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UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


SCHOOL  OF  LAW 
LIBRARY 


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TAPPING  REEVE. 


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COPYRIGHT 

BY    DWIGHT    C.    KILBOURN 

1909 


Edition  Limited  to  500 


THE    MATTATUCK    PRESS 
WATEHBUHY.    CONNECTICUT 


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CONTENTS 


List  di'  Ii.i.istk  aiioxs xi. 

St  AT  i:  mi:  NT  «»i'  I'm'-  ^-'asi'.  mii 

liDci'.   (.'ii  I  i<i.ii's   Ci'.  X '1"  i:  X  N  I  A  I ,   .\|il)|<i;SS    J. 

First  settk'iiK'iu  nf  tlie  tnwiis.  County  organization.  County  Officers. 
Character  of  llic  ])c'o])lc.  Iron  Works.  Religious  matters.  Colonial 
and  Revolutionary  Wars.  Newspapers.  Merchants.  Slitting  Mills. 
Xail  rods.  Scythes.  Iron  Mines.  Paper  Mills.  Woolen  Mills.  Emi- 
gration to  A'ermont  and  the  Western  Reserve.  Education.  Morris' 
Academy.  Miss  Pierce's  School.  The  Law  School.  First  Law  Re- 
ports. Lawyers.  Doctors.  Authors.  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 
Mission  School  at  Cornwall.  'JV-nipi-rance  Movement.  Lifidclity.  The 
fmure. 

Jk).\Ki).M.\x's  Haui.v  Lit'.iii's   39 

Partridge  Thatcher.  Daniel  l^verelt.  Tapping  Reeve.  John  Allen. 
Barzillai  Slosson.  Samuel  W.  Southmayd.  John  Cotton  Smfth. 
Nathaniel  Smith.  Noah  P).  lleiiedict.  James  Gould.  Asa  Bacon. 
Elisha  Sterling.  Ja])ez  W.  Huntington.  Phineas  Miner.  Leman 
Church. 

Skdcwjck's  Fifty  Yk.vks  at  tin;  I'.ak 68 

Ci)rrespondence.  Organization  of  the  Courts.  Chief  Justice  Hosmer. 
Judge  Peters.  Judge  Chapman.  Judge  Brafnard.  Judge  Bristol. 
Judge  Daggett.  The'Superior  Court.  The  County  Court.  Judge  Petti- 
hone.  Judge  Strong,  .judge  Welch.  Judges  Burrall.  Woodruff  and 
Boardman.  Clerk  JFretlej-ick  Wolcott.  Sheriff  Seymour.  Messenger 
John  Stone.  Business  of  the  County  Court.  Admission  to  the  Bar. 
Practice.  Authorities  in  i8o8.  Judge  Gould.  Noah  B.  Benedict.  Asa 
Bacon.  General  Sterling.  Judge  Boardman. Phineas  Mfner.  William 
G  Williams.  John  Strong,  Jr."  William  M.  Burrall.  Col.  William 
Cogswell.  Seth  P.  Beers.  Perrv  Smith.  Roger  Mills.  Michael  F. 
Mills.  Charles  B.  Phelps.  Matthew  Minor.  Ilolbrook  Ciu'tis.  Isaac 
Leavenworth.  Roval  R.  Hmman.  Josejih  TI.  Bellamy.  Theodore 
North.  Leman  Church.  William  S.  Holahird.  George  S.  Boardman. 
Reflections. 

Tl'dgk  \\'.\kxi:r's  Ri;m i x isci:xci:s  too 

Experiences  in  the  (u'ueral  .\.-semlily.  History  of  the  Act  allowing 
prisoners  to  testifv.  Storv  about  Dwight  Morris.  Adoniiah  Strong. 
Col  Joshua  Porter.  John  G.  Mitchell.  Phdander  Wheeler.  Aunt 
Poliv.  John  H.  Hubbard.  Roger  Averill.  Norton  J.  Buell.  John 
Elmore.  I<eman  Church.  Miles  Toln  Granger.  Col.  Jacob  B.  Har- 
denburg.  George  W  Peet.  Michael  F.  Mills.  William  K.  Peck.  Jr. 
William  S.  Holahird.  Gideon  Hall.  Roland  Hitchcock.  Roger  H. 
Mills.  Jared  B.  Foster.  Nelson  Brewster.  George  Wheaton.  Julius 
B.  Harrison.     Solon  B.  Johnson.     Frederick  Chittenden.     John  G.  Reed. 


X.  CON  Ti: NTS 

J I  isidKir A!.  \()'ri:s   ii8 

'l"lu-  tirsl  Court  Rt'CDril.  Ivirly  Atlnnu-ys.  I'ri'scnt  Attnnicys.  Gov- 
cnH)rs.  Judges,  v'^latc  .AluniK'ys.  Ck'rks.  SlicritY^.  duui  Houses. 
Jury  matters.  W'ituoscs.  Stenograpliers.  Sludeut--.  I.iliraries. 
W'liite  Fund.  C'onut\  Ccutenuial.  Judge  l)aggeil'>  I.elter.  Ancieut 
Court   Expenses.     Couuty   Court. 

XoTi'.i)  Tki.m.s   144 

The  Selliek-Osborne  case.  lilasi)lieuiy.  Wrong  Verdict  Stands.  A 
Funeral  Order.  Ral)ell().  R(>l)ert  Drakely.  Bernice  White.  WdHani 
H.  Green.  James  LeRoy.  Burglars  on  a  hand  car.  Litiuor  Prosecu- 
tions. Ma.sters  vs.  Warren  Ro-hbins  vs.  Coffin,  liiggins"  (Hadley) 
escape.  Michael  Bion.  liorgesson.  Tax  case.  Mannering.  Norman 
Brooks"  Will  case.     Jolui  T.'llayes.     Haddock  vs.   Haddock. 

Cdinia   C'()U()Ni;r.  1Ii:.\i.tii  (  )1'1"ici;k.  Attokni-v  C.i-.ni'.k.vt 165 

I'^JUSL"    \,.\\\    kl'.l'OK'PS 168 

'J'lie    preface.     Fac-siuiilie.      F.i)hraini    Kirhy.     lii-    law    liooks. 

Till'.   CdlNTV   J.\ll 176 

Till".  Lri"ciii"ii:i.n  Law  Sciiooi 178 

Chas.  C.  Moore's  article  from  the  Law  Notes.  Charles  C,.  Loring"s  ad- 
dress. A  Students  letter.  Augustus  Hand's  letter.  The  Buildings. 
The  Catalogue. 

nidCK.M'll  KAI,    XoTl'.S    Al.ril.MU'.TR- Al.l.N'     .\l<K.\  N  C,  I'.l )     215 

LiGANS      307 

Ex-Governor  and  Ex-Chief  Justice  Andrews  address.  A  demurrer  de 
Kickapoo  Indians.  Sound  Advice  of  .Albert  Wadhams.  'I'he  Annual 
Banquets.  President  Huntington's  address.  Rev.  A.  N.  Lewis'  letter. 
Hurlbutisms.  Felicities.  Poetry.  Jokes.  Judge's  Evidence.  Old 
Grimes.  Complimentary  dinner  to  Judge  O.  S.  Seymour  at  Bridgeport. 
Watertown  trial.  New  Milford  Power  Company.  Sermon  at  the  Ex- 
ecution of  John  Jacobs.  176S.  Truman  Smith.  Jury  Conimi^ssioners. 
County  Commissioners.     Comn   Messengers.     The  Judgnuni    Fde. 

InI)I;x   dl"    .\ A.MI'.S    


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Old  Litchfield  i  f  Church.   Samuel  I 

Tearing  down  King-  (".enrjie  Slat ne  17  Cue   William   C.  78 

Old  Writ  4S  Cogswell.  Lennanl  W.  132 

County   Centennial   1851  .U  Coihreii.  William  150 

Superior  Court  in  Session  1 -'-'  Dowd,   W'heatnn   I'".  144 

Court  Houses  i-'!>!  JCllswortli.  William  W.  242 

Judge   Preston's  Tomhstone  14.^  luhendge.  Frank  W.  166 

First   Law   Rei)ort.   fac-simile  i^iS  h'eiin.  Augnsiu-  A.  154 

County  Jail  I7(>  Ko>ter.  Jared  B.  Il6 

Law  School  Bn.ldings  ]8o  Could.  James  184 

Reeve's  Building  IQ^  (^.ranger.   Miles  T.  156 

Gould's  Building  i<M  Craves,  Henry  B.  152 

Mav  it  please  the  Court  308  Guern.sey.  Howard  M.  344 

Kickapoo  Indians  3f4  Hall.  Gideon  Ho 

Ban(|uet  3i^>  I  larrix.n.  George  C.  342 

Old  Grimes  3-'o  Herman,  Samuel  A.  250 

Judges  I'A-idence.  fac-similie  3-^8  Hickox.  George  A.  250 

Title  page  of  Old   Sermon  340  Higgins.  Richard  T.  165 

Hitchcock.  Roland  Ii4 

PORTRAITS  llnlcomh.  Marcu>  II.  167 

Allen,    Henry  J.  i'>4  1  lollister.  (Gideon   II .  253 

Andrews,   Charles  B.                 3'0.  --"O  Home.  Samuel   B.  254 

Bacon,  Asa    (Group)  63  Huhb-ard.  John  H.  106 

Francis  63  Huntington.  James  256 

Kpaphroditus  C.  63  Hurlhut,  William  F.  142 

Baldwin.   Birdseyc  113  Karl.  John  J.  344 

George  H.  -'-'.^  Kilhourn,   Dwight   C.  119 

Barnes,  Andrew  G.  34-'  Kirhv;  Ephraim  170 

Beers,  Seth  P.  93  McMahon.  James  H.  136 

Beeman.  Frederick  D.  L^8  Middlehrooks.  Chesterfield  C.         266 

Ballamy,  Josepii  H.  7^  MilL.  Michael   F.  7? 

Benedict,  Noah  B.  .^S  Mosher.  Lewis  W.  .UO 

Botsford.  Henry  A.  229  Wdlis.  Edward  A.  162 

Brinsmade.  Daniel   X.  231  Xickerson.   Leonard  J.  163 

Buel.   Chauncey  J.  336  Xettleion.    Cliarles  269 

Canheld.  Judson  232  Pierpont.  John                             272.   345 

Col.   Samuel  iS  Pettil)one.  Augustus  7^ 

Ca.se.  Hubert  B.  344  Phelps.  Charles   B.  94 

Catlin.  Ahijah  2.^6  Porter.  Charles  J.  160 

Georo-e  234  Plait.  Orville  H.  276 


xii  ii.i.rs'i'UA'rioNS 

KaiiM))!!.  William  I..  i_'4  TiiitK'.    I'.yrMU  342 

Kocvc,  Taitping — iMMiilisiiicco  WanuT.  Anliur   1).  167 

Iv.iraluu-k.  Alhcrio  T.  13;,                        Dunald  j.  lOO 

Kyan.  Thomas  F.  2-]'                        Dmiald  T.  126 

Sanford.   David   C.  -'78  \\\lcli,  Cidoui  II.  141 

lI.Miry   S.  -'So  \\\'>m11s,  Col.  L.  \V.  301 

Sedgwick.    Cliarks    F.  71  W'lualoii.    ('.(.■or.oe  115 

.\ll)i.Tt  2S1  Williams.    l<'rcd<.'ric    M.  300 

Seymour.  I'.dward  W.  i,iO                        linln.Ti  298 

(Irigcn   S.  210  W'olcott.   l-'ri-dcrick  81 

Ozias  287                       (icn.  Oliver  173 

Origen  S..  2iul  2%~                       (>ov.  Oliver  302 

Morris  W.  i'f^~  Woodruff,  George  C.  195 

Moses.  Jr.  2S5                      George  M.  200 

Sliermau.   Roger  172                       Lewis  B.  206 

Small.   Jolni   Cotton                    28,   290                       Morris.    (Group)  306 

Truman  96                       James   P.  306 

Wellington   B.  158  County  Coroner.s  344 

Willcy  T.  336  Messengers  344 

Turkington.  Frank  H.  299  Jury  Commissioners  343 


STATEMENT  OF  THE  CASE 


The  i)i"aciice  of  the  law  in  the  lui.^lish  spcaKint;'  colonies  of  the 
new  wtii'ld  ])rcvious  to  the  organization  of  Litchhcld  County  is  an 
interesting'  >tu(l\  of  \-arious  melliods  ol  ])roce(lure  all  founded  upon 
die  ])raclice  of  the  mother  country.  Some  were  co])ied  from  the 
common  law  courts,  and  some  from  the  other  courts  and  in  hardly 
an\  two  coU)nies  was  there  similarity  of  practice,  while  the  old  com- 
mon law  of  Kui^iand  was  a  general  guide  to  the  interpretation  of  the 
statute  law,  with  such  modifications  in  the  I'uritan  colonies  as  the 
mosaic  law  suggested  to  the  religious  teachers  and  ])ast<)rs  thereof. 

Ahoul  the  lime  our  count}'  was  organi/A'd,  these  difTereiit  modes 
of  practice  hegan  to  he  cr_\stallized  into  a  more  estahlished  form. 
There  were  practically  no  attorneys,  as  we  now  understand  the 
term,  "men  learned  in  the  law."  In  many  sections  there  ,was  some 
inrtuential  man  who  was  generally  known  as  "the  Squire."  and 
whose  oi)iiiions  ruled  the  circle  of  his  ac(|uainlaiice.  In  this  county 
there  were  oiil\-  five  or  six  men  who  pretended  to  he  lawyers. 

Directlv  after  the  formation  of  the  county  and  the  establishment 
of  the  county  court,  these  men  were  admitted  to  i)ractice  as  at- 
torne\s  with  slight  examinations,  and  with  little  knowledge  of  tlie 
law,  but  they  were  strong-minded  and  of  sterling  character,  oracles 
in  their  own  communities,  ami  they  very  soon  brought  the  decisions 
of  the  coum\-  court  of  this  c<innt\-  to  the  front  rank  nf  judicature. 
It  was  in  this  opportune  ])erio(i  that  Tapping  Reeve  located  at 
Litchfield  and  unintentionally  began  that  i)rt)cess  which  eventually 
overthrew  the  common  law  of  b.ngland,  for  a  common  law  of  our 
own,  and  changed  the  old  forms,  rules  and  precedents  which  had  so 
long  prevailed.  The  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War  utterly  de- 
stroyed the  doctrine  that  "the  king  could  do  no  wrong"  and  swept 
awa\  his  prerogatives  and  common  laws:  and  while  we  now  quote 
the  good  contained  in  the  "wisdom  of  ages,"  we  decide  ciuestions 
by  Rcev^es,  Swift  and  Could,  and  modern  "wise  instances." 

Ten  \ears  ago  the  comi)iler  of  this  book  conceived  the  idea  oi 
collecting  and  jjreserving  in  a  i>eniianent  form  a  mass  of  material 
which  was  then  available  relating  to  the  legal  history  and  tradition 
of  his  native  county,  and  in  the  midst  of  his  active  duties  as  the 
Clerk  of  its  courts,  has  gathered  these  items  and  now  ])resents  them 
for  \()ur  consideration,  believing  his  work  to  be  a  somewhat  valuable 
contribution  t(~>  our  earlier  histor\-. 


xi\'  s'i"ati;m1';nt  di'   iiii:  iasp; 

TIk-  reprint  ol'  Clnof  Juslico  Saimicl  I'liurcirs  Address  at  the 
Ceiuennial  (.\'lel)rati(«n  nl"  the  orL;ani/alic  ni  of  the  eoinux.  in  1S51, 
i^ives  a  very  eoneise  and  ihnniuj^h  analysis  ol  the  elenieuls  uhieh 
have  CdiKhiced  to  i^iw  lUir  et>unl\-  L;reat  iiilhieiiee  in  the  rehi^iiuis, 
sociah  polilieal  and  lei^al  alTairs  in  hnUi  the  state  an<l  naliiin.  The 
tuKh'ess.  ho\\e\er,  was  made  Inn  early  tn  inehide  1  k'nry  Ward 
r.eeclier  and  Harriet  lleeeher  v^towe  anmn^-  the  writers  and  speak- 
ers who  ha\'e  done  so  nnieli  to  ni)htt  the  world's  ideas,  and  wnnder- 
fulK'  adxanee  its  ])roo-ross  towards  its  present  power  and  ^ix'atness. 

The  reprint  of  lion.  I)a\-id  S.  Iloardinan's  'd'',arly  Lights  m|'  the 
Litchfickl  Coinil\'  liar."  l)ein^'  the  rentiniseenees  ot  a  man  nmety 
vears  of  ag^e.  of  his  eolleaj^iies  and  associates  in  the  earlier  years 
of  our  count\"s  history,  will  I  am  sure  lie  of  <^-reat  interest  to  every 
one.  and  it  is  worthy  of  permanent  ])reser\'ation.  The  orij^'inal 
paniplilet  containing;"  them  has  loni;'  heen  out  of  print,  and  is  very 
rare.  1  reij;"ret  very  much  my  inahility  to  procure  his  portrait  for 
insertion  in  this  work. 

Jn  the  re-pubHcation  Oif  Sedg'wick's  address,  "Fifty  ^'ears  of 
the  IJtchtield  County  lUir,"  I  am  enabled  to  brini^"  the  hioi^raphies 
of  most  of  the  ])r()minent  old  lawyers  down  to  modern  times,  pre- 
])ared  l)y  an  assoeiate  and  l)rother  in  the  lej^al  arena,  while  jud.^'e 
Warner's  "Reminiscences"  completes  the  chain  of  those  lixdn^'  and 
practicing-  at  the  J  Jar  durinj;"  his  life.  Charles  15.  I 'helps  published 
obituaries  of  a  ntimber  of  his  attorney  friends  in  some  of  the 
earlier  volumes  of  Connecticut  Reports,  Ijut  as  these  are  easily  ac- 
cessible I  have  referred  to  them  without  republishing". 

In  the  UiogTaphical  Xotes  I  have  endeavfM'cd  to  include  the  name 
of  e\ery  member  admitted  to  our  liar,  or  coming"  from  elsewhere 
to  practice,  excluding"  however,  those  who  lune  been  debarred  for 
cause.  'J'hese  notes  are  not  intended  to  be  genealogies  or  eulogies, 
but  only  the  legal  life  briefly  told,  and  they  have  nearly  all  l)een 
prepared  by  myself.  I  deepl\  regret  that  there  are  so  luany  whom 
1  have  been  unable  to  trace  beyond  the  mere  fact  of  their  admission. 

The  section  on  the  Law  v^chool  eonlains  the  list  of  its  students 
al])hal)etically  arranged,  with  some  otiier  interesting"  matter  relating 
thereto.  So  many  references  are  made  throughout  the  volume  to 
Judges  l\ee\"e,  Cioidd,  lluntington,  llacon  and  others  prominently 
connected  with  its  instruction  and  management,  that  I  did  not  think 
it  wise  to  de\ote  more  sjjace  to  the  further  histor\  i>\  the  Law 
School. 

The  llistorieal  .Votes  include  only  a  few  of  the  many  trials  and 
incidents  which  could  be  gathered  from  the  Court  Records,  but  in 
\'ery  mrmy  eases  the  acconiu  of  trials,  especialK  those  of  ;i  criminal 
nature,  might  gi\"e  jjain  to  some  friend  or  relative  of  the  accused, 
which  I  haw  tried  to  a\oid  doing. 


st.\ti:mi;\'i'  i)|-   iiii':  casi".  xv 

rr(i1)al)l\-  11(1  County  in  llir  stale  furni.-lu'il  ilic  Suprc-im.-  (."niirt 
in  ils  earlier  ilays,  more  knotty  |)r()'l)lenis  to  solve  and  adjudicate, 
than  Litchfield  L'ounty.  and  a  full  history  of  its  "JA'adin,^-  Cases" 
would  make  an  interestiuL^'  \dlume  of  itself. 

I  lia\'e  ohiaineil  all  the  suhjects  for  illuslration  which  I  could 
and  the  pictures  lia\e  been  niaile  Iroin  originals,  many  of  them  from 
old  and  laded  jiainiin^s,  a>  1  desired  to  ))lace  in  cverlastinj^j  re- 
membrance the  faces  of  those  l;oiu'  before.  In  two  or  three  in- 
stances I  have  duplicated,  takiu.i;  another  and  ilifferent  ])ortrait  for 
the  secdud  ])icturc,  after  the  first  one  was  already  in  print.  If  any- 
one thinks  it  is  easy  to  collect  a  hundred  ])ictures  of  as  many  i)er- 
sons  who  ha\'e  lon;^-  since  deceased,  a  trial  will  dis])el  the  illusion. 

It  is  unavoidahle  that  many  errors  will  occur  in  such  a  work  as 
this.  Great  care  has  been  p;iven  to  make  it  as  nearly  accurate  as 
])ossible.  and  tlu'  compiler  will  be  \-er\  c^iad  to  lia\-e  his  attention 
called  to  au_\'  such  error,  so  that  in  due  time  i)roper  corrections  can. 
be  made. 

To  the  very  man\-  friends  who  have  aided  me  in  this  work.  I 
wish  to  return  my  heart-felt  thanks  for  their  assistance.  1  have 
refrained  from  makiu,;;'  an\'  acknowled^Tiient  of  (piotations  or  ex- 
tracts because  I  have  thought  that  the  matter  itself  would  indicate 
the  source  from  which  it  was  taken.  In  conclusion  I  wish  to  say 
that  I  hope  the  perusal  of  this  book  will  afford  the  reader  as  much 
])leasure  as  it  has  the  compiler  to  prepare  it. 


Litchfield.   May    l,   lyoy. 
D.  C.  K. 


([Jeutennial  A&titesa 
1851 


LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS 


DELIVERED  AT  LITCHFIELD,  CONN. 


ON  THE  OCCASION  OF    THE 


CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION,  1851 


BY 


SAMUEL  CHURCH,  LL.  D. 


CHIEF  JUSTICE  OF  THE  STATE 


IJoN.  Sam  ii;i.  Cmiuii,  I". 


Judfj^e  Church's  Address 


FKI.I.iAV    ClTlZKKS  : — 

I  have  no  leisure  now  to  oiler  apologies  for  my  unadvised  con- 
sent  to  appear  before  you.  in  this  position,  on  the  present  occasion. 
Declining  years,  and  tlie  constant  pressure  of  ()ilicr  duties,  sliould 
have  excused  me. 

Mv  residence  of  sixty-six  years  from  my  nativit\-  in  this  County, 
and  an  acquaintance  of  half  a  century,  of  some  intimacy,  with  the 
events  which  have  transpired,  and  with  the  men  who  have  acted  in 
them  here,  and  having  been  placed  within  traditional  reach  of  our 
earlv  historv.  I  sup])()se,  has  induced  the  call  upon  me  to  address 
you.  In  doing  this.  I  shall  make  no  drafts  upon  the  imagination, 
but  speak  to  you  in  the  simple  idiom  of  truthful  narrative. 

.Among  the  most  ancient  and  pleasant  of  New  England  usages, 
has  been  the  annual  gathering  of  children  and  brethren  around  the 
parental  board  on  Thanksgiving  day.  The  scene  we  now  witness 
reminds  me  of  it.  Litchfield  County. — our  venerable  parent,  now 
waning  into  the  age  of  an  hundred  years,  has  called  us  here,  to 
exchange  our  mutual  greetings,  to  see  that  she  still  lives  and  thrives, 
and  hopes  to  live  another  century. 

A  little  display  of  vanity  on  the  part  of  such  a  i)arent.  thus 
surrounded  by  her  children,  may  be  expected ;  but  speaking  by  me, 
her  representative,  it  shall  not  be  excessive.  She  must  say  some- 
thing of  herself — of  her  birth  and  parantage — of  her  early  life 
and  progress,  anrl  of  the  scenes  through  which  she  has  jiassed. 
She  ma\"  be  indulged  a  little  in  speaking  of  the  children  she  has 
borne  or  reared,  and  how  they  have  got  along  in  the  world.  To  tell 
of  such  as  she  has  lost,  and  over  w^hose  loss  she  has  mourned;  and 
in  the  indulgence  of  an  honest  parent's  pride,  she  may  boast  some- 
what of  many  who  survive,  and  who  have  all  through  this  wide 
country  made  her   name  and  her   family  respected. 

We  meet  not  alone  in  this  relation,  but  we  come  together  as 
brethren,  and  many  of  us  after  long  years  of  separation  and  absence, 
to  revive  the  memories  and  associations  of  former  years. 

Some  of  you  come  to  visit  the  graves  of  parents  and  friends — 
to  look  again  into  the  mansions  where  the  cradle  of  your  infancy 
was  rocked,  or  upon  the  old  foundations  where  they  stood — to  look 


4  i.n\  iii-ii:i.i)  CdiN  IN'  i'.i;n(.ii  and  p.ar 

again  uiH)n  the  favorito  tree,  now  fnll  j^ioun.  which  yonr  young 
arms  clasped  so  often  in  tlie  chnibing.  or  upon  the  great  rock  upon 
and  around  which  many  a  yovuig  ganil)ol  was  performed.  You 
come  to  enter  again.  ])erlia])s,  the  consecrated  temples  at  whose 
altars  the  good  man  stood  wdio  sprinkled  you  with  the  waters  of 
baptism,  and  from  wdiose  lips  you  learned  the  lessons  which  have 
guided  your  footsteps  in  all  your  after  life. 

These  are  but  some  of  the  pages  in  the  history  of  early  life, 
which  it  is  pleasant  after  the  lapse  of  years  to  re-|-)eruse.  .\nd  now, 
if  the  spirits  of  these  dead  can  pierce  the  cloud  which  hides  our 
view  of  heaven,  they  look  dow^n  with  a  smile  of  love  upon  your 
errand  here ;  and  when  you  shall  leave  us  on  the  morrow,  many 
of  you  will  feel  in  truth!  as  did  the  patriot  Greek,  "moriens  rem- 
iniscitur  Argos." 

A  stranger  who  looks  upon  the  m^p  of  Connecticut,  sees  at  its 
north-west  corner  a  darkly  shaded  section,  extending  over  almost 
the  entire  limits  of  the  County,  indicating  as  he  believes,  a  region 
of  mountains  and  rocks — of  bleak  and  frozen  barrens.  He  turns 
his  eye  from  it,  satisfied  that  this  is  one  of  the  waste  places  of  the 
State — affording  nothing  pleasant  for  the  residence  of  men.  He 
examines  much  more  complacently  the  map  of  the  coast  and  the 
navagable  streams.  But  let  the  stranger  leave  the  map.  and  come 
and  see !  He  will  find  the  mountains  which  he  anticipated — but 
he  will  find  streams  also.  He  will  find  the  forests  too.  or  the  ver- 
dant hill-sides  where  they  have  been ;  and  he  will  see  the  cattle 
on  a  thousand  hills,  and  hear  the  bleating  flocks  in  many  a  dale  and 
glen,  and  he  will  breath  an  atmosphere  of  health  and  bouyancy, 
which  the  dw'ellers  in  the  city  and  on  the  plain  know  little  of. 
Let  him  come,  and  w^e  will  show^  him  that  men  live  here,  and 
women  too,  over  whom  it  would  be  ridiculous  for  the  city  popula- 
tion to  boast :  a  yoemanry  well  fitted  to  sustain  the  institutions  of 
a  free  country.  \\'e  will  show  him  living,  moving  men ;  but  more 
than  this,  we  will  point  out  to  him  where,  among  these  hills,  were 
born  or  reared,  or  now  repose  in  the  grave,  many  of  the  men  of 
whom  he  has  read  and  heard,  whose  names  have  gone  gloriously 
into  their  country's  history,  or  wdio  are  now  almost  every  wdiere 
giving  an  honorable  name  to  the  County  of  Litchfield,  and  doing 
service  to  our  State  or  nation. 

The  extensive  and  fertile  plains  of  the  Western  coimtry  may 
yield  richer  harvests  than  we  can  rea]) :  the  slave  population  of 
the  South  may  relieve  the  planter  from  the  toil  exjierienced  by  a 
Northern  farmer  ;  and  the  golden  regions  of  California  may  sooner 
fill  the  pockets  with  the  ])recious  metals  ; — and  all  this  may  stand 
in  strong  contrast  with  what  has  been  often  called  the  rough  and 
barren  region  of  Litchfield  hills.  Rut  the  distinguishing  traits  of  a 
New  England  country,  which  we  1o\t  so  well,  are  not  there  to  give 
sublimitv  to  the  lamJscape,  fragrance  and  health  to  the  mountain 
atmosphere,  and  energy  and  enterprise  to  mind  and  character. 


I  Hike  IIS    C'KN'I'I'.N  \l  \l,    AIiDKIvSS  5 

Not  many  years  a^'o,  I  \v:is  (Icscendiiij^  the  hist  hill  in  Xorlolk 
in  a  stage-coach,  in  company  with  a  lady  of  the  West,  whose  for- 
mer residence  had  been  in  that  town.  As  we  came  down  ii|)on 
the  vallev  of  the  Ilousatonic,  with  a  fnll  heart  and  snffnsed  eyes, 
she  exclaimed.  "( )h.  how  1  iove  these  hills  and  streams!  I  low 
much  more  jileasant  the}'  are  to  me  than  the  dull  i)rairies  and  the 
sluggish  and  turl)iil  waters  of  the  ^\'estern  country."  It  was  an 
eulogv,  which  if  not  often  e.\i)resse(l.  the  truth  oi  it  has  lieen  a 
thousand  times  felt  before. 

Our  Indian  predecessors  found  but  few  spots  among  the  hills 
of  this  Country,  which  invited  their  fixed  residence.  Here  was 
no  place  for  the  culture  of  maize  and  beans,  the  chief  articles  of 
the  Indian's  vegetable  food.  Their  settlements  were  chiefly  con- 
fined to  the  valley  of  the  Housatonic.  wdth  small  scattered  clans 
at  Woodbury  and  Sharon.  The  Scaticoke  tribe,  at  Kent,  was 
the  last  which  remained  among  us.  It  was  taken  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Colony  and  State :  its  lands  secured  for  its  sup- 
port. These  Indians  have  wasted  down  to  a  few  individuals,  who. 
I  believe,  still  remain  near  their  fathers'  sepulchers.  and  remind 
us  that  a  native  tribe  once  existed  there. 

We  no\v  see  but  little  to  prove  that  the  orii^iiial  .American  race 
ever  inhabited  here.  It  left  no  monuments  but  a  few  arrow-heads. 
which  are  even  now  occasionally  discovered  near  its  former  homes 
and  upon  its  former  hunting  grounds. — and  a  sculptured  female 
figure  made  of  stone,  not  many  years  ago  was  found  in  this  town, 
and  is  now  deposited  at  Yale  College. 

There  are  other  monuments,  to  be  sure,  of  a  later  race  of  In- 
dians :  but  thcv  are  of  the  white  man's  workmanship. — the  ciuit- 
claim  deeds  of  the  Indians'  title  to  their  lands!  These  are  found 
in  several  of  the  Towns  in  the  County,  and  upon  the  public  re- 
cords, signed  with  marks  uncouth,  and  names  unspeakable,  and 
executed  with  all  the  solemn  mockery  of  legal  forms.— Tliese  are 
still  referred  to.  as  evidence  of  fair  purchase!  Our  laws  have 
sedulouslv  protected  the  minor  and  the  married  woman  from  the 
consequences  of  their  best  considered  acts ;  but  a  deed  from  an 
Indian,  who  knew  neither  the  value  of  the  land  he  was  required 
to  relinquish,  nor  the  amount  of  the  consideration  he  was  to  re- 
ceive for  it,  nor  the  import  or  effect  of  the  paper  upon  which  he 
scribbled  his  mark,  has  been  called  a  fair  purchase! 

The  hill-lands  of  this  County  were  only  traversed  by  the  In- 
dians as  the  common  hunting  grounds  of  the  tribes  which  inhab- 
ited the  vallevs  of  the  Tunxis  and  Connecticut  rivers  on  the  east- 
ern, and  the  vallev  of  the  Housatonic  on  the  western  side. 

The  first  settlers  of  this  County  did  not  meet  the  Indian  here 
in  his  unspoiled  native  character.  The  race  was  di.spirited  and 
submissive— probably  made  up  of  fugitives  from  the  aggressions 
of  the  earlv  English  emigrants  on  the  coast.— the  successors  of 
more  spirited  tribes,  which,  to  avoid  contact  with  the  whites,  had 


6  i.n\iii"ii:i.i)  coi'XTv  hkncii  and  \\.\r 

migraU'd  .nuvard  i(i\var(l  the  selling-  sun.  These  Indians  were 
like  the  ivy  ni  the  foresl.  whicli  (hsiihiys  all  its  beauties  in  the 
shade,  but  droops  and  refuses  to  llourish  in  the  o])en  sunshine. 

I'revious  to  the  aeeession  of  James  II.  to  the  throne  of  Eng- 
land, antl  before  mu"  ehartered  rights  were  threatened  by  the  ar- 
rival of  Sir  Edmund  .\ndros.  the  territory  now  eomiirising-  the 
County  of  T.itehheld  was  ver\  little  known  to  the  Colonial  Gov- 
ernment at  Hartford.  The  town  of  Woodbury,  then  lar-;e  in  ex- 
tent, had  been  oeeupied  some  years  earlier  than  tliis,  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Walker's  eongTe«;ati(ni.  from  Stratford.  The  other  parts  of 
the  County  were  noticed  only  as  a  wilderness,  and  denominated 
the  ]}'csti'ni  Lauds.  Still  it  was  sui)posed.  that  at  some  time  they 
mii^ht  be,  to  some  extent,  inhabited  and  worth  somethinii'.  At 
any  rate,  they  were  believed  to  be  worth  the  jiains  of  keepini;-  out 
of  the  way  of  the  new  s^overnment  of  Sir  Edmund,  which  was 
then  apprehended  to  be  near.  To  avoid  his  authorit\-  over  these 
lands,  and  to  preserve  them  for  a  future  and  better  time  of  dispo- 
sal, they  were  granted,  by  the  Assembly  of  the  Colony,  to  the 
towns  of  Hartford  and  Windsor,  in  i^Sr), — at  least,  so  much  of 
them  as  lav  east  of  the  Ilousatonie  river.  T  do  not  stop  to  exam- 
ine the  moral  ((uality  of  this  grant,  which  ma\-  l)e  reasonably 
doubted:  and  it  was  soon  after  followed  b\  the  usual  consef|uences 
of  grants,  denominated  b\'  lawyers,  i-onstniclircly  fraudulent — dis- 
pute and  contention. 

L^pon  the  accession  of  William  and  Mar\,  in  KiSS.  and  after 
the  Colonv  Charter  had  found  its  wa\-  hack  from  the  hollow  oak 
to  the  Secretar\-'s  office,  the  C'olouial  Assembl\  atteniDled  to  re- 
sume this  grant,  and  to  reclaim  the  title  of  these  lands  for  the 
Colon\".  This  was  resisted  by  the  towns  of  llartford  and  Wind- 
sor, which  relied  u])nn  the  inviolability  of  iilighte(l  faith  and  pub- 
lic grants.  The  towns  not  onl\-  denied  the  right,  but  actually 
resisted  the  jjower  of  the  Assembh',  in  the  resumption  of  their 
solenni  dt^vi].  This  i)roduced  riots  and  attenu'ts  to  break  the 
jail  in  Hartford,  in  which  se\eral  of  the  resisting  inhabitants  of 
?Tartford  and  Windsor  were  confined. 

It  would  be  found  difficult  for  the  lurists  of  the  present  day, 
edticated  in  the  i)rinci])les  of  Constitutional  Law.  to  justify  the 
Assembh'  in  the  recision  of  its  own  grant,  and  it  can  not  but  ex- 
cite a  little  sur])rise,  that  the  ])olilicians  of  that  da\ .  who  had  not 
vet  ceased  to  complain  of  the  mother  countrx  for  its  attemi)ts.  bv 
writs  of  (|uo  warranto,  to  seize  our  charter,  should  so  soon  be  en- 
gaged, and  without  the  forms  of  law.  too.  in  attempts  of  a  kindred 
character  against  their  own  grantees.  .\'o  wonder  that  resistance 
followed,  and  it  was  more  than  half  successful,  as  it  resulted  in 
a  comi)romise.  which  confirmed  to  the  claimants  under  the  towns 
tlie  lands  in  the  town  of  Litchfield  and  a  i)art  of  the  town  of  Xew 
Milford.  Tlu'  other  ])ortions  of  the  territorx  were  intended  {o 
be    e(|uall\     di\ided    between    the    C'olon\-    and    the    claimiuij"    (owns. 


I  III   la  Il's    CKNTKNMAI,    ADUKlvSS  7 

Tims  'rdi-rin-liMi,  I '.arklianislrd.  C'nk'hn.nk,  and  a  part  (.1  I  lar- 
winton.  wcix-  aiiiMoiniaU'd  to  \\'in(ls(M- ;  llartland,  Winchester, 
New  Marl  lord,  aiul  llu'  -alKT  i)ai-l  of  1  laru  iiUoii.  were  relinquish- 
C(l  to  llarlford;  and  llie  rcmainin-  lands  in  dispnte,  now  consti- 
tiitins;-  the  towns  of  Ndrfolk,  C.oslun,  Canaan,  Kent.  Sharon  and 
Salisi)nrv,  were  retained  1)\  the  (."olony.  These  claim?  havinj^^ 
at  lenj^tii  heen  adjnsted,  the  western  lands  hei^an  to  he  explored, 
and  their  facilities  for  cnllixation  to  he  known. 

Woodhurv.  as  1  have  before  sui^gested.  hy  several  years  (mr  el- 
der sister  in  this  new  family  of  towns,  bec^an  its  settlement  in  1^)74. 
The  Cdun-ch  at  Stratford  had  been  in  contention,  and  the  Rev.  .Mr. 
Walker,  with  a  i)ortion  of  that  Chnrch  and  jjeoijle.  removed  to  the 
fertile  re.^ion  of  roniperaiig-c.  soon  distinguished  by  the  name  of 
Woodbury,  and  then  including,  beside  the  present  town,  also  the 
region  com])Osing  the  towns  of  Southbnry.  Bethlem  and  Roxbur\ . 

Poni])erauge  is  said  to  have  felt  some  of  the  effects  of  I'hilin's 
^var — enough,'  at  least,  to  add  another  to  the  many  thrilling  scenes 
of  Indian  depredation,  so  well  drawn  by  the  author  of  Mount  ri')])c. 

Xcw  Milforcl  next  followed  in  the  course  of  settlement.  This 
commenced  in  17(^7.  Its  increase  of  population  was  slow  until 
17 1().  when  Rev.  Daniel  I'.oardman,  from  Wethcrsfield.  was  or- 
dained as  the  first  minister.  This  gentleman  was  the  ancestor  of 
the  several  distinguished  families  and  individuals  of  the  same 
name,  who  have  since  been  and  now  are  residents  of  that  town. 
His  influence  over  the  Indian  tribe  and  its  Sachem  in  that  vicinity, 
was  {powerful  and  restraining,  and  so  much  confidence  had  this 
good  man  and  his  family  in  the  fidelity  of  his  Indian  friends,  it  is 
said,  that  when  his  lady  was  earnestly  warned  to  fly  from  a  threaten- 
ed savage  attack,  she  coolly  replied,  that  she  would  go  as  soon  as 
she  had  put  things  to  rights  about  her  house,  and  had  knit  round 
to  her  seam  needle !  The  original  white  inhabitants  were  emigrants 
from  Milford,  from  which  it  derives  its  name. 

Emigrants  from  the  Manor  of  Livingston,  in  the  Xew  Ynvk 
Colony,  made  Indian  i)urchases  and  began  a  settlement  at  Wea 
togue.  in  Salis1)ury.  as  early  as  1720.  After  the  sale  of  the  town- 
ship in  1737,  the  i)oi)ulation  increased  rapidly. — coming  in  from  the 
towns  of  Lebanon,  Litchfield,  and  many  other  i)laces.  so  that  it  was 
duly  organized  in  174T.  and  settled  its  minister.  Rev.  Jonotlian 
Lee.  in  1744.. 

The  first  inliabitants  of  Litchlield  came  under  the  Hartford  and 
Windsor  title,  in  1721.  and  chielly  from  Hartford,  \\indsor  and 
Lebanon.  This  territoiy.  and  a  large  lake  in  its  south-west  sec- 
lion,  was  known  as  i'.anlam.  Whether  it  was  so  called  b\-  the  In- 
dians, has  been  doubted,  and  is  not  well  settled. 

The  settlejnent  of  the  other  towns  commenced  soon  after,  and 
piogressed  steadilv.  \ct  slowdy.  The  town  of  Colebrook  was  the 
lastenrolleci  in  this  iraternity.  and  settled  its  first  minister.  Rev. 
Jonathan  K<h\ar(ls,  in    1795.     Rev.   Rufns  liabcock.  a  P.aptist  m;n 


8  i.rixiii"ii:i.i)  loixn   i;i:ncii  and  i-.ak 

i^ter.  had,  lor  soiiir  lime  l)clV)rc  this,  resided  and  officiated  in  the 
town. 

One  general  characteristic  marked  the  whole  i«)]nilation  ;  it  was 
g-athered  c]iietl\-  from  the  towns  already  settled  in  the  Colony,  and 
witli  hilt  few  emigrants  from  Massachusetts.  (  h\v  immediate  an- 
cestors were  religions  men.  and  religion  was  the  ruling  clement; 
hut  it  would  he  a  mistake  to  su])i)ose  that  it  ahsorl)cd  all  others. 

i  shall  not  detain  you  with  an  eulogium  on  I'uritan  character. 
This  may  he  found  stereotyped  every  where — not  only  in  books  and 
s]>eeches,  hut  much  more  accurately  in  its  influence  and  effects,  not 
in  \ew  England  alone,  hut  throughout  this  nation.  (  )ur  .\merican 
ancestors  were  Englishmen,  descendants  , of  the  same  men,  and  in- 
heritors of  the  same  ])rinciples.  by  which  Magna  Charta  was  estab- 
lished at  Runny-mede. — They  were  Anglo-Saxons,  ins])ired  with 
the  same  spirit  of  independence  which  has  marked  them  every  where, 
and  especially  through  the  long  period  of  well  defined  English  his- 
torw  and  which  is  destined  in  its  further  developments  to  give  tone 
and  impress  to  the  political  and  religious  institutions  of  Christen- 
dom. So  much  has  been  said  and  written  of  the  Puritans,  T  have 
sometimes  thought  that  some  believe  that  they  were  a  distinct  race, 
and  i)erhaps  of  a  difTerent  complexion  and  language  from  their 
other  countrymen ;  whereas,  they  were  only  Knghshmen,  generally 
of  the  Plebian  caste,  and  with  more  of  the  energies  and  many  of  the 
frailties  and  imperfections  common  to  humanity.  If  our  first  settlers 
here  cherished  more  firmly  the  religious  elements  of  their  character 
than  any  other.,  the  spirit  of  independence  to  which  I  have  alluded 
developed  another — the  love  of  money,  and  an  ingenuity  in  grat- 
ifying it. 

Since  the  extent  and  resources  of  this  C'ounty  have  been  better 
known,  the  wonder  is  often  ex])ressed.  how  such  an  mipromising 
region  as  this  County  could  have  invited  a  ])oi)ulution  at  first:  but 
herein  we  misconceive  the  condition  of  our  fathers.  1  lere,  as  they 
supposed,  was  the  last  land  to  be  explored  and  occupied  in  their 
dav.  Thev  had  no  wdiere  else  to  go,  and  the  growing  populati(Mi 
of  the  east,  as  well  as  the  barren  soil  of  the  coast,  impelled  them 
w^estward.  Of  the  north,  bcvond  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  noth- 
ing was  known;  onlv  Canada  and  tlie  frozen  regions  of  Nova  Scotia 
had  been  heard  of.  (  'n  the  west  was  another  Colony,  but  a  dif- 
ferent people;  and  still  he\(ind.  was  an  unknown  realm,  possessed 
by  savage  men,  of  wdiom  New  England  had  seen  enough  ;  and  not 
much  behind  this,  according  to  the  geography  of  that  day,  was  the 
Western  Ocean,  referred  to  in  the  Charter.  A  visible  hand  of 
Providence  seems  to  have  guided  our  fathers'  goings.  Had  the 
vallev  of  the  Sus(|uehanna  i)een  known  to  ihem  then,  they  would 
but  the  sooner  have  furnished  the  luNlorx  of  the  massacre  of 
W'voming. 

If  there  wvw  here  the  extensive  and  almost  imi)enalrahle  ever- 
fdade    of   the    C.reenA\oods.    the    high    hills    of    C.<ishen,    Litchfield 


till    KCIIS    II'.N'II'.N  MAI,    AliDUIvSS 


and  C'o'iiwall,  and  l)c'av\  forests  every  wIktc — these  were  trillcs 
then  in  the  wav  of  a  New  l'"n;4-lan(l  man's  calculation,  and  had  been 
ever  since  the  ])eo])!e  of  the  .\lay  Flower  and  the  Arabella  and  their 
descendants  had  l)een  crowding  their  way  back  among  the  forests. 
These,  and  a  thousand  oilier  obstacles,  were  sm-monnted,  with  hard- 
ly a  suspicion  that  tlux  wxre  obstacles  at  all.  and  every  township 
began  ere  long  to  exhibit  a  well  ordered,  organized  stjciety. 

This  was  no  missionary  field,  after  the  manner  of  modern  new 
settlements.  Every  little  Colony,  as  it  became  organized  and  ex- 
tended from  town  to  town,  either  took  its  minister  along  with  it,  or 
called  him  soon  after,  lie  became  one  with  his  peo](le,  wedded 
to  them  almost  l)\  sacramenlal  boiuls.  indissoluble.  .\  I'rimus 
inter  pares,  he  settled  on  bis  own  domain,  api)roi>riatcd  to  his  use  by 
the  proprietors  of  every  town,  and  he  cultivated  with  his  own  hands 
his  own  soil,  and  at  bis  deaib  was  laid  down  among  his  i)arishr)ners 
and  neighbors  in  the  common  cemeter\ ,  with  little  of  monumental  ex- 
travagance to  distinguish  bis  resting  jjlace.  The  meeting-house  was 
soon  seen  at  the  central  i)oint  of  each  town,  modestly  elevated  above 
surrounding  buildings,  and  In  its  side  the  schooldionse,  as  its 
nursling  child  or  younger  sister,  and  the  minister  and  the  master 
were  the  oracles  of  each  community.  The  development  of  the 
Christian  man,  spiritual,  intellectual  and  physical,  was  the  necessary 
result  of  sitch  an  organization  of  society  as  this. 

The  original  settlers  of  this  County  were  removed  two  f)r  three 
generations"  from  the  first  emigrants  from  England,  'and  some  of 
the  more  harsh  pecularities  of  that  race  may  well  be  supposed,  ere 
this  time,  to  have  become  modified,  or  to  have  subsided  entirely.' 
If  a  little  of  the  spirit  of  Arch-F.ishop  Laud,  tran.sgressing  the 
boundaries  of  Realm  anrl  Church,  had  found  its  way  over  the  ocean, 
and  was  developed  under  a  new  condition  of  society  here,  it  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at;  it  was  the  spirit  of  the  age.  though  none  tlie 
better  for  that,  and  none  the  more  excusable,  wdiether  seen  in  Laud 
or  Mather — m  a  Royal  Parliament,  or  a  Colonial  Assemblv. 

Less  of  these  peculiarities  ajipeared  in  Connecticut  than  in  Mass- 
achusetts ;  and  at  the  late  period  wdien  this  County  was  settled,  the 
sense  of  oppression  inflicted  by  the  mother  country,  wdiether  real 
or  fancied,  was  a  little  forgotten,  and  of  course  neither  Quakers, 
Praver  P>ooks  nor  Christmas  were  the  object  of  penal  legislation. 
A  more  tolerant,  and  of  course  a  better  spirit,  came  with  our  fatliers 
into  this  Countv,  than  bad  before  existed  elsewhere  in  the  Colony, 
and,  if  I  mistake  not,  it  has  ever  since  been  producing  here  its  legiti- 
mate eltects,  and  in  some  degree  has  distinguished  the  char- 
acter and  the  action  of  Litchiield  County  throughont  its  entire  his- 
torv.  as  manv  facts  could  be  made  to  prove. 

Before  the  year  1751.  this  territory  had  been  attached  to  dif- 
ferent Counties— most  of  it  to  the  County  of  Hartford;  the  towns 
of  Sharon  and  Salisbury  to  the  County  of  Xew  Haven :  and  many 
of   the   earlv   titles    and   of   probate   proceedings   of   several   of   the 


1(1  i.nciii-ii:i.i)  C(»r.\'i"v  i;i:n(.ii  and  i;.\r 

towns,  before  their  orj^anization  or  incoriioration.  may  be  found  on 
the  records  of  more  early  settled  towns.  The  first  settlements  of 
estates  in  Canaan  are  recorded  in  Woodbury,  and  many  early  deeds 
are  on  record  in  the  othce  of  the  Secretary  in  llartford. 

in  1751,  the  condition  of  the  population  of  these  towns  was  such 
as  to  demand  the  organizati(tn  of  a  new  County,  and  the  subject 
was  extensively  discussed  at  the  town  meetings.  .\s  is  always 
true,  on  such  occasions,  a  diversity  of  opinions  as  well  as  the  or- 
dinary amount  of  excited  t'eeling  existed,  regarding  the  location 
of  the  shire  town.  Cornwall  and  (.'anaan  made  their  claims  and  had 
their  advocates — but  the  chief  contest  was  between  Litchfield  and 
Cioshcn.  The  latter  town  was  supposed  to  occupy  the  geographical 
center,  and  many  ])ersons  had  settled  there  in  expectation  that 
that  would  become  the  fixed  seat  of  justice,  and,  among  others. 
Oliver  Wolcott.  afterward  Governor  of  the  v^tate.  1'ut  at  the 
October  session  of  the  General  Court  in  1751,  the  new  (.'oiuity  was 
established  with  Litchfield  as  the  County  Town,  tmder  the  name 
of  Litchfield  County. 

Litchfield  County,  associated  with  the  thought  of  one  hiuidred 
vears  ago!  .\  hr\ei  space  in  a  nation's  history;  but  such  an 
nundrecl  years! — more  eventful  than  any  other  since  the  intro- 
duction of  our  Holy  Religion  into  the  world.  This  name  speaks 
to  us  of  home  and  all  the  hallowed  memories  of  youth  and  years 
beyond  our  reach. — of  our  truant  frolics,  our  school  boy  trials,  our 
\outhful  aspirations  and  hopes  ;  and,  perhaps,  of  more  tender  and 
romantic  sympathies  ;  and  man\-  will  recall  the  misgivings,  and  yet 
the  stern  resolves,  with  which  they  commenced  the  various  avoca- 
tions of  life  in  which  they  have  since  been  engaged.  And  from  this 
point,  too,  we  look  back  to  ties  which  once  bound  us  to  ]-)arents, 
brothers,  comjianions.  friends — then  strong — now  stuidered!  and 
which  have  been  breaking  and  breaking,  luitil  many  of  us  find  our- 
selves standing,  almost  alone,  amidst  what  a  few  years  ago  was  an 
unl)f)rn  generation. 

Litchfield  County!  Go  where  you  will  through  this  broad 
coimtry.  and  s])eak  aloud  this  name,  and  yoti  will  hear  a  response, 
"That  is  m\  own.  my  native  land."  It  will  come  from  some  whom 
you  will  find  in  the  halls  of  Legislation,  in  the  Ttdpit.  on  the  Ilench. 
at  the  I'ar.  by  the  sick  man's  couch,  in  the  marts  of  Trade,  by  the 
Plow,  or  as  wandering  spirits  in  some  of  the  tried  or  imtried  ex- 
periments of  life.  And  sure  i  am.  that  there  is  not  to  be  fcnuid  a 
son  of  this  Cfninty.  be  his  residence  ever  so  remote,  who  would  not 
feel  humbled  to  learn  that  this  name  was  to  be  no  longer  hearil 
among  the  civil  divisions  of  his  native  State. 

The  usual  ofiicers.  made  necessary  by  the  erection  of  the  new 
Comity,  were  immediately  ajipointed  1)\  the  General  Court.  William 
]'restf)n.  ]£s(j..  of  Woodbury,  was  the  tirst  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Cruuity,  and  his  .Associates  were  |ohn  Williams,  i*'s(|..  of  Sharon, 
Samuel  Canfield.  of  Xew   .Milfr)rd,  and   h'.benezer   Marsh,  of  Litch- 


oc 


nil  lulls  i'i;\'ri;.\  N  i.\i.  .\i>i)i<i:ss  ii 

field.  Isaac-  i '.aMw  in.  I"".>(|..  was  llii.'  firsl  Clerk,  ami  tlir  lirsl  Siu-rirf 
was  (  )li\  (.T  WiiKiilt.  cif  wIkhii  I  shall  speak  amain.  The  County 
Court,  at  its  lirsi  session  in  I  )ecenil)er  of  the  same  vear,  a|)pointed 
v^amuel  I'ettihone,  i'".s(|.,  of  (".oshen,  lo  he  KinL;^  \llorne\-,  who 
was.  within  a  few  years,  suceci'iled  1»\  kiMiohl  Mar\in.  lCs(|..  of 
this  villai^e,  and  these  two  ^entk-nien  were  all  in  this  Countv.  in 
this  ca])acity,  who  ever  represented  the  Kind's  niajest\'  in  that  ad- 
ministration of  criminal  justice. 

The  tenure  of  oHicial  ])]ace  in  the  early  days  of  the  Common- 
wealth, was  more  ])ermanent  than  since  party  sul)serviencv  has  in 
some  (lej^ree  taken  tlu'  place  of  hetter  (jualifications.  The  chau'^es 
u])on  the  bench  of  the  County  Court  were  not  fre(|uent.  The  ofTice 
of  Chief  Judg'e.  from  the  time  of  jud^e  Preston  to  the  time  of  his 
successors,  who  are  now  alive.  ha\e  been  John  Williams,  of  Sharon. 
Oliver  W'olcott.  i)aniel  Sherman,  of  Woodbury.  Joshua  Porter,  of 
Salisl)ur\ .  .Aaron  Austin,  of  Xcw  Hartford,  also  a  member  of  the 
Council,  and  .Vus^ustus  Pettibone.  of  Xorfolk.  T  can  not  at  this 
time  present  a  cataloi^ue  of  Associate  judrjes.  It  has  been  com- 
posed of  the  most  worthy  and  com]:)etent  citizens  of  the  Countv — 
g'entlemen  of  hii^h  intlnencc,'  and  resi)ect  in  the  several  towns  of  their 
residence. 

in  the  ollice  of  ^>heriff,  Covernor  W'olcott  was  succeerled  bv 
Pynde  Lord,  David  Smith,  John  R.  Landon,  Moses  Seymour,  Jr., 
and  Ozias  Seymour,  of  this  village,  and  the  successors  of  these 
.gentlemen  are  still  surviving". 

Air.  Marvin  was  succeeded  in  the  ollice  of  State's  \ttorne\-,  bv 
Andrew  .Adams,  Tai)i)ing-  Reeve,  Uriah  Thacv.  .Vath.aniel  Smith. 
John  -Allen,  Uriel  Holmes,  and  h'.lisha  Sterling,  whose  successors, 
with  a  single  exception,  still  sur\ive. 

Hon.  Frederick  W'olcott  succeeded  Air.  P.aldv/in  in  the  office 
of  Clerk,  and  this  place  he  held,  undisturbed  by  party  influences, 
for  forty  years,  and  until  nearly  the  time  of  liis  deatli  in   1836. 

The  common  Prison  first  erected  was  a  small  wooden  building, 
near  the  late  dwelling  house  of  Roger  Cook,  Esq.,  on  the  north 
side  of  East  street.  This  stood  but  few  years,  and  in  its  place  a 
more  commodious  one  was  built,  nearly  on  the  same  foundation. 
The  present  Prison  was  built  in  181 2,  and  essentially  improved 
within  a  few  years.  The  first  Court  House  stood  on  the  open 
grounds  a  little  easterly  from  the  West  Park,  and  may  still  be  seen 
in  the  rear  of  the  buildings  on  the  south  side  of  West  street.  It 
was  a  small  building,  but  in  it  were  often  witnessed  some  of  the 
most  able  efforts  of  American  eloquence.  In  this  humble  Temple 
of  Justice,  Hon.  S.  W.  Johnston  of  Stratford,  Edwards  of  Xew 
Haven,  Ree^e,  Trac\ ,  Allen,  and  the  Smiths  of  this  County,  ex- 
liibited  some  of  the  best  essays  of  forensic  power.  The  present 
Court  House  was  erected  in  1798. 

The  early  progress  of  the  County  presents  but  a  few  incidents 
of  sufficient  note  to  retain  a  place  in  its  traditionary  history.     The 


12  1.1  It,   li  l-li:i.|i  COININ     l!i;\(,II    AMI    I'.AK 

aiJurcliciision  of  s;ivas;c  incursions  had  jjasscnl  awaw  and  the  ])eoi-U' 
were  left  undisturl)ed  to  carry  out.  to  their  necessary  results,  what 
might  have  been  expected  from  the  spirit  and  enter]M-ise  which 
brought  them  hither.  The  old  French  War.  as  it  has  since  been 
called,  disturbed  them  but  little.  Some  of  the  towns  in  the  County, 
moved  bv  a  lo\al  im])ulse,  and  a  legitimate  hatred  of  France,  as 
well  as  hoslilit\-  to  Indians  in  its  service,  furnished  men  and  officers 
in  aid  of  some  of  the  exi)editions  to  the  northern  frontier. 

The  pioneers  here  were  agriculturists.  They  came  with  no 
kiu)wledge  or  care  for  any  other  jnu-suit.  and  looked  for  no  greater 
results  than  the  enjoNnient  of  religious  privileges,  the  increase  of 
their  estates  by  removing  the  heavy  forest  and  adding  other  acres 
to  their  original  purchases,  and  with  the  hope,  perhaps,  of  sending 
an  active  boy  to  the  C(*llegc.  ( )f  manufactures,  they  knew  nothing. 
The  grist-mill  and  saw-mill,  the  blacksmith  and  clothier's  shops, — 
all  as  indispensable  as  the  plow  and  the  axe, — they  provided  for  as 
among  the  necessaries  of  a  farmer's  life. 

Thus  they  toiled  on,  till  the  hill-sides  and  the  valleys  every 
where  showed  the  fenced  field  and  the  comfortable  dwelling.  The 
spinning  wheel  was  in  every  house,  and  the  loom  in  every  neigh- 
borhood, and  almost  ever\  article  of  clothing  was  the  jiroduct  of 
female  domestic  industry.  Intercourse  with  each  other  was  diffi- 
cult. The  hills  were  steej:),  and  the  valleys  miry,  and  the  means 
of  conveyance  confined  to  the  single  horse  with  saddle  and  pillion, 
with  no  other  carriage  than  the  ox-cart  in  summer  and  the  sled  in 
the  winter.  The  deep  winter  snows  often  obstructed  even  the  use 
of  the  sled,  and  then  resort  was  had  to  snow-shoes.  These  were 
made  of  a  light  rim  of  wood  bent  into  the  form  of  an  ox-bow, 
though  smaller,  perforated  and  woven  into  a  net  work  with  thongs 
of  raw-hide,  leather  or  deer  skin,  and  when  attached  to  the  com- 
mon shoe  enabled  the  walker  to  travel  upon  the  surface  of  the 
snow.  Four-wheeled  carriages  were  not  introduced  into  general 
use  until  after  the  Revolution.  Ladies,  old  and  _\oung.  thought  no 
more  of  fatigue  in  performing  long  journeys  over  the  rough  roads 
of  the  Comity,  on  horseback,  than  the  ladies  of  our  times  in  mak- 
ing trips  by  easy  stages,  in  coaches  or  cars. 

The  County  Town  constituted  a  common  center,  where  the 
leading  men  of  the  County  met  during  the  terms  of  the  Courts, 
and  they  saw  but  little  of  each  other  at  other  times.  The  course 
of  their  business  was  in  different  directions.  The  north-west  towns 
found  their  markets  on  the  Hudson  River — the  southern  towns  at 
Derby  and  Xew  Haven — and  the  eastern  ones  at  Hartford.  In 
the  mean  wliile.  and  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  nearly  every  town  had  its  settled  I'aslor.  and  the  schools 
were  every  where  spead  over  the  territory. 

Xo  manufacturing  interest  was  ])revaleiU  in  the  County  at  first. 
The  policy  and  laws  of  the  mother  country  had  disctiuraged  this, 
r.ut   the   rich   iron   mine   which   had   been   earl\-   discovered   in   Salis- 


ciuKcii  s  ci;nii;nm.\i.  adukkss  13 

])ur\-,  and  the  iron  dw  fmind  in  Kenl.  could  not  lie  nef^lcclcd.  Iron 
was  indispcnsabU'.  and  ils  transportation  from  the  coast  almost 
nnpracticahk'.  Tlic  t^w  l)c'd  in  Sali^hni'v  had  been  j^ranted  by  the 
Colonial  Asscmblx  lo  I  )anicl  I'.issrll  of  Windsor,  as  early  as  l/.V, 
and  produces  a  better  (|ualit\  of  iron  than  any  imported  from  abroad 
or  found  elsewhere  al   lunne. 

The  manufai.'lnre  ^^i  bloomed  iron  in  the  rej^ion  ot  tlu'  ore.  com- 
menced before  the  orL;ani/.ation  of  the  County.  'I'liomas  I^amb 
erected  a  fori;e  al  Lime  Rock,  in  Salislniry,  as  early  as  1734, — 
probabK'  the  first  iu  the  Colony.  This  ex])eriment  was  soon  ex- 
tensiveK-  followed  in  Salisbur\ .  Canaan,  Cornwall  and  Kent,  and 
there  were  forces  erected  also  in  .\orfolk.  Colebrook  and  Litch- 
field. The  ore  was  often  transporte<l  from  the  ore  beds  to  the 
fori^e  in  leathern  sacks,  upon  horses.  Lar  iron  became  here  a  sort 
of  circulating"  medium,  and  promissor}'  notes  were  more  frefpicnt- 
Iv  made  payable  in  iron  than  in  money. 

The  first  Furnace  in  the  Colony  was  built  at  Lakeville.  in  vSalis- 
burv,  in  1762,  by  John  Ilazelton  and  Lthan  .\llen  of  Salisbury, 
and  Samuel  Forbes  of  Canaan.  This  property  fell  into  the  hands 
of  "Richard  Smith,  an  English  gentleman,  a  little  before  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  L^pon  this  event  he  returned  to  England,  and 
the  State  took  i)ossession  of  the  furnace,  and  it  was  employed,  un- 
der the  agency  of  Col.  Joshua  Porter,  in  the  manufacture  of  can- 
non, shells  and  shot,  for  the  use  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the 
country,  and  sometimes  under  the  supervision  of  Governeur  Mor- 
ris and  John  Jay.  agents  of  the  Continental  Congress ;  and  after 
the  war.  the  navy  of  the  United  States  received,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  the  guns  for  its  heaviest  ships,  from  the  same  establishment. 

Tt  will  not  be  any  part  of  my  ]iuriiosc  to  become  the  Ecclesiasti- 
cal historian  of  the  County.  This  dutx  will  be  better  performed 
by  other  pens.  And  yet.  the  true  character  and  condition  of  a 
people  can  not  be  well  understood  without  some  study  of  their  re- 
ligious state. 

I  have  already  suggested,  that  there  was  here  a  more  tolerant 
and  better  spirit  than  existed  among  the  first  emigrants  to  Ply- 
mouth and  ^fassachusetts.  The  churches  were  insulated,  and  in 
a  manner  shut  out  from  the  disturbing  causes  which  had  agitated 
other  ])ortions  of  the  Colony.  1  do  not  learn  from  that  full  and 
faithful  chronicler  of  religious  dissensions.  Dr.  Trumbull,  that  there 
was  in  this  County  so  much  of  the  metaphysical  and  subtle  in  the- 
ology, as  had  produced  such  bitter  efifects  at  an  earlier  time,  in  the 
churches  at  Hartford.  Xew  Haven.  Stratford  arl  Wallingford. 
The  Pastors  were  men  of  iieace.  \\hi>  had  sought  tin  retired  parishes 
over  here  in  the  hills  and  valleys,  without  much  p.'ide  of  learning', 
and  without  ambiticnis  views.  The  influence  of  the  Pastor  here 
was  oaternal ;  the  eloquence  of  his  exam])le  was  more  potent  than 
the  eloquence  of  the  pulpit.  Tt  might  be  expected,  that  by  such  a 
Clergy,  a  deep  and  broad  foundation  of  future  good  would  be  laid, — 


14  i.n\iii-ii;i,n  roiNTv  iii':xcn  and  i'.ar 

a  fixed  Protestant  sentiment  and  its  legitimate  consequence,  in- 
dependent o])inion  and  energetic  action. 

There  was  here.  also,  very  earh',  another  element  which  modi- 
fied and  liberalized  the  temper  of  the  fathers,  who  had  smarted, 
as  thev  supjiosed.  under  the  persecutions  of  an  l{nglish  home  and 
F.nglish  laws.  A  little  alloy  was  intermixed  in  the  relig-ious 
crucible,  which,  if  it  did  not,  in  the  opinion  of  all.  render  the  mass 
more  precious,  at  least  made  it  more  malleable,  and  better  fitted 
for  practical  use.  There  was  not  in  this  Country  an  universal 
dislike  of  the  Chuch  of  England.  We  were  removed  farther  back 
in  point  of  time,  as  T  have  said,  from  the  original  causes  of  hostility. 
W'c  were  Englishmen,  boasting  of  English  Common  Law  as  our 
birthright  and  our  inheritance,  and  into  this  was  interwoven  many 
of  the  principles  and  usages  of  English  Ecclesiastical  polity. 
This  respect  for  the  institutions  of  the  mother  country,  though 
long  felt  bv  some,  was  first  developed  in  the  College,  and  extended 
sooiier  and  more  widely,  in  this  County  than  any  where  else ;  so 
that  congregations  worshiping  with  the  Liturgy  of  the  English 
Church  were  soon  found  in  Woodbury,  Watertown.  Plymouth. 
Harwinton.  Litchfield.  Kent.  Sharon  and  Salisbury,  and  were  com- 
posed of  men  of  equal  intelligence  and  purity  of  character  with 
their  neighbors  of  the  Congregational  Churches.  And  yet,  enough 
of  traditional  prejudice  still  remained,  uncorrected  by  time  or  im- 
partial examinations,  often  to  subject  the  friends  and  members  of 
the  Church  of  England  to  insult  and  injustice.  Some  of  it  remains 
still  but  too  little  to  irritate  or  disturb  a  Christian  spirit. 

The  spirit  of  emigration,  that  same  Anglo-Saxon  temperament 
which  brought  our  ancestors  into  the  County,  and  which  constantly 
pushes  forward  to  the  trial  of  unknown  fortune,  began  its  mani- 
festitations  before  the  Revolution,  and  sought  its  gratification  first 
in  A'ermont.  Vermont  is  the  child  of  this  Comity.  We  gave  to 
iier  her  first  Governor,  and  three  C.overnors  besides  ;  as  many  as 
three  Senators  in  Congress,  and  also  many  of  her  most  efficient 
founders  and  earlv  distinguished  citizens. — Chittendens.  Aliens,  Ga- 
hishas.  Chipmans,  Skinner  and  others.  The  attitude  assumed  by 
\'ermont  in  the  early  stages  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  respect 
to  Canada  on  the  north  and  the  threatening  States  of  \ew  York 
and  New  Hampshire  on  either  side,  was  peculiar  and  delicate,  and 
deinanded  the  most  adroit  policy  to  secure  her  purpose  of  inde- 
pendence. Tn  her  dilemma,  her  most  sagacious  men  resorted  to 
the  counsels  of  their  old  friends  of  Litchfield  County,  and  it  is  said 
that  her  final  course  was  shaped,  and  her  designs  accomplished, 
by  the  advice  of  a  confidential  coimcil.  assembled  at  the  house  of 
Governor  Wolcott  in  this  ^'illage. 

Perhaps  no  community  ever  existed,  with  fewer  catises  of  dis- 
turbance or  discontent  than  were  felt  lure,  before  the  complaints 
of  British  exaction  were  heard  from  Boston.  But  the  first  mur- 
murings  from  the  East  excited  our  (|uiet  ivipnlatinn  to  action,  and  in 


church's  cK.N'ri;\\iAi,  adhki-.ss  15 

iK-arl\  every  town  in  tlie  C'nuiUy.  meetings  of  sympathy  were  lioUlen, 
and  strong  resolves  a(lo])te(l.  responsive  to  the  lioston  complainings. 
The  tax  on  tea  and  the  stamp  duty  were  trifles.  The  jjeople  of 
this  County  knew  nothing  of  them,  and  probably  cared  no  more. 
The  principle  of  the  movement  was  deeper — more  fundamental ; 
the  love  of  self  government — "tlie  glorious  privilege  of  being  in- 
de])en(leiU  !"  The  excitement  was  general  throughout  the  Country. 
Individuals  oi)]X)sed  it.  and  from  different,  though  etpially  pure  mo- 
tives. Some  supposed  resistance  to  the  laws  to  be  hopeless  at  that 
time,  and  advised  to  wait  for  more  strength  and  resources ;  others 
were  intluenced  by  religious  considerations,  just  as  pure  and  as 
l)otent  as  had  influenced  their  fathers  aforetime ;  others  had  a  rleeper 
seated  sense  of  loyalty,  and  the  obligations  of  sworn  allegiance. 
But  the  County  was  nearly  unanimous  in  its  resistance  to  British 
claims,  and  saw  in  them  the  commencement  of  a  Colonial  servitude, 
degrading,  and  threatening  the  future  progress  of  the  country,  in 
its  destined  path  to  wealth  and  glory.  I  believe  no  individual  of 
distinction  in  the  County  took  arms  against  the  cause  of  the  country. 

Our  remote  position  from  the  scenes  of  strife  and  the  march  of 
armies,  will  not  permit  me  to  speak  to  you  of  battle-fields,  of  vic- 
tories won  or  villages  sacked  any  where  in  our  sight.  We  were 
only  in  the  pathway  between  the  different  wings  of  the  American 
army.  I  have  no  means  of  determining  the  amount  of  force  in  men 
or  money  furnished  by  this  County  in  aid  of  the  war.  From  the 
tone  of  the  votes  and  resolves  passed  at  the  various  town-meetings, 
and  from  the  many  officers  and  men,  Continental  and  militia,  who 
joined  the  army,  I  may  venture  the  assertion,  that  no  county  in  New- 
England,  of  no  greater  population  than  this,  gave  more  efficient 
aid  in  various  ways,  or  manifested  by  its  acts,  more  devoted  pa- 
triotism. 

Sheldon's  was,  I  believe,  the  first  regiment  of  cavalry  which 
joined  the  army.  It  was  raised  in  this  County  chiefly,  and  com- 
manded by  Col.  Elisha  Sheldon  of  Salisbury.  The  services  of 
this  regiment  have  been  favorably  noticed  by  the  writers  of  that 
da\-,  and  on  various  occasions  called  forth  the  public  thanks  of 
the  Commander-in-Chief.  Among  other  officers  attached  to  it.  was 
Major  Benjamin  Tallmadge,  afterwards  and  for  many  years  a  dis- 
tinguished merchant  and  gentleman  of  this  village,  and,  for  several 
sessions,  a  valuable  memlier  of  Congress  in  the  Connecticut  dele- 
gation. Major  Tallmadge  distinguished  himself  by  a  brilliant  ex- 
l)loit  against  the  enem\-  on  Long  Island,  for  which  he  received  the 
])ublic  approbation  of  Ceneral  ^^^ashington  ;  and  through  the  whole 
struggle,  this  officer  jiroved  himself  a  favorite  with  the  army  and 
the  officers  under  whom  he  served.  Besides  these,  several  other 
officers  of  elevated  as  well  as  subordinate  rank,  were  attached  to 
the  Continental  army,  from  this  County.  Among  them  were  Col. 
Heman  Swift  of  Cornwall.  Major  Samuel  Elmore  of  Sharon.  Col. 
Seth  Warner  of  Woodburv,   I\Iaior  Moses   Sevmour  of  Litchfield, 


l6  1  n\iii-ii:i.i)  (.(UN  ^^■  i;i'.\cii  and  i;\k 

Major  Julin  Webb  of  Canaan,  Capt.  julin  S<jdi4\vi(.-k  and  luluartl 
Rogers  of  Cornwall,  Col,  Blagden  and  Major  Luther  Stoddard  of 
Salisbury,  and  man\-  others  not  now  recollected. 

Contributions  in  support  of  the  war  were  not  conlined  to  the 
payment  of  heavv  taxes,  l)nt  vohuitary  aiel  came  from  associations 
and  individuals  in  every  town.  The  jtg'gre.^ate  can  not  be  com- 
puted.— if  it  Could,  il  would  show  an  amount,  which,  rich  as  we 
now  are,  I  think  could  not  be  demanded  of  our  citizens  for  any 
cause  of  patriotism  or  ])hilanthrop\  without  nun'nuu's,  and  perhaps, 
resistance. 

Xor  was  the  Patriot  spirit  confined  to  men  and  soldiers, — it 
warmed  the  bosoms  of  wives,  mothers  and  sisters,  in  every  town. 
An  equestrian  statue  of  the  King,  of  gilded  lead,  before  the  war, 
had  stood  upon  the  P)Owling  Creen  in  New  \'ork.  As  soon  as 
the  news  of  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  reach- 
ed Xew  York,  this  was  missing.  Ere  long  it  was  found  at  the 
dwelling-house  of  TTon.  Oliver  W'olcott,  in  this  village,  and  in 
time  of  need  was  melted  down  into  the  nioix'  ai)pro])riate  shape  of 
forty  thousand  bullets,  by  the  daughters  of  that  gentleman  and 
other  ladies,  and  forwarded  to  the  soldiery  in  the  field.  Other  la- 
dies still,  and  in  other  towns,  were  much  em])loyed  in  making 
blankets  and  garments  for  the  suffering  troops. 

I  have  no  means  of  determining  the  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  soldiers  belonging  to  this  County. 

Mr.  Matthews,  the  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Xew  York,  was  for 
some  time  detained  in  this  village,  a  ])risoner  of  war,  and  it  is  said 
that  his  traveling  trunk,  and  some  parts  of  his  pleasure  carriage, 
still  remain  in  possession  of  the  Seymour  family.  Governor 
Franklin,  the  Royal  Governor  of  X'ew  Jersey,  and  a  son  of  Dr. 
Benjamin  Franklin,  was  confined  as  a  ]:>risoner  of  war  in  our  jail 
which  was  often  used  to  detain  English  prisoners  as  well  as  Tories. 

.Although  the  treat\-  of  peace  brought  peace  to  other  ])arts  of 
the  State,  it:  did  not  bring  it  to  the  whole  of  this  Count}-.  (^ne 
town  was  left. — not  to  the  continued  and  merciless  inroads  of 
British  soldiers  and  savage  Indians,  as  before,  but  to  the  tmjust 
oppressions  of  Pennsylvania, — Westmoreland,  better  known  to  the 
readers  of  Indian  tragedy  by  the  naiue  of  iryoiiiiiii:;.  Its  history 
is  one  of  melancholy  interest.  This  territor\-  is  in  the  vallcv  and 
region  of  the  Sus(piehanna  River,  and  included  the  present  flourish- 
ing village  of  Wilkcsbarrc.  Its  extent  was  as  broad  as  this  State. 
It  was  sui)])ose(l  to  be  embraced  within  our  chartered  limits,  and  such 
was  the  opinion  of  the  most  eminent  counsel  in  England  and  in 
the  Colon).  I  nder  this  claim,  a  com])anv  assc^ciated  about  the 
year  I7'i4.  by  the  name  of  tlu'  Sns(|nhanna  Companw  and  piu'chased 
the  Indian  U\]v  to  {hv  country,  for  two  tlionsand  ixmnds,  X'ew  "N'ork 
curreiicw  This  was  a  \d]nntar\  hk  )\  c  inent.  -a  i)(.'o|)le's  enterprise, 
unsanctioned  by  any  direct  Legislative  act,  but  unforbidden,  and 
probably  encouraged.     Within   a    few   years,   a   settlement   was   ef- 


TEARINU     I)OW>i      STATUE     OF     GE'DKGE      11 


t   III    KCll's    I  I.NI'I'.N  N  lAI.    ADDkl'.SS  IJ 

fcctctl  upon  llic  choice  lands  of  Uic  Susciuchanna,  chieily  by  emi- 
grants from  the  counties  of  Windham  and  New  London,  with  sev- 
eral from  this  County,  among  whom  was  John  I'Vanklin  of  Canaan, 
the  brother  of  the  late  v^ilas  Jnaiiklin.  I'.s(|.,  oi"  that  town,  a  gentle- 
man whose  fortune  and  history  were  closel\  interwoven  with  the 
fortunes  of  that  colony.  The  Authorities  of  1 'ennsylvania,  though 
claiming  under  a  later  Charter,  o|)])osed  this  settlement,  and  kejjt 
up  a  continual  annoyance  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with 
England,  and  even  then  sympathized  but  little  with  our  people 
there,  under  the  dreadful  afflictions  which  that  event  brctught  ujjon 
them. 

Sad  indeed  was  the  condition  of  the  colonists  of  Wyoming! — 
persecuted  by  their  Pennsylvania  neighbors,  and  left  defenceless 
to  the  ravages  of  British  troops  and  their  savage  allies!  The 
Legislature  of  this  Colony  recognized  this  interesting  band  of  its 
own  children,  and  incorporated  them  into  a  tounshi]),  by  the  name* 
of  Westmoreland,  in  1774,  and  annexed  it  to  tlu'  Cinmt\  of  Litch- 
field. They  would  have  been  protected  from  the  aggressions  of 
Pennsylvania,  if  the  war  of  the  Revolution  had  not  prevented,  and 
the  !^ood  I'n'ciids  of  that  Commonwealth  would  have  been  comi)elled 
to  doff  the  (hiaker  a  while,  or  ciuietlv  to  have  left  our  fellow-citizens 
in  peace,  lender  the  ])rotection  of  their  ]jarent  ])ower.  this  little  col- 
ony now  looked  for  security.  They  were  a  town  of  the  Connecticut 
Colony,  organized  with  Selectmen  and  other  ordinary  Town  Of- 
ficers, and  semi-annually  sent  their  Deputies  to  the  General  Court 
at  Hartford  and  Xew  Plaven ;  chose  their  Jurors  to  attend  the 
Courts  of  this  County,  and  their  Justices  of  the  Peace  were  mag- 
istrates of  the  County  of  Litchfield,  and  all  writs  and  process, 
served  there,  were  returnable  to  the  Courts  of  this  County,  and 
remain  now  upon  our  records.  Rut  their  securit\  was  transient; 
the  war  of  the  Revolution  brought  down  upon  them  a  combined 
force  of  British  Provincials  and  Tories,  from  Pennsylvania.  Xew 
Jersey  and  New  York,  and  a  large  bodv  of  Tuflians.  commanded 
by  Brant,  a  celebrated  chief.  This  whole  force  was  directed  by 
Col.  John  Butler,  of  infamous  memory. 

I  have  no  leisure  to  describe,  in  its  details,  the  i)rogress  of  the 
tragedv   of   the   Wyoming  massacre.  Cols.    John    Franklin    and 

Zebulon  Butler  were  consoicious  in  their  eft'orts  to  avert  the  sad 
destiny  of  the  citizens.  Tt  was  in  vain.  The  battle  opened  on 
the  3d  day  of  July.  I77<^.  and  it  closed  with  the  entire  destruc- 
tion of  the  settlement.  .Men.  women  and  children,  whether  in 
arms  or  defenceless,  were  devoted  to  the  bayonet  and  scalping  knife, 
and  such  as  were  so  fortunate  as  to  escat3e.  were  driven  away, 
houseless  and  homeless,  many  of  them  to  be  dragged  from  their 
hiding  places  to  the  slaughter,  and  others  to  escape  after  many 
perils  by  the  way.  That  massacre  was  without  a  likeness  in  modern 
warfare,  and  a  stain  upnn  the  F.nglish  character,  for  which  Knglish 
historians  have  found  110  ai)olog\. 


i8  i.iTciiFiKi.i)  col  N■^'^   r.i-Ncii  am>  i:.\k 

"Accursed  Brant  !  lie  left  of  all   my  tribe 
Nor  man,  nor  child,  nor  any  thing  of  living  birtli  : 
No. — not  tlio  dog  that   waich'd  my  household  hearth 
Escaped   that    night,   upon   our  plains. — all   i)erished!" 

Men.  iiiaidctis.  widowed  mothers  and  helpless  infants,  flying' 
fr(Mn  this  scene  of  death,  are  remeinhered  In'  many  still  living, 
passing  on  foot  aiid  on  horsehack  through  this  County,  back  to 
their  friends  here  and  to  the  eastern  towns.  Such  was  the  fate 
of  a  portion  of  the  citizens  of  our  own  Countw  Xine  years  Wy- 
oming had  been  a  part  of  us,  and  after  the  war  was  over,  Penn- 
sylvania renewed  her  claims  and  her  oppressions.  Our  Pilgrim 
fathers  could  recount  no  such  afflictions!  Our  jurisdiction  ceased 
in  1782.  after  a  decision  by  a  Poard  of  Commissioners;  but  a  great 
l)ortion  of  those  who  had  survived  the  conflict  with  the  Indians, 
gathered  again  around  the  ruins  of  their  former  habitations,  and 
still  refused  submission  to  the  claitns  of  Pennsylvania.  Col.  Frank- 
lin was  the  master  spirit  of  resistance,  and  upon  him  fell  the  weight 
of  vengance.  He  was  arrested,  imprisoned,  and  condemed  to  death 
as  a  traitor.  After  a  long  confinement  in  jail,  he  was  at  length 
released,  and  survived  many  years,  and  w^as  a  respectable  and  in- 
fluential member  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  from 
the  County  of  Luzerne. 

The  result  of  the  C(Mn])romise  of  our  claim  to  the  towii  of  West- 
moreland, was  the  acknowledgment,  by  Congress,  of  the  claim  of 
Connecticut  to  the  Western  Reserve,  from  wliicli  lias  been  derived 
the  School  Fund  of  the  State. 

The  war  of  the  Re\'olutioii  had  ceased,  and  left  us  an  exhausted 
])eople.  The  extravagant  hopes  of  many  were  disai^pointed  :  they 
felt  the  ]n'esent  jiressure.  but  antici]:)atei'l  none  of  the  future  prosper- 
ity and  glory  in  reserve.  This  disa])pointment.  in  a  neighboring 
State,  had  produced  open  resistence  to  the  laws, — rebellion  !  It 
was  a  Contagious  si)irit  and  such  as  mutiicii)al  lines  could  not  con- 
fine. Much  was  feared  from  it  here.  A  sjjark  frotu  that  flame 
ill  Berkshire  county  liad  tli>\\ii  o\-er  into  Sharon.  (  )tie  Dr.  Hurl- 
but,  an  emissar\  of  Sha\'s.  visited  that  towti,  in  the  spring  of  1787, 
to  enlist  men  in  his  cause,  lie  made  sonic  iiiii")ression.  The 
Cjeneral  .\ssenil)lv  was  then  in  session,  and  took  efficient  measures 
to  i)revent  the  spread  of  the  treasonable  contagion.  Col.  Samuel 
Canfield.  f)f  Xew  Mil  ford,  and  I'riali  Tracy,  of  this  village,  were 
sent  to  supi)ress  it.  Se\eral  indixidiials  were  arreste*!  and  im- 
prisoned in  the  iail  of  this  C"ounl\  :  but,  as  the  disturbance  in  the 
sister  State  subsided,  the  advocates  of  resistance  to  the  laws  were 
disheartened,  the  i)rosecutions  were  finally  abandoned,  and  these 
disciples  of  the  treasonable  doctrine  of  resistance  were  Dermitted  to 
go  at  large,  punished  enough  b\"  the  contemjit  which  followed  them. 

.Xlthougli  the  resources  of  our  citizens  li;id  been  cotisunied  by 
a    wastiii'j    war   and    a    bankrtinl    iji  iveniuu'iit     the   elasticit\    of   our 


p? 

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^HHi^l 

'▼ISHMPVMHHH 

I^Hi^HHHi 

Cui..    Samiki.   Caxfiki.d. 


I  111  Ki  ii's  ii;ni'i:nm.\i.  addkkss  i<; 

foniKT  (.•lUcrprisc  was  not  relaxed.  Ueleascd,  now,  from  Colonial 
dependence,  and  free  to  act  without  foreif^jn  restrictions,  the  ener- 
gies of  our  citizens  soon  recovered  all  they  had  lost.  .\  C'onsti- 
tution  of  C.overnnient,  uniting-  the  former  Colonies  into  a  j^^reat 
nation,  was  proposed  to  the  State  for  adoption;  and,  in  January, 
1787,  a  convention  of  deli.qates  from  the  several  towns  met  at 
Hartford  to  consider  it.  The  votes  of  the  deli^atcs  from  this 
Countv,  upon  this  i^reat  ([uestion,  stood,  twenty-two  in  the  affirm- 
ative, and  nine  in  the  ne.uative.  The  nei^ative  votes  were  from 
Cornwall,  Xorfolk,  and  Sharon.  Tfarwinton,  New  Hartford,  and 
Torrinsj^ton  were  divided. 

No  portion  of  the  country  sooner  revived  under  the  new  im- 
pulse, given  bv  the  establishment  of  a  National  Constitutional 
Government,  than  this  Count\-.  (  )ur  rescnirces  were  varied.  Our 
soil  was  every  where  strong  on  the  hills  and  by  the  streams.  \'ar- 
ious  sections  possessed  their  peculiarities  of  production.  Wheat 
was  a  staple  of  the  western  towns.  Dairy  products  were  yielded 
in  abundance  in  the  northern  and  central  regions  ;  and,  in  almost 
everv  location,  every  si)ecies  of  grass,  fruit,  and  grain,  indigenous 
to  anv  northern  latitude,  by  reasonable  culture,  was  found  to  flourish. 
We  were  rich  in  the  most  useful  mineral  in  the  world,  and  our 
streams  of  ])urest  water  afiforded  privileges  every  where  for  con- 
verting our  ores  into  iron  and  our  forests  into  building  materials. 
But  we  had  more — that,  without  which,  all  these  were  worthless; 
we  had  an  industrious,  and  what  was  better,  an  economical  and  an 
intelligent  yeomanry.  We  had  a  few  slaves,  to  be  sure  :  not  enough 
of  these,  nor  enough  of  a  degraded  foreign  population  to  render 
the  toil  of  our  own  hands,  in  the  fields,  or  of  our  wives  or  (laughters, 
in  the  kitchen  or  the  dairy,  dishonored  or  disgraceful.  Our  people 
were  Native  Americans !  And  here  is  the  secret  of  our  prosperity 
and  progress. 

Tn  1784  the  first  newspaper  press  was  established  in  this  County 
by  Thomas  Collier,  and  was  continued  under  his  superintendence 
for  more  than  twenty  years.  It  w^as  called  the  "Weeklv  ^fonitor." 
It  was  a  well  conducted  sheet,  and  it  is  refreshing  now.  after  the 
lapse  of  many  years,  to  look  tlirough  its  columns,  as  through  a 
glass,  and  see  the  men  of  other  days,  as  they  have  spoken  and  acted 
on  the  same  ground  on  which  we  stand.  IMr.  Collier  was  an  able 
writer,  and  his  editorial  efforts  would  have  done  honor  to  anv 
journal.  It  is  a  Litchfield  monitor  now.  and  whoever  shall  look 
over  its  files  will  see.  at  a  glance,  the  great  changes  which  have  been 
introduced,  in  later  days,  into  all  the  departments  of  business  and  of 
social  and  political  life. 

Then,  the  intercourse  between  the  several  towns  in  this  County 
and  the  market  towns  was  slow  and  difficult.  The  Countrv  mer- 
chants were  the  great  brokers,  and  stood  between  the  farmer  and 
the  markets.  Thev  received  all  his  produce  and  supplied  all  he 
wished  to  buv.       The  thriftv   farmer,   on   settlement,   received   hi? 


20  i.n\iii'ii;i.i)  roiN'n   i'.i;n(,ii  and  i;.\r 

annual  balance  from  the  merchant.  This  enal)le(l  him  to  increase 
his  acres.  He  did  not  invest  it  in  stocks  ;  of  these  he  knew  nothing, 
except  such  as  he  had  seen  attached  as  instruments  of  ])unishment,  to 
the  whipping-  post  in  every  town. 

The  mercliants.  thus  employed,  almost  all  became  wealthy. 
A  broken  mercliant  in  the  County  was  seldom  heard  of.  Among 
the  most  successful  and  respectable  of  these  gentlemen,  whom  I 
now  recollect,  were  Julius  Deming  and  Benjamin  Tallmadge.  of 
this  ttnvn ;  Tallmadge.  of  Warren :  T.acon,  of  Woodbury ;  Lea- 
vitts".  of  r)ethlem  and  Washington  ;  Starr.  Xorton.  and  Lymans'. 
of  C.oshen  :  Battel,  of  Norfolk;  King,  of  Sharon;  Holley.  of  Sahs- 
bury,  and  Elijah  Boardman.  of  New  Milford,  afterwards  a  highly 
respectable  Senator  in  the  Congress  of  the  I'nited  States.  At 
that  time.  Derby  was  the  chief  market  town  for  many  of  the  mer- 
chants in  the  southern  towns  of  the  Comity. 

The  age  of  Turni:)ike  Roads  commenced  about  the  year  1800. 
and  no  ])ortion  of  the  country  was  more  improved  by  them  than 
this  Countv.  ?)efore  this,  a  journey  through  the  Green  Woods 
was  spoken  of  as  an  exoloit. — a  region  now  accommodated  by  the 
most  pleasant  road  in  the  County.  The  roads  constructed,  about 
the  same  time,  from  New  Haven  to  Canaan,  from  Sharon  to  Goshen, 
and  from  Litchfield  to  Hartford,  changed  very  much  the  aspect  of 
the  County  and  its  current  of  business,  and  if  they  have  not  been 
l)rofitable  to  stockholders,  thev  have  been  invaluable  to  the  ]ieople. 

The  spur  given  to  agricultiu"e  b\-  tlie  wars  following  the  French 
Revolution  was  felt  in  every  thing.  If  our  farmers  have  failed 
in  anv  thing,  it  has  been  in  a  i^-oper  appreciation  of  their  own  calling. 
Thev  have  vielded  a  preference  to  other  employments,  to  which  they 
are  not  entitled.  Tf  we  are  to  have  an  Aristocracy  in  this  country. 
T  sav,  let  the  farmers  and  business  men.  and  not  our  idlers,  be  our 
Princes! — not  such  as  are  ashamed  of  their  emi)loyments  and  with- 
draw their  sons  from  the  field  and  their  daughters  from  domestic 
lalior.  T  would  have  no  such  to  rule  over  me.  lUit,  in  sjiitc  of 
some  such  false  notions,  agriculture  has  kei)t  i)ace  even  with  other 
branches  of  industry  in  the  Countv,  as  the  annearancc  of  our  farms 
and  the  thrift  of  our  farmers  atU'st.  Much  of  this  may  be  attributed 
to  an  .Agricultural  Society,  which  was  formed  here  several  years 
ago.  and  ha^  been  well  sustained  until  this  time. 

I  have  alluded  to  the  condition  of  manufactures  as  it  was  before 
the  Revolution — limited  to  iron  and  confined  to  the  furnace  in  Salis- 
l)ur\  and  a  few  forges  in  that  vieinitv  :  to  which  ma\  be  added,  the 
manufacture  of  majiU'  sugar,  to  some  extent  b\  llie  tanners  in  some 
of  the  towns. 

Kven  a  few  years  ago.  this  Count}  was  not  believed  to  l)e  destined 
to  become  a  manufacturing  comnunntx.  During  the  Revolutionary 
War.  Samuel  Forbes,  Esq..  commenced  a  most  imnortant  experi- 
ment in  Canaan — the  manufacture  of  nail  rods.  P.efore  this,  nails 
were  hammered  out  from  the  bar  iron — a  slow  and  exi)ensive  process. 


I,  III    urn's    ll-.NTI'NNIAI.    ADDKKSS  21 

'1  Ik  rc   was  a   sliuiuL;  niill   in    Xc'w    Jrrscy,   in   \\liii.-li   nail    rods   were 
made,  but  the  niacliinerv   was  kept   liidden   from   public   inspection. 
Forbes  wished  to  obtain   a  knowledt^e  of  it,   and    for  this   purpose 
cmploNcd  an   ingenious  mechanic   and   millwrit^ht,    Isaac    iiemou.  (jf 
Salisbury         r.enlon,   disL:uise<l   as   a   traveling'  mendicant,   obtained 
admission    to    the    nnll.    and    so    criticall\,    and     williont     suspicion, 
marked  the  niacliiiuTx   and  its  operation,  as  to  be  able  immediately 
to  make  such  a  niddel  of  it  as  to  construct  a  mill,  of  the  same  sort, 
for  Forbes.     This  was  the  foundation  of  his  L,aeat  fortune  in  after 
life.       He  afterw^ards  erected   another   slittin^-mill    in    W'ashint^ton, 
(now  Woodville.  )        !'.>    these  he  was  able  to  sup])ly  the  .u^reat  de- 
mand for   this  article.        This   was  a  great  im])rovement   ui)on   the 
former  mode  of  nail-makin-.  but  was  itself  superseded,  some  years 
afterwards,    by    the    introduction    of    cut    nail    machinery.      Ksquire 
Forbes,  as  he  was  afterwards  familiarly  called  by  every  body,  may 
justlv  1ie  deemed  the  pioneer  of  the  manufacturing  interests  in  this 
Countw        Mis  eiTorts  were  confined,  generallw  to  the   working  of 
iron.      Mis  forge  he  extended,  and  accommodated  to  iIk-  manufactur- 
ing of  anchors,  screws,  and  mill  irons.       He  introtluced  this  branch 
of  the  iron  business  into  this  County,  if  not  into  the  State.     It  was 
not  long  after  followed  by  those  enterprising  manufacturers.  Russell 
Hunt  Sz  Brothers,  at  South  Canaan,  by  whom  the  largest  anchors 
for  the  largest  ships  of  the  American  Xavy  were  made. 

The  manufacture  of  scythes  1)\  water-i)ower.  was  commenced 
in  this  County  first  at  W'ins'ted.  by  Jenkins  \-  l>oyd,  in  \j^)4.  These 
enterprising  gentlemen,  with  the  brothers  Rockwell,  soon  extensive- 
ly engaged  in  various  branches  of  tlie  manufacture  of  iron  and  steel 
in  \\'insted  and  that  vicinity,  from  which  originated,  and  has  grown 
u])  to  its  present  condition,  one  of  the  most  nourishing  manntactur- 
ing  \-illages  in  the  State. 

The  furnace,  in  Salisbury,  continued  for  many  years  in  most 
successful  operation  under  its  active  proprietors,  and  especially 
its  last  owners.  ^lessrs.  Holley  <.^-  Coffing.  by  whose  energy  and 
success,  the  iron  interest,  in  Salisbury,  has  been  most  essenUally 
promoted;  and  it  has  extended  into  the  towns  of  Canaan.  Corn- 
wall Sharon,  and  Kent.  Ames"  works,  at  I'alls  \illage.  arc  not 
equalled  bv  anv  other  in  the  State. 

In  speaking  of  the  iron  interest.  I  cannot  but  allude  agam  to 
the  Salisburv  \ron  ore.  wdiich  is  found  in  various  localities  in  that 
town  It  stands  superior  to  auN"  other  for  the  tenacity  of  the  iron 
which  it  produces,  widi  which  the  armories  ot  Springfield  and 
Harper's  Ferrv  are  supplied,  and  from  which  the  chain  cables  and 
best  anchors  for  the  Xavv  are  made.  .\nd  I  am  confident,  if  the 
machinerv  of  the  steam  vessels  and  railroad  cars  were  _ma<le  ex- 
clusivelvfrom  diis  inn,  and  not  from  a  cheaper  and  interior  ma- 
terial, we  should  kncnv  less  of  broken  shafts  and  loss  of  lite  in  -^ur 
public  convevances.  ^  .    . 

PaiKM-  was  first  nia.le  in  this  Conntv.  at  the  great  Falls  ot  the 


22  l,ri\  lllMi:i.I)  C()l'.\T\'    ni'.XCIl    AM)   llAK 

Htnisaltmic.  in  Salisbury.  I)\  Adam  \-  I'hurch,  as  earl\-  as  1787, 
and  soon  after  in  Litchhold.  The  first  cardini^-machinc  erected, 
I  think,  in  tliis  State,  was  built  at  the  <;Teat  falls  in  Canaan,  about 
1802.  Previous  to  this  time,  wool  was  carded  only  by  females,  at 
their  own  firesides. 

A  general  nianufacturinq-  policy  was  suggested  by  the  measures 
of  government,  and  not  long  after  a  more  extensive  experiment 
was  made  in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  cloths  by  the  late  Gov. 
Wolcott.  and  his  brother  Hon.  Frederick  W'olcott  of  this  place, 
than  had  been  made  in  this  County  before ;  and  although  the  trial 
was  disastrous  to  its  projectors,  it  was  the  parent  of  the  subse- 
quent and  present  prosperity  of  the  village  of  Wolcottville. 

The  same  policy  has  spread  into  almost  every  tcnvn  in  the 
County,  and  has  not  only  extended  the  manufacture  of  iron,  from 
a  mouse  trap  to  a  ship's  anchor,  but  has  introduced,  and  is  intro- 
ducing, all  the  various  branches  of  manufactures  pursued  in  this 
country  :  and  of  late,  the  elegant  manufacture  of  the  Papier  Mache. 
Plymouth,  New  Hartford,  Norfolk.  Woodbury,  as  well  as  the 
towns  before  mentioned,  have  felt  extensively  the  beneficial  effects 
of  this  modern  industrial  progress,  so  that  our  County  may  now 
be  set  down  as  one  of  the  first  manufacturing  Counties  in  the 
State ;  and  this  confirms  what  I  have  said,  that  here  are  all  the 
varied  facilities  of  profitable  employment,  which  can  be  found  in 
any  section  or  region  o  fthis  countrw  ( )ur  young  men  need  no 
longer  seek  adventure  and  fortune  elsewhere !  Neither  the  desire 
of  wealth,  nor  the  preservation  of  health  and  life,  should  suggest 
emigration. 

As  soon  as  the  war  w'as  over,  and  the  Indians  subdued  into 
peace,  our  people  rushed  again  to  \  ermont.  and  to  the  Whites- 
town  and  Genesee  countries,  as  they  were  called  ;  so  that,  in  a  few 
years,  let  a  Litchfield  County  man  go  where  he  would,  between  the 
to])  of  the  Green  Mountains  and  Lake  Champlain,  or  l)etween  Utica 
and  the  Lakes,  and  every  day  he  would  greet  an  acquaintance  or 
citizen  from  his  own  County. 

And  then  follpwed  the  sale  and  occupation  of  the  Connecticut 
Western  Reserve.  Many  of  its  original  proprietors  were  our  citi- 
zens :  and  among  them.  ATessrs.  Boardman.  of  New  ^lilford  ;  Holmes. 
Tallmadge.  and  Wadsworth,  of  TJtchfield :  Starr  and  Norton,  of 
Goshen;  Canfield.  of  Sharon;  Johnston,  Church,  and  \\"aterman. 
of  vSalisbury.  For  a  time  it  seemed  as  if  depopulation  was  to  fol- 
low. The  towns  of  Boardman,  Canfield.  Tallmadge.  Johnson,  Hud- 
sf)n.  and  several  others  on  the  reserve,  were  soon  filling  up  with 
the  brst  blood  and  spirit  of  otu^  County:  and  since  then,  we  have 
been  increasing  the  population  of  other  i)arts  of  the  States  of  New 
York  and  ( )hio,  as  well  as  of  Michigan.  Illinois,  and  Indiana,  so 
that  now  there  is  not  one  of  us  who  remain,  who  has  not  a  parent, 
a  brother.  f)r  a  child,  in  New  "S'ork.  A\M-monl,  or  tlie  States  of  the 
\\^est.       And  wi'  l)elievc  (hat  these  children  of  otu"  own  raisintr   have 


(.IIIKtllS    CKNTi;N  \  I  \l.    ADDKKSS  23 

transmitted  the  ini])i-c'ss  and  imai^v  of  Utclifk-ld  County,  t(j  the  gen- 
eral concHtion  of  society  wliere  tliey  have  gone,  and  that  they  have 
fixed  there  a  moral  Hkeness  which  proves  its  parentage.  This  em- 
igrating propensity  has  characterized  the  Saxon  race  in  all  times 
of  its  history;  and  it  is  still  at  work,  scattering  us  into  every  corner 
and  climate,  and  away  to  dio-  for  o^ld  and  graves  in  the  barrens  of 
Calitornia  !  Xotwitlistanding  this  exhausting  process  of  emigration, 
our  population  which,  in  the  \ear  1800.  was  41.671 ,  has  increased 
to  the  number  of  46. 171. 

I  (1(1  not  kudw  tliat  ])ef(ire  the  l\e\(  ilution  there  was  a  public 
Grammar  School  in  the  County.  The  i)reparatory  studies  of  \-oung 
men.  intended  for  collegiate  course,  were  j^rosecuted  with  ])rivate 
instructors — general]),  the  Clerg\- ;  and  this  course  was  ])ursucd 
still  later. 

Among  the  clergymen  of  the  County  most  distinguished  as  in- 
structors, and  in  fitting  young  men  for  college,  as  it  was  called, 
were  Rev.  Daniel  Farrand,  of  Canaan,  Ammi  R.  Robbins.  of  Nor- 
folk. Judah  Cham])ion,  of  Litchfield,  and  Azel  Backus,  D.  D.,  of 
Rethlem.  This  last  named  gentleman  was  afterwards  President 
of  Hamilton  College. 

Soon  after  the  war,  Academies  were  instituted,  and  among  the 
first  and  best  of  them  was  the  Morris  Academy  in  the  parish  of 
South  Farms,  in  this  town,  which  was  commenced  in  1790,  bv 
James  Morris,  Esq.  Esquire  Morris  was  no  ordinary  man.  He 
was  a  distinguished  graduate  of  Yale  College,  and  an  active  officer 
in  the  Revolutionary  Army.  His  learning  was  varied  and  practical, 
and  under  his  direction  the  Morris  Academy  became  the  most  noted 
public  school  of  the  County,  and  so  continued  for  many  years. 
An  Academy  at  Sharon,  not  long  after,  acquired  a  deserved  repu- 
tation, under  such  instructors  as  John  T.  Peters,  Elisha  Sterling, 
and  Barzillai  Slosson.  Many  years  afterwards  an  Academy  was 
conducted  in  Ellsworth  Society,  in  the  same  town,  imder  the  super- 
intendence of  Rev.  Daniel  Parker,  which  soon  attained  a  high 
reputation. 

Our  relative  position  in  the  State,  and  the  controlling  influence 
of  the  cities,  have  left  us  without  College,  Asylum,  (ir  Retreats ; 
but  our  district  schools  have  been  doing  their  proper  work,  so  that 
Judae  Reeve  remarked  while  alive,  that  he  had  never  seen  but  one 
witness  in  Court,  born  in  this  County,  who  could  not  read.  And 
these  schools  have  not  only  made  scholars,  but  sclwol-niasfcrs.  and 
these  have  been  among  the  best  of  our  indigenous  productions,  and 
have  found  a  good  market  every  where.  \\"hen  Congress  sat  in 
Philadelphia,  a  Litchfield  County  man  was  seen  driving  a  drove 
of  mules  through  the  streets.  A  North  Carolina  member  congratu- 
lated the  late  Mr.  Tracy  upon  seeing  so  many  of  his  constituents  that 
morning,  and  enquired  where  they  were  going,  to  which  he  facetious- 
ly replied,  that  they  were  going  to  .Vp;7/?  Carolina  to  kcrp  school. 


24  i.rmii-iKi.i)  ^■(ll■^•T^•  hi-ncii  and  v.ak 

A  new  tdiio  to  fcniak'  cducalioii  was  ^ivcn  by  ihc  i.'stal)lish- 
nioiit  (it  a  I'cnialc  Scniinai"\.  tOr  the  instruction  ot  females  in 
this  vilhii^e,  by  Miss  Sarah  Tierce,  in  17<>_'.  This  was  an  un- 
tried experiment.  Hitherto  the  e(hication  of  youn<;-  huhes,  with 
few  exce]ilions.  had  lieen  ueL^iected.  The  (Hsirict  school  had  limit- 
ed their  course  of  studies.  Miss  I'ierce  saw  and  regretted  this, 
and  devoted  herself  and  all  of  her  acti\e  life  to  the  mental  .and 
moral  culture  of  her  sex.  The  experiment  succeed^jd  entirely. 
This  Acedemy  soon  became  the  resort  of  \<iunL;  ladies  from  all 
])oriions  of  the  country — from  the  cities  an>l  the  towns.  Then. 
the  country  was  jireferred,  as  most  suitable  for  female  imjjrovo- 
mcnt,  away  from  the  frivolities  and  dissiixition  of  fashionable  life. 
Xow.  a  dilVerent.  ncit  a  lietter  ])ractice.  ])re\ails.  Many  of  the 
grandmothers  and  mothers  of  the  i^reseni  generation  were  educated 
as  well  for  gentel  as  for  useful  life,  in  this  school,  and  its  intluence 
upon  female  character  and  accom])lishments  was  great  and  extensive. 
It  continued  for  more  than  forty  \ears,  and  its  venerable  Trincipal 
and  her  sister  assistant  now  live  among  us,  the  honored  and  iKMior- 
able  of  their  sex. 

IJefore  this,  and  as  early  as  1784.  a  Law  Scliool  was  instituted 
in  this  village.  Ta])i)ing  Reeve,  then  a  young  lawyer  from  Long 
Island,  who  had  commenced  the  practice  of  his  jirofession  here, 
was  its  ])rojector.  It  is  not  known  whether  in  this  cotmtrx'.  or  any 
where,  except  at  the  Inns  of  Court  at  ^^'estminster.  a  school  for 
the  training  of  lawyers  had  been  attempted.  No  Professorships 
of  Law'  had  been  introduced  into  American  Colleges  ;  nor  was  the 
Law  treated  as  a  liberal  science. 

Before  this,  the  law  student  served  a  short  clerkship  in  an  at- 
tornev's  office, — studied  some  fcH^ms  and  little  substance,  and  had 
within  his  reach  but  few  volumes  beyond  Coke's  \'  Wood's  Insti- 
tutes. l^)lackstone's  Commentaries,  Bacon's  Abridgment,  and  Jacob's 
Law  Dictionary,  and,  when  admitted  to  the  P>ar,  was  better  instruct- 
ed in  pleas  in  abatement,  than  in  the  weightier  matters  of  the  Law. 
Before  this,  too,  the  Common  Law.  as  a  system,  was  imperfectly 
understood  here  and  in  our  sister  States.  Few"  law\ers  ha.d  master- 
ed it.  The  reputation  of  this  institution  soon  became  as  extensive 
as  the  country,  and  young  men  from  Maine  to  (k'orgia  sought  to 
finish  their  law  studies  here. 

ludge  Reeve  C(jn(lucted  this  school  alone,  from  its  commence- 
ment until  I7<j8,  when,  having  been  aopointed  to  the  Bench  of  the 
Su])erior  Court,  he  associated  with  him,  as  an  instructoi-,  James 
Gould.  Ksf|.  These  gentlemen  conducted  the  school  together  for 
several  years,  until  the  advanced  age  of  Judge  Reeve  admonished 
liim  to  retire;  after  which.  Judge  dould  continued  the  school  alone 
luitil  a  few  years  l)efore  his  death.  It  may  be  said  of  Judge  Reeve, 
that  he  first  gave  the  Law  a  place  among  liberal  studies  in  tiiis 
countrv. — that  "he  fomid  it  a  skeleton,  and  clothed  it  with  life, 
color,  and  com])le\ion."     This  school  gave  a  ni'w   impulse  to  legal 


(Ill  Kill's    ti;N  ri'.wiAi.    ADDKKss  25 

learning    aiil    il    \\a^    l\ll    in    [\)v    J  iirisiMiKlciice    a.'i    well    a>    in    the 
Legislation  of  all  the  SlaU's. 

A   nc-w    subject  of  study,  not  kiiowu  in  any  oilier  country,  haci 
been   presented  to  the   legal  student  here, — the  Constitution  of  the 
I'nited   Stat.es  and  the  Legislation  of  Congress.      Uniformity  of  in-' 
terpretation  was  indispensable. 

At  this  institution  students  front  every  State  drank  from  tho 
same  fountain,  were  taught  the  same  principles  of  the  Common 
and  Constitutional  Law;  and  these  ])rinciples.  with  the  same  modes 
of  legal  thinking  and  feeling  and  of  administration  were  dissemin- 
ated throughout  the  entire  country.  More  than  one  thousand 
lawyers  of  the  luiled  States  were  educated  here,  and  many  of 
them  afterwards  among  the  most  eminent  Jurists  and  Legislators. 
Even  after  Judge  Gould's  connection  with  the  school,  an  inspection 
of  the  catalogue  will  show,  that  from  it  have  gone  out  among  the 
States  of  this  Union,  a  \  ice  President  of  the  I'nited  States,  two 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  forty  Judges 
of  the  highest  State  Courts,  thirteen  Senators,  and  forty-six  Kei)re- 
sentatives  in  Congress,  besides  several  Cabinet  anrl  Foreign  Min- 
isters. 

I  have  said  that  this  school  gave  a  new  imi)ulse  to  legal  learn- 
ing in  this  country.  Soon  after  its  establishment,  and  not  before, 
reports  of  judicial  decisions  ap])cared.  Ephraim  Kirby.  Esq  an 
able  lawyer  of  this  village,  published  the  first  volume  of  Rci)orts 
of  Adjudged  Cases,  in  this  country. — a  volume  which  deserved 
and  received  the  approbation  of  the  profession  here  and  elsewhere. 
This  was  soon  followed  by  Reports  in  Massachusetts  and  New  York. 

Standing  at  this  point  of  time,  and  looking  back  over  the  events 
of  an  hundred  vears,  we  would  recall,  not  only  the  scenes  which 
have  transi)ircd.  but  revive  our  recollections  of  the  men  who  have 
acted  in  them.  Memory  cannot  raise  the  dead  to  life  again  ;  yet 
it  may  liring  back  something  of  their  presence. — shaded  and  dim. 
but  almost  real ; — and  through  the  records  of  their  times  we  may 
hear  them  speak  again.  To  some  of  these  T  have  made  allusion,  I 
would  speak  of  others. 

The  "allusion  to  the  Law  School  of  the  County  suggests  to  me 
a  brief  notice,  also,  of  the  legal  profession  here,  and  of  its  most 
distinguished  members,  as  well  as  a  further  allusion  to  others  of 
the  sons  of  Litchfield  County,  distinguished  in  other  professions 
and  employments  of  life.  tn  speaking  of  these  T  must  confine 
myself  to  the  meniorx  of  tlie  dead.  And  here.  T  feel  that  T  am 
under  a  restraint  which,  on  anv  other  occasion.  T  would  resist.  T 
feel  tbis  chain  which  hinds  me  the  more  as  I  look  around  on  this 
gathering  and  see  some  her(\  and  am  reminded  of  others — so  many, 
who  have  contributed  bv  snlendid  talents  and  moral  worth,  to  make 
our  name  a  ]>raise  in  the  land.  As  the  renrescntativc  of  the  County. 
T  would  most  gladlv  do  them  li\-in<T  homage  before  yon  all.  T  re- 
sjret   that   T  have  hnd   so  brief  an   onnortunitv  to  make  this  notice 


26  I.ll\Ill"li:i.l)  COINTV    I'.l'MIl    AM)    1;AR 

as  perfect  as  it  should  he. — a  favorite  theme,  if  1  coiihl  but  do  it 
justice. 

I  have  not  heen  able  to  learn  nuich  of  the  Lawyers  who  i)racticed 
in  this  territory  beft^re  the  organization  of  the  Cotmt\  in  1751. 
Samuel  rettil>oiie.  Esc|.,  of  Goshen,  and  Reynold  ^[arvin,  b',s(|.,  of 
Litchtield.  (a  native  of  Lyme,)  are  all  of  whom  I  can  speak. 

Mr.  Pettibone  lived  to  a  great  age  and  died  in  reduced  circum- 
stances, in  ly^/.  Mr.  Marvin  was  respectable  in  his  i)rofession, 
and  was  King's  Attorney  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution.  His  resi- 
dence was  at  the  dwelling  of  Dr.  William  Buel,  in  this  village. 

Among  the  Lawyers  of  the  new  County  who  api)eared  in  its 
Courts,  were  Mr.  Thatcher,  of  Xew  Milford,  Hezekiah  Thom])son 
and  Edward  Hinman,  of  Woodbury,  Mr.  Humphrey,  of  Norfolk. 
John  Canfield,  of  Sharon,  Andrew  .Adams,  of  Litchfield,  Mr.  Catlin. 
of  Harwinton,  and  Joshua  Whitney,  of  Canaan.  Of  these,  Messrs. 
Canfield  and  Adams  became  distinguished  at  the  Bar  and  in  public 
life.  Mr.  Canfield  was  the  son  of  Samuel  Canfield,  of  Xew  Mil- 
ford,  one  of  the  Associate  Judges  of  the  County.  He  was  aj^point- 
ed  a  member  of  Congress  under  the  Confederation,  but  died  before 
he  took  his  seat.  We  can  appreciate  his  character  when  informed 
that  he  was  the  chosen  colleague  of  Johnson,  Ellsw'orth,  and  Trum- 
bull. Mr.  Adams  succeeded  Mr.  Marvin  as  State's  Attorney  He 
was  esteemed  an  eloquent  advocate,  and  his  reputation  at  the  L>ar 
was  distingtiished.  He  was  well  versed  in  theological  studies,  and 
in  the  absence  of  his  minister,  often  officiated  in  the  pulpit.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  after  the  Revolu- 
tion, became  an  Associate,  and  then  Chief  Justice  of  the  Superior 
Court. 

Before  the  Revolution  there  were  btit  few  eminent  lawyers  in 
the  County,  and  professional  gentlemen  from  abroad  attended  our 
courts  and  were  employed  in  the  most  important  causes,  .\niong 
these  were  Thomas  Sevmour.  Es(|.,  of  Hartford,  and  Plon.  Samuel 
A\'.  Johnson,  of  Stratford,  then  standing  at  the  head  of  the  Con- 
necticut Bar.  A  colonial  condition  was,  as  it  ever  will  be,  un- 
favorable to  the  develo])ment  of  forensic  talent. 

The  change  in  the  state  of  this  Bar,  after  the  War,  and  especi- 
ally after  the  settlement  of  the  government,  was  sudden  and  great ; 
and.  within  a  few  years  after  this  event,  no  County  in  the  State 
and  but  few  in  other  States,  could  boast  of  a  Bar  more  distinguished 
for  legal  talent  and  high  profession  and  moral  excellence,  than  tliis. 
Reeve,  Tracv.  Allen,  Kirliy,  Strong  of  Salislim-\-.  Smith  of  \\'(»o(l- 
buTV.  Smith  and  Canfield,  of  Sharon,  are  names  which  re\ive  proud 
recollections  among  the  old  men  of  the  Count).  And  while  these 
gentlemen  stood  before  our  courts  there  came  to  ilu'ir  company  a 
youn'jer  band,  destined,  with  tluiu.  to  perpetuate  the  high  stanrl- 
ing  of  the  ])rofession  here  ; — Could  Sterling,  of  Salisbm-y  :  Benedict, 
Ruggles.     lioardman.     Smith.    <>\     Lilehlield  :     Slo>siin,     Southmaxd, 


ClllKillS    CKNTI'.NNIAl.    ADDKKSS  27 

Swan,     I 'rllihoiK',    and    al'UTw  aid,     Miiur,     Williams,     llacoii,    and 
others. 

Tapping  Rccvc  was  a  native  of  Iy<*ng-  Island,  ami  a  distin;,(uislic(l 
j^radute  of  Nassau  Hall.  New  jersey,  and  a  tutor  in  that  college. 
He  commenced  practice  here  in  1783,  and  was  one  of  tlie  most 
learned  lawyers  of  the  da\  in  which  he  lived.  1  le  loved  the  law 
as  a  science,  and  studied  it  philosophically,  lie  considered  it  as 
the  practical  api)lication  of  religious  principle  to  the  l)usiness  affairs 
o\  life.  He  wished  to  reduce  it  to  a  certain,  symmetrical  system 
of  moral  truth.  He  did  not  trust  to  the  inspiration  of  genius  for 
eminence,  but  to  the  results  of  profound  and  constant  study,  and 
was  never  allured  by  ]iolitical  ambition.  T  seem,  even  now,  to  see 
his  calm  and  placiil  countenance  shining  through  his  abundant 
locks,  as  he  sat,  poring  over  his  notes  in  the  lecture  room,  and  to 
hear  his  shrill  whisper,  as  he  stood  when  giving  his  charge  to  the 
jury.  He  w^as  elevated  to  the  Bench  of  the  Superior  Court  in  i/f)^. 
and  to  the  office  of  Chief  Justice  in  1804.  and  retired  from  ])ublic 
life  at  the  age  of  seventy  _\ears  and  died  iu  iH_'7.  Me  ])ublisbed  a 
valuable  treatise  on  Dc^iuestic  Relations,  and  another  1  >n  the  Law 
of  Descents. 

Cen.  I'riah  Tracy  was  a  native  of  Xorwich,  and  one  of  the 
first  of  the  pu])ils  of  Judge  Reeve.  .\s  a  jury  advocate  he  obtained 
a  high  disiinctiou.  His  wit  was  inmgent  and  his  powers  of  oratory 
unccimmon.  He  was  a  ixilitician.  often  a  member  of  our  own  Legis- 
lature ;  for  several  years  a  member  of  Congress,  and  he  died  in  1807, 
while  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  the  Huited  Stales,  iu  whicli  body 
he  was  eminently  distinguished. 

Col.  Adonijab  Strong,  the  father  of  the  late  Hon.  Martin 
v^troug.  was  unique  in  genius  and  manner,  of  large  professional 
business,  sound  i)ractical  '^ense,  and  many  anecdotes  of  his  say- 
ings and  doings  are  still   remembered  and  rejieatcd  in  the  County. 

Hon.  Xathaniel  Smith,  of  W'oodburv.  a  native  of  Washington, 
commenced  life  under  discouraging  circumstances.  He  had  neither 
fortune  nor  the  jirosjiect  of  any,  nor  early  education,  to  stimulate 
him.  Like  many  other  Xew  England  boys,  he  fought  his  way  to 
eminence  :  and  eminent  be  was  ;  and  T  cannot  tell  by  what  process 
he  became  so.  lie,  too,  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Law 
School  here.  He  was  not  a  man  of  many  books.  He  seemed  to 
understand  the  la\v.  as  did  Mansfield  and  Afarshall,  by  intuition, 
and  to  have  acquired  the  power  of  language  b\-  insniration.  His  was 
a  native  elo(|uence  \et  chaste,  and  "when  unadorned,  adorned  the 
most."  T  think  be  was  one  of  the  most  urofound  lawwers  and  iudges 
of  this  cotmtrw  He  was  a  member  of  the  Comicil.  a  member  of 
Congress,  and  was  elevated  to  the  IkmicIi  of  the  SiU)erior  Court  in 
t8o6. 

Hon.  Xathan  Smith  was  a  \dunger  brother  of  X'athaniel  Smith, 
and  though  born   and   reared   in  this   Coimty.   his   professional  and 


j8  i.rn.'iii-ii:i.i)  cointv   hkxch  and  bar. 

public  life  was  passed  in  Ww  llavcn  Coiim).  \n\\  he  often  ap])eared 
at  this  P>ar.  lie  was  less  i)rofiuni(l  ihan  his  hvdther.  more  arcient, 
and  ])erhai)s  more  cfifcctive  as  a  jury  law\er.  lie  died,  while  a 
Senator  in  Congress,  in  1835. 

lion.  John  Allen  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  instructed 
bv  .Mr.  Reeve,  and  for  several  years  held  a  conimandinG:  position 
at  this  r>ar. 

Hon.  John  Cotton  Smith,  of  Sharon,  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Cotton 
Mather  Smith,  of  that  town.  .\  graduate  of  Yale  College  and  of 
the  Litchfield  Law  School,  he  soon  took  a  i)roniincnt  place  by  the 
side  of  Tracy  and  Nathaniel  Smith  at  the  I'.ar  of  the  County.  He 
was  known  as  a  fluent  speaker,  and  of  easy  and  graceful  address; 
he  became  a  popular  advocate.  For  several  sessions  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  the  State  he  was  speaker  of  the  House  of  Rej^rescntatives. 
Tn  Congress  he  sustained  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  i)residing  offi- 
cer. l\)on  retiring  from  Congress  he  was  soon  placed  upon  the 
Bench  of  the  Superior  Court,  from  which  he  was  promoted  to  the 
office  of  Governor  of  the  State.  From  this  he  retired,  and  from 
public  life,  in  1817.  The  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  in  cloing 
good,  either  as  President  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  or  in  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  a  virtuous  citizen  in  his  native  town,  until 
his  death  in  1845. 

Hon.  James  Gould  was  a  uati\'c  of  Branford,  a  graduate  and 
a  tutor  of  Yale  College.  He  i)ursued  his  professional  studies  with 
Tudge  Reeve,  and,  soon  after  coming  to  the  Bar  of  this  Coimty, 
"he  became  associated  with  him  as  an  instructor  of  the  Law  School. 
Judge  Gould  was  a  critical  scholar,  and  alwa\s  read  with  his  pen 
in  his  hand,  whether  Law  l-ook  or  books  of  fiction  or  fancy,  for 
wliicli  he  indulged  a  passion.  In  the  more  abstruse  subjects  of  the 
law,  he  was  more  learned  than  judge  Reeve,  and.  as  a  lecturer,  more 
lucid  and  methodical.  The  Common  Law  he  had  searched  to  the 
bottom,  and  he  knew  it  all — its  i)rinciplcs,  and  the  reasons  from 
which  thev  were  drawn.  As  an  advocate,  he  was  not  a  man  of 
imi)assioned  eloquence,  but  clear  and  logical,  employing  language 
elegant  and  chaste.  He  indulged  in  no  wit,  and  seldom  excited  a 
laugh,  but  was  ver\-  sure  to  carrv  a  listener  along  with  him  to  his 
conclusions.  \\\\h  his  brethren,  his  intercourse  was  always  courte- 
ous, and  w^ith  his  \-ounger  ones,  kind  and  affectionate.  He  never 
gave  offense.  In  his  arguments,  he  resorted  to  no  artifice,  but  met 
the  difficulties  in  his  wa\  ftdly  in  the  face,  and  if  he  coidd  not  over- 
come them  he  yielded  without  irritation.  lie  was  appointed  an 
.Associate  ludgc  of  the  Sui:)erior  Coiu't  in  1816.  and  retired  from  the 
Bench  to  private  life  soon  after.  ludgt'  Gould  i)ublished  an  able 
treatise  on  tin-  Law  of  Pleading,  in  which  he  was  gm-erned  b\'  the 
truth  of  T,ord  Coke's  sa\ing.  "he  knoweth  not  the  law.  who 
knowetb  not  the  reason  thereof."  His  volume  has  received  flat- 
tering aDjtroxal  from  the  most  learned  Jurists  in  this  coimtry  and 
F.ngland.     Jtidge  Gould  died  in  1838. 


From  Cravon  Sketch.  1800. 


(Ill    urn's    (   I,\I'i;NM.\I.    AltDKKSS  -"> 

Koali  1'..  I'.ciudicl  was  llic  sun  <>f  \\v\ .  Noali  lic-iu'ilict.  of 
Woodhurv,  a  gentleman  of  no  ])reoocity  of  inU-Uect  or  {^^-nius.  an<l 
his  first  appearance  at  the  liar  did  not  promise  the  eminence  whicli 
he  afterwards  acquired,  lie  sHuhed,  and  llie  Law  was  the  chief 
suhject  of  his  stud\-.  lie  aspirt'(l  {>,  ik.  hi-lur  place  than  distinc- 
tion in  his  ])rofession.  lie  t'n,yaL;ed  in  none  of  die  ordinary  husi- 
ness  transactions  of  society,  and,  as  he  (Mice  told  me,  he  never  j^ave 
a  promissor\-  note  in  his  life.  With  such  an  undivided  attention 
to  his  i)rofessional  calling;-,  it  was  not  .strange  that  lie  sliould  reach 
a  high  Dlace  at  the  I'.ar.  .\nd  he  did  reach  it,  and,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  no  man  here  stood  before  him.  Mis  e\am])le  sjionld  lie 
a  choice  model   for  \-oimg  lawyers. 

('.en.  l''lisha  Sterling.  t)i  Salishury,  was  a  nati\'e  of  Lyme.  .\o 
one  in  our  profession  was  more  assiduous  in  its  nractice  than  this 
gentleman.  His  causes  were  never  neglected  in  their  i)repara- 
tion.  The  controlling"  ])oints  of  every  case  he  discovered  quick, 
and  i)resscd  both,  in  i)re])aration  and  argument,  with  zeal.  He 
neg'lected  the  stud\  of  method  and  s\  stem  in  his  argumnUs.  hut. 
when  concluded,  nothing  had  been  omitted. 

Passing  b\ ,  on  this  hurried  occasion,  a  more  particular  notice 
of  the  galax\-  of  Lawyers,  to  wdiom  T  have  alluded,  T  may  I'C  in- 
dulged in  ])aying  an  affectionate  tribute  to  one  or  two.  whose  familiar 
voices  still  seem  sounding  in  our  Court  Hcnise. 

Hon.  Tabez  W.  Huntington  earned  his  high  urofessional  char- 
acter here,  where  he  commenced  and  continued  his  practice  for 
several  \ears.  He  engaged  in  i)ublic  life,  and  returned  to  hi?  na- 
tive town  of  Norwich.  He  was  elected  to  Congress:  afterwards 
he  was  elevated  to  the  llench  of  the  Superior  Court,  which  place 
he  retained  until  he  was  ai^pointed  a  Senator  in  Congress,  in  which 
positi'  n  he  died  in  1847.  Having  been  associated  with  fudge 
Huntington  at  the  P)ar  and  on  the  Pcnch,  T  can  bear  true  testimony 
to  his  superior  abilities  in  both  i)laces. 

Of  m\-  late  Itrother,  Leman  Church  l^scj..  the  proprieties  of  mv 
connection  \\ill  not  permit  me  to  sneak.  The  deep  sensation  pro- 
duced at  this  Bar,  and  the  grief  which  tore  the  hearts  of  his  num- 
erous friends,  when  he  died,  is  the  onl\  eulogy  u])on  his  h'fe  and 
character  to  which  T  mav  refer. 

T  had  a  voung  friend,  upon  whose  opening  prospects  T  looked 
with  anxiety  and  hope.  Tde  was  of  generous  heart  and  liberal 
hand  and  stinudated  b\  an  honorable  ambition,  which  seemed 
nearh  al  the  i)oint  of  gratification  when  death  came  for  its  vic- 
tim. This  friend  was  Francis  P.acou.  b^s(|..  who  died  in  1.840.  at 
the  age  of  7,0  vears. 

Hon.  Oliver  W'olcott,  the  yoimger,  late  Covernor  of  this  State, 
was  also  a  member  of  this  P>ar.  and  though  he  engaged  in  oublic 
life  soon  after  his  admission,  we  are  entitled  to  retain  his  name 
on  our  catalogue.  I  shall  not  speak  now  of  his  life  and  eminent 
services.        Thev  make  a   prominent  j^art  of  the  country's  history. 


30  I.ITCllFIKI.D  COlN'n'    I;i:NC1I    AM)   V..\\< 

and  have  l)ccn.  within  a  tew  xcars,  taithfulK  written  1)\  his  near 
relative.  He  died  in  1S33.  and  I  regret  to  say  that  his  remains 
He  in  our  ijrave-yard.  without  a  monument  to  mark  liis  restin*.^- 
])lace.  His  l)ust  lias  heeii  ])resented.  on  this  occasion,  to  the  liar 
of  this  Comity. 

I  make  the  same  claim  to  retain  amony  the  names  ot'  our  de- 
parted brethren,  that  of  Hon.  Frederick  Wolcott.  a  sen  oi  the 
elder  Gov.  \\'olcott,  of  this  villao'c.  He  l)ecame  a  member  of  this 
r.ar  in  earl\  life,  and  with  his^b  i)rospects  of  ]:)rofessional  distinc- 
tion: but  he  acce|-)ted  the  proffered  office  of  Clerk  of  the  Courts 
and  Judge  of  Probate  for  this  district,  in  ijt)^.  and  soon  relinquish- 
ed jirofessional  duties.  lM»r  several  _\ears  he  was  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Council,  under  the  Charter  administration.  An  intimate 
connexion  with  this  gentleman,  both  jiublic  and  i)rivate.  justifies 
the  high  o])inion  T  have  ever  entertained  of  his  purity  of  life  and 
character,  his  public  spirit,  and  his  frank  and  o])en  bearing.  1  never 
pass  by  the  venerable  mansion  of  the  \\'olcott  family,  in  my  daily 
walks  al)out  this  village,  without  recalling  the  statelx"  form  and 
ever  honorable  dei)ortment  of  Frederick  ^^'olcott.  The  duties  of 
his  official  stations  were  discharged  with  the  entire  api)robation  of 
the  community  for  man\-  vears.  and  until  a  short  time  before  his 
death,  and  amidst  the  conflicts  and  overturnings  in  the  ])(^litical 
revolutions  of  the  times. 

Roger  and  Richard  Skinner,  were  sons  of  Gen.  Timothy  Skin- 
ner of  this  town,  and  members  of  this  bar.  Roger  commenced 
business  in  this  village,  and  gave  assurance,  b\'  his  early  talents. 
of  his  future  standing;  but  he  was  here  in  tlie  most  bitter  state  of 
Connecticut  politics,  and.  as  he  believed,  was  comi)elled  to  esca')e 
from  unmerited  opi)osition.  He  removed  to  the  State  of  Xew 
A'ork ;  soon  attained  a  deserved  eminence  in  his  profession  and 
was  ai^pointed  a  Judge  of  the  United  States  Court,  in  the  Xorth- 
ern  District  of  that  State.  Richard  Skinner  removed  to  \'er- 
mont  and  aftcrwarrls  became  an  eminent  Judge  of  the  Suiierior 
Court,  and  ultimately  Governor  of  that  State. 

In  the  clerical  profession,  I  \vd\c  remarked  before,  that  there 
was  earh  manifested  a  disjxisition  rather  to  be  good  tban  great. 
The  clergv  of  this  County  were  nearl\  all  educated  men  ;  and  many 
of  them  riue  scholars  and  profound  divines,  and  if  there  were  not 
as  main'  here  as  in  some  other  regions,  whose  names  have  been 
transmitted  to  us  as  among  the  great  ones  of  Xew  l'nglan<l,  it  has 
been  because  the  severer  calls  of  parochial  dut\.  and  stinted  means, 
and  Christian  graces  restrained  their  aspirations  after  fame.  Di- 
vinit\  lia^  furnished  die  most  comi'on  tluMiie  and  enijiloyed  the  most 
pens.      We  are   all   iheolgiaus   in    Xew    l-'ngland. 

Rev.  loseoh  llellamw  D.  D.,  of  r.ethlem,  was  probably  the 
first  and  most  eminent  of  our  writers  on  this  subject.  He  was 
eloquent  anrl  impressive  as  a  i)reaclier,  as  well  as  learned  .and  pro- 
found  as   a   scholar   and   writer,      lie   ijublished    several    theological 


c'liiRcii  s  (■i:N"ri:N  N I  \i.  addkkss  31 

\\(irks  ui)i>ii  practical  and  ci  intn  ivcrsial  snhjrc-ts.  besides  occasional 
sermons,  which  arc  t<innil  in  ihc  hhrarics  of  Divines,  aiul  liave 
l)een  held  in  hit^h  rcpntc.  not  duK  anions^'  the  disciples  of  his  own 
peculiar  opinions,  hut  amon^  others,  as  well  in  ]uiro])e  as  in  this 
countr\  :  and  a  modern  edition  of  them  has  heen  recently  ouh- 
lished.  Dr.  Ucllamy  was  the  .q;randfather  of  the  late  Joseph  II. 
l>ellam\,  l{s(|..  of  I'.ethlem.  a  qentleman  of  L,^real  mf)ral  and  jiro- 
fessional  worth. 

Rev.  Jna.  Jvlwards  was  a  pu])il  of  Dr.  llellamy  in  hi^  theoloj.^- 
ical  studies,  and.  although  not  a  native  of  this  Connty,  he  resided 
among'  us  for  several  years,  as  the  first  settled  minister  of  Cole- 
brook,  and  imtii  he  was  called  to  the  presidency  of  Union  Col- 
lege, in  17<)|)-  lie  was  the  anther  of  several  volumes  ot  great 
merit:  and  among  them,  a  treatise  upon  the  saKation  of  all  men, 
in  re])l\  h>  Dr.  Chauncey ;  also,  a  <lissertatif>n  on  the  libert\-  of 
the  will  in  rei)ly  to  West,  and  observations  on  the  language  of  the 
Stockbridge   Indians. 

Rev.  Chauncev  Lee,  D.  D.,  who  succeeded  Dr.  ]ulwards,  as 
minister  in  Colehrook,  was  a  native  of  Salisbury,  and  a  son  of 
Rev.  jonatlian  l.ee,  of  that  town.  Tie  was  educated  for  the  bar. 
and  commenced  practice  in  his  native  town.  This  he  soon  relin- 
quished for  the  clerical  calling.  Very  early  he  published  a  Deci- 
mal Arithmetic  ;md  afterwards  a  volume  of  Sermons  on  various 
subjects.  r>ui  his  most  elaborate  work,  and  the  one  most 
esteemed  by  hiiuself.  was  a  poem,  entitled  "The  Trial  of  \Trtue," 
being  a  riarai)hrase  of  the  book  of  Job.  Dr.  T.ee  was  a  gentle- 
man of  some  eccentricities,  but  a  ver\  learned  di\-ine  and  impres- 
sive  ])reacher. 

Rev.  Sanmel  J.  ?vlills,  a  native  of  Torrington,  and  son  of  the 
venerable  pastor  of  one  of  the  societies  there,  is  entitled  to  a  more 
extended  notice  than  1  am  j^-epared  on  this  occasion  to  repeat. 
Not  because  he  w^as  the  author  of  books,  but  the  author  and 
originator  of  liberal  and  extensive  benevolent  efifort.  The  noble 
cause  of  Foreign  Missions  in  this  country,  is  deeply  indebted  to 
him  as  one  of  its  most  zealous  and  active  projectors  and  friends. 
Another  of  the  most  splendid  charities  of  any  age  or  country.— 
the  Colonization  Society. — owes  its  existence  to  the  efforts  of  this 
g>Mitleman  ;  and  his  name  \v\\\  be  cherisherl  by  the  t:>hilanthropists 
of  the  world,  along  with  those  of  Howard  and  Wilberforce. 

Rev.  Horace  Holley.  D.  D..  of  Salisbury,  was  son  of  :\Ir. 
Luther  Hollev.  and  one  of  a  highly  distinguished  and  worthy 
family  of  brothers.  Dr.  Holley  was  first  ordined  pastor  of  a 
Church  and  Society  at  Greenfield,  in  Fairfield  C(Mmty,  and  was 
one  of  the  successors  of  the  late  Dr.  Dwight,  in  that  parish.  He 
subsequentlv  removed  to  Boston  and  liecame  one  of  the  mo.st 
eloquent  pulnit  orators  among  the  eminent  divines  of  that  metrop- 
olis. He  afterwards  became  President  of  Transylvania  l"''niver- 
sitv  in  Kentuckv,  and  flied,  while  vet  a  voung  man    on  shin-board. 


32  i,n\iii-ii:i.i)  COIN  r\'  iikncii  and  \\.\r 

wlun  i>ii  his  return  from  \cw  (  )rlcans  io  Xcw  England.  I  am  not 
infornu'd  that  he  left  any  published  works  behind  him,  except 
sermons  delivered  on  special  occasions.  He  was  my  class-mate 
in  College,  and   1   knew  him   well. 

'I'hc  Rev.  Dr.  I'.ackus  of  llethlcni.  Rev.  Mr.  Hooker  of  Goshen, 
and  l\e\ .  I  )r.  I'orter  of  Washington,  are  remembered  as  among" 
the    most    learned    l)ivines   of   the   County. 

(  )f  llie  .Medical  Profession  and  the  Medical  Professors  iiere. 
m\  opi)ortunities  of  information  have  not  been  extensive.  And 
\  et  I  ha\-e  known  enough  of  them  to  j^tersuade  me  that  a  more 
learned  and  useful  facult\  .  has  not  been  found  elsewhere  in  the 
State.  h"nii)iricism  has  always  existed,  and  will  exist ;  and  the 
credulitv  of  some  good  men  will  give  it  countenance.  We  depend 
upon  a  learned  medical  influence,  more  than  any  thins^-  else,  to 
save  us  from  its  death-dealing  results. 

.•\s  earl\-  as  January,  i/*^)/,  a  Medical  assejciation  was  formed 
in  this  County,  composed  of  the  most  eminent  physicians  then  in 
practice  here.  Its  object  was  to  establish  rules  of  practice  and 
intercourse : — i^romote  medical  science  by  providing  for  annual 
consultations  and  dissertations,  and  to  protect  the  reputation  of 
the  profession  and  the  health  of  the  community,  from  the  inroads 
of  ignorant  pretenders  to  medical  science.  Among  the  names  of 
the  gentlemen  composing  this  body,  T  see  those  of  Joshua  Porter, 
Lemuel  Wheeler.  Joseph  Perry,  Seth  Bird,  W'illiam  .\bernethy, 
Samuel  Catlin,  Simeon  Smith,  Cyrus  Marsh  Enhraim  Gitteau. 
John  Calhoun,  &c.  One  of  the  earliest  physicians  of  the  County 
was  Oliver  Wolcott.  He  was  the  son  of  Hon.  Roger  Wolcott. 
of  Windsor,  a  former  Governor  of  the  Coktny.  He  had  served 
as  an  officer  in  the  French  war.  and  settled  himself  in  Goshen 
l)efore  the  organization  of  the  Count}',  in  the  ])racticc  i^f  his  pvo- 
fession.  Whether  he  continued  in  ])ractice  as  a  jihysician  after 
his  removal  to  this  town  is  not  known;  probably,  however  his 
official  duties  as  Sheriff  i)revented  it.  He  was  su1)se(|uently 
honored  with  almost  every  official  place  which  a  good  man  wtmld 
covet. — he  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  of  the 
Council,  a  Judge  of  Probate,  a  Judge  of  the  Countv  Com-t  a 
Renresentati\e  in  Congress,  a  signer  nf  the  Declaration  of  Tn- 
denendence.  Lieutenant  Governor,  and  Governor  of  his  native 
State,  and  n^ore  than  aU.  the  father  of  an  excellent  family.  He 
is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  uncommon  diffidence,  and  dis- 
trustful of  his  own  abilitv.  His  public  communications  display 
sound  jtidgment.  and  his  more  confidential  correspondence  a 
warm  affectir)n  and  a  piu'c  purjiose. 

Dr.  Seth  llird.  of  LitchfieM.  prol)al)l\  Iield  the  lirsi  i)]ace 
among  the  earl\-  i)hysicians  of  the  Count\.  His  rei^utalion  was 
wide-spread.  For  acutcness  of  di'^crimination  and  soimdness  of 
judgment  he   was   not   excelled. 


ClIlKCIl's    CKNTKNMAl.    ADDKKSS  33 

Dr.  loscpli  I'errv,  <»f  W'oodhurx,  \v;is  not  only  eminent  in  Iiis 
profession,  but,  what  was  lunisnaj  in  liis  day,  he  excylk'l  as  a 
l)elles-k'ttrc  scholar  and  was  a  -intUman  well  read  in  various 
branches  of  science.  I.ater  generations  produced  their  eminent 
and  accomplished  physicians.  Dr.  Xathaniel  Terry,  son  of  the 
gentleman  just  named;  Dr.  Daniel  Sheldon,  of  this  town:  Drs. 
Fowler  of  'Washington,  Rockwell  of  Sharon.  Welch  of  Norfolk 
Tickiior  of  Salisbury. 

Dr.  Sanmel  Woodward,  of  'Porrington.  was  not  only  a  physi- 
cian of  high  rei)nte  himself,  hut  lie  wa>  almost  literally  a  father 
of  the  facultx.  Dr.  Samuel  I'..  Woodword,  late  of  Worcester, 
Massachusetts,  Dr.  Ileiu\  Woodward,  late  of  .Middletown,  and 
Dr.  (.'harles  Woodward,  of  the  same  place,  w^cre  his  sons, — born 
and  educated  in  this  C'otmty.  I"cw  men  in  any  community  have 
attained  a  more  eminent  and  useful  position  than  Dr.  Samuel  1'. 
\\'oodward.  lender  his  sui^erintcndance  the  Insane  Hosoital,  at 
\\'orcester,  was  established  and  for  man\  years  conducted,  and 
now  sustains  a  reoutation  equal  with  any  of  the  noble  charities 
of  this  country.  The  Annual  Reports  of  Dr.  Woodward  and  his 
other  professional  writings,  and  the  success  of  his  efforts  in  the 
cause  of  humanity,  have  earned  for  him  a  reputation  which  will 
long   survive. 

.Among  the  Surgeons  of  note,  in  earlier  times  was  Dr.  Samuel 
Catlin,  of  Litchfield,  and  at  a  later  i)eri()d.  Dr.  Samuel  R.  Cager. 
of  Sharon. 

The  medical  profession  in  this  County  has  i)roduccd  some 
writers  of  respectability.  Dr.  Elisha  Xorth  was  for  several  years 
a  phvsician  of  extensive  i)ractice  in  Goshen,  and  he  afterwards 
removed  to  Xew  London.  He  iiublished  an  api)roved  treatise  on 
spotted  fever,  which  e\tensivel\-  i)re\-ailed  in  C.oslu'U  and  its  vicin- 
ity, while  he  resided  there. 

Dr.  Caleb  Ticknor  of  Salisbury,  was  brother  of  the  late  ex- 
cellent Dr.  Luther  Ticknor,  of  tliat  town,  and  of  Dr.  Renaiah 
Ticknor.  for  manv  years  a  surgeon  in  the  navy  of  the  United 
States;  and  although  a  voung  man  when  he  removed  to  Xew 
York  Citv.  about  the  year  1832.  he  rose  rapidly  to  a  high  place 
in  his  profession.  He  iniblished  several  medical  works,  the  most 
ponular  of  which  was,  the  Philosophv  of  T.iving.  which  consti- 
tutes one  of  the  volumes  of  Harpers"   Family   Library. 

The  Chipman  familv.  a  numerous  brotherhood,  removed  from 
Salisbury  to  A>rmont  immediately  after  the  Revolutionarv  War: 
it  produced  eminent  men.  Xathaniel  was  an  officer  of  the  Rev- 
olution. He  became  Chief  Justice  of  Vermont,  and  a  Senator 
in  Congress.  He  nublished  a  small  volume  of  Judicial  R'^nnrts 
and  a  larger  treatise  upon  the  Principles  of  Government.  Daniel 
Chioman.  a  vounger  brother  of  this  gentleman  was  a  verv  prom- 
inent member  of  the  A^ermont  Par.     He  was  the  autlv^r  of  a  very 


34  I.ITCHKIKI.I)  COl'NTV   BKNCll   AND  UAK 

creditable  essay  "(  )n  tlio  Law  of  Contracts'":  and  l^esides  a  vol- 
ume of  Law  Reports,  he  i)iiblishe(l  the  life  of  his  brother  Xathaniel, 
and  also  the  life  of  Gov.  Thomas  Chittenden. 

Hon.  Ambrose  Spencer,  late  Chief  Justice  of  the  v^tate  of 
New  York,  was  born  in  Salisbury,  the  son  of  Phili])  SyKMicer, 
Esq,  He  was  prepared  for  his  colleg'iate  course  under  the  in- 
struction of  Rev.  Daniel  Farrand.  of  Canaan  ;  studied  the  law.  1 
believe,  with  Hon.  John  Canfield.  of  Sharon,  whose  daui^hter  he 
married. 

Hon.  Josiah  S.  Johnston,  late  an  eminent  member  of  the  Sen- 
ate of  the  United  States,  from  Louisania.  was  a  native  of  the  same 
town.  He  was  the  son  of  Dr.  John  Johnston,  who  removed 
early   to   l\entuck\-.      His  academical  studies  were  pursued  here. 

Samuel  Moore,  of  Salisbtiry.  was  a  profound  mathmatician 
and  ent^a^^ed  nmch  in  the  instruction  of  young"  men  in  what  was 
called  tlie  survexor's  art.  He  jmblishcd  a  treatise  on  surveyin^:^, 
with  a  table  of  logarithms.  Tt  was  the  earliest  work  on  that 
branch  of  mathematical  science  i)ublished  in  this  country.  Tt 
introduced  the  method  of  computing  contents  by  calctilation  en- 
tirelw  witliout  measuring  triangles  b\-  scale  and  dividers.  Tt 
was  a  valuable  treatise,  but  was  nearl\-  superseded  by  a  more 
finished  one  by  Rev.  .Abel  Flint,  in  which  he  borrowed  much  from 
AToore. 

Kthan  .\llen  is  (leser\-ing  of  notice  only  for  his  revolutionary 
services,  which  are  matters  of  public  history.  He  ])ublished  a 
narrative  of  his  cantivit}-  as  a  ]irisoner  of  war.  and  a  volume  of 
Tnfield  Theokigy.  He  was  a  native  of  this  county:  the  t<>\\n  of 
his  nativity  has  1ieen  a  matter  of  dispute,  but  is  not  a  question 
worth  solving". 

A\'e  ha\e  had  Poets,  too.  besides  such  as  T  have  mentioned. 
who    deserx'e   a    remembrance   on    this    occasion. 

LTon.  John  'rrnmbull.  late  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  the  State,  was  born  in  Watertown  in  this  Cmmt}",  in 
which  bi^  father  was  a  minister.  The  Progress  of  Dulness,  and 
McFingal.  the  most  admired  of  his  Poems,  were  written  in  early 
life.  The\  are  satyrical  productions,  and  for  genuine  wit  have 
not  been  excelled  by  any  niodern  effort.  Juflge  Trumliuirs  ac- 
tive life   was  passed   chiefly  in  TTartf(~)rd. 

William  Ray  was  a  Salisbur\  man.  born  in  1771.  and  while  a 
lad  <levelo])ed  a  taste  for  poetr\  l)nt  earl\-  destitution  and  mis- 
fortunes ])ressed  upon  him  dr(i\-e  him  intu  (he  \a\-\-  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  for  some  time  a  cai")tive  in  Trinoli,  and  in  1808 
he  published  the  TTorrors  of  Slavery,  and  in  i!^m  a  volume  of 
Pocrns. 

h'.benezer  P.  Mason  was  a  native  of  Washington.  \'er\-  few 
nien  gave  nmre  early  pronn'se  of  literar\  ;ind  scientific  distinc- 
tion than  \(>ung  Mason.  His  lif^.  and  writings  were  iniblished 
iti    1A42.  by   I'rofessor   r)|nisted.   nf  'S'ale   College. 


ciirkrii's  cknti;nm.\i.  aduki'.ss  35 

W  ;isliin,L;ti  111  has  hrcii  a  iiursiTv  ot  (.'iiiiiu-iil  iiK-n,  ol  whom  I 
■c-aniiol  now  spt'ak  without  viohitiiij;  ni\  purpose  of  spcakinj^'  of  (he 
(lead,   and   not   of   the    hvin^. 

Mrs.  T.aura  M .  Thurston,  of  .Xorfolk.  i)erniitted  to  he  ptih- 
lished  by  her  friends,  several  poetii-al  pieees  of  unconiinon  sweet- 
ness and  exei'lleuce, — the  I'aths  of  i,ife,  the  Creeii  Mills  of  my 
Father  Land,  and  others. 

There  are  hut  few  occasions,  and  these  extreme  ones,  which 
call  out  the  (jualifications  for  military  life. 

den.  Peter  15.  Porter  was  the  yount^est  son  of  C'ol.  Joshua 
I'orter,  of  Salishurx ,  of  whom  I  have  s])okeu  Ixfore.  Mr  was 
a  graduate  of  Yale  C'olle.i^e  and  i)ursued  the  stud)  of  the  law 
where  so  man\-  of  the  noted  men  of  the  country  have — at  the 
TJtchfield  Law  School.  Me  was  among-  the  early  emij^ftants 
from  this  County  to  the  C.ensee  country.  Me  was  soon  called 
t(^  occupy  ])laces  of  trust  and  power  in  the  State  of  his  ado])tion. 
Me  was  a  member  of  Congress  when  the  project  of  the  h'.rie  Can- 
al was  first  sug-gcsted,  and  was  one  who,  with  De  Witt  Clinton, 
originated  that  important  national  worlv:.  and  is  entitled  to  e(|ual 
hi  nor  with  him  for  it^  projection.  Me  urgfed  it.  when  in  Con- 
gress, as  a  national  work,  in  a  speech  of  great  strength,  and  asked 
for  the  aid  of  the  nation.  As  a  member  of  the  House  of  Rei:)re- 
sentatives,  he  was  associated  with  llenrv  Cla\-  on  a  Commitree  to 
consider  the  causes  of  complaint  against  (ireat  I'ritain.  and  drew 
up  the  re])ort  of  that  Committee,  recommending-  the  declaration 
of  the  war  of  1812.  He  thus  earl\-  ardently  esjjouscd  the  cause 
of  his  country,  and  stof)d  b\  the  side  of  Tompkins  and  other 
l)atriots.  in  their  efforts  to  prosecute  that  war  to  an  honorable 
result. 

Me  was  then  a  civilian  only:  but,  impatient  and  mortitied  at 
the  ill  success  of  our  arms  ui:)on  the  northern  frontier — his  <)wn 
house  pieced  b\-  the  eneni\-'s  shot,  on  the  banks  of  the  Niagara 
River — he  threw  off  the  civil  and  assumed  the  military  attitude. 
He  raised  a  regiment  of  ardent  volunteer  troops,  and  at  their 
head,  soon  contributed  to  tiu-n  the  tide  of  success.  His  services 
at  Fort  Erie  and  the  battles  at  the  I'alls,  have  been  re])eaterlly 
told  b\-  the  writers  of  the  country's  history.  I  will  not  rei)eat 
them.  So  highly  were  they  esteemed  by  the  general  Government 
and  the  State,  that  thatiks  and  meilals  were  ])rcscnted,  and  before 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  ofTered  tlie  chief  command  of  the 
army.  b\-  the  President.  Lnder  the  administration  of  the  younger 
.\dams  he  was  ofTered,  and  accejited,  the  place  of  Sccretarv  of 
A\'ar. 

Mv  time  confines  me  to  the  notice  of  the  most  Cf^nspicuous  of 
our  Sons,  native  and  adoi)ted :  but  there  were  others,  in  every 
town,  perhai)s  of  cf|ual  merit  but  with  fewer  oonortunitics  of 
display.  The  list  of  our  members  of  .\sscmbly.  and  of  men  by 
whose   efTorts   the    foundations   of   societv    were   laid   here,   and   bv 


3^  i.ri\'iii'ii:i  1)  (.'orNiN   i'.i'.m,ii  and  i;.\u 

whom  tlii>  i."iiuiU\  has  hem  hroughl  fruin  a  rc])uLsi\c  rcyion  of 
HKmntaiiis  and  roclss  to  its  ])rcsent  condition  of  fertility  and  wealth. 
wouUl  show  an  aggrcj^atc  of  moral  and  intellectual  worth  which 
no  rei^'ion.  e(|nal  in  extent,  has  surpassed. 

.\nd  by  whom  were  all  these  eminent  and  excellent  men  reared 
and  prepared  for  the  stations  which  they  have  occu]Med  in  society? 
By  fathers,  whose  own  hantls  ha\'e  toiled — by  mothers,  who  were 
the  si)insters  (tf  the  days  in  which  they  lived,  and  who  knew  and 
practised  the  duties  of  the  kitchen  as  well  as  the  parlor  and  to 
whom  the  music  of  the  s])inning-wheel  and  the  loom  was  more 
necessary   than   that   of  the  ])iano  and  the  harpsichord. 

The  spirit  of  strict  econom\  has  marked  our  progress  from  the 
beginning-,  and  1)\  no  other  could  our  fathers  have  left  to  us  this 
heritage  of  gootl !  RenK)ved  from  the  jn'ofusion,  and  from  what 
is  esteemed  the  higher  liberality  of  city  habits,  our  Comity  has  not 
fallen  behind  other  kindred  ccimmunities  in  encouragin;^  the  benev- 
olent operations  of  these  latter  da\s. 

A  Missionary  Society,  auxiliar\-  to  the  lioard  of  Commissioners 
of  Foreign  Missions,  was  established  in  this  County,  in  the  year 
1813,  and  has  been  in  active  operation  since.  This  noble  charity, 
since  its  organization,  has  received  and  paid  over,  as  near  as  I  can 
ascertain,  the  sum  of  about  $125,000.  The  benevolent  offerings 
of  other  denominations — the  Episcopalians,  Methodists,  and  Bap- 
tists, to  the  purposes  of  their  respective  religious  operations,  1  have 
no  present  means  of  knowing ;  that  they  have  been  equally  liberal 
in  proportion  to  their  means,  with  their  Congregational  l)rethren. 
I  have  no  reason  to  doubt. 

In  the  \ear  1817,  the  Foreign  Mission  Sch(~)ol  was  estal)lished 
in  Cornwall  with  the  special  object  of  spreading  Christian  truth 
and  the  means  of  civilization  among  the  heathen..  The  origin  of  this 
effort,  if  not  accidental,  was  gradual  in  its  conception  and  develop- 
ment. Two  young  natives  of  the  Sandwich  Islands  were,  by  the 
directing,  and  almost  visible  hand  of  Providence,  thrown  among  us 
and  fell  under  the  notice  of  Mr.  l{lias  Cornelius,  in  1815.  then  a 
student  in  Yale  College,  and  since  distinguished  as  a  Divine  and 
Philanthropist.  The  names  of  these  young  heathen,  as  known 
among  us,  were  1  lenry  ( )b<)okaih  and  William  Tenoe,.  These  young 
men  were  carefully  instructed  by  Mr.  Cornelius,  Samuel  J.  Mills,  and 
P'dwin  Dwight,  with  a  chief  object  of  ])reparing  them  to  become 
Christian  Missionaries  among  their  countrymen.  They  were  soon 
after  i)laced  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Joel  Harvey,  then  a  Congrega- 
tional minister  in  Cioshen  :  at  his  suggestion,  the  North  Consociation 
of  Litchfield  ("ounlw  became  their  |)atrons.  They  were,  not  long 
after  joined  1)\'  Thomas  llopoo,  their  countr\inan.  and  all  were 
])laced  under  ])ro])er  instruction  for  the  great  object  designed.  P>ut 
a  mf)re  liberal  and  enlarged  ])roject  was  conceived:  a  Seminarx  in 
a  Christian  land,  for  the  instruction  of  the  heathen  joined  with  the 
purpose   of    preparing    young    men    here    for    missionar\     service    in 


tiiiKciis  (.  i;nti;nm.\].  adokkss  37 

heathen  lands.  It  was  a  si)Icn(li(l  llion^lit,  ami  the  Aiiurican  Hoard 
attcni])tc'(l  its  consiiminatinn. 

Rev.  Timothy  Dwij^ht.  ilmi.  Jdliii  Tn-adwell,  James  Morris, 
Es(|.,  Rev.  Drs.  Heecher  and  C'hai)in,  with  Messrs.  Harvey  and 
I'rentice,  were  authorized  to  dc\ise'  and  put  in  operation  sueh  a 
Seminary,  and  the  result  was,  the  l'"orci}^n  Mission  School  at  Corn- 
wall. Youn^  natives  of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  from  China, 
Australasia,  and  from  the  Indian  nations  on  this  Continent,  as  well 
as  American  youths,  were  instructed  there.  The  school  continue<l 
successfully  until  1827.  The  estahlishment  (»f  the  Sandwich  Island 
Mission,  was  one  of  the  important  results  of  this  school. 

Many  years  hefore  the  modern  movement  in  a  tem|jerance  re- 
formation was  sus4\yeste(l.  sucl-  a  ])roject  was  conceived  in  this  town 
and  encom-at^i'd  h\-  the  most  i)rominent  men  here.  A  Temperance 
I'ledg^e  was  signed  in  May,  1789.  re])udiatin,i4'  the  use  of  distilled 
liquors,  hy  36  i^entlemen  ;  and  amonj;-  the  names  annexed  to  it.  were 
those  of  Julius  Deming-,  IJenjamin  Tallmadge.  I'riah  Tracy.  h*])h- 
raim  Kirhy,  Moses  Seymour,  Daniel  Sheldon.  Tapping  keeve. 
Frederick  Wolcott,  and  John  Welch — names  well  known  and  well 
rememhered  here.  I  helieve  the  first  temperance  association  of 
modern  date,  in  the  County,  was  formed  among  the  iron  operatives 
at  Mount  Riga,  in  Salishury.  The  results  of  this  grand  cfifort 
have  heen  as  successful  here  as  elsewhere.  If  any  s])ecial  cause  has 
operated  to  retard  the  final  success  of  this  charity,  it  has  heen  the 
strangling,  death-ensuing  embrace  of  party  politicians — the  scathing 
curse  of  many  a  good  thing.  As  long  ago  as  1816,  there  were  dis- 
tilleries in  every  town  in  the  County;  and  in  Xew  ^^lilford,  as  many 
as  26,  and  in  the  whole  County.  iTx;!  and,  besides  these,  there  were 
188  retailers  of  spirits,  who  paid  licenses  under  the  excise  laws  of 
the  Lhiited  States,  to  the  amount  of  $3,760.  Whether  there  be  a 
distiller}-  in  the  County  now,  I  am  not  informed  :  I  helieve  but  very 
few. 

I  have  not  attempted  to  trace  the  modifications  of  society  here 
— its  progressive  changes  in  modes  of  opinion  and  consequent  action. 
It  would  lead  me  too  far  from  my  object,  which  has  been  only  to 
speak  of  events,  and  the  men  who  have  been  engaged  in  them. 

Before  the  RevoluticMi  there  was  little  to  excite.  There  was  a 
common  routine  of  thinking,  which  had  been  followed  for  years — 
somewhat  disturbed,  to  be  sure,'  by  what  were  called  "/;rt«.'  lii:;hts" 
in  religion.  Rut  the  results  of  our  emancipation  from  the  mother 
country  tiUMied  everytliing  into  a  different  channel,  opinions  and 
all.  A  new  impulse  broke  in  upon  the  general  stagnation  of  mind 
which  had  been,  and  made  every  body  speculators  in  morals,  religion. 
]Kilitics.  and  everv  thing  else.  M\'  own  memory  runs  l)ack  to  a 
dividing  point  of  time,  when  I  could  see  something  of  the  old  ^corhi 
and  iic7i'.  Tnfidel  opinions  came  in  like  a  flood.  Mr.  Paine's  "Age 
of  Reason,"  the  works  of  \'oltaire,  and  other  Deistical  books,  were 
broad  cast,  and  young  men  suddenly  became,  as  they  thought,  wiser 


38  LITCHFIELD  COUNTY  UKNCU  AND  BAR 

than  tlicir  fathers  ;  aiul  oven  men  in  Iiigh  phiccs,  among  us  here, 
were  suspected  of  intidel  opinions.  At  tlie  same  time  came  the 
ardent  preachers  of  Mr.  Wesley's  divinity,  who  were  enga^^ed  in 
doing  hattle  with  Infidehty  on  the  one  hand,  and  Calvinistic  theology 
on  the  other.  Here  were  antagonistic  forces  and  influences,  which 
introduced  essential  changes,  and  both  have  been  operating  ever 
since.  And  it  would  afford  an  interesting  subject  of  investigation, 
to  trace  these  influences  to  their  results.  The  Methodist  preachers 
first  visited  this  County  about  the  year  1787,  and  organized  their 
first  classes  in  Salisbury  and  Canaan.  This  was  their  first  appear- 
ance in  the  State,  and,  I  believe,  in  New  England.  In  this  County 
they  were  received  with  courtesy,  and  found  many  to  encourage 
them  among  those  who  did  not  well  understand  the  old  divinity. 

I  migiit  detain  you  in  speaking  of  the  prevalence  and  effects  of 
party  spirit  here  ;  but  as  this,  as  well  as  denominational  controversy, 
is  unpleasant  to  me,  I  forbear.  There  was  a  time,  about  the  year 
1800,  when  the  spirit  was  rife  here,  and  led  to  prosecutions,  fines 
and  imprisonment,  and  a  disturbance  of  social  relations,  which  has 
never  since  re-appeared  to  the  same  extent. 

1  need  not  say  any  thing  of  the  present  condition  of  the  County. 
This  you  see  and  know.  Its  Railroads,  penetrating  regions  not  long 
since  supposed  to  be  impenetrable ;  villiages  rising  up  in  the  deep 
valleys,  whose  foundations  have  been  hidden  for  nearly  a  century ; 
and  fertility  and  thrift,  where  a  few  years  ago  were  uncultivated 
forests  and  wasting  w^ater-falls. 

Of  what  shall  we  complain?  Is  it  that  we  do  not,  all  of  us, 
make  haste  to  be  rich  ?  Ah !  is  it  so,  my  brethren  ?  Is  there  noth- 
ing but  wealth  which  can  satisfy  a  rational  mind  and  an  immortal 
spirit  ? 

Of  the  future  we  may  indulge  proud  hopes,  while  we  doubt  and 
fear.  Progress  is  the  word  of  modern  theorists,  but  of  doubtful 
import.  Innovation  is  not  always  progress  towards  useful  results. 
Of  this  we,  who  are  old,  believe  we  have  seen  too  much,  within  a 
few  years,  and  fear  much  more  to  come.  Our  County  is  but  a 
small  part  of  a  State  and  Nation,  and  so  our  fate  stands  not  alone. 
We  can  but  look  to  our  political  institutions  as  our  ultimate  pro- 
tectors, and  I  urge  upon  you  all,  my  brethren,  their  unwavering 
support.  Our  Constitution  requires  no  innovating  process  to  im- 
prove it.  It  demands  of  us  more  than  a  mere  political  respect  and 
preference — ahnost  a  religious  reverence.  Love  for  it,  in  all  its 
parts,  in  every  word  and  sentence  which  compose  it,  should  be 
interwoven  into  all  our  notions  of  thinking,  speaking  and  acting. 
Disturb  but  one  stone  in  this  great  arch — but  one  compromise  in 
this  holv  covenant — and  the  whole  must  tumble  into  ruin  ! 


I^atly  iCiQljta 


SKETCHES 


OF  THE 


EARLY  LIGHTS 


OF  THE 


LITCHFIELD  BAR 


BY 


HON.  DAVID  S.  BOARDMAN 


1860 


i'.OAKDMAN  S  SKHTC  HKS  4I 


I'  ATKIDC.I';    Til  ATI' 1  IKK. 


I'atrid^c  Tliatclicr  was  the  first  man  who  jjracticcd  the  lc}^al  \)ru- 
fession  in  New  Milford.  He  was  not  educated  to  the  profession,  but 
took  up  the  trade,  because  there  were  none  of  the  craft  hereabout, 
when  this  cnunts  was  organized,  whicli  was  after  he  came  to  midflle 
aj4e.  I  Ic  was  a  native,  I  liave  been  told,  of  Lebanon  in  this  state,  and 
came  to  Xew  Milford,  I  know  not  how  long  ago.  lie  was,  how- 
ever, a  married  man  at  the  time.  He  had  no  children  ;  but  a  large 
number  of  negroes,  whom  he  treated  with  kindness  enough  to  put 
to  shame  the  reproaches  of  all  the  abolitionists  in  Xew  England. 
He  was  a  man  of  strong  mind,  of  rigid  morality,  and  religious  to  the 
letter  according  to  the  strictest  sect  of  orthodox  episcopacy.  He 
adored  Charles  I.  as  a  martyr  and  he  hated  <  )liver  Cromwell  worse 
than  he  did  the  evil  one.  Loyalty,  unconditional  loyalty,  was  the 
prime  element  of  his  political  creed.  ( )f  course,  his  name  was  not 
found  in  any  list  of  the  wicked  Whigs  of  the  Revolution,  and  had  he 
lived  in  these  days,  he  would  most  thoroughly  have  eschewed  democ- 
racy and  abolitionism.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  his  loyalty  necessarily  silenced  his  voice  in  court,  and  he  died 
soon  after  its  conclusion.  Lawyer  Thatcher,  as  he  was  always 
called,  was  undoubtedly,  a  very  odd.  a  very  honest  and  a  very  good 
man.  I  wish  there  were  many  such  men  now^  both  on  account  of 
the  good  example  they  would  set,  and  the  harmless  amuseiuent  they 
would  afford. 


DAXIKL  EVEKITT. 


Daniel  Everitt  was  a  native  of  Bethlem  and  settled  in  Xew  Mil- 
ford as  a  lawyer,  some  time  during  the  early  ])art  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  probably  as  early  as  '76  or  'jy,  possibly  earlier,  as  from 
a  record  I  have  access  to  I  see  he  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Taylor  on  the  first  of  January.  1778.  and  I  remember 
that  he  lived  here  some  time  before  that  event.  He  had  not  a  colle- 
giate education,  but  was  a  man  of  good  education  and  received  an 
honorary  degree.  He  read  law  with  Judge  Adams  of  Litchfield,  and 
I  remember  to  have  heard  him  say,  that  he  occasionaly  officiated  in 
Mr.  Adams'  place  as  state's  attorney,  when  he,  (Adams')  was.  absent 
in  Congress,  which  he  often  was,  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
Mr.  Everitt  was  a  man  of  nuich  wit,  boundless  extravagance  of  ex- 
pression, quick  conception,  and  in  command  of  language  and  fluency 
of  utterance,  unsurpassed,  but  not  a  man  of  much  depth  of  mind  ni>r 
had  he  much  legal  learning:  his  library  extended  little  beyond 
Rlackstone  and  Jacobs'  Law  Dictionary.  He  had.  I  believe,  a  very 
good  run  of  i^ractice.  when  the  Court  really  opened  to  do  civil  busi- 
ness, after  the  conclusion  of  the  war.  His  success  in  this  respect 
was.  however,  of  rather  short  duration  :  a  number  of  younger  law- 


4-2  LITClll-lKLU  COLNTV  15KNC11  AND  UMl 

vers  having  about  that  time  coniiiienced  practice  here,  and  other  cir- 
cumstances conspired  to  carry  business  away  from  him.  and  he  never 
recovered  it.  While  studyin^:  law  1  heard  him  argue  a  case  or  two, 
keeping-  the  Court  house  in  a  roar  by  his  wit  and  sarcasm,  l)ut  by  the 
time  I  was  admitted,  viz.  in  '95,  he  had  about  given  up  attending 
Courts  at  Litchfield,  though  he  was  not  fifty  years  of  age — and  indeed 
he  was,  I  think,  but  fifty-seven  when  he  died  in  1805.  I  met  him, 
however,  a  few  times,  before  Arbitrators  and  Justices,  and  had 
enough  to  do  to  parry  his  home  thrusts  of  good  natured  wit.  I'efore 
him  1  often  went,  as  he  tried  almost  all  the  Justice  cases,  which  he 
always  did  with  entire  integrity  and  usuall\'  came  to  a  correct  con- 
clusion. He  represented  this  town.  1  think  three  times  in  the  general 
assembly,  and  as  a  member  of  the  convention  which  ratified  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States.  He  was  a  man  of  strict  honesty,  en- 
tire moral  rectitude  of  conduct,  and  a  ]irofessor  of  religion.  He  was, 
however,  much  given  to  sociality,  and  to  that  conviviality  which  some 
time  borders  on  a  kindred  indulgence.  Mr.  Everitt  succeeded  the 
late  Col.  Samuel  Canfield  as  Judge  of  Probate  in  this  district  in 
1790.  and  held  that  office  till  his  death  at  the  time  above  mentioned. 


TAPPIXG   REEVE. 


I  saw  nuich  of  Judge  Reeve's  practice  at  the  bar  for  nearly 
five  years,  during  which  time  he  was  engaged  in  almost  every  case  of 
importance  tried  in  the  Superior  Court  at  Litchfield,  and  never  failed 
to  argue  every  one  in  which  he  was  engaged,  if  argued  at  all.  In  the 
County  Court,  after  I  became  acquainted  with  him,  he  did  not  prac- 
tice. His  school  had  become  numerous,  ami  he  gave  up  his  practice 
in  that  Court  because  ( I  suppose, )  it  too  nuich  interrupted  his  course 
of  daily  lectures,  and  knowing  as  he  did  that  he  should  have  a  part 
in  every  cause  expected  to  be  tried  in  the  Superior  Court.  And,  by 
the  way,  trials  were  then  managed  and  got  through  with  in  a  reason- 
able time,  and  not  sufifered  to  be  dragged  out  to  the  abominable  and 
shameful  length  which  they  now  are,  to  the  disgrace  of  the  Pro- 
fession for  indulging  in  it,  and  of  the  Courts  for  permitting  it. 

I  joined  Judge  Reeve's  school  in  the  fall  of  1793.  antl  he  was  not 
placed  on  the  bench  till  the  spring  of  1796.  so  that  I  saw  him  at  the 
Bar  during  nine  sessions  of  the  Superior  Court,  and  never  failed  to 
listen  to  him.  if  1  could  avoid  it.  with  un([ualified  love  and  admiration 
through  every  speech  he  made,  to  its  conclusion.  I  say  zcitli  love,  for 
no  instructor  was  ever  more  generally  beloved  by  his  pupils,  and  in- 
deed entirely  so  except  it  was  by  those  whose  love  would  have  been 
a  reproach  to  the  object  of  it.  As  a  reasoner,  he  had  no  superior 
within  the  compass  of  my  observation  of  forensic  performances.  I 
mean  true,  forcible  and  honest  reasoning.     In  so])histry.  he  was  too 


I'.OAKD.MAN  S   ski;  r(.' I  IKS  43 

honest  to  iiululj^v,  and  too  disccrninL;  to  snltt-r  it  to  cscapt.-  ik-tc-ction 
in  the  arj^nnR'nt  of  an  adversary. 

As  a  speaker  he  was  usually  exceedingly  ardent,  and  the  ar<l«»r 
he  displayed  appeared  to  be  prompted  by  a  conviction  of  the  justice 
of  the  cause  he  was  advocating.  Mis  ideas  seemed  often,  and  indeed, 
usually,  to  How  in  u])on  him  faster  than  he  could  give  utterance  to 
them,  and  sometimes  seemed  to  force  him  to  leave  a  sentence  unhni.>-h- 
ed,  to  begin  another, — and  in  his  huddle  of  ideas,  if  1  may  so  express 
it,  he  was  careless  of  grammatical  accuracy,  and  though  a  thorcjugh 
scholar,  often  made  bad  grammar  in  public  speaking.  Careless  as 
he  was  of  his  diction  and  thoughtless  as  he  was  of  ornament  in  ordi- 
nary cases,  yet  some  elegant  expressions  and  fine  sentences  would 
seem,  as  if  by  accident,  to  escape  him  in  almost  every  speech.  Pnit  in 
such  cases  as  afforded  the  proper  field  for  the  display  of  eloquence, 
such  as  actions  of  slander,  malicious  prosecutions,  etc.,  and  in  that 
part  of  such  cases  as  usuall\'  ])r()mpt  to  exertions  of  tiie  kind,  his  hur- 
ried enunciation  and  grammatical  inaccuracies,  all  forsook  him,  and 
then  he  never  failed  to  electrify  and  astonish  his  audience.  Man\'  of 
these  used  to  be  recited  to  me  by  those  who  had  often  heard  him  and 
it  fell  to  my  lot  to  witness  one  such  occasion.  In  an  action  for  mali- 
cious prosecution,  in  closing  the  argument,  on  entering  upon  the  sub- 
ject of  damages,  he  burst  forth  into  such  a  strain  of  dignified  and 
soul-thrilling  eloquence,  as  neither  before  nor  since,  has  ever  met  my 
ear.  The  first  sentence  he  uttered  thrilled  through  every  nerve  of  my 
entire  frame  to  the  very  ends  of  my  fingers,  and  every  succeeding 
sentence  seemed  to  increase  in  overwhelming  effect.  I  was  perfectly 
entranced  during  its  delivery,  and  for  an  hour  afterwards  I  trembled 
so  that  I  could  not  speak  plain.  His  manner  was  as  much  changed 
as  his  language,  and  to  me  he  looked  a  foot  taller  than  before.  The 
next  day  1  went  to  him  and  asked  him  to  commit  to  writing  tlie  con- 
cluding part  of  his  speech,  to  which  request  he  said  in  the  simplicity 
of  his  nature,  "Why,  if  I  should  do  that,  perhaps  1  should  make  it 
better  than  it  really  was,  and  that  would  not  be  fair."  We  told  him 
(Mr.  Bacon  was  with  me,)  there  was  no  danger  of  that,  for  we  knew 
it  could  not  be  bettered.  Well,  he  said  he  would  try,  but  he  did  not 
know  whether  he  could  recall  it  to  memory,  for  there  was  not  a  word 
of  it  written  before  hand.  A  day  or  two  after  he  saw  me  in  Court, 
behind  his  seat,  and  beckoned  me  to  him  and  said  he  had  tried  to 
comply  with  mv  request,  but  it  was  so  gone  from  him  that  he  could 
make  nothing  of  it. 

I  believe  I  have  said  enough  in  regard  to  Judge  Reeve  as  an 
advocate,  and  that  is  the  extent  of  your  enquiry.  As  a  Judge,  you 
are  acquainted  with  his  reputation,  historically,  though  you  probably 
never  saw  him  on  the  bench,  as  he  left  it  nearly  thirty-nine  years  ago, 
to  wit,  in  May,  i8i6,  to  the  regret  of  all  admirers  of  legal  learning 
and  lovers  of  impartial  justice. 

As  T  loved  and  admired  Judge  Reeve  while  living,  antl  mourned 
him  when  dead,  I  love  to  think  and  talk  of  him  now  that  I  have  at- 


44  I.lTCllFIKI.n  COINTV   HKNCH    AM)  1!AR 

tallied  to  a  greater  age  tluiii  he  (iid.  though  he  reached  some  eighty- 
four  years,  and  1  feel  tempted  to  obtrude  upon  you  some  such  leading 
incidents  of  his  life  as  I  am  in  memory  possessed  of,  and  which  can- 
not be  much  longer  retained. 

Judge  Reeve  was  the  son  of  a  l'resb\terian  clergyman  and  was 
born  on  the  south  side  of  Long  Island.  He  was  educated  at  JVince- 
ton  College,  where  he  graduated  in  17^^)3  at  seventeen  years  of  age 
as  I  have  heard  him  say.  He  was  immediately  appointed  tutor  of 
the  grammar  school  connected  with  the  college,  and  in  that  station 
and  as  a  tutor  in  the  college  itself,  he  remained  seven  years.  He 
then  came  to  Connecticut  to  study  law,  which  he  jirosecuted  in  the 
office  of  Judge  Root,  then  a  practicing  lawyer  in  Hartford,  and  as 
soon  as  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  he  settled  in  the  practice  at  Litch- 
field. This  I  suppose  to  have  been  in  1772.  He  had  previously 
married  Sally  Burr,  the  eldest  child  and  only  daughter  of  President 
Hurr  of  Princeton  College,  and  the  sister  of  the  celebrated  Aaron 
Burr,  who  was  a  pupil  of  Judge  Reeve  in  the  grammar  school.  The 
Revolutionary  war  liaving  commenced  within  a  short  time  after  he 
came  to  the  bar,  there  was  but  little  civil  business  done  in  the  Courts 
until  its  conclusion,  or  nearly  so.  He  therefore  early  betook  himself 
to  giving  instruction  to  young  gentlemen  who  looked  forward  to  the 
legal  profession  for  support  and  advancement  in  life,  when  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  country  would  allow  of  its  exercise.  This  employ- 
ment tended  greatly  to  systematize  and  improve  what  stock  of  legal 
science  he  already  had  acquired,  and  aided  by  his  uncommonly  tine 
talents  and  native  eloquence  early  secured  to  him,  the  deserved  rep- 
utation of  an  able  lawyer.  About  the  close,  I  believe,  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  either  through  an  acquaintance  with  the  late  Judge 
Sedgwick  or  otherwise  he  was  introduced  to  some  practice  in  Berk- 
shire County,  and  in  the  celebrated  cri)n.  con.  case  of  Winchell  z's. 
Goodrich,  gave  such  a  display  of  his  oratorical  powers  as  astonished 
the  natives,  and  that,  together  with  the  conspicuous  part  he  took  with 
Judge  Sedgwick  in  the  great  case  of  Cieneral  Ashley's  negroes,  which 
put  an  end  forever  to  slavery  in  Massachusetts,  he  established  a  rej)- 
utation  which  ensured  him  business  there  as  long  as  his  avocations  at 
home  allowed  him  to  attend  to  it.  This  however,  I  believe,  was  not 
very  long.  The  delicate  health  of  his  wife,  and  his  great  professional 
business  at  home  induced  him  to  forego  any  business  which  called 
him  abroad,  and  to  utterly  decline  any  sort  of  public  ai)])ointment 
whatsoever,  during  her  life.  She  died  to  the  dee])  grief  of  as  devoted 
a  husband  as  ever  lived,  a  few  months  before  it  became  necessary  to 
fill  two  vacancies  in  the  Superior  Court,  occasioned  by  the  death  of 
Chief  Justice  Adams  and  the  final  extinction  of  mental  capacity  in 
Judge  Huntington — and  to  one  of  those  vacancies  Judge  Reeve  was 
appointed. 

I  must  draw  this  long  letter  to  a  close.  It  is  enough  to  say, 
that  no  act  of  Judge  Reeve's  life  ever,  in  the  least  degree,  lessened 
the  admiration  and  respect  entertained  for  his  capacity,  integrity  and 


I'.OAKDMAN   S   SKI/nilKS  45 

learn  in  jj^,  or  even  diniinishcd  llie  esteem  and  affection  cherished  for 
the  six)tless  purity  of  his  moral  deportment  throuj^h  a  lon^  life,  nor 
the  reverence  extorted  from  all  for  the  dec])  relij^ious  impression 
which  adorned  his  old  aj^c  and  perfected  his  character.  He  was,  I 
presume,  in  youth  extremely  handsome. 


JOHN   AIJJCX 


John  /Mien  was  horn  in  Great  liarrington,  Mass.,  sometime,  I 
believe,  in  1762,  of  respectable  parents,  thoug'h  not  distinj^^uished  in 
society,  as  1  remember  to  have  heard  him  say  that  he  was  the  son  of 
a  joiner.  There  were  but  two  children  in  the  family,  a  son  and  a 
daui^hter.  ])oth  nutch  distin^-uished  in  life  for  many  j^^ood  qualities, 
and  es])ecially  for  dignity  of  manner  and  deportment,  but  the  7\.'i)iuini!^ 
and  amiable  accomplishments  all  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  female,  gaininjj; 
her  many  admirers  and  among  others,  an  husband  worthy  of  her,  in 
that  excellent  man.  Elizur  Goodrich  of  New  Haven.  Their  father 
died  during  the  minority  of  both  children.  Mr.  Allen,  having  an 
excellent  common  school  education,  though  not  a  classic  education, 
became  a  teacher,  and  being  impelled  by  a  spirit  of  adventure,  some- 
what romantic  as  he  was  thought  in  those  days,  went  suddenly,  and 
without  the  knowledge  of  his  friends,  and  while  yet  a  minor,  to  Ger- 
mantown  near  Philadelphia,  where  he  obtained  a  place  as  instructor 
of  the  young  classes  of  an  academic  establishment  of  some  note  at 
the  time.  How  long  he  remained  in  the  above  mentioned  establish- 
ment 1  do  not  know,  but  soon  after  leaving  the  ])lace.  and  I  believe 
almost  immediately,  he  came  to  Xew  Mil  ford,  and  taught  a  school  for 
some  six  months,  and  from  here  went  immediately  into  Mr.  Reeve's 
law  school,  and  after  the  accustomed  period  of  study  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  and  immediately  settled  in  practice  in  Litchfield,  where 
he  spent  his  life.  He  confined  himself  almost  entirely  to  the  practice 
of  Litchfield  County,  though  occasionally  when  called,  in  consequence 
of  the  eminence  to  which  he  soon  attained  in  the  profession,  he  prac- 
ticed in  other  counties,  in  some  cases  of  imi)ortance.  and  esjiecially  in 
the  Federal  Circuit  Court,  in  which,  for  a  few  years  after  the  forma- 
tion of  the  present  Constitution  of  the  L'nited  States,  some  consider- 
able business  was  done.  Mr.  Allen,  however  never  went  abroad  in 
quest  of  business,  thinking  that  the  very  great  share  of  .Attorney  busi- 
ness which  he  acquired  in  being  always  found  in  his  ottice.  equal. 
at  least  in  point  of  profit,  to  what  counsellor  business  he  might  obtain 
bv  attending  Courts  in  other  counties.  ccMisidering  that  all  the  coun- 
sellor business  flowing  from  the  attorney  business  which  he  did.  he 
was  sure  to  be  engaged  in.  From  the  time  I  entered  the  law  school 
in  the  fall  of  1793.  I  occupied  a  room  in  his  office,  and  had  free  ac- 
cess to  his  ample  library  and  boarded  at  the  same  house  with  him. 
During  all  that  time,  and  all  the  reiuaining  years  of  his  i)rosperous 


46  I.I  ii,iii-ii:i.i)  (.'(tiNTN   i:i:ncii  and  har 

practice,  which  iiulccd  lasted  till  the  apparent  conmienceinent  of  his 
rapid  decline,  soon  followed  by  tieath,  he  was  engaged  in  almost  every 
case  of  any  importance  in  the  Superior  and  County  Court.  He  was 
certainly,  a  very  successful  and  powerful  advocate,  ecjually  with  the 
Jury  as  with  the  Court,  a  thoroughly  read  lawyer,  ec^ual  in  ])oint  of 
legal  science  to  any  one  at  our  har  during  the  fore  part  of  the  time  I 
am  speaking  of.  except  Tapping  Reeve,  who  had  no  rival,  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  period,  James  Gould,  of  whom  I  need  say  nothing 
as  you  knew  him  in  his  meridian  light.  Mr.  Allen  always  made  dili- 
gent and  faithful  preparation  of  all  cases  committed  to  his  care,  and 
made  himself  fully  acquainted  with  every  point  of  law  and  every  ac- 
cessible point  of  evidence  which  could  arise  in  the  case,  and  was 
therefore  usually  successful  when  the  case  deserved  success. 

If  I  knew  that  you  ever  saw  Mr.  Allen.  I  would  omit  any  attempt 
to  describe  his  personal  appearance,  for  I  am  sure  any  one  who  ever 
saw  his  colossal  form  and  imposing  visage,  would  never  need  to  have 
him  described  in  order  to  recall  his  appearance.  He  was  six  feet  four 
or  five  inches  high,  very  erect  and  with  an  attitude  and  walk  well 
calculated  to  set  off  his  full  stature,  and  though  quite  lean,  weighed 
full  230  pounds.  His  countenance  was  strongly  marked  and  truly 
formidable,  his  eyes  and  eye  brows  dark,  his  hair  dark,  wiiat  little  he 
had  for  he  was  quite  bald,  far  back,  even  before  middle  age,  and  in- 
deed his  whole  appearance  was  calculated  to  inspire  dread,  rather 
than  affection.  His  manner  and  conversation  were,  however,  such 
as  to  inspire  confidence  and  respect,  though  little  calculated  to  invite 
familiarity,  except  with  his  intimates,  of  whom  he  had  a  few.  and 
those,  knowing  the  generous  and  hearty  friendship  of  which  he  was 
capable,  were  usually,  much  attached  to  him  and  ready  to  overlook 
all  his  harsh  sallies,  imputing  them  to  the  "rough  humor  which  his 
mother  gave  him."  His  feelings  w^ere  not  refined,  but  ardent,  gener- 
ous and  hearty.  His  friendships  were  strong  and  his  aversions  equal- 
ly so — and  as  I  used  to  say  of  him.  speaking  to  others,  "his  feelings 
were  all  of  the  great  sort."  He  neither  enjoyed  nor  suffered  any 
thing  from  many  of  those  little  incidents  which  so  often  affect,  either 
pleasingly  or  painfully,  minds  of  a  more  refined  texture.  As  he  had 
no  taste  for  such  things,  nor,  as  it  would  seem,  any  faculty  of  per- 
ceiving, so  he  knew  no  language  ai)proi)riate  to  their  description,  but 
in  respect  to  those  things  and  princi])les  which  he  thought  worthy  of 
his  regard,  he  lacked  no  ])ower  of  language  to  make  himself  fully 
and  forcibly  understood.  For  neutral  ground,  either  in  morals  or 
politics,  he  had  no  taste,  and  but  little  less  than  absolute  abhorrence. 
As  a  specimen  of  his  feelings  and  language,  better  than  1  can  des- 
cribe. 1  will  give  you  the  laconic  answer  to  an  en(|uiry  nf  him,  why 
he  took  the  Aurora  the  leading  democratic  pai)er  in  the  coinil\,  then 
under  the  guidance  of  that  arch  democrat.  Duane;  he  replied  it  was 
because  he  2vaiitcd  to  kiura'  "a'haf  they  -a'cre  about  in  the  iufcniol 
rci:;io)is.  And  after  giving  this  siK'cimen  I  need  make  no  futher  at- 
tem|)t  to  give  you  an  idea  of  his  humor,  manners  and  language. 


I'.oAKDMAN  S   SK  I'.'ITI  I  KS  47 

After  Mr.  Allen  was  married,  wiiich  was  nut  till  he  wa>  lu\var<ls 
forty  years  old,  and  went  to  house  keejjinj^",  I  hoarded  at  his  hcnise  at 
his  express  solicitation  for  many  years  while  attendinj^  (."ourt ;  thouj^h 
he  took  nt)  other  one,  nor  ever  named  to  me  any  price,  nor  would  he 
count  the  money  1  handed  to  him  when  leavinjj^  for  home,  seeming-  to 
receive  it  only  hecause  1  refused  to  stay  on  any  (jther  terms.  I  there- 
fore saw  much  of  him  in  his  family,  where  his  conduct  was  always 
dignified,  proper  and  kind,  lie  was  proud,  very  proud,  and  justly 
so,  of  his  wife,  who  was  a  woman  of  much  personal  beauty,  ixjlished 
manners,  and  great  and  even  singular  discretion,  and  for  whom  he 
entertained,  I  believe,  an  ardent  affection. 

Ik'fore  his  marriage  and  at  the  age  of  thirty-hve  Mr.  .Mien  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  fifth  Congress,  where  he  distinguished  him- 
self at  a  time  when  Connecticut  was  never  more  ably  rei)resented  in 
the  House  of  Representatives,  and  would  undoubtedly  have  been  cIkj- 
sen  for  as  long  a  period  as  he  would  have  desired  to  be  a  member  of 
that  body,  but  he  declined  a  further  election.  He  was  elected  an 
Assistant  in  1800,  and  w^as  re-elected  for  the  five  succeeding  years, 
and  as  such  was  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors. 
For  several  years,  previous  to  his  election  to  Congress,  he  had  repre- 
sented the  town  of  Litchfield  in  the  C.eneral  Assembly.  His  wife  was 
a  grand  daughter  of  the  first  Governor  Griswold.  His  only  son,  the 
Hon.  John  Wm.  Allen  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  has  been  a  member  of 
Congress  from  that  State  and  is  now  a  very  distinguished  man  there. 
His  only  surviving  daughter  resides  also  in  Cleveland,  and  is  the 
wife  of  her  brother's  immediate  successor  in  Congress.  Mrs.  .\llen, 
after  a  rather  brief  widowhood,  accepted  the  hand  of  a  Mr.  Perkins 
of  Oxford  in  the  State  of  Xew  ^'ork.  a  man  of  resi)ectal)ilit\  and 
wealth. 


ItAKZir.L.M     SI.(JSSOX. 

The  request,  which  is  the  subject  of  yours  of  the  4th  inst..  is  too 
alluring  in  its  nature  to  be  long  unattended  to.  So  nearly  am  I  alone 
in  the  world  that  an  invitation  to  hold  converse  about  those  of  my 
age  and  standing  in  life,  and  w'ho  have  now  slumbered  in  the  grave 
for  more  than  forty  years,  and  especially  those  who  were  so  much 
beloved  and  esteemed  as  were  those  of  whom  you  solicit  my  at- 
tention, is  (|uite  irresistible. 

In  speaking  of  Mr.  Slosson.  I  must  first  observe  that  I  had  form- 
ed a  tolerably  correct  notion  of  him  before  I  ever  saw  him.  When  I 
was  a  boy  his  father  w^as  often  at  my  father's  hcnise.  intimately  ac- 
quainted there,  and  I  believe,  scarcely  ever  passed  that  way  without 
calling  and  holding  a  pretty  long  chat,  for  he  was  never  in  a  hurry, 
and  his  peculiar  turn  of  mind,  abundance  of  common  sense,  and  great 
fund  of  wit.  joined  to  his  singularly  slow,  emphatic  and  sententious 


48  i.nxiiiMKi.n  county  bench  and  bar 

mode  of  talking,  was  such  as  to  secure  the  attention  of  any  one.  and 
especially  a  boy.     He  used,  occasionally  to  speak  of  his  children,  and 
especially  of  his  oldest  son  Barzillai,  of  whom  he  was  manifestly  very 
prcnid.  representing  him  to  be  always  at  the  head  of  the  school  when 
small,  and  afterwards  used  to  s])eak  with  high  gratification  of  his  in- 
ilustrv  and  tact  at  accpiiring  the  higher  branches  of  knowledge  with- 
out the  aid  of  an  instructor,  and  more  particularly  the  knowledge  of 
the  dead  languages,  of  which  he  knew  nothing  himself.       And  this 
account  given  by  the  old  gentleman,  from  intimate  intercourse  and 
frequent  conversation  with  his  son.  when  I  afterwards  became  ac- 
quainted with  him.  I  found  was  by  no  means  exaggerated.     And  to 
his  excellent  and  accurate  common  school  education,  he  owed  much, 
very  much  of  his  character  for  exact  accuracy  and  correctness  in  all 
that  he  said  and  did  through  life.     He  was  about  the  best  reader  I 
ever  heard,  wrote  a  fair,  handsome  and  legil)le  hand,  and  in  the  un- 
failing correctness  of  his  orthography  and  use  of  terms,  no  lexico- 
grapher excelled  him.  and  in  everything  pertaining  to  mere  English, 
home  and  common  school  education,  no  one  appeared  to  be  more 
thoroughly  proficient.     And  in  Greek  and  Latin  I  never  saw  his  su- 
perior, except  old  President  Stiles,  nor  with  that  exception  perhaps, 
his  e<|ual.  unless  it  was  old  l^arson  Farrand  of  Canaan,  and  in  the 
other  branches  of  collegiate  education  he  was,  to  say  the  least,  above 
mediocraty.     As  he  entered  college  not  until  the  senior  year,  and.  I 
believe,    did   not   even   attend    during   the    whole   of   that   year,   he 
could  not.  of  course,  expect  to  shine  and  did  not  shine  in  the  college 
honors  depending  u])on  the  faculty,  but  he  availed  himself  of  the  right 
to  become  a  candidate  for  the  honors  of  Dean  Scholar,  and  obtained 
the  first  premium  for  excellence  in  Greek  and  Latin,  in  a  class  of 
unusually  high  reputation.     This,  I  suppose,  he  did  merely,  out  of 
a  laudable  pride,  for  he  did  not  avail  himself  of  the  pecuniary  re- 
ward which  would  have  required  him  to  reside  in  Xew  Haven  ;  for 
he   went,  immediately  after  his  graduation   with  one  of  his  class- 
mates   (  Mr.  afterwards  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith.)   to  reside  in  Sharon, 
as  one  of  the  instructors  in  the  Sharon  Academy,  then  in  full  and 
successful  operation.     He  soon  after  became  a  student  at  law.  under 
Gov.  Smith's  instruction,  and  the  first  County  Court  which  sat  after 
his  two   year's   clerkship   had   expired,   being   in   Fairfield    County, 
he   went,  there   for  examination   and  admission   to  the    Bar.     This 
was   I  believe  at  the  November  Term.   1793.     It  was  not  until  he 
began  to  attend  Court  at  Litchfield,  and  while  T  was  in  the  law  school 
there,  that   I   first  became  iK'rsonally  ac(|uainted   with   Mr.   Slosson 
though  I  had  barely  seen  him  once  or  twice  before,    .\fter  my  admis- 
sion to  the  P.ar,  being  located  in  adjoining  towns,  we  often  met  each 
other   l)efore   Justices,   and   consequently   before    the   upi)er   courts. 
From  our  frequent  meetings  and  intercourse  at  Litchfield  and  else- 
where. I  became  greatly  attached  to  him.  and  finally,  for  a  number  of 
years  he  and  I.  with  Southmayd  for  our  constant  comi)anion.  always 
occupied  the  same  room  at  Catlin's  Hotel  during  every  court  until  his 


3".  -" 
:2    V. 


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IS 


CK 


1. 


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^   ^^   ^  rM 


I'.OAKDMAN   S    SKi;'lllli;S  41^ 

(Iratli  and  tluTc  was  the  last  tinu'  I  fwr  saw  liini  in  life.  S'ton  altc-r 
(Ik-  C'lmrt  adjourned,  licarinn  of  his  rapid  dfclinc,  1  set  out  to  visit 
him,  and  on  tlie  way,  heard  that  he  had  died  the  niglit  before.  I  how- 
ever went  on  and  stayed  with  the  family  until  1  assi.sted  in  l)uryinf^ 
him.  This  was  in  January.  1813.  and  in  that  grave  I  felt  that  I  had 
buried  a  sincere,  and  I  am  sure,  a  nuich  loved  friend  :  on  whose  char- 
acter and  conduct  in  life  1  could  reflect  whh  melancholy  satisfaction, 
unmarrcd  by  a  single  reproachful  recollection  or  one  which  I  could 
wish  to  have  forgotten. 

Mr.  Slosst)n  liad  been  out  of  health  for  a  very  considerable  tinie. 
and  fears  were  apprehended  on  his  account,  in  wdiich  he  full\  and 
rationallv  participated.  So  gradual,  however,  was  the  operation  of 
his  disorder,  that  he  continued  his  attention  to  business  until  some 
three  or  four  weeks  before  his  death.  He  attended  court  at  Litch- 
field, the  first  and  I  thitik  the  second  week  of  the  December  term, 
the  month  before  his  decease. 

Air.  Slopson's  great  fondness  for  ancient  literature,  rendered  him 
scarcelv  just  in  his  comparative  estimate  of  that  with  modern  im- 
provements. As  a  lawyer  he  w^as  highly  respectable  in  theory  and 
remarkabl\-  accurate  in  practice  ;  as  a  pleader.  1  do  not  remember 
that  he  ever  had  occasion  to  ask  for  an  amendment,  or  to  alter  a  title 
of  what  he  had  written.  As  an  advocate  he  was  clear,  deliberate, 
methodical  and  logical  in  his  deductions.  He  spoke  in  much  of  the 
peculiarly  emphatic  manner  of  his  father,  above  mentioned,  though 
not  with  his  unusual  slowness.  He  was  always  cool  and  self-pos- 
sessed, rarely  warming  into  any  high  degree  of  animation,  or  aiming 
at  effect  to  appear  eloquent,  but  he  never  failed  to  secure  a  respect- 
ful and  satisfied  attention.  Though  not  one  of  the  most  leading 
advocates  of  which  there  are  always  some  three  or  four  at  an\-  IJar, 
he  might,  at  least  be  estimated  an  ecjual  to  any  of  the  second  class 
of  the  Litchfield  liar  which  was  then,  certainly,  a  highly  resi)ectable 
one. 

Though  not  an  aspirant  after  public  preferment,  and  from  his 
habituallv  modest  and  retiring  habits,  not  calculated  to  push  his  wax- 
where  opportunities  ofifered.  he  was  yet,  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  in 
a  fair  wav  of  promotion.  He  was  early  and  often  elected  to  the 
legislature  from  his  native  town,  and  indeed  their  usual  rej^resenta- 
tive  until  the  October  session,  1812,  when  he  was  elected  Clerk, 
which  in  those  clays  was  a  sure  stei)ping  stone  to  further  advance- 
ment, and  having  myself  been  a  witness  of  the  manner  in  which  he 
performed  the  duties  of  that  otlice,  for  which  no  man  wa<  1)etter 
qualified,  T  am  sure  he  established  a  reputation,  which,  had  I'rovi- 
dence  permitted,  promised  a  solid  and  lasting  existence. 

Mr.  Slosson's  political  opinions  were  of  the  genuine  W'ashingto- 
nian,  political  school.  None  of  your  heady,  rash,  and  merely  parti- 
san notions  found  favor  with  him.  He  was  a  constant  and  honest 
adherent  to  the  jxilitical  views  then  prevalent  in  this  State.  He 
left  a  widow  and  two  sons — the  oldest  Tolm  William,  lias  been  and  I 


50  l.n\lll"li:i.I)  tOlNTY   HKNCll  AM)   MAR 

bclicAc  now  is  a  merchant  in  Kent.  The  second  son,  Nathaniel,  a 
very  i)roniising  boy.  was.  I  beheve  soon  after  liis  father's  death,  taken 
under  the  care  of  liis  uncle,  W'ilHani  Slosson.  a  (hstinji;uislied  lawyer 
of  New  York,  and  was  by  him  educated  at  L'nion  Collei^e  and  for 
the  l)ar.  and  died  soon  after  his  admission. 

The  foregoing  sketch  of  the  leading  incidents  in  Mr.  Slosson's 
life,  may  be  a  suHicient  indication  from  which  to  deduct  his  true 
character,  but  I  nuist  indulge  myself  in  adding,  that  I  never  knew 
or  heard  of  a  single  act  of  his  life,  either  in  youth  or  mature  years, 
that  left  even  a  shade  upon  his  reputation.  Cool  and  deliberate  in 
his  temperament,  never  hurried  away  by  enthusiasm,  for  enthusiasm 
never  manifested  itself  in  his  nature,  except  in  his  passion  for  ancient 
literature,  he  was  sure  to  think  and  act  with  propriety.  He  was 
nevertheless  warm  and  faithful  in  his  attachments,  but  not  so  far  as 
to  warp  his  conscientious  regard  for  integrity.  He  was  perfectly 
just  and  generous  in  his  intercourse  with  the  world,  honest  in  his 
predilections  and  uncompromising  in  his  love  of  virtue  and  detesta- 
tion of  vice.  In  morality  his  principles  were  without  a  taint  and  his 
practice  through  life  in  conscientious  conformity  with  them.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  a  firm  and  steadfast  believer  in  the  great  doctrines  of 
the  gos])el,  though  not  a  public  professor.  His  princij^les  w^ere  those 
of  true  rational  Galvanism,  unswayed  by  vindictive  zeal  or  hysteri- 
cal weakness. 

You  observed  in  your  letter  that  you  never  saw  Mr.  Slosson.  He 
was  a  small  man,  not  much,  if  any.  under  medium  height,  but  of  slen- 
der frame  and  countenance.  Though  not  dark  complexioned  his 
countenance  was  rather  dusky,  his  skin  not  clear,  his  features  though 
far  from  handsome  bespoke  intelligence  and  were  therefore  not  dis- 
agreeable. His  general  appearance  was  more  like  that  of  the  late 
Leman  Church  than  any  other  member  of  the  Bar  I  can  think  of, 
though  he  was  somewhat  larger  and  more  erect. 


SAM  r  HI.    W.    SOl'TII.MAVI). 

In  the  life,  conduct  and  character  of  Sanuiel  \V.  Southmayd  there 
were  some  peculiarities,  such  as  render  it  a  matter  of  difficulty  to  des- 
cribe him  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  make  them  intelligible  to  one  who 
did  not  personally  know  him. 

I  never  saw,  or  heard  of  him  until  I  became  a  member  of  the  law 
school  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1793.  of  which  he  had  then  been  a  mem- 
ber about  one  year.  I  believe,  and  of  which  he  continued  a  constant 
attendant  during  the  eighteen  months  which  I  spent  there.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  l>ar  the  next  term  after  1  was,  to  wit:  September 
Term,  1795,  and  passed  as  good  an  examination  as  I  ever  heard 
there,  or  elsewhere,  he  having  been  for  the  full  period  of  three  years 
under  judge  Reeve's  tuition.     He  was  a  native  of  Watertown.  where 


I'.OAKDMAN  S   SK  Kill  IKS  5I 

JK'  sfttk'd  in  practice,  and  where  Ik-  >|)ciU  Iiis  lil'e.  Like  Mr.  S1<)sm)ii, 
lie  had  an  excellent  coininon  .school  education.  I'eyond  that,  his  ac- 
ijuirenient.s  did  not  extend  far  in  an  academic  course — eiu)ugh,  hf>vv- 
o\cr.  I  believe,  to  enable  him  to  understand  the  homely  law-latin  used 
in  our  books.  Few  have  entered  upon  the  j)ractice  of  law.  with  a 
better  store  of  legal  learninj^  than  .Mr.  Southmayd,  but  the  j^lace  in 
which  he  settled  was  not  calculated  from  its  location  and  the  liabits 
of  the  ])eople,  by  no  means  litiguous.  to  furnish  much  |)ractice,  and 
he  was  too  honest  to  promote  litigation;  and  furthermore,  he  had  no 
legal  adversary  tliere  exce])t  an  old  gentlemen  who  never  had  any 
more  legal  learning  than  was  necessar}'  for  a  Church  Warden,  and 
whose  ignorance  made  him  the  victim  of  Southmaxd's  merry  witch- 
ery and  innocent  cunning,  of  both  of  which  he  had  a  superabundatice, 
though  he  never  indulged  in  malicious,  or  even  very  serious  mischief, 
and  indeed  in  none  except  such  as  would  do  to  relate  for  the  purpose 
of  making  fun  in  merry  compan\ .  Anecdotes  of  that  description 
used  to  be  related  in  great  numbers.  .\s  a  pleader,  Mr.  Southmayd 
was  always  sure  to  have  all  in  his  drafts  which  was  recjuisite  and  per- 
tinent to  the  object  in  view,  and  in  all  his  declarations,  affording 
room  for  coloring  circumstances  to  be  inserted,  there  was  pretty  sure 
to  be  found,  slyly  slipped  in.  some  ingenious  slang  whang,  or  South- 
maydism,  as  we  used  to  call  it.  He  was  not  ambitious  of  arguing 
cases  in  Court,  but  when  he  did.  he  always  displayed  much  ingenuity, 
and  attracted  respectful  attention  from  the  audience  as  well  as  from 
the  triers.  And  before  arbitrators,  referees  and  committees  a  more 
formidable  opponent  could  hardly  be  found.  .\nd  although  his  prac- 
tice was  not  large,  and  as  was  observed  of  Mr.  Slosson  he  was  not 
among  the  leading  practitioners  at  the  Litchfield  Bar,  he  was  certain- 
ly a  very  respectable  lawyer,  upon  a  par  with  the  foremost  of  the  sec- 
ond class,  and  much  beloved  and  respected  by  all  whose  good 
opinions  are  desirable. 

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


52  i.ri\'in-ii:i.i)  (.or \T\'  r.i;N(,ii  and  \:.\h 

h'roin  wlial  1  liavt.'  been  saying'  of  Mr.  Sonthniavd  you  wiuild.  I 
presume,  be  ready  Id  conclude  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  cheerly 
and  hap))}-  of  men.  lUit  the  case  was  (hrectly  the  reverse,  and  (hninj.::: 
a  considerable  period  of  his  life,  and  that  too,  the  most  valuable  part 
of  it.  he  was  a  very  imhapi)y  man.  indeed,  and  I  have  no  doubt  he  had 
recourse  to  much  of  the  indulgence  of  that  ]K'culiar  ])ropensity  I  have 
attempted  to  describe  for  the  purpose  of  (lis])elling  a  mental  malady 
which  for  a  long  time  oppressed  and  preyed  upon  his  heart.  He  was 
for  many  years  the  victim  of  the  strongest  species  of  hypochondria 
that  ever  mortal  man  was.  It  never  showed  itself  in  long  fits  of  set- 
tled melancholy  or  monomania,  but  in  sudden  fits  and  starts.  After 
hours  <^f  cheerful  conversation,  and  while  in  entire  health,  he  would 
suddenly  complain  of  great  distress,  and  exhibit  unmistakable  evi- 
dence of  great  terror  and  ap]irehensions  of  immediate  dissolution. 
One  very  extraordinary  instance  I  will  relate.  He  and  I  had  been 
alone  many  hours,  conversing  and  reading  together,  and  he,  not  in 
the  least  complaining,  when  he  at  once  sprung  from  his  seat,  and  with 
a  scream  as  would  have  alarmed  me,  had  it  been  any  other  person, 
and  pressing  both  hands  upon  his  breast  he  exclaimed  that  lie  was 
going  to  die  immediately.  I  stepped  to  him  and  gently  and  calmly 
said  to  him,  "don't  be  alarmed,  you  are  not  going  to  die" — for  we 
never  treated  him  as  if  he  thought  his  distress  imaginary, — and  i)ut 
my  hand  gently  upon  him  to  lead  him  to  the  bed,  when  he  raised  one 
hand  from  his  breast  and  thrusting  his  finger  against  the  side  of  his 
head,  declared,  with  another  outcry  that  something  was  passing 
through  his  head.  I  persuaded  him  to  lie  down,  telling  him  the  feel- 
ing would  pass  ofif  in  a  few  minutes,  but  he  continued  to  groan  for 
some  time.  I,  knowing  what  would  cure  him.  took  up  and  began  to 
read  to  him  one  of  Ilurke's  finest  essays  which  lay  by  me.  and  turning 
to  a  passage  of  extraordinary  elo<:[uence  read  it ;  on  which  he  sprung 
up  on  end  in  the  bed.  and  exclaimed  "was  ever  anything  finer  than 
that!"  I  continued  on  reading,  and  in  the  course  of  half  an  hour  he 
was  well  and  cheerful  as  ever.  This  was  the  most  extraordinary  in- 
stance I  ever  saw  in  him,  but  those  in  a  degree  like  it  were  fre(pient. 
He  always  went  to  bed  an  hour  or  two  before  Slosson  and  I  did,  he 
saying  that  he  never  was  able  to  get  slee])  until  he  had  gone  through 
a  great  deal  of  such  feelings  as  he  never  would  attempt  to  describe. 

Mr.  Southmaxd  was  greatly  esteemed  in  his  native  town,  by.  T 
believe,  almost  every  one,  both  old  and  young.  He  was  early  in  life 
sent  to  the  legislature,  and  that  often,  and  was  so.  1  know,  the  last 
year  of  his  life.  He  died  of  lung  fever  in  March.  1813,  about  two 
months  after  the  death  of  his  friend  Slosson.  At  the  December 
Term,  1812,  the  three  who  had  so  long  occupied  the  same  room  in 
perfect  hann<in\.  were,  for  the  last  time  there  together.  At  the  I'eb- 
ruary  Term  of  the  Su])reme  Court.  Southmayd  and  I  occupied  it,  but 
felt  that  we  were  in  solitude,  and  in  the  next  term  it  seemed  to  me. 
most  em])hatically.  a  solitude,  and  more  like  a  family  vault  than  like 
an  abode  for  living  men.  and  I  believe  1  have  never  been  into  it  since. 


i'.oakdman's  sKK'rfni-:s  53 

Mr.  Soutliiiiavd  wa^  uii(liiul)tcill\  an  llolK•^t  aiul  iKiiKjraljlc  man, 
of  unconmion  i)U'asinL;  mainu  i>  and  niucli  belovcil,  and  I  never  liear<l 
that  lu'  had  an  cneniv.  Indi^d  {he  amenity  oi  his  manner  and  the 
gentleness  of  his  temi)er  ahin'sl  lorhadi-  it. 

The  family  to  which  Mr.  v^outhmayd  helim^ed  was  of  the  Con- 
greiiational  order,  and  two  of  Jiis  sisters  married  Conj^rei^ational 
clergymen,  lie,  ho\\e\er,  joined  himself  to  the  l%i)isco])al  cluirch  of 
which  he  was  a  memher  after  he  stilled  in  lift',  and  of  which.  I  be- 
lieve he  was  a  comnuniicanl,  hnl  am  not  sure.  lie  died  unmarried, 
and  I  believe  in  the  39th  or  40111  year  of  his  age. 


JOHN  COTTOX  SMITH. 

At  vour  request,  I  now  inform  you,  that  the  lion.  John  Cotton 
Smith. 'only  son  of  the  Rev.  Cotton  Mather  Smith  of  Sharon,  was 
born  there  on  the  12th  day  of  February,  lyC^S-  It  is  said  that  for  the 
first  six  vears  of  his  life  his  instruction  and  training  was  almost 
wholly  conducted  by  his  excellent  mother,  and  to  her  government 
and  precepts  he  is  said  to  have  attributed  much  of  his  extraordinary 
success  in  life.  His  common  school  education,  as  exhibited  in  after 
life,  must  have  been  of  the  most  exactly  accurate  kind.  His  class- 
ical instruction  preparator\-  to  entering  college,  was  commenced  at 
home,  and  completed  under  the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brinsmade 
of  Washington.  He  entered  Yale  College  in  September.  1779,  when 
between  fourteen  and  fifteen  years  of  age.  and  though  young,  main- 
tained a  high  standing  in  his  class,  as  ai)i)eared  by  the  share  he  had  m 
the  exercises  of  the  commencement  at  his  graduation,  the  ai)i)ointees 
being  less  than  one-fourth  of  the  entire  class.  Immediately  after  his 
graduation  in  September,  1783.  he  entered  as  a  law  student  in  the 
office  of  the  Hon.  John  Canfield  in  his  native  town,  and  there  con- 
tinued until  he  could  be  bv  law  admitted  to  the  T.ar,  which  was  in  the 
March  Term.  1786,  a  month  after  coming  to  tw^enty-one  years  of 
age :  and  Mr.  Canfield.  his  legal  preceptor,  having  died  a  few  luonths 
after  his  admission  to  the  Bar,  a  large  portion  of  business  for  a  long 
time  habitually  flowing  for  management  to  Mr.  Canfield's  oHice.  he 
having  for  manv  years  been  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  County, 
Mr.  Smith's  commencement  in  business  was  thereby  attended  by  for- 
tunate circumstances,  and  he  improved  them  with  bcconnng  industry, 
and  from  the  verv  first  found  himself  in  a  lucrative  i)ractioe.  which 
continued  to  increase  until  called  into  absorbing  public  business. 
He  was  first  elected  to  the  legislature  in  1793  and  fre([uently  after- 
wards :  indeed,  from  1796  to  October.  1800  he  was  constantly  a  mem- 
ber, and  during  the  two  sessions  of  1800  was  speaker  of  the  house, 
and  while  occupying  that  station  in  the  October  session  he  was  m- 
formed  bv  the  Goveror  that  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress 
to  fill  a  vacancy  which  had  occurred  f(^r  the  then  aiM'roaching  last 


54  i.nxii  i-ii;i.i)  (.oiNTN    i:i:ncii  .wd  wwi 

sessiciii  of  the  Sixth  C'Diii^rcss.  ami  also  for  the  full  term  of  the 
Seventh  C'on^ress  ;  soon  after  whieh  information,  he  resigned  the 
ehair  in  the  house,  and  returned  home  to  prepare  for  assuming"  his 
newly  assigned  duties.  It  so  happened  that  the  extra  session  to 
Avhich  he  had  heen  ehosen  was  that,  which,  h\-  law.  was  to  be  holden 
at  the  new  City  of  Washington,  whither  he  repaired  and  served 
through  that  term,  and  tiie  Seventh  Congress  ;  was  re-elected  to  the 
lughth  and  again  tt)  the  Ninth  Congress,  at  the  exi)iration  of  the 
Ninth  Congress  lie  declined  any  further  elections  to  that  honoral)lc 
l)ody.  During  his  congressional  career  he  did  not  participate  much 
in  debate,  but  his  fine  talent  at  presiding  was  early  discovered,  and 
caused  him  frequently  to  be  called  to  the  chair  when  the  House  was 
in  committee  of  the  whole,  and  he  thus  presided  during  some  of  the 
most  memorable  debates  which  distinguished  those  days.  He  was 
during  all  but  the  first  session,  a  member  of  the  committee  of  claims 
while  in  Congress,  and  during  the  Eighth  and  Ninth  Congress  at 
the  head  of  that  committee,  though  in  the  minority.  In  May,  1809, 
Mr.  Smith  was  appointed  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  which  he 
resigned  in  May.  181 1,  on  being  elected  Lieutenant-Governor;  in 
May,  1S13  he  was  elected  Governor,  and  re-elected  to  that  office  until 
1818,  when,  a  political  revolution  having  taken  place,  he  retired 
finall}'  from  public  life.  His  administration  of  the  gubernatorial 
office  embraced  the  greater  part  of  the  war  of  18 12  and  181 5,  and 
his  duties  in  all  respects  were  performed  with  dignity,  propriety 
and  grace. 

After  his  retirement  to  private  life  much  of  his  time  was  devoted 
to  religious  studies,  and  his  eminent  Christian  and  literary  accom- 
plishments being  extensively  known  and  ap])reciated  he  was  selected 
as  the  first  president  of  the  Connecticut  IWble  Society  on  its  estab- 
lishment. In  1826  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  and  in  1831  i)resident  of  the 
American  Bible  Society.  In  181 5  he  received  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 
As  old  age  pressed  upon  him  his  hearing  became  impaired,  and  he 
never  would  suiTer  himself  to  hold  i^ublic  stations  when  he  could  not 
perform  all  their  duties  with  becoming  grace,  he  resigned  all  his 
posts  of  honor,  and  on  the  7th  day  of  December  he  died  in  the  8ist 
year  of  his  age. 

In  an  eulogy  delivered  before  the  Connecticut  liistt)rical  Society 
b\  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Andrews,  then  of  Kent,  soon  after  the  decease  of 
Mr.  Smith,  giving  a  concise  but  elo(|uent  historical  sketch  of  his  life 
and  character,  stating  that  he  was  admitted  to  the  l'>ar  in  Litchfield 
Countv,  and  observing  that  at  the  time  there  was  no  bar  in  the  state 
which  presented  a  more  splendid  array  of  legal  forensic  talents  than 
this,  ])roceeds  to  state  the  standing  which  he  at  maturity  acquired,  in 
the  following  words  quoted,  as  he  sax's.  from  the  communication  of  a 
well  informed  com])etent  judge,  long  ac<|uainle(l  wiili  Mr.  Smith  at 
the  bar: — "He  was  esteemed,  and  justly  so.  an  acciu-ate  pleader,  and 
a  well  read  and  learned  lawyer,  and  though  some  of  those  alluded  to 


i;(i AK'HM AN  s  ^Ki. riiii;>  55 

cxcce(k'(l  him  in  I'mw  ami  |Mi|)ularity  a^  an  advocaU-,  iidik-  of  tliem 
surpassed,  and  in  my  jud,nnK'iU.  none  of  them  equalled  him  in  i^racc 
of  manner  and  elegance  of  diction  and  utterance.'" 

l^arly  in  life  Gov.  Smith  n)arried  Miss  .Marj:(aret  Everson  of 
Amenia,  X.  ^  ..  a  vonnj^'  lad}-  of  man\  accomplislnnents,  who  lived 
to  old  age.  The  issue  of  this  marriage  was  onl\  one  chiM,  William 
M.  Smith,  lvs(|.,  of  Sharon,  a  gentleman  much  esteemed  for  his 
man\-  virtues  and  eminent  piety.  A  grandson  bearing  his  name  is 
now  the  ^Minister  resident  of  the  I 'nited  States  to  the  coiu't  of 
r>olivia.  South  America. 


NATHANIEL     SMITH. 

(from  IfoUisfcr's  History  of  Connecticut.) 

"I  received  a  line  from  my  friend.  General  Sedgwick,  stating 
that  is  was  your  desire  that  he  would  ask  of  me,  in  your  behalf,  to 
furnish  you  with  some  facts  in  relation  to  the  late  Nathaniel  Smith, 
and  my  views  of  his  character,  which  might  be  of  use  to  you  in  the 
])reparation  of  the  work  }ou  have  in  hand. 

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

•A\'hen  T  first  went  to  the  Law  School  in  Litchfield,  which  was 
in  die  fall  of  1793.  Mr.  Smith  though  not  over  thirty  years  old.  was 
in  full  practice,  and  engaged  in  almost  every  cause  of  any  imi)ortance. 
Indeed,  he  was  said  to  have  established  a  higb  rcpntati(^n  for  talents 
in  the  first  cause  he  argued  in  the  higher  courts.  It  was  upon  a  trial 
f(^r  manslaughter,  which  arose  in  his  native  town,  and  in  which  lie 
a])])eared  as  umior  counsel,  and  astonished  the  court,  the  bar.  and  all 
who  heard  him.  Xot  long  afterwards,  in  the  celebrated  case  of  Jed- 
ediah  Strong  and  wife,  before  the  General  Assembly.  (  she  having  aji- 
plied  for  a  divorce),  he  greatly  distinguished  himself  again,  and  thus 
became  known  throughout  the  state  as  a  young  lawyer  of  the  first 
promise  :  and  the  reputation  thus  early  acquired  was  never  suffered 


56  i.rrni  i-iij.D  cointn'   i;i:\cii   and  i;.\r 

to  laltor.  hill  on  llir  other  liaiul,  steadily  increased  in  streni^'th  until 
his  elexation  to  the  bench. 

■' During-  my  stay  in  Litchfield,  and  after  my  admission  to  the 
bar,  1  of  course  saw  Ah-.  Smith,  and  heard  him  in  almost  all  the  im- 
portant cases  there;  and  as  1  was  located  in  the  south-west  corner 
town  in  the  county,  adjoining-  Fairtield.  1  almost  immediately  obtain- 
ed some  business  which,  thougli  small,  was  such  as  during  nearly  all 
my  professional  life  caused  me  to  attend  the  courts  in  that  county, 
where  I  found  Mr.  Smith  as  fully  engaged  and  as  highly  esteemed  as 
in  his  own  county.  In  Xew  Haven  I  also  knew  he  had  a  very  con- 
siderable practice. 

"It  is  worthy  also  to  be  observed,  in  forming  an  estimate  of  Mr. 
Smith's  professional  talent  and  character,  that  there  never  at  any 
period  was  an  abler  bar  in  Connecticut,  than  during  his  practice.  In 
Litchfield  county,  were  Judge  Reeve,  Judge  Adams,  General  Tracy, 
John  Allen,  Judge  Gould.  X.  B.  Benedict,  and  otiiers  ;  at  the  Fairfield 
county  bar,  were  Pierpont  Edwards,  Judge  Ingersoll.  and  Judge 
Daggett,  constantly  from  Xew  Haven,  Judge  Edmonds,  S.  1).  Sher- 
wood, R.  j\I.  Sherman,  Judge  Chapman,  and  Governor  Bissell ;  and 
in  New  Haven,  besides  the  three  above  named,  were  James  Hillhouse, 
Judge  Baldwin,  and  others. 

"As  I  suppose  it  not  probable  that  you  ever  saw  Judge  Smith, 
as  he  ceased  to  attend  courts  in  18 19.  and  died  when  you  was  very 
young,  I  will  observe,  what  you  have  doubtless  heard,  that  he  was  a 
large  and  fine  appearing  man.  much  of  the  same  complexion  of  the 
Hon.  Truman  Smith,  his  nephew\  with  whom  you  are  all  so  well  ac- 
quainted ;  less  tall  than  he,  but  of  rather  fuller  habit.  His  face  was 
not  only  the  index  of  high  capacity  and  solid  judgment,  but  uncom- 
monly handsome ;  his  hair  was  dark  and  thin,  though  not  to  baldness, 
except  on  the  fore  part  of  the  head,  and  was  very  slightly  sprinkled 
with  gray.  His  fine,  dark  eyes,  were  remarkably  pleasing  and  gentle 
in  ordinarv  intercourse,  but  very  variable,  always  kindling  when  high- 
ly excited  in  debate,  they  became  almost  oppressive.  His  voice  was 
excellent,  being  both  powerful  and  harmonious,  and  never  broke  un- 
der any  exertion  of  its  capacity.  His  manner  was  very  ardent  and 
the  seeming  dictate  of  a  strong  conviction  of  the  justice  of  his  cause ; 
and  his  gestures  were  the  natural  expression  of  such  a  conviction. 
.Mr.  Smith's  style  was  pure  and  genuine  Saxon,  with  no  attempt  at 
classic  ornament  or  allusion.  His  train  of  reasoning  was  lucid  and 
direct,  and  evincive  of  the  fact  that  the  whole  of  it  was  like  a  map 
spread  out  in  his  mind's  eye  from  the  beginning.  His  integritN'  was 
always  felt  and  dreaded  by  his  opponent.  He  s])oke  with  nnicli 
fluency,  but  with  no  undue  rapidity ;  he  never  hesitated  for  or  Iwi^- 
i^lcd  at  a  word,  nor  did  he  ever  tire  his  audience  with  undue  prolixity, 
or  omit  to  do  full  justice  to  his  case  for  fear  of  tiring  them;  and  in- 
deed there  was  little  danger  of  it.  Though  certainly  a  very  fine 
si)eaker,   he   never  achieved  or  aspired  to  those   strains  of  almost 


IKJAKDM  AN  S  SKI'.TCIIl'.S  37 

superhuman  cl()(|uencc'  with  which  his  old  master  Reeve,  sometimes 
electrified  and  astonished  his  au(hcnce,  and  yet,  in  ordinary  cases, 
he  was  the  most  correct  speaker  of  the  two — tiiouj^h  Judj^e  Reeve 
was.  and  he  was  not.  a  scholar.  Mr.  Smith,  thouj^^h  (|uite  unassum- 
ing", and  often  recedin*;;'  in  common  intercourse  and  conversation,  was, 
when  heated  in  ar.^ument.  it  must  he  confessed,  often  overhearing  to 
the  adverse  party,  and.  not  only  them,  hut  to  their  counsel.  I'jjon 
all  other  occasions,  he  api)eared  to  he,  and  1  helieve  was.  a  very  kind 
hearted,  aj^reeable  and  pleasant  man.  To  me,  he  always  so  a])peare<l, 
and  I  have  been  much  in  his  com])any. 

"Mr.  Smith  came  early  into  public  life,  and  was  fre(|ueiuly  elect- 
ed to  the  General  Assem])ly  from  Woodbury.  In  1795,  he  was  elect- 
ed a  member  of  the  fourth  Congress  ;  and  in  1797,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  fifth  Congress;  but  declined  further  election.  In  May.  1799.  he 
was  made  an  assistant,  and  was  re-elected  for  the  five  following 
years,  when  he  resigned  his  seat  at  that  board  in  consequence  of  the 
passage  of  the  act  in  1803.  prohibiting  the  members  of  the  then  Su- 
preme Court  of  Errors  from  practicing  before  the  Court,  lie  re- 
mained in  full  i)ractice  at  the  bar  until  ( )ctober,  1806.  when  he  was 
elected  a  judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  and  continued  to  fill  that  office 
until  May.  18 19.  when  the  judiciary  establishment  of  that  year  went 
into  operation  ;  from  which  time  he  remained  in  private  life  until 
his  death. 

"In  every  public  station  in  which  Mr.  Smith  was  placed,  he  dis- 
tinguished himself.  He  did  so  in  Congress,  at  a  time  when  our  rep- 
resentation was  as  able.  perha])s.  as  it  ever  has  been,  and  when  the 
character  of  the  house  to  which  he  belonged  was  far  higher  than  it 
now  is.  In  the  Superior  Court  he  was  certainly  very  greatly  res])ect- 
ed  and  admired,  as  an  able  and  perfectly  upright  judge. 

"In  private  life  his  name  was  free  from  reproach.  .\  strictly 
honest  and  pure  life,  free  from  any  of  those  little  blemishes  which 
often  mar  the  fame  of  distinguished  men,  may.  I  think,  be  fairly 
claimed  by  his  biographer  to  be  his  due.  .As  a  husband,  a  j^arent.  a 
friend,  a  neighbor,  a  moralist  and  a  christiati.  I  believe  few  have  left 
a  more  faultless  name." 


No.Mi  r.KXN'ET  p,i;xi:dict. 

In  further  compliance  with  your  late  request.  I  now  place  at  y<xir 
disposal  some  account  of  the  life,  character  and  standing  of  another 
highly  esteemed  member  of  the  Litchfield  County  Bar. 

The  Hon.  Xoah  Rennet  Benedict  was  a  native  of  Woodbury,  in 
which  he  resided  during  his  whole  life.  He  was  the  son  of  the  Rev. 
Noah  Benedict,  long  the  i)astor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church 
in  that  town.     Mr.  Benedict's  earlv  school  education  must  have  been 


58  i,iT(.iii'ii:i.i)  c()rNr>-  i;i;ncii  and  bar 

correct  and  g-ood.  as  its  fruits  invariably  showed  itself  in  after  life. 
He  ^'■raduated  at  Yale  L\)lle<ie  in  September.  1788.  when  a  little  short 
of  ei.u'hteen  years  of  aj^'e.  I  lis  lej^al  studies  coninienced  sotni  after  his 
graduation,  which  were.  1  believe,  pursued  principally,  if  not  wholly, 
in  the  oflice  of  his  brother-in-law,  Nathaniel  Smith,  afterwards  so 
highly  distinguished  as  a  jurist,  which  was  near  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Benedict's  father.  As  soon  as  he  arrived  to  lawful  age  Mr.  Benedict 
came  to  the  liar,  and  for  the  remainder  of  his  life,  to  wit:  about 
thirty-nine  years,  it  is  believed  he  never  failed  to  attend  every  regular 
session  of  the  Courts  holden  at  Litchfield  ;  and  though  he  never  habit- 
ually attended  Courts  in  other  counties,  he  occasionally  did  so  for  the 
purpose  of  arguing  a  particular  case.  During  the  long  course  of  his 
practice  Mr.  Benedict  had  an  ample  share  of  business,  and  for  the 
latter  half  of  that  period,  he  was,  especially  in  the  Superior  Court,  the 
leading  advocate,  on  one  side  or  the  other,  in  most  of  the  trials  either 
to -the  court  or  to  the  jury.  Jrlis  management  of  a  trial  was  discreet, 
his  argument  sound."  sensible^  and  being  aided  by  the  well  known  and 
generally  esteemed  integrity  of  his  character,  had  their  due  effect. 
He  never  attempted  to  play  the  orator  or  to  attract  attention  by  fine 
turned  periods,  but  contented  himself  with  plain  reasoning,  of  which 
he  was  no  indifferent  master. 

At  a  very  early  period  Mr.  Benedict  was  a  member  of  the  legisla- 
ture. But  the  political  majority  of  the  voters  in  Woodbury  becom- 
ing about  this  time  and  for  long  afterwards  decidedly  democratic, 
proved  an  effectual  bar  to  his  political  promotion,  as  far  as  depended 
upon  that  town,  but  by  the  vote  of  the  State  at  large  he  was  elected 
in  1813  one  of  the  twelve  assistants,  (as  they  were  then  styled,  who 
composed  the  Upper  House  of  the  assembly),  and  was  re-elected  the 
two  following  years;  but  in  the  year  1818  an  entire  political  revolu- 
tion took  place  in  Connecticut,  and  Mr.  Benedict  shared  the  fate  of 
almost  every  one  who  held  anv  post  of  dignit\'  or  profit  depending 
upon  the  ])ublic  suffrage  at  large  in  the  State.  \  le  was  subseciuently 
manv  years  later  elected  once  more  to  the  Lower  House.  He  was 
also  for  several  years  judge  of  P^robate  for  the  District  of  Woodbury, 
an  appointment  then  depending  upon  the  legislature,  ^fr.  Benedict 
was  twice  married,  but  left  no  living  issue.  He  died  in  June  or  July 
1831.  at  the  age  of  sixty,  or  in  his  sixtieth  year. 

In  private  life  Mr.  Benedict  was  entirely  unassuming,  and  a  very 
pleasing  comi)ani()n  to  all  who  could  relish  purity  of  moral  character 
and  conduct,  which  his  whole  life  was  an  eminent  example:  his  feel- 
ings were  peculiarly  sensitive  and  delicate  ;  a  loose  or  profane  expres- 
sion never  escaped  his  lips,  and  indeed  so  fastidi(nis  was  he  in  res])ect 
to  the  former,  that  it  used  to  l)e  a  matter  of  amusement  with  his  less 
scru])ulous  associates  in  jocose  conversation,  to  tease  his  feminine 
delicacv  upon  such  subjects.  Though  when  alone  and  inioccu])ied 
he  had  a  ])ro]iensity  to  indulge  in  somewhat  gloomy  rcHections,  \et 
he  was  not  averse  to  participate  in  facetious  conversation  when  due 


XoAii  Bexxkt  Bexedict 
From  an  old  Painting:. 


i:(»  \ui)M.\\'s  sKKTi  II i;s  59 

delicacy  was  observed.     He  had  a  profound  respect  for  rtli^ion  and 
was  in  all  respects  a  _i;orn/.  a  x'cry  i:^ood  inaii. 

Mr.  Benedict  was  of  somewhat  less  than  inidlinj^  size,  <jf  a  nie<li- 
uni  complexion,  but  his  eyes  and  hair  rather  dark. 


T.VMKS  C.ori.l). 


In  compliance,  in  part,  with  a  re(|uest  recently  received  from  you. 
I  now  send  you  a  brief  and  imperfect  sketch  of  the  literary  and  pro- 
fessional character,  standini;-  and  reputation  of  the  Hon.  James  C'.ould. 
who  for  a  very  considerable  period  of  time  contributed  much  to  the 
fame  of  the  County  and  State  for  leg:al  science,  by  his  talents  as  an 
advocate  and  especially  as  an  instructor  and  as  a  judg'e  of  the  Supe- 
rior Court;  with  some  account  of  his  person  and  family.  Mr.  Could 
the  son  of  Dr.  William  Could,  an  eminent  physician,  was  born  at 
Hranford  in  this  State  in  the  year  1770.  The  goodness  of  his  com- 
mon school  education  is  inferable  from  the  perfect  accuracy  of  it, 
which  showed  itself  in  all  he  did  or  said  in  after  life.  He  graduated 
when  a  little  over  twenty-one,  at  Yale  College,  in  September,  1791. 
with  distinguished  honor  in  a  class  distinguished  for  talents. 

The  vear  next  following  his  collegiate  course  he  spent  in  Balti- 
more  as  a  teacher.  He  then  returned  to  Xew  Haven  and  commenced 
the  study  of  law  with  Judge  Chauncey  ;  and  in  September  of  that 
\ear  he  was  chosen  a  tutor  in  Yale  College,  in  which  office  he  contin- 
ued two  years.  He  then  joined  the  Law  School  of  Mr.  Reeve  at 
Litchfield  and  was  soon  after  admitted  to  the  Bar.  Immediately  af- 
ter his  admission  to  the  15ar  he  opened  an  office  for  i)ractice  in  that 
town,  where  he  resided  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

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

Fortunate  circumstances  concurring  a  few  years  before  his  choice 
of  Litchfield  as  a  field  of  his  professional  labors,  in  the  removal  by 
promotion  of  two  very  distinguished  practitioners  at  the  Bar.  ojxMied 
the  way  to  such  a  choice,  and  by  like  good  fortune  a  similar  event  re- 
moved one  of  the  two  only  remaining  obstructions  in  that  town  to  his 
full  share  in  the  best  business  as  an  advocate,  the  only  business  to 
which  he  aspired.  As  a  reasoner  Mr.  Gould  was  forcible,  lucid  and 
logical :  as  a  speaker  his  voice  was  very  pleasant  and  his  language 
pure,  clear  and  always  appropriate.  He  never  aspired  to  high  strains 
of  impassioned  eloquence,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  addressed  himself  to  the 
passions  of  the  Court  and  Jury,  but  to  their  understanding  only,  and 


6o  I.lTclll-lKl.n   COUNTY    I'.KNCIl    AND    HAR 

was  a  very  able,  pleasiiiij  and  successful  advocate.  His  arj^ument  was 
a  fair  maj)  of  the  case,  and  one  sometimes  ens^a^ed  ag^ainst  him.  but 
feelino-  his  superiority,  observed,  that  he  had  rather  have  Gould 
ag-ainst  him  in  a  case,  than  any  other  of  any  where  equal  powers, 
because  he  could  perfectly  understand  his  argument,  and  if  suscepti- 
ble of  an  answer  could  know  how  to  apply  it  Tn  his  j^ractice  at  the 
Bar  he  was  always  ])erfectly  fair  and  honorable.  Within  some  two  or 
three  years  after  Mr.  Gould  commenced  practice,  Mr.  Reeve,  the 
founder  and  until  that  time  the  sole  instructor  of  the  Litchfield  Law 
School,  accepted  a  seat  upon  the  bench  of  the  Superior  Court.  This 
Court  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  give  up  the  school,  or  to  associate 
some  one  with  him  in  its  management,  and  to  deliver  lectures  in  his 
absence  upon  the  circuits.  The  Judge  selected  Air.  Gould  as  that 
associate;  and  for  a  number  of  \ears  they  jointly  conducted  and  re- 
ceived the  pupils  of  the  School :  and  on  the  final  retiring  of  Judge 
Reeve  from  any  participation  in  the  instruction  of  the  School,  Mr. 
Gould  became  its  sole  instructor  and  so  continued  until  elevated  to 
the  bench  of  the  Superior  Court  in  the  spring  of  1816.  when  he  in 
turn  had  to  have  recourse  to  temporary  aid  for  the  short  time  he  re- 
mained on  the  bench.  lUit  a  thorough  political  Revolution  having 
taken  place  in  this  State,  and  a  new  constitution  formed  which  entire- 
ly new  modeled  the  courts  of  law,  Mr.  Gould  took  no  further  share 
in  public  employments :  and  his  health  being  greatly  impaired,  he 
never  resumed  practice  at  the  Bar.  but  confined  himself  wholly  to  his 
School  during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  as  far  as  severe  infirmities 
would  permit.  He  died,  as  appears  bv  the  College  catalogue,  in 
1838. 

in  person  Mr.  Gould  was  very  handsome.  Of  about  medium 
heighth.  or  perhaps  a  little  over  ;  but  rather  less  in  l)0(ly  and  limbs 
than  medium  size.  His  complexion  fair,  with  fine  dark  eyes  and 
beautiful  brown  hair;  all  his  features  good  and  in  connection  indica- 
tive of  much  intelligence  and  good  nature,  and  his  form  for  symmetry 
and  gracefulness  could  hardly  have  been  mended  ;  and  in  all  respects. 
in  body,  mind  and  education,  he  nia\'  ])e  fairly  stxied  a  finished  man. 
In  private  and  social  intercourse  he  was  highlv  pleasing,  facetious 
and  witty. 

Soon  aftei-  his  settlement  in  Litchfield  he  married  the  eldest 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  I'riali  Tracw  so  well  known  for  liis  long  and 
distinguished  service  in  the  councils  of  the  stale  and  nation. 

Mrs.  Gould  in  person  and  mind  was  a  fit  wife  for  such  a  husband, 
and  ])artook  with  him  in  the  hapjMness  of  raising  a  very  numerous 
and   pronnsing   family  of  children. 

Judge  Gould  wrote  and  published  a  volume  of  Pleadings,  which 
together  with  his  fame  as  an  instructor,  gave  him  a  distinguished 
name  among  the  eminent  jurists  of  the  countrw 


BOAUDMAN  S  SK  I'. Tc  IJ  KS  /)| 


ASA 


Aj^^ain  in  compliance  with  your  later  rcfiucst  for  further  sketches 
of  the  lives  and  profesional  standing;  of  the  f(jniier  niemhers  of  the 
Litchfield  County  liar  I  transmit  you  a  name  which,  thouj^di  not  dec- 
orated by  the  civic  honors  annexed  to  some  of  them.  1  think  hij^dily 
worthy  of  a  j^lace  in  the  series. 

Asa  JJacon,  the  son  of  a  very  respectable  ami  somewhat  opulent 
farmer  of  Canterbury  in  this  State,  was  born  iliere  on  the  8th  dav  of 
February.  1771.  ilis  early  school  and  classical  education  was  had 
in  that  and  neighborin|L;-  towns  in  Windham  County  so  far  as  was 
necessary  to  a  ])re])aration  t(»r  entering-  ^'ale  CoUe.^e.  which  he  did 
in  September.  1789  ;  and  during-  liis  collej^iate  course,  sustained  a  verv 
prominent  standing-  in  his  class  ;  and  by  his  instructor  and  class-mates 
was  marked  out  as  one  who  would  make  a  distinguished  figure  in  the 
profession  in  which  his  talents  and  turn  of  mind  ])lainly  indicated 
would  be  his  choice.  Immediately  after  his  graduation  in  Sei)lember. 
1793.  lit'  entered  the  otlice  of  Cen.  Cleaveland  in  his  nali\e  town  as  a 
Law-student,  and  there  remained  about  six  months  and  then  joined 
the  Law  school  at  Litchfield,  at  that  time,  and  for  long  before,  under 
the  sole  instruction  of  Tapping  Reeve.  Esq.,  afterwards  Judge  Reeve, 
in  which  he  remained  until  aclmittcd  to  the  Bar  in  September.  1795. 
Soon  after  which,  without  consulting-  anybody  or  taking  a  single  let- 
ter of  which  he  might  for  asking  obtained  any  (piantitv  of  tlie  best 
sort,  wdth  characteristic  boldness  and  love  of  adventure  in  vouth.  he 
left  Connecticut  for  Virginia  with  a  determination  of  establishing 
himself  in  the  practice  of  law  in  ilu-  latter  state:  an  attemjit.  it  is  be- 
lieved never  before  made  b\  any  one  from  Connecticut.  In  order  to 
the  accomplishment  of  which  object,  he  found  on  arrival  in  \  irginia 
that  he  had  got  to  obtain  a  license  from  a  majority  of  the  judges  of 
the  Supreme  Court  in  that  state,  and  that  too  by  visiting  them  at  their 
respective  residences :  for  they  were  not  in  the  practice  of  examining 
and  licensing  candidates  during  the  session  of  the  court.  This  sub- 
jected him  to  the  trouble  and  expense  of  traveling  over  a  great  ]iart 
of  the  state ;  anci  this  being  accomplished,  he  determined  to  fix  him- 
self at  Leesburg.  the  capital  of  Loudon  county,  and  he  accordingly 
opened  an  office  for  practice  there ;  and  being  aided  by  a  fine  and 
imposing  personal  appearance  and  promptness  in  manners,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  a  fair  and  encouraging  portion  of  the  business, 
and  there  remained  for  nearly  three  years,  when,  on  returning  to 
Connecticut  to  visit  his  relations,  he  found  the  prospects  of  profes- 
sional business  in  his  native  county  to  be  such  as.  in  connection  with 
a  natural  preference  for  Connecticut  societv  to  that  of  \'irginia.  to 
induce  him  to  renounce  his  connection  with  his  new  formed  estab- 
lishment and  o]:)en  an  office  in  his  native  town,  and  this  he  did  not 
only  with  such  success  as  speedily  to  secure  him  a  fair  professional 
business,  but  also  to  induce  four  young  gentlemen  to  enter  his  otlice 


62  l.lTt-  III-IKI.I)   CDL  NTV    UKNCU    AND    T.AR 

for  k\2:al  instruction,  upon  a  plan  which  lie  adopted;  three  of  whom 
were  from  Massacliusetts,  and  (Mie  a  meml)er  of  Coui^ress  from  the 
state  of  Xew  York. 

After  a  prosperous  practice  of  t)ver  seven  years  in  Windham 
County,  he  received  an  invitation  from  the  Hon.  John  Allen,  then  at 
the  head  of  {practice  in  the  larger  county  of  Litchfield,  to  remove 
there  and  hecome  his  partner  in  business.  This  he  accepted,  and 
was  probably  in  a  measure  induced  so  to  do  from  the  pros])ect  that 
Mr.  Allen  would,  on  account  of  declinini^'  health,  wholly  retire  from 
the  r>ar  at  no  very  distant  period;  and  this  in  fact  happened  at  a 
time  earlier  than  was  desirable.  P»y  means  of  his  connection  with 
IMr.  Allen,  and  of  a  peculiar  faculty  of  his  own,  Mr.  Bacon  soon 
(^l)tained  an  ample  and  satisfactory  share  of  the  business  done  at  the 
Litchheld  County  P>ar,  and  by  his  faithfulness  and  zeal  in  the  man- 
agement of  it  he  retained  it  for  many  years  to  his  great  satisfaction, 
for  he  was  very  fond  of  his  profession.  No  man  more  thoroughly 
identified  himself  with  the  interests  of  his  client,  insomuch  that  he 
could  hardly  bring  himself  to  doubt  of  the  justice  of  his  cause,  how- 
ever he  might  of  the  legal  means  of  obtaining  it ;  hence  his  utmost 
exertions  were  sure  to  be  put  forth  for  the  attainment  of  it.  In  un- 
tiring industry  in  the  preparation  of  a  cause  for  trial  no  man  ex- 
celled him.  He  was  an  able,  and  when  the  nature  of  the  case  al- 
lowed of  it.  an  elocjuent  advocate.  Until  some  sixty  years  old  he 
was  in  full  practice,  almost  never  being  in  any  degree  diverted  from 
it  by  political  aspirations.  Rut  repeated  i^neumoniac  attacks  of  a 
threatening  nature  in  the  autumn  of  the  year  1832  admonished  him 
of  the  danger  of  much  public  speaking,  and  induced  him  to  retire 
from  the  Bar  as  soon  as  it  could  conveniently  be  done.  While  in 
practice,  his  untiring  diligence  in  the  preparation  of  his  causes  for 
trial,  the  learning,  wit  and  force  of  reasoning  was  so  satisfactory 
to  his  numerous  clients,  that  it  was  not  remembered  that  any  one 
who  once  employed  him  ever  forsook  him  when  in  after  time  he  had 
occasion  for  legal  advice. 

After  the  close  of  his  practice  of  law,  and  indeed  long  before 
that  event,  Mr.  Bacon  paid  much  attention  to  pecuniary  affairs,  and 
his  skill  and  judgment  in  the  management,  led  to  his  appoinment 
as  ])resident  of  the  branch  of  the  Phcenix  P)ank  located  at  Litchfield, 
which  he  held  for  a  number  of  years.  lUit  his  cautit)us  policy  in  the 
management  of  it  proved  unsatisfactory  to  some  of  the  stockliolders, 
but  more  particularly  with  the  managers  at  head  quarters. 

As  a  man.  a  mere  ])rivate  individual,  Mr.  ]^)acon  will  be  agreed 
by  all  who  ever  knew  him  to  have  been  a  very  peculiar  man,  both  in 
ap])earance  and  in  manner,  lie  was  full  six  feet  two  inches  high; 
well  formed  for  ap])earance  ;  neither  too  fleshy  nor  too  spare;  and 
his  inexhaustible  fund  of  pleasant  wit,  judiciously  used,  made  him 
an  agreeal)le  companion  to  both  sexes  and  all  ages :  and  having  in 
himself  an  uncommon  elasticity  of  s])irits  he  was  fitted  to  enjoy  life 


;  .r4l^:?^^:a> 


^ 


i;(i.\Kl»\L AN's  SKI','1'1  iii>  63 

ami  li>  impart  lo  nilnTs  its  fnjdyiiu'iu  in  an  (.•niiiiciii  deforce.  ( )n 
mail}'  accounts,  and  indeed  on  innsl  accounts,  Mr.  Ilacon  niav  be 
said  to  1)0  a  fortunate  man,  l)ui  on  otliers,  had  it  not  been  for  bis 
peculiar  buoyancy  ol   si)irit>,  a   \er\    unfortunate  man. 

In  .March,  1X07,  he  married  .Miss  l.ucretia  Champion  the  onlv 
daui^iiter  of  the  1  Ion.  I'",])aphr(  mHius  C'hampii  in,  of  h'.ast  I  laddam.  wiio 
still  survi\es  him  :  and  never  was  a  man  ihroui^h  a  lonjj;-  married  life 
of  half  a  century,  more  ha])py  in  the  conju|L;al  connection.  'iMiis  niar- 
rias^'c  was  blessed  by  the  l)irth  of  three  sons  of  uncommon  ])roiuise, 
but  all  of  them  were  cut  d(->\vn  in  early  manhood:  not.  however,  until 
each  had  .i;i\en  decided  i)roof  of  natural  and  accpu'red  ca])acitv. 
Three  daui^hlers  were  also  the  fruit  of  that  maria^c.  but  all  died  in 
early  infancy. 

Quite  a  number  of  years  since,  Mr.  IJacon  disposed  of  his  pro])er- 
ty  in  Litchfield  and  removed  to  Xew  Haven,  where  he  s])cnt  the  re- 
mainder of  his  Ioul;-  and  useful  life,  and  dit'(l  in  the  full  ])ossession  of 
his  mental  faculties  when  but  two  days  short  of  eighty-six  years  of 
ag"e.  No  one  ever  cpiestioned  his  integrity.  He  was  a  professor 
of  religion,  and  is  believed  to  have  lived  in  accordance  with  his  pro- 
fession. He  died  in  the  possession  of  an  ample  estate,  in  a  great 
degree  the  fruit  of  his  discreet  management,  and  out  of  which,  it  is 
but  justice  to  his  memory  to  state,  he  made  a  donation  to  \a\e  Col- 
lege of  ten  thousand  dollars. 


IvI.lSllA    sri'.Ki.ixc. 

Gen.  Elisha  Sterling  of  Salisbur\-,  who  was  for  a  long  time  a 
very  respectable  member  of  the  Litchfield  I'ouuly  liar,  was  a  native 
of  Lyme  in  this  State,  where  he  received  his  training  and  early  edu- 
cation, until  he  became  a  member  of  Yale  College,  of  the  class  which 
graduated  in  September,  t/S^:  and  that  he  sustained  a  good  stand- 
ing in  it  is  evinced  by  his  having  an  honorary  share  in  its  commence- 
ment exercises.  Lnmediately  after  his  graduation  he  assumeil  the 
charge  of  an  academy,  then  recentl}-  established  in  Sharon ;  and 
during  the  two  years  while  it  was  under  his  management  and  tu- 
ition, it  became  verv  thoroughly  established  and  very  extensively 
and  popularly  known.  While  at  the  head  of  the  academy  he  pursued 
the  study  of  Law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1789  or  1790,  and 
immediately  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Salisbury  where  he  continued  to  reside  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  very  fortunate  in  his  place  of  settlement,  and  soon 
found  himself  engaged  in  lucrative  practice,  which  he  pursued  witli 
much  industry  for  a  long  time ;  and  it  is  believed  that  very  few 
lawvers  have  bv  the  mere  practice  of  their  profession  in  Connecti- 
cut acquired  a  larger  ])roi)ert\-  than   he  did.      lie   was  at  an   early 


64  i.TTCiTriKi.i)  coiN'rv  i;i;ncii  and  har 

])eri(i(l  Ity  the  Count}  (.\)urt  appDintod  Attoniry  for  the  State  in  that 
County,  and  by  tlieni  (to  whom  alone  tlie  ri^lit  of  that  a])pointment 
then  pertained.)  annually  reajipointed  for  many  years,  and  until  a 
])olitieal  change  in  a  majorit\  of  tliat  Court  led  to  a  change  in  the 
attorneyship.  The  ])ro])riely  of  his  manaj^ement  as  a  public  prose- 
cutor was  never  (piestioned  even  by  his  political  t)pponents.  As  a 
mere  advocate  he  did  not  stand  at  the  head  of  such  practice,  but 
did  a  res])ectable  share  of  it.  and  stood  hi^li  in  the  secondary  rank; 
and  in  the  entire  amount  of  business,  in  point  of  prt)fit,  few  equaled, 
and  ])erha])s  none  suri)assed  liim.  In  addition  to  the  office  of  State's 
Attorney,  he  for  a  long"  time  held  the  office  of  Judg'e  of  Probate  for 
the  district  of  Sharon — an  office  then  de])ending-  u])on  the  annual 
a])])oiutment  of  the  legislatiu'e,  and  luitil.  for  a  like  cause  above 
mentioned.  Ik  was  re(|uired  to  give  ])lace  to  another,  of  different 
political  principles  from  his  own  ;  and  the  latter  office  he  held  two 
or  three  years  after  he  ceased  to  be.  of  the  then,  healthy  political 
faith.  He  was  very  often  a  representative  to  the  General  Assembly 
from  Salisbury  when  the  political  standing  of  the  town  would  allow 
of  such  a  choice,  and  was  a  major-general  of  the  militia.  At  a 
somewhat  earlier  period  he  married  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  John 
Canfield.  deceased,  of  Sharon,  who  for  a  long  time  was  a  distin- 
guished member  of  the  Bar  of  Litchfield  County  in  former  times  ; 
and  bv  that  marriage  he  became  the  father  of  a  somewhat  nuiuerous 
family,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  sons.  They  were  all  young  men  of 
promise,  and  on  entering  into  business  were  well  endowed  by  their 
father,  and  it  is  believed  were  respectable  and  prosperous  in  their 
several  vocations.  Gen.  Sterling  somewhat  late  in  life  married  the 
widow  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Elliott,  who  survived  hiiu.  Through 
life  Gen.  Sterling  enjoyed  a  good  state  of  health,  and  died  when 
over  seventy  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1836.  of  a  sudden  illness  oc- 
casioned by  a  slight  wound  in  the  leg.  too  much  neglected.  He  was 
above  medium  size,  of  a  light  complexion  and  good  personal  a]i- 
pearance.  and  his  moral  and  religious  habits  unimpeachable. 


jAi'.Kz    w.    iirxTixcToy. 

In  compliance  with  former  recpiests  and  of  a  recent  intiniatir)n 
of  mv  own,  1  now  transmit  you  a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  and  char- 
acter of  the  Hon.  Jabez  W.  lluntington.  son  of  the  late  Gen. 
Zachariah  Hmitington  of  Xorwich.  and  grandson  of  the  Hon.  Jabez 
Huntington  of  that  place,  the  assistant  and  associate  of  the  first  Gov. 
Trumbull,  who  was  born  in  Norwich  in  the  year  1787  or  1788.  He 
received  his  early  traiiiing  and  instruction  in  his  native  town,  which 
after  times  evinced  to  be  accurate  and  gfx^l.  He  became  a  member 
of   Yale  College  in   Septeiuber.    1802  and  graduated   in   September, 


noAKDM.w's  ski: Ti  II I'.s  65 

|K()^>.  with  the  rc'])utaliiin  of  a  j; 1  scholar.      Snoii  after  his  ^^raihia- 

tion  hf  hfcanu'  a  tcacluT  in  an  academic  school  under  the  j^'ovcrn- 
iiieni  ot'  its  founder,  h'.sciuire  Morris  of  Litchfield  South  Farms,  as 
then  called,  now  the  town  of  Morris,  named  after  the  founder  of 
.said  .'^chool.  After  ahout  a  year  thus  employed,  Mr.  I  luntin^"t(jn 
entered  juds^e  Reeve's  I, aw  School,  in  which  he  ccjntinuetl  a  diligent 
student  until  admitted  to  the  I'ar  in  Litchfield  County,  of  wliich  he 
soon  showed  himself  to  he  a  worth}  member,  and  in  due  time  a 
distinguished  one ;  he  liaving  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pr*^- 
fession  in  Litchfield,  and  there  continued  it.  until  its  final  termina- 
tion by  an  office  conferred  uixm  him  incompatible  with  its  further 
])ursuit.  In  practice,  his  whole  aim  and  ambition  was  to  become 
an  advocate,  and  had  no  desire  to  obtain  any  share  of  collecting 
business,  though  in  many  hands  not  less  lucrative  ;  and  as  he  was 
always  ready  to  aid  the  less  ambitious  of  s])eaking,  he  early  acquired 
a  verv  considerable  share  of  the  portion  of  practice  of  which  he  was 
ambitious  and  which  was  improving  to  him.  His  forte  as  an  advo- 
cate was  in  detecting  error  in  declarations  and  other  ])arts  of  plead- 
ings, and  in  a  lucid  manner  of  pointing  them  out.  l'])on  the  whole 
he  was  as  an  advocate  clear  and  accurate,  rather  than  i)eculiar  for 
the  gracefulness  of  manner  or  refinement  of  diction,  though  his 
manner  was  by  no  means  disgusting,  and  his  language  entirely  free 
from  any  approach  to  vulgarity.  Llis  manners  were  pleasing  and 
po])ular,  and  he  re])eatedly  represented  Litchfield  in  the  General 
.\ssemblv  and  distinguished  himself  there.  He  was  elected  to  the 
21  St  Congress,  and  re-elected  to  the  22(1  and  23d  Congress :  and  near 
the  expiration  of  the  last  of  his  Congressional  career  he  was  chosen 
a  ludge  of  the  Superior  Court,  and  held  that  office  until  1.^40, 
wlien  being  chosen  a  senator  of  the  Ignited  States  he  resigned  the 
ludgeshipand  accepted  the  latter  appointment,  and  continued  to 
hold  it  bv  virtue  of  a  second  api)ointment  until  his  death  in  1847. 
In  all  which  stations  he  performed  the  duties  thereof  with  honor  to 
himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  public.  His  moral  char- 
acter w^as  irreproachable ;  a  professor  of  religion  and  an  observer  of 
its  precepts.  Late  in  life  he  was  married,  but  it  is  believed  left  no 
issue.  Soon  after  election  to  Congress  he  removed  to  his  native 
town  and  died  there. 


INKAS      MIXKK. 


Phincas  Miner,  a  verv  respectable  and  somewhat  eminent  mem- 
ber of  the  Litchfield  County  Bar,  was  a  native  of  Winchester  in  that 
countv,  and  there,  and  in  that  region,  as  far  as  by  the  writer  hereof 
known,  received  his  entire  training  and  education  in  all  respects.  At 
an  earlv  period  in  life  he  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  the  place 


66  I.lTcllI'lKl.l)   LOINTV    1:i;nci1    and   1!.\R 

of  liis  birth,  in  the  societ\-  of  W'iiistcd.  as  is  hcHcvcd,  a  ])lacc  of  a 
gTcat  (leal  of  active  niamifacturin^-  business  and  furnisliin^-  an  ample 
share  of  enijjloynient  for  i^entlenien  of  the  lei;al  profession,  of  which 
Mr.  Miner  soon  acquired  an  aini)le  share,  and  at  no  (Hstant  peri(-»(l. 
an  en^rossiuQ-  (Mie,  witli  wliich  lie  api)eared  in  court  t'roni  term  to 
term  until  he  felt  warranteil  in  the  expectation  of  drawiuiL;-  alter  him 
an  enj^ai^ement  in  all  the  dis])utable  cases  from  that  fruitful  ([uarter, 
when  he  removed  to  Ivitchfield  and  was  much  employed  as  an  advo- 
cate for  a  number  of  years,  and  until  his  health  rather  prematurelv 
failcd,  and  he  became  the  victim  of  j^reat  mental  and  bodily  sutTter- 
in,q-.  imtil  relieved  by  death  before  reaching-  the  ordinary  period  at 
which  old  age  begins  to  make  its  effects  much  perceptible  in  the  hu- 
man frame.  As  an  advocate  Mr.  Miner  was  ardent,  impassioned 
and  fluent,  but  in  his  apparent  great  ambition  to  be  eloquent  he 
often  made  use  of  tig-ures  of  speech  which  a  more  chastened  and 
correct  training  in  youth  w^ould  have  taught  him  to  avoid,  and  less 
wounding  to  an  ear  of  taste,  but  the  fault  apparent  to  all,  was  the 
extreme  prolixity  of  his  arguments ;  but  these  faults  notwithstand- 
ing. Mr.  Miner  was  a  respectable  and  able  advocate. 

Before  his  removal  to  Litchfield  Mr.  Miner  was  an  early  and 
frequent  member  of  the  legislature  from  his  native  town  and  after 
his  removal  there,  a  member  of  the  state  senate  for  the  fifteenth 
district,  and  was  also  elected  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  seciHid  session 
of  the  twenty-third  Congress. 

Mr.  Miner  was  twice  married.  l)ut  it  is  Ijelieved.  left  no  issue. 
but  of  this  the  writer  is  uncertain.  Ide  led  a  strictly  moral  life  and 
was  justly  esteemed  a  good  man. 


LK.MAX    CIILKCJf. 

One  more  attempt  to  comply  with  your  repeated  requests.  Le- 
man  Church,  a  late  member  of  the  Litchfield  County  Bar.  was  a  na- 
tive of  Salisbury  in  this  county,  a  son  of  an  opulent  farmer  of  that 
town,  and  in  it.  it  is  supposed,  he  received  his  education,  both 
scholastic  and  professional ;  the  latter  in  the  office  of  his  half- 
brother,  Samuel  Church,  afterwards  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court, 
and  finally  Chief  Justice  of  the  same,  and  after  his  admission  to  the 
bar  he  o])ened  an  office  in  North  Canaan,  where  he  resided  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Church  was  successful  in  acquiring 
at  an  earlv  period  a  promising  share  of  professional  business,  which 
steaflilv  increased,  until  by  the  middle  of  ]irofessional  life  he  occu- 
pied a  stand  among  the  leading  advocates  at  the  bar;  and  towards 
the  close  of  life  there  was  scarce  a  cause,  es])ecially  in  the  higher 
Courts,  of  considerable  im])ortance  discussed,  in  which  he  was  not 
engaged. 


iKj akdman's  sKirrciii'.s  67 

In  Scptcmhrr.  i-'^.^.^.  Mr.  C'luircli  was  apjx tinted  by  the  Court, 
Stale's  Altornex,  as  successor  to  his  l)rother  Saninel.  on  the  lattcr's 
elevation  to  the  bench  of  the  Superior  CV)urt.  and  held  that  office  by 
annual  re-a])pointnients  until  Se])tember  term,  1S3S.  when  by  a  politi- 
cal chan,L;v  in  the  court  lu'  was  rc(|uired  to  yield  the  place  to  another; 
it  is  belicNcd.  In iwx'wr,  llial  lie  afterwards  for  a  time,  re-occnpied 
that  place,  but  nut  pusitively  recollected. 

A^  a  speaker  he  was  cool.  unimi)assioned  and  ins^eniou.s  :  he  never 
attempted  to  affect  the  jtassinns  of  those  he  addressed,  and  bein,ii^ 
destitute  of  passion  himself,  was  consecpiently  inca])ablc  of  movinsi^ 
the  passions  of  others;  he  never  attempted  to  be  elo(|uent  or  made 
use  of  a  mereh  ornate  exi)ression,  his  object  in  speakin^i(  was  efTect. 
and  that  wholly  directed  to  his  cause  and  not  to  himself ;  in  the  man- 
agement of  a  case  he  was  always  cool  and  self-possessed ;  no  sud- 
den and  unexpected  turn  in  the  prog-ress  of  a  trial  disconcerted 
him,  or  aj^peared  to  be  unexpected  by  him;  no  collision  at  the  bar 
ever  appeared  to  aitect  his  temper  in  the  least.  With  such  a  tem- 
perament it  is  obvious  that  the  legal  i)rofe;>sion,  was  of  all  the  pro- 
fessions, the  one  for  him,  and  that  in  which  he  was  calculated  to 
excel. 

Mr.  Church  was  always  entirely  regardless  of  personal  api)ear- 
ance  and  dress  ;  he  was  very  small,  meager  and  ill  formeil.  his  fea- 
tures quite  ordinary,  but  all  this  very  indifferent  api)earance  was  res- 
cued from  inattention  b}-  a  most  remarkably  attractive  and  intelli- 
gent eye. 

Mr.  Church  was  frequently  a  representative  to  the  Legislature 
from  Canaan,  and  never  failed  to  make  an  impression  upon  that 
bodv  ;  and  to  his  sag'acious  management  is  attributable  the  ])reseva- 
tion  of  the  Housatonic  Railroad  from  ruin,  as  a  commissioner  there- 
<ui  appointed  by  the  Legislature,  with  power,  together  with  his  as- 
sociate in  office,  Mr.  Pond,  to  sell  and  consequently  to  destroy  the 
road  which  seemed  to  be  a  favorite  object  with  them  for  a  time. 

Mr.  Church  died  in  the  midst  of  life  as  a  professional  man,  July 
184Q.      1  am  unable  to  state  the  i-)articulars  of  his  family. 


'i>tigunck*s  3liifti|  Icats 


FIFTY  YEARS 


AT  THE 


LITCHFIELD  COUNTY  BAR 


A  LECTURE 


DELIVERED  BEFORE   THE 


LITCHFIELD  COUNTY  BAR 


BY 


CHARLES  F.  SEDGWICK,  ESQ. 


1870. 


CHAS.    F.    SKUGWICK 


SEDGWICK'S  ADDRESS. 


Litchticld,  I'"cl).  9,    1X70. 
GivN.  Skim '.WICK  : 

Mv  Dear  Sir — At  a  bar  nieetiiif^-  held  this  n<x)ii  the  followinj:^ 
nesokition  was  ofifered  by  E.  W.  Seymour  and  uiianiinously  ado])ted : 

IVhcrcas,  at  the  next  term  of  this  Court  (kMi.  C.  F.  Sedg-wick 
will  have  completed  a  fifty  years  connection  with  this  bar  as  a  re- 
spected member  thereof, 

Resolved,  That  he  be  invited  to  deliver  an  address  in  the  Court 
Room  at  such  time  next  term  as  may  1x"  convenient  to  him  u|x)n  some 
subject  connected  with  his  long  ])r()tessional  career. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  extend  this 
invitation  to  the  General  and  to  make  arrangements  that  may  be 
necessarv  in  case  the  invitation  be  accepted. 

O.  S.  Seymour.  J.  H.  Hubbard  and  Abijah  Catlin  were  ap])ointed 
a  committee  for  this  purpose. 

It  gives  the  committee  great  pleasure  to  communicate  the  f(jre- 
going  |)roceedings  to  you  and  we  liope  }-ou  will  gratify  us  by  accejJt- 
ing  the  invitation.  \\"e  will  at  any  time  confer  with  you  upon  the 
subject  of  what  arrangements  should  be  made. 

Yours  truly,  O.  S.  Sevmoiu, 

For  the  Committee. 

The  committee  of  the  Litchtield  County  l'>ar  have  received  the 
annexed  letter  from  General  Sedgwick  and  have  agreed  upon  Wed- 
nesday evening,  the  13th  of  April,  for  hearing  the  commemoration 
discourse  at  the  Court  Room.  Members  of  the  Bar  of  other  Courts 
and  the  public  generall\-  are  invited  to  attend. 

J.    H.    HUBU.\KU. 

().  S.  Seymour. 

Al'.IJAll    Cati.ix, 

Committee. 


Litchfield.  March  14.  1870. 


Sharon,   March    i_>.    1870. 


Judge  Seymour : 

D^-ar  Sir — I  received,  in  due  time,  yours,  written  in  l)ehalf  of 
the  committee  of  the  Bar,  and  owe  you  an  aiwlogy  for  not  giving 
it  an  earlier  answer.  The  truth  is  that  I  have  hesitated  to  give  an 
affirmative  response  from  a  feeling  of  incomixftency  to  get  up  any 
thing  which  woukl  be  of  any  interest  to  my  kind  friends  of  the  P.ar 


^2  I.lTCIlI'li:!.!)   CX)rNTV    UKXCll    AND    1!AK 

wliose  iK)lite  proceedins^s  ycni  coniniunioatc.  P.ut  the  respect  wliich 
I  ftH?l  for  them  coinhined  with  a  feehiii;'  of  gratitude  for  tlie  past 
kiiuhiesses  as  well  as  llic  uri;enoy  of  many  individuals  of  the  ])rofes- 
sion  here  as  well  as  in  other  counties  have  ])ersuaded  me  to  make 
the  attempt  to  comply  with  their  wishes,  and  1  will  try  to  ,i(et  up  a 
c<immemoration  discourse  to  he  read  to  the  Bar  at  the  next  tenu  of 
the  Court.  As  Good  Friday  will  come  during"  the  first  week  of  Court 
1  will  suggest  Wednesday  evening"  of  that  week  for  the  hearing 
instead  of  Thursday,  hut  in  this  T  will  conform  to  the  wishes  of  the 
committee.  If  they  should  fi.x  on  anv  other  evening  please  notify 
me. 

Yours.  resi)ectfully, 

C.    F.    SKDf.WlCK. 

ADDRESS. 

The  statement  that  I  have  heen  for  fifty  \ears  a  memher  of  the 
bar  of  this  county,  admonishes  me  of  a  rapid  journey  across  the  stage 
of  life,   from  its  morning-  to  its  evening.     Those  years  have  sped 
away,  and  they  have  embraced  a  large  portion  of  the  time  usually 
alloted  to  man  as  the  period  of  his  existence  here. 
■'Large  space  are  they 
Of  man's  brief  life,  those  tifty  years;  they  join 
Its  ruddy  morning  with  the  paler  light 
Of  its  declining  hours." 

They  have  swept  off  in  their  current  nearly  every  one  who  was 
active  in  the  proceedings  of  the  courts  of  rliis  county,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  that  period.  It  did  not  then  occur  to  me  to  consider 
the  (|uestion  whether  I  should  outlive  nearly  all  my  associates  at  the 
bar.  but  of  the  forty-four  members  who  were  then  in  active  practice 
here,  all  save  three,  and  they  are  not  now  in  practice,  have  preceded 
me  on  their  journey  to  the  grave.  Some  have  laid  their  bones  in 
distant  parts  of  the  country,  but  with  the  excejition  above  named, 
all  have  gone  to  their  last  account. 

I  suppose  it  to  be  the  wish  of  the  bar.  as  it  has  been  intimated 
to  me,  that  I  should  say  something  of  those  who  were  active  in  con- 
ducting the  judicial  jjroceedings  in  this  County,  tifty  years  ago. 
This  will  imply  a  notice  of  the  judgws,  clerks  and  olllcers  of  the  ctmrt. 
as  well  as  the  legal  ])r<)fession.  A  wide  field  is  o])en  before  me, 
and  I  fear  the  exploration  which  1  shall  give  it  will  be  of  very  little 
interest  to  my  brethren,  but  such  impressions  of  the  men  of  those 
times  as  remain  with  me,   I    will  endeavor  to  la\'  before  them. 


Ki;-OI<C.AX]Z A'l'loN    OF    Till".    (.OIKTS. 


'i'lu-  Courts  had  then  just  been  organized  under  llic  present  C'on- 
stitulion    of    the    State.      I 'nder    the    old    goxeniment ,    the    Supreme 


skdcwick's  addkkss  73 

Court  consisted  of  nine  juds^cs.  ami  tluy  wiTf  (.ki-trd  aniuiull)'  by  the 
k'54islaturc.      I'lidcr   the    C'onstilulion.    the   mnnbcT    was   reduced   to 
five,  and  tliey  held  their  ollice  durinj^-  s;(M)d  behaviour,  or  until  they 
reached  the  ai,^e  of  seventy  years.      In  like  manner,  the  jud,Q;es  oi  the 
County   Courts   were  reduced    from   five   to  three,     l-'onuerly   these 
judges  held  the   Su])erior   Courts,   but    under   the  Constitution,  they 
were  holden  bv  one  judj;e.     Tlie  old  (.'ourt  has  embodied  as  lii.^ii  an 
order  of  judicial  talent  as  any  other  Court  in  any  of  the  States,  and 
when  the  a])])ointment  of  the  judg-cs  under  the  new  or<;anization  was 
in  contemplation,  much  anxiety  was  felt  amonjj;-  the  members  of  the 
lej^-al  profession  lest  the  character  of  the  Court  should  deteriorate. 
Chief  Justice  Swift  was  very  ])oi)ular  with  all  classes,  and  it  was 
thoui^dit  that  his  hij^h  character  as  a  jurist,  and  his  spotless  charac- 
ter as  a  man,  would  render  it  pretty  certain  that  he  be  retained  at 
the  head  of  the  new  Court.     But  the  party  then  in  power,  known  in 
our  political  history  as  the  Toleration  ])arty,  determined  to  make  an 
almost  entire  change  in  the  material  of  the  Court,  and  to  man  the 
bench  with  new  incumbents.     For  the  new  Chief  Justice,  they  select- 
ed the  Hon.  Stephen  Titus  Hosmer,  of  Middletown,  who  had  been 
a  member  of  the  old  Court  some  three  or  four  years,  and  who,  it  \yas 
claimed,  had  voted  the  ticket  of  the  party  at  the  ne.xt  i>receding 
election.     It  was  laid  to  his  charge  that  he  had  done  so  with  the 
intent  of  therebv  obtaining  the  position   which  he  was  afterwards 
called  to  fill.     The  other  judges  were  John  T.  Peters,  Asa  Cha])man, 
Jeremiah    Gates    Brainard.   and    William    Bristol.     Judge    lirainard 
was  of  the  old  Court,  and  it  was  the  intention  of  the  ruling  party  to 
put  James  Lanman  in  the  place ;  but  some  of  the  tolerationists  of 
N'ew  London  County   did  not  believe  him  qualified   to  fill   it.  and 
refused  to  vote  for  him.     Judge  Brainard  was  of  the  same  county, 
and  the  federalists  naturally  rallied  upon  him  in  op])osition  to  Lan- 
man, and   with  the  aid   of   dissentient   tolerationists.    Brainard   was 
elected.      He  was  the  only  old  federalist  on  the  bench,  till   Daggett 
came  on.  in   1826. 


(.iiii-.i"  jrsTiii".    ir()S>rr:K. 

Ste])hen  Titus  Hosmer  was  a  lawyer  of  eminence  in  his  peculiar 
way.  He  had  no  yery  high  standing  as  an  advocate,  but  as  a  lawyer, 
learned  in  elementary  principles  his  position  was  a  very  good  one. 
A  gentleman  who  had  heard  him,  told  me  that  his  manner  was  hard 
and  drv,  and  his  elocution  very  defective,  but  in  some  branches  of 
legal  science  he  had  few  superiors.  He  seemed  to  delight  in  ex- 
ploring ancient  paths  in  search  of  legal  principles,  and  in  getting 
up  old  legal  tracts  and  dissertations.  In  the  first  volume  of  Day's 
Reports,  there  is  a  note  of  forty  pages  of  fine  print,  containing  an 
opinion  "of  Lord  Camden,  of  the  Knglish  Court  of  Common   Pleas. 


74  I.ITCiri-lKI.l)    C(>INTY    HKN'CH    AND    BAR 

wliich  has  hardly  a  rival  in  judicial  Icarnim^-  or  olocjuonce.  Mr.  Day 
informed  mo  that  this  was  i)rescntc'd  him  in  manuscript  hy  Mr.  Hos- 
mer.  there  bein.ij  then  no  printed  co])y  of  it  on  this  side  of  tlie  At- 
lantic. He  was  a])pointed  a  judij^e  of  the  old  Court  in  1815.  hut  be- 
ing one  of  the  yoimij;er  judi^es.  it  never  fell  to  his  lot  to  preside  on 
the  trial  of  a  case,  until  his  accession  to  the  Chief  Justiceship.  His 
career,  on  the  whole,  was  very  successful,  both  at  nisi  prius,  and  on 
the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court.  His  apprehension  of  the  points 
involved  in  the  case  before  him,  was  very  (|uick,  and  the  first  inti- 
mation he  gave  on  incidental  matters  occurring  in  the  course  of  the 
trial,  was  a  sure  indication  of  what  the  result  would  be;  and  al- 
though he  would  take  special  pains  to  say  to  the  counsel  that  he 
had  formed  no  opinion,  the  party  against  whom  he  leaned  knew 
that  his  fate  was  sealed.  His  labors  in  his  official  duties  must  have 
been  immense.  It  fell  to  his  lot  to  give  the  opinion  of  the  Court 
in  nearly  all  the  cases  tried  in  the  Supreme  Court  for  several  years 
after  his  ai)])ointment,  and  nearly  all  the  material  of  the  third,  fourth 
and  fifth  large  volumes  of  the  Connecticut  Reports  are  the  result 
of  his  study  of  the  cases  before  the  Court,  and  some  of  them  are 
very  learned  and  labored.  His  illustrations  in  the  case  of  Mitchell 
z's.  Warner,  in  the  2(1  of  Connecticut  Reports,  of  the  extent  of  the 
obligations  incurred  in  the  covenants  of  a  deed,  explained  the  sub- 
ject to  me.  when  T  was  ycnmg,  better  than  anything  I  had  Ix^fore 
read  on  the  subject. 

It  seemed  to  be  his  object  to  render  himself  as  agreeable  as  pos- 
sible to  the  members  of  the  bar,  sometimes  employing  his  leisure 
moments  on  the  bench  in  furnishing  prescriptions  for  human  ail- 
ments, such  as  corns  on  the  toes,  and  handing  them  over  to  such 
members  as  stood  in  need  of  them.  Then  he  wc^uld  hand  over  a 
formula  for  making,  as  he  said,  the  best  kind  of  liquid  blacking  ior 
our  boots.  In  fact,  every  thing  which  he  had  prescribed,  he  always 
designated  as  the  very  best.  At  one  term  of  the  Court,  Phineas 
Miner.  l"".s(|..  who  had  lived  a  widower  for  several  years,  was  about 
being  married,  which  fact  was  intimated  to  the  Judge.  While  he 
sat  waiting  on  the  bench  for  the  preparation  of  some  business,  he 
spoke  out  suddenly,  "Gentlemen!  Is  there  a  vacant  cell  in  your  jail? 
Won't  it  be  necessary  for  me  to  commit  Mr.  Miner  to  prevent  his  do- 
ing some  rash  act?"  The  laugh  was  thoroughly  turned  u])on  poor 
Miner,  and  the  whole  scene  was  very  enjoyable.  He  employed  all 
his  leisure  hours  in  obtaining  all  the  relaxation  which  was  within 
his  reach.  He  ])layed  on  the  piano  and  violin,  and  sang  with  great 
])ower  and  effect. 

There  was  no  perceptible  waning  of  his  powers,  physical  or  men- 
tal, during  the  time  of  his  service  on  the  Court,  lie  retired  from 
the  bench  at  the  age  of  70  years,  in  h\'bruary.  1S33,  and  died,  after 
a  short  ilhu'^s,  in  less  than  two  \ears  thereafter. 


SKIx'.WUk's    ADIiUl'.SS  75 


jiiM.i'   i'i;'ii;i<s. 


Joliii  'riuinipson  I  V'lcrs  was  tin.-  senior  Associate  Jiul.i^c  ot  llu- 
Court,  and  he  held  his  first  circuit  in  this  County.  lie  was  a  native 
t)f  Hebron,  and  a  lawyer  of  respectable  standin<^.  I  lis  fellow-citi- 
zens had  often  honored  him  willi  a  seal  in  the  Lej^^islature,  and  thus 
he  had  become  tolerably  well  known  in  the  State.  When  the  I'nitefl 
States  direct  lax  was  laid  in  1S13.  he  was  ai)i)ointed  Collector  for 
the  first  district,  removed  to  Hartford,  and  held  that  office  when 
he  was  a])|)ointed  Judge.  He  had  been  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Democratic  i)arty  from  its  formation;  and.  as  an  l'*])isco|)alian,  had 
opposed  the  claims  of  the  "Standing-  Order"  to  ecclesiastical  ijri(jr- 
ity,  and  some  apprehensions  were  felt  lest  his  well  known  views  on 
these  subjects  might  temper  his  opinions  on  those  questions  inci- 
dentally involving  them.  Many  fears  were  entertained  as  to  the 
stability  of  ecclesiastical  funds  which  existed  in  almost  every  Con- 
gregational parish,  and  those  who  desired  to  break  them  down  look- 
ed to  Judge  Peters  and  his  influence  with  the  Court  to  aid  them. 
But  those  who  entertained  such  hopes  were  destined  to  an  early  dis- 
appointment, as  their  first  experience  of  his  administration  on  such 
questions  showed  him  to  be  disposed  to  stand  firml\-  on  the  old 
paths.  He  used  to  tell  an  amusing  anecdote  relating  to  his  first 
trial  of  such  a  case  in  one  of  the  Eastern  Counties  of  the  State, 
wdiere  he  was  appealed  to.  very  strongly,  to  decide  that  a  jjromise 
to  pay  money  in  aid  of  such  funds  was  without  consifleration.  I>ut 
he  told  the  parties  that  the  law  on  that  subject  was  well  settled,  and. 
in  his  opinion,  founded  on  correct  principles ;  and  that  if  he  had 
the  power,  he  had  not  the  disposition  to  change  it.  It  had  been  the 
practice  of  the  Congregational  pastor  of  the  villag-e,  to  open  the 
])roceedings  in  Court  with  prayer,  but  considering  Peters  to  be  a 
heretic,  (I  use  the  Judge's  owni  language.)  he  had  never  invited 
Divine  favor  for  hi'm.  but  after  that  decision,  every  prayer  was 
charged  with  invocations  of  blessings  upon  "fliy  sarvcnt.  the  judi^c." 

He  was  verv  severe  in  meting  out  the  punishments  of  the  law-  to 
convicted  criminals,  generally  inflicting  the  severest  sentence  that 
the  law  would  allow.  One  case  was  tried  before  him  which  excited 
much  remark  and  some  reprehension.  .\  man  had  been  convicted 
before  Judge  Lanman  of  a  State  prison  ofifence,  had  been  sentenced 
to  four"  vears'  imprisonment  and  had  served  a  part  of  a  year,  when 
he  obtained  a  new  trial.  He  was  tried  again  before  Judge  Peters, 
and  again  convicted.  When  the  time  came  to  pass  sentence  on  the 
last  conviction,  his  counsel  asked  for  some  mitigation  on  account 
of  the  imprisonment  already  sufifered.  Said  the  Judge  •"He  must 
settle  that  account  with  Judge  Lanman.  He  ow-es  me  five  _\ears' 
imprisonment  in  State  prison" — and  such  was  the  sentence,  (^ne 
prisoner  who  had  received  a  severe  sentence  at  his  hands,  after  the 
expiration   of   his    confinement,    burned    the    Judge's   barn,    and    he 


76  l.II\"lll'li;i.l)    (.(UNTV     I'.l-Ntll     AM)    i:.\R 

pctitidiK'il  tlic  L<.\L;'i  slat  lire  of  the  Stale  to  pax  inv  it,  in  iSi  :^.  l)ut 
they  (lechned  to  make  the  conipensatidii. 

For  a  few  years,  the  services  of  jiul^e  Teters  on  the  hench  were 
ver\-  acceptahle.  I  lis  decisions  were  i)roiupt,  and  i^enerally  found- 
ed on  a  sensil)le  view  of  the  matter  ljefi)re  him,  without  any  affect- 
tation  of  learninq;  or  (hsplay  of  oratory.  His  entire  candor  and  fair- 
ness were  never  called,  in  question,  and  the  decay  of  his  powers, 
which  was  very  apparent  towards  the  close  of  his  career,  was 
observed  by  the  bar  with  sorrow  and  rej^ret.  I  witnessed  an  af- 
fecting' scene  connected  with  his  e.\])ericnce  on  the  bench,  which 
excited  a  deep  feeling-  of  sym])athy.  lie  had  a  favorite  son.  llugh 
Peters.  Esq..  whom  he  had  educated  at  Vale  (.'ollege,  and  in  whom 
all  his  hopes  seemed  to  centre.  This  Noung  man,  in  connection 
with  George  D.  Prentice,  the  noted  Editor,  had  nuich  to  do  in  con- 
ducting the  Xew  England  JJ\u^kly  Rci'ic^r,  a  ]iai)er  just  established 
in  Hartford,  and  which  was  the  organ  of  the  i)arty  which  elected 
William  W.  Ellsworth,  Jabez  W.  Huntington,  and  William  L. 
Storrs  to  Congress.  He  had  acquired  a  wide  reputation  as  a  writer 
of  brilliant  ])romise.  and  after  a  while  went  to  Cincinnati  to  go  into 
business  as  a  lawyer.  C)n  his  way  across  Long-  Island  Sound,  he 
wrote  a  Farewell  to  New  England  in  poetry,  which  was  published 
with  great  commendation,  in  most  of  the  news])apers  in  the  country. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  at  Cincinnati,  his  dead  body  was  found  float- 
ing in  the  Ohio,  several  miles  below  the  city,  and  circumstances  were 
such  as  to  create  the  belief  in  some  minds  that  it  was  a  case  of  suicide. 
The  intelligence  of  this  sad  event  was  brought  to  Litchfield  while 
the  Court  of  Errors  was  in  session  in  June.  1831.  It  was  first  ct)m- 
municated  to  Judge  Williams,  who  sat  next  to  Judge  Peters ;  and  he. 
with  all  possible  tenderness,  informed  the  latter.  The  Reporter.  Mr. 
Day,  in  giving  the  rejwrt  of  the  case  on  trial,  closing  it  by  saying: 
"Peters,  Judge,  having  received,  during  the  argument  of  this  case, 
intelligence  of  the  death  of  his  son,  Hugfh  Peters,  Esq.,  of  Cincinnati, 
left  the  Court  House,  'inulta  geniens  casuquc  aiuniiim  co)u-cssiis,' 
and  gave  no  opinion."  I  witnessed  the  mournful  scene,  and  1  well 
remember  the  loud  and  ])laintive  groans  of  the  afflicted  old  man  as  he 
passed  out  of  the  Court  room  and  (l(n\-n  the  stairway  to  his  lodg- 
ings. 

When  Chief  Justice  Hosmer  retired  from  the  bench,  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  a  very  strong  vote,  elected  Jud.ge  Peters'  junior.  Judge  Dag- 
gett, Chief  Justice.  He  felt  the  slight,  bin  did  not  retire,  and  held 
his  place  till  his  death  in  August,  1834.  A  few  weeks  longer,  and 
he  would  have  reached  the  age  of  seventy  years. 


jriU'-I'     C'llAl'MAV. 


The  next  Judge  in  seniority  was  Asa  Chapman,  of  Xewtown,  in 
Fairfield  County.     For  several  years  before  he  received  the  appoint- 


Si;i»i'.\\  U'KS    AKDKI'.SS  yj 

incnl,  Ik'  ])racticc(l  to  stuiK'  r\tt.MU  in  llii>  Cimnly,  and  was.  <if  course, 
well  known  Iktc.  I  Ic  was  llic  fallur  of  ilie  laic  Charles  Chapman  c»f 
Hartford.  He  was  somewhat  taller  than  the  son,  and  with  his  hald 
head,  white  locks,  thin  face,  and  jL^rcy  eyes,  he  resemhlc<l  him  not  a 
little  in  personal  ai)pearance.  hut  he  had  noiu'  of  ihat  hitterness  of 
manner  or  S])irit  which  characterizeil  the  etil'ons  of  tiie  youn;,^er  Cha])- 
man.  Ik'  was  an  l''i)i>co]);ilian  in  religious  faith,  and  he  had  very 
naturalK  fallen  into  the  ranks  of  the  new  i)arty.  and  heinj^  well  (|uali- 
tied  for  the  ])lace  in  ])oint  of  le.^al  ahility.  he  made  a  \ery  acceptahlc 
and  ])oj)ular  judj^e.  He  was  a  man  of  ja^ood  humor,  i^enial  tem])er. 
and  ,L;reat  colloquial  ])owers,  which  he  exercised  very  freely  on  the 
trial  of  cases.  If  a  lawyer  undertook  to  ari^ue  a  case  hefore  him. 
he  soon  found  himself  euf^a^'cd  in  a  friendly,  familiar  conversation 
with  the  Judge  the  evident  intent  of  the  latter  being  to  draw  out 
the  truth  and  justice  of  the  case.  His  adminstration  was  very 
popular,  and  his  early  death  was  greatly  de]ilored.  He  died  of  con- 
sum])tion  in  1820,  at  the  age  of  fift\-si.\  years. 


JL'DGI-:    I'.RAIXARI). 

Jeremiah  Gates  Th-ainard,  of  New  London,  the  father  of  the  poet 
lirainard.  w'as  next  in  seniority  on  the  bench.  He  had  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  old  Court  from  1807  and  he  was  elected  to  the  new  Court, 
under  the  circumstances  which  I  have  mentioned.  He  was  a  man  of 
no  showy  ])retensions.  very  plain  and  simple  in  his  manners,  and 
very  familiar  in  his  intercourse  with  the  Bar.  He  alYected  very 
little  dignity  on  the  bench,  and  yet  he  was  regarded  as  an  ex- 
cellent Judge.  He  disi)atched  business  with  great  facility,  and  im- 
plicit 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  oihce.  having  served  as  judge  for  twenty- 
two  vears. 


JUDGF.    HKISTOI. 


Of  all  the  judges  on  the  bench.  William  Bristol  of  Xew  Haven 
was  the  youngest  in  years  as  well  as  in  rank.  He  had  not  been 
much  known  as  a  lawyer,  out  of  the  County  of  Xew  Haven,  and.  of 
course  his  coming  here  was  looked  for  with  considerable  interest. 
He  evidentlv  had  a  high  sense  of  judicial  dignity,  bis  manners  on 
the  bench  being  very  taciturn,  approaching  severeness.  very  seldom 
speaking,  except  to  announce  his  decisions  in  the  fewest  jiossible 
w^ords.  and  I  doubt  if  any  one  ever  saw  him  smile  in  Cc^urt.  His 
decisions  were  sound  and  w^ell  considered  and.  upon  the  whole,  hi? 
administration  was  respectable,  although  he  could  not  be  said  to 
have  had  much  personal  popularity  at  the  bar. 


yS  I.ITCMFIKI.I)   (.Ol'NTY    HKNCll    AND    BAR 

jriH.l':    DACCl-TT. 

The  decease  of  Jiul.ue  Chapman  and  the  resig'iiatioti  of  Judge 
l^ristol  in  1826.  created  two  vacancies  in  the  Court  which  were  to 
be  filled  at  the  session  of  the  Legislature  of  that  year.  The  same 
])arty  which  had  effected  the  change  in  the  government  of  the  state, 
and  in  the  constitution  of  the  Court,  was  still  in  i>ower,  but  nearly 
all  the  eminent  la\\\ers  in  the  State  adhered  to  the  federal  party. 
Probably  the  most  obnoxious  man  in  the  state  to  the  dominant  party 
was  David  Daggett,  not  so  much  from  personal  dislike  as  from  his 
prominence  in  the  ranks  of  his  party.  His  talents,  integrity  and 
high  legal  abilitties  were  conceeded  by  everyone,  but  when  the  legis- 
lature assembled,  there  was  probably  not  a  man  in  tlie  state  who 
looked  to  his  election  as  a  judge. 

There  were  a  few  men  in  the  state  belonging  to  the  toleration 
])artv  who  felt  deeply  the  importance  of  having  a  rej)utable  court, 
and  who,  on  this  question,  were  willing  to  forego  all  i)arty  considera- 
tion. Morris  Woodruff,  of  Litchfield  County,  Thaddeus  Retts  and 
Charles  Hawley,  of  Fairfield  County.  Walter  Booth,  of  Xew  Haven 
County,  and  Charles  J.  ]\IcCur(ly,  of  Xew  London  County,  were 
men  of  that  stamp ;  and  it  was  through  the  influence  of  these  men, 
and  of  others  of  less  prominence,  that  David  Daggett  was  elected  a 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court.  The  same  influence,  exerted  by  the 
same  men,  secured  the  election  of  Judges  Williams  and  Bissell,  three 
years  later. 

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

An  elaborate  sketch  of  Judge  Daggett  is  given  in  the  twentieth 
volume  of  our  reports. 


THE    SUPERIOR    COIRT,    FIFTY    VF.ARS    SINCE. 

There  were  sessions  of  the  Su])eri(jr  Court  in  each  year,  holden 
on  the  third  Tuesdays  of  August  and  February,  and  the  terms  rare- 
ly extended  beyond  two  weeks.  H  they  reached  to  the  third  week 
they  were  deemed  to  be  of  extraordinary  length.  The  Superior 
Cburt  had  no  original  jurisdiction,  except  as  a  court  of  equity. 
All  its  actions  at  law  came  up  by  appeal  from  the  County  Court, 
and  generally  imi)ortant  cases  were  carried  u])  without  trial  in  the 
court  below.  The  i)arty  wishing  to  a])peal  his  case  would  demun, 
either  to  the  declaration  or  ])lea,  as  the  case  might  be.  suffer  a 
judgment  to  be  entered  against   him.  and  appeal   from  it  and  then 


.re.  I' ST  IS   I'KTTiroxii; 


.MKII.\i:i.    I-.    .MIIJ.S 


JUSKI'II     F.     IJALl.A.MV 


WM.    G.    COli 


SKIM". wick's  aukkkss  .  79 

chanj^f  liis  jilca  in  llic  Superior  Court  as  tln'  i-xij^cncics  of  his  case 
nia\-  rf(|uirf.  'I'lic  niakiii;;-  of  cojMcs  in  ihc  case  aijpcalcd  was  a 
vcrv  ])rofitaI)lc  item  in  the  business  of  tlie  clerk.  All  cases  at  law 
wherein  the  matter  in  demand  exceeded  seventy  dollars  were  ap- 
pealable, and  all  matters  in  e(|uity  in  which  the  sum  involved  ex- 
ceeded three  hundred  dollars  were  lyrou.nlit  orij^dnally  to  the  Su- 
perior Court.  In  criminal  matters  the  jurisdiction  of  both  courts 
was  concurrent,  except  in  crimes  of  a  hi.^her  ^rade  which  were 
tried  exclusively  in  the  vSujJcrior  Court.  A  case  was  pretty  certain 
to  reach  a  trial  at  the  second  term  after  it  was  entered  in  the 
docket,  unless  special  reasons  could  ]k-  shown  for  its  turlher  con- 
tinuance. 


TiiK  co^^^^■  coikt — jidci-:  I'i-ttiijonk. 

The  County  Court  had  an  important  ai(ency  in  the  administra- 
tion of  Justice,  fifty  years  ago.  Tuder  the  old  form  of  .y-overn- 
ment  it  consisted  of  one  judge  and  four  justices  of  the  cpiorum  ; 
under  the  constitution,  of  one  Chief  Jud^^e  and  two  ass(;ciale  ju(lj,^es. 
When  1  came  to  the  bar  Augustus  I'ettibone  of  Norfolk  was  Chief 
judg-e;  Martin  Strong,  of  Salisbury,  and  John  Welch,  of  Litch- 
field, associate  judges.  Judge  I'ettibone  had  presided  for  several 
years  in  the  old  court,  and  although  he  was  a  federalist  of  decided 
convictions,  he  was  continued  in  office  by  the  party  in  power  until 
he  resigned  the  place  in  1832.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the 
judges  in  this  court  were  apjjointed  annually  by  the  legislature. 
Judge  Pettibone  had  a  high  standing  as  a  man  of  integrity  and  of 
sound  common  sense.  His  early  education  Mas  deficient  and  he 
made  many  grammatical  mistakes  in  his  charges  to  the  jury,  but 
he  had  been  esteemed,  and  was  a  lawyer  of  respectable  attainments. 
He  was  a  native  of  Norfolk,  where  he  lived  to  a  very  great  age. 
He  was  tall  and  slender  in  person,  somewhat  round  shouldered 
with  hair  which  was  vcrv  abundant  and  which  remained  so  during 
life.  N'o  one  could  doui)t  the  fairness  and  good  sense  of  his  de- 
cisions;  and.  upon  the  whole,  his  career  as  a  judge  was  creditable 
to  his  reputation. 


TUDGE     STKOXC. 


Martin  Strong  of  Salisbury,  was  the  senior  associate  judge. 
He  was  a  son  of  Col.  Adonijah  Strong  of  that  town,  a  lawyer  of 
the  olden  time,  of  whose  wit  as  well  as  blunders,  many  stories  were 
rife  fifty  vears  ogo.  Colonel  Strong  had  four  sons  all  of  whom 
entered 'into  professional  life,  two  as  clergymen  and  two  as  law- 
yers. His  son,  the  Rev.  William  Strong,  was  father  of  the  Hon. 
William  Strong,  of  Pennsvlvania.  recently  appointcil  an  associate 
justice  of   the    Supreme   Court   of   the    I'nited    States.     Our   Judge 


8o  I.ITCIIKIKI.I)   C(nNTY    ItltXCir    AND    I?AR 

Martin  Strong-  had  been  ;i  niemlKT  of  tlic  bar  for  several  years,  but 
had  never  made  a  very  hii^h  mark  in  his  prDtession — in  fact  he  had 
never  devoted  himself  very  assiduously  to  the  dischariT;e  of  its  du- 
ties. He  owned  a  large  and  valuable  farm  on  the  town  hill  in  Salis- 
bur\-.  and  his  |)rinci])al  business  was  to  attend  to  that.  When  he 
came  upon  the  bench  he  seemed  to  have  a  recollection  of  a  few 
plain  lei^^al  maxims,  but  his  methods  of  applying-  them  to  cases  was 
not  always  the  most  skillful.  He  was  a  man  of  immense  physical 
dimensions,  and  when  he  had  taken  his  seat  on  the  bench,  he  sat 
in  perfect  ([uict.  until  the  loud  ]>roclamation  of  the  sheritif  an- 
nounced the  adjournment  of  the  court.  He  remained  in  office 
till  1829.  when  William  M.  lUirrall,  Esq.,  of  Canaan,  took  his  place. 


jiDC.K    wKi.cir. 


The  junior  judge  of  the  court  was  the  Hon.  John  Welch  of 
Litchfield.  He  was  a  native  of  the  parish  of  Milton  and  a  gradu- 
ate of  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1778,  a  class  which  is  said  to 
have  produced  more  eminent  men  in  proportion  to  its  numbers  than 
any  other  which  ever  graduated  at  that  institution.  Joel  FJarlow, 
Zephaniah  Swift,  Uriah  Tracy,  Xoah  Webster  and  the  last  Gover- 
nor Wolcott,  with  many  other  distinguished  men,  were  of  the  class. 

Judge  Welch  never  entered  either  of  the  professions,  but  he 
lived  to  a  very  great  age.  He  was  appointed  a  judge  of  the  County 
Court  in  the  place  of  Cyrus  Swan,  Esq..  of  Sharon,  who  had  re- 
signed his  ])osition  on  the  bench  of  the  court  in  1819.  Judge 
Welch  continued  on  the  bench  till  he  became  disqualified  by  age  in 
1829.  He  made  no  ^pretentions  to  legal  learning  but  his  decisions 
were  based  on  a  fair  impartial  view  of  the  questions  as  they  came 
up.  He  always  gave  reasons  for  the  opinion  he  had  formed,  al- 
wavs  made  himself  well  understood,  and  his  candor,  fairness  and 
sound  judgment  were  admitted  by  all. 


jrncKs   I'.rRR Ai.i,,   woodkii'i'  and   iuiardmax. 

In  1829,  wlien  Judge  Welch  nuist  retire  on  account  of  his  age, 
it  was  deemed  ])roi)er  by  the  legislature  to  make  new  api)ointments 
of  both  associate  judges.  Judge  Strong  had  been  twelve  years  on 
the  bench,  and  in  his  place  William  M.  lUuTall,  Esq.,  of  Canaan, 
was  appointed  senior  associate  judge,  and  C.en.  Morris  Woodruff 
took  the  place  of  Judge  Welch.  The  court  continued  thus  organ- 
ized till  the  resignation  of  Judge  Pettibone,  when,  not  only  with 
the  consent,  but  with  the  decided  approval  of  both  associate  judges, 
David  S.  I'.oardman.  Esq.,  of  New  Milford,  was  taken  from  the 
bar  and  installed  Chief  Judge  of  the  County  Court,  which  as  then 
constituted,  held  a  high  ])osition  in  i)ublic  contidence. 


SI'JM.W  UK   S    ADDKI'.SS 


Xl 


IIOX.   FRKDKRICK  WOLCOTT,  CLERK 

The  Clerk  of  llie  Court  was  tlie  lli'ii.  Frederick  Wolcott.  who 
was  appointed  as  early  as  1781.  and  who  retained  the  place  till  1835. 
when  he  resij^ned.  after  a  service  of  forty-four  years.  He  was  a 
son  of  the  second,  and  a  brother  of  the  late  Governor  of  that  name, 
and  undoubtedly  cherished  hij^hly  aristocratic  feelinq;s  and  had  a 
great  amount  of  family  pride,  but  his  intercourse  with  the  members 
of  the  bar  was  gentlemanly  and  conciliatory.  He  was  of  a  noble 
presence,  large  and  manly  in  person,  and  always  dressed  in  the 
best  style  of  the  ancient  fashion  of  small  clothes,  white  stockings, 
and  wiiite  topped  boots.  His  knowledge  of  legal  proceedings  in 
the  County,  ran  back  so  far  that  no  one  ever  nresumed  to  cpiestion 
his  accuracy  as  to  legal  forms  and  precedents.  When  his  resigna- 
tion was  accepted  by  the  Court,  a  minute,  i)reuared  bv  ludge  Hur- 
rall.  which  referred  to  his  long  and  faithful  service,  ami  which  con- 


82  I.lTCIIl-Iia.l)  COINTV   UKNCH  AND  I'.AR 

tained  the  statoiiKni  that  ni>  jiulj^nient  of  the  Court  had  ever  heen 
reversed  on  account  of  any  mistake  of  the  Clerk,  was  entered  on 
the  records  of  the  County  Court.  lie  was  a  nieni])er  of  the  Gover- 
nor's Council  imder  the  Charter  Government,  and  was  continued 
in  the  Senate  for  several  vears.  under  the  constitution. 


SHERIFF  SKVMOIK 

iMoses  Seymour,  Jr.,  Es(|.,  was  Sheriff  of  the  County  from  1819 
to  1825,  hut  the  active  duties  of  the  otlice  were  performed  by  his 
deputy,  his  brother  Ozias,  who  had  been  a  deputy  of  the  old  Sheriff 
Landon,  and  who  had  become  well  acquainted  with  the  practical 
duties  of  the  office  as  they  were  i)reformed  in  our  County.  He 
opened  and  adjourned  the  daily  sessions,  called  narties  to  appear 
in  court  as  their  presence  was  demanded,  and.  in  fact,  was  the  ac- 
tive Sheriff  in  nearly  all  the  proceeding's.  He  succeeded  his  brother 
as  Sheriff  in  1825,  and  held  the  office  till  1834. 


UNCLE  JOHN  STONE,  MESSENGER 

Nor  must  we  omit  to  mention  here,  the  messenger  of  that  day. 
good  old  Uncle  John  Stone.  How  long  he  had  held  the  place  be- 
fore 1820,  I  know  not,  but  I  found  him  here  then,  and  it  took  but  a 
very  short  time  to  make  his  acquaintance,  and  learn  his  kindness 
of  heart.  He  had  a  kind  of  dry  humor,  which  sometimes  showed 
itself  in  witt}'  sayings,  and  sometimes  in  pungent  sarcasms.  He 
was  a  faithful  messenger,  an  honest  man,  and  to  all  human  appear- 
ance, a  sincere  christian.  He  retained  his  place  till  he  fell  dead  in 
the  public  highway,  in  1830,  in  a  fit  of  apoplexy. 


inSIXl'SS  01'  Till",  01, 1)  COl'NTV  COl'RT 

There  were  three  sessions  of  the  old  Comity  Court  in  each  year 
in  -March,  September  and  December.  The  Sei)tember  term  was 
generally  short,  merely  disposing  of  the  criminal  business  and  such 
other  ])reliminary  matters  as  could  not  be  passed  over.  The  March 
term  lasted  three  weeks,  and  the  December  term  from  four  to  six 
weeks,  as  the  business  might  demand.  The  first  half  day  was  al- 
ways taken  u])  in  calling  the  docket.  Mr.  WOlcott  bail  his  files  ar- 
ranged al])habeticall\-.  corresi)onding  with  the  entries  on  the  d(^cket 
and  of  these  some  member  of  the  bar.  usually  one  of  the  vounger, 
had  charge.     The  Sheriff  took  his  station  in  the  center  of  the  bar, 


si'.ih'.wuk's  addrkss  ^3 

and  as  llic  cases  were  named  1)\  llie  Clerk,  the  ijruper  entries  were 
made  both  on  the  docket  and  on  the  tile,  and  then  the  file  was  passer! 
to  the  Sheriff,  who  delivered  it  to  the  party  entitled  to  it,  and  thus, 
at  the  close  of  the  proceedings  all  the  files  had  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  members  of  the  bar  where  they  remained  until  the  case  re- 
ceived final  disposition.  Three  Inmdred  cases  were  considered  as 
constituting-  a  small  docket  and  I  have  known  as  many  as  nine 
hundred  entered  at  a  single  term. 


ADMISSION    To    Till'.     liAU. 

When  1  came  to  the  bar  in  1820,  there  were  two  grades  of  law- 
yers in  the  State.  The  first  admission  only  authorized  the  candi- 
date to  practice  at  the  County  Court,  and  a  service  of  two  years 
was  required  at  that  bar  before  be  was  allowed  an  examination  for 
admission  to  the  bar  of  the  Superior  Court;  and  I  was  at  the  bar 
of  the  Countv  Court  for  a  year  or  more  in  expectation  of  under- 
going another  ordeal  in  the  upper  Court.  In  the  meantime  the 
statutes  of  the  State  had  been  revised  under  the  superintendence  of 
Judge  Swift  and  many  and  material  alterations  had  been  made  to 
conform  the  provisions  of  the  law  to  the  new  order  of  things  under 
the  constitutions.  The  question  came  before  Judge  Rrainard  and 
he  decided  that  under  the  revised  statutes  an  admission  to  the  bar 
of  the  County  Court  gave  the  candidate  authority  to  practice  in  all 
the  Courts  in  the  State,  and  that  decision  was  assented  to  by  all  the 
judges. 

The  matter  of  examining  candidates  for  admission  to  the  bar 
was.  in  those  days,  an  imposing  solemnity,  and  the  da\-  f<^r  that 
])roceeding  was  a' marked  day  of  the  term.  All  the  members  of  the 
bar  were  expected  to  be  present  and  few  failed  of  attending.  The 
committee  of  examination  occupied  the  judges  seats;  the  chair- 
man holding  the  place  of  the  Chief  Judge,  indicating  to  each  separ- 
ate member  of  the  committee  the  subject  in  which  he  was  expected 
to  examine  the  candidate,  and  thus  a  thorough  and  searching  ex- 
amination was  had.  After  the  examination  was  closed  the  candi- 
dates retired,  and  the  members  of  the  bar  gave  their  ojiinions 
seriatim  on  the  question  of  the  admission  of  the  applicant.  Some- 
times candidates  were  rejected.  It  had  been  the  practice  in  early 
times  to  have  an  entertainment  at  the  close  of  the  examination  at 
the  expense  of  the  successful  candidates,  but  this  had  been  dispensed 
with  when  1  was  examined.  Stories  were  told  of  some  eminent 
members  of  the  bar  who.  on  such  occasions,  indulged  in  practices 
which  were  not  creditable  to  their  reputation  for  temperance  and 
soliriety.  Perhaps  it  was  for  this  reason  that  the  practice  was 
abolished. 


84  i.iTi'ii  i-iKi.i)  corsTN'   i;i;\(.ii   wn  11. \r 

I'KAt,  I'lCK. 

Statutc^ry  i)rcn-isi()iis  and  the  advance  of  lej^al  science,  as  well 
as  a  more  just  sense  of  wliat  is  due  to  the  best  interest  of  litifj^ation, 
have  made  jj^reat  clianges  in  the  course  of  proceedini;s  before  the 
Courts,  durins^  the  last  fifty  years.  Then,  it  was  customary  for 
counsel  to  take  advantage  of  any  trivial  omission  which  could  be 
found  in  the  proceedings,  and  a  case  never  came  to  trial  until  every 
possible  efifort  for  abatement  or  delay,  had  been  exhausted.  Our 
Statute  in  relation  to  amendments  had  not  then  received  so  liberal 
a  construction,  nor  was  it  in  itself  so  liberal  in  its  {provisions  as  it 
now  is  ;  and  thus  opportunity  was  atYorded  for  the  display  of  much 
ingenuity  in  the  prosecution  of  dilatory  pleas. 

Then,  there  were  no  statutory  provisions  relating  to  injunctions. 
All  the  power  which  the  Court  had  in  that  matter  being  that  with 
whicii  it  was  invested  by  the  common  law  as  a  Court  of  Equity,  and 
hence,  very  little  will  be  found  in  our  Reports  on  this  subject,  until 
about  1826,  after  the  Statute  authorizing  the  judges  to  grant  tem- 
porary injunctions  had  been  passed.  This  Statute  was  introduced 
into  the  legislature  by  Judge  Swift,  who  was  a  member  for  several 
sessions  after  his  retirement  from  the  bench.  Since  then  many 
cases  relating  to  this  branch  of  jurisprudence,  have  been  before  our 
Courts. 

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

Piles  of  learning  were  devoted  to  destruction  by  the  edict  of  the 
legislature,  admitting  parties  and  other  persons  in  interest  to  be 
heard  as  witnesses.  The  nicest  and  most  refined  legal  questions 
were  frequentlv  brought  before  the  Courts  for  decision  in  matters 
relating  to  the  interest  of  witnesses,  but  now  they  are  almost  for- 
gotten l)y  the  most  learned  of  the  ])rofession. 


Till';   ArTllORlTIKS   TllKX    IX    rsic. 

The  Statutes  then  in  force  were  the  Revision  of  1808,  by  far  the 
most  elaborate  and  comjjlete  of  any  ever  published.  It  contains 
a  complete  history  of  the  legislation  of  Connecticut  on  all  subjects 
of  statutory  enactment  from  the  first,  and  is  still  a  useful  book  for 
studv  bv  the  i)rofessi()n.  The  principal  labor  of  its  preparation  for 
])ublication  was  performed  by  'I'homas  Day. 

Comparatively    few    American    authorities    were    cited    in    our 


si'.i". wick's  aiiI)Ui:ss  85 

Courts,  tlu'ii.  Mr.  I  )ay  li;ul  |>ul)lisli(il  tdiir  \iiluiiies  of  I  );i_\  ">  \\c- 
ports.  and  llun  had  suspended  lurtlK-r  ])nl)li(.-atioii  U)r  want  of  en- 
couraj^emenl.  The  [.e.^islattu"e.  in  1S15,  had  authorized  the  Cotirt 
to  a])])oint  a  Keporter,  and  had  <;i\en  him  a  salary.  L'nder  such  an 
ap])ointinent.  Mr.  l)a\  had  eoiniueiiccd  i>ul)Hshin;4'  the  C'onneetienl 
Reports,  and  had  puhlished  three  \dhiiius  ot  them,  when  he  ]nihhsh- 
ed  the  fifth  of  Day.  thus  fillin;;-  the  .L;ap  hetween  the  f<nirth  of  Hay 
and  the  first  of  Connecticut,  'i'he  X.  ^■.  l\e])orts.  l)y  Caine  and 
ji)hnsGn,  down  to  the  12th  of  h>hns<m,  and  twelve  volumes  of  the 
Massachusetts  Reports,  were  out,  and  these,  with  our  Reports,  were 
about  the  onl\-  American  authorities  which  were  citrd  in  our  Courts 
Nt)t  a  sini^le  American  elementary  work  had  then  been  puhlished.  ex- 
cept Swift's  v^ystem  and  Swift's  l^vidence.  The  hji,t;lish  Reports  from 
r.urrows  down,  including;-  Doui^las'.  Cow])er's,  Term,  and  JCast's 
Rei)()rts.  down  to  the  12th  \'olume,  with  lUackstone's  Commentaries, 
which  were  always  on  the  table,  wert'  the  stai)le  authorities  of  the 
times.  1  remark  in  passint;-,  that  Jnd,L;e  Reeve  said  that  he  consider- 
ed Cowper's  Reports  the  best  that  had  then  been  published  of  die 
decisions  of  the  Cinu^t  of  King's  bench. 

lUit  it  is  time  to  speak  of  the  warriors  in  those  bhjudless  forensic 
battles  which  were  fought  on  this  field,  fifty  years  ago.  They  are  all 
fresh  in  my  memory,  but  they  have  i)asse(l  from  the  stage  of  life. 
I  have  delayed  this  part  of  m\-  undertaking  to  the  last  moment,  from 
the  mere  dread  of  entering  upon  it.  I  feel  it  to  be  a  very  difficult 
task  to  present  the  lawyers  of  those  days  to  the  ])rofessi(jn  now.  in 
anything  like  their  just  attitude.  Men  of  the  highest  attainments  at 
the  bar  are  entirely  different  from  each  other.  Many  little  things 
which  cannot  be  detailed  enter  into  the  C()m])osition  of  ihe  characters 
of  different  men.  The  same  qualities  mingle  in  unecpial  proportions 
in  different  persons  and  I  feel  embai  rassed  in  every  way  as  I  ap- 
proach the  task  of  speaking  of  the  j^rofessional  gentlemen  who 
manned  the  post  of  duty  on  this  field,  fifty  years  ago. 

There  were  then,  as  now,  two  clases  of  the  profession  here.  One 
class  had  a  local  practice,  being  i)rincipally  engaged  in  causes  arising 
in  their  immediate  locality.  The  practice  of  the  other  class  was 
co-extensive  with  the  power  of  their  ability  and  not  always  confined 
to  the  countv — of  this  later  class  there  were  several  here. 


1 1  DCi':  Conn. 


The  Honorable  James  Gould  had  undoubtedly  stood  at  the  head 
of  the  profession  in  this  state,  both  as  an  advocate  and  a  lawyer, 
previous  to  his  elevation  to  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  .\fter 
his  retirement  from  that  position  he  professed  to  have  retired  from 
practice,  and  devoted  himself  principally  to  giving  law  lectures  to 


^^  I.ITCII  I'llil.n    COINTV    I'.KNCII     AM)    KAR 

stiuk-nts,  Inn  in  two  cases  in  this  count) ,  and  one  in  I  lartford  Countv, 
he  came  to  the  bar  and  conducted  the  trials.  ( )ne  was  the  case  of 
the  Phoenix  Bank  against  Governor  Wolcott  and  others,  in  wliich 
the  Governor  endeavored  to  avoid  i)ayment  of  a  debt  for  wliich  he 
was  only  a  surety,  on  the  grounds  of  usury.  It  was  a  proceeding 
in  equity,  and  the  argument  of  Judge  Gould  was  exceedingly  able  and 
elaborate.  He  occasionally  indulged  in  keen,  cutting  sarcasms, 
which  pointed  strongly  to  the  Honorable  defendant  who  was  present. 
His  argument  was  what  Cotton  Mather  would  call  "(/  htciilcnt  com- 
mentary" on  the  law  of  usury.  The  case  was  decided  in  favor  of 
the  Bank. 

The  other  was  a  trial  to  the  jury  in  which  a  very  intimate  friend 
of  Judge  Gould  was  a  party,  and  in  this  case  his  professional  emi- 
nence was  exhibited  in  a  very  striking  manner.  In  his  argument 
he  was  entirely  unimpassioned.  and  remarkably  clear  in  his  illustra- 
tions. He  stood  much  of  the  time  with  his  hand  on  a  book,  which 
stood  on  one  end.  on  the  table  before  him.  and  I  do  not  remember 
that  he  made  a  single  gesture  during  the  whole  time  of  his  argu- 
ment. He  occupied  the  attention  of  the  court  and  jury  for  an  hour 
and  a  half,  and  it  was  the  last  case  he  tried.  He  was  a  perfect  master 
of  the  most  effective  method  of  delivery.  Tn  his  written  opinions 
while  on  the  bench  there  is  sometimes  an  involution  of  thought  and 
language  as  well  as  a  prolongation  of  sentences  which  renders  neces- 
sary the  strictest  attention  while  reading  to  work  out  the  true  mean- 
ing, but  in  his  oral  deliveries  he  had  such  a  perfect  mastery  of  the 
laws  of  accent,  emphasis  and  cadence  as  to  make  his  meaning  in- 
telligible to  the  most  careless  hearer.  The  exhibition  of  his  ability 
in  this  case  was  an  appropriate  closing  eft'ort  of  a  long-  career  of  high 
])rofessional  eminence. 

There  were  a  few  other  members  of  the  bar,  not  reaching  the 
eminence  of  Judge  Gould,  yet  whose  practice  was  co-extensive  with 
the  countv  and  extended  sometimes  into  other  counties.  The  names 
of  the  following  gentlemen  now  occur  to  me  as  belonging  to  that 
class:  Xoah  15.  Benedict,  Asa  Bacon.  Elijah  Sterling.  David  S. 
Boardman  and  Phineas  Miner.  I  have  not  included  the  name  of 
Jabez  W.  Huntington,  for  the  reason  that  he  was  then  a  young  man 
and  had  not,  by  any  means,  reached  the  high  standing  which  he 
afterwards  attained.  He  was  engaged  in  very  nian\  of  the  cases 
tried,  but  very  often  as  a  volunteer  in  aid  of  some  young  beginner 
who  had  sought  his  hel]),  which  imder  such  circumstances  he  was 
always  willing  to  render.  For  the  same  reason  I  ha\e  omitted  the 
late  Chief  Justice  Church  because  he  was  then  just  beginning  to 
obtain  a  good  i)rofessional  standing,  and  was  called  to  the  bench  of 
the  Supreme  Court  which  he  afterwards  greatly  adorned  before  he 
had  obtained  the  high  rank  as  a  lawver  which  otherwise  surely 
awaited  him. 


SI'.DC.WKK  S    .\I)I)I<I';SS 


NOAH     l:.     I'.i;  N  I'.DU' 


87 


I'' 1-0111  in\  Ik'sI  ixcolk'ctioii  of  tin-  ^Uiiidin^  of  llie  tirst  lawyers 
at  llic  bar  in  those  oldni  tiiiu-s.  I  am  inrliiu'd  to  award  the  first  place 
as  an  advocate  to  Xoah  li.  I'.enedict.  I  \v  had  every  advantage  wdiicli 
a  fine  personal  a])pearance  could  ,^ive  him,  not  very  tall,  Init  well 
proportioned,  with  a  countenance  of  j^reat  beauty,  indicatinj^-  kind- 
ness of  fcelin,!:;-  and  intelli.nence  of  mind.  Mis  ars^uments  i)roduce<l 
conviction  in  the  minds  of  the  triers  more  by  insinuation  than  by 
inifyrcssion.  lie  was  earnest,  Init  seldom  im|)assioned,  nnld  and 
winning-  in  his  manner,  and  thus  worked  his  way  as  by  stealth  to 
the  heart  and  convictions  of  the  court  and  jury.  I  remember  a  case 
on  trial  in  which  he  was  opposed  by  l>oardman  ;  and  IJenedict.  whf) 
was  for  the  defendant  on  the  trial,  contested  the  points  inch  by  inch 
as  they  arose  in  the  case.  Durinj;-  an  intermission  some  one  asked 
r.oardman  how  they  were  fi:ctting-  alono;  with  their  case.  I  le  r<i)lied 
impatientlv,  "Not  verv  well.  Benedict  is  as  ingenious  as  the  devil 
can  make'him,  and  he  plagues  us  to  death."  He  was  engaged  in 
nearlv  all  the  important  cases  tried  in  all  the  courts,  and  his  i^ractice 
was  extensive  in  New  Haven  and  Fairfield  counties.  He  attended 
the  session  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Litchfield  in  1831  and  argued 
several  cases,  but  left  on  account  of  illness  before  the  term  closed. 
In  a  short  time  I  heard  he  was  dead.  He  had  reached  the  age  of 
sixtv-one  years.  Tn  the  case  of  Fairnuin  vs.  Ihicon  the  last  case 
but  one  which  .Mr.  r.enedict  argued.  Judge  Daggett,  in  giving  the 
opinion  of  the  court,  pays  the  following  tribute  to  his  memory:  "I 
have,  in  this  opinion,  made  great  use  of  a  brief  furnished  by  the  late, 
lamented  Air.  Benedict,  because  I  found  it  presented  the  argument 
in  that  terse,  vet  luminous  view  of  which  that  gentleman  was  so 
conspicuous,  and  by  which  the  court  were  so  often  instructecl  and 
enli'ditened,  and  rarelv  more  so  than  in  this,  one  of  his  last  efYorts." 


ASA     I'.ACON. 


Asa  Bacon  was  a  native  of  Canterbury  and  came  to  Litchfield  as 
earlv  as  1806.  after  a  short  period  of  practice  at  East  Haven,  and. 
for  a  while,  was  a  partner  of  Judge  Ciould.  In  1820  he  had  become 
a  leading  si)irit  at  the  bar.  He  had  a  fine  personal  appearance,  being 
tall  and  well  proportioned,  and  usually  richly  dressed.  The  first 
time  I  saw  him  before  the  jury  his  head  was  well  cased  in  powder 
and  pomatum,  and  a  long  (jueue  was  dangling  at  his  back;  but  he 
soon  laid  aside  this  conformitv  to  old  time  fashions,  although  he  was 
the  last  member  of  the  bar  to  do  so.  He  was  undcnibtedly  a  very 
hard  student,  and  his  briefs  were  the  result  of  extensive  and  faithful 
studv,  but  was  after  all  an  interesting  speaker.     He  would  S(Mnetnnes 


88  i.rrciii'iKi.i)  coini'N'  r.KNCii  and  war 

interlude  his  ar_i;uiiunls  with  spcciiiicns  of  (h'dlk-ry  and  tlashes  of 
wit.  antl  the  expectation  that  these  would  be  i)ut  forth  secured  a  very 
strict  attention  from  all  his  hearers,  lie  fre(|uently  (|uote(l  passages 
of  scripture,  and  commented  upon  them,  not  always  irreverently, 
but  sometimes  with  rather  unbecoming-  levitw  He  was  a  mortal 
enemy  of  universal  sutfras^e.  and  once  in  coninientini;  upon  the  ])ara- 
ble  of  talents  he  called  the  bailee  of  one  talent  who  had  hid  it  in 
the  earth  a  iiini'crsal  suffroiic  man.  He  was  a  genial,  jolly,  com- 
panionable man.  and  although  not  addicted  to  excessive  liberality 
in  his  benefactions,  still  ke])t  himself  in  good  standing  while  he  re- 
mained here.  When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years  he  was 
api)ointed  president  oi  the  IJranch  of  the  Phoenix  lUmk.  located  in 
Litchfield,  and  after  that  was  never  seen  ])rofessionally  engaged  in 
Court.  The  last  years  of  his  life  were  s])ent  in  Xew  Ihnen  where 
he  died  at  a  very  advanced  age. 


C.KXKKAI.  STKkl.lXC, 

General  Elisha  Sterling  was  a  native  of  Lyme  and  a  graduate  of 
Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1787.  He  studied  law  with  the  Hon. 
John  Canfield  of  Sharon,  who  was  his  father-in-law,  and  settled  in 
Salisbury  in  1791.  He  was  a  man  of  high  order  of  talent,  and  had 
he  addressed  himself  solely  to  professional  points  would  probably 
have  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar  in  this  county.  Hut  he  loved 
mone}'  and  gave  much  of  his  time  to  different  kinds  of  business, 
and  ac(|uired  great  wealth  for  those  times.  Notwithstanding  this 
])roi)ensity  he  had  an  extensive  practice  and  was  engaged  in  most  of 
the  cases  coming  from  the  northern  portions  of  the  county.  He 
was  a  ready  speaker,  not  very  select  in  the  choice  of  words  and 
not  elocjuent  by  any  established  rule  of  elocution,  but  there  was  a 
kind  of  impetuosity  in  his  manner,  accompanied  by  a  rapid  but  dis- 
tinct utterance  of  language  which  gave  him  popularity  as  an  advo- 
cate. He  was  ai)pointed  State's  Attorney  in  1814.  and  held  the 
otlice  six  years  when  Seth  l\  Ikers,  Esq..  was  appointed  in  his  place. 
He  retired  from  practice  soon  after,  and  died  in  1836.  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  His  wealth  enabled  him  to  indulge  the  strong'- 
taste  he  had  for  a  handsome  style  of  living  and  e(|uipage.  and  in 
that  direction  liis  mind  had  stroni>'  aristocratical  tendencies. 


II'DCI'.     liOAKD.M  A\ 


David   S.    r.oardman    was  a  native  of   Xew    Milford  and   settled 
there  in  the  practice  of  law  after  bis  admission  Ui  the  bar  in    1795. 


si'.iii'.wn'K  s   \i>iiui:ss  89 

III'  was  a  man  of  ri-tiriiiL;  disposilioii.  111  \\><  way  K'^''".^  sliowy  dis- 
play (if  his  powcTs,  1)iu  Ik'  was  a  finished  legal  scholar,  and  was 
(k'cnicd  a  vcrv  safe-  and  prndcnt  iirofcssional  adviser.  I  ie  ha<l  a  very 
nice  literary  taste,  and  llie  least  grammatical  blunder  hy  a  ]\u\\^(:  >>r 
lawyer  attracted  his  attention  and  fre«|uently  his  ridicule,  i  lis  argu- 
ments were  iK)inted  S])ecimens  of  ])erspicuity.  precision  and  force. 
hut  he  failed  to  attract  much  attention  as  an  advocate  through  a 
defect  of  vocal  jxiwer.  Mis  voice  was  fe-hle  and  could  scarcely 
he  heard  except  hy  those  who  were  near  him.  He  had  a  high  char- 
acter for  moral  rectitude,  and  his  four  or  five  vears  service  at  the 
head  of  the  County  Court  gave  it  a  dignil\  and  moral  ])ower  which 
in  other  vears  it  had  scarcely  obtained.  Sketches  from  his  i)cn. 
descriptive  of  some  of  the  nieml)ers  of  the  bar  in  this  County  of  the 
last  century  were  published  in  one  of  our  county  papers,  .some 
twenty  vears  ago.  and  they  are  of  the  deei)est  interest  to  those  whose 
tastes  lead  them  in  that  direction  of  historic  in(|uiry.  They  were 
originally  in  letters  written  to  myself,  and  were  afterwards  with  his 
consent  prepared  for  the  press  and  published  in  the  i)ai)er  and  m 
l)amphlet  form.  He  was  a  College  classmate  of  Asa  P.acon  and 
thev  were  warm  personal  friends.  He  lived  to  the  great  age  of 
ninetv-seven   vears. 


I'll  IN  HAS   mim:k. 


Phineas  Miner,  the  last  because  the  youngest  of  the  class  of 
lawvers  to  whom  I  have  referred  deserves  a  much  more  extended 
notice  than  T  shall  be  able  to  give  him.  His  amiable  and  genial 
temper  as  a  man  seemed  to  make  him  very  poi)ular  as  a  lawyer. 
Fidelitv  to  his  client  and  a  laborious  attention  to  their  interests  was 
a  marked  trait  in  his  professional  career.  He  commenced  practice 
in  Winchester,  his  native  town,  and  had  there  acquired  a  good  stand- 
ing in  his  profession  when  he  came  to  Litchfield  in  \S\C^.  He  had 
an  extensive  practice  and  was  noted  for  the  diligence  with  which 
he  pressed  everv  point,  however  unimportant,  which  could  Ik-  made 
to  tell  in  favor  of  his  client.  His  arguments  were  generally  ex- 
tended to  a  great  length,  and  I  have  known  him  to  receive  a  gentle 
hint  from  the  Judge  recommending  a  condensation  of  his  thoughts. 
1  le  died  in  1839  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  and  Mr.  Day.  the  Reporter, 
gives  a  flattering  estimate  of  him  in  a  tVK)t  note  on  the  134th  page 
of  the  13th  volume  of  Connecticut  Reports. 

I  am  now  to  speak  of  a  class  of  lawyers,  much  younger  than  those 
to  whom  1  have  already  referred,  but  who  had  obtained  a  good 
standing  at  the  bar  fifty  years  ago. 


90  i.n\iii-"ii:i.i)  c'orxTv  p.KNcir  .wn  bar 

UII.I.IAM    C.     WILLIAMS. 

Of  New  Hartford,  stood  as  hiji^h  as  any  nicnihcr  (^f  this  class.  He 
belonged  to  tlie  eminent  and  reputable  VVilliains  family  of  Massachu- 
setts, bis  father  being  a  nephew  of  Colonel  Ephriam  Williams  the 
founder  of  Williams  College,  and  himself  the  first  cousin  of  Bisliop 
Williams  of  the  Itpiscopal  Church  of  Connecticut.  As  a  special 
pleader  he  had  no  superior  at  the  bar.  He  had  a  tolerably  fair  stand- 
ing as  an  advocate,  and  was  indefatigable  in  i)ursuing  to  the  last 
p>ossible  efifort  any  purpose  he  had  undertaken.  If  lie  failed  in  one 
form  of  action  he  would  try  another,  and  never  gave  up  till  further 
persistence  was  hopeless.  He  commenced  business  as  a  lawyer  in 
Sharon,  where  he  married,  but  after  a  few  years  he  removed  to  New 
Hartford,  where  he  remained  during  liis  life.  He  had  scarcely 
reached  the  age  of  sixtv  ^•ears  when  he  died. 


JOHN    STRONG.    JR.. 

Of  Woodlniry,  his  native  town,  was  a  lawyer  of  ver_\'  fair  standing. 
I  remember  once  to  have  heard  Judge  I>oardman  say,  that  if  he 
found  Jolin  Strong  differing  from  himself  on  a  point,  he  always 
doubted  the  correctness  of  his  own  conclusions.  He  was  a  ready 
speaker  and  had  a  peculiar  habit  of  looking  all  over  the  hall,  fre- 
quently directly  behind  himself,  while  he  was  addressing  the  jury. 
His  arguments  were  clear  and  logical,  and  he  was  always  listened  to 
by  the  court  with  attention.  He  had  scarcely  reached  the  age  of 
fiftv  vears  when  he  died. 


CALNIN'    lUTLKR. 


Of  Plymouth,  had  a  very  good  reputation  as  a  lawyer.  He  also 
stood  well  with  his  fellow  citizens  of  Plymouth,  as  he  was  often  a 
member  of  the  legislature,  and  he  was  of  the  convention  of  this 
state.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Senate  in  1832.  He  had  a  part 
in  all  cases  which  came  from  that  town  and  managed  a  trial  very 
well.  He  was  earnest  in  liis  manner  of  addressing  the  jm\v,  and  he 
was  in  full  practice  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  when  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  He  died  suddenly,  while 
awav  from  home,  and  left  behind  a  good  record  as  a  faithful  law- 
yer and  an  honest  man. 


CNR  IS    SWA.N 


(  )f  Stonington,  came  to  the  bar  of  this  county  in   iJijH.      lie  settled 
in  Sharon,  and  continued  in  full  practice  for  twenty  years.      He  was 


SKl)r.V\  UK  S    ADDKKSS  ()l 

appointed  a  jndj^f  ot  tlic  county  conn  in  iSiS,  and  nappoiiilc-d  for 
the  succec(lin<4"  year.  l)ut  rcsij^ninj^-  the  olhcc  l)C'forc  the  close  of  the 
term.  His  heahh  Ijccominj^-  intolerant  of  sedentary  habits  and  re- 
quiring' out-door  ])ursuits,  he  never  resumed  full  practice,  althouj^h 
he  occasionally  a])i)eared  in  trials  where  liis  (»ld  friends  (lemanfled 
his  aid.  His  ar<(uments  were  clear,  sound  and  sensible,  and  were 
listened  to  with  attention,  liis  mind  was  w'cll  stored  with  sound 
lejj^al  maxims  and  his  aim  seemed  t(.)  be  to  make  a  sensible  a]j])lica- 
tion  of  these  to  the  case  in  hand,  lie  died  in  iS:^5  ;it  the  ajjj-e  of 
sixtv-five  vears. 


AXSKI.    STF.Kl.INC. 


A  younger  brother  of  the  General,  with  whom  he  studied  law. 
settled  first  in  Salisbury,  but  in  1808  went  to  Sharon,  where  he  s])ent 
his  life.  His  talents  were  diversified,  addictino-  himself  readily  to 
any  pursuit  which  was  a  source  of  money  making,  in  which  he  was 
very  successful.  As  a  lawyer,  his  forensic  ability  was  of  high 
order,  nor  was  he  deficient  in  legal  science.  His  language  flowed 
readily  and  rapidly,  and  sometimes  his  appeals  to  the  jury  were  very 
effective.  He  was  a  member  of  Congress  for  two  terms,  and  did 
not  conceal  his  disappointment  that  he  was  not  nominated  for  the 
third.  That  compliment  was  afforded  him  two  years  later,  but  he 
was  defeated  by  Orange  Merwin  whom  the  federalists  had  placed 
on  their  ticket.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  leaving  a 
large  estate  and  a  numerous  family. 


joSKl'II    MILLER, 


Of  Winsted,  who  died  recently  in  Michigan  at  a  very  advanced  age, 
was  a  man  of  moral  talent  and  of  a  higher  order  of  legal  acquire- 
ments than  he  usually  had  credit  for.  After  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Miller  to  Litchfield,  his  practice  was  large  and  continued  to  be  so  for 
several  years.  His  arguments  w^ere  short,  compact  and  logical, 
and  W'Cre  listened  to  with  attention  and  interest.  Tn  middle  life  he 
removed  to  Michigan,  wdiere  he  had  a  prosperous  career. 


wn.i.LWi  :nl  iu'rrall, 


A  native,  and  through  life  a  resident,  of  Canaan,  was  a  lawyer  of 
very  extensive  practice  in  one  branch  of  business.  He  commenced 
a  great  manv  cases  to  the  court,  but  never  argued  cnie  on  the  final 


92  I.I'lX'ill'IKI.I)    C'OlN'l'N'    liKXCII     AND    1!AR 

trial.  He  would  sometimes  argue  motions  for  continuance,  or  for 
other  puriitx'ies,  and  his  success  on  such  occasions  showed  that  he 
had  untlerrated  his  own  powers.  Although  he  did  not  argue  his 
cases  he  was  the  master  spirit  in  managing  all  the  details  of  the  trial, 
in  what  order  witnesses  slu)ul(l  be  called,  and  the  ])oints  of  testi- 
mony brought  out.  llis  associates  depended  greath  on  his  skill 
in  C(mducting  this  part  of  the  proceedings,  lie  had  a  kintl,  atTt'able 
and  wimiing  way  in  his  social  intercourse,  and  his  offices  were  em- 
ployed in  adjusting  and  settling  legal  controversies.  He  acted  as 
committee  and  arbitrator  in  more  cases  than  any  other  member  of 
the  bar  of  his  time,  and  if  a  desire  to  make  himself  as  inditYerent  as 
possible  to  all  parties  sometimes  seemed  to  hc^ld  him  back  from  de- 
cisive action,  he  always,  in  the  end,  showed  true  firmness  and  in- 
tegrity. He  was  an  associate  judge  of  the  County  Court  from  1829 
to  1836.  and  after  that  chief  judge  for  ten  }ears.  He  died  at  the 
a<j:e  of  seventv-seven  vears. 


C(M,0.\I-:i.    WII.I.IA.M    COC.C.SWKI.I.. 

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


SKTII     I'.     I'.KI'.RS. 


W  hen  I  came  to  the  bar  in  1820.  Seth  1'.  Peers.  Esq.,  was  in  full 
practice.  He  was  appointed  State's  Attorney  soon  after,  but  resign- 
ed in  three  years,  having  been  appointed  Commissioner  of  the 
ScIkm)]  Fund,  which  othce  he  held  for  twenty-five  years.  I  have 
heard  him  say  that  some  terms  of  the  Court  he  had  commenced  as 
many  as  one  hundred  and  fifty  cases,  and  he  was  very  thorough  in 
all  matters  committed  to  his  trust.  His  talents  as  an  advocate  were 
respectable,  his  briefs  being  ver\-  full  and  his  knowledge  of  every 
minute  point  being  very  complete.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  speak 
further  of  him  as  he  lived  down  to  a  i:)eriod  within  the  memory  of 
most  of  those  who  are  ])resent. 


'\:]i\i\  SM  I 'I'll, 


(  )f   .\ew   .Miltord,  held  a  somewhat   pi"onunent  i)lacc  at  the  bar  and 
his  practice  was  extensive.      So  many  different  estimates  have  been 


si; Til   p.    HKKRS 


si'.iH.wit.  K  s   \iii)Ki:ss  93 

iiiailc  III  Mr.  Smith's  i\al  (|ualilii'S,  ilial  il  is  (litlicull  to  si)ual<  of  him 
with  any  vtiy  stionp^  assurance  (tf  correctness.  That  he  had  talents 
and  friends  the  success  he  achieved  1)()th  as  a  lawyer  and  a  politician 
render  certain,  hut  those  whn  renieniher  the  time  of  his  professional 
experience,  here,  know  that  he  had  enemies,  and  such  would  be  the 
natural  result  <>i  the  unrelenting-  bitterness  with  which  he  ])ursued 
his  adversaries  in  his  elTorts  before  the  courts.  There  was  a  bitter- 
ness in  his  invectives,  a  ])ersistence  in  his  jtersecutions,  an  ini])laca- 
bility  in  his  enmities,  which  gave  a  decided  character  to  his  ])ri)- 
fessional  career,  and  which  insured  him  the  enmity  of  all  aj^ainst 
whom  his  eti'orts  were  directed,  lie  was  always  listened  to  with  a 
kitiil  of  inquisitiveness  as  to  what  new  fountain  of  bitterness  he 
would  oi)en,  or  what  new  invectives  he  would  invent  to  ])our  out 
u])on  his  adversary.  'J'hese  were  sometimes  directed  a.^ainst  the 
opposing  party,  and  u])on  the  whole  he  incurred  a  great  amount  of 
hatred.  1  am  only  speaking  of  what  occmT'jd  in  cnurt.  and  express- 
ing the  opinion  which  we  would  form  in  witnessing  his  professional 
conflicts.  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  he  had  many  friends  and  sup- 
porters outside  of  this  scene  of  action  and  it  is  not  likely  that  he  was 
as  warm  and  constant  in  his  friendshi])  as  he  was  bitter  and  unre- 
lenting in  his  hatreds.  After  his  election  to  the  United  States  Senate 
he  retired  from  the  bar  and  was  very  seldom  seen  here. 


ko(;i:r  mills 


Of  Xew  Hartford,  was  at  one  time  a  i)artner  of  Mr.  Williams,  of 
whom  we  have  alread\-  spoken,  from  whom  he  ditTered  in  every  re- 
si)ect  except  that  both  held  the  position  of  honorable  and  worthy 
gentlemen.  Mr.  Mills  was  slow  in  his  conception  of  thoughts,  slow 
in  all  the  movements  of  mind,  and  very  slow  in  his  delivery  of  his 
arguments,  and  vet  when  all  his  duties  in  a  case  were  accomplished 
it  would  be  seen  that  he  had  made  a  creditable  efTort  and  that  he 
was  far  from  being  a  lawyer  of  indifferent  pretensions.  His  son  of 
the  same  name  succeded  him  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Xew  Hartford. 
but  has  since  moved  to  Wisconsin  where  he  has  had  a  successful 
career. 


MICHAI-.I.    I".    >[ILLS 


Of  Norfolk,  was  a  somewhat  i)rominent  member  at  the  bar,  not 
because  he  had  verv  much  legal  ability,  but  because  he  had  the  tact 
to  make  much  show  out  of  little  substance.  He  never  attempted  to 
argue  cases  in  the  higher  courts,  but  on  the  trial  of  motions  as  they 
came  before  the  Courts,  he  was  very  iirominent.     We  all   thought 


si'.ix.vtu'k's  .\I)I)i<i>s  95 

iiicinhcT  of  ihc  k'.^islatuii-.  wlicix-  lie  li.nl  a  .L;n<>(l  >liai"c  <>i  iiitluciice. 
lie  was  usualK  chairman  of  tlic  CDiniiiitlcc  on  divorces  ami  his  re- 
ports in  such  cases  were  ver\  interestinL;-.  He  was  a  man  of  ^^,,,,(1 
common  sense  and  ac(|uitted  liimself  creditahl\-  as  a  ju<l^e,  hut  his 

powers  faileil  wiih  his  adxancin-  lil'c  and  he  lived  for  several  years 
in  i-oniparati\e  oliscuritx. 


ISAAC     I.l'.AXl'N  WORTH      WD     KoN  Al.     K.      IIINMAN. 

There  were  two  lawyers  in  Kox])ury  hfty  years  ap^o,  Isaac  Leaven- 
worth and  Royal  R.  llituiian,  who  made  a  considerable  show  of  busi- 
ness before  the  courts,  but  who  retired  from  practice  in  the  course 
of  a  few  vears.  Mr.  Leavenworth  went  into  other  business  in  Xew 
Haven  where  it  is  said  he  has  been  ver\  successful  and  is  still  livinj^^ 
at  a  very  advanced  a^e.  Mr.  1  tinman  lield  the  ollice  of  Sec- 
retary of  State  for  eij;ht  years,  and  published  several  pann)hlets  con- 
tainino-  the  statistics  of  many  of  the  most  prominent  families  in  the 
state. 


josi-i'ir  II.  i!r:i.[..\.MV 

Of  r.cthlehem.  deserves  more  than  a  i)assin.o-  tribute.  He  was  a 
g-randson  of  the  celebrated  divine  of  tliat  name  and  was  a  man  of 
o-reat  moral  worth.  TL'  never  had  a  very  extensive  practice  as  a 
lawver.  but  was  much  imi)loyed  in  various  i)ranches  of  public  busi- 
ness, lie  was  frequently  a  member  of  the  les^islature.  and  once  rep- 
resented the  sixteenth  district  in  the  Senate.  He  died  in  middle 
life,  and  all.  of  all  names  and  i)arties.  i)ay  him  the  tribute  of  an 
affectionate  and  respectable  remembrance. 


TIIKODORK    NORTH 


Of  Goshen,  his  native  town,  removed  to  Chenan.uo  County,  \.  ^  .. 
about  1823.  He  graduated  at  Williams  College  in  180^)  with  the 
highest  honors  of  his  class.  He  was  a  remarkably  well  read  lawyer, 
and  had  a  respectable  standing  as  an  advocate.  He  attained  to 
eminence  in  his  profession  in  the  State  of  Xew  ^'ork.  He  died 
some  twent\    \ears  since. 


9^  I.ITCII1-Ii:i.|)   idlNTN'    I'.i:N(,'11    AM)    I'.AR 

^■(»iNc.   M i:m i:i:ks  Ol"    \'\\\'.   UAU. 

In  1820  there  were  several  }H)uni;'  inenil)ers  of  the  l)ar  who  had 
just  commenced  practice,  some  of  whom  afterwards  became  eminent, 
antl  two  of  them,  Truman  Smith,  and  his  cousin  Xathaniel  P>.  Smith 
still  survive,  llesides  these  there  were  (rcors^e  Wheaton,  Leman 
Church,  David  C.  Sanford,  Xathaniel  Terry  of  Xew  Milfor<l.  and 
William  S.  Holahird.  These  all  lived  to  a  period  within  the  memory 
of  man\-  now  in  practice  here.  Perry  died  at  an  earlier  date  than 
either  of  the  others  and  left  a  family,  but  he  was  still  a  yountJ-  man 
when  he  was  called  away.  Sanford  became  judg'e  of  the  Supreme 
Court  and  was  greatly  respected  for  his  eminent  fitness  for  the  place. 
\\  heaton  was  celebrated  for  the  great  skill  with  which  he  prei)ared 
his  cases  for  trial,  and  his  arguments,  homel\  in  st\le,  and  common- 
place in  nunhod,  were  listened  to  with  great  attention.  They  were 
often  charged  with  dry  shots  of  wit  which  told  upon  his  adversary 
and  excited  merriment  with  the  bar. 


LKAIAX    Clll'RCIL 


Obtained  quite  a  celebrity  for  his  legal  acumen  and  sharp  points  of 
character.  If  a  lawyer  is  to  be  deemed  successful  in  proj^ortion 
to  the  number  of  cases  in  which  he  wins  he  w-as  far  from  being  a 
successful  lawyer.  I  am  inclined  to  think  t!iat  the  spirit  of  forensic 
combativeness,  which  seemed  to  possess  the  whole  man,  led  him 
sometimes  to  advise  groundless  prosecutions  and  to  encourage 
groundless  defences.  He  wanted  to  fight,  no  matter  whether  for 
the  right  or  wrong,  and  the  conse(|uence  was  that  he  lost  more 
cases  in  proportion  to  the  whole  nunil)er  in  which  he  was  engaged 
than  anv  other  lawyer  at  the  bar.  Still,  nobody  could  deny  that  he 
l^ossessed  eminent  shrewdness  and  sagacity  as  a  lawxer,  as  well  as 
forensic   abilitv  of  ver\-   high   order. 


Ull.l.lAM     S.     IKd.AI'.iKD. 

A  native  of  Canaan,  jiracticed  in  Colebrook,  but  sjjent  most  ot  his 
life  in  Winsted.  lie  ])ossessed  talents  which  might  have  given  him 
prcjminence  and  distinction  as  a  lawyer  had  he  devoted  himself 
strictly  to  professional  a\'ocalions,  l)ut  he  addicted  himself  more  to 
other  pursuits  than  to  that,  lie  was  Lieutenant  Governor  for  two 
years,  and  for  a  short  time  L'nited  States  Attorney  for  the  District 
of  Connecticut,  and  1  never  heard  any  complaint  of  his  want  of  fit- 
ness f(jr  either  ])osition.  lie  ex])erienced  various  fortunes  in  his 
worldlv    atTairs,    being    sometiines    poor    and    sometimes    rich.         .\1 


■■jrt;^.  .  's,., 


'i  ^^ 


TK U.MAN    S -Ml Til 


si;i>i.\vn  k's   \i'iiKi:ss  97 

lii>   iK'.'itli,    wliiili   (nn-iinrd   soon  afte-r   Ik-   rcaclk-'i   ihc  age  of  fifty 
\cars,  he  left  a  liamlsoDH'  estate  to  his  family. 


There  were  a  lew  \ouiil;  iiuinher>  of  the  har  in  I.S20  who  died 
after,  a  short  eareer,  some  of  wliom  wert'  jnohahly  never  heard  of 
b\-  the  meml)ers  of  this  i^eneration.  Their  names  now  occur  to  me: 
Homer  Swift  of  Kent:  i'hilo  X.  Ileaeock  of  New  M 11  ford ;  and 
Clianncey  Smitli  of  Sharon.  These  started  in  professional  life  with 
ardent  hojjes  and  fair  prospects  of  success.  l)ut  their  career  was  soon 
cut   short   1)\'   <leath. 


(■.I'.ORC.K    S.     1!0.\KI)MAN'. 

Son  of  the  Hon.  I'.lijah  I'.oardman  of  Xew  Milford,  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1821.  He  was  a  youns;-  man  of  decided  promise  and 
was  a  special  favorite  of  his  uncle  Jud.^e  IJoardman.  When  1  visit 
Xew  Milford  1  observe,  still  standint^,  the  brick  hrc  ])roof  ollice 
wdiich  his  father  built  for  him,  but  he  lived  only  a  few  months  after 
taking^  possession  of  it.  and  his  tleath  was  greatly  lamented  through- 
out the  community.  His  eiTorts  at  the  bar  gave  i)roof  of  decided 
talent  and  he  had  made  himself  a  special  favorite  among  the  mem- 
bers. 


coxcr.tSK^xs. 


The  whole  history  of  this  bar  for  the  last  fifty  years,  teems  with 
pleasant  recollections.  As  a  whole,  it  has  a  reputation  for  high 
toned  integrity  and  professional  comity  among  its  members  which 
is  very  much  to  its  credit.  If  there  have  been  instances  of  profes- 
sional delinquency.  the_\-  have  been  so  rare  as  to  have  made  no  luark 
on  the  record  of  the  times. 

I  have  now  spoken,  to  as  great  an  extent  as  the  tinie  will  allow. 
of  the  men  who  flourished  in  this  temi)le  of  justice  fifty  years  ago. 
I  have  no  time  to  give  expression  to  thoughts  wdiich  come  up.  w  ith 
great  urgencv  for  utterance,  upon  such  an  occasion  as  this,  or  to 
review  the  history  of  the  last  fifty  years  in  any  other  relation  than 
those  which  appertain  to  the  administration  of  justice  here.  The 
progress  of  human  afl^'airs  during  that  period,  towards  their  final  con- 
summation, has  been  marked  with  great  changes  and  vicissitudes. 
What  shall  be  their  development  during  the  fifty  years  to  come,  can 
be  of  ver\-  little  personal  interest  to  me.  I  cherish  the  hope  that 
this  bench'  will  continue  to  be  occupied  by  judges  of  integrity.  al)ihty 
and  of  high  judicial  aptitudes,  and  that  this  bar  will  continue  to  be 
adorned  witli  members  whose  pure  lives  and  eminent  attainments 
shall  make  their  position  one  of  honor  and  usefulness. 


98  I.lTCllI'Ii:i.l)   COI'NTV    r.l-Ntll    AM)    i:.\R 

Standinj^  liere  aUnic.  the  only  menilxT  of  this  bar  who  has  been 
in  ])ractico  for  fifty  years.  1  take  pleasure  in  exi)ressins;-  to  my 
brethren  of  more  recent  experience  the  deepest  i^ralitude  for  the 
jileasant  and  friendh-  relations  they  have  i)ermitte<l  me  to  enjoy  with 
them  durini^  the  whole  of  our  acquaintance.  Wy  their  kind  amenities 
and  the  fa\x)r  of  the  indices,  the  rays  of  my  evenini:;  sun  have  fallen 
upt)n  me  softer  than  did  those  of  my  noonday.  These  i)recious 
remembrances  will  remain  with  me  as  Ions.;-  as  I  have  consciousness. 
and  in  conclusion  I  sa\-  to  my  brethren,  not  as  a  thoui^htless  wish, 
but  as  an  honest  j^rayer — ma\   (lod  bless  you.  each  and  all. 


atnct's  E^mmiseucea 


REMINISCENCES 


OF  THE 


LITCHFIELD  COUNTY  BAR 


deliverp:d  at  the 


CENTENNIAL  BANQUET 


NOVEMBER  18,  1898 


BY 


HON.  DONALD  J.  WARNER 


DOiXAl.lJ    1.    WARNKU 


Reminiscences  of  Litchfield  County  Bar. 


Mr.  Cli:iiniiaii  and  ^rntk'nicn  n\  ilic  I'.ar.  I  lliaiik  \i»u  all  sin- 
ccrcK  that  I  am  i)cniiilt(.'(l  tn  ]k-  present  mi  this  occasion,  and  the 
effort  would  require  l)etter  lanj;ua,i;e  than  I  can  e.xpress  to  tell  you 
of  niv  ^-ratitude  at  your  kind  rece])tion. 

If  !  understand  the  purport  <if  what  is  expected  of  me  on  this 
evenini;-  it  is  that  I  shall  i^ive  m\  reminiscences  of  the  liar,  of  the 
sayings  and  doings  of  the  dead  who  have  passed  hefore  me.  As  a 
preliminary  matter  T  wish  to  call  \onr  attention  to  an  earlier  period 
in  mv  life'in  relation  to  the  .^reat  inroails  made  hy  the  Legislature 
of  tlie  State  of  Connecticut  upon  the  ancient  laws.  Fifty  years 
ago  last  .\])ril.  through  a  rupture  in  the  democratic  party  in  vSalis- 
hurv  to  which  I  helonged,  a  faction.  I  ought  to  say.  not  heing  identi- 
fied with  either,  but  attending  to  my  own  business  rather  than  to  any 
political  aspirations,  I  was  urged  to  stand  for  the  nomination  for 
representative  to  the  House:  T  did  so.  was  elected  and  l)ecame  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  which  held  its  session  in  May,  i<S49. 
Fortunately  or  unfortunatel}-  1  was  electetl.  in  my  29th  year,  although 
at  that  time  I  was  considered  a  very  youthful  man  to  legislate  for  the 
people  of  the  State  of  Connecticut.  Lafayette  Foster,  the  distin- 
guished gentleman,  state  senator  and  judge  of  the  Superior  Court, 
was  the  Speaker  of  the  House  ;  1  Ion.  Charles  J.  McCurdy  aft^erwards 
minister  to  Austria  and  a  judge  of  the  Superior  ^and  Supreme 
Courts,  was  Lieut.  Covernor  and  ])resided  over  the  Senate.  I  was 
highly  honored,  without  any  solicitation  on  my  part,  by  beings  ap- 
pemited  on  the  Judiciary  Committee.     Of  course  T  had  to  go  to  the 

tail  end  of  it,  a  very  |)roi)er  jjlace  lor  me. 

^^Ir.  Huntington: — I'.iU  that  tail  wagged  the  dog. 
Mr.  Warner:— A\ell,  1  will  tell  you  about  the  dog  later.  Jn 
the  year  1847,  three  distinguished  men  in  this  state  hadjieen  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  revise  the  statutes  of  the  state.  That  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Governor  :\linor,  afterwards  a  Superior  Court 
judge.  Judge  Loren  P.  \\'aldo  and  Francis  Fellowes.  a  lawyer,  keen 
and  shrewd,  of  Hartford,  on  that  committee.  The  very  first  thing 
that  was  referred  to  our  judiciary  committee  was  the  report  of  this 
revision  committee,  and  our  very  first  subject  were  the  details  of 
that  report.  Thev  appeared  before  us  at  our  first  sitting.  .\nd  al- 
low me  to  sav  right  here,  that  chief-justice  Butler  of  Xorwalk.  then 
state  senator',  was  the  chairman  of  that  judiciary  committee.  1  he 
revision  committee  had  drafted  one  or  two  laws  which  they  wished 
the  judiciary  committee  would  see  were  oft'ered  in  the  Legislature 


i(;2  \\  \nm;k  s   K'i;.M  IN  isi'i;\ii:s 

and  passed  so  that  it  inii^ht  be  inc()r])i>ratcd   in  the  rcxision   which 
would  he  ])ublishc'd  that  year. 

'Phis  was  only  an  act  permit  tin;;-  and  authorizing,  in  a  suit  between 
parties,  that  the  parly  in  (piestion  she  mid  ha\e  the  pri\ik\i^e  of  call- 
ing upon  the  opi)osite  party  as  a  witness  to  testit'\  tn  the  facts  that 
he  might  inquire  about.  Jn<l,U'e  Waldo  was  alsn  on  the  judiciary 
committee,  repesenting  Tolland.  The  distinguished  William  \\'. 
Eaton  w^as  his  colleague  in  the  House.  1,  being  the  first  at  the  tail 
end  of  the  committee,  was  called  upon  after  the  discussion  to  give 
my  opinion.  The  opinion  which  I  gave  T  had  a  long  time  under 
consideration  in  relation  to  the  law  of  witnesses  and  parties  inter- 
ested being  permitted  to  testif}'.  Chairman  liutler  called  upon  me 
to  give  my  opinion.  1  said  distinctly,  (it  was  in  the  presence  of  the 
revision  committee  also)  that  I  was  opposed  to  any  such  law.  They 
had  said  to  me  it  was  a  copy  of  an  Act  that  had  l)een  passed  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  a  recent  statute  there,  and  I  gave  my  reason 
as  being  opposed  to  it.  one  great  reason  was  this,  that  an  honest 
party  might  be  compelled  by  a  scoundrel  to  testify  to  a  fact  that 
would  be  damaging  to  him  unless  he  had  the  same  ability  to  testify 
himself.  And  1  was  in  favor  of  going  further,  I  was.  in  favor  of 
passing  an  Act  wdiich  would  sweep  away  and  wipe  out  that  century- 
old  doctrine  and  permit  ever}-  man.  party  or  interested  witness  in 
any  form,  to  tell  his  story  before  a  court  and  jury,  that  justice  might 
be  done.  I  said  further  "look  over  your  Connecticut  reports  and 
you  will  find  decision  after  decision  where  questions  have  gone  up 
to  the  Supreme  Court  to  ascertain  wdiether  there  was  a  shred  of 
interest  in  the  witness  that  testified  before  the  court.  I  said  to 
them  "we  have  the  action  of  account  in  wdiich  witnesses  are  permitted 
to  testify ;  we  have  the  action  of  book  debt  in  which  all  parties  may 
testify,  and  how  many  cases  will  you  find  in  the  re])orts  in  this  state 
wdiere  the  question  is  laid  before  them  whether  an  action  which  was 
brought  in  book  debt  did  not  properly  belong  in  an  action  of  general 
assumpsit. 

Well,  the  next  gentleman  was  the  late  Mon.  John  \\  C.  Mather 
of  Xew  London  who  sat  at  my  right.  He  concurred  with  me.  and 
so  it  went  around  from  lawyer  to  law\er  and  laymen,  we  had  an 
excellent  layman  there,  he  did  royal  work,  and  it  was  passed  unani- 
mously witli  the  exception  of  judge  Waldo,  wdio  said:  "1  am  in 
favor  of  the  law,  but  we  trie<l  it  last  year  in  the  Legislature  and  it 
could  not  ])ass  and  the  ])eoi)le  are  not  ready  for  it.  and  I  have  con- 
cluded that  the  next  best  thing  to  do  is  to  adopt  the  law  of  Xew 
York."  Well,  there  was  then  in  the  House  a  man  named  Peck  of 
Xew  Haven,  a  brilliant  man.  a  lawyer  by  education  and  a  leader 
of  the  Whig  side;  there  was  Trumbull,  later  ('.o\ernor.  there  was 
the  elder  Charles  Cha])man  who  were  leaders  from  Hartford,  there 
was  Channcex'  Cleveland,  l^x-Covernor,  a  i)ower  anywhere,  his  name 
ami   his   fame  are  known   to  \-ou   all;  \])vvv   was   William    W.    I'.aton 


\VAK\i;!<  s  ki.M  rsiscKN'fKS  103 

also.  Well,  I  was  fmally  inslnuled  1)\  the  cliairinan,  Ju'l;;c  liullcr 
to  draw  up  a  bill  and  have  it  presented.  1  drew  the  bill  wliicii 
was  introduced  in  the  i  louse  or  Senate,  I  forget  which,  it  ininiedi- 
atelv  passed  the  judiciary  committee,  and  was  intr(jduced  into  the 
House,  and  also  in  the  Senate.  It  lay  upon  the  table  sometime 
there  and  the  matter  was  often  cussed  and  discussed.  Judge  Dutton 
came  to  me  while  in  the  House  and  said  to  me  "Mr.  Warner,  every 
member  of  the  Superior  and  Supreme  Court  is  opposed  to  this  law, 
it  is  such  a  radical  change  that  they  think  a  great  injustice,  wrong, 
fraud  and  perjury  will  be  i)erpetratetl  in  the  administration  of  jus- 
tice." I  said  "W'ell,  I  can't  help  that,  I  am  in  favt)r  of  it."  So  it 
went  along,  and  one  day  Judge  Dutton  came  to  me  in  my  seat  and 
said  to  me  "Mr.  Warner  do  you  intend  by  that  Act  that  a  criminal 
should  testify  in  Court?"  "By  no  means,  sir."  Dutton  said  "Well, 
he  has  a  right  to."  I  said  "No,  sir."  Well,  we  looked  at  it  and  he 
explained  it  to  me,  to  my  astonishment  I  felt  as  if  I  had  done  a  very 
wrong  thing,  that  I  had  disgraced  myself  by  drafting  a  bill  that 
extended  the  law  to  criminals,  and  1  looked  at  it  and  it  convinced 
me  that  he  was  right.  I  immediately  went  to  Cha])man  in  his  seat 
and  told  what  Judge  Dutton  said  and  I  told  him  1  thought  it  per- 
mitted of  such  an  interpretation.  He  replied  "well,  it  does,  now 
what  shall  we  do?"  After  a  thought,  he  said  "Warner,  draw  an 
amendment,  when  it  comes  into  the  House,  just  move  an  amendment 
to  the  bill."  Well,  I  drew  the  amendment  and  soon  after  that  Chap- 
man came  to  me  hurriedly  and  said  "that  bill  has  only  passed  the 
Senate  by  the  casting  vote  of  the  Lieut. -Governor,  don't  you  intro- 
duce that  amendment,  don't  say  a  word,  unless  objection  is  made  in 
the  House,  and  then  you  can  offer  the  amendment."  The  bill  came 
into  the  House  passed  by  the  Senate  and  the  usual  formal  vote  was 
gone  through  with  and  the  bill  passed  in  the  House.  Chapman 
came  around  to  me  and  said  he  "Well,  Warner,  it  went  through 
like  grease."  Thus  was  passed  the  law  which  made  a  radical  change 
in  the  administration  of  justice  and  permitted  interested  parties  in 
criminal  as  well  as  civil  cases,  to  testify  in  their  own  behalf.  That 
law  I  consider  one  of  the  wisest  laws  that  was  ever  passed  by  this 
Legislature  and  the  roll  of  honor  for  it  stands  to  Connecticut,  and 
I  thank  God  that  some  of  its  labor  belonged  to  Litchfield  County. 

The  very  next  term  of  the  Superior  Court  in  Litchfield  County 
after  that  session  of  the  Legislature  was  held  in  August  and  pre- 
sided over  by  Judge  Church,  a  native  of  Salisbury  and  one  of  the 
best  lawyers  on  the  bench.  There  was  an  interesting  criminal  trial 
on  the  docket,  a  lawyer  of  prominence  from  Xew  York  and  Judge 
Seymour  were  the  prisoner's  counsel.  The  defendant  had  put  in 
his  evidence  when  Judge  Seymour  arose  and  said  to  his  Honnr. 
"here  is  a  statute  passed  by  the  last  Legislature.  I  am  not  clear  m 
my  own  mind  as  to  the  proper  interpretation  of  it.  whether  it  will 
permit  the  i^risoner  to  testify  or  not,  but  I  am  oi  the  opinion  that  he 


I04  l.lTllll'lKl.l)   (.'(IINTV    BKNC  II     AM)    I'.AR 

has  that  rit^ht.  and  1  submit  the  (luestion  to  your  lloiior  for  the 
purpose  of  determining'."  The  judge  with  considerable  acerl)ity  of 
fcehng  animadverted  upon  the  passage  of  that  law  as  cutting  up 
root  and  branch  of  the  old  principle  which  had  couie  down  to  us 
and  which  no  one  had  ct)nceive(l  ought  to  be  changed.  He  thought 
it  would  introduce  fraud  and  perjury  and  all  those  things  which  go 
to  outweigh  and  destroy  justice  as  administered  by  the  court.  Then 
Seymour,  after  the  judge  had  decided  that  the  prisoner  had  the 
right  to  testify,  said  to  the  States  Attorney  "'riien  I  otYer  you  this 
prisoner  to  testify,  I  don't  propose  to  put  him  on  the  stand  for  he 
might  say  something  which  might  inadvertently  injure  his  case" 
and  that  was  a  shrewd  act  on  his  part.  'J'he  States  .Attorney  de- 
clined to  accept  it  and  the  prisoner  did  not  testify. 

X'ow  there  was  another  radical  change  and  overthrow  of  the  c<mii- 
mon  law  principle,  and  that  was  that  no  plea  in  abatement  of  a  suit 
brought  in  an  action  of  tort  should  bar  the  ])rosecution  of  it,  whicli 
w^as  in  effect  that  the  right  of  action  for  personal  injuries  survived. 
In  other  words,  that  the  executor  or  administrator  of  a  person  that 
had  deceased  could  continue  an  action  commenced  by  the  deceased. 
Well,  that  was  a  charitable  act,  but  too  radical  for  many  of  the 
lawyers,  but  it  passed  the  Legislature  and  no  one  has  seen  fit  since 
to  have  it  repealed. 

Now  I  will  tell  of  an  incident  which  I  heard  which  shows  the 
workings  of  the  old  law.  There  w^as  a  distinguished  lawyer  by  the 
name  of  Loomis  in  Bridgeport,  a  merry  fellow  full  of  fun,  and  there 
was  also  Dwight  ATorris.  This  was  before  the  passage  of  the  law 
of  the  survival  of  actions  for  personal  injuries  and  before  the  law 
allowing  criminals  to  testify.  There  was  a  wayward  son  down  in 
Bridgeport  who  had  an  old,  warm,  kindhearted  father.  This  way- 
ward son  had  cost  the  old  man  many  hundreds  of  dollars  and  great 
grief.  He  had  recently  committed  some  tortious  act  and  he  was 
])rosecuted  criminally  and  convicted  and  then  prosecuted  cfvilly  for 
damages  and  his  body  was  attached,  and  the  poor  old  father  gave 
bonds  for  his  appearance  at  Court. 

This  worthless  son  was  a  merr\-go-round  fellow  and  he  began  to 
have  some  feelings  for  his  old  gray-headed  father,  who  was  in  great 
grief  and  sorrow  and  in  great  affliction  ;  his  money  was  nearly  ex- 
pended on  his  boy  who  was  so  wayward.  Well.  Dwight  Morris  was 
the  junior  counsel  who  was  most  familiar  with  the  case  that  had  to 
be  tried  at  the  approaching  term,  and  this  rollicking  fellow  came  into 
his  office  one  day  and  talked  over  the  case  and  the  facts  in  it.  how 
much  thev  could  do  and  what  circumstances  would  mitigate  the 
damages.  He  said  "Well,  now,  IMorris,  supi)osing  1  should  die  be- 
fore that  case  comes  on;  would  that  have  any  effect  on  the  case?" 
Morris  said  "Why,  yes,  that  would  end  the  case."  This  son  then 
replied  "By  God,  I  guess  I  had  better  die  first."  Morris  said  "I 
think  that  is  a  danmcd  good  idea."     .\  few  days  before  the  session 


WAKM.KS   KI'.M  I  MSflvNl'lCS  I  O-^ 

of  the  (.'ourl  l)\\i,L;hl  Moriis  liunicil  iiilo  LoDiiiis's  otl'icc  anil  said 
"My  God,  Looinis.  1  ^ucss  I  have  committed  murder."  "Why?" 
"Whv  our  client  is  dead,  he  has  committed  suicide;  he  came  into  my 
otiice  and  said  he  guessed  he  would  die  if  it  would  end  the  case," 
and  in  a  foolish  manner  1  said  "Whw  it  would  be  a  damned  good 
idea."  Well,  the  case  went  out.  tlu-  poi.r  old  man's  money  was 
saved,  and  he  hxst  his  son. 

It  is  a  well-established  fact  that  in  the  law  repealing  that  old 
common  law  which  prohibited  an  interested  witness  to  testify,  Con- 
necticut was  the  pit)neer.  .\n(l  that  Westminster  Hall  in  Enj^^land 
from  which  we  received  our  common  law  adopted  that  very  act  that 
was  i)assed  bv  the  Leiiislature  of  1S4S.  And  from  there  it  has  ev 
tended  all  over  the  I'nited  States. 

r.rethren.  1  commenced  reading-  law  in  .March,  1841,  under  the 
instructions  of  Hon.  John  11.  }lul)bard  at  Lakeville,  and  T  spent  a 
portion  of  my  time  under  his  advice  at  Litchfield  so  that  1  mig^ht 
have  the  advantai^es  of  attending  Court  there,  and  under  the  in- 
struction of  the  Hon.  Origen  S.  Seymour,  that  venerable  and  great 
man.  T  completed  my  studies  with  Mr.  Hubbard  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  the  August  term.  1843.  Xow  as  it  was  expected  of  me 
that  I  should  sjieak  of  the  lawyers  who  are  gone,  that  I  knew  when 
I  was  first  admitted  to  the  Ijar,  I  shall  go  in  routine  and  start  with 
my  native  town. 

Before  1  come  to  those  that  I  knew.  I  wish  to  speak  about  an- 
other man,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  law  in  the  town  of  Salisbury,  be- 
cause he  was  the  ancestor  of  a  very  distinguished  race  of  people, 
the  ancestor  of  that  prominent  man,  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States  who  went  from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  anrl 
died  a  few  years  ago.  Adonijah  Strong  was  one  of  the  rough- 
est pieces  of  granite,  I  suppose,  that  ever  existed.  He  had  a  strong 
powerful  mind,  he  was  full  of  wit  and  humor,  he  was  illiterate,  but 
he  had  great  common  sense  and  he  had  great  force  and  abilitv  and 
effect  upon  the  court  and  iur\-,  as  I  have  learned  by  tradition. 
Adonijah  had  a  peculiar  voice,  it  is  said,  and  he  had  a  good  old  wife 
by  the  name  of  Xabby,  and  a  great  many  stories  are  told  about  him. 
He  was  a  strong  man  and  belonged  to  the  Congregational  Church 
and  a  great  supporter  of  it.  TJiere  was  another  colonel  there,  a 
distinguished  man.  Col.  Joshua  Porter.  He  was  the  ancestor  of 
distinguished  sons,  one  of  them  was  a  cabinet  otlicer  under  the 
presidencv  of  John  Quincy  Adams.  Xow  about  the  time  that  the 
Methodist  people  organized  a  societ\-  in  Salisbury  there  was  a  great 
deal  of  opposition  to  them.  I  guess  there  was  more  objection  to 
them  than  the  Salvation  Army  has  seen  in  these  later  days.  They 
held  a  meeting  in  mv  old  school  district  on  Ore  Hill,  and  Col.  Strong 
and  Col.  Porter  had  made  up  their  minds  that  they  would  go  over 
there,  but  not  for  any  very  religious  purposes.  Well,  they  each 
had  a  peculiar  rei)utation.     Col.   Strong  had  the  reputation  of  im- 


I06  LlTCHI'*Il-:i.D   COUNTY    RKNCH    AND    BAR 

bibing  considerably  and  eating-  licartily.  Col.  Porter  had  another 
reputation,  but  I  will  let  you  guess  what  that  was.  It  is  spoken  of 
in  the  Scriptures.  Well,  the  clergyman  who  was  to  olHciate  on  that 
occasion  had  been  advised  and  Col.  Strong's  character  was  por- 
trayed and  so  was  Col.  Porter's.  They  went  in  and  sat  down,  and, 
as  I  said,  for  not  very  worthy  purposes,  and  after  a  while  the  clergy- 
man was  speaking  about  the  characteristics  of  different  individuals, 
and  he  said  "where  is  that  wine-bibber  and  a  glutton?"  Col.  Strong 
got  up  and  said  "here  I  am.  sir!"  and  sat  down.  The  next  thing 
the  preacher  said  when  speaking  of  the  wickedness  of  the  world, 
"and  where  is  he."  Col  Porter  sat  still.  Strong  said  "Col.  Porter, 
get  up  and  answer  to  your  name  as  I  did?" 

Now  I  will  come  to  those  whom  I  knew  in  Salisbury.  There  was 
John  G.  Mitchell  of  Salisbury,  I  believe  he  was  born  in  Southbury. 
He  came  from  a  very  pious  parentage  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and  came  to  Salisbury  at  an  early  age.  He  was  not  an  educated 
man  academically  speaking,  he  was  rough  in  his  manners,  uncouth, 
but  he  always  maintained  a  reputation  of  a  man  of  the  highest 
integrity,  but  that  is  common  amon^  laywers  in  Litchfield  County. 
Everybody  esteemed  him.  He  had  in  his  office  a  very  few  books, 
old  and  musty,  but  he  was  a  trial  justice  and  judge  of  probate  after 
the  establishment  of  the  Salisbury  district.  He  was  also  connected 
in  merchandise  wath  ]\Ir.  Walton  under  the  tirm  name  of  Walton  & 
Mitchell,  and  he  lived  to  an  advanced  age.  He  was  rough  and  un- 
couth, but  he  had  great  redeeming  traits.  Late  in  life  he  came 
under  the  influence  of  a  revival  in  the  village  in  Lakeville  and  be- 
came a  very  religious  man  to  the  astonishment  of  everybody. 

He  was  frequently  called  upon  to  speak  in  Methodist  and  re- 
ligious meetings,  he  attended  faithfully  always,  and  in  one  of  them 
he  sjjoke  of  how  they  should  work  and  toil  to  bring  men  into  the 
fold.  He  said  "brethren  and  sisters,  you  know  the  sharks  follow  the 
ship,  now  cast  your  nets  out  among  them  and  you  may  bring  in  a 
lawyer  as  they  brought  me  in."  On  another  occasion  he  was  speak- 
ing of  the  power  of  God.  and  talked  well  about  it  and  wound  up  by 
saying  "why  God  could  take  and  throw  me  right  through  this  meet- 
ing house,  but  he  won't  do  it." 

There  was  another  old  lawyer  there  when  1  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1843  ^^o  gave  me  a  great  deal  of  good  advice?  He  ad- 
vised me  one  day  as  a  lawyer  "if  anybody  offers  you  anything,  take 
it,  if  it  is  nothing  but  a  chew  of  tobacco."  I  recollected  that  and 
always  took  one. 

Then  there  was  Philiander  Wheeler,  a  ^'ale  College  graduate,  an 
educated  man,  a  keen  bright  man,  full  of  wit  and  humor,  quick 
and  happy  in  repartee,  but  after  I  came  to  the  bar  he  never  attended 
the  courts  at  Litchfield,  neither  did  .Mitchell,  but  tried  ca^es  before 
justices  and  arbitrators.  ( )nc  day  he  was  called  in  over  in  Canaan 
as  an  adviser  to  the  justice  in  the  trial  of  a  man  by  the  name  of 


JOHN     11.     llim'.ARD 


WAR N I ;k  s  k i;  mini  sc k \ c ks  107 

Rockwell  wild  was  prnsecutrd  for  imirdiriiijr  his  hrothcr.  lA-inan 
Church  was  the  (iefeiidatit's  counsel  and  the  Hon.  John  H.  Hubbard 
was  another,  and  the  prosecutinj;-  attorne\-  1  think  was  l-'dniore,  ancl 
it  was  a  ])rotracted  case,  and  one  forenoon  tlie  lawyers  had  a  set-to 
as  to  the  admissibility  of  evidence  or  some  (jucstion  that  anjse  before 
them,  and  there  was  a  great  deal  of  controversy  between  the  lawyers, 
and  after  very  much  had  been  said  they  adjourned  and  went  to  din- 
ner. The  lawyers  sat  around  the  table  and  Wheeler  came  in  and  sat 
down.  The  landlord  came  and  asked  him  what  he  would  have,  he 
wantetl  tt)  knt)w  if  he  would  take  some  of  the  gotjse.  ".\o"  he 
said  "I  have  had  that  all  the  morning  and  I  don't  want  any." 

There  was  an  old  lady  who  possessed  some  property  in  Salis- 
bury, whom  they  called  Aunt  I'olly.  She  was  litigious  in  her 
character  and  she  applied  to  every  lawyer  to  sue  s<jmebody  and  when 
one  would  refuse  she  would  go  to  another  and  finally  she  got  a 
writ  out  for  one  of  her  neighbors  and  brought  it  before  the  Court. 
Wheeler  defended  the  person  that  she  had  brought  the  suit  against 
and  he  would  stir  up  .\unt  Polly  until  she  become  violent  and  quick- 
tempered. She  had  her  money  in  specie  tied  up  in  one  corner  of 
her  handkerchief,  and  he  became  so  intolerable,  as  she  thought, 
towards  her  that  she  jumped  uj)  and  she  just  tlung  this  s])ecie  at 
his  head  and  it  hit  him.  but  didn't  hurt  him  very  much.  He  picked 
it  up  and  put  it  in  his  pocket.  Xo  sooner  had  he  done  that, 
than  Aunt  Polly  went  for  him  and  downed  him  over  his  chair  and 
the  lawyer  on  the  other  side  said  "stick  to  h.im,  aunt  I'olly."  That 
was  a  scene  in  court  in  the  early  days. 

I  come  now  to  speak  of  a  man  to  whom  1  feel  greatly  indebted, 
and  I  wish  T  could  pay  a  better  tribute  to  his  character  than  I  am 
able  to.  and  that  is  the  Hon.  John  H.  Hubbard.  He  was  a  native 
of  Salisbury  and  in  his  early  struggles  he  had  formidable  opposition 
to  contend  with.  In  early  life  he  w^as  feeble  and  unable  to  work 
and  finally  he  chose  this  profession,  and  by  dint  of  educating  him- 
self by  hard  study  and  teaching  school  winters  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  the  year  1826.  He  had  a  great  op[)osition  politically,  it 
was  the  day  of  anti-masonry  when  the  feelings  of  people  were  very 
much  excited  upon  that  question  arising  out  of  the  alleged  death 
of  one  Morgan  in  the  State  of  New  York.  He  adopted  the  views 
of  the  anti-masonic  party  and  was  opposed  by  strong  men  and  he 
had  a  terrible  struggle,  but  he  held  his  own.  tie  had  that  per- 
sistent indomitable  never-die  princi])le  in  him  that  carried  him 
along  and  he  became  a  distinguished  lawyer  of  the  bar  of  Litch- 
field County.  He  is  a  living  example  to  young  men.  no  matter  what 
the  circumstances  may  be.  if  he  is  persistent,  if  he  is  studious,  if 
he  bends  his  efforts  in  that  direction  with  an  inflexibility  that  is  not 
to  be  beaten,  he  will  in  the  end  conquer.  I  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude 
to  that  man  for  he  drilled  me  in  the  principles  of  the  law  to  such  an 
extent  that  he  said  when  T  went  to  the  office  of  Judge  Sevmour  so 


io8  i.iTcirFiKi.n  corxTv  rknch  and  bar 

as  to  be  present  when  the  courts  were  in  session  and  learn  some 
thing'  of  its  practice,  that  1  was  able  to  ])e  admitted  as  soon  as  my 
time  of  study  should  expire.  He  became  a  member  of  Congress 
and  represented  the  4th  district.  He  was  states  attorney  for  the 
county  for  how  many  years  I  don't  now  remember. 

I  will  now  speak  of  another  gentleman,  a  lawyer  in  Salisbury, 
Roger  Averill.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Union  College,  tall,  erect 
and  well  proportioned,  dignified  in  manners  and  a  lawyer  of  fair 
ability.  He  practiced  in  Salisbury  for  some  years,  but  the  field 
was  not  sufficiently  wide  and  he  moved  to  Danbury  and  practiced 
there,  until  he  was  made  Lieut.-Governor  during  a  portion  of  the 
time  of  the  distinguished  war  governor.  Gov.  Buckingham.  He 
was  my  opponent  in  many  cases  that  we  tried  and  he  early  taught 
me  an  iinportant  lesson  in  table  ])ounding.  In  a  case  we  were  try- 
ing before  a  justice  I  became  quite  vehement  and  brought  my  fist 
down  on  the  table  so  strong  and  so  often  that  he  commiserated  me 
and  felt  sorry  for  me,  and  he  kindly  placed  a  law  book  upon  the 
table  on  the  spot  where  I  had  been  hammering  and  said  "Brother 
Warner.  I  am  afraid  you  will  injure  your  hand,  the  book  is  softer." 
That  took  all  the  starch  out  of  me. 

Another  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Norton  J.  Buel  was  a  native 
of  Salisbury.  He  studied  a  portion  of  his  time  under  the  venerable 
Charles  F.  Sedwick,  and  the  latter  portion  of  it  under  Judge  Church 
when  he  was  practicing  in  Salisbury.  He  moved  to  Naugatuck 
in  the  first  place  and  afterwards  to  Waterbury,  but  he  frequently 
tried  cases  in  this  county  and  at  this  bar.  He  was  a  successful 
lawyer  and  a  gentleman,  and  one  who  acquitted  himself  with  great 
ability  as  a  lawyer. 

Moving  along  East,  we  come  to  North  Canaan  and  we  find  John 
Elmore,  he  was  a  native  of  the  tow^n  and  I  understood  he  was  a 
very  popular  young  man  when  he  started  in  business,  he  was  sur- 
rounded by  many  friends,  he  was  very  genial  and  a  hale  fellow 
well-met,  everybody  liked  Jack  Elmore,  and  he  was  on  the  high- 
tide  to  become  a  successful  lawyer,  but  his  convivial  habits  dragged 
him  down. 

Leman  Church,  who  was  a  half  brother  of  Samuel  Church,  was 
a  native  of  Salisbury,  and  he  attended  the  law  school  of  Judge 
Gould  at  Litchfield.  He  located  at  North  Canaan  about  the  same 
time  that  Elmore  did.  Instead  of  having  many  friends  to  aid  him 
he  had  to  encounter  the  oi)position  of  the  prominent  men  of  the 
place.  I  asked  years  ago  an  old  gentleman  who  was  familiar  with 
North  Canaan  why  it  was  that  they  all  stood  by  Jack  Ivlmore  and 
not  by  Church.  Well,  he  said,  Elmore  was  a  congenial  man,  he 
was  a  pleasant  man,  he  had  all  the  social  elements  in  him  that  were 
attractive.  While  they  never  saw  Church,  he  never  met  us  any- 
where and  if  he  did,  why  there  was  no  congeniality  between  us,  they 
were  all  opposed  to  him  in  the  town,  I  mean  the  prominent  men ; 


WAKNKK  S   KKMIN'IStKNfKS  IC) 


but  ho  studied  his  books  and  tliouj^ht  deeply.      Mo  \v(juld  r)ecasion- 
allv  have  a  case,  and  bye  and  bye  his  star  bcfjan  to  rise,  and  thonj^b 
he  could  not  and  did  not  command  the  love,  yet  he  conimamlcd  the 
respect  of  the  peoi)le  by  dint  of  his  great  talents  and  power.     1  con- 
sidered   Leman    Church    one    of    the    ablest    lawyers    and    the    best 
equipped  on  all  occasions  that  I  ever  met.     He  had  a  keen,  cpjick 
l)erccption,  he  had  that  continuousity  of  purpose ;  he  did  not  pander 
to  please  the  multitude  nor  to  the  api)lause  of  the  individual.     Ik- 
ploughed  a  straight  furrow  along  his  own  course,  and  he  attained 
the  highest  jKisition  at  the  bar  at  an  early  age.     He  had  the  keenest 
blade  of  satire,  wit  and  humor,  it  abounded  with  him  ;  at  repartee 
he  was  never  at  a  loss,  nor  upon  any  question  that  the  judge  might 
propound  to  him  whether  he  ever  had  the  case  under  consideration 
or  not :  and  always  acquitted  himself  with   the  highest  ability.     I 
speak  thus  of  him  because  I  was  so  situated  when  I  first  came  to 
the  bar,  the  other  lawyers  being  older,  1  was  forced  to  call  upon 
Leman  Church,  and  he  aided  me  and  always  assisted  me  in   any 
case  for  which  I  might  call  upon  him.     Physically  he  was  tall,  frail 
in  appearance,  he  had  a  hunch  with  his  head  slightly  deformed,  a 
shrivelled  face,  lean  and  gaunt,  and   his  apparel   was  always  neat 
but  of  the  coarsest  character.     His  feet  were  clad  in  heavy  brogan 
shoes,  but  the  redeeming  feature  of  his  countenance  was  his  eye, 
and  such  an  eye  would  convince  you  gentlemen   when  cast  upon 
you  as  being  that  of  a  man  of  powerful  intellect.     Now  to  speak 
of  his  ability  as  a  lav^^yer.     Porter  Burrall,  the  son  of  William  Bur- 
rail,  a  Canaan  man,  a  highly  educated  man  was  president  of  the 
Housatonic   Railroad.     Some   of  its   directors   lived   in  the   city   of 
New  York  and  some  question  arose  in  relation  to  the  management 
of  the  road   and   there  were  lawyers   in   New  York   who  had   the 
question  under  advisement  and  they  had  expressed  oi)inions  in  re- 
lation to  it.     There  was  a  final  meeting  appointed  for  the  further 
discussion  and  the  determination   of  the   question   involved.     Bur- 
rall called  upon  Church  and  told  him  he  wanted  to  have  him  to  go 
down  to  New  York  City  and  attend  that  Director's  meeting.   Church 
said  in  his  peculiar  voice  "I  am  not  going  down  among  those  dandy 
lawyers  thev  think  they  know   everything,   and   I   am   not  going." 
However,  Burrall  had  great  faith  in  him  and  insisted  upon  his  go- 
ing, and  he  finallv  went  down,  clad  like  a  clod-hopper  and  he  sat 
down  in  that  convention.     The  oiiinions  of  these  distinguished  New 
York  Lawvers  were  called  for  and  finally  Mr.  Burrall  said.  "Mr. 
Chairman,':  wish  mv  friend  Mr.  Church  of  Canaan  might  be  per- 
mitted to  speak."     Well   Church   got  up.   a  most   inferior   lookmg 
man,  you  can't  find  one  to  compare  with  him  in  that  respect,  but 
he  went  at  the  question  under  discussion  and  laid  them  out  so  broad 
and  clear  and  so  perfectly  lucid  that  he  established  them,  and  his 
views  were  finallv  adopted.     He  could  not  bear  a  fop.  he  could  not 
bear  what  he  called  a  Miss.  Nancy,  or  vaporism  of  any  kind,  he 


no  i.ircii FiKi.i)  coi  Nr\'  liKscii  anf)  mar 

went  too  far  pcrhajjs  in  that  rcsi)cct,  l)ut  he  liad  a  ha])p\-  gift  of 
pnnctnring  bnbblcs  and  1  will  give  you  one  or  two  instances  of  it. 
Now  yon  know  that  when  young  men  come  to  the  bar  and  make 
their  tirst  appearance  before  a  jury.  the\  wish  to  make  an  impres- 
sion and  sometimes  be  classical  and  ornate.  'Phere  was  brother 
Hitchcock  who  lived  in  Winsted.  a  man  for  whom  1  held  the  high- 
est respect,  and  whose  memory  I  revere.  He  and  Jndge  Granger 
and  myself  were  great  friends.  Hitchcock  was  a  partner  of  Hol- 
abird.  They  had  a  very  important  case  to  be  tried  at  Litchfield. 
Hitchcock  had  made  great  preparations  in  the  case,  and  it  was 
among  his  first  efforts  at  the  bar  in  the  way  of  argument  and  trial, 
and  he  familiarized  Granger  and  myself  with  the  case  and  we  felt 
a  very  deep  interest  in  his  behalf.  Hitchcock  in  the  course  of  his 
argument  animadverted  ujion  one  principal  witness  in  the  case 
against  him,  he  was  a  very  important  witness  for  the  other  side, 
and  it  was  very  important  for  Hitchcock's  client  that  the  Jury- 
should  not  take  his  word  or  the  testimony  he  gave  before  the  Court. 
In  the  course  of  his  arg'ument  Hitchcock  said,  alluding  to  that  wit- 
ness, "why,  gentlemen  of  the  jury,  he  is  the  very  'folliculus,'  in 
this  case."  A  little  furtiier  along  he  said  "He  is  a  Jupiter  Tonans, 
gentlemen  of  the  Jury."  When  Leman  Churcli  came  to  answer 
that  he  said  "Xow,  gentlemen  of  the  Jury  my  young  friend  here, 
brother  Hitchcock  has  attempted  to  mislead  you  ;  why  he  has  talked 
about  one  Miss  Polly  New  Rose  gentlemen  of  the  jury,  have  you 
seen  any  such  witness  on  this  stand?"  "Xot  satisfied  with  that, 
he  has  imposed  upon  you  again,  he  has  talked  about  a  witness  here 
by  the  name  of  Jew  Peter  Toe  Xails."  As  soon  as  we  could, 
Granger  and  I  took  our  hats  and  went  out.  Another  case  we  had 
in  the  Superior  Court  in  wdiich  Leman  Church  was  interested,  we 
had  medical  experts  in,  and  a  learned  Doctor  by  the  name  of  Fuller 
from  Xew  Haven  was  there  as  a  witness  against  the  interests  of 
Church's  client.  He  went  along  very  learnedly,  as  such  physicians 
do,  and  wdien  Church  came  to  cross-examine  this  witness  he  com- 
menced by  saying  "well,  now.  Dr.  Fooler"  and  he  took  the  wind  out 
of  him  pretty  effectually. 

Another  illustration  of  his  mode  of  examining  a  witness.  There 
was  a  great  controversy  in  years  gone  by  between  Jedediah  Graves 
and  Sylvanus  Merwin,  father-in-law  and  son-in-law,  about  a  man 
who  went  and  took  u])  the  tombstones  of  his  children  and  offered 
them  for  sale  on  an  execution  for  a  judgment. 

Graves  was  a  ])ompous  sort  of  fellow,  he  was  a  trial  justice  in 
the  town  of  Xew  Alilford  and  he  was  called  upon  to  testify  to  what 
was  said  before  him  on  a  trial.  He  went  along  well  and  easily 
and  was  turned  over  to  Church  for  cross-examination,  and  Church 
in  his  questions  began  to  imply  that  he  was  going  outside  of  the 
truth.  After  a  while  the  witness  stopped  and  says  "S(|uire  Church, 
1  have  a  realizing  sense  of  the  obligations  of  my  oath.   I  have  ad- 


W  AKM-.K  S   I<i:MIMSC1;N(.KS  III 

iniiiistcTfd  ihciii  .iikI  I  picitcst  aj^ainsl  your  insiini;ilii  mis."  (.'ImnlT 
said  "S(|uire  lUliott,  if  you  have  ^ot  lliron^li  witli  yimr  pci' irati<  mi. 
jik-asc  answer  my  (iucstion." 

Now  I  come  to  si)eak  of  that  (Hstin<;uishe(l  man  in  Xorih  C'anaan. 
Miles  'l\)bv  (iran<i^er.  He  was  a  j^rackiate  of  Wesleyan  rniversity 
at  Middlctown  in  tliis  state.  He  was  a  school  teaclier  on  a  plan- 
tation down  in  Mississij)!)!.  teaching-  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the 
surrounding  plantations,  and  during  that  time  lie  studied  law  in 
Mississippi  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  that  state,  lie  came 
back  to  Connecticut  and  went  into  the  office  of  Leman  Church  and 
studied  law  with  him  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  knowledge  of 
Connecticut  laws  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  after  i(S4^v  ^^^  was 
the  greatest  wit,  humorist  and  wag  of  the  bar,  he  was  the  very 
Mark  Twain  of  the  bar.  His  sayings,  his  wit  and  his  humor  might 
be  read  as  Innocents  at  Home  instead  of  Innocents  .\broad.  He 
was  skilled  in  doggerel  poetry  as  he  called  it.  He  would  see  the 
ludicrous  and  ridiculous  in  persons  and  things  that  no  one  but  he 
thought  of,  and  he  would  bring  it  out  to  the  great  amusement  of 
his  hearers.  His  very  first  argument  in  the  Sujierior  Court  was 
in  poetry.  It  was  the  case  of  Dunham  vs.  Dunham.  Dunham 
brought  a  petition  for  a  divorce  against  his  wife,  he  was  a  widower 
when  he  married,  and  she  was  a  widow.  They  were  both  very  old 
and  infirm,  their  spouses  were  dead  and  they  desired  companionship, 
and  so  they  inter-married.  Jack  Elmore  brought  the  petition  and 
in  that  petition  he  set  up  as  a  ground,  a  fradulent  contract.  Judge 
Ivllsworth,  a  very  grave  man  and  a  deacon  of  the  church  in  Hart- 
ford was  holding  Court.  Oanger  led  off  in  the  argument  nn-  the 
defense  and  Church  was  to  close  the  debate.  His  whole  argument 
w^as  in  poetry,  but  I  remember  nothing  but  the  last  verse,  which 
was  this : 

"Now  all  his  hopes  in  ruins  lie. 
Crushed  by  this  prolapsus  uteri." 
He  was  a  great  fellow  for  giving  names  to  persons.  He  dubbed 
me  by  the  name  of  Elder,  and  it  has  been  carried  on  to  this  day.  and 
I  believe  I  had  been  so  addressed  since  I  have  been  here,  ^^'l^^■  lie 
did  it  I  don't  know,  whether  an  elder  of  the  Methtxlist  l^Zpiscopal 
church  or  some  other  persuasion  I  havn't  any  idea,  he  never  ex- 
plainded  it  to  me.  He  was  full  of  his  jokes  and  quirks,  it  made  no 
difference  whether  it  was  foe  or  friend,  but  it  was  all  in  good  na- 
ture. Well,  you  all  know  his  history  in  later  life  when  he  was 
highly  honored,  represented  his  town  in  the  Legislature,  in  the  Sen- 
ate and  represented  the  4th  district  in  Congress  after  his  retirement 
as  a  Judge. 

Col.  Jacob  B.  Hardenberg.  he  was  a  native  of  Kingston.  X.  \. 
He  was  a  good  lawver.  a  soldier  and  a  warrior  at  (kntysburg  under 
Col  IVatt.  I  might  well  say  of  him  "he  was  the  bravest  of  the 
brave." 


112  l.rrClll'lKI.I)    COINTV    FU'lNCll    AND    MAR 

Now  I  conic  to  one  of  my  first  students,  C'.eorj^c  Washington 
Peet.  He  was  a  native  of  Salisbury  and  read  law  in  my  office  and 
completed  his  studies  in  the  law  in  the  Harvard  Law  School.  Soon 
after  his  admission  he  located  in  South  Canaan  in  the  office  of 
Judge  P.urrall  and  commenced  practice  there,  and  afterwards  at 
Falls  \'illage.  Frt>m  his  maternal  ancestry  he  inherited  the  power 
of  acquisitiveness  which  was  but  little  diluted  by  what  he  inherited 
from  the  paternal  side.  And  only  semi-occasionally  did  he  commit 
waste  by  profuse  expenditure.  He  was  a  unicpie  character.  Peet 
was  a  nervous,  excitable,  confident,  energetic,  bold  man.  He  went 
in  ])ursuit  of  money  and  he  got  it.  He  was  not  devoid  of  wit  and  by 
it  occasionally  entertained  us.  We  boys  were  playing  tricks  upon 
each  other,  as  I  presume  they  are  now,  the  younger  members. 
Hitchcock  had  a  good  deal  of  that  in  his  makeuj),  and  one  day  at 
the  Court  in  Litchfield  in  warm  weather  I'eet  was  down  there  with 
his  linen  coat  on,  and  in  those  days  the  clerk  had  on  his  desk  a 
wafer  box  with  little  red  wafers,  we  didn't  have  mucilage  then, 
but  we  used  red  wafers  to  stick  things  on,  and  Hitchcock  got  out 
a  lot  of  these  every  little  while,  then  would  wet  one  of  them  and 
go  around  and  slap  Peet  on  the  back  and  stick  on  a  wafer,  and  soon 
got  him  pretty  well  pasted.  Peet  was  marching  around  in  different 
places  making  an  exhibition  of  his  back,  and  finally  he  found  peo- 
ple were  laughing  at  him.  Peet  would  ask,  "well,  what  are  yon 
laughing  at"  and  then  they  would  laugh  the  more.  Finally  some- 
one asked  "What  the  devil  have  you  got  on  your  back.  Peet?" 
Peet  was  very  indignant  and  accused  Hitchcock  of  trying  to  make 
him  the  butt  of  this  bar. 

As  I  said.  Granger  gave  names  to  everybody.  There  is  a  place 
in  South  Canaan  called  Dogtown.  and  years  ago  there  was  a  tavern 
there  and  the  place  of  trial  of  many  cases.  That  was  Peet's  stamp- 
ing ground,  and  Granger  and  others  met  him  there,  and  so  Granger 
gave  him  the  name,  not  of  the  constellation  exactly,  but  he  called 
him  Attorney  Serious,  the  dog-star,  the  brighest  star  in  dog-town. 

I  pass  along  to  Norfolk.  There  was  Michael  Mills.  He  was 
a  tall,  lean  lank,  bony  man,  high  cheek  bones  and  rather  tawny 
face.     Granger  called  him  the  Sachem  of  Norfolk. 

Then  comes  William  K.  Peck.  Jr.,  he  was  a  native  of  Harwin- 
ton  :  his  parents  moved  with  him  to  Salisbury  when  he  was  a  young 
boy.  He  studied  law  in  my  office  and  commenced  practice  in  Nor- 
folk. He  was  very  fond  of  making  public  speeches  when  ever  an 
opportimity  presented.  Abolitionism  and  temperance  were  his 
favorite  topics  and  he  availed  himself  of  every  ()i)])ortunity  to  make 
sj)eeches,  and  in  that  respect,  so  far  as  capability  of  addressing  pop- 
ular sentiment  at  his  age  of  life,  he  had  decided  talent.  Granger 
called  him  Duke  of  Norfolk.  When  he  contemplated  settling  in 
Norfolk,  one  of  the  good  deacons  of  Norfolk  came  over  to  see  me 
to  inquire  about  him  and  informed  me  that  Mr.  Peck  had  referred 


;  iuT/i  iu-ij,.  A*.tv  >: 


•Ts:A.ai 


GIDKOX     IIAI.I, 


liiiii  In  me  and  wantt-il  l<>  knuw  wliai  M>rl  ol"  a  man  lir  was.  I  t<>l<l 
him  hr  was  (.•xaclK  a(la])k'(l  to  Norfolk.  1  Ir  said  "'what  <lo  you 
mean?"  I  rci)liiMl  "in  the  first  place  he  is  a  very  moral  man.  a  man 
of  excellent  moral  character;  in  the  stHoiul  place  he  will  he  an  ad- 
mirahle  snccessor  of  Michael  Mills  in  his  ])hysical  make-ni),  he  has 
a  peculiar  lawn\  hrown  hair,  hi^h  chec'k  hones,  and  in  another  re- 
si)ect  he  is  a  hlack  rei)uhlican'"  as  they  called  them  then.  The  oUl 
deacon  lau.^hed  and  said  he  guessed  he  was  the  man.  So  he  settled 
there  and  I  helieve  acipiitted  himself  with  ahility.  After  he  had 
heen  there  a  while  he  removed  to  Michigan  where  I  have  heard  he 
hecame  a  successful  law\er.  1  \v\{  i)roud  of  him  as  a  >lu<U-nt  in  my 
office.  •     if. 

Xow  1  come  to  W'insted.  William  S.  1  lolahird  was  a  native  of 
South  Canaan.  Me  was  ph\sically  a  large,  tall,  splendidly  made-u]) 
man.  imposing  in  a])i)earance  and  presence,  and  lie  was  the  great 
democratic  leader  of  the  har.  1  le  was  a  ])olitician  and  he  was  a  man 
around  whom  the  vouug  democratic  lawyers  liked  to  gather.  He 
had  excellent  convi'rsalii  nial  jjowers  and  tliex'  were  alwaxs  interested 
in  his  conversation.  Me  was  really  one  of  the  instructors  in  ]>oliti- 
cal  matters  among  the  democratic  lawyers,  and  he  was  then  in  ac- 
tive practice.  He  had  some  hitterness  in  his  make-up,  hut  his 
friendshi])  was  as  strong  as  his  hatred  was  deep  and  unforgiving. 

C.ideon  Mall  was  an  oi)])onent.  and  as  a  lawyer  and  in  politics 
thev  were  diametrically  ojjposed.  Holahird  was  vindictive  some- 
times, and  his  hatred  extended  down  too  far. 

Xow  1  come  to  another  unique  character,  and  that  was  Gideon 
Mall.  Me  was  a  lean,  tall,  gaunt  man,  he  was  in  full  ])ractice,  and 
continued  in  ])ractice  until  he  was  ap])ointed  Judge  ot  the  Su])erior 
Court."  Me  was  a  hard  worker,  diligent;  his  contests  were  elahor- 
ate.  manv  and  severe.  Mall  and  llolahird  were  oi)i)onents  always 
in  politics  and  lawsuits,  never  associated.  Hall  was  very  prolix  in 
the  cimduct  of  trials,  and  remarkably  so  in  his  arguments  before 
the  court  and  iurv.  The  one  hour  rule  had  not  been  i)as.sed  when 
he  i)racticed.  Hall  would  occasionally  make  attempts  at  oratory 
in  his  trials,  and  here  is  an  illustration  of  it.  Me  had  a  suit  in 
court  for  his  client,  the  plaintitT  in  the  case.  It  was  a  contest  oyer 
a  piece  of  rocky  land  of  no  value  comparatively  speaking.  During 
the  trial  he  was  often  talking  about  the  littleness  and  smallness  of 
the  case,  and  it  was  so  alluded  to  in  the  argument  by  the  counsel 
for  the  defense.  This  was  a  sort  of  an  exordium  or  peroration  m 
which  he  said  it  was  not  available  on  account  of  the  su])er-abundant 
fecunditv  of  its  soil,  but  because  it  was  ancestral  estate  and  had 
come  down  from  a  long  line  of  colonial  ancestors. 

In  relation  to  Hall,  there  is  one  thing  which  shows  the  estima- 
tion of  the  bar.  This  story  was  told  to  me  by  the  late  (k-orge  C. 
WoodrutT  of  Litchfield.  .\  lawyer  of  this  county  had  a  suit  i^n 
court,  a  voung  lawyer  and  he  had  associated   with  him  Creorge  C. 


tl4  I.I  i\iii'ii:i.i)  C()rN'r>    i;i:\(.'ii  and  i;au 

WOiulrurt.  It  was  a  case  asking"  fur  the  ai)iK)intiiient  of  a  coinniittce 
ill  cliancory  wliicli  was  t<>  be  tried  nut  (if  term-time,  and  the  question 
arose  who  should  he  that  eomiiiittee.  ( )f  course,  if  the  ])arties  as^reed 
on  the  committee,  the  court  would  sanction  it.  otherwise  the  court 
would  have  to  decide  and  appoint  whom  it  thotii^ht  best.  Xeg"oti- 
ations  were  made  between  the  opposite  ctumsel.  Woodrufif  on  one 
side  and  Hubbard  and  ('.ran,<;er  on  the  other  side,  and  liuljbard  and 
Graui^'er  suggested  1  lall  as  a  good  one  for  the  committee-man.  The 
young  man  went  to  see  .Mr.  Woodruff  and  told  him  that  they  jiro- 
posed  to  have  Hall  appointed  committee,  and  \Voodruff  said  to  him 
"don't  you  have  him,  why  he  wdll  get  things  all  mixed  up  in  his 
report  so  tliat  we  sliall  not  get  head  or  tail  to  it."  The  young  man 
reflected  and  said  ".Mr.  Woodruff',  that  may  be  just  what  we  want." 
\\  ell.  it  turned  out  so,  it  was  mixed  and  Woodruff  won  his  case. 

1  come  now  to  the  friend  of  whom  1  have  spoken,  Roland  Hitch- 
cock. He  was  a  native  of  lUirlington.  He  read  law  in  Holabird's 
office  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  about  1M44.  and  became 
a  jtartner  of  llolabird  and  ])ractice(l  law  in  Winchester  until  ap- 
])ointe(l  as  judge  oi  the  Superiin-  Court.  I  ;il\\a\s  liked  the  man, 
and  So  well  did  I  know  him  that  his  peculiarities  never  interfered 
with  our  friendship.  He  at  times  exhibited  much  wit  and  humor 
and  enjo\ed  the  funny  side  of  things  and  contributed  his  share  to 
the  merriment  of  the  bar.  There  was  a  streak  of  melancholia  in  his 
nattire  which  always  made  him  sorrt)wful.  It  lasted  him  throtigh 
life,  and  in  the  last  few  years  of  his  life,  had  a  woeful  effect  upon 
him.  lie  was  testy  and  often  irrital)le  in  trials.  As  an  illustration 
of  that  1  remember  a  case  in  which  Granger  and  myself  were  on 
one  side  and  Hitchcock  on  the  other  before  a  committee  at  Canaan. 
Hitchcock's  client  was  one  Hart,  a  notable  character  and  who  w^as 
easily  stirred  up.  In  the  course  of  the  trial  Granger,  knowing 
Hart's  peculiarities  would  stir  him  u])  and  he  would  rattle  along 
and  interrui)t  the  trial  so  that  llitclicock  would  sometimes  get  mad 
at  his  client  and  he  would  once  in  a  while  issue  an  expletive  on  the 
subject.  He  was  very  fixed  in  his  oiMiiioiis  of  the  law  and  un- 
changeably so  at  times.  Me  was  through  ;iiid  llirougli  an  honest 
man  and  administered  justice  iini)artiall\"  in  the  courts  where  he  was 
judge. 

1  go  now  t<i  llarkhanislead  and  s|)eak  of  the  late  llirani  ( 'lood- 
wiii.  lie  was  in  full  practice,  his  clientage  was  not  onl\-  in  his  town, 
but  extended  to  the  adjoining  towns  in  this  and  Hartford  Cotmty. 
I  considered  him  an  able  law\er.  lie  conducted  his  trials  with 
skill  and  his  arguments  were  clear  and  logical.  As  a  judge  of  the 
County  Court  he  gave  satisfaction. 

I  come  now  to  New  Ilartford.  Roger  II.  .Mills  was  in  prac- 
tice there  many  years  before  I  came  to  the  bar.  I  le  was  of  fine  ap- 
])earance  and  high  standing  at  the  bar.  Ik'  was  a  member  of  the 
Senate  in  the  Legislative  session  of   1X48  at  the  time  these  radical 


HON.   ROLAXD  HITCHCOCK 


GKO.    WiriCA'l'ON 


lilRDSYl!;    PALDWIX 


wAKXi'K  s  ki;  \i  I  \  isii'iNci'.s  115 

laws  were  iiiadc  aii<l  I  lliiiik  lie  npposril  Intli  nt'  tliM>t-  ciim-hncnts. 
He  was  a  very  acci)ni])lisln.'(l  man.  i)lcasanl.  scholarly,  hiil  the  fit-UI 
was  not  wide  cnoui^h  for  him  and  so  lu-  moved  to  Wiscoii'^in,  and 
after  a  while  died  llu're. 

|are(l  1'..  P'osler  was  lii>  successor  llu'r'-.  Me  came  to  the  har 
after  1^4,^,  and  he  is  t'utitUMl  to  i^real  credit,  for  he  read  law  while 
making  and  mending"  hoots  and  shoes  in  (."olehrotik.  He  was  a 
merry,  ^ood  fellow,  he  hecame  well  e(|ui])])ed  in  the  i)rinci])les  of  the 
law  and  (|uickly  ac(|uired  its  jiractical  par's,  lie  represented  the 
town  in  tlie  Legislature  with  al)ilit\-  and  he  succeeded  Hitchcock 
as  jud.ij^e  of  the  Litchfield  County  Court  and  discharj^ed  his  duties 
with  ability.  He  was  eminentl\-  social  and  a  hale  fellow  well-met. 
We  used  to  address  him  as  |err\.  ('.ranker  dnhhi'd  him  lerry  Red. 
For  many  years  he  was  a  suttercr  from  rheumatism  and  it  finally 
brought  him  to  his  j^rave. 

Goshen.  Nelson  I'.rt'wsler.  Mis  law  hiisiness  was  local.  He 
lived  two  years  in  Litchfield  and  he  tried  a  few  cases  and  he  was  a 
bank  commissioner  several  limes.  I'.irdseye  Baldwin,  a  uni(|ue  char- 
acter was  his  contemporary  in  ('.nslun.  a  kindlu'arted  man  of  limit- 
ed practice  and  of  great  simi)licity  of  character.  He  was  very  fond 
of  whist.  Ciranger  and  Hitchcock  at  court  whenever  they  were  in 
session  entertained  him  very  often  very  royally,  in  the  amusement 
of  which  1  was  a  witness.  (  )ltentinies  1  was  a  partner  of  Granger, 
and  I'.aldwin  and  Hitchcock  were  partners.  If  Hitchcock  and 
Granger  turned  up  a  trunrp  the\  would  jiass  their  trumps  one  to  the 
other  under  the  table  and  i)ick  out  all  the  best  cards  and  hand 
back  the  poor  ones.  Finally  I'-aldwin  would  get  up  and  exclaim. 
after  losing  all  the  games,  '"well,  it  does  heal  the  devil." 

1  now  come  to  Cornwall,  to  Cieorge  Wheaton.  He  was  of 
humble  origin,  horn  in  l{ast  Haven.  When  I  was  a  hoy.  I  learned 
that  he  was  of  most  exlraordinar\-  ahilit\.  illiterate,  he  murdered 
the  Queen's  English,  hut  one  of  the  mo>t  skilful  and  adroit  lawyers 
at  tlie  bar  in  his  day  and  time.  WhealiMi  was  a  great  lawyer  in 
my  judgment.  He  had  one  i)ecidiar  gesture  and  that  was  this,  he 
never  laughed  and  Iiardlx  ever  smiled.  As  an  illustration  of  his 
cunning  and  shrewdness  and  his  ajjliiude  for  hitting  the  party 
against  him  I  will  mention  an  instance.  There  was  a  suit  brought 
against  the  Housatonic  Railroad  for  damage  to  property  injured 
bv  the  cars.  Peet  and  myself  were  defending  the  Railroad  Con> 
panv  and  (u-anger  and  Wheaton  were  counsel  for  the  i)laintitl". 
One  of  the  witnesses.  Charles  h'.mmous.  an  employee  of  the  railroad, 
was  a  very  important  witness  and  his  testimony  was  crucial  in  be- 
half of  the  defendant.  Of  course  the  case  being  against  a  railroad 
corporation  it  had  to  be  i)Ut  to  a  jury.  This  witness  Emmons  was 
a  verv  honest  man  and  a  christian  gentleman,  and  if  he  could  make 
the  jury  believe  as  they  ought  to  believe,  that  his  testimony  was 
trutliftil,  then  the  case  should  he  decided  for  the  defendant.      In  the 


ii6  1  iT(,ii  iii.i  II  CO.  ^■T^■   i'.i:\\ii   and  i'.ar 

course  of  tho  ari;uiiK'iit.  in  (.•oiniiu'iilin^-  i  >n  the  ti'stinioiu  of  the 
witness  l\ninions,  I  dwx'li  n)iuii  ilu-  i)uril\  of  his  hfe  and  (.-haracter, 
his  christian  character.  W  luii  W  luaton  came  to  wind  up  the  case 
he  said  "I'rother  Warner  says  this  l-'.ninion-^  is  a  I'hristian.  Well, 
I  aint  i^oinii^  to  (Hsi)iite  that.  Imt  if  the  company  finds  out  that 
that  is  his  character.  the\-  will  discharge  him  \ery  quick." 

.\nother  instance  comes  down  h\  tradition.  Church  fre{|uently 
came  in  contact  with  W'heatou.  lie  was  called  down  there  to  de- 
fend a  man  in  some  case  before  a  justice,  and  Wheaton  commenced 
the  arsj^ument  of  his  case.  He  had  his  book  of  Connecticut  rcjiorts 
and  he  stated  to  the  Court  what  the  law  was  and  he  would  read 
from  this  book  and  so  he  read  from  the  brief  of  one  of  the  lawyers. 
Church  said,  "Wheaton.  let  me  take  that  book."  Wheaton  said, 
"go  get  your  own  law,  brother  Church." 

Church  of  course  told  the  juflt^e  he  was  reading  from  the  brief 
of  the  attorney,  not  from  the  o])inion  of  the  court  or  the  judge 
who  decided  the  case.  Wheaton  replied  "1  didn't  say  I  did,  I  said  I 
read  what  is  the  law  there,  and  1  believe  it  to  be  good  law.  and  if 
the  Supreme  Court  has  said  otherwise,  thev  will  over-rule  that 
decision."  He  was  a  communicant  of  the  Congregational  Church 
in  Cornwall.  Now  there  was  a  religious  revival  in  that  town  long 
years  ago  and  there  was  a  man  there  by  the  name  of  Daniel  Scoville. 
During  that  revival  he  attended  these  meetings  very  faithfully  and 
ap])eared  very  much  interested  in  them.  There  was  a  bitter  hatred 
between  this  man  and  \\'heaton.  \\  heaton  had  law  suits  against 
him  frequently  and  they  were  conducted  sharply  by  Wheaton  as 
against  him.  Some  of  Wheaton 's  fellow  mem1)ers  went  to  him  and 
said.  "Why  this  man  is  so  much  interested  in  the  supject  of  re- 
ligion I  think  that  you  ought,  as  a  member  of  the  church,  to  go  to 
him  and  encourage  him  in  some  form  and  show  forgiveness  on 
your  ])art."  So  one  evening  Wheaton  went  up  there  and  while 
Scoville  was  in  the  attitude  of  praying  and  said  "If  there  is  any 
mourner  here  who  has  any  feeling  against  me  or  I  have  any  against 
him.  God  forbid  that  1  should  in  any  way  bar  his  coming  to  Cod." 
Well,  he  iiad  a  client  there  who  waiteil  until  Wheaton  came  out 
and  then  he  said  "Wheaton.  you  know  that  law  suit  we  have  got 
there  against  him.  now  I  want  that  fought  right  up."  Wlieaton 
rei)lie(l  "Oh!  he'll  fight  all  right." 

Then  there  was  Julius  I'..  Harrison,  lie  was  a  native  of  C'orn- 
wall.  he  read  law  with  Wheaton  and  came  to  the  bar  after  1843 
and  ])racticed  a  while  in  Cornwall  and  moved  t)  New  Mil  ford  where 
he  died,  lie  was  states  attorney  for  the  cv)unty,  he  was  a  very 
diligent  man,  verv  ambitious  and  he  ra])idly  rose  in  his  profession. 
He  was  repetitious  in  his  argmuents,  and  that  was  the  only  criticism 
I  ever  heard  made,  for  he  was  certainly  logical,  and  had  he  lived 
to  the  or(nnary  age,  I  haw  no  doubt  he  would  have  been  one  of 
the  leaders  of  the  bar. 


JAKl'D    ]:.    FOSTKR 


AV  A  R  N  !•:  k  S   K  I'.  MINI  SL"  K  N  CKS  I  1  J 

AniitluT  man  Iroiii  Cuniwall  was  Solon  W.  luhnMiii.  ami  many 
of  \(ni  nil  (liml)l  rcincinhcT  him.  lie  was  a  tall,  lart^c-fraiufrl  per- 
son, 1  (l<in't  know  what  \car  he  c-anic  to  the  l)ar.  and  he  was  editor 
of  the  l.ilehtieM  Sentinel,  and  hi--  editorial  articles  were  read  with 
a  j^real  deal  of  intiTest  :  llieri'  was  a  L^reat  de.al  of  wit  and  hiniKjr 
and  sarcasm  contained  in  tliem.  Me  died  early  in  life,  he  was  of 
a  peculiar  nature  and  character,  a  lo\L'al)le  man  in  a  j^reat  many 
resi)ects.  lie  had  a  ])eculiar  stolid  api)earancc  at  times,  whellier 
put  on  or  natural.  1  don't  know.  If  nnnalural  it  was  very  success- 
ful comsnmation.  The  last  term  that  jud^e  Minor  held  of  ihc 
Su])erior  Court  prior  to  his  resignation.  lia\inj,;-  accei)ted  the  nomi- 
nation for  memher  of  Congress  from  the  4lh  district,  there  was  a 
gentleman  came  up  to  Litchfield,  an  entire  stranger,  lie  was  in 
everyhodx's  office,  he  was  in  the  comt  room,  lie  was  a  (pieer 
sort  of  a  man,  talking  with  ever\l)o(ly  and  with  judge  Minor  and 
vou  couldn't  help  being  interested  to  know  who  lie  was.  lie  came 
across  v^olon  Johnson  and  Johnson  tried  to  get  rid  <tf  him.  He 
W'as  all  the  while  teasing  |ohnson  to  take  drinks  with  him,  and  .Mr. 
Johnson  declined  and  ke])!  declining.  l'"inall\',  aftc'i"  much  urging 
Johnson  savs  "m\-  friend,  there  is  a  drug  store  down  here  and  we 
will  go  down  there  and  get  something  that  is  ])ure  and  good." 
Well,  thev  went  down  to  the  drug  store  and  a  i)int  hottle  was  brought 
out  with  the  ver\-  purest  kind  of  whiskey  they  had  and  a  tumbler 
was  set  down,  and  this  stranger  told  .Mr.  Johnson  to  take  a  drink. 
Johnson  took  u])  the  bottle,  looked  at  the  cork,  smelled  of  it  and 
says  "that's  all  right"  turned  it  up  an<l  drained  the  bottle.  The 
stranger  looked  at  him  aghast.  exjK'Cting  him  to  fall  dead  every 
minute.  Johnson  looked  at  him.  smiled  and  said  "W  ell,  aint  yon 
going  to  take  something?" 

.\ow  I  come  to  Frederick  Chittenden.  He  w^as  in  practice  when 
I  came  to  the  bar,  a  high  tempered  man  of  great  knowledge.  He 
had  many  conflicts  with  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  He 
was  of  an  irrascible  temper,  but  a  good-hearted,  generous  likely 
man,  verv  well  read  in  the  law,  but  dei^ended  a  great  deal  ujxin 
his  natural  abilities:  it  took  but  very  little  to  excite  him,  he  was 
verv  lieligerent  in  the  trial.  There  was  a  lawyer  from  Kent,  Henry 
Fuller,  who  came  to  the  bar  after  myself.  They  had  a  contest  and 
Chittenden  was  so  excited  he  struck  him  on  the  head.  Well,  there 
was  an  interruption,  and  after  the  adjournment  Chittenden  came 
in  and  laid  his  cane  down  upon  the  table  and  he  said  he  would 
preserve  order  in  the  court  room. 

John  (t.  Iveed  was  a  native  of  Salisbury  and  read  law  with  me. 
His  father  and  mother  were  Scotch.  His  father,  the  late  Dr. 
Adam  Reed  was  a  celebrated  Divine.  He  was  educated  at  Williams 
College,  he  practiced  law  in  Kent  a  short  time,  moved  to  Ohio,  en- 
listed in  an  ( )hio  regiment  in  the  civil  war.  and  when  he  returned 
from  that,  he  removed  to  Chicago  and   there  (listingnishe«l  himself 


ii8  i.n\iii-ii:i.i)  corxTv  i!i:\cil  and  p.ar 

as  a  la\v\cr  l)cf()rc  the  liii^luT  cmirls  upon  more  (|ncstit)tis  of  law. 
He  was  not  wlial  \ou  call  a  jury  lawyer. 

Well,  brethren  and  gentlemen  of  the  bar:  The  bell  tolls  and 
mv  hour  has  exi)ired.  I  look  back  to  the  time  when  life  was  new 
and  bright  before  nie  and  e\erylliini;  seemed  fair  and  good  to  see. 
I  stand  here  now  and  remember  all  these  friends  of  so  long  ago 
As  I  stand  here  alone  of  all  those  I  knew  in  my  early  days, 
whom  I  have  seen  fall  around  me  like  leaves  in  the  wintry  weather. 

"1    feel  like  one  who  stands  alone, 
In  some  bancjuet  hall  deserted; 
\\'hose  lights  are  dead. 
Whose  joys  are  fled, 
And  all  but  he  dejiarted. 


Ilistotical  5^0tea 


HISTORICAL  NOTES 


OF 


COURTS,  BAR  LIBRARY  AND 


PROMINENT  OFFICIALS 


Compiled   By 

DWIGHT  C.  KILBOURN 
CLERK 


DWIGIIT    C.    KII.BOURN 


HISTORICAL  NOTES. 


rpdii  ihc  cstablishiiK-nl  nf  Ijlclilk-ld  County  in  1751.  the  General 
Asseinl)l\'  was  pleased  to  order  two  terms  of  the  County  Court  to 
be  held  therein,  one  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  Decemher.  anrl  the 
other  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  nf  Ajjril  in  each  year,  and  also  one 
term  of  the  Superior  Court  to  Ix-  held  on  the  last  Tuesday  save 
two.  in  Auii^ust  of  each  }  ear. 

In  this  Superior  Court  there  was  hut  one  Clerk  for  the  whole 
Cokmy  who  went  with  the  Judi^es  from  place  to  i)lace  as  the 
sessions  were  held,  and  kept  the  records  all  together  in  Hartford, 
where  those  prior  to  1798  can  now  he  found  in  the  Secretary  of 
State's  office. 

The  followin^•  is  tlie  record  of  llie  first  court  held  in  Ijtchfield 
Count}' : 

"At  a  County  Court  held  at  Litchiield  within  and  for  llie  County 
of  Litchfield  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  December  A.  D..  1751. 

i^resent :  Wii.ijA^t  Prkstok.  Chief  Jiid^L^c. 

JOHN    WlI.LlA^LS         I    ,.  ,        • 

-  (  nsqrs.  Jiisficcs 

Samuel  Caxfiki.d  r        , 

of  qiioram. 
Ei5i:xkzi;r  Mars  11    } 

Isaac  llaldwin  was  appointed  Clerk  and  sworn. 

^Ir.  John  Catling-,  County  Treasurer  and  Excise  Master. 

:\lr.  Joshua  Wdiitnc}'  of  Canaan  in  said  County.  Attorney. 

'•At  the  same  Court  John  Davies  of  Litchfield  in  the  County  of 
Litchfield  pit.  versus  John  Barrett  of  W'oodbury  in  sd  County  deft. 
The  parties  appeared'  and  the  deft,  exhibited  pleas  in  abatement 
of  the  pltf's  writ  which  being  overruled  the  parties  then  joyning  in 
a  demurr.  to  the  declaration  "as  on  file,  the  Court  is  of  Opinion  that 
the  Declaration  is  sufficient  in  the  Law  and  thereupon  it  is  con- 
sidered that  the  pit.  shall  recover  of  the  Deft,  the  Sum  of  £1200 
monev.     Damages  and  costs  of  Court  allowed  to  be  . 

The  deft,  appeals  from  the  judgment  of  this  Court  to  the  Su- 
perior Court  to  be  holden  at  Litchfield  on  the  second  Tuestlay  of 
August  next,  and  the  plat,  with  Mr.  Samuel  Darling  of  Xew  Ilavcn 
before  this  Court  acknowledged  themselves  bound  to  the  Treasurer 
of  sd  Countv  in  a  recognizance  of  £200  money  to  prosecute  their 
said  appeal  to  efifecl  and  answer  all  damages  in  case  they  make  not 
their  plea  good." 

The  following  is  the  Record  of  the  first_  Superior  Court  held 
in  Litchfield  Countv,  and  to  be  found  in  Hartford. 


1--  i.nxiiKiKi.i)  coiNTv  i;i;\cri  and  i-.ar 

At  a  Superior  Court  lioldcn  at  Lilchticld  ou  Tuesday  yc  I  ith, 
day  of  August  Auuo  Donmii  1752  auno  yc  Regni  Rt.  Georgii 
Secunde  \igcstuui  v^exto. 

Prcseut.  ye 

llonhl.   Thomas   Firm.   lisqr.   CJiicf  Jiidi^c. 

W'lI.l.lA.M     I'lTKlN  I 

EbEnkzi;k  Svr. I.V.MAX   r     Jssistaii!  Jiidi^cs. 
Sami-i'j,  Lnxdi':  ) 

This  Court  was  opeucd  1)\-  I'roclamatiou  and  adjourned  till 
Two  of  ye  clock  of  ye  afternoon,  and  then  oi)encd  according  to 
adjournment. 

Persons  returned  to  serve  as  jurors  were: 
William  Marsh"]  XATn.\x  Bqtchfgrd     ] 

Joshua  Garrett  i- Litchtield  John  Hitchcock  ;  New  ]\Iilford 

Thomas  Catling  J  Partridge  Thatciikk    | 

Timothy  Minor     ^  Xathan  Da\is        \ 

Gideon  Walker      >  Woodbury       J.\cou  Bextox  i-  Harwinton 

Benj.vmix  Stiles  )  S.\.\tLi;L  Pjlkmmis   ) 

The  first  recorded  judgment  is  that  of: 
Wii.i.iA.M  Siikr:\ian     )  r         Joiix  Ti<li:.\t 

and  V   of  Xew  Milford  vs.     <  of 

Rctc.KK  SiiEKiMAX       )  (  Xew  Milford 

At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Assembly  171)8  it  was  en- 
acted that  the  Superior  Court  Judges  appoint  a  Clerk  for  each 
County  and  that  the  Records  thereafter  be  kept  in  their  respective 
Counties,  but  that  the  then  existing  records  be  kept  at  Hartford. 

In  obedience  of  this  law  the  Judges  appointed  Frederick  Wol- 
cott.  Esq.  of  Litchfield,  Clerk  for  Litchfield  County,  and  the  first 
term  of  the  Superior  Court  having  its  records  at  Litchfield,  was 
held  at  Litchfield  on  the  Third  Tuesday  of  August  1798  and  was 
"Opened  by  proclamation." 

The  record  is  as  follows  : 

v^tatk  oi"  Co.\xi;cTici'T : 

At  a  Sui)erior  Court  holden  at  Litchfield  within  and  for  the 
County  of  Litchfield,  on  the  Tliird  Tuesday  of  .\ugust  A.  1).  1798, 

PRESEN'T : 
The  Hon.  Jessi-;  Root,  Esq.  Chief  Jiidiic 

HOX.  JoXATllAN   STURGES  \ 

Hon.  STi:i-iiEi\  M.  Mitchell     (       Assistant 
Hox.  Jonathan  Ingersoll         (         Jt(d<^cs. 
Hon.  'i\\i'i'i.\f.  Ree\i'.  ) 

1'*ki:i)i:khk  Woi.coi't,  L'lrrk. 


HISTORICAI,   NOTKS 


123 


The  AUorncys  in  aclivc  practice  in   \y')X  wrrc  the  f()ll<Mving 

At    I'KiiiMiilli  : 


At  Litchfield : 

I'.l.I.IAIl    .\l).\.\lS 

John  Ai,i.i;n 
Isaac  Baldwin 
uuiki.  iiot.mks 
1)anii;i.  W.  Tvi'.wis 

El'IlKAIM    1\1U1'A 

RKYN01.DS  Marvin 
Roger  Skinner 
Aaron  Smith 
ruiAii  Tracy 
1'ki:i)i:k]ck  Wolcott. 

At  Canaan : 

John  I^i.-Mok]', 

At  Goshen  : 

Xa-i'han   IIai.e 
XdAii  W'adiiams 

At  Kent : 

Hakazm.i.a  Slossox 

At  New  Milford: 

David  S.  Boardman 
Sa.mlkl  Bostwick 
Daniel  Everett 

PHILO  RUGGLES 

At  Norfolk : 

Edmund  Aiken 
Augustus  Petti  hone 


1.1  MS  Kenn 
\l  koxbury  : 

Kri'US   ivASTMAN. 

At  Salisbur}- : 

Josi'.i'ii  Cani-TEi.d 

ElJSJfA   S'TERIJNG 

Adomjah  Strong 
At  Sliaron  : 

JUUSON    Can  FIELD 

John  C.  Smith 
CAris  Swan 

At  Southbur}' : 

Simeon  Hinman 
Benjamin  Stiles,  Jr. 

At  Washington  : 

Daniel  N.  Brinsmade 
William  Cogswell 

At  W'atcrtown : 

Eli  Curtiss 

Samuel  W.  Soutiimavd 

At  Winchester : 

Phineas  Miner 

At  W' oodbury : 

Noah'b.  Benedict 
Nathan  Preston 
Natiiaxiel  Smith 


The  following  members  of  the  Bar  are  now  (April  1907)  residing 
in  the  Coimtv :     Those  with  a  *  are  not  in  active  practice. 


Litchfield  : 

J.  Gail  Beckwith.  Jr. 
Francis  Bissell  * 

WllEATON  F.  DOWD 

John  T.  Hubbard 

b  WIGHT  C.  KiLBORN 

William  L.  Ranso:\i  * 
Elbert  P.  Roberts 
Thomas  F.  Ryan 
George  M.  Woodruff 
James  P.  Woodruff 


IJethlehem : 

Walter  M.  Johnson  * 

Cornwall : 

William  D.  Boslkk 
Leonard  J.  Nickersox 

Goshen  : 

Charles  A.  Palmer  '^ 

Xorfdlk  : 

Ror.i'.iNS  B.  Stoeckel 


3->4 


I.n\  illli:i.L)   COUNTY    I'.KXCII   AXD    u.\\< 


New  Hartford : 

FrkdKuick  a.  Jr.\vi;i.i, 
h.  rogicu  jonks,  ju. 
Frank  B.  Muxx 

New  Mil  ford  : 

Jojix  F.  Addis 
Fraxk  W.  Marsh 
Henry  S.  Saxford 
Fred  M.  Williams 

-North  Canaan : 

SAifUEL  G.  Camp 
Geo.  a.  Marvin 
Alberto  T.  Rorap.ack 
J.  Henry  Roradack 
J.  Clinton  Roraback 

Plymouth : 

Henry  B.  Plumb  * 
E.  Leroy  Pond 
Fred  a.  Scott 

Salisbury : 

Howard  F.  Laxdon 
Donald  T.  Warner 

Sharon : 

^^'ILLARD  Baker 

Thomaston : 

Albert  P.  Bradstrekl' 
E.  T.  Canfield 
Frank  W.  Etkeridce 


Torringtnn  : 

W11.LIAM  W  .  ['.ti:RCK 

r)ERX'ARl)  1-".    I  ||(.(,1XS 
W  ALTi:i<    1  liilAuNli; 

Peter  J.  McDermott 

WiLLARD  A.  RoRAnACK 

Homer  R.  Scuville 

E.   T.  O'SULLIVAN 

Gideon  H.  Welch 
Tiios.  J.  Wall 

W'atertown : 

C.  B.  Atwood  * 

S.  ^NIcL.  BucKiNr.iiAM 

Winchester : 

Wm.  H.  Blodcett 
C.  E.  Bristol  * 
Jas.  p.  Glynv 
Samuel  A.  Herman 
Richard  T.  Higgins 
Samuel  B.  Horne 
Wm.  p.  Lawrence  * 
Wilbur  G.  Manchester 
Geo.  a.  Sanford 
Frank  W.  Sey:\U)UR 
James  P.  Shelley 
Welungtox  p..  S^riTii 
Ja:mes  \\\  Sm  \'n[ 

^^'oodl)ury  : 

James  Huxtixt.tox 
Arthur  D.  Warner 


The  following  persons  who  have  been  connected  with  this  Bar 
either  by  admission  or  residence,  are  not  now  residing  in  the  County, 
but  are  supposed  to  be  alive  and  residing  elsewhere. 


John  Q.  Adams, 

Negaunee,  Mich. 

Louis  J.  Blake, 
Omaha.  Neb. 

Edward  J.  Bissell, 

Fond-du-Lac,  Wis. 

John  O.  lioucirTox, 
Stamford,  Conn. 

David  S.  Calhoun 
Hartford.  C(jnn. 


Uriah  Case, 

Hartford,  Conn. 
John  D.  Cha.mi-lin. 

New  York  City. 
Chester  D.  Clexelaxd. 

Oshkosh,  Wis. 
Frank  1).  Cleveland. 

Hartford,  Conn. 

George  W.  Cole, 
New  ^'ork  Cit\'. 


\  ;y 


W I  I.I  J  AM   Iv.   RAXSOM. 


HISTOKIC.M-    NO'IKS 


STI'WAKT  W.  C'owan. 

Mount  \  ernon,  N.  Y. 
S.  Gregg  Ci.auk, 

New  Jersey. 
K.  '1\  Cani'^iI'IJ), 

Hartford,  Conn. 
Sri'.NCKK  Dayton, 

I'hillipa,  West  Va. 
Lkk  I'.  Dkan. 

Bridgeport.  Conn. 
H.  C.  DempsKy, 

Danbury,  Conn. 
WiUJAM  H.  Ely,^ 

New  Haven,  Conn. 
JuifN  R.  Farnum, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

V.   R.    C.    GiDDINGS, 

Bridgeport,  Conn. 
W.  W.  Guthrie, 

Atkinson,  Kansas. 
Robert  E.  Hall. 

Danbury.  Conn. 
Charles  R.  Hatiiway, 

So.  Manchester. 
AIarcus  H.  Holcomb, 

Southington,  Conn. 
Joiix  D.  Howe, 

St.  Paul,  Minn. 
Edward  J.  Hubbard, 

Trinidad,  Col. 
Frank  W.  Hubbard. 

New  York.  N.  Y 
Frank  L.  Hunger  ford, 

New  Britain,  Conn. 
Walter  S.  Judd. 

New  York  City. 

WlLLL\:kt   KXAI'P, 

Denver,  Col. 
Fred  M.  Koehler, 
Livingston,  Mont. 


Frank  1).  Linsley, 

IMiilmont,  \.  \. 
Rev.  A.  N.  Lewis, 

New  Haven.  Conn. 
Theodore  M.  Maltiue, 

Hartford,  Conn. 
T.  Dwicirr  Merwin. 

Wasiiingt(jn.  1 ).  C. 
Nathan  Morse, 

Akron.  ( )hio. 
Fred  E.  Mygatt, 

New  York  City. 
Wise  P.  Mulville. 

New  Canaan. 
Wm.   H.  O'Hara, 

New  York  City. 

E.    FrISBIE    PlI  ELI'S. 

New  York  City. 
Fred  a.  Scott. 

Hartford,  Conn. 
Morris  W.  Seymour, 

Bridgeport.    Conn. 
Origin  Storrs  Seymour, 

New  York  City. 
George  F.  Shelton, 

I'.utte,  M(Mit. 
George  E.  Taet. 

Unionville.   Conn. 

F.    R.    TlEEANV, 


John  Q.  Thayer. 

Meriden,  Conn. 
Frederick  C.  Webster, 

Missoula,  Mont. 
Rev.  Edwin  A.  White. 

Bloomfield,   N.  J. 
John  F.  Wynne. 

New   Haven,   C<jnn. 


GOVERNORS. 

Governors  of  Connecticut  who  were  members  of  this  bar. 
Gen.  Oliver  Wolcott       1796-1798      Oliver  Wolcott.  Jr.        l^i7-i«-^3 
John  Cotton  Smith       1813-1817      W'"    ^V-  Ellsworth       1S38-1842 
Charles  B.  Andrews       1879- 1881 


126 


l.nrilF'IKI.l)   COUNTY    HKXCir    AXD    I'.AR 


JUDGES. 

Members   of   this  bar   who   have   been   Judges  of  the   Superior 
Court.     Those  starred.  nienil)ers  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors. 


Roger   Sherman/'"  1766- 1789 

Andrew   Adams/'"  1789- 1798 

Chief  Justice,  1793. 
Tapping-  Reeve.'''  1798-1815 

Chief  Justice,  1814. 
Nathaniel    Smith.  1806- 18 19 

Jolin   Cotton    Smith,"    1809-1811 
James  (h)uI(I.'''  1816-1819 

John  T.   rVters.  1818-1834 

Samuel  Church. '•=  1833  -1854 

Chief  Justice,  1847. 
Wm.  W.  Ellsworth.*    1842-1861 
J.  W.  Huntington,'^     1834- 1840 


1854-1864 
1855-186:? 
1 86/)- 1867 
1867-1876 
I 870- I 874 


David  C.  Sanford.* 
Origen  S.   Seymour, 
Gideon  Hall, 
Miles  T.  (iranger.* 
Origen  S.   Seymour, 

Chief  Justice,  1873. 
Roland   Hitchcock.        1874-1882 
Charles  1'..  Andrews,*  188 2-1901 

Chief  Justice.    1889-1901. 
Augustus  H.  Fenn.*      1887-1897 
Edward  W.  Sevmour,*  1889-1^02 
A.  T.  Roraliack.*  1897 


The  follow  in. 
perior  Court. 

Frederick  Wolcott, 
Origen  S.  Seymour 
O.   S.  Sevmour. 
G.  H.  Hollister. 
G.  H.  Hollister. 
Elisha  Johnson. 


CLERKS, 
members  of  the  bar  have  been  Clerks  of  the  Su- 


1798- I 836 
18^6-1844 
1846-1847 
I 844- I 845 
1847-1850 
1 850- 1 85 1 


F.   D.   Beeman, 
Henry  B.  Graves. 
F.  D.  Beeman. 
William  L.  Ransom. 
Dwight  C.  Kilbonrn. 


1851-18^4 

i'\S4-i855 
1855-1860 

1860-1887 

1  ^Sj- 


ATTORNEYS   FOR  THK   STATK. 

The  following  members  of  the  bar  have  been  Attorneys  for  th- 
State,  or  King's  Attorney. 


Joshua  Whitney,  1752, 
Samuel  Petibone,  1756. 
Reynold  ]\larvin.   1764. 
Andrew  Adams,  1772. 
John  Canfield,   1786. 
Tajjping  Reeve.    1788. 
I'riah  Tracy.  1789. 
John  Allen,  1800. 
Nathaniel  Smith.  1806. 
Elisha  Sterlinir.  1814. 
Seth  P.  Beers','  1820. 


Samuel   Church,    1825. 
David  C.  Sanford.  1840. 
Leman  Church,   1844. 
John  H.  Hubbard,   1845. 
Leman   Church,    1847. 
John  H.  lluijbard,   i84(;., 
Julius  B.  Harrison.  18^2. 
Gideon  Hall.  1854. 
Charles  F.  Sedgwick,  1856. 
James  Huntington.  1874. 
Donald  T.  Warner.  1896. 


SIlKRlFKS. 

The    following   have    been    the    Sheriffs    for    IJlchtield    County 
from  its  organization: 


Jl*"^^ 


DOXAl.n   T.    WARNER. 


mSTOKICAI,    NoTKS  127 

<^livcr  Wolcott.  1751-1771  llenr\   A.  I')Otsf(ir<I,  1X06-1869 

Lvnde  Lord,  1771-1801  (icori^v   II.   P.aldwiii,  \i^(tij-iHyS 

John  R.  Ivandon,  1801-1819  John   I).   Yale,  1878-1881 

Moses  Seymour,  jr..  1819-1825  diaries    I.    Torter,  1 881 -1884 

Ozias  Seymour,  1825-1834  1  leiiry  j.   Allen,  1X84-1895 

Albert  Se(ls.(wick,  [834-1X35  Edward  .\.  .\ellis.  1895-1903 

(."harles  A.  Judson.  1835-1X38  C.  C.   Middlehrooks,  1903-1907 

.Albert  Sedi^wick.  18^8-1X54  1'".   1 1.  'Purkiut^ton.  k/)/- 

L.  W.  Wessells,  1X54-1X66 

COURT   HOUSES. 

The  first  Court  House  of  the  County  was  built  at  Litchii-ld  in 
1751-52.  It  stood  on  the  public  scjuare  directly  in  front  of  and 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  distant  from  the  site  of  the  present 
one.  It  was  a  very  plain  looking  building  about  twenty-five  feet 
wide  by  thirty-six  long  and  fifteen  feet  posts.  In  it  was  a  huge 
stone  chimney  and  a  monstrous  fire-place.  It  was  in  existence  as 
a  part  of  one  of  the  stores  of  the  village  until  the  great  fire  of  1888. 
It  cost  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained  from  the  County  Treasurer's 
books  ^3343  4s  9d.     The  tax  paid  by  each  town  was  as  follows: 


L 

s 

d 

L 

s 

d 

Litchfield, 

284 

10 

9 

Canaan 

302 

0 

0 

Woodbury 

1 124 

r  I 

1 1 

Cornwall 

103 

0 

0 

Xcw   .Milford 

328 

7 

6 

Goshen 

189 

0 

8 

Kent 

-'97 

H 

0 

Torrington 

iLS 

17 

4 

Sharon 

56 

0 

0 

Harwinton 

129 

12 

7 

Salisbury 

307 

10 

0 

.\ew  Hartford 

105 

0 

0 

Th€  second  Court  House  was  located  on  the  same  site  now- 
occupied  by  the  present  one,  it  was  given  to  the  County  for  that 
purpose  by  Moses  Seymour.  It  was  l)uilt  in  1789  at  a  cost  to  the 
County  of  five  thousand  dollars ;  and  whatever  it  cost  over  that 
was  made  up  In-  private  contributions.  It  was  designed  b\'  Wil- 
liam Spratt  an  English  Architect  whose  original  drawing  of  it  is 
now  in  existence. 

After  many  years  it  was  believed  that  the  spire  was  unsafe  and 
it  was  taken  off  and  the  one  shown  in  our  cut  of  it  was  added 
which  ruined  the  whole  efifect  of  the  front. 

It  was  a  veritable  temple  of  justice,  the  interior  being  like  a 
church  all  in  one  large  high  room  with  a  jury  room  in  one  corner 
and  a  gallery  at  one  end  with  stairs  leading  up  to  it.  It  toi>k  a 
large  amount  of  wood  to  fill  the  immense  fire-places  and  keep  it 
warm  during  the  sessions  in  the  winter.  The  judges  sat  on  a 
raised  platform  at  one  end  with  a  pulpit-like  desk  in  front  of  them 
and  looked  down  with  great  majesty  and  dignity  upon  the  arena 
in  front  and  beneath  them. 


I2S  i.n\'iirn:i.i)  coiNrN-  i'.kxch  and  iak 

After  a  numl)cr  of  years  (in  1 818)  an  arrangement  was  made  by 
and  l)et\veen  the  lnwn  of  Litchiield  and  the  county  officials  where- 
liy  the  town  was  permitted  to  divide  the  high  room  and  make  an 
upper  and  a  lower  room  ;  the  courts  to  use  the  upper  one  and  the 
town  the  lower  rooiu  and  this  arrangement  continued  to  the  time  of 
its  destruction  by  fire  June  10,  1886.  The  expenses  of  repairs  and 
maintaining-  were  divided  between  the  town  and  county. 

It  has  been  often  remarked  that  this  old  court  room  was  one 
of  the  pleasantest  in  the  State  and  although  devoid  of  every  modern 
convenience,  it  was  a  delight  to  lawyers  and  judges  to  practice 
therein.  From  its  windows  the  finest  of  landscapes  greeted  the 
eye.  the  beautiful  lakes  encircled  by  emerald  hills  and  the  mountain 
peaks  be\ond  towering  into  the  blue  sky,  the  fertile  and  well 
tilled  farms  on  every  side  made  a  natural  ])anorama  that  soothed 
the  weary  l)rain  of  the  tired  lawyer.  The  great  Franklin  stoves 
filled  wiili  ?\It.  Tom  hickory  wood  made  snapping  sparkling  fires. 
The  graceful  arching  over  head  the  quaint  wooden  benches  and 
painted  carvings,  all  delighted  the  eye  and  by  their  simple  efifects 
aided  the  judges  and  worn-out  jurors  in  solving  the  intricate  prob- 
lems they  were  called  to  try. 

The  jury  room  in  the  cold  bleak  north-west  corner  was  not  a 
parlor.  A  big  sheet  iron  stove  for  wood,  a  dozen  wooden  benches, 
and  a  ]")lain  table  was  the  make-up  of  this  trysting  place ;  there 
was  little  prospect  of  comfort  for  an  all  night  session  of  a  dis- 
agreeing jury  and  they  seldom  lingered  patiently  about.  Their 
verdicts  generally  were  rendered  altogether  too  speedily  for  the  i^oor 
prisoner  in  the  box  or  the  fellow  who  lost  his  case. 

'I'he  States  Attorney's  room  was  entirely  wanting.  In  those 
primitive  times  those  officials  carried  their  all  in  their  heads  and 
])ockets  and  what  the  attorney  failed  to  do  in  his  last  argument  the 
Court  carefullx-  supi)lemented  in  his  charge.  The  practice  in  the 
criminal  cases  was  largely  a  degree  of  elo(|ucnce  and  if  the  testi- 
mony was  weak  the  advocate  was  strong  and  never  failed  to  men- 
tion what  the  witnesses  ought  to  have  said. 

The  Clerk's  office  was  also  absent  and  he  was  ixM-mitted  to 
rent  at  his  own  exi)ense  an  office  in  some  otlier  l)uilding  and  keep 
the  records  and  files  wherever  he  chose.  The  judge's  room  was 
not  thought  of  in  tlie  olden  days.  Wh\-  should  he  need  one?  No 
findings  of  facts  were  required  of  him  anrl  when  the  sherifif  ad- 
journed the  court  his  duties  ceased. 

On  the  morning  of  the  iith  of  June.  1886  nothing  iXMiiaiiied  of 
this  old  building  where  so  many  memories  clustered  but  llie  two 
great  chimneys.  The  fire  fiend  in  its  ruthless  track  had  swept 
everything  away. 

Directly  after  the  fire  in  188^)  attempts  were  made  to  di\-ide  the 
County  or  divert  the  Court  to  other  ])laces,  and  the  town  of  Litch- 
field  began   to   erect   another   Court   House   which    was   practically 


IIIS'fOKICAI,   NoTivS  129 

compU'tcd  about  tlic  1st  of  Auj^ust  1888.  It  was  a  wooden  struc- 
ture somewhat  like  the  f(jriner  one  with  good  arrangements  for 
court,  clerk,  jury,  judges  and  attorneys  rooms.  On  the  morning 
of  the  8th  of  August  j888  before  it  had  been  turned  over  to  or 
occupied  by  the  County  this  also  lay  in  ashes. 

Immediately  the  town  took  action  towards  building  another 
Court  House  and  appointed  a  committee  consisting  of  tlon.  Charles 
B.  Andrews,  Dr.  Henry  W.  Buel,  Henry  B.  Graves,  Esq.,  with 
Jacob  Morse  and  Garner  B.  Curtiss,  selectmen  of  the  town.  The 
result  of  their  action  is  the  present  building  at  Litchfield  built  of 
stone  and  practically  fire  proof  with  excellent  accomodations  for 
all  court  purposes  and  presented  to  the  County  by  the  town  and 
accepted  by  the  count}-  commissioners  in  behalf  of  and  for  the 
county  on  the  iith  of  March,  1890. 

Meanwhile  the  agitation  about  dividing  the  county  and  court 
business  continued  until  finally  it  resulted  in  an  act  of  the  legisla- 
ture allowing  courts  to  be  held  at  Litchfield,  Winchester  and  New 
Milford  upon  the  two  latter  towns  providing  suitable  accomoda- 
tions. Whereupon  the  town  of  Winchester  leased  to  the  county 
such  a  Iniilding  with  suitable  accomodations  for  the  courts  of  the 
county  on  the  9th  of  August,  1887  and  the  town  of  New  Milford 
also  leased  such  building  and  accomodations  on  the  15th  day  of 
August,  1887  and  the  courts  are  now  held  at  each  of  said  places 
]iracticallv  holding  court  wherever  it  is  most  convenient  to  try  the 
cases. 

In  1905  the  town  of  Winchester  increased  the  Court  accomo- 
dations by  adding  four  large  spacious  rooms  and  fire  proof  vault 
with  metal  fixtures,  making  this  Court  building  one  of  the  best  in 
the  State  for  its  purposes. 

In  T907  a  bill  was  presented  before  the  General  .Assembly  of 
Connecticut,  ordering  the  removal  to  W^inchester  from  Litchfield, 
of  the  civil  records  and  files  of  the  Superior  Court,  with  the  seal 
and  Clerk,  making  Winchester  practically  the  main  office  of  the 
Court.  It  also  provided  for  the  removal  of  all  the  files  of  the  Com- 
mon Pleas  Court  and  seal,  to  the  Winsted  Court  House.  The  bill, 
however,  failed  of  passage. 

SELKCTING  JURYMEN. 

The  Statutes  of  Connecticut  provide  for  the  selection  of  jury- 
men for  the  several  towns,  and  also  prescribe  the  number  to  which 
each  town  is  entitled. 

Various  ways  of  selecting  these  men  have  been  provided  in 
former  years,  but  the  present  method  seems  to  have  l>een  more 
nearly  satisfactory  than  any  of  the  past  ones. 

The  Selectmen  of  each  town  are  required  to  forward  to  the 
Clerk  of  the  Superior  Court  during  the  month  of  May  the  names 
of  twice  the  number  the  town  is  entitled  to.     The  Judges  at  their 


130  l.lTCHriKLD   COUNTY    BKNCII   AND   1;AK 

annual  meeting-  in  June  appoint  two  Jury  Commissioners  to  act 
witli  the  Clerk  of  the  Superior  Court,  who  is  by  Statute  a  Jury 
Commissioner,  wlio  meet  on  the  second  Monday  of  July  and  select 
one  half  of  the  names  returned  by  the  Selectmen.  These  names, 
so  selected,  are  j^rinted  on  slips  of  paper,  and  those  of  each  town 
are  placed  in  a  box  by  themselves,  and  are  the  names  of  the  men 
liable  for  jury  duty  from  each  town  for  the  year  from  the  following 
September  tirst.  When  a  petit  jury  is  required,  the  Clerk  draws 
them  without  seeing  the  name,  from  such  towns  as  he  desires,  in 
the  ])rescnce  of  a  Judge  and  a  Sheriff. 

ABOUT  JURIES. 

This  important  part  of  the  Court  deserves  a  very  honorable 
mention.  The  juries  of  this  County  have  been  composed  of  the 
very  best  class  of  men ;  men  of  good  judgment  and  sterling  common 
sense,  seldom  carried  away  with  the  oratory  or  pathos  of  the  ad- 
vocate or  losing  sight  of  the  issues  of  the  case. 

There  are  some  incidents  related  of  jury  trials  that  tend  to  show 
that  they  are  but  men  and  liable  to  some  of  the  caprices  of  human 
nature.  The  common  style  of  voting  blank  upon  a  case  by  one  or 
more  of  them  on  the  first  ballot  is  of  very  little  consequence  only 
showing  that  some  people  do  not  form  conclusions  as  raj^dly  as 
others. 

That  the  jurymen  do  not  always  agree  witli  tlic  Ci'iun  is  illus- 
trated by  a  case  in  which  Jnclge  Carpenter  in  charging  the  jury 
remarked  "Now  gentlemen,  if  you  believe  this  incredible  story  you 
will  convict  the  prisoner,  but  if  you  do  not  believe  it  you  must 
acquit  him."  The  jury  after  a  long  consultation  disagreed.  Upon 
receiving  further  instruction  in  which  the  incredible  story  was  dis- 
credited still  more  strongly,  they  again  retired  and  after  mature 
deliberation  they  still  disagreed.  Another  strdiig  instruction,  re- 
tirement and  disagreement,  when  they  were  discharged  from  further 
consideration  of  the  case.  It  was  ascertained  they  stood  eleven  for 
conviction  and  one  for  acquittal. 

In  another  case  wherein  a  man  sued  an  officer  for  false  im- 
prisonment it  was  admitted  that  the  officer  was  liable  and  the 
judge  charged  the  jury  that  they  were  the  ones  to  assess  the 
damages.  The  ofifense  was  where  an  officer  arrested  a  drunk  and 
put  him  in  the  town  lockup  over  night,  intending  to  try  him  in  the 
morning;  before  the  trial  however  the  man's  friends  hearing  of 
his  condition  went  to  the  locku])  o])ene(l  the  door  and  carried  him 
away.  After  being  out  a  long  time  the  jury  returned  much  to  every 
ones  surprise  a  verdict  for  the  defendant.  The  explanation  that  the 
jury  gave  was  that  the  man  was  rescued  by  his  friends  bef<^re  the 
officer  had  had  a  reasonable  time  to  i)rosecute  the  offense. 

.A  man  was  prosecuted  for  an  assault  and  battery  of  rntlier  au 
aggravated  nature:  he  claimed  it  was  done  in  self  defence.      It  was 


i;i)\\.\l<l)  W.   SKYMOUR. 


IllS'l'OKHAI,    NoTi:S  f.V 

shown  that  llic  p^irlies  had  an  ahcrcation  and  the  accused  fullfnvcd 
up  thr  C(>inj)laiijaui  and  p(iun<k'd  him.  The  prisoner  admiltcd  it, 
hut  claiiiK'd  he  was  ohh^rd  ii>  I'ullow  u|)  t'dr  fear  thai  the  other  man 
would,  as  soon  as  he  i^rA  a  Utile  distance  from  him.  turn  around 
and  shoot  him.  Tlu-  jury  ])ondered  a  loii^  while,  then  relurne<l  to 
the  Court  Room  fur  instructions.  The  foreman  >aid  they  wished 
to  know  how  far  the  law  allowed  a  man  to  follow  up  another  with 
a  sled  stake  in  self  defense. 

WiTXi'.SSKS. 

Of  course  our  Courts  had  all  sorts  ot  witnesses  to  deal  with 
from  the  garrulous  man  who  knows  e\-erylhin,L;'.  to  the  reticent  man 
who  knows  noiliiiio   and  has   lorgotten  that. 

A  few  specimens  are  preserved  in  the  traditions  of  our  elders. 

A  child  was  asked  if  he  knew  the  nature  of  an  oath  and  he  re- 
plied "Xo  sir."  Then  the  kind  lu'arted  judg'e  leaned  over  the  side 
of  his  desk  and  smilinyl}  asks  "My  son  don't  you  know  what  you're 
going-  to  tell?"  "Yes,  sir."  said  the  boy,  "that  old  bald  headed 
lawver  over  there  told  me  what  I  nuist  say."  ".\dminister  the 
oath,   -Mr.  Clerk."' 

A  witness  in  a  criminal  case  lialed  from  a  unsavory  ])lace  called 
"Pinch  (^lUt ;"'  he  w  as  duly  sworn  and  u]Jon  being  asked  his  name, 
gave  it.  The  next  ipiestion  was  "Where  do  you  reside?"  Xo 
answer  came,  'i'he  (piestiim  was  repeated  twice  and  the  last  time 
with  great  severity.  The  witness  turned  with  dignity  to  the  judge 
and  said.  ".Must  I  answer  that  (|ue?tion?"  "Why  not?"  said  the 
Court,  "llecause"  said  the  witness  "I  have  been  told  that  no  man 
was  obliged  to  criminate  himself." 

Witnesses  are  often  ridiculed  for  making  evasive  answers  to 
attorneys'  cpiestions  but  ])erliaps  the\'  do  not  always  fully  under- 
stand the  (piery.  The  following  is  a  cjuestion  asked  by  a  learned 
c-ttorney  in  the  trial  of  a  tax  case,  taken  from  liie  Stenographer's 
notes  : 

O.  "What  1  want  to  ask  you  is  whether  comparing  his  land 
with  the  other  lands  that  ycni  have  been  swearing  about  here,  you 
have  sworn  to  some  30  other  farms,  and  in  com])arison.  that  is,  I 
mean  whether,  how  should  you  lake  them  in  comparison,  how 
should  you  consider  them,  if  you  take  that  as  a  liasis.  they  are 
assessed  for  $3,000.  Taking  that  as  a  l)asis  for  your  comparison, 
how  shoidd  vou  start?" 

STi;X()C,R.\l'JlKK. 

In  1884  the  Ceneral  Assembl\-  passed  an  act  i)roviding  for  the 
appointment  of  a  Stenographer  fiM"  the  Superion  Court  in  each  of 
the  Counties.  About  1886  Mr.  Leonard  W.  Cogswell  was  ap- 
pointed for  this  County  and  has  held  the  ])Osition  since  that  date. 

Leonard  W.   Cogswell.   Fs(|..   the  official   stenographer   is  a  na- 


I.I  ri"iii"ii;i.i)  (.(HXTN-  i:i:\(,ii  and  i;.\k 


LROXAKl)    A\'.    COC.SWKI.I.. 

tive  of  Litchfield  County,  and  was  born  in  New  Preston,  in  July 
1863,  and  enjoyed  all  the  lii^hts  and  shadows  of  a  fanner's  son  on 
a  rugged  farm  upon  the  side  of  Mt.  Bushnell.  He  polished  up  an 
education  received  at  the  districe  school  and  X'illage  Academy  by 
a  term  at  Claverack  College  at  Hudson,  X.  Y.  In  1884  he  quit 
the  farm  and  went  to  New  Haven  and  learned  short  hand.  In 
1886  he  was  ajjpointed  official  Stenographer  of  Litchfield  County, 
and  holds  the  same  position  for  Windham  County.  His  services 
are  in  great  demand  during  the  sessions  of  the  Legislature,  by  the 
Committees  thereof. 

He  was  admitted  to  tlic  liar  of  Xew  Haven  County  in  June, 
1897.  and  resides  in  Xew  Haven.  In  the  preparation  of  this 
memoir  we  are  in(lel)te(l  to  him  for  the  preservation  of  the  re- 
marks at  tile   liamiuel.  and   for  ])oetical  selections  herein. 


STL'DKnt's  i.ii'K. 

At  the  Tlar  Dinner  in  1901  Judge  Roraback  in  his  remarks  gave 
a  few  reminisences  of  his  student  days  which  are  worthy  of  preser- 
vation as  illustrating  how  lawyers  were  made  in  the  country  of- 
fices. Upon  being  introduced  by  the  'Poastmaster  he  responded 
as  follows : 

Mr.  Toastmaster,  and  gentlemen  of  the  Litchfield  County  L.ar : 
T   hardly   f-xpected   to   make   a   speech,   but    the   reference   that   was 


ALBERTO  T.  RORABACK. 


lirSTOKlTAT,    N()Ti;S  IT,}, 

made  1)\  my  dislinmiislu'd  t'ric-nd.  I  )Mii;ild  j.  WanuT  carries  iiic  hack- 
to  the  month  of  .\i)ril,  1X70.  That  is  almost  32  years.  I  then 
commenced  the  stndy  nt  lUackslone  in  his  office.  Well,  I  pounded 
a\\a\  at  I '.lack-stone  lOi"  five  months,  and  learned  it  pretty  thorf)Uj:(h- 
ly.  As  1  rememher  it,  if  it  had  hc-en  set  to  music  F  think  I  could 
have  sun^-  it.  It  was  pretty  dry  wdik  and  prett}'  hard  work.  l.>ut 
one  morning-  1).  j.  came  in,  ami  he  says,  "Rorahack.  you  have  been 
]M)un(lin,n'  awa\'  at  lilackstniif  some  time,  would'nt  you  like  a 
chauiijl'e?"  \\\11,  I  hardly  knew  what  was  coming,  whether  it  was 
a  change  from  I'.lackstone  to  C"hilt\-.  or  what  it  was,  hut  T  looked 
n])  ai  him.  and  1  said  I  thou.L^ht  1  wnuld.  ■"All  rij[,dit,"  he  said,  "T 
have  .L^ot  a  client  for  yon.""  I  conld  hardly  believe  it.  .\  real 
client  with  a  cast'?  It  was  the  first  ra\-  of  liiijht,  the  first  cjleam 
of  lio])e  in  those  lon^'  months:  to  have  a  client,  a  real  live  client. 
Me  hrousi'ht  him  in.  1  wish  yon  could  ha\-e  seen  him.  lie  was 
colored.  Tlis  trousers  were  stuck  in  the  toi)s  of  his  boots,  he  was 
out  at  the  seat  of  his  jxants.  hut  he  was  a  client;  my  first  client.  It 
was  m\-  tirst  case,  and  1  was  happw  The  case  was  returnable  l)e- 
fore  Daniel  Tratt,  a  justice  who  had  his  office  in  the  villa.si'e  of 
Salisburw  1  went  to  \\-ork  to  ])rei)are  m\'  case,  and  at  the  time 
stated  for  the  trial  1  was  there  with  my  client.  I  made  the  g'reat. 
supreme,  and  sublime  effort  of  my  life.  There  was'nt  any  attorney 
for  the  ])laintiff.  T  ai)i)eared  for  the  defensi'.  Tt  was'nt  necessary 
that  the  ])laintiff  should  be  rei)resented.  The  mag'istrate  occupied 
that  i)osition,  and  when  T  had  finishe(l  m\-  aro;ument  he  made  his. 
Tt  was  ver\-  effective;  iust  S36.22  for  the  ])laintirf  and  costs.  Well, 
of  course  T  felt  crestfallen.  T  came  down  to  the  office  the  next 
morning-,  and  Donald  J-  the  elder  came  in,  and  he  asked  me  how 
T  got  along-  w-ith  the  case.  T  had  to  tell  him  T  got  beat.  Thoroug-h- 
ly  beaten.  And  he  said  to  me,  "( )h.  well,  never  mind  that.  "N'ou 
will  come  across  those  little  misfortunes  once  in  a  while  in  vour 
practice  of  law.  btit.  of  coin-se,  vou  won't  get  au\-  pay."  "T  did.  T 
got  my  ]iay."'  "A'ou  did?  How-  much  did  \ou  get?"  "'$6.""?6," 
Donald  J.  says,  "that  is  better  than  a  victorx  ;  1  have  been  defending- 
that  cussed  nig-ger  in  season  and  out  of  season  for  the  past  twenty- 
five  years,  and  T  never  received  a  cent,"  and  he  grasped  me  warmly 
by  the  hand,  and  he  sa\s,  "Rorahack.  \<iu  will  be  a  success."  That 
was  case  Xo.   1,     Afy  first  case. 

Case  Xo.  2  was  the  case  of  Julius  Afoses  vs.  \"irgil  Roberts. 
A'irgil  Roberts  was  an  old  farmer  that  lived  down  on  the  Gay  St. 
n^ad,  as  T  remember  it.  When  the  case  came  to  trial  D.  J.  said  to 
nie  that  1  had  better  come  along-  down  and  write  the  evidence.  So 
I  went  along-  down  and  wrote  the  evidence,  and  when  the  evidence 
was  all  in  D.  J.  sjjoke  to  me  over  across  the  table  and  he  says, 
'■Rorahack,  \ou  get  u])  and  make  the  opening-  arg-unient."  T  was 
demoralized,  for  gentlemen,  sitting-  on  the  other  side  was  Gen'l. 
Charles   S.   Sedgwick.     You   never   saw-  him,   most  of  vou.  but  he 


134  i.rrcunKi.D  cointy  bknch  and  p.ar 

was  a  man  that  stood  six  feet  fi>ur  in  his  stockint;^s,  and  weii^hed 
250  lbs.  I  am  afraid  I  made  very  poor  work  of  it  with  that  ^reat 
ii^iant  on  the  other  side.  T  was  afraid.  I  verily  believe  if  the  old 
(General  had  stamjKxl  his  foot  and  yelled  "scat."  I  would  have  i^one 
through  the  window  and  forever  abandoned  the  idea  of  studyincf 
Jaw.  But  we  fou,c:ht  it  out.  I  s^ot  up  and  made  my  arj^ument, 
and  then  the  old  General  got  up  and  made  Xo.  2.  and  then  Donald 
J.  Warner  made  the  closin^'.  Talk  about  wit,  and  talk  about  sar- 
casm, talk  about  eloquence,  T  learned  the  lesson  riqht  there  and 
then  that  it  was  not  the  avoirdupois  of  the  lawyer  that  wins  cases, 
("ien.  Sedi^'wick  was  three  score  and  ten.  He  lived  alon^'  a  few 
•  ears,  and  wrote  a  little  pamphlet  on  his  experiences  in  titt\-  years 
at  the  Litchticld  County  liar.      He  was  then  state  attorney 

r,AR   IJl'.RARV. 

The  matter  of  having  a  Bar  Library  at  the  Court  House  was 
attended  to  at  an  early  date.  The  following  action  of  the  Bar  is  an 
interesting-  Record. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  Bar  December  29,  1819. 

The  following  Report  of  a  Committee  having  been  read  was 
adopted.  "To  the  Bar  of  the  County  of  Litchfield.  The  Sub- 
scribers having  been  appointed  by  said  Bar,  a  Committee  to  enquire 
into  the  expediency  of  commencing  a  Law  Library  for  the  use  of  the 
Bar,  (and  if  deemed  expedient  to  devise  some  mode  by  which  it 
may  be  obtained),  having  attended  to  the  subject  beg  leave  to  re- 
port in  part.  That  the  Bar  now  owns  six  volumns  of  the  Statutes 
of  Massachusetts,  the  two  volumns  of  the  revised  edition  of  the 
Statutes  of  Xew  York,  published  in  1813.  and  the  two  volumes  of 
the  Statutes  of  A'ermont  jniblished  in  1808;  that  there  now  remains 
unexpended  the  sum  of  Seventeen  Dollars  formerly  raised  by  the 
Bar  for  the  ])urpose  of  purchasing  Statutes  of  other  States. 

And  further  report  that  it  is  expedient  that  there  be  raised  by 
the  Bar  the  further  sum  of  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-six  Dollars  to 
be  paid  and  apportioned  to  the  members  thereof  as  follows: 

Elisha  Sterling  $6.00  Jabez  \\'.  Huntington  5.00 

Jno.  G.  Mitchell  3.00  Samuel  Church  5.00 

Reuben  Hunt  2.00  W'm.  M.  Burrall  S-OO 

W.  S.  Holabird  3.00  .Michael  F.  Mills  ^.00 

Calvin  Bmler  4.00  1  iolbrook  C\irtiss  4.00 

Chas.  B.  1 'helps  5.00  .\athaniel  !'>.  Smith  3.00 

Xath'l.  Perry,  Jr.  2.00  Rt)ger  Mills  4.00 

R.  R.  Hinman  4.00  Philo  X.  Heacock  2.00 

Perry  Smith  6.00  Homer  Swift  3.00 

Xath'l.   Perry  4.00  Geo.  Wheaton  3,00 

Cyrus  v^wan  5.00  T^hineas  Miner  6.00 

Asa  Bacon  7.00  Philander  Wheeler  3.00 


4.0() 

Will.  C'oj^^swcll 

3.00 

5.00 

Ansfl   SUrlinj; 

5.00 

5.00 

Theodore  Xortli 

4.00 

7.00 

Seth  1'.  I  leers 

6.00 

2.00 

Matthew  Minor 

3.00 

4.00 

Isaac   Leavenworth 

4.0C) 

6.CX) 

lllSToKlCAI.    NOTKS  I  ^ :^ 

Ix'nian  Churcli 
Josei)h  Miller 
W'ni.  (i.  Williams 
Xoali    1!.    r.eiKtlict 
John   Stronj^ 
Jos.  1'..  Bellamy 
J)a\i(l  v^.   I'oardman 

.\ii(l  that  said  sums  of  Seventeen  and  (  )ne  llumlred  and  l'"it'tv- 
six  Dollars  with  such  further  sum  as  the  Court  may  ai)i)roi)riate  from 
the  County  Treasurer  for  that  purpose,  be  a])plied  to  the  purchase 
of  the  Law  Books  hereinafter  mentioned,  or  such  other  ll(K)ks  as 
the   liar  may  hereafter  direct,  viz: 

l\ir))\'s  l\e])orts.  Root's  l\e])orts.  Day's  Cases  in  l^rror.  Con- 
necticut Kei)orts,  Swift's  Evidence.  Swift's  System,  Chitty's  I'lead- 
in,y;s.  Lane's  Pleadings,  Phillip's  Evidence,  Johnson's  Reports,  ^Lls- 
sachusetts  Reports. 

All  of   which   is   res])ectfullv  suhmilted. 

Signed  per  ( irder, 

S.  P.  P>eers.  Clniinnaii. 

The  books  mentioned  in  this  re])ort  were  purchased  and  are 
now  in  the  Librar\-  at  Liicliht'ld.  The  only  ])rMvision  for  the  in- 
crease of  the  Liljrary  which  1  find  is  an  admission  tee  of  h'ive  Dol- 
lars from  a  new  attornc}  ,  until  I1S74,  nor  do  the  books  in  the  Li- 
brar\   show  additions  of  any  account. 

In  1874,  it  was  \'oted  .\s  a  standini;-  Rule  of  the  Bar,  that  each 
member  ])a_\-  to  the  treasurer  thereof  the  sum  of  One  Dollar  each, 
yearly,  to  be  expended  in  the  ])urchase  of  P)Ooks  for  the  benefit  and 
use  of  the  said  liar.  Said  ])a\mcnts  to  be  made  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing- in  each  }ear. 

In  1877  the  Legislature  enacted  a  Bill  providing  for  the  forma- 
tion of  County  Law  Library  Associations.  The  County  Commis- 
sioners were  to  ])ay  in  their  discretion  each  year  on  the  first  of 
Januar\-  a  sum  not  exceeding  Three  Hundred  Dollars,  for  the 
support  thereof.  The  Litchfield  County  Law  Library  Association 
was  duly  organized  and  received  money  from  the  County  Treasurer 
for  one  year,  after  which  the  discretion  of  the  Commissioners  did 
not  mature,  and  ])aynients  ceased,  for  some  years.  In  1897  an  act 
was  ])assed  making  the  payment  obligatory  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  to  each  of  the  libraries  at  Litchfield,  Winsted  and  Xew 
.\Iilford,  since  which  time  a  good  suppl\'  of  law  books  may  be  found 
HI  each  Court  House. 

At  the  session  of  the  T^egislature  of  1907  an  act  was  passed  re- 
quiring the  County  Commissioners  to  pay  each  library  four  hundred 
dollars  a  year. 

At  Xew  Milford  large  accessions  came  from  be(|uests  of  Bros. 
Henrv  S.  Sanford  and   lames  IL  McMahon. 


K^(^ 


I.ITt.  Illli:i.l)  CdlNTV    liKNCIl.  AM)    I'.AK 


A.Ml'.S    II.     MCMAIIOX. 


Tn  1906  ]]]■().  McMalion  left  l)v  his  will  the  snin  of  $1,200  to 
1h'  ec[iia]ly  divided  hetwc'eii  the  three  lihraries.  which  was  a\-ailal)lc 
in    KJ07.  and  has  l.ein  ])aid  t^  the  conmiitlees. 

In  each  I'nurt  Ihiuse  nia\'  1)e  fotmd  a  first  class  working'  lihrary 
with   MiiiH'  i)f  the   Repiirts  of  cither   States. 

In  ic;oo  the  liar  \i>ted  that  all  the  law  hooks  of  the  l'>ar  As- 
Sf)ciation  he  ])resented  to  the  Litchfield  C'onnty  Law  Lihrary  As- 
sociation, so  that  all  the  hooks  are  nnder  one  manai^einent. 

AAkoX     WlllTl';     IT  XI). 

Another  hrancli  of  these  lihraries  is  i)nrchased  hx'  the  income 
rlerived  from  a  l)e(|nest  of  Aaron  White,  a  law\er  who  1)\'  his  will 
left  to  each  (."ount\-  Law  l.ihrarx-  one  thonsand  dollars  lor  certain 
classes  of  books. 

The  following'  acconnt  of  .Mr.  While  who  deceased, in  1X86, 
taken  from  a  newsi)a])er,  will  no  douht  he  ot  interest  in  this  con- 
nection and  is  worthy  ot   preseiAatioii. 

A  I'.oston  (I'/obc  corres])ondc'nt  tells  the  following-  story  of  .\aron 
White   of   (Juinneban^  : — 

.\aron  White  has  ti.L;nri'(l  in  his  life  as  the  most  I'ccenlric  man 
in    this   localit\.   and   one   who   is   wideh    known    in    Alassachusetls, 


MISTOKKAI,    XO'll'S  137 

VoniK'Clicul  ami  Kliodc  Islaml.  \\v  was  Ixiiii  in  liDylsluii,  Mass.. 
()ctol)<.T  S,  i7<;X,  ami  was  tlu'  I'liU'st  of  wu  rliil'lnn,  seven  lK)ys  and 
three  .iiiil>,  iiiiie  nl  wlnini  are  now  liviiiLi.  lie  entered  Harvard 
enlle,i;e.  ^radiiatiiiL;  in  a  class  of  sixt\ -ei.^lU  members  in  1X17.  Of 
]iis  elassniat(,s  onl}  se\en  are  now  living-.  Mr.  White,  in  reeonntinj^' 
incidents  ol  his  collei;"e  hie,  shows  a  wondcrlnl  memory.  .\mon^ 
his  classmates  were  the  Va[c  lion.  Sui)hen  Salishnry  of  \\'(»reester. 
the  Hon.  (k'or^e  Bancroft,  the  lion.  Caleb  C'ushini;'.  whom  he  con- 
sidered \hv  most  laleiiied  man  he  ever  met:  Samuel  Sevvall.  now 
li\-in.i;'  in  I'.oston  :  1  )r.  lohn  dreen  of  Lowell,  the  T\ev.  Dr.  Tyni;;'  of 
the  h'.i)i>eo]ial  chnreh,  now  lixinL;  in  rhildeli)hia  :  John  I).  Wells  of 
Jioston.  one  of  the  L;reatest  anatomists  of  his  day,  and  I'rofessor 
Alva  Woods,  formerly  i)resident  of  the  Transylvania  colle.q'e  in  the 
Sontli.  lixin^-  in  Providence.  When  llu-  "'horr  War"  broke  ont 
Scjuire  White  was  livini;"  in  W'oonsockel.  "( '.overnor"  Dorr,  be- 
inj;-  at  the  head  of  the  controvesy,  called  u])on  Mr.  White,  for  advice 
■'as  a  friiMid  and  ac(|naintance,""  which  resnlled  in  frequent  visits 
between  tliein.  This  resulted  afterwards  in  both  White  and  Dorr 
b.cinj^"  obliiL^ed  to  leave  the  state,  both  t^oini^'  to  Tiioni])son,  Conn. 
Soon  after.  Mr.  White  secretly  li^ot  l^orr  into  Xew  Hampshire. 
The  authorities  in  Khodc  Island  used  a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of 
S(|uire  While,  in  which  he  was  called  the  "commander-in-chief"'  of 
the  forces  that  opposed  the  state.  They  called  on  Governor  Chauncy 
Cleveland  of  Connecticut  for  assistance,  which  was  refused.  They 
afterwards  called  on  Coveruor  John  Davis  of  Massachusetts  to  ar- 
rest White  when  he  came  to  Dudley.  Webster  or  Worcester,  l)ut 
Ciovernor  Davis  as  in  the  case  of  Governor  Cleveland,  refuser]  to 
grant  the  rec|uest.  Uoth  governors  were  in  sympathy  with  Dorr 
and  ^\'hite.  The  Rhode  Island  authorities  then  threatened  to  send 
an  armed  force  to  kidnap  Squire  White  at  his  home  in  Quinnebaug-. 
Governor  Davis  then  issued  a  warrant  for  White's  arrest  if  seen  in 
Massachusetts,  but  this  warrant  was  not  intended  to  harm  S(|uire 
\\'hite.  for  it  was  to  run  only  thirty  days  from  its  date.  The  result 
was  that  Scpiire  White  remained  unmolested  in  his  quiet  home  on 
the  banks  of  the  ])lacid  Ouinnebaug-.  He  is  a  lawyer  and  his  busi- 
ness has  l)een  such  as  settling-  estates,  drawing-  uj)  wills,  giving^  ad- 
vice, etc.,  and  he  has  always  been  considered  a  safe  man  to  consult 
on  such  1)usiness.  When  he  was  in  his  ]M-ime  he  was  six  feet  in 
height,  lightlv  l)uilt  and  ver\  long-limbed,  weighing:  160  pounds. 
He  is  nearly  blind,  liis  eyesight  having  been  failing  for  some  five 
years. 

In  his  college  days  he,  with  Caleb  Cushing-.  collected  several 
rare  coins.  Later  he  engaga>(l  in  collecting-  old-fashioned  coppers. 
When  the  g-(wernment  called  in  the  old  coppers  in  1863  or  there- 
abouts, issuing-  new  ones,  and  for  three  years  afterwards,  he  was 
most  active  in  picking-  them  up.  His  reason  for  g-oing^  into  this 
business  was  that  he  thought  it  very  ])rofitable.      He  visited  the  mint 


138  LITCHI-IKI.I)  (.orNTV   HKNCIl   AND  UAR 

at  Philadelphia,  making-  arranj^^enicnts  with  the  officers  to  take 
these  coppers  and  t^ive  him  new  pennies  in  return,  the  t4"overnment 
to  pav  all  expenses  in  shii)pin^'  to  and  from  his  home.  This  busi- 
ness, which  he  has  carried  on  for  some  fifteen  years,  as  a  whole  has 
netted  him  a  larj^e  amount  of  profit.  He  has  some  instances  sold 
copper  coins  of  rare  date  for  from  $1  to  $3,  and  in  one  case  he  re- 
ceived $5  for  a  rare  copper.  He  paid  from  forty  to  forty-four 
cents  per  pound,  "i^ood,  bad  and  indifferent."  selectin«^-  the  g^od 
ones  from  them  and  shipping  the  rest  to  the  mint.  In  his  tri])s  he 
visited  the  ])rincipal  cities  and  large  towns  in  \ew  I'.ugland.  collect- 
ing many  thousand  coins  as  a  result. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  White  in  1886,  his  executors  found  man\- 
barrels  of  coj^per  cents — of  the  "not  rare"  ones.  About  four  tons 
of  these  coins  were  re(lecinc<l  by  the  Sulj-Treasurv  at  Washington. 

KXTR.XCTS    l-KO.M     AAKOX     WlHTl-'s    WII.I.. 

Fourth. — (  )ut  of  ilie  residue  of  the  estates  so  given  in  trust  as 
aforesaid,  to  pav  to  tlie  Treasurers  of  the  ]iresent  eight  Counties 
in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  to  each  the  sum  of  (  )ne  Thnusand 
Dollars  in  lawful  money,  to  be  by  them  received  in  trust,  as  funds 
for  the  procurement  and  maintenance  of  County  liar  Libraries 
in  their  respective  Counties,  in  their  several  County  Court  Houses, 
for  the  sole  use  of  the  Judges  and  Clerks  of  Courts  therein,  Mem- 
bers of  the  Piar,  and  their  students  at  law  while  in  the  offices  of 
said  Bar  members,  in  their  respective  Comities  :  which  funds  or  the 
annual  income  thereof,  as  said  I'ar  Mem])ers  may  direct,  shall  be 
expended  tmder  their  direction  in  the  i)urchase  of  Books  of  His- 
tory, and  liooks  of  Moral  and  Political  Philoso])li\". 

And  in  case  said  residue  last  mentioned  be  not  sufficient  for 
the  payment  of  all  said  legacies  to  said  Counties  in  full,  then  saitl 
residtie.  in  equal  ])ortions  to  said  (.'ounties  for  the  pur|)oses  afore- 
said shall  be  deemed  a  fulltilment  of  their  trust.  Such  payment 
to  be  made  within  three  years  from  the  time  of  my  decease.'^ 

Cl'.X'll-XXIAI.. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Pitchheld  C'ount\-  liar  held  at  the  L'ourt 
House  in  Litchfield  on  the  4th  day  of  jaimary  1851  the  following" 
preamble  and  resolution  was  adopted: 

W'lii'.KKAS.  Huring  the  ])resent  year  a  centur\  will  elapse  since 
the  organization  of  the  County  of  Litchfield:  and 

WiiKKKAS,  .\  Centennial  celebration  of  that  e\ent  has  been  under 
consideration.  Therefore 

RksoiaKI),  That  Chas.  I'..  Phelps,  (  ).  S.  Seymour,  John  11.  Hub- 
l)ard,  C.ideon  Hall.  C.  II.  llollister.  J.  I'..  Harrison  and  j.  P.. 
Foster  l-'sciuires,  lie  a  Committee  of  the  Par  to  call  a  meeting"  of 
citizens  of  the   Countv   to  consider   that   subject  and   to   take   such 


F.    1).    r.KKMAN' 


IIISTOKU' Ar,    XOTI'.S  \yj 

ordiT  iIktcdii   I)\    aiJpoiiUiinnl    nf  a  Cnnimiltri-  nt'  an  aiiL;c-imMits  <>r 
otherwise  as  sliall  l)e  i1imul;IiI  best. 

1' .  I ).  I  '.eeman,  (  Irrh. 
In  pursiiaiux'  of  llusr  pijoeeedinm's  the  Centennial  Celehralioii 
of  Aui^usi  1S51  was  lield.  Se\'eral  thousand  people  were  |)resenl. 
jiid.He  v^aniiul  C'liurch  (kli\cTed  [\]v  Historical  address  which  is 
reprinted  in  this  \(ilunie.  Horace  lUishnell  the  serniDn  and  John 
I  'ierpi  >nt   the  ])oeni. 

I) Wll)  l)AC,(;i".TT. 

At  a  nieetini;-  of  the  liar  of  J.itchlield  County  durin.i;-  the  Auij;:ust 
Term  1834,  a  Committee  was  appointed  to  prei)arc  an  address  to 
the  lion.  Havid  Da.y-.^elt.  Chief  justice  of  the  State,  on  the  occasion 
of  the  near  ai)|)r(iach  of  liis  term  of  judicial  service,  which  Com- 
mittee reported  to  the  I'.ar  the  followins^'  address,  wiiicli  was  In- 
order  of  the  liar  communicated  to  the  Ifon.  Daxiil  l)ainL;ctt.  and 
tOi;"et]ier  witli  tln'  r(.])l\  lliereto  was  ordered  to  he  recorded  U])on 
the  records  of  the   l'>ar. 

"To  the  Hon.  David  Dag-^ett.  Chief  Justice  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut.  Sir: — Tlie  luemhcrs  of  the  I'ar  of  the  County  of 
Litchfield,  lia\in^-  heard  from  a  communication  which  you  made 
to  the  Legislature  of  the  State  at  its  last  sessi(jn  that  your  judicial 
term  of  office  scr\ice  will  ex])ire  by  Constitutional  linn'tation  dur- 
ing the  ])resent  }ear,  and  consequently  not  expecting-  to  meet  you 
again  in  your  official  character,  beg  leave  to  express  to  you  the  high 
sense  which  they  entertain  of  the  ability,  integrit\'  and  imnartiality. 
which  yon  have  manifested  ui)on  the  bench,  and  to  thank  you 
cordiallv  for  the  uniform  kindness  and  courtesy  with  which  you 
have  treated  them  when  the\-  have  had  occasion  to  appear  before 
you  to  discharge  the  arduous  duties  of  their  i^rofession.  Tn  taking 
leave  of  you  we  cannot  but  recollect  that  it  is  now  rising  of  forty 
years  since  \  on  first  formed  a  connection  with  the  P.ar  of  this 
Countv,  and  that  \<ni  were  long-  associated  in  practice  with  Adams. 
Reeve,  Smith,  Tracv,  Allen,  Kirby.  Benedict.  Slosson  and  South- 
ma\(le,  whose  briglu  names  are  inscribed  on  oiu"  records  and  whose 
mcmorv  will  be  cherished  so  long  as  learning,  talent  and  virtue 
shall  command  esteem  :  nor  can  w^e  forget  that  your  labors  may 
be  traced  in  the  verv  foundations  of  the  judicial  system  of  C<^nnecti- 
cut.  nor  that  vou  have  exercised  a  haj^py  influence  in  adorning  that 
svstem  with  various  learning,  and  in  bringing  it  to  its  jiresent 
matured  condition. 

A\'e  tender  aou  our  best  wishes  that  the  residue  of  your  days 
mav  be  as  happv  as  vour  life  has  been  heretofore  distinguished  and 
honoral)le. 

Per  order  of  the  Par. 

Phineas  Miner.  Chuiniuin. 
Geo.  C.  Woodruff.  Clerk  pro  tciu. 
Litchfield.  August  29th..  1834. 


MO  1.1  II  iii'ii:i.i)  toiN  ^^   i;i:ncii  and  p.ak 

'I'hc  following-  is  the  reply  made  In  tlic  lion.  David  Dai^'^ott  to 
the   torcLioin^-  address. 

■■'1\>  the  niemhers  of  the  I'.ar  of  Litchtield  of  the  Countv  of 
Litchfield  : 

Cicntlenieii  : — 1  lu'n-e  received  with  hi<^h  satisfaction  the  address 
si-^ned  ])y  I'hineas  Miner  and  (ieorme  C.  ^\'oodruiT,  Ksquire-;, 
your  Chairman  and  Secretary,  which  yon  did  me  the  honor  to 
communicate   to   me   this   daw 

in  taking-  lea\-e  of  a  I'.ar  so  distinj^-uished,  1)\'  the  illustrious 
names  inscrihed  on  its  records,  it  is  impossihle  that  1  should  not 
entertain  a  qrateful  recollection  of  the  memories  of  those  who  are 
now  a  wax  innu  :i\\  earthlx-  scenes,  and  also  cherish  a  lively  affec- 
tion and  res])ect  for  tliose  who  now  occup_\"  with  such  honor  their 
places. 

If  my  official  conduct  on  the  bench  deserves  the  commendation 
bestmved  upon  it.  much  of  it  is  justly  due  to  the  i^entlemen  of  a 
Bar  ever  characterized  by  ability,  intej^rity.  industry  and  learning'. 
Of  your  courtesy  towards  me  and  \()ur  gentlemanly  deportment 
towards  each  other  while  engaged  in  the  conflicts  of  the  Bar,  I 
cannot  s])eak  in  terms  sufficiently  expressive  of  the  feelings  of 
my  heart.  The}-  will  be  recollected  with  grateful  affection.  How 
much  such  an  intercourse  between  the  Bar  and  the  bench  tends 
to  alleviate  the  burdens  of  the  judicial  station,  can  be  known  only 
by  those  who  have  had  the  ]ileasm"e  to  v^•itness  it. 

T  ])ray  }ou  to  acce])t  m\-  fervent  wishes  for  the  prosperity  and 
happiness  of  you  individualh-.  and  my  cordial  thanks  for  this  ex- 
pression of  your  esteem  and  res])ect. 

David   Daggett. 
T.itcb.field.  August  28th..  1834. 

.\    true   cop\'.      .Attest. 

Wm.  V.  Burrall.  Clerk. 

idiKT  i;xi'i:xsi:s. 

In  the  earlier  i)arl  of  the  centur\-  the  judges  were  gi\'en  a  cer- 
tain  sum   ])er  da\    and   their  dinners. 

Among  the-  \duchers  of  the  past  the  following  bill  ot  Court 
ex])enses  a])])ears. 

The   State  of   C'onnecticut  : 
To    Isaac    r.aldwin.   Dr. 

Sui)erior  Court,   h'ebruarx    Term.    1810. 
To  ninet\    nine   dinners    for   the   Court  $40.50 

To  Ji  bottles  of  wine  at  los  35-50 

To   l'>rand\.   Sugar,  etc.,    17  days  at  4-6  ^--75 

To  ])ipes  and   tobacco  .50 

To  Segars  .25 

To  ])aper  .25 

$08.75 


r,ll)i:()N     II.     W  1.1  A' II. 


II  l>Ti  iKK    \I,    \()Ti;S 


141 


THE  COUNTY  COURT. 


Prepared  by  the  late  Win.  F.  Hurlhut,  Clerk. 

'I'lie  I'lrst  (.'ourt  or^ani/.atiini  in  IJlclitk'M  CmiiUv  was  llic  County 
I'durl,  and  for  several  xears  it  was  the  principal  trial  court, — hav- 
in<;-  criminal  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  except  those  punishal)le  by 
death,  or  ini])risniiineiU  in  the  Stale  I'riMm  t"i»r  life, — and  civil  juris- 
diction in  law  and  e(|uil\  wIktc  the  mailer  in  demand  did  not  ex- 
ceed three  hundred  and  thirt\-ti\e  dollars,  hut  a  right  of  appeal  to 
the  Sui)erior  C'ourl  existed,  in  cases  where  the  ad  da)iiiniiii  exceeded 
two  hundred  dollars,  or  the  title  to  land  or  right  of  way  was  in 
([ueslion,  also  raising  or  obstructing  the  water  of  any  stream,  river, 
creek  or  arm  of  the  sea  by  erection  of  a  dam,  etc.,  which  gave 
litigants  the  ])o\ver  to  i)revent  a  determination  of  causes  by  the 
Count}-  Court,  and  which  the  defeated  parties  availed  themselves 
of  to  such  an  extent  that  most  cases  passed  through  both  courts 
with  a  trial  of  facts  in  each,  with  the  result  that  public  opinion  con- 
sidered the  County  Court  of  hut  little  ])ractical  value.  Therefore 
the  legislature  of  1855,  abolished  it  and  transferred  all  causes  there- 
in pending  to  the  dcx^ket  of  the  Sui)crior  Court,  causing  that  Court 
to  he  loaded  \\ith  such  a  mass  nf  business  that  it  was  impossible 
for  a  case  to  he  tried  within  two  years  after  being  brought.  This 
congestion  of  the  docket  of  the  Superior  Court  coupled  with  the 
inconvenience  of  travel  to  Litchfield  (then  the  only  County  Seat) 
caused  the  organization  in  1872  of  the  District  Court  for  the  First 
Judicial  District,  the  district  being  composed  of  the  towns  of  Bark- 
hamstetl,  Bridgcwater,  Canaan,  Colebrook,  Cornwall,  Kent,  Xew 
Hartford,  Xew  Milford.  Norfolk.  Xorth  Canaan,  Salisbury,  Sharon. 
^\'ashington  and  Winchester.  This  Court  continued  to  exist  until 
1883  wlien  the  remainder  of  the  Ccnmty  desirous  of  enjoying  the 
l^rivilege  atTorded  1)\-  it,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  and  its  jurisdiction  extended  to  the  entire  Countv 
with  sessions  holden  at  l.ilchtu'ld  in  addition  to  Winchester,  Xew 
Mil  ford  and  Canaan. 

This  was  i^ractically  a  revival  of  the  old  County  Court  with 
ci\il  i)owers  enlarged  to  cover  causes  demanding  one  thousand  dol- 
lars damages  hut  with  no  right  of  appeal  to  the  Superior  Court 
nor  an\-  criminal   jurisdiction. 

The  Ciiuri  of  I'ommou  I'leas  has  been  a  popular  court  transact- 
ing a  large  majority  of  the  litigation  of  the  County  with  less  ex- 
pense to  the  State  and  to  parties  than  the  same  could  have  been  done 
by  the  Superior  Com-t. 


14-^ 


i.ri\ii  I'l  I'.i.i)  II  UN  r\    i'.i:\i.ii  and  t.ak 


IIH'.I'.S    ol'    •nil':    l'(»l\TN'    t'OTRT. 


William   f'rrsloii 
W  I  H  i(ll)ur\ 

Jitliii   Williams, 
Slian  Ml 

Oliver   W.ilcott. 

IJtclltR'ld 

Daniel  Slu'niian. 

W  < K i(ll)ur\ 
jnshua    I'drtcr, 

Salisbury 
Aaron    .Austin. 

Xcw  I  larlt'ord 


1751-175)      Ansel   SlerliuL;-, 

vSlian  m 
1754-1773       C'aKin    lUitler, 

I  'Kim  )utli 
I773-I78()      Ansel   Sterling", 

Sharon 
1786-1701       William  Al.   Hurrall. 

Canaan 
i7(;i-i8o8      Al)ijali    Catlin, 
I  Jarwinton 
T808-1816      Klisha  S.  Ahernetliy 

Litchfield 


Au.^ustus    rettil)onc        1816-1831  llolhrdok  C'urtiss, 
Norfolk  W'atertown 

Da\-id  S.   Uoardman,     1831-1836  Hiram  (loodwin. 

New  Mil  ford  r.arkhamsted 

A\'illiam   .\i.    I'.urrall.      \^T,fi-}^J,$  Charles    !',.    rhel])S, 
Canaan  Woodbury 

Hiram  (joodwin,  1851-1856 

Barkhamsted 


1838-1830 
i83<m84-i 
1840-1812 
184J-1844 
1844-184^ 
1840-1847 
1847-1840 
1840-1850 
1850-18-,! 


JL'STICKS    Ol"    'I'm',    QroUi'M. 

John   Aliner,  1704-1716      John   Sherman, 

W'()<)<lbur\'  W  I  )odl)ur\- 

John   Sherman.  1708-1714      Joseph    Miner. 

Woo(ll)urv  Woodbury 

William   I'reslon,  1740-1751 

W  ()odl)ur\' 


'Jdiomas  Cliii)man. 

Salisl)ury 
John   Williams. 

Shar<  m 
.Samuel    Cantield. 

New  Alii  ford 
b'.benezer   Alarsh. 

Litchfield 
Josei)h    Lird, 

Salisl)ury 
Xoah  Hinman. 

W'oodbiirv 
]>:ii-ba   Sheld<.n.' 

Litchfield 


Tin",  I'Oi.i.oui  .\c,   IX    i.iToii  I' 1 1'.i.i)  eocx'iA'. 
I  -I 


/  .1 ' " '  /  .10 


Increase    Mosele\',  1755-I7^^>3 

Woodbury 
1751-1751       Ko^er  Sherman,  1 751)- 1762 

Xew  Mil  ford 
'75'''754      I  Daniel    v'^herman.  I7()i-i786 

Woodbury 
175 1-177 J       lUishnell    liostwick.         17^)2-1776 

.\e\v  Mil  ford 
1753-1754       loshua   I'orter.  1772-17(>I 

vSalisbury 
1754- 175<;       Samuel   C'anfield.  ^777'^7^)^ 

.\e\v  Alilford 
■754" '75'^        jedediah    Strong".  1780-170! 

Litchfield 


Wirj.IA:\[    F.    IIURLCUT 


HISTORIC    \l.    XDI'I'.S  14.^ 

lUniaii    Swill.  i7(S()-i,S()j       Hirdscyi.-    XOrtoii,  1X01^-1X12 

C"nni\\;ill  (■.(.slicii 

Aanui    .\u>liii,  i7<;()-i.Su8      Au.i^ustus    I  Vttilx  >n(.'.      iXi_'-iSi'j 

Xc'w    llarll'Mrd  Xcjrfolk 

N'allian   I  laK',  i7<;i-l8o()       I 'rifl    I  lolincs.  1X14-1X17 

Canaan  l.ilrlilirld 

|)a\i(l  Snntli.  i7<ji-iXr.^       Muses    Lyinaii.   }v..        1X15-1X17 

riynK.mli  CosluMi 

Daniel   \.  Ilrinsniaile,  iXoj-iXiX      (  Hiver     I'.iiniliam,  iXif»-iXiX 

W  asliin.Ljton  C'ornwall 

jndson   (.'anlield,  1  XoX- 1  Xi  5Cyrns   Swan,  1X17-1X11^ 

Sliai-nn  Sharon 

Martin   Stroni;-.  1819-1820 

Salisl)iirv 

ASSOCIATK   JUDGI'S. 

Marlin   Slron--.  1820-1820      Morris   WodrulT,  1X29-1836 

Salisburv  Litchfield 

|,,liii   Welcli.     '  1820-1829      llu-h   I*.  \\\dch.,  1 8;/.- 1 8,^8 

Litclihel-l  Litchfield 

William  M.  r.urrall,       1829-1836 
Canaan 

The  judi;es  of  the  District  Court  were  Roland  Hitchcock,  two 
\ears:  Jared  I*..  Foster,  three  years;  F'lorimond  D.  Fyler,  four  years 
and  Dcmald  1,  \\'arner.  two  years;  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
Donald  J.  \Varner,  six  year's;  Alberto  T.  Roraback,  four  years; 
Arlluu-  1).  Warner,  three  and  one  half  years:  Al'^erto  T.  Roraback, 
five  months  (  when  he  was  appointed  to  the  Superior  Court  bench) 
and  C.ideon  II.  Welch  now  (  1^07)  holding:;:  the  office. 

The  Clerks  bave  been  of  the  County  Court 
Isaac  r.aldwin.   1751-1703  iM-ederick  Wolcott,    1  703-1 '^^y' 

(  )f  llie  histrict  Court   and  Court  of  Common   IMeas 
Wm.  V\  llurlbut,  twenty-two  years  Walter  S.  jud<l,  two  years 

\\'heaton  F,  Dowd.  from  1901 


JUDC.K    ]M<ESTOX'S    .MONl'.MKNT    IN    WOUDIUKV 


5[tiala 


II  isi'Dku  Ai.  X()'i'i;s  145 

NOTED  TRIALS. 

Allli(iu,i;li  llic  Courts  arc  or.i^ani/.ed  [<>  reiufdy  i)rivatc  wrongs 
and  as  such  their  proceedings  arc  not  matters  of  j^cncral  history,  yet 
these  arc  soinctiincs  of  such  a  puhhc  natiu'c  and  relate  so  closely 
to  tlic  -cncral  weal  ;uid  welfare  that  they  are  i)roi)erly  a  part  rf 
Court  history,  w  liile  of  course  Criminal  trials  are  public  property. 
Some  of  these  ha\e  pa>sed  through  the  L'ourts  of  hit^hest  adjudica- 
tion and  are  very  important. 

The  Attorney  in  pre])ariniL;-  his  brief  in  an  action  cannot  have 
avoided  noticing  how  often  his  references  (juotc  from  scjine  Litch- 
field Count}-  decision,  especially  in  the  earlier  cases. 

Those  earlier  lUackstoncs  of  our  jurisprudence.  Reeve,  Gould, 
Church  and  Scymom-  laid  their  work  on  the  deep  foundations  of 
ilie  i)hi]osophy  and  truths  of  natural  justice  and  common  sense. 

The  earlv  part  of  our  records  are  of  ai)i)cals  from  the  County 
Court,  motions  for  new  trials,  foreclosures,  and  a  good  many  cases 
of  Insolvencv  proceedings  and  cases  of  equitable  nature..  \'ery  few 
trials  of  fact  occur;  the  judgments  were  rendered  mostl\-  after  de- 
cisions u])on  dennu'rers,  jileas  in  abatement  and  such  i)rehminary 
pleadings,  u])on  the  determination  of  which  we  now  have  a  right 
to  answer  over,  and  have  a  trial  on  the  facts. 

In  the  Criminal  jjrosecutions,  if  the  accused  by  any  chance  was 
acquitted  he  was  discharged  by  i>aying  the  costs  of  liis  trial, 
and  till  i<'^35  the  sentences  of  imi)risonment  were  made  to  Xewgate, 
now  known  as  the  Copper  mines  in  Simsbury. 

We  a])])end  herewith  a  few  of  the  memorable  trials,  and  have 
probably  omitted  others  of  ecfually  as  valuable  and  important  signifi- 
cance.    The  abstracts  are  necessarily  very  brief  and  condensed. 

'I'he  first  recorded  case  u]ion  the  books  of  the  Su]XM-ior  Court 
is  that  of 

Abner   Wheeler,   of    liethlem 

vs. 

Joshua  Henshaw,  of  \ew  Hartford. 

In  which  the  plaint  iff  recovered  S()-\.2.j=,  damages  and  costs  taxed 
at  $49.86. 

The  first  tlivorcc  granted  was  Lucy  .Mi-\  of  Salisbury  against 
Thomas  Mix. 

These  mixings  and  unmi.xings  ha\e  formed  a  large  ])er  cent,  of 
the  judgments  during  the  ccntur\-. 

Tlllv    SKl.l.l'X'K-OSIiOKX    -MATTKK. 

One  of  the  most  important  trials  and  probablx  one  that  in  its 
general  results  atfected  the  State,  esjjecially  the  political  part  of  it 
more  than  ar\-  other  that  has  ever  occurred  in  the  State,  was  the 
Selleck-Osborn  trial  1806-1807. 

Benjamin  Talmadge,  Esq.,  was  a  Colonel  in  the  Re\olution  and 
at  the  close  »^f  hostilities  settled  in  Litchfield  where  he  was  a  very 


146  I.lTCJll'lHIJ)  COLNTV    1:i;NCI1   AMJ  BAR 

l)r(>iniiicnt  citizen  and  for  many  years  a  member  of  Congress, 
r^rederick  W'olcott.  who  for  more  than  forty  years  was  tlie  clerk  of 
the  County  and  Superior  (.'ourts.  l)roui;lit  a  suit  as^ainst  one  William 
Hart  of  Saybrook  and  at  the  August  Term  of  this  court  1805  re- 
covered $2,205.00  damages.  The  case  was  taken  to  the  Supreme 
Court  and  affirmed.      l{xecution  was  issued  and  ]iaid  in  full  in  iSo(^). 

v^elleck  (  )sl)orn  and  Timotlu'  .\slile\'  were  then  ])ul)li.sliing  a 
newspaper  in  Uitchtield  called  the  Witness  and  made  comments  upoii 
the  judgment  reflecting"  severely  u]jon  the  integrit\'  of  the  Court. 

Whereui^on  tlu'  Sui)erior  Court  prosecuted  then\  as  follows: 
''James  C.ould,  J^scp.  Attorney  for  the  State  for  the  County  of 
Litchfield  specially  aj^pointed  by  this  Court  in  this  behalf  filed  an 
information  before  this  Com-1,  therein  representing"  that  Selleck 
Usborn  and  Timothy  Ashley  both  now  resident  in  Litchfield  in 
County  intending  to  bring  the  Su])crior  Court  of  judicature  of  this 
State  into  disrepute  and  contempt  and  esi)ecially  to  induce  a  belief 
among  the  good  people  of  this  State  that  said  Court  in  pr(jceeding 
to  and  rendering"  judgment  in  a  certain  cause  in  which  ISenjamin 
Talmadge  and  Frederick  Wolcott,  Esquires  were  plaintiffs  and 
\^'illiam  Hart,  Esq.,  was  defendant,  and  that  the  jury  who  attended 
said  Coiu^t  in  finding  a  verdict  in  said  cause  were  influenced  by  par- 
tial, dishonest  and  corrupt  motives,  did  at  Litchfiekl  aforesaid  on 
the  4th  tlay  of  September  1805  with  force  and  arms  most  unjustlv 
wickedly  and  maliciously  print  and  publish  and  cause  to  be  printed 
and  pul)lished  of  and  concerning  said  Court  and  jur\-  and  of  and 
concerning"  the  proceedings  in  said  cause  in  a  publick  newspaper 
called  the  Witness  a  certain  false  and  scandalous  libel  ])urporting"  to 
be  a  statement  or  re])ort  of  the  aforesaid  action  of  the  evidence  ad- 
duced therein  and  of  the  ])roceedings  therein  bad  wliicli  said  infor- 
mation is  as  (in  file." 

The  defendants  plead  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  (."ourt  to  which 
the  attorney  dciinu-red  and  the  Court  decided  that  it  had  jurisdiction. 
Jt  then  went  to  the  Court  for  trial  on  their  i)lea  of  not  guilty.  They 
were  found  guilt\  and  fined  two  hundred  and  fiftx'  dollars  each. 
Osborn  in  his  statement  of  the  numerous  trials  says  that  this  one 
cost  him  $605.98.  The  libel  suit  of  Julius  Deniing  against  him 
$346.46  and  for  slandering  Thomas  Colier  he  ])aid  $522.00. 

( )sborn  and  .\shley  were  also  fined  in  the  ComU\  (.'ourt  one 
Inmdred  dollars  for  libelling  Julius  Deming  a  i)rominenl  merchant 
of  Litchfield.  Mr.  .\sbley  i)aid  his  part  but  Mr.  Usborn  would  not 
pay  and  was  taken  to  jail.  This  aroused  the  Jeffersonians  all  over 
the  County  and  State,  they  calling  it  a  jiolitical  martyrdom  and  on 
the  6tli  of  .\ugusi  i8()(),  the_\-  ga\-e  him  a  great  o\-ation  forming  a 
grand  prcjcession  with  cavalry  and  niilitar\-  ])ara(le  passing  by  the 
jail  where  he  was  confined  and  saluting  him  with  great  honors.  .\ 
l)art  of  the  celebration  was  an  aildress  delivered  in  the  meeting  house 
bv  Jose])li   L.   Smith,  then  a  young  law\er  of  Litchfield,      lie  made 


IIISToKICAI,    N(/n-.S  M7 

remarks  rrtlrclinL;-  upnn  ilir  Supi-ridr  Court.  CMnsc(|iK'iUl>  in  <luc 
course  (it  time  the  Slale"s  .\llnrne\.  Trial  I  lolmes,  l',s(|..  issue(l  an 
information  as^ainst  liim  for  uttering  "tlir  fdllowin^  false,  malicious, 
scandalous  and  defamatory  words,  \i/.:  "'riu-  Courts  <it  justice 
(meauini;  the  aforesaid  Churls  of  justice  in  this  State  i  have  re- 
g-arded  the  face  of  man  in  jud-imMil.  If  the  Kcpulilican-  -.hall  re- 
take the  i)ro])ert\  which  the  l'"e<kral  Courts  i  meanm-  thr  aforesaid 
Coiu'ts  .  magistrates,  judj^es  and  justices  of  this  v^tate  i  liave  taken 
from  them  ( meanins;-  the  said  Repuhlicans  )  it  will  he  hut  a  ])oor 
apoloj^v  for  the  Federalists  tliat  they  obtained  it  hy  false  witnesses 
])erjti*red  judj^es  and  i)acke(l  juries."  Also  "()sl)i'rn  is  imprisoned 
for  ])ul)lishin^-  that  of  a  h'ederal  justice  which  is  true  of  every 
Federal  justice  in  the  State." 

Smith  first  plead  not  K'li'l'^y-  ^''*-''i  ^'''-'  ^'"^i''^  allowed  him  to 
chans^e  his  plea  to  a  demurrer.  The  Court  found  the  information 
sufficient  and  fined  Smith  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  costs, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  three  dollars  and  sixty  fotu'  cents. 

The  clerk  adds  to  the  record,  "TIk'  delin(|uint  wa^  dcliwred  to 
the  custod)-  of  the  Sheriff  of  said  Counlx." 

Snnth's  connection  with  the  Com't  was  not  altoL^elher  aL^reeahle 
after  that,  but  he  was  soon  appointed  Major  in  the  I'nited  States 
.\rmy  and  was  a  Colonel  in  the  \\'ar  of  1812  after  which  he  was 
United  States  Judge  in  Florida.  lie  was  the  ancestor  i>i  the  con- 
federate Ceneral  F,.  Kirby  Smith. 

i;r.Asi'iii:>n'. 

At  the  August  Term  of  the  Court  in  iSck;  William  Leavenworth. 
Jr..  was  informed  against  f"r  hlasi)heiny  in  the  town  oi  I'lymouth. 
The  information  stated  "Who  did  in  the  i)resence  and  hearing  of 
sundrv  of  the  good  people  of  the  State  then  and  there  assembled, 
blaspheme  the  name  of  God  the  Father  and  of  the  ]  foly  Ghost,  and 
denv  and  reproach  the  true  God  and  His  government  of  the  world 
bv  wickedlv  and  blasphemously  uttering  and  speaking  the  words 
following,  viz:  "1  am  the  Holy  C.hosl  and  here  is  the  1  loly  Ghost."  he 
the  said  William  speaking  of  himself  and  meaning  that  he,  said 
William  was  the  Holy  Ghost." 

The  accused  was  arrested,  brought  before  the  Court  and  plead 
not  guiltv.  and  after  a  trial  was  ac(|uilled  by  the  jury  and  the  Clerk- 
adds.  '•The  said  William  was  discharged  by  order  of  Court  without 
the  payment  of  costs." 

This  was  a  new  departure,  it  having  been  custi)mary  for  the 
prisoner  to  be  obliged  to  pay  the  costs  whether  convicted  or  ac- 
quitted. 

The  following  remarkable  proceeding  appears  up<«n  the  record 
of  our  Courts,  but  the  account  herein  given  is  from  Gen.  Sedg- 
wick's llistor\-  of  Sharon. 


148  i.n\iii-ii:i.i)  c(»r\Tv  niCNcir  and  p.au 

A   \VK(»\C,  \i;kl)lCT  STANDS. 

At  a  rcL^iniental  training-  in  v'^haron  on  the  20tli  day  of  Sept., 
A.  1).  1S05  an  altercation  occurred  Ijctween  Zenas  Ueebe  of  Sharon 
and  Aner  Ives  of  Kent  which  was  consummated  by  the  stabbing-  of 
l\'es  by  r.eel)e  with  a  l)ayonet.  inflicting'  a  mc^rtal  wound  of  which 
he  tVwil  at  the  end  of  a  week.  There  were  mitigating  circumstances 
in  the  ease  whicli  .reheved  i>eel)e  from  the  charge  of  wilfid  murder, 
l)ui  it  was  a  clear  case  of  manslaughter.  I'.y  a  singidar  blunder  of 
the  tiireman  o|  the  jur\-  he  was  pronounced  not  guilt\'  of  an\-  of- 
lense.  The  jury  had  agreed  u])on  the  verdict  to  be  rendered  to  bc* 
"not  guilty  of  murder,  but  guilty  of  manslaughter."  The  foreman 
rendered  the  tirst  part  of  the  verdict  but  stopped  there.  The  sub- 
sequent ])rocee(lings  in  the  matter  are  copied  from  the  records  of  the 
Court. 

"After  the  ^•erdict  was  rendered  the.  foreman  informed  the  C'ourr 
that  the  verdict  which  the  jury  IkuI  intended  to  return  and  had 
agreed  on  was — that  the  said  lieebe  was  not  guilt}-  of  murder,  but 
by  mistake  he  had  omitted  to  return  and  state  the  whole  finding  of 
the  jury,  and  desired  to  be  directed  by  the  Court  whether  the  verdict 
and  the  whole  finding  of  the  jury  as  agreed  u]:)on  by  theni.  and  as  he 
designed  at  first  to  have  stated  the  same,  would  then  be  made  and 
returned. 

(  )n  consideration  it  was  adjudged  l)y  the  court  tliat  the  verdict 
of  the  jury  as  returned  and  recorded  by  them  could  not  be  ex- 
plained or  altered." 

T)ee])e  was  defended  b\-  two  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in  the  State 
Xathaniel  Smith  of  Woodbury  and  David  Daggett  of  New  Haven. 

-At  the  Term  of  the  Superior  Ccnu't  holden  February,  A.  D.  1820. 
Beebe  was  tried  for  an  assault  with  intent  to  kill  Amasa  Alaxam 
and  found  guilty.  He  was  sentenced  to  confinement  in  the  Old 
Newgate  ]irison  for  two  years  liut  died  before  the  exi)iration  of  his 
sentence. 

A   SIXC.ri.AR   IXl'oKM  A'l'loX    I'oK   SI.ANDllR. 

Tn  1814,  Klisha  Sterling,  l{sq..  then  Attornex'  for  the  State  f(^r 
the  County  of  Litchfield  jiresented  to  the  Court  his  information 
against  a  very  ])rominent  man  of  the  County  who  was  at  that  time 
Brigadier  (leneral  of  the  State  Militia. 

The  com])laint  was  for  libel  upon  his  deceased  father-in-law 
made  by  the  C.eneral  in  the  form  of  a  "iMuieral  (  )rder"  and  sent 
to  one  of  the  inferior  officers  of  his  regiment  directing  liim  to  con- 
duct the  funeral.  The  order  is  too  wicked  and  vulgar  to  be  pub- 
lished entire  but  a  few  extracts  from  it  will  show  its  general  pur- 
port. 

A   i-i'xi'.ir\i.  oki)i;r. 

1   have  this  (la\    been   informed   that   old  is  dead, 

and    I    Ijt'in!/  out   of   health   cannot   attend   the    funeral.      I    therefore 


II isi'iiKUAr,  \(jti;s  149 

i^ivc  ymi  lliis  mdn-  and  miiiowcr  you  to  t-nniliu-l  ii  in  llit-  fullouin;^ 
order  and  1  will  pay  ilir  (.-xipensc.  I'Mrsl  j^ct  a  coffin  made  of 
Pepperid^e  I 'lank  ilim-  inches  tliitds'  and  dnftail  it  stroni,''  to^^ellier 
with  lar.L^e  Iron  Si)il<es.  Iliioj)  il  thick  with  I'.ars  ni  Irnn.  make  a 
windiiii;-  sheet  with  sheet  iron,  hiaze  it  will  'i'i«p  and  llottuiii.  make 
a  Muffler  with  two  hundred  pounds  of  ( a'rnian  Steel.  I'lacc  .1 
lari4e  iron  Screw  on  the  top  of  his  head  extendin<j;-  throni^h  the  Jaws 
so  that  the  old  fellow  cannot  open  his  mouth,  next  jjlace  on 

a  mule  dressed  in  Regimentals  with  old  swctrd  and 
l{])aulettc  which  he  wore  at  the  time  the  i'.ritish  invaded  Xew  \'ork, 
when  he  run  and  left   his  men  twenty  rods  hehind 

Raise  four  red  or  crimson  I'la.^s.  [)lacc  (certain  nei|L;iil)ors )  as 
pall  licarers  to  hlow  Rams  Horns,  dress  (other  ncii^-hhors )  in  Indian 
Stockinj^s  and  \\'am])um  and  make  theni  carry  around  W'inkum  or 
Cyder  IJrandy  in  lar^e  iron  kettles  to  treat  the  i)rocession,  start  hy 
the  shouting-  of  Rams  Horns  until  the  walls  fall  in  (  1 

as  they  did  in  Jericho.      Draw  llim  to  .  then  hla-t 

a  grave  into  a  solid  rock  ten  feet  deep,  put  him  in  head  downwards, 
place  bars  of  iron  thick  across  the  grave,  take  a  sledge,  drive  in 
stones,  cement  them  with  I  Master  of  I'aris,  so  that  the  old  Devil 
cannot  get  out,  as  he  would  make  (juarrells  anil  Disturbance  until 
the  Day  of  Judgment.     Co  to  and  get  one  hundrefl  and 

fifty  barrells  of  tar  or  i)itch  and  twent\-  Ijarrells  of  brimstone  anrl 
burn  around  the  door  to  keep  oti'  the  devils  until  you  perform  this 
my  order 

The  information  concludes  as  folhnvs: — 

"All  of  which  was  false,  willful  and  malitious  and  done  to  blacken 
the  memory  of  the  said  deceased  and  cast  a  stigma  on  his  memory 
and  on  all  others  connected  with  him  and  excite  his  children  tc)  a 
breach  of  the  peace  and  expose  them  to  the  hatred  and  contempt 
of  the  good  people  of  this  State  ;  all  which  wrongdoings  of  the  said 
are  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  this  State  contrary 
to  law  and  a  high  crime  and  misdemeanor  and  of  evil  example  to 
others  in  like  maimer  to  otTeud.  Said  attorney  therefore  prays  the 
advice  of  the  Honorable  Court  in  the  premises. 

l-'lisha    Sterling.'" 

The  indorsement  is  as  follows: — 

"James  Could  and  Xoah  1'.  r.enedict  assigned  as  counsel  for 
the  delinciuint.  J 'lea  not  guiltw  (  )n  the  jury  for  trial.  The  de- 
linquint  clianging.  pleads  guilty. 

The  Court  adjudge  that  deliuciuint  is  guilty  and  that  he  pay  a 
fine  of  S/S  into  the  treasury  of  this  State  and  the  ct)Sts  of  this 
prosecution  and  stand  committed  until  iudgment  be  comi)lied  with. 

J.  W.  II.,  Clerk  pro  tem." 

KAIlKI.I.O  TRIAL. 

In  the  spring  of  1835  a  most  horrible  murder  was  cominitted 
in  Xew  Preston.     A  voung  lad  of  twelve  years  of  age.  son  of  Mr. 


15^''  i.iii  II  i'ii;i.i)  ediNi  ■^    i;i;ncii  and  ];.\r 

]' orris  llcanlslcx .  was  l)rulally  iiuirdcrcd  l)y  a  wandering-  fellow,  a 
rortu^ucsc  1)\  liirtli.  for  sonic  fancied  insnlt.  claiminj^-  that  the  boy 
stci)])cd  on  his  Iocs.  'I'lic  trial  commenced  in  Ans;ust  1835  before 
Indices  \\  aite  and  Williams.  Tlie  prosecuting  attorney  for  the 
State  was  Leman  Church  assisted  1)\  (UMirge  C.  Woodruff,  Esq., 
.and  the  (."ourt  a])])ointe(l  'i'ruman  Smith  and  (  ).  vS.  Se\nioiu-  for  the 
])risoner.  The  trial  lasted  several  days  and  on  the  eighteenth  of 
August  1S35  the  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  not  guilty  by  reason  of 
insanity.  The  prisoner  was  committed  to  jail  for  safe  keeping  and 
remained  there  a  numl)er  of  years  l)ut  was  afterwards  committed 
to  State  Prison  tor  sale  keeping.  lie  became  a  raving  maniac 
and  died  in  ])rison  only  a  few  years  since.  It  was  at  that  time  a 
noted  case  and  one  of  the  earliest  ones,  now  so  common,  of  offerinsf 
expert  evidence  on  insanitw 

The  ])roceedings  of  the  trial   were   ])ublished  in   pamphlet   form. 

LKXXET   WARD    \hki)i;k. 

(  'n  the  23rd  (if  Xo\-eml)er,  184^).  llennet  Ward  went  into  a  store 
ke])t  by  W.  1!.  Lounsbury,  he  was  somewhat  intoxicated,  became 
noisy  and  \iolent.  threatened  to  whip  several  persons  who  were  in 
the  store,  and  began  to  throw  fire  among  the  dry  goods  that  were 
disposed  about  the  store.  AnK)ng  those  present  was  George  W. 
Smith.  Ward  finally  proposed  to  whi])  him,  and  Smith  seized  a  stick 
of  wood  from  the  wood  l)ox,  and  struck  him  over  the  left  side  of  the 
liead,  causing  a  fracture  in  the  skull  five  inches  in  length.  He 
then  kicked  him  out  of  the  store  and  he  fell  upon  the  stoop.  He 
got  up  however  and  wanted  to  fight,  but  the  door  was  sluit  upon 
him.  He  then  went  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  to  an  out  house  of 
1  )a^■id  J.  Stiles  and  staid  there  two  nights,  when  he  went  into  Mr. 
Stiles'  liouse.  and  soon  l^ecame  insensible.  In  this  condition  he  re- 
remained  till  his  death,  which  occurred  fifty-six  hours  after  the 
l)lo\v  was  recci\ed.  .\  ])ost-mortem  examination  showed  there  was 
concussion  and  compression  of  the  brain,  l)esides  a  chronic  inflamma- 
tion resulting  from  an  old  injury.  Smith  was  arraigned  for  murder, 
Fel)ruary  Term  1847.  lion,  bihn  II.  Hubbard,  State's  Attorney 
and  Hon.  Charles  1'..  I'hel])s.  ai)peared  for  the  State  and  Hons. 
Leman  Church.  C..  II.  Hollister  and  William  Cothren  appeared  for 
the  acctised.  After  an  interesting  trial,  Smith  was  acquitted,  on 
the  ground  that  he  acted  in  self  defence. 

l.llilS     11.     I'ool'     MlKDl'K. 

(  )n  the  moi-ning  of  March  4th..  i85(),  Lucius  II.  l'*oote.  a  tavern- 
<'r  of  Woodburw  was  found  brutalK-  murdere<l.  under  the  horse  sheds 
of  the  h4)iscoi)al  Church  in  the  center  of  the  town,  and  his  whole 
body  frozen  stiff,  showing  that  he  had  been  killed  the  evening  be- 
fore. Circuiustances  strong!}-  i)ointed  to  l^dward  I{.  liradley,  as 
being  tlic  ])erpetratf)r  of  the  crime,  lie  was  arrested  on  this  sus- 
picion, and  after  a  hearing  l)efore  Justice   Hull,  bound  over,  without 


■A 


\ 


WILLIAM   COTIIKLX. 


JIIST(JI<1CAI,   NOTKS  I  SI 

])ail  to  the  iR'xt  vSupcrior  Court  to  he  held  at  Lilclilk-M.  A  draiul 
jury  was  summoned,  and  a  true  l)iH  for  the  crime  of  nuirder  was 
found,  'i'he  trial  of  the  accused  on  the  indictment  commenced  at 
Jvitchtield  on  the  14th.,  of  April,  hefore  judges  William  L,  Storrs 
and  Origen  S.  Seymour  and  a  jury,  lion.  Ciideon  Hall,  State'.s  At- 
torney, Hon.  Charles  l>.  I'hel])s  and  William  Cothren,  Esq.  ap- 
peared for  the  State,  and  lion.  Charles  Chapman  of  Hartford, 
Gideon  H.  Hollister  and  Henry  P>.  Graves,  K.sqrs.  appeared  for 
the  prisoner.  Not  only  very  nice  (piestions  of  circumstial  evidence, 
l)ut  other  intricate  questions  of  law,  were  involved  in  the  case,  and 
the  trial  excited  a  more  general  interest  than  any  case  which  has 
heen  tried  in  this  county.  ( )n  tlic  tenth  day  of  the  trial  the  presid- 
ing Judge  charged  the  jury,  and  on  the  eleventh  day,  they  having 
failed  to  agree  on  a  verdict,  after  having  been  sent  out  for  several 
times,  the  papers  were  taken  back,  the  jury  discharged,  and  the 
prisoner  remanded  to  jail.  The  jury  stood  five  for  conviction  of 
murder  in  the  second  degree  and  seven  for  acquittal. 

At  the  September  term  of  the  Court  the  case  came  on  again  for 
trial.  It  was  commenced  October  3rd.,  1856  before  Hon.  David  C. 
Sanford  and  Hon.  John  D.  Park,  presiding  Judges  with  a  jury. 
After  a  careful  and  laborious  trial  for  twelve  days,  the  jury  again 
disagreed  and  were  discharged. 

On  the  14th  of  April.  1857  '"^e  was  again  arrainged  for  trial  be- 
fore a  jury  with  Hon.  William  W.  Ellsworth  and  Hon.  Thomas  B. 
Butler  as  presiding  Judges,  and  after  a  trial  of  fourteen  days  the 
jury  again  disagreed.  Soon  after  this  result  the  State's  Attorney 
entered  a  nolle  prosequi  and  the  accused  was  discharged.  Mr. 
Cothren  published  a  complete  report  of  the  trial. 

.M.VT'ruivW  _A[ORRIS  MURDF.K. 

On  the  17th  of  July,  i8r)i,  Woodbury  was  again  startled  by  the 
announcement  that  another  murder  had  been  committed  there. 
Matthew  M.  Morris  a  very  respectable  citizen  became  engaged  in 
a  quarrel  with  one  Charles  Fox,  was  stabbed  by  Fox  and  the  knife 
at  the  last  thrust,  entirely  severed  the  main  artery  under  the  collar 
bone  on  the  right  side,  called  by  the  doctois  the  vena  cava.  _  Fox 
immediately  hid  his  knife  in  the  corner  of  the  yard  where  it  was  found 
the  next  morning,  almost  covered  with  blood.  Fox  took  his  scythe 
and  started  for  Roxl)ury,  but  was  detained  by  a  neighlior  till  Sheriff 
Minor  arrested  him. 

After  an  inquest.  Fox  was  bound  over  for  trial  {o  the  September 
term  of  the  Superior  Court.  1861.  Judge  Ellsworth  presided  over 
that  Court.  Gen.  Charles  F.  Sedgwick  and  Wm.  Cothren.  ap- 
peared for  the  State,  and  Gideon  H.  Hollister  and  Henry  B.  (Graves, 
Esqrs..  for  the  defence.  After  the  evidence  on  both  Mcles  had  been 
introduced  the  judge  called  all  the  counsel  to  the  bench,  and  told 
them  that  in  his  judgment  the  crime  amounted  to  manslaughter  and 
no  more;  and  that  "if   it   pleased  them  to  agree  to  that  view  ami 


152  IITc'll  l'li:i.l)   *,()I\TN'    l;i:Nt.'II    AM)    l;.\K 

^\•|lul(l  waiw  ar_miim'iU.  ho  wdiild  inuiK'diatrly  S(i  cliar^c  the  jurv. 
'i'hc  ci'unscl  clict-Ttully  acceded  to  the  su.y,"i;"esti()n  of  the  (hstin^iiished 
jiid^e.  who  ininie(hatel_\'  charged  the  jury  in  accordance  with  liis 
views.  'I'lie  jury  retired,  and  in  a  few  minutes  returned  with  a  ver- 
dict of  manslaughter,  and  Vox  was  sentenced  to  ten  years  imprison- 
ment in  llie  (."onneclicut   Slate   Prison. 

i)u.\Ki;i.\-  .\hri)i:k. 

Again  \\'oodhury  was  the  scene  of  a  sad  murder.  On  the  nip^hl 
of  Auii'ust  lotli..  1886  R()l)ert  l)rakel\-  shot  liis  wife  t]n-out;h  the 
heart  after  she  had  retired  for  the  nii^hl.  lie  was  a  younj.^-  man, 
not  twent)  years  old  and  had  heen  married  only  a  few  weeks  and 
was.  as  he  claimecl,  jealous  of  his  wife  for  the  attentions  she  be- 
stowed on  a  small  child  that  boarded  with  them.  He  was  of  a 
good  old  lamily  of  very  respecta])le  peo])le  but  had  become  disso- 
lute and  dissi])ated  and  committed  the  act  while  in  a  drunken  frenzy. 
He  was  boimd  over  to  the  v^uperior  Coml  1)>'  justice  Skelly  and 
taken  t.>  the  jail  at  IJtchtield.  .\t  the  April  term,  1887  of  the 
Court  the  C.rand  jury  indicted  bin;  for  murder  in  the  second  de- 
gree. ]n  September,  1887  he  was  arraigned  and  ]:)lead  not  guilty. 
He  was  tried  before  Hon.  David  Torrance  and  a  jury.  The  prose- 
cution was  conducted  by  Hon.  James  Huntington,  State's  Attorney 
and  Arthur  I).  Warner,  Esq.;  the  defense  by  Henry  B.  Graves  and 
^^'illiam  Cuthren.  Ivsq.  The  defense  was  that  the  accused  from 
various  reasons  was  not  mentally  or  mortally  responsible  for  his  acts. 
After  an  exhaustive  trial  and  the  charge  of  Judge  Torrance  the  jury 
retircvl  and  in  about  ten  minutes  returned  with  a  verdict  of  guilty. 
He  was  sentenced  to  State  Prison  for  life  and  died  a  few  years 
after  commitment. 

lilCUXICI-:    WlIlTiv,   MLKl)i:i-;. 

In  the  early  |)art  of  1850  the  people  of  Colebrook  and  vicinity 
were  startled  by  the  report  that  Bernice  White,  an  elderly  gentleman 
living  near  Colebrook  River,  had  been  murdered.  In  a  short  time 
four  men  were  arrested  for  the  deed,  named  William  Calhoun. 
Lorenzo  T.  Cobb,  Benjamin  Balconib  and  Henry  ]\iennasseli.  the 
latter  a  half  breed  Indian.  After  the  preliminary  hearing-  they 
were  houml  n\cr  fur  trial  to  the  Superior  Court  at  Litchfield.  A 
Crand  jury  found  a  true  bill  against  each  of  them  and  they  were 
brought  to  trial  at  the  August  Term  1850.  There  was  so  great  a 
crowd  of  witnesses  and  interested  spectators  that  the  Court  was 
obliged  to  adjourn  to  the  Congregational  Church  to  hold  the  trial. 
Two  judges  presided.  Chief  Justice  Church  and  judge  Storrs. 
Calhoun  and  Paleomb  being  minors.  Charles  Chapman.  Ksq.,  of 
Hartford  was  ap])ointed  guardian  ad-hti'iii  of  C'alhoini  and  Origen 
S.  Seymour  for  P.alcomb.  Upon  their  arraignment  IJaleomb 
])k-ad  guilty  au(l  the  rest  not  guilt\-  of  nnu'der  in  the  first  degree. 


HEXRV  L.  GR.Wl-.S 


iiisToKicAF,  N(yrKS  153 

After  a  long'  trial  Calhoun  and  Mannassch  were  found  guilty  and 
Cobb  was  acquitted,  'i'he  guilty  ones  were  sentenced  to  be  hung 
on  the  second  Friday  of  July,  1S51.  ( )ne  of  them,  Cobb,  died  in 
jail  and  the  other  three  finally  had  their  sentences  changed  to  im- 
prisonment in  State  Prison  for  life.  .\ftcr  servinj^^  there  some 
years  Pialcomb  died  in  prison  and  Calhoun  and  .Mennasseh  were  par- 
doned out,  it  having  been  fairly  proved  that  they  had  no  hand  in  the 
actual  commission  of  the  deed  but  were  only  accessories  after  the 
fact.  Calhoun  died  somewhere  in  the  west  and  Mennasseh  died  in 
the  Farmin^lon  town  lionse.  lie  is  said  to  ha\e  bren  the  last  of  the 
Tunxis  Indians. 

WIIJ.IA.M    11.   C.KI-.l'X   TKI.M,. 

The  trial  of  the  Rev.  William  11.  Green  of  Cornwall  for  murder 
excited  a  very  general  interest. 

In  1865  Mr.  Green  resided  in  Centerville.  X.  Y.,  in  the  character 
of  an  itinerant  Methodist  preacher,  and  about  that  time  he  married 
a  woman  with  whom  he  lived  several  months  occupying  with  her 
the  ])arsonage  of  the  parish  wherein  he  preached.  In  1866  he 
abandoned  this  wife  and  married  a  young  widow  who  had  a  small 
amount  of  property  amounting  to  some  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred 
dollars.  In  the  spring  of  1867  he  came  to  Connecticut  and  tooK 
the  stum])  for  P.  T.  lUirnum  who  was  then  running  for  Congress 
on  the  Republican  ticket.  He  was  esteemed  a  very  powerful 
preacher  and  his  political  arguments  were  eloquent  and  convincing, 
he  also  lectured  on  temperance  and  was  an  evangelist  and  held  re- 
vival meetings  in  different  places.  After  a  time  he  joined  his  sec- 
ond wife's  brother  in  West  Cornwall  and  engaged  with  him  in  the 
general  country  store  business.  Mrs.  Green  was  in  feeble  health 
with  consumption  and  grew  rapidly  worse.  On  the  evening 
of  May  6,  1867  she  was  attacked  with  spasms  and  died  just  aftei 
midnight.  From  certain  suspicious  circumstances  and  subsequent 
conduct  of  Green,  suspicion  was  aroused  to  the  cause  of  her  death. 
About  the  middle  of  June  her  body  was  exhumed  and  the  stomach 
and  liver  sent  to  Prof.  P>arker  of  New  Haven  for  examination  who 
found  traces  of  strvchnine  in  those  organs.  Green  was  arrested  and 
sent  to  Litchfield  for  safe  keeping  without  a  mittimus  and  of  course 
was  not  locked  up.  While  under  keepers  here  his  brother-in-law 
called  upon  him  and  informed  hini  of  the  result  of  the  analysis. 
Green  concluded  that  his  residence  at  the  jail  was  not  desirable  at 
least  on  his  part  and  made  his  departure  therefrom  unknown  to  the 
authorities  and  was  for  a  few  days  in  parts  unknown.  In  a  few 
davs  he  reported  at  West  Cornwall  where  he  was  formally  arrested 
and  attempted  to  save  the  State  the  trouble  and  expense  of  three 
trials  bv  cutting  his  throat  with  a  pocket  knife  in  which  he  was  not 
entirely  successful.  He  was  bound  over  to  the  Superior  Court  for 
trial  and  in  November  1867  was  tried  for  the  crime  and  convicted 


154  ].ITlIlI"li:i.l)  COINTV    I:i;NC1I    and  I5AK 

of  nuirdcr  and  sentenced  lo  l)e  liunL;  vn  I)ecenil)er  4th..  iSuS.  I  lis 
case  was  carried  to  the  Supreme  Court  and  a  new  trial  j^ranted  him 
on  the  ,e:round  of  newly  discovered  evidence.  In  January  i8(hj  he 
was  ai^^ain  before  the  Superior  Court  and  the  new  trial  resulted  in 
a  disat^reement  of  the  jury,  hut  in  September  of  that  year  the  third 
trial  was  had  and  the  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  i^uilty  of  murder  in 
the  second  des^ree.  lie  was  sentenced  to  State  Prison  for  life 
September  25,  1869,  where  he  died. 

JAMKS  I.IC  ROY. 

The  career  of  James  LeRoy,  who  received  in  1850  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five  years  his  third  commitment  to  the  State  Prison  for  the 
term  of  fifteen  years  upon  his  plea  of  guilty  to  seven  dififerent 
burglaries  committed  in  or  near  Winstcd  and  New  Hartford  in  the 
years  1849  'i"*^^  1850,  is  in  many  respects  a  remarkable  one.  I'vom 
his  boyhood  he  seemetl  to  have  nothing  but  a  criminal  instinct. 
When  arrested  in  1850  he  was  placed  under  keepers  who  fell  asleep 
and  he  not  enjoying  their  society  departed  from  them,  tie  had 
liand  cuiTs  on  and  disliking  them,  proceeded  to  one  of  the  scytiie 
shops,  broke  into  the  shop  and  set  one  of  the  water  grindstones 
running,  and  ground  the  shackles  from  his  wrists  and  then  secreted 
liimself  so  that  he  was  not  found  by  the  officials  for  several  days, 
although  they  were  constantly  on  the  alert  for  him.  After  his 
release  from  the  Connecticut  State  Prison  he  was  engaged  in 
practical  observations  in  the  management  of  prisons  in  other  States 
and  in  1877  under  the  name  of  James  Whiting  was  sent  to  prison  for 
theft  for  three  and  a  half  years,  and  died  in  prison,  lie  made  in 
1850  a  confession  of  his  exploits  which  was  published. 

AVOI.CO'l"r\"Il.I.K    lU'KCI.AKS. 

(  )n  the  night  of  Xovenil)er  i87()  the  wareliouse  of  the  I'nion 
Manufacturing  Company  in  Torrington  was  broken  into  and  a 
large  quantity  of  manufactured  goods  carried  away.  The  ])urglars 
stole  a  hand  car  from  the  section  house  and  started  towards  llridge- 
l)ort  on  the  Xaugatuck  Railroad  track.  When  it  passed  through 
\\  ater])ur\-  the  watchman  at  the  depot  informed  Su])erintendent 
P.eacli  of  the  passage  of  the  car.  Mr.  P.each  immediately  had  an 
engine  fired  up  and  started  in  imrsuit.  and  just  before  reaching 
Ansonia  at  alxnit  half  past  four  in  the  morning  the  engine  struck 
tile  hand  car  and  threw  it  from  the  track.  Stop])ing  the  engine 
the)  found  fifteen  pieces  of  woolen  goods  scattered  a])out.  but  the 
occui)ants  of  the  hand  car  had  iled.  but  were  tracked  in  the  suow 
and  soon  arrested.  They  were  lodged  in  Litchlielil  jail  and  had 
their  trial  before  this  Court  necember  (>.  and  7,  i87()  and  l''ranklin 
Johnson,  William  C.  Davis  and  \\'illiani  C.  Davis.  Jr.  were  con- 
victed of  the  crime  and  recei\'ed  State  Prison  sentence^.  It  was 
a  case  that  e.xcited  great  attention  i)artl\-  on  accoimt  of  the  mode 
of  ca])ture  and  the  no\el   method   of  transit.     'iMie   whok'  e\  idi-nce 


CiM^UftuJ  ^-?<^^ 


iiisrouicAi,  N(/rr.s  IS5 

was  i)urely  circumstantial  and  tin*  defense  was  not  only  denial  by 
the  accused  but  a  fairly  proved  alibi  ijresenled.  The  skillful  prose- 
cution conducted  by  the  State's  Attorney  1  linitinj^lon  ami  C.  H, 
Welch,  Ivsq.  with  the  adroit  defenses  presented  by  11.  1*.  (iraves  and 
the  large  attendance  at  the  trial  makes  it  a  noted  case. 

I.inroK  TRIALS. 

From  the  Litchfield  ]{n(|uirer  of  .\|)ril  29,  1880  we  take  extracts 
which  will  illustrate  the  great  battle  which  was  fought  in  our  Courts 
in  the  ])rosecution  for  the  illegal  sale  of  intoxicating  sjjirits  at  about 
that  date : 

"With  all  its  victories  in  the  moral  field,  temperance  has  hereto- 
fore met  defeat  or  but  partial  success  in  the  Courts.     Even  in  high 
teetotal  times,  when  the  people  were  electing  Prohibition  Governors 
and   Prohibition  Legislatures,  we  have  seen  rum-seller  after  rum- 
seller   brought   before   juries,    their   guilt   conclusively   proved,   yet 
escaping  justice  by  acquittal  or  disagreement.     The  old  i)rohibitory 
Statute  of  1854  in  this  County  at  least  was  an  utter   failure.     Of 
the  dozens  we  have  seen  tried  under  the  act  we  can  recollect  but 
one  conviction.        Lender   Local   ( )i)tion   there   has  been  a  marked 
change,  particularly  of  late  years,  and  especially  since  the  popular 
feeling  against  the  li(|uor  trattic  has  been  intensified  by  the   l>lue 
Ribbon   movement.     There    can   be   no   doubt,   too,   that   Litchfield 
County  is  verv  fortunate  in  her   State's  Attorney,  an  officer  who 
never  shirks  or  slights  his  duty,  whether  it  is  a  rum-seller,  or  a 
sheep  stealer  that  is  brought  to  the  bar  of  the  Superior  Court  for 
trial.     Of  late  years,  therefore  we  have  seen  several  convictions  bv 
juries,  but  in  tliis  County,  rum  and  justice  have  never  been  brought 
face  to  face  so  sharply  and  with  such  decisive  defeat — indeed  such 
utter   rout,   demoralization   and  caj^ture   of   the   liquor   interest— as 
the  past  week  has  witnessed."     After  statmg  the  trial  of  a  certain 
case    which    was    most    strongly    contested    by     State's    Attorney 
Huntington,  H.  P.  Lawrence  and  W.  B.  Smith  for  the  prosecution 
and  H.  B.  Graves  and  A.  H.  Fenn  for  defense  but  resulted  in  convic- 
tion of  the  parties,  the  article  continues:     "The  prisoner  was  very 
much  overcome  and  went  home  completely  broken  down  and  took 
to  his  bed  seriously  if  not  dangerously  ill.     On  Thursday  the  W'in- 
sted  Temperance  men  began  to  reap  the  benefit  of  their  victory. 
Dealer  after  dealer  came  up  to  make  such  settlement  as  he  could. 
The  terms  were  the  same  to  all.     All  costs  must  be  paid  and  an 
obligation  given  that  they  would  quit  the  traffic.     On  Friday  after- 
noon the  Court  adjourned  for  the  Term  with  the  following  record  of 
progress  for  about  six  days  work  on  liquor  cases : 

Three  convictions  with  fines  and  costs  amounting  to  about  $500 
and  one  hundred  and  six  cases  settled  for  $2,664.11  and  one  man 
in  jail. 

Messrs.  Forbes,  Holmes,  Lawrence,  W.  B.  Smith  and  others  are 
to  be  highlv  commended  in  their  wonderfully  successful  assault  of 
what  has  so  long  been  considered  the  last  strong-hold  of  the  liquor 
traffic,  the  Glorious  uncertainty  of  the  law!" 


156  I.ITllil"li:i.l)  lOrNTV    r.KNCIl    ANO   I'.AK 

M  ASTllKS  \  S.    WAKKKN. 

(  )iH'  of  the  ini])«irtam  cixil  cases  tried  in  tliis  C'durl  cainc  from 
W'arrcn. 

Xicliolas  Masters,  wliilc  riding'  h()rs(.'-l)ack  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  town,  was  tliri)wn  from  his  horse  b\-  reason  of  its  hreakinj;- 
throujji'li  a  small  wootlen  sluice  or  bridge  anil  received  serious  in- 
juries, havins^-  his  neck  nearly  broken  and  for  some  years  carried 
his  head  turned  partly  around  and  also  received  some  other  minor 
injuries  of  not  so  serious  or  i)ermanent  a  nature. 

His  attorneys.  Graves  and  Hollister,  brou!.^ht  suit  a^e^ainst  the  town 
of  Warren  for  damages,  claiming-  ten  thousand  dollars,  the  writ  re- 
turnable to  the  Se])tember  term.  1856.  A  long  exhaustive  trial  be- 
fore a  jury  was  had  at  the  Xovember  term.  1857  in  which  the 
plaintiff  recovered  thirty-tive  hundred  dollars,  v^ome  ver\-  inter- 
esting questions  came  uj)  during  the  trial  regarding  the  taking  of 
depositions  by  the  defendant  without  notice  to  the  plaintiff  and  also 
in  the  charge  of  the  judge  to  the  jury  of  a  statement  made  by  tlie 
judge  of  matter  outside  of  the  evidence.  .\n  ai)i)eal  was  taken  to 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  by  the  defendant  claiming  a  new  trial 
which  the  Supreme  Court  did  not  grant  and  final  judgment  was 
rendered  against  the  town  at  the  Ai^ril  term.  1858  for  three  thousand 
five  hundred  and  eighty-seven  dollars  and  tift\  cents  damages  and 
costs. 

The  stc^ry  is  told  in  connection  with  this  case  that  Dr.  P.uel  one 
of  the  ex]X'rt  witnesses  for  the  plaintiff'  testified  that  he  examined 
the  i)laintift'  and  found  him  suff'ering  from  tortochlorosis  of  the 
neck.  Air.  Hollister  in  his  argument  indulged  in  the  high  sounding 
Word  fre([uently,  jjortraying  the  sufferings  of  his  client  during  his 
liletinu'  from  such  a  frrible  roni])lair.t.  (  )ni;  of  tlie  defendant 
law\ers  soon  after  met  Dr.  ])uv\  and  asked  liini  what  that  big  word 
he  used  meant.  "Stiff  neck,'"  was  the  answer.  "W'iiy  didn't  you  say 
so  in  Court  said  tlie  lawyer.     That  word  cost  the  town  $1500." 

KOI  11:1  XS   \S.    fol'l-l  X. 

Tn  1883  an  action  from  Salis])iu-\'  wherein  Sanuiel  Ivobbins 
sued  llu'  administrator  of  the  estate  of  Ceorge  (.'offing. 

The  i)oints  of  law  involved  were  iniixirlant  and  the  amount  in- 
volved was  al)out  $70,000,  an  unusually  large  sum  for  this  I'ourt 
and  the  attorneys  engaged  were  of  ihe  ]iiL;lust  rank  in  the  State. 

George  A.  Hickox,  who  tlien  (.■diled  tlie  i.ilehlield  l-".n(|uirer.  re- 
l)orts  it  as  follows:  "Tlie  nianagi'inenl  of  the  ea<e  li\  tlie  noti'd 
counsel  on  each  side  resi)ecli\(,l\ ,  was  looked  on  with  nuicli  inleres'. 
judge  Warner  made  an  ex^-ellent  o])ening  argumeni  for  the  de- 
fendants, on  whom  the  burden  rested  to  pi-o\e  their  \arious  de- 
fenses. Tln'u  followed  John  S.  I'^'acli.  with  a  \er\  clear  (|uiet 
statement   of  the  ])laintitT's  claim.      Most   interest   was   naturally    felt 


MILKS   T.    GUAXCKK. 


lIISToinCAI,   NOTI^S  157 

in  the  argument  of  Ex-Governor  Hubbard,  who  followed  Mr.  iU-ach. 
The  elegant  forcible  style  of  his  address  showed  all  the  polish  of 
his  first  class  literary  work,  and  the  weight  of  his  oratory  was  made 
doubly  effective  by  his  remarkable  power  as  an  actor.  It  was 
worth  while  studying  the  use  he  made  of  an  old  j)air  of  stCL-I 
spectacles  he  wears,  to  damn  the  defendants  claims  or  enforce  his 
own.  The  way  they  fell  on  the  table  was  made  to  express  the  ex- 
treme of  confidence  or  the  extreme  of  disgust.  They  came  down 
with  the  weight  of  a  sledge  hammer  in  emphasizing  the  one  or  the 
other  view.  His  mode  of  handling  a  law  paper  spoke  volumes.  In- 
deed we  have  heard  as  fine  rhetoric  and  as  fine  oratory  in  a  law 
court,  but  never  combined  with  such  acting.  Mr.  Tcrkins  closed 
the  case  with  a  very  telling  exposition  of  the  evidence  in  connection 
with  the  position  of  the  defendant."  The  jury  returned  a  verdict 
for  the  plaintiff  to  recover  $67,633.33  damages  and  costs. 

In  connection  with  Brother  Hickox's  discription  of  the  conduct 
of  the  trial  it  may  be  proper  to  add  that  this  was  the  last  argument 
in  a  law  court  that  "Dick"  Hubbard  ever  made. 

llir.GIx's   ESCAPK. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  and  exciting  matters  that  have  arisen 
in  modern  years,  related  to  the  escape  of  Richard  Hadley  a  prisoner 
while  being  transported  to  the  State  Prison  in  Wethersfield  in  the 
year  1883. — Higgin's  alias  was  Richard  Hadley. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  papers  of  the  time  will  give  full 
details  as  well  as  some  interesting  history : 

When  James  R.  Higgins  escaped  from  the  wagon  in  which  he 
was  being  taken  from  Utchfield  to  Wethersfield  to  serve  out  a  ten 
years  sentence  for  burglarly  it  was  supposed  that  he  had  been  fur- 
nished with  a  key  to  his  handcuffs  bv  his  counsel,  Henry  H.  Prescott 
of  Utchfield.  A.  T.  Roraback  of  Canaan,  W.  B.  Smith  of  Winsted, 
and  Dwight  C.  Kilbourn  of  Utchfield  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  obtain  evidence  to  be  presented  to  the  court  at  Litchfield  touch- 
ing Mr.  Prescott's  connection  with  the  affair.  Mr.  Smith,  of  the 
committee,  was  at  Wethersfield  on  Tuesday  and  obtained  the  fol- 
lowing statement  from  Higgins  : — 

I  first  met  Harry  H.  Prescott  of  Litchfield  soon  after  I  was  ar- 
rested, in  Litchfield  jail.  He  was  my  attorney  in  the  superior  court 
in  that  county.  When  I  called  him  'into  the  case  he  agreed  to  help 
me  to  get  away  from  jail,  and  I  was  to  give  him  $250.  Xot  haying 
any  money  I  was  to  give  him  some  stolen  bonds  as  security.  The 
bonds  w^ere  stolen  from  the  savings  bank  at  Woodbury,  this  state, 
and  the  total  amount  was  $7,500.  I  put  into  Prescott's  hands 
$6,400  in  bonds.  The  understanding  was  that  if  I  got  out  he  should 
have  the  bonds.  He  was  to  give  Paddy  Ryan  and  others  who  came 
from  New  York  to  assist  me  in  breaking  jail  all  the  points  about 
jail,  also  the  use  of  his  office,  and  in  short  was  to  act  as  a  general 


15'"^  i.irni  i'ii;i.i)  i,oixt\'  i;i;ncii  and  hau 

.qo-bclwccn  to  aid  nic  in  rscajjini;-  frcnn  jail.  The  understandiiij^- 
was  that  I'rcscott  was  not  to  nei^otiatc  the  lionds  and  was  to  keep 
the  matter  f|uiet  until  Howard,  my  |)al.  who  was  arrested  with  me, 
and  I  had  escaped.  Trescott  told  nu'  that  he  went  to  New  York  to 
see  Kyan  at  154  h'.asi  Twenty-third  siret'l,  and  that  Rvan  was  afraid 
to  haw  anything;'  li>  dn  with  him  in  the  matter.  Later  he  told  me 
that  he  had  been  to  Xew  \'ork  a^ain,  but  did  not  see  Ryan.  Soon 
alter  I'reseott  broui^'ht  me  a  letter  that  was  sent  to  him  by  ]\yan  and 
written  by  Farley,  one  of  the  l\\an  i;am;-.  The  letter  in^piired 
whether  I'reseott  was  all  solid  and  to  ])e  trusted,  .\fter  reading 
the  letter  1  ])urned  it  in  the  jail  stove.  1  sent  a  letter  through  Pres- 
cott  to  Ryan  sa\  ini;-  that  I'reseott  was  straight  and  to  be  trusted. 

The  following  Sundaw  after  he  had  been  to  Xew  York,  Prescott 
came  to  me  and  stated  that  he  had  taken  the  bonds  to  the  bank 
]:)arties  and  had  got  something  over  v$400  for  them.  As  I  had  ob- 
jected to  his  doing  anything  about  the  bonds  until  I  had  made  my 
escajie.  1  was  angry  when  I  found  that  he  had  given  them  up.  At 
tliat  lime  he  gave  me  Si 5  and  in  a  day  or  twc^  gave  my  wife  $200.  I 
could  not  get  anything  more  out  of  him.  T  afterwards  found  that 
lie  received  about  $r.200  for  the  bcnids,  l)ut  L  could  not  get  anything 
more  out  f)f  him.  M\-  friends  of  the  Ryan  gang  did  not  appear  and 
I  found  that  I  had  to  depend  upon  my  own  resources.  I  continued 
to  find  fault  because  Prescott  would  not  give  me  more  money,  and 
at  last  he  said  ti*  me,  about  two  weeks  before  court  opened,  that  if 
I  would  kee])  still  he  would  get  me  a  key  that  would  fit  my  hand- 
cutfs,  and  1  could  escape  either  when  on  the  way  from  jail  to  the 
coiu't  house,  or  when  I  was  being  conveyed  to  the  state  prison  if  I 
was  convicte<l.  i  loward  and  1  talked  it  over  and  concluded  to  make 
the  attemj)!  to  escajjc  when  we  were  being  conveyed  to  or  from  the 
court  r(K)m.  Prescott  brought  us  four  handcuff  keys  that  fitted  my 
handcuffs  and  two  small  ke\s.  like  dog-collar  keys;  also  two  files. 
1  had  the  four  handcuff  keys  in  my  pocket  all  the  time  during  the 
trial.  The  two  other  keys  T  filed  and  gave  to  Howard.  One  of  the 
files  1  kept  until  1  csca])ed,  the  other  T  left  in  the  jail.  When  I'res- 
eott gave  me  the  keys  he  told  me  that  he  knew  that  four  of  them 
would  fit  any  handcuff'  in  the  jail.  The\-  did  fit  without  any  filing. 
A\'hen  we  were  taken  tti  the  court  room  to  ])lead  Howard  was 
handcuffed  to  me  and  the  sheriff'  took  m\-  right  wrist  in  his  nippers. 
^\'hi]e  we  sat  in  the  dock,  Prescott  came  up  to  us  and  said:  'AVIiy 
did  you  not  esca])e  on  the  wa\-  over?"  1  told  him  that  Howard  might 
lia\c-  got  away,  but  I  could  not.  Prescott  replied:  "That's  right. 
^'ou  had  better  wait  and  gel  awa\-  together."  While  I  was  in  the 
iJtcbfield  jail  Prescott  gave  me  a  re\-ol\er  loaded  with  five  cart- 
ridges, also  ten  cartridges  afterwar<ls.  I  le  gave  them  to  me  in  my 
cell,  I  think  on  the  afternoon  of  the  day  I  was  sentenced.  I  wanted 
the  revolver  and  he  did  not  waul  to  gi\e  it  to  me  imtil  after  I  had 
received  a  visit   from  my  wife,  so  that   it  wouM  ajjpear  as  if  she  had 


W  i;i.i.ixc.T()X   1'..  Smith 


11  IS'I'DKK'AI.    N'oTllS  I  5' J 

tui'iiislu'il  ii  111  iiK-  if  il  was  disri  ixcrcd.  I  asked  him  il'  lie  lia<l  it 
with  liini.  am!  lie  said  he  liad.  I  tlu-n  askrd  him  [<>  let  me-  >cc-  it. 
Ai'Kt  makini;  )iu'  promise  {>>  '^\\v  il  l-atd<  In  him.  he  let  me  take  it. 
I  examined  il  and  then  lianded  it  back.  .\t  4  o'clock  'IMiiirsday 
eveninL;-,  al'ier  I  was  senlenced.  he  .L^ave  me  the  ten  cartridges.  The 
revoh'er  was  a  ■■^'ou1l,^  America'"  or  'Aount^^  American."  I  don't 
rememher  which.  1 1  wa>  douhle-aclini;.  had  five  cliamher.s.  and  was 
of  7,2  calii)er.  1  diil  iioi  know  wlu're  he  .-^ot  it.  I  don't  rcnieml)cr 
whether  he  told  me  he  .t;oi  the  ke\  s  from  a  man  in  Litclifield.  or 
whether  he  said  he  was  ,^oin--  to  -el  lhcni  of  some  man  there.  [ 
understood  ihal  ihe  man  was  an  officer  or  had  been  one.  The  la.st 
time  I  saw  I'rescoii  before  m\  escape  was  when  he  j^'ave  nic  the 
len  cartridge-  on  'i'luirsdax.  lie  ihen  cautioned  me  not  to  use  the 
revolver,  shook  hands  with  me  and  wished  me  i,^oo(l  luck.  .After 
my  escape  1  ])awned  the  revolver  in  I'.altimore.  I  had  it  tied  be- 
tween mv  le,i;s  the  Saturday  niorniu"-  when  they  started  to  take  me 
to  W'etherstield.  T  was  on  the  back  seat  of  the  last  wai^on.  which 
the  sheriff  was  drivin-'.  Howard  was  in  ihe  first  wa.^'on  with  ihe 
(le])Ul\\ 

Mr.  TrocoU  was  ])resent  while  the  latter  ])art  of  this  statement 
was  made,  and  afterwards  cross-examined  lli.y-.^ins  without  material- 
Iv  shakint^-  his  .-tatemcnt  of  the  case." 

MUllAi;!.    r.loN    C.\ST'.. 

One  of  the  most  important  cases  of  our  Courts,  considerin.o:  it 
in  all  of  its  features,  was  the  case  of  Michael  Bion  from  the  town 
of  Xorth  Canaan. 

Tn  1871  Lvman  i:)unnin.i;'s  store  at  East  Canaan  in  the  town  of 
Xorth  Canaan  was  l)uroiarized,  and  a  woodchopix-r  named  Michael 
r.ion  was  arrested  and  convicted  of  the  crime  and  sentenced  to  twi) 
vears  in  State  I'rison.  He  behaved  himself  well,  receivint^-  the  due 
credit  therefor  and  was  discharged  at  the  expiration  of  his  sentence 
with  no  great  love  for  Mr.  Dunning. 

In  1874  a  bag  containing  gun  powder  was  ])laced  near  ihe  house 
of  the  next  neighbor  of  Mr.  Dunning  occuiMed  by  the  congregation- 
al minister  and  was  exploded  in  the  night  time  setting  the  house  on 
tire,  but  doing  no  great  damage.  The  two  houses  looked  alike  and 
it  was  supposed  that  the  intention  was  to  place  the  powder  at  Mr. 
I  )unnings  house.  I'.ion  was  charged  with  this  deed  and  arrested  and 
after  a  har^l  fought  trial  convicted  and  sentenced  to  ten  years  in 
State  I'rison  maiulv  by  the  active  agency  of  Mr.  Dunning  which 
did  not  increase  T.ion's  affection  and  he  made  'threats  of  violence 
against  Mr.  Dunning.  Upon  his  discharge  from  i)risoii  he  was 
induced  to  return  to  France  his  native  country,  .\bout  five  years 
after  this  he  was  discovered  working  under  an  assumed  name  m 
the  vicinitv  of  Tine  Plains  only  a  few  miles  distant  from  Ea.st 
Canaan.      Mr.  Dunning  fearing  further  injury  from  him  got  out  a 


iCk")  i.riHiii-ii:i.i)  lOiNTN   r.i-.Nrii  and  r..\i< 

surclic's  (if  tlu'  i)cacc  ct  miplaint.  (>l)taiiK'<l  a  warrant  and  w  Ikmi  ho 
found  him  in  C'lMnu'Clicni  hail  him  arrested  an<l  hnai^hl  hcfore  a 
justice  who  phierd  him  under  homls  in  the  sum  of  live  thousand 
dollars.  I'lion  could  not  furnish  such  hond  and  on  the  19th  day  of 
Xovcnil)cr  1889  was  Iodised  in  Litchfield  jail,  lie  employed  at- 
torneys who  instituted  hal)eas  corpus  i^roceediui^s  to  release  him  and 
by  various  stages  the  matter  came  before  the  Supreme  C'oiu't  of 
Errors  at  tlie  .Ma\  Term  iSc^o  and  the  re])ort  of  the  case  occu])ies 
twenty  pa^es  of  the  50th  vohniie  of  the  C'omieclicut  Uepitrts.  The 
L'ourt  found  no  error  in  the  jud^nieni  complained  of  and  liion  still 
remained  in  the  Litchfield  jail,  .\fterwards  an  arrans^ement  was 
made  h\  tlu-  h'rench  Consul  by  which  llion  was  released  and  re- 
turned ti)  I'rance. 

Till':  i;oRii:sso\   .Mri<iii:i<  Ti<r.\i.. 

( )nh-  one  sentence  of  death  passed  b\  this  Tomi  duriiii;'  the 
Century  was  carried  into  efifect  and  this  was  upon  Andrew  Bor- 
jesson  a  native  of  Sweden  who  was  residing'  in  New  .Milford.  (  )n 
the  first  of  August  1890  in  the  night  season  liorjesson  went  to  the 
house  of  Homer  Buckingham  and  climbing  on  the  roof  of  the  ell 
part  of  the  house  entered  the  room  of  a  Swedish  girl  named  hjnma 
Anderson,  a  servant  of  Air.  lUickingham's  and  murdered  her. 

Mr.  lUickingham  hearing  the  noise  in  the  room,  went  out  of  his 
house  and  saw  B)Orjesson  upon  the  roof  of  the  liou>e  from  which 
he  jumped  and  ran  off  into  the  woods,  and  going  to  tiie  girls  room 
found  her  1>  ing  upon  the  floor  in  a  pool  of  blood,  her  neck  cut  froni 
ear  to  ear  on  the  back  side  with  other  wounds  u])on  her  body.  The 
murderer  was  arrested  and  bound  over  to  the  Sui)erior  Court  and 
a  true  bill  was  found  against  hitn  on  the  9th  of  (  )ctober  iSi^o.  lie 
was  tried  before  the  Superior  Court  in  December  and  a  \erdict  i^f 
guilty  found  against  him  Decemljcr  31st  i8<;().  and  sentenced  to  be 
hung"  January  29th,  1892.  His  counsel  made  most  strenuous  efforts 
for  his  reprieve  getting  de])ositions  from  relatives  in  v^weden  con- 
cerning his  sanity.  .\11  efforts  failed.  It  was  a  cool  deliberate 
murder  and  there  was  no  pul)lic  sym])athy  or  extenuating  circiun- 
stances.  The  sentence  was  dul\  carried  into  effect  in  the  jail  yard 
at  Litchfield.  The  scenes  connected  with  the  execution  outside  of 
the  jail  enclosiu-e,  were  of  a  disgraceful  character  but  everything 
connected  with  it  officialK'  were  solemn,  orderly  and  ])ro])er.  The 
citizens  of  the  village  were  exasperated  and  shocked  and  made  such 
an  appeal  to  the  public  sense  of  ])ropriety  that  the  Legislature  en- 
acted the  law  that' all  future  executions  of  the  death  penaltx  should 
be  had  within  the  State  Prison. 

('.osiii:\  'I' \x  c.\si;. 

in  i8(;4.  jime  Term,  a  wr\  intert'Sting  case  wa>  tried  at  W  lu- 
sted  being  an   a])peal    from    the   decision   of   the    I'.ojird   ol    Relief  ol 


ciiAKi.i'.s    !.  i'uin"i:R 


II  IS'I'MKU'AI,    NO'l'KS  l6l 

'i'owii  nf  ('.Dslun,  ;il)(>ul  ahatfiiKiit  <it'  'ra\(.>.  Tlu'  aiiiuuiit  involved 
was  tritlint;'.  hut  tlu'  |)riiu-ii)k'  was  imixirlant  riKHij^li  for  a  two 
weeks  coiucst  with  a  \er\  lar^i.'  iiumlier  oi  wilncsses  and  several 
alt(irne\s.      A  local  bard  reports  tlu'  trial  as  follows: 

(•,(  )Siii-:.\i.\. 

A    famous  tax-case  once   was  tried, 

l'.\-  tile  staid  old  land  of  C.oshen  ; 
(  )ne   l''essenden    Ives  was  taxed  too  lii^li. 

At  least,  that   was  his  notion. 

lie  said  his  land  was  cold  and  wet. 

And  hard-hacks  co\ered  the  ijround. 
'I'he  once  fertile  soil  was  sterile  and  cuUl 

And  Nc'llow  charlicks  abound. 

J  lis  barn  was  like  sweet  charity 

That  co\ereth  a  nudtitude  of  sin: — 
The  outside  was  neat  and   fair  to  the  eye. 

r>ut  old   rotten  timbers   within. 

He's  assessed  too  hij^h,  the  rest  too  low. 

And  there's  a  plot  to  take  his  gold, 
'Tis  wronn.;-  to  do  so  after  years  of  toil. 

Thus  to  rob  him  when  he's  old. 

The  town  ai)i)eared  by  1  luntiuL^ton  and  Warner, 

\\v   Webster,   Welch  and  Jiidd, 
\\  bile  Ives  employed  Hubbard,  Hicktjx  and  I'.urrell 

To  shed  his  op|X)nent's  blood. 

The  air  was  fraijrant  with  sweet  breath  of  June. 

Outside  were  the  birds  and  bees: — 
The  judge's  desk  was  strewed  with  flowers. 

Hardbacks,  charlick  aTi<l  cheese. 

The  stenograi)her  dreams  of  hardback  on  toast. 

Of  ivv.  rocks,  alders  and  birch. 
As  the  lawyers  try  to  win  their  case 

The  other  side  trying  to  smirch. 

The  case  dragged  on  its  weary  length. 

Watched  by  Goshen  ladies  fair. 
While  ix)or  old  Kilbourn.  the  portlx'  clerk. 

Sat  fast  asleep  in  his  chair. 

For  ten  long  da\s  they  fussed  and  fumed. 

With  witnesses  goaded  to  tears, 
\\  bile  the  costs  were  doubtless  large  enough. 

To  i)a\    the  taxes  a  hundred  years. 


l62 


,1  Tell  l'li:i.l)  COI   NT\'    lUlNtll   AND  UAR 


I'DWAKl)   A.    X!{I,r.IS. 


'I'll  !■;  .MAX  \  i;i<ixc.  cast:. 

Ivlwin  .Manncriiii;  a  resident  of  Koxliury  died  mi  February  IQ. 
1893.  the  result  of  takini;-  a  dose  of  F,])Soni  Salts  for  niedioinal  ])ur- 
])()ses  in  wliieli  as  afterwards  discovered  was  a  (|Uantity  of  strich- 
nine.  The  co]-oner  niadt-  a  \er\-  full  in\estiL;ation  which  resulted  in 
the  arrest  of  Mrs.  Mannerini^'  for  the  crime  of  poisoning-  her  lius- 
band.  It  was  admitted  that  strichnine  had  been  ke])t  in  the  house 
for  the  ])uri)Ose  of  jioisonin^-  foxes,  and  it  was  shown  that  she  had 
]:)urchased  strichnine  from  a  nei^liborin;;"  druin'.^ist  a  short  time 
before  liis  dealli.  She  was  bound  o\er  for  trial  to  the  Superior 
Court  and  a  tinie  bill  was  found  ai^ainst  her  li\-  the  (irand  Jury. 
The  trial  occurred  at  IJtchtield  in  .\o\ember  iS()3,  lasting'  six 
d.ays  and  resulted  in  her  ac(|uitlal. 

It  was  ]jerhai)s  the  most  >cusalioual  trial  vvw  lu'ld  in  this 
Court.  The  ])ri>ont'r  was  led  into  C'ourt  leaning'  ujjou  the  arms  of 
two  friends  and  one  or  two  j)h\siciaus  were  conslanlh-  near  to  ad- 
minister stinnilants  which  was  occasionalK'  necessar\-.  Several 
ladies  of  the  \illai.:e  of  I.ilcbtield  interested  them>el\-es  in  her  trial 
by  altendiuL;"  Com"!  i\er\  da\  arra\ed  in  all  the  Munbre  blackness 
of  mourning-  habilinuul^.  It  seemeil  like  a  sla^e  i)la\  rather  tluin 
a  cold  blooded  matter  of  fact  trial.  Her  atlorni'y  lefl  no  art  or 
artifice  imtouclu'd  to  arouse  the  s\  injiathii'S  of  the  C'ourt  and  jury. 
.A  distinguished  im-ist  remarked  that  it  wa--  the  most  artistic  trial 
he  lAer  witnessed. 


l.liUNAKl)  J.    NICKKKSUX. 


II  ISloKUAF.    NoTl'.S  165. 

M  iKM  AN      r.Ki  11  )KS.     W  I  I.I.    I  .XSi".. 

.\(irinan  llrixiks  ;i  I'aniuT  lixiiiL;  in  W  inclicstcr  dicil  011  the-  jXth 
of  hil\  iS()5.  a,t;c(l  ji^  ycuvs.  lie  left  a  widow  but  no  childrc-ii  and 
had  a  small  anioinit  of  propcii}.  .Xflrr  his  death  a  will  was  (jfTercd 
/or  ])rol)atc  which  was  made  on  the  15th  of  |anuar\  i!^<^5  in  the 
office  of  Warner  ^:  Landon  at  Salisjjury.  hrom  ilie  pmhate  ot 
this  will  his  widow  ai)i)caled  to  the  Superior  Court,  ipun  the  trial 
of  the  case  in  the  Superior  C'ourt  the  claim  was  made  that  tlie  will 
in  (piestion  was  not  made  1)\  .Xdrman  llrooks  hut  1)\'  some  one  per- 
sonatint;-  him  and  that  the  disposition  of  his  pro])erty  ^iven  in  this 
will  was  entirely  ditlerent  from  rei)eated  declarations  he  had  made 
and  also  that  there  was  a  ])revious  will  which  corresponded  with 
these  declarations.  The  contestants  had  his  l)od\  e.xhumed  and  the, 
witnesses  to  the  will  were  ])resent  to  identify  or  not  identify  the 
person.  It  was  also  claimed  that  one  K.  M.  Clossex'  whose  wife 
was  a  relati\e  of  the  deceased  and  with  himself  were  the  priiuipal 
heneticiaries  of  the  disputed  will  was  lars^ely  instrumental  in  the 
production  of  this  will.  That  he  went  with  Mr.  Urooks  who  was 
(juite  an  infirm  man  on  one  of  the  ct)ldest  days  in  January  to  Salis- 
bury to  jjet  the  will  made  althoui^h  he  was  not  actually  ])resent  at 
its  execution.  The  case  came  to  trial  before  the  Su])erior  Court  and 
a  jury  at  Winchester  at  the  A])ril  Term  i8(X).  'ind  after  a  protraced 
trial  the  jury  found  that  there  was  undue  influence  exerted  upon  the 
testator  in  makinj::;'  a  jiart  of  said  will  to  wit.  that  part  which  t^ave 
the  residue  of  the  estate  to  said  Clossey  and  also  of  that  clause 
which  gave  him  ])ower  to  sell  all  the  real  estate  and  that  said 
])aragraph  was  null  and  void  but  confirming"  and  establishing  the  rest 
of  the  will.  The  case  was  ap])ealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  h'.rrors 
at  the  October  Term  i8(/).  l'])on  a  motion  for  a  new  trial  for  a 
^■er(lict  against  evidence. 

In  the  record  of  tlie  case  the  e\idence  is  ijrinted  in  full,  occupy- 
ing 269  pages. 

After  a  full  hearing  before  the  Su])rt'me  Court  the  motion  lor 
a   new  trial   was   denied. 

ll.\>i;S    M  IKDIvK    TRIAI.. 

In  Februar\  Kpi.  John  'J\  Hayes,  a  young  man  of  Winsted. 
shot  and  killed  Winnifred  F.  Cooke,  a  )()ung  lady  he  had  fallen 
in  love  with,  because  she  would  not  elope  with  him  and  marry 
against  the  wishes  of  her  father.  The  tragedy  occurred  at  the 
Gilbert  Home  in  Winsted  on  the  iith  of  February,  where  the  lady 
was  employed  as  a  teacher.  He.  after  shooting"  her  shot  himself 
three  times  in  his  head — but  failed  to  kill  himself — and  was  held  for 
trial  in  the  Superior  Court.  The  trial  came  on  at  Litchfield  at  the 
(  )ctober  Term,  before  Judge  l-llmer  and  lasted  four  weeks,  when  the 
|m"v   returned   a   virdict   of,   on   the   Sth   of    Xovember   of  guilt\    of 


164  i.n\iii-ii:i.i)  (,(U'NT\   i!i;ni.ii  and  hak 

niurdi-T  in  tlic  srcond  decree,  and  lu'  was  sciUcnccd  !•>  iinprison- 
nicnl  f(ir  life.  The  defense  was  insanit\-  from  lieredilary  causes 
and  four  expert  jtlixsicians  were  present  all  thmti^ii  the  trial,  and 
testified  fr^ni  a  supposed  state  of  facts — which  it  took  nearly  two 
hours  to  read.  Two  of  them  i)ronounced  him  not  responsihle  and 
the  other  twn  thou.i^ht  him  resi)onsil)le,  for  which  important  evi- 
dence the  .>-tate  allowed  nearl\  two  thousand  dollars,  while  the 
iur\  i)aid  Ud  attention  to  them  at  all.  but  on  their  first  ballot  stood 
eij.i"lit  for  first  dei^ree  and  three  for  the  second  decree  and  one 
])lank.  .\fter  twehe  hours  confinement  in  the  jury  room  tlie\  all 
a_i;"reetl  in  l)rinq  in  a  \erdict  of  murder  in  the  second  degree,  which 
tlie  court  accepted.  It  was  the  most  exi)ensive  trial  on  our  cost 
hook.      Tile  tntal  ex])enses  beinL;-  a  little  o\-er  seven  thousand  <liillars. 

ii.xDDoCK  e.\si;. 

(  )ne  of  the  most  im])ortant  cases  rei^ardin^-  the  ])roperty  rights 
of  husband  and  wife,  and  also  one  that  has  made  j^reat  confusion 
in  the  divorce  laws  of  the  country,  was  decided  in  the  I'nited  States 
Su]:)reme  Court.  April  12,  itjo6.  and  can  be  fomid  in  \'ol.  201  of  said 
T\e]iorts  be.^innini;  at  ])a,^'e  5^)2.  This  case  had  its  inception  in  this 
Su])erior  Court.  December  1881.  and  is  known  1)\-  the  le,i;al  i)ro- 
fession  as  tlie  case  of  Haddock  vs.  Haddock. 

The  facts  are  briefly  as  follows:  The  Haddocks  were  married 
in  1868  in  Xew  ^'ork.  where  both  parties  then  resided.  The  \ery 
dav  of  the  ceremon\-  they  separated,  ciud  never  lived  to.^'ether.  In 
1881  .Mr.  Haddock  having-  resided  in  Connecticut  for  three  years, 
obtained  a  dixurce  from  his  wife  Harriet  1  laddock,  at  the  December 
term,  on  tlie  L^round  of  desertion.  The  ser\-ice  of  the  writ  was  by 
publication  in  tlie  Litchfield  b'ncpiirer  and  a  copy  sent  b\-  mail  to 
the  defendant  at  Tarr\town,  X.  \'.  where  it  was  su])posed  she  re- 
sided. Thi>  di\(irce  was  :L;-rante<l  December  (),  1881.  and  the  decree 
was  sii.;ned  b\  1  iitchcock,  Judi;'e.  At  that  time  the  i)laintitt  was 
poor  but  he  afterwards  accpiired  con.Mderable  i)roi)ert\-.  and  also 
married  another  wife  by  whom  he  liad  children,  in  1804  the  first 
wife  brouiiht  suit  ap^ainst  him  in  Xew  ^'ork  lor  a  divorce  from 
bed  and  board  and  for  alinmnx.  Constructive  serxice  was  made 
of  this  ])roce>s  and  she  obtained  a  decree.  As  there  was  no  ]km'- 
sonal  service  the  jud^inent  for  alimony  was  ineffectual.  In  i8()9 
she  brouLrht  another  suit  against  him.  and  obtained  i)ersonal  service 
on  him.  and  was  allowed  a  decree  for  alimon_\-  for  S780.  a  _\ear. 
The  defendant  in  this  last  suit  plead  for  one  of  his  answers  the 
Connecticut  di\(irce  in  1881.  ])ut  the  Xew  York  courts  disallowed 
it.  I  laddock  a])i)eale(l  \u  the  I'nited  Slates  Supreme  Court  on  the 
i^round  that  the  decree  denied  full  faitli  and  credit  to  the  judgment 
of  the  Connecticut  cnurts,  but  the  Sui)remt'  C'nurt  upheld  the  actions 
of  the  Xew  N'ork  courts  and  sustained  the  iud.!:;nient.  live  jud.ines 
in  the  affirmati\e  and  four  dissentinjn'.  The  discussion  and  ex- 
planation of  this  seemin^K  inconsistent  decision  re(|uire  thirty  pa^es 
of  fine  print  in  the  Report. 


iii:\m'    1.   Ai,i.i;.\. 


II  ISTdK'K  ,\l,    NdTl'.S 


i6^ 


UlCUAKl)  'l'.    UIGGIXS. 

corxTv  couoxEu. 

I'rcvions  to  1883  all  sudden  deaths  that  occurred  in  the  county 
were  reported  to  the  Clerk's  office  only  by  the  returnes  of  a  jury 
of  in(|uest.  A  very  great  many  of  such  deaths  were  ne\er  reported, 
and  those  that  were,  showed  some  remarkal)lc  verdicts. 

In  1883  the  Legislature  enacted  a  law  for  the  ])ro])cr  rclurn  and 
preservation  of  these  untimely  deaths.  Kach  county  was  to  have 
a  coroner  who  sliould  he  aj^pointed  by  the  Judges  of  the  Superior 
Court  at  tlieir  annual  meeting,  and  wlm  should  hold  office  three 
years,  and  uniil  anntjur  was  ai)])oinie(l  in  their  place.  The  county 
coroner  had  ])ower  to  api)oint  an  able  and  discreet  person  learned 
in  medical  science  to  be  medical  examiner  in  each  town  in  the 
county.  The  medical  examiner  was  to  examine  the  cause  and 
manner  of  each  sudden  death  and  make  his  report  thereon  to  the 
countv  coroner  who  was  to  kec])  a  record  of  such  deaths.  The 
medical  examiner's  rei)orts  were  to  be  placed  on  tile  with  the  clerk 
of  the  Su])erior  Court. 

The  tirsl  Ciiuntx  (.'uroner  in  Litchfield  County  was  Col.  Jacob 
Ilardenbnrgh  f)f  Canaan,  who  held  the  otlicc  ■uitil  his  decease  on 
April  4.  1 8(^2.  Richard  T.  Higgins  of  Winchester  was  appointed 
to  succeed  him.  and  has  held  the  office  from  that  time  until  the 
present. 


i66 


T.rr(,"iii'n:i,i)  c'orN'i'N'  r.i'xi'ii  wu 


i-u.wK   w.   i: riii;uii)C.K. 


IlKAI/ni    t)l'riCKKS. 

In  1893  the  Legislature  enacted  a  law  for  the  appointnicnt  of  a 
County  Health  Officer,  who  was  to  be  an  attorney-at-law  ami  l)c 
appointed  by  tlie  judges  of  the  Superior  Court,  and  hold  office  for 
four  years.  The  statute  prescribes  that  he  shall  cause  the  execution 
of  the  laws  relating  to  public  health  and  the  i)revenli(in  and  abate- 
ment of  nuisances  dangerous  to  public  health,  and  of  laws  relating 
til  the  registration  of  vital  statistics,  and  co-operate  with,  and  super- 
vise the  doings  of  town,  cit\'  and  liorough  health  officers,  and  l)oards 
of  health  within  his  county,  lie  is  clothed  with  all  the  ])owers  of  a 
grand  juror  and  prosecuting  officer  for  tlie  prosecution  ot  \iolations 
of  laws  relating  to  such  matters. 

The  a])])ointee  was  Walter  S.  judd,  of  Lilrlifu'ld.  Thr  sec- 
ond was  William  F.  Hurlbut  of  Winchester,  in  1894,  and  ilie  tliird 
was  the  ])rescnt  incumbent,  I'Vank  W.  Ktheridge,  who  luis  hcUl  the 
office  since  i8(;r). 


AKTJrUR    D.    WAHXKR. 


II  ISTiiKlC Al,    VdTI'.S 


ir.7 


MAkCL^s  11.  ii(>r.(,'()>rn. 


ATT()l<Xi;V  (■.i:XKKAI.. 

In  1897  the  Legislature  of  Connecticut  enacted  a  law  for  the 
election  of  an  Attorney  General.  In  November  1906  ]\Iarcus  H, 
Holconib  a  member  of  this  bar,  but  residing"  in  Southington  and 
practicing  law  both  in  that  town  and  in  Hartford  was  elected  to 
that  office. 


ir)8  i.i'ixii  i"ii:i.i)  (.(HN'i'v  1!i:mii  and  v.\h 

THE  FIRST  LAW  REPORTS. 

Jih1,il;\'  C'lnirch  in  liis  address  iiu'ntii  lll■^  ilu'  lad  lliat  tlii'  first  Law 
i\ci)()rts  ill  this  C(iuntr\-  were  published  at  I.itehtiehl  si  h  ni  after  tlic 
establishment  of  the  Law  Selionl.  1)\  |'',|)liraiiii  l\irl)\.  l-",s(|.  who  was 
tlien  a  ])r(iiiiineiU   and  successt'iil  altiiriie\    at    I.itehtiehl. 

A  nianuseri])t  eupx'  dl  part  »if  these  rejinrts  has  heen  ])reserved 
h\  some  of  his  (lesccndaiUs.  and  has  heen  ])laeed  in  the  room  of 
the  llistorieal  Socict\'  at  Litcliheld.  Ity  whose  eourtesy  I  ha\e  l)eo!i 
^])le  to  reproduee  in  this  work  the  tirst  ]n\'j;v  of  the  "Symshur}" 
case. 

I  am  als()  enabled  to  i;i\'e  a  picture  of  this  eminent  man  from 
a  photo_i;ra])li  of  a  paintin<4  presented  to  St.  i'aul's  Lodi^'c.  F  and  A. 
>r.  of  Litchtiehl.  h\  Col.  L.  K.  Russell  I'.  S.  A.,  a  .^Tandson  of 
'Col.  ]\irl)\. 

J  also  republish  the  preface  to  the  Reports,  together  with  a  short 
memoir  of  its  author  and  a  list  of  the  I)ooks  composing-  his  Law 
Librarw 

i'ki:i*Aei-:. 

The  uncertaint\-  and  contradiction  attending-  the  judicial  de- 
cisions in  this  state,  have  long"  been  subjects  of  com])laint. — The 
source  of  this  complaint  is  easilv  discovered. — \\  hen  our  ancestors 
emigrated  here,  they  brought  with  them  the  notions  of  jurisprudence 
which  ])revailed  in  the  countr\-  from  whence  tliey  came. — 'idle  riches, 
Tn.xurw  and  extensive  commerce  of  that  countrx'.  contrasted  with  the 
•equal  distribution  of  property,  simplicity  of  manners,  and  agricultur- 
al habits  and  emjiloyments  of  this,  rendered  a  deviation  from  the 
I^nglisli  laws,  in  manv  instances.  highl\-  necessarx .  This  was  ob- 
served— and  the  intricate  and  ])rolix  i)ractice  of  the  b.nglish  ccnu'ts 
was  rejected,  and  a  mode  of  ])ractice  more  sinii)le,  and  better  ac- 
•commodated  to  an  eas\-  and  speedx'  administration  ol  justice.  ado])t- 
ed. — (  )iir  Courts  were  still  in  a  state  of  embarrasmeut,  sensible  that 
ihe  common  law  of  J{ngiand,  "though  a  highly  improved  system." 
was  not  fully  a])plicable  to  onr  situation;  but  no  ])r(n-isi()n  being 
made  to  ])reserve  and  ])ublish  ])roj)rr  histories  ol  their  adjudica- 
lions.  e\er\  attem])t  of  the  ludges,  to  run  the  line  ot  distinction,  be- 
tween what  was  a))i)licable  and  what  not,  proved  aborti\e :  I*'or 
the  principles  of  their  decisions  were  soon  forgot,  or  misunderstood. 
•or  erroneoiisK  rtported  from  meniorx .  —  I  lence  arose  a  confusion  in 
the  determination  of  our  courts; — the  rules  of  jjiopertx  became  un- 
certain, and  litigation  ])roi)ortionably  increased. 

in  this  situation,  .some  legislative  exertion  was  lound  necessary; 
imd  in  the  year  17X3  an  act  passed.  re(|uiriiig  the  Judges  of  tlie 
Superior  Court,  to  render  written  reasons  tor  their  decisions,  in 
■cases  where  the  ])lea(lings  closed  in  an  issue  at  law. — 'I'iiis  was  a 
^rcat  advance  toward  improvement;  still  it  left  the  business  of 
reformation  but  half  ])erfoniied: — I'or  the  arguments  of  the  Judges, 


flic  f /• -^* '' *      ^.'^  T^   /*  i  f*  '      ^r^'    -^<       /a^i^m    »,.    a-.tf'/^'itr^ 


.<V  ,      /f    X-     ^.-.^i^V-.-, 


^^l  I-  dr  J , 


,f.../  ..>..  /^r::,-.,  '^'■■■■^ z:.:^::"' 


KKl'KODUL-TION    OF    KlUr.v's    MAM  SiKllT. 


IIISTOKU  Al.    \()TKS  169 

wilhiiut  a  liiNtiir\  >>{  [\\v  win  ilr  case  wnuld  uu{  always  he  iiili-llii.^ihlc  ; 
and  i1k'\  wouM  hccoiiu'  known  to  hnl  lew  persons;  and  hcin^  written 
(MI  loose  i)ai)ers,  were  t.\])os(.(l  to  he  mislaid,  and  soon  sink  into  tfjtal 
()hli\ion. —  llesides,  \-ery  niaii\  ini])oriant  matters  arc  determined  on 
motions  of  various  kinds,  where  no  written  reasons  are  rendered, 
and  so  are  liahle  to  he  I'orewr  lost. 

llence  it  hecanie  ohxions  to  every  one.  that  should  histories  of 
important  causes  he  carefully  taken  and  i)ul)lished,  in  which  the 
whole  process  should  api)ear.  showing  the  true  "^founds  and  ])rinci- 
])les  of  the  decision,  it  would  in  time  jjroduce  a  i)ermanent  system 
t)\  common  law. —  Ihu  the  Court  heini;'  amhulatory  thront;ii  the 
State,  the  undertakiui;-  would  he  attended  with  consi(leral)le  ex])ence 
and  interruption  of  other  husiness,  without  any  prospect  of  jjrivate 
advanta.u'e  :  therefore,  no  j^entleman  of  the  profession  seemed  willing 
to  make  so  great  a  sacrifice. — I  hafl  entered  u])on  this  lousiness  in  a 
partial  manner,  for  ])rivate  use;  which  came  to  the  knowledge  of 
several  gentlemen  of  distinction. —  1  was  urged  to  ])iu-suc  it  more 
extensively; — and  heing  jiersuaded  that  an  attem])t  ot  the  kind 
(however  imj^erfect  )  might  he  made  in  some  degree  suhservient 
to  the  great  ohject.  1  comi)iled  the  \ Olume  of  Re])orts  which  is  now 
presented  to  the  ])uhlic. — Could  an\  effort  of  mine  induce  go\-ern- 
ment  to  ])rovide  for  the  i)rosecution  of  so  necessary  a  work  l)y  a 
more  ahle  hand.  m\'  wishes  would  he  gratitied.  ami  m_\-  lahour  in 
accom])lishing  this,  am])l_\-  repaid. 

In  these  Reports,  [  have  endeavored  to  throw  the  matter  into  as 
small  a  compass  as  was  consistent  with  right  understanding  of  the 
case: — Therefore,  1  have  not  .stated  the  i)leadings  or  argument? 
further  than  was  necessary  to  hring  up  the  ])oints  relied  on,  except 
some  few  instances  which  seemed  to  require  a  more  lengthy  detail 
of  argument. — .\s  the  work  is  designed  for  general  use  in  this 
state,  I  have  avoided  technical  terms  and  i)hrases  as  much  as  ixjs- 
sihle,  that  it  might  he  more  intelligihle  to  all  classes  of  men. — Some 
cases  are  reported  which  are  merel}-  local,  and  ha\e  reference  to  the 
peculiar  ])ractice  of  this  stale;  these  may  ap])ear  unimportant  to 
readers  in  other  states:  hut  they  were  necessary  to  the  great  ohject 
of  the  work. 

1  am  sensihle  that  this  ])ro(luction  is  introduced  to  the  world 
under  sircumstances  very  unfavorahle  to  its  reputation. — lUit,  how- 
ever different  I  might  he,  under  other  circumstances,  I  feel  an  honest 
confidence  in  this  attempt  to  advance  the  common  interest  of  my 
fellow-citizens; — and  that,  so  ol)vious  are  the  difficulties  which 
occtir  in  almost  every  stage  of  the  husiness,  that  to  d.etail  them  in 
a  preface  would  be  offering  an  insult  to  the  understanding  of  my 
readers. — The  candid  and  generous,  if  they  read  the  Reports,  will 
douhtless  find  fre(|ueut  occasion  to  draw  into  exercise  those  ex- 
cellent virtues;  and  as  to  readers  of  an  opposite  disposition,  T  have 
neither   wishes  or   fears   concerning  them. — If  any  one   should  ex- 


\yo  i.n\ii  1-1  i:i.n  idixn    i;i;x(,ii  and  i:.\k 

])cririicc  disaL^iwalilc  scnsaliniis.  innw  tlic  iiu-k'^ancc  nf  lliis  pcr- 
lonnancc.  let  liiiii  rcsi  assurnl  1k'  i."aiiniit  iimrc  siiicrrcK  rcj^rct  its 
iaults  than    I    do."' 

llaxiiiL;-  |)crsiR'<l  .Mr.  l\irl)y"s  "  Ixcporls  <<{  C'asos  adjiulmed  in 
tlu'  Su] )(.'i"itii-  (.'onrt,  I'voni  the  year  1 7S5  to  17SS,""  it  apjuars  to  ns 
that  the  L'a.'^cs  arc  trnly  rt.'i)()rlcd. 

Kkiiaki)  1.\\\. 

Im.ii'ii  \i.i:t  I  )^  i;k. 

I\(ir,i;i,:  Siii:km  \\. 

W  1 1.1. 1  AM     I'lTKIX. 
(  )1.I\i:K    I'J.I.SWOKTII. 

l';i'llUAl.\l     KLUl'.N'. 

]'"])hraim  Kirby  was  Ijorn  in  IJtclititld  in  I75'>,  as  ai)])cars  l)y 
tile  records  of  the  town.  His  l)irth  is  also  claimed  to  have  been 
in  the  town  of  \\'ashinj;ton.  Conn,  on  the  site  of  the  residence  of 
the  late  lion.  (  ).  II.  I'latt.  lie  was  a  farmer  hoy,  bnt  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  on  the  arri\al  of  the  news  of  the  I'.attle  of  Lexington  he 
shonldered  his  niusket  and  marched  with  the  volnnteers  from  Litch- 
tield  to  the  scene  of  conflict  and  was  present  at  the  Uattle  of  lUniker 
llill.  lie  remained  in  the  field  nntil  independance  was  won,  ex- 
cept when  drixen  from  it  by  severe  wonnds.  Jle  was  in  nineteen 
battles  and  skirmishes,  among"  them  llrand)  wine,  Monnionth  and 
Gcrmantown,  where  he  received  thirteen  wounds,  seven  of  which 
were  saber  cuts  on  the  head  inflicted  by  a  Critish  soldier  at  German- 
town,  where  Kirby  was  left  for  dead  ui)on  the  field.  Afr.  Kirby 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  Jvcynolds  Marvin.  I^sq.,  who  had  been 
King's  Attorney  before  the  war.  and  who  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  bar.  In  1787  he  received  the  degree  of  M.  A.  from  Yale 
College,  .\fter  his  admission  t(^  the  bar,  he  married  Ruth  Marvin, 
daughter  of  his  preceptor.  Col.  Kirl)\  took  a  prominent  part  in  the 
])olitical  matters  of  the  day,  and  in  \y^)\  was  first  elected  representa- 
tive to  the  Legislature,  and  was  re-elected  at  thirteen  semi-annual 
elections,  and  was  several  years,  candidate  for  the  office  of  governor. 

(  )n  the  election  of  Jefferson  to  the  1 'residencw  in  iSoi.  Col. 
Kirby  was  appointed  su])ervis()r  of  the  national  revenue  for  the 
State  of  Connecticut.  l'i)on  the  accpiisition  of  Louisiana,  the  I'resi- 
dent  a])])ointed  him  a  judge  of  the  then  ne\vl\  organized  territory 
of  .\'ew  (  )rleans.  1  laving  acce])ted  the  station,  hv  set  out  for  \ew 
Orleans;  but  he  was  not  destined  to  reach  that  ])lace.  lla\ing 
])roceeded  as  far  as  h'ort  Stoddard,  in  the  Missiissii)pi  territory,  he 
was  taken  sick,  and  died  (  ictober  ji\,  i(So4,  aged  forty-seven — at  a 
])eriod  when  a  wide  career  of  ])ublic  usefulness  seemed  opening 
u])r)n  him.  J  lis  remains  were  interred  with  the  honors  of  war  and 
other  (lemonstrations  of  respect.  Col.  Kirby  was  a  man  of  the 
liighcst  moral  and  well  as  ])hysical  courage — de\-oted  in  his  feelings 
and  aspirations — warm,  gener<nis  and  con>tant  in  his  attachments — 


i:i'iiu.\i.\i   Kii^in- 


II  ISToKUAI,    NOTI-.S 


171 


and  of  iniloniilal)l(.'  energy,  lie  was,  willial,  ^riilk'  an<l  wimiiiij^ 
in  his  manners,  kindly  in  his  disposition,  and  naturally  of  an  ardent 
and  chcerfid  teni])cranKMU.  though  the  last  few  years  of  his  life  were 
saddened  1)\-  lK'a\\-  ])ecuniary  misfortunes.  As  a  lawyer,  he  was 
reniarkahle  for  frankness  and  downright  honesty  to  his  clients, 
striving-  alwavs  to  prevent  Htii^atinn.  uniformly  allaying^  irritation 
and  eiVectiniL;-  compromises,  and  only  prosecutini;-  with  ener^-y  the 
just  and  i^ood  cause,  against  the  had.  lie  enjoyed  the  friendship 
of  manv  sages  of  the  Revolution,  his  corres])ondence  with  whom, 
would  form  interesting  materials  for  the  liistory  of  his  time. 

Col.  Kirhv,  was  a  ])rominenl  meml)er  of  the  .Masonic  fraternity. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  Masters  of  St.  I'auFs  Lodge  of  Litchfield, 
and  for  manv  \ears  was  its  secretary.  He  was  a  lieautiful  penman, 
as  is  evidenced  l)y  the  records  of  St.  Paul's  Lodge.  He  was  largely 
instrumental  in  forming  the  Grand  J^odge  of  the  State  of  Connecti- 
cut, an<J  wa>  one  of  its  early  officials.  He  was  also  a  prominent 
Royal  Arch  ^lason,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  which 
organized  the  general  Grand  Chapter  of  the  United  States,  and 
was  its  first  General  Grand  High  Rriest.  When  he  left  Litchfield 
to  accept  the  position  of  Judge  oi  the  territory  of  Loui.sana,  he 
gave  to  St.  Paul's  Lodge,  Litchfield,  his  lihrary  of  miscellaneous 
hooks,  which  have  heen  carefully  ]M-eservefl  hy  the  Lodge  as  a 
memorial  of  liini,  and  are  now  placed  in  the  fii-e])roof  huilding  of 
the  Historial  Society. 

He  also  sold  his  law-  hooks  to  Seth  T.  lleers  and  1  am  enahled 
to  give  the  conveyance  wdth  the  list  of  hooks,  which  will  show  the 
lihrary  of  a  prominent  practising  lawyer  of  a  century  ago. 

List  of  Law^  Books  sold  to  Seth  P.  Beers  by  my  husband  Ephraim 
Kirby  and  delivered  to  said  I'eers  by  me  in  pursuance  of  written 
directions  from  my  said  husband  wdiich  directions  bear  the  date 
of  July  the  51)1  A.  D.  1804. 


A'ols. 


\'ols. 


lUackstones   Commentaries 
Dunscombs  trial  jier  ]iais 
Beacon  Abridgm't 
Jacobs  Dictionary 
Kngiish   Statutes 
Go(ld])hin  on  Executots,  etc. 
Fosters  Crown  Law 
P>ullen  Xisi   Prius 
Powel  on  M<:)rtgages 
Morgans  l£ssays 
Attorneys  \'a(le  Mecum 
Comyn's  Digest 
Cokes  Institute  2  Part 
Hawkins  I 'lea  of  \e  Crown 


4  powel  on  Devises 

2  Woods  Institute 

5  Coke  on  Littleton 

1  Woodesons  Lectures 

(1  P.acon  on  .Awards 

I  .\ew  York  Atty  Wade  Mecum 

I  Schitllers  Practice 

I  Barlamicpii  on  Xat.  Law 

1  Historical  Law  Tracts 

3  Compleat  Attorney 

2  Stats.  England  abridgd 
5  Stiles  Practical  Regr. 

'i  h'.nglish  Pleader 

2  Clerks  Tutor 


1/2  I  I'lX'II  I"li:i.l)   ^,■(M■\■1'^•    I'.l-Xni    AMI    11 AR 

\  ols.  \'ols., 

Kvcr\-  man  his  own  l.awwr  i  1 'lowdnis  Reports 

(  )f tici'  of   |iisn(.-f  J  \  riilrirs   Ixi'porls 

Douglass  (in  \\  ill>  i  C'arlhcw  s   Kt^ports 

J. aw  ni    l'*\i(kncc  i  lloharls   l\e])iirts 

Daiii^cs  Triminal  Law  _^  (.'( i\\  prrs   Keports 

Statutes  of  \'orni(int  i  \  t.rnonx   Ixrports 

lit'iitlianis  Defence  of  I'snry  i  \exe\"s   l\e|)orts 

Ache  on  L'ourl    Martial  i  I'rc  C'lianeer\ 

r.eecaria  on  C'rinies  I  l'"incks   l\ei)orts 

Acts  of    1st   Session   of   C'on-  llardwieks  Kqiorts 

stress  I  \  au,i;lian's  Reports 

Acts    of    ^(1    vSession    of    ^tli  Sidertins  l\e]:)orts 

C'ont^ress  i  'I'lios.  Raymond  Reports 

,\cts    of    1st    Session    of   ()t]i  JJttk'tons  Ivcjiorts 

Cons^ress  i  ^'eh'ertons   Re])orts 

Acts    of    ist    Session    of    ist  1  )yer's  Reports 

Coni^ress  i  Moore's  Re]:)orts 

Saxbys  Customs  i  Ralmer's  Reports 

Holts  Reports  i  Jenkins  Reports 

Strani^ers  Reports  2  Kitzqibbons  Re])orts 

Burrows  Reports  5  Saville's  Rejiorts 

Wilsons  Reports  3  I'eere  Williams   Reports               3 

\\'.   Rlackstonc  Reports  2  Atkins  Re])orts                               3 

Browns  Reports  i  Livins  Reports                                 2 

Douglass  Reports  i  Ambles  Reports                               T 

Dainfords  Reports  i  Lord  Ra\nionds  Ivcport^ 

Salkelds  Reports  2  Comlierbacli's   Reports 

Lutwyches  Rei:)orts  i  lUilstrode's  Rejxirts 

Cokes  Reports  7  Comyns  Rejxirts 

Crokes  Reports  3  Cbipman's  Reports 

Kebles  ]^eports  3  Kirbys  l\e])orts 


(Si,^ne(l 


RL'Tjn'    KiKi'.w 


'iguet0 


inc.]-:u  siii-:kman'. 


TTISTOUICAT,   XOTl'.S  173 


Signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence. 


KOCIvR   SI  1 1; KM  AX. 


One  (if  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  IndcixMidcnce.  was  ad- 
niittcxl  to  the  practice  of  the  law  in  1754  by  the  Litchtield  County 
Court. 

He  was  born  in  Newton.  :\lass..  April  19,  1721,  and  received  a 
very  limited  education,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker.  J  lis 
father,  William  Sherman,  dying  when  Roger  was  twenty  years  old, 
he  soon  after  removed  to  New  Alilford,  Connecticut,  and  lived  with 
his  brother  William  who  had  been  settled  there  on  a  farm  for  about 
three  years.  The  first  notice  of  Roger  Sherman  on  the  town  records 
of  New  Milford  is  Feb.  6,  1744.  He  became  a  large  land  owner 
and  was  very  prominent  in  all  the  town  afifairs.  a  deacon  in  the 
church,  and  clerk  and  treasurer  of  the  Eccl.  Society.  He  and  his 
brother  also  had  a  general  store,  and  he  lived  very  nearly  on  the  site 
of  the  present  Town  Hall,  wdiich  in  later  years  has  been  named 
"Roger  Sherman  Hall."  The  old  store  building  is  said  to  be  still 
in  existence. 

He  was  a  very  industrious  and  studious  man.  In  1745  the  Cen- 
eral  Assemblv  appointed  him  a  County  Surveyor  of  New  Haven 
County,  which  then  included  New  Alilford ;  this  office  was  pecuniari- 
ly of  more  value  in  those  days  than  it  has  been  in  later  years,  for 
one  of  his  surveys  he  received  nearly  84  pounds;  man\-  of  the  jilans 
and  maps  of  his  surveys  are  to  be  found  in  the  New  Millord  Land 
Records  made  by  him  in  his  own  hand. 

Soon  after  tlie  formation  of  Litchfield  County  in  1751  he  studied 
law.  and  in  1757,  three  years  after  his  admission  to  the  bar.  he  was 
appointed  County  Judge,  and  a  Judge  of  the  Quorum.  He  was 
also  a  representative  to  the  General  Assembly  several  sessions.^  Re- 
moving to  New  Haven  in  1761,  he  was  chosen  the  Governor's  as- 
sistant, and  also  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  which  office  he 
held  twenty-three  years. 

He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  first  Continental  Congress 
which  met  Septeiuber  5th,  1774  in  New  York,  and  continued  a 
member  of  Congress  for  nineteen  years,  the  last  two  being  in  the 
Senate,  of  which  he  was  a  member  at  the  time  of  his  death.  July 
23.  1703- 


174  T.n\iii"ii:i.n  c"()LNT\-  i'.mnhii  and  p.au 

As  .-i  iiK'nil)cr  of  the  ContiiU'iUal  L'oiis^rcss,  ho  was  nnc  of  the 
ccinniittco  to  draft  the  I  )eolaratioii  of  I  ndc'iKMulcncc,  which  ho  sign- 
ed I  >u  J  ul\   4,   1  JJt>. 

Tliomas  Jclforson  says  of  tliis  (Ustinguished  statesman.  "1  served 
with  him  in  the  old  Congress  in  the  years  1775  and  177'').  He  was 
a  \ery  ahle  and  log'ical  dehater  in  that  1)od\-,  stead\  in  the  principles 
of  the  Kevolntion,  always  at  the  ])ost  oi  duly,  nnich  empU)yed  in 
the  bnsiness  of  the  committees,  and.  i)articnlarly.  was  of  the  com- 
mittee with  I  )r.  Franklin.  Mr.  J.  Adams.  Mr.  i.ivingston  and  mv- 
self  for  i)rei)aring  the  I  )eclaration  of  Independence.  I  liad  a  very 
great  resjxx't  for  him." 

John  Adams  also  \vrote.  "Destitute  of  all  literary  and  scientific 
education,  hut  such  as  he  actpiired  1)\'  his  own  exertions,  he  was 
one  of  the  most  sensible  men  in  the  world.  The  clearest  head  and 
steadiest  heart.  lie  was  one  of  the  soundest  and  strongest  pillars 
of  the  Revolution." 

Chief  justice  ]{lls worth  saiil  that  he  made  Mr.  Sherman  the 
model  of  his  youth. 

The  honor  and  fame  of  Roger  Sherman  does  not  rest  entirelx' 
upon  his  heing  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  lndci)endence.  Tn 
the  early  formation  of  this  government,  he  took  an  active  and  im- 
])ortant  ])art.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  which  framed 
the  Consutution  of  the  L'nited  States,  and  it  was  undoubtedly  due 
to  his  wise  and  sagacious  counsel  and  cool  impartial  judg"ment,  that 
the  Convention  was  held  tog-ether  until  the  great  work  was  ac- 
comjilished.  \  erv  man\-  of  its  j^eculiar  jirovisions.  which  are  now 
considered  so  important,  originated  with  him.  This  compilation 
cannot  go  into  the  historv  of  the  Convention  in  detail,  but  those 
wishing  further  light  on  the  subject  of  the  ])art  taken  in  it  by 
Roger  Sherman,  will  do  well  to  consult  HoUister's  History  of  Con- 
necticut, where  it  is  discussed  at  length. 

.\  com])etent  authority  sa}s,  that  "he  is  the  only  man  who  signed 
four  important  fundemental  documents  of  our  government,  viz: 
The  Articles  of  Association  in  1774  :  the  Declaration  of  Indej)endence 
in  1776,  which  he  assisted  in  drafting;  the  Articles  of  Confedera- 
tion in   I77<'^,  and  the  lH'(leral  C'onstilution  in   1788. 

oi.ixHK  u  oi.i'oTT. 

'J'he  other  signer  of  the  Declaration  (tf  Independence  in  whom 
Litchfield  County  is  interested,  was  (  )liver  W'olcott.  who  was  the 
first  sheriff  of  the  County  upon  its  organization  in  1751. 

'J'he  following  taken  from  Kilbourn's  History  of  Litchfield  is  a 
pretty  concise  sketch  of  this  distinguished  man. 

"The  H(Miorable  Oliver  W'olcott,  son  of  His  Ivxcellency.  the 
lion.  Roger  Wolcott,  Governor  and  Chief  Justice  of  Connecticut, 
was  born  in  Windsor,  December  20,  1726.  and  was  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1745.     In  early  manhood  he  commanded  a  company 


GiCN'.  Orj\  i-K  W'or.coTT. 


illSTOKICAI,   XOTKS  175 

of  volunteers  in  the  Xorthern  Army,  in  the  war  aj^ainst  llic  iMencIi. 
I  lavinf^-  pursued  the  usual  eoursc  of  nieflical  stuclies,  he  establishe<l 
himself  as  a  physician  in  (joshen,  and  was  there  at  the  date  of  the 
origan izat ion  of  the  County  of  Litchfield,  October,  1751.  The 
Legislature  appointed  him  the  tirst  High  Sheriff  of  the  new  County, 
and  he  immediately  took  up  his  abode  in  this  village,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  here  until  his  decease,  a  period  of  forty-six  years. 
In  1752  he  erected  the  "W'olcott  House"  in  South  street,  where  dur- 
ing the  Uevolulionary  W  ar.  King  (icorg-e's  leaden  statue  was  melted 
into  bullets,  to  bo  lired  at  his  own  troops. 

With  a  commanding  ])ersonal  appearance,  dignified  manners, 
a  clear  and  cultivated  intellect,  and  a  character  f(^r  integrity  far 
above  the  reach  of  sus[)icion.  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  he 
became  a  favorite  of  the  peo])le  with  whom  his  lot  was  cast,  besides 
holding  the  office  of  .^herilY  for  over  twenty  years,  he  was  chosen 
a  Re])resentative  to  the  Legislature  five  times  between  the  years 
T764  and  177*^  inclusive;  a  member  of  the  Council  or  Upper  House 
from  177 1  to  178').  Judge  of  the  Com"t  of  Probate  for  the  District 
of  Litchfield  ivo]n  1772  to  1795;  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  from  1773  to  1786;  and  member  of  the  Continental  Congress 
from  1775  to  1784  (except  two  years).  He  was  one  of  that  memor- 
able band  of  patriots  and  sages  who.  on  the  4th  of  July.  1776,  affixed 
their  names  to  the  Declaration  of  [ndei^endence.  In  the  early  part 
of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  Jii<lge  W'olcott  was  commissioned  as 
a  Brigadier  (icneral,  and  Congress  a])pointed  him  a  Commissioner 
on  Indian  Affairs  for  the  X'orthern  Department,  with  General 
Schu\ler  and  others.  In  May,  1779,  he  was  elected  by  the  Legisla- 
ture and  commissioned  bv  Governor  Trumbull  as  ^Major  General 
of  the  Militia  of  Connecticut,  to  succeed  General  James  W'ads worth, 
resigned.  In  these  important  and  responsible  stations,  he  rendered 
the  country  essential  service.  (  )n  the  field,  in  the  camp,  at  the 
rendezvous,  in  the  department  of  the  Commissary  of  v'^upplies — in 
fact,  wherever  he  could  render  himself  useful — he  was  found,  ever 
prompt  in  planning  and  efficient  in  executing.  At  the  same  time 
he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety :  and.  when 
at  home,  was  equally  zealous  and  conspicuous  in  the  local  afifairs 
of  the  town — officiating  as  ?vIoderator,  Selectman.  Committeeman, 
etc.  Indeed,  no  man  in  the  State,  at  this  period,  discharged  so  many 
and  varied  pul)lic  duties.  A  considerable  share  of  the  reputation 
which  Connecticut  recpiired  for  ])romptness  in  furnishing  men  and 
means  for  the  army,  is  due  to  General  Wolcott.  Certainly,  to  no 
other  individual  in  the  western  counties  could  Governor  Trumbull 
or  General  Washington  a])ix'al  for  aid,  with  the  certainty  of  suc- 
cess, as  to  him. 

In  I78r).  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Lieutenant-Governc^r 
of  the  State,  and  was  annually  re-elected  for  a  period  of  ten  years 
In   May,    1796,   he   was   chosen   Governor,    to   which   distinguished 


lyG  i.nx'ii  i'ii:i.i)  (.'oi  NT\'   r.i'.NCii  and  i'.ar 

]>osition  he  Avas  a!;ain  elevated  at  the  annual  election  in  1797.  He 
was  now  seventy  years  c^t  a^e.  His  naturally  rohust  constitution 
lK\t^an  to  ivc\  the  wci^lu  of  care  and  responsihility  which  had  been 
S(i  loui;-  ])rcssinL;-  upon  it.  lie  departed  this  life  at  his  residence  in 
Ivitchheld.  Hccenilicr  1,  17(;7.  aged  71  years. 

joe]  r.arlow,  in  his  great  national  poem.  Thr  Cohiinhiad.  thus 
refers  to  his  zeal  and  elTdrls  in  the  cause  nf  Independence; 

■■r.old   W(  )LC(  )'r'r   urged  the  all-inii)ortanl   cause. 
\\'ith  steady  hand  the  solemn  scene  lu'  draws; 
Undaunted  firmness  with  his  wisdum  joined. 
Xor  kings  nor  worlds  could  war])  his  steadfast  mind." 

Governor  Oliver  W'olcott  \vas  of  and  had  a  very  distinguished 
family.  His  son.  (  >h\er,  Jr..  was  Secretary  of  the  I'nited  States 
1'reasurv  under  President  George  Washington,  and  Governor  of 
this  State  for  ten  years.  Another  son.  h'redefiek.  was  clerk  of 
C(nuity  and  Superior  Courts  for  _\ears.  and  the  founder  of  the 
A"illag"e  of  \\'olcottville,  now  the  business  ixirtion  of  Torrington. 
One  of  his  daughters  married  lion.  William  .Muselew  M.  C.  of 
Hartford,  anil  ani>ther  married  Lieutenant-Gox'ernor  Goodrich,  of 
ilartford. 

His  sister,  I'rsula  W'olcott.  married  Governor  Matthew  (iris- 
wold.  and  was  the  mother  of  Ciovernor  Roger  Griswold.  Thus 
her  father,  brother,  husband,  son  and  ne])hew  were  all  governors 
of  Connecticut,  a  fact  which  cannot  jjrobabl}'  be  said  of  any  other 
ladv  who  has  li\'ed  in  the  State  or  the  United  States. 


THE  COUNTY  JAIL 

The  history  of  the  legal  matters  of  the  (.'oi:nt\  would  be  in- 
complete without  a  reference  to  the  County  Jail.  This  institution 
is  situated  on  one  of  the  most  ])rominent  sites  in  Litchfield  at  the 
corner  of  Xorth  and  West  streets.  The  original  jail  was  located 
on  the  brow  of  Hast  Hill,  on  the  exact  spot  now  occu])ied  by  the 
Center  school  house.  At  the  excavation  of  the  ground  for  the 
cellar  for  the  school  house  some  of  the  original  foundation  work 
was  discovered,  and  in  some  of  the  stone  work  were  found  staples 
and  rings  indicating  that  occasionally  a  prisoner  might  have  been 
chained  \\\).  It  is  said  to  have  been  a  crude.  l)Ut  strongly  built 
structure  of  hewn  log's.  Adjoining  it  a  large  old-fashioned  house 
was  erected  in  which  the  jailer  lived  and  kept  a  hotel,  the  prison 
being  in  the  rear.  This  building  appears  lo  h;i\e  been  built  in 
I7^'^>.  y-t  a  cost  of  about  nine  hundred  ])oim<ls,  slerling. 


II  isTouic  \i.  \ii'i'i:s  177 

Tlu'  fi'Diil  i)ari  (if  llu'  pix^cnl  jail  was  crfctcd  in  iSio-ii.  at 
an  cxpi-nst-  ni  $ii,_'45.7S,  and  \\a>  Imill  <>\  brick,  which  wt-rc  made 
of  cla\'  <hiL;  iin  thr  iMatl  hrtwrrn  Ti  irrin^li  mi  and  IjtohfK-ld.  jnst 
cast  of  "Sc\ni(inr's  meadow. ""  The  liricks  were  \vv\  lianl  and 
liiiildcrs  have  said  thai  it  was  mnch  easier  to  (W'^  lhrou,L;h  liie 
granite  foini(hition>  than  thnm^h  ihe  l)rick. 

A  wooden  l)uiMinm-  for  a  kitchen  was  afterwards  added  on 
the  nortliern  side,  and  the  i)reseni  arran^enieni  of  cells  in  the 
middle  bnihhm;-  was  made  ahont  sixty  years  aL;o. 

In  i<^<j5.  tlie  accommoilalions  nol  ])ro\-in^  ade(|nate.  a  connty 
meetinj^-  was  held  and  an  aildilion  ordered  to  he  constrncled  on 
tiie  west  end  of  the  ori.i;inal  huildini;-,  wliich  was  done  at  a  cost 
of  about  $25,000.00.  The  old  part  liad  cells  for  seventeen  inmates 
and  this  addition  ])ro\ided  cell  room  for  iw  enty-ei.^'ht.  with  cat^c-. 
for  five  more,  with  washroom,  bathroom  and  other  needed  ac- 
commodations. It  is  now  lieated  1)\'  steam  and  furnished  with 
cit\-  water,  and  is  li^lited   with  ^as   from  its  own   i>rivate  plant. 

In  the  earl\-  da\s  the  keei)in^-  of  the  ])risoners  was  let  out  to 
the  hi:L;hest  bidder  and  the  keeper  (now  called  the  jailer)  made 
what  he  could  out  of  the  ])rison  work  and  also  ke])t  a  hotel  in 
the  buildini;".  This  s\  stem  ])re\ailed  until  about  iSf),^.  when  llie 
sheritf',  as  one  of  the  prero^atixes  (d"  liis  ollice  took  possession  and 
ran  the  institution  himself.  The  i)rice  allowed  for  board  ot  pris- 
oners has  \aried  ;  at  the  i)re.sent  time  it  bein^"  $2.25  per  week.  ])aid 
b\    the  State. 

(  )ne  of  the  lart^-e  rooms  in  the  third  stor\'  was  used  as  a  ])ublic 
luill.  The  .Masons  and  other  societies  used  it  for  their  meetino-s 
and  at  otlier  times  it  was  used  as  a  sciioolroom.  'i'he  compiler  of 
these  sketelies  has  attended  school  tiiere. 

A  lari^c  workshop  is  located  in  the  second  story  of  the  new  j^art, 
in  which  man\-  of  the  prisoners  are  em])loyed  caning'  cliair  seats, 
manufacturin,;-  hrooius,  and  such  oilier  em];loyments  as  is  allowed 
ti>  ])rison  labor. 

.\  larti^e  elm  tree,  seen  in  the  cut  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
lail  \ard.  is  known  as  the  "  W  hiiipin^  i)ost  elm."  on  which  formerly 
jirisoners  were  i)ul)licl\  whi])ped  :  the  last  whipi)in!:;-  occurred  about 
.sevent\ -live  \  ears  a^o. 


2Iaut  i>i:l|nnl 


THE  LITCHFIELD 
LAW  SCHOOL 


CATALOGUE 

OF 

SCHOLARS 


INTERESTING  MEMORANDA 


LAW  sc'iioor. 


i8i 


THE  LITCHFIELD  LAW  SCHOOL. 

'l"hc  folliiwin.^-  arliclc  apin'arcil  ori-iiiall)-  in  llir  l-'chniary 
(1901  )  niiml)(.T  (il  The  Law  Xoh-s.  i)ul)lislK'(l  by  Thc^  Edward 
'J'hoin-^on  Co..  of  Xcrlli])( •rt.  K.  I.  It  was  written  by  Charles  C. 
IMoore,  Esq.,  a  native  of  W  incliesler,  an<l  a  former  member  of 
this  bar,  now  one  of  tlie  editors  of  the  American  and  Enghsh 
luicyclopecha  of  Law,  ])nl)Hshed  1)>  the  al)ove-named  company. 
'Jdie'article  has  been  shghtly  al)ridoed  for  this  work.  In  its  prepar- 
ation Mr.  Moore  was  largely  aided  l)y  the  late  Chief  justice  Charles 
I '.  Andrews  : 

"  (  )ne  who  looks  throug-h  the  records  of  the  town  meetings  of 
Litchheld  from  }■/()=,  to  1775  will  lind  that  there  were  discussions 
on  the  Stani])  Act,  \he  Boston  I'ort  I'.ill,  and  other  acts  of  Parlia- 
mentary aggression,  as  clear  and  well  defined  as  the  debates  ui 
that  town  meeting  where  Samuel  Adams  and  Harrison  Cray  Otis 
were  the  i)rincii)al  speakers.  The  child  Libert;,  would  not  have 
been  born  in  the  I'.oslon  town  meeting  had  not  the  Eitchfield  town 
meeting  and  other  like  town  meetings  thrt)ughout  the  colonies 
prepared  the  atmosphere  in  which  alone  that  child  could  breathe. 
Litchfield  was  the  principal  station  on  the  highway  from  Hart- 
ford to  the  Hudson;  and  a  depot  for  military  stores,  a  workshop, 
and  a  provision  storehouse  for  the  Continental  Army  were  there 
established  during  the  Re\olution.  ]\fany  distinguished  royalist 
])risoners  were  sent  there,  and  a  military  atmosphere  pervaded 
the  place.  Ceneral  Washington  was  a  frequent  visitor,  and  so 
were  other  general  ofhcers  of  the  American  forces,  including 
Lafayette,  who,  when  he  visited  the  Cnited  States  in  1824,  went 
to  Litchfield  to  renew  old  memories  with  some  of  his  fornier 
comrades  in  arms.  The  leaden  statue  of  King  George  the  Third 
wdiich  stood  on  the  IJattery  in  Xew^  A^ork  was  conveyed  to  Litch- 
field, and  in  an  orchard  in  the  rear  of  the  Wolcott  house  it  was 
melted  into  bullets  for  the  patriot  army.  All  through  the  struggle 
with  the  mother  country  Litchtield  was  a  hotbed  of  patriotism,  and 
when  the  tirst  law  school  in  America  commenced  its  regular  sys- 
tematic course  of  instruction  there  in  1784.  the  ambitious  village 
had  among  its  citizens  numerous  men  of  exce[)tional  intelligence 
and  culture.  One  of  them  was  AndreW'  Adams,  who  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Continental  Congress  and  was  afterward  a  judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court.  Oliver  \\'olcott  was  there.  He  also_  ha<l 
been  a  memlxn"  of  the  C(Migress,  had  signed  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, and  was  afterward  Governor  of  the  State.  Ephraim 
Kirby,  who  a  few  years  later  published  the  tirst  volume  of  law- 
reports  ever  published  in  America,  Major  Seymour,  who  had  com- 
manded a  regment  at  the  surrender  of  l^.urgoyne  ;    I'.enjamin  Tall- 


i82  i.iixii  I'li'.i.i)  c'oiNTN    i'.i;n(,ii  and  r.AK 

ni;i(li;\'.  jjcrlians  the  most  iidtcil  (.-axali"}-  cnuiniaiKkr  nf  tlic  Kcvulu- 
tion  ;  Julius  I)cMniu_i;.  a  xny  prc.uiiucut  and  successful  nici'chaut 
and  financier,  and  nian\  (itiurs  of  like  character  were  rcsidinj^  in 
the  town.  into  this  coinniunit\  in  the  year  1 77S  came  Taj)pinj^ 
l\ee\e.  a  xouul;'  lawxer  just  admitted  to  the  har,  to  settle  in 
the  ]>ractice  of  his  profession.  liorn  in  Southold,  l-on^'  Island, 
in  1744.  the  sun  of  Rev.  Ahner  Keeve,  a  J'resbyterian  cleri^yman, 
he  was  ,irraduate(l  at  Princeton  College  in  17^)3.  and  was  inmiediatcly 
appointed  teacher  in  a  grammar  school  iu  connection  with  the 
collet^X'.  In  that  station  and  as  a  tutor  in  tlu'  colles^'e  itself  he 
]'-assed  seven  years.  lie  then  came  to  C'onnecticut  to  study  law, 
entering-  the  ollice  of  judi;e  Root,  who  was  then  a  ])racticing 
lawver  in  Hartford,  and  some  \ears  later  a  jud^e  of  the  Su]n'enic 
Court.  I-'rom  llartford  he  came  to  Litchfield,  lie  had  just  pre- 
vi()usl\-  married  SalK  l'«urr,  dau.^hter  of  Tresident  Uurr  of  Prince- 
ton, and  sister  of  Aaron  liurr.  L'ntil  the  conclusion  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  there  was  hut  \ery  little  civil  business  done  in  the 
county  at  Litchfield,  and  Mr.  Reeve  betook  himself  to  g-ivini^'  in- 
struction to  \()ung"  gentlemen  who  looked  forward  to  the  legal 
])rofession  for  su])port  and  advancement  when  quieter  times  should 
come.  This  emplo}'ment  tended  greatly  to  enlarge  and  improve 
his  stock  of  legal  learning,  and  led  the  way  for  him  to  begin  in 
1784  a  systematic  course  of  instruction  in  the  law  and  to  regular 
classes.  The  Law  School  dates  from  that  year.  It  cou'tinued  in 
successful  operation  and  with  annual  graduating  classes  until  1833. 
'JMic  catalogue  contains  the  names  of  one  thousand  and  fifteen 
young  men  who  were  prepared  for  the  bar  subsecpient  t(>  Uie  year 
1798,  mo.st  of  whom  were  admitted  to  the  ])ractice  in  the  court  at 
jjtchfield.  The  list  of  students  ])rior  to  that  date  is  imperfect, 
but  there  are  known  to  have  been  at  least  two  hundred  and  ten, 
Tvlore  than  two-thirds  of  the  students  registered  from  states  other 
than  Connecticut.  Maine  sent  four,  Xew  Hampshire  fifteen,  A'er- 
mont  twenty-se\-en,  Massachusetts  ninet  \-fonr,  Rhode  Island 
twenty-two.  Xcw  ^"ork  one  hundre(l  and  twent\  ■  four.  New  Jersey 
eleven,  1 'ennsyl\-\'ania  thirtx'.  I  )ela\\  arc  eigliteen,  Mar\land  thirty- 
nine,  N'irginia  twenty-one.  North  Carolina  twenty,  Soiuh  Caro- 
lina forty-five,  C>eorgia  si.vty-nine,  (  )hio  four,  Indiana,  Mississippi 
and  'J\'nncssee  each  one,  Kentnck\  nine,  Alal)ama  three,  an<l  Louisi- 
ana seven.  There  were  four  from  the  district  of  C'olumbia  and 
one  from  Calcutta.  The  greatest  number  wh;)  I'utered  in  any 
single  year   was   fifty- four   in    1S13. 

"  Lawvers  n()w  living  in  the  original  slates  will  recogni/.e  the 
names  of  manv  men  conspicuous  in  the  juridical  annals  of  their 
stale.  Aaron  IbuT  studied  law  at  Litchfield.  b>hn  C.  L'-alhoun 
entered  the  Law  School  in  iSo_:;:  ouK-  a  few  rods  from  the  school 
buihling  was  the  house  wliere  1  l;irriet  I'.eecher  .^towc  was  born 
iri     iSii.    and    llcm-\     Ward    L.et'chei-    in     iSi;;    and    ;i    short    hour's 


walk  would  have  hnm-lit  llic  \(mi)--  SoiuIutiut  In  tin-  spot  wlu-re 
Idliii  I'.rowii  was  l)oni  in  iSoo,  in  l!u'  ailjoiiiin-  lown  ot  'I  orrini;lon. 
Two  of  the  jL^Taduatcs  JK-canic  judi^vs  oi  ihr  SuiJrciiK'  Court  of  the 
riiilc'd  States — Ilcnrv  Baldwin  and  Levi  W  oodhury  ;  tiftecn  I'liited 
v'^tates  Senators,  fil'tx  meiiihers  of  C'on-re-s,  li\e  nienihers  .,1  the 
I'nited  Stales  Cahinet,  ten  governors  ol  states,  fort\-lonr  jnd^es 
of  state  and  inferior  I'niUMl  Stales  eonrls,  and  ''even  forei.^n  minis- 
ters, (k'orj^ia  is  espeeially  well  represented.  Amoni^"  the  names  of 
indices  of  that  Stale  we  noiiee  l'.n-enin>  A.  .\esbit,  who  wrote 
"the"  ek'm-ant  disstrtaiion  in  .Milehnm  r.  State,  ii  Ca.  O15.  on  the 
])rivilei;-e  and  ilnt\-  of  connsel  in  ar.i..;nin,^-  a  case  to  a  jury,  in  eon- 
neelion  with  ihe  jii-opei-  limitations  of  the  freedom  ol  dehate--an 
opinion  eopied  almost  \'erhatim  in  Tneker  z'.  1  lenniker.  41  .\'.  II. 
-^\j.  with  an  omission  of  (piotation  marks  so  sin!..;nlar  and  llaii,-rant 
as  to  ha\e  occasioned  comment  hy  the  ])rofessii)n 

•■  The  course  of  instruction  was  comi)leted  in  fourteen  months, 
inclndiui;-  two  vacations  of  four  weeks  each,  one  in  tlu'  sprin.^-, 
the  other  in  the  autumn.  Xo  student  could  enler  for  a  sh(jrter 
].eriod  than  three  months.  The  terms  of  iu-lruclK  n  were  (in  1828) 
Sioo  for  the  first  year  and  $0o  for  the  second,  payable  either  in 
advance  or  at  the  end  of  the   \-car. 

••  In  the  library  for  the  Law  School  at  Vale  rniversity  may  1)C 
found  several  boun.d  volumes  id'  manuscript  which  a])])arently  con- 
tain the  entire  lectures  of  jud-e  Reeve.  They  are  in  the  hand- 
writiuij-  of  his  son,  Aaron  I'm-r  l\ee\e.  lUit  u^ari^inal  reference 
interlineations  in  his  own  hand  make  it  certain  that  these  volumes 
have  all  been  revised  by  judi;e  Reeve  himself.  The  tradition  is  that 
they  are  the  manuscripts  which  he  used  in  his  lectures  during"  the 
last  \ears  that  he  tau.ght.  .\n  inspection  of  these  volumes  shows 
that  the  course  of  instruction  i^iveu  at  the  Litchfield  Law  School 
covered  the  entire  body  of  the  law.  They  speak  of  the  law  gener- 
allv — in  reference  to  the  sources  whence  it  is  derived,  as  customs 
and  statutes,  witb  the  rules  for  the  application  and  interpretation  of 
each.  Then  follows  Real  Estate,  Rights  of  Persons,  Rights  of 
Things.  Contracts.  Torts,  Evidence.  TUeading.  Crimes,  and  Ivpiity. 
And  each  of  these  general  subjects  is  treated  under  various  sub- 
sidiarv  to])ics,  so  as  to  make  the  matter  intelligible  and  afford  the 
student  a  correct  and  adequate  idea  of,  and  basis  for.  the  work  he 
will  be  called  upon  to  perform  in  the  practice  (d'  his  i)rofession. 
Judge  Reeve  conducted  the  school  alone  until  ijt^S,  when,  having 
been  elected  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  he  associated  James 
Gould  with  him.  They  had  the  joint  care  y)i  the  school  until 
1820.  when  Judge  Reeve  withdrew.  .Mr.  C.onld  continued  the 
classes  until  1833.  being  asissted  during  the  last  year  by  Jabez 
W.  Huntington.  Judge  Reeve  remained  on  the  bench  until  he 
reached  the  limit  of  seventy  yi-ars  in  1815.  The  last  i)art  of  the 
term  he   was  chief  justice,     fie  died   in    1823,   in   ihe  eightieth  year 


184  I.I1\  Ill-li;i,D  CULNIN     I:i:n\  II    AM)    I'.AU 

of   his   life.      He   Irfl    an    only   child.    Aaron    I'.urr.    who   i^rachiatcd 
at  Yale  in   1802.      Aaron    I'.urr   Kccw  married   AnnahcUc   Siiedden, 
of  Richmond.  \a.,  in   1808.     He  died  in  i8()().     lie  loft  an  only  child, 
'JapjMni;-  I'nrr   Kccvc.  who  QTaduatcd  at   \:\\v.  hut   <licd  unmarricMl 
in   182c;.  and   thus   llic    family   hecamc  extinct.      Mr.   Ciould   became 
a   iudL;"e  of  the  Sui>reme  (.'onrl  of  C'onneclicnl,  and   was  the  author 
of  the  celebrated  work  on   I'leadiui^-.      Me  died  at   I.ilcblield  in    1838. 
The   course   of   in.'^truction    at    the    school    must    have    been    incom- 
parably more  exhaustive  than  would  be  ])iissible  al  the  i)resent  day, 
tor   the   ob\-ious   reason   that   there   was   so   much    less   to  learn.      In 
1784   there    were   no   ])rinted   reports   of    decisions   ot    any    court    in 
tlu'    I'niled    States.      Substantially   the   entire   1)ody   of   the   law    was 
to  be   found  in  the  j{nglisii  reports.     It  is  said  that  Jud^e   (lould 
had    systematically    dii^ested    for   his    students    "  every    ancient    and 
modern   o])inion,   whether  o\erruled,   doubted,  or   in   an_\-   way  (piali- 
tied."'      lint   vast  bodies  of  law   of  which   the  uim  lern    student   must 
learn  something;"  were  unknown  to  the  curriculum  of  the   ivitchtield 
Law   School,  and  many  i)rinciplcs  kitent  in  the  common  law   were 
just    lx\yinnin^-    to    be    deyelo])ed.        Lord    Mansfield    resig-ned    his 
oHice  of  Chief  Ju.stice  in  1788,  after  presiding  in  the  King's  Bench 
over  thirty  years.     Prior  to  his  time  the  greatest  uncertainty  had 
prevailed  on  questions  of  commercial  law.     "  Afcrcantile  questions 
were  so  ignorantly  treated  when  they  came  into  \\'estminster  Llall," 
says  Lord  Campbell  in  his  Lives  of  the  Chief  justices.  •'  that  they 
were   usually   settled   l)y   private  arbitraticMi  among   the   merchants 
themselves."     There  \yere  no  treatises  on  the  subject  and  tew  cases 
in  the  books  of  rejiorts.     'Jdius  in   llelyn  7'.   Adamson,  3   r)Urr.  699, 
decided   in    1758,    it    was   lirst   distinctly   ruled   that   the    second   in- 
dorser  of  an  inland  bill  of  exchange  was  entitled  to  recover  from  the 
])rior  indorser  upon  failure  of  ])ayment  by  the  drawee,  without  mak- 
ing any  demand  on  or  incjuiry  after  the  drawer.     In  1770  it  was  held 
that   the    indorser   of   a   bill    of   exchange    is    discharged   if   he    re- 
ceives no  notice    of  a  refusal  to  accept  by  the  drawee.     (Rlesard  v. 
llir.^t,   5    I'.urr.   2^)70.)      And   not   until    I78f).   in    Tindal  v.    T'rown, 
I    Term    Rep.    1^7,   was   it   finally   determined   that    what   is   ro.i.son- 
a.ble    notice    to    an    indorser    of    non-i)ayment    b\'    the    maker    of    a 
])romissory   note,  or  acceptor  of  a  bill  of  exchange,   is   a  (piestion 
of  law-  and  not  of  fact.     Of  course  there  was  vo  .\merican  con- 
stitutional  law  when   the  school  was    I'ounded.   1  bough  some  of  the 
states   had   alread\    adopted   constitutions.      The    first    book   on   cor- 
l>oration   law   was  that  of    Kyd.   ])ublisbed   in    London   in    1793,  but 
it   was   chiefly   made   up  of  authorities   and   precedents   relatnig   to 
munici])al    corporations:     and    Willcock    on    Corporations,    also    an 
J-'.nglish  treatise  was  still  more  limited   in   its  i)lan.     There  was  no 
American  text-book  on  corporations  until  the  first  edition  of  .'\iigell 
and  .\mes  was  ])ublished  in    i8_^i.     .\t  that   time  the  need  of  such 
a  book  bad  become  \-er\-  urL-cnt.  but  in  the  earl\    \ears  of  the  Litch- 


ji'DCK  jA^rKS  c.ori.n 
From  a  Cravon  now  owned  1)\'  \\'U^.  A.  T 


Korahack. 


T.AW  Sillool.  1R5 

licld  Law  SchiHil  ilirrr  imisl  liavr  liecn  (.■xlrciufly  few  p!ivale 
business  corporations  in  tins  c-mnilry.  Not  nntil  Louisville,  etc., 
R  Co.  7'.  Letson.  j  Mow.  (I'.  S.  )  4^)/.  dccide'l  in  1X44,  rlid  cor- 
porations become  competent  to  sue  and  l)e  sued  as  "citizens"  of  a 
State,  rejT^ardless  of  the  citizenshij)  of  the  corporators.  A  "fellow 
servant"  was  a  total  stran.L^cr  in  lethal  nomenclature:  Priestly  v. 
Fowler,  3  M.  \-  W.  1,  was  decided  in  1 S37 ;  Murray  v.  Railroad 
Co., I  McMull.  (  S.  Car.)  3S5,  in  i(S4i  ;  and  b'arwell  v.  Railroad 
Co.,  4  Met.  (Mass.)  41;,  in  1X42.  The  term  "contributory  neoli- 
^ence"  had  not  been  coined:  I'.ntterfield  z'.  Forrester,  Ti  J{ast  60, 
was  decided  in  1809:  I  )avies  r.  Mann,  10  M .  \-  W.  ^4(>.  in  1842, 
and  the  phrase  is  not  used  in  either  case.  Ci\il  actions  tor  dam- 
ages for  death  by  wroui^ful  act  were  not  maintainable,  'i'he  law 
of  insurance  was  virtually  the  creation  of  Lord  Mansfield,  but  the 
volume  of  insurance  law  was  comparatively  insii^nificant  for  several 
decades.  ()n  the  other  hand,  there  \vas  an  abuiKUmce  of  real  estate 
law  and  of  law  concerniu';'  executors  and  administrators  aufl  trustees 
generally.  In  those  days  the  executor  dr  son  tort  was  more  in 
evidence  tlian  at  ]:)resent,  although  even  now  he  has  so  much  vitality 
in  some  jurisdictions  that  it  would  not  be  wise  for  the  jiractioner 
to  characterize  him  as  Judge  Lmnpkin  did  in  Shotwell  v.  Rowell. 
30  (la.  55y.  "dc  son  fiddlestick  !"  and  cry,  "Away  with  him  !"  The 
princii)les  of  equity  jurisprudence  had  secured  a  firm  footing,  and 
at  this  day  they  are  administered  in  the  Federal  courts  as  they 
were  expoundecl  in  the  High  Court  of  Chancery  in  England  when 
the  Constitution  was  adopted  in  1789.  Judge  Gould  was  a  n^aster 
of  the  common-law  s\-stem  of  pleading,  which  was  extolled  i;y  some 
of  its  eulogists  as  the  perfection  of  human  reason.  During  the 
period  of  the  Law  School  the  noble  science  of  pleading  became 
burdened  with  so  many  refinements  and  fictions  that  it  fell  into 
disrepute  :  the  celebrated  Rules  of  Hilary  Term  were  adopted  in 
1834,  and  we  have  since  5ul)stituted  very  generally  for  the  techni- 
calities of  the  common-law  system  what  we  term  a  plain  and  con- 
cise statement  of  causes  of  action  and  of  defenses,  administering 
law  and  equity  in  one  suit,  and  sometimes  peradventure  ev(^lving 
a  judg-ment  as  incongruous  as  the  one  examined  in  Bennett  v.  Ijut- 
terworth,,  11  How.  (L^.  S. )  669,  or  exhibiting  the  chaos  of  plead- 
ings and  proceedings  tabulated  by  the  reporter  in  Randon  i'.  Toby, 
IT  How.  (  L'.  S. )  493.  Speaking  of  the  reformed  procedure,  how 
many  lawyers  are  aware  that  the  chief  merit  of  the  Code  system  was 
recognized  and  recommended  for  adoption  by  the  precep_tor  of 
Judge  Reeve,  founder  of  the  Litchfield  Law  School?  Tlie  first 
volume  of  Root's  Connecticut  Reports  was  published  in  1798.  The 
reporter  was  Jesse  Root,  afterward,  as  above  stated,  a  judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  with  whom  'i'apping  Reeve  had  studied  law 
in  Hartford.  \\'e  will  close  with  a  ([notation  from  the  introduction 
to   that   V(jlume :    "Are    not   the    courts    of   chancer\-    in    this    State 


i86  i.nviiKiKi.n  corxTv  r.Kxcii  and  i-.ar 

borrmvcHl  from  a  forcis^n  jurisdiclidii,  which  s^ix-w  out  of  llu-  i<;"no- 
rancc  and  barbarism  of  the  law- indices  at  a  certain  period  in  that 
country  from  whence  bc^rrowcd?  And  would  it  iiot  be  as  safe  for 
the  ]>eople  to  invest  the  courts  of  law  with  the  power  of  dccidini^ 
all  (juestions  and  of  g"iving'  relief  in  all  cases  according-  to  the  rules 
established  in  chancery,  as  it  is  to  trust  those  same  judges  as  chan- 
cellors to  do  it?  Those  rules  might  be  considered  as  a  part  of 
the  law.  and  the  remedy  be  made  nuich  more  concise  and  effectual. 
Further,  would  not  this  remedy  great  inconveniences  and  save  much 
expense  to  suitors,  who  are  fre(|uently  turned  round  at  law  to  seek 
a  remedy  in  cliancer\-.  and  as  nftcn  turned  nnind  in  chancery  be- 
cause they  ha\e  ade(|uate  renied\-  at  law?  These  arc  serious 
evils  and  ought  not  to  be  permitted  to  exist  in  the  jurisprudence  of 
a  country  famed  for  liberty  and  justice,  and  which  can  be  remedied 
only  by  the  interposition  of  the  legislature.'  " 

rriK  TjTiMiFiia.D  faw  sciioot. 

At  the  annual  dinner  of  the  Story  Association,  of  Cambridge 
Law  School  (Mass.)  in  1851,  the  following  reference  was  made 
to  the  l^itchfield  Faw  School: 

judge  Kent  gave  the  sentiment: 

"  The  first-born  of  the  law  schools  of  this  countr\- — the  Litch- 
field Law  School.  The  IJoston  Bar  exhibits  its  rich  and  rjpened 
fruits.     Ry  them  we  may  judge  of  the  tree  and  declare  it  g(X)tl." 

Hon.  Charles  (i.  Loring.  of  the  class  of  1813,  rejionded : 

"  T  do  not  remember."  he  said,  "  to  have  ever  been  more  forcibly 
reminded  of  m\-  younger  days,  than  when  looking  around  on  mv 
young  friends  in  the  midst  of  whom  I  stand.  It  recalls  the  time 
when  1,  too.  was  a  student  among  numerous  fellow  students.  It 
will,  probably,  be  news  to  them  and  many  others  here,  that  tliirty- 
eight  years  ag'o,  which  to  many  here  seems  a  remote  antiquity,  there 
existed  an  extensive  law  school  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  at  which 
more  than  sixty  students  from  all  parts  of  the  country  were  as- 
sembled— every  State  then  in  tlie  l-nion.  bving  there  repre- 
sented, f  joined  it  in  1S13.  w  lien  it  was  at  its  vcnith.  and  the  only 
prominent  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  land. 

"The  recollection  is  as  fresh  as  the  e\ents  of  \esterday,  of  oiu' 
passing  along  the  broad  shaded  streets  of  one  of  the  most  l>eauti- 
ful  of  the  villages  of  \ew  bjigland,  with  our  inkstands  in  our 
liands.  and  our  portfolios  under  otn-  arms,  to  the  lecture  room  of 
Judge  Gould — the  last  of  the  Romans,  of  Common  F^aw  Lawyers; 
the  impersonation  of  its  spirit  and  genius.  It  w.is.  indeed,  in  his 
eyes,  the  perfection  of  human  reason,  bv  which  he  measured  every 
1  rinciple  and   rule  of  action,  and  almost  e\er\    sentiment. 


LAW    Sc'IMKiI,  187 

"  Wliv,  sirs,  liis  liij^lK'sl  Nisimis  d  puctry  scviUfd  lo  lie  in  ihc 
rcfincnu'iit  of  special  |)kailin^>  :  and  t<>  him  a  iioit  sccjuitcr  in  \()^\c 
was  ail  offense  (lfst'r\in^,  at  the  least,  line  and  ini])ris()nnient,  anrl 
a  re])etiti<»n  of  it,  transportation  for  life.  Me  \\a^  an  a<!miral)le 
J'^ni^lish  scliolar  :  e\er\  word  was  i)ure  h'n^lish,  inideliled  and  every 
sentence  fell  from  his  lips  ])ei-f(.'cll\  linisheil.  a^  cU'ar,  trans])arctit 
and  perR'tratinf;  as  li.^ht,  and  ever\  rule  and  i)rinci])le  iis  exactly 
defined  and  limited  as  the  ontline  of  a  huihlinL;  a.i^ainst  the  sky. 
I'roni  liini  we  obtained  clear,  well-defined  and  accurate  knowledf^c 
of  the  C'onimon  Law.  and  learned  that  alle.^iance  to  it  was  the 
chief  diitv  of  man.  and  tlie  power  of  enforcing"  it  ni)on  others,  his 
lii^hest  attainiiient.  h  rom  his  lecture  room  we  i)assed  to  that  of 
the  \'eneral)le  jud^e  l\ee\e,  shaded  1)\  an  a.U'ed  elm,  fit  cmbicm  of 
iiini.self.  lie  was,  indeed,  a  most  venerable  man,  in  character  and 
a])pearance.  his  thick,  ,L;ray  hair  parted  and  fallini^  in  i)r<)fusion  upon 
his  shoidders,  his  \-oice  onl\'  a  loud  whisper,  but  distinctly  lieard 
by  his  earnesth,  attentive  ])tii)ils. 

"lie,  too,  was  full  of  le!j;al  learniu!;-,  Init  inxested  the  law  with 
all  the  j^enial  enthusiasm  and  g-enerous  feelings  and  noble  sentiments 
oi  a  lariL^e  heart  at  the  at^e  of  eiii"hty,  and  descanted  to  lis  with  a 
glovvinjj;-  el<i(|uence  u])on  the  sacredness  and  majesty  of  the  law. 
He  was  distint^nished,  sirs,  by  that  ai^preciation  of  the  "^entk^r  sex 
which  never  fails  to  mark  the  true  man,  and  his  teachini^s  of  the 
law  in  reference  to  their  rit^hts  and  the  domestic  relations,  had 
t'Teat  influence  in  elevatiii,^'  and  refininy-  the  sentiments  of  the  }()un,g- 
men  who  were  ])rivile,ged  to  hear  him.  As  illustrative  of  his  feel- 
int^'s  and  manner  upon  this  subject,  allow  me  to  g'ive  a  s])'^cimen. 
He  was  discussins,;-  the  legal  relations  of  married  women;  he  never 
called  them,  however,  bv  so  inexpressible  a  name,  but  always  spoke 
of  them  as  'the  better  half  of  mankind,"  or  in  some  equally  just 
manner.  When  he  came  to  the  axiom  that  'a  married  woman 
has  no  will  of  her  own,'  tliis,  he  said  was  a  maxim  of  great  the- 
oretical im])ortance  for  the  preservation  of  the  sex,  againsit  the 
undue  influence  or  coercion  of  the  husband;  but  although  it  was 
an  inflexible  maxim,  in  theorv,  experience  taught  us  that  practically 
it  was  found  that  the\-  sometimes  had  wills  of  their  own — )iiost 
Jiappily   for   iis. 

"  We  left  his  lecture  room,  sirs,  the  very  knight  errants  i^i  the 
law  burning  to  be  the  defenders  of  the  right  and  the  .aven5jers  of 
the  wrong;  and  he  is  no  true  son  of  the  Litchfield  school  \\-ho  has 
ever   forgotten  tliat  lesson. 

"1  ])ropose,  sirs,  the  memories  of  Judg'e  Reeve  and  Judg^e  Gould 
■ — among  the  first,  if  not  the  first  founders  of  a  National  Law 
School  in  the  I'nited  States — who  have  laid  one  of  the  corner  stones 
in  the  foundation  of  true  .American  i)atriotism,  lo\alt\'  to  the  law." 


i88  i.nx'ii  i"ii;i,n  roixrv  in-xrii  wn  i-.ar 

Till':  F()M.( )\\ix(;  IS  A  r()l'^'  oi-  a  sti'di'.xt's  ij'/pter. 

Litolificld.  (  )ct(.l)cr  jStli,  1830. 
Dkar  Fuii;\n: — 

Having'  received  your  letter  just  as  I  was  ou  tlie  wins;-  for  this 
place.  I  was  unal)le  to  auswer  it  then  :  l)ut  a\ai'  myself  of  these 
first  moments  of  calm  after  the  hustle  and  confusion  incidcii*"  to  the 
seltlinq-  (Knvn  into  my  nest,  to  turn  my  thout^'hts  to  that  l)roo{l  in 
which  T  found  myself  when  ni}^  eyes  were  first  opened  to  lc\^al  //.i;/?/, 
and  when  I  first  inhaled  the  le^al  atmosphere  which  from  its  misti- 
ness i^"ives  to  those  who  hreath  it.  (at  least  so  T  i>resume)  the  well 
known  name  of  [^clly  foi^s  ( \'on  \\ill  perceive  an  analog'V  ni  the 
derivation  of  this  word  to  that  of  Incus  a  non  liu-ciido.  or  Pared  a 
non  parcendo)  c^-  from  which  like  yourself  I  have  ahscondcd,  Ijeing 
now  l)i^-  enough  to  take  care  of  myself. 

Really,  \ed,  since  my  arrival  T  have  hcen  as  Inisy  as  a  hen 
with  one  chick — I  have  heen  ohlig'cd  t<»  furnish  ni\-  rooni,  with 
whatever  T  need,  from  the  bellows  to  the  lam])  wick.  We'  are 
obliged  to  board  hcrr,  at  one  house  and  lodge  at  another.  They 
give  yon  a  room,  with  bed  and  bestead,  et  tout  ca,  at  the  rate  of 
one  dollar  a  week  you  furnish  }our  wood,  your  servant,  car[)ct  if 
}ou  don't  wish  to  go  without,  lamps,  oil,  &c.,  cvc. 

Y(^u  see  S:  hear  no  more  of  the  family  than  if  }ou  were  the  sole 
occui)ant  of  the  premises. 

L'pon  vour  return  from  breakfast  your  room  is  swept,  bed  made, 
things  set  to  rights,  as  if  done  by  magic,  you  never  see  how.  T 
have  a  fine  room  at  Parson  Jones',  who  is  very  obliging  and  would 
be  more  so  if  able,  and  I  board  at  Mrs.  Reeve's,  a  very  agreeable, 
])leasant,  old  lady.  We  pay  her,  I  believe  two  dollars  and  a  h.alf  a 
week.  (  )m-  board  and  lodging  and  contingencies  will  run  us  up  to 
about  five  dollars  a  w^eek,  which  T  think  is  ])rett\'  well  on  t(^  the 
brogue  for  a  coimtry  town.  And  this  is  independent  of  the  lectures, 
judge  Gould  is  so  much  overcome  with  his  late  family  bereave- 
ment that  he  is  unable  to  lectiu'e  himself.  ilis  son,  ho\,ever, 
delivers  them  in  his  stead.  As  far  as  T  can  judge  they  will  be  very 
valuable,  independent  of  their  intrinsic  merit :  1  will  be  obliged  to 
write  wyt  at  least  three  reams  of  fincl\'  ruled  fooleap.  The  lecture 
lasts  for  an  hour  and  a  cpiarter  each  da\  .  examinations  once  a  week. 
Litchfield  appears  to  be  a  very  ])retty  jilace,  and  1  think  T  sha'l  like 
it  well.  1  attended  an  evening  or  two  ago  an  exhibition  of  the 
young  ladies*  seminary  at  this  place  of  which  you  s])eak  in  your 
letter.  There  were  several  \er\  handsome  and  intei'esting  young 
demoiselles.  The  court  rooui  in  which  ii  was  h'ld  was  excessively 
crowded  and  two  or  three  fainted,  one  young  lady  upon  receiving 
her  ])remium.  At  one  cud  of  the  room  men.  bo\  s  .and  girfs  were 
all   ]iea])ed   up  together,   and   e\'er   and   anou,   \ou    would   hear   some 


LAW  sciioor,  i8ij 

stnr(I\'  1)11111  rc'souii'Iini;-  a,L;aiii^t  llu-  IIihh-.  its  luckless  owner  liavini^ 
incaulii uisl\    ])us1k'(1  it  nut  hi'voiul  tlir  liiu'  of  c(|uilibriuiii. 

I  uudcrstand  Irom  Mrs.  I\ee\c  that  all  the  marria^ealjlc  younj^ 
ladies  lia\e  been  married  off,  and  thai  thert'  is  at  present  nothint^' 
])Ut  yiiunt;-  lr\  in  town,  eMiisri|uriilly  that  it  w  dl  not  be  as  j^ay  as 
usual.  Tlu'  youu^-  ladies,  she  ti'lls  nu'.  all  marry  law  students,  l)ut 
as  it  will  take  two  or  three  \ears  for  the  \cmn,q;  crop  to  become 
fit  tor  []](_■  harxest,  _\  ou  nerd  ap])rehend  no  daui^'er  of  m\'  ihrowin.!^ 
u[)  my  haehel(  irslii]). 

The  road  from  1 'ou,i;likef])sic'  here  is.  I  think',  the  most  tedious 
T  e\-er  travelled,  }ou  see  uothiui^-  but  rocks  and  stones.  Consider- 
in^-  the  roug-hness  of  the  country  and  the  scarcity  of  laud  1  am  not 
at  all  sm-priscd  the  \ankays  depend  for  their  livlihood  upon  their 
Zi'tfs.  1  wish  I  had  it  in  my  i)o\\er  to  exercise  a  watchful  care  over 
15.  as  you  ha\e  enjoined  me.  "  .\h  me!  forsooth,  he  is  a  sorrv 
weij4"ht.""  I  lis  ])a  I  suspect  is  afraid  of  some  sliii^iilar  iiiavcurvrc 
on  his  ])arl  and  dare  not  trust  him  from  his  ])aternal  e\e.  lie  did 
not  accom])an}'  me,  as  in  all  ])robability  you  know,  but  [  do  not  yet 
despair  of  his  comins^'.  In  such  ex]>ectation  T  shall  not  write  him, 
for  I  think  it  very  ])ossible  he  ina\-  arrive  this  e\-eninQ'.  if  so  he 
shall  write  you  a  1'.  S.  He  and  his  father  had  not  fully  considered 
the  subject  when   I  left. 

It  is  i^rowinL;-  dark  and  I  must  ccjuclude  before  tea  (for  T  ex- 
pect this  eveiiini;-  to  be  x-er\  busy  copying"  notes)  and  this  I  cannot 
do,  without  assuring-  }-ou  that  it  will  gi\-e  me  the  g-reatest  pleasure 
to  see  you  here.  I  have  a  double  bed.  1  will  give  you  half,  and 
as  long-  as  Coont.  is  the  land  of  cakes  }ou  will  not  starve.  The 
excursion  will,  uf)  doubt,  be  agreeable  and  ad\antag-eous  to  your 
liealth.  \'ou  can  come  by  the  way  of  Xew  Haven  f)r  Poug-Jikecpsie. 
When  you  write  to  the  ollice  remember  me  to  them  and  to  all  en([uir- 
inj^  friends. 

Direct.  Litchheld,  Count. 

The  tollowing  extracts  from  a  letter  written  by  Augustus  Hand, 
while  a  student  at  the  law  school,  will  further  illustrate  the  conduct 
of  the  institution  : 

"  Litchtield.   Jan.    ,^oth,    1829. 
'' '\\\  Div\R  Fa'i'iii'.k: — 

''''  ''''  '■■'  Let  me  tell  you  how  T  s]XMid  m\-  time.  I  rise  between 
7  and  8,  make  a  tire  and  scrub  for  breakfast,  from  thence  to  lecture, 
where  1  remain  until  between  10  and  11.  Thence  to  my  rooni  and 
copy  lectures  till  5  ]>.  m.  (Save  dinner  time  at  1  ]).  m. )  thence  to 
O.  S.  Stwmour's  ollice  with  whom  1  read  law  until  half  past  9  p.  m., 
then  again  to  my  room,  write  till  between  u  and  i  o'clock,  then 
draw  on  my  night-cap  and  tiu-n  in."  b'xceptioii — Monday  we 
spend  from  (>  to  i;  in  the  Law  v^chool  Del)ating-  Societv,  over  "uhich 


190  i.ii\iii-ii;i.i)  ^-■()^^T^■  I'.Kxcii  and  har 

]  liavc  the  honor—  1  never  l)ra!4").  hriday  at  3  \k  ni.  attend  an  extra 
lecture  on  criminal  law,  and  also  liear  an  ari^nment  in  the  "  Moot 
Court  "  and  decision  hy  the  jud^e.  (  hi  v^aturday  at  2  ]).  ni.  attend 
a  severe  three  hours  examination  on  the  studies  (d  the  week  l)v 
Jabez  W  .  I  lunlin^ton,  Ivs(|.  Aside  from  these  exceptions  tlie  first 
(lay  is  a  correct  s])ecimen.  As  to  tlie  lectures  and  their  utility  I 
will  refer  you  to  ilic  ])reface  of  the  cataloi^'ue  mailed  with  tlvis.  I 
can  only  say  tliat  their  dailx'  jM-ictical  use  to  a  lawyer  can  only  lie 
appreciated  h\  those  who  ha\e  enjoxed  them.  Without  any  doubt, 
they  .Liive  the  same  talent — a  ])owerful  su])erior;ty.  'I'lu  whole 
is  com])rised  in  between  2500  and  3000  paj^es.  (  )f  these  I  have 
written  about  1200  and  1300  and  should  1  remain  here  till  May 
and  enjoy  my  ])resent  excellent  health  there  will  be  no  dilboulty  in 
copying-  the  whole,  havinu'  access  to  Seymour's  volumes  (for  what 
I  do  not  take  in  the  ollice),  who  has  attended  two  courses  and  has 
ihem  com])lete.  Tliis  is,  howe\er,  business  between  ourselves  for 
these  lectures  are  seciu'ed  to  the  juds^e.  l)ein_!4'  the  labor  of  his  life 
in  the  same  manner  as  a  i)atent  ri^ht.  So  we  talk  less  and  write 
faster.  This  Seymour  witli  whom  1  study  is  the  son  of  the  sheriff 
of  the  county,  ne])hew  t)f  our  State  Senator,  a  liraduate  of  Ynle, 
a  bachelor  of  20  or  27.  of  most  sterling'  mind  and  manners,  w'.th  a 
brain  c<im])]etel\  identified  with  the  study  of  the  law  in  its  most 
theoretical  and  scientific  ])art.  I'rom  a  natural  weakness  of  the 
eyes  he  does  not  allow  himself  to  study  evenings  and  therefore 
invited  me  to  read  to  him.  This  offer,  knowing-  his  fame,  &c..  T 
readilv  acce])ted,  his  ollice  being-  next  door  but  one  t<J  mine,  and  he 
being'  altog^ether  such  a  man  as  "studies  learning-  to  use  it."  We 
lake  u])  the  title  in  a  lecture  and  progress  with  it  till  it  is  finished, 
reading'  (about)  between  ten  and  twenty  pages  an  evening-,  lie 
giving"  me  a  thorough  insight  into  it  as  we  ])roceed — allowing  nie 
without  reserve,  to  tease  him  with  as  many  (piestions  as  I  please 
and  now  and  then  reading-  a  report  of  some  cases  adapted  to  the 
subject.  Uefore  the  lesson  he  examines  me  in  the  i)rece(ling-  lesson 
from  memory.  ''■'  ■■'■  '■'■'-  The  law  here  is  a  study.  There  are  one 
or  two  lawvfrs  in  the  \icinity  who  make  4  or  5000  dollars  a  vear. 
1  pass  every  day  b\  the  door  of  one  worth  about  $I5().(X-)0.00.  alxiut 
one-half  of  which  he  made  in  law.  This  "  J  limtington  "  who  ex- 
amines is  a  bachelor  rather  above  forty  who  studies,  thinks  and  talks 
law  slee])ing  and  waking'.  lie  never  "  ])ettifog'g's,"  but  ])lea(ls  in 
the  higher  courts  and  writes  oi)inions  for  other  lawyers  in  every 
section  of  the  countr\ .  lie  will  sometimes  become  so  animated  in 
discussing-  a  (piestion  which  arises  on  the  examination,  that  he  c?.n 
hardly  keep  his  seat.  Friday,  the  1  ith  inst.,  it  c:nne  my  turn  for 
the  second  time  to  come  on  to  the  "  Moot  Court."  A  short  time 
after  my  ;idmission  my  name  came  on  o])pose(l  to  .Mr.  I  lalstcd,  of 
X.  J.  (in  alphabetical  order},  who  was  an  old  student.  1  tried  to 
cross  the  Rubicon  but  like  a  poor,  stuck-in-the-mud  1  could  not  ford. 


T,\\\  sirif)()i,  191 

J-'riiL^liUiUfl  diu  'il  iii\  wit"-,  mutc  iuikKmI  l)y  :i  litt-rary  fo;^-  in  t'l;' 
iiiiclst  <►('  ^\^\  "  uniluwj;."  I  (|nott(l  from  an  autiuir  (Swift)  wiM: 
whom  tlir  JiKl.m-'  'lail  a  pirsdiial  (|uarrcl.  this  with  l)ciii}^  <mi  tliC 
wroiii,^  side  of  the  <)uc'sli(in  fireil  mr.  This  time  I  rescjlved  to  re- 
tficve.  A  most  intricate  (|uestion  on  llie  doctrine  of  relation  and 
est()])iii'l  was  lianded  M.  I'.rown  of  X.  J.  ami  myself  hy  S(j.  San- 
ford  of  this  i)lace.  The  next  day  we  had  a  \ery  learned  decision 
liickiK    in   my    lavor.      '■'      '''      * 

\nuv  affeclionatt'   son. 

AlClSTlS     11. \M) 


THh:  LAW  SCHOOL  lU'ILDlXC^.S. 

The  pictuhe  of  the  Reeves  Law  School  hnildinj;-  ajjpended  here, 
shows  it  as  now  (1908)  appears  after  the  restoration  as  far  as 
possi])le  to  its  ori,<;inal  condition.  The  Litchfield  corres])on(k'nt  of 
the  IVaterburx  .hiicricaii  descrihes  the  situation  as  follows: 

Litchfield,  Xov.  19 — Tapping-  Reeve,  the  founder  of  the  Litchfield 
Law  Sch(X)l.  famous  as  having  heen  the  first  law  school  in  the 
United  States,  was  the  son  of  a  Presbyterian  minister  and  was  born 
on  the  Sou-th  side  of  Long-  Island.  He  was  educated  at  IVinceton, 
where  he  graduated  in  I7<^i3,  at  the  age  of  17  years.  For  seven 
vears  he  remained  as  a  tutor  at  Princeton,  then  came  to  Connecticut 
and  i)racticed  law  in  tlie  office  of  judge  Root  of  Hartford  and  as 
soon  as  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  he  settled  in  Litchfield  alx>ut 
1772.  lie  had  i:)reviously  married  Sally  Burr,  daughter  of  Presi- 
dent I'.urr  of  Princeton  College,  and  sister  of  Aaron  Burr,  who 
studied  in  the  school,  and  who  was  a  frecjuent  visitor  in  his  family. 

in  ]/^2,  the  number  of  students  who  wished  to  study  in  Reeve's 
office  had  become  so  large,  that  he  built  the  small  house  shown 
in  the  ])icture,  in  the  corner  of  his  yard,  on  South  Street,  the  place 
now  owned  l)v  Charles  fl.  Woodrutf  of  Xew  ^'ork  and  Litchfield. 
To  this  sch(K)l  came  students  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  many 
of  the  men  who  gained  reno\\-n  in  the  j^ractice  of  law  and  in  other 
professions,  being  graduates  of  this  school. 

Judge  Reeve  continued  to  use  this  building  until  his  death,  and 
in  1S46  the  building  was  sold  to  Henry  Ward,  who  purchased  a  lot 
of  land  on  the  brow  of  West  Hill  and  placed  the  building  there, 
fitting  it  ui>  as  a  small  house.  In  i886  the  j^roperty  was  bought  by 
Mrs.  Mary  C.  Daniels  and  her  son,  I'rof.  Charles  F.  Daniels  of 
New  York,  who  made  it  their  summer  home  for  many  years.  Prof. 
Daniels  died  a  few^  years  before  his  mother  and  u]>on  Mrs.  Daniel's 
death  it  became  necessary  to  sell  the  ])roperty. 

D.  C.  Kilbourn  began  i)lanning  to  have  the  old  building  pre- 
served, and  to  that  end  a  committee  was  apponted  by  the  Litchfield 
County  Har.  with  Mr.  Killx)urn  as  chairman.  He  went  IxTore  the 
Legislatm-e  at  its  session  of  K)07  with  the  })rop(^sition  that  the  state 


jt)2  i.rmii'ii-i.D  (."(icNTN'  i;i:n(.ii  and  hai^ 

l)u\  it  and  keep  ii  as  stale  ])ro|)ert\.  This  proposal  was,  however, 
1  ejected.  Tlu'ieupoii  the  executor  was  t)l)li.L;c(l  to  sell  the  ])lace  at 
auction,  am!  Mr.  i\ilh(iurn  bous^ht  it  for  about  $2,700.  He  ini- 
niediatoly  bcj^an  restorini;-  the  old  i)art  and  to  do  this  he  had  the 
original  law  school  buildins^-  detached  Irom  tin,"  additions  which  had 
Iteen  put  on  li\-   Air.  and   .Mrs.  Daniels. 

The  btiildinj;-  was  niove'd  to  the  extreme  west  end  of  the  lot  and 
has  been  restorecl  Ixiili  inside  and  out  as  far  as  possiijle  to  its 
(■ri,<.iinal  appearance.  At  the  time  of  the  Ward  jjurchasc  of  the 
house,  it  was  lathed  and  plastered.  This  has  been  taken  off,  leaving 
the  original  wide  pine  boards  with  which  it  was  ceiled,  which  still 
show^  inkstains,  and  in  some  ])laces  ])enciled  names.  ( )ne  of  the 
original  outside  do.urs  was  found  in  a  mulilateil  condition,  and  this 
has  been  framed  into  the  wall,  and  forms  tlie  frame  of  a  large 
crayon  portrait  of  judge  Reeve.  The  old  small-paned  windows, 
which  a|)pear  in  the  picture  are  the  same  as  of  old. 

When  taking  off  the  plastering  and  lath,  several  old  l)oards  were 
found  literally  covered  with  names  and  inscriptions,  done  by  jack- 
knife  artists  in  those  old  school  days,  when  human  nature  was  much 
the  same  as  now.  Man\'  of  these  names  are  to  be  found  in  the  cata- 
logue of  the  school  in  Mr.  Kilbotu'u's  possession.  Some  of  the 
names  are  W.  T.  Gould.  1818;  X.  lUllings,  New  London;  Hoard- 
man.  1820;  William  Petit,  ^Marietta.  Ohio;  1810;  J.  V>.  Skinner,  A. 
i'.ates,  Samuel  W.  Checver.  F.  I^.  1'..  R.  ?klcE.,  E.  1*.  S..  Jones,  (in 
UK  )n(  )gram. ) 

An  interesting  question  is  how  the  building  was  heated,  as  no 
trace  of  a  tireplace  was  found.  Did  they  sit  in  the  room  with  no  hre, 
as  the  churches  of  those  days  were  unheated. 

It  is  Mr.  Kilbourn's  present  intention  to  make,  if  ])ossil)le,  some 
arrangement  b\-  which  the  old  building  can  be  kept  as  an  interesting 
relic,  and  the  members  of  the  Litchfield  Comity  liar  arc  g'etting 
much  interested  to  ha\'e  this  done. 

Jt  should  be  understood,  in  this  connection,  that  the  |)icture  of 
what  has  l)een  called  "The  b'irst  Law  School  of  .\merica"  which 
has  a])])eare<l  from  time  to  time  in  the  state  papers,  is  not  a  picture 
i>\  the  first  law  school  building,  but  of  the  second  one,  which  was 
built  b\-  judge  Could  lati'r.  lb-  came  to  Litchtleld  and  was  as- 
sociated with  ludge  l\ee\'e  in  his  school,  and  alter  judge  Keeve's 
death  he  carried  on  the  school,  putting  up  the  building  sometimes 
called  the  first  school  in  tbi'  \ard  of  his  j)ro])erly,  now  the  liop])in 
house,  on  .\ortb  street.  The  school  was  carried  on  in  that  building, 
to  be  sure,  but  it  was  not  the  lir:-t  building.  It  has  been  standing 
about  a  nnle  west  of  the  \illage,  and  used  as  a  negro  tenement, 
but  is  fast  falling  to  pieces.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  interest 
of  Mr.  Kilbourn  in  the  real  ""tirst  law  school  building"  has  been 
tin-  nu-ans  of  sa\ing  this  historic  building,  and  preserving  it  for  the 
benefit  of  future  generations. 


I, AW  sciroor,  193 

Till':  MTC'lll'll'.IJ)  LAW  SCIK  ><  )1.. 

A  catalog-uc  of  this  scIkioI  was  published  in  iXjS  of  those  attciid- 
ino-  from  i/*;!^.  A  sii])])](.i)KmU  was  added  hriii^in;^  the  names  down 
to  18^1.  In  1S4')  it  was  i-ei)rinted  ineludin^-  the  names  to  the  close 
of  the  school  in   1S3.V 

In  fanuary,  igoo.  lion.  (".eor,L;e  Al.  W'oodrulT  ai^ain  reurinted 
the  cataloi^aie,  addinL;-  some  ])ictures  and  matter  relatini^'  thereto. 

The  various  notices  and  i)refaces  are  herewith  rei)rinted  and 
full\'  explain  themselves. 

In  the  former  cataloi^ues  the  names  are  arnnit^ed  hy  classes, 
in  this  they  appear  ali)heticall\-. 

It  is  believed  that  these  names  all  appear  upon  the  liar  Records, 
it  beint;-  the  rule  that  all  students  should  be  entered  thereon.  If])on 
our  records  there  are  a  ,L;reat  many  names  not  appearins^:  in  this 
catalo.^ue,  beiui;-  students  who  were  studyinj^-  with  other  attorneys. 
That  none  of  tiie  law  school  students  ])revious  to  1798  appear  here 
is  ])robably  from  the   fact  that  our  bar  records  beq-in  at  that  date. 

ADX'KRTISIvMl'.XT   T*  )   b'IRST   F.DITloX    1828. 

The  committee  to  whom  has  been  referred  the  publication  of 
this  catalogue,  deem  it  i)r(»per  to  ])refix  a  few  observations  in  rela- 
tion to  the  institution,  and  the  coiu-se  of  in.truction  therein  pre- 
scribed. 

The  Law  School  was  established  in  1782  by  the  lion.  Tapping 
Reeve,  late  Chief  justice  of  this  State,  and  continued  under  his 
sole  direction  until  the  year  1793.  when  the  lion.  J.  Could  was 
associated  with  him.  These  gentlemen  continued  their  joint  labors 
until  1820,  since  which  i)eriod  Judge  Gould  has  lectured  alone. 
From  its  commencement,  it  has  enjoyed  a  ])atronage.  which  dis- 
tinguished talent,  combined  with  legal  attainment,  justly  merited. 
It  has  been  composed  of  young  men  from  every  section  oi  the 
Union,  many  of  whom  have  since  been  eminently  conspictious,  both 
as  jm-ists  and  as  statemen.  And.  indeed,  even  now.  notwith.stand- 
ing  the  nuermous  legal  seminaries  which  have  been  established 
throughout  our  country,  this  school  maintains  its  proud  pre-emi- 
nence. This,  it  is  believed,  it  to  be  attributed  to  the  advantages, 
which  the  mode  of  instruction  here  prescribed,  possess  over  the 
system  usually  adopted  in  similar  institutions. 

According  to  the  plan  pursued  by  Judge  Could,  the  law  is 
divided  into  forty-eight  titles,  which  embrace  all  its  important 
branches,  and  of  which  he  treats  in  systematic  detail.  These  titles 
are  the  result  of  thirty  years  severe  and  close  application.  They 
comprehended  the  wdiolc  of  his  legal  reading  during  that  ocriod, 
and  continue  moreover,  to  be  enlarged  and  improved  by  modern 
adjudications.      The   lectm-es.    which   are   delivered   every   day,   and 


194  i.n\'ii  iMi:i.i)  C(>iN'r\'  i;i-:\cii  and  p.ar 

which  usually  occupy  an  hour  and  a  half,  embrace  cvcrv  principle 
and  rule  falling-  under  the  several  divisions  of  the  different  titles, 
'i'hese  ])rincii)les  and  rules  are  supported  by  numerous  authorities, 
and  generally  accom])anied  with  familiar  illustrations.  Whenever 
the  o])inions  upon  an\-  i)oint  arc  contradictorw  the  authorities  in 
support  of  cither  doctrine  arc  cited,  and  the  arguments,  advanced 
by  either  side,  are  presented  in  a  clear  and  concise  manner,  top^ether 
with  the  lectiu'er's  own  views  of  the  (piestion.  In  fact,  every  ancient 
and  modern  o])inion.  whether  o\er-ruled.  doubted,  or  in  anv  way 
<|ualified,  is  here  systematically  digested.  These  lectures,  thus 
classified,  are  taken  down  in  full  by  the  students,  and  after  being 
compared  with  each  other,  are  .generally  transcribed  in  a  more  neat 
and  le.^ible  hand.  The  remainfler  of  the  day  is  occupied  in  examin- 
inj;-  the  authorities  cited  in  suj^jiort  of  the  several  rules,  and  in  read- 
int;-  the  most  appro\ed  authors  upon  those  branches  of  the  law, 
which  are  at  the  time  the  suljject  of  the  lectures.  These  notes, 
thus  written  out,  are,  when  complete,  comprised  in  five  larg^e  vol- 
umes, which  constitute  books  of  reference,  the  i^reat  advantai^'es 
of  which  nnist  be  apparent  to  every  one  of  the  slii^htest  acquaint- 
ance with  the  coni]:»rehensive  and  abstruse  science  of  the  law.  The 
examinations,  which  are  held  every  Saturday,  u))on  the  lectures  of 
the  i)recee(lin^-  week,  consist  of  a  thorout^h  investiiiation  of  the 
])rinciples  of  each  rule,  and  not  merely  of  such  questions  as  can 
be  answered  from  memory  without  any  exercise  of  the  iudi.';ment. 
These  examinations  are  held  by  Jabez  W.  Huntington,  Esq.,  a  dis- 
tinguished gentleman  of  the  bar.  wdiose  practice  enables  him  to 
introduce  frequent  and  familiar  illustrations,  which  excite  an  interest, 
and  serve  to  imjM'ess  more  strongly  upcMi  the  mind  the  knowledg-e 
acquired  during  the  week. 

There  is  also  connected  with  the  institution,  a  Moot  Court  for 
the  argument  of  law  (juestions,  at  which  Judge  Gould  presides. 
The  r|uestions  that  are  discussed  are  prepared  by  him  in  the  forms 
in  which  they  generallv  arise.  These  courts  are  held  once  (//  least 
in  each  week,  two  students  acting  as  counsellors  one  on  each  side. 
And  the  arguments  that  arc  advanced,  together  with  the  oi)inion  of 
the  judge,  are  carefull\-  recorded  in  a  book  kept  for  that  purpose. 
For  the  ])rc])arati(jn  of  these  (piestions.  access  ma\'  at  all  times 
be  had  to  an  extensive  library.  licsides  these  courts,  there  are 
societies  established  for  improvement  in  forensic  exercises,  which 
arc  entirely  under  the  control  of  the  students.. 

The  whole  course  is  completed  in  foui'lecn  months,  including 
two  vacations  of  two  weeks  each,  one  in  the  spring,  the  otiier  in 
the  autumn.  Xo  student  can  enter  for  a  shorter  i)eriod  ihaii  three 
months.  The  terms  of  instruction  are  $lOO  for  the  first  year,  and 
^()0  ior  the  second,  payable  (jther  in  advance  or  at  the  L-ml  of  the 
year. 


]ri)c.i",  c.oL-Li)  s  LAW   sc'iiooi,   r.rii.nixc. 


This  building  was  built  by  James  Gould  as  liis  law  office  about 
1795.  When  he  associated  with  Jud.i^e  Reeve  in  law  school  he  used 
his  office  for  his  lectures.  It  stood  in  his  yard  on  the  West_side  of 
North  street.  It  was  abandoned  at  the  close  of  the  Law  School 
about  ^^^S'  ^""^^  soon  after  the  death  of  Judge  Gould  was  sold  and 
removed  a  inilc  West  of  the  village  on  the  Hantam  road  and  con- 
verted into  a  dwelling  house.  For  many  years  it  was  occu|)ied  by  a 
colored  familw  and  for  five  or  six  years  has  been  unoccupied,  ft 
is  nc^w  a  ruin. 

The  photo  from  which  this  picture  was  made  was  taken  in  1898. 


CKOKCK  C.    WOODKL'M' 

Comi)ilcr  of  this   Catalo.i^nie,    182^ 


I, AW  sciioor,  195 

Tliis  catalnM-iK-  c'xU'iids  mii1\  as  tar  l)ack  a>  \J<)X.  Previous  to 
that  ])(.'ri<i(l.  il  is  l)cli(.'\(.<l  llial  llir  wlmK'  iuiiii1)lt  t'xcc'cdcd  four 
liuiKhx'd  ;  III!  ri'Cord.  Imw  rwr.  lias  lucn  ]  (reserved.  'i"lu-  naines  of 
the  students  are  placed  in  the  urdrr  in  which  they  entered,  without 
any  rej^ard  tn  the  len.j^lh  nf  lime  ihey  conlinue<l  as  members  of  the 
institution,  'i'he  committee  have  endeavored  to  notice  those  who 
liave  distin.nuished  themselves:  but  as  this  has  l)ecn  done  n  crely 
from  recollection,  lhe\  ha\e  no  ilnubl  i)assed  1)\-  many,  wlm  have 
conferred  honor  upon  their  country  and  their  ])rofession. 

Litchfu'ld,   Jan.    1.    iS_'S. 

C  ATAKotU'E. 


Abeel.    George    New  York    1823 

Adams.   Charles    Alassachusetts    1812 

Adams.    |oseph    T Afassachusetts    1820 

Adams,    John    Massachusetts    1822 

Adams,  John  T Connecticut    1833 

Aiken,    Charles    \e\v  Hampshire   1832 

Albro,  John   A Massachusetts    182 [ 

Alden,    Cyrus    Massachusetts    1808 

Alden,   Hiram   (  ) Xew  Hampshire 1823 

Allen,  Alexander  M Georg-ia    1801 

Allen,    Ziniri    R \'erm/ont     181  i 

Allyn.   J.    T.    Maryland    1821 

Alston.  William  W South   Carolina    1818 

Alston,   William   J South   Carolina 1824 

Ames.    Samuel    Rhode  Island — Chief  Jus.  R.   I .  .  1824 

-Andrews,  AA'illiam    Alassachusetts    1812 

Andrews.   William   T.    .  ,  .  .  .  .Massachusetts    1812 

Anderson.  l-"ranklin    ^Maryland    1813 

Anderson.   John    Maryland    1815 

Ashley,    Chester    New  York — U.   S.   Senator 1814 

Aspinwall,    Thomas    L X'ew  York   1810 

Atwater,    Frederick New  York 1814 

Atwater,    Russell    .  Xew     York   1815 

Austin,    Charles    AFassachusetts    1812 

Austin,    Ralsamon    (  onnecticut    1801 

Austin,   Senaca    X'ermont    1820 

Averill,    Klisha    Connecticut    1814 

Averill,  William  H .Connecticut    1817 

Aver,    Zaccheus Georoia    1817 


196  IJTCHKIKI.D  COUNTY   nKNCII    AND  BAR 

B 

liabbitt,    Roswcll    Now   \'(irk    

l^acon,   David    L  onnccticiit    

Bacon,  William  J Xcw   \'<)rk    

Hakcr.    Joshua    Louisiana    

Baker,    Walter    Xew   Hampshire    

Balcom,  Everett   Massachusetts    

r.alclwin,   Birdsey    C  onnecticut    

r.aldwin,   Charles    Xew   \ny\<    

Baldwin,   Charles    Connecticut    

Baldwin.   l{henezer    ConnecticiU     

Baldwin.    Henry    Conn. — jud.^e  Sup.  I'l.  L'.S.  M.  C. 

I  Baldwin,    Koo-er   S Conn. — Ciowrnor.  I'.  S.  Senator. 

r.aldwin,    Samuel    S Connecticut     

r.anks.    W  illiam    (." C.eorj.;ia     

Barclay,    David.    ]r \'iri;inia    

Barnes,    h'.nos    H Air^inia    

B)arnes,  josej)!!    Massachusetts — judi.;e     I'enn.  .  .  . 

Barnes.    Lauren .Connecticut     

lUirnwell    William    South   C'arolina    

l)artram.   Daniel   S Connecticut     

l>ates,    Anson    .Connecticut     

B)attle,  Josiah    I'. Connecticut    

Baxter,    Eli    H (iCor^ia — Jud,ye    Circuit    Court.. 

Ba.xter.    Horace    Massachusetts    

Beach,    Erasmus    1) }*Iassachusetts    

B)eel>e,  Levi  S Xew  York   

Beecher.  Truman    Connecticut    

Leers.    David    B Connecticut    

Beers,    Frederick Connecticut    

Beers,    Seth     P Conn. — Com.  of  School   I'und.  .  . 

Belden.    Hezekiah Connecticut     

BelK     1  liarvey A'crnront   

liell,   James X'ermont     

Bellamy.     |ose])h    J 1 Coiniecticut     

]'>ennett.  .\Mlo  L Conn.— L.L.D.  Judj^e  SupCL  \'t. 

B)everly,    Lames    District  Columbia    

Beverly.    \\  illiam    District   Columbia    

Bi^elow,  Lloratio Massachusetts    

Bij.;;elow,    Silas    .Massachusetts    

Billinf^s,     .\oyes Connt'clicut- Lieut. -Cio\ernor     .  . 

iiinj^ham.  L\   W .\ew   A'ork    

Bissell,  Ivlward Connecticut     

Bissell,  John,  Jr Connecticut   

Bishop,   Jonathan    L .Maryland    

Bi.xby.    .\lfred    New    I  lampsjiire    


i.wv  sciioor,  icjy 

Ulackvvcll.    I  ):i\i(l    Kentuck\-    

I  '.lake,    l'*li    W Coniiccticul     

iUake,    Francis    A iMassacliusctls    

I'.oivd.  Natlianicl   T Oeorjj^ia     

]?()n(l,    William    Maryland    

I'.onc'stall.    \'ir^il    1 ) New  York    

I'.onnc'l,  Joseph    I  /'clawarc     

lioardnian.    (leor^e    S C  imnecticiit     

I'.oardman,    William     W C'onnccliciit  —  Member    Congress. 

Uolles,   job    S.    'V ( ieor^ia     

])0(>tli.  James.  Jr Delaware — Chief    justice     

r.osson.  diaries Massachusetts    

Llostwick,    Charles    Connecticut     

lUnle,    James    (.  onnecticut     

I5racc,  John  I* Connecticut     

P)race.   Thomas    K C  onnecticut     

llradlew    l>enj.    11 Connecticut     

llradlev,     l{dwin     11 Connecticut     

Brayton,   C.eor^e   A K'hode   Island 

r>rcckcnri<l!^e.   John    Maryland    

P>rimsmade.    Daniel    li Connecticut     

I'ronson.    hrederick    Xew    ^'ork    

Ih-oome,   Jacob    Delaware     

lirookes,   Whitetield    v^outh    Carnlina    

I'rovvn,    Charles    R Connecticut     

I'.rown,    1-^ranklin Xew   \'ork 

I  '.rown,  (^.eort^e   .New  York 

Urown,   Nicholas.   Jr I^Jhode    Island    

Brnyn.  Andrew  D.  W Xew  York — Member  Coni^ress.  . 

r.uffet.  William   P Xew  York    .* 

lUichanan,  William   S I  'ennsylvania 

r)ulklcy.  J(xse])h    Cnnecticut    

lUillard,    Ro\al ATassachusctts    

lUdl.  Rpaphras  W Connecticut    

lUniker.  Charles    r^lassachusetts    

r.unnoll.    James    F N^ew  York   

I')UrjTe.ss.   W.   Arnold Rhode  Island 

lUitler,    Chester    1' Pennsylvania — Mem.  of  Coni;-.  .  . 

P.ntlcr,  David   1*. Xew  Jerse\    

r.m-rall.    ^^'illiam     1' C<^nnecticut     


Calhoun.   John   C South   Carolina — L.  L.  D.,  ^^  P. 

Mem.  of  Conii". ;  Senator;  Sec. 

of  State  and  of  War 1805 

Cam]).    Ral])h    C. Connecticut     1824 


198  i.ri\iii-ii:i.i)  corxTN'  i;i;\(.ii  and  i;.\r 

C'anilircUin^-   v'^toiihcn    \orlli   (.'aroliiui    

L'amplK'll.    I'dllin     ^-'outli    (.'ardlina    

L'aniphcll,    ("iciir^c    1 Xcw   \nvk    

C*am])l)cll,    lolin    South   Carolina    

Cantclou.  I'etor  L (icor^ia     

Cantcloii.  William    I'. Georgia     

Canfield,    l-'.zra    Connecticut    

Canficld.    1  Icnry   j Connecticut    

Card  well.  Jt)hn  W South    Carolina    

Carroll.    Charles    11 Xew   N'ork — Meniher  (.'oui^ress.  . 

Carroll.    Willani    ,  .  .Indiana    

Castor.  Dyer    I'ennsylvania    

Catlin.    Geori^-e    Penn. —  Indian    ])orirait   i>ainter.  . 

Catlin.   Georj^e    S Conn. — Member  of  Congress.  .  .  . 

Catlin.    Grove    Connecticut    

Chase.    Harvey .  Xew   1  lamjishire    

Chase.    Moses    Xew  llhampshire   

Chase,    Samuel    Xew  ^'ork   

Champion.    K])a])hrodilus    .  .  .Connecticut    

Cham])lin.    Christopher    Rhode    Island 

Chambers.    Joseph    I'ennsxdvania    

Chaml)ers.    I^enjamin    L l\Iaryland    

Chamberlin.    ^lellin    3ilaine    

Chandler.   Anson  G .iNlaine    

Chandler.  John  A Maine    

Chandler.   Plannibal    Virginia     

Channini;',   Henrv   W Connecticut    

Chapin,    Moses    .Mass. — Judi^e  X.  \'.  Courts 

Chapman,   Charles .Connecticut    

Chester.  Henry   New  York    

Chester,    Stephen    ^1 Connecticut    

Cheever,  Samuel    Massachusetts    

Child.    Abiel    Connecticut     

Childs,    Timothy,    Jr Massachusetts — Mem.    Cont^ress. 

Chittenden.    iM-ederick    Connecticut    

Church.   Aaron    Connecticut    

Church.    Lcman    Connecticut    

Church.   Sanniel    Connecticut — Chief    Justice 

Clark.    Archibald    Georgia     

Clark.  Gibson    Georoia    

Clark,   Henry  L Xew  "S'ork   

Clark,  James   .  .  (k'orgia    

Clark.   Robert    Georgia 

Clark.    I  V'ter    Xew  Jersey    

Clayton.  John    M .Delaware — L.l,.l),   Chief  Justice; 

I'.  S.  Senator:  Sec.  of  SUitc.  . 
Cleveland.    Stephen     Xew    \'ork    


LAW    Sr  lliiiM.  199 


riifldii,    William    C (  k-nr^ia 

Clinton,    (k-or^c    W Xcw    \')vk    

Cockhurn.    William    Xcw   \nvk    

Co.usliall,   Josiali    11 MassacIniscUs    

Coleman,    jolm   j \lal)aina   

Collier,   |olin  A Connecticut — M.  C.   Xcw  York.  . 

Collins,    AuL^ustns    Connecticut    

Collins,    losiali,    |r X'ortli   Carolina    

Cook,    James    C Connecticnl     

Cook,  Oliver  1 ).,    |r Connecticut    

Cooke,  Ros'cr   W Connecticut    

Cooley,    James     l\Jassachusetts    

Cole,  John Xew   \nvk    

Cooper,    lienjamin   1' Xew    \'ork    

Conklin^-,  Thomas Maryland    

Coudit,  Jacob  A Xew  Jersey    

Converse,    Porter    \  ermont    

Cowles,  Sanuiel   Connecticut     

Cowles,  1  lcnr\-   1') Xew    \'ork    

Cowles,   Sands  C. C  onnecticut     

Crawford,    James X'ermjont     

Crawford,  Joel    Cieorgia — Member  of  Congress.  . 

Crog-han,    William    Kentucky    

Crosby.   Tlatt   11 Xew  ^'ork    

Cruger,   11.    .\..  Jr South   L'arolina    

Cumming,  Ivlward  II Xew  Jersey    

Cumming.    William     Georgia     

Cunningham.    Robert     South   Carolina    

Cuthbert,    John    A (>eorgia — Member  of  Congress.  . 

Cuthbert,    Alfred    Georgia — United  States  Senator. 

Cutler,  -  George    Y Connecticut    

Cutting",  15rockholst    Xew  York 

Cushman,    Charles    C A  ermont    

Cushman,    John    1' Conn. — M.  C.  and    ludge  X.  Y.  . 


D 


.S25 

818 
809 
827 
805 
804 
826 

818 
817 

799 
8ro 
821 

817 
813 
804 
802 
817 
826 
832 
80(3 
815 

813 
821 

826 
806 
810 
807 
804 
819 
823 
828 
808 


Dart,   John    S South   Carolina    1821 

Davidge.    Francis    II Maryland    1815 

Davis,  John   X'irginia .  181  I 

Davis.    lames     Maryland    1816 

Di^vis.  John    11 Delaware     1817 

Davies.    Henry    [Maryland    1809 

Davies.    Israel    W Massachusetts    181 1 

Davies.    lohn    l'> \'irginia    181 5 


200  i.i'i'c'ii  i"ii:i.i)  roiNTN'  i;i:\rii    \\i>  i;\k> 

l)a\\son.    Lawrence South   C'arolina    

Dawson,    William    C  .  .  .      .  .Cieorgia- — Ju(l<^e:  l'.  S.  Svnator.  . 

I  )a\ .    iMl.uai"    r> Xew   \'ori<    

1  )claniottt'r.    Jacoh    (icori^ia     

l)i'Mcnon.    L'harlcs     CMiari;v  crAffairs  of  I'Vance.  1).  C. 

Dcniin^,    line]    11 Connecticut     

Denny.   'Phoinas    Massachusetts    

Deveraux.   (k'o.    1' Xortli    Carolina     

Deveraux.    Thomas    North    Carolina     

Deveraux.    'I'liomas    T No.  Carolina — I\e])iirler  Su]).  Ct. 

I  )eas.    1  lenr\     South   Carolina    

Dexter.    Christoi)her    C Rliode   Island   

Doolittle.   .\mi>s    W Connecticut     

Doan.  Ciu\    Connecticut    

Downes.    .\])])leton     Massachusetts    

Downman,    John    15 Massachusetts    

Doyle.    iM'aucis    Ceorj^ia     

Duhois.    Cornelius.    |r New    \"ork    

Dunhar.     1  )auiel     Connecticut     

Dunhar.    Miles     C  oiuiecticut     

])\\ij4ht.     1  lenr\     W I\Jassachusetts.Mem!  er  l'on<.iress  . 

])\er.    Thomas    Connecticut    


822 

817 

8ji 
808 
825 

817 

818 

8of') 
814 
Si  1 

•"^'^ 
^22 
8^0 
7()8 
80; 
809 
799 


]"*astman.    .\.    C, New   \'ork    183,^ 

Edwards.    1  lenry    1'    Conn. — judj^e  Suj).  Ct.   N.  \' .  .  .  .  1828 

Edwards.    1  k'ury    T New   ^'ork    1830 

Edwards.    1  lenr\     W Lonn. —  I'.   S.   vSen.  :  Ciow  Conn..  1798 

Ivl  wards,     |ohn    S Connecticut    1798 

I'^dwards.   (  )d,!Lien    C  onn. — judi^e  Sup.  Ct.  N.  \' .  .  .  .  1801 

l'",ickell)er^^er.     Louis     Ivlarvland    1810 

I'.i.uin.   1  le/ekiah   R Maryland    1815 

J\llis.    C.rindall    1\ .New    1  Iaui])shire    18a; 

h*lls\\(»rth.    1  lenry    1 Connecticut     181  i 

h'llsworth.    William    W Conn. — Com.  of    I'atenls;   M.   C.  ; 

(jovernor:  jud^e   Suj).  Court..  181  I 

i'.llmaker.    Amos    I'ennsylvania    i8o() 

h'.llmeudorf.    h",dmond    I '> New   York    1826 

h'nnis.   William    Rhode  Island   1820 

h'.rwin.    Isaac    11 Alahama     1828 

h'verest,    Sherman     ConnecticiU     1800 


"airle.    I'Vvderick    .New    ^'ork    1818 

"elder,     [ohn    .M South  Ca  rolina — Mem.  of  Coni;'.  r8o5 

"inc.  John    .New    York    1813 


KepriiiU'd  the  Cataloi^uc.    1900 


],.\\\    Scllooi,  20I 

l''islnr,    Isaac,    jr Mar_\Ian(l    iXii 

JmsIkt,   v^aimicl    Alassacliusi'lls    iKio 

Fitch.   John    C'onnccticul     i.So:^ 

Mcmin.L;-.   Matthew    South    Caidliua    1.S15 

h'lo\(l,  Joseph  K .\Iar\hin<l     iHi.S 

l-'olii-l,    Timntliy     Xcnr^niil     1X12 

Im)1soih,    Joshua    Xew   1  lam])shirc    iHri 

Im)()1.    h>hn    A Connecticut    1X24 

lM)i)tnian.    W'ilhaui    Maryland    1X15 

i'ord,    W  ilham    Jl South   Can.hna    1X2^) 

Foster,  Georg-e    Massachusetts    1812 

Foster,    James    Massachusetts    1812 

Foster,  Thomas  V Massachusetts — ]M.  C.  Geo 1816 

Fowler,  James Massachusetts    1808 

h'owler,  John    I ) Massachusetts    iXr^ 

Francis,    lohn    11 Rhode    Island     1813 

Frank-lin,"    Waller    S I'enn.— Lderk    11.    K.    I'.   S 1818 

Frazier,  .Vlexander  G South   Carolina    1810 

iM-ishie,    Samuel    Gonnecticut     •8o(j 

Iniller,   1lenr\     II Alassachusetts    1812 

Indler,    William    W' Massachusetts    1814 

Fullerton,    Alexander    X \ermoii/t     l8>2() 

Fullerton,    Thomas    S Wrmbnt     1822 

G 

Gantt,    Samuel     South    Carolina    1817 

Cranesvoort,    Peter    Xew   \'ork    1810 

Gardner,    Philip    S Phode  Island   1826 

Gibbs,  David    Massachusetts    1808 

Gihlis.    1  lenry    W' Coimecticut    t8o8 

Gibbs,    William    G Rhode  Island — Governor 1810 

Gibson,  William    Geori^ia     1823 

Glover,    Sanmel     Xew  ^'ork    1820 

Gold.   Thomas   A Massachusetts    1808 

(niodwin.    Fdward    Gonnecticut     1823 

Goodwin.    Hiram    Connecticut    1829 

Gould.    Georg-e    Conn. — Judge  Su]).  Court  X.  V.  .  1827 

Gould   James    P Goiuiecticut    1824 

(iould.    William    T Conn. — Judg-e.    (Voorgia 1818 

(jraham,    John    I Xew   ^'ork    1814 

Grant,  William    South   Carolina    1823 

Grant',    William    A (Georgia     1823 

Graves.    Thomas    G Kentucky     1808 

Gray,    Thomas    Connecticut    1817 

Green,    Calel>,    Jr Xew  York    1830 

Greene.   .Mbert   G Rhode   Island— I'.   S.    Senator.  .  .  1812 


202  i.i'ixii  i'ii:i,i)  ^()^•^••^^•  I'.i'.xrii  and  i-.au 

(irci'iu'.   Ilcnjamin   1) Massacliusctls    1813 

Crci'ii.     1  lonry     W Rhode  Island — juslicc  Sup.  Court 

and   Cliancollor   New    |ci"sc\- .  .  .  uSj^ 

(irccnc.     kiohard     W Kliodc   Island    1812 

(irecne,    William     KMiodc  Island   1817 

Grinin.   Gcori^v    Connecticut — Iv.L.I) 17(;8 

C.riswold,   v^hubal    Connecticut    1809 

Civoonu'.     idlin    C Maryland    1824 

(aistin.    Alpheus     Xorth  Carolina    18(9 

Ciwatlnny.  Isaac  K Kentucky    1«^13 

Ciunn,     Frederick     Connecticut     1812 


H 

ladnall,    William    T. Maryland    

dall.    Ambrose    Massachusetts    

I  .all.   C.ideon    Conn. — jud^e    Suj).    Court 

lall,   I  lorace   X'ermbnt     

lall.    Willis     .\'evv  York — Attorne\   C.en.  X.  \' . 

Halsted.    (  )li\er    S Xew  jersey — Chancellor  .X.  J.  .  . 

lalsted.     Koliert    W Xew    |erse\'    

Halsted.   \\  illiam.  jr Xew  jerse\-    

Ialse\ .    I  lopkins    .  . Ceorgia — Mem.   of  C'oui^ress .  .  .  . 

land.    .Aui^ustus    C \  ermont — Juds^e  Sup.  Ct.   X.   V. 

lamilton.    Thomas    South   Carolina    

Harrison.    'rii)ton    V> .Virg"inia    

larvev,    Lero\-    Georg'ia     

lashr.'.ok.  AIn-aham  W New  York— M.  C.  ;  f..L.I).  :  Pres- 
ident Ruti^ers"  Collci^e.  X.   j  .  .  . 

lasselK    l*>entley    South   Carolina    

^atch,   Moses    Connecticut     

lawkes.  ]'"rancis  L  North  C'arolina — Cder^xnian  :  au- 
thor   X.    \' '.' 

lawkes.    I'.enjamin    i> Xorth   Carolina    

lawkins.  Samuel   .Xew  A'ork    

lawdev,  Charles    Conn. —  Lt.-Cov.    C'onn 

ia\dtn.    Moses    Massachusetts    

lead.  C.eoriie  F, l\Tassachusetts    

Uphurn.    Joseph    1 I  ennsylvania    

liccox.   C.uy    Connecticut     

I  ill.    lose])!!    A North  Carolina    

I  ill,   William   R South  Carolina    

lillhouse,  Augustus    1 Connecticut     

line.  Ilonier Connecticut    

lines.  Richard    

lininan.    l\<i\al    1\ Conn. — v^ec.    Slate:   historian    ... 

Iitchc()ek.  Sanuul  Alabama  


819 
802 
829 
803 
826 

827 
814 
819 
827 
810 
818 
821 

Si  2 
825 
80  [ 

818 
82^ 
798 

«i3 
804 

«i3 
819 
8o() 
819 
821 
812 
800 
814 

8(.y) 


I, AW   SCIIOOl,  203 


Holabird,  William   I'* C'luinccticiit — Lt.   'lov.   Conn.... 

IIo(ij;-cs,  William   I"' C'omK'cticiil    

Ilolconil),   Chaunccy    1' C'niin.ectinil     

lloUcy,  J(jlin  M.,    \v CN)nn. — Mem.  nf  Con*,''.  X.  Y.  .  .  . 

[loll,   (^icorj^o    r> Conn. — Judt^'c    in    (  )lii() 

Molt,  'riiaddtnis  (■ (ieorj^ia — jiul^i-  v^u]).  Court  C.a  .  . 

Hooker,  Janu'S    Connecticut     

I  lopkin.s,    .Ahiatlier    Xew    1  l;im])slure    

1  lolchki.s.s.  Minor   Connecticut    

I  louston,    Patrick    (kor^ia     

lloui^-hton,    Jo.'^iah Maine     

Howard,    IJenjamiu    Chas.  .  .  .Mar\ian(l    

1  loward,    John     II (rcori^-ia     

1  lowe,    Samuel    Ma.ssachusetts — jndi^e    

lloyt.    Menry    vS New   York    

I  luhhard,    I'Uijah     Connecticut     

1  luhhard,    l*',li/ur    \'ermont    

1  luhlx'l,    James    \  ermont    

1  ludsou,    lonatlian   T Connecticut     

1  lull,    I  lezekiali    \\ Connecticut    

Hunt,    Hiram    I' New    York — Mem.    of   Congress. 

1  lunt.  Jonathan Connecticut    

liunt,   Ward   \\ Xew  \'ork — Chief  justice  of  X. 

V.  ;Jud_i^e  U.  S.  Su]).  Court.  .  .  . 
Huntiut^ton,  Jahez  W Comi. — M.   C. :    V.   S.   S. ;  Jud^v 

Supreme  Court    

Humi)hrey,  Josei)h    Connecticut     

Hurlhut,   William    Connecticut    

HuHin.qton,  William 1  "'elaware    

Hvde,  John    | (."onnecticut     


X12 
824 

H12 

810 
808 

«C3 
7.^8 
817 
812 

813 
805 
829 

802 
826 

813 
817 

808 

830 

808 
812 

815 
823 
829 


I 

Tn,<;ersoll,  Charles   M Xew  Hami)shire   1812 

Tnoham,   .\lpheus    ]  enn.sylvania    1825 

Ives,    Moses    P, ' ivhode  Island 1812 

Ives,   I  lenr\    C New  York   1 83 1 

J 

Jacobs.   Cyrus    Pennsylvania    1823 

Jacobs,  C.eoroe  W Peinisylvania     1819 

Jacobs,  William  C Penns\lvania    1820 

Jackson,    Ebenezer,    jr Cieorg"ia — Member  of  Congress.  .  1814 

Jackson,   John    P New  Jersey    1824 

Jackson,   Josei)h    Oeorg-ia     1817 

lackson,  ( )livcr    P Xew  York    1823 


204  i.n'ciii"ii:i.n  forx'rv  i;i:n\'ii  and  i;.\r 

Jacksdn.  Thomas  Tv (jcori^ia     1823 

Janvier.   Thomas.   Jr I  )cla\varc    1828 

James.   I{(l\vard   M New   ^'ork    1805 

Jarvis.    Russell    Massachusetts    1813 

Jenkins.  Charles   M \ew  York   1831 

Jessup.   ]\licnezer    Connecticut     1825 

Jewell.   ]\zra    C'omiecticut    1809 

Johns.   Kensey.   Jr 1  k'laware — M.   C. :  Chancellor.  .  .  1812 

Johnson.  Charles  F Connecticut    1824 

Johnson.   Kdwards    Connecticut    1826 

Johnson.  James (rcori^ia    1816 

Johnsdu.    William    S C'onnecticut    1816 

Johnston.  James   T Ceort;"ia     1816 

Jones.    1  lenry    Calcutta.  East  Indies 1810 

Jones.  Joel   Pemisylvania — L.L.I) 1819 

Jones,   John   O .\'ew   \^)rk    18 17 

Jones,   Rohert    1813 

Jones.   Rice    Louisiana    1807 

Judson,  X'oah    Massachusetts    1799 


K 

Kaleb,  A\"illiam  M Maryland    

Kaleb,  J.  A.  ^Ic Maryland    

Kellos^,^".   Kdward    Massachusetts    

Kelso,   Charles   W .  .  . Lennsylvania    

Kerr,   Josc|)h    C Xorth  Carolina   

Key.    Phillip    Alaryland    

Kilbourn.    Austin    Connecticut    

l\in|L;,    Ivlward     New  York    

I\ini4-,  Cicori^e  C. Rhode  Island 

Kin^,  James  G .\e\v  \'ork — Mem.  of  Con^^ress, 

Kingsbury,  v^anford   .\e\v   Hampshire    

Kinnecutt,    Thomas    Massachusetts — Lieut-Crov.     .  .  . 

Kirhy.  Reynold  M Connecticut    , 

Kirkland.  Chas.    I  * Xew  York   

K'nijjht,    h'rederick    Massachusetts    


827 
829 
823 
828 
817 
829 
^21 

826 
810 
801 
823 
809 
818 
812 


Lake,  Joseph    (  )hi()    1820 

Lamar.  Lucius  (j.  C Ceori;ia — Jud^e  v^up.  Court 1817 

Lan<;(lon.    Lenjamin    l'" \'ermont   1821 

Lanj^sinp;-,  I,evincss  S .\e\v  "S'ork    1830 

Lathro]).  C\tus  TT A.'assachusctts    1810 

Latham,    .\llon    .Massachusetts    1S14 

Lashell,     johu     I 'euns\  l\aui;i    1810 


I. AW    StIIOOh  205 

Lawrence,  Aiij^-nstus  A Xcw   ^'n^k    1X13 

Lawrence.    I'liillip   K Xew   \i>yk    1S14 

Lawrence,    William    !'. Xew       \nvk — CMiar^e      d'arfjiires, 

i.ondiMi    1S19 

Leavenwnrtli,    I'.lias   W .Mass.— L.L.I).  :    .\I.    C\  :    Sec,  of 

Stale    X.    \' 1X25 

l,ea\i'n\\Mrtli,    .Xallian    .Xew    \nyk    l<Xl3 

I.eavenwdrtli,    William    !"',..  .Connecticnt    1H22 

Lea\ilt,  I  lar\e\    !'* Xew   Hampsliire    1S16 

Le(l_\  ard.    1  lenry    Xew  York    1830 

Leonard,    (."(irnelins    Xew   York    1810 

Lewis,   joiui    L I.omsiana    1825 

Lewis,    U(.l)ert    II \ir,:^inia     182 1 

Lewis,   William    Lonisiana    1817 

Livini^ston.    Carroll    ."^iew   \nyk    1827 

Livint^ston,  Tk-nry  W Xew   \nvk    1820 

Livini^ston,  James  1\ .Xew    >'ork    1818 

Livingston,  John  R Xew   >'ork    182^^ 

Livini^ston,  Robert   Xew   N'ork    i82() 

Livin.^ston,    Walter    Xew  ^'ork    182(3 

Lloyd,  Joseph  R Xorth  Carolina   t8i8 

Lockwood,   Ephraim    Connecticut    1708 

Lorint;-,  Charles  G :\Iassachusetts    18 13 

Lorinj^-  Edward  G Massachusetts    1822 

Lord."  Daniel.  Jr New^  York— LX.D ......  1814 

Loni.j:strcet.  Augustus   15 Georgia — L.L.D. ;  Judge  Sup.  Ct. : 

College  President    181 3 

Lott.  Adrain    X'ew  York   1831 

Low,  Cornelius   Xew  York   181 2 

Lowndes.  F.enjamin   \'irginia    1825 

Ludlow.  Alfred Xew  XVn-k   1822 

Lund\ .    Etheldred    \irginia    1818 

Lyman,  Darius   Connecticut    181 1 

Lyman,  Samuel  F :\lassachusetts    1819 

Lyman,  Theodore AJassachusetts    181 1 

M 

Alarberry.    John    ^Maryland    1813 

j\Iack.    EHsiia    T\Iassachusetts    1805 

Magruder,    F.noch    Pennsylvania     1816 

Alackie,   IV'ter    New  York    1813 

Mallory.   Garrick    Lenn.— L.L.D. ;  Judge   I'enn.    .  .  .  1810 

]Mann,  George Rhode  Island 1826 

Alann.    Horace    Alass.— M.  of  C. :  educator 1822 

Afansfiekl.  Edward  D New  York    ^^2^^ 

:\[arklev.    I'.eni.   A South   Carolina    1806 


2o6  I.lTCllI'IKI.n  COI'N'TY    IM'NCII    AM)   HAU 

Marvin,  Kbcnezcr Xcnnont    

Marsh.   C'harlcs.    |r \  crniunt     

Martin.    Joseph     h' Rhode   Ishmd   

Martin,    U'ilh'ani    1) South   Carohna — M.   C 

Mason,   John    ^' Xir^inia — M.  C\  ;  judmo  ;  Sec.  of 

Xavy  ;  Mason  and  Shdcll  affair. 

Mason,   Wilhain   J \  ir^inia    

Mayson,   Charles   C South   Camhua    

Matlier,    Xathaniel    C'onneeticut    

Maxwell,    Koliert    Maryland    

Maxey.     \  irj^il     RIukIc  Island — C'hi^'.  d'affairs  liel- 

ii'iuin    

Mayer,    Abraham    1  'einis\  Ivania    

]\Iayer,    John     !'> l'enns\  Kania     

Mayo,    llarnian    !> New  ^^lrk    

McCaw  1(,\ ,    Robert    \'iri^inia    

McClean,    James    ("■ Mar\land    

McElhenny.  James    South    Carolina    

McFarland,  William  i  I \  iri^inia    

]\Ier\vin,   Elijah    l'> \  erniont     

Afetcalf,  Theron    IMassachusetts    

^liddleton,    iienr\-   A South   Carolina    

Middletnn,    llenr\     South   Carolina    

Mills,   Roger    (.  onneetieut     

Mills,    Michael   F Lonnectieul     

Millar,  Uowyar   A'irginia — i  l'>o\er    V.    Miller?)  . 

Miller,   Charles    Connecticut     

Miller,     Joseph     Connecticut    

Miller,    Morris    Geori^ia     

Miller,    Kutger    I'. X'ew    ^'ork    

^[illcr,  Solomon  v^ X'termont     

Minturn,   Thomas    i\ Xew   York    

Mitchell,   Charles    Connecticut    

Mitchell,    llenry    A Connecticut     

Mitchell,    l/ouis   C Connecticut     

Mitchell,   Louis    Connt'cticut     

Mitchell.   Ste])hen    M Conn<xticut     

MoHit,  'I'homas   (^eort^'ia    

.\b)rris,    Henr\     Xew  "N'ork    

Moore,    Rol)ert    ( '.eori^ia     

Morrison.  James Xew   I  lampshire    

Morse.   Sidney   ]\ Mass. — h^ounder  .X.  \'.  (  )bservei 

Mor.son.    .Arthur    A X'lrginia    

^b.)seley,    Charles    Conneclicut     

.Mumford,    William    W .Xew    N'ork    

Mnui-er,  Warren Connecticut     


Purchased  llie  Judge  Reeve  Homestead 


i,AW  sciKxir,  207 

N 

Nash.   Unison    Massachusetts    i^3 

Ncill.  (".coro'c   P I  ennsylvania    1H20 

Ncsbit,    Kn.q:enius    A (k-or^ia— M.  C. :  jud-x-  Sup.  C"t.  1S23 

Nichols,    T<)sc|)h    11 New  York    1H27 

Nichol,    hMward    New  York    1813 

Nicoll.    |ohn   C (kors^ia— Ju(l.i;-e  ;     T.   S.     District 

Ju(lj2:e    1814 

Nixon.   J  lenry   G South  Carolina    1820 

Nelson.    Annstead    Maryland    1814 

Newcoinb,    Isaac    ]\1 New  York   1828 

Norton.    Marcus    Mass. — Judge  ;  Gov.   Mass 1806 

Norton,  James  C New  York   1819 

North.   Theodore    Connecticut    1808 

Nutall.  William  V> North  Carolina   1823 

o 

Oakley.  Jesse New  York   1814 

Ogxlen.  Alatthias  B New  Jersey    1813 

Olcut,    Thcophilus    New  IIami)shire   1801 

Oliver.    Henry    Maryland    1821 

Oliver.  Samuel  W Georgia    1820 

Olmstead,  Charles  C Connecticut    1810 

Ormsbee,  Edgar  S X'ermont    1824 

Orne,  Henry   Massachusetts    181  r 

Overton.  Thomas   l'> Pennsylvania    1813 

O'Hara,   Arthur   H North  Carolina    1814 


Page,  Benjaiuin    Rhode  Island 1805 

Page,  Henry   Rhode  Island 1816 

Painter,  Alexis    Connecticut    1817 

Parkf^r,  Amasa   Connecticut    '8ck) 

Parker,  Aurelius  D ]\lassachussetts    1826 

Parker,  Charles  T Massachusetts    1828 

Parker.  William   ^[ '«^^o 

Parrott.  Abner  15 (Georgia     1821 

Parson,  Anson  \' Mass. — Judge  Sup.  Coiu't  Penu.  .  1825 

Pasteur,  Edward  G North  Carolina    1823 

latterson,   Chris.    S Pennsylvania    182 1 

Patton.  Robert    1814 

Payne,  Elijah.  Jr \'ermont   1815 

Peck.  \Viriiam"\' Cennecticut — judge.    ( )hio    1824 

Pell,   Duncan    C New  York    1 826 

Pennev,   Samuel    New  York   1828 


.20S  I.n\lll'li:i.l)  (OINTN'    I'.l.MII    AM)   i:ar 

IV-rkins.  Charles    Connecticut     

Perkins.   Thomas   S L'onnecticut     

l*cttih;)ne.   Sereno    I  onnecticut     

IVtet.    |oel    'I' (.'onnecticut     

1  Vtet.    \\'ilhani    W Ohio    

I 'helps.    Charles    1'. Xew    1  lani])shire    

J 'helps,  ivhvard  A Connecticut     

] 'helps.  Elisha   Coini. — Alcni.  of  Coni^rcss 

i -helps,  Jedecliah   Massachusetts    

I'heli)s.  v'^anuiel  v"^ Conn.— I'.  S.  v"^.  ;  judt^e  S.  C.  \t. 

i'ickett.    Keuhen    North   Carolina    

Pickett,   William   J) \orth   Carolina — Ju(li;e    Sup.   Ct. 

Alahama    

Pierce.  James    Ct^nnecticut     

Pierce,  Le\-i Aiarxland    

Pierce,  \\'illiam   L Oeori^ia     

Pierpont.   John    Connecticut — Rev.  ;  poet 

Pierpont.   John    Conn. — Chief  Justice    X'erniont.  . 

Pierson,   Geori^e    New  York    

Pillsbury.  William    Massachusetts    

I'itcher,  John New  York — Lieut. -Gov 

i'itchcr,  Phillip New  York    

I 'itt,  John  R Georgia    

IMayer,  Thompson  T South   Carolina    

Poe.  W^ashington    Georg-ia — Member  of  CongTcss.  . 

Polk,  Thomas  G North  Carolina   ^ 

Porter,  Georg-e  B Penn. — Gov.  of  ]\Iichigan 

Porter,    Timothy    H New  PTampshire — ^l.  Congress.  . 

Portcus,  Jolin    South  Carolina    

Post,  Albert  P 

Potter,  Ansel Connecticut     

Potter,  Asa    Rhode    Island    

Prentice,  Plenry  K 

Preston,   Isaac   T \'irginia — judge  S.  C.  Pouisiana. 

Price,  lienjamin    Maryland    

I'umpclly.    Georg^e   j New  "S'ork    

I'utnam,   Austin    New  York    

Putnam.  Charles Massachusetts    


«^i3 

8l2 
802 

8oo 

«i5 
8o6 

828 

801 

810 
Si  1 
825 

826 
798 

815 
809 
809 
825 
830 
813 
815 
828 
816 
826 
823 
811 
812 
807 
800 
^^2 
805 
S26 

832 
812 
820 

S,2C^ 

828 

814 


R 

Rankin,   Robert  G New  ^'ork    1827 

Raymond,    Daniel     Connecticut     1810 

Raymond,    David    II C  onnecticut    1810 

Raymond.   James    Connecticut     1820 

Raynor.    P.enj.    P ConnecticiU     1824 

Read,  John,    fr 1  )elaware    1824 


r.Aw  sfnoor.  209 


I\i'a<l.  joliii   1 ) Delaware    

ivcad,   William   T iJelawarc    

I\c'C(l,   (uorm'    Delaware    

\\vci\.  jolni   II South  Carolina    

Kecve,  Aaron   I'. Connecticut    

Reynolds,    Walter New  \'ork   

Richards.   Ceors^e   ]  [ C  onnecticut    

Richards.    1  lenrv   S New   Vovk    

Richards,  Rohert  K New  York    

Rideley.    C.reensburij;-    l\entucky    

Rid.i^ate.   Uenjaniiu    Maryland    

Ridout.   Addison    Maryland    

Rohhins,  Samuel  H Cx)nnecticut    

Robhins.    Silas     Conn. — Judi^e.    Kentucky 

Rogers,  Archibald  G >n ew^  York   

Rog^ers,   Artenias    Connecticut    

Rogers,  Charles  W Georgia    

Rogers,  Edward   Delaware    

Rogers,  Henry  A Rhode    Island    

Rogers,  Henry  J] Massachusetts    

Rogers,  Henry  \V Connecticut    

Rogers,   Henry    l^ennsylvania    

Rogers,  John Delaware    

Rogers,   Moulton  C Delaware — Judge,    Pennsylvania. 

Rogers,  William  M (Georgia    

Ross,    Thomas    Pennsylvania    

Ruggles,    Heman    Connecticut    

Ruggles,  Henry  J New  York   

Rutledgc,  Benj.  H South  Carolina    

Rutherford.  John    Georgia    

Rutherford,  Robert    Gieorgia    


H2.^ 

H12 
808 
809 
802 
822 
809 
826 
829 
816 

814 

817 
8o§ 
823 
81"! 
829 
810 
821 
823 
810 
823 

813 
807 
829 
827 
803 
832 
817 
829 
806 


Sanuiel,  P)evcrly   South  Carolina    1819 

Saiuson,  John  P.  C New  York   1817 

Sankey,   Joseph    S Georgia    1826 

Sanford,  Rollin Connecticut    1831 

Sargent.  William  F.  W ^^lississippi    1817 

Saunders.  Curtis  H '1  cnnessee    ^^33 

Schley.  John  T Maryland    1828 

Schell.  Augustus New  York   1831 

Schuyler.   Robert    New  York   1818 

Scott.  John  Ray   New  York   1807 

Scott.    Jessup    W Connecticut    1822 

Scudder.  Phillip  J New  Jersey   1813 

Sedgwick.  Harrv    Massachusetts    1807 


2IO  I.lTCIIl-lKr.l)  (.OINTV  lU'XCIl    AM)  llAR 

Soclc;\vick.  Philo  C Connecticut    

Scldcn,  I'lysses Connecticut    

Sewall,    William    If Alarvland    

Seymour.  ]  Jenry Conn. — M.  of  C. ;  Gov.  of  Conn.  . 

Seymour,    iloratio    Conn. — L.L.I);  U.  S.  Senator  \'t. 

Seymour.   L^aac  Ci deors^ia    

Seymour.    C)rig-en    S Conn. — M.  of  C.  Judq-e  and  Chief 

justice     

Seymour.  Osias \  ermont     

Shatter.  Jose])h   L Georgia    

Shaumburgii.    Charles    W .  .  .Louisiana    

Shaw.    Henry    Xew  York — Mem.  of  Congres.s.  . 

Sheldon,  Daniel    Connecticut    

Sheldcn.   William    Connecticut    

Sheldon.  L'^aac Connecticut    

Shelton.  Stephen Connecticut     

Shepard.   Samuel    

Sherman.  Elkanah  C Xew  York    

vShcrrell.  Joseph    ^lassachusctts    

Sill,    Theodore    Connecticut     

Simkins,   Hldred    South  Carolina — M.  C.  ;  Lt.-Ciov. 

S.  C 

v^ims,  John   0 Pennsylvania    

Simons,   ]\roses    South  Carolina    

Simmons,  Edward  P Scnith   Carolina    

Skinner,    John    P) Connecticut     

Skinner,  ( )liver Connecticut    

Skinner,   Richard    Conn. — Chief  Jus.  and  Cov  \'t..  . 

Skinner, Roger    S C  onnecticut    

Sloan,  Douglass  \\" Massachusetts    

v'^losson,    r>arazilli    Xew  York   

vSmith.   .Archibald    Xew  York 

v^mith.   Charles    Massachusetts    

vSmith.   Henry    1! Massachusetts    

Smith    James    H Xorth   (.'arolina    

Smith.   Jose])h    L Conn. — judge  h'lorida  :  I'.  S.   .  .  . 

Smith.  Junius  Conn. — L.L.I):  ist  ocean  steam- 
ship. Tea  grower    

Smith.    Ira    Connecticut     

Smith,   Lemuel    Massachusetts    

vSmith,    T^evi    P. Pennsylvania    

Smith.    .Xathaniel    P. Connecticut     

Smith.  I'erry   Conn. — I'.   S.   Senator    

Smith.  Truman   Conn. — M.  of  C. ;  I'.  S.  Senator. 

Smallwood.  William  .\ District  Columbia    

vSpaulding.  Richard  P ( Georgia     

S])arks.   William    H C.eorgia     


ORIGUX  S.   SKV-AroUR 


LAW    Sc'llnol,  21  I 


Si)ai.i;iil,    Charles   C Ccori^ia     

Si)ircs.   r.racncv  T North    CaroHna     

Si)ra,<,nu'.   I Vk-    Massachusc-tts— I'.  S.  Seiiat.-r.  .  . 

SiK'cil    KohiTt    11 \  ir-inia     

SponciT,    AlcxandiT   (  ) N  *-'\v    ^tirk    

Spencer,  (  )livcM-  M  .  . <  ^lii'>    

Spooner.    \\'i]liam     Massachusetts    

Sta--,i;-.    I  'eter    New  York    

Staiislnir\ .  ('..  A N'<-'\v   Vork    

Stanlev,     I  leiiry     Xew    ^'()rk    

Stark,"  Cald).    jr \  criiK.iU     

Stark,    Wyatl " South   Carolina    

Starr,    ICphraini,    Jr Connecticut     

Starr,  Henry Connecticut    

Steele,    William    F Alaryland    

Sterrett,  John    1  ennsylvania    

Sterrett,  William  P (^eori^na     

Stewart.   Charles    S New   ^'ork    

Stiles,  Joseph  C (k-orj^ia     

Stiles.  Richard ( Veor-ia     

Stone,  C.reiiory  1) Xew    I  lampshire    

Stoddart,  John  T Maryland    

Storrs.   Juha    Connecticut    

Stevens,  Henry  W Connecticut    

Stevens.  John  L Xew  "S'ork    

Stevens.   Thomas    (k-ori^ia     

Strohel.  Martin   South   Carolina    

Strong-,  Elisha  I> Conneticnt    

Stroni^-,  Afartin   Connecticut    

Stroui^,    Moses    M N'ennont     

Stron,!^^  Theron   Connecticut    

Stuart.  I'>ancis   South   Carolina    

Stuart.  Josephus  R Massachusetts    

Sullivan.  James Massachusetts    

Sutherland,    Josiah.    Jr Xew  York — M.  C. :  Jud.^e  Sp.Ct 

Swcczy.    Thomas    Massachusetts    

Swift.  ]'.eniamin   X'ermont — I'.    S.    Senator    

Swift,   William    X'ermont     


X2J 

Sol 

^-'.^ 
Si  I 

S03 
So<) 
S14 
822 
821 
817 
S17 
S22 
823 
813 
806 
81T 

«^-\^ 
806 
810 

80  r 
83(^ 
822 
809 
812 
822 
S25 
Sir 
801 
817 


Tabor,  William  T Connecticut    1813 

Tallifero.  William  F.  .'. X'irginia    1813 

Tallmad5„a\  Frederick  A Conn.— M.  C.  from  X.  Y 181  r 

Tatnall,  Edward  F ( .eor^jia — Member  of  Conj^ress.  .  1810 

Tavlor,   Edwin    M Massachusetts    1832 


212  i.rmiKiKi.i)  loiN'rv  r.KM'ii  .\m>  har 

Tavlor,    ]  Iiil)l)ar(l    Kentucky    1810 

Taylor.  James  S \'ir_:ninia    1818 

Taylor.  John  Ciilnian   Massacliusctls    1^03 

Taylor.  "Williani    South   Carolina    1828 

Teakle.  James   D IMaryland    1817 

Tell  fair.  Josiah    Geori>-ia    1804 

Tell  fair.  Tiiomas    Ceori^ia    1806 

Tennew  William New    1  lampsliire — M  .   of   C 1809 

Terry,   Alfred    Connecticui     182.^ 

Thayer.  James Massachusetts    1815 

Thweat.    I  riali    Geor^^ia     1802 

Thomas,  Alexander    Geori^ia     1810 

Thomas.   Charles.  Jr Delaware    1812 

Thompson,   Henry    IMassachusetts    1814 

Thorndike.  Larkin    ^Massachusetts    1809 

Todd.    Charles     Kentucky    1810 

Tolman.   Thomas    Kentucky    i^f^ 

Torrey.    Charles    Txiassachusetts    1814 

Tracy,  George  H New  York    1830 

Treat.   Selah  B Connecticut     1825 

Trescott,   Henry    South  Carolina    1815 

Trotter.  James  G Kentucky    1809 

'I'rou]),  Robert  R Xew  York    1809 

'I'ucker.  George  J 1824 

Tuthill.    Cornelius    Xew  ^'ork    1815 

Twining".   Thomas,   Jr ^iassachusetts    1814 

Tyler,  Xathan   Connecticut    1825 

V 

\'andusen,    William    Connecticut     1803 

\'anderheyden.   Sanuiel    Xew  ^'ork    1820 

X'andyke,  Kense\   J Xew  Jersey    1818 

A'anmeter,  John  J A'irginia    1821 

\'an  Wagener.  ('.erritl  (..    .  .  Xew   \'ork    1823 

\er|)lank,  James  1) Xew  York    1827 

w 

XN'ager,    John ^'irginia    1823 

Wakeman.    |onathan    Connecticut     1807 

Waldo,  William  T*.   Xew   ^'ork    1828 

Walhurg,  George   M Georgia     1815 

Walker,  Charles    Mas.sachusetts    1822 

Walker,  ( ".eorge  J.   S Georgia     1826 

Wallace,   James    W    lennsylvania    |82(; 

Waring.    Xathanicl    ]"    Xew   S'ork    ; 1827 


I, AW  Sl'IKXiL  2  1  Tf 

Ward.   Isaac    N<-'\v  .Kisiy    i-'^i.^ 

Ward.    Kicliard    R    Xcw  ^ork    i«i7 

Ward,    v^oloinon    .Massachusetts    iH(j2 

Warner,    l{li    Connccticm     1808 

\\'ariKr,    'I'lKuiias    .\lassacliusctl>    1809 

Watcrhousc,  .\n<lrc\v  O .Massachusetts    181  i 

Watson,  JMhn   I'. Connecticut    1815 

Watson,    Sanuiel     Massachusetts    1826 

Watson.   WilHani    Comiecticut    i8.y 

Wel)l)cr.    Sumner    A Massaclnisetts    1823 

Weeks.    Alfred    A New  York   1823 

\\'ells,  R:\\\)h   Connecticut    1^12 

Welles.  Thomas  1 New  York    1823 

A\'eenis,    James    T District  Columbia   1820 

Wetmore'    William    Connecticut    i-^'.S 

Wheeler.    Justice   P Alassachusetts    1804 

White,   loim    I' Connecticut    1/99 

Wliitc,  Thomas   Georgia    1816 

White.    William    Xew  Hampshire    1818 

Whitino-.  John   C ^lassachusetts    1823 

Whitman.'  John 1'^°^ 

Whitman.   Lemuel    Connecticut— Mem.  of  Congress.  1805 

Whittlesey.  Elisha  1) Connecticut— ]\rem.  of  Congress.  1813 

Whittlesev.   Frederick    Conn.— M.    of    Congress;    Judge 

Sup.  Court  X.  Y 1819 

Whittlesev,   Thomas  T Connecticut— Mem.  of  C'ongress.  1818 

Wight.    John    L Mrginia    .-  •  ^''^24 

Williams.    David     Louisiana    ''*^i^^ 

Williams.    Henrv    F Louisiana    iJ^i^ 

Williams.  Jared ' W i-'^^o 

Williams.    Lemuel    Massachusetts    1806 

Williams,  Thomas  S Connecticut    1797 

Williams.  William  G Massachusetts    1799 

Wilkins,  Edmond   Xorth  Carolina    1817 

Wilkins.  John  L Xorth  Carolina   1820 

W^ilson.   Andrew   P Pennsylvania    1825 

Winslow,    Edward    D Xorth  Carolina    •  •  1831 

Winship.  John  C.  ]\1 Massachusetts    1810 

Wittich.  Lucius  L Georgia     1824 

Wolcott.   (Jliver   S Connecticut    1818 

W'ood,    James    1 79" 

Woodbridgc.   William    Ohio— U.  S.  Senator 1802 

Woodbury.    Le\i    New  Hampshire — Gov.  of  X.  H. ; 

Sec.  of  Navy  and  Trcas. :  Judge 

of  V.  S.   Sup.  Court 1809 

Woolridge.  Thomas   South  Carolina    181 5 


214 


i.n\iii-ii:i.n  coiN'rv  nKxcii  and  v.ar 


Woodruff.  George  C Connecticut— Mem.  of  Congress.  1825 

Woodruff.   Lewis    P. Conn.— L-L.D. ;  Judi^e    Sup.    Ct. 

Ct.  of  Appeal  N.  Y.  and  Judj;e 
of  Circuit  Ct.  N.  Y..  Conn,  and 

Vermont   1H30 

WortliiuQ-ton.    Perrv    Maryland    •i^.V 

Wri-iit.  ".\us-ustus  R Ceor.uia— Judge    v^up.    Court 1833 

Y 

Yates,  Metcalf    Xew  York   1821 

Yates.  William   New  Ybrk   1824 

Young,  Charles  C Xew  York   ^ 1827 

Youno-.  Ebenezer    Connecticut — Mem.  of  Congress.  1809 

Number  on  Catalogue .   805 

Students  previous  to   1798 210 

Whole   number    1015 


SJingrapljieH 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES 


OF 


LITCHFIELD  COUNTY 


BENCH,  BAR 


AND 


COUNTY  OFFICERS 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES 


In  the  followino-  sketches  tlie  compiler  has  endeavored  to  give 
in  most  cases  only  a  very  hrief  account  of  the  lethal  history  of  the 
person  with  no  attempt  at  genealog-y,  t)r  comments  upon  the  life 
or  character.  The  information  has  been  drawn  from  a  ^reat  variety 
of  sources  and  is  believed  to  be  in  the  main  correct.  It  is.  however, 
merely  an  index  of  the  names  of  those  who  have  contributed  their 
lives  and  energies  to  make  our  Mountain  County  deserve  its  high 
and  noble  record  of  the  past  and  to  incite  our  present  and  future 
attorneys  to  u])hold  and  maintain  the  lofty  standard  that  their  sires 
have  be(|ueathed  them. 


"Ojljc  lines  nf  ijrcat  men  all  rcmiu6  ua 
Uli^at  uie  can  make  mtr  ltuc><  Bubltmc 

Au^  ^l^i"9  Uauc  bcljiuh  us 

3fiiotprints  uu  tlie  sau^s  nf  time." 


lUoC.K Al'll  IC  \I,    VOTKS  2  1  7 

l'',i.isiiA  S.  Ai'.i'.km;  Tin  .  was  a  son  of  (iciR-ral  Russell  Ahcr- 
netliy,  of  Torrinj^ton.  horn  OctolK-r  24,  1805.  He  entered  Yale 
C'ollcj^e  when  sixteen  years  old  and  lo^raduatcd  in  1825.  Admitted 
to  the  har  and  i)ractice(l  in  Waterhury,  removed  to  Torrin^lon  and 
afterwards  to  l'>rid,nei)ort,  where  he  was  the  Clerk  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  I'airticld  Counl\    from   \^^^}  to  the  liiiu-  of  liis  (Uath  iu   iX^kj. 

Andkkw  Adams,  LL.D.,  was  l)orn  in  Stratford  in  lyj^G  and 
graduated  at  Yale  Collet^e  in  1760,  settled  in  Litehfield.  He 
rose  to  the  rank  of  Colonel  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  was  a 
memher  of  the  Council  of  Safety  two  years,  of  the  State  Council 
for  nine  years,  a  memher  of  the  Continental  Congress  three  years 
and  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  1779  and  1780. 
He  was  an  associate  Judge  of  the  Sujierior  Court  for  four  years 
and  the  Chief  Justice  from  1793  to  the  time  of  his  decease, 
Novemher  27,  1797. 

The  Litchfield  Monitor  mentions  it  as  a  sad  and  singular  coin- 
cidence that  Governor  Wolcott  and  Chief  Justice  Adams  (the  two 
highest  official  dignitaries  of  the  State),  hoth  residing  in  the  same 
village  and  on  the  same  street  should  he  lying  apparently  at  the 
point  of  death  at  the  same  time.  Governor  Wolcott  survived  his 
distinguished  neighhor  only  three  days. 

Upon  a  rapidly  crumhling  marhlc  slah  in  the  West  hurying 
ground  in  Litchfield,  is  the  following  epitaph  of  this  eminent  man : 

"  In  memory  of  the  Hon.  Andrew  Adams,  Esq.,  Chief  Judge  of 
the  Superior  Court,  who  died  November  27,  1797,  in  the  63d  year 
of  his  age.  Having  filled  many  distinguished  offices  with  great 
abihty  and  dignity,  he  was  promoted  to  the  highest  judicial  office 
in  the  State,  which  he  held  for  several  years,  in  which  his  eminent 
talents  shone  with  uncommon  lustre,  and  were  exerted  to  the  great 
advantage  of  the  public  and  the  honor  of  the  High  Court  in  which 
he  presided.  He  made  an  early  profession  of  religion,  and 
zealously  sought  to  promote  its  true  Interests.  He  lived  a  Life  and 
died  the  Death  of  a  Christian.  His  filial  Piety  and  paternal  tender- 
ness are  held  in  sweet  Remembrance." 

Elijah  Adams,  was  a  son  of  Chief  Justice  Adams.  He  studied 
law  with  Judge  Reeve  and  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1795. 
practiced  his  profession  a  few^  years  in  Litchfield  and  then  moved 
to  Geneva,  New  York. 

SamuKl  Ada:ms.  was  a  native  of  ^^ilford.  Conn.,  but  in  early 
life  went  to  Stratford,  where  he  married  Mary  Fairchild.  He 
became  a  prominent  lawyer  and  a  Judge  of  the  Fairfield  County 
Court.  A  few  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  November 
12,  1788,  in  his  85th  year,  he  removed  to  Litchfield  and  assisted 
his  son,  the  Hon.   Andrew  Adams,   in  his  extensive  practice.     His 


2l8  1.11\  Ill-lKl.l)  COINTV    1.!I;N(.11    AM)    I'.AK 

widow  (lied  AuK^ust  29.   1S03.  in  the  lo^Uh  year  of  her  ai;e,  having 
lived  in  three  eentnries. 

ToiiK  Q.  Adams,  born  in  Cornwall.  November  2.  1S37.  Was 
admitted  to  this  bar  in  1864.  and  located  at  West  Cornwall,  where 
he  i)racticed  nntil  April,  1S72.  wlien  he  removed  to  Ne.^aunee. 
iMichiiian.  where  he  made  a  fortune  by  his  practice  and  successful 
r.iinino-  investments.  He  has  held  many  and  important  political  and 
executive  positions  and  is  widely  known. 

Toiix  Adams,  was  born  in  Canaan  June  22.  i/'^S-  ^  fc  wa.> 
adniittcd  to  this  bar  in  1825.  lie  carried  on  a  very  lar^e  business 
in  the  iron  industry  at  Woodville.  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
and  was  interested  in  other  iron  works.  It  does  not  appear  that 
he  ever  practiced  law.  He  removed  to  T.itchfield  and  from  thence 
to  Falls  \'illage  in  the  town  of  Canaan,  where  he  died  about  1871. 

T.  Hkxkv  Ai)A:\r.  onlv  son  of  John  Adams,  was  l)orn  at  Wood- 
ville, town  of  Washington,  December  29,  1822.  graduated  at  Yale 
College  1842.  and  was  achnitted  to  this  bar  in  1844.  Soon  after  he 
removed  \o  New  York  City  and  began  the  practice  of  hi<  profes- 
sion, which  he  relinquished  and  became  interested  in  the  lighting 
of  the  citv;  was  president  of  the  gas  company  and  accpiired  much 
wealth. 

Joirx  F.  Addis,  is  a  native  of  New  ?^lilt\)r(l.  Connecticut. 
Studied  law  with  his  uncle  John  S.  Turrill,  Esq.,  and  was  admitted 
to  this  bar  in  1882.  Resides  and  practices  in  his  native  town,  and 
is  Judge  of  Probate  for  the  district  of  New  IMilford. 

Ed:*[oxd  Aiken,  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1790  from  Nor- 
tolk,  Connecticut.  He  practiced  in  that  town  and  was  also  engaged 
in  keeping  a  coimtry  store.     Pie  died  in  1807. 

Joiix  AiKKN  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1800  from  Sharon. 
JoiiN  A.  Ali!RO  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1821.     He  abandoned 
this  profession  and  became  a  clergyman. 

JoTLN  Au.KX. — A  long  biography  of  this  eminent  attorney  will 
be  found  in  Boardman's  sketches,  i)age  45  of  this  book. 

On  a  simple  headstone  in  the  Ivast  Cemetery  in  Litchfield  ap- 
pears the  following  epitaph  : 

To  the  memory  of  John    .Vi.i.I'X,  1\Sij. 

Manv  vears  during  a  life  of  eminent  usefidness.  highly 

distinguished    for    his    integrity    and    patriotism    as    a 

member  of  the  Council  and  Supreme  Court  of  Errors 

of   Connecticut,    and    no    less    distinguished    during    a 

period  interesting  and  critical  to  liis  country  as  a  mem- 

l)er  of  the  Congress  of  the  L'nited  States. 

Horn  June   12,   I7<^\^. 

Died  July  31,   1812. 

Aged,  4(;  years. 


I'.KiC.U  \l'll  K'AI,    XOTlCS  219 

Ili'.XKN'  j.  .\i,i,i;\.  SIuTilT  1SS4  iX()5.  Ik-  w.'is  Ixini  in  .M;in- 
chcsU-r,  C'diiiKfticut.  .\la\  J(>.  1  X  :;  1 .  lie  caiiK'  to  I  jtc-lil'ield  C''tiintv 
in  1859,  and  rn^a^rd  in  llu-  linU'l  hn.sint'ss  in  tlir  tlu'n  villa!L;x'  <^f 
Wdlcdit  \ilK'  ""  as  the  ijroprielor  of  llic  well  known  "  Allen  I  louse," 
\\ln\li  he  ke])t  nntil  iKSo.  I)urin^'  much  of  this  time  lie  was  eni- 
I'loyed  as  an  ai^ent  oi"  IrusU'e  in  the  mana^enn-nl  and  settlement 
ol  lari^f  estates,  and  was  \'er\  suceesslul  therein.  Me  was  also 
a  constahle  and  especially  noted  from  his  skill  in  eollecting"  doubt- 
lill  cdaims.  \\v  enjoyed  political  life  and  was  a  shrewd  worker. 
In  l<S84  his  part\-  elected  him  Sheriff,  which  ollice  he  held  until 
lSi;5,  wln'ii  he  was  (kd'eatcd. 

lie  had  tln'  un])leasanl  dnt\'  of  carr\in,q'  into  cFft'Ct  the  first  and 
only  rxi'cution  of  the  death  ])enall\  of  the  century.  Ilis  L^reat 
executive  ability  was  full\-  felt  throus^hout  the  County.  After  his 
retirement  he  was  active  in  the  interests  of  the  Xew  York  Mutual 
I  ife  Insurance  Company,  of  which  he  had  been  an  a^ent  for  many 
}ears,  and  also  in  the  manai;"ement  of  \'arious  trust  estates,  lie 
died  (  )ctober  9.  l8(j(),  and  his  funeral  at  Torriui^ton  on  October  1 1 
v.as  remarkable  for  the  attendance'  of  nian\'  jirominent  citizens  rif 
the  State.      See  ])ictnre,  ])a,L;e   l'^»4. 

C'iiAKi.i:s  11.  Am)Ki;ws.  LL.I).,  was  born  in  Sunderland.  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1834.  (jraduated  at  Amherst  Colleg'c  in  1858.  Ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  l^'airfield  Comity  in  186 1,  and  be^an  his 
Iiractice  in  the  town  of  Kent. 

In  1893  he  removed  to  Litchfield  and  formed  a  ])artnershii)  with 
Hon.  John  bl.  Hubbard,  then  a  member  of  Conj^ress.  He  was 
elected  Senator  from  the  Fifteenth  District  in  i868  and  uSrxj,  and 
was  chairman  of  the  Judiciary  committee  in  1869.  a  member  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  in  1878.  and  a^^ain  chairman  of  the 
Judiciary  Committee.  Was  elected  Governor  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut in  1879,  which  office  he  held  two  years.  I'.ecame  a  Judge 
of  the  Superior  Court  in  1882  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  in  1889,  which  office  he  resioned  October  i.  1901.  He  was 
unanimously  elected  b\'  the  electors  of  Litchfield  member  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention  of  1902,  of  which  body  he  was  the  presid- 
ing;- officer. 

He  died  suddenly  at  Litchfield  September  12.  1902.  His  lei^'al 
obituary  is  in  the  seventv-fifth  volume  of  Connecticut  Reports,  from 
which  we  (|uo'te  the  trilmte  jKiid  to  him  by  his  successor.  Chief 
Justice   Torrance: 

"  This  (.'oiu-t  is  full\-  sensible  of  the  distinj4"uished  services 
rendered  to  this  State  by  Chief  Justice  .Andrews,  and  expresses  its 
obligation  to  the  Attorney  C.eneral  for  the  appropriate  manner  in 
which  he  has  called  the  atteiuion  <d"  the  bench  and  bar  to  them  on 
this  occasion. 


22» 


I.lTCHl-lKl.l)  col:  N  TV   UKNCIL  AND  15AR 


CIIARI<KS    P..    AXUKKWS. 


''  The  Practice  Act  was  enacted  with  the  warm  approval  of 
Governor  Andrews  in  1879.  Three  years  later,  it  became  his  duty, 
as  a  judg'e  of  the  Superior  Court,  to  aid  in  its  administration, — a 
work  which  he  continued  on  the  l)ench  of  that  and  of  this  court 
for  nearly  twenty  years.  lUit  the  regulation  of  lei^al  practice, 
however  important,  is  but  a  small  part  of  judicial  labor.  Chief 
Justice  Andrews  was  an  earnest  student  of  law  as  a  science, — of 
its  fundamental  principles,  and  i)hilosophical  (levelo])ment.  Only 
such  an  one  could  have  written  such  an  opinion,  for  instance,  as 
that  from  his  pen,  in  the  case  of  Wildman  I's.  Wildman.  70  Conn., 
700.  in  which  he  analyzes  with  so  nuich  clearness  and  jirecision  the 
nature  of  a  cause  of  action. 

"  He  was  the  seventeenth  in  the  line  of  Chief  Justices  who 
presided  in  tiiis  court  durinji;  the  first  lumdred  and  seventeen  years 
of  its  history,  and  of  this  number,  oidy  Judi^es  Hosmer.  Williams 
and  Park  held  the  ollice  for  as  long-  a  i)eriod. 

"  In  a  review  of  a  history  <A  tlie  courts  of  Connecticut,  on  a 
public  occasion,  he  once  said  this.  '  In  every  government  of  laws, 
the  courts  hold  the  most  important  place.  The  legislature  may 
he  nominally  higher  than  the  judiciary,  but  in  the  actual  experience 


IJIOCKAl'll  U'  \L    NO'I'KS  221 

of    life,    tlic    courts    IducIi    the    citizen    ini»rc    fre(|iieiitly    and    njorc 
nearly  than   the  lawniakini;-  i)()\ver.' 

"Acting"  under  his  convictinn.  he  was  deeply  ini])ressed  by  tlie 
responsibility  which  attaches  to  a  judicial  station.  It  was  his 
anil)ition  to  discharge  it  with  tidelitw  and  none  of  his  associates 
on  the  bench  failed  tn  remark  the  earnestness  <>\  his  convictifMis 
and  the  fnrcc  and  perspicuil\  with  which  he  was  able  to  set  them 
torth.  (  )n  the  pa,s:es  of  onr  rejuiris  they  have  become  interwoven 
v/ith  the  jurisprudence  of  the  State  and  of  all  the  States." 

Cii.vui.KS  \\  .  AxDui'.ws.  only  son  and  child  nf  ju<li.;e  C'harles  P>. 
Andrews,  was  liorn  in  Litchtield  Xoveni1)er  _m  ,  1S74.  Was  ad- 
mitted to  tile  bar  in    1902.      Me  located  in   Hartford. 

bj)WAi-:n  \\.\i-:ki;\  Am)Ki;\vs.  born  at  Windham,  Connecticut, 
1ul\-,  1811.  a  son  of  l\e\-.  William  Andrews.  W'as  at  I'nion  College 
but  did  not  graduate,  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  this  bar 
in  1834.  lie  was  for  a  time  partner  of  the  lion.  Truman  Smith 
at  Liicbtield.  He  gave  up  the  practice  of  law,  studied  theology 
and  was  settled  in  1837  over  the  Congregational  Chruch  at  West 
Hartford.  About  1841  he  went  to  Xew  York  to  l)e  pastor  of  the 
Broadway  Tabernacle  Church.  After  some  years  he  went  to  Troy 
as  the  pastor  of  a  IVesbyterian  church.  He  ga\e  u])  ])reaching  and 
established  a  school  at  Cornwall,  Connecticut,  lie  was  sent  to  the 
Legislature  in  1851.  He  then  gave  up  teaching  and  resmned  the 
l)ractice  of  law  in  Xew  York  City.  In  the  war  of  1861  he  was 
a  captain  and  was  made  assistant  adjutant  general  under  General 
■\Iorris  at  Fort  ^NIcHenry,  Baltimore.  After  the  war  itc  jjracticed 
law  for  a  short  time  in  West  Mrginia.  He  then  returned  to  New 
^'ork  but  soon  left  his  profession.  He  died  Se])tembcr,  1895,  at 
Chicago,   niinciis. 

S.\:Mri:i.  JA.MKS  AxDKKws.  son  of  Rev.  William  Andrews,  born 
at  Danbury.  Connecticut,  Jul\.  18 17.  Graduated  at  Williams 
College  in  1839.  Studied  law  in  Hartford  and  B>oston  and  was 
admitted  to  this  bar  in  1842,  was  also  admitted  in  Xew  York  City 
and  removed  to  Ohio  and  was  re-admitted  there.  In  1844  he  left 
the  law  and  studied  theology,  and  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  at  East  Windsor,  Connecticut,  1848.  Dismissed 
1855.  He  became  an  author  aufl  student  for  some  years,  and  in 
1868  took  charge  of  the  "  Catholic  Apostolic  "  congregation  in 
Hartford.  He  died  in  Hartford  October,  1906.  James  P.  Andrews 
the  present  reporter  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors,  is  one  of  his 
sons. 

CuRTiss  B.  Atwooi)  was  born  in  Bethlehem  in  1845.  ^Vas 
educated  at  Stamford  Academy,  New  York,  and  at  Brandon  Sem- 
inary, Vermont.     Studied  law  with  Webster  and  O'Xeil  in  Water- 


222  i.rrciii-u-i.n  c■^^^•■l■^•  i;i;\(.  ii  and  i;ak 

biirv,  aii.l  was  adiiiiiud  I.,  llir  bar  at  \cw  Haven  in  18/';.  Now 
resides  ai  \\aierl«i\\  n  Inii  is  n«il  in  aeiive  practice.  Represented  liis 
town  in  llie  1  .e.i^islalnre  of  i<)()5. 

l\\i.s\M<iN  C.  ArsTiN,  was  a  S(ui  d"  llie  Hon.  Aaron  Anstin. 
born  in  New  llarllord.  t^radnaled  from  N'ale  CoUe.^e  in  iSoi.  and 
was  admitted  to  this  l)ar  in  iSoS.  Me  i)raclieed  a  short  time  at 
Litchtield  and  then  located  in  reekskill.  New  \nvk.  lie  died  at 
AX'ashinoton.   D.  C\,  Se])teml)er   H).   1840. 

Koci-K  A\i:rii.i,.  horn  at  Sahsl)nr\-.  Ani;nst  4.  iSoi).  ('.raihiate(l 
at  Union  CoUci^e.  k8^2.  Admitted  to  this  l)ar  in  1S34  and  practiced 
at  Salisl)nrv  nntil  1849,  when  lie  removed  to  Danhnry.  where  he 
had  a  snccessfnl  practice  and  held  nian\  imi)ortant  offices  and  was 
Lientenant  Governor  of  the  v^tate  dnrin^  the  fonr  years  of  the  Civil 
v/ar.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  American  P.ar  Asso- 
ciation. He  died  in  Danhnry.  December  9,  1883.  ( (  )hitnary  in 
50th  Conn.  Rep(M-t. )      See  Warner's  Reminiscences. 

Rissi:i.i.  W.  AvKi:s,  of  W'aterbnry.  admitted  1869.  He  .u'radn- 
ated  at  "S'ale.  1868,  and  afterwards  at  Harvard  Law^  School.  He 
was  the  fonnder  of  the  shore  resort  at  Woodmont,  Connecticut.     He 

(lied  1  )eeeml)er    14,   1873. 

As.\  ]')ACox,  a  native  of  Canterbury,  Connecticut.  l)orn  February 
8,  1771,  t^radnated  at  Yale  Colleoc  in  1703.  and  was  adnntted  to 
this  bar  in  i7<;5.  After  practicini^'  in  various  ])laces  he  removed 
to  Litchfield  in  1806.  where  for  many  years  he  held  a  leadin,^-  position 
at  the  bar.  He  died  in  New  Haven  in  1857.  (  See  r)Oar(lman  and 
Sedo;wick"s  sketches.)  His  i)ietnre  apjiears  in  the  I'acon  .^rou]), 
page  62. 

]^i'Ai'iiK(»ni  lis  CiiA.Mi'iox   r.ACox,  a  son  of  .Asa  I'.acon.  born   in 

Lichfield   in    1810.      C.radnated   at   Yale   College   in  1833.   and   was 

admitted  to  this  bar  in  1840.  He  died  at  Seville  in  Spain.  January 
11.   1845.     I'ictnre  on  |)aj4e  ()2. 

Cii;n"1".k.\i,  1''k.\X(IS  IJ.xoox  was  another  son  of  Asa  R>acon.  born 
in  Litchfield  January  ().  1811).  and  .graduated  at  \-d\c  Co!let;e  in 
1838.  Was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1840:  he  was  a  xdun-;-  man' of 
ji'reat  promise,  holding-  a  hij;h  rank-  as  a  law\er.  and  took  ^reat 
interest  in  niilitar\-  affairs,  rising'  to  the  rank  of  .Major  ('.eneral 
of  the  State  militia.  Mis  death  occurred  Seplemher  10,  184'-). 
Picture  on  ])ame  62. 

W'li.i.xKi)  r.AKi'.K  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1881.  1  L'  located 
and  resides  in  Sharon.  1  \c  has  a  lari^e  ollice  practice  and  real  estate 
business. 

^)lKl)Sl•:^■  I'l.M.DW  I X.  born  in  C.o.shen.  lu'brnary  3,  178(1.  Studied 
law  at   Litchfield   Law   School  and  was  ailmittiMl  id  i)ractice  in    1811. 


i:i()('.u.\ni  h'  \i,  \()Ti:s 


223 


lie  li\r(l  :iii(I  prarlicc'd  in  his  ii;ili\c  \i>\\\\  unlil  1S41.  when  Ik-  rc- 
i.iowd  til  W'rsi  C'nniwall,  wln-ii.'  lie  (HcmI  Api-il  27,  iS5<S.  J  lis  pic- 
ture  is   I  ir.   jia^c    I  I  5. 

( Hlf  »K(,i';  liM.iiwiN.  a  iiati\T  nf  Wasliiii^^ii  m.  d  nincctirnl,  was  ad- 
niilk'd  1(1  die  l)ar  in  iS^o.  lie  i-elin(|uislied  ilie  law  fur  oilier  pnr- 
snits. 

( ii:(ii<(',i-;  II.  ll.M.DW  IN,  Sheriff 
iS('>(j-i,S7<S.  lie  (lied  in  Litch- 
field Deeemher  2,  iXjc;.  The 
lOllnwinn-  ()l)ituar\-  <il"  him  a])- 
|)t'ared  in  llu'  I.iU'iilield  Jiii- 
(jiiircr  : 

'■(  )ur  readers  will  nutice, 
with  dee])  rej^Tet,  the  deatli  nf 
ex-Shcri  ff  C.eor-e  II.  Bald- 
win, wliieli  oeenrred  at  his 
residence  in  this  \'illai.;'e  on 
Tuesdax"  nil  iniin^'.  .Mr.  Bald- 
win was  hnrn  mi  the  joth  of 
Sc])temher,  \H2y.  and  had  en- 
tered itpon  his  53d  }ear.  I  lis 
father,  Captain  Daniel  llald- 
win.  was  a  man  (d"  :L.;'reat  ener- 
i;\\  and  the  smi  was  of  a  simi- 
lar nature,  .\lter  a  i^ood  edu- 
calion  in  mir  villag'e  schools, 
he  serxed  an  ai)])rcnticeshi])  in 
the    I'jiqnirer  dllice.      J  le  snh- 


CI'.OKC.I';    11.    KAi.liWlN 


se(|ncntly  jmhlished,  for  a  slmrt  time,  the  Litchheld  I'iei)nblican, 
::  democratic  i)a]ier.  and  was  the  first  inihlisher  of  the  Sentinel. 
He  was  ])ostmaster  here  for  eight  years,  judge  of  I'robate  for  one 
\car,  and  SheriiTi'  of  the  county  for  nine  years.  He  represented 
llie  town  in  tlie  General  .\sseml)l\-  in  1861.  held  the  office  of  town 
clerk  for  five  years,  from  1858  to  1863,  and  was  first  selectman  for 
several  \  ears  succeeding".  His  friends  were  warmly  attached  to 
him,  and  he  was  noted  for  his  generositv  and  neighhorly  kindness. 
In  his  famih,  he  was  a  devoted  hushand  and  I'allier,  and  his  excellent 
widow  and  children  have  the  heartfelt  sympath}'  of  tlie  entire  cnm- 
munit}'." 

ls.\.\c  U.M.DW  I  \,  was  horn  in  Milford.  ComiectictU.  l'\'hruary  22, 
T715-16.  His  father  removed  tn  Durham  and  snl)se(|uentl\-  to 
Litchfield. 

He  graduated  at  ^'ale  College  in  1735.  and  studied  tiieology 
and  was  licensed  to  i)reach  in  1737.  lie  was  never  settled  in  this 
])rofessii)n,  hut  occasioiialK    jjreached   in   neighboring  churches. 


224  l.lTc  II  lli;i.l)  C'dlN'lA'    r.l'NCI!    AM)   IIAR 

lie  marricil  a  dan^-htcr  of  I'arson  <.'ollins,  tlic  (.■ccciUric  minister 
of  LitchheUl.  bou^hl  a  farm  and  went  to  farming-.  His  services 
were  soon  demanded  in  public  ali'airs  and  for  man\-  years  he  was 
a  ])rominent  man  in  town  and  comit\  matters,  lie  represented  his 
town  in  the  C'lcneral  Assembly  ten  sessions,  and  was  town  clerk  for 
thirty-one  \ears  (  1742-1773.) 

He  was  clerk  of  the  IVobate  Court  for  the  district  of  Litchfield 
for  twenty-nine  years,  and  was  the  first  clerk  of  the  County  Court, 
which  otiice  he  heM  for  forty-two  years  (1751-1793-)  He  'Ii<-'<1  in 
1  itchfield  January  15.  1805. 

Isaac  Uai.dwix.  )\<..  born  at  IJtchfield  November  12.  1753. 
Graduated  at  Yale  in  1774.  .Xdmitted  to  the  bar  and  practiced  at 
Litchfield  until  1812.  wlien  he  removed  to  Pompey,  New  York, 
where  he  died  in   1830.' 

Koc.Ek  Siii-:k-Max  Baldwin,  born  in  New  Haven.  Connecticut 
in  1793.  Was  a  member  of  the  Litchfield  Law  School,  and  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  this  county  in  1813.  He  located  in  his  native  city. 
v/here  he  died  February  19,   1863. 

Probably  no  lawyer  ever  attained  in  Connecticut  a  higher  rank 
at  the  bar  than  that  which  was  j^enerally  conceded  to  Covernor 
Baldwin  by  his  professional  l)rethren.  and  few  men  have  filled  more 
])ublic  oilices  than  he.  (For  a  more  extended  sketch  of  him  see 
obituary  in  30th  Conn.  Report.) 

Saml'KL  S.  ]')A1,1)Wix  was  born  in  Litchfield,  and  i^raduated  at 
\'ale  College  in  1801.  Was  admitted  to  this  l)ar  in  1803  as  of 
Litchfield.     He  died  in   1854. 

Wii.i.i AM  Hai.dwin,  lawyer  at  Salisbury  1842.  (Conn.  Regis- 
ter. ) 

Li'Tiii:k  T.  liAi.i,  was  born  in  Salisbury,  studied  law  with  Judge 
D.  J.  Warner  and  at  Rallston.  New  York,  and  was  admitted  to  this 
bar  in  1854.  lie  remoxed  to  Illinois,  where  he  acquired  a  good 
reputation  as  a  lawyer.  In  the  Civil  War  he  was  an  otlicer  of  the 
Eighty-fourth  Illinois  regiment  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Mur- 
freesboro.  December.  i8r)2.  and  buried  on  the  field. 

LoRKix  li.VKM'.s  studied  in  the  law  school.  Was  admitted  in 
1807  and  ])racticed  a  short  time  in    I'.ristnl. 

lii:.\in'  v^.  l').\Ki;oiK  was  a  native  of  Canton.  Cc^mecticut.  Rorn 
August  2.  1822.  Studied  law  at  Yale  Law  School  and  was  ad- 
mitted lo  this  bar  in  i84().  lie  practiceil  at  Torrington  for  twenty- 
one  years,  when  he  remo\ed  to  Hartford,  where  \\v  died  Se])tember 
21,    1 89 1 . 

Syiai'.sti'.r  I'.aki;oik  was  a  brother  of  I  knr\  S.  I'-arbour  and 
])racticed  law  a  short  time  about  i8f)i  ;it  -New  llartford  ;ind  is  now 
in  i)ractice  in   I  lartford. 


r.MK.K Ai'iiicAi,  i\()'i'i;s  225 

Anson  I'.a'ii'.s.  admiltcd  to  tlic  liar  in  iSjo.  'Hic  llistory  of 
ilartt'ord  C'ouiUv   says  hr  practiced   law  at   ICast  (".ranl)\-    ]i<7,l-\H(Hj. 

l\oi;i;irr  C\   r.\ii;s.  admitted  to  the  bar  in    iSi  1   as  of  Salisbury. 

josiAii  r>.  r>ATTi'.i,i.,  l)orn  in  Woodlmry  March  1,  177^1.  Ad- 
mitted to  the  liar  in  \ji)ij  as  of  Torrini^ton.  JJieil  May  7,  1843.  in 
rorrin^ti  m. 

Ikssk  r.KACii  was  horn  in  Litchfield  in  \j(^f).  He  studied  law 
with  juds^c  Reeve  and  was  admitted  to  the  har  in  \y()].  The  next 
year  he  married  Sally  Wheeler,  of  Derhy.  to  which  jilace  he  moved 
and  ])racticed  law  there  mitil  iSoi.  when  he  remo\ed  to  Keddin.^-, 
C(^nnecticut. 

I.  Cam.  IhXKWiTii,  Jk..  was  horn  in  IJtchhelil  in  1S74.  (iradu- 
ate<"l  at  I'nion  Collei;e  in  i8y6.  Studied  at  Albany  Law  School 
and  in  the  otlices  of  Terr}  iV:  L.ronson  and  L.  I*".  I'>ur]iee  in  Water- 
bur\ .  where  he  eni^ag"e(l  in  jiractice  for  a  short  time,  lie  served 
as  Corporal  of  Comjiany  A.  Tenth  Uattalion.  l'"irst  New  York 
\'olunteers.  from  .\pril,  i8(j8.  to  .\])ril.  i8(ji;.  The  res^imcnt  was 
ordered  for  service  in  the  lMiiliiii)ines.  but  only  went  as  far  as 
Honolulu.  Was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield  har  in  1899.  ^^'as  a 
deputy  sheriff  under  Sheriff  .M  iddlebrook.  Is  en,L;a,L;ed  m  jour- 
nalism. 

ilKzKKiAii  1'.i:i:ciii:k.  was  born  in  IJethlehem,  the  son  of  Abra- 
ham I'.eecher.  He  was  admitteil  to  the  har  in  1854.  He  removed 
to.  and  was  an  earh'  settler  of  Fort  Dodi^e.  Iowa.      Is  now  deceased. 

1 '11  ii.i;.\ioN  I'>i-:i'.ciii-:k,  a  native  of  l\ent.  was  born  in  1775  and  was 
admitted  to  this  l)ar  in  1800  as  from  Sharon.  He  soon  removed  to 
Lancaster.  ( )hio.  Henry  Howe  in  his  Historical  Collections  says 
of  him:  "He  represented  this  district  in  Congress  from  1817  to 
1827,  and  died  about  1840.  Was  in  politics  a  whig",  and  a  man  of 
line  address  and  i)resence.  Lie  it  was  who  o;ave  Thomas  Ewini:;' 
his  first  law  business  of  any  moment.  The  very  elegant  Llenry 
Stanberv,  who  began  his  law  ]M-actice  in  Lancaster,  and  lived  there 
for  many  years,  married  for  his  first  wife  the  daughter  of  ]Mr. 
]^>eecher.  He  later  lived  at  Columbus  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and  ended  his  i)rofessional  career  as  .\ttorne\  C.eneral  of 
the  L'nited  States  under  General  Jackson." 

Trim  AN  1')1;i:ciii;k,  admitted  in  1818  from  Kent.  Was  a 
student   of  the   law   school. 

Fri;i)1';kuk  1')i:i:ks  was  liorn  in  Woodburx'  jul_\-  23.  1785  and 
was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1815.  He  died  in  Woodbury  on  Decem- 
ber 6,  i8j8.  at  the  age  of  43. 


2j6  i.ri'ciii'iKi.n  C()^^■T^■  i'.i:\cii  wn  r..\n 

(iKORC.K  W.  r>i;i:RS  was  a  son  nl'  lion.  Srlli  1'.  I'.ocrs  and  was 
born  in  Litchfield  Fchniarv  18,  1S17.  lie  i^radualcd  from  Trinity 
CollciiV  in  1839.  and  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1842.  J  le  never 
practiced  his  profession,  hut  was  an  assistant  for  his  father  in 
the  care  and  manas;"ement  of  the  immenst'  interests  of  the  School 
I'und  in  the  Westt'rn   l\eser\e  of  (  >hio.      lie  ihed  at   Litchfield. 

Ij;\vis  1"".  Ih'.i'.KS  was  adnntted  in  1804  to  this  bar  from  Winstcd. 
lie  studied  with  jud.qe  (lideon  Hall,  and  remained  in  his  olTice 
in  W'insted  a  short  time  after  jud^e  1  lall's  death  .wlien  he  removed 
to  South   Xorwalk,  where  he  died  I'elirnar}-    15,   1872. 

Si'li'ii  r.  r>i:i:us,  a  native  oi  Woodbury.  l)orn  July  4.  1781.  W'as 
a  student  of  the  Litchfield  Law  School  from  1803  to  1805.  when 
he  was  admitted  to  this  bar  and  settled  in  the  ]jractice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Litchfield,  where  he  died  September  9.  1862.  He  had  a 
hirs^e  clientage  and  occui)ied  many  ])()sitions  (tf  trust.  lie  was 
State's  Attorne}'  for  the  county  1820  to  1825.  His  principal  work 
was  commissioner  of  the  School  Inmd  of  Connecticut  from  1824 
to  1849,  a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  durini;'  which  time  the  settle- 
ment of  a  very  large  number  of  contested  land  claims  and  titles  in 
the  <  Hiio  land,  known  as  the  \\'estern  Reserve,  had  to  be  adjusted 
b\  him.  It  is  largel}-  thrt)ugh  his  legal  and  financial  ability  that 
our  present  school  fund  of  $2,000,000  exists.  Died  September  9, 
iS(->2  at  Litchfield.     (See  Sedgwick's  address.)     Picture  on  page  92. 

Fri:i)i:kiciv  \).  Whmmas,  was  a  nati\e  of  Warren,  graduated 
at  Yale,  class  of  1842,  and  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  i8_W'),  and 
settled  and  jjegan  ])ractice  in  Litchfield.  In  1833  he  was  a])i)ointed 
clerk  of  the  Superior  Coml,  which  ollice  he  held  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  August  i,  i860,  aged  38  years.      I'icture  on  page  138. 

Cir.\Ki.KS  ( ).  r>i'.i.i)i;\,  born  in  Monlecello,  W'w  ^'ork.  in  1827. 
was  admitted  to  ])ractice  in  1848.  After  i>racticing  a  short  time  at 
LitchheM  he  renio\-cd  to  .Milwaukee.  Wisconsin.  In  i8()i  he  took 
an  active  part  in  the  C'ivil  War.  organizing"  the  Sixty-seventh  Xew 
York  \'olunteers.  of  which  he  was  the  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  was 
in  several  engagements.  At  the  close  of  ihe  war  his  health  failed 
and  he  was  unable  to  follow  his  profession.  He  died  in  Litchfield 
November  22,   1870. 

JoSi:i'ii  II.  I'.i;i.i..\.\n',  a  native  of  lUthlihem.  was  a  grandson  of 
the  celebrated  dix'ine  jose))h  iiellamy.  I).  I).  Me  graduated  at  ^'ale 
ColIeg"e  in  1808,  and  was  admitteil  to  this  bar  in  1810  and  resided 
and  i)racticed  in  I'.ethlelu'm.  where  he  died  in  1848.  (  See  Sedg- 
wick's  .Address. ) 

Amos  r>i:\i;i)H'i'.  horn  in  .Middlebury,  Connet-ticnt.  jul\-  6,  1780, 
graduated  at    ^'a^■  College    1800.  slndic'd   law   in   the   Litchlield   Law 


iMoc.kAriiicAi,  \()'ri;s  227 

i^cliool  and  was  adniiiud  in  inacticr  in  i.So^.  AfkT  practiciiiLC  a 
short  lime  in  Litchticld  lu'  rnnovcd  to  WatcrUtwn.  Xcw  ^'ork. 
He  (lied  in   1816  wliilo  <>ii  .1  \i-it  to  Litchfield. 

NoAii  1'..  I'.i:\i;i)ic'i',  liniii  ill  \\MMdl)ury,  .\])ril  J.  1771.  Gradu- 
ated at  ^■ak■  I78,S.  .\diiiiHc<l  lo  \\\v  bar  in  171JJ  and  (hed  July  2, 
18^1.  lie  was  one  of  the  niusl  learned  and  distin.nuished  lawyers 
in  the  State.  (See  lioardnian's  sketches  and  Sedgwick's  Address 
and  note  in  8lh  Conn.  l\ei)i>ri  42').  also  ohituary  in  15th  Conn. 
Report.)  liis  portrait  is  on  jia-e  5S,  taken  from  an  old  oainting 
in  the  \\'oi)dl)ur\-  I'rohate  ullice. 

Mi  1,0  L.  r.KXMvTT,  admitted  in  181 3,  as  of  Sharon.  Ivcmoved 
to  Vermont  and  was  a  jnd,<;e  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  that  State. 

Hkman    Ili'.RKV.   admitted    i7</>.   as  of   Kent. 

John  P..  IhrrTS.  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1882;  practiced  a  short 
time  in  New  Hartford;  renrnved  l^  the  West.  He  died  in  Beatrice, 
Nebraska,  and  was  buried  in   .\ew   Hartford.  January  24,   1902. 

Wii.i.iAM  W.  l5ii)WKi.L,  born  in  Colebrook  in  1850  and  admitted 
to  this  bar  in  1858.  located  in  Collinsville,  where  he  practiced  his 
profession   and   was  killed   1)_\-   accident   in    1894. 

Wii.i.iA.M  W.  r.iKKCi:  was  born  at  Cornwall  Bridi^e  in  1863; 
graduated  at  Williams  ColleL;e  in  1885  and  was  admitted  to  this 
bar  in  1891.  is  now  in  ])ractice  at  Torrinoton,  where  he  was  the 
town  clerk  and  town  prosecutin.;-  attorney,  and  is  also  one  of  the 
prosecuting  agents  for  Litchfield  County. 

Hknkv  a.  Ihi.i.S.  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1851,  ])racticed  a  short 
time  in  Winsted,  Connecticut.  Lublished  for  some  years  the  Win- 
sted  N'civs,  and  then  followed  other  avocations.  He  died  June 
24,  1892. 

Hox.  Joux  I'iRi).  born  in  Litclilield.  Xovember  22,  1768.  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College  in  178().  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1789,  and 
after  a  practice  of  five  years  removed  to  Troy,  New  York,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death  in  i8o^.  During  these  few  years  he  held 
manv  im]iortant  positinns  and  v.as  a  member  of  Congress. 

EuwAKj)  LissKi.!..  a  native  of  Litchfield,  born  .Xovember  2y. 
1808,  ami  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1832.  He  afterwards  entered 
the  United  States  naval  service,  and  died  January  24,  1876. 

Edward  I'.issKi.i..  born  in  Litchfield,  December  16,  1827,  and 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1851,  and  at  the  Yale  Law  School  in 
1853,  and  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1853.  He  removed  to  Fond 
du  Lac,  W  isconsin,  where  he  now  resides. 


228  I.lTC-linr.I.I)  COTNTV   HK\(  II     \M>  HAU 

Kkantis  r.issKi.i..  Iiin-ii  in  l.itclificld  Aiiril  iT),  1852.  and  ad- 
mitted to  this  l)ar  in  1S75.  lie  i.ractictd  a  slmrt  time  in  New  Ilart- 
I'ord  ,  then  went  into  the  insurance  l)usiness.  from  whieh  lie  retired, 
and  is  now  en^a.^ed  in  aiiriouUnre  at    llanlam. 

Kiii:m;zi:u  15.  lii.ACKM.w.  i^rachiated  at  Vale  Collei,^e  in  1817, 
admitted  to  this  bar  in  1822  and  i)raetieed  at  Sharon,  whence  he 
removed  to   lirookfield  in    1S40  and  died  there  in   \S,(^^,. 

Lkwis  J.  lii.AKH.  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1874  and  be.oan  practice 
in  Litchfield,  l)ut  soon  removed  west,  and  is  now  a  law  stenographer 
and  teacher  at  ( )maha,  Nebraska. 

).  W.   r.i..\Ki;sij:i;.  admitted  in   1866,  as  of   riymouth. 

Sami'Ki.  C.   Ib.AKKiJiv.  admitted  m   1800  from  Roxbury. 

Wii.i.iAM  H.  r.i.oDC.KTT,  a  native  of  Canaan,  .\dmitted  to  this 
bar  in  1903.  He  located  in  W'insted  and  is  now  Town  IVosccuting 
Attornev.  "  He  was  assistant  clerk  of  the  Connecticut  House  of 
Representatives  in  1907. 

D.wii)  SiiKKMAN  IJoARD.MAX.  born  in  New  Milford  in  1768, 
lirraduated  at  Yale  in  1793  and  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1795.  He 
located  and  ])ractice(l  all  liis  lifetime  in  his  native  town,  where  he 
died  December  2,  1864.  President  Porter,  of  Yale  College,  in  his 
sketch  of  Mr.  Iloardman,  published  in  the  history  of  New  .Milford. 
savs :  "There  have  been  few.  if  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  New 
Milford  since  its  settlement,  who  deserve  to  be  more  honored  than 
this  pure  minded,  sagacious  and  noble  hearted  man."  He  is  the 
author  of  the  sketches  iniblished  herewith,     v^ee  Sedg-wick's  Address. 

C.i'oKC.K  S.  P)OARi)iMAX.  a  native  of  New  Milford,  son  of  Hon. 
Elijah  I'oardman,  born  1799,  admitted  to  this  l)ar  in  1820  and  died 
in  New  Milford  1825.      (See  Sedgwick's  Address.) 

Wii.i.iAM  WiirriNc,  P>(i.\Ki).\i AN.  another  son  of  Hon.  Klijah 
lloardman  was  born  171)4  graduated  at  Vale  College  in  181 2  and 
admitted  to  this  bar  in  1818.  I  le  removed  to  New  Haven,  where  he 
had  a  large  i)ractice  and  held  many  public  offices — member  of  Con- 
gress, etc.      Died  .August  2J.    1871. 

WiM.i.x.M  1).  P.oSi.KK.  born  in  New  \'ork  City  b\-bruar\  JJ,.  1877. 
Studied  law  with  L.  j.  Nickerson,  of  West  Cornwall,  and  admitted 
to  this  bar  in  1902.  Commenced  practice  at  West  Cornwall,  but  in 
1906  be  removed  to  New  \'ork  Cit\',  and  is  now  connected  witli  the 
District   .Attorney's  olbce. 

Cii.xKi.KS  P.oSTWKK  was  liorn  in  .New  .Milford,  graduated  at  A'ale 
College  in  1796,  and  studied  law  under  judge  Reeve,  of  I/ltciifield, 
li<gnn   to   i)raclice   bis   jirofcs^iim    but    sul)sc(|ncntl\-    \wnt    into   com- 


i;i()(,K  AI'll  KAI.    NOTKS 


_>J<> 


incrcia 
where 
jnd^e. 


I   pursuits   in    Ww    \nrk.      l.atrr   lie   rc-niMved   U>    I '.ri.i^xport, 
lie  was  elected  maynr  in    1X40  and  served  afterwards  as  city 


loSKi'li  A.   I'.osi  WICK,  (it"  New  .\lilt'()r<l.  admitted  in   1804. 

Samiki.  lloSTwicK  was  liorn  in  New  Milt'ord  in  1755  and  t;radu- 
aled  at  Vale  Colle-e  in  1780.  He  practiced  law  in  liis  native  town 
mitil  his  death,  April  3,  1799. 

1  \\:\\<\  A.  lloTsi'OKi)  was 
Ixirn  in  W'atertovvn  in  1821 
and  <lied  at  Hartford.  April 
,_^,  i^^)Z,.  lie  was  Sheriff 
from  iS(.n  t(.  iSfit;.  He 
came  to  Litcht^ehl  from 
Salishnrv.  where  he  had 
l)een  deputy  sheriff  for  ten 
years  and  ahout  1870  he  re- 
inuved  to  Winsted  and  m 
,872  to  Hartford  and  en- 
o-ao-ed  in  the  wholesale  Chi- 
cago dressed  heef  husiness. 
1  le  received  the  f^rst  car  of 
that  commodity  from  Chi- 
caL;-o  shipped  to  any  pomt 
in'\ew  l-:n-land.  except  to 
l"„,sion.  He  was  a  i;emal. 
kind-hearted  .<;-entleman  and 
made  no  enemies  in  his  of- 
ficial and  husiness  life. 

III'.XRV    A.    r.oTSI'ORI) 

John  A.  liorciiTox  was  admitted  to  this  har  in  1862.  He  soon 
removed  to  Bridgeport,  Conn.  He  was  for  many  years  connected 
with  the  internal  revenue  service.  Is  imt  now  in  the  practice  of  his 
legal  profession. 

John  Uovd  was  horn  in  Winsted  March  17.  1799.  He  gfraduated 
at  Yale  College  in  1821  and  was  admitted  to  the  har  of  New  Haven 
County  in  1825,  and  to  this  har  in  1826.  Representative  in  the 
General  .Assemhly  1830  ami  1835:  County  Commissioner  1840,  1849 
and  1850:  State  Senator  1854.  and  IVesident  pro  tcm:  town  clerk 
of  Winchester  ahout  thirty  years  and  died  in   1881. 

He  was  Secretary  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  1859.  i860  and 
1861.  One  of  the  mottoes  used  in  some  of  the  political  campaig:ns 
of  the  State  was.  "  Give  us  \()ur  hand,  honest  John  r>oyd."  He 
compiled   and   ]ml)lisheil   the   annals   of   Winchester.      It   is   to   him 


2^0  i.iTcMirii'i.n  t"(n"N'i'>'  i'.i:n(.'ii  wd  i;.\i< 

ihat  the  State  is  in(le])te(l  for  the  preserwuiun  of  sn  iiinch  as  re- 
mains of  tlie  ori^-inal  cliarter  ^rallied  l)y  KiiiL;  C'liarles  II.  In  \6c)S> 
the  (luplicalc  of  ilic  ])ateiU  was  1)\  [hv  (\it\vyui>v  and  council  placed 
ni  the  hands  of  Cajilain  Joseph  W'adswordi  "  in  a  vvvy  trouhlcsomc 
.season  wlu'n  our  eonslilnlion  was  struck  at"  aud  was  salel\'  ke])t 
and  ])reser\e(l  h\  hiui  uiuil  May  1713.  This  history  is  worth  reeord- 
\uix  here. 

"  In  1S17  or  iSh>.  while  .Mr.  I'.oxd  was  i)reparinL;'  for  colle.Q'e  at 
the  Ilartford  (".rainuiar  School,  he  hoai"de(|  in  the  faniil}-  of  Rev. 
Dr.    I'dinl.  of  ihe   South   Church,    llartfnrd. 

■■(."oniin^'  oue  da\'  froiu  school  he  noticed  on  the  workstand  of 
.\lrs.  llissell,  the  doctor's  mother-in-law.  a  dinj^x-  piece  of  i)arclinicnt, 
covered  on  one  side  with  hiack  letter  manuscri]it.  In  answer  to  his 
iufpiiries  .Mrs.  llissell  told  him  that  haxdui;-  occasion  for  some  paste- 
'  ard  her  friend  and  nei.^hhor,  .Mrs.  W'yllxs,  had  sent  her  this. 
Mr.  lUnd  ])r()iK;)se{l  to  ])rocure  her  a  piece  of  pasteboard  in  e.\- 
ehanin'e  for  the  ])archmcnt.  to  which  Mrs.  llissell  consented.  It 
was  not.  howe\er.  until  si.\  or  eii^iil  \ear,s  had  elajised  when  Mr. 
llo}(l  examined  the  jiarchmeut  with  care,  when  he  learned  for  the 
first  time  that  he  liad  what  he  thou.^ht  and  was  ^i^vnerallv  thoui^'ht, 
until  recently,  was  a  (lu]:)licate  of  the  charter." 

The  Colonial  Record.  \'ol.  T\'.,  published  in  iSA.S,  says: 

"  The  original  charter,  which  now  han.^s  in  the  secretar_\  "s  olTice 
at  Harttord,  is  enqraved  on  three  skins.  The  duiilicate  was  written 
on  two.  So  nnich  of  the  duplicate  as  remains  heim;'  al)out  three- 
fourths  of  the  second  skin,  is  now  in  the  librar\-  of  ihe  C'onnecicut 
JTistorical  Society,  where  it  was  ])laced  by  lion.  |ohn  I'.oyd,  late 
Secretary  of  State." 

Xot  loni^-  a.i^'o.  howe\-er,  search  was  made  throu,^'h  the  records  in 
London  and  it  was  found  that  ti\-e  ])ounds  was  the  fee  paid  for 
draftini^-  the  original  charter  and  twenty  shillings  for  the  duplicate. 
]*,xamination  of  the  documents  showed  that  twenl\-  shilling's  was 
\'.ritten  (])robably  a  memorandum!  on  the  su])])osed  orii;"inal  charter 
and  five  pounds  on  the  sup])osed  duplicate  so  that  now  it  is  certain 
that  the  one  sa\-ed  by  Mr.  Iloxd  was  the  oriiL^inal  an<l  die  one  that 
huiii^'  lor  years  in  the  secrelarx 's  ollice  and  has  been  recentl\  lunii^-  in 
the  State  library  is  the  dni)licate. 

The  Mrs.  W'yllys  spoken  of  was  related  to  the  former  Secretary 
of  the  State  b\  that  name  and  the  parchment  was  i)robably  found 
with  his  effects. 

Connecticut  liwd  umler  ibis  cbarti'r  until  iSiS.  fort_\-two  years 
after  the  Declaration  of   lndei)endeuce." 

.\i;k\ii.\m  Hk  \1)I,i:n',  Jr.,  was  born  in  l.ilclnield  \J(^J.  Studied 
law  with  judi^e  Reeve  and  was  admilteil  to  the  bar  in  \J()\.  lie 
located  in  the  valley  of  llu-  Wxdiuiii-.  I 'euiis\  l\  ania.  Somi  after  he 
acce])ted   a   jxisiliou    undt'r   Colonel    I 'icki'riu'^',   then    the    I'ostmaster 


l;l(i(,K  \ni  U'AI,   No'l'l-.S 


231 


CciuTal  (it  llu'  I'liiUMl  Stales  at  W  axliiii-l"n.  I  U-  rciunvnl  to 
^\'asllinL;l•>^,  I  >.  ^\.  and  was  assislani  pMStmaskT  L^ciuTal,  uixlcr 
variims  a<lniiiii>trali(  mis  lor  lu'arlv  l'<irl\  years,  lie  and  lii^  hnilhcr, 
I'liincas.  wen.'  iIk-  real  nr,-ani;aTs  of  llic  i)o>lnnicc  (K'i)arlintnt  of 
ihc  I'nilrd  v'^latcs. 

Ai.r.i'.KT  I'.  I'>u  \I)S'i'i<i;i;t  was  Imrn  in  '^ll^1na^lon  in  i(S4(i.  j^radu- 
atc'd  at  ^■al(,■  Colk-.m.'  in  1 S7 1 ,  and  C"iiluinl)ia  Law  Scliool  ni  1<S73. 
l\v  was  admitted  t«'  the  l)ar  in  1S74  and  took  u])  i)ractice  in  'Idiomas- 
ton.  Me  was  a  inenilier  nl  the  General  .\sseml)ly  in  i.Sjj-jS.  and  m 
iSSi  and  iSSj  was  ek'Cted  to  the  Senate  frmn  tlie  Sixteenlli  District, 
bcins;-  the  tirsl  l\e])ul)hcan  wlio  was  retnnu-d  t'roni  that  (h^lrict  I'.r 
several  \ears.  lie  was  town  elerk  of  'I'honiaston  from  1875  to 
1891.  and  jnd-e  of  I'n.hate  from  1S7J  to  l8cp.  In  1870  he  was 
ai)])()inted  de])nty  jnd^e  nf  the  Water])ury  district  conrt  and  in 
1883  he  was  ek'Cted  JikIu'i'  "''  the  same  conrt,  hein.-'  re-elected  in 
1887  and   181J3.     lie  is  now  in  hnsiness  in   New  ^  ork  ('it}'. 

Ni'.i.SdX  l'.Ki:\\  sri'.K  was  admitted  from  Cornwall  in  1824.  lie 
resided  in  Coshen  and  had  a  \er\-  limited  ])ractice.      lie  died  in    1850. 

j.\.Mi-:s  T.  liKi-.ivX  was  admitted  from  W'insted  in  1881.  located  in 
the  "West. 

Dan  11:1.  .\.  Jhuxs.MADK, 
of  \\'ashini;ton,  was  the  son 
of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Jirins- 
made,  the  second  pastor  of 
the  Society  of  judea.  after- 
wards the  town  ot  Wash- 
ington. 1  le  was  horn  in 
1750.  t;radnated  at  N  ale 
Colleij;-e  in  1772.  read  law 
at  Sharon  and  was  admitted 
to  this  bar  and  settled  in 
his  nati\'e  town,  wdiere  he 
])racticed  his  profession  for 
more  than  I'lfty  years.  In 
'  1787  he  was  a  (lelesate  to 
the  convention  at  Hartford 
that  ratified  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  I'nited  States. 
1  le  was  justice  of  the  quo- 
rum and  assistant  judge  of 
the  County  Court  for  six- 
teen years.  He  represent- 
ed his  town  in  the  Legisla- 
ture during  fortv-three  sessions  and  was  one  session  clerk  of  the 
House  of  Kepresentativt's.      He  died  in   1826. 


l)\Ml':i.    X.    I'.KIXSMADl 


2^2  l.riXll  I'll'M.!)  I'OIN  TN    I'.i;N\  II    AM)   I!  \K 

Ci.ii'i-oKi)  \l.  r.KiSToi.  was  admitted  ti>  this  l)ar  in  iSSj  and  l)ci;an 
practice  at  Norfolk  and  then  reino\cd  to  I  Main\ilk'.  lie  now  resides 
in   W'insted  and  is  en^a^ed   in   mercantile  hnsiness. 

MKUKiri'  r.KoNSox  was  admitted  to  this  l)ar  in  1855  from  New 
Hartford. 

r>i".\.\i:  rr  Hkoxson  was  a  j^radnate  of  \'ale  (.'ollej^e  in  1797  and 
admitted  to  this  har  in  1802  as  of  Sotith])in-y.  He  was  liorn  No- 
vember 14,  1775.  in  \\  aterhnry.  He  l)ecanie  a  ])rominent  man  in 
W'aterburv.  as  law\er  and  hanker,  and  die<l  there  December  II, 
1850. 

Cii.\Ki.i:s  R.  r>Ko\v\  was  admitted  to  the  l)ar  in  1816  from  Sharon. 

S.v.ML'iiL  Ukownsox  was  one  of  tlie  early  settlers  of  New  Mil- 
ford  and  its  town  clerk  from  17 14  to  1733.  He  was  its  first  justice 
of  the  peace  and  also  Jud,qe  of  the  New  Haven  County  Court  and 
died  in  1733.  He  acted  as  attorney  for  the  town  on  several  occa- 
sions and  is  said  to  have  been  an  attorney  in  fact. 

Ivoc.EK  JiKoWNSoN'  was  a  l)rother  of  Samuel  and  succeeded  him 
in  the  oliice  of  town  clerk  in  New  Milford  and  was  there  justice  of 
the  peace  for  a  number  of  years.     He  died  in  1758. 

NoKTox  j.  lU'Ki,,  born  in  Salisl)ury  Septeml)er  13.  1813.  Studied 
law  wth  General  Sedgwick  and  judge  Seymour  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1834.  Reiuoved  to  New  Haven  County  and  died  in 
New  Haven  March  6,  1864.     See  Warner's  reminiscences. 

lu'viMiKis  W.  I>ULL,  born  in  Danbury  in  1805,  and  was  admitted 
to  this  bar  in  1825.  He  went  South  in  1830  and  was  reported  to 
liave  been  killed  by  the  Indians  in  Texas  in  its  war  of  1840. 

William  llrKKi';  was  liorn  in  Ireland  in  1820.  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1838  and  following"  the  example  of  Rt)ger  Sherman,  settled 
in  New  Mil  ford,  and  while  earning  his  living  liy  shoemaking,  studied 
law  and  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1868.  He  removecl  to  Dan- 
bury  in  i8<'kj,  and  resided  there  at  the  tiiue  of  his  death  in  1890. 
The  History  of  Danbury  sa\s  of  him:  "In  social  matters  liis 
kmdness  of  heart,  his  ever  ready  smile  and  cordial  bearing,  his 
bright  and  sunny  disposition,  and  his  uprightness  and  streng^th  of 
character  made  him  many  warm  friends,  who  will  long  cherish  a 
pleasant  memory  of  liiuL" 

Willi  \.M  .M.  Ulkrall  was  a  native  of  Canaan  and  admitted  to 
this  bar  in  1808.  He  was  associate  judge  of  the  County  Court 
from  1829  to  1836,  and  after  that  its  presiding  judge  for  two  years. 
He  died  in  Canaan  in  1851,  aged  jj  years.  (See  Sedgwick  s  Ad- 
dress. J 


JLDSOX    CA\i"Ii;i.D 


I'.IOC.kAI'II  U'AI,    Xo'fl'.S  233 

WiiJ.i.wi  I'()UTi;k  I'.ikuai.i.,  was  a  <.m  i>\  tlic  I  I'm.  William  M. 
Burrall,  born  in  Canaan  Sci)kinl)cT  i<S,  iSof).  Immediately  after 
his  graduation  In  nu  \ -aIv  C'<>lle,L;e  in  i.Sjf)  he  hegan  the  study  of 
law  with  his  father.  atUndi'd  the  Kitchlield  Law  School  anrl  was 
admitted  to  this  l)ar  .\i)ril,  ISJ(^  lie  ])racticed  law  in  lii-^  native 
town  until  ( )ctoher.  1S3S.  wlun  he  removed  to  r.rid.geport.  Con- 
necticut, and  assumed  the  ])residency  of  the  Housatonic  Railroad 
Companv.  then  iust  oruanizini;-,  which  odice  he  held  till  1853,  when 
he  resis^ned.  lie  was  connected  with  the  New  York,  Xew  ITaven 
cV  Hartford  Railroad  Conii)any  dnriui;-  its  ccMistruction  and  the 
earher  vears  of  its  operation.  Jle  was  also  treasurer  and  president 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  In  1862  he  was  chosen  vice- 
president  of  the  Hartford  and  Xew  Haven  Railroad  and  in  1868 
was  made  its  president,  and  ujion  consolidation  hecame  the  vice- 
president  of  the  New  York.  New  Haven  &  Hartford  Railroad  Com- 
pany, which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death  at  Hartford, 
March  3,  1874. 

Chart. KS  D.  r.iKKii.i,,  of  TJtchfield,  was  horn  in  Charleston. 
South  Carolina,  in  1854.  He  entered  the  class  of  1878,  Yale,  and 
after  studying-  at  the  Columbia  Law  School,  was  achnitted  to  the 
Hartford  bar  in  1884.     He  removed  to  Litchfield  in  1891. 

Calvix  ButiJ'K,  born  in  Waterbury  in  1/72.  He  began  to  studv 
at  Williams  College  but  left  at  the  close  of  the  sophomore  year  and 
began  the  study  of  law  at  Norfolk.  He  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in 
1799,  and  finally  located  at  Plymouth  in  1806,  where  he  died  in 
1845.  He  held  many  of  the  town  offices,  was  a  member  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention  in  1818.  In  1839  he  was  appointed  a 
Judge  of  the  County  Court  for  Litchfield  County. 

Caln'ix  R.  Bltlkr  was  a  son  of  Calvin  Butler,  Esq..  and  born 
in  Plymouth  August  6,  1809,  and  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1843. 
He  died  October  ]h.  1844. 

AIalcomb  N.  ButlKR  was  another  son  of  Calvin  Butler,  Esq., 
and  was  born  in  Plymouth.  June  26,  1826,  and  admitted  to  this  bar 
in  1846.     He  died  in  Plynunuh  February  29,  1848. 

S.  McLkax  BiCKixc.iiA^r.  born  in  P.rooklyn.  X.  Y.  October  3. 
1876.  Graduated  at  Yale  1899  ^"^^  ^^  Harvard  Law  Schooli902. 
Admitted  to  this  bar  1903.     Resides  and  practices  at  Watertown. 

CuRTiss  W.  Caiu.k  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1828. 

Daniel  W.  Cady.  a  native  of  Petersboro,  New  York,  and  a 
graduate  of  Cornell  in  }S<-/8.  was  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1884.  He 
removed  to  Kansas  and  was  engaged  as  a  law  instructor  until  his 
death  in  1885. 


2^4  i.iTcm-ii'.i.n  I'oiNTN'  i'.i:n(,ii  .\m>  \:.\k 

n.wiD  S.  (.'ai.iku  N.  lioni  in  (.'dxciitrv .  Connecticut,  in  1827, 
!;ra<luatc(l  at  \-a\v  Collci^c  in  1S4S.  Studied  law  with  ju(l<;-c  O.  S. 
Seynunir  at  I.itclilidd  ICS50-51.  and  was  admitted  to  this  l)ar  Deccni- 
l)er  18.  1851.  I  las  i)i-acticed  in  1  lartford  County  to  the  i)rescnt  time 
and  for  man\-  \ears  was  jud^e  of  the  Court  of  Common  IMcas  for 
that  county.      lie  resides  in   ihirlford. 

C.i;oKC,K  W.  C.\y\\'  was  admitted  to  the  har  in  i<S8_'  from  New 
:\lilford. 

SA^iiii:!.  C..  Cami-  is  a  native  of  North  Canaan.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  har  in  H)02.  Resides  and  ])ractices  in  his  native  village,  and 
is  lari;vl\-   interested   in  lime  manufactm'ini^'. 

EzR.\  CaximI';i.1)  was  admitted  to  the  har  in  1802  from  Salishury. 

Kdwakd  T.  Caxkiki.L)  was  horn  in  Thomaston.  o;raduated  at 
Yale  College  and  Yale  haw  School  in  1903,  and  admitted  to  this 
bar  1903.  Practices  his  profession  at  Hartford,  hut  resides  in  his 
native  town,  which  he  represented  in  the  Legislature  in  \()0/. 

Joiix  Canfiki.d  was  horn  in  New  IMilford  in  1740  and  graduated 
at  Yale  College  in  1762;  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1763  and  settled  in 
Sharon  as  the  first  lawyer  who  established  himself  in  practice  there. 
He  was  ten  times  sent  from  that  town  to  the  General  Court  and  in 
1786  he  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  and  died  the 
same  year.  He  was  State's  Attorney  for  the  county  from  1772  until 
his  death. 

loSKPH  CaxfiKLD.  Jr.,  born  in  17^17  in  Tvynie,  Connecticut,  and 
removed  with  his  father  wdien  he  was  }oung  to  Salisbury.^  He 
studied  law  with  Colonel  Strong  and  at  the  Litchfield  Law  School 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1786.  He  located  and  practiced  in 
Salisbury  until  his  death  in  1803. 

JrusON  Canimki.d.  horn  in  New  Mil  ford  lanuary  24,  1759,  and 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1782.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
J  785  and  located  and  practiced  in  Sharon.  He  held  many  im^x^rt- 
ant  olhcial  iwsitions  and  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  judges  of 
the  Countv  Court.  He  was  one  of  the  purchasers  of  the  sc1hk)1  lands 
in  (  )hio  and  the  countv  seat  of  Mahoning  Count}  was  named  after 
him.     lie  died  in  New  York  City  February  5.   1840. 

Ili:\uv  ).  Ca.m'iki.I)  was  a  son  of  Judson  Canheld.  horn  in 
Sharon,  1789,  graduated  from  "S'ale  College  in  i8of)  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  bar  in  1810.  In  early  life  he  removed  to  Ohio  to  take 
care  of  his  father's  interests  in  that  State.  Died  November  2/,  1856, 
at  Canfield,  <  )hio. 

Samikl  C.xNi'iKi.i)  was  horn  in  Milford  and  removed  to  New 
Milford  early  in  its  settlenieiU.     For  many  years  he  was  the  Justice 


C.l'UKC.l':   CATLIN. 


ISIOI.U Ai'II  K'AI,    XO'I'I'.S  -35 

of  tlu'  I'cacc  and  Town  CWrk.  [']u<\)  tlu'  ori^anizalion  of  the  county 
in  1751  he  was  one  of  tlic  jnslicrs  of  the  (|n<)rnni  for  the  county, 
and  in  17S4  was  ;ii)i>ointcd  the  a-i-nt  of  tlu-  county  for  tlic  huildin^^ 
of  the  Ci.uv[  Iiou<c  at  Kitchlield.  IK-  died  1  )eeenil)er  14,  1754.  U'^a-d 
c,2.  lie  was  the  fatlier  of  Colonel  Sanuu'l  C'anfiehl.  whose  picture 
is  shown  on  i)a.L;e  i^^.  "  Ihil  few  men  have  a  hi-her  record  than  he 
at  his  ai;v  in  the  olden  time." 

Ai.i'.Kui'  M.  C\\Ki).  horn  in  Amcnia.  Xcw  \'ork,  in  I.S45  and  re- 
moved to  Sliaron  while  (|nite  \(iun.-.  IJe  was  achnitted  to  this  bar 
in  i88().  lie  represented  Sharoii  in  the  Lci,nslature  in  i<Sr,r,  and 
ni  i8<;i.    Is  deceased. 

LvMAN  W.  Casi{  was  adnn'tted  to  this  bar  in  iS4(;  and  rcNided 
in  Winsted.  lie  died  May  ij,  iS<j_',  at  the  age  of  64,  and  the 
disposal  of  his  lari^e  estate  c:in  he  seen  in  the  case  of  i'inney  vs. 
xVewton  et  al.  in  the  Sixty-sixth  Comiecticut  Reports. 

OuiUN  S.  Casiv,  horn  in  Canton  and  admitted  to  lliis  har  in  1849. 
He  practiced  in  Collinsville.  In  the  war  of  the  rebellion  he  was  an 
olficer  in  the  Thirty-first  Connecticut  X'olunteers  and  was  killed 
before  retersburg-.  A'irginia,  August  6,  1864. 

UuJAU  Cask,  born  in  Canton  in  1828,  studied  law  with  Elisha 
Johnson  and  was  admitted  to  this  l)ar  in  1851.  He  practiced  in  Pine 
Meadow  and  Plain ville,,  but  finally  removed  to  Hartford,  where  he 
now  resides. 

Abijaif  Cati.ixc.  of  Harwinton.  appears  upon  the  records  of  the 
County  Court  as  a  practitioner  in   1752. 

George  Catlix,  was  a  son  of  Putnam  Catlin  and  was  l)orn  m 
W'ilkesbarre,  Penn.  He  studied  law  in  the  Law  School  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1817.  After  a  few  years  practice  in  Penn- 
sylvania he  ([uit  the  profession  and  went  to  paintinj^  Indian  ]xirtraits 
for  which  he  has  gained  a  world  wide  reputation.  Our  portraU  of 
Judge  Reeve  is  from  Catlin's  painting. 

CiEoKC.K  Smith  Cati.in',  born  in  Harwinton  August  24th,  1808, 
and  admitted  to  this  bar  in  1828.  He  practiced  in  Windham 
County  from  1829  to  1853.  He  was  a  representative  in  Congress 
in  1843-45. 

PiTXAM  Cati.in,  was  Ix.rn  in  Litchfield  April  5,  I7<M  and  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  178O  and  soon  after  removed  to  Pennsylvania 
and  died  at  Great  I'.end  in  that  state  in  1842.  He  served  in  the 
revolutionary  war  and  received  a  "P.adge  of  Merit."'  He  was  the 
father  of  George  Catlin  the  Indian  painter. 


236 


i.r 


I'lKi.n  coL'NTv  i!r.N\  11  Axn  r..\R 


Ar.I.IAll     C  A  T  L  I  N, 

l)()rn  in  llarwiiiton, 
Conn..  April  I.  1805. 
Ciraduatcd  at  Yale  in 
1825  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  New 
Haven  County  i  n 
1827.  He  ]5racticed  a 
few  years  in  Geors^ia 
Init  rctm-ned  in  1837 
1(1  1  larwinton  where 
he  lived  until  his 
(Icatli.  A])ril  14,  1891. 
I  Ic  lu'ld  various  pub- 
lic olliccs,  representa- 
tive to  the  General 
Assembly  ten  times, 
meml)er  of  the  Senate 
in  1844,  Comptroller 
o  f  the  State  1847, 
1848  and  1849.  School 
Fund  Commissioner 
1852.  Was  Judg-e  of 
the  County  Court  a 
numlxM-  of  years.  He 
was  Chairman  of  the 
Bar  Association  for 
many  years  prior  to 
his  death  and  all  his  life  an  active  participant  in  all  reform  matters 
of  good  citizenship.      See  his  obituary  in  60  Conn.  l\e])ort. 

Joifx  D.  CiiAMi'Lix.  was  born  in  Stonington.  Conn.  Jamiary  29, 
1834,  but  in  early  life  removed  to  Litchfield.  He  was  admitted  to 
this  bar  in  1859.  After  a  very  brief  practice  he  engaged  in  news- 
paper work,  publishing  the  Litchfield  Sentinel,  but  disposing  of 
that  enterprise  he  removed  to  Xcw  ^'ork  City,  and  has  ever  since 
been  engaged  in  literary  wurk. 

Ei.i^roRE  S.  CiiAi'i*i;i:,  was  born  in  SharcMi  April  2().  1810  and  ad- 
mitted to  this  l)ar  in  1833.  and  died  in  1834. 

CiiAKi,i:s  ^'.  CiiASi:,  was  born  in  Sharon  in  1784.  Admitted 
to  this  I'.ar  in  iXoS  and  after  a  short  i)ractico  abondoiu'd  his  ])ro- 
fession  lor  the  ministry,  and  rentowd  to  (  )hi(\ 

'I'lioMAS  Ciiii'.MAX  removed  from  Groton.  Corn,  to  Salisbury 
in  1740  with  five  sons.  He  was  a  practioner  of  law  and  was  ap- 
]>oinled  a  judge  of  the  first  County  Court,  but  dic<l  liefore  its  first 
term.  He  was  the  grand-father  (  '' 
\'crmont. 


I  Ion.    Xathanicl    Chipman   of 


I'.IOC.UAI'll  K'Al,    N'oTl'.S  237 

Kkicdkkick  Cm  1  ri;.M)i:\  was  hnni  in  Kiiii,  Iml  die'l  in  J<itclit'iel<l 
August  12,  1869,  aged  65  }cars.  anl  with  mie  exception  was  the 
oldest  practicing  mcmlier  of  iliis  I'.ar.  lie  possessed  good  legal 
attainments,  and  al  imc  time  did  a  \-ery  extensive  law  business,  lie 
was  of  a  verv  impulsive  tem])emenl,  and  sometimes  made  enemies, 
luU  he  also  had  warm  friends,  lie  was  given  to  acts  of  kindness 
and  generositv.  lie  resided  at  Wcjodville  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton and  carried  on  a  large  Iron  Works  making  bar  and  slilted  iron. 

Aarox  Cm'Kcii,  admitted  to  this  liar  from  llarlland  in  1X02. 

Le^iax  CiirKCii,  l)orn  in  Salisbury,  and  was  admitted  to  this  liar 
in  t8i6.  He  settled  in  Canaan  where  he  died  in  1<S49.  He  had 
;in  extensive  practice  and  was  State's  .\ttorne\-  for  a  munbcr  of 
years.      (See  Boardman  sketches  and  Sedgwick's  Address.) 

Many  years  ago  Truman  Smith  was  called  to  try  a  case  in 
N(M-th  Canaan.  The  affair  was  one  which  called  together  a  good 
many  witnesses  and  others,  and  the  rooms  at  the  hotel  were  all 
taken.  "Sir.  Smith,  in  his  absentmindness  had  neglected  to  have 
a  room  assigned  to  him,  and  toward  midnight,  having  spent  the 
e\-ening  in  preparation  for  the  trial  of  the  morrow,  he  made  aj)- 
])lication  to  the  landlord  for  a  room.  The  host  was  quite  taken 
back  to  find  that  more  room  was  wanted,  for  every  bed  was  oc- 
cupied. It  was  finally  decided  that  Mr.  Smith  would  have  to  occupy 
the  same  bed  with  Judge  Leman  Church.  Judge  Church,  as  will 
be  remembered  by  the  men  of  those  days,  was  of  very  small  stature, 
not  larger  than  the  average  boy  of  fourteen  of  fifteen ;  his  head 
was  round  and  small,  albeit  he  was  a  very  able  jurist.  Accepting 
the  situation,  :\lr.  Smith  disrobed  for  sleep,  turned  down  the  bed- 
clothes, and  there  beheld  the  Judge,  up  over  on  the  back  side  of  the 
couch,  like  a  crooked-necked  squash.  "Humph!"  said  the  senator, 
glancing  around  at  the  host,  who  was  waiting  to  carry  away  the 
tallow-dip  of  those  early  days,  "this  is  the  first  time  I  ever  had  to  go 
to  bed  with  an  interrogation  point!"      (See  Warner's  Address.) 

Sa.miKi,  CiiiKCir,  LL.  D..  born  in  Salisbury  February  4.  1785. 
Graduated  at  Yale  in  1806.  Studied  at  the  Litchfield  Law  School 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1806  and  soon  began  practice  in  his 
native  town.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention 
in  1818.  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  in  1832,  Chief  Justic_e_of  the 
Supreme  Court  in  1847.  The  latter  part  of  his  life  he  resided  in 
Litchfield,  where  he  died  in  1854.  (See  Sedgwick's  Address.)  See 
Portrait  on  page  3. 

GkiCc.o  Clark  was  born  in  Towa  City.  Towa,  February  ^th.  1872. 
Graduated  at  Harvard  1893.  Engaged  as  a  teacher  at  "The  Gun- 
nery" in  Washington,  Conn.,  and  studied  law  with  Hon.  Geo.^  A. 
Hickox,  and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1899.  Removed  to  Xew 
Jersey. 

Tiio.MAS  M.  Ci.ARK,  born  in  Winsted,  January  4,   1830.     Xcver 


2T,S.  I.IHII  l'li:i.l)  tOlNIN-    lU-.Nril    AM)   i;,\K 

practiced.  Noted  as  l)cinj;"  a  Ioiil;  time  the  spicN'  editor  of  the 
W'instcd  Herald,  and  afterwards  a  prominent  manufacturer.  He 
ilied  at  sea  Novcmlier  13.  18S7.  wliilc  returnint;-  from  a  vovaq^c 
taken  for  his  liealth. 

C'iii-:STr:i<  I).  Ci.i'A  i;i..\M).  l)oni  in  llarkhamsted,  served  in  the  Jnd. 
Conn.  Heavy  Artillery  in  the  Rebellion.  i;ainin_o-  the  rank  of  Major. 
Admitted  to  this  liar  in  1866.  Removed  to  ( )shkosh.  Wis.  where 
he  was  Cotmt\-  Jud^e. 

Frank  K.  CijCnKi.axd,  born  in  Salisbury  'Slay  18.  1853.  Oradu- 
ated  at  the  University  of  Alichig^an  and  was  admitted  to  the  liar  at 
Ann  Harbor,  Mich,  in  1873,  and  also  ti>  this  IJar  the  next  year. 
After  a  short  practice  he  became  totally  blind.  He  moved  to  Hart- 
ford and  was  the  publisher  of  law  blanks  and  stationery.  He  was 
the  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  for  the  blind.  He 
now.  1907,  resides  in  Washington,  D.  C.  and  is  eu'^aged  in  education 
of  the  blind. 

W'lLijAAt  G.  CoiC,  born  in  Winchester  September  to,  1829,  ad- 
mitted to  this  Bar  in  185 1.  began  his  practice  at  New  liritain.  Conn., 
but  in  1856  removed  to  Winsted  and  engaged  in  manufacturing.  He 
was  an  active  promoter  of  the  then  Connecticut  Western  Railroad 
Company  and  was  its  secretary      He  died  in  Winsted  May  31.  1872. 

CiiUKCiiiLL  Coffin,  born  in  Salisbury,  admitted  to  this  P.ar. 
Died  in  Chicago  in  1873. 

Gforck  W.  Coi.i:,  born  in  \\'arren.  Conn.  September  6,  1850. 
Was  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1876  and  practiced  about  two  years  in 
Plymoutli  and  removed  to  Torrington  in  1878.  He  remained  there 
until  1885  when  he  left  the  practice  of  law  and  became  a  professional 
librarian.  He  is  now  engaged  in  Bibliographical  work  in  New  York 
City. 

RiCTTAKD  Cook,  admitted  in  1835  from  New  Hartford. 

1v()(.i:k  W.  Cook,  born  February  10.  i7<)7  in  Litchfield.  Admitt- 
ed to  this  Bar  in  1819  from  Litchfield.  Died  at  sea  November  4, 
1823  on  a  voyage  to  the  ^^'cst  Indies  for  his  health. 

W'li.i.iA.M  Cor.sw  1:1.1,.  was  a  native  of  Washington  and  admitted 
to  this  liar  in  I7«ji.  Was  a  Presidential  elector  in  1824  and  died  in 
T825.  lie  took  great  interest  in  militar\-  matters  and  was  C'olonel 
in  the  .Militia.      (See  Sedgwick's  Address.) 

William  CoriiKi;\,  born  in  l'"armington,  .Maine,  November  28, 
]8i(;.  ("iraduatedat  I  lowdoin  C'ollege  in  1843.  Came  to  Woodbury 
and  studied  law  with  lion.  Charles  I'..  I'lielps.  and  \\  as  ;ulmitted  to 
this  Har  in  1845.  lie  bu-ated  ami  always  H'sided  in  Woodbury  hav- 
ing- an  extensive  practice'  until  his  de.illi  .Man-h  iiili,  iS()8.  His 
fame  will  rest  ])rinci|)all\-  upon  his  historical  inxestigations  ;md 
esi)ecially  his  History  of  .\ncient  Woodbury. 


i:i()(,i< Ai'illCAi.  NO'li'.s  239 

Sthwakt  W  .  C'(i\\i;\,  l)(irn  in  M  i<l(lKI)ur\ .  sln<lii<l  law  willi 
James  J  limtinj^li  m.  of  WcHidhury,  ailiiiittnl  to  tin-  I'.ai'  in  1SS5,  now 
in  practice  in   Ml.   \  ernon,   X,   ^■. 

l<*i)\\AKi)  I*.  Cowi.i'S,  l)orn  in  C'anaan  jannar\  i(>,  1X15,  ailniitlcd 
to  the  luir  in  I1S49.  I'racticed  in  llmlMMi.  X.  N'.  ami  in  Xcw  N'ork 
City;  was  appointed  in  1854  |ustice  of  the  Sn])ia-nif  rourl  of  Xew 
York. 

Wai,'i'i;k  S.  C'o\\i,i:s,  born  in  Canaan  February  23,  iXk;.  adniilted 
to  the  liar  in  1S51.  Loc.-i.U'd  and  practiced  in  I '.rid,L;e])ori,  and  re- 
moved to  Xew  Ndrk  C'il\  ,  where  he  died  in  1897. 

Saml'Ki.  Cow  i.i'.s,  adniilted  to  the  liar  in  J803  from  Xm-folk. 

Edward  11.  Cim -\i  i.m.,  admitted  in  1830. 

Eli  Ci'KTiss,  was  l)orn  in  Xorth])ury.  (now  ri_\inonth  )  I'c'bru- 
ary  10.  1748.  Ciraduated  at  Vale  Cttllei^e  in  1777,  was  active  in  the 
Revolutionary  War  where  he  reached  the  rank  of  Captain.  1  le  lost 
an  arm  in  the  service  for  which  he  received  a  i)ension,  lie  was 
admitted  to  the  P.ar  in  1781,  and  i)racticed  in  Watertown,  but  tinally 
removed  to  I'.ristol.  where  he  died  December  13,  1821,  and  wa-i 
buried  in  Thniouth  east  burxiny"  yround. 

Ht)i.r.Kooiv  Ci'UTiss,  born  in  .Xewtown,  h'airfield  County  Jul_\  14. 
1787.  Graduated  at  \'ale  Collej^e  1807,  admitted  to  this  P.ar  in 
1809.  I>eg-an  his  i)ractice  in  Litchfield  County  in  181 5  at  Water- 
town.     He  died  February  21.  1858.      (See  Sedgwick's  Address.) 

WiLLi.\.M  E.  Ci'RTiSS,  was  a  son  of  Holbrook  Curtiss.  born  in 
Watertown  September  2(),  1823.  graduated  at  Trinity  in  1843. 
studied  law  with  William  Curtiss  Xoyes  in  Xew  York  City  and  was 
admitted  to  this  Par  in  i84f).  He  ])racticed  in  Xew  York  City  and 
was  a  Judg-e  of  the  Sujierior  Court  of  that  State  in  1871,  and  its 
presiding  Judge  in  i87().      1  le  died  in  Watertown  July  (k  1880. 

Medad  Curtiss,  admitted  to  this  P.ar  in   17(^7  from  .Xorfolk. 

Ge:orge  Y.  CfTLKR.  born  in  Watertown  Ajjril  ().  1797.  Gradu- 
ated at  Yale  in  1816.  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1820  from  Watertown. 
He  practiced  at  Watertown  till  about  1828,  when  he  removed  to 
Illinois,  where  he  was  land  agent,  lawyer,  merchant  and  farmer  at 
Commerce,  the  j)lace  where  the  Mormons  located  in  1838  and 
changed  the  name  to  Xauvoo.      lie  died  there  September  3,  1834. 

SpivNCKr  I)a\Tox,  born  in  Winchester  in  1820,  and  admitted  to 
the  Bar  in  1840.      Resides  in   Philii)]^.  W.  \'a. 

Gli.nERT  Dk.\x.  born  in  Dutchess  Count}',  X.  W  in  i8i(j.  C.radu- 
ated  at  Yale  College  in  1841.  Admitted  to  the  P.ar  in  1842.  Died 
in  Poughkeei)sie,  X.  ^'.  in   1870. 

Lke  V.  Dka.v,  born  in  Canaan  October  18.  1838.  Admitted  tc 
the  Bar  in  1804.  In  i88f)  he  removed  to  Bridgeport,  where  he  now 
resides  engaged  in  other  piu-suits. 


240  i.ri"(.iii"ii:i.i)  corxTv  i!i:\(,ii  and  i;.\r 

Eugene  C.  Dempsev.  born  in  Barkhaiuskd  Januarv  7.  1864.  ad- 
mitted to  the  l)ar  in  1886.  Located  in  l)an1)ur\,  where  he  now 
resides. 

Ji:ki:.m  lAii  W  .  ni:.\Ti:K,  a  nali\-e  nf  Salisl)nry.  ser\-ed  in  ilie  war 
of  the  rebenit)n  and  was  admiUed  to  the  liar  in  \^()().  Located  and 
resides  at  W'averly.  X.  '\'. 

\\  ii.i.iA.M  J'*..  DiiKixsox,  was  liorn  in  Xew  \'ork  C\[y  Ma\'  30, 
1824.  l)nt  came  to  Litcliheld  wlien  a  child.  lie  was  admitted  to  tliis 
Bar  in  1846.  Located  and  i)racticed  at  Stoninqton,  Conn.,  until 
1850,  when  he  removed  to  the  Lake  Sn])erior  regions  and  was  en- 
t^aged  in  important  mining-  oj^erations.  Snhsetinently  he  went  tc^ 
Cuba  in  the  same  bnsmess  an<l  wdiile  there  had  cliarge  of  1)nil(hng- 
the  Daicjuria  i'ier  for  loachng-  ore.  the  same  jiier  used  1)\'  the  Lnited 
States  to  unload  troops  during  the  Spanish-American  War.  He 
then  removed  to  Wisconsin  wliere  he  was  District  Attorney  of 
Florence  County  tV)r  a  number  of  years.  Lie  died  at  Florence,  Wis., 
June  15.  1899. 

\\'jlK.\T()X  F.  Down,  born  in  Xew  liartford.  August  2T,  1867. 
Graduated  at  Yale  Law  School  in  1894  and  was  admitted  to  this 
Bar  the  same  }"ear,  and  was  appointetl  Assistant  Clerk  of  the 
Superior  Court.  In  1901,  after  the  decease  of  William  F.  Hurlburt, 
he  was  a])]:)ointed  Clerk  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Litch- 
field County  wdiich  office  he  has  since  held.     Lie  resides  in  Winsted. 

Theodore  W\  Dowxs  was  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1870  from 
Bridg'eport.  The  following  is  taken  from  a  llridgeport  paj^er  of 
September  24tli,  1907,  "Former  Consul  dead.  Theodore  Waldren 
Dow^ns  former  L^nited  States  Consul  to  Quebec  and  prominent  in 
national  Democratic  politics,  died  at  his  home  in  this  city  yesterday 
after  a  sickness  of  about  seven  weeks  following  a  sh(Kd\." 

Wii.i.iA.M  Dkixkw  A'ri'.i^  came  to  .\ew  Milford  about  1730  from 
Ridgefield  and  for  nearly  thirty  years  was  a  prominent  man  there 
and  was  in  the  practice  of  law  in  1753.     He  died  in  1758. 

I)axii{i.  Dixi'.Ak,  was  a  nati\'e  of  I'Kniouth.  admitted  to  this 
l)ar  in  1798.     Located  and  practiced  in  llerlin,  Conn.,   1803  to  1841. 

Mii.i'.S  Dl'XH.xk,  was  a  native  of  IMymoiUh  but  was  admitted  to 
this  bar  in  1810  as  from  Sharon.  The  histor\  of  i-dlsworth  a  ]iart 
of  till'  town  of  Sharon  gives  this  notice  nf  him.  "(  )ur  tirst  Dunbar 
was  hardly  representative  of  the  household,  for  he  came  and  went 
more  like  a  comet  than  the  staid  and  ])lanetary  bodies  since  re]:)resen- 
tative.  'i'hat  was  Miles  Dunbar  of  rbinouth.  Conn.,  lawwr,  nnisic 
teacher  and  jack-at-all-trades.  .Vhout  1812  he  de])arte(l  from 
Sharon."' 


wilK\T()\      I".    iK)\\n. 


i;|()C,l<  AI'll  UAI,    NdTl'.S  241 

1 1  i;\m  .M.I  )ri"i'()N  .  was  a  sdii  of  iv\-(  iiactiidi-  and  j  inline-  1  )iill<m 
(who  was  born  in  I  .itchticld  ) .  and  practiced  law  in  l^ilclilicld  in  iSfn 
with  his  uncle  I  lcnr\  15.  Craves,  Ks(|.  r])on  the  hreakini^  out  of  the 
war  he  entered  the  service  of  ]ii>  countrx  and  received  a  coniniissitjn 
as  Lieutenanl  in  the  5th  C'onneclicnl  Infanlry.  and  was  killed  in 
the  battle  of  I'eilar  .Mountain,  \  a..  .\n.L;usi  (;tli,   iHC)2. 

kii'cs  1{.\ST.M.\.\,  admitted  to  the  I'.ar  in   \J^)(>  from  \\'asliin,^ton. 

D.wii)  l'"i).M  IXDS,  admitted  to  the  I'.ar  in   iSoft  from   .Xewtown. 

Ogdk.n  Kdwards,  born  in  1781,  a  student  of  the  Law  School  in 
1801,  admitted  to  the  liar  in  1802  as  from  New  Haven.  He  re- 
moved to  Xew  York  where  he  was  a  prominent  man  and  a  learl- 
ing-  attorney  for  many  years;  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  Sur- 
rogate, etc. 

Fki:i)i;khk  Eggi.KSTox.  admitted  in   1834  from  Cronuvall. 

.\.\Tii  \Nii;i.  W.  lu.i)Ri:iH-,i:,  admitted  in  iSii  from  Salisbury. 

foiix  l",i,M<iui:.  was  a  son  of  Col.  Samuel  Elmer  of  Revolution- 
ary'war  fame,  and  born  in  Sharon.  Settled  in  Canaan  in  1793  and 
died  in  that  town  December  10th,  1849,  aged  84  years. 

joiix  Hi..\iOKK,  Jr.,  was  admitted  tt)  the  T.ar  in  \H\()  from  Canaan. 
Iledied  at  East  Canaan,  June  i2tli,  1857,  in  his  f)5th  year.  See 
Warner's  Reminisences. 

Hkxkv  Loo-Mis  Ei.LSWoRTir  was  a  son  of  Chief  Justice  Oliver 
Ellsworth,  and  after  studying  with  Judge  Reeve  in  the  Law  School, 
he  was  admitted  to  this  War  in  1812  from  Windsor.  After  a  prac- 
tice in  Hartford  he  was  appointed  Commissioner  of  Indian  affairs 
under  President  Jackson.  He  was  also  Commissioner  of  Patents 
for  ten  years.     He  died  in   1858. 

Wii.i.i.\.M  H.  Ely,  admitted  to  the  Hartford  T.ar  in  1879,  but 
located  at  Winsted  and  then  removed  to  Xew  Haven,  where  he  now 
resides  and  has  a  large  ]^ractice. 

].\M]-:s  Exsicx.  born  in  Canaan  I'ebruary  2,  1819.  graduated  at 
Yafe  1842,  and  admitted  to  this  I'.ar  in  1848.  from  Canaan.  He 
practiced  law  but  a  .short  time  when  he  engaged  in  farming.  He 
died  in  Salisbury.  February  3,  1883. 

Fraxk  W.  Etiieridck,  of  Thomaston.  w^as  born  in  ^^ontville  in 
1858.  He  was  educated  at  the  Hartford  High  School  and  jnirsued 
his  law  studies  with  the  late  firm  of  Johnson  i.\:  Prentice,  of  Hartford, 
being  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1880'  He  settled  in  Thomaston  and 
has  held  a  number  of  town  offices.  He  has  been  Judee  of  Probate 
since  1890.  In  1896  he  was  appointed  Health  Officer  for  the 
County  which  office  he  has  since  held.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
last  Constitutional  Convention.  He  is  also  the  i)ublis]ier  and  editor 
of  the  Thomaston  Express,  a  weekly  newspaper. 


242 


i.iiTii  i"ii;i.i)  c'orxTN"  i;i:.\i'ii  and  i;ar 


William  W.  I'J.lswok'lii 
was  horn  in  Windsor  in  1781, 
llu'  ihird  son  of  ( )liver  Ells- 
worth, the  second  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  the  United  States, 
s^raduatcd  at  Vale  in  1810, 
studied  1  a  w  w  i  I  li  Judi^'c 
Reeve  and  was  admitted  to 
this  liar  in  1813,  and  l)e52^an 
his  practice  in  Hartford, 
where  he  died  January  15th, 
i8f)8.  lie  was  a  niemher  of 
Coni^ress  five  \ears ;  Gover- 
nor of  the  State  four  years ; 
a  judg-e  of  the  Superior  Court 
and  the  Su])reme  Court  four- 
teen years.  Rufus  Choate 
said  of  him  "If  the  land  of 
the  Shermans  and  Griswolds, 
and  Daj^'i^etts  and  W'illiamses 
— rich  as  she  is  in  learning" 
and  virtue — has  a  sounder 
lawyer,  a  more  ujiright  mag- 
istrate, or  an  honester  man 
in  her  jnihlic  service,  I  know 
not  his  name."  (See  obitu- 
ary in  ,^4tli.  Conn.) 

DaniKl  EvErKT'i",  horn  in   lietlilem   in    1748,  and  beg'an  practice 


of  law  in  New  Mil  ford  in    1772,  where  lie  1 
1805.      (See    Hoardman's   Sketclies.  ) 


esided  until  his  death  in 


SiiivK.M.x.x  I'A  I'.ui'.TT,  was  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1801  as  from 
Cornwall,  lie  seems  however,  to  belong"  to  Sharon,  where  he  was 
born  A])ril  20,  1781,  li\ed  there  and  died  ( )ctober  5,  1870.  The 
Ellsworth  llistor\"  says,  "The  major  became  captain  of  militia  was 
early  sent  to  the  legislature,  surveyed  almost  e\er\  bit  of  this  town, 
and  much  of  other  towns,  was  a  justice  of  no  mean  record,  rose  to 
the  rank  of  major  in  the  war  of  i8ij,  was  treasurer  of  this  ( l{lls- 
worth )  societv,  commissioner  of  tlie  common  land  and  founder  of 
the  lilirary  which  now  bears  liis  name. 

John  R.  1v\kna.\i.  was  admitted  to  this  I'.ar  in  1871.  ])racticed 
a  short  time  at  bitchf'ield  and  also  i)ul)Iished  tlie  Litchtielil  Sentinel. 
In  1877  he  located  in  l)anbui"y,  (.'onn..  Irom  whence  he  removed  in 
1884  to  Washington,   I).  C. 


-Amos  11.   Iv\u\s\\  ou'iii.  was  admilliMl  to  this  T.ar  in    i84(j. 


i;i(m;k Ai'ii  It  \i.  xoTi'.s  243 

AiJCi^STi'S  11.  1m:n.\,  l)()ni  in  I '!>  iiinuili  January  iS.  1X44.  In 
the  Civil  War  lie  s'^iintHJ  Ihc  rank  of  Major  of  the  211(1  (.'onn.  Heavy 
Artillery.  .\t  the  battle  of  C'edar  Creek  lie  was  \vonn<lc<l  and  .suf- 
fered the  amputation  of  lii^  ri-ht  arm  at  the-  >-houl(U'r.  lie  was 
a  i,n-aduate  of  Harvard  Law  Sehool  and  was  admitted  to  this  liar  in 
iSr)7  and  he,q-an  his  i)ractiee  at  I'lymouth  renioviiii.;-  to  Waterhnry 
and  thenee  to  Winsted  at  wliieli  i)laee  he  resided  at  his  death,  Se])- 
teniber  12.  1.S97.  In  1887  he  was  eleeted  Jwh^c  of  the  Sui)erior 
Court,  and  in  1893  he  was  i)romoted  to  the  Supreme  Court  ot 
Krrors.      (See  his  obituary  in  \  ol.  t)j.  C'onn.  ) 

The  following;-  tribute  to  Judi^e  lu-nn  was  i^ivtn  1)\  his  assoeiate 
Iudi,'-c  David  Torrance  at  the  Annual  Meeting-  of  ilu'  Army  and  .\avy 
Club  in  1898: 

"I  trust,  that  vou  will  pardon  nic  if  1  say  a  few  words  about  him 
who  was  my  friend  and  comi)anion  for  some  \ears  in  the  hiti^-hest 
court  of  this  state,  whom  all  of  you  know  and  loved,  and  who.  when 
he  (lied  was  the  honored  president  of  this  club. 

The  best  les^-aey  that  a  man  can  leave  to  his  childrt'U  and  U>  liis 
fellow  men,  is  the  inspiring-  examjile  of  a  well  s])ent  life  :  a  clean  life. 
nobly  lived  for  noble  ends.  Hai)py  the  man  who  dyin,^-  leaves  be- 
hind him  the  record  of  such  a  life;  and  to  the  full  measure  of  such 
felicity,  as  far  as  human  facilit\-  will  i)enuit,  m\  friend  and  yours 
attained. 

His  war  record,  young-  as  he  was,  is  as  brilliant  as  it  is  inspiring-. 
Entering-  the  army  in  July,  i8()2,  when  he  was  eighteen  years  old, 
as  a  member  of  the  gallant  Second  Connecticut  Heavy  .\rtillery.  he 
served  with  distinction  as  lieutenant,  as  caotain.  as  brevet  major 
and  brevet  lieutenant-colonel,  till  the  close  of  the  war  and  after. 

When  wounded  and  disablrd  by  the  loss  of  his  arm  at  Cedar 
Crcek  in  1864  he  refused  to  be  discharged  and  reported  for  duty 
within  seven  weeks  after  he  was  wounded.  Mo^t  men  would  have 
regarded  the  loss  of  a  good  right  arm  as  sacrifice  enough  for  one  s 
coiuitry.  but  our  comrade,  in  this  respect,  as  in  sonie  others,  was  not 
like  most  men.  Since  the  war  what  a  busy  useful  life  he  led.  as 
student,  as  lawyer,  as  the  trusted  judge  of  pn^bate  for  years  in  IMy- 
mouth  and  Winchester,  as  meml)er  of  the  Legislature,  as  member 
of  important  con-imittees  for  the  revisinn  of  our  laws,  as  an^active 
participant  in  ])oliiical  contests,  as  lecturer  in  the  N'ale  Law  School, 
as  the  eloquent  orator  on  Memorial  Days,  and  at  (u-and  .\rmy  meet- 
ings innumerable,  as  the  trusted  friend,  the  wise  counsellor,  and 
burden  bearer,  in  local  matters  and  affairs,  and  finally  as  judg-e  of 
the  superior  court  and  of  the  supreme  court  of  errors  of  this  state. 
What  a  deal  of  work  he  crowded  into  his  tiftv-four  years  of  life. 
What  a  useful  life  it  was  to  his  countr\  and  to  his  fellow  men  !  How 
unselfishly  and  unstinte<llt-  he  gave  Ivmself  to  all  things  that  tended 
to  hell)  men  and  make  them  better  citizens,  and  in  the  midst  of  all 
its  stir  and  activitv  and  storm  and  stress,  what  a  clean  and  noble  life 


244  i.iTcMi  i-ii:i.i)  ^■()^■^■T^■  i'.i;\fii  wn  i-.au 

it  was!  Ik'  was  llic  architect  of  liis  owii  lnrtuiu'S.  .\l)(>iii  all  he 
inherited  from  the  past  was  the  hlood  of  a  vii^'orotis  ancestry,  l)Ut 
blood  will  tell,  and  in  hiiu  il  made  the  desert  of  adverse  circtun- 
stances  the  very  vantaj^e  i^'ronnd  of  snceeess,  and  caused  its  barren 
wastes  to  blossom  as  the  rose. 

lb'  was  successful  because  he  merited  success,  lie  won  his 
promotions  in  the  arm\-.  without  the  aid  of  inlbiential  frii'uds.  by 
sheer  force  of  character,  by  his  bravery,  and  his  ])ro\-ed  illness  to 
fill  every  position  {o  which  he  was  assii^netl. 

In  civil  life  he  attained  i)osition  and  inlluence  by  his  sterling" 
integritv  and  his  own  unaided  abilitw  Me  worthily  filled  every  of- 
fice he  ever  held,  and  worthily  fidhlled  every  one  of  the  many  trusts 
that  were  reposed  in  him.  His  was  on  the  whole  a  sticcessful  life, 
in  a  hi^ii  sense  a  joyous  victorious  life,  and  now  that  death  has  ptit 
a.  ])eriod  to  it,  while  _\et  the  infirmities  of  old  ag'e  were  afar  ofT, 
he  may,  with  the  wise  old  Greek,  call  it  a  happy  life,  worthily  ended." 

Hi-LJoTT  J.  Im'.xx,  w^as  born  in  I'lymouth  Se]:)tember  i.  1855,  and 
studied  law  with  .Augustus  H.  Fenn  in  Plymouth,  and  was  admitted 
to  this  liar  in  1874.  He  began  ])ractice  in  \\'aterbur\  in  1875,  and 
died  there  in  il 


P'ui'.Di'.KicK  J.  Fkxx,  w'as  a  native  of  W'ashington,  Conn.,  but  was 
admitted  to  this  I'ar  in  1821  as  from  Canaan.  He  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  Penn. 

Lixus  Fexx,  was  a  native  of  Plvmouth  and  studied  with  Judge 
Reeve  and  was  admitted  to  jiractice  in  1794  and  persued  his  pro- 
fession in  his  native  town.     He  died  in  1852. 

C.i':oi<('.i".  L.  Fiia.o,  was  liorn  in  W'atertown  December  4,  1828. 
He  studied  law  with  John  W.  Webster  in  Waterbury,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  l>ar  in  1856,  and  after  a  brief  practice  in  W'atertown 
he  opened  his  office  in  Waterbury.  He  was  one  of  the  earlier 
Judges  of  the  city  court,  and  also  the  ATayor  of  the  cit\".  During 
the  last  few  years  of  his  life  he  was  totalK'  blind,  lie  died  in 
\\'atertown.  October  22,  1879. 

John  a.  1m)oti:.  was  admitted  to  this  P>ar  in  1825,  having  at- 
tended the  Paw  School.  The  following"  taken  from  Howe's  His- 
torical   Collections    of    (  )hio,    is    of    interest    regarding    Afr.    Foote : 

■".Much  gralilicalion  was  derix't'd  at  this  lime  in  Cleveland  l)y 
.a  call  u])oii  Mr.  John  A.  l'"ooie,  an  old  law\er  an  octogenarian,  of 
whom  I  had  all  m\  life  heard  but  ne\-er  met  tnitil  now.  He  was 
a  l)rother  of  Aihniral  h'ooic  and  a  son  of  that  (^lovernor  Foote  of 
Connecticut  who  introduced  a  resolution,  historicall\'  known  as 
'Foote's  Resolution'  which  led  to  the  debate  between  Daniel  Web- 
ster and   .Mr.   Ila\iu',  of  South  Carolina.      * 

'".Mr.  h'oolt'  lirst  came  hei'e  from  Cheshire.  C(  MUU'cticut.  in  the 
summer  of  i8_:^3,  and  was  for  \ears  a  mi,'mber  of  the  eininenl  law  lirni 


].i()c.K.\riiu'.\r,  .\()'ri:s  245 

of  Andrews,  Footc  \'  llnyi.  \\v  was  l)oni  in  iSo^  on  the  site  of 
the  Tontine  Hotel  in  New  lla\i.ii,  luit  his  hcjnie  at  ilic  time  of  leav- 
ing^ was  in  Cheshire.  That  town  was  overwhehiiinp^Iy  Democratic, 
and  he  was  a  Whii;-,  l)nl  as  {\]c  State  Lcj^^islattnT  was  in  session 
hul  Tor  a  lew  weeks  his  lownsnien  irrespective  of  politics  fj^ave  him 
and  a  .Mr.  I'"dward  A.  Cornwall,  prior  to  their  dc])arlnrc  for  tlu- 
distant  wilds  of  (  )hio.  as  a  i)ai-(inL;-  eomplinienl  the  ])ri\-iU-,L;e  oi 
rejiresentini;-  them  in  that  hodw  v'^o  they  went  down  to  Hartford 
and  passed  a  few  weeks  ])leasantly  amoni^-  the  'Shad  Haters'  as  in 
the  htimorous  parlace  of  the  time  the  members  were  called,  from 
the  fact  that  they  met  in  May,  the  season  of  shad-catchini;-  in  the 
Connecticut. 

"The  year  iBcS^  came  around  when  Foote  and  Cornwall,  after  a 
lapse  of  fifty  years,  in  company  visited  the  Le.c^islature  of  Connecti- 
cut at  Hartford  and  were  received  with  g-reat  eclat. 

"The  House  passed  some  com])limentary  resolutions,  signed  by 
the  speaker  (Charles  H.  I'ine)  and  by  the  clerk  (Donald  II.  Per- 
kins)  expressive  of  their  hi^h  ^ratification.  'Passed  Februar_\-  22. 
l8(S3.  Washing-ton's  birtlidaw'  These  Mr.  Foote  with  commend- 
able ])ride  pointed  otit  to  me  framed  on  his  parlor  wall." 

Fj'.KNivziiR  FooTi:,  was  born  in  \\'atertown  (then  W'estburx) 
Julv  (),  1773.  Studied  law  at  jud.^e  Reeve's  school  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  in  1796.  He  located  at  Lansingburgh,  X.  '^'.,  and 
with  the  increase  of  his  business  moved  to  Troy  and  later  to  .Albany. 
He  was  one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  the  state,  an  active  and  in- 
fiuential  politician.  He  was  the  founder  and  promoter  of  the  cele- 
brated Albany  Female  Academy.  He  died  July  _' i .  1814,  at  Troy, 
New  York. 

jAiiiii)  B.  FosTiCk,  born  in  Albany,  X.  ^'..  1820,  was  admitted  to 
this  Bar  in  1848  and  located  and  practiced  in  Xew  Hartford  until 
his  death  in  March  3,  1895.  He  held  many  town  offices  and  was 
judge  of  the  District  Court  for  Litchfield  County  for  the  term  of 
three  years.  He  w^as  a  very  bright  man  and  a  witt\-  lawyer  and 
a  great  many  pleasant  stories  and  recollections  are  told  of  his  prac- 
tice.     (See  picture,  ])age  107.) 

Walter  S.  Fraxkux,  born  in  Lancaster,  Penn.  in  1799.  Stud- 
ied at  the  Litchfield  Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  this  P>ar  in 
1820  and  practiced  law  in  York,  Penn.  He  was  Clerk  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  in  Washington.  D.  C.  from  December  2,  1833  to 
his  death  September  20,  1838.  Major  Ceneral  Wm.  1'..  l-'ranklin 
was  one  of  his  sons. 

GeoroI';  A.  Frice.aiax  was  born  in  ISoscowen,  X.  11.  in  ii<j(K  fit- 
ted for  College  at  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  graduated  at  Yale 
Scientific  School  in  t8()7,  studied  law  with  Huntington  c<-  \\'arner, 
and  w^as  admitted  to  the  I'ar  in  hjoi.  Mr.  iM-eeman  resides  and 
practices  in  Waterbury. 


24()  i.n\'ii  i'ii;i.n  corx'i'N'  r.i'.xcii  and  har 

SwiiKi.  1''kisi'.ii:,  adniiltod  to  tin-  r.ar  in  iSii  from  WakThiirv, 
wIktc  1k'  practiced  a   few  years  and  then  ienio\ed  to  Indiana. 

1Ii;nkn  I.  i'"i  i.i.i.K,  admitted  in  iS4()  from  Kent  and  removed  to 
the   Slate  of   New   \nvk. 

I  i:rom  I-:  h'l  i,i,i;k,  a(hniited  in    1S3-'   from   Kent. 

kii-is  h'li.i.i'lK,  l)()rn  in  I'lymonth  in  iSio.  i^rathiatetl  at  Union 
College  in  1S35,  was  achnitted  to  this  I'.ar  in  1836,  located  in  Kent. 
\vhere  he  practiced  his  profession  for  a  (piarter  of  a  century,  and 
retired  therefrom  in  consecpience  of  id  heaUh. 

h'l.oKiMoM)  1).  I'\i.i';i^  l)orn  in  'l'orrini;1on  in  1S34,  i^'raduatcd 
at  \'ale  Law  School  in  j8f)0.  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1864,  located 
at  W'insted.  was  a  judge  of  the  District  Court  for  Litchfield  County, 
1878-1882.  Returned  to  Torrington,  and  from  ill  health  (|uit  hi.^ 
])ractice  and  hecame  extensively  eng"ag-ed  in  the  poultry  business  on 
lus  ancestral  home,  where  he  died  after  a  protracted  illness,  August 
22,  i'j05. 

h'KilDKKUK  Ci.\N[.()Ri),  admitted  to  the  Lar  in  1853  from  Croshen. 

A.MMi  CiiDDi  NCS.  born  at  vSherman,  Conn.,  in  1822  and  graduated 
at  Yale  Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1849.  ^^ 
])ractice(l  at  Plymouth  until  i866,  when  he  removed  to  Kalamazoo, 
Mich.,  returning  to  Connecticut  in  1872.  He  died  at  his  birth-place, 
Februar\-   13,  1882. 

\'.\\  Ri:.\sSA]..\KK  C.  CiUJDiNC.s,  born  in  Xew  Mil  ford  in  1833  and 
after  attending  Yale  Law  School  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1861. 
After  practicing  in  this  County  a  while  he  removed  to  l^)ridge]iort 
in  1869  and  was  the  City  Attorney  for  Lridgeport. 

L\.MKS  !'.  Cii.N  NX,  a  native  of  Winsted  was  admitted  to  this  liar 
in  i8()5.  Practices  in  Winsted  and  was  for  some  years  the  Town 
Clerk  of  Winchester,  and  also  Prosecuting-  Attorney  of  the  Town 
Court.  In  KjOi  was  ai)])ointed  b\-  President  Roosevelt,  Postmaster 
of  \\'insted.  which  office  he  now  holds. 

Cii-.oKCi".  R.  Cioi.i).  admitted  to  the  Lar  in  i85()  from  C'ornwall 
and  removed  to  Michigan. 

'i'iio.M.xs  i\.  C.oi.i).  born  in  Cornwall  in  i7'^>4,  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  178^),  admitted  to  tiiis  ll.ar  in  1788  and  removed  to  Cen- 
tral .\\w  ^'ork.  where  he  held  a  leading  position  as  a  lawyer.  Was 
a  membt'r  of  Congress  for  twent\'  years,      lie  died  in  ^F<2y. 

J.\.\ll-;s  Cioii.i),  born  in  lira.nford.  C'onn.  1  )ecember  S.  ^77^'>'  gi'ad- 
uated  at  \'ale  ColU'ge  in  lynS-  attt'uded  the  Litchtield  Law  School 
and  was  admitted  to  this  Lar  in  17(^8.  lie  assisted  judge  Reeve 
in  the  Law  Sidiool  ;md  after  the  retirem^'Ut  of  judge  Reeve  con- 
ducted it  himself  until  its  close  in   1833.      Me  died  in  Litchfield  ATay 


I'.ioc.KAriiic Ai.  \oTi':s  247 

II,  iS^.S.  lie  was  a  lud-c  nl"  tlu'  SupriMin'  C'Murt  of  luTors,  and 
iiulhor"  of  C.ould's  I'k'adin.^s.  published  in  i.S^j.  (Sec  IJoard'nan 
and  Sc'dii'wick  Skelclics. ) 

[a.mi-'.s  K  I'.  I'A  I',  (itni.n.  a  son  of  janu's  l)orn  in  Littdiru'ld  Xovfiu- 
bcrJ,  iS();v  Graduated  at  \-d\v  C'ollc.^i'  in  1.S24,  was  adniilU-d  to 
this  r.ar  in  1826.  and  removed  to  .\ni;usta.  (ie;)rL;ia,  where  lie  (\w(\ 
(  )etol!er  1  1 .  iS.^fX 

Gkoki.i:  Col  I.I),  a  son  of  James  horn  in  Litchfield  Scptemhcr  2. 
1807,  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1829.  Removed  to  Troy,  X.  Y.,  where 
he  died  Fehruary  11.  1868.  He  liad  heen  Mayor  of  Troy  and  a 
justice  of  the  Su]ireme  Court  of  Xew   ^■ork  from   1855  to   i8<')3. 

W'li.i.i AM  TracA'  Col  i.D,  anotlier  son  of  James  and  horn  Octoher 
25.  I7«j(),  .graduated  at  \ale  ColleL;e  in  1816.  and  admitted  to  this 
ifar  in  1820.  He  removed  to  Aus^usta.  Georgia,  where  he  became  a 
distinguishecl  Judge  and  prominent  citizen.     Died  July,  1882. 

Hira.m  (iOodwin,  ])orn  in  Xew  Hartford  May  5.  1808,  admitted 
to  the  Bar  in  1830.  Located  at  Kiverton  in  the  town  of  liarkhani- 
sted.  Was  a  Judge  of  the  Litchfield  County  Court  1851  to  1855. 
Died  Fehruarv  5,   1885.      His  obituar\    is  in  52(1  Comi,   l\C])orts. 

Lvmax  Graxcer,  admitted  to  the  liar  in  1821.  He  was  a  native 
of  Salisbury  or  Canaan,  and  graduated  at  L'nion  College  in  1820. 
After  a  short  practice  in  Salisbury  he  removed  to  Rutland,  Ver- 
mont and  associated  with  Moses  Strong,  having  a  large  law  practice. 
He  died  in  1839. 

Elijah  Piiklps  Grant,  horn  in  Xorfolk.  1808.  Practiced  in 
Winsted  in  1835  and  183^).  when  he  removed  to  Canton,  Ohio,  where 
h.e  died  December  21.  1874. 

Friend  Grant,  born  in  Litchfield  September  14,  1740.  Gradu- 
ated at  Yale  1761.  and  practiced  in  Litchfield  a  year  or  two,  and 
died  in  1764. 

Miles  Tobey  Granc.kr.  was  born  August  12,  1817  in  Xew 
Marlboro.  Mass.  By  his  own  exertions  as  a  farmer  boy  and  at 
country  school  teaching  he  graduated  at  Wesleyan  College  at 
?^Iiddletown  in  1842.  The  next  year  he  went  to  Louisana  as  a  fam- 
ily teacher  and  began  studying  law  and  was  admitted  in  that  State 
in  1845.  Returning  to  the  North  he  was  admitted  the  same  year 
to  this  I'ar.  and  soon  located  in  Xorth  Canaan,  making  tint  his 
residence,  until  his  decease  October  21.   i8(;5. 

Judge  Granger  was  a  Democrat  in  his  ])olitical  views,  and  in  1857 
represented  his  town  in  the  General  Assembly,  and  in  1867  and 
1868  he  was  State  Senator  from  his  district  and  chairman  of  the 
Judiciary  Committee,  and  was  ai)pointe(l  a  Jud,gc  of  the  Suwrior 
Court.     Tn   1876  he  was  advanced  to  the  Su]-»reme  Court  of  h>rors 


24^^  i.ri\iii'iKi.i>  corxTv  hkncii  and  war 

which  office  he  held  until  1887,  when  he  resi^^ned  to  accept  an 
election  to  Conij^ress.  In  1893  he  was  appointed  a  State  Referee, 
which  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Bro.  Hickox  in  his  obituary  of  Judge  Granger  published  in  the 
66th  Conn.  Reports,  ends  with  a  sentence  with  which  every  mem- 
ber of  the  Bar  fully  concurred.  ".\  grave,  honest,  shrewd  man,  he 
inspired  contidence  and  respect,  while  his  sense,  wit  and  kindly 
nature  won  him  general  esteem,  and  his  loyaltw  many  lasting 
friends."      (Picture  on  ])age  156.) 

lll■:.\K^•  r..  (u^.wi'S,  born  in  Sherman,  Conn,  in  1822  and  admitted 
to  this  Bar  in  1845.  ^^  began  his  ])ractice  in  Plymouth,  but  after 
a  couple  of  years  removed  to  Litchfield  where  he  had  for  more  than 
forty  years  a  large  and  lucrative  i)ractice.  frequently  representing 
the  town  in  the  (leneral  Assembly.  The  Judicial  History  says  of 
lum,  "He  was  a  typical  lawyer  of  the  old  school.  In  figure  he  was 
tall,  handsome  and  striking.  He  had  great  keenness  of  preception, 
s])lendid  capacities  for  analyis  and  was  a  compact  and  logical 
thinker.  He  was  a  man  of  most  kindly  feelings  warm  and  ardent 
in  his  friendships,  generous  and  helpful  to  all  and  never  vindictive 
even  to  his  opponents."  He  died  in  Litchfield  August  10,  1891. 
Obituary  in  60  Conn.  Reports.     Picture,  page  152. 

Cj.  W.  Griswold.  was  in  jiractice  in  Winchester  in  183 1,  but 
was  not  admitted  at  this  Bar. 

FrkdKRick  Gunn,  admitted  in  1813  from  Xew  Milford.  Died 
in  Xew  Milford  November  Zji^,  1852,  aged  65. 

Warren  W.  Gutiirik,  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1855,  began  prac- 
tice in  Seymour,  Conn.,  but  in  1856  removed  to  AlJ<inson,  Kan., 
and  was  Attorney  General  of  Kansas  for  a  number  of  years. 

Natii.\n  Halk,  was  an  Attorney  at  Sharon  in  1777  and  an  as- 
sistant Judge  of  the  County  Court  for  eighteen  years. 

BExjAiMiN  Hai.i,,  admitted  to  this  Bar  in   1797. 

Elanatiian  S.   Hai.i..  admitted  in   1846  from  l^'airfield  Ccnuity. 

GiDKox  il.M.i,,  born  in  Winchester  May  T.  1808,  graduated  at 
Litchfield  Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  the  luir  in  1832.  He 
always  resided  in  Winsted  and  had  a  large  ])ractice  until  1866,  when 
lie  was  ap])ointed  a  Judge  of  the  Sui)erior  Court,  which  office  he 
held  at  the  time  of  his  death  December  8.  18^)7.  (See  Warner's 
Reminiscences.)      Picture.  i)age  113. 

RoiUvRT  Iv  IIai.i,  was  bum  in  .Morris.  C'onn.  in  1858.  graduated 
at  Yale  Law  St-lioo]  in  i,SS2  and  was  admitled  to  tlie  Par  in  New 
Haven  County,  has  ])ractic(.'d  ])rincipa]ly  in  W'aterlxu'y.  Is  not  now 
in  practice. 


JMOC.KAI'IIJCAl,    NOTKS  249 

Jacoi!  ]».  ITakdi.M'.i  Ki.ii,  Ixini  in  New  York  State  in  1833,  was 
admitted  to  [hv  I'.ar  in  1S54  and  i)ractice(l  at  Kinjij^ston.  In  the  war 
of  the  rel)elli()n  Ik-  served  nearl\  five  years  and  was  Colonel  of  tlie 
80th  N.  Y.  \'ol.-.  In  iS(^)7  lie  located  at  \orth  Canaan  takinj^  Judge 
(iranger's  ])ractice.  In  1SS3  he  \\a>  appointed  Connty  Coroner 
which  office  he  held  at  the  lime  of  his  dealh,  .\])ril  4,   i.S(j2. 

JOHN  llAi<ri;i<,  adniilled  to  this  I'.ar  from  W'insted  in  1<S5(^.  He 
removed  South  and  located  at  Alpalechicola,  l'"la.  ahout  185 1.  He 
was  an  officer   in   the  C'oiifederate  service  dnriniL;-  the   rehellion. 

Iri.iis  r>.  IIakkison.  was  horn  in  Cornwall  in  iSi(>,  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  r.ar  in  184^:;  and  located  at  Xew  Milford.  Was  State 
Attornev  in  \^=^2  and  died  in  Xew  Milford  (  )ctoher  10,  1854,  a.^'ed 
35  years. 

Ah)SKS  IIaTc-m  was  horn  in  Kent  in  1780,  .c^-raduated  at  ^'a!e  in 
1800.  admitted  to  this  I'.ar  in  1802,  settled  in  l)anhur_\-  where  he 
died  in    1820. 

CiiAKLKS  R.  Hathaway,  a  native  of  Winchester.  Admitted  to 
this  r.ar  in  1880,  now  in  i)ractice  in  Manchester,  Conn.  Is  now  the 
Record  C'ommissioner  of  C'onnecticut. 

Wii.i.iA.M  llA\vl.l^^•.  horn  in  Redding-,  Conn,  gradnated  at  Yale 
College  in  1780,  was  admitted  to  this  R.ar  in  1791  ;  he  removed  from 
Fairfiekl  County  in  1798  to  Woodhnry.  and  soon  thereafter  al)an- 
doned  his  leg'al  practice  for  mercantile  pursuits. 

CiiART.i'.s  GoKiJox  H.wiCS.  eldest  sou  of  the  Rev.  (jordon  Hayes, 
horn  in  Washington,  Conn.  January  20.  1830.  Graduated  at  Yale 
in  1851.  Admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1855.  Removed  to  Rock  Island, 
111.,  and  to  ]Muscatine,  Iowa.  Died  at  DesMoines,  Iowa,  April 
8,  1878. 

Louis  M.  He:\iixavav  was  born  in  Watertown  in  1875.  Was 
fitted  for  College  at  the  Cheltingham  ^Military  Academy,  graduated 
at  Lafayette  College  in  1896  and  at  the  Law  School  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  \'irginia  in  1899  and  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  the  following 
}ear.     He  is  largely  engaged  in  the  hotel  husiness. 

Joshua  Hexsh.xw,  was  admitted  to  this  P.ar  in  1797.  from  New 
Hartford. 

Phii.o  ^I.  Hk.\cocks,  horn  Fehruary  8,  1784.  admitted  to  the  P.ar 
in  1810,  and  practiced  in  Xew  Milford  mitil  his  death  .\pril  20,  1825. 

Sami'KL  a.  Hkrmax.  born  in  Canaan  1855.  and  was  admitted 
to  this  Bar  in  1878.  He  located  at  Winsted  in  company  with  the 
late  Judge  Fenn.  and  they  had  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He 
has  attended  strictly  to  his  profession,   doing  very  little  non-pro- 


-50 


1. 1  •rem 


l.D  COIN  r\'    l'.i;Nt"ll   AM)   l;A.'v 


fcssional  work,  lie  was  Slate  Scnatm-  in  1897.  He  was  an  active 
priHiiDter  of  the  Tdrrin^ton  dv  Winchester  Electric  Road,  and  its 
Secretar\-.  lie  resitles  at  his  farm  residence  in  the  town  of  Tor- 
ring'ton,  but  continues  his  practice  at  Winsted. 

(iiX)Kc,i';  A.  HicKox 
was  born  in  Washing- 
ton in  1830,  grackiatcd 
at  Trinity  College  in 

185T,  was  admitted  to 
tliis  liar  in  1853  and 
located  at  Litchfield. 
In  1866  he  ])urchased 
the  Litchfield  l{n(|uir- 
er,  which  he  ])ublish- 
ed  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  editing  i  t 
with  marked  ability 
and  profound  scholar- 
shi]). 

In  1895  he  rcmov- 
e  (1  t  o  his  ancestral 
liome  at  Washingfton, 
where  he  died,  June 
6,  1903. 

RlCllAKD  T.  HiG- 
Gixs  was  born  in 
Washington  in  1865, 
was  educated  at  St. 
Francis  College, 
J  Brooklyn.  New  York. 
Studied  law  w  i  t  h 
Hon.  James  Hunting- 
ton of  Woodbury  and 
in  \\'insted  and  has  for 
(See  Coroner  page   ir)5.) 

I)KRX.\Ki)  E.  Hic.ciNS.  born  in  Woodbury  January  31,  1872,  ad- 
mitted to  the  I>ar  June,  18(^7.  Resides  and  practices  in  Torrington, 
Cf)nn.  Was  ilorough  Clerk  for  three  years.  Is  now  (1907)  i'rose- 
cuting  Attorney  for  the  town. 

llo.MKK  JliNK  was  admitted  to  the  Lar  in  1800  from  Xew  Milford. 

C*iiAi<i.i;s  W.  IIixMAN,  l)orn  in  Southbury  in  1829.  admitted  in 
1853.  Ik'fore  he  had  begun  to  practice  he  received  an  appointment 
as  one  of  the  librarians  of  Congress  and  removed  to  Washington, 
D.  C. 

Edward  IIinman  was  born  in  Southbury.  then  a  part  of  Wood- 


CKOKCIv    A. 


RKOX. 


admitted   to   this    liar    in    i8(jo.     Resides 
several  years  been  the  Count v  Coroner. 


SAMUKL  A.    IIKRMAX. 


IlIOC.KAl'IIKAI,   NOTKS  25  I 


burv  in  1740  and  iiracliccd  in  Soiulibury.  lie  was  familiarly 
known  as  Lawyer  W-il.  I  Ic  is  said  to  have  been  a  very  aide  lawyer. 
He  was  vcrv  coriiilent  man.  wei^hinq,-  sDniethini;  over  luur  hundred 
pounds. 

Ror.ixsox  S.  lliXM.w  was  horn  in  Snulh  I'.ritain  in  iSoi.  Was 
admitted  to  this  liar  in  1825.  In  1.S27  he  removed  U>  Llica,  X.  \., 
l)Ut  returned  to  Connecticut  in  1828  and  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the 
vSuperior  Court  for  Xew  Haven  County  in  1831,  holdin.L^-  thai  office 
seven  years.     He  died  in  Xew  Haven  in  1843. 

RoNAi,  K.  11 1  N.MAN  was  horn  in  Soulhhury,  graduated  at  Yale 
Collei;-e  in  1804  and  was  admitted  to  i)ractice  in  1811  and  i)racticcd 
for  twentv  vears  at  Roxhury.  In  1835  he  was  elected  Secretary  of 
State  and  held  that  office  for  seven  years.  lie  was  lar.c^ady  en- 
g-aged  in  conipilin.g-  and  iniblishin.^-  matters  relatini^-  to  the  early 
history  of  the  State,  and  in  other  historical  and  i;-enealo,o-ical  labors. 
He  subsequently  removed  to  Xew  York  Cit\-. 

Si.MKox  11 IX. MAX,  -raduated  at  Yale  Colle.i^e  in  1784.  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  Bar  in  1790  and  ens^a.^ed  in  his  profession  in  S(nith- 
bury,  where  he  died  in  1825. 

RoLAXi)  Hitchcock,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Superior  Court, 
was  a  native  of  Burlington  in  Hartford  County.  He  was  admitted 
to  this  Bar  in  1844  and  located  in  Winsted.  where  he  died  on  April 
28th.  1889.     ricture,  page  114. 

The  following  was  published  at  the  time  of  his  death  : 
"Roland  Hitchcock,  ex-judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  died  Sun- 
day afternoon  at  his  residence  in  Winsted,  aged  66.  He  was  a 
native  of  Burlington  and  wrote  the  history  of  that  town  for  the 
Memorial  Historv  of  Hartford  County.  He  studied  law  with  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor'Holabird  in  Winsted.  which  town  he  afterward 
made  his  residence.  He  was  clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
in  1852  and  1853,  postmaster  from  1853  to  1861.  and  judge  of  pro- 
bate six  terms.  He  was  appointed  on  the  Superior  Court  bench  in 
1874,  by  Governor  Ingersoll,  and  served  until  1882.  His  last  pub- 
lic service  was  as  representative  from  Winchester  in  1883.  when  he 
served  on  the  judiciary  committee.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  law  in  Winsted." 

Elkaxah  H.  Hoi)C.i:s  was  born  in  Torrington  in  1812  and  was 
admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1837.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Cali- 
fornia and  died  in  that  State  in  1862. 

W'liJJAM  S.  Hoi. AiuKi)  was  born  in  Canaan  in  1794  and  attended 
the  Litchfield  Law  School.  Was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  18 16  and 
commenced  his  practice  in  Colebrook,  removing  to  \\'insted  in  1824. 
He  was  District  Attornev  under  President  Jackson's  administration. 
In  1842  and  1844  he  was  Lieutenant  Governor  of  this  State.  Died 
Mav  22,  1855. 


252  i.iTciri'ii-r.D  couxTv  bkncit  and  r.AR 

]\rAUcrs  H.  ll()iAX).AiH  was  born  in  Xcw  Jlartford,  Litchfield 
County  Xovenibcr  28,  1844.  He  received  liis  lii_<;lier  education  at 
Wesleyan  Academy  and  studied  law  with  Uk-  late  Juds^e  Jared  B. 
Foster,  lie  was  admitted  to  the  Litchtield  County  I'.ar  in  1871  and 
soon  after  remoxed  to  Southiuf^ton,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  has  been  juds^e  of  Probate  for  more  than  thirty  years  and  Treas- 
urer of  the  County  of  Hartford  since  1893  :  a  Commissioner  of  the 
State  Police  since  its  creation  ;  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  in  1902  ;  he  has  been  re])resentative  and  senator  several 
times  in  the  (^jcneral  Assembly  and  was  unanimousK-  elected  speaker 
tiue  term.  He  holds  many  offices  ot'  trust  and  res])onsibility  in 
Southington  and  is  closely  identified  with  all  its  business  interests. 
Is  now  the  Attorney  Ceneral  of  Connecticut.      (Sec  j^age  iC)/.) 

W'ai.tkr  IIoLCo.Mi:.  born  in  New  Hartford  October  13,  1853. 
Admitted  to  this  liar  in  1881,  removed  to  St.  Paul,  Alinn..  where  he 
practiced  until  1896  he  then  returned  to  Connecticut  and  located  in 
Torrington,  where  he  now  resides.     Is  Judge  of  the  P)Orough  Court. 

D.wiD  F.  HoMJSTKR,  born  in  Washington  March  31,  1826,  grad- 
uated at  Yale  in  1851  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  the  same  year. 
He  commenced  practice  in  Salisbury,  removing  in  1854  to  Bridge- 
port, where  he  resided  and  died  A  lay  4,  1906.  He  held  the  office 
01  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for  Connecticut  a  number  of  years. 
The  lollowing  notice  is  from  the  Bridgeport  Standard  : 

The  death  of  the  Hon.  David  F.  Hollister  removes  another  of 
the  older  citizens  of  Bridgeport  who  had  been  a  prominent  factor 
in  its  development  and  in  all  the  reputable  and  admirable  elements 
of  its  progress.  j\Ir.  Hollister  distinguished  himself  by  his  probity 
and  ability  in  every  station  which  he  filled  and  as  a  government 
official,  occupying  an  important  place  for  many  years  he  made  a 
record  that  is  hardly  paralleled  in  that  department  for  accuracy, 
efficiency  and  thoroughness.  As  a  citizen  he  answered  every  obli- 
gation ;  as  a  professional  man  he  was  honorable  and  able  and  in 
every  walk  in  life  he  set  an  example  to  be  emulated.  He  lived  a 
long  and  useful  life  and  he  leaves  a  memory  to  be  cherished  with 
affection  and  res])ecl  by  all  who  were  associated  with  him. 

JoTiy  B.  Hoi.i.iSTKR.  born  in  Pitchfield  in  1860,  the  only  son  of 
Gideon  H.  Hollister;  w^as  admitted  to  the  liar  in  1884.  Has  never 
practiced. 

Joiix  M.  Hoi.iA',  born  in  Salisbin-y  and  graduated  from  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1820  and  was  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1824.  lie  removed  to 
western  New  York,  became  a  member  of  Congress  and  died  in 
Florida  while  holding  that  position. 

Gkorc.i:  B.  Hoi.'i".  jjorn  in  .\orfolk  in  1 7g().  attended  the  Pitch- 
field  Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1812  and  removed 
to  Dayton,  Ohio  in   1818,  where  he  became  a  \er\-  prominent  man 


lilOC.KAIMIUAr,    N()Ti:S 


253 


in  tlu'  prdsc'cutiin  of  its  s_\stnii  of  internal  iini)rovcnients.  I  Ir  was 
ludge  of  the  Circuit  Court  (.1  (  )Inu  and  its  I'residcnt  Judj^c  for 
fourteen  years. 


celebrations  and  anniversary  occasions.     In 

History  of  Connecticut  in  two  lari;e  volumes 

field  ]\iarch  21,  1881.     His  obituary  is  in  \'ol.  48.  Conn.  Rejwrts. 


C.ll)i;oN  1 1.  I  bd.I.IS- 
Tia<,  Ijorn  in  \\'asbin<.^- 
lon  in  1S17,  and  <.;;rad- 
uatc'd  from  Vale  Col- 
lege in  1S40,  and  was 
admitted  to  this  I'ar 
in  1842.  and  soon 
after  located  in  Litch- 
field, but  has  resided 
and  ]iracticed  at  var- 
ious times  in  other 
places.  I  le  was  Clerk 
of  the  Courts   1844  to 

1845.  '^'I'l  '''"'""  '^47 
to  1850.  L'nder  Pres- 
ident Andrew  John- 
son he  was  the  United 
States  Minister  to 
Hayti.  He  is  best 
kniiwii  of  from  his 
literar\  work,  Ijcing' 
author  of  several  His- 
torical novels  a  n  d 
])lays.  He  was  sin- 
gularly gifted  in  mak- 
ing and  delivering 
addresses  on  public 
1855  he  i)ublished  the 
He  died  at  Litch- 


UriEl  Holmks,  born  in  Hartland  in  1765,  graduated  at  Yale  in 
1784  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  and  located  at  Litchfield.  He  was 
State  Attorney  from  1807  to  1814.  A  member  of  the  General  As- 
sembly from  Litchfield  nine  times :  Judge  of  the  County  Court  from 
1814  to  1817:  a  member  of  Congress  in  1817  and  1818.  He  died 
May  18,  1827. 

SamuKl  Miles  Hopkixs,  L.  L.  D.  was  born  in  Waterbury  1772, 
but  in  early  life  removed  to  Goshen,  studied  at  Yale,  but  refused 
graduation,  studied  at  Judge  Reeve's  Law  School  and  was  admitted 
to  this  Bar  in  1793.  He  removed  to  the  State  of  Xew  York  and 
was  engaged  in  large  real  estate  transactions.  He  was  a  member 
of  Congress  and  held  many  other  high  official  positions.  He  died 
at  Geneva.  X.  Y.  October  8.  1837. 


254  i.ri\Mii-ii:i.!)  corxTv  i'.i;nc-ii  and  t.ar 

Samiki,  r>.  IhiKNi:,  of  Winsted  was  admitted  to  the  Ikir  in  1869 
from  that  town,  having-  served  tln'ouj^di  tlie  Civil  War  where  he  g'ain- 
ed  the  rank  of  Captain.  He  was  an  aide  on  the  staff  of  Governor 
IMiineas  Loimshury  and  was  Commander  of  the  Connecticnt  Dept.. 
C.  A.  R.  He  was  Tnited  States  consul  under  President  Harrison. 
Labor  Commissioner  for  Connecticut  from  1895  to  18c/;.  He 
now  resides  and  jiractices  at  W'insted  ;  liolds  a  Medal  of  Honor 
IJadge.  His  practice  is  mostly  contined  to  recovering;"  estates  from 
foreign  countries. 

F.  H.  lloKi'ox.  admitted  to  the  liar  in  184^). 

ISA.\c  M.  HoRTox,  admitted  to  the  lUir  in  1882  from  Harwinton. 

Sa:\iuki.  C.  Hosi-'ord,  admitted  to  the  IJar  in  1850  from  Canaan; 
never  practiced;  became  a  teacher  and  removed  to  Xew  Jersey, 
where  he  died. 

Joiix  1).  Howi;,  studied  law  with  Judge  Hitchcock  in  W'insted, 
admitted  to  the  Uar  in  1866  from  W'insted  and  soon  after  his  ad- 
mission removed  to  St.  Paul,  ^linn.  where  he  holds  a  large  practice 
as  a  railroad  attorney. 

Edward  J.  Huhbard,  born  in  Pethlehem.  studied  with  Wm.  Coth- 
ren,  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1864  and  removed  to  Trimdad, 
Colorado,  where  he  is  now  in  practice. 

Joiix  T.  HnnjARD,  born  in  Litchfield  in  18^6.  graduated  from 
^'ale  College  in  1880,  studied  law  at  Yale  Law  School  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  New  Haven  Bar  in  1883.  Xow  resides  at  Litchfield. 
Represented  his  native  town  in  the  General  Assembly  i()Oi  and  1903  ; 
is  now.  (  1907)  Judge  of  Probate  for  District  of  Litchfield. 

Joiix  H.  Hriw.AKO,  born  in  Salisbury  in  1804  and  admitted  to 
this  Bar  in  1826.  He  began  practice  in  his  native  town,  but  in 
1854  removed  to  TJtchfield.  W'as  elected  member  of  Congress  from 
his  district  in  18(^)3  and  1865.  W'as  State  Attorney  of  the  County 
in  1844  and  again  in  1841;.  He  enjoyed  a  lucrative  practice  and  was 
one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  State.     He  died  July  30.  1872. 

The  following  notice  of  the  death  of  this  distinguished  member 
of  our  P)ar.  is  from  the  Litchfield  ])aper  and  written  by  his  neighbor 
and  friend,  lion,  ileury  B.  Graves: 

'i'he  lion.  John  H.  Hubbard  died  in  this  village  on  the  30th  of 
July,  1872.  The  deceased  was  born  in  Salisbury  in  November,  1804 
and  was  therefore  at  his  death  i)ast  sixty-seven  years  of  age.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield  Count \  I'.ar  in  Ai)ril  i8_>()  and  soon 
after  commenced  jiracticing  law  in  his  nati\e  town,  in  the  village 
of  Lakeville,  where  he  continued  in  a  \ery  successful  business  until 
al)out  seventeen  \ears  since  when  he  remove<l  to  Litchfield.  Here 
he  was  constantlv  occupied  in  his  i)rofession.  being  cuga'^ed  in  most 
of  the  imi)ortant  causes  tried  in  our  higlier  courts  imtil  liis  election 


L'dl..     SAM  t    l".!.     i;.     IKiRM 


llIOC.i<.\l'IIIC.\I.    XdTKS  255 

ti)  Coni^M-ess  in  iS^>3.  fmiii  this  Districl.  llr  was  a^ain  retunicd 
to  Conj^rcss  in  uS()5.  lla\inL;-  served  hi.s  I'nur  years  in  Congress, 
lie  again  retnrned  to  the  i)raetice  of  the  law  and  continued  it  till 
within  a  few  weeks  of  his  death. 

lie  was  very  indiislrious.  cnerj^etic,  ami  perservin^- ;  never  dis- 
couraj^ed  by  an  adverse  decision,  where  there  was  an  (j|)|x)rtunity 
to  pursue  the  cause  of  his  client  ftu'ther.  and  was  often  victorious 
in  the  court  of  review,  where  he  had  been  overruled  in  the  inferior 
courts. 

In  the  course  of  his  professional  career  he  had  a  lucrative  ])rac- 
tice  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  luore  ]n-oininent  lawyers  in 
this  county.  He  served  five  years  as  State  Attorney  of  the  county 
in  which  jiosition  he  i^ave  s^eneral  satisfaction  ;  he  was  also  State 
Senator  from  the  17th  District  two  terms  and  served  in  various 
other  public  relations  and  in  all  of  them  acquitted  himself  with 
honor.  Me  was  a  j^ood  citizen;  liberal,  kind,  and  ^-enerous  to  the 
])oor,  and  always  readv  to  contribute  his  full  share  to  all  objects 
of  worthy  charity.  As  a  husband  and  ])arent.  he  could  not  do 
enoug'h  for  those  so  nearl\-  connected  to  hini.  and  his  affections  knew 
no  bounds  or  limit.  The  deceased  leaves  a  widow,  three  sons,  and 
a  daui^hter,  surviving-  him,  to  mourn  his  loss.  Thoui^"h  his  death 
had  been  expected  for  several  days,  ow'ino^  to  the  character  of  his 
disease,  yet  our  community  was  not  prepared  to  meet  with  so  o'reat 
an  affliction  and  deeply  sympathize  with  the  stricken  family  in  their 
great  sorrow,      l^icture  on  ])age  T07. 

Frank  W.  Hri!i',.\Ri),  born  in  T.itchfield  in  1861,  graduated  at 
\a.\c  College  in  1888  and  from  ^'ale  T<aw  School  in  1890  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar.  After  a  few  }-ears  i)ractice  in  Torrington  he 
removed  to  Flushing,  X.  Y.,  and  is  .Vttorney  for  New  York  City 
Railway  Co. 

FR.^NK  L.  Hi'xnKRFORD  of  Xew  Britain  was  born  in  Torrington 
in  1843  and  entered  the  University  of  A'ermont  in  i860.  From 
1862  to  1864  he  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Senator  Edmunds,  and 
graduated  at  the  Harvard  Law  School  in  1865  being  admitted  to 
the  Bar  in  Burlington  in  1865  and  to  this  Bar  in  1866.  He  prac- 
ticed in  Torrington  for  three  years,  then  removed  to  Xew  Britain, 
where  he  has  been  Judge  of  Probate  as  well  as  City  Attorney. 

LKn'i  Hfxc.KRroRi).  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  i8:;4  from  Sherman. 
He  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  28th  C.  \".  and  died  in  service  .August 
9,  1863. 

JosKiMi  D.  HrMriiRKv.  admitted  to  the  r)ar  in  1812  from  Goshen. 
He  was  born  in  Goshen  March  i^.  1780,  and  after  admission  settled 
in  practice  in  Torrinp-ford,  a  oart  of  Torrington,  for  a  few  years, 
when  he  removed  to  X^'orton.  Summit  County,  Ohio,  where  he  died 
February  4,  1839. 


256  ijTc  ni'ii;i.i)  coiN'Tv  1!i:ncii  and  iiar 

\an  R.  1  liMi'iiuKv.  adiniitcd  to  llic  liar  in  1S20.  Was  born 
in  C.oshcii  July  28.  1800.  Soon  after  liis  admission  to  the  I'ar  he 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  became  a  Judge  and  a  very  prominent 
man.      lie  died  in   Hudson,  (  )hio  Se])tember  5.   18^)4. 

lIiKAM  Hint,  a  native  of  Canaan,  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in 
1820;  removed  to  Xew  York  City. 

Rkii'.Kn  11  TNT,  a  native  of  Canaan,  admitted  io  this  liar  in  1812, 

and  removetl  to  Illinois. 

Roi'.ivKT  Hint  is  on  Connecticut  Res^^ister.  1859  as  Attornev  in 
Falls  \'illa-e. 

j\i;i:z  W.  1  liNTixciON.  born  in  Norwich  in  1788,  £:;;raduated  at 
^'ale  College  in  1806,  studied  at  the  Litchfield  Law  School  and  was 
admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1810.  He  located  in  Litchfield  imtil  1834, 
when  he  removed  to  Norwich.  He  was  a  Judge  of  the  Superior 
and  Supreme  Courts.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress  sev- 
eral terms,  and  Lnited  States  Senator  in  1840.  He  died  in  1874. 
(See  Boardman's  Sketches,  page  64.) 

Ja:mES  Huxtixgtox  was  born  in  Coventry,  Tolland  County. 
Connecticut.  June  4th,  1833.  the  son  of  Edward  G.  and  Eliza  Clark 
Huntington,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  Woodbury,  Litchfield 
County,  ^lay  2nd,  1908. 

Mr.  Huntington  received  a  high  school  education  and  taught 
school  in  his  native  town.  Later  he  attended  Wilbraham  Academy, 
and  the  New  York  Conference  Seminary  at  Cliarlottsville,  N.  Y"., 
and  in  1857  was  graduated,  with  the  degree  of  L.  L.  B.,  from  the 
State  and  National  Law  School  at  Poughkeepsie.  at  which  time  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

Subsequently  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Alvin  P.  Hyde  and 
Loren  P.  W^aldo  at  Tolland.  Connecticut,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar  of  Tolland  County  in  April,  1859. 

After  being  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  the  spring  of  1859  he  opened 
an  office  in  Woodbury,  where  he  continued  in  active,  honorable 
and  successful  practice  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  at  which  time 
he  was.  and  for  a  long  number  of  years  had  been  i)resident  of  the 
Litchfield  County  Bar  and  Law  Library  Associations. 

In  .\])ril,  iSf)!  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Probate  District  of 
Woodbury,  comprising  the  towns  of  Woodbury.  P>ethlehem  and 
Southbury,  which  office  he  retained  continuously,  with  the  exception 
of  one  tfrm.  until  disqualified  by  age  limitations  in  1903.  His  wise 
and  judicious  administration  of  the  office  of  Judge  of  Probate  for 
a  ])eriod  of  over  forty  years  won  for  him  a  high  standing  as  a  pro- 
bate lawyer,  and  the  unqualified  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fel- 
low men. 

On  Jul\  4t]i,  1S74  he  was  ai)i)oiutrd  Stale's  Attornev  for  Litch- 
field Countv,  filling  that  office  with  marked  ability  imtil  June,  1896. 


JAMES    HL'-XTIXCTON'. 


i;i()C,l< Al'llll' AI,    NOTI'.S  257 

iicarK  a  (|uartcr  of  a  cniturv,  and  duriiiin-  that  tinu'  tried  many  im- 
portant cases,  and  l)ecaiiu'  renowned  as  a  States  AllDrnfy  in  lii^ 
tireless  effort  to  eradicate  crime  and  l)rin<^^  criminals  to  justice;  some 
of  the  most  bitterly  contested  cases  beini;-  in  connection  with  li(|uor 
prosecutions,  and  vet  at  all  times  he  dis])layed  the  commendable  dis- 
position of  temperiii,L;-  justice  with  merc\ .  At  the  close  of  his  twenty- 
two  years  of  service  as  States  Atlnmey  the  members  of  the  l»ar 
of  Litchfield  County  presented  him  with  handsomely  en,G;Tossed  reso- 
lutions expressive  of  their  hij^ii  re.^ard  and  esteem  for  him  in  the 
conduct  of  that  important  and  otT-times  un])leasant  office. 

He  was  a])])<iinted  a  member  (if  the  C'ommissinn  of  State  Police 
at  the  time  of  its  organization  in  hjo^.  and  toi  ik  a  .^reat  interest  in 
the  workings  of  that  jjolice  i)owev,  in  the  detectinn  and  i)unishment 
of  crime,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Huntington  alwa\s  lodk  an  active  interest  in  i)ublic  affairs, 
and  in  ])olitics  was  a  demncrat,  representing  the  town  of  Woodbury 
in  the  Legislature  in  1874-5,  and  was  Senator  from  the  old  sixteenth 
district  in  1877-8.  In  1904  he  w^as  a  candidate  for  Secretary  of 
State  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 

Mr.  Huntington  was  married  jainiary  f)th,  i8r)3  to  Miss  Rebecca 
Huntley  Hurd,' of  Honesdale.  I'a..  wlm  died  February  28th,  1865, 
leaving'  one  daughter,  Rebecca.  On  June  nth,  i8()8  he  matfiea 
Miss  Helen  Elizabeth  Parker,  of  Woodbury,  who  survived  hh:i, 
together  with  two  daughters,  Rebecca  Huntington  and  Eunice 
Huntington  Tomlinson,  and  one  grandson.  James  Huntington  Tom- 
linson. 

For  over  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Judge  Huntington  was  engaged 
in  nearly  all  the  large  legal  battles  in  Litchtield  County,  and  was 
considered  one  of  the  giants  of  the  Litchfield  County  IJar,  always 
honest  with  the  court,  fair  to  his  opponents  and  faithful  to  his  clients. 
He  was  not  a  great  orator,  but  his  honesty  of  jmrpose,  integrity 
of  character  and  "thorough  familiarity  with  the  law  and  facts  of 
the  case  on  hand,  together  wnth  his  clear,  concise  and  logical  presen- 
tation, made  him  a  tower  of  strength  in  the  courts,  and  especially 
before  a  Litchfield  County  Jury.  He  abounded  in  quaint  simile,  and 
many  times  the  studied  argument  of  his  opponent  would  fall  before 
some  simple  homley  illustration,  delivered  at  the  oppertune  time,  in 
his  inimitable  style. 

While  always  firm,  and  sometimes  stern,  in  the  i^erformance  of 
his  duty,  he  possessed  a  most  generous  disposition,  and  was  ever 
courteous  and  obliging  to  his  brother  lawyers  and  especially  to  the 
younger  members  of  the  Bar.  to  all  of  whom  he  became  endeared, 
and  was  affectionately  known  as  •'I'ncle  Jim."  He  loved  his  pro- 
fession and  the  members  of  the  Par.  and  their  honest  and  oft  ex- 
pressed love  and  esteem  for  him.  was  a  matter  of  great  comfort  to 
him  in  his  declining  years. 


258  i.ri\ii  i'ii;i.i)  lorxTN'  i;i;ncii  and  har 

His  cc^tninianiliii!:;  I'dnn  and  i^ciiial  ])resciico  were  in  evidence  at 
nearly  every  dttieial  meelin<;-  of  the  liar,  and  were  among  the  most 
l)leasant  features  of  the  annual  liar  bantjuets. 

Socially.  Mr.  llimtinylon  was  of  a  domestic  nature,  and  de- 
lis^hted  in  the  companionship  of  his  home,  family  and  surroundint^s, 
helievini^  in  the  simplicity  of  the  nineteenth  century  customs  rather 
than  the  ])omp  and  glitter  of  twentieth  century  fads.  He  was  a 
great  lover  of  nattire  and  would  sj^end  hours  at  a  time  roaming 
through  the  woods,  fields  and  gardens  where  every  tree,  plant  and 
fiower  had  for  him  a  noble  sentiment  to  reveal,  and  lie  took  an  active 
interest  in  their  growth  and  protection. 

Mr.  1  luntington  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  did  much 
to  build  u])  and  strengthen  the  educatit)nal  s\stem  of  the  town  of 
\\'oodbiu'\ .  lie  was  always  active  in  his  supjxirt  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  to  which  religious  denomination  he  belonged.  The  high 
esteem  in  which  Mr.  Huntington  was  held  by  the  citizens  of  Wood- 
bury was  in  a  measure  evidenced  by  the  memorial  services  held  in 
that  town  on  the  evening  of  June  28th.  igo8.  and  the  proposed  mem- 
orial fountain  to  be  erected  to  his  memory. 

As  a  practicing  attorney  ^Ir.  Huntington  stood  in  the  front 
ranks,  not  only  of  the  Bar  of  Litchfield  County,  but  also  of  the  State 
of  Connecticut,  and  yet  the  characteristics  which  stand  forth  most 
prominently  to  commemorate  his  memory,  were  his  nobility  of  char- 
acter, sincerity  of  purpose,  lofiy  ideals  and  generous  disposition ; 
born  of  New  England  ancestors,  reared  in  a  New  England  climate, 
he  lived  and  died  an  illustrous  example  of  christian  manhood. 

\\^]r,i.iA:\t  F.  HuRLBUT,  born  in  W'insted,  Conn..  January  27,  1835, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1859.  He  resided  in  W'insted  and 
w^as  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  and  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
for  Litchfield  County  since  1872.  excepting  three  years  during  which 
time  he  was  County  Health  Officer.  He  died  at  Winsted.  April  11, 
1901,  aged  66.      (See  pictin-e  on  ])age  142.) 

Henkv  C.  Ivks.  admitted  in  1832. 

Georck  \\'.  J.\C()i!S.  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1820. 

Daxiki,  Jaqiw,  Jr.,  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  i8i().  Practiced  in 
Connecticut  about  twenty  \ears. 

Georc.K  p.  Ji;\ks,  admitted  to  the  I'.ar  in   1856. 

EbEni;zi;r  Ji:sii',  jr..  admitted  to  the  I'.ar  in   1826. 

Ezra  Jf,\vi:i.i..  admitted  to  the  Dar  in   1810  from  Salisbury. 

Frederick  A.  Jewkf.i.,  admitted  t<)  the  Par  in  1881  from  Salis- 
bury. He  removed  to  New  Hartford,  where  he  is  now  in  practice. 
Is  Judge  of  Probate.  He  re])resented  the  town  in  the  C.eneral  As- 
sembly, 1907. 


r.HK.K  AI'll  UAI,    XO'I'ICS  259 

A^ros  M.  joiixstix,  1)imii  in  Si  mtlihnry,  ()cti)l)cr  ji,  iXiC),  a'l- 
mitted  to  the  l>ar  in  1S51.  hied  al  llic  <  )M  I'cMplr's  llunic  in  I  lart- 
ford,  A])ril  6,  1871;. 

]\i,isii  A  joiiNSox,  born  in  liarklianislcd.  May  1.  i<SiX.  dradu- 
atcd  at  TriniU  C'tilk\m'  in  i«S35.  Atlrndcd  the  ^'ak■  Law  .School 
and  was  achnilted  to  this  liar  in  1S40.  I  Ir  ])racticed  in  I'lynionth 
until  1855  when  he  removed  to  Hartford,  lie  was  Clerk  of  this 
C(nirt  from  185010  1851.      lie  dierl  in  llartfor<k  lu'hruary  18,  i8(;l. 

Soi.ox  1').  lolixsox  was  horn  in  Cornwall,  admitted  to  this  liar 
in  1863.  IleVuhlished  the  Ijtchtield  Sentinel  from  1866  to  1873, 
then  removed  to  his  farm  in  Cornwall,  where  he  died.  May  30,  1890, 
aged  51  years. 

WalTKR  W.  Jolixsox  was  admitted  in  1866.      1  le  never  ])racticed. 

SN'i.xi'.S'n'K  JoilNSO-X,  admitted  in  1S13  from  Cornwall,  of  which 
town  he  was  a  native. 

II.  Roc.J'R  JoxKS,  Jk..  horn  at  New  Hartford,  jime  Jjnd.  1882, 
attended  public  schools  in  Xew  JIartford  and  (.ilbert  School.  Win- 
sted,  graduated  from  the  latter,  June,  1901.  Entered  Cornell  Uni- 
versity Law  School  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  September,  1903  and  gradu- 
ated June,  1906.  llecame  a  member  of  the  New  York  I'ar  in  Sep- 
tember, 1906  and  the  Connecticut  Bar  February,  T907.  At  present 
is  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  New  Hartford  TrihrnK'.  and  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  at  New  Hartford. 

W'ai.TKr  S.  Jl'dd  was  born  in  Litchfield  in  1859,  graduated  at 
Yale  Law  School  in  1882  and  was  admitted  to  the  New  Haven  Bar 
that  same  year.  Settled  in  Litchfield  and  was  Clerk  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas  from  1894-7.  Was  in  the  Legislature  in  1891 
and  1893,  serving  on  the  judiciary  committee  the  last  named  year. 
Now  resides  in  New  York  City. 

Gkoroiv  H.  Jrosox  was  a  native  of  Woodbury,  admitted  to  the 
Bar  in  1845  and  removed  to  Texas. 

S.  W.  Ji'DSOx  was  a  native  of  Cornwall  and  a  graduate  of  I'nion 
College.  Was  admitted  to  practice  in  1836.  He  located  in  New 
YorkCitv.  It  is  said  of  him,  "As  a  lawyer  he  is  more  distinguished 
for  his  learning,  integrity  and  honesty,  than  for  his  brilliancy  as  a 
pleader.  If  lawyers  were  more  generally  of  his  style,  we  should 
have  fewer  law-suits  and  more  justice." 

Charles  A.  ]ii)Sox  was  a  native  of  Washington.  Held  the  of- 
fice of  Sheriff  from  1835  to  1838.  After  his  term  of  office  he  re- 
moved to  New  Haven  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 

TA:\n;s  D.  Ki;i:si'.  was  born  in  the  City  of  New  ^'ork.  entered  ^'ale 
Coliee-e,   but   did    not    tini>h    his   course   of    studies   there;    came   to 


26o  I.nCllFlKl.D  COUNTY  BIvNCII  AND  liAR 

Litchfield  and  studied  law  with  Jud^^e  Seymour,  and  was  admitted 
to  this  l>ar  in  April.  1852.  He  imme(hately  set  up  practice  in  Wood- 
bury, but  in  less  than  one  year  removed  to  Uirmini^^ham,  Conn., 
where  he  died. 

EiU'NKzKR  V>.  Kki.i.oc.c,  was  a  native  of  Norwich.  Conn.,  and  for 
some  years  was  a  school  teacher  comin**-  to  Litchfield  from  Nauga- 
tuck.  where  he  had  been  Principal  of  the  schools.  He  studied  law 
with  George  A.  Hickox,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1879. 
After  a  brief  practice  in  Litchfield  he  removed  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
where  he  died. 

W'ji.LiA-M  Kki.sI'V  practiced  law  in  Winchester  in  1850,  and  in 
1856  removed  to  Cheshire,  where  he  died. 

DwiciiT  C.  Kii.i'.ouRN  was  born  in  Litchfield,  October  9th,  1837. 
He  read  law  with  Seymour  &  Seymour  and  Henry  B.  Graves,  of 
Litchfield,  and  after  a  three  years  service  in  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  April,  1866.  Practiced  in  Litch- 
field until  1887  when  he  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Superior  and 
Supreme  Courts  of  Connecticut  for  Litchfield  County,  which  office 
he  now  holds. 

Gkorgk  Kingsbury,  admitted  to  this  Bar  as  of  Canaan  in  1794. 
Mr.  Boyd  in  his  annals  of  Winchester,  refers  to  him  as  beino-  as- 
sessed in  that  town  in  1796  for  his  faculty  as  attorney-at-law.  being" 
the  "first  legal  luminary  that  shed  its  light  on  this  benighted  town. 
His  stay  seems  to  have  been  as  brief  as  a  comet's  visit."  He  re- 
moved to  Poultney.  A't..  where  he  died.  Ay>v\\  30.  1803. 

John  Kingscury,  born  in  Norwich,  West  Farms  (now  Lrank- 
hn).  December  31,  1762.  Graduated  at  Yale.  1786,  and  1788  en- 
tered the  Law  School  at  Litchfield,  and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in 
1790.  and  the  next  year  opened  an  office  in  W^aterbury  and  soon 
became  a  leading  citizen  of  that  town.  He  was  seventeen  times  in 
the  I^egislature.  He  was  Judge  of  the  County  Court  about  twenty 
years.  He  died  August  26.  1844.  He  was  the  grandfather  of 
Frederick  J.  Kingsbury,  Esq.  of  \\'aterbury,  the  distinguished  banker 
and  historian. 

D.\Nii:i,  .M.  King  was  admitted  to  this  V>-dr  in  1870  from  W'ater- 
town.     He  located  in  the  West  and  died  there. 

EiMiRAiM  KiRuv,  born  in  Litchfield  in  1756,  in  a  i)art  of  the  town 
now  included  in  Washington.  See  Article  "First  Law  Reports" 
for  his  biogra])hy. 

Rkvxoi.d  M.  l\IKl•.^■  was  a  son  of  h^jhraim  Kirby  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  Bar  in  1810. 

Piiii.K.MON  KiUKu.M.  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1799.  resided  at  Win- 
sted.  In  P>oyds  Annals  of  Winchester  is  a  very  interesting  account 
of  this  eccentric  man. 


IMoCKAIMIUAr.  XOTKS  26l 

Wji.tja^m  Kxai-p  was  a  mcnihcr  of  the  l-'airfield  County  I'ar,  but 
practiced  in  New  Mil  ford  a  lew  years  prior  lo  1880,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Denver,  Colorado. 

1m<i;i)i;i>:kk  M.  Koi'.iii.i'.k.  admitted  tn  tin.-  I'ar  in  1885.  roided  in 
Litchfield,  but  soon  reniox'cd  with  his  family  to  Montana. 

KnwAUi)  A.  l\iM\i:i,,  ])racliced  at  'J\)rrin<i;ton  a  year  or  tun  prior 
to  1878  and  at  a  later  ])eriod  was  at  Thomaston. 

John  R.  Laxdox  was  born  in  Salisbury.  September  [4.  1765.  and 
married  in  Litchfield,  Anna  Cham])ion,  daui;hter  of  Kev.  Judah 
Cham])ion,  January  10,  1796,  and  settled  at  Litchfield,  lie  was 
Sheriff  from  i8or  to  t8i8.  After  his  term  of  office  expired  he  re- 
moved to  Castleton.  A't.,  where  he  died,  February  27.  1851.  Mr. 
Landon  durini^  his  term  alsc  had  unpleasant  duties.  Here  is  sen- 
tence that  he  had  to  execute : 

'AMiereas  Samuel  W'hitmore.  of  Xew  Mil  ford,  in  said  county,  be- 
fore the  Superior  Court  holden  at  Litchfield  in  said  county,  on  the 
ist  Tuesday  of  February  1804,  was  le^-ally  convicted  of  Aditltry, 
and,  on  consideration,  was  by  the  Judg'cs  of  said  Court  sentenced 
and  adjudged  to  be  whipped  on  his  naked  bodv  Toi  Stripes,  and 
to  be  stig^matized  or  burnt  on  his  forehead  with  the  letter  "A"  on  a 
hot  iron,  and  to  wear  a  halter  about  his  neck  on  the  outside  of  his 
i^arments  during-  his  abode  in  this  State  of  Connecticut — and  as 
often  as  he  shall  be  found  without  his  said  halter,  worn  as  aforesaid, 
upon  information  and  proof  of  the  same  before  any  Assistant  or 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  to  be  whipped  not  exceeding-  thirty  stripes,  and 
to  pay  the  cost  of  this  prosecution,  etc."  All  these  sentences  were 
thus  executed  to  the  letter,  as  a]:)pears  from  sheriff's  rcttn'us. 
In  executions  for  horse  stealin,^',  the  jirisoners  were  sentenced 
to  be  twice  set  astride  a  wooden  horse  and  kept  there  an  hour  and 
then  whipped  fifteen  stripes  on  the  naked  body,  with  an  interval  of 
a  month  between  two  punishments.  A  man  convicted  of  forgery 
in  1788  was  sentenced  to  stand  twice  in  the  ])illory.  and  was  "dis- 
enabled to  give  any  evidence  or  verdict  in  any  court  or  before  any 
^Magistrate  or  Justice  of  the  Peace." 

Josr.Pir  Lakk,  admitted  in  1822. 

Edgar  M.  Laxdox  of  Salisbury,  admitted  in  1824. 

Hoavard  F.  Laxdox'  of  Salisbury  was  born  in  Sharon  in  18^x7 
and  graduated  at  the  jVmenia  Seminary.  He  studied  law  with  Hon. 
Donald  T.  Warner  in  Salisbury  and  graduated  at  the  Albany  T^aw 
School  in  1890.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield  P)ar  the  follow- 
ing year  and  formed  a  partnershi])  with  Mr.  Warner  in  Salisbury. 
As  Senator  from  the  19th  district  he  made  an  enviable  record  in  the 
session  of  1901. 


262  I.ITCIlI'li;i.l)  COl'N'rv   I'.I'NC'll    AM)   HAR 

lliKAM  P.  LawrkkcK  of  W'instcd  was  horn  at  Xorfolk  in  1S33. 
lie  tittctl  for  Yale  Collc.c^e  at  Norfolk  Academy,  studied  law  with 
Indite  F.  D.  Fyler  in  W'insted  and  was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield 
I'.ar  in  1^73.      Hied  August  (>,  kjoS. 

Isaac  Lkavkn worth,  admitted  to  this  r)ar  in  181 5.  Settled  in 
Roxhury  where  he  ])racticed  for  twenty  years.  In  1837  he  removed 
to  New  Haven  and  t'nj;-i,i;eil  in  other  l)usiness.  (  See  Sedi;'wick's 
fifty  years.) 

Bradley  D.  LKf,.  born  in  llarkhamsted  March  24,  1838.  Served 
in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  as  Quartermaster  of  the  Second  Connec- 
ticut, Heavy  Artillery.  Admitted  to  this  I'ar  in  1856  and  removed 
to  St.  Louis.  Mo.,  where  he  became  a  leading-  attorney.  Died  in  that 
city  May  10,  1897. 

CuAL'XCRY  LiiK.  D.  D.,  born  in  Salisbury  Xovember,  I7<")3. 
Graduated  at  Yale  Colles^e  in  1784,  was  admitted  to  this  Uar  in  1786. 
He  practiced  a  few  years  and  then  relinquishing-  his  profession,  en- 
tered the  Ministry  and  became  a  very  learned  and  impressive  preach- 
er. He  was  author  of  "Revival  Sermons,"  "Triumphs  of  Virtue." 
a  metrical  paraphrase  of  the  Book  of  Job,  an  arithmetic,  and  several 
pamphlets.     He  died  in  Hardwick,  X.  Y.,  1842. 

Rev.  Ai.oxzo  Xoktox  Lewis,  'M.  A.,  born  at  Xew  I'ritain  Sep- 
tember 3,  1 83 1.  Graduate  of  Yale,  class  of  1852.  For  several  years 
a  teacher  of  public  schools  and  academies.  Principal  of  Litchfield 
Academy  1852-4.  Studied  law  with  Hollister  and  Beeman  and  after- 
wards w'ith  Judge  Charles  B.  Phelps  of  Woodbury,  whose  youngest 
daughter,  Sarah  Maria  he  marriecl  Xovember  28,  1860.  Admitted 
to  the  I'.ar  at  Litchfield  September,  1857.  Ordained  an  Episcopal 
clerg-yman  in  1866.  Rector  at  Bethlehem.  Connecticut,  Dexter, 
Maine,  Xew  Haven  and  Westport,  1866  to  1891.  From  1891  to 
1907  was  rector  of  Christ  Church.  Montpelier,  Vt.  He  died  in  Xew 
Haven  September  12,  1907.  lie  had  been  Secretary  of  tlie  Masonic 
A'eteran  Association  of  Connecticut  for  many  years.  Was  a  mem- 
])vv  of  tile  Societ\'  of  the  (.'incinnati  of  CiMUiecticut. 

Daxikf,  \\'.  Lewis  was  a  native  of  b'anninglon.  Studied  law 
with  Judge  Reeve,  graduated  at  ^'ale  College  in  1788.  ami  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  r^ar  in  1796. 

James  LIEEl■:^'.  admitted  in  1809  as  from  ."Aharon. 

1''kank  I).  LiNDSEKA',  admitted  in  1882  from  North  (.'anaan.  He 
located  at   I'hilmont,   New  ^'ork. 

CiiAKEES  1).  LoNci'Ei.i.ow  was  a  native  of  Maine,  but  studied  with 
Mr.  Cothren  in  Woodburv  and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1861. 
1  ie  located   in    I  '(.■iins\  l\;'.uia. 


ni()C.ir\i'iii(Ai,  xoTi'S  263 

loiix    |.  r.oKi),  admillcd  in   iS_'_:;  \V"\\)  SlianMi. 

Lyndr  Lord  was  the  second  Sheriff  ol  the  County,  liohhnp:  the 
office  from  1771  to  t8ot,  about  thirty  years,  lie  was  born  in  Lyme, 
Connecticut,  and  died   in   I.itchfiehl  June   16,   i8or,  aged  68  years. 

That  he  had  some  unpleasant  (huii'S  to  ])erf()rm  the  following 
returns  on  Executions  attest : 

The  execution  in  this  case  is  dalfd  1779  and  signed  by  Geo.  I'it- 
kin,  Clerk  of  the  Superior  Court.  The  statute  of  blasphemy  then 
in  force  reads  as  follows : 

That  if  any  person  within  this  state  shall  presume  wilfully  to 
blaspheme  the  name  of  Cod  the  Father,  Son  or  Holy  Ghost,  cither 
by  denying,  cursing  or  reproaching  the  true  God.  or  liis  government 
of  the  World;  every  person  so  offending  shall  be  punished  by  whip- 
])ing  on  the  naked  body,  not  exceeding  forty  stripes,  and  sitting  in 
the  pillory  one  hour ;  and  may  also  be  lx)und  to  his  good  behavior, 
at  the  discretion  of  the  Superior  Court,  who  shall  have  cognizance 
of  the  offence. 

The  nature  of  the  punishment  inflicted  will  most  concisely  appear 
from  the  following  return  of  the  officer  setting  forth  what  he  did  in 
])ursuance  of  the  sentence  of  the  court: 

Lri'cirFiKLD,  23d  .\ugust.  1779. 

Then  by  virtue  of  the  within  Execution  took  the  within  named 
Samuel  Tousley  from  the  common  C^oal  in  Litchfield  to  a  Gallos, 
viz.  erected  for  that  purpose,  and  set  him  thereon  with  a  Rope 
round  his  Neck  for  the  space  of  one  full  hour,  and  then  I  branded 
him  with  the  capital  Letter  B  with  a  hot  iron  on  his  forehead,  and 
then  tied  him  to  a  tail  of  a  Cart,  and  caused  him  to  be  whip'd  thirty- 
nine  Stripes  in  his  Naked  body,  in  the  whole,— at  four  of  the  most 
l)ublic  places  in  the  Town  of  Litchfield  and  then  returned  him  to 
the  Goal  from  whence  he  came. 

Test, 

Lyxdf;  L<^)Kn.   Sheriff". 

Three  days  after  execution  of  the  sentence  Tousley  paid  the  cost 
in  the  case,  amounting  to  £153,  8  shillings  and  six  pence,  or  $531.42. 
This  would  imply  that  Tousley  must  have  been  a  man  of  consider- 
able property.  Ixi't  these  costs  were  probably  payable  in  paper  money 
worth  at  that  time  hardly  a  twentieth  of  its  face  value  in  specie. 

Tt  seems  that  tramps  were  not  unknown  in  Connecticut  in  our 
early  history.  A  transient  person  who.  "not  having  the  fear  of  God 
before  his  eves,  but  being  moved  and  seduced  by  the  instigation  of 
the  devil"  burnt  some  buildings  in  Sharon,  "contrary  to  the  law  of 
this  colony  and  the  rights  of  mankind."  The  fellow  was  duly  con- 
victed and  sentenced. "and  the  following  sheriff's  return  shows  the 
nature  of  his  punishment.  After  being  duly  "bull  dozed"  at  the 
cart's  tail  by  the  sheriff,  he  was  remandetl  to  jail  till  he  could  pro- 


264  i.ri\iii*ii:i.n  coiNT^'  r.iCNCTT  ano  t.ar 

cure  sureties  for  future  g'ood  behaviour  aud  had  paid  the  costs  of 
his  prosecution : 

LiTcm'iKi.i),  2 1  St  Feb.,  1776. 
Then  l)y  virtue  of  the  within  Kxecution  I  caused  the  witliin  nam- 
ed John  Thomas  to  be  taken  from  tlie  common  Cioal  in  Litchfield  to 
the  place  of  Execution  and  there  Set  upon  a  Gallos  with  a  Rope 
Round  his  neck  for  the  full  Term  of  one  hour  and  Then  tied  to  the 
Tail  of  a  Cart  and  Trans]iorted  to  four  of  the  most  public  places  in 
the  Town  of  Litchfield  and  there  whii)ped  on  his  naked  body  Thirty- 
nine  stripes  in  the  whole,  accordin,^"  to  the  within  Directions. 
Fees  40s.  Test, 

LvxDiv  Lord,  Sheriff. 

Gkorgk  LoviiKiDGK  was  admitted  in  1840  and  practiced  a  short 
time  in  New  Milford. 

JoTiN^  P.  LovivRiDGK.  This  name  appears  on  the  Connecticut  Rcj;'- 
ister  of  1842  as  an  attorney  at  New  ]\Iilford. 

RoMKO  LowERY,  born  in  Farmington  in  1793,  p^raduatcd  at  '^'alc 
in  1818,  studied  at  the  Litchfield  Law  School  and  was  admitted  to 
this  Bar  in  1820.  He  settled  in  Southington  and  was  a  highly  re- 
spected member  of  the  Hartford  County  Bar  and  a  Judge  of  the 
County  Court.     He  died  in  1856. 

Benedict  E.  Lyons  was  born  in  Thomaston,  June  13.  1883. 
Graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1905  and  from  the  Law  School  in 
1908,  and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1908.  Located  at  Hartford. 
Represents  Tiiomaston  in  the  General  Assembly  of  1909. 

Darius  Lyman  was  a  son  of  Col.  David  Lyman,  born  in  Goshen 
July  19,  1789.  Was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  181 2  and  removed  to 
Ravenna,  Ohio.  He  died  at  the  residence  of  his  son-in-law,  W.  S. 
C.  Otis,  Esq.,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio  December  13,  1865. 

David  Ly.aian  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1841,  and  after  a 
practice  of  five  years  he  relinquished  the  profession  and  entered  the 
Ministry  of  the  Methodist  l^piscopal  Church. 

SAMiKf,  Lyman  was  a  son  of  ]{nsign  Moses  Lxnian,  born  in 
Goshen  January  25,  1749.  He  graduated  from  ^'ale  College  and 
studied  Theology  and  afterwards  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to 
this  Bar  in  1773.  He  commenced  ])ractice  at  Hartford  with  fiatter- 
ing  prospects  of  success,  but  relin(|uished  that  for  a  military  ap- 
pointment  and  removed  to  Massachusetts.  TTere  he  became  a 
Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  that  State  and  was  a  member  of  the 
first  Congress  convened  under  the  Constitution  of  the  Ignited  States. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  55  years. 

Wii.inR  G.  M.XNcnKSTKk  was  born  in  Winchester  in  i860.  Grad- 
uated at  the  Yale  Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  i8(X)- 
resides  and  practices  in  \\'insted.  and  has  been  active  in  Grange 
and  Prohibition  circles. 


I'.ioc.uAi'iiicAi,  N()'n:s  265 

TiiHoDoKi",  M.  MAi/nuK,  l)()rn  in  Xew  York  in  1X42,  admitted  to 
this  Har  in  i8C)_^  from  Norfolk  where  he  ])racticed  a  sh(jrl  time  and 
then  remo\ed  to  llartt'ord  wliere  he  now  resides. 

Cvius  Maksif,  practiced  kiw  in  Kent  in  1761  and  was  after- 
wards a  Minister  of  the  (josi)el  of  tliat  ])lace. 

1'kank  W.  Maksii.  l)orn  in  Xew  Milford  in  1855,  j^rachiated  at 
Yale  CoHej^e  in  iS7<;.  a(hnitte(l  to  the  Xew  lla\en  I'ar  in  i(SS2,  re- 
moved to  Xew  Milford  where  he  now  resides. 

SA:>[rKi,  Maksii,  born  in  Litchfield  in  1765.  yradnated  fnim  ^'alc 
Colleg'e  in  I7S<^),  admitted  to  this  I'.ar  in  178(8  and  removed  to  Xor- 
folk,  Va. 

Gkokc.i-:  a.  Mak\i\  was  horn  in  Xorfolk  in  1870.  c^radnateil  from 
the  Yale  Law  School  in  1901  and  was  a<lniittcd  to  this  liar.  He 
resides  and  ]M-actices  in  Xorth  Canaan. 

Ri;v.\oi.i)  -Makxix  was  horn  in  Lxnie.  Conn.,  and  i^radnated  at 
Yale  College  in  1748.  He  located  in  Litchfield  on  the  formation  of 
the  New  Connty,  and  was  the  first  lawyer  in  that  town.  He  was 
appointed  Kings's  Attorney  in  17^14,  whicli  office  he  held  eig'ht  years. 
After  this  ])eriod  he  does  not  appear  to  have  been  active  in  les^al 
matters.     He  died  at  Litchfield  in  1802. 

N^iciior..\s  M.xsTKRS,  l)orn  in  1758.  gradnated  from  A'ale  Colleij^e 
in  1779,  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1780,  resided  in  Xew  Milford,  where 
he  died  in  1795. 

CiT.\Rr,ES  S.  Masters,  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  181 2  from  Xew 
Milford. 

Peter  J.  McDer^sfott  was  born  in  Torring-ton.  and  gradnated 
from  Yale  Law  School  in  1905  and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar. 

James  H.  McMahox.  born  at  Xew  Milford,  Jnne  24,  1839;  son 
of  John  and  Sophia  Wells  McMahon.  He  received  an  acedemic 
education,  but  did  not  enter  College.  He  studied  law  at  the  Albany 
Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield  County  I'ar  in  No- 
vember, 1863.  Judge  McMahon  was  a  well-known  lawyer  in  West- 
ern Connecticut,  and  for  many  years  was  engaged  on  one  side  or 
the  other  in  most  of  the  important  cases  in  that  section.  He  w^as 
elected  Judge  of  Probate  for  the  District  of  New  Milford  in  August, 
1864,  and  held  his  first  term  of  ])robate.  August  .-^oth.  of  that  year. 
He  continued  in  office  until  the  first  Monday  in  January.  1897.  ^" 
1873  and  1875.  he  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assemblv.  He 
died  at  New  Milford.  August  9,1906.  His  funeral  was  very  largely 
attended  by  lawyers  from  Litchfield,  Fairfield  and  New  Haven 
Counties,  in  all  of  whose  courts  he  had  been  an  active  practioner, 
and  also  by  the  members  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Masonic 
bodies  of  which  he  had  been  a  member. 


266 


i.n\ii  i'ii;i.i)  i.()iNi"\  r.i:N(.ii  and  i'.ak. 


He  gzxe  in  his  will  the  sum  of  $1,200  to  the  Litchfield  County 
15ar  Association,  in  he  dixided  between  each  nt'  the  Law  Libraries 
at  the  Litchfield,  W'insted  and  New  Mil  ford  Court  houses.  His 
picture  may  be  found  on  pai^c  136. 

Wii.i.i AM  11,  McMoKRis  was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield  I'.ar  in 
1904.      lie  removed  to   1  Vnusylvania. 


to  this   liar  in 
imtil  his  death 


\i.ti:k  S.  M  i:rkii.i,.  horn  in  Xew  Hartford  in  1829,  admitted 
1852  and  located  in  Southini^ton,  where  he  resided 
January  10,  iQoi. 

I'aii;  1'*..  Mi;\i)  was  born  in  W'estbrook.  Maine,  October  2/,  1878. 
but  came  when  ([uite  youui^'  to  b'alls  \'illag"e,  Conn.  Studying  at 
Exeter  and  at  IJrown's  University,  he  entered  the  Yale  Law  School, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1904,  and  was  admitted  to  this  I  Jar. 

CiiivSTivRFn",!,])  C.  Mionrj'.i'.KooKS 
was  Sheriff  of  Litchfield  County 
from  1903  to  1907.  He  was  born 
in  Sharon,  Conn.,  July  24,  i860.  In 
1880  he  went  to  W'insted  and  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Cdlbert 
Clock  Company,  where  he  contin- 
ued for  fourteen  years.  He  was 
for  several  years  at  the  head  of  the 
police  force  in  Winsted,  and  was  a 
constable  of  the  Town  of  Winches- 
ter, in  which  offices  he  showed 
great  executive  ability.  In  1894  he 
was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  under 
Sheriff'  Henry  J.  Allen,  and  in  1903 
was  elected  sheriff  by  a  good  ma- 
jt)rity.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
office  in  1907  he  was  appointed  by 
the  Judges  of  the  State,  one  of  the 
Jm-v  Commissioners  for  Litchfield 
County. 

Edward  S.  Mkrwix,  admitted  to  the  P.ar  in  1870  from  Xew  IMil- 
ford. 

T.  DwiciiT  Mkrwin.  born  in  Xew  Milford.  Graduated  from 
Yale  College  in  1877.  After  a  short  practice  in  New  Milhu'd,  he 
removed  to  Xew  York  City,  where  he  is  now  in  practice. 

MiciiAKF,  F.  Mn.r.s.  born  in  Xorfolk  in  1786.  admitted  to  this 
Bar  in  1801.  He  locate<l  in  Xorfolk,  dxing  there  in  1857.  (See 
Sedgwick's  .Address.) 

RocHR  Mhj.s  was  admitted  to  this  I'.ar  in  I7t;8  from  Xorfolk 
and  settled  in   Xew  Hartford  about    1800. 


lUCX'.KAl'll  KAI,    NOTI'.S  2^^ 

RoGKK  II.  Miij.s  was  a  son  of  J-ioj^cr  Mills  and  was  aflniittcd  lo 
this  P>ar  in  1836  and  located  at  New  Hartford.  Was  Secretary  of 
State  in  i849-i(S5o,  after  which  he  renioN-cd  to  Ik-Ioit,  Wis.,  where 
he  died,  Noveniher  11,  1880,  aged  67. 

JosivPir  AIii.i.i'.R.  a  graduate  of  Williams  College,  studied  at  the 
Litchfield  Law  Sc1k)o1  and  was  admitted  \o  this  I  Jar  in  1802.  He 
located  at  Winchester,  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Con- 
vention in  1818.  In  1835  he  removed  to  Richland.  .Mich,  lie  was 
a  member  of  the  ^Michigan  Constitutional  Convention  and  also  U. 
S.  Attorney  for  the  District  of  ]\Iichig-an. 

MattiiKw  IMim'.u,  Jr..  born  in  W'oodbury  in  1781,  graduated 
from  Yale  College  in  1801  and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1804. 
Practiced  in  Woodbury,  wliicli  town  he  re])resented  in  the  General 
Assembly  in  1830-1832,  and  was  also  Senator  of  his  district  in  1837. 
Died  at  Woodbury,  December  11,  1839. 

Gir.mvKT  S.  MixoK,  a  native  of  Cornwall,  admitted  to  the  15ar  in 
1848.  He  removed  to  .\le.\andria,  \'a.,  where  he  died  about  1880. 
(The  comj)iler  of  this  work  pursued  his  law  reading  while  in  the 
U.  S.  service  in  the  Civil  \\'ar.  from  books  borrowed  from  this 
gentleman's  library.) 

PiriXE.\S  MlNKR.  born  in  Winchester  1777,  studied  at  Litchfield 
Law  School,  admitted  to  this  Inir  in  1797.  began  practice  in  his 
native  town,  but  removed  to  Litchfield  in  1816,  was  representative 
in  Congress  in  1832.  Died  at  Litchfield,  September  16,  1839. 
(See  Roardman's  Sketches.) 

Joiix  G.  AliTCiiKij,,  practiced  in  Salisbury.  (See  Warner's 
Reminiscences.) 

Henry  A.  Mitchell.  The  Connecticut  Register  savs,  he  was 
a  lawyer  in  Plymouth  in  1832.  He  removed  to  I'ristol.  Was  States 
Attorney  for  Hartford  County,  1836  to  1838.  Was  editor  of  the 
Hartford  Times. 

John'  G.  ]Mix,  admitted  to  this  Rar  in  1815  from  Woodbury. 

Henry  S.  ?^Iorrill,  born  in  Xew  Ham])shire  in  1840,  graduated 
at  Wesleyan  College  in  1866,  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1870,  and 
for  a  few  years  thereafter  he  was  engaged  as  a  teacher,  but  finally 
removed  to  W'aterbury.  where  he  w-as  a  Judge  of  the  City  Court. 
He  died  in  Waterbury,  July  12,  1884. 

T.  D WIGHT  Morris,  born  in  Litchfield  in  1817,  graduated  from 
LTnion  College  in  1838.  and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1839  and 
located  at  Bridgeport.  Was  Colonel  of  the  14th  Connecticut  In- 
fantry in  the  Civil  War.  United  Statets  Consul  at  Havre,  France, 
1865  to  1869,  Secretary  of  State,  1876.  Died  at  Bridgeport,  Septem- 
ber 26,  1894. 


268  i.n\iiKii:i.i)  corN'Tv  1!i:ncii  and  kar 

Nathan  Mousk.  a  s;ra(luate  of  Amherst  College,  practiced  in 
New  Hartford  in  i87().  and  removed  to  Akron,  Ohio. 

CiiAKi.KS  \\.  Moss.  l)oni  in  Litchfield  and  admitted  to  the  liar  in 
1843.  Practiced  in  Waterbnry  nntil  1847.  ^vhen  he  removed  U> 
Iowa.  He  was  ent;-ai;ed  in  the  Mexican  \Var  as  a  Sers^-eant  of  the 
3rd  I'nited  States  Drai^Dons.  and  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  as  a 
Lientenant-Colonel  of  an  Towa  Cavalry  Rei^iment. 

Wii.i.iA.M  r.  Mri.viLLK.  born  in  Norfolk  l'\'brnary  23,  1879. 
Gradnated  at  Yale  Law  School  in  1906.  and  was  admitted  to  this 
Bar.     Located  at  New  Canaan,  Connecticnt. 

\\'\KKi;x  MiNCi-.K,  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1812  from  Norfolk. 

1m<ank  T).  Minn,  born  in  West  Stockbridi^e,  AFass.  November 
i(),  i8()0.  C.radnated  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1887,  admitted 
to  this  Bar  in  1891.  Resides  in  New  Hartford  and  practices  in  that 
town,  and  also  has  an  office  in  Winsted.  He  is  now.  and  has  been 
a  Referee  under  the  rnited  States  Bankrupt  Law  since  its  passage. 

Harris  1*>.  ^Iinsox,  born  in  Middlebury  in  1812,  admitted  to 
this  Bar  in  18^0,  finallv  located  at  Sevmour,  where  he  died,  February 
2,  1885. 

TifADDKis  MrNSox.  i)racticed  in  Canaan  in  1809. 

1m<KI)Krick  E.  Mvc.att,  a  native  of  New  Milford.  studied  at  the 
Yale  Law  School,  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1892.  Now  i^ractices  in 
New  York  City. 

Edward  A.  .Nki.i.is  held  the  office  of  Sheriff  of  Litchfield  County 
from  1895  to  1903.  He  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  but 
ui  early  life  came  to  Winsted,  where  he  has  since  resided.  For 
many  years  he  carried  on  a  tinware  manufacturing-  and  jobbing 
business.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War,  a  luember  of  the  6th 
Connecticut  \^olunteer  Infantry,  he  was  wounded  at  the  siege  of 
Petersburg  in  1864  and  suffered  an  amputation  of  his  left  foot. 
(See  i)icture  on  i)agc  162.) 

Lkonakd  J.  Nkkkrsox  of  West  Cornwall  was  born  in  that  town 
October  23,  1857.  He  graduated  from  the  Alger  Academy  and 
studied  law  with  Hon.  Arthur  D.  Warner,  l>eing  admitted  to  this 
I'.ar  in  i87«;.  In  1883  he  rejiresented  Cornwall  in  the  General  .\s- 
semblv.  and  has  been  very  active  in  town  affairs.  He  has  an  ex- 
tensive practice  throughout  the  State.     Picture,  page  162. 

Major  a.  Nickkrsox.  a  native  of  Cornwall,  admitted  to  this  I'.ar 
in  1834.  After  a  brief  practice,  mostly  in  I'-erlin.  Connecticut,  he 
removed  to  New  ^'ork  State  and  entered  the  Ministry. 


i!i()C,K.\riiir.\i,  NoTi'S 


269 


Major  A.  Nickkksox.  l)()ni  in  Cornwall  and  admitted  to  this 
Bar  in  1868.  For  some  years.  Dwinj^'  to  jjoor  health  he  did  not 
practice,  but  about  1888  o])enc(l  a  law  office  in  IMainville.  ("omi. 
Died  suddenly  in  his  office.  A])ril  2-^,   i8<>[. 

MiKKKl,  Nkii.Sox,  a  native  of  l)eiiinark.  studied  law  in  l.itchtield 
and  was  admitted  to  the  r>ar  in   i(SSi.  and  removed  West. 

CiiAKi.i;s  Xi;'rn,i;ToN'  was 
born  in  W'ashinj^ton.  CfMin. 
October  2,  1819,  and  after 
studvintj;"  law  at  Litchfield 
was  admitted  to  the  I5ar. 
lie  o])ened  an  office  in 
Xauii^atuck  and  was  for  a 
time  in  Xew  Haven,  but 
not  meetinf(  with  satisfac- 
tory clientag'e  he  removed 
to  the  city  of  Xew  York 
and  made  a  specialty  of 
conveyancing  and  for  some 
years  was  a  pension  attor- 
ne\ .  lie  was  a  great  col- 
lector of  the  session  laws 
of  all  the  different  States 
and  it  was  claimed  that  he 
had  the  largest  and  fullest 
lil)rary  in  this  line  in  the 
countrx'.  For  the  \\q\\)  of 
the  Tilden-Hayes  Electoral 
Commission,  the  Library  of 
Congress  moved  to  W'ash- 
inton  all  this  part  of  Mr. 
He  died  in  Xew  York  May  5,  1892. 

TiiKODOKK  XoRTir.  born  in  Goshen  March  2,  1780.  Graduated 
from  Williams  College  and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1809.  Mem- 
ber of  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  18 18.  Removed  to  Elmira 
N.  Y.  in  1823.     Died  April  21,  1842. 


Nettleton's  library. 


JoxATiiAX  T.  Norton  was  admitted  to 
practiced  a  short  time  in  West  Cornwall. 
Brooklvn,  N.  Y. 


this   Bar   in    1847   and 
when    he    removed    to 


James  H.  Nortox,  born  in  Goshen  in  1823.  admitted  to  this  Bar 
in  1846  and  soon  removed  to  Pennsylvania.  Entered  the  field  of 
journalism  and  was  connected  with  the  Xew  York  City  daily  i)apers. 
Resided  at  Middletown,  X.  Y.     Died  in  1894. 

William  H.  O'Hara.  lx)rn  in  Washington  October  15.  1859 
and  was  educated  at  the  "Gunnerv"' :  admitted  to  this  Bar  in   1880. 


270  i,iTCiiFn;i.i)  corxTN-  hkncii  and  r.AU 

rracticctl  in  Uridine] xirt.  In  iS()3-4  \\as  an  Alderman  in  IJridi^c- 
port  and  the  latter  year  jircsident  of  the  Hoard  and  Aclinj;-  Ahiyor. 
In  1902  removed  his  office  to  Xew  N'ork  C'il\-. 

Ja:mKS  L.  (  )kk,  l)orn  in  llndson.  X.  V.,  sluthetl  with  lion.  John 
H.  Huhhard.  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845.  He  practiced  at 
Sharon  and  then  removed  to  IMichi^'an.  His  health  failing-  him  he 
returned  to  Salishurw  where  he  died. 

Samukl  D.  Or'Pox,  horn  in  I  )ridg-ewater.  Admitted  to  the  liar 
in  1830.     Practiced  a  nnmher  of  years  in  New  Milford. 

EuGEXE  O'Sri.i.iVAX  practices  law  in  Torrington. 

Cii.\Ki.i-:s  A.    I'ai.mkr,  horn  in  Cioshen   in   1859,  i^Tadnated  from 

Williams  Colle_^e.     Admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1885.  Practiced  a  few 

years  at  Sharon  and  then  removed  to  Torrinj^ton.  Now  resides  in 
Goshen,  and  is  not  in  the  practice  of  law. 

JosKPJi  AI.  Palmer,  born  in  New  Milford  in  1788.  Was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Fairfield  County  Bar,  but  located  at  Woodbury,  where 
he  practiced  until  1816,  when  he  removed  to  Fredericktown,  Md. 
He  was  a  Judge  of  one  of  the  higher  courts  in  that  State. 

SoEOMox  M.  PAE:\rER  was  admitted  to  the  P.ar  in  181 1. 

JoxATiiAX  Edward  ParmalEv,  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1790,  re- 
sided and  practiced  in  Bethlehem. 

David  Par.aiaeEE.  a  lawyer  in  Litchfield,  1797.  (Connecticut 
Register.) 

CoE.  Am  AS  A  Parker,  born  in  1784  in  the  limits  of  the  present 
town  of  Washington.  Graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1808.  At- 
tended the  Litchfield  Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in 
1810.     He  removed  to  Delhi,  Deleware  County,  N.  Y. 

Ax^sox  V.  Parsoxs,  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1826. 

Daxiee  Parsoxs,  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1847  from  Sharon. 

Walter  M.  Pattersox,  admitted  to  the  lUir  in  1860,  practiced 
a  short  time  in  Sharon. 

Calvix  Pease,  a  lawyer  in  New  Hartford,  1799.  (Connecticut 
Register.) 

WiLLL\.M  K.  PiXK,  Jr.,  born  in  1  larwinton  and  admitted  to  the 
Bar  in  1847  from  Norfolk.  He  located  in  Norfolk  and  removed  to 
Winstcd  in  1864.  He  removed  from  Winsted  to  Michigan  in  1869, 
and  died  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich,  in  1870.  The  following  ])aragra]^h 
is  from  a  highly  complimentary  notice  of  the  stumti  labors  of  Wul 
K.  Peck,  Esq.  which  we  find  in  the  H'cs/cni  A'rre  ]'(>rh-cr  published 
at  Warsaw,  November,   1867: 

"'I'be  series  of  meetings  held  in  this  county  by  W.  1\.  Peck,  Esq., 
of  Connecticut,  have  been  among  the  most  successful  and  satisfac- 
tory ever  known  here.     The  appointment  for  the  Court  House  on 


]:l()C,l<.\l'iIHAI,   NOTI'.S  271 

v^aturday  (.■N'cninin'  drew  In^rtluT  an  aiKliciu'c  lliat  ])a(-kc-(l  the-  ruom 
full.  Mr.  IV'ck  is  a  man  of  tine  ])rc.scncf  and  <;cnial  manners  with 
a  rc!iiarkal)ly  t^ood  voice  and  excellent  ciualities  as  a  ])opnlar  speak- 
er. Vov  ])erfect  candor  and  fairness,  for  stronj^  points  sharply  put, 
for  earnestness  and  ag'reeable  humor,  and  to  sum  it  all  u]) — for  a 
good  effect  in  a  political  speech,  Mr.  Teck  ranks  with  the  best  men 
on  the  stum]).     W'c  lioj^e  to  have  him  here  ac^ain." 

Nathan  11:1.  I'ivKRV  was  a  natiw  of  W'ondhur}-  and  was  admilU-d 
to  the  h'airtield  C'ounty  T.ar  in  i.Sif..  lie  ])e.^an  ])ra(-lice  in  Wood- 
hurv,  removint;-  to  Xew  ?\lilford  in  iS_\:^.  lie  died  in  Kent  in  1X49. 
ag-ed  60  years. 

C.i'ORC.i';  W.  I'i'.iv'i'  was  horn  in  Salisljtu-}'  in  1828  .and  after  ad- 
mission to  the  liar  he  practiced  in  Canaan.  The  latter  ])art  of  liis 
life  was  devoted  chiefly  to  financial  o])erations.  lie  was  ])resident 
of  the  Iron  I'.ank  of  Falls  \'illag-e,  etc.  Jlc  died  at  Xorth  Canaan 
in  1882. 

llrcir  V.  Piyn'.RS,  graduated  at  ^'alc  Colle.^-e  in  1849;  admitted 
to  the   liar  in   1851. 

John'  TiioMi'SoN"  Pi',ti:rs.  graduated  at  Yale  Colleo-e,  1789;  ad- 
milted  to  the  r.ar  in  ijcH.  Was  Jud.^e  of  the  v^uperior  Court  from 
1818  to  1834.  Died  Auo-ust  2^,  1834.  Resided  at  Hartford.  (See 
Sedi^'wick's  "Fifty  Year?.") 

JoKL  T.  Pi-.TTKT,  admitted  to  the  liar  in  1801  from  Sharon.  He 
was  a  young-  nian  of  great  ])romise,  l)Ul  died  of  consumption.  Septem- 
ber 13,  1807,  aged  2>~- 

AfGuSTfS  Pkttiroxi'..  horn  in  Norfolk  l<\'])niar\-  k;,  17^)6,  a  son 
of  Col.  Giles  Pettibone.  Attended  the  Litchheld  I^aw  School  and 
was  admitted  to  the  T.ar  in  17^0.  He  settled  in  Norfolk,  was  a 
member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  181 8  and  Judge  and 
Chief  Judge  of  the  Countv  Court  from  1812  to  1831  He  died 
October  4,  1847.      (^C'e  Sedgwick's  "Fifty  Years.'") 

Col.  Gir.KS  PettiroxI',  born  in  Simsbury  December  9.  1735.  His 
name  appears  as  an  attorney  in  the  early  records  of  the  County 
Court.     Resided  in  Norfolk  and  died  there  March' 17.  i8io. 

Sami-KL  FhttthoxK.  the  first  King's  Attorney  of  Litchfield 
County  was  born  in  Sim.sbury  July  26.  i7c)8.  He  began  to  practice 
law  as  early  as  1730.  He  removed  to  Goshen  prior  to  1740  and  was 
active  in  tlie  formation  of  the  County  in  1 751.  Upon  the  establish- 
ment of  the  County  Court  he  was  appointed  King's,  or  as  we  now 
term  it.  State  Attorne\-,  which  office  he  held  several  years.  He  was 
prominent  in  the  town  al^'airs  of  early  Goshen  and  represented  the 
town  in  the  General  Assembly  a  number  of  times.     He  died  in  1787. 

Si'.RKxo  Pktttroxf:   was  a   brother  of  Augustus   IVttibone  and 

born  in   Norfolk   November  (jth,    1778:  graduated  at  Williams  Col- 


272 


i.iTcnriKi.D  corNTv  i'.knch  and  har 


lege  in  1800.  and  was  admitted  to  this  lUir  in  1803.  He  practiced 
a  few  years  at  Norfolk,  and  died  there.  Xovemhcr  lOtli,  1826,  "just 
in  the  prime  of  life,  a  man  of  fine  ability  and  promise." 


JOHN  riKRPoxT,  1851. 

Joiix  PjKKroxT,  born  in  I^itchfield  April  6,  1785.  Graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1804.  Studied  law  at  the  Litchfield  Law  School 
and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1810.  He  removed  to  Newbury- 
port,  ]vlass.,  where  after  a  short  practice  of  law  he  became  an  Uni- 
tarian ]\Iinistcr.  He  edited  a  large  number  of  school  books ;  the 
old  fasliioned  National  Preccpter,  being  perhaps  the  best  known 
of  them.  He  was  also  a  poet,  and  his  "Stand,  the  ground's  your  own 
my  braves !  "  has  been  the  standard  for  boyhood  declamations,  dur- 
ing the  last  three-quarters  of  a  century.  His  ^xjem  delivered  at  our 
Centennial  celebration  in  1851,  has  also  become  classical.  In  his 
earlier  years  he,  like  many  of  the  I'oston  celebreties,  was  not  fas- 
tedious  in  his  dress,  and  the  ])ortrait  we  publish  of  hiui  is  said  by  all 
our  old  men  to  be  a  characteristic  one.  The  second,  near  the  close 
of  this  book,  looks  as  he  did  in  later  life,  when  he  held  a  clerical 
position  in  one  of  the  Government  departments  in  Washington.  He 
was  the  ancestor  of  John  Pierpont  Morgan,  the  noted  banker  and 
financier.     Mr.  Pierpont  died  at  Medford.  Mass..  ;\ugust  27,  1866. 


r.loCKAl'llU    \l.    NOTI'.S  273 

CiiAKi.i'S  r>.  I'lii'.i.rs  was  l)()ni  in  C'lialhaiii,  now  ri)rtlan<l.  Con- 
necticut in  1788  and  jjursued  his  professional  studies  luider  Jud;^c 
Reeve  and  Xoah  15.  I  Benedict,  Esq.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  liar  in 
September,  1809.  loitered  into  practice  at  WOddhurs,  and  there 
continued  the  exercise  of  his  ])r()fessi(Mi  to  the  time  of  In.-  death. 
December  21,  1858.  He  was  judt^e  of  Probate  for  nearly  thirty 
years  and  was  an  authority  on  rro1)ate  Law.  He  was  a  meml)er  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  in  1831,  1837.  and  1852  in  which  latter 
year  he  was  elected  its  S])eaker.  In  1843  he  was  elected  to  the  Sen- 
ate and  w-as  its  President  i)ro  tem.  In  1850  he  was  elected  Judj^-e 
of  the  County  Court,  holding-  the  office  three  years.  In  Mr.  Coth- 
ren's  historv  of  Woodbm-y.  will  be  found  a  lengthy  biog;ra])hy  of  this 
honest  lawyer.      Pictm-e,  ])ai;e  94. 

Ralpie  p.  PiiKi.rs.  attorney  in  Winchester.  1832.  (Connecticut 
Register.) 

E.  FuiSiuiv  I'll  1:1. 1'S.  graduated  from  ^'ale  Law  School,  and  was 
adiuitted  to  this  Bar  from  Harwinton  in  1866.  He  soon  renioved 
from  the  State.     Is  now  in  New  York  City  in  the  insurance  business. 

Elisiia  Piiivr.i'S,  born  in  Simsbury.  Craduated  from  Yale  Col- 
leg-e  in  1800;  attended  the  Litchfield  Law  School  and  was  admitted 
to  this  P.ar  in  1802.     Settled  in  his  native  town,  where  he  died  m 

1847- 

A^ros  PiERCK  (Pkarce).  graduated  at  Yale.  1783.  Died  in 
Woodbury,  1798. 

lA:*n';s  PiKKCK  was  admitted  by  the  County  Court  in   179*;. 

ToTix  Pitch KK  was  admitted  by  the  County  Court  in  1816.  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor of  New  York. 

Joiix  PiERi'OXT.  born  in  Litchfield  September  10.  1805:  mem- 
ber of  the  Law  School;  admitted  to  the  P.ar  in  1826.  He  removed 
to  Vergennes,  \>rmont.  Was  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  and 
held  other  important  offices  in  that  State. 

OrvillE  HiTCHCOCTv  PlatT  was  admitted  to  this  P.ar  in  1850. 
He  was  born  in  Washington,  Conn.,  and  his  early  life  was  that  of  a 
hard  working  farmer  boy.  Both  parents  being  of  good  Xew  Eng- 
land stock,  earnest  in  religion.  i)atriotic,  and  having  the  courage  of 
their  convictions,  he  inherited  that  breadth  of  mind  and  strength  of 
character  for  which  he  became  so  prominent.  Beginning  in  the  old 
red  school  house,  and  afterward  attending  the  Academy,  in  which 
he  later  on  taught,  he  was  still  further  furnished,  by  close  and  per- 
sistent studv  at  home.  Having  chosen  the  law  as  his  profession  he 
entered  the' office  of  Gideon  Hollister  and  Fred.  P.eeman  in  Litch- 
field in  1848  and  in  due  time  was  admitted  to  this  Bar.  He  began 
his  practice  at  Towanda,  Penn..  but  in  a  short  time  returned  to 
Connecticut  and  settled  at  Meriden,  where  he  soon  became  a  prom- 


274 


T,rr(.iii"i!;i.n  cointv  iii'.ncii  and  p.au 


iiK'iil  alloriK'N  and  cili/cii.  In  1S55  he  was  Clerk  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Senate  and  in  1857  was  Secretary  ol  State...  He  was  repeatedly 
elected  to  represent  his  town  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State, 
servini;-  in  the  Senate  in  i8()i-2.  and  in  the  House  of  Representatives 
in  i8()4  and  i8(kj  and  was  "iven  important  positions  in  the  deliber- 
ations of  those  bodies,  in  1877  he  was  ai)pointed  State  Attorney 
for  New  Haven  County.  In  1879  he  was  chosen  United  States 
Senator  bv  the  General  Assenil)ly.  a  ])osition  which  he  occupied 
continuously  until  his  death  at  his  summer  residence  at  Washington, 
Connecticut,  April  21,  1905. 

In  an  address  delivered  by  him  to  his  townsmen  just  before  start- 
ing for  Washington  to  take  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  he  said,  "just 
now  everything  is  new^  and  seems  unreal.  I  can  scarcely  ap])reciate 
the  future  ;  how  I  shall  walk  in  the  new  part  in  which  1  am  set, 
time  will  show.     1  do  know  that  1  shall  try  to  do  right  as  I  see  the 


right.' 


He  took  his  seat  ]\ larch  18,  1879.  and  for  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century  gave  his  best  thought  and  untiring  industry  to  all 
matters  of  legislation  and  gradually  won  his  own  place  in  the  front 
rank. 

He  served  eighteen  \ears  on  the  ccMumittee  of  jiatents.  eight  of 
those  vears  as  chairman.  He  was  regarded  by  all.  as  the  best  au- 
thority on  patent  law  in  the  Senate.  For  sixteen  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  Indian  affairs,  and  no  one  was  more 
alive  than  he  to  the  true  welfare  of  the  Indians.  Xo  man  in  of- 
ficial life  was  ever  a  more  practical  and  useful  friend  of  these 
wards  of  the  nation. 

For  twelve  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  committee  on  Territories, 
six  years  as  chairman,  and  while  such  chairman  six  states  were  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union,  viz  :  Xorth  Dakota.  South  Dakota.  ^Montana, 
Washington.  Idaho  and  Wyoming. 

For  ten  years  and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  be  was  a  mem- 
l)cr  of  the  committee  on  finance.  For  four  years  he  was  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  Cuban  Relations,  and  was  the  author  and 
father  of  the  noted  I'latt  .\mendment — that  great  bulwark  and 
mainstay  of  the  Cuban  Republic  against  foes,  foreign  and  domestic. 
In  the  investigation  of  this  subject  he  accunmlated  a  large  and  ex- 
haustive library  relating  to  Cuban  and  I'hilippine  matters.  ])robably 
the  largest  in  the  country,  which  has  been  given  l)y  his  heirs  to  the 
v^tatc  Library  at  Hartford.  Conn. 

lie  was  for  twelve  vears  a  leading  member  of  the  Judiciary 
Committee,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  ehairman  of  that  com- 
mittee. (  )n  this  great  committee,  on  accoimt  of  his  skill  and  learn- 
ing as  a  lawver,  and  his  industrious  prudence  and  conservative 
character,  he  was  one  of  the  most  active,  useful  and  sate  members. 
favorable  to  all  reasf)nable  innovations,  but  strongly  set  against 
rcvolutionarv  or  doubtful  schemes  or  measin-es.  Xo  man  in  the 
Re))ubliean    party    was   oflener    consulted    by    1)olli    Tresidents,    Mc- 


^  l£^ 


*'..*'- 


ORVII.LK  I]1TCIIC0(  K   I'l.ATT 


laocKAriucAi,  notks  275 

Kinley  and  Rcxiscvelt  upon  vital  (lucstions,  not  only  of  party  i)olicy, 
but  of  material  and  international  iini)ortance.  'I'he  last  f^'reat 
service  he  rendered,  was  in  ])residin<^  over  the  Senate  as  a  C<nirf 
of  Impcachmen*:  in  the  case  of  Judj^'e  Swain.  TIk-  care,  dij^^niity  and 
impartiality  with  which  he  performed  that  dillicult  task  ])rove<I  him 
to  be  a  master  min<l  in  that  eminent  body. 

Senator  Teller  of  Colorado  said  of  him:  "lie  was  a  party  man 
with  a  strong;'  ])artisan  spirit,  because  he  believed  his  ])arty  was  best 
calculated  to  secure  the  hit^hest  def^Tee  of  ])rof^ress  and  prosperity 
it  was  possible  for  a  nation  to  attain.  While  he  was  a  partisan 
and  defended  the  principles  of  his  ])arty  with  intelligence  and  vijj^or, 
he  recognized  that  there  were  twn  ])()litical  parties  in  the  country, 
and  that  there  might  be  wisdom  and  patriotism  in  those  differing 
with  him.  He  was  a  good  tyi>e  of  Americanism,  and  his  asj)iration 
for  his  coimtry  was  for  all  parts  and  all  the  peojile  within  its 
borders." 

Probably  the  obsequies  of  no  eminent  man  of  Litchfield  County 
were  ever  attended  by  so  many  distinguished  i)ublic  men  as  were 
his  when  he  was  laid  to  rest  amid  the  scenes  lie  loved  so  well  <>n 
April  24th,  i(j05,  in  the  cemetery  at  Washington,  Connecticut. 

Hkxrv  P).  Pll':mi!,  a  native  of  Wolcott,  Conn.,  born  in  1X57. 
was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1879.  He  has  never  ]:)racticed  law — 
but  is  Secretary  of  the  Eagle  Lock  Company  of  Terryville,  with 
office  in  New  York  city,  and  resides  in  Terryville. 

E.  LeRov  Pond,  born  in  Terryville,  Town  of  Plymouth,  Dec. 
26,  1883.  Graduated  at  Yale  College  1904,  and  from  the  Law 
School  in  1906.  Admitted  to  this  Par  February,  TO07.  and  opened 
an  otlice  in  Terryville. 

Charles  J.  Porter,  born  in  Ooshen,  Jamiary  2y.  1839;  was 
sheriff  from  1881  to  1884.  He  was  in  the  Civil  War  for  three  years 
in  the  First  Connecticut  Heavy  Artillery  in  which  he  was  a  Quarter- 
rnaster  Sergeant.  He  resided  in  Goshen  Center  where  he  was  Post 
Master  and  carried  on  a  large  general  store  business.  He  repre- 
sented his  town  in  the  Legislature  in  1866  and  18(^3.  He  died 
Dec.  19,  1907.      (See  picture,  page  160). 

Peter  B.  Porter,  born  in  Salisbury.  Graduated  from  Yale 
College  in  1791,  admittd  to  this  Bar  in  1793.  Removed  to  the  State 
of  New  York  and  died  at  his  home  at  Niagara  Falls  in  1844.  He 
was  in  Congress  in  1810  and  was  Secretary  of  War  under  John 
Q.  Adams'  administration. 

Joel  B.  PotTj'.r.  admitted  in  1803  from  Sherman.  He  died 
October  7,  1806. 

Nathan  PrESTox.  born  in  \\'oodbury  in  1758.  Graduated  from 
Yale  College  in  1776.  He  served  in  the  Continental.  Army  until 
1780.  In  1782  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  and  settled  in  his 
native  town  having  a  large  practice  and  enjoying  many  political 
honors  until  his  decease  in  September.  1822. 


276  I.ITCTII'IKT.D  COrXTV  liKXCII  AND  BAR 

W'li.i.iAM  I'ki-ston.  lie  was  l)()rn  in  Stratford  in  \(^jh.  but 
when  (juitc  }uuni;-  removed  with  liis  father's  family  to  W'tuxlbury. 
He  became  a  leadinj::  man  in  the  town  and  colony.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  General  Couri  thirt\-tive  sessions,  and  stood  high  in  the 
militia.  havin<;-  attained  the  rank  of  Colonel,  lie  was  justice  of 
the  quorum  eleven  years  from  1740.  On  the  formation  of  Litch- 
field County  in  1751.  he  was  aj^jpointed  its  first  judge,  which  otlice 
he  held  till  his  death  in  1754.  lie  was  a  man  of  fine  talents  and 
commanding  influence — vi  sterling  integrity  and  unOinching  de- 
termination. 

In  another  i)lace  will  be  seen  a  cut  of  his  tonil)st(ine  in  fine  pres- 
ervation in  the  cemetery  at  Woodbury. 

W'li.i.iA.M  L.  Raxsom  was  born  in  (Tranville,  Mass..  March  2S; 
1822.  He  studied  law  with  Judge  Hiram  Goodwin  of  Riverton 
and  was  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1854.  Three  years  later  he  came 
to  Litchfield  and  associated  with  Hon.  John  H.  Hubbard  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  until  1859.  when  he  was  appointed  Clerk 
of  Superior  and  Supreme  Courts  for  Litchfield  County  from  which 
position  he  resigned  in  1887  after  an  honorable  service  of  twenty- 
nine  years.     He  now  resides  in  Litchfield. 

From  the  history  of  the  Ransom  family  I  quote  the  following 
well  deserved  tribute:  "William  L.  Ransom  was  tendered  the  posi- 
tion of  Clerk  of  the  Superior  Court  and  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Errors  which  his  experience  and  methodical  habits  eminently  quali- 
fied him  to  fill.  He  accepted  the  appointment  and  for  twenty-eight 
years  he  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  olhce  with  honor 
to  himself  and  the  tribunal  of  which  he  was  a  trusted  otlicial. 
Patience  and  courtesy  secured  for  him  the  well  grounded  regard  of 
the  clientage  that  had  'their  day  in  court'  and  liench  and  Rar  alike 
held  him  in  the  highest  esteem." 

T]^roTJlv  C.  Raxsom  was  a  brother  of  William  L.  and  born 
September  22,  1824,  and  was  admitted  to  the  R.ar  in  1858.  He 
practiced  a  few  years  in  Meriden.  Conn.,  and  then  removed  to  Xorth 
Dakota  where  he  died. 

Da\ii)  R.w.Mo.xi)  admitted  to  the  Har  in  1S12  from  Montville, 
Connecticut. 

Jamks  R.w.moxd  admitted  to  the  P-ar  in  1834  from  Canaan. 

loiiN  I\i:i:i).  This  gentleman  was  undoubtedly  the  earliest  at- 
t<jrnev  in  the  territory  embraced  in  LitchheUl  County.  He  grad- 
uated at  Cambridge  in  i()()/  and  entered  the  ministry  and  jM-eached 
at  Waterl)urv.  Stratford  and  other  places.  He  became  interested 
in  the  Stratford  colony  of  settlers  who  went  to  the  region  now  called 
New  Mil  ford,  and  obtained  a  large  tract  of  land  now  the  center  of 
that  town,  and  built  a  residence  near  the  i)resent  Ingleside  School, 
where  he  resided  and  held  religious  services  in  his  liouse.      In   1708. 


THOMAS   F.    RYAN 


I'.IOCK  M'llKAf,    NOTKS  2-]"] 

while  living'  iIktc,  lie  was  admitted  as  an  alluriKy  hy  tlic  Cjcncral 
Court  and  in  \~\i  he  was  aijpointcd  Oueen's  .\tt<>rni-y  for  the 
Coloin-.  .Mr.  keiMJ  liad  ])Ienty  business  of  his  own  to  attend  to,  for 
the  Alilford  settlers  clainiin^-  a  superior  title  to  the  New  Milford 
lands,  over  the  Stratford  title,  oeeu[)ied  some  of  the  26,000  aeres, 
and  Mr.  Keed  sued  them  for  trespass,  and  after  sixteen  trials, 
fifteen  of  which  he  won  and  lost  the  sixteenth,  became  discouraged 
and  g'ave  up  the  effort,  and  removed  to  a  large  tract  of  land  he 
obtained  in  the  present  town  of  Redding  where  he  resided  until 
1722,  when  he  went  to  I'oston.  <ind  sofni  became  the  most  eminent 
lawyer  in  the  Colonies.  lie  was  Attorney  Ceneral  for  several 
vears  and  also  a  member  of  the  Ciovernor  and  Council.  He  was 
known  there  as  "Leather  jacket  |ohn."  Many  anecdotes  are  told 
of  this  eccentric  attorne\-  which  this  compilation  does  not  care  to 
repeat.  Kna])p's  J'.iogra])hical  v^ketches  says  of  him:  "One  act 
alone  should  give  him  immortality.  He.  from  his  own  high  re- 
S])onsibility  reduced  the  quaint,  redundant  and  obscure  phraseology 
of  the  English  deeds  of  conveyance,  to  the  i)resent  short,  clear  and 
simple  form  now  in  use.  His  intluence  and  authority  must  have 
been  great  as  a  law\er,  to  have  brought  these  retrenched  forms  into 
general  use.  The  declarations  which  he  made  and  used  in  civil 
actions,  have,  man}-  of  them,  come  down  to  us  as  i)recedents,  and 
are  among  the  finest  specimens  of  special  pleading  that  can  be 
found.  Story  has  preserved  some  of  his  forms,  and  1 'arsons  says 
that  "many  other  lawyers  had  assumed  his  work  as  a  special  ])lea(ler 
as  their  own ;  and  that  honors  due  him  had  by  carelessness  or  ac- 
cident, been  given  to  others,  wdio  had  only  copied  his  forms." 

He  married  Ruth  Talcott,  daughter  of  Col.  John  Talcott  of 
Hartford  and  sister  of  Governor  Joseph  Talcott.  ( )ne  of  his  sons 
was  the  celebrated  Col.  John  Reed  of  the  "Lonetown  Manor." 
Redding^.  Connecticut.     He  died  in  1749,  leaving  a  large  estate. 

JoHX  G.  Re-11)  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Adam  Reid  of  Salisbury  and 
was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1857  and  located  at  Kent.  He  did 
honorable  service  in  the  ^^'ar  of  the  Rebellion,  and  afterwards 
removed  to  Chicago. 

Aarox  B.  Rkk\K  was  a  son  of  Hon.  Tajiping  Reeve,  graduated 
from  Yale  in  1802.  was  admitted  to  the  T.ar  in  1808.  began  i)ractice 
in  Troy,  Xew  York,  where  he  died  in  i8o«> 

Tapping  Rkk\K,  born  in  Southhold.  Long  Island.  October.  1744. 
Graduated  from  the  College  of  Xew  Jersey  in  1763.  Tn  1784  he 
opened  the  Law  School  at  Litchfield  which  continued  until  18.^3. 
In  1798  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  and  in  1814 
he  became  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  State.  He  died  at  Litchfield, 
December  13.  1823.  See  Boardman's  "Early  Lights."  Law  School, 
etc. 


278  I.ITCHI'IKI.I)  COUNTY  lUvXCII  AND  BAR 

Jamks  RuiiAKDS  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1862.  He  then  re- 
sided at  Litchfield  where  he  had  been  jireaching-  for  some  years.  He 
afterwards  removed  to  Charleston,  \V.  \'a.,  where  he  died. 

Francis  X.  Richmond  was  born  in  Xew  Milftird,  admitted  to 
the  Litchfield  Bar  in  1897,  and  practiced  for  a  short  time  in  Water- 
burv.  He  removed  to  Xew^  Milford,  and  later  returned  to  Water- 
bury,  wliere  he  died  in  i^)o(\ 

Edward  Kiciimond,  admitted  in  1815  from  Washington. 

Ci.AKK  Riciiti:r,  i^raduated  from  Vale  in  1856,  admitted  in  1861 
from  Salisbury. 

W]i.i.iA:vr  H.  Rood,  admitted  in  1845.  Practiced  in  Winsted,  was 
a  Judi^e  of  Probate  there,  removed  to  Lynn,  Mass.,  where  he  died. 

Edward  Rockwell,  born  in  Colcbrook  June  30th  1801.  Gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College  1821.  Admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1827  as  from 
Sharon.  He  located  in  Youngstown,  Ohio.  Was  the  Secretary  of 
the  Cleveland  and  Pittsburg  Railroad  Company  until  1867.  when 
he  resigned  that  office  and  removed  to  Xew  York  City,  where  he 
died  in  1874. 

Julius  Rockwell  was  born  in  Colebrook,  graduated  at  ^'ale 
College  in  1826,  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1829  and  located  at  Pits- 
field,  Mass.  He  was  a  member  of  Congress  and  also  a  Judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts. 

The  following  extract  shows  the  proceedings  taken  by  the  B.erk- 
sire  County  Bar  upon  the  death  of  Judge  Rockwell  in  1888: 

"The  Superior  Court  opened  here  this  morning.  Chief  Justice 
Brigham  presided  at  a  memorial  meeting  of  the  1  Berkshire  Uar  in 
honor  of  the  late  Judge  Julius  Rockwell.  There  was  a  large  at- 
tendance of  law'yers,  prominent  citizens  of  the  county  and  ladies. 
Attorney  General  Waterman  offered  resolutions  adopted  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Bar  yesterday,  gave  a  short  sketch  of  Judge  Rockwell's 
career  and  moved  the  ado])tion  of  the  resolutions.  Judge  Tucker 
seconded  the  resolutions,  and  speeches  were  also  made  by  the  Hon. 
Marshall  Wilcox,  T.  P.  Pingree,  Senator  Dawes  and  Judge  Brig- 
ham.  Tile  resolutions  were  ordered  s])rca(l  on  llu-  records  of  the 
court  and  as  a  mark  of  res])ect  to  indge  Rockwell's  memory  the 
court  adjonrned  until  to-niorro\v  morning.'" 

Willia:m  Rockwell  was  born  in  Sharon  in  1804.  (d-aduated 
at  Yale  College  in  1822,  and  admitted  to  this  I'.ar  in  1824.  Located 
in  Brooklyn,  .\.  ^'.  \\'as  a  Judge  of  tin,'  Suiterior  Court  of  King's 
County. 

,\lI!I-;kTo  '1.  l\oRAi;\cK  was  Ixirn  in  Shellield,  Mass.  in  1849. 
Acquiring  a  good  academic  education;  in  1S72  began  the  study  of 
law  with  Judge  Donald  J.  Warner  in  .Salisbury  and  was  admitted  to 
this   Bar   in    1872.     Jle    located    at    Xortli    Canaan    and    was    for   a 


D.WIU    C.    SAN  FORD 


mocR  \riiic  \r,  N()Ti;s  279 

quarter  of  a  century  a  leader  of  the  affairs  of  north  western  Ctjii- 
necticut.  l-'roni  iXH(j  to  1893  he  was  the  judj^a-  of  the  Court  of 
Common  I'leas  for  Litchfield  County.  In  \Xi)^  and  iS</>  Ik-  repre- 
sented his  town  in  the  (Veneral  .\s>einl)l\ .  and  in  \Hijj  was  apijointed 
a  Jud<^e  <if  the  Su])erior  Court,  lie  \\a>  in  \i)()j  promoted  by  the 
Lej^islature  to  hr  a  jud^e  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  I'.rrors  to  take 
effect  in  Septein])er.   i<;oS.      I  lis  ])icture  is  shown  on  paj^x-  133. 

J.  Ci.ixToN  i\o.\Ri;AiK.  a  son  of  Jud^e  .\.  T.  Koarhack  was  horn 
in  North  Canaan.  Craduated  at  \a\c  I'niversity  and  at  the  \'alc 
Law  School.  Was  admitted  to  this  liar  in  i<j()5.  J  le  resides  and 
practices  in  Xorth  Canaan. 

J.  }Ii:\KV  R().\Ki'..\CK  was  born  in  Sheffield.  Mass.  in  1870.  and 
admitted  to  ])ractice  in  1892  at  this  iJar.  He  located  at  Xorth 
Canaan  in  company  with  his  brother  jud^e  A.  T.  I-ioarback  to  whose 
law  business  he  suceeded  upon  the  latter's  elevation  to  the  bench  in 
1897.  He  has  been  a  very  active  politician,  holding  the  position 
of  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee  for  several 
years.  Is  the  Postmaster  at  Xorth  Canaan,  lie  is  also  extensive- 
ly eni»-ajTed  in  the  lime  business  oi  that  rej^ion. 

Wii,LAKi)  A.  RoR.MiACK  was  born  in  Xew  Marlboro,  Mass.  March 
I2th,  i860  and  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1883.  Locating^  in  Torrin,^:- 
ton,  he  has  held  many  of  the  town  offices,  representing'  the  town  in 
the  Legislature  of  1895.  Has  been  Judge  of  the  Borough  Court, 
and  is  now  judge  of  the  I'robate  Court  of  that  District. 

EiJiKKT  1'.  Roi'.KKTS  was  horn  in  Litchfield  in  1863  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  Bar  in  1884.  Resides  and  practices  in  Litchfield.  He 
has  a  large  real  estate  business,  and  has  for  many  years  been  the 
Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Litchfield. 

William  J.  Roberts  was  born  in  Xew  Milford  and  graduated  in 
Yale  College  in  1859.  During  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  a 
Captain  of  CtMiipany  1.  Eighth  Regiment  of  Connecticut  X'olunteers. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  18^)6,  and  died  in  Xew  ?\lilford.  June 
30,  1870. 

Wii.Li.x.M  R.  Roc.KRS.  of  (jeorgia.  a  graduate  of  the  Litchfield 
Law  School,  was  admitted  to  this  liar  in   1831. 

Saafi-EL  Rowl.wi).  admitted  to  this  T.ar  in  1794.  resided  in  I'air- 
field.  Conn,  and  died  there  in  1837. 

PiiiLo  Rroc.LKS  was  born  in  Xew  Milford  in  17^15  and  admitted 
to  the  Bar  in  1791.  Began  practice  in  Xew  Milford  and  then  re- 
moved to  Poughkeepsie.  and  afterwards  to  X'ew  York  City  where 
he  died  in  1829. 

Joiix  H.  Russell,  a  native  of  Canaan,  admitted  to  this  Bar  in 
1849  ^"^1  settled  in  Salisbury.  He  devoted  most  of  his  time  to 
farming.     He  died  at   Lakeville  in    1871. 


28o  I.ITCIIFIKI.D  COUNTY  BKNCII  AND  BAR 

Joseph  Ryan,  admitted  to  practice  in  1858  from  Xorfolk,  went 
to  Illinois. 

Timothy  Ryan,  admitted  in  1861  from  Xorfolk.  Located  in 
Illinois. 

Thomas  F.  Ryan  was  born  in  Ireland,  March  6,  1872.  He  was 
educated  at  St.  Mary's  College,  Troy,  N.  Y.  and  graduated  from 
Yale  Law  School  in  1897,  and  was  admitted  to  this  r>ar.  He  be- 
gan to  practice  at  Torrington,  but  soon  went  to  Tucson,  Arizona, 
where  he  combined  law  and  mining.  He  returned  to  Connecticut 
in  1901  and  located  in  Litchtield  in  1905. 

David  C.  Sanford.  born  in  Xew  Milford  in  1798,  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar  in  Fairticld  County  in  1820.  He  removed  to  Litchfield, 
where  he  practiced  till  1832,  when  he  went  to  Norwalk,  but  soon 
returned  to  Xew  Milford,  where  he  resided  at  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1864.  In  1854  he  was  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court, 
which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  decease. 

Gkorgf,  a.  Sanford,  born  in  Simsbury,  1852;  educated  at  L'uion 
College,  was  admitted  to  the  Litchtield  County  T.ar  in  1903-.  He 
resides  and  practices  at  Winsted.  Is  an  active  menil)cr  of  the 
School  Board  of  \\'inchester. 

Rollin  Sanford  was  born  in  Cornwall.  \'t.  of  Litchtield,  C(Min. 
ancestry.  Graduated  from  Yale  College  in  183 1  and  was  admitted 
to  this  Bar  in  1833.  He  abandoned  the  legal  profession  and  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  l)usiness  in  Xew  York  City,  where  he  died, 
December  2.  1879. 

Hknry  Skvmour  Sanford  dieil  at  his  hnme  in  X\'\v  .Milford  on 
Saturday  Xovember  2,  1901  at  the  age  of  09  years,  lie  was  the 
son  of  the  late  Judge  David  C.  Sanfor.l  and  of  Amelia  S.  (  Sevmour) 
Sanford,  a  member  of  the  cUstinguished  Seymour  family  of  Litch- 
field. He  was  born  in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  ^'larch  1,  1832.  He  en- 
tered Yale  College  in  1848  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1852.  He 
then  took  the  two  years'  course  at  the  Harvard  Law  School,  .\fter 
his  admission  to  the  Bar  he  spent  one  year  in  W'ashinglnn.  D.  C, 
as  private  Secretary  for  Ex-Judge  Seymour,  then  a  member  of  Con- 
gress. Returning  to  Xew  Nlilford,  he  became  associated  with  his 
father  in  his  well  established  law  i)ractice,  and  when  his  father  was 
elevated  to  the  supreme  bench,  the  son  carried  on  the  practice  with 
ability. 

At  the  age  of  29  years  he  met  with  a  serious  accident  that  dis- 
abled him  physically  for  life.  i)lacing  him  at  a  great  disadvantage 
when  in  the  full  strength  of  youth  he  was  entering  upon  an  un- 
usually i)r(jmising  career.  But  with  remarkable  pluck  and  bravery 
he  rose  superior  to  a  misfnrtunr  wlii.-Ji  would  have  discouraged  an 
f)rdinarv  man  from  attemjjting  t^  do  ;.n\  thing  noteworthy,  and  for 
manv   vears   witli   rare   persr\iTaiuH'   riud   ])atience   successtnlly   pur- 


iiEXRY  sev:mour  saxford 


inoCKAI'IlICAI,   NO'Pl'iS 


jSi 


sued  his  chdscn  calling;,  altl.im^h  nnal)K'  to  j^o  about  t'xci-pl  iu  a 
whcc'l-chair,  and  what  was  more  remarkable  still,  be  retained  bis 
naturally  hi.qb  spirits  and  i^enial  disposition. 

Mr.  Sanford  mo\ed  to  I '.rid,L;eport  in  \X(>()  and  was  a  well  known 
alturne\  tberc  I'oi-  thirty  years.  Me  was  at  one  time  the  leadinj,^ 
lawyer  of  the  b'airt'ield  count}  liar,  and  he  was  associated  with  or 
opposed  to  the  foremost  law\ers  of  his  city  and  state  in  many  im- 
portant cases,  a  number  of  which  came  be  tore  the  Supreme  C'oinH. 
lie  was  a.c^i^ressive,  able  and  brilliant  as  a  law\er  and  liked  nothing- 
better  than  to  cross  swords  with  a  foeman  worthy  of  his  steel. 

One  of  the  last  and  most  i^racious  acts  of  Mr.  Sanford's  life  was 
to  donate  the  rare  and  vahial)lc  collection  of  law  books  which  had 
belong-cd  to  him  and  his  distinguished  father  to  tlie  law  library  in 
Xew  Milford  for  the  use  of  the  members  of  the  Lilchlield  Count\- 
liar  which  the  two  Sanfoi-ds,  father  and  son,  had  both  honorabl}' 
and  al)ly  represented. 

Hkxrv  S.  SaxI'OK)),  a  son  of  Henry  Seymour  Sanford,  was  born 
in  ]5ridg-eport  August  5,  1873.  Graduated  from  ^\'de  Law  School 
in  1895.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Xew  Haven  liar  in  the  same 
vear.  and  admitted  to  the  X^ew  ^'ork  liar  in  JcSij.S.  Practiced  in 
New  York  until  1905.  Soon  after  the  decease  of  his  father  he  re- 
moved to  Xew  Milford.  where  he  now  resides  and  i)ractices. 

Ai.iiKRT  Si'.ix'.wu'K  was  born  in 
Cornwall  in  i8or.  He  held  the 
office  of  Sheriti'  1834  and  1X35 
and  also  from  1838  to  1854  in 
which  latter  year  he  resigned  the 
oiHce,  ha\ing  been  appointed 
School  Fund  Commissioner  of 
Connecticut  which  oilice  he  lield 
for  twelve  years  during  which 
time  he  resided  in  Ifartford.  He 
was  an  ardent  and  active  poli- 
tician, w  ith  a  genial  pleasing  way 
and  won  many  voters  to  his  side 
at  the  polls.  He  died  in  Litch- 
field at  the  residence  of  his 
daughter  Mrs.  Thomas  M.  Coe 
in  1878.  He  at  one  time  was 
greatly  interested  in  developing 
the  mining  of  Xickel  in  the 
western  part  of  Litchiield.  but  the  opening  of  the  civil  war  and  dis- 
covery of  the  rich  silver  deposits  in  the  great  West  ruined  this 
mdustrv  in   Connecticut. 


282  MTClU'lKl.D  COUNTY  HKNCll  AM)  I'.AR 

FkKdkkick  a.  ScoTT,  l)()rii  in  IMymouth  in  \^)(),  f^^raduated  from 
Yale  i88(;.  from  Yale  Law  School  in  1891  and  admitted  to  this  Bar 
the  same  \-ear.  Resides  at  Terryville,  i)ractices  at  Hartford.  Has 
been  Clerk  of  the  different  branches  of  the  General  Assembly  and 
in  1901  was  Clerk  of  IJills  in  that  body.  Represents  Plymonth  in 
the  General  Assembly  of  1909. 

Ho.MKK  R.  ScoNiLLK  was  born  in  Harwinton  in  1865,  j^radnated 
at  Williams  College  in  1890,  the  New  York  Law  School  in  1892, 
and  was  admitted  to  that  Bar  the  same  year.  After  a  few  years 
practice  in  New  York  Cit\ .  he  removed  to  Torrington,  Conn.,  and 
was  admittetl  to  this  lUir  in  1900.  Jde  is  now  in  active  practice  in 
Torrington. 

Cjiarij-:s  F.  Skdgwick.  The  following  obituary  of  this  distin- 
guished member  of  our  Bar  is  taken  from  the  50th  Conn.  Reports, 
for  which  it  was  prepared  by  his  colleague  and  friend  Bro.  Donald 
j .  Warner : 

Charles  F.  Sedgwick  was  born  i:i  Cornwall,  Litchfield  County, 
Connecticut,  Septemeber  i,  1795.  His  grandfather  Gen.  John 
Sedgwick,  was  a  major  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  a  major- 
general  of  the  State  Militia.  His  ancestory  is  traced  to  Robert 
Sedgwick,  one  of  Cromwell's  Generals. 

He  was  a  brother  of  the  late  Albert  Sedgwick,  and  a  cousin  of 
the  renowned  (^icn.  John  Sedgwick,  of  the  Sixth  Corps  of  the  Army 
of  the  I'otoma. 

After  graduating  at  Williams  College,  1813,  he  took  charge  of 
an  academy  in  Sharon,  Conn,  and  at  the  same  time  studied  law,  and 
was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  March,  1820.  He  immediately  located 
in  Sharon,  and  there  continued  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  ended  there  his  life's  work. 

He  married  Betsy,  daughter  of  Judge  Cyrus  Swan,  of  Sharon, 
October  15,  1821. 

He  was  early  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  both  branches,  a  Judge 
of  the  Court  of  Probate  for  the  District  of  Sharon,  and  from  1856 
to  1874  was  States  Attorney  for  the  county. 

He  inherited  and  manifested  a  special  admiration  for  military 
affairs,  and  was  appointed  Brigadier  General  of  the  State  Militia  in 
1829,  and  afterwards  Major  General  of  the  Third  Military  Division 
of  the  State.  Physically,  he  was  a  remarkable  man;  large,  tall,  and 
erect,  his  a])pearance  in  and  out  of  the  court  room  was  attractive 
and  commanding.  As  a  lawyer  not  arrogant,  not  brilliant,  always 
courteous,  a  ready,  fluent  advocate,  presenting  his  views  of  the  case 
on  trial  with  force  and  zeal,  commanding  the  respect  of  the  court 
and  iur\. 

in  the  discharge  ui  his  dut\'  as  a  ])ul)lic  pros'ecutor,  the  ad- 
ministration of  his  ollice  was  characteri/.e<l  by  the  application  of  the 
l-rincipU'  "that  ninety-nine  guilty  persons  should  escape,  rather  than 


j;i()(',KAriiic.\i.  \()'i'i;s  j.S_^ 

diU'  iiiiUH'cnt  ])iTsiiii  sliiitild  sulTiT.'"  Mis  lialiil-  wxtc  cxciiiplar\  ; 
tobacco  and  iiUoxicanl^  in  all  iht'ir  Inniis  wci'i'  in  liiin  ablioiTcul. 

TIk'  ciirn.-iil  events  ot'  llu'  <la\  werr  all  nuicd  |)\  jiim.  ami  Ik-  dc- 
lij^iitcd  in  works  of  hi>tMr\ .  l)ioi;ra]jliy  and  i;ciK'alo_i;\-.  His  wonder- 
fully retcntiw  ineniorx.  hodily  vi^or,  and  genial  nature  made  him 
a  (k'lii^htful  talker  in  the  social  circle,  and  eniincniK  useful  in  fur- 
nishing" information  of  and  concerning"  ])ersons  and  their  affairs,  if 
it  became  necessary  to  thid  a  collateral  oi"  other  lu'ir  to  an  estate,  or 
to  insert  a  branch  in  tlie  genealogical  tree  of  a  family  in  Western 
C'onnecticnt,  (len.  St'dgw  ick  was  referred  to  as  a  li\"ing"  compen- 
dum  of  the  recpiired  information,  and  his  detailed  reminiscences  of 
the  peculiarities  and  characteristics  of  persons  always  iiiterested  his 
hearers  and  often  excited   their  merriment. 

His  centennial  address  and  history  (jf  the  town  C)[  vShariMi  in 
1865,  is  a  valuable  de])ository  of  knowledge  for  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town.  He  lived  soberly,  he  waited  for  death  calmly  and  died  in 
communion  with  the  Congreg'ational  Church  at  Sharon,  ]\Iarch  9th, 
iHS>2.  in  his  87th  \ear.     IMcture  on  page  70. 

l{nwARi)  W'oooiu'i'F  ^^l•:^■.Mo|■l■;,  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
this  State,  died  at  Litchfield,  on  the  16th  day  of  October,  1892.  He 
was  born  at  Litchfield.  Aui^ust  30th,  1832  the  oldest  son  of  Chief 
Justice  Origen  S.  Sexniour.  His  mother  was  a  sister  of  Ceorge 
C.  Woodruff,  Esq.,  of  Litchfield,  a  prominent  lawyer  there,  and 
Judge  Lewis  ]?.  Woodruff'  of  Xew  York.  He  graduated  at  N'ale 
in  1853,  and  was  admitted  to  the  I'ar  in  Litchfield  in  185^).  where 
he  continued  to  practice  until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Lrid_ge])ort, 
and  formed  a  ]^artnership  with  his  younger  brother.  ^ [orris  W. 
Se_\"mour.  with  whom  he  was  associated  until  1889,  when  he  was 
appointed  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors,  lie  was  for 
several  years  Judge  of  Probate  in  the  Litchfield  district.  He  rei)re- 
sented  Litchfield  in  the  State  Legislature  in  1859-60-70-71,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  State  Senate  in  1876.  He  represented  his  district 
in  Congress  from  1882  to  1886.  He  was  one  of  the  representatives 
of  the  diocese  of  Connecticut  in  the  general  conventions  of  the 
Protestant  Episcoi^al  Church  of  the  I'nited  States. 

As  a  lawyer  he  was  thorough,  quick  in  i)erce])tion.  sound  in  re- 
flection, pleasing  and  effective  in  speech.  lie  i)repared  his  causes 
conscientously.  His  knowledge  of  men.  his  (|nick  wit.  his  rare  ap- 
prehension of  humor  and  humorous  things,  his  abounding  good 
judgment,  his  intellectual  alacrity  in  emergencies,  and  his  courage 
in  a  crisis  gave  him  a  fine  outfit  for  practice.  He  cross-examined 
a  witness  always  w'ith  skill,  and  sometimes  with  genius.  But  no 
tempation  to  score  a  point  ever  led  him  into  the  i:)etty  tyranny  of 
abusing  a  witness.  He  wore  the  golden  rule  on  his  heart  and  re- 
membered that  the  man  in  the  witness  box  was  a  br<^ther. 

As  a  Judge,  without  being  hortat(M-\"  he  warmed  his  o]iinions 
with   wholc.^ome  morale.      Sucli   ethics,    for   instance,  as   we   find   in 


284  i.iTiii  i"ii:i,i)  (.•(irx'i'\-  i:i;ncii  and  i'.ar 

the  opinion  in  C'oupland  \s.  Houstonic  Railroad  Comi^any,  in  the 
6ist  Conn.,  make  j^Dod  reading-,  llis  career  as  a  lawyer  and  Jndgc 
strcng-thens  onr  attachnKni  to  our  ])rofession  whieh  he  adorned. 

jndge  Seyn-ionr  is  mourned  hy  the  liar  and  h_\-  the  hench  of  the 
State  with  a  common  and  tender  grief.  Years  of  closest  intimacy 
hound  many  manl\-  hearts  to  him  with  a  lo\-e  whicli  ma\-  not  he  told, 
])nt  which  nuist  he  undying,  llis  grave  is  the  lonih  of  hope  and 
promise  and  of  a  life  hroken  wlun  it  was  strongest.  Idc  was  buried 
in  the  afternoon  of  a  gentle  ( )ctol)er  daw  when  the  sun  shone 
through  the  clouds  and  brightened  the  gold  and  scarlet  and  crimson 
of  fading  nature,  and  he  was  bm-ied  in  love. 

From  Henry  C.  Robinson's  sketch  in  the  62d  Conn.  Reports. 

A  TRIBUTE  BY  JUDGE  FENN. 

Ycsterdav  morning,  at  Litchfield,  there  passed  from  week-day 
toil  into  Sunday  rest,  from  work  so  consecrated  that  it  was  worship 
into  eternal  peace — as  pure  a  soul,  and  as  gentle,  as  ever  parted  from 
earth  to  enter  heaven.  One  who  speaks  from  a  torn  heart  because 
die  loved  him  living,  and  loved  him  dead ;  one  who  met  him  in  de- 
lightful social  intercourse  four  days  last  week,  (the  last  time  on 
Friday),  in  seeming  health,  full  of  life  and  its  interests,  and  to  whom 
the  telegram  announcing  his  sudden  death  came  with  shocking 
agonw  can  neither  be  silent  or  speak  with  a  calm,  dispassionate 
utterance,  in  such  an  hour,  b'dward  W.  Se\niom"  lies  dead  at  the 
age  of  sixty,  in  the  town  in  which  he  was  born,  and  on  the  street 
where  he  has  always  lived.  The  oldest  son  of  the  late  Chief  Justice, 
<  )rigen  S.  vSe\-mour,  he  inherited  the  rare  judicial  temjierament,  the 
calm,  candid,  impartial  judgment,  the  love  of  mercy-tempered  jus- 
tice, so  essentially  characteristic  of  his  father.  Educated  at  Yale 
College,  a  graduate  of  the  famous  class  of  1853,  studying  law  in  his 
father's  oHice,  entering  into  partnership  with  him.  early  and  fre- 
■quently  called  to  represent  his  town,  and  later  his  senatorial  district 
in  the  General  Asscmblv.  a  useful  member  of  Congress  for  four 
years,  having  in  the  meantime,  by  deN'otion  to  bis  ])rofession,  as  well 
as  by  natural  ability,  become  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  r>ar  in 
the  two  counties  of  Litchfield  and  Fairfield  ;  certainly  it  was  the  pv'm- 
ci])le  of  natural  selection  which  three  years  ago  led  to  his  choice  as 
a  meml)er  of  oiu"  highest  judicial  tribunal — the  Sui)rcme  Court  of 
Errors  of  this  State.  While  of  his  services  upon  that  Court  this  is 
neither  the  time,  or  ])lace,  to'  sjjcak  with  fullness,  it  has  been  the 
privilege  of  the  writt'r  to  know  tbi'm  somewlial  tlioi-dugbl}-,  and  be- 
cause of  such  knowledge  he  can  the  more  ti-ul\  bear  witness  to  the 
rare  si)irit  of  fidelity  to  duty,  to  justice,  to  law.  as  ;i  living,  pervading 
and  beneficent  rule  of  action,  with  which,  whether  upon  the  bench 
bistening  to,  and  weighing  the  arguments  and  contentions  of  counsel, 
in  i)ri\-ate  study,  in  the  consultation  room,  or  in  the  written  ojjinions 


i;i(»(,K  \riiK'.\r,  xoTi'.s 


jH'^ 


of  tlic  C"i)mi.  wliicli  ])vav  liis  naiin',  the  lii.L;li  ilulifs  of  tli.il  ^^Tcat 
cilice  liaw  been  sacredly  (li>clKirL;'c(l.  When  Chief-Justice' Scynn^ur 
(lied.  (i(i\enior  Jxicliard  I),  liuhbard,  in  a  public  address,  declared: 
"I  iliink  we  can  all  sa\  in  \er\  Irnlli  and  soberness,  and  with  n(;thinj^ 
of  exlravai;ance  in  cuI^.l;},  thai  we  ha\('  jnsl  lost  the  foremost,  un- 
<leniabl\-  the  foreimist  la\\_\er,  and  take  him  for  all  in  all,  the  noblest 
citizen  of  our  State."  If  it  be  too  nmch  to  say  this  of  a  son.  whose 
\ears  were  almost  a  score  less  than  those  of  the  father,  surely  it  is 
not  too  nuich  to  allirm  that  never  did  son  tread  more  worthily  in  the 
footsteps  of  an  honored  i)arent.  and  never  did  untimely  death  break 
truer  promise  than  this  which  has  de])rived  our  State  of  those  years 
of  rij^cncd  usefulness,  which  would  have  made  the  career  of  the 
son  as  fruitful  in  honor,  and  all  -ood.  and  good  to  all,  as  that  of  the 
sire.  ])Ut  God  knows  best,  and  doubtless  what  is,  is  for  the  best. 
Certainlv  to  him  who  lies  crowned  with  the  bcautiude  of  Christ,  upon 
tile  i)ure  in  heart,  it  is  well. — Arc.fSTUS  H.  Fkxx. 
i'icture  o.i  pa^e  130. 

IMosJvS  Skv.moi'k,  Jr. 
was  l)orn  in  JJtchlield  on 
June  3otii,  1774.  He  held 
the  otiice  of  Sheriff  from 
1819  to  1825.  He  gave 
little  ])ersonal  attention  to 
it,  being  actively  engaged 
in  business, — and  deputiz- 
ing his  brollier  ( )zias  who 
was  his  deputw  to  attend 
to  the  Court  duties.  He 
was  for  a  while  Postmaster 
at  Litchfield.  He  gave  the 
site  on  which  the  Court 
House  is  now  located  to  the 
County  to  be  used  only  for 
County  purposes.  He  was 
a  large  landholder,  and  en- 
gaged largely  in  the  ex- 
change   and     sale    of   real 

l-roperty.     He  died  in   Litchfield.   May  8,   1826.      (See   Sedgwick's 

Address.) 

Oi^ir.iux  S.  Si'V^ioiis.  born  in  Litclihelcl  February  9.  1804.  grad- 
uated from  Yale  College  in  1824.  admitted  to  this  I'.ar  in  1826  and 
located  in  his  native  town  in  which  he  resided  until  his  decease, 
August  12.  1881.  He  frcquentlv  represented  the  town  of  Litch- 
field in  the  General  Assemblv  and  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House 
in  1850.  In  1851  he  was  elected  to  Congress  and  again  m  J853. 
In  1855  he  was^lected  one  of  the  Tiidgcs  of  the  Superior  Court, 
Avhich^  oflice  he  held  eight  vears.     In   i8(>4  and   1865  he  was  nomi- 


286  i.rrciii'ii;i.i)  corxTv  i;i;ncii  axd  mar 

natcd  l(»r  ('iKXcnior  1)\  ihc  1  )cniiK.Tatic  I 'arty.  In  iSjo  he  was 
elected  a  Judge  of  llie  Supreme  Court  of  J^rrors  and  in  1873  was  its 
Chief  justice,  which  ollice  he  held  until  retired  by  the  Constitutional 
limitation  of  ai^e  in  1874.  After  his  retirement  he  was  eiiiia.ged 
most  of  the  time  as  a  referee.  'J'he  new  code  practice  adopted  by 
the  Les;'islature  in  iSjc)  was  ])rei)ared  by  a  Commission  nwr  which 
he  presided,  lie  recei\e(l  the  <le<.;ree  of  L.  L.  D.  from  Trinil\-  Col- 
lege ill  1866  and  from  \'ale.   1873. 

The  obituary  notice  and  tributes  to  his  great  worth  published  in 
the  48  Conn.  Rejiort  are  but  faint  ex])ressions  of  the  feelings  of  all 
of  the  legal  fraternity  and  leading  citizens  of  the  State  of  Connecti- 
cut regarding  this  distinguished  member  of  our  Bar. 

The  following  obituary  notice  was  i)ublished  liy  the  Xew  Haven 
Register  at  the  time  of  judge  Sc_\"mom''s  death  :  "'This  distinguished 
citizen  of  Connecticut  died  at  his  home  in  Litcliheld.  this  morning, 
after  a  comparatively  brief  illness,  in  his  78th  year.  Possessed  of  a 
fondness  for  study,  lie  prepared  for  college,  and  entered  Yale  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1824.  His  chosen  pro- 
fession was  the  law\  and  by  his  assiduity  and  natural  gifts  he  speedi- 
ly arrived  at  the  highest  rank  at  the  l^ar.  Though  devoted  to  his 
profession  he  engaged  astivily  in  politics,  espousing  the  Democratic 
cause.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Con- 
necticut in  1842,  1843.  1849  and  1850,  being  Speaker  in  the  latter 
year.  In  1851  he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  4th  District, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  was  re-elected.  In  1855  he  be- 
came a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  continuing  in  office  until  1863. 
In  1870  he  was  promoted  to  the  Supreme  Bench.  He  was  Chief 
justice  from  June  5,  1873,  to  February  9,  1874,  when  he  became 
disqualified  by  reason  of  having  reached  the  age  of  70  \ears,  and 
retired  from  the  Bench,  which  he  had  greatly  adorned.  Upon  his 
retirement  from  the  Bench  he  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law.  be- 
ing consulted  in  a  great  number  of  important  cases.  He  served  on 
various  State  Commissions,  one  of  which  was  that  appointed  to 
settle  the  disjjuted  boundaries  between  Xew  "N'ork  and  Connecticut. 
His  most  im])ortant  recent  public  dnt\'  was  that  upon  the  ci^mmis- 
sion  to  revise  the  Ci\il  Practice  in  llie  State  comis.  (  )f  this  com- 
mission he  was  the  chief  ])art.  and  the  report  adonted  by  the  com- 
mission, of  which  he  is  the  reputed  author,  was  ratified  by  the  Lccis- 
lature  and  is  now  the  established  law  of  the  commonwealth.  The 
series  of  brilliant  lectures  delivered  by  him  before  the  ^'ale  Law 
School  and  members  of  the  Xew  Haven  liar,  in  advocacy  of  the 
ado])tion  of  the  revised  ci\il  i)ractice.  had  much  to  do  with  its  final 
adoption.  Though  advanced  in  \fars  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  House  of  Re])resentatives  of  Connecticut  in  1880.  and  was  a  con- 
trolling s,Y>\\-\t  in  that  bodv.  although  his  usefulness  was  imjiaired 
latterly  by  ill  health. 

Born  of  a  family  distinguished  both  in  law  and  in  ])olitics.  Judge 
Sexmour  was  one  of  its  most  brilliant   scions.      He  was  a  cousin  of 


-^''^mmm  f  i^^ 


]:ir)r',K.\I'llIC.\I,  NOTICS  28/ 

lliiralio  SfMtiiiur  of  .\\\\  \'ni-k,  ;i  rclalivc  nf  l-'x-CinxTiior  'j'lioinas 
H.  Scxniiiur  111  C'onnc'clicut,  and  leaves  hcliind  liini  two  sons  at  the 
Jiar,  Alorris  W.  v^cNinour  of  15ri(lL;c])orl  ami  l-'dward  W.  Seymour 
of  Litchfield;  another  son.  Rev.  vSturrs  (  ).  Sc'ynmur  is  a  prominent 
I{pisco])al  eler^\inan  in  Ijtchfield.  In  ])Mliiir>  jnd,i4'e  Se}'mour  was 
a  consistent.  unflincliinL;-  and  earnest  denmcral.  In  reliL^ion  lie  was 
an  K])iscopalian.  heinj.;'  a  devoul  and  dcN'oled  I'hnrehman. 

While  Indge  Seymour  was  ])roniinenl  in  all  the  walks  of  life, 
whether  in  church  affairs,  i)oliticall\  or  si  iciall\.  he  will  he  chiefly 
rememl)ered  as  a  great  lawyer  and  a  gndd  man.  I'>y  his  ipialities  of 
mind  and  training  he  was  specially  fitted  to  ornament  the  I5ar.  His 
intellect  was  clear  and  cloudless;  he  grasped  the  salient  i)oints  of  a 
controvers\-  w  ith  remarkrd)le  ease  and  ipiickness  ;  in  statement  he 
was  luminous,  pers])icaciiius  and  strong.  His  style  of  oratory  was 
simple  unornamental  hut  ])ellucid  and  most  con\incing.  Those  who 
h.eard  him  argue  a  case  were  cinndnced  in  s])ite  of  themselves  that 
judge  Seymour  reasoned  from  internal  ennx'iction  of  the  truth  of 
iiis  cause  and  they  felt  that  the  argument  tiowed  from  his  intellect 
as  a  logical  sequence  of  estahlished  facts.  Hence  he  was,  while 
unrhetorical.  a  most  persuasive  speaker.  Ily  his  death  the  I'ar  of 
the  State  loses  its  hrightest  luminary,  his  i)arty  an  ahle  and  cft'ective, 
advocate,  the  church  a  pious  and  nuhle  meniher.  and  society 
one  who  was  amiahle,  gentle  and  aflectionate.  and  who  loved 
mankind  hecause  he  recognized  in  theiu  something  akin  to  di\-init_\-. 
Mewed  in  every  aspect  his  death  must  he  regarded  as  a  pul)lic 
calamity.  That  he  will  rest  in  peace  needs  no  assurance.  With 
such  a  nohle  life,  such  lofty  aspirations,  such  a  pure  purpose,  and 
with  such  noble  fulfillments  of  the  promises  of  his  early  manhood, 
he  leaves  behind  him  a  record  which,  while  it  is  the  honor  and  glory 
of  his  family,  is  also  a  delight  and  l)lessing  to  the  jxiblic.  Judge 
Seymottr  was  a  good  and  great  man.     He  needs  no  further  eulog}'. 

His  portrait  is  on  page  210. 

OziAS  SiCV-MOfK  was  horn  in  Litchfield  July  3.  I77<">.  was  a  brother 
of  Aloses  Seymour,  Jr.  lie  held  the  olhce  of  Sheriff  from  1825, 
when  he  succeeded  his  brother  in  that  oHlce.  to  1834.  He  was  the 
father  of  the  late  Chief  Justice  Seymour.  He  died  ni  Litchfield. 
His  picture  is  included  in  the  Seymour  group. 

Morris  W.  Skv-MOUR,  son  of  the  late  Chief  Justice  Origen  S. 
Seymour  and  brother  of  the  late  Supreme  Court  Judge,  Edward  W. 
Seymour,  was  born  in  Litchfield  in  1842,  was  a  member  of  the  class 
of  1866  Yale,  graduated  from  Columbia  Law  School  in  1868  and  was 
at  once  admitted  to  the  Litchfield  County  Bar.  Mr.  S'eymour  l)e- 
gan  practice  in  Bridgeport  and  was  soon  elected  successively  city 
clerk,  cit\-  attorne\-  and  corporation  counsel.  In  1881  and  1882  he 
was  a  luember  of  the  State  Senate  and  was  chiefiy  instrumental  in 
establishing  the  State  Board  of  Pardons  of  which  he  has  been  for 
manv  vears.  a  valued  member.      He  has  been  lecturer  on  law  at  ^  ale 


jSS  1.1  Tell  i'ii:i.i>  Cdi'N'i'N'  i;i:\ni  and  i:.\r 

l'iii\cr>ily  ami  has  i^ivcii  especial  attention  tn  adiiiiraliiy  and  ])atent 
cases  in  the  hii^hest  courts  of  the  natinn,  Mr.  Seynmur's  suiiinier 
residence  is  at  the  old  lionie^iead  in  l.itchlielil. 

(  )|\1(',i:n  Stokks  Si:n' .MtuK,  is  a  son  ot  Morris  \\  .  Seymour,  gradu- 
ated from  \'ale  Coilej^e  in  iSi)4  and  from  \'ale  Law  School  in  l.Syf) 
and  was  admitted  to  this  lUir  in  i8ij().  Is  in  practice  in  Xew  York 
City. 

1''k.\\k  W.  Si:v-Mc)LK.  born  in  Colebrook  in  1871,  graduated  from 
^'ale  Collei^e  in  1892  from  Yale  Law  School  in  i8(;4,  admitted  to 
this  JUir  in  i8(;4.  Resides  in  W'insted  and  is  judi^e  of  the  Win- 
chester Town  Court,  and  jnd.Lic  of  J'rohate  of  that  district. 

J.\.Mi:s  1'.  Sii  I'.i.i.i'.v  was  horn  in  Torrin^ton  in  i85(j  and  admitted 
to  this  lUir  in  1889.  Resides  and  practices  at  \\  insted.  Has  a 
lariie  practice  in  Pension  matters  and  Covernment  claims. 

C.KoRC.i-:  F.  SiiKi.To.N  was  a  native  of  Southhury.  hut  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  liar  in  1851.  He  located  at  Seymour  and  soon  he- 
came  interested  in  extensive  manufacturing-  o])erations  in  that  town. 
He  was  very  active  in  State  Military  matters  and  at  one  time  held 
the  office  of  Major  General,  lie  was  also  \ery  prominent  in  politi- 
cal affairs,      lie  died  at  Scxniour,  (  IctolxM"  17,  1902. 

Gkokc.I';  F.  Siiia.Tox  was  born  in  Southhury  and  graduated  hum 
Yale  College  in  1877.  He  studied  law  in  Woodbury  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  L.ar  in  1880.  His  ])rofessional  life  has  i)een  in  the 
Western  States  \ery  much  interested  in  railroad  litigation.  He  is 
now  in  ])ractice  in  llutte,  Montana,  and  is  one  of  the  counsel  for 
Senator  William  A.  C'lark  in  his  extensi\-e  mining  industries. 

Sti;i'I!i:n  SiuU.to.x  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1811  from 
riymoutli. 

l).\.\ji-:i,  Siii-:uMA.\',  of  \\'oo(lhury,  horn  .\ugust  14.  I72r.  was 
])erha])s  the  most  distinguished  man  that  had  arisen  in  the  town 
];revious  to  his  day.  lie  was  a  descendant  of  Samuel  Sherman,  of 
Stratford  who  emigrated  to  this  countr\-  from  hjigland.  in  com])any 
with  his  brother.  Kev.  John  Sherman,  and  his  iiei»hew,  C:\\)[.  John 
Sherman,  ancestor  of  Hon.  Roger  Sherman.  Me  was  a  justice  of 
the  (|Uorum  for  iw  (.  nly-five  years,  a  Judge  of  the  Litchfield  Count}' 
Cfjurt  for  five  years  from  1786.  h'or  sixteen  \ears  he  was  I'rohate 
Clerk  for  the  district  of  Woodbury,  and  judge  of  that  district  for 
thirty-seven  years,  lie  represented  his  nati\e  town  iu  the  ('.eneral 
Assemljly  sixty-five  sessions,  retaining  the  unbounded  confidence 
of  ills  fell(jw-cili;^cns.  Thi.s  was  b\  far  the  lougest  i)eriod  of  time 
any  (jne  has  ever  re])resenteil  the  town.  Me  was  a  member  of  the 
Council  of  Safel\-  from  1777  to  17X1.  1  L'  was  a  man  of  command- 
ing |)owers  of  mind,  of  sterling  integrity,  and  e\er\  wa\  tpialified 
for  tile  varif)us  pu])lic  trusts  confided  to  his  care.  I  le  died  at  Wood- 
bin-y,  July   j,    170";.    fnll   of  houdrs.  and   was    followed  b\    the  atiec- 


(^■*  Hi^^ipiLi 


••  Ai 


¥F 


3/i 


r 


_  4L/"  ■^'-•■t'^tc^'i-r^ 


.^^ 


Reduced  Facsimile  of  Layout  of  Land  by  Roger  Sherman. 

^        ;         ,      rn    r    k^!lk„.,rn  Inserl  in  Bench  and  Bar  Book- 

Compliments  oj  U.  L.  Kilbourn. 


j;i(i(,K.\i'iiicAi<  .\oTi;s  289 

tidiiali.'  rcciilkTliMii>  df  ihc  iiilialiitaiit^  of  llir  U>\\\\  a.mcm^  whom 
he  had  S(i  Inn--  Wwl.  (llislnry  ot  WixMlhur}).  Me  was  tlie-  aii- 
ceslur  (if  Majiir-Cc'iHTal  Wilhani  '1\  Shrnnan.  and  >>[  lldii.  John 
SlKTUiait.  M.  C". 

I\(m,i;r  Siii'.KM.w,  a  sis^ncr  of  ihi-  Dtclaralic^n  of  JiidciJenilciicc  in 
ijy'K  was  l)orn  in  Massachusetts,  and  came  to  New  Milford  in  1750. 
He  was  admitied  to  this  I'.ar  in  1754  and  in  1761  removed  to  Xew 
Haven  where  he  h\ed  nniil  his  death.  Jul}'  J3,  ^7[)i-  See  article  on 
Sij^ners  (ji  the  Deehiraliim.  i)at^e   17-'. 

()l.l\-KR  SkiX-\'i:k.  l)orn  in  l.ilehlielil  jul\-  iS,  1782.  and  admitted 
to  this  Jiar  in  1803. 

RiciiAKi)  Skinm:k.  iJv.  1).  was  Ijorn  in  Litcliheld  May  30th, 
1778,  tile  son  of  General  Timothy  Skimier  and  Snsannah  Marsh, 
his  wife.  He  was  admitted  to  the  I'-ar  in  1800,  and  removed  to 
Manchester,  \  t. 

Al  the  deidcation  of  the  Mark  Skinner  Lihrary  in  that  town 
July  7.  i8(j7,  the  following  sketch  of  Richard  Skinner  was  given  by 
liis  townsman,  judge  Loveland  Munson:  'it  was  in  the  year  1800 
that  kiclianl  Skinner,  then  22  }ears  of  age,  and  fresh  from  the 
Litchfield  Law  School,  became  a  resident  of  Manchester  and  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  appointed  State's 
Attorney  for  liennington  County  in  the  second  year  of  his  ])ractice. 
was  elected  Judge  of  Probate  for  the  District  of  Manchester  five 
years  later,  and  was  continued  in  those  othces  until  called  to  more 
important  fields  of  service.  He  was  a  memljer  of  Congress  from 
1813  to  1815,  three  times  chosen  Governor  of  the  State,  a  Judge  of 
the  Sii])reme  Court  of  the  State  for  eight  years,  the  first  Chief  Judge 
of  the  Court  as  now  organized.  The  esteem  in  which  he  was  held 
is  sulliciently  attested  by  the  fact  that  for  twenty-eight  years,  and 
until  his  voluntary  retirement,  he  was  continuously  in  the  public 
service."     His  death  occurred  in  Manchester  May  2^.  1833. 

RocKR  Skix.\1':r  was  a  brother  of  Richard  Skinner,  and  was 
l^orn  in  Litchfield  June  10,  1773.  and  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1793. 
He  began  practice  in  Litchfield  Init  removed  to  the  State  of  Xew 
York.  He  was  Judge  of  the  United  States  Court  in  the  Xorthern 
District  of  that   State. 

Roc.i-;k  S.  Skixx1':k  graduate  from  Yale  College  in  1813  and  was 
admitted  to  this  Lar  in  1816. 

L.AKzii.i.Ai  Sr.ossox  graduated  from  ^'ale  College  in  1791,  was 
admitted  to  the  Fairfield  County  Ikir  in  1793,  and  settled  in  Kent, 
where  lie  died  in  1843.      (See  Loardman's  Sketches). 

loiix  Si.ossox.  a  son  of  the  foregoing  was  admitted  t(^  this  Lar 
in  1801.     Resided  in  Kent  where  he  was  a  ])rosi)er(ins  merchant. 

^^'l^.I.IA:\t  Si.ossox"^  was  admitted  to  this  I'.ar  in   1800  from  Kent. 


290 


LlTClll'll'.l.l)  COIN  TV   r.i:\CII    AM)  I'.AR 


Aaron"  Smith  wris  a  son  of  Ccu.  I^avid  .Smiili  of  I'lyiiKuUh,  ^Tad- 
liatcil  ai  ^'alc'  in  i7<jO.  studied  at  Ureses  Law  Sclmoi  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  Uar  in  1793.  In  1809  he  located  in  I.ilehlieM,  wliere 
lie  liehl  many  ollicial  jiositions  and  (Hed  there  in  1S34. 


awyer    in    Sharon    in     iSkj,    1820. 

admitted  to  this  I'ar  in  1828, 
S_:;3   and   practiced   tliere    for    forty 


Ci[Af.\cKv    Smith,    was 
(Conn  Rci:;;-.) 

EkASTfS  Smith  of  I'lyniontli  wa 
and  located   in    llartford  alxmt 
years,     lie  died   in    1S78. 

Jamks  W.  Smith  admitted  to  tliis  liar  in  18.S4.  Tic  went  to 
Kansas  and  practiced  a  few  years  and  in  181)5  returned  to  Winsted 
where  he  is  now  in  ])ractice. 

John  CoTTox  Smith,  l:)i_H-n 
in  Sliaron  l'\'l)ruar\-,  12,  1765, 
graduated  from  Yale  in  1783, 
admitted  to  this  liar  in  1786. 
He  located  in  his  natix'e  town 
where  he  died  Decemher  7th, 
1845.  ^''^  whole  life  was  one 
continual  employment  in  ])uh- 
lic  oHicial  capacitx,  was  rc])- 
pescntati\'e  in  Congress  fnur 
terms;  jndi;c  of  the  Snperior 
and  Supreme  Courts  of  Con- 
necticut ;  (lOvcrnor  of  Con- 
necticut 1813  to  1817.  It  is 
impossihle  in  this  hrief  state- 
ment to  merition  all  of  his  other  positions.  A  memorial  l)iog"rai)hy 
of  his  life  was  ])uhlished.      See   lioardman's  I{arly  Lii^hts. 

Joirx  Cottox  S.MiTir,  Jr.,  born  in  Tivoli,  X.  Y.,  o-raduated  from 
Yale  in  1830,  admitted  to  the  liar  in  1832.  lie  resided  in  Sharon 
and  is  known  much  better  as  a  ])olitician  than  lawyer,  lie  held  a 
very  influential  i)osition  in  the  Democratic  i)arty  for  many  _\cars. 
He  died  at  Sharon,  Xovemher  21,   1871;,  a,i;-cd  ()S:  years. 

JosKi'ir  L.  SMiTir.  born  in  New  liritain,  Conn..  Afay  2^,  ^//C')' 
located  in  Litchfield  about  1802,  where  he  ])racticed  until  the  war 
of  1812.  lie  married  one  of  l'4)hriam  Kirbx's  daut;hters.  In  con- 
sequence of  the  active  ])art  he  took  in  the  (>th  of  Aui^iist  Festival 
1806,  he  lost  most  of  his  i)ractice.  He  was  appointed  by  the  ad- 
ministration a  Major  in  the  war  of  1812.  remaining;  in  service  till 
1818.  when  he  ri'nioxed  to  I'Morida.  l'"rom  1823  to  1827  he  was 
a  Jud^e  of  the  I'nited  States  District  Court  for  h'lorida.  lie  died 
at  St.  Aus'ustine  May  24.  1846.  Ccn.  I'4)hriam  Kirby  Smith  who 
was  the  last  Confederate  Ceneral  to  surrender  his  command  was  a 
descendant  of  the  above. 


i!i()C,ir\i'ii  iCAi,  NOTKS  291 

JuNll'S  Smiiii  w.'is  a  Mill  (if  (kmi.  I)a\i(l  Siiiilli  an<l  a  brotlK-r  of 
Aaron  Smith,  I)(>ni  in  I'lyiiKnitli  ()ct<ilnr  j.  ijSo.  Ik-  i^raduated 
at  Yale  C'()lK\^-e  in  iSoj,  and  llicn  alk'Uik'il  llic  Litrliliflil  Law 
School,  and  was  admitted  to  the  liar  and  he^an  his  ])raclice  in 
New  lla\'(.'n,  hnt  snon  heranif  intein'>ti.'<l  in  niereantiU-  hnsiness 
which  necessitated  his  removal  in  \^u^  to  London,  l'".n,L;land,  and 
in  which  he  was  en^ai^ed  Until  ahont  1H32. 

Dm'in^'  this  ])eriiid  Koliert  I'"nltiin  had  demonstrated  the  ])ractic- 
ahilit)'  of  nsini;'  steam  fur  propelling-  \-esst'ls  and  Snn'th  conccivcfl 
the  idea  that  steam  cnuld  he  used  in  (  )cean  Xaxd^ation.  It  was  a 
preposterous  scheme  at  that  time.  The  little  hoats  would  move  on 
narrow  rivers  outside  of  \\a\es  and  winds  hnt  on  the  broad  bosom 
of  the  ocean  Xeptiuie's  ])ower  could  not  he  withstood,  and  Smith's 
efforts  were  laughed  at  as  fancies  of  an  idle  dreamer.  He  per- 
severed, however,  after  man\-  rebuffs  both  in  Ln^laml  and  .America 
some  of  which  were  stranj^ely  lau.^hable  ;  he  succeeded  in  chartering" 
a  trial  vessel  but  no  one  would  take  any  stock  in  his  building  one. 
After  six  years  the  Sirius-  a  small  craft  of  seven  hundred  tons 
steamed  out  of  the  harbor  of  Cork  on  .\])ril  4,  1838.  bonnrl  for 
America  or  as  the  papers  of  the  day  had  it  for  destruction,  but  in 
nineteen  days  steamed  into  the  bay  of  Xew  York. 

The  arriwd  of  this  craft  under  steam  in  Xew  Ynvk  opened  the 
new  era  of  commerce  and  it  was  not  long  before  a  cnmjiany  was 
formed  and  a  new  steamship  called  the  l'.riti>h  (Jueen  was  built 
and  soon  Smith  received  great  honors,  A'ale  College  adding  an  L. 
L.  D.  to  his  name. 

He  subsequently  bought  a  plantation  in  South  Carolina  and  be- 
gan the  culture  of  the  tea  ]ilant  which  he  imported  from  China,  and 
proved  the  possibility  of  growing  it  successfully  in  the  I'nited  States. 

XiATiiAXiKL  S:\riT]i:  was  born  in  1762,  within  the  limits  of  the 
present  town  of  Washington,  then  a  part  of  Woodbury.  He  com- 
menced life  a  farmer  and  cattle  dealer,  with  scarcely  the  advantages 
of  a  common  education.  Such,  however,  was  the  imi)ulse  of  his 
powers,  he  surmounted  all  obstacles.  Studied  law  with  Ephraim 
Kirby  and  Judge  Reeve,  at  Litchfield,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar 
in  that  county  in  1787.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at 
W'oodbury  and  rose  more  ra])idl\-  to  the  highest  grade  of  his  pro- 
fession than  almost  any  other  man  has  done.  His  jiowers  of 
thought  and  elocution  gave  him  almost  unlimited  dominion  over  his 
audience.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Rcjircsentatives  in 
the  State  Legislature  October  1789,  October  1791.  May  1792.  Oc- 
tober 1794  and  May  1795.  In  1797  he  was  elected  a  representative 
from  this  State  in  the  Congress  of  the  L'nited  States.  Having- 
served  in  that  capacity  two  terms  he  declined  a  re-election  in  1801. 
In  1802,  he  was  elected  to  the  Council  or  Upper  House  of  the 
Legislature  of  this  State;  a  situation  he  resigned  in  1804.  In  1805, 
he  was  appointed  States  Attorncv  for  the  County  (^f  Litchfield,  and 


292  I.ITCIIFIKI.L)  COL'XTV  lUCNCll  AND  BAR 

Jiulo-e  (if  the   Supreme  Court,   in  Ociolicr.    iSd^).     In  the  hitter  of- 
fice he  contiuued  uutil  l8l().      lie  (Hed  March  Sth,   l8_'_'. 

\a  rii.\M;i.  1').  Smiiii.  Ixini  in  W'lKulhury  l)ecenil)er  1795.  gradu- 
ated from  Yale  ColleLie  iu  1S15  and  achnitted  to  this  liar  in  1818. 
He  hei^-an  practice  at  Xew  llaven  but  soon  removed  to  Woodbury. 
He  continned  in  practice  onl\-  a  few  years,      lie  died  in  \\  ()0(ll)nr_\-. 

CoF..  Xaiiianki;  S.mitii.  a  son  of  Nathaniel  W.  Smith,  born  in 
Woodbury  in  1831.  admitted  to  the  liar.  Never  eng-aged  in  the 
practice  of  law  and  dnring  the  rebellion  was  appointed  Major  of 
the  19th  Conn.  Infantry  and  was  i)romoted  to  be  its  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  resigning  therefrom  for  disabilit}'  May  6,  18O4.  He  died 
at  W(Hidbnr_\-  August  2(1.  1877. 

Nathan  Smith  was  born  in  Roxbury  in  1770  and  was  admitted 
to  this  L'.ar  in  1792  and  located  in  Xew  llaven.  He  became  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  lawyers  in  the  State,  and  had  a  very  extensive 
business.     He  was  United   States   Senator  and  died  while  holding 

that  position  in  the  City  of  Wasliington.  December  6,  1835. 

rKRRY  S-MiTii  was  born  in  Washington,  Conn.,  studied  law  at 
the  Litchfield  Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  the  liar  in  1807  and 
settled  in  New  Milford,  where  he  died  in  1852.  He  was  a  I'nited 
States  Senator  for  six  years  from  3*larch  4.  1837. 

1'iiixi-:as  S-MiTii,  Jr.  was  a  younger  brother  of  Hon.  Truman 
Smith.  l)orn  in  Roxbury,  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  181O,  ad- 
mitted to  this  r.ar  in  1818  and  removed  to  N'ermont.  where  he  died. 

RiCJiARD  S-Ainii  was  born  in  Roxbury  in  17^)9.  graduated  from 
Yale  College  in  1797.  admitted  to  this  l'.ar  in  1801  and  tlied  in  1805. 

kiciiARi)  Smith,  a  natiw  of  Sharon  graduated  from  ^  ale  Col- 
lege in  1825,  admitted  to  the  l'.ar  in  1830.  died  iu  Sharon,  December 
21,  1878,  aged  j(k 

Trl-Max  Smith  was  a  son  of  Phineas  and  Deborah  Ann  (Jud- 
son)  Smith  and  was  Ix.rn  in  Roxbury,  Conn,  on  the  27th  of  Xovem- 
ber,  179F. 

.Mr.  Smith  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1815,  was 
adnutted  to  the  l'.ar  in  1818.  and  located  in  LitchfieUl  where  he  re- 
sided until  1854  when  he  removed  io  Stamford,  residing  there  untd 
his  death,  May  3rd,  1885. 

Two  of  his  imcles,  Xathaniel  Smith  and  Xathan  Smith  had  at- 
tained fame  and  rank  at  the  l'.ar  and  in  pnblic  life,  and  it  seems 
natural  that  Truman  Smith  should  be  a  snccessful  ivracl loner  and 
be  honored  with  many  ]X)litical  ollices.  lie  was  a  meml)er  of  the 
State  Legislature  in  1831,  1832,  and  1834.  lie  was  a  member  of 
the  26th  "and  27th  Congress  n83{j-43)  for  the  5th  District  and  of 
the  2<;th   and   3()th    (1843   to    1841;)    for  the  4th    District,      lie   was 


I'.loi'.K AI'IIU' AT,   NO'l'I'S  293 

cliainiian  nf  ilic  Xatiimal  Ci  nniiiilti'c  in  llic  'I'aylur  cain])a<;in  and 
(ilTc'iX'd  a  sial  in  llu'  C'al)in(,'t  whirli  lie  declined.  I""nini  1S49  to  1854 
lie  was  a  nieiiiber  nf  llie  l'.  S.  Senate.  This  liuiiur  he  rc.>;i.i(ncd  and 
•  ipeiied  an  nlliee  in  the  cit\-  ot  .\ew  ^'(l^k.  and  ennlinned  in  ])raclicc 
there  until  the  i()th  day  of  Maw  1871.  when  he  handed  over  all  his 
business  to  a  xcnnii^er  lawyer.  L'ephas  llrainerd,  retaining;'  in  his  own 
hands  but  two  cases,  known  as  the  Lockwood  and  the  llumaston 
cases. 

President  Linenhi  ajjpDinled  Mr.  Smith  Jud_^c  on  the  part  of  the 
United  Slatt's  nf  the  .\li\eil  C'Durt  at  \ew  \'ork.  cstal)lishcd  under 
the  treaty  of  7th  of  .\i)ril.  iSOj,  with  (ireat  Kritain.  ainT  he  held  that 
position  until  the  al)r( i,L;ati(in  (if  the  treaty  in  1870. 

At  tile  Litchfield  School  where  he  acquired  the  ])reliniinary 
knowledge  of  his  {profession,  he  was  under  the  instruction  of  Ta])- 
ping  Reeve  and  janies  Could;  and  anidiiL;  liis  fellow  students  were 
John  M.  Clayton  of  IJeleware  and  John  \'.  Mason  of  ^'ir,<>•inia. 

l^])on  entering-  Congress.  Mr.  Smith  at  once  took  a  ])rominent 
position.  He  was  a  nienil)er  of  the  Committee  to  wdiich  were  finally 
referred  some  of  the  questions  arising  in  regard  to  the  famous  Xew 
Jersey  Election  case  and  he  drafted  the  minority  re]:)ort  upon  that 
case.  This  the  majority  in  Congress  refused  to  print,  but  it  wa.'? 
printed  in  Xew  Jersey  and  largely  circulated.  His  associates  in  the 
minority  report  were  Millard  Fillmore,  jcdni  Minor  IVitts  and  15en- 
jamin  Randall.  The  discussion  was  conducted  with  the  greatest 
acrimony  and  John  Ouincy  .\dams  in  his  Diary  sa\s.  "Mr.  Smith 
made  a  speech  of  three  hours  in  answer  to  Fisher's  most  disingenuous 
speech." 

It  was  Afr.  Smith's  habit  all  through  his  Congressional  career 
to  discuss  ///  cwtcnso  some  of  the  more  important  measures  ])ending 
in  the  various  sessions,  and  these  speeches  he  always  circulated 
among  his  constituents,  his  feeling  being  that  they  ought  to  know 
from  the  printed  speeches  as  well  as  from  the  votes  of  their  re])rc- 
sentatives  what  they  were  actually  doing  and  saying  in  Congress. 

Mr.  Smith  was  deeply  interested  in  legislation  looking  to  tlie 
improvement  of  the  means  of  communication  in  the  country,  hence 
he  was  exceedingly  active  in  regard  to  the  construction  of  the  Sault 
Ste.  IVIarie  canal.  Perhaps  it  may  be  safely  said  that  the  initiation 
and  construction  of  the  canal  w-as  more  due  to  him  than  to  any  otlier 
one  person.  One  of  his  last  speeches  in  the  Senate  was  in  advocacy 
of  a  railroad  and  telegrajjh  line  connecting  the  two  oceans. 

Shortly  before  he  resigned  from  the  Senate  he  made  his  s])eech 
famous  at  that  time  and  since,  in  reply  to  Douglas  and  against  the 
repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise. 

]Mr.  Smith  came  to  Xew  York  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  i)robably 
too  late  in  life  to  attain  at  that  l')ar  a  success  correspondent  to  his 
talents  and  learning.  The  most  important  case  which  he  conducted 
there  was  Lockicood  t'.v.  Jlir  .V.  ]'.  Central  Railroad  which  is  re- 
ported  in    17   Wall.   32 r.     The   (juestion   jiresented   was   whether   it 


294  i.iTciii-iKi.D  corxTv  r,i:xcir  axd  t.ar 

was  i-oiiipctciU  fur  a  CMnuiioii  carrier  In  srourc  cxcni])ti()n  from 
liabilit\-  fur  iK'i;ii_L;vncc  1)_\  a  slipulalitm  in  a  lickcl  lo  that  effect.  The 
particular  action  was  in  favor  of  a  drover  who  was  takinj^  cattle 
over  the  mad  under  wliat  was  called  a  drover's  pass.  The  courts 
of  Xew  \'ork  had  decideil  in  favor  of  the  exemption.  Mr.  Smith's 
action  was  hrouL;iU  in  the  Tniled  Slates  Circuit  L'ourt  and  Mr, 
Justice  Smalley  overruled  the  defense  and  the  jury  returned  a  ver- 
dict for  $25,000.  This  verdict  was  set  aside  by  Mv.  Justice  Nelson 
on  ajijieal  as  excessive.  The  case  came  on  for  a  second  trial  before 
Mr.  justice  WoodruiT  who  also  overruled  the  defense  and  the  jury 
fcnnid  a  verdict  for  $17,500. 

The  case  was  then  taken  to  the  Sui)reine  Court  of  the  I'nited 
States  and  aroued  on  the  J5th  and  if)th  of  January,  1873.  Mr. 
Smith  attendecl  u])on  this  aro-ument  and  opened  the  case  in  an  ad- 
dress of  an  hour  on  behalf  of  the  respondent.  He  aro-ucd  the  case 
upon  a  most  elaljorate  brief  which  examined  all  the  authorities  bear- 
ing- u])on  the  (picstion  and  it  was  most  carefully  reasoned.  The 
Su|)reme  Court,  speakin:;-  by  ^\v.  Justice  l>radley,  sustained  the 
jucli^-ment  below  and  a  most  elal)orate  opinion  was  written;  in  fact 
this  is  the  leadino-  case  upon  the  subject  in  this  country  today. 

The  other  case  which  ?\lr.  Smith  retained  in  his  hands,  the 
■Humaston  case,  was  tried  before  a  jury,  beginning-  on  November 
15th,  1871  and  continuing-  for  thirteen  days.  This  suit  was  against 
the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company.  Mr.  Smith  had  as  his 
opponents  John  Ix.  I'orter.  C.eorge  GiiTord,  C.rosvenor  V.  Lowry  and 
Charles  Francis  Stone.  It  involved  first,  a  very  imjioriant  cpiestion 
respecting  the  interpretation  of  the  contract  between  the  parties 
and,  secondly,  the  value  of  the  inventions  under  discussion  over  and 
above  the  cash  which  had  already  been  paid  upon  them.  Mr.  Smith 
opened  the  case  in  an  address  of  two  hours  in  which  he  explained  in 
detail  the  various  inventions  for  the  transmission  of  messages  by 
telegra])h  and  the  case  proceeded.  Mr.  Smith  was  alone  in  the  case 
save  only  a  young  assistant  whose  chief  business  was  to  read  ]Kipers 
and  extracts  from  authorities. 

During  the  progress  of  the  case  the  cpiestion  of  the  construction 
of  the  instument  arose  and  was  argued  at  length,  Mr.  Smith  occu- 
])ving  ])racticall\-  an  entire  daw  under  the  suggestions  of  the  prc- 
siding  Justice,  in  developing  his  view  of  the  case.  The  presiding 
Justice  afterwards  remarked  that  considering  ^Ir.  Smith's  age.  it 
was  the  most  remarkable  exhibition  of  physical  and  mental  ix-)wer 
he  had  ever  witnessed.  The  case  was  closed  and  the  jury  went  (nit 
about  six  o'clock  on  tlu'  i.^li  <l'i.v  <^^  the  trial,  Judge  Porter  having 
occu])ied  lln'  th-st  i)arl  of  the  da\'  in  summing  uj)  for  the  detense  and 
Mr.  Smith  the  latter  ])art  in  summing  u])  for  the  plainlilV.  The  jury 
found  a  moderate  verdict  in   favor  of  the  plaintilT  for  $7,500. 

The  TTumaston  was  a  remarkable  case  in  that  Mr.  Smith,  who 
liecame  eighty  during  the  trial,  was  able  to  stand  that  amount  of 
wr)rk  without  exhibiting  any  diminution  of  force  at  any  lime  during 


lUoC.K Al'll  IC AT,    NoTl'.S  295 

the  trial.  'I'lial  car-c  al-o  wciil  to  [\]v  Supiaiiic  C'uun  of  ilic-  rnitf<l 
States  and  was  ar.t;uc(l  lliere  mi  lln'  .V't'i  "''  March.  1S74.  Mr.  Siiiith_ 
closini;-  the  ar.^nmeiit.      That  nmrt  Imux-ver  sustaim-<l  the  rnhnL;-  ol 

IndL^t'  W h-ulT  (111  the  iiilerpretatinn  of  tlu'  eoiitraet,  and  deleated 

Air.  Smith. 

Wr.  Smith  was  ver_\-  effeeliw  hefore  juries,  his  eoiniiiandin.L^ 
presence  and  voice,  his  ^real  moral  force,  his  readiness  in  retort, 
his  wit,  his  conr.'.-e  and  his  c;'i)acity  as  an  actor  and  his  elaborate 
prei)aration  made  him  a  very  dan.nerous  adversary. 

Always  a  believer  in  the  essential  doctrines  of  Christianity,  a.s 
taui^-ht  in  llie  clmrclies  of  Xew  l'ji,L;iand,  late  in  lil"e  he  became  a 
commnnicant   in  the    rresbyterian   C'linrch  of   Stamtord. 

Wi;i.ijxc.Tox  15.  S.MiTii.  born  in  Xew  Hartford  June  3.  i<S5rj. 
was  admitted  to  practice  at  this  I'.ar  in  1877.  1  le  resides  and  prac- 
tices in  Winstcd.  Conn.  lie  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  in  kjoj.  lie  was  for  many  years  a  ])rosecuting-  a^ent 
for  Litchtield  County  engaged  in  the  suppression  of  the  illegal  sale 
of  intoxicating-  liquor  and  was  the  moving  s])irit  of  the  licpior  trials 
a  brief  account  of  which  can  be  found  on  page  155.  He  has  repre- 
sented the  town  of  Winchester  in  the  Legislature  and  was  on 
Governor  Chamberlain's  Staff  as  Judge  Advocate  holding  the  rank 
of  Colonel.     His  portrait  appears  on  page  158. 

SA:Mii;r,  T.  So^TJI.MA^■n,  a  native  of  Watertown  studied  in  the 
Litchfield  Law  School  and  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1795.  Practiced 
in  Watertown.  where  he  died  in  iSr^.      (See  Boardman's  Sketches.) 

LK-M.\x  l\.  Si'UACUE  was  a  native  of  Salisburv  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar  in  1841.  He  soon  after  located  in  Woodbury  and  died 
there  August,  1845. 

RuFus  StaxlKV,  of  I^itchfield,  admitted  in  1790. 

Sin"ir  P.  Staples,  graduated  from  Yale  in  1797,  admitted  to  this 
Bar  in  1799,  located  in  Xew  Haven,  where  he  died  in  1861. 

DaxiKL  Staru.  born  in  Xew  Milford,  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1800. 
Died  May  i,  1826. 

Ansel  Sterling,  born  in  Lyme.  1782,  admitted  to  this  B.ar  m 
1805,  located  in  Sharon  in  1808.  where  he  died  November  (>.  1853. 
(See  Sedgwick's  Address). 

Elisha  Sterlixg,  born  in  Lvme,  graduated  from  A'ale  hi  1787, 
admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1790,  in  the  following  year  located  m  Salis- 
bury, where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1836.  (See  Boardman  5 
Sketches). 

JoHX  M.  Sterlixc,  son  of  Gen.  b:iisha  Sterling,  born  1800.  in 
Sahsbury,  graduated  at  Yale  in  1820.     Admitted  to  the  T.ar  m  1823. 


296  i.n\iii-ii:i.i)  coLNTv  i;i:ncii  and  i:ar 

III  1827  lie  reniovcil  to  Cleveland,  ( )liio.     Was  a  nntcd  aiui-slavery 
rofornior.     lie  died  in  riiiladclphia  in  1880. 

lli:xuv  W.  v'>Ti;\i'.\s.  admitted  ti»  the  l'>ar  in  iSi  i   froni  (."anaan. 

JAMi'.s  Sti'AI-xs.  burn  in  Sliinifnrd  in  \jt)^.  admitted  to  this  Uar 
in  1797.  located  in  his  naiixc  town  where  he  held  man\'  puhlic  of- 
fices  and  was  elected  to  the   lOth  Coni^Tess.      l)ied  April  4.   1835. 

]*i-:nj  AM  IX  Stii.i;s.  a  nati\e  of  Southhurw  graduated  from  \'ale 
in   1740.      Practiced  law  in  his  nali\e  town  of  Soullihnry. 

Ukxjamix  Stii.ks,  Jr.  was  born  in  Sonthbur\",  August  2S,  1756, 
graduated  from  Yale  College  in  177^).  was  admitted  to  this  I'ar  in 
1781.  and  jiracticed  in  Woodbury,  ha\-ing  a  very  large  office  practice. 
He  died  jul\    12.   181 7. 

Ei.iAKi.M  S.  Stoddaki).  JK.,  admitted  to  the  l'>ar  in  1847  from 
Sharon.      Died  in  v^haron  Max'  14,  1805.  aged  42  }ears. 

lli;xKv  Stoddard  was  a  native  of  Woodbury  and  born  in  1786. 
]le  was  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1815,  and  began  to  practice  in  Kent. 
In  1818  he  left  Kent  and  went  "west"  with  George  15.  Holt  of 
Norfolk,  a  young  member  of  this  Bar  who  became  so  distingLiished 
in  his  later  _\ears  in  ( )hio.  They  journeyed  on  horseback  till  they 
reached  Dayton.  Ohio,  then  a  little  village  of  five  or  six  hundred 
inhabitants.  Here  they  located.  Holt  to  become  an  honored  Judge 
and  citizen,  and  Stoddard  a  millionare. 

Roiuuxs  Batti:i.i.  StoKckel  of  Norfolk  was  born  in  Xew  Haven 
in  1872.  fitted  for  college  at  Hopkins  Grammar  School,  graduated 
from  Yale  with  honors  in  class  of  1893  and  Columbia  Law  School 
two  years  later  being  admitted  to  the  Litchfield  I'ar  in  i8(/).  Mr. 
Stoeckel  resides  and  ])ractices  in  Norfolk  where  he  has  been  Judge 
of  Probate  for  several  years. 

Coi..  Adoxijau  Stroxc,  Judge  Church  sa\s.  "He  was  uni(|ue  in 
genius  and  manner,  of  large  professional  business,  sound  practical 
sense  and  many  anecdotes  of  his  sayings  and  doings  are  still  re- 
membered and  re])orted  in  the  County." 

The  following  vote  ap])ears  upon  the  luir  Record:  "At  a  P>ar 
lueeting  Deer.  Term  1804  the  following  resolution  was  i)assed  unan- 
imously viz.  That  Adonijah  Strong,  Ks(p\  on  account  of  his  great 
emminence  as  a  lawyer  and  elocpience  as  an  advocate  be  considered 
as  a  member  of  this  Par  for  the  ])uri)ose  of  instructing  students, 
although  he  shall  not  continue  to  practice.  Attest  Amos  Benedict, 
Clerk."      (  See   Warner's    Reminiscences.) 

Joiix  Stroxc,  Jk..  born  in  \\'o(idbur\-  December  ^r.  1786,  gradu- 
ated from  ^'ale  College  in  \Xn(>  and  a<lmitled  to  this  I'.ar  in  l8o8. 
He  opened  an  ollice  in  Woodbury  and  eontinue(l  in  the  active  dis- 
charge of  his  professional   duties  till   his  death    in    Xovcmber.    1834. 


TKAXK    Jl.    TUKKIXGTOX 


j;|iii,K AI'll  ICAI.   NOTI'lS  297 

r\-\v  men  have  occupied  a  lii,L;lier  i)lace  in  the  coiirnleiice  an<l  af- 
fections ot  ilie  conmuinity.  Was  judj^a-  of  i'rohale  and  rei)resenled 
the  town  in  the  ("General  .\sseinl)ly  a  number  of  years. 

|i;iii:i>i  All  Si'Ko\(-,,  horn  in  I  jlclitiehh  (.'onneclicnt  in  \J},H.  i,M-ad- 
atcd  from  ^'ale  C'olle,m'  in  i/()\.  lie  rei)resented  his  town  in  the 
General  Court  for  thirty  sessions.  Was  a  niemher  of  the  Conti- 
nental Cono-ress  and  Secretary  of  the  Convention  uiiich  adoj)ted 
the  Constitution  of  the  I'nitcd  States.     He  died  in  Litchfield  in  1802. 

Martin  Stkom'.,  a  son  of  Col.  Adonijali  Stronj:^.  admitted  to 
this  I'.ar  in  iSoi  and  located  in  Salisbury.  He  was  Jud.ti:e  of  the 
Countv  Court  and  one  of  its  most  active  ma.s^istrates.  f^ee  Sedg- 
wick's Address). 

TiiKRox  R.  Strong  was  a  son  of  Hon.  Alartin  Strong?,  born  in 
Salisbury  in  1802,  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1823.  He  located  at 
Rochester.  X.  V.  lie  was  a  member  of  Coni,n-ess  in  1839  and  a 
Judg-e  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York,  1851  to  1858,  and  after- 
wards a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals.  He  died  in  Xew  ^'ork 
•City.  1873. 

Cyrus  Swax  was  a  native  of  Stonnington,  studied  in  the  Litch- 
field Law  School  and  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1798.  He  settled  in 
Sharon  and  died  there  in  1835,  aged  65.  ((See  Sedgwick's  Ad- 
dress). 

Bex.t.^:^!]^  Swri-T.  admitted  to  the  B.ar  in  1802. 

Hkmax  Swift,  admitted  to  the  Il'ir  in  iSn;  from  Kent. 

jNIii.Tox  H.  Swii'T.  a  native  of  Kent,  admitted  to  the  I'.ar  in  1838. 
Removed  to  Ottawa,  Illinois. 

Jahkz  Swift,  Judge  Church  says  of  him,  ''He  was  the  first  law- 
ver  ever  settled  in  Salisbury  and  was  a  native  of  Kent.  He  built 
the  stone  house  of  Town  Hill.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
of  the  Revolution  he  joined  the  army  m  Boston  and  there  died." 

Gkorc.Iv  E.  Taft,  born  in  Sheflield,  Mass.  November  4th,  1854. 
admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1883  and  soon  after  located  at  Uniouville  in 
Hartford  County,  wdiere  he^is  now  in  practice.  Has  been  a  member 
of  the  School  Board  there  and  Judge  of  Probate. 

Ror,i;RT  S.  Tiiarfx  was  born  in  Lebanon  in  17 14  and  upon_  the 
formation  of  the  County  in  1751  was  in  practice  at  Xew  Milford. 
He  died  January  9tli.  1786.      (  Sec  I'.oardman's  Sketches"). 

JoTix  g.  TiiAYKR  was  admitted  to  this  B.ar  in  iSGg  and  after 
practicing  a  short  time  in  Xew  Milford  he  removed  to  Meriden. 
Conn.,  w-here  he  is  now  in  practice.  He  served  four  years  in  the 
Civil  A\'ar.  i86t.  and  in  1899  was  Judge  Advocate  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Connecticut  C  A.  R. 


298  i.i'i"(.'iii']i:i.n  (.orxT^-  r.i'.NCii  and  i'.ar 

Ja:\ii:s  I'jKiMi'Sox  was  Ijoni  in  \\'(»(>(ll)uiy,  Marcli  4.  I7'>7,  i^raihi- 
atod  from  Yale  Collci^ejjStj,  aiul  \vas  admitted  to  this  War  in  1791. 
He  settled  at  New  Durham.  X.  \'.  About  i(Soo  he  left  his  profession 
and  entered  the  l\pisc(i])al  Ministry.     He  died  Au.<;ust   iS,   1S44. 

JiDSox  B.  Thompson,  admitted  to  the  liar  in  181 1. 

IIkzKkiaie  Tiio:Mi'Sox  was  born  in  New  Haven  in  1734.  sttulied 
law  in  Stratford,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  Litehfield  in  1763. 
He  located  in  Woodbury.  Died  May  1803.  "He  stood  well  as  a 
lawyer  and  maj^istrate,  and  was  a  .c^entleman  of  the  old  school."  6th 
Conn.  Reports. 

M  AKTix  H.  'rjio:\iAS,  admitted  to  the  I'ar  in  1808  from  Salisbury. 

Ji'DSOx  B.  TiiO-MAS  was  in  1810  in  Colebrook.  Admitted  to  the 
Bar  in  1808  from  Salisbury. 

F.  R.  TiFFAXV,  admitted  to  the  P.ar  in  1879. 

Gkorgk  Tod,  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1795  and  admitted 
to  the  Bar  in  1797. 

Oliver  A.  G.  Todd,  born  in  Plymouth  October  1812.  admitted 
to  the  Bar  in  1833,  practiced  law  in  Waterbury,  Litchfield,  New  Mil- 
ford  and  Danbury  in  which  latter  city  he  died  August  14,  1886. 

Da\"jd  Tolmax,  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1792  from  \\'oodbury. 

Uriaie  Tracy,  appointed  States  Attorney,  1794  to  1800.  He 
was  born  in  Franklin,  (now  Norwich),  Conn.,  Februar\-  2.  1755, 
and  graduated  at  Y^ale  College  in  1778,  and  read  law  with  Judge 
Reeve  at  Litchfield,  wdiere  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1780,  and 
settled  in  that  town  wdiere  he  rose  to  a  high  eminence  in  his  pro- 
fession. He  was  very  largely  engaged  in  duties  of  a  public  nature, 
and  often  represented  his  adopted  town  in  the  Legislature,  and  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  in  1793.  Was  a  representative  in  Congress 
from  1793  to  1796,  wdien  he  entered  the  Senate  and  was  a  member 
until  his  death  in  1807,  serving  ])art  of  the  time  as  President  /to 
I  em.  He  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.  July  19.  1807,  and  was  the 
rir>t  person  buried  in  the  Congressional  burying  groimd. 

A:\los  S.  'i'ki-AT,  born  in  Bridgewater.  I'ebruary  3.  1816,  ad- 
mitted to  this  Bar  in  1843.  ])racticed  in  I'airfield  (.\iunt\-  and  died 
at  J'>ridge])ort  A])ril  24,  i(S86. 

Ski.aii  B.  Tui'.A'r.  D.  D..  born  in  Hartford  b\'bruar\-  i(>.  1804, 
g'raduated  at  Yale  1824,  admitted  to  this  liar  in  182^).  Practiced  at 
East  \\'indsor  and  I'enn  Yan,  New  Yt)rk.  In  1835  he  entered  the 
ministry  and  was  Secretary  of  the  American  lioard  of  Commission- 
ers for  Foreign  Missi(tns  man\-  \ears.  Died  at  P.oston.  March  28th, 
1877. 


ylf. 


/7^: 


/ 


^-iS^^J^^^^ 


i;|i  K.KAl'll  U'AI,    NoTl'.S  299 

l'*R.\NK  II.  TiKK  I  N(.i'(iN .  tlic  ])i\>(.nt  SlKiilT  of  iln'  Couiity,  was 
born  in  Morris,  then  a  i)art  of  Jjtchticld.  June  11,  \^^4.  Kcccivinji^ 
a  common  school  education,  he  associated  with  his  father  in  an  ex- 
tensive cattle  and  stock  hiiyin^'  hnsine^s.  ami  hutcherinLi'  for  the 
wliok'sale  trade  at  h'.ast  Morris,  carr\  inc^  their  meats  mostly  Ijy 
teams  to  \\aterhur\.  C'onn.  Me  was  \ery  nnich  interested  in  politi- 
cal affairs,  and  represented  his  town  in  the  Lei^islature  twice — al- 
thotii^'h  he  was  a  l\e])ul)lican  in  a  strong;-  Democratic  town.  In  1906 
he  was  elected  SherilT.  lie  is  also  a  farmer  on  a  larj^e  scale,  ownin*^ 
mc^re  arable  land  which  he  successfully  cultivates  than  any  other 
])erson  in  Litchfield  C'otmty. 

loiix  S.  'rrKKii.i.  was  horn  h'ebruary  8.  1825,  attended  Law 
School  at  Balston  Sprinj^s,  X.  Y.  and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in 
185 1.  Located  in  New  Milford,  enjoying-  a  large  practice  until  his 
death.  July  19.  1889.  He  was  one  of  the  Committee  who  jircparcd 
the  Revision  of  the  Statutes  of  1875. 

STKriiKx  Twi\-ixc,,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1795.  was  ad- 
mitted to  this  Bar  in  1797,  located  at  New  Haven,  where  he  died  in 
1832.     He  was  Steward  of  Yale  College  from  1819  to  1832. 

CiiAKi.KS  Tltti.i:,  ailmitted  to  the  Har  in  1856  from  Xorth  Cole- 


XoAii  Wadii AMS,  a  native  of  Goshen,  studied  law  at  Litchfield 
Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1793.  Removed  to 
Pennsylvania  and  was  admitted  to  the  liar  of  Luzerne  Countw  I'a. 
in  1800. 

AlbKki'  Wadii  \.\is,  horn  in  Massachusetts  June  ig,  1819.  gradu- 
ated at  Norwich  l'niversit\,  X'ermont.  and  was  admitted  to  the  X'ew 
York  Bar.  Removed  to  Goshen  and  began  the  practice  of  law 
about  1865.     He  died  in  (joshen.  ]May  1884. 

Georck  W'adsavoktii,  born  in  Litchfield,  was  admitted  to  this 
Bar  in  1851.  He  located  in  Buffalo.  X.  V..  where  he  died  Marcii  19, 
1907,  aged  7y. 

FrEdkkrk  T.  W'ai.i.ack,  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1844. 

Tno:\tAS  T-  AX'au..  born  in  Torrington.  February  19,  1879.  Grad- 
uated at  Yale  Law  School  and  was'  admitted  to  this  Bar.  June  26, 
1906.  Practices  in  Torrington.  and  he  writes  me  that  he  is  kept  very 
busv  between  law-book  agents  and  mercantile  collection  agencies. 

Arthur  D.  \\'arnkr,  born  in  Southbury  August  2.  1848.  ad- 
mitted to  this  Bar  April  1872.  After  eleven  years  practice  at  West 
Cornwall  he  removed  to  \\'oodbur.\-,  where  he  is  now  in  practice. 
He  was  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  this  County  one 
term  of  four  vears. 


300  i.riX'iii'ii-:i,i)  coixi'N   r.i:Mii  and  har 

])(i\ All)  I.  \\  \um:k,  l)i)ni  in  Salishurx  Scptcnil)!.'!'  15.  1819,  was 
admilti-'il  lo  this  liar  in  1X4:;,  sriik'd  al  Salisl)nrv.  wiu're  he  de- 
ceased May  31,  l<;()4.  lie  was  jud^e  nf  ihc  I  )islricl  Court  and 
Court  of  Common  J'leas  eij;ht  years,  and  nniil  lie  was  retired  by 
reason  of  C'onstilutional  limitation  of  a,qe.  Mis  adiess  on  the  oc- 
casion of  the  Centenial  Celel)ration  in  IJichlield  iS(j8,  was  exceed- 
inylv  interesting"  and  a  consideral)le  portion  of  it  is  included  in  this 
ci  iiiipilation. 

l)o\  \i,i)  j.  \\'\k\i:k,  son  of  Donald  T.  ^\  anicr.  and  g'randson  of 
judge  Donald  Warner,  was  horn  in  Salishurx  Jul\-  24,  1885.  Grad- 
uated at  Yale  College  in  1905.  and  from  the  Law  School  1908,  when 
he  was  admitted  to  this  I'ar. 

I)o\ Ai.i)  T.  \\  AKNi'iu,  son  of  judge  1  )onald  j.  Warner,  was  horn 
in  v^alishury  Decemher  15,  1850.  Was  admitted  to  the  l'>ar  in  1873. 
lie  resides  in  Salishurx',  and  has  held  the  ollice  of  States  Attorney 
since  1896.  In  1902  he  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  Connecticut.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate 
in  1895  '^"<^1  1897,  in  which  latter  year  he  was  chairman  of  the 
judiciary  Committee. 

Lv-AFAx  F.  Warxer,  a  native  of  Roxhur\-.  admitted  to  the  I^.ar 
in  1848  and  removed  west. 

Mir/i'ox  J.  Warxi:r  was  born  in  Salisbury,  graduated  from  Wil- 
liams College,  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  September.  1867,  and  located 
at  \\'averly.  X.  Y.     Afterwards  removed  to  Santa  Fe,  Xcw  Mexico, 

wher  he  died. 

Thomas  (i.  WA'nuniAX,  a  native  of  Salisbury  studied  law  with 
Ceil.  JClisha  Sterling  and  was  admitted  to  tliis  T.ar  in  i8(Xj.  He  Ijc- 
came  a  prominent  member  of  the  lUir  in  lliiighamton.  X.  Y..  where 
he  died  in  ]8C)i.     Author  of  Waterman's  Digests. 

Dorc.i.ASS  A\'atsox.  horn  Ma\-  u.  1821  at  Canaan,  admitted  to 
the  r>ar  in  1845. 

D\xii;r.  F.  Wi:i!STi;k.  born  in  Litchfield  March  14.  18^3.  gradu- 
ated from  Dartmouth  (.'ollege  in  1874  and  admitted  to  this  liar  in 
1876.      Located  and  i)racticed  in  Waterbury  until  his  death  in   1896. 

L'ki-dKruk  C.  Wi;i;sti:k.  born  in  Litchfield  (  )ctober  17.  18^0. 
C.raduated  from  ^'alc  College  in  1874  and  was  admiiti'il  to  the  T>ar 
in  1876.  I'ractieed  law  in  Litchlield  a  short  lime,  then  removed 
to  the  West.  Jle  resides  at  Missoula.  .Montana,  of  which  city  he  has 
been  Mayor.  He  is  now  a  judge  of  oiie  ^f  the  Districts  of  that 
State. 

GiDKox'  H.  \\'i;i.(ii.  born  at  I'.ast  TLaddam.  Conn..  Sentcmber  22. 
1844.  C.raduated  at  N'ale  College  1868.  and  from  \:i\c  Law  School 
in   1870.  and  immcdiateK'  located  al  'rorrington.  succeeding  the  late 


l-Ki;i)KKU-    M.     WILLIAMS 


LKJOKArillCAI.   .N"(jTKS 


301 


IIenr\  S.  Ilarbiuir,  l'*S(|.  lie  hail  a  lucraliw  ])rarti(.H\  and  held 
nunuTuus  town  dllicis  and  rL'])rcsc'nled  ihc  town  in  the  Cjcncral  As 
sembly  in  1881  and  tlu'  District  in  the  State  Senate  in  1897.  In  1897 
upon  the  ap])oinlnKni  of  jud^e  Rora])ack  to  the  Su])erior  Court 
he  was  appointed  by  the  ( loxermir.  Jmli^e  of  the  Court  oi  Common 
Pleas,  which  action  the  Les^islature  confirmed  tor  another  term  of 
four  years,  and  is  now  (1907)  in  otlice.     Picture  on  pai^^e  141. 

IvAi.ril   \\'i;i.i.s.  admitted  in   1813  from   Hartford. 

Francis  W.   W  i:ssi:i.i.s,  admitted  in    1870.     Resides  in  (  )maha, 
Xel). 

SamlKi<  \\'i:'i'Moki;.  admitted  in   1803. 

N.  Wet.muki:.  admitted  in  1808. 

Li:\i:ki:'i'ti-:  W.  \\'i:sski,t.s 

was  l)(irn  in  I,itchfielil  in 
18 1 9.  Jleld  the  ollice  of 
Sheriff  for  twelve  years 
from  1854  to  1866,  succeed- 
ing' Hon.  Albert  Sed.c^wick, 
under  whom  he  was  a  Dep- 
ut\'  Sheriff  for  nine  years. 
Was  Post  Master  of  Litch- 
tield,  1850  to  1854,  a  repre- 
sentative in  the  General 
Assembly  in  1879  and  again 
in  1887,  was  Ouarter  Mas- 
ter General  of  the  State  in 
1879  and  1880.  In  1862  he 
was  commissioned  a  Col- 
onel by  Governor  Bucking- 
liam  and  by  his  skillful 
management  organized  the 

.  19th     Infantry     Regiment. 

afterwards  the  2nd  Connec- 
ticut Heavy  Artillery.  This  was  a  Litchfield  County  Regiment  and 
won  a  leading  record  for  its  valor  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Col- 
onel Wessells  resigned  his  comiuission  by  reason  of  ill  health  in  1863 
and  was  immediately  appointed  Provost  ^larshall  of  the  Fourtii 
IDistrict  of  Connecticut  which  oflice  he  held  until  the  close  of  the 
Rebellion.  "To  his  old  friends  in  the  Commonwealth  and  beyond 
its  limits  the  thought  tliat  they  are  to  see  his  face  no  more  must 
needs  be  a  sad  one :  but  to  him  the  end  came  as  a  happy  release  from 
the  house  of  pain.  He  had  lived  beyond  all  exi)ectation  and  filled 
the  measure  of  his  years,  had  done  a  man's  work  in  the  world,  and 
long  since  assured  for  himself  an  honorable  place  in  the  remembrance 
of  his  town  and  State."     He  died  at  Dover.  Del.  Ai)ril  4th.  i8();. 


302  i.n\'ii iii;i.i>  (.'(UNTv  ukncii  and  har 

CiKoRCK  ^\'ill■:A■l■()^",  of  Cornwall, — 'J'hc  rollowinj^-  is  tlu-  notice  o£ 
his  dcatii  from  a  county  nc\vs]xii)cr : 

"(1eo]"<;v  W'licaton.  l'".S(|.,  the  oldest  and  one  of  the  most  respected 
membero  of  the  l.itchtield  County  liar,  died  at  his  residence  in  C'orn- 
wall,  on  Friday  evening-.  Nov.  _'4th.  iS()3.  lie  was  born  in  b'ast 
Haven  in  1790,  and  \vas,  thereft)re.  in  his  y(A\\  year,  lie  removed 
to  Salisbury  about  1810  where  he  studied  law  with  Judi^'e  Church, 
then  a  practicing-  lawyer.  1  le  was  admitted  to  the  liar  in  1813.  when 
he  made  Cornwall  his  place  of  residence.  Mr.  W'heaton  was  a  well- 
read,  exact  lawyer,  a  prudent  business  man,  and  a  close  reasoner. 
He  was  a  valuable  man  in  town  atTairs,  and  enjoyed  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow -citizens.  lie  had  long-  been  a  member  of 
the  Congregatitinal  Church,  and  he  was  known  and  beloved  as  a 
consistent  Christian.  His  funeral  was  attended  at  Cornwall  last 
Sunda\  b\'  a  large  number  of  people,  among  whom  were  many  of 
the  jirominent  members  of  the  Litchfield  and  Fairfield  County  liars." 

Josiri'A  WniTXKv. — He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Xorfolk 
coming  there  from  Canaan.  He  was  a  law}er  and  was  first  King's 
Attorney  of  the  new  County  in  1751,  appointed  thereto  by  the  new 
County  Court,  lie  was  ver\"  prominent  in  town  affairs  in  Norfolk 
initil  about  17^)3  when  it  is  said  that  he  removed  back  to  Canaan. 
I  suppose  hiui  to  have  l)een  the  same  Joshua  Whitney  who  served 
from  Canaan  all  through  the  Revolution  and  was  a  "Leftenant." 

Soi. o:\roNr  \\'iiiTxr<:v.  from  Canaan  admitted  to  tlie  l'>ar  in  17^)3. 

Cir.VRi.KS  \\'iiiTTLr;si':v,  born  in  Salisbury,  graduated  from  Wil- 
liams College  in  1840,  admitted  to  this  liar  in  1844.  Began  practice 
in  Cheshire,  removed  to  Middletown  and  in  1855  to  Hartford,  Conn. 
\\'as  States  .Attorney  for  Middlesex  County  for  six  years.  Was 
Ca])tain  of  C'ampany  T  Jjud  Conn.  \'ols.  lie  died  in  .Mexandria, 
\'a..  in  1874. 

l'".i.isii A  WiiiTTT.KSi'.v,  a  native  of  Washington,  was  admitted  ti) 
this  liar  in  1781  and  soon  remo\-ed  to  the  I'onnecticut  Keserve.  Tn 
1823  he  v.as  elected  member  of  Congress  which  position  he  held  for 
eighteen  years.  In  1841  he  was  appointed  .Auditor  of  the  Treasury 
for  the  1 'ost  (  )nice  Dei)artment  and  in  i84()  th'st  Com])troller  of  the 
Treasury   of  the  Fnited  vStates. 

Ro(-,i;k  Wii  lTTl.l•■.Sl■:^',  born  in  Xewinglon.  17''>7.  graduated  from 
A'ale  in  1787:  studied  at  the  Litchfield  Law  v^cIukiI  and  was  ad- 
mitteil  to  the  L>ar  in  171)0.  lie  practiced  at  ."^onthinglMn  and  died 
there  <  )ctoln'r  5.   1844. 

Thomas  T.  ^\'lnTTl,l•'.Sl•:^'.  born  in  1704.  graduated  from  A'ale 
College-  in  1817;  admitted  to  this  I'.ar  in  i8_'().  lie  located  in  Dan- 
bury,  lie  was  representati\e  in  Ci  mgress  in  1827  anil  1821)  and 
<lied  in    i8fi8. 


GONT.RXOR    OIJNKK    WCJI.COTT 


BIOGUAPJIICAI,  X(iTi;S  303 

]{i)UiN  A.  Wiii'i'i:,  1)1  ini  in  C'liniwall.  <;ra(luak-<l  fnnii  W'cslcyan 
l'nivcrsit\- ;  adniitird  Im  ilii>  liar  in  !SS2.  Kcmnvcfl  to  tlu-  State 
<it'  Xcw  N'lirk  anil  at'lrr  a  i)iaclitr  ot'  a  \vw  yoars  al)an<l(»nc<l  the  law 
and  became  an  l£pisc()])al  Cleri^ynian.  1  le  is  now  in  l>li)onitield,  X.  J. 
lie  is  the  author  of  a  standard  work  on  H])iscopal  law  and  is  en 
j^'ai^X'il  in  codifxiiiM-  llu'  riiurcli  laws  nf  the  State  of  Xcw  ji-rsey. 

lliT.i'.Kr  Williams  was  born  in  Salisbury,  September  10,  1S53. 
■C»raduated  from  Columbia  Law  School  in  1873:  was  admitted  to  the 
])ar  in  1875  and  resided  in  Ivakeville,  his  native  town.  He  was 
Post  Master  in  that  village  a  number  of  years.  He  died  suddenly 
September  24,   1906. 

Fkki)i:kic  at.  Williams,  burn  in  Washing-ton,  Conn.,  Xovembor 
27.  18O2.  He  prepared  for  college  at  the  Cpson  School  in  Xew 
Preston  and  graduated  from  the  Yale  Law  School  in  1887;  also 
studving  with  Hon.  Simcfin  K.  Baldwin.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
Xew  Haven  liar  in  1887  and  later  moved  to  Xew  Milford.  He  has 
been  very  jDrominent  in  the  affairs  of  his  town  and  is  a  most  elllcient 
Prosecuting  Agent  for  Litchfield  County. 

\\']LLL\-M  (r.  AX'iLLiA.MS,  born  in  Stockbriilge.  .Mass.  Admitted 
to  this  Uar  in  1800  and  located  at  Sharon  until  1809  when  he  re- 
moved to  Xew  Hartford,  where  he  died  in  1838.  aged  59. 

Tjio>L\s  Wilcox,  admitted  in  I7(j>;  from  Canaan. 

AxDUKw  B.  WiLSox,  admitted  in  i8C)5  from  Cornwall.  Practiced 
a  short  time  at  Xewtown  and  removed  to  Bridgeport,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  manufacturing. 

Ghx.  Olivlr  Wolcott  was  the  first  Sheriff  of  the  County,  hold- 
ing the  office  for  more  than  twenty  years.  (See  articles  on  Signers 
of  the  Declaration  on  page  174.J 

Oliver  \\olcott,  Jr.,  L.  L.  D.  was  born  in  Litchfield  January 
II,  1760,  and  was  the  son  of  Oliver  Wolcott.  the  Signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  was  pre- 
pared for  and  entered  Yale  College,  but  by  reason  of  taking  fre- 
quent vacations  to  go  into  the  Revolutionary  Army,  did  not  gradu- 
ate till  1779-  He  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1781.  His  whole 
life  was  devoted  to  the  public  service  and  affairs.  He  was  suc- 
cessivelv  Comptroller  of  this  State,  Auditor  and  Secretary  of  the 
United  'States  Treasury,  Judge  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court. 
President  of  the  Bank'  of  America,  President  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  Connecticut,  and  Governor  of  his  native  State  from 
18 1 7  to  1827.  He  was  one  of  the  most  illustrious  statesmen  of  the 
early  days  of  the  Republic,  the  intimate  friend  and  adviser  of  Wasii- 
ington.  Adams  and  Hamilton:  and  for  some  time  previous  to  his 
decease  in  Xew  York,  June  2.  1833,  he  was  the  last  surviving  mem- 
ber of  Washington's  cabinet.  The  departure  of  few  men  from  the 
world  ever  produced  a  more  deep  and  general  feeling  of  sorrow. 


304  l.ll\Mll"li:i.l)  COINTV   I'.F.NCIl   AM)   I'.AK 

1)ami;i.  \\"(1(>I),  ;i(lnuttf(l  in   iy^)<-)  fnnn  Sharon. 

|()ii\  WOdDi'.KiiK'.i:,  |k.,  adniiiii'd  in  1S51  from  Xcw  Hartford. 

J{zi:kii:i,  W'oodkii-i',  a  native  of  I'^arniington.  i^raduated  from 
Yale  in  1779  and  was  adiuiited  lo  iliis  lUir  in  1781.  He  located  at 
Middk'lown  and  in   1789  removed  from  the  Stale. 

Ciia)KC.iv  C.  W'ooDKLi'F  was  born  on  the  first  day  of  December, 
1805  in  Litchfield  in  that  part  of  the  town  which  is  now  the  town 
of  Morris.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Maj.  Gen.  .Morris  Woodruff, 
who  was  for  ii  years  a  Juclye  of  the  County  Court.  George  C. 
graduated  at  Yale  in  1825,  studied  law  at  the  Litchfield  Law  School 
under  Judge  Gould  and  was  admitted  to  this  Bar  in  1827.  He  soon 
located"  in  Litchfield  where  he  resided  until  his  death  on  the  21st 
day  of  November,  1885.  He  took  a  leading  position  at  the  Bar  of 
Litchfield  County,  gradually  rising  until  he  became  its  acknowledged 
head  and  was  chairman  of  the  Bar  Association  for  many  years.  In 
his  early  life  he  was  daily  thrown  into  conflict  with  those  giants  of 
the  profession — the  two  Churches,  Huntington,  Bacon,  Smith  and 
others  of  their  able  contemporaries.  He  held  almost  every  ollice  of 
the  town  and  county — justice  of  the  peace,  grand  juror,  postmaster, 
town  treasurer,  town  clerk,  bank  director  and  president,  clerk  of  the 
superior  court.  Colonel  in  the  ^lilitia,  member  and  clerk  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  judge  of  probate,  member  of  the  Thirty-Seventh 
Congress — the  duties  of  each  in  turn  performed  with  that  rigid  ex- 
actness and  scrupulous  integrity  which  marks  the  perfect  man.  To 
him  the  state  at  large  owes  many  of  the  best  features  of  the  revision 
of  our  statutes  adopted  in  1875.  As  a  lawyer,  Mr.  Woodruff  was 
prominent  in  those  branches  where  certainty  is  possible.  It  was  in 
the  trial  of  questions  of  law,  the  dryer  and  more  abstruse  the  better 
that  his  most  consummate  skill  was  shown.  In  the  Supreme  Court 
of  J^rrors  not  infre(|uently  his  entire  argument  was  written  out  with 
the  most  painstaking  care. 

In  whatever  relation  of  life  one  looks  at  him  as  citizen,  as  neigh- 
bor, in  i)rivate  life  or  public  station,  as  counsellor  or  judge  he  was 
one  of  the  best  products  of  our  American  civilization. 

(Condensed  from  obituary  in  54.  Conn.  Report). 

GiCORGiC  ^I.  \\'oonRL"i"i-  was  a  son  of  Hon.  George  C.  W'oodrutif 
of  Litchfield  and  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being,  through  liis  father 
and  mother,  a  member  of  the  only  two  families  in  the  county  who 
have  for  three  successive  generations  ])racticed  before  its  courts. 
In  fact  it  might  be  said  for  four  generations  as  Mr.  Woodruff's 
grandfather  on  one  side  was  county  judge  and  on  the  other  sheriff'. 
He  was  born  in  Litchfield,  1836  and  has  been  extremely  active  in 
state  as  well  as  town  afi'airs.  He  jirepared  for  college  at  riiilHps 
Academy,  Andovcr,  graduated  at  Yale  in  1857,  the  Harvard  Law 
School  in  i85(;  and  was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield  liar  in  the  same 
vear.      lie  wa^  in  the  Legislature  in    18^)3.   1805  and    1872.  serving 


i;i(  11,1,;  \IMI  U'AI,    Nn'l'l-.S  ^O^ 

on  llu'  Ju(lici;ir\-  (.'miiniilUT  llir  lii-sl  two  Ilthis.  I  Ic  was  town  Ircas- 
lu-cr  iSdd  til  iijof)  ai'il  Jud.^c  <il'  I'rohalL'  since  iS^hS  with  tlie  cx- 
cc'])tiiin  m|'  (iiic  year.  I  \v  was  oni.'  of  the  slate  railroad  coniniissioiicrs 
fnnii  nSj.i  Im  iS()J  ;mil  rliainiiaii  nf  iln-  I'.i.ai-d  from  1875.  Mr. 
Woodi-ull'  was  t-oiiiiiiis>iunri"  idr  this  staU'  to  the  I'niversal  \',\- 
])osilioii  at  I  laniliui-^-  in  iSfi^  and  a  menilier  of  tlic  State  Koard  of 
edncalion  from  l8()5  to  1S77.  Me  is  an  active  niemljer  and  Deacon 
in  tile  Coni^rci^'ational  chnrcli  and  lia>  been  ])resident  of  the  Savini(s 
Society  since  1885.  Me  is  also  president  of  the  First  National  I  lank 
and  \'ice-l 'resident  of  ilu'  Colonial  Trnst  Com])any  of  \\'aterl)nry. 

J.\:\ii';s  r.  W  ooDuti''!'  is  a  son  oi  1  Ion.  Ceori^'e  M.  \\  o(jdrnl'f,  horn 
in  Litchfield  (  )ctoher  30.  i8C)8,  i^radnated  from  Amherst  Colle.i^e  in 
1891  and  from  Yale  I. aw  School  in  i8(j3  and  was  admitted  to  this 
]5ar  in  i8<)3.  Resides  and  i)raetices  at  Litchfield  in  com])any  with 
liis  father.      1  le  re])resenled  his  town  in  the  Le.^islatnre  of  i8(j(;-i903. 

Tloy.  Tj'.wis  J'>.  WOoDKi'i'i",  L.  L.  D.,  son  of  (icn.  Morris  Wood- 
rntT  and  brother  of  Hon.  Geori;e  C  Woodrnff.  was  horn  in  Litch- 
field (  Sonlh  Farms)  jnne  \().  i8o().  Preparing-  for  Collei;e  at  the 
then  noted  Morris  Academ\',  he  ^radnated  with  hi,L;h  honors  from 
Yale  Colle.<;e  in  1830.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  entered  the  Litch- 
field Law^  School,  where  nnder  the  instruction  of  Ind.i;e  Gould,  then 
at  its  head,  he  laid  the  foundation  of  the  scholarly  learning-  which 
secured  his  success  at  the  Lar  and  so  distinguished  his  judicial 
career.  On  C()m])leting  his  studies  in  that  school  he  was  admitted 
to  the  Lar  of  Connecticut  in  1832.  In  October  of  that  year  he  re- 
moved to  the  citv  of  Xew  York,  and  after  a  successful  ])ractice  at 
the  Lar  he  was.  in  1850,  called  to  the  Lench.  and  thereafter  held 
successively  the  offices  of  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Fleas. 
Superior  Court,  Court  of  Appeals  and  Lnited  States  Circuit  Court 
for  the  Second  Judicial  Circuit,  which  latter  position  he  filled  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  A  devoted  lover  of  his  native  State  it  was 
especially  ])leasing  to  him  that  Connecticut  was  a  part  of  his  Judi- 
cial District,  maintaining  a  residence  in  Litchfield  a  j^ortion  of  the 
vear  and  he  died  at  his  home  in  that  i)lace  September  to.  1875. 
esteemed,  revered  and  beloved  b\-  all  who  new'  him.  Mis  great 
learning,  his  remarkable  i)ower  of  analysis,  and  his  deep  discern- 
ment and  excellent  judgment,  reinforced  by  habits  of  profound 
study  and  indefatigable  industr\-.  and  his  sterling  integrity  insured 
his  high  reputation  on  the  Fencli. 

Dignified,  in  his  bearing,  he  was  in  the  family  circle  tender  and 
afTectionate,  everywhere  generous,  kind  and  helpful.  Devoted  to 
his  home  joys,  genial  and  cordial,  he  was  the  delight  of  the  social 
circle,  and  his  loving  welcome,  hospitable  board  and  ever  open  d<^or. 
kept  warm  hearts  constantlv  about  him. 

Tt  was  <aid  of  him  : — 'die  went  to  the  ver\-  bottom  of  every  sub- 
ject with  which  he  undertook  to  deal.  Me  cared  not  for  the  mul- 
tii)]icitv  of  details,  tlu'y  ne\-er  clogge(l  his  perception  of  a  general 


3o6  I.lTClll'lKI.D  COINTV   lU.NCII    AND   i:.\l< 

bearinii-.  and  nc\cr  one  of  tluni  was  dcprixcd  of  llic  exact  (k\L:;:rce 
of  \vcil;lu  li>  wliioli  ii  was  rrlalivcly  ciilillcd.  I<a\v  was  t<)  him  what 
I\Iusic'or  An  is  lo  sonic  nalnrcs.  it  engrossed  him,  and  was  a  prov- 
mcc  in  which  lie  moved  a  Kinj;-  and  a  Master. 

In  iS()(i.  Cohunhia  Collci^-c  of  New  \'ork  conferred  ni)on  him 
the  honorar\-  dej^rce  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 

He  married  a  (hiui^hter  of  Chief  Jnslice  lhirnl)lower  of  Xew 
Jersey.  Of  his  three \diihhen,  the  eldest.  Charles  11.  WoodnitT, 
adt^pted  hi.s  father's  profession,  practicing;-  in  Xew  N'ork  and  main- 
tainin-;-  as  a  summer  home  his  father's  country  residence;  and  he 
also  has  contributed  two  sons,  Lewis  1'..  and  iM-ederick  S..  to  the 
iJar  of  Xew  ^  ork. 

Jle  inirchased  the  jud,L;e  Tappini;-  Reeve  residence  in  Litchfield 
for  his  summer  home.  His  portrait  appears  on  i)ai;e  20O  in  con- 
nection with  the  Law  School. 

]\loKKis  WooDKii'i'  was  for  mar.y  years  one  of  the  Judges  of  the 
Count \  Court,  and  apparently  a  standing  committee  for  the  lay-out 
of  highwavs  and  the  transaction  of  matters  of  a  similar  nature.  He 
was  a  Major  General  of  the  State  Militia  and  held  very  many  town 
and  county  public  othces.  His  two  sons,  George  C.  and  Lewis  B. 
became  Attorneys  of  the  highest  standing,  while  his  only  daughter 
was  the  esteemed  wife  of  the  late  Chief  justice  Seymour.  He  w^as 
liorn  in  Litchfield  in  1777  and  tlied  in  1841. 

PiTKix  Cowi.KS  Wriciit  was  born  in  Canaan  [Nfay  1835.  Grad- 
uated at  Williams  in  1852  and  admitted  to  practice  in  1855.  He  re- 
moved t(T  Towa.  He  was  the  Grand  High  Priest  of  Iowa  in  1868-9. 
He  died  at  Somerville,  Tenn.  September  15th.  1896- 

b)iiN  F.  WvNXK,  born  at  Sandistield,  ^lass.,  i860.  Admitted 
to  the  I'.ar  in  1881.  Settled  at  Unionville  in  the  town  of  Farming- 
ton  wdiich  tow^n  he  represented  in  the  Legislature  in  1886.  Sub- 
sequentl}-  he  removed  to  Xew  Haven  where  he  is  now  in  practice. 

joiix  I).  ^'ai.K.  SheritT  of  the  County  from  1878  to  1881.  He 
was  born  in  Canaan  in  1826.  At  the  close  of  his  term  of  ollice  he 
resided  in  Winsted  and  was  eniiiloyt'd  as  a  commercial  traveler.  He 
removed  to  Hartford,  and  retired  from  active  business  j)ursuits. 
i-fe  died  in  Hartford    \i)ril  24,  1905. 


LIGANS 


.M.w  rp  ri.i'.Asi'.  Til  i;  mi  irr. 


MAY  IT  PLEASE  THE  COURT 


In  llic  ])i"e])ar;ui<m  nf  lliis  \(i1uiik'  ilic  c()m])ikT  lias  collected  many 
items  not  exaclK'  ain'opos  to  the  .general  scheme  of  the  book.  They 
are,  lio\\e\'er,  ])a|)ers  and  doenments  of  such  i^'eneral  interest  that 
they  should  be  ])reserved.  ami  1  have  i)rinted  them  herein  under  an 
old  law  term,  that  they  ma\  be  available  at  some  future  time.  I 
have  not  aimed  at  any  particular  arrani^ement,  and  the  reader  if  he 
is  a  lav;ver.  mav  demur  to  tlvjm,  j^lead  in  abatement,  move  to  strike 
out.  erase,  or  for  a  more  ])articular  statement,  just  as  he  pleases. 
There  will  be  no  charge  beyond  the  ])rice  of  the  book  whether  he 
wins  or  loses  his  motion;  if  he  is  a  layman  he  ma\-  omit  them  alto- 
gether. J  have  included  a  number  of  i)ictures  which  ma\'  add  to 
the  interest  of  the  book. 


"This  world  is  but  a  fleeting-  show. 

And  soon  ^rim  death  will  jerk  us 
So  let's  be  ha])i)_\'  as   we  j4'o. 

And  all  cn)o\-  the  circus." 


KX-COW    (,'IIAKIJ:S    11.    AXDRI-.WS. 

In  the  earlier  ]:)reparation  of  this  volume  I  was  promised  an 
original  article  by  the  late  Hon.  Charles  V>.  Andrews,  but  his  lament- 
ed decease  prevented  me  from  obtaining  one  in  his  own  writing.  (  )f 
course  those  who  read  the  Connecticut  Reports  are  familiar  with  his 
legal  o])inions  as  found  in  those  Reports.  Judge  Andrews  v.-as. 
however,  a  writer  on  many  other  subjects  besides  legal  opinions. 
The  following  is  an  address  which  he  delivered,  which  will  serve  to 
show  his  style  of  thought  and  comjiosition.  and  is  also  a  review  of 
many  of  the  matters  contained  in  this  volume.  He  gave  it  to  me 
as  his  Contribution  to  one  of  our  ban(|uets. 


^lo         i.iTciii"ii:i.i)  ci)LNTv  i;i;ncil  AM)  i;au 


AN  ADDRESS  BY  EX.  GOVERNOR 
CHARLES  B.  ANDREWS 

\'ou  L;"i\'c  it,  Mr.  rrcsidciU.  as  the  result  of  ynur  rctlcctioiis.  that 
tlic  juilicial  power  is  llie  liinlicst  in  the  trinit_\'  of  the  !4"overnnieiital 
])o\\ers.  1  a])])relien(l  that  most  thoughtful  persons  will  at^ree  with 
yon  for  the  reasons  \(iu  have  i;iven.  In  every  s^overnnient  of  laws, 
the  courts  hold  the  most  im])ortant  place.  'l~he  lei.;"islature  may  he 
nominally  higher  than  the  judiciary;  hut  in  the  actual  experience 
of  life,  the  courts  touch  the  citizen  more  frecpientl}'  and  more  nearly, 
than  the  law-making  ])o\\er.  The  legislature  ordinaril\  does  no  mtire 
than  make  rules  in  the  ahstract ;  the  courts  appl}'  them  to  concrete 
cases.  To  the  parties  in  an_\'  given  case,  that  seems  onl_\'  to  be  the 
law,  which  the  court  decides  to  be  law,  for  the  reason  that  the  court 
must  ])a>s  upon  the  facts,  as  well  as  interpret  th''  rule  made  by  the 
legislature. 

Jn  one  of  those  fervid  bursts  of  elocpience,  for  which  Mr.  ivufus 
Choate  was  so  widelv  ki:o\vn,  he  exclaimed:  "Let  us  re])OSc  secure 
under  the  shadow  of  a  learned,  impartial  and  trusted  judiciary,  and 
we  need  no  more.  Given  that,  and  it  matters  little  what  constitution 
\()U  have,  or  who  makes  the  laws." 

Thinking  only  of  that  former  time,  when  no  one  living  was  ctni- 
nected  with  the  courts,  I  cherish  the  belief  that  the  judiciary  of  Con- 
necticut has  measurably  fulfilled  for  tlie  peoi)le  of  that  state,  such  an 
high  idea.  To  some  extent,  doubtless,  this  is  due  to  the  fact  that 
there  has  been  no  great  city  in  the  state,  so  tliat  the  (|uestit)ns.  vex- 
atious and  dangerous,  liable  to  rise  from  a  vast,  divergent  and  largely 
unlearned  jwpulation  have  never  brought  disturbance  into  the  courts. 
I'erhaps.  also,  the  cities  of  Xew  ^'ork  on  the  one  side,  and  r.oston 
on  the  other,  lia\'e  drawn  from  us  other  sources  of  troul)le.  Jn  an- 
other degree  go:'(l  fortune  h;'.s  come  from  the  character  of  its  people. 
Connecticut  was  a  I'uritan  colou\,  e\en  more  so  than  ^^assachusetts. 
Jt  has  always  been  a  I'uritan  slate.  The  I'uritan,  with  all  his  wil- 
fulness, his  self-assertion,  his  theolog\-  and  his  dogmatism,  was  n 
cr)nser\\'itive  cili/.en.  I\es])ecl  for  the  jjowcrs  thai  be  was  a  jtart  of 
hi>  creed.  To  be  sure,  he  intende(l  to  lia\'e  the  ])o\\ers  on  bis  side 
nK)st  of  the  time,  and  never  scru])led  to  (piarrel  with  them  if  they 
were  not:  but  notwithstanding,  be  bad  the  thrifty  habit  of  economy: 
and  the  mone\-making  man  is  coni])elled  to  ha\(.'  a  I'espect  tor  law: 
and  this  res])ect  for  the  law  has  continued  to  this  da\  to  be  a  char- 
acter of  the  i)e()])le  of  the  state.  I'.iU  mainly  the  result  has  conic 
from  the  judiciarv  itself.  In  the  origin:d  frame  of  gmernment  of 
tliat  state  all  judicial  jjowcr  was  e\erci>ed  by  the  legi>l;Unre.  The 
legislature   conlimu'(|    to   lu^ar   cases   on   ajjju'al   until    the    \e:ir    17S4. 


CHAKI,i:S    i;.    AXDRF.WS,   C. 


Cow  .\M)i<i:\\  s  Ai)i)i<i:ss  .^  1 1 

In  llial  Near  il  was  (.iiacUiI  ilial  llir  I  JmlciiaiU  ( i<  fvcniur  anil  tin- 
Council  sliould  constituli.'  llir  Su])rcnK-  Courl  ot'  l'"rrors.  In  1793 
the  (lowiiior  \\a>  adikd  lo  ilic  court,  ami  made  llir  ])rcsi(lin!4'  judi^c. 
]{i!4lit  uKiuhcrs  were  mcri-sarx  to  form  a  (|uorum.  Il  was  soon  the 
sul)ject  of  com])]aiul.  llial  llic  mcmhers  of  this  court  were  chosen 
with  reference  to  lluir  iiualifications  as  lej^'islators  rather  than  as 
judj^'es.  In  iSo^)  an  aci  was  ])assed  which  transferred  all  the  judicial 
])(jwer  of  ilic  (".o\ernor  and  Council  to  the  then  Sujierior  C<jurt.  and 
it  was  made  the  v'^u])rcnic  Court  of  l'".rrors.  That  was  the  oriijin  of 
the  SujM'emc  Cotun  of  Errors  a>  il  now  exists.  Jesse  Root  was  at 
that  time  Chief  justice.  Including  its  then  meml)ers,  and  all  who 
lia\e  >ince  heen  appointed,  there  ha\e  heen  fort\-four  memhers  of 
that  coiu't.  'Jdiirteen  of  its  deceased  memhers  ha\-e  heen  Chief 
lustices — [esse  Root,  Stei)hen  .Mix  Mitchell,  'rai)])in^"  Reeve.  Zep- 
"haniah  Swift.  Ste])hcn  Titus  llosmer.  David  l)a,u-^ett.  Thomas  Scott 
Williams.  Samuel  Church.  Jlcnrv  .Matson  Waiie.  William  Lucius 
Storrs.  Joel  llinman,  Thomas  I'elden  Ihitler  and  (  )i;ij.iien  Storrs 
SCNUK  lur. 

These  were  uotahle  men  in  their  da\-.  and  came  up  h)  the  full 
standard  of  heiui;"  learned.  im])artial  and  trusted.  The  memory  ot 
every  one  of  them  is  cherished  h\  the  i)eo])le  of  Connecticut  with 
atifectionate  |)ri(le  and  veneration.  They  were  no  more  than  a  fair 
indication  of  the  other  memhers  of  the  judges.  It  is  little  wonder, 
then,  that  the  i:)eople  of  that  state  have  reposed  secure  under  the 
shadow  of  their  own  trusted  magistracy.  Xor  is  it  a  wonder  that 
the  court  held  a  creditable  place  among  other  like  courts  in  the  nation. 

( )f  the  individual  character  of  these  and  other  of  the  judges,  and 
cf  the  later  court,  others  can  .^peak  much  better  than  myself. 

Trior  to  1819.  all  the  judges  were  appointed  aumiallx.  There 
was  a  statute  which  provided  that  the  judges  should  hold  ollice  dur- 
ing the  pleasure  of  the  legislature;  but  the  legislature  continued  to 
manifest  its  ]:)leasure  by  annual  elections,  until  the  adoption  of  the 
constitution,  in  181 8.  Dy  that  constitution  the  judges  of  the  Su- 
preme and  Superior  Courts  were  to  hold  ofiice  during  good  behavior, 
subject  to  impeachment  and  to  be  removed  by  advice  of  two-thirds 
of  each  house  of  the  general  assembly,  .\uother  clause  of  the  con- 
stitution declared  that  no  judge  or  justice  of  the  peace  should  be 
cai)al)le  of  holding  otlice  after  he  arrived  at  seventy  years  of  age. 
These  two  ])rovisions  of  the  constitution  have  given  rise  to  the  sus- 
jiicion  that  in  Connecticut  a  man  canned  behave  well  as  a  judicial 
officer  after  he  is  seventv  vears  old. 

Tn  1855  there  was  a  change  by  which  the  judicial  term  was  made 
eight  years.  The  legislature  has  always  elected  all  judges.  .An- 
other change  in  1880.  has  so  made  it  that  the  legislature  elects  the 
judges  upon  the  nomination  of  the  Governor. 

Tn  the  general  field  of  law.  the  state  of  Connecticut  deserves  at 
least  a  passing-  notice.  Every  lawyer  in  the  countr\-  has  heard  of 
the  Litchfield  Law  School.      More  than  t(^  any  other,  and  i)erhaps 


312  ].n'ciii'ii:!.i)  corxTv  r.i-xcii  and  p.ak 

more  than  to  all  other  agencies,  it  is  nwiiiL;  lo  that  law  school,  that 
the  law  in  these  I'nited  States  has  so  much  uniformity,  consistency 
and  s\nimetr\-  as  il  has.  Thai  scIkuiI  was  founded  liy  'rai)])inL;" 
Reeve  in  17S4.  When  Mr.  I\ce\e  l)ecame  a  jud^e  of  llie  Sujjcrior 
Ct)nrt.  in  i7Sg.  he  a.ssociated  witii  himself  James  Ciould  as  a  teacher. 
'Jdiev  continued  the  school  toj;ether  till  iSjo.  judj^e  Reeve  died  in 
1822.  jud}.;e  Cionld  continued  it  till  iS^^^.  1  )urino,-  its  existence 
there  were  educated  nearly  two  tliousaud  \ouiiy  men.  comini;'  frc^n 
ever\-  one  of  the  then  states.  .Vmou!:.;'  the  numher  were  those  who 
afterward  hecame  judi^es.  chief  justices  and  prominent  lawyers  and 
statesmen  in  most  of  the  states — ^Chief  justice  I'.aldwin.  of  ( KMirj^ia  ; 
John  C.  Calhoun;  John  .M .  Clayton,  of  Deleware  :  Daniel  S.  Dick- 
inson, of  Xew  \'ork  :  Levi  W'oodhury.  of  Maine;  Theron  Metcalf. 
of  .Massachusetts;  William  llalstead.  of  Xew  Jersey;  Washiu'^-ton 
I'oe.  and  very  many  others. 

The  earliest  volume  of  reports  of  decided  cases  published  in 
America  was  in  Connecticut.  h\  I{])hraim  Kirhy.  at  Litchfield,  in 
ijSt^  It  has  erroneously  been  said,  that  the  first  volume  of  Dal- 
lo's  rejiorls  was  the  earliest.  Dallo's  first  volume  was  not  published 
mitil    i7<jo. 

(  )f  Tai)pin-;-  Reeve  I  should  speak  a  little  more.  He  was  nnich 
more  than  an  ordinary  man.  lie  was  b.orn  at  Urookhaven,  L.  L.  in 
1744;  .Liraduated  at  Lrinceton  in  17('3.  He  studied  law  with  Jesse 
]\oot.  at  Hartford;  settled  at  Litchfield  in  1772.  and  l)eoan  his  law 
teaching-  in  1784.  He  was  a  born  teacher.  Every  one  of  the  pupils 
who  came  under  his  instruction  became  at  once  inspired  with  a  love 
of  stud\ .  with  the  s;randeur  of  the  science  and  the  dignity  of  the  pro- 
fession. Jesse  Root,  who  was  the  instructor  of  Judge  Reeve,  was 
himself  a  distinguished  man.  He  was  l)orn  in  Coventry.  Conn.; 
graduated  at  J'rinceton.  in  I75(>.  He  was  a  preacher  until  I7^>3. 
when  he  became  a  lawyer  in  Hartford.  He  raised  a  comi)any  for 
the  army  and  became  a  colonel.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  for  four  years.  He  was  a  judge  of  the  Superior 
Court  after  17S8.  He  pul)lished  two  volumes  of  reports.  An;)ther 
Chief  Justice  was  Zephaniah  Swift,  who  was  the  author  of  Swift's 
I)ige>t".  The  older  lawyers  in  all  those  states,  which  founded  their 
law  ui)on  the  common  law.  haw  doubtless  heard  ol  this  book.  It 
was  excee(liugl\-  \'aluable  as  an  introductory  book  lor  beginners, 
and  an  excellent  hand-book   for  ])rolessional  work. 

The  work  of  the  com"t  in  Counecticm  is  recorded  in  tlu'  \-olume 
of  re])orts  which  I  have  mentioned,  in  five  volumes  of  Day"s  l\ei)i)rts. 
and  in  fift\--seven  volumes  of  Connecticut  Rcjiorts.  In  them  there 
are  no  startling  cases.  They  record  the  litigated  cases  ot  a  i)eoiile 
nsualK-  hapi)y.  and  intent  on  the  arts  of  peace;  but  I  leel  sm^e  that 
thev  teach  constantK  the  |)rinciples  of  that  science  of  which  Lord 
I'j'skine  said:  "'J'he\'  are  foinided  in  the  charities  of  rt'ligion.  in  the 
l)hiloso])h\-  of  nature,  in  the  triuhs  of  history,  and  in  the  experience 
fif  common  life." 


II.    WILLIAMS     AKCr  MI'.N'I'  313 

A  DEMURRKR 

AX    AkC.l  MI'.XT  (  ).\    A    Dl'.MlkKI'.k. 

Ari;umcnl  nl"  I  lul)(.ri  \\  illi;ims,  l*',s(|..  in  i!k'  case  dI  Arlluir  (joml- 
iiiau  vs.  The  Tdwn  of  Salishurv .  iric(l  in  the  court  of  C<jnimon  i'lcas 
before   lion.  Arlluir  I).  W'anu-r.  Jud^f. 

The  lea>e  ran  in  ihe  name  of  Arthur  (  loodiiiaii,  aj^eiil  for  the 
Kickapoo  huhan  (."onipau).  A  ])lea  in  ahalenieiiL  was  filed  on  the 
claim  that  the  suit  should  liaw  heeii  in  the  name  of  the  real  party, 
instead  id'  the  c-i-eiit.  d'o  this  ])lea  in  abatement  the  ])laintiff  filed  a 
demurrer. 

Mk.  Williams:  If  the  Court  ])lease.  1  ap]>iar  in  behalf  of  the 
])lea  in  abatement  and  against  the  demurrer.  This  i>  a  demurrer 
to  a  i)lea  in  abatement  in  tlie  ease  nominall)-  of  Arthur  Goodman 
aj^ainst  'ldie  'i'own  of  Salisburx ,  but  actually  of  the  l\icka])oo  Indian 
Medicine  (.'ompauy  ai^'ainst  said  town. 

It  would  be  a  waste  of  words  for  me  to  tell  your  Honor  that  I 
am  like  uecessitv — tliat  I  know  no  kiw  .  There  are,  however,  a  few 
facts  in  relation  to  this  demurrer  whicii  1  wonld  like  to  ])re>ent  f:) 
the  Com-t.  And  in  passing-.  1  would  like  to  a.sk  your  Honor  what 
vou  are  here  for?  As  1  understand  it.  I  am  here  to  g-ive  your  Honor 
the  facts,  and  you  are  here  to  apply  the  law  to  those  facts.  It 
would  be  presiniiptious  in  me  to  attem])t  to  instruct  your  Honor  as  to 
what  the  law  is,  because  if  you  don't  know,  you  ou_q;ht  not  to  be 
here,  and  I  assume  that  because  you  arc  here,  you  do  know  the 
whole  law. 

Coming;-  back  to  the  question  at  issue  in  this  case,  what  are  the 
real  facts?  In  order  to  tjbtain  a  ])ro])er  comprehension  of  the  case 
it  will  be  necessary  to  begin  our  recital  of  facts  back  in  the  dawn 
of  tradition,  and  I  will  be.gin  at  the  time  when  the  great  Creator 
placed  our  common  forefather.  Adam,  in  a  dcej)  sleep  in  the  Carclen 
of  Kden.  and  from  his  side  drew  forth  and  fashioned  that  which 
has  ever  since  been  the  solace  and  joy  of  mankind  in  all  ages. — 
WOMAX.  but.  after  all,  Eve  was  only  a  side  issue,  and  that  is  all 
1  am  in  this  case. 

Taking  up  now  the  lease,  for  the  breach  of  wdiich  this  action 
is  instituted,  and  examining  it  carefull\ ,  yonr  Honor  will  see  that 
it  gives  to  the  Kicka]x)o  Indian  [Medicine  Company  the  exclusive 
use  of  the  town  hall  of  Salisbury  with  all  its  ap]-)urtenances  for  one 
week  or  /o/z-rr.  an  absolute  deed  in  fee,  at  the  option  of  the  Medicine 
Company,  in  i)erpetuity,  so  that  no  longer  shall  we  be  al)le  to  trans- 
act the  ordinarv  affairs  and  business  wdiich  appertain  to  the  town 
of  Salisburv,  for  the  oratorv  of  the  yeomen  will  be  blended  with  the 
shrill  crv  of  the  Indian  warwhoo]).  and  the  beat  of  the  festive_  tom- 
tom. Thev  can  build  their  wigwams  and  camphres  any  where  in  the 
town  building.  W  hether  this  lease  includes  the  town  vaults.  T  know- 
not,  for  the  town  ollicials  still  hold  the  kevs  thereto.      I  bit  any  citi- 


3 '4 


i.ri'ciii-iKi.i)  LiiiNrv  iiKNciL  AMJ  i;au 


■/x-n  getting;-  ihc  keys  to  tlu"  \;uilts  ami  desiring;"  to  examine  tlie  pro- 
bate, land  or  town  records,  could  onl\  obtain  access  to  tbeni  after 
>lnnibHn!^-  over  tall  drunken  cliiet'tains,  s(|ualbnL;'  i>a])])ooses,  fat 
s(|ua\vs  and  ill-smelling'  do<;s. 

Xot  oul\-  tbal.  hut  \(iur  Honor  will  see  tliat  it  includes  the  town 
ball  and  its  ai^purtenances.  Aiuoni^'  other  appurtenances  we  have  a 
lockup.  I'mler  the  lauL^'naL^e -of  this  lease  which  is  set  forth  in  the 
complaint,  we  will  no  longer  ])e  able  to  apprehend  olTentlcrs  and 
keep  them  in  close  confinemeut  in  that  locku])  imtil  they  may  lie 
broui;ht  before  ])ro])er  authority,  because,  forsooth,  Arthur  (lood- 
man.  representiuL;"  the  Kicka])oo  Indian  Medicine  Co..  has  the  ex- 
clusive lease  of  our  locku]).  And  dod  and  \i>ur  1  lonor  know  that  if 
these  Kickajioo  Indians  llock  into  our  beautiful,  jjcaceful  town  and 
i^'et  oil  the  rani])ai.;e.  after  tillini;-  up  with  their  own  medicine  or  the 
white  man's  tire-water,  there  will  be  immediate  need  for  a  locku]:). 

Another  ap])nrtenance  connected  with  our  town  hall,  and  dear  to 
the  heart  of  every  son  of  vSalisbury.  is  a  cemetary  immediately  in 
the  rear  of  that  hall,  where  repose  the  bones  and  ashes  of  many  of 
our  honored  dead.  I'nder  the  terms  of  this  lease,  your  Honor,  it 
is  ])ossible  that  when  Time  shall  have  filled  the  meastire  of  Eternit\-. 
and  new  ones  shall  have  l)een  born,  still  that  hallowed  ground  which 
we  love  so  much  will  be  i^iven  (wer  to  Indians  and  ta])e- worms,  and 
the  graves  strewn  with  feathers. 


i.^KlCKAPOO  S-^ 


ai.I!i;k'i"  wadiiams  maxim  315 

SOUND  ADVICE 

AlI)i.Tt  W  ailliani^,  l'',S(|.  piaclirrd  law  in  C.oslicii.  CDiiiiiij^'  to  this 
L'oiuih  frdin  ViriiioDi.  lie  iu'\rr  IkuI  an  exlciisivc  clicnla<;'c  and 
held  sonic  peculiar  \ic\\>  rclaliw  to  law  and  i)articularly  to  railroad 
trusts,  Init  did  not  liw  Ioul;  cnnu^li  {<>  sec  the  trusts  all  abolished 
accordiuL;  to  liis  ideas.  I  I'liuiid  in  lii>  i)apers  a  yood  many  queer 
thiui^s,  >()int'  of  which  were  \cry  sensible.  The  followiui^  j^ood  ad- 
A'ice  is  1  think,  worth}-  of  ])rcser\alion. 

MAXIM  FOR  A  LAWYER 


''Qiiantiini  MeriiiV^ 

Always  be  sure,  in  regard  to  the  payment  of  your  Fees,  before 
your  Services  are  Rendered. 


This  is  an  act  of  justice  to  \i)ur  clients,  as  well  as  to  yoursdt. 
I  will  suppose  }-ou  do  not  make  this  i)rovision,  hut  render  vc^luntary 
services,  trusting'  to  the  sui>pt:)sed  honor  of  your  clients,  after  bene- 
fiting- them,  to  remunerate  }'ou.  There  are  times,  when  your  chances 
are.  that  the\-  will  imitate  "Annanias  and  Sapphira"  ])artly.  or  in 
full.  thereb\-  treating-  you  discreditably,  and  placing'  no  ])ropcr  esti- 
mate on  what  }'ou  ma_\-  have  accomplished.  It  is  c(|ually  a  wronjj^. 
if  excessive  fees  are  received.  In  order  to  com])ensate  yourself 
fairlv  in  the  first  case.  \o\\  can  seldom  do  it.  only  as  you  give  the 
delinquents  a  sting,  "a  la  mode"  "reler  vs.  Annania-  and  Sap|)hira,'" 
in  which  case  }ou  loose  your  client  probabl)-,  and  the  mutual  benefit 
is  at  an  end.  Doubtless  your  client  suffers  equally  with  yourself 
in  the  final  result,  which  might  have  been  avoided  by  you  in  the  com- 
mencement, bv  providing  for  your  fee.  Your  services  are  cither  of 
value,  and  should  be  adequatel_\-  ])aid  for.  or  they  are  of  no  value. 
It  is  said  that  a  stone  fitted  for  a  wall,  will  not  l)e  left  in  the  way. 
and  in  a  like  manner  your  conii)cnsation  for  services  can  be  secured. 
l>efore  you  are  placed  in  a  required  position.  If  this  cannot  be  done 
i^cncraily,  then  you  had  better  leave  the  undertaking,  and  follow 
some  more  ap]iropriate  calling,  by  ^vhich  you  can  be  maintained. 
Therefore,  legal  services,  freely  rendered,  without  adequate  ]>ro- 
vision  for  renumeration,  arc,  as  to  yourself,  your  clients,  or  any  one. 
both  impolitic  and  unwise.  A  wise  lawyer,  for  any  services  he  may 
have  rendered,  will  scliloiii  i)ermit  a  client,  or  any  one,  to  define  his 
"Oiiaiifum   Meruit." 

This  .\otice.  von  can  post  u])  in  your  office,  or  hang  it  out  doors. 
b\'  the  side  of  \()ur  shingle. 

A.  U\ 

Albanv.  X.  V..  l-el).   ist.  186;. 


^i(\  i.n\"iii"ii;i.i)  ^■(H"^■■|•^■  i:i:\iii  wd  \'.\k 


The  Annual  Banquets 

Tlic  ouc  Ininilrciltli  anniversary  i\\  the  c'>lalili>linK'nl  of  the 
Litchfield  (.'nnnU  I'.ar  Assnciatinn  was  ohserxed  l)y  a  (."entennial 
Celcl)ratitin  at  \\'in>le(l.  en  the  i8lh  nf  Xoveniher,  iS()S.  at  the 
llcardslcx'  Hmise.  tlien  l<e|)t  hy  (leorL^e  Sjieneer.  And  .-inee  that 
time  the  r>ar  has  lield  an  Annual  Ikuuinet  ai  al:(UU  the  same  time 
of  the  Near,  they  hein^;'  holden  in  different  jjlaces  in  the  county  as 
accomodations  could  be  secured.  They  are  t^-cncrally  attended  by 
1)et\vcen  fort>-  and  fifty  members  of  the  I'.ar.  The  exercises  con- 
sist of  after-dinner  s])eeches,  with  a  i^'ood  deal  of  sini^'in^-  inter- 
spersed, and  all  of  them  have  been  very  enjoyable. 

it  is  im])Ossible  to  Q'ive  a  full  account  of  these  yearly  ,L;atherini;-s. 
I  have.  ho\\e\-er.  alread\"  included  in  this  book  some  ol  the  i^ood 
tbiuf^s  which  have  been  said  on  these  occasions,  and  now  present 
a  few  more. 

The  invitation  to  the  Centennial  was  as  follows: 

YK  1X\  ITATIDX. 

(^iKl-lIvTlXG  : 

r>y  authority  of  the  Litchfield  County  Bar  you  arc  sumnfoned 
to  ai^pear  at  Winsted  on  Friday  evenins^-.  Xoveml)er  i8.  1898.  then 
and  there  to  answer  in  a  complaint  wherein  it  is  complained  and  said. 
b'jRST  Coi'XT. 

1.  The  Superior  Court  for  Litchfield  Cotmty  was  established 
within  and  for  Litchfield  Count}'  in  1798. 

J.  At  a  meeting  of  the  "Larr"  of  said  Count}'  it  was  voted  to 
commemorate  said  event  at  Winsted.  Conn. 

3.     James  Huntington.  Wellington   15.   Smith.   Leonard  J.   Xick- 
eisou.    and    Dwight    C.    Killiourn    were   a])pointed    a    Committee   to 
carry  said  vote  into  effect. 
Skcoxd  Count. 

T.  Such  commemoration  will  be  held  at  the  I'.eardsle}'  Ibnise. 
Winsted  Conn..  .X'ovembt-r  18.  i8(j8.  and  con<i>t  of  a  r.an(|net  and 
other  exercises  commencing  at  8:30  p.   m. 

2.  Your  ]M-onii)t  acce])tance  of  this  iiuilaiion  is  retjuesie  1  that 
the  Committee  ma}'  be  able  to  guarantee  the  re(|uisite  accommoda- 
tions. 

3.  Damages  are  assessed  at  ,$2  jjcr  jilate. 

'Idle  iilainliff  is  fotmd  to  be  n\  sunieient  abilit}'  to  proN'ide  lor 
yi  lur  c<  ini  t(  irt  and  ])leasnre. 

Jlereid'  fail  not  but  due  a]>i)earanc.'  )nake.  or  immediatel}'  signify 
cause  to  the  contrar}-. 
Winsted.  Xov.  4.   i8(j8. 

Till-:  Com  m  itti:i-;. 

r'.\-    bames  I  I  niuingli  ni.  (."haiianan. 
1  )\\'ii'ht  C\   Kilbourn.  Sec'v. 


nil',   n.wijii'.T  _^ i; 


\E  SI-.X'IMMI'.X 


"C'oiiU'   l);u"l<    to   \(iur   iiikiIkt,   \  r  (.•'nililrcn.    I'm"   sIi.'iiiK'. 

W  III  liaw  waiiikTiil  ]\\<v  truants,  for  riches  or  faiiK-. 
W  itli  a  siiiik-  Mil  lu'i"  lacT,  ami  a  sprij^  in  licr  la]). 

She  calls  yi>u  In  least  from  lui"  houiiliful  laj). 

C'onu'  \  oil  ot  tlu'  law   who  can  1alk  if  yoil  ])lcasc 
Till  the  man  in  the  moon  will  allow  its  a  cheese, 

And  leave  lln'  old  lady  who  never  tells  lies 
Asleej)  w  iih  her  handkerchief  over  her  eyes." 

Yi-:  MHxr. 


Little   Waramau^'  Clams 

Celery 

'■\\'c   have   iiicl   ilie   ICiuniy   and  ihcy   arc   Ours.'" — Oliver  II.   Perry.   1.S13 


Puree  of  Litchtield    Mushrooms 

Salu'il  .\lni(iiul<  Stuffed  Olives 

■"The  T,a\v  :     Ji  lia>  Jionnred  us;  may  we  Iioimr  ii." — Daniel  Webster,  1847 


Steamed   Twin   Lake   Salmon 

"Pincli   Cm    I  Mam"   I'liiatnes  ■■r)il)l)le   Hill"   Sauce 

"We  Surgeons  df  the  Law  do  ck'sperale  deeds,  sir." — Beaiiiiioiil  and  fleteher 


Supremes  of  Sweetbreads 

Sturgcs  Case  style 

'"Oh  !   'tis  a  l)!csse(l  thing  to  have  rich  clients." — Beaununit  and  fleteher 


Probate  Punch 
"Protect  nic  from  the  sin 
That   dofMiis  me  to  those  dreadful   words: 
"Mv  dear,  where  have  you  been?'" — O.  //'.  HoUnes 


]\Iount  Riga  Patridges.  Roasted,  Stuffed  with'  Torrin^ton  Chestnuts 

"'Fore  God.  my  intelligence 
Costs  mc  more  than  my  share  oft  comes  to." — B.  Jorison 


Knowles    Salad,   ■■.^io^■e   to    j-'rase"    Dressint;- 
"Importance   is   one   thing  and   learnine's  another; 
But  a  debate's  a  debate,  that  I  assert." — Congrcvc 


Canaan   Tee  Cream,  with  oriii'inal   R.  ami   R.  flavor 
'■  'Tis  better  jjclly  l)urst  than  good  food  be  lost." 

Crackers        Cheese 

Coffee 

"Whikst   \vc  together  jovial   .-it. 
Careless,  and  crowned   with   mirth   and   wit. 
We'll  think  of  all  the  frfends  we  know 
And  drink  I0  all  worth  drinking  io\"— Charles  Cotton 


3i8  i.n\' 1 1 1-1  i;i.i)  cor  N  TV  r.KNCii  and  i-.ai 


PRESIDENT  HUNTINGTON'S  ADDRESS 

The  al'tcr-cliniKr  speaking-  was  o]Hnc(l  h\'  the  lh>n.  James  Hunt- 
ington.— tor  many  years  the  l)elove(l  and  hi  mured  ])resi(lent  of  the 
lUir  Association,  and  who  has  recently  deceased. — and  his  si)eech 
shows  in  a  measure  the  fehcitous  and  happ}'  manner  of  "'I'nclc  Jim." 
as  lie  was  familiarly  called  1)\-  his  hrelhren  of  the  liar  during  the 
later  years  of  his  life. 

■'brethren  of  the  liar  of  Litchfiell  Counl\  :  We  have  met  this 
evening  to  celehrate  the  lOo  \ears  of  the  existence  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  Litchfield  County.  To  xou  Nounger  memhers  of  the  l>ar 
it  may  seem  a  great  ways  back  to  i/tjH.  but  to  me.  who  has  practiced 
at  the  Bar  two-fifths  of  the  time  (and  1  don't  tell  you  now  how  old 
1  am  )  it  seems  but  a  step  back  to  the  beginning.  I  suppose  that 
some  of  my  brethren  here  tonight  will  give  something  of  the  history 
and  reminiscences  of  the  Bar  either  specially  or  in  the  county  gen- 
erally, but  for  myself.  I  wish  to  say  l)ut  a  few  words  in  regard  to 
this  celebration.  I  wish  to  direct  your  attention  to  a  few  of  its 
peculiarities  and  characteristics,  and  the  first  characteristic  that  I 
wish  to  mention  after  the  practice  of  two-fifths  of  a  century  at  this 
Bar,  is  that  it  has  the  reputation  of  being  a  fighting  Bar,  that  the 
lawyers  of  Litchfield  County  are  ])ersistent  tryers  and  fighters,  they 
never  let  the  ground  go  un-hoed  in  a  case.  As  a  Judge  of  the  Court 
said  to  me  not  long  ago  "If  a  Judge  comes  to  Litchfield  Comity  and 
expects  that  it  will  be  a  sort  of  a  vacation,  after  he  has  been  to  Litch- 
field, and  from  Litchfield  to  Winsted  and  from  W'insted  down  to 
Xew  ^lilford  and  back  again  two  or  three  times,  he  will  go  home 
thoroughly  convinced  that  it  is  no  vacati(in  to  come  to  Litchfield 
County  and  hold  a  long  term." 

Another  characteristic  of  this  Bar  is  its  good  fellowship.  It  has 
been  so  for  forty  \ears  and  1  iiresume  it  was  for  the  sixty  years 
before;  it  is  now  and  I  trust  it  e\'er  will  be. 

It  is  remarked  bv  attorneys  from  other  counties  in  this  State 
and  frcjm  other  States,  that  they  never  came  to  a  Bar  where  there 
is  such  good  fellowshi]:)  as  there  is  in  this  iUir.  They  never  address 
one  another  by  more  than  half  of  their  first  name.  .\nd  when  one 
of  the  boys  becomes  a  Judge  of  the  Suju'rior  Court  they  with  pride 
and  pleasure  address  him  as  His  Honor,  it  is  ten  chances  to  one  that 
when  night  comes  and  he  comes  olY  the  llench,  that  the_\'  address 
him  as  Tobey  or  Ed  or  Jerry  or  Lert  or  Cid.  And  he  feels  as  much 
honored  to  come  down  to  that  fellowship  off  from  the  Bench  as  he 
is  bv  1)eing  respectfulK'  addressed  while  on  it  In  the  members  of 
this'Bar. 

I  sa\'  it  is  ])eculiarlv  characteri>'lic  of  tiie  I'.ar  i>\  this  Count}'  and 
T  trust  it  will  remain  so  another   loo  years. 

Another  characteristic  is  their  self-reliance,  we  ha\e  to  rel\  on 
ourselves  and  it  has  made  self  reliant  la\v\ers. 


II  1    \TI  \i,T(i\   S    ADDKI'.SS  ^i'J 

.AuoIIkt  lliin^',  llu\  arc  a  tiuiL^li  li>l  physically  a>  well  as  mentally. 
And  llu-y  imisi  nccessariK  hr  -«<  >.  Tlicy  c<»mf  u]>  to  llirsc  >liirc 
towns  in  snuiincr's  la-al  and  \\inUT">  cold.  W'c  start  ont  early  in  tin- 
niornin^  and  .i;i)  7  <>y  S  miles  and  Iry  a  jnstiee  case  all  da_\-  ion:;'  and 
come  home  in  die  rain  and  cold  at  ni.nlit.  to<i:etlier  sin.^ini^-  son^s  and 
telling-  stories.  We  are  call(,'(l  in  the  nii^dit  season  to  1,^0  miles  away 
to  make  the  wills  <it'  the  dyin.L;-.  we  are  called  u]Hm  day  after  day 
to  take  depositions  in  kitchens  1)\  the  kitchen  stove,  and  instead  ot 
sittino-  down  to  snch  a  tine  feast  as  this  to  eat  we  are  satisfied  with 
the  smell  of  the  onion>  and  ilie  tnrnijjs  and  cabba.^;e  that  are  boilinj^^ 
on  the  stove  for  the  famil\  to  eat.  (  )ur  lives  are  s])ent  in  that  way 
and  it  has  made  a  lon.^li  lot  of  u-  ])h_\sically.  We  are  called  ni)on 
as  lawxers  in  the  conntr\  to  become  all-ronnd  men  and  to  do  all 
kinds  of  work.  A  coinUry  lawyer  is  called  u\nn\  to  do  everything  al- 
most that  can  be  done  except  writing  sermons  and  writing  Doctor's 
prescriptions  althongh  some  Cornwall  gentlemen  can  write  those, 
1  am  told. 

\\  anyone  a-^ks  what  kind  of  lawyers  does  it  make  to  practice  in 
that  manner,  my  answer  is  if  yon  take  the  Connecticnt  Reports 
from  Kirby  to  die  70  Conn.,  yon  read  the  work  of  Litchfield  Connty 
lawxers  clear  throngh  the  70  \-olnmes  of  those  re])orts.  \  es,  fnrther, 
it  is  the  same  kind  of  men  that  yon  are,  gentlemen,  that  13  of  them 
have  rejjresented  the  Hench  of  the  Snperior  Conrt  of  this  State, 
10  of  them  the  Snpreme  Conrt  IJench  and  three  of  them  as  Chief- 
jnstices,  they  were  men  of  the  same  experience  and  the  same  kind 
of  ])ractice  ;  and  how  well  hey  have  filled  their  places  the  records 
of  the  Sni)reme  Conrt.  the  opinions,  that  have  been  written  b\  them 
throngh  all  the  Connecticnt  Reports  will  tell  yon.  So  we  nia_\  well 
be  prond  of  onr  Connty  and  of  onr  County  I'.ar.  and  1  ask,  when  my 
time  has  come  to  join  the  innnmerable  caravan  that  moves,  that 
there  can  be  nothing  better  said  of  me  than  that  Jim  Hnnting'ton 
was  a  resi)ectable  member  of  the  Litchfield  ConiU}'  luir. 

Mv  brethren,  1  said  to  yon  that  40  years  practice,  two-fifths 
of  a  cenlnrv.  two-tifths  of  the  time  of  this  Snperior  Conrt  went  back 
to  where  one  could  almost  say  it  was  a  step  back  to  the  beginnmg. 
We  have  with  ns  tonight  a  brother  wiiose  tall  form  and  snowy  hair 
are  known  to  yon  all  and  who  has  ])racticed  law  in  the  Snperior 
Conrt  over  one  half  its  time,  who  is  a  connecting  link  with  the  be- 
ginning of  this  court:  who  jiracticcd  law  with  men  who  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Bar  when  the  Snperior  Cinirt  was  organized,  and  it  is 
with  exceeding  great  ])leasnre,  nothing  conld  give  me  more  pleasure, 
that  I  introduce' to  von  onr  venerable  and  honored  brother.  Donald 
J.  Warner. 

To  him  it  may  be  said,  as  Holmes  wrote  to  Wdiittier  on  his  80th 
birthda\'. 


320  iTcii  i-ii;i.i)  C()^■^■•^^•  im-ncii  and  r..\i< 

I  )i.';ir  friend,  wlinni  lh\    l'imi>C(iri.'  w  inUTs  Ivdw  more  dear 

'idiau  when  life's  roseate  snmnier  on  liiy  eheek  burned  in  llie   llusil 

oi  manhood's  earhest  year, 
Lonelv,  liow    lonely  I  is  the  snowy  peak 
Tin-   feet  have  reaehed  after  many  a  year! 
Close  on  lli\-  foot-stejjs  'mid  the  lantNeape  drear 
I  stretch  ni\'  hand  thine  answerini;'  i^rasp  to  seek 
Warm  with  the  lo\e  n<i  rijiijlini;  rhymes  can  speak. 
J.ook  backward!   from  tli)    lotty  hei.u'iit  snr\ey 
'J'hv   \ears  of  toil,  of  ])eacefnl   \iclories   won 
(  )t  dreams  made  real,  lari^e  hopes  ontnm  ! 
Look    forward!  bri.-^hter  than   earth's   niornini;-  ray 
Streams  the  pure  lii^ht  of   1  lea\-en's  nnsettiiiL;-  sun. 
The  unclotided  dawn  of  Life's  immortal  da_\ . 

]'\n-   ludL^e  Warner's  address  see  his  reminiscences,  pai^e   loi. 

Many  letters  were  received  from  the  al^sent  brethren  rei^retting 
their  inability  to  attend;  the  one  from  the  Hon.  \Vm,  L.  Ransom, 
who  for  nearly  thirty  years  was  Clerk  of  the  Courts  enclosed  as  his 
response  an  excuse  from  the  late  jnd.t^e  C.rani;er  for  not  attending 
a  Lancpiet  at  the  Island  Hotel  to  wdiich  he  had  been  invited,  and  is 
as  follows : 

Dear  Ransom,  were  my  legs  as  limber 
As  they  were  in  da_\  s  of  xore. 
When  I  snared  the  festive  sucker 
(  )n  the  Whiting  River  shore, — 
Silvery  stream, — that  murmers  sweetly 
Throueh  fair  Wangum's  peaceful  vales. 
Kissed  b\-  morning's  slantmg  sunl)eams. 
Fanned  by  evenings  ])leasant  gales. 

When  1  chased  the  obese  w(Mi(lchuck 
( )"er  the  hills  and  sandy  knoll 
When  1  snatched  the  sluggish  bull  heads 
Wriggling  from  their  mudd\-  holes, 
When   with  dog  and  gtm  b\    moouhght 
Thmugh  tile  swamps  and  reedy   fens 
I   pin-sued  the  scented  ',)olecat 
Terror  of  tlu'  matron  liens. 

Cdadlv  would   I   climb  .Mount    I'isgah. 

.\l\stic  mountain  of  the   I'.ast. 

b'or  the  fun  nf  being  with  }<'U 

.\t   \our   Island   I  l^tel    fea-t. 

r.nt,  (  )li  !   Kansom.  tenipu^  edax 

rnremitting  night  and  da\ 

Seventv  vears  has  gnaweil  our  muscles 

Till   the\'ri'  in   a-   bad   wav. 


Al.oN/.o     N.     l.l'.WIS      ).l".'l"ri'.R  321 

^'llUllllul  h(i>c'  well  saxi'd  di   ra^.^i'd 
Serw  l)iil  111  liiiK'  iiur  spiiidk'  shanks. 
And  (lur  shin  huncs  shai"])  and  ja.L;',L;x'cl 
ria\'  ns  ]\K\v  rhrnnialic  ])ranks. 
Accontcrcil  thus  l)(.ar  Kans,  you  see, 
The  fcasl  Mm  si)irad  is  not  for  me, 
\\'hatever  ihini^s  die  (".nds  deny  ns. 
]s  for  the  hesl.      (ickkI   nii^lil.      'J'obias. 

T.eonard  W.  I'oi^swell,  the  (  )llicial  Steno;;Ta])her.  olTered  die  fol- 
lowiiiu^'  <  >riL;"inal 

rOl'.M: 

(  )li.  saered  soil  of  Litchfield   Hills, 
Where  Winter's  winds  howl  drear; 
'Idle  country's  hest  and  hravest  men. 
ila\e  lonnd  their  hirlh-place  here. 

The  plain  and  simple  lit'e  the_\-  led 
Upon  these  rugged  hills, 
Gave  vigorous  health  and  mental  slrenglh. 
Brave  hearts  and  sturdy  wills. 

Senators.  C.o\ernors,  Judges  Preachers. 
Found  here  congenial  soil. 
And  worked  their  way  to  high  reiiwwn 
With  most  incessant  toil. 

Then  let  us  all  fresh  courage  take. 
And  till  Death  our  warm  IMood  chills, 
A\'e'll  hless  the  I'ate  that  g'ave  us  birth 
(  )n  these  rock-ril>l:)ed  Litchfield  Hills. 

At  one  of  our  haiuiuets  the  followmg-  interesting  letter  was  re- 
ceived from  Rev.  A.  X.  Lewis: 

]\ront])elier,  X'ermont.  Dec.    11.   i(;()2. 

To  the  Alemhers  of  the  Litchfield  County  Lar.  in  annual  reunion 
convened : 

Gentlemen: — I  regret  exceedingly  my  inability  to  be  ])resent  at 
your  festive  gathering.  Forty-five  years  ago  at  the  Septeml^er  term 
of  the  Superior  Court.  Judge  Seymour  presiding,  I  was  admitted 
an  attorney  and  counsellor.  F.  I),  lieeman.  Esq.,  was  Clerk  of  the 
courts,  and  Hollister.  Graves,  Hubl:)ard.  Toby  Granger.  George  C. 
Woodrufif.  Judge  P'helps,  Sedgwick.  Sanford.  et  al..  were  the  lead- 
ing barristers.  "There  were  giants  in  those  days."  The  Litch- 
field ]^)ar  was  second  to  none  in  the  state. 

The  condition  of  things  was  very  different  than  the  present. 
Litchfield  was  an  inland  town,  accessable  only  by  stage  and  private 
convevance.  The  lawvers.  litigants  and  witnesses  came  to  stay. 
The  Mansion  House.  I'.  S.  Hotel  and  Wheeler  House  were  thronged 
with  guests.     The  open  hotel  fires  in  the  hotel  otlices  were  scenes 


322  i.imii-iKi.n  I'oixTv  i-.i-.ncii  and  i;.\r 

cf  mirth  and  jollity.  William  Dcmiiiij;'.  Sr.,  Stci)lK'ii  Dcmiiit;-.  1  larrv 
JJisscll  and  other  n()ta])k'S  were  usually  in  alleudance  with  stories, 
jokes  and  re]:)artees  worth  recording. 

■"I'ncle"  Stephen  Deming"  had  been  in  his  youn54er  days  a  tavern 
keeper.  .\  eertain  deacon,  i)rofessedly  a  tem])erance  man.  Ijut  sns- 
l)ected  of  selling"  "the  ardent"  on  the  sl\ .  took  up  his  i)arable  and 
said,  "l  nele  Stephen,  when  you  rellecl  u])on  \i)ur  rum-selling"  days, 
the  widows  and  orj)hans  you  ha\'e  made  and  the  miser\"  \ou  have 
caused,  how   do   xou   feel?"      I  ucle   .^te])hen   ])aused  a  moment  and 

saick  ■■  Deacon ,   when    I    think  of  myself.  1)\'  m_\"self.   I   feel 

like  putting"  ni}"  hand  u])on  my  mouth  and  my  mouth  in  the  dust  and 
erxing  unclean,  unclean,  (lOd  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.  lUit,  Dea- 
con, when  I  com])are  myself  with  m\-  neig]il)oi"s  1  thank  Ciod  ar.J 
take  courage." 

A  I'lxniouth  farmer  had  a  case  in  Craves"  hands  which  had  been 
running-  for  }ears.  Term  after  term  Craves  had  charged  continu- 
ance fee  $7 ;  and  the  farmer  becoming  discouraged  had  tried  to  get 
the  case  taken  out  of  court,  but  all  in  vain.  (  )ne  day  he  was  sitting 
on  the  piazza  of  the  U.  S.  tlotel  rehearsing  his  grievance  to  the 
kiwyers.  when  Graves  went  ])asl.  'J'he  farmer  ejaculated.  "I  hope 
to  C — d  Graves  won"t  go  to  hell!""  "Why  not,"  asked  one  of  the 
listeners.  "Because."  answered  the  farmer,  "T.ecause  he'd  make 
trouble  there.'' 

The  writer  of  this  talk  was  a  student  in  lloUister  ^^c  Ueeman's 
office  and  was  often  employed  in  copying  jileadings.etc.  In  one  of  the 
docunients  occurred  the  following"  sentence :  "And  whereas  this  case 
has  l)een  brought  by  regular  continuances  to  this  court,  etc."  In 
the  copy  made  by  the  writer  it  read  thus:  ".\nd  whereas  this  case 
has  been  brought  l)y  regular  contrivances  to  this  court!""  The 
blunder  (?)  caused  a  ripi)le  of  merriiuent  on  the  bench  and  in  the 
bar.      It  was  too  true. 

.\  ])etition  for  a  (li\-orce  was  submitted  to  a  referee  or  comniis- 
sii)ner  who  made  his  re])ort  thereon  to  the  court.  It  was  charged 
by  the  ])etitioner  that  her  husband  on  a  certain  occasion  when  she 
had  returned  from  a  drive  with  the  co-respondent  had  composed  and 
recited  to  her  and  her  escort  1)efore  the  children  the  following  lines: 

"W  illiam  Johnson  went  to  ride. 
With  Sarah  W'ilkins  for  his  bride. 

Returning"  home  I  heard  them  say. 
\\'e'\"e  had  a  dam  good  ride  t<>-da\'." 

Iiuagine  llollister  reading  with  solenni  fact'  this  poetical  gem  to 
the  court ! 

A  Litchfield  lawyer,  whose  name  1  liaw  forgotten,  was  ])leading 
a  case  of  little  importance  before  a  jury,  lie  was  very  pathetic  and 
solenui.  so  nnich  so  that  when  he  conchnU'd  the  o])])osing  counsel 
arose  and  said,  ".Ma\-  it  please  xoui"  IJonnr.  hadn't  we  better  sing  a 
Inmn  ?" 


i'i;i.ic  iTiKs  325 

'I'lir  I  lull.  diark'>  Cliapiiiaii  '>i'  I  larl  I'ord  was  jounu-N  ini;-  to 
Litclitk'ld  to  attend  court,  in  llic  I  lartford  and  Litcliticld  staj^a-.  It 
was  winter.  Tlu'  sta^c  was  an  open  pmi.LC.  the  snow  was  falling 
and  a  in  irtliwest  wind  driue  il  direi-lly  iiitu  tlu-  faces  ol  the  pass- 
eni^ers.  niai)man  and  ""nick"  Uuhhard,  a  hrother  lawyer,  were 
sittin_t;-  on  the  tir^t  seat  and  look  the  full  force  of  the  stf>rni.  Xo 
one  had  sjxiken  for  some  minutes,  when  Cha])nian  hrokc  the  silence 
with  "1  sav  lluhhard,  1  had  rather  I'iicil  per  aliuin  than  (acil  per  sc !" 

('.entlenien  : — ^^Some  of  us  have  outlived  our  contemporaries.  We 
are  nearino-  the  setting"  sun;  our  places  must  so(M1  1)e  tilled  l)y  an- 
oilicr  generation;  soon  we  shall  he  summoned  to  the  court  of  last 
resort.  .Ma\  we  re^^])ond  to  the  smnmons,  beariuL,''  with  us  the  record 
of  a  well-spent  life  and  the  ho])e  of  a  ])lessed  imniortality. 

'S'ours   fraternalh', 

A.  X.  Ij.wi>. 

Pastor  of  Clirist's  Church,  Montpelier,  \ermont. 


HURLBUTISMS 

The  late  William  l'\  1  lurlhnl.  L'krk  of  the  I'ourt  of  ConinKJii 
Pleas,  gave  mc  considerable  assistance  in  the  pre])aration  of  this 
work.  The  following  items  arc  some  which  he  thought  would 
interest  niemliers  of  the   liar. 

One  of  the  learned  judges  of  the  Superior  Court,  after  setting 
through  a  long,  tedious  trial  of  a  case,  to  charge  the  jury  com- 
menced  with  the    following  remark; 

"Gentlemen  of  the  Jury!  If  you  know  anytliing  about  this 
case,  God  knows  that  you  know  more  about  it  than  i  do."" 

On  the  trial  of  a  prisoner  for  shooting  a  man  whom  he  thought 
w^as  stealing  his  chickens,  the  judge  charged  the  jury  very  forcibly 
against  the  accused.  l)ui  the  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  of  "Xot 
Guiltv.""  The  judge  continued  the  lal)orious  work  of  sharpening^ 
his  pencil  in  which  he  was  engaged  when  the  jury  gave  the  verdict. 
After  a  considerable  length  of  time  had  elapsed  he  suddenly  ex- 
claimed. "S ,  you  have   escaped  as  by   fire.""     The  members 

of  the  Bar  have  never  been  able  to  understand  the  nature  of  that 
escape. 

The  Hon.  Truman  Smith  closed  an  argument  made  in  a  little 
case  appealed  from  a  justice  of  the  Peace,  in  which  the  matter  in 
demand  was  very  trivial,  and  the  action  of  the  opposing  counsel 
had  been  verv  erratic,  with  the  following  comments.  "Tf  your 
Honor  i)lease :  T  had  prepared  with  considerable  care  a  brief  with 
the  intention  of  filing  it  with  the  court.  After  I  had  finished  it  T 
said  to  mvself.  if  I  live  fourteen  years  from  the  2r)th  day  of  next 
October  I  shall  be  one  hundred  years  old  ;  now  is  it  worth  while 
at  mv  time  of  life  to  come  into  court  with  an  enormous  bomb  shell 
just  to  annihilate  a  mus(|uiio?  and  1  said  to  myself  it  was  not — 
the  game  was  not  worth  the  powder."' 


324  I.ri\lll'li;i.l>    COINTV    l'.l{\lll     \M>    I'.AR 

There  are  a  imillitiulc  •'!'  <>(1(1  and  funny  thinj^s  eonneeteil  with 
our  ]irolession.  1  am  iil)li-;eil  li>  exclude  alnmsl  cver\ ihiu^-  ot  that 
sort,  hut  will  save  a  few.  S<>ine  of  them  I  ha\e  taken  from  I'.rolher 
Coi^sweirs  hrief  hefore  the  ■■Sni>reme  Court  of  l'".aters"'  and  others 
troni  \'arious  sources. 

Sci-:m:,  Criminal  Court  in  (."anaan.  Alonzo  I'..  Ciarlield,  C.  J. 
on  the  heuch.  Crime,  prisoner  eharj^ed  with  rohhery  of  a  drunken 
woman.     Cdint  Rorahack,  aetinj;-  State's  attorney. 

.Mr>.   Xora  v'-'mith   (complainant)   sworn. 

Kx.  h\    Mr.   Korahack : 

O.   \\'ere  \ou  down  in  the  defendant's  house  near  Tine  Grove? 

A.  Yes. 

(  ).    1  )id  \ou  ha\e  some  nione\-  there.-' 

A.   \es.' 

(J.    1  )id  \'ou  lose  it  ? 

.\.  ^'e^.  It  was  stolen  from  my  ])ockethook  which  I  carried  in- 
side m\'  corsets,  as  I  la_\'  on  the  hed  drunk. 

O.   ^'ou  think  the  ])risoner  stole  it? 

A.  "^'es,  and  1  come  up  to  see  Hen.  Korahack  the  next  day,  and 
he  said  he'd  see  I  had  justice  done.  lien,  is  all  ri,L;ht  since  "he 
growed  up." 

^\r.  R()R.\]:.\ck  : — That  is  all  the  testimony  we  have,  your  Honor, 
and  it  is  enough.     Don  wants  him  hound  over. 

C.AKi-iKF.n,  C.  1. — We  hain't  o'ot  much  evidence  aq'in"  the  i)risoner. 
and  I  don't  think  he  is  g-uihy  ;  that  is.  not  nuich  ;  hut  what  Don  says 
goes  in  this  court,  and  so  I'll  hind  him  over. 

Sei'.Ni;.  Su])erior  Court  at  Litchfield.  (  )ctol)er  Term.  npf).  lion. 
Rail)]]  Wheeler,  j.  Prisoner.  Franceski  I'.alcyss,  chars^ed  with  roh- 
bing  a  Swede  of  $i^>5. 

J)ox.\i.i)  T.  Waknkr.  t(^  com])lainant.  Mr.  C.ustafson:  Did  you 
have  a  Hungarian  at  work  for  you?  .\.  1  did;  he  is  what  they  call 
a  Pole,  and  1  can  do  a  dav's  work,  or  \ump  over  the  moon  quicker 
than  1  sjjcak  his  name,  hut  1  have  it  writ  down  on  a  i)iece  of  i)a])er. 
and  \-ou  can  tear  off  wliat  \on  want  and  make  a  dictionary  of  the 
rest.  1  had  a  Cierman.  and  an  Irishman,  and  a  ni.^i^'er  to  work  tor 
me  at  the  saint'  time,  and  at  lirst  1  thought  one  of  them  took  it.  hut 
our  .Xortlitield  detective  sa_\s  this  is  the  man. 

Don  took  the  pa])er  and  attem])te(l  to  read  the  followiui.;-  name 
— hut  he  didn't — l)ut  asked  Kilhourn  lo :  Czyrkstecheltzkoxtcheld- 
oszleffski. 

T.  V.   \\\.\\    (counsel  for  i)risoner,  to  ])risoner  on  the  stand)  : 

O.  If  \()U  had  anv  of  your  countrxnien  in  W  aterhur\ .  who  were 
thev  and  where  are  they  now''' 

Till-;  I'kisom'.k   (through  a  W'alerhurx    interpreter): 
I'elrovskv.  (  )skalotTsk\.  and   XexereUVki. 

To  Siberia  were  sent  ; 
Kitoffskx.  RnbonolTskx,  and  \\'allererf>ky. 
In  a  duni;eon  cell  were  ])enl. 


i"i:i,u  irii;s  .■^^5 

Alilai'i  i(l(  i\  ilcli  ami  Tclri  )\-ik-li. 
Koslcjlovilch  and  i\(jsl(;iiiai"()lV 
TIk'N"  inii)risoiK'(l  or  swuii^'  liKin  nil  ; 

I  '.111    W  IkMI    is    !4(  ilH\ 

1  Ic  iK'\er  is  missed. 

That  is  what  it  sa\s  in  a  Tulish  IclUr  w  riucn  in  ivussian  script. 
'riiKij.    ()iiii:k    i  .\Ti;Ki'Ki':'nvKS    Ivm  l■l.(l^■l•:l)    \:\    Tin-;    (.'((ckt    to 
Watv  II    rill-:  l'"iKsr: — That  is  wroni;,  he  says  what  not  sd  it. 
'I'll  I-:  C'liiKT  :    \\vv\)  still. 
J)ii\  :    Wait. 
J\\  AN  ;    Sil  down. 

TiiK  CuUKT  :    .Mr.  Steno!L^ra])lKT.  what  did  tlic  witness  say  ? 
Till':  StI'Xoc.k  \i'iii;u  :    J   don't  kn<i\\,  your   Ihmor. 
Till',  (.'oi'KT:   This  is  the  worst   I'.ahi-'l  ot  a  case  1  cwr  heard, 
lirotlier  l\_\an  i^ot  the  $i()5. 

I  .\n-\\er  to  complaint  I'or  dixorce  helween   I  lun^'arians.  received 
from  llun.^ary  hy   Ixilhourn.  ) 
Dk.  CiKosz  1  )i;zSo 
Lawyer 

S.  .\.  I'.i  iii:i.i:v 

1  tunicary. 
]  lie,  II  J{sTKK-AiKu  Court: 

lanos  Zsarnav,  seated  at  Torrini^ton,  Conn.,  according;-  to  the 
writ  of  summon  of  Litchheld  Count),  ss.  dated  from  1906.  12  Sep- 
temher.  and  l)eini;-  handed  to  me  on  the  day  of  2oktober,  claims  that 
the  marriat^e.  l)ound  between  me  and  the  plaintiff  in  the  year  of  1873, 
should  l)e  devorced  upon  the  j^round,  that  I  should  have  wilfully 
deserted  him  and  totally  neg'lected  all  the  duties  of  marriai^'e. 

.\11  this  comi)lains  of  the  ])laintiff  are  not  true.  I  did  not  de- 
sert him  hut  he  left  me  10  years  since.  Hying-  secretly.  Within  this 
time  he  did  not  wrote  a  single  line,  nor  su])ported  me  and  our  chil- 
dren. Therefore  he  is  v.ho  neglected  the  duties  of  marriage  and 
not   I   am  who  has  deserted  him. 

1  being  now  a  55  years  old  women,  unable  to  earn,  do  not  agree, 
that  our  marriage  should  be  devorced.  On  the  contrary:  I  entreat 
the  jury  that  janos  Zsarnay  should  he  convicted  to  i)ay  a  20  dollar 
momliK   rate  as  t(*  su])port  in_\self  and  the  children. 

1  give,  further,  to  acknowledge  to  the  court,  that  a  verdic  of  de- 
vorce  returned  in  the  I'.  S.  .\.  has  no  ]X)wer  ther  in  Hungary  and 
even  if  the  iurv  should  devorce  him.  according  to  t)ur  laws.  1  reniain 
in  links  of  marriage,  still  he  can  live  married  in  the  I  .  S.  A.  1  hat 
would  l)e  very  unlawful. 

Faith  full  V. 


326  i.iTriii'ii:i.i)  ^■()^^■■|■^■   i:i:\(.ii    wn  i;.\r 

AN  ENOCH  ARDEN  CASE 

-Airs  Well  thai   l^iuis  \\\'li;"— 

(  )n   Ml.   l\iL;a  <'is  well  as  in  v^liakcsi)earc. 
Tile  iKippy  ending'  nf  Si.  \  alcivtinc's  iii,t;ln.  l"\"l)ru;ii"\-   141I1.   Up8, 

of  the   tragical    siory   ut    L<>vic  of    Ml.    Ki^a.   dcsertecl 

with  her  l)ah\-  in  her  anus  1)\'  her  luishand  in  i8S_>,  wIki  was  rc- 
])(irte(l  (lead  a  few  vears  later,  and  thereafter  remained  unheard  of 
until    .\uj;ust,    Kjo".   when,   like    hjidch   .\rden,   he   ai)i)ear<'(l   tn   find 

his    wife    ha])i)ily    married    to    Ldiarlie    with    two    ^lalwart 

ehildren  bv  her  side,  bui  unlike  launch  of  old  did  not  eon\enientl\' 
sink  into  o]>scurit_\-  asi^'ain. 

Divorced  February  14th,  \^)o^.  from  the  resurrected  husband 
and  married  the  nis^hl  of  the  same  day  to  her  true  husband,  accord- 
i'.'ii^'  to  'the  following"  form: — 

J5oth  L'ovic  and  Charlie  your  rij^-ht  hands  unite 
Before  witnesses  here  St.  A'alentine's  night. 
You,  CH.IRLI H,  do  ])roniise  to  take  Lovie  to  wife, 
To  love  her  and  cherish  her  the  rest  of  your  Hfe. 
You,  LOl'IE,  do  promise  CharHe  as  husband  to  take. 
And,  cleaving  only  to  him,  each  and  all  others  forsake. 
Xow.  each  having  promised  the  other  to  wed. 
To  Have  and  to  Hold,  till  Life's  journey  be  sped. 
For  richer,  for  poorer,  in  sickness  and  health, — 
Ilv  force  of  the  Law  of  our  good  Commonwealth. 
I  'rR(  >CLAm  you  to  be  lawful  Husband  and  Wife. 

V  Bxroi. 

May  your  joys  be  many,  and  your  sorrows  be  light, 
And  the  memories  sweet  of  St.  \  alentine's  night. 
And  ever,  as  the  circling  years  roll  on. 
Kee])  a  kindl\-  thought  of  the  jus'tice, — Don. 

'rill-:  .Makinc.  oi"  A  jiuoK. — Judge  l\al])h  Wheeler  had  had  liis 
])atienee  sorel\  tried  1)\  lawyers  who  wishecl  to  talk,  and  1)\  men 
wlio  tried  to  evade  iur\'  ser\-ice.  lietween  h\potlietieal  (|uestions 
and  excuses  it  seemed  as  if  they  never  would  get  to  the  actual  trial 
of  the  case.  So  when  a  jjuzzled  little  ('.ermau,  who  had  been  ac- 
cepted b\'  both  sides  as  a  iumr,  iumped  up,  the  judge  was  exas- 
Ijcrated. 

"Sjuidge!"  cried  the  ("lerman.  "What  is  it?"  demanded  the 
iudge.  "I  tink  I  like  to  go  home  to  meiu  I'rau."  said  the  ("lerman. 
"So  would  I,  but  we  can't,"  retorted  tlu'  Judge.  "Sil  down."  "I'.ut. 
Shudge,"  persisted  the  (".erman,  "I  link  I  not  make  a  good  shnror." 
"You're  the  best  in  the  box."  said  tlu'  Judgi'.  "Sit  down."  "What 
box?"  said  tlie  (jerman.  "The  iur\  box."  said  the  Judge.  "Aeh, 
llimmel,  I  thought  it  was  ein  bad  box  what  beoi)les  gel  in  soiuedimes. 
lUil.  Shudge,"  ])ersisted  the  little  (■erman,  "I  don't  sjjcak  goot  b'.ng- 
lish  alreadv  \et." 


i'i;i,i(i'rii:s  3^7 

"^'()U  (liiii'i  lia\r  111  speak-  al  all,"  said  llii'  Jii<l.L;r.  "Sit  <1m\\ii." 
The  little  (lenuan  jxiinted  \n  the  lawyers  to  make  his  last  des- 
perate i)lea.  ■■Slnid,L;c'.  "  said  he,  "I  can't  make  n()<ldinj,^s  von  what 
dcsc  fellers  sa\.""  It  was  the  judge's  (diaiu'e  to  |L;el  even  with  the 
lawwers  fur  main  amu  i\  anris.  ■'Neither  laii  aiixnne  else,"  he  said. 
"Sit  down."      W  ilh  a  ^i-h.  the  little  ( '.erman  ^al  ilown. 

<^ 

Hcfc  is  a  sonnet  which  the  (."Urk  received,  which  ])erha|)s  may  he 
slightly  sarcastic. 

"h'or  the  lo\e  of  ( "-od  and  hnnianit)  . 
To  avoid  hoth  wrath  and  profanil} , 
To  cnahle  the  execntor  to  ))a\    legacies  and  dehts, 
Send  alon^-  that  certificate  in  Selleck  vs.   Iletts." 
N'onrs  \-ery  trnl}'. 
jntls^'e  Miles  T.  Crani^i'r  was  very  mnch  addicted  to  ])oetry  :  one 
of  his   specimens   has   heen    for   man_\-   _\ears   a   classic.      .More   than 
iifty  years  a-o  when   h'reil  1),   i'.eeman  was  Clerk  and   .Mr.  (h-an.LTer 
was  simply  a  practicing  atlorne\.  Sherilt  Sedgwick  got  Jleeman  to 
write  an  epitaph  on  Granger,  which  was  as  follows: 

"When  Tol)\   died — dire  groans  were  heard, 

His  friends  were  in  ccimmelion. 
For  Heaven  refnsed  to  own  the  hird 
And   llell  declined  the  portion." 
Taking  this  e])itai)h  into  another  room  tlie  Sheriff   folded  it  up 
and  prcsentlv  retnrned  to  the  court   room   where   .Mr.   (".ranger  was 
at  the  tahle.  trying  a  case,  and  handed  the  note  to  him.      [']nn\  read- 
ing it.  Mr.  (u-anger  turned  it  over  and  wrote  u])<>u  the  hack  the  fol- 
lowing. u])on  Mr.   I'.eeman: 

"And  when  the  Clerk  of  Hell  rose  up 

To  puhlish  to  the  legions 
The  reason  why  the  hird  was  harred 

A  place  in  those  dark  regions. 
A  bright  red  glow  about  his  head 

Revealed  to  all  those  i)oor  damned  souls 
The  face  and  form  of  lieeman." 

Liues  Composed  by  Judge  Cranger  while  on  the   I'.ench 
trving  a   Sheep-stealing  case. 

Alas  for  Winters,  all  f<irlorn. 

He  husked  for  Hod.  the  Rustling  Corn 

And  through  the  woods  when  night  was  dark. 

He  raided  on  the  sheep  of  Clark. 

And  one  small  lamb  out  of  the  flock 

He  slew  and  skinned,  without  a  shock 

Of  conscience,  or  a  thought  of  wrong. 

But  took  the  nuUton  right  along. 


32S  i,n\ii i'ii:i,i)  i,'(u\Tv  i'.i-;\cii  ,\\i>  i'.ar 

The  picture  nl  judges  (.'Niik'ncr  .sli(i\\>  Imw  .lir  witnesses  impress 
a  judicial  niiiul.  Ii  is  a  repriKlucliiui  n\  a  ]);'j)(.r  letl  1)\  a  learned 
judg'e  upon  his  desk  atlcr  a  ledinus  trial.  (  )riKr  similar  ])apers  are 
in  mv  jiossessiiin.  nian_\-  ni  iluMU  ullcrl_\-  unintclli^lhle.  The  State 
]'a_\s  an  cnnrnuis  sum  idr  Slcui  li^i-apluTs,  hul  tlirii-  notes  are  little 
value  durin;^'  a  trial  and  the  tran>latin^-  of  them  i>  too  expensive  for 
an  orcHnary  suit.  Tlie  attic  of  the  L'ourt  1  louse  contains  many 
]K)nnds  of  their  hieroi^lyphic  ])apers.  and  are  i)raclically  worthless, 
as  dilTerent  systems  are  used,  and  seldom  one  sh:)rthand  writer  can 
read  audthers  niites.  To  mai<e  our  ])resent  system  ot  taking'  evi- 
dence of  full  use,  the  notes  should  he  transcrihed  during-  the  trial 
and  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Court  and  Counsel.  I'ntil  that  is 
done  lawvers  and  indues  nuist  take  their  own  notes  as  hest  thev  can. 


Till-;  i,.\w^i:rs   ways. 

"Wv  heen  list"nin  to  them  law}'ers 

In  the  court  house  of  the  street 
An'  1  ve  come  to  the  conclusion 

That  I'jn  most  completely  heat. 
First  one  fellow  riz  to  argy. 

An*  he  boldly  waded  in 
As  he  dressed  the  tremblin'  i)ris"ner 

In  a  coat  o'  deep-dyed  sin. 
\\  h\-.  he  i)ainted  him  all  over 

In  a  hue  o'  blackest  crime. 
An'  he  smeared  his  reputation 

W'ith  the  thickest  kind  o'  lirime, 
Tell  1  found  myself  a-wond'rin. 

In  a  misty  way  and  dim. 
Mow  the  Lord  had  come  to  fashion 

Such  an  awful  man  as  him. 
Then  the  other  la\v\er  started, 

.\n'  with  brimint^".  tearful  eyes. 
Said  his  client  was  a  martyr 

That  was  bronj^ht  to  sacrifice. 
An'  he  g-ave  to  that  same  pris'ner 

livery  blessed  human  grace, 
'i'ill  I  saw  the  light  o"  virtue 

h'airK  shining  from  his  face. 
Tlun  i  own  'at  1  was  ])U7.zled 

1  low  such  things  could  rightl\   he; 
And  this  aggrevating  (piestion 

Seems  to  keep  a  ])uzzling  me. 
So  will  some  one  please  intorm  me. 

.\ti'  this  m\ster\'  unroll. 
1  low   an  angel  an'  a  de\il 

Can  possess  the  self-same  soul.  ' 


7^  ..z?-.  M/1/1 


7//^-^    ^^^ 


Mlrtriffe  L^,   ~Z^     ~      ^        n^n^^^ 
/  J^^/./  meney/l]/ 


r 


Tin:    u'dcf/s  xotks  ok  kvidkxck 
Showino-   the    \v<n-kiiii;s    of    tlie    Judicial    mind 


MR.  wii.i.iAM  cri:\il:s. 
( ■'()!. I)  ci-tniKs") 


JIISTOKUAI.    NOTi;  3-J9 


■•(  )L1)  C.KIMI-.S. 


One  of  llic  characlcrs  CDiiiifcK'd  with  our  k\:;al  fraleniity  was 
William  Ciriincs,  universally  known  as  '"Old  (irinics."  it  is  y:ciK-r- 
ally  su]>i)tise(l  that  he  was  a  mythical  character  but  lie  was  not.  lie 
wa.N  a  run-awa\-  sla\e  \\\\<  >  came  In  IjlclilirM  iir(jbably  about  l<So8, 
and  \\a>  a  i;eneral  ser\am  Id  the  .students  at  the  Law  School.  He 
was  1)1  irn  in  \  irginia  and  was  the  body  servant  of  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Grimes,  whose  name,  in  after  years,  he  ado])ted ;  by  the 
fortunes  of  business  adversities  his  master  was  obligx-d  to  dispose 
of  him  and  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  cruel  masters  from  whose  bar- 
barous treatment  he  ran  away  to  the  land  of  Liberty,  which  at  that 
time  was  Litchfield.  Juds^e  Reeve  had  acquired  quite  a  reputation 
for  tlefending  fut^itive  slaves  and  Litcl-field  was  thou.i^ht  by  them  to 
be  the  home  of  the  free.  Grimes  was  thrifty,  frugal  and  accpiired 
some  little  property  and  owned  a  jiiccc  of  land  between  the  present 
residence  of  George  Kenney  and  thj  Fire  Department  building,  to 
v.diich  he  moved  a  small  building-  for  a  barber  shop.  Some  of  the 
Southern  students  of  the  Law  School  ascertained  his  status,  made 
matters  unpleasant  for  him  by  notifying  his  master  wdio  took  steps 
to  recover  him  and  he  was  obliged  to  dispose  of  his  property  through 
liis  friends  Dr.  Abel  Catlin  and  William  H.  Thompson,  who  took  the 
proceeds  to  purchase  his  freedom.  His  last  appearance  on  Litch- 
field Land  Records  was  August  6.  1824.  In  the  latter  years  of  the 
Law  School.  Grimes  removed  to  Xew^  Haven,  where  he  acted  in  the 
same  capacity  as  he  had  at  Litchfield  to  the  students  at  Yale  College. 
He  published  in  a  little  ])amphlet  a  sketch  of  h'is  life,  containing  the 
portrait  of  which  a  copy  is  here  given.  He  died  about  1850  in  Xew 
Haven. 

His  great  notoriety  consists  in  the  the  well-known  lines  '"Old 
Grimes  is  Dead."  the  history  of  which  as  given  to  me  by  an  old 
resident  of  Litchfield,  and  from  other  data  which  I  have  secured 
is  as  follows:  Albert  G.  Green,  of  Rhode  Island,  who  afterwards 
became  a  distinguished  man.  United  States  Senator,  etc.,  was  a 
student  of  the  Law  School  in  1812,  rnd  was  very  fond  of  making 
rhvmes  about  all  manner  of  things,  and  u])i>u  all  occasions,  and 
Grimes  im])ortuned  him  to  make  some  poetry  for  him.  the  restilt  be- 
ing the  lines  above  referred  to.  a  few  stanzas  of  which  are  hero 
given. 

01. 1)  CKniiis. 

Old  Grimes  is  dead — tha:  good  old  man. 

We  ne'er  shall  see  him  more  ; 
He  used  to  wear  a  long  black  coat 

All  buttoned  down  before. 

His  heart  was  o])en  as  the  day. 

His  feelings  all  were  true : 
His  hair  was  some  inclined  to  gray — 

He  wore  it  in  a  queue. 


330  i.n'ciii'ii;i,i)  C()rNr\'  j;i:n(.ii  and  i'.ar 

Wlicnc'i'r  1k"  heard  ihc  voice  of  pain 
His  breast  with  pit)'  burned; 

The  larg"e  round  liead  upon  his  cane 
From  ivory  was  lurned. 

Kind  words  lie  e\er  liad   for  all, 
lie  knew  no  base  design  ; 

His  eyes  were  dark  and  rather  small. 
His  nose  was  a(|uiline. 

Jle  lived  in  i)eace  with  all  mankind. 
In  friendship  he  was  true  : 

His  coat  had  pocket-holes  behind. 
His  ])antaloons  were  l)lue. 

lUU  j^ood  old  ('.rimes  is  now  at  rest. 

Xor  fears  misfortune's  frown; 
He  wore  a  double-l)reastcd  \esi. 

The  stripes  ran  up  and  ('own. 

He  modest  merit  soui^ht  to  hud 

And  pay  it  its  desert : 
He  had  no  malice  in  his  mind, 

Xo  rullles  on  his  shirt. 

His  neighbors  he  did  not  al)use, 

^^'as.  sociable  and  gay  ; 
He  wore  large  buckles  on  his  shoes. 

And  changed  them  e\er\  day. 

Thus  undisturbed  by  anxious  cares 
His  peaceful  moments  ran. 

And  evervbodv  said  he  was 
A  hue  old  "entleman. 


<^ 


GEORGE  CATLIN'S  PORTRAIT 

The  frontisipiece  in  this  hook  is  from  an  old  oil  ]Kunling  that  ho 
made  of  himself  when  he  was  alxnil  U\Anty-h\e  years  old  and  is 
now  in  the  i)osscsstou  n\  his  daughter  in  New  >'ork  city  who  kindly 
loaned  it  for  reproducliou. 


Di  \  N  i:u  To  j  I  1)1, r;  sl',^  \ioi  i<  331 

C(  ).\ii'i.i.\ii':\'r.\m'  diwi-.r  T(  > 
JlDCl'.  (  ).  s.  si-:\M<  )l  K 

(  )n  Uic  -'will  "I  jaiinar\,  1S74.  llie  I'.ar  n\  r'aiiiifld  C'uuiit)-  j^mvl- 
a  ciiinpliinciilarx  (liiiiuT  lo  C'Iik'I'  Jusiicc  (  )rii;c-ii  Slorrs  Seymour, 
t:n  llic  i.'\c  ot  his  ix'liixincni  in  mi  inj  Ucnch — under  ihc  provisions 
ul  the  Conslilutiun. 

Man\-  disliny;uishe(l  i^uesis  were  ])resenl  ;  many  pleasant  and 
interesting-  things  were  said,  some  relating  to  our  I  Jar  and  though 
all  arc  worthy  of  preservation  we  ha^-e  the  space  for  only  a  few. 

The  rresidful.  J  Ion.  lames  L".  J^o(jmis,  introduced  the  exercises 
by  sa}ing: 

GJiXTLt::kii".x  : — I  feel  conhdent  thai  nothing  has  transpired  in  the 
history  of  the  Fairticld  County  liar  tluring  my  long  connection  with 
it,  which  has  given  more  pleasure  to  its  members  than  the  i>\>\»>v- 
tunit\-  which  tliis  occasion  atTords,  to  express  to  our  Chief  Justice 
vn  tlie  eve  of  his  retirement,  our  high  appreciation  of  those  exalted 
qualiiics  which  characterize  and  adorn  his  life,  and  which  has  made 
b.im  so  eminently  useful  and  so  universally  esteemed,  and  our  deep 
regret  that,  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness  and  in  the  full  possession 
of  all  his  intellectual  powers,  he  is  compelled  to  retire  from  his  high 
orticial  station  and  discontinue  his  invaluable  services  under  the  stern 
provisions  of  our  Constitution,  which  makes  70  years  of  age  the 
limit  of  judicial  life  in  Connecticut. 

I  assure  you,  gentlemen,  it  affords  me  unfeigned  pleasure  to  as- 
semble with  you  around  this  festive  board  and  unite  with  our  dis- 
tinguished friends.  His  Excellency,  the  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut;  His  Honor,  the  Chief  justice  elect,  and  his  honorable 
associates  of  the  Supreme  Court;  the  distinguished  Judge  of  the 
Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  district  of  Connecticut ; 
the  Judges  of  our  Superior  Court  and  of  other  courts,  and  other 
officials  who  have  honored  us  with  their  presence,  in  paying  this 
well-merited  tribute  of  respect  to  one  who  so  cmiently  deserves  it. 

From  the  time  of  a  generation  at  least  Judge  Seymour  has  been 
a  star  of  the  first  magnitude  in  the  civil,  political,  judicial  and.  I  may 
say,  rehgious  constellations  of  the  State.  He  has  deservedly  won  for 
himself  a  name  that  will  be  known,  honored  and  loved,  not  only  in 
his  day  and  generation,  but  so  long  as  the  public  records  endure. 

There  is  no  human  standard  b\-  which  we  can  measure  the  exact 
amount  of  good  which  results  to  a  State  from  a  busy,  active  and 
well  s])ent  lite  in  the  ])ublic  service  Even  the  great  Amazon  is 
swallowed  up  in  the  bosom  of  the  fatliomless  deep;  nevertheless  its 
influence,  unmeasured  and  immeasurable  in  all  its  magnitude  and 
powder  is  there,  and  the  great  ships  wdiich  float  the  treasures  of  the 
nations  on  "Old  Ocean"  float  more  or  less  securely,  however  un- 
consciously, upon  the  foundations,  which  this  mighty  river  has  con- 
tributed to  establish  and  maintain  ;  so.  though  we  cannot  define  with 


3,^2  j.nx'ii  I'l  i:i.i)  l.'(»^^^^■   r,i:M,ii   and  r.Aii 

niallK'Uialical  precision  tlic  exact  (|uanliiy  ol'  ^ood,  wiiicli  has  re- 
sulted to  our  coninionwealth  and  iis  cili/.ens  from  the  eminent  ser- 
vices of  our  distint;uislied  friend,  \  et  nt  one  will  douI)t  l)ut  his  long, 
active  and  useful  life  spent  in  the  administration  (d'  tlie  local  affairs 
of  his  immediate  neighhorhood— in  the  advocac\  of  the  rights  of  the 
citizens  at  the  Uar — in  the  promotion  of  the  ])nhlic  weal  in  the 
councils  of  the  State  and  nation — and  in  tlir  maintenance  of  the  great 
princi]"»les  of  justice  and  e(|uity,  according  to  estahlished  authority 
upon  the  Bench,  have  greatly  contrihuted  to  the  stahility  and  ])ros- 
perity  of  our  institutions  and  given  additional  security  to  the  rights 
of  person  and  property  so  eminently  and  so  universally  enjoyed. 

It  has  been  my  privilege  to  have  been  honored  with  the  personal 
acquaintance  and  I  believe  friendship  of  eight  of  the  ])redecessors 
of  our  Chief  Justice  in  that  high  ollice — Hosmer,  Daggett.  Williams, 
Church.  W'aite,  Storrs.  Hinman.  IJutler — glorious  names!  They 
were  all  high-minded,  learned.  im[)artial  judges.  uncorrui)tcd — in- 
corruptible! They  have  gone  down  to  their  graves  crowned  with 
honors,  having  transmitted  the  ermine  of  the  judicial  robes  spotless 
and  when  that  emblem  of  purity  and  incorruptibility  fell  upon  the 
shoulders  of  him  who  now^  so  gracefully  wears  it — if  foiichcd  nothing 
less  spotless.  He  will  soon  transmit  it  to  his  successor  stainless,  to 
be  borne  by  him  through  his  judicial  life  unsoiled  and  then  trans- 
mitted in  all  purity  to  another,  thence  to  descend  from  generation  to 
generation.  I  hope  to  the  latest  generation  of  man,  without  a  spot 
(jr  blemish. 

It  would  afford  me  great  pleasure  to  dwell  for  a  few  moments, 
did  time  permit,  upon  the  many  virtues  which  embellish  and  adorn 
the  private  life  of  our  Chief  Justice;  to  speak  of  his  devotion  to  the 
welfare  and  happiness  of  his  family  and  friends — of  his  tender  sym- 
[)athies  with  the  unfortunate  and  alllicted,  of  his  gentlemanly  deport- 
ment everywhere  and  on  all  occasions,  of  his  manly  practice  at  the 
Bar,  of  his  ])atience  and  suavity  on  the  Bench,  of  his  liospitality.  his 
generosit}',  his  integrity,  his  incorruptibility — but  time  fails  me. 
I  can  only  say  that  in  all  the  relations  of  private  life,  judge  Se\niour 
has  been  and  is  the  Ciiristian  gentleman.  ackMK)wledged  and  appreci- 
ated as  such  by  all  who  know  him  most,  by  those  who  know  him  best. 

Daniel  Webster.  si)eaking  of  himself  at  a  jiublic  dinner  given  him 
in  the  city  (jf  Hoston  some  vears  since,  said:  "If  itublic  life  has  its 
cares  and  trials,  it  sometimes  has  its  consolations :  if  the  ai)]>robation 
of  the  good  is  fit  to  be  ])ursued.  it  is  fit  to  be  enjoyed:  if  it  be.  as 
it  undoubtedl}'  is,  one  of  the  most  stirring  and  inxigoraling  motives 
which  can  operate  U])on  the  mind,  it  is  also  among  the  richc-t  re- 
\^  ards  which  can  console  and  gratify  the  heart." 

In  the  spirit  of  these  sentiments  of  this  i)r(.'-t'mincntl\  distinguish- 
ed statesman — in  the  name  of  the  h'airtk'ld  Count \  I'.ar — in  the 
presence  of  this  lar^e  circle  ni  distinguished  friends,  and  from  the 
lowest  de|jths  of  my  heart,  let  \uv  sa\-  to  you,  Mr.  Chief  justice,  in 
conclusion,  you  have  experienced  the  cares  and  tri;ds  ol'  public  life; 


jI'DC.I",    SI■■.^■.\I()I'K  S   KI'SI'OXSIv  3.^.^ 

you  have  scoured  the  a])i)nil):iti(  lU  n\  ilic  _<4()<)(1 ;  you  liave  won  a 
crown:  it  is  fit  that  mui  >hiiuM  cnjuy  it.  Console  and  _L;Tatify  your 
lieart  witli  tliis  rieli  reward  and  when  yon  asct'iid  from  your  present 
lii.H'h  ])(isitiiin  In  the  Ixisimi  nl  \iinr  laiihl\  and  to  the  circle  of  vour 
loving'  and  ])i']i)\i'd  Irit'nds.  ijicre  tu  cnjny  dn-  linnurcd  i-\cniiiL;  "\ 
your  useful  lifi'  in  tran(|uil  repose,  nia\  the  snnl  stirring'  and  in\dj4- 
ating"  consolalii  in  cheer  and  animate  ymi  to  your  latt-l  hrealh.  inten>i- 
fied  with  the  comfortahle  hope  that  heyond  there  is  pre])ared  an  im- 
mortal crown,  which  neither  time  imi-  Constitution  can  take  away. 

Chief  justice  Se\nionr  res])onded  to  the  loa^l  ""(  )m"  Chief  Justice" 
as   follows  : 

J  stand  here  to-ni.^ht  on  the  eve  of  separation  from  ])ursuits  to 
which  durin_i;'  a  lonj^-  life  I  ha\e  heen  devoted.  I  liave  enjoyed  my 
professional  life  at  the  l'>ar  and  on  the  llencli.  and  I  do  not  and  cannot 
look  with  indifference  u]Kn\  my  ai)proachin^-  se])aration  from  these 
duties. 

1,  however,  make  no  (|uarrel  with  tlie  constitutional  ])rovision 
under  which  my  retirement  takes  place.  "The  days  of  our  a^je  are 
three  score  vears  and  ten  ;"  when  those  years  are  accomplished,  na- 
ture craves  a  hrief  ])eriod  of  rcj^ose  hetween,  on  the  one  hand,  the 
active  duties  of  life  and  its  final  close  on  the  other. 

I  submissively  how,  therefore,  to  the  law  of  the  land,  helievin:.^ 
it  to  be  in  harmon\  with  the  law  of  nature,  hut  at  the  time  1  cherish 
the  memories  of  professional  life,  and  part  from  it  with  fond  res^ret, 
and  I  will  occupy  your  time  a  few  moments  this  evening;-  in  su.q^s^est- 
ing  some  particulars  wherein  the  lawyer's  life  amon^-  the  varied 
])ursuits  of  mankind  is  re.^'arded  1)\-  me  as  a  favored  one. 

T  was  admitted  to  the  l'>ar  in  my  native  County  of  I.itchheld  in 
1826.  and  I  at  once  found  myself  in  possesion  of  a  privileL;e  which 
I  then  thought  might  be  peculiar  to  myself,  but  which  I  afterwards 
found  was  common  to  all  \otmg  lawwers. — the  i)ri\ilege  of  fellow- 
shi])  on  free  and  easy  terms  with  the  elder  brethren.  1  well  remem- 
ber the  pleasure  of  these  associations  and  the  hel])  1  derived  from 
them.  It  is  pleasant  to  recall  the  names  of  the  giants  in  those  days, 
when  I  was  a  stripling,  I'>acon,  Miner,  Huntington,  I'eers.  Board- 
man,  the  Churches.  Smith.  When  1  found  myself  in  a  suarl.  and  that 
happened  to  me  semi-dail\-.  1  alwa\s  found  relief  in  the  ready  and 
cheerfully-gi\en  counsel  of  these  my  venerable  seniors. 

It  is  truth  familiar  to  us  all  that  lawyers,  young  and  old.  high 
and  low.  rich  and  ])oor.  associate  together  with  great  freedom,  not 
])erhaps  that  we  love  one  another  more  than  the  medical  faculty.  l)ut 
our  business  brings  us  constantl}  into  association  with  our  bretliren. 
our  labors  are  not  isolated  Init  performed  in  public  and  in  each 
other's  compr.ny.  whcrebv  we  become  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
each  other.  \o  man  can  conduct  a  complicated  cause  in  court  with- 
out showin";  hi-.  l;rcthren  what  manner  of  man  lie  is.  If  he  has  mind 
industrv,  learning  and  culture,  he  shows  it;  his  temi:K?r  and  disposi- 
tion will  show  themselves.     If  he  has  integritv  and  truthfulness  in 


334  ].ni'iii"ii:i.i)  (.oixtn-  i;i:xrii   and  i;.\k 

liim,  llicy  will  a])])*.';!!".  If  mi  llu'  ci  iiitrarx  ,  \\c  is  a  sham,  cvrryl)!  xly 
will  SCO  il.  'riic  practice  nl  cliau^iiiL;  parliicrs  a>  associate  cuiniscl, 
brings  l;;\vycrs  into  tlic  nio.->t  iiuiinatc  relation  with  each  other. 

It  is  ainusinL;-  to  notice  L;enllenien  who  are  opjjosed  to  each  other 
in  the  niornini;-  almost  to  per-onal  altercation,  in  the  afternoon  en- 
ji'ayccl  as  associates,  and  at  once  as  famihar  and  intimate  with  each 
other  as  the  Siamese  twins.  We  l)ecome,  therefore,  tliorou,L;hly 
acquainted  with  eacli  other  and  wear  no  masks  in  each  other's 
society. 

in  this  co'niection,  if  time  alloweil.  I  would  like  to  describe  the 
bar  lueetiniis  of  olden  time  w'.iich  liatl  a  liuf^erin,^"  existence  50  years 
aj^o,  but  those  old-fashioned  i^atherins.;"s  could  not  be  conducted  on 
tem])erance  i)rincii)les  and  uiim  the  adx'ent  of  the  temperance  re- 
formation. the\'  "took  the  chills"  and  died  out.  Hut  the  attraction 
of  the  ]irofession  lies  in  the  inherent  dii^nitv  of  the  law  itself,  con- 
trollini^-  as  it  does  by  its  silent  power,  the  moving-  masses  in  all  their 
various  relations  and  interests — in  the  equit}',  calm  wisdom  and  dis- 
passionate justice  of  its  precepts — in  its  nol)le  history  in  the  past 
and  in  the  services  and  accomplishments  of  its  livint;"  ])rofcssors. 

The  bar  has  always  drawn  to  itself  the  best  talent  and  highest 
culture  of  the  country,  and  hence  the  contests  of  the  liar  conducted 
by  skillful  and  learned  counsel,  furnidi  scenes  of  instructive  interest. 
The  marvelous  and  varied  pow-rs  of  the  human  mind  are  in  these 
contests  called  for  and  developed  in  a  manner  and  to  an  extent 
unequaled  in  any  other  arena. 

I  readily  recall  many  such  scenes  as  livel\-  and  dramatic  as  the 
inventions  of  Shakespeare's  genius.  T  wotdd  not  be  understood 
however,  as  saying  that  the  court  room  is  exactly  paradise  regained. 
The  scenes  are  generally  animated,  spirited  and  varied ;  sometimes, 
however,  dull  and  stupid;  somctimc,^^  disgusting-,  exhibiting  human 
nature  of  its  most  revolting  form  and  the  members  of  the  I'ar  have 
much  thankless  lal)or,  manv  sleepless  nights  and  bitter  (lisa])point- 
ments. 

r)Ut  it  is  in  his  library  that  the  true  discii)le  of  tlie  law  finds  lii> 
liighest  satisfaction.  He  can  here  interrogate  the  masters  of  juris- 
jjrudencc,  ancient  .and  modern  ui)on  the  matters  he  has  in  hand,  and 
will  seldom  fail  of  getting  an  a])pro])riate  answer.  1  yield  no  blind 
obedience  to  authorijies  and  precedents.  Law  is  a  progressive 
science.  \\  hen  it  is  said  that  law  is  the  ])erfection  of  reason,  it  is 
not  to  be  understood  that  all  the  utterance  of  judges  and  jiunsts  are 
such,  'i'here  are  mi-takes  and  errors  in  the  i)ast  that  the  i)resent 
may  correct,  and  then'  are  mistak'es  and  errors  in  ilie  ])re,'-ent  wliich 
it  is  to  be  hoped  the  future  will  corr/cl.  but  taken  as  a  whole  a  law- 
library  is  re]:)lete  with  soimd  truths  aoplii-abk'.  more  or  U'ss  directlx', 
to  the  vari()us  living  issues  iiending  be  fori'  the  courts,  not  mere  ab- 
stract truths  worked  out  in  the  closi'l,  but  truths  upon  which  learned 
arguments  have  been  heard  at  the  I'.ar,  and  U'arned  consultations 
had   b\-   the    I'.cncli.   so   that   all   awiilable   learning  on    the   -ubiecl    is 


•  '..  II.  II'  ii.i.i>ti:k  s  ADDKi'.ss  .  335 

br(m,L;ln  hirward  .-md  iHcciws  ils  iliu-  \wi,iL;In.  Ii  i^  (lillii-ult  to  over- 
estimate the  \aliu'  n|"  ihr  will  wei^lu-d  dpinious  of  such  ciiaiiccllors 
as  llarduick,  I'.ldoii  and  Kint.  and  nl'  Mich  Judi^cs  as  Mansfield, 
Kllenhoroui^li   and    .\lai>liall. 

Amon^"  tile  mn^l  clu'ri^lied  iiuinories  of  ni\-  professional  life  is 
the  iniiinaie  ar(|nainlani\'  which  I  ha\-e  enjoyed  with  all  the  cniineiit 
jnrist^  wild  ha\e  adorned  the  heiirh  of  the  State  durinj^^  tlic  fifty 
xears.  1  need  not  recite  their  fannliai-  names  in  this  assenibiv,  Init 
you  will  permit  me,  oecupyini^-  the  position  I  do.  to  repeat  the  names 
of  those  who  have  tilled  the  high  olhce  I  am  about  to  lav  flown. 
uoiiiiiia  clara  each  of  which  u])()n  bare  mention  suggests  all  the 
virtues  i)ertaining  to  their  high  judicial  ])osition. 

\\  hen  1  came  to  the  liar  the  Chief  Justiceshi])  was  held  bv  the 
learned  I  losiner  lollowed  in  (piick-  succession  b\  Daggett.  Williams, 
Church.  W  aite.  Storrs.  and  llinman.  and  then  by  my  im.mediate 
predecessor,  the  lamented  llutler.  com])anion.  friend,  brother.  \n 
this,  his  nati\e  county,  he  needs  no  eulogy  from  me.  In  the  reports 
ot  his  judicial  o])inions  he  has  raised  to  himself  a  monument  acre 
/"cniimis.  Allow  me.  in  conclusion,  to  ])r(!])Ose  as  a  toast,  "The 
memory  of  the  honored  dead  of  the  llench  and  I'.ar  of  this  State." 

The  toast  "  Idie  l!ar  of  IJtchheld  County""  was  responded  to  l)v 
lion.   C.ideon    II.    I  lollister.   as   follov.s  : 

It  is  dillicult  to  name  a  portion  of  this  Continent  that  might  with 
more  ]iroi)riety  have  been  called  a  wilderness  than  was  Litchfield 
Count)  at  the  time  of  its  first  settlement,  nearly  a  century  after 
Hartford  was  founded.  The  site  of  the  ])resent  village  of  Litchfield 
was  overgrown  with  alder.  It  needed  an  emigrant "s  faith  to  foresee 
the  changes  that  human  industry  umler  the  guidence  of  good  ])rin- 
Ciples  could  bring  about  in  the  face  of  wintry  skies  and  in  -defiance 
of  steep  hills. 

]n  1772,  about  fift_\-  _\ears  after  the  organization  of  the  town. 
Tai:»])ing  Reeve,  son  of  a  clergyman  of  Urookhaven.  established  him- 
self in  this  remote  and  obscure  ])lace  which  had  nothing  but  a  Court 
House,  jail  and  Meeting  ]  louse  to  form  a  centre  for  the  few  towns 
that  clustered  around  it.  He  could  not  have  driven  to  the  village 
in  a  carriage  to  save  his  life,  for  two  reasons  there  were  no  wheeled 
vehicles  and  had  there  been  any.  there  were  no  roads  that  could  have 
l)een  safely  traversed  by  them.  This  interesting  adventurer  was  a 
graduate  of  Princeton,  and  was  then  only  twenty-eight  years  old. 
He  was  a  delicately  formed  slender  man  of  classical  features,  pale 
comi)lexiou  and  large  bright  e\es.  With  him  v/ent  Sally  I'urr.  his 
v,-ife.  daughter  of  President  Pun-  of  Princeton,  sister  of  Aaron  lUirr. 
and  grand-daughter  of  Jonathan  h'dwards — one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful and  accom])lishcd  women  of  her  time.  They  took  up  their  abode 
in  S!)uth  Street,  in  a  house  where  I  spent  four  hap]\v  years  and 
which  now  belongs  to  pulge  Woodrufii".  who  is  our  (listinguished 
guest  this  evening-.  Mr.  Reeve  established  himself  here  as  a  lawyer 
and  s'lon  attained  tc)  the  highest  distinction  in  his  profession.     After 


33^>  i.ii'ciii-ii;LD  LOL-NTv  li;ncii  and  war 

coiUinuiiii^'  in  il  for  twelve  years,  in  17^4,  when  the  Revolutionary 
War  was  scareely  o\er.  he  insliuued  the  l.ilchlield  Law  Schot)l  in 
which  lie  was  the  sole  in>irnclor  uniil  1797,  a  perind  of  fourteen 
years,  when  he  associated  witli  liim  janies  (lould,  wIm  was  after- 
wards so  renowned  in  ihe  history  ol  .\nierican  iurisprudence.  This 
school  educated  xouni;  men  Ironi  all  jiarts  ol  the  I  nion.  among 
whom  were  John  (.'.  (.'alhoun.  I,i.\i  W  <  m  ulhurw  |olin  M.  Clavton, 
Ro,^er  S.  r.aldwin.  Samuel  .^.  I'liehis.  Xathaniel  v'^mith.  William 
J-'lliot,  (  )ri<;en  S.  Se\nionr.  Lewis  !'>.  WoodrulT,  Truman  Smith  and 
other  distini;uished  men.  wht)se  names  have  shed  lustre  u])on  the  an- 
nals of  our  countr\ .  Two  of  these  graduates  have  heen  judges  of 
the  Snpreme  (.'otun  of  the  I'nitefl  States,  fifty  of  tliem  memhers  of 
Congress,  forty  have  heen  judges  of  the  highest  State  courts  and 
several  have  heen  foreign  and  Cahinet  ministers. 

Ta])ping  Reeve  was  not  a  mere  pedagogue,  nor  was  he  a  mere 
lawyer.  He  was  a  man  of  genius,  and  in  middle  age  when  his 
feelings  were  enlisted  in  the  trial  of  a  cause,  he  often  exhihited 
])owers  of  eloquence,  which  horn  the  sutldenness  with  which  they 
Mashed  upon  the  minds  of  his  audience  and  from  his  impassioned 
manner,  produced  an  overwhelming  elTect.  He  was  very  uneciual 
in  the  exhihition  of  his  powers.  He  was  a  man  of  ardent  temper- 
ament, tender  sensibilities  and  of  a  nature  deeply  religions.  His 
sympathies  led  him  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  oppressed  and  help- 
less. He  was  the  first  eminent  law'yer  in  this  country  who  dared  to 
arraign  the  common  law  of  England  for  its  severity  and  refined 
cruelty  in  cutting  ofi  the  natural  rights  of  married  women,  and 
]Viacing  their  in-ojXTty  at  the  mercy  of  their  husbands  to  sipiander 
it  at  pleasure.  His  sentiments  did  not  at  first  meet  with  much 
favor,  but  he  lived  long  enough  to  see  them  gain  a  foot  hold  in  this 
and  other  States.  His  principles  did  not  die  with  him.  but  are  per- 
l)etuated  in  his  "Domestic  Relations."  and  in  the  jurisjM-udencc  of 
his  countrw  He  was  an  ardent  Revolutionary  ])atriot  of  the  Federal 
school.  His  fervent  ])iety.  well-timed  charities,  noble  im])ulses, 
thoroughness,  si!n])]icity  of  cliaracter.  and  disinterestedness  all  served 
to  render  him  a  general  fa\-orite  in  ;i  widel\ -extended  circle  (^f 
iriends  and  ac(|uaintances.  He  ched  in  iS_'.^  in  the  Soth  \ear  ^)\  his 
age.      Such  was  the  head  and  founder  uf  the   Litchfield   I'.ar. 

Tile  next  dislinguislied  nieiiiher  of  this  Lar  if  we  are  tn  follow 
the  order  oi  birth,  was  Andrew  Adams,  lioni  in  I7,V*-  whu  was 
successively  Kini^-'s  Attunu-y.  member  of  Congress  and  (."liiel'  judge. 
He  was  a  man  of  elear  mind  ;ind  of  great  learning.  After  him 
-Major-General  I'riali  Trac\.  born  in  1755.  l''nim  I7(;()  to  1807  he 
was  a  Senator  from  C'onnecticut.  leader  of  the  l''ederal  ])art\-.  an 
intimate  friend  of  Mamiltoii.  JMslier  Ames  .and  Abirris.  and  was  a 
man  ot  L^-reat  legal  acumen  and  partiiailarK    f.anu'd  for  his  wit. 

Then  follows  C"ol.  I'".pliriain  l\irb\.  bdi'ii  at  Litelilield  in  1757.  an 
ofTiccr  in  tlic  l\e\-o]uiiiiiiar\  ;inn\  who  earrit'(l  id  his  gra\-e  a  frightful 
wound    that    he    rtceiwd    in    tiie    strnuule.      Me    was    a    faithful    and 


G.    11.    IKiI.l.lSTI'.K  S  .\1)1)KI-;SS  ,^37 

accurate  lawyer.  In  17S1;.  lie  i)ul)li>lic(l  a  vdIuiik'  nf  ■■Rein  iris  of  the 
Supreme  (.'ourt  ot  l'".rr(irs.'"  'J'liis  was  the  first  vohiiiic  of  law  re- 
ports ev(.'r  ])uhlislieil  on  this  continent.  I'pon  tlie  orj^'anizalioii  ot 
],ousiana,  lie  \\a>  a])])ointi-(l  ])\  rre-iilcnt  Jefferson  a  jud.^e  of  the 
ne\\l\  ac(|uiiX'(l  territory  of  (  )rleans.  and  died  on  his  \va_\'  to  his  l)lace 
of  dotination  in  ilie  4S[h  war  of  his  afi^e. 

After  liiin  in  the  orcler  of  hirlh  comes  Nathaniel  Smith,  who  wa.s 
horn  ahonl  the  year  I7'>^'^  and  who,  after  severe  strui^^j^'les  with  pf)V- 
erty  and  im])erfect,  early  education,  rose  so  ra])idly  in  his  profession 
that  soon  after  he  commenced  tlu'  study  of  law  under  Judji^^c  Reeve, 
he  was  sitting-  1)\-  his  master's  side  on  the  hench  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  I'.rrors.  jud^c  Church  and  Judg^e  Williams  have  l)oth 
told  me  that  he  was  in  their  opinion  the  most  i^'ifted  luan  e\er  horn 
in  the  State.  1  will  not  attempt  any  sketch  of  him.  hut  if  _\'ou  will 
allow  me  I  will  (piote  a  passa,<;c  from  a  letter  written  to  me  hy  Daviil 
S.  l')(nardman  \vho  knew  .Mr.  Smith  and  how  to  estimate  him.  He 
sa\  s  : 

"llis  voiee  \\as  excellent,  heini;'  hoth  j^owerful  and  harmonious, 
and  ne\er  hroke  under  any  exertion  of  its  capacity  His  manner 
was  very  ar<lem  and  the  seemini;-  dictate  of  a  stroiifj  conviction  of 
justice  of  his  cause,  and  his  gestures  were  the  natural  expression  of 
such  a  conviction.  ]\lr.  Smith's  style  was  pure  and  genuine  Saxon, 
with  no  attempt  at  classic  ornament  or  allusion.  His  train  of 
reasoning  was  lucid  and  direct,  and  evincive  of  the  fact  that  the 
whole  of  it  was  like  a  map  s])rea(l  out  in  his  mind's  eye  from  the 
l)eg'inning.  llis  integrity  was  always  felt  and  dreaded  hy  his  op- 
I)onent.  He  spoke  w  ith  nuich  tlucncy  hut  with  no  undue  rapidity, 
lie  never  hesitated  or  haggled  at  a  word,  nor  did  he  ever  tire  his 
audience  with  undue  ])rolixit\':  or  omit  to  do  justice  to  his  case  for 
fear  of  tiring  them  :  and  indeed  there  was  little  danger  of  it." 

There  is  only  one  hrief  specimen  of  the  style  of  this  eloquent 
man  handed  down  to  us.  This  is  a  part  of  his  argument  in  the  case 
of  Jedediah  Strong  and  wife  before  the  General  Assemljly.  and 
which  is  to  he  found  in  a  volume  of  our  reports.  In  arguing 
against  the  theory  advocated  hy  Judge  Reeve  in  favor  of  married 
women,  he  took  the  op]:)osite  or  common  law^  ground  and  expressed 
himself  as    follows: 

"P>ut  the  manners  have  led  the  law  and  the  law  the  manners. 
rntil  e\-ery  Ijarrier  is  broken  down  and  we  seem  about  to  bury  in 
oblivion  fore\-er  the  nde  that  the  wife  has  no  separate  existence." 

Last  in  order  of  birth  of  the  truly  Q-reat  men  who  can  be  partic- 
ularly dwelt  ui)on  in  this  hurried  outline,  is  James  Gould.  l)orn  at 
Branford  in  1770.  and  one  of  the  most  elegant  scholars  and  terse 
writers  who  have  adorned  the  jirofession  in  this  conntry.  He 
studied  law  under  Judge  Reeve,  and  joint  professor  and  delivered 
lectures  to  the  students  in  this  institution  for  thirty-five  vears  :  at 
the  end  of  which  time,  there  had  been  educated  at  the  Litchfield 
Law   School  one  thousand  and  twenty-five  lawyers  from  all  parts 


33^  i.ritii i'ii:i.i)  coiNiN    r,i:xcii  and  t.ar 

of  the  I'niU'd  Slalo.  (HUiUrs  pleadiiiL;-  is  one  of  the  most  con- 
densed ami  critical  pieces  of  coin])(isitiMii  to  he  found  in  our  Ian- 
guag'c  and  is  of  an  original  character,  lie  luul  at  first  contemplated 
a  more  extended  treatise.  l)ut  while  he  was  preparing"  material  for  it, 
the  announcenieiu  <if  t."hitt\'s  work  on  the  same  title  induced  him 
to  change  !iis  ])]an.  As  it  was  presented  to  the  ])ul)lic.  (lould's 
"Pleading"'  is  therefore  onl_\-  a  sumniar\-  of  the  original  design  but 
for  clearness  and  logical  i)ercision  it  is  surpassed,  if  at  all,  only 
by  the  Commentaries  (  n  the  laws  of  h'.ngland. 

judge  (lould  carried  to  the  l'>ar  the  same  classical  finish  which 
appears  in  his  writings.  It  would  ha\-e  been  impossible  for  him 
io  speak  an  ungrammatical  sentence,  use  an  inelegant  expression 
or  make  an  awkward  gesture.  His  arguments  were  expressed  in 
the  most  brief  forms  in  which  a  sp.^aker  can  convey  his  thoughts 
to  his  hearers.  He  seldom  spoke  longer  than  half  an  hour,  and  in 
the  most  comi)lex  and  iiiii)ortant  cases  ne\-er  exceedetl  an  hoin\ 
He  could  shoot  a  (|ui\er  full  of  shafts  within  the  circle  of  the  target 
with  such  certaint}-  and  force  that  the_\-  could  all  be  found  and 
counted  when  the  contest  was  over. 

As  a  Judge,  his  opinions  are  imsur])assed  by  any  which  appear 
in  oiu"  reports  for  clearness  and  that  hajipy  moulding  of  thought 
so  peculiar  to  him  at  the  l-ar  and  in  social  conversation. 

The  position  of  this  eminent  jurist  and  his  venerable  master 
and  associate,  was  truly  enviable.  To  them  flocked  from  every 
State  in  the  Union  the  youth  who  were  to  shape  the  jurisprudence 
of  the  western  world.  They  looked  upon  these  renowned  teachers 
with  as  much  reverence  as  the  young  men  of  Atl:ens  regarded  the 
philosophers  who  prepared  their  minds  for  the  strifes  of  the  Agora, 
the  debates  of  the  council  or  the  shades  of  contemplative  retirement. 

As  1  ha\e  before  said,  all  attempts  at  particular  description  of 
the  members  of  the  I^itchfield  liar,  must  end  here.  I  luight  speak 
of  Jolin  .Mien.  (lov.  John  Cotton  Smith.  Holmes,  I'.oardman.  Hunt- 
ington. JJenedict.  Sterling,  Swan,  A'^a  llacon.  Samuel  and  l.eman 
Church,  Mills.  Pheliis,  Minor,  Strong  and  others — and  but  for 
the  ])resence  in  which  I  stand.  1  might  attem])t  some  l)rief  sketch 
of  the  character  and  career  of  the  venerable  man  whose  retiracy 
from  ])ublic  life  has  been  the  occasion  of  this  meeting,  which,  though 
a  festival  in  form,  has  suffused  our  eyes  wuh  tears.  1  am  one  of  his 
oldest  students  here  ])resent  and  have  known  him  well.  Vou  will 
all  join  me  in  the  ])rayer  that  his  declining  \  ears  may  be  like  his 
professional  and  judicial  life,  serene  as  lhe\  are  \n\vc.  and  that  no 
clouds  of  sorrow  ma\-  settle  down  between  him  and  a  better  world. 


-  --    'A 
^   -     -/. 


II isi'i iKn  \i.  N<i'ri-;s  ^,y) 

VVATERTOWN   MURDKR  TRIAL 

New  i>riiu-ii)lc>  ul'  law  arc  lUT^ciiU'il  in  i1r-  case  «it  Stale  vs. 
Williaui  .\lcl.auL;lilin.  wIim  \va>  indioU-il  hy  ihe  («raii(l  Jury  at  the 
April  term,  njoS,  I'^r  iminler  in  the  f'ir>l  de.^-ree.  'J'lie  facts,  (jvcr 
which  there  was  no  particular  cnntest.  were  as  fellows: 

(  )n  the  morning-  of  .\i)ril  12.  1908.  a  few  uien  were  galheretl 
upon  the  (.lepot  plalf(.rm  al  Watertowu.  Some  of  iheni  were  at- 
taches of  the  railroad,  hut  luost  of  them  were  011  their  way  to 
church.  The  accused,  a  man  of  forty-six  years,  accosted  the  de- 
ceased iu  a  uianner  which  the  latter  regarded  as  offensive.  One 
word  led  to  another,  and  the  victim  of  the  tragedy,  Rohert  Downs, 
a  young  man  of  nineteen,  pushed  .McLaug-hlin  over  so  that  he  fell 
on  the  platform,  hreaking  a  bottle  of  whiskey  which  lie  had  in  his 
pocket.  -More  angr\  words  followed,  and  the  combat,  so  far  as  the 
knowdedge  of  those  on  the  platform  went,  was  over.  Robert  Downs 
retired  to  a  distance  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  depot  platform  from 
where  the  wordy  dispute  took  place,  and  .McLaughlin  went  around 
the  opposite  corner  of  the  building  and  threw  out  tlie  broken  glass 
from  his  pocket,  and  then,  unseen  1)>-  anyone,  drew  a  pocket  knife, 
and  going  up  to  Downs  struck  him  wi*h  it  in  the  neck,  severing  the 
carotid  arterv,  from  which  wound  Downs  die<l  within  a  lew  minutes. 

The  trial  before  the  Superior  Court  was  at  the  October  term 
1908,  in  Litchfield,  before  Judge  Hdwin  B.  Gager,  lasting  into  the 
third  week.  The  prisoner  was  defended  by  Thomas  F.  Ryan,  Esq.. 
assisted  by  Libert  P.  Roberts,  Esq.,  both  of  Litchfield.  The  State 
prosecution  was  b\-  State  Attorney  Donald  T.  Warner,  assisted  by 
Howard  \\  Landon,  \'.m[.  The  principal  question  was  as  to  the  de- 
gree of  the  crime,  the  State  contending-  that  there  was  time  for 
premeditation  and  deliberation  and  that  all  the  elements  of  murder 
in  the  first  degree  were  present.  The  defense  claimed  that  the 
chronic  alcoholism  of  the  accused,  as  shown  by  iiis  previous  history, 
and  by  the  medical  -testimony  of  the  defendant's  expert.  Dr.  John  L. 
Buel.' rendered  the  accused  incapable  of  the  deliberation  and  pre- 
meditation under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case  necessary  to  con- 
stitute the  crime  of  nnirder  in  the  first  degree. 

The  jury  after  long  deliberation  returned  a  verdict  of  niurder  in 
the  second  degree,  and  the  prisoner  w-as  sentenced  to  State  Prison 
for  life. 

While  chronic  alcoholism,  as  a  defense  is  known  in  the  law-,  it 
has  been  so  seldom  resorted  to,  in  cases  of  this  character,  that  un- 
usual interest  was  manifested  by  the  legal  fraternity  in  this  case. 

An  interesting  case  not  heretofore  mentioned,  is  that  connected 
with  the  successful  installation  of  The  New  Mil  ford  Power  Company. 


340  i.ri\iii-n:i.i)  coixtv  lu-Ntii  and  i;.\k 

NEW  MILFORD  POWER  CO. 

About  l\\  cnl\ -ti\x'  years  a^o  tlir  linn.  Xiclinlas  Slauli.  of 
Xcw  Milford  ami  a  ftinncT  C'oiupirolkT  nl  [\\v  Slalc.  cnnccixcil  the 
itlca  lliat  ihc  i^rcal  waler  power  of  ihc  linusalnnic  ri\cr  nii^iu  U>  he 
utili/'AHl.  ilc  interested  a  few  dtlier  ])ei"Sims  with  him  in  the  matter 
and  tliey .decided  to  incorporate  a  C(im])any  fnr  that  pm])ii.-e.  and  a 
charter  was  granted  l)y  the  General  Assemhlx  nf  iS<>3.  Inrmin.^'  the 
Xew"  MihV)rd  I'owcr  Com]nuiy.  The  matter  laid  dormanL  for  a 
long"  time.  There  was  ])lenty  of  power  in  the  ri\er,  l)ut  there  were 
no  mills  or  factories  recpiiring  it.  The  scientific  development  of 
electrical  energy  and  more  i)articularl_\-  the  availibility  of  trans- 
mitting it  without  material  loss  o\er  long  distances  to  he  applied 
wherever  power  was  recpiired.  opened  up  the  way  for  tlic  Compau}' 
to  begin  operations.  Many  hydro-electric  engineers  advised  that 
there  could  not  be  fall  enough  obtained  to  develop  sufficient  power 
to  make  such  a  plant,  considering  the  large  expense  of  the  trans- 
mission line,  profitable.  Walter  S.  ^Morton,  an  eminent  hydraulic 
engineer,  now  the  consulting  engineer  of  the  New  York  City  Water 
Su])ply  Commission,  saw  at  once  bow  the  ])ower  of  the  water  at 
Jiulls  r.ridge  could  he  doubled,  and  acting  under  his  suggestions  the 
company  proceeded  to  erect  a  small  dam  in  the  g'orge  at  IJulls 
Bridge,  and  dug  a  canal  over  two  miles  long  to  convey  the  water 
to  a  point  in  the  town  of  Xew  Milford,  where  they  obtained  a  fall 
of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  feet,  with  an  average  of  two  thousand 
horse  power. 

The  incorporators  employed  Frederic  M.  Williams,  Kscp,  of  Xew 
Alii  ford  to  attend  to  the  legal  ])art  of  the  business.  The  charter 
had  to  be  amended,  giving  the  com])any  various  powers  not  original- 
ly included  therein.  After  the  charter  was  perfected  and  the  stock 
of  $1,000,000.  subscribed,  the  dam  was  built,  the  canal  dug  and  the 
power  house,  with  four  immense  dynamos  was  erected.  These 
were  all  matters  of  mechanism,  but  the  re:d  interesting  ])art  to  us 
attorneys  was  the  proceedings  relating  to  the  accpiisition  of  the 
flooded  territory.  Lands  liordering  on  the  river  suddenly  rose  in 
value,  and  but  little  could  be  i)urchasetl,  conse(|uentl\  condeumation 
])rocecdings  under  the  charter  were  instituted  1)\  Air.  Williams,  to 
acfpiire  them,  .\othing  like  these  ])roceedings  appear  u\nn\  our 
records,  in  number  or  in  accuracw  Committees  were  appointed 
consisting  of  Hon.  C.eo.  .\1.  Woodruff  of  l.itclifield,  Janie>  .\lldis, 
Esq.,  of  Torrington  and  h'.dward  S.  Roberts.  b.S(|..  of  \ortii  (."anaan, 
and  long  hearings  were  liad  before  these  gentlemen,  and  it  i->  an  in- 
teresting fact  that  no  exceptions  were  taken  during  the  three  weeks 
of  the  bearings  l)y  cither  ])arty.  'J'he  report  of  the  C'ommittee  was 
accepted  by  the  Su])erior  Court,  and  no  ai)])eal  was  carried  in  any 
case  to  the  Su])reme  Cotu't  of  ]"*,rrors.  Lines  of  wire  were  erected 
and  power  succcssfull)  transniilteil  to  Walerbury.  and  other  cities. 
Se\'eral  electric  roads  are  run  h\  it.  and  nhimaleh  the  Xew  ^'ork 
and  .\'ew  i  ia\-en  and  Hartford  Kaili'o.ad  Coni])an\  obtained  tlie  con- 
trol (,f  the  ])l;mt. 


I S  E  R  M  O.  N',t'':* 

^S  '  Delivered  at 

iLirCIzTF/ELD,-    I 

■  ,•  Od  the  a"*   Day  of     iNoveinber,    A.  D.    17661.  [,<; 

On  the  Day  of  ilic  Hxcculion  of  ,.^ 

JOHN    .  J ACOBSi^ 

j^n  Indian    Ni^ivc,  • 

$.v]J  gvPurfuant  to    Scnlengc  of  Death  palTed  upor> 
5  ih       h.Ex  >:■  ^"'"'  ^y  the  Hon.  Suj-crior  Courr, 

^■'•i^  For    ihc  Murdci  of  ^^ 


JAMES  CHOCKRr^R.  R  », 

'  -lit 


r;^  r^fa^«i^j6kuivJi^■■"i>'^.^r■?■^A(^^■!LJ^■^^4^tr^. 


Preached  upon  the  Dcfirc  of  ihcCrimin 
publif)it'd  at  the   requcft   of  ronic.i)']F 
Hearers.  ^ ..^-^ 

By  TIMOTHY  PITKIN,  A.1;^'/V| 
*af\or   of    \\\\i    firft  Church   in    Farimj^gtQn^\J, 


%  'Jlwu  Jf>alt  not  kill. 


Sixth   CommamiK^ 


'  H  A  R  r  F,0  R  X> 

[printed  by  Green  ^  JVa(/o}f,''Dta.r   the  ^^Cftl 
BriJge./X'  '      '^' 


^:l%tm^^-  -'«:^r*•Ti.'i^. 


(  Ixcprixlnction  nf  title  pa^c  of  sonmin), 


OI.l)  Si:KMr)N'  341 

OLD  SERMON 

The  cniipik'r  lias  in  liis  library  a  coj))'  of  a  scniion  delivered  at 
Litolitirlil.  in  Xiiwiiiliri-.  ij'xS.  (Ui  tlir  cxcculinn  of  julin  Jacobs  for 
imirdcr  >>[  janK'>  Clii  ickrcr.  hoih  Indian  natives,  the  title  Jjaj^c  of 
which  is  herewith  rcpii  nhiced.  'I'his  i>  the  first  trial  for  murder  in 
tlic  ciinnty,  and  inn>t  ha\c  ])vvn  ni  nnnsual  interest  to  have  called 
forth  a  scrnmn  tnmi  so  eminent  a  di\ine  as  Timothy  I'itkin,  pastor 
of  the  Chnrch  at  i'"annin^ion.  I  will  {|uotc  a  few  choice  extracts 
tlierefrom. 

The  text  was  : 

\lMi:i:i<S  X.\X\'.  16. 

And  if  jii'!  smiti:  him  with  an  IxsTRL":\rKXT  or  IRON,  (so 
'iiiAT    iiK  DiK)    111':   IS  A   AlL'RDlUxHR :     Tiii';   Mlkdf.kkr  shall 

SIKI'.IA    i;iv  J'L'T  To  DkaTIL 

After  a  lons^"  sermon  on  the  text  adilressed  to  "Men  and  brethren;' 
and  ending-  with  "There  is  no  wa\'  for  sinners,  but  to  repair  to 
Christ;  to  Christ  we  must  g".  or  to  liell,"  the  learned  Divine  pro- 
ceeds, "M\'  discourse  now  turns  to  the  poor  prisoner,  under  sen- 
tence of  death." — witli  the  following  soothing  language,  "JOHX 
JAC()I5S.  It  was  \our  re(|uest.  tliat  tliis  last  advice,  by  me  should 
be  given  to  \ou,  and  there f^re  1)\  help  of  divine  grace,  I  shall  speak 
to  you,  with  great  ])lainess,  and  ()!  that  1  may  address  you,  with 
that  warmth  and  faith  fullness,  which  your  present  case  calls  for; 
this  being  the  last  sermon  you  will  ever  hear. 

"When  I  see  a  poor  criminal,  under  sentence  f)f  death,  when  I 
view  _\'our  aggravated  crimes,  and  \on  standing  upon  the  edge  of 
time,  and  just  launching  into  an  unalterable  and  eternal  state;  O! 
jjrisoner  what  shall  1  sa}'  to  you!  O!  my  hearers,  what  words  shall 
} our  preacher  choose ! 

Prisoner,  attend!  The  great  Cod  hath  made  a  law.  that  lie  that 
shcddctli  iiian's  blood,  by  iiinn  sludl  his  blood  be  shed.  An<l  in  our 
text,  /'/  one  siinfe  another  z^'itli  an  insfnniieiif  of  iron,  so  that  he  die, 
lie  is  a  nuirdercr.  the  murderer  shall  snrely  be  f^iit  to  death.  COD 
had  an  infinite  authority  to  make  this  law,  and  annex  this  jicnalty ; 
and,  J()HX,  this  is  your  case:  you  smote  one  of  your  fellow  crea- 
tures in  malice  and  rage,  with  an  insfniiiieiit  of  iron  so  that  he  died  ; 
tlierefore  }ou  are  a  murderer,  and  you  stand  ehari^^able  with  guilt 
of  blood,  'tis  just  that  you  be  ])nt  to  deatli.  fur  I)y  the  statute  of 
lieaven,  by  the  law  of  C(  )1).  you  ought  to  die. 

I'risoner,  attend!  \'ou  deserve  to  suflfer  the  eternal  pains  of 
hell,  it  is  just  in  God  to  send  you  to  the  hopeless  regions  of  the 
damned ;  you  was  a  sinner  and  have  been  a  jirayerless  malicious 
creature,  therefore  GOD,  against  whom  nou  ha\e  sinned  and  whose 
laws  you  have  violated,  may  justly  damn  you."  There  is  a  consider- 
able more  of  this  kind  of  consc^.laticn. 


342  i.ri'i'ii  I'l  i:i.i)  cointn'  i;i:ncii  and  j;.\r 

TRUMAN  SMITH 

The  l)i(iL;ra])liical  noics  on  'I'ruiiiaii  Sniitli,  wliicli  I  have  hereto- 
fore given,  were  jjrepared  l)y  a  chstingnished  lawyer  of  Xew  York 
City,  who  had  licen  associated  with  Mr.  Sniitli  in  his  practice,  and 
mostly  relate  to  matters  outside  ol'  Liiclitield  Conm\.  The  Ilnmas- 
ton  case,  however,  was  one  in  which  ihe  ])lainlitT.  .Mr.  liumaston, 
was  a  native  of  Litchfield,  and  was  in  the  em])lo\  of  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Company  when  he  invented  a  process  of  sending 
a  nnmber  of  messages  simultaneous  upon  the  same  wire,  and  the 
Tclegra])h  Company  claimed  that  it  was  their  i)roperty.  To  prevent 
other  telegra])h  companies  from  using  this  invention  the\'  pensioncci 
Mr.  Humaston  dm-ing  his  lifetime. 

During  Mr.  Smith's  residence  in  Litchtield  he  was  one  of  the 
leading-,  if  not  the  leading  lawyer  in  Litchfield  County,  in  certain 
classes  of  cases,  and  used  the  forcible,  brow-heating  method  of 
trial.  Lie  was  a  terror  to  witnesses  in  cross-examination,  and  many 
stories  are  told  about  him.  l're^•ious  to  the  great  tire  in  1886  the 
compiler  had  in  his  office  a  massixe  cherr\-  table  which  once  be- 
longed to  Mr.  Smith,  who  frequently  came  into  the  office,  as  he 
visited  Litchfield,  and  wotdd  go  up  to  the  old  table  and  after  ex- 
amining it  a  little  would  sa\-.  "Old  fellow.  T  have  ])ounded  you  a 
great  many  times  !" 

I  well  recollect  the  last  case  which  Mr.  Smith  tried  in  this  court, 
and  proljably  the  last  one  he  tried  in  any  court.  It  was  a  case  which 
was  brought  by  Mr.  Cothren  for  some  man  in  W'oodbtiry  against 
'Sir.  Xathan  Smith  of  Roxbnry.  a  brother  of  Truman  Smith.  It 
ap])eared  during  the  trial  that  the  plaintifif  never  authorized  the 
bringing  of  the  suit.  Avhich  was  over  some  very  trivial  dispute  of 
account,  nor  did  the  ])arty  who  was  rec(^gnized  to  itrosccute,  enter 
into  any  recoonizance.  The  case  came  before  judge  I  lo\e\-,  and 
]\Ir.  Smith  moved  that  it  be  erased  from  the  docket,  and  made  an 
argument  of  about  two  hotn\s  in  sup])ort  of  his  motion.  He  wa? 
then  nearly  eighty  years  old  and  too  infirm  to  stand  during  his  argu- 
ment, so  he  would  stand  part  of  the  time,  then  sit  for  a  time,  and 
never  did  an  attorney  receive  such  a  scoring  as  did  Mr.  Cothren, 
who  withdrew^  the  suit.  The  wliole  jierformance  was  the  most  im- 
pressive exhibition  of  ancient  legal  warfare   I   ha\e  e\er  witnessed. 

C.  F.  Sedgwick,  b'scj.  of  Sharon,  Conn.,  said  in  an  article  in  the 
Leavenworth  C.enealoyy,  P.  26.  that  "Up  to  Mr.  Smith's  time,  the 
eminent  men  of  the  county  were  a  kind  of  ])rivile'2"ed  class,  neve.' 
mingling  with  the  common  people — but  Mr.  Smith  welcomed  to 
his  acf|uaintan(,H'  and  sym])alh\-  s^ood  men  ot  all  conditions  in  societv 
no  matter  how  humbU'  or  obscure  the  man  might  be.  I  le  never  took 
advantage  of  his  social  |)osition  to  obtain  preferment  t"or  himself — 
never  asked  for  a  nomination — never  solicited  the  vote  of  any  man — 
his  weight  of  character,  eminent  fitness  and  great  abilities  alwavs 
marked  him  as  the  man  for  the  ])lace  and  his  nominations  were  made 
with  iiTcat  nnanimit\-.  " 


r.HORC.K    C.     llAUKISdX 


J!\k()X    TlTTUv 


CllKSTEKFli:i.l)    C.    .MIDDI.Kr.ROOKS  ANDREW    G.    liAKNKS 

TURV  CO^rMTSSTDXKRS 


jruv  COM  M  issi(i\i:us  34.^ 

Mr.  Smith,  in  the  lattrr  pari  of  \u^  Wiv.  hvr<l  in  Stanifonl.  an  I 
for  a  numhrr  ol  xcars  was  artiwly  e-n^a,L,a-(l  in  the-  su|)])rt'S>i<jii  of 
intoxicating-  li(|uiirs.  writing'  and  imhHshin.L;;  several  ])am])hk'ts  rc- 
latin_L,''  thereto  and  often  a])i)earin^  Ijefnre  tlie  Tieneral  Assenihlv' 
in  support  of  temperance  legislation. 


]['\<\  C(  ).\I.\IISS1<  ).\i-:rs. 

On  patic  }2()  tlie  metliod  of  drawing;-  jurors  is  outlined.  I  have 
obtained  the  pictures  nf  all  of  the  jury  Commissioners  since  this 
way  of  selectino-  the  Jury  was  ])r()\i(led  and  who  act  with  the  Clerk- 
as  the  board  of  selection  in  Jul\. 

CiKoi^c.i'.  C.  1  Iakkisox  was  api)i)inted  in  1895  and  died  while 
holdino-  the  ollice,  h'ebruary  25111.  i^)i)/.  He  was  born  in  Cornwall, 
Mav  Kjth,  1840,  and  resided  in  lii>  native  town  all  his  lite.  holdin.L^ 
nearly  all  the  honors  its  citizens  ccndd  i^ive  him  rci^ardless  of  party 
in  the  town  otlices.  Was  judj^e  of  I'rohate  many  years.  He  was 
often  ajipointed  by  this  Court  as  a  Committee  to  lay  out  roads,  ap- 
praise property,  assess  dania.^e.  etc.  As  a  Jury  Commissioner  he 
was  very  conscientious  and  at  the  sessions  of  the  board  he  always 
had  his  list  carefully  marked  and  ch  -eked  as  to  the  fitness  of  each 
nominee. 

T')^•Ro^■  Ti'TTi,]-;  was  also  ai)])ointed  in  1895  and  resigned  s(^on 
after  .Mr.  i  larrison's  death,  lie  was  also  exceedini^ly  careful  and 
lair  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  lie  died  in  riymnuth  September 
25.  1908.  aged  83.  He  was  in  early  life  an  active  business  man  and 
a  noted  manufacturer  of  carriages  which  industry  he  discontinued 
soon  after  the  close  of  the  civil  war.  He  held  many  of  the  most 
important  oHices  of  the  town  of  I'lymouth  ;  Selectman  and  Judge 
of  Probate.  He  did  a  good  deal  of  law  business  such  as  conveyanc- 
ing, drawing  wills,  contracts  and  the  like.  He  was  especially  fond 
of  assisting  attorne\s  in  i)reparing  a  case  for  trial  by  looking  u]) 
the  evidence,  witnesses  and  exhibits,  and  felt  great  pride  saying  that 
he  never  lost  a  case  that  he  ]ire])ared  as  he  desireil. 

AxDRKu'  G.  T>ARNi:s  was  ai)pointed  Jur\-  Commissioner  in  1907. 
He  is  a  native  of  Sherman  Cnnn..  born  November  T5th.  1838.  but 
has  resided  in  Xew  .Mil ford  nearl\  his  whole  life  where  he  is  an  ex- 
tensive farmer,  dairyman,  cattle  breeder  and  large  grower  of  to- 
bacco. Has  held  many  town  ollices  and  represented  Xew  Milf(^rd 
in  the  Legislature  of  i8<j5  and  1903.  and  was  Senat<M-  of  Ir.s  dis- 
trict in  1907.  and  is  re-elected  Senator  for  1909. 

CtiESTKkI'IKi.!)  C.  M  ii)ni.i:i'.KooK  was  an])ointed  a  Jury  Com- 
missioner in  1907.  He  has  been  Sheriff  of  Litchfield  Countv  and 
possesses    a    large    acquaintance    all    over    the    County,    peculiarly 

fiitting  him  for  exercise  of  his  ])resent  oHice. 


344  i.nxiii-ii:i.f'  C(U  ntn'  i;i:\cii  and  v.wi 

COl'STY  COMMISSK  ).\l-:kS. 

The  office  (if  Cnuntv  (."oinniissioner  was  established  more  than 
half  a  centurv  a.^n  and  a  lar.^e  variety  of  (hit'ies  arc  assi<;ned  l(j 
them  in  rehition  ti>  (.'(iunl\  alTairs,  such  a>  ])niviihnf^  for  the  care 
t'f  the  Ctnuitv  l)uil<hn^s,  their  rei)air,  provichno-  fur  .the  maintetiancc 
of  the  jaih  etc.  rrol)al)ly  their  most  archious  (hity  is  that  relating 
to  the  excise,  or  .i;rantin,i;-  of  licenses  for  the  sale  of  spirituous  and 
intoxicating-  licpiors.  Their  salaries  at  present  are  ^Ck'.o  a  year  and 
mileage.  Thev  hold  their  ollice  for  four  years  from  their  api)oint- 
ment.      The  present  C'ommissioners  are  as  follows 

lluhert  r>.  (."ase.  the  Chairman  is  a  native  of  I'-arkhamsted,  horn 
Ajiril  _:;rd.  iS5().  He  is  a  merchant,  has  heen  a  memher  of  the  Gen- 
eral .\ssemhl\-  from  his  town,  and  has  lield  man\-  town  ollices.  ilis 
term  of  ollice  ex])ires  October    i,    i()M. 

Howard  Ai.  (aiernse}-  was  born  in  Thomaston  January  9.  1877. 
lie  has  heen  for  se\'eral  _\ears  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lum- 
ber. His  mills  are  now  in  operation  in  Xew  llam])shire  and  \  er- 
mont.  He  has  rejiresented  Thomaston  in  the  Legislature.  His 
term  of  ollice  ex])ires  (  )ctober    i,    Kjii. 

John  J.  Karl  was  born  in  C.i.shen,  \.  ^'.  March  T,  i8(')4.  but  has 
roided  since  his  boyhood  in  Litchfield.  He  is  a  teacher,  comi)oser 
and  i)ul)lisher  of  nuisic.  Is  very  active  in  political  affairs,  and  is 
'I'own  Clerk  of  Litchfield,  and  Clerk  of  the  Probate  Court  of  Litch- 
field District.     His  term  of  office  expires  ( )ctol;er  1,   HJ13. 


^ 


COLKT  Mi{SSi':.\Cd':RS 

(  )ne  of  the  btisy  men  in  Court  is  its  messengers.  The  duties 
are  various,  and  not  delined  b\'  statute.  The  the:iry  is  the\'  are  to 
regulate  the  tem])erature,  lighting  and  wiuilatii  m  o|  the  Court 
room;  to  get  reference  l)ooks  as  recpiired  from  the  library  for  use 
in  the  Court,  and  attend  to  the  nudtitudiuous  errands  of  the  lawyers 
engaged  in  the  trial  of  a  cause. 

The}-  are  appointed  b_\-  and  hold  iheir  ollice  during  the  ])leasure 
of  the  judge. 

Tile  present  messengers  are  at  Lilchlield.  CIk'uuuh'x  |.  Luel.  He 
is  al-so  the  Janitor  (if  the  building.  In  W'insted.  Dr.  \\ille\-  T.  Smith. 
a  dentist  bv  profession,  rests  his  nerves  in  the  forensic  elo(|uence  oj 
the  attorneys.  In  Xew  Milford,  Lewis  W.  Mosher.  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil   war,  enjoxs  tlu'   strifes  ;nid   cinllicts  of  the  opjiosing  parties. 


fi 


X 


1  J^^ 


—  -^ 

-  O 


X 


JUDGML.XT. 

One  luindix'il  _\(.;irs  have  1)1'(jul;1iI  llicir  IiIimjih  aiiil  Iniil, 

Since  ■■c'vcr\  dik'  wlio  had  a  cause  or  suil." 

Mii^ht  "come  up  hither"  and  i)rcsenl  his  claim, 

With  no  misg'ivings,  that,  whoever  came. 

With  a  good  cause,  good  witnesses,  good  men 

Upon  the  bench  as  judges,  and,  again, 

A\'ith  twelve  good  honcsit  jurors;  if  he  saw 

That  well-feed  "counsel  learned  in  the  law," 

]lad  courage,  after  half  dozen  fights. 

Would — stand  an  even  chance  to  get  his  rights, 

Aud  then  at  least  the  controversy  o'er. 

The  case  all  settled,  to  be  tried  no  more. 

Those  hundred  years,  as  onward  tlu\   Iia\e  s\\e])t, 

Have  seen  how  calm  the  litigants  have  slept: — 

judge,  jury,  counsel,  jmrties  have  withdrawn. 

And  to  a  higher  bar  together  gone. 

Where  everv  right  decree  is  ratified 

And  every  wrong  reversed  and  set  asicle. 

JoTix  Pii:ki'o\' 


Ix   Rk 

IX   TIIK   -MATTICK   Ol-'' 
THE  LITCIII'IKI.I)  COUNTY 
BKXCII   and    r>AK. 

Taxi.'aky  I,  1909 

P)C  it  remembered  that  this  cause  having  been  i)ending  for  a 
century  and  a  half,  and  the  ])artics  having  been  dul\-  heard,  by  llieir 
witnesses  and  counsel,  and  having  examined  the  foregoing  exhibits, 
v.-hich  are  made  a  part  of  this  record.  It  is  considered  and  ordered 
that  the  foregoing  judgment  presented  fifty  years  ago  to  the  citizens 
of  Litchfield  Count_\'  ])\-  jolm  rier])onl  in  his  (."entennial  ])(iem  is 
hereby   accepted   and   ai)proved. 

DwiGHT  C.  Kir.r.orRX. 

Clerk. 


INDEX 


NAMI'.S 


A  Baldwin.   Birdscye  115,  222 

Chief  Justice  312 

.\ln.riKtIiy,   IClisha   S.  142,  217  Daniel  221 

Adam  and  Cliurcli  22  George  H.  127,  22^ 

Adam  and  Kve  313  George  223 

J.  Ilenr\'  2\6  Isaac     11,  121,  123,  140,  143,223 

Adam-.  Andrew  Isaac  Jr.  224 

11,  5t>,  126,  J3'J,  181,  217,  336  Roger  S.  224,  33O 

Eli  jail  123,  217  Samuel  244 

John   Q.  124,  218  \Villiani  224 

John  (Juincy              92,  105.  293  Ball.  Luther  T.  244 

John  174,  2uS  Bancroft,  (icorge  137 

Samuel  217  P>arl)c)ur,  Henry  S.  224.  301 

A(ldi^.  Jiilm   V.  124.  21S  S\lvesler  224 

Aiken,  l-'dnumd  123.  218  Barker,  Prof.  153 

JMhn  218  Barnes,  Andrew  G.  343 

Albro,  Jiihn  A.  218  Lorrin  224 

AUd.s.  James  34c  Barrett.  John  121 

Allen,   kthan  13  Barlow,  Joel  80,  176 

ilenr\   J.                     127.  219,  266  Bates.  A.  192,  225 

J<ihn  Robert  C.  221 

II,  2%.  45,  56,  62.  126,  218.  338  Ballell,  Josiah   B.  225 

John  Wm.  47,  139  Beach,  Jesse  225 

Ames,  Fisher  336  John  S.  156 

Andrews.  Charles  B.  Supl.,  Geo.  \V.  154 

125,  126,  129,  181.  219.  309.  310  Ik'ardsley.  Ferris  150 

Charles  \V.  221  Beckwith,  J.  Gail  123,  22^ 

Hdward  Warren  221  Beebe,  Zenas--trial  148 

James  P.  221  Beecher,  Abraham  225 

Samuel  James  221  Henry  Ward  182 

William  221  Hezekiah  225 

\\'.  H..  Rev.  22\  Rev.  Lyman  37 

Andros.   Sir  Edmund  6  Philemon  225 

Annual  banquets  316.  317  Truman  225 

Ashley.   Timothy  140  Beeman.  Frederick  D. 

At  wood,   C.   B.  '  124.  22  r  126,  139,  226,  262,  2-j},.  321.  2>2- 

Austin,  .\aron               ir,  142,  143,  222  Beers.  Frederick  225 

Ralsamon  C.  221  George   W.  226 

Averill.  Roa;cr  108,  222  Lewis  F.  226 

Ayers.  Russell  W.  211  Seth   P. 

88.  92,  I2f),  135,  171,  226.  T,},?, 

Belden.  Charles  O.  226 

B  Bellaniv.  Jo-eph  H.       30.  95.  135,  226 

Joseph,  D.  D.  30.  226 

Babcock.  Rufus.  Rev.  7  Benedict,  Amos  226.  296 

Bacon,  Asa  Noah  B. 

61,  86.  87,  134-  •^■2-'-  .^.?.^-  .^38  29,  56,  yj.  K\  87,  123.  134.  139, 

Epaphroditus  C.  222  149,  22"],  27?.  338 

Gen.   Francis  222  Rev.  Noah  39 

Backus.   Azel.  D.  D.  23.  33  Bennct,  Mi'lo  L.  22~ 

Baker.  Willard  124,  222  Benton.  Jacob  122 

Balcomli.  Benjamin,  murder  152  Lsaac  21 


II 

IN  I) 

i:.x 

Berr.\.    Honian 

jj- 

I'rowiixm.   Samuel 

-.3- 

Bet  IS.  John   li. 

227 

Koger 

2.U 

'I"li;ultlriis 

78 

I'.uekingham.  (".ov.   Win. 

A. 

108 

,  30  r 

Bi(Iun-lI.   William   W". 

227 

1  lonuT 

160 

Biercc.  William   W. 

124 

.   227 

S.    Me  Lean 

124 

.  -'.3.3 

Billings.  X. 

192 
227 

I'.uel.    Dr.    lleiirv   W. 

129 

.   LSO 

Bills.   Henry  A. 

Dr.  Jolm    L. 

3.39 

Brigham.  Judge 

278 

Norton    I. 

108, 

2.^2 

Bion.   .MiolKU'I--trial 

159 

Dr.   Wilfi.im 

26 

Bird.   11. -n.  Jnhn 

227 

P)ull.  h"i)ap]irus.  W. 

232 

Ji)>eph 

.3-2. 

142 

Hurke.    William 

232 

Bissell.   Daniel 

I_^ 

Burr.  Aaron                   44. 

182 

.  19T 

,  335 

Kdward 

Sally                  44. 

1 82. 

191, 

335 

l\(l\vanl 

124. 

227 

Burrall.   Porter 

109 

I^'rancis 

1-2.^. 

22i^ 

William   .\L 

tiovernor 

78 

,     56 

80.     91.      10  J.      1  12, 

L34. 

14-'. 

143 

Harry 

322 

^.32.    233. 

Blackman.  Ehcnezer  B. 

22i 

William    P. 

140. 

2.1,3 

Blagden,  Col. 

16 

Burrill.   Charles    D. 

2.U 

Blake.  Louis   |. 

124, 

228 

Burnham,   Oliver 

143 

Blakeslee.  J.  "W. 

228 

Bushnell,   Horace 

1.39 

Blakelev.   Samuel  C. 

228 

Butler,   Calvin              90. 

L34. 

14-'. 

2.U 

Blodgett.  William   H. 

124. 

228 

Calvin    R. 

233 

Bnardman.  Daniel.  Rev. 

7 

Malcolm  N. 

2.U 

David  S.— Sketches 

39, 

Col.  John 

17 

40.  80.  86.  88.  go.  i 

•^3.   1.35- 

14-', 

Butler,    Hon.    Thomas   B 

151. 

311 

228.  .^i.^.:;.  x^7.  33^ 

Chief  Justice 

tor. 

332. 

.U^ 

Elijali 

20,  97. 

228 

Zehulon 

i7 

George  S. 

97- 

228 

William   W. 

228 

c 

Booth.  Walter 

•   78 

Boriesson.    Andrew — tria' 

1 

160 

Cable.  Curtiss  W. 

233 

Bosier.   William   D. 

^23. 

228 

Cady.   Daniel   W. 

2.U 

Bostwick.   Bu.shnell 

T42 

Calhoun.  David  S. 

124, 

2.U 

Charles 

228 

f.ilm   C. 

182, 

3^2. 

.uf^ 

Joseph  A. 

229 

"William 

152 

Samuel 

^23. 

229 

Camp.  Ceorge  W. 

-34 

Botchford.  Nathan 

122 

Samuel   C. 

1-4. 

-34 

Botsfnrd.  Henry  A. 

127, 

229 

Camden.   Lord 

73 

Botts.  John  M. 

292 

Canfield.    Ezra 

-^34 

Boughton.  John  (). 

124, 

229 

Edward    T.             i 

2A- 

125. 

234 

Boyd.  John 

229 

Hcm-x   J. 

-234 

Bradley.   Abraham.  Jr. 

23c 

John                       26. 

53- 

1 26. 

-34 

Kdward   H. 

150 

Jost'pli 

123. 

-234 

Phineas 

23^ 

Judson 

1-3. 

14.^ 

■234 

Bradstrcet.  .Mbert   P. 

124. 

23  f 

Samuel    10,  26.  42. 

121, 

14-'. 

■^34 

Brainard.  Cenhas 

203 

Col.    S.'immd 

23? 

Jeremiah   C, 

73.  77 

.  ^3 

Card,    Albert    .M. 

-^35 

I '.ran  I 

17 

Carpenter.  Judge 

1.30 

I'.rewster.  Nelson 

IT  5. 

2.3  r 

Casi'.   Lvmaii   W. 

235 

I'.recn.  James  T. 

2,31 

OVrin   S. 

2.^-, 

P>rinsmade.    Dan'el   N.        t 

23.   14.V 

2.31 

Uriah 

124. 

2.-i5 

Rev.    Daniel 

.=^.v 

2,31 

Callm.    Dr.    Abel 

329 

Bristol.  Clifford   E. 

124. 

-',32 

Abijah                  ;i. 

142. 

2.^r^. 

233 

William 

7.3. 

■   77 

(jeorge 

-.3.T. 

330 

Bronson.   Bennett 

-^.32 

(leorge   .*~^mith 

235 

Merritt 

232 

John 

121 

Brooks.  Norman 

163 

Putnam 

235 

Brown.  Charles  R. 

2^2 

Thomas 

122 

John 

18.3 

ClL-iffee.    I'.lmore    S. 

2.36 

INDKX 


Cliaiiihcrlaiii,  Onv.   Ahli'am 
Champion,  Anna 
Chaiiiplin,   Kpaplirodiliis 

Jviicrctia 

Judali,   Rev. 

Jnhn   1). 
Cliapiii,    l\c\-. 
C'liapman,   Chailcs 

77,   loj,   isr, 

Judge  56,  7, 

Charles    I,  King 

II.  King 
Chase,  Charles  Y 
Chcevcr,   Samuel   W. 
Chipman,  Thomas 

lion.   Nathaniel 
Chittenden,   Fredenek 
Choatc,    Rnfus 
Chockrcr,  James 
Church,  Aaron 

Leman  29,    50,    66, 

109,  no,  11 1,  116,  126, 

2^7,  333.  338. 

Samuel         3,   66,   86, 

126,  133,  139,  152,  168, 

297.  302,  311,  332,  333, 

Clark,   Senator  William  A. 

S.  Gregg 

Thomas  M. 
Clayton,  John  M.  293, 

Cleveland,  Chaunccy 

Chester  D. 

Frank   E. 

General 
Clossey,  E.  M. 
Cobb,  Lorenzo  T. 
Coe,  Mrs.  Thomas  M. 

William  C. 
Coffing,  George 

Churchill 
Cogswell,  Leonard  W.        131, 

Col.  William      92,  123, 
Cole.  George  W. 
Collier,  Thomas 
Collins,   Rev.    Timothy 
Cook,  Richard 

Roger 

Roger  W. 
Cornelius.  Elias 
Cornwall,  Edward  A. 
Cothren,   William  150, 

238.    254,    262,    273,    34 
County  Jail 
Court  Messenger 
County   Commissioner 
Cowan,  Stewart  W. 
Cowles.  Edward  P. 

Walter   S. 

Samuel 


295 
261 

63 

63 

261 

236 

37 

3^3 
,  78 
41 
230 
236 
192 
2^6 
236 
237 
310 

341 
237 
108 
150, 

108 
296 
337 

288 
237 
237 
336 
137 
238 
238 
61 
163 
152 
281 
238 
156 
23^ 
323 
238 
238 
146 
224 
238 

IT 

238 

36 

245 
T5I,     ^52 

176 

344 

344 

125,  239 

230 
239 
239 


23, 


3,   7O 


142. 

117- 
242, 


96, 
135, 

103, 
237- 

335- 


125, 

312, 
102, 
124, 
124, 


321 

L35. 
124. 

19, 


Cromwell,   Oliver 
Cunmiing,   Edward 
Curtiss,  I<"li 

Garner   B. 

J  loll/rook 

Medad 

William    ]•:. 
Gushing.  Caleb 
Cutler,  (jcorge  Y. 


41. 


94.  1.34. 


282 

2.39 
123,  239 
129 
142,  239 
239 
239 
1.37 
239 


Daggett,  Judge 

56,  78.  139,  140,  1 48, 

311.  332, 

335 

Darling.   Samuel 

121 

Davis,   Gov.   John 

137 

William   C. 

154 

William  C,  Jr. 

L=;4 

Nathan 

122 

Davics,  John 

121 

Dawes.  Senator 

278 

Day,  Thomas 

84.  8; 

i.  98 

Dayton,  Spencer 

125, 

239 

Dean,   Gilbert 

239 

Lee  P. 

125, 

239 

Deming,  Julius 

20,  182, 

146 

Stephen 

322 

William 

322 

Dempsey,  E.  C. 

125, 

240 

Dexter,  Jeremiah  W. 

240 

Derso,     Dr.  Grosz 

325 

Dickinson,  Daniel   S. 

312 

William   Iv 

240 

Dowd,  Wheaton  F. 

143. 

240 

Downs.  Robert 

239 

Theodore  W. 

240 

T^orr,    Governor 

L37 

Drakely,  Robert 

152 

Drinkwater,   William 

240 

Dunbar,  Daniel 

240 

Miles 

240 

Dunning,  Lyman 

159 

Dutton,  Judge  Thomas 

103. 

241 

Henrv  M. 

241 

Dwight.  Rev.  'Timothy 

37 

D\er,  Eliphalet 

170 

Eastman,  Rufus  24T 

Eaton,  William  W.  102 

Edmonds.  Judge  56 

David  241 

Edwards,  Rev.  Jonathan  31.  33S 

Pierrpont  56 

Ogden  241 

Eggleston.  Frederick  241 

Eldridge.  Nathaniel  B.  241 

Elliott,  Rev.  John  64 


Elliott,  William  33^^ 

Kllsworth.   Homy   l.n,niiis  241        Caitklil,  Almi/o  1'..  3-M 

Ohvvv                170-    174.  -41.   ~\-       Carrctt,  Josluui  l^- 

Williani   W.  CaRcr.  Jiulfic  lulwin  R.                      330 

;()     111.    i-'S.    i.'d,  1^1.    242       CaNlord.  Frrik'nck  -M'^ 

l.-lnicr.   William   T.,   Jiuli^c  i<>3       C^orgc  III..  SlaliK-  '^' 

l.:i,n.n-..  Jolm              loS.  m.  .-'3,  241       C'.Klding.s^  Amnn  -4<^ 

111..  ''II                    *•  ^'  ^' 

/r';''^           1  1-    '1         r.ifford.  George  -^'J4 

Lol.   Samuel  l>  -4i        ^,,^,^^^^_  j.^,^^^.^  p  124.  246 

l-:iy.  William   11.  i^S-  24'       (.^;,,,_  (^^,^,,^^.^.  k.  246 

Kmmons,  Charles  I'.i                   Thomas  R.  24(> 

Knsign,  James  -4i       Condman,  Arthur  313 

Ktheridge.  Frank  W.         124,  t66,  241        ('.oodrich,   Elizur  45 

Evcritt.  Daniel                    4^,  123.  242                  Lieut.  Gov.  ^/J^ 

Sherman  242       Goodwin,  Hiram  114.   '4-'.  -4/.  -^/^' 

Everson.   Margaret  55       G.ould.  James 

,•     ■         0-1           .  22:;                    24.   28,  46.   50,   ^9,  ^:i.    106,   120, 

hwmg.  Thomas  22,                    ^4.^^  149,  183.  187,  188,  192,  193- 

194,  246,  293-  304.  312.  ^^^-  337, 

^  338 

James  Reeve  247 

Fairchild.  Mary  217                   George  247 

Farnam.  John  R.  125-  242                  William  T.  247 

Farnsworth,  Amos  H.  242                   pr.  William  59 

Farrand,  Rev.  Daniel  23       (danger,   Lyman  247 

Fellows,  Francis  loi                   Miles  Tol.y 

Fenn,  Augustus  H.  "o,  in.  112.  114.  "„  i-^  -4.. 

Hn, -^^-^  -•  -  -  2     .^™...|i"'^-«  ^t^ 

F""^''''''"'''^'  J-  ^-^-l       Graves.  Henry  B. 

Linus  123.  244                  j^g^  ^_,g_  j-,_  ]-j_  I--,  241,  24<\ 

Field.  George  L.  244                   254,  260,  321 

Fillmore.  Millard  293                   Jedediah  "° 

Fitch,  Thos.  ^22      Q,.^(.„^  Alhert  G.  329 

Flint,  Rev.  Dr.  230                  Dr.  John  ^37 

Foote,  Admiral  244                  William  H.  ^53 

Ehcnezer  245       Criswold.  G.eo.  W  .                              24» 

Governor  244                   Roger  ^^^ 

John  A.  244.  245                   (^.ovenior  47-    V'^ 

Lucius  H.  150       (num.  Frederick  24> 

Forhes.  Samuel  13.  20.  21        (Guthrie.  W.  W.  '-'5.  24. 

Foreign  Mission  Sclunil  .-^o 

Foster.  Jared  B.  113.  13.-^.  143.  245.  2^2 

Lafayette  S.  101 


H 


Fox.  Charles  .    ^■■''                ,     ,          ,,    1  i     1  ifii 

Franklin.   Benjamin  ^^   1/4  Haddock   v.   Haddock  ^4 

John  '7  Hadley.  Richard  'V 

Governor  i^'  1  lale.  Nathan  u.^,  I4.V-| 

Maj.  Gen.  Wm.  B.  245  Hall.  Benjamin  -4° 

Silas  17                   I'.lnalhan  •  -4' 

Waher   S.  24S                   (Gideon       .  2..  i.^S.  ,  5. .  22r,.  248 

Freeman.  George  A.  245                   Kohert    1'..  '--  -^' 

Frisbie.   Samuel  246  Halsted.  Mr.  -^  - 

Henry   L  II7,   246  TLimillon.    Alexander  3.^' 

Terome  246  Hand.  Alexander  3.^«i 

Rufus  246  Hardenl.urg.   Col.   Jacoh   K 

Fulton.  Robert  291  '"•   >^-  -\^ 

Fyler,  Florimond   D.         I43-  246,  262  Hari)er,   jMhii  ^4' 


7NI)Kx  V 

llaniMiii,   (hmm-kc  C.  34.^  1 1  ul.l.ard,  J.  I  I.    71,105.107,114,126, 

Julius   B            116.  126,  1^8,  249  13^.  150.  2i(j,  234.  276.  321 

J I  art.  William  M^  ■!''''"  ,'^'„.  '^•^'  ''"-^ 

liarvcv.    In.l    K.v,  .36  ;™''~-  }\  'f|-  ^S.^ 

■  ,     ,     "           , .,          1,  ,,.     ,,  i\K- hard    I ).  157,   2«.t 

at  law.iv.   (.lia>.    K.  125,  24(j  11            ,  ,,, 

,,,,•,  J      -t  llmna>t()ii .14-' 

"•'»^'''-  '^'"'f'^  ~-^'\  lIuiiRcrford,  Frank  L.  125,255 

lia\vk'\.   Charles  7^  Levi  255 

William       ^  249  |  luniph'rey,  Joseph   D.  255 

Hayes,  Charles  tiordon  249  V'an  R.  25O 

John  T.  \<\]  1  luiil.    ilirani  256 

Hazelton,  John  1.^  Keuhen  134.  256 

Heacock,  Pliilo  N.  97.   134,  249  Robert  256 

Hemiiivvay,   l.ouis   M.  249  Russell  21 

lienshaw,  Joshua  145,  249  1  Funtir.gton,  Kdward  Ci.  256 

Merman.  Samuel  A.  124,  249  James       124,  126,  152.  155,  245, 

Hickox,  Cieorge  A.     156.  j^]7.  248,  250  250,  256.  316.  318 

Higgins,   Bernard   E.  124.  250  Gen.  Zachariah  64 

James  R.  I57  Jabez  W.        29.  64,  76.  86.  126. 

Richard  T.  124.   165,  25c  134.  183.  190.  194,  256,  333.  ,3.38 

llillhnuse,  James  56  llnrlhut.  Wm.   F.  141 

Mine,  Homer  250  The  County  Court  I43 

Hinman,  Chief  Justice  :i23,  335  Health   Officer 

Noah  142  166.  240.  258,  323 

Edward'  26,  250  Doctor  18 

Charles  W.  250  Hvdc.  Alvin  P.  256 

Joel  311 

Robinson   S.  251  I 

Royal  R.  95.   138,  251  ,,     T       ,1  T-,, 

Simeon  123,  251  Ing^-rs.-lK  Jonathan  122 

C.overnor  2^1 


Hitchcock.  John  122 

Roland  ,  J"^g^  /^o 

112.  114.  T26.  14.?,  251.  254        I^-^'^'  ^"^'^      ^  'io 


no 


no.   11^,   114.    1.^0.    i4,v   -:>'•  --iH         '    TT  n  >-« 

Holabird.  William   S.  ^^nry  C.  2o« 


96,   no.   \iTi.   134.  251 
Hodges.   Elkanah   H.  251 


J 


Holc'om'b,  Marcus  H  125.  167,  252  Jackson,  President  241,  251,  225 

Walter  124.  167,252  Jacobs.  George  W.  2.-,« 

HolHster,  David  F.  252                  John  34i 

Gideon  H.  James,  H.  ^ 

126.  138,  150,  151,  253,  262.  273,  Jay,  John  ^3 

321.  322,  335  Jaciua,  Daniel,  Jr.  250 

John'  b'     '  252  Jefferson,  President  170.   1/4,  337 

Holly,  John  M.  252  Jenks.  George  P.  258 

Holley,  Horace  311  Jcnkms  &  Boyd  21 

Holle>  &  Coffmg  21  Jessup,  Ebenezer,  Jr.  2^8 

Holmes,  Uriel  Jewell.  Ezra  2:,« 

n.   123.  143.  147.  253.  338                  Frederick  A.  124.  2..b 

Holt.  George  B.  252,  296  Johnson.   Presidenl   Aiuhew  2:^s 

Hopkins.  Samuel  Miles  253                   Franklin  ^  '54 

Hornblovver.  C.  J.  306                   Samuel  N.  20 


Home,  Samuel  B.  124.  254 


Amos  M.  258 


Horton,  F.  H.  254  Elisha  126,  2.-,9 

Isaac  M  254  Solon    B.  H/-  ~:^'J 

Walter   W.  123.  259 


Hosmer,   Stephen  Titus 
73- 
Hosford.  Samuel  C. 
Howe.  Henrv 

John  D.  -_.,.  _.,  ,       .  „  T 

Hubbard,  Edward  J.  125,  254  H.  Roger.  Jr.  124.  -.-,9 


73.  220,   31^.   332                   Sylvester  259 

Hosford.  Samuel  C.    '"  254  Johnston,  S.  W.  " 

Howe,  Henry  225                   Josiah   S.  34 

John  D.  125.  254  J'>iiL's.  Rev.  Isaac  i»» 


INDEX 


Jiidd,  Walter  S.  123,  143,  166,  259 

Judges  Notes  328 

Judson,  Charles  A.  127,  259 

George  H.  259 

S.  W.  259 


Keese,  James  D. 
Kellogg,  Ebenezer  B. 
Kelsey.  William 
Kent,  Judge 
Kickapoo  Indians 
Kilbourn.  Dwight  C. 
Kingsbury,   Frederick  J. 

George 

John 
King,  Daniel   M. 
Kirby,  Hphraim 

Law   Reports         i 

260,  290,  291,  312, 

Reynold  Al. 
Kirkuni,  Philemon 
Knapp,  William 
Koehler,  Fred  M. 
Kunkel,  Edward  A. 


259 
260 
260 

186,  335 
314 

123,  260 
260 
260 
260 
260 

25,  Zl,  123 
68,   170,   181, 

260 

260 

125,  261 

125,  261 

261 


124, 
II, 


95, 


Lake,  Joseph 
Landon,  Edgar  M. 

Howard  F. 

John  R. 
Lanman,  James 
Law,  Richard 
Law  School 
Lawrence,  H.  P. 

Wm.  P. 
Leavenworth,  "Isaac 

William 
Lee,  Rev.  Jonathan 

Bradley  D. 

Rev.  Chauncey 
LeRoy,  James 
Lewis,  Rev.  Alonzo  N. 

125,  262, 

Daniel  W. 
Lilley,  James 
Linsley,  Frank  D. 
Longfellow,  Charles  D. 
Loomis,  Hon.  James  C. 
Lord,  John  J. 

Lynde 
Loring,  Charles  G. 
Lounsbury,  Gov.   Phineas 

W.  B. 
Loveridge,  George 

John  P. 
Lower>,  Romeo 
Lowry,  Governor   P. 


261 

261 

261,  339 

127,  261 

li,  75 

181,  311 

170 
155,  262 

124 
135,  262 

147 
7 

262 

262 

154 


31, 


321,  Z2Z 

123,  262 

262 


125, 


127.  263, 


262 
262 

331 
263 
264 
186 
254 
150 
264 
264 
264 
294 


125. 
124, 


121, 
124, 


124, 
126, 


Lynde,  Samuel 
Lyman,  Darius 

David 

Col.  David 

Ensign   Moses 

Moses.  Jr. 

Samuel  . 
Lyons,  Benedict  E. 

M 

Maltbie.  Theodore  M. 
Manchester,  Wilbur  G. 
Mannering,   Edward 
Mansfield,  Judge 

Lord 
Marsh,  Cyrus 

Ebene/.er  10, 

Frank  W^ 

Samuel 

William 
Marshall,  Judge 
Marvin,  George  A. 

Reynolds   11,  20,   123, 

265 

Ruth 
Mason,  John  Y. 

Ebenezer  P. 
Masters,   Charles   S. 

Nicholas 
McDermoit,   Peter  J. 
Mather,  John  P.  C. 
Maxani,  Amasa 
McCurdy,  Charles  J. 
McMahon,  James  H.       135.  265 

John 
McLaughlin.  William 
McMorris,  William  H. 
Mead,  Paul  E. 
Mannassah.  Henrv 
Merrill,  Walter  S. 
Merwin,  Edward  S. 

Orange 

Sylvanus 

T.  Dwight 
Metcalf,  Thcron 
Middlebrooks,  C.  C.  127,  225, 
Miller,  Joseph  91, 

Mills,  Michael  F.        93,  1 12, 

Roger  93,   114, 

Ivoger  H. 

Samuel  J. 
Minor.  Gilbert   S. 

John 

Joseph 

Matthew 

Matthew  J. 
Miner.   Phineas 

65,  74.  86.  80.  123.  i.U-  >39,  140- 

267.  3.1^  3.^8 


156, 
124, 

78, 


125, 

266, 
135, 
134, 
134, 


94. 


122 
264 
264 
264 
264 

143 
264 
264 


265 
264 
162 
335 
184 
265 
142 
265 
265 
122 
335 
265 
170, 

170 
293 
34 
265 
265 
265 
102 
148 

lOI 

2b6 

265 

339 
266 
2'66 
152 
266 
266 

91 
no 

266 
312 

267 
266 
266 
267 
30 
267 
142 
142 
135 
j()7 


INDIvX 


Miner,  Tininiliv 

122 

William  'J\ 

117. 

101 

Mitchell,  John  C 

106,   1.34, 

2U7 

Henry   A. 

2()7 

Stephen   Mix 

122, 

3>i 

Mix,  John  (;. 

267 

I.ucy 

145 

Thomas 

145 

Morrill.   Henry  R. 

267 

Moore.  Charlvs  C. 

iSi 

Sanuiel 

,v4 

Morris,  Governeur 

13. 

3M^ 

T.    Dwight 

104, 

267 

James 

23,  37 

\  05 

Matthew  M 

151 

Morse.  Jacob 

129 

Nathan 

125. 

268 

Morton,  Walter  S. 

340 

Moseley,  Increase 

142 

W'^illiam 

176 

Moses,  Julius 

^33 

Mosher,  Lewis  W. 

344 

Moss.  Charles  H. 

268 

Mulvillc,  Wm.  P. 

125, 

268 

Munger,   Warren 

268 

Munn,  Frank  ]'>. 

124, 

268 

Munson,  Harris  B. 

268 

Judge   I.oveland 

289 

Mygatt,   Fred   K. 

125. 

268 

N 


Nellis,  Edward  A.  127,  268 

Nesbit,  Engenius  A.  183 

Nettleton,  Charles  269 
Nickerson,  Leonard  J. 

123,   228,   268.   316 

Major  A.  268,  269 

Nelson,  Mikkel  269 

New  Mil  ford  Power  Co.  340 

North,  Theodore  95.   135,  269 

Norton,  Birdseye  143 

James  H.  269 

Johnathan   T.  269 

Noycs,  William  Cuniss  239 


O 

Obookiah.  Henrv 
O'Hara.  William  H. 
Old   Grimes 
Orr,  James  L. 
Orton.  Samuel  D. 
Otis.  Harrison  (u-ay 
O'Sullivan.  Eugene  T. 
Osborne,  Sellick 


124. 


30 
269 

329 

270 
270 
181 
270 
146 


1^3' 


151, 


270 
270 
270 
270 
270 
220 


Palmer.  Charles  A. 

Joseph   M. 

Solomon  M. 
Parmaley,  Jonathan  !•*. 

David 
Park,  Hon.  John  D. 

Parker,  Amasa  270 

Rev.  Daniel  23 

Parsons,   Anson   V.  270 

Daniel  270 

Patterson,  Walter  M.  270 

Pease,  Calvin  270 

Peck,  102 

William  K.  1 12,  270 
Peet,   George   Washington       112,  271 

Perkins.  Donald   II.  245 
Perry,  Nathaniel           94,  95,   134,  271 

Peters.   Hugh   F.  76,  271 

John  T.  23.  73,  75,  126,  271 

Petti't,  Joel  T.  271 

W'illiam  192 
Pettibone,  Augustus 

II,  79,  80,  123,  142,  143,  271 

Giles  271 

Samuel  26,   126,  271 

Sereno  271 
Phelps,  Chark.-s   B. 

94,  134,  138,  142,  150,  151,  238, 

262,  273,  321 

E.  Frisbie 


Elisha 

Ralph  P. 

Samuel 
Pickering,  Col. 
Pierce,  Amos 

James 

Sarah 
Pierpont,  John 
Pine.  Charles  H. 
Pingrce,  T.  P. 
Pitcher,  John 
Pitkin,  Rev.  Timothy    (sermon) 

George 

William 
Plait.  Orvillc  H..  Hon. 
Plumb.  Henrv   B. 
Poe,  Washington 
Poem.  The  Law\ers 
Pond.  E.  LeRoy' 
Porter.  Charles  J. 

John  K. 


122,  336, 


139,  272,  273. 


122. 
170. 

124. 


Wa 


124. 
127. 


Joshua  II. 

Peter  B. 

President 
Potter.  Joel  B. 
Prentice,  George  D. 
Prescott,  Henry  H. 


106. 
35" 


273 
273 
273 
33^ 
230 
273 
273 
24 
345 
245 
278 

273 
341 
263 
170 
273 
275 
312 
328 
275 
275 
294 
142 

275 
228 

275 

76 

157 


IXDF.X 


Preston,  Nathan 
William 


1.^,^  275 

1(1.    !_'!.     14-',    276 


>6i, 

27O,  3-'o 

276 

293 

276 

276 

117 

276,  277 

117,  ^n 

157, 

278,  301 

i-M- 

279,  Z^2> 

124,  279 

124,  279 

183. 

184,  277 

182 

Kahclln   (trial)  140 

Ransom,  William   I.. 

123,    12O, 
Timothy  C 

Randall.   l>cnjamin 

Raymond,  David 
James 

Reed,  Rev.  Adam 
John 
John  f.. 

Roraback,  Alberto   T. 

124,  126,  132,  143. 
J.  Clinton 
J.  Henrv 
Willard   A. 

Reeve,  Aaron  Burr 
Abner  Rev. 

Reeve.  Tapping 

II,  23,  24.  28,  37,  42,  46,  56,  59, 
61,  62,  85,  122,  123,  126,  139, 
182,  185,  187,  191,  192,  193,  195, 
217,  225,  228,  230,  241,  244,  245, 
246,  253.  273,  2-/-],  290,  291,  293, 
298,  306,  311,  312,  329,  335.  iib. 

Tapping  Burr  184 

Roberts,  Elbert  P,  123.  279,  339 

Edward   S.  340 

Virgil  133 

William  J.  279 

Robinson,  Henry  C.  283 

Richards,  James  278 

Richmond,  Edward  278 

Francis  X.  278 

Richter.  Clark  278 

Robbins,  Rev.  Annni  23 

Samuel  156 

Rockwell  Bros.  21 

Edward  278 

Julius  278 

William  278 

Rogers,  Capt.   l-'.dward  16 

William  279 

Rooseveh,  President  246.  275 

Root.  Jesse  122,  182,  185.  191,  311,  3"-^ 


Rood,  William  IT 
Rowland.  Samuel 
Ruggles.  Philo 
Russell.  Col.  ]•:.  K. 

John  II. 
Ryan.  Joseph 
TiiiKithv 
Tlmmas  E. 


123, 


278 
279 
279 
168 
279 
280 
280 
123,  280,  326.  339 


124. 
280, 


108, 


71,   126, 


125 


^83. 
82. 

II,   15. 


Salisbury.  Stephen 
San  ford,  (k-orge  A. 

David  C.  96.  126, 

Henry  S. 
Henrv  Sevninur 
Roll  in 
Scatocoke   Indians 
Scott,  Fred  A. 
Scoville,  Daniel 
Homer  R. 
Sedgwick,   Albert 

Charles   F.        71 
151,  282,  321,  342 
Gen.    John 
Robert 
Capt.  John 
Sewall,    Samuel 
Seymour,   E.   W. 
Frank  W. 
Horatio 
Morris  W 
Moses 
Moses,  Jr. 

Origin   Storrs  71. 

126,  138,  150,  151,  152 
283.  285.  286,  288,  311 
336. 

Ozias  II,  ^2,    127 

Rev.   Storrs  O. 
Thomas 
Shay's   Rebellion 
Sheldon.  Daniel 

Col.  Elisha 
Sh'^lly,  James  P. 
Shelton.  George  F. 

Stephen 
Sherman.  Daniel 
John 
Ca])t.  John 
Rev.  John 

Roger         56.   122.   126, 
173.   232.   288,  28y. 
Samuel 
William 
(kMi.    Wm.    T. 
Sherwood.  S.   E. 
Skinner.  J.   B. 
Mark 
Oliver 

Richar.l,  1..  I.. 
Roger 
Ro.ger  S. 
(jen.  Timothy 
Slosson.   Brazillai 
John 

Jnhn    William 
N;illianii'l 
William 


124. 


137 
124,  280 
151,  280 
135.  281 
281,  321 

280 

5 
282 
116 
124,  282 
127,  281 
126,  147 

282 

282 

16 

137 
283.  28a 
124.  28S 
287 
287,  2^ 
181,  285 
Zl.  127 
103,  125 
189,  234 
331,  }>}>}> 


7.    28;. 


II, 


287 

287 

26 

18 

7>1 

15.  142 

124,  288 

125,  288 
288 

142,  288 
142 
288 
288 

142,   170 

288 


1). 


30, 


23.   47. 


122, 

173 

289 

56 

192 

289 

289 

30, 

289 

123, 

289 

289 

30, 

289 

123. 

289 

289 

49 

50. 

1.^9 

40, 

289 

INDIvX 


>milli,   Aaron 

1  -'.^ 

2(JO. 

2i)l 

CIiauiuH  V 

97. 

2IJ<5 

Cotton    .\Iallur 

J>^. 

53 

David                   II, 

14.^. 

290, 

291 

J.aiucs  W. 

124. 

290 

(icorgc  W. 

150 

(icn.  K.  Kirljy 

147, 

290 

John  Cotton         2S 

•  5.^. 

1-^3. 

125 

126,  290,  338. 

John  Cotton,  Jr. 

290 

joscpli  I.. 

146, 

290 

Junius 

291 

Nallian 

-7j 

292, 

342 

Nathaniel          11,   . 

27.  28,  55 

.  58 

96,    123,    126,    134, 

139. 

148. 

291 

Natiianiel  B. 

292, 

336, 

:^,^7 

Col.   Nathaniel 

292 

Perry 

92, 

134. 

292 

Phenias  J.,  Jr. 

292 

Richard 

13. 

292 

Rev.  Dr. 

48 

Truman        56.  g6. 

150, 

221, 

2.^7 

292.  293,  294,  :^2^. 

.\U- 

3^<^\ 

342 

Wellington    B. 

155, 

157, 

295. 

316 

Willey  T. 

344 

Williarn   M. 

55 

Sonthniayd,   Samuel   W. 

50. 

1^3. 

139. 

295 

Spencer.  (leorge 

316 

Ambrose 

34 

Spratt.  William 

127 

Sprague,    I.eman    H. 

295 

Stanberry,  Henry 

225 

Stanlc}.  Rnfus 

295 

Staples,   Seth    P. 

295 

Starr,  Daniel 

295 

Staul),   Hon.   Nich(?las 

340 

Sterling,    Ansel          91. 

135. 

142. 

295 

Elisha         II.  23. 

29.  1 

53,  86,  88 

123.  126.  I  ^4,  148, 

149. 

295, 

300, 

338 

John  M. 

295 

Stevens,  Henry  W. 

296 

James 

296 

Stiles.   Benjamin 

122, 

,  296 

Beniamin.  Jr. 

123. 

,  296 

David  J. 

1^0 

President 

48 

Stoddard,  Eliakim   S. 

296 

Henry 

296 

Maj.  Luther 

16 

Stocckel,  Robbins  Battell 

123 

,  296 

Stone.  Charles  F. 

204 

John 

S2 

Storrs,  Judge 

76,    151.    152. 

311, 

X^^' 

.   3^5 

Stowe,  Harriett  Beecher 

182 

St.  Paul's  Lodge,  F.  & 

A.  :\i. 

168 

Sirniig.  .Adonijah  27, 

79. 

105, 

123. 

296 

Jedediah 

55. 

142. 

297. 

.U7 

John,  Jr. 

90. 

l.\5. 

2(/) 

Martin         27, 

79. 

143. 

2'J7. 

3.V< 

Moses 

247 

Thcron   K. 

297 

William 

79 

Kev.  William 

79 

Sturges,  Jonathan 

122 

Swain.  Judge 

275 

Swan,  Betsey 

282 

Cyrus          80, 

90, 

123. 

134. 

143. 

282,  297.  3.18 

Swift,  Benjamin 

297 

Heman,  Col. 

15, 

14.^- 

297 

Homer 

97, 

134 

Jabez 

297 

Milton  H. 

297 

Zephaniah 

73^  80, 

83, 

84. 

311, 

312 

Syllyman.  I-'.l.vneyer 

122 

26 


Taft,  George  E. 
Talcott,  Col.  Joh.n 

Ruth 
Tallmadge,   Col.    Benjamin 

15.  20,  37 
Taylor.  Nathaniel,  Rev. 
Teller.  Senator 
Tharen.  Robert   S. 
Thatcher,  Patridge 
Thayer,  John  Q. 
Thomas.  John 

Judson   B. 

^Lartin  H. 
Thompson.  Hezckiah 

James 

Judson  B. 

William  H. 
Tiffany.  F.  R. 
Tracy.  Uriah 

II.    18.    23,    27,    37.    5^>- 

123.  126.  139,  298,  336 
Treadwell,   John 
Treat,  Amos  S. 

John 

Selah  B. 
Tcukl,  Oliver  A.  0. 

George 
Tolman.    David 
Torrance.  Hon.  David       152, 
Tousley.   Samuel 
Trumbull.  Gov. 

Doctor 

John 
Tucker.  Judge 
Turkington.  F.  H. 
Turrell.  John  8. 


125, 


297 

277 
277 


41, 
125. 


26, 

125, 
60, 


7.  145.  181 

41 

275 

297 

122 

297 
264 
298 
298 
298 
298 
298 
329 
298 

80, 

^7 
298 
122 
298 
298 
298 
298 

2S3 
263 
175 
13 
31 
278 
299 
299 


64. 


219, 
102. 


INDKX 


Tiutlc,  Hymn 
Charles 
Tiinxis   Indians 
Twining.  Stoplicn 
Tyng,  Rev.  Dr. 

W 

W'adlianis,    Albeit 

Noali 
W.idsworth,  George 

Gen.  James 

Capt.  Joseph 
Waite,  Judge  i 

Henry  Matson 
Waldo,  Loren  P. 
Walker.  Rev. 

Gideon 
Wall.  Thomas  J. 
Walton.  Mr. 
Ward.  Bennet 

Henry 
Warner,  Arthur  D. 

124,  143,  152,  245, 

Donald  J.,  Jr. 

Donald  J. 

224.  278,  300,  319, 

Reminiscences 

Donald  T.        124, 

2,2^,  339 

Lyman  F. 

Milton  J. 

Seth 
W'ashi'ngton,  George 
Watterman,   Atty.-Gcnl. 

Thomas 
Watson,  D'onglass 
Webb,  John   Maj. 
Webster,  Daniel  F. 

Daniel 

Frederick  C. 

John  W . 

Noah 
Welch,  Gideon  11.     IJ4. 

Hugh  r. 

John  3 

Wells,  John  D. 

Ralph 
Wessells  Francis 

Leveritte  W. 
Wetmore,  Samuel 

N. 
Whcaton,  George         g6, 
Wheeler,  Abner   (trird  n 


343 
299 

153 
299 

137 


299,  i^S 

^^i,   299 

299 

175 

230 

[  50.. 

,U-^,   335 

311 

Id,  256 

6,  7 

122 

124,  299 
106 

i.=^o 

191 

268, 

299.  313 

300 

116. 

133.  143 

320 

lOI 

126, 

261,  30c 

300 

300 

15 

15- 

175,  t8i 

278 

300 

300 
16 

300 

332 

125,  300 

244 

80 

143. 

155.  3no 

17-  7C 

14.^ 
1,  80.  143 

137 

301 

301 

127,  301 

301 

301 

1 15. 

134.  302 

f) 

145 

Judge   Ralph 

1 'Inlander 

Sally 
W  liiU'.   Aaron 

i  tern  ice 

l\e\'.   J'.dwin    A. 
W'hitnuirc.   Samuel 
Whitney,  Joshua 

Solomon 
Whittlesev.  Charles 

l-:iisha 

Roger 

Thomas  T. 
WMcox,    Marshall 

Thomas 
Williams,    I'^thraim,   Col. 

Frederic  M. 

Hubert 

John  10.    II,    1 

220,  332,  335.  z?:: 

Thomas  Scott 

William  G. 
Wilson.  Andrew  B. 
W'olcott.  Frederick 

II,  22,  30,  ^7 

143.  146,  176 

Gen.  Oliver      10. 

125,  127.  142,  303, 

C.ov.   Oliver 

Roger 

Ursula 
Wood.  Daniel 
Woods.  Prof.  Alva 
Woodbn'dge,  John,  Jr. 
Woodburv,  Levi 
Woodruff,  Ezekiel 

Frederick  S. 

George  C.        1 13, 

283.  304,  305.  321 

(^.eorge  M.       123, 

James  P. 

Lewis  B. 

Morris  78.  80, 

Wright.  Pitkin  Cowles 
Wyllys,  Mrs. 
Wynne,    fnbn  F. 


^■ale,  Tnbn  D. 


326, 
106, 

136, 

125, 
121,  126, 


124-  303. 
303. 
21,  142, 


90,  135. 


327 
134 
225 
138 
152 
303 
261 
302 
302 
302 
302 
302 
302 
278 
303 

(;o 
U^ 
313 
150. 

311 
303 
303 


7.  81,  122,  123,  126, 


II,  16.  22, 
181,  217. 
125,  176, 


183,  312. 


139.  140. 

193.  304. 

123. 

303. 
143.  .104. 


29, 

.303 

174 
176 

304 
U7 
304 
336 
.^04 
306 
150, 

340 
305 
306 
.305 
306 
230 
306 


127.  306 


Zsarney.  Janos 


335 


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