Enfield 
 in 1814, aged forty-eight years. 
 
 About this time Father Harrow's health had be- 
 come so impaired by his extraordinary labors, by age 
 and consequent infirmity, that the church, by his 
 advice, extended a call to the Rev. Samuel West, of 
 Bozrah, to become associate pastor with Elder Har- 
 row (then in hia seventy-fifth year), which he accepted, 
 and came to reside among them in 1802. Elder West, 
 who had at first been a Seventh-Bay Baptist, was 
 born in Hopkinton, R. I., in 1766. After embracing 
 the Christian Sabbath, he was ordained at Norwich 
 in 1799, and the same year settled over the Bozrah 
 Church. 
 
 Two years after his settlement in Waterford the 
 First Baptist Church of New London was formed by 
 the dismissal of about fifty members from the old 
 body. The new church called Elder West to the 
 pastorate, but he continued, by agreement, to break 
 bread to the Waterford brethren till 1809. After 
 twelve years of successful labor with the mother and 
 daughter in Waterford and New London he removed 
 to Saybrook, and remained connected with that 
 ancient church till his death in 1837. 
 
 Francis Harrow was associated with his grandfather 
 Zadoc in 1809. But the latter continued to preach 
 occasionally, as he was able, and when no longer ca- 
 pable, from the weight of years, of blowing the gospel 
 trumpet, as he had been wont, his tremulous voice 
 was sometimes heard exhorting his spiritual children, 
 counseling the youth, and aifectionately inviting all 
 to come to the Saviour. Heep and lasting impres- 
 sions were made on the minds of his auditors as they 
 heard these last appeals from this patriarchal servan 
 
WATERFORD. 
 
 755 
 
 of God, who had worn himself out in the service of 
 their fathers. But the time of his departure was at 
 hand. He had " fought the good fight" for almost 
 fourscore years since his conversion and union with 
 the church militant. He had ministered in the dea- 
 con's and pastoral office more than three-fourths of a 
 century. 
 
 Zadoc Darrow " fell asleep in Jesus" Feb. 15, 1827, 
 in the ninety-ninth year of his age. His funeral ser- 
 mon was preached by Elder West, his former col- 
 league, from Deut. xxxii. 7 : " Ask thy father," etc. 
 Elder Darrow was three times married. His first 
 wife was Hannah Lester, by whom he had no chil- 
 dren. His second wife was the sainted Hester Lee, 
 sister of Elder Jason Lee, of Lyme, by whom he had 
 four sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to 
 have families, and several of whose descendants have 
 been or are still ministers of the gospel. His third 
 wife, the pious Widow Pember, was united to him late 
 in life, and died but five days before him, aged 
 ninety-four years. 
 
 From the time of his conversion to God and con- 
 nection with the church in 1794, Francis Darrow, 
 who was the son of Deacon Lemuel Darrow, and 
 grandson of Rev. Zadoc Darrow, had felt his mind 
 occasionally called up to the subject of " preaching 
 Christ." In 1809 he was ordained, at the unanimous 
 call of the church, and made associate pastor vifith his 
 aged grandfather. Elder Wilcox preached, and Elders 
 Burrows, Lee, and West assisted in the exercises on 
 the occasion. At that time this church did not, it 
 must be confessed, present an inviting field. Its ag- 
 gregate membership, which at one time had arisen to 
 nearly three hundred, was now diminished to about 
 half that number, and these so rent by divisions as 
 to require the wisdom of an experienced leader to 
 harmonize and build up this ancient Zion, which 
 .seemed to be threatened with dissolution. Among 
 the causes of this diminution and unhappy declen- 
 sion we may mention, — 1. The protracted infirmity of 
 the senior pastor, whose wonted efficiency in doctrine 
 and discipline was no longer directly felt as it had 
 been in the days of his vigor. 2. It lost some of its 
 most efficient members by the rising of new Baptist 
 interests around it, — a loss, however, which she ever 
 felt to be a gain to the cause of Christ, and which she 
 could not feel it in her heart to deplore. 3. The dis- 
 traction of what has since been called the " Great 
 Schism" had not been fully healed. This schism 
 had originated upon matters of church discipline, in 
 the progress of which the administrators had been 
 obliged to refuse to break bread to the church. Coun- 
 cil after Council had failed to accommodate the differ- 
 ence, and when the body was supposed to be brought 
 into " a gospel travel" the deacons refused to officiate, 
 and one of them had to be suspended, and at last ex- 
 cluded ; the church clerk refused to record what he 
 considered " ungospel acts," and resigned ; several 
 of the best brethren stopped the travel with the 
 
 church when the majority had believed the difference 
 settled, which opened the wound afresh, and which 
 was now pronounced by the desponding "incurable." 
 4. But the absence of any considerable revival since 
 1794 was a cause not to be overlooked in accounting 
 for the deplorable state of things in which Francis 
 Darrow found his beloved brethren when he was 
 called to tend the scattered flock. Not discouraged 
 by these things, but relying on help from God in the 
 hour of extremity for those who tried to help them- 
 selves, the young pastor cast his burden on the Lord, 
 and soon had the happiness of seeing an improved 
 state of affairs. The Lord remembered Zion. 
 
 From 1827 to October, 1850, Elder Francis Darrow 
 was the sole pastor ; he completed in September, 
 1850, the fortieth year of his pastorship, and attended, 
 in usual health, the New London Baptist Association, 
 held at Norwich (which he assisted in organizing in 
 1817), where he tookapartin its services, but returned 
 to close his labors on earth. He preached his last 
 sermon on Sabbath, Sept. 29, 1850, in usual health 
 and strength. The latter part of the following week 
 he became unwell, and continued to fail every day 
 till Tuesday, the 15th of October, 1850, when his 
 happy spirit, like a peaceful angel, fled to the bosom 
 of his God. His age was seventy-one. His funeral 
 was attended by an immense concourse of people from 
 the surrounding region on Thursday, October 17th, 
 when an appropriate sermon was delivered by Eev. 
 C. Willett, of New London, from 1 Kings xx. 11. Rev. 
 E. E. Warren, of New London, P. G. Wightman, of 
 East Lyme, and Augustus Bolles participated in the 
 services of the mournful occasion. Several other 
 ministers were present and followed his remains to 
 the grave. He left behind three children, — two sons 
 and one daughter. 
 
 In 1848 the church completed their new house of 
 worship, at a cost of about five thousand dollars. It 
 is a commodious structure, centrally located at 
 "Jordan." 
 
 Among the pastors who have officiated for this 
 church are mentioned the names of Augustus Bolles, 
 
 Wildman, Washington Munger, Jabez Swan, 
 
 and Welcome E. Bates, the present pastor. 
 
 Second Baptist' Church.— This church is located 
 in the northeast part of the town. Previous to its 
 organization there was no Baptist Church much 
 nearer than four miles. The inhabitants of this re- 
 gion had too generally given themselves up to Sab- 
 bath-breaking, intemperance, gambling, profanity, 
 and almost every other evil work, so that the few who 
 sighed and cried for the abominations done in the 
 land thought it truly missionary ground. 
 
 The Board of the Connecticut Baptist State Con- 
 vention in the year 1835 appointed Rev. Erastus 
 Doty to labor among this people a portion of the 
 time. His labors were not in vain. A few Baptists, 
 members of different churches, formed themselves 
 into a Conference, April 19, 1835, for the purpose of 
 
756 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 advancing the cause of the Redeemer, expecting in 
 due time that a church would be formed. Two were 
 received by letter at this meeting and one as a can- 
 didate for baptism. On the 24th three more were 
 received into fellowship, and one on the 24th of May 
 following. 
 
 It very soon became apparent that a house of wor- 
 ship was much needed. Mr. Doty, by request, drew 
 up a constitution, and subscriptions were liberally 
 made for the object. The house was completed that 
 season. A serie.s of religious meetings were held, and 
 a goodly number of youth and others were converted. 
 Several neighboring ministers aided in these services. 
 The commandment of Jesus, and the sight of the 
 waters, as usual, induced the convert virtually to say, 
 " Here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized ?" 
 The voice of Providence seemed now to order a more 
 distinct church organization. Accordingly, after one 
 or two preliminary meetings, another was appointed, 
 and held at the dwelling-house occupied by Brother 
 Isaac Thompson on the evening of the 14th of De- 
 cember, 1835. Elder E. Denison, from Groton, by re- 
 quest, being present, acted as moderator, and D. D. 
 Lyon as clerk. After solemn prayer a covenant and 
 articles of faith were read deliberately, and upon a 
 free expression of views, were agreed to by every mem- 
 ber of the Conference present except one. Where- 
 upon a preamble and resolution was passed that 
 from henceforth we consider ourselves as an inde- 
 pendent church, to be known as the "Second Baptist 
 Church in Waterford." It was then voted that a 
 Council be called, with a view of obtaining their fel- 
 lowship. 
 
 The Council met on the 31st of December, and after 
 patiently examining the question, voted, unanimously, 
 to extend the hand of fellowship. Eighteen were thus 
 recognized, and the following day the usual services 
 were performed. Sermon by Elder F. Wightman. 
 To add to the solemnity of the services, seven young 
 persons were buried with Christ in baptism by Elder 
 E. Denison. Thus this little ship which had a some- 
 what singular model was, on Jan. 1, 1836, pub- 
 licly and joyfully named, and launched into the ocean 
 to be tossed (as the future has disclosed) with tem- 
 pests of opposing powers, anti-gospel influences, come- 
 outism, and false brethren, threatening to involve ship, 
 officers, and all hands in one common ruin. 
 
 While these things have been filling up a part of 
 our history, we will see how our God has hitherto 
 steered the bark through the howling tempest and 
 amidst the reefs and quicksands of the voyage to the 
 present hour. 
 
 The work of grace continued through the winter, 
 when Elder E. Denison became pastor. He entered 
 more directly upon his duties on the 1st of April, 1836, 
 for three-fourths of the time for the first year, and 
 the whole time for the second year. During these two ' 
 years about forty were admitted by baptism and letter, 
 and more than two hundred dollars were raised by 
 
 the church and community for various benevolent 
 objects. 
 
 Elder Alfred Gates followed in the pastorate, and 
 continued about two and a half years, during which 
 time a number were added, chiefly by letter. Elder 
 Gates closed his labors in October, 1840. Occasional 
 supplies were obtained until December 26th, when it 
 was voted that Brother D. D. Lyon should take the 
 lead of the meeting and improve his gift. Feb. 23, 
 1841, an engagement was made with Elder John 
 Payne to preach half the time. During the years 
 1842 and 1843 a very general and powerful revival 
 brightens the pages of our history, extending also 
 into 1844. 
 
 On the 24th of February, 1842, Brother D. D. Lyon 
 was employed to preach for the ensuing year. On the 
 8th of April, 1843, three brethren, viz. : George D. 
 Jerome, Asa Wightman, and Curtis Keeney, were 
 chosen deacons. Mr. Lyon closed his engagement 
 April, 1843. 
 
 Rev. P. G. Wightman, a licentiate of the First 
 Church, Groton, then entered upon his labors as 
 pastor, and on the 20th of September following he 
 was duly set apart to the work more publicly by 
 ordination. The deacons elect were also ordained on 
 the same day. Mr. Wightman continued his min- 
 istry until April, 1846. During his labors here a 
 large number were brought to the knowledge of the 
 truth and baptized, and some were added by letter. 
 
 The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Teffl. Since Mr. 
 Wightman the following have ofiiciated as pastors : 
 N. 0. Allen, G. R. Darrow, E. Denison, C. Keeney. 
 
 Baptist Church, Lake's Pond.— As the people in 
 this vicinity were blest in the spring and summer of 
 1841 with a precious revival of religion, the brethren 
 and friends thought the time was near at hand when 
 the cause of God, as well as their usefulness and con- 
 venience, demanded in this place an independent 
 Baptist Church. Accordingly, after much prayer and 
 deliberation, twenty-one males and nineteen females, 
 members of the First Baptist Church in Waterford, 
 made application for letters of fellowship and dismis- 
 sion for this purpose, which were granted, and on the 
 18th of June, 1842, were organized into an independ- 
 ent body, and took the name of " Lake's Pond Bap- 
 tist Church." 
 
 On the 31st of August following they were pub- 
 licly recognized as such. September following, on 
 application, they were received into the New London 
 Association. 
 
 On the 8th of December, Brother Gurdon T. Chap- 
 pell was ordained their pastor. At the same time 
 Brethren Amos Crocker and Elias P. Haynes were 
 ordained deacons. 
 
 In the winters of 1843 and 1844 they built a com- 
 modious house of worship, which was opened for the 
 worship of God the 29th of May following. July 5, 
 1847, Brethren Ezekiel Austin and E. D. Ames were 
 chosen assistant deacons. 
 
WARREN GATES. 
 
WA.TERFORD. 
 
 757 
 
 Organization of the Town. — The town of Water- 
 ford was set ofi" from New London and incorporated 
 as a distinct town in May, 1801. "The name of 
 Waterford is said to have been suggested by Isaac 
 Rogers, who was the agent of the town in procuring 
 its separation from New London. It has an evident 
 reference to its situation in the Sound and Niantic 
 Cove, with a fordable stream, the Jordan, running 
 through it from north to south." (Miss Calkins.) 
 
 The first town-meeting was held Nov. 10, 1801, and 
 the following officers were chosen : Clerk, Stephen 
 Maynard. Selectmen, Griswold Avery, George Wil- 
 liams, Isaac Rogers, Caleb Raymond, and Thos. Doug- 
 lass. Constables, Stephen Maynard, Wm. Stuard, 
 John Rogers Delight, Sr. Fence-viewers, Hezekiah 
 Smith, Stephen Maynard, Daniel Latamier, Richard 
 Jerome, Ezra Morgan, Thos. Gorton, Thos. Manwar- 
 ing, John Rogers Delight, Sr., John Prentice, Joseph 
 Calkins. Leather-sealers, Thos. Douglass, Noah Beck- 
 with. Listers, Robert Douglass, Junius Smith, Caleb 
 Raymond, James Strickland, Chas. Brown, Jr., Wm. 
 Dant, Jr., Henry D. Booles, Lester Rogers. Survey- 
 ors of Highways, Ezra Morgan, Guy Wheeler, James 
 Thomson, James Harding, Comstock Chapel, Oliver 
 Cracker, David Smith, Wait S. Avery, Philip Morgan, 
 Benj. Gorton, George Douglass, John Beckwith, Isaac 
 Rogers, Griswold Avery, Jr., Jerome Beckwith, Lem- 
 uel Darrow, James Strickland, Robt. Douglass, John 
 Lord, Philip Caverlee, Richard Chapel, Thos. Pem- 
 ber, Asahel Steward. Sealer, Robt. Douglass. Gaug- 
 ers, Richard Morgan and Caleb Raymond. Grand- 
 jurymen, John Beckwith, Wm. Darrow, and Wm. 
 Keeney. Tithingmen, Francis Darrow, Chas. Brume, 
 Jr., Comstock Chapel, Thos. Pember, Samuel Fox. 
 Haywards, Ebenezer Dart, Daniel Latimer, John 
 Fowler, Kichard Durfey, Seth Beckwith, Joshua 
 Smith, Jedediah Brown, Ezra Morgan. Removers of 
 Incumbrances in Highways, Stephen Maynard, Dan- 
 iel Latimer, Thos. Gorton, Philip Morgan, Christopher 
 Green, Lester Rogers. Pound-keepers, Frederick 
 Beckwith, Guy Wheeler, Walter Chappell, Wm. Kee- 
 ney, Thos. Gorton, Jabez Beebe, Solomon Rogers, 
 Simon Smith, Ebenezer Dart. 
 
 KEPRESENTATIVES FROM 1802 TO 1881. 
 1802. — Griswold Avery, George Williams. 
 1803. — Isaac Eogers, George Williams. 
 1804.— George Williams. 
 1805.— Philip Caverly, George Williams. 
 1806.— Elijah Fox, Griswold Avery, Jr. 
 1807. — Griswold Avery, Jr. 
 1808. — Griswold Avery (2), Isaac Frink. 
 1809-10.— George Williams, Isaac Frink. 
 1811.— George Williams. 
 1812. — Isaac Rogers. 
 1813.— William Eldridge, Isaac Frink. 
 1814.— Isaac Frink. 
 1815-16. — Charles Avery, Isaac Frink. 
 1817. — Jeremiah Comstock. 
 1818. — Isaac Frink, Charles Avery. 
 1819.— Asa Wigbtman. 
 1820-21.— Comstock Chapel. 
 1822.— Charles Avery. 
 1823.— James Rogers. 
 
 824.— James Rogers (2). 
 825-28— Thomas S. Perkins. 
 829.— Jason Beckwith. 
 830-31.- Henry Potter. 
 832-33.— Isaiah Rogera. 
 834-35.— James Reed. 
 ,836. — John Congdon. 
 837.— Philip Morgan. 
 838.— Gilbert Rogers. 
 839.— Philip Morgan. 
 840-41. — Joseph Avery. 
 842^3.— John Caverly. 
 844.— Philip Morgan. 
 845-46. — Daniel Deshon. 
 .847.— Wash. A. Bailey. 
 848.— Giles P. Chapman. 
 849.— John L. Watrous. 
 850.— Reuben P. Smith. 
 861.— John L. Watrous. 
 852.— Albert G. Douglass. 
 853-54.— Ezra M. Keeny. 
 855. — Asa Wigbtman. 
 856. — Edmund Darrow. 
 857.— G. T. Chappell. 
 858. — Orlando Comstock. 
 859. — Ezekjel Austin. 
 860.— Lyman Allyn. 
 861. — Oliver Woodworth. 
 862.— Albert 6. Dart. 
 863.— Albert G. Douglass. 
 864-66.— James Beckwith. 
 867.— F. J. Stanton. 
 
 . — N. A. Chapman. 
 869-70.— Savilion Chapman. 
 871.— George W. Hewitt. 
 872. — John B. Palmer. 
 873-74. — James Beckwith. 
 876.— W. L. Peckham. 
 876. — Nathaniel A. Chapman. 
 877-78 —Leonard A. Williams. 
 879.— James E. Beckwith. 
 
 . — Theodore F. Powers. 
 881.— Fitch L. Comstock. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIII. 
 
 WATERFORD— (Continued). 
 , BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Warren Gates was born Nov. 25, 1797, in the town 
 of Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn. The earliest 
 record now known is his grandfather, Nehemiah 
 Gates, of Welsh descent, and his wife, Anna Hart; 
 date of marriage not known. He was a native of 
 East Haddam, Middlesex Co., Conn., and died June 
 9, 1774, and was buried in Chatham, East Hampton 
 Society, aged thirty-eight years. His family consisted 
 of three sons,— Nehemiah, Hart, and George ; two of 
 his sons always lived in East Hampton, and Nehe- 
 miah and George Hart Gates settled in Ohio, where 
 his descendants now live. George Gates had one son, 
 Julius, who lived to be nearly eighty years old, and 
 died a year or two since. He had two sons and six 
 daughters. Nehemiah Gates, son of Nehemiah and 
 Anna Hart, was born Dec. 2, 1758, and died Jan. 23, 
 1839. Ruth Williams, his wife, was of the same town, 
 and of Welsh descent, which has been traced back to 
 
758 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 records in Ludlow, Wales, to some time in the thir- 
 teenth century. Their family consisted of four sons 
 and seven daughters ; all the daughters died in in- 
 fancy. Euth Williams, his wife, was born Dec. 26, 
 1761, and died Aug. 18, 18-14. 
 
 Philo, the eldest son, was born April 21, 1795, and 
 died in 1856. Chloa Strong, his wife, was of the same 
 place, East Hampton. In about 1820 he moved first 
 to Genesee County, N. Y., and about fifteen years 
 after he settled in the town of Gustavus, Trumbull 
 Co., Ohio. 
 
 Nehemiah Gates always lived on the old home- 
 stead, and is still living. He has a daughter and son 
 living ; all his other children died young. His wife, 
 Mary E. Strong, died a few years since, and his present 
 wife, Philomena Strong, is still living. 
 
 Augustus, the youngest son, was born June 21, 1802, 
 and died Feb. 9, 1845. He married Eliza Alvord, 
 who died Sept. 26, 1881. Augustus was in business at 
 Millstone Point while he lived. 
 
 Warren Gates lived in Chatham during his minority. 
 He received only a common-school education, and fol- 
 lowed farming and taught school winters until he 
 commenced in the stone business, working in the 
 quarries along the Connecticut Eiver, — Haddam, 
 Chester, and others, — and afterwards went South, and 
 worked building the canal from Charleston to Colum- 
 bia, S. C. On his return he commenced stone busi- 
 ness, and worked a place in Chatham on north side of 
 Great Hill, near the place now called Cobalt. 
 
