M. L.
Gc
974. S02
W532d
v.l,pt.2
1835959
OEf^EALOGY CCl_LECTr®N
Qa
3 1833 02211 8597
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofancient12adam
rYif
THE HISTORY OF
CIENT WETHERSFIELD
CONNECTICUT
COMl'UISIXG THE PUESENT TOWNS OF
AVETIIEHSFIELD, KOCKY ItILL, AND
NKWINGTON; AND OF GLA8T0NBFKY
ITvIOFi TO Y\'>:, INCOia'OKATIOX IN 1093,
FROM DA'l'F OF EARLIEST SETTLE-
MENT UNTIL THE ITtESENT TIME
BA3EU VVOy. THE MASUSCIUIT COLI.KCTIONS OK THE LATK
JUDGE SHERMAN W. ADAMS,
AND
RECAST, EXLAKGKD, AND EDITED
BY
KENEY R. STILES, A.M., M.D.
XCTDOR OK TUE DI5T0KY A;.D GF.NEALOUIKS OK ANCIENT WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT
Volume I. — Histoky
l^SLA^J
NEW YORK
THE GRAFTOX rrJ-]SS
MC.Mlli!
1835959
WETHERSFIELDS PART ON THE SEA.
497
5. Dr. Francis Wharton's Ucvolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence
of the United States, "Washington, 1SS9, contains a summary of Deane's
life and character, with additional letters.
6. The Correspondence and Journals of Gen. S. B. Wchb (Deane'a
stepson), edited by W. C. Ford, two volumes, 1893.
7. A paper on Silas Deane by Prof. Chas. J. Stille, in Pennsyl-
vania Mafjazine, XVIIT, Xo. 3 — from which and the prefatory sketch
in the Deane Papers, Xo. -i of this list, this sketch has been mostly
compiled.
See, also, an article on Deane and Lafayette, in iscw England Mag.,
New Series, Vol. VIII.— //. R. S.]
WeTIIEESKIELd's EEYOLUTIOXAnY IIlSTOEY OX THE SeA, IX THE
Xavy, axd IX Peivateees.
At the time of the Revolution, and for a long period before, Wethers-
iield, as a community, was largely engaged in foreign commerce (as will
be best understood from a review of our cluipter entitled The Maritime
History of Weihersfield), especially in the West India trade. Her
sea-captains and sailors were nu.mcrous and many vessels, owned, built
and armed by Ler citizens were to be found in various foreign ports.
It was natural, therefore that, when war with Great Britain began,
these hardy sailors from this inland cinuitry town should see and
quickly cmbi"ace the opportunity wliich it presented, both of helping
their country's cause and acquiring profit as well as honor to them-
selves by means of privateering.
Among the earliest advocates of this form of warfare, was Baex-
ABAS Deane, of "Wcthersfield. On 2Tth of Xovember, 1775, he wrote
to his brother Silas, then a member of the Continental Cong^ress: "Tn
case American privateers are to be allowed to take British property
in the West Indies, you are sensible that the first opportunity may
be very advantageous, and as well disposed of in this Colony as any-
where; especially as the persons now applying are your good friends,
and would pi-osecute the affair immediately. If you tliink there is a
probability of permission from Congi-ess, pray attempt it, as those
persons desirous of adventuring are very impatient to be informed,"
etc.
The authority was granted, and, on the 22nd of January following,
Barnabas writes, "I propose setting out this afternoon for Saybrook,
to engage carpenters, timber, etc." — '"pray get the plan of the Ship
completed and send it by first hand." It is probable that this ship
was built at Eocky Hill, where more ship-building was then carried
498
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
on than at the yard by the Cove, in Wetherstield ; both yards, how-
ever, being the public property of the Town of "Wetherstickl. The
vessel in question may have been the sloop Bevenge, owned by ^[r.
Deane, and in commission in ITTfi. She carried a battery of eight
guns and a crew of 64 men; and was probably the vessel of the same
name destroyed by the British, in the Penobscot, in 1779. We may
add, in this connection, that Silas Deaxz was at the head of the very
first Xaval Committee ajipointcd by Congress, in October, 1775
before there was any Xavy Department, or any cabinet otHcer.
In 1776, there was a privateer brig, the Ranger, having 14 guns and
a crew of 20 men, commanded by an A. Riley, avIio, in 177S, seems to
have been in command of the privateer sloop Snal-e, of 4 guns and 20
men. Although there have been, probably, more sea-captains of this
surname in Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and ^liddlctown (the Cromwell
portion), all descendants of John Riley, the "Wethcrstield settler, than
of any other surname, it is quite safe to assume that this one was Capt.
Ashbel Riley, of Wethersfield. In the same year (177S) his brother,
Capt. Justus Rii.ey. commanded the sloop Hero, of G guns and 40
men. He, as well as his sons, Justus, Jr., and Roswcll, were traders
to the West Indies. The Hero had been, earlier, captured and brought
into Weihersfiold as a prizf^, by the privateer nloop Enterprise, of
■which John Wright was master, and Samuel Eoardman, owner or
part owner, in October, 1777, and when captured, was laden with
velvets, calico, broadcloth, bearskins, silks, sagathy, chalon, crape,
fustian, quality, camlet, coating, linen-checks, tar-cloth, gimp, lace, etc.
Thirteen men, exclusive of the officers, shared in this booty ; and Board-
man armed the sloop with 7 swivels and 200 shot, which he bought of
Samuel Broome of Xew York City.' AMiat was the history of the
Hero, after its conversion into a war-vessel, we know not.
It may be here remarked that there were, at this time no Federal
Courts, and consequently captured vessels were condemned as lawful
prizes of war by the State Courts. So too, the General Assembly, and
its Council of Safety, issued letters of marque to individuals, whereby
they were authorized to seize the enemy's property ujion the high seas,
without obtaining such pennission from the Xaval Committee of
Congress.
OziAS GooDEicii,^ in 177S, commanded the schooner Ilumhird, of
' See original papers in possession of W. F. J. Boardman of Hartford.
'In his Scraps of ^Vlth. Hist. Xo. 17, published in the Weth. Farmer, .Judge Adams
corrects the statement made by hira in the llemorial ilist. of Hartford Co., that
this was Oliver Goodrich.
WETHERSFIELD-S PART ON THE SEA. 499
four gims and twenty men; this vessel was wrecked, in 17SG, at St.
Eustatia.
In 1778, also, one J. Coo.mbs (probably Joseph), commanded a
schooner, the Independence, of four guns and 15 men. Several of
this surname were seafaring men at this date, and none such are
found elsewhere than at Wothersfield.
In 1780, one Joseph Eulkeley was in command of the privateer
schooner Experiment, of 12 guns and 40 men — this was probably
Joseph Bulkeley, of Rocky Hill.
The brig Jason, Capt. Sajiuel Stillman^ 10 guns and 25 men
was in commission in 1780. Capt. Stillman was the son of Capt.
Nathaniel Stillman. by his second wife (Sarah, dau. of Capt. John
AIKti), was born in 1741, and died in 1791-. He was reputed a very
skillful navigator in his day, and in 17S4 accomplished the then unparal-
leled feat of making three voyages to Jamacia in one year. The Jason,
in 1781, -was under conunand of Ca])t. Moses Tkyo.n% who had com-
menced privateering in 1775.
Capt. ^\j.LYN Stilljiax, brother to the above Capt. Samuel, did
the State good service, not in the fighting but in the transportation
line. He imported most of tlie salt, and many odujr war supplies, and
was ever most efficient, reliable and courageous in tlie discharge of
his important responsibilities.
The sloop Lash, 10 guns and 15 men, was well handled in the pri-
vateering way, in 1782, by Capt. Tho.mas Xewsox, an Englishman
by birth; said to have been a harsh and brutal man, and who died in
1819, aged 80 years. He had several sons whom he brought up to
follow the seas.
In 1777, the sloops Swallow and Nonpareil were taken as prizes.
Capt. Jehiei, Tinker received eleven shares of the booty and Capt.
Moses Tryox^ thirteen.' The mode of division in this case, indicates
that the capture was the residt of a joint enterprise, conducted by
Captains Tinker and Tryon, eacli having his own vessel and that the
larger share of the net proceeds (£375) was Tryon's.
Capt. WiLi.iAii Griswold, of Rocky Hill, seems to have been engaged
in privateering, as he writes to Samuel Boardman, at "Wethersfield
(date not given), to send down to him "the swivel and swivel balls,
immediately."- It may be that these gains were needed for the Minerva,
then fitting out. — See p. 502.
'Tffc. of Conn. JJen in the War of the Revolution.
' The "swivel" was a small cannon, with a very small bore, measuring from
1 to l^/{> inches, and the largest balls weighed but l'/l> pounds. They were without
^^-^ HISTORY or ANCTKXT WETHERSriEI.D.
William RoIiEI^-s' sloop, the Bcf.si/. iii 1776, carried two swivel
gunSj though this may have only been for defensive purposes.
There was, in 1770. a slc-jp Dolphin, 4 guns and 14 men, com-
manded by a Cap-. A. Euexziam — but, as there were several sloops
having this name, as well as niany seamen of the Burnham name in
Wethersaeld, at this tii;>--. it is nn possible to certainly credit this
sloop, or her master to Wethersneld.
^^'e have also f<;.u:id mention of the privateer sloop Active, 10 guns
and 00 men. C. Uicklly, Captain: and of the schooner Experiment,
12 guns and Sti men. E. ErLKiLEY. captain, and the In-ig Jlarshall, li
gims and SO men. E. Ui-lkiey, wiiicli hvk very much like Wethersiield
concerns.'
The sch'jorier Fair Tr'id<:r v.-iiich. in 17 >2, v.-as privateering, with
4 guns and 14 n:en. was a ^^'l;-;hers^IeId vessel and if so, Joiirr Wkeb
commanded l;er. The General Assembly had ceased to permit pri-
vateering fr'jiu this .State, after 17^0, fur the reason that the rn~h to
the sea was depleting the st-'./k of able-bodied men needed for the
army. But other States and the Continental Congress still permitted
tliis mode oi warfare, and probably, in some cases, old lefters of marque
were coiifinii<»d in f'.-rce.
A thi.irougii exahiination of C'.'Urt records, the Council of Safety
records, files <if old nev.-pavit-rs i especially the Connccl.ind Courant
and the ConnrrHrui Goz:ii-:, this last ptiblislied at Xcw Londiui),
would reveal the names of .-.iher Wethers neld men and vessels engaged
in privateering; but eneui^h has l>een shci-ra. we think to sliow that the
old Town had its share c-f .'iL'U'jr and pr^irit in this privateering feature
of the Iievi.lutiijnary periv"!.
Wltiieksfilld ZvIkx ix the Co^"TI^-EXTAL Xavy.
At the outlireak of tlie War of the Revolution there existed no
American Xavv. as such: and the only war vessels in commission on the
patri'-'t side were a fev,- which liad been purcliased. chartered or con-
slru.eted by the governments of some of the sealioard States ; or, a little
later, bv the efforts of the Xaval C'lmiraittees of the Continental Con-
gress. The lirst anned vessels provided by Connecticut in the Revo-
lution were the brigantine Minerva, and tlie sloop Spy. Later, we find
tninnions .nrid not inountinJ on carri.vj.:--. bin on a pivot or '-"swivel" ?o tliat they
might be turned an.l airaed quickiy in any diroction— lience the name. These
privateers' s-.vivcl.s were nia.'.e by tiio Staio, at the loundry at Salisbury ami, like
most of the ordnance of that day, were not c! nr-t-class quality.
WETHERSFIELD IN THE CONTINENTAL NAVY. 5°'
in service the Defense (built in 174S) and a new brig-of-war, by the
same name; the State man-of-war Oliver Cromwell, built at Saybrook
in 177G, the Continental frigate Tnnnhxill, built at Cliatliain on tlie
Connecticut Ilivcr, in 1777; also tlie frigate Confederactj, built on the
Thames, in 1778.
The "old Defence" referred to above was commanded, in !May,
1744, Ijy Jeoidiaii nriu.EV. who had succeeded James liogers. In
1748 she was purchased by ^Mr. Jabez Huntington, of Norwich, Conu.,
for the sum of £4,SG0. 'J'hc inventory of her "war-like stores," made
26th jSTovembor of that year, was as follows: 14 carriage guns, v.-itli
carriages; 14 swivel guns; 236 swivel shot; 310 cannon shot; 65
doiiblediead shot; 107 hand "grenadoes" ; 10 small irdn-crows : 47
lances; 5 crab-hand^pilces ; 3ti s]ionges, or rammers; 30 w' langrcl; 1
chain and grapling; 19 shnckles; 1 crd)oose iron; !)7 small guns; 91
pistols; 91 cartouch boxes; 97 cutlasses; 4 priming wires ; sundry items,
in powder-horns, etc. Vm\\ the Defence and Spy were old merchantmen,
remodelled for war purposes.
This was probably the same Defence, chartered by the State, which
cruised off Boston in the fall of "76 and captured several valualde
u n.--
prizcs, and also engaged in sharp and succescf"! p^ti"'-/- v,-it
Harding's and other Piritish vessels. In April, '78, she and the Crom-
well fought and captured the Aehnirnl Kcppcl and Cyrus, English
privateers, and brought tiiem into Pioston.'
In the whole course of the war, Connecticut contributed 26 vessels
— including those built by the State, as well as those constructed by the
Committees of Congress; and several which were not completed in
time to be put in service; and also including three war-galleys having
each 60 feet keel and a crew of 50 oarsmen — their only means of pro-
pulsion. Thus, Connecticut took a leading part in the naval operations
of the war, and Wethcrsiield attained a greater prominence as a factor
in these operations, than she ever has since in those of a like nature.
Among the sea-captains hailing from Wethersfield at the outbreak
of Revolutionary hostilities, one "William Gkiswold^ of Stepney par-
ish, stands out most prominently against the historic background. K
descendant of IMichael Griswold the settler, he was left an orphan, rap
away and followed the seas, and while still quite a young man, visited
London, where his manly and intelligent appearance captivated the
affections of a ]\Iiss Martha Tapley, a lady of some wealth, ^vhom lie
'An intorcstinj; liistory of the Defence will bp found in the Hartford Courant. of
Dec. 4, 18S4, in a paper read by Judge S. \V. Adams before tlip Connecticut Historical
Society Dec. 2, '84, entitled "The First Vessel of the Connecticut Navy."
502
HISTORY or AN'CIENT WETJIERSFIELD.
niarrietl and with whom he returned to liis native phtcc, Rocky IlilL
Here he built and was tlie owner of the ln-ii;anline Mincrra, of lOS
tons. When, in July, 1775, a comuiittce of tlie Council of Safety, of
Connecticut, was sent out to look up ve.-scls suitahlc to be converted
into war vessels, their choice fell npon the Minerva; and, accordingly,
on August 31st of that year, she was chartered by the State, at the
rate of £37 Hs per month; Capt. Giles Hall, of Wallingford (who
had commanded Connecticut's only war vessel, the Defence, twenty
years' before), was placed in command: and under his and Capt. Gris-
wold's supervision she was lilted out (partly at Rocky Hill — where,
probably, her sides were pierced with port-holes for her guns) and
she took on her amnumition at [Midilletown — powder and balls from
New London, and 300 pounds of lead from Wetherstield. In Sej'tem-
her, 1775, Peter Goodrich of ]\iiddIetown, Upper Houses, had preiiared
5,425 pounds of bread f(jr tlie 2Iinen-a, when, jtist as he was about
to send it aboard, his house was destroyed by lire, and with it the
bread. By October, the vessel — -manned with 40 seamen and marines,
and a fidl complement of commissioned and non-commissioned olBcers,
was ordered upon a cruise; wiiereupon the crew (with exception of
10 or 12 meii)^ ^pfnc,,,! {,, ,1q (Jmy, [u extenuaLlon of this mutiny, it
must be remembered that Connecticut, at that time, was still a l]ritlsh
Colony — war not having as yet l>een declared. The Colonists, up to
this time had been acting simply iqion the ilefensive, and the sending
out of tliis first war vessel l)y the Colony was proljably deemed uncalled
for by the situation. Ho\\ever. a new crew -vvas soon procured, and the
vessel, having been stipplied with provisions by Jeremiali Wadsworth,
of Hartford, proceeded on a si.x months" cruise, which ended without
any extraordinary event, save that Capt. Ephraim Hill (afterwards
commander of the Olircr Cronucell) was placed in command.
Upon her return from the cruise, .Tune, 1770, she was relieved of her
armament at !Xew Haven and re-delivered to Iicr owner at Rocky IT ill.
While at Xew Haven, four of her guns, with some ammuniiion, were
transferred to the State war-galley Whiting; and later in the year, six
of her guns were taken and fitted to carriages, as field jiieces. Biit, in
April, 1778, the 3Iincrra appears as the property of the State, and in
March of the same year, the State had sold Capt. Griswold sixteen
four-pounders and six-pounders from its foundry at Salisbury. So that
it may be inferred tliat Capt. Griswold first fitted out the vessel for
war pni'iHiscs, and then sold her to the State. In 17S1, slie was
owned, or held under charter by the United States; she then carried
16 guns and a crew of 100 men, and was again under command of
CAPT.U.\ MOSES TRYON. 5^3
Caj)!. Gilt? Ilall. Latrr. ?he was cnmman.k-.l bv Capt. Dtdlky Sal-
ToxsTALL. ami her crew was 120 men. ^\lletiiel■ she carried heavier
gims than at tir~t, is not known : bm. as nine-pouiiJers wore tlic heav-
iest gonerallv carrieil by our war ve-sels — as against tlie :?-lr-poinulers
of some of the British nien-C)f-v.-ar. the JUncna had Init little chance
to cope with any but the smaller of the enemy's vessels.
Cajuain Griswold. during the IIevi:>hitif.nary period, was largely
engaged in shipdvaijiling and mercantile operations at Eocky Hill,
and. perhaps, at the (_'iive, in "Wetiier-iield. lie was. also, a partner
with Ca]iT. Earnabas Deane, Cain. John AVright and Capt. Justtis
Eiley; and perliaps. in that fact lies the reason why he did not take
the command of the ^linerva when she became the first war vessel sent
out by the Colonv. in that war. He built and resided in the large
red house which, s^-uie years ago. I'Ocame. in a remodelled form, Green's
Hotel, at Rocky Hill. *
[Capt. Moses Tnvox v^-as another native of Weiherst'ielil. of whom we
would gladly knov.- m.>re ihan v.o do. He was bom in the Village of
Wctherslield. Xovemlier 1'^, IT-jO. and his ancestors for several gen-
erations had been ^\'oIherstield p'-^qde. It is prubable that he was
bred K) the mercantile profession, and, as was o"'te connr.oii in tliocc
days, became a supercargo, or master of some vessel plying between
Connecticut and the AYest Indies.
He served an excellent apprentico-hip in the seamanship of war. as
captain of the Jnsoii, briir of 10 guns and :?."i men. Tliis vessel was
builded and ovnied at Iiiicky Hill, and was probably the same which,
during a part of the same war. v.as ojmmanded by Capt. Stilhuan,
a noted veteran sea-captain of AVeiherstield. The absence of any
Xavy-List prior to ISIG. precludes oiir knowing when he entered the
United States Xa^y, but it was probably not much earlier than 1794,
at which date our Xavy was first placed upon a permanent basis. He
also served in other privateer vessels during the Eevoliuionary War.
After the close of the war. and in ITiJS. at the age of 4S, he was com-
missioned a captain in the United States Xax^-. the highest rank tlien
attainable in the service. In the squadron of Barry and Decatur, he
commanded the Coiinpcticui, 24 guns, built at Middletown, Conn., by
the United -States and was distinguished for bravery and ability in
the war with the Barbary powers. His vessel was a companion of the
PltilaJc^lJiio, commanded by Commodore Stephen Decattir; and it
related that once, when their vessels met. Decatur asked of Tryon, if
his vessel was "a good sailoi-" ' Tryon rejdied, "she Avill sail with
picaroons," alluding to a class of French privateers which he had
504
HISTORY OF ANX'IKNT WETHERSI'IKLD.
lately been overliaiiHiifr. "Arc you disposed to try it?" asked Decatur.
"If you please, Sir,"' -was the answer. Tlic sailing match came off,
and the Cunuccticut twice ran the riiUiuUlpliUi "hull down."' The
next day Decatur entertained Capt. Tryon and his oiEccrs on the
PhUadelpliia, and jocosely proposed to exchange ships with him. lu
1800, Tryon was still in connnand of the Connecticut, in the West
India squadron, then engaged in the capture of French privateers.
Upon the reduction of the Xavy. in ISOl, Capt. Tryon was of those
dropped from the rolls. lie was probably in poor health, as he died in
1817, and was buried in Wetherslield. His monument bears the fol-
lowing inscription: "Ijoneatli this stone are deposited the remains of
Capt. ]\]osKS TjtYox, U. S. X., born ISth Xovember, 1750. He sus-
tained the various relations of life with dignity and usefulness. In
the duties of private life, he was faithful, just and benevolent. As a
Xaval Olficer vigilant and brave. As a Citizen firmly attached to the
liberties, and devoted to the laws of his country. Of unblemished
morals, a firm believer and a humble disciple of Jesus Christ, he
resigned his soul to God, 27th December, 1817. "The memory of the
just is blessed."
A rare iittle volume entitled The Wovderir^.g Boy, C.i:'clcss Sailor,
and Besult of Inconsidcvation. A true narrative, by Horace Lane,
* * * (Skaneatcles; printed for the author by Luther \. Pratt,
1839, ]2nio., pp. 224), preserves for us a picture of Capt. Closes
Tryon and an estimate of liis character wliich we are glad to have.
The author, a wandering laddie of about ten years in i\Iay, 1790, be-
came a cabin boy on the new U. S. ship Comicctlciit, then first launched
and fitted out at ]\Iiddletown, Coim., under the command of Capt.
Tryon. Immediately after her latinch and by some mismanagement,
she capsized and filled with water, and when freed from it, and again
able to float, she proceeded to Xew London, where they took in ballast,
stores, arms and ammunition, recruited and set out for the West
Indies, to operate against the French privateers there annoying our
commerce, and to which he says '"she soon became a terror." Capt.
Tryon seems to have had a fatherly care for his little cabin boy, who
says: "He was truly my friend — one of the finest men as to morals,
that ever crossed the ocean ; his name was ]\Ioses Tryon, his dwelling
was in Wethersfield, Conn. Often, when the ship was riding majes-
tically through the waves, he would call me to him, tell me how to
behave myself in order to become a noble character, and point out to
me in the most pellucid colors that language could exhibit, the fatal
consequences of vain habits; adding, 'What a fine tiring it would be
CAPTAIN MOSES TRYON AND OTHERS. S'^S
for you to liavc- coiinimiul of siioh fi ship as tliis, wlicn you became a
man! ' Tliis languago to uic was as vanity and folly; and 1 tuld liiui
that it was impossililo, fur my fatlior was a ]ioor man, etc. lie en-
deavored to convince me of my mistake, but all his efforts to save me
were useless and lost."
On this cruise, Lane says the Conncclicul took four French priva-
teers, retook seven merchantmen, chased ojio ashore and burned her,
and chased several oihcrs on shore under the French ijattcries, which
protected them from seizure.
Capt. Tryon resided in the house next north of the meeting-house,
one of those burned in the eontlagration of 1803. lie had a son piloses,
who is said to have removed to Kochester, N. Y. See Genealogies,
Vol. II.— //. 7?. ,?.]
There was a Lieut. Isaac IJcck, U. S. X., in 17S1; and, as so large
a proportion of the IJuck surname are descendants either of Emanuel or
Ilenry Buck — the '\\'ethersfield settlers, we may reasonably claim him
as of Wethersfield origin. In 1777, the war brig Amcvica, then sta-
tioned off Fairfield, was commanded liy one who bore so good a AVeth-
ersfield name as Joiix Xott.
That II::::ja:vIix Cati.ix (Sergeant in Cap!. Chester's company at
Bunker llill, and taken a prisoner in the Quebec campaign of '75),
subsequently became a man-of-war's man, is known from his own let-
ters. In July, 1777, he wrote from on board the frigate TritmhiiU,
"We live in clover, assure yon, the most agreeable life 1 ever lived"
— and adds a request (to ^Ir. Samiiel Boardman, his old master) that
some boards be saved, so that he can finish his house, when he re-
turns home. He was probably a warrant ofiicer; or an officer in the
tnarino corps.
5o6
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
A List of Pkrsoxs, IriKNTii-iKij. Eitiikr by Ihiaii, on Rksidkxcz,
With Wktiiee.sfikld, Who Sekvkd ix the War of the Eevo-
LITIOX.
Compiled from autlientic Oilicial ' and Historical Sources,
Br He.vp.t R. Stiles, M. D.
Great care has liceii taken to iii.^erf in this list, the names only of
those \vho actuaUij served, either in the Continental Line, or in details
of Militia regiments. Xanies foinul upun the rolls of the Alarm List
of the Sixth Militia Eegiment, have al.-o heen included — since, as these
Alarm Lists (See p. 4C5) funned a militia reserve for sndden calls,
or emergencies, their memljcrs were lialile for tield duty, and were
probalily often so emphyed — though no official record may remain
to show the nature, or extent, oi such duty.
Owing to the great numlier of cases in which persons of the same
name were living in the old t.;l^mslup, it has heen difHcult to distin-
guish whether they belonged to Wetherstield projier, or to its other par-
ishes. Stepney (now the Town of R^icky Ilill"), or Xewington parish.
now the town of the same name. The ^ISS. of Dr. Jl. W. Griswoi.d
has helped ns somewhat as tn Stepney; the Historical Address of
KooF.n Welles. Esq., a? to Xewington; and Dr. Chatix's Glasfon-
bitri/ Crnfennial as to that town. So that, we trust, our list will
be found, as our endeavor has been to make it, a fairly reliable list of
Wetherslield's contributions towards the independence of our countrv.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IX
ace. — according to cr. — credited
add. — additional coniplx. — complexion
app. — appointed rf.— died
hatt. — battalion dcs. — deserted
hd. — bound disch. — di»cliarjred
tiog. — biosrrapliy drag. — drajroons
iri'.v.— brijrade, or brigadier f "p. — eniratred
Capt. — captain eii?.-
Co. — company eiis.-
Col.- — colonel exc-
C'onn. — Connecticut
conui). — commission
Com 1(1 tss.- — Conimi-sa rj"
Cont. — Continental
Corp. — corporal
-enlisted
-ensign
-exciianged
( CMsf.)— Glastonbury
//. C. — Harvard College
Lex. — Lexington
Lieut. — Lieutenant
L^— Light
THIS CHAPTER.
L. I. — Long Island
Memh. — member
J/.'.— Militia
Uiist. — mustered
( .Y. ) — Xewington
or<7. — organization
post. — poss i bly
pri.i.- — prisoner
proh. — probably
prom. — promoted
Q. M . — quarter master
rcn. — regiment
rep. — representative
res. — resiirned
res'd.— resided
•Especially The Record seriice ejf Cunnectieut men in the ililitarij and Xaveil
service during the iror of the Reiolwion. 177.5-17S3, edited by Henry P. Johnston,
A. il., and published by the State; and F. B. Heitmans' List of Regular Officers
in the Continental Arniv, 1893.
WETIIERSFIELD SOLDIERS IN" THE REVOLUTION. 5^7
Sgt. — sergeant tranf;. — transferred Wet It. — WelliersfioUl
schr. — schooner rol. — volunteer }'. V. — Yale College
sip. — sloop ud. — wounileil yrs. — years
(8.) — Stepney M'cst. — Wcstcliester
ADAilS, Amasa, in Lex. Alarm Co., ITT.i; in Capt. Ilez. Welles' (4th) Co., \Vol-
cott's Keg. before I'oston, ,lan.-ilcli., 1770; in Capt. E. Wright's (3d Co.)
3rd Batt. at West Point, June, 1778.
ANDRKWS, JcsEfil, (poss. Glast.). enl. in Capt. Chester's (lltli) Co., 2nd Conn.
Keg., Col. Sjjencer, May 11; prom. Corp. 20 Oct., diseh. 17 Dec., 1770
present at Siege of Boston.
AXDRt'S, Asa, in Cont. service, 177S. — See p.
AXDKl'S, Abxer, in Cont. .service. 177S. — .'^eo p. 400.
ANDRUS, Daniel, in Capt. Hcz. Welles' (4th) Co., Wolcott's Reg., before Boston,
Jan.-Meh., 1770.
ANDRCS, John, enl. in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co., 3d Batt. at West Point, June,
1778.
AXDRUS, Joseph, a C nios. recruit, 7 Aug., 1770, in Col. Webb's (Oth) Reg. —
Conn. Magazine.
A>:DRrS, :Mile.s, in Capt. Hcz. Welles' (4th) Co., Wolcotfs Reg., before Boston,
Jan.-]\rch., 1770.
AXDRUS, iloSES, nuist. in at Ft. Independence, Sept. 2, 177.'). — See his letter, p. —
Jan.-Mch., 1770.
ANTHONY, James, a 0 mo. recruit, l.S July, 1779, in Col. Wel.l)'s (!)th) Reg.—
Conn. Mag.
ATWOOD, .To">', (^,), in Lex. Alarm Co., UT,'^.
ATWOOD, JosEril, a 0 nios. recruit, 18 July, 1770, in Col. Webb's (Oth) Reg.—
Conn. Mag.
BACON, RlcilAno, in Capt. Hex. W<-lles' (4tli) Co., Wolcott's Reg., before Boston,
Jan.-Mch., 1770: enl. Capt. Wylly's Co., C.>1. S. B. AVebb's Add. Reg., Sth
May, 1777, for the war: pris. Dec. 10. 1777: rcjoineil 1778.
BALCH, JoXATiiA.x, in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.">; enl. in Capt. Chester's (Oth Co.)
2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 11 May, disch. 17 Dec, 1770, at Boston.
BALDWIN, Nathaniel, G mos. recruit, 23 July-4 Dec, 1770, in Col. Webb's (Oth)
Reg. — Conn. Mag.
BARCE, JIiciiael, enl. in Capt. Chester's (Oth) Co.. 2d Conn., Reg., Col. Spencer,
13 May, di.sch. 5 July, 1770, before Boston.
BARNS, John, in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.5. — See Barnes Gencologg. A John Barns,
who was one of 22 capt. by the Br. from the Weth. vessel Gen. Greene
in 1782; d. in N. Y., a prisoner. — Step. Ch. Rrc.
BARTON, Jo.SEpn, in Col. Canfield's Mil. Reg., at West Point, Sept., 1782.
BELDEN, Elisha, (S.), in Lex. Alarm Co., 177o.
June, 1778.
BELDEN, Abraham, was in Cont. service, 1778.
BELDEN, BEX.JAMIN, in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's
Brig., Peekskill, N. Y., :Mch.-June, 1777.
BELDEN, Elisha, (S.), in Lex., Alarm Co., 1775.
BELDEN, EzEKiEL Pobter, (Capt. in Cont. Drag.), son of Thomas, grad. Y. C.
1775; 2d Lieut, in Capt. .Johnson's Co., Col. Bradley's State Reg., Wads-
worth's Brig., 20 June-Dec, 1770; an org. of Col. Sheldon's 2d Reg. Lt.
Drag., was app. Lieut., 20 Dec. 1770; prom. Capt., 7 Apl., 1777; was prob.
at Gerniantoun, where a part of his rcg. was cng. ; subsequently served
along the Hudson, in West. Co., N. Y., and in West. Conn, ; was in several
5o8
IIISTOKY OF ANCIENT WETHEUSl-IEI.U.
skirmishes, etc.; res. 10 June. 17S0; after his return to civil lite became a
prominent citizen in Weth.; was repeatedly chosen Selectman, elected Towti
Clerk in lSl-2, and held that ollice until his death; was !i nienib. of about all
the Town Comm's; Justice of the Peace, and rep. Weth. in 49 sessions
of the Legi.slaturc, being also elected to two more which he declined to
serve in; was for some years Lt.-Col. of the f<ixth Jlilitia Reg: a kind,
social gentleman, r<ady and active in pub. airaivs: one of the orig. Weth.
mem. of the Society of tlie Cincinnati. — Sec Yale JHog., p. 30.5.
BELDEX. E/.H.\, in C:\pt. Ilcz. Welles' 4Ui Co., Wolcotfs Reg., before Boston,
Jan.-:Mch., 177G.
BELDEN, John, (Capt.), (S.). :Major in Sixth Mil. Reg., 1778; app. Lieut, of Co.
for service at Peek.kill. N. Y., in Col. X. Hooker's Batt., Dec. 1770; prom.
Major, Jan., 177S; prom., Lieut.-Col., Jan., 17S0, in Sixth Mil. Reg., org.
of 177G-'8.3, via Woodliriilge resigned.
BELDEX, Jo.\.\TH,\.x, (S.), in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
BELDEX, JIo.sKS, in Coiit. service Auir.. 177S. — S.^e p. 400.
BELDEX, Ricii.viti), in Cont. service .Aug., 1778; pens.; see p. 40G; (d. 31 Jan., 1S4S,
from protracted infirmities. — R. W. G. )
BELDEX", TiioM.^s, pr. in 1-ex. Alarm Co.. 1775; app. Lieut., in Sixth Mil. Reg.,
1780, succeeded by Howell Woodbridge. of Glast.
1775; prom. Major 1770; prom. Lt.-Col.. M.-iy, 1777: prom. Col., .Jan.,
BECKLEY, Be.v.tamin, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; Lieut, in Sth Co., Sixth Mil.
Reg., 17S1.
BECKLEY, Elias, Capt. of Sth Co., Sixth >H1. Reg., 1781.
BECKLEY', John, 3rd Lieut., Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; Lieut, in Capt. Hez. Welles'
(4tli) Co., Vvoicotl's Reg., before Boston. Jan.-^^tch 1776.
BECKLEY, RiciiAKD, enl. 20 Feb., 1778, in Capt. Savage's Co.
transf. to Col. S. B, Webb's Add. Reg., M:iy 1, 1780; disch. 1 Jan., 1781.
BECKLEY, SoLOMOX, in Lex. Alarm, Co., 1775.
BEXTOX", Amos, in Capt. Cliester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcotfs Brig.,
Peek.skill, X. Y., Mch.-June, 1777.
BEXTOX'. John, Corpl. in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775: enl. :May 10th. 1775, in Capt.
Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer; disch. 17 Dec, 1775,
before Boston; prom. Corpl., 20 Oct.
BEWERS, Jonathan, enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
May 12; disch. 4 Dec, 1775, before Boston.
BIDWELL, DAVin, in Capt. E. Wriglit's (3d) Co.. 3d Batt. at West Point, .Tune, 1778.
BIDWELL, EpiiuAlM, in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co., 3d. Batt., at West Point,
June, 1778.
BIDWELL, Isaac, enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, Sth
May; disch. IC Xov., 1775, before Boston.
BIDWELL, Thomas, (poss. of Glast.) in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co., 3d Batt. at
West Point, June, 177S.
BIGELOW, Alvin, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co.,
Wolcotfs Reg., before Boston, Jan.-!Meh., 177G.
BLACKELEY, Enos, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. in Capt. Chester's (9th) Co.,
2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, May 12; disch. Xov. IS (or 8), 1775, before
Boston.
BLINN, ABI5AIIAM, (S.), enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
May 13, disch. 13 Sept., 1775, before Boston.
BLINN, IIezeiciau, (S.), enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., CoL
Spencer, 13 May, discli. 25 Oct., 1775, before Boston. A Uezekiah B., and
WETHERSFIELD SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLlTIiiN. 5^9
liis son Z'-rah, of -22 men taken bv the British from the Wotli. privatoer
Ccn. Ore 1!^. d. in X. Y., prisoners. — Step. Ck. Kcc.
BLIXX, Teter. in Capt. llez. U'elles' (4th) Co., Wolcott's Keg., before Boston,
Jan.-Mch., 1776.
BOARDMAX. KF..VA.JAH. .';?t. in Capt. E. Wright's (3.1) Co., 3d Batt., at West
Point. June, 1775.
BOAPvDMAX, Elmah. b. 17.J0: in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775: (served at Siege of Bos-
ton, and was taken prisoner at X. Y. — R. T?'. G.) ;Sgt. in Capt. Watson's
Co., Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Beg., enl. for the war. 22 Apl., 1777; prom.
Sgt., 20 Xov.. 1777: cr. to Cont. Army, Aug.. 1773; Ens. 4th Co., Ist Mil.
Reg. from Weth., -Tan., 1780; later rem. to Ilifd., where he became keeper
of the gaol.
B0ARD:MAX. Isaac, in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co.. Wolcott's Rog.. before Boston.
Jan.-Mch.. 1770: in .=an)e reg. Capt. Cliester Welles' Co., Coi. Belden's Reg..
Peekskill. X'. Y'.. Mch.-June, 1777; enl. 4 Sept., 1777, in Capt. Wilcox's
Co., Corp; of Artificicrs. Col. Baldwin, for 3 } rs. ; d. 177n.
BO.\RDMAX. Leonard, in Capt. Clie-ter Weilns' Co.. Col. Belden's Reir., Wolcott's
Brig.. Mch.-June. 1777. at Pcekskill, X. Y.
BOARDMAX, Lni. in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co., Sd Batt., at West Point, June,
177S.
BO.^RDMAX. RETt-p.N. in Lfx. Alarm Co., 177.",.
BOARDMAX. Sami-el. in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.5: enl. in Capt. CheMer's (9th) Co.,
2d Conn. Beg.. Col. Spencer, 1.5 May. disch. 12 Oct., 177.5. before Boston.
BOARDMAX, Seth. enl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg.. Col. Spencer,
9 May. disch. 17 Dec., 1775, before Boston: was encaged in action at Blin-
kers Hill: enl. in Capt. Chester Wel'os' Cr-.. CcL Ecl:!cr.'a R,-g., Wu'.Lutt's
Brig., at Peekskill. X. Y., Mch.-June, 1777; wd. at Stillwater, X. Y.,
1777.
BOWERS, Ben.\.jah. — '"a soldier of the Rev. rcs'd many yrs. where Chas. Butler
did W. of Louis Deming's : doubtful if he was a Rocky Hill man." — R. TT. 0.
BRADLEY. George, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
BRIGDKX. Michael, in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775.
BROOKS. EujAH. (poss. Glast.) in Capt. Wright's (3d) Co., 3d Batt., at West
Point. June. 177S.
BROOKS. Euzt-K. .in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co., 3d Batt., at West Point, June,
177S.
BROOKS. Jonathan, in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co.. Wolcott's Reg., before Bos-
ton. .Jan.-Mch.. 177(5: in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg.,
Wolcott's Brig., at Peckskill. X. Y'., Mch.-June, 1777; in Capt. E. Wright's
(3d) Co.. 3d Batt.. at West Point, June, 177S.
BROOKS. Levi, enl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 8 May,
disch. 17 Dec, 1775. before Boston.
BROOKS. Thomas, enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn., Reg., Col. Spencer,
6 May. disch. 17 Dec. 1775. before Boston: was in Capt. E. Wright's
(3d) Co.. 3d Batt., at West Point, June, 177S.
BROOKS, Timothy, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. Capt. Chester's lOth) Co.. 2d
Conn. Reg.. Col. Spencer. 11 May, disch. 10 Dec, 177S, before Boston.
BROWX. Edward, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co., 2d
Conn. Reg.. Col. Spencer. II May. disch. 10 Dec, 1773, before Boston.
BROWX. Euwakd. in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775: enl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co., 2d
Conn. Rog.. Col. Spemer. 9 May, disch. 19 Oct.. 1775; enl. for the war in
Capt. Hart's Co.. Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg.. 25 Jan., 1777; cr. to Cont.
Army, Aug., 177S; transf. to Invalid Corps, 5 Apl., 17S1.
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
BROWX, Henrv, (X.), in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775
BUCK, A.MOS. in C.pr. E. UnVl.t's (3d) Co., .3d Batt., at West Point, Jun. 1778
BUCK, Da.mkl, in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.-,. '
BUCK, David, in Le.x. Alarm Co 177-,- r.t n * ^j . ,
sloop Anne, bd. to x! Y a!,: 17-0 ' '"'""^^ ''"■ ^"' °" '"'''''
''''"''' Su!n'x'Y"MrT''^"f '°' '^'- ^'"''^"'^ ^^^•' ^^"''^-*^-^ ^^'5- at
loekskill, X. \., Meh.-June, 1777.
BUCK, JONATHAN', app. Ens.. 2,1 Co., .3d Keg. Vols. .Juno 1770
BLLKELLY, C. (Capt.), sk.op ..Ic/uo.— See p
BULKELEY Euwah,,. (.S.). son of Chas.. gd-s. of Edward; b, 1741; d 30 .June
yI" u'r, ^°'>;,?-!-.^"f- ^ -Jan.. I77C; 1st Lieut. 3d'co.. Oii^' J^!
Comm., dated 1 Jan.. ,777; taken pris. on E.xp. to L. I., JO Dee., 1777
BULKEI^, EKAXcis. in Lex Alarm Co., 1775; enl. in Capt. Chester's (9th)
Bo;'ton. '• ■ '■• "'"""'■' '' ''"-^'' '^^■^^"- 1" I^--' 1' -. I'^'fo-
BULKEI^J, C.LKS, in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co., 3d Batt.. at West Point, June,
BLXKELEV Joi.N, enl. G Juno. 1777, for war; Capt. Robt. ^^•arnor•s Return of Xon-
e^oofves 4th Co.. 3d Conn. Rog., .served sineo 1 Jan., 1777; d. 2^ Dee ,
11 Ui.- .uHii. Mag,
^^fZY^l' '!""■''■"' ^'■■'P'- "^ P'-^-^t^^'- ^^''ooier Expcrunenf, 17S0.
Con'nir,' ■' " """■ "'""'• ^^ '^"'■■' '''^' "' ^'°'- ^^■'^'^'^'^ <"''" Kes't.-
BULKEI^:^s£^„^ i.^,,.. ,,„.„. ,„.^ ^,,,^ ^^_, ^^^^^^_ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^
BULL, RocER, (S.,. in Lex.. Alarm Co.. 1775; app. Co. Clerk; ..pp. May, 1770,
BUNCE Jaheo enl. Capt. Chester's (nth) Co., 2d Conn. Re... Col. Speneer 12
BLXCL, r„oMA.s (8.), in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775; of Capt. Hamner's Mil. Co,
Ssu: tSZ:T •"'• '- ^- '■' ^^"^•' ^^^«= ^- - ^-^-^y niH (West
BURXHAM Jamks. enl Capt Chester's (OUi, Co., 2d Conn. Reg.. Col. Speneer,
11 -ALay, diseh. ( Dee., 1775. before Boston
BURXHAM, A. (Cap!.), sloop Dolplnn, 1779
^^'^^""'An;;^T77G "^ ^'"'''' """'""'■' ^'"- ^°- °" ^°"''^' ^^'"'^P ■'""^' ^'l- f°^ ^^- Y.,
^''''''""i5'Mar"r' r";-^r- ?"^'"'^ '""" ^°' -'^ ^°""- ^-=' f^"'. sp--^.
15 May, disch. 1/ Dec., 1775, before Boston.
BUTLER, ChARI.es, (S.) S"t in T>ev Alnrm f'r. 1 >, , T,
,r ,,-- ,; ^larm Co., 1,,.,; eomm'd at Bunker Hill, 1
May 17/0; Ens. in Capt. Chester's (0th) Co.. 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer
disch. 10 Dec, 1775; 2d Lieut. 22d Cont. Inf.. 1 Jan.-aiDec, 1770; Tst
23'Maj-"lo''"n77'^^'"''" "'"''' ''"' ^^"'- ''"''"'"'' '''°- ''" '''^■'^''^'"' '^f'"'
BUTLER, EnwAiiu, (Capt.) orig. niemb. of Soc. Cincinnati
BUTLER, ilKZKKiAH. Corp. in Lex. Alnrm Co.. 1775: Sgt. of Capt. Ilanmer's MiL
Co., on bd. Sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y., Aug., 1770.
WETHEl{SFIf;LD SOLDIERS I.V THE REVOLUTION. 5 ' '
BUTLER, John-, ciil. dipt, Clipstor's (fllli) Co., 2(1 Conn. Keg., Col. Spencer, 13
May, di.sch. 17 D<c., 1775, before Iloston.
BUTLER, JosKvii, Corp. of Capt. Ilannier's .Mil. Co., on bJ. Sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y..
Aiig., 17711.
BUTLER, JosKl'ir, Corp. of Capt. Hanmor'w Mil. Co., on bJ. sip. .\)i)W, bd. for X. Y..
May, 1777.
CA^IP, Jamk.s, in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.): in Capt. Ilez. Welles' Co., Wolcott's Re-.,
before Boston, Jan. -March, 1770.
CATLIX, Bt'N.TAMi.v, Corp. in Lex. Alarm Co.. 177.1 ; Sjjt. enl. in Capt. Chester's
(9th) Co. end Cciin. Roj:. Col. Spmeer. May n, disch. 9 Sept. 1775. before
Boston; (). il. in Arnold's (,)uelve Exjiedition, 1775, pris. at Q. 31 Tiec. 1775,
exch. 11 Jan. 1777, later Mas in naval service.
CHAPIX, (Rev.) Calvix, (8), afterwards pastor (tlur not then a res.) of Ste]mey,
served as fifer in the Rev. War, at acre of 10 or 12, in Capt. John Pratt's
Co., who res. in X. W. part of Cromwell.
CHESTER, John, Capt. in Sixth Mil. Reg. (See p. 43'J) and Capt. of the Weth.
Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; Cajit. of 0th Co.. 2d Cunn. Reg.. Col. Spencer, comm'd
1 May, at Bunker Hill (in which ligiit he and his Co. took a part (see
p. 442) disch. 17 Dee., 177.'>; re-cnl. 177fi: was Maj. of Sixth Mil. Reg. in
Col. \Voleott's Brig, before Boston; piom. Maj. and later Col. in Uads-
worth's Brig. See page for his miliiaiy history, services and eliaracter;
in the re-organization of 1775-S.3, wa^ apji. Lieut. -Col. ol Sixth Mil. Reg.,
but declined and was succeeded by Howell Woodbridge.
CHURCHILL, Cn.\RLES, Lieul. in Capt. Hcz. Weilcs' (4i.h) Co., Wolcott's Reg.. State
troops, Jan.-Mch., 177ti, before lioston; January, 1779, Capt. 2d Reg.. 1st
Mil. Brig, with his men were allowed by the Cer A^-n-nh. rompci-sation for
service as a guard to a train of artillery.
CHURCHILL, JoSKPii, Lieut. 0th Co., Sixth Jlil. Reg. on duty at Xew London; Lieut.
in same Co. May, 17S1.
CHURCHILL, X.\TiiAxiKL, (X.) in Capt. Hcz. Welles' (4th) Co., Wohott's Reg. be-
fore Boston, Jan.-.Alcli., '70: coiiim'd in a Co. "for State defence" May, 1777;
May, 177S, ajip. Lii'Ut. in 4tli Co. Alarm list, 15th Reg.; was in Capt. E.
Wright's (3d) Co., od Batt., at West Point, June, 1778.
CHURCHILL, Samlel, in Capt. Hcz. Welles' (4th) Co., Uolcotfs Reg. before Bostor.,
Jan.-Mch. 177G; in Capt. Chester Welles' Co. Col. Belden's Reg. Wolcott's
Brig, at Peekskill, X. Y. :Meh.-June, 177,.
CHURCHILL, Samukl, Jr., same service record as the above in Capt. Hez. Welles' Co.
CLAPP, RoGKR, in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co., 3d Batt. at West Point, June, 177S.
CLARK, CllAKLKS, in Cai)t. t.'hester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig.,
at Peekskill, X. Y., ilch.-June. 1777; a 0 mos. recruit, Aug., 18-4 Dec, 1770,
in Col. Webb's (Olli) Reg.— Co«». Ma(j.
CLARK, James, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
CLARK, Roger, same service record as Charles, above.
CLARK, Wli.LiA-M, cr. to Cont. .service, Aug. 177S; enl. in 1st Troop, Col. Shelden's
Drag., 1 May, '78; described as farmer, dark compjexion, brown hair, blacTc
eyes.
CLOUGH, , in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co. 3rd Batt. at West Point,
June, 177S.
COLE, Au.xEK, in the Conn, line from 1 Jan.-Jime, 1783; retired with the army at
close of war.
COLE, GiDEox, (S.), cnl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co., 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
8 May, disch. 10 Dec. 1775, before Boston.
^^^ HISTOUY OF ANCIENT WETHEliSHELD.
'''''^^' ^J^lJ^^- """ ''■'""' '"'' ''''■' '^'"'^""'^ ^--' ^^^ore Boston.
COLEMAX, ^-ATHANu:., in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. in Capt. Chester's (9th)
Co 2nd. Conn. Reg., C<,1. Sponcer, 12 May, disci.. 12 Sept., 1775; befor
Boston; taken pr.s. at (.uel.c (Arnold's e.xp.) not nan.ell n Capt. Han
chetts hst but reported on p.vrolls (or pay-table accounts) a hav n-^
marched with the e.vp. "<i>iiio
COLEM^,^.uaoc in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; sailor on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for
Brig. TeekskiU, X. \., Mch.-June. 1777
COLLLVS Eon.UT in Capt. Chester Welles' Co.,' Col. Belden's Reg.. Wolcott's Bri.. ,
at Peekskill, ^. \., .March-June. 1777 "
COLLINS, Jonx, Dep. Commissary of Mil. Stores. Col. Flowers' Artifieiers. En-^a^ed
1 Jan., 1,1 1. — CoiDi. J/o(7 ° °
'"'"''^''bX'Tp T^u'^T "'"*'''■ ''■^"^^' ^"- C°'- ^^'''-'^ r.eg., Wolcotfs
Bug. at Peekskill. N. Y.. 22 April-May 1777
COXE, JOSHUA, in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.3: in Capt. H^z. Wells' (4th, Co. Wolcotfs
rm-T^T T°" ■' '°"' •^'''"•"-'''''- '•'"■• "• *° C""*- «■■"■>•, Aug. 1778.
COVEL. j^r-jrnricw. in Capt. E. ^Vright•s (3rd) Co., 3rd Batt. at West Point, June.
COVEL, Samuel, app. Capt. fith Co., Sixth .Alil. Reg. .Alay, 17S2.
COO-MBS, iCofl.) commanded [.rivateer schr. IndcpaulcJe, 1778 See p 419
CRANE, Davi,., (s. or of Benjamin), b. 1742: Corp. in Capt. D:cUi...on's Co Col
Elmove's Regt.. 24 June, 1770; ,nl. Jan.. 1777, /.urn Caimisfiold, Mass.,'
for 3 years, m Capt. Aliens' Co.. Col. Wigglesworth's Reg.; private in
Capt. Noah Allen's Co.. same Reg., 28 May to 29 Jan., 1781; was then
oj yrs. old; was also m Capt. Ebenezer Smith's Co., Cth Reg. at Valley For-e
Meh.-M.ay, 177S; at Provideneo. R. I. 1779; at West Point May, 1781,: d 1S°0
at Sandisfield. (Crane Gcucal.)
CRANE, AniiAiiAM.
CRANE, Ei.i.jAn, in Lex. Alarm, fm. Pittsfield to Boston, Apl. 177.5- enl 5 May
disch. Corp. 8 Oct., 1775, in Capt. Beardsly's Co. 5th Reg.; served in N y'
and in Northern Dep't ; again enl. 12 Aug., 1770, in Capt. Fuller's Co, 13
Conn. Mil., diseh. 4 Sept., 1770; served 4 days at Bennington, Vt.-Cra,ie
Oenealngi/, p. 59.
CRANE, Jonx, enl. 11 May. di^ch. 17 Dec, 1775. Capt. O. Hanehetts' Co., 2d Re-
Col. Spencer— served in and about Boston, was prob. at Bunker Ilill.^'
Crane Genealogy, p. 55.
CRANE, Joseph, in^Capt. Chester's 0th Co., Col. Spencer's Reg.; enl. 3 :\Iay, disch.
li Dec, 1775. — Crane Genealogy, p. (!0.
CRANE, JosEi-ir. enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co. 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, before
Boston. 3d iMay. disch. 17 Dec. 1775.
CRANE, Cl-rtis (N.) enl. Capt. Wcoster's Co.. Col. S. B. Webb's Reg. 22 Mch. 1778,
for the war. His wid. a pensioner from 1S37 to death.— SeeCrane Gcncalonu,
p. 56. •"'
CRANE, William, pr. in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775: enl. 9th Co. (Capt. Chester), 2d
Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 8 May. deserted 1 Dec.. 1775. [A note to this
name (i)age 52 of Conn. Men in Revol. Scri-icc— olhcial. pub. by State of
Conn.) explains this so-called -desertion."— "A number of men entered
as deserters, about Dec. 1, 1775, afterwards explained in petitions, that they
WETIIEliSI-IKLD SOLDIKIW IN THE REVOLUTIdN.
513
had no intention of <lr^pitin;;. but bolioveii tluit their time Iiad expired tliat
day, instead of on the 10th. The Assembly orcU'ruil that they be paid lor tlieir
full time. Anions th<i~p was Williani Crane of Weth, whose mother, (Lydia
Crane) states in a petition lliat she had three sons in tlie service in 1775;
tlie eldest died in camp; tlie second, prob. Joseph Crane, 0th Co., 2d Conn.
Reg., returned, and tlie third, \Vili.i\m, who had fought at Bunker Hill,
under Capt. Cliester. left liis Reg. about Nov. 30, 1775, PU])posing liis
time was u[i — was taken down with a fever on his way luuiie. wandered
in his delirium to I.cioester. Mass. and died tlicre.] The Crime Ocncalufiy
(p. 57) states that Mr. Crane died :\lay 25. ISIS, at Great Barringlon,
]\Iass. where lie had settled after tlie war. It says, that "a careful examina-
tion of the Records at Leicester. Mass., failed to disclose the record of the
death of this ilrs. Crane, and it is quite probable that the good mother was
misinformed at that time, and that her son ^YilIianl recovered and re-
enlisted, being in service at the time of her petition. Tlie means of getting
information from any considerable distance in those ilays were such that
it wouldn't be strange if conllicting reports had reached Wethersfield about
these supposed deserters, ami that this widowed mother, who had furnished
three soldiers to the army, all the sons she had, was easily led to believe
that the youngest was dead."
CROLY, , enl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co., 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 18
May, diseh, 17 Dec. 1775, before Boston.
CROSBY, Thomas, enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 15
May, disch. 17 Dec. 1775, before Boston.
CURTIS, Daniei,, (S.), in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. Capt. Chester's (Oth) Co., 2nd
Conn. Keg., Col. Spencer, 10 :i[ay, disch. 17 Dee., iV75. before Boston.
CURTIS, Ebenezer, of Cajit., Ilanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. the sip. Aiiiic, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug. 1776; in Capt. E. ^\■righl■s (3rd) Co.. 3rd ISatt. at West Point,
June, 1778.
CURTIS, Harky, enl. in 4th Troop, Col. Sheldon's Lt. Drag., 2 May, 1780, described
as a tailor, 5 ft. 5 in. in heiglit, dark complexion, sandy hair; d. 12 Nov.
1780.
CURTIS, Kpiiuaim.
CURTIS, Samitcl, Corp., in Capt. Ilanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for X. V.,
Aug., 177G.
CURTIS, Jajies, in Capt. Ilez. Welles' (4th) Co,. Col. Wolcott's Reg. before Boston,
Jan-March, 1776.
CURTIS, Joseph, in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig.,
at Peckskill, X. Y., Mch.-June, 1777.
CURTIS, Levi, in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co. Wolcott's Reg. before Boston,
Jan-JIareh, 1776.
CURTIS, WiLLlAJi, in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co. 3rd Batt. at West Point, June
1778, in Capt. Wooster's Co., Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg. enl. Feb. 28,
for the war; Corp., 1st June, 1780.
A. William C. was one of the 22 men cay.t. by the Brit, from the (Weth.)
brigantine Gen. Greene (privateer), 1782, and d. in X. Y. prison. — Step.
C. R.
DAVIS, Samuei., in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co., 2d Conn.
Aug., 1776.
DAVIS, Samuel, in Lex. Alarm Co., enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2 Conn.
Reg. Col. Spencer, 11, diseh. 10 Dec.,1775, before Boston; in Capt. Hez.
Welles' Co., Wolcott's Reg., before Boston Jan.-Mch., 1776.
DEANE, Babnabas, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; 1st Lieut, in Col. Sheldon's Lt. Drag.
5^ A HISTORY OF ANCIKNT WETHERSFIKLD.
DELLABOR. (DnUib^r. l).>Uah-n . Joux. eul. C.ipt. Chpstfr's (0th) Co.. 2(1 Conn.
Reg-., Col. Spencer, Ui .Mav. di-eli. 10 Dec. 1775, before Boston.
DELLABOR. Jonathax. lpo~s. the abc'Ve John) pr. in Lex. Alnrm Co.. 177.J: enl.
Sheldon's Lt. Drag., 27 Dec. I77l>: (;e.>cril..ed as a cooper, 5 ft. 3 in. in
heisht. dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair.
DELI-ABOR. Thomas {':).
DELLIXG, >AMLEL. (po^.s. i..las;.i, enl. Capt. Che>ter"s (Oth) Co., 2d Conn. Re-.,
Col. Spencer, S May. di^eh. 1 Dec. 1775. l>eforc Boston.
DICKIXSOX. Ebexezek. in Lex. A'.irm Co.. 1775. in Caj.t. Hez. Welle-," (4tli) Co.,
\Volcoit"s Kej:. before ji.:-t<:n. -Iin.-.Mch. 177li: Lieut, in Sih Co. Sixth
Mil. ReL'.. .\larui Li-t. Oct.. 17S0: Lieut, otli Co.. same Re?.. May, 17S1.
DlCKIXsi.iX. .Joii.x. of Weth. appear^ in the Middlesex Co. of Sixth -Mil. lUj,'.
DICKIXSOX, Levi. (S.), in Lex. Alana Co.. 1775: in Capt. Hez. Welle-" (4th) Co.,
Wolcott"s Reg., before Boston. -Jan.-Mch. 1770.
DICKIXSOX. Xatiiaxiel. in Capt. Chester Welles" Co.. Col. Belden's Re^., Wol-
cotfs Bri- Peek^kill. X. V.. Mch.-.Juiie. 1777.
DICKIXSOX', OziAS. service record same a? Xathaniel's above.
DICKIXSOX. Waitstill. enl. Capt. Chester's if'th) Co.. ("took Seymour's place")
2d Conn. Re_'., Col. SfKrccer. 20 Oct.. discli. 30 Xov.. 1775, before Boston,
enl. 21 .July. 177S. for the War, auionsr "non-com. otiicers and musicians"
in Capt. Walker's Co.. Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg.; prom. Corp., Jan.,
1779; prom. .Sgt.. 12 .July. 17S1: cr. to Cont. Army, Atig.. 177.S; was in
Capt. E. Wright's ( 3.1 1 Co.. 3d Batt., at West Point, June, 177S.
DEMIXG. Aakox. in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775.
DEMIXG, Daniel, in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775.
DEMIXG, Uamei., 2d, in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co.. on bd. sin. Anne. bd. for X. Y.
Aug. 177i;.
DEMIXG. David. Lieut, in Caj.t. Chester Welles' Co., Beldtn's Reg., Wolcott's
Brig., at Peekskill. X. Y.. 22 April-10 May, 1777; Lieut. 2d Co.,
Cont. Line. Jan., 17S0: one of the same name a 6 mos. recruit, IS July-Dec.
4. 1779, in Col. Webb's ipih, V.t-q.—Ccnn. Mag.
DEMIXG. Elias. in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co.. Wolcotfs Reg., before Boston,
Jan.-JIeh.. 1770.
DEMIXG. Elizur. in Capt. Hez. Welles' i4thi Co.. Wolcott's Reg., before Boston,
Jan.-Mch., 1770; in Ca]t. Hanni^-rs Jiil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for
X". Y., Aug., 1770.
DEMIXG, EriiR.MSi, in Capt. Hez. \^"elles' (4thi Co., Wolcott's Reg., before Boston,
Jan.-Mch., 1770.
DEMIXG. .JoN.vTHAN, Commis. 3d Reg.. Putnam"s Brig.. Peekskill and Fishkill, X". Y.,
Oct., 1777.
DEMIXG. .JoHX. sailor on bd. sip. Anne. b<L for X. Y.. Aug.. 1770, with Capt.
Hanmer's Mil. Co. — one of same name a 0 mos. recruit, IS JuIy-14 Dec,
1779, in Col. Webb's i9th) Reg. — Conn. JInn.
DEMIXG, JosiAii, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on bd.
sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y., Aug., 1770.
DEMIXG, JosiAll, 2d. service record same as above.
DEMIXG, JosuuA, in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co., Wolcott's Reg., before Boston,
Jan.-Mch., 177G.
DEMIXG, Lemleu Jr.. in Capt.. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug., 1770.
DEMIXG, LE.4.B, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
DEMIXG, Richard, in Lex. Alann Co., 1775.
WETHERSHICI.I) SOLDIKUS IN THE KEVOLCTION". 5 ' 5
DEiriXG, Simon-, S-t. in Ciipt. Cliostcr WVilcs' Co., CoL Buklen's Kp-. PtcksUill.
X. v., 22 .\iil.,-10 .M;iy, 1777.
DIMOCK, Daviu, (.S.). in L,x. Alarm Co., 177o, in Oipt. Cliejler's Co.— /?. M\ G.
DIX, Ekx.iami.x, cr. to Cotit. Army. Au^'., 1778.
DIX, CiiAiti.E.s, in Capt. llcz. WClU^s' (tth) Co., Wolcott's Rt-, .Tan.-ileh., 1770,
before Uo>ton: J.iint. in 1st Co., Sixth Mil. Reg., Alarm, l.ist., May, 1770;
Lieut, in Col. Canlielifs Mil. Ril'., at WV-t Point, Sept., 17S1.
DIX, Elisjia, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
DIX, jAcon, Ens. in 1st Co., Sixth Mil Rcy., Alarm List. May, 1770.
DIX, Jes.se, in Capt. Chcsti^r Welles' Co., Col. BeUlen's Rei;., reckskill, X. V., Apl.
22-10 May, 17 78.
DIX, Leoxahu, in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.): enl. Capt. Cliestcv's (0th) Co., 2d Conn.
Keg., Col. Spencer, l.'> .May. diseli. 17 Dec., 1775, before Boston.
DIX. OziAS, in Capt. Clu'ster Welles' Co., Col. Rehlen's Reg., Peekskill, X. V., 22
Apl.-lO Jlay, 1778.
DOAL (Dole), James, enl. 4lh 'l'roo]i. Col. Sliehlon's Lt. (2.1 Cont.) Drag., T May,
1777, for the war; prom. Sgt., 1 :\!ay, 1778; prom. Sgt.-Maj., 1 Xov.
{ilictman says 12 May), 1771'; taken prisoner at Caniilen. X. J., Aug.,
1780; cxch. and prom. Cornet 2d Cont. Drag.. 14 Jan., 1781; described
as a farmer, height 5 ft. 0 in., sandy complex., grey eyes, sandy hair;
served until end of war; undoubtedly the .Tohn Doiianl. who enl. 6 June,
1777, for the war, and reported (prob. wrongly) as ■'de-.erted," Aug. 3,
1777. — Conn. Mar/.
DODGE, Jo.SF.i>ii, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
DORMOXT, Stephen, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 1778.
DOWL, John, (pcjs.s. the Jolm Dual, or Dole, al>ove), cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 1778.
DUXIIAM, CouNELius, in Capt. llez. Welles' (4th) Co., Wolcott's Reg., before
Boston, Jan.-Mcb., 177(1.
DUXIIAM, Soi.oMo.x, in Lex. .\larm Co., 1775; app. Ens. in Sixth Mil. Reg., May,
177G.
EVAXS, Ben.ia.mix, enl. Capt. Chester's (9tli) Co., 2J Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
8 Jlay, disch. 10 Dec, 1775, before Boston.
FIELDS, PnE.sniiVEu, enl. 411i Troop, Col. Sheldon's Lt. (2d Cont.) Drag., 3 June,
1780; described as a tailor. 5 ft. 5 in. in height, dark eyes, sandy hair
and complex., disch. for Wni. Jlorrison, C Apl., 1770.
ELAXXAGAX- [FkinmiUin) BARXAnAS, in Col. Canlield's Mil. Reg., at West Point,
Sept., 1782.
FLINT, Elipiialet, enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col Spencer, S or
9 May, disch. 17 Dec, 1775, before Boston.
FORBES, John, in Capt. lie/., Welles' (41h) Co., Wolcott's Reg., before Boston,
Jan.-JUch., 1770; in Capt. Chester Wi-lles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., at Peeks-
kill, X. Y., 22 Apl.-lO ilay, 1777; cr. to Cont. Army, 1778.
FLOWER, Joseph, a G mos. recruit, IS Aug.-9 Dec, 1779, in Col. Webb's (9th)
Reg. — C'ojiii. Hog.
FOSDICK, William, iifer in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. as fifer in Capt. Chester's
(9th) Co., 2d Conn. Kes-, Col. Spencer, 12 May, disch. 17 Dec, 1775, 'be-
fore Boston.
FOSTER, Edwauu, in Capt. Throop's Co., 1st Conn. Reg. Cont. Line, Col. Hunting-
ton; enl. 1 Jan., 1777, for the war, disch. 2 May, 1779.
FOX, Asa, (poss. of Glast.— if so d. in service). Ens. 1st Co., Sixth Mil. Reg., Feb.,
1778; in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co,. 3d Batt., June, 1778; transf. to
Cont. Line.
5i6
HISTOItY OF AN'CIENT \VETIIEKSFlIil,:>.
FOX, Roger, eiil. Capt. Clicstor's CHh) Co., 2a Conn. Ko^., Col. Spencer, 8 May,
killed in battle at Bunker Hill. June 17, 1775.
FOX, SiMEO.N, (poss. of Glast.), enl. Capt. Chester's (Uth) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col.
Spencer, 3 Maj', di.-ich. 10 Deo., 1775, before Boston.
FRANCIS, Asa, in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Beldcn's Reg., Wolcott's Brig.,
at I'eekskill, N. Y., llch.-Juno, 1777.
FRANCIS, John, 1st. Sgt. in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co., Col. Woleott's Reg.
State Troops, before Boston, 1775-0; Ens. Connn., May, 1777, in batt. raised
for "State Defense;" Kns. in Col. Enos' Reg., 1777; apj). Imis. 2d Co., Sixth
Mil. Reg., Alarm List, Jan., '78; eomni. l.ieut. in same Co., same
yr.; 2d Lieut, in Capt. E. Wright's (.-Sd) Co., .3d Batf., Col. Enos' Reg., in
service on the Ilunson, where they arrived in camp, 20 June, 1778; app.
Lieut, in one of the "two rcg. now to be raised," ilay, 1779, and served
1st Lieut, in Capt. Samuel Granger's Co.. Col. Levi Welles' Reg., at Horse
Neck and along the coast of L. I. Sound, during 17S0; Capt. of the Ist
Wetli. Co., in Provisional Ri'g., 17S1, and it is said of him bj' one who
knew that he "was not absent from his command to exceed four months
after he enlisted, during the war." Of himself ho said "the proudest day
of my life was when 1 marched at the head of my Co. of 101 men to the
Wetli. Church to take the oath." — (liourdnwn Ucn.) He was Cajit. in
Jan., 1780, of 2d Co., Alarm List of the Sixth Mil. Reg.
FRANCIS, James, in Capt. Chester's Co., Lex. Alarm, and before Boston, ifay to
Dec, 1775; in Capt. Chas. Webb's (Stamford) Co.. Sept. to Den., 1775,
Capt. Leavenworth's Co., Xov.,'7ii, to ilay, '80; First Troop, Jan. ,'77, 0 N'ov.,
'80; from Weth. prom, in Capt. Stevens' Co., frm. .Tunc to X'ov., 177(i,
Capt. Cf.DcI, Co., from '7r. to J:!n. '77. Pcr.sic-rr !?13. Corp. also 1SS2,
Midd. Co. Several of name.
FRANCIS, Justus, in Capt. E. Wright's (.-id) Co., 3d Batt., at West Point, June,
1778.
FRANCIS, RoRERT, a (5 mos. recruit, IS Aug., to Dec, 0, 1779, in Col. Webb's (9th)
Reg. — Conn. Mag.
FREEMAN, Caesar, (S.), a slave, njanuniitted by Elias Williams, on condition of his
.serving in the army.
FULLER, Ab.ner, enl. Capt. Chester's (Oth) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 12
May, 1775, — never joined.
FULLER, Frederick, a 6 mos. recruit, 18 Aug.-Dec. 4, 1779, in Col. Webb's (9th)
Reg. — Conn. Mag.
GALE, Nathaniel, nient. (in a letter from Moses Andrus to Samuel Boardman.
of Weth. — in possession of Mr. W. V. J. Boardman, of Htfd.) as being
near him at Fort Independence, 21 Sept., 177G.
GIBBS, Jonas Claek, (S.), cnl. Capt. Chester's (Oth) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col
Spencer, 10 May, disch. 17 Dec, 1775, before Boston.
GIBBS, Jacob, (S.), enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn Reg., Col. Spencer,
ID May, disch. 17 Dec, 1775, before Boston.
GIBSON, John, in Col Canfield's Mil. Rcg. at West Point, Sept., 1782,— poss. the
same as the John Gipsoji, who was a 0 mos. recruit, 18 Aug.-14 Dec, 1779,
in Col Webb's (9th) Reg.— Conn. Mag.
GILLESPIE, William, Sgt. 5th Troop, Col. Sheldon's Lt. (2d. Conn.) Drag., de-
scribed as a farmer, 5 ft. 8 in. height, light complex., grey eyes, dark hair.
■GOFF, Gideon, Sen., (S.), cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 1775; enl. Capt. Alden's Co.,
Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg., 28 Feb., 1777; prom. Corp., 1 July, 1781;
enl. for the war.
"VVETIIERSHELD SOLDIERS IN THE KEVOLL'TIOX. 5 ^ 7
GOFr, JosiAii. S.l4., in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Rej,'., at Peck.skill,
■22 Ajil.-lO .May, 1777.
GOODItlCII. Ally.v. in Capt. Che.ster's Co., Col. Beldcn's Reg., Wolcotfs Brig.,
reckskiU, X. V.. Mch.-June, 1777.
GOODRICH. As.\nEL, Sgt. in Henry Champion's Co.. Col. Wyllyj' Reg. (3d Conn.i,
1777 (?).— Coi(«. Mag.
GOODRICH, D.wiD, (S.). in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4tli) Co.. Wolcotfs Reg., before
Boston, Jan. -Mill., 177G.
GOODRICH, Eusn.K.
GOODRICH, Epiiu.vim. deserted before 1 Jan., 17S0. and not inchulcd in settlement
for depreciation of their pay. — Conn. Mag.
GOODRICH, Eu/.tR. (S. ), enl. Capt. Che.-ter's (Oth) Co.. 2d Conn. Reg., Col.
Spencer. 15 May. di*cli. 17 Dec. 1775. before Boston: pr. in Capt. Hart's
(3d) Co., Col. Wolcotfs Reg,, .Jan.-:Mch.. 1777; .Sgt. enl. in Lieut. David
Smith's Co., Col. Belden's Reg., 13 .\pl., disch. 19 May., 1777. As a mariner,
he was knovn as "Capt." Ooodricli. He aI<o removed the lead weights
from his then newly erected hoii-c in Wetli. and made thera into bullets,
which he sent to Boston after the Battle of Lexington. He was an inti-
mate friend of Col. John Chester, Hon. Silas Deane and other \\'eth. patriots.
and had a high social standing.
GOODRICH, HosE-V, (S.). enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col.
Spencer, II May. disch. 21 Oct.. 1775. before Boston; in Capt. Welles' Co.,
Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcotfs Brig., Peekskill. Mch.-June. 1777.
GOODRICH, Icii.vnon. (S.), cr. to Cont. Army. 177S.
GOODJ'vICn, Is.\.^c, (S.), enl. Caj.t. Clie^ter's (9th) Co.. 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
irf Jlay, disch. 17 Dec. 1775;Sgt. in Capt. Hale's Co. (Glast.?). Jan. to
Mch., 1776; in Capt. E. Wright's Co., Xuv., 177G; Comm. 1st Lieut. 3d
Co., Capt. E. Wright's 3d I'.att.. at We-t Point. June. 177S; Lieut. .3d Co.,
Sixth Mil. Reg., Alarm List, May, I7S0.
GOODRICH. Jacob, fifer, Washington's Life Guard. 1779-17S3.
Guard; he d. at Rocky Hill, 24 Nov., 1S33.
GOODRICH, Jared, (S.), lifer 1st Cont. Reg.; transf. 17S0. to Washington's Life
His services are thus fully stated in a petition for a pension, which was entirely
in bis own handwriting and which we have thus brielly condensed. [U. R. S.]
In Aiitumn of 1775, at ae. 14? enlisted as a musician under Lieut. Charles
Butler of Weth. in a Glastonbury Co. in 3rd Conn. ( Col. Samuel Wylly's Reg. f5r
one yr. and upon being discharged at expiration of term of enlistment, he again enl.
in the winter beginning 1777, for the war, in Capt. John Barnard's Co. of Htfd.,
same Reg. serving as fife major until after Burgo\^le■s defeat. (1779) when he
was transferred to Gen. Washington's Life Guards, and served until end of the war,
part of the time under Maj. Wni. Gibbs and part under Capt. Wm. Colfax, and, on
the 3rd day of Juno, 17S3. at Xewburgh Headquarters, he received an honorable
discharge and two badges of Merit — and as he pathetically adds "without a cent
of money to bear my expenses home to my poor parents, who were anticipating help
from their veteran sons. 3 in number, all of whom engaged during the war, and I
am the only survivor of this poor unfortunate family — a war-worn and sea-worn
object — living on a little pjiy. belonging to my wife, who is destitute of a right
hand .since infancy. * * My life was exposed in many instances during the war,
viz. on Dorchester Hill; at Flatbush on Long Island; on the retreat out of Xew York;
at RidgefieUl near Danbury : at Springfield. X. J.: at old Fort Independence, near
King.-.bridge. X. Y. and at the seige of Yorktown. * * By arbitrary power my
transfer reduced niv wages from $10 first month to $7 and a third. From a note
5i8
HISTORY OK ANCIENT \VETH?;RSFIELD.
appendea to this; statciiu'iit by Dr. U. W". GiiswoM of Ry-Hill, wo Ifarn that ^Fr.
Goodrich's appeal for a |n>iisiuii was not granted— the loss of the rolls at the
time of his tran.-.fer to Washin^rton's Life Guards having technically left him on
record as a deserter — a misfortune which he often bitterly lamented.
Lines (apparently oriyrinal) appended by .Tared Goodrich of Rocky Hill, to
his claim for a pension, for services in the \\ar of the Revolution.
Oh! Washington, thou Ion;; lost Soldiers' friend.
Tho' sleeps thy dust, thy sjiirit needs't attend,
To prove tlic veterans sutTerings in that war.
Sustained by many a victim, many a scar;
To assort thy childrens' rights in this late hour.
Of struggling nature 'gainst malignant power.
Full well thou know'st — who went the nightly round,
. Sounding the tattoo 'long the tented ground:
Who punctual rose, just at each dawning da}'.
And at thy door prolong'd the reveille:
Who bore the wounded from the field of blood.
Besmeared all over with the purple flood:
Who helped the surgeon probe the deadly wound.
And wrapped secure the swathing bandage round.
GOODraCIT, .Tf.s.se, in C'apt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co., .3rd Batt. at West Point, June
1778.
GOODRICH. JouN. in Loy. Alarm Co.. 177.-,: in Capt. H»' \v„ii„o' (4tl.) Pq. V,'?!-
cott's Reg. before Boston, .lan.Meli., 177G: in Capt. Hanmer's ilil. Co., on
bd. .sip. Avar, bd. for X. Y. Aug. 1770.
GOODRICH, A Joiix tloodrich is advertised (with Levi Latimer) in Coiui. Courant,
Jan. 31, 1777. as deserter from Col. S. B. Webb's Batt. about 22 years old,
about 5 ft. .'5 in. high, dark complexion.
GOODRICH. Jo.si.vii. (Kns. ) in Capt. Hanmer's ifil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for
N. Y. Aug. 1770: in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co. 3rd I'.att. at West Point,
June, 1778.
GOODRICH, JosKfii, Sgt. of Capt. Hanmer's :\H1. Co., on bd. sip. Annr. bd. for X. Y.,
Aug., 1770; prob. the same Sgt. Joseph who was of Capt. Chester \Volle3'
Co., Col. Belden's Reg., ApI.-22-lO ilay, 1777.
GOODRICH, Moses, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug. 177S.
GOODRICH, X.\TiiA.MEi., Corp. in Ca])t. Hanmer's Jlil. Co., on bd. sip. Annr, bd. for
X. Y., Aug., 1770; app. ens. May,. 177S, of 2nd Co., Sixth Mil. Reg. Alarm
list.
GOODRICH, Oliver. Capt. of privateer schr. flumhird. 1778.
GOODRICH, OziAS, (S.), in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. Capt. Chp.ster's (0th) Co.,
2nd Conn. Reg. Col. Spencer, 12 May, disch. 17 Dec. 177o, before Boston;
enl. in 3d Reg., Conn. Line, Col. Sanuiel Wylly's; prom, corp., 21 Jan., 1777;
prom. Sgt. 1 Aug., 1778; app. ens. 24 Oct.. 17S0 (conun. dated 1 July, 1779) ;
transf. as ens. to Capt. Heath's Co., 1st Reg. Conn. Line (yrs. of 1781-1783)
Col. Durkee; was afterwards in Swift's Reg. and served until end of war;
an orig. mem. of the Society of tlic Cincinnati.
GOODRICH, PiULER, (Philo?) a 0 nio's. recruit, 23 July-14 Dec, 177!) in Col. Webb's
(9th Conn.)— Conn. Mag.
GOODRICH, Ro.swELL, in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co. Col. Wolcott's Reg. before
Boston, Jan.-Mch., 1770; fifer in Capt. K. Wright's (3rd> Co., 3rd Batt.
WETHEKSFIEI.D SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. 5^9
West Point, June 1778; pnl. 23 Aug. 1778 in Capt. lloiton's Co. of Artili-
cicrs, Col. Baldwin, for .3 yoars.
GOODRICH, SniEO.v, a (J luo's. recruit, IS Aug.-O Dec., 1770, in Col. Webb's Re".
(9th Conn.)— CuH». Mag.
GOODRICH, Stki-iik.v, (S.), 1st Lieut. Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; cnl. as Lieut. Capt.
Chester's (0th Co.) 2ntl Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 1 May; diseh. 10 Dec,
1775, before Boston; 1st Lieut. 22d Cont. Inf., 1 Jan.-.Tl Dec, 177G; Capt.-
Lieut. 3rd Co., Sixth Mil. Keg.. Alarm list, ilay, 1780.
GOODRICH, Ti.MoniY, in Capt. Hanmer's ilil. Co., on bd. slj). Anne, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug. 1770.
GOODRICH, W.\iT, Capt. app. Inspector of Guni)0\vder (one of 4) at May term 177.8,
of Gen. A.ssembly.
GOODRICH, William, (S.), Capt. of .i/,»r,(«.— See p.
GRANT, AzARL\ii, cnl. Capt. Chester's (Olli) Co., 2nd Reg., Col. Spencer, 9 May,
disch. 10 Dec 1775, before Boston.
GRIFFIX, SIMEOX, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. in Capt. Bull's Co., Col. S. B.
Webb's Add. Reg., 1 Mcli., 1777, among "non-com. ollicers and mu.sicians"
for the' war; prom. Qr.-ila-s. Sgt., lii May, 177S; prom to Qr.-Mas. Sgt.
cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 1778.
GEISWOLD, Constant, (S.), in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. Capt. Chester's (9th)
Co., 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 12 May; disch. 17 Dec, 1775.
GRISWOLD, Jacob, in Capt. Cliester Welles' Co.. Col. 15ehlen's Reg., Wolcott's Brig.
Peek.skill, X. Y., ilch.-.Tune, 1777; enl. 1 June, 1777 in Capt. Bull's Co., Col.
S. B. Webb's Add. Reg. for tlic war; taken pris. 10 Dec, 1777; exch. 15
July, 177S; di.sch. 14 Feb.. 1781.
GRISWOLD, WiLLLVM. in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775: of Cnnt. Hanmer's MH. Co., or. b-"..
sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y. Aug. 177G; in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col.
Belden's Reg. Wolcotfs Brig. IVekskill. :Mcli.-June, 1777.
GRISWOLD, JosiAH, pr. in Capt. Klijah Wright's Co., at White Plains, X". Y.,
June, 1778.
GRISWOLD, MosE.s. cr. to Wetheisfield in Cont. Army, 1778.
GROGAX", John, enl. 3 June, 1777 for war, deserted 22 Sept. 1778.
GROVER, PiiiNEAS, (poss. Glast.), Sgt. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col.
Spencer, 3 May, disch. 17 Dec, 1775, before Boston; ens. in 1st (Gl. ) Co.,
Capt. Swift's batt. at Fort Ticonderaga, 1770; comm. 2nd Lieut. 7th Reg.
Conn. Line, Col. Herman Swift, I Jan., 1777; prom. 1st Lieut. 25 Jan., 1778;
prom. Capt. -Lieut. 11 Oct.. 1780; resigned 1781; was in assault on Stony
Point, 15 July, 1779; was in 2nd Batt. detached from the 7th Reg. with the
Light Co. R. & F. for service under Col. Return Jonathan Meig's Lt. inf.
GROVER, WiLLL\M, (.S'.) Chester's Co. ?
HALE, Benezeu, in Capt. Cliester Welles' Co., Col. Bolden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig.
at Peckskill, X. Y. :Mch.-June, 1777.
HALE, Elizur, Jr., app. Capt. Oth Co., Sixth Mil. Reg., Alarm List, Oct., 1778.
HALE, Matiilw, in Capt. E. Wriglit's (.^rd) Co. 3rd Batt. at West Point, June, 1778.
HALE, Xathaniel, a G mo's. recruit, 18 Aug.-14 Dec, 1779 in Col. Webb's (9th)
Reg. — Coiin. Mug.
HALE, Theodore, in Capt. Hanmer's ilil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug. 1770.
HAXD, .Tonathan, cnl. Capt. Wylly's Co., Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg., 21 Feb. 1777,
for war.
HAXD, Joseph, enl. Capt. Bull's Co., Col. S. B. Webb's add. Reg. 22 April, 1777,
for tlie war; disch. 5 June, 1780 — paid to 1780.
5^0 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
HANMEE, James, on b.i. >Ip. Anne, W. for X. Y.. An?., ITTG.
HANDIER, John, app. M.iy, ITTtJ, 1st Lieut., 2d Co., Si.xth Mil. Reg. "for defense of
tliis and adjoininji: colonies;" Capt. of a !Mil. Co. on bd. sip. A.nne, bd. for
X. Y. Aug. ITTi;; Capt. 2nd Co. Si.xth IMil. Re?. M.iy, 17S0
HAXMER. .'^AMI-EL, in Capt.. Hanmer'j Mil. Co., on bd. --Ip. Aiinc, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug. 1776.
HAX'JIER, Thomas. Pgt. in Capt. Hanmer's Co.. as above.
HARRISOX, Theodore, a 6 mo's. recruit. 1.5 July— 9 Dec. 1779, in Col. Webb's (9th)
Reg. — Conn. Marj.
HATCH, James, in Capt. E. Wrigbt's iSidi Co. 3rd Batt. at West Point, .June, 177S.
HATCH, :Moses, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug. 177S.
HEX'DERSOX. , 4th Troop, Col. Shelden's Lt. (2nd Conn. I Drag.: enl. 7
;May, 1777, descrilieJ as a farmer. 5 ft. 10 in. height, dark complexion,
hair and eyes, disch. for Jno. Judd.
HILL, Eliphalet, a G mo's. recruit, 16 Aug.-l-l Dec. 1779 in Col. Webb"s (9th)
Reg. — Conn. Mnn.
HILLS, Asa. in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775.
HILLS, ASAiiEL. enl. Capt. Chester's (9thi Co.. 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. SpenVer. 1 May,
disch. 10 Dec. 1775, befr.re Boston.
HIXCKLEY. Thomas, enl. Capt. Chester's iPth) Co. 2nd Conn. Reg. Col. Spencer,
9 May. disch. 17 Dec. 177-5, before Boston.
HOGAX, James, in Col. Canludd's Mil. Keg.. West Point. Sept. 17S2.
HOLLISTER, Aaron, enl. Capt. Chester's (Othl Co. 2nd Conn. Reg. Col. Spencer,
6 May, disch. 7 Doc. 1775, before Boston.
HOLLISTER. Asaiiel. in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co., 3rd Batt. at West Point.
June, 1778.
HOLLISTER, Em.jah. enl. Capt. Chester's 9th Co. 2nd Conn. Reg. Col. Spencer, 8
May. di-^ch. 17 Dec. 177.5, before Boston.
HOLLISTER, Ei.izur. app. Lieut. Sixth M.il. Reg.. VUrm List. Oct. 17Sn.
HOLLISTER. Evett. in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co. 3rd Batt. West Point,
June. 1778.
HOLMES, Lemuel, in Col. Canfield's Mil. Reg. West Point. Sept. 1TS2.
HOLMES, Daniel, a 6 mo's. recruit, 23 July-9 Dec, 1779. in Col. Webb's Reg.— Cojin.
Hag.
HOLMES. Simeon, cr. to Cont. Army. Axis. 1T7S.
HOLMES. Thomas, (.*.) enl. Capt. Che^^ter's (9th) Co. 2nd Conn. Reg. Col. Spencer,
15 May, disch. 10 (or 17) Dec. 1775. before Bonon; prob. the same who
enl. 1 Mch. 1777 for the war, in Capt. Whiting's Co. Col. S. B. Webb's
Add. Reg., and cr. to Cont. Army. Aug., 177S: was a Sgt.
HOSFORD. Aaron, app. Capt. 4th Co.. Sixth Mil. Reg., .\larm List, May, 177S.
HOSKIXS, Thomas, enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 9
May: deserted 1 Aug. 1775, before Boston.
HUBBARD, .\.\R0N
HUBBARD, Ai;el. drummer in Capt. Hcz. Welles' (4th) Co.. Wolcotfs Reg. before
Boston, Jan.-Mch. 1770.
HUBBARD, EuzuR, in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co., 3rd Batt. at West Point,
June, 1773.
HUBBARD, Zen-as. in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775: in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co. Wol-
cotfs Reg. before Boston, Jan.-Mch. 1776.
HUXX, Enos. in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co., Wolcotfs
Reg. before Boston, Jan.-Mch. 177G.
WETHERSFIELD SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTIOX, 5 ^ I
HURLBLTRT, Eli, enl. Capl. Chestor's (9th) Co., 2n<l Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 15
May, (lisch. 17 Oct. 1775, before Boston.
HURLBUirr, Joii.x, :ip[i. 1st Lieut. 2nd Co. Capt. Cliestcr's Batt. Vols.
HURLBUT, RouKiiT, in Capt. Clioster Welles' Co. Col. Bclden's Co., Wolcott's Brig.
Peekskill, X. Y. Mch.-.June. 1777.
HURLBURT, Sil.ss, enl. Cujil. Chester's (!)tli) Co. 2nd Conn. Rrjr. Col. Spencer. 11
May, disch. 10 Oct. 1775, before Boston; was in Capt. Chester Welles' Co.,
Col. Bclden's Reg. Wolcott's Brig. Peekskill, X. Y. 22 April-10 May, 1777,
and in 3rd Co. (Capt. K. Wri^'hfs) .'ird Batt. at West Point, June, 1778.
HURLBUT, Stkpiik.n-, in Cai)t. K. Wright's (.3rd) Co. 3rd Batt. at West Point,
June, 1778.
HULBUT, Timothy, in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug. 1770.
JACKSON, Joii.x, in Le.\. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2nd Conn.
Reg., Col. Spencer, 8 Jlay, died 28 Sept., 1775.
JOHNSOX, Jo.SEi'H, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug. 1778.
JOHXSOX, , in Capt. Hez.. Welle.s' (4tli) Co. Col. Wolcott's Reg. before
Boston, Jan.-Meh. 1770 — deserted.
KELLOGG. ilARTi.v, in Le.x. Alarm Co.. 1775; Lieut. 0th Reg.. Mil. Co., 1777; Capt.
Omcial Vols., Htfd.
KELLOGG, PiiiNE.vs, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
KELLOGG, Stei'Iie.n-, in Cajit. Hez. Welles' Co.. Wolcott's Reg. before Boston, .Jan.-
Mch. 1770; enl. Capt. Woo-tor's Co., Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg., 22 .April,
1777, for the war; cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 1778; disch. at close of war 5
Jan., 17S3.
KELSKY, MobE.s, (S.), in Lc.\. Alarm Co., 1775.
KELSEY, WiLLi.\M, (S.), in Le.x. Alarm Co., 1775.
KELSEY, John, Sgt. in Capt. Ilez. Welles' (4th) Co., Wolcott's Reg. before Boston,
Jan.-Mch. 1770.
KELSEY, IBA, in Capt. Hez. Welles" (4th) Co., Wolcott's Reg., before Boston, .Tan.-
Mcl-. 1770.
KILBY, Christopher Allkx, enl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co., 2nd. Conn. Reg.. Col.
Spencer, 9 ilay; disch. 17 Dec, 1775, before Bo.ston ; in Capt. Hez. Welles'
(4th) Co., Wolcott's Reg. before Boston, .Jan.-Mch., 1770, as corp.
KILBOURX, Levi, enl. Capt. Chester's (9tli) Co., 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 15
May, disch. 21 Xov. 1775, before Boston.
KILBOURX", Setii. enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer. 15
May; disch. 21 X'ov., 1775, before Boston; in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col.
Belden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig, at Peekskill, Mch.-.June, 1777.
KILBOURX, Timothy, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co.,
Wolcott Reg. before Boston, Jan.ilcli. 1770.
KING, David, in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775, and enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co. 2nd
Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 11 ilay; disch. 17 Doc, 1775, before Boston. See
Catlin's letter, p.
KIRKIIAM, {Kifcum, Kircom) John, enl. Capt. ^Valker's Co., Col. S. B. Webb's
Add. Reg., 21 July, 1778, for 3 yrs. ; cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 1778; tife-
major, 14 Nov., 1781.
KIRKHAM, John, drummer in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co., 3rd Batt., at West Point,
June, 1778.
KIRKHAM, Samiel, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug. 1778.
522
HISTORY OF ANCIF.NT WETIIKRSFIELD.
KIRKHAM. \Vn.iiAM. en!. 4tU Troop. Col. Shc-ldfn's U. (2d Conn.) Dra^. 2 April.
1777; dt-scrilx-*! a> a nenver. 5 ft. S in heifrht, dark complexion and hair,
blue evc«.
KXOWLKS. -James, in Lf-x. Alarm Co.. 177.5: as en', from Capt. Chester's (9th) Co.
•2nJ Conn. Reg.. Col. Spencer (in which he enl. 1(> May. and was disch. 10
.Sept.. 1775) : he served under Capt. Hanchett in the Quebec KxpeJ.. Dec,
1775. and was taken pri>. at Q. : later in the war was reported to be in
the privateer servjce-
LAGO, WlLLETr. of Caot. Hanmer's Mil. Co.. on bd. the .'^Ip. An,:c. bJ. to X. Y.,
Au?. 1770.
LAMPHEKi;. . rnl. in Caj.t. Sht-lden'- Lt. (ind Conn, i Drag. 15 Feb. 1777;
described as a -adi'.ltr. 5 it. S in. height, fair complexion, light hair, blue
eves.
LATDIORE Li;vi. in Capt. Hez. Welles" (4th I Co.. Wolcotfs Res. before Boston,
•Jan.-Meh. 1770: enl. Shelden's Lt. (2d Conn.) Drag.; recruit; prob. the
same Levi cr. to Cont. Army. Aue. 177S.
A Levi Lattimer i< a.iv. in f'f.iut. Coumnt. 31 .Jan.. 1777. in company with
one .John Goodrich, as a de-erter. described a^ about 5 ft. 5 in. high, sandy
complexion and has impediment in speech.
LEACH, WiLLiAit. served in Col. .S. B. Webb's add. Reg. wd. at battle of Rhode
Lsland. Au2. 177S.
LEXXOX. JuiiN l;.. in ( ul. Cantield's Mil. Reg. at West Point. Sept. 17S2.
LIXDSEV. Davii.. cr. to Cont. .\rmy, .Aug.. 177S.
LOCKWOOD. .Jamks. iMil. Src'y and Brig.-Majori son of Rev. .lame- of Weth.; mcht.
.".t XiU Haven: on the Le.x. Alarm; seems to have gone, in some capacity
to me camp at I'.oston: later was app. Mil. Sec'y. to Gen. Wooster, wliom
he accompanied to Canada, with Gen. ilontgomery. who app. him Brig.-
Major in the Xorthern Army: was present at the capture of St. Johns,
also of Montreal and Queljec. April-Maj-, 1"70; was app. Sept. 24, 1777,
recruiting oflicer of l?t Conn. Mil. Brig.; after the war engaged in traile
in Philadelphia, and d. in Wilmington. X. C, 24 Aug., 17P5. See Yale in the
Kctohitioii. p. 10.
LOCKWOOD. I Rev.) William, was Brig. Cliaplain in the reformation of the Conn.
Line, 17S1-S3: continue<l as chaplain in Gen. Xixon's Brig, in the Mass.
Line, Oct. 12, 17S0. to the end of the war, June, 17S3; was an orig. mem.
of the Society of the Cincinnati, from Mass.; d. 23 June, 1S2S.
LOOMFS. Dick. cr. tt> Cont. Army, .Aug., 177S.
LOVELAXD. Asa. (pos-. Gla-t.) enl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co.. 2nd Conn. Reg., Col.
Spencer. S May. died 24 Oct., 1775. at Boston.— p. 104. Hist. (Jlast.
LOVELAXD. Da.mel.
LOVELAXD. Levi, in Ca;,t. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Beldon's Reg., Wolcotfs
Brig., at Peekskill. X. V.. Mch.-.June. 1777; in Capt. E. Wright's (3d)
Co. 3rd Batt.. at West Point, June, 177S.
LUSK, LE\^, in Capt. Hez. Welles" (4th) Co., Wolcotfs Reg., before Boston, Jan.-
Mch., 1770.
LUSK. James, ajip. Ens. 13th Co., 15 Reg.. Oct., 1775; app. Capt. of same Co., May,
1770: Cajrt. of Mil. Co.. Xew Haven Alarm, Col. Stanley's Reg., 1779;
served with his Co. (as from Far.) 12 day. in Col. Hutchins' X. Y. Reg.,
at West Point, 17*0.— Co/. lUc. Conn. XV; Conn. State life. II, 298; Conn.
liei-. lice.
MACKEY, Hlzekiaii. enl. Capt. Chester's (Otli) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
12 May, disch. 17 Dec., 1775, before Boston.
WETHERSFIELD SOLDIEKS IN THE REVOLUTION. 5-3
MARKS, Ai-.isiiAi. fill. Capt. Clic-tcT".^ (Otli) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
11 May, (liscli. 17 Dec., 1775; may be tlie same who, as Adi.iaii, was in
Capt. Hez. \\ olles' (4tli) Co., Col. Belden's Rog., Wolcott's Brig., before
Boston, Jan.-ilcli., 177G.
MARSH, Damel, was one of 22 nun oapt. by the British from the brig.
(Jen. Orccnt, privateer, 17.'^2, and d. in N. Y. prisoner. — i?tcp. Ch. Rcc.
JfAY, Hezkkiaii, in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.5.
MAY, John, i/ifer), in Capt. Hanmcr's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. to N. Y.,
Aug., 177G.
MAY, William, .Sgt. in same Co. as .John above.
McCLKAX, (poss. GI.), enl. Capt. Chester's (9ih) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
8 May, disch. 7 Dec, 177.5, before Bo.^ton.
McDowell, Alvix, Corp., enl. Capt. Chester's (Oth) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col.
Spencer, .3 May, di-ch. lit Dee., 177.5. before Boston.
McXALLY, Henry, in Col. Caiilield',-. Mil. Rei:., at West Point, 17S2.
MELDRUM, William, was one of 22 capt. by the British from the privateer
brigantine Gen. Greene (from Weth.) 1782, and d. in X. Y. prison.
MILLER, Caleb, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 177S.
MILLER, John, (S.), enl. Capt. Chester's (Otli) Co.. 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
5 May, disch. 17 Dec. 177.5, before Boston.
MILLER. .Jonathan, enl. Capt. UiHwter's Co.. Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg., 1 Jvme,
1777, for the war. di^eli. Ti Dec, 1782.
MILLER, Joseph, enl. Capt. Cheaters (i1th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
15 May, disch. 17 Dec, 177.5. before Boston [also on record, a Joseph
Millar, who enl. same Co. and Reg., on G .May, bin, uiseii. on same day as
the abuve — prob. same person].
MILLS, Jedidiah, in Capt. Hez. Uelles' (4th) Co., Col. Wolcott's Reg., before
Boston, Jan.-Mch., 177(i.
MIXER, Jno., enl. in Capt. Chester's ((Ith) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 8
May, di.sch. 0 Xov., 1775, before Boston.
MITCHELL, Davh), in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig.,
at Peckskill, X. Y., Mch.-June, 1777.
MOHAWK, Peter, (Indian), er. to Cont. Army, Aug., 1778.
MOXTAGUE, AnRAM, in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co., 3d Batt., at West Point,
June, 1778.
MOXTAGUE, Richard, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; in Capt. Chester Welles' Co.,
Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig., at Peek.skiU, X. Y., Apl., 22-May 10,
1777.
MOXTAGUE, Seth, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. in Capt. Wooster's Co., Col. S.
B. Webb's Add. Reg., 30 itay, 1777. for the war; prom. Capt., 1 June,
1778; disch. 7 Mch., 1780.
MORGAX, Thomas, enl. Capt. Wyllys' Co., Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg., 31 May,
1777, for the war: deserted 3 :Mch., 1779; rejoined 25 Feb., 1780; de.serted
21 Jan., 17S1.
MORRISOX, William, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 1778.
JIOSELY, Jo-SEPH, (poss. Gl.), Capt. 1st Co., 2d Batt., Col. Gay. Wadsworth's Reg.,
177G.
MORTON, Benjamin, (S.), in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
MURPHY, James, enl. Capt. Chester's (Pth) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
3 :May, disch. 17 Dec, 1775, before Boston; in Capt. Chester Welles' Co.,
CoL Belden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig., at Pcekskill, X. Y., :Mch.-June, 1777;
poss. the same J. M., who cul. Gth Troop, Col. Sheldon's Lt. Drag., 11
^^'^ "ISTOKY OF ANCIKNT WETHERSFIELD.
Apl 1777, dcsoibod as a far.ner, 5 ft. 5 in. in Leight, dark complex..
l.gl.t eyes; or pos.s. the J. M., wl.o was in .service as a n.atross in Col
Crane s Artillery, from 1777-78; in service in 1781
MYGATT Ton., enl. Capt. Bull's Co.. Col. S. B. Webb'.s Add. Keg., for the war,
777; Corp., 1 .June. 17S1; n,ent., Sopt., 1776, by Mcses Andrus, at Ft
MYC ,.,.^'"":P^"""'"'-/'-^ '-">" -- I'"" in tbat pInee.-(1V. F. J. BoanUnan.)
MYGAIT, /KHULON, ,n Ca,,t. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's
Lng leeksk.U, X. Y., Mch.-June, 1777; enl. Capt. Bull's Co., Col. R. B.
V.-AT T : ^''"■' - •^"'■■' '"■' '•"" '''' ^^■'"•= Corp.. 1 .June. 1781.
NLAL, Tjiom.v.s. enl. 2d Troop, Col. Sheldon's Lt. Drag., 25 Mch 1777
NEWSON\ Isaac, Capt., of the privateer Lark.
NICIIOT>S. Benjamin. Capt. 1.5th Co., Sixth Jlil Ke.. ^lay 1778
NICHOLSON, FUA.^•C1S, in Capt. E. U'right's (3d) ^Co., 3d Batt. at West Point
June, 1778. '
NICHOLSON, Nathan, service record same as Francis
NORTH, Davio, in Capt. Chester Uelles' Co., Col. Belden's Keg., Wolcotfs Bri-
-Mch. -.June. 1777. °
NORTH, Isaac. 2d Lieut. Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Keg.. Woleott's
Brig., at Peek-skill, N. y., 22 Apl.-lO May, 1777
NORTH, Selaii, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; Sgt." in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co
3d Batt.,' at West Point, .June. 1778.
NOTT, Chakucs, in Lex. Alarm Co., ]77.">.
NOTT, HiiZKKiAii, er. to Cont. Arniv, Au"., 1778.
PADDY, Setii, enl. Cai>t. Chester's (nth) Co., 2d Conn. Reg.. Col Spencer U
Mu>, diofh. 10 Dec, 1775. before Bo.ston.
PATERSON, John, (Major-Oenenil) . a native of Newington parish, b. 1744; -rad.
of Y. C, 17(12; became a lawyer; removed to Leii..x. ilass., in 1774- threw
himself ardently into the patriot cause; he ua. a member of the Berk-
shire Convention which sat at Stockbridge that ^ear and he sat as rep-
resentative from Lenox in the First and Second Provincial Con-resses
He organized the Stockl,ridge Indians for militarv service and niised a
regiment, of which he became Colonel. It inarched the third dav after
the battle of Lexington with almo.-,t incredible juomptness, and frrmi that
time until 1783, will, the exception of brief furlou-hs, Patei<on remained
in active service. He held Fort Xo. 3, Prospect Hill, Charleston Hei-hts
during the battle of Bunker Hill; he fought at Princeton; share.l in" the
unjust criticism for the abandonment of Ticonderoga, which was forgotten
in the triumph of Burgoyne's surrender, to %U,ic!i he contributed bv his
great services at Bemis Hei^dits. He was made Brig.-Gen in 1777, endured
the hardships of Valley Forge in 1777-78, ami took an in.portant part in
the battle of ifonmouth, the last serious contest fought in the North.
Gen. Patterson served on the Hudson and at West Point. At the close
of the war he was one of the small group of major generals, the
youngest ofT.cer of that rank excejiting LaFayette, and he held the highest
place of any son of Berkshire. He resumed his residence in Lenox." and
again took up his sword to crush "Shay's Rebellion." In 1700, he shared
in the "Boston Purchase" in Broome and Tioga counties, N. Y.. and in
1791, removed his residence to Tioga. In 1702-93, he represented it in the
State Legislature; he was made Chief Justice in 1798, and sat in Con
gress in 1803 and 1805. His sword was readily turned into the plough'
share, and his bravery in war became wise counsel in peace. His name
deserves to be remcinbered among the founders of the Republic. His gt-gd-
1835959
WETIIERSFIELD SOLDIERS IN" THE REVOLUTION. 5^5
son. Dr. Tlionins I"ir;.'lf^tiiii. pulilislicd, in IS'Ji). a valviablp liioprapliy of him,
entitled John I'litn-mm. Mnjor-Oriirml, from llie press of G. P. Putnanrs
Sons. A monimu'nt to General Paterson. called tlie Eg;,'leston-Patersun
Memorial Jlonunient, occupies a fine site at Lenox. JIass.
PALMER, LsA.vc, er. to Cent. Army, Aug., 1778.
PECK, Ariel, in Capt. He/.. U'elles' (4th) Co., Col. \Volcotfs Reg. before Boston,
Jan.-Meh., 177G.
PHELPS, Eliiil', cnl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer. 10
May, disch. 10 Dec. 1775.
PIERCE, S.VMUEL, in Capt. Hannior's Mil. Co., on bd. Sip. .l)i»e, bd. to X. Y.,
Aug., 1770.
PITKIX, JoH.N-, in Capt. E. Wriglit's (3d) Co., 3d Batt., at West Point, June,
177S.
PITKIN', X.\TH.\.NIKL, in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co., Col. Wolcott's Reg., before
Boston, Jan.-Meh., 1770.
POMEROY, Oliver, (S.), Lieut, in Lex. Aiarni Co., 177.">; Lieut. 0th Co., Col.
Wolcott's Reg., before Boston. Jan.-Mch., 1770.
PORTER, AiROX.
PORTER. AniJ.vii. fifer in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co.. Wolcott's Reg., before
Boston, Jan.-ilcli., 1770; also in Capt. Che-iter Welles' Co., Col. Belden's
Reg., at Peekskill, X. Y., Apl. 22-10 May, 1777.
POWELL. Benoxi. enl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co., 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
11 May, died 4 Xov., 1775, before Boston.
PRICE, .JoHX, capt. with 21 others by the Br. from the brigantine Grn. Greene, of
Wetb., 17S2: d. after release from prison in X. Y., on way home, at Say-
brccl:, Ct.— Step. Ch. 7?.i,.
RAIXEY. William, in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's
Brig., at Peekskill, ^Ich.-.Tune, 1777.
RASH, J.\coii, (S.), in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775: enl. Capt. Chester's Co. (0th), 2d
Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer. 15 May. discli. 17 Dec, 1775, before Boston.
RASH, Jeremi.vh. in Capt. Chester Welles' Co.. Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig.,
Peekskill, X. Y., Mch.-June, 1777.
RAYMOXD. Olives, enl. Capt. Chester's (Otli) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
5 May. disch. 17 Dec, 1775, before Boston.
REYXOLDS, John, in Capt. Chester ^Ve1Ips• Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's
Brig., at Peekskill, X. Y., Mch. June, 1777.
RHODES. Alex.\>-der, in Capt. Hanmcr's Co.. on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y'.,
Aug., 1770.
RHODES, Joseph, in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775.
RHODES, WiLLL\M, in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig.,
Peekskill, X. Y.. Mch.-June, 1777.
RICHARDS, Eli and Simeox, both in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. the sip. Anrie,
bd. for X. Y., Aug.. 1770.
RILEY, ACKLEY, (S.), in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
RILEY, AsHBEL. (S.). er. to Cont. .\riny, 1770; commander of privateer Ranger,
I77G, and of privateer .'?»n/.-f, 177S.
RILEY, Jacob, app. Lieut. 4th Co., Sixth Mil. Reg., Alarm List, :May, 1781.
RILEY, John, 2d Lieut. Burrall's State Keg., 19 Jan., 1776: 1st Lieut, to
Jan., 1770; 2d Lieut., Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg.. 1 Jan., 1777; prom.
1st Lieut.. 1 Feb., 1777; prom. Capt.. 10 .July. 1770: pris. on L. I., Exp.,
10 Dec, 1777; oxch. 3 Dec, 1780; transf. to 3d Conn. Reg., formation of
1781-83, 1 Jan., 17S1; retired by consolidation, 1 Jan., 17S3.
526
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIELI).
RILEY, JrsTi-s, of Sip. Hero, 1778.
RILKV, UEriiKX.
RILEY, Simon, ini'iit. as Conductor of tcam^. in a Idtcr fimn Joliii Webb, lUiU'd
at Kent. Xov., 1777; also says "prkv of Rmii ri-in^^ cvciy day."
RJl'XER, RdGKK, (S.) Capt. in Co.. Clirstor's (Key.?), 1771!.—/,'. Tt". G. '
RII'XEK, \\ILI.I.\M, in Cai.t. Jlcz. Wt-lles' (4tlO Co., Col. Wolcutt's Reg., before
Boston, Jan.-JIcli., 177ii.
ROr.LlXS, Fkkdeuick, (.S.). enl. Capt. Clioster's (9th) Co., 2d Conn, [log.. Col.
Spfncer, 12 Jlay, diM-li. 17 Dec, 177.5, bolore lioston: was in battle of
Blinker Hill; later [lart owner of a privateer in wliicli sailing, lie was capt.
by British and endured mueli sutlerinu' in iirison ship until exeh.
ROBBIXS, .ToiiN, (S.).— y.'. W. <!.
ROBBIXS, .Josi.ui. (prob. 8.), app. May, 177In 2d Lieut., 2d Co.. .3d Reg. Vols.;
enl. Jlay, .30, 1777, Capt. Hart's Co., Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Rog., for
the war; transf. to S.apjier's and iliner's, 1 Mch., 1781, prob. present at
Siege of Vorktown, Sept. and Oct., 1781; in 17S3, appears as applicant
for pension, from Boston.
ROBBIXS, Lkvi, ajip. Qr.-ilr., 1st Troop, ist Reg.. Light Drag.
ROBBIXS, Oi-IVKH, in Lex. .Mann Co., 177.'): six days in Capt. Chester's Co.
ROliBlXS, RiCTiARi), (i nios. recruit, 2.3 .ruly-12 Dec, 1779, in Col. Webb's (9th)
Reg. — Conn. Mag.
ROBBIXS, Samuel, G nios. reeruit. 18 Aug.-20 Dec. 1779, in Col. Welib's (9th)
Reg.
ROBBIXS, Wii.MAM, in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4tli) Co., Col. Wolcotfs Reg., before
Boston, .lan.-Meli., 17711; cuniinanded Sip. Hct.ii/, i7"i' — S"e p.
ROCKWELL, S.'.r.srcL, in Cnpt. Hez. Welles' (4tU) Co., 'V^l.ott', Reg., befoie
Boston, Jan.-ilch., 1770.
ROSE, Samukl, enl. 1 Sept.. 1777, in 2d Troop. CoL Sheldon's Light Drag., for the
war; described a.s a seaman, 5 ft. S'^. in. in height, light complex., eyes and
hair; disch. May, 177S,
ROWLAXD (Rowlandson ?), Jo.sKrir. enl. Capt. Clioter's (Oth) Co., 2d Conn. Reg.,
Col. Spencer, 10 il.ay, iliscli. 24 Oct.. 177.5. before Boston.
ROWLAXD, W1LI.TA.M, enl. Capt. Chester's {9th) Co., 2d Conn. Rog., Col. Spencer,
11 May, ilicd in j»-i.so», at Bo.ston, 177.5.
ROWLAXDSOX, .fosFni, enl. Capt. Bull's Co., Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg., 8
June, 1777, for war; iliscrird 18 Feb., 1779: rejoined July, 1779. May be
the same as Joseph Roulnnd, above.
ROWLAXD.SOX (?), Wil.son. in Capt. Hannicr's Mil. Co., on bd. Sip. Anne, bd.
for X. Y., Aug., 1770.
Ri:SSELL, AsiiKR, (S.), enl. Capt. Bull's Co.. Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg., 25
June, 1777, for the war; cr. to Cent. Arrny, Aug., 1778; deserted, 18 Feb.,
1779.
RUSSELL, John, drummer, enl. Capt. Cliester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col.
Spencer, 6 May, disch. 1 Sept., 1775, before Boston.
RUSSELL, Nathaniel, (S.), (son of Rev. Daniel), in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775.
RUSS):LL, Thomas, (S.), in Lex. Alarm Co.
SABIXS, STEniEN, enl. in Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
8 May, died .30 June, 1775.
SAXBORX, X"athaniel, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
SANFORD, KuKN, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
SAXFORD, JE.SSE, in Capt. Wright's (3d) Co., 3d Batt., at West Point, June,
1778.
WKTIIKRSFJELl) SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. S-J
SAVAOK, T,i-TiiKH, in C:\\A. ClicstiT Wcllos' Co., Col. BoUlcii's Ilc'., Wolcotfs Bri-
rtckskill, X. Y., ilcli.Jiiiic, 1777.
SCOTT, :Mo.ses, (])oss. (.ihist.), onl. t'apt. Clu>tfi'>i (fitli) Co., 2d Conn. Keg., Col.
Spencer, S JNIay, (li.scli. 1 ]Xr., 1775.
SCOVEJ., Jamcs, in Capt. lU-z. UVlIrs' (4tli) Co., 2d Conn. Keg., before lio.-^ton,
Jan.-ilch., 17 ((J.
SCRIPTUUJ:, Joh.\, in J.ex. Alarm Co., 177.",.
SEYMOLU, AsuiiKL, in Lex. Alarm Co.. 177.5; Sgt. cnl. in Capt. Chester's (0th)
2d Conn. Kep., Col. .Spencer, l!) May. ai,cli. 17 Oct., 177.5, before Boston;
in Capt. llcz. Welles' (4th) Co., Col. Wolcott's Reg., before Boston',
Jan.-Jfoh., 1770.
SHEl'ARD, Xatiumkl. in Capt, Hannicr"s :\!il. Co., on bd. slj). Antic, bd. for X \.,
Aug., 177(i.
SHIPJIAX, Beubkx, (S.), cnl. Capt. Che.slcr'.s (Otli) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spen-
cer, 6 ilay, di.seh. 10 Dec, 1775, before Boston.
SIZER, D.UMEL, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 177S.
SIZER, Jai:ez, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 177S.
SMITH, GEK.SHOM, (.S.), in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. Capt. Che^iter■s (Oth) Co.,
2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 10 ilay, /,;//.-,/ 17 .June, 1775. at Bunker Hill.
SMITH, Isaac, (poss. Gl.), app. Ens. Oct., 177U, to Oth Co., Sixth Mil., Reg., Alarm
List.
SMITH, John, (poss. 01.). in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wol-
cotfs Brig., Peekskill, X. Y., .Meh.-.luiie. 1777.
SMITH, Saml-el, (poss. Olast.), app. Lieut., May, 177'J, in "one of tlie regiments to
be raised."
SPAULDIXO. .To.sEPn in (.'apt. Hez. \\ellcs' (4tl,) Co., Col. Wolcoti's Keg., State
Troops, before Boston, Jan.-^Iaj', 1770.
STANDISH, James, in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775; in Capt. Hannier's Mil. Co., on bd.
Sip. Anne, bd. to X. Y., Aiig., 1770.
STANLEY, George, Lieut, in Capt. Ilaiimcr's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. to
X. Y., Aug., 1770: Lieut., :\[ay, 17S0, in 2d Co., Si.xth JSIil. Reg.
STANLEY, .James, (S.).
STANLEY, Thomas, in Caj.t. K. Wright's (3d) Co., 3d Batt., at West Point, June,
1778; enl. 21 July, 177S, in Capt. Walker's Co., Col. S. B. Webb's Add.
Reg., for the ivar; Corp., 1 June, 17S1.
STEEL, .Joseph, in Capt. He/.. Welles' (4th) Co., Wolcotfs Reg., before Boston,
Jan.-Mch., 1770; in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co.. 3d Batt., at West Point,
June, 1778.
STEVEXS, , Sgt., taken prisoner, -ivith Col. Welles, near Horseneck,
Dec, 10, 1780.
STEVEXS, Epai-huas. (poss. Gl.), enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg.,
Col. Spencer, 10 May, diseh. 17 Dec, 1775, before Boston.
STEVEXS, TiioMAS, (poss. Gl.), 1st Lieut, in Col. Enos' State Reg., June, 1777.
STILLMAX, Allvn, in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug., 1770; in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcotf.i
Brig., Peekskill, X. Y., ]Mch.-June, 1777.
ST1LLM.\X, Allyx, (Capt.), commanded State Xaval transport. — See Chapter XII.
STILL:\IAX, David, in Capt. E. Wright's (3.1) Co., 3d Batt., at West Point, June,
1778; a 0 mos. recruit, 1 Oct.-O Dec, 1770, in Col. Webb's (9th) Reg.—
Conn. Mag.
STILLMAX, Joseph, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
52«
HISTORY OF ANX'lENT WETHKJUSHELD.
STJLLMAX. Jo.sEi'ii iDr.). pos-. same as al.ove. in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on
hd. Sip. Annr. M. lor X. V., Aug., 177.;.
STILL.AIAX. X.\TH.VMKL. in Capt. Hanmers Mil. Co.. on bd. sip. Annr, hd. for
X. Y., Aug., 177G. There was a Capt. Xatli"! .Stilliiian. of Wcth., who
commanded one of the two companies oi Wa^hin-jtonV Life (or body)
Guard.
STILLMAX, S.v.MfKL. Capt. of brig Juson. 17S0. Pensioner, Htfd. Co., 1S32.
STOCKIXG, Hezekiaii. enl. Capt. Chester's (!';h, Co.. -Id Conn. Keg., Col. Spencer,
4 IMay, disch. 10 Dec. 1775, before Boston.
STODDARD, D.vviD, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775: en!, in Capt. Chester's (Olh) Co.,
2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 15 :MaT. disch. 17 Dec. 177.5, before Boston.
STODDARD. Lde.xezer, in Lex. .\larm Co.. 1775: or. to Cent. Army, An:;., 177S.
STODDARD, Eli, in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775; in Capt. Hez. Welle,' (4th) Co., Wol-
cott's Reg., before Boston, Jan.-^Ich., 1770.
STODDAltD, Enoch, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775: in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co.,
Wolcott's Reg., before Boston. 12 May. disch. IS Oct.. 1775.
STODDARD, Ep.ipiiras. in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co.. on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for
X. Y., Aug., 1770.
STODDARD, Jo.natha.v, Ens. in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775: Ens. of Capt. Xortcn's
(3d) Co., Col. Mott's Batt. (one of two batt. raised to reinforce the
Cont. Troops in the Xortbern Dep't at Ticonderoga and vicinity, and
which served under Gen. Gates and v.ere retired Xov., 177G). This 3d
Co. was enlisted from ^Midd., Fnrmington and Weth. : prob. the same
Jonathan, who, Oct.. 1780, was Capt. of 5th Co.. Sixth Mil. Reg., Alarm List.
STODDARD, Solomon, in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775: in Capt. He::. Welles' (4th) Co.,
Wolcott's Rog.. .T.-n -Mcb., 1776, before Ecsion.
SULLIVAX, Lawrence, enl, Capt. Chester's iCth) Co.. 2nd Conn., R.g., Col. Spencer
13 May, di-ch. 10 Dec., 1775; prisoner in sanie year prob. in the Quebec
Exp.
TALMADGE. Benjamin, (Maj ) This brilliant and well kno«-n officer, though
a native of Long Island, seems to have been studying at Weth. when the
war broke out (probably preparing for Y. C. under the tuition of Rev. Dr.
Marsh) and was among the earliest to enl. under Capt. Chester (and was
credited on the en), rolls, to Weth.) with vxhom he was in the Boston Cam-
paign of 1775; tho' he did not fully decide to enter the service until the
following year when he rec'd an appt. as 2nd Lieut, in 3rd Co. of Chester's
Batt., Wadsworlh's Brig., A\as app. Adjt. tliereof 20 June, 177G: and by his
promptness, and merit became Senior C.irr. in the same Regt.. comm.
dated 14 Dec., '70: promoted Maj., 7 Apl., 1770. and Brig.-Maj., 11 Oct., same
Tear. Dee. 14 was app. Maj. in Col. SheMon's (2nd Cont.. Light Dragoons;
rettirncd to Weth. and enl. a number of volunteers, whom he equipped
handsomely at his own expense and in Sprirg of '77 joined Washington in
X. J.; conducted the secret service for the Commander-in-Chief; was Capt.
al Fort George, L. I., 21 Xov.. 17S0, for gallantry in which action he rec'd
the following vote of thanks from the Cont. Congress.
By the act of 6 Dec. 17S0, it was "Resolved while Congress are seivsible of the
patriotism, courage and perseverence of the oificers and privates of their Reg.
forces, as well as of the militia throughout the U. S., and of the militarv- conduct
of the principal Commanders in both, it gives them pleasure to be so frequently
called upon to confer marks of distinction and applause for enterprise, which do
in this light they view the enterprise against Fort St. George on L. I. planned and
honor to the profession of arms, and claim a high rank of military achievements;
WETHKRSFIELD SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. 5^9
conducted with wisdom and f:rcat p-a)lantrv, by ^Maj. Tallmadfro, of the Light
Dragoons and executed with intrepidity and complete success by the officers and
soldiers of the detachment. Ordered therefore, that Maj. Tallmadge's rep't. to the
Com.-inC'hief be published with the preceding minutes, as a tribute to distinguish-
ed merit, and in testimony of the sense Congress entertains of this brilliant service."
Sen'ed at Gen. Washington's Headquarters, Mch., 1781 to Xov., 17S3; Brevet-Lieut.
Col., 30 Sept. 1783 (died 17 Moh. 1S3.5.)
TALCOTT, Elex, in Capt. }laniiKr's ilil. Co., on bd. »lp. Annr, bd. for X. Y., Aug.,
177C.
TALCOTT, Elizuk, (poss. 01.) in Capt. E. ^'right's (3rd) Co., Srd Batt., at West
Point, June, 1778.
TALCOTT, McSES, in Capt. Hcz. Welles' (4th) Co., Wolcott's Reg. before Boston,
Jan.-JIch., 177G; in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Aniic, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug. 177C.
TAYLOR, ASAiiEL, in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co., Srd Batt. at West Point, June,
1778.
TAYLOR, ASHGEL, enl. Capt. Chester's (9tli) Co., 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 9
May, di.sch. 17 Dec. 17 7 J, before Boston.
TAYLOR, Joseph, in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co., 3rd Batt. at West Point, June,
1778.
TAYLOR, Revbex, service record same as Joseph's.
THRASHER, Sa.miel. in Capt. Chester \\elles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg. Peekskill,
X. Y., Mch.-June, 1777.
TIMOX, (negro) in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.>.
TINKER, jEiHRt. navigator Cant.. 1777.
TOSSET, Cli.^RLES, in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Celdeu"= T.eg., Wolcott's Brig.,
Peekskill, X. Y., Mch.-June, 1777.
TREAT, Charles, Sgt., C days service in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.5; enl. Capt. Chester's
(9th) Co., 2d Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 12 May, disch. 17 Dec, 1775, before
Boston; was at battle of Bunker Hill; cr. to Cont. Army, 1778; prob. the
same C. T. who enl. 23 Aug. in Capt. Wilcox's Co., Col. Baldwin's Reg. of
Artifieiers, for the war; prom. Sgt. 1 Aug., 1778; enl. June 1776, under
Capt. Chester Welles in Col. .John Chester's Reg. for 7 mo.; was in battles
of Long Island, Kingsbridge, Valentine Hill, and White Plains and in the
retreat through X. J. to the Del. River — to Dec. 177G, when he was disch.;
enl. a 3d time Aug. 23, 1777, with Capt. James Wilcox, Col. Jcduthan Bald-
win; prom. Sgt. 1 Aug., 1778; trans, to Co. of Capt. Thomas' Artillery
Artifieiers under Gen. Knox, till prom. June 1779 to conductor of Mil.
stores with rank of Capt.: disch. 9 X'ov., 1782.
TREAT, JosEi'ii Canning, (s. John) enl. for war, 6 Mch., 1777 under Capt. Bulkely
in 3d Conn. Reg., Col. S. B. Webb, disch. June 8, 1783, signed by Gen.
Washington. Was in bat. of R. I., Aug. '79; at biirning of Springfield, X. J.,
23 June, 1780, and later with main army on the Hudson; pensioner — appears
on pen. list as .John Treat — the name Canning having been dropped. Was
one of the IMil. Co. on bd. the sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y'., Aug. 1776.
TRYOX, Aakon, in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y., Aug.,
177G.
TRYOX, Gp:oi;ue, in Capt. E. Wright's (3d) Co., Srd Batt. at West Point, June,
1778.
TRYOX, .JosEi-ii, cr. to Cont. Army, 1778.
TRYOX, JosiAii, a 0 mos. recruit, 18 Aug.-4 Dec. 1779, in Col. Webb's (9th)
Reg. — Conn. Mag.
53° HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETHEKSHELD.
TRYOX, j\roSE.s, U. S. X., Cajit. of armod brig JnatM, 1781.— rn/oH Or.il. Vol. 11.
TRYOX, William, enl. Caitt. Clie.stcr's (9th) Co., 211(1 Conn. Pvcc:., Col. Spencer. 9
IVIiiy; Corp. until 20 Ott. ; Syt. until 10 Due. 177o, when the Co. was
mustered out, before Boston.
TURNER, Jonx, cnl. Capt. Alden"s Co., Col. S. B. \Vcbb'.s Add. Re^.. 2S Apl. 1777,
for the war; deserted 2 Aug., 1770.
WAPLES, Kli, in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co., WoKotfs Reg., beiore Boston,
Jan.-JIch., 1770.
WARD, Da.mkl, (poss. Gl.) cnl. Capt. Whiting'.s Co.. 4 Feb., 1777. for the war;
cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 177S; corp. 1 yiay, 1781, in Col. Webb's Add. Reg.
WARE, (WEARE)Er,iAS, enl. Capt. Col. Chester's (0th) Co., 2nd Conn. Reg.. Col.
Spencer, 8 May, diseh. 17 Dec. 1775: cr. to Cont. Army. A\il: . 177S.
WARE, \\'li,LiAM, service record same as Elias' — discli. 17 Dec, 177.5: cr. to Cont.
Army, Aug., 1778.
WARNER, RoiiKKT, in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775.
WARNER, Daxiel, in Capt. IIcz. Welles' (4tli) Co., Col. Wolcotfs Ree.. before
Boston, Jan.-Mch., 1770.
WARNER, William, (S.), ,Sgt. in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775; app. Feb.. 177S. Lieut, iu
1st Co., Sixth Mil. Reg., Alarm List; app. Aug., 1777, En-, in Cth Co.,
same Reg.
WATERS, Jo.SEPii, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 1778; enl. 1st Troop. Cd. Sheldon's
Lt.-Drag. 10 Mch., 1780; described as shoemaker. 5 ft. 5 in. in heigTit. fair
complex., liglit hair and eyes.
WEAVER, Samiel, cr. to Cont. Army, Aug., 1778.
WEBB, Samuel, Blatculey, (Brig.-tJen.)
WEBB, .John- ir-.^.t ) -pp. Lieut. Sheldon's 2d Reg. Lt. Di...... 10 -Jai... 1777: app.
Capt. 1 .Jan., 1778; app. Aide-de-Camp to Maj.-Gen. Rob-rt Howe, in
rc-org. of Conn. Line, 1777-17S1; was on the gen. staff in formation of
Conn. Line, 1781-83, and served to end of war; orig. memb. Society of the
Cincinnati.
WEBB, Samuel Blatciiley, (Brig.-Gen.) , wliile acting as private -tcn-tary to
Silas Dcane, the news of the Battle of Lexington, reached Wether-tielJ. and
the young man was (juickly on the scene of action; was commissioned Ist
Lieut, in Col. Chester's Reg., 1 5Iay, 1775; was wounded at t!:e battle of
Bunker Hill, and commended in Gen. Orders for gallantry: wrote an ac-
pount of the battle to Silas Dcane (which is now in the Library of the
Conn. Hist. Soc. ) ; was made aide-de-camp to Gen Putnam, 22 July. 1775,
accomi)anicd that general to New York City, wliere he was app.. 21 .June,
1770, in Gen. Orders, aide-de-camp to Gen. Wasliington, to wliom a]-o he
acted as private secretary, with rank of I^t.-Col., wliicli po-iti'iu he held
until the close of that year, and was the writer of the order jiromulgating to
the army, the Declaration of Independence, 4 July, 1770. A few days later
according to tlie account given in liis private .Journal.' he joined Col. Reed
in refusing to receive from the conuiiander of the British Fleet, in N. Y.
Harbor, a letter sent under a Hag of truce, and discourteously addre-=sed to
George Washington. Esq. Webb's Journal says: "New York. July 14,
177G. A (lag of truce from tlie Fleet appeared, on which Col. Reed and
myself went down to meet it. About half way between Governor's and
Staten Island, Lieut. Brown of the Kngle, oli'ered a Letter from Lord
^This Journal, covering tlie period betw. 21 June, and 1 Aug.. 1770. is in the
possession of the ^^■ebb family, to whom it was returned by Hon. V\"m. B. Reed,
who found it among his father's papers.
WETHERSriEI.D SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. 53 ^
Howe, tlirectcil — Ckohge Wasiilngton, Ksq. ; wliioli. on account of its
direction, we refii-id to receive, and parted witli tlie u^ual compliments.
New York, 17 July, 1770.
A flag from the enemy, wjtli an answer from General Howe about the
[letter] sent yesterday, directed George Wa^liington, Ksq., ^tc. — which
was refused.
Xew York, in .July, 177ti.
A flag appeared t'ni-i morning, when Col. Keed and my-elf went down an
Aid-de-Canip of V-en.' Ho«c met u<, and said, as tliere a[>peared an un-
surmountable olistacle between the two Generals, by way of compoundiug.
Gen' Howe desired lii.s Adjutant General might be admitted to an inter-
view with his Excellency, General Washington: on which. Col. Keed. in
the name of General Washington, consented, and pledged his honor for
his being safely returned. The Aidedo-Camp said tlie Ailjutant CJeneral
would meet us tomorrow forenoon.
20th July.
At 12 o'clock we met the Fhig— took I.t. Colonel P.iterson of the
Regiment into our Barge and e-corted him safe to town to Col. Kno.x's
Quarters where His Excellency, (Jeneral Washington, attended by his suit
and Life Guard, received and had an interview of about an hour with him.
We then escorted liim back in safety to his own Darye. In going and com-
ing we passed in Iront of the Guard Battery, but did not blindfold him —
social and chatty all the way."
Webb was taken prisoner, with liis command, on an expedition to L. T.,
10 Dec, 17S0: was exchanged and devoted hi> time, jirivate funds and
efforts *n the rai-ing and organizing of a Togimr'"t 'ejio of the sixteen
so-called '"Additional regiments," authorized by Congress) which became
the 3d Conn. Retr. of the Lino, in the formation of 17S1-.'!. and of which he
was app. Col. During 17S2. ho was on detail duty with Light Infantry;
was continued in tlie .3d Conn. Reg., in the formation of .Jan. -.June, 17S3;
was retired with tlu- Army at the close of hostilities. June. 17S3;
brevetted as Brig.-Gen. under Gen. Act of Congress. 30 Sept., 17S3, and
served until 13 Nov., 17S3; was one of original mendiors of Society of
Cincinnati.
W"EBSTER, Alcos Andrew, in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.).
WEBSTER. Leon, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
WEBSTER, D.wip. in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig.
Peekskill, X. Y., Mch.-June, 1777.
WELLES, As.\, in Capt. Hez. Welles' Hth ) Co., Wolcott's Keg. before Boston, .Jan.-
Mch., 1770; in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. to X. Y., Aug.,
177G.
WELLES. Chester. (Capt.) later Major. 2d Lieut, in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.'); app.
20 May, 1770; Capt. 2d Co., Sixth Mil. Reg.: app. June, 1770, Capt. of
3d Co.. Chester's Batt. of YoU.; app. Ens. in Col. Xoadiah Hooker's Batt.
at Peekskill, X. Y.. :Mch. 1777: Capt. of 4th Co. in Col. Belden's Co., Wol-
cott's Brig. Peekskill. X. Y., Apl. 22—10 :May, 1777: Maj. Sixth Mil. Reg.
( vice John Belden. prom.) -Jan.. I'AO.
WELLES. Eli.iaii. in Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Annr. bd. to X. Y., Aug.,
1776: in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co.. Wolcott's Reg., before Boston, -Jan.-
Mch., 1770.
WELLES, Elisiia, in Cajit. E. Wright's (3d) Co., 3d Batt. at West Point, June,
1778.
WELLES, EnsiiA, 2d.
532 HISTOKY OF ANCIKNT WETHKRSFIELD.
WPXLES, GiDEOX, in Caiit. Ilanmcr'si Mil. Co., on bd. s>lp. Aniic. bd. for K. Y., Aug.,
177G.
WELI-ES, Hkzekiaii, Capt. of 4th. Co., Col. Wolcott's Reg. State Troops, before
Boslon Jan.-Mch., 1770; app. Capt. of a Co. for service at Peekskill, X. Y.,
in Col. Noadiah Hooker's Ilatt.; Capt. 4tli Co., UHh Mil. Keg., Alarm List,
1779,
WELLES, J.\MES, Sgt. in Col. Sheldon's Lt. (2nd Conn.) Drag., 7 May, 1777; app.
Corp. 1 Jan., 1778; Lieut. 2d June, 177'J, and served to end of war.
WELLES, Joshua, in Capt. llcz. Welles' (4th) Co., Col. Wolcott's Reg., before
Boston, Jaii.-Mch., 1770; (poss. the same who \va5 in Capt. Clie.ster Welles'
Co., Col. Beldcn's Reg., Wolcott's Brig, at reekskill, X. V., Mch.-June,
1777) or. to Cont. Army, Aug. 1778: in Capt. E. Wright's (Srd) Co., 3d
Batt, at Peekskill, N. Y., June, 177S.
WELLES, JosiAir, same service record as Joshua above (there was a Josiah Welles —
poss. the same, who was in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; enl. Capt. Chester's (9th)
Co., 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 12 May, disch, 10 Dec, 177.3; in Capt.
Hanmer's Jlil. Co., on bd. Sip. Aniic, bd. for X. Y., 'Aug., 1770.
WELLES, JosKiui, Corp. of Capt. Hanmer's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug., 1770.
WELLES, RouKKT, app. Capt., May, 1778, in .Mh Co., Si.vth Mil. Reg.
WELLES, RoiiKRT, Ji!., app. Lieut. May. 1778, in 5th Co., Sixth Mil. Reg.
WELLES, Roger, 2nd Lieut., 1 Jan., 1777, in Capt. Bull's Co., Col. S. B. Webb's
Add. Reg., and during the summer and fall of that year served under
Gen. Putnam on the Hudson; was prom. 16 May, 177S, 1st Lieut., serving
mostly in tlic Rclt. commanded by his classmate, Col. Kbenezer Huntington,
was doubtless in the battle of Long Lsland, was at one time in Capt.
Walker's and again in Capt. Wonster's Co.; during the severe winter of
1779-80, within camp at Morristown, X. J., his Reg. being in Stark's Brig.
which, in June following, took part in the action near .Springfield, X. J.
under Gen. Greene. When Lafayette's Light Inf. Corps was org. ho was
app. April 8, 1780 to the captaincy of one of the five companies, which
formed a part of Capt. Gimat's battalion, accompanying Gen. Lafayette
to Virginia. For his gallant conduct at Y'orktown, S, C, and subsequent
militarj' services, see pp. 482-0, Vol. I; was in the action at Green .Spring
near Jamestown, Va., .July G, 1781; was retained in Swift's Conn. Reg.,
June, 1783 and served to end of the war, Xov., 178.3.
WELLES, Setii, in Capt. Hanmer's .Mil. Co., on bd. Sip. Anne, bd. to X. Y., Aug.,
1776.
WELLES, SiMox, enl. 1st Troop, Sheldon's Lt. (2nd Conn.) Drag. 27 Dec, 1770:
described as a joiner, 5 ft. 0 in. in height, fair complex., light eyes and
hair; deserted, and returned 11 Sept., 1780.
WELLES, Thomas, Sgt. in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
WELLES, William, ("Billec" on the roster) in Capt. Hanmor's }tlil. Co., on bd. Sip.
Anne, bd. to X. Y., Aug., 1776.
WEXTWORTII, ZioN-, in Lex. Alarm Co,, 1775; enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co.,
2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer, 15 Jlay, disch. Dec 7, 1775; was in the
unfortunate Quebec Expd. from which he returned safely; prob. the same
L. W. who was in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co., Wolcott's Reg., before
Boston, Jan.-Mch., 1770 — from which he was detailed to the above expd.,
and who was also in Capt. E. Wriglit's (3rd) Co., 3d Batt. at West Point,
June, 1778.
•WETHERSFIKU) SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLITION. 533
WESTOX, EnxjAjiiN. in I.i-x. Altirm Co.. 177.",: in Cnpt. llanmers Mil. Co., on bd.
.Sip. Ainie. hil. for X. V.. Aug., 177G: SltI. in Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Keg.,
10 Mch., 1777; Kns. 10 May, 177S: resiLmed 13 July, 1779.
WESTKR, (po-s. We.-ton) , in Col. Canfield's Mil. Retr. at West Point,
Sept. 17S2.
WESTEX, Eenj.\jiix, (Ens.) diicli. and deserted before Jan. 1, 17S0 and not in-
cluded in settlement for ilcjirccintion of jiay. — Conn. ilac/.
WETHERBV, (WfirirKULY) David, a 6 nios. recruit. IS July-4 Dec. 1779; in Col.
WebVs (Pth) Rejr.— Co;i». if/rj.
WETHEIIELL. Elisju. in Capt. E. Wright's i od i Co., 3d Batt., at West Point, June,
177S.
WETHERHEAD. Edward, or. to Cunt. Aiiny. 177S.
WETMORE. John-.
WHEELER, .Joseph, in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co., 3rd Batt. at West Point, June,
1778.
WHITE, J.MIES, one of 22 cap. by Br. from the brijantine Gen. Greene privateer from
\Veth., 17S2; d. in prison at X. Y.
WHITE, TiMonTY, in Lex. Alarm Co.. 177.").
WniTTLE.'^EV, LE5rrEi„ app. Lieut. .5th Co.. Sixth Mil. Res.
■WHITiLlX, S.\iitrEL. in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
WILLARD, SiMOX, in Capt. Haninor's Mil. Co.. on bd. Sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug., 1776.
WTLLL\MS. D.\xiEL. enl. Capt. Hart'- Co.. Col. S. B. Webb's Add. Reg., 15 Feb..
1777, for 3 yrs.: disch. 1 Apl.. 17S1 ; was S-t.
WILILAAfc, Eli.^.s. (S ) was at Bunker Hill. {R. TT. ".',
WILLIAMS, EzEKiEL, Coniiu;ss:ir>" for care of pri-oners. is mentioned {Mem. Hist.
Htfd. Co.), as among tlio<e to whom military" conimis. were issued by the
Gen. Assembly, for services in the Revolution."
WILLIAMS, IsK-VEL (S.) in Lex. Alarm Co.. 1775.
WILLIAMS, .Joseph, Ens. in Cajit. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belcher's Reg., Peck?i<ill,
X. Y., April 22—10 :May, 1777.
WILLI.:\3IS, Otii.niel. Capt. 1st Co.. Sixth Mil. Reg., Alarm Li?t, May, 1779; Ens. in
Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th) Co., Wolcotfs Reg., before Boston, Jan.-Mch., 1776.
WILLIAMS. S.VMt-EL, WiLLUM, (X*.1, (gd-son of Rev. and Col. Elisha Williams. 1st
Rector at Y. C.) b. at Weth., 1752: grad. Y. C, 1773: was 2d Lieut, Cth
Conn. Mil. Reg., May 1-Dec 18. 1775: at org. of the Conn, line joined Col. S.
B. Webb's Add. Reg. as Lieut., 1 Jan., 1777; prom. Capt., 21 Mch., 177S; the
Reg. served on the Hud-on in 1777. and the summer of 1778; marched to
Rhode Island under Lafayette, taking active part in the bat. there of 29th
Aug.; in June, 1779, he helped to clieck the British advance for Springfield,
X. J.; by the reduction of the line Jan. 1 (formation of 1781-83) the
reg. became the 3rd Conn, and Capt. W. commanded it for a short time
in the fall of that year; he retired from ser\"ice June 1, 1783; settled in
Weth. and was its Town Clerk for 20 yrs. ; a rep to the Leg. for several
sessions; d. on or about 14 Sept., 1812: mem. of the Soc. of the Cincin-
nati.-— Sec Yale in the Ferolution, p. 251.
He was prob. the Capt. Williams who. on the authority of an old lady
of the Marsh family of Weth. is said to have escorted Maj. Andre, arm in
arm. to the place of his execution, and wlio used to tell how Andre, when
he saw the gallows, gave a great start, and then saying: "It will be but
a ruomentarii' pang," passed on calmly and firmly. — Hiss E. E. Dana.
534
HISTOKY OF ANCIflNT WETHERSFIKLD.
WILLIAMS, Sor.oMO\, in Lex. Alarm Co., 177.); fill, in dipt. Hoz. WoUos" (4th)
Co., Wolfotl'.>5 Hop;., before Bustuii, .Tan.-Mcli., 177U: ciil. in Cajit. Throop's
Co., 1st Reg. Conn, lino, Col. Huntington. 1 Jan., 1777, for the war; cr. to
Cont. Army, Aug., 177.S.
WILLIAMS, William, (S.) tifer, cnl. Capt. Chester^ (Olli) Co., 2nd Conn. Keg.,
Col. Spencer, -J.'! .May, il. 30 .July, 177o. before Bo.~ton.
WIXCIIELL, KzKKihx, or to Cont. Army, Aug. 177S: being then of Capt. E. Wright's
(3i(I) Co., 3ril Batt. at West Point, .Juno, 177S.
WITIIEUELL, David, in Col. Canfiekrs Mil. P,eg. at West P<jint, Sept. 17S2.
WOODIIOrSE, .Joiix, ill Lex. Alarm Co., 177.5; in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4tli) Co.,
Wolcott's Reg., before Boston. .Jan.-ilcli., 1770; app. Oct. 1778, Ens. 2d
Co., Sixth Mil. Reg., Alarm Li-t; in Jan.. 17S0, app. Lieut, same Co and
Reg.
WOODIKJL'SE, Xatiia.n-ikl, in Capt. Hannior's Mil. Co., on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for
N. Y., Aug. 177G.
W00DI10i:SE, Lkjilkl, (perhaps should be Samuel) in Capt. Hez. Welles' (4th)
Co., Wolcott's Reg., before Boston, .Jan.-Mch., 1770.
WOODIIOCSE, Samuel, Ens. 2d Co., Sixth .Mil. Reg., Alarm Lint, app. .Jan 17S0.
WOODWORTH, Lvox, enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2nd Conn. Rog., Col. Spencer,
May 15, diseh. 7 Dee.. 177.3; in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's
Reg., Wolcott's lirig. Peekskill, X. V., Mch.-June, 1777.
WOLCOTT, David, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775.
WOLCOTT, Eli.sha, in Capt. Hannior's Mil. Co.. on bd. sip. Anuc, bd. for N. Y.,
Aug., 1770; was in X. Y. campaign of '70, and being a hatter by trade, was
advi.=cd by Weth. lo return home and make hais lor tiie armv.
WOLCOTT, C.EKSiiu.v, in Capt. Hanmors ilil. Co., on bd. sip. Auric, bd. for X. Y.,
Aug., 1770.
WOLCOTT, Jo.siAlT, service record same as preceding.
WOLCOTT, .SoLO.MO.N-, in Lex. Alarm Co., 1775; Capt. Hannior's Mil. Co., on bd. sip.
An7ie, bd. to X. Y., .\ug., 1770.
WRIGHT, Asa, in Capt. E. Wright's (3rd) Co., 3rd Batt. at West Point, June,
1778.
WRIGHT, AsHm-.i., (S.) in Lex. .\larni Co.. 1775; enl. Capt. Chester's (0th) Co.,
2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer. 20 May, disch. 10 Oct., 1775.
WRIGHT, Bkn.jami.v, one of 22 of crew of privateer brigantine Ocn. Greene, from
Woth., cap. by British, 1782: d. in prison at X. Y.
WRIGHT, David, in Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Col. Belden's Reg., Wolcott's Brig.
Peekskill, X. Y., 22 Apl.— 10 May, 1777.
WRIGHT, EuEXEZER, Lieut., app. Jan.. 1778, in 2nd Co., Sixth JUL Reg., Alarm
List; in Capt. E. Wright's (.'ird) Co.. 3rd Batt. at West Point. June, 1778.
WRIGHT, Elijah. Capt. of 3il Co., 3rd Batt. comniis., Xov., 1770 at Peekskill,
X. Y., June, 1778.
WRIGHT, Elizur, enl. Capt. Chester's (9th) Co., 2nd Conn. Reg., Col. Spencer,
13 ]May, disch. 17 Dee., 1775, before Boston; in Capt. Hannior's Mil. Co.,
on bd. sip. Anne, bd. for X. Y., .Vug., 1770.
WRIGHT, John, commanded privateer Enterprise.
WEIGHT, Joseph,, Ally.x, 1st Lieut. 7th Conn. Reg., .July 0—10 Dec, 1775; 1st.
Lieut. 19th Cont. Inf., 1 Jan.-Dec. 31. 1770; 1st Lieut. 10th Conn.
Reg., Col. Charles Webb; Capt. 5th Reg., Conn. Line, 1 Jan., 1777;
continued as Capt. of a Co. in 2d Reg., Conn. Line (formation
of 1781-83) under CoL Hermon Swift; prom. Maj. of 4th Reg., Conn. Line,
WKTHKKSKIEI.D aOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. 535
Dec, ITSl; li:iM>f. to Old Conn. 1 .Jan., ITSo ond continued in the service till
1 June, 17S;5, retired witli the army; an orig. mcin. of Soe. of the Cin-
cinnati.
WRIGHT, Jisn s, in C'apt. f'hest.r Welles' Co.. Col. Behlen's Tug., Wolcotfs Brig.
Peekskill, X. Y., ilch.-June, 1777.
WRIGHT, Joiix, service record .same as preceding.
WRIGHT, Moses, in Capt. Hanmor's :Mil. Co., on lid. sip. Anne, bd. to X. Y., Aug.,
177G.
WRIGHT, William, also in Cai)t. llanmor's ilil. Co., Aug., 1770; in Capt. Ilez.
Welles' (4tli) Co., Woleott'.s Keg., before Boston, Jan.-JIch., 1770; in
Capt. Chester Welles' Co., Belden's Reg., Wolcotfs Brig. Peekskill, N. Y.,
Mch. — June, 1777.
CHAPTER XII.
TuE Maritime Histoky of Wetiiersfiei.d.
[Br SiiERiLiN W. Adams, Esq.]
DUEIXCt the year 15S7. (March otli to October Stli), Judge
Adams ^vrote and published in the Wefhcrsficid Weekly Farmer,
a series of articles. 27 in number, upon the above-named subject, and
entitled "Scraps of Wcthersfield History." Erom these 'we have con-
densed, re-arranged and. in part, re-^vrittcn the following ehajiter, which
contains — in a fiirm lienor adajned tn the purposes of this history — the
valuable facts which he had crillecred. //. B. <S'.]
To speak of '"the maritime history"" of an inland and purely agri-
cultural towni, such as Wetherstield is at present, seems, at tirst sight.
to savor somewhat of sarcasm. If, however, we remember the broad
river which winds thmugh its meadows, and ^\iiich is navigable for
vessels of considerable size, from the sea to a ])r)int several miles al)ove
the to\\Ti ; and if we consider the peculiar fascination which the sea and
all that pertains thereto, seems to have for th.e inhabitants of inland
towns, it is not so diincult to realize that ^Yethersfield has had, ever
since the days of its settlement, and to within the recollection of some
now living, a history of navigation and commerce, highly creditable
to the enterprise of its former inhabitants. The Xew England States,
from the earliest days of their colonial existence, have given birth to
hundreds, if not thousands, of hardy, intelligent men, who seemed as
much at home upon the sea as upon land, and were ever half- farmer,
half-sailor. And these men of amphibious tendencies, as we shall see
in the case of ^Yether£neld, were not confined to the natives of the sea-
coast.
Ships and Ship-Buihlinr!. in the early days of the Connecticut Col-
ony, is a subject which would well repay the labors of any one who
should undertake to write it up. in extenso. Two centuries ago, the
names applied to vessels, as descriptive of their different sizes, rigging,
etc., were somewhat different from those now employed. Then, as
now, for example, the term '•ship"' was applied to vessels having three
masts and a square "rig.*' But, it was, also, applied to vessels which,
as to size, whatever their style of rig, were quite too insignitrcant to
WETIIEKSFIELD SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. 537
be considered as sliips, in our in-cscnt imderstaudiiig of the term. The
Mayflower, a large vessel for its day and wliicli bore over a hundred
passengers on its famous voyage to Isew England, in 1020, ^vas yet
only registered at 120 tons burden. Other three-masted vessels of that
period were the "pink," square-rigged and somewhat smaller than the
ship; the "snow," which was nearly barque-rigged; and the '"barque,"
smaller than other three-masted vessels. Of the two-masted vessels, the
only kind at first known, was tlie ■"ketch," in rig, nnich like tlie brig-
antine of the present day. The terms ""brig" and ""schooner" came
into use at a later period. In 1080, there were but 2G vessels, of all
kinds, owned in the Colony, and were thus classitied, 4 ships, 3 pinks,
2 barks, 6 ketches and 11 sloops. jSTone of these belonged to Wethers-
field ; and but one, a ship of 70 tons, registered from ]\[id(lletown.
Hartford had a sloop of 1)0 tons' (tlie only one of that tonnage in the
Colony), which traded with Uristol, England; and the next largest was
the brigantine Dolphin of Xew London, and of SO tons burden. Of
the "pinks" above referred to, two registered at SO tons each; the
largest "ketch" was 70 tons; the. largest ""barque" and ""sloop" 30 tons
each ; and the smallest shxip eight tons. These, and other much
smaller craft, were engaged in the West India and European trade,
and wen- probably somewhat under-registered, m order to escape a part
of the government tonnage-tax. ^lany of these Connecticut-built
vessels were sold abroad. The Colony's whole commerce, at this period,
was very small, and carried on mostly from Xew London, where all
vessels had to 'clear" and where a Xaval Officer was stationed." Goods
could be imported then only fi-cjni England, Wales, or some other
British coast. This obtained until, in 1702, the number of '"lawful
ports" in the Connecticut Colony had lieen increased so as to include
Saybrook, Guilford, Xew Haven, ^lilford, Stratford, Fairfield and
Stamford also.
DijficuUirs of Colonial Navigation. — We must remember that, in
the early times, there were many obstacles to ocean navigation wliicli
do not now exist. IMany harbors were then unknown, even to those
who were engaged in the coast trade ; and charts of the inlets and
sounds of our coast were unobtainable. Ship-yards were scarcer even
than saw-mills; and ships were liable to capture by pirates, and during
'The ton was then estiniatod at 2,240 pounds.
' 15y the Code of 10.'>0, each town clerk was required to keep a registry of the
quantity of powder and shot on board any hoat or vessel departing from a town —
the earliest provision extant as to army official examination of a vessel's cargo.
538
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSKIELD.
many years of the C(jlonial period, by Frcucli and Spanish privateers
and -war vo.-.-els. The several Colimies enacted restrictive hiws as
againr-t each otlicr; and, as early as 1072, the English Parliamentary
Acts of Trade and Xavigatiou -were made to apply to the Colonics. In
IGTO. Edward Piandolph was made the Eoyal Collector of Customs for
Xew England, v^•ith liis office at Costmi. In lOfO, a ctistoms collector
for the Crown, was appointed in eacli cijiinty; ami in lOSG. William
Dyre, the Royal Sur-Gcneral of Customs for all America, appointed
a deputy collector for Connecticut, at Xew London. In It'.Oi, vessels
were required, l;iy Ciih^nial law, to stop and pay "powder money" to
oacii fort within whose range they came, or else they were liable to
cannonade from the fort. In 1702, Saybrook. luuler a Colonial law,
was made a Port of Entry for the Connecticut Piver, and allowed a
naval otficer; but neither he nor the Colonial naval oriicer at Xew
Londijn were recngnized by tlie Crown: and ves-els ]iro]ierly cleared
from Saybrook were liable to seizure iu foreign ports, because they
could not pniducc clearance papers, signed by her ^lajcsty's collector
at Xew Londiju, the then only port in Connecticut e^taldislied by
English authority. Indeed, it was not imtil 177ii, that IMiduletowu bc^
came a h'v-ful port of entry and clearance, even uhJer Colonial law:
and, in the meantime, Saybrook as such a port, had been abolished: so
that there was but one lawful port of entry on the Connecticut Piver- — ■
which is the condition to-day. By act of C<-nigress, Middletown became
such a port ; the otlicr towns upon the Piver being made ports of deliv-
ery— as they remain to this day.
An excise was laid upun beaver skins, as early as 1G3S; and trade
in these furs could only be done by offi.cers, appointed by the General
Court, who collected a shilling per skin, for the Colonial treasury.
Wetbersfield's first collectors were George Hubbard and Pichard Law.
In 1<359 a duty of 25 shillings for each imported butt of wine, and of
5s for each anchor of liquor, was claimed for the Colonial treasury.
Samuel Boardman, ancestor of the Connecticut family of that name
was then the collector for Wethersfield. Ender the law of 1G54. if the
liquor was Barbadoes liquor (commonly known as ""Kill Devil"), its
landing from any vessel was prohibited. In 1002, an act was passed
proliibiting the carrying of any corn (grain) or provision out of the
River; and the customs-master in each town was required to enforce the
observance of this law. It must not, however, be inferred from this
that the duties of the customs-nuister were co-extensive with those of the
collector or naval officer of to-day. In the same year the General As-
sembly required the custom-masters to collect an import duty of 25s
ITS MAKITIME HISTORY. 539
per hogshoad, or tw,-. i^once per p,.,„,.l, on tobacco "accor.ling to the law
ot England. Li 1714, an excise or export duty of 20. per thousand
was lened on barrel .sta^•e.s, and ;]0.. per thousand on pipe staves,
shipped to any of the neighboring Colonies. Wethersfield was, at this
tnne probably the largest producer of these articles iu Connecticut.