 Some time in 1831 he had a contract to furnish 
 stone blocks for the Harlem Railroad, which was then 
 building, and the quarry not being profitable to work 
 he abandoned it, and hearing of Millstone Point, he 
 visited it, and made arrangements with the Messrs. 
 L. W. Henry and B. Goodwin, and in June, 1832, he 
 commenced work with about fifteen men at Millstone 
 Point, at which time little was known of the extent, 
 worth, or utility of the stone, as the place had not 
 been developed to any extent. Mr. Charles Davison, 
 of Lyme, Conn., had worked the place in a small way 
 for a few months, which is all that can be learned 
 of his operations at this late date. Mr. Thomas 
 Butler, from New York City, but a native of Massa- 
 chusetts, was occupying a part of the quarry at the 
 time W. Gates commenced, but he remained only 
 two or three years, and then went to New York, where 
 he remained while he lived. After finishing a con- 
 tract with Harlem Railroad, W. Gates shipped a load 
 of stone to Fort Adams, at Newport, R. I., and con- 
 tinued to furnish stone until the fort was completed, 
 and for many years after furnished stone for most of 
 the forts and light-houses along the coast from New- 
 port to New Orleans. Fort Trumbull, at New Lon- 
 don, was largely built of Millstone Point stone, also 
 the front of custom-house and several granite-front 
 stores, a great many of the stones used in the con- 
 struction of Fort Schuyler, and all the modern-built 
 forts in New York Plarbor, and the dry-dock at 
 
 Brooklyn and the fort at Hampton Roads, Va., also 
 Fort Sumter, at Charleston, and a large portion 
 of the foundation of the fort was carried from this 
 quarry, as many as ten thousand tons being shipped 
 in one year, and stone were furnished for Fort McAl- 
 lister, at Savannah, also for Key West, Pensacola, St. 
 Augustine, Mobile, and many other forts, and the 
 Grand Square in the City of Mexico is paved with 
 blocks from this quarry. 
 
 In 1832 the Centre Reservoir was built, the cornice 
 round it twelve hundred feet, which required stone 
 about four feet square, was furnished from this quarry. 
 Previous to 1848 there had been a granite company 
 formed of Millstone Point workmen, who did busi- 
 ness in Philadelphia, and after a few years failed, and 
 Mr. Baird, of Philadelphia, bought the assets at auc- 
 tion, and a firm was formed under the name of Gates, 
 Baird & Co., and after a few years Gates sold out to 
 Solomon R. Hoxsia, who was the builder of Dr. David 
 Jayne's building on Chestnut Street, running through 
 the block to Carter's Alley; the front on Chestnut 
 Street above grade was of Quincy stone, but the base- 
 ment and sub-cellar and the Carter Alley front, with 
 the wings, were of Millstone Point stone. The build- 
 ing and lot cost over half a million dollars and was 
 about five years in building ; and about this time plat- 
 forms covering the whole sidewalk in front of build- 
 ings came into style, and large quantities were shipped 
 to Philadelphia, and soon the style was adopted in 
 New York, and work changed to New York, and since 
 but few stones have been shipped to Philadelphia. A 
 large part of the granite in the Grand Central Depot 
 was furnished from Millstone Point, also the lower 
 stories of the Tribune building, also the foundation of 
 A. T. Stewart's store on Broadway, corner of Tenth 
 Street, and his Women's Hotel, and since his death the 
 foundation of his Memorial church at Garden City, 
 L. I., have been furnished. 
 
 Warren Gates was married to Mary Doane Clark, 
 of Chatham, Nov. 23, 1825. She was born June 16, 
 1799, and was from one of the oldest families of the 
 town. Her father, Elijah Clark, was born June 4, 
 1762, and died March 12, 1831. His father was Jona- 
 than Clark, who was son of John Clark, who emi- 
 grated from England and settled in what is now 
 Moodus, Conn. His wife's name was Martha Brai- 
 nerd. He descended from Sir Francis Clark, of Lon- 
 don, according to the coat of arms of the Clark family, 
 which is still in existence. He purchased of the 
 Indians a mile square of land, on which he lived. 
 Her mother, Mercy Doane, was the daughter of Capt. 
 Seth Doane. She was born June 9, 1769, and died 
 Nov. 12, 1854. Her father, Capt. Seth Doane, was 
 born June 9, 1733, and was married to Mercy Parker, 
 of Norwich, Conn., Feb. 23, 1758 ; both died in 1802, 
 in October. His father, Joseph Doane, Jr., born 
 Nov. 15, 1693, and was married to Deborah Haddock, 
 Sept. 30, 1725. His father, Joseph Doane, was son of 
 Daniel Doane, who was the son of John Doane, who 
 
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WATERFORD. 
 
 759 
 
 landed at Plymouth in 1630, and in 1633 was chosen 
 assistant to Governor Winthrop, and in 1639 was 
 chosen one of the commissioners to revise the laws of 
 the colony ; in 1642 he was again assistant to the 
 Governor, and again in 1647, and for several years 
 after was elected deputy to the Colony Court ; he was 
 a deacon in the church at Plymouth and Eastham ; 
 he died in 1685, aged ninety-five years. His grand- 
 son, Joseph, was deacon of the church at Eastham 
 forty years. Joseph, Jr., moved from Eastham to 
 Middle Haddam, near Middletown, Conn., to engage 
 in ship-building. John Doane's wife's name was Abi- 
 gail, and they had five children, — Lydia, Abigail, 
 John, Ephraim, and Daniel. 
 
 Daniel Doane had four children, among whom was 
 Joseph. Joseph had twelve children by two wives. 
 Joseph, Jr.'s children were Joseph, Nathaniel, Seth, 
 Eunice, and Phineas. Seth Doane had nine children, 
 — Seth, Martha, Elizabeth, Nathaniel, Job (Job died 
 very young), Mercy, Job, John Mead, and Deborah. 
 
 Nathaniel and John Mead Doane were the first 
 settlers of Cleveland, Ohio; they settled there in 
 1798, and John Doane, son of John Mead Doane, is 
 still living at the age of eighty-three years, and has 
 lived to see Cleveland grow from its commencement 
 to its present size. 
 
 Politically, he supported Andrew Jackson for Pres- 
 ident at both elections, but after the Democratic party 
 adopted the specie currency idea in their platform he 
 left the party, and always after voted with the Whig 
 party until the organization of the Republican party, 
 which he supported as long as he lived, and would 
 never accept any political ofiice. 
 
 He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 East Hampton about the year 1824, and was an active 
 member in building and maintaining it until his re- 
 moval to Waterford in 1833, and then was connected 
 with the Methodist Episcopal Church in New London 
 until in 1843, when he was one of the leaders in build- 
 ing the Methodist Episcopal Church at Niantic and 
 maintaining it while he lived. 
 
 He was dignified and reserved in his manner and 
 rigidly honest in his dealings, and benevolent to 
 the extent of his means, and was most respected by 
 those best acquainted with him. He had three sons, 
 — Philo, born Sept. 19, 1826; Warren, Jr., born 
 March 14, 1828 ; and Mary A., his only daughter, born 
 July 17, 1880, died May 11, 1839; Nehemiah, born 
 Sept. 6, 1837,— all living in Waterford, New London 
 Co., Conn., and engaged in business, under the firm- 
 name of Warren Gates' Sons, at Millstone Point. 
 Nehemiah Gates improves their farm, which they 
 bought eight years since, which was formerly owned 
 by William Champion, formerly of Lyme, Conn., who 
 purchased the farm of Richard Durfee in 1814, who 
 was the son of Capt. Richard Durfee, from Newport, 
 R. I. He married Mrs. Lucy Palms, the daughter of 
 Governor Winthrop, who received this tract of land 
 by grant from- the king of England and gave it to his 
 
 daughter, and also the Millstone Point farm, on which 
 the quarry is, being a part of the same tract. In the 
 distribution of Capt. Richard Durfee's property it was 
 divided between his two sons, Richard Durfee and 
 Thomas, Richard having the north part of the tract 
 and Thomas the south part. 
 
 Warren Gates died suddenly, Oct. 10, 1867. He 
 was at his place of business and in apparent usual 
 health, although having been rather feeble for some 
 time previous. He probably took a sudden cold, 
 which produced stoppage, and he died before mid- 
 night, October lOth, aged seventy years. Mary D. 
 Clark, his wife, also died suddenly, Dec. 17, 1867. 
 
 John B. Palmer was born in Norwich, Conn., Jan. 
 14, 1820. His grandfather, Uriah Palmer, was a resi- 
 dent for many years of Exeter, Mass. ; was a wheel- 
 wright by trade ; was a Revolutionary soldier, and a 
 member of the Baptist Church. He married Eliza- 
 beth Newton, and had the following children, viz. : 
 Uriah, Mathew, Noah, Nathan, Asher, John, Ezra, 
 Dilla, Comfort, Mary, and Olive. 
 
 Uriah Palmer, Sr., lived to be ninety-four years of 
 age, and his wife about ninety years of age. His son 
 Asher was born in Exeter, R. I., and was a farmer by 
 occupation. He was twice married, — first to Hannah 
 Pettis, of Norwich, Conn., and had four children, 
 viz.: Sybil A., John B., Dennison, and Lydia N. 
 His second wife was Joanna Ames, by whom he had 
 twelve children, eight of whom are now (1881) living. 
 
 In politics Mr. Palmer was a Democrat. He held 
 the various town offices, and was a man greatly re- 
 spected for his moral worth. He was a member of 
 the Second Baptist Church at Norwich, Conn. He 
 died at fifty-five years of age. His second wife sur- 
 vives him. 
 
 John B. Palmer was reared on his father's farm, in 
 the town of Norwich, Conn., receiving a common- 
 school education. On the 26th of April, 1841, he left 
 home to work on a farm by the month for two or three 
 years, when, on the 28th of November, 1843, he came 
 to Millstone Point Quarry for the purpose of learn- 
 ing the stone-cutting trade of Messrs. Peels & Frazer, 
 for whom he worked nineteen years. In the fall of 
 1850 he went to Maine, and remained till 1861, when 
 he returned to Mill Point. In 1862 he began busi- 
 ness for himself, which he still continues. He em- 
 ploys more than one hundred men, and formerly em- 
 ployed many more. He has a capital stock of sixteen 
 thousand dollars, and pays out some four thousand 
 dollars per month. In politics he is a Republican. 
 He has held the various town oflices, not only in his 
 native county but in the State of Maine. In 1872 
 was a member of the State Legislature from Water- 
 ford. Oct. 3, 1853, he married Hannah D., daughter 
 of James Howard and Maria Dart. She was born 
 Nov. 12, 1824. She is a member of the Baptist Church, 
 and Mr. Palmer is an attendant and supporter. For 
 the history of the ancestors of Mr. Palmer, see history 
 of Stonington, by Judge Richard A. Wheeler. 
 
760 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Savilion Chapman.— The historian has no more 
 agreeable task than to turn aside from the chronicle 
 of events and to place upon record the life-history of 
 those who by their own energy, without the factitious 
 aid of brilliant birth, luxurious surroundings, or in- 
 fluential associates, have become men of prominence 
 in their locality, and from small beginnings, with in- 
 dustry, frugality, and economy, have worked their 
 way to a competency and a high position in the re- 
 gards of their fellow-citizens. A little tribute in this 
 way is due to the one of whom we now write. 
 
 Savilion Chapman, of an old New England family 
 of good repute, was born in East Lyme, Conn., Sept. 
 12, 1816. His father, Moses Chapman, was a farmer, 
 and a frugal, industrious man. He married Polly 
 Church, lived all his life and died in East Lyme, in 
 1837, aged sixty-three years. His wife survived him 
 several years, dying aged sixty-five. 
 
 Savilion remained at home, receiving very limited 
 common-school advantages for education, until after 
 his father's death, when he went and learned the trade 
 of stone-cutting of Warren Gates in Waterford, and 
 steadily and faithfully labored at this by no means 
 light employment for twenty-five years for Mr. Gates, 
 except five or six years passed in same work in Phila- 
 delphia, Pa. This steady and continuous labor was 
 productive of solid financial results, and about twenty- 
 six years ago, in 1856, Mr. Chapman purchased the 
 beautiful place in Waterford where, with a loving 
 wife and dutiful children to cheer the decline of life, 
 he yet resides, with his strength unabated, his industry 
 yet the same as in life's early morning. For two 
 years after his purchase he worked at his trade. Since 
 then he has been one of Waterford's live, representa- 
 tive, pushing farmers. He first engaged in raising 
 fine Devonshire stock, but has latterly followed dairy- 
 ing, and has taken advantage of every progress in 
 that direction. He married, Dec. 13, 1840, Mary 
 Ann, daughter of Deacon John and Harriet Smith. 
 Their children are Eobert W. and M. Anna, both 
 born in Waterford, and residing with their parents. 
 
 Mr. Chapman, like his father, is a Democrat, and 
 finds in the teacliings of Thomas Jefferson the princi- 
 ples he believes conducive to the preservation of the 
 republic. The citizens of Waterford have shown 
 their appreciation of him by choosing him first se- 
 lectman for five years, honoring him with various 
 other important trusts, and sending him as represen- 
 tative of Waterford in the Legislatures of 1867 and 
 1868, where he served on Committee on Judiciary. 
 He is an attendant of, and a liberal supporter of, the 
 Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Chapman and her 
 children are members. Deacon John Smith, father 
 of Mrs. Chapman, followed the seas in early life; was 
 captain; afterwards became a farmer. He was an 
 earnest member and deacon of the Baptist Church, 
 was Democratic in politics, and died at the age of 
 seventy-five much esteemed. His wife also died aged 
 seventy-five. 
 
 Thomas M. Clarke, son of Thomas and Wealthy 
 (Wright) Clarke, was born in Newport, E. I., Dec. 
 23, 1810. His great-grandfather, Joshua Clarke, was 
 a Seventh -Day Baptist minister and farmer in Ehode 
 Island. He had a son Thomas, a farmer in Rhode 
 Island; and he, Thomas, had a son Thomas M., the 
 immediate subject of this sketch. Thomas M. re- 
 ceived a common-school education, and at the age of 
 eighteen began to teach a common school at eleven 
 dollars per month. He taught some seven winters, 
 and the most he ever received was fifteen dollars per 
 month. For the first two years following his majority 
 he worked on the farm summers for his father and 
 others around Newport, R. I., and taught during the 
 winter months. He was married, Nov. 9, 1834, to 
 Anna, daughter of Deacon Daniel Lewis and Sarah 
 Ann Northup, and to them have been born four chil- 
 dren, viz. : (1) William L., a farmer at Ashaway, E. I.; 
 (2) Dan W., a farmer in Groton, Conn. ; (3) Sarah 
 Ann, deceased at fourteen; (4) Emeline N., wife of 
 Marshall R. Allen, of Pawtucket, E. I. 
 
 Mr. Clarke began housekeeping at Westerly, E. I., 
 where'he remained three years. Then he resided eight 
 years in Stonington, Conn., returned to Ehode Island, 
 and lived three years in Hopkinton, then one year 
 in Jamestown, E. I., thence to Groton, Conn., seven 
 years, thence to Hopkinton, E. I., where he resided 
 for seventeen years on a farm of three hundred acres 
 of his own. In 1874 he settled in Waterford, Conn., 
 where he now (1881) resides. 
 
 He is a Republican in politics. He represented 
 Groton in the State Legislature in 1854, and Hop- 
 kinton, E. I., three terms. He was a director for 
 ten years in the Ashaway Bank, E. I. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have been members of the 
 Seventh-Day Baptist Church for more than fifty 
 years, and have always tried to act well their part 
 wherever their lot has been cast. Mr. Clarke has 
 always taken a deep interest in educational matters. 
 He is a man of sound judgment and strict integrity. 
 
 Albert G. Douglas is a grandson of Thomas Doug- 
 las and Grace Eichards, and son of Eobert and 
 Abiah Douglas, and was born on the farm where he 
 now resides Feb. 11, 1809. 
 
 Thomas Douglas had two sons, Guy and Eobert, 
 and five daughters. Thomas was a farmer and shoe- 
 maker, and settled near the residence of A. G. Doug- 
 las many years before the Eevolutionary war. He 
 died at the ripe old age of ninety-two or ninety- 
 three. 
 
 Eobert Douglas was a farmer, and owned a saw- 
 mill ; married Abiah Douglas, and had eight chil- 
 dren, viz. : Abiah, wife of William Gorton, of Wa- 
 terford; Henrietta (Mrs. Isaac Watrous, of Waterford), 
 Thomas, Albert G., John, Eobert, Guy, Elizabeth, 
 wife of the late Henry P. Havens, of New London, 
 Conn. 
 
 Eobert Douglas was a member of the First Con- 
 gregational Church of New London. In politics a 
 
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EDMUNl) DAKltOW. 
 
WATERFOED. 
 
 761 
 
 Whig. He held several town offices, such as select- 
 man, etc. He died Oct. 8, 1834. His wife died June 
 30, 1851. 
 
 Mr. Albert G. Douglas received a common-school 
 education, supplemented by one year at Hamilton 
 Academy, New York, having Henry B. Payne, of 
 Cleveland, as one of the students. Eeturning from 
 school at the age of twenty-one, he went to live with 
 an uncle, Guy Douglas, with whom he lived for 
 twenty years, or till the death of his uncle Guy, May, 
 1849. Oct. 10, 1849, he married Lucy A., daughter 
 of Otis P. and Mary Ann (Thompson) Fox, and to 
 them have been born two children, viz. . Julia A. 
 (Mrs. Stanley G. Morgan, of Waterford) and Albert, 
 born May 4, 1854, and now (1881) resides at home. 
 
 In March, 1851, Mr. Douglas removed to the old 
 home, and has continued to reside there ever since. 
 He now owns the " old home," which has been in 
 the family for several generations. He is a large and 
 successful farmer. In politics a Republican. He has 
 been selectman several years, and a member of the 
 Legislature two terms. Mrs. Douglas is a member of 
 the Baptist Church, and he is a supporter, but not a 
 member. 
 
 Mr. Douglas is a hard-working, frugal farmer, of 
 strong mind and generous impulses. 
 
 Rev. Edmund Darrow was born in Waterford, 
 Conn., Feb. 7, 1807. He was the youngest son of 
 Joseph and Hannah Bishop Darrow. Joseph was 
 born Oct. IS, 1773. Zadoc Darrow, the father of 
 Joseph, was born Dec. 25, 1728. He early seceded 
 from the Congregational Church, and united with 
 the Baptist Church at Niantic, under the charge of 
 Elder Howard, and was afterwards chosen deacon. 
 In 1769 he was ordained without charge, but from 
 1775 until near the time of his death, in 1827, he 
 was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Waterford. 
 He died at the advanced age of ninety-nine, being 
 the successful pastor of the same church for over fifty 
 years. 
 
 The father of Zadoc was Ebenezer Darrow, who 
 married Ali, daughter of James and Sarah Stevens 
 Rogers, and granddaughter of James Rogers, Sr., 
 •who came to America in the ship " Increase" in 
 1635, aged twenty years. His wife was Elizabeth 
 Ecwland, of Stratford, Conn., grandmother of Ali. 
 They owned and lived on a farm on the west side of 
 Jordan Cove, where Zadoc, their only son, was born. 
 
 Edmund Darrow married Grace, daughter of Elder 
 Lester and Polly Tuthill Rogers, March 4, 1831. The 
 names of their children were Edmund E., Josephine, 
 and F. Newton. She died April 26, 1850. March 3, 
 1851, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon 
 ■George and Betsey Rogers Potter, of Genesee, N. Y. 
 Their children were Mary E., George P., and Court- 
 land R. She died Nov. 15, 1872. Dec. 25, 1877, he 
 married Ellen R., daughter of Rev. Hiram and Re- 
 becca Bird Walden, of Montville. He embraced re- 
 ligion in childhood, and united with the First Baptist 
 
 Church, Waterford, in 1830, his cousin, Elder Francis 
 Darrow, then being pastor. Francis succeeded his 
 grandfather, Zadoc Darrow, and was pastor of that 
 church for forty years. 
 
 Edmund served as deacon and superintendent of the 
 Sunday-school for several years. In 1845 he embraced 
 the seventh day as the Sabbath, and united with the 
 Seventh-Day Baptist Church in Waterford, Great 
 Neck, of which his wife had been a member from 
 early life. The following year he was ordained 
 deacon, and in 1853 he was chosen and ordained to 
 the ministry, and accepted the pastoral charge of the 
 church, which has continued until the present time, 
 1881. 
 
 When the church was organized, in 1784, the mem- 
 bers were mostly the descendants of James, Sr., and 
 Elizabeth Rogers. They and their descendants, 
 among whom were the parents of Ali Rogers Dar- 
 row, were severely persecuted for their loyalty to the 
 seventh-day principles, by fines, imprisonment, sit- 
 ting in the stocks, whipping, etc. They and some 
 of their followers were usually arraigned at every 
 session of the court held in New London for a long 
 series of years for their adherence to their faith, but a 
 brighter day awaited the little church, persecutions 
 ceased, and they were permitted to worship God in 
 peace, according to the dictates of their own con- 
 science. 
 
 Capt. Lyman AUyn. — Robert Allyn was of Salem 
 in 1637, and enrolled as a member of the church 
 May 15, 1642. He removed to New London in 1651, 
 where he obtained a grant of a large farm on the 
 east side of the river, at a place still known as Allyn 
 Point, but now in the town of Ledyard. He was one 
 of the first company of purchasers of Norwich, and 
 resided for several years in the western part of the 
 town plot. In 1661 he styles himself of " New Nor- 
 ridge," and held the office of constable in 1669, but 
 in a deed of 1681 uses the formula, " I, Robert Allyn, 
 of New London." Among the early settlers of the 
 country we often meet with persons whom it is diffi- 
 cult to locate. They possess lands that lap over the 
 bounds of adjoining settlements, and sometimes ap- 
 pear to belong to different townships at one and the 
 same time. Robert Allyn had doubtless relinquished 
 his house in Norwich to his son John and retired to 
 his farm on the river in 1655, within the bounds of 
 New London, where he died in 1683. His age is un- 
 known, but he was freed from training in 1669, prob- 
 ably upon attaining the age of sixty, the customary 
 limit of military service ; this would make him about 
 seventy-five at death. 
 
 The heirs of his estate were his son John and four 
 daughters, — Sarah, wife of George Geer; Mary, wife 
 of Thomas Parke; Hannah, wife of Thomas Rose; 
 and Deborah, who afterwards married John Gager, 
 Jr. The son received £133, and each of the daugh- 
 ters £66 6s. 
 
 John Allyn, the son, married, Dec. 24, 1668, " Eliz- 
 
762 
 
 HISTORY OP NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 abeth, daughter of John Gager, of New Norwich." 
 In 1691 he exchanged his homestead and other privi- 
 leges in Norwich with Joshua Abell and Simon Hun- 
 tington, Jr., for lands east of the river, and transferred 
 his residence to the former seat of the family at Al- 
 lyn's Point. This brought him again within the 
 bounds of New London, and his name appears in 
 1704 as one of the patentees of that town. He died 
 in 1709, leaving an estate of £1278, to be divided be- 
 tween his son Robert and his daughter Elizabeth, 
 wife of Thomas Waterman. His inventory enumer- 
 ates three farms and a trading establishment upon 
 the river. Among the movables are such articles of 
 cost and comfort as a silver tankard, cup, and tum- 
 bler, a silver whistle, a gold ring, a wrought cushion, 
 and a lignum- vitse mortar and pestle. This was about 
 the period when such small luxuries were beginning 
 to be diffused among the prosperous farmers and 
 traders. 
 
 With Robert Allyn of the third generation the 
 male line was still a, unit. He married Deborah Av- 
 ery, and died in 1730, leaving nine children. 
 
 Robert Allyn of the fourth generation occupied 
 the same homestead at AUyn's Point, and dying in 
 1760, left an estate of more than £3000. His inven- 
 tory of wearing apparel comprised a blue coat with 
 brass buttons, silk jacket and breeches, laced jacket, 
 boots and spurs, gold sleeve-buttons and ring, silver 
 snuff-box, silver buckles for shoes, knees and neck- 
 bands. These successive inventories vividly illustrate 
 the advance of the country in wealth, comfort, and 
 elegance. 
 
 Allyn's Point, where stood the old homestead of 
 the family, is about six miles below Norwich, on the 
 opposite side of the river from the Mohegan fields. 
 The ancient fort of Uncas was in full view from the 
 house. South of the pond and cove is a conspicuous 
 elevation known as Allyn's Mountain, from whence 
 the prospect is wide and far-reaching. To this height 
 the neighbors were accustomed to resort as a lookout 
 post when the river was visited by any unusual craft, 
 or the Indians on the other side were gathered for 
 council or sport. From this place, on the memorable 
 6th of September, 1781, the conflagration of New 
 London was witnessed by women and children whose 
 husbands and fathers had hastened to the scene of 
 action. In the war of 1812 the three blockaded ves- 
 sels forming the squadron of Commodore Decatur 
 were laid up in the river near by, and on this hill his 
 men threw up a redoubt and kept a sentry to watch 
 the movements in and near New London Harbor. 
 
 The children of Robert Allyn (12) and Abigail 
 Avery were Abigail (19), born Feb. 2, 1726 ; married 
 N. Williams ; died July 20, 1767. Robert (20), born 
 Sept. 8, 1728; died Sept. 11, 1811. Elizabeth (21'), 
 born March 27, 1731; married James Avery; died 
 Feb. 3, 1819. Park (22), born June 15, 1733;' mar- 
 ried Sarah Gallup; died Feb. 13, 1804. Joseph (23) 
 born Feb. 1, 1736; married Mary Belton, Dec. 3o' 
 
 1760 ; died June 14, 1803. Prudence (24), born April 
 9, 1738; married Thomas Gallup; died 1813. Na- 
 than (25), born Jan. 5, 1740; married Sarah Free- 
 man; died June 2, 1814. Jacob (26), born March 
 27, 1743 ; married Edna Lathrop ; died Feb. 1, 1773. 
 Simeon (27), born May 27, 1745; married Esther 
 Gallup ; killed in Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781. Tim- 
 othy (28), born June 12, 1748; married Prudence 
 Gallup, who died March 7, 1837 ; died June 26, 1838. 
 
 The children of Nathan Allyn (25) and Sarah 
 Freeman were Mary (29), married George Avery. 
 Freeman (30), born June 6, 1768 ; married Irene Beck- 
 with, who died Oct. 2, 1861, aged ninety ; died Feb. 
 23, 1855. Mathew (31). Sarah (32), died in infancy. 
 Abigail (33), married Roger Brush. Sarah (34), mar- 
 ried Joseph Kenyon (grandparents of ex-Governor 
 Cox, of Ohio). Elezer (35), Cynthia (36), Simeon 
 (37), Gelanisa (38). 
 
 The children of Freeman Allyn and Irene Beckwith 
 were Charles Lyman (40), John Owen (41), Selden 
 (42), Horace (43), Harriet (44), Edwin (45), and Lo- 
 renzo (46). 
 
 Lyman Allyn, son of. Freeman Allyn and Irene 
 Beckwith, was born in the town of Montville, New 
 London Co., Conn., April 25, 1797. His father was 
 a practical farmer, leaving Montville, Conn., for 
 Springfield, Mass., in 1803, when young Lyman was 
 six years of age. His grandfather, Nathan Allyn, 
 went to Granby, Ohio, in 1805, and continued to 
 reside there till his death. Lyman Allyn remained 
 at home, working on his father's farm summers and 
 attending the common school winters till he was 
 twenty-one years of age, when he commenced the 
 whaling business for one Capt. Deshon, as a common 
 sailor before the mast. His quick insight into the 
 business soon earned for him a reputation, and it was 
 not long before he was made captain of a whaling 
 ship owned by Messrs. N. & W. W. Billings, of New 
 London, Conn. Capt. Allyn continued in the busi- 
 ness till 1852, when he gave it up. In 1850 he pur- 
 chased the Deshon farm, where he continued to re- 
 side till his death, April 8, 1874. In politics he was 
 a Jacksonian Democrat. He took a lively interest in 
 political matters, and during the war was very eflScient 
 in lielping to raise troops for the Union army. He 
 married Emma, daughter of Capt. John Turner and 
 Mary Newson, June 5, 1825. Mrs. Allyn was born in 
 New London, Conn., Aug. 31, 1804, and died Feb. 4, 
 1881. Their children are Mary T., who died at nearly 
 four years of age; Mary T. (2), who married Harvey 
 Seymour, deceased, of Hartford, Conn. ; Emma A., 
 deceased ; Charlotte C, John T., and Harriet W., all 
 of whom were born in New London, Conn. 
 
 We insert the following, written at the time of 
 Capt. Allyn's death : 
 
 " In the death of the late Capt. Lyman Allyn our community mournB 
 the loss of one of its oldest and most prominent citizens. For more than 
 fifty years he had been a resident of New London, though during the 
 earlier part of his life most of his time was spent on the ocean in that 
 business for which New London was then celebrated, the whale-fishery. 
 
'^'<^-7 
 
RES.DF THE LATE LVMA N ALLYM-PRFSfmt Rf<= ,: 
 
HIS sonJOHNTALLYN new LONDON Conn. 
 
'"■*'8k. 
 
 { , 
 
 (T'^f^'' ' 
 
 / /// /V ^ •<■' '^ 
 
WATERFORD. 
 
 Y63 
 
 this he displayed his characteristic energy and sagacity and was emi- 
 nently successful. "With his great executive ability was united a humor 
 quite inimitable and a fund of anecdotes that seemed exhaustless, always 
 apt, instructive, and amusing. But it is not of these things known to all 
 that we would speak, but of what he was in his family and among his 
 most intimate acquaintances, friends, and neighbors. It was here, espe- 
 cially in his family, that the kindness of his heart overflowed in the 
 kindest of words and acts, ' giving none ofl'ense' but studying to pro- 
 mote the happiness of his beloved and loving household, in which it is 
 not too much to say that he was the centre and soul of attraction, around 
 whom wife and children all clustered in delightful and harmonious affec- 
 tion. While his neighbors can testify that he never did an unneighhorly 
 thing, some of them can bear witness to acts of kindness and generosity 
 which they have never been able to repay. His mourning family have 
 the cordial sympathy of all their friends in this dark hour of their be- 
 reavement. At the time of his death Capt. Allyn was a member of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in New London, with which he had been 
 connected for many years, and was ever a constant attendant at its ser- 
 vices." 
 
 Capt. Horace Clark Lanphear, son of Enoch Lan- 
 phear and Susan Berry, was born in Westerly, R. I., 
 June 24, 1826. His father followed the water the 
 greater part of his life, and was otherwise engaged as 
 a farmer and shoemaker. Enoch died at seventy-six 
 years of age, and his wife died at sixty years of age. 
 
 Young Horace C. had very limited advantages for 
 an education, attending the village school only two 
 months of each year till he was fourteen years of age. 
 At the early age of ten years he commenced going on 
 the water as a cook for Capt. Brand, at two dollars a 
 month for nine months. The following year he re- 
 ceived five dollars a month for the same time. The 
 following year he went fishing in a smack in com- 
 pany with Capt. Gorton Berry, ten months for five 
 dollars, and the year following with Capt. Ezekiel 
 Rogers, of Waterford, at seven dollars a month for 
 ten months, and the next year again with Capt. Gor- 
 ton Berry, as second mate, at ten dollars a month. He 
 returned to Waterford, and was for the next three 
 years mate with Capt. Elias Champlin, on smack 
 "Herald." The following year he was sole owner and 
 captain of the smack " Commerce." In October, 
 1844, he entered the employ of Charles Mallory, of 
 Mystic, Conn., on a whaling expedition, and was gone 
 thirty-four months to the northwestern coast of 
 America and along the western coast of South 
 America. The name of his vessel was " Robin Hood," 
 and it was the first vessel to enter the Okhotsk 
 Sea for whales. They made three thousand four 
 hundred barrels of oil from July 4th to October 8th, 
 and procured some eighty-five tons of bone. They 
 touched Sandwich and Society Islands, besides many 
 others. In October, 1849, he entered the employ of 
 Capt. Brand as pilot and sailing-master in sloop 
 " Catherine Hale," which was then running between 
 Westerly, Stonington, and New York City. He con- 
 tinued in that business till 1851 or '52, when he was 
 made captain of the sloop " Leader," plying between 
 Westerly, Stonington, Newport, and Providence, 
 R. I. During the years 1853, '54, and '55 he was 
 captain and part owner of sloop " E. W. Babcock" ; 
 1856 and '57, captain and part owner of the schooner 
 " Orlando Smith," making trips from Boston to Phila- 
 
 delphia, touching at New York City. He was captain 
 of the schooner " Richard Law" in 1858, and in 1859 
 was made first pilot of steamboat "Commodore," 
 running from Stonington to New York City, then on 
 the " Vanderbilt," "Commonwealth," "Plymouth 
 Rook," "State of Maine," etc., respectively, all of 
 which were owned by the same company, he being 
 first pilot on each of them. 
 
 In 1865 he entered the employ of the Norwich and 
 New York Transportation Company, as captain of 
 the Norwich Line, and was captain of the following 
 steamboats respectively: "City of Boston," "City of 
 New London," " City of Lawrence," " City of New 
 York," "State of New York," and his present steamer 
 is the "City of Worcester," the finest steamer that 
 plows the waters of Long Island Sound, stanch and 
 powerful, capable of carrying more freight than any 
 one of her competitors. 
 
 The steamer sits on the water with a majestic grace, 
 her lines are pleasing to the eye, and her exterior or- 
 namentation is chaste and tasteful. The prevailing 
 color is white. On each paddle-box is the seal of the 
 city of Worcester, Mass., encircled with gilt-work, 
 from which diverge the sunset- colored rays of the 
 lattice-work, between which one gets glimpses of the 
 great red wheel inside. All modern improvements 
 of whatever kind entering into the construction of a 
 first-class steamer, in all departments, have been in- 
 troduced into the construction and finish of the " City 
 of Worcester," and advantage has been taken of the 
 tested excellence of other boats to render her as nearly 
 a perfect specimen of her class as possible. She is in- 
 tended to be the handsomest and most elegant as well 
 as the most substantial steamer on Long Island Sound. 
 How far this intention has been carried out is for the 
 public to judge. ' It is believed that she will be very 
 fast, faster than the " City of New York," of the same 
 line, at present the fastest boat on the Sound, having 
 made the distance between docks, one hundred and 
 twenty miles, in six hours and five minutes, a record 
 that has never been beaten. 
 
 We note the following press notices of Capt. 
 Lanphear : 
 
 " Capt. Horace C. Lanpliear, master of the * Worcester,' is the senior cap- 
 tain in the employ of the Norwich Line, and by long and faithful service 
 has well earned tlie honor that is nuw conferred on him. He is a native 
 of Westerly, B. 1., and began steamboating twenty-nine years ago, on the 
 Stonington Line, as first pilot of the steamer 'Commodore,' serving af- 
 terwards in the same capacity on the 'Vanderbilt,' 'Commonwealth,' 
 ' Plymouth Rock,' and ' State of Maine,' all of the same line. He en- 
 tered t)ir3 service of the Noiwich Line Jan. 1, 1865, as first pilot of the 
 * City of Boston.' After holding this position for about two and one-half 
 years he was made captain of the ' City of New London,' and served in 
 that capacity for six years, when he was transferred to the the ' City of 
 Lawrence.' He remained on her two and one-half years, and was then 
 transferred to the ' City of New York,' which he conimauded down to 
 the time of liis assignment to the new steamer. Capt. Lanphear is the 
 oldest employe of the company, with the exception of Steward Burns 
 and Engineer Carter. During all the years of his service he has never 
 met with an accident, and he justly enjoys the confidence of tlio travel- 
 ing public, with whom he is a prime favorite. The services which he 
 rendered on the occasion of the ' Narragansett' disaster are still fresh in 
 the public mind." 
 
r64 
 
 HISTOKY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 " The * City of Worcester' will be commanded by Capt. H. C. Lanpljear 
 of New London, the oldest (and possibly the biggest) captain on the 
 Sound. He has followed the sea forty-four years and traversed the Sound 
 thirty years, and has never met with an accident, which speaks well for 
 his seamanship or his luck. Possibly the latter is the result of the for- 
 mer. Capt. William Pelton will be the first pilot; Charles Chappell, sec- 
 ond pilot; Joseph Carter, engineer; John Smitli, first assistant engineer; 
 Kichard lilcGeary, first oflRcer; and Thomas Bums, steward. Mr. Burns 
 is the oldest steward on the Sound, having served some thirty-four or 
 thirty-five years. E. B. Woodward will be purser, and George Crofton 
 freight clerk. The agent of the Norwich Line is Capt. S. A. Gardner, Jr., 
 under whose personal supervision and direction the 'City of Worcester' 
 has been built." 
 
 Capt. Lanphear purchased his present farm, in the 
 town of Waterford, New London Co., Conn., in 1877, 
 and has resided here ever since. On the 28th of Jan- 
 uary, 1850, he married Abby M., daughter of Josiah 
 and Rhoda Owen, and to them have been born three 
 children, of whom Horace P., born Nov. 17, 1850, in 
 Westerly, R. I., is the only one living. Horace P. 
 married, Dec. 20, 1876, Ursula J., daughter of John 
 S. and Mahala Potter. They have one daughter, 
 Mabel C. Capt. Lanphear is a Republican in pol- 
 itics. 
 
 James Rogers, claimed to be a lineal descendant of 
 the third generation from John Rogers, who suffered 
 martyrdom under the reign of Mary at Smithfield, 
 England, in 1555, came to America on the ship "In- 
 crease" in the year 1635, at the age of twenty years. He 
 was the first of the family known to have come to this 
 country. He settled at Stratford, New Haven Co., 
 Conn., where he married Elizabeth, daughter of Sam- 
 uel Rowland. He afterwards removed to New Lon- 
 don, Conn., where he acquired considerable property 
 and influence ; was six times representative to the 
 General Court ; built a house next to Governor Win- 
 throp; was a baker, and carried on business quite 
 extensively. 
 
 Between 1660 and 1670 had a greater interest in the 
 trade of the port than any other person. His landed 
 possessions were very extensive, consisting of several 
 hundred acres on the " Great Neck," the fine tract 
 of land at Mohegan called the Pamechaug farm, 
 several house-lots in New London, and two thousand 
 four hundred acres east of the river Thames at Groton, 
 which he held in company with Col. Pyncheon, of 
 Springfield, Mass. 
 
 Jonathan Rogers, fifth son of James and Elizabeth 
 the first, was born Dec. 3, 1655; married Naomi 
 Burdich, daughter of Elder Burdich; was drowned 
 at Gull Island in 1697, aged forty-two years. 
 
 Capt. Jonathan Rogers, only son of Jonathan' and 
 
 Naomi, was born 1683 ; married Judith ; had 
 
 «ight children. 
 
 David Rogers, son of Capt. Jonathan and Judith 
 Rogers, was born March 8, 1719 ; had three -wives. 
 By the first, Grace Lester, he had ten children. He 
 died Oct. 17, 1803, aged eighty-four. 
 
 Zebulon Rogers, son of David and Grace Rogers, 
 was born July 3, 1757 ; married Sally Green ; had four 
 children, — Esther, David, Betsy, and Zebulon. He 
 died March 19, 1829, aged seventy-three. 
 
 David Rogers, son of Zebulon and Sally Rogers, 
 was born in Waterford, Conn., Jan. 20, 1786. His 
 wife was Mary Potter, daughter of George Potter, of 
 Hopkinton, R. I. They had nine children, as fol- 
 lows: David P., Charles, Sarah, Daniel, Mary, 
 Charlotte, George, Ann, and Lydia. Of these, Charles 
 and George died in infancy. Mr. Rogers was a prac- 
 tical farmer and lived upon the old Rogers farm, which 
 has been in the family for several generations, being 
 occupied at the time of the writing of this sketch by 
 his granddaughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Eliphalet Lyon. 
 
 In politics Mr. Rogers was a Whig, occupying 
 several township oflices and being a magistrate for 
 many years. He and his wife were members of the 
 Seventh-Day Baptist Church, and were among its 
 strongest supporters, giving the ground where the 
 building occupied by that society now stands, and he 
 serving as one of its deacons for many years. He 
 died May 29, 1859, his wife July 5, 1876, and both are 
 buried in the cemetery near which they spent so many 
 j'ears of their lives. A man possessed of many ex- 
 cellent qualities of head and heart, of the strictest 
 integrity, and withal genial and courteous to his 
 associates, Mr. Rogers lived respected and died 
 regretted. His memory and that of his loved life- 
 companion are still cherished by their neighbors and 
 acquaintances, and the impress of their sterling char- 
 acters is still stamped upon the community of which 
 their old home is still the centre. 
 
 Eliphalet Lyon. — Amariah Lyon, the great-grand- 
 father of Eliphalet Lyon, from the best information 
 to be obtained from the ancient records in and around 
 Boston, was the son of Thomas Lyon, who came from 
 Roxbury and settled in Dedham, Mass., about the 
 year 1798. He is believed to have been the son or 
 grandson of William Lyon, the first of the name, 
 who came from England to America, and settled at 
 Roxbury, Mass., in the year 1635. 
 
 Amariah Lyon was educated a physician at Boston, 
 Mass., and came to Montville, Conn, (formerly New 
 London), about the year 1740, where he married a 
 Miss Stibbins. There were born to them seven sons, 
 all of whom served in the war of the Revolution, and 
 one daughter, namely : John, Aaron, Josiah, Ama- 
 riah, Thomas, Christopher, Ephraim, and Abigail. 
 
 John Lyon, son of Amariah Lyon, was born and 
 lived in the town of Montville, where he married 
 Elizabeth Moore, daughter of Miles Moore, of the 
 same town. There were born to them four sons and 
 two daughters, namely : Caleb, Asa, John, Ephraim, 
 Elizabeth, and Grace. 
 
 Ephraim Lyon, son of John Lyon, was born in 
 Montville, Sept. 27, 1786; married Sarah Darrow, of 
 New London, March 24, 1809. There were born to 
 them three sons and four daughters, namely : Lorenzo, 
 Electra, Elizabeth, Daniel, Eliphalet, Susan, and 
 Sarah. Sarah, wife of Ephraim Lyon, died Jan. 21, 
 1822. 
 
y^ .<^-" . 
 
DAVID ROGERS. 
 
WATERFORD. 
 
 765 
 
 Ephraim Lyon and Margaret Strickland were mar- 
 
 lea Dec. 1, 1822. There were born to them three 
 
 children, namely: Lucy, Ephraim, and Margaret. 
 
 -t^phraim Lyon, Sr., died November, 1866, aged eighty 
 
 Eliphalet Lyon, son of Ephraim Lyon and Sarah 
 L)arrow, first opened his eyes to the light at Water- 
 tord, Conn., July 26, 1816, where he lived with his 
 parents until 1835. He worked on his father's farm, 
 but was given a good common-school education, and 
 taught one term when but eighteen years old. Leav- 
 ing home at eighteen, he went to New York City and 
 entered the drug-store of Dr. T. D. Lee, serving as a 
 clerk for three years, at the end of which time he 
 became a full partner in the business. Three years 
 later he became sole proprietor, and for more than a 
 quarter of a century continued the business at No. 
 470 Grand Street, finally leaving it in 1865. Previous 
 to this, and as early as 1860, he became interested in 
 the manufacture of machinery, and this business he 
 still continues, the manufactory being located on the 
 site of his former drug-store. With him are asso- 
 ciated Mr. T. H. Watson and Mr. F. H. Stillman, the 
 latter a son of his wife by a former marriage. The 
 business employs some forty men, and is conducted 
 under the firm-name of E. Lyon & Co. Mr. Lyon 
 has been a stanch Republican since the organization 
 of that party, notwithstanding that his father was an 
 earnest Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon are members 
 of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church. Each has been 
 three times married. Mr. Lyon's first wife was Ra- 
 chel De Pew. His second and third wives were sis- 
 ters, — Ann M. and Lydia, daughters of David and 
 Mary Rogers. To the latter he was married May 19, 
 1874. Mrs. Lyon has one son, Francis H. Stillman, 
 by her first husband, Paul Stillman; Mr. and Mrs. 
 Lyon reside on the family homestead of her parents, 
 Mr. and Mrs. David Rogers, at Waterford. 
 
 John Robertson was born April 17, 1821, at Pen- 
 nicuck, Scotland. He was a son of Duncan and Joan 
 (Hodge) Robertson. His father died when he was 
 young, and at an early age he was entered an appren- 
 tice to Alex. Cowen & Co., extensive paper manufac- 
 turers. There he commenced as "layer-boy'' at the 
 vats, and gradually worked his way upward, taking 
 each step, in the progress and filling each position 
 well, until he at last graduated a thorough paper- 
 maker, having acquired a complete knowledge of not 
 only wrapping and manilla paper, but also all sorts of 
 fine writing and bank-note paper. In 1845, in com- 
 pany with his younger brother, Carmichael, he emi- 
 grated to America, and entered the.employ of Camp- 
 bell, Hall & Co., Greeneville, Conn. On arriving in 
 this country Mr. Robertson had no capital but his 
 trade and a determination to succeed, and his in- 
 dustry, prudence, and Scotch thrift soon improved 
 his financial resources, and in 1851, in company with 
 his brother Carmichael and Mr. James Bingham, 
 formed the firm of Robertson & Bingham, and 
 49 
 
 started a mill in Waterford, near New London. And 
 here in this little mill was the first real tissue manilla 
 paper made in this country. So quickly was the 
 change and improvement in the quality noticed that 
 a revolution was at once made in the reputation of 
 manufacturers, and Robertson & Bingham's tissue 
 became the standard article in the market. So great 
 was the demand for their work, and so encouraging 
 their pecuniary success, that they were compelled to 
 build another mill in Waterford, and purchased an- 
 other in Montville. Thus the firm had three mills 
 in active operation on tissue manilla paper. In 1866 
 the firm was dissolved; Mr. Bingham sold his interest, 
 and John took the Waterford mills and his brother 
 the one at Montville. 
 
 Mr. Robertson continued to manufacture tissue- 
 paper and to maintain the high standing of his 
 goods until his death, July 5, 1873. 
 
 He married, Nov. 2, 1851, Jane B. Walker. Their 
 children were Jane, John (who now carries on the 
 business), Alexander D., James Clate, and Margaret 
 B. Mrs. Robertson died Aug. 14, 1862. 
 
 Mr. Robertson, for his second wife, married Miss 
 Mary J. Thompson, June 12, 1863. Their children 
 are Thomas B., Mary J., and Francis P. 
 
 Mr. Robertson was a man of sterling integrity, in- 
 dustrious and prudent, of an agreeable and pleasant 
 social disposition ; much loved, not only by his own 
 household, but by a large range of acquaintance. 
 He did not care for oflBce, but, as a private citizen, 
 did much for education, religion, and the betterment 
 of Waterford. Coming to this country to seize the 
 advantages a free country gives the able poor man, he 
 wished to preserve the integrity of those principles 
 that showed themselves to him as the guiding stars of 
 the republic, and he earnestly and steadily advocated 
 and worked for the success of the Democratic party 
 as the only way to consummate that end. He was 
 also for many years a consistent and valued member 
 of the Congregational Church. 
 
 Orlando Comstock, son of Caleb and Lucy (Dart) 
 Comstock, was born in the town of Montville, Conn., 
 Oct. 19, 1812. His father was a son of Zebediah 
 Comstock, and was born in Montville. Married and 
 had ten children, seven of whom are living, the united 
 ages of whom are about four hundred and fifty years. 
 
 Caleb was a carpenter and joiner, a man of moder- 
 ate means. He settled in the town of Waterford in 
 1821, and continued to reside there till his death. 
 May 2, 1841, aged fifty-five. He was a Democrat in 
 politics. His father, Zebediah, was a farmer also, 
 and settled in Montville, where he died at seventy- 
 eight years of age. For a more complete history of 
 this family, see biography of W. H. H. Comstock, of 
 New London. 
 
 Orlando Comstock received a common-school edu- 
 cation. He settled in Waterford with his parents 
 when nine years of age, and continued with them till 
 he was twenty-two, when he began working in a 
 
766 
 
 HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 woolen-factory, which lie followed one winter, the 
 spring following working again on the farm by the 
 month for eight months, and the next year hired his 
 father's farm on shares, which he continued to do 
 till the death of his father in 1841. In 1845 he pur- 
 chased his present farm of two hundred acres. He 
 has been twice married, — first to Mary W. Comstock, 
 of Montville, September, 1839. Of their five chil- 
 dren two only are living, — James E. and Emily C. 
 
 Mrs. Comstock died May 2, 1852, and he married 
 for his second wife Mary Ann Keeney, March 6, 
 1853. 
 
 Mr. Comstock was a Democrat till the Eepublican 
 party was organized. In 1858 he represented his 
 town in the Legislature. He has been selectman nine 
 years, and has held some of the other town offices. 
 He is a member of the Second Baptist Church at 
 Waterford, and one of its principal members. 
 
SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 The following items were received too late for in- 
 sertion in the body of the work : 
 
 NEW LONDON. 
 
 THE DAT. 
 
 The first number of The Day, a morning paper, was 
 issued July 2, 1881. The original publishers and 
 proprietors were John A. Tibbits & Co. The senior 
 member of the firm, John A. Tibbits, was the first 
 editor, and holds the position at the present time. 
 Mr. Tibbits has been connected with the journalism 
 of the county for nearly fifteen years. He was the 
 editor of The Telegram for a period of over eight 
 years, and is still one of the proprietors of that paper. 
 He has taken quite a prominent part in Connecticut 
 politics. In 1872 he represented New London in the 
 General Assembly, and was the author of the local 
 option amendment to the license law which was 
 passed in that year. He was appointed five success- 
 ive times by President Grant a government director 
 of the Union Pacific Eailroad, was a member of the 
 Bepublican National Convention at Cincinnati in 
 
 1876, was appointed collector of customs for the dis- 
 trict of New London by President Hayes in May, 
 
 1877, and reappointed by President Arthur in Oc- 
 tober, 1881. During the war he served in the Four- 
 teenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, enlisting as 
 a private, and being afterwards promoted to second 
 lieutenant, and was three times wounded, twice at 
 Antietam and once at Gettysburg. The Day is the 
 only New London paper which has ever taken the 
 full Associated Press reports. It has a large city cir- 
 culation, and also circulates more extensively than 
 any other daily paper in the towns surrounding New 
 London. The Week, published in connection with 
 The Day, is issued every Thursday. It is a large and 
 handsome sheet, and has already met with consider- 
 able success. 
 
 GKOTON. 
 Hon. Silas Seane. — Silas Deane was no common 
 character. He was born in the north part of the 
 town, within the present limits of Ledyard, and we 
 trace him step by step in his career among the rising 
 young men of the town. He graduated at Yale Col- 
 lege in 1758, in the class of Samuel Wyllis, so long 
 the Secretary of State for Connecticut. He returned 
 to his native town, and became a leader among the 
 
 citizens of Groton in favor of liberty. The Colonial 
 Legislature elected him, with Col. Dyer, to represent 
 Connecticut in the Continental Congress of the United 
 American Colonies, and the Continental Congress ap- 
 pointed him to be ambassador to the Court of France, 
 at the time when Louis XVI. had just ascended the 
 throne, and the dazzling young queen, Marie Antoi- 
 nette, was in the midst of her first bright career. How 
 well he kept in view the object of his mission, en- 
 gaging the services of distinguished ofiicers both in 
 France and Germany, and how well he enlisted the 
 French government in the American cause, let his- 
 tory answer. 
 
 The writer has before him a copy of the ofiicial 
 contract between Silas Deane and the Marquis de La- 
 fayette, and also the compact between Deane and Baron 
 de Kalb. The original papers or certified copies form 
 a part of the Silas Deane collection of papers, now in 
 the Smithsonian Institute. 
 
 The translation of the contract with Lafayette is as 
 follows : 
 
 "The wish that the Mai-quis do Lafayette has shown to serve in the 
 army of the United States of North America, and the interest that he 
 takes in the justice of their cause, making him wisli for opportunities to 
 distinguish himself in the war, and to make himself useful to them as 
 much as in him lies; but, not being able to obtain the consent of his 
 family to serve in a foreign country and to cross the ocean, except on the 
 condition that he should go as a general officer, I have believed that I 
 could not serve my country and my superiors better than by granting to 
 him, in the name of the very honorable Congress, the rank of major- 
 general, which I beg the States to confirm and ratify, and to send for- 
 ward his commission to enable him to take and hold rank, counting from 
 to-day, with the general officers of the same grade. His high birth, his 
 connections, the great dignities held by his family at this court, his con- 
 siderable possessions in this' kingdom, his personal merit, his reputation, 
 his disinterestedness, and, above all, his zeal for the freedom of our colo- 
 nies have alone been able to induce me to make this promise of the said 
 rank of major-general, in the name of the said United States. In wit- 
 ness of which I have signed these presents, done at Paris this seventh 
 of October, seventeen hundred and seventy-six. 
 
 " To the above conditions I agree, and promise to start when and how 
 Mr, Deane shall judge it proper, to serve the said States with all possible 
 zeal, with no allowance nor private salary, reserving to myself only the 
 right to return to Europe whenever my family or my king shall recall 
 me. Done at Paris, this seventh day of October, 1776. 
 
 [Signed] " Thk Marquis de Lafayette. 
 
 The agreement between Deane and De Kalb was 
 written in English, as follows : 
 
 '^ Baron He Kalb's Contract. — Le Bacon de Kalb being advised by some 
 Generals of the highest reputation and by several other Noblemen of the 
 first rank in this realm, to serve the cause of Libez'ty in America, he ac- 
 cordingly offers his services to the most honorable Congress, on the fol- 
 lowing terms : 
 
 " 1st. To be made a Major General of the American troops at the ap. 
 pointmentsof the Major Generals in that Service, with all other perqui- 
 
 767 
 
r68 
 
 SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 sites belonging to that Eanli, besides a particnlar snm to be allowed to 
 him annniiUy, which he will not determine, but rely on it for the Con- 
 gress, hoping they will consider the difference there is, between their 
 own Countrymen, who are in duty bound to defend their all, and a 
 foreigner who out of his own accord offers his time, sets aside his family 
 affairs to hazard his life for the American Liberties. The said appoint- 
 ments to begin from this day November the seventh — 1776. 
 
 "2nd. That Mr. Deaue will furnish him presently & before embark- 
 ing with a sum of twelve thousand livres french-mouoy, namely GOOO 
 to be considered and given as a gratification for the necessary expenses 
 attending such an Errant, and th' other 6000 as an advance upon his ap- 
 pointments. 
 
 " 3rd. That Capt Dubois martin and another Gentleman who Le Baron 
 de Kalb Shall nominate in time, may be agreed as majors to be his aid 
 de Camps at the appointments of american olficers of the Same Bank, 
 and the sum of 3000,, or at least 2400„ be paid to each c.f tlieni presently 
 or before embarking, the half of which as a gratification, & the other 
 half as an advance, the said appointments beginning too from this day. 
 
 "4tli. That in case the Peace was made at their Landing in america, 
 or that the Congress would not grant these demands, and ratify the 
 present agreement, or that the Baron de Kalb himself should on any 
 other account & at any time incline to return to Europe, that he be 
 allowed to do so, and besides be furnish with a sufficient sum of money 
 for the Expenses of his coming back. 
 
 "On the above Conditions, I engage and promise to serve the ameri- 
 can States to the utmost of my abilities, to acknowledge the authority 
 and every act of the most honorable Congress, be faithfuU to the Countrj' 
 as if my own, obey to Superiors committed by that Lawfull Power, and be 
 from this very day at the disposal of Mr. Deane for my embarkation 
 and in such vessel and harbour as he shall think fit. "Witness my hand, 
 in Paris November ye seventh in the year one thousand seven hundred 
 seventy six. 
 
 [Signed] " De KA1.B, 
 
 " Reed, of Silas Deane at Paris Novr. 22nd 1776 Sixteen Thousand 
 Eight Hundred Livs. on acct. of the above. 
 
 [Signed] " De Kale. 
 
 "N BpaidSSOO in Cash. 
 
 " & 8000 by a Bill on Messrs. Delaps." 
 
 Mr. Deane died in ]789, since fully vindicated from 
 all the aspersions of his enemies. His services to the 
 cause of his country can scarcely be overestimated. 
 
 NORWICH. 
 
 St. James' Lodge/ No. 23, P. and A. M., was 
 
 chartered by the Grand Lodge of the State of Con- 
 necticut, May 18, A.L. 5793. Communications were 
 held in the town of Preston till a.l. 5846, when 
 it appears on the records that " The Brethren deem- 
 ing it inexpedient to try to keep up the organi- 
 zation of the Lodge any longer sent information to the 
 Grand Lodge, and they sent a Committee, who took 
 the charter, jewels, and implements and placed them in 
 the hands of the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge 
 of Connecticut ;" and the signature of E. G. Storer, G. 
 S. of the State of Connecticut, appears on the records. 
 
 St. James' Lodge was resuscitated Sept. 12, a.l. 
 5872, under authority of Luke A. Lockwood, G. M., 
 who appointed W. M. John W. Stedman, of Som- 
 erset Lodge, No. 34, to present the dispensation, and 
 the original charter was regranted June 1(), A.L. 5873. 
 
 Meetings were held with the other Masonic bodies, 
 in Masonic Hall, Norwich, till a.l. 5876, when they 
 moved to their present lodge-room in the Bank Build- 
 ing, on Shetucket Street. 
 
 The charter members of the lodge upon its reorgani- 
 
 1 Contributed by A. S. Comstock. 
 
 zation were H. Hobart Eoath, H. Clay Albro, S. Al' 
 pheus Gilbert, Allen Tenny, P. St. M. Andrews, A.^D- 
 Smith, C. H. Dillaby, Nathan S. Gilbert, James Kn- 
 ker, L W. Carpenter, George W. Miller, Costello Lip- 
 pitt, J. L. W. Huntington, Charles Webb, Hugh H. 
 Osgood, W. H. Hovey, John Irish, and Ansel A. 
 Beckwilt. 
 
 Rufus M. Ladd was the first Master; Joseph J. 
 Wait, first S. W. ; and John L. Devotion, first J. W. 
 
 The Masters since that time have been as follows : 
 Joseph J. Wait, John L. Devotion, S. Alpheus Gil- 
 bert, George W. Miller, Gilbert L. Hewitt, and Al- 
 bert S. Comstock. 
 
 The present officers are Albert S. Comstock, W. M. ; 
 Ashbel W. Fitch, S. W. ; Henry L. Bennett, J. W. ; 
 Eees D. Jones, Treas. ; Charles 0. Walker, Sec. ; 
 Irving N. Gifford, S. D. ; John 0. Averill, J. D. ; 
 Samuel B. Case, Jr., S. S. ; James L. Coffee, J. S. ; 
 Albert D, Smith, Marshal ; William H. Dudley, Or- 
 ganist ; H. Clay Albro, Tyler. 
 
 postmasters. 
 
 The following is a list of postmasters of Norwich 
 and Norwich Town since 1854. (See page 813.) 
 
 Norwich. — John W. Stedman, Henry H. Stark- 
 weather, Charles M. Coit, and E. George Bidwell, the 
 present incumbent. 
 
 Norwich Town. — Henrj' B. Tracy, Charles Smith, 
 Jabez S. Lathrop, George D. Fuller, and John Man- 
 ning. 
 
 addition to BIOGRAPHY OF H. L. JOHNSON, OP JEWBTT 
 CITY. 
 
 The following are the names of the children of 
 George Tyler and wife: Frank J. Tyler, Fred. C. 
 Tyler, John B. Tyler, Kate B. Tyler, Lucius S. Tyler, 
 Charles T. Tyler, Florence L. Tyler. 
 
 Henry Johnson married Carrie D. Howe in De- 
 cember, 1868, in New York City ; no children. Mar- 
 ried again in June, 1873, to Carrie F. Leeds, of 
 Staten Island, N. Y. Children : Leeds Johnson, born 
 April 16, 1875 ; Earned Johnson, Dec. 25, 1879. En- 
 tered Yale College, 1856 ; graduated, 1860. Entered 
 the army as lieutenant in Fifth Connecticut Eegi- 
 ment, July, 1861. Was soon after transferred to the 
 United States Signal Corps, in which he served about 
 one year. Was appointed and accepted a position as 
 aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Terry. In 1863 he 
 was appointed an assistant adjutant-general of volun- 
 teers, with rank of captain. Retired from the army 
 in 1865. In 1868 he became a member of the New 
 York Stock Exchange, and began the business of 
 banking, which he still follows. 
 
 In the Mathewson family notices, George R 
 should be George A. Ross ; Mira should be Almira T 
 
 ERRATUM. 
 Lammon, on page 41, first line, should read Lan