Ihe following year, a Colonial law imposed a duty upon ship-timber,
planks and boards shi,.ped to sauie provinces; and a dutv of l^,. cirf was
kid upon eveiy £100 worth of goods imported here bv non-inhabitant.
In l.-i, a hve per cent ad raloron duty was place.l upon goods im-
ported from the other Colonies, if the importer resided in this Col-
ony; but if he resided elsewlu-re the ,hny was 7i per cent. From the
operation of this law-cast, bar and slit iron ; steel; nails; salt, beaver
leather, deerskins; fish (dry, or salted) ; train oil; whalebone; rice- tar'
turpentine; wmdow-glass an.l hunber ^vere exempted. JJut, instead of a
duty on goods from Great Britain, the importer received a per cent
premium; so that the coasting-trade was placed at a decided disadvan-
tage, as compared with the European, or rather the English. In the
same year, a heavy export duty was put upon all staves, headino-s ship-
timber, planks and bark, shipped from this to a neighboring Colony
and other customs laws wc-re, from time to time, euacteu both by Con-
necticut ana ihc J^ritish Parliament, down to the ])eriod of the Rev-
olution.
In 1720, a tax of 15.s per ton's register was assessed upon the ton-
nage of vessels ; the tax being collectible as other to^^^l taxes. This, and
other considerations led to the hai,it of under-rating tonnage of vessels ;
making them to appear, in the returns, as less than their Tetual size.
Another hindrance to navigation— which arose after a prosperous
coast-trade had been established between the Colonies and the West
Indies, was the war between England on the one hand and Spain and
France on the other; and, from the interruptions thus engendered,
our coast commerce had hardly recovered when the Revolution began.
Our own General Assembly, also, established many embargoes ifpon
our own export trade.
For a long time, m.u-eover, there were no light-h,.uses and prob-
ably but few beacons, and buoys, along our coast. It was not until
17G0 that a light-house was erected at Xew London; and then, although
It was mainly paid for by a lottery, sanctioned by the General Assem-
bly, vessels clearing from other ports than Xew Haven were required
to pay light-house dues for its maintenance.
In ISOO, John Cadwell, John irorgan and others of Hartford were
incorporated as The Union Company, with power to erect "wharves,
54*^ HISTOUY OF ANCIENT WKTIIKKSFIKLIJ.
piers and l)ri(1grs" for the iiuproveineiit of the navigation of the Con-
necticut Ivivor. This company constructed bars at several jjoints
between Hartford and Kocky Hill, and even as far as ]\Iiddleto\vn ;
and, though it is doubtful whether those constructed at Wethersfield
were of any V)cnefit to the channel; yet vessels arriving at or departing
from that point, were oliliged to pay to the company a tax of from
$5 to $3-1-, according to their draught of water. The Connecticut
River Cc)mpanv, incorporated in ls24, was granted similar powers as
to that part of the Ixiver above Hartford; and Vermont, in 1825, in-
corporated a similar company, with power to improve the river's navi-
gation from Hartford to Fifteen-^lile Falls, at Barnet, Vt. By the
aid of locks, at AVindsor and other points above, navigation was ren-
dered possible for small craft far up towards the headwaters of the
Connecticut.
Earhj TV.s,sc/.f al Wetltcrs/ir!/]. — It is pretty certain that ^Ir. John
Oldiiaji was the first o^\•llo^ and master of any sailing vessel at Weth-
ersfield, if not in the Colony. AMien he was murdered by the Indians,
July 20th, IC'IO, near lilock Island, he was a resident of Wethersfield,
and it was on his vessel (sonietimes called a "shallop," but oftcncr
a "pinnace" — both being names given to .small schooner-ruined craft)
that he was slain. What his cargo was, is unknown, but in Wether.s-
ficld, he liad raised a crop of Indian corn, and had swine at the time
of his death.
In 1G42, the Kiver towns were authorized to co-operate in building a
"Ship," probably at Hartford. The General Court appointed a com-
mittee of eight pcr.sons to "carry on the worke" ; and Leonard Chester
and Rich. Treat were the Wethersfield mendjcrs. This is the first
mention of ship-building in the Colony.
In September, 1648, Thomas Dej[i^-g, of Wethersfield, a "ship car-
penter," was granted land, by the Town, "upon the Common, by the
landing-place"; both for his house and for "a worke yard." The ship-
yard then cstahlished, the first in Wethersfield, and perhaps in the
Colony — was maintained down to a date within the memory of people
now living. It was at that part of the Cove margin next west of the
residence lately of John Ilanmer.
In ISTovember, 1C19, the General Court authorized Samuel Smith
"and the rest of the owners of the shipp at Wethersfield, to get and
make so many pipcstaves, as will freight out the said shipp the first
voyage, provided they doe it out of the bounds of any of the Townes
vppon the Riever within this Jurisdiction." {Col. Col. Ecc. I, p. 200.)
This ship was undoubtedly built by Doming; and, unless one had been
ITS MARITIME HISTORY. 54 '
built by tlic united action of tbe Three liiver Towns in 1^42, it was
the first built in Connecticut. It was named the Tnjall, and one "Lkr-
reby" (Larrabec) was its master in 1G50; and Christopher Fox,
of Wetherstield, its boatswain. lie died 15 Dec., 1G50, at Sadler's
ordinary (inn) in Wethersfield, and Sadler was aiipointed his executor;
his inventory (Iltfd. Froh. Wills cO Dccda II, p. 4) shows that his books
and nautical instruments were appraised at £3 value. Deminir, the
ship builder, removed to Kasthaiupton, L. I. The Trial, in 1C02, was
owned in Xew London, and in thai year John Edwards, Sr., of Wethers-
field, imported sugar in her from tlic AVe^t Indies.
Pipcstaves seem to have been the principal article of export at that
period. As early as IG-ll, the law provided for their dimensions and
for an inspector of them in eaeli town. Wethersfield was authorized
to export 30,000 per annum and ]Iartford and Windsor 20,000 each.
In the northern part of the AVethersficld ])arish now known as Xew-
ington the pipcstave industry was so largely carried on, as to give the
name of Pipe Stave Swamji to a considerable section there, and Pipers
River to its i^rincipal stream. The staves were shipped, in bundles,
or ''shooks,'' to tiie IJarljadocs and the AVest Indies ; many of them
returning thence in the shape of pipes and hogsheads, filled with mo-
lasses, sugar, or rum; while thousands of them were made into casks
here, wliich were filled with salt beef, pork and fish ; kiln-dried corn
meal, etc., and exported principally to the AVest Indies. Timber and
lumber formed a very large item of export in our earlier Colonial com-
merce, while AA'est Indian salt figured heavily in our imports.
Shipments of horses, to the AA'est Indies, began very soon after 1700.
This trade wsis continued for more than a hundred years.
In 1730, an official report to the British Board of Trade makes the
whole number of vessels in the Colony forty-two; whereof the sloop
Thanlcfid cC Ann, IS tons, is the only one credited to AVetliersfield.
But it is probable that of the five credited to Hartford and two to
Middletown, some were owned in whole or in part in AA^ethersfield.
The princi]>al articles of export are stated at this time to have been
horses and lumber (to the AA'^est Indies), and tar and turpentine (to
Boston, Xew York and Rhode Island) ; while the articles imported
(from the AVest Indies), were sugar, salt, molasses and rum.
"European goods'' were obtained from Boston and jj^ew York. Within
the next twenty years beef, pork and flour were added to the list of
principal articles exported to the AA'est Indies; and wlieat, rye and
Indian corn to Xew York and Boston. Some vessels went to Lisbon
and the ^Mediterranean with fish. In 175G, the wliole number of ves-
54^ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSfTEI.D.
sols in tlif Cfiloiiy was scveiitv-two. the lar^'f?t of wliifli were the ship
Lion and the snf)W Leopard, each 'JO tons. Tlie IJeport from which
this appears dnes not ^rare whore any vo—el belonged; but it is known
that the Lion was Imih in Hartford, and originally belonged there.
In 17C2, the nnniber of vessels had increased to 114 in the Colony.
Our foreign cnumierce, as well as our ship building was much crip-
pled during the various wars of the latter part of the 17th and early
part of the l^tll Centuries. Fri>m the rop.:.rt made to the Lords of
the Privy C<iU!icil. by Gov. Lecte nf Connecticut in IG'^O. it appears
that there were but tive vessels in all the towns on Cuunecticnt Eiver,
and none of the^e lielonged to A\"etherstield. From the same document,
■vve learn that horses, rye, wheat, barley, pease, wool, hemp, flax, cider
(made from wild or choked pears), tar ami ]iitch were shipped ironi
Connecticut to the P)arbadoos. .Jamaica "and other Caribbean islands,"
Fayal and iladeira ; but most of them were taken to Boston and there
"bartered for clothing." Sugar, ci'tton, wool and rum were brought
from the West Indies: wine from Fayal and -Madeira. ■"^lost people
plant most so much tobacco as they spend.""
We are unalile to gi\e satisfactory stati^tics concerning the amount
of shipping iiitcrc~t~ ill Wi'iher-tield since the mid'llc oi the IStli cen-
tury. The great bulk of the toreign tn.de was in the exportation of
beaver, deer skins, pipcstaves, lumber, bricks, grain, beef, ])ork and
fish (the last three articles salted), horses, lla.x seed and onions. In
later days garden seeds ami tobacco have been shijiped in considerable
quantities. "Within the last feu years, several thousand tons of ice,
annually, have been jnvduccd ; mostly for use in this State. The im-
ports were mainly <:if "European goods," salt, rum, molasses and sugar;
and "West India goods" in general. Wethersfield was, by Congress,
made a "port of delixery." in the Middletown district, in 1709; and
so remains to-day.
Warehouses, Landiixj Places, etc. — In course of time, it became
necessary to erect warehouses by the river side. As early as 1002,
the Town gave to S.vmlel (son of Gov.) Wki.i ks a piece of land "upon
the Common, at the Landing Place, to set up a warehouse, and to no
other use whatever."' This site was by the side of the present Cove;
the Common, at that time, being a much larger tract than at present.
In 1071, the Tov.n gave •Jnuy Ciiestkr (son of [Mr. Leonard) a
warehouse site at the same landing iilace, and in the same year, his
brother Stephen Chester obtained a grant of "il or o rods in breadth,
next unto his brother's land, to build a warehouse upon." In 1072,
this grant was revoked, hut gave Chester, in lieu thereof, a piece north-
S-^-i.^:
r%^-7
t.">#nii-n'Ti''».U.'e.jk<i<.:-i;=:.^---„...-*,j...-.t ,.. -u;. -:». m..j ,^
r.iKlls-KYE \lK\V OK \\KriIKl;-FlHIi.
Photo, hi/
Albert M„r;,iii,.
The Cu\t; uy Mocinlujit.
Photo 61/ Jarcd B. Standish.
ITS MARITIME HISTORY. 543
east of a piece Avliidi ho had bought of Thomas Ilurlhiirt. Iliirlbiirt's
lot was a small piece, also at tliis landing place, ■vvhicli the Town had
given him to set a blacksmith shop upon.
In December, 1072, the Town, being abont to divide up the laud on
the east side of Roeky Hill, reserved five acres "for a lauding place."
Joseph Smith, dUc of rhe first settlers of that section, was given twenty
acres, conditionetl tliat ho uiaintaiu a road and gate through the tract, to
this reserved tract : it l)oing also sti]iu]atod with Smith that the five acres
thus reserved shall be "for tlio public use of the Town in general, or
for any of the inludntants in ])ortickular, for a common landing place,
or for building ships, or ratlior vessels." This tract now belongs to
the Town of Rocky Hill, and adjoins the River, just north of, and
perhaps including, the ferry landing there, and there was a ship-vard
there for many years.
In 1G83, anotlier warehouse site was granted, this time to Timothy
Hydk, son of George Hyde, a Uoston shij) carix'utor. It was 40 feet
sqiiaro and ''bolin\' ]\Ir. Sro])hon Cliostor's warehouse." In ICStt, Joskpii
(son of Rev. Josepli) Rowj.axdso.n-, was given a piece "W foot square
on y^ Connnon, on y^ bank nf y'" Great River, lielow Mr. Stojihen Ches-
ter's warehouse," for a warolionse. Finally, in IG'Jl, tiic Town granted
another site for a warehouse to ^Nicholas ilooucocK — a tract 40 feet
square, near Stoithen Chester's warehouse — with liberty to build a wharf
"in y^ said River'' (near the Cove) adjoining his warehouse — the
wharf to be free to all tlio iulialutants of the '"town."
These grants show that the landing places on the X. E. corner of
the Common was, in those days, a scene of considerable commercial
activity. But one of those old warehouses now remains — the old gam-
brel-roofed building with sides of weather-beaten oak planks, belong-
ing to the heirs of the late Capt. John Ilanmer. We think it was last
used by that enterprising shipowner, Justus Riley, deceased.
The River, before the year 1700. had already so far shifted its chan-
nel from its old position, in the bend X. W. of the Connnon, as to
render the water front at that ])oint now no longer any part of the
River proper. It had liocome tlie present "Cove." Thenceforth, the place
was pretty nearly abandoned as a pul)lic river-landing place. As the
River's bed was tlien far (almost three-fourths of a mile) to the cast
of its present position, opjjosite to the present Wethersficld wharf —
the sliii)ping place was not changed to that point (tmless, perhaps, some
of it was done from vessels moored alongside the perpendicular bank
of the meadow there) ; but it iras changed to Stepney. Thereafter, for
many years, the river landing at Stepney (very nearly where the ship-
544
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WKTHERSFIELD.
ping at Rocky Hill is done, to-day) was the principal landing
place used instead of the abandoned one at the Cove. So, it hap-
pened that Stepney became one of the chief landing places on
the Eiver. Some evidence of the amount of businss that must
have been done 150 years ago (and which continued' to be done for more
than an luindrcd years) at Stepney, exists in the ancient warehouses
still to be seen there. The late Roderick Grimes was the last of the
leading shipping merchants there ; and his ancestors for several genera-
tions had been ciignged in the foreign (chiefly the "West Indies) trade.
The name Stepney was given to tlie parish there, in 1723.
Xor should we forget, among the old Wethersfield warehouses, that
of Justus Riley, Sc^n., uu the South side of Chemical Lane, and once
occupied .as a seed warehouse by Messrs. Johnson, Robbins & Co.
From it Hartford merchants iiscd to obtain supplies of molasses, sugar
and rum. From this warehouse, also, Mr. Riley used to send large
numbers of horses, overland to Xew London, for exportation to the
West Indies — as many, it is said, as 100 at a time.
Rut while the bulk of the tnwn's shipping was done at Stepney, some
was also done — probably from about 1700 to 17C0 — on the east side
of "the Rocks." northeast of ihe high ground bct\%oen the Cove and
the River. In 1723, lIio Town agreed with tlic heirs of Sanuiel Ruck,
whose homestead was then the most northerly one on the east side of
High St. (or the Common) for a highway to this landing place, ex-
tending easterly along the north side of the said homestead, to the River.
As compensation, the Town permitted the heirs to run a fence from the
top of the fence to "y^ Great Rock." A meadow road, north of Ruck's
place, and a dwelling house north of said road, had formerly existed,
but the sites of both had been swept away, until the solid rock having
been reached, the work of devastation by the floods was arrested. The
earliest mention found of this Great Rock is in IGOl. Probably the
immense mass of st)il which has been carried away from that vicinity
contributed largely to the filling up of the cast channel of Wright's
Island.
It is obvious that any wharf built on the east water front of the
Buck lot above mentioned could not long exist in a serviceable condi-
tion; and, as it could not be approached from the south, it was not
easily accessible.
The situation naturally invited an attempt to establish a landing
further south. In 17^4, Dr. E/.ekiel Porter bought the Xoyes-Wick-
ham meadow pasture lot bounded S. by road to the present Wethers-
field landing; X. by the River and W. by the rears of the High St.
r-
L
View NoRriiWAko fimm a P'oint Opposite the Old Latti.mek Wiiari
•%* r~ -SSt'i-- * -^ ? »».-r
I. ■« »ft_.^ Sfl*'
1
"33a=Ff^=-^
N JH) i"
*<'-,«irr
^^^^i^ J
■*jt -i ilhl "lif'^
i rlJ-Btinl-- rrffl^ili'fl
offraphs hff J. 11. Stuntfish. lUustnifu'V.-i l.y JinrtOT,} Knf/inrin;/ Co.
ViKW SOL'THWAHD TRoM THE Sa M H Lt>CATIuN.
ITS MARITIME HISTORY. 545
homesteads of Xath'l Stillnum, Saiiuiel Curtis, Joseph "Woodhouse,
Francis Ilaiinier and othcI■^;. This lot, which ranged X. and S., be-
longed by iidieritanco to Dr. Porter's daughter, the wife of Frederick
Biitlcr. Upon it, Dr. Porter erected a house or sliop, on the high
ground near the Iii^■er bank; and Daniel Woodhousc and Capt. Simeon
Stillman erected houses, also; and probably a private way led up to
these dwellings, from the road on the south. In 1T!)2, a highway was
laid out by tlie Town, extemling frijin the east and west road on the
south, to the Kivcr on tlie north. It was laid out near the land of
heirs of Dr. Porter in part, and partly oN'er the lands of the other par-
ties mentioned, in such a way as to leave the Woodhousc and Stillman
dwellings on the west side and the Porter building on the east. It is
probable that soon thereafter, Frederick Butler built a wharf, nearly
to the rear of the Porter Imildiiig. In 1S12, this building was bought
and occupied by Cajit. Samuel Latimer — having previously been oc-
cupied by Jonathan Bunce and, after him, by Capt. Jesse Goodrich.
This Butler wharf probably became the first of the Latimer wharves,
but could not have remained long in use. Only its remains can now
be seen, at low water; while the Latimer house, yielding to the gradual
undermining of the river bank, lias entirely disappea'-ed. It is possi-
ble that this wharf was buik by Dr. poiter himself, wiien he built the
shop which later became a dwelling. This highway is now known as
Water St.
It was about 1S19, that Solomon Latimer (father of Capt. Samuel)
bought land on the south side of the eastern terminus of the road to
the present landing and built a wharf near said terminus (a few rods
north of the present steamboat store-house), which for many years
was much used as a landing and shipping place — although, for some
years prior to the organization of the Wethersfield Wharf Co., this
(the second Latimer) wharf, was in a dilapidated condition. Solomon
Latimer, also, occupied a two-story dwelling house on the south of the
road to this wliarf, built by Xathaniel Goodrich, but which was in
course of time undermined by the river. 'The highway to the present
landing has always borne the name of '"Road to the Great Meadow."
Until after the treaty of peace between England and France in 1 763,
our foreign commerce had been so much disturbed that Wethersfield
had but little doing in that line.
From 1730 to 1795, there is no extant list of vessels, giving their
places of ownership, etc. AMien the traitor Arnold burned ISTew Lon-
don, in 1781, the Eoyal Custom House was burned with the rest, and
with it all the records of our Colonial commerce up to that time. In
546
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETIIERSriKLD.
the old Stale Ciistoin Ilonso of ^liddlctowii, tlicre should be records of
registered vessels, etc., from 1776 to 1795, but thoy are not to be found.
Kecurriiig, now, to the subject of vessels built or owned in Weth-
ersfield, we may mention that when, in IGt'J, IhciiAun Sidxn removed
from ilartha's Vineyard (ilartin's. he called it) to Wethersficld, ho
came in a vessel of his own. He was then about 30 years old, and a
son-in-law of Richard Treat, the settler. Pcrhajis, he was the father
of that Richard Smith, Jr., who, in 11174, was licensed to keep the
ferry at "Wethersficld. T)ut, whoever attempts to distinguish between
the three Richard Smillis, at least, in the villngc in 1619, will find
himself involved in a hopeless genealogical tangle.
Among the lending firms of the ISth century who figured in Wethers-
field as shi])ping merchants, was that of the Messrs. Wii.liajls & Co. Its
senior member was Sheriff Ezekiel Williams. Jonathan Trumbull,
of Lebanon, afterwards Gdverunr of Couuocticut. and called "IJrother
Jonathan," by Washingtuu, (ro whom he was a very "•right arm" of de-
fense and assistance during the Revolutionary jieriod), was at one time,
a member of this firm, and it is probable that Col. Wadsworth, of
Hartford, was also connected with its operations. They did a large
foreign business; owned, or ran the .sloop Dove, in l'i.'jS-9, to the West
Indies. In 1754-5, Gen. Phineas Lyman of Suffield (a conspicuous
figure in the French War) and Col. .Joscjih Pitkin of Hartford were
associated with Elisha Williams, Jr., in adventures to the AVe.st Indies,
in the sloop Dolpli'm. Roth these vessels v.'cre probably built at Stepney,
though, possibly, at the Cove. In the shipping list of the Connecticut
Colony made to the Royal Roard of Trade, at London, in 1756, they
were rated, rcspectivelj', as of 35 and 40 tons burden. Gen. LjTnan
was part owner of the Dolphin; and Peter Burnham, at one time, her
master. In her outward vojage she carried grain, pipestaves, beef,
pork, hay, tobacco, shingles, brick and sheep ; and, in return, brought
back rum, sugar, molasses aiid salt. Onions, also, formed a part of
almost every export cargo from this town.
The sloop Tmi-I- was running in the foreign trade between 1740 and
1750; but, as she is not named in the list of 1756, it may be inferred
that she was either lost, or worn out. P>EKJ.\.Jtix Tiiyax was at one time
her master. Amasa Adams, Sen., ship carpenter, had much to do
with the construction of both the Lark and Dolpliin; indeed, we find
no one else's name mentioned in connection with their building. In 1747,
the sloop ^^'mclsor was in commission, Joxatiiax Tryon, master, and
he with Timothy Seymour, Sen., seem to have owned her. In l767-'70,
John Weub, of Rocky Hill, was master of the Sip. Fair Trader, in the
ITS MARITIME HISTORY 547
West Indies trailc Xo the ports of Xevis, Antigua and Cat I^^land
(the first land discovered l)_v Columbus and by him called San Sal-
vador), exporting cattle, swine, brick?, shingles and grain. John PLob-
bins shipped much of his grain in her. Beef and pork were "cut up,"'
fjackcd and coopered on the dock at Kocky Hill. In one cargo alone
was a shijimeni of l.TiK) pounds of ""broad'' (ship-bread, of course),
baked, jaobably. in the bakery then existing at Rocky Hill — at Divi-
dend. Capt. Webb also owned the upper wharf at Rocky Hill, the
lower one being owned by one Poraeny. Among the articles brought
back from the West Indies were ""tirestones"" — more than a thousand
— and liginim vitte. In the crew list of the Fair Trader, we find the
names of Luke Fortune. Simeon Griswold, Luke Osborn. Seth Belden,
Hezekiah Blinn. .Jamr-s Lusk, Prescott and Stephen Bulkeley, of Weih-
ersfield, some of them were afterwards masters of vessels. In one
trip — as appears frian the h'g bmik of the Fair Trader — she spoke, or
found in port, the sljops of Capts. Giiodrich, Warner, Boardman. Xew-
son, Bntler and Riley-rthc full names of these captains are not given.
presumably they were all Wether-tield men. Proliably Elizur Good-
rich, George Butler and •/'//(/( Xewson were ammig them. There were
so many Captains Riley and Boardman that it would be quite useless
to conjecture as to which of them were met with on this trip.
To illustrate the ditriculties of this old time sailing vessel naviga-
tion we may mention that it took the Fair Trader, in 17CS, thirteen
days to get from Saybrook Bar to Rocky Hill; and then only by re-
sorting to towing Hy row boats), tracking and warping, ^^^lcn Pis-
tol Bar, a little this side of ^liddletown Upper House (now Cromwell)
was reached, it bec-amc necessary to '"lighten" the vessel, with Mr.
Pomeroy's scows, l>efore the sloop could be got over the bar ! Two
round trips per year were about all a vessel could accomplish, in those
days. The diihcuties of navigation in Connecticut River are somewhat
illustrated by the following letter addressed to Dr. Griswold, by an
old resident of Rooky Hill :
'"There is one vessel that I do not recollect Judge Adams as having
noticed in his history that attracted much notice in its day. It was a
full sized ship o-wned by the Rileys of Wethersfield. There was a
Caj^t. Riley up there that went under the cognomen of Capt "Debt.
Riley.' I think he owned the ship. I have seen it many times. The
last time she came up she lay wind-bound for three days just below
Saybrook, & was finally "walked' up the river. It was done in this
■way. Taking advantage of the tide, a long rope to which a hedge was
attached was send out ahead, then the crew manned the rope & walked
548
HISTORY OF ANX'IENT WETHERSFIEI.D.
the length of the dcek. Each man as he reached the end returned,
took hold again in the rear of the last man. It v\-as slow work but
they reached Wethersfield on three tides. Between tides the sails were
unbent & her upper spars taken down, she Avas thoroughly refitted. I do
not remember her name or what finally became of her. She was, I think
about 300 tons burden, her hull was painted white with three black
stripes over her waies A: upper work; was built much sharper than the
generality of large vessels of those days. There was also a large brig
owned partly in Iltfd. and in Wethcrstield, and called the Sea Island.
During the war of 1812-15 there were two ships & several other large
vessels lay at the Island opposite Gildersleeves' in iliddletown, and
three large schooners lay for a year or more just Ijelow 'Ilogbrook',
one was called the Archer, owned by Joseph Bulkely."
The principal obstacle to navigation of the River above Wethersfleld
was Glastonbury Ear. The General Assembly, in 1T64-, authorized
a Hartford Company to so improve this bar that a depth of seven
feet of water might be obtaiiu^d upon it. Probaldy, their efforts failed,
as, in 1771, Jabez Hamlin, of ^fiddletown, John Ledyard, of Han-
ford, and Silas Deane, of Wetherstield, were directed, by the same
authority, to reiiort what buuys were needed alone tiie River, between
Hartford and Saybrook. Again, in 1772, they with ilatthew Talcott,
Samuel Olcott and John Clicucvard, of Hartford ; Richard Alsop and
John Stocking, of ^liddletown: and Ebenezer Plummer, of Glaston-
bury, were directed to place buoys and water marks on all bars and
shoals, they to defray the expense (estimated at £3:'>7) and to reim-
burse themselves by a lottery, or series of lotteries.
The bfig Two Brothers, Capt. Bigelow, master, was from 17G7 to
1770, plying between Rocky Hill and the South American ports of
Surinam and Pernambuco — making stops, also, at the British West
Indies ports of Xevis, St. Lucia and the Barbadoes. In 17G8, her
mate was Simeon Griswold, of Wethersfield, and from the log kept by
him, we learn that her cargoes were of much the same articles as those
of the Fair Trader. Brick and onions made up a considerable part
of the freight taken on at Rocky Hill. She carried four passengers,
at least. Horses, as iisnal, were not shipped until the vessel reached
New London, whither the animals had been taken overland from
Wethersfield. Freight was also taken on at ]\[iddletown ; and onions
from Martin Kellogg's place at Xewington; also wooden ware and
broom stuff — the latter probably of splints, or broken twigs, for this
was before Dr. Franklin's introduction of broom corn into this coun-
try. Spanish and French ports seem to have been studiously shimned;
ITS MARITIME HISTORY. 549
indeed, the then existing influence and commercial limitations imposed
by the British government, practically compelled tlie American Colon-
ial traders to visit only British ports. Surinam was a Dutch port.
The Two Brotlievs found at that and other ports,, visited on this trip,
.the vessels of Capts. Ehodes, Harris, :iliner and Bulkeloy. probaMy
all Wethersfield men — to judge from their surnames. But one trip
was taken from Hartford, hut a long delay consequent on grouudin^r
on Glastonbury Bar, caused a comment duly entered in the lo£;' and
concluding with -Y) 1) y' place:" ' On the passage out, Xonh Wil-
lougby died, and the log says "We hove his body overboard."
In iT-iS, Tiio.MAS Wklles, great grandson of Gov. Thos. "Welles, and
Elizur Taleott were concerned in the building of a vessel at Glas-
tonbury, which, we presume, was launched in Kcney's Cove.
In ITOS, Capt. Joii^- Bui.kki.kv (son of Charles, Sen.) was runnins:
a sloop between Rocky Hill ;ind Xevis — stopping also at Anguilla.
one of the Carribean Islands. He carried oxen and cows. The "\^'erh-
ersfield trade was also carried on with Antigua, St. Eustatia, ^lar-
tinico, Guadeloupe and other islands uf the same group; and St. Chris-
topher ("St. Kitts") was a favorite port. A trade was also spring-
ing up v.-ith Ireland, whither our v(;ssels carried flax-seed, then and
long after one of our staple productions. To Gibraltar and Bomljay
they carried flour, hnnber, "stores for muling," and mules; the latter
were sold in the West Indies. To J.isbon and Bilboa we carried flsh and
brought back -Hines ; lumber and pot-ashes were taken to England.
Some of our vessels went to IJerbice, a port in Surinam. We may
add that, a hundred years earlier (after the Pequot Campaign, where
so many were taken captive) Indians had been taken from the Con-
necticut River and sold as slaves in the West Indies; though evidence
is wanting to show whether any went from Wethersfield.
Luke Dejiiao, who at one time, owned tlic famous Wel)b house in
Wethersfield, was captain of a vessel trading to New York; as also,
in 1774, was Levi Riley, Avith a load of onions, and at the same time
John Wright.
The slooj) Ann was built at Stepney, in 177o, by Joliu .Vines and
Joseph Dimock, for SA.Mri;"L Boakdma.v, one of the leading merchants
of Wethersfield. His store was on the east side of Broad St. ; earlier,
it had been on Hale's corner, on the West side. His In-other Levi had
an eighth interest in the sloop ; and .tohn Wright, who assisted in
'A most inteicstiiif,' analysis of tliis old lojj-book. was pivon by Judgp Adams in
a paper road before tlie Conn. Historical Society, April 13, ISSl, and published in
the Conn. Courant of that date.
550
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
building her, Lccnine her inauter — going in liis sleigh to Canaan — a six
days' trip, to get the iron needed in her constniction. This was the sloop
in which Capt. John Ilannier's ^filitia Company went to Xew York,
to join the American army ju.-t Ijofore the battle of Long Island.
The An?i plied to Dominica and other West Indian ports, in the cattle
trade. Cajns. Levi Boardman and Charles Lulkley (brother of Ca]it.
John) became masters of this sluop, as also, in 1775. did Luke Forttme.
The same Samuel Boardman also Iniilded a schooner The Speedwell,
just after completing the Aun. Ca]it. John Wright wrote to him from
Xew York, in 1773, that Capt. iJeane (Barnabas 0 liiid told him
that a man-of-war (I]ritish, of course) was cruising between ^lontauk
Point and Block Island ; and that if the schooner was found with
contraband goods on lioard, she would he seized. It shotild be explained
that all ConncctictU shipping, iiound south, necessarily passed ocean-
ward between these two points, after having cleared at Xew London.
In 1772, Josc]ih Smith, of Bucky Hill ( '.), Francis Hnnmer, Jr..
Thomas Xilby and Thus. Xewson were masters of vessels from this
vicinity — the latter, during the liovolntiim, ccimmanded a privateer.
There was a Capt. Williams with a vessel in the West Indies trade, just
prior to the Ilcvolution ; as also were the sloo]is Potli/ and Hannah
and Sea Fioiver and Catharine and the schooner Imludnj, trading
from Wethersfield — though whether owned there or not, is uncertain.
Capt. Ei.izi'n Goounicii (son of Ilezekiah) was not only shipmaster,
before the ricvolution, but the owner of the sloop Betsy. There was
anotlier sloop of the same name, at about the same time, of which
Daniel Collins and Phineas Holmes were masters, and of which, about
1776 or 1777, AVilliam Bobbins was in command — pussibly as a priva-
teer, as she then carried two swivel guns.
Capt. Bklukx Bo.vKDiiAX Cone of two sons, both captains, of Samuel)
commanded the sloop PoIIij, before 1770; she had a crew of six, and
was rcgisterc<l as of 07 tons burden — rather large for a sloop in those
days. The schooner Piuscinari/ was owned by Samuel Boardman, Ben-
jamin Catlin anil ])erhaps others, at about this time. In 1778, Catlin
who was, or had been an employee of Boardman, sold out to the latter,
in 1778, his one-fourth interest in the ve-sel. lie was at that time or
certainly in "77, on board the man-of-war Ti-umtjuU.
Capt. JosKrn Ai.lyx, who came from Barnstable, ^lass., to Weth-
ersfield, in 1707, was, in 1721, commanding a sloop between Wethers-
field and Boston and seems to have been an active sailor. His datiglitcr
lilary, became the mother of James Otis, the ^Massachusetts patriot.
Both the Otis and AUyn surnames are preserved as Christian names
ITS MARITIME HISTORY. 55'
in tlio Stilhuan faniiiy of Wellicrsfiekl with which thoy are allied by
marriage.
The war of the Ilcvohition ean-cd a most serious interru])tion to
Wethersfield's couiinerce. Eiubari^ocs, laid I)y tlie General Asscinbly
of the State, forl)ade the departure of vessels from this State; and,
if they ventured to disoliey, tliey were lial)lc to seizure by the British
armed cruisers. It was the fate of some Connecticut vessels to fall into
the hands of the British. Among these were a sloop, the PoUij, a vessel
called the Two BrotJurt<; another called the Capt. StiUtnan, and a
schooner, Olice, whereof one Bnlkelcy was master. It is more than
probable that these were Wethersfield vessels, since all trace of Weth-
ersfield vessels, just prior to the war, disappear after its close. The
following interesting letter written by Jno. Wright, from the original
in possession of IMr. W. F. J. Boardman, of Hartford, throws a
little light upon the difficulties of connnerce during the Iie\'olutionary
period :
"Xew York, Octolter 25th, 1774.
"Sirs — I arivd here Last Sunday, and Capt. Boardman, Kilbey,
George Kilborn, George Burr, Daniel Hinsdale all arivd here Last
Fryday. K illiey has Sold his wheat for C --4- i-i bunhel .md his Oinious
for 19 pr hand. I have not sold anything but my wheat yet, and
that [ sold at G — 4, Avhich is the price curant. Oinions is very dull,
the most they are sold for is 20 pt. in goods. But I shall make all the
despatch that is possible, and do the best I can with them. I do not
intend to stay here more than seven or eight days at furthest. Kilbey
has sold fifteen hundred bushels of wheat at Rising of 0.5. I could do
the same to be brought here in three or four weeks, but I dare not
engage, for I have not got cash to purchase it. But I make no thought
but I will keep np as high as (is. if not higher all this fall. Price Cur-
ant here is for West Indes Tium S.s", 'id, Jamaca Spirits 4s, 2d. ilol-
lasses Is \0d. Brown Sugar and Loaf is high, tea 4s 0(Z. I am In-
formed by gentlemen that I make Dependence on that flaxseed sells
Curent at Ds ]ier bushel, Xow and they think it will fetch 12s per
bushel Soon. I would be glad if you would Inform Gershom Wolcott
of the price of flaxseed and wheat, because he told Me when I Left
home if flaxseed would answer he would ship 200 bushels by Me Xext
trip. On fratc I wish yon would Engage ile as Much frate as you
Can for Next trip. I Believe it would answer yon very well to buy
wheat, flaxseed or Old Corn to ship here. Old Corn sells at 3s SeZ and
Rye at 3s Qd. The General Congress I am informed has brok np and
there Resolves are Xow jirinting and are Expected here to Morrow so
552
HISTORY OF A^•CIE^■T \Vf:THEKSFIELD.
that I shall be able to Inform jou Better how times is by the Xcxt
post, which oportiiiiity I shall Embrace, it is very Daingerus to Bring
any Coniiterband goods here Xow, for the I\Ian of War and Custom
house officers are as strict as ever they were in the world before, that
pirate Colding A searchcre has seazed tive vessels and cargoes within
this four days, whose cargoes consisted chiefly of tea, and has got them
all chained alongside the ^fan of war ships, they search Every vessel
•that comes in here, let them eouic by day or night. Be so kind as to
Let My AVifc know that 1 am well and expect to be at home in about
A fortnight and find her so. ' Xo more presant. Sir I am
"Your friend and wellwisher
"JXO. WEIGHT.
"N. B. I pray ynu WDuhl be so kind as Xot to let any body the
price of wheat, flaxseed or Indian corn because there is some prospect
of making something if it is kept private from the Farmer."
Afterwards Wright l)ecame i):irt owner of the SpccihrcU, which was
coniTnauded in time by Capts. Oliver Treat, Sam. Rose and John
Wright, dowu to 1777. In 1770( ?), she seems to have been in service
as a prica'ccr, under Ca])t. James Iloyt. having one carriage gun, with
small arms.
But some of the old vc^ssels and sea-captains continued in the mer-
cantile marine, notwithstanding the war. When, in Octolier, 177G,
the State was in urgent nei'd nf salt, for the use of the army, ('a[)t Ei.i-
ZUE GoonracH was s])ecially permitted to go with his sloop, the Bctsij,
in quest of this article. lie luade a successful voyage, taking out, for
exchange, SO barrels of beef, 15 of pork, 25 of flour, G oxen and CO
dozen fowls. Our old acqiuiintance, the Spcedtrell, in July, 1777, re-
ceived a special permit to go for salt. Joiix DEitiNG was then her
master. He took out 300 bushels of corn, 200 of rye, 20 barrels of
rye flour and two of beans, when he sailed from Wethersfield. • In
1776, molasses and sugar were ship]>ed from. Pumeray's sture, at
Rocky Hill, to Xorwalk and to Xew York City. This was, probably,
Oliver Pomeroy, the wharf-owner already mentioned.
Capt. Allyx STn."L:MAN possessed much skill as a navigator. In July
1777, the State chartered a vessel to import a cargo of salt, and placed
him in command, \\liither he sailed does. not appear, hut he came
back fully laden. By direction of the State, he discharged half of his
cargo at Xorwich; the other half (excepting what was needed as bal-
last) was ordered to be left at Bedford, now Xew Bedford, Mass. —
a favorite retreat for privateers in that day; the ballast to be left at
ITS MARITIME HISTORY.
553
Hartford. The cargo must have been a large one; for the balList-stock,
left at Hartford, in the Commissary's department, \vas drawn npon for
many months.'
The history of stieh of Wethersticld's mariners as were active in
the Eevolutionary War, either in the infant navy of the United States,
or as privateers, has Ijcen given in <'>ut previous (Revolutionary) history.
Among other owners of vessels in the last century, were Joseph
Webb, Earnal.ias l)eane, William Griswold and Ju^tU; Iliiey. Webb
was a wealthy merchant, and dieil at the age of o.'j. Deaxe built a
brigantine, at Wetherslield : and ran it as a privateer, in 1775. She
is supposed to have been taken by the British, in the expedition to
Penobscot, in 177!.'. Capt. Griswoi.u, at Rocky Hill, built and o^nied
the brigantine Minerva, which was chartered by both the Colony and
the United States, and as a "vessel of war rendered valuable service.
Capt. Riley had several vessels. He was a part owner of the brig
Commerce, of which James Riley was master; famous for its history,
as detailed in E'lh ij's Xnrrafire. Capt. Riley's old warehouse, with
its sides of white oak planks, may still be seen, on the bank of the Cove,
near the house lately of .John Hanmer. deceased. It was probably
built before his day, and is on the land granted by the Town, at the
"Landing I'lace," when the River flowed along this same bank.
Wethersfield sea-captains and mariners have been almost "too num-
erous to be mentioned." The Eeldens, Blins, Boardmans, Bulkcleys,
Chesters, Demings. Hanmers, Goodriches, Griswolds, Hurlburts. Lati-
mers, Lovelands, Montagues, Xewsons, Palmers, Rileys. Rhodeses,
Roses, Robbinses, Savages, Stillmans, Treats, Tryons, Welibs, Wellescs,
Warners, Williamses, Woodhouses, and other families — have contrib-
uted to the list which concludes tliis chapter.
The peculiar prominence given to the culture of onions, at Wethers-
field, required the use of many schooners and sloops for the transpor-
tation of these bulbs to the general market, at Xew York. As late as
25 or 30 years ago, vessels laden with onions, mostly in "ropes," were
constantly seen lying at the bulkheads uf Burling and Peck's slips in that
city. But to-day, tobacco is raised on many of the old onion grounds ;
and steamboats and railroads have obtained the carrying-trade of the
onion crops of recent years.
^^1laling vessels have been commanded by Wethersfield men. Louis
Williams was, in lSS7,the master of a whaler in the Pacific fleet ; and is
'Capt. Allyn Stillman's ves^^el was the carrier of nearly all this Government
Salt cUirini: the Eevohitionary period. He \va~ a grandson of Joseph Allyn,
a prominent citizen of Wethersfield.
554 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
probably the only person fnjiu this town who follows the seas in this
cajiacity.
Wethersfleld and Ghtstonbury were, by Act of Congress, made ports
of delivery, in the iliddletuwn district, in 17l.>9 ; and so remain to-day.
In Xo. XXII of these sketches, Jndge Adams writes: "Since about the
first of Jnly of the present year, die records of the Custom House, for
the District of ]\Ii(ldletown, have been removed from 3Iiddleto\vn, and
lodged in the new '"Gdverumont" building, at Hartford. This has af-
forded me an opportunity to consult records which I did not have when
this scries of articles was begun. * * * But, unfortunately, all rec-
ords of registration of vessels prior to 1S04, are missing. It
is surmised that they are at Washington; where the evidence they
contain would be useful in connection with spoiliation claims.
So, also, the records of registrations for a period of fourteen years
(1S10-1S24), are gone — no one knows whither. Enrollment records
are missing for the four years, 1709 to 1802, inclusive ; and for the nine
years from ISOG to 1S14, inclusive. All these periods were important
ones in the maritime histurv of the township. The earliest otficial rec-
ords now known of, for this district (which includes all ports between
the districts of Xew Londnu and X'cw ILuen), begin wiCu Lhe enroll-
ments for the year 1795.
Wktuehsi'ikld ir.vi:ixi;i!s, SnirOwxEns, Suii'Drii.nERS and Ship-
ping Mekciiants.
XoTE — by tlie Editor. — We have brought the consecutively arranged
portion of Judge .Vdams' S/rrtcJtcs of W others field's Maritime History
down to the Kevolutionary period. It now becomes necessary that the
immense amount of notes which he had collected concerning the Sea-
faring Men, Sliip-Buildcrs, Shijiping Merchants, etc., of the Town,
(originally jotted down in loose form for newspaper serial publication
and considerably augmented during their publication in the Farmer,
by his discoveries of new facts and material, as well as by the informa-
tion from others who were interested in his work), should be sifted, col-
lated and put into some form of arrangement more coherent and easy
of reference than that of its original newspaper issue. It is evident
that such was the author's intention, if — as at one time appeared to
be likely — the series might have Ijcen issued in book, or pamphlet form.
As he says in closing these '"Scraps of Wethersfield History," "it is not
claiming too much to say that no other township in Connecticut has
had written anything like so full an account of its maritime doings;
ITS M\KITIME HISTORY. 555
and, iiulccd, few towns liave furnished so many navigators, adventurers,
ship-owners, and ship-huiklers. The suhjeot was worthy of the atten-
tion it has received, fcjr it has involved great coinmercial interests,
great hardsliips and perils, and the sacrifice of some lives * * *
I have endeavored, witliout fee or reward, to rescue from oblivion the
names of tliosc who, having 'gone down to the sea in ships' have come to
an untimely end. Some rest in tiicir watery graves, there to remain
until the sea shall gi\e up its dead ; olliei-s lie in unknown graves in
foreign lands ; and, it is due to the memory of those departed ones that
some record shall be made of their names and doings while they were
with us and of us."
We have deemed it best that this valual)k' material should be ar-
ranged alpliahcticallij. and in as condensed form as possible.
A List of Sea-Captaixs, Suir-BL'iLi>Ej;s, Siiip-Owxi:rSj and Sea-
faring ^Ien, Who Wei:e Xatives, on Uksidext.s ov Wethers-
field.
ABBEY, Stepiie.x, ISIO, master of the sloop Merino, owned by John Williams, 2d,
and built at Stepney. He ros. in Glastonbi"-v 'vformation liy Mr. Chas.
Willianis of Rii-Hill, son of the owner, John WiUiaiits, 2d.
ADAMS, AiiASA, Sen. son of Benjamin ; shipbuilder.
ADAMS, SVLVESTER, s. of Amasa. Jr.. and Hurnh Criftuolfl, h. 1783; rem. to iMidJ.
and became, with Ackley Oibbs, owner of several vessels on tlie river.
ADAMS, Joseph, s. of Josepli and ^leliitabel (Unrrett) was. in 182S, part owner
and master of sip. Galen — Stephen B. Goodwin being the other owner.
ADAilS, George, s. of Uzziel and bro. of the late Horace, lost at sea, 1827 ae.
30; his wife was a sister of the late John Montague; his son George W.
now res. Weth.
ADAMS, Welles, in 1830, witli James Blinn and Steplion B. Goodwin part owner
of schr. M'antun, Capt. Samuel Latimer, trading to Charleston, S. C.
AMES, William, at Bj-Hill, 1803, part owner of sip. Prude iice : uncertain whether
he was s. of Robert and Sarah, and b. 1708- or of .John and Abigail Butler
and b. 17G5; if tlie latter he d. ace. to Hinman, 1811.
AMES, Joiix, of Ryllill, s. of Robert; m. Abigail Butler; d. ace. to Hinman, 1790;
master carpenter of sliip yard, at Ry-Hill.
AMES, PiiiLE.MOX, s. of John, also ship carpenter; m. Ruth Hurlburt ; died ae.
30; had one cli. Eunice, who m. Frederick Bobbins; sloop I'rudtncc, built
1803, was one of vessels built by Philemon.
556
HISTORY OK ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
ARCHKE, Benjamin, of Ry-Hill, at one time nmstcr of schr. Archer. During the
Embargo of War of 1S12, this vessel, with the JiiUa, ami a brig, were laid
up for a year or more, below Hog Brook. Capt. Archer's second wife
was Chloe (dau. of Wm.) ^\■ilIiams..
A\'RAULT, Capt. Xichol.\s. who. d. 177.5 ae. 70: proh. gd-s. of Dr. Xichoia^, the
French Huguenot wlin tame to Weth. about li'.Sii. Prob. engaged in the
Virginia trade.
15ELDEX, Capt. Joiix. was ma.-ter of a schooner in the \\e~t Indies trade some 110
years ago. He can hardly have been tliat Capt. John Beldcn who was in
Xewbern, X. C. in 1SU4. Was he a son of Col. .John?
BELDEX, Richard, gt-grandfather of Seabury, lived well out toward West Rocky
Hill a little E. of home of heirs of Dea. Thomas Williams — only the cellar
now remaining. He was a Revolutionary soldier. — A'. 11". 0.
BELDEX', RicjiAKD, Jr.. son of above, lived in first house west of the Deac. Williams'
house, on south >iil" of road. Prnhably the liuilder of the ship Huron, 1S04,
the ship Earnj, 1S07 and sloop Julia, ISIO; possibly of others.
BELDEX", SiMEO.N AND Son. of Weth.. wlio in 1SU3. advertise '"for sale, freight, or
charter the fast sailing, well found and well accommodating Sclir. Mnrcus,
900 tons burden, wliich will be ready for sea in ten days, if not scid." In the
same year tiiey advertise the "new and beautiful sloop Mari/, Sam. Buck, Jr.,
Master, bound for X'orfolk and Baltimore." He was part owner of the
Marcus, and L'nni Robbins and others were partners. If this w.is Simeon,
Sen, he was son of Thomas, by his wife Mary (dau. of Rev. Stepiicn) ilis
and he m. Martha (dau of Rev. James) Lockwood.
BELDEX, Simeon, of the 3rd gr-n. from Richard, Sen., was a spar-maker; he
learned to make bliH-k?. pumps and spars of Joseph X'efT, whose shop .stood
where Grant's coal yard now is. Soon after learning his trade, he m.
a iliss Beckley and removed to Midd.
BELDEX, Seabiry. s. of .Simeon and — (Beckley) was 2 yrs. old at time of his
father's removal to ilidd. ; was a large ship builder: removed from Midd.
to Hartford some 22 yrs. ago. but during res. at ^M. built no less than
45 vessels. At Htfd. at Dutch Point he built many ves>els. .\bout 13 yrs.
ago he, with his son Eugene S. Belden, estab. a ^hip yard, a little north of
Hog Brook, at Ry-Hill where the business of ship-building is still carried
on by the 3rd and 5t]\ gen. of shipwrights in succes.-ion, and in the
same, or nearly the same yards. Mr. Scabury Belden has built 87 vessels
since he began the business. It may interest some to know that the
past 40 yrs. has been a developmental period for timber-trees, and the Messrs.
B. find ship-timber more abundant and cheaper now than it was 30 or 40
yrs. ago— owing to the introduction of coal-fuel and wire for fencing.
[The above was written in lSs7. — H. R. i--]
BELDEX, TiioM.\s, of Hartford in 17'.l-5. owner of sloop Laura; prob. son of Joseph,
of Weth. who was b. 1733 and grad. Yale College; he also owned schr.
Sicift, in 1S04; schr. Leader, in 180j; brig ilatilda, 1806; ship Bordeaux,
ITS MARITIME HISTOKY. . 557
1807. Tlicso fo\ir v(--sols were eoiiiiiianileil rf.spcctively by Josiah Deming,
John Hnrlbint, Iluiniilirey Woodhnuse and Jolm Hiirlhut, all Weth. men,
and the vessels wcie all in the foreif,'n trade.
BELDEN, Elisua, noted sliip-\vri;rlit (prob. related to tlie Richard above noted),
builder of brig. Mnnj, 1S05: schr. Xancy, 1807; brig. Despatch, 1S08; schr.
Archer, 1810. His yard was one of the two at Ry-Hill.
BELDEX, JAMt.s LocKwoon, merchant, jiart owner of the .l/(nf».s, 1804; s. of Simeon,
Sen.; ni. Julia, (dau. of Kzekiel Porter, Sen.) Beldcn. He was the founder
of the seed culture in Weth.: lived in house ne.\t north of the olTice of
Wcth. ^Ycclcll/ Fanner: d. in Xew York, 1847. JAMf:s LocKWOon, Jr., s.
above, was a sailor.
BEXTOX, George, (Capt.) wa.s among the sea-faring men of Weth. about the
close of the ISth century. Probably he was the ""Mr. George Benton, Sen."
who (as appears from the gravestone in Weth.) died at JIartiniquc, W. I.,
in 1794.
There was another sea captain of the same name, at the same time, and
probably a kinsman, living in Glastonbuiy.
BLIXX, George, (Capt.) d. Cai>e St. Xicholas Mcde, W. I. 1790, ae. 33.
BLIXX, HosEA, (Capt.) Jr? d. 1319, ae. 43. A Ho.sca Blinn, Jr. (prob. the same)
in 1800 was master of brig. Connecticut, in foreiyu ti.ide.
BLIXX, William, son of Ilosca, above, d. at sea, 1847, ae. 37.
BLIXX, James, (Capt.) Sen. d. 1848, ae. 03; built ( ?) and res. in house occupied by
the late Samuel Wooilhouse, Esq., his sou-in-law.
BLIXX, Jame.s, (Capt.) Jr., d. '"of a Southern bilious fever," 1833, ac. 25. (All the
above were in the foreign trade.)
BOARDMAX', Ashbel, Capt., who was lost at sea, in 1823, at the age of 33, was a
son of Capt. Jason, by his first wife, and a half brother of Luther Boardman,
late of East Haddam. He was a grandson of the Capt. Jason lost at sea
in 1780. Capt. Ashbel was at one time master of the schooner Richmond
Packet (by his father), which ran between Rockj' Hill and Richmond, with
occasional trips to the West Indies. He is spoken of as a very smart and
able young man.
BOARDMAX, BEi.nEX. (Capt.) ")
y See Xote on their father Samuel, below.
BOARDMAX, Buti.er, (Capt.) )
BOARDMAX, Charles, (Capt.) s. of Timothy and Hannah (Crane), b. 1725; m.
Abigail Stillnian; ]irob. in W. I., trade and prob. owner, as well as master
of his vessel. He d. 1793.
BOARDMAX, George, (Capt.) s. of Capt. Charles, m. Mary Hanmer and rem. to
Schenectady, where he lived to near tlie age of 90. His son \\illiam, b.
1750, lost at sea; ae. 19; another son Charles, b. 1701, lost at sea, 1780.
558
HISTORY OF ANCIKNT WETilERSFIELD.
BOARDMAN, Samuel, (son of Cornet Jnscpli and Miiiy Ccl.len), b. 4 Deo., 1744, the
great merchant of Weth. ni. Xiionii (dan. of Samuel) Butler. Tlieir son
Samuel d. at sea, 1704, ac. 18. Another son, r.LTTLi;R, d. at .sea, ae. 25 —
even at tluit age a captain : in ISO.'i, he had a vessel in the Surinam port
of Berbiee; in 1804 he was in port of Xewbcrn, X. C, whither he had
sailed from Now York. ATiother .son Beloex, wa.s master of a vessel lyin<j
in port of New Y(uk. willi cargo of onions, in 1701; in 1704 he was mate
of a ves.sci (IJiehard liihy, master) from N. Y. to Newliem and Now Provi-
dence. In 1707 master of the brig. Mnri/. running to Billioa, owned
by Capt. John Ni'uson. (jf W'etli, and Knoeh Uobljins of New York city;
John bobbins, supercargo ; freight dry and salted fish; return cargo, salt
from Lisbon; in 17011, he was master of the schr. Williant, purchased ex-
pressly for him, in the Svirinam trade; on the IGth of May, in that year,
he sailed from N. Y., and nothing more was ever heard from ship or crew.
In the month of JIarch previous, he had written his father that he had lost
most of his money by the failure of llessrs. Newson ind Robbins.
BOARDMAN, .Jo.sepii Suikcv, s. of Levi and father of William, Esq., dec'd of
Hartford; was not a mariner, but as supercargo, on sip. EIi:<i, was lost by
shipwreck, in 1827, in Long Island Sound — all on board lost.
BOARDMAN, Jonathan (Cajjl.), juob. s. of Jonathan and :Mabel (llolmrs), b.
172G; m. JIartha Cole; master 17S4, of -.chr. Sicuii, at Ncwburyport from
Port au rrince.
"Last Saturday Capt. Jonathan Boardman in the Schooner Siraii, from Port
au Prince, arrived here, who informs us, that on the lUh inst. in Lat. 27 Long.
73 west he was bro\ight to by a brig of about 120 tons burden, mounted with
8 carriage guns, who tired three sliot at him and hailed in Spanish, to which
Capt. Boardman, being unable to reply, asked if they had any on board who could
speak English, on which a man told him in broken English that their Captain wa.s
coming on board the Schooner, and then they put their helm a starboard and tried
tQ board the Schooner, but finding themselves disapointed by the Schooner's filling
her foresail and lioisting her flying jib, they fired a shot which cut away some
of the Schooner's rigging and went through the tack-])iece of her foresail, and
then asked Capt. Boardman what he was loaded with, who answered "Molnsses,"
he then made a motion to have the Schooner go about her business. The brig, Capt,
Boardman says appeared to have 25 to 30 men on board." — Conn. Courant, Dec.
7th, 1784,
[Boardman, Jonathan, lived in a house older than the present old Boardman
house, and which was about ten rods north, on the same side of the roa-d. He
appears to have been the town pcilagogue, at and for twenty j-ears or more after, the
building of the 1712 sciiool-house, that stood on the side of the roan, a few
rods south of his, on the site where two other school buildings were erected.
Capt. John lived in the north side of the present old Boardman house, his son,
Jason, who died in 1844, lived in the same house: having, I suppose, added the
north half to the other part. The old hou.se, the home of Jonathan, nuist have been
built some time before 1700. The master of the schooner Walter, if a Rocky Hill
man, must have been Capt. Jason. — R. W. G,]
BOARDIIAN, Jason, (s. of Capt. John), b. 17G2, at age of 18, when his father was
lo.st at sea, succeeded him on the old homestead, and as sailor and sea-
capt., later became prominent as a ship-bldr. and owner. He was in W. I.
trade; also liad a packet-line from Conn. River to Riclimond, Va., in
ITS MARITIME HISTiiKY. 559
which his sen-. Capt. A-1i1k'I and Cajit. John coniniaii'ic'il as niastfis. —
Boanljfi'jii C'lurtL Cajjt. .luhn was tor some time nominal master ot tlie
sicop .yi/?i(i (al-o owned by his father), hut he liad not tlie capaoitv of
Ashbel; and when at sea. took along; a competent '"nurse" as suilinji-mai-ter :
the real commander of the craft. lie lived and died in tlie --niall hou^e next
south of where George Kyer kept hotel.
BOAKDMAX. .John. (Capt.i. gt i'd-son of Samuel, the Settler, and prob. first of the
name to follow a scafarini' life; h. 1720. at Rooky Hill: ni. (1) Grace
Riley; m. (2| Eliziibeth Warner, left Ijonie 2.5 .Sept., ITssU, on a voyage
and was lost, as was his son Asiihel. b. ITiJT. on same vessel: another son,
Ja-SOX, b. 1702- followed the .>eas for many years and then engaged in
ship-building. Capt. John, the father, lived in t!iu ancient and picturesque
building next north of the sehool-ho. at Ky-Hill, since demolished. Capt.
Jason, b. 1702, also lived there: he d. ISMo: he was prob. Capt. of the
schr. ^Valter, in \V. I. trade in 1803. Capt. Damel, another son of Capt.
John, b. 1771. livi-d in h^iuse now occupied by Benjamin G. Webb. Fked-
eeick, a fourth s.. b. 17u-5. mate of a vessel owned by his father.— Boorrf»i'ni
Ocnealcgi/.
BOARDMAX, Luther, was. with Geo. and Nathaniel Griswold. in 1804, owner of
the ship EIha Ann.
BOARDMAX. Timotiiv. of Midd.. (son of Tim. of Weth.. and gd-son of Timothy
and Hannah Cr<:iw Boardnian, botli of Weth.), b. 175-1, was ae. abt. 2.3
when he became one of the crew of tlie Conn, armed cruiser Oliccr Croiincell :
and as keeper of the ship's log, recorded what was prob. the most accurate
account given of the engagement of that vessel with the Br. man-of-war
Admiral Ke/tiyl. near .St. Christopher, W. I., which resulted in the cap-
ture of the latter.
BOWERS, Ephraim, built the sch. Sally, at Weth., ISIO.
BRADFORD. (Capt.) William, as early as 17G!), part owner of several vessels
at Rky-H., where he prob. res.
BUCK, CUAKLFS, one of the owners of sip. Kliin, lS«o: associated with Gordon and
Daniel Buck, Jr., the former of X. Y.. but all prob. of Weth. origin.
BUCK, Daxiei., 2d (called. 1S0.5. D. Jr.), s. of Daniel and Elizabeth (Willlaui-^)
Buck, and father of Daniel B., .3d. now res. in California ; he m. Elizabeth
(dau. Ezekiel Porter) Belden, who d. in Weth., ae. 103. .'^ee Fam. 8,
Buck Gen.
XoTE. — Daniel. .Jr. must have been the s. of that Daniel, who abt. 1787. built the
house now occupied by Henry Buck, on X. cor. Jordan Lane and Htfd. Ave. ; he
was father of Daniel Buck. 3d, (now living) in San Francisco. About the same time,
1787, Josiah Buck (bro. of tirst Daniel) built the ho. now occupied by Edward
Buck, nearly opp. to that built by Daniel. Josiah Buck was prob. not a sea-captain.
BL'CK BROS. (GvKiw.x axd Damel. Jr.?), were, in 1843. engaged in a large trans-
portation business, mainly between Hartford and X'ew York City, Albany
and Philadelphia. In that yr. they, with Chas. T. and George Deming,
5 HISTOUY OF ANX'IENT WKTHERSKIELD.
David CInrk, Roderick Tony. Alhert Francis and poss. others, built tlie
steani-sclirs. Lion at New Haven, the Hcricca and Ciicas at New York,
and estal). '-Suck's Transportation Line" between Htfd. and N. Y. These
vessels, comnioiily called ••propcllors," rejristeved a little less than 200
tons burden. Albert Francis commanded the Sciicca, Chas.' T. Deming the
Lion, and Geo. Deniing the Vncas; being succeeded, 1S45, by Daniel A,
Mills. If the Deniings were of Weth., it will be seen that the old town
was a prominent factor in the history of this fleet. In IS44, another
vessel, the Suclicm, was adiled. of Mhich Geo. Deming became master. In
1847, the Oscfola was added, under Capt. Mills as raa>ter. The Captains
of these vessels were chosen from the "packet-schooners" and sloops, whose
"line trips" were broken up by the advent of these steam propellers, wliich
in turn, gave way to the larger and more convenient steamboats; and
these finally were largely superseded by swifter railway trains.
BUCK, DinLEY, bro. of above Daniel, res. in Htfd., and they were the owners of
vessels almost too numerous to mention. He was the father of the
famous musical composer, Dudley iJuck, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
BUCK, Josi.\n (Capt.), d. 1807, ae. GO; shipmaster {Am. Mercury, 1803), haa
schr. Buch at St. Kitts, W. I.; may have been the one meant as J., Jr., as in
the foreign trade 1804, and of sip. .Varii, 1805; m. Hannah (sister of
Hon. Silas) Dcanc.
BUCK, IIi;.MtY, d. at Fort au Frince, San Domingo, ISl.i, ae. :i'J.—Weth. Ins.
BUCK, SA.MUKL, Sen., (Capt.), died abt. 1821.
BUCK, Sajukl, .Ir., (Capt.), father, I think, of wid. of late Alfred Francis, Esq.;
in 1803, master of "the new and beautiful'' packet sip. Mnrtlui, plying
betw. Weth. and Norfolk, Va. and Baltimore, JId. Am. Mercury, Nov.
17, 1803; prob. the same, who was mate (1794) of schr. Betsey, Capt.
Fr. Bulkcley, from Ryll.
BULKELEY, Alle.v. (bro. of Stephen, Jr.), b. 1786; in 1817, pt. owner of sip.
James; in 1832, he and Steph. B. and Alijah Collins, owned sip. Orbit,
of which Steph. was mstr.
BULKELEY, Chaules, Sen,, if not himself a mariner, was the father of an active
brotherhood of sailors.
BULKELEY, Ciiarlls, Jr., ment. as being at sea, 1790; d. W. I., 1799, ae. 38. —
Weth. Ins. s. of Capt. Chas. and Mary Griswold; he m. Eunice Robbins.
There was another Charles, who came to Weth. from Colchester and m. Pru-
dence (wid. of JIaj. Edward) Eulkeley — by whom he had 2 ch., one son John,
who ni. a wid. Dix and rem. to Wolcott Hill, Weth. It does not appear that he was
a mariner.
BULKELEY, David, (Capt.), s. of Gershom and Abigail (Bobbins) Bulkeley; d.
1810, ae. GO; may have been a sea-captain, but more prob. was the Revo-
lutionary cavalry officer.
ITS MARITIME IIISTOKY. 5^'
BULKELEY, Edward, (Capt.), (s. of Clias. and bio. of Capts. John and Prescott,
of Weth.), was one of the most skilful navigators of his day, if we mav
judge from his log-book; was a \V. I. trader, carrying horses and cattle
mostly, a very perilous trade at that time, in the sip. Fair-Trailer; in
178.3-6, the PamcUn, prob. named after liis dau. In ITflS, he commanded the
he ni. (1) Rachel (dan. Oliver) Pomeroy; ra. (2) Prudence Welles, both
of Weth; he d. 1787, ae. 40; bu. at Ry-H. From his tombstone, he ap-
pears to have held the mil. title of Major. He res. in the long (brick)
house near The Landing built by Pomeroy, afterwards occup. by Abijah
Collins. Ilis wid. ni. (2) Capt. Charles Bulkeluv, from Colchester.
BULICELEY, Edwahd, (s. of Charles, and bro. of Capts. Edward and Prescott),
ni. Honor Francis and raised a large family, of whom some were sailors.
He d. 1807, ae. 82; in 1818 was .associated with Joseph Bulkeley and
Richard Grimes, in the sip. Eagle.
(It is somewhat dilTicult to distingiiish one Edward from another. Xo
less than eleven of this name arc ment. in Rev. F. W. Chapman's Mss.
genealogy of this family, and he did not get all of them. Also, between
the Edmonds of this family there is much room for confusion.)
BULKELEY, Edward, (Capt.), (s. of Capt. .John), b. 1707, m. Eunice Eunce,
of Weth.; d. 1805, ac. .38; left several ch. among whom was John Bunce
Bulkeley, who d. at Port au Prince, 1822, ae. 25; this Edward may h.ive
been the E., who owned one third of schr. lictr..j ci::d ilary, 1800.
BULKELEY, Edjioxd, s. of Joseph, b. 1787; m. Xancy (dau. Justus) Rolibins ; was
part owner of sip. Jlope, 1818; and, 1819, with his bros. Henry and Asahel
and Jason Boardman, owned pkt. schr. Richmond; in 1821, with Rich.
Bobbins, Moses Dimock and Luther Goodrich owned sip. yancy; and with
Steph. and Allen Bulkeley, the sip. Dean; failed in bus., drifted to
N. Orleans, where he d. in penury; wife d. in N. Y.
BULKELEY, Edmoxd, (Capt.), (s. of .Jonathan and bro. of Capt. Jonathan), m.
Prudence (dau. Col. Elias) Williams; res. on main road, at Ry-II., nearly
opp. the Joseph Bulkeley place. — Chas. Williams.
BULKELEY, Fka>-ci.s, (Capt.), (s. of Capt. John), b. 1757, w.as a somewhat
noted navigator, mstr. of schr. Bctscij, sailing from Ily-H., 17!'9; prob.
owner and mstr. of brig Fortune (Sam. Buck, 24 mate), capt. by the
French ou voyage to Barbadoes, 1800, -John Mmijan and John Caldwell,
of Htfd., owners of cargo. Capt. Fr. B. m. (1) Rhoda (dau. Capt. Elisha)
Griswold; m. (2) Elizabeth (dau. Ezek'l) Fosdick; res. in ho. next X.
of High St. School-ho.; and he d. 1S03, on brig Ontario, Capt. Tim. Still-
man, mstr. His s. William d. on same vessel, in 1802, ac. 21.
BLXKELEY, Francis, (Capt.), s. Capt. Francis, d. at sea on board Drig Regent,
off Cape Trafalgar, in 1817, ae. 29.
BULKELEY, Geksiiom, (s. Hosca and Abigail Griswold), b. 1789, m. Laura Good-
rich; was in shipping bus. with his father, who was a sea-captain.
562
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
BULKELEY, IIosea, (Capt.), of Step., fatlicr of above Gershom; the Custom Ho.
recs. sliow him to luive been nistr. of ship Enterprise, 1810; he rn Abijrail
Griswold; he d. 183S, ae. 82: res. in ho. once the Butler tavern, now ocoup.
by Jos. llalligan.
BULKELEY, James Henky, s. of Capt. Francis, by liis 2d wife, Elizabeth Good-
rich; b. 1834; rem. to Pliila.; had s. James Hy., a paymaster in L'. S. X.
during the Civil War, and who was present at attack on Ft. Fisher,
Ft. Hatteras and elsewhere and remained at sea until his dtli., 1873.
BULKELEY, Jo.sepii, evidently a leading ship-oniicr; as early as 1804, he, wicli
Jason Boardman, were owners of sch. ^\'llltcr. in foreign trade; and in
same yr. Rich. Belden built for him the ship Huron. In ISO.j, he owned
brig ilary, bit. by Elisha Belden, Jr.; in 1800, he owned the Dititiilch,
bit. by same Belden; in 1810, the schr. Arrlier — all eng. in foreii.ni trade.
He was father of Henry an<l Walter W. Bnlkeley, and, if so, b. 1742; was
very prominent in civil allairs and offices of Stepney.
BULKELEY, He.nry and ^^'ALTEK W., sons of Joseph (above) and Mary Williams,
of By-H. ; b. 1793 and 1707. Henry m. Martha Tucker, and Walter W.
ni, Lucy Bobbins. The bros. did a large shipping business and were part
owners of quite a number of vessels. W. W. d. from exposure at time
of the burning of the Steamboat Pciuifit/hnnia. March, 1S34, in Delaware
River on which he was a pa-scnger; his wife (dau. of Leii Bobbins) lived
until ICG!); he was foi some time Town Clerk of Ityll.
BULKELEY, Jo.\atiiax, Capt. nistr., i:Or>, of sip. Emily, belonging to himself
and Aekley Riley; in 1700, had sip. Snllij. owned by said Ackley R. and
Levi Edwards; in 1804, mstr. of sip. Allen, owned by Jas. Fortune and
Levi Butler; was prob. the .Jona. who (b. 17.iO) m. Mary Edwards: res.
at Dividend, where he d. 183G; at one time peddled gds. in the South.
BLXKELEY, Oliver, (s. Peter and Abigail Ciirtiss and gds. of Edward and
Dorothy B.), b. 1744; d. at sea, 177G.
BULKELEY, Peter, (s. Rev. Gershnm), b. 1GG4, lost at sea, ae. 37; m. Rachel
(dau. Capt. Sanuiel) Talcott.
BULKELEY, Prf.scott, (bro. of Capts. Edward and John, above), was, in 17C8,
with Stephen Bulkeloy, of the crew (poss. passengers) of the Fair Trader.
His vessels ran to the W. I..; and at the ports of Xevis, St. Eustatia.
Antigua and Martinieo, one was almost sure to find some vessel commanded
by one or the other of these bros. He m. Lois Williams, of Ry-H. (?),
1774, and d. 1791, ae. 47; bu. at RyH.
BULKELEY, Ralph, (s. of Joseph and Elizabeth, above), in 1807, pt. omier of
sip. Jack; 1S09, owned sip. Prudence and apparently then res. in X. Y. ;
in 1810, was associated with Abijah Collins; IIosea Bulkeley and Joseph
Nefr, all of Ry-H., as owner of the ship Enterprise, built at Weth. that yr.
for the for. trade.
BULKELEY, Simo.n, (s. Capt. Prcseott), b. 1774; d. in W. I., unm'd, ae. 18.
ITS MARITIME HISTORY.
=;6'
BULKELEY, Stephen, (Capt.), res. at Dividend, X. of the mill; d. 1813, ae. 64;
not nient. in B. Gancal. by title.
BULKELEY, Stephen, Jr., (s. Stephen and Martha Marsh), J). 1783; instr. sip.
Allen, 1805; of sip. James, 1815; of sip. Dean, 1817; as late as IStO.
with Wait and Gtrshom Bulkcley, owned schr. Geoiije; res. at Dividend
and d. 1865.
BULKELEY, \V.\rr, (luilf bro. of Stephen, Jr., and Allen), pt. owner of sclir. Ocorye;
d. 1807.
BULKELEY, Wim-IAM, A Mss. I'.ulUeley Genealogy by Rev. F. W. Chapnian. nient.
two William.'?, both "washed overboard and dr.," July 23, 1788. one said
to have been a s. of Capt. Edward B., b. 1773, which would make him. ae.
15 yrs. The other a s. of Gershdin H., b. 17.>4. The latter appears to have
belonged to Ry-IL, but I think liis father was not Edward or Gershom,
but Capt. John.
A correction, furnished to .S'. 11'. .1. b_v XXX, "a descendant of the Bulkeley
and Beldcn families," says he wa.s son of Gershom and Thankful li. ; and that his
father built for liim the ho. just S. of the South School Ho\isp in Ry-IIill, ami now
oceup. by William Bulkley Boardnian. He m. Mabel Wilcox (of present Crom-
well), and after his death, she m. Wait liobbins, Jr.
BUNCE, Heman, of Weth.. mtsr. of schr. Milo, 1823, :"-r.:d by r.niusou, Jlorgan
& Co., Htfd.
BUNCE, Jahep, Capt., whose mother was a Stanley; he was b. 17.in; died 1823;
was prob. in Charleston, S. C, trade, where and also in Phila., he res.
for some yrs.. A dau. of his was wife of Rev. Alfred Wright, missionary
to the Choctaw Indians; adv. to sail in schr. Hully, Oct. 20, 1803. — Am.
Mercury. See, also, ISunce Gcncal., in our 2d Vol.
BUNCE, JoxATUAN, prob. a sea-captain, before he became a wharf-riiastcr.
BUNCE, RiciiARn, Capt., in Nov.. 1804, sailed from New London in the lltfd. schr.
Ann; in W. I. waters his vessel was seized l)y a Br. brig, two of his crew
impressed and the vessel sent to Antigua as a prize. — See Amcricnn Mer-
cury, for a letter dated of 20 Feb., 180,5, b}- him, nanating above facts.
BUNCE, THOMA.S. Jr.. Capt., master of sloops Betsy, Edirnrd, Branch and \ancy,
and of schr. Lucy, iu periods between 1797 and 1823; also, a part oxmer
in some other vessels.
BURNH.\M, John, Capt., (son of Capt. Peter), a noted navigator iu his day; b.
1758; served in Continental Army, 1777; later was in Capt. Chas. But-
ler's privateer; also capt. of sip. Ccnnilla, in 1702, mstr. of ship Hope,
in N. Y., and European trade; capt. by Algerian corsairs and made a
slave to the Dey of Algiers; was ransomed for .■j!4,000 by the British
Consul and tl\rough his efl'orts, aided by Col. David Humphreys, then U. S.
Minister to Portugal, Congress provided for the ransom of his crew at
$2,000 apiece. In 1700, he was mstr. of Baltimore ship CarroUon, built
under his supervision at Chatham, Conn., and was in Bait, and Eng. trade.
5"4 UISTOUY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIEI.D.
Abt. this time, 1798, lie m. a Colchester ladj-, and settled on the old
homestead at Weth.; in 1802, rem. to Auburn, X. Y., d. at dau.'s res.
Buffalo, N. Y., 1837. Stuart (Washington's artist) painted his portrait.
BURNIIAJI, Tetkr, Capt., b. 172.'?, coniniandod (among others) Doliihin in \V. I.
trade; res. in ho. on site of former Lyon House, N. side.
BUTLKR, Benjamin, (Stepney), with Jason Boardman, owned brigantine Hiram,
1795; also, sip. 7'iro lirothcrs and sclirs. Betsy and yaiicii, 1797; owner of
sip. Allen, 1803; owner of schr. Kitti/.
BUTLER, KusiiA. rem. from W.tli. to RylT. alt. 1G71; his desc. numerous; his
ho-std. next to the Jlidd. lino, on L. side of road to JL line Capt.
Elisha, who d. at Ry-ll., 1783. ae. 34, was as Dr. Griswold thought a
military captain; but says there was an Elisha B. from here who d. at
sea in 1799.
BUTLER, Geoiu;e, (Capt.), s. of Cai)t. Samuel, in 1780, obt. special permit from
Gen. Assemb. to ship corn to Bermuda, and bring back salt as a return
cargo. In 1803, he connnanded brig. I'cffrjij,
BUTLER, IlEXicY, sailed the sip. Ann, 1798.
BUTLER, Jamk.s, in 1804, mstr. of .Justus Riley's sips, yancy and Susan; in ISOC,
ran the brig, ficlsy for the bros. Timothy and Josiah Savage, built at
Weth.. 1709— both vessels in the W. I. trade.
BUTLER, Jasox, (s. of Benjamin), d. at sea, ae. 23, 1800.
BUTLER, Jo.SEi'ir, (Capt.), d. Ry-IL, 1820. ae. .50; in 1800, was mstr. (succeeding
Jason Boardman) of Joseph Bulkeley's brig Mary, built by Elisha Belden,
Jr.; in 1807; he was Capt. of new ship Eenry, bit. by Ricli. Belden,
for Joseph Bulkeley ; in 1809, mstr. of another of J. B.'s vessels, the brig
Dispatch, built by Elisha Belden, in 1808; in 181C, mstr. of sclir. Archer,
built and owned by same parties — all in the foreign trade; he res. in
ho. now occup. by Mrs. Lucy ( ?) Smith.
BUTLER, JosiAir, Dr. E. W. Griswold says a Capt. of this name (supp. to be a
sea-Capt.), once res. on E. side of road. opp. Ry-II. meeting-ho., perhaps
the Capt. B., who, in 1803, was mate of brig Perigy. then at Port of St.
Kitts.
BUTLER, Levi, (with Elisha Seymour), owned sip. PiAhj, 1708, and in 1803, he
and James Fortune bo't the sip. Allen.
CHL'RCHILL, Samuel, pt. owner of sip. James, and perhaps other vessels, in
1794, in coasting trade.
CHURCniLL, Joseph, both mstr. and owner of slp-Df^ij/Zif, 1803, in coasting trade.
CHESTER, LEON.\i;n, Jr., Capt., b. 1777, was lost at sea. We think that his
father, who m. a dau. of Col. Wm. Williams, of Pittsfield, Mass., and d.
1803, was also a sea-captain. Certain he was engaged in foreign trade.
ITS MARrTlME HISTORY.
^6s
CHESTER, John XoAts. Capt., (.1 bro. of above), b. 17S3, was also lost at sea.
Both these Cheaters were gd-sons of the lirst Col. John, and nephews of the
second Col. -hAm Cliester. i-ce Caulkins IJist. X. London, p. 235.
CLAPP, Eli.jah, Capt. nistr. sips. Factor and Betsy, abt. 1790: prob. res. Ulfd.
CLAPP, JoH.v, C:ipt.. (nephew of above), m. Mary Kilby (prob. dan. Capt. Thomas
K.), left 5 ch.: Daniel, tlie youngest m. Elizabeth Beadle, and was
father of Col. -John B. Clapp, of Htfd., Capt. John d. 1S22, msir. of brig
Luci/, 17'JO.
CLAPP, Xosii.i.v, Capt., (father of Capt. John), res. in Wetb. ; in K'.'S, was
mstr. of sip. Betsy d 'William; ISOG, of schr. Hope, in \V. 1. trade: he
m. (1) Hubjah Wright; ni. (2) Mary F. Wright.
CLAPP, XoBJiAN, Jr., (bro. Capt. John), had the sip. Friendship. 1S15.
CLAPP, RoswtLL, Capi., mar. sip. Alkn, 1S06.
COOMBS, SoLOiiox, W., mstr. of SL-hr. ilurcus, 1S04, in foreign trade, owned by
Unni Eobbins, Sin^eon and James L. Beldea. He may have been son of
Andrew, who d. 1700, ae. S2.
COLLIX.S, Abi.jah. one of the most enterprising ship owners of Stepney; had a
store at Tlie Landing, will reniemtjered bj- many; in 1804, he, with Jason
Kobbins, o«Tied the schr. Regulator; he was pt. owner of schr. Friendship,
liSOo; in ISIO, pt. ownier of ship Enterprise ; in 1815. of the sips. Julia
and James; in 1823, of sip. Leader; in 1820, of sips. Flash and Falcon;
in 1S27, sole owner of sip. Martha; in 1S2S, pt. owner of sip. Pearl; 1S32,
of sip. Orbit and schr. Avon; 1835, of schr. Frances Tryon: 1839, of
schr. Fxchanae. He was prob. a descendant of Rev. Xath'l Collins, first
minister at MiJJ., or else of Sam Collins. Sam. Collin*, Jr., seems to
have been lirst of the name in Weth., where he rem. from Midd., where
he was b. IGOS.
COLLINS, Feeem-\.x. in 18(34, mstr. of brig. Betsy, built at Weth., 1790, Josiah
and Timothy Savage, owners.
CRAXE, CiiAnuis, mstr. sip. Merino, 1S12.
CRANE, Geoege, Capt., (prob. desc. of Benjamin, the Settler, 1657), mstr. of vessels
in W. I. trade. It is told of him that being required by the regulation*
of a Spanish sea-port, to spend the money received for his carao in that
port, he evaded the law by secreting the coin in the squashes or 'cala-
bashes," bought from the natives, and getting them on board his vessel
with other market produce. He also held the military rank of Captain
and removed to Sheffield, Mass.
CRAXE, Thomas, r£=. in house which stood where Bobbin R. Wolcotfs ho. now
stands and which was burned 1805; lie was a very capable and much re-
spected sea-captain; his descendants are to be found in Auburn, N. Y.
CURTIS, , a Captain of this family, (perhaps the Josiah who d. at
Ry-H., 1832, ae. 88), was mstr. of sip. in W. L trade, 1793; he raiiy have
been the Capt. of ship Mary, taken by the French, 1793.
566
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
CURTIS, Hon. John, of Wotli., thoujcli a distinguished lawyer in his day, aban-
doned his profession to licconie tlie .Secretary of the Xew London Society,
United for Trade and Commerce — proh. the first Company ever incor-
porated in Conn. Colony for business purposes, in 1732. Its principal busi-
ness was shipping and whaling; the latter industry may be said to
liave begun witli this company. The corporation however, became early
involved in serious losses by wliich !Mr. C. was bankrupted. Meanwhile,
he had become a resident of Xtw London. Tlie General Assembly, ap-
preliending that it might have exceeded its own powers, repealed the act
of incorimration, Ijolding that the Crown alone had the right to exercise
such powers. See Caulkins" Hist. X. London, p. 243.
DEANE, Baun'aha.s, Capt., (bro. of Silas), not only a sea-captain; but an owner of
vessels during the llcvol. war — at wliich time he was one of a secret mer-
cantile co-partnership, of which the other members were Col. Jeremiah
Wadsworth, Gen. Nathaniel Greene of R. I., and, it is believed, Gov.
Trumbull of Conn., tlie original "Brother Jonathan." In 1870. Deane
was partner with John Wright, .Tustus Rile\- and William Griswold — all
sea-captains — in shipbuilding at Weth. and Ily-H. After the Revol. he
rem. to Htfd.; lie gave his ho. there (once occupied by Xelson HoUister,
in Grove St.) to liis nephew Je>.se Is. of his bro. Silas). This neph.
left a dau., who m. Horatio Alden, tlie father of Deane Alden. Hannah
Deane, sister of lianuibas and Silas, m. Capt. Josiah Buck, of Weth.
DEAXE, Barzili-vi, (bro. of Capt. Barnabas and Silas),, supposed to have been a
sea-captain, d. 178S, and was bu. at Wotb.
DEAXE, .John, (bro. of Capt. Banial)as and Silas), d. at sea, 1798; prob. a
sea-captain. See also Dcune Gcneah, Vol. II.
DEMING, Allyn, S., d. X'ew Orh'ans. La., 1S21, ae. 27; prob. sailor; allied to the
Stillmans, and bu. by side of Capt. Lemuel Deining, in Weth. bu. j-d.
DEMING, Asa, pt. owner of schr. Industry, 1705; in 1797, he, with Philo Good-
rich, owned sip. Charlotte.
DEMIXG, AsiiBEL, had schr. Vciiiis, 1807. owned in Midd. — foreign trade.
DEMING, AsiiDF.r., had the Julin, bit. at Ry-H., for Jason and Hosea Bulkeley
and others — foreign trade.
DEMING, Daniel, of Rocky-H., d. at sea, Apl. 23, 1748, ae. 29.
DEMING, Jesse, prob. the same whose ho. stood nearly opp. the Chas. Francis'
ho.; mstr. sloop Fame, 1805; poss. not of Weth.
DEMING, John and Chauncey, 1804, and others, owned schr. yancy £ Catherine.
DEMING, Josiah, Capt., (father of Capt. Daniel,) who d. 1805, ae. 40). Custom
House records show that Josiah was mstr. of sip. Lora, 1795, owned by
Thos. Belden of Htfd., and Jacob Williams of Weth. ; also schr. Prudence,
ITS MARITIMp; HISTORY.
r67
owned in Chatham, 1707; sip. Jay, 1798; sip. Polhi. ownod by Eli-h.i
Seymour and Levi Butler, both of Weth. 1708; sip. EU-.'i. owT.ed bv
Caleb and James Griswold, 1S04; all in coasting trade. In 1S04. he be-
came mstr. of schr. Sivift. in for. trade, owned by The-. Briden, of Htfd.
DEMIXG, JosF.i'ir, Cui)t.. died on i)ass;i^e frcmi Savannali. Ga., 1S0.3. ae. 40: sou of
Josiali, (son of Josiah) and wife Susanna.
DEMIXG, George an<l Lemuel, bros. of New Haven, prob. brouglit up in Weth.,
owned schr. Victor;/.
DEMIXG, Lemiei,, C.ipt., in 1772, eapt. of vessel to X'. Y. City: d. 17'>0. ae. .5-3:
was soldier in Revol. .\rniy, 1777; and son of Lemuel. Son., who -was
son of Jacob, who ni. Elizabeth Edwards, of the Jonathan Edward's fam-
iiy.
DEMIXG, PowNELL, Capt., of Weth.. ni. Abigail (dau. of Eleazer) Hubbell. of Xew
Fairfield, d. 17S3.
DICKIXSOX, AsiinEL, Capt., d. 182.3, ae. 50; sea-captain.
DICKIXSOX"', Rockwell, (bro. of above) d. at sea, 1824, ae. 22.
DICKIXSOX, Setii, ran the Hornet, 1811.
DICKIXSOX, William, (son of Harvey and Ilam.ah) lusi, at sea. 1S23, ae. 19.
DIMOCK, Davis, Capt. mstr. of many vessels in W. I. trade: had schr. Chines,
as early as 1797; d. at E. Haddam, Ct., 1798 of yellow fever contracted
in W. I.
DIMOCK, Joseph, Jr., Capt., a prominent sea captain; son of -Joseph, Sen., earliest
of the D family in Weth.; res. and prob. was born in Ey.-Hill; supposed
to be a desc. of Joseph, of Barnstable, Mass., and a sliip builder by trade;
later in life rem. to Granville, X. Y., where he d. ae. SO: his wife was a
Williams and d. ISO", ae. 71. Another Joseph, Jr., Capt.. was drowned
at Bermuda, 1819, ae. 49, leaving wid., Sarah (Warneri and 11 ch. : his
oldest son Moses lost at sea, 1812, ae. 22, single; another son Williaii
Davis, lost at sea in same yr. ae. 19, being at tliis early aie mate of a
ship, and was seized by Frencli privateer, and with his crew paroled, was
passenger on a vessel returning from France, when the vessel was lost — only
one person being saved. Capt. Joseph D. Jr., was niastr. cf sips. J'2c}: and
Ursula; schrs. Peggy and Hope, and brigs WilUatn and Sompson. all in the
foreign trade and hailing from Conn. River; also, 1310, of .sip. Merino.
DIMOCK, Samuel, (son of Capt. Joseph, and bro. of Capt. Davis.) a leading ship-
builder at Ry-Hill ; also mariner; master 1804, of schr. ifnrirrr; owner
between 180.3 and '4 of schrs. Mariner and Viciory and of briers Eunirf and
Halkar, all in foreign trade. Custom IIo. recs. mention following vessels
built by him: sip. Mary, 180.3, brig Eunic, 1805; schr. T'lc^orw, 1S06;
brig Wanderer, 1810.
568
HISTORY or ANCIENT WETHEIWKIELD.
DIX, Jacob, pt-owner, ISOo, of sip. Juno; he must have been the father of tlie
late Roswell Dix, and gd. father of Jacob Dix, now of Xewington. His
wife was a sister of tlie late Samuel Hannicr and he resided at lower end
of Wolcott Hill. Tlie Pixes are descendants of Leonard, the settler of 1045.
DUDLEY, CiiAU.xcKY, Capt. (prob. of .Midd.) built part of the last vessel launched
at Ry.-Hill, before the Cuming thither of Scabury and Eugene S. Belden;
built the brig Energy.
DUXN, Richard, Capt., d. Ry.-Hill, 1791, ae. 09: his dan. ilary m. 1709. Alexander
Grimes. Dunn is not a Ry.-Hill name, but there is record of a Dunn
dying here at an early date: and Capt. Richard may have belonged here in
earl}' life. He came to Ry-Hill, however, later in life, from Xewport,
had lost a fortune, which, it is understood, he had made in the slave
trade, bringing negroes from Africa to the W. I. — a business not disrepu-
table in his day. Xew Eng. vessels carried thousands of blacks from
the free barbarism of Africa to the free barbarism of Am. slaver}'. But,
by the time of Capt. Dunn's death, people were beginning to view this
traffic diflerently.
EDWARDS, Jo.stril, of Weth.. according to olTicial register, nistr.. of sip. Delight,
1795.
EDWARDS, Levi, of Weth., accor. to same authority, mas. of schr. Lirchi, 1790.
The above prob. descendants of John Edwards, the settler, who res. S. W.
side T^road St., IG.'iO, and m. (as 2d wife) v.id. of A'uraham Finch, Jr.,
killtu \ij Indians in the massacre at Weth. His descs. have been more
numerous in Glast. and Ry.-Hill, than in the older township.
FLOWER, Arte.\ias, master sip. iliUer, 180S.
FORTUNE, Luke, Capt., d. 1S27, ac. 75. In June, 17S4 he, with Justus Riley adv'd.
for horses, 4 to 6 yrs. old, which they wanted for export, in exchange for
"good English rum, or other W. I. goods," and (as pr. newspaper of July
9th, same year) he sailed from X. Lond. on sip. Indastrg, for W. I. See
also aii1e p.
FORTUNE, Jajies. prob. son of above; res. in ho. on site now occupied by the late
John Amidon.
FRANCIS, Alreut, in 1834, was master of schr. Triton, owned by Daniel and Dudley
Buck and himself — all Weth. men, tho' all resided in Htfd., and extensive
ship owners and shippers. — See Buck.
FRANCIS, Chables, Capt. in 1803, master of Justus Riley's sip. Xancii and Susan;
1806, of brig. Perseverance, also, Riley's and master of same in 1809; all in
for. trade; in 1815 master and pt. owner of new sip. Ilcnry, owned by Caleb
Griswold, Lydia Olmsted and An.son G. Phelps; he was a son of the first
Charles and m. Sarah (dau. of Camp, and Mehitable Baxter Adams. He
left but one son, Charles 3rd, who m. Emily Blinn and d. few yrs. since,
his ho. being next X. of Gen. Leonard R. WelU„'.
FOX, Hiram, in 1820, had schr. Laurn built at Glast. that yr. for Sol. Porter, Jr., of
Htfd. and Jesse Goodrich of Woth., his wife Sally bu. at Weth., 1823, ae. 22.
ITS MAlllTIME HISTORY.
569
FRANCIS, Danifjl, Cajit., 1>. 1770, m. Meliitahlc (ilaii. Capt. Klizur) Ooodrioh; abt.
1803, built and occiii). brick lio. on lli.Lrh St., now ri'S. of C. E. Dow,
and d. 1837, ac. GG; was muster of brig EU-a, captured by two Fr.
privateers, Jan. IG, 1707. She was built in Ma.ss., registered 02 tons,
and sailed for W. I. Dec., 17'JG, with cargo of cattle, corn, salt beef etc.,
mostly the property of Xalli'l Eaton; vessel belonged to two N. Y. nichts.
and was valued at $4,000 in Guadeloupe; cargo valued at $7,108, and Capt.
F's.' personal loss was $825.75. He was master of sip. Lucij. plying between
Htfd., X. Y. and Phila., 1S101S18; mo.stly freighted for ElLsha Shepard &
Sons, Htfd.
FRANCIS, David, Caijt., (prob. son of Timothy and Elizabeth Hannier), b. 1772; m.
and sett, at Charleston, S. C, where he d. 1801; master of schr. ^Villningtoll
Packet, to southern ports, 179G.
FRANCIS, James B., (bro. of Albert! was master of sip. Ilranch, in 1S23. or earlier;
1833, of schr. June, built at Glast. that year — and owned by Daniel and
Dudley Buck.
FRANCIS, John, Capt., (son of John and 4th liiu'al descendant of that name),
b. 1767; m. Huldah Bulkeley. It was prob. he who, witli Eunice Mon-
tague, was owner of the sip. Ralph, cap'd by the Fr. in 1800, Capt. Hoses
Montague being, at the time, her captain. In 1812, Capt. Francis was of
the sip. Dove, plying from Htfd. to N, Y. and Phila., and mostly in the
employ of John ilorgan, of HtM. He d. at age of C8, in 1835.*
FRANCIS, Jon.v N., (Capt.), b. 1817, son of Capt, Daniel .-.bL,v.;, m, Emcline
(dan. Hosea) Harris; was, for niany years, master 01 Brig Scotland,
plying betw. Htfd. and Porto Rico, and other W, I. Islands; vessel owned by
Elisha T, Smith & Co., of Htfd, After making 40 or 50 trips for this
firm, she was sold, and lost on the second trip thereafter. Capt, F,
then became nistr. of the Brig Sitninicr. owned by same firm and d. of
yellow fever on a trip to Panama and was buried near Carthagena, New
Granada, June, 18G7: tlie work of burial being performed by natives.
It is related of Capt. F. that once, while off Capo Hatteras, his vessel,
the J. L. Forbes, collided with another, which held alongside in a trough of
the sea, and that he had barely time to leap on board the other vessel,
with his wife, when his own vessel went down. The Suwnnee was prob,
the last square-rigged vessel that ever ascended the Conn, River to Htfd, —
this nuist have been 30 yr., or more, ago.
GOFFE, Gideon, Sen., ("Capt.") a master-rigger in shipyard; d. 1849, ae. 88; res.
So, Weth,, near res. of the late Russell Adams.
GOFFE, GiDiiO.v, Jr., seaman, lost at sea, 1823, ae. 20, as per tombstone at Ry-II.
GOODRICH, (besides the G's of Ry-Hill, there was in Weth. proper, a long list
of names — also engaged in maritime pursuits), Allen, son of Nath'l and
wife Marj' M'right, d. at Martinico, W, I., 1802, ae, 17 — prob, a sailor before
the mast.
* Capt, Janics, William, Stephen and Albert Francis were all sons of Capt. John
and wife Huldah ; engaged in river and coasting trade only. Some members of this
family (among them, Joseph, Timothy and Herman, sons of Robert) eng. in bus.
in the Southern States and d. there; as did David, son of Timothy and Pamela
(Welles) Francis; but whether any were mariners, we know not.
57*-* HISTORY OF AXCIEKT WETHEKSFIELD
GOODRICH, AuTiiuu, (Capt.). of Rocky Hill.
GOODRICH, Bap.zilai, (Capt.l, son oi C':ipt. Oliver, and \n-iib. of Stepney; mstr.
of Joseph Bulkeley's ship Huron, 1804; in ISO.j, of schr. Lcaiulcr, owned
by Jareil Sjiencer and otl>cr>, of .Saybrook, Ct.; in ISOti, was owner and
mstr. of ship Jlnittis, built that yr. at Weth. (Stepney?) by Hez. Whit-
more, all these in the foreifrn trade; in 1S27. he had Ahijah Collins' sip.
Martha; in 1S30, the Midd. Schr. Caret. He m. a dau. of Dr. Aaron
Hosford and res. in home built by the latter, and now used by the Beau-
nionts. After Dr. II. died, Capt. G. res. in the new home.
GOODRICH, D.v.viKr., (Cap!.), ISiU, of schr. Cathnrinr, owned hy Ezekiel Wil-
liams, Jr., and others, in fur. trade. Ross, a son of tlie Daniel mentioned
in connection with Capt. Josiah, as son of Daniel and Jerusha. If so,
he d. 1825, ae. not far from 50 yrs. Daniel, Sen., d. 1780, ae. 40 yrs.
GOODRICH, Elizl'U, Capt., b. 1730. (son of Hezekiah and Honor Dcming), was in
the W. I., trade prior to Revolution; he m. Abigail (dau. David) Deming
and built the ho. lately occup. by Catli. Brigden ; in 1703, he was mstr. of
sip. Honor, in Kennebec River, for Xew Lond. It is said that he con-
tributed lead (sash weights) from hia ho. to be cast into bullets for the
army at Boston, in 177.5. He d. 17S.'j; at which time he was pt. owner of
the sip. Sitlli/ and prob. of others. He was nephew of Col. iCIizur Good-
rich, of Fr. and Ind. wars notoriety.
GOODRICH, Eli, Capt., mstr. and pt. owner of sip. ^crmont, 1796; in 1798, of
schr. Dche (?), Capt. Win, Griswold, owner.
GOODRICH, Elizir, (son of above), lost at sea, ae. 2.3, sailor.
GOODRICH, EpiiRAUt, Capt., (son of William, the Settler), rem. to Ry-H.; a mil-
itary caplain; d. 1739, ae. 74. By 1st wife, Sarah Treat, had son by
his 2d wife (Jerusha, wid. of Capt. Thomas Welles and dau. of Capt.
James Wright of Weth.), Capt. Ephraim had another son,
GOODRICH, GliiEOX, who was a sea-captain and d. 17G0. ae. 72; bu. at Ry-H.
GOODRICH, Oliver. Capt., who d. 17S0, ae. Gfi; who, in turn, had a son,
GOODRICH, Oliver, Jr., mstr. of sip. Tlarmornj, in 1785, voyaging to Santa Cruz,
whence he imported rum; he d. 1830, ae. 79.
GOODRICH, Epiiraim, Capt. of Dividend, had four sons, all sea-captains, viz.:
Stephen, Elizur, Thomas, John; the latter's wid. living in 1884.
GOODRICH, Gkorck, d. at sea, 1794. ae. 23, bu. at "Launce Veaux," ("L'anse a
vcaux"— Calf Creek) ; more than one Weth. sailor was bu. at this obscure
village on south side of Island of San Domingo.
GOODRICH, Henry, (son of Israel and Abigail), "d. on his passage to
W. I., and was bu. at sea," 1S4G, ae. 27.
ITS MAKITIME HISTORY. 5 7 '
GOODIIICH. IciiAajD. if >i.-[!iv_v leapt. I. ~on of Gurdon and Aliijrail (Bcldrn)
Goodrich: b. IToS; hi-; father (GurJoni. son of Ephraiin and Jei-jsha
"Welhs. UhaboJ rem. from Weth. to Ry-H.: was mstr. of ship Ch-ince,
capt. and destroyed by the Fr., 1799. This vessel sailed from X. Lond.,
23 Xov., 1799. b<l. for Martinique, with a cario of hor*es, cattle, beef,
pork, etc.; she was owned by Simeon Williams, John Woodhouse, Solomon
and Joshua Robbins, and the cargo, valued at .*-3..500, the vessel at Sd.oOO;
she wa- taiien a:- a prize to Point au Pieire. Guadeloupe: she was bit.
in Weth. Ichabo<l had sons Thomas. .Jason and William H.' He res.
in ho. on E. side of Ferry St. (now of E. S. Gaylordj, as did his son
Capt. .Jasper.
GOODRICH. IsA.vc. njstr. and pt. owner (with .'^iniei.u Williams) of sip. Tiro Broth-
ers, in 1796: also of the Little patlu. Wm. Griswold and Israel Williams
owners: in 1797, he h:id Benj. Butler's schr. Hitiii; in 1S03, the sip. Pru-
dence, belon^nz to himself. Wra. Ames and others: ISOO. mstr. of Bris
William, owned by Wm. Webb. .Jason Boardman. .Jason Robbins, Levi Good-
rich and Wn?. Williams. This vesso' built by Abraham Jag-^er, of Weth.
(Stepney?) in 1S07, was in for. trade. If. as is poss., Capt. Isaac was
son of David and .Sarah (Edwards) Goodrich of Glast., he was b. 1743;
his tombstone in Weth. Bu. Gd. dates his death, Sept. -iS, 1S13. ae. 62,
with title of "Mr.;" prob. same as this Capt. Dr. Griswold thinks he
was bro. of Capt. Ichabod; he kept store E. of Ponieroy ho.; later in
one occup. previously by -Justus Bulkeley.
GOODRICH, .J.iMES W.. mstr. of schr. Gcorgr, owned by Wait. Stephen and Ger-
»Iiom Bulkeley and ethers, 1S40. — Rcpistratinn lif"
GOODRICH. .J.vso.x. (Capt.). Stephney. mstr., 1S39, of Schr. Eichnnge, owned by
AlexV Hollister and Abijah Collins; but is reg. as from Htfd. ; aecordic? to
Dr. Griswold he and Thomas were bros. : and both sons of Capt. Ichabod;
in his Inter years he had the ferry. His dau. ra. Edw'd F. Robbins. of
Ry-H.. now of Oik Park. 111.: and a gd-dau. of I.t. Fred Robbins (she
now dec'd), had a bro. Thomas lost at sea. abt. 1S27 or '23, in the first
voya« of staunch new Bg. John Marshall. -John Lewis, mstr. a packet of
the X. Y. and Liverpool line. His wid. (Belinda Webb), m. his bro. Capt.
Jason Goodrich.
GOODRICH. Jaso.x Lewis, Capt., (son of Capt. .Jason), d. Ry-Hill, 1843, ae. 26
yrs. Dr. Griswold thinks that both Jason and Thomas res. at one time
in E. Htfd.; also, that J. L. was a senman, but not a sea-captain, but hia
gravestone gives him the title ""Capt."
GOODRICH. Jaspek. Capt., of Ry-H.; bu. at St. Croi.K (!). W. I.. 1871. ae. SI;
son of Ichabod above. Capt. .Jasper Goodrich, well known here up to
about IS0.5, after seafaring for many years, established himself in St.
Croix, a? a commission rcerthant and spent the larger part of his time
there. Through him Shipman's Hotel got its famous brand of "double
can" rum, highly valued by the expert tasters who visited that hostelry
from Hartford and elsewhere. Some of the good folks who did not "keep
'In MSS. note to the printed statement, Judge Adams says. "Dr. Griswold says
that Thomas and Jason were sons of Capt. Ichabod."
57^ HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WETHKKSilKLD.
hotel" also got saiiiplos from tho same source. The reputation of the con-
signor was assurance of the genuineness of the article. There was also
a Capt. Jasper, .Jr., but not a mariner.
GOODRICH, Jesse, Capt., built and occup. ho. of hite Palmer Southworth, Esq.,
whether he was a sea-capt. is a little uncertain; was an active nier. and
father-in-law of Henry Ferre, who succeeded !iim as a storekeeper. He. d.
1850, ae. 79; was abt. 1S20, associated with Sol. Porter, Jr., of Htfd., in
ownersliip of several vessels, amonj; which was the brig Roland; sometimes
Elisha SheparJ and James Blinn were pt. owners with him.
GOODRICH, Isn.\EL, d. and bu. at :Martinique, \V. I., ae. 29; left ivid. Abigail, who
d. ISGO. Said to have been a Gov't pensioner, if so. War of 1812.
GOODRICH, John, was with Samuel Churchill, owner of sip. Jinio, 180.3 — prob.
of Wcth.
GOODRICH, JosEi'U, Capt. of Ry-Hill.
GOODRICH, LuTiiKR, (Capt.). .ion of Itorfcr, and father of Chester S., was pt.
owner, with others, of Ry-H., of sehr. Peygij. 1S04 ; met his death, ISOG or
1808, ae. 37, bj- the kick of a horse. He m. 1797, Harriet Dcming; they had
a son Lemuel, who eniigr. from Weth. to Little Rock, Ark., when that
country was new and amassed a fortune.
GOODRICH, LvTiiER, master of sloop Jnnc, ISOG or 'OS. coasting trader out of
Conn. River, and 181 T), the Sloop .ihnira, in same trade. He was from
E. Haddam; m. Sally (dau. Thos.) Danforth, of Ry-H. He d. 12 Nov.,
1832, ae. 5G; she d. 5 Jan., ISGl, ae. 81; res. in the old John Ames ho.,
burned some yrs. ago. There was another Luther Goodrich, who m. abt.
same yr. — showing how dilTiCult it is sometimes to avoid errors, owing to
similarity of name. A story told of Capt. Luther Goodrich, was that he
once took a cargo out of New York for St. Croix; and returning, after .1
time, without an exchange of cargo, reported to his owners that
the island had sunk; he had "sailed all over it, but couldn't find it!" Other
navigators, however, struck it in its old place.
GOODRICH, Levi, (Capt.) mstr., 180G, of ship Cohimhwn, 207 tons, then loading
at Weth. for Charlotte, S. C, he d. 1820, ae. 4.5; res. in ho. later occup.
by his son Levi, who d. 187C, ae. 7G — was, in youth, a sailor.
GOODRICH, Oliver, Jr., (Capt.), m. Sarah Warner, 1771; also m. a second time,
had children by both wives; he had, about the time the Fr. were troubling
Am. Commerce, some ventures in which Dr. Hosford had some interest;
they met with losses, and had claims against the Gov't, under the Fr.
Spoliation Act. The interest of H's. heirs in this was sold out to other
parties some 40 yrs. later and something realized. After Dr. H's. death,
his ho. and that of Capt. G. were sold (,ut by Gov't at .$500 each; the
Griswold place was bo't in to be returned to the Capt. ; prob. the H.
place fared similarly, as later Capt. Barzillai Goodrich, who had ra. a
dau. of Capt. 11., resided in old ho. on the Hosford place.
ITS MARITIME HISTORY.
GOOURICIT, William, 1S(13, pt. owner with Jiicob ami Israel Williams and E>><.a
Bulkelcy, of sip. .Xancy; was prob. of Ry-H.; in ISiHi. luasseii frcra tiie
Selectmen of Weth., a portion of tlie shipyard at I'.y-ll.. to bid. Vc*-.v.= in.
GOODRICH. WiLLiAii, Jr., who, in 182U, was pt. owner of .~chr. Carroll, was al?o
of Ry.-H.
GRIMES. This family (name nri^'. prdli. wa'; (!,iliiii<<:. Crur,,,'. or an:!li'i::: ) de-
scended from Joseph, who held Id. at Wetii., in lllltt, and since that date has
been prominently identified witli llie ownership of tluu porti.jn •::' v!!
Stepney water-front which comprised the Ship-yard Reservation, etc. :^^?e
Rocky-IIill Chapter, pp. 888-S!)7.) It i.s not .strange, therefore, that we r.nd
many men of the name, durinj,' successive generations, engaged in sea-
faring life and shipping interests, and it has been well said that the ^eas
and islands of the West Indies became almost a family burying-plac-e to
the Grimes of Wetlierstield.
GRIMES, Alexandek, b. abt. 1745.
GRIMES, liji.NKY, (son of Alex'r), d. at Antigua, 17'.)(), ac. 19 yrs.
GRIMES, Hezekiah, (son of Alex'r), d. 1823, ae. oS yrs.— a River pilot.
GRIMES, Xathan, (son of Alex'r), d. at Launce Vaux, San Domingo, 17?0, ae
yrs.
GRIMES, Richard, Capt.. (son of Ale.-c'r), voyaged extensively to the West Inlie-s:
his latest voyage being as mstr. of f.ie brig. Marshnll. He dealt !ar;ely
in the transportation of horses to those islands; and became quite weul;iy
in this trade, but fniallv rem. to Texas, where he dieil, at. US.
GRIMES, Samuel, (son of Alexander), d. at Pointe-au-Pitre, 1704, ae. 17.
GRIMES, William, (Capt.l, was lost at sea, both vessel and crew, while in ter
porary command of brig I'ohiiul, of llartfurd, Sept., ISU'. ae. 37. le.ivii
wid. Mary (dau. Abisliai) Jagger, to whom he was m. ISUO.
574 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIEKSFIKLD.
GJIISWOLD, a family wliicli lias fiinuNlu'd iiuuiy niaiiiicis, but morp soldiers.
GRLSWOLD, CAi.nn, Sen., (Capt.), son of Jlichacl, .Jr., and sd-son of Miohacl. the
Settler, wlio abt. 1040, ooeiip. the ho. near the site of that occup. by
heirs of J. II. Ilurllmit, in Garden St. (a lineal desc'd'l of Jliehael), son
of Miehael, ,ir., and Elizabeth (dan. of Wni.) Burnhain. He d. 1754
ae. 48. He ni. Abigail ISunee (of High .St. family of that name),
and left a large family. There was another Capt. Calki!, who m. Luey
p'raneis, 1787, and was f.ither <if a third Capt. Caleb, wlio res. in Rezaleel
Latimer's (late Jlarliii Cri^wold's) lin. and rem. to Hartford, where he d.
GRISVVOl.n, Ki.isiiA, (Capt.), bro. of above Caleb; mariner: m. Abigail (dan. Leon-
ard) Dix.
GRISWOLD, FitANcis, (Cajit.), son of 2il Cajjt. Caleb: was an oeean navigator,
who ranked very high in lii.-, ealling; he d. 1S.')1, ae. 50.
GRISWOLD, Hai;i!Y M., (Capt.), son of iloses, by lirst wife; d. at Honolulu,
S. I., 1S47, ae. ."8; one of the most noted whaling captains who sailed from
New Bedford, and a typical sailor; he ni. Robbins, and they
res. in "Kgypt." Weth. He was once drawn under a whale, that had been
harpooned and was sulinnrged long enough to liave drowned any man, but
was rescued and recovered. When at home, he res. with his aunt, Miss
Polly Robinson, in the Emerson ho. She was broken-hearted at his loss.
GRirSWOLH. jACon, "Mr." lost at sen, ^lay, 1702, ae. 34- was nf rjonky-H. ; may
have been son of Jacob, son of Maj. Josiiih — but Jacob and Justus were
frequent names in this family.
GRISWOLD, JosiAH, (Capt.), d. lS7n, ae. 80; in W. I. and European trade; a
noted athlete and thr:is|ii'd many a man bigger than liirtself; was taken
prisoner by a Hr. privateer in War of 1S12, anil carried to Eng. though
not without having seriously damaged some of his captors.
GRISWOLD, Jonathan, Capt. of sip. I'olli/. 17115, owned by himself, and Caleb
Griswold. Bezaleel Latimer and Henry Champion, 2d; in 1810, mstr.
of sip. Siren, owned by himself. Justus Riley and others; she was built
at Weth. same yr. He m. (11 Huldah Francis, 1700; ni. (2) Millicent
Francis, 1701); leaving eh. Iiy both wives.
GRISWOLD, JosiAH, Capt., mstr. of sip. Sophia. 1797; (poss. son of Dani(d and
Jerusha (Gibbs) Chiswold; if so, he d. 1802, ae. abt. 32; a gd-son of ilaj.
Josiah Griswold.
GRISWOLD, James, Capt. sip. Eliza, 1807, Caleb Griswold, 2d, and himself owners.
If, as is prob., they were bros. — they were sons of William and Elizabeth
(McCloud) Griswold, and James was b. 1700, and d. 1849, ae. 80; his wife
was Lucy Buck.
GRISWOLD, JusTiTS, Capt., (prob. son of !Maj. Josia'i, who res. in fine old ho.
demolished many years ago, a little W. of the present creamery in Gris-
wold vi lie).
ITS MARITIME HIKTORY. 575
GRISWOLD, Simeon, was first odicer (mate) of brig Tuo Brothers, 1707-70, in
VV. I. trade (log-book in poss. of S. \V. Adams) late; lie was b. 1742, (prob.)
and (prob.) son of Capt. Elislia, wlio m. Abigail (dau. Leonard) Dix.
GRISWOLD, SiMKON, Capt., was capt. by Fr. armed cruiser and the inhuman treat-
ment he rec'd from tlieni. it is said, rendered him morose and sour-tem-
pered for remainder of his life; he d. ISoS, ae. SO; he liad a son Heniy, a
sailor, who d. 1S54, ae. 28, of small pox.
GRISWOLD, TiiiOTUY, Capt., an active navigator; in ISIO, mstr. of schr. .l/i7o,
owned by liinisclf and Nathan Morgan; 1S21, liad sip. fiircn, owned bj' liim-
self, Justus Riley, -Jesse and Josiah Savage; also sclir. Science, belonging
to himself and Timo. and Rich. Green; in 1824, had the llilo again, in
foreign trade; in 1820, had the schr. ilcDonuiiyh, in for. trade, and owned
by Wm. Montague and Kliphalct and Henuin Averill; in 1827, mstr. and
owner of schr. Aiilelopc. Prob. son of Jonathan and Huldah (Francis)
Griswold; he was b. 171)5; m. Laura Standish, and d. 1837.
GRISWOLD, William, Capt., of Stepnej-, ran away to sea when a boy (he had been
apprenticed to the carpenter's trade), got to London. Kng., there learned the
sail-maker's trade, and later, did business for himself in that line; in 1702,
m. a Mary Tapley, or Tappan, said to have been a lady of means; is said to
have returned to Ry-IIill on liis own vessel, which he broiiglit up the Sound
and the Conn. River, himself, having on board his wife, and some slaves.
Another report is that, at one time before he returned he was in com-
mand of a Br. East Indiaman, and that the lady who became his wife, was
a passenger on board, lie was also engaged in ship building and mer-
chandise at Rocky Hill, and, perhaps also at the Cove; was associated in
mercantile co-partnership with Capts. Barnabas Deane, John Wright and
Justus Riley, which may account for his not taking command of the
Minerva, when she was sent to sea by the State. He bo't and
res. in large red ho., which afterwards (remodeled) became Green's
Hotel at Rocky Hill, where he engaged in sail-niaking, and his desc'dts
still have his stamp "William Griswold — Sail-Maker, Lon<lon;" and later
in ship-bldg. at The Landing. His dau. Charlotte, m. 17!)1, Capt. Wm.
Webb; another dau. m. Elijah (father of Esij. Williams) Robbins. Capt.
Griswold d. ISOO, ae. 72 or 75; his son Benj. d. Dec., 1703, on passage from
W. I., ae. 24.
HARRIS, William, Jr., mstr. 1819, of Capt. Justus Riley's brig Merchant.
HAXMER, John, Capt., about the Revol. period, first of name in Weth.; d. 1799,
ae. C8; perhaps Francis, Sr., who d. 1790, ae. 82, was his father.
HAXMER, Fraxcls, Jr., (prob. gd-son of above), mstr. sip. Allen, 1803.
HANMER, Simeon, mstr. and pt. owner of schr. Four Friends, 1807.
HATCH, Daniel, Capt., (son of Zephaniah?), d. 1808, ae. 28: mstr. of sip. Dove,
owned by Justus Riley, and built in 1784.
HATCH, Levi, Capt., mstr. sip. Mart/, 1824; oecup. ho. site of Geo. Harris' pres-
ent res.
576
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WKTUEUSKIKLD.
HAVENS, SVLVESTER, TiroMAS, Hexuy, WirxiAit and Hir.vm, shipbuilders. Hiram
d. at Htfd., at. 84; worked at Weth., Cromwell, New York Citj' and in
different places on Conn. Itivtr, where steamboats were built; also, at
Prescott, Canada. His olilir hro. Thomas and perhaps VVilliam, also,
and himself had contract for bldg. five slearaboats launched in as many
different places, between Springfield and Barnct, Va., all lisht draiight
boats (it is believed) an<l tlic lirst of the kind on the Conn. River above
Htfd. Hiram also laid tlie keel of the first steamboat in Prescott,
which also plied to ilontnal. These men. all master mechanics, were
sons of Tliomas Havens, wlio m. Lucinda (dau. of Benjamin and
Patience Illiim) Adams. He is supposed to have come from Long Island,
with his father Thomas. A ^ixtli brother V:~icl, was a sailor and m.
Rachel (dau. Abraham) Jajrger, a shipbuilder of Ry-H. and d. at !Man-
tanzas, Cuba, 1S25, ae. 3.5, leaving three sons, one of whom. William
Grimes Havens, -was a sailor and finally settled at Hawaii, where he m.
a native woman, by whom he had a family.
HOLLISTER. In 1G42, Lieut. .John }Iolli-ter came to Weth., prob. from Dorchester,
Mass., taking the John Reynolds' homestead, on E. side of IHgii St. His
desc'dts have been .so numerous and so prominent in military afTairs, espec-
ially in Colonial times, that it is presumable that some of them m.ay
have been navigators. !Manv of them, at least on the Glast. side of the
River, have been shipbuilders and soaeaptains. But in present ancient town-
ship only two — sons of I'arismus H., now dec'd — have been seafarers: viz.:
HOLLISTER, .Jasi-br, a whaler and before the mast, d. about a generation ago,
of consumption. Had a brother.
HOLLISTER, Wallace, now a well-to-do resident in Australia. These boys fled
from their father's home some .3.> yrs. ago, and the latter has never revis-
ited it.
HOLLISTER, Ro.swell, (Capt.).
HORSFORD, Dr. Allen, a noted physician at Ry-H.. part owner of sip. Laura,
179G, and of sip. Ifupc, IT'JT; he d. 1804, ac. 57.
HLTILBURT. The desc'dts. of Tliomas, the Settler, of 10.37, a noted Ind. fighter,
have furnished some men distinguished in militar}' and seafaring annals.
HURLBURT, Joiix, Cajit., (son of William, Jr., and wife Catherine), b. 1770, in
the old ho. (long since demolished) on W. side BslI Lane, and just S.
of the family home of Moses Morris; he was quite a scientific navigator,
if we may judge from a series of nautical problems entered by him in
a blank book which he bo't in London, in ISOO. In Nov., 1790, he sailed,
as first mate of the ship Xeptnnc.^ Daniel Greene, Mstr., from New York,
on a cruise around the world (said to liave been the first time in which the
globe was circumnavigated by an -t)/uric'i» vessel). They went first to the
Falkland Isles for seal, toucliing at many points on tlie Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans, including the Sandwich Islds., then a barbarous country.
Two log-books kept by him and ending with the stay of the ship at Wampoa,
ITS MARITIME HiSTORV.
577
China, in Dec, 1798, arc still cxtanr. AVaile in China ne bo't large quan-
tities of silks anil C'hinaware. anini.g 'he latter, a ilinner >et of 171 pieces,
of "Synslionj,'," at a cost of .'?7j. This was prob. a three years" cruise.
In 1S03, lie iiistr. of schr. ^Vrn.s^L plyinir In-tw. X. Y. ami W. I.; he
(1. in N, Y., from smalljiox, in ISO.S. .le. .'JS: he in. a dau. (prob.) of Capt.
Ashbel Wright; and left a dau. Ann. who m. Henn.' I son of Gen. Xath'l)
Terry. They were the parents of tie we'ii known authoress. Rose Terry
Cooke, the bite wife of Mr. Rollin H. Cooke, of JittsfielJ, Mass.
Capt. Hurlburt built and occu]i. ti.c iio. '..sttiy owned and occup. by Levi
Goodwin. The fcdlnwini;- is a copy lA his "'cioaraiioe papers," for the ship
Neptune, in 1800.
By the Pkeshik.nt of the Umted St.\tes of Amep.ic.\.
Suffer the Ship Xrptunr of Xew Haven. Jijhn Hurlburt ir.a-ter. or commander,
of the burthen of Three luiiidred fifty-tin, i i>',\>r, tons, or thereabouts, mounted
with six grins, navigated with Tircnti/unc men —
— — ■ To Pass with her Company, Pa-sen^-er-. 'i.-cds and ilerchandise, without
any hinderancc, seizure or molestation: the >a;l Ship appearing, by good testimony,
to belong to one or more of the Citizens of the United Slates, and to him or them
only.
GlVE.v, under niv Hand ar.d the Seal of the United States of
(U. S. Seal)
Timothy Pickering
Sccretaiv of Slate
America, the Sij-lii day of Jni'iianj. in the year of our
Lord, one tliou-and Kiifnt hundred.
John Adams,
Bv the President.
State of
&
District of
To all Persons whom \
these may conci'iii )
Countersigned bv
■Jtj-^lma .S'a/irf.5, Colleetor.
HURLBUllT, James, (bro. of Capt. John aL-jve), b. 1773, was a seaman; = 1807,
pt. owner, with Bczalecl Latimer, of s!p. -l/arv, built by Sam. Diniock, but
poss. Samuel Buck was mstr. ; he d. IS.^2. ae. ''.): was fthr. of the late
James Harvey Hurlburt ; and occup. the old H. ho. mentioned in connection
witli Capt. John; perhaps he was the "J. Hurlburt," of the ".Schr. Hea-
fioicer, arrived, 10 day, frni. Point Fetre. Guadalupe." — Aua. ti. 1793. —
Counint. In 1813, he was captured by the Bri;i-h. and paroled for an
exchange; and was given this Certificate of Parole:
Pakole
By Authority of the Commissioners [ for conducting His
Majesty's | Transport Service, for taking | leave of Sick
and Wounded Sea'men, and for the leave and Cu3t|ody
of Prisoners of War.
These are to certify. That Jmncs Hurlburt as described on the back hereof, late
Seaman of an American Brig has been released from Custody and permitted to
578
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFTELD.
return to ycic York for the purpose of eflectiii!:; his Kxchange, by procuring the
release of a British Prisoner of War, of Equal Rank, upon his having engaged that
he will surrender himself at such Place, and at such Time, as the said Commissioners
or their Agent for the time being may require; and that he will not serve against
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or any of tlie Dominions there-
unto belonging, or against any Powers in Alliance with Great Britain, until he
shall have been regularly exchanged.
And Whereas the said James Hurlhart is permitted to proceed direct, and
without Delay from Barhadocs to \fir York, calling at St. Vincent, all and singular
His Majesty's Officers, Civil and Miiitarj-. are hereby desired and required to suffer
him to pass accordingly, without any Hindrance or iloleslation wliatever, pro-
vided he leave this Colony within Six days from the Date hereof; but if he should
deviate from the P.oute hereby pointed out, or be found in this Colony after the time
allowed to him, he will be liable to immediate Apprehension and Imprisonment.
Given under my Hand and Seal, at Barhadocs this ticenty-seventh Day of J/ay,
1813.
John Barker Lt. Col. d Agent for
Prisoners of War (Seal)
Gratis.
On the back of this Parole is the follo«-ing description of James Hurlburt.
Xame, James Hurhet; Rank, Seaynan; Age, 20 years; Stature 5 feet 5 inches;
Person, Thin; Visage, Long; Complexion, Fair; Hair, Brown; Eyes, Blue; IVIarks
or Wounds, ic. .
This description, curiously enough, does not seem to tally exactly with that
contained in the '"Protection Papers" issued to him in Apl., 1796, under the signa-
ture of Thos. Seymour, Mayor of tlie City of Hartford, Conn., and the seal of the State
of Conn., April 21. 179G. which describes his as "five feet, two and Vs inches in
stature; blackish hair, dark brown eyes, darkish complexion &. that he is i ever has
been a citizen of Weth. and of the U. S."
HURLBURT, Xatiiamel, in 1S03, mstr: of brig yeptunr, Xormand Knox, of Htfd.,
owner; registered for foreign trade; prob. X. H. was from Weth.
HURLBURT, William, 2d, in 1S47, pt. owner of sip. Citi::en, with Elizur Hurlburt.
JAGGER, Abraham, of Stepney built the sip. Jack, in 1804, and brig ^Yillianl,
1807; prob. others: he also built houses: the name on the old recs. is
"Gager," which is prob. same as the German "Jaeger," which means "hun-
ter." Jeremiah, the Settler, res. 1G40, on E. side of road extending S.
E. from lower end of Broad St.
KILBOURX, Thomas, the Settler, the first white man who occup. the lot lately
Col. Chester's, now Comstock, Ferre k Co., on W. side Broad St., had
but few sea-going desc'ts in Weth. The most prominent of the name
in this line were found in the Htfd. and E. Htfd. branches.
KILBOURX, JoSHi-A, Capt.. (son of George), b. Weth., 1770; m. Lucy Holt and
rem. to Xew London: was mstr. (among others) of the ship Yankee; A.
N. Orleans, 1811.
KILBOL'RX, Geohgl, (bro. of above), also a sailor.
ITS MARITIME HISTORY. 579
KlLBOl'RX, IIezekiaii, Jr., (son of Hoz. of same name, whose tavern was a little
X. of Meeting Hoxise), b. 1725, became a sailor; res. for a time in Bermuda
and d. at sea, unmarried, in 1753.
KNOWLE.S, Capt. James; d. 17G5; prob. of E. Haddam; res. N. side of road to
Kiver.
LARKIX, Samuel, Capt., d. at ^lobile,, 1837, ae. 46, (son of Isaac and Abigail), went
early, as mate, with Capt. James Blinn ; he was a bro. of the late Mrs
Levi Warner, and much respected.
LOVELAXD, GEOia^K, Capt., (son of John) m. Hannah (dau. of Curtis) Welles,
1822; d. young; left several ch. still living; the late John L. was his half bro.
LOVELAXD, Jonx, (Capt.) mstr. schr. Dolphin, 1805, owned in Midd. and in for.
trade; he may have res. in JliJd. and poss. was the John L. Jr., whose wife,
Rebecca, d. 1801, ae. 27. (See M'rth. Bu.-Gd.) John, Sen., was in Glast.;
his wid. Comfort, m. Xath'l Coleman of Weth. and d. there 1786, ae. 71.
MOORCOCK, "Mr." Xiciiolas, a warehouse owner at the Cove, 1G94; also a sea
captain; came from Boston, prob. as a youth, and remained at Weth. up
to 1695 ; prnb. a trader to Virginia.
MARSH, Joiix, Capt.. built sip. Liherty, 1804; res. Stepney; prob. the Capt. John
who was running the sip. Allen, in 1807, and who d. Ry-H., in 1836, ae. 83.
McCOMBE, Andrew, "of Weth." mstr. of sip. Polly, 1795.
MILLS, David A., mstr. schr. Lydia, 1860; later of steamboat betw. Htfd.
and N. Y.
MITCHELL, the Weth. family dcsc'd. from James, a native of Scotland, who d.
1771, ae. 71; his son (and a brother of Chief Justice Mitchell) Capt.
James, Sen., was mstr. of schr. For, in 1775, then carrying cattle, pork,
etc., to the W. I. for Joseph Webb. His cargo was 20 head of cattle and 80
bbls. of pork. He died 1779, ae. 55.
MITCHELL, James, Jr., (Capt.), son of above; was drowned 1801, on return passage
from W. I., ae. 27; as also was his bro. Stephen, at same time, ae. 20.
MITCHELL, William, (son of Capt. James, Sen.) d. in W. I. 1800, ae. 21 yrs.
MONTAGUE, descs. of Richard, from Boston, 1647; rem. to and a founder of Hadley,
Mass., 1C59. His gd-son Richard came to Weth., 1718, and oecup. Jona
Blinn's pi. on So. Hill.
MOXTAGUE, Moses, (Capt.), b. 1763, (son of Richard, Jr., b. 17 March, 1730, and
Olive (dau. Capt. Gershom Xott), m. Eunice Harris; engaged in W. I. or
European trade; in 1800, was mstr. of sip. Ralph, of which his wife and
John Francis were owners; Capt. M's interest in cargo, $1,589. The sip.
was captured; made a prize, and Capt. M. was taken to France, a prisoner;
the shippers (of Htfd.) claimed a loss of $18,000; he d. 1804, ae. 41.
58o
HISTORY OF ANX-IENT WKTHKKSFIliLD.
MONTAGUE, Gubdon Harris, (Capt., son of Capt. Moses l b. 1789; m. Martlia (dau.
Josiah and Cynthia ^Vood) Kolihin,; euniiiiandid L'. S. privatpor Joel
Barlow, in War of 1812. and is said (.1/. Ciiical.) to have "captured a
valuable prize;" was livini; in New Haven, 1S47; tliencc went with the
G. H. Montague Mininj; Co. to California on the schr. 0. II. Muntaijue,
accompanied by hi.s sons, llichard and Francis.
MONTAGUE, William, (son of Capt. Moses) m. Eliott (dau of Xatli'I and JIartha
Hanmer) .Stillnian: rem. to Iltfd.; owned tlie "Montague wharves" there
and had large lumber business.
MORRIS, Ralph, Cap!., ( bro. of lale Moses and Davis) d. at sea.
NEFK, JoSKi'ii, pt. owner of sip. KnUriirisF, 1810; prob. of Ry-H. XefT is a recent
name in Weth. Mr. Xeff, of Stepney was a spar-maker and the father of
William, who rem. to Wilmington, X. C, where he was a ship chandler.
NOTT, Ger.siiom, (Capt.), one of Wetli. most respected citizens; (son of .lohn. .Tr.,
and gd-son of John, the Settler) b. 1093; in 1735, or thereabouts, was nistr.
of a brig to W. I., a fact which led to an important law-suit in which
James Wells and others of E. Haddam and Sajbrook sought to recover
£2,000 damages from liiiii on account of alleged non-fulfillment of contract
relative to disposal of lliuir vessel and cargo in W. I.;Xott won the suit;
he d. 1772; ajipears to have been wealthy for the times; was father-in-law
to Josepli Webb, Sen., wliii w:is wealthy; the Slienord^on lio. :ui(l pi. was
built far and oc:i;j/i> J by biui and is probab!_\ ono of tl.^ olJ^'st and largest
of Weth. large buibling^.
NOTT, William, Capt. of sip. Tico Brothers, 1795; she belonged to John Nott,
Roger Riley, Benjamin Butler, Jason Boardinan, all of Weth.
NOTT, John, above referred to. was prob. the Capt. of that name who commanded
a ves.sel in L. I. Sound in 1777 (see licrolulionnrii (')nijitrr) he ma}' have
been a bro. or the father of \\illiam.
The Notts of Ry-Hill are descs. from John, the Settler at Weth., about
1636, who res. on the present Bap. Ch. corner.
PETTES, Jame.s, had the sip. T'urmrr in 1875, Samuel Pettes, also of Weth,. being
a part owner; also of sip. Surnh same yr, ; the other part owners were
Eleazcr and David K. Porter of Htfd. Perhaps Samuel was bro. of .Tames;
an ancient name in Stamford and vicinity.
PELTON, SAiirF;L. was nuining. in 1S04, the sip. Jack, in the coast trade, and owned
by John Williams, 2d.
POMEROY, Oliver. Jr., Capt., of Ry-Hill; active mcht. ; d. 177G, ae. 46.
PRICE, John, Stepiici/. Capt., mstr of l^ra Floncr, to X. Carolina, as early as 1772;
whether then living at Ry-H. not known.
PRICE, Jonathan, Capt., mstr. of sip. Elha, in W. I. trade, 1804; Oct. 4, 1804.
"For Sale: The sip. Eliza, 77 tons burthen. Apply to Capt. Roswell Hoi-
ITS MARITIMK HISTORY.
;8i
lister at Gla-tonbury or Capt. .lonathan I'ricc at Ry-Hill. Wethersficld, Oct.
4, 1S04." From A-:i(rican Mrrcury, 1S04.
PRICE. riiciiARO. prob. of Ry-H.. from 1700 to 1800. appears as nistr. of sips.
Charlotte, i'rxuhi and Pruilriice. and sclir. .1»». mo-tly in for. trade; he
sailed iiio-tly fcr Oliver and Barzillai Goodricli. Ho-ea Eulkeiy, and other
Ry-H. owner;.
PRICE. J.\coB. ren:eii.l.erod by Mr. Chns^. Wilianis of Ry-IIill as of that place: mate
of a Htld. briL'. as well as of other vessels : he lived in ho. now occup. by
John Burkett. at Ry-H.. since destroyed by lire.
RHODES. .Jo.suH. Capt.. re-, in small oM frame hn.. which stoo<l opp. Silas Robbins
store; was in W. I. trade and was lost at sea; wife was Sarah Wright;
had four sons, thne of whcm followed the sea, viz.:
RIIODE."^. WiLLI.vM. Cait.. rem. to New Haven, where he ni.: was the father of
Lt. Underbill Rhode-. U. S. Rev. Service, who so di-tinj;uished himself in
the rescue of pa.--ei;gcrs of a shi]!" reeked stmr. off Cay's Head.
"RHODES. Hem:y W. This jrenileman's account, as oriL'inally ^iven in .Jud^e
Adams' Sketches, was corrected in a --ubsequent number of tlie Farmer,
thus — by one who sijriied her name "Mary A. Willi.ims. not dead." Was
mate of one of the lar'_'e~t sliifis out of I'.o-ton. in the East
Tidia trade. He ni. icr hi- 1-t wife, a Spr.ni-li i.oiy. lie lived with her
ill Valparai-ii. S. A., uiuii two cliiblrin were linrn to them. He then
deserted her. came to Weth.. and pas-ed him>eli utV as a -iiifrle man and
married Mary A. Williams, a sister of the late Thomas W. Williams. She
learned he was a married man and left him: he put a weed on his hat
and said she was dead: then he went to En;.', and married there the dau.
of an innkeeper, and broucht her to Weth.; afterward-, they lived in Xew
Haven. In the Civil War, he enlisted and served long enough to get his
bounty money and then left the country."
RHODES. RoY.\L. a sailor and prob. an ollicer in the mercantile marine; mate of
the ship Wincrhj, of Boston and lost at .^ca ; unmarried.
RHODES. Theodore S.. d. at sea .\pril, ISilO. — See gravestone in Weth. Bu-gd.
RILEY, one of the most noted of Wetli. sea-faring families. Most of the American
stock of mariners of this name have been descs. of -Fohn. the Settler. 1G4.5,
who bought .James Boo-ey's homestead I formerly that of Robert Coe, 163.5)
W. side Broad St. on cor. once occup. by the late Thos. G. Adams. This
property. John Riley excli. liiriO for the Tho*. Couch pi. on S. E. side Broad
St., where he re^. until his death, about Jti74.
RILEY, AiKLEY. with Levi Edwards owned sip. Salli/, 1796.
RILEY, As.MiEL. Cap:.. 2d: d. and was bu. at Ry-H., 1707, ae. 57; his wife Mabel
{dau. Dea. Ebenezerj Goodrich.
RILEY. .\LLE-N-. of Ry-H.. n;str. of sip. Snili/. 179S; re.s. in ho. on site of that now
occup. by Mrs. Hoskins: in his later years was a river pilot.
582
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WF.THERSFIELD.
RILEY, AsiiBEL, Ca])t., (piob. bio. of Justus) d. 17P4, ac. CO; lio commanded the
privateer brig Ranger, 14 guns and 20 men, in 1770: and the Snake, 4 gun3
and 20 men, 1780. He was prob. the "Capt. Riley of Weth." of whom
account is given in the ////</. Conrant of 26 Aug., 1793. It relates that
he arrived on 2nd Aug. at Charleston, S. C, with brig Sancxj, having left
Port au Prince, July 18, for New York. His crew were a mate, 5 men and a
cabin boy. July 19 he was boarded by men from two P.r. privateers and
made a prize. Two prizc-mstrs. were put in charge, with one white and
one black man and four American prisoners taken a few days before; and
four of tlie y'n crew were taken ofi' and the vessel ordered to proceed to
New Providence. A few days later, Capt. R., with the help of the rest of
his crew, seized the arms, re-captured the N. and took her into Charleston.
This vessel wa.s lost at Raton's Neck, L. I., March, 179.5, Capt. John Webb
being then master— she had cargo of rum, sugar and molasses from Jamaica,
Conn. Conrant, 9 Dec, 1793.
RILEY, J , (Capt.), commanded sip. Hero, in 1778, of 6 guns ami 40 men;
prob. Jnstns Itiley, then 38 yrs. old; altho' it may have been Capt. Jacob,
or some other of the name whose Christain name began with J.
RILEY, Justus, was also a ship owner; in 17S0, he, with Capts. Barnabas Dcane,
John Wright and \Vm. Griswold were eng. in a general export trade and in
ship building. On their application, the Gen. Assemblj-, by its Committee
of Safety, autliorized them to make a shipment of 5.000 pounds of sugar,
100 of cofTi^c nnd 100 gals, of rum to Xew ■Icr-cy, o\-"-l-V'! "•ly-'-.tlistandin'^
the embargo, to be exch. for iron needed in shipbuihliMg. .Tustus Rilev
owned many vessels, most of which were built in Weth. and Ry-H. Also
the brig EIha and sclir. Rcliirn, taken in 1790, were run by Captains
bearing the Riley nanu — prob. Wetli, men; yet the only list of claimants
by French Spoliations in Judge Adams' bands, failed to show their Chris-
tian names. One of the vessels built and owned by Capt. Justus Riley
was tlie brig .Martha, named after liis dau. ilrs. Chester Bulkeley. This
vessel was launched from the River bank on the E. side, near the store
■ by the now abandoned ferry; that store being one of several warehouses
owned by him. and was prob. identical with the brig Pa^/i/, Capt. Josiah
Homestead, mstr., which was captured, Sept. 2, 1790. by the Fr. cruiser
Iris, taken to Guadalupe, libeled, confiscated and sold. The brig Mer-
chant (.»), built for him" (or his son Roswell) some yrs. later, by Sylvester
Havens, was launched at the Cove; also pt. owner, 179G. of sip. Geneva; 1S04,
schr. Mars; brig Betsy, 1809; brig Kdnard, 1810; sip. Siren and schr. Milo,
ISlC; sole owner of sip. Dove, 1784; sip. Susan d Xancy. schr. Tri-
ton, brig Per/ft;/, sip. Phoenix, 1804; brig Perseverance. 180C; brig
Martha, 1808. Capt. Riley's wife was prob. sister of Daniel Buck. Stephen
Riley, David Riley, John Warner, John :Morton. and Benj. ilorton, all of
W-d., agree Jan. 11, 1732/3, to '-completely etlect. furnish and perfect all ye
work which pertains to ye carpenter to perform according to custom on
board ye sip. "Stepney." He was also pt. owner of brig Commerce, built
abt. 1813, and launched at Keeny's Cove, and Capt. Humphry Woodhouse,
Sen., and Sylvester Havens were its builders. It ran fir^t to Xew Orleans;
it was this brig, which was wrecked on the coast of Africa and the crew
captured and enslaved.— See h'iley's yarrative and Rohhins' Journal. Capt.
Riley d. 1824, ae. 84; his 1st wife ilartha, d. 1772. ae. 35; his 2d, Mabel
(Buck?), d. 1843, ae. 95; his son Ezekiel, a sailor, d. at St. Croix, 1800.
ITS MARITIME HISTORY.
5S3
ae. 28; whether his son Rosiicll, who d. 1824, or Justin, '.vho d. 1S31. -n-ere
sailors, is unknoun. The fonncr owned considerable shipping, notablv the
brig Gov. Grisicold, in 1824.
RILEY, EiiEXEZtR, Capt., of Berlin, prob. went from Wclh., as his wife was l>Dm
there.
RILEY, Jacoh, Capt., whose wife Abigail, d. 1788, ae. 41 rrs.; re?. Rv-H.
RILEY, Jahez, Capt., d. at Ryll., 1S24, ae. 87; wife Hannah. It is related of Capt.
Jabez Itiley that once, bcl'oro sailing on a voyage, he buried hi; money
in his orchard, telling no one of it. While at sea, his vessel encouittred
a severe storm, and expecting every moment to go do'.\-n, the Cap-.ain,
bethinking himself of his buried treasure, bottled up a description of
the place of its deposit and threw the bottle overboard to take its chance.
Fortunately, however, the ship was not lost, and, as soon as he returned
home, he dug up his treasure and deposited it in a chartered bank, in pref-
erence to flirt bank. lUit, alas for the fallacy of human calculations, the
chartered bank failed, the Captain lost his money, and nietaphoricilly,
"blasted his ej-es," that he was not lost at sea, so that his money might have
been saved — and this, though tl\e unfoi-tuuato liottle had never been beard
from !
RILEY, .lAjtF.s,' Capt., was the hero of T'ilcy's Ndrrativc (see Rilnj GcneaL. Vol.
II'); b. in JMidd. (Upp.T Houses.)
Capt. Riley's father was Ashcr. son of Nath'l and .Vbigail (Mout'iniir 1 Riley, of
Weth. His mother was Rebecca Sage, and his wife Plioebe ■ dau. of Hosea) Miller.
of present town of Cromwell — (Stalrm<-nt of ISfr. W. Wiltcihire Riley of Cromwell,
. Ct., son of Capt. James) — who has written an interesting "Sequer' to his father's
"Narrative."
RILEY, Levi, (Capt.), nistr. of a vessel lying at N. Y., 1774, with cargo of onions.
RILEY, Richard, Capt., Mstr. (and Belden Boardman, ^Mate) of a vessel plying
betw. New York and Xewbern, N. C, and New Providence, W. I., 1794;
both men were of Weth.
RILEY, Roger, Capt., 1798, mstr. of sip. Polh/, owned by Capt. Wni. Griswold:
res. in the Levi Robbins ho.; his dau. being ilr. Robbins' wife; pt. o%vner
sip. Tao llrotlicrs, 1795. [Dr. Griswold thinks that J'lcob Riley, not
Roger, was Mrs. Robbins' father; but Air. Chas. William of Ry-H.. says
that Roger's 2d wife was Ruth, wid. of Roger Bull, whose dau. Eunice Bull,
became the 1st wife of his (Mr. W.'s) father.j
ROBBINS, Archibald, (Stepney), b. 1792, at Rocky-Hill, son of Capt. .Jason, was
one of Capt. James Rile3's crew on the brig Commerce, when wrecked on
the coast of .\frica, in 1815. This brig was owned by Riley i Brown of
Hartford, and the Jlessrs. Savage; she sailed from ^Midd. and left the mou:h
of the River, ilay 0th, 1815; with a crew of twelve, including oinc-ers.
Capt. Riley, his two mates and cabin boy from Midd. Robbins belonged
to Rocky-Hill. They reached New Orleans, June 1, and took on a cargo
of flour and tobacco for foreign ports. At Gibraltar, she shipped some
584
HISTORY OF ancif;nt wktheksfikld.
brandy and wine. Her next objective point was tlie Cape de Verde Islands
to fill up her carjjo witli --alt. Desirous of making an expeditious pas-
sage. Captain Riley r:;n down the coa.>l lutween the Canarj- Islands and
the Continent. Pri'sunial>ly the briLT outran the calculations of her otficers
and not westering' enou,i.'h. at 10 at niu'lit. on the iSth of August, she
struck on the northern line of Capo Balndor. between 20 ih'^rces and 27
degrees north latitude. The crew got safely to land, but were set upon
by some of the natives, and one was made prisoner. The rest put to sea
in one of the boats, ruiuiing soiitlnvrst into the .\tlantic in the hope of fall-
ing in with some ve>-e!. After standing out four days and exhausting
their small stock of water, the liurrors or death from t'lir^t deleiiiiin.d
thcni to change their course to -outhea^t and after running in three days
they made land again near Cape Barbae. Thence they worked their way
northward along a rugired coast for three days and then fell into the
liands of the native'savagi's. Knowing that considerable sums were paid
for the redeni[ition of prisoners that fell into their hands, the Arabs slowly
worked these ill-fated men northward toward Morocco. Cai)tain Riley was
ransomed after a captivity of about two months. !Mr. Robbins was kept
a prisoner for nineteen months, finally being taken north to Xoon and
Tangier. Five others aI>o were ransomed, but another five are supposed to
have remained ami died in captivity.
Archibald Robbins wrote :ind published a ■■■Juiinuil ;" and Capt. Riley
published a -Xnnnliir" of tlieir experiences \u this captivity, wliieh ob-
tained a considerable eirenlation at tlie time. Indeed aliont all tliat wa*
then known in this country, up to within a few year^ nnd up to the pres
ent, of the geography of the Atlantic coast and of the great African desert,
over an extent of latitinle from :J2 decrees to 10 degrees north, and of the
inhabitants — tlieir habits, customs, niodcs of life, religions, character, means
of existence, etc. — was obtained from the narratives of Captain James
Riley and Seaman .-\rehibahl Robbins of the Rrig Cunninrcr. Like experi-
ences, in the same region, of Spaniard and l^nglish captives had L'iven the
nations of Western Kurope a similar knowledge; but beyond tliis, altliough
the country was within a few days sail of the ports of Spain and Portugal,
whence adventurous mariners made long voyages around the Cape to the
Indies and across the Atlantic to all the coasts of the new world, the terrors
of the barren sands of .Sahara and its savage nomads had forliiilden the
footprints of the mo-t daring explorer except, per force, as a prisoner
of the wandering .\ral>. Civilization could not ]ienetrate wliere the spirit
of desolation reigned siipreme; and only accident revealed that desolation
to European eyes. Some twenty years ago Captain ilayne Reid put in type
a small volume for boys, giving the wanderings and adventures of a sup-
positious person through the same region. It was a very intere-ting and
readable eflort ; but the older boys, who had not forgotten the books of
Riley and Robbins. could not go through it and fail to see (what Captain
Reid did not disclose) that Ids inspiration, as well as his pictures of life
and customs in the samly sea of North Central Africa, were derived from
those older volumes. Proper credit ought to have been given them. This
experience of the crew of the Coinnirrcc was by no means exceptional. Other
seaman from here, had similar adventures. One of these and the last
survivor of the Commerce crew, was Mr. IIoi{.\CF Savage — the former
cabin boy of the brig. He resided in \N ethcrsfield village many J'ears,
and died there October 14, 1SS2, aged 82 vears.
ITS MARITIME HISTORY. 5^5
Mr. Cliarle.s Williiiiii.s istate.s that, at the time, it was tlie peneial ojiinion
t}iat the bri-; was after a load of shive.s. It wa.s said by sailni-s that .she
was a long way out of the cour.se she should have sailed, and that her
cargo consisted principally of salt heef. potatoes and many casks of fresli
water — circumstances which were suspicious. This opinion had, at least,
its ju.stification in tlic fact that a con~idcral>le number of vessels sailing
from N. Kng. ports at that time, and later, made voyages for slaves
which they sold in the W. I. Islands, often making fortunes in a single
voyage. The business was not hehl to be much more amiss than slave
holding, and some very excellent people had an interest in the importation
of slaves. As to tliis single case, this can only be a conjecture; but if
there was truth in it, it was by no means uncommon.
This experience and a previous one whicli Mr. Kobliins bail liad during the
War of 1812, did not deter him from following the sea. He became one
of the sea-captains of the town. In February, 181.3, .Mr. Tvohbins sailed
from New York to St. Rartholoniew, on a merchant vessel. Slie was cap-
tured by tlie Britisli frigate Siiipn'ar; the crew was landed at the latter
port and returned in a cartel to New York. .Again, wlien on a voyage from
New Haven to 8t. liaitlioloMiew. the vessel was captured by the British
off Xew London, and sent to Halifax. After two months Mr. Robbins got
to St. Bartholomew on a Swcdi^li vi's-icl, and from tlience to N'ew York.
Taking passage for Xew Londi.n on another vessel, which also fell into
the hands of the Britisli, he was sent back to Halifax on the Brig of War
Borer, and kept a prisom^r on Melville Island till the conclusion of peace
by the Treaty of Ghent. In lS2:i, he nnirrieu .\lniira Williams, who
died in IS.I.")-, and in .March of the tollowiiig yr. lie in. her sister Klizabeth
(both gd-dau. of Tliomas Danforth). in .Inly, of same yr.. they left lly-H.,
per steamboat for Oliio, and sett, in Solon, where he d. in Dec, ISOO;
she d. in Clinton. Iowa, Aug., 1SS.3.
It is related of ('apt. Robbins, that, in 182.3 or '24. he contracted to carry
two loads of men to Albany (to help dig the Krie Canal, then in process
of construction), and that on one of these tri|)S he took 400 passenu'ers
at $4 per head, including their board. As there were no liig^ in those
days, the length of time to accomplish the voyage was very uncertain; but
he had the good luck to land his passengers at A. in 48 hours, and was back
at Ky-H. in six days from the time be left there. The second voyage was
nearly, but not (piite so successful. These diggers went in the spring,
but returned in November, when the deep snows and cold prevented the
prosecution of the work.
Capt. Robbins' nautical life commenced when he was a boy of IG, by mak-
ing a voyage on a vessel partly owned by his father. The voyage of
the Commerce was his sixth.
ROBBINS, Damel, Cai>t., (son of Joshua), d. 1707.
ROBBINS, Fredekk-k, Senior, son of Esq. .John, of \\'etliersficld, who m. (1) Martha
(dait. of Capt. .Jacob) Williams; m. (2) Sarah (dau. Capt. Crafts) Wright.
Mr. W. F. J. Boardman thinks she was u-id, not dau. of Wright and that her
maiden name was Sarah Boardman. Her son John Wright m. Martha
(dau. of John) Robbins by his lirst wife ilartha Williams — a novel com-
plication, and may have been the Capt. .lohn Wright. Fred'k Bobbins, in
180;j, was pt. owner (with 11 others, all res. in Ry H.) of sclir. Fritndsliip.
in for. trade.
586
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETFIEKSFIFI.D .
ROBBIXS, Jason, his wife Honor, wlio was bu. at Ry-H., 1800, ae. 32; he m. again;
v/as father of Archibald (above) ; was with Eli Goodrich, [it. owner of
sip. Elinira, capt. by Fr., 17SS; res. next N. of .Shipnian's Hotel, which
latter was built by Capt. Wait Uobbins, and now occup. by Talcott A.
Arnold; Capt. Jason rem. in 1829, to the Connecticut Reserve, in company
with Timothy Clark (hatter) and Samuel Bull (shoemaker) and their
families settled near Ashtubula, Ohio — went by wagons, each family with
its own wagon, and pairs of horses — in a heavily loaded wagon drawn by
horses; ho d. in Wcth. — inforinntioii by Clms. WiUlnins — 1881.
ROBBINS, JusTU.s, nistr. and pt. owner of sip. Julia. 1821, of which Josepli Bulke-
ley, of X. Y., was other pt. owner; prob. son of John Bobbins, Jr., of RyH.,
and he inherited from his gd-father .John R., Sen., a large estate; ace.
to Mr. Chas. Williams of Ry-H. ilr. Justus Robbins was eng. in mercan-
tile business with Edinond Bulkelcy: he also had a gin distillery where
the Ry-H. coal yard now is; d. in X. .J., at res. of a dau.; one of his
daus. m. Col. Edmond Bulkcley.
ROBBIXS, RiciiAKD, pt. owner (with :Mo3es Dimock and Israel Williams), 1818, of
sip. Xanci/; he was father of Silas W. and of Dea. R. A. Robbins.
ROBBIXS, Wait, Jr., nistr. and (with his father, John, Sen'.) pt. owner of schr.
Farmer, in the f«ir. trade, 1304; was b. in that ho. in Weth. at extreme S.
end which was destroyed by tornado of 1787; his father rebuilt the ho.
on same ground; ho. occup. until recent years by a gt-gd-son, Mr. Griswold.
RYER, Henry, wiio res. just below Broad St., and was fatlier of George Ryer, the
former Hotel Keeper at Ry-H., had the sip. Cornet, in 182G.
SAVAGE, Luther, Josiaii, Timothy, of Midd. origin, and all sailors, were asso-
ciated with Capt. .Justus Riley as ship owners. Of the same stock was Capt.
Horace, who was as a youth cabin boy of the ill-fated Brig Cotamerce;
afterwards mstr. of schr. Spartan, owned in Htfd., 1825, and of schr.
Albion, 182G; ho res. in Mexico for some yrs. and spoke Spanish fluently.
ROBIX'SOX', A.smiEL, Capt., mstr. of (bctw. 1823 and 1832) sips. Leader, Flash,
Falcon, and Pearl. He is credited to Weth. on the Custom Ho. rec. tho'
the name is not accordeil to Weth. As Abijah Collins, Henry and Walter
Bulkelcy, and others of Ry-H., were owners of these vessels, Capt. R.
was prob. from some .section- of township. Dr. Griswold says he res.
at Dividend (Ry-H.), and came from So. Glast. ; d. abt. 1837, at George-
town or Charleston, S. C. His son Silas, d. at sea. ae. 14; sons Henry and
Isaac still living [1887].
SEYMOUR, Elisiia. ran the sip. Margaret, in 1805, and the r.ucn, in 1800.
SHAILOR, Samiel, prob. of Portland, or somewhere "down the River;" mstr. of
a shipyard '"in Weth." prob. at Stepney, records credit him with bldg. the
sip. Ursula, 1804, sip. Amelia, 1805; brig Eli-abeth, 1800.
SMITH, Joseph, Capt., Ry-H.
SMITH, JosiAit, Capt., d. 1793, ae. 85.
ITS MiRITIME HISTORY. 3
87
SMITH, Joiix. in 1810, mstr. bri? Frioi'iship, bniU at U'eth., ISO.j, owned by Roland
Lee and Truman Griswold of Htfd.
SMITH. In the AmcricTn Mercurit, appears a dispatch, dated Xew York, August
17th, ISOS, that several vessels were "captured Saturday last, near Mon-
tauk Point, by the U. !?. Frigate Chesapeake, Commodore Decatur, and
ordered to this port." The first on the list of these captured vessels was
the brijr Celio, .Smith, of X. Y., "from Wcth. for Dominico, captured off
Block Island."
England and France were then at war. Bonaparte had, by his Berlin
and Milan "decrees." declared a blockade of British ports; and Eng. by its
"Orders in Council" had declared a blockade of French ports. Each
nation had seized American vessels, assuming that they were bound
for ports blockaded by them, respectively. The U. S. in consequence,
at President JetTerson's sugsestion, had declared an "Embargo" on Am.
shipping; and the vessels thus seized, as above had undoubtedly been
seized for violation of the Embargo. This Embargo operated very disas-
trously for Xew England: and that section was consequently very slow to
assist the Federal Government, when the War of IS 12 was declared. Out
of these seizures made by Eng. and France, of Am. ves-els, grew the
"Spoliation Claims." which have occupied the attention of Congress for
so many years.
STILLMAX, Capt. Au.TX, see ante, p 552.
Another view of the dilliculties under which Am"r'caii commerce suffered
at this time is given by the following extract from a paper of the
time. The sip. Industry of Hartford, Capt. Giles Savage, mstr.,
capt. by a French privateer. May 0, ISOO, bound for Martinique, laden
with sheep, hogs, cheese and hams (taken out by the captors) and horses
and cattle, and was sent to Gaudeloupe: but on the 19th of June, was
recaptured by the Br. brig Busy, carried into harbor of Tortola, in the
Virgin Islands, and compelled to pay salvage of one-half value of vessel
and cargo. The vessel was valued at •?1,S00, and her burthen was 80 tons.
total value, as sold £1458, Ss, 6d.
STILLMAX'. George, iCapt.). another bro.. sailed to Mediterranean ports; and on
one voyage brought from Lisbon some marble slabs, acci'uing from the great
earthquake there, which he used in the construction of .a sideboard in his
home. He prob. commanded the brig Martha, which was launched from the
River bank, a little above the present River landing. He was the father of
the late Dea. Geo. Stillman. Another bro. was 'Maj. Joseph Stillman, Jr.
STILLMAX. (Capt.) Xatiia.viel. l-l. (son of Geo., the Settler, and Rebecca Smith),
a military, not a sea-captain; m. II) Anna Southmayd, of Midd.; m. (2)
Sarah (dau. Capt. Joseph V AUyn; res. E. side High St., on site of Dea.
R. A. Robbins" ho.: he d. 1770. ae. 79. By his first wife, hr- had (I) Capt.
Xathamel, 2d; 6;/ seeonri irife, he had (II) Ally.v (Capt.). who rem. after
the Revol. from the X'ancy Tr>on place to Enfield; (III) Samuel (Capt.),
b. 1741; d..l794; ilVt George (ilaj.-Gen.) rem. to Machias, Me., where
he rendered important services during Revol. War: (V) Joseph, who res.
in ho. next X. of High St. School; lost at sea in Brig Hope. 1809; (VI)
Timothy (Capt. and Dea.) seaman; conmianded, among others, the Brig
Ontario.
588
HISTORY OF ANCI?:XT WETHERSKIELD.
STILLMAX, Natiianim,, (Capt.), 2tl, m. Mehitable (ilau. David) Doming; lie d.
1794, ae. SO; Chiklnn: (I) Southmayd, 1). 1754. lost at sea, young;
(II) Gii.KS, (1. at Capo St. Fiancois, 179(1. ac. abt. 30: (111) .sT.meox (Capt.)
a prominent sca-oaiitain, who <1. 1847. ae. 83; he m. (1) Rebecca Doming;
m. (2) Nancy Doming; : ros. in Water St., clo^e Dv Uiver; hail Simeon and
J a red A .
STILL:MAN, Samvei., (Xo. hi of Capt. Xath'l the I>fs family), b. 1741: d. 1794;
m. Jlillicont (ilau. I'l/alccl i l.atiiinr. and res. in old Coodrich ho. on site
of present liap. Cli.; wa^ one of the nio^t skillful navigators of his day;
he accom])lised in 17S4. the then unparalleled feat of making three
voyages to Jamaica, in one .\ r. — See Caulkin's Hist, yen: f.ondon, p. 574.
STILMIAX, Otis, (Capt.) son of .Jci-eph, gr-son of the 1st Xath'l) res. in bo. next
S. of High St. Schoid llo.. was lost at sea in brig //o/if. ISOO. His wife
• was Martha (dau. of Capt. Xatb'l .3d) Stillman.
STILLMAX. Xatiianiel, (Capt.). 3<1 (son of Capt. Xath'l 2.1). was a Revol. .soldier
ni. Martha Ilanmor and res. at head of High St.. Commons. \V. side, tho'
he and his father, earlier, res. in the Belden ho., foot of Chemical Lane;
he d. 18.38. ae. 8(1: his son Chniirs perished at sea in the brig //o/ir, 1800,
commanded by his liro.-in law, Cajit. Otis Stillman. Another son of Xath'l
3d, Francis, sca-capt., d. in X. Y., 1838: res. in Weth. in ho. now occup.
by wid. of Dr. A. S. Warmr.
The late Mayor Allyn S. Stillman. of Hartford, was a cd-son of Capt.
Xath'l 2(', '-y his son James.
STRATTOX. WiLi.iA.M. of W.th.. nistr. of sip. ^'ictor, 1797.
TALCOTT. This family, descendants of the Hon. Samuel Talcott, the ^\•(■th. .S'tth'r,
is much less distinguishe<l for its achievements on the water, than for its
military record; wliieh latur is truly remarkable, if we include those
V mcnihers thereof who. as citizens of other States, both Xorth and South,
have served in ilie armies of the C S., especially in that of the late Confed-
erate States. These latter ollicors. though born in the South, were descend-
ants of that Capt. Samiicl Talcott, of the militia, who rem. from Weth.
to Glastonbury. Still, there were .lonie sailors in the family; or, perhaps,
we had better say the race, in speaking of the whole body of descendants
of original settlers.
TALCOTT, EuK.N-EZKR. (son of Samuel and Thankful Belden] Talcott, b. abt. 1758,
was lost at sea.
TALCOTT, Jo.slAil, (bro. of above), a sailor, was drowned in Conn. River.
TALCOTT, Joii.\, (bro. of above), a sailor, was lost in L. I. Sound, near Saybrook,
while returning from a vcpyage to the W. I.
TALCOTT, Joii.v, (Capt.), son of Dea. IJenj. and Sarah (Hullisler) Talcott, of
Glast. ; was a gd-son of the Capt. Samuel, before mentioned. He was m.str.
of the transport ship (lull, in the Cape Breton Kxpedition of 1745; from
whence returning, he ])ut in at Provincetown, ^lass., where he d. and was
bu. ; his family rem. to Hebron.
ITS MARITIME HISTORY.
589
TREAT. Tliis family once nuincrDUs, and all ilesc'd from Richard, the Settler, or
^lalthias, i.-s nuu extinct in Weill.; tliinij,'h nuiny of the blood, tho' of other
names, are still ro^. tlicrc. The Treats were mo.stly prominent in military
and civil affairs — tho" there were a few who followed the sea.
TREAT, Chai-ncey, (Capt.), IS-24, of hri',' Mcrchanl. Imilt at Weth.. I.SIO. for -Jus-
tus Riley and in l.Sit. owneil by Fred. Uari^s, Henrj- Kilbourn and others
of Htfd., and in for. trade.
TREAT, IIoKACE. ni.*lr. of M-hr. Marii Haw. ISUi, built at Weth.. in \s\r,. and
owned by Hon. Henry L. Ellsworth, of Htfd.
TREAT, James, bu, at Galveston, Te.xas, 1840, ae. 4S-
TREAT, John- H., (son of John and rrudence), d. at sea, 180G, ae. 21 yrs-
TREAT, James, (bro. of above John H.), d. at sea, 4 Xov.. 1S40. ae. 41 yrs.
TREAT, James, Capt. of brig Eleunor, Baltimore vessel, capt. 170S.
TRYOX, JosiAii. Capt.. nistr. of schr. M'iUinms. 1S04, owned by .John C.iliwell
and others, and eng. in W. I. trade. He may have re-^. in Watcrbury. where
many desc'ds of orig. Weth. settlers of the name rem. to.
TYROX, EzEiaEL, Capt., in 1811, was nwtr. of sip. Frirnd^h'ii,, owned by J.icob
Williams pf Ry-H Pos*. he was of Glast.
TRYOX, ilosES, Jr., who had rem. to Hlfd., was in 180G, pt. owner of brig Cciir.tcfi-
cut, and schr. Archer; and in 1807 of brig James: in 181.5 pt. owner of
schr. Pearl, and sip. Hector, in both of which vessels his copartners were
Thomas Tryon and Joseph Harris. Whether this Thomas was bro. to
Moses, we know not: [in 1801, Closes Tryon, with John Williams, soil to
Thomas Curtis, a "llatbottomed schr." Tlic Illack Prince. B. A.]
UTLEY, Horace, in 1810, had the schr. Geii. ilncoiiib, built in Weth., lSl.5, for Htfd.
owners.
WARNER, Allex, who d. 1848, ae. 75, was, perba])s a sailor: his son Dnniel d. in
1817, on passage home from W. I., ae. 19 yrs.; another son. Walter, went
West abt. 18:50. Mr. Chas. Williams, of Ry-H., says that the Warners
of that town claim to be descended from a Southern branch, from the
Weth. stock.— .v. 11'. .1. Mr. W. F. Warner, of t^t. I.oui-, Mo., the fan.ily
historian does not accept this view. — //. A'. ,y.
WARNER, JoXATiiAX, Capt., who d. 1780, ae. 74, must have been a sailor — at least,
no military commission issued to him, has been found.
WARNER, Joii.x, Capt., who d. 1808, ae. 70, and was prob. the Capt. Warner, who
had a vessel at the W. I., 1780.
WARNER, Joiix. Capt., whose wife was Elizabeth and whose son Roger d. 1770,
ae. 30 yrs.
590
HISTORY OF ANXIENT WETIIERSFIELD
WARXER, .Toil.v, .Ir., in 1S2!», (wiUi Horace Welles), owned sip. Mary; he was
prob. father of tlie late Horace Warner and of James Warner; who lives
at RyH.
WARXER, Wait, Capt.. d. at RyH.. 1804. ae. 72; he was (auth. of Dr. R. W.
Griswold), gd-ftlir. of the present IVuit Warner, Sen.; he had also, a son
William, also called Capt., who was lost at sea.
WARXER, Walter, 2d, m^tr. of sip. Galen, 1S.30.
WATERBURY. Several of this family (an old one in Weth. ) have been mariners,
if not sea-eaptains, and have sacrificed their lives early to their culling.
WATERBURY, .Tosewi, Jr., (son of Joseph, Sr.), d. at sea, 1S25, ae. 30 yrs.
WATERBURY, Simeo.v, (son of Joseph. Sen.), d. .Jamaica, W. I., 1808, ae. 21.
WATERBURY, \\iLLiAif, (son of .Joseph, Sen.) d. at Guadeloupe, 1805, ae. 21.
WEBB, John, Capt., previously ment. as commanding the privateer Fair Trader,
in 1782, was prob. son of Joseph Webb, Sen., whom we know had a son
John; he was a man of much business and an active sea-captain. In 1795,
while in command of brig Xnncii, tirst day out from X. Lond. for a trip
to W. I., he lost brig and cargo on Eaton's Xeck: in 179(1, he was Capt.
of the brig Pearl, when capt. by Er. or Sp. Cruisers. In 1790, he was
mstr. of brig Itccorcrir, plying to Lisbon. — Sec Caulkin's Hist, yew London,
pp. 4SS, -104, 490, 498.
WEBB, (Capt.) David, desc't of Christopher, who settled at Braintrce, ilass., 1045;
d. 9 Oct., 1770, of small pox. and at sea. which may account for the absence
of a stone to his memory, in the cemetery-. Capt. Webb's second wife
was Mary, the daughter of the Hezekiah Grimes, who operated the ferry
at Rocky Hill, from 1734 until his death in 1749. Capt. Webb lived in the
old house (the Brandagee-Webb-Candee house) burned down in 1876;
that stood where the south end of the front building of the Pierce Hard-
ware Company now is, at the Rocky Hill landing. He could not have been
the David Webb at Stamford in the Revolutionary period. — Dr. R. W.
Grisuold.]
WEBB, William, (Capt.). a noted sea-captain; d. at Rocky Hill, 1843, ae. 79; was
son of Capt. David and res. in his father's ho.: shipbuilder, owner and
master; exported from Ry-Hi!l and imported gds. to same; is supposed
to have owned the South \Miarf as an inheritance from his father and
gd-father. Was an active man at Ry-Hill from abt. 1787, for 40 or 50 yrs.;
was son-in-law of Capt. Wm. Griswold.
WEED, JAJIE.S, (Capt.), of Ry-H., his wife Ketenah, d. 1781, ae. 59.
WTELLES. In this family, among the descendants of Gov. Thomas, or of Hugh
Welles, there have apparently been but few mariners.
WELLES, Gideon, (son of Capt. Solomon, who built and res. in ho. once owT.ed by
Gen. Leonard R. Welles, his gd-son), was, in 1793, mstr. of brig Polly,
ITS MARITIME HISTORY. 59 ^
then plying to Port au Prince, \V. I. In 1795, he d. on way liome from
\V. I. and was liu. at sea, ae. 39. Upon the headstone erected to his memory
in tlie Weth. Burying Ground, is a metrical inscription of some length,
the first line whereof reads as follows :
" The Bosom of devouring seas entomb my mould'ring dust."
Though he is bu. at Weth., Dr. R. W. G. claims him for Ry-H. "It is not
at all likely that Dr. Chapin would have put this name in his list of
deaths, if the man had not lived in his parish — the date &.C., on the
passage for the W. I.," shows him to have been the same.
WELLES, Joiix, (Capt.), d. 1793, ae. C8 yrs.; wife Rebecca.
WELLES, Horace, (Capt.), d. 1853, ae. (\5 yrs.; his maritime career was brief; pt.
owner of Sip. Mary, 1829.
WELLES, Simeon, mstr. of brig Ontario, 1SU4, owned by Geo. Pierce of Htfd., and
bit. in Weth., 1802; also, of schr. Lydiu, in 1805; and brig George, 180G, —
all in for. trade.
WELLES, Thomas, owner (with Geo. Blinn, John Harris and Elisha Robbins) of
sip. Lady Washington, 1705.
WHITMORE, Hezekiah, a shipwright of some prominence, had a yard at Ry-H.,
where the schr. Friendship was built by him in 1804, and the ship Brutus,
in 180(5.
WILLI.tViIS. The families of this name in Weth. and Ry-Hill are of several distinct
stocks. See our ^yilUallls Genealogy, Vol. II.
WILLIAMS, Daniel, (Capt.), prob. a sailor. His wife Thankful d. at Ry-H.
WILLIAMS, Elias, (Capt.), of Glast., d. 1798, ae. 81 yrs.; was of another branch
from that of Thomas, the Settler, and all the Williams in Ry-H. for past
100 yrs. have been desc'd'ts of his; was quite a draughtsman, and when
at sea made drawings of ships, fishes, etc., or whatever attracted his atten-
tion.
WILLIAMS, Jacob, (Capt.), son of Jacob, and prob. gd-son of Thomas, d. 1813,
ae. 58; his wife was ^lehitable ; their son Tliomas B., d. W. 1.,
1821, ae. 17. A Capt. Jacob (prob. the same, ace. to Custom Ho. rees.)
ran betw. 1795 and 1805, the schr. Industry, the sloops Lore, Sally, Little
Patty, 'Sancy and Friendship — tho' jNlr. Chas. Williams credits the sip.
Industry to John, not Jacob Williams. Capt. Jacob (first referred to
above) bo't of Hannah Clark, the ppy. that came to her from her father
Jonathan Smith, on the S. side of Ferry St., from abt. Cross St., and to
the River, in 1739, and which formed the S. third of the orig. grant to
Sam. Bonrdman, Jr., 1GC5. He built just in front of present Roderick
Grimes' ho.
A Capt. Jacob, father of Capt. Jacob above, first mentioned, d. at Rocky
Hill, 1751, ae. G2.
592
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSHKLD.
WILLIAMS, .Jonx, who inlieriU-d liis father's liomc on South St., was an active
business man, largely en<,'af;e(I in sliip-building and commerce, and is said
to have liad at times, five or six vessels employed in the ^^ . I. trade, and
to have been worth the large sum (for that day) of $20,000. In the War
of 1812-15, he lost, within the three years, five vessels and their cargoes,
and this swept away the larger part of liis ppy. his creditors taking the
balance; lie gave up the old homestead in 1820, and d. 1827, ae. G4 or U5. —
K. ir. G.
WILLIAMS, .Toiix, in 1804, mate of schr. Dolphin, of Midd., to for. ports.— C'us<o»i
Ho. lice.
WILLIAMS, JlosK.s, son of Elial and Comfort, d. Port au Prince, W. I., 1794, ae.
22 yrs.
WILLIAMS, Moses, (Capt.) d. at Uoeky Hill, 1810. ae. 81 yrs.— likely a desc't of
Thomas and son of Jacob, tho' his home was in the orig. Williams grant,
in a ho. which he bit. close by the Kiver, and X. of S. i E. S. Belden's
shipyard.
WILLIAMS, IsRAKi,, Capt. of the vessel which, in 1774, conveyed to Boston the
contribution of provisions donated by the jieople of Wetli. to those in B.,
who were sulFi-ring from the etfects of the Boston Port Bill; in ,Iune, 1777,
was authorized by the Council of Safety to sail to foreign ports with a
schr. load of pork, to e.\eh. for salt for the people of Glast.
WILLIAMS, Tiii)>rAS W nnd Lfwis, brr>thers, and tl.eir fjiher, Englishmen or
Welchmen by birth. ri>. and il. in Gri^uoldville. Thomas W. d. in Cali-
fornia, 1880, ae. abt. GO; ami was (piite a noted whaling-captain, sailing
from Xew London, or New Bedford ; and his eldest son is said to be follow-
ing the same calling in the northern Pacific Ocean. Lewis, also a res.
of California, is supposed to be in same business.
WILLIAJIS, Ei-i.siiA, .Jr., (son of Rector and Col. Williams, by his first wife Eunice
Chester), had an interest in several vessels; he m. Mehitabel Burnham,
1749, and d. 1784; occup. ho. which stood on site of Silas W. Robbins'
present ho.; having built it in 1753-4, for his father, who prob. did not live
to occup. it. He had a son Capt. Elisha, 3d, (a military title), who m.
Sally (dau. of sea-captain Thomas) Newson.
WILLIAMS, EzKKiKL, Jr., (son of Sheriff Ezekiel, of Kevol. memoiy, and nephew
of the Rector), if not a mariner, was, at least, largely interested in
shipping and for. trade; with .John Caldwell and other, of Htfd., he owned
brig Bclsy, Capt. Bunce, Mstr., taken by the Fr. 17!)!); was, also, pt. owner
of schr. Betsy and cargo, Capt. Francis Bulkcley, I\[>tr., cap. in 1800; also,
with Capt. John Chenevard, of Htfd., owiier of schr. Peygy and cargo.
Capt. Geo. Benton, capt. same yr. Mr. Williams was at this time abt.
35 yrs. old, and his marine interests were evidently many and important.
Perhaps his father (at this time aged abt. 70) was also interested in
the same. Ezekiel Williams, Jr., rem. to Htfd.; the late Oliver Ellsworth
Williams was his son. Among his bros. were the late "Squire" John
Williams, of Weth., the late Chief Judge Thomas S. Williams, of Htfd.,
and William Williams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence was his
tmcle.
ITS MARITIME HISTORY. 593
WILLIAMS, Simeon, owner and mstr. of sip. Tiro Brothers, 1797; with Joseph
Edwards, owner, ITOo, of sip. Delight ; in 179ti, with Isaac Goodrich, of sip.
Tiro Brothers.
WILLIAMS, EUAB and Elias. with -L\coB and Willlam, were owners, 1795, of
schr. Industry : prob. all of Ry-H.
WILLIAM.S, William, pt. owner, with Israel and .Jacob Williams, of sips. Salhj
and Kanle. 1797: and of schr. Pcyny, 1S04: of brig. M'illiam, 1S07.
WILLIA.ALS. Wiili'iin. iprub. abovei, builder oi the >i.lir. Mtir,./ Rrjx,. bit. in Ry-H..
in yard X. of present railroad depot; vessel named after his dauin-Iaw,
dau. of Capt. .John Rose, of Weth.: bro. of late Chauncey Rose, of Terre
Haute, Ind. (Chis. Mms. of R'j-H.)
WILLI.OIS. .JoH-V, 2d. in 179S. pt. owner, with Philo Goodrich, of Schr. Ursula;
in ISC'?, he owned sip. Jncl: : in ISOij. he and I^am. Dimock owned schr.
Victor;/: 1S07. he and .Justus Robbins owned schr. Xaiicii; 1S09, he owned
sip. Charles: in ISIO. he was pt. owner of schr. Sallii. and sole owner of
sip. Merino: 1815 sole owner of sip. ^nlUi. Dr. Griswold says the sip.
Friendship was built and run not by .Jacob, but by John Williams, and ilr.
Chas. Williams thinks she was capt. by the Rr. olT Saybrook. taken to X.
Lond. and burned. Capt. Chas. Abbey of Cilast. beincr master. The Custom Ho.
rec. say she was built in 1S02; in ISOO .Jacob Williams is called owner and
cr-ptain. Later masters were Ezekiel Tryon. HeUien Wolcott, and Geo.
Ciane. A schr. of same name was built by Hez. Williams in 180.5, owned
by 11 Ry-Hill men. and of which Wm. Webb was master. From other
parts of Dr. Griswold's letters, I infer that it was the Merino and not
the Friendship which was capt. and burned in 1SI2. ^■'. IV. A.
WILLIAMS, Roger, ISIO, pt. owner of schr, Snlli/.
WILLIAMS, Wait, with Josiah Rutltr and Wm. Williams, owner of sip. Jane, IS19.
WILLARD .TosiAH, had sip. Defiance, ISOl : if. as we suspect, he was from Xew-
ington, he is the only mstr. of a vessel who can be credited to that section
of the township.
WOODHOL'SE, the descendants of .Joseph Woodhouse the Settler, who came from
Enjrland about 1710 liave included some navisators and shipwrights. Joseph.
in 171G bought the Thomas Wickham dwelling (the first brielc ho. built in
Weth.) on W. side of High St. next S. of the Common. Some of his descs.
were coopers, in the day when cooperage was a leading industry here.
WOODHOUSE, Levi, (son of Abijah and -Jane James) a sailor: d. at .Jamaica, 1308,
ae. 21.
WOODHOUSE, James, (prob. bro. of above) d. at sea, 1821, ae. 30.
WOODHOUSE, .Joseph, drowned at sea 1811, ae. 28, was son of John and Sarah
Buck Woodhouse; and his wife was a dose, of Curtis, a desc. of Gen Welles.
594
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
WOODHOUSE, Samuel, Sen., whoso wife was Tliankful Blinn, was father of a num-
ber of sailors, viz.
I. SoLOiio.v, Capt., a first cUiss navigator, lost otT Cape Ilattera-, 1704, youn:;
and single.
II. Samuel, Capt., m. Abigail Goodrich and lived to be 7S; d. 1S34— having
survived several sons cut olT in their prime — of wh. one George, was lost
at sea, 1817, ae. 2,), leaving a wid., Hannah, dau. of Elislia Cok-man and
a sou of the late Sanuiel Woodliousc, Esq., of Grijwoldville.
III. Henry, d. at Charleston, S. C, ISiiG, ae. 25; unmarried
IV. Humphrey, Capt., built many vessels and was also a skillful navigator to
foreign ports; ni. Rebecca (dau. of Camp, and Mehitabel Baxter) Adams;
he d. 1827, ae. 50; with Gov. Wolcott owned the sip. Gull, built by Sylve-ter
Havens; and tlio first vessel (it was claimed) which went to South America;
also built and owned the Vr)nis (built by S. Havens) which was wrecked
on Block Island, Havens and Xath'l Alvord of WinOior owners with him
His son Ilumphrc;/, Jr., was master of many vessels and a skillful coast
pilot; he m. dau. of late Walter Thos. Harris (father of late Walter and
Henry Harris) and d. 1872, ae. 77. One of his sons is James K. of New
Haven, who— if our memory serves us correctly — informed us that he
had built about oO vessels since he rem. to that city: another son (and bro.
to Jaii.ca n.) is Jliniiiihrrij, for many years a leading shipper and mcht.
at Brownville, Tex. A sister of Capt. Humphrey Woodhouse. viz. -lulia
wid. of late Sect'y of State, Royal R. Hinnian and since died. res. in Htid.,
ae. 80 yrs.— to whom S. IV. .1. was indebted for the foregoing information.
WRIGHT, this family descended from Thomas the Settler, wlio, in 10.30, res. at W.
side of High St., has furnished some mariners.
WRIGHT, A.siinEL, Capt., d. 1817, ae. 59 yrs. — the title mny have been a military one.
Eleazer Wright of \\'eth. "last Saturday morning fell from the mizzen —
top of a vessel that is bldg. at a dock in this city [Htfd.] survived but a
few hours." — Courunt, ilay 20, 1805.
WRIGHT, Crafts, Capt., (son of Capt., military title) Timothy, and his Christian
name derived from an ancestor !Mose? Cvafts and d. 1700. ae. 40.
WRIGHT, John, (i)r()b. son of Capt. Craft Wrights Martha (dau. of John) Robbins;
he d. 1780, ae. 38; assisted in building and became master of sip. Ann,
built at Stepney in 1773. by John Ames and Joseph Dimock. for Samuel
Boardman; mcht. Wright made a six daj-s' trip in sleigh to Conn, to get the
iron used in her construction. In 1774 and '75 was at X. V. with onions
became part owner of tlie schr. fipredtrell, of which he was commander in
1777.
As to the nuiubor and nnines of vessels built at the vards in the
township, it is very difficult to pvopare anything like a complete list.
I am told that ^Ir. Phileinoii Robbins, a native of "Wethersficld, but
ITS MARITIME HISTORY. 595
later of Hartford, reiucialicred seeing nine vessels on the stocks,
at one time, at Rocky Hill. A partial list prepared by Judge Adams,
of Wctliersficld-built vessels, embraces the names of sixtij-six built here
between 1784- anil lSo2. [This list, Avhich includes none builded by tlie
Ecldens, at the present ship-yard, is omitted here, as tlieir names and
dates have been given elsewhere in this alreadv too long chapter —
H. R. S.] ^
Were the Custom House records complete, it might have been pos-
sible to extend the above mentioned li^t. Quiie a nmnber of vessels
were here builded for Xantucket parties, presumably for whaling pur-
poses.
After this chajjter had been begun, and was well under way, Judsre
Adams, discovered from an examination of the licenses of ship-masters,
in the Custom House, some additional names of masters, not before
mentioned ; these have been included, however, by the present editor,
in the foregoing list.
CHAPTEll XIII.
Ecclesiastical Denominations {Other than Congregational, or Presby-
terian) in Weiliersfield.
[By Sherman W. Adams, Esq.]
HAVING XOW sketched the history of the Old or First Church
of Wethersfiokl, we proceed to trace the rise and progress of
later and otlior congreiiations within the Town. But, first, we must
say a word as to the general history of these dissenting bodies.
Dissenters. — Those may he said to have been the outgrowth of the
regular, or "established" church — it being understood that by the latter
term we particularly dcvsignate the Church founded ujion the Confes-
sion of Faith, and heads of agreement adopted by the Elders and
Messengers who c<iniposed the Saybrook Convention. As early as
1708, the General Court had enacted that such pcisous as "soberly
dissent from the way of worship and ministrie established by the an-
tient laws of this governient," might, in the County Court, qualify
themselves, in the mode provided liy act of Parliament, and, thereafter,
worship God "in a way separate fmm that which is by law established,"
etc. But, it was alsu pnividetl tluit this shotdd not excuse such per-
sons from paying the taxes laiil for the support of the regular ministry.
And, at this time, wilful absence from a place of public worship was an
indictable offense. In 172;'), it was pttnishable by a fine of twenty
shillings, to "form into separate companies in private houses," under
color of gathering together "for preaching and other parts of divine
worship." In 1730, it was enacted that "those who profess themselves
of the Congregational, or Presbyterian persuasion" ought not "qtialify
themselves," as providiil in the Act of 1708; thus discouraging the
subdivision of churches in the same Society limits, even though they
dissented. In 1727, it had been enacted that such persons as were "of
the Church of England" should be taxed for the support of the min-
istry (('. e., the Presliyterian, or Congregational) of the parish in which
they lived, except there happened to be a "Society of the Church of
England" in such parish, and a person in orders, settled and performing
divine service among them ; in which case the tax should be handed
by the collector to the rector of such Episcopal Church; and the mem-
SEPAKATORS AND DISSENTERS. 597
bers of the latter were "excused" fr-mi payment of taxes to build
meeting-liouses "for the present estal)lished chnrches of this govern-
ment." Thus, legislation partieuhirly favored and fostered Congre-
gationalism. In ilay, ITHU, the Quakers, and in Octohcr of the s^nie
year the Baptists, were allowed to form in chureh organization and
support ministers of their own denominations, and be thereafter ex-
empt from taxation for support of the regular clergy. Loth of these
sects were also called "dissenters."
In 1740, the privileges of dissentei-s were extended to "Presbyter-
ians, or Congregationalists" : they having, in some towns, construed
the Act of 170S, to apply to the established church of the Colony as
well as to irreg-ular denominations— if we may properly so designate all
the others.
By the same Act of 1743, all dissenting protcstanis were informed
that they might "expect relief on application to the General Assem-
bly. Thereafter, it became the practice for different cliurcli organia^
ations to be formed on application to Legislature; the petitioners al-
leging that they "soberly dissented from the established church," and
It being found that they were worshipping in a "separate church."
In some cases, petitioners alleged that they were "of tliat profession or
denomination, called Sepamics" ; but, as a rule, the term "Separates"
did not refer to a distinct sect, but was oftener a general term to indi-
cate such, as having formerly worshipped with the regular church par-
ish, were now desirous of separating themselves therefrom, in order to
form an independent body, ilost commonly, the "sober dissenters"
were Baptists, and so called in their petitions. These Acts of Tolera-
tion dropped out in the Revision of 1750.
_ It was in 1777 that the Legislature enacted the law specially exempt-
ing "those persons in this State, commonly styled Separates, from
taxes for the support of tlie established ministry," etc. The preamble
states the occasion of the Act, as being that : "There are some Churches
in tins State, of persons professing themselves to be strict Congrega-
twnahsts, who notwithstanding, have separated themselves from the
Churches and Congregations established by the laws of this State, and
are yet liable to pay taxes for supporting the ministry," etc. The
object of the Act seems to have been to place the separating congrega-
tions on the same footing, as to exemption from taxation on account
of the 'established" church of the parish-with the Baptists, Quakers
and Episcopalians. The effect was, also, to permit the organization of
adddional Congregational societies, %vithin the same parish limits
Sq8
HISTORY OF ANCIKXT WETUEKSFIKLU.
Whore tl.ere was one such already. But, the new societv, unlike the
old, or "established" one, was without territorial limits .uid its mem-
bers were prohibited fr„m voting in Societv meetings exeeptinn- on
questions involving the management of schools and educational "nat-
ters. And the establislied church of the parish continued to be sup-
ported at the general charge of the inhabitants of the jKirish until the
formation of our Constitution. Some preparation for this chanae ha.l
been made by the Act of 17.s4 (in the revision of that vear), pr.rvidino.
for the exeniption of church-going dissenters, of all' denominations ■
the Act of 1.91, which removed some of the trammels which had im-
peded the formation of new societies; and the Act of 1S04 which
authorized an cstabUshol, or original church, to newlv organize, and
dnttr '''''' "' ""'"'^•'I^^^^ ^■^•^^^"'•^^^ °i' P^^^^ I'iyl'ts and
Under these varying circumstances of the legal sfatus of ecclcias-
tica bodies, the number and kind of such had been rapidlv increa^in^
"Co!l>f"T "t ""!'''"■ , '" '"''' ^""- '^'''' informed' the British
Committee lor Trade and Foreign Plantations" that-the'-strict Con-
gregational men,' and tlie ".uore large Conore^-ational men" are
the 'grc^ust part of the p^o],Ie in the Colouv." U,. ai.o re-
port^ed tluit-'-there are some moderate Presbvt'erians- ; also "4
or o Seven-day men, and about 'so many more Quakers." u' the
same time, there being 2G towns within the Colony limits, there were
but 21 churches in all. But undoubtedly there were manv indi^•iduals
attached_ to churches of Congregational worshipers, who were readv
to form m bodies of other denominations so soon as accessions to thei;
numbers should be large enough. Gilford, oldest daughter of Weth-
ersfield, had a church of 'a^issenters from the Established Church"
as early as 1<50; thus showing itself more active in ecclesiastical mat-
ters than IS parent. This church, of which Bev. Job Prudden was
t^-^7')^J'T'^'" ^'^ ^^^^"'-^^^^ ^'^ " «--^''"^ conditio;
™ted 1 -'-i"™- '" ''''' ' '''^'''' -"""^^.^- ='f Enfield was
granted special privileges; and it claimed to have been Ion,- embodied in
church estate un er the pastoral care of Joseph Meaeham. A th
such church was formed in Lyme in 17G7.
The Baptists.-The first preaching done in Wethersfield by a Sen-
aranst, was probably by the Rev. Ebenezer Frothiugham, in 17^45. He
had been ordained there, in October of that year. ^ The next ve.r he
Roman
Catholic
CllURClt.
y. r-~ T« M_ *.i
F.PISCOl'AL C'UIRCH.
WkTUKKSFIELD ClIlKCIIES.
■ jra. FROTinXGH.\.M, THE BAITIST PIONEER. 599
suffered iin]jrisomnent, for five months, "for preaching without the
consent of the minister of the parish."'
[From ilrs. ^Takia II. Jjl'kditt, of Wctherstiokl, we have received
a time-worn and .stained document, of ahout the middle of the hist cen-
tury, endor.sed ''A C'ojn- of a Letter written h.v Ehenezcr Frothingham
to his persecutor when in Prison for his Keligion." The "persecutor"
to whom it is addressed was probnblv the Rev. James Lockwood, then
pastor of tlie Wethcrsfield Congregational Church, who, luider tlie ex-
isting hiw (]f tlie Colony, may have felt himself ohliged to proceed
against one mIio, with his few followers, was disturbing the peace of
the comnuuiity.
"Hartford Goal, April 2.1th, 1745.
Dear fellow ]\[ortal — You & I are passing into Vast Eternity & Least
I should have no other opportunity to Discharge my duty according
to Leuillrus lOtli 17 verse. I Embrace this by paper to Let you know
this time perhaps you have a prejudice in your heart against me (&
opposing the Glorious & Blessed work of god that has been in Wethers-
field & the Land & for your Denying the power & Operations fif gods
spirit in the hearts of Believers & for yo\ir Carnal & Vain Conversa-
tion which is ETimity against God sec Ilomans 8-7 verse <x it is Evident
to me as Seen by the teaching of gods spirit & his word and your fruits
— that you are an open Enemy to god & his Children k. have the mark
of the Beast in your forehead you are pulling down the Just vengeance
of God upon you & your family from day to day & in a Condemned
State JfJin '.)-'^C> verse and are doomed Down to the burning main of
gods Vengeance & unless you are Converted & God give you Repentance
you will shortly be cursed Down Down to the Bottomless pit among
Devils and Damned Spirits to welter out a whole Eternity of torment,
farther your taking me from my Bussiness that god in his providence
Called me to & carried me to the justice & then to prison which you
had no warrant from the word of god to do, nor no authority under
heaven — as a Civil authority has no Right to meddle with Ecclesiastical
affairs (if I had transgress'd it Avas to the Church k. Christ the great
^ 1745 was prob. the year of Jlr. Frothingham's disturbances of Weths.' religious
peace — for on Rccs. of Co. Ct. Vol. K. Case 159, under date of April, 1745 we find
note of "Ebeiipzor Frotliinghani of \\'eth., found guilty by jury, and fined for false
and reviling speeches concerning Rev. James Lockwood." See, also, date of his
letter from Iltfd. goal, in the text.
Ebenezer Doming, Jr. of Weth. (see Case loG same vol. of Co. Ct. Recs.) "fined
for disturbing worship" Nov. 1745, and .Tedidiah Atwood, Weth. (Case 43,) fined
Nov. 1745, fined for criticising doctrines of Rev. Mr. Wadsuorth of Iltfd. First
Church — were probably adherents of Mr. Froth inghani.
6oo
HISTOUY OF ASCIKNT WET1IF.RSK1KL1>.
Sheperd lias C'oiiiniitted all the pDWcr to tlicin) See MatUieir 1S-17-1S
Vers's & if you fail of the grace of god your tlri= dealing with nie will
be another Great aggravation of your Eternal iJamnatiou — . By
this time perhaps you have a prejudice in ytnr heart against me {k.
the truth) sui)posiiig 1 have written in anger or -pighr against you
for your treatment to mc — But dear si>ul I C'uuM freely fall downi &
kiss your feet if it might lie any means for yiai 'o :-ee the truth of the
awful state of your Immortal Soul. I entreat ,!c Eeseech of you to
set about the great work of Getting your peaL-e ma^le with god that
if the Day of grace is not already Come t'l an End v/ith you —
Paradventure the Lord may send his spirit t';> :^hine with you once
more this is What I want i.^ all I desire of ytju. is that you may
Experimentally know -Tesus Christ whom to know aright is Life Eter-
nal & I shotdd rejoice Eternally with yon if you will accejit of a Cruci-
fyed, Desjjisod & Exalted Saviour Let me Litreat A: warn you as
you would not bring Down Swift Destruction upon your Self not to
scoff any more at the work and power of gud rior at the new Lights
as they are Called nor yet to touch them in marters of Religion to
Carry them before authority for in so doing yi^u t.jucIi the apple of
Christ's Eye, and the^f Li)ies will be a swift wit:::r: .-.^rain^t ViAi. These
lines from your soul well wishei'. E. F." — //. R. 5.]
There were hut few members of Mv. Frothingham's society, and he
soon divided his time betMeen Wethorsfield and Middletown. At the
latter place he, in 17.">4, established wliat is m^w known as the South
Church, lie died at ^liddletown, in 1798, aged SI years.
In 1784, one EnAxris ITaxmek, the "Elder" of the Congre-
gational (or Presbyterian Church, as it sometimes called itself), with
Joseph and Simeon Flower, John and Simeon Deming. John Goodrich,
James ILinmer, John Stewart and Abijah Tryon. memorialized the
regular church for abatement of their church taxes, on the ground that
they "soberly dissent from meeting with their C'^ngresration for public
worship on the Sabbath." In December, 17Sa. the Old Society voted
to abate these taxes, and in the recorded vote, al?c> said: "This Society
is desirous to give all men free liberty of conscience to worship God
as they see fit and to pay their moneys to stich pers'jns as they choose
for preaching the gospel to them." A similar vote v.as passed in January,
1787 ; but in February, the same year, probably owing to extensive
repairs then being made on the meeting house — a vote to exempt was
negatived. This was the origin of the Baptist Society in Wethersfield ;
imlcss we date from the time of services being first held by these Sepa-
rates, to which we have above referred.
THK BAPTIST SOCICTY.
60 I
So far as the nainrs of the ineinoriali.-ts above mentioned are anv
indication — the Separates of Wethersfiekl were not descendants of the
earliest settlers of the Town, but were, in the main, comparatively recent
comers. The Society is now inchuled in the Hartford Association
of the Connecticut Baptist Convention.
The Kcv. E. P. liond, a former pastor of the Bajitist Chnrch in
Wethersfiekl fixes the date of the oriianization of that Society in 17^2,
but on what antlmrity, the writer is not informed. What is well
kno\ni is that its tir>t place of wcrslii]) was tlic Schoul-house of the
Third, or Xorth-Brick, School District. .Mr. Bond has furnished the
WTiter with the names and dates of incumbency of the pastors and
other matters which follow in this connection.
The first house of worship was built in 1S16, and its site was some
rods west of that occui)ied by the liaptist Church of to-day. After a
few years it Avas removed to the south corner of !Main St. and Sandy
Lane. In 1S7(J, it was demolished, and the present structure erected
on its site. It was a frame building, painted white; had galleries,
and a central porch, or tower, at its eastern entrance. It had a brick
basement for Sunday school purpo.-es. A fine new bell ( l.OoO poimds)
has recently been put in ])lace. Xo description of the present church
edifice is needed here.
The first resident pastor was Rev. William Bkxtlky, who held
the sacred office from Oct., ISlo, to Oct., 1S22. He was born in
Newport, R. I., [March .3d, 1775. In 1775, the house and tannery of
his father were burned by the British at the taking of that place; the
family escaping to Dighton. The boy William was apprenticed to a
baker in Boston. lie was converted under Baptist preaching, and
continued in business until his ordination in 1S07, as a preacher, and
served without settlement, at Woburn and Tiverton, 11. I., and at ^lal-
den, Xew Bedford and Worcester, ^lass. From Worcester, he came
to Wcthersfield, and the latter place remained his home until his
death, Dee. 24th, 1S55. After his resignation, in 1S22, he often sup-
plied the pulpit ; but was mainly occupied as a State missionary.
The Rev. Seth Ewer was the next pastor; his term beginning early
in 1S23, and ending near the close of lS2-t. lie was a man of about
50 years of age, when he came here, and in addition to his pastoral
duties, taught a private school.
From 1S25 to lSo4, there was no resident pastor. During this period
the Rev. Reudex WixcnEi.L supplied the pulpit for about a year.
In Feb., 1S34, Rev. Joux IIolbkook, now deceased, was installed pas-
tor; but he left in September of the same year. From this time until
6o2
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETIIEKSFIELD.
IS-'JO, there was no stated preacher; the most frequent occupants of
the puljiit beini;- the llev. Augustus Bolles and Iiev. Gurdon liobbins,
both of Hartford.
From Sept., IS-jO, to Sept., 1S41, Rev. WiLLiAir Reid, a native of
Scotland, was the pastor. Werhersfield was his first phice of settlement.
He has since been pastor at Tariffville, ])ridgport and Xew London,
Ct.,and Grcenport, L. T.. being- now i)astfir of a church at Tirooklyn, X. Y.
The Rev. Ilenrv Kkxyox was the pastor from iho summer of 1812,
until early in ls4l. lie wa.= succccdc<l by the Rcw ili:M:v I. S.Mirn,
who continued until August, 1S45. The Rev. Cykus ^Iixke, since de-
ceased, was pastor for one year, beginning in April, 1S4G ; Rev. IIexky'
Brojilf.y was pastor from April, 1847, to April, 1S49.
The Rev. Piei;i'Oxt Bkockktt ( father of Linus P. Erockett, the
well known literary writer) came to Wethersfield, from Canton, and was
pastor from ^\]iril, 18 40, to April, 1S52. He continued to reside in
Wethersfield, where he die<l, quite advanced in years, in April, 1S6S.
From ifay, 1S.">2, to Oct., 1S.")-'n Rev. IL ]J. Wjiittixgtox was
pastor. The next settlement was that of Rev. WiLT.i.vir S. Pkii.t.ips,
Sen., from June, ISGO, to Feb., lSi')2. lie died some years since in
South Carolina. Rev. Ajiasa IIowat?u, later chaplain at tlie State Prison,
succeeded him, from Jan., 1SG4, to Apr., ISOG ; he was the father of Dr.
Arthur Howard, of Weth., and died some years since. Rev. Gkorce
W. KixxEY was pastor from April, ISfiS, to Jan., 18G0. Rev. Joseph
Burnett from Oct., 1870, to Xov., 1S72. Rev. Henry G. S.\riTK
from March, 1873, to March, 1874. Rev. Wii. S. Pjiillips, Jun.,
from Apr., 1874, to Apr., 187.5. He died about 1880, at South
Chelmsford, IMass. Rev. A. Raxdlett was pastor from ]\Iay, 1875,
to June, 1877. The second house of worship was erected in 1876, dur-
ing his pastorate. Rev. A. S. BukPlOws, from Aug., 1877, to Ifov.,
1878. Rev. E. P. Boxd began in ^lay, 1879, and after his resignation,
removed from the town. He was much beloved by all the townspeople,
and his daughter Ella is now a foreign missionary.
Methodists in Wethersfield. — While the advent of the Baptists may
be located at about the middle of the last century, Methodism found a
footing hei-e at a much later date. The infliience of Roger AVilliams had
been felt within the Colony almost from the time of its settle-
ment ; but ilethodism was non-existent in America until after the
coming of John Wesley to these shores, and his return to England.
In fact, the first Methodist Society in England was founded only in
1738 ; and not until 1784, was its episcopal element established in this
U-^— ^/:
THK t)l.l> •■('(UINIK SI. MM-."
Hm-iifJ Mai.li. IS'.lii.
ZIl:-!-
FllisT MiTiKiDlsT Mki:tin(; Hm^r vxri I'.misonai.r.
METHODIST PIONEKRS.
603
country. In so f;ir as the tcachiniis of George Whitfield were prepara-
tory to ]\[ethoclistic ideas, the Ijegiiining was very early; for that power-
fid exhorter preached to a groat multitude assembled, so it is said,
under the ample shelter of the great elm which stood, until a few
years since, in the south central portion of Broad St. This was in Octo-
ber, 1740, when he was journeyiug from Xorthhampton to New ILnen.
But it Avas reserved for a Virginian, Jesse Lee, who was then trav-
elling through the State, in company with a younger preaclier, Kev.
Daniel Smith, to preach, lifty years later, the first distinctively ^Metho-
dist sermon in Wctherstield. This was ^larch 14th, 1790. j\fr. Lee
preached in the Xorth Brick School House, and his Diary i-ecords (as
quoted in Stevens' Ilit^f. of ^Lethodism, II, 444), that his hearers
"sincerely felt" what he said, and that tears ran down from their
eyes. This was some two and a half years after he had formed the
first ^Methodist ''Class" in Xew England;' namely at Stratford, Conn.
The Itev. Geo. L. Coburu, a former pastor of the ^lethodist Church
at this place, recently ])repared a "Historical Sketch of the Wethersfleld
Meth. Epis. Church," from which we have obtained most of the facts
set down in this connection.
The noted ^larylaud ])reacher, Rev. Freeborn Garrctt30u, preached
in Wethersfield on the ISth of July, in the same year." And other
itinerants came from time to time, until 1S21, when a "circuit," com-
prising Wethersfield, Xewington, Xew Britain and Kensington, was
formed. Like the Baptists, the ^Metliodists held their first services in
the Xorth Brick School-house. The Rev. William S. Pease ("Billy"
Pease) was assigned to take the charge of this tlrst circuit, it being
included in the Xew York East District of the X. E. Southern Confer-
ence. In 1S24, Rocky Ilill, among others, was added to the circuit;
and in 1832, West Rocky Hill. IMr. Pease, after two years' service
in Wethersfield, was followed in the spring of 1S23, by Rev. John
Lucky, and he, in spring of 1S24, by Rev. Smith Dayton.
For some years prior to 1824, services were held in the Academy
Hall. There arc those living who remember the excitement conse-
quent upon the grant of permission to use the Hall for such a purpose.
'In Jlay, 1791, according to a nicinorandum by Pres. Stiles (Diuri/, III 418) Uicre
were only three Methodist cUisses in Connecticut, viz. at East Hartford, Cornwall
and Waterbury. He adds : "At the 2 first they liave had the Sacrament of Lord's
Supper. At Cornwall thej' invited every one present to partake, and actually gave
the Communion to one person who had never been baptized."
'Being in Hartford, "he rode to Weth. and preached at eleven and two o'clock
and then returned to the city, where he preached at five o'clock. Rev. itr. Coburn'3
Hist. Sketch of il. E. Ch. in Weth. 1882, p. 8.
6o4
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSFIEI.I).
The buildiiii!,- was closed against ingress; the lights were removed, and,
on one occasion at least, it was necessary for a magistrate to ai)pear
upon the scone, and "read the riot-act.'"^ We are sorry to record our
belief that bigotry had much to do with this discreditable conduct;
but wo are happy also to say that all trace (^f intolerance by any protes-
tant sect toward another, in this township, has long since passed away.
On the 11th of April, 1S24, the coriier->tone of the first ^lethodist
Church cditice in AV(nli(M'>fii'l(l was laid. This stone was marked with
the above date, but contained no cavity for the reception of the usual
deposits. Tiie long clapboarded structure was l)uilt upon a tract of
one-fourth acre, on which was standing the old-fashioned one-story dwell-
ing house demolished in 1S82. The latter is supposed by ^Ir. Coburn
to have been built in 178G; but we think it much more prob:iblc that
it was removed to its site at tiiat time. The removal of houses from one
place to another in Wetherstleld has been so common an occurrence as
to lead some one to say that it was "the place where they build old
houses." ,\.nd the ajipearauce of the house in question is indicative
of its having been laiilt at a much earlier <hite than ITS'i.
The original vf)tc for the erection of the church was passed at the
Second Quarterly ( 'oiiference, Sept. ii!»th, ISfl; '^ committee con-
sisting of Joseph C. Dolittle, Iiichard Cowles and Oliver Wehhui being
appointed for the purpose. The I'oard of Trustees of the Society, in
1824, consisted of Chauncey Welles, George Coleman, William Barrett,
W^alter Warner, John Wheeler, Erastus Doming, Stephen Barrett,
John Larkin and Oliver Wolcott, all of Wethevsfield, and all now
deceased. The timber of the new building was contributed by different
people, and much of the material and labor was thus supplied. For a
long time "rude seats were formed by placing planks across the timbers,
upon which the worshipers sat while their feet rested upon the ground."
Until 1846, the pulpit stood in the front, or west end of the church;
but at this time, it was placed at the opposite end, and the pews were
turned around. Other internal improvements were made this time
and al.so in 1877. For a time, the old house, already referred to was
used as a parsonage, but for many years prior to 18S2, it was leased as a
dwelling-house.
In October, 1880, the Society took action looking to the complete re-
building of the old structure. Under the direction of the pastor, as-
' It was on this occasion tliat \vlien the oflicer ordered the people away under
penalty of the law, JNIr. Pease, holding the only candle in the hall, boldly replied:
"We have not come here for any riot, hut to serve the living God; let us pray."
— and the meeting proceeded. Hist. p. 9.
THE METHODIST SOCIETY.
60:
sistcd by A. S. Erainard and Albi"0 ^Morgan, plans -were procured, and
money rai<cd ( the latter by subscription) sufficient to defray the ex-
penses, aliQiit -^^..IJOO. The principal donors to this fund were William
Boardman, of Hartford, Conn., and Henry H. Dickinson, of Brooklyn,
K. Y., both nati\es of "Wethersfield. Besides completely remodelling;
the buildiiic. it was removed a few feet to the rear, an addition made
at the east end. a tower in the front, a basement formed under the
whole, and the old parsonage removed. The work was completed in
August, 1S52, and a re-dedication touk idace Septendjer following.
We give herewith, taken from -\Ir. C'"lnirn"< Sketch, the names of
the pastors of this church, with the dates of their respective pastorates
1S21-2, Rev. Wm. S. Tease and B<.bert Seney: 1S20, .T-hn lucky
1824. Smith Dayton: lS2.J-r,. T. Z. Xichols and S. L. Stillman; 1S27
Eli Deniston: 1>2>'. John Parker; ls2'-i, Valentine Buck: 1S30, Lyman
A. Sanford ; 1^31. L. C. Cheney; 1S02, Leman Andrews: 1S33-4,
E. L. Griswnld (afterward Presiding Elder of Xew Haven District)
and Sti-'ue: 1S35, Daniel Burroughs; 1?3'1. Z. X. Lewis:
1S37, Gad. X. Smitli: 1S3S-9. Leonidas Bosser; 1S40, IL Husted ;
IS-H, Laban Clark; l>42-3. Sylvester 11. Clark; 1S44-5. Wm. F.
Stillman; 1^40. Miles X. Ohnslead : l'-47. Natlinniel Kellogg; i>4S,
David [Miller; l>40-.jO. James T. Bell; l-.")!. B. D. Kirby; lS:;2-3,
: 1S54, Johnson G. Griswold; IS.jo, Charles C.
Burr and Stockes; 1S5G, Charles K. True; 1S57,
■ ; lS5S-ri. Baphael Gilbert: ISfiO, Isaac Sanford: ISGl, James
Garrett; 1502. D. C. Hughes; 18G3, B. Whitman Chase; lSt34-.5,
G. P. Ellsworth and J. G. Griswold; \>M<, Salmon Jones; IS 07. Geo.
E. Beed and E. ^IcChesney: ISGS, George E. Beed and
Richards: 1^00. A. Palmer and George WoodrufF; 1S70. Perry Chand-
ler; 1S71. Joseph E. Shepherd; 1>72, James Xixon: 1873-4, Chas.
H. Hemstreet: 1S75. A. O. Al)bott: 1S7G. Albert Xash : 1S77, C. J.
Xorth; 1S7S. .Joseph B. Shepherd; 1S70. David Xash; lSSO-3. Geo.
L. Coburn ; April. 18S3. T. S. Townsend : April, 18S4, Daniel Brown;
April, ISSJ, Harvey H. Paine; April, ISSO, J. A. Cole; April, 1S57,
F. W. Hannon; April, ISOO, Theodore S. Henderson; April. ISOl,
Benjamin F. ^leredith; April, 1S93, E. B. Singer; April, 1S9.5, for
one month, W. Green; [May, lStJ.j. J. H. Fairchild; April, ISOG. J. R.
Henry; April. I'^!i7, Alfred L. Hubbard; April, ISOO, George L.
Coburn: April, 1001. Ralph Wells Ivceler, present incumljent.
Under [Mr. Cobum's ministry, in ISSO, a determined movement was
made towards replacing tlie old church editice with a new and better
one; and by the strenuous exertions of an active pastor and a financially
6o6
HISTORY OF ANCIENT \V?:THERSFIKLD.
weak congrogation, aided hy the cordial good feeling and material help
offered by their Congregational brethren, tlie present elegant building
known as "the Eoardiuan ^Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church,"
was provided and coinpleteil in 1SS2. During the rebuilding, the con-
gregation worshijiped in tlio liaptist Church, on invitation of that con-
gregation— a strong contrast in the way of Christian charily, to the
five months' im])risonnient endured 145 years liefoi'c by the first Baptist
representatives in Wetliersfiehl, the Rev. Elienezer rn.thinghani. — See
p. — , ante.
EpiscopnJiaiis. — In 1721), the Tlev. Samuel Johnson, who was after-
wards President of Kings Cullege (now known as Coluiuljia Universi-
ty), JSTew York City, and who five years previouslN- liad Ijecome the
rector of the first Church of England in the Colony, at Stratford,
Conn., made a visit to Westerly, R. L, and to Xew London and Weth-
ersfield, in Connecticut, for the purpose of establishing Episcopal
Churches at those places, l)ut his efforts wore nearly fruitless.
The earliest organized Society of Protestant Episcopalians in Weth-
ersfield, M'as in the iS^ewington section, in 1797, M-lierc a clairch edifice
was erected by its members in the south end of tli.ii i.arish; but the
society — wluch was the ouiconie of dissensions in the Congregational
Church tlieix — soon became divided against itself, was disorganized
and its edifice sold and demolished. See Chapter on Xewington.
In 1840 or '41, the Pev. (later Bishop) John Williams, then a
young man connected with Washington (now Trinity) College at Hart-
ford, preached a single sermon .at Wetliersfiehl. But it was not until
over a quarter of a century later, Xov.,lSfi(), that the Piev. Henry W.
Nelson, then rector of the Church of the Good Shephard, at Hartford,
conferred with some of the peojile of Wethersfield as to the advisability
of establishing an Episcopal Church liere. There was, however, at
that time, some want of harmony in the Congregational Church, on ac-
count of the recent dismissal of its pastor, and Cliristian courtesy
decided that it would be unkind to introduce this new element of dis-
cussion, just tlicn. A little later, however, 12 January, ISGS, services
were inaugurated at Academy Hall, at -which about 120 persons were
present.
At the second one, held two weeks later, 155 were present; Rector
Nelson officiating in both cases. On June 14th, Bishop Williams
preached. Erora this time until July, services were held every other
week; thereafter, weekly. On Trinity Sunday, 1809, Bishop Williams
administered the rite of confirmation to a class of eight persons. On
THE BOARDMAX M. E. CHAPEL, WETHEKiFIELD, COXX.
1S24. Rebuilt iSS2.
THE EFISCOPALIAK SOCIETY.
607
Sunday, June 20tli, 1SC9, ^Mr. John II. Watson, then a student at
Berkeley Divinity School, hut afterward Rector of the Church of the
Good Shepherd, at Hartford, Ijogau a rcinilar morning service. The
next Sunday a Sunday School was organized. On the Sth of August,
the Sacrament of tlie Holy Comnumion was administered for the tirst
time, by Hev. ^Ir. Xelson.
The form for organizing the parish was signed at tlie House of the
late Henry C. Dwight, Oct. olh, lSii!». The otHcers, bring the tirst
for the mission and parish, were: Au.-tin Iiobcrtsini, Clerk; Y. T.
Chapman, Warden ; Sam. \V. Goodrich, Horace liolibins, and A. E.
Warner, Vestrymen : Stephen Bulkley, Treasurer. The new parish
was called '"Ih-iuity Churcii Parish." A committee, consisting of !Mr.
Chapman, Mr. Bulkley and George Smith, reported to a meeting held
Oct. 2Ttli, ISGO, in favor of purchasing the lot on which the church
stands and a vote then passed to purchase it.
On Advent Sunday, Xov. 2Sth, 1S60, [Mr. Frank L. Xorton, then a
member of the I)i\inity School at IMiddletown, but now Rector o£
St. John's Church, Troy, X. Y., began work in the parish, under Rector
Xelson's direction. On the l.jth of June, ISTO, tlie Annual Con-
vention of the ]3iocese of Connecticut, at Hartford, formally recf-ive'l
the parish into Tuiion with the Diocese ; [Mr. Chapman being the dele-
gate.
On June 1st, 1S71, the corner-stone of the church was laid, with
the usual imposing and impressive ceremonies. The financial crisis
shortly intervened, and prevented continuance of the work of con-
struction, imtil September, 1S72. In ISTl, [Mr. Barnwell was lay
reader for a time; in 1S72, [Mr. S. J. Kent had charge of the morning
services ; [Mr. [ilorrison and [Mr. Wm. P. Xichols also read services.
From the summer of 1873, until Easter, 1S74, [Mr. R. [M. Edwards was
the reader.
On Sunday, Dec. 21st, 1S7G, the new building of Portland Red sand-
stone was occupied for the first time, the Bishop being present. From
Easter, 1874, to [May, 1875, the Rev. Francis Goodwin, of Hartford,
was in charge. The consecration of the new edifice, by Bishop Wil-
liams, occurred Thursday, Oct. 1st, 1874; Bishop Doane, of Albany,
and several clergymen, i^eing present. At Easter, 1875, the baptismal
font and comnumion service were presented by members of the parish.
The parish remained imdcr the rectorship of the Rev. [>[r. Xelson
until April, 1875, when a resident rector was determined upon, and
the Rev. Howard S. Cia])p, of Hartford, invited for a year, held liis
first service [Mav 30th, 1875. In the summer of that vcar a Sunday
6o8
HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WETHEUSFIELD.
School Library was CDiitrilnitod by a meiubor. A l)cll was prociu'cd and
hung in Oct., 1S75, it weight l)eing- SOO lbs. In the month of December,
seats were put in, Dr. Gurdon W. Ilnssell,of Hartford, contributing $100
for the purpose. At the annual meeting of the Society, in April, 1876,
the Kcv. Howard (Jlapp was elected to be the rector of the parish. In
1S77, a formal conveyance of the church property was made, by the Rev.
jMr. Xelson, to the Society for Donations and Eequests of the Diocese, in
trust, for the use of Trinity Parish. The tinal indebtedness of $500
was cleared off in the same year.
Rev. Mr. Clapp's ministry closed 29 ApL, ISSo. He was succeeded
by Rev. Henry A. Adams, from 13 i[ay, 1SS;1, to 2G Apl., 1SS5 ; by
Rev. Benjamin S. Sanderson. 5 July, 1S«5, to S Oct., ISSG; Wm. W.
Bellinger, 1 Oct. ISSfi, to 25 Aug., 1S89; Rev. Louis A. Lamphier,
2 Feb., 1890, to 28 Sept., 1892; Rev. Herman Lillicnthal, Apl. 16,
1893, to no :May, 1900; Rev. Karl Reiland, :\fay, 1901, present in-
cumbent.
In 1877, the number of communicants was 112; the number from
the beginning had amounted to 102. The parish is in a more prosperous
condition tlian ever and has erected a conference building or guild-house
just north of the church lot: and, during the i-ast year u memorial
transcrijjt lias been given to tlie church, by !Mrs. Henry Buck, and others.
7'Jie Roman Catliolic is the fourth <lenoniination in this religious field.
The advent of Irish ])eo])le, mostly laborers, to this place, had in-
troduced the Catholic element to a limited extent, as early,
perhaps, as 1850. Those who attended church were in the habit
of journeying to St. Patrick's Church, at Hartford ; some trav-
eling from Rocky Hill for that purpose. In 1800, St. Peter's Church
having been established in the south part of Hartford, the drift of the
church-goers became mostly turned in the direction of that edifice, at
least to attend masses. This was the usual course until 1870, when,
under the direction of Rev. Lawrence "Walsh, then the priest in charge
of St. Peter's Chnrcli — the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was
orgaiiized in Wcthersfield. ]\Iasses were said in private houses at
first, but very shortly the use of Academy Hall was obtained for the
purpose. During Fatlier Lynch's pastorate, a handsome parochial
residence was erected; .and the church (which previously had been a
mission of the East Hartford parish) was incorporated, October, 1876.
In 1880, land having been bought for the purpose several years
previously, suflicient funds had been raised to warrant the erection of a
house of worship. The project was looked upon with favor by the
THE ROMAN CATHOUC CHURCH
609
citizens jiencrally ami many of them contrilnited toward tlie cost of it.
The res>ilt was the inodost, but tasteful w(wden structure now used,
the corner-stone of wliich was laid Octoijcr ;]lst, 18S0, by the Ht. Rev.
Lawrence ^Icilahon, Bishop of Hartford. The edifice was completed
in May, ISSl, and dedicated on the 29th of the same month; being
51 years after the dedication of Holy Trinity Church in Hartford,
the first Catholic Church in this State. This church promises to endure
and floni'isli prosperuusly, Tlic fullnwin^' persons have othciatcd as
its pastors: li(.'V. John F. Lcnihan. Oct. 7, iss;], to Aug. 13, 1S93 ;
Eev. James J. Smith, Aug. 20 1M)3, to Aug. 22, IS'JT; Eev. John T.
Lynch, Se])t. 5, 1S97, to Sei)t. 16, 1900: Rev. Jeremiah J. Duggan,
Sept. 23, 1900, present incumln'ut. A fine parish-ho\isc was erected
a few years ago, just east of the church building.
In 1897, a congi-egation, known as the Christian. Union Cliurch, was
organized, and for about three years held services in the old Academy
building, A. J. Culver acting as "pastor." They puljlishcd a monthly
organ, Tlic Christian Union, from January, 1S9S, to February, 1S99,
inclusive, and soon thereafter the services were discontinued and the
"church" di=band'^d.
The Great Swamp {Koisimjton) Parish, 1705. — In 170,">, the Gen-
eral Assembly atithorizcd the formation of Gi'cat Swamp parish, out of
that part of Fannington cast of the Blow Mountains, and to extend
north as far as William Judd's ; now in Berlin and Xew Britain.
On Christian Lane, just over the then west line of Wcthersfield — a
meeting house was built, probably in 1709, for this parish. ^Yilliam
Blinn, of AVethorsfield, was the builder ; and its first minister, the Rev.
William Burnham, was from Wcthersfield. He was settled in 1712.
In 1715, Beckley Quarter, in Wether^field, was annexed to this parish;
and, on the other hand, Stanley Quarter, in Farmington, was annexed
to the West (Xcwington) Society of Wcthersfield. In 1721, the name
of the ])arish was changed to Kensington. In 1733, the meeting house
on Christian Lane was abandoned for a new one, built by the con-
stable and a committee under an order of the General Assembly, after
a long and furious contest as to the site ; the new site being in what
is now Kensington Village. This led to the division of the parish,
in 1754, and as a result, Xew Britain parish was at that time formed
and made to include Stanley Quarter. Again, in 1772, Kensington
parish was aparted and the eastern division, which included the
Wcthersfield and Middletown sections of Kensington — was named
W^orthington. This latter was enlarged, in 179-t, by the addition of a
6io
HISTORY OF ANXIENT WETHEKSFIELD.
section from the south end of Xewington. The Rev. Samuel Goodrich,
son of Ecv. Eliziir Goodrich, first preached in it ; btit the Rev. Xathan
Fenn was its first settled minister.
In 1774, Worthington parish built a meeting house; placing one-half
of it on land in Wetherstield, at Beckley's Quarter, on a ten-rod high-
way, laid out bv AVethersfield, in 1717. It was next to the 3Iiddletown
north line. In 1778, "Wethersfield released its interest in a tract of
oac. 2r. and 10 rods of land in this highway, to Wonhinaton jiarish,
for the benefit of this church. In 1S51, this building was converted
to a town hall, for Berlin; a new church ediiice having been completed
in its stead. And so ends our account of the ecclesiastical out-growths
from the ancient and lonely meeting house in Christian Lane.
We here append the Inscriptions of the Christian Lane Burial
Ground, furnished us by the courtesy of Mr. E. S. Tillotsox. of
Wethersfield, and which are not included in his valuable Wethersfield
Inscriptions; having been copied by him after the ptiblication of that
volume.
[''CitRiSTiAX Laxe"' Cemeteky. — Originally ""Great Swamp Par-
ish," Farmington, now '"Kensington Parish,'' Berlin
Ileur}, 5un Capt. John & Ruth Allyn, d. June i:7, 1774-, SE. 2 \rs.
& 4 raos. Daniel Andrus, d. Aug. 21, 174S. .t. 7.'). [Moses, son of
!Moses (Sc Lydia Andnis, d. Xov. oO, 177)0, .7,. 1. Barbara, wife
George Arthur, d. April 4, 1861, J¥.. 29. Barbara, dau. George &
Barbara Arthur, d. Sept. 28, 1861, JE. 6 mos.
Mary, wife Lieut. Josepli Bcekley, d. April IC., 1750, .E. 48. Robert
Booth, d. Dec. 17, 1730, .IL. 00. Dorcas, wife Timothy Bronson, d.
April 30, 1747, 7E. 42. Samuel Bronson, d. Jan. 23, 1741-2. JE. 7G.
Sarah, wife Samuel Bronson, d. Oct. 25, 1741, -li. 75. Hannah,
wife Rev. Wm. Burnham, d. ;Mch. 16, 1747/'8. -E. 63. Ruth, wife
Josiah Burnham, d. June 28. 1762, JE. 38. Ruth, relict Capt. Wm.
Burnliam, d. June 28, 1786, JE..75. Sarah, dati. Rev. Win. Burnham,
d. Xov. 23, 1726, .tE. 7. Rev. William Burnham. First Pastor of the
Church at Kensington (Berlin), d. Sept. 23, 1750, in the 66th year of
his age, and 38th of his ministry. Capt. Wm. Burnham, d. [March 12,
1748-9, JE. 41.
Elizabeth, dau. John Cole, d. Oct. 17, 1743, .E. 5. Elizabeth,
■wife Xathaniel Cole, d. Jime 19, 1749, .'E. 71. Ezekiel, son John
Cole, d. Sept. 28, 1743, .E. 1. ]S\^thaniel Cole, d. June 20, 1743,
M. 65. Sarah, wife of Xathaniel Cole, d. Oct. 10, 1751. .E. 34.
Giles Colvin, d. [Mch. 31, 1815, ^E. 34. Carpenter, son of Giles &
Nancy Colvin, d. July 8, 1817, JE. 7.
CHRISTIAN LANE CEMETFRY— EPITAPHS.
6ii
Dinah, wife of Jacob Demiiig. d. Oct. 3, 1751, .^i. 60. Gideon,
son of Joseph k ^Martha Deining, d. Xov. 10, 174-8, JE. i yrs. & 6
mos. Martha, wife of Joseph Deming, d. Xov. 26, 1748, vE. 32.
Moses Doming, d. Jan. 16, 1795, .E. 74 vvs. & 4 mos. Sarah Deining,
d. Dec. 25, 1S09, JE. S3. Lucy, dan. of Daniel Dewey, d. Oct. 22,
1748; JE. 5 yrs. k 11 mos. Rhoda, dan. of Daniel Dewey, d. Oct. 15,
1748, JE. 11 yrs. vV 10 mos.
Abel Ellis, d. July 3, 1S16, JE. GO. Thankful, relict of Abel p:i]is,
d. Jan. 27, 1829, .E. 70.
Anne, wife of Samuel Galpin, d. Aug. 26, 1743, ^. 55.
Joseph, son of Samuel tt Anne Gali)in, d. Aug. 01, 1743,
^. 18. Mary, dau. of Samuel k Anne Galpin, d. Xov. 5,
1742, JE. 15. Mercy, dau. of Ensign Samuel k Anne Galpin, d.
Dec. 1, 1742, ;E. 15. Adelaide, dau. of William & Emily Gilbert,
b. Aug. 23, 1861: d. Feb. 3, 1S75. llathsheba J., dau. of Hooker &
Candace, Gilbert, d. July 26, 1S07, JE. 22. Candace Gilbert, widow
of Solomon Churchill, d. June 0, 1835, JE. 45. Bathsheba, dau. of
Moses & Rcnoa Gilbert, d. Sept. 5, 1823, JE. 8. Caroline, wife of
Aaron B. Gilbert, d. Sept. IS, 1854, .E. 34. Chloe S. Gilbert, d.
March 13. 1867, .E. 78. David S. Gilbert, d. X'uv. 23, 1864, JE. 64.
Almira, wife of David S. Gilbert, d. Dec. 5, 1856, JE. 55. George,
son of Samuel H. k Lois Gilbert, d. Sept. 27, 1828, JE. 3. Hooker
Gilbert, d. Dec. 6, 1840, JE. SO. Candace Sage, 1st wife of Hooker
Gilbert, d. May 15, 1805, JE. 51. Idell Gilbert^ d. Dee. 11, 1885, JE.
23. Joseph Gilbert, d. :\Iay 8, 1784, JE. 26. 'Mnrj, wife of Joseph
Gilbert, d. April 25, 1859, JE. 98. Miss Lydia, only "offspring" of
Joseph & Mary Gilbert, d. Oct. 4, 1802, JE. 19 yrs. & 10 mos. Maria
S. Gilbert, d. July 21, 1893, JE. 81. Moses Gilbert, b. March 7, 1793;
d. Aug. 30, 1882. Renea Steele, wife of [Moses Gilbert, 2nd, d. Feb.
28, 1862, JE. 68. Samuel IL Gilbert, d. July 30, 1868, .E.. 81. Lois,
wife of Samuel IL Gilbert, d. Sept. 20, 1870, JE. 81. Sarah, wife
of Hooker Gilbert, d. Dec. 4, 1S40, JE. 70. Walter, son of Moses
2d & Renea Gilbert, d. July 20, 1825, JE. 7. John Goodrich, b.
May 19, 1770; d. May 6, 1858. John Goodrich, d. April 26, 1S16,
JE. 79. Hannah, wife of John Goodrich, d. Sept. 15, 1812, JE. 72.
John Goodrich, d. May 6, 1S5S, JE. 82. Martha H., dau. John & Ruth
Goodrich, d. Sept. 7, 1823, JE. 5. Ruth Beckley, wife John Good-
rich, d. Jan. 16, 1849, JE. 71.
Asahcl, son Samuel Hart, d. Oct. — , 1730( ?), JE. 10. Judah, son
Judah Hart, d. Xov. 3, 1745, JE. 8. Lois, dau. ]\Litthew Hart, d. Oct.
11, 1736, JE. 6. Mary, wife Dca. Thomas Hart, d. Oct. — , 1763, .^.
6l2
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
82. Marj, wife Selali Hurt, Esq., d. Jim. 27, 17G3, yE. oO. ,^[attlle^\•,
son of Capt. John Hart, d. Oct. 3, 1730, yE. 37. !Mercy, dan. T.
Hart, d. Xov. 8, 172G, Ji. 3. Ruth, dan. ]\[atthcw k Sarah Hart,
d. Jan. 5, 1741, /E. 14. Elizabeth, only dan. Dea. El^enczer ^
Elizabeth Hart, d. Xov. 5, 1770, .E. 20 yrs. and 5 mos.
Mary W., wife Horace Haskell, and dan. John and Iliith Goodrich, d.
Jan. 2, 1834:, /E. 2G. Infant, son :\Iary W. and Horace Haskell, d. Oct.
& d. Dec. 18, 1833. John, son John (t Elizabeth, Hinsdale, d. Oct.
13, 1713, yE. 9. John C. Il.iwkh, d. Ang. 9, 1S67, 2E. 04 yrs. ^^- 9
mos. Catherine, wife dohn C. Hoeckh, d. Eeb. 10, 1872, ^E. 73. John
Hooker, Esq., d. Ang-. 3, 1700, ^E. 71 yrs. & 5 mos. Lydia, dau
Samuel, Jr., & Sarah Hooker, d. ilarch 10, 1774, .E. 9. ^larv, wife
Sanuiel Hooker, d. :\lcli. 9, 1771, -E. 82. Samuel Hooker, d. :\[cli.
1, 1787, 7E. 91. Samuel Hooker, d. :\rch. 27, 1S07. .E. 81. Sarah,
widow Samuel Hooker, d. ^[ay 7, 1S09, yE. 70. Sarah, youngest dau.
Samuel it Sarah Hooker, k wife <if Hooker Gilbei't, d. . Seth
Hooker, d. Dec. 10, 17r)8, ^E. 27. Lildad, son Samuel i: Sarah Hurl-
but, d. Oct. 28, 1741. .E. 4. Jesse, son Samuel & Sarah Hurlbut, d.
Nov. 13, ( ?) 1741, .E. 2.
Elizabeth, wife of Lieut. Samuel Lankton, d. 0.;. 11, 17.30, .E. 50.
Dea. Jonathan Lee, d. Jan. 10, 17r)S, /E. 71. Capt. Stephen Lee,
"One of y' First Settlers of y° society k Churc" of Christ in Kensing-
ton," d. June 7, 1753, .E. 80. Louis, son Paul k iragdahm Leppert,
d. Feb. 12, 1873, ;E. 10 mos. [Magdalen, wife Paul Lepj^ert, d. Sept.
T, 189G, 7E. 05 yrs., 1 month, 10 days. Paid Leppert, d. Sept. 10,
1884, 7E. 03 yrs. "William, son Paul & Magdalen Leppert, <1. Jan.
16, 1874, yE. 10 yrs. 3 mos.
Ann, wife John, Xorton, d. Sept. 12, 1752, ^E. 04. Gideon Xorton,
d. Mch. 26, 1742, /E. 28. Ens. Isaac Xorton, d. Sept. 4, 1751, .E.
38. John Xorton, d. Sept. 11, 1752, .E. 69. Rebecca, wife Charles
Xorton, d. iMch. 5, 1748, .E. 34.
Dr. Abel Peek, d. Sept. 19, 1742, .E. 24. Abigail, wife Sanniel
Peck, d. Oct. 28, 1742, ;E. 01. Rhoda, dau. ]\[oses Peck, d. April 3,
1734, yE. 3 mos. Sybil Porter, dan. Amos & Sybil Porter, d. Aug.
30, 1741, 7E. 2 yrs. 6 mos.
Ambrose, son Amos k Orpha Root, d. Mch. 14, 1848, yE. 13 yrs.
6 mos. 17 days. Henry J., son of Amos k Orjiha Root, b. ilcli. 7, &
d. Dec. 28, 1849. Asabel Root, d. Aug. 7, 1833, .E. 40; "His father
Asabel, grandfather John, & his great-grandfather John Root rest
near this spot." George, son John <S: ^lary Root, d. Dec. 25, 1803,
yE. 14 mos. George Root, h- May 15, 1805; d. Oct. 22, 1831. Johr.
CHRISTIAN LANE CEMETERY— EPITAPHS.
6 1.-.
Eoot, d. Xov. 10, ITiU, .¥,. 70. Joliii ru.or. b. April 4, ITOi; d. Aug.
27, 1S27. Joseph Tuiot, d. Oct. 1 J, 17-12, .E. 55( 0- Joseph, s<3n
Joseph Koot, d. :Sli\y 2'.t. 1748, JE. 27. :Margaret, wife John Eoot, d.
JE. 00. :\[ary, wife John Eoot, d. Scjit. IS, 1S23, JE. 54. Samuel,
son Joseph Eoot, d. Oct. 17, 1747, .E. 31. Timothy Eoot, d. Jan. 10,
1864, JE. 54.
Benoiii Sage, d. Jan. 12. 17.jo-4, .E.. 30. Stephen Saultcr, d. 'Mav
1, 1S92, /E. 76 yi-s. 3 mos. Maria Doruthea, wife Stephen Sanlter,
d. Aug. IS, 1S57, .E. 27. Kathariua, 2d wife of Stephen Sanlter,
d. July 17, 1S72, PE. 3(! yrs. 5 mos. Samuel Smith, d. April 30, 173.'j,
jE. 60. John Stanley, d. Sept. 8, 174S, .E.. 05. [Mary, widow John
Stanley, d. Aug., 17, 1752, .E. 62. Eleanor, eldest dan. Lnke i: Sarah
Stebbins, d. .May 4, 1771, JE. 14 yrs. i li m<is. Erected by her great-
grandfather, Samuel Thompson. Sarah wife Luke Stebbins, d. Feb.
IS, 1764, JE. 26 yrs. 0 mos.
Samuel Thompson, d. Xov. ( ?) 25, 1773, .E. 84. Stephen Thomp-
son, d. :Mch. 13, 1737, .E. 10.
Dr. Xathaniel Winchil, d. Feb. 21, 1768, .E. 41.—//. /?. 6'.]
The Utepncy and Xeirini/lon Churches, offshoots of the Fir>t Clinrch
of Wethers field, have their histories fidly given in the chapters on
Rocl-ij Hill and Xciriiifjton, in this volume.
CHAPTER XIV.
Agrindture — Horses and Cattle — SlocJc Breeding — FairSj Etc., Etc.
[By Sherman \V. Adams, Esq.]
TIIEIJE ARE iiulicntious that John Oldham, the Discoverer,
sowed wheat, or rve, in Wethcrsfield, in 1034:. After his mur-
der, in July, IGOC, the General Court directed John Kaynor to pro-
serve ]Mr. Oldiiam's "corne" (grain) "as he hath hitherto done."
From this, it aj)pcars tliat Raynor iiail looked after Oldham's grain the
previoiis season (which is rcasonahle, in view of the fact that Oldham
was a mariner) and, if so, it is nearly certain that Oldham had har-
vested a crop in 10:55, which must have been sown during the previous
autumn.
Maize (Indian corn), and "Indian Beans," of the low sort, sown
broadcast in iho fields were probably indigenous and were found culti-
vated by the Indians at the time of the white man's arrival hero.
Tlieso beans were what we know as Kidney Beans {PliascoJus Yuhjaris),
not, as some have supposed, the Seiva beau of to-day. In the Pequot
Campaign, ifay 1037, Wcthersfield was required by the General Court
to furnish "1 bushel of Indian Beans" to the Commissaiy department,
which is the first mention of beans, of any kind, in our Colonial Rec-
ords. At a meeting of the ^loadow Proprietors, 12 Oct., 1719, a
by-law was passed, fining those who did not clear off smut from Indian
corn in the meadows, in the smn of 2s. — AY. T., Vol. II.
Barley was grown here witiiin the memory of ])ersons now living.
Its earliest mention in connection with the town is in a Town-vote,
16 jMarch, IGlfi, providing that Richard Eelden should receive one-
fourth of his pay, as Town-herder, in "barley."' Probably it was mostly
used in making malt, for the manufacture of beer, then an article of
general consiunption. In the Rev. Henry Smith's inventory, 1G48, his
"maulte"' (quantity not stated) was appraised at £2, Ss. ]Malt seems
to have been made soon after 1G40.
Peas were one of the staple crops from the beginning of the settle-
ment.
The Onion, as is well known, has been a staple crop here for very
many years; the "Wethcrsfield Large Red" being recognized as a dis-
THE ONION CULTURE.
6iS
tinctive and favorite variety. As early as 1710, Benjamin Adams
sold 71 bushels of these bulbs to Dr. James Poisson. In later years
some experiments have been made in the culture of the "top onion,"
whose small bulbs grow at the top of the flower italk ; also, with the
"potato onion," the bulbs of which are held together at the roots.
Neither of these have proven profitable. "Ilare-ripes" are the smallest,
culled from the first year's growth, and set the next season; when, by
breaking off the seed stalks, they are made to ripen early and are
largely increased in size. The practice has l-.-u to bunch the oni.;n for
the market, on ropes of straw; the bunches weighing from 2 to -^
poimds each. Of late years, a large proportion of the largest onions,
have been shipped in barrels, being sold by the busheL Xearly all are
sent to the Xew York market; and tlie culture of the crop was once done
mainly by women and boys, but the spectacle of women in the onion
fields, is now an iniusual sight. The Tlev. Samtiel Peters, the unveracious
author of a (satirical) History of Connecticut (London, 17S1), says:
"It is a rule with parents to buy, annually, a silk aovm for each daugh-
ter above the age of seven years, till she is married. The young beauty
is obliged, in return, to weed a patch of onic'ns with her o^^^l hands."
This is about as true as bis other statement that the township is ten
miles sqtuirc (making it to contain, at that time, about 100 square,
miles, instead of 00), and that "the people arc more gay than polite."'
Closely connected with onion culture, is that of the garlic, which
member of the leek family has been cidtivated in Wetherslield for
many years. The product is shipped to Xew York, whence it is nearly
all exported to the West Indies and South .Vmerica. The bulbs are
bunched by the roots, instead of the tops, as is the case with onions;
the ropes weighing about a pound each.
Broom Corn (introdticed into America, in 17S1, by Dr. Benjamin
Franklin, who found a single seed in a whisk made perhaps in the
East Indies, where the plant is native) was early cultivated here. It
was a Wethcrsficld man, Levi Dickixsox of Stepney parish, who in
1797, is said to have nntdo the first broom from this plant: Indian
or splint brooms having been previously used, indeed as late as ISOO,
The shape of the new corn broom was, at first, round like that of the
old "birch broom." Dickinson's manufacture was probably commenced
at Iladley, Mass., whither he had i-emoved, although it may have been
before he left Wethersfield ; and as he commenced to cultivate the
plant at the same time, and made frequent visits to his native to^^^l,
'As to tlie onion culture, see also Chapter XIX, on Rocky Ilill.
6i6
HLSTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
it is quite likely that lirooin corn ciiltiiro was introduced into Wetbers-
field at about the same time. It soon Lceanie an important industry
here and in other Connecticut Valley towns. In lii't. three establish-
ments at Tidcky Ilill manul'acttired 5,r)00 brooms: and large crops were
grown here as late as 25 years ago — the manufacttire being now ex-
tended to whisps and brushes. In 1850, Arnold A: IJoljltins at Rocky
Hill were engaged in this manufacture.
Teasels were probably cultivated here fnjm near tlie early part of the
present century — soon after cloth-dressing becaiiie an imp'irtant industry
of the to\wi — but tlieir use and sale were not contiued to the local
"clothiers:" for woolen mills in various parts of the State became a
market for these natural wool-cards.
Flaxseed, in the last century, was also extensively raised in Weth.
In the Life and Woiis of John Adams. Vol. II. p. 341-342. we find the
following note by the President. "At Hartford, 15 Aug.. 1774. IMr.
Deane f Silas] says: "There are .jO.OOO bushels of tlax-seed sent to
Xcw York yearly, in exchajiLie for salt."'
Apples. Joiix IIoLLisTEi:"s will, Apl. 3d, 1G05, gives to his ohle-t
son John, his "feather lied at Xayog;"' also, to his widow, "20 bushels
Apijles and 2 barrels Cider per year, to l)e fu'-n'sh'^-l by my son -John.''
John Harrison's estate, inventoried Attg. 3, ICOO, inchuled apples, and
hops, value £5.
The raising of Garden Seeds was commenced by James Locic-
■wooD Bei.pex. in 1S30. and still continues to be an important
industry in the towni. Butler X. Strong i: Co.. .Ti:>hnson, Hobldns &
Co. (Ixith firms now no hmger in business) ; Conistock. Ferre tt Co.;
Thomas Griswold li: Co.. and William IMeggatt have been the most
notable firms in this line. Hart. Welles vfc C(\ 'are a later addition to
the Wethersfield firms etigaged in this btisines-.
Wm. G. Comstock. though not a native of Weth. was, for a pail of
his life, so identified by residence and business interests with the town,
as to deserve a notice in cinncction with the see<l business. Born at
Chatham, Ct., 11 Oct., ISIO. he was the son of Judge Franklin G. Com-
stock author of a well-known Dif/est on flte Settlement of Estates;
lived at C. until 10 years of age. when his father rem. to E. Hampton,
Ct. ; was educated at ^lidd. and when about 1>, Wgan school teaching.
In 1S33, the family removed to Iltfd. where his father had become
part o\\'ner and editor of the A'. Eng. Berieir. and, as exchange editor
and bookkeeper, young ComstCK^k displayed much energy and enterprise
in the conduct of his father's paper. Just previous to this time his
father became arcatlv interested in the raisins; of mulberrv trees for
THE CULTURE OF GARDEN SEEDS. ETC. 6lJ
the culture of cocoons for silk, and turned his interest in the newspaper
over to his son. In 1800, after having sold out the paper to be run as a
whig- political organ, the faniilv moved from Hartford to Wetherstield,
and :\[r. Comstock joined his father in the cocoon business. In 1S37
Mr. Comstock published what was known as rhe Silk Culturist and dealt
in mulberry seeds and trees. The following year he bought out the seed
business of James L. Ecldcn of Wetherstield and took in Butler X.
Strong of East Hampton as partner, the business being done under
Mr. Conistock's name. In the winter of that year he went to Cuba,
taking with him a lot of young mulberry trees.
He purchased a plot of ground at :\ratanzas and set out the young
trees. He found two other men in the same business, and the' three
shared the profits. One man, a Spaniard, accepted an offer of $500
for his entire lot of trees, ilr. Comstock shipped them to his f.ither,
who sold them for ^■2,r,0o. Tpon his return from Cuba ^h: Com-
stock continued to deal in the seeds and trees, but in a short time
started in the business of nuiking "borders" for seed bags, which at that
time was a new invention. He also, with his father, went int,> the
business of making seed-boxes, and ciitinued it until his father's
death, when the business was dividefl and a stock companv r.r-an-
ized. In the mulberry ti-ee and seed business ^sh: Comstock was able
to amass what in those days was considered a large fortune. The cap-
ital .stock of the coTnpany was $40,000. There were three stockholders
and :\[r. Comstock lent the money to the other two. The companv had
a large trade in the South, and .soon extended its agencies to the West.
The stock paid a dividend of G per cent, the first vear and 10 per cent.
every six months afterwarrls. In 1S57, Mr. Comstock went to East
Hartford and bought the old Olmsted place on Xorth .Alain street for
$7,000, after having sold out most of his box stock. He died at E.
H., a few years ago, greatly respected. In June, 1S3<), Mr. S. B. Good-
win had a midberry plantation of a thousand trees.
Potatoes, and other tubers are grown here in great al Sundance.
Carrots are mostly sown and grown with onions. :\Iarket gardening
is carried on somewhat extensively. Melons are not grown to any grea"
extent; the pumpkin is still common.
Among the ivild fruits and plants may be mentioned: the large
grapes, of the meadows; fox grapes; the choke pear; the meadow plum
(now quite scarce); the wild cherry and choke cherry; the barberry
(introduced as a hedge-plant); the black currant; 'the Jerusaleni
artichoke; asparagus (probably naturalized); and nearly all the wild
fruits and nuts found in other parts of the State.
6i8
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSnELD.
Xearly all the cultivated fruits found in tliis latitude are growii
in Wcthersficld. Some of the mull>errv {moms muUicauUs) trees,
planted in the days when the silkworm lever was raging, some 6S years
ago — still remain.
The sapflowcr, spikewecd, comfrey. opium-poppy, smallage, rue.
wormwood, coriander, thyme, and otlier plants, which formerly were
found in many gardens, have pretty generally disappeared.
Horses, Cattle, etc. John Oldham, who was killed in July, lG3t3,
had several. lie had sohl "two of tl'.e mares'" t'> [Mr. Tlios. AlUm, and
the General Court ordered Daniel Fiiieh, rlien constahle at Wetherslield,
who, by their order, was collecting t"L'eruer the property and effects
of the deceased, to deliver them to All^Ti. Probably Oldham's were
the first brought into the Cdlony, in lOGi. Some were carried away by
the Indians, in the massacre at Wethersdeld, in IGoT. Three belong-
ing to Leonard Chester's estate, in 104?. were appraised at £27, but
two of them were colts. The same year, a horse and mare, property of
the Tlev. Henry Smith, woi-e appraised at £20.
In 1GS4, a l)y-law of the Tnwn punished any person racing a horse,
"within the towne ])lott," by a fine oi 10s.
Abviham Kincli, when killed in li";:'i7, had a enw appraised at £2'^.
and a heifer ajjpraised at £10. It is probai.>le that the pioneers of IGO-i
brought cows and pigs with them. Irideed, it is proljable that all the
three liivcr plantations had cattle and swine in the fall of H.iGo. John
Brundish, who died in in:!'.!, liad one e'>w. two heifers and two calves:
the whole appraised at £i)ii.
On March IG, 1G4G-7, the date of the oldest town vote which has
been preserved — the town voted to employ Eich. Eelden to keep twelve
score of cows and oxen, at £24- : and 2y. for each animal in excess of that
number; which sliows that rattle were abundant at that date. Xo doubt
the number of young animals was much greater than that of the cows
and oxen. ]Matthew ^Fitcheirs "cnw-pon" fi^mied a much debated point
of evidence in the famous case of IJolli-ter and Dr. Gershom Eidkeley
vs. John Eelden's heirs in lGSl-5. — See Chapter IV, p. IDl.
Cattle Ear Marks. These wei'c first required by the law of 1G44, but
may have been in fact used earlier. The law directed that they be put
upon cattle and swine al)ove six month- old : the reason being that the cat-
tle of different owners were kept in herds r.n the "stated commons" and
the swine ran together in the woods. Each owner had a particular
mark, prescribed by the toAvn, and recorded in the to-UTi records. The
marks consisted of a "crop," a "slit.'' a "iialf-penny," a "■swallow-tail,"
or a "hole," cut in one or both ears, or sometimes a combination of two
BREEDERS, HP:RDERS AND COWKEEPERS.
619
of these forms of amputation for the same animal. The same mark was
registered for swine as for cattle of the same owner.
These ear-marks were kept in nse down to recent times ; but, owing
probably to the difficulty of contriving new forms of them, the usage in
our day is to mark by forming the initials of the o^^^^er in the hair of
the left hip of the animal, by trimming with shears ; or to brand the
initials on the horns of the neat cattle.
Brandcr, {of Horses). Such an officer was chosen annually by the
town, beginning with lOii.j. the year in which the law was passed
creating the office. The same Act provided that the luMud-mark for
Weth. should be the letter \V. The object was to have a mark which
should distinguish the horses which were pastured in herds on "stated
commons" in one town, from those similarly herded in other towns.
The brand-mark for Hartford was the letter A; for Middletown B;
for "Windsor, I ; for Farmington, X. These letters were bi-anded on
the near buttock of the animal; and in addition to this the initial
letter of the surname of the owner was sometimes branded on the near
shoulder.
IIerJrr.<- (ind Coiflccpcrs. These officers were chosen in town meet-
ing. Tiie earliest vote preserved, that of ilarch IGth, 1640-4:7, is one
appointing Ilichard Eelden to have the care of 12 score of cows and
oxen from the middle of April to the 11th of Xovember. He was to be
paid £24: per annum, to be in wheat, barley, peas and Indian corn; one
fourth in value of each.
In ^lay, lfl4S, four persons were chosen to keep the '"towne heard.^'
They were called '-cowkeepers." They were to be paid £39 in the aggre-
gate, ''within a fourteen nights after ^Mickeltid.'' They were authorized
to have tlie assistance of one man on Sundays ; and on every alternate
Sunday they might employ two assistants. They were to guard the
cattle '"from danger of wolves, or any other casseltic." During three
weeks in the season a hundred of the cattle were to be separated from
the others, and herded by themselves, "toward Hartford bounds."
Directions are given for getting the herd together. "They are to
goe out within an houre after sunrise, and not to[o] early at night in
coming home ; and after they com to goe into the mea Fdow] two of them
is constantly to drive dowue i: to fetch up the cows at night. They are to
eather have a home to call out cows, or els to holow, so that people
may have notice sufficient to put out their cat tell to them.''
In 1G5G, one herd was kept '"towards Hartford, and tlie other the
other way;" that is below the South Field. In IGGO, and again in
620
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSnELD.
1662, tliorc was a north and south herd under charge of two "'cow-
keepers."
[^\niat a vivid ])ioture of the pastoral life of those early days does
this simple official record afford us! The sunset hour ("not too early
at night"), the sound of tlie horns, or of the herdsmen's "hallo," com-
ing to the car from either end of the broad village street, under the
shadow of whose ancient trees sluwly homeward ])iice the "milky mothers
of the bosky herd," each cow sto])i)ing at her master's gate, where the
maids awaited them, pails in hand; and soon, instead of herdsmen's
horn or voice, there comes from every homestead the musical ring of the
lacteal burden thus brought home from the meadows. — TI. R. 5.]
Wolves. These animals wei'e so common as to have been a cause of
serious concernment to the farmers. In 104^, the town herders, or
"cow-keepers,'' were particularly enjoined to preserve the cattle "fmna
danger of wolves." In KiTO the town gave a bounty of 12 shillings for
each wolf killed, which was in addition to the Colony's bounty of a
like sum. In 1CS5 the town's bounty was reduced to S shillings. In
1095 it was raised to 10s. In that year the County Court ordered
judgment for Luk.c Hill to recover 48 shillings from ihe Sidectmeu of
Glastonbury, for b \v(dves killed by him. In ](>'.)S it was raised to
15.S. In 1703 the Ixinnty was voted to be according "as the law directs;''
which pr(ii)ably means that the lil)eral bounties ])aiil had resulted in
materially reducing the inuuber of wolves. It was not until some
years after the settlement of the town that sheep were introduced; hence,
at first, the damage done by wolves was not so great; seeing that only
cattle, and perhaps the goats — were the domestic animals destroyed by
them.
The wolves were not exterminated entirely. Like the deer and some
other fleet-footed wild animals, they departed to the north and west,
where their descendants nniy be found to-day.
Sheep. Owing to the number of w(dvcs in our forests, it is not
probable that sheep-raising was so commonly carried on in the earliest
years of the settlement as the breeding of other domestic animals. The
first account of them in Weth., or indeed in this Colony, is of those
comprised in the estate of Edward ^lason, deceased, in 1G40. In the
inventory are "3 ewes, one ewe Kydd, 2 weathers;" all appraised at
£8. In no other inventory made prior to 1G4S, is any mention made
of any sheep.
Public ''Sheep Pastures," were among the early institutions estab-
lished by vote in town-meetings. One of a thousand acres was formed
SHEEP, GOATS AND BLACKBIRDS.
621
from "tlie two IInck]el)erry Ililis, and Sleepy Plain," in January, 1074-
75. This was in Rocky Hill. Others are mentioned under the head of
Commoiis.
Shepherds were also chosen hy the Town. When the sheep pasture
above mentioned was established, Serj. Joiix KiLBontx and ilr. Josiaii
WiLLAKu were chosen Shepherds. In [March, 1GS4, it was voted that
the town Shepherd be paid by a '"Sheep-rate;"' the tax to be laid upon
the owners of sheep only.
Goats. In the Inventury of the estate of Xathaniel Foote, who died
in Weth. 29 Xov., 1044 — his Goats were appraised at H'^, 15 s. This is
the earliest mention I tind of these animals in this Colony, excepting
four belonging to the estate of Ephraim Unit of Windsor, the same
year. These animals ajipearto have bi-tai nuich more common then
than now.
Swine. These were brought into Weth. in 1G35. Abraham Finch,
who was killed by the Indians in 1G:>7, had four "Shoats," which were
inventoried in his estate at £-. John Oldham, in 1G;>G, sold one to
Wm. Lewis for £2 KJ.v. They were allowed to run at largo and feed
in the woods. The General Oourt, in IG.'jG, at its very first session, pro-
vided tbni- tlip several plantations should '"talic notice of them and their
marks.'" They were raised in great numbers, and formed an import-
ant item of export. When Xathaniel Foote died, in 1G44, his "hoggs"
were appraised (the number not stated) at £GG, about twice as much
as his horses. Edward ^lason's estate, in 1G40, contained twenty-six
"borrowo [barrow] hoggs. Stores it Sowes ;" and they were valued at
£31. Leonard Chester's estate, in 1G4S, had 2G hogs and 3 sows, ap-
praised at £19 10 s. John Ilollister's inventory, April 3, 1GG5, has
"29 small swine;" John Edwards' estate, inventoried Dec. 27, 1G64, in-
cluded 15 hogs; John Stoddard's inventory, 20 Dec, 1GG4, contained 14
hogs.
It is probable that ]\[r. Xathaniel Foote, the Settler, was either a
very successful raiser of swine, or had procured a superior breed, for,
in the directions issued to the several towns as to the supplies to be
furnished for the Pequot Exposition, it will be remembered that "the
hogg" was especially directed to be procured from him.
Blaclchirds. A bounty of C:kI per dozen for those killed in spring and
3* for those killed thereafter, to the end of "Indian Harvest," was voted
in April, 1695. In December, the same year, it was increased to 12 .
In 1714, it was voted that the birds destroyed must be old ones.
Nothing was said about crowf: ; and it may be that "scare-crows" were
not so much needed then as later.
622
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Poidh-y. Wild fuwl? were so abundant that the breeding of any kind
of poultry was not a necessary part of a phniter's life. Geese and
ducks were niniierous on the ponds and streams; and the wild turkeys
were abundant for at least a hundred years after the first settlement
of the Colony ; especially in the northern part of the valley of Conn.
river. Tiie estate of Xathaniel Foote, appraised in 1644, contains the
earliest mention I tind of poultry of any kind. The number and kind
of fowls is not stated, but his "poultry" is appraised at £1, which must
have represented a considerable flock, probably chickens.
[Lice-SfocJt Brccdinrj has, of late years, become an important industry
in the town. The "native," or oldest breed of cattle here is supposed
to have been of Devon and Hereford origin, mixed. Later, the Durham
was introduced from England, and, at present. "Wethersfield breeders
are importing Ayershire, Jersey, Ilolstein and Swiss cattle. Mr. Silas
W. EoBBixs of Weth., one of the foremost and most successful breeders
of fine stock in the country, commenced in this line in 1S50, and has
devoted himself more especially to the raising of the finest breed of
Jersey cattle, which he justly considers as the most beautiful of all the
dair\- breed* and which he has bred now for 4^3 years, witli such rare
good jiiugmcni and success in developing the highest beauty of type,
color and form, as well as milking capacity, that his herds — (especially
the "Coomassies" — with their rich golden or high fawn color, their
lovely heads and placid eyes, and rich milk records) — are eagerly
sought for by owners of the best herds all over the U. S. even to the
Pacific slope. Stock-breeding has been a passion with !Mr. Roljbins,
■whose love of the beautiful shows itself in his dwelling, the works of
art with whicli it is adorned, and the majestic trees and well kept lawns
■R-hich surround it. Much of his livestock has been directly imported
from the Island of Jersey, at a lavish expense : and he has also extended
his breeding operations to Cotswold, South Devon, Leice-ter and Shroj>-
shire Down sheep to Shropshire and Berkshire pigs, and to pheasants.
Mr. Eobbins, previous to his present hobby, was a mi:)St successful seeds-
man, and as an accomplished florist he has taken many prizes. liecently,
however, he has sold his "Coomassies"' and retired from the business
of stock-raising.
Bees. Honey seems to have been a more important article of food l>e-
fore the introduction of sugar than since. The Bees belonging to the
estate of Leonard Chestee and the Rev. IIexry Sjiith, both of whom
died in 164S — were appraised at eight pounds in each case. In 1650
James Boosey's inventory included "11 skipp of bees'' appraised at
TOBACCO AND TIMBER.
62-
£9. This was at a time when cows were worth five pounds each, ami
horses about £12. Perhajts nuich of it was used in making metheglin.
Tobacco. This phint was grown in Connecticut as early as 1G40, at
which time there were but four or five cleared settlements. The General
Court, in June of that year, forbade the drinl-ivg of any excepting
that which was "planted within these libertyes;" so it is by no means
a modern crop in Wcthcrsfield. Wcthersfield at present produces a
large amount of the finest "seed-leaf" — and considerable ''Cuban"
tobacco.
In Wethersfield, in 1704-, the quantity raised must have been sufficient
to enable large amounts to be exported (it being one of the principle
articles of trade with the West Indies) ; for it was the occasion of a
town vote which prohibited people from fencing "tobacco yards, or
gardens," in any "streets, highways, town-land or common." and auth-
orized the selectmen to remove such encroachment.
Timber. The preservation of the forests was a matter of public
concern, two hundred years ago. Under certain regiTlations, inhabitants
of the townsliip were allowed to go to the public connnons and carry
thence -wuod and stone for private use, but not to sell the same. In
1C86 it was voted that wlien a person had felled trees, and had failed
to "cut them up" within -0 months, any other person might go and take
them for liis own use. In IGOo, a penalty of 10 shillings was imposed
upon an "inhal)itant" for each tree he should transport outside of town
limits; and non-inhabitants were subjected to the same penalty for each
tree felled by them. In 1G9S, the by-law provided a penalty of 10 shil-
lings for every load of "building-timber, staves, firewood, or any sort
of timber whatsoever," transported from tlie township. In 1706, a vote
recites that much timber has been taken from the commons to "build
vessels for persons which belong to other Townes ;" whereby timber was
becoming scarce "for building houses and making fences." A penalty
of 10 shillings was therefore imposed upon each trespasser, excepting
Avhcre the vessel to be built was for some inhabitant of the Town. The
timber mostly in demand Avas white oak, which was used for the clap-
boards, as well as the frames of houses, and for pipestaves, etc. Chest-
nut was used as timber, and for lathing; the latter being thin
boards, with ninnerous splits or clefts, for the mortar to penetrate.
Candlewood (pine), was used for lumber, fuel and torches; the latter
use being that to which it owned its name.
The old Griswold house, in Griswoldville, which was demolished in
1879, and which stood on the corner of the late Franklin W. Griswold's
624
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
home lot, was covered witli white oak ehipboarJs, which were rived
(split), and not sawed.
Woods. Special care was taken to preserve the forests from de-
struction. It was necessary, of course, to clear some of the land of
trees, for agricultural purposes. In April, ICGG, Serg. John Kilbourn
was eiuployed by the town to "burno tlie woods betwene us and ilid-
dletowiie;" and Enoch IJuck was at the same time employed to "burne
the woods belonging to tlic otlicr end of riie Towiie;" each to have six
shillings "for liis jiaiiu's." I!ut in ITd.") tlic dcvafintloii oi tinibor trees
had become so great that a by-law was passed providing a penahy of ten
shillings per tree for all "young"' trees felled upon the Touti lands ; this
prohibition to c<intinue so long as the "old wood allredy fallen" was
sufRcieiit to supply the fuel for the households of the Tii\\ii. "Young
trees" included those having trunks of one foot or less in diameter.
Drainage. ^lany of the lands in Wethersfield were so low and wet
as to require drains and sewers. Something on this head has been
said under the title "Ditches."
As early as j\ray, 1712, Ca])t. llobcrt Welles, Capt. Joshua Robbins,
and others, petitioned for a "Commission of Sewer;," to drain a tract
of lands of wiiich tlie petitioners owned a "major part." The Gov-
ernor and Council chose said AVelles and Robbins, and Lieut. Jonath
Belden, as such a commission.
In August, 1720, David Goodrich, Stephen ]\lix "and five others" pe-
titioned the General Assembly iov a "Commission of Sewers," for drain-
ing their lands, which lay in the tract enclosed by High street, Sandy
lane and what is now Prison street. Such a commission was granted, con-
sisting of Thos. Wright, John Curtis and Elizur Goodrich. It was in this
year that the Town first took action in draining the "Great Swamp,"
which resulted in the formation of Folly brook.
In June, 1701, James ilitchell, Sam. Wolcott and Silas Loomis were
appointed coimtiissioners to drain "the Wet Swamp, extending from
• the third highway, running east and west from the dividing line be-
tween Hartford and Wethersfield, until it comes to said line." This
will be recognized as the swamp next west of Wolcott hill, and north
of the present Churchill, or Collier road.
At the same session, upon the petition of Josiah Welles, Sam. Wolcott,
Elisha Wolcott, Joseph Richards, Timothy Ilurlbmt and the heirs of
William Rhodes — a commission consisting of Joseph Richards and
Josiah Welles, was appointed to drain about forty acres of Gooseberry
Swamp. This was in the lower end of Hog meadows, near the section
sometimes called Gooseberry, or Rhodes quarter.
DITCHES, WEEDS IN HIGHWAY.
625
In June, 1771, upon the petition of Vrill. Warner, John Chester,
Sihis Deane, Xich. Ayrault, Jonath Welles "and many others" — Sam.
Bishop, James Pierpont and Closes Gilbert were chosen commissionei'S
to drain Fearful Swamp. In September, 17S0, upon the petition of
John Chester, Josiah RolAiins, Justus Riley "'and many others" — Josiah
Robbins, Apjdcton Robbins ami .Tustus Riley were chosen commission-
ers, to drain Fearful Swamp, by a ditcli across it, to the river. This
was pi-iibably the action which resulted in the sewer of ])lauks alonp- the
north side of the Causeway road.
In ^lay, 1S2S, George Stillman, Josiah W. Bristol, James Smith and
others, petitioned for a commission, to drain the swamp extending
South from the Pratt's Ferry road "to the crossway," about one mile.
Justus Riley, Asher Robbins and Edward Shepherd were chosen. The
land-owners were empowered to choose a cidlector, and a scavenger.
In most of these cases the drainage was eifccted by open ditches.
Ditches. It is obvious that in tlie early years of the town, ditches,
for drainage purposes, were found to be quite suliicieut. And when
the "Palisado" was built, the row of upright palings of timbers were
set in tlie ridge formed by a ditcli excavated at the same time; leaving
tlie ditch rin the outside.
"\\1ien Edward Wood, about 1040, sold his homestead, a little east
of where the meeting house stood, to George Wyllys, Esq., of Hartford,
it was bounded west by a "common" (meeting-house square), and a
"three-way lete in the middle of the town." A "lete," more correctly
leat, is a ditch or trench; and it thus apjiears that the Green by the
meeting-house (a much larger space than it is to-day), was traversed
by ditches.
In April, 1051, John Harrison, Thomas Wright, John Saddler, John
Stoddard and John Goodrich — who owned lots in the section bounded
by High St., Fort (now Prison) St. and Sandy lane — executed a
Avritten agreement, wherein the}- say that their "house lots are sur-
rotmded every winter and spring with water," so that they "could not
have any i^rofit in the middle of their lots." They therefore agree
that these lots shall be ditched ; the expense to be borne by themselves
exclusive of Stoddard, whose lot is "hie and dry," but has t<i be traversed
by the ditch in question.
In a town vote of April, 1093, the ditches by the Great ^Meadow
gate are mentioned. Others will be referred to tinder the title
"Swamps," and "Drainage."
Weeds in Higlnrays. As early as 105.", the by-laws provided that
land owners should cut down the elders, briers and weeds in front of
"^^ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETilERSFIKLD.
their lands, where such vogctatiou should "pedjiuce [prejudice] the
highway." Alders were particularly mentioned as to bo thus dealt
with. The cutting was to he done "half across the street," by the oppo-
site owners, and tlie work to he done between the 25th days of March
and June. But most of tlie streets were then, in fact, what they were
sometimes called — merely ''paths'' tliruugli the wilderness.
Fences. It is proliahle tlint tlie expensive and cumbrous structures,
so common in our day, were not i>eui'rnl]y tolornted, as lietwcen small
enclosures in tlie earjirst days of tlu> Colony; and it is an evidence of
progress that recently many of these needless barricades have been
removed by the consent of the interested parties.
Around common fields, fences were more necessary and as early as
1649, the townsmen [selectmen] were authorized by the tnwn to pre-
scribe the kind of fence, and the proportion thereof which each land
owner should maintain. . The General Court, in 1043, had provided
that from five to seven men be chosen annually in each town to attend
to the matter of insjiecting fences of common fields; and it is prolmble
that such officers wore chosen by the "proprietors," and that prior to
1C40, tlioy bad Pttended to such duties. P"t neither selectmen nor
fence viewers had powcu- to compel the fencing of land in severalty at
this time.
In 1G50 the "Code of Laws" provided certain regulations for divis-
ional fences. But it was at the same time provided that no man should
"bee lyable to satisfy for dammage done in any ground not sufficiently
fenced," except what should be done by swine under a year old, or by
unruly cattle, or by voluntary trespasses. The A;»7d of fence was not
stated. In 1(184 the town voted that all fence "belonging to the
to\VTi," should be 4 ft. 2 in. high; whilst hedges should have .5 stakes
to the rod, and be well bound at the top. (See fence vieiccrs.)
Hedr/es. Our ancestors came from a country where hedges were
more common than fences ; and it is pv(ibal)le that barriers of this kind
were in early times commonly in use here. In 1GS4 a by-law of the
town provided that all hedges should have five stakes to the rod, and
be well bound at the top. What trees were used does not appear;
but the barberry, introduced from England, ^was very commonly used.
Fence Viewers. The law of February, 1645-4, required the several
ToAviis to appoint sucli officers, to the number of five at least, in each
Town. Their duties wore much more iinjiortant then than to-day, since
there were many miles of common, or public fences, to be looked after;
and great numbers of cattle and swine were allowed to be at large, u]ion
the conmion and undivided lands. Until IGGO, it appears that they were
GATES, BRIDGES AND FAIRS.
627
chosen bj the selectmen. In Feb. lGGO-1. the Town chose John Xott
and Jolm Riley "to survey the fence for this year;'' and fence viewers
thereafter, usually two in number, were generally chosen. At a later
period an additional one was chosen for the east side of the River, and
one for Rocky Ilili.
In March, HJtiO, by vote of the Town, there was a general apportion-
ment of the ^Icadow fence among the land o^\'ner^, of which there were
then 89 in all.
Gates. These were maintained nur only at the approaches to tlie
"Meadows," or common fields, as at present, but at the entrances to
stated commons, and certain highways. The "meadow gate" and "plain
gates" are mentioned in a town vote of 1652. The only meadow then
improved and alloted to private owners was the "Great" meadow ; and
there were three gates belonging to it. One of these was near what
is now the Point of Rucks, by the Cove ; anotlier on tlic road now lead-
ing to the wharf, and the third one vu what is now called the Pratt's
Ferry road. With the disappearance of a large part of the northeast
section of this meadow, tlie northernmost gate was discontinued. Other
gates to the meadows have been established, and fboir positions changed
in seme ca^cs ; but an account of these changes will not be attempted
here.
In ^lareli, 1C9S-0. the town authorized gates tobe set up "at the
end of some of the highways, about the west end of the long lots." The
Long lots (11 miles long) had their western treminus near the summit
of the ridge next west of Wolcott hill, and the great common adjoined
them on the west. The gates in (juestiun must have been across what
are now known as Jordan lane, Xott's lane and the road through "Welles'
quarter.
•Bridges. The '"Old Bridge at G<iflf's brookc" was ordered repaired
in 1680. It was probably built aliout 1050. A "cart bridge," over "the
brook over the way leading out of the t')wne, to\\ards Pen. Crane's
house," was ordered built in 16S:]-lr. This was on the road connecting
Broad St. with !Miid Lane; and the stream was much larger then than
now. A new bridge was ordered for Goffe's brook in 1712.
Fairs. I'nder this head are not included the special fairs and festi-
vals of the present day. These are too nttmerous and unimportant to
receive special mention. But Fairs, in the old and European sense,
have been held in "Wethersfield.
At its May session, 1783, the General Assembly authorized the
holding a '"Pitblic ^Fart, or Fair" in Wethersfield, twice per year;
once in May, and once in September or October. They were to be
628
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
of three daj's continuance ami the bniklings, etc., were to be constructed
at the expense of tlie Town.
In October, 1784, the "Civil Authority and Selectmen" of the
Town convened and estalilished a Icni^thy series of "By-laws and
Regulations" for the "Public Fair or ilart." A '"Court of Wardens"
was instituted; to be a ""Court of Record." Its judiics were a Senior
Warden and two Junior ^Vardens. Also a Register and two Constables
were provided. Each constable was to be furnished with "a black stafF,
as a badge of his otlicc," and was empowered to seize offenders "without
warrant," and bring them before the Court of Wardens. Licenses,
fines and tolls were granted or imposed. Eight wards were established,
within which the following named articles might be sold respectively:
No. 1, Dry Goods; Xo. 2, West India goods and Liquors; Xo. o. Lum-
ber; Xo. 4, Iron, Steel, Brass, Pewter, Tin and Lead: Xo. 5, Grain of
all kinds; Xo. (>, Flax-seed and Salt; Xo. 7, Horses; Xo. S, Xeat Cat-
tle. Stephen ]\Iix ^fitchcll was Chairman of the Board.
In the Conn. Coiiranf, for Oct. 2Gth, 17S4. is an account of the
Fair held on the three days ending October 13th. It says that : "A
groat quantity of Dry and West India Goods, as well as country' manu-
factures, together with horses, neat cattle, sheep and swine were sold
or bartered in the Fair." '"This concourse of people was very great.
Some laid out to the amount of a thousand dollars in the Fair," etc.
A similar Fair was held in the following Spring, and again in April,
17SG, as we learn from an advertisement of a post])onement of its
opening on accnunt of the Fast; but it is probable that few more were
held, and that they took place in Broad Street. It is certain that the
institution did not become permanent, and that very few were chartered
for other towns in the state.
■ CHAPTER XV.
Public and Semi-Public Wufls, In.stitulious, Etc. — Mills — Manufac-
tories— - Various Indusfrics — Socichcs — Population — Plii/siaans
Etc., Etc.
[By Siiermax \V. Adams, Esq.]
THE ESTAI3LIS11.MEXT ami care, by Tcato action, of Iliirluvajs,
Commons, Cemeteries, River Landings, Ferries. Wharves, etc.,
etc., will be found recorded and discussed in other chapters of this
volume ; but there is a class of public works, originated or fostered
by private enterprise, either individual or corporate, -which demand
some attention at oitr hands. These latter may be termed seuii-public
undcrtakiniis.
The Toirn House. — In lliT 9, the Town voted to build "a small house,
on the parsonage home lot, for a "Iiouse of office" and some other uses.
This stood on tli'^ site occupied within our memory by Dr. E. F.
Cooke's dwelling; and appears to have been the only otfice for business
purposes which the Town has ever owned. The Meeting House was
practically used as a Hall down to a period within the memory of those
now living; and the Town Hall of the present day is in the second
story of the Academy building, which was erected in 179S.
The Worl-housc in Wethersfield was established, in ISll, by Special
Act of the Legislature — two years before the passage of the law of
1813, authorizing each town to establish such an institution. Prior
to this time, except in a few special cases, the workhouses of Con-
necticut were County institutions; generally a part of the County jaiL
The Act of 1S13, referred to, termed these houses for the poor '"Asy-
lums." Rut it had been the usage for S'lme towns, certainly for
Wethersficld, to have such houses built at the public e.xpense — in some
highway, or other land belonging to the Town — so that their location is
not now discovci'able by records. One was in Xewington parish; for,
in 1787, the Town authorized, by vote, the Imilding of an "'addition"
to it, and paid ^Martin Kellogg £2?), 9d. for doing the work.
After 1813, the general usage was to hire a building for the purpose.
Thomas Chester's tannery, on the east side of Broad St., was first
hired; after that, the Crane tannery in '"Eg^-pt" (demolished some years
ago) was hired for the same purpose.
630
HISTORY OF ANXIENT ^VETHERSFIELD.
In March, 1S3S, the To\\^^ purchased from William Ilarmcr for
$4,600, the Rose Place, -wirh its old dwelling house, on the south side
of Pratt's Ferry road — the tract contained o4 acres, and included part
of the old Burnhani estate. The old house was converted into an
"almshouse and workhouse" and served its purpose until 1S50, when
the present structure was erected on the same site: and in lSt32, was
enlarged.
State Prison. — This instituriou was in the cavei'ns of the abandnncd
copj)er mines, at Simsbury (the part now East Granby), for 54 years,
beginning with 1773. It was then called Xewgate. In Ma}-, 1S27,
mainly through the instrumentality of Judge 3lartin Welles, a resident
of Wethersfield — the General Assembly established it, under the name
of "The Connecticut State Pris"n," at this place. The site selected
was land which had been in the family of Gov. Tho. "Welles since 1643,
but which at first belonged to John Plumb. The building containing
the cells was of the red sandstone of the Portland, Conn., cpiarries;
whilst the workshops were of brick. The outer walks of the prison-
yard were of the same sandstone. Enlargements and alterations have
been frum time to time matle t" the original structure; tho principal
of whicii iiavc been the addition of the hospital, chaplain's house and
sundry out-buildings; and adding another story to the main building,
or prison proper — making a four-story structtire of it.
The transfer of the convicts fnau Xewgate to the Prison was effected
Sept. 29th, 1S27 ; at which time the number incarcerated was 127.
The average number during 1SS4 was 235, the number of inmates to-day
is larger, but the exact figures are not at hand. The commandant of the
establishment is called the Warden.
Several tragedies have been enacted within the Prison walls. Ezra
Hoskins, a guard, aged 66. was murdered by convicts, on the night
of April 30th, 1S33. Gerald Toole, a life-convict, early in 1S62, mur-
dered the then Warden, Daniel Wel>stcr. Dave Kentley, alia-i James
Wilson, etc., a native of Ireland, and a noted criminal, in 1S70, assas-
sinated the Warden, William Willard. In order to cheat the gallows
of its work, the murdei-er thrust a piece of iron wire, three inches in
length, mio his oivn heart, until it was buried so deeply it could not
1)6 reached to bo extracted by the fingers. The effort at suicide was
a failure; and though rendered so weak as to require support on the
gallows platform, he was hanged, in the corridor of the jail at Hart-
ford, in accordance with the sentence of execution. An effort to starve
timself had been equally unsuccessful ; the purpose having been thwart-
ed by injection of food sufficient to stistain life.
':SJ^
TiiK Co.x.MaruiT St.vtk Pkl.sox — \\ kti[i:i!skiki,1).
X
'''^,
^'■^
\
,r^
The Grekx — W'KTiitKsKiKt.u.
r-^
'^■' !^^^?-i;'^'
Jfc.
- * . ^ • -■ -is > "^ 1
u..
A \'|K\V A( KOSS TlIK (iKKKN.
Ill/ CiJKiic.'i,/ of Till- Vcinircliriit M injii'.niv.
FIRE COMPANIES. ETC.
631
Fire Companies. — With one oxcoption, (Stmtford) WethersficlJ had
the first cliarlcrcd Fire Com])iniy in the State. [Previoius to this; it is
evident that Wethersfiehl had sonic sort of a fire-fighting organization
(perhaps, thongh, notliing better than a ''bucket brigade") for the
Records of the Ecclcsiasticnl Society, note the vote (Dec., 1801) of
the sum of $200 to be raised by said Societ}-, and "added to the sub-
scription for a fire-engine."] At the ^May Session, 1803, upon the
petition of the Ihm. Stephen Mix ^litcliell and others, an organization
of sixteen men was authdrized l)y the Legishiture. In tlu'ir petiti<ni the
applicants say that they liavc ah-eady procured two fire-engines. Jjut
the machines of tliat (hiy were force-pumjis of small diineusioii, com-
pared with modern appliances for the same purpose. [That these engines
were so procured seems to be evidenced by a vote of the Ecclesiastical
Society, in ISOS, directing the Foi-eman of the Fire Co., to procure
hose for cacli of the cngiiu's. ^larch 22, 1827, the Ecclesiastical So-
ciety voted that "the Ciril Aidhoritij, and the Society's Committee
enlist and organize a fire oiiiii[iany, and enact suitable lly-Laws f(n' the
prevention and extinguishnient of fire, under a Iicsolvc of the General
Assembly of 180;!; and the First Ecclesiastical Society seems at this
time to have transferred tlicir rigiit and title to all share in the Fire
Department to the First School Society.]
How long the company continued active is uncertain; but it is prob-
able that it was not efficient at the time of the noted conflagration, on
the east side of High street, in 1S31. For, in ilay, 1801, there was
found a necessity for a new Fire Company; then incorporate*!, upon
the petition of James Smith, Abraham Skaats, George Stillman, Jun.,
Charles Shepard and others. They were organized as "The Wethersfield
Fire Company;" the number of members being 25. This company
purchased the engine "Xeptune Xo. 1" of a Hartford fire company.
It also had a fire-hook, ladders, hose, buckets and other appliances, which
were kept in the basement of the Congregational chapel. In 1840, the
Legislature authorized the complement of members to be increased to
ten. This Company has been practically extinct for 20 years, or more.
Its engine went to pieces about 1872, when the building that had
sheltered it was demolished. Since that time, a hook and ladder com-
pany has been formed and still exists — being housed in the building
formerly the car-house of the Horse Railroad Company.
Drainage Companies in Weth. have been from time to time authorized
by the Legislature, as follows: 1712 — to drain swamp west of "Wolcott
Hill; 1726. to drain lands south and west of present Prison St. ; and in
the same year the "Great Swamp," west of "the Folly" was drained
632
HISTORY OF ANCIENT -VVETnERSFIELD.
by being diverted from its southern outflow to a new channel across the
road to the Iliver — hence originated the '"Folly Brook;"' bv the same
agency, the '"AVest Swamp," west of Wolcott Ilill, was drained in 1701 ;
and also, by Acts of Legislature at the same session,""Gooseberrv Swamp"'
and "Hog ^Icadows." In 1771 and 17S6, "Fearful Swamp" was drain-
ed; and in 182S the tract between Pratt's Ferry Road and the Cause-
way. In ISOO the majority of owners of lands abutting upi.n Fearful
Swamp, petitioned the Legislature to autliMrize the fnrmation of a com-
pany "The Fearful Swamp Drainage Co." to drain said swamp.
Dams exist, or have existed, on Collier, Tandos, Sucker, or ^lill,
Hang-Dog and GofFe"s Brooks — all in Wcthei'sfield propci-. Also on
Piper's River, in Xewington ; ^Mattabesett River, in Beckley's Quarter,
and in Dividend, Ilog, Frrig and other brooks in Rocky Hill.
Of these, that at Hang- Dog (now the "Reservoir"" at Griswoldville)
was first formed in 171 li, across the southern outtlow of Dcming"s
meadows — f(jr the purvioso of storing water for Chester"s ^lill. In
or about 1S30, the dyck was raised and strengthened by Thomas (Sen.)
and Thomas (Jr.) Gri^wold in order to supply water for their fulling
mill, the water being drawn across by a trench made for that purpose.
The rentains of the dam were to be seen (1^S4) in the pasture S. W.
of Capt. "Willianib" factory.
The dam on Sucker [in- ^lill) Brook (remains of which are still
visible) was probably the prsl built in (,'onnecticut, and was made to
furnish power to ilr. Leonard Chcster"s grist mill, built in ir'.')7. It is
located a few rods br-hiw the dam of the present (disused) Adams' grist
mill, on the same stream. See, also, p. (3:>S.
Turnpil'e Roads. These were first regulated by general enactments
in 1800. But before that date many had been specially authorized in
the State.
The first Turnpike through 'Wethersfield was that of the Hartford
and Xew Haven Turnjiike Co., chartered in Octr^ber, 17?S. The
charter was granted to the Hon. James Hillhouse, of Xew liaven,
and his associates. It was laid out in a very nearly straight line from
the west side of South Green, in Hartford, to Hillhouse Avenue, Xew
Haven. Its northernmost gate was a few rods south of the north line
of Wethersfield ; the old toll-house still standing on land lately of Sam.
Hillhotise,- deceased. The road was set with a row of Lombardy poplars
on each side, and some of these picturesque trees remain to this day.
In I8I0, an alteration in the Xew Haven end of the road required the
removal of the dwelling house of the said James Hillhouse.
The next, and only other Turnpike to cross Worhcrstield, was that of
TRANSPORTATION, STAGES. ETC. 633
the Middlesex Turnpike Co., chartered in 1S02. The cliartcr was
granted to Epaphroditus Champion, Xeheniiah Iluhhard, Jonathan O.
Mosoley and others; and hv its terms the northern end ot the road
began at the sonth side of Gotie's Brook (now in Rocky Hill), while the
southern terminus was at "the Stage road, in Sayhrook." There were
four gates on the road ; the most northern one being just north of the
present dividing line between Rocky Hill and Cromwell. ]5oth these
turnpikes have ceased to exist as such ; the latter in 1ST2.
I'ransportation— Stages, Elc. — Wagons were used for the carriage of
travelers many years before stage coaches were employed. Open wagons
were succeeded by canvas-topped ones. Stage coaches were introduced
in England, for carrying the mails, in 1TS4; and it is probable that
their introduction here was but verv little later.
The first transportation line in Connecticut, having public recogni-
tion as such, was that granted by the Legislature to Capt. John ilunson,
of Xew Haven, in October, 1717. He was granted the exchisive right
"to set up a wagon to pass and transport passengers and goods between
Hartford and New iraveu," for tlio term of seven years. He was
required to make at least one trip per month (excepting in December,
Jartuary, TA,i,,.,iary and :\[arch) ; ajid c.:ch round trip was to be ac-
complished within a week's time ! The route lay through Wethersiield
center, Hang-Dog, West Rocky Hill and Beckley's Quarter; by what
•was then called the Xew Haven road; but to-dav, Wethersfiehr people
call it the Berlin road. This was the great highway between the two
capitals until the construction of the Hartford and Xew Haven Turn-
pike, in 1798-9. It was also on the" Post-road," between Boston and
New York.
A mail stage-route existed for many years, until 1S50 or later.
through Wcthcrsfield, Rocky Hill and iliddletown, from Hartford
to Kew Haven. Afterward, it became a Hartford and Dur-
ham, and then a Hartford and Middlctown line; continuing
its daily trip until the opening of the Connecticut Valley
R. R., in 1S71. James M. ^'ibberts was the last proprietor of
this line. An omnibus line, between Hartford and Wethcrsficld, making
tri-daily trips, existed from about 1S52, until the opening of the H. and
W. Horse Railroad, in 1802-3. John X. and Ira M. Standish were
the last who owned this line. A stage to Rocky Hill (part of the time
to Durham) was run by ^Iv. H. Webb, from ISGO to ISfiS.— (See
Railroads.)
Railroads. — The first railway station within Wethersfleld township
was at Xewington, in 1S39, on the "Hartford and Xew Haven Rail-
634
HLSTORY OF AN'CIENT WETHERSFIELD.
road,'" as it was tlicu called, cliartcred in ISOo. At that time there was
no depot in Xewingtou ; iior, indeed, till IS — . The next station was
also in Xewington, in 1S50 ; on the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill
Railroad, chartered in 1S47. In ISTl, a station was established, with
depot at "Wetherstield, just west of the village; a new highway being
made to reach the same. In 1S72, a station and depot was established
on the same road (the Hartford and Conn. Valley, R. R.) at S^uth
Wethcrsfield. That at Rocky Hill was established in 1>71, the year
the road was opened. The road was incorporated in ISO-' ; Mr. S. "\V.
Robbins being the only charter member from ^^'ether^field.
Horse Bail road. —The Hartford and "Wethersfield Horse R. R. Co.
opened its road, to a point a few rods below its present (ISS-t) ter-
minus, in 1SG2. Its cars tirst ran on May f?7th, lSG-'3. It was incor-
porated in ISof), with a capital stock of 6100,000. Of the six charter
meml)ers named, two, Silas W. Robbins and Henry C. Dwight, were
from Wethersfield. In ISG-t, Capt. Daniel A. Mills, Gen. James T.
Pratt and others, of Rocky Hill, were incorporated as the Rocky Hill
andAVethersfield Horse R. R. Co. Xothing was done under this charter.
September S, ISSS, the Wethcrsfield street car line was ojicratcd by
electricitv under the storage battery sy^tetn, wliicli proved un.^atisfaetory,
and the Westinghonse system was introduced. This was one of the
first electric lines in the country. The continuation through Main
Street, Hartford, not equipped till !May 12, 1SP5: cars ran thither for
first time, 27th of that month. The trolley has since been extended to
the lower end of Broad Street.
Postoffices ; Postmasters. — Xeither the Colony, nor the State of Con
necticut, ever exercised jurisdiction over mail matters or post-routes.
Until 1775, all such matters were under the control and direction of the
British Government ; which appointed a postmaster for Xew England,
having his office in Boston; and whose "deputies"' rode from tovm to
town, on horseback, bearing the mails. The principal route from Bos-
ton to Xew York lay through Xew London ; which place, by Act of
Parliament, was made the chief postoffice in Connecticut, in 1710. In
1774, some of the mails were carried by private enterprise, throtigh
the agency of Wm. Goddard, of Baltimore. Benjamin Franklin, who
had been Postmaster for Xew England since 1752, was, in 1775, made
Postmaster-General, by the Continental Congress. At this time the
mails were generally transported by post-horses.
In 1790, there were but 75 postoffices in the United States. In ISSO,
the number had increased to 42,989. The number in Connecticut in
1790, was nine, viz. : Xew London, Hartford, Middleto'.^-n, Xew Ha-
WATER, TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE. "jD
ven, Xorwicli, Faii-fiekl, Stiimford, Stratford and Xorwalk. In ISSO,
tlie number was 450.
The postofficc was established at Wethersfield, 1st April, 1794;
Thomas Chester was the first postmaster. He lived in the Silas Deane
house; next south of the Webb house; in 1700, Levi Bl'ti.ee was post-
master. The postoffice at Hocky Hill dates from October 1st, 1S02;
the first postmaster having been Isaiak Butlek. That at Xewington
was established 12 February, 1828, with Amos Fairchild for its first
postmaster. That at South Wethersfield was established in April, 1873 ;
Lymax Hewitt, postmaster. A neighborhood supply was established at
Griswoldvillc, a few years since.
Water Supply. — The Town has none of its own. About 15 or 20
years ago, a supply ■^\as introduced from the West Hartford Water
Works, which furnishes water down Hartford Avenue to the State
Prison, and down State and High Streets (Xorth Main) to the Epis-
copal church. A Wethersfield Water Company, incorporated by the
Legislature of 1001, has, as yet, effected nothing beyond a survey
from the so-called "rcservoii*'' at Griswoldville.
Gas and Electric Liijliting FariUlics. — The Hartford gas mains ex-
tend down Hartford Avenue, nearly to Wilcox Sticct, foi- pri\ate u=.e.
The State Prison used its own gasoline tank until about 1S95, when
it was replaced by elcctrlcUti from Hartford. The village, since the
Gtli of August, 1800, has been, more or less, fairly lighted by a few
15-candle power iucandescents transmitted from the same source.
Telegraph and Telephone. — Telegraphic conunimieation has existed
at the railroad station since the opening of the Hartford & Valley
E. R. in 1871. The village has also been well served by telephone
since the early days of that useful invention, imtil, at present, there
are a number in the town, public and private.
Insurance Company. — Among the earliest Fire Insurance Companies
in this State, on the mutual ]^\an, was that chartered in 1830, under the
name of the "Wethersfield ^Mutual Fire Ins. Co." The charter members
were: Jacob Warner, Elisha Williams, Henry Welles, Steph. Francis,
Hosea Harris, Sam. Coleman, Simeon Hale, Will. Willard, Dan. Eus-
sell, Tho. Warner, James Treat, Hen. Deming, John B. Alden. James
Griswold, Ashbel Eobertson, Steph. B. Goodwin, Welle? Adams, Asher
Robbins, Tho. Havens, Sam. Galpin, Abr. Crane, Allyn Smith, Ichabod
Crittenden, Geo. Rhodes, David Crane, Will. A. Havens, Hen. Robbins,
Elisha Robbins, Will. Adams, Simeon Blinn, Horace Adams, James
Barrett, Will. Adams, Jun., John S. Riley, Steph. Willard, Abr. Skaats,
Moses Morris, Jalon Dickinson, Eben Stillman, Davis Morris, Martin
636
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Welles, Geo. Holmes, John Palmer, Will. Tnlcott and Will. W. Good-
rich. All these people have joined that "great majority who are no
longer in the land of the living." I am not in possession of data which
will enahle me to give an account of the doings of this now defunct
corporation.
Mills— ilANUFArTOijiES — IxursTKiES. — Fnder this licad wo can re-
cord nothing of great magnitude, since ^^'(■tlK'^stield Jiiis always lieon and
is an agricultural community, and iicr streams furnish but a limited sup-
ply of water-power for the propidsion of machinei'y.
Grisi Mills. — The first mills in the Colony were known as "Come
Mills ;" the word "corn'" being used to express the modern term "grain"
in general. In some of them water, but more often the wind, was
employed as the motive power. These grist mills were so much a public
necessity that the towns frequently assisted in maintaining them.
To Wethersfield, probal)ly, l)cl(ings the distiiictif)U of having possessed
the frst grist mill in the Colony. It was built on what is now known
as "Sucker" or "^lill" brook by that earnest and accom])lished young
gentleman, ono of ibp <ettlers of IGli.j, Leonard Chester. It was whilst
seeking out a place to set up this mill, in KioO, as is supposed, that
Chester lost his way in the wilderness, and, after several day's search,
was found, nearly dead, on the eminence which thereafter bore the
name of Blount Lamentation. — See Chapter I.
Dr. Stiles, in his Ifldory of W'mdsor. supposes that town to have
had the first mill ; but he does not attempt to fix the date when it was
built. He says it was "resorted to" by people of other towns, "even
from iliddletown." This is obviously a mistake, since ^liddletown
was not settled till in.'jO-l ; prior to which there was a mill at Hartford,
as well as at "Wethersfield.
Fortunately, there is no diificidty in fixing the year in which Chester's
mill was built. !Mr. Chestei"'s first will, dated 22d Xov., IGOT, is record-
ed in a volume in the oflice of the Secretary of State, at Hartford. In
that instrument, he devises to his son John, "that mill, and the appur-
tenances thereto belonging, w"' I am in hiiiJdiiifj, at the devising of these
presents, in the town and libberty of Wethersfield." So that we have
1637 as the date when the mill was set tip.
The mill-stream was, as it still is, essentially a surface-water stream.
Excepting near its source, and that of its tributary, Collier brook,
living springs contributed but little to its volume of flow. Cut the
volinne was probably more steady, when its watershed was co\ered by
forests, than to-day.
THE CHESTER MILL.
637
The Luikling stuod about a mile southwest of Chester's house, which
■\vas in Broad Street. Its site was very near that of the former (now
disused) mill of Russell and William AV. Adams; and they owned the
land on which the mill stood; their mill being the third (perhaps the
fourth) in the series of grist mills which have existed on the same mill
privilege. The dam was a few rods below that of the present grist mill,
where its remains are still to be seen.
AMiat are believed to 1)0 the mill-stones of Chester's mill, may still be
seen, chipped and bri")keu, liy the side of the rtiins of the second (or
third ?) mill, on this tract. They are of a coarse red sand stone, full
of hard gravel and pebbles, and probably were never as good for the
purpose, as the mill-stones of to-day. Several other sets of millstones,
some made by cementing fragments of stone together— may be seen at
the same place.
It was propelled by water, probably having an overshot wheel. It
is doubtful whether it contained a bolting mill, few mills had them at
first. Bolting was done by hand power, by other persons than millers.
The highway, from the lower end of Broad Street, over South Hill,
was, for many years, called, in the record, "the Path to the Mill." Mr.
Chester's tract of land at the mill contained about lUO acres.
jMr. Chester died in December, ] <>4S. In September, of that year,
Xathaxiel Dickixsox, the town clerk, and Joiix Coultmax, the town
"schoolmaster," had, as it seems, contracted to purchase the mill. Where-
upon, Septeudjer 22d, 1048, the town voted to assist Dickinson iS:
Coultman in said purchase, by giving them five pounds toward the pur-
chase money, and ten pounds to be expended in repairing it. Coultman
had been an employe of ilr. Chester, whose wid. in her will devised to
him a token of her regard.^
\Miether these parties actually bought the mill at this time, does not
appear. In October, IGUO, it belonged to Joiix Stoddahd; but no deed
of transfer to either of the parties mentioned alif)ve, ajipears of record.
On October 25th, ICGO, the town voted to purchase, of said Stoddard,
"his mill, w'" the land and the apjnirteiuinces thereto," for the sum of
27 pounds. In the following December, the town voted to release the
mill to Stoddard ; and also chose Thomas Ilurlburt and Hugh Welles to
go from house to house, to solicit one day's labor from each inhabit-
ant, to assist in repairing it. In January, 1GG2, Stoddard conveyed
the mill, with twenty acres of land, to ilr. Jojix Ciiestei:, son of Leon-
' See Wyinan's Cliarlestoioi (.\l;is.s.) Genraloijies and Estates, II. S.'JO. ''To Ser-
vant John Coultman of Wetli. islip boqueathtd a silver cup, niaikeJ M. I, D., and a
silver plate with Chester arms" — date of prob. 1 Oct., UiSO. Middlesex Prob. VIII.
638
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
ard, deceased. The tract \vas bounded northerly and westerly by land of
the said Chester; easterly by a highway; southerly by '■coininon"" land. '
This shows, plainly, that "Stoddard's mill" was the one built by Leonard
Chester.
Capt. Chester, who had paid Stoddard 27 pounds for the mill, at once
sold a one-third interest therein, to Coultman, for 9 pounds. As Dick-
inson had in the nieantinie removed to Iladley, IMass., it is not ]n-ul)ablo
that he took any part vi the mill ; although ho furnished Coultman wirh
the money wherewith the latter paid for liis share.
Capt. Chester died in 1G9S, and the mill, or at least his two-thirds
interest in it, descended to his son, ^laj. Joitx Ciiestek. The latter died
in 1711, and his widow, Hannah (Talcott) was the next possessor
of it. In ]\[arch, 1710, Elipiialet Dickixsox and 'Wii.i.iaii Bi.ix were
the lessees of "!^^adame Hannah Chester's !Mill.'' As such, they then
petitioned the to\\n for liberty to overflow Dcming's ]Meadows (now
the Reservoir tract), and to divert other streams to assist the flow of
the princi])al oue.' Their ]ietiti(in was granted. At this time, and
since about ir)!)7, Zaehariali Seymour's fulling mill, southwest of
Chester's lot, was getting the bcnetit of the same stream. Oct. 7, 1700.
Amasa Adams bought one-fourth part of the mill from Thos. Curtis,
and 3 Jan., 1700, an<ither qiuu-ter from Tloger Riley of Kensington
and Justus Riley of AVetherstield, Wcfh. Hers., XIV. 359 ; in ^Mch.,
1772, Amasa conveyed one-fourth part to his son John, and ilay 15,
1782, a quarter to his s<in Joseph. In ilay, 17S1, the mill (or a por-
tion of it) passed from Petek lliKXiiAii to John ilAnsir. A new mill
building was erected in 1797, and the present one in 1S62, originally
on !Mill Hill, until removed, about ten years ago, to its present location.
WTienever a new mill structure has been erected, it has never been
many rods from the old one ; and the mill since Amasa Adams and his
sons owned it, has Iteen known as "The Adams. ]Mill." [Since S. 11'. .1.
wrote the above, ^Messrs. Smith & Farmer ])ui-chased the Adams Mill
and moved it to a few rods west of its original site. A new dam was
erected to the east of the Chester dam, new buildings were added and
a large cider and grist business carried on. Recently, the mill passed
into the hands of !Mr. Theron Welles of Wethersfield.
Dividend or BuR-eley mill was probably the next grist mill set
np in Wethersfield.
' The overflow was by the sunken side of the meadows, where the dike was then
built; the stream leading tlicrefrom being then known as Hang- Dog brook. This
flooded section of tlie old Dcming's meadow is now known as the Griswoldville
Reservoir, and an overflow from the X. E. side to divert its water into Collier
brook was made about fiftv vcars ago.
Tiif Oli> Aha MS' .Mux.
Ax Old Kisii-Uorsfc; ox thk Cove.
THE BULKELEY MILL.
639
As early as Jiiiic jtli, IGGl, the town had given to ''!M^ Joitx Wix-
THROP, our lion'. Govcrn^, and to his heirs forever, Deuidcnt broiik,"
with "siiiFicicni" hind for mills and dams; as also ''what wood he pleses,
or stones, within one mile of Deuident line, in our bounds.""' The gift
was upon the condition that the Governor should erect one or more
mills there(5n ; but no time was limited within which he must build. In
point of fact, the Governor, although invited to take nji his residence
at Hartford, contiinicd to reside at Pequct (Xew Londrm), and never
comjjlied with the terms of the donatiim. Accordingly, in June, 10(38,
he released the tract to the town, at th.e same time ''advising and
desiering the townesmcn (selectmen) to take care that there may be a
convenient highway ajipointed and rescrued, from the Great liiner
up into the woods."" In February. 1G77, the town was informed that
Mr. Geesuom Lri.KKi.EV, their new minister, "was minded to build
a corne mill at Diuidend," gave him "lilierty to make a mill pond"" on
the common land of the town, at that place. Eulkeley had previously
been given a tract of 140 acres, at the same place; it was laid out by
Capt. Sam. AYelles, Serg. John Xott and Hugh "Welles.
That Mr. Eulkley built a mill at once, is shown by a vote of Xov.
17th, 1G7S; wherein Serg. John Kilbourn, "Nfr. Eleazer Kimljerly,
Serg. John Deming and Ens. Hugh Welles were directed to lay out to
him 150 of land, additional to his former grants, "joining to his land,
in his present possession, hij his in ill."- They were also directed to lay
out a highway, '"from Middletown road, about Jn° Taylor's house, to
Mr. Bulkley's mill; and another one, 20 rods wide, "from the north end
of Josiah Gilbert"s land, to runn from the Great river to the other way
mentioned."
A mill has been maintained here until aliout 1880 or '8G, but the
Bulkeley mill, about 18G0, was converted into an edge-tool factory.
Bones and gypsum ha\c also been ground in most of these mills.'^
•June 5th, lOGl. Towne Meetingr. ""It was votpti and pranted by the Town to
Mr. John Winthrop, ovu" Honor Covemr," and to liis heii'5 and for ever. Derident
brouk [Dividend brook], and sofiseen [sufficient] land to build upon, both melles and
dames ; and also all the land that shall hapen to be flowed with the watter of his
mell or niells ponds; and also liberty to take what wood he ple.se, or Staves, within
one mile of Denident line, in our bounds; with this p'rvico [proviso], and it is all
waj-es p'rvided, tliat if the said Hon'r Govemr Winthrup doe buld mell or mells,
scoring to his p'posistion made to the To^^'ne, that than this grant to be confermed
and setteled upon the said Winthrup and his heirs for ever; or else to be void and
of non efict" [none etfeet.] ^^'cth. Totcn Votes, I, p. 71.
'Weth. Tou-n Yotcn. I, p. 15.i. Sept. 2d, 1080.
'The Rev. Gershom Eulkley was given thirty acres of land, "where it will be
most commodious for him, and least damage to the Towne."
640
HISTORY OF A^•CIE^■T WETHERSFIELD.
Sawmills were not in use, even in England, until about lOGO ; and it
is said that the opjiosition to their use was so great that one set up there,
by a Dutchman, in 1GG3, had to be abandoned.
In the early days of the Colony, timber was sawn in saw-pits. A
long saw was worked, by two men ; the "top-sawyer" standing upon the
timber, and the '"pitman"' in a pit beneath it. Sawing was done in^
this way M-ithiu the memory of ])eople now livi)ig, at the ship-yard, at
the Cove.
Clajiboards, and most of the lumber, was rived, or split out, with
axes and wedges. "When the Thomas Griswold house, in Griswoldville,
was demolished about thirty years ago, it was found that the oldest
clapboards were rived, and of white oak.
It is probable that the Hi'st sawmill in Wetliersfield was built by
Thomas llAjneiss, of Hartford. In October, 1G07, the General Court
granted him forty acres of laud, east of the three-mile lots, on a stream
in what is now the mirth west curner of Eastbury — with liberty to build-
a "Sawe ^Mill" theri'iju. That it was built within the two years required
by the conditions of the grant, is evident from the fact that in ]\[ay,
1G09, the .same Ccmrt gave Jtisei»h Hull and Jolui P.id>vell, J^, 200
acres of laiid, "in tlie couuikjus, next to the place tcherc there saw mill
stands;" and Dr. Chapin {Olasfoiihurij Centennial) says that they
had this mill by assignment fruni Ilarriss. It should be said that at that
time the land in questi(m was nor within the limits of any township; but
the extension of Wetliersfield liounds five miles further east, in 1672,
brought it within Wetliersfield liounds. This sawmill was on the south
side of "Saw-mill lliver, commonly called lloccaiuuu River," near
"Spar-mill Swamp."
The next sawmill in the township was at Pipe-stare swamp, in what
is now Xewiugton. This swamp was so called because of the great
number of staves split out at that place for pipes and hogsheads. On
the 25th of October, 1GT7, the town granted to Emanuel Buck, John
Kiley, Samuel Eoardman and Joseph Riley, all of the village of Wetli-
ersfield— twenty acres of land, each, "about Pipe-stave swamp" (in
Newington), with "sufficient ponding," condition that they build a
sa^\^nill thereon, '"before the last of September next." They were also
given liberty to take timber from the common lands. They were to
sell boards at five shillings per hundred [feet I'], and "slit-work" by
"the rule of proportion." This was when the lumber was delivered at
the house of the purchaser; at the mill, the price was four shillings
per hundred. Should the town see cause, sawing was to cease at
the end of twelve years. The land was laid out by Hugh Welles, Serg.
TlfE WEST FARMS MILL.
641
John Xott, Sei-fr. .Tulm Drilling and Joseph Edwards. The mill was
built very soon thereafter, as it is mentioned in a town vote of !March,
IGSO, when Buck was granted GO acres more "at the saw-mill."
West Farms. — This name was given in ITi'"^. and |>erhaps earlier,
to that section of what is now Xewington betwec-n the ]Mile-in-Breadth
and Cedar ^lountain ; or, more accurately, bef^vecn the Half-Mile Com-
mon and said mountain. Tlie ^vost section nf S''-i'ur-y parish was at one
time given the same name, by Ilocky Hill people.
West Division. — This term, as well as "West rarins," was sometimes
used to include all, or nearly all, the tract which later became Xewing-
ton parish. It seems to have included Cow Plain and the ^lile-in-
Brcadth.
This mill stood on the west side of what aftcrv.-ard bt'-eame the Joseph
Andrews' farm; now, or lately ilartin Kclh"'::i:"s. The road leading
from Wethei'sficld, across IL>g !Meadow, through what is now Welles'
Quarter, to the "west farmes," was for many years called the '"Saw-
mill Path," a name first appearing in the record, in lO'^G. In Sep-
tember, 1702, the mill became the property of said Andrews. He
(whose na;no was anciently written "Andrus."") v.-as a son of John
Andrus, oiie of the early settlers of Fariiiington. lie had bought the
two Pileys' lands, in ^larch, 1084; and in Septeiiil or of that year, the
town of Wethersfield gave him "a small piece" of land near it, on which,
it is believed, he built the first dwelling house in Xewington.
In the Andrews' Memorial this sawmill is err'^neously mentioned
as belonging to Joseph .\.ndre\\s in 1GS4. Andrews bought it of
Phincas "Wilson's widow, in 1702; Wilson being a Hartford man, who
seems to have got the mill by foreclosure of mortgages given by the
owners aforesaid; the "ponding" and privilege being jrjint property
of the Ixileys, Buck and Boardman. This mill seems to have given to
thai part of Xewington which was taken up after tht- sawmill was put in
operation there the name of '"Saw-^Mill Farms."
In December, 1713, Joshua liobbins, Jr., Eliphalet Dickinson and
Ebenezer Dickinson, united in a petition to the Fiiwn, wherein they
allege that they have "found a convenient place for a saw-mill, on
our commons, viz. : between Tree Plain and Deming's Plain, on the
brook between those plains," and they ask for liberty to erect a sa'mnill
there, and "to turn some streams near by said bro'^k."' Their request
was granted. This site was within the present limits of Eocky Hill, and
the subject will be further discussed in the chapter relating to that town.
Between 1755 and l7Sfi, several permits were granted by the To\vn
for the erection of a sawmill at "The Folly," but it docs not appear on
642 HISTORY OF ANXIEXT WETHEKSf-IELD.
record that anytliing was there effected. One of the busiest sawmills
was that built as an annex to the Chester (or Adams) gristmill, about
1S20 — now discontinued. Ozias Griswold put up one on "Two ^>rone,"'
or Collier Brook, in Griswoldville, which, about 1S15, was demolished
to give place to a fulling mill.
WindmiUs; WiinhniU II ill — The wind as a motive power was used
for gristmills, long before water was applied to the same purpose. Wind-
mills have been employed for grinding grain, in several idaees in
Wethersfield. One, perhaps more, was on '•Windmill Hill;"' commonly
called to-day, -'Wolcott Hill." I suppose it to have been the "mill and
grinding stone, farm," etc., mentioned by Rich. Treat, Sen., in his will
dated Feb. ISth. lG*)S-9 ; in which ho devises it ro his son James. ]Mr.
Treat's land, on Windmill Hill, was a tract of l:)9 acres, exteiiding from:
what is now Tando's Brook, on the east, to the AVilderncss, one and
one-half miles, on the west. The Wolcott Hill road had not then been
laid out; nor was it laid out till lOSO. Treat's mill probably stood near
the site of the house lately of Kobert Robbins' heirs; and there are in-
dications that Capt. Joshua Robbins. in the middle, or latter part of
the eighteenth century, had such a mill there.
Wiiidiuills have also, within the memory of pv^.ple now living stood
near the River south of the Pratt's Ferry road.
As early as 1Gj9, Josiah Churchill recorded a deed of laud which
he had bought of :^rr. [Charles] Taintor, in the Little West Field on the
south side of the present Jordan Lane. The lot was described as
bounded west by land (formerly) of Samuel Ireland; and east by the
"ilills." Although the outliow of the '-Great Swamp" was then south-
erly and in this vicinity (instead of across the main highway, at The
Folly, as at present) — it is not probable that any water mill existed
on the Taintor lot, at the date in question. The only plausible explana-
tion of the word "]Mills," is that reference was made to icindmills.
Brick Mills (or kilns) were erected at a very early period in the
Town's history. Their remains are to be found in several places in
Wethersfield and Rocky Hill. In June, in.33, Matthew Williams em-
ployed Sanuiel Dickinson to assist him in making brick, and paid him
therefor Gd. a day "in wampum." D. being then a lad of IG, probably
did not receive a man's full wages, Joitx H^^-^-IWELI., received by
Town vote, 25 ^larch, IGSO, "liberty to fence in a yard, to make and
bum bricls, in some convenient place in the To\\-ne land, on the west
side the brook, by Leonard Dix's ; and to have the use of it as long as he
shall folloAv the trade of making bricks in that place." — (IT. T. V., I,
169.) This, Judge Adams supposes to have been on the west side of
BRICKLAYING, STON'ECUTTING, SHOEM.VKERS.
643
Tando's Brook, near the road going to Wolcott's Hill, and on land now
owned by Hon. Silas W. Robbinw. The latest, kiln worked in Weth-
ersfield, but now abandoned, was that just south of the Folly. In the
earlier days brick buildings were not connnon, and chimneys were
sometimes laid np in stone. It is noticeable that, as early as 1G85,
the size of bricks varied so greatly that the General Court felt it nec-
essary to establish, l)y law, a uniform size of 'J.x41x2i inches — evidently
larger than now in present use.
Briclday'mg and Sloiic Cutting, etc. — Dec. 10, 1800, Seth Dicki.v-
SON and S.imuel Galpix advertise themselves as in this business.
Tanneries. — The tanning and curing of the skins of cattle and goats
was an important industry, regulated by law as early as 1640. Farmers
generally took the pelts of their slaughtered animals to the local tan-
neries, and from the hides, they had the boots, shoes and other leathern
articles of domestic use. made up as their needs called for. Sheepskins
were prepared by ''follmongers"" — of whom Samuel Smith, one of the
wealthiest men in Wethersfield, was one in 1040. In Februai'v, 1072,
John Smith, was, by Town vote, admitted an inhabitant, to "set up his
trade of tanning in this Town." There have been four or five tanneries
in Wetliersfi"ld (including lioeky Hill), two of which, Abraham Crane's
and that of Justus Uiley, on Eroad Street (and managed by Daniel
Russell) arc ■within the memory of some still living. The Conn.
Courant, of Nov. IS, I7'.i3, contains Crane's advertisement "for two
tanners, and two active lively boys as apprentices." Tanning, indeed,
was almost a hereditary occupation in the earlier generations of the
Crane family.
Boot and 81ioemali-ers.— [Eplivahn Willlanis' Account Book, Xo. 4,
covering period between 1740 and 'GO, inclusive, is most interesting.
He was a descendant of Matthew and Susannah "Williams, of Rocky
Hill, and the book was long in possession of his great grandson,
the late Charles Williams of Rocky Hill. Ephraim was a tan-
ner, currier and shoemaker. He resided in "Wethersfield, and must
have done a very large business there, in tanning leather, and the
making of all kinds of boots and shoes, and in repairing the same. Be-
sides a large local patronage, he had as customers, Xath. Dewey, John-
than Smith, Abner ^foseley, John Holden, John Kimberley, Ruth
Hollister, Tho. Matson, Hez. Bidwell, David Hubbard, Sam. Price,
Gideon Goodrich, William Fox, Tho. Treat, John Bartlett, David
Goodrich and Sam. Goodrich, all of GJaMonhury ; Thos. Stanley, Jim.,
Josiah Kilbourn, Josiah Hart and Xathan Judd, of Farmington; and
of persons even farther removed from Wethersfield. His Account Book,
644
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIELD.
therefore, contains many little "side-lights'' npon his neighbors and
customers, -which do not pertain strictly to his own business-calling,
yet are invaluable helps to our understanding of things as they then
existed. Thus, we get, incidentally, the informatiou that Col. Chester
o%vncd a "slay" (sleigh) ; that Ezokiel Porter's wife wore "purple
shoes;" that William lihodcs wore tow-cloth at 2s. per yard; that Col.
Elisha Williams paid £2. .js. for "scouring the brasses," and ''culeriiig
and eyling the tackling of the shase" (chaise), aud that he also had
a pair of shoos made "for his Pallintiue" (undouljtedly a servant, who
was one of those Palatine emigrants from the Old World, who
came to this country, during the Seventeenth Century) ; that
Col. Chester, in 1748. paid £1-12 for a pair of shoes for "^Madam Ches-
ter," and the same price for "your Xegro Wench's ;" that Capt. Josiali
Griswold's sword scabbard cost ?>s. ; and Pcturn Beldiiig's [sword] ]]elt,
65. ; that Col. Israel Williams, of Hartford, paid £4 for double-chan-
nelled pumps, and the same for German pumps, while for a pair of
double channelled hoofs he paid £14 (extravagant old gentleman!);
that Mrs. Joseph Smith's red slioes cost £2. 10.?. ; and the case for Col.
Chester's sword cost 10s.; etc., etc.: wliile Capt. .Toua. Pol>bins had
several pairs of sill- shoes niiule for liis daughter: Hilary and Elizalicth,
and his son Appleton wore pumps I
Mogasons (]\roccasins) made at £1. 5s., each, ^Mary Warner had them
made for her negro.
His customers, many of them, paid "in kind,'' i. e., in goods and pro-
duce of various sorts, and swapped accounts with him, to their mutual
satisfaction; as well as to ours, for it was the means of preserving to
us the prices of various articles.
Thus, Joseph Webli, the merchant, paid in such articles as shalloon,
calaminco, spelling books, cotton, hats, etc. : William Khodes paid in
■weaving, at the following rates, plain cloth, 2s. GfZ. per yd. ; linen clotl),
2s.; check shirting, 3.9.; kersey, 2s. 6rf. ; woolen blankets, 2s. Od.;
Col. Chester frequently paid in grain, "meslin" (muslin?), hides. Jus-
tice's fees, etc. ; John Ivobbins, Jr., made in 17.52, 5S barrels of cider
for Mr. Williams; while (probably for ^Mr. Williams' use in his own
business) Benjamin Trumbull of Hebron made, in one vear, 9 dozen
of wooden heels for shoes ; and David Beadle made "Gloshes'' (galoshes)
at 15s. pr. pair.
Then this old x\ccount Book gives us the prices of various articles of
leather and of work in leather, viz. : curing a horse hide, 18s. ; curing
a dog skin (4 done for Chas. Churchill), 4s. Gd. ; sole leather, 8 to 10s.
pr. lb. ; "Blacking a hide of upper leather, 5s. ;" wooden heels for girls'
OLD ACCOUNT BOOKS-BLACKSIIITIIS.
645
shoes, £1. Qd.\ a j)air of "slick downs" (whatever they may be?), '.jS. ;
"leathering pair of speckticles," 4s. ; a large sheepskin for boy's breeches,
15s. ; sheepskin for a "pillion," 10s. ; ALcn's shoes, 1748, £2-10; in 1755,
£3; in 175G, £4; Women's shoes, 1748, £2; skins tanned and cured,
£1. Is. or at 15s. ; curing calf skins, 4s. ; and one siile of upper leather,
IDs. ; making pair of leather bi'eeches, 4s. (id.
"Ledger A," of tiie old firm of Elisha Williams and Co.,
in Wethei-sfield, in 173^, gives us the following iirices worth noting
in connection with subjects treated of in proceeding chapter, viz : Choco-
late, 13' per lb. ; oats, 3' per bushel; turnips, 2/G per bu. ; flax-seed, 7/6
per bushel: onions, -} ; wheat D' per bushel in 1730; Indian corn, 5 to
9' per bushel; sugar 11' per lb. in 1745; tobacco, 6"" per lb; also 4-^";
Beeswax, 3', 10" i:)er lb. ; barley, 3', 0" per bushel; malt from barley, 9'
per bushel: pickled codfish, £1G jKn" baiTcl; Sea Coal, for blacksmi thing,
15', 6". per bushel.
TirojrAS ITunLUUT was a .shoemaker in Wethersfield from 1758 until
his death; Joseph Fofi;]BF.s shaved and whitened skins of leather;
Thomas Demixg, currier, advertises sole leather and wants oak bark,
1793; PS filso does J. Gin.r, in 1804; Ski.ukx ^Iixku advertises his
commencing business, 4th Jul.v, 1805, at twenty rods N"orth the ilecting
House, and was still in business in 1813; GooDiacu & Haurisox,
Joseph S. Boaedjiax, IIkxry Newiujky were shoe dealers in 182G ;
L. Haet in 1829; :MERniTT Bcteer, 1832; Johx II. Webbeie, 1838. —
//. R. 8.]
Blaclsmithf!. — A "smithy" was, in early times, a much more impor-
tant establishment than now. Until a comparatively recent date, not
only were axes, chisels, spades and other tools wrought by hand, at the
blacksmith's forge and anvil ; but even nails, spike.s, bolts, etc., were
made in like manner. Even slitting-mills (for preparing nail-rods and
other iron bars) were imknown in Connecticut until 171C. Among
the earliest blacksmiths in Wethersfield were IIexry Buck and
TirojiAS ITuKEi'.URT. To the former, the Town in 1G5S, gave a piece
of land for his shop. It was on the common near the present Cove, and
a house was given him at the same time. — W. T. V., I, 74.
In later times, we find the names of the following blacksmiths and
iron-workers: Stevenson, mentioned in Oct., 17G4. Stephen
Mygate, 1815; William Goodrich, Sept., 1790, made niarlin-spikes,
bolts, crowbars, nails and repairs for the schooner Uccovcry; Joseph
Blinn and Thaddcus Stoddard in June, 1803, dissolved partnership;
Daniel Belden, 1750.
646
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Charcoal until tlic introduction of "sea coals," some sixty years ago,
was the only fuel used for the blacksmith's forge. Although no coals
are now made in Wethersfield, the time has been when the business of
burning them was a considerable industry. The earliest mention I
find of them is under date of 10 Dec, 1077, when "Goodman [Thomas]
Hurlburt's "cole kill" is incidentally referred to, in designating a
boundary line of William Clark's home lot.^ The coal-pit, as we would
now call it — was near the brook, on the east side ; at the rear, or west
end of Hurlburt's hume lot, which was on the west side of the road
then called Cell lane ; now the sotuli end of Main Street. I suppose it
was because of the numl)cr of cal-pits there, that Collier Swamp re-
ceived its name, as early, at least, as 170.J.
Pipe-sf a res.— The manufacture of these was one of the chief indus-
tries of our early history. The General Court, in 1C41, provided that
the timber therefor should not "lie fallen within three niyles of the
Matabezeko river;" which stream, at that time, was largely within
Wethersfield bi:iund>. It also required the staves to be 4 ft. 4 in. long,
4 in. wide, at least, and one inch thick. The timber tised was mostly
oak, and the staves and heads were put intu lunullcs, or "shooks," and
shij)pe<l t<< ihv_ West Indies, and other foreign ports; ihere to be used
for pipes and casks, for rum, molasses, sugar, etc. They were largely
exported from Connecticut, down to late in the last century. They
were split or "rived," and not sawn.
In Juuc, 1G41, Wetherstield was allowed to export .'30,000 pipe-staves,
and Hartford and Windsor 20,000 each. In 1G77, the name "Pipestave
Swamp," in the north central part of what is now Xewington, appears
in the records, as a self-explaining title for a considerable section, near
the center of which a sawmill was, at about that time, established.
]Many of these staves were gotten out from timber growing on the
conuuon lands of the Town ; which led to the passage of by-laws for
the })reservation of the Town's timber. In 1695, .Joseph and Benjamin
Churchill got (.mt a quantity of staves, which were seized and confiscated
by the Town ; but were afterwards magnanimously released. In the fol-
lowing year, 5,000 were taken from Thomas Wickham ; but released,
on the ground that Wickham supposed he had cut the timber within.
!Middletown bounds.
Pipcstaves were recpiircd by law to be 4 feet 4 inches long, 4 inches
wide, and half an inch, at least, in thickness; to be inspected by a
person chosen by the town.
'Weffc. Town Votes, I, p. 153.
FULUXG MILLS.
647
Coopers. — Xathax Smith was evidently one. Mr. Jona Bulkely
employed and credits liini "for six flower Burrils, 12s. and for hooping
6 barrels, is-Sd. ;"' Caled Gklswolu, among other things furnished
"powdering tubs," used to pickle meat in.
Fulling Mills. — The earliest articles fulled (with fullers' earth, then
imported from England or Holland) were: serges, stuffs, kerseys, lind-
sey woolseys, woven upon the family loom. Cloth dressing was not
attempted until many years later.
Zaciiaiv'iau SEYiiouK, SOU of Hicliard, of Hartford, came to Wethers-
field, from Farmington, hefore 16S0. In ]\[areh, 1C97, the Town gave
liim liberty to place a Fulling [Mill "upon tlie brook southwest from
Capt. [John] Chester his lot : and to make a dam for a sufficient pond;''
the work to he done within IS months thereafter. It is believed by the
writer that he built such a mill just southwest of the present "Mill"
(Chester's) pasture; where a long trench is still seen along the dividing-
line between the wood lots lately of Welles Adams, deceased, and the
Griswold lots. But it may ha\"e been further up the stream, where
it flows through Griswoldville; near the conference of Two-Stone (or
Collier) and Hang-Dog brooks.
A Fulling Mill (sometimes two) lias been nuiintained in Griswold-
ville, from time immemorial, until about 18r)0. It is supposed Jacob
Griswold (father of ^laj. Josiah), who settled there about 1712, was a
fuller. ^laj. Josiah Griswold, who died in 1700, built one in Iladdam,
it is said ; and his son, Josiah, who died in 1774, had one in the old red
wooden buildings, built about 17'iO, and demolished in ISS-l, just west
of the dwelling house of Jacob Griswold's heirs, in Griswoldville. Sub-
sequently to Josiah Griswold's death the business was carried on at the
same place until 1817, by Jacob, Justus, Thomas and other members
of the Griswold family, who added to it the business of dying and
cloth-dressing. — (See Cloth Dressing.)
About 1S1.5, Ozias Griswold, son of ^laj. Josiah, put up a Fulling
Mill, near the dam at the foot of Stanley Griswold's home lot. It was
placed on the site of an old sawmill, belonging to Ozias. About 1S25,
Thomas Griswold, Sen., son of Ozias, Thomas Griswold, Jr., and Jus-
tus Griswold, being partners as Thomas Griswold & Co., added satinet
weaving to operations of the establi.shment. They also, about 1830,
built a dam on Hang-Dog brook, diverting that stream, so that its
waters were added to those of Two-Stone brook ; on which the mill
stood. The remains of .the dam may still be seen, back in the pasture,
southwest of the site of the satinet mill. The business of fulling here
648
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
ceased, with the other operations, in ISoO. — (See Salinet Weaving^
Cloth Dressing, Knitting.)
It should be added that, with one or two exceptions, Seymoui-'s Full-
ing Mill was the most ancient in the Colony. There is said, however,
to have been one in Hartford in IGDO; and Hccklej's, at iSTew London,
was built in 1G03.
TiioiiAS Tousi.EY (now Toucey), ancestor of Gov. Isaac Toucey,
came to Wcthersficld about lOTi. He was a fuller, and may have had a
Fulling Mill there; as he certainly (in company with "\Vm. Pitkin) had
one in Hartford, some years later.
There is an old trench through "Ilarriss'' lot, both n. and s. of
Daniel's Bridge, Griswoldville. This may have led from Sejnnour's
Fulling ]\Iill. "
Carding and M'caving. — Wool carding (which precedes the process
of spinning) was done by hand, for many years ; just as the tow of
hemp and flax had to be hatcheled or hackled, by hand, before being
spun. Hand looms, for weaving serges, kerseys, flannels, fustians and
"stuffs," of wool; liiisey-woolseys, of wool and flax, combined; buck-
rams, Osnaburgs, and other linen fabrics, from flax; tow-cloth, from
hemp; dimities, ginghams, cottun-cbecks, jca'.is and other textile fab-
rics, from "cotton-wool" — were in the hands of some families. Hemp
and flax were probably the earliest materials woven here. Before the
extermination of wolves, wool-growing was not largely carried on. Cot-
ton was carded, spun and woven, earlier than wool.
The first weaver whose name we find in "Wethersfield, is Riciiakd
Smith, who camo up from Pequott (Xew London) in Fcbruaiy, 1G5G-T,
and was then voted an inhabitant, and given land for his home-lot.
But.it is probable that one or more weavers were in Wethersfield 15
years earlier. ]\[any families had spun thread from the tow of hemp
and flax before the advent of Smith to the place.
Thomas Griswold «S.' Co. (Thomas Griswold, Sen., Justus Griswold
and Tho. Griswold, Jun.) were the first to introduce the power-loom in
Wethersfield. They began in 1S'51 (some say in 1S25), in the old full-
ing and cloth-dressing mill built in 1815, and described under the
head of Cloth-dressing. They wove large quantities of satinet; the
product of their looms, in 1845, (together with those at Xewington?)
having been 4o,000 yards. About 1847, J. Welles Griswold, son of
Justus, sticceeded to the business, which he continued until 1849 ; when
he began stockinet-knitting in the same establishment, and the weaving
of satinet wholly ceased, ^[achine-made stockinet underclothing were
made here, the material being wool and wool and cotton combined. J.
CLOTH-DRE;?SLN"G. CLOTHIERS.
649
Welles GriswolJ, witli his brother. Charles K. Griswold, in 1S50, dis-
continued the Lii.-iue?s here, and transferred their laachinerv to the
re-built "Brick" factory; Avhich. after it was burnt down, thev had
purchased from the trustees of the insolvent Griswoldville ^lanufactur-
ing Co. Here they continued, doing a thriving business, until 1S65,
when they sold to Austin Dunham i- Co.. of Hartford. In the meantime,
they had introduced steam power, as auxiliary to their water power.
The Dunhams ran the works for several years; but did not vigorously
push them. They soon sold them to J. Welles Griswold and his sister,
Mrs. John Holt, who were the owners in 1SS4. This factory has been
idle for some years.
The J. Welles Griswold Co. was succeeded in time by J. Welles ^:
Chas. K. Griswold. In IS-l.j, the output of the Wetherstield mills
was 4.3,000 yds. of satinet, consuming -3.5,250 pounds of wool, and dur-
ing the same year 20,000 pcjunds of cotton-batting was produced in
the to^\-n.
In Xewington, we find Ensign Joirx "Wvatt, weaver in lt!ilt4 : and
Tug. Couch.
CJofli-Di-'>.<:<iing. Clothiers and Tailors. — The .liO.-siug of cloth In'
"clothiers," was probably not attempted in this State, until about 100
years ago. Ozias Griswold, born in 173G, is said to have been a clothier.
But this is doubtful : since his son. Thomas, went to Hartford to learn
the trade of one Barnard. Cloth-dressing and dyeing was done by
THOirAS, JusTL'S and Jaiif.s Griswold, in a building, erected for
the purpose, about ISl.'i, liy their father. Ozias Griswold. It stood on
the present site of Capt. Thomas Williams' factory li\iilding (unused),
a little below the dam on the homestead of Stanley Griswold's heirs,
at Griswoldville. It was a red, wooden structure ; in which fulling was
also done. It was this building in which satinet weaving was begun;
at a later date. Cloth-dressing was done here until about 1S50. This
mill was demolished in 1SS4: and on its site a gristmill was erected, by
the heirs of Capt. Thomas Williams. It is probable that a fulling-mill
stood there before tlie one built by Josiah Griswold and that his mill was
used for cloth-dressing, by Thomas Griswold, Sen., as early as 170.5.
The same business was continued there by Thomas, Jacob and Justus
Griswold, until 1S47, or later; when the manufacturing of edge-tools
was begun there. Among the other processes of cloth-dressing was that of
teasling; whereby a nappe was produced on the cloth, by causing it to
pass over revolving cylinders, on which the seed-tops of teasels were
arranged. Large crops of teasels were grown in Wethersfield. The
650
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSFIELD,
operation still lias the same name; but wire cards or brushes are largely
nsed to effect the same purpose.
In connection -with this subject of "ch^thiers and tailors" ^vc may
mention David Goodiucii, IToO; Thomas k James Geiswold, Oct.,
1807; A. Wei:ster, 1859, and Obed Pl-lsifer, 1SC4. Xor must we
overlook Joiix Marsh, who, in A]il., 1701, was credited on Mr. Jona-
than Bulkeley's account bddk. with "making one pair of Leather
Breeches — -is. Of/.," — which jirice was certainly not high, according to
present standards of value; at a later ]ieriod SA:MrEL Gooniacii nuide
"leather breeches, also a Great Coat and a Jacket of Kersey ;" and
Lovelaxd & Latimeu, of ISOd, were pmbably the successors of the
business of Joiix Lovkland, of 1S."]1.
Hat Factories.— Oi this industi-y, we have but little data. [Ei.isiia
Woi.coTT, gt-g(l-son of Samuel Wolcott 2d, after s<:)inc service in the
army at Xew York in the smnmcr and autumn of 177G, is said, at Gen.
Washington's suggestion, to have returned to his home in Wethersfield
for the purpose of making hat^ for the soldiers — and one of the '"hat
blocks" used by him in this manufacture, at the old Samuel Wolcott
(present Bourne) house, is still in possession of his descendants. —
Letter of .T"-*. J. W. rh-iau-nld.]
Capt. Joiix Pat.mek's works on the east side of Broad Street, were
the last in operation here. lie "felted" large quantities of the fur
of muskrats; and made hat bodies which he took to Xew York to sell.
He employed four or five apprentices, besides otlier employees. Tim-
othy Clark of Rocky Hill was a hatter, 1804.
Straw Braiding. — In 1819 and '20, !Miss Sophia Woodiiouse (after-
wards ^Irs. Gurdon Welles) was awarded a premium from "the Hart-
ford County Society for Promoting Agriculture and Domestic ^lanu-
factures," for the best "Grass Bonnett," plaited by herself.
In 1821, letters patent of the V. S. were granted to her (she being
then the wife of Gurdon AVelles) as the inventor of a "new and useful
improvement in the manufacture of Grass Bonnets and Hats." The
specification shows that the improvement consisted in both the treat-
ment and the use of a new material, for the purpose above stated. The
stalk above the upper joint of certain grasses commonly growing in Weth-
ersfield, to-wit : "Spear grass," or "English spear grass" and "red top"
(the former preferred), was boiled until the sheath would slip off; then
bleached, with a solution of pearl-ash; then fumigated with sulphur;
then plaited like tlie Leghorn braid. Great skill was attained in the
several processes ; and the Wethersfield '"Leghorn Hats" acquired a
world wide fame. The wife of President John Quincy Adams was the
ROPES AND CORDAGE AND STOCKING MANUFACTURERS.
651
recipient of u "Straw iloniiot ;" and the President was pleased to write
of it that it was ''an cxtraordinarv specimen of American Manufac-
ture."^ The Society of Arts, of London, England, in 1S21, seiit to
Miss Woodliouse a premium of twenty guineas, enclosed in a handsome
morocco case, for an exhihited bonnet — which is certified to have been
"superior in color and fineness, to the best Leghorn Straw."
Ropes and Cordage.— \t is uncertain when the manufacture of
cordage from heinij was begun in Wetherstield. Hemp was raised
there as early as 1040 ; and ropes made from it were used for the rigging
of vessels.
About a hundred years ago, Joxatuax Bill of Stepney parish had
a rope walk, a little nortii of the Landing at Rocky Hill. He sold it
to James Church of Hartford, in September, ISOO. The latter con-
tinued it until about ISiiT ; under the management of John Chauncey;
when the works were reninved to Hartford. The works were on the
five acre tract belonging to the Town, and which had been reserved for
a ship-yard, etc. Sninurl Jlill tt- Cu. (S. Bill & Wait Robbins) adver-
tise a dissolution of jiartiurshij), Jan. 1, 1S05; Elislia Church was in
business, I7l)0.
AsHKK RoBBXXS, Esq., Iniilt a "Hemp-mill" ar.d rope walk in 1830,
near the site of the present mattress factory, on Sucker brook. It was
a fine establishment, but it led to the financial ruin of Mr. Robbins,
who Avas a lawyer by profession. John Chauncey was its superintendent.
In 1834, the rope works were sold to James and James Church, Jun.,
of Hartford; Avho removed them to that place. The hemp-mill was
bought by Henry Harris, wlio converted it to a wagon factory; which,
in a few years, was consumed by tire. The Hewitt-matti'css factors' was
on its site; was rebuilt near the R. R. station, where it is now operated.
The building containing the ro]ie walk, which was southeast of the
hemp-inill, was sold in sections.
Stocking Factory. — James Wallace, in ^lay, 1770, was engaged in
the manufactui'c of stockings, "in both the silk-cotton thread, and the
'March Otli, 1S21. At Wasliinpton. ilr. Jolin B. Hunl, of Xew York, called
at the office [Departuicnt of State] ' ' * I spoke to him also, of a straw bonnet,
made at Wcatlieistield, sold some months since at Xew York, as an extraordinary
specimen of American manufacture, wliich llurd bought and sent as a present to
my wife. I told Huid tliat, while, in the public situation which I hold, I make
it a principle to accept no valuable present from any one, it was very harsh to
interdict the acceptance of presents offered to my wife; and it gave me pleasure
to see her giving countenance, according to our means, to the productions or
ingenuity of our country. I had, therefore, consented to her acceptance of his
present." — Memoirs of .John Qiihicp Adiims, V. p. 319.
See also Mrs. Earle's Home Life in Colonial Days, p. 260.
652
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHfIRS FIELD.
worsted way;"' as appears from a petition then preferred to the General
Assembly, asking for a bounty for his encouragement. The request
was denied.^
Chemicals. — The earliest articles made from chemical compounds
were bonieniade. They were soap (soft), gunpowder and perhaps some
others. Certain noji-chemical productions were made by very many
families. They were such as beeswax, bayberry-tallow, dye-stuffs (from
safflower blossoms, bark of the oak and maple, etc.), black-ball (for
shoes) ; ointments, and other simple products for common use.
Potash was made, in 1>15, or earlier, at the south end of Broad
Street. In 1S31, the late JJr. Ekastus F. Cooice and others were in-
corporated as "The Eagle Laboratory Company." Their works (now
put to other uses) still exist. For some years they did a large business
in the manufacture of saltpetre, cojiperas, etc. ; but it eventually proved
unprofitable to its owners. A portion of their works consisted of a
glass room about 40 by 20 feet in size.
Saltpetre. — Tn .Tanuary, 1770, Daxikl IIixsnAi.F., of Ilartf ird, and
Samuel Eoard.max of Wctherstield, both merchants-— formed a co-part-
nership under the linn name of Samuel Boardman i: Co., for the manu-
facture of saltpetre. Thoy had their works about opposite the late
Stephen Willard's at tlie Liwer, or snuth end, of Broad St., Wethersfield ;
between the highways wliii-h skirt that broad Green. They had potash
kettles in their establishment: and it may be that they also made pot-
ashes. That they made laree quantities oi saltpetre is evident from the
account, which the writer has seen, of the ninnber of loads of earth
(taken from tuuler old barns and stables) to be used in the manufacture
of the article. It must have commanded a high price, as gunpowder
could not be made without it. Three shillings per load was paid for
the earth used.
Book Printinfi. — In the early part of the present century, Abkl Dem-
ING was a printer in Wethersfield.
The late Alfred Francis, Esq., and William Biiardman (father of
Wm. F. J.), together published several works. One of them, now
before the Avriter, is a Life of Thomas Jefferson, S vo., 55G pp., by B.
L. RajTier; purporting to have been published at Xew York, "By
A. Francis and "W. Boardman;" in 1832. It is an octavo volume of
556 pages: and the work is exceedingly well executed. It was printed
in the building now the dwelling house on the northeast corner of !Main
and Gurdon Streets. Sume of the works of Frederick Butler, A. ^I.,
•U. S. Patent Oflice Report.^, ISoO, p. 455.
VARIOUS INDUSTRIES.
653
and of ilr. Euiorson, tlio teacher, -were also printed in AVethersfield.
Among books published by AVethersfield men, at a later date, wc find :
Three Years' Wanderings of a Connecticut Yankee, bv C. il. Wells,
Kew York, 1859, pp. -'358, and Life and Death in Rebel Prisons, by
Eobert II. Kellogg-, Hartford, 1S65, 12 m., pp. 3!)S.
Scroll Sawing; Wood Worl'ing. — William Adams, Jr.. and IIiuam
Havkxs, in 1S37, !)egan this industry. A dwelling house was drawn
from the homestead of the former and jdaccd at the gate of the dam
of the Adams gristmill ; where circular and scroll saws were put into it,
moved by an undershot wheel. About their first work was the pre-
paring the wood work for the interior of the Congregational church;
then being renovated. The business was continued until 1844, when
the plow works of Hiram Havens succeeded. Subsequently, the build-
ing l>ocame a mattress factory, and was such until it was consumed by
fire.
Coffee and Spice JlilL — "William Eoardmax, deceased, founder of
the great house of Wm. l>)ardman & Sons, of Hartford, was the first to
start the important industry of coffee and spice grinding in this vicinity,
if not in the state, about forty years ago, in Wethersfield. — See Board-
man Gene"hgii.
Plow Worlcs. — In 18 lo, Hikam Havexs began the manufacture of
plows for Thomas Smith &: Co., of Hartford; now Smith, Bourne &
Co. Their plows were mostly for the southern trade; in 1845, they
manufactured 1,000.
Edge Tools; Ilan^niers, etc. — The ''Griswoldville ^Mantifacturing
Co.," was incorporated in 1802 ; the charter members being Thomas
Griswokl, Sen., Jacob, Justus and Stanley Griswold, and Asher Robbins.
In 1837, they built the Brick Factory, in Griswoldville, into which
they brought the water from the Reservoir in Dcming's ^Meadow's by a
new channel; and with it carried an immense ''breast" wheel. They
manufactured hammers and edge tools, until the factory burnt down,
and the company failed, in 1847. Bailey and Wolcott (Arnold Bailey
and Oliver Wolcott) then purchased the business, and transferred the
works to the old dye-house and cloth-dressing establishment, in the
old red wooden building next west of Jacob Griswold's house. Wolcott
soon left the business and Bailey carried it on alone for the last three
years of its existence; closing in 1SG5.
About 1830, Hosea Bulkolcy, the then owner of the old Bulkeley
gristmill at Dividend, sold the mill to a ;Mr. Russell of ]\IiddlctowTi,
who began the manufacture of axes. About 1835, the business passed
into the hands of Israel Williams, William Butler and others; soon
654
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIKLD.
afterwards, and, about 1S42, was bdUiiht l>y Gon. Leonard H. ^Velles
and Alfred Wilcox, who added to their list chisels and "plantation
hoes." After ^Ir. Wilcox's death, the prnpcrty ^vas sold to Aiuos Whit-
ney and Clias. E. Billings, the latter of wlaiui now owns and occupies
the old works as a branch of the Pratt li: Whitney factory of Hartford.
During the year 1S8+, the killings li: Edwards [now the Spencer &
Billings) Co. erected a very substantial lirick factory on the premises
for the manufacture of mechanics" tonls.
Tin and Pewlcr Warr. — The history nf tlie beginning of tliis industry,
by Capt. TiioiiAS Dani-uktii, at liocky Hill, is given in our Rocky
Hill Chapter.
Pin Factoiij. — In 177r>, Lkoxakd C'ukst];i;. then 25 years of age, and
a brotlier of Col. .John Chester, ajiplied to the General Assembly for a
bounty ''interest fee" for his encouragement in the manufacture of
pins, an industry "never before attemi)ted in this country." A com-
mittee was thereupon a]ipointed to consider and make report upon the
matter. It found ^[r. Chester luul .-ix men employed in the business,
and that he had expended more tlian £1,700 in providing tools, machines
and materials for carrying on tlie manufacture of pins;" and it rec-
ommended thnt the '=fate alkiw him a i)"unty of tl'.rcc pence per pound
on mannfactureil ])ins. These articles were then made, as is generally
known, with a round head, so loose as to be easily separated from the
shaft. Chester (Leonardns), as he signs himself in his petition, was
probably the earliest maker of them in this state. He died in 1S03.*
See U. S. Patent Office Beport. IS.^0, p. 442.
Foundries. — An Iron Enundry for small castings was established in
1849, in the old carriage factory of XefF fr ilerriam, a little below the
Landing at Kocky Hill. The owners were Eobekt Sugdex' and others,
who had organized under the name of The Eocliij Hill Manufacturing
Company. About two years later they sold the works to Geo. W.
Hartley, Esq., who was unsuccessful in the undertaking. The latter
was succeeded by John G. ilix, of IL\rtford, who carried on the busi-
ness of "rectifying'' cider ; making Avhat was known to the trade as
"champagne cider."' ^lix was succeeded in his industry by James
Warner and Blin, associated as Warner & Blin.
In April, 1854, Bvti-Ke i: Sugdex (Wm. Sage Butler and Robert
Sugden) established a foundry at Dividend. They made large quanti-
ties of cast iron shears and scissors and were the pioneers of this busi-
ness in this country. Their goods were sold all over the United States
* State Archives, Uti. Industry Vol. II, 155.
CARRIAGE MAKING. ETC.
6^^
and Canada; and iliev wvre so successful that importations oi these ar-
ticles (previously CMiisiik-rulilo) wholly ceased.
In ISGG, IMr. Sui^deu ])urchased the interest of his co-partner, and
continued the busine.-s until l^G.'); when the works were destroyed by
fire; the work of an incendiary. Sugden and Butler then reunited in
business; rebuilt the works and shortly thereafter sold tlicni to Steven
Bro^\"n k Co., of Cromwell. The latter soon became insolvent and in
addition the buiWings were destroyed by fire. They were never re-
built.
Carriarjc-Maliiifi.^On]}- the oldest factory of tiiis kind that of
Xeff k ^[ekriam (William XeflF and Edward ^lerriam) will lie men-
tioned here. They Lx-ated about 1S30 a few rods beLiw The Landing
Place, at Rocky Hill, in buildings subsequently used liy Sugden i:
Butler, as a foundry. The products of this factory were almost
exclusively sold in the Soutlicrn States, and in 1S30, they established at
Wilmington, X. C, a "repository" for the sale of their carriages. Xeff
sold out to ^lerriain. by whom the business was continued until his
death, at the South, almut 1S4-9. The j)ro])erty passed into the hands of
the Kocky Hill ^lanufacturing Co. — which existed about iive years: and
it wns then sold to T. i: E. S. Eclden. lis site is i»o\v occu])ied by IT. H.
Grant, as a coal yard.
From 18-1:2 until 1517 or "48 T. B. Rogers manufactured carriages;
and, about the same time -Joseph Porter, of West Rocky Hill, was
engaged in the same line of business.
Other Industries, such as cah'inct and chairmnl-ing: coffin — harness
and matfress-mal-inr/ (the last a large business conducted by the
Hewitt Beg?.), shelf-liardirare (18S1) which has since passed into
the hands of the Pierce Hardware Co. — have been carried on at different
times, and with varying degrees of success, in this town — which our
limits will not permit us to treat of in detail.
^Dri/ Goods.- — In the olden time of which we speak, there were, unless
in the towns and cities, no so-called Dri/ Goods stores. All the country
and most of the toMTi stores wei'e then devoted to general merchandise.
Under this heading of dry (joods, we, therefore, shall only attempt to
convey to our readers the kinds and character of the dress and domestic
goods sold in the stores in places like Wethersfield. "An attempt"' we
must call it, since time has dimmed our knowledge of what goods were
meant by the names which have long been disused; such as Barcelona
Handl-erchicfs, BarJorr Pcnlnires, (cl 20s. per doz. ; Barrlcan ["Berri-
gan" J a cloth resembling camelot ; Buckram, (cC Sf^.per yd., lately revived
6s6
HISTORY OK ANC'IKNT WETHEIKFIELD.
and much usod in book-binding; Calamanco ["Calarain-ko*'] a woolen
cloth, originally made of camels' hair (Low Latin, Calamancus) ; Castor
Hats; Cocahach, 1750; Death Head Buttons; Durance (possibly the
same as Durey (Dusant from "Durcr,") "to last," a stout cloth, stiff,
like leather, of whicii Drjrothy — furnished the merchant a quantity, at
£12; Ferret, a flowered silk (ta}ie) Fr. flouretj Fiistiari, a coarse cloth;
German Serrjc; Liitestr'nuj, worsted; Osnahiirrj (called sometimes ''Os-
nabrig'') ; Padasoy, a silk originally manufactured at Padua, Italy;
Priissianetle, (a) £2, lOd. for 28 yds.; Patches, of cambric ; "Ponlcenus,"
@ 5s. per doz. ; Powncjes, some sort of dish; Bands, insoles for shoes ?;
Rcdicood, logwood, sold by Ed. Ifoward, (a) 3 s. per pd. ; Eatinett, (old
Fr. Batin,) a thin woolen twilled; Bummer, a sort of short goblet, in
which to take a hot whiskey?; Sagathcc ['"Sagathy"] ; Silk Lunge;
Spotted Swansl-in; Spinel, a spindle, or collection of hanks of yarn ;
Tamlne (Tan7iing), Fr. Tamire. a sieve? or "Tammy," a woolen cloth;
Taffeta (TafFety). We must confess our igiiorance of the natui'e of
some of these dry goods.
[^General Merchandise- — Of enterprising merchants, of signal ability
and large capital, Wethersfield has, in her day, had a great number.
Among them (in addition to others already spoken of elsewhere,
we may mention Silas Deaxe, who, in 1765, offers ''a quantity
of choice Brandy, which he will part with at a very low rate for cash,
either by the hogshead, barrel or keg," also Hemp seed 20s. per bu. ;
and in 17GS, and later he was a largfe dealer in flour. Daiiaras Frazier
kept a store in 1750; Joseimi Webb, elsewhere mentioned, merchant
and storekeeper, 17S0; Ei-isiia Boardman^, 1790; Riley, Wright
& Co., 17S3 ; Joirx Woodhouse, 17S7 ; Jasox & Justus Robbins,
1806; :\Ls.Y i: Stillmax, about ISIO; Simeox Beldex & Sox, 1814;
Levi Butler & Co. kept store on Broad Street as late as 1803, and
in 1793, paid cash for flax seed, old silver, pewter and beeswax; in 1798,
were located four doors south of Meeting house ; IIexry Ueiiixg, who d.
1798, ae. 47, and whose business was continued by his widow, Anna
Dcming "& Co.," 12 July of that yr. "with an extensive assortment of
European and India goods ;" also Bobbins &; Williajis ; Lockwood
Beldex; Joseph Hale, Dr. Asiibel Robertson and Jesse Good-
Eicii, who all flourished about 1818 and '19.
Slaughter Houses. — Butchering was a more important business in
early times, than at present, inasmuch as large quantities of salt beef
and pork were exported frijiii this and other River To^^ms. The first
recorded grant of license for setting up a slaughter house in Wethers-
field was in 1680 to Ens. John Stedman. It was set up on Town land.
BAKERS AND LIBRARIES.
657
Distilleries. — John Stewart's in 1775, is the earliest of which anv
mention is fonnd, though it is prohable that there were others still
earlier. One below the Landing, at Rocky Hill, for making "rye gin,"
is still remeinbered. Also one owned by Capt. Wait Robbins, near his
house, Avcst of Goffe's brook. This latter made cider-brandy. In 1S20,
there were five in Wethersfield proper.
[Bahers. — Bakers, as understood at the present day, were not a neces-
sity in the economy of domestic life, since every housewife made her oa^ti
bread, cake, etc. But, during tlie days of Wethcrsfield's maritime pros-
perity (and especially in the Rocky Hill section) there was a large and
steady demand for "sea bread," or biscuit, for the supply of the numer-
ous vessels sailing hence to the West Indies, or other foreign ports ;
and there were some persons who engaged largely and regularly in its
manufacture. These bakings were generally "put out" to these parties,
who M'ere willing or had the conveniences for making the bread, eloua-
than Eulkeley, merchant at Ste])ney, in his Account Book, under date
of 21st Xov., 1770, ' notes Allen Stillman, "dettor" for 4 Cwt.
of Sea Bread, at Twenty Sliillings per h und red- E-t-O 0-00 ; and "half
hundred Cornell Bread att Sixteen Sliillings pi. hundred— £00-08-00."
Also, Oct., 1771, j[r. Elias Williams, "dettor for Bakeing Cwt. 1, 2 qr.,
14 lb. hard Bread, at •s.l/'O ]ir. hundred — £00, 7-0-3." Also, in follow-
ing month, JMr. Elizur Goodrich, "Dbtr. for Ten Hundred Weight of
hard Biskit Bread, @ 20.s. pr. hundred— £10-04-00. Also, "July 4,
1768, fecht from Mr. Pomeroy's 20 bu. of ^^^lcat to be Grouml, and the
flower delivered to John IMarsh to Bake." — H. R. 5.]
Libraries. — Early in the year, on !March 17, 17S3, a number of
Wethersfield's citizens, among whom were Col. John Chester, Hon.
Stephen ^lix Mitchell, ~SIt. Josej)!! Webb, and Mr. Ezekiel Williams,
associated themselves as the
["Union Library Society," and adopted and printed a small nineteen ■
page pami)hlet, containing Constitution, and By Lawi., several copies
of which are still extant.
It was, during the first years of its existence at least, maintained as a
purely and somewhat exclusive suhscription library, its subscribers being
shareholders in the corporation, their shares being assignable, subject
to certain conditions. The initial subscription was 20 shillings, and
annual dues 4 shillings — tickets of membership were issued to sub-
scribers whose admission, however, was subject to approval of the
Directors; rejected applicants being entitled to appeal to the member-
ship at large, within two years ensuing. Col. John Broome and Dr. Jo-
658 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
siah Hart 'were a sort of Executive Committee and ^Ir. Ezekiel Williams
was the first Treasurer. The Library was open for issuing and return
of books, fr>r two hours, of every Saturday afternoon, fortnightly; and
the length of time allowed to each subscriber for reading the book he
selected, was, somewhat strangely, made dependent upon the size of
the fohime! Thus a folio might be kept for eight weeks, while an
octavo (or two duodecimos) volume could be kept only four weeks ! But,
in view of the self-evident fact tliat some persons could gxft through a
volume more quickly than others, it was provided that, liy olifaining an
order, signed by any tliree of the Directors, such member shimld have
the privilege of taking out fvo octavos, or four duodecimos, fur a period
of four weeks. ^lembers were lield to the strictest account for damages
to books, and all privileges were denied them, until fines i>y penalties
were paid.
The records of the High Street School District show that,
in April, 1TS4, tlie upi)or room of its school house was, by vote of the
district, leased to that Society "fMr the library,"-' and it was also voted
that the closet, a small room at the X. W. cor. of the scho<dhonse, above
stairs, be leased to said Society, to take in and deliver out l»inks, on
Satuvdav afternoon only, for five years. A cati^.logue of the bdoks in
the library, fills eight pages of the pamphlet referred to ami sIk.ws a
collection of 410 volumes, selected from the best works of the day, on a
variety of subjects (religious and didactical, being the most prominent)
with scarcelv a novel among them. And each volume contained a crude
book-plate. .\ later catalogue, issued about 1870. shows tliat there were
then 5S7 volumes. After the completion of the Academy (erected ITOS)
the Library was kept in its second story, but as pulilic interest
languished, it was broken up and about 1S."jO, the books were sold at
public auction.
The Wethersfield Society Library. — In ISGG, a new and more earnest
movement was made toward a public library. Its constitution was
framed on that of the Young Men's Institute of Hartford, and the or-
ganization was called the Wethersfield Society Library. Its annual
membership fee was $3 for each gentleman and $2 for a lady — life
membership $25. Sufiicient money was raised for a respectable be-
ginning— papers and magazines purchased and a reading room opened.
The Rose Library. — A few months later the Society received an
offer from IMr. Chauncey Rose of Terre Haute, Ind., a native of Weth-
ersfield, of $3,000, on condition that it should raise $500 more. Under
the stimulus of this offer, other donations of money and of books, were
made, and the Library soon boasted a list of almost l,GOO volumes. Its
SOCIETIES, ETC.
659
first home was in the second story of the bnilding on the corner next
south of the Congregatioinil church, but since 1S7- it has been kept
in the upper room of the Cha])el of said church. The late Sherman
W. Adams was its president. The library has had its fluctuations of in-
terest and of neglect, but has of late years availed itself of an appro-
priation from the Town of $200 per annum, establishing it as a free
library, with a small animal appropriation for current expenses ; and
this with the use of the old Society's books, and the help furnished by
the State, serves to keep alive the free public library system of the
Town. The present library, now known as "The Free Public Library,"
is accommodated in the north room of the Academy Ijiiilding, to which
quarters it was removed from the Congregational Chapel, some years
ago.
Newington and Ilocky Hill, lioth have interesting library histories,
which will be more fully exidoited in the chaptci-s relating to those
respective towns. — //. B. tS.]
Village Improceiiicnt Socirli).—T\nf< was organized in October, 1SS.3,
for the purpose of procuring street lights, improving sidewalks and
encouraging all attempts towards increasing the attractiveness and
comfort cf the village. It started in with 173 members, and up to 1809,
had expended nearly $G,000 of which the Town had paid nearly one-
third.
Freemasons. — Columbia Lodge, Xo. 25, F. &• A. ^I., was chartered
in May 1793, for Stepney Point (Iiocky Hill). It is the only one which
has existed in 'Wetherstield township. It now has its hall in Glaston-
bury, where it has been for many years. John Xott was the first of its
Worshipful ^Masters.
The Constitution of the Wethersfield Beligious Society, dated Jan. 1,
1817, with list of 15 original members, is a Mss. in possession of 'Mr.
F. W. J. Boardman ; as also Articles of the Female Society of Weth-
ersficld (religious object) dated 1 Jan., 1814, ten original members.
The "old Corner Store." — The earliest recorded mention of this time-
honored institution, is in 1789, when it was first moved to the corner of
Broad and East 2Lain Sts., and was given by Samuel Riley to Sarah,
wife of James Francis. On Xov. Sth, 1791, a part of this lot ''S. E.
cor., 40 ft. on all sides" was deeded by James and Sarah Francis, "with
store" to Samuel Franklin and AVm. J. Robinson, of Xew York ; and by
them deeded, 22 Feb., 1792, to :\Iichael and Thomas Bull, of Iltfd. A.
Riley and Calvin Dodge were the next owners, having ree'd it from
the Bulls, 4 Aug., 1798, and in Xov., of the same year, sold it to piloses
66o
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Montague, whose wid. Eunice transferred it, 6 Jan. 1813, to "William
and Gurdon iluntaguc, from whom, within the same month it passed
to Joseph Hale, and for many years was used by Adams & Hanmer, as
a tobacco warehouse. It was burned !March IGth, 1S9G.
Wethersfield's Funcval Observances on tlic occasion of Gen. Washing-
ton's Death. — (Conn. Courant.)
Wethersfield, ^larch 4, ISOO. As a public testimony of respect to
the memory and grief for the incalculable loss of the late General
George Washington, on the morning of Saturday, the 22nd ult., agree-
ably to previous directions given by and under the superintendence
of the Committee of Arrangements, the pulpit, canopy, communion
table, and galleries of the brick meeting house were hung with black.
At nine o'clock a. m., the solemnities of the day were commenced by
the tolling of the bell until eleven — the tolling reconunenced at one
p. m. At two o'clock p. m., the citizens of the three parishes in an
unusual concourse assembled, when the following exercises were per-
formed :
1. Was sung the S'Jth Psalm— the tune adapted to the occasion.
2. An excellent well adapted Prayer, by the Eev. John [Marsh, pastor
of the first society.
3. A Hymn specially cnmiiosed fcjr tlie occasicm, and highly expres-
sive of the solemn grief wliicli apparently pervaded the whole assembly.
4. An Oration by Ebenezer G. ^larsh, A. ^L, in which the moral and
social virtues of the man of war, were handsomely delineated, and his
talents as a soldier and a statesman judiciously contrasted with those
of the heroes of ancient tinics. Of its merits the silent unrenaitting
attention of the numerous auditory was the testimonial.
5. An Anthem from the 14th Chapter of Revelations — "I heard a
voice from heaven, saying unto me, write from henceforth blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord, even so saith the spirit, for they rest
from their labours."
The mourning badge of black crape was generally worn — the Singers,
particularly the Ladies, were in a uniform of white, with head dresses
of the same colour trimmed with black.
The store of the merchant, the shop of the mechanic were closed,
the labour of the husbandman suspended, and the deportment of all
ranks of citizens evidenced both their veneration and esteem for the
distinguished virtues of, and their inconsolable grief for the death of
the Father of their Country."
TAVERN AND POPULATION.
66 1
The Grange llnV , P. of A. — Said to Ije the first Grange property in
the State, was dc-dicateu Septenilier 30, 1S93. It first held its meeting,
in the Academy; hut Liter in the new buikling. It is one of, if not
ihe hirgest Granges in the State.
Taverns. — These 'y»//7.s('-pnl>l!C establishments were more nnmeroiis,
and of more importance, formerly, than now. There have been times,
since the Eevoluti'ni. when there were throe or four Taverns within the
present narrow limits, of Wethersfield. Xow there is none ; the well-
remembered Clay's hotel having been the last.
The first public house may have been kept by John Saddler, on the
west side of High St. : being on land he bought of Samuel Clarke, in
1642, or earlier. It seems to have ben a tavern in 1048. Richard
Smith, Jr., the ferrvman, had a tavern, in 1675, and probably earlier,
on the Xew Londi^n road, at the Xaubuc terminus of the ferry. John
Belden was chosen "ordinary Keeper," at a town-meeting, the same year.
He had a house on each side of Broad St., but the ordinary was prubably
in that on the east side. ]\Ir. -lohn Devotion was licensed, in ITlo, to
keep a "house of entertainment." Eenjamin Belden was also licensed
the following year. In 1717, Corp. -John Francis was licensed to be
"tavern-keopcr" for the year next enduing.
In 17S1, when Washington and his military associates had their
conference in Wethersriehl, Srillman's tavern, which stood, until a few
years ago, where the hmise of Dea. R. A. Robbins now stands — was the
principal public house in the place: and in it the distinguished company
were part of the time entertained.
We are obliged to omit any account of other such houses; whether
Avithin the present, or the old limits of the toA\-nship.
Population and Wealth. — The first indication of the comparative
wealth of the thi-ee River plantations is to be found in an order of the
General Court, in IGGO : when the stim of £100 to be raised, was appor-
tioned among the to\\Tis, (the only ones in the Colony, at that time),
as follows:
£.
Hartford— 43
Windsor 28
Wethersfield 28
Total— £100
At this same time, the able-bodied men, or those subject to military
duty, and called out to en^rage in the Pequot campaign — were appor-
tioned as follows : —
s.
d.
00
00
06
OS
13
04
662
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
187;
Estates,
20,547£.
160;
do.
16,209.
163;
do.
12,307.
Hartford, 17 men; "Windsor, 13 men; Wethcrsfield, 10 men; forty
men in all.
It thus appears that -whilst Wethcrsfield ranked second in wealth,
she ranked third in population. In the following year Hartford's tax
was £43, and AVindsor's and Wethersfield's £2S each. In 164:9, Windsor
and Wethcrsfield taxes were still equal ; or there was hut lOcZ. difference
between them. But in the levy of troops at that time Windsor's quota
was 11 men, and Wethersfield's S ; that of Hartford heing 13 men.
In 1658, the ratio of "Persons and Estates," was as follows:
Hartford, Persons,
Windsor, do.
Wethers field do.
As between Wethcrsfield and Windsor, the population of the latter,
within the old Vmrs, has continued to he one-third, or more, greater than
that of the former, within (7*^ old lines. Omitting Beckley's quarter,
now in Berlin, and a corner of ^larlborough — the inhabitants within the
old lines of Wethcrsfield, in 1S80, numbered 8,796 ; those within the old
Windsor 1'uos, 12,-100. In this estimate Simsbury is not accounted as
ever a part of Windsor. If we take the present townships of Windsor
and Wethcrsfield, we shall find about the same ratio of pojiidation.
The former numbered 3,0.">6 inhabitants in 1880, and the latter 2,173.
The grand lists f(jr that year, were respectively as follows :
Windsor, $1,626,.5S6 ; Wethcrsfield, $1,217,946. But the area of the
former is nearly three times as great as that of the latter.
The earliest census the writer has found of AVethersfield, by parishes,
is that of the year 1779. Comparing that with the census of the same
sections, as towns, in 1880, we obtain the following results of one
hundred years growth : —
1779 1880
Weth. First Soc, (now Town of Weth.)
Stepney Soc, (now Townr of Eocky Hill)
Newington Soc, (now Town of Xewington)
Beckley Quarter (now in Berlin)
1910
2173*
881
1109
508
934
278
(say) 300
Totals 3577 4516
• Lina then has not materially changed.
1 M
\ \ HT//
'■-viv'J
\v\ !iin'Nr
Rksidkxck ok t'-'^ll "^ IHI 1 ■ /. >•
Geo. I!. KKi.i.()(,(i. t/I'lt iisJLji u
'.^l^^ir ■^•■■^^^■
HOMK OF (iK.N. W. T. Fe.NX.
TliK H.\i:i!ls I'l.Aci:
s r •
^r^i^—i^ ;.-ai llli „,.„.u .ill
Hon. ■
^J^^ S. W. Rouiiiss
The LocKwooi) llorsK. - .';.-i^.;.. . j ; v. ' A.H, \ J The ^\•I[.LIAM6
The Ciik.ster Pl.vce.
By Cuiiitcsy of Tlir Cuiiiirrlicut Mii,i<i~iii,-. I'linlo.i. hy J'. (!. filiiiKli.th.
So.ME Puivate 1;esu>e.\ci:.s i.\ \\i;THi;i:sriEi,u.
SMALL POX.
66:
In 175G, Wethei-sficld's population was 2,483; whereof 109 were
ISTegroes. If to tliis he achlcd Ghistonhury's (1,115), Ave have as a result
3,59S, as the nuiuher (if iuhahitants then within the old limits of the
townshi]). The whole nnniher at that time within Hartford township,
(M'hose limits then included the present towns of West Hartford, East
Hartford and ^lanehester) was 3,027 ; showing that ancient AVethers-
fiold was then, numerically considered, the more important of the
two towns.
StJiall Po.i-. This disease, which hefore Dr. Jenner's discovery of the
principle of vaccination was more dreaded than to-day — was early pre-
valent in Wethersfield ; it having hccn introduced from New York. In
1693, Peter Dishorough, of Eye, X. Y., was a victim to it, and several of
the peojde were required to quit the house of Eohert Francis, where the
patient lay, and he quartered at the home of John Stedman ; the town
making the latter compensation therefor. (See also Col. Eec. V. 477;
VI. 264.)
The Piivsicia.ns of Wethersfield .axd Newixctox. (Note those of Stepney,
now Rocky Hill, are given in Dr. Griswold's Kistory of Ttooky Hill — Cliaptcr XIX.)
Mr. Austin Ttobertson, son of one of ^Vr•tlle^5f;cl^l's lic.iOiod pl.^ .^itirtus, has helped
us much in making up this list. — n. K. s.
Abcheb, Hcniy A., (if. D.) born, Carlisle, England, 1S20; Came with hi.s father's
family to Webster, Mass., in 1824; studied medicine with Dr. Amos
Beecher, of Barkhamsted; graduated, Yale Medical School, 1847;
received degree of Jt. D. from Medical College of Ky. ; practiced at
Wethersfield, Brooklyn. X. Y., and Mcriden, Ct. ; died, aged 74 years,
7 months; left a daughter, (Mrs. Butler) of Meriden.
Atwood, Thomas, 1GG3-81, see Atuood Genealogy, Vol. II.
Ayeault, Nicholas, 1C87-1707; see Ayrault Genealogy, Vol. II.
Andbus, Joseph, (Newing-ton) 1707-1750 — "A shrewd, ob.serving man, who had a
very retentive memory — died, 18 Jany., 175G, aged 78. — Neicington Annals.
Beuje.v, Joshua (son of Rev. .Joshua) Xewington — Settled there, after graduation,
about 1781: but, after a time relinquished professional work for farm-
ing. See Belden Genealogy, Vol. II.
Chauncey, (M. D.), Newington; died, 22 Nov. 1845, aged 41.
L. W. (M. D.), Newington; died, 26 Oct., 1839, aged 38.
Bruce, Dr. Barwick, from Island of Barhadoes — owned the present Robertson house
for 7 years from Nov. 1809, which he sold 1810 to Dr. A. Robertson.
T- HISTORY OF ANX'IEXT WETHERSFIELD.
BULKELEY, Rev., et Dr. Gcrsliom, came to Wethersfield, 1GG7; died 2 Dec 1713
aged -7: See BulUeley Genealogy, Vol. II; also Chapters VII and this
volume.
Cl-rtis, Thomas, Dr., (traditional) 1G39-IGS1; died, 1G81, aged 83: See Curtis
Genealogy.
Farxsworth, Joseph; married at Wethersfield, 1741; wife died, aged 43, in 1760-
The Toim Records contain a certificate of a man's unfitness for military
duty, signed by liim, and Dr. Porter, in Oct. 1773.
Fox, Roswell, (M. D,), succeeded Dr. A. Robertson, 1847; died, 1898.-See Fox
Genealogy.
Fox, Edward C, (M. D.), son of Dr. Roswell.-See Fox Ge,walogy. Settled here 1883.
Hall, Dr. Arcliibald (Xewington).
Hand, Rev A. Baptist minister, at one time in charge of the Baptist
Church, m Wethersfield.
Hart, Josiah, Dr. (1778-17nn), graduated Yale College. : in 1775, enlisted
in Conn. Regiment as assistant surgeon and re-enlisted, as ' surgeon,
1776, in Revolutionary War.— See Hart Genealogy, Vol. II.
Hooker, Daniel, from about 1705-1742.— See Hnoler Gm-niogy, Vol. II.
Howard, Arthur ^\^, (M. D.), settled Wethersfield, 1890.
McLean, Neil, (M. D., Edinburgh. Scotland), at Hartford, 1734-37, and Wethers-
field, 1773, until death in 1784.— See Stiles' History of Wimlsor, Conn
also. Genealogy, Vol. II, of this work.
Neil, Jr. D., at Wethersfield, 1S24-2G— .Urs. .Mary D. McLean.
Marsh, Jonathan, "late of Norwich," Ct., and "about 20 years experience -is
a surgeon"; died in Wethersfield, 3 June, 17G6, aged 47 years.— See
1739 — See Marsh Genealogy, Vol. II.
Mix, Dr. Rev. Elisha, A. M., Y. C. 1724, (only son of Rev. Stephen) ; died, 1 June
1739 — See Mix Genealogy, Vol. II.
MOSELY, Dr. Abner, 1780-1811; died, 20 Sept., 1811, aged 45.-See Moseley
Genealogy, Vol. II.
Olcott, Dr. George, 1789-1801; died, 29 Mch. 1814, aged 61.
Peerin, Thomas, m. in Wethersfield, 1740.— See Pcrrin, in Vol. II.
PoissoN, Dr.
Porter, Dr., Ezekiel, practiced in Wethersfield many years prior to his death, in
1775, at age of 69.— See Porter Genealogy, Vol II.
THE PHYSICIANS OF WETHEKSFIELD.
66:
Richardson, William Henry, stiuIieJ nicUicine umlcr Dr. Ashbel Robertson; settled
for awliile in Xewington, where lie introduced inoculation for smallpox;
(Annals of yeirinyton) , he may have removed to ilansficld, Ct.
Robertson, Ashbel. M. D. ( 1S13-1S27), practiced first under licence from Conn.
Medical Soc'y Meh. 1815; graduated. Yale >[edical School : also
kept store in Wethcrsficld 1810-1833; succeeded Dr. Barwich Bnice of
whom he bought, in Xov., ISKi. the jiresent Robertson home, now occupied
by his son Austin.
Rockwell, Dr. Alonzo, contemporary with Dr. Roberston: died about 1847.
Russell, Gurdon W.. (if. D.), the well l;no\vn an<l venerable physician of Hartford,
practiced for awhile in Wethersfield.
Tryon, Dr. .Joseph, died 17;i8, agrd 67. — (Jhistoiibiiiy Iiisciiplian.
Wadsworth, Dr. Xewington.
Willabd, Dr. Newington.
Warner, Abner, Spiccr, born IS Sept., 1818; died 22 Xov., 1900, in X'. Y. State;
graduated, Dartmouth College, 1842, and at Dartmouth. Medical .School,
1848; came to Wethersfield, 1848; surgeon of ICth Conn. Vol. Reg.,
in Civil ; succeeded Dr. Archibald, Welch.
Welch, Dr. Archibald, succeeded Dr. Samuel B. Woodward, about 1S.32 or '33.
He was killed in the Xorwalk railroad disaster, 1853.
Wells. I. X"., res. in Wethersfield, 1903.
Woodward, Dr. .Samuel B.. 1817-1832; aI~o kept store in Wethersfield; left here
to enter upon the superintendency of the Mass. Insane Asylum at
Worcester, where he achieved a high professional reputation.
CHAPTER XVI.
Wethersficld's Share in the War of Independence, 1S12 — The Mexican
War — War of the Civil ReheUion — Spanish-American War.
[By SiiERMAX W. Adams, Esq.]
T^IIE WAR FOR IXDEPEXDEXCE, 1S12-U.— Wothersfield
-L did not largely participate in the "War of 1S12,'' with Great
Britain. In fact, the war was extremely unpopular in Xew England.
The Governors of three Eastern States (of which Connecticut was one),
at first refused to comply with the requisition made upon them, for
militm, by the General Government. Among her people there was a
great diversity of opinion as to the advisability, or even the necessity
of a war; party spirit ran high ujir.n the question; and the celebrated
conference, held at Hartford in December, 1S14, by delegates from
the disaffected Xew England States {'sitting in secret session and kno«-n
in hictArv as the "Hartford Convention") ga-e to Connecticut the
undeserved odium of l)cing not only reluctant, l)ut even traitorous in
its relations to the war, and to the dignity of the United States.' It
was the old story wliich has been repeated in every war, from that
of the Revolution, down to the Spanish-American war.
The fact remains, however, that Connecticut did not enter into the
war with any very great degree of interest ; and, not until the British
blockade of her coast in December, 1S1.3, brought home the dancers
of war to her own doors, did the local militia show any activity^ or
volunteering become brisk.
Wethersfleld, being, from her location, in but slight peril from war-
like operations — her sons, who entered the sen-ice, mostly found them-
selves employed in the defensive operations al)out Xew London and
other sea-coast towns.
The Legislature, at its October session, 1S12, authorized the raising
of two regiments of infantry of ten companies each; a company, in-
cluding officers and musicians, to contain 112 men. Four companies
of artillery were authorized at the same time, and four "troops of
'The reader who wishes to obtain an intelligent view of the political situation
in Connecticut, and in New England generally, at this period of our national life,
as well as of the true nature of the Hartford Convention, will do well to consult
the 2d volume of 8. C. Goodrich's (Peter Parley) Recollections.
THE WAR OF 1812-14.
667
horse." Each artillery company was to contain DS men, all told; and
each troop of horse 45, all told. At its October session, 1814, one thou-
sand officers and men were added to those already raised. — //. i?. S.^
In addition, there were "detached" companies and regiments "of
the United States;" made up of companies drawn from the militia; of
which there were, in 1814, 35 regiments. In Capt. .Tared Strickland's
company of the "First Detached licgiment of the U. S.," commanded
by Col. Ezra Lrainerd, were many Wethersfield men. Herewith is a
list of such as the writer is able to identify: George Crane, Joshua
Goodrich, Robert Welles, Jr., Scrfjeants; Hiram Fox( ?), Epaphi-as
Andrews, Corporals; William Holmes, fiferj John Pran, Drummer;
Samuel Ames, George Adams, William Blinn, Hezekiah Butler, Joseph
Blinn, Elias Blinn, Eussell Butler, Thonms Coleman, Joseph Chap-
man, John Coleman, Asa Church, Sam. Coleman 2d, David Dickinson,
Charles Francis ( ■.), William Flint, Jasper Goodrich, Levi Holmes,
Jr., Charles Ilxtrlburt, Tho. 'M. Luce, Joseph Mitchell, Davis Mor-
ris( ?), Warren Rose, Asa Sawyer, James Smith, Jr., Amos Sanford,
James Ti-eat, Elijah Tryon, David Tryon, Jesse Vibbert, Elisha K.
Welles, Humphrey Woodhouse, Joseph Wright, Lewis Vv'illiams, Asa
Wickham. iienry Baker, Jr., cnl. 15 !Nov., 1813, in Capt. Xorthup's
Co., 37th Inf., U. S. A.; re-euL 5 June, 1814; d. IS Jan., 1815, in
Capt. Elijah Boardman's Co., L'. S. A. — Conn, in Rev.
Some of these were taken prisoners by tho British, from privateers.
Two such AVethersficld men died in the noted prison at Dartmoor,
England. They were: Simeon Clark, Jan. 24th, 1813, from the
Snapdragon; and James Williams, Jan. 14th, 1815, from the Caroline.
Further enquiry might possible show that several of the remaining
names upon this list, from which these are taken, were also those of
Wethersfield men.
From Xotes of Dr. li. W. Griswold, deceased, we gather the follow-
ing names of Stepney parish men who served in this war :
Joshua Goodrich, Russell Butler, Levi Holmes, Jr.
Joseph Blinn, Jasper Goodrich,
Horace (son Fred, Jr.) Robiuns was in service under Gen. Jack-
son, at New Orleans; but, being on detail duty elsewhere, did not
participate in the famous battle at that place.
The Mexican Wak, like that of 1812, was of political origin, and
not of a nature to enlist the enthusiasm of anv but that class who are
668
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIKKSFIELD.
always ready for a fight or an adventure. Among the few who .served
from Connecticut, not more than one company in all, we have not
recognized any Wethersfield men.
Ti[K Wau of the Civil Rebellion. — In this war, Wether-field
contributed more than her quota of soldiers for the maintenance of
the Union ; and of her means also abundantly. In order, however, to
ascertain the number of those who were sons of Wethersfield, there
should he added to the list the names of those who, havini>: removed,
were credited to other towns, within and without this state; and there
should be deducted, the names of those who were natives of other places.
[The list of Wethersfield soldiers found in Judge Adams' MSS. was
probably compiled from the State's OtHcial Catalogue of Connecticut
Volunteers, derived from the original Company Rolls, or "rostei"s,"' in
the Adjutant-Gt'iierars Ofiice, and which contained a numl>er of errors.
We have, therefore, submitted it for careful re-vision to ^Ir. Tiios. X.
Hanmek, of Wethersfield, himself a soldier of the Civil War, and whose
intimate acquaintance with the Wethersfield volunteers engaged in
that war, has secured for it a more satisfactory degree of accuracy.
Mr. rranmer's summary is as follows:
Total number credited to Wethersfield as volunteers in the Union
Army and Xavy, in the ^\'ar (jf the Civil Rciiellion, 19:3; total number
credited as substitutes ami unassigTied, o."j ; number accredited to other
towns, 6; whole number, 23k
Casualties, as follows : Killed in action, G ; died of wounds and
disease, 17 ; died in prison, 5 ; total deaths, 28.
Wounded, 19 ; cajitured, 1!) ; discharged for disabilities, 19 ; dcscned.
43 ;i shot for desertion, 1.—//. n. S.I
'In regard to the word "desorttd," so damnatory to a soldiers reputation, if
found on the otlicial record of his services, it must not be always taken in its
worst sense. Many soldiers, after the surrender of Gens. Lee and .Johnston, con-
cluded that the war was over, and becoming tired of waiting for their di-charge,
discharged themselves by returning to their homes. Conseciuently when they were
found absent at company roll-call, and tlieir whereabouts unknown, thev were
officially considered as having deserted. The same thing has happened in everv one
of our wars, from the colonial times, and the Revolutionary war, douTi to the
present. All those who thus prematurelv left for home were not really, at heart,
"deserters"; their record sliould have been, and many have been, corrected upon
proper representation to tlie War Department, and by Act of Congress removing
the stigma of desertion when it occurred after itav 11th, 18G5. In going over
our list, therefore, this term of "deserted," may be taken with some latitude.
WETHERSFIELD SOLDIERS IN THE REBELLION.
669
A List of Soldiers (Volunteers) in the War of the Civil Rebellion,
Credited to Wethersfield — From the Report of the Adjutant-
General of the State.
Augustus F. Adams, Nov. 2.'), ISiJl ; Co. G., 10th Reg.; Corp'l; wounded at
Kin-iton, X. C. ; re-cnli?ted.
Ebcnczer Adams, Aug. 25. lStj2: Co. B, 22d Reg.
Edward P. Adams, Sept. 27, 1Sl;2; Co. I, 27th Reg.
George \V. Adams, Aug. 21. 1SG2; Co. B, 22d Reg.; Sgt.
Sherman \V. Adams, Acting Ass't., P. M., gunboat tiuintrsel ; enl. 10 Nov. 1802;
lesig. 11 Oct., 1804.
Stoddard Adams, Aug. 25, 1802: Co. B., 22d Reg.
William Archy, Dec. 11, 1S03; Co. C, 2!nh Reg.; Colored Reg.
Edward Aldrich, Xov. 4, 1804; Co. H, 7th Reg.
George Baker. Aug. 20, 1804; Co. B, 1st Hea\-y Art.; deserted.
Samuel Baker, Xov. 17, 1804; 1st Light Battery.
Charles Barnes, Dec. 2, 1803; Co. C, 20th Reg., Colored Reg.
James Barton, Xov. 21, 18G4; Co. A. 8th Reg.; deserted.
Sidney Bas>ey, Dec. 22, 1803; Co. F. 20th Reg. Colored.
Sam. H. Belden, Apr. 10, ISOl'; Co. B. 1st Keg.; re-enlisted, Co. A, IGth Reg.; corp'l;
die<l, Oct. 4, 1804, at Cliarlcston, S. C.
James Behan, Aug. 30, 1SG4, Co. C. 1st Heavy Art.
Daniel K. Bennett, Aug. 29, 1SU2: Co. B, 22d Keg.
Levi Benson, Sept. 9, 1SG2; Co. B, 25th Reg.
Dennis Rerrij^an, Xov. 10, 1804; Co. D, 1st Hca\-y Art.; dc-erted.
Austin Bishop, Dec. 27, 1801; Co. A. 12th Reg.; re-enlisted.
Chas. L. Blake, Dec. 1, 1863; 1st Conn. Cav. ; deserted.
Chester Blake, Dec. 1, 1803; 1st Conn. Cav.; deserted.
Edgar F. Blinn, ilay 23. 1801, Co. K, 1st Hea\y Art.; Must, out, Sept. 25, 1865;
entered Reg. Army.
Unni P. Blinn, Aug. 27, 1.S02 : Co. E, 22d Reg.
Henry Blutr, Xov. 5. 1804; Co. H, 7th Reg.; deserted.
Louis Boner, Aug. 20, 1803; Co. K, 20th Reg.; deserted.
John P. Bowen, May 22, 1801; Co. G, 1st IIea\y Art.; died Sept. 13, 1861, Dams-
town, Md.
Fernando Bradley, July 31. 1802; Co. A, IGth Reg.
Patrick Brady, Aug. 30, 18G4; Co. C, 1st Heavy Art.
Thomas Brannon, Apr. 7, 1SG4; Co. B, 12th Reg.
George Briggs, Feb. 12, 1S04: Co. 1, 7tli Reg.; wounded. 20 Sept., 1804, at Cliapin's
Farms, Va.
George Buckley, Aug. 25, 1802: Co. E, 22d Reg.
Tho. F. Bunce, Se))t. 0, 1802; Co. B, 25tli Reg.
James Burns, Xov. 10, 1802; Co. B, 25th Reg.; deserted.
Daniel Burke, .Jan. 4, 1804: Co. F, 21st Reg.; transf. to 10th Reg.
Henry W. Cady, Aug. 30, 1804: Co. C, 1st Hea\y Art.; died, Feb. 27, 1805, at Fort
Brady, Va.
Daniel Callahan, Aug. 23, 1802; Co. A. 25th Reg.: Sgt.
Geo. Campbell, Sept. 2, 1803; Co. F, 5th Reg.; died of wounds, Chattanooga, July
28, 18G4.
Robert Campbell, Feb. 13, 1SG4; Co. F, 7th Reg.; died, Andersonville, Aug. 31, 1804.
.James \V. Carter, Feb. 5, 1802; Co. A, 13th Reg.; reenl., Dec. 23. 1803; Co. H. 1st
Heavj- Art.; discharged, 7 Aug., 1805.
670
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
John Cavanaugh, Aug. 28, 1S63; Co. H, 5th Reg.
John B. Chipp, July 20, 18(12; Ifith Pa'g.; Adjutant (Scrj. Co. A).
Henry G. Clark. Oct. 4, 1SIJ4; Co. E, ISth Kog.
John Clarkson, Nov. 21. 18G4; Co. D, Sth Ecu'.; deserted.
Philip Clancy, May ."31. 1802; Co. I, 14th Reg.; deserted.
John Clirfonl. Xov. IS. 1804; Co. D. 8th Reg.; deserted.
Charles Clontier, ifch. 2S. 1804; Co. A, 11th Reg.; deserted.
James Cogan, Aug. 20. 1804; Co. F, 7th Reg.; deserted.
George Colvin, Sv\<t. 7, 1801: Co. C, 7tli Reg.; died at Hilton Head. .Sept. 19, 18G2.
James Conray, Aug. 2!>. 1804; 7th Reg.; not taken \\\i on Rolls.
Thomas L. Crittenden. IS July, 18(i2; Co. I. 14th Reg.; wd. 3 July, 1803, at
Getty.slmrg, Ta.. and 12 May. at Spotsylvania. Va.; credited to Hartford.
Ralph Cowlcs, 10 July, 1802, Co. F, 14th Reg.; Sgt.; cred. to Xew Britain.
Patrick Crowe. July, 21, 1804; Co. D, 8th Reg.
Henry V. Cuniuiings, Jan. 4. 1804; Co. K, 2d Heavy Art.; deserted.
Charles Dailey, J[ay 11. 1801; Rille Co. A, 3d Reg.
John Damory, Aug., IStli, 1802; Co. A. lOtli Reg.: died July 20th, 1804, at Charles-
ton, S. C.
Eugene Davis, Jan. 18. ISO,"): Co. C, 20th Reg.; transf. to 5th Reg.
Henry W. Davis, Xov. 2.3, 1801; Co. K, 11th Reg.; killed at Sharpsburg, Va., Sept.
17, 18G2.
VVm. B. DeBlois, Dec. 27. 1801; Co. R, 12th Reg.; enl. 20 Xov., 1801; mustered in as
musician; piom. corp'l, 1 Xov., 1803; re-enl. vet.' 1 Jan., 18C4; disch. 24
July, 1805; also sen-ed in l.st R. I. Reg.
Michael Delancy, Aug. 1802, Co. B. 22d Reg.
David \V. P"niing, 13 Aug., 1802; Co. C, 10th Reg.; wd. 24 Apl., 18G3, at Suffolk,
Va. ; d. 28 Oct.. 1SG4, at Andersonville, Ga.
Francis Doming. :May 11, ISGl ; Co; A, 3d Reg.; Meh. 1.5, 1802; Co. A, 13th Reg.;
Corp'l; wd. 1!) Sept.. 1S04, at Winchester, Va.; dischd. 24 July, 1805.
Geo. S. Deniing. Aug. 30, 1802: Co. B., 22d Reg.
Henry H. Deuiing. Aug. 23. 1802; Cn. A., 2.-)th Reg.
Richard Deniing, Dec. 14. 1803: Co. A.. 20th Reg.; colored Reg.
Geo. T. Dickson, Xov. 20, 1801; Co. C, 12th Reg.; Corp'l; wd. 19 Oct., 18C4, at
Cedar Creek, Va.
Edgar T. Dix, Aug. 28. 1802; Co. B.. 22d Reg.
James Donnelly. Xov. 10. 18G1 ; Co. C, 14th Reg.; deserted.
Xewell Dow. Aug. 30. 1802: Co. D., 22d Reg.; re-enl. 30 Aug., 1862; Co. D, 23d
Reg.; corp'l.
Henrj- G. Dow, Aug. 2.'). 1802: Co. B.. 22d Reg.
Geo. X. Downes, Aug. 20, 1S|)2: Co. B., 22d Reg.
Newell Dow. Dec. 13, ISOl : Co. A.. 13th Reg.
Gilbert .Snowdon Dwight. Co. K, 4th Ohio Reg.; d. 14 July, 1802, at Lcwisville, Ky.
Larrey Kinnern, Xov. 11, 1804; Co. E., Gth Reg.
Charles Francis, Jun., Aug. , 1802; Co. B, 22d Reg.; died May 11th, 1863; Suf-
folk, Va.
Daniel W. Francis, Aug.. . 1802; Co. B., 22d Reg.
Edgar L. Francis. Aug. 20. 1802; Co. B., 22d Reg.
Ira E. Forbes. July 28, 1802; Co. A., lOth Reg.; Cap't.
Charles 8. Gains, Aug. 27. 1802; Co. B., 22d Reg.
Geo. E. Galligher, 20 Aug.. 1803; Co. A., IGtli Reg.. U. S. A., killed, 1 June, 18G4, at
Cold Harbor.
\Vm. A. Garvie, Xov. 20, 1801; Co. A., 12th Reg.; Sgt.
Azariah Gladden Jan. 5, 18G4; Co. A. 1st Hea\'y Art.; deserted.
WAR OF THE CIVIL REBELLION.
671
James H. Gla.UlinK, Nov. 2, 18G2; 1st Light Batterj-.
Lafayette Gladding. Aug. 30, 18C2: Co. B., 22d Reg.
John Goldrick, 20 June, 1803; seaman, U. S. st. strs. Catskill and Augusta
Dinsmore.
Frederick Goobell, Sept. 7. ISUS; Co. D., 14 Reg.; deserted.
Henry Gordon, Feb. 13. ISlU: 7th Reg: deserted.
Thoma.s Gorman, .\ug. 30, 18(52; Co. A., 25th Reg.
John D. Griswold, Aug. 21, 1SG2; Co. E., 22d Reg.
Williaiu Green, Nov. 11, 1SC4: 7th Reg.: not taken up on rolls.
Wait R. Griswold, :McIi. 21, 1SG3: 22(1 Reg.: 2d A^st. Surg.; credited to Durham;
86 Reg., V. S. ; Colored troops*.
Nathan Hale. Aug. 7, 1862; Co. A.. 10th Reg.; died Oct. 12th, 1SG2, at Baltimore.
Michael ilalliman, Nov. 2.5. ISGl; Co. G., 0th Reg.
Wm. F. Hammond. Ap\. 9th, 1SG4; Co. il., 1st Reg. Cav.
Tlios. N. Hanmer, Aug. 2.5. 1SG2; Co B., 22d Reg.
Edward Harker, Aug. 24, 1SG2; Co. E., 22d Reg.
Edward Harlow, Dec. 22. 18G1 ; Co. A., 13 Reg.; Dec. 23, 18G3; Co. H., 1st Heavy
Art.
Charles Harris, Feb. 13, 1SG4: 2d Heavy ,\rt. ; not taken up on rolls.
Henry H. Harris, Nov. 14, 18U1; Co. IL, 11th R.g. ; wounded; ,Sgt.; wd. IS .June,
1864, at Petersburg. Va.
Almon J. Hart, Aug. 18, 1802: Co. B., 21st Reg.
Lorin J. Hastings, Aug. , 1SG2; Co. B, 22d Reg.
Andrew Hayworth. Nov. 11, 1804: Co. H.. 7th Reg.
Hugh Heath. Aug. 30, 1SG2: Co. A.. 2.5th Reg.
Ralph H. Hills, Dec. 12th. ISGl : Co. F., 12th Reg.; musician, re-enlisted; wounded-
Martin Hogan, Dec. 22. 18G1 ; Co. E., 13lli Reg.
John M. Holden. Dec. 10, ISGl: Co. B.. 12th Reg.; Corp'l: d. 20 .Sept., 1863.
John Hollister, Oct. 22. 1801; Co. C. 10th Reg.; re-enlisted.
John Holt, Sept. 11, 1802; Co. A.. 25th Reg.
John Howard, Feb. 12th. 1SG4: Co. T., 7th Reg.; wd. 29 Sept., 1864, at Chapin's
Farms, Va.
Gideon M. Hubbard, Oct. 1. ISGl; Co. E.. 10th Reg.
William Hubbard, Sept. 7, 1801 ; Co. B.. 7th Reg.: died at Hilton Head, Oct. 8, 18G2.
James Hunt, Nov. 12, 1SG2; Co. B., 25th Reg.: deserted.
Wm. E. Joy, Feb. 12, 1864; Co. :M.. 2d Heavy Art.; deserted.
Fred R. Jenks, Sept. 30, 1861 : Co. E., 10th Reg.
George Jenks, Nov. 10, 1802; Co. B., 2.5th Reg.; deserted.
Ira Jennings. Dec. 29, 1SG3: Co. L.. 1st Heavj- Art.; deserted; artificer.
Robt. W. Joiner, Aug. 15. 18G2; Co. G., 20th Reg.
Charles Jones, Aug. 27. 1803; Co. G., 5th Reg.; deserted.
Henry Jones, Nov. 19, 1S64: 14th Reg.; deserted.
William Johnson, Jan. 4. 1864: Co. A., 2d Hea^y Art.
Edward P. Joyner, Sept. 1, 1802: Co. D., 22d Reg.
Francis Kearney, Nov. 11, 1S04: Co. G., 7th Reg., Corp'l.
Michael Kelley, Sept. 3. ISO.'?; Co. C, 8th Reg.; captured Jlay 16, 1864.
Horace R. Kellogg, Aug. , 1S62: Co. B.. 22d Reg.; re-enl. Jan. 5, 1864; Co. L, 1st
Hea\-y Art.; died .July 2Gth, 1864, at Regt. Hospital.
Robert H. Kellogg, Aug. 11, 1S02; Co. A., 16 Reg.; sergeant; prom. sgt. major.
Charles Kennedy, Dec. 22, 1804; Co. I, 1st Heavy Art.; deserted.
Thos. H. Kennedy, Apl. 22. 1801; Rifle Co. A., 1st Regt.; musician.
John L. Kergresser, Sept. 3, 1803; Co. A., 8th Reg.; wd. :May, 1864; deserted.
Michael Kerrigan, Nov. 18, 1SG4; Co. H., 10th Keg.; deserted.
672
HISTORY OF ANCIENT ^^"ETHERSFIELD.
Franklin Kilbr, Aujr. 14. 1SC2: Co. B., 2Ist Reg.
Franklin E. Kilby, Sept. 5, 1S02. Co. .\.. i.^th Reg.
Uvllys Kilby, Aug. 21, 1SG2; Co. A., 25th Reg.
Dwight Kneelund, Aug. 23. 1S02: Co. A., lOtli Reg.; trans, to Signal Corps; Sgt.
James D. Lamphere. Oct. 21. 1802; Co. H.. 7th Reg.; Corp'l; wd. 10 Aug., 1SG4, at
Deep Run, Va.
Thomas Lantrt', Dec. 23, ISoS: Co. H., Ut Heavy Art.
John McLaughlin, enl. fm. .SuffielJ. Feb. 16. 1804: Co. B., Tth Reg.; trans., 28 Apl.,
lSG4, to U. S. Xavy; serve<l in U. .S. strs. iliitncsota and MaJvenie.
George Lewis. Feb. 20, 1S04: Sth Reg.; enl. fm. Mann^field, Ct.
Henry B. Lewis. Nov. 10, 1S04: Co. F.. 1st HeaAy Art.
John Lightfoot, Feb. !), 1S04: Co. C. 3rd Reg.; colore<l; Co. D., 31st Conn. U. S.
col. troops.
Henrj" Linden, Feb. 22. 1S02: Co. E.. 22d Reg.
Frederick Linemycr. .Sept. 4. 1S03; Co. F.. Sth Reg.: deserted.
Thomas Loftus. Apl. 7, 1S04; Co. H., 12th Reg.: deserted.
William Long. Feb. 20. 1.S04: Co. B.. Sth Reg.: killed. Cold Harbor, June 2, 1364.
Amenzo R. Lyon. Aug. 27. 1S02: Co. B.. 22d Reg.
John M. Lyon, Jan. 4, 1S04: Co. K.. 1st Reg. Cav.: S.srt.
James il. .Madison. Dec. 1.5. 1S03: Co. C. 20th Reg.; Col. Reg.
\Vm. A. Magill, Aug. 2S. 1S02; 25th Reg.; hospital steward.
James Maloy, Xov. IS. 1S04: Co. H.. 10th Reg.: deserted.
Frederick Maroney. Apl. 7. 1S04: Co. H.. 12th Reg.; deserted; wounded at Win-
chester. Va., 19 Sept.. lScJ4.
John Martin. Aug. 25, 1S02: Co. B.. 22d Re?.
Patrick McAlloon. Sept. 27, ISOl; C'.. C... 0th Reg.: died -Vug. 14, 1SG2, at Xew
Orleans.
John McCannon, Feb. 15, 1SC4: 7th Reg.: deserted.
James McXamara, .Jan. 11. 1S64: Co. K.. 1st Hea\'y Art.
Abram Merchant, Dec. 10, 1SG3: Co. C. 29th Reg.; deserted.
Gaylord .Morgan, Aug. 30. 1S02: Co. B., 22d Reg.
Guy S. Morgan, May 11. ISGl : Rifle Co. A., 3rd Reg.: re-enli^ted in Co. A., Sth Reg.
Stephen Morgan, .Jun., Au:r. 25, 1SG2: Co. B., 22d Reg.
John M. Morris, 20 Apl.. 1S02. chaplain Sth Reg.; resign. 29 Sept., 1SG3; cred.. to
New Haven.
Charles Morton, Xov. 10. 1S04: Co. F.. 10th Reg.: deserted.
Wm. W. Morton, Julv 15, 1S02: Co. B.. 21st Reg., Corp'l \vd. at Cold Harbor, Va.,
3 June. 1804.
James Moor, Sept. 0, 1S03: Co. J.. Sth Reg.: deserted.
Joseph Murphy. Jan. 4. 1S04: Co. F.. 2I,-t Reg.: trans, to lOlh Reg.
Thomas Murphy, Xov. 10. 1804: Co. D.. 1st Hea^y Art.; deserted.
Joshua Oliver. Dec. 15. 1803: Co. C. 20th Reg.: coloretl; d. 5 Oct., 1305.
John L. Osgood. Aug. 30. 1802: Co. D., 22d Reg.
Wm. H. Palmer, Apl. 1, 1S04: Co. G.. 1st Reg. Cav.
John Phelan. Mch. 17, 1804: Co. X.. Sth Res.; killed at Cold Harbor .June 9th, 1863.
John H. Phelps, 23 .Sept., 1861. 1st i=gt. Co. B., 21 Batt.. 14 Reg., U. S. A.; wounded.
William Power. Aug. 28. 1863: Co. I, 5th Reg.: deserted.
Wm. H. Price, Mch. 24, 1804; 11th Reg.: deserted, fm. Hartford.
Wm. E. Quigley. Sept. P, 18ii2: Co. E., 22d Re?.
Alfred H. Rccor, Dec. 31, 1SG3; Co. H., 1st Hea\-T Art.
James Reed, Xov. 10. 1SG4; 14th Reg.: deserted.
Patrick Reynolds, Jan. 22, 1S02; Co. A., 13th Reg.: deserted.
Chas. W. Rhodes, Jlay 11, ISGl ; Rille Co. A., 3rd Reg.
THE WAR OF THE CIVIL REBELLION. ^73
Henry W. Rhodes, Auj:. Ki, 18i;2; Co. A., IGtli Reg.; Corporal; deserted.
Frederick Richards, Nov. 1, l.S(il : Co. K., lotli Reg.; Sgt.
Samuel Ricliards, Feb. l.">, 1S04; Co. C, 7th Reg.
James Roger.'*, June 17, lS(i2; Co. E., 14th Reg.; died at Salisbury-, X. C, Feb. 28,
18G5.
John Riley, Feb. IG, 1SG4; Co. B., 7th Reg.; captured June 2d. 18G4.
Henry Rising, Xov. 12, ISUl ; Co. C, lltli Reg.; killed at .Sharpsburg, Sept. 17,
1802.
Caleb B. Root, Aug. 12, 1SG2; Co. F., 7th Reg.; died ilch. 1.3. 1804.
John E. Root, Aug. 27, 1SG2; Co. B., 22d Reg.
John Ryan, .Sept 9, 18G2; Co. H.. 2.-)th Reg.
Joseph Ryan, Xov. in, 18U4; Co. H., 10th Reg.
Wm. H. Sherman, Oct. IS, 1SG4; Co. F., 7th Reg.
David Simpson, Sept. 5, 1S()3; Co. K., 8th Reg.; trans, to U. S. X'a\-y.
Sylvester Skinner, Sept. 11, 18G2; Co. H.. 2.)th Reg.
James Smith, Dec. 4, 18G.3; Co. H.. 2!)th Reg.; colored; mustered out 24 Oct., 1865.
James Smith, Aug. 26, 18G4, Co. F., 7tli Reg.
James A. Smith, Aug. 30, lS(i2; Co. B.. 22d Reg.
John Smith, Sept. .3, 18G3; Co. K., 8th Reg.; deserted; w'd 3 June, 1804, at Cold
Harbor, Va.
John H. Smith, Feb. 12, 1864; Co. 1., 7th Reg.
Joseph Smith, Feb. 12, 1864; Co. B., 7th Reg.
Peter Smitli, Sept. 8, 1863; Co. E., 14th Reg.; wounded.
Joel Snjder, Sept. 28, 1864: Co. A., 8th Reg.
Francis Southergill, Jan. .5, 1864; Co. K., 2d Hea\-y Art.; mustered out 6 Sept.,
1865; w'd I June, 1864, at Cold Harlinr Va.
John Staub, Sept. 8, 1863; Co. K., 14th Reg.; died Dec. 21, 1864; camp parole.
Abel Steele, 24 Jan., 1862, Co. 1., 12th Reg.; ored. to Berlin.
Austin X'. Steele, Aug. 7, 1862; Co. F., 14th Reg.
Edward Steele, June 1, 1SG3; Co. G., 1st Heavy Art.
John W. Steele, Xov. 21, 1864; Co. H., 14th Reg.; Co. C, 2d Hea\-y Art.; and transf.
12th Reg.
Oliver L. Steele. Aug. 25, 18G2; Co. A., 25th Reg.
Samuel Steele, Dec. 11, 1861; Co. K.. 11th Reg.
Sylvester W. Steele, July 18, 1862; Co. F., 14th Reg.; killed Dec. 13, 1802, Freder-
icksburg.
Hudson H. Stoddard, July 22, 18G1; Co. G., 5tli Reg.
John Tyler, Xov. 21, 1864; Co. F., llth Reg.; deserted.
Allen Thrasher, Xov. 14, 1861; Co. H., llth Reg.; re-enlisted.
Michael Tracy, July 25, 1862; Co. C, l(it!> Reg.
Williams Travers, Feb. 8, 1S64; Co. L. 2nd Heavy Art.
Isaac B. Truitt, .Jan. 11. 1864; Co. B., 30th Reg.; colored; Sg't.
F. Dixon Tucker, July 21, 18G2; Co. A., 16th Reg.; deserted.
Louis O. Vischor, Feb. 15, 18G4; Co. B.. 7th Reg.; deserted.
Horace Wadsworth. Sept. 7, 1861 ; Co. B., 7th Reg.
Lucius Wadsworth, 16 July, 1862, Co. F., 14 Reg.; d. 13 Sept., 1862, at Baltimore;
cred. to Xew Britain.
Francis Wales, Sept. 1, 1863; Co. D., 8th Reg.; shot for desertion.
Abner S. Warner, July 28, 1862; 16th Reg.; surgeon; resign. 7 Jan., 1803.
Henry W. \^■ebb, Sept. 8, 1862; Co. H., 25th Reg.
Charles B. Wells, Aug. 19, 1862; Co. H., 14th Reg.; deserted.
Henry C. Welles, Xov. 2G, 18G1; Co. C, 1st Reg. Cav.
Edward D. Welles, Sept. 7, 1861; Co. B., 7th Reg.; Qr. Mstr. sgt.
674
HISTORY OF ANCIENT ■NVETHEKSFIELD.
Chas. H. Whaples. March 5, 1SG2; Co. L., 1st Heavy Art.; sgt.
George H. Whaplts, Dec. 13, 1S61; Co. K., llth Keg.
Henry X. Whaplei, Aug. 15, 1862; Co. K., 20tli Keg.
Joseph Whaples, Aug. 30, lsG2; Co. B., 22a Reg.
Henrj- A. White, Aug. 11, 1S02; Co. C, ICth Reg.
Alex H. Wilson, Jan. 5, 1S64; Co. F., 1st Hea\-y Art.; corp'l.
Wellnian B. Wicrs, Aug. 30, 1S02; Co. B., 22d Keg.
Charles L. Willard, July 27, 1S02; Co. B., 22d Reg.; sgt.
Eugene B. Willard. Aug. 2S. 1SC2; Co. B., 22d. Reg.; died 21 Apl., 1SC3, at Arling-
ton, Va.
Chas. W. Williams. Xov. 13, 1SC2; Co. C. 5th Reg.; deserted.
Michael Williams. Nov. 19, 1S04; Co. 1., Sth Reg.; deserted.
Walter Wilson, Feb. 11, 1SG4; Co. I., llth Reg.
Conrad Witt, Sept. S, 1SG3; Co. D., 14th Reg.; w'd 27 Xov., 1S63, at Mine Run, Va.
Anthony Wright, Aug. 30; 1SG2; Co. B., 22 Reg. *
Edward G. \\ oodhouse, Aug. 25, lSli2; Co. B., 22d Reg.; second Lieutenant.
Herbert II. Woodhouse, Aug. 25, 1802; Co. B., 22d Reg.
Vohtnfcers in Cicil War, from Eocky Hilt.. — From the report of the
Adjutant-General of ilie State; and from Xotes by Dr. E. W. GrisivoJd.
Italicized mat tor in the following li.st are from the latter source.
In the War of the Rehellion, Kocky Hill, as it appears from the rolls
of the Adjutant-General's ofnce. contributed 110 soldiers to the union
army. Of these six were T51aok«. The number reported to have died
in the service was twelve. We have no data for determining how many
of those credited to Eocky Hill ivere natives of other places; nor, on
the other hand, how many of her sons are credited on the quotas of
other towns or places.
Charles Arnold, (s. Talcott A.)
James Armstrong, N'ov. 23, 1S64; Co. C, 10th Reg.; deserted.
Elizur D. Belden (s. Chester) Aug. 11, 1862; Co. C, IGth Reg.; died Xov. 1864;
Florence, S. C; hu. RijBill.
Geo. E. Belden. Sept. S. 1SG2; Co. 11., 2.5th Reg.; deserted 28 Xov.
George F. Belden. i son of Asa) Sept. 0, 1862; Co. H., 25th Reg.; disch. 24 Julij,
18G2; enl. Head Qr. Troops; d. 15 June. 1SS7, at Ry-E.
John S. Blinn, Co. B., 2d Reg.; died IGth Apl. 1SG3, ae. 53.
Wadsworth T. Bl\-nn, (s. .John), enl. from ilidd. in Rifle Co. D., 7 Hay; d. 25 Aug.,
18G1, ae. 29; lu. Ru-HUl.
Lemuel H. Boardman, (son of -Jason), May 7 ,1861; Rifle Co. D., 2d Reg.; disch. 7
Aug., 1861.
Andrew J. Broadman, (s. Jason), d. 9 Oct., 1867, ae. 32.
James Boardman, ( s. Jason), May 23, ISGl ; Co. E., 1st Hea^y Art.; disch. 22 May,
1864.
Frederick Boardman, (s. Jason), Sept. 25, 1861; Co. E., 8th Reg.; re-enlisted as
Vet., 24 Dec., 1SG3.
William Brow-n, Xov. 23, 1864: Co. H., 10th Reg.; deserted.
Fred E. Butler, Sept. S, 1SG2; Co. G., 24th Reg.; di.sch. 30 Sept., 1863.
Xathan Camp. Jany. 2, 1SG4; Co. C, 29th Reg.; colored Reg.
Samuel Collins, bu. Ry-Hill.
THE WAR OF THE CIVIL REBELUON.
675
Martin V. Culver, Aug. 18, 1SG2; Co. A., 16th Reg.
Lorenzo D. Culver, (s. Dnvid), Co. II.. tlth Conn. Jicg.; d. 1 .4^/., IStJG, ae. 21.
Otis Culver, Dec. 16, 1SG3;' Co. K., lOtli Re,<,'.; died 7 May, 18GG, ae. 26; bu. Ry-H.
Fred D. Culver, (s. David), Co. E., 11th Conn.: d. 6 Oct., 1862, ae. 27; 61/. RyU.
Charles L. Deminj:. (s. Linus), Sept. 2.5, ISOl ; Co. E., 8th Reg.; re-enl. as Vet., 24
Dec, 18G.3.
John E. Demiiig, Aug. 11. 1SG2 ; Co. F., ICth Reg.; died Mch. 10, 18G5, Wilmington,
N. C.
John H. Doming, (s. F.nistiis). May 7, ISGl; Rflie Co. D, 2d Reg.; disch. 7 Aug.,
18G1.
Cliarles Depth, Sept. 20. 18G4; 20th Reg.; Col. Reg.
Janie.s Driscoll, Jan. 2, 1804; Co. A., Ist Heavy Art.; deserted 16 Jan. Xoi of
Ry-nm.
Jerome Evans, Sept. 25, 1861; Co. E., 8th Reg.; re-enl. as Vet. 24 Dec, 18G.3.
William Evans, Sept. 2, 1SG2: Co. I., 5tli Reg.; deserted 17 Sept.; substitute; not
a resident.
William Funin, Xov. 26, 1864; Co. K., 10th Reg.; deserted.
Martin L. Gardner. Sept. 10, 1864; Co. G., 1st Heavy Art.
Charles A. Goodrich, (s. Sylce.iter) , d. S Apt, 1808, ae. 28; 611. Ry-H.
Burritt Goodrich, July 28, 1802; Co. B., ICth Reg.
Rennsalaer Goodale.
Edward Goodrich, Feb. 22, 1SG2; 7th Reg. Sent South, but never reached Regiment.
George P. Goodrich, (.s. ./crony), Aug. 19. 1861; Co. B., 1st Squad Cav.; died at
Andersonville, being thm of Co. D., 2d A'. Y. Cav., ae. 27.
Jeremy Goodrich, Aug. 7, 1862; Co. C, IGth Reg.; d. Sept 1, 1864.
Walter S. Goodrich. :May 7, 1801; RiOe Co. D.. 2d R;g. , Jisclt. 7 Aug., 1861.
Leonard A. Green, (s. William B.) Aug. 11, 1802; Co. F. 16 Reg.; died Dec. 20,
1862, Falmouth, Va.
Jeremy Grisuold, (s. Jeremy). 7 Aug., 1862; died in Andersonville prison, 1 Sept.,
1864, ae. 29.
Sylvester Griswold. (s. Fred), enl. fr. Cromwell, 5th .Mil. Co. /., 3rd Sept., 1862;
trans, to V. d R. Corps., 8 May, 1862.
Daniel C. Grisuold, (s. Albro) . Aug. 8, 1SG2; Co. G. IGth Reg.; prisoner.
James P. Hamilton, Apl. 22, ISGl; Rifle Co. A., 1st Reg.; di.^ch. 31 July, 1861.
Albert S. Hatch, Aug. 7. 1802; Co. A.. 10th Reg.: founded; died 2 May, 1863, ae. 30.
William Holden, (s. Eber), May 7, ISGl: Rifle Co. D., 2d Reg.; disch. 7 Aug.; re-enl.
Sept. 8, 18G2; Co. H.,,25th Reg.; deserted.
Henry C. Holmes, Sept. 9, 1802; Co. H., 25th Reg.; disch. 26 Aug., 1803.
Daniel R. Hopkins, Aug. 5, 1862; Co. A., 16th Reg.; disch. disability, 31 Jan., 1863.
Amos L. Hotchkiss, 22 Apl, 1801; Co. D., 1st Conn. Reg.; cred. to Waterbury, Ct.;
disch. 31 July, 1861.
Henry Hotchkiss, Sept. 7, 1802: Co. D., 25th Reg.; drummer; disch. 26 Aug., 1863.
Thomas Hunter, Dec. 6, 1864: Co. F., 10th Reg.
James Johnson, Jan. 5, 1864; 5th Reg.; deserted; substitute; not a resident.
James Kelley, Jan. 5, 1864; 5th Reg.; not taken up on rolls.
Horace R. Kelley (s. Franklin), enl. from Weth.. 25 Aug., 1862; Co. B., 22d Reg.;
disch. 7 July, 18G3; re-enlisted 5 Jan., 1804, Co. I., 1st Reg. Heavy Art.
Norman Kellogg (s. Franklin) Jan. 22. 18G2; Co. F., 1.3th Reg.
Otis F. Kellogg, (s. Franklin), Aug. 25, 1803; Co. B., 22d Reg.; disch. 7 July, 1863.
Wm. M. Kellogg, M.ay 10, 1804; Co. I., 1st Heavy Art.
Wm. W. Kellogg, Sept. 9, 1802; Co. H., 25th Reg.
Henry Ladue, Nov. 28, 1804; 1st Light Batterj-; trans, to 11th Reg.
Franklin H. Lee, Jan. 2, 1804; Co. A., 1st Heavy Art.
676
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSHELD.
Donald LcVauglin, (s. Milliniii). Sppt. 25, 1801: Co. E.. Sth Re;.'-; wounded in urm.
Roland LpVauglin, (s. William). Aiif,'. 7, lSi)2; Co. C. 10 Ri-gr. : died :rept. 2.5th. 1504.
Win. 0. LeV'aughn, 22 A\>\., ISOl: Co. F., Inf.; di-oh. 31 July. HOI; cred. to Meriden.
Charleston.
Win. O. LeVaughn, (s. William). 22 Ajil., ISOl; Ci>. F., Tnf. : rlisch. 31 July, ISOl;
cred. to Meriden; rc-cnl. Xw^. 7. 1802: Co. C. lOth Reg.; died Sept. oth,
1804; Andersonville.
Lewis C.'Lockwood, Dec. 23, 18li:i: Co. G.. l>t Hea\y Art.
Wm. H. Lockwood, Dec. 2;i, 1S03: Co. V... 1st lle;i\y An.
Eugene E. Lovejoy (s. FraiiL) Nov. 20, 1803: Co. B.. 1st Reg. Cav.
John Lynch, Sept. 7, ISO."; Co. I., 14tli Reg.; d'-'Tted: non-resident ; substitute.
Patrick iMcCarty, Dec. G, 1804; Co. G., Oth Reg.
John Martin.
John Masterson, Sept. 21, 1804; Co. C, 15th Reg.; missing Mch. 8, 1805.
Thos. J. Montgomery, July 22, 1801; Co. F., 5th Reg.: re-enl. 21 Dec., 1S63.
James Moore, Kept. 21, 1804; Co. C, 7th Reg.; de-erted.
John Neill, Nov. 25, 1804; Co. K., 10th R,g.
Michael Nolan, Aug. 23 (or 31), 1803; Co. M., Ut Hea\-y Art.; non-resident ; substi-
tute.
Rosea Omonco, Nov. 20, 1804; Co. K., lOtlt Reg.; deserted.
James O'Connor, Aug. 28, 1803; Co. 1., 5th Reg.: i.r.n-re-tident : substitute.
Franklin G. Peck. July 31, 1802; Co. A., 10th Re'_'.
Wm. H. Pelton, Sept. 8, 1802; Co. II., 25th Reg.; disch. 20 .-I1/3., 1803.
Edward Peters, Dec. 10, 1803; Co. C, 20 Reg.: colored Reg.; died Nov. 17, ISi.U,
at Jones Landing.
Thomas G. Port.?r, 8 Sept., 1802; Co. H., 28th Re2. ; di.>ch. 20 .41(3., 1863.
Patrick Regan, enl. 2S Aug., 1S03. ; non-resident : .^iib-ftitutc.
John Richard.son, Sept. 0, 1803; Co. G.. 14th Ri-_'. : deserted. pro6. substitute.
Thos. II. Rohbins, Sept. 8, 1802: Co. U., 2.')th Rej. ; corporal.
Benj, A. Robinson, (s. .■l.'ihbel) , enl. from Htfd.. 11 ila;i : disch. 12 Au<]., 1861; reen-
listed as Vet. 22 Dec, 1863; flept. 7, 1801. Co. B., ~th lieg.
Eli Rodman. Feb. 29. 1804; Co. G.. 20th Reg.; Col. Reg.
Patrick Ryan, Jan. 5, 1804 ; 5th Reg. ; not taken up on rolls.
Ferdinand E. Sage, Sept. 9, 1802; Co. B.. 25th Reg.; disch. 20 Ang., 1863.
Henry M. Sage, Ang. 13, 1802; Co. A., 10th Reg.
Erbin K. Sanford, Jan. 7, 1802: Co. F., 13th Reg.; disch.. disability, 5 ./une. 1363.
John Shipniaker, (s. Francis), Oct. 7. 1861; Co. E..^ Sth Reg.; disch.. disabilitu, 13
Apl., 1864.
George M. Smith, (s. Mason). Aug. 9, 1802; Co. C. 16th Reg.; disch.. disability, d.
5 Jan., 1803, iyi service; bu. in liij-llill.
John Smith, Sept. 21, 1804; Co. H., 29th Reg.; Col. Reg.
Peter G. Smith, Dec. 6, 1864; Co. I., 6th Reg.
David D. Stevens, Sept. 9, 1802; Co. B., 25th V.o^.: disrh. 26 Aug., 180.3.
Gilbert H. Stowe. Sept. 30. 1861; Co. E., Sth Reg.; d. 13 Apl.. 1862.
Henry D. Stevens, Aug. 11, 1802; Co. F., 10th Reg.; re-enl. Oct. 6, 1862; Co. B..
25th Reg.
Henry R. (3. Da ins R.) enl. Co. F.. 10th Reg.. 11 Aug., 1S02; disch.; re-enl. 25 Oct..
1862 in Co. B., 25th Reg.; disch. 20th Nov.. 1S63.
Justus R. Stevens, Sept. 9, 1862; Co. H., 25th Reg.; was in service, but not on
Mu.ster Roll.
William Stevens, Aug. 2, 1863; Co. M., 1st Hea\-y Art.; deserted; substitute.
William Sugden, Aug. 6, 1S62; Co. A., 16th Reg.; died in the seniee.
Henry W. Taylor, Oct. 10, 1861; Co. E., Sth Reg.; rejected 2 Nov.
THE WAR OF THE CIVIL REBELLION.
677
John Thompson. Sept. Ttli. l.S(i3; Co. I., 14th Reg.; transf. to U. S. Navy.
John L. Thompson, Aug. 10, 1S03; Co. I., 14tU Rig.; deserted; substitute, non-
resident.
William Thompson, 2d. Sept. 8, 1.SC3; Co. I.. Uth Reg.; transf. to U. S. navy; sub-
stitute, non-resident.
William Thompson, 3d, Sept. 22, 1SG3; Co. I., Uth Reg.; transf. to U. S. navy; sub-
stitute, non-resident.
Albert C. Tryon, (s. Abijnh) Jlay 7, 1S(U : Rille Co. D., 2d Reg.; disch. 7 Aug., 1861.
James WaMi, Dec. G, 1SG4; Co. 13., 10th Reg.
John Ward, Dec. 17, 1804; Co. F., 10th Reg.; deserted.
Marshall J. Warren, d. 20 -Vor., 1803, iie. 24: bii. Ry-HHl.
Horace M. Warner (s. Walter), Aug. 9, 1802; Co. C, 10th Reg.; died Oct. 24, 1804;
bu. Ry-Hill.
Marshall J. Warner, Sejit. 8, 1802; Co. H., 2.5th Reg.
Chas. H. Waterman, Aug. 9, 1802; Co. F., 10th Reg.; died at home Xov. 17. 1802;
Rocky Hill; from nd. res'd at tSharpxliurg, Va.
John A. Waterman, Sept. 25, 1801: Co. E., 8tli Reg.; rejected Xov. 2; re-enl. Aug.
18. 1803; Co. C, Uth Reg.; non-resident, substitute.
Kdgar W . Webb, (s. Henry) Feb. 1, 1802: Co. F., 13th Reg.
Henry W. Webb, (s. Henri/), S tiept., 1802; Co. H., 2oth Reg.; disch. 10 Aug.,
18G3; cr. to ^yeth.
William Leroy Webb, (s. Hcnrii). May 7. 1301: Riflo Co. D., 2d Reg.; disch. 7 .lug.,
re-enl. Jan. 2, 1802; Co. F., lith Reg.; Vet. Feb. 8, 18G4.
:Martin Whaples, Sept. 9, 1S02: Co. B., 25th Reg.
John White, enl. 7 .lug., 1802; Co. C, IGth Reg.
William Whitmore, (s. Sylvester), Sept. 25, ISOl : Co. K., 8th Reg.; disch. 1 .lug.,
1802; d. 21 Sept., 1802; 611. Ry-Hill.
Henry- B. Whitford, (s. lV«i. //.), Sept. 9, 1802; Co. B., 25th Reg.; deserted .Vor.
12.
Chas. W. Williams (Corp'l) (.s. Charles). May 7. ISGl ; Rifle Co. D., 2d Reg., disch.
7 .lug.; re-enl. Feb. 1, 1802; Co. F., 13th Reg.; sergeant; disch. for dis-
ability, 20 Aug., 1SG2.
Henry C. Williams, (s. Moses) Aug. 8, 1802; Co. C, IGth Reg.; promoted.
Horace (s. Horace) Williams, Aug. 8, 1802; Co. C, 10th Reg.: transf. to 20th Reg..
2d Lieut.; resigned 11 Feb., 1873.
Wm. C. Williams, (s. .Indreic) Aug. , 1802; Co. L.. 10th Reg.; died Oct. 14,
1864, as 2d Lt. Co. L., 21st Conn., Newbem, X. C.
Wm. C. Williams, July G, 1SG5. 30th Reg.; colored Reg.; Captain.
Geo. W. Wright, Aug. 11, 1802; Co. F., IGth Reg.; disch., disability. 7 Feb., 1804.
Marshall S. Wright, (s. -Justus), Sept. '8, 1802; Co. H., 25th Reg.; disch. 25 .lug.,
1803.
Lewis F. Wright, (s. of -Justus) Sept. 8, 1802; Co. H., 25th Reg.; disch. 20 Aug.,
1803.
678
HISTORY OF ANCIENT 'WETHERSFIELD.
The Wetiieksfield Veterax Association was organized June 24,
1882, with those officers:
President and Commander, E. G. Woodhouse.
Yice President, F. T. Chapman.
Secretary and Treasurer, T. X. Hanmer.
The objects were (as in their constitution) :
1. "To preserve and strengthen those fraternal feelings which should
bind tog-ether the soldiers and sailors who united to suppress the late
Rebellion.
2. "To perpetuate the nicmorv and history of the dead by a proper
observance of ^rcniorial day, on the thirtieth day of ^lay, annually, in
decorating the graves of onr fallen comrades in commemoration of
their deeds."
To this organization, in time, succeeded the Johx ^[. 3Ioeris Post,
G. A. E. ^
In the Spanish- Aniericmi ^Var the following persons served:
•J. KdwarJ Rowp, niacliiiiist on llu- auxiliary cruiser, .S'^ Paul.
Richard \V. Dclamater, Lieut. Co. K, 1st Conn. Kegt. Voia.
Edward Smith, U. S. Cavalry Vols., in Philippine Islands.
Michael Grogan, 2Sth Host., U. S. Infuntrj-, in Phillippine Islands.
Henry R. Buck, Naval Reserves, 2d Conn. Div.
James D. Wells, Xaval Reserves, 2d Conn. Div.
Joseph P. Rhodes, Xcw Me.vico or Arizona Regt., at Cuba.
Hudson A. Steele, seaman on JJ . S. >S'. Indiniui, at Santiago.
Clinton Steele, drummer in 1st Regt. Conn. Vols.
Clarence W. Steele, seaman on U. S. S. lialtimorc, at Manilla; enlisted Aug. 3,
1894, on U. S. S. Minnesota, and served on the Texas and the Philadelphia,-
transferred to the Baltimore, Oct. 16, 1897; left Honolulu. 11. I., Mch. 25,
1898, to join Dewey's fleet at Hong Kong, China; left ilanilla. :Mch. 23,
1899, in the Buffalo for X. Y., via the Suez Canal; discharged from the
Buffalo and the service, May 20, 1899.
CHAPTER XVII
MlSCELLAXEA WeTIIEESFIELDIAKA.
Witchcraft — Leonard Chester's Adventure — A Mysterious Pot of
Money — The Strange Story of Elizabeth Canning — Grave Bob-
bing— The Beadle Murders, 1783 — Slaves and Slavery in Weth-
ersfield — Floods, Earthquakes and Conflagrations — Odd Names
of Wethersfield Localities — Old-Time Fishing in the Connecticut
River — Old Homes, Taverns and Furniture — The Old Elm —
Wethersfield as seen by Strangers at Various Times.
[By Shebman W. Adams, Esq., and Henry R. Stiles, M. D.]
AS IX AX OLD HOUSE the garret is generally the '^catch-all"
for old or disused furniture and "belongings'' which ai"e out
of date, and which comport neither with the comfort or dignity of
the rest of tho. ho"«e — so, every Town History must have some such
chapter as this, in which may be gathered the "odds and ends," the
"unconsidered trifles" — stray bits of fact or tradition, the "flotsam
and jetsam" of the centuries, which fit nowhere else and can be
introduced nowhere else, without disturbing the easy and dignified
flow of the historic narrative.
Into this chapter, then, have we brought various (and otherwise neg-
lected) matters relating to Wethersfield's past — such as Witchcraft,
Adventures, Lawsuits, Crimes, Conflagrations, Disasters by Hurricane
or Flood, Old Houses, Xegro Slavery, etc., etc., which may serve
to interest the reader— the whole being not unlike the "grab-bag"
at a Church Fair, into which, when one puttcth his hand, he is in
nowise certain what he shall bi'ing forth.
WiTciicKAFT, or, as the old law-books term it, "Conjuration and
Sorcery," from time immemorial has ever held a potent sway over the
minds and imaginations of men. It is not, therefore, surprising that a
belief in witchcraft prevailed to so great an extent, in Xew England,
even so late as within the last two centuries ; especially when we reflect
that so learned a jurist as Sir "William Blackstone, and so intelligent
a writer as !^[r. Addison, in the Spectator, recognized it not only as a
possible, but as a punishable offense. And it may be also remarked,
that the death penalty provided for it by the General Court of Con-
68o
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
necticut, in 1C42, was in conformity witli the ^losaic Cocle^ and
directely borrowed from the English Common Law, of that perio(L
It should he understood, however that while two persons at least
were executed in Connecticut for witchcraft, and that there are some
others concerning whom donht exists among historians as to whether
they were thus executed or not — it is yet certain that the Connecticut
Colony was not swept l)y the whirlwind of superstition which disturbed
the Massachusetts Colony — although there were those here who held
to it.
Whether a greater "leaven of unrighteousness" worked in the hearts
and consciences of Wethersfield people, than in those of the dwellers
in the other river towns of the Colony, we wot not. It may be, in-
deed, that the religious dissensions and disturbances which signalized
Wethersfield's earlier years, did engender in the community a mental
condition which predisposed them more readily to "entertain famil-
iarity with Sathan, the Great Encmic of ^lankind," than otherwise
they would have done. But. certain it is, as appeareth of record, that
Wethersfield enjoys the unenviable distinction of having furnished
a majority of the proient '.) cases of witchcraft occurring in Connecti-
cut— i. e., excluding the well knowni Xen- Haven ca-'^-'.
The first of these Wetherstield cases was that of ^I.v.i!iiAi;KT .Toiix-
sox, against whom the Particular Court, in session ^t Hartford, De-
cember 7th, IG iS, brought this serious charge, in the following terms.
■'The jury finds the Bill of Indictment against ^lary Johnson, that by
her owne confession slie is guilty of familiarity with the Deuill."-
That she was of Wetherstield may be safely assumed from the fact
that, previously, she had been severely dealt with by the Court, which
August 21st, 1046, had ordered that "Mary Johnson, for theuery
is to be pr'ently whipped, and to be brought forth a montli hence, at
Wethersfield, and there whipped.""'' This was in accordance with the
custom of the times, whereby the culprit received a portion of his or
her punishment in the Town of their residence for the better effect upon
his or her immediate neighbors. She was duly executed on this charge
of witchcraft, and blather,* ever curious for the details of such cases,
' Capitall Laiccs established by thr Gtnernl Court, the 1st of Xoveinhrr, lli'ii.
§2. Yf any man or woman be a witch (that is) hath or consuiteth w"" a familiar
spirit, thoy shall be put to death. Ex. 22, 18; Lev. 20, 27; Drill. IS, 10-11.— f'o;i;i.
Col. Rec. I, 77.
'Col. Rec. Conn. VIII, p. 171.
'Conn. Col. Recs. I, 143.
' Mather has, perhaps, suffered somewhat in historic reputation from his con-
neetion with the Witchcraft delusion in New England. But Prof. John Fiske, in
WITCHCRAFT.
68 I
gives (Maynalki, Ek. VI. pp. 71-S, example) this aecoixnt of lier:
"There was one ^lary .Tohnson, try'd iit Hartford, in this eonntry upon
an Indictment of Familiarity with the Devil, and was foimd guilty
thereof, chiefly npon lier own Confession. Her confession was at-
tended with such convictivc circumstances, that it could not he slighted.
Very many material Passages relating to this matter, are now lost.
But so much as is well known and ca!i still be prov'd shall be inserted.
She said her first Familiarity with the Devil came through Discontent,
and wishing the Devil to take this and that, and the Devil to do this
and that thing. "Whereupon a Devil appear' unto her, tendering her
what Services might I)est content her. A Devil accordingly did for
her many services. Ilor Master blauKMl her for not carrying out the
Ashes, and a Devil afterwards woidd clear the Hearth of Ashes for
her. Her blaster sending her to drive out the Hogs, that sometimes
broke into their Field, a Devil would scare the Hogs away, and make
her laugh to see how he seaz'd them. She confessed she had murdered
a child, and committed L'ncleanness both with Man and with Devils.
In the time of her Imprison)nr)it, the famous ^Ir. Stone [Hev. ]\Ir. S.,
of Hartford] was at great pains to promote her conversion from the
Devil to God, and she was, by the best Observers .ludu't very penite!)t
both before her Execution, and at it, and she went out of the world
with comfortable Hopes of Mercy from God, through the merit of
our Saviour. Being asked what she built her Hopes upon, she answer's
upon these Words, 'come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you Rest ;' And these 'There is a Fountain set
open for Sin and Uucleauess.' And she dy'd in a Frame extremely
to the Satisfaction of them that were s])ectators of it." It was prob-
ably, more satisfactory to the spectators, than to poor ^lary herself!^
The next case was that of Joiix Cakri.xgton and Joaxe, his wife,
who came to Wethersfield prior to IGlJj. He was a carpenter and they
owned a homestead on the east side of Sandy Lane, next south of
Thomas Standish's, near the corner of Fort Street. It was likely
that Carrington was of a somewhat lawless nature, for in March,
1648-9, he was fined "£10 for bartering- a gam with an Indian." On
Chapter V, of his "Xeic England and New France," explains more clearly his real
attitude towards the epidemic of persecution which marked that period of our
early history; and aNo fjives a very fair and succinct explanation of its causes,
especially in those cases wliich oecurrc<l in Sulem, Mass.
'There has been an attempt, on very doubtful authority, to fix llie citizensliip of
this culprit on Windsor — an attempt which I had the honor of repellini; in my
History of that town. — See Vol. I, pp. 444-450, of said work. — II. R. S.
682
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSFIELD.
the 20th of Feb., 1G50-1, he and his wife were formallv iudicted,
separately, for witchcraft. The following is the record of the Par-
ticular Court :
"A Particular Courte in Hartford uppon the Tryall of John Car-
rington, and his wife, 20th Februarv, 1G.jO-1
Edward Hopkins, Gov.
John ITaynes, Dept. Gov. ; Marjistraies
"Mr. Welles, :\rr. Woolcott. :\rr. AVebster, ]\Ir. Cullick, :Mr. Clarke.
"Jury: ]\[r. Phelps, ^Ir. Tailcoat, 'Mv. IloUister, David Wilson. John
White, Will. Lewis, Sam Smith. John Pratt, John Moore, Edw. Gris-
wold, Steph. Hart, Tho. Judd.
Indirjlifnient
"John Carriiigton thou art Indited by the name of John Carrington
of Wcthersficld carpenter tliat imt having the fear of God before thine
eyes thou hast Tntertained familiarity with Satlian, the great enemy
of God and .^lankind; and by his help has done works above the course
of nature for w'h, both according to the laws of God and the estab-
lished laws of this commrin wealth- thou deservest to Dye.
"The Jury fimis this Inditem" against John Carriiigton the 0th of
3»Iai-ch, ICjO-I, (The same Coui't, time, and place, found an Indictment
also against Joanne Carrington, wife of John Carrington, with the
same verdict)
"March, 1052-0, Court Record. There was pi'esented to this Court
an Inventory of .Tohn Carrington's estate which is ordered to be filed
but not Recorded.
"The estate presented being £23-11-00 and the dchxi Specified there-
in oweing by the estate is sumed up £13-01-00."
Sows IIakkisok, and his wife Catharine, came to Wethersfield to
live, in 1047 or '4S. Tlicir home was on the left side of High Street.
next south of Tliomas Wright's. The husband, a man of good repute,
having held office as '■to^\"n-crier'' and a surveyor of highways, died in
1600, leaving three daughters (the oldest, 10 years of age), and an
estate inventoried at £010. Two years after his death, the widow,
Catharine, was arrested on a charge of Avitchcraft and tried before
the Court in Hartford, October, lOOS.^ During the trial many deposi-
" See paper read before tlie Conn. Hist. Society, October 2. 1804. by Dr. C. J.
Hoadley.
The following Testimony taken at the trial of Kate Harrison for Witchcraft, and
copied by the late Miss Charlotte Goldthwaite, is here given to show our readers
WITCHCRAFT A.ND WITCHES.
68-,
tions ■were made by people who testified to the devilish things she had
done. Before her marriage, she had been a house servant, and one
of the daughters of the family where she had been employed made
oath to her being "a notorious liar, a Sabbath breaker and a fortune
teller." It was also deposed that she had caused illness to some per-
sons, death to others ; and that she had an unholy influence over animals ;
had been seen to appear as a calf and change back to her o-wn shape,
and that her form or face had frequently appeared at people's bedsides
and other unlikely places. At this first trial, she was not convicted
— owing to non-agreement of the jury. The suspicion of the public,
however, Mas not lulled; in ^lay, IGGO, she was again arrested and
jailed on a similar charge ; was indicted at the following term of Court,
plead not guilty and was tried before a jury. Again the jury failed to
agree, and she was remanded to jail, until the Court should convene in
upon what inconceivably tlim^y evidence, the victims of this delusion were {generally
convicted.
Richard Uontngue. a<red about 52 year^. testifieth. that meeting' with Goodwife
Harrison, in Wethersfield, she said that a swami of her bees flew away over her
neighbor Boreman"s lot and into the great meadow and thence over the great
River to Vmihtick side; but the said Katharine said she had fetched them again.
This sccn.tJ .ory strange to the >aid Richard, because iiils was acted in a little
time and he did believe the said Katharine neither went nor used any lawful means
to fetch the said bees. Dated. Aug. 1.3. ICOS, Hadley, taken upon oath before us,
Henry Clark. Samuel .Smith.
Joaiie Francis, her testimony. About 4 years ago, about the beginning of Xovcni-
ber, in the night, just before my child was struck ill, Goodwife Harrison or her
shape, appeared, and I said: '"The Lord bless me and my child, here is goody Harri-
son, and the child lying on the outside. I took it and laid it between me and my
husband.'' The child continuetl strangly ill about three (3) weeks, wanting a day
&, then died, had fits. We felt a thing run along the sides, or side, like ii whetstone.
Robert Francis saith he remembers that night the child was taken ill [his wife
saidj, "The Lord bless me & my child, here is Goody Harrison." Joane Francis saith
that this summer Goody Harrison's daughter fame for some emptyings. I told her 1
had none. Quickly after, I brewed a barrel of beer, and had drawed but a little of
it & the barrel was not bunged, but the head flew out of one end & all the hoops
from the bung to that end. The barrel was most a new barrel, we had it of
Joseph Wright. The head and hoops flew to the end of the cellar &. gave such a report
as scared, or feared the children.
Goodwife Francis saith, that when goodwife Harrison appeared to her, she saw
her by a light, there being then a good fire on the hearth. She stood with her
back to the fire, she lying in another room, the door being ju.st against her bed &,
against the fire. Sworn in Court. Oct" -29. 160S. Attest: John AUyn, Sec. 7.
Alice, the wife of -Jnmcs Wakelii. aged about or above oO years, testifieth that
being present with Mrs. Robbins. in the time of her sickness whereof Mrs. Robbins
died; she did see and know that the bcnly of Mrs. Robbins was stiff so that both
she and goodwife Wright, Senior, could not move either her arms or her legs
although both of them tried to move them i the same day Mrs. Robbins died
then her whole bodv was limber extraordiuarv', etc., etc."
684
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
the autumn. At that term, the jurv found her iruilty, hut the Court (of
Assistants) not heing satisfied, sought and oi^taincd an expert testimony
from some ministers (ministers heing, in those days, supposed to know
more ahout tlie Devil and his doings tlian ordinary folks), and still
not heing altogether satisfied referred the matter to the General Court.
She remained in jail, until ^fay, IfiTO, when the General Court or-
dered her to he released <m payment nf "the just fees"' of the trial, and
on condition that slie should lea\'e the colony— which undouhtcdly she
did gladly and witli alacrity. Turning her hack upon Connecticut,
she went to Westchester, X. Y., hut her reputation had j^receded lier,
and the citizens of that place complained of her i^resence to the Governor
of that Province ; she was placed under honds for her good hchavior
and after sometime, nothing appearing against her, she was released
— exit Catherine Harrison from history. Evidently, the Xew
Yorkers with their civil process of hail-hond, handled '*the witdi"
with more wisdom and hetter success than the Yankees with their
"expert" ministerial opinions and jury trials.
There was anotlier Wethevsfield man "who was murder'd with an
hideous Witrltrmft," though not at Wethersfield, yet being so con-
nected with Wethersfield as that his case may someuhut appio[)r£ately
be related here. This was PuiT.ii' (son of Samuel, Si\ ) Smith and
one of Wethersfield's early settlers and who uuirried Pehecca, daughter
of Xathaniel Foote, the settler. He removed to Iladley with the
Rev. John Russell, Jr., in 1()50, and lield the commission of Lieut.,
and became one of the Committee of the Hopkins School at Ilad-
ley, on the records of which his death is entered in connection with the
appointment of his successor. Mather's 2IagnaUa (Book VI, Chapter
VII) gives the following most detailed and interesting account of his
death by witchery :
"Mr. Philip Stnillt, aged ahout fifty years, a Son of eminently
Virtuous Parents, a Deacon of the church in Tladlei/, a ^Member of
the General Court, a Justice in the Countrey Court, a select ilan for
the Affairs of the Town, a Lieutenant of the Troop, and which crowns
all, a Man for Devotion, Sanctify, Grnrity, and all that was honest,
exceeding Exemplary. Such a ilan was in the Winter of the Year
1684, murder'd with an hideous Witclicrnft, that fill'd all those Parts
of New England with Astonislnneitt. lie was, by his Office concern'd
about relieving the Indigence of a wretciied Woman in the Town; who
being disatisfy'd at some of his just Cares ahout her, express'd herself
unto him in such a manner, that he declar'd himself thenceforward
apprehensive of receiving jMischief at her hands.
WITCHCRAFT AXD WITCHES.
68 =
"About the Beginning of January he bej^au to be very Valcfudin-
arioiis, laboring under Pains that seeiu'd Iscliiatick. The Standers by
could now see in him one ripening apace for another World, and till'd
with Grace and Joy to an hiiih Dejiree. lie showed such Wcancdncss
from and Weariness of the World, that he knew not (he said) whether
he might pray for his Continuance here; and such assurance
he had of the Divine Love unto him, that in raptures he would cry out
Lord, stay thy hand; il is enough, it is more than thy frail Servant
can hear. But, in the midst of these things, he still utter'd an hard
Suspicion that the ill Wdiiuin who had flireatcned him, had made Im-
pressions with Inchantinents iqion him. AAliile he remained yet of a
Sound Mind, he very sedately, but very solemnly charg'd his brother
to look well after him. Tho", he said, he now understood himself,
yet he knew not how he might be. But he sure (said he) to have a
care of me, for you shall see strange things. There sliall he a Wonder
in lladley! I shall not he dead, when 'tis thought I am! He press'd
this Charge over and over; and afterwards became Delirious; upon
which he had a Speech incessant and voluhle, and (as was judg'd) in
various Languages. He cry'd out, not only of Pains, but also of Pins,
tormenting; liim in si^veral parts of his Body; and the Attendants found
one of them.
"In his Distresses he exclaim'd much upon the Woman aforesaid, and
others, as being seen by him in the Room ; and there was divers times
both in that Room, and over the whole House, a strong Smell of some-
thing like 3[ttsl\ which once particularly so scented an Apple roasting
at the Fire, that it forc'd them to throw it away. Some of the young
Men in the Town being out of their Wits at the strange Calamities
thus upon one of their most belov'd Xeighbors went three or four times
to give disturbance unto the Wonnin thus complain'd of; And all the
while they were disturbing her, he was at ease, and slept as a weary
Man: Yea, these were the only times that they percciv'd him to take
any sleep in all his Illness. Gally-pofs of Medicines provided for the
sick Man, Avere unaccountably empty'd ; audible Scratchings were made
about the Bed, when his Hands and Feet lay wholly still, and were
held by others. They beheld Fire sometimes on the Bed; and when
the Beholders began to discourse of it, it vanish'd away. Divers People
actually felt something often stir in the Bed, at a considerable distance
from the !Man ; it seem'd as big as a Cat, but they could never grasp it.
Several trying to lean on the Bed's head, tho' the sick !Man lay wholly
still, the Bed would shake so, as to knock their Heads uncomfortably.
A very strong Man coidd not lift the sick Man to make him lie more
686
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSnELD.
easily, llio' he apply'd his utmost Strength unto it ; and yet he could
go presently and lift a Bedstead and a Bed. and a ^fan lying on it,
without any Strain to hinir^elf at all. Mr. Smith dies: The Jury that
view'd his Corpse, found a Swelling on one Breasi, his Privities
■woimded or bum'd, his Bach full of Bruises, and several Holes that
seem'd made with Aids. After the Opinion of all had prononnc'd him
dead, his Countenance continued as Lively as if he had been Alive;
his Eyes closed as in a Slumber, and his Xcther Jaw not falling down.
"Thus he remain'd from Satnrdatj 2»[orning about Sunrise, till Sah-
balh-dai/ in the Afternoon : when those who took him out of the Bed,
found him still warm, tho' the Season was as cold as had almost been
known in any Age : And a Xeir England Winter does not want for Cold.
On the Xight following his Coitnfcnanre was yet fresh as bcfoi'e: but
on Monday morning, they found the Face extreamly tiunifij'd and dis-
colour d. It was black and blue, and fresh Blood seem'd ninning down
his Cheek upon the Hairs. Divers Xoises were also heard in the Room
■where the Corpse lay, as the Clattering of Chairs and Stools, whereof
no account could be given. This was the End of so good a ^lan. And
I could Avith unquestionable Evidence relate the Tragical Deaths of
several Good Men in this Land, attended with such prcclenuitural
Circumstances, which have loudly call'd upon u* to work out our Salva-
tion with Fear and Trcinhling." — //. B. 5.J
AIr. Leoxaed Ciiestek's Adventtke. — Prominent among the old-
time legends with which Wetherstield mothers and nurses were wont to
regale their children, was this "o'er true tale."
3Ir. Chester's social and civil position, his wealth, enterprise
and popularity among the earliest settlers of the town, gave
to his impleasant experience upon the mountain west of the town
an importance which would, perhaps, have attached to no other
person in the community. Sometime, prestimably in the Fall of 1636,
he set out alone (as Tradition saith) to seek a suitable site for a grist-
mill which he proposed to build, on the stream which flows through the
south part of the to\\Ti. This mill — it may be remarked — was erected
by him the next year (1637) and one has been maintained on about the
same site ever since. His exploration took him. or would naturally do
so, to near the source of the stream, southwest of the village of Gris-
woldville of the present day. This whole section traversed by the
stream was, of course, then an unbroken wilderness. It may be. also,
that Mr. Chester uninientionalhj pushed his journey to the upper
waters of the Mattabesctt, which, in fact, he crossed. This, however,
A MYSTERIOUS POT OF MONEY.
687
seems hardly probable, since a journey of that kind, undertaken alone,
would Iiave been, in those diiys, almost foolhardy. At all events, before
the young explorer had made such progress on his return journey as
to strike upon any well-defined trail or path which he might follow in
the dark, night had fairly closed upon him, and he entirely lost his
bearings — for even the north polar star was shut out from his sight,
by the dense foliage. So, when, at last, day broke, he M-as really fur-
ther away from his home than when he had stai-tod to return to it;
and yet it was possible (so he must have fancied) that he might have
gone by the village, and must retrace — if he could — the steps he had
taken during the night. In the meantime, his neighbors at Pyquaug
had become alanned at his continued absence ; and parties, with drums,
muskets, pails and pans of tin-ware, copper or brass — anj^hing, in
fact, with which to uuike noisy 5(junds and signals — had begun to
search the woods, in all directions. It was not, howevei', until the third
day after he left his home on Broad Street, that lie was found and,
in fact, rescued from starvation by his friends. In his uncertainty
as to his whereabouts and place of destination, Chester had dragged
himself, with failing strenglit and in famishc<l condition, to the summit
of a mountainous peak or ridge, in the extienie southeast part of
what is now Berlin Township. From tliat place, a distance which,
measuerd in a straight Hue, would he vevji near twelve miles from where
he started, he hoped to bo able to see, if ho might not be able to reach,
the little settlement which held all that was dear to him. The result
was more fortunate than he had expected. From that elevation, he
was able, for the first time, to hear the noises and calls of his friends,
and (what must ever be considered a most remarkable turn of chance)
he descended in the direction whence these noises proceeded, and found
himself safe and imharmed in the hands of his rescuers. Fortunately,
he had met no Indians, and, though he had heard the howls of wolves
and the screams of catamounts, he had not been followed or attacked
by either. It was in memory of this event, which might have proved al-
most a public calamity, that the elevation in question, received and has
ever since retained, the historic name of "]\Iount Lamentation."^
A MYSTEEiors Pot of !Moxey. — -In 1SS5, clerks in the Hartford Pro-
bate Office, in the course of a re-arranging and systematizing of the
'In Peter Parley's First Booh of History (1832), this adventure of llr. Chester
is related with child-like simplicity of statement, in connection with a mention
of Weth. ; and as if it was the only event of any importance which ever happened
in the town.
688
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETHERSFIELD.
records of that oftico, (liscovcrcd a great many things of interest in the
old papers and docnnients ■which had hcen stored away out of sight,
many of them for two centuries. Among these was an old suit, which,
in its day, must have furnished a delicious hit of scandal and gossip
for the good people of Wcthersfield, but which had actmilly been eradi-
cated from all remembrance, or even tradition. This was a suit, brought
by Mrs. ilary Chester (widow of the tirst Col. John Chester) as plain-
tiff, in the Probate Court, July 2.5, 1721, Joseph Talcott being then
Judge. In this record, in the quaint ]ihraseology of the day, "slie
vehemently suspects John and Eczaleel Lattemore, Mary, wife of John,
Sybil, wife of Bczalecl ; ]\Iary Baxter, wife of Thomas Baxter, and
Elizabeth Baxter, have gotten into their possession and concealed
contrary to law, a quantity of hard silver money unknown, with other
goods of value, belonging to the estate of John Chester." The Court's
warrant for bringing the accused parties to Hartford for examination,
is a singular document, reading thus:
'*Mr. Goodwin — You arc <k'sired by y' plaintiff to be very vigilant.
Defendants all dwell in one house. Ye four women you must bring on
horseback, and so must provide assistance accordingly. Mr. [Sheriff
Ezekiel] Y»'iiliams will, if need be, provide pillions. I believe you
cannot attend y" warrant without three assistants at least. Be careful
to keep them [the last of this paragrai)h torn, or worn away]."
The accused, male and female, were taken to the Court. Most of the
evidence, however, offered in support of Madam Chester's suspicion,
was of a hearsay character, and depended upon the veracity of a negro,
named George, belonging to the Lattemores, another negro, Bichard
and an Indian called Antonio. This Indian's story was that comin«;
out of the meadow, once on a time, he saw Bezalcel Lattcmore's negro
George. He looked very melancholy and .Vntonio asked what was the
matter; to which George replied tliat his folks had beaten him. On be-
ing asked why they had so treated him, he said it was because he had
told of finding a kettle, of about three quarts, filled with money, in
the cellar wall; and that his mistress had threatened him, if he ever
told that story again, his master would hang him up and dig a hole iii
the ground and bury him alive — and that he was so afraid that he
couldn't sleep; and the folks would not let him see ]Mr. Chester's
negroes. The negro Richard, also, testified that George, in digging,
had come upon the pot of money with a lid iipon it, and had taken
some and put it in his pocket, but it was gone in the morning. Ilis
grandmaster took the pot and carried it home. He thought tliere must
ELIZ.VBETH CANNING.
689
have been two or three hiinJred pounds in it. One statement was that
it was a hag with money in it "half so Lirge as his arm," etc. The four
women who had been lialed to Court about it on horseback, denied
all knowledge about the matter, and the case went against ^Madam
Chester, for want of sufficient evidence ; though the Judge recorded
his opinion that there was "room for suspicion.*'
Another story of this kind, though belonging more properly to R'Dcky
Hill, relates to Capt. Kidd's treasure as follows :
It is reported and believed that the celebrated pirate, Capt. Eobert
Kidd, once entered the Connecticut River, and penetrated it as far as
this town; and a hollow below the present •"Ship-yard"' and directly
opposite the fish-house on the east side of the River, known by the old
inhabitants of Stepney and Glastonbtiry, as Tnjon's Landing is honored
by tradition as the spot where he buried some treasure. The late
Charles Williams, used to say, that of his personal knowledge,
strange people sometimes came from long distances and dug in that
hollow — which M^as still in existence until the Valley R. R. was built ;
and that persons belonging east of the river also dug there ; also, that
there was a tradition that, at that spot Kidd, in anger, killed one of
his mates by a blow with a water-bucket, and thnt the ghost of the
murdered man kept guard over that spot. He said, also, that in the
first quarter of the 19th Century, there was scarcely an inhabitant of
the town who could be induced to pass through "Tryon's Landing"' after
10 p. m., even for a reward of $5. !Mr. Amos Wilco.x, also, in passing
through these woods once came unawares upon two men digging ear-
nestly, when both started affrighted and placed their hands over their
mouths as a sign to him not to utter a word. This was in the line
of the old tradition concerning treasure-seekers, that not a word must
be spoken, on pain of the treasure (reputed to be in an iron pot)
inmiediately sinking again into the bowels of the earth, even if the bail ^ '
of the pot were in the clutch of the discoverer.
The Stkaxge Story of Elizabeth Caxxixg. — The following copy
of an original letter, in the possession of Mrs. ATary D. McLean, of
Wethersfield,^ introduces us to a strange bit of personal history, which
has already attracted the attention of some of our local antiquarians.
•''t^ncle's letter to !Mr. Elisha : You will learn y' present state of his
sore, which tho' I hope is such as affords favorable apprehension as
to a cure gives none as to a very speedy returne. Ilis pain is at times
' Copied by S. W. Adams, Feb. 15. 1889, from the original in possession of Mrs.
Marj- D. McLean, of Wethersfield.
690
HISTORY OF AN'CIEXT ■VTETrHEESFIELD.
great k it now forbids his writing to you after y' other letter : he there-
fore refers it to me to mention a few thinjr-=- He hears Cap* Bimham
[Bumhani] is come in, k would Ix? glad y". Rum k whatever other
things he brings, we sliall want in y' family, such as stigars. coffee,
indico, etc., you will save sufficient quantity. If limes, or lemons,
or oranges, let their juice be saved in lx)ttles; either with rum or
covered on y' top with oil. Tf any letters come forth t<> send them
hither & to lay Betty Cannimjs by till our return. I would also desire
vou to send by y' bearer all y' garden seetls (I mean of flowers) which
remain unsown (except those for y' borders) i some reddish [radish]
seed, garden cresses, as also 2 p'' of chocolate. We should be glad of
a line to know how y* ser\"ants b<-have. as well as concerning y' health
of y* whole; & whether Bettij Caiminn is easy at Xewingtou. where
I wish she may ccmtinue till our i-etum: among other reasons y' she
might liecome mistress of spinning. We doubt not your care of y'
servants, pectdiarly this week of liberty; nor of your earnest praycre
for your dear Uncle's valuable — ^may I not say invaltiable — life &
health: which may they lie answered in our comformtable renim.
I am D' S'
Tours effcctionarely
ELiz. willia:\is.
*1 have sent y* key of y* parlour & y' closet in it. y' you may send
us about 1 p* of green tea. You'll keep ye doors lock'd & l»e pleased to
lay up the keys with care. If ye hams have not been sent for, to y*
malsters, you'll l>e so kind as to do it immediately. Pray send also
5 otmce of snuff.
"Accept our love A: tender it to Couzz* Christian; .t let us be re-
membered to y' serv", with desire A: exj>ectation of their behaving well.
[Superscription]
ME. EZEK'LL WILLIA:MS,
in Wethersfield.
1755."
This is evidently a portion of a letter ^vritten by Madam Williams,
the second wife of Rev. Rector-Col. Elisha Williams (the Elizabeth
Scott whom he married in Eng.) to her husband's nepliew. Ezekiel Wil-
liams (afterwards a prominent figure in Wethersfield during the Revolu-
tionary period), who had lx>en left in charge of the family home in
Xewington dtiring Rector and Mrs. W."s absence — and at the time of
what proved to be the Rector's last illness. The letter itself reveals
Mrs. Williams' fine character — education, refinement, ability, firmness
EUZABETH CANNING.
691
and attention to detail as a housekeeper; thonghtf illness for all in
her family, and especially a sense of deep responsibility for her ser-
vants; as Avell as of tender and wise regard for the poor unfortimate
girl so providentially brought to her door — a waif from beyond seas.
Briefly told, the story of Elizabeth Canninc: is a remarkable one.
She was, at the time she first comes t" our knowledge. IS years old.
the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Canning, of Aldermanbury. Lou-
don, England, and a servant in London. On January 1st, 1753. she
left her master's home to visit her aunr, a ifrs. Thomas Colley. Be-
tween 9 and 10 o'clock that evening, she left her aunt's home to return
to her master's, accompanied partway iy her uncle. As she did not
reach her master's home by the next niDming. enquiry was maile of
her mother, who was surprised to hr^ar of her a1>sence; a reward was
then offered for the discovery of her wherealKpiits : but nothing came of
it, until, after she had been missing nearly four weeks, she appeared
at her mother's, January i'9th, in a mo-t pitiable condition, emaciated,
insufficiently clothed, and bruised and sore from evident ill-usage.
Her story was, that after her uncle had left her and when near Eeil-
1am Wall, she had been waylaid, struck down insensilde and throv.-ii
into a "con'^Til-'ior fit" (to which she had been sidjject, owing to an
injury to her head received some years before), then gagged and
robbed. The two men \vho thus maltreated her (one of whom she after-
wards identified as John Squires") then dragged her to a house of
ill-repntc, in Enfield Wash, k('j)t by "^Mother'' [Susannah] Wells, a
"hempen widow;'' (/. e., a woman whose hu-liand liad been hanged) ;
and of the other inmates of the place, one, a widow, was Mary Squires.
a gypsy whom Elizabeth asserted had robbed her, on her entrance,
of her stays. She further stated that, on lier refusal to lead an
abandoned life, she was shut up in a second story chamber, where
for four weeks she subsisted on a loaf of bread and 4 quarts of water
— seeing no human being during that time, except once when she saw
some one peeping at her through the door. She finally effected her
escape by jiulling off a board from a window. Her story (in itself
not at all inconsistent with the state of morals, and lack of police pro
taction in London, at that period) naturally caused much excitement.
The women whom she said had been instrumental in her detention
were arrested and tried in the Old iJailey : Squires, the gyi^sy, for r<'ib-
bery, and Wells for being accessory tiiereto, before Eielding, the novelist.
who was at that time a City ^lagistrate ; and although strenuously pr'>
testing their innocence, were tried before the J.,ord ^layor's Court.
The gypsy woman (^lary Squires) was sentenced to be hanged on
692
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
the charge of having stolen Elizabeth's stays — value 10 shillings.
"Mother" Wells was sentenced to be branded with red hot irons ; which
was done, and it said that when the mob smelled the odor of the
woman's burning flesh, they yelled with delight. Smollett, the novel-
ist, also, was much interested in the case, as was Ramsay, the artist,
who published his views in a Letter from a Clergyman to a Nobleman.
The matter was in every mouth, the newspapers of the day exploited
it widely, and dozens of pamphlets were issued, taking opposite sides.
Soon, however, the tables were turned on Elizabeth, by the production
of fresh evidence that the gypsy woman, then under sentence of death,
had been over 100 miles away at the time of the occurrence with which
she was charged and she was pardoned — to the great dissatisfaction of
the mob, who muuifested their indignation by smashing the windows
of the Lord Mayor's carriage, because he had aided in the reversal
of the sentence. Then Elizabeth was tried, befoi-e a bench of IT
magistrates, including the Lord [Mayor and the Lord Chief Justice,
on a charge of wilful and corrupt perjury in swearing a felony
against (and thus endangering tlie life of) the gypsy woman ^lary
Squires. The trial lasted seven days — verdict giiilti/, and she was sen-
tenced 30 ^lay, 17.54, to one month's imprisonii^ont in ISTewgate, and
transportation, to one of the British Colonies, for seven years, on
penalty, if she should ever return and be found within that time, in
the limits of Great Britain or Ii'eland, of suffering death as a felon,
without benefit of clergy.^ She probably was sent to Philadelphia,
in the ship Myrtilla. wliich sailed from Deal, England, in the hitter
part of August, 1754. It has been impossible, up to the present time,
although much research has been spent upon the question, to ascertain
whether Elizabeth Canning was an impostor or not. On her trial, 30
witnesses on one side and 2G on the other, testified, under oath, to
facts which were utterly irreconcilable. Henry Fielding, the novelist
and judge before whom Squires and Wells were tried, believed in her
innocence and wrote a pamphlet in her defense.-
'This case has attained a somewhat extended celebrity, as iiiuy be judged from
the following list of authorities:
Howell's State Trials, XIX. 2U2-693, 283, 1218; Trial for Perjury in the Old Bailey,
London, 17.54; Celebrated Trials. IV, 172; Chamber's Journal, XVIII, 108; Eccle-
siastical Mag., XXVII, 24G; Blackicood's Hag., LXXXVII, 581; Conn. Courant,
No. 404, 1773; London 'Sotes & Queries, II, 27, 75, 117, 210; XI, 484, 509, XIT, 30,
76; Padget's Paradoxes and Pu::zles, 1874. p. 318; Dr. Hill's Full and Authentic
Account, etc., 60; Churchill's Glast., 182; and various newspapers of the period —
besides a paper read by Mr. Joseph G. Woodwabd, of Htfd., before the Conn. Hist.
Soc'y and discussions thereon.
' Magistrate Fielding, who took her examination, with five years experience as a
--?i'*'-K:-
..-_Ji
-Maky .Sqliues, the (Jvp^v.
convicted (111 ;uc.mnt c.f
Kliz" Caiiniiij,', Imt aitti-
Wiinls ifpiicvfd. (Fnini
(III old print. J
EUZARETH CANNING.
693
It was proved nu her trial and iiot denied that she had been an honest
girl, with a moral character that was blameless and irreproachable. It
seems very impi'obable that such a previously innocent girl of only 18
years of age shotild have concocted such a story, as she testified to
under oath, and persisted in during her life, especially as death was the
penalty for robbery at that time. Xo evidence that she was anywhere
else, during her four weeks absence, than at the house she described,
has ever appeared. This is certainly a strong point in favor of her
innocence. Those who knew her best believed her.
Voltaire, the great French philosopher, wrote her life in England
in connection with a case then eliciting much attention in France (that
of the Calar Family) to illustrate the danger of trusting to circum-
stantial evidence. Of course, she had many friends in England, who
presented her with £100 previous to licr deportation; and one, a Mrs.
Cooke, of Stoke Xcwington, contributed £100, to be put at interest,
under four trustees, the whole sum to be given her, if she beliaved well
and if she returned to England after seven years, that she might be es-
tablished in some sort of business. To this kind benefactor she sent
the following letter (withoiit addi'oss or postmark), which will possess
interest to <^ur Wethersficld readers, from its pleasant allusions to
Rector Williams and wife:
"Hon. !Madam — I am so unfit to write to such a Lady as yourself
as has made me offend in not writing so long, and now I do not know
how to do it, but I hope you will excuse what is amiss. I am greatly
thankful for all your abundant favors to me, and hope God will reward
you tho' I can never do it, but I will pray for you and I hope I shall
never forget to do that, and I thank you for them from my heart.
I thank God I have had good health ever since I came here, only once
broke my leg which has been long well, only a little painful at times.
I have lost my master tho Colonel [Rector-Col. Elisha Williams], who
was a good friend indeed. ]\Iy poor lady is greatly sorrowful: hope
God will comfort lier. She is very kind to me. I hope my friends will
not have me from her as she is willing to keep me. . I do not
magistrate, in this pamphlet that he published soon after, pronounced Elizabeth
Canning to be "a child in j'oars and yet more so in understanding, with all the
marks of simplicity that I ever discovered in a human countenance." "Before
noWemcn and magistrates and judges she went through her evidence without
hscitation, confusion, trembling, change of countenance, or other apparent emotion
— the highest impudence or the most perfect innocence." The opinion of this
great writer, with his knowledge of human nature, and his official acquaintance
with the evidence in the case is certainly entitled to great weight, though it may
not solve the mystery of her guilt or innocence.
694
HISTORY OF ANX'IENT WETHERSKIELD.
know where to find such another. I hope. !Madam, I shall
forever hiive cause to hless God 1 ever came to this House, and for
all affliction which was the cause of it, as I always have occasion to
bless God for such friends as yourself. Pray, ^ladani, accept my
humble Duty who am your grateful servant.
ELIZ. CAXXIXG.
April 29, 1755.
[It seems, from a passage in a letter of a ]\Iember of Congress, who in
1790, visited Wetherstield, that she was brought to America, in the
same vessel with Rector and Mi's. Williams — whose kindness offered her
a home in their own family. Her position in this family evidently was
not that of a menial — for the Colonel had negro and Indian slaves
to do that kind of work — but she was regarded as a jioor, perscciued
girl, whom fortune had strangely thrown upon their hands, for whose
future welfare they were solicitous. In Madam Williams* letter as
given above, the whole tone of reference, both to Elizabeth and to the
other servants of the house, marks the distinction which rhe mistress
made between them — as, also, the anxiety she must havo felt during
her absence from home in atten<huicc upon liev invalid husl'rand, as ro
the conduct of this strange young girl of doubtful antecedents. Slie
was not, however, long burdened with this responsiliility, for, in 175G,
Elizabeth married John Treat, a "scatter-brain young fellow."' though
of good family, being a grandnephew of Governcjr liobert Treat ; in
the Indian war campaign of 1757 and '58, he served as a private in
Capt. Eliphalet Whittlesey's (Xewington) Co.
In 17G1, according to an item in the Annual Register (England),
for that year (p. 179), Mrs. Treat returned to England to receive a
legacy of £300 left her three years before by an okl lady in Xewington
— perhaps, the same !Mrs. Cooke before referred to.
Both Treat and his wife .started their married life with about £1,500
between them, but, being of too easy a disposition, this sum >\as S'wn
spent and their lunise had to be sold. She d. in 177o;' he in 1790. —
See Treat Genealogy in Vol. IL- — H. E. S.]
Grave Robbing. — The following, which iloated in upon jlr. Adams,
from the Des Moines (Iowa) Leader, by favor of a Western correspond-
Wt — although he had not identified the lady in question with any of
* Hartford, June 22d. Last week died veiy suddenly, at Weth., ^trs. Elizabeth
Treat, wife of Mr. [John] Treat, formerly the famous Eliz:ibeth Canning — Conn.
Courant, June 15-22, 1773.
THE BEADLE MURDERS. 695
Wethcvsficld's daiues — sc-fiiis to ilate from this town, and mav, tliere-
fore, bo admitted to our pai-x's, if not to our confidence. It is the tra-
dition of a lady, who lived here in the last centiny, died — as was sup-
posed, and was buried ; and being, moreover, of a wealthy familv. bore
to the grave with her a vahial)le diamond ring upon her linger. The
niglit after she was conmiittcd to the grave, two men opened it, on
robbery intent. Finding that the coveted ring could not bo removed
from the finger, they attempted to cut off that member. The first gash
of the knife brought the lady out of her trance (for such it was) and
she sat upright in her coffin. This so friglitened the robbers that they
could not run away, and she finally persuaded them to take her home,
only a short distance from the old graveyard. This they did, and left
her by the door, upon which they rapped heavily, and disappeared from
view as rapidly as possible. The door was opened by the lady's hus-
band, who was greatly frightened when he found himself not at all a
widower. The lady recovered her health (as well she might, after such
an experience) and lived t\venty years lonirer.
The Bkadle MunDKiis, 17s:i.— Chiof .Tustice ]ilitc]iell of Wethers-
field, a friend and neighbor of Wm. Beat.le, wrote ,i very full account of
the murderer and his crime. This was first published as an appendix to
the sermon preached by Jlov. John :\[arsli at the funeral of Mrs. Beadle
_and her children, printed some time in 1TS3. The account then
appears anonymously, in Duiyld's Travels, and also in Barber's
Historical CuUcdious of Connecticut. It is only recently that the
discovery was made, that it was written by Judge Stephen Mix
IMitchell. The manuscript is, we believe, preserved among the records
of the Third School District.
Of Wji. Beadle's early life. Judge ]ilitchell writes:
"He was born in the County of Essex, in a village not very far from
London. * * * He left a mother and sister in England, where
he had a fair character for integrity and honesty. In the year 1755,
he went out to the Island of Barbadoes, in the family of Charles Pin-
fold, Esq., Governor of the Island, where he tarried six years ; then
returned to England, purchased some merchandize and from thence
came to Xew York in the year 1762, and immediately removed to
^ Stratford, in this state, from thence to Derby, and then to Fairfield,
where he married and dwelt for some years. By this time he had ac-
quired about £1,200 with which he removed to this town, about ten
years since (1772) where he resided until his death. His business was
that of retailing * * He refused to give credit, intending to keep his
696
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETIIERSFIELD.
property within his own reach, believing it always secure while his
eye was upon it. While here he added considerably to his stock, some
of which he invested in real estate, etc., etc."^
"When the war commenced, he had on hand a very handsome assort-
ment of goods for a country store, which he sold for the currency of
the country without any advance in price ;^ the money he laid by, wait-
ing and expecting the time would soon arrive when he might therewith
replace his goods, resolving not to part with it vmtil it should be in
as good demand as when received by him * * * * jjg finally lost
all hope, and was thrown into a state little better than despair, as ap-
pears from his writing * * * JJe was determined not to bear the
mortification of being thought by his friends poor and dependent, etc.
"He fixed upon the night succeeding the ISth of jSTovembcr, 1782,
for the execution of his nefarious purpose," Ijut this plan was frustrated.
On the evening of December 10, or rather on the early morning of
' [The following "Advertisement, addressed to the Ladies," in the Coidi. Courant.
indicates a degree of enterprise not then common to the storekeepers of tliat day,
who usually confined their advertisements to prose, and to very limited space. The
advertisement itself bears witness to the popular excitement concerning the use of
tea, which h!<H n^''^^*^"'' *lic people of the Colonies since 1772:
"Fair Ladies, 'tis not very arcli, Now, tho' I send to let you know.
To talk about the first of Jtarcli, 1 have a hundred Weight, or so.
That woful diiy, when each of ye. It is as good as e'er was tasted;
Must leave your darling Xectar, Tea! Then must all tliis be lost and wasted?
Your China, which attracts the Eye, If a Market I should miss on't.
Like Lumber, must neglected lie: Pray help me out, and make a Dish on't
And dearest Tea-Kettle's harder Lot, When ilareh sets in I vow at once.
Must change him to a Porridge Pot. A Joe shant purchase half an Ounce.
But now, methinks I hear you say, I'll lock, and barr, and set a .Spell on't.
Sufficient is the evil Day. Nor shall a Jlort.al ever smell on't.
Then why should you, with Raven's Note, Yet stop a moment! on my Life!
Anticipate the fatal Vote, For now 1 think on't, I've a Wife.
That must deprive us of our Joy, And if she proves of Eve the Daughter.
And all our future Peace destroy? To have a Kind of Hankering after
Sweet Fair Ones, though I tell this story, This noxious Herb, and when I'm gone,
Upon my Word, I am no tory. With Ax or Hatchet should lay on,
In spite of all tyrannic Tools, With Arm and Will, both bold and stout,
I mean to follow Virtue's Rules. Should find this potent Poison out:
And now I pledge my word, and say. This Thought bewilders all my Sense,
The noble Congress I'll obey. For what would be the Consequence ?
Who maiigre Power, Pride or Skill, Then help us keep our virtue sound.
Dares to be free and virtuous still. And quickly purchase 'tother pound.
And you've a month to make your Plea — William Beadle."
Concerning this same Idol, Tea. VVethersfield, .January 28, 1775.
H. R. S.]
THE BEAPLE MURDERS.
697
December 11,* he sent tlie maid siAvay on a visit to a physician, saving
that ]\rrs. Beadle was ill. There is reason to believe that he had killed
Mrs. Beadle just before this. Judge Mitchell describes the events as
folloAvs :
"He smote his wife and each of the children with an axe on the
side of the head as they lay sleeping in bed; the woman had two
wounds in the head ; the sknll of each of them were fractured ; he then
with a carving knife cnt their throats from ear to ear. * * * The
woman and little boy were drawn pai-tly over the side of the bed,
as if to prevent the bedding from being besmeared with blood. The
three daughters were taken from the bed and laid upon the floor side
by side, like three lambs before their throats were cut ; they were
covered with a blanket, and the woman's face with a handkerchief.
He then proceeded to the lower floor of the house * * * carrying
with him the axe and knife ^^ * * Jt appears he then seated him-
-self in a window chair, with his arms supported by the arms of the
chair; he fixed the muz;.'Ies of the pistols into his two ears and fired
them at the same instant ; the balls went through the head in trans-
verse directions * * * "
A note sent by the mr.id to the physician (as above mentioned)
referred to the mxirderer's purpose. The house was soon opened.
"Multitudes of all ages and sexes were dra\\-n together by the sad
tale, etc., etc. So awful and terrible a disaster wrought wonderfully
on the minds of the neighborhood, etc.
"Kear the close of the day on the 12th of Dec, the bodies being still
unburied, the people who had collected in great numbers, grew almost
frantic with rage, and demanded the body of the murderer; the law
being silent on the subject, it was difficult to determine where the body
should be placed ; many proposed it should be in an ignominious man-
ner where four roads met, without any coffin or insignia of respect, and
perforated by a stake. Upon which a question arose where that place
could be found which might be unexceptionable to the neighborhood
— but no one would consent it should be near his hoiise or land. After
some consultation it was thought best to place it on the bank of the
river between high and low water mark; the body was handed out of
the window and bound with cords on a sled with the clothes on as
,,"'Having fixed upon the evening to carry his design into effect, he procured a
fine supper of ojster'. of which his family partook; that evening he wrote,, 'I have
prepared a noble supper of oysters, that my flock and I may eat and drink together,
thank God and die.' " — Dr. Marsh's Sermon.
9 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
it was found and the bloody knife tied on bis bn-asr. witb.,.it co£n or
box, and tlic horse he usually rode wa^ made fast to the sled— the h^rse
unaccustomed to tlie draui;ht. ]u-ocf.e.K-d ^virh great unsteadiness -ni^^
times running full speed, then stopping. foilo\ved br a multitude, imtil
arriving at the M-ater's edge, the body .vas tumbled into a hole dug
for the purpose like the carcass of a beast. Xot manv davs afre^-
ward there appeared an uneasiness in sundrv persons at pla'ci-^- the
body so near a ferry much frequented : -.me threatenings were ^-ivea
out that the body should be taken un and a second time exp-.s^d t.^
view. It was thought pnulont it sh.i.uld lie removed, and -f^-rlv
deposited in some obscure spot; it was acoordindv removed with rhe
utmost secrecy; notwithstanding, some chiLIren accidentallv discovere^l
the place, and the early freshets partly wa.hed up the bodv. an-I ir ha*
had a second removal to a place where it is hoped mankind will have
no vexation with it. On the K^th of D^ember. the bodies of the
murdered were interred in a manner much unlike that of the luinamral
murderer. The remains of the children were borne bv a^^ui^able
number of equal age, attended by a sad Tu-ocession of vouth* r.f rhe
to^vn, all bathed in tears; side by side the hapless woman's corpse was
carried m soleniu procession to the parish ciiurchvard, followed hv a
great concourse, who with affectionate cmeern and everv token of re-
spect were anxious to express their heartfeit sorrow in p'erfonuin- the
last mournful duties."
_ " 'Tis doubtful whether any history of modem times can afford an
instance of similar barbaritv.
"Mr. Beadle left sundry letters directed to his acquaintance, and one
labored treatise m justification of his conduct. He profe^^e* him=elf
a Deist, but reprobates .\thei>m.' * - * Much has been said in favor
of publishing his writings by those whr, have not seen them; those who
have perused them doubt the propriety of such a measure. He attempt*
to attack all rules in church and state, treats the Christian rehVion
with a great degree of bitterness and bignrrv; and vet absurdlv Con-
cludes by saying 'if it is true he shall be saved bv it'' etc etc' e'c ■'
Pres Dwight, of Yale College, in his Trarelsr also relates pretiv
fully the story of this tragedy; and adds the following facts in com:e<^
tion with it: ^ '
"The wife, under very painful impressions from his extraordinarv
-conduct, particularly from the fact that he continually brought an axe,
-'Early became familiar with an infidel club in London and imbibed tbeir
opinions."— Dr. Marsh's Sermon.
'Dicight's Travels in Xew England and .Veic York, 1823, I, 199.
THE BEADLE MURDERS.
699
and other impleinents i>f ilcuth, into his hed chamber, dreaiufd fre-
quently and in a verv distiirhed manner. One morning', she tohl him
that, in her sleep, the preceding night, she had seen her own corp.^e,
and the corpses of her childi-en exposed in coffins in the street, that the
snn shone on them for a lonjr time, and that they were ultimately
frozen. This dream made a strong im])ression on Beadle's mind. In
his writings he mentions it as having solved all his donlits ; and as a
direct revelation from Heaven that it was lawful for him to put his
wife also to death. lie had previously doubted his right to take her
life, because being the child of another person, she was not his prop-
erty, or imder his cuntn'], in the same sense as were his children, whom
he considei'ed his own property."
See WetJiersfeJd Ccmetcnj Iinicripfions for the epitaph on monu-
ment of ^[rs. Beadle and children. The Beadle family are buried in
the northern part of the yard in a single grave. About 1790, a tomb-
stone was erected on the grave. It is a sandstone slab resting on hrick
walls, raised originally about :< feet above the ground. The inscription
is said to have been written In- the lion. John Davis, of Boston. The
house where the murder was committed stood on the south side of
Sandy l.anc (on Hartford Ave.), near the prcccnt residence of Jas.
A. ^lyggatt, Esq. It was torn down many years ago.
This tragedy in a quiet Conn, village, awakened the greatest interest
and horror throughout Xew England — such occurrences not then being
as common as they have since i)ecome.
Judge Mitchell, the author of the foregoing account, entered upon the
To\vn's records, a long statement of the event under date of December
I7th, 1782, in which he says that the Committee apjiointed to examine
the accounts of the Third School District, were unable to report, "in
conseqitenre of ih( gcin'ral ronsfernafioit and confusion irhicli ensued/'
etc.
A sermon was also ]inblished on the event l)v Rev. John ^larsh,
pastor at Wethersfield ; and another at Wailingford, the latter, entitled:
"Men's sixs xot chakoeabi.e ox Goo, but ox themselves. A
Discourse Delivered nt Wailingford. December 22, 17S2, Occasioned
by the tragical c.rH of WiUiani Beadle, his wife and four children, at
Wethersfield, on the morning of the 11th instant, by his own hands.
By James Dana, D. D., Pastor of the First Church in Wailingford,
New Haven," [17S3], 8vo., pp. 28.
Regarding this murder, the following incident has been related:
''Some old soldiers accidentally passing through the town on their way
JOO HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIKLD.
from camp to visit friends, led by curiosity, turned aside to view the
sad remains. On sight of the woman and her tender offspring, notwith-
standing all their firmness, the sympathetic tear stealing down their
furrowed checks betrayed the anguish of their hearts. On being shown
the body of the sacrificcr they paused a moment, instinctively ])laced
their hands on their swords, half Avithdrew them from their scabbards,
then muttering forth an oath or two of execration with their eyes fixed
.on the ground in silent sorrow, they slowly wended their way." This
recalls the last line of the victims' epitaph, "And Indignations half
unsheath their swords."
Slavery axd Xegroes ix AVetjieksfield.— Slavery was not limited
to the black race alone. It is probable that most of the earliest slaves
in the Colony were Indians, prisoners of war. Xot only were such
captives sold to servitude, but their progeny were born slaves, or "'ser-
vants;" as bondmen were sometimes called, down to 1700. Some were
sent to the West Indies, and blacks, or mulattoes, brought back in their
stead. We give some facts regarding slavery in Wethersfield.
When John Latijier died, in April, 1GG2, he left an Indian slave,
appraised at 2-t pounds; while a uegress and child, also liplouging to
him, were together appraised at 22 pounds.
In February, 16S7-S, Samuel Smith was required by the Court of
assistants to pay to "the daughters of yccesasion, an Indian," four
yards of trucking-cloth, or twelve bushels of Indian Corn, for having
carelessly killed their parent, at said Smith's house in Wethersfield.
In 1690, yLi\ Samuel Wolcott was complained of, in the same
Court, for beating his servant ShumachpocTc; evidently an Indian.
Among the earliest slaveholders must have been Leonard Chester.
When he died, in 16-lS, a "Xeager maide" belonging to him was ap-
praised at 25 pounds.
Rector Elisha Williams (Colonel, Clergyman and Judge), was
the owner of a squaw slave. He records the birth of two of her
children: Amho, 5 June, 1715, and Desire, 17 Feb., 1717. John
Wiard sold his Xegro, Antliony, his freedom in 1711.
Judging from the number of manumissions recorded, there must
have been many negro slaves in Wethersfield. Some of the facts con-
nected with the grant of their freedom are interesting.
In November, 1766, Quash Oomer bought his freedom from John
Smith for 25 pounds. Corner's grave is marked by a suitably inscribed
stone in the cemetery. In jlarch, 17GS, Sarah Webster freed, uncon-
ditionally. Pop, inherited by her from her mother [widow] ^Iary^
Wakner. In October, 17C9, David Eeldixo [Belden] released Jvpi-
SLAVERY AND NEGROES. 7^1
te7' Paine, whom lie had inherited from his father, Capt. Jonath.
Belden. In December, 1776, Sarau Wei;ster released Jerry, for the
consideration of 40 shillings. In 3Iay, 1777, David Griswold re-
leased Caesar, whom he had bought of Col. Chester; conditioned that
the freedman serve three years in the Continental army. lie did so
serve (so his discharge says) "with reputation," in the 5th regiment.
In the same month, John Wright and Luke Foetl'xe freed Ah)ier
Andrew, whom they owned jointly. Four years later, Abner bought
a wife Zipporali, from Juiix TJobiuxs, for 4') pounds. In June, 1777,
Will. Warner released Caesar, conditioned that the latter enlist for
three years in the Continental Army. At the same time. Will. Gris-
"WOLD, released Cato Leiris, freedom to commence three years later, and
Cato to "pay Dr. Jepson's bill." In January, 177S, Piiixeiias Ax-
DEUS [Andrews], "'being convinced of the injustice of the general prac-
tice of this country, in holding the Xegroes slaves, during life, without
their consent" — released Prince Nauqui, aged 47, unconditionally. In
November, 1779, Joiix Eelden released Sampson, in consideration of
400 pounds, Continental currency. In August, 1780, £lias Wil-
LiAjis releases Caesar Freeman, aged IS; he to enlist, for three years,
in Col. AYcbb's regiment. In April, 17S1, Abigail Griswold, and her
daughter, Abigail, released Bristow Miranrla} in consideration of
"100 Silver dollars." In July, 1782, John Cajip released Pomp, un-
conditionally. In December, 1782, Gen. Washington, at Xewburgh,
discharged Hector Williams, a former Wethersfield slave, for disability.
Elisiia Webster had two negro men (one Cafo) and one negro woman.
In July, 1782, John Camp released Pomp, unconditionally.
Elisha Webster had two negro men (one Cato) and one negro
•woman. Wlien Jajies Knowles paid ]Mr. Ep. Williams £2
for a pair of shoes for himself (1750 ?), he paid 10s. for a pair for his
negro man; and Col. John Chester, 1748, paying £1. 12s. for a pair for
his wife, paid also the same price for a pair for his "negro ivench."
Elisha Williams bo't shoes of ^Ir. Eph. Williams for his negro Peter
and his Indian Avoman. Col. Chester had negroes named Jim, Frisk
and an Indian girl "Lettis." and the baptisms of most of the Chester
family's negroes wore all duly recorded in the Wethersfield Church
Records.
Erom an old Chester (MS.) we copy the names and birth dates of
nine slaves, who must have belonged to the third John Chester, viz. :
^ In September, 1780. "Bristoe Jlirandy" was warned out of Boston, under the
Vagabond act. [See Hist. Mag., VIII, p. 172.]
"JOT. HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Bick B., Sept. 7, 17 Jl ; Thaon, Sept. 14. 1753; PViWh, Mcli., 17:.l ;
Caesar, Mcb., 1754; .ishcr, 'May, 1755; Manhnj, 1757; Sahian, 20
Aug., 1759; Chhe. 14 .Sept., 17(51 ; Siiha, Dee. 2, 176G.
The Act of 17S4, provided tIuU neiiro and mulatto children, Iwrn
after the first (Uiy of ^larch. in that year, shoidd become free on attain-
ing the age of 25 years. Con?cqnently, no person born in this state
after ISO!), couhl be a sbive in Connecticut. But many years hiter
there remained some, who had lieen born before that date. And it
was not till 1S4S, that our law absolutely emancipated all slaves.
\ London was the name of a (native African) slave that belonged to
Col. Joiix CiiKSTEn, Sen. He was at one time "Governor," of the
blacks for Connecticut ; for in the last century, the negroes had a cus-
tom of electing one of tlieir number as their ruler for a year to whom
they gave this title.' Lciiulon was im[)iirted when a little child from
Africa and spoke better English than did most of his race. His wife,
Betty, is said to have been an Indian. Slie died in 17s7. Some time
after he had reached his prime, lie was made free. He removed to In-
dian Hill, in "West Simsbury. where he was still called "Governor,"
and is said to have died near the close of the last century, aged about
80 years, and a pauper of the Town of Xew Hartford. Abiel Brown's
Geneal. Settlers of IT. Simsbury (now Canton), p. 140, gives the
following anecdote concerning him. lie said that in the early part
of his life with Master C'hester, he saw one morning what he thought to
be a very pretty pup])y; he accordingly seized him with a view to play
with him, but the shiink soon convinced him that he was playing with
the wrong animal. From that story arose, in Simsbury, the name of
"Wethersfleld pupjn-."— /f. R. 5.]"
[Many advertisements appear in the newsjiapers of the Colonial
and Revolutionary jteriods, offering rewards for runaway slaves; and
even as early as the beginning of the 19th Century, slaves who
accompanied their Southern master in their visits to the Xorth, were
not averse to improving the i>]i{iortunity tr» escape from bondage —
aided, not infrequently, by Xorthern friends, whose abolitionist ten-
dencies were even then beginning to manifest themselves in Xew
England. In June, iSOo, the following notice appeared in the Mer-
cury: "The very Ho-no-ra-hle John Rutledge, late a member of Con-
gress S. C. and of "Daily Rose" and blustering duel memory, has ar-
rived in Wethersfleld in this State, to spend the summer." This notice,
'Some intcrestinj: anecdotes of tlie pul>eriiatorial a>pirations of those Connecticut
slaves, etc., will be found in .Stiles' Hist, and Gcnralofjics of Ancknt Wiii<Uor, Conii.,
Vol. 1. p.
ODD NAMES. 7*^3
inspired doubtless by political, if not by personal enmity, finds its
sequenee, in the following advertisement which appeared October 2iM,
of the same year, in the Cohimhian Centincl and Massachusetts Fed-
eralist, Boston, headed, "Two Hundred Dollars Eeward." — "Ab-
sented herself last night from the service of Mr. Rutledge, a
negro woman who is his property, named Phillis. She is o5 years old
about 5 feet S inches high, of a yellowish complexion (^between that
of a negro and a mulatto), thin, has lost her front teeth, has thick lips
and a scar, from having been burnt when a child upon her breast near
the right shoulder about half the size of a dollar. Phillis wears gold
bobs in her ears, and a black straw bonnet. She carried with her
petticoats of blue cloth, dimorthy [dimity?], black calimance, red home
spun ; a dark calico gown with yellow spots, one of black and white, one
of white checked muslin ; she als(j took with her eight yards of dark
calico with bright yellow spots, two chocked aprons not imide up, new
red and white cotton handkerchiefs, with many other articles of dress.
Phillis was a good cook, washer-woman and cake baker.
"A black fellow named Peter, also absented himself from the service
oi Mr. Butledge, some weeks ])ast when he was in Boston. Peter is not
quite 6 feet high, nmcli pock-marked, had red eyes, and his upper teeth
wide apart. He is an excellent ccnichuian, a tolerably good cook, plays
the tambourine and is very fond of dancing. Peter is a little bald, wears
his wool in a short queue and occasionally wears ear-rings. He took
with him a variety of clothing. Whoever will apprehend and deliver
these slaves to the subscriber, or secure them in any goal in Xcw Eng-
land so that he nuiy get to them will receive the above reward of 200
dollars, or 100 for either of them.
"CHESTEE CLARK.
"Weathersfield, Conn., Oct. 15, 1803."
Whether the Southerner recovered his slaves or not, his Xorthern trip
must have proved unsatisfactory and expensive to him.—//. /?. S.]
Odd Xamks. — There are in AVethersfield, as in other old towns, a
number of localities bearing very singular names, the meaning of which
it is very difficult to find out, or even to guess. Of some of these we
have made notes, which may prove of interest to our readers. Some
of these queer names may have arisen from events which have long
since passed from the memory of man; others are evidently "corrui^
tions" of old words, or names, not now in use.
Tap-Howe or Taphoir. — This name, as appears from an old survey
in the possession of Koger Welles, Esq., appertained to land in Hog
7^4 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Meadows, Wethersficld. Indeed, some old people, in Xewington, re-
member having heard it applied to Cedar Hill; sometimes called Cedar
Mountain. The name is immistakably Indian; and Dr. J. Hammond
Trumbull tells us that it means "Thank you," or, is of the same import.
In a deed, dated April 20th, 1684-, to Serg. Thomas Judd and John
Stanley (both of Farmington) of a tract of land lying in the present
townships of Wolcott, Waterbury. Middlebury, Watertown and Ply-
mouth, the instrument is signed by eight Indians, mostly of the
vicinity of Farmington, or the Tunxi^ region. The third name in the
order of signatures is that of Taphou: ; while the last one is that of
Quatoivquecliucl:, "Taphow's Son." In Orcutt's History of Derby,
a deed dated August 2(ith, 1C74, is referred to. It conveys a tract of
sixty square miles, to a committee acting in behalf of the settlers at
Mattatuck (now Waterbury and viciniry), and is signed by fourteen
Indians. The first signer was NesaJieajen (a chief of the Pouqanuock
Indians had borne this name), and one of the same name signed the
Wethersfield deed of 167.">; the second signer was JoJrn Compound
(Counpounce Pond derives its name from this Indian) ; the fifth signer
was Tapliow. These deed's are indicative of a kinship, or common bond
or tic, of ooiue sort, between the chief aboriginal proprietors of a large
domain lying between the Connecticut and Housatonic Rivers, and ex-
tending nearly to Long Island Sound on the south and the northern
boundary of Connecticut on the north.
Concerning this S. W. Adams says:
"In Captain Eliphalet Whittelsey's Company, of General Lyman's
Command, in several compaigns of the French war (1756 to 1700),
we find that sundry Indians were enrolled as soldiers. Captain ^\^^it-
telsey was of Wethersficld, and most of his men (as is apparent on ex-
amining the muster rolls) were from that township. Of these Indians,
the names were: In 1756, Sochliegon, Stephen Queesod, Richard
Toroway and Isaac Snneemon; in 175S, Amho, Dando (or Tando),
Daniel Neepash and Stephen Taphov:. "Wliere an Indian had been
given a forename it may be assumed that there were other Indians
bearing the same surname.
"Ambo, so it stands recorded, was the son of Eector Elisha W^il-
liams' Indian slave-woman. Suneeinon, corrupted to Cinnamon, may
have been an ancestor of "Old Cinnamon," still remembered in Weth-
ersfield. Cinnamon was more black than copper colored; but, of the im-
ported slaves, the males largely outnumbered the females ; hence many of
them found their female partners among the red people, many of whom
were also slaves. Dando or Tando was probably of that Tando family,
ODD NAMES.
705
some members whercuf arc still remembered in Wethersfield. People
who have seen them say that they appeared to be of mixed African and
Indian blood. A water-course in "Wethersfield still bears the name of
"Tando's brook." There was a Neepash in Farmington, but he had no
forename. The other Indians named, we have not attempted to trace;
but it is not unlikely that they, including Stephen Taphow, were among
the last of the Indian race in Wethei-sfield. Taphow, who served and was
paid f(jv his full term of service, perhaps lived in the wild region which
bore his name, and by the spring which still retains it. What is more^
probable ?"
Roger Welles, Esq., says, in a letter (1S91) to Mr. Adams, "The
piece of land called "Taijhow" belonged to my great grandfather,
Solomon Welles, and the survey was found among some of my Uncle
Martin Welles' jjapers. It was called "Taphow, or Hog Meadow."
So, I judge, that they were both names of the same locality. The
land, I suppose, descended to my grandfather and then to my Aunt
!Mary Welles (wife of ^lartin) Kellogg. * * * I have also been in-
formed that the mountain in that vicinity was called '"Taphow," and
the name, I imagine, covered (juite au e.Ktent of territory." Concerning
the Meadow above referred to, ^Ir. Adams makes the following note:
Ilor/ Meadow. — "I first find this name in 16S3, when it is made
the western bound of a town-common for sheep. It was then given to
the same section as noAV. Its swampy character probably made it a
favorite place for swine ; droves of which were then kept running at
large in the wild lands belonging to the town in general."
Sodom. — John Robbins' lot, in the upper end of Fearful Swamp,
was described as being in "Sodom," in a record of 1673.
Two-Stone. — The earliest instance we have found of this name, is in
a Town vote of 1605, referring to a tract of 40 acres, bought by Capt.
John Chester, of Capt. Robert Seely's heirs. It was between the
north-and-south highway of the present Griswoldville and the Collier
brook. In 1697, ten acres of land was given by the Town to Lieut.
James Treat "near Two Stone brook, on the east side of the highway."
The name is still sometimes given to Griswoldville. Tradition says the
name was given from the fact of two groat stones formerly there; but
I have heard of no precise locality to which they were assigned. The
name is older than that of Griswoldville; which section was not in-
habited by any of the Griswolds nor by any other settler, probably,
before 1712.
7o6
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIEKSFItlLD.
Mr. CiiAULKsAViLLiA.MS, of Euckv Hill, in a letter (ISO-t) to Judge
Adams, says: "Sixty years ago, Griswoldville was called and known
in this part of the town, as "Two Stone,' probably from "Tombstone'
or 'Two Stones'," but pronounced as if spelled "Toostone.' "
Newfchls. — Tn the same letter, iMr. Williams, also says: "Xcir-
fields" was named in this way. The land was a common, known as
"The Plains." "When it was enclosed and put under cultivation it
was called "Xew Field." ^ly grandfather. Elias Williams, took in a
large portion of this land, a part of which is now known as the "Pent
Farm." West of this farm and at the foot of "Cabul Hill." there
then lived a man named Theodore Blinn, who made plows and harrows,
which were wonderful as to strength and durability. The shear was
of hammered wrought iron, while the mould-board was of two-inch oak
plank, iitted in in such a manner that it stood up almost square. These
plows did not turn. the furrow, but left it up on the edge. Pliiui uuide
two plows, one for my father, and one for my uncle, who r<iok these
fields in the division of Elias Williams' estate. The plow made for my
father weighed nearly ."00 jmunds; the otlier was a tritle smaller.
The soil of these Newficlds was thin and densely covered with scnib-
oak.s and white birch. These were cut do\ni close to the ground. The
body of the plow was taken from the cart and the chain from the
plow fastened around the a.xlctree. The cattle were then put on —
often twelve yoke, never less than ten. The beam of this plow was a
timber six inches square and some eight feet long— holes were bored in
it near the end, into which a stout stake was driven on each side: one
man on each side held the stakes to keep the plow straight, while one
held to the handles to keep the plow up. Two or three men ilrove the
team, while two more followed the plow to pull out the roots which it
turned up. Of course, the plow took a wide furrow and the heavy team
tore out all roots it come in contact with ; and after all this work, ten
or twelve bushels of rye was all that could be raised from one acre. But,
labor was cheap, and with all the team and men, it did not cost as much
to plow an acre of land, as it now does."
Cabul, or "Coo Bull," or "Cape Bull," referred to above, was a name
applied to some hills in the west part of Bocky Hill — though the
appellation extended into Cromwell and perhaps some further. Tradi-
tion accotmts for the name in this way. The early settlers hei'e turned
their cattle on to these hills to feed. In looking for the cows, at night-
fall, the boys called "Coo-Coo-Coo ;" and they soon discovered a curi-
ous echo, which reiterated the call three times. The call being repeated
rapidly, the echo would come back "Co-bull, Co-bull Co-bull" — and
5- '•; "-■■■
-" ^;-\
k. ' ' '
£,■
::/'
tf.-';'.' -;
■ \ - ;
^:- ---
"- "-^-^>-
ij^i^^Hi^
- . ^^
WETiiEKsFiEr.u Ciui.s Wkkdixo Oxio.ns
(Reproduced from print in Peters'
History of Conntclieut .)
ODD NAMES.
707
to this (lav that pai'f of the tcnvii is by the uhJc^t poople called Co-bull,
or as foimd referred to in old ledgers, etc., spelled and proiiounecd
Cahidl. Wethersiield, without Ca-bull, \vould be like Wethcrstield with-
out her onion gardens.
E(Jlll>t is an area in the old village, situated al)out at the intersec-
tions and the territories adjacent tlieretii, of the South Lane Riiad,
Back Lane continued, and road leading from Pu-oad Street to South Lane
— a tract largely owned, from early days to the present time, by the
Robbins Family. .Vn old resident has fav(jre<l us with the following
explanation of how it derived its name: '"You have doubtless read,
in Bible history, the story of Jacob's sous going down into Egypt to
dicker with Pharoali for corn, and the bother they had in getting it home.
About the year 1S16, there were, in this region, severe frosts evcnj
month in the year, and corn crops were mostly a failure. "Pharoah"
Robbins, a large planter <^d' that day in Wethersrield must have had quite
a stock in hand of the corn crop of 1813; and a grand rush was nuide
for planting, in the spring of 1S17, by all of Jacob's boys in the sur-
rounding territory, who came to "Pharoah" Roliluns to buy corn. They
had no trouble in leaving their shekels and cai-rying off the corn, and
you mny '-o sure there was no Joseph around to put any of the sheckels
into the sacks. The boijs, when asked where they were going, or where
they had been, to get the corn, generally replied, "'down into Egypt
to buy corn I"
Thus the name — \\hicii applied merely to a small area — only a short
distance from Ijr(iad Street, and less to Harris" Hill, and before we
lose sight of F. II. Robbins' house, now standing there, we are in
South Lane (now ^Iiddleto-\\n ^Vvenue). The Robbins' hotise referred
to, is an old house: but I can remember a much older Robbins' house
which stood very near the present one, but was demolished some 30
or 40 years ago. These houses faced westerly, and stood upon high
ground. Only about 3 rods in front of tlienr ran Tando's brook and the
ground is low and swampy. In the rear of these houses is the nice Plain
corn ground."
New France Street, which included the Peckley Quarter and the
Beckley Mills, is a needless corruption of the original "Xew Farms ■
Street.
Lord's Field was a large tract on which neither trees, or bushes, or
much of anything else wotdd grow. It belonged to nobody and nobody
wanted it — and our aged infonnant (ifr. Deming, then in ISO-t, nearly
SO years old) said it was called "The Lord's Field,'' he supposed, for
the reason that no one else claimed it. He also spoke of
708
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
"Vexation Hill," wliirli Avas on the "20-i'od highway'" and is men-
tioned in a deed from Win. Ilurlbut to a Lydux iloulton, as hue as
October, 1815. It was bounded cast on Elisha Robbius' huid, -west on
highway, north on hmd of John Warner and south on James Hurlbut"s
— and contained about 100 acres. It is said that an old negro v.onian
hung herself in that quarter, and the people buried her body on •.••p of
the hill in the 20-rod highway (a survival of the old custom of burying
murderers and suicides at a road crossing, with a stake driven ThTou:rk
the body) and called the hill "Vexation" — and it was said that the
ghost of the poor woman had since haunted the spot. The highway in
question was never used except for drawing wood. Our infurmanr. a.~'
spoke of the place called
Hang Dog. — A locality lying northwest from the ^[cthodist church
at Rocky Hill.
Warrincagucs — Wliirhiragucs—WoUaneag. — In the Conn. Conranf,
October 3, 189 4-, Judge Adams prints an interesting article, pan of
which we here reproduce :
"I romember that, nearly fifty years ago, people then living in the
south part of VV'etiiersheld (more especially in the vicinity of rhe mill
pond) were greatly agitated, not to say terrified, by reason of the s":|>-
posed nightly appearance there of a "wollancag" (or, as some pr'>
nounced it, "woollynig") which haunted that old water-scape. The
creature had much the shape of a human licing; i)ut it had horns, and
was said to exhale and inhale hre, or phosphorescent light ; to walk >a\
the water, etc. And, although ii was shot at, it was not hit, or at
least was not hurt. ^lany amusing stories were current of the misliaps
which it wrought upon unwary travelers; boys, especially.
"It turned out, some months later, that this strange thing was a man
(Walter Dewey, I think) who had taken this means to frighten the
lads, who had been in the habit of raising the water-gate and "raisiiig
Hob" (or Hobgoblin) generally. lie had rigged himself m. st fan-
tastically for that purpose. A few persons were in the secret : and
probably some of these were the ones who had shot (or pretcn<le<l to
shoot) at him, without effect.
"In ]\[ay, 1GS,3, the Court of Assistance, at Boston, tried Mary Wc-l>
ster of Iladley for witchcraft. It was alleged in the indictment against
her that, 'not having the fear of God before her eyes, and being insti-
gated by the Devil, she hath entered into covenant and had familiari-
ty with him, in the shape of a warranrage.' etc. The late Sylvester
Judd, the painstaking historian of Iladley, in commenting upon this
»aiiir«A-.i»y--' -''^"
Main Sr. r.„.,Kix.. N,„:n, h;„m tnN..,:K...vrioN ai. Cn, u,„.
-in. I
ViKws ox >fAiN St. Wktiii:i!shi:i.i,.
Photo, by Allnrt Mor(ri,i.
ODD NAMES. 7*^9
trial, says: 'Worraiicag, in some Indian dialects, was the same as
the Xipmuck wallanoag or woolancag. It was the fisher, or pecan,
or wild black cat of the woods.' So it seems that the name was applica-
ble to a quadrnped, as well as to a supposed biped."
"A 'fisher' was the animal known to zoologists as mustela Pcnnanti,
or Peimant's weasel, now probably extinct in these parts. It was also
called the Pekan weasel. Some naturalists say that it was 'more fox-
like than musteline" and that it was sometimes 'as large as a fox.' I
have the im2iressi<in that the term 'fislier' was also sometimes applied
to the otter. Perhaps this "weascr was the kind referred to by Presi-
dent Dwight in lTO<i, and wliich he then mentioned as an animal (in
Vermont) of twelve pnunds" wciglit."
"Puiilcin-Tonn" wa^ a name ajiplied to the Western School District
of Rocky Hill; old residents of that section confess to having been
called, from their earliest recollection "Pnnkin-towners," and habitti-
ally refer to it by that name.
One of Mr. Adams' correspondents cnqtiires "Did you ever hear of
the Ghost of Gofjc's Briilc?" Well, neither ]\lr. Adams or myself, ever
did hear of it; but suggest that the query ui'ght have more reasonably
read the "Ghost of GolTe's Bruhjc." But, of that also, we are ignor-
ant ; unless some other "old settler" will rcsucitate it for our edification.
The Boston Gazette, of July 30, 17G4, has the following item: '"We
hear fmm Rocky Hill, in Conncctictit, that a negro fellow, belonging
to Llr. Boundykee [Brandagee?], having been offended, took a knife
with a flint and ran up to the garret, where there was half a barrel of
powder open ; struck fire tlierein, which blew him and the roof of the
house into the air, and tore him to pieces. A man in the house saw
him strike fire once, which did not catch, and saved himself by running
down stairs just before the explosion."
This house stood on the site now (1894) occupied by the new fac-
tory, a .short distance from the depot of the Valley R. R. Tradition
further informs us that this desperate negro's body was found down
by the woods south from the building: a hole was dug in the grotind,
into which he was tumbled and hastily covered over.
Fearful Swamp — vs. "Fairfield Swamp" — Concerning the swampy
part of the meadow on the west, through which runs the line between
the tOA\'ns of Wethersfield and Rocky Hill, we must insist that the use
of the word Fairfield here has no significance; it is a corruption of the
ancient and appropriate name, Fearftil. Originally, the water which
now goes into Wethersfield cove at tlic Folly, and which first gets up
7^*^ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
iindfi- the east side of Hartford Roeky Hill, all came south along where
the Valley railroad runs to Egypt, then crossing the cart road, as now,
and keeping south through an arm in the meadow at ahout the present
town line, met Goff's brook from the west and northwest. In the
spring these two streams brought a large body of water to this point,
and the o\'erflow into the low lands and made a swamp of two or three
hundred acres, in which was a heavy growth of swamp oak and maple
entangled with bushes and wihl vines. "The Fearful swamp"' it was
called; and Fearful swamp is the proper name for the location.
The Old Elm at ]>iir]/s Corner. — In the year 1770. the grandmother
of 2ilr. Henry Buck was standing at the door of her residence, built the
year before, on the coruor of Wcthersfield Avenue and Jordan Lane,
when an old and eartli-snilcd luiliau caine along with a little sprig of
an elm tree under his arm. He pleaded with her to exchange the sprig
for a quart of rum, which was at that time kept in every house in Xcw
England, and he was so weary and pleaded so hard that her kind heart
was touched and the exchange was made. He went off down
the road happy with his rum; and she stooping down near
the house planted the sprig. She has long ^inee gone to her
Heavenly home; and the magnificent elm on the south side of ^Ir.
Buck's residence, eighteen feet in circumference and its grand old
branches spreading eighty feet above, is the outcome of the little sprig
that was planted over cmc hundred years ago. It is one of the grandest
old trees in this town which is remarkable for its many heaven towering
elms, and many a time has the writer stood beneath its protecting
branches, on a hot sununer's day, and recalled, in fancies sweet imagina-
tion, the history of its planting so many years ago. About fifty rods
east of Wcthersfield Avenue where the Valley railroad now crosses,
is a little hill, at that time it was the bank of the Connecticut river,
and when the ground was broken for the railroad numerous skulls and
arrowheads were found indicating that at some time a band of Indians
had encamped there. Pcrhajis the old Indian who gave the peo]">le
of Wethei-sfield such a beautiful land mark belonged to that tribe and
perhaps he was one of the famed band of Sonquassen, that at one time
held undisputed claim to what is now known as Dutch Point.
Tlie Deep Waij. — This highway, or part of one, is first mentioned
in a town vote of 1072, when a commission was chosen to "run the lines
belonging to" it. It is again mentioned in 1071, when the town author-
ized its repair, so as to make it "passsable for carts." It was in the
Meadow, at the lower end, between lands of Lieut. John Chester and
The A.m.uls JIolsk, Xewin.'toii.
The Oldest Ckiswolu Hoise now standing in Wetl.ersfa.kl, built 1737, on
site of house of Michael t^iiswnhl. an.I oocupiea (1800) by his lineal
(Ifscrndiuits, .Mrs. iiunliit ami Mi-s C. Huilbut.
FLOODS OF !(ii»-9 AXD 1083. 7 ^ ^
"Old" Sam. Smith. In 1G73, it was called Dirty Hollow, in a town
vote authorizing Lieut. Chester to mend and "heightcu"' it "with a
whelm."
Amobcsett. — An aboriginal name for a section of Sandy Plain land,
lying partly in "Wethersfield, and partly in Middletown ; now in liocky
Hill and Cromwell. It was at iirst shortened to "Besett," and is now
commoidy called Bishop's Plain; to which form it appears to have
become permanently corrupted. !Mattcbcsctt adjoins it on the south.
Faniiinr/ton TiUarjc. — In ITIT), the settlement on the "]\Ii]e-in-
Breadth," near what was afterward called Stanley Quarter, was called
Farmington Village in a vote of Wethersfield, which established a
highway extending therefrom to ''Swamp Village," now the northern
part of Kensington.
Sicamp Tillage. — The settlement in Great Swamp parish, which in-
cluded Eecldey's Quarter and vicinity, was so called in our records for
a time. It was known by this name in 1710; when a highway through
it was orderc'l by vote of the Town.
Tree Plain. — This was so called in a Town vote of 1713; when lib-
erty was granted to certain persons to erect a sawmill on the stream
dividing it from Dcming's plain. Tree Plain lay lo tlic west of Dem-
ing's plain, which see.
Tappin's Hill. — Tliis was so named fi'oni Capt. Thonuis Tappan,
or Tf)p]>ing, as the name was sometimes written — who owned land
there prior to IfilO; about which time he removed to "Wepawang, after-
ward called ^lilford. It was the hill next west of Buck's corner, on
Jordan Lane, as it is now called. The latter was then called the "Road
to the Country." The name Tappin's Hill appears in a Town vote,
as late as 1705.
Tlie Cn'cli'. — This is the name given to that hollow (usually more or
less filled with water, at its southern extremity), which separates
Wright's Island from the Wetliei-sfield Great Meadow. In its place
was formerly that part of tlie river which separated the same sections.
It is not probable that the name '"Creek" was substituted for that of
"Eiver" until after 1770. Indeed, there are deeds of a much later
date, wherein the latter name is still given as the eastern boundary of
lots adjoining the west side of what we now call the Creek. But, in
these cases, usage retained the old name, after the disa]ipearance of the
river itself.
[FLOons. Eaktiiqu.vkes A^'D Coxri-ACiUATioNs, 16nS-9 to 1S54. —
In conniion with the other towns on the Connecticut River,
7^2 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEP--F1ELD.
WethorsfieH has witnessed several remarkable floods. The tirst of
these was that wliich occurred in ^larcb. lOGi-'J. and of -which ^NEatrhew
Grant, tlien Recorder of "Windsor, maue mo^t careful note, thirty-nine
years after its occurrence. It commenced on the 5th of ^larch, an
"exceeding great storm,'' which lasted with more or less violence until
the ISth — and ''on the 2:2d, at night, it wa-- well fallen, and yet it
was high as the highest flood we had kno^^^l before'' ' — referring evi-
dently to the usual annual spring floods with which thi? river is
visited. It did much damage and the fame thereof went out with
the length and breadth of the land, so -hat G'.'V. "Wiuthnip mention; it
in his Joiniml, where speaking of the ;i;iurl:ea~t ;torm, whieli indeed
seems to have prevailed all over Xev.- E:.j;Iand. he says: "There
came such a rain withall, as "raised the wa*ers at Connecticut twenty
feet above their meadows, etc.'' -
The next (recorded) great flood was that of 10S3, of which MafJicr"'
thus speaks:
"Some remarkable land fl(Jods have likewise happened in Xew Eng-
land. Isor is that which came to pass this present year to be here whr.lly
passed over in silence. Tii the spring time, ■he irreat rivi-r at C'lmnec-
ticut uselh iu u^e^flo^\', but this year it did -■;> after midsummer, and
that twice; for, July 20, IGS.T, a consiilerablo ri'lod unexpeete<lly ar"-e.
which proved detrimental to many in that c^'lony. But on August
13, a second and more dreadful flood came: the waters were then
•observed to rise twenty-six foot above their usual boundaries : the
grass in the meadows, also the English irrain. was carried away betVire
it; the Indian corn by the long continuance of the watei-s is spoiled,
so that the four river towns, viz.: Windsor, Hartford, M'eafhcrsfii^M,
Middle-Town, are extream sufferers. Tliey write from thence, that
some who had hundreds of bushels of c^rn in the morning, at night
had not one peck for their families to live r.p"n. There is an awful
intimation of Divine displeasure remarkable in this matter, inasmuch
as August 8, a day of public Immiliatii'n. wi:b fasting and prayer was
attended in that colony, partly on the account of God's hand against
them in the former flood, the next week after which the hand of God
was stretched out over tliem again in the same way, after a more terri-
ble manner than at first."'
The next "great flood" was that of 1002, when the waters attained
* Stiles' Hist, and Genealogies of Ancient Wind.^or. Conn.. I. p. 74.
'Winthrop's Hist, of Xen- Enr/iand (Sav.nge's Edition i. I, p. 352.
'Mather's Ilcmarkable Proiidcncrs. the 18.50 Edition of the original, piili. at
Boston, 1G84, p. 232.
(:
fc,
V
■iif- li;
/
■>W.- .■■■■■ -..v Vi
■' >>Si.^ ■ '
^..^-■' IH
J
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE OF 17^7. / 1 j
the height of 26 feet, 2 inches; tlien tliat of ISOl, 27 feet, 2 inches;
1839, 23 feet; ISJfl, 25 feet, 6 inches; ISJf), 26 feet, 3 inches: 1S52,
23 feet, and i5-J4. 'when it reached 28 feet, 101 inches, above low
water mark, being hhjlicr bi/ one fnut and eight and a half inches than
any other flood during the 200 years of the toMTi's existence, and one
foot, eight and one lialf inches higher than the celebrated flood of ISOl.
This flood of 185Jf, began on April 27th, (a hut day) with a sudden
change of temperature of aliDut 30 degrees and a heavy tliunder storm,
which ran into a settled rain from the Xortheast and a ther-
mometer ranging from 38 to 44. On the evening of the 20th. the
wind changed to sotuheast and the already heavy rain increased in
violence. For G6 hours (or nearly 3 days and 3 nights) the rain was
incessant, often very heavy and for the last 16 hours falling in
torrents. !May 1st, it came to an end — doing immense damage throtigh-
out the whole extent of the river.
Tfie Great Eavthquahe of 1727. — On the night of the 29th October,
1727, occurred an earthquake, whicli was very generally felt througlniut
Xew England ; and as these seismic disturbances were less common
then than now, it attracted great attention : and was the cause of
sev<^ral. sermons, wherein it v.as duly "improved" to the religious sense
of the community. Among these sermons was one 1)y the Eev.
Stepiiex Mix, pastor at "Wethersfield. and which is the only one of
his sennons known to have l)een published. From a copy in the Boston
Public liljrary (see ante, p. 332), we quote the title page, as foUov.s:
"Extraordinary Displays of the Dicine \ Majesty cC- Pover, are to
Try I Men and Impress the Fear of Gad on \ their Hearts, that they
Sin Not I Being the Substance of j Two Sermons ] occasioned by a
Terrible | EARTHQUAKE | in Xew England, ! and other parts of
North America, i In the Xight immediately following the ' Sabbath-
Day, October 29, 1727 ' Publickly Delivered in Wethersfield, on Xo- i
vember the 5th and 12th, the Sabbaths | next succeediui' the said
Earthquake. ! Something Enlarged I By Stephen ^lix, ^[. A. ] Pastor
of a Church there. | Psal. LXXVI. For that thy Xame is near, thy ]
Wondrous Works Declare. | Psal. LXVI, 7. He ruleth by His Power
forever. | X. London, Printed by T. Green, 1728. |''
There are two copies of this sermon in the library each bound up
in a volume with other sermons. In one of these vohimes are
other sermons on the same earthquake, by John Cotton, Boston, Febru-
ary 28, 1728 ; Samuel Wigglesworth, Ipswich, Xovember, 1727 : John
Fox, at Woburn; ''Bemarks on the Earthquake," by Dr. blather, in
Boston, on the morning following the event; also, "A Speech, by one of
7^4 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSHELD.
the ^Ministers of Boston ;" a sermon by John Danforth. of Dorchesrer,
November 7, 1727. Several of these sermons O'litain descriptir-ns <■<!
greater or less extent, of the physical effects of the earthquake, in their
respective localities.
In ]\rr. ^lix's sermon, there are two pages of prefatory matter, "he
first paragraph of which is the only one dealing with what we now
should so much like to know — the pJiijsical etfects ot this disTurhanc-e.
It is as follows: ''A. D. 1727, October 29th, Being the Sabbath Dar
in the Xight immediately following, between the Hours of Ten a'.:-!
Eleven, there was an Earthquake in and prolialily through Xew Eng-
land and other parts of Xorthern America. It came on with a Gr.^.ve
and Heavy Sound (some apjufhended the M'und as the Burning • f a
Chimney, other as of remote Tlunnler) which miglit p^issihly be attended
with a small Trembling, towards the ending of which Grave Srair.d.
there seemed a very strong sh<"iek, and then sucli shaking that wre<-k'd
the Strong Buildings so sensibly, as it seemed scarcely safe to 1x- in
them, awakened Persons out of their sleep, tilling many with COX-
STERXATTOX."
A much more intelligent and valuable record of an equally imp'T'iini
natural iihenuiuenon is that given by Rev. .1 ohn Lewis, pa~tor •:•£
Stepney parish, of the Great Ilnvrirnne which vi-itcd Wetherstield on
August, 1787. ]\rr. Le^yis' account of this terrible event was publisLe-i
in the Conn. Conrant, issue of 18th Aug-ust, 17>3, and is as follows:
" !Mr. Lewis addresses himself to ''^Messrs. Pi;tNTEEs'' and savs:
'When any extraordinary event attended with dreadful effects occurs,
the curiosity of the public is excited, and it is ]ir"])er it should l=e
gratified; such an event occurred on Wednesday the l.^th instant in
the tremendous hurricane which passed near the north line of rhe
parish of Stepney in this town.' !Mr. Lewis next expresses his grati-
tude to God that the hurricane passed a little ti) one side of the center
of the village; says modestly that he has been gath.ering facts for three
days and even then may have let in errors: but that the account is corre-:-t
to the best of his belief and plunges into the description which is cer-
tainly graphic and interesting even at this late day.
" 'On the day I ntentioned the wind was very fresh from the south-
ward; at about twelve at noon an unusually black cloud appeared to l^e
ranged from the western to somewhat the nortlicrn point, its upper
edge was indented and formed irregular columns. si>mething resembling
pyramids, Avhich reached to within about o5 degrees of the zenith — the
appearance of this cloud, I took notice, was different from the common
thunder-cloud being one continued sheet, singly defined at the edges.
! %
li--^
Front Hai.i. St.mkwav ix the Su.as Deane Hoise.
n'
li.
French ifAXTEL ix the Silas Deaxe Uoi.se
THE GREAT EARTHQIIAKE OF 17H.). 7'5
and not a congeries — it. diil, however, produce a peal or two of thunder,
and a little rain — this happened I think ])ctwecn the hours of one and
two o'clock p. m. At ahout three o'clock p. m. the hurricane was seen
to appear near the western boundary of Stepney parish — a violent agi-
tation in the cloiuls had indeed been before observed in the western
quarter; but now, from a rising ground it displayed itself in its f\dl
extent, rc})lete with undeseribalde horror. — A black column from the
earth to the cloud, of about thirty rods diameter, so thick that the
eye could not pervade it, wliirled with amazing velocity aiul a most
tremendous ronr — it appeared luminous and ignited, and was charged
with broken pieces of fence and huge limbs of trees which were con-
tinually crashing against each other in the air or tumbling to the
ground. This appearance continued but a few moments ; when thfe
columns instantly divided horizontally at a small distance from the
earth — the upper part apjx'aring to rise, while the lower j)art exhibited
the appearance which a huge body of thick smoke would do were it
dashed by a strong vertical wind, spreading itself to the extent of sixty
or eighty rods. At once you might ol)serve it, at a small distance for-
ward, apparently bui-st from the ground, like the thickest smoke, spread
the above distance on its surface, then wliirl and cont'nict itself to the
size of the column I now descril)e; but in no instance did the cloud
appear to stoop towards the earth. In this manner it appeared, with
longer or shorter intervals of the compact column, dui'iug the whole space
in which I have been able to collect accurate information; with this
exception only, that in the eastermost part of the observed space for a
considerable distance, it was not seen to bo luminous or ignited; though
each described its bursting from tlie earth, as giving them the idea of
fire, which they really sii])posed, until it was past, consuming every-
thing in its way. It moved in a direction, when first noticed, somewhat
to the northward of east, but soon changed to nearly east. In this di-
rection and almost instantaneously after it was observed, it arrived at
the house of !Mr. "Wait liobluns, who was himself absent, as were two
of his children; his wife, four children, an infant of five months old,
a labourer and a female negro servant, made up what of the family
were at home ; the labourer was at this time in the barn. All observed
it nearly at the same time and attempted their escape from the build-
ings-— Mrs. Itobbins witli her babe in her arms, and two little boys
and the labourer tied to the distance of a1)out thirty-five yards, where
the labourer past her a few paces, and was overtaken by the hurri-
cane, tlirown over a fence into a garden and escaped with little hurt.
Near the place where the labourer past them, the two little boys were
7i6
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
found, amidst the rubbisli of tlie demolislied l>uilding — the eldest, about
ten years of age, lifeless, the other it is feared mortally wounded.
Mrs. Eobbins, with her balie still in her arms, is supposed to be hurled
by the violence of the hurricane more than twenty yards back toward
the house, for there slie was found dead, with the babe lying a few
paces distant, wounded, Ijut not mortally. The servant with the other
two children, fled on a different coTirse ; tliey were all wounded, but
likely to recover.' Tliis occurrence was evidently what, in these later
days, we know as a cyclone.
"The account continues with a picture uf the vicinity after the cy-
clone, houses and barns iddwu away, trees uprooted and carried long
distances, the effect at the height of the storm being awful, 'boards,
bricks, timbers and wlmhi trees tilling the space from the earth to an
amazing height." Stone v.-alls were leveled and boards carried over a
mile, and some of ilrs. Eobbins's clothing was found in Glastonbury,
three miles away. The hurricane caught a .sloop in the river and hurled
her ashore on her beam ends, and then went through Glastonbury,
Euslhunj, and Coventry, where the local report stops. * It
appears to have started near Xew Britain and done damage in the
south part of Xewington, though nowhere sii nuicli as in \\'ethersfield.
All this was one hundred years ago to-day. Had it happened yes-
terday the story wouhl have been telegraphed all over the country,
but probably no account wmdd have equaled in graphic detail or in-
terest the rigidly accurate story of the num who signs himself simply
'J. Lewis.' "
The house here referred to was near the north end of Stepney parish,
but the site is now in Wethersfield. ]Mr. liobbins ptit up a new liouse
on the site of the one destroyed. Tt is ( 1S!)0 ) occupied by Wni. Griswold,
a descendant in a fennilc line, and stands just south of the mattrass
factory near the north en<l of T3rook Street. Besides ]Mrs. E. and the
boy of 10 killed outright, another cliild of about 4 died Oc-
tober 23d. The 10-years old son was by imme Austin, the younger one
Sanuiel. A dress of ^Irs. Bobbins was carried to Glastonbury and
lodged on a barn on the place where a sister of hers was then living.
It is related, on the authority of the mother of the late Charles Wil-
liams :
"The morning of the hurricane ilr. Wait Bobbins started on horsc-
^ Pres. Stiles, of Y. C, says of this hunic.iue {Diary, III, 277): "It began in
New Britain, about 2 p. ni., anil traversed Glastonbury. Bolton, Coventry, Jlansfield,
&c. One branch thro' Windsor. At abt. C. p. m., i-oaehcd Maiden, !Mass. Its great-
est severity was at Wethersfield. "
The RonKRTsox IFolse.
The Stanuish Hoise.
J. B. Sluudish, Phiifr.
CONFLAGRATIONS. 1^1
back to go to VenuoTit. As he was joiirneving along in the afternoon
he became very uneasy about his family and this increased to such au
extent that he stopped for the night some miles short of where he
intended to have stopped. His anxiety had increased so much during
the niglit that as soon as daylight appeared he was on his return, and
some ten miles above Hartford he met the messenger that had been sent
to recall him. ^lany considered it as 'a hand of Providence' in thus
warning him."' — //. R. ii.\
ConfJngrations. — AVethersfield has suffered from two very consid-
erable fires, of sufficient imjwrtance to render them memorable in her
history. The first of these was in August, 1S31, and is thus described
in the Conn. Couvant of the day following:
''Yesterday afternoon about 1 o'clock our citizens were alarmed by
the ringing of bells occasioned liy the arrival of a messenger from
Wethcrsfield with the intelligence that a destructive fire was raging in
that town. Several of our tire Companies with their engines, hose,
hooks, etc., and a large number of citizens immediately started for the
fire, and arrived in season to render some assistance to the almost ex-
hausted iuliabitants of the place. The tiro start'"'' between tv.'elve and
one o'clock in a barn belonging tci J. Williams, Esq., and attached to
his dwelling house near the meeting house. It immediately communi-
cated to the adjacent buildings and was not finally subdued until
five dwelling houses and several barns connected with them were en-
tirely destroyed. The buildings consumed were the house owned and
occupied by John Williams, Esq., ^Irs. Tryon's house, Dr. Samuel B.
Woodward's house, a large building owned by John Williams, Esq..
and fonnerly occupied as a tavern (Allen's), and the hotise o\^'ned and
occupied by IMiss Brigden was pulled down to keep the fire from
spreading.
" The fire was one of the most disastrous we believe ever experienced
in the towns in this vicinity, and the ruins extending for some distance
in this delightftd village j)rescnt a most melancholy apjiearance. Part
of the property was insured." The fire was of incendiary nature, by
a servant girl of !Mr. Williams.
The second fire was on August 1st, 1834, commencing at 2 a. m.,
in an outbuilding occupied by Dr. Cooke, situated abotit 200 feet in
rear of front line of premises of Lockwood Belden (later Comstoek,
Ferre & Co.), and consumed all of ^Ir. B.'s barns and seed houses,
' On authority of tlie mother of Mr. Charles Williams, herself an eye witness of
the disaster, and then about nine years old.
7i8
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETHERSFIELD.
seven or eiglit in niinilxT; also, tlio houses and barns of Rnswcll Clapp,
Dr. Cooke, Levi Goodrich and the shocshop of O. Harrison. It was
supposed to have originated from spontaneous comlnistion of hibora-
tory material stored in the building occupied by Dr. Cooke. An
engine from Hartford arrived in time to render some service ; and soon
after, this engine was secured for Wctherstield by a popular suliscrip-
tion of $400.
Other fires (three or four in nund)er) followed at a later date
which caused the losses of barns, etc., of Dr. Tenney, James Smith,
and others, with ^Ir. Crane's tavern. Finally a night patrol was organ-
ized, wliich resulted in the capture of the incendiaries.
Fish .\xd Fisiiekies. — Sahnon and Sltad. — In the days of the earliest
settlement along the Cnnnccticut Tiiver, there seems to have been almost
a superabundance of both of these kinds of fish — though they appar-
ently were not greatly prized by the early settlers as articles of food ; aiul
certainly not as forming the basis oi an important industry, as fishing
has since become. In 1700, as we learn from Judd {Hist, of Iladlcy),
they sold at Ilartfonl at "less than a penny a pound." In Wethersfield,
they were so plentif\il, that according to tradition, they were to lie seen
in piles, "like cords of Mood," on sale, on ihe eoruer lot lattT occupied
by Palmer South worth. And, at that tiiue, here (as in other Connecti-
cut River towns) it was considered as disreputable for any but "poor
folks" to eat shad. It is said, also, that ap])reuticcs in binding them-
selves to th(>ir masters, frequently stipulated that salmon should not
be served to them as food oftener than twice a week — a statement
•which (to the Editor's knowledge) has also been made concerning the
farm laborers in Scotland, who were living near the salmon streams
of that country.
But, just prior to the Revolution, the prejudice against this fish had
died away, and fishing for them became a ]n-ofitable industry. Both
salmon and shad Avere caught in great niunbers, and salted for home
and foreign consumption. In Wethersfield .something of a litigation
arose in ITGT, for the possession of the fishing place at "the Sands,"
on the land of John Russell of Wethersfield on the W. side of the river
— the creek bounding it on the west, the river east and the highway
north. Benjamin, Abraham and Isaac Smith, Gershom "\Mieeler and
David Fox, all of Glastonbury, coveted the exclusive franchise of a
fishery at that place, and petitioned the Assembly for a grant thereof,
alleging that they had kept the place clear of logs, roots, etc., since 175",
and they desired it for ''seining and taking up of salmon, shad." etc.
The legislature, however, dismissed their petition, and required them
^g^^l^,^^;;
. 1. /■'.. ' ■ '■ ",■" j'i ■■■■■ .',
IIQEO^GE OUOL[Y £,EYWCL'f
The Old Capt. Charles t'limcHiLL Hoise.
CSeiciiujIoti, CuKii.J
The lower view ])iosoiits the did iiiaiisicm as it ajipeari^l in it~ latter day-,
lifter it bewail to j;o to doeav. 'I'lie iippcT view is Mr. (Jeoiire Dudley Si-yiiioiir's
Library liuuk plate, -liow in;; tile line Colonial front dour. and. in the ocrner a
porspeetive view of the House, in its palmy day-.
FISH AXD FISIIEUIES. / 1 9
to pay Mr. Russell lii., costs of dciVn.<c."' In October, 1775-. Wait
Goodrich aii'l associates, of Glastonbury, secured the exclusive n.hery
of sturrjeon in the Connecticut Iii\er for five years.
^'ext to saluK.n, the flind fisheries were important thouiih that fish
was not then held in as higli esteem as it now is. Large quantities
were salted both for home consumption and exportation, but salted cod
and mackerel ha\e. of later years, very generally suj-erccded that uf
salted shad. In 1>4J. Wethersfield's e.xportation of the latter had been
reduced to fmty-five barrels. At the same date, the amount ..f jalt
used here in fish-packing (nearly all the fish being a?c(r/i'es— branded
as "herring") was .500 bushels." Tiie Connecticut Eiver was orio-inallv
especially suited to the habits of the salmon. Its numerous tributarie'-
furnished abundant breeding places f(,r them; and arrivino- in the
sprmg, with the .had. they ascended the river, even as far as^ Bellows
Falls. They sought only the coolest and clearest streams, where the
current was the s^viftest. and many falls which were too steep for the
shad to pass, were overcome by the stron-er salmon in r.rder tr. reach
their favorite breeding places. M-.xny of the voun- fish returned each
year to the sea, and having reached maturity ma.le tlie lung jouniey
up the river again, to continue the w,a-k of projjan-ating thei^r species.
About 1700, fishing had begun to assume the proportions of an im-
portant and lucrative industry. The price of salmon, at Xorthhampton,
in li,o, had risen to two pence a pound, and within the next
twenty years had more than doubled. Along the len-tli of the river,
as far even as Vermont, a larger number of seines wero\ised everr vear
—the salmon taken being fewer than the shad, but partlv compensa"tin-
m individual size for their lack in numbers— sometimes attaining a
^veight of 34 or 40 pounds; and it became more diflicult to sell; and
those who came each year to the fishing grounds to purchase their annual
supply of shad, could ol)tain them only on condition of takin- a certain
nunber of salmon. By .June. 1791, five and a half pounds of^salted sal-
mon were worth -Is. and 0 d., and in July, same year, Z\ pounds sold
for Is. ,J." We have quoted from a most intercstinn- article on this
subject, in the SpHuri field RepuhUcan. of April 1th. 1,'!07, l,v Mr
Bkxj. .Vdams, of Wethersfieki, who has also furnished us with a
number of valuable statistics relative to the '•catches" of WetlKn-field
fisheries from this time to the present, but which our space does not
permit of our printing.
But, just about the close of the eighteenth centurv salmon disap-
peared from the Connecticut with much suddenness— which was proba-
bly due to the erection, about 1795, of a dam, at South Iladlev, eleven
T^-O HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEHSFIELD.
feet high, and subsoquciitly (al)oiit 179S) of another dam, 10 feet high,
from sliore to shore, below the month of Miller's Rivei'— by the upper
Docks and Canals Company. Before these insurmountable ol>stacle3,
the salmon, were obliged to turn back, and could no longer reach their
breeding places; and after ISOO had quite disappeared from our waters.
In later years an effort ^\'a3 made by the Fish Commissions of the four
States touching the Connecticut Kiver to restock the Connecticut
River with these fish, but with only ])artial success; though in the sea-
son of 1SS2, two or three were taken by "Wethersficld shad tishcrs.
Fisheries in WetJiersfiehl. — Of these the most ancient is probably
that now known as "Backs/' at "The Cove." The Cove has existed
a.s such, about 200 years, and is noted for its "herring" (alewife)
production (though, at times, many shad have been caught here).
Hundreds of barrels of these alewives are packed and salted here,
annually — and are known in the trade as herrings. The Sampson Fi^h
Place, on the east side of the river, opposite the Old Wharf of Weth-
ersfield was long a favorite place for fishermen. Other fisheries are
on the southeast shore of the river, on ''the Rocks" between the Cove and
the river; on the east side of the river, near (he present steamboat
landing; on both sides ojiposite to the Great Meadow, and at Tlie
Five Nations, a noted shad fishery from ancient days, on the west
side near Rocky Hill Landing; and again on the east side some distance
below. Except at the Cove, most of the fish taken are shad, souie of
which are caught with gill-nets.
[Opixioxs of Wetiieksfikld, by Distixguisiied Stuaxgeks, Trav-
elers, ETC. — !Xativc-born "Wethersfieldians have always had a very high
and positive opinion as to the exceeding lx>auty of their town and its
surroundings, as well as of the general character of its citizens, for which
they cannot be blamed since it has been frequently and amply justified
by the comments of many American, as well as foreign travelers and
visitors, who have given recorded expression to their sentiments concern-
ing these points. These quotations also serve to afford us somewhat of a
progressive view of its growth.
First, we offer our readers the humorous description of the town and
its inhabitants, given by the Rev. Samuel Peters :
"Weathersfield is four miles from Hartford, and more compact than
any to^\■n in the Colony. The fleeting-house is of brick, with a steeple,
bell and clock. The inhabitants say it is much larger than Solomon's
Temple. The Township is ten miles square, parishes four. The
people are more gay than polite and more superstitious than religious.
-*
^^^;-^iv
-^rMlA 4?;;i^-c£_-*
tA.
The SoLTii Dookway of tlic I'liunliiU
Hoiisf; and Aiitii|nc Liiiii[j fuuiid iii
the house.
By Cotirtesi/ uf (!iu. Diulhi/ f<<;/iii<n(,; Esq.
PRESIDENT JOHN' ADAMS' VISIT. T^^
This town raises more onions than are consumed in all Xew England.
It is a rule with parents to buy annually a silk gown for each daughter
above seven years old, until she is married. The young beauty is
obliged, in return, to weed a j)atch of onions with her own hands, which
she performs in the cool of the morning before she dresses for breakfast.
This laudable and healthy custom is ridiculed by the ladies in other
towns, M-ho idle away their mornings in bed, or in gathering the pink,
or catching the butterfly to ornament their toilets, while the gentlemen,
far and near, forget not the AVothersfield ladies' silken industry.'""^
President Joiix Adams visited Wethersfield in June, ITTl, and again
in August, 1774.^ On the former visit, he says:
"At eleven o'clock arri\'ed at Wright's'' in "Wethersfield. * ■» *
Here is the finest ride in America, I believe; nothing can exceed the
beauty and fertility of the country. The lands upon the river, the
flat lowlands, are loaded with rich, noble crops of grass and grain and
corn."
On his second visit he was the giiest of Mr. Silas Deane, where
he was "'most cordially and genteelly entertained with punch, wine and
coffee," and by whom he was informed that .30,000 bushels of flax seed
■were sent to i^s^ew York, yearly, in exchange for salt. He says, also,
"We went up the steeple of Wethersfield ifeetiug House, from whence
is the most grand and beautiful prospect in the world, at least, that I
ever saw."
Mons. Bkissot de Wauvil'le, a traveled Frenchman, also passed
through Wethersfield in 17SS, and leaves this record of his impressions
of the town :*
•"On quitting Hartford you enter Wethersfield, a town not less elegant,
very long, consisting of houses well built. They tell me it gave birth to
the famous Silas Deane, one of the first promoters of the American
Revolution; from a schoolmaster in this town elevated to the rank of
an Envoy from Congress to Europe ; he has since been accused of betray-
ing this glorious cause. Is the accusation true I It is ditficult to decide.
But he has been a long time miserable in London ; and it is in favour
of the goodness of heart of the Americans to recount that his best friends
and benefactors are still among the ancient American Whigs.
'Rev. Samuel Peters' Gciifnil History of Conn., LonJon, 1781; p. 138. of Am.
reprint of 1877.
^Life unci Works of John Adums, II, pp. 27'2, 341.
' Elijah Wright's — nient. on Town Rec. a.s early as 17G7. — //. R. S. Silas
Deane in that yr. emplojcd him to make 130 bbls. of cider.
* I\'f il" Travels in the United Sitates of Amrrien, performed in 17SS, By -I. P.
Brissot de Warville, Translated from the French, London, 1792, p. 133.
7^^ HISTORY OF AXCIEST WETHERSKIELD.
"Wetherstield iis rcinarkablo for its vast tickls uniformly cnvorfd with
onions of wlut-li great quantities arc exported to the West Indies. It
is likewise reniarkal)le for its elegant meeting-house, or church. On
Sunday it is said to offer an enchanting spectacle by the ntnnber of
young and handsome persons assembled there, and liy the agreeable
music with which they intermingle the divine service."
President ^loxiioi:, also, contributes liis mite to the general sym-
posium of praise of Wetherstield.' His biogra])her says :
"In the afternoon (2:! J\nie, I'^IT), leaving iliddlotown, the President
was accompanied on iiis way to Hartford, for three or four iniles, hy
a large niuuber of citizens, many of whom, together with a Troop of
Horse, escorted him as far as Wetherstield (twelve miles from that
place), where they were met by the inhabitants and military of that
town, and of Hartford, wlio conducted him to that city in very hand-
some style. * ■» * * ^ Upon his arrival at Wetherstield they
found a large collection of citizens ready to greet his arrival, lint their
acclanuitions cotdd not drive from his recollection his early ( 'ongres-
sional friend, the Hon. Stephen ^lix ^Litchell, a resident there, wiio had
recently retired from the office of Chief Justice of Connecticut. He
paid him a visit, and although the frost of age was visible uiion their
honored heads, their hearts warmed with fervor npon their meeting after
a long absence. The interview was short, but delightful.
"On !Monday (the 2-')d) from previous arrangement tlie tir-^t com-
pany of the Governor's Horse Guards, imder the connnatul of ^lajor
Buck, repaired to AVetherstield to receive the President. A large con-
course of citizens, from this and the neighboring towns, also assemlded
and escorted the Presiden; to the South Green in this city."
Two years later than this chronicle. Prase J; Niles' Grizzffter of
Conn. (£■ li. I., pp. S'J-!)0, gives the following information about the
to^vn:
"Wetliersfickl is about six miles square, containing 2:'., 000 acres.
This is an excellent township of land, having an imdulating surface
and exhibiting a beautiful di\'ersity of hill and dale. The .soil is gener-
ally a rich gravelly and sandy loam, but in the western part of the town,
argillaceous hiam prevails, and some sundl sections in the centre may
be considered as a garden mould. It is well adapted to grass and grain
and particularly to esculent roots. The tract of alluvial upon Connec-
ticut river is extensive and beautiful, and very productive. The clay
of Hartford does not extend to Wetherstield, hut on the contrary there
' Tour of James Motiroe * * * * in the year 1817, By S. P. Wtililo, p. 94.
'i!' ''' " I- ■
■^m^y
REV. DR. DUIUHTS VISIT, isa.
723
arc sonic small sections of silicious sand. Among other agricultural
interests in the town, the cultivation of onions has long held a conspicu-
ous rank. This is an important agricultural pursuit, although it oc-
cupies but a small portion of land, and the service is principally per-
formed bv females. AVethersfield onions have long been justly celeliratoJ
and are exported to the Southern States and the West Indies for a
market. The nuiuii.s when prepared for nnirket, are sorted and ar-
ranged into Ko])es or Bunches consisting of a number strung togethev,
of which it has been estimated, that there are from a million to a
million and a half raised annually, and sent abroad. This is the only
town in the state which makes a business of the cidtivation of this
excellent root. It is jieculiarlv novel aiul interesting on passing through
the town in the month of June to behold in every direction the exten-
sive fields of onions, ^^^lilst in a luxurious state for vegetation the
growing vegetable exhales its strong savour. The atmosphere becomes
impi'egnatod and the luscious (pialities of the onion are wafted far and
wide upon e\'erv passing breeze.
"The business of navigation has received considerable attention in
this town, and it possesses considerable tonnage. Ship-building also
has frequcMtly been carried on, but thr coimuerciiil and maritime in-
terests of the t(jwn have not increased for some years past.
"The population of Wethcrsfield in ISIO, was :5,0.31 and there are
now 500 electors, ."lOO militia, and about fiOO dwelling h(nises. There
are 5 Distilleries, 4 Tanneries, '■] Orain Mills, 2 Saw-Mills, ■"> Fulling
Mills, 2 Carding ^lachines, 1.') ^lercantile stores and one Hope-walk.
The list of the town in 1S17 was $07,r,:^T."
Pease cG Nilev, (p. 75), under the head of Glastonbury also, say:
"In the eastern part of the town there is a pond of about a mile in
circumference called "Diamond pond,' from the circumstance of there
being small pebbles or stones around its margin having peculiar bril-
liancy. Xear the centre of the town there is a mineral spring, ^vliich,
though it has acquired no celebrity abroad, has been thought by men of
science, who have examined it to possess valuable medical qualities;
and for more than one hundred years has been known in the vicinity
by the name <if the 'Pool at Xipsuck.' "
The learned and eminent Pres. Dwiout of Yale College, in 182:^,
gives the following lengthy and critical statement concerning AVeth-
ersfield. as one of tli(» priuci))al towns of Xew England which attracted
his attention on an extensive tour throu"h the Eastern States:^
^Duight's Traivis in .Vfir Eiujlund and \cic Yck, 182.3, I, 192.
724
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
"Wethcrsficld lies on the Connecticut TJiver, 11 miles Xo. of Middle-
town and 4 So. of Hartford. The soil is probably not inferior to that
of an3' township in the State. The intervals, which are large, are of
the richest quality, and the uplands, when well cultivated, are very
productive. The nature and value of intervals I shall have occasion to
describe hereafter. It will be sufficient to observe here, that they are
lands formed by alluvian, and are usually of the highest fertility. At
the same time, they are ordinarily fashioned with a degree of neatness
and elegance, which is unrivalled. This to^^^lship contains three par-
ishes. Stepney, already mentioned, in the South: Xcirinrjton, on the
Northwest, and WctJicrsficM proper, on the Xorthwest. The tovra of
Wethersfield is chiefly built in the X. E. part of the parish, bordering
upon the River. Of the three principal streets, two run from Xorth
to South, parallel with the general course of the River, and the third
from Southeast to Xortln\-est, along tiie banks of a large Cove formed
in the X. E. quarter of the township. The site of the Town, and the
prospects of the surrounding country, are very pleasant. The hijusos,
taken together, are neither so well built, nor so well repaired, as those
of their neighbors. Forty years since they app)eared better than those
of any tu„;i \n 'die Slate. From some reason, or other, imperfectly
known to me, Wethersfield has not kept pace with the general im-
provement of the country. 3Iany of the houses are, however, good, and
several very good. The inhabitants have, for many years, cultivated
onions as an article of commerce. ]\lanv parts of the American coast
and the West Indian Islands, furnished a market for this eommodity,
and the fertility of the soil insured regiilarly a rich crop. \Vliile the
market lasted, this was the most profitable article of culture known in
the country. Xinety perches of land have, in a single year, yielded
about $200. It was not to be expected that a source of so much profit
Avould be unobserved by their countrymen. Various rivals accordingly
attempted to gain a share of these advantage; : the market became over-
stocked and the business dwindled in value. It is, however, still a
source of profit.
"The regular production of a considerable staple production is. I
suspect, attended with several disadvantages to those by whom it is
produced. It becomes an object of particular attention to the merchant,
and will be more exposed to systematized schemes of over-reaching,
than a mass of mixed and various produce. The farmer, who employs
himself in the cultivation of onions, will, through the cold season, have
neither cattle to feed nor grain to thresh. During this period he wiU
scarcely fail of being idle a considerable part of his time, and of be-
N'
X
^..^^
-■ A^^."*'
^ v*J' ;
.^.
!
^4 — "aa
iX
.'l-T.
■)
A
1^-
^<
:\ _:
r^..jah -^^■■ikifc -. ,
OLD HOUSES AND OLD TAVERXS. 7^5
taking himself to unprofitable company-keeping, or other resorts, which
are both expensive and mischievous."
Tlien, as if to soften the implication of tliis last remark, the Presi-
dent goes on to sa}' :
"The inhabitants of Wethersfield are distinguished for their attach-
ment to order and government. The gentlemen and ladies are highly
distinguished for the possession of those qualities which especially fur-
nish the pleasure of refined society."
He then narrates the story of the Ecadle ]\rurders (see p. — , this
Vol.), and gives the following statistics, viz. : Wethersfield, in 1756,.
had 2,374 white inliabitants, and 109 blacks; in 1774, 3,347 whites
and 142 blacks; in ISOO, although a considerable part of the town had
been annexed to Derliu, 4,10;") inhabitants, of whom 95 were blacks;
and in ISIO, 3,9G1 inhabitants.
From all this distinguished testimony which we have quoted, it is
to be seen that, despite time's changes, and the passing of many genera-
tions, "Wethersfield still retains the four distinctive featui-es with which
these various commentators have credited her, viz.: (1) the exceeding
loveliness of her site and siirroitndivgs; (2) the glory of he)' onion
beds; (3) the acknowledged superior educational eminence and re-
finement of her society ; and (4) the architectural beauty of her Meet-
ing-IIovse, which, as the Rev. Peters said, a hundred years ago, was
considered by her people, as "much larger than Solmon's Temple!",
and which in later years has been renovated with such superior archi-
tectural taste, as to bid fair to retain its supremacy over that ancient
fane, for another hundred years to come. — U. B. S.'\
[Old Houses axd Old Taveijxs. — The dwellings erected by the first
settlers of Pyquaug, undoubtedly were mere huls, or "shacks," differing
but little — excepting being a trifle more substantially built — from
the Indian wigwams which the white man found on their first coming
here.' The log-liouse sinular to that of the Western emigrant, of a later
period, soon followed, and these, in turn — as the exigencies and dangers
of a first settlement were surmounted and peace and stability assured
— were succeeded by a better class of houses — two stories high, low
■Probably the vcri/ first shelter which some of the Wethersfield settlers occupied,
may have been wh.it are called in old deeds and records, "cellars"; i. e. an ex-
cavation made in the face of a bank or hill, and roofed, or covered with boughs or
pieces of the bark of trees, or with planks — such refugesi as are even now known in
our extreme \^'estern settlements as "dug-outs." The first settlers of Windsor, had
such accommodations on Sandy-Bank — See Stiles history of that town.
726
HISTORY OF ANX'IENT WETHERSFIELD.
between joints, enntaining- two larye square rooms, above and below,
with a chimney in the centre and steep roofs. Occasionally, the
social standing, or the financial ability of the owner was emiiiiasized
by the addition of a porch to the front door, eight or ten feet square,
of the same heighth as tlie main building. On the lower tloor. this
porch was eitlier enclosed, as a sort of vestibule, or left open and sup-
ported on pillars; its upjicr purtiou fnrniiug an additional ronni on the
second floor. I'his cla.-s df biiilding, we think, came into use not much
earlier than Kil.'i nr "IM); by which time, also, a modification of this
style of house had begun to appeal', in which the need of more room for
the growing family was met by the scant, or lean-to, added to the rear
of the building, leaning towards the upright part of the latter, and
continuing the rear roof down to the height of the first story. This
afforded a kitchen, a buttery and another bedroom; and, with the
addition of a chinuiey, and a fireplace in the kitchen, became au estab-
lished order of jS'cw England domestic architecture. It is not easy,
however, to differentiate clearly the various "styles" or ordrrs wliich
have prevailed in the past, accm-ding to .-uiy fixed jierioils of time.
They always liave, and will lap orcr, some^\■hat. Of this last described
kind of hoti;?, the old Andnis house, in Xev.'ington, the old (iristrold
house in Wcthersfield, and the old Jonathan Boardnian house in Rocky
Hill, were good examples.
■ The next form of house, to whicli we come in our synopsis of these
orders, seems to have been that of the so-called iipriiilit houses two stories
high (and somewhat higher i)etwcen joints) with a capacious garret in
the peak of the roof, whicli, perhaps, was not quite so steep as its prede-
cessors. The.se houses on the ground floor were sometimes divided by
a broad hall, from front to rear, from tlip rear end of which rose the
stairway to the floor above; and from which on either side opened the
doors of the best-room, or "'Parlor" and the Dining Room. Ujjstairs,
or second floor, was a similar, tliough not quite so wide, hall, froiy
which opened two large square bedrooms. The Boardinan house, at S.
W. end of Broad Street, Wcthersfield (171U-1S57) built for Cor, et
Joseph, by his father Samuel, was a fair example of this kind of house;
as was also the Standish house in Wethersfield. In some of these
houses, however, the fi'ont door opened merely into a little square
hall, or vestibule, which disclosed the doors of two large rooms on
either side and a winding and somewhat steep staircase leading up
to the second story. Of this, we have an instance in the cut of the
jSilns Dcunc house. Houses of this style and period (about IT^O-ITSO)
generally possessed the dignity of two chimneys, and the form of the
1-.
THE OLT) BOARD^rA^■ CHEST, i6St^i7co.
Ill possessioi: of William /•". 7- lloarJiiunK i/jrtfarJ. L\-iiii
OLD HOUSES AND TAVERNS.
727
roof was suiiu'tinies that known as <innihreJ — /. c, with a "hip"' —
(angle, or rise) between the eaves and the roof-tree, both on the front
and rear of the liouse, as seen in the "Wchh and the Bohhlm^ mansions,
and also (markedly so) in the iiieture i>f tlie Old Fisli IIoiisi — if it Ije
not desecratidn to e(iui)le tlie latter with the two former as ilhistrations
of this ])ecnliar.st_vle of rouf. ^[iwiy houses of this pi^riod also had the
peculiarity of a lon^' heavy timber passing through the centre of many
of the rooms, overhead. This rind)er, usually 1-2 inches square, was
generally covered with nicely pinned boards, where it projected below
the level of the lath and plaster of the ceiling; though in some instances
it was left imcovered, showing the marks of the adze with which it
had been squared.— 77. E. S.'\
Wethersfield has reason to feel pnjud of simie of these old Colonial
dwellings yet standing in her streets, sound of tiud)er, and full of hal-
lowed recollections of the olden times and the noble men and women
M'lio have lived in them, or the distinguished personages who have en-
joyed their hospitality. Of such, pre-eminently, is the Wkhp. Ifouse,
on the West side of ilain Street, just below the terminus of the horse
railroad. This fine old historic building u.is erected by ^Ir. Joseph
Webb, about or prior to 175:!. He diecl in 17(11, aged .■;.") years, and
leaving two sons, viz. : Josejih, aged 12 and Sauuicl niatchley (after-
wards Col. and Brevet TJrig.-Geu. in the Continental Army), aged S
years. Joseph, Jr., became a prominent citizen and merchant in
Wethersfield and married in 1771-, Abigail (daughter of Col. John)
Chester, and she was the hostess who entertained AVashington during
his few days stay in the town in 1780. The social standing, ample
means and generous nature of the Webbs, won for their residence, dur-
ing the Revolntionai'V period, the M'idely recognized title of ''Hos-
pitality Hall;" but its special glory is in having been honored by the
presence of Washington and his military and official friends on several
occasions of importance to the liberties of America, as has been fully
told in our chapter on the War of the Revolution. Th<> bedroom occu-
pied by the illustrious guest is the X. E. cham^jr of the second story,
and its furniture, even to the paper on the walls, has been ke])t intact
until the present time. In the parlor below this chamber was held
the celebrated conference of 1780, with Count Rochambeau, Gov.
TriunbuU, Col. Wadsworth and others. The house, now owned and oc-
cupied by Dr. Frank X. AVelles, is in a fine state of preservation, and
has received no external changes, or additions, except that of a porch
to the front door, and a rejiainting more in consonance with modern taste
than its original color of red.
728
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIKLD.
Next south of the Webb house is the Silas Deaxe house, now occut
pied by E. Hart Fcnn, Esq. In August, 17G5, Deane (afterwards
Special Envoy and Commissioner, with Benjamin Eranklin, to the
Court of France to secure the aid of that nation) bought from Dea.
John Stilhuan two and three-fourths acres of hind, on which he builded
this house. Doane afterwards failed, and in January, ITSi), one Mc-
Ewen of jSTcw York, a creditor, sold to Stephen (son of Col. John)
Chester, one-fourth of an acre "with the house built by Silas Deane:"
and Chester, in 1793, bought the remainder of the property from
Deane's administrator. It was this Deane-Chester-Fenn house which
seems to have sheltered Washington and his military staff, when on
his way, June 30, 1775, to Cambridge, to take command of the army.
On this occasion, ^Mr. Deane, writing June 2 2d, to his wife at Wethers-
field, from Philadelphia, where he was attending the Continental Con-
gress, says:
"This will be handed you by His Excellency General Wasliington, in
company with Gen. Lee and retinue. Shr.iild they lodge over night
in Wethersfield, you will accommodate their horses, servants, etc., in
the best manner, at the taverns, and their retinue will likely go to
Hartford."
Mrs. Deane, to whom this letter of introduction was addressed, was
Elizabeth (daughter of Col. Gurdon) Staltonstall, and Deane's second
wife, a lady fully competent, both by birth and accomplishments, to
extend the honors of her husband's house to these distinguished guests.
It is a well substantiated tradition of the "Chester Place," as it is
now called, that in its parlor, the General was measured for a pair of
boots, by the village shoemaker. Oh fortunate Crispin, in being thus
privileged; yet most unfortunate in that tliy name has not been handed
down to posterity !
[Next south of the "Chester Place" is an almost equally old house, of
the same type, the gambrel roof of which has been remodelled to a
straight incline. This is the Hobcrtson house, once occupied by the late
Dr. Ashbol Robertson, who purchased it. about 1816, from Dr. Barwick
Bruce, from whom its o^\'nership can be traced back to Silas Deane,
.1769, and to John Stillman, who bought it, in 1737, from Jonathan
Goodrich, and this date inay indicate the age of the building. Dr.
Robertson, for many years, carried on a mechantile business, sold wines
and liquors (under a license) and practiced medicine. His store, with
roof cut down and a brick front added, is now occupied by Comstock,
Ferre & Co., as a seed wareliouse, a little further up the same street.
The mansion is now occupied by ^Ir. Austin Robertson, a son of the old
THE OLD GOODRICH WARDROUK OR PRKSS, about 1565.
FROM THE HOUSE IIUILT |;V CAPTAIN ELIZUR GOOHRICH (AHOLT ir^ol, IX WKTH t RSFIELD, CONN.
Ill fossessioii of H'iiliam F. J. Boardmaii.
OLD HOUSES AND OLD TAVERNS. 7-9
docto", and one mIio lias been a very efficient help in the compiling of
this volume.
The Webb, Deane and Eobertson houses all stand upon property
originally belonging to the Wolcott Family, of which Capt. Samuel
Wolcott, grandson of the Hon. Henry, of Windsor, was the first rep-
resentative in Wethersfield. The liobcrtson property south of the
E. dwelling house belonged, prior to 1S25, to the Rev. .John ^larsh, who
became possessed of it, in ITSi'. The Maksti house is still standing, in
a good state of preservation, as also is the Staxpisk house, a line and
well kept relic of earlier days.
The CjiKSTEii house was a large mansion, on the West side of Broad
Street, in the ■"Chester Lot," as it is still called. It was the hi>use next
south of the old Crane Tavern, of which elsewhere, --e give a picture;
and was the home of the Eevolutionary Chesters.
On the east side of Broad Street is another Ciiestee homestead,
dating back, perhaps, to 1730. It is now occupied by ^Mr. W. H. Skaats
and stands nearly upon the site of the orif/inal Leonard CJiester home-
stead, and was, imdoubtedly the home (if the earlier generations of
Chester, though not generally known at the present day. as being a
Chester hou^e. 3Iany years ago one-half the building was removed to
another location, and became the Adams' house.
The Williams house, a large building at the upper end of Broad
Street, built on land sold from the street, by vote of the Tov^ti. was
erected by Sheriff Ezekiel Williams; l)ccamc later, the home of Parson
Tennoy and is not o\raed and occupied by !Mrs. Elizabeth Savage.
The '"Squire Joiix" Williams home, on the east side of High Street,
next north of the Congregational church is the home of Mrs. W. W. An-
drews and her sister, !Mrs. ^fary D. ^IcLean, to wiioni our readers are
indebted for much of tlie interest of this history.
On Wolcott Hill, about a mile W. from the centre of the village is a
large, white, 2-story house, and which some have supposed was erected
by Capt. Samuel Wolcott, who came hither from Windsor and settled
in 1656, and d. in 1695, and whose table-monument in the Wethersfield
old cemetery bears upon its face the family anns, elaborately engraved,
as portrayed in the cut here given. But. we think its builder, more
probably, was his son IMaj. Samuel, who died in 1T04-, or his grand-
son Capt. Samuel. At all events, we are inclined to place its erection
at about the same time as that of the Webb house. It is most sub-
stantiallj- built throughout, and its walls all lined with large thin bricks
— one of which was lately found bearing the name '"Samuel," evidently
impressed upon it before being baked. Mrs. J. W. Griswold, a daugh-
730
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
ter of the liousc, informs us that it was purehascd from the Chauiicev
Wolcott estate, in 1S.>7, and presented to the wife of Dea. John Welles,
by her grandmother Welles; and was occupied by Dea. Welles" faniilv
until his death in ISOS. It is now o\med by ilr. Howard P. llonrne.
A peculiar feature of interest is the Woleott arms painted (evidently
a long time ago, as its artistic style betrays) on the wall, over the mantel
of the north i)arlor. This painting, of which we here give a photo-
gravure, was some few years ago, retouched by a local i)aintt'r. and the
family motto introduced into the scroll below the shield. — //. 11. ,S'.]
About ten rods south of the Robertson house, there stood in Revolu-
tionary times, a tavern (])roperty later owned and occupied by the
father of Hon. Silas W. Robliins) in the old barn of which tradition
used to say that Gen. Washington's horse was stabled, <m the occasion
of the General's visit to Wethersficld : and some 50 rods up ilain Street
stood the old Stii.i.max Tavkkx, which may po^^sibly have been the
tavei-n, in which, in ITfi."), Mr. Ingersoll, the obnoxious Stamp-Master,
succumbed to the will of the [leople. See p. — , ante.
[The Town of Xru'inr/foii held two very old and interesting dwellings
— thf A.xDRis and the Ciirnrii;i.L houses. The former, near the old
David Lowry place, and a few rods S. of the meeting house, was Imilt
in 1084, by Dea. Joseph (son of John) Andnis, who came from
Fannington and erected a sawmill, at the pond, now known as the
Centre 3Iill-pond. In the early days of Indian warfare it was stock-
aded and used as a fort, to which the jieojile could tlv in times of
danger. It remained in the Aiulrus family until the death of the last
of the name, Amos, in 182(1, who devised his property to Xcwington
Church, from which it was purchased by Gen. ^[artin Kellogg, grand-
fatlier of 31 rs. II. 'SI. Robliins, who was its owner, at the time of its
destruction by fire in December. 1897.
The Ciiunciiii.i. IIovse, in its day a fine example of eood Colonial
architecture, was erected by Cai)t. Charles Churchill, the son of Ensign
Samuel, and great grandson of Josiah Churchill, the first of the name
in Xewington. He was born in 172.". a man of means, of marked
ability in local, public and military affairs; married Lydia Bclden of
Xewington; wa^ licenscil as a ■•tavener" by the County Court in June,
1747; served a? a lieutenant in ("apt. Ilezekiah Welles' Co., in Gen.
Wolcott's TJrig. of State Troojis i^efore Boston, from January t(5 ^larch,
1776, and by January, 1770, was Captain in the 2d Regiment of the
1st ]\[ilitia Brigade in which his company rendered some service; in
17.86, he was chosen a Deacon in the Xewington Church, and died in
OLD TAVERNS, ETC. 73 ^
October, 180:2. Alwut 1T">^, lie croctod the fine mansion rcprcJcnteJ
in the aecouipanviiii;' illustration, and which, even in its present ruined
state, fully indicates its chiini to liavins>- been one of the ftnest dwellings
of its day in the Colony of Connecticut.' It was a large, two story,
gambrel-roofcd structure; most substantially built, and in its architec-
tural details (especially the mouhliugs of its doors and windows) much
more ornate than most dwellings nf its class. Besides seven open
fireplaces, the house contained foitr ijrcat oi-cns, one of which is said
to have been large enough to roast an entire ox; and the tradition is
preser\-ed that, on one occasion, when AVashington and Lafayette were
entertained here, all these four ovens were in full blast. One of the
rooms of the house is said to have been pa])crcd with the depreciated
Continental currency wliich Ca])t. Churchill had received in payment
for supplies furnished lo the army. — //. li. S.]
From Dr. TL. W. Gri^wdld's nrites, we learn of a building in Rorlnj
Hill, called "The Loxt; T.vx'ekx," and a notecl tavern-stand for many
years agone. lie describes it as being between the Old Sail Loft
and Wait Williams' store, and near the present R. R. station and that
its barn aiul horse-shed backed up within a few feet of the Old Sail
Loft buildi?)":, leaving only a small alleyway bctv.'oen. which marked
the division between the Jusiah Grimes' property and the Township
Yard Reservation. It was originally owned by Grimes, and, for many
years, was ke])t by the widow Abigail Robbins, a daughter of Josiah
Grimes and third wife of ]\Ir. Frederick Robbins. It was built partly
of brick and partly of stone, and at different periods. The north half
was esteemed the oldest portion and as having Ijecn built about 1754,
by Oliver Pomcroy; but we think the south portion remaining to later
days and known as "the Long House" or Tavern, was probably his
addition to a part previously existing. It has been gone for more than
half a century, and like many of the taverns of that day, had a nine-
pin alley attached to it. Dr. G. also notes that in about what was
the middle front chamber of the older half of the house was a fireplace.
quite tmique in character — being oval in foi-m from the hearth up, the
back curved m under in a cavernous shape, quite different from the
usual form of the old fireplaces — and which would, in these days,
have been considered "(piite a study for an artist."
' For tills, and tlie other illustrations showing the details of its construction, we
are indebted to Geo. Dudley Seymour. E.s(1|., of Xew Haven, a descendant of the
family. Especially intercstin;; is the photo of Mr. Seymour's liookplate, giving a
sketch of the front door of the old mansion, together with (in the corner of the
plate) a perspective view of the house itself.
'75^ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIKLI).
About tlic same- timo, one Polly Dickinson kcjit a tavern c^f consider-
able repnte at Uocky Hill, in her lioube S. E. cor. of Ferry Street, X.
of the Iioilerick Grime- jihice; and <in the authority of tlie lati/ Charles
Williams, it is said that "ATint Polly could brew a mug of flip that
few, even in those days, could refuse."' ^Ir. "Williams adds, "I am re-
minded that poor indeed was the family that did not have its keg, or
large jug of beer in the cellar, for winter flip. In private houses the
fire-end of the andiron was used to heat the flip, instead of the regular
flip-iron."
Mr. "Williams also says : "The large house formerly standing on the
E. side of the highway and X. of the Eurying-ground, probably one of
the earliest buildings in the to\m of Eocky Hill, and later known as
"the Granny Griswold place" was, for sometime, kept as a pulilic house.
I never heard of it as a tavern — but, it was in old time parlance, '*The
Village I>."n.'" Its large rnom was often used, in winter, f«ir dancmg.
Old peoi)le, when I was a boy, used to relate how in their youth, they
met in this room, for such enjoyment; but when the old chick struck
9 p. m., the proprietor wotild appear, with "Boys and girls! it is nine
o'clock — time you were home I" Then they would go ilown>rairs and
pay the bill — generally about ten shillings, whicdi wa^ not a higli price,
considering that paper money was then worth but ten cents on the dol-
lar, and twenty-five cents covered all expenses. They danced to the
scraping of a fiddle, but no refreshments were served to them.
The Shipnian Ilotrl. Ilucl-ij Hill — At what time this house first
became a tavern, is unknown. The main (south) building was erected
by Capt. AYait Robbins in the latter part of the IStli century, and a
Samuel Bull kept there aljour (and before) ISOO; then Simon Williams,
who built the hall in front; then a !Mr. Poster; then, about ISIS, ]Mr.
Samuel Dimock; followed In- Benjamin Robbins, Burrage ^leriam,
Joel AA-. Smith (15 year.-), I.-^aac Bell, Robert Archiliald, .Tames Rob-
bins, lS34:-37, and Samuel Shipnian luitil his death, about 1S75. It
had a nine-pin alley, and during ~S[x. Shipman's time, the house became
quite a famous resort for parties from Hartford, both in sunnner and
winter, in which latter season, the dance hall drew many sleighing par-
ties. Mrs. Shipman had the reputation of being a splendid cook, es-
pecially of Connecticut River shad in its season; the customers were
generally of the better cla-s — prices rather high, and it was the '■'high-
bucks" of the day who mostly resorted there. The house was closed
after ^Er. Shipman's death.
Between 1S.j7-S, Joel T. Green, who married Catharine (daughter
of Wm. L.) Webb, rebuilt the large gambrel-roofed house, then (and
Anc'IKNT .Mii!1!(>I( ami I,(i\v 1!(iY, hi tlio Uev.
Dr. Jliir^h lluusv.
TllK ])()( Kills Al!.\l ClIAIK.
The Doctor's Desk.
FuRNiTiBE IN Rev. Dii. .M.vRSii's HorsE.
By Coiirttsij of Miss: E. K. D>in<i.
OLD HOUSES .AND OLD TAVERNS. 733
earlier) kiiowu <is the "William Griswold place, -where ]\Ir. Blinu now
resides, and opened it as the Rocky Hill Hotel, kept it four or five years
and Sold out to Lyman Dickinson, who died soon, and for a short time
it was kept by James Flower; then by a Mr. Thorp, then by Geo. W.
Ryei', who after some twelve or tifteen years closed it and bought the
Geo. R. Chamber's house opposite the Xorth School House, where he,
for many years, kept the Hotel de Ihjei:
In Griswoldville, down to within some 'AO years ago, there stood an
old Griswold dwelling, of a very fine type, a picture of which we give
here, from a drawing made by the late Samuel Eroadbent, Jr. For
this engraving we are indebted to the late Commander Eilward Hooker,
U. S. X. (retired), of Brooklyn, X. Y., who like Mr. Eroadbent and
Judge Adams was a descendant of this Griswold family. Of this dwell-
ing, demolislicd in lS7o, Judge Adams says: "The h.iud on which the
house stood is supposed to have been that sold by Capt. Robert Welles
(grandson of Gov. Tlios. Welles, to Jacob Griswold (son of ^Michael,
the Settler), in Jiuie, ITO-'J. It is believed that he built the house about
1712. But the Town of ^\'etherslield, in lUTi, had given the said
Michael, Ki acres of land "at Two-Stone Brook" (now Griswoldville) ;
which, l;y hie •vill, dated September 22, IfiS-t, lie gave to his son the said
Jacob. The latter died in 17GG, giving his "home lot" to his sous Josiah
and Ephraim. Wiether it was Josiah or Ephraim who occupied the
house, is not certainly known ; but it seems to have been built by their
father Jacob ; and its ownership and occupancy descended to Ozias
Griswold, son of the said Josiah. The latter, in 172S, bought from
his brother Lieut. Ebenezer, a tract of 21^ acres, with the "new dwell-
ing house thereon." This, I suppose to have been the "Maj. Josiah
Griswold honso" (later the Broadbent house), demolished in 1875.
Lieut. Ebenezer was born in 1702, and liis house was by all indications,
built l>y Jacob Griswold, his father, and given to him. Jacob's will
indicates this.
"This house descended to Thomas Griswold, son of the said Ozias,
from the said Thomas to his son Franklin W. Griswold, whose heirs
now own the hind on which it stood. So that, the house was always in
the Griswold familv, and the land was originally either that of Michael
(the first individual owner thereof) or of his son Jacob, as early as
170."), and the first settler at "Two-Stone." So wrote Judge Adams'
mother, who was a daughter of this Thomas Griswold and born and
rcai'ed in this house. .
[But, by far the most conspicuous of Kocky Hill's old houses, was
the RoiJBixs House, built, in 17G7, by Esquire John Eobbins, the
734 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETflERSFIELD.
wealtliic'st and niosf influential man of his family, and of Stepney par-
isli. Built of brick, two stories and an attio in height, with three chim-
neys, and with sidid foundations of dressed stone, and with a kitchen
■wing; it has a gamlind ronf, M'itii dormer windcAvs, and a circular \\iu-
dow in each gahle aliuve the attic windows — and, altogether, in style,
material ami construction was, in its day, esteemed as about the finest
house in the Cdlony, as it is to-day, one of the best pres(n'ved. Tt was,
at one time, used as a tavern; ami tiie family of Mr. Walter Rolibins,
its present occupants, still preserve Esquire iLoiibins' old tavern sign,
bearing a painting supposed to represent the Duke of Cambridge on
horseback. Tliis old sign, weather-worn and scarred by the alternating
rains and sunshine of many years, is perforated by several bullet holes
— which, as we have no record of any British invasion of this region,
may be supposed to be the result of some jollification i>f loyal American
youth- — perhajis at one of tlie earlier Fourth ,of Ji ly celebrations of
the young llepuidic. The engraving of this house whi.'h we here present
as a frontisi)iece to this volume, is furiii>he(l by the courtesy of ilr.
Piiii.EMOX W. TfoiuiiNs of Hartford.
The style of furniture contained in some of these old Wethersfield
houaca, is illustrated liy the jjictures herewiiu given of an ancient
Boardntait chcaf, and (JuodrirJi jirrss, furnislied us by courtesy of ilr.
Wm. F. J. Boardman of Hartford ; and by the engravings of the Bev.
Joiix ^r.vRsii fiiniifurr. contributed by !Miss Ei.izauetii E. Dana,
of Cambridge, ^lass., and her cousin ]^Iiss Sisax E. D.vg<;ett, of Xew
Haven, Ct.— //. /?. .s'.]
The Old Ei.ji. — In ap])ropriate connection with the subject
of the Old Houses of Wethersfield, we present the following
measurements (taken in 1SS:3) of the Ot,i> Wetiieksi-ield Elm, a
landmark dear to the heart of every native of the ancient town. This
noble tree, supposed to be the largesL, and jierhaps the oldest of its
kind, in the state, stands on the east side of Broad Street Green, in
front of the home-lot owned, in 1040, by Samuel Boardman, the Set-
tler; and overshadows the residence of the late James Smith.
Its supposed age is 18.5 years.
Its circumference, at 3!> inches from the ground (line resting on ridges)
is 22 feet, 5 inches.
Its circumference, at same height from tlic ground (but with the line
following the depressions of the trunk), is 26 feet, .3 inches.
Its circumfei'ence, where it enters the ground, is 55 feet, 6 inches.
?*>:
"V-
THE GREAT ELM IN FOLIAGE.
THE GREAT ELM TREE IN WETHERSFIIC LD,
ON THE EAST SIDE OF IIROAD STREET, AXD IN KKONT OK THE IIOME-LoT OW.NK.L. IN ,r,^6 BY
SAMUEL liOREMAN, THE KIRST liOARliMAN SETll.ER.
THE OLD ELM. 735
Tlierc are G large branclio? — rlie highest starting from the trunk, at
about 10 feet fruni the grouml.
Circumference of the south liraueh, IG feet, S inches.
Circiunference of tiie east hranch, 11 fvct, G inches.
Circumference of the Xorth branch, 11 feet. .
Circumference of the northwest branch, 10 feet, 3 inches.
Circumference of the west l^'anch, 8 feet, 7 inches.
Diameter spread of branches, nortli and south, 150 feet.
Diameter spread of liranches, east and west, lo2 feet.
Circinnference spread of branches, 4:29 feet.
Total height, about 1:20 feet.
At 2.5 feet from "round there are 12 large branches.
CHAPTErt XVIII.
2'Jte West Farms, or Dicislon. of Wcilicrsfield, Prior to 170S — Tlic
West (or Second) Societij. HOS-ll l-> — Xca-iiigton Parish, 1121
— Xewington Township, 1S71.
By Rogee Welles, Esq.
NAME. — Xewingion is first so called in the record of its animal
Sucioty mectinff lield Dec. 15, 171S. In the record of the
Society meeting held Dee. 2. ITlT, it was called the "West Society of
Wethersfield", and in the records of the meetings held April 5, and ^lay
15, ITlfi, it is denominated "The Westwardmost Society in "Wethers-
field." In the charter of the parish granted by the General Court in
May, iTlo, it is called the "West Division" of lands in Wethersfield.
In the Act passed in Octolier. 1715, annexing Stanley Quarter to Xew-
ington, it is called "Wethersfield West Society". It was legally
christened Xkwixotox ^lay 2a. 1721, by the General Court. The word
"Xew-ing-ton" is made up of three old English "vvords, — '"Xew", "ing",
(meaning ^Meadow), and "Ton", (meaning Town), and is equivalent to
"Xew-!Meadov.--Town", or "The-new-To^\ii-in-the-^Ieadow". This was
an appropriate ajipellation for the new parish, as it was well watered by
two streams, — "Piper's Brook", sontetimes called "IMill Brook", and
"Woods River", the hitter, the main stream running from Xew Britain,
and perhaps so called from the continuous woods fringing its banks.
It is now also called by the name of its tributary'. These streams form
two valleys, running north and south, west of Cedar Mountain, with
meadows and intervening hills, giving variety and beauty to the
landscape, fertile fields for the fanner, and mill-privileges to the manu-
facturer. There is no record extant v:hij Xewington was so called
Dec. 15, 171S, by Josiali Willard. the Society Clerk, when he made up
his record of the Society meeting held at that date. Xo vote of the
Society to that effect is recorded. There was one other Xewington only
in this country at that date. Bloody Point, Xew Hampshire, was named
Xewington !May 12, 1714, by Gov. Joseph Dudley. There were several
Xewingtons in England, however, and very likely some immigrant
from one of them suggested the old home name for the nameless parish.
It is said that in some deeds about that time it is called "Eemington".
If so, it is a matter of history that ^Ir. Jonathan Remington was the
_
"^'—"-'"^
/^^ '
r
' -.V <!»"
':
1
:
— '■
'
' S " "
:
i /K
.
.i
:
1
'
t
i
.!
1
• -J
L_ ij-j^u-i. , .--. ;■—■ ^^^^,.-_o«_^
Ot^^^oK^^hiM^
THE NAME OF THE TOWN. 737
tutor, at Harvard College, of Elislia Williams during the years 170S-
1711, and that the latter always retained great affection and esteem for
him. It is frequently called "Cowplain" in deeds of about that date,
doubtless because used as a pasture. There must have been a "plain",
destitute of forest, in the present center of the town, for the words
"Cowplain" and "Plain" west of the mountain, are of frequent occur-
rence, in deeds, wills and distributions at that time. Dr. Joab Brace, in
his half -century discourse, intimates that it was named "out of regard to
the place of Dr. AVatt's residence, near London." There is a ISTewing-
ton on the south side of the river Thames, in the County of Surrey,
which is a suburb of London ; and there is a "Stoke Newington," on the
north side of the Thames, ■which was once a suburb but now is a part
of London, and which was for some years the residence of Dr. "Watts.
As the Society was not named "Stoke Xewington", it may be doubted
whether regard for him was a factor of any induence in designating a
locality so distant from his residence, and at tliat period in his life. As
Ens. Richard Boardman, a prominent member of the Society at that
time, was of a family which came from Xewington, near Banbury, in
Oxford Cotmty, England ; that fact may furnish a possible solution of
the question. But, whatever its origin, the name Xewingtcn is pleasant
to the ear, and dear to the heart of its sons and daughters. The township
lies between the two cities of Hartford and Xew Britain, and is traversed
by a railroad with cars operated both by steam and electricity; and also
by a trolley line rimning through its center between the two cities; and
furthermore by the Xew York, Xew TTaven and Hartford Eailroad ; all
of which afford unustial facility of ingress and egress.
Land Grants. — Land was plenty and cheap in the days of settlement
in the Connecticut valley, and both the General Court and the towns
were in the habit of making donations of land with a pretty free hand,
until finally "lands undisposed of" no longer existed.
The Beckley Grant. — The first grant of land within the limits of
Xewington, as afterwards established, was made by the General Court,
October 8, 1668, to Scrg't. Eiciiard Eicckley, as follows: —
"This Court grants Sarj't. Eichd. Beckley, Three Hundred Acres of
land lying by i[attabesset Eiver, half a mile wide of both sides the Eiver,
and to run up from Xew Haven path so far till it doth contain three
hundred acres. Sarg't. John Xott, and Sarg't. Hugh Wells are desired
to lay out the land." (2 Conn. Col. Eec. 100.) Both Xott and Wells,
as well as Beckley, were freemen as well as selectmen of the town of
Wethersfield, according to the official returns made in October, 1669,
from which it appears that there were then only fifty-eight freemen in
738
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKsriELD.
the town. At a town meeting held Feb. 2, 1C70-1, "Mr. Bcckley bad
20 acres of land granted unto biin on the Xortb side of bis bind formerly
granted unto bim, at Divident."
At a town meeting bcdd Feb. 23, 1070--, "It was voted and agreed, that
Serg't. TJicbard Ceckley should peacably enjoy bis three hundred acres
of land granted bim by the Court, with an addition of ten acres nigh bis
house: and the said Serg't. Beckly doth by these presents give up bis
right in tlic Mile-in-Breadth granted to the householders (16GS — See
Chapt. II.) ; and if any of his aforesaid three hundred acres fall within
the foresaid mile, granted to the householders, he the said Richard
Beckley doth by these (presents) engage to give up bis right therein to
the town, and to take so much of the town land elsewhere, near bis house.
The committee chosen to divide the !Mile aforesaid, viz: 'Sh: Chester,
Serg. Xott, Sam'l. Boreman, John Riley, Serg. Hugh Wells, are era-
powered by the town to lay otit the said land to the said Sergt. Beckley,
as aforesaid."
This grant is entered in the third volume of WelJi. L. liec's. p. 104,
under date of Feb'y. 25, 16S0, as follows, "Lands belonging unto Sergt.
RicTiqrd Beckly and unto his heirs and asiigiis forever, lying in
Wethersfield upon Connecticut River, Avliicb he obtained by purchase of
Turramuggiis, Indian, with the consent of the Court and Town of
Wethersfield, with an addition of ten acres at the South end of the
said purchase and grant, the whole containing three hundred acres and
ten be it more or less, whereon his housing and barn standeth. It is
bounded on land not laid out, or not granted, Sotith, East and Xorth. and
a highway between the West Lots and the aforesaid land West." This
tract contained moi"e acres rather than less. Tr.rrarauggus was the
successor of Sowbeag as the sachem of the Wongtink Indians who lived
at the "bend" of the [Mattabosett (Great Brook). This grant was located
at the home of these Indians, and some miles from that part of
Wethersfield inhabited by the first settlers. It is probable that this
propinquity of residence was to the disadvantage of both Whites and
Indians.
In December, 16G9, Serg't. Beckley instituted a prosecution against
two Indians for stealing front bim at his farm at the !N[attabesett River,
which shows that he had a house and cellar there at that time. The
case was tried before the Court of Assistants, (Bpc. Particnlar Court
III, p. 94), Dec. 24, 1CG9.
Beckly "complained of Suggusba and Wawwott for pilfering and
stealing from him a small kettle and a pair of compasses, a gimlet, a
MISCHIEVOUS INDIANS.
739
heading chisel and alj<:ait six gallons of cider, from him at the farm at
Mattabcsctt Eiver.
"The said Indians, being examined, confessed tlnit they were at the
said Beckly's cellar npon the Sabbath Day last was a fortnight, and
stole six quarts of cider and a gimlet, but not the compasses, nor chisel,
nor kettle.
■'Phillij) Goffe complained of Snggusha and Wa'u-vvott for pilfering
and stealing from him a pail and about a barrel of eider, and some apples
and about two pounds of tobacco. The said Indians, being examined,
confessed they did steal away a pail, and a pail full of cider, and a peck
of cider-apples, from liini, the said Goffe, and some apples, and about
two pounds of tobacco.
"There hath been time spent in looking after these Indians, the con-
stable and five men two days and twelve days, and the constable and two
men two days more, — all is eighteen days. The Court, having con-
sidered tlic premises, do adjudge Suggusha and \Yawwott to pay to
Eichd. TBeckly three pounds, thirteen shillings and sixpence. And to
Phillip Goffe two jiounds, twelve shillings, sixpence. And to the con-
stable of Wethersfielil, for the charge in seekino; them up, two pounds,
eight shillings, which is to himself. And to those five that went with
him into the woods, tlirce shillings per day, and to the rest two shillings
per day.
"And for their offense herein to the Country, they are to be severely
corrected, forthwith, by whipping upon the naked body. And when
they have paid their fees, and discharged the above said sums, they are to
be released from their imprisonment."
The Court apparently exercised both civil and criminal jurisdiction
in the same case, giving judgxaent against the Indians to pay the com-
plainants their damages, as in a civil action ; and imposing the penalty of
whipping for the offense to the Country, as in a criminal case.
The fact that the offense was committed on the Sabbath, no doubt
added greatly, in the minds of the members of the Court, to the sin-
fulness of tlie theft. The cider was the chief attraction which tempted
these Indians in both cases probably ; but the fact that this temptation
was brought to their very doors by the white men, was apparently over-
looked by the Court. Cider was unknown to the Indians until intro-
duced by the white settlers.
Richard Beckley was chosen one of tlie constables of Wethersfield at
a town meeting held February IS, ir)()2-3, and was sworn in as such
before the Particular Court at Hartford, March 5, 1GG2-3. It is
probable that he came to Wethersfield some time between 1659 and 16G2,
740 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
as the records of the Xew Haven Colony show that he was a resident
there from 1630 to 1059, and a prominent member of ^h: Davenport's
church. lie was appointed Sergeant by the General Court of the Xew
Haven Colony ^lay 22, 164S. He was often a juror in the Particular
Court. He died Aug. 5, 1600. His land is now in Beckley Quartei-, in
the town of Berlin, having been annexed to the Great Swamp Society
in Farmington in Oct., 1715, and incorporated as a part of Berlin in
May, 17S5.
Philip Goffe probably lived also in that neighborhood. He was one
of the householders who drew lots, Peb. 23, 1670-1, in the '']\Iile-in-
breadth", his lot, Xo. 00, being separated from Becklcy's grant l\v a
highway. In 1660 he v/as one of the freemen of Wethersflcld. Serg't.
Beckley was probably the first settler in Xewington.
The Mile-in-Breadth. — At a tovm meeting held Feb'y 2, 1670-1, it
was voted: — "That the land next Farmington hounds, one mile in
breadth, — that is to say, East and 'West, shall be divided to all the
inhabitants, — that is to say, to householders that live on the West side
of Connecticut River in the bounds of Wethersficld, to every man an
equal proportion,— that is to say, to one man as r.iany as to anothe.,
to be to them and their heirs forever.'' — (JiVcth. Town Votes, I, 50.)
Thus the ownership of land was recognized by our fathers as the basis
of human prosperity, and the '"household," or family, as the grand unit
in its equal distribution. This tract of land was divided upon the
strictly communal principle that each household was entitled to an
equal proportion in the land that belonged to all in common. There
must have been 76 households in the town at that time, for the tract
■was divided by lot into 76 shares or ''lots." Each lot was 26 rods wide
and contained 52 acres. At a town meeting, held February 23, 1670-1,
(W. T. v., I, 112), it was voted that no one should sell his lot to any
one but an inhabitant of the town, and that the division should begin
at the north end. They then drew lots, which fell as follows, to-wit :
Sec. 4.
THE MILE-IN-BREADTH.
Lot Owners.
741
Hartford.
Lots one mile long, 20 rods
wide.
1. John Clicny.
Half Mile Common.
2. Mrs. Holister.
3. Josepli Smith.
Rev. John Woodbridge's
4. John Coltman.
Grant.
5. Mr. Kimberly.
f^
200 Acres.
6. Jonat. Smith.
Voted April 26, IGSfi.
7. Goodwife Stodder.
*"
Laid out March 24, 1727.
8. Mrs. AVeels. (Wells)
9. Thomas Hurlburt.
■B
i§
Highway 10 Rods Wide.
10. Isaac Stiles.
t4
11. Thomas Kircum.
12. Mr. Willard.
-5
Half Mile Common
13. Mr. Bulkly.
.01
5
or
14. Willi :Mori3.
The Furlong.
15. Mr. Blackleach.
IC. John Curtis.
17. Dan. Rose.
18. Josi. Churchill.
19. Ensign Goodrich.
20. Hen. Buck.
Highway 4 Rods wide.
The Mile-in-Breadth.
21. Nat. Graves.
22. John Riley, Sen.
23. Tho. Williams.
24. Amos Williams.
Meeting House
Sawrtnll Lots, 110 acres.
John <£- Joseph Riley, J/O acres.
25. Isaac Boreman.
26. Tho. Curtis.
Emanuel Buck, 50 Acres.
27. Hugh Weels. (We
28. Joseph Wright.
29. ^Ir. John Chester.
lis)
63 rods long, 54 rods wide,
Sam'l. Boreman, 20 acres.
30. Sam. Boreman.
31. Jacob Johnson.
Half Mile Common.
32. Sam. Butteler.
0
33. Anthony Wright.
34. Thomas Holister.
*?
5
35. John Saddeler.
36. Josi. Gilbert.
37. Micaell Griswold.
(John)
38. Sarg. Beets.
Highway 8 rods wide,
with end gates.
39. John Goodrich.
40. Mr. Martin.
742
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
41. Len. Di^c.
42. Mrs. ],atimoi-.
43. Will. Sayler.
44. Siges. Rielials.
45. Sam. Wiiylit.
46. Capt. Atwood.
47. Joiin Dcniing, Sen.
48. Mr. .Tames Treat.
49. .John Belding.
^
50. Sam. Hurlbut.
5'
51. Eman. Buck.
"S-.
52. John Bcckly.
53. Ale.xander Keny.
54. Goodwife W akely.
55. Edward Benton.
56. Rob't. Francis.
Half Mile Common.
57. Tho. Couch.
58. John Edwards.
5U. Sam. Haile, Sen.
Higliway.
(^ -jj
60. Philip Goafo.
7 g
ei. Nat. li.itt..||.r.
.62. Nat. 3o..uu..
2 °
"i
63. Mr. Talkutt.
§5
03 "&
^
64. Willi. Warnor.
fc g
-^
65. Tho. Wickum.
cS U
3,
66. Capt. Weels. (Welles)
o
Serg"t. Richard Beckleys
67. Jonat. Doming.
o
Grant.
68. John Bromson.
1 -
ji
-g
310 acres.
69. Serg. Kilburn.
70. Serg. Doming.
5 1^I
I
Granted by the General Court.
Oct. 8, 1G08.
71. John Haile.
e
Confirmed by "the Towti.
72. Tho. Wright.
Feb'y. 2.3* 1070/1.
73. Tho. Standish.
w -=
li
Half a Mile Wide.
74. Serg. Nott.
■-^ 9
<
Annexed, Oct., ITl.).
75. John Robins.
o
to
76. Benj. Crane.
"
The Great Swamp Society. .
(Land not divided.)
X s
One Mile Wide.
< 2
Half a Mile Wide.
[The following rcmavl:s are added from the Maiuiscript of Judge
AnA^is.— 11. R. S.'\
"In addition to the seventy-six "Ilonscholders" living west of Conn.
River, in AVetliorstield, and named in the foregoing list — one more,
Serg. Richard Eeckley, the pioneer of 'Becivley Quarter,' (who had
THE MILE-IN-BREADTH. 743
been already provided for) should be added ; making seventy-seven, in
all. In 1G72, the following-named persons were treated as West-of-the-
River householders, and. (as there were no more of the 52-acre lots
remaining) were each given 60 acres of land at "Xayaug," South Glas-
tonbury :
Mr. Richard Treat Son of Ricliard, the Settler.
Mr. John Hollister S-ai of .John, the Settler, deceased.
Richard Smith Sou of Richard, the Settler( '{).
Thomas Edwards Son of John. Settler.
JohnWadhams The Settler; had a son John.
Sam. Hale, Jun. Removed to Glastonbury.
Caleb Benjamin Removed to South Glastonbury.
Thomas Loveland Son of 'Widow Lovenam' Wethersfield, 1C49( ?)•
"Of these, ^^Ir. Treat had never lived cast of the River, although
he had a 'farm' at Xayaug. Wadhams was never a resident east of
the River; having several homesteads in Wethersfield village, from 1654
to 1C76, the date of his last purchase there. Richard Smith was living
east of the Riv^r; either nu land given to him by James Boswell, in
IGGO, or on land liought "f .lames Wriglit (originally .John Re\-nolds')
in 1664. Lieut. John Hollister was. and had been for some years —
living upon his homestead, at Xayaug. Thomas Edwards had been
living, since about 1648, at Ilockauum, cast of the River: originally
as a tenant of Samuel Wylly<. Sam. Hale. Jun., had been given 5S
acres of land, in 1670, (by his father-in-law, Thomas Edwards) at
'Beaver Holes,' in 'Xabocke,' near Salmon Brook; and therefore was
probably living east of the River. Caleb Benjamin and Thomas Love-
land were, almost certainly, livinir east of the River; although Chapin
says that Benjamin never lived on that side.
"It thus seems that the T^wn su far relented, ;.s to the strict limita-
tions of tlie vote making the alji.itment, as to permit, prol)ably all
householders, whether on the east or west side of the River, to share
in the same. So that, of the eight names added in 1672, but two
(Richard Treat and Jolni Wadhams) are to be included in the West-
of-thc-River householders : nuiking seventy-nine in all (counting Rich-
ard Beckley as one), as the nttmber of householders living Avesi of
the River in 1671. Six more, at least, were living on the east side;
and one, James Wright, lived on the 'Island.' He was allowed, as
late as 1713, to be classed as a west-side householder of 1671.
"In copying the foregidng list, I have not followed the order in
which the names were drawn, by lot, and set down in the original.
744
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
The first name drawn, was that of Thomas Kirciim [Kirkliam], whose
number was eleven. The next, was Tlio. Wickum [Wickham] ; and
so on. Also, I have not, in m;jking the nviinerical arrangement, in
all instances followed the spelling of the original. And I have snpplied
the full name, in cases where only the surname was given.
"In the survey and perambulation of April, 1707, the west line of
Wethersfiold was found to be six miles and ninety-two rods in length.
The southwestern bound-mark, 'a white oak tree, with a heap of stones
about it,' was 174 rods east of 'Capt. Thomas Hart's new house." The
same tree had been adopted in Dec, 1671 ; and was then stated to be
'about a mile to the south of ]\rattabeset River.' When Berlin was
made a township, in 17S.">, a large section was taken from the south-
west corner of Wethcrsfield. The present (1S92) town hall of Berlin
(originally a meeting house) has its north half on the north side of the
old south line of Wethersfield.
" ']\Iile-in-Breadth,' owing to changes in the names of localities in
its vicinity, is now bounded: northerly, by West Hartford; easterly,
by other lands in Xowington, in part, and partly by Beekley Quarter,
in Berlin; southerly, by Bcckley Quarter, and other land in Berlin;
westerly, l-y Berlin, :N"e\v Britain and Farmington. It includes lauds
formerly in Stanley Quarter, Great Swamp and Kensington parishes;
as well as Xewington parish, in part. And it is traversed by Pipers'
River, besides being closely bordered by the Mattebcset, at its southern
extremity.
"It is not probable that any white person occupied any portion of
the Mile-in-Breadth, until quite a number of years later than 1G71.
And it is not known that any of the distributees of that year ever
occupied {i. e., lived upon) any part of it. Xearly every one was in
possession of a homestead in Wethersfield proper; whilst a very few
were living on the east side of the River, or in the Rocky Hill section
of the township.
"The earliest settlers in the 'West Division' (now Xewington),
did not settle upon the Mile-in-Breadth. With the exception of Serg.
Richard Beekley, and his three sons, part of whose domain may have
extended a little into Mile-in-Breadth, they occupied lots near the
sawmill, in Pipe-stave Swamp; the latter being within the limits of
Cow Plain, or the Half-ilile Common. In fact, the tier of lots between
Cow Plain and Cedar mountain (laid out in 1G94), was settled upon
before the Mile-in-Breadth was; with the exception of the Becklev
section, and, possibly, John Slead (or Slade), who boiight the Jona-
than Riley lot, in Mile-in-Breadth, in IGSl. The Andruses (or An-
HIGHWAYS IN JIILr-IN-BREADTH, 745
drews) and IIunxs, pioneer settlers, did not settle upon 3rilc-in-
Breadth, but in Cow Plain.
"The distribution of 1071 was undoubtedly illegal. Even if the
Town (instead of the 'Proprietors') had the right to make any dis-
tribution, it had not the right to limit the sharers to -householders,'
whether dwelling on the west, or the east side, of the Kiver. Xor was
one person entitled to receive just the same number of acres as everv
other person. The distribution should have been among the representa-
tives of the original Proprietors (purchasers) of the whole plantations.
in proportion to their respective rights and interests therein "—5
W. ^.]
Highway in the Mile-in-Breadth. — At the same Town-meet ins. Feb.
23, 1G70-1, at which these lots wore divided, it was voted that a high-
way should be made across the middle of the :Mile-in-Breadth from
east to west, eight rods wide, "with sufficient gates at each end." —
(1 Weth. Town Votes, 90.)
On Xov. 10, 1716, by vote of the town, highways were laid out in that
division as follows : Beginning at the southwest corner of the division
next ]\liddlctown, thence running east about half a mile, thence north-
wardly to the north side of Samuel Benton's lot, ten rods wide : thence
east across the division to the Commons, five rods wide, taken out of the
north side of his lot ; thence from this cross road north to the north side
of Sergt. Beckley's farm, four rods wide ; thence north throngh the mid-
dle of the fifty-acre lots, ten rods wide, to the north side of James
Francis' lot (called "Ten-Ptod" highway to this day) ; thence west to the
Farmington line, and east to the Commons, four rods wide, across the
division, two rods being taken from the north side of said Francis'
lot, and two rods from Isaac Buck's lot next adjoining on the north,
and thence from the cast end of said cross road north along the east
fronts of the fifty-acre lots to the Hartford line.^— (1 Town Votes
162 b.)
Sawmill Lots.— At a Town Meeting, held October 25, 1677, (1
Town Votes, 77) :
"There was granted liberty to EMA^-'L Buck, Joiix Puly, Sam'l
BowjiAJf and Joseph Rh.y to build a sawmill with stifficient ponding,
and also twenty acres of land to each of them forever, and to be about
Pipe-stave Swamp; always provided the said parties make no sale of
boards or timber to any other town without the consent of Wethersfield
' The highways here described are next the City of Xew Britain, and an important
part of the town and growing fast.
746
HISTORY OF AN'CIEN'T WETHERSFIELD.
and townsmen ; and to sell boards at homo at five shillings per hnndi-ed,
and slit-work answerable by the rule of proportion; and at the mill
at four shillings per Jiundred, boards and slit-work answei'able ; and at
the end of twelve years the sawmill to cease, if the town see cause,
sawing of any timber that groweth on the Cmnmon ; and the mill to
be up and fit to work at or before the last of September next insning
the date hereof. And Hugh Welles, Sargt, John Xott, Sarg't, John
Darning, and Jose. Edwards are chosen as a committee to lay out the
above mentioned land."'
On March 25, ICSO, the town granted to Emanuel Buck thirty
acres of land more ''next his land at the sawmill, in exchange for half
an acre near his house for a highway." — (I Weth. Town Votes, 83.)
These lands were located together in one section of one hundred and
ten acres. They extended from the south side of the present pound
to the south side of the residence of the late Henry !M. Tlobbins.
In Weth. Land Eccord.^. II, p. 109J, under date of :Mareh 2!), IfiS-i,
is tliis entry :
"Lands belonging unto Sani'l Eorcman, Eman'll Buck, Jc^hn TJily
and Joseph liily, which was granted unto thorn by th<» town, viz. :
Twenty acr^s apiece upon the acooimt that they are to build a sawmill,
and there is also granted to the said Eman'l Buck thirty acres in
consideration of a highway, which the said Buck granted to the town out
of his home lot on the Xorth side, so that Sam'l Boreman hath twenty
acres, Eman'l Buck fifty acres, .fohn Rily hath twenty acres and Joseph
Rily hath twenty acres, which is in all, as it now lyeth together, one
hundred and ten acres ; and is all of it bounded on the sawmill pond
and land left for a highway, between the West Lots and the Furlong,
West, and on the Common South, East and Xorth. Four score acres
of this land was granted by the town in October 25, 1G77, and thirty
acres was granted to Eman'l Buck by the town in consideration of the
aforesaid highway.''
John and Joseph Bily were brothers and located their forty acres
on the north side of this tract, Eman'l Buck's lot adjoined them on
the south, and Sam'l Boreman's lot on the extreme south completed the
tract. According to the terms of the grant the sawmill was "to be
up and fit to work," by Sept. 30, 1G7S. It was the first sawmill in
the Town of Wethersfield. Pipe-stave Swamp "about" which the saw-
mill lots were to be located, was situated east and soiith of the mill
pond, and was so called because pipe-staves had for years been rived
from the oak trees that abounded in the low and swampy groimd in
that vicinity. Pipe-staves were required to be 4 feet, 4 inches long.
REV. MK. WOODBRIDGE'S GRANT. 747
4 inches wide, and lialf an inch at least in thickness, and were in-
spected l)y a town inspectoi'. The staves and heads were put into
bundles or "shooks," and shipped to the West Indies and other foreign
ports, and made into pipes and casks for rum, molasses, sugar, etc.
They were exported till late in the ISth century. The road that led
from "Wethcrsticld to this sawmill was called ■"Sawmill Path." The
men who rived out the ])ipo-stavcs were designated as "Pipers,'' and
the brook on which the sawmill was locatcil was named after them
"Pipers' Brook." This brook runs northerly into West Hartford,
where it empties into Wood Hiver, formerly so called, which has its
source in ITew Britain.
Ecv. Mr. Woodbrldf/e's Grant. — The Hcv. John Woodbridge was
settled at Wethersfield as pastor of the Congregational Church, in
1679. lie died in ICUl. At a Town ifeeting, held December 28, 1G85,
"Mr. Woodbridge had a grant of two hundred acres of land ; and Serg't
Jon. Bobbins, Em'll. Buck, and Bonj. Churchell were appointed a
committee to make search in Wethersfield ci'Uiiu.in lands to find h
convenient place, both for suiting ^Ir. Woodlunili;!;- and where the town
can best spai'e it ; and make return tluu'eof to the town ; that the said
committee upon the approbation of the said town may lay it out for
Mr. Woodbridge." — (I Welli. Town Votes, '.»7, b.) At a Town Meeting
held April 20, 16S6, it was voted that the land lie bounded on the
12 rod highway west, ''and on the Ilai-tford line north, and on the
commons still east and south, and is to be eight score rods wide on
Hartford line, that is east and west, and so far southward as may make
up the said two hundred acres. .And the former committee who were,
appointed to view the said land are now appointed to lay out the said
land according to this vote, and to record the same to the said Jno. Wood-
bridge, and to his heirs and assigns forever."
While the above vote located the grant, the committee failed to lay
it out and record it, as instructed. On December 12, 1720, a new
committee were appointed to discharge this duty, which on March 2-l:th,
1726-7, measured the land IGO rods on the Hartford line east from
the 12 rod highway, and south 210 rods, making 210 acres. The extra
10 rods on the south side being probably intended for a highway.
The Second General Division. — A second general division of lands
in Newington by the town [not the Proprietors] was voted February
23, 1693-4. The division was to be "unto the inhabitants of this town
according to the list of their estates, taken and approved in Court,
October, 1693, "and with the usual provisions i:>f reservation of land
for purposes of highways, watering and feeding places (commons) for
748
HISTORY OF ANX'IENT WETHERSFIELD.
cattle, and with the usual clause of forfeiture of allotuicnt, if the land
should be sold to any non-inhabitant of the town." This division,
"according to the list," was probably adopted because since the first divi-
sion of the "Mile-in-Ereadth," the town had bought of the Indians
the whole territory embraced within its limits, and had paid for the
purchase by a special tax laid on the list of estates ; so that the division
was made upon the same terms as the payment. The General Court had,
at a session held May S, IGDO, granted that so much of the town as
lay east of the Great River should be a town by itself, and on June
22, 1692, had named the new town "Glassenbury." This accounts for
the fact that the whole town were to share in the present division, while
only that part west of the river shared in the division of 1G71. The
two divisions harmonize because the whole town was now west of the
river. At a town meeting held October 15, 1G9-1, a committee was
chosen to view the commons and make the divisions, consisting of ilr.
James Treat, Capt. liobt. Weels (Welles), Lieut. Wm. "Warner, Sergt.
Jno. Welles, John Stadart (Stoddard), Sergt. John Curtis and John
Chester, Jr. At a Town ^Meeting held April 15, 16i)5, the committee
reported in favor of five different tiers of lots. — (I Town Votes, 120.)
The boundaries uf this second division was further confirmed by
action of the Town, at its meetings of 4 ^[arch, 172S, and December
9, 1721).— See ]\eth. Toini Totes, 11, 51-51, 65-G(i. See Appen-
dix VIII.
The Parish of Ncictngton Established. — By the year 170S, the in-
habitants of the West Division had so increased that they petitioned
the town for distinct parish privileges. And the town, by vote of
20 December, 1708, referred the matter to !Mr. Stephen ]\Iix, Lieut.
James Treat, Capt. Joshua liobbins and John Chester as a committee
to consider and report upon.
At a Town fleeting, held December S, 1700, it was finally voted:
"That the said petitioners, and any that ^.hall inhabit within half a mile
of any of their houses, shall have liberty of assembling separately from
the rest of the town, and jointly and publicly to gather in the worship
of God amongst themselves for four months of the year yearly — that
is to say, December, January, February and ^ilarch, until the lands
about them being more peopled, and themselves and their labors blest
to such a sufficiency as that they shall be able conafortably, and without
distraction, decently and honorably to set up and maintain the ministry
.and ordinances amongst themselves; and that tliey shall be released from
one-third part of the charge that shall yearly arise for the maintaining
the ministry in the town where it now is."
PARISH OF NEWISGTON ESTABLISHED. 749
This arrangement sccnis not to have been entirely satisfactory for at
the expiration of two years the following petition was presented to
a Town fleeting, held December 24, 1712, in these words: '"The
good Providence of God liaving cast onr lot here in this place; and
we being willing for ourselves and of ours to iev\'e the Lord God of our
fathers, and finding it very difficult in the best season of the year,
with our families, to att'^nd tlie public worship of God at Wethersneld,
and at many seasons very ditHcult; and being increased to such a
number at present that xvc may in a tcjlcraljle manner be capable to main-
tain a minister amongst us, with the ordinances of the Gospel, do
earnestly entreat of the said toA\-n that they would compassionate us
under our difficulties (so far as to grant), that we may be a distinct
parish for the carrying on the worship of God amongst us. And that
the town would please to set out our parish bounds as may include the
West Divisions of lands in AVethersfield. That all persons inhabiting
within the said bounds, with the lands that are therein improved, may
be obliged to pay their proportion to all charges for the setting up
and maintaining the worship of God amongst us. And herein you,
the said to^^^l, wotild be pleased to gratify our desire and oblige our
pei'sons to thankfulness to you. This is the earnest desire of us the
subscribers and proprietors as above."'
"Ezekil Euck,^ Xathaniel Churchel," Abraham Woren,^ .Jonarhan
Buck,^ Richard Doardman, Enoch Euck,'^ Ephraim Whaples. -John
^liaples, Joseph Andrus," Ei)hraim Andrus," Simon Willard,* Benja-
min Andrus,' John Stoddard,'" Joseph Camp," John Camp,^- Samuel
Hun,'3 Xathaniel Ilun,'* Eliphilit AMiittlese.^'^ Jonathan Wright,^^
'Son of Ezekiel and gd-s. of Emanuel Buck, thf Settler; rem. to Litchfield, where
he was a first settler; thence to Durham.
^ Son of Joseph, gd-s. of Josiah C'liurchill, the Settler.
'Woren (Warren), perhaps s. of Wm. of Hartford.
' Son of Emanuel and Sarah Buck.
•Prol). s. of Enoch Buck, the Settler.
'Son of John Andrus, of Far.: he also bo't in 1GS4. Lot 94 (16 acr.) of John
and Joseph Riley; also, KiOo. Lot 95 (12 acr.), of Jona. Deming.
• Son of above Joseph Andrus, leased land, 1711, to .Justus Francis, for 999 yrs.
'Son of Josiah Willard, the Settler; and schoolmaster at Wethersfield.
" Son of Joseph Andrus, of Xewington.
■" Son of John Stoddard, the Settler.
" Son of John Camp, of Hartford.
''Son of John Camp of Hartford; his dau. Hannah m. Amasa Adams.
"Son of George Hun(?). Bo't Lot No. 91, orig. Lazarus Hollister's.
" Son of George Hun ( ? ) .
" Son of John, of Snybrook.
"Son of Joseph ( ?), who had Lot 28 in Mile-in-Breadth and Lot 56 in div. of 1694.
75*-* HISTORY OF ANCIKNT WETHKRSFIELD.
Steven Buck,'' Jolm Kelcv,'* Steven Kelcv,"' Daniel Amlinis.-" Ji>na-.
than Iliirllnu,-' Jonatliau Jjuck,-- Thomas 3[olton,-^ Richard lieckiy.^*
John Deniiny-,-"' Ephraini Deniing,-" Jabez \\liittlese,-' Benjamin
Becklj.-'^"' This petition was granted at a meeting, December 24th,
171L'.
"And it was also by vote agreed and consented to. That the afore-
said petitioners shoidd be discharged from jiaving tlieir part of their
minister's rate to the Town of Wetherstield, when once they have at-
tained to those abilities that they can maintain the worship of God
among themselves.
"It was at the same meeting voted and agreed that Capt. Joshua
Rohbins, Lient. Benjamin Cluircliel. ^Mr. Stillman. Xathaniel Stodder
and Jacob Griswold, Sen., shall be a committee to look out a convenient
place on the conunons between the two last divisions, whereon the
West Farmers shall erect their meeting-house for the carrying on the
worship of God amongst them. And to make return thereof to the next
town meeting."
This vote plainly iuijiorted a grant of the site that should be selected
by the committee and actually appropriated. The Towns of the State
had the power, "delegated by the sujireme legislative })Ower of the
State from its earliest organization," to nuike such grants of land.
At a Town fleeting held March 23, 1712-13, they reported their
choice of a site, a "])ieee of cleared land adjacent to the house of Joseph
Hurlbut and John Griswold, westerly, about the middle of said land,
on the west side, of a small black oak tree."
This site, thotigh accepted by the meeting, was never actually ap-
propriated, so that the grant never took effect.
" Perhaps son of Henry Buck, the Settler.
"Son of Steplien Kelcy, of Hartford (?) .
" Son of Steplien Kelcy, of Hartford.
""Son of Daniel Andrus of Far.; res. at lower end of West Division, at place later
Philo Wcbsuer's.
"Son of .Joseph and gd-s. of Thomas Hurlbut, the Settler (?).
° Son of Samuel and Sarah Hurlbut.
" (llorton) bo't homestead at Rocky Hill, 1712; m. Comfort, wid. of Xath'l
Beckly and dau. of Jona. Deming.
"Son of S.:?t. Richard Boekly, the Settler.
° Son of Ebenezer, pd-s. of .Jolin Doming, the Settler.
" Son of Elicnczcr Deming, Sen.
"Son of John \Vittlese_v, of Saybrook.
" Son of Sgt. Rich Beckly, the Settler. Notes by S. W. 4.]
WEST LAND DIVISIONS IN NEWINGTON.
751
Hartford
North Town Line.
Mile-in-Breadth.
Feb. 33, IU7U-71.
76 Lots of 52 acres
each.
One mile long,
20 rods ivide.
Rev. .lohn
\V,.odlirises
Grant.
21U Ai-res
Dec. 2s ii;-.5.
Third Tier. (, Short Lots. )
Feb. a), 1093-4. Lots T'.t-iT.
Fourth
Tier.
(East Tier)
Feb. 2i, IB»4
Lots «8-126.
1
5
Mountain
Tier.
I752.
3
c
Town Line.
i
Highway
Half.Mile
Common.
Tlie Springs
Hi^'hw
ay 4 rods wide.
Famiington
1713.
i
i
3
i
5
1 1
.1 <
M
clmrcli
rt
Sawmill
Lots
110 Acres
1077.
c
1'° iTi
Highway.
0
S
3
r
Middle Iliirlmay, H rods
wide.
Parsonfipe
Lots.
50 Acres.
Dec. 7, 171.1
Half-mile
Common.
Annexed to Society
of
Worthington.
May 2->, 1794.
Town Line.
Highway.
Annexed to
WortliinRton
May ;2, 1754.
Town Line
3
Town Line.
l.*43.
Annexed to Rocky Hill.
Filth Tier.
Feb. 23, 17y:i-».
Lots 127-165.
Highway.
Highway, 10 rods wide.
17 Lots.
Annexed to the
Great Swamp Society
Oct. 1715.
Annexed to Berlin.
May, 1785.
Sergt Ric'..d
Beckley'a
31U Acres.
Oct. K, lti68.
Annexed to
Great Swamp
Beckley
School Dist.
Oct., 1757.
1,S43.
Annexed to Rocky lliti.
Second Tier.
Feh. 23. 17'.i:i-4.
Lot.-" :',9-7!^.
Highway, ao rods wide.
So
Oct
and
ot
May
lety.
171.').
Serlin
, 17.«5.
Annexed to
Washington
Society.
May 22, 1794.
1W3.
Annexed to Rocky Ilill,
First Tier.
Feb 28. 179:i-l.
Lots 1-38.
Jliddletown, 1713.
Rough Outline of The West Divisions of Land in Ncwington.
75 2 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
This black oak tree probably stood a little north of -where the par-
sonage lot was afterwards located, which site was sonth of the residence
of the late Henry !M. llobbins, on the hill, after^\'ards granted to the
Eev. Simon Backus, for his house lot.^ This site was afterwards aban-
doned when Bcckley Quarter was annexed to the Great Swainp Society,
and the site north of Joseph Andrus was substituted in place of it,
Stanley Quarter having made this change of site one of the conditions
of its annexation.
. The gi-ant of the town had to he eontlrmed liy the General Assembly
to enable the new Parish to become a corporate body, with power to
lay and levy taxes within their limits, as they had to build a meeting
house and settle a minister. At the next session of the Assembly
in May, 1713, a jjctition was presented to that liody by Jabez Whittle-
sey and John Doming, as a committee, in the name and behalf of
the West proprietors, praying that they might be "such a distinct
society for the end aforesaid."' It Avas opposed by certain house-
holders in Ijcckley Quarter, who presented to the General iVssembly
a written declaration, date ilay 15, 1713, signed by Benjamin Beckly,
and others, all of whom had signed the petition to the Town of Weth-
ersfield for the foimation of the '"West DivisioTis" into a new parish.
Then followed a Bcckley Argiuncnt and Itemonstrance, together with
a Counter-Argument from their .)pponents, all interesting, as an exhibi-
tion of human nature, but too long for our pages.
These documents show that the contest was real and persistent, but
the Beckleys lost their case. The General Court granted the petition for
a new Society, and granted an act of incorporation. (Col. Rec, III,
374) which, however, did not locate the site of the meeting house. This
silence means, perhaps, that the location made by the town should stand
open for future determination.
Grant of Parsonage Land. — At the next town meeting after the
incorporation of the new society, held Dec. 7, 1713, the West inliab-
itants presented a petition for a grant of parsonage land.
The town responded to this appeal by appointing Capt. Eobins, Lieut.
Chnrchel, Lieut. Belding, and Joshua Eobins, 2d, a committee to
laj out fifty acres of land at the West Division "to be for an accommoda-
' In a manuscript history of Wetliersfield written by Hezekiah Belden, Esq., (born
Feb. 17, 1778), a son of Rev. .Joshua Belden, he thus alludes to this "blaeic oak
tree:" "The writer well remembers this tree. Its shade in his childhood, was
the favorite resort of those of his age, and witnessed many of their light-hearted
gambols. Its trunk was then in a state of decay, although its top was green and
spreading. He grieved wlien the axe was laid at its roots."
GRAXT OF PARSONAGE LAND.
753
tion of the ministrv there." This they did on the commons south
of the Sa\nnill lots, and adjoining the south side of the site chosen by
the committee of the town for the first meeting house. It was appro-
priate for the parsonage lot and the meeting bouse to bo located near
each other. The town had to locate both grants on land not already
granted to others ; this excluded the Sawmill lots and other grants made
before that time. The meeting house was directed to be located upon
a "convenient place on the commons between the two last divisions."
This parsonage lot continued in the o\\mer5bip of the Xewington
Society until March 23, 1774, when the Society voted to lease it for
999 years to such persons as chose to take it iipon the conditions re-
quired. Capt. ^lartin Kellogg, Capt. Charles Churchill, and Mr.
John Lusk were appointed a committee to make the leases. The avails
were to be invested, and the annual interest to be used for the payment
of the minister's salary, "and to and for no other iise or purpose what-
soever." This fund, in ISCO, amounted to $1,71S.S6. (Annals, p.
138.) On April G. 1774, Mr. Belden released to the Society all his
claim to the land, and in consideration thereof the Society voted, on the
same date, to give him annually seventeen pounds ''during his con-
tinuance m the ministry in this place."
Bcchley Quarter and Stanley Quarter E.cchangrcl. — Tlie new ecclesi-
astical society in the '"'West Division" was now legally incorporated,
with the full powers of a parish, being the Second Society in Wetliers-
field. Its geographical limits formed a parallclogTam, extending about
seven miles in length from Hartford to Middletown, and two miles and
50 rods in width, between Fannington on the "West and Cedar ^Mountain
on the East, the latter making a natural boundary between the two
societies of Wethersfield. It contained two settlements, one comprising
23 families located Xorth of the center, the other comprising some eight
or ten families at Eeckley Quarter. The latter, dissatisfied with their
enforced alliance with the "Upper Inhabitants," soon began an attempt
to gain their cherished desire of union with the Great Swamp Society,
where they attended worship. After two years of effort they succeeded
in negotiating their annexation to the Great Swamp Society, and the
annexation of Stanley Quarter to the "West Society of Wethersfield, upon
certain conditions ; such as the giving of a bond of £50 to the new Society
by the Beckleys; the pavment of their proportion of tbe building of a
new meeeting house, and the removal of the site of the new meeting
house farther north to accommodate the inhabitants of Stanley Quarter.
By making these concessions the Beckleys won over to their side a
majority of the "Upper inhabitants". At a meeting of the new Society,
754
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
April 4-, 1T1.">, a coiiuuittce was appointed who fiivorctl the exchange,
consisting of Bcnjauiin Eocklcy and Jonathan Ilnrlbut fvoiu Beclvley
Qnartcr, and John St<"ldor and Xathaiiiel Churchcl from the '"npper
Honses." To tliis end the L'uniniittec first obtained the written consent
of the Stanley Quarter ]iroprietors.
The next step \vas to obtain the formal consent of the First Society
of Farmington to the proponed plan of doul)le annexation. .V meeting
of the society was held for the purpose on April 11, 1715, and their
request received from the Farmington Society a favorable response ; so
that all which was now needed, was the consent of the General Assembly,
to the project. A petition to that body was signed by Benjamin l>eckley,
Richard Ecckley, Stephen Kelsey, Daniel Andrus, John Kellsy, Jona-
than Ilnrlljut, John Amlrns, Samuel Ilmi, Sinmn AVillar<l, Il.'ze. Dem-
ing, John Camp, John Stoddor, Xathaniel C'hurchel, ^ilindwell AVhaples,
James Franci.s, Benjamin Aiulrus, Thomas Francis, Josiah Willard,
Samuel Churchel, Tliomas Morton, Al)igail Camp, NallianicI Sinddor,
Jonathan Sfuddor, Isaac Unci-, Josei)h Andnis."
Of these 2.5 petitioners, S were from Beckley Quarter, and 17 from
the more northern itdiabitants out of 2;'> in all. These names in italics
have a pen mark drawn through them. ^lindweli Whaples was the
widow of Ephraim Whaples, who died in 1710. Abigail Camp was the
widow of Joseph Camp, Sen. Although this petition was sigueil I)v a
majority of the householders of the AVest Society, there was a largo
number of persons in the First Society of Wethersfield and some in the
West Society who did not approve of the proposed exchange, and who
signed a remonstrance, which was laid before the Assembly.
Remonstrance. — 'AVe, the snbscrilicrs, proprietors, or intrusted with
the rights of minoi-s, in the Western Tract of Weathersfield, allowed for
a distinct parish or Ecclesiastical Society, expressive of our dissent from
the project of uniting of a part of said Tract to Farmington South
SocietA', and of Farmington to the Xorrhward part of our Society, as
subversive to the said Society, liave hereto subjoined our names. Stephen
Micks, Elisha Williams, James Treat, Thomas Wells, Joshua Robl)ins,
Joshua Robbins, 2d., Josiah Deming, Ebenezer Dickinson, Jonathan
Belding, Daniel Warner, Joseph Ilurlbutt, ^[ichaell Griswould, David
Wright, Samuel Wright, Jonathan Goodrich, Jacob Griswold, Joseph
Killburn, John Rose, Robert Welles, Ebenezer Deming, Gideon Welles,
Benjamin Belding, Thomas Wright, Elizabeth Curtis, Wid. Sanniel Ben-
ton, Xathaniel Xott, Daniel Bordman, Richard Bobbins, Hannah
Chester, ^ifary Chester, Ephraim Goodrich, Sarah Ivilliorn, Sarah
Chester, ^lercy Chester, William Warner, Elizabeth Warner, Wid.
CHURCH SQUABBLES.
755
Joseph Wells, Josiali Ik-kling, Siunucl Dix, Samuel Bird, Jim., Aliiirail
Lattiiiiore, Tlioiuas Staiidisli, John Dciuing. Stephen Lusk, John Gris-
wold, Ahrahani Woren, Ephraim Deuiinir. Ezekiel Crab, (an in-
habitant, not proprietor), liic-hard Boardman, Jonathan Buck. Jalx?z
Whittelsej, Eliphalct Whittel.-?ey, Jonathan Wriirut."
These names represented many of the most prominent families in
Wethersfield. Rev. Stephen ^Ux was past^.r of the cimrch from 1G03
to 173S, and the Hemonstrance is in his handwririnir, and Elisha
Williams was afterwards the first pastor of the Xewingron church. But
the ]>eckleys, to encourajie the cxclianiie, executed a bond that thev
would help build the first meeting house of the West Society, and pay
fifty pounds in four yearly instalments, etc., provided the Gen. As-
sembly would annex them to the Great Swamp S'H-iety.
The Assembly appointed a Special CduimiTree. on this dispute l>efore
which Committee the battle was fought our by written diicuments pre-
sented by each side; the Beckley arguments were mure cmplimcntary to
the Connnittce than to the "Upper Inhabitants". That of the West
Society was confined to the real points at issue; but b-i-th are too long
to be here quoted entire. Tlie Committee's report to the Assembly re-
sulte<l i". " ratification of the proposed exchange, to the effect that
"that part, formerly of Weathcrsfield West Society, from tlie Xorth side
of Ilurlbut's lot and the Xorth side of Stephen and John Kelsey's lauds
to Middletown bounds, including the Beckleys land, shc^uld be annexed
to the Great Swamp Society, and obliged tn pay all mini-terial or parish
charges with the Great Swamp people, to that S<x-iety: Provided, That
the said people of that part of the West Society of Wearhersfield afore-
mentioned, shall help and do their proportional.>le parts with the rest of
Weathcrsfield West Society, in the finishing the meeting house in said
West Society, and pay to the said West Society in Weathersfield, £50
according to their agreement: And he it finiher enarted. etc., That
the lots in Farmington butting upon Weathersfield West Society or
Township, that is to say, all the land in the several lots in Farmington
boimds from the South side of John Xortou's lot on AVolf plain to the
Xorth side of the bounds of the Great Swamp, shall be and are hereby
annexed to the West Society in Weathersfield. and shall pay in propor-
tion with the said AVcst Society in Weathersfield, in all ministerial or
parish charges." {Col. Bee. V. 532)
This act established the West Society in more compact form
geogra])hically, than when first chartered, and enal)Ied it to build a meet-
ing house, organize a church, aiul settle a minister. These were all
accomplished within the next ten years, and the society entered upon a
756
HISTORY OF AXCIEN'T WETHERSFIELD.
career more favorable to its harmony and prosperity. The West
Society lost the Beckley farm which extended nearly a mile and a half
North of the ^liddletown line, and also a contiguous part of the Mile-in-
Breadth, or seventeen of the lots at the South end of that division, or
about 1200 acres in all. Stephen and John Kelsey's lot 'vvas formerly
owned by Phillip Goffc, being lot Xo. CO in the West Division, dra's\-n
by him. His son Jacob sold January 5, 1797-S the north part of said
lot to Stephen Kelsey, and the latter sold June IS, 1707, the East end
of his lot to John Kelsey. From the Middleto^^Ti line to the Xorth side
of this lot was about four hundred and fifty rods, or nearly a mile and a
half in round numbers. Each lot of the West Division was 26 rods wide,
and there was a small tract of a few acres south of lot 70, which had not
been divided, but was still common. The lots usually overran the sur-
veys, as was often proved by subsequent measurements. The Beckley
farm would seem to have largely overrun 310 acres, if its width was IGO
rods, but as there was a highway on the East and West sides of this
farm, Avhich perhaps came out of it, the discrepancy may not have been
very great.
The First SrftlTs. — The tradition is that five per:rons, tltrce by name
of And7'iis, and the others Slead and IIr>"x, were the first settlers of
Tfewington, within its present boundaries. The records show that
Joseph Andrcs drew lot 145, in the fifth tier, in the division of 1093,
so that ho settled in the town and had jiroperty in the list prior to that
date. He came from Farmington, where he was born ^lay 20, 1051,
the son of John Andrus, one of the first settlers of that town. He
married in 1077, and died April 27, 1700.
As Joseph .Vndrus was not one of those who drew lots in the division
of 1671, he could not then have been an inhabitant of the town. He
bought ^larch 31, 10S4, of John and Joseph Eiley. IS acres of tlieir
North Saw ilill lot. The town voted, Sept. 11, 10S4, "That Joseph
Andrus shall have a small piece of land near his land by the saw mill,
convenient to build a house and barn on.'' (1 Toicn Totes, 94.) This
piece of land was probably at the East end of the sa^Tiiill lot, whereon
he built his house, (south of the present poimd) which is said to have
been fortified, to which the first settlers retired with their families
every night, and slept on their arms. Btit they cultivated friendly re-
lations with the Indians in the neighborhood, and were never attacked.
It is said that a baud of Indians had a camping place inunediately West
of the mill pond, not a half-mile away from the house of Andrus,
where they could fish as well as hunt. Joseph Andrus was one of
the soldiers from Farmington in "King Phillip's War."
EARLY HOLDINGS IN NEWINGTON.
757
Half mile Common
James Frances
Mile-in-breadth
Highway
Rev. Elisha Williams
8 acres
1 Church
1 Ceniftery □
Ebeuezer Kilbouru
pnimd Q
Saw mill Lots. 173.i
Caleb Andrus
John Whaples
Enoch Buck
Joseph Hurlbut
Richard Eoardman
30 rods
Rot.
■i Simon B.nckus ■?
Lot 5 acres ^
Laid out ^
Mch. 21, ITii-i
Highway c "
Highway
3Jl-2roil.s
Rer.
;imon Bafku.^
Lot ."> .icres
Laid ..nt
■; Mch. 21, 17.i2-3
3:i rods
120 Rods
J
^
Parsonage Ljt
2
'S
50 acres
J
3
Laid out March 21, 1733-3
s
o
33 Chains 3o Links
Half mile Common
Dr. Joseph Andrus
John Whaples
Ephraim Whaples
Ebenezer Kilboum
David Wright
Josiah Deining
Jacob Griswold
■S) Capt Joshua Robbins
a
758
HISTORY OF ANX'IENT WETHERSnELD.
The two other settlers by the uanic of Andnis, were nephews of
Joseph, and settled in the South part of the parish. They were Daxiel
and Joiix, brothers, sons of Daniel Andrus of Farraington, who was a
brother of Joseph Andrus. In a petition dated October 10, 1705. to the
Assembly for the incorporation of the Great Swamp Society, appears the
name of Da.viel Axdiics, Jtm. His name also appears in the petition
presented to tlie Town ^Meeting held Dc<: 24, 1712, for the grant that the
West Divisions might be a parish, an<l he identified himself with the
Beckleys in their subsequent controversies. He was born ^lareh \),
1072, and married :Mabel Goffe of Wetherslield, Oct. GO, 1707. and
built his house where the house of the late Philo Webster stands, on
the summit of the hill East of the old turnpike. lie joined the Great
Swamp Church in 1718, and attended church at tlieir meeting h'>use.
He died Aug. 21, 1748.
JoitN AxDitus was born June 10, lOSO, and married June 2G. 1712.
Mary Goffe, sister to Daniel's wife. He located in the south part of the
parish, and attended church at the "Great Swamp." He signed the
petition f(jr the annexati(jn of Leckley qiuirter to the Great Swamp
Society, and also, with his brotiicr, the bond, for the payment of £.jO to
build the- iiieoting hous(> in the West Society, dated IMay 13, 1715.
He died June Ifi, 1740. •
John Slead or Sled, bought the 52 acre lot Xo. 22 in the Division
of 1671, on Dec. 16, 1G81, and half of lot Xo. 2:l, Xov. 10, 1004. He
is said to have built his house n(>ar the site of the old Academy building.
His name appears in the town, but not in the Siiciety records. It appears
that on April 10, 1073, .John Sled and his wife were refused a residence
in Haddam, "because they were not persons qualified according to law."
He was probably the first of the five settlers above mentioned to locate
in Xewington. He must have left the parish about 1700 for ^liddle-
town, according to its records.^
'On Feb. 3, 1G99-1700, Joiix Slead, of WethersfielJ. bousht of Isaac Lane of
Middletovvn for the consiileiation of Forty Pounds, thirty-four acres of upland on
the east side of tlie Connecticut River, also ten acres of meadow on the same side
of the river. — {Midd. h. Rccs., Vol. 2, p. 50.)
John Slead of Middletown conveyed Feb. 0, 1718-10, to his son .Jonathan of the
same town the above described lands, with the buldin^'s thereon, and his cattle and
tools of husbandrj', reserving to himself the life use thereof, and reserving to his
son-in-law, Sliarngan Barnes, the use of two acres of the horaelot, which .Jonathan
was to eonvej' to .lohn's grandchildren, Abigail and Phebe Barnes, when they should
be eighteen years old. He also reserved his "■lumting gun" for his grandson, .John
Slead, "when of age to make good use of it." [Id. Vol. 4, p. 103.) He died. Oct.
11, 1719, aged 76, according to his grave stone, formerly in the Portland Quarry
Graveyard. This yard has since been moved, and this stone is probably in the
yard back of Trinity (Episcopal) Church.
THE FIRST SETTLKRS.
759
Samuel Hrxx bought the !)lst lot in the division of 1093, containing
2c>i acres, Atic;. 14, 10!'."). Ilis name appears prominently in the town
and society records. He located in the Xorth part of the Parish. He
died Xov. 1, 173S, aged 07, according to the inscription on his grave
stone, wliich has the following lines.
''The flesh and bones of Samuel Ilunn
Lie underneath this Tomb,
Oh, lett them rest in Quietness,
Until the day of Doome."
He left descendants ; but the name of Hunn, as well as that of Audrus,
has become extinct in Xewington.
As the saw mill was in o]ieration in ItlTS, a dwelling house was doubt-
less erected near it at that date, for the accommodation of the workmen.
Joseph Andrus bought Sept. 24-, 170-2, tlie saw mill with two acres of
land, and dwelling house thereon, witli the pondage, bounded on all
sides on the common, except the East where it was bounded on his O'wn
land, and located "on or near a place usually called Cowplain." This
may have been the first dwelling house on th.e saw mill lots. His son,
Ephraiin, leased for a gross sum, for 009 years, August. It), 1716, to
James Francis, one third part of the saw mill, which came to him from
his father.— (IV. Weth. Ld. Ecc, 10(5.)
Among the petitioners for the incorporation of the West Society
presented to the Wethersfield Town ifectiug, held Dec. 24, 1712, was
Xathaxiel CiiuRCitii.L, who was appointed a Surveyor in 1705, and
was probably the first Surveyor in Xewington.
Joiix Stoddard, also a petitioner, was appointed a ''surveyor for the
West Farms" in 170S. Jaiiez Wiiittljcsev, another petitioner, was
appointed a "surveyor for the West Farms'" in 1709, and was voted an
inhabitant in the following year. Ei.ipiialet Whittlesey was ap-
pointed a surveyor in 1710.
All. or nearly all, the signers to that petition were inhabitants in the
West Farms in 1712, and those not inhabitants were proprietors therein.
Jonx Griswoi.d was an inhabitant in 1713. James Francis and
Isaac El'ck^ were inhabitants in 1710. Buck o\\-ned the corner lot
where Dea. Henian A. \Miittlescy has lived, while Francis lived on
the next lot South across the street.
Richard EoRUirAx lived on the lot now owned by the estate of Henry
^[. Eobbins, a little Xorth of the Robbins residence. Enoch Buck"
probably lived on the next lot north.
' Grandson of Henry Buck. " Grandson of Emanuel Buck.
760
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Abeaiiaji "Warren bought ilay 29, ITOS, 15 acres of lot Xo. 105,
in the East Tier located either opposite the Parsonage Lot or. as the
Parsonage Lot was removeJ east ten rods in 171S. a part of his purchase
was probably then embraced in the Parsonage Lot. There "was an arbi-
tration in 172S between Warren and the Societv. and there was "some
part of the parsonage awarded to him." (Annals of Xeu-inr/ton, p. 41.)
Warren probably lived on this lot.
JoHX WiiAPLEs lived on the South side of the old road that f.ii-nierly
led from the Green to Cedar ^lountaiu, and Dr. Joseph A^"DRUS lived
on the north side of said road. Ephraiim Wiiaples lived on the !^L\in
Street south of John Wliaples. Bexjamix Axdeus lived where Lucas
now resides, on the Saw-mill lot owned by his father, Joseph Andnis.
Epiiraim Axdrus probably lived on the Andriis homestead until he
sold out, as his name does not appear in the Society rec'^rds,
and some deeds given by him are upon the Xovm records : and his
brother Caleb is afterwards found in possession of the homestead.
Simon Willard, John Stodparu, Joseph Camp, John' Camp. Sam-
uel Hun and Xathaxiei. IIux all lived in the ZSTorth part • of the
Society. The residences of others have already been given, and the rest
are urtnmvn.
The First Meeting House. — The main reason urged for establishing
the "West Divisions" as a parish, in the petition to the town, Dec. 24,
1712, was that the petitioners might carry on the worship of God among
themselves. Yet the location of the first, as well as the second meeting
house was the fruitful source of bitter contentions for years.
The first location, made by the town committee and approved by the
town, llarch 23, 1712-13, was "adjacent to the house of Joseph Huribut
and .John Griswold," and was so far north of the center of the ""West
Divisions," that it was the cause of the secession of Beckley Quarter to
the Great Swamp Society, as already related. Stanley Quarter con-
sented to be annexed to the West Society upon the condition that the
meeting house "be set upon the Plain in the common land, about 20 or
30 rods to the I^orthward from the house formerly belonging to Jcseph
Andrus," which site was near the east end of the highway from Stanley
Quarter to the main Street of the new parish, and was the most con-
venient site for them that could be obtained. The Committee of the
General Assemldy reported in favor of this site. The act of the As-
sembly, passed in October, 1715, ratified the exchange, although that
act omitted all reference to the site of the meeting house. However, the
people of the new society were disposed to keep the compact that had
been made, and actually brought the timber for the meeting house to the
THE FIRST MEETING HOVSE.
761
proposed site. The society voted April 5, 1716, "to raise our meeting
honsc in this instant month April, and also that the said meeting honse
should be raised ^vithin a few rods of the place where tlie timber now
lies." John Stoddard, Sani'l. Hunn, and Stephen Bnck were appointed a
committee to carry tlie vote into effect. The meeting honse was raised,
and at a meeting held 31ay 15, ITIG, the same committee were chosen to
cover and underpin the house. Xo other meeting of the Society was held
for more than a year and six months. Of course the meeting house
remained in the meantime in statu quo. Some opposition to the site
must have arisen, for at a to^^•n meeting held Dec. 10, 171S, the following
action was taken.
"The town did then by vote release the inhabitants of the West Society
in said Wethersfield. from paying their part in the ministerial charge
for the year past upon this condition: that they convene and consent
that their meeting house should be brought to John ^Miaples" Hill. It
is to be understood by ministerial charge, the charge for the support of
the minister in Wethcrsfield.'' (II. 11'. Tonni Votes, 5.) John Whaples'
hill was probably the hill where is located the present parsonage house.
Although nnr ancestors considered a meeting house a great blessing, and
the greater blessing tlie nearer it was to their homes, and were willing
to fight for it if their consciences approved, this appeal to their pockets
did not meet Avith their approval. They were men of strong convictions
and resolute wills, and lived ill ''times that tried men's souls" and that
gave them great force of character, but they rejected the bait offered by
the town and stood by their compact. Tliere is extant a long ai-gument
against the removal probably submitted to a society meeting, or to the
prudential committee of the society. The society records of those days
in the society's infancy are very meagre, and give no record of any
society vote upon the subject. The building of the meeting house went
on slowly. The society did vote, however, on ]\Iay 6th, 1719, "to
petition to the General Assembly for repeal of that act concerning an
exchange between some part of the bounds of Farmington and Wethers-
field," and Jabez Whittelsey was appointed agent to present the petition,
■which he did, but it was not granted. The society voted, April 21,
1720, "To get hewed planks and lay a floor in our meeting house, and to
get window frames and glass for the lower tier of windows, and also to
make doors for our meeting house." This was a decided step forward,
and shows that the question of site was considered settled. This was a
few rods southeast of the present church, and the building faced the
east, without stee])le or bell, and was never painted. It stood for
eighty years.
762
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
At a r,ociety mci'ting held Jan' v. 1."), 1719-20, John Sroddard and
Abraham "Warren were appointed "a committee to treat with [Mr.
Nathaniel Tjurnliam to eome and preach witli lis."' This was the nrs":
invitation given by tlie new Society to any minister to preach in Xew-
ington. ]\[r. Xathaniel Bnrnham was a resident of WetherstieM. the
son of "William and Eliz;il>eth Burnham, and the brother of the Rev.
"William Burnham, of the Great S\\-amp Society. He graduated a: Yale
in 1709. lie never became a settled minister, but lived in Werher-d'^ld.
and held many prominent positions. FTe married ^lay ■>. ITl-t.
"Mehitable, daughter of John and Hannah Che-ter. They had i^air
sons and one daughter. The latter married Elisha Williams. Jr. He
died Dec. 16, 1754, aged 55. The ministers who preached in the nrst
meeting house as settled pastors were Rev. Elisha Williams 1 1720-
1726), Rev. Simon Backus (1726-1746), and Rev. Joshua Eelden
(1747-1803). The history of the church during the successive pastor-
ates is really the history of Xewington, and will be so treated.
Ministers of (lie Congregational Church. — Rev. Elisua WiLLL^iis.
Pastor n 20-11: 2(i.— My. Williams, was the 4th sr.n of tlie Rev. William
Williams, jiastor at Hatfield, Mass., and his wife Elizabeth C^'^'on.
daughter of Rev. Seaborn Cotton of IIanipfi>n, X. H., and was Ijorn at
Hatfield, Aug. 20, 1694. He entered Sophomore at Harvard College in
1708, and graduated with honor in 1711. The year after liis graduation
he taught a grammar school at Hadley, IMnss. On Feb'y. 23. 1714. he
married Eunice, daughter of Thomas Chester of Wethersfield. settled
there, and represented that town in the legislature for live consetnitive
terms, in all of which he was clerk of the House, except one when he
was auditor of public accounts. He als(j, luring this period, went '"in a
voyage to Canso, an island near Xova Scotia, whore he preached to
fishenuen for a season. In the years 1716-171 S he acted as tutor to Yale
students at Wethersfield. In 1720 he had a severe fit of sickness, and
in the language of Pres. Stiles, became "sanctified". The Xewingt'rn
Society, by advice, as is said, of the Rev. Mr. IMix of Wethersfield, and
some other ministers of the neighborhood, appointed a committee April
6, 1720, "to treat with Mr. Elisha Williams to come and be our min-
ister in Xewington." This probably meant that he shotdd come and
preach on trial, or "on probation,'' as it was sometimes phrased. He
undoubtedly accepted this invitation, because we find that the Si3cierv
voted Aug. 5, 1720: "We did make choice of the Rev. Mr. Elisha Wil-
liams to be our minister." The next important matter was to agree upon
the terms of his settlement and salary, which, as the service
was then usually life-long, and Mr. Williams was only about
r--"^ V ^' •::-'-
, ■ ,.:. :f. CjJ
m ^"f
V -^- .
"'
^ ' — •■ ■ ' .--^f.. --:>- J J-l-^":-- J -t:-H;^ ■?■■■£:-■ -t;. siiJ
RfV. and Pveclor
^^/u^Ui^ n/Mj:o^?z^
'U^^-^^c^ ^^^^^^2
SETTLING A MINISTER.
763
26 years old, meant a great deal for both parties. Jabez
^\1iittlesey and Aliraliani Woren were aj)pointed a committee
to agree with him and "make return" to the Society. They did
not succeed satisfactorily it would seem, for they made no return, and
the society appointed anotlier committee Dec. G, 1720, consisting of
Samuel Ilun and John Cam]), to effect a settlement with him and "'make
return" to the society. They were also instructed to "endeavor with
the town to get a piece of land for our minister, by gift, or exchange, or
purchase, according as they shall see most likely to obtain it." This
probably indicates one of the difficulties of the situation, ilr. Williams
must have a house, and a site upon which it could be located. It was
customary for towns to make grants of lands to their ministers, out of
the town commons, and there was common land in the vicinity of the
meeting house in this society, from which a g-ood site could be chosen.
Perhaps, indeed, Mr. Williams had already indicateil his preference for
a site. At all events, this committee soon succeeded in coming to terms
with him, for a meeting of tlie society was called Dec. 21, 1720, when
the following agreement was voted.
1. His settlement was to be £170, "to be paid in :nonry or labor done
to building him a house, to be paid in two years after this present date,
and he .shall also have that money tliat is subscribed or shall be sub-
scribed in the time." AMiich indicates that a subscription paper had
been circulated for his benefit, anil was to be circulated two years longer.
2. It Avas also voted : — "To give to him two days' work in a year of
every man that is or shall be in tliis Society from sixteen years old and
upward, capable of labor, for the space of five years ensuing this date,
which labor is to be done half in the siTmmer and half in the
winter, yearly."
This is an interesting instance of the extraordinary extent of power
exercised by an ecclesiastical society in those days of the union of church
and state. Xo man was exem]',t from the two days' labor whether a
church member or not, or whatever his religious belief or his rank in
life; nothing but bodily incapacity freed him from the claims of the
minister who labored for his spiritual benefit. The labor of the minister
was repaid by the labor of his parishioners. The one was a just equivalent
for the other, in their estimation. The fact that minors between IG and
21 years of age, who had no vote, were taxed was of no consequence.
Taxation without representation was too common to excite remark.
3. It was also voted : — ''To give ^Ir. Williams, for his salary fifty
pounds the two first years, and so to rise two pounds a year until we
come to seventy pounds per year, and so to continue so long as he con-
' ^ ■ HISTORY OF AXCIEXT WETHERSFIELD.
tiniies in the work of the ministry with ns." This vote conteniphUed a
service of 12 years Ijefore the £70 limit shonld be readied, when Mr.
Williams would he 3S years of age. His salary was thns to be graduallv
increased until he reached the prime of life.
4. It was further voted :— "To raise a rate on polls and all ratable
estate, to pay Mr. Williams from the time of his first oomino- nnto
the last of :\rarch, in proportion to a rate of fiitv pounds a vea\ and
then to begin the year with Mr. Williams." As the vear then beaau with
the 25th day of March, or -Lad.v Day." which was considered the date of
Annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the future birth of her divine son,
and therefore an appropriate day for the beginning of the vear of our
Lord, this vote shows that the regular rearlv salarv of ]ilr. Williams
was to begin March 25th, 1721. but it authorizes a minister's rate to pav
him for Ins past services before Dec. 21, 1720, '-from the time of his
first coming," and until the new year. It is probable that this special
rate covered nearly or quite a .-ear's services. If he had not preached
for them before the first invitation given liim to become tlicir minister
on April G, 1720, he undoubtedly did so soon after, and ccrtainlv before
Aug 5, 1720, when final "choice-' of him was made by a formal vote' of
the Society.
The salary of £50 a year was equivalent to $100.07 in our moncv His
settlement of £170 was equal to .9500.0,7, which was to be paid him in
money or lalwr m building him a house in two vears. At a meetin- held
January -t, 1720-21, it was voted: ■•For a man to have 2s. -U \\^^)
per day from this time to the first of .March, and for a man and team to
have 55. (S3^) per day, to work at :\rr. William's house." From this
TOte It would appear that work on his house was begun before the site
was secured from the town, but probably the committee had received such
assurances from the to^-n authorities as to the irrant, that no doubt was
felt as to the outcome. At a meeting, held Febj. 16, 17^0-->1 it was
voted: "To pay Mr. Williams rate in grain at 'the price as followeth,
VIZ _: ^\heat at 5s. (S3r) per bushel, rye at Zs. - U. (50^ per bushel,
Indian corn at 2.y. U. (39c) per bushel." Also libertv was o-iven him
_ to make a seat or pew for his family in our meeting house," which
indicates that his family attended" meeting there. At a To.™ meetin-
held March 6, 1720-21, there was voted a "o^ant of eight acres of land
to Mr. Ehsha Williams; to l,e laid out near to the widow Elizabeth
Andrus' dwelling house, northwestwardly, so as not to hinder or obstruct
any highway.' -(II H'c/A. Town Yoics, 11.) Lieut. Eol^ert Welles, Mr
Jabez Whittlesey and Jonathan Bumham, as a committee of the town
laid out the grant "15 or IG rods northward of Widow Andrus' barn "
REV. ELISHA WILLIAMS, PASTOR. 7^5
and their action Avas approved Dec. 11, 1721, by the town. — (2 Weth.
Toicn Votes, 14.) Thus it appears that the Society's agreement with
]\rr. Williams M-as gradually carried out in good faith by the Town as
well as the Society. This grant covered the site of Mr. Williams' house
already in process of erection. The building of this house and the fin-
ishing of the meeting house taxed the abilities of the Society so severe-
ly that on May 10, 1721, they voted to iietition the General Assembly
for relief. The greater part of the land in Xewington was then uu-
improvcd and therefore by law not taxable, and Jabez Whittlesey was
appointed to present the condition of affairs to the Assembly. He peti-
tioned that the unimproved lands might be subjected to "a reasonable
tax for a reasonable time," and that the Society might be "named and
called Xewing-ton." The Assembly granted May 25, 1721, that the
Society might "raise a tax annuallv on all the land in the said parish or
society that by law is not ratable of 10.9. ($1.67) per the hundred acres,
and pro rata for greater or lesser parcels, for the term of four years next
coming; and that the said society or parish be called Xewington."
(VI, Conn. Col. Bee, 24(V) The parish voted December 13, 1721,
"To undertake to build a liarn for their pastor." February 8, 1721-2,
"That the remainder of the fifty pounds and the tax laid' on the pro-
prietors' unimproved land, to be laid out in our meeting house, to build
a pulpit and deacon seat, and to prepare timber and nails for the fin-
ishing the lower part of our meeting house, and to proceed as far as
we can with the money granted." The '-fifty pounds" referred to was
that due from the Bcckleys, on their bond, and the "remainder" men-
tioned was probably the last installment of twelve pounds and ten
shillings; while the tax on the "unimproved land" was that authorized
by the Act of the General Assembly, above cited, of one shilling for
every ten acres.
The society voted, September 5, 1722, "That :\[r. Elisha Williams
shall have sixty pounds money for his salary this year, and next year
he shall have sixty-two pounds, and so to raise two pounds a year for
the space of ten years, which will make eighty pounds, and so to con-
tinue eighty pounds per year so long as he continues in the work of the
ministry with us." This was a decided increase in his salary as first
agreed and voted. Also he was to be furnished with his wood annually.
These preliminaries being settled, it was also voted that "Richard
Borman, Ebenczer Kilburn, James Francis, Isaac Buck, should keep
a public house of entertainment on the day of the ordination of the Rev.
Mr. Elisha Williams." Ebenczer Kilburn lived across the street from
the new meeting house. Richard Boardman lived on the south Sa^vmill
766
HISTORY OF ANCrENT WETHERSFIELD.
lot, formerly granted to liis iiucle Saiuiiel Boardiiian, as already detailed.
His house stood aboiit half way between the resilience of Henry M.
Eobbins, deceased, and that old house which formerly stood opposite
the Brown place, where are now the old well and iV.undarious to be seen.
This last house stood on the Sawmill lot gi-anted to Emanuel Buck.
Isaac Buck owned and probably lived on Cabl^age Hill, where Dea.
Heman A. ^^^littlesey lias lived, while Jauies Prancis lived south of
Buck on the opposite side nf the street, the two on lots l'O and :21 respec-
tively of the ilile-in-Brcadth. The day "l oniiuatiou was a day of
rejoicing in those days, IVdlowed by the ordination hall in the evening,
when it was considered a religious diuy ti:> uuike merr\- with dancing
and feasting, while good liquor formed no inconsiderable part of the
''entertainment."
It was further voted, Seiitember 1:2, 1722, that "Having had consid-
erable experience of his life, etc., we do make choice, by a full vote, of
the Rev. ^Ir. Elisha Williams to be our minister and paster."
"Also voted, To Keep Weihicsday, the -'Jd nf Oct'iVier. next ensuing,
as a fast, to im[ilore divine assistance of Giid in ^ratherinir a clmrch of
Christ here, and in the ordination of the Rev. Mr. E!i.-ha Williams."'
Rev. Stephen iiix of Wethersfield and Rev. Samuel Wliitmau of
Farmington were invited "tn assist on the day of fasting as above men-
tioned;" and a committee was appointed "to take care and proviile for
the minister and messengers on that day of ordination."
Also, voted that the third Wednesday, the 17th day of October next
ensuing, to be the day of tlie ordination of the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams.
The church was duly organized on Octolier -J, 1722. and Joitx Dem-
iNG was chosen the tirst deacon of the church : and we can imagine him
occupying thereafter the deacon seat, in front of the ptilpit, and facing
the congregation for nearly forty years, until his death, May 1, 1761.
There is no record extant of the "ministers and messengers" who offi-
ciated on the day of ordination. J'ut, as the custom was. ~Slv. Williams
was examined as to his doctrinal views, and preached his ordination
sermon before the Reverend Elders, and was set apart for a lifelong
service with the new church, as was then suppi>sed. In fact, his pas-
torate only continued till ^lay, 1726. by reason of his having been chosen
rector of Yale College. At the first society meeting after the ordina-
tion, held December 20, 1732, a committee was appointed "to seat
our meeting house," and on ^larch 1, 1722-3, it was voted "To fill the
■walls and lath and plaster the lower part of our meeting hotise." It
was voted December 31, 1723, "'That our committee should purchase a
drum, and add it to our present society charge." And thereafter the
FIRST SCHOOL. "67
people a-isemblccl at the house of God on the Sabbath and Lecture
Days, at the sound of the drum-beat, accompanying the pastur from his
residence to the church, wlicre they heard him beat the drum ecclesia:stic
from liis high pulpit.
School. — The first mention of a school occurs in the record of this
meeting, in the appointment of Jabez \Miittlesey and Isaac Buck
"a school committee, and tlie country money to them to defray a part
of the charge of a school." Every society was obliged by law to keep
a school at least half the year. The '"country money" was pavabje out
of the Colony Treasury for the support of schools. — (G Col. Rec, 400.)
A society having less than seventy families was only obliged to have a
school half of the year, and the Xewington societv voted Jauuarv 6
1725-6, "To have a school six months in this society for the instruction
of children, and all the charge more than is allowed by the country
to be raised on the polls of those children whom their parents send to
school." The unfinished state of the meeting house is shown bv the
vote at the same date, "To provide all joists and boards for the galleries'
floor of our meeting house, and to lath and plaster the walls of our meet-
ing house up to the plate, and the new windows to be put up below, and
the present Avindows of our meeting house to be put up above."
Burijincj Ground.— It was considered fitting that God's house should
have a "God's acre" near at hand. Accordingly the Town voted, ^^[arch
7, 1725-6, "To Xewington society one acre of land for a burying place,
near their meeting house or elsewhere in the half-mile common, and
to be laid out by Deacon Jabez Whittlesey, Deacon John Doming and
Richard Eordnnm, who shall bound out the same by sufiicient monu-
ments, and record it to said society." This connnittee afterwards re-
ported that they had "laid out an acre of land for said purpose a little
north of the meeting house in said Xewington, including the old
burying place, and bounded it out by suflicient monuments, it being six-
teen rods in length east and west, and ten rods in width north and south."
This report was not made until Deceml)er 4, 1752, but the land must
have been laid out soon after the appointment of the committee, for
Lydia Buck, the wife of Pelatiah Buck, who died July 29, 1726, was
"the first that was laid in this yard," according to the inscription on
her grave stone.
The title of Deacon is first given to Jabez Wiiittei.sey in the to\^Ti
vote above cited. He was the second deacon of the church, and was
appointed between January 6 and :March 7, 1725-G. Xo church record
exists during the pastorates of the first two ministers.
Mr. Williams had been chosen Rector of Yale College by the trustees
768
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Septemler 29, 1725, but was not installed until September, 172G, for
the reason that the society had been to considerable expense in settling
him. On the -1th of May, 1726, £200, ICs., were awarded to the society
by a committee of arbitration chosen by the trustees and the society,
of which sum £100, lC,s., were paid by the colony, and £100 by the
college. lie probably dissolved his connection with the society at once,
for on May 25, 172G, the society voted, "To call the Eev. :\rr. Simon
Backus upon probation for our minister." :\[r. Williams acted as
Eector at Yale College till October, 1730, when he resigned on account
of ill health. He was afterwards Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, Judge of the Superior Court, Chaplain to the State forces sent
in April, 1745, in tlie expedition against Cape Breton, Colonel of a regi-
ment raised to be sent to Canada, which, however, did not go, and
State agent to Great Britain to negotiate for the payment of the ex-
penses incurred. He supplied the pulpit in Xewington temporarily in
17-iO, for it appears by the Treasurer's book that the society voted in
December, 174G, to pay '^ilr, Elisha Williams for supplying our pulpit
in Mr. Backus' stead £47, IO5." He died July 24, 1755. After he
became sensible that the messenger of death was sent for him, he said
"Blessed be God, the wislied for hour is come " A fiiller account of
this remarkable man and his descendants is given in the WilUams Gen-
ealogy, in our second volume.
In theology he was classed as a moderate supporter of the "'Xew
Lights," as might be assumed, perhaps, from his intimate associations
with that class of religionists, during his stay in England. Again,
says Dexter, '"on tlie other hand it is known that he shared the preju-
dices of his half-brothers against his cousin, Jonathan Edwards, in
the quarrel at Xorthampton, and that, at the time of his going to Eng-
land, he had begun a rcjjly to Edwards' Treatise on the Qualifications for
Communion. An anonymous pamphlet, issued at Boston, in 1744, was
attributed to liis pen. It was entitled: "The essential Eights and Lib-
erties of Protestants; a Seasonable Plea for the Liberty of Conscience,
and the Bight of private Judgment in Matters of Beligion, without any
Control from Human Authority. Being a Letter from a Gentleman in
the ]Massachusetts-Bay to his Eriend in Connecticut. Wherein Some
Thoughts on the Origin, End and Extent of the Civil Power, with brief
Considerations on several Stave Laws in Connecticut are humbly offered,
Boston 1744, Svo., pp. 66."
The argument of this pamphlet is a searching arraignment of the
Act of May, 1742, passed by the Conn. Assembly (of which ho was a
member) "for regiilating Abuses and correcting Disorders," and un-
REV. MR. ELISHA WILUAMS
769
cloubtcdly rctlects his ojiininiis as tn the extent of the Civil Magistrate's
power coucorniiig religion; tlunigh the authorship (with perhap.-? more
reason) is attriliuted also to his classmate, the Hon. Thomas dishing,
then Speaker of the ^lassacluisetts House of liepresentatives.
His agency in collecting funds in Eniiland for the college of Xe\r
Jersey is also an evidence of his synipatliy with the "Xew Lighrs."'
The estimation in which tlie Ilc\'. C'i'l. Williams was generally held
was pretty fairly voiced hy llev. Dr. l>M,lridi:c. while ^Ir. W. vras in
England, fhns: "I look npon dil. Williams to he one of tlie most valuable
men upon earth; he has, joined to an ardent sense of Religion, solid
learning, consummate prndence, great candor and sweetness of temper,
and a certain nol)leness of soul, capable of contriving and advising the
greatest things without seeming to be ci>nscious of his having done
them."
The Rev. Charles Chauncey, of Rostim. writing to Pres. Stiles, in
1768, says: "ilr. Williams of Hattield, I am ready to think greater
than any of his sons, though they M-ere all men of ni'^re than common
understanding. RiH'tor Williams and lii< liri>ther S'llnmon I 'give the
preference to [over] the other sons; tho" they were all too apt to lie
governed in conduct by an undue regard tip self, in one shape or another.
This, as I imagine, \\as a family foible tln'" one of the worst."
Yale College possesses a portrait of Rector Williams, painted by
Motdthrop, from the original iiy Smibert, in the possession of the family.
By his first wife, he had sons, Elisha, gra<!uated at Yale, ITo.j ; Samuel,
graduated at Yale lloo; William, graduateii at Yale 17;>'.I, and three
daughters, of whom only Klisha and Mary survived their father.'
His only published writings (mdess, indeed, we accept the aforemen-
tioned pamphlet as from his pen) are the following:
1. Divine Grace, Ilhistrioiifi in the Salvation of Sinners. A Ser-
mon Delivered in the Audience of the General Assembly of the Colony
of Conn., at Xew Haven, Octoli. '.'>'■], 17:27. in the time of the Sessions
There. By Elisha Williams, A. .M., and Rector of Yale College.
Piddished by Order of the General Assembly. X. Lond(>n. Printed and
Sold by T. Green, Printer t<i the Governor i: Comjiany, 172S, pp. 47.
2. Death tlie Advantage of tlie Godly. A Sermon Delivered at Guil-
ford, on the !)th of June. Anno Dom. 172n. Being the Lord's Day. next
after the Funeral of the Rev. 'Mv. Thomas Ruirgles. Pastor of the Chnrch
of Christ There, who Departed this Life on the First Instant, in the
' Dextei's Ynlc Diograj>hii/), G.)20;!3 ; Spiafrue's Annals of the American Pulpit. I;
Cclibnilii))! of 100 Annivcraary of the Church Hiiilding and the I'jth of the Organiza-
tion of the Church at Xewin^on, Conn., pp. 41-46.
770
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSFIELD.
Fifty-eighth year of his Age. By Elislia Williams, A. jM., and Rector
of Yale College. Printed at the Desire & charge of that Society. X.
London, Printed and sold by T. Green, 172S, pp. 42.
The Sermon at ^Mr. Williams' death, was preached l)y Rev. ]\Ir. Lock-
wood, pastor of the Old (or First) Society of Wcthersfield.
The Rev. Simon Backts, Pastor 17 20-1746. — The secon<l minister
of Newington, was born at Xorwich, Conn., February 11, 1700, the son
of Joseph and Elizabeth {Huntington) Backus. ITe graduated at Yale
College in 1724, and studied theology with Eev. ]Mr. Bulkeley of Col-
chester, Conn. In Deceml)er, 1725, he entered into an engagement to
supply the pulpit in Pungwonk, a society taken .from Colchester and
Lyme, till ]\lay, 172G. The s.jcicty voted June 1, 172G, "To proceed to
get some suitable person upon probation to be our minister,"' and
"That Dea. John Deming and John Stoddcrd do, in behalf of the
society, apply to Mr. Eussel, Junior, of Middletown, to come and preach
here upon probation; and if he shall decline it. then Dea. John Doming
is to proceed to make application to Simon Backus of Xorwich, to
come here on the aforesaid purpose."' It would appear that ]\[r. Eus-
sel* declined the invitation, and application tvc.s then made to ^[r.
Backus, v.-ho accepted the call, for the society voted, August 24, 172G,
"To call ]\rr. Backus to be our minister." The terms of settlement were
embodied in a vote of the society passed September 5, 1726, "One hun-
dred and seventj'-five pounds of the money given by the country and
college, and all the money granted us in our country taxes, bo it more
or less." As £200, IGs., had been gjven by the country and college,
and all the country taxes for four years "on condition that the money
be improved towards settling another minister in said parish," it is
now impossible to state the exact amount that he received. His salary
was to be "Seventy pounds the first year, and so to rise as we rise in our
ligts, until we come to ninety pounds per year," also he was to have
"his yearly wood, and the use of the parsonage."
Mr. Backus made answer to the society, September 7, 1726, as fol-
lows :
"That in a due sense of my unworthiness to be employed in, and
insufficiency for that great and solemn work of the ministry, I accept
of your call to that work, and accept your proposal for my settlement
and yearly maintenance. Desiring your earnest prayers with mine, to
the God of all grace, that I may come to you in the fullness of the
blessing of the gospel of Christ."
'Probably the Rev. Daniel (son of Rev. Noaiiiah), of Middletown. He became the
first minister of Stepney parish in Wethersfield, in 172G.
THE SECOND PASTiiR SETTLED. 7 7 '
The society voted, Xoveiulx-r 21, IT^fi, "That the present coiniuittce
is to agree with the man that boards 'Sir. Backus, to provide for hiui on
the ordination day for victuals and drink onvenient." The prudential
committee at that time were Dea. -Tulm Deniing, Joseph Hnrlluu. and
Isaac Buck. The same meeting a])pointe>l "Wednesday, the 2Sth day
of December next," as the ordination day. But at the anniutl meeting,
held December 11>, 1720, it was voted, "That Wednesday, the 2.')rh of
January, next ensuing, to be the day of ordination of ^Ir. .Simon
Backus, and day of humiliation to be on Wfhiesday, the eleventh day."
There was a fortnight between the fast and the ordination, as when ^Ir.
Williams was ordained. A prudential conmiitteo was appointed con-
sisting of Dea. J(jhn Deming, Samuel Ilim. Sen., and Caleb Andrus.
This committee apparently acted in the place of the former committee
in providing "victuals and drink convenient" for Mr. Backus at his
ordination, by agreement with his landlord. But some question must
have arisen as to the puwer of this committee to act imder the vote
authorizing their predecessors to do so, and some mtist have refused
to pay their share of the expense. At the annual meeting held De-
cember IS, 1727, it was voted, "That those men. to-wit : Dea. John
Deming, Samuel linn, Sen., Caleb Andiiis. dul agree with Ensign
Richard Borman on the account of the ordination charge; Ave look upon
that agreement to be good, aii<l the levy made on that account to be
good, and all those persons that are behind forthwith to pay their just
dues." This technicality did not deprive !Mr. Backus" landlord. Ens.
Richard Bordman, of his just dues for tlie "victuals and drink" pro-
vided. The society voted December^lO, 1704. "To finish the galleries
in our meeting house, and lath and plaster the walls up to the
plates and beams, and lath and plaster our meeting house overhead,
and to glass the lower windows of our meeting hotise." "Also voted:
Lieut. ^lartin Kellogg, Jonathan Whaples and Samuel Churchel, a com-
mittee to finish our meeting house." And it was voted December 15,
1735, that the same committee "shall have power to repair our meeting
house, mend the roof, clapboarding and underpinning." These are all
the votes relating to the meeting house passed dtiring the ministry of
Mr. Backtts. On October 1, 1729, ^Ir. Backits married Eunice, daugh-
ter of Rev. Timothy Edwards of East Windsor, Conn. She was one of
ten daughters, "every one of whom has been said to be six feet tall,
making the 'sixty feet of daughters, and all of them strong in mind.' "
Rev. Jonathan Edwards, author of the famous treatise on the Will, was
her brother, and sometimes preached in Xewington. (Dr. Brace's Dis-
course, pp. 14, 15.) He was 29 and she was 24 years of age at their
11'-
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD
marriage, and they lived li; year? in Xcwington, and had eight children,
six daughters and two son:?.
At a Town meeting held Decemliev 11. ITiiT, there was "'granted to
Samuel Hunn and other persons, living remote from the meeting house
in Xewington, a lilicrty to erect at their own cust a //o/'.sr lioiise
somewhere in the commons, near said meeting house, and under the di-
rection of James Francis and Isaac Buck, as to the s{>ot whereon
said horse house is to stand." (2 Town Votes, 48.)
The first mention of a schoolliousc occurs in a vote passed at the
annual meeting of the society, held December 15, 172'.), when Ehenezer
Kilburn and Xathaniel Churchel were appointed "a committee to cover
the schoolhouse" and there was granted "four pounds to be raised on
polls and all other ratable estate, and laid out on the schoolhouse, by
the above said committee." This schoolh<iuse was presumably a near
neighbor to the meeting house. Xo other school is mentioned during
the ministry of Mr. Backus.
The grant of ten acres of land to ^i\: Backus has already been recited.
As his house was by the terms of the grant, to be built "immediately,"
it was probably erected that year, ITOo. Dr. Brace, in the appendix
to his half-century discuurse. says of it, "That house was standing when
I came into this place, and in it I have performed pastoral service. It
belonged to the Bobbins family, and stood on that rich swell of ground
directly opposite the dwelling house of Lowrey and IMartin Bobbins.
It went by the name of the "Backus house, because he was the only min-
ister that ever dwelt in it."
The convention of the General Association of Connecticut held its
annual meeting June IS, 1745, at that house. The ministers present
were Benjamin Colton, Moderator, pastor at West Hartford from 1713
to 1754, Abraham Xott, pastor at Centerbrook from 1725 to 1750, .Tacob
Eliot, pastor at Goshen from 1729 to 1700, Simon Backus, Elnathan
Whitman, Scribe, pastor of the seeand church of Hartford from 17-')3
to 1707, William Gaylord, pastor at Wilton from 170."; to 17(55, Ei)hraim
Avery, pastor at Brooklyn, in Pomfret. from 1735 to 1754. They passed
a vote, among others, that if ^Ir. George Whitetield "should make his
progress through this government, it would by no means be advisable
for any of our ministers to admit him into their pul])its, or fm- any
of our people to attend upon his preaching and administrations."
At a Town meeting, held December I-j, 1731, it was voted, "That
Kewington and Stepney parishes be henceforth released from paying
any part of the bell ringer's yearly charge." df Wc'h. Tnirn Voles.
76.) The town voted ^larcli 5, 1743-4, "That the present selectmen
THE MINISTER'S RATE.
773
draw out of the town treasury a sufficient sum of money to purchase
plank for two bridges over Piper's River, one near Woodbridge's farm,
the other in the highway between ilr. Elisha Williams' land and James
Francis'; and also for tlie bridge called Beaver l)ridge." (II ]Vcth.
Town Votes, l:]G.)
The second bridge was over the brook at the foot of the hill west of tlie
residence of Edwin WeUes. The tlrst was over the same bnxik west
of tlie former residence of the Atwood family, on the old rt)ad, now
abandoned.
The following minister's rate, in part, has come down to us, for the
year 1735, and the payments nia<le upon it in the year 1736. It shows
how the minister's salary was paid in those days, and that he was largely
his own collector. It is as follows :
Jr.,
Sec. 43.
Doctor Andriis,
Joshua Amlrus,
Will 111. Andrus,
Josiah Atwood,
Caleb Andrus,
Widow Andriis,
Tiiomas Buck,
Joseph Benton,
Thomas Beccroft,
Gamal. Bordman,
Jonathan Blin, Jan.,
Jonathan Blin, Sen.,
Mr. Richard Bordman,
Isaac Buck,
Pellatiah Buck,
Nathll. Churchill,
David Churchill,
Capt. Camp,
Widow Churchill,
Decn. Deming,
Lieut. Deming,
Josiah Deming,
The Min
istcr
s Ra
Ic, 11-33, in Part.
2
■ 0
0
Jo.seph Deming,
I
- 0
0
llez. Deming,
0
- 2
0
James Francis,
2
-10
10
Tliomas Francis,
1
-07
0
Bonj. Goodrich,
0
- 10
5
.Joseph Ilurlbut,
0
- 10
2
Charles Hurlbut,
2
- 13
5
Joseph Hurlbut, ,Tr
0
-Go
0
Josiah Hurluut,
1
-0+
0
Majr. Hun,
0
■ 14
5
SanrU Hun, Jun,,
0
- 15
1
David Hun,
2
-00
3
1
-00
11
Footed
1
-08
7
Gidn. Hun,
1
- 10
5
Henrf Kirkham,
1
-03
9
Ebenezer Kilborn,
2
- 19
5
Capt. Kellogg,
Josiah Rilev,
23
- 8
0
John Roilgers,
0
. 2
5
Joseph Root,
2
- 17
10
2
-14
2
2
- 10
4
£
0
17
5
I
-00
7
2
-l.j
0
1
15
6
1
-14
2
1
. 2
7
0
- 15
9
0
- 11
1
0
- 12
6
1
- 15
5
1
11
5
0
- 11
1
23
- 8
5
0
-13
0
0
•14
5
1
- 15
0
3
-15
9
0
-19
9
0
-08
8
0
- 19
1
Our limits do not permit of our giving, in full, as we should like to
do, the credit side of ^Ir. ISackus' rate book, but we cull from it a few
items to show liow a minister's rate was paid in those days, and that he
■was largely his own collector:
774
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Sec. 44.
Jan. 2d,
Jan. 2d,
Feb'y 13,
Feb'y 14,
Feb.
1735G.
1735-G.
1735-C.
1735-6.
20, 1735G.
Feb'y 25,
Feb.
Feb'y 29,
March 24,
April 21,
April 21,
April 21,
April 23,
May
May 8,
May 8,
May 8,
May 17,
1735-G.
1735-6.
1735-6.
1735-6.
1736.
1736.
1736.
1736.
17S0
1736.
173G.
173G.
1736.
May 19, 1736.
April,
1736.
July,
Latter end,
Oct. 17,
1736.
1736.
Oct. 28, 1736.
' Payments on Rate, 1~SS. £
Josiah Killxnn, Crodit. To 3 Bushels of Indian Corn, 0 - 12
David C'huioliill, Credit, To weaving a piece of Town
Cloth, 0 - 15
Tlion received of the CoU'tr., Gamaliel Bordman,* 1 - 17
Jonatlian Blin, Credt. to 4 B. and half oats, Wc. wth.
former credit. 0-11
closes his rate, and balances all accts. betueen us.
Jonathan Blin, Jiin., Credit.. To bringing 3 hundred
of hay from town, wc. is to go towards pasturing
his calves la; t year, o - 1
Bavill Syniou[r], Credt., Ye wliole of his rate, 1 - 1
.Male [Gamaliel] Bordman [the Collector?], Credt., 0 - 5
Josiah Kilhoni, Credt., To a par of shoes, 0 - 9
Sargt. Woren [Warren]. Ciedt., To 4 Bushels of
Indian corn in ye eare, 0-9
Ephrm. Whaples, Credt.. To part of the price a gun,
ye whole of his rate, 1-8
To Daniel Wright. Credt.. To half a day, mending
fence,
David Wright, Credt., To one Bushel of oats.
And to sowing and harrowing al)0ut one acre of oats,
and plowing my garden,
Joseph Deming, Credt., To one day, memling fence,
Sargt. Woren [Warren], Credt., To hnlf a peek of seed
com.
And to his son's making a pair of shoes for Xabe.
•Sargt. Woven, Credt.. To one day plowing
Henry Curkoni [Kirkham], Credt., "^j one day mend-
ing fence,
David Churchhill, Credt.. To one day mending fence,
with his team to dr.Tw posts,
Jlr. Deming, Credt., To two days and half plowing.
The Widow Andrus, Credt., To the Boot on exchange
between a three year old hetfer and a yearling calf, 2
Wc. with her former credt. clears her rate, and four
shillings and a penny over. wc. I am indebted to
her.
Ebenez. Smith. Credt., By Ephriani Whaples, ye
whole of his R., " i
Wc. is to go as so much paid towards ye gun wc. I
bought of Ephr'ni. And paid towards ye gun in
cash, JO
Ephrm. \Miaples, Dr., To some meal, 0
So y't 1 am indebted to Ephr'm Whaples towards
ye gun, 1
Joseph Benton, Credt., To 23 pounds and half of
beef, 4 pence per po\ind. o
Judah Wright, Credt., To half a day work, helping
in his father's Room, while he went wth. me to
father Edwards (meaning Rev. Timothy Edwards,
East Windsor) , 0-2
James Tryon, Credt., To one Dozn. & half pygins, 0 - 1
0
2
&
0
. 2
■ a
0
6
0
0
4 -
6
0
0 -
9
0
10 -
0
0
4 -
0
0
4 -
0
1 -
5 -
0
0
0
2
0
7
6
7
10
REV. SIMON BACKUS.
775
Aug.,
1736
Sept.
25, 1736
Oct.,
1736
Oct.,
1736.
0 -18
0
13
6
0
12 -
0
0
5 -
8
0
5 -
0
0
4 -
0
1
0 -
0
Oct., 1736. Decn. Whittelsey, Crefit.. Towards his rate next
Jlarch, on account of Hannah Grout's spinning
for my wife,
Oct., 1736. Jonatlian Wriglit, Credt.. On Ephriam Whaples, his
acct. \vc. witli liis former credt. clears his K. Same
is to go as so much paid to Ephriam Whaples,
towards ye gun wc. I bought of liim, so y't yre.
is due to him,
Sergt. Abraham Woren. Credt., To his wife knitting
two pair of stockings.
Judah Uright. Credit., Towards his rate, to one day's
work of Reuben, ne^ro. to making hay
And to one of mowing.
Sergt. Buck, Crodt., To 12 pounds of beef,
And to cash,
David Wriglit. Credt., To part of a day's work, by
Henry Curcom, and team, at gathering com, 0-4-0
* Chosen Collector, Dec. 15, 1735.
'Rev. ^Ir. Backus was appointc<l bv Gov. Jonatlian Law as Chaplain
to the Connecticut troops, which were engaired in the siege and capture
of the City of Louislmrii-. on Isle Cape Breton, in 1745. He must
have sailed from X. London with the troops who were to embark ''in
a verv few days." On December 27, 1743, he prr^nchod at Louisburg
to the troops from Dent. XXX, 10 : "'I call heaven and earth to record
this day against yon, that I have set before yon life and death, blessing
and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both taou and thy seed may
live," a text undoubtedly appropriate to the time, as owing to the un-
healthy climate and unsanitary sitmition great mortality prevailed
among the troops. This may have been his last public message to the
dying soldiers, under his charge, for after closing the eyes of many a
son of Connecticut in deatli, he himself fell a victim to the prevailing
sickness, and died February 2, 174.5-6. His personal effects were
shipped on board of a vessel for Xew England, which foundered on the
voyage, and all was lost. !Mrs. Backus presented a memorial to the
General Assembly, at its !May session, 1746, setting forth a loss of
£300 by the shipwreck and that body granted her £100 at that session,
and £200 at the following October session-. The Xewington society
recognized him as its minister up to the date of his decease, as appears
by tlie following receipt recorded upon its record book.
"Xewington, Xovombr. ye 27, 1746. Then received of Benajah
Andrus, Collector, the full sum of the rate for the year 1745 ; I say
received by me.
"EUXICE BACKUS."
776
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
From ^Mairli 2o, l~-iC>, till ^Ir. Beldeii began to preach on ^lay 10,
1747, Xewiiigton had only a temporary supply for its puljiit. Kev.
Elisha Williams supplied the vacancy till the annual mcotiiii;: in
December, 174G. and how much longer cannot now be told. ^Irs.
Backns continued to reside in Xcwington for some years after her
husband's death, and then removed to the home of her father in East
Windsor, where she died June 1. 17SS, aged 84 years. Of ^Ir. Backus
as a minister, Dr. Brace says: "Frcim all the testimony which I have
found, I am convinced that ^Ir. Backus was a substantial, orthodox,
plus minister, that gave good satisfaction to the people during his
ministry."
Kev. Stephen [Mix, pa-^tiir at Wetherstiehl, died August JS, 17-'3S, in
the 44tli year of his ministry, and the Bev. Simon Backus preached his
funeral sermon, and that society voted March 8, 1709, to print the ser-
mon if a copy could be obtained.
Neivinfjfoii's Earlj MU'itnrij RcronJ. — During the ministry of Bev.
Simon Backus, occurred the war between England and Sjiain. War
was declared in 17o9, and on ^^farch 4, 1744. France also declared
war again>t England. Of cciurse. England's Aui'-rican ( 'olouies were
involved 'u the dangers, and llieir military service demanded l)y this po-
litical emergency.
A trainband or military comjtany was organized at Xewington meet-
ing house, October 18, 17l'^^ by the choice of John Cami> as Captain,
EpiiRAiii De.mixo, Lieutenant, and BiniAiin Hoaudmax, Ensign. This
first company in Xewingtun included Becklcy Quarter, au<l was the
fourth in the Town of Wethersfield, there having been two in tlie first
society and one in Jiocky Hill jirior to this time. Those on the muster-
roll in Xewington had been previously attached to the Xorth or Second
Company of the tirst society. These three officers Avere jirominent
among the early settlers. Capt. Camp died February 4, 1747, in his
seventy-second year. lie left a sou, John, born in 1701, who was
deacon of the church from July 2, 1701, to his death, July 27, 17S2.
He lived in a hou~e west of the residence of the late Shubael Wha]>los.
Lieut. Deming died Xoveud>er 14, 1742. in his .j7th yar. EnsigTi
Bordman became a lieutenant. ( See B. Genealogy.)
Capt. Mariin Kellorig, -J v. — The second Captain was !Martix Kel-
■LOGCr, appointed in October. 17o5. He was born Oct. 20, IGSG, the son
of Martin and Anne (Iliii-'tdnh) Kellogg, and lived with his father
in Deerfield, ]Mass., v\hen that place was sacked by the French and
Indians, February 20. 1704. His father and four children, including
himself, were captured, and compelled to make the long march of 25
CAPT. MARTIN KELLOGG. Ill
days tliroiigli the snow to Canada. The chiklren in their captivity
learned the Indian huiguagc. The eldest daughter, Joanna, hecanie at-
tached to that mode of life, and married an Indian chief. The (ithir
three, ^lartin, Joseph and licljecca. became useful frequently afterwards
as interpreters, ilartin made his escape in ^lay, ITU."., and returned
to Deerfield with three other captives, after a journey in whieli tliev al-
most perished from hardshij), suffering and hungiu-. In August, 170S,
a scout of six men from Deerfield fell into an ambush uf Indians near
Cowass, about 100 miles up the Connecticut River. ]\Iartin Kellogg,
after shooting one of the enemy, was taken captive a second time.
On liis arrival at Canada, he and others were compelled to "run the
gauntlet" at the fort, Saidt an liecollet, or fort '"Oso," on the bank of
the Kiviere des Prairie, in ^Montreal. Tliis ordeal has been thus de-
scribed: "Two long rows of savages, armed with eluhs and hatchets,
were formed at the gate of the fort. Detween those the weary and
footsore captives ran for nearly three-quarters of a mile, the savages
mocking and striking at them as they ran. Tlien came the dreadful
pow-wow, when the poor sufferers were made to sing and dance roimd a
great fire, while their tormentors yelled ami shrieke<l.""' ^lartin Kel-
logg, according to the family tradition, had his toc-iiai!.-. pulled nut by
the roots, lie remained in captivity for several years, among the
French and Indians and learned the language of both. lie nuist have
regained his liberty by the year ITli', for in that year he petitioned the
General Court of Massachusetts for some compensation for the ransom
paid by him, which body passed the following resolution, Xovembcr 3,
1712;
'"Kesolved : That the sum of Twenty-five Pounds be allowed and
paid out of the public Treasury to ^lartin Kellogg of Deerfield, in
full of his petition for a Pansom, paid to obtain his liberty from the
Indians, expenees at Quebeck, and for the loss of his arms, (tc, being
taken prisoner when in her ^lajesty's Service."
In 1715, he presented a second petition for further remuneration,
as appears by the following resolution passed December 6, 1715, by
the Massachusetts Court. "'Upon reading a Petition of ilartin Kellogg,
Importing: That being an Inhabitant of the Town of Deerfield in
the time of the great Dcstructi(jn of it by the French and Indians about
twelve years since, and a great Sufferer both in the loss of his estate,
and in the hardship of a tediotis and long Cajitivity, from which by a
dangerous adventure he escaped, and has since been in the service, and
at all times shewed himself ready to serve his Country ; and humbly
'Alice Baker's I'vuc Htorirs nf .Y»:it England Captives, p. 241.
778
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSFIELD.
praying that the General Court will be pleased to consider his Cir-
cumstances, and make him such recompence as they shall think meet.
■'In the House of Representatives.
"Resolved : That the sum of Ten Pounds be allowed and paid out
of the Public Treasury to ^Martin Kellogg-, the Petitioner, in considei-a-
tion of his uncommon Bravery and Suffering in the Public Service.
In Council. Head and Concurred."
A treaty of peace between the belligerent nations was signed at
L'trecht, ^farch 30, 1713, and iCartin Kellogg, who had been, about
1712, released after several years of captivity, was married January
1.3, 1716, by Rev. Stephen :\Iix, to Dorothy (daughter of Stephen and
Dorothy) Chester, of "\Vether~field.' He took up his residence in Wetli-
ersfield, and was elected to office there in 1716. For a time he lived at
the Latimer place, next east of the Congregational church. Tn 1726,
he was appointed one of the committee to arrange the terms of Mr.
Williams' removal to Yale College. lie became a resident of Xewington
in 1734, and lived in the house built by the church for ^Nir. Williams,
where he died Xovember 13, 1753, in his sixty-eighth year.
In Xovember, 171-", he went to Canada as interpreter to the com-
missioners sent tlieic to negotiate the redemption of Eunice Williams
and other ea])tives.
In May, 1718, the Colonial .Assembly made him a grant of one hun-
dred acres of land, which he sold to Andrew Ilinman, who located
it on the west side of the Ilousatonic River. We ne.xt hear of liim in
a letter written by Gov. Talcott. ^May 28, 1728, to the General Assembly
of Connecticut, in which the Governor communicates to that body the
fact that ]\[artin Kellogg had brought from Boston the important news
that John Winthrop of Xew London had succeeded in obtaining a
judgment in his favor, made by the King and Council February 1.5,
1727 (8), in Winthrop's suit against Thomas Lechmere (4 Conn. IlhL
Soc. Col., 114). The royal decree reversed the judgments of the Con-
necticut Courts, which had been rendered in accordance with the Colonial
' The clue to the fact of liis coniing to Wetherstield. may perhaps be found in
his acquaintance with tlie Rev. .Jolin Williams, the minister at Deerfield, who was
Kellojrs's fellow captive in Canada. The Rev. Elisha Williams, after%vards the
first minister of Xewington, was the son of Rev. William Williams, of Hatfield,
Mass., v.ho was own cousin to tlie Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, and it is not
improbable that in some family visit to DeerfieUl. tlie Rev. Elisha may have be-
come acquainted with ilartin Kellnuc. Then. also, the Rev. Elisha Williams mar-
ried, in 1714, Eunice (dau'jrhtcr of Thomas) Chester, of Wethersfield, and became
pastor of Xewington parisii; and. in 171G, Martin Kellogg married Dorothy
(daughter of Stephen) C'holer— so that the two men married cousins. — See Chester
Genealogy.
CAPT. MARTIN KELLOGG.
779
statute of distribution of intestate estates. Wintlirop claimed to inherit
all the real estate left I>y his father, and that his sister, wlio married
Lechmere, was not entitled to any of it, although the Colonial statute
allowed her one-third part of such estate. The King and Council
decided that Wintlirop was entitled to inherit all of his father's real
estate by the law of England, which was paramount to the Colonial
statute. (7 CoJ. ncc, o'l.)
This decision practically nullified the Connecticut statute, and if
it had been regarded as settling the law, would have tmsettled a great
many titles, but it was never given effect outside of that particular case;
and in July, 1745, in the case of Clark against Tousey, the Connecti-
cut statute was sustained by royal decree, thus overruling the former
decree. (9 Col. Bee, 587, 593.) In ^lay, 173-i, upon the memorial
of Elisha Williams, ^Martin Kellogg and others, a patent of one htmdred
acres of land lying west of the llonsatonic was granted to them.
In October, 17oS. a considerable number of- strange Indians appeared
in the woods near Xcw Hartford, and as the inhabitants there could
not understaud their language, and knew not from whence they came,
nor what was their design, tliey wrote to Capt. ^lartin Kellogg, Oc-
tober 2-I-, 17-5.?, entreating him to come and disd.mrse with them, that
the people might know whether they dwelt in safety or not, alleging
that they were in such distress that they could scarcely eat or drink.
Capt. Kellogg, with two assistants, immediately went there and found
more than one hundred ^lohawks roaming the wilderness, who had come
from above the City of Albany, on a hunting expedition, with no hos-
tile intent. This information was imparted to the inhabitants, to their
great relief. This trip took six days, and the Assembly at its May
session, 1739, recogTiized the services of the three men by appropriating
£14, 145., in pa%nnent thereof, of which Kellogg received the lion's
share, £7, lO.s.
At the October session of the Assembly, 174^!, Rev. Elisha Williams
and Capt. ^Martin Kellogg were deputies representing the Town of
Wethersfield.
It ap])ears from an endorsement upon one of the sermons of Eev.
Simon Backtis, that he preached to the young people of Xewington,
at Capt. Kellogg's house, Xovembcr 3, 1741, the first part of the
discourse, as far as to page 30, and finished it at Gamaliel Bordman's,
December o, 1741, from Hosea VT, 4 and o, there lieing or> pages in all.
On ]k[ay 23, 174S, twelve Indian boys set out from Stockbridge,
Mass., to go to Xewington, to be under the care and tutelage of Capt.
Kellogg, under the following circunrstances. "Amidst all the trying
ySo
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
scenes of the war, etTorts wore not relaxed by benevolent Christians to
civilize such of the Indians as they coidd have access to. Jls-
pecially had efforts been made among the Stockbridge tribe. Owing
to hostilities it was not thonght advisable to set np a school at Stock-
bridge, although Mr. Isaac Ilollis of lligli Wycomb, Co. Bucks, Eng-
land, had made a donation for the sujiport of twelve boys,
"of heathen parents" to bo educated in "letters and husbandry."
It was therefore conchuled to engage the boys and to send
them into the settled part of the country, and thus carry out the l)enc\o-
lent purpose of Mr. Hollis. Accordingly, Rev. John Sergeant, the
missionary at Stockbridge, engaged Captain IMartin Kellogg of Xew-
ington, in Connecticut, to take and support the twelve boys, and thus
carry into etfect the object which had been for some time in contem-
plation. The boys having been selected, set out for Xewington at the
date above given. After they had spent a year under the direction of
Captain Kellogg, they accompanied him to their former hon^e, and
a favorable report was given nf their progress and civilization. Captain
Kellogg was selected as their tutor and governor, as he had knowledge
of the Indian language, having been twice captivated and carried a
prisoner to Caiuida in his youth.'' — Fnvirli oml Tn'^ian ^Var, p. 101,
by Sand. C Drake.
In Sheldon's JJccr/icId, it is said that these twelve hoys were in Capt.
Kellogg's house at Xewingtrm for three years, and that, at the time uf
his death, "he was employed by ilr. Isaac Ilollis to support and educate
at his charge, ■24- Indian boj's."
It appears l)v a memorial of his, dated ^lay 10, IT.'il, addressed to
the General Assembly, at its May session, 1751, at Hartford, that he
went to Stockbridge, in October, I'.oO, and that from the 27th of that
month he was "whdlly devoted to the instruction of the ifohawks, who
are come to him at Stockbridge; and hath accepted two-thirds of his
support from the Province of ^lassachusetts, at the rate of £.50 sterling,
per annum, and no provision is made for the other third part, but ho
undertook, relying on the goodness of the Colony of Connecticut to
supply the same" "" * * "That the number of Indians of tlie
Mohawks now with him to be instructed, together with their friends
who have the care of them, is between fifty and sixty, and he daily
expects more, there being a good report of their kind inception carried
hack to their own country." - * * That there are now at the
Carrying Place (from Hudson's River to Wood Creek),. a number of
Caughnawagas to whom he liuth sent an invitation to come in, in all
which he hath acted the more freely, having the countenance of the
MILITIA ORCiANIZATIO.V. /"'
Assembly of the Province, ami this Colony, and ~hall [>roceeil to invite,
and instruct them that come, as far as he shall have eiicourairenient
and supply in time to come. And further huuiLly pmpuses that it is
necessary to have a goo<l scholar there toleani the ^lohawk tongue,
and that one Indian and one ilohawk be educated at College, which with
an English scholar, will in time to come, be under peculiar advantages
to propagate knowledge and refute error among these dark nations.
And further also desires to know the pleasure of this -Vssembly whether
it will be agrcealde to have Ilendrick come with him to Hartford, and
one more chief with him, during tlie sitting of this Assembly."
Upon this memorial showing "that divers of the Indians of the Six
Nations attend him there, in order t(^ be instructed in reading and
the princijdes of the Christian faith,"' the Asseml)ly. "in order to en-
courage and promote so good a design," authorized a committee to ex-
pend, in conjunction with Kellogg, £-^50 more. This is the last vote in
the Colonial Records relating to Capt. Kellogg. His active life wa?
now drawing to its close. It is titting tliat this last public recognition
of his services finds him acting the part of a lienefactor to that race who
had done so much to endiitter liis early life. With true missionary
spirit, he thought otily of sujiplying tlieir material !i"d spiritual wants,
teaching the benighted Ued man, the ]n-inciples oi that Christian faith
which undoubtedly comforted his own heart when the grim messenger,
which comes to all, called him to go down into the dark Valley of
Death.
In 1739, the militia of tlie State was organized into thirteen regi-
ments and Wethersfield was included in the sixth. A draft of one-half
of the Newington muster-roll was made Jtdy 2, IT-ll. at one hour's
warning, of six officers and twenty-three privates. They were sent in
the expedition against the Spanish West .Indies. Their names were:
Ensign Robiort Wells; Sercit'anl Calkr AxDnrs; Drummer. David
Wright; Corporal, Joxatiiax Wiiaplk.s; Scrrfnnf, Samiel Church-
ill ; Corporal, Zkbulox Roiutixs ; Prirairs Samuel Huxx, Joxahax
Deverux, Thomas Stoddard, Zkrulox Stoddard, Xathaxiel
Churchilt., Daniel Williard. William Axdrus, Judah WRif;HT,
Hexry Kirkham, Joseph Axdru.s, Jedediah Atwood. Stedmax
Youngs, Eli.tah Axdrus, .Vdraham Warrex, Elisha Demixg, Jaxxa
Deming, Rex.tamix GooDRii'H. .ToxATHAX' Blixx, ^[artix Kellogg.
D.vviD CoLEAiAX, Thomas Ror.iuxs, Charles Hurlbut. Josiaii Whit-
tle.sey. Xo record remains of the military .service of these men in
that expedition, but the names of many of them survive in the subse-
quent records of the society and town.
782
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Among the forces from Connecticut tliat garrisoned Louislmrg after
its surrender, -with Eev. Simon Bacl^iis, ^vas Capt. Ei.izl'k GooDnicii,
of the 12th Company, who also was from Wethersfield. He was pro-
moted ^Major June 0, 174o, and Lieut.-Colonel, Octol>er 2ii, 1745.
Among the privates appear the following Xewington names : Thomas
EoBBiNs, Elisiia SroDDAnn. David Stodpakd, died Jamiarv 13, 174G;
Corp. Joseph Squii:k, died Fcl>niary 7, 174G; Giles Xott. died Janu-
ary 10, 174G; Pjni.Lip Sqiire, Eexj. DEMI^•G, Josiaii Bick, John
Blixx, and perhaps others. The expedition returned to Xew Loudon,
July 1, 1740. Thus Xewington responded to the calls of duty and
patriotism to Church and State to the full extent of its slender re-
courses. It gave up Ei.isha Wili.iajis to the cause of education, Eev.
Sijiox Backis to tliat of patriotism, it furnished in Kellogg a re-
ligious instructor to the ^Mohawk Indians, and sacriticed many valuable
lives in the constant wars with the French, Spanish and Indians.
It grappled with nature and made the wild wilderness a fertile field, it
built bridges and roads, a .meeting house and schoolhousc. It so
treated the Indians that no hostile encounter ever took place within its
limits, on the contrary for three years it provided a school for the in-
struciion of Indian hoys in tiie principles of Cliristian faith. Its in-
habitants were loyal to their convictions of right, "to God ami their
native land."
The Rev. Joshia Relokx. Pastor nJ^.7-]S0-J. — The third minister of
Xewington, was born at Wetlierstield, July 1!), 1724, the son of Silas
and Abigail (Rul)bins) Leiden; graduated at Yale College in 1743,
and began to preach in Xewington, May 10, 1747, as a candidate.
The society voted, June 15, 1747, to give him "a call to be our minister,"
and appointed a committee to treat with him "'about his salary and
settlement." On July 6, 1747, it -as voted to give him the use of
the parsonage ''so long as he is our minister, and preaches the
Calvinistical Doctrine, as is general at this day, preached among the
Dissenters." Also to give him yearly 8 cords of wood, while single;
and 16 cords "after marriage." A settlement of £1,000 was voted
August 10, 1747, to be paid in three annual and equal installments,
and £200 salary during the first three years. Also £57 were to be paid
him in grain after his settlement, for his yearly salary, and the price
of the grain so to be paid was regulated, viz. : ^Mieat at 4s. per
bushel, rye at 25., Sd., Indian corn at 2s.. oats at l.s., id. The society
agreed, September 7, 1747, "To choose a committee to appoint a time
with him for his examination and ordination ; and likewise to appoint
the fast, and tavern-keepers." The committee chosen were Capt. Josiah
THIKD PASTOR SETTLED.
78:
Willard, Capt. ^Martin Ivollogg, and Doa. John Deniing. The two im-
portant matters of "fast and tavern-keepers" were satisfactorily av-
ranged, and the new pastor sent to the society his formal acceptance
of their ''invitation to engage in this important and difficult work of
the gospel ministrj-." lie stated his willingness to forego the last
£100 of his settlement, lest the £1,000 might "occasion some dissatis-
faction;" "desiring nothing may be done but with a ready mind, hop-
ing for the blessing of God upon you and me in all our ways, and that
we may be built up in peace and love through faith unto salvation.''
The ordination took place Xovember 11, 1747, and the expenses as
recorded add lap £35, 2s., dd. ($120.30).
Mr. Belden's Church- Bccords, gives the following List of Church
Members, November 11, 17Jf7. — '"A list of the persons in full com-
munion in ye church in Xcwington at ye time of my taking ye oversight
of s'd church :
Dea. .John Deniinjj; and his wife.
Capt. Martin Kellogg and hi-* wife.
Capt. Jo.siah Willaril and liis wife.
Jeames Patterson and his wife.
Eliphalet Whittlccy and liis wife.
Mr. Josiah Jjeming and his wife.
Joseph ITurlbnt and his wife.
Samuel Churchill and his wife.
David Wright and iiis wife.
Jeames Francis and his wife.
David Churchil and hi.s wife.
L't. John Patterson and his wife.
Josiah Kilbom and his wife.
William Smith and his wife.
Ebenezpr Smith and his wife.
Joseph Andrus and his wife.
She propounded in Wethd.
Joshua Andrus.
Henry Kircum and his wife.
William Andrus and his wife.
Thomas Stoddard and his wife.
Wm. Wells and his wife.
Beavil Seymorc and his wife.
Thomas Liisk and his wife.
John Lusk and his wife.
She recommended from 0. C. W'd. {Old
Church ^Veth.)
Oliver Atwood and his wife.
Both recommended from W'd. 1st church.
David Woolcut and his wife.
Benjamin Goodrich and his wife.
Jj't. Ebenczur Kilbourn.
I'elatiali Buck.
John Camp.
Kliplialet Wliittlecy, .Jur.
.Ju.-eph Hurlliut, .Jur.
Zebulon Goodricii.
ifaniol Kilbovii.
Timocliy Goodncn.
Jedediah Atwood.
(Xamo erased here.)
Mrs. Chester.
!Mrs. Backu.s.
W'd. Camp.
W'd. Hun.
\^ "d. Hannah Dcming.
W'd. Grace Goodrich.
W'd. Kilborn.
W'd. Sarah Whai)les.
W'd. Sarah Whittlecy.
Elizabeth Stoddard.
Experience Warren.
Jemima Kellogg.
Mary Kellogg.
Honor Deming.
Hannah Andrus.
ilartha Hurlbut.
Abigail Stoddard.
Mary Willard.
The wife of L't. Robert Wells.
The wife of Caleb Andrus.
The wife of Thomas Andrus.
The wife of .Jonathan .Stoddard.
The wife of Gamaliel Bordnian.
The wife of Daniel Willard.
The wife of Benjah Andrus.
784
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETUKKSFIELD.
The wife of Elijah Andnis.
The wife of Jacob Whaples.
The wife of Timotiiy Andrus.
The wife of Gcorfre Woolput.
Tile wife of Zeliulon Stoddarl.
The wife of Robert Woodrough.
Amos liurlbut and liis wife.
Reconiiiieiided from Weatliersfield, 1st
church.
Joseph Wright and his wife.
Some Later Admifisions. — April y' lOtli, 17-tS, Gideon Hun, and
Lydia, y' wife of Saui" llichard.-. wove admitted to full conununion.
Deecni'' y° 11th, 174S, Solomon Wright was admitted to full com-
munion.
Feb"' y' 12th, lT4S-'.-t. .Sibil, y' wife of Joshua Audrus, was admitted
to full communion.
August y' loth, 1740, Timothy Judd and his wife, being recom-
mended from Kensington, were accepted to communion. At y' same
time, ^Villiam Lusk and his wife, recommended from y' church in
Meriden, were accepted to communion.
]\ray y' 20th, 17 JO, Anne Eelding, recommended from y' first church
in Weathcrsfiold, was accepted to communion.
Septem' y' 2-"3, 17.50, Thomas Richards and his wife, and Sam
Richards, recouuuended from y" church in Southington, were accepted
to conununion.
Jan' y' ?7, 1751, Xoah Stanley, rcconunended from y' 1st church
in Farmington, was accepted to comnnmion.
Note. — The foregoing records are found in the Patterson manuscript
in the Conn. Hist. Soc. rooms at Hartford, copied from the original
records of ilr. Eelden years ago, which are now lost.
Belief for Mr. Baclcus' Lo-as. — At the meeting held Septem-
ber 7, 17-17, to make the final arrangements for ^Ir. Reldcn's
ordination, the society also voted: "That Mr. Josiah Doming repre-
sent this society by a memorial exhibited to the General Asseml)ly, above-
said, to request some consideration for the loss of our minister, who
died in their service at Cape Ei-eton some time past." The memorial
to the Assembly, at its !May session, 174S, stating that ^Ir. Backus lost
his life while engaged in the public service as Chaplain at Louisbnrg,
and that the society was greatly burdened in paying the settlement
of their new minister, secured from the Assembly a grant of £150
out of the ]-iuI)lic treasurv, and tliis money was appropriated, in part,
to pay the installment of ]ilr. Belden's settlement.
Mr. Relden bought of Zebulon Robbins, February 14, 174S-!), a
tract of 75 J acres of land in Xewington, bounded east on common land,
west on highway, north on Ruliert Welles, and south on Richard Bord-
man. on which tract he made his home.
THIRD GENERAL DIVISION OF LANDS.
785
A Third General Division of Lands was made during the winter
of 1752-3, "according to the list of freehold estate given in to and
made up by the listers in said Wethersficld since the 20th of August
last, with the restriction that orphans and landlords should share for
their estates as if put in the list in their o-wn names " At a meeting of
the proprietors held June 29, 1752, a committee consisting of Jona-
than Eclding, Josiah Griswold and Timothy Wright were appointed
to lay out to each proprietor his part of the common and imdivided land,
according as the same should be first appraised by them, upon such
proprietor's making his choice.
At a meeting of the proprietors held January 15, 1753, the same
committee were appointed to lay out their rights in said land, to those
who refused to make choice for themselves.
The committee, on appraising the land, found that £37 was a moan
price per acre for the land, and accordingly laid out £37 worth of
land to every pound in the list. So that he who chose land appraised
at £37 per acre, had one acre to a pound in his list, and so in proportion,
and he who chose land valued at more or loss than £37 per acre, had
less or more than an acre to a pound in his list, proportionately laid
out to him. TuC connuittee by the aid of Air. Samuel Messenger, a
surveyor, hud out the lands into 29 tiers, which were divided into -136
lots, unto as many proprietors.
Loss of BecMeij Quarter and Sfanlei/ Quarter. — In October, 1753,
the inhabitants of Kensington, being divided in sentiment whether to
continue as one society or to be divided into two or more, sent a
memorial to the General Assembly, by John Hooker, and Isaac Lee,
as agents, asking for a committee to be appointed to hear all parties and
determine what was best, and make report to the Assembly.- That
body appointed Jonathan Tnimbull, Shubael Conant, and Jonathan
Huntington, a committee for tlie purpose mentioned, who gave notice
to N'ewington, Farmingtou first society, Aliddlctown first society, and
Meriden to appear by their committees on the third Tuesday of April,
1754, at Kensington, "to show reasons, if they see cause, why there
should not be some part of their adjoining parishes taken off from them,
to be added to the parish of Kensington, to accommodate the dividing
the parish of Kensington into several parishes." The Xewington So-
ciety, February IS, 1754, appointed Peletiah Buck, Josiah Kilborn
and Robert AVellcs to answer this citation and represent the society at
Kensington. The society also voted at the same meeting: "That we are
very loth to have our neighbors in Farmington separated from us, by
reason of the smallness of y' parish. But if it will be any ease for Ken-
786
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIKLD.
sington to have a few more added, we do agree rather to have that,
provided our meeting house comes no further west than y' front of
the lots, called the Fifty Acre Lots," or Mile-iu-Breadth. This conces-
sion did not avail. The committee reported in favor of a division of
Kensington into three parishes May IG, 17r)4.
The society then remonstrated against the acceptance <if this report,
and the ground of the hardship to Xewington to he depvi\ed of so
many of its inhahitants. The General Asseml)ly accepted the rc]3ort,
with material alterations, couiirming Bechley Qmirter to Kensington,
in consideration of £G0 to he paid to Xewington in three etpial annual
installments on May 1, 1755-6-7, with interest from June 1, 1754, and
establishing the new society of "Xew Briton," including the Stanley
Quarter. The act provided, "That the hounds of the parish of Kensing-
ton, for the future, shall extend no further north than to an east and
west line drawn across the bridge called Beacli Swamp Bridge, fi'oni
Wethersfield town line to Southington parish line, easterly l)y the
ancient line of said Kensington, including those two picc(-s of land
taken off from Wethersfield and ^Middletown," etc. Thus was defined
the line between Kensington and Wethersfield. The new parish of
New B^it"" w:'s bounded "south on the noith Uninds of Kensington
parish, easterly on Wethei-sfield town line, as far north as the unrtli
side of Daniel Hart's lot, where his dwelling house now stands," etc.,
thus defining tlic line between Xew Briton and AVcthersfield. Thus
Xewington was shorn of a large part of her territory and inhabitants,
which were permanently lost t(j her. Xew Britain has now become
a city , and Bcckley Quarter is a part of tlie society of Worthington, in
the Town of Bei'lin.
The French Vt'ar. — In the series of campaigns, extending from 1754,
(though war was not actually declared against Franco, until ^tay,
1756) to 1703. Xewington contributed largely of men and loyal ser-
vice. As it was, at that period, merely a parish of Wethersfield, the
record of its services and the names of its hardy sons who face<l the
dangers and hardships of a forest warfare against the French aiul tb(>ir
Indian allies, will be found in the muster-rolls of the companies made
up mostly of residents of Xewington, Stanley Quarter and Farmington,
under the command of Capt. Ei.i Wuittlksky, Capt. (Major) Joiix
Patteksox and Lieut. (Cai)t.) .Toiix Stmnki!. Each of these officers
had imdoubtedly seen service in the earlier Queen Anne's and George
the Second's wars; probably under the training of that veteran Indian
fighter, Capt. ^lartin Kellogg, who had died a year before the beginning
of the war, and of whom they proved to be worthy successors.
THE FRENCH WAR.
787
In the eainpaign of 17.5.3, Capt. .lon.x P.vTTF.nsox was in cum-
mand of the Fifth CV)in])anv of the First Eegiment. Tlis men -were
largely enlisted from the Towns of Wethersfield and Farmington. The
following members of his company appear to be Xewington men:
Sergf. William A>"dkl"s, Corporal Xatiiaxif.l CnuRcniLL, Caleb
WooLCOT, Caleb Hirleut, Daniel Wrkjht, Eitiraim Wiiapples,
Giles Kilbourx, Henry Kirkiiam, Job Andrus, John BKLinNo,
James Lusk, John Squire. Iaoger Andrus. — State ArcJiircs, War,
y, Doc., 208.
The name of Eli Wiiaples also appears in Col. Eliphalet Dyer's
Company. Doubtless other names in the various muster rolls of tliat
campaign Avere those of Xewington soldiers. And the same may he
said of those Avho were engaged in the other campaigns of that war.
In the campaign of IT.")!"), he eonunanded tlie Tliird (Xewington)
Comiianj- of the Tliird Ilegimenl nnder Col. Xatlian ^^^liting, at
Fort William Henry. Those from Xewington in his company seem to
bo the following:
David Andris, Sergt.. enliste<l .Mairli 2C>, disciiargcd Dee. ') :
Xatiianiel CiiURCiiii.L, Clerk, enlisted \pr. :>, discharged Oct. :]0 ;
Eliiiu Andrus, enlisted ^larch ."JO. discharged Dee. -2 ; Elisha An-
DRUS, enlisted Apr. .'l, (died) Dec. 7; .Vhkaiiam Hills, enlisted Apr.
2, discharged Oct. 20; Thomas Lisk, enlisted March 27, discharged
Xov. r.o.
In October, 17oG, his company at Fort William Henry consisted
of thirteen officers and fifty-three privates, according to his certificate.
During the later years of this war (1700-0.3), Capt. Patterson was
actively engaged in command of the 4th Company in the 4th Regi-
mcnt, and especially in the unforttinate "Havaiui Expedition," in which
he, as well as 39 out of his onipany of 'i■^ men, lost their lives, by
pestilence. — See the muster-roll on pp. 412-41 :>. He was probably the
father of ^laj.-Gen. .Tohn Patterson, of Ilevolutionary fame. — See p.
ante, o24.
The following names were inadvertently omitted from the end of
the muster-roll of Capt. Patterson's Company at Havana, 1702, when
page 413 was printed: William Andrus, March l.">, deserted; Eliakim
Morrills, ^March 1,">, deserted; .Toseph Bunel (Bunnel '.), !March l.j;
Dec. 5; Gideon GofTe, ^larch 15; Dec. .5.
And Johnson Cleveland, John Gordon, Joseph Skiner, Arphenas
Skinner, Eenjamin Carrier, Peleg AVelden (AVeldon), John iloor,
Jona. Ilandley, Abel Garnds, Jeremiah Daley — never joined.
The third of this trio of worthy officers, John Sumner, first appears
/<-'" HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
of record as a First Lieutenant of the Ttl: Company, in the First Regi-
ment; but, in 17C0, signs the pay-roll (see ante, p. 410) as Captain.
lie may have been of Stanley Quarter, or Farmington.
Capt. Whittlesey, son of Eliphaler, Sen., and son-in-law of Capt.
Martin Kellogg, was born in 1714, and served steadily throughout the
campaign of 1750-00, under Gen. L^^uan, as captain of the 5tli and
10th companies of the First Eeginicnt, and the Cth in the Fourth
Regiment of Colonial levies. He died in 17SG, at Washington, Ct.,
whither ho had removed from Xewington, in 1772.
Lfmuel Wiiittelsey, above mentioned, was the son of Capt. Elipha-
let \\^iittelsey, and married, November 15, 1764, Hannah Welles, the
daughter of Capt. Robert Welles, the first settler of that name in
Newington, and the sister of Robert Welles, Jr., whose name is
also on the above roll. These two young men were eighteen years old
in this campaign, (the age of service being then from 10 to 00,) and both
became pi-ominent in the affiairs of the church and society. RonEUT
Welies, Jr., became a captain.
Capt. John P.vttersox, of Stanley Quarter, was probably the son
of James Pattei'son who died in 17SG.
School D'tniricls in Berlin. — There were three School Districts in
the territory which was afterwards incorporated as the Town of Berlin,
which districts were duly incorporated by the General Assembly,^ and
were known as the South District, the Beckley District and the Island
District. To the last two districts some territory' in the present bounds
of Xewington was afterwards annexed, so that the history of Xewington
is intimately interwoven with that of these two districts. These dis-
tricts were abolished in 1799, but were re-established by the School So-
ciety of Worthington with some changes in their boundaries. For a
century the extension of these districts into Xewington was a source
of irritation and controversy.
This Beckley school district not only embraced Beckley Quarter,
which had been annexed to the Great Swamp Society in October, 1715,
but also a tract of land extending east of that tract for three-quarters
of a mile, and running north from the ^Middletown line to the north end
of Beckley's farm, thus including the south part of the east tier, and
perhaps a quarter of a mile off of the west end of the tiers adjoining on
the east. When the two societies of Kensington and Xew Britain
were established in May, 1754, Beckley Quarter was retained
by Kensington, and when Kensington was again divided into
•Soiitli School District.— r-o/. flic, XTX. 3.t; Beckley School District, Col. Rec,
XI, 79, 80; Ishind School District, Slate Recs., II, 54.
BERUN INX'ORrOUATED.
789
the two societies of Wortliington and Kensington in October, 1772, by
a north and soiitli line, Bccklcy Quarter was retained by the East So-
ciety of Worthington, and when the Town of Berlin was incorporated
in May, 1785, it embraced Beckley Quarter, as a part of AVorthington
Society. The east part of the Beckley school district is now in Bocky
Hill, as it embraced more territory than Beckley Quarter as origiiuilly
annexed to the Great Swamp Society, in 1715.
Berlin Ineorpnratcd a Town, May, 1785. — The three ecclesiastical
societies of Kensington, Xew Britain and Wortliington, were incorpor-
ated into the Town of Berlin, by the General Assembly, at its May
Session, 17S5. As a part of its territory at one time belonged to 1sq\\-
ington, as already related, it is of interest to know what the exact limits
of the new town were, as defined in its act of incorporation. It states
them as follows:
"That the limits and bounds of said Town shall bo as follows, viz. :
To begin at the l^^orth East corner of the Society of i^ew Britain, thence
Westerly and Southerly in the line of said Society until it comes to
the Xorth East corner of the town of Southington, thence in the line
of Southincton to Wallingford Xorth line, thonf'e Easterly on Walling-
ford Xovth line iiatil it comes to the town of I\Iiddletown, thence
Northerly in ]\Iiddletown West line \mtil it comes to the South West
corner of John Kirby's home lot, thence Easterly in the South side
of said Kirby's home lot to the West side of the highway that
leads to Samuel Galpin's dwelling house, thence Northerly on the West
side of said highway to the road running East and West, thence Easter-
ly in the South side of said East and West highway to the middle of
Kirby's Bridge, so called, thence Northerly as the river runs to Weth-
ersfield, thence as the Easterly and Northerly lines of that part of the
Society of Worthington lying in said Wethersfield run, till they come
to the East line of the Town of Farmington, thence Northerly in the
East line of Farmington to the first mentioned bounds." — (3 State Rec,
47-8.) It is to be noticed that this northern boundary only included
so much of the territory of Wethersfield as had been formerly annexed
to the ecclesiastical society of Kensington. The lines of the Beckley
school district were ignored, and that part of that district not included
in the former Kensington Society and located east of Beckley's farm,
was not included in the Town of Berlin. That part of the Beckley
school district not included in the Parish of Kensington, and lying
east of Beckley's farm, was thus described in the act incorporating that
district, —"viz. : a line drawn East from the North East corner of
Beckley's farm three quarters of a mile, and a line drawn South from
790 HISTORY OF AN'CIEST WETHERSFIELD.
the East end of said line to the line dividing between Wethersfield and
iliddletown." This particular tract was not included in the Town of
Berlin, being three-quarters of a mile wide east and west, and adjoin-
ing Beckley's farm on the east, b\it was included in the Town of Rocky
Hill, incorporated in 1843. — (IV Prl. Laws, 1270.)
The Second Becldey Secession. May, 119Jt. — A memorial, dated April
27, 1793, and signed by Thendore Beckley, Solomon Beckley, Enoch
Kelsey, Richard Beckley, Luther Porter, Daniel Andrus, Aziel Beldeu,
Hannah Beckley, Aaron Porter. Joseph Richards and David Webster,
was presented to the General A>sendily, at its ^lay Session of that
year, praying to be annexed to the Sociery of Worthington, in Berlin,
"relative to Society and schooling ]inrposes." The petition set forth
at considerable length the ditticulties that encompassed them. Theodore
Beckley was a native of Worthington. but lived in the Stepney parish,
six miles from the meeting house there, and only two miles from that
of Worthington, where he atten<led ptiblic worship, and was a meml>er
of the church. Solomon Bct-kley. Luther Porter and two others lived
in Wethersfield "in a corner," and were uncertain to what society they
did belong. Daniel Andrus, Richard Beckley, and widow Hannah
Andrus; wiih Aziel Belden, were under about the same difficulties, "sev-
eral of their dwelling houses standing within ten, and none more than
eighty rods from said Y\'orthington parish line, and about two and
half miles from the meeting house therein."' Enoch Ivelsey lived near
the southwest corner of the Xewington Society, about four miles from
the meeting house there, "without any open road thereto, unless by
going about six miles around, having a large family, is necessitated to
attend public worship with the people of said Worthington, within
about two miles of his dwelling house, whereunto is a good open high-
way, paying taxes there voluntarily for his privilege, and obliged also
to pay a full proportion of all taxes to the said Society of Xewington,
annually, by his hotise standing not fifteen rods from said Berlin line."
This petition was served ^fay, 5. 17U3, upon Wethersfield First So-
ciety.
Another motive of the petitioners, not mentioned, however, in the
petition, may have been to get rid of the tax for building a new meet-
ing house in Xewington, Avhich had been so long agitated, and was
bound to come sooner or later.
The Xewington Society determined May 13, 1793, to oppose this
petition, but their opposition was of no avail, for at its ilay session,
1794, the Assembly granted the prayer of the petitioners, and fonnally
annexed to the Town of Worthington, a tract of territory which reached
SECOND BECKLEY SECESSION. 79^
noi'tli of Ecrlin town line aboni a half mile, and east from Farmington
line a mile and one-lialf, also east of Beckley's farm so as to inclnde
the south part of the "Kasf Tier" adjoining, to the ^liddlctown line,
as well as a conrignoiis part nf ilic tlrst and second tiers. This annexa-
tion was not to the Town of Berlin, hut to the Parish of Worthington,
"for parochial purpose incirlij." The ])art east of Bcckley's farm is
now in Rocky Hill. The north and east lines of this territory in Xew-
ington are still the boundary lines hetueen the two Ecclesiastical So-
cieties of Xewington and "Worthington, and the old road under Cedar
ilonntain is the east line of the Xewington Society, while the north
and west lines thereof are coincident with the town lines.
The AYorthington Society, on September 16, 179-1-, took action which
resulted in the establi.shuient of two school districts out of the annexed
territory, viz.: Enoch Kelsey, Elisha iJunham and Abel Ellis, with
their respective farms, were annexed to the Island district, and that
the remainder of the new territory was annexed to the Beckley district.
Parochia or ParisJi signifies, in this act of annexation, the Ecclesias-
tical Society of Worthington, witli territorial bounds, which had con-
trol, in 1794, of Ecclesiastical or C'lnirch affairs, which also then in-
cluded school affairs. In ]7!i.">, riie Scliool S'^'^i'^^y (^f Worthington
was carved out of the Ecclesiasiical Society, with the same boundaries,
by the public act of that year, relating to the avails of the Western
Lands.
By the constitution of ISIS, the powers of all such societies were se-
cured to thorn, but if any person shoidd choose to separate himself there-
from, he should "thereupon be no longer liable for any future expenses
which may be incurred by said Society." — (Const., Art. 7).
The lines between the two school societies of Xewington and Worth-
ington were re-establislied in 1S49, by the action of the two societies.
This line runs nearly oast from the Xew Britain town line to the
highway leading south from the residence of Jedediah Demiug, and
follows that highway south to the Berlin corner. The first fence run-
ning east and west north of the Church Street Burying Ground marks
the north line of this tract. It strikes the turnpike a little south of
the residence of the late Oliver Bichards. Christ Church and its ceme-
tery were located in the Worthington Society. This tract as far west
as Church Street was annexed to the "Beckley" or Seventh school dis-
trict of Berlin, and that part of the tract west of Church Street, com-
prising some 200 acres, was annexed to the "Island," or Sixth school
district of Berlin, by vote of the Worthington School Society, passed
Ifi Sept., 1794.
792 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
As early as ^May, 1799, an act was passed providing: '"That each
school society shall have fnll power to divide itself into proper and
necessary districts, for keeping their schools." — (Rev. Stat., ISOS. p.
581, Sec. 1.) Under this authority the school society of Xeivini'ton,
in 18-35, passed a vote creating a ne'.v district, called the South Er.st
School District. The north line of said district to run an east and
west course from the Soutlnvest district, ten rods north of the house
in which Eeubon AVlmples now lives : thence east to the Wethersneld
line; and to include all the inhahitants living south of said north line.
in Newington School Society.
After the school societies had become merged in the towns, the Tu-v\ti
of Wethcrsfield, in which the Xewington Society had been merged,
at a meeting held ^STovembcr 4, iSoo. enlarged this district by em-
bracing in its boundaries the greater part of the former southwest dis-
trict, as follows:
"Voted: That the north line of the Southeast school district of
Newington shall commence on the west, at the Xorthwest corner of
Amon Richard's home farm where it in'ersects with Xew Britain town
line, and run easterly on the said Richard's nortli line to a highway,
thence in the same direction on the line of said Amon and Oliver Rich-
ards, to the present west line of said district, including all the property
south of the above described line, not included in other districts."
School societies were abolished and their powers merged in their re-
spective towns in 1S5G. — (Session Lairs of 1S50, Ch. 41.) Sec. o, of
Chap. 3, of that act provided that "Every school district heretofore
formed from parts of two or more toTN-ns. shall, for all school purposes,
belong to the town within which the schoolhouse of said district is now
situated," etc. As the schoolhouse of the Eeckley district was in the
Town of Berlin that district belonged wholly to Berlin for school pur-
poses and the same was true of the Island District. But the Xewing-
ton School Society was re-established in 1SG2. — (5 Private Lavs, 501.)
The second section of that act provided that: "Said Society shall em-
brace all that part of the tovra of TVethersneld not included in the
first society." This excluded the To'mi of Berlin from thereafter ex-
ercising any power or authority under or by virtue of the Resolution of
May 22, 1794, in that part of the old TVorthington School Society
which was situated within the boundaries of the new school society of
Newington. But this act did not affect the boundary lines of the
Beckley and Island school districts, which still embraced territory in
Newington, as already defined. These separate school districts, exer-
cising a jurisdiction in Xewington, which was centrally located in
SCHOOL SOCIETY CHANGES.
793
Berlin, niiicle no little trouble to the residents of the Southeast school
district of XeA\ington. ^vho desired to enlarge that district by the an-
nexation of this foreign territory thereto, and thus obtain some relief
from the burden of taxation which was heavy whenever any extra-
ordinary expense, like the building of a schoolhouse, was incurred.
At a special town meeting held in Xewington, February 2G, 1S7G,
the school district nunilier seven of Berlin, known as the Beckley dis-
trict, was divided ; ""and that the part of said district lying in this town
be, and is herel>y, annexed to the adjoining school district of Xew-
ington, known as the fourth or southeast district. Doubts prevailing
as to the validity of this vote, it was approved by the General
Assembly, and the southeast school district, since ISSO, has em-
braced all the territory in Xewington, formerly a part of the Beckley
school district of Berlin. Xo change, however, was made in the Island
district. In 1S72, the Xev\ington School Society was again abolislied,
and so much of the First School Society of Wethersrield as was situated
within the town lines of Xewington was also abolished, and both
merged in the Town of Xewington. — (7 Special Laws, 301.) In tlie
autumn of 1S9S, the various school districts were consolidated, .under
■the authority of Section 219o, of the General Slatnies, into oue dis-
trict, with botnidarics coincident with the town limits. Thus the whole
to^^•n of Xewington is now one school district.
Worthington School Districts Abolislied, October, 1709. — Upon the
petition of certain inhabitants of Worthington School Society, in the .
Town of Berlin, the three previously existing school districts of the
Worthington School Society were redivided with lines somewliat
changed. The Beckley district was afterwards kno"^vn as the Seventh
school district, and the Island district as the Sixth school district, but
as the Town of Berlin has consolidated its districts, all these lines have
been abolished and these districts will hereafter exist in name only,
unless the to^ra should resume the district system.
The changes and depreciation of the Continental currency during
the war, led to much difficulty in the settlement of debts, contracts and
salaries, and was the subject of much Xational and State legislation
after its close.
The Xewington Siiciety records show that Mr. Belden's salary during
the years 1777-1779, was adjusted by a committee appointed by the
society and by ^Ir. Bcldcn, who mutually agreed that he should
be paid £100 in addition to what he had already received, which agree-
ment was ratified by the society April 2, 17S2.
794 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Mr. JosKPii CAiip and Mr. Uaxif.l Wili.ard, Ji;., had taught school
during the same three years, and the society also appointed a com-
mittee to settle with them what additional sum should he paid them.
The society voted, Xovember 7, 17S1, £7 to ilr. Camp, and £01, 9s.
to !Mr. Willard to make up tlio deficiency due to them. The same trouble
arose in the payment of the various rates or taxes and votes were passed
to remedy the difficulty as far as possible.
Schools. — At a town meeting, held December 29, 1747, liberty was
granted to the Parish of Xewington to get eight loads of tirewood for
the school off of the Commons. — (II Weill. Town Votes, II, 140.) This
gratuity was afterwards increased to ten trees for firewood. It may be
presumed that these ti'ees were of good size. The society voted, De-
cember 5, l74rS, "That Thos. Robbins procure a lock for the school-
house door, and be paid for it out of the Society Treasury," which
shows that there was only one schoolhouse then in the society; but
the school was sometimes divided and kept in different localities. This
same meeting voted : "That the school be divided, to be kept three
months in the ^liddle of the Society, six weeks at the West Side
(Stanley Quarter), and six weeks at the Xorth End.'' It was voted,
December 4, 1749 : "That the school he kept part of the time near
Serg't Thomas Francis', and part of the time near ]\Irs. Backus'."
And December 3, 1750: "That the school shall be kept all the time in
one jilace, near about Thomas Lusk's, [who lived next neighbor to
Ephraim ^^^laples], near the Gi'een at the center." On December 2,
'1751, the vote was: "That the school shall be kept in this Society
six months the year ensuing, the school to be kept four months and
a half in the schoolhouse, and six weeks of the time in some place at the
West Side of the Society." Joirx Camp and Joseph IIurlbut were
appointed collectors of the school rate, "raised upon the polls the
year past." As John Camp, lived in the north part of the society,
he collected the school rate of those who lived north of the center.
The following; is his school-rate for 1751 :
Polls. £ s. d.
Polls, f s. d.
Willm. Wells,
3
1
-13 -
0
Thomas Stoddard,
0
- 11 -
0
Gideon Hun,
2
1
- 2 -
0
Thomas Francis.
0
- U -
0
David Wolcot,
1
0
-11 -
0
Amos Hurlbiit,
0
-11
0
Zebulon Stoddard,
1
0
- 11 -
0
Pelatiah Buck,
0
-12
0
Daniel Willard,
1
0
- 12 -
0
Saml. Hun,
0
-11
0
Joshua Andrus,
Joseph Deming,
3
2
1
1
-13
Q
0
10
- 9
0
Jacob Whaples,
1
0
-11 -
0
NEWINGTON SCHOOL MAITERS. 795
Joseph IIuki-iiut collected the scliool rate south of the center. The
sum of £20, "s., ScL, had heou ordered raised on "the polls of them that
Avcnt to school," so that each collector collected ahout one-half of the
sum total. On Deconihcr ;!. IT.'):'!, it -was voted: "That the school be
kept six months at the sch<iolhousc, and two months over the West side
of the Society." As Stanley Quarter was annexed to Xcw Britain in
1754, the Avords "West Side" thereafter disappear from the records.
On August -3, 175C, it was voted: "That, after the present year, the
school in this society shall be kept into two parts, and the one part to
be kept yearly, as near the dwelling house of Daniel Willard, south-
wardly, as may be; the other near the dwelling house of the heirs of
the Rev. ilr. Simon TJackus ; and that each of said schools shall be
kept not less than three months, annually, Iw a school master; and
also, that each of said schools shall have their equal part of the Country
]\[oney and Loan ^[oney for that purpose ; and that if any schoolhouse
be built at said places, it shall be at the charge of particidar persons,
and not at the charge of this society." This vote shows that the school-
house at the center was no longer use<l. There is no further mention
of it, and it had doubtless gone to ruin. The vote also proves that
there were not yet seventy families in the jdacp, as there is only a
six months' school ordered, to he kept in two parts, of three months each,
so that no scholar had over three moi\ths to attend school during the
year. It was voted, December ], l7r>7, that the school for the year
ensuing shovdd he kept six months, in two parts, one part at "the
T^orth End, at the new schoolhouse near Serg't Daniel Willard's, and
the other near about Xathl. Kirkum's." So that the second school-
house in the parish was erected in 1757, at the Xorth End.
It was voted, Decendx'r 1, 17^0: "That the school be kept the year
ensuing, three months in the winter season in two places, one at the
schooUunise near Daniel Willard's, and at the South End near the Wid.
Robbin's ; and that the school be kept three months in the summer at
three places, one at each end, and in the middle of the society, by a
school dame." This is the first mention of a school chime, and shows
an early appreciation of female teachers. Many of our best teachers
since have belonged to the gentler sex. This arrangement as to locali-
ties where the schools should be kept was continued for several years.
On February 15, 17G4, 10s. were voted to Charles Ilurlbut and Jona-
than Rlinn "for a house to keep the school in." And the same amount
to James Blinn for the same purpose, December 1, I7fi4. Interest in
the subject of education Avas growing, for December 5, 1708, it was
voted: "That the school be kept the ensuing year, four months in
796
HISTORY 'OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
the winter aiul ionv mouths in the sunniier. in the same places as usual,"
wliieli was an advance of tAvo months for the year.
On December 23, 1773, it was voted: "That two schoolhouses be
built by this Society by the Society's Cost,'' and a committee was
appointed to iix the places for them. A schoolhouse is mentioned at
the South End, for the first time, in the record of this meeting. One
had been authorized to be built ''by subscription," January 14, 1771,
"near Francis Demiini'ij home lot."' This must have l>een the third
schoolhouse in the parish. The Colonial Legislature, in Ootnlier. 17*36,
had passed an act relating to schools, in which it was provided (12
Col. Bee, 497) : "That each to^ni and society shall have full power
and authority to divide themselves into proper and necessary districts
for keeping their schools, and to alter and regulate the same from time
to time as they shall have occasion.'" Under this authority, the
society voted, December S, 1774: ''That the Xorth End of the
society, down as far as the J^orth side of Deacon Joshua Andrus'
common lot, to l>e a school district." This was the tirst in the parish.
At the same time it was voted : "To build n schoolhouse upon the
Society's cost at the South Wi'>t cunier of ilr. .Tolm Lusks" Int. near to
Capt. !}.Iartin Kellogg's house.'' This was nearly in front of the pres-
ent residence of Edwin AVelles near the traveled path, wliere is now
his drive-way, and was the fourth schoolhouse in the parish. At a
special meeting of the district, held Xovembcr 23, 1854, it was author-
ized to be moved to the present school yard, which was conveyed to
the district by Edwin "Welles. It continued the schoolhouse for the
Middle district luitil it was sold by auction to Edwin "Welles, !March
24, 18S3 ; a period of about 108 years. That summer a new brick
schoolhouse was erected on the same school yard, and was formally
dedicated August 11, 1SS3. This yard furnishes a large playground
for the children.
At a society meeting held !March 10, 17S3, it was voted: "That the
society should be divided into three school districts by a committee now
to be appointed for that purpose." Capt. Gad Stanley of Xew Tlritain,
Gen. Selah Hart of Kensington, and John Eobbins, Esq.. of Weth-
ersfield were the committee. Their report was, April 14, 1753, ap-
proved by the society. Since that date there have been three school
districts in the society, and a fourth was added in 183.5, created by
the school society from the South district, and called the Southeast
district.
The society voted, April 20, 1783: "To build two schoolhouses
upon the society's cost, the Xorth one in the most convenient place at
NEWIXGTON SCHOOL MATTERS. 797
or near the mouth of 'Guinea's Lane,' and the other in the most con-
venient phicc against a little piece of land granted by the to\\Ti to
Billy Elin," to be 25x20 feet in size. "Guinea's Lane" ■was named after
a negro slave of that name who belonged to Dea. Josiah Willard, and
upon the latter's death, ]\Iarch 9, 1757, became the property of liis
widow, Elizabeth Willard. Slavery was not finally abolished in Con-
necticut till the act of June 12, 1S43. — {Acts of ISJ^S, Ch. 79, p. 70.)
It was voted, February 4, 17S1, that the school at the Xorth End
should be kept "the full four months, out at Guinea's house," for
which he was to be paid twelve shillings. They were soon built. On
February 4, 1785, the south schoolhouse was accidentally burned.
On October 29, 1787, it was voted: "To keep foiir months school in
each schoolhouse now standing, and also near where the south school-
house lately stuod, fur tlu^ year ensuing.'' A new schoolhouse author-
ized at tlie Sinith End, llccrmber 22, 17S9, was soon erected, at
a cost of £00. Xovcmbcr 8, 1791, it was voted "to keep four months
school at each schoolhouse or district, the year ensuing." And that was
the usual style of the vote thci-cafter. A school committee of one from
each district was yearly appointed.
In jMay, 1795, the General Assemldy ajipropriatcd for the support
of schools in the several societies of the State the moneys received from
the sale of the "Western Lands belonging to the State, amounting to
$1,200,000, by an act which recognized a distinct capacity in Eccle-
siastical Societies, relating to the sul)ject of schools, providing that the
legal voters in such societies should annually meet in October, as school
societies, to transact business "on the subject of schooling in general,
and touching the moneys" appropriated to their use by the act, while
the members of the several religious societies were to meet annually
in December "to transact any business relating to the ministry and
the public worship of God.'' but should "have no power to act on the
subject of schooling."— (Z?(T. Stat. ISOS, pp. 4:3, 44, 45.) Our so-
ciety continued their oversight of schools till October 3, 179G, when
the last votes relating to schools appear upon its records. The school
society must then have been organized, and have thereafter taken the
sole jurisdiction of the schools. But the record book of the school
society having been lost, there is a gap in the history of our schools,
which cannot be supplied.
A few memorials, however, have escaped the tooth of time, which
illustrate the mode of keeping schools and employing teachers a cen-
tury ago. !Miss Esther Latuier kept the ^Middle school two seasons,
if not more, and her school records are given as kept by her, as follov/s:
798
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Mr. Elijah Welles,
Mr. James Welles,
Mr. Iteuben Wliaplcs,
Mr. Fitoh Andrus,
Mrs. Jeniiuia Welles,
Mr. Roger Francis,
Mr. Justus Francis,
Mr. Robert Welles,
Mr. Absalom Welles,
yetcington Middle School, fiOS.
Scholars.
William Kirkliani,
Jonathan Kirkham,
Rachel Welles,
Ann Welles,
Cynthia Welles,
Aaron Lusk,
ilary Welles.
• Cefrona Welles,
Gaylor Welles,
Hannah Wliaples,
Harden Wliaples,
Anson Whaples,
Lucy Andrus,
Polly Welles,
Rojjer Welles,
Charlotte Welles,
Charles Francis.
Harvey Francis,
Abigail Welles,
Laurey Welles,
Neicington Middle Scliool, 1S02.
Attend. Weeks.
At ten'in lice.
S weeks.
1-3 weeks.
1.3 weeks.
13 weeks.
12 weeks.
10 weeks.
13 weeks.
il weeks.
11 weeks.
13 weeks.
10 weeks
2 weeks.
13 weeks.
13 weeks.
13 weeks.
13 weeks.
13 weeks.
13 weeks.
4 weeks.
4 weeks.
Scholars.
Charlotte Welles,
Sally ^VeIlcs,
Amanda Kclsey,
Joseph Kelsey,
Lemuel Hurlbut,
Betsy Hurlbut,
Norman Francis,
Alfred Francis,
Cj'rus Francis,
Electa Kellogg,
Sibbel Andrus,
Polly Holmes,
Sabra Kilbourn,
Sally Kilbourn,
Esther Latimer was the daughter of Luther Latimer. She died
December 14, 1S54, aged S3. It is probable that these two sohcxd
records represent summer schools, and that winter schools were usuallv
taught by male teachers. The following sidiscription paper illustrates
the method of employing female teachers for siunmer schools.
"Wethersficld, xsTewingtun Society, June 2d, ISOO.
"We, the subscribers, for the purpose of having a school set up and
kept in the ^fiddle School Ilotise in the Society aforesaid, to begin the
ks.
Scholars.
Attend. Weeks.
16.
Betsey KillKuirn,
16.
16.
Prudence Howard,
5.
13.
Jennet Kirkham,
13.
7.
.\nson Andrus.
2_
4.
Ira Andrus,
9.
6.
^Martin Bedie,
14.
2.
So])hia I.attimer,
15.
15.
Polly Hurlbut,
7.
2.
Sallj- T.ooniis,
13.
13.
Harry Looniis,
12.
15.
Belda Calkins.
8.
6.
Ebenezer Calkins,
9.
8,
Harry Calkins,
13.
14.
Belle" Kclloojr,
4.
CHURCH MUSIC. 799
first week in June instant, and continue foiu* mouths, kept liy a
■woman, at the price of seven shillings per week, do hereby aiireo and
promise to pay our proportionable part of the cost of said school, ac-
cording to the number of children we shall send, and the time they
attend; the account of the children's attendance to be kept by the
schoolmistress ; and do agree to meet on Tuesday evening of the present
week at said schoolhouse, to appoint one or more of the subscribers to
agree and contract in the name and behalf of us, the subscribers, with
a woman to keep said school, and at the close of said school to adjust
the said school accounts, and make out each subscriber's part thereof,
and receive and collect the same, and pay over to the said schoolmistress.
Witness our hands :
John Kirkham. Lemuel Holmes. Itojrer Francis.
Edward Howard. Simon Kilbourn. JIartin Kellogg.
Jemima Welles. William Barnes. Ju.stns Francis.'"
Joseph Kollsey. Mabel Robbins.
Harry Brown. Samuel Loomis.
Church Music. — At its anuiuil meeting, December •>, 17S1, the so-
ciety voted to "do something towards the reviving of -singing amongst
us," and appropriated £•'> "tov.-ards defraying tlm mst of hiring: -'i
singing master." That Daniel AVillard, .Tnr., and .Tames "Well? were
a committee ''to procure and hire a singing master, and to apjuy the
abovesaid money."
A further appropriation, !March '), 1TS2, of 2'ys. ''out of the £35
voted to the schools in our last annual meeting, was made towards de-
fraying the charge of singing in this place; the singing committee to
apply the same."
The result of this action was evidently favorable, fiir on ]May 3,
1784, it was voted : "'To appropriate £4 of the Loan 3[oney, or other
monies that may be had towards hiring a teacher to instrtict the peo-
ple in this parish in the art of singing." The "Loan iloney" was the
avails of the sale of certain lauds in the western part of the State,
granted by the Legislature for the support of schools, at the May
session, 1741.— (S Col Bee, 388.) And that Daniel Willard, Jtm.,
Justus Francis, James Welles, David Lowrey and Amos A. Webster
were the committee "to hire the aforesaid teacher." It may be pre-
sumed that these men were the prominent singers in the society, and
most interested in the movement to "revive" the singing. This seems
apparent from a vote passed December 19, 1785 : "That Ei.izue
AxDRUs should be a chorister, in addition to those already in that office,
to assist them in singing." .Vs this is the first mention of a chorister,
8oo
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
"those already in that office" must refer to the singing committee above
appointed. An addition to these choristers was made December 7,
1789, when "ilessrs. Levi Wkli.es and Johx Kiekxiam were ap-
pointed choristers, in addition to those now in said office." December
5, 1791, £4 were voted to a committee, "to engage ]\Ir. William
KiLBOEN^ to instruct a singing school in this Society." Elizur Andrus
and Simon Welles were the committee. There was further appro-
priated March 13, 1792, "IGs. to Mr. William Kilbourn, in addition
to what was before voted, for the encouragement of singing." On Janu-
ary 5, 1795, it was voted : '"That this Society will raise £4 for the
encouragement of religious psalmody in this place." '"That jNIessrs.
Levi Lu.sk, Ashbcl Seymour, Justus Francis and Elijah Welles be a
committee to receive and apply the same to the aforesaid purpose, ac-
cording to the best of their discretion." The controversy over the
site of the new meeting house was now engrossing the attention of
all minds, and it would appear that the above mentioned committee
did not expend the appropriation made to them, for on December 3,
1798, there was voted : "$20, including the £4 heretofore voted, to re-
vive the singing in this place." "That Messrs. Levi Welles, John
Kirkham, Amos A. Webster, Justus Francis and Daniel Willard, Juu.,
be a committee to hire a teacher, and appropriate the said sum of $20."
After the new meeting house was finished and occupied, it was consid-
ered appropriate to further improve the service of praise, and there
M'ere votes passed, December 21, 1801, as follows: "That this society
will do something to encourage the singing in this society." "Voted.
To raise $15 on the list of this society, to encourage the choristers
to teach and encourage the singing; and to be disposed of by a com-
mittee," consisting of ^lessrs. Justus Francis and Levi Lusk. These
were the last votes on the subject diiring Mr. Belden's ministry. One
more vote, however, occurs before the ordination of Mr. Brace, passed
December 17, 1804: "That this Society raise ten dollars to support
the singing in this Society, and that the choristers be appointed to
lay out the money to the best advantage."
Such is the official record of our society during its formative period,
on the praise service of the church. Its attitude was always friendly
to the improvement of this part of the public worship. There is no
record of any dissension between the old and modern schools of church
singing, as occurred in some congregations. The fathers could contend
about the sites of the meeting houses, but when inside of them for
divine worship, they praised God with one heart and one soul, lifting
up their voices with "Old Hundred," "Mear," "Dundee," "China,"
NEWINGTON IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
80 I
"Wells," "Windsor," "Iloclicster," and others, and then listened to
long sermons and prayers from llicir spiritual gaiides, unfolding the
future happiness of the elect, and the dire doom of those finally impeni-
tent.
Newington in the Revnlutiunanj ir«/. — [ilr. Welles had prepared
a very full and interesting chapter on this period of Xewington's his-
tory; hut it was felt necessary and more in accordance with the general
plan of this Wethersfield history, that the military history of the sev-
eral parishes (as Xewington then was) sluudd he emhraccd, within
one chapter devoted to the subject of the American Revolution. In
doing this, however, we can assure our readers that great care has been
taken by the editor to incori)orate in that chapter every item of interest
concerning Xewington's share in that period of our Xational history.
The people of Xewington fully shared in the patriotic feeling, which
pervaded tlie country during this exciting period. In the Lexington
Alarm party of 115 men, who under the conunand of Capt. John Ches-
ter, rendezvoused at Wethersfield church on the 20 of Apl., 1775,
preparatorj' to their hurried march towards the scene of l^attle, were
many Xewington men, some of them old veterans of Queen Anne's
and the Old French wars, and some younger, but not a whit less ready
for the fray. Their names (as far as can be ascertained) will be found
— with the letter A^, affixed in the list of that valiant company of vol-
unteers, in Chapter XI of our first volume; as well as other lists in
that chapter. — Editor.]
A Main Highway through the Parish.^At the Xovemher term of
the County Court, 1790, on a memorial presented by the selectmen of
Hartford and Wethersfield, a public highway was authorized to be
laid out under the west side of Cedar Alountain, running from the
southeast corner of Atwood's home-lot, to the Hartford line.
Controversy over the Site of the Second Meeting House. — By more
than a two-thirds majority, the society voted, 20 Dec, 17S4: "To build
a new meeting house for divine worship." Application was duly made
to the County Court and a committee of that body (Koger Xewbury,
Jesse Root and Selah Hart) reported favorably to a site near Luther
Latimer's house, on Back Lane, southwest of the Center mill pond,
on the east front of the "West Lots." The Society promptly disap-
proved. A second application, October, 1785, residted in the selection
by the Court's Committee of Blinn's Hill, in the fields southwest of
the present parsonage, inaccessible by any road. Rejected. On a
third application, the Court's representatives "pitched a stake" for
'-'^ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
the site, in James Lusk's lot, ahunt ^\■llPl■c ^Ir. Edwin Welles' present
house now is — and this decision was approved, Apl., ITSS, hv a vote
of 40 yeas to 33 nays. Still, unanimity of approval was not secured
and nothing was done in the matter until July, 1791, when Capt. ^lar-
tin Kellogg brought matters to a focus by offering £90 towards the
frame of a meeting house if it should be erected on the west side (jf the
Old Green, about 5 rods southward of the southeast corner of the burying
ground; and, though Lieut. Lemuel "Whittelscy promptly met this propo-
sition with an offer of £100 toward building near Luther Latimer's
— the first site selected by the Court's committee — the society closed in
with Capt. Kellogg's offer. Application being immediately made to
the County Court to establish this site — and two of the three judges
appointed concurring in the Latimer site, their judgment was affirmed
by the Court in an imperative order, January, 1792, to build at that
place. But the society again disapproved and voted, i[arch, 1792, to
apply to the .May session of the General Assembly. Their memorial,
drawn up by Esq. Chauncey Goodrich (later a member of the IT. S.
Congress), and presented to the legislature by David Lowrcv and
Eoger Welles, "showeth, that their old meeting house, for years past
being decayed and altogether unfit to repair or meet in, said society
agree to build a new one. That various committees have been appointed
and as many attempts made, to afiix a place whereon to erect said
meeting house, none of which have resulted in such a union of senti-
ment among the said inhabitants that they could proceed to build said
house; to the great grief and discouragement of more than two-thirds
of said inhabitants, l)oth in interest and numbers. That the place
most agreeable to said inhabitants, and in which more than two-thirds
have united, is at the southeast corner of the public burying ground,
near the common military parade in said society. That this is the most
central spot for roads, and the number of inhabitants, who are prin-
cipally settled upon the north and northeast parts of said society. The
south and southwestern part of said society being either low, moist, pas-
ture land and incapable of settling upon in any great degree, or land
reserved for -wood and timber.
"That, should said place for said building be established at said cor-
ner of said burying ground, said society would be consequently en-
titled to a donation from an estate of Capt. Martin Kellogg, late of said
society, deceased, to the amount of £90, and also of £60, lawful money,
in addition thereto, as a free gift, towards forwarding said building, and
of which said society, who are but small, and not opulent, stand in
much need.
SECOND MEETING-HOUSE SITE.
803
"That said society are in some measure embarrassed in their Pro-
ceedings by the Influence of our Resident Proprietors, who o«ii consid-
erable tracts of land in said society, towards the southern part, and wish
to draw the house into tliat quarter, with a view to enhance the value of
their said lands.
"That a large majority, more than two-thirds of said society, feel
themselves aggrieved by the establishment of said place near to said
Latimer's house, and are disinclined to proceeding to build said house,
as by their votes and acts in society meeting, ready to be laid before
yoitr Honors, will appear. And the former happy agreement and
harmony of said society, in their parochial connections, is greatly
disturbed and threatened."
The memorialists, asked, thei'efore, that the Legislature establish
and affix the aforesaid place at the southeast corner of said burying
ground for building said meeting house npon.
At the next session of the General Assembly, held in October, 17'.)2,
the petition was so far granted that a committee of three was appointed,
to proceed to view said society and hear all parties concerned, and
affix the most suitable and jiropor place v/hereon to erect said meeting
house, and report to the Assembly. The committee, on 29th October,
1792, visited Xewington, "and viewed the various parts thereof, and
nearly every house within the same, and fnlly heard all parties," and re-
ported that they were "unanimously of the opinion, that at a stake by
us set about six rods southeast from the public burying ground, in said
society, is the most proper place whereon to erect the meeting house."
This report was accepted by the General Assembly, who passed a
resolution to carry it into effect, ^^•hich simply authorized the society
to erect a meeting house at that place, thus overruling the decision of
the County Court, which ordei-ed the erection at Luther Latimer's.
At a society meeting held Dec. 31, 1792, this resolution of the Assembly
was approved by a vote of 39 to 3. This vote shows that the aggrieved
party did not attend the meeting. The victors were disposed to be
magnanimous and made renewed attempts to reconcile the opposing
interests. At a meeting held Jan. 9, 1794, the society voted to cast lots
between the three sites, near Luther Latimer's, on Blinn's Hill, and on
the Old Green, doubtless upon the principle that "the lot is cast
into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." — (Prov.
XVI, 33.) The lot fell upon Elinn's Hill. The meeting piously ac-
cepted this disposition of the vexed question, and voted to build upon,
that eminence. The meeting was adjourned to meet on the next after-
noon, in the open air, on Blinn's Hill, itself, when the precise spot
8o4
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
was selected and a stake driven, and a vote passed to build tlie new
Btructnre so as to include the stake, "Provided, roads shall be laid out
so as to accommodate the inhabitants of this society in getting to and
from said house." This, of course, -would involve action by the town and
take time ; and delays are always dangerous. This case proved no
exception to the rule. Further exertions at reconciliation Avere made,
and with tlie usual residt. At last in 1797, four successive meetings,
held in Hay, June and August, voted in favor of the Old Green, and
this was considered to finally close the contest. The inscription on
one of the foundation stones of the church reads, '"Sept. 7, I7l}~."
Christ (P. E.) Church. — One result of the selection of the Old
Green as the site of the new meeting house was the alienation of some
of the aggrieved party, \vho ji^iued with others in Kensington, Xew
Britain and Worthington for the purpose of building an Episco])al
church. A subscription paper was circulated, dated Oct. 2'J, 171)7,
which was signed by H persons, subscribing $085 in cash, and $547
in labor, for building the church on Church Sti'eet, opposite the little
graveyard where sleep the mortal remains of some of the founders of
the first Episcopal church in Xewington. This paper bears the follow-
ing name; and amounts:
Berlin, Oct. 29, 1797.
Cash. Labor.
Cash. Labor.
Jonathan Gilbert,
$50.
S50.
.Vbsalom Wells,
5.
John Goodrich,
100.
90.
.\sahel Deming,
3.
3.
Samuel Lmlinton, (Liulin
gton) 2.
10.
Francin Coslet,
3.
Joseph Churchill,
10.
5.
Hezekiah Adkins,
5.
David Goodrich,
100.
70.
Elisha Whaples,
5.
Selah Beckley,
20.
20.
Solomon Squire,
2.
John Watson,
4.
4.
Thomas Gilbert,
8.
Jonathan Gilbert, Jr.,
40.
20.
Thomas Hart. 2nd.,
3.
Joseph Steele,
9.
4.
Asahel A. Kellscr,
12.
David Gilbert,
30.
30.
Daniel Steel,
100.
Thomas Deming,
20.
20.
Andrew Xorton,
10.
Elizur Deming,
30.
30.
Ephraim Crofoot,
10
John Squire,
10.
10.
David Dickenson,
25.
25.
Elizur Andrus,
20.
David Steel,
56.
Elisha Whaples,
2.
Oliver Richards,
6.
Uzziel Latimer,
10.
John Webster,
5.
Eli Whaples,
5.
David Blin,
10.
Justus Woolcot,
4.
Thaniel Dickinson,
10.
10.
Jonathan Blin,
to.
10.
Theodore Elsivortli.
10.
10.
Elisha Squire,
3.
2.
Bela Goodrich,
$3.
Lemuel Whittlesey,
20.
Allen Francis,
12.
.$685.
$547.
Roger Francis,
5.
CHRIST (P. E.) CHURCH.
805
The first meeting of the new society was held Xov. 13, 1797, at the
house of Elizur Deuiing, when Selah Beekley was chosen clerk, and
John Goodrich, Daniel Liulington, David Steel, and Jonathan Gilbert,
Jr., were chosen "a coniniittec to order the necessary business for said
society the year ensuing." At a second meeting held Dec. 7, 1797,
it was voted to build a church where the stake had been set, fifty feet
long and forty feet wide, with a steeple. Thus the two churches were
being erected at the same time. It was voted April 19, 179S, to "hire
Mr. Seth Hart to preach every fourth Sabbath the year ensuing.'' The
following year he was to preach half the time.
The name of Christ Cluircli first appears in the record of a meeting
held March 25, 1799, and on July 1, 1799, it was voted: ''That this
society do approve and adopt the ci.institution of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in Connecticut, as fornred in convention at Xew Haven,
June 6tli, 1792." Taxes were laid from 2 to S cents on the dollar from
year to year. On Dec. o, ISOl, ^Ir. James Kilborn was employed to
perform divine service one-half the time, at a salary of £oO. The so-
ciety voted April 19, 1S02: "That Selah Beekley, Benjamin Slater
and Xathaniel Dickenson l)e a committee to view the ground ^Ir.
Joh::^ Goumaon; 3d ])roi)oses to give for a glei>e and burying ground,
and make report to the next meeting." This proposed gift was undoubt-
edly accepted, and became the little graveyard which is now the only
memorial of Christ Church visible to the passing traveler. Jonathan
Gilbert was appointed warden of the parish April 18, 1808. ^Meetings
were regularly held and recorded till April 23, 1810, when the record
closes. The active life of the church was only 13 years. The church
edifice was sold Xov. 17, 182G, to Jabesh Dickinson for $115. The
avails of the sale are said to have been turned over to the Episcopal
church in Xew Britain. The causes of the failure of Christ Church
are not far to seek. Its meud)ers were few and its taxes heavy. Preach-
ing was intermittent, and it does not appear that there was ever a
settled clergyman in the parish. When time had softened the disaffec-
tion of those who had left the church of their fathers, they returned
to their first love, and left Christ Chui-ch practically disorganized, and
it dissolved ''like the baseless fabric of a vision." The little sequestered
burial ground by the wayside, with neither church nor dwelling near,
with mute eloquence appeals to our hearts, as eminently fit "to point
a moral or adorn a tale." If the lives of its tenants were passed amid
contention and strife, their graves rest in loneliness and peace.
The Second Meeting House. — The precise location of the second
meeting house was determined by a vote passed Aug. 7, 1797: "That
8o6
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
the Xorth West comer of the meeting house be set at a stake now set
on the Green, and that the sills be ranged d\ie Xorth and South. East
and West, with the Porch or Steeple at the East end." It was also
voted: "That the Building Committee be impowered to take as many
of the stones from under the old meeting house as can be spared without
endangering the house, and that said stone be applied to the new house,
if needed." This ^vas done during the same month of August, for on
Aug. 2Sth, the committee were directed "to proceed to erect and finish
a meeting house at the stake set by the Assembly's Committee, where
the foundation is now laid." The frame ^^■as now erected and uu-
donbtedly covered for on Dec. 8, 1797, the society voted: "To the fol-
lowing persons, the simis annexed to their respective names, for labor
and materials, etc., for the meeting house, viz. :
Elisha Stodd.-ird.
Josiah Griswold,
James Welles,
James Welles, Junr.,
0 i James Blinn,
! John Kirkliaiu,
i Ezekiel Atwond,
[ Gad Deming,
1 Levi Deminjr,
i Enos Hiinn,
I Jonathan Stoddard,
Sanmel Churchill,
! Levi Churchill.
Justus Francis,
I Daniel Willard, .Junr.
0 ! Solomon Churchill,
Roswell Fox,
Robert Francis,
For the Steeple,
I Total 72 -11 - 11
There are 38 names in the above list, and a few of them are on the
list of contributors to Christ Church already given. But none of them
were ever identified in any manner with Christ Church, so far as ap-
pears by its records. Other members of the Xewington Society are
on neither list. It appears by a vote passed Feb. 12, 1798, that it took
Elizur A^'DRUS and three hands three days to "raise" the meeting
house. It was voted, Aug. 30, 179S : "To proceed to finish the lower
part of the meeting house now erecting, with the breast work of the
gallery, as soon as may be, lathing and plastering excepted." On Oct.
15, 1798, it was voted: "To build pews in all the lower part of the
£
8.
d.
"To Joseph Camp,
2
0
6
John Wright,
0
6
0
Levi Wells,
1
6
0
Michael Wright,
0
10
8
Simon Welles,
2
5
0
Fitch Andrus,
2
12
0
David Lo.. rev,
3
8
1
Ashbei .'ieymour.
1
14
10
Elias Saymour,
0
14
9
Jemima Welles
0
■18
0
Mary Kellogg,
1
■ 1
0
Simon Kilborn,
1
- 6
0
Uzziel Lattimer.
2
-13
()
Joseph Churchill,
0
•18
0
Eli Whaples,
0
-15
- 0
Francis Deming,
2
- 8
■ 0
Amos Andrus,
5
- 4
- 8
Joshua Belden, .Tunr.
4
- 7
- 9
Elijah Welles,
12
- 4
- 0
Martin Kellogg,
8
- 5
- 2
£
s.
d.
1
13 ■
6
0
-11 -
0
0
- 3
6
0
15 •
0
1
-10 -
0
1
- 8
0
0
11
0
0
- 4 ■
0
0
- 4 -
0
0
- 6
0
2
- 9
6
1
- 15
- 0
0
- G -
0
0
7 .
0
0
- 1
6
0
- 4
0
0
12
0
1
- 4
0
2
- 7
0
MR. BELDEX'S RESIGNATION.
807
meeting house, instead of seats." And "that there be twenty pews in
the square body of said house." On !N^ov. 12, 179S, it was voted: "To
sell and dispo.se of the old meeting house in this society, and apply the
avails of it towards defraying the charges of the new meeting house
now building." Services must have been held in the new meeting house,
although not finished, after the old one had been sold. An appropria-
tion for sweeping the meeting house was made Dec. 3, 1798, for "the
year ensuing." It was voted ]\Iarch 31, ISOO: "That the Society
Committee seat the meeting house and number the pews." The society
voted 3Iarch 23, 1801, to paint the meeting house, and on Feb. 7, 1803,
laid a tax of "two cents and two mills on the dolla.-, to be laid on the
list of 1802, to pay the Society's debts due towards building the meet-
ing house."
Mr. Belden's Resignation.— ^[v. Eelden, liaving now seen the new
meeting house finished and ])ai(l for, and being 79 years of age, and
feeling unable to further perform the public labors of the ministry, made
known his desire to desist therefrom, and preached for the last time
November G, 1803, after an active service of fifty-six years. In May,
1808, he removed to the house of his sou Joshua, where he died July
23, 1813, at the age of 89 years. He prepared a charge to be delivered
Jan. IT), 1805, at the ordination of Rev. Joab Brace, as colleague pas-
tor. The words of advice therein given to his youthful associate are
|)erhaps the best portrayal of his own conduct and preaching as a minis-
ter. "Let Christ and him crucified, the fallen, undone state of man
and the way of the sinner's recovery and salvation thi'ough a Redeemer,
and by the grace of the Holy Spirit, be the leading subjects of your
preaching. Teach no other doctrine but what ministereth to godly
edifying, not handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifesta-
tion of the truth as it is in Jesus, commend thyself to every man's con-
science in the sight of God, not shunning to declare the whole counsel
of God." "Let unfeigned love to Christ, zeal for his honor, and a
compassionate concern for the salvation of immortal souls, be the gov-
erning principles of your whole conduct as a minister of Jesus." Surely
these should be the governing principles of every true ambassador of
Christ.
The three pastorates of !Mr. "Williams, !Mr. Backus and !Mr. Belden
represent the formative period of the parish, and a stormy period it was.
Controversy and contention over the two meeting houses, and over the
boundaries of the parish continued almost from first to last. The
French and Indian War, and the Revolutionary War made heavy drafts
upon old Connecticut. Xewington sent both officers and privates into
8o8
HISTORY OF ANX'IENT WETHERSnELD.
the battalions of the CoinmonweaUh. Mr. Boldcu admitted ro the
communion of the church IG'J members, and to the half-way covenant,
159 persons; but this practice was discontinued in 1775, as unau-
thorized by Scripture. The baptisms were 022; marriaire?. 330. and
deaths, 4-t3. Deacons were chosen as follows: Josiah "Willard ^iis
appointed the third deacon, to succeed Dea. Jaukz Whittt.esev. wb^:.
removed to Eethlem in 1744. Dea. Willard died ^NLuvli '.'. 17.".7.
Joshua Andrus was elected April 20, 1757, died A]n-i! 25. lT^<'^.
John Caiip was chosen Jidy 2, 1701, to succeed Dea. .Joiix DLiII^"G,
M'ho died ^fay 1, 1701. Dea. Camp died July 27, 17S2, and wa? stic-
ceeded by Dea. Elish.v Stoddard, who was elected Aug. 14. 17S2. and
died July 2, 1700. CitARi-E.s CnuRCiiiLL succeeded Dea. An'lnis. Aug.
31, 1780, and died Oct. 29, 1S02. Jajies Wkli-s was chosen the suc-
cessor of Dea. Stoddard, Aug. 5, 1790, and resigned Oct. 29, I'i'lS.
Daniel Willard succeeded Dea. Churchill, Feb. 24, 1>03. and died
Jan. IG, 1817. The deacons have always been chosen for life.
The Temporary Siipplij of the Pulpit. — In the interval between
Xov. 6, 1803, and Oct. 7, 1804, when the Eev. Joab Brace Ijegan to
preach, the pulpit was occtipicd temporarily by Jlov. Elislia Yale, and
Kev. Aaron Cleveland. ^Ir. Yale must havf^ supplied tlie pulpit tlie
first pnr*- Af the interval above mentioned, and IMr. Cleveland the last
part. At the ordination of Mr. Brace, Jan. 10, 1S05, Mr. Cleveland
was present as a member of the ordaining council. He had a s-jn
William, born Dec. 20, 1770, and he had a son, Kichard Falley Cleve-
land, who gradtiated at Yale in 1824, and was the father of Presid.ent
Grover Cleveland. In the Hartford "Coitrant" for July I'*'. 1^04, is
an account of a fourth of July celebration in Xewington, in which IMr.
Cleveland took a prominent part. It is as follows:
"Wethersfield, Society of ^ewington, July 7. 1><">4.
"The anniversary of American Independence was celebrated in this
place under the presidency of Colonel Levi Lusk and Cniifain Ab-
SALOJt Welles. Captain IIobert Fraxcis, with his military c^'Ui-
pany in uniform, attended on the occasion. At 2 o'clock p. m.. the
inhabitants assembled at the meeting house, where social prayer and
praise were performed, and a sermon suitable to the occasion was de-
livered by the Rev. Aaron Cleveland from ^lark III. 24: "If a
kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." The
sermon being over, the Sons of Liberty marched in procession. Captain
Francis and company in front, to the house of !Mrs. Blin, where a
handsome dinner was provided. After a temperate regalement, a num-
KEV. JIR. BRACES P.^T0R.4.TE.
S09
ber of patriotic toasts were drank, with the discharge of nuisqiierry.
Their dispersion at U o'clock witnessed their decoriuu and good order."
We can well believe that the minister attended the "regalement."
and drank to the toasts with the others, and that they all dispersed
with "deconun and godd order," for those days, and that he afterwanls
wrote this acconnt for the Coarant. Wliax might be regarded as a
"temperate regalement" on stich a patriotic occasion at that tini'-. when
every town had its distilleries of cider brandy, niiirht be very diiferently
regarded now. Bnt they should be judged by the standard oi that
day, as to "decorum and good order," and the church records of ca-es
of discipline for intemperance show what that standard was belVire
the temperance reform was inaugurated.
The fourth niinistcr o{ the Congregational church in Xewington was
the Rev. Joab Ei;ace, T>. I) lie was the son of Zenas ami M;;ry
(Skinner) Brace of West Hartford, burn June 10, 17S1 ; he graduated
at Yale College, ISOl. in a class distinguislied for its great men. aui'.ng
whom may be mentifmed Joliu C. Calhoun. John Pierprmt, Tl'iyal R.
Ilinraan and Prof. Bcnuct Tyler. In ISTf^, he received the ilegree
of Master of \'-t=, "ud in ls,-)4, from Williams ddlegc, that of Doctor
of Divinity. lie was licensed to preach Sept. 24-, 1S0+, and preached
his first sermon at Xewiugton, Oct., 7, lS04r, and continued to preach
there till his ordination January 10, I'^O'), having pursued his the>>
logical studies during his academic course. He married January lil,
1805, Lucy Collins of West Hartford.— See Brace, Vol. II.
From the date of his ordination, Dr. Brace continued in the active
duties of pastor over the same church for just fifty years, when he
voluntarily resigned lest he shoidd beca.ue a burden to his pe<:)ple by
outstaying his uscfidness. He preached his farewell sermon January
16, 1855, and laid down the harness which he had worn for half a
century. This sermon, printed by vote of the society, is an interesting
review of his life work. He died April 20, ISOl, at Pittsfield, ^Mass.,
ae. 80, at the residence of his son-indaw, Rev. Dr. John Todd, who
preached his funeral sermon at Xewington, April 24, ISOl, where he
was buried, at his own request, by the side of his wife, who died Xov.
16, 1854, aged 72.
The active pastorates of Dr. Brace and Rev. Joshtia Belden cover a
period of one hundred and six years and their united ages one hun-
dred and sixty-nine years. It may be doubted that the annals of our
New England churches furnish another instance of a parish with two
^ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSFTELD.
successive pastorates of such length. The mortal remains of these two
pastors fitly rest among those of their parishoners, M-ho in life received
their faithful and loving services for so many years.
At the commencement of the ministry of Dr. Brace the church num-
bered 51 members, at its close 170. He admitted to the church 231,
baptized 401, buried 453, and married 257 couples.
He always felt a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of the young
people. A Sunday school was established by a few of the church
members in ISia, and has ever since continued. The union of neiffh-
boring Sunday schools was established here in 1S32. He had for many
years a weekly meeting in the church for the instruction of the youth
of both sexes, in a kind of Bil)le Class, expounding the Xew Testament
in regular course, requesting each one present to read a verse and
asking the reader questions upon it, going around the circle at least
once at each meeting. His salary was never over $500 a year, with
no^ vacation. He supplied the deficiency of his salary by keepinij a
private school in which he fitted boys for college. He also tilled his
ow-n farm, and his garden was the model in the place. He was a re-
spectable scholar in the Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages, the latter
of wiiicii he acquired after he was 45 years of age. In personal appear-
ance he was tall and commanding, eyes dark and piercing, benignant
features, venerable and dig-nified in his later days, with manners sim-
ple and unafi^ected. He was a ^iiving epistle" of goodness and righteous-
ness, "known and read of all men." So devoted was he to his high
calling and so great was his affectiim to his people that, in his farewell
discourse, lie said to them : "Xow, my people, if you should rise up
in a body here today, and propose this one qtiestion to me, viz. : "If
we should all go back to our youth again, would you, with all vour ex-
perience, come and be our minister again ?" W[\at would I say ? If
I were to go back and begin my life anew, I would choose the Christian
ministry ^for my work, and for the joy of my life. Lord Jesus, accept
me. 'AVould I come and be a minister of Xewington, again?'
Yes, yes, mij brethren, I think I can say that I vould, and spend the
half-century with you." On the part of the people it may be added
that they regarded him as their father in spiritual things," and called
him by the dear name of "Father Brace," and those who had sat under
his preaching the longest, and knew him best, loved him most, and
would the most readily have taken him back to their hearts again for
another half-century. It has been truly said that:
"Grateful Xewingtonians will cherish and maintain
The name and fame of Father Brace while memorv doth remain."
NEWINGTON ACADEMY.
8ll
On Oct. 27, 1850, he communicated his intention to resign Dec. 1,
1851, as he then would he seventy years of age, hut the society voted,
Nov. 5, 1S51, that he be requested to remain until he should have com-
pleted the term of fifty years of pastoral service, and he acceded to
this wish of his people.
Dr. Brace's Ordination. — The usual fast previous to the ordination
of Dr. Brace was oLscrved .Jan. 0, ISOo, when Rev. .Joseph Washburn
of Farmington preached the sermon, on the text: "Brethren, pray
for us."
The Members of flie Church, January IG, 1S05. — Eunice Wolcott,
James and Abigail Wells, [Martha Wells, Elijah Wells, Hannah Kel-
logg, I^obert and Abigail Wells, Daniel Willard, Levi and ^lartha
Hurllnit, ^lercy Churchill, Elizabeth Romans, Jemima (Kellogg)
Wells, Justus and Bois Francis, Tabitha Andrut;, ]\Iabel Webster,
Dorothy Stoddard, Octavia Bolden, Abel and Rhoda Andrus, Sarah
Rockwell, Elizabeth Seyuiour, .Jerusha Seymour, ]Mary Atwood, Anne
Deming, Abigail Griswold, Alma Wells, Honor Blinn, Bucy Wells,
Hannah Andrus, Clara Wells, !Mary Ivellogg, Anna Camp, T.evi Dem-
ing, Ashbel Seymour, ^[ary Bowrey, .Jemima K'^Hogg, -Joshua and
Dorothy Bciden, Francis Coslct, Oledine Andrus, Eunice Sepnour,
David and Bucy Bowrey, Roger Ilurlbut, Bydia Andrus, Esther Bati-
mer, Anna Andrus, Bois Andrus. Fifty-one in all, of whom thirteen
only were males, and thirty-eight females.
Deacons of the church, during the ministry of Dr. Brace, were:
Dea. Bevi Dejiixo, chosen Oct. 29, 1818, and died Jan. 1, 1S4T;
Dea. Origex Wells, chosen Oct. 29, 1818, and resigned Xov. 29,
1847. One of these two deacons filled the vacancy made by the death
of Dea. Daniel Willard, and the other the vacancy occasioned by the
resignation of Dea. James Wells. Dea. JEDEDiAir Demixg was chosen
July 1, 1847, to succeed Dea. Bevi Deming; he died [May 4, 18G8. Dea.
Jekemiaii Seymoir was chosen Xov. 29, 1847, to succeed Dea. Origen
Welles, he died April 1, 1867.
The Academy. — During Dr. Brace's ministry, schools were kept
regularly in the several districts. On Aiig. 6, 1832, the Middle school-
house was struck by lightning, but not greatly injured. School-dames
were employed more and more as the years rolled on. [Miss Anna
Welles was a teacher in the Middle district for many years. In the
meantime there M-as a growing desire for a school of a higher order, on
the part of those who were able and willing to give their children a
better education than the common schools afiForded. At a meetiuff of
8l2
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSRELD.
those friendly to the project, held January C>, 1S29, the constitution of
"The Xewington Edtication Society"' was adopted. The sum of five
dollars constituted a share. Nearly $300 was subscribed by 25 per-
sons. At a meeting held Xov. 0, 1821,', it was agiTcd to build an Acade-
my near the residence of !Mrs. ilary Kellogg (afterwards the dwelling
house of Dea. II. A. Whittelsey), across the street running east and
■west, and southeast of said dwelling liotise. ^Martin Kellogg, Jeremiah
Seymour and Dositheus Hubbard were the building committee. The
Academy was raised Xov. 21, and finished January 2, ISOO, and the
first school was held therein two days thereafter. The tirst otiicers
of this Education Society were Gen. ilartin Kellogg, chairman; Wil-
liam Doming, cleric; Dositheus Hubbard, treasurer; Daniel Willard,
Joseph Camp and Koger 'Welles, frusfee.s. A school was kept there for
a quarter of a century, and was the means of giving a higher education
to many who would otherwise have finished their studies at the common
schools. The teachers were ^lessrs. Foster, Coo^zt, Emerson, War-
nee, IIOYT, GlI.I.KTT. !MaRVIX, WaI.KS, KlI.UOl'RX, SAXroIU) J. IFoR-
TON (1841-2), Fisher, Sessioxs, Ript.ey, Lixsley, .Vtwocid and
Weli.es. As the enterprise was a private nnp, and largely for the bet-
ter education of the children of those who were its promoters, when that
object was accomplished the school was no hmger sustained, anil even
the building has disappeared. The last meeting of the cumpany was
held in Xovcmbcr, 18.>4.
Changes in the Second Meeting House. — After Mr. Brace's ordina-
tion, few changes were made for the first few years. Xecessai'y re-
pairs, painting, etc., etc., seem to have been the only expenses and these
(at rate of one cent on the dollar) were paid by taxes laid on the grand
list of the inhabitants, which system of raising money, however, was
changed in Xo^■ember, 1819. It was believed by some ''that coercive
measures in matters of religion are not warranted by scriptural ]ire-
cepts." The pews were sold for one year for the first time at a meet-
ing held Xov. 2:], 1819, and that practice has since obtained. Ir would
seem that not enough money was raised by this method the first year,
and a conunittec was appointed Xov. C, 1S20, "to converse with ^Ir.
Brace, and see if he will be willing to relinquish a part of his salary.''
He acceded to this request and agreed to relinquish fifty dollars of his
salary for the next year. As no further action of this kind ap]iears
of record, it is to be presumed that the money was afterwards raised
■without calling on the pastor for assistance. The first cliurcli bell was
put into position Feb. 0, IS 28. It weighed 50C pounds, and cost 40
CHANGES IN SECOND MEETING HOUSE. *-• ' J
cents a ponnd, or $202.-10, being brouglit from Albany, X. Y., by ^Ir.
Eoger Welles in his own t; am. At a meeting held Xov. 2, 1S2S. the
bell was directed to be rung not only on the Sabbath, but on week days
at 12 o'clock noon, and at 0 in the evening. The first alhision to a
stove in the church occiirs in the record of a meeting held Xov. 24,
1S29, when the committee were "directed to procure sheet iron suitable
to secure the floor under the stove from fire."'
At a meeting held April 5, 1>;]7, a committee of three was appointed
"to draw a plan df sneli alti-rations for the meeting house, and report
at the next meeting." At a meeting held a week hiter it was voted:
"That the connnittee was directed to apply the sum of $800, now
raised by subscriptions, and whatever more may hereafter be raised
to the making of said alterations." Oliver Erainard to make the repairs
at a cost of $S32.SG.
Among these repairs were the following: The square pews were
replaced by slips. The tall spire that stood upon eight posts was taken
down, Aug. J-, ISoT, and the open bell-dock covere.l by an addirional
story. The two outside doors were closed on each side of the tower
style, and new posts put luuler the galleries. The gallery stairs were
lowered and lessened in width, and su]5])licd \\ith new sears. In
place of the high pulpit was built a lower one in more modern style,
and new posts put under the galleries. The gallery stairs were
taken out of the porch and rebuilt in the corners of the audience room,
a part of which was taken into the vestibule, for that purpose. The
seat in front of the puli>it, occupied by the deacons at communion
sen'ice, was removed, with the hinged shelf in front, used for the
memorial bread and wine. The charch was formally re-dedicated,
Aug. 23, ISoT. Dr. Brace preached in the forenoon from Haggai IT,
9 : "The glory of this latter house shall be gi-eater than of the former,
saith the Lord of Hosts ; and in this place will I give peace, saith the
Lord of Hosts." There were many in the audience whose memories
easily spanned the forty years that had intervened since the "fonner
house" had given place to the "latter house," and who must have com-
pared the two houses greatly to the "glory of this latter house." And
as they called to mind the bitter contest over the site of the 'iatter
house," which had caused such estrangement among the brethren of
the same fold, they must have been devoutly thankful that in the flight
of years the Lord had brought a peace which seemed to be an assured
prophecy of peace in the rolling years to come, a prophecy which has
since been fulfilled. Dr. Todd preached in the evening from Hebrews,
XIII, S : "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day and forever."
8i4
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
In November, ISOS, the Society's Committee was direeted to purchase
two stoves for the use of tlie meeting house, and dispose of the ohl stove
and pipe.
On Sept. 1, IS-ll, a committee was appointed '"to dispose of the old
bell, and to purchase a new one," which was to weigh '"from 700 to
800 lbs." This second hell was raised to its phace Dec. 1», 1S41, and
weighed 816 pounds — largely paid for by subscriptions. In 184:9,
stone steps were erected in front of the liou.se in place of tlie former
wooden ones. A second enlargement of the church, ordered in 1>;.J.'^
resulted in improvements thus described by the chairman of the Iniild-
ing committee, Dea. Levi S. Deming, in an address delivered at Xew-
ington, Oct. 2, 1S97, on the 100th Anniversary of the church building.
"A new frame surrounded the tower in front, and brought out the
comers of the building to its present form and size. The part of the
tower left above the roof was newly covered, and another section added
to the height. The entire building was newly covered also with cornices
and casings and chipboards, without removing the old. Xcw window
frames and large glass were used. The edifice out.'ide had the appear-
ance of being entirely new. The inside improvement was equally great.
The windows were closed in the west end wall, and the large timbers
of the frame concealed by a level surface, with only one arched panel
behind the pulpit. The projecting posts of the side walls were hewed
back, and all walls and overhead ceilings covered by new lath and
plastering, but yet without removing the old. The east gallery was
moved still farther back, and the audience room very much enlarged
in that direction. A handsome breastwork and turned posts completed
the gallery front. A very good pattern of frescoe work covered all
walls and ceiling, giving to the room as finished the appearance of one
newly built, on the inside as well as outside. The additional covering
within and without greatly strengthened the building."
Officers in tlie Militia. — Some otTicers of the militia have already been
mentioned. Others that succeeded them from Xewington were Captains
Josi.\ii Wii-LAiiD, Charles Churchill, ^Martin^ Kellogg. 3d.,
Robert Welles, Sr., Robert Welles, Jr., Jonathan Stoddard,
Levi Lusk, Absalom Wells, Robeet Francis, Jonatii.vn Stodd.vrd,
Je., IIaetin Kellogg, 5th, Jaiies Deming, Joseph Camp, Simeon
Stoddard, Daniel AVill.ved, Erastus Latimee, Erastus Francis,
Selden Deming, Daniel H. Willaed, Albeet S. Hunn, Heney
Luce, and perhaps others.
Of these Levi Lusk, IMartin Kellogg, 5th, and Joseph Camp, became
Colonels, and the first two became successively Brigadier and Major
■=^^- ■T^^yj.^r.^wBJK
',.' % J^;
!-J'
..•■1
M. E. CHURCH -CONGREGATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL.
8l
Generals. Brig.-Gcn. Levi Lusk served at Xew London in the War
of 1812-5, from Aug. IS to xViig. 26, 1814, and Lieut. Joseph Camp
served there in the same war from Ang. 3, to Sept. 10, 1S13. Two small
drafts were made from the Xewington Company, and stationed at
Groton to defend Xew London, and the frigate 'Olacedonian," and the
sloop-of-war "Hornet," from any attack that might be made from the
British fleet on the coast.
The Methodist Episcopal Church. — In lS.j-1, the few ^Methodists
resident in the town were joined by some few disaffected memliers of
the Congregational chnrch, and on Xov. 28, 18:j4, ilr. Zaceheus Brown
conveyed a rood of land, at the northwest corner of his lome lot, to
Amon Richards, Eobert Francis, Jr., and Ilervey Francis, "in trust
for the use and benefit of the trustees of the ^Methodist Episcopal
Church." On Dec. 1, 1831:, the cellar was. dug, and foundation laid
and tlie frame of a meeting house was raised April 4, 183.'>, the Iniild-
ing dedicated June 11, 1835. It vas 26 by 36 feet in size, without
steeple or bell, and faced west with two front doors. Public wor.ship
was maintained there for some years. Its Sunday school numbered
40 scholars in 1837. The organization did not, however, attain any
permanent prosperity, and the site being sold r)ec. 13, l.^GO, the
meeting house was then removed to the coT'uer northeast of tlie Congre-
gational church, and again sold in 1870, and de\-\T.itcd to private tises.
The assets and members went to the ilethodist church in Xew Britain.
Thus was repeated on a small scale tlie liistory of '"Christ Church," al-
ready related.
The Congregational Sunday School. — This Sunday school began,
in 1818, by the voluntary efforts of some young ladies, who taught
classes of scholars, without any formal organization, or recognition by
the church. The names of some of these pioneers were Prudence
Kellogg, Harriet Bexiiam, Julia Churchill, Aljia Camp and
perhaps ^Lvry Brace.
Miss Julia Churchill's journal records the formal establishment
of the school on June 20, 1819. A Sabbath school was established with
four little children as a class in her charge, increased by August to
seven, viz. : Lucinda Blinn, Jane Hooper, Lucinda Wells, IMaria
Hubbard, Catherine Wells, Lttcretia Andrus and Fidelia Stoddard.
The school held only summer sessions as there was no way of warming
the church in winter.
In the summer of 1820, the organization of the school was made more
formal, indicating a growing recognition of its value. Dea. Levi
8i6
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Deiiing was chosen Leader. The writer remembers him in his old
age. He was tall, his locks wore gray, his voice pitched upon a hiiih
key, and his countenance grave, as if religion was a stern reality to him.
There was an odor of sancity about him which impressed the youthful
imagination with a sense of awe. He was a good man when good men
were few, and a deacon when to be a deacon was morally heroic. He
died Jan. 1, IS-tT, aged 74-. Some of the teachers at that time were
Origen Wells, Daxiel Wili.ard, William KiRKiiAii, Ai.lex Stod-
dard, Jo.siAii Atwood, Joiix Fkaxcis, Williaji Demixcj and HiRAii
E. Stoddard, besides the female teachers already mentioned.
Bible helps for the scholars at that time were their own inquiring
minds and ready memories. They learned passages and texts of
scripture, without question book or conmientary. The school was held
at noon, between the services, and no singing book was used, and sing-
ing was not introduced for many years. In the summer of ISiil, the
Sunday school re-organized. ]\Ir. Nettleton, the famous evangelist,
preached in Xewington in the months of January, Fcliruary, ^larch a^d
April, 1821. On ]\Iay Otli, forty-seven new members joined the cluireli,
and ten more on July 1st. [Many of these were men in the full strength
of manhood, with their wives, as well as childi-en, wlio afterwards
became the pillars of tlic eiuirch. ^Ir. Daniel Willard was chosen
superintendent, and William Dcining his assistant and secretary. For
thirteen years Mr. Willard was the acting .superintendent, and Mr.
Deming his efficient assistant. For five years more, until 1S39, Mr.
Willard was the nominal, but ~Mv. Deming the real superintendent,
as ilr. Willard was engaged in travelling during that period.
The Xational Society, called "The American Sunday School Union,"
was formed at Philadelphia, ilay 25, 1824. The State Society,
called "The Connecticut Sunday School Union," was organized in Oc-
tober, 1824. The Coimty Society, called "The Hartford Coimty Sab-
bath School Union," was organized at Hartford, June 14, 1827. The
County Society was auxiliary to the State Society, and the latter to the
National Society. Our Sunday school, in April, 1S2G, formed itself
into a "Sabbath School Society," auxiliary, at first, tb the State
Society.
The third annual report of the Xewington Sabbath School Society
is found in the second annual report of "The Hartford Comity Sab-
bath School Union," presented at their meeting held in Hartford on
Wednesday evening, April 8, 1829, and indicates a gratifying progress.
It is, in part, as follows : "This school was commenced in the spring
of 1S26, and embraces a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent,
NEWINGTON SABBATH SCHOOL.
817
Librarian, 2-1: Tcacliors and IIS Scholars. The number of volumes
in the library is 200."
The winter of 182S-9, referred to in this report, was doubtless the
first winter in which the church was heated br a stove. "Judson's
Questions" is the first question book mentioned as in use. During
the year 1829, fifteen persons united with the church. These results
may be attributed, in part certainly, to the existence of the Sunday
school. ''The Wetherstield and Berlin Sunday Schvol Union*' was
organized at Xewington, (i Sept., IS'^-J.
The Sunday schools which formed this ■"Uniou" were those of Weth-
ersfield, Eocky Hill and Xewington, all of the then To\vn of Weth-
ersfield, and those of Kensington, Xew Britain and TVorthington, all
of the then Town of Berlin. During the first few years of the existence
of this union, Mr. Daniki, Wii.lakh and Mv. Wil.iaa^i Demixu were
prominent and leading members in its meetings. Mr. Willard was the
president in the years 1S34-5-0.
In 1839, Mr. Willard resigned his official position in the Sunday
school. Tie must be awarded the high praise of having been a finished
Christian gentleman. His scrupulous courtesy was not a mere formal
politeness, but was accompanied with genial and heartfelt sincerity.
The grasp of his luiud indicated the warmth of his feelings. His educa-
tion was not finished when he arrived at maturity, biU he was ever
learning and imparting his knowledge. His kind manners and pleasant
countenance endeared him to all who knew him. In the latter years
of his life he compiled a mass of materials relating to the history of
Xewington and its families, of great interest. He died April 7, 1868,
aged 84-.
In August, 1839, Dca. Origen Wells was appointed superintendent
and held the position till about 1843. Dea. Wells was a very good
man, inclined to be self-distrustful and retiring, tmdcrrating himself
more than was his just desert. He spoke in a plaintive tone of voice,
bewailing his often infirmities. He had charge of the communion
table for many year. He died Dec. 23, ISGS, aged 80.
In 1843, Dea. Jedkdiaji De.mixo was chosen stiperintendent and
held that position several years. From 1847 to 1854. there is some
doubt whether he or ]\Ir. Levi S. Doming was the superintendent.
Dea. Jedediah Deming, chosen a deacon July 1, 1847, was a man of
mild manners but firm principles. Thotightful and careful in form-
ing his opinions, he could always be relied tipon to stand by his con-
victions. As he was not hasty in his judgTOont, he was generally right.
Xot obtrusive or self-seeking, ho did not shrink from responsibility,
8i8
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
however tinpleasant, if it was in the lino of Jiity. Trre])roac-hable in
his own character, he was charitable to the failings of others. It could
be truthfully said of him that ho was "not slothful in business, fervent
in spirit, serving the Lord." lie died ilay 4, 1S6S, aged 77.
Dea. Jf.eejiiau Seyjiouk was another deacon on the roll of Sunday
school \\orkers. lie had tluit unif(jnn courtesy and kindliness of de-
portment in his intercourse with others which reminded nue of the
"gentlemen of the old school.'' He always could be relied upon to do
his full share in sustaining the Church and Sunday school, l)oth finan-
cially and otherwise. He died April 1, 1SG7, aged SO.
Indeed the deacons of the church have been workers in the Sunday
school from its institution to the present time. The officers of onr
church have ever realized its value and helped the Sunday school with
their presence and prayers. Dr. Brace, too. was always faitliful to
its interests. In the record of a meeting of the S. S. Union, held at
!N'ow Britian Sept. fl, lS."io, occurs this characteristic entry Ity Dea.
Andrews, its secretary: '"An extraordinary prayer liy llov. .1. Brace,
Newington." Xo other such entry apjiears in that l)ook of records.
■ Dea. Andrews must have been astonished at the wonderful power
and gift of Dr. Brace in addressing the throne of grace. In Doc,
1854, the Sunday school presented an easy chair to Dr. Brace, as a
slight memorial of their affection, and on Xew Year's Day, IS.")."), they
met in a body at his house, and through their superintendent, pre-
sented an address and received his blessing. ]\fany must still reuiemlier
the occasion, his feeling remarks and his closing prayer.
Dea. Levi S. Dkiiixo was chosen superintendent in 1S47, and per-
haps before that time, and contiimed in the office till 1S5S. He was also
chosen president of the S. S. Union, Sept. 4, 1S55, and by annual
reelection till Sept. 11, 1800, when he, and Dea. Alfred Andre^\s of
!N^. Britian, who had been tiie secretary from the beginning, both de-
clined a reappointment. Dea. Doming removed to ^fiddletown in
April, 1869, and is still living.
April 5, 1854, died Ei.isiia Wiiaples, Jr., aged 5". He was long
the librarian. Genial in his temperament, and hearty in his manners,
he was greatly lamented.
Mrs. LucY' Collins Brace, wife of the pastor, died Xov. 10. aged
72-J years. She was a leader in the church, in the Ladies' Society,
and in the Sunday school until almost the close of her husband's
ministry.
During the year 1858, !Makci;s "W. Stoddard was the superintendent.
A man of strong moral convictions, and firm in maintaining them.
, ■ N;.
■ _ ,-^? ^ f.r;
£- »
^ . -— ^
. ■ y>
^' i ^'-^
<•' x. ^^'■''^^
- ■* .
\. /
,. V ,
v
Rev. W'lLLiAii P. AiKK.N.
^'E^^^^■GTO^' sabbath school.
819
Though he was outspoken in freely expressing his opinions, yet as he
was known to be sincere, they were always received with respect,
even by those who differed from him. lie died Dec. 5, 1S65, aged 51.
In 1859, Dea. Cuahles K. Atwood became superintendent, and
continued in office till he resigned, Sept. 7, IS 63, when Joseph J.
Francis Avas appointed, who remained at the head of the school till
his resignation, Dec. 31, ISGS. lie was succeeded by Eogek We].i,ks,
who held the position till he resigTicd, January 4. 1873, whc!' .ronx
S. KiKKiiAjr was chosen, who continuoil till January 2. ISSO, wlien
Joshua Eeeden was chosen, who is still in charge. A new chapel was
erected in 1895.
The first collection ever reported as taken up in the school, was in
ISGO, amount $13. From that time the contriln'tions have sicadily
increased, until in the ele\en months ending June 30, 1000, rhe (jffer-
ings were $212. Xumber in the school 224, officers S, teachers 20.
But money has not l)een the only contribution. Its members have
consecrated their lives to the defence of our common country. In 1862,
Mr. Atwood reported that the school furnished 12 soldiers in the army,
and 11 in 1S63. Two were martyrs to the cause, IIkxrv W. Davis
and Eu(;exe 13. \Vili,ai;i). The former was killed at Sharpsburg, ]\Id.,
Sept. 17, 1862. Tlio latter died at Arlington, Va.. April 21, 1863.
Three members were in the recent Spanish War, RooEn Welles, Jr.,
in the navy, and Charles S. Fit,vNcis and Alfkeii B. Pimm in the
army.
Eev. William Poi'k Aikex, Pastor ISoT-lSOr, fifth minlstpr of
Jfewington, was born at Fairhaven, ^Mass., July ft, 1825, the second
son of Lemuel Smith and Sarah (Cu/fiii) Aiken, He fitted for college
at Monson Academy, and graduated at Yale College in the famous
Class of 1853, ranking among the foremost of his class in scholarship.
After graduation he studied theology, and acted as tutor in his Alma
Plater from 1855 to 1857. In the early part of 1856, he supplied the
pulpit at Xcwington, a few times, and the church on ^larch 3, 1856,
voted to call him to become colleague pastor with Uev. Dr. Brace, and
the terms of settlement and the date of his oi'dination were duly
arranged. His salary was to be $900 a year, and his oi'dination was
fixed for January 15, 1857, and the day of fasting and prayer was
oppointed for January 9, 1857, when the public exercises were con-
ducted by Eev. Samuel J. Andrews, assisted by Bev. Frederick Gridley.
Mr. Aiken discharged tlie duties of pastor for ten years, endearing
himself t-o his people by the high qualities of his mind and heart. They
reluctantly yielded to his resignation, in the summer of 1867. After
820
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
his departure he became principal of tiie academy at Groton,
Mass., for two years, and pastor of tlie Congregational church
at Vergenncs, Vt., for three years. Owing to ill health he spent his
last years in Rutland, Vt., where he died ^larch 29, 1SS4. His death
was commemorated by the Church of Xewington, in a special memorial
sen-ice, held 20 Apl., iSSi. His wife died in Rutland, Vt., July 14,
1891. During !Mr. Aiken's pastorate the admissions to the church were
54; baptisms, Go; marriages, 31; deaths, 109. The deacons chosen were
Et'FLS Stodd.\rd, May ?>, 1S67: died .Tamiary 30, 1S70; Levi S.
DEiiiXG, May 3, 1S67, removed to Guilford, in April, 1SG9. The
former was chosen to fill the place made vacant by the death of Dea.
Jeremiah Se^inour, while the latter was elected as a third deacon.
The church voted unanimously Oct. 30, 1SG2. to withdraw from the
"Hartford South Consociation," with which it had been connected for
many years. The pastor and church svmpathized with Dr. Bnshnell,
rather than with the "Consociation" in their '"unpleasantness." Dr.
Buslniell and ^Ir. Aiken were warm personal friends, and the former
often visited the latter in Xewington.
The War of the RehclUnn.—lw the War of the Rebellion, lSfiMS<i.5,
Xewington furnished forty-nine volunteers and nine substitutes for
the Connecticut Volunteer Regiments, as follows:
Name Company
d Rcg't.
Enlistment
John Earnshaw Co. B.
1st. Reg't.
April 19, 1801.
H. Hudson Stoddard, " I,
5th. "
July 22, 1861
Jacob Bollerer, " G,
6th. "
Sept. 4, 1861
Lewis W. Dunhara, " G,
6th. "
Sept. 4, 1861.
John Richards,
Nathan G. Barnum,
William Hubbard,
Patrick McAloon,
Michael Hallinian,
Elmore F. Jenks,
Frederick Richards,
Henry \V. Davis,
Samuel Steel,
Edwin B. Tobey, " H, 11th.
Sept. 6. 1801.
A.
Sth, "
Sept.
25,
1861
B,
7th. '•
Sept.
7j
1861
G.
0th. Reg't.
Sept.
2",
1861
G,
0th. "
Xbv.
25,
1801
D.
10th. "
Oct.
1,
1861
K,
10th. "
Nov.
1,
1861
K,
11th. "
Nov.
25,
1861
K,
11th, "
Dec.
11,
1861
K,
nth. "
Dec.
13,
1801
H,
nth. "
Nov.
20,
1861
Remarks.
lion. Disch. July 31,
1861.
Disch. Disibility.
Dec. 5, 1862.
Disch. Sept. 11, 1804.
Tran>f. to Invalid
Corps.
Must, out, .July 20,
186.5.
Rejected, Xov. 2. 1801.
Died Oct. 8, 1802.
Died. Aug. 14, 1862.
Disch. Oct. 29, 1864.
Disch. Oct. 7, 1804.
Disch. Xov. 1, 1804.
Killed, Sept. 17, 1802.
Disch. Disability,
Apr. 14, 1862.
Deserted, June 3,
1804.
Transf. to Vet. Res.
Corps, March 31,
1864.
WAR OF THE
CIVIL RE
BEL
LION.
oz\.
Henry Rising,
" D,
nth. "
Nov.
12,
1861.
Killed
, Sept
. 17, 18G2.
George T. Dickson,
" c,
l-2th. "
Nov.
20,
18G1.
.Must.
18G.>.
out.
Aug. 12,
Abel Steele,
" I,
12th. "
Jan'y
27,
18G2.
Disc
Apr.
h.
5, 186
Disability,
>
Newell Dow,
" A,
13th. "
Dec.
31,
ISGl.
Disc
h.
Disability,
June
1, 1802.
Patrick Reynolds,
■' A,
13th. "
Jan.
22,
18G2.
Deserted,
Aug. 27,
18C4.
Sylvester W. Steele,
" F,
14th. "
July
18,
1SG2.
Killed
, Dec
13, 1S02.
Austin N. Steele,
" F,
Uth. "
Aug.
7,
18G2.
Disc
h.
Disability,
Jan.
24, 18G3.
Henry N. Wliaples,
" K,
■20th. "
Aug.
15,
18G2.
Must.
1863.
out.
June 13,
Robert W. Joiner,
" G,
20th.
Aug.
15,
18G2.
ilust.
1863.
Out.
June 13,
Samuel Richards,
" c.
7th. "
Feb. 1
oth,
18G2,
.Must.
1803.
out.
July 20,
Almon J. Hart,
" B,
21st. "
Aug.
18,
1802.
ilust.
1803.
out.
June 16,
Tohn D. Griswold,
" E,
22d.
Aug.
21,
1802.
Hon.
18G3.
Dis.
July 7,
Edward Harker,
" E,
22d.
Aug.
21,
1802.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
Henry Linden,
" E,
22(1. "
Aug.
22,
18r.2.
Di".
^i=;ibilitv. Jan.
Serg't. Charlei' L.
IG, iec3.
Willard,
" B,
22d.
July
27,
18G2.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
Eugene B. Willard,
" B,
22d.
Aug.
28,
18G2.
Died,
Apr.
21, 1863.
Unni P. Blinn,
" E,
22d. "
Aug.
27,
18G2.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
George N. Downes,
" B,
22d.
Aug.
29,
1802.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
James A. Smith,
" B,
22d. "
Aug.
30,
18G2.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
Daniel K. Bennett,
" B,
22d.
Aug.
20,
18G2.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
Lafayette Gladding,
" B,
22d. "
Aug.
30,
1862.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
George S. Deniing,
" B,
22d. "
Aug.
30,
1802.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
Gaylord Morgan,
" B,
22d.
Aug.
30,
1802.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
Joseph Wliaples,
" B,
22d.
Aug.
30,
1802.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
Anthony Wright,
" B,
22d. "
Aug.
30,
1862.
Hon.
1803.
Dis.
July 7,
John L. Osgood,
Co.D,
22d. Reg't.
Aug.
30,
1862.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
Edward P. Joynor,
" D,
22d. "
Sept.
1,
1862.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7,
William E. Quigley,
"E,
22d.
Sept.
0,
1862.
Hon.
1863.
Dis.
July 7.
822
HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Oliver L. Steele, " A, 25th. " Aug. 25, 18G2. Hon. Dis. Aug. 20,
1SG3.
Edward Steele, Heavy Artiller, June 1, 1SG3. .Must. out. Sept. 25,
Co. G. l5t, Reg't. 1805.
Azariah Gladden, Hea\-y Artiller}-. Jan. 5, 18G4. Deserted, Aug. 2,
Co. A, 1st. Eeg't. 18Go.
Joseph French. Enlisted in the Kegular Army.
George Gallagher, " " " " "
William G. Huntley. " " " " Xavy.
The followiiijr persons furniflicd siilistitutes: Charles K. Atwood,
Jared Starr, John S. Killiourn, Edgar S[)aiildini!;, Thomas ilarksley,
Reuben C. Osborn, Franklin C. Latimer, Henry 'SL Eobbins, Charles
S. Francis.
Indiisfn'es. — There are still three iniU privileges which have been
occupied as site? wherr; mills have l)'^en operated by water power: one
in the center, one at the north end, and one near the west botmdary
line. The first was the sawmill built in 1G7S, at the foot of the pond,
on Piper's Brook, as already related. TMien the sawmill had ex-
hausted the primeval woods, and therefore had ended its career, a
grist mill was built on the site by Israel and Joseph Kelsey of Berlin,
and Unni Bobbins of Xewington. This was afterwards destroyed by
fire as have been several other mills and factories at that place. A
distillery was carried on there for some years by Bogor Welles, a son
of Gen. "Welles, where cider brandy was manufactured, until the
Washingtonian temperance movement touched the conscience of the
owner and he abandoned the business. A son of his, Edwin Welles,
afterwards mamifactured there cotton batting and edged tools for a few
years. This site is now occupied as a paper mill, using both water
and steam power.
The first grist mill was built at the north end, on Wood Bivcr, as
early as 1720, by Dea. .Tosiah Willard. This was succeeded by another
built by Martin Kellogg, 4th, and Daniel Willard, 2d. Its long mill
dam was several times partially carried away by the freshets to which
that river is subject. About 1S3S, a satinet factory was built there
by Gen. ^Martin Kellogg, Daniel Willard, 3d, and John M. Belden.
It did a prosperous business during the War of the Bebellion in fur-
nishing cloth for the Union soldiers. It also was burned a few years
ago, and the site has since been vacant.
The third site, near the west boundary, was first occupied by a grist
mill built by Benjamin Adkins. This was followed by another built
LEGACIES TO XEWINCiTOX CHURCH. °^S
by Joseph and James Churchill, and afterwards ovnied and operated
by ^Martin Luthei-, until recent years. It is now disused and gone to
decay. East of this site a lirick kiln has been carried on for several
years by the ;^[essrs. Dennis, near the Xew York and Xew England
Railroad, and a station has been established there called "Clayton."
In former davs numerous cider rnills were scattered throughout the
society, but in the march of events, they have been left behind, and
exist only in ruins, if at all. There was once a tavern, located at the
south end on the Turn])ike, where Gen. Levi Lusk thought it was his
rcligiiius duty to sell good liquor, but he died Sept. 16, 1824, and
his hostelry did not long survive him. It has no successor. The ToA\-n
of Xewington has always voted "No License." The principal industry
has at all times been the tilling of the soil. A century ago there was
some commerce with the We-^t Indies. The products of the soil were
carried to the Connecticut [{Ivor at Wethorsiield or Rocky Hill, and ex-
ported by vessels, especially onions, Inuichcd by the nimble fingers of
the farmers' wives and daughters. Thousands of these "ropes" were
sent abroad, and molasses, sugar and rum were brought in return car-
goes, to sweeten and cheer the lives of our hard-worked fathers. When
the minister called on his parishioners in discharge of his pastoral duty,
the decantei on the sideboard was a welcome lesLiuiony of respect for
him and of their love and religion. Our soil is well adapted to the
cultivation of all the ordinary farm crops. Hartford and Xew Britain
have grown to be markets of easy access, while two railroads furnish
transportation to those more remote. An electric railway between
Hartford and Xew Eritian runs through the center of Xewington,
greatly to the convenience of the people. Our town enters upon the new
century with prospects brighter than ever before in its histor}'.
Legacies and Gifts to Newington Church and Town. — These have
been numerous. We mention them briefly in order:
1. That of Miss Mary (daughter of Dea. Josiah) Willard, 1759,
for "the improvement of schooling," £80 ; this was contested by a sister
living in Massachusetts, but the action of the General Assembly finally
secured it to the Xewington Society, after a delay of 13 years.
2. The John Deming legacy, 1701, of £20 "to be improved for the
lasting use and benefit of said church." This, amounting to $66.07,
was put out on loan, and its income applied to the expense of the
communion table.
3. The Jedcdiah Dewinr/ legacy, 17S7, of £60 "lawful silver money
(accounting Spanish milled dollars at 6s. each)" for procuring "a
siifficient quantity of good orthodo.r hools, of Calvinistical principles,"
824
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETHERSFIELD.
as a library for use of said Society — to be under the care and direction
of the deacons of the church. This bequest was the foundation of the
Charity Library (ahuost entirely religious b<ioks) of which Simon
Welles was for many years, librarian. It no longer exists, though a
few of the books may still be foiuid in private families.
4. The Tlomnna Dciniiig legacy, 1S21, mostly in real estate, valued
at about $3,000 — but which legacy, inasmuch as it cut off a nephew,
her only legal heir, was compromised, at the Society's suggestion, by
payment to the Society of .$,jOO. It was to be iised as a perquisite to the
ministry, "aside from his salary."
5. The Amos Aiulrits legacy, lS2ti, df certain lands in Wethersrield
Township, inventoried at $11,000, ''fur the Society's use, either in
building or repairing a place of worship, or for the support of the
gospel." For more concerning this Amos Andnis, see the A7idnis Gen.,
in Vol. II.
6. Tlie Prudence IlaJl legacy, 1ST:>, of real estate, valued at a little
over $1,000, to the Ecclcsiasticid Society, subject to its paying- expenses
of her last illness and funeral, and of settlement of her estate, and the
erection of a fitting monument over her remains. From this legacy
a parsonage house was erected, and the former house changed into a
barn.
7. The gift in ISiiT, of a fine $1,500 pipe organ, by the widow and
children of the late Eeuben C. Osborn, deceased, as a memorial.
8. The Elizabeth Sryinour Brown legacy, 1S!»3, $100, for the care
of the Seymour lot in the Xewington burying ground.
9. The Henry M. Rubbins legacy, 189S, of $2,000 for the mainte-
nance of the church choir, and $5,000 for the Ecclesiastical Society, to
use the income only. ilr. liobbins also gave to the To^uti a piece
of land, as a site for a public library; and a bequest to the Home of
the Children's Aid Society, located in Xewington, for the care of in-
curable children.
Grace {Prot. Epis.) Churcli. — The second Episcopal organization in
ll^ewington held its first church service in ISGO, in the house of .Tared
Starr, Esq., at the north end. Such services were held in private houses
or in the depot of the X. Y., X. II. & II. K. E. Co., till Xovember,
1874, when the corner stone of Grace Church was laid. In ^lareli,
1875, the edifice was completed and occtipied. The audience room has
seats for one lumdred and fifty persons. Its location is upon a hill
about half a mile northeast of the depot. The number of families on
the parish register is twenty-six; communicants sixty-four. The clergy-
men who have ofliciated more or less are Eev. Messrs Prof. Feaxcis
LEGACTES TO NEWIXGTON CHURCH. <-■ - J
T. Russf;ll, F. B. Cuetwood, Fraxcis Goodwix, "Williaji F.
Nichols, Joux M. Bates, Howard S. Clapp and Jared Starr.
The latter was ordained in 1SS7, and placed in charge of the parish,
and still so remains. Grace Church was consecrated .June 15, 1SS2,
and has always been free to all, supported by voluntary contributions
collected every Sunday. Its wardens are Edmund Starr and George
Brinley. The church owes its exi.-tenee and prosperity to the untiring
eflforts of its pastor, Eev. Jared Starr.
Rev. Saxford SiriTii ^Iartyx, 1><1>-1S70. — The si.rfh ininisler of
Ifewington was the Rev. Sax^dford S.mitu ^Martyx. In Xovember,
1867, he began to preach, being then a nieniber of the senior class in
the Yale Theological Seminary. On Feli. 10, 1S08, the church voted
to call him as pastor, and the society soon after joined in the invitation.
Mr. ^lartyn accepted the call and was ordained April 29th, ISGS.
On Sunday, April 17, 1S70, Mr. !Martyn offered his resignation as
pastor, to take effect April 29, 1S70, which was just two years from
the date of his ordination. He had received a call to the church in
Xew Hartford, where he was afterwards settled. He is still living
(Sept., 1900).
During Mr. !Martyn"s pastorate the admissions to the church were
45; baptisms, 21; marriages, 4; deaths. lU. The deacons chosen were
Jedebiaii Demixg, Feb. fi, 1S70, who died June 16, 1S99 ; Charles
K. Atwood and IlEirAx A. Whittlesey, ^Marcli C. 1S70. These
deacons were chosen to fill the vacancies occasioned by the death of
Dea. Jedediah Doming, 1st, the removal of Dea. Levi S. Deming and
the death of Dea. Rufus Stoddard.
The church voted Oct. IS, 1S6S, to unite with the "Hartford South
Conference," which superseded the '"Hartford South Consociation,"
and was more liberal in character. That connection still exists.
If Mr. Mart^Ti's ministry be estimated by the number of admis-
sions to the church during his pastorate, it was a most successful one.
His "fervid oratory and fervent prayers" were not unavailing. Many
■who listened to him have still a warm place for him in their hearts,
especially those who first received the comnumion at his hands.
Rev. Dr. Robert George Veraiilyk. 1S70-1S7o, the .^tin-i'iith pastor,
was born ^larch 3, 1S13, in Xew York City, the son of William W.
and !Mary (Moiifgotnery) Vermilye. He supplied the pulpit as stated
pastor, from the second Sabbath in June, 1S70, until Xovemlier 2. 1S70,
when he ceased his services on account of failing health. He graduated
at Columbia College, Xew York, in 1S31. In December, 1S37, he was
appointed a professor of Greek and Latin in that college. He was
826
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
licensed as a minister by the Presbytery of Xew York, April 10, 1808,
and was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian church in German Valley,
New Jersey, in July, IS-lo. He was afterwards called to the pastorate
of the Congregational church in Clinton, Oneida County, Xew York,
where he was installed June 10, 1846. He received the honorary de-
gree of D. D. from his Alma Mater in 1851, when 38 years old. In
1857, he was elected to the professorship of Systematic Theology in the
Connecticut Theological Institute, then located at East Windsor, but
afterwards at Hartford, which position he held till his death.
The society in August, 1ST3, voted to make repairs on the inside of
the church to the amount of $3,000. Under this vote extensive repairs
were made, modernizing tlie whole interior of the church, putting in
new windows and two furnaces instead of the old stoves, making the
church look quite attractive.
The church record tells the story as follows: ''The pulpit was sup-
plied during the year 1873, until the annual meeting of the society
in November, by the Jlev. It. G. Vermilye, either in person or by sub-
stitute, and the parsonage was occupied by him for three months after
the first of July. During the latter part of 187:', Dr. Vermilye's health
failed, so that he was unable to preach, but fv.ruichcJ supplies at the
request of the society's committee."
Nov. 2, 1873. On the first Sablxith in November the usual com-
munion service was held in the town hall. Dr. Vennilye, who had by
special request supplied the pulpit, since his resignation as pastor, offi-
ciated for the last time, and never preached again. His feebleness was
evident to all, and as he dispensed for the last time the symbols of the
Saviour's dying love, and spoke his own parting words, the tearful
eyes of the congregation testified their love, sympathy and sorrow.
"They sorrowed most of all that they should see his face no more."
He died at Hartford, July 5, 1875.
In social intercourse. Dr. Vermilye was kindly and genial, and won
the hearts of his people. Thcj- venerated his piety and purity of heart,
and at the same time felt an honest pride in his large knowledge and
ability.
During his pastorate the admissions to the church were 6 ; baptisms,
4; marriages, 5, and deaths in the to%\'n 28.
The period of his pastorate was an important one, not only because
of the improvements made in the church edifice, but also because New-
ington emerged from Societyhood to Townhood, built a town hall, and
established a local town government, all of which changes contributed
REVS. THOMPSON'S AND ELLIOTTS PASTORATES.
827
more to the political and material advauceinent of Xewington tiian
to the spiritual nphiiilding of the church.
Rev. William Jamiesox Thompson, 1ST5-1ST9, the eif/hth pastor,
was born Jidy 21, ISiO, in Xew York City. He graduated from
Coliuuhia College and afterwards from Princeton Seminary. After a
few months' travel in Euro])c he acce])tcd a call to the church iu Croton
Falls, Xew York. After a four years' pastorate there, on account of ill
health, he remo\ed tu Sepniour, Conn., where he preached two years
as stated supjdy. Tie wa.^ callc<l to tlie pastorate of this church, !March
21, and ordained .May I'T, ]s7.").
On Sunday, Xnv. IT, 1S7S, ilr. Thomson resigned as pastor, to
take effect April 25, 1S70. This resignation was accepted.
During his pastorate the admissions to the church were 49 ; bap-
tisms, 2S ; marriages, S ; deaths on the church record, 37.
After leaving Xewington, he preached in South Glastonbury for
two years, and from there he went to East Canaan, Conn. After a
pa.storate of two years at East Canaan, broken by ill health, he died
there Feb. 24, lSSr>, aged 44 years. lie was a firm believer in the
efficacy of praying for specific temporal blessings, which he practiced,
with the result that he often received the particular blessings specified
in his petitions, as he was in the liabit of assuring his people.
liev. JoHX E. ELLif)TT, 1S70-1N84, ihc nlnlli pastor of the church,
born in Xew London, Oct. 22, 1S29, was a descendant of Elder
Brewster. He graduated at Andierst College in 1S57, and from the
Conn. Theological Institute in 1800. He afterwards married Miss
!Mary A. Thomson of East Windsor. He became the pastor of the
church in Ridgebury, and subsequently was settled in Higganum.
Thence he went as a Home ^Missionary to Iowa, and later to Xebraska.
In 1874, he returned to the East, and became the pastor of the church
in South Glastonbury. He was appointed the acting pastor of the
church in Xewington at a chilrch meering held Sept. 7, 1879, and
continued in that relation until Sunday, Sept. 28, 1884, when he preached
his farewell sermon, and closed his connection with this church. After
leaving Xewington, he was about three years in Bridgewater engaged
again in Home ^lissionary work. State of Washington, and died Jan.
19, 1888. During his pastorate in Xewington, mainly by his etforts,
a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was formed, which
has ever since flourished, and been the means of great development of
the spiritual growth of the young people. Also the debt of the Eccle-
siastical Society M-as paid, and he labored to create an interest in a pro-
ject to build a chapel, which however did not materialize till some years
828
HISTORY OF ANX'IENT WETHERSFIELD.
later. He was earnest in his ministry for both the material ami spiritual
interests of the cluirch. wliich were ever dear to his heart.
During his pastorate the admissions to tlie church were 40 ; liaptisms,
3G; marriages, 5, and deaths, 30. His remains were buried in the
cemetery in Xew London.
Rev. Joiix Otis PjAnnows, ISS.j-lSOl, the tenth pastor, was liorn in
Mansfield, Conn., in ISoO. He graduated from Amherst College in
1S60, and studied theology at the Hartford and Andnver Seminaries.
He was called to Xortli Hampton, X. H., in ixi:'.. and after a pastorate
there of several years was settled at Exeter, X. H. In 1S70, he was
sent by the American Board as a missionai-y to Turkey. After ten and
one-half years in that field, he returned to this country on account of the
ill health of his family. He then preached in Atchinson, X. H. On
Feb. 22, 1SS5, he preached for the first time in the Xewington church,
and began an engagement for one year ^lay 3, 1SS5. Dec. 6. 1SS5,
he was called to become the settled pastor and accepted the call Feb.
27, ISSC. He was ordained 29 April. ISST,.
Mr. Barrows took a vacation of one year from Sept. 21, 1591, on
account of ill health, but his health not ini])roving, he resigned as pastor,
Xov. 2S, 1S91, During his pastorate the admissions were GS ; bap-
tisms, 14; marriages, none recorded; deaths, 21.
Mr. Barrows and his wife both endeared themselves to the people
of his charge by their cordial courtesy. The wann grasp of his hand
indicated the kindness of his heart. He was ever a strong friend of
missions and a strong foe of intemijerance. He would have anniliilated
every liquor saloon in the world, if he had only had the power, and
could have made the numnfacture of liquor a lost art forcvermore. The
Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized with his approval
and assistance. The benevolent contributions of the church increased,
and the whole life of the church was invigorated. He is now (1900)
living in Stonington, Conn., and has a daughter who is a missionary
in Van, Turkey.
Kev. Heebekt ^Iacy, 1S92, the eleventh and present pastor, was born
at Fall River, Mass., Sept. 2, 1857, the son of Alexander and Sarah
(JudJcins) 3Iacy. On his fathers side he is a descendant of the ilacys
of Xantucket, and traces his ancestry back to Capt. Paul Macy, one of
the original proprietors of the Island. His mother's father was a
merchant in Boston, having a store near the State House, to which
Daniel Webster often resorted to get his drink of '"flip." His educa-
tion began in Paxton, ^Mass., where his parents had moved, and was
continued in the High School of Worcester, and then for two years
NEWINGTON INCORPORATED AS A TOWN.
829
under tlie private instruction of Eev. Calvin Butler and Ur. D. O.
Mears of Worcester. During several years prior to 1S80, he was identi-
fied with the work of the Young ilen's Christian Association of Worces-
ter. He graduated in 1SS;3, from the Hartford Theological Seminary,
preached for a year in the South Church of East Hartford, and de-
clined a call to hecome its pastor. He then went to San Francisco,
Cal., and was ordained in Septemher, 1SS3, as pastor of the Fourth Con-
gregational church of that city, which eluu-ch had been organized by Dr.
Bissell, who had been a beloved teacher of ilr. ^Lacy as a professor in
the Hartford Seminary. In 1S84, he went to the Hawaiian Islands
on a vacation, preaching there at Hilo, and at the Fort Street Church
in Honolulu. He married June IS, 1SS5, Xellie !Means Griswold of
Eocky Hill. As the climate of San Francisco did not agree with the
health of ]\Irs. ^lacy, they returned in ISSG, to Xew England, and
then he served for a year as pastor of the Third Congregational Church
of Chicopee, Mass. He declined a call at that place, and in ISSS, be-
came General Missionary of St. Paul, !Minn., where he organized the
Olivet Church, and became its first pastor. After three years of ser-
vice there, he returned to Xcw England, and supplied the Xewington
church while ^Ir. Barrows was on his leave of absence. On Dec. 12,
1891, the church voted to invite him to become their pastor. He ac-
cepted and was ordained Feb. 10, 1892.
The admissions to September, 1900, have been 77 ; baptisms, 59 ;
deaths, 27. Deacons have been chosen as follows: January 9, 1S9(>,
Roger Weli.es: Jaimary 25, 1900, Fkanki.ix C. Lati.mku; the for-
mer on accoimt of the removal of Dea. H. A. Whittlesev to !Middle-
to^vn, and the latter to supply thi» vacancy occasioned by the death of
Dea. Jedediah Doming.
Xewixgtox Ixcoi;roi!ATi:i) a Towx. — By the census of 1870, the
First Society of Wethersfield had 1,915 inhabitants, and the Xewington
Society 781, making a total of 2,G94 for the whole town.
The disadvantages of tlic union of these two societies in one town
had long been realized by the people of Xewington. Some of the
reasons for their separation and for the incorporation of each society
into a town were the following:
The two localities were separated by natural boundaries. Cedar
Mountain divided the two societies through their entire length. In
addition three ranges of hills, with intervening watei'courses and val-
leys, running parallel to Cedar ^lountain, and east of it, had to be
crossed to get from one society to the other. As the voting place and the
town clerk's otfice, and treasurer's office, and a majority of the other
830
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
town offices were located in Wetliersfield, it was a heavy burden \\]nm
the people of Xewington to travel from four to six miles to 'Wetherstield
to vote, or do any other town business, across the mountain, hills and
swamps which the God of nature had jdaccd as barriers of non-inter-
course between them, ;^[an had done little to overcome these natural
disadvantages. The roads were stony and steep over the mountain
and hills, and wet and muddy through the swam])s and valleys, espe-
cially at the spring elections, then held on the first Monday of A|iril
in each year. Good roads would have required a large outlay of ex-
pense, which was not warranted by the small amount of travel over
them. All the trade and linsiness interests of the two societies were
distinct. There was therefore no natural or artificial tic to bind them
together, except the mandate of the legislature. Under these circum-
stances, before the election in April, 1S71, a meeting of Xewington
citizens, irrespective of party, was held at the railroad depot, to con-
sider the advisability of petitioning the next legislature, at its May
session, ISTl, for the incorporation of Xewington as a new town. The
meeting decided imanimously in favor of such action, and nominated
Roger Welles, as their candidate for representative to the legislature
to secure tlie act of incorporation. He was also nominated soon after
by the Republican caucus for the same office. Jk'fore the election be
was also put upon the Democratic ticket for representative in place
of Chas. K. Atwood, resigned. The election was held April 3, 1S71,
with the two tickets resulting for representatives, as follows:
Republican Votes.
Gen. James C. Pratt,
Roger Welles,
Pratt over Welles, 15 Hale over Welles, 10
As Welles was nominated and ran squarely on the new town issue,
the result developed by the votes, was as follows :
For Xew Town, Rep., 248 Dein., lS-4 Total, 432
Against Xew Town, Rep., 15 Dein., 10 Total, 25
Or in the pi'oportion of more than IT in favor, to 1 against, the
new town. The First Society of Wethersfield was almost unanimously
in favor of the new town, as it woiild give that part of the town two
representatives instead of one (as one ha<l been allowed to Xewington)
Democratic Votes.
26;5
Simeon Ilale,
194
248
Roger Welles,
184
NEWIXOTON I>'CORPORATED AS A TOWN.
S.;i
am] all tlio town offices. The 2o votes in opposition probably c-aiac from
Xewington, as some Republicans thonoht that Xewington would be-
come a Democratic town if set oiT from Wetbersfield, and preferred to
be an outlying fraction of Ik'pulilican Wetbersfield, than indepcmlent
as a town under the local I'ule of the Democratic party, thus placing
party above patriotism. Those prominently in favor of the new town
were John S. Kirkliam, Jared Starr, John C. Tracy, John D. Seymour,
Charles K. Atwood, Albert S. Ilunn, Edwin "Welles, Roger Welles and
Martin Robbins, and among the leatlcrs on the other side tho?e nmst
strenuous in opposition were Ilemau A. AMiittlesey, Daniel H. Willard
and John M. Bclden, and those not so pronounced in opposition were
Jedediah Doming and Reuben C. Osborn. ,\. petition to the legislature
was drawn up by ^Ir. Welles and circulated largely by John S. Kirk-
hara, and received 115 signatures of citizens in Wetbersfield and Xew-
ington in favor of the new town, and also a remonstrance was circulated
■which was signed by 41 persons. Tlicse doeiuncnts appear to be miss-
ing from the State Archives of that session of the Legislature. The
petition was referred in the General Assembly to the committee on
New Towns and Probate Districts, and a heaving was duly had thereon.
The committee reported unanimously in favor of granting the prayer
of the petitioners, and sulunitted a resolution of incorporation, di-a^-n
by Mr. Welles, which uminimouslv passed both Houses, and was ap-
proved by Governor ]\Iars]iall Jewell, July 10, ISTl. The news of the
passage of the resolution was received at Xewington with general re-
joicing. Flags were hung out, and a cannon was obtained from the
State Arsenal at Hartford, and fired on the Green at the center of the
new town, and in front of the houses of those Avho were prominently in
favor of its incorporation, eliciting speeches of congratulation from
those thus saluted, which were greeted with cheers from the party
of cannoneers. The first town meeting inider the act of incorporation
was held in the ^Methodist church in Xewington, at 1 o'clock p. m. of
^Monday, July 17th, 1S71, at which the following town officers were
elected: John S. Kirkham, foirn clrrk : .Tolm C. Tracy, tveoRurer ;
Joseph J. Francis, Albert S. ITunn, Charles K. Atwood, Roger Welle?,
Jacob Dix, Jedediah Doming, Robert O. -Joyner, sclecfmrn.
It was voted to borrow money to pay the expenses of incorporation
and of record books, and that at the annual town meeting in October,
and annually thereafter, only three selectmen should be elected.
At the first annual town meeting held on ^Monday, Oct. 2, 1871, the
former town clerk and treasiirer were re-elected, and the three select-
men chosen were Charles K. Atwood, Jacob Dix and Daniel G. ^fc-
8.^2
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSnELD.
Lean. They were authorized to settle all matters with iTgard to the
division of the property of the two touTi?, which duty was satisfactorily
brought to an issue, 7 Dec, 1S71, by an article of
Agreement of Wethers field and Xeiviiigton as to Division of Prop-
erty, by which the selectmen of said towns also agi'eed to divide the
liabilities of said towns according to the grand lists aforesaid; also to
divide the to\m deposit fund of Wetliersfield according to the number
of inliabitants of said towns on the tenth day of July, ISTO; also to
divide the paupers of said towns according to the resolve incorporating
the Town of Xewington ; also that the value of the interest of Xew-
ington iu said property real and personal (except the town deposit fund)
shall be set off against and apply in pa^nnent of the share of Xewington
in the liabilities of said Town of Wetliersfield, on the 10th day of
July last.
This agreement was carried out in good faith by both parties, and
disposed of the assets of tlie two towns, but the liabilities of Wetliers-
field as they existed July 10, 1S71, occasioned more trouble. The
Town of Wetliersfield claimed that her expenses in fighting the Town
of Glastonbury through the whole of that ^lay session of the Ocneral
Assembly, and afterwards, shoidd be shared by Xewington, although
the latter town had no interest in that controversy whatever; and it
was claimed on her behalf that she could not be held liable for any ex-
penses in Court or Legislatiu'e made after July 10, 1S71. An amicable
suit bi'ought before the Superior Court and tried in December, 1S7G,
before Judge Ilovey, was decided in favor of the contention of Xew-
ington. The first representative from Xewington to the General As-
sembly was Charles K. Atwood, who was elected in April, 1S72, to the
following ^lay session, which was held in Xew Haven.
Thirty years have elapsed since Xewington was incorporated a
town. During that ))eriod the towr has increased in population, has
built a town hall, has greatly improved its roads and bridges, has
secured a town lil)rarv and reading room; while an electric road has
been located through the center of the town, proving a great convenience
to the people. The town has consolidated its school districts, and es-
tablished a grammar school at the town hall. It commences the new
century with bright prospects of future advancement and progress, in
its material, educational and spiritual interests.
p^iv-r.ws-j^rTMif i-?;t- =^ — «i^;r;a!PB!jy^?i!j^'ar<!ty<a,y'
--'RlgjiWN'iwjujBi ' .■■yyi
"■"f^r^
K:;-
i\
' I ^ '^f ■ ■ - -
.-:jr
t:.i
.
;'j!.'
^--^Si,
I
t-.;-^^
' -Sjr-'^'
I
fW . ,
'""i^^"
^,
■ ■■■:%'^ -f-
--»•-..
%
"t ''
■"ft^
-.^
^':.
M^-\ -
•"- -p *
; — ^-*^
tj
p: • «-. . . - -
S 5*: ,■"^•5 .
' -^
i ■■
i
■''^--(S
'■ *
^^Hm.
.n -'U
,^-%^^:; ?
, -^ ^ V
, ^- .^-s '
T',' ■ :. ' "•" '
V, '^
"
■L_
- .' ''.vL^ .** '--•
^
.U:.%
r/^-^
CHAPTER XIX.
Strpnry I'ansh 172^-1822, and The Town of Roclnj Hill ISJfl-ldOO.
[Hv Rrits W. GRiswoLn. il. D.]
[XOTE, 6// the Editor. Tlic follow ing chapter is a careful bhiidiiiff of the
original notes, collected during tlie past 25 years, from Stepney Parish and other
records, and from personal acquaintance with many of the oldest inhabitants of
the parish, by the late Dr. Rl'FUS W. Gkiswold, the venerable and respected local
historian of Rocky Hill ; with the original notes on the same subject, found among
the papers of the late Sherman \V. Adasis, Esq., of Wethersfield, and from which
his sketch of Rocky Hill, in the Memorial History of Hartford County, was con-
densed. The interest and labors of both of these students of Wethersfield history
were so identical, and their relations to each other so harmonious— that it is
almost impossible to divide the honors between them; but, we believe that Mr.
Adams himself would have admitted that, in many respects. Dr. Griswold's name
was entitled to head this chapter. The Doctor's most honorable and intimate
connection wIlIi Rocky Kill, for nearly half a century, logetlier, with the great
advantages which his profession alTorded him, of acquaintance with the oldest per-
sons in the community, enabled him to secure a mass of valuable historic and
biographic material, which Mr. Adams, in his lifetime, drew upon freely in the
preparation of his \^'ethersfield history. This manuscript material, Dr. Griswold,
during his last years, generously placed at the disposal of the Editor, who has
found in it an almost overwhelming "embarrassment of (historic) riches," from
which he has faithfully endeavored to cull such items as may form a brief, but
satisfactory history of Stepney parish — now Rocky Hill — youngest born of Old Weth-
ersfield.
In a note to the Editor, Dr. Griswold says that his notes were begun about
1870, and were, at first, a jotting down of traditions and reminiscences, gathered
from the older people of the town; and, from these as a basis, his quest for further
information was extended on more definite lines. ibout 1880, at Judge Adams'
request, who had then undertaken to prepare the history of Wethersfield for the
Memorial History of Hartford County, he contributed much of the material per-
taining to Eocky Hill, which appeared in that work, under Judge Adam's name —
though the limitations of space in the Memorial History contained much of the
matter which had been collected. After this, "by fits and starts," Dr. G. continued
to add to what he had already gathered, until in the Spring of 1886, he made an
attempt to put into proper shape, the material thus collected. Of this attempt, he
well says, "Professional business, the unending calls of respectable livelihood, the
petty, but irresistible demands of domestic existence, obliged me to make of this
834
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
'labor of love' a 'catch and go' matter, by no means favorable to the coherency
and symmetry desirable in a work of this kind. Errors tliere must be — for, while
convinced of the correctness of facts stated, the author could not, even by diligent
searching, pin thorn down to definite dates, and has frequently been obliged to use
proximate time. Inferences, also, have been made in some cases, which though un-
avoidable, are yet within the limits of probability, iluch of the information has
been gained from the existing Clerk's and Treasurer's records of Stepney parish,
from the Church records. Town records and from the Baptismal record kept by
Rev. Calvin Chapin. for more than fifty years, of his pastorate, as also from his
copy of other records, back to 176.5; as well as from several private account books
of deceased inhabitants, kindly loaned by their relatives."
It must be remembered that, until 1722, Kocky Hill had no separate parochial
existence, and none whatever as an individual town until 1843. Prior to that date,
it was a part of the town of Wethersfield, and in tlie old records, its history cannot
be distinguished from that of the older town. Whatever, for example, it may have
contributed in the early Indian or Franch Wars, in the Revolutionary War and
that of 1812 (and it furnished its quota to all these) has passed into record
as a part of Wethersfield's history. The "lower community" had its full sliare in
all these — but it is well nigh impossible to identify individuals and cull them from
the general list."
Among tlie sources of Dr. Griswold's old time reminiscences and tales, tlie most
important were those of Jir. Cjiarles Williams of Eockv Hill, the j-oungc^t son of
John and grandson of Elias Williams. Of him. Dr. G. says: "From no other source
have I obtained so much information about Rocky Uill matters back to 1800, as
from him. For many years he was the local correspondent for the Conn. Courunt.
For more than a score of years before his death, he was so deaf that conversation
with him was impossible; and from this fact, perhaps, he was the more observing
of passing events. Being a great reader, he watched the newspapers and was fond
of writing in correction of, and in addition to, what he read concerning local events,
as well as concerning his own recollections." — H. R. S.]
iHJua 'jjCiiit^ci.ji'j)^
LiURARY BoOK-PlaTE.
In possession of Conn. Historical Society.
"P UFUS WOLCOTT GPJSWOLD, M. D., tlic author of this chap-
-'-^ ter, Avas born in Manchester, Ct., 20 February, 1S25, on his
grandfather's (Dr. George Griswuhrs) phiee, kno-\\'n as the ^lyaatt
farm. lie Avas descended from Edward Griswold, who came from Eng-
land to Windsor, Ct., in Iti.'lO, (with ]iev. Eprhaim Huit), as follows:
Edward, tlie Emigrant,* George'-, b. in England.; Daniel,^ Daniel, Jr.,^
all of Windsor; Dr. (Jeurrjr/ of ilarwinfon and Alanchester; Julius I.,^
of Manchester; Dr. Eufus 11'./ of liocky Hill. Dr. Griswold's mother
was Ann'' (dan. of Samuel,'' of E. Iltfd. ; s. of Samuel,^ s. of Ens.
John,* of Ilockanum; s. of Sgt. John;' of E. Htfd. ; s. of Joseph,- s.
of John}) Arnold, a IG.'JG settler of Hartford. Until he was 17 years
old, the subject of our sketch resided with his gd-father Samuel Arnold,
in the southeast part of E. Haitford, and his life Avas the ordinary one
of a boy on a small farm, at that day; going to the district school
winters, in the usual fashion, with one sunnner term at Joseph Taylor's
Select School in Glastoid)ury, Ct. In his ITth years, he entered the
office of the Hartford 'Times, where he was four years an apprentice,
one a journeyman, and one foreman in the printing office. In !^Iarch,
1848, he started The Neic England Weekly Gazette, of which he was
editor, printer and publisher for two years. Then, in the spring of 1S50,
he entered upon the study of medicine — and in the four years thus eni-
ploj-ed depended more or less upon his practical knowledge of the art of
printing, and his literary work as newspaper reporter. Of his ventures at
this period of his life, ho says: "In connection with other parties, I
undertook the puldication of The Parthenon, an illustrated work, de-
signed to be issued in twelve numbers, and to contain papers from some
fifty of the most prominent living American authors of the day. In
connection with this enterprise, I visited and had personal interviews
with Ealph Waldo Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Henry W. Long-
fellow, James Russell Lowell and others. The project was not a suc-
cess. After this, I was one summer in Xew Britain, Ct., doing editorial
work on the N. B. Journal, published by O. P. Brown. Going back
to X. Y. City, I edited, for. a time, a weekly paper called The Golden
Dollar. In the winter of 1852-53, in addition to attending medical
lectures by day, I did night work as a reporter and writer on the Brook-
lyn Morning Journal. The summer of 1853, I spent in service at the
Colored Home Hospital, 65th St., and East Kiver; and while there,
as previously, Avrote a large number of newspaper stories for Dow's
VJ'averly Magazine, The Empire City and other papers. In the Autumn
836
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
of 1S53, I edited The Empire Cilij for a short time, and all these jobs
at pen-dviving \vere mixed in with work "at the case" as a practical
printer."
After his graduation, in 1854, from the College of Plivsioians and
Surgeons, Xew York City, he commenced the practice of medicine in
Rocky Hill, where he resided nntil his death, ISth August, 1902 ;
enjoying the respect and confidence of all who knew him, in a successful
practice of 4S years. Among his many valuable contributions to med-
ical literature may bo mentioned .1 Ilistori/ of Malaria in Sen: England,
Conn. Health Board lieports, 1&.j2-'S(j, an<l a paper on The Materia
Mcdica tC- Theapentics of One Hundred Years Ago, pub. in the Centen-
nial vohnne of the Proceedings of the Conn. State ^ledical Society for
1892. Of this Society lie had been a member since 1S.54; twice Presi-
dent of the Hartford County ^Medical Association, and several times
represented it as a Fellow, at the meetings of the State ^ledical Society.
Dr. Griswold possessed strong antiquarian tastes, wliich his extensive
professional acquaintance throughout the county, with irs oldest in
habitants and their families, enabled him to indulge — with (as will be
seen by this chapter) profitable and interesting results for the benefit
of those who are interested in old Wethcrsheld and Rocky Hill his-
torv. He was one of the founders and incorporators of the Conn.
Soc. of Sons of the American Revolution, and prominent in its work,
tmtil compelled by ill health, a few years before his death, to resign
active duty. He was also active in church and town affairs, in school and
library affairs, and in fact, in all that pertained to the highest interests
of his adopted home. Fi'om the spring of ISGO, to the Autumn of 1SG4,
he was To^\ti Clerk and Register of Births, ilarriages and Deaths; for
some 15 years from 1S56, one of the Acting School Visitors, until his
resignation; for 4 years from 18G0, Justice of the Peace; and for many
years from 1S5S, Clerk and Treasui-er of the Centre School District ; and
Treasurer of Rocky Hill Cong. Keel. Socy., since ISTt) ; notary pulilic
for over 20 years ; head of the High School Committee ( whenever
there has been a High School in operation in the town), and in 1SS3,
represented the to\\"n in General Assembly, where he was Chairman of
committee on Contingent Expenses of the House.
Dr. Griswold left a widow, formerly Esther Eliza, (dau. of Elijah)
Hammond, of Vernon, Ct., and three sons, all of whom are practising
physicians, all grad. IMed. Dept. Fniv., City of X. Y., viz.: Rogek
M. Griswold, if. D., b. Brooklyn, X. Y., 1-3 Sept., 1852; grad. 1875;
practiced at Xorth ilanchcster and Portland, Ct., Providence, R. I.,
THE NAME "ROCKY HILL."
837
and now of Ken-siugton, Ct. ; Edwakd II. Griswoi-d, M. D., b. Rocky
Hill, Ct., 22 July, lSr>5 ; gnul. ISTS ; practiced at Niagara Falls, X. Y.,
and E. Hartford, Ct., and now at Xiantie, Ct. ; and .Jllils E Gras-
woLii, ^I. D., grad. 1^7'.), who practi^ed at Glastonbury and Portland,
Ct.— [//. n. i.]
The First Settlers of the district at sontli end of AVetliersfiold, for-
merly known as Stepney and later as Rocky Hill, have already been
mentioned pages 1U8 and 1!)'.).^
The EstahUshmrnt of Stepney Purlsh . Othenrisc Known as the Third
Ecclesiastieal Soeietij in Wetlterxfield. — The initiatory niovenietit
towards the formation of a new parisli in the lower, or Rocky Hill
portion of "Wethersiield, in 1720: its incorporation as such by the Gen-
eral Court in 1722; the fixing of its parochial bounds, and the bestowal
of its name in 1720, have been already stated on pages 190 to lO'J.
Despite the Old World baptismal name of Stepney, thus given to it,
it continued to be known, from the first, as Rocky Hill. The hog-
back ridge of trap rock, sniiie ;iOO feet high, wiiich extends from just
south of GoflFe's Brook to The Landing, was and remains so conspicu-
ous a feature of the lan<l><cape, that it coidd not be ignored and so fitly
characterized the region that, in a little time, though the parish was
officially Stepney, the name Rocky Hii.l began to be ajiplied to all the
eastern portion of the south end of the town, and in 1820, became so
by legal enactment. This may have been, in some respects, an unfor-
tunate naming for us. There is no doubt that it conveys to the minds
of those who are strangers to the place, an erroneous idea of the physical
features of the township, viz. : that the 'i-l by 4? miles of territory was
about all like the iron-stone hill that overlooks the beautiful meadows
at its foot. The name suggests dreariness and desolation ; it calls up
visions of rugged, improductive, qnartz-botddered hill-sides, barren in
spots and in others overrun with briars and stumpy cedars, a region
dominatei' by rocks and jirolific of rattlesnakes, instead of being, as
it really is, in its geographical situation and physical features, one of
•To the names tliere given, we may add (from a list of Rocky Hill settlers among
Judge Adams' papers) the following, with dates at which they are found on record:
\Vm. Biggs, 1G93: Joseph Butler; Thos. Deming, Sr. ; Eliphalet Dickinson, 1007;
John Coleman; Joseph Crawford, 1G07; .Tona. Curtis, 1713; Samuel Dix, 1004;
Joseph Grimes, 1705; Lazaras Hollister, ICiiUJ; John Reynolds, 1007; Wid. Riley,
1713-14; Jonathan Smith, 1701; Jacob Williams, 1690; \Vm. Warner, 1715
838
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WZTHERSFTELD.
the most beautiful towns in the valley of a river unsurpassed iu natural
beauty by any stream on this continent. The view from the crown of
this trap-rock hill,* both as to the f'^regrounJ of the meadows below
and the villages around, as well as in the distance, with the windings
of the silver-gray river between ; reaching, on the east, to the Glastonbury
range of hills; on the north, of the (.itv of Haniord. with its domes and
spires; and, further on, the Iloosic chain of mountains, in ^Massachu-
setts; swinging thence down to the Taleott mr.imtain, to Southington and
Meriden ; and, from thence, sti-etcliina' easterly to the straits below
Middletown, is one of unsurpassed loveline?;. It presents the charm of
pastoral culture and harmonious pcacefulness. with suggestions of
active prosperity, and well earned abundance. It is a picture of kindly
ifature, moulded into new beauty by Agricultural arts; and its tints
and colors, of which tlic eye never weari-s. constantly change, in the
round of seasons, week by week — alnn.st dav In- dav.
As an abiding name, this hill itself should 1^ kiiown as "Iron-Stone
Hill." For the last forty years, it lias b<-en designated as ''Shipman's
Hill" from the fact that the tavern at its fo<it. on the west side, was
kept for sonie years by ^Ir. Sanuiel Shipman. wiiose land at that point
ran up tc and over its top. Directly on the iup, ai this point, is a natural
plateau, large enough to accommodate a hotel building, for which the
site is unsurpassed. Some 40 years ago, Mr. S. beautified this point
to some extent, by planting a double row of shade trees and openins a
carriage road to it, up the hill. It is easily accessible also, at other
places. This conspicuous feature of tlie town should not have its name
changed in every generation at the whim of everv owner.
'There have been many speculations that the FoHi/ Bill misht treasure richer
deposits than the trap rock. James G. Pcrcival. phv?ician. poet, geoIo<;ist, who
was born in 1795, in that part of the town of Berlin, which was then Kensington
parish and is now New Britian, and who in l?3o. was appointed by the Governor
to make a geological survey of the state, .-rated in his pubii-hed report that he
found traces of coal in Rocky Hill. I hare not been able to find out exactly at
what point this may have Ix^en, but wherever it was. the finds must have been verv
slight. I am doubtful if they were in near relation to the iron-stone ledge, for
the two kinds of deposit are not often associated: and coal, ir found at all, would
more likely be in approximation with the shale which crops out at several points
a mile or more to the west of the ironstone ran^e. say in the neighborhood of the
old stone-pit hole three-fourths of a mile weft of the Centre comers. About 1850,
when this country began to develop the petroleum deposits in the Middle States,
there was a bit of excitement right here for a few weeks: and a company was
organized to bore for oil along one of the little bro-jks that are crossed going from
the Centre northwest to Griswoldville; and it was claimed that surface indications
were favorable; borings were made, but the matter soon "petered throu"-h." —
R. W. G.
BOUNDS OF STEPNEY PARISH.
839
An expression in common use for 200 years after the settlement, to
designate Rocky Hill, was "the lower community."' ''How are the
people in the lower comnumity i!"' was a frequent colloquialism, and the
answer invariably came back "The lower community is all right I"
The Bounds of the Parish. — The X. bound of Stepney parish was at
the corner of the road near the present So. Wethersfield E. E. station,
and the natural inference would be that the line ran E. from thence
through the meadow, and to the river. But, it is on record, that, in
December, 1740, the Inhabitants of the parish, v<jtcd: ''Upon considera-
tion of the straitness of the l)ounds of this Society, and the charges in-
creasing more in proportion than the increase or growth of the inhab-
itants of said Society, by reason of the straitness of the bounds, this
Society, therefore, by vote agree to choose Thomas Cui'tis, John Robbius,
Jr., and Daniel Doming, a Committee to petition to y° old Society in
Wethersfield to enlarge the bounds of this Society, and grant that the
bounds of this Society may run west, as Beckley road runs until it meets
with Xewington Society, and then it may run east, beginning at Beaver
Bridge and to run from said bridge the same line as y' highway runs,
until it comes to Conn. River; and in case y" old Society in Wethers-
field shall neglect or rcfu.-e to grant y' aforesaid petition, then this
Society by vote do empower the Committee aforesaid to petition the
General Assembly in !May next in order for y' enlargement of y' bounds
of this Society, as aforesaid : and this Society by vote agree to defray
y" charge that y* Comm. shall be at in the prosecution of \' premises."*
As, in 1754, the same matter was under consideration, it would appear
that the Stepney parish folks had not received the desired "enlarge-
ment." But, in 1759, it was obtained. At that time the old parish re-
tained all the meadow X. and S. of Beaver, or GofFe's brook, and at
the W. all the territory W. of and along about the Shunpike to some now
uncertain point S. of the road to Berlin; the parish, at this time, being
extended X. to Beaver ^leadow road, and at the W. to the Berlin
road.
' As elsewhere in print, over Dr. Griswold's name, the bounds of Stepney parish
were given as follows: "The parish extended X. to the road which runs W. past
the So. Weth. R. R. station. From that point the line ran E. to Beaver Brook, which
is but a short distance, then followed that stream down to where it meets Goflfe's
Brook (the two being called "lower down' Meadow Brook) and on till Meadow
Brook enters the Connecticut, a little way above the Ferry. West from Dix'3
corner, the line ran down the old road S. \V. to the neighborhood of the West
Meth. Church, and then on towards Beckley Quarter. The parish thus took in a
wedge-shaped piece of land now in Weth.; but had nothing of the Great ^Meadow,
nor of a large tract at the West, laving X. of the Berlin road."
840
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIELD.
Old Roads. — It is worthy of note that the cavhj ronds hiid out in
the original town (embracing- the four into which it is now divided)
were taken from hind belonging to the town itself, and not from pri-
vate owners, so that the fee of the soil in all such roads, is still vested
in the Town, and is not, in any sense, the property of the owners of the
adjoining lots. Tlie chiiiu (generally good) that a man owiis to the
middle of the road in front of his premises, except for purpo?es of pul>-
lic travel, does not hold as to ancient town roads in eirher Wethers-
field, Glastonbury, Iiocky Hill or ^'e\vingt<in. Koeky Hill lias hun-
dreds of acres belonging to it in fee. which adjoining land owners have
appropriated and fenced in. Tlie 20-rod highways have been reduced
to four rods, or less. The middle road into Rocky Hill, coming from
the crossing at the mattrass shop jiast the "Old Maid"? Place" and
E. of the Parsonage land, was laid out in 1G80. This was on Town
land, as were the several 20-rod highways. The road west from the
Curtis comer in So. part of the town to the llerlin line was :20 rods
wide; and so, probably, a]s<i was the roa<l A\'. from the West School
house; while- rlie road running X. into XewiiigTon. E. of TJeckley
Quarters is still known as ■'Tweiity-Ifod highway"' and, perhaps, there
were others. ,
At the period alluded to (17r>4) a niuvement was made to set off from
this parish, its extreme W. end, to the Deckley (Quarter section, presum-
ably because there may have been two or three houses there that were
within the Stepney parish lines; and a connnittec was appointed to
forward the project. Either then, or subsequently, the extreme end of
this town was, for school purposes, set into Eeckley Quarter and so
continues. The line of the district up E., comes to the neighborhood
of "Twenty-Rod highway." Formerly it came farther E., nearly up to
the Horace Porter place, but some forty years ago, a new line was
made, as it is at present — coming from S., in the line of the road that
runs S., into W. Cromwell, West of Cabull Hill, and thence straight
N., to the Berlin road.
It has already been seen, from statements in the earlier pages of this
•work, that the lands originally purchased by the Town of Wethersfield
in common from the Indians — wore from time to time set out to indi-
viduals for special purposes — and allotments were made from time to
time, in which all the land-holding settlers shared. Among other such
divisions of the common land, we may especially note, as concerning
Stepney parish, one made in 160:3, which is fully discussed by Judge
Adams in Appendix V. The last division of the public lands of
IXDIAN' RIGHTS ■ MEETING-HOUSES.
841
the town was in 1T.j4, which exhausted the "undivided huids,"' couv
mons and public pastures for cattle and sheep.
Early in the settleinent of "Wethersfield, cattle were pastured in the
commons, under charire of town "herders." About 1050, there was
one of these connnons in what is now Uncky Hill, ])riibably alon;:- the X.,
line and W., of the middle roa.l. In 1(:;74, a ouunon of 1,000 acres
was established here fur cattle and sheep. The property west of the
Parsonage tract and south of the road to the West District has been
knowii as the "Cominon lots" till within the past 20 years — and is ?till
sometimes so called. It was not divided until about 1750.
Indian rights. — It is an old tradition in this town [as in Windsor
and other Connecticut towns — Editoi: | to within my recollection, that
in all transfers of land in Wetherstield from the Indians to the whites,
there was either a specified, or an implied agreement that the grantors
reserved the right tu cut all the liasket-timber for their o\ni use that
they might want and wherever they chose; and consequently their
descendants have rarely, if ever, been interfered with, in so doing.
Merling-Hou«e.-i. — The creation of a new parish, meant, of course,
the building of a meeting house. It may be reasonably supposed that
prior to this time some intermittent religious services had been held
at this south end of the town : but, for all stated services its inhaliitants
had been obliged to resort to the old church at Wethersfield.
The site of the first meeting house is known, but not so the date when
it was built. It stood on the highway, in front of the present site
of Mr. Wait Wanier"s barn.' As the General Court, in 1723, granted
Stepney parish a special exemption from the ''country rate," on the
grand list of 1722. because of heavy parish charges, it is probable that
the construction of the meetine; house had been begun in 1722. The
'It may be wortli inentioniiig here, that the ovijrinal intention as to the location
of the first meeting house, was to place it in the near neighborhood of what was
called "the Stone-Pits" — which is supposed to have been north of the road on the
east side of the little stream before one goes up the hill leading to the West Dis-
trict. It was quite the fashion, at that period to put the meeting-house on some
commanding site: and what is now known as the Boardman-Hohnes property near
the Stone-Pits, commands a splendid view to three of the four cardinal points of the
compass. It was. also, at this period, expected that the road nmning south from
the brook crossing at Hewetfs Pond (So. Weth.) and which comes out in front of the
Boardman-Holmes property, would be the main road into the south part of
Wethersfield; and that point was also very much nearer the centre of the proposed
new parish. But, as the bulk of the population was a mile further east, the idea
of that site for the meeting house was abandoned.
842
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSFIELD.
earliest record extant, of Stepney parish, is dated April IStli, 172G;
and at this date the building had been completed so as to be occupied,
excepting the pulpit; Tho. ilorton, Jacob and Stephen Williams being
at this time chosen to see to the putting up of the latter.
This edifice was a plain wooden building, and as we learn from the
parish record, a two story stnicture. Pews, next to the walls, were
built in 17:^9, also, one for the Minister. Other pews followed in 1730,
and galleries in 17:12, but these were not furnished with pews. The
work seems to have been done by Daniel Edwards, under the direction
of the "Grand Committee," the first members of which were Capt.
Ephraim Goodrich, Joseph Grimes and Samuel Williams, Capt. Joshua
Robbins, Capt. Edward Bulkeley, Jacob Williams and other leading
men were members of this Committee. It is evident that, for many
years, the acconunodations were (piite crude. Temporary seats were
all that there were in the galleries until 17GS, when pews were permitted
to be put up in side-galleries alone. There was no provision for heating
the building, and the pcojdc used only foot-stoves, or heated stones,
or pieces of plank, Avhich they brought to church with them to keep their
feet warm. Church business meetings, in the winter, were adjourned
from the "ipeting house (whicli was virtually used a a Town hall,)
to some nearby private dwelling. This condition obtained until 1820,
in which year Roderick Grimes was paid a bill of $5.95, for "wood,
shovel and tongs," and at the same time, a bill was paid to Manna Wood-
house, of $C.50, which bills probably mark the introduction of the
stove. Thereafter "wood" bills appear reguhiTly upon the records,
and wood continued to be used until 1S44, when coal was introduced
into use in heating the church. The same year the first insurance
was put upon the building; chimneys were built in 1832. The ceiling
of the edifice was plastered for the first time, so far as appears, in 1760,
or '70, and then by a special subscription. ^Meetings, as was the rule
generally at that period, were, for many years, called by beat of
drum.
The Second Meeting House. — It was during the ministry of Rev.
Dr. Chapin, the fourth pastor of Stepney parish, that the second edifice
was erected, in ISOS. A vote had been passed after an agitation of
the subject, commencing in 1805,^ authorizing its construction, and
a piece of land for its site M-as purchased from Jacob Robbins, at $2.50
' Merriani Williams, writing, under date of 24 Mcli., 1805, to his bro. Comfort
(then at Yale College) says: "Tliere is a prospect of our having a new meeting-
house in this town. The people got a vote for one the first meeting they had for
the purpose. ♦ * * There are a few who wish to have a Green extend from the
yM
::11.-W1
; •■Hy ,••'■ \ v'/ \'
r. • i.
L.-^
IX-
-V. .■'-.- ^«>,.««,
s^fiBB
TiiK KuLKV Hill Cucucn.
STEPNEY'S SECOND MEETING HOUSE.
843
per acre, south of the Academy, just \vhere the turnpike leaves the old
road. It was provided that the building should be 60 feet long and
50 feet wide,^ and modeled like the one at Middletown. Its frame
■was raised on the 13th Xovcmber. ISOO, and the edifice dedicated 22d
September, ISOS ; and \vas furnished with pews, which were removed
from the galleries in ISOO, and from the main tloor in 1842, and
slips substituted. In IS-tO, the spire which had surmounted the tower
from the beginning, was taken do\\Ti and the building considerably re-
paired, since which time the structure has remained substantially as at
present. Some of the timbers of the old (or first) church (which was
sold at auction in October, ISOS) were used in the present dwelling
house of Mr. Samuel Dimock : and were found to be perfectly sound after
over 150 years' use. The edifice received its first coat of paint in 1S27,
(Chapin Mss.), again in 1S44, the addition of window blinds in 1844,
and a reshingling and repainting in IS")!].
The cost of this second edifice was a little over $0,000, in addition to
much contributed work. Elijah Acklcy seems to have been chief car-
penter, Seth Dickinson had charge of the stone work, Josiah Beckley
and Wm. Tryon, Jr., furnislied rho timber mostly; the underpinning
and stt-ps wore of Portland Stone. .V debt was incurred by the edifice
■which was not wholly paid off ttntil 1550.
The Committee in charge of the erection of this church were Wait
Eobbins, Joseph Bulkely, Jabez Reilly, Hosea Bulkeley, Kichard Beld-
ing, Frederick Bobbins, "William Williams and Simeon Butler.
We must, by no means, forget that the dedication of the new building
was preceded by the usual "•Seating of the IMeeting-House," or as more
anciently phrased ''Dignifying the Seats." In September, 1808, the
house being fully ready for use, a Committee was appointed to "seat the
meeting house ;" that is, detennine who should occupy the respective
seats for the year — according to a well defined, but unwritten law of
those early days, which took into consideration, the age, dignity, official
Academy to the meeting house, but Mr. Robbins is not willing to part with so much
of his land."
In another letter addressed (2 .July. 180V) to the same brother, he writes:
"Edward would be very glad to write to you; but his father [Rev. Calvin Chapin]
does not like to have him write without he can oversee him, and he is so bus}- about
covering the vane and ball to the meeting house with gold leaf, that he has not
time to help him. The vane is 7 ft. long. Mr. Danforth [later the writer's
father-in-law] measured the ball with corn, and said it held 36 gallons. It seems
now as if there was a prospect of having the meeting-house tinislied some time;
there are a number at work upon it, and they seem to get along considerably fast."
' Dr. Chapin's Mss. says, ''it is outside 64x50 ft."
844
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSRELD.
standing in the coimnunity, relative wealrh. auuiuut uf tax paid, etc.,
etc., by each person. The "seating of the nieetinir-Iiouse" was always a
most imjwrtant and solemn procedure, giving ri?e not infrequently to
much heart-burning jealously; and often affording "ints of fun" to the
gossips of the town. Boys were confined to a special gallery; and such
negroes as were supposed to have any souls wdrthy to he saved, were lo-
cated in an obscure curncr of the house, as far as possible fnuu the pulpit
and its sounding-board. As all the property of the parish was taxed for
the support of the ministry, it followed that ccenjonc was entitled to a
free scat in the meeting house; but there was no democratic equality in
tho.sc days — oh I no! social rank was still scrupulously observed by
our forefathers — in these matters — -though Jelfersouian Democracy was
even then on its way to them.
Parsonage La/if/.- -Stepney parish never had a parsonar/e house, but
it Lad parsonage property. Almost simultaneously with the establish-
ment of the parish, Joseiih Grimes, petitioned the Town for 8 acres
of land "near the mouth of the lane that comes in by Jonathan Hiley's,
for our first minister whom we are about to settle" ( WctJt. Town Votes,
II, p. 10), wh.ich was granted the same day.
In 172(), tlie Town of Wethersfiold ordered that ])arsoiuigo land be
set out to Ste]niey parish; and the latter released to the Old Society all
its right in the estate of the "First and most ancient Society of Weth-
ersfield." The land thus set to Stepney was a good part of the sqmire
bounded north on Parsonage Street, east on liussell Street, south on
Centre and west on West Street, the amount given being 60 acres.
Sixty acres was the quantitv asked for by the new parish and is de-
scribed as being north of the Stone Pits and south of Cold Spring.
Cold S])ring was the section along Brook Street, north of the road to
Griswoldville, or Two Stone, as it was formerly called. There is a
spring on the west of Brook Street, one-eighth of a mile north of the
Corners from which, and other springs further on. this section obtained
its name. Of this the first minister got eight acres in the northeast
corner with a northerly front of but a few rods, but extending south
nearly halfway the length of the road, as his o\\'n property. West of
the eight acres given to the minister, the parish kept, until 1S50, twenty
other acres lying along the north side of the plot, for the use of suc-
ceeding ministers of the Society. During the life of the first minister
(Mr. Russell), he had the use of some portion of the rest of the property.
In 1764, the parish voted him the use of one-half of this land during
his lifetime, to lie in couuu<in, until a dividing fence could be made.
Mr. Russell died soon after this, and in January, 1705, the parish passed
The IniV Su;n ok the Oi.d Koitnixs' HofsE,
Roekv Hill.
3
u
a
__ ;
1
/7
i;7
6S
*£
^f
k
w
.?;>•
3/
32
?,5
_^/
ss
/ /
/
6Z
f>Z
CZ
9t
ST
rr
H
-'/
2-i.
^
(5
^
/■/
i
S
£
Pl.AX oi' Mil: t': :v s in Old Stki-nky CnUKcn, lipforc tlie clianiie
to slips, ;ui<l iilxiiit 1S40. Kuiiml ainoiig the papers of Mr.
Charles Williaiiis. dec".!, KSSO. — R. W. a.
PARSON AOE LAND.
845
the follo\viiig vote: "\'otcd, to sell the parsonage, all but 20 acres
across the X. end (viz.) that Capt. John Warner, John Robbins, y'
2d, and Elias Williams should have power to set s" land up at Vendue
to be sold at, or to the highest Bidder, s'' Land to be set up at Less
than £9 per acre the first bid, and not to be set up more than S acres
at a time and not less than 4 acres at a time, and to begin at the north
part next to the 20 acres that we Reserve for the use of the minister;
and there sliall lie a privilege between the s" 20 acres and the hind of
the Rev. Mr. Russell's Land of one rod wide and acrost those parts that
may be purchased the northernal parts, to extend so far South as those
that imrchase shall Desire, those that want it to give for that as they
bid of the other Land, they fencing on the west side of the gangway,
and those that purchase to do half of the fence next to Mr. Russell's
heirs and next to Xath'll Robbins against their own; and after said
land is sold, the above mentioned persons shall have power to secure
it for the term of DOn years — they that purchase to make over said
Land to the Society, and to put in about as much more land, or a Bond
of about the same sum for a siirety that the" ., ul pay the lawful in-
tei'est yearly, and that the interest shall become due upon the first day
of December annually and that every one that said land is bid off to,
shall put in a forfeiture of one shilling on the pound either in cash.
or a note, for all such sums as they shall bid off amount to, to bind them
to fulfill their parts."
It was also voted that "if any person or persons that shall bid off the
parsonage Land shall pay the principal sum, that then ye alwve
Comm'te, or their sxiccessers, shall have power to let out said money,
taken [ing] Double Security for the same in Lands, or Bondsmen."'
L'nder these votes, a large part of the property was leased. In 1771,
upon the petition of Samuel Russell, son of Rev. Daniel (and who seems
to have come into the possession of the S acres given his father, and who
had taken some of the land put up at vendue) asking to be relieved from
his venture, the Society voted to so release him, iipon conditions as to
interest, etc., and also that he should allow and secure to the Society a
highway of one rod wide across the south end of his S acres, to be
properly fenced.
It would appear from the first of the above quoted votes, that
Xathaniel Robliin? owned some part of the land included in the square,
of the parsonage land : but. at which corner, cannot be ascertained.
All of this land was not disposed of at the first vendue, as appears
from the following Society vote, in 1771. "That the Com'tee that
was appointed to lease out the parsonage land should set the land up to
846
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
a vendue, and sot it up at £9 per. acre ; and if it wont fetch more, not
to sell it ; but to Inij>rove it some other way : hut, in case any person
bids it off, s " Com "" to have power to Lease it out y ' same term
of time y ' other parsonage land was leased for, taking the same
security if they Caint no better." In December of the same year, the
Committee were empowered to lease the property at £S ; but it seems as
though under this last vote, the remaining portion of the parsonage laud
was disposed of (the 20 acres before mentioned, excepte<l ) ; as there is
no further vote on record in relation thereto — except as to the 20
acre piece.
From the lease of this parsonage projierty, and the payments on the
principal for which it was dispo.sed of. there was created a fund for the
Society's use, to which occasional reference is made on the records. The
care of real estate, the improvement of the land and its fencing, etc.,
seems to have been a deal of trouble to tlie parish ; and it is probable
that the interest from the proceeds of its sale was better than the returns
from the land itself. In August, 1807, while the new church was
being buildcd, and the Society was availing itself of every possible source
of income, it was "Voted, that all the public money belonging to this
Society be sold, provided it will sell for the full value, and the money
be appropriated towards the expenses of build'g the new fleeting House,
and that Mr. Frederick Kobbins, the Society Treasurer, be impowered
to sell the same and pay over the Money to the Cora"" for building
the said Meeting house." By the term "public Money" here used, was
meant the notes, or other securities which had been taken for the sale of
the parsonage land {minus the 8 acres given ^[r. liussell and the 20
acres reserved for his successor). The amount of interest at that
time received from this parsonage land (and which come from loan
certificates and notes) was $88.42 per year. And thus departed the
parsonage land, except the 20 acres on the north side, which continued in
use for the ministry until 1850, when it was leased to AYm. W. "Warner
for $860— for a term of 090 years.
Bequests to the Church Society. — In 1768, the Church records show a
vote of Thanks to Joxatiiax Bui.kei.ey for an "elegant flacon" pre-
sented to the Church by him — probably for Communion uses. This
was Jonathan (son of Edward) Bulkeley, and he was part owner of the
"Dividend Mill,"' and died in 1776, aged 64.
In 1781, Gersiioim (brother of the above Jonathan) Blt-kei.ev,
received the thanks of the Stepney Church for "a proper napkin" —
to be used probably for communion purposes, or at baptisms. This
donor died 1806, age S7.
CHURCH FASHIONS, MANNERS AND ACCOMMODATIONS
847
Mrs. Mercy (second wife of Mr. Josiali) Griswoi.d, of Rocky Hill,
and who died 3 Xov., 1S19, left by will to the Ecclesiastical Society
of Stepney, the siim of £100=$333. 33— which sum has always been
loaned out at interest. In the words of the will it was devised ''for
the sole use and support of a minister in said Stepney Society, of the
Congregational or Presbyterian dcn(jmination, and to no other iise or
purpose whatever." See, also, our Chapter on Rocky-Hill, Physicians,
and Midvvivcs, of which latter, Mrs. Mercy Griswold was a noted
representative.
Rachel Lewis, for many years a resident of the town and a member
of Rev. Dr. Chapin's family, died 1) Oct., 1S19 aged 57, and by will
bequeathed "a sum of money, not exceeding $130 for the purpose of
procuring suitable furniture for the Commimion table," etc. The
communion service procured under this bequest was first used May 6,
1821, and is still in use. The gift remains on loan, and the Church
gets the interest.
Mary RouBiiNS, the youngest and the survivor of four daughters
of Richard Robbins, whose home was on Brook St., north of the old
Parsonage Corner, and who died May IS.")."!, gave by will to the Rocky
Hill Ecclesiastical Society $000. These sisters, Rhoda, Rachel, Abigail
("Nabbv") and I^lary ('•P(dly") were known as "the Old Maids"
and their home as "the Old ]\Iaids place." IMary died at the age of 73.
This fund of $G00 which she left, and of which the Society came into
possession in 1S58, was invested in Hartford bank-stock and by stock
dividends the six original shares have become eight full shares, the in-
terest of which accrues to the Society's purposes.
Church Fashions, Manners and Accommodations. — It was not until
1766 that men and their wives sat together in the meeting-house ; and
it was not done even then without the sanction of a special vote,
applicable only to those who had the dignity of "pews." The old
house of worship had, at first, only benches of a rude sort ; from time to
time, and extending over a period of many years^even to the latter
years of the old meeting-house biiildings, pews were put in, a few at a
time. Except in these, the men and women sat apart. Down to as late
as 1855, at Conference and other meetings, and similar gatherings, the
men sat on one side of the house and the women on the other. The first
break in this custom, was made in 1856, by Dr. Rufus W. Griswold's
taking a seat with his wife. "Age, Estate, and qualification" were
respected, in this old custom of seating (or, as it was sometimes called
"dignifying") the meeting-house; for it was a period when if the
Clergjnnan, the Squire, or the Doctor passed along the road, every
848
HISTORY OF AN'CLENT WETHERSFIELD.
boy they met took off liis hat and "made his manners," or if a girl,
"dropped a eurt'sy." In the same year (17GG) it was voted that all
yonng men over IS and young women over 16 shoiild be "seated" — the
first intimation that, in this parish, males and females of those respective
ages were not children. Children at that time, did not sit with their
parents, as now, but were kept apart under the watchful eye of some
deacon, or tythingman. In 17G8, this seating of young persons was
extended so as to apply to males of 21 and females of IS; and about
the same time, also, was adopted the new notion of allowing persons to
"choose" their seat-mates — that is, allowing the heads of families to
agree to occupy together — enough of them to fill up some fi.xed pew,
which tlicy preferred. Yes, though this custom subsequently prevailed
to some extent, they, none of them, abated one "jot or tittle" of their
"dignity."
xVs evidence of the importance attached to this matter, we cite a vote
passed in 1750, "Voted, that Lieut. Thomas Curtis should sit in the
corner pew, next the sixth pew". Also "Voted, as followeth : the fore-
seat next the great pew, the corner-pew next, the second-seat next, the
new pew next the great alley, and the pew next the corner-pew, to be
equal ; the pow west of the door next ; the north pew, the pew next to
Mr. Eussell's to be next ; the north pew by the stairs next : the third seat
equal to the north new pew."
Illustrative of the care taken as to the young men in meeting-time, in
those days, the following vote from "Wethersficld records may be quoted
— for the same "oversight" was maintained there as here.
At a to'w'n meeting Lawfvlly assembled in Wethersficld on the 6th
day of Jvly, Anno Domini 1710; — At this meeting Sergt. Xathll.
Staddart and Jabez ^Miitlescy, were chosen to take the oversight of the
yovth that sit in the lower part of the mcetirfg hovse, viz. all the yovth
that sit below, and James Bvtlcr chosen to have the oversight of the
yovth that sit in the galleries, these persons to have the care and oversight
of ym. for one year or more, to endeavor the keeping of ym. in a dvo
order, and that they take especially care that said yovth sanetifie the
Sabbath that they make no distvrbence in the time of pvblic worship."
The peivs in the ^Meeting house were mostly square pen-like structures,
rather high, with seats around the sides. The top rail of these sides were
ornamented with top-shaped wooden balls: and when the pews were
taken out of the edifice, at a later day, these ornaments naturally fell
to the boys of the parish — every boy had his "meeting-house top." Says
Dea. Jared G. Dimock (who was five years old when the meeting-house
was cleared of its pews) "We all had tops then, and they were good ones.
THE CHURCH BELL.
too!" !^[any of tlio pews had small tables in the centre, for holding
Bibles and hymn books.
Bell. — In the olden times, the "drum beat" was the ordinary method
employed by the ''church militant" to call its votaries together to
occasions of worship.
. Church Music. — During llev. ilr. Kusscll's ministry the singing
of Dr. Watts' Vei'sion of the Psalms was introduced into the service
of thio Church in 1750, by a parish vote.
It is interesting to note that at a meeting of the then newly organized
Stepney Society, held Dec. 5, 1720, it was "Voted, that our annual
Society meeting, shall li(^gin at eight o'clock in the morning, att the beat
of the Dnim, any former vote to the contrary, notwithstanding."
Again, Janmiry 172S, "Then we subscribers, agreed with Elihu
Dixenson for the smu of 24 shillings to take care of y' Meeting house
and to sweep s house fur this year ensuing and to beate y' Drum 3
times on each Sabbath day throughout this year, and also to beat y*
Dnmi for callin together inhabitants att the Society' Meetings" —
(signed) Edward Bulkeley, Jcjseph Grimes, Comm. and Elihu Dixinson.
And the drum probably supplied the want of a bell for many, many
years after this date. In 1S30, a bell was placed on the Church; and
with it a Clod', which was always known as the Town Clock, because it
•was pui'chased by a general subscription among the people at large.
It had a striking attachment and did good service until about IS 65, and,
off and on, for a few years later — since which it has been idle.
The "curfew bell" of our English ancestors, became in Xew England
the "nine-o'clock" evening bell in many parishes — some of which still
Continue its use — as also for calling the jieoplc to weekly evening prayer
ineeting, and marking the advent of "noon". The bell was also iised,
\vith scrupulous exactitude, ior "tolling" the death of any inhabitant of
the town — viz. the "attention call," then the "sex" and then the "age",
as also the "passing bell" as the hour of burial — a custom continued up
to about 1S80, since whit-h it has gradually fallen into disuse. Notice
of Sabbath service has been given at a little past nine A. 'SL, with the
"meeting-bell" an hour and a quarter later : Day-services, both forenoon
and afternoon, were continued up to about 1S73: and from 1830 there
was also an evening service ; since 1873, however, the afternoon service
has been omitted — the morning and evening services alone remain.
Not long after the introduction of the bell, the "rising generation"
began to ring it on the mornings of the "Glorious Fourth", The "morn-
ing" was sometimes construed by them to begin at "sunrise", sometimes
again at 12 o'clock on the night of the 3rd and kept up until sunrise.
850
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
This "too previous"' commencement of the Fourth was always more or
less of an annoyance to the villagers, and at times has been the occasion
of struggles between the Church Conmiittce or some individual on the
one side, with the "irrepressible boy" on the other. Generally, the
Church Committee has been rather lenient with the boys in their fun ;
at other times they have frowned upon it — usually, however, with the
same result — that strategy on the part of the boys has accomplished
the coveted end. When a church door key could not be surreptirinusly
obtained, the boy has climbed the lightning rod; wlien the rope has been
removed by a watchful sexton, the youthful invader has readied the
belfry and swung the tongue of the bell ; and when the tongue itself has
been removed, some ingenious boy has forged a new one at the smithy.
Sometimes the sexton has been intimidated, sometimes pelted with iMtten
eggs until he Hed the ground. If, as not often chanced, the offender was
arrested, ho was never convicted. At the Centennial of our National In-
dependence, 1S76, this church-bell 4th July bell-ringing almost culmin-
ated in a riot.
Ministers. — The Congregational Church in Stepney afterwards
known as the TJi ird Ecdcs'uisiical Sociffi/ in V.'ethersfield, was organized,
Juue 7, 1727 , and on the same day the Kev. DAXtKL RrssEi.i, was
ordained and installed. lie was the seventh of the nine children of Rev.
Xoadiah Russell of ^Iiddk>town, Ct., who had been one of the
founders of Yale College, and also one of the authors of the Saybrook
Platform. The son Daniel was born June Ord, 1702 ; graduated at Yale
College, 172-t; and was guided in his theological training by his brother
William, who had succeeded to his father's pulpit in Middletown. His
salary was fixed at £80 a year, or £60 and the use of the parsonage
property, for the first four years, to be increased at the rate of £."> per
year, until it amounted to £100 ($.3o3.n;3) ; and at this figure the
minister's salary continued until, in 1S47, a colleague was engaged
for Rev. Dr. Chapin. The parish also voted ]Mr. Russell, for himself
and heirs, eight acres of the parsonage land, as one of the conditions of
his settlement; and £160 (to be paid partly in work) towards building
him a house. This was erected upon the X.E. corner of the eight acres
aforesaid, and remained until some seventy-five years ago. The tax for
the minister's support was to be paid partly in grain, or other farm
produce, at fourpence, (6} cts.) for corn, fivepence for rye and seven-
pence for wheat. About I7o0, or earlier, there began to be s\ich a de-
preciation in the paper currency that the representative of the silver
dollar had a less purchasing power than before, so that, by 1755-6, its
value was onlv that of a sixth of a dollar. Air. Russell was at this
REV. MR. RUSSELL'S PASTORATE.
851
time, receiving £000 a year in paper money. Directly after tliis came
a "New Emission" which seems to have been of the same vahie as
silver, so that the minister's salary went back to the old figure. Later
still, there was another disturbance in the circulating medium, and
when Mr. Lewis (third Stepney Minister) was settled, in 17S1, his
salary was put at £50 silver, or its e(]uivalent. At this time, the silver
dollar was worth several of the Continental currency, and the purchasing
power of £50 silver was likely as good as that of £100 in the second
quarter of that century.
Mr. Eussell, on the loth of Xovember, 172S, married Lydia, daughter
of George and Rebecca Stillman. By this wife, who died Sept. ord,
1750, the Kev. David had ten children. He married (2) July 29,
1752, Catharine, daughter of Rev. Nathaniel and Sarah Chauncey,
of Durham, Ct. The Rev. Daniel Russell's earthly labors were closed
by death, September KUh, 17G4, in the 38th year of his pastorate. He
was buried by a grateful church, and the inscription on his tombstone
reads thus :
"Here lies Interre<l the Remains of the Rev" Mr. Daxiel Russell,
who wisely and faithfully fulfilled his ministry for more than 37
years with a "^hining pattern of piety in his Chrictian and Ministerial
Character and fell asleep the Itlth of Sept. A. D., 17(J4. Aged 62 years."
His widow, Catharine survived him some thirteen years, dying Jan.
10th, 1777, aged 71.^
"The first members of the church," says Rev. Dr. Chapin, "were
Joshua Robbins, Jonathan Cnrtiss, Benjamin Williams, Jacob Williams
& David Goodrich. It is added, "Admitted then" — Joseph Deming,
Richard Robbins & Jonathan Boardman Here is an ambiguity.
My opinion, however, is that the former five were taken as already
members of a church, and here constituted without repeating the con-
fession of faith and covenant ; and that the latter three had never been
members of any church.
"The following members were received soon after by letters from
Wethersfield: — Mary Boardman, Jernsha Goodrich, Dorotha Bulkeley,
Sarah Robbins, Zebina Smith, Hepzibah Cnrtiss, Sarah Holmes,
Hannah Wright, Eunice Williams, Sarah Ruby, Comfort ilorton, ilabel
Boardnian, Abigail Deming, Hepzibah Goodrich, Elizabeth Hollister,
Abigail Williams & Anna Holmes. From Glastonbury, Abraham
Goodrich.
'Acknowledgments due to Rev. Frank Russell, of Bridgeport, Ct.; Boyd's Annals
of Witichcster, Conti., p. 291.
852
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETHERSnELD.
"The foregoing 26 names are all tliar are found in near connection
with the formation of the church. TMierher the -^vhole nmjil^r must l^e
understood as having been received the same day or not does not appear;
but probably not.
"It seems impossil)lo to obtain a C'^mplete history from the papers of
Mr. Russell. There is no e.xtant evi-ience that be bad a book of records.
His journals arc found on leaves very slightly fastened together. They
are consequently torn, ragged, mutih;'t:-d. Words anil proj^er names are
gone. Wliatcvcr may have been the ohirography, the ink was either
bad at f rst, or of such a quality thai it has at least in some insrances
faded almost to disa])pearance. Honoe bis memoranda are imintelli-
gible. Hence, too, a possible incorrectness, especially among the p»-rsonal
names above written. In such case- the names here expressed are merely
conjectural.^
"The instrument known as the Confession of Faith & Covenant, as
used in the earliest existence of this church cannot be f'Mmd entire.
The portions of it which do uliw ai'near among the loose papers re-
maining show that it was, we can believe, needlessly prolix, i: there-
fore tedious. In ITSI it was altered by the church; but whether
shortened at nil does not appear. It was certainly very long, i: to
invalids it niust tunpiestionably have been tiresome and C';'nscquently
unedifying.
"In 1797 the folhnving form wa- adopted by this chtireh. viz: —
'You do now, with solemnity, in the presence of God tSj of the^e witnesses,
receive God in Christ to be your God — -jne God in three persons. Father.
Son & Holy Ghost. You declare it to l.e your belief that rhe Scriptures
of the Old & Xew Testaments are tlie revealed word of Grid : li: you
promise by divine grace, to make them the rule of your life i: con-
versation. You own yourself — ^yourseives — to be by nature a child —
children of -wTatb ; & you solemnly de<:lare that, tndy repenting of all
your sins, as you humbly trust, yriu hope for pardon & salvation through
the atoning sacrifice & mediation of -Jesus Christ alone. Him you now
publicly profess to take for your Lord i: Savior, your prophet, priest
& king. You give yourself — ^yourselves — away to him. to l>e governed,
guided & eternally saved. You promise, by divine grace, regularly to
attend all the ordinances of the gospel as God shall give you light k.
opportunity. You also promise to sul-mit to the rules i: government of
Christ in this church so long as you shall continue in this place. You
thus solemnly profess to believe i: covenant with God k bis church." "
' J/ss. Sketeli of the 3vd Eccl. Soc. of Weth. (Stepney Parish), now in po^-ession
of the Conn. Historical Society, written about 1S40.
THE REV. MR. MERRIAMS PASTORATE. "3 J
After Mr. RusseH's death, the Rev. Eliphalct Webster preached in
this parish for a time.
The Rev. Burkai^k iliiRRiAM^ (graduated Yale Collcge,1762) who for
some time previous had been a colleague to !Mr. Russell, succeeded him,
being ordained and installed 27 Februaiy, 1765.' He is supposed to
have come from ^leriden; and but little inf(U'niation concerning him re-
mains to this day — except that the Church Records seem to have begun
during his incumljcney. He died Xovember 30, 1770. He buihled
the t\vo-story gamlu'cl roofed hotise now owned by the \\'alter ^^'arner
heirs, on the East side of the road, opposite the Capt. Webb place,
formerly the Capt. "\Vni. Griswold house. This lot extended north to
the land of Walter Robbins, including the laud on which now stand the
houses of E. X. Wariter, Renjamin Webb, the small house north and the
Ryer Hotel.
In addition to the salary voted to a minister it had always been
the custom of the period fmm 1700, or earlier, for a century on, to make
"a settlement" on a pastor, when he entered upon parish service. In
accordance with this custom, !Mr. ilerriam had £200 voted to him, in
two instahnents of a year apart ; also the use of twenty acres, on the
north side of tlie parsonage property. This lay next to the east and
Avest road, and west of the north end of the eight acres which had
been given outright to 3Ir. Russell. The balance of the parsonage
property, as appears from the annual votes of the Society, was
leased out to parties for improvement, the income arising therefrom
being used to make up any deficit in the minister's salary. In addition
to these sources of ministerial support, the clergj-man was always
supplied with wood — generally described on the record as "good green
wood," sometimes with the addition "hickory or white wood." The
amount carted to ^Ir. Russell was from 25 to 28 cords; Mr. Merriam
got a little less, and !Mr. Lewis, from 14 to 20 cords, as his family
wants increased.
After Mr. !Merriam"s death, ^Messrs. the Revs. Gershom Bulkeley,
Fuller, Atkins, Lyman and Wolcott preached here; and the parish
extended "a call" to a ]\Ir. Baldwin, which, however, was not accepted.
The Rev. Joiix Lewis was the third mhii.sfer of Stepney. He was
from Southington, Ct.. and was installed here 21 January, 17S1,-
receiving the same salary as his predecessor. He was a graduate of
'"Hartford, ilarch 4 [1765]. Last Wednesday, the Reverend Jlr. Burrage
Merriam was ordained to the Ministerial office over the Church and Congregation,
at Stepney, in Weth. The Keverend Mr. Eells of Middletown preached a Sermon on
the Occasion." — Conn. Courant.
'"Hartford, Jan. 30 [1781, Tuesday]. Last Wednesday, the Rev. John Lewis
854
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Yale, 1770, had been a tutor tliere from 177.'5-'78 and was esteemed as a
man of much leariiiug-. His wife was ilary, a daughter of Col. Leverett
Hubbard, of Xcw Haven. Ho built the house in Rocky Hill, after-
wards owned and occupied by his successor, Dr. Chapin — who speaks of
him as "a first rate scholar and minister."' He died 2Sth April, 17'J2.-
His one published Sermon was entitled: "Christian Forbearance to
weak Consciences a Dulij of the Gofipel." The substance of two Ser-
mons, preached at Stepney Parisli in Wothcrsfield. liy John Lewis
A. M., Hartford. MDCCLXXXIX, S vo., 42 pp.
His letter giving an account of the \Yhirlwind in Wcthersfield in
Aug., 17S7, gives the impression that he was a close observer; and that
he possessed, what in these days would be called, a decidedly "scientific
turn of mind." Dr. Cha])in, his successor says: — ''He appears to have
delighted in classical study & attainments. He compiled and
published in pamphlet form a copious selection of sentimental saying-s
found in the writings of men pre-eminent thousands of years ago. He
was a decided believer in the CDrroctness — as he undei'stood divine
revelation — of that anonudy in the church usually denominated 'the
half-way covenant.' He published a labored essay in defense of his
views upoTi this subject. When he was removed by death he left the
people very imanimously i: strongly attached to that practice."
After his death, the pulpit was supplied for a time by the Eev.
Benjamin Boardman, and a ^NFr. Brown.
The fourth minister of Stepney and tlie one, who more than any
other of the series, possessed a reputation extending beyond the bounds
of his own parish, was the Rev. Caia'ix Ciiapix, D.D. He was a
descendant, in the fifth generation from Dea. Samuel Chapin, from
England or Wales, an early and very prominent settler at Si)ringficld,
Mass., and who, after a life of Christian activity and usefnluess,
died in 1675. The subject of our sketch born 22 -Tuly, 17fio, was
the fourth of six sons, of Dea. Edward Chapin of the same town, a man
of public spirit and, as his wife was also, of exemplary piety. This
was ordained to the t\oik of the Ministry, over the Church of Christ in Stepney,
a parish of Weth." — Conn. Couraiif.
'See Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, ii, 324, Xote.
'"On Tuesday last, were interred the remains of the Rev. Joiix Lewis, Pastor of
a Church in Weth. The appearance of tlie Congregation convened for religious
service on that occasion was a proof of how much they loved him. Mr. Lewis died in
the 4Cth year of his age and the 12th of his Ministry, and has left an alTlicted widow,
and five small children. By his death, Science has lost an Ornament; Humanity a
Friend; the family a tender husband and parent, and the Church of Christ a Pastor
who wished to approve himself to his Master, and the Consciences of all men." —
Conn. Courant, May 7, 1792.
THE REV. DR. CHAPINS PASTORATE.
85:
son, as may be supposed from the name which they gave him, was
especially devoted by them to the Christian ministry. His early years
were spent upon his father's farm, and his early preparations for
college met with several interruptions, one of which was the Revolu-
tionary War, in which, for a time, he scr\-ed as a fifer, being then about
ten or twelve years old. In the autunm of 17S4 he entered Freshman
at Yale, being distingniished tlu'ough his college course for his studious-
ness; and won, also, the Eerkeleian prize, known at that day as the
"Dean's bounty." He graduated, one of the best scholars in his class,
in 17S8 ; and opened a school in Hartford, Ct., which achieved much
popularity, and which he conducted for two years. Then, having
undergone a great moral change, deeper than liis previous
speculative belief in the truths of the Christian Religion, he conceived
the idea of entering the ministry, and commenced the study of
theology under Rev. Dr. Perkins, of Hartford, of whose church he
became a member. Still continuing his school, be pursued these studies
for some time, and was finally licensed to preach, by the Hartford Xorth
Association. About the same time he was elected a tutor of Yale
College' — upon the duties of wiiich office he entered in the autumn of
1791, and discharged them with good satisfaction, both to the faculty
and studeiiis until hi* rosiguatiou in !Marcb, 1704-, to take the pastoral
charge of the church at Stepney, where he was ordained and installed
April 30tli, 1794-.- He was never dismissed; preached to his congrega-
tion until Thanksgiving Day, 1847, and his official and pastoral con-
nection with them terminated only with his death, in [March, 1S.51.
On February 2nd, 1795 be was married to Jerusha, daughter of Rev.
Dr. Jonathan Edwards, of Xew Haven, Ct., Dr. Chapin's "settlement"
was £200 lawful money, to be paid, in quarterly instalments, within
four years. His salary was fixed at £100 per year, and the use of 20
acres of parsonage land. After his retirement from the pulpit, this 20
acres was hired by Moses W. Williams until its final lease, in 1S50, to
William W. Warner.
Soon after he entered upon his ministry, it became evident that his
influence was not to be limited to his own parish. In 1S05, be was
elected a Trustee of the ^lissionary Society of Connecticut, and during
the 26 years in which he held that office, he attended no less than 72
meetings of the Board. In ISOG, difficulties occurring in Xorthwestern
'And as such he had the educational charge of Jeremiah Day, afterwards President
of the College.
'Discourse delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. Calvin Chapin to the
ministerial office in the Tliird Church of Wethersfield in the Parish of Stepney,
April 30, 1794. By Xathan Perkins, A. :M. Hartford, MDCCXCIV, 8 vo., p. 38.
856
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Ohio, in tlic Society's operations, [Mr. Chapin, tliongh the youngest niciii-
ber of tlie Board, was delegated to ascertain and settle the trouble, what-
ever it was — a service which he performed to the entire satisfaction of all
concerned. The extensive tour which this involved, served greatly to
enlighten him as to the self-denial and hardships of a missionary life,
and to enlist his sjTupathies in the cause of ^Missions. In 1S09 he was a
foremost promoter, both with his pen, and as a traveling agent, of the
Conn. Bible Society. In 1813, he was similarly active in the organiza-
tion of the Conn. Society for the Promotion of Good Morals; in ISIO,
he was one of the five, who projected and formed the American Board
of Commissioners for Porcign ^lissions, and was its first (and for 32
years) Recording Sec'y. He was one of the visitors of the Andover
Theological Seminary, and Clerk of its Board for 15 years, and until
by age limitation, he had to resign it. In 181G, he was made Doctor of
Divinity by Union College and in 1S20, was elected a member of the
Corporation of Yale College, of which he was a most efficient member
until his resignation in 18-16.
In ISTovember, 1847 he retired from active service, to give his ]ipople
an opportunity to choose a successor. This, however, was not effected
until July, 1850, when the Hcv. Lebbeus B. Eockwood was settled as
colleague pastor.
A Eev. Philo Jiuison was hired as a supply and candidate fur some
time. lie was, however, well along in years and not wholly acceptalde,
being somewhat eccentric ; but he was of service in the pulpit, and the
instrument of many conversions. He remained in Eocky Hill and
followed the book agency business; and died in the Hartford Hospital,
in March, 187-4; was bu. in the extreme X. W. cor. of the present ceme-
tery, where no stone marks his grave.
On May 5, 1844, Dr. Chapin preached his 50th Anniversary Sermon.
The Church had then been organized 117 years; it began with eight
members ; at the time of his installation it had twenty-seven ; in the
intervening period there had been 591 admitted to membership ; and
the number then (1844) in the church, was 244.^ He had then baptized
939 persons; married 435 couples and attended 898 funerals, and
administered the sacrament between 500 and 600 times. As he con-
'A memorandum of Mr. Chas. Williams makes this 293. Also that before the
end of his active service he had made up the number of marriages performed
by him to 430, also that there were then but three persons who be-
longed to the Church where Dr. C. was ordained. There were at the time of his coming
here, 90 married cou[)les in Rocky Hill village, every one of which had been divided
by death, "and only 3 couple living who were married by Dr. Chapin — one of which
was Mr. Chas. Williams and wife."
THE REV. DR. CIIAPIN.
857
tinned in active sorvico for some tlirec years later tIuui the date of his
Anniversary Sermon, these fignrcs must have increaf^etl.
Within a few weeks after liis resignation as i'Ae pastor, his wife,
with whom he had lived nearly 53 years, was taken from him l:iv death.
He preached for the last time on the last Sabbath in December. lS-50:
and worshipped in the sanctuary with his people IMarc-h 0th. ~ix days
before his death which occurred iEarch 10, 1S51, aaed >7 years. Two
Sermons were preached on his death, one by Dr. Tucker, of Wethersdeld,
the other by Dr. Ilawes of Hartford, both of which were printea.
Dr. Chapin was justly esteemed as one of the foremost advocates
of the Tempei'anee Cause. In 1812 he first advocated the principle of
entire abstinence from ardent spirits. Up to that time he had kept
his sideboard well su])])licd,as was the custom of those ilay,-. with liqiiors.
From that date he abolislied them in liis per.«;onal use ami family.^ And,
in 1826, he published a series of articles in the Chrktian Ohs-'n-fr. in
favor of the abstinence from all that intoxicates.- This ruled our the use
of cider, of which, hitherto, he had annttally manufactured a very
superior article, from his own orchards.'' Indeed, hi- ustial earnesrness
'■The Rocky Hill Triiiprniiicc Socich/, f<iiiiulod in 1810. of which Rev. D.
Chapin was presitlent and Dca. Israel Williams, socretary. i--ued iu Octorier oi xhat
year a Constitution, from wliicdi we quote the following excellent article;.:
'"IV. We will regulate our practice by the principle that neither hospitality, nor
politeness, nor civility requires us to give ardent spirits, either to visitors or neigh-
bors, relatives or strangers."
V. Tn selecting laborers wliether for work in the house, or on the farm, or in the
shops or .anywhere else, we will give the preference to tliose persons who are willicg
to labor without ardent spirits, and we will carefully discount.; nance the use of such
liquor as drink by those whom we employ.
VI. We will let it be understood and known by the people who are to lal>?r for us.
that we do not wish them to be more weary at the close of the day than they would
be were we to give them ardent spirits, and that the.y may expect to receive their
wages in full, even if they sliall have done less work in consequence of this abstinence.
We will thus prove tliat our object is not to save money for ourselves, or to do
harm unto others, but to testify unto all concerned tliat no lawful empio.vment re-
quires such drink, and that tlie use of it is both needless and dangerous."
It took courage to subscribe to such a statement in the year of our Lord 1510!
'This was probably the result of his ^Missionary trip, before alluded to. through the
Western Reserve (Oliio), 1S2G, on which he published a pamphlet giving the
observations on the too free use of whiskey in that section.
'Mr. Charles Williams says: "These pieces, short but comprehensive, attracted
much attention and were continued weekly for at least two years. After it became
known who the writer was, he put his temperance principles in active operation,
by rolling three or four barrels of cider from his cellar and spilling them on the
ground. For several years previous to this, bis people used to turn out in the
Spring and give the good Doctor a "spell" in cutting up his firewood, etc. He
always, on such occasions, brought out pails of nice cider and baskets of apples,
which made these occasions quite popular, and often fifty or seventy people attended.
858
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
in whatever he undertook, carried him to the very bottom of the evil —
to such a degree as led him to induce his people to exclude wine from the
communion table, and substitute water therefor. This was in June,
1843. It may be assumed that the majority of the Church members
voted for the substitution ; but there were some so opposed to it tliat
they preferred to accept the sacrament in other churches than their own,
on Communion Sabbaths. The disaffection went so far, and made so
much trouble in the chui'ch, that, in January, IS-tG, after the
adoption of a long set of ■'^^^lereases'^ in which the disgust of the old
Doctor is very manifest, the Church compromised on a newly manu-
factured "pure fruit of the Vine", instead of trine; and passed the
following: "Whereas: a drink is offered in market for sacramental
use, and publicly and solemnly declared to be "fruit of the vine"
unadulterated and pure; and,
"Whereas; hope is indulged that the sacramental use of that drink
will satisfy and unite all the communicants", therefore
Resolved, That * * * * the officers of the Church shall con-
sider themselves authorized and requested to procure and present it in
the cup for the Lord's Table", and tlie dissenting members wei'e invited
back to their home communion. Jslr. Solomon Criswold, who was a
determined opponent of Dr. Chapin's views in this matter, addressed
letters to the Congregational ministers of the neighboring parishes,
requesting their views as to this new departure; and fi"om sixteen
(nearly all to whom he wrote) he received replies unanimously condemn-
ing the innovation. Yet, it may not be presumptuous to enquire, if Dr.
C. was not in the right ? Earlier than any of his parishioners, or
of his clerical brethren his eyes had been opened to the evils lurking
in the wine cup, '"when it is red". Doubtless he saw that in some in-
stances the sacramental drink, blessed though it had been for the holy
purpose of its institution, became a stimulating incitement to unfortun-
ate indulgence, and set fire to an appetite which could only be subdued
by an absolute refusal to touch, taste or handle. Doubtless, also, he saw
that the object of the institution of the Communion service, was simply
to preserve in remembrance the death of Christ, and that such remem-
But, wlicn tlie cider stopped, the older people began to lose their interest in the
doctor's wood-pile. The doctor's cider was very strong, and made thus: The full
barrels were set out on the Xorth side of the barn when cold weather came, and al-
lowed to freeze as solid as possible. A hole was then made through the
frozen part to the liquid near the centre — -and tlie liquid part drawn off. It required
the unfrozen part of three barrels to make one barrel and this was put into tight
casks and kept a year or more before being used — the result was a drink that was,
probably, almost as potent as Xew England rum."
THE REV. DR. CHAPIN.
859
brance could as well be perpetuated in water, as in wine. It was tlie act
and tlie heart that was in the act, and not the vehicle through which this
death wa.s kei)t in rcuicnibrance; and the earnest, brave and brainy old
pastor who filled the pulpit of Stepney parish for more than fifty years,
had the logical acinncn to see beyond the mere letter of the translation,
into the spirit which underlaid the institution of the Last Supper,
and upon which all its significance rested. And it was in him to believe
that the Soul of Man could lay hold on the Redeemer as acceptably and
effectually in the water, as in the wine.
Wlien the Conn. State Temperance Society was formed, in 1S29, he
became Chairman of its E.\ceutive Committee, and in 1835 his Prize
Essay on Sacramental Wines was published.
Dr. Chapiu was also, an early and foremost Abolitionist, and ad-
vocated the cause whenever he could do so, without giving offence:
"still," says ^Mr. Williams, "the people liked to hear him talk, although
not agreeing with \\m\ in sentiment."
r>r. Chapin was distinguished for exactness, enterprise, imflinchiug
courage, tact and humor. In regard to his independence and coi;rage
several striking anecdotes are told in Dr. Sprague's Annals of the
American Pulpit.
\\Tiile on rliis subject, as relating to Rocky Hill, we may also state
that among the memoranda left by ^Ir. Merriam Williams, was a list of
names for the years 1810-182:3, inclusive, of persons making cider at his
mill, near his barn on Elm St. The large apple crop of that period and
of more than a hundred years before was not like the winter-fruit of the
present. It was mostly for cider, a large part of the trees being on their
original stocks, and bearing abundantly of "cider apples". Fifty to a
hundred barrels of cider in the cellar was not uncommon among the
farmers. Mr. AVait Warner tells me that up to the time he was a young
man, (say 1830) a pitcher of water was rarely seen on the table;
cider was the usual drink, being used in lieu of tea and coffee, then
not so much used as now. In the Itoarding-houses of the period, the
eatJibles wei'e flanked by pitchers of cider. Large quantities of cider
brandy were also made. The price by the barrel (31^ gals.) of cider,
say 60 years ago, was 40 cents. Delivered at the still, the farmer got
six quarts of brandy, making the latter 20 cents per gallon. Xew
England rum and rye-gin stood in at about the same price, so that the
first cost of a drink was much less than now — while the after cost may
have been just as heavy.
The Doctor's characteristic tact (as well as a phase of his humor)
was shown in an incident related by ilr. Charles Williams, thus, "Dur-
86o
HISTORY OF ANX'IENT WETHERSFIELD.
ing tlio '^[illeritc' cxciTeuieiit of 1S40, a ilr. Ileiirv A. Chittfndon. and
an associate from C'liicopce, lectured licro several eveuiiiL'?. aii<l endeav-
ored to convert people to their faith ; and, ann .ng other thing; they
determined to convert Dr. Chapin. An afternoon was appjinted for
their call upon him, and they took the pains to advertise their iutenrion.
by speaking of it in pnltlic. Of course, some one carried the ne^rs to
the Doctor, and he was pi'epared for the visit. The re^rular meetinir
of the [Millcritcs this evening had been appointed for <] o'elcx-k and
the two called upon Dr. C. at 5 o'clock, were srio'.ni into the Jtiidy,
and after they were seated, the Doctor commenced a conversation with
them, he doing the principal part of' the talking and he kept it np for
the full hour; when the bell rang for their nieetinir. he stopped short
with the remark 'I have done my talking, now if you have anyrhing
to say, I am ready to hear you.' The poor visitors, who had not had
a chance to 'get in a word edgewise,' had no time to say anythincr. for
the bell was then ringing for their meeting; and so far fr'ini makin^r the
Doctor a convert, they had not, according to their o\^"n statement after-
wards, even mentioned the subject on which they had come: yet. Ixjth
of them declared that they never passed a more interesting hour in
their lives than in listening to the Doctor's talk. lie afterwards said.
when qtiestioned about it. that he did not want to hear "their stuff
and so concluded to do all the talking himself."
His jovial disposition and ready wit were salient features of his char-
acter. This, says liev. Dr. Ilawes, ''gave a complexion t^' a lar^e part
of his conversation, I may say, in some degree, to his whole character.
It seemed as natural to him as his breath, and even if you had regarded
it as an evil, you wonld have seen at once that it was inciiral.de. It
often found vent, I am persuaded, when he himself was unconscious
of it, or when a moment's reflection would certainly have repressed it.
I might detail many examples of it [Rocky Hill, to-day, is full of
examples of this bubbling good hinnor and quick repartee, which, h'^w-
ever, are too local in their character, to be repeated in this history. —
Editor] — many of his fitting and pungent sayings — but their enect
was so dependent upon his peculiar manner, that they wotild convey
a very inadequate idea of the power in this respect, which he acniaUy
possessed. I will not dissemble my conviction that this strong original
propensity wdiich settled into habit, though it may have been an ad-
vantage in some respects, was not, on the whole favorable to his in-
fluence as a minister. It sometimes operated as a covering to the real
and deep concern which he felt for the spiritual welfare of his fellow-
men. He was evidently a devout man, and lived in intimate communion
THE REV. DR. CHAPIX.
86 1
with God; and vou could ofteu see the workings of a truly spiritual
N mind, blending themselves with the involuntary and irrepressible sallies
of his boundless good nature."'
Dr. Chapin always retained and cultivated his taste for classical
studies, and his Latin and Greek books were his life-companions.
It is said that, at some time in his early life, he learned the book-
binder's art ; and that after liecoming the pastor at Stepney, he bound
several books, and reboiuid some of the old and delapidatcd record
books of the parish.
It was a current belief among the old people of his charge, that he
had a trace (about an eighth) of Indian blood in his veins: and that
he showed this in his countenance and athletic tigure and bearing. If
so, it certainly did not in least detract from his moral and intellectual
force and ability.
Dr. Chapin was acknowledged to be of more than ordinary ability,
among the ministers of his generation ; and this reputation brought to
him, at one time, the offer of the Presidency of Yale College. That
he preferred to remain, tm a small salary, and in a small town, rather
than accept such a position, may seem strange; but it must be remem-
bred that, in his day, there was less ditTerenee, than now, between
parishes, cither as regards the pay given, or the prrs'fifje of a city pulpit,
over that of a country r-lnircli. The man of brains in the sacred desk
was quite as likely to be found in the small place, as in the larger one;
and Dr. C. was no inconspicuous example of this. He was, also, much
attached to his people and they to him ; it was not easy to tear out the
roots which had grown him to the soil ; and there was also this, that it
was, in his day, the rule that the minister should spend his days in the
one parish^and it was not much to his credit, if he shifted from one
place to another, with the ease of a weathercock.
Dr. Chapin's ptiblished works were as follows :
1. A Seniion deVicered at flic Ordiiiaiion of the Rev. Samuel Whit-
tlesey to the work of the gospel ministry in Xew Preston, Washington,
Conn., December COth, ISO": and at the Ordination of the Rev. Hosea
Beckley to the work of the gospel ministry in Dummcrstown, Vt.,
March 2d, 1S08. Hartford, ISOS, Svo., pp. 24.
2, 3. Two Sermons piibtished in the CoIuml>iai} Preacher. 1808.
4. A Sermon delivered in Hartford, ^lay IS, 1814, before the Conn.
Society for the Promotion of Good iTorals. Hartford, 1814, 8 vo.,
pp. 34.
' Sprague's .i)inals of the American Pulpit, TI, 320.
862
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELU.
5. A Sermon Delivered IJ^th of Januari/, 1S17, at the funeral of
the Eev. Timothy Dwight, U. D., LL. D., President of Yale CoUege,
in New Haven, and Professor of Divinity in that Institiition ; who died
January 11th, 1S17, in tlie sixty-tifth year of his age, and twenty-
second of his presidency. Xew Haven, 1817, 8 vo., pp. 35.
6. Sermon at the funeral of Rev. Jolin Marsh, in ilarch, 1S21.
7. Essay on Sacramental Wines, lSo5.
The Revival of ISIS. — In 181S, there was a marked religions '"re-
vival" in the church and town, during which there was much house-
to-house visitation and many "protracted meetings" held by Dr. Chapin
and the famous Evangelist Rev. ^Ir. Xettleton. Among other agencies
employed were what were termed "sunrise meetings," which were
largely attended in the early mornings. !Mr. IN^ettleton was here for
six months, and there were many conversions. Dca. J. G. Dimock,
among his reminiscences of this revival used to relate this story of
Nettleton. Among other "anxious souls" on whom he called, was
Sally Holmes. "I sliall be lost, I shall be lost !" was her wail to the
preacher. ''You are lost" was his quick rps])nnse, and a new light broke
in upon Sally and she became converted.
The Eev Lfubki-s Bcijtox Rockwood. eoUeapie to Dr. Chapin,
became his successor 10th July, 1850. He was born in Wilton, X. IL,
August 8, 181G; gi'aduated from Dartmouth College, 18.J0 ; studied
theology at Andover, !Mass., and Union Theol. Seminary, X. Y. City;
was ordained in 1845 ; labored for a time in Richmond, Va., was then
engaged for about seven years in raising funds for the Union Theol.
Seminary. He resigned from his charge in Rocky Hill in 1859;
accepted the District Secretaryship of the Am. Tract Socl. for Conn.,
in which service he continued until his death at Boston Highlands,
Mass., 7 May, 1872. His wife was Abby Ann Abbott; his salary
$600 per year until about the last year of his service here, when it
was raised to $700. He built the flat-roofed house, now (1880) occu-
pied by Mr. Roe, on the south side of Prospect Street, overlooking the
meadow; and back of it he set out an orchai'd running back to Xew
Street.
Mr. Rockwood was succeeded by Rev. George Mcir S.mitii, a
native of Scotland, April 9, 1859 ; a graduate of Edinburgii and Xew
Haven Theological Schools ; he married while here, the widow of
Clarence R. Cordis. He preached here until June 24, ISCo, and re-
moved to Lenox, !Mass., and in 1886, was settled in Sterling, Scotland.
His salary here was $000 per annum ; after leaving Rocky Hill, he
was settled at Boston Highlands, Mass.
THE CONGREGATIONAL SUND4.Y ECHOOL.
863
His successor was the Rev. IIe>-ry Ford, a native of BinghamtoTi,
IN". Y., who preached liere from the spring of 1864, to that of 18(57.
He came from Stamford, Ct., had studied theology in Xew York City;
went hence to Xorristown, Pa., and in ISSC, was in Jersey City, X. Z.
His salary was about $000.
The Eev. Merrick Kxicht was next installed, November 0, 1SC7,
and continued until March lo, 1872. His salary was $700.
From January, 1873, to the autumn of 1877, the Rev. AVm. P.
Fisher was pastor; salary $1,100. At the time of his comiug here,
the parish felt itself in a prosperous condition, with a good outlook
ahead. The railroad, then just finished, had bi'ought in many new
inhabitants, new hotis'es were being erected, etc., but the seeming pros-
perity subsided in about two years; and, on his last year's salary, Mr.
F. remitted $300. He was a native of Canada, a graduate of Amherst
College, 18GG, and stiidied theology in Union Theol. Seminary, X. Y.
City and in Germany. Previous to his coming here he had been preach-
ing to a Presbyterian Church at Xorwood, X. J., and from here he
removed to Brunswick, !Me., where he was settled in 188G.
Rev. S. Y. Li.'ji was pastor here from the latter part of 1877 to April,
1879, salary $900.
Rev. Wti.i.i\m Miller, from April, 1S79, to December 31, 1881.
Eev. C. S. Ayer, from July, 1884, to July, 1885.
Rev. Egbert X. Moxroe, from Jul}' 1, 1885, to December, 1887.
Rev. Aaron C. AnAir.s, 1888 to Xovember 2, 1893.
Rev. Clay D. Ctiuxx, ilarch 12, 1894, December 31, 1896.
Rev. Hexry H. Davies, June 1, 1897, October 31, 1898.
Rev. Lorixg B. Cii.vse, :Nray 1, 1899, October 27, 1901.
Rev. WiLsox' R. Stewart, February 2, 1902, present incumbent.
In 1843, the church mend^ership ran as high as 224; in 1870, it
fell to 114, when, by reason of the influx of population consequent on
the opening of the railroad communication, the number began to in-
crease.
The Congrecjational Sunday School of Rocky Hill was organized in
September, 1818, through the influence of ^Irs. Tracy, wife of Hon.
Uriah Tracy, Jared Goodrich being superintendent, and under a set
of rules formulated by the Rev. Calvin Chapin, pastor. The school
was sustained until October, 1821, when it was discontinued until about
1830, at which time Dea. Jared Williams was its superintendent. In
1839, we find the constitution of the Rocky Hill Sabbath School Society,
as it is then called, so altered and amended as to be totally unlike that
of 1818. The previous stringent regulations concerning the attend-
864
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
ance of the cliiklrcn on divine service, the nse of blue and red cards
of merit and demerit, the "one cent books" used as prizes, and the
strong hints at expulsion -which characterized the earlier document
had all disappeared, and in place thereof was an "Article 14" providing
for a meeting of teachers "at least once in 2 weeks" to select the lessons
for the two Sabbaths next following. In ISil, when the school had
23 teachers and 144 scholars, SO professed faith in Christ and joined
the Church. In 1S5S, there were 155 persons in the school, and 10
scholars became Church members ; there was also a circulation of 100
copies (each) of tlic ^Imerican Mciscngcr and the Child's Paper, 20
of the Journal of ^[isslons and 7 of the Sailor's Magazine. The school
from lS40-'55, increased greatly in numbers, influence and the amount
of its contributions to religious and charitable objects. It was, until
1876 (50 years from its birtii) in all respects independent of the
Church, except for moral sujijiort, but in that year was formally adopted
by the Church. Its su])crintcndents have been : Jared Goodrich, Dea.
Israel Williams, Dea. Jared iJimock, Doa. Thos D. Williams, .lolm
Bulkeley, Edward F. Tvobl)ins. Calvin -T. IJurneil, Rev. S. Y. Liim,
Albert C. Griswold, Edward X. Warner, Daniel W. Dickinson.
Among its active friends and helpers, also, should be eniunerated
the wives of the ministers of the Church, and the names of !Mrs. ^Eay-
nard, Mrs., Woodrutf, ^[rs. Tryon, ^Irs. Geo. 'M. Smith, ilrs. Cleans,
Mrs. Lord and ]Mrs. Horace Williams.
Other Ministers Ecsident in RocJcy Hill. — In the autumn of 1S71,
Rev. Asa D. S.miiii came ti> Rocky Kill, and bought the house next
west of Capt. Xew. Rdbbius" corner, built l)y E. G. Ward. ^Mr.
S. had been a missionary among the Indians in Oregon, in 1S38, making
the journey there on horseback, with his wife — a four months' trip.
After a few years, he was transferred to the Sandwich Islands, where
he labored as missionary until 1845, when he returned to U. S., via
Canton and the Cape of Good Hope. Before coming to Rocky Hill,
he had preached at two or three places, where he also performed some
faithful service. In 1S8.3, with his wife, he removed on a missionary
enterprise to Sherwood, Franklin County, Tenn., where he died, 10
February, 188G.
About 1870, Rev. Fkf.d W. Ciiapjiax located in Rocky Hill, but,
though he occasionally preached on a Sunday, was not connected with
any church. He had been in active ministerial service at Wolcott,
East Hampton, South Glastonbury, and other places; afterwards had
kept the Boys High School at Elliugtiin. He was an enthusiastic gen-
ealogist, and had collected and published the histories of the Chapman,
DEACONS OF THE STEPNEY CHURCH.
865
(ISfii), tho Pmtt (1804), tlic Troirhridfje (1S72), the Bucl-inrjliam
(1S72), the BuUdcrj (1875), and the Colt, (1874) families; and during
the latter part of his life was engaged upon the following similar works,
which were left, at his death, in manuscrii)t form, viz: Bch.h-ii, Blum,
Boardinan, Bud-, Biillcr, Doniiti/, Francis, Goodrich, Grisirold. IlaJc.
Latimer, Ileijnolds, Rih'ij, Warner, Watrrliuusc, WilTuuns, Wolcott,
WrigJit. These labors, printed and imprinted, fully entitle him to tho
name of "The Wethcrstield Genealogist."
RocJry Ilill Men who hare entered the Minislnj. — Elizur G<ku)i;icii,
1774, preached in Durham, Ct. ; GEKsuoii (gt-gd-son of Kcv. Gershom)
Btlkeley, grad. Y. C, 1770, ])rcachcd at Cromwell, then at !Middle-
town Upper Houses from 177s tn 1808; Joshua (s. of Capt. Elias)
WiLLiAJis, in the latter i)art nf the last and early part of the present cen-
tury, settled at llarwinton ; ("omfout (son of Elial and gd-sou of Elias)
Williams, graduate of Y. C, jireached in Ttochester, X. Y'., and died
there 1825, ae. 42; Jonx Price, a Baptist minister, studied at Suffield,
perhaps elsewhere, d. at Buckland, ifass., Avhere he had been ord. and
settled; he was son of John ami Harriet (Wethercll) Price of Rocky
Hill; CoEXELius SuiriiAx, grad. Y. C, rem. to Indiana when a boy;
■was a missionary to S. I. ; ALunED B. Gooniacii, b. abt. 182G, (s.
Levi G., 2d), learned the ])rinters' trade with his bro-in-law (Walter
S. Williams (s. of Acklcy Williams) of Rocky Hill, and was for many
years a successful book printer in Hartford), ent. Trinity College about
1845 ; ord. to Epis. ministry ; rector of Church in Utica, X. Y.
Deacons of the Stepney Chnrvli} — The published ^lanual of the
Third Church of Wethcrstield, which was organized 7th June, 17 27, gives
as the first certainly known of its deacons, the name of Thomas Curtis,
chosen to that office in 1781. During the preceding 54 years which had
elapsed since the church's organization, there had been deacons of course ;
and Rev. Dr. Chapin mentions, as of tradition. Deacons David Good-
rich, Bex.tamix WRiciHT and Xathaniel Robbixs. This evident
lack of knowledge regarding the Stepney diaconate is due, frst to the
fact that for nearly an hundred years (17G5) there seems to have been
no existing church records ; and for several years after that date the
records were but fragmentary in character; second, that, hitherto, no
determined attempt has ever been made, outside of the church records,
to hunt up information upon the subject. The Society records, begin-
ning in 1720 make mention of Deacon Bexjami.v Wright in 1729;
and, in 1730, of Dea. Jonathan Curtis, who was the first (as of
* Condensed from (29 pp.) a Historical Address delivered at Rocky Hill Cluirch,
28 October, 1888, by Dr. Eufus W. Griswold.
866
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIKLD.
record) elected Clerk of the Society, in 1720. The last mention of his
name is in 1732. For many years, and down to January, 1753, Dea.
Benjamin Wright, was for the greater part of the time Moderator
of Stepney Society Meetings. In 1733 and '3-1, David Goodkick is
spoken of as deacon. The legitimate conclusion from these data is
that Jonathan Curtis and Benjamin Wright were elected deacons at the
organization of the cluirch in 1727; and that Mr. Curtis dying in 1732
or '33, Mr. Goodrich was chosen deacon in his place that year, or the
next. Benjamin Wright died in 1753, and was succeeded as deacon
by Ebenezee Weight.
The first record of death among the early dea,cons, is that of Ebeuezer
Wright, September 20, 17GG, of consumption; the next is that of
iffathaniel Bobbins, 6 October, 1783, of smallpox, ae. 7G ; the next is
of David Goodrich, 11 July, 1785, in his 91st year; the next that of
Thomas Curtis, Xovembor 0, 1780, in his 80th year. This brings us
to the printed record in the [Manual, and we can now proceed to com-
plete the list.
Jonathan Cuetis, ^ elected at the organization of the Church in
Benj^oiin Wiuout, C 1727; ivhlch had precedence in election does not
appear. . .
DwiD GooDRtcir, elected 1733, to succeed Dea. Curtis, who had died
the previous year.
Ebenezee Weight, elected 1753 or '54, to succeed Dea. Benjamin
Wright, deceased 1753 ; Dea. Ebeuezer Wright died in 17tiG, and
was succeeded by
Nathaniel Bobbins, who, together witli his senior deacon David
Goodrich, resigned in 1781, Bobbins died in 1783 ; Goodrich in
1785.
Elias Williams, ) Chosen deacons 1 May, 1782; but Williams de-
Thomas Cuetis, \ clined to serve and
JosL\H Huntington was elected in his place, 29 Aug., 1782. Dea.
Thomas Curtis died in 1789, and
Ebenezee Goodeich was elected in his place, 5 July, 1789. In 1794,
Dea. Huntington removed to Farmington, Ct., and
Benjamin Wright (2d) was elected deacon, 8 June, 1794; that year
or the next, he removed to Berlin, Ct., and the Church chose
Elias Dickinson as his successor, April 10, 1795. Dea. Ebenezer
Goodrich resigned in 1805, and
Asahei, JMereiam was elected his successor, Dec. 8, 1805. Dea. Good-
rich died 19 Sept., 1813, ae. 80. :Mr. [Merriam died June 18,
1808, of consumption, ae. 37, and was succeeded by
DEACONS OF THE STEPNEY PARISH.
867
Seth Hart, elected 24 Jiilv, of that year. Dea. Elias Dickinson
resigned in 1811 (dying, Xov. 22, 1822, ae. SO) and
Simon Butlek, succeeded him by election, 11 ^lay, 1811. Seth Hart
died 12 Dec., 1S13, ae. 53, and
Hezekiaii Whitjigre succeeded .to him, 17 ApL, 1811. In 1829,
both Dea. Eiitler and Dea. Wliitmore resigned (Butler died 29
Dec, 1831, ae. 77; Whitmore died 27 Feb., 1812, ae. 84); and
to them succeeded
Israel Williams, 1 clio.^ou :]1 May, 1829. Israel "Williams removed
Jehiel Robblxs, i" to Terre Haute, Ind. (where he subsequently
died, in 1S38), and wa.s succeeded by
Jaeed G. Dimock, elected 14th Oct., 1838. In 1843, Dea. Jehiel Rob-
bins removed to Plainvillo, Ct. (where he died ISol, ae. 68), and
was succeeded by
Joel Goodrich, elected 13 Sept., 1S43 ; died 2G Dec, 1851, ae. 68, and
.Thomas D. Wili.ia.ms was elected in his place, 25 Jan., 1852; Dea.
Williams died 4 Dec, 1S81, ac G2, and in 18S2,
William G. Kobrixs was elected to fill the vacancy.
Edward j^. Waexer, his associate, was elected; resigned 1897.
Horace Tl. Mert^tajc, elected 1897.
Not much has come down to us, concerning the personality of these
old deacons, except the bald data thus given. Joxathajs' Ccetis,
Benjamin Wright and David Goodrich were prominent citizens at
this (the Kocky Hill) end of Wetherstield, when Steimey parish was
set off from the town in 1722 ; they were also foremost in the organiza-
tion of the parish in 1726, and the establishing of the Church in 1727.
Curtis, probably, resided below Drum Hill, on what is still kno\\'n
as "Curtis Corner," at the beginning of the 20-rod highway reserva-
tion, which extended west across "Beset (Amobeset) Plain"' and past
the turnpike to Cabull and Three-^Iile Hill and on to Masabesset River,
at the southwest corner of the present town. That he was a well edu-
cated man for his day, is evidenced by the chirography of the old
record begun and kex)t by him for many years. Both he and Dea.
Wright were of the oldest families of the town. Dea. David Goodrich
was probably a son of that Capt. Ephraim Goodrich, who is set down
upon the old map of 1721' (see Map at p. 373), as residing on the
plain now known as Dividend, a little way north of the southeast corner
of the town, and facing the river. He seems to have held the deaconship
for 48 years.
Dea. Nathaniel Bobbins was the eldest son of Joshua Bobbins,
Jr., and was born September, 1708 ; he was the grandson of John
■""-'" HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Robbins, '"Gcntlenian."' so named on the ^\'erhe^sfield Record in 10)40.
Dea. Xathaniel married (1700) his cousin ^lary, daughter of Richard,
and sister of Esquire .Tohu Robbins, of Rocky Ilill ; was a fanner.
Elias Williams, though, by reason of his declination of the honor
conferred upon him by the Church, not reckoned in the line of deacons,
was a very large landhnlder in the Stepney district, and a man of im-
portance in the community.
Dea. TiioiTAS Criixis, whom we ^upjiusc to have been the T. C, who,
in 1741, married Dorothy, daiigliter of Edward Bulkeley, was probably
a descendant of either John, or Thomas Curtis, original Wethersfield
settlers. He probably resided on the corner referred to in connection
with Dea. Jonathan Curtis.
Dea. JosiAii IIuxtixotox was not of any old Wethersfield family
(the name is rather of Xorwich origin), but probably "married in''
to the town. He lived somewhere by '•the Landing," perhaps in the
Jacob Williams house.
Dea. Bexjajiix Weight, second of the name in the Stepney diacon-
atc, probalily resided under the hill, at what is now the Andrew ^liller
place; removed to Berlin a few months after being chosen deacon.
Dea Ebexezek Guodiuch resided on the corner where Dea. Jared
G. Dimock now lives, though in an ohler house; he was a farmer, tan-
ner and shoemaker.
Dea. Elias ]3ickixsox lived where ^Mrs. Abijah and Edward W.
Tryon now reside. His son Harvey lived where !Mi"s. Charles Beau-
mont now lives — the east part of that house being a part of the old
Dickinson house. Elias was grandfather of Caroline and James Dick-
inson, not many years deceased : he was a carpenter, his shop in the
road close by his house, on Parsonage Street.
Dea. AsAiiEL ilKRniAM was a son of Rev. Burrage ]Mcrriam, second
pastor of Stepney. He resided where 3Ir. Jos. Warner now does— on
the site of the stockaded house of 1704, called "Fort Deming.""
Dea. Seth Hart was a tailor; probably of Farmington origin; his
house and shop (where he also kept drugs, etc.), both now gone, stood
opposite the smithy on Eerry Street.
Dea. SiMEOx Butler, descendant of the early Joseph, was a miller
at the south end of to%\"ii; resided on the coiTier where his ancestor
Joseph probably lived in an older house and where his (Simeon's) son
Capt. W'illiam lived. Dea. Simeon probably built the present house
— later rebuilt by Robert Sugden, Jr., a few years ago.
Dea. Hezekiaii WiiiTiiORE. probably a descendant of Thomas, the
Settler, 1G39, was a cooper; resided on Hill Street, next east of Chas.
DEACONS OF THE STEPNEY CHUKCH.
869
Williams' present residence. lie had a sliop there, and an earlier one
north of the Oliver Ponieroy store at "the Landing." It is of tradition
that he came here from ''down the river.''
Dea. Israel AYilliajes (son of AVilliam and grandson of Elias),
married Mary, daughter of John Rose ; resided some time with his
father, where 1\. C. Griswold now lives, and also in the Eulkeley-Rose
place; he was for some years a merchant in Wethersfield village.
Dea. Jeiiiei Eobp.ins, srm of Zebulon (probablv the Jr.) Rohbins,
was father of Mrs. Elizabeth Rliss, a present resident of Rocky Hill.
He lived in the brick house which stood where Thomas Warner's heirs
now live, at the top of the long hill at the north end.
Dea. Jaeed G. DiiiocK, son of Sanuicl and gd-son of Joseph, ship-
carpenter, resided on the Ebenezer Goodrich corner. He entered the
Stepney Chtirch choir at the age fif eleven; from 1804- to ISSO. Dea.
Dimock led the singing at church prayer meetings, and other religious
gatherings. Taken in connection with his many years of diaconal
service, this is a rare and honorable record of Christian service and
activity. — See Dimocl-, Vol. II.
Dea. JoEi, GooiUiifMi resided in the AVest District, on the triangle
of land occupied by the present West ^fefhodist ]\Ieeting House. He
married Aimie Bunco.
Dea. TiiojiAS DA^'I■oRT^ AVit.i.ia^es (son of ^lerriam, gd-son of
Elial and gt-gd-son of Elias), had his boyhood's home where the ^Misses
Williams now live. After his marriage he lived in the AVest District,
on the main road "as you go out AVest." His wife was Alary Jane,
daughter (by his second wife) of Capt. Jason Boardman.
Dea. William G. Robbixs, son of Roswell R. and gd-son of George
Robbins, gd-son, on his mother's side, of AA'^illiam Robbins, 2d ; and
comes of the same family as Dea. Nathaniel Robbins.
Dea. Edward A. AA'arxer, of an old AVethersfield family, is son of
Walter AVarner ; his wife is Fanm' G. AA'elles, of Sotuh AA'etherstield.
Clerks of Stepney Society. — Jonathan Curtis, elected 172G, died
1732; Edward Bulkeley; Joseph AVilliams, 1733-1751; Ebenezer
Wright, 1751-1757; Thomas Curtis, 1757-1782; Joseph Bulkeley, 1782
Dec, 1818; AA'illiam Robbins, 1S18, served eleven years after 1822,
he signed as AA'illiam Robbins, 2nd ; AA'alter AA^ Bulkeley, served 5 years ;
H. P. Hall, served three years; Henry AA'hitmore, served thirteen years;
Edward F. Robbins, served seventeen years; Samuel Dimock, sen-ed
five years; C. J. Burnell, served two years; Smith ( ?) ; Samuel Dim-
ock, served three years ; David C. Griswold, served two years ; AA'illiam
G. Robbins, from 1880.
870
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Treasurers of Stepney Society. — Elias Williams, 1TG7, re-elected
.down to 1790; James Stanley, 179G-1804: Frederick EoLbius, 1504:-
181S; Levi Eobbins, 1818- 1S42 ; Merriani Williams, 1542-1553;
Samuel Dimock, 1853-1854; Henry Whitmore, 1554. and by re-elec-
tion till 1867; .Tared G. Dimock, 1807-157G; William G. Eobbins,
187G-1878 ; Charles C. Butler, one year; Henry E. Taylor, two years;
Eufns W. Griswold, Dec, 1870. The first Treasurers Eccord of which
there is knowledge began in 1804. Up to 1525, the treasurer was paid
a small fee; since that date it seems to have been considered that the
privilege of iiandling the Suciety's funds is an adequate compensation
for the trouble !
The Care-talers, or Sextons of the Old Church have been: John
Church; a second John Church (probably son of the former): Elisha
Church ; a third John Church, down to the erection of the new house
of worship— tndy an appropriate Church-Jy family succession!
The first substitution, in the Society records, of Dollars and Cents
for Founds, Shillings and Pence was in 179'.J, since when all acc'iunts
have been in decimal currency.
Schools. — [Judge Adams, in Chapter IX, has already given a brief
stmmiary uf Em-ky Hill's school history. In addition to wh^it lie
there says concerning the schoolhouse of 1712. Dr. Griswold remarks —
//. E. (S.] "That it should have been built at this place iw the ac-
commodation of the south end (jf the parish, seems strange, for it is
hardly probable that there were any houses at this time, from between
near Di.\'s corners and Goffe's brook. I think there was one house at
the corner, south side and one where the Adams house is. But. it is
■certain that the centre of population and of whatsoever else there ex-
isted must have been as far south as where the tirst meeting house was
built, and there were some houses in the south part of what is now
Eocky Hill. From Di.x's corner to the site of this schorilhouse is aln^ut
one mile and a qiutrter: and from thence to the south line of the town
three miles ; so that a building put up here was not erected in con-
formity to the vote above quoted. Without doubt, there were, at this
time, houses below Dnim Hill, and at Dividend, when the Biilkeley
corn-mill had been many years in operation. But an old map (maker
unknown) of Eocky Hill Street and Village in 1721,' locates a schiX)l-
• ' This old map which will be found as an illustration at p.ige 373.
■of Chapter IX, does not extend as far north as Goff's brook. It is evidently
intended to show Cole's Hill or about halfway on the X. and S. line throush the
town, on the main road. On it are located the places of .Tonathan Demins (cor.
Parsonage St.) ; Sam. Williams (\V. of the Buri-ing ground) ; Itrs. Bulkeley's lot
(about the corn-mill) ; and "Capt. Goodrich's living" (extending from the River,
STEPXEY SC'HOOI^.
871
house at the point named, and marks no other. The evidence, therefore,
is that the first public school building was at this point.
But that it was not in a satisfacton' place, is evident from the fact
that soon after there was a movement for another building. It is likely
there was trouble over the location; for in ITIS, the General Court,
having been petitioned in the matter, a comniiTtee of that body recom-
mended two schoolhouscs, one on the liill Ijy Grimes', the other on the
hill by Widow Sam Cole's. Cdlo's hill was the point where the burying
ground was afterwards located; a srhnoliiouse was Iniilt there, probably
at the head of the road that runs west from the cemetery. "Where
was the "hill by Grimes" is not exactly certain; hut likely the top of
Long hill was meant : and as there was a building already near there,
it is probable that that was continued in use for one of the houses.
Joseph Grimes, probably the first Grimes in Ilncky Hill, had come here
from Lexington, IMass.
There is no further record, to my knowledge, about the schools here,
till after the formation of the Stepney parish. Dec. ,">, 1720, at a meeting
above Diviilend lot. West). Our inipres^^ion is that tliis map was used before the
Assembly, in the matter of some trouble being had concerning the location of a
School-house.
The reason why a school had been located on Cole's Hill (which was below the
half-way mark) was probably the better to accommodate the children from the
New Farms neighborhood. At this time the present Elm St. had not been opened. A
road ran W. "by Deming's" and another by ''Sanuiel Williams". Deming lived on the
N. corner of Parsonage .'^t. and Williams on the South corner: W. of where the Bury-
ing ground was afterward located. Both of these roads opened out into the Common,
on land still belonging to the Town. This Conuiion, or undivided land, came up from
the West to certainly as far East as Russell .St.; and this map shows it as all
open West to the Beckley road that came from the brook running by the Adams Mill
and ran Southwest. The W. end of the road by Sam. Williams was continued on
W. by a cow-path through tlie woods that ran along on the high ground to the
S. of the Present road, leading to West P,ockv Hill, and which came out by the
Stone-pit, along where now runs the lane leading to the old Boardman-Holmes house.
I suppose the "'Western Farmers," as they were called were located in tlie neighbor-
hood of the present Xew Farms Street. It would, therefore better accommodate the
children there to have a Schoolhouse on CoIe"s Hill than to have it further north,
as their traveled path to the Centre came out on the main road by Sam. Williams'
house. This road was part of the lane that comes to the Boardman house from the
West; further east, the line can still be traced on X. side of the Hill East of the
Boardman house; then it went on the S. side of the knoll .S.W. of present residence
of Dea. Dinioek. Why this road W. of its present end, just beyond the Alpheus
Goodrich (Wm. Grimes") house was abandoned, does not appear. It was probably
given up when the road acrcss the swale and to the X. was opened. I judge that it
may not have ever been fenced in from the adjoining lots, and, perhaps, never
legally laid out as a public road. It was not in a straight line after getting E. of
the Boardman house; but deviated according to the lay of the ground for
advantageous travel.
872
HISTORY OF ANXIENT WETHERSFIELD.
of the voters of the new society, Richard Kobliins, Abraham ^loris, and
Sam'l Belding, Jr., were chosen School Connnitteo. This was the first
School Committee of the parish proper, — previous to this time all
matters had been managed by the school society. At this time there
must have been some SO or more children of school age in the parish:
An old record gives 77 in 171S, presumably of school age. Feb'y 5,
1728, in Society meeting, — "it was agred, by vote that the schodl Imuse
now standing on Cole's hill shall be moved and set in the most convenient
place between Samuel Williams southeast corner of his pasture and
y" south end of the meeting house." The language would indicate tliat
the school house was to be verj' near the meeting house ; and as the
meeting house was nearly against where the barn of Wait Warner's
now is, we may suppose the design was to have the school house just south
of that point. The old school house was not moved immediately, if at
all. Feb'y 20, of the same yeai', — "it was agreed by vote that they
■would go and build a school house — 24 feet long and IG feet in width."
"to be set up at the northeast corner of William Xott's lot, which lot
abuts on the highway from Wetherstield to iliddlctown". The exact
location of this cannot be determined: it is not important, as no action
was taken under this vote at that time. Three years later, 1701, it ap-
pears that the Geiioral Assembly had "appointed tiuit there should be
two school houses in the Society for y ° keeping of a school among
us ;" but the parish voted to have "but one school house erected to
instruct their children in ;" and it was again voted to move the school
house standing by Joseph Eelding's (the same as on Cole's Hill) to a
convenient point between the meeting house and the southeast corner
of Samuel Williams' pasture; and the old connnittee was again in-
structed to go on with the new house in contemplation ; and the
General Assembly was to be petitioned for a confinuaTion of the
doings of the parish ; it was further voted that school bo kept in the
meeting house till the school house coxdd be made suitable to keep
school in. Uec. 4, 1732, the committee was furtlier instructed to go on
with the school house voted in Feb'y of 1728. On the 3d of Dec, 1733,
a meeting of the inhabitants of the parish was adjourned from the
meeting house to the school house, — the reason for this being that there
was no provision in the church building for a fire, while the school
building had fire-place and chimney. It would appear from this
adjournment that either the building on Cole's hill had been moved
up too near the meeting house, or that a new building had been put
up, — It is uncertain which ; for some things ordered failed of accom-
plishment. Twelve years after this — -1715 — it was voted to shingle the
STEPNEY SCHOOLS.
873
school house anew, with IS iucli shinjilcs. As tlie shingles at tliat duv
were rived out by hand, and often lasted for two or three generations,
it hardly seems that a building put tip new in or after lT."j-"3, should
have needed a new covering in 1745. \Vhat is likely is that the Cole's
hill house had been moved up by the meeting house and was still in
use, and that no new one had been erected.
In Dec. 1735, it was agreed by Society vote "that our western fanners
shall have y" school kept some part of y' time out with them." This
appears to have been the beginning of teaching regularly in what is
now the west district. In [March, of 1744, tlie inhabitants of the
western part of the town complainini>' of the lack of school accommoda-
tion, it was voted tliat the school house be moved to the west end of the
land of Samuel GofFe, or a new one built. The west end of the land of
Sam'l GofFe was somewhere out by or beyond the turn of the road
by Deacon Jared Dimock's residence. It is not likely that this vote
was carried into effect. It Avas also at the same time voted that a school
be kept three winter months for the western people.
In the fall of 1751. it was ordered that there should be three schools
kept in the society in the then coming winter, — three months each in
the north, south and west, and at the school house in Sept., Oct. and
Nov. : The three fall months were designated fov the whole toA\'n ; in
the winter months, there were tliree schools, some probably kept at
private houses. It would seem from this order that there was then
but one recognized school building, though the building opposite the
Boardnian place may have been in use some of the time. The next
winter the t0A\'n was divided into three parts for school purposes, —
the west part beginning at Churchill's lane — supposed to be the present
east line of the west district ; the other two parts dividing at the
school house.
In Dec, 1754, it was voted to sell the school house to the highest
bidder. At this point, the matter of school buildings for the different
parts of the society began to be seriously considered. In 1756 the
parish was formally divided into thrci"' part-, the west part being what is
now the portion of the west district then in the parish, and the line be-
tween the north and south being likely the road from the landing west
and its continuation to the west district line. It was at this time voted
to build a house for the south part north of Hog brook, at the foot of the
hill below the burying ground, and for the north part near the soiuh side
of Jonathan Boardman's lot, east of the highway; the site of the 1712
building — and the inhabitants of the west district were released from
any expense of these two houses. The house for the south district stood
874
HISTORY OF AXCIENT WETHEKSFIF.LD.
nearly opposite the present residence of Alfred Griswold (1874),
immediately at the foot of Cole's hill, west of the roadway-, and
in the line of the turnpike afterwards laid out. The north house was
right by the large maple tree opjjosite the old house of the late Jason
Boardman, and before him of his father, Capt. Jason, and probably
also of his grandfather John, and in the road. The Jonathan Boardman
hereinbefore spoken of was a town pedagogne: he was at one time (in
1728), granted iiermission by the authorities to teach a school. My
impression is that Boardman nsed the 1712 structure for a school on
his own account, and the same building was used for like purposes, when
the public school rotated to that end of the parish.
School was now kept 15 weeks in the north and south district?, and
six weeks in the west. In 1757, the sum of 48 pounds aud 14 shillings
was voted to pay for btiilding the two new school houses.
The school term in the west district, so far as the parish paid for its
support, was limited to G weeks in the year, till 1773, when it was voted
that thereafter tlie west part ''should have liberty to keep a school
among themselves two months aud a half a year, provided they build a
house at their own cost"'. The same year it was voted to build two new
school houses, one at the north part of the town and one at the south, —
the north house to Ijc in the highway near the north side of Kev. !Mr.
Merriam's home lot, and the south on Cole's hill, between the mouth
of the lane leading from the water-side and the dwelling house of ^Lr.
Ephraim Williams. The first of these points was where the then existing
building was standing, and tlie other where the house that there was
talk of moving in 1728 had stood; and it was further voted, that "we
will take the frame that is already set \:p for a school house, now stand-
ing near the meeting house, for one of the aforesaid new school houses,
provided y' owners will let us have it for the just value.'' Evidently
there was agitation for another division at this period, aud that
individuals, in their private capacity, had begun the erection of a third
house. The two new ones voted were not built at tliis time; for in
Dec, 1774, the committee was ordered to "do something towards
mending the school houses so as to make them comfortable to keep
school in this winter season," and in 17S0 a committee was appointed
to "view the south school house and see if it was worth repairing."
In 1779 it was voted that exclusive of the west district, schools
should be kept in three parts, — north, south and middle, three months
each, and each to have an equal nmnber of scholars assigned to it by the
committee. Thereafter four schools were kept, and appropriations made
to each. The "frame" alluded to in 1773 had been completed into a
STEPNEY SCHOOLS.
875
house, and was used for the centre school. It stood on the trianguhir
bit of kind between the rouds near the residence of the hite Dr. Rufus
W. Griswold.
In 17S1, the parish was formally divided into four districts, upon
the lines as they now exist, except that the north district extended
up to the north line of Stepney parish, and the north line of the west
district was on the old parisli line at that end of the parish. That part
of the north district now in the town of Wethersfield, except the first
house north of the bridyo, was at a later day set oflE to Harris Hill
district of AVethcrsfield, and about ISTiO tlie district line was brought to
the town line and the north line of the west district was extended in
1850 north to coincide with the line between the to\ras. At this period
(1781), the diiTerent districts entered upon the management of their
own hoiTscs.* The middle had its house, as herein indicated; and very
soon after this time both north and south districts put up new houses, —
the former on the site of the old one, of brick, and the latter of wood
at the head of the road running west nearly opposite the present brick
building in tliat district, the road l)eing known as Skeetcr Lane. The
west district, built of wood also, in the road, a little way south of this
present brick bouse. Tbc house of the middle district, also of wood,
was used for school, till about ISOO, when it was sold to Alexander
Grimes and he moved it down by his house, just west of the freight
depot, and converted it into a dwelling, — and moved into it. His
daughter. Aunt Sophronia, continued to live there after his death for
GO years or more. The railroad as laid out in 1871, struck one corner
of it, and it was again moved, and now stands just below the burying
ground, north of Hog brook, on the east side of the road to Dividend,
This old school house had lapsed to Margaret Jagger, ?i€e Grimes, before
the railroad was built, and is used for storing and packing polish ing-sand.
Alexander Grimes lived previously, in the house just south, now
moved a little west of FerrySt., The scliool house of the north district
was in use till 181.5, when it was torn down, and (being of brick) the
materials were turned into the present brick building that stands a little
' In 1796, by an att of the Assembly, the business of managin"; schools, as also the
care of burying grounds, were lodged in School Societies. Therefore, both these
matters had rested with the Parish. Rocky Hill School Society took in the first house
north of Goft's brook. The Societies continued in existence xip to 1S.50. when they
were abolished by act of the legislature. I have made much endeavor to find the
records of the school society, but without success; they are past recovery, and with
them much of interest is lost. ilr. Mcrriam Williams and ifr. Levi Robbins, both
several years deceased, were long treasurer and clerk respectively, and nearly if not
quite up to the date of the discontinuance of the societies.
876
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
way south but on the opposite side of the road. The south district
house was used for school till IS-tO, when the present brick one was
built, nearly opposite at Peppercorn ; it was then moved to the north
side of Hog brook, and is now occupied as a dwelline. (1S74:) Mrs.
Charlotte Deuiing lived in it till her death. Tlie west district house was
used till 1S50, was then sold to Xehemiah Stevens and moved off, down
by his house, and the present brick one erected a little to the north.
The present two story brick house in the centre district was built in
1803; was built in part by a tax on the property of the district, as I
have understood, and partly by a private subscription, or by the sale of
shares in it. The building was here in 1S0.5, — it being spoken of in a
vote of the Stepney records of that date, in rehition to the site of the new
church building then about to be erected, ilr. Henry \Vhitmore,
deceased, born in 17SG, went to school in the ganibrcl-roofed house on
the little park by my residence, till he was a well grown buy. The
contractor for the building, ]Mr. Abraham Jagger, took for a part of his
pay the subscriptions, or the shares of stock, made by individuals for its
erection: many of these were never jjaid up, and the job mined him
financially.
Later. — in .Tuly, ISST, I learn from ^Mr. C'luirlps "Williams rhai in
an old account book of his father's, in his ])ossession. that Jan. (',, 1S():2,-
EHphalet Foster is charged to One share in the Academy £1.10; and in
1803 Abraham Jagger is charged for drawing 1000 brick from the
I^ooks, for the Academy. This seems to settle the date of the erection of
this building. It is likely that Jagger took so many of the shares in the
building, that not being aide to realize on tlieni. he was bankrupted.
The second story of this building was mostly in one room, and was
arched overhead. It was used for a great many years for an academy
school, and was known as Academy Ilall. There were large fire-places
in both stories, the chimney being in the soutliwest end. This academy
school had a high reputation: some of what were called the higher
branches of school education were taught, the higher mathematics, in-
cluding Navigation. It was supported in good repute till the burning
out of the building, on the night of the 31st of Dec, 1S3!) or the early
morning of Jan.; 1, 1840. The walls were left standing; the inside
was rebuilt the next season, and the whole covered in, but the second
story was not done off. The lower story was in two rooms ; later the
partition wall was cut through and sliding doors put between. In \>')0
the district leased the upper story, perpetually, to the Tiocky Hill
Eccl. Society, conditioned tliat the Society "do off the u])per rooms," and
thereafter take care of and keep "in good repair all above the floor of said
THE OLD ACADEMY BUILDING.
877
room, including said floor and the timbers and frame thereof". About
the time this lease was made there was organized in the to^\•n a Society
of Sons of Temperance, who arranged with the Ecch Society to join
in defraying the expenses of finishing up the room, conditioned that it
could have the use of it for their meetings. The temperance organiza-
tion went to pieces in about three years, and its interest in the room
lapsed to the Eccl. Society, which has since maintained and con-
trolled it. After this rebuilding of the upper room, it came to be more
generally called the Conference room, and was the usual place of
assembly for the Congregational church for prayer meetings and the
like, up to ISSl, when a room for such purposes was fitted up in the meet-
ing house.
This upper room, — both before and since the burning — has been used
for divers purposes, — besides for the prayer meetings of the church;
for select private scliools at many times ; for a town high school at
different periods ; for town meetings, concerts, lectures, shows, debating
clubs, library and lyceum associations, festivals, fairs, suppers, singing
schools, agricultural clid) meetings, political caucuses. Episcopal church
services (1ST3), Catholic church meetings (ISSO), Justice trials, and
for a Good Templars Lodge service (1S70), etc., etc. For the fi.rst
quarter of the ct-ntury many young men of the town learned the science
of Xavigation in this Academy Hall, and fitted themselves to become
captains of the coasters and sea-going vessels out of Connecticut river.
Since ISiO, school matters in this hall have not been up to the plane
of what had obtained in the four decades previous.
In the fall of 1SS5 the Eccl. Society sub-leased the con-
ference room to the Rocky Hill Library Association, for 10 years,
at the rent of $25 per year, reserving the right for the free use of the
room for its own purposes whenever it might desire, — the association
assuming the obligations to keep the room and roof in proper repair
during the life of the lease. During the period of control by the Eccl.
Society, the use of the room was given for school purposes, library
associations, temperance societies, agricultural club, singing schools,
public lectures, and for various general purposes, without cost, and often
at its own exjiense for lights and fuel, with a generosity not always
appreciated.
I have been told that there were two fireplaces in the lower story of
this building originally, — one at each end, as there were two rooms.
If this was so, then the north chinmey must have been taken out at the
time of re-building.
There is no known record of the sale of the school house lot, or its
878
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSITELD.
boundaries. Ifp to ISS-l, tliere had been a post ami rail fence around
an ox-bow shaped piece of land. — the rear representing the hollow of
the bow. In the rebuilding of the fence frmn time to time, the original
lot had been encroached upon, but to what extent did uot appear.
The following, from the records, is as to original division into
districts: — At a meeting of the inhabitants of the parish held in on y' Od
day of April 17S1, "'Y' committe that was appointed to Divide y*
Society into School Destricts made their Report, and it was accepted by
s* Society, and voted and is as follows (viz") in the first place to Draw
a Line of Division between y'' South and Middle Destricts. beginning
at y' Great River, at y" jilace where Ilngbrook so called emtics it self
into said River, and. Running a Xrirthwesterly Course to the Southwest
corner of John Benton's Hom[e] lot, then turning and running a more
Westerly Course to the South East corner of Elijah Goodrich's Ilamlot,
then runing paralel with y' South Side of s" Lot till it comes to a Certain
Lot of Land belonging to Deacon David Goodrich, then to run north in
y' line between' said Lot and y' west side of a Lot of Land belonging to
Jacob Reiley to a highway, and then as the s" highway runs to y'
Western Destrict ; all south of s" line to belong to y' South Dcstrict.
excepting Capt. Elias Williams, who is to Join or be set to y" Middle
School, and all such as shall Live in the House in which he now Dwells,
— ^y 'middle Dcstrict having a Larger number of children then y' other
Destricts, and Less Lists, which Renders it necessary, to bring y' Several
Districts on nearly an Ecpial footing. Then 2" '^, to Draw a Line of
Division between the north and midiUe Destricts beginning at y" Xorth-
west corner of Prcscutt Eulkley's ILinilot. and running a par'alel Line
with y' Xorth side of Said lot to the Great River, and then running from
the forementioned corner a Westerly Course to y' Soiith east Corner of
Capt Elias Williams South Common Lot, so called, then perralel with
j' South Line of s'' Lot till it comes to the western Destrict."'
These lines remain to the present time, though there have been some
changes of fences. The lines have been re-surveyed at later <lates.
"Capt. John Rol.ibins, Livit Charles Butler, ]Mr. Jacob Reiley and Mr.
Giles Deming were chosen a Committe in behalf of the Society to apply
themselves to y' Hon-""' Assembly to get these division lines established
and confirmed."
From the wording of this note of division between the north and
middle district, which speaks of the line going to the Great River, it is
to be seen that before this date some part of the meadow had become set
to the parish of Stepney — I suppose the line of meadow division to have
been at the road east from the Beaver meadow bridge, as Stepney parish
SCHOOL MOKEY--THE COLONY'S BOUNTY."
879
had petitioned for, lirst in 174(; and again in 1754, and obtained in
1759.
School Moneij — "Tlie Colonij's Bniiniy." — In 1741, it is on record,
that "Dea. Benjamin "Wright, and 3ilr. Josiah Churchill, and Lieut.
John Warner were chosen a Committee to receive the Coh)ny's Bounty
to the School of said Parish, and to nse and dispose of the same according
to the Act and Direction of the General AssemVdy, in this case made."
This ''bounty," so-called "came from the sale of lands in Litchfield
County, given to the older Connecticut towns, by Act <)i Legislature, for
school purposes. Its amount is not specified on records.
In the parish records of 174G, Thomas Curtis and John Bobbins, 2nd,
were appointed a Committee to care for this fund — tlicn called "Loan
Money" : and in 1753 Mr. Bobbins was paid £2 for his care of it. After
that date, no further record appears in relation to it. Air. Levi Bobbins,
Treasurer of Stepney Society for several years since 181S, and also
many years Clerk of the Bocky Hill School Society, down to the abolition
of School Societies in 1S5G, was uninformed as to the source of this
fund (which in ISSO, amounted to $208.77) ; and, as there is no record
of any other source than that already mentioned, it seems a legitimate
conclusion that the money owed to the tov;n by the lieirs of Sanuiel
Goodricli at the present time, is the "Colony's Bounty" of 1741.
This view appears to be corroborated, by a record of the Ecclesiastical
Society of Xewington, Xov., lS-'}0. in which is notice of the appointment
of a Committee by that Society to confer with a Connnittee of the
School Society and to make report about the "division of public money,
belonging to the two Societies", about which there had been some
dispute. The School societies at that time managed all school matters.
One of the items in dispute was "the loan money, derived from the sale
"of lands in certain townships in the western part of the State, done
"by authority of the Legislature ^ and appropriated exclusively for the
"benefit of schools" — amounting in this Xewington case, to $279.23.
I suppose this "loan money" to be from the same source as our loan
money: so that its origin appears.
In the case above cited, the Ecclesiastical Society reported that the
School Society had a legal claim to this "loan money." With us
(Stepney) the question of legal claim to the care and use of this loan
money was, doubtless, settled when the superintendence of school
'It was not from the authority of the Legislature that the parishes had this
mone}'; but from the Colonial Assembly of 1740 or '41 likely — -the Colonial Assembly
being the predecessor of the Legislature of later days.
88o
HISTORY OF ANXIENT WETHERSFIELD
matters passed from the care of the Parislics to that of the School
societies, by Act of the General Assembly of 1T!)G; and the subsequent
transfer (\.-hen School Societies -were abolished in IS 56), of the School
Society's functions and responsibilities to the Town.
We may add, for the purpose of obtaining a relative view of the
different townships, which formerly composed the original Township of
Wethersfield, with each other, as regards education — that according to
official statistics for ISS'2, Wc titers field had $0371 in taxable property
for each person of school age; Xeiringtoii, $2241; Eoclrij Ilill, $13So ;
Glastonbury, $1372. The percentage appropriated that year for school
purposes, was, for Glastonljury, $3.19; Bocl-y Hill, $1.85; Xevington,
$1.76 -fWethersfield, $1.35. l^ut the amounts raised from all sources,
per capita, was — in Wethersfield, $10.07; GJastonhury , $7.08; Xew-
ington, $0.4-9 ; ItocVy Ilitl, $5.27. The percentage of school attendance
was Wethersfield, 91.8; Xewington, 89.4; Glastonbury, 83.9; Rocl-y
Hill, 83.3.
BuEYixr; Gkocxds. — January 19, 1730, at a meeting of the inhabi-
tants of Stepney i)arish, it was "Voted, and agreed, that wc would have a
burying yard to bury our dead in, on that hill known by y ' name of
Cole's Hill, a little southward of that place where Andrew Attwood
formerly erected a cooper's shop" ; and Ca])t. Ephraim Goodrich, Scgt.
Thomas Deniing and ilr. Samuel Williams •were appointed a Com-
mittee to apply to the Town of Wethersfield '"'for a confiimation of tlie
aforesaid burying yard, and to desire the Town to send a committee to
lay it out to this Society". In accordance with this request, the Town
set exit to Stepney parish the ground indicated, its original limits
being 20 rods north and south on the main road and 12 in width. The
cooper shop of Andrew Attwood referred to in the above vote, stood
across the road from the corner now occupied by Benjamin Smith, but
somewhat further Xorth.
The first interment in this ground was on June 2d of the following
year. On a small stone in the northwest corner of the original layout is
the inscription, "Here lieth the Body of the Daughter of Benjamin and
Mary Deming, born and died June y" 2, 1731 — the first Buried in
this Yard".
About 1800, the groTind was widened, on the west side about 180 feet,
taking in a considerable breadth of the strip reserved for the road to the
mill; in 1849, was extended north between the roads; and again, in
1859, still further north to its present limits, on a line with the road
that comes up from the East. The first extension was taken up by
parties in 20-feet square lots, without much pa^^nent. The extension of
STEPNEY PARISH BURYING GROUNDS.
88 1
1859 was divided into lots of 20 by 10 foot, and sold by the single lot to
the highest bidder — all expenses of lay-out and fencing being covered
by sales. The right of burial only was sold, the land remaining in the
possession of the Town.
The gravestones of the TJev. Daniel Iiussell, Ecv. Bnrrage IMerriam,
Eev. John Lewis and Iiev. Calvin Cliapin, whose pastorates (inclusive of
about si.x years interregnums) covered a period of 121 years, are iu the
old part of the Burying Gnninil. The gravestones of the first three
pastors wei'e set by order of and at the expense of the Town.
When the Rev. ]Mr. Boekwood left the parish in 1850, he gave to the
Rocky Ilill Ecclesiastical Snciety a btirial lot, belonging to him, in the
cemetery, for the interment of such ministers of the parish, or of the
members of their families as might die here. This lot is in that portion
added in 1S49. Some years after his removal other parties, totally
ignoring the donor's generous intention, took possession of this lot. The
Rev. Philo Judson shoidd have been buried therein ; but was interred in
the northeast corner of the present yard — his grave unmarked.
Previous to the opening of this Burying Yard in 17-'51. all l)urials
from this community were mailc in tiie burial place of the ^[other-Town;
and for sometime after, even li> witliin present recollection, some have
been taken for burial to Wetlierstield, to l)e buried among their relatives
and ancestors. It thus happens that a good many Rocky Hill residents
(sea captains, and others) who are buried in Wethcrsfield Cemetery,
should be credited to the South end of the old town.
It may be noted here, that Rocky Hill Burying Ground contains
very little, indeed, of wliat may l)e called "tombstone literature," which
interests the visitor to some cemeteries. And this, we consider to be
a cause of congratulation. For, no inanimate thing lies worse than
the churchyard. To be as •"deceitful as a tombstone," is to attain to the
summit of untruthfulness. The tombstone lies, often, not only in
the characters engraven upon it, but in the ostentation of its superior
size, and tlie costliness of its material and the work expended thereon.
The misrepresentation of a collection of gravestones is both positive
and negative, posidce when the conspicuous marble is raised by some
doting parent over the remains of a son worthless in life and despised
by the better part of the community, in which he has worse than wasted
his existence; and ncr/afire when that '"^Mother in Israel" or that father
without reproach, is laid to rest and only the humblest stone is planted ;
or perchance, the grave is wholly unmarked; and so frequently is this
the case that the stranger in any cemetery can hardly obtain a true
idea of the relative worth and position iu their day and generation
882
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
of those who liavc "parsed over to tlie majority." The H<ieky Ilill
Burial Ground forms no exception to this jjeneral statement.
BecMey Quarter Biiri/ing Ground. — A few rods within the limits
of Berlin, at the west, in tlie Beckley district, is a hurial grouud, opened
in 17C0, in which most of the families of Tlocky Hill have always
buried their dead. For further information about this ground, see
Wefhersfteld IiiscriptioiiSy p. 2SS.
Among the old people buried in Bocky Hill Burying Ground, not
otherwise mentioned in our historical notes, were: Wid. Lois Andrus,
d. 1825, ae. 9(5 ; Mrs. Betsy Bulkely. ae. 0-1; Prudence Butler, d. 1S42,
ae. 97; Wid. Sarah Butler, d. :May 10. 179.5, in 9Sth yr. ; Wid. Anna
Butler, d. 1S2S, ae. 01; Thankful Bulkely, d. 1S29, ae. 9r.; Wid.
Mary Butler, d. 1S4.J, ae. 90: Ann Church, d. 1S02, ae. 92; Bcheckah
Edwards, d. 1S42, ae. 90; Wid. Sarah Goodrich, d. 20 .May, 17S9, ae.
84, left Co gd-ch. and C'J gt-gd-ch. ; Dca. David Goodrich, d. 17S.J, in
91st yr. ; Alex. Grimes, d. 1S40, ae. 9o ; Wid. Abigail Grimes, d.
1792, ae. 90; Mrs. Eliza ilortnn, d. IS:^.^, ac. 92. There are no ages
given in the Old Church Rcc. of persons dying before 1781 ; there were,
of course, some nonogenarians previous to that time, and exce]it a
family record here and there, there were no record of deaths iu St<'i)ney
parish until 17G5.
Otiiek liEi.iCiioLs Okoamzations IX Stepxey.
The first appearance of ^lethodism in this parish, apjtears to have
been about 1S30, when meetings were held in the '"old sail loft" over an
old store formerly standing just north of the large storehouse once
Roderick Grimes', at The Landing, but which had been drawn to a
site a few feet northerly from that of the present Wethersfield Cluirch.
Archibald Bobbins, one of the crew of the brig Commerce, who were
captured by Arabs and sold into captivity, was, after his release, and
return to his home, the keeper of this store. This place was used
by the little congregation for about eight years; and a Rev. Mr.
Buck is credited as being their iirst preacher. Later, and for about ten
years, services were held at the house of a ilrs. Myers, more recently
owned by Mr. Sylvester Goodrich. The society then bought the old
William Bradford store, at the river, and moved it to where the present
church edifice now stands, and occupied it as their first church building
for about ten years. It was only about 2-4x30 feet in size, was usually
filled to overflowing, and soon became quite inadequate to the wants
of the congrecation, some of whom came over from Wethersfield. Alwut
1843, Rev. John Lovejoy was pastor ; his successors were the Revs. .John
ROMAN CATHOLICS. -OTHER DKNOMIN'ATIOXS. '^°J
Hunter, Stetson and Dr. Archer, then a iiracticing physician. The
Steward and Trustees were Talcott A. Arnohl, (^hestor B. Goodrich,
13. G. Wehh, Jei'ciny Goodrich. Chiss Leader, T. A. Arnold, under
whose leadership ^[ethodisni greatly increased.
The ne.xt church e<lifico was erected in 18.^9 ; dedication sermon
preached hy pastor Jlcv. ^Ir. Hatfield, whose successors have been
Revs. A. B. Pulling, J. C. Breckinridge, A. Rittenhouse, A. H.
Wyatt, Henry Staats, W. Tuttle l]owdish, J. W. Ames, C. Buck, C.
Mandoville, C. W. Wihler, T. C. Beach, David Ilannalnirgh, A. Palmer,
Charles Dixon, J. 11. Hand, TT. D. Latham, George King, Stoddard
Simons, C. J. Xorth, James Shi])man, David G. Downey, GenrgeL.
Coburn, C. K. Sturges, T. IL Vincent, -T. IL :\rcDoiuild, T. S. Hender-
son, J. IL Slater, IL B. :Munson, B. AV. Raymond.
The old Bradford store hiiilding was bought by James Warner, who
removed it to his land in ^lorton's Lane, jiist east of Gully Brook,
whei'e it now stands. T. A. Arnold was, for many years, one of the
best ship caulkers on the Connecticut River; his often assistants were
Enos Holmes and Silas Collins. Chester B. Goodrich was a farmer,
esteemed by all, and ff)r many years a pillar of the ]\Iethodi.st Church.
Jeremy Gocdrieh also was hiyldy esteemed; he livcvl mi Lroad Street,
west of the cemetery; his brotlicr Sylvester was also a wanu and
earnest ^lethodist. This church was burned down February 14, 1895.
The present neat and attractive edifice was dedicated 29 Jamiary, 1896.
In 1843, the ^lethodists at W. R"cky Hill put up a small church
edifice (still in use as such) on land donated by Dea. .Joel Goodrich,
oa the corner of the Shun])ike and Berlin roads. In 1844, Rev.
B. Redford was the preacher in this modest little temple. Since that
ser\nces have been maintained, with some intermission, by preachers
sent by Conference, or hired for the occasion, or by students from the
Wesleyan L^niversity.
Roman Catholics. — Services of this denomination were first held at
the hall of the Center School-house ; the first priest to officiate being
the Rev. John Ryan of the Cromwell parish. In 187'.', the corner
stone of a church was laid, and the building was for the first time oc-
cupied in 1881.
Other Denominntions. — About 1815, (so says Mr. Charles Williams,
of Rocky Hill), the Baptists made some show of numbers and activity;
but they never went so far, we believe — as to eifect an organization.
A little later some eflfort was made to establish a Unircrsalist society.
John ^larsh used to come down from Hartford to conduct services. He
discontinued his efforts in 1822. About 1876, ^Ir. il. C. Webster,
884
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIELD.
then recently removed tliither, from Hartford, sought to revive the
Universalist worship ; hut his project failed for want of support.
The Oi.d LiisRAiiiKS or Stepney Pakisu. — By a species of adop-
tion the present Library Associatiox or Rocky Hill, is the heir to
four older organizations of a similar kind— the recoi'ds of which have,
happily, heen preserved to the present time.
1. The Social Lihrarij, of Stepney Society. Its records, in the hand-
writing of liev. Calvin Chapin, and covering a period of 53 years
(179-i-lS-iT, inclusive), contain 20 Articles (or By-Laws) and a Consti-
tution, dated 11 Dee., 1794. Mr. Chapin was moderator of the meet-
ing at which these were adopted and was chosen its first librarian.
James Stanley was clcrl,: and these two, with Jabez Kiley, were a
Committee of niaiiayoncnt. This Constitution, etc., was nndouhtedly
the work of ^Ir. Cha]>in, who was evidently the moving spirit and in-
spiration of the organization. Fnlluwing the Constitution in this record
are the names, in alphahctical i>r(ler, of the original subscribers on 11
Dec, 170-1: — GS in all, four of thou being women. The first pay-
ments, as subscriptions, or entrance fees, were nine shillings each
($1.50) ; later, they were three shillings per year — and then eighteen
pence (2.5 cents). These payments then meant more than the same
amounts would now. B(5oks were then comparatively dear, when
offset by the price of farm produce. $1.50 then represented G or S
bushels of potatoes, probably more — and other produce in a like scale
of values. We can see that the citizens of that period were quite as ready
to contribute of their means for intellectual improvement, as are their
successors of the present generation.
A copy of the first bill of books purchased is of record. It mentions
' 87 volumes, fairly divided between theological works proper, history,
travels, poetry and fiction. They were bought in Xew Haven, of Isaac
Beers, Jr., Jan. 7, 17!t.">, at a cost of £20, los., 4d.. ($88.90). As there
were no expresses in those days to transport goods about the country,
some one had to go to K"ew Haven for them— hence an item of O.s., lid.,
for horse hire. — A Iwokcase was bought (at a cost of £2, lis.) — which
is still in use by the present association. The record shows a list of
additions to this nucleus of books, to the aggregate of 235 volumes —
as far as given in the book. ]\Ir. Chapin resigned the librarianship in
March, 1705, and was sueceedeil by Josiah Grimes. The library had no
permanent home, and the custodian was often changed, as also was
the ]\Ianaging Committee. Fines were collected for any defacement
of books ; and in case of loss, the value of the book was exacted.
THE FREE UBRARY.
2. The Free Lihravij. — At this distance of time, it may seem singu-
lar that a public lihrarv so fairly launched into existence imder such
favorable conditions, and with so large a list of subscribers in so sniall
a village, should almost immediately have a competitor tVir favor. But,
on the 5th of January, 1795, (a little less than a month after the birth
of the Social Library), there was organized a "Free Library." at a
meeting of -whicli Joseph Dinmek was rimderaior, and Wait Warner,
clerk. And, by the 20th of the same montli, 77 persons had subscribed
to its Constittition, and paid in their fee of ~o cents, of whom 12 were
women. Elisha Church was its first librarian. The sub<eril>ers" list
is of other names than those found on that of the Social Library. We
have, then, the names of 165 persons paying in their money, at the
outset, for procuring reading in a public way, in a village where the
population could not well have been more than it is at present, but among
whom there was probalJy more life in that direction than there now
is with us. Of the books in this lilirary we have no list ; like its
competitor it had no jiermanent fund, or home, and its location and
librarian were frequently changed — its earlier meetings were held in
the gambrel-roofed schoolhousc of the Middle District, which stood
on the little triangular green near the late Dr. Griswold's re-idenee;
and now, after se\'eral removals, resting on the Dividend road, below
the burying ground, and owned by !Mr. Samuel Diinock.
A qitestion naturally arises as to why two libraries were thus started
in so sinall a village at the same time ? That it was dtie to some sec-
tarian feeling could hardly have been — since, until many years after,
there was but one church organization here. It might have been due
to political antagonism, for, just at this juncture — about the end of
Washington's administration — the Federal party (the legitimate pro-
genitor of the present Itcpubliean party), and the Eepublican party
of that day (the legitimate progenitor of the Democratic party of this
day), had become fairly organized and party animosities were beginning
to boil itp in preparation for the election of "90 — with a pungency
and acrimony far surpassing any political contest ever witnessed by
the present generation, except, perhaps, in the heat of the late Civil War.
Some have thought that the aninius of the opposition to the elder
library, was due to some objection to the character of the books pur-
chased by it. But, in the first place (as the Library List shows) these
books were not at all objectionable in character; and secondly, the
organization of the second society had been effected before the books for
the first society had been purchased.
The records of either societv make no mention or hint as to the cause
886
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETHERSFIELD.
of a separate orgaiiizatiou ; nor anv allusion to each other's existence.
They simply severely ignored one another. But there is, in the Con-
stitution of the Social Library a point on which we may hang a reason-
able conjecture of at least one factor for the ditferencc. xVi-ticle III,
says : "If any person, after this Constitution is adopted and a Library
formed, shall wish to become a proprietor, his request shall be granted
when he has obtained the approljatidU i>f the Committee and paid
them the same sum of money each proprietor has already paid, tines
only excepted."
Here, probably, was the ground for trouble. The original mendjcrs
of the Social Library were a "close corporation;" and their Connuittee
of three had the power tn exclude whoever else might apply. Otitsiders,
naturally, were unwilling to sidjmit themselves to the necessity of ap-
probation of three ])crsous no more than their peers, in any respect ;
and so, the Free Lihrary was started as a protect against this method
of doing business. Its fees were also one-half the amount of the Social's
fees, and gradually the fees of both were reduced. Tiuis the two
libraries went on until IS 20. In January, of that year, a new genera-
tion having asstniicd the activities of life, and the old differences having
died out, the Free Library pi-opo.sod a conferenci^ with tlic Social, with
a view to unite their libraries and interests. On ilarch Dth, the
two committees reported and the two library associations came to-
gether, as the report says : "On the noble principle of generosity."
The Free's proprietiu's paid .")0 cents and the Social 2.") cents, as a
new fund; the new combination took the name of the original institu-
tion, framed a new Constitution and put on record a list of their
then (78) proprietors. In this list of names there are but about half
a dozen of the IG.j original proprietors of 1794-^. Of the 78 in 1820,
not one is now living. In the matter of appointments to office, the
collection of fines, payment of dues, etc., these lihrary records give us
a largo ntmiber of the male population of the place, from 1794 to 1845 ;
and from no other source can so many be gleaned.
In 1829, the books (some 200 in number) v^qvq overhauled and cata-
logued, and some volumes which were deemed unfit and "superfluous"
■were sold at auction, with the residt of a cash addition to the treasury
of $13.22.
From this time on, the library had an abiding place in Mr. Wait
Williams' store (between the present railroail freight depot and passen-
ger station) and he was its librarian, until 1838, when the late Revillo
Chapman succeeded him as liln-arian and store-keeper. He acted as
the Library's clei-k, treasurer and librarian to the end of the Society's
OTHER LIBRARIES.
887
record — the last item of which is the papnent of a tax by Jacob
Griswokl, in 1847 — by which tiiup the Constitution had virtually gone
out of active life. Its la?t purchase of books was a single volume in
1837, numbered .")0S.
3. In June, 1S.')5, Iicv. Dr. Chapin's successor, Rev. ^Ir. Ifockwood
inauijuratcd a society "for mutual improvement, especially in con-
nection with a library" — called the Social Library Association of Eocl-y
Hill, of which he was made president and librarian; Abicl Abbott,
.secretary, and '\Vm. E. Williams, treasurer. This organization was the
outgrowth of a Bible class which had mot for some time at ^h: Rock-
wood's house, and which, by donation and otherwise had become pos-
sessed of some bo<'ks, as the nurlc ,s of a library. To this society, the
old lilirary devised its Ixioks (about i':?0). the bookcase was repaired,
books re-arranged and transferred to IMr. Eockwood's dwelling, where
they remained until ISGO, when, being about to leave the place, he re-
signed as president and librarian. Dea. T. D. Williams was elected
pi'esident and Horace R. ^lorriam, librarian and the books being-
transferred to the residence of ilrs. Caroline IMei-riam, continued there
until the Autunm oi If^CtC'; from thence being taken to the Conference
Room; am' during all this jieriod, there aiijiears to have been no meet-
ing of the membersliip or appnintment of tttticers, though the lilirary was
kept in active service.
4. The Bocl-y IliU Lyrnun. — On January 2, ISCO, few citizens
met at the Conference Riiom for the purpose "of considering the
propriety of forming an association for the literary culture of the
people generally." Of this, the Rev. Geo. ^Muir Smith was the moving
spirit ; as also was Willard Lyon, who became the first president. Its
scope can be understood from the fact that it had a Concert Com-
mittee, a Library Committee and one to organize a Debating Club.
During the first winter, the Lyceum had several interesting lectures
delivei-ed before large audiences by distinguished Connecticut scholars.
The Lyceum membershii- also developed strongly in the direction of
debate; but after two or three years, an inertia (not uncommon in
such cases) settled down upon the members, and in the winter of 1863-4,
it died out, and the sixty volumes, which fonned its library was ulti-
mately turned into the Uocly TliU Library Association formed in
January, 1877; and which thus become heir to all the earlier organiza-
tions which had done library work. By the careful work of its members
it has been enabled to erect a building for a permanent home. The
librarian, Mrs. Adelaide "Wright, has held the office since 1SS2. Its
present Library building was dedicated December Sth, 1899.
""^ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIELD.
It is forty j'cars since my professional calling began to bring me
into familiar contact with a good share of the people of Rocky Hill,
and I should have been dnll, indeed, not to have discovered that the
generation of men and ■women who were then passing away, had en-
joyed some means of intellectnal culture, other than those likely to
be afforded by the weekly newspaper, and the occasional book that
strayed into tlic homes of the Xew England farmer of three decades
before my time. There was evidence to me, perfectly plain, that they
had had access to the best English literature of their times, and that their
intellectuality had been enlarged and stimulated thereby.
[We regret that limitations of space, forbid our presenting the list of
names of subscribers to the Social Llhrary, which is in itself a Roll
of Honor, worthy of study by their descendants. The editor has a copy
of Dr. Griswold's list of these subscribers, which will be placed in
the library of the Connecticut Historical Society, at Hartford. —
H. R. S.'] "
The Commercial History of Stepney — "The Landing" — Old Stores —
Ship-Yards and SJiip-Iinilding — Wharres — Ferries, etc.
"The Laadixg." — U]) to this point, we have discussed the spiritual
and intellectual, rather than the material sides of Stepney's earliest
history — the Church, the Schools, Libraries, etc. Xow, we approach
topics not less interesting or impoitant — its ancient mercantile and
commercial importance.
During the early commercial epoch of Stepney (now Rocky Hill)
most of its River-side places of trade, were on the east side of the
River-road, and along the toj) of the bank south of the Town Reserva-
tion. This property was, as we have elsewhere stated, the river-front
of the grant which was made, 16-i9-50, to Samuel Boardman. But,
before the death of Jonathan (probably son of James) Smith, which
occurred about 1730, the Boardman grant had been acquired by Smith,
who left tlirec children, viz. : Xathan, Al)igail and Hannah. Abigail
married Hezekiah Grimes of Rocky Hill ; Hannah married Daniel
Clark of ]\[iddletown ; Xathan died, unmarried in 1733 or '34, by will
leaving to his sister Abigail Grimes, the use of the estate left him by
his father; the same, at her death, to go to her heirs. Hannah Clark's
share of that part of her father's estate included in the Boardman grant
was set on the south side, presumably south of what is now Henry
Street, extending to a little north of the south line as it now is, and
running cast to the river, so as to take in aboiit the south third of the
land now covered by the Fierce-Hardware buildings, and west to about
'•THE LANDING.'
889
the Marsli-l'urkct corner, 011 Cross Street, the south line hcing vaguely
up along the little brook, or, perhaps, the Hill road south of it. In 1709,
Hannah Clark and her luishand sold out their title to this land to .Tacub
Williams, by deed acknowledged in Middlctown before Samuel Hall,
■which deed is in possession of ^Mrs. Shipman. In 1754-, he sold the
north side of this lot, from the Eiver-road west, to Oliver Pomeroy,
who built on the nnrtii iialf of the present "long house," called "'Aunt
Polly Dickinson's." .Vt the time of the sale to Williams, in 1709,
and for a long time after. Ferry Street, had not been opened. There
Avas a barn somewhere a little west of where the Pomeroy house is,
and a lane led from the River-road up to it, along which lane the road
was afterwards made — taking in some of Hannah Clai-k's. Xathan
Smith's and Abigail Grimes' land. Rachel (dau. of Oliver) Pomeroy
married Capt. Edward fjulkeley in 1771, and Pomeroy built ( proI)ably
at that time) the sottth half of "the long house" for the young cotiple.
Abigail Grimes' share, as well as the share of which she had the use
under her brother Xathan's will, extended from the lane mentioned,
north to the Town's "ship-yard reservation" and to the river east. Be-
fore the distrilmtion, and as I judge before 1750, Oliver Pomeroy
had come into possession of the piece on which the house of Henry
L. Hubbard now stands, the site of the old Pomeroy and the .Joseph
Bulkeley stores, aiul which ran from the river-road to the river. Abigail's
and Xathan's west line was about parallel with Cross Street, and
likely ran north of Prospect Street, or Short road. The indications
are that Xathan's and Abigail's shares in the Boardman grant were
not divided up, but kept in connnon. She contimied in use and posses-
sion of this land after the death of her brother. At her decease, 25
March, 1792, the property was distributed by order of the Probate
Court, the distributors being .John Francis and Wait Rol^bins. Her
heirs were John, Josiah and Alex. Grimes, and Mary (nee Grimes),
2d wife of David Webb ; but at the time of the distribution, John and
Josiah Grimes were dead, and (licir heirs took property in the right
of their fathers. To John's heirs was set a piece of land east of the
road and south of the store known as Roderick Grimes' (since burned)
of 25 feet in width, running to the river, "reserved for the tise of the
ferry;" together with ''the privilege of the ferry." Probably, this
same 25 feet had, before the date of this distrilmtion, been attached to
the ferry privilege, either by the Smiths, or by Hez. Grimes, to whom
the Gen. Court had conceded the liberty of keeping a ferry at the
Rocky Hill Landing. This 25 feet width of land is probaldy still a
part of the ferry property ; and, as it is claimed that the ferry privilege
" HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHER.SFIELD
has lapsofl, by virtue of its al)ancli.niiieiit and iiiuler a general statute,
to the Towns of Eoekv Hill and Glast.^r.bury, it may bo considered as
public land, and attached to the ferry. The distribnti..n price of the
ferry privilege and this 25 feet width ..f land running from the road
to the river, was £400— $1.3;i:3.:]:J. A^ the apparatus of the ferry
was merely a sweep— propelled flat boat— with, 'perhaps, a sail, and
one or two skiffs, as auxiliaries, we nuiy c..njecnire the prlvilrr.r and the
25 feet of land as rated at about .$l,0(in. To the .Ti.hu Griu;...," heirs
was also set the land next south of x\\U ferry-v.ay >trip t-. the txrenr uf
102 1/3 feet in width at the west or hi;.'hway end. and ll'l 1 Z feet
width on the ri\-er; the same bein- now the C'-dlins proj-eitv. At rhat
time it held "an old dwelling- house" and. "an old store." the f.;.rmer
about where the present brick house is. though not so near to the' line
of the road ; and "the old store," went, likely, when the store and store-
house and which stood in the northwest comer of the 102 1 3 feet,
abutting on the highway, were burned do\^^l in 1S75. The land and old
buildings were priced at a little over ^'.I'H'i.
To the heirs of Josiah Grimes was -^er ab-nr half an acre <.f land,
triangular in shape, where the railn.ad freight \v>\\iQ and passen^rer
station now s^aTids; on which were the "Loii^ Tavern" — the Jn-iah
Grimes' heirs' dwelling house — the north b..,nid of which was the
Town land— at £11)0. Also, on the river bank east of the road and -.-.imr
to the river, St) feet front and rear, bound north on lieirs of Oliver
Pomeroy, south on land set to Alex. Grimes. Also, a small piece of
hmd, width not given, running from road to river, bounded south on
Pomeroy's lieirs and north on Town hmd: so that the Pomeroy heirs
held a piece between the two pieces set to Josiah Grimes" heirs. The
ifirst of these pieces was put at £133^, the smaller at £15.
Alex. Grimes received a piece of land on the bank of the river SO
feet front and rear, extending from road to river: bounded south on
the 25 feet set to Josiah Grimes' heirs, "for the use of tlie ferry." and
north on the land set to Josiah's heirs — value £140 — siOG.OO.
It will be seen that the SO feet set m Alex. Grimes took in the
land on which is the present Grimes store and the building that st-wd
next north of it, in which James Stanley once traded : and rhat the south
piece set to Josiah, west from the north line of the Stanlev store to
about the south line of the building now occupied br ;Mr. Uuboard. on
which, later, were the Tiradford and the Justus Bulkelv stores.
To Mary (second wife and wid. of David) Webb, was set the lane
from road to river, next south of the parcel set to the heirs of John
Grimes, deceased, 88 2/3 feet wide, next to the river and 73 2/3 feet
OLD STORES.
891
wide at tlie west ami on the road, and lv>nnded south on land of
"Wni. Webb. This was where the Pierc? Hardware shops now arc, or
rather the north two-ihirds of the bnikling, about the south third being
on the north side of the half acre belonging at that time to Capt.
Wm. Webb, to whom it had come from his father David (who had
died, at sea, of small-pox, Oct. 0, 1770), and which had been acquired
from Jacob Williams. My this distribution to the widow ^Mary Webb,
of this part of the Smith property, it became. attached to the Webb strip
of land south and next to it, and thus remained. On the Webb lot
stood the old house that was occupied by Justus Candee, at or previotis
to 1876, and which was burned in September of that year, ak.ng with
the foundry buildings, the front one of which had been built by
Xeff iL- ilerriman for a carriage shop, about li^'-jo.
Abigail Grimes lived to the age of 00, dying in 1702. As. under
the will of her brother, she had only the use of the real estate held from
him, that use ran for SO years and on, into the period of the active
ship-building and commercial business at The Lauding;. In the dis-
tribution of the river-side ]iroperty, on the east side of the road, there
is no mention made of any buildings on the south lot, set to the heirs
of Josiah, or that set to Alexander, 100 feet of point.
There was an old store -and an old house on the lot set
to heirs of John, the house liein- the h'luie of Abigail Grimes
till her death, and of her husband till his death in 1700.
There is also mention af Jcisiah's hduse on the west side
of the road, but not of a store <pn that ]iarcel of land. From this
want of mention of buildings it would seem that tlic stores elsewhere
spoken of in this history, viz. : the trading places of Jrsxrs Bulkeley,
of Wm. Bradfoi!D, of James Staxley and of Asa DemixXt, the two
first on the lot set to the heirs of Josiah Grimes and the two last on the
land set to Alexander (familiarly known as "Daddy") Grimes, were
not in existence in 1702 ; but it is quite certain that they had all been
built long before that time, and all on leased land ; as had also the store
on the west side of the road, at the apex of the triangular piece of land
on which was the old Long Tavern, which had been Josiah's home.
Asa Deming, who traded in the South store on the Alexander lot, in
1702, as I am told, built the house in which John L. Thayer now lives
— a rather costly house for the period, and not likely to be put up until
the builder had amassed some means in trade. This store, though it
stood on the land of Alex. Grimes and his heirs, did not come into the
possession of the Grimes, except as tenants, until several vears after
Mr. Roderick (son of Alexander) Grimes, traded in it. He leased of
y HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Other parties down to alxmt 18:50; the latter part of the time of Ca;;.:.
Jason Eoarclinan. I conchule tliat AVm. Bradford was trading at The
Landing, in what was afterward the Ivlethodist Meetinir-hon^^o. some
years prior to 1792. I am tokl by iLrs. Fanny Camp that he built the
house on Bradford Hill, in 1784; if so, he w-as likely in trade at the
river earlier, although before going into trade, he. had a small sh-r..
as a silversmith, just at the foot of the hill on which he built his house.
and near by the road as it now runs.
After the Bradford store was removed, Roderick Grimes oecupir-J the
strip of land upon which it stood — the strip going to the river— ana
added it to the Alex. Grimes patch that joined it on ihe south: and the
other part of the lot, on which was the Justus Bulk.-lcy ^..re. iias. of
late years, become attached to the Oliver Pomeroy propertv norrJi of i-.
As Oliver Pomeroy l>uilt the north half of the Aunt Pollv Dickins.:.n
house (corner Ferry Street and Bailroad Row), in 17:,i: it is reasonable
to suppose that he was trading at The Landing, at this time, and the
evidence tends to show that he, or some one before him, had Iwusht
the strip of land on which the store stood previous to that tii:ie. ^ I
judge that the Pomeroy store was one of the earliest places of trade
perhaps ihc earliest, with the possible exception of "the old .-Tore"'"
that stood in the corner next soutii of tlio 25-foot ferry way, and wliere.
later, another building was put up. The indications' are that "tlie old
store," considerably antedated 1750; and that Pomerov was in his.
at about that date.
The distribution of the Xathan Smith and Abigail Grimes estates
is of the two in common, and includes not only the land on the river
front, but" the tract on the hillside next north of the shipvard. that
the town, in 1G72, had conceded to James Smith; and there "is nothing
in the distribution indicating ]S''atlian's or Abigairs respective parrs
of the land. As further touching tlie building of the river-side srore
on leased land, it may be stated that, in 1813, when Roderick Grimes
commenced business in the Asa Doming store, it bein^ then and for
some years after, an old looking building, he hired the r/ronnd of his
father Alex., and the hitildinrj of another party. In 15:35. he acquired
of Capt. Jason Boardman, the then owner, the building, but not the
land, until after the death of his aunt Sophronia Grimesin 1S60 she
having held it as a part of her father's estate. Mr. Roderick Grimes
bought the James Stanley store in the same manner, acquiring- the
land afterward; he also bought the land where the Wm. Bradford
store stood, after the removal of the building, in 1S43. Both of these.
OLD STORES.
893
as also the Justus Bulkoley store nortli. were subject for a great many
years to the same sort of double control.
Up to the present time of writing (1SS7), I have not been able to
learn the date of erection, or the names of the builders of any of
the old buildings around The Landing; nor how Jonathan Smith came
into possession of the Boardman grant. Xor can I learn Avhen Oliver
PoirEROY came here. He died in 1776; his wife is thought to have
been a Williams. He was probably succeeded in trade by Joseph (son
of Peter) Bulkeley, who was b. in 1742, and died in ls21, ae. 79.
Joseph's wife was ilary (dau. of Capr. Closes) Williams. He was
succeeded by his sons Henry and Walter Williams, the foi'mer born
in 1793, the latter in 1797. who had conducted the business for some
time before their father's death. Tliey gave up business between 1830-5.
Henry (elsewhere spoken of) married late in life, ^Martha Tucker and
left a large family. Walter W. went south in the winter of 1833-4;
on his rentrn home, the steamer Win. Pcnn, in which he was a passen-
ger, was burned ; and though he escaped, and was cared for in Phila-
delphia, he died from exposure and shock, the same night, ^larch 2,
1834. He owned and occupied for a time the John Williams house
on South Strf^et. He married in 1S30. Lucy (dau. of Levi) Bobbins,
and left two daus. Amelia, who m. Bev. Horace Williams, and Susan,
who m. Hiram H. Webb.
Justus Bulkeley, who traded next south of Joseph Bulkeley, was a
brother of Joseph, born in 1752, and died 1829, ae. 77; married Mabel
Boardman, 17S1, and probably began trade about that time. His second
•wife was the widow of Ackley Bisley (her maiden name Lucretia
Churchill) and his third wife was Mehitable Culver. I think he was
succeeded in trade by Capt. Isaac Goodrich, who seems previously to
have been at the old store that stood just east of the north part of
Oliver Pomeroy's house. Goodrich died in 1831, ae. 68.
I suppose Wit. I]]:ai>foi;u to have lieen the first to trade in the store
which he occupied, but possibly not. He came to Rocky Hill from
Glastonbury, bitt was originally (we think) from East Haddam or
Haddam. His wife was a Lewis from Haddam. He was born in 1758,
began trade here probably sometime after the Bevolutionary War and
died in 1823, ae. G5. Archibald Bobbins probably succeeded him in
trade for a time.
Another importation into Eocky Hill was Jaiies Stanley, who died
in 1816, ae. 69, which would make him born about 1747. He com-
menced business here a little before Bradford; though he was not so
much in the retail line as the latter. He seems to have been more of
894
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHER.SF1ZLD.
an importer, or wholesale merchant in the West India trade, and
heavy dry goods. He married Sarah Butler in 1773. After his
going out of husiness, the store become a sti're house and packing place
for the larger part of the agricultural products exported from Rocky
Hill; and continued to be used as such up to ab<:iut 1S75, by Roderick
Grimes, and later by Horace Warner of Wt-therstield, Jason A. Rob-
bins and others.
When the next store south was erected, '.ve d'l not know. It was
a much older looking building ( IS:}.";-;^!"!) than it n>.w is: and may
have been in service before either the Eradf'.rd or Sr-.inley stores. It
was occupied by Asa Dk.mixg, a merchanr of the I'^-OO. and earlier
period. Roderick Grimes went into trade in this store in ISi:), and
continued there until IS')!), just before his death: having with him.
from 1S4;)-4S, his son ^larshall in partnership.
The "old store" in which Jlstl's Roekixs traded, next south to
the strip to the ferry-way, may have been used, ff>r snme sort of trade,
by Ilezekiah Grimes, but we cannot !«? certain. Justus Robbins
married Clariiula (dan. of Gen. Jaliez) Huntington, in 1790; and
was probably trading here bcf(ire and fur some years after. He failed
in business and v.as tdlluwcd, fur a time, bv liis son-in-law, EnMrxn
BuLKELEY, who luarricil his dau. Xaiicv in I'^ll.. After him came
AniJAit (son of Abijah) Coi.i.ixs, who was liaptized 1770, and mar-
ried Polly Warner in IS 12. He replaced the "old store'' with a new
building; and much later moved liis business into the north front
room of his brick building. He d. 24- April, lSo2. and with him went
down another of the water-side ])laces of trade. For a short time from
1842 on, ^Ir. C. had as a jjartner, ilr. Albert L. Warner, who subse-
quently went to iliddletowu.
The earliest occupant who traded in the store which stood just
north of the present railroad passenger station, of whom we have knowl-
edge, was Wii. (son of Elias) Wii.i.iams, who had his dwelling on
*^he corner of South Street and the Dividend Road, a place given him
by his father. He died in 1S;31, ae. 7;>. We think that his son Wait
Williams had taken the business before the ileath of the father. Wait
married Sarrdi Williams in 178.">, and dying at Xew Orleans, 27 Dec,
1829, in his 44th year, was succeeded in liusiness by Mr. Rf.vilo
CiiAP.MAX. Dr. Daniel Fuller occupied a pan of the store for a retail
drugstore there for many years up to l'^40. or therealxiuts, and ilr.
Chapman continued the trade in a small vray until his death in 1816;
Wait Williams married Sally Dimock in ISIS. John Lockwood went
into business in the Williams store with Chapman about 1SS7, and
OLD STORES AND BUSINESS PLACES. '-'yD
were there lone; cnoiigli (a few months only) to see Chapman cleaned
out and ruined.
Mrs. Margaret Jagger and ^Mrs. ^Mary Anne Shipman think that
a clerk, named Foster, at ime time kept store at The Landing, in a
store whicli stood upon the ^lary "Wehb property, north of the old
Candee house, and tliat the building afterwards became a barn in the
rear of that house.
Pease and Xiles' Gazetccr, publi-hed 1S19, says as to Wethersticld :
"The Town has 5 distilleries; 4 tanneries: 3 grain mills; 2 sawmills;
3 fulling mills; 2 carding machines: 15 mercantile stores and 1 rope
walk." Of these, as herein noted, 1 dhtillcrij was in Eocky Hill,
south of The Landing; we have no trace of any other. Of the 4 tan-
neries, 2 were here, Eliakim Smith's and Merriam Williams'. 2 of
the 3 grain mills were here, at Dividend, and by the IX milestone. One
of the sawmills mentioned was in Rocky Kill, likely at the east end
and below Xew Farms Street, of Ashbel and Leonard Eelden. One
fulling mill was in the same neighborhood and one carding machine.
The rope ivalh (elsewhere mentioned) was at this end of the town. Of
the 15 mercantile stores, I think S or 9, or more, were in Stepney — two
or three at The Lauding (as described), perhaps two, at the Centre
Corners. The majority were here, because, at that period Wetherstleld
had no good landing place — and there was an excellent one here; so,
the bulk of couunerce coming here, the "mercantile stores" followed
suit.
It has been a frequent remark among the residents of the river-side,
for the last 50 years, that the refusal of the Grimes family to part with
any of the land on the north two-thirds of the Eoardman grant, during
the period from 1775 to 1825, kept Rocky Hill from being the place
of importance which it would have l)een, had a more liberal policy been
followed. It is alleged that outside parties, convinced of the great
advantages for conunercial business, endeavored in vain to purchase
land here whereon to estaldish themselves ; but that the owners, scent-
ing increased value of their lands in the future, would not sell — and so
the opportunity passed. This may be so — it has been so in other places;
but, from what has been said, it is probable that the long life-lease in-
terest of Aunt Abigail, in the property which came from her grand-
father Jonathan and Uncle Xathan, may have been a more potent
factor in the case. Of course, a co-ojieration of the parties in interest,
calling for an order from the Probate Court, might have removed
that bar and admitted enterprise from without. But from wha.t
we have heard, from talk handed down in the family and connuunity,
"V'-' HISTORY OF ANX'IENT WETHERSFIELD.
we judge tlvat mothers and suns, and some of tlie grandchildren, having
"great expectations," were opposed to the sale — and thus the possible
future growth and glory of the water-side at Stepney, vanished for-
ever, like the fog in the morning.
Having thus discussed the Old Stores and other antiquities of
The Landing at Stepney, we proceed to consider its broader com-
mercial aspect. For though there Avere landing places and Avarehouses
at the north end of the Town (present Wcthersfield) yet Stepney's
natural advantages seem to have rendered her naturally the "port" of
the Township.
The Ship-Yard Reservation. — With a keen appreciation of these
advantages, and an early prescience of the biisincss which might be
done here at some future time, the early Wethersfield colonists, in
December, 1G72, while the town was yet but little more than a wilder-
ness, reserved 5 acres of land at the Ixiverside for a Public Landing, and
provided that it might also be used for a shipyard. This 5 acres abutted
on the river and extended up the hill on the northeast side of the present
north road to the landing (Prospect Street), coming to a point on the
road just above the small gambrel-roofcd house where Jos. Shelly now
lives, once occupied by Allen TJolden. Tliis hcure, the "old sail loft"
house, the small house opposite the Pclinda Goodrich place, the Isaac
Belden place next, and the Geo. E. Beldeu house, all stand upon this
shipyard reservation. The southerh' boundai'v is uncertain, but goes to
the river a few feet south of the old sail-loft building. At the same time,
the Town gave 20 acres of land to Joseph Smith, next north, including
the present orchard of Jason A. Kobbins and coming up about where
Edward Flint now lives and taking in the Mrs. Chas. G. Beaumont
house, and bounded northwest on what became the Ames lot. The
condition attached to Smith's grant was that he should maintain a gate
and a fence between himself and the shipyard land. The Smith grant
at its river east-half lay behind the reservation. From about where
the E. S. Belden house now is, a road ran across the yard reservation
north, and was extended up along the east knee of the Pocky Hill,
through what are now old pastures nearly to the northern end of the
hill. "^
The road was abandoned nearly, or more than 100 years ago and
another made at the foot of the hill long before the hillside road went
out of use — the ^leadow road. In a distribution of property from the
estates of Xathan Smith and Abigail Grimes, a piece of land set
to Alex. Grimes, in 1702, is described as "bounded west on a highway
* * * and south on the terris [terrace] land." This must have been
SHIP BUILDING.
897
a part of the Joseph Smith concession, lying behind the shipyard
lot, and the bounding of "west on highway" indicates that the old first
raod was still a road (though it might not have been in use, as such)
at that date, which was 142 years after it was first opened.
There appears to have been some connection between the '"Shipyard
Reservation" and the "gate and fence"' that Smith was to maintain
between his own and the shipyard laud, the covenant between him and
the Town being that he should support the fence. An hundred and
twenty-five j'ears after this grant to Smith, Xlex. Grimes ( "Uncle
Aleck") father of Roderick and grandfather of Mary -Vnn Shipman
(now living) who was descended from Joseph Smith on the maternal
line and to whom had come (through Xathan Smith and his sister
Abigail Grimes) a portion of this 20 acre grant, had a legal controversy
with the Town about its pruprietorship. It may reasouaUy be taken
for granted that the fence in question had been abandoned: but Mr.
Grimes successfully resisted the claim of the To^vn that the grant had
been forfeited. Cut out of this controversy and the sifting of the
questions involved, the succeeding generation obtained the impression
that the original Smith grant was really a part of the "Shipyard Reser-
vation."
Ship Building. — It is uncertain as to when this first Wgan in this
yard, but it was probably not for many years after the date of reser^-a-
tion, though there may have been a little done there as early as 1700.
At the time of the reservation, and for a hundred years after, the
river at that point came in very much nearer to the foot of the hill north
of the ferry landing, and nearly up to the meadow as it is now. In
later years, portions of this ship land were disposed of by the Town
to various persons and were built upon ; until finally, after the con-
struction of the railroad tlirough it, in 1S71. the small remainder was
converted into the Water-Sidc-lIill Park, and fenced.
We judge, that, by 1750, ship building was quite brisk in the yard
north of the landing, and, by 1770, it had increased, and during the
Revolutionary AYar increased in importance still more. About 1797,
Mr. John Williams began building in a yard at the mouth of Hog
Brook, on the sotith side. We conjecture that there might also have been
some vessels built on the north side of the brook, where the yard of
the Messrs. Belden now is ; but, the only evidence of/ this is that in
digging there for the present yard, the soil has furnished some indica-
tions of a former occupancy for the same purposes. Seventy-five years
ago and later, the present ship yard was a fine onion garden. The ship
building industry began to decay about 1S20.
oyo HISTORY OK ANXIEST WETHEKSKIELD.
As having some connection wirli ship buildinii', we may here n^itc that
about 1800, 'Mr. Elislm Callender engaged in sail making at The
Landing, and carried ou an extensive business in the hirge buih.ling on
the vest side of the road at the turn to the Ferry — property more
recently known as the Sylvester "Wliitcomb place. Mr. Chas. Williams
advances the idea (quite jirobaljle i that ^Ir. P^lisha Callondcr's father
(also named Elisha), who d. here in ISlC), ae. 7U, and who married
Sarah Crane, was a sail-maker at the same ])lace before the TJevolution-
ary War. Upon the hill, where E. S. Beldcu's present residence is,
there was a rope wall', which was laid out on the line of the old road
before mentioned, and extended north for a fourth of a mile, and was
covered in for half that distance. It probably dated from ISOO, per-
haps was established by Jonathan Bill; Samuel Bill ran it in iSOO,
and for some years. Later it was operated by Abner or James Church,
and finally by John Chauncey, and was abandoned al)out ISii."). An
Olmsted, who married Bill's daughter was also in the iiusincss; the
store, storehouse and office (all one building) connected wirli the rope
walk, was converted into a dwelling house and used as such until
E. S. Bclden built his own home, in 1S74, when it was moved to the
rear of his residence, and is now used as a barn. The Isaac Bclden
house, next east, belonged at one time, it is said, to the rope-walk
property.
At the period of whicli we are speaking, and in connection with the
ship building, Joseph Xeff, we are told, in ISOS, carried on this busi-
ness of pump and hloclc making; and Samuei, (father of Chas. E.)
Butler also made pum^is and blocks and ship's spars, or masts, for
the vessels built here. This work was done near The Landing, in the
rear of where the hardware front-building now is — but all went down,
when ship building declined. Ei,isua C'Ai.EExnEn, Sen., manufactured
sails in the Old Sail Loft.
Elsewhere, we have given the names of some citizens of this town,
who were engaged in ship building during the last quarter of the
18th and the first quarter of the lOth century. There were more
living Avithin the remembrance of our now oldest townsman ; and
it is through these channels of information, that we know there was
a still older class of ship biiilders and seafaring men — and that the
business of building ships was carried on by a generation, or two genera-
tions of men, older than those mentioned.
Capt. GiDEON^ GooDEicii, who died in 17G9, ae. 72; his brother
Oliver, Sen., who died in 17S0, ae. 66; Capt. John Boardmax, who
was lost at sea, 17S0 ; Capt. Jacob Williams, who lived at The Land-
SHIP BUILDING.
899
ing in IToO, and Ix-foro, dying in 1751, ae. 62 ; Capt. Moses WrLLiAiis,
who died in ISIO, ae. SI; Capt. Icuaeod Goodrich, contemporary
with Capt. Wm. Griswold: Capt. Wait Waexer, the same, or older;
Capt. EpitJi. GooDKicii, dying in 1769. ae. 72 ; Capt. Johx Waexer,
here in 1750; Capt. Joux AVells, also died 1760; Capt. David Wells,
who died 1770; Capt. Joxaii Bctlek, Sen., of the same period: Capts.
Edward, Stepiiex and Prkscott Eclkeley, of the same genera-
tion as David Wekb. but living longer; Capt. Geeshoii Xott. who
was running a brig here in 1735, and who died in 1772; and others,
of some of whom no record can l>e found, and whom even tradition
has forgotten, were sailing from here; and it is quite certain that
they commanded vessels built here and were owaiers or part owners
in them ; and that these vessels were either built on their own account,
or built for their command, by other parties i-esident here. It was
a very usual thing for a captain to have an ownership in the vessel
he commanded either in the coasting, or the West India trade. He
frequently o^vned the whole, or a part of the cargo. Of course these
crafts were small, many not over 50 tons, and many less than that. The
oldest of these Rocky Hill seamen of whom we have evidence is Capt.
Jacob Wtttt\ms, Iwrn in 1689, who was probably sailing out of
Conn. River in the first quarter of the 1700*3: — theuee on until about
1750. There were also, at this time, sea captains residing in Weth.
whose craft must have loaded at Ry-II., wharves. Johx Ailex was
nmning a vessel from Weth. in 1721 ; Capt. Cai.eb Griswold, who died
1754, ae. 49; Capt. Cr.vfts Wright, dying in 1766, ae. 40: Xich.
ATR.A.CLT, dying in 1775, at age of 70. Elisiia WiLi-iAiis owned
vessels in trade from here in 173S ; Joiix Eulkelet was master of a
vessel in 176S and .Joseph Smith in 1772 — thus proving that shij)-
building A\as going on here from very early in the I700's and all along
down the century.
Probably the larger part of the vessels we have named were launched
either from the old To^mi Ship- Yard, established 1672, at Stepney: or
from John Williams* Yard at Hog Brook. But, with the exception of
the comparatively few built at the latter place, and perhaps three or
four from the yard at Dividend, and two built quite aua'j from the
River, it may safely be asserted that the "Old Ship Yard'* was the
cradle of ship construction all down the years. So far as we know,
this portion of the water-front was open for use to ani/ town-resident.
How its occupancy was adjusted between the various ship-builders,
we know not; but doubtless it was by some well understood regulation
of comity: and it would be fair to suppose that the Town granted to
900
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD
■certain parties tlio privilege of occnipvinu' (?ertain 5pecitie<l portions for
■definite longtlis of time. At launcliings, in the olden times, it was
■customary for all the men employed in the yard, by ditferent employers,
to turn out and assist — with, of course, the usual following of a supper
and full rations of Jamaica Rum.
Ship building, in these days (17o()-lS20) was somewhat different
from what it now is. The raw material was nearly all worked out at the
yard. There were then no appliances for bending timbers by steam —
]ogs were sawed up, in the yard, by hand (^cross<nU sawing. — one man in
a pit made for the purpose, and another on the ground, above the pit),
when a log was to cut lengthwise for planking: l»lts, spikes, and
nearly all the nails used were made in the near-by smithies: pins were
shaped with a broad-axe. All this involved a greater amount of labor
than would be called for now-a-days. for a like vessel ; and it is evident
that tlie Rocky Ilill ship yard of that day must have employed a large
force of workmen.
Mr. Charles Williams relates, " I remember, at one time, (about 1814)
of six vessels being on the stocks, at the yard above The Landing, and
two below the mouth of the Brook. There must have l>een 100 (proba-
bly more) built in Tly-IL, from 1750, or a little earlier, to lS2o. Of
their names, I recall the very large sloop, the Rohhins. owned by Capt.
Wait Itobbins, of So. Weth. (then in Stepney parish). The largest sloop
I ever saw, was the Julia, owned by Capt. Jason Boardman, who also
owned tlie schr. Blchmond, packet and others. Those vessels were gen-
erally painted black, with a single streak of white on the gunwale. The
last vessels built in the Xorth Yard, which I remem1>er, were the schr.
Marshall for Roderick and Richard Grimes, and the schr. Enrrriy for
H. and W. W. Eulkoley. ilany vessels were built here for Hartford
owners. My father built probably 25 or 30 in all. In 1707. he built the
schr. Sally; in ISOl the schr. Vicforij; in l'^07, the schrs. Friendship
and Nancy; in 1808, the sloop Mrrino, which vessel was captured by the
British in 1812 off Saybrook and burned at Xew London. Between
1808 and 1813, he lost five vessels with their cargoes. He built a second
schooner, named the Sally, after his second wife, which was capsized
12 hours out of Saybrook, off ]\Iontauk Point and lost, with her cargo of
18 horses, 8 head of cattle, hay cic, — bound to Bermuda.
"The sloops Charles, Pararjoii. Jarl- and an earlier Sally, and the
schr. Hajinah were also of his building. One of them was built in
{he highway, directly opposite the later residence of Samuel (gd-father
of Dea. J. G.) Dimock, who lived at the Ackley Williams' place — being
master-workman. It wag intended that it should be taken when finished
SHIP BUILDING. 9^ ^
(as was expected, in early winter) (iu runners to the liiver; but not be-
ing coiuplcted in time for that, it was placed on wheels made especially
for the purpose, nearly 4 ft. in diameter, the holes for the axles being
about 10 in. in diameter, and it took some fifty men and sixty
yoke of o.xen (and a half barrel of St. Croix rum) when it
became necessary occasionally to lift the wheels out of the mud — to get
her to the River ! The last vessel cif my father's building, was put up in
the yard between his house and barn — and was drawn across lots in the
winter of 1817-lS, on runners. It was a 40-ton slqop, called the
Independence."
In 1873, Se.vbury Beldex and his son, Eugene, bought the Ship-Yard
property near the mouth of Hog Brook, together with some adjoining
properties, and began ship-building, north of the brook, tlnis reviving a
business that had been defunct for over 40 years. The senior member
of the firm had originally carried on ship-building in ^liild., and at
Dutch Point, Hartford, for many years before locating at Ky-H. The
firm has builded at this latter place, between ISGi) and 1891, 7 schooners,
12 barges and one yacht-sloop — or a total of 20 vessels — varying from
7.58 to 460.35 tonnage, of which we have all the details but — not the
space — to publish, ilr. H. A. Grant was, aboiit 1870, a partner for a
short time, in this firm.
About 1802, a ^Ir. SirAii.ER from Iladdam, began the building of
small craft at Dividend — which continued for a few j-ears.
Many incidents of misfortune in the sea-faring lives of residents of
the town have come dciwn to us. From ^lay 7 to Aug. 17,1782, of
22 American seamen taken on tlic brigantine Gen. Greene (believed
to have belonged here) by the British ships patroling Long Island
Sound, there died at Xew York .Tames "SMiite, Daniel Marsh, Burrage
Bulkeley, "\Vm. !Mcldrum, Hezekiah Blinn and his son Jerah, Wm.
Curtis, Benj. "Wright, John Burns, and at Saybrook on his return home,
John Price. These were Boeky Hill men. Poger Price, a prisoner to
the English, died at Jamaica in 1782. Coming down later we have as
an item the tradition that in one season, (about 1812) twenty-two men
were counted up from the place as having perished at sea. This must
have been an uncommonly fateful year for the sailors from here ; but
there were frequent cases of men going hither and losing their lives on
the water or by fever contracted at the ports visited. Vessels went out
and in some instances were never licard from. This traditional loss of
twenty-two men in one season from so small a place indicates something
of the numbers engaged in seafaring life from the parish, and of the
business in that direction.
9^2 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
From 1780 to 1S20 there was probably an average of twenty vessels
owTied at Stepney and in Weth. proper — sailing mostly from the former
place to Cnba, Porto Rico,. Jamaica, St. Croix, the Barbadoes, Antigua,
Eermnda, the Canaries and to ports in Western Europe, and all the sea-
coast places in the States. During the Napoleonic Mars the island of St.
Bartholomew was a frequent resort for these vessels ; as, being a Swedish
territory, it offered a neutral port for legal trade; and for sometime
after the Xon-intercourse Act, it was the only West Indies port to which
American vessels could trade. After the Peace of 1783 there was an
improvement in the carrying-trade. Prom 17U7-1801, during the
Adams' administration, the trouble between France and, the U. S. in-
terfered much with American commerce. French privateers from
Guadeloupe and [Martinique captured many American vessels — some of
■u-hich were from Stepiu\v, aiul other Conn. liiver towns. The owners
of these vessels were nex'er reimbursed for losses, although the French
Government, in the sale of the Louisiana country, s])ccifieally made
reparation to our Government, as intended payment for the captured
vessels — the ''French Spoliation Act'' of which we occasionally hear,
when a spasm of virtuous honesty comes over the powers that be.
The vessels employed here as elsewhere at the Conn P.iver towns were
often called "horse jockeys" presumably, because they so frequently car-
ried out cargoes of horses for trade. They were well Iniilt and strong,
though rather slow sailors; with low decks, high waist and not as sharp in
the bows as is now the style. But, they were generally good sea-boats,
varying from oO to 200 tons. The larger ones wei'e either two-topsail
schooners, or full rigged brigs ; the smaller were generally sloop-rigged,
having one stout, and not very high mast, but carrying a very large
standing topsail and a big main-sail. They made two, sometimes (though
rarely) three voyages a year to the W. I. ; had often to lay long in port
to pick up a cargo, and trade off the produce carried out. Often the
boats were sent a long distance along the coast, or inland, to gather u])
molasses, sugar and ruin from the large estates ; and it was on these
coast trips that the crew often contracted fevers of which they died.
From. 20 up to GO head of horses, or cattle, were shipped, also pigs, sheep
and large amounts of jmultry. Five hundred pounds of hay, 10 bushels
of oats, 110 gallons of water, was the usual allowance for each head of
horse or cattle. The boys of the village would sometimes consign a
coop-ful of hens, as their first venture, Officers, or part OMTiers, and
members of the crew often had small ventures.^ The supercargoes were
' Some idea of the extent to which the people of Wetliersfield were interested
in these maritime industries and interests, may be gained from the following
SHIP BUILDINO. 903
yomig men of the town. There were al.so voyages to Spain, Portugal,
and occasionally to the west coast of Africa, -whence they hrought home
ivory, ebony, etc., — and, no doubt, occasionally, they lapsed into the
carrying of a cargo of negroes. As, uj) to 1812, the U. S. was a neutral
country its vessels could enter largely into the carrying trade for those
rations that were at war. The W. T. planters needed large supplies;
the English needed large amounts of beef, flour, etc., for their naval
forces at sea and troojis in garrison in tlu>ir island possessions; and much
of all this went out from Xew England ports — in all of which Stepney
had its share.
It would be diffioidt for the resident of the prescnt"Kocky Hill village,
to realize what a scene f)f bustling activity old Stepney Landing pre-
seuted during the period (17")'^ to al)0ut 1820) of its commercial pros-
perity. There were tlii'ii eight or nine stores al)out the landing, whose
owners were owners of the vessels being built in the adjoining ship-yard,
or taking on goods, or unloading at the docks. These stores all dealt in
so-called West India gocids ( rum, l)randy, wines, sugars, teas, molasses,
salt, sea-coal, etc.) and in "domestics" — all imported dii'ectly, and
all did a fair trade. Among their (\\porrs were horses, cattle, hogs,
hay, hoo]>iiolcs, barrel-staves, salted beef, ])ork aiid fish, potatoes, onions,
etc., — and sometimes (for ballast) brick. Often these exports were
shipped by first owners and sent "on venture;"' at other times, these
dealei's at The l>anding bought of the farmers, and shipped at their own
risk.
During the period of which we ha\e been speaking it was the genei-al
custom, when vessels left for sea, to have prayers put up in the church
items taken from the Lister's or Assessor's Books of the To«ti of Wethersfield for
the years. 1730. 1732 '33 and '34 — of those wlio paid taxes upon their investments
in shipping viz. In Old Hi>rn-tij (Wethersfield [)roper).
Ayriiidt, Peter, 1-lG of a sloop 1734; Nicholas, "10 tons of sloop"; 1733-34, and in
1737, they were owners of a sloop: Bvldcn, Thos. 1730, 14 P-irt ot sloop, in 1733, %,
the Beldens all had <a turn for this kind of investment — in 1736 Jonatimn and
Silas had 9 tons each. Tlios. V^ of a 60 ton sloop, Ehenezer 1-lG of a 05 ton sloop
and also 1-6 to 1-2 ICtli part of a 70 ton sloop; Tlonrdman, David, 1737, part owner
of 2 sloops, Timothy. 173(j, had 8 tons in a sloop; B idler Samuel, "•) tons of a sloop,"
1737; Coleman. .John, 4 1-2 tons of "slope"; John, .Jr., in 1736, owned "1-8 of a
sloop of SO tons"; frauds, John, 1736, 1-8 of sloop of 70 tons; 1736, Goodwin.
Thomas, 4 1-4 sloop of oO, and 1-8 of sloop of 80 tons, in 1737, an 18th part of a
"scooner" of 90 ton, and 1-4 of sloop of 50 tons; Orisvcold, Elisha, 1737 — a 17tli
part of sloop. Diamond, in 1736, 1-16 of sloop; same year Caleb G., ditto; Josiah
part owner, 1737 of 2 sloops, and 1730 he and Jacob G. owned 3-16 of a sloop; yott,
John, 1736 — 18 tons in sloop: Hose. Sgt. .John, 1736, "o toons of a sloop'': Ephraim
Williams, 1737, 8 "part of a sloop of 70 tons". ^Vells, Gideon, 9 tons in a vessel,
1737; 1730, Xath'l StiUmun and Samuel Wriijht, Jr., each "part of a sloop." H. R. S.
904 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
for their safe return; aiifl, vice versa, the congregation was asked to offer
thanks when they returnefl, for their safe deliverance from the perils of
the deep. Capt. Joseph Butler always had this done on his departure
to, or arrivals from, the West Indies. One of ^Ir. Williams' stories is
connected with this custom, viz. One John Gihhs, owning and living at
the Horace Williams' (late Albro Griswold) place was a strict observer
of times and seasons — in a religious sense. His Sunday began at sun-
set of Saturday, his cows were all milked and the "chores'' all done lie-
fore that hour; and, contrariwise, the cows were not brought up from
the pasture on Sabbath, until after sundown. This keeping Saturday
night , as a part of the holy day, was then common among all religious
people; and Mr. G. was nothing if not religious. So, when, iiaving
buried his wife about the middle of one week, he went to Salisbury on
the succeeding ]\Ionday, brought back a new wife on Saturday (before
sun-down), and with a broad crape on his hat and his bride in deep
mourning, appeared in church on Sabbath morning, the matter caused
some comment; and some wag stuck up, in the church porch (and
directly below one of Ca])t. Butler's requests) a similar notice that
"Mr. John Gibbs requests that the thanks of the church should be offered,
for his safe return from Salisbury" — to the great amusement of the com-
munity.
Home-Trade and Business. — Besides its coasting and foreign com-
merce, Rocky Hill had (before the construction of the X. H. i: Xorth-
hampton Canal, in 1S22) a very considerable retail home-trade, on the
East from the towns across the River, and on the West with Xewington,
Weth. proper, Berlin and Xew Britain. At one time Farmington
merchants owned three vessels that traded regularly from Ry.-H. Of
course, the export of live stock expired with the decay of shipping
from this port ; but the potato, onion and apple-trade in the autumn
continued largely, either by water or the railroad until about 1S70,
since which it has become nearly nil. The growth of Hartford's popula-
tion, as also of the cities of Xew Britain and Moriden have supplied
nearer and better markets for agricultural produce.
During the period from the beginning of the Revolutionary War to
1825 or '30, a large number of Ry.-H's. young men — in common with
many of the sea-bordered Xew England States, took up the seafaring
life. Manufacture as now conducted in America, was then unborn ;
agi'iculture did not absorb the energies of an increasing population ; and
not until after the close of the War of 1S12, were the States so divorced
from the Old Country as to take up manufacturing to any degree ; so
that the sea offered the only outlet to the young men of the day. So it
GOING SOUTH. 905
happoncfl, that, from ISOO, the Academy in this town instructed yoimg
men in the science of Xavigation ; while craft leaving the River atTorded
them the opportunity of practical training. Eocky Hill then had its
full quota of good sea-captains and ahle seamen — since about 40 per cent,
of its male inhabitants, between the ages of 10 and 00, were engaged in
seafaring service, or ventures. There was, however, another class of
young men adventurers, who, as young men will, in every generation,
sought abroad the opportunities fiir the exercise of their abilities, which
are denied them by the narrow limits of their birthplaces. To those, the
Southern States offered large inducements.
Going South. — All along the years, from about 17S0 to 1S35, a
goodly number of young men from the southern parts of Xew England
"went South" into the Southern States — some to settle there ])erma-
nently, either in trade or in mechanical pursuits; some as peddlers of
Xorthern manufactured goods; others, again, as workmen at their trades,
for the winter months. Tin and pewter goods were largely exported
and sold in the South ; later, Connecticut-made clocks and wagons were
in great demand there. It was a common thing to go out every Autumn
and return in the Spring; the trip forth and back being made by water.
Stepney contributed its full share of these (mostly) yoting men, as me-
chanics, peddlers and tradesmen of various sorts, direct from The
Landing; or, sometimes in vessels from Alidd. or Xew London, Xew
Haven or Xew York ; — on their return taking the first vessel sailing to
any of these points. The voyage to Charleston or Savannah averaged
about ten days, sometimes less, but oftener more. Extracts from a col-
lection of old letters in possession of Elizabeth ]\L and Sarah G. Wil-
liams, grandchildren of Thonnis Danforth, manufacturer of pewter
goods, at Stepney, furnishes us with the following items concerning this
annual Northern invasion of the South. They are mostly written by
Thomas Danforth, Jr., who was a pewterer by trade, probably having
learned it in his fathers shop.
One of his letters, dated at Philadelphia, Jan. 1st, 1?07, speaks of
"going to the play,'' at the cost of "fotir and sixpence ;"' the plays which
he heard and saw being "Hints and Husbands"' and '"TLobin Hood,"' and
he says "the house was crowded." Also, "we have begun turning pewter
and have completed over 5000 weight. I have made a considerable
many spoons, and think I can tiim plates almost as well as Emory."
This letter was to his sister, iliss Betsy Danforth. April 21, 1S09,
young Danforth has just returned from Philadelphia, having come
via Xew Haven, and by stage, home. His father is in Philadelphia,
and the son writes to him "I shall pack up the tin and tools on iLmday,
9o6
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSFIELD.
I think presumably to go to Pliila., as Cnpt. Oliver Goodrich has '^ni a
vessel going next week to jSTgw York."
Jan. ,31, ISll, Betsy Danforth, writing from home to her father in
Philadelphia, says, "respecting lead-work, it is thought if you are l.ere
the first of April, you will have it all to do. :\[r. Jason Eobbins say- he
shall depend upon you to do his. " * * Thomas Boardman writes
he has ]ilenty of work." This Boardman, who probably learned his rr.ide
with Thomas Danforth, was later of the firm of Thos. Danforth and S.
Boardman for many years in business in Hartford, and later of Euard-
man and Hart, in Xcw York. ]\[arch li', ISll, Thomas Danforth. Jr..
being still in Philadeljiliia, writes to his father in Stepney "I cast 40
doz. comp. [osition '^J plates yesterday, and trips, and turned them -.ut-
side to-day." June, 1812. T. Danforth is in Phila.. working for a ^h:
Earns, and with him was ]\lr. ^'ott, of Stepney. War with England was
imminent, and he writes, '•There were about JOO or .100 soldiers passed
through this town yesterday, going on to Albany. They had about I'O
cannon, drawn by 4- hoi-ses each, with two riders, and four large bau^-age
waggons, with five horses to each. This looks like War." -^S'ov. 27, 1^1^,
young Danforth is in Augusta, Geo,, working for Xorth & Rowc in a
new shop, built "since I left home last Spring, e-^pe'^ially for pewter and
tin business. Peddlers are doing extraordinarily well. Xorth ci- R-we
had one come in that was gone three weeks and brought them in $li'oO
in cash. Giles Griswold is setting the pe\rter i)usiness agoing by h^.r-e
power." Generally the "■power" used in turning for pewter work was a
stout man — at the South, a negro, ^[arch S, I^IS, from Augusta, Ga..
he says "Adna llowe arrived here last week, unly 23 days, from Xevv-
York, by land, in a two-horse wagon." Samuel Danforth and his -..n
John, are spoken of as being ''in Atigusta. the fonner drinking t.xi
freely." "Griswold wants to engage Danforth for the next winter." and
the latter thiid<s he "can make as much as $S5 a month, clear of all ex-
pense." "Peddlers, who take out nothing but jiewter and tin, clear ■•?''0
to $70 a month." Xov. 0, 181 S, Danforth has just arrived at Savannah.
eleven days from Xcw London and Ikjiuo, up river, to Augttsta. "If v.ju
see Justus Eobbins, tell him oni<jns are 12tI cts. at this time [per bunch] :
potatoes,, G2-J cts, per bushel ; cheese 121 ; butter, a good price." This was
inducement to Robbins to send out a cargo fnnn Rockv Hill. Dec. I'.i.
1819, from Augtista again, in regard to peddling, "Those who get licenses
for the year to come will have to pay for each cnuntv $000." This evi-
dently was some new legislation. "The widow Holmes' ^on called to see
me ; he tells me he gets $3 to $4 a day, caulking boats. Isaac Xorton and
a IMr. Hooker work in the shop with me." March, 1S20, "Mr. Dim<x-k
THOMAS DANFORTH.
907
(proli. from Stepney) calls to see me most every week." May 7, 1S20,
"the peddlers are all leaving lis, and the tinners from the other shops
have all gone home." Xov. 10. 1S20, ^Ir. D. is at Sayhrook, bound
South again, "We go to sea as soon as the tide serves us [to get over the
bar] which will be about 11 o'clock this day." Xov. 10, Savannah,
"arrived here last Thursday night, after passage of only five days from
Sayhrook; there were 34 passengers, most of them ladies, nearly all
sea-sick all the way. I found Mr. Geo. Bradford here, who is to start
for Augusta in the next stage." Dec. 3, 1S20, Augusta, "if you see
Thomas D. Boardman, inform him that Giles Griswold has had his
note protested at the bank and has put everything out of his hands."
These extracts from the letters passing between these young Rocky Hill
men of that day, and their home friends, show something of their lives
and occupations, and illustrate the fact that skilled Xew England work-
men in many crafts wei"e in demand all over the Southern States ; and
that this neighborhood sent its share to supply the want.
Daxfoetii. Thomas.— Among the principal business men of Stepney,
in the last quarter of the last century, was Thomas Danforth, who came
here from ilidd., in 177S, and had a store on the X.E. corner of "the
Centre." H^ c^n^inued in trade here until ISIS, either himself or by
his son Thomas, Jr., and died in 1S40, aged 84 years. His old accounts
(in possession of ^Misses E. AV. and S. G. Williams') show that he dealt
in almost every conceivable article of hardware then kno^\•n, besides
most kinds of goods and wares then usually found in coimtry stoi'es. He
also manufactured all sorts of tin, brittania, pewter and japanned goods,
as well as those of copper, brass and lead. He had a brother in Hart-
ford, and another in !Midd., both engaged in the same line of manu-
facturing and trading; and TJocky Hill was a soit of "half-way house"
for the three. He sent out many peddlars with his goods and his
accounts show a large I'etail business with people from Weth., Xew-
ington, Berlin, Xew Britain, Famnington, Glastonbury, ^Marlborough,
Colchester, and other towns. He also had a pewtering and japanning
shop in Philadelphia, where he frequently spent his winters. From
1794 for some years on, his son-in-law, Richard Williams, was in
business with him. The stamp of T. D. on goods made by Danforth was
a guarantee of good reliable manufacture at all points wherever they
were found. It is worth noting, as showing the housekeeping customs
of the ISOO period, that Mr. D's. accounts contain frequent sales of
sand to the villa'ge people. This was for sanding the tloors of the family
sitting and other rooms. Carpets were not then in general use, and fine,
white, imported sand was used to sprinkle over the lloors, as it took up
9o8
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
all sorts of dirt and dust. Tt was left on the floor for some days, then
swept out and a new sprinkling put on. It was especially thus used in
bar-roins, stores, harher-shops, etc. This use of sand continued until
within the remembrance of some now living — indeed, to a limited
extent,' down to as late as 1840. A frequent charge in Mr. D.'s books
was for "horse and chaise." The "chaise" was a two-wheeled vehicle,
sometimes with a top, and genei-ally hung on leather springs. It was
what we should now call a sulLi/, and was intended for one person only.
The last of the Danfurtli family left Ry-llill about 1S70. Mr. D. was
descended from Kev. Xicholas Danforth, who emigrated to Cambridge,
'N. E., from Suffolk, Eng., IGo-t. The following item from one of T.
D.'s letters, (183S) show that he recognized the difference between a
"church" and a "meeting house" ; viz. "Glastonbury has lately built two
Presbyterian meeting-houses, an Episcopal church and a ^lethodist.
They make a very fine ajipcarauee from our hill."
Among those who learned the trade of ilr. Danforth was Sherman
Boardnum of Hartford : and the old and well kiKiwn brittania firm of
Boardman & Hart of Xew York and Hartford was a direct outcome of
the old Rocky Hill slmji. Lucius Hart v.as a Rocky Hill boy.
To Pros. Dwight of Yale College we owe a view of this town as it
appeared in 1790.
"Stepney," he says, "is a jiarish of AVeth. lying on a collection of hills,
which are a continuation of the iliddletown range; and at the point
where it crosses the River. These hills are handsome and very fertile.
One of these eminences, RocK-y IliU, has given its name to the parish
so generally, that few persons in the State have ever heard of the name
Stepney. On the Xorthern side of this hill is a maguilicent view over the
Connecticut Valley, about 50 miles in length and 20 in breadth. Im-
mediately below, lies the beautiful town of Weth., with its inter\a]s on
the East, and finely sloping hills on the West. Between these intervals,
and those of Glastonbury, winds the Conn. River. Still further East is
the town of Glastonbury itself. On the Xorth is the City of Hartford,
and the undulating country which lies westward of it. The Lmie
range limits the view on the East, and that of ^It. Tom on the West ;
and on the Xorth, at the distance of 42 miles, it is bounded by the moun-
tains Tom and Ilolyoke.
This parish is a rich agricultural country, and carries on a consider-
able commerce. Its Landing is also the seat of almost all the trade of
Wethersfield. The people are prosperous: the houses generally very
good; the church, a new building, is handsome, and everything which
THE FERRY. 9^9
meets tlic eje wcurs the uppearaiice of industry and prosperity. The
country is extremely pleasant and settled almost in the form of a
village."
The Fevry. — From the earliest time of settlement, tliere was proLably
considerable ferrying between Rocky Hill Landing and South Glaston-
bury. In 1G50, the Town of Wethersfield voted to lay out a road on the
West side of the River, and, also, a road to Xayaug Farms, directly
opposite on the East side of the River, and established a landing at the
foot of the hill. It is quite likely, that, before 1700, the Town had eon-
ceeded to some one the right to ferry and take tolls. In 1724, the Gen.
Assembly, "granted liberty'" to Jonathan Smith to run a ferry at this
point. He was presumably the son of Joseph Smith to whom the Town.
52 years before, had "set out'' 20 acres of land dii-eetlv behind and
north of the ferry and the Ship Yard Reservation — see The Landing.
Unless Joseph Smith had died before this date (1724) it is quite pre-
sumable that he, or perhaps he and his son Jonathan, Smith had been
running the ferry here before, without special license: but it would be
in accord with the way of managing such matters at that early period.
of the Colony, that this grant by the Genei'al Court to Jonathan was a
confirmation oi a ctmcession made at this time, to his father.
Joseph. The General (\iurf, at this time fixed the rate of tolls — at
"fourpence" {(S\ cts.) for each man, horse and load; and twopence for
each person on horseback, and prohibited the taking of any higher rate.
In 172S, Jonathan Smith, as stated in the records of the Gen. Court,
having become old and unable to do the work, the ferry-right was con-
tinued to his son Xathan — who, dying in 1734, Ilezokiah Grimes was
given the right to continue the ferry, at the pleasure of the
Assembly. It will be noticed that the Assembly did not establish, in any
party, an ownership franchise in this ferry privilege; but simply
gave the right to continue the ferry, at the pleasure of the General
Assembly retaining its poM-er to confer the same right upon other
parties, when it chose to do so. But, so far as we can
learn the operation of the ferry continued in the Grimes fam-
ily for many years, undisturbed and a prior ownership of
the privilege was assumed by the parties running it. This as-
sumed ownership of the privilege finally became suliject to sale and
transfer, along with the boats, oars, etc., used in the service. Hez.
Grimes died in 1749, and after his death, his widow, Abigail (daughter
of Jonathan) Smith and sister of Nathan, probably had charge of the
ferry, and it is likely that he, or his son John operated it ; and in the
distribution of his estate, the ferry was set out to John's heir — a daugh-
9IO
HISTORY OF AN'CIEXT WETHERSFIELD.
ler wlio married Elizur GoDdrioli, who, in turn, probably ran the ferry.
His danghter ilartha (or Patty) grand(hiu^liter of J<jhn and great
granddangliter of Ilez. Smith married Chester Williams and Williams
ran the ferry on his wife's right — prolialdy along with his brotlier-
in-law Andrew (son of Eliznrj Gcxidrich. Andrew, at this rime re-
sided in ''the old store" in the northwest ccn-ner of the present Collins
property. Patty Williams (ni'c Goodrich) became a wi<low and mar-
ried Geo. Kisley and then he attended the ferry early in the present
century. Samuel Wheat and son owned and operated it fmni about
1810. It was under a doultle ownership for a long time, commencing,
it is likely, with Andrew Goodrich and ifrs. Chester William-. AMieat
and Risley were in the ferry together. Kisley fell from the boat and
was drowned al)out ISIS, and a year or so later. Wheat left here
and leased the ferry to others.
At one time, Capt. Webb (father of Benj. G.) owned a part of it;
W^illiam and Levi Goodrich were owners or operators at one time;
Elisha Callender and Benj. Archer, also; Capt. Jason Goodrich came
in possession in whole or in ])art, and in 184!), put in use a decked
boat, Avith tread-wheel horse power. Levi Boardman, Anson Tryon,
Joseph Uale, Eleazur Iliplmes, Bobert IIolli>fer, Henry A. AVhite, Wait
Warner, Chas. G. Ijeaiaonnt, L. if. iJeaniount. Wm. B. Bnlkelcy, Ilalsy
Jagger, Warren Taylor, Wm. H. Webb, James L. Pratt and others from
time to time done to 1SC4, owned, or ostensibly owned and ojierated
this ferry. About 1SC5, it went into the iiands of Ed. Boynton, who,
thinking to do better at some other place, aliandoned the ]n-ivilege and
took the boat away with him. It was then supposed that by this
abandonment of the ch.arter (for it was taken for granted that a
charter existed) the privilege had been forfeited. By a general statute,
passed early in this century, iir before the abandonment of the ))rivilcge,
the keeping of the ferry in operation was imposed upon the toA^Tis
of Eocky Hill and Glastonbury. A flat boat was put on by the select-
men of these towns and run for a time, at a loss to the towns. Then
the towns made, in 1S60, a contract with L^-man Williams to put
on a steam ferry-boat and run it for 10 years, he i-eceiving all the
tolls, and a bonus of $1,000 from the towns. In 1S7G, a new lease was
made to the same party and IMartin F. Holli.ster for another 10 years,
they taking the tolls, only. The grantees built a new boat. The
Centenvial; and at the expiration of the lease in 18SG, a new one was
made for 10 years, with Martin F. Hollistcr, he agreeing to pay the
towns $40 per year for the use of the privilege. In ISST, he petitioned
the Assembly for a new charter, seeking to take from the towns their
THE FERRY. 9 ' I
right and projievty in the privilege, but his petition was rejected ; and
he carried the case to the Supreme Court, which hehl that Eoyntou's
abandonment of the ferry left the privilege in the hands of the towns.
Hollister had built a new boat The IloIIisler in spring iif IS^S; but,
in 1893, threw up the right, which was no longer his, and the ferry
has since been cared for by the two towns. As before stated in our
remarks about The Landing, there is attached to this ferr}- privilege
a strip of land 25 feet in width, from road to river, next south of
the Roderick Grimes' store which was set to the heirs of John Grimes
in 1792, in the division of the estate of Abigail, widow of the Hez.
Grimes to whom the General Gourt granted in 1734-, the privilege
and which was "for the use of the ferry." During the hundred years
or more from the death of Ilez. Grimes, in 1749, it was a popular im-
pression that there was no legal restraint against any jiarty who chose
to ferry passengers across the river, and accept pay for so doing. This
claim Avas based, perhaps, on the supposition that the privilege granted
1734-, lapsed with death of Ilez. Grimes; perhaps, on the ground that
an exclusive privilege was never granted, and that other parties were
never barred. Certainly, the privilege was something less than a
charter and nevo'- conferred the exclusive right that a charter would
have done; and tiie right of nthci- parties to ferry, if ihey choose, is still
not quite settled against them. The matter presents several points
of dispute, which may ultimately have to be settled in Court.
The tolls, as before stated, in 1724, were dd. for man, horse and
team and probably continued at this tigure for some time. But, for
some years previous to lSr>4, the 6^- cents had been raised to S cents,
and, after steam was introduced, to 10 cents for man, horse and
wagon, with o cents for each extra passenger, or single passenger — other
tolls in proportion. It has been the custom to take 25 cents toll for
horse or two persons both ways, and in times of high water 50 cents
has been taken. An extra charge is always made for Sunday crossing.
The money value of the ferry privilege has varied from time to
time. At first, of course, only small boats were used, and for foot
passengers only. But, very soon after ICoO, there must have been some
crossing by teams and then flatboats came into use. These, at first,
were propelled by oars or sweeps ; then sails were added and these
combined methods were in use up to 1S49. It is a fair prestimption
that it paid for the work done. .;\iter this time and for several years
the privilege, with the boat and horses, were considered as worth nearly,
or quite $3,000. Mr. Wm. E. Bulkeley sold his half of it, about 1SS2,
9^2 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSKIELD.
for $1,300, which was ahout the ruling price. The suspension of
Pratt's ferry at North Gkistonbury bcfoi-e this period and of the ferry
at Wethersfield village earlier, and also the ferry at Hartford, had
made this privilege more valuable ; but, the opening of the new Willow
Brook ferry in East Hartford (Colt's ferry) seriously tapped the busi-
ness at this place and its income and sale value decreased. Mr. Wait
Warner paid $800 for a half of it, a few years later, and at a still
later time it sold for less; and in '04 it would seem that it was not
thought worth holding on to. I'ut subsequently, the Colt's ferry being
discontinued, the property improved and the parties who got $1,000
bonus made a good thing of it.
Local Xames ix Kocky IIii.i.. — Long Hill, that portion of the road,
only, from below Goffe's Bridge to where Mrs. Thomas Warner, now
lives, formerly the Zebulon Bobbins' property. The hill itself was first
known as Rocky Hill; after Shipman's Hotel was built, it became
Shipman's Hill; as a permanent name it should he called Irox-Stoxe
Hill.
Dividend (in old records "Divident'') is the name attached to that
part of the road between the Cemetery and the Bulkeley ^lill site; to
the woods uu the east side of that road, to the plain below, and east
to the river; to the brook, to the mill site, to the house and dam and
to the small meadows below the brook; and east of the railroad and to
the sawmill site. The Town of Wethersfield reserved, or rather, in
granting concessions for public use, did not give away, a strip of land
20 rods wide, from Cole's Hill on the east side of the Burying Ground,
to the Bulkeley ''corne-mill." This reservation, except a narrow strip
for roadway, was (according to tradition) divided among the adjoining
proprietors, and some of it fenced in as lots — hence. Dividend. The east
aide of the Burying Ground, as it now is, was in this reservation.
In the woods below, for a not vei'y wide strip, the to\vns peojile liave
always regarded it as legitimate for whoever chose, to cut off the
growth of saplings.
Drum Hill is the rise on the turnpike below the small sand bank
and the Hosea Bulkely place, in the South District. It is so called from
very early times, because of a distinctly recognizable drum-like noise
made by teams driving over it, as if it was hollow below the surface.
Tryon's Landing, so called, was at the river end of the road through
the woods from the Dividend road over the hill, south of Hog Brook.
There was a wharf at this point where vessels sometimes laid up.
Why called thus, we do not know. There is a "Tryon Town" on the
LOCAL NAMES IX ROCKY HILL. 9^3
east side of the river below. The people at Tryon's To\\-n landed at
Rocky Hill, coming up and over in boats : and they, perhap-;, made a
landing at the place indicated, and walked up the rest of the way. The
Avharf may have been Tryon's property. The grove in a natural
hollow and amphitheatre; at this point, was a splendid picnic around.
Sunday school gatherings, general town-picnics, fish-tires, clam-bakes,
etc., were held here all through the last 150 years up to 1S71; but,
the building up of the roaii, making a higli embankment and cutting it
off from the river, finally si)inlcd it for its old uses. Besides this
interference, we have come to think that gatherings of this sort are
rather tame, unless we can go off out of toirn. for them.
The Plains is the name of that tract of land lying between Dividend
Brook, wliere it crosses the road west of rlie turnpike, over the hill
from F. Griswold's cider mill, and south of tlie upper part of that brook
extending west to some 20 rods west of the ■"Shunpike,"' and south to
the swamp and woods, tlirough which runs Peat Swamp Brook, about
along the south line of the town. Between tliese bounds is a large tract
of light land. About the middle of the road and reaching to the swamp
south is what is known as the Peat Farm, th.c south side of which goes
into the <w*>uip. AAHiere tlie brook comes tlirough i* a large peat bog
■which has been worked, from time to time, within the past 75 years,
or more. There lias been quite as much mmiey put into this bog, as
has been taken out, but considcraljle of the deposit has gone on to the
Peat Farm. This plain has also been known as Bishop's Plain; in
the old records it was ■■Beset's" Plain, evirlently a contraction of the
Indian original title — Amobeset.
Peppercorn^ the name of the tract of land east and south of the south
school house in the woods, is said to have been applied, away back
in the years, because it was such poor land that '"it would not bear
even peppercorn." In the "Militia Training" times of a half cen-
tury ago, this was a place for the •'general muster" to be held— at which
■were '"high old times" — sometimes a sham battle, and old residents
used to rehite, with huigh and chuckle, the funny incidents enacted at
"the Battle of Peppercorn."
East of Peppercorn is a patch of woods, in a hollow just south of
the road, a famous picnic place ; and where the Centennial of American
Independence, in ISTO, was duly celebrated by the Rocky Hillians.
CahiiU Hill (Cape Bull Hill, or Cape Bull "for short") is the
name applied, for many generations, to that section west from the
Shunpike, after getting over the first hill and the hollow beyond.
914
HISTORY OF ANX'IENT WETHERSFIELD.
The origin of the name is obscure. Whether from ownership by
some of the ancient Bull family in the town ; or from the "mooing" or
calling of the cows, it is difficult to say. "He has gone out to Cape Bull
for wood" is the way people would speak. Xear the west end of this
Cabull road, going west, is quite a deep hollow, and the hill beyond
is high and very steep, so that there has never been a road up its side.
This high hill, coming up to the road from the south, and jn-ojecting
north with a gentle slope for nearly or quite half a mile to run before
it reaches the small brook north of ir, lx>ars a strong resemblance
to a "cape," projected into the sea — a resemblance so ap-
parent as readily to suggest the name of Cape. If we conjecture
some ownership of Bull at this hill, we can readily have "Bull's Cape,"
or "Cape Bull." See, also for Judqc Adams' theory , pp.
Vexation. — A name, for some unknowii reason, applied to a piece
of land north of the Berlin i-(iad, in the West District; that is north
of the hill at south end of Reservoir Street, and west of that street up
to the Resen'oir, partly in liocky Hill township and partly in Wethers-
field.
Pumpl-'ui Town (or "Punkin Town") is the derisive a]>pellation,
from many years back, of the v\est section <if the town lying cm both
sides of the Shunpike, which has not been at all acceptable to the
residents there, as the place was regarded as a little "out" — and, of
later years, it has been generally droppeil. Linus Deming, born in
1804, has told me that the name antedates his memory.
Dividend Bar is a long stone pier ju-ojecting half way across the
river, below the foot of the road at the old Shailor Shipyard, and north
of the mouth of Dividend Brook.
Below the Dividend Brook was an old shad fishing place, known
as Hard Bargain; perhaps, because some one fishing the privilege,
felt he had made but a hard bargin of it.
Three-fourths of a mile above Shailor's shiinard was "Tryon's Land-
ing," before spokoi of, and a little ways above that, Cold Spring, orig-
inally a fine spring and resort for clambakes, etc. ; but spoiled by
the building of the railroad. Ilog Brook came next, then The Landing,
proper. The Water-side was the general way of speaking — the hill in
the shipyard Reservation was the "Water-side hill."
The Mustard Boiul. — Up over the liill to the southwest of the Butler
Grist Mill, and boimded south on Cromwell town line, is a tract of
hollow, of several acres — known from "away back," as the '"^lustard
Bowl." The hollow has no outlet; the land is light and drv, the
SHAD FISHING.
915
rainfall is absorbed by tlic soil. The "bowl" is synmietrical in shape
and Avas, years ago, a little fanions as producing -10 bushels of wheat
to the acre. But this was when the land was new, its fertility was
about exhausted some years ago.
Shad Fishing. — In rlie earlier days of the shad fishing busiucs><,
(doubtless carried nu at rlic tishing ])la(.'es spoken of to some extent from
the first settlement about Tlic Landing), the catch was simply f^r hume
consumption, fresh and salted. But as soon as there begun to be any
carrying trade, out <<{ tlie river, of salt-fish, the packing of shad became
a business here, as at other places on the river. Connecticut river
shad very early had a reputation of superiority. To preserve this, as
also to prevent dece])tion in the packing, the General Court decreed
that:
"All pickeled shad . . . intended for market shall be split
and well cleaned and jiiekled in a strong brine, at least fifteen days
before they are put u]> for market. Each barrel shall contain two
hundred -weight, aiul each half barrel one hundred weight,
and shad so put up shall lie nf three qualities: the first of which shall
be denominated sliad Xn. 1, and shall consist wholly of shad well
saved, free from rust or any defect, with the head and tail cut off and
the back bone taken out; aiul each barrel shall contain no more than
seventy-two shad; half barrels no more than thirty-six shad each." The
second quality were to be prepared in like manner, with eighty-two to
the barrel and forty-one to the half. Xo. :^. were to have the heads taken
off, but there was no provision as to the tails (U- the back bone. And all
were to be inspected by a man appointed for the business, and by him
numbered as to quality, and stamped.
Besides the large amount of shad disposed of in this way, it continued
to be a custom all down the years till as late as 1850, for the farmers to
come in to the fish-places, from the back towns, and take away in
quantities to suit, a great many fish fresh from the river, to pickle and
salt for their own consumption, and also to peddle out in neighboring
towns. The growth of Hartford made a market for fresh shad ; and
in course of time the Xew York market began to demand all there were to
spare from home consiunption. The catch has steadily decreased from
year to year ; and shad fishing at the places formerly used here has been
abandoned, though there is still some gilling done. Formerly, and
down to say fifty years ago, shad were caught in large numbers, during
high water in May, along under the bank by Beaver brook bridge, and in
the neighborhood. They strayed out of the river channel. Boger
AVarner"s family had a fishing place at the end o" ^lieir lot. Wait and
9i6
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Walter cauglit 099 one season at the point mentioned. Wlieii the
water subsided, shad wore often left in the small pools or pond holes,
having been shut in and held, so as to be easily caught.
Fishing Places. — The Hard Bnigaiii shad-fishing place has been
already spoken of. There wore several others — such as "Schangs," a
little above 77iC Landing — where it was said, only small shad were ever
caught, which were called "schangs" — probably an Indian name. At
the mouth of Goffe's Erook was another fishing place, called Five
Nations; a little further up, was the Bush lishiug place, probably so
named because of the willow bushes there; and still further north was
The Point privilege — the extreme eastern end of the meadow that
crowds the River close over to the hill on the Glastonbury side. Xear this
is what is known as Log Bar, a hindrance to river navigation for loO
years back — and which from early times kept many bottoms from get-
ting above it — so that they had to stop and "lighter" their cargoes to
smaller vessels, or discharge cargoes entirely into scows, which carried
them on to Hartford — as did the steamboats in some seasons, during
their use in the past 30 years.
Above The Laiulii.g, all the way u|) the Iviver, as far as it can be seen
from that point, the stream, since the first coming of the whites, has
been persistently working eastward, tiiU'^ adding acre upon acre to
the Rocky Hill meadows, at this lower side. Above "the Point" the
erosion is and has been, for a long time past, on the west side — so that
there is a yearly loss. When Capt. Holmes, in 1633 sailed up the Conn,
past where Ry-IIill docks now are, he kept due north for a consideralde
distance, right up to whore is a large expanse of excellent meadow, and
rounded "the Point" from J to } of a mile west of the present River
channel.
Wharves. — The Town of Wetiiersficld, in 1764, established a landing
at Rocky Hill, for a ferry— on the present River front of the Ship-Yard
Reservation. The change of the river-course began gradually to make
this landing place less desirable for the purpose than the shore just
below, which was part of the Boardman grant. AVlien wharves were
first made on this B. gi'ant, it is impossible to say; but they came in
with the opening and progress of commercial business. The norther-
most of the present partially existing structures covers that part of
the Boardman's grant which, before IT-'JO, was owned and used by Oliver
Pomeroy, as a ]ilaco of trade, and after him by Joseph Bulkelcy. The
next wharf south is the river front of the 25 feet which was, in 1772,
distributed to the heirs of John Grimes for the use of the ferrv; and
WHARVES. 9 I 7
was likclv, in some way, connected with an old store that stood on the
corner next south to this 25 ft. strip; also with the land next north to
Alex. Grimes. "What is now called the "Steamboat dock," or wharf, is a
part of the front of Hannah Clark's land, from her father, Jonathan
Smith.
I have supposed that an old wharf where the present Steamboat "\Miarf
now is, was anciently the property of Capt. John AVebh, and that he
lived in front of it, where David Webb once lived — but of tliis I am not
certain. The middle wharf, on the Uiver end of the 25 feet >et to the
John Grimes heirs, has remained in that family all down the years.
The north, or Pomeroy wharf, about 1S15 and for some years afterwards,
belonged to Capt. Wm. ^Yebb and Avas, partly at least, attached to the
Justus Eulkeley, or Isaac Goodrich store — which building, Capt. "\Vel)b
also owtted. These wharves have not always belonged to the persons
OAvning the stores back of them; and have often changed hands.
Besides what is knoAra as the "steamboat wharf" fartherest north
there are the remains of one in the' rear of the Eoderick Grimes store.
The Eiver at The Landing has always been a fine place for wharves,
at a comparatively small expense for construction, as deep water came
in near the edge; and in the older period they were kept in good
condition.
Tliese wharves, originally built at the beginning of Ey -Hill's com-
mercial history, were rebuilt or added to as occasion required. After
the introduction of steam on the River, the out-frcigliting business was
gradually transferred to '"propellers," or the regular "steamboat;"
though sailing craft still continued to take in cargoes of produce at the
docks up to about IS 70. Incoming freight met with the same change;
steamboats (both up and down the River) made landings here regularly,
until the opening of the railroad, since which they have been mostly
discontinued, except that the smaller boats have landed, "on signal."
During low water, the Xew York boats, in several years, from 1S70,
have docked here for several weeks at a time, transferring freight and
passengers to Hartford, in the smaller boats.
In 1855 C, the Steamboat Wharf, now owned liy H. H. Grant, being
badly out of repair, a stock company was organized for its rehabilitation.
The stockholders were James T. Pratt, Wm. Xeff, Justus Candee,
Daniel A. Mills. Lewis Y. Wright, ct alios; Wm. XefF, Pres., and Justus
Candee, Wharfinger. The tolls collected proved to be inadequate to
keeping it up ; and the raised wooden dock was allowed to go to pieces.
S. & E; S. Belden bought the stock and connected the wharf property
9i8
HISTORY OF AN'CIENT WETHERSFIELD.
witli the coal yard of the okl foundry; from them it was transferred to
II. II. Grant. Its principal use now is for unloading of coal for village
consumption, and of coal and pig iron for the foundry.
Tlte Post Office. — This was first cstahlished here in 1802, Isaiah Hut-
i.EK, Post Master. Capt. Ei.r GouDiacii ke])t it for many years from
about 1812, in his house, west of the Iiurying ground, prohalily where
the hotel now is. Before the opening of the turnpike (at Mhich time it
is likely that tlie niails hegan to he carried through liy-IIill hy stage)
the service was ])erformed l)y carriers on hoiseljack, three times a week,
each way. As there was much husinoss that required correspondence,
it is prohahle that letters were sent to and from Stepney much earlier,
than the appointment of a postmaster there — prohahly largely by private
hands, and vessels sailing to different domestic ports. Jajiks Robbixs
is mentioned as P. ]\I. in tiie Coiid. Jicfjistrr, and kept the P. O. for
a while at the Shipman Hotel. Ca])t. AitruiiiAT.u Poniux-s kept it, first
at the Bradford Store, then at The Landing, and then at Shipnmn's
hotel. Connected with his postmastfrship is a story that he houglit a
lottery ticket for some small sum anil, only a few days before the
drawing he sold it to Capt. Austin Robi)ins, who drew $2000 on it —
much to the chagiiu of Capt. Archibald, who luul to stand a good deal of
chaffing from his friends. This "windfall" to Capt. Austin, however,
lasted him a good while, for his twice-a-day walks to The Landing, to
take his 11 o'clock and 4 o'clock dram, an exercise in which he religiously
persevered, during almost his whole adult life. So that, Capt. Arcliibald
may, after all, have got back nearly all the price of the ticket. Capt.
Archibald Robbins was Post JMaster during the Jackson, Van Buren,
Harrison and Tyler administrations. Ebkxezek GoonAi.i, held the office
at his house, next north of the tavern, and later on the Danfoi'th corner.
During Polk's administration, IIkxhy Wehb, held the office, with the
office at his house, now the Standish place. Lender the Taylor and Fill-
more administrations, IIenkv Wiiit:moi!F, was postmaster — with the
office in a small l)uilding opposite the old school house, on the site of an
old smithy of the elder Win. Goodrich, ilr. W. was also a P. !M. in
North Carolina for 19 years. Under Pres. Pierce, the office went again
to Heney Webb, who kept it for several years in the basement of the
Standish house, on the llartforil road. ]\lr. Webb was during the
Buchanan administration, replaced by A. G. Baker, who held it about
half way through the Johnson administration, when he was succeeded
by Wm. II. Webb, who kept the office in the store opposite the Con-
gregational church. At the beginning of the Grant administration,
Henry J. Smith was appointed — his service ended by his death in
THE TURN'PIKES. 9^9
July, ISSl — the office being in the store in the old George Ilobbins
house. It then passed to IIk.vrv K. Taylor, in the new store; and, at
his deatli to iLvuTix J. Gkiswold.
The Saijhrool: Tiinipilie, chartered in 1S02, commenced 0 or 4 rods
south of Goffe's Brook, at the VI mile stone from Hartford. The
charter prescribed that it should begin at the south side of said Brook
near the six-mile Stfme; but the Company never took care of the road
north of that point. E.\cept for aboxit a quarter of a mile (from the
Methodist Church to the Congregational Church) and the cut south
of the Burying ground through Cole's Hill, this turnpike was the old
I'oad from Hartford to ^liddletown. Its franchise was abandoned in
1S77, and the road reverted to the town. Up to this time, a toll-gate was
maintained at the tfip of the small rise near the Cromwell line. People,
(Toing to and from the mill, and those who did not come over a fi.xed dis-
tance, and physicians on professional business (was a doctor ever known
to be on the road near a toll-gate, <^.rccpt on professional business ?)
were exempt from paying.
The substantial arched stone bridge over' Hog Brook, below Cole's
Hill, was built (on the site of an older one) by this Turnpike Co., in
1S22 — the only one in the town which they had to maintain. The
Goffe's Brook Bridge has always been a town-charge, since it was set off
to Ry-H. in the separation from Wethersfield. A wooden bridge on stone
abutments was maintained here, by occasional replacements, up to 1SS5,
when an iron bridge was put in at a cost of $500.
From the opening of this turnpike, in 1S02 or '03, until iliddletown
got its mail by rail, say 1S5S, a line of mail stages ran through Ky-H.
daily, and until the building of the Valley H. R., in 1871, the line was
kept up hence to Hartford and back, to maintain the mail. The pas-
senger traffic was small in summer — more people went to Hartford by
boat than by stage, and a still greater numljer by private conveyances.
Before the opening of this turnpike and the introduction of stages, the
mails were carried by horseback — three times a week, each way — and
it does not appear that, in these early days there was any regular post
office at Rocky Hill — the tirst postmaster known of being after the open-
ing of the turnpike.
The Shunpike — a name which came into use after the opening of
the turnpike, was applied to the road running southwest from the brook
crossing at Adams' Mills, in South Wethersfield, past the Hang Dog
farm and on to the ^lethodist church in the West District, thence south
by the Xehemiah Stevens place, at the west side of Amobeset Plains and
920 HISTORY OF A.N'CIENT WETHERSFIELD.
SO into Cromwell. By taking this road, travelers between Hartford and
Middletown avoided the pike and the toll-gate — hence Shuiipiki'.
Railroad. — The project of a railroad from Hartford to Saybrook,
was a topic of general discussion in the stores at The Lauding many
years before it was built. In ISS-t or '55, a preliminary survey was
made, and the citizens held a meeting in the Academy Hall, tn hear the
engineer's report and discuss it. The matter dropped, however, until
it was revived in ISTO. James C. Walkley, of Iladdani, president of
the Charter Oak Life Lisurauce Co., was the chief mover in the i)roject,
which finally wrecked his f(jrtune. The road was constructed in
1870-71, and opened in August of the latter year, and the Town of
Eocky Hill bonded itself for $21,000, to subscribe for the stock of the
road. Charles T. Hillyer bought the Town bonds, at a discount of
5 per cent. ; these bonds were to run 20 years at 6;V per ct. semi-annual
interest, and are still being carried. Individuals also subscribed for
small amounts of stock, some paying in full and some only the first
installment of 5 per ct. — these latter were ''on the inside"'. The
original subscriptions (both of Towns and individuals) were titterly
sunk, as also were the funds of the second-mortgage bondholders. The
road passed to the first-mortgage bondholders, who organized a new
company. The line is now controlled by the Consolidated roads.
With a view of getting a new passenger station built on the west
side of the tracks, the town, in 1S75, bought a lot of Mrs. Margaret
Jagger (between East end of Ferry and Prospect Sts.) at a cost of .$000
or more, and conveyed it to the K. H. company — but, its building was
delayed, as usual in such cases, until 1892.
The Iron Bridge al Gaffe's Brook, erected, 1SS5, at a cost of $500,
collapsed in Xov., 18S7, under the weight of a drove of cattle, with some
damage to the latter, and the narrow escape of a boy driver; and was
replaced by the same Company, without charge to the Town.
The First Store in Town. — The first cooking-stove set up in the town
was owned by Alpheus Goodricii, who occupied an ancient dwelling on
the site M-here AVm. Grimes now dwells. It was of the big '"tin plate"
pattern, and was a great curiosity for those days, and probably there
was not a family within ;l miles of that stove, but some member of it
had not called to see it in operation. This was about 1S15. There
were stoves in use before this, btit all of the open Franklin pattern. A
story is told in connection with this stove, of a resident of the town
who had passed the winter in the South. He returned in !March and
called to see the stove. Mr. Goodrich went down cellar for a pitcher
of cider, and handing the mug to the visitor, remarked "I put 22 barrels
SOME ROCKY HILL IMPROVEMENTS. 9^1
of cider into tlie cellar, last fall. This is the last of it. Every drop has
been broiigSit up out of the cellar in that 2-quart mug! " Alluwiug o2
gallons to the barrel there would have been 704 gallons, or 1408 trips
down to the cellar !
Notes of Some Rocky Hill Impeovemexts.
Liberty Pule. — At the Commencement of the Civil War, ISGl, by a
general subscription, a liberty-pole was erected on the point of land south
of the Congregational Church ; and a very large American flag — the
largest in th^a State, 40 by ;10 feet, was procured for it. The pole became
rickety and was taken down about a dozen years later, the flag still
remains in evidence on many occasions, in draping the Congregational
Church and Conference Room.
Planlc-icalh. — About 1874, one was built from foot of Ferry St., to
the Centre Corners, of about 2i ft width. It has been allowed to go to
ruin, and portions only remain.
In 18S2, a fairly good gravel walk Avas made from the corner of
Chester B. Goodrich, S., to the Congregational (.'hurcli, by the personal
labor of the peoole of the neighborhood.
Street Lamps. — About 1S75, a few street lamps were put up in the
village-^but they shine no more athwart the belated traveller's path.
Church Fence. — The neatly turned-post fence around the Meeting-
house yard, was due originally to the generosity and superintendence
of Mrs. Fanny Grimes Camp, in 1887 — Cost $250.
The above items indicate that "'at times" the good people of Rocky
Hill wake up to a glimmering idea of what might be done to add to the
convenience and beauty of their (naturally) lovely village.
In conclusion, it may be truly said that a view of this place, looking
westward from the River, will satisfy the observer that here is one of
the most agreeably picturesque villages in ]N"cw England ; and one that
naturally affords opportunity for development to a miich more densely
populated community. It is also, occasionally, entitled to be called the
head of sloop navigation of the River upon which it is so attractively
situate.
Mills — The Divulend Grist Mill. — On what is known as Dividend
Brook, near the southeast corner of the town, the early settlers found a
fine natural waterfall, over and through a ledge of rocks — which had
doubtless been a favorite resort of the Indians, for trapping fish — and
■which offered a good site for a mill. In June, IGGl, only some 25 years
after the first coming to Wethersfield village, the Town made a con-
922
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
cession to Gov. John Wiiithrop of 140 acres of land about tliis water
privilege, conditional on his erecting- a ''corne-mill" there. As he failed
to fulfill this condition, he in 1(368 released the property to the Town,
which, some years later, (Feb.. 1GT7) granted the same, under the same
conditions to Kev. Gershom Bnlkeley, then minister at Wethcrstield, and
he erected the mill the next year. The concession prescribed not only
the building of a mill on that site, but that it should be maintained in
perpetuity, the failure to so maintain it, vitiating the grant. And under
this obligation the mill-pri\ilege has always been held; and, though there
have been brief periods \\-hen milling was suspended, it has always been
sufficient to call the attention of the owners to this original condition of
the grant in order to secure a resumption of active operations. After
Mr. Eulkeley had liuilt the mill, the Town gave him a further grant of
150 acres, making 290 in all. I have always supposed that these two
grants included the land from the River to as far west as the road to
]\Iiddletown (which road afterward became the turnpike) ; but the ]ilap
of 1721 evidences that his land extended to the East from the iliddlc-
town road far enough to take in the mill-site, but did not go to the River.
East of the northeasterly end of Mr. Hulkeley's grant, and going to the
River, was a large acreage put down as '"Capt. Goodrich's living" : it
probably included the flat known to us as Dividend Plain. South of
this was a tier of lots running from the River west to the base of the
hill that is south of the mill, which tier included the Dividend :i[eadow.
Xorth of '-Capt. Goodrich's living," on the River's side and north of Mr.
Bulkeley's land and on the west end coining up to the :Middletown road,
evidently including what we call Dividend Woods, on both sides of the
road, and also including the "Peppercorn" region up to the South
School house, was, in 1716, "common land". The division of this
tract of common land sometime after 1716 (probably about 1750) was
what, we suppose, gave to all the region from the tops of the hills
south of Hog Brook, and of the iIiddleto^ra line, the name of
"Dividend," or Divident.
The original mill-dam was built a little further upstream than
the present one: when the second one was built, cannot now be ascert-
tained, but the present dam was rebuilt about 1S75, generally strength-
ened and made higher, so as to flood additional land.
Before his death Mr. Bnlkeley had conveyed the mill and some of the
land about it to his son Edward. A clause in his will would indicate that
the mill belonged to the son at the time of his father's death. Edward,
who died in 1748, willed it to his sons Peter, Gershom and Jonathan,
to be used by each "by turns, during their lives, and then to go to the
ROCKY HILL MILLS
923
"longest lived"' of the three. It was thus used by the brothers, and
finally rcinaiiicd in the possession of Gcrshoin, after some dispute as
to the nieanini!,' to be placed upon the words "lonjiest lived." From
Gershoin it pas.scd to his son Hosea, who, about 1S12, built a new mill
and dam in the place of the old ones, which had already been some
years out of repair. Then, another Gershom (son of Hosea) came into
the ownership, or operated it under his father. The property passed
out of the Bulkeley family almut ls:J(.), after a tenure of 150 years and
of five generations.'
After this, the mill was used for a short time by a Mr. Kussell, of
Middletown, for the manufacture of axes. It then passed to Israel
Williams, Wm. Butler and others ; but was not much utilized by them.
Then it passed to Leonard R. Wells and Alfred Wilcox, who manu-
factured chisels, plantation hoes, and other edged tools for many years,
until the death of ilr. Wilcox, due to his being caught and whirled over
a shafting in the mill. Here was first made, in tpiantity, the "Xever-
slip" horseshoe (now in the hands of a Boston concern) which had re-
movable corks invented by Joseph Jorey, an Englishman and blacksmith,
who had been running a shmi at Griswoldville, and about 1SG5, moved
into the Rocky Tlill we^^t lli^trict. Xot long after lie «old out his right
in the invention, getting fm- it, as was understood, about $10,000 ; he
died not many years after, and was buried in the Rncky Hill cemetery.
After one or two fithcr changes, ^Ir. C. E. Billings (of the
Billings &' Spencer Co.,) of Hartford, with others, bought the property
and a new building was put up in place of the old one — which is mainly
used for drop-forgings. In 1SS4, Mr. B. and Geo. D. Edwards erected
a new brick building on the hill, south of the dam, the machinery iu
which is operated by a long belt from the mill in the hollow. The brick
building is used for the making of manufacturers' tools. Grain grinding
is done in a small building in the hollow.
An old account-book, still extant, of the Jonathan Bulkeley above
referred to, commencing in 1758, contains numerous charges for hard
bread and crackers sold to divers parties and carted to The Landing;
evidencing that a hnl-crij was connected with the mill at this period or a
'This controversy, as to whetlier the words used in Edward Bulkley, will, viz.:
"longest lived" were to be taken to mean the son who lived last, or the one who
lived the moat years, arose between the heirs of Gershom and .Jonathan, the former
born in 1714, the latter in 1718. The death of neither of these is known. To have
started the controversj-, it was necessary that Jonathan should have outlived Ger-
shom; but it is to be supposed that when he died he was not as old as Gershom
was when he died; and so it was held the word "longest-lived" meant he who lived
the most years — since Gershom's heirs held the will.
9^4 HISTORY OF ANCIFNT WETHERSKIELD.
little later. Tliis hard bread ami crackers were made mainly for the
supply of vessels sailing iicnce from the West Indies and elsewhere.
Among other purchasers wc find the name of Silas Deane, of Wethers-
field, afterwards one of the Commissioners to France, from the Congress
of the United Colonies, during the American Revolution.
Of the 190 acres of land originally granted to Mr. Bulkeley, there
now remains as attached to the mill privilege, the lot in whicli is the
pond and a small tract west and north of the road tliat runs up the hill
and around into Pleasant Valley. Tlie farm extending east of the
.factory building, to the River, and including the old saw-mill site, and
the dam below the factory buildings — all soutli of the road that runs east
to the River (the Dividend Bar-road) probably became connected at a
later day. Judge Adams thinks that Edward Bulkeley, (who probably
operated the original mill for his father (Rev. Gershom) and who
resided in the near vicinity of the mill, perhaps in the home where his
(Edward's) son Jonathan lived later) had a fulling-mill either here, or
at the Hang Dog stream at Griswolilvillo : but the probaI)iIity is tliat it
was connected with the Dividend ■'corue mill".
Previous to the building of the Butler. Curtis li- ^lerriam mil! just east
of the IX mile stone on the turnpike, nearly all tlio grnin scut for grind-
ing from the farmers of the East part of the present Town of Cromwell
(Upper ^liddletown) came to this Bulkeley mill. But after the building
of the Ijutler mill, their custom was diverted to it, strongly by the fact
that, as the road \\\u, it was nearer to rhem by nearly a mile, than the
older mill. Owing to this, and partly Itocause of the division and sale to
other parties of the land east of the turnpike and between
it and the Dividend road ( the old road by which the people from south of
Drum Hill and below to Cromwell traveled from the main road east to
the Bulkeley mill) was abandoned, fenced up and taken for private use.
By this means, the road from over the hill, just west of the mill, became
a ad-de-sac; so that any one wishing to get from the neighborhood
of the mill to the soutli part of the Town on the main road, had to come
north on the Dividend road and then northeast through the woods up to
the present South District School house. "Wlien Butler tS: Sugden built
the Pleasant Valley Foundry, in 1854, they made a private road to it,
directly west to the turnpike — the road ending at the foundry. Three
or four years later, the Town laid out a new road from this cid-de-sae
at the Bulkeley mill, southwest past the foundry, and on in nearly the
same direction, to the intersection of the road at the Wm. Butler grist-
mill, and Butler & Sugden abandoned their private road. By this time
the old-road exit west from the Dividend road had passed people's
ROCKY 'iILL MILLS.
925
remcmljrauco, although its traces from the mill west up to within a few-
rods of the turnpike are still visible. The head of this old road was
directly opposite the Curtis place, coi-ner of the turnpike and Plains St.
Down this road, for a hundred years or so from 1078, went the farmers
of East Upper ^liddletown, on horseback, or in ox-cart, with their grists
to the mill. It was not a mere path through the woods, but a made road,
leveled off, the hollows filled and with a bridge over a gully beyond the
first hill west of the mill. Between the time of the probable abandon-
ment of this — and the opening of the Pleasant Valley road— a period of
some TT) years — all information concei'uiug it seems to have died out.
Tlie probability is, that by the time the mill property had passed into
the hands of Gershoni Pulkeley, (grandson of the original grantee)
after the death of his brothers Peter and Jonathan, that the ancestral
lands south of Drum Hill were in the hands of other descendants ; and,
as the business from the south had been tapped, and all from the north
of Drum Hill went down either on the Dividend road, or through
the woods southeast from the site of the South School house, to meet the
Dividend road, it was no longer of much account to keep open the road
that ran east and southeast from opposite the Curtis place; and as, for
his private cons'cnience, tlie mill could be quite as easily reached by
going east from the Bulkoley residence opposite the Sandbank and
then south to strike the old road in the woods, or by keeping on south-
east through a hollow leading out on to the plain and the road north
of the mill, Mr. Gershom and his son Ilosea had a private cartpath
that way — of which some evidence yet remains.
After the !Mill passed out of the Eulkcley family, perhaps before,
this way through the woods was also fenced up ; and then — and up to
about ISOO — the turnpike at the South School house could be reached
from the Dividend road through a hollow that was northwest from
the old Freeman-Cleveland corner and came out into Peppercorn Plain.
Peppercorn Plain was fenced up about 1800, since when there is a road
up another hollfiw, still further north, that comes out on the Peppercorn
road about halfway of its length, and east of the Schoolhouse. Thus
the two hollows through the hill west of the Dividend road were each, in
turn, made use of for a road after the original road further south had
been discontinued. How people originally got on to the main road
•with teams, from the old Dividend "corne mill" without coming up
north to the South Schoolhouse, had become a conundrum with the
inhabitants born after ISOO ; but a survey of the ground renders it per-
fectly plain. For many years the road was kno\^Ti as the Curtis road —
probably from its emerging on the main road by the Curtis place.
926
HISTORY OF ANCIK.NT WETIIERSFIELD.
The Butler Grid Mill. — About 1775, Den. Siiucou IJutlpr, Josiah
Curtis and Burrage ]\Ierriani built a grist-iuill on DiviJoud llrook,
east of the turnpike, over tlio hill from the IX-inile (from Hartford)
stone, near the south end of the Town.' After about oO years nf use
(say 1825) Capt. William, son of Dea. Simeon Butler, came into
possession of the property, and put up a new mill on the site of the old
one. This was in use up to about 1S70, latterly in the hands of Robert
Sugden, Jr., who had come into ])ossossiou of this prujierty, as well as
of the saw-mill nearby. The old grist-mill was demolished alxnit isSO,
by E. E. Silliman, at that time tenant. Part of its foundation wall
still remains. For a year or two jn-ior to ISGl, Frederick Ti. Ihitler
made pendiandles and did some other small jobs in wood-turning at
this mill.
The Bidlcr SaivmiU. — About lS2i), Cajit. Wni. Butler built a saw-
mill near his gristmill, at the south end of the town, under the hill,
east of the turnpike, on Dividend Brook; the water being su])plied by
the gristmill power. This mill was in pretty active Tise until about
18G8, when it was burned; and replaced by a new building, yet stand-
ing, but not of use and decaying. The ]u-o]Kn-ty passed from C'ayit. But-
ler to Robert Sugdcr., Jr., and while in his ownerslilp it was used by
Sidney Bidwell from about 1S75-1S7S, in the making of hunber and rail-
road ties, and to it was attached (later, after the gristmill had been
abandoned) a small building which, also, has gone into ilisuse.
The Rohhins Mill. — ^orth of the road from Rocky llill village to
Griswoldville (Parsonage St.) and a little way down the stream that
crosses the road before it intersects the road from the north (West St.)
are the remains of an old dam, and the site of a grist-mill, which be-
longed to the family of Zebulou Robbius. The niill nmst have been built
in the beginning of the 18th Century, as it was going to decay in ISOO,
and was abandoned about that time. It stood in the hollow, some way
below the dam : its site and the track of the race-way are still visilde.
There are some marks of tiro race-ways at this mill-site. The place
where one building stood is so far within the hollow that it could not well
have been a .^aw-mill. for there could not have been a loc-vard near it.
' Mr. Chas. Williams used to relate this anceJote aliout the lock on the Butler
Mill, viz.: Some one had broken in and stolen from the mill, several l)ags of flour.
To guard ajjainst a repitition of tliis, Dea. Simeon put a new lock on the door, very
large and with a key that weiglied (me and a ipiarter pounds. On this lie greatly
prided himself, and showed it to his customers as a certain security against further
depredations— until some one called his attention to the fact that the door teas
hung on leather hinges, which could have been readily cut with a knife!
ROCKY HILL MILLS. 9^7
I think there was a saw-mill a little further up. The lot is still known as
the "ilill-])on(l Pasture." Judge Adams says '"at Eockv Hill, Jiishua
Robbins, Jr., Eliphalet and Ehenezer Dickinson built a saw-mill on
a l)raneli of Goffc's Brook, about 1713, As there is no evidence of any
other dam on a branch of GojTe's Jiro(^k in this town, than the one
above nientioneil, and as ]Mr. Ackloy Williams remembered a ijri.st-nuW
there in 1800, there nuiy bo an ernir as to the saw-mill: but, pos?ibly,
both grinding and sawing were done at the place.
llie Bclden and Diclchmju Saw-MiU. — As early, prolnibly, as 177.5,
Aaron Eelden and Obadiah Dickenson had a saw-mill in the West
District, South of the West end of Xew France St. : which washed
away before the remembrance of Aaron's son. Ashbel (born 170S; died
1885). Mr. Ashbel thought that two mills had been washed away
from the same site. This mill-dam was about a third of the way down
the gorge, west of the bridge, and there are still some remains of it
existing. In 1S24, Ashbel Belden and his brother Leonard erected a
new saw-mill a few rods west of the site of the old one, near the opening
of the gorge, which was in u.so up to about 1S.")0, when it v.-as given over
to decay, a process which took about 2o years — Xehemiah Stevens being
at that time owner. The log-yard of the ohler mill (or mills) was on the
south side of the brook ; of the latter, on the north side. Just above
the end of the pond of the older mill, and east of the road and bridge,
was an earth-dam across the stream, which iiooded tli£ small meadow-
above it, forming a subsidiary pond or storage reservoir. \Miether its
making dates back to the erection of the mill itself is not known. In 1SS3-
84 James S. Stevens rebuilt this reservoir for the making of cider by the
use of water power — and it is now in use in the cider-season. Its grind-
ing is done by a turbine wheel driven by water, and the capacity is
about 240 bushels an hour, or enough for nearly 8 barrels of cider.
The site of this mill was once occupied (say about 1810) by a button
shop, in which a Lewis Hart and his son made pewter and later wooden
buttons ; but being prosecuted for an infringement of patent, gave up
the business after a few j-ears.
Goodrich Saionill. — In the oarh' part of the present century there
was a sawmill on Dividend Bi'ook, close by and just above where the
railroad now runs. It was operated by Ephraiiu Goodrich, whom
an old account book shows to have been here in 1797-8. As it is
but a few rods below the old Bulkely gristmill, built in 167S, and
on the same property ; and as a sawmill nuist have been one of the
needs of the settlers not many years later, it appears likely that this
sawmill might have been about contemporaneous with the cornmill.
928
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETilERSFIELD.
Eev. Gershom Ikilkolv'a will, made ^[ay 2G, 1712, has this item: ''To
my son Edward, I give and bequeath the clock now standing in its
case in his house, as also iny seal ring, the great gilt spoon, the least
of my two silver porringers * * ■■ * also, my whip-saw, tension-
saw and tiinbor-chain, lieing of use for his mill." The expression "of
use for his mill'' would indicate a sawmill rather than a gristmill, as
being then a part of the Bulkcly possessions. It tumbled to decay
about 1S2.5 ; its dam and the mill foundations yet remaining in a
good state of preservation. William and Thomas Tryon operated this
mill for several years— bringing timber down the river to be sawed
here.
Chas. C. Butler has informed us that his father (Samuel) used
to tell him of an ancient sawmill on Hog Brook in the pasture, right
south of the house on South Street, where Charles aijd his father
lived ; and that he himself had taken stone out of the old racevay. The
land on the north side also evidences the earth-wing of the dam.
The before-mentioned mill sires Avith the pond above are all now in the
possession of [Mr. C. E. Billings. In 1883 or *84, the dam was thor-
oughly rebuilt, and the pond is now used for water storage (for the
benefit of tiie old liulkely mill privilege below), and as a fish pond.
Fiillinf/ Mill. — On the north stream, at the end of Xew France Street,
in the West district, and under tlic hill, north of the road, Horace
Porter and John Deming had a fulling and carding mill, from about
1814 to 1S2C. It was moved and is now a dwelling on the south side
of the road, at the foot of tlie hill east of the West District school house.
Button Mill. — About ISO'J, or "10, Lewis Hart and his son Eldad
had a button shop on the stream south of the west end of iSTew France
Street. It stood just where the road crosses the stream and the little
water power needed was obtained without a dam. This fact would
indicate that the dam here was not built until Belden and Dickinson
built their mill in 1824. The button mill must have stood near the
present cider mill.
Brick Malting, in the Colony began at a comparatively early date,
since, by 1685, it elicited from the General Court, the following enact-
ment : "This Court being informed that there is a varietv of sizes
used in the making of bricks, which is a great damage to those who
have occasion for such ware, doe order that for the future, the length
of all bricks shall be nine inches and their breadth four inches and a
half, and that they be two inches and a half thick ; and that the upper
side of all moulds that are used to make bricks, are to bo shod with
BRICK MAKING.
929
iron; and \vho~ocver s^liall put to sale anv brick that are not according to
this order, shall forfeit J.s. per thousand, the one halfe to the informer,
and the other half to the country treasury, where it is compla^^lcd of."'
Brick making, as is evident from this order, had become a well recog-
nized and profitable employment prior to this date; and it is by no
means unlikely that previous to IGbo, brick had been made within the
limits of Stepney parish. Eighty-five years later the Colonial As-
sembly rcvi.--e<l the regulations for this imlu-try. by enacting, that.
"For the future, all In-icks made within this Colony for sale shall
be full eight inches in length, four inches in breadth, and two inches
thick."
Old "Wethersfield records show that, as early as 1050. :Matthew
Williams (probably the Settler) employed Samuel Dickinson in mak-
ing brick, paying him tic/, a day in wampun (small Avages, unless, he
Avas then merely a boy) ; and later there must have been nuich brick
making here — probably just north of Gotle's Brook, above the bridge
and just west of the road, in Steimey parish.. This old Williams'
yard continued to furnish much of tlie brick made in town during
the ISth and in the early part of the 10th century. The brick used
in the building of the i)reseut Walter riobbins' house, erected by Esq.
John Eobl)ins. in ITCT, were probably burned here, it being the first
house in this section made of nalirc brick. The debris of the old brick
kiln are to be found in the road that runs north from the old parsonage
corner, past the "Old :\raids' Place,"' so called (Crook Street), and the
Kobbins-Griswokl house, aiul out by Hewitts \: :\[atthews factory and
about west of the toj) of the Long Hill. From 1790. to about 1S20.
or later, large qmautities of brick were ex])ortcd hence in vessels trading
to the West Indies, often being taken as liallast. The brick used in
the building of the Xorth District school house, erected 17>2. in the
road near the north end of Rev. Eurrage ilerriam's home lot (now the
Ever Hotel property) were ])rol)ably nuule near, and, just above, the
Goffe Bridge, on the west side of the road in Stepney parish — in a yard
then o-wned by [Matthew Williams. In the old Williams accounts, is a
charge made in 1S03, against Chester Williams, of "half of 500 brick
which YOU put into our kiln, and for which we were to have half."'
From ISOO to ISOS, also, there are many charges of brick in varied.
quantities, as high even as 5,000. As the land south of Charles But-
ler's was a part of the original Elias Williams homestead, and later
of his son John, the natural inference is that John and Cliesrer Wil-
liams made brick along Hog Brook somewhere south of the John Wil-
liams mansion.
93^ . HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Stone Cutting. — A stone yard was formerly located on the turnpike
about west of where the old meeting house used to stand, south of Lewis
Whitmore's joiner shop, and was owned from about ISOO or a little
earlier, by Seth Dickinson. From this pit came a good share of the
brown stone gravestones in the Rocky Hill graveyard; also some stone
sinks yet extant in town, and the imderpinning and steps of the Con-
gregational Church, which were done by !Mr. D., who, in his later
years became deranged.
Another stone pit north of the road at the town west of the TJoardman-
Holmes place, was also being worked in 17S5; but the deposit was
small and was worked only intermittently.
"The Stone Pits," so termed in the old records, I had always sup-
posed to have been the diggings just west of the Roger Goodrich house
at the top of the hill east of the gully-brook near by. But, later day
explorations, show that, at some remote time, attempts were made to
quarry stone at a point nearly south of the Allen A. Robbins' house,
on the north side hill, and near by the old road from Sam. "Williams'
corner west to the Return Euardman house. Excavations, tho' not to
any great extent, were evidently made there ; and it may be, that,
when "stoiic pits" are mentioned, this opening was included with
the one tho fourth of a mile or so further west.
Polishing Grit. — "When the deposits of this silica sand were first
opened in this town, is unknown. As early as ISOO, a [Middletown man
had discovered its virtues and was putting it in packages and selling
it for polishing brasswaro, harness mountings, etc. ; and about 1805,
it was much used at Xorthampton and elsewhere for moulding sand.
Later, Archibald !Miller sold much of it, as did Levi Smith, and later
his son John, up to about 1S70. The Smiths got out this sand on the
■west side of the turnpike, at Cole's Hill, from the high bank at that
point, where it had probably been uncovered by the plowing of the
previous quarter of a century. For the last twenty-five or thirty years,
Albro Griswold (now dcc'd) and his son Daniel C, as also Samuel
Dimock, have taken large quantities from the bank on the west side
of the way, just south of Hog Brook, on the Dividend road. Some
.years ago a stock company was formed called the Rocl-y Hill Polish
Company, for mining this sand — now carried on by Samuel Dimock, one
of the original stock owners. The grit is extensively used all over the
"CF. S. by manufacturers of silverware and white-ware goods of all kinds
— preparatory to plating — for which purposes it is conceded to have
no superior.
SHOEMAKING.
931
Tanneries. — The first tannery in Stepney was established in the
early part of the ISth century, by Ezekiel Smith, and was continued
np to about IS 24, by his son Levi. It was on the west side of the road,
near the gully that crosses just below the Centre Comers. ]\[erriain
Williams, al-;o, had tan vats and a bark mill in the rear of his residence
on Elm Strcr-t very early in the present centiirj'. A memorandum left
by him speaks of buying the machinery for a bark mill, in ilarch, 1813,
for $53. In April, he carted the timber for, and raised the building.
The following entry shows that his son Thomas bought the Kellogg
place (where S. Dimock now lives) in March, 1843, and in August,,
bought off and moved half of the bark mill, or tan house, to that place
for a barn. "Fifteen yoke of oxen drew half of my tan-house into
Thomas' lot for a barn." ^[r. ^ilerriam "Williams also carried on
shoemaking, to a large extent for that day, in connection with his
tanning business.
About 1800, or earlier, Dea. Ebonezer Goodrich, who resided where
Jared G. Dimock now lives, had a tannery at that corner, for many
years — and also carried on the shoemaking trade, in which he em-
ployed several workmen.
Shoemalcing. — In olden times, shoes and boots were made by the
village shoemaker; but, some SO years ago their manufacture was begun,
though not in factories. Sliocdealcrs arose, who began to have stock
cut out, and this was taken to his home by the shoemaker, made np
and returned to the dealer — as "ready made." Sometimes the shoe-
maker lived in a little shop and took apprentices to learn the trade —
as was the case with !Mr. Eli Goodrich, who had a small shop in the
rear of his house on Broad Street, next west of the corner. Excellent
work was done by some of these men who labored in this way. William
Le Vaughn, who lived, until about ISTS, in ithe house on South Street,
opposite the John Williams farm was a capital workman in fine shoes
for ladies' wear. lie was also an excellent fifer, and was for many
years fifer to the Putnam Phalanx, of Hartford, and accompanied them
on their annual excursions.
From an old account book preserved by ^Ir. Charles Williams, it is
learned that in 1799, Willis Williams made shoes for the people.
He lived in an old house where Lewis AVhitmore now lives. In 1802,
Wait Goodrich was making shoes in a shop now part of the late Levi
Smith's house, south of the Centre Corners. In 1780, Ephraim Wil-
liams carried on shoemaking, supposably at Dividend. In 1788, Ed-
ward Bulkely, who lived in the old house where Louis Whitmore
932 ■ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIELD.
now lives iiia<le shoes. Saniiicl Iloliiies was a sliociiiaker at Rocky Ilill,
1788, and Edwin Wright and Levi Boardnian also in 1810.
In the corner west of the property now called the Davis Smith i)lacc,
on the south side of Ferry Street, and east of Cross Street, Isaac Bull,
in the early part of the century had a shoemaker's sho]) (a favorite
resort for male jiTissips and retailers of tcwn news) where he em-
ployed a numher iif WDrkmen. iiull reimived to Ohio, in company
with C'apt. Jasim Ilril)liiiis, and Timothy Clark, di'lvinij- in their own
teams, and settled near Cleveland. Ca]it. Ardiihald (^sdii d Capt.
Jason) followed liis father at a later date.
Coal. — Aside from that used for hhicksmithinu; work, very little coal
was used in Ilocky Hill before 1840. The foundry at the river, in
1840, had coal for its use and sold a little to those needing it. Ahout
the same time, Denj. G. Wel)l> lieoan bringing- in small amounts for
sale, haviuii' a yard on the "shi]) reservation" on the liillsiile north of
the ferry way, L. ^I. and Charles G. Ijcaumont were in the business,
and about ls7i', S. and K. S. ISelden took iioid of the coal trade, usiuij
a part of the old foundry buildings for its storage. After the fire
there, the jn-eseut coal sheds were erected on the site of the burned
building.:. ^lessrs. l]elden sold out the business and property to II.
II. Grant, along with the steamboat dock. Then the Pierce Hardware
Company ran the coal business for a time, Imt returned it finally to ^[r.
Grant. Ambrose Wolcott also did something in the coal line about
1850.
Boring for Coal and Oil. — In the pastures between Brook Street and
north part of West Street, in the valley of one of the branches of the
sotith branch of Goffo's Brook, northeast of the old Zcbulon Bobljins
mill pond, is a spot that has, at different times, attracted attention by
offering suspicions of an oil, or of a coal deposit. An oily scum on the
water that oozed up below the Ijank, finally attracted so much attention,
that in IS-"].", the Rorl-ij Hill Minimi Co. was formed, in the lan-
guage of the lease, to "search for and proeun^ coal, slate, stone or
other minerals." The stockholders were William Wcbli, Dr. Daniel
Fuller, Wait Williams, Abijah Collin-;, Xahum Wilder. Henry Bulke-
ley, Archibald Kobbins, Roderick Grimes and Levi Goodrich 2d, of
Eocky Hill; and Robert Hunt, .lames Tvilliam, Howell T. Ilorton,
Howell W. Brown, Oliver l>i'ainard, Geo. _Merrick. Benjamin Taylor
and Samuel Taylor, mostly or all of Glastonbury; and on a jviid uj)
stock capital of $400, the comi)any leased 15 acres of land from Zebulou
Robbins, 11 from Hannah Robbins, and 20 from Hannah !Mcrriam, for
a term of 50 years, with the privilege of another TiO years extension.
DISTILLERIES-WAGDX MAKING. 933
A tenth part of the net proceeds was to be paid to the owners of these
lands. A couple uf men from Vermont were hired t<:) ii]xm np these
"great expectati<ins."' After liorinij ddwii a consideral)le depth, the borers
struck a sulphur spriug and a htream spouted 20 feet above the sur-
face; some of the water bein;;- u^od, proved to be a brisk cathartic. The
smell of sulphur was so strong that the family with which the operators
boarded (that of Elias W. Kobbins) could not well eat at the same
table with them. As the boring was continued, the ilow was lost. They
struck and went thnaiiih a vein of good coal, but it was only about
one-fourth inch in thickness. The money having been expended with-
out satisfactory rcstilts, the work was abandoned and the company
dissolved. Later, some Xew York parties attempted to exploit the
"find" again — but with no restdts. About 18f)2, William S. Butler of
Rocky Hill, and a ilr. Thorpe, of X. Y., then temporarily keeping the
hotel in the Capt. "Wm. Webb's ]dace, leased the old boring, with a
view to making a further search, but soon abandoned it. A little
reflection, based on even a slight theoretical knowledge of geology, might
have assured these parties that the location was not in a coal-bearing
region. A sulphur spring here, however, is quite within the geological
possibilities — and sulticient search might develope iv.aieching in that
line worth utilizing.
Distilleries. — In January, 1>11, ^liss iJetsy Danforth, writing to her
father, then in Philadelphia, says: "^Ir. Culver was here yesterday;
said the still had raised rye to Ss. the bushel; it would soon be $"2."
As the to\ni sold rye at that period (raising more than could be ttsed
at home) doubtless the farmers ap]>reciated the still.
About ISIT, a gin distillery was built south of the present coal yard,
north of and close by Frog Drook, and east of the road. It belonged
to Justus Bulkeley and was operated l)y Xahum Wilder (father of
Mrs. Walter Itobl)ins) and Alfred Bailey, for several years. Later,
Xew England rum and ciiler brandy were made there. Justus Bulke-
ly, at that time, traded at The Landing.
The distilling of gin, in those days, was as respectable a business,
as the making of maple sugar, and lots of good old Xew England
deacons nutde their money by it, without ever dreaming of coming
short of glory, as a consequence.
Wagon Mal-ing. — About 18:1.5, William X'efF and Edward (father
of Horace li. ) ilerriam, built a building a little way north of the
site of the old distillery (on land bought of ^Irs. Graham), where,
for many years, they did quite a large business in the making of car-
riages and sulkies — mostly for the Southern trade — as they had a
934
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
carriage repository at Wilmington, X. C Neff sold out to Merriam
and went into trade at that place for some years, returning to Kocky
Hill about ISGO. ^Ir. ^lerriam continued the business until bis death,
employing from a dozen to tifteen men in his shop for a great part of the
time. He lived on the Xew road (where his son now resides) by the
big pine tree, in the house built by James Stanley. After ^Ir. ^I.'s death,
about 1845, the shop remained closed, until 1849, when the Ilocl:y
Hill Mfg. Co. started an iron foundry in it ; adding a small house for
engine and boiler. Small cast-iron goods were made there by Am-
brose Wolcott, John Bulkeley, Edward F. Bobbins, Lucius !M. Beau-
mount, Justus Candee and liobcrt Sugden, Jr., who composed the com-
pany. Wolcott soon controlled the stock, and under an arrangeuienr
with him, ]\r. V>. Hartley undertook to carry on the business, but not
succeeding, it was abandoned in IS.jlJ. For some time after 1834,
Lewis Whitmore had a carpenter shop in the building— which again
becoming vacant — was next utilized by Elias W. Eobbins and James
Warner (who l.)ought it) in manufacturing vinegar and ''champagne
cider." Xext, Jas. A. Bobbins came in possession and made a store-
house of it. He sold out to S. & E. S. ijclden and after being put to
several uses — among others, that of a boarding house for men employed
in the construction of the railroad — it was tinally buriKMl in 1870.
Before K^eff & Williams built the wagon shop on the east side of
the road south of the Boundakee, or David Webb house, Wm. Xcff
had been doing a small business in same line in on old shop on the
northeast corner of yard of Jacob Williams' place, later of .Justus
Robbins, of Roderick Grimes and now of Mrs. Shipman. Xcff was
the son of Joseph, the pump and block maker at The Landing. John
L. Thayer, Henry Olds, Stephen Bliss and Henry Harris also worked
with Xcff in this old shop.
Oliver Tucker, Elisha Gilbert, Theo. B. Rogers, Benj. Snell, and
others learned the wagon making trade with Xcff & Williams.
Clock Cases and Peictering. — In 1841, a building drawn from The
Landing to the northeast corner of what (previous to the building of
the railroad) was the fi'ont yard of the Roderick Grimes residence,
was used for a while by Wait Warner, in the manufacture of clock
cases. After him Lewis "Wliitmore made there pewter teapots, block-
tin tumblers and cups, etc. ; then it was a turning shop, with horse
power; then a bedstead manufactory; then a carpenter shop, until it
was finally burned.
Pewter and Tin Ware. — A little over an hundred years ago, Capt.
Thos. Danforth, of Rocky Hill, manufactured pewter and tin goods,
OTHER ROCKY HILL INDUSTRIES. 935
mostlv for the Southern trade — usina; horse power for his machinery.
Among his apprentices was .\.shbel Griswohl, a native of Ivr.cky Hill
(b. 17S4), will), in ISOS. went to Meridan and there began the making
of block-tin goods, and ulrimately became one of the first promoters of
the Brittania ware industry, since grown into an important line of
manufacture in that town. He died in IST);;, wealthy and respected.
The northeast of the Centre Corners in Eocky Hill was the Thomas
Danforth place.
Tinvare. — Xear Talcott A. Arnold's residence, about 1S25, Kussell
and Jalon Dickinson made u]i tin ware for travelling tin peddlers;
a Dr. Hitter had his offices and drug shop here for a time ; went to
Xew York in the business of putting up medicine chests for ships.
Orrin E. Porter for several years from 1S45 was also engaged in the
tinware manufacture. The same shop was at one time on the Dr. Hos-
ford place.
Tailoring. — About ITOS, a Stilhnan built the present "Wait "Warner
house and had his tailor sho]i in the north front room ; he married a
daughter of Dr. Aamn Hn^ford, as early as 17SG; and in the early
part of tlii« century, Dea. Soth Hart, who lived abunt opfn.isite where
Mr. Riley's smithy now is. had a small shop just east of his house
where he did tailoring.
Hatters. — Xear the northeast corner of ]\riss Belinda Goodrich's
home lot, lower end of Prospect Street, PLOvillo Chapman from 1S20 to
30 had a hatter's shop, mostly for village use. Chapnian succeeded
Timothy Clarke, who then carried on the hatter's business up to 1S19,
■w len he left and became one of the first settlers of Cleveland, Ohio,
John Bulkely learned the hatter's trade in this shop.
Broom MaJcing has lieen carried on in the winters for the last forty
years, till lately, by Talcott A. Arnold in a shop near his residence,
east side of Hartford Avenue, generally making up his stock on shares,
for the raisers. This industry is now gone — as no one raises broom
com. During summers, he is a ship caulker. Before him, "Squire
Bill" (W'm. Bobbins, 2d) made brooms at his home, next north of the
"Rocky Hill Hotel"' property. Alfred Bailey was another who made
brooms. The output of brooms made in Rocky Hill in 184:5 was 5,500
— as broom corn was formerly largely raised in this section.
Previous to ISIO, Theodore Blinn was the only person in this sec-
tion who made ptoirs, which were quite diiferent from those now
made. ^Mr. John Williams had one of Blinn's plows that weighed 200
93^ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
pounds. Its beam was a stick of white oak, six inches square. It
took five yoke of oxen and a pair of horses to plow with it in new land,
and it would root up stumps of six inches diameter. The boards of
these plows were of wood nosed with wrought ii-on. In using the
larger sizes, in stuinpv ground, the liody of a cart was taken off, and the
plow hitched to the axle. 'Sir. Pdiun's shop was on the CaljuU road, east
of the hill, the eighth of a mile west of the Shuupike.
Cooper Shop. — In l^O'.i. Elnathau Eutlcr had a coojier's shop down
by ''the gate," at the south line of the town. About 180U, and before,
Hez. Whitmore had a cooper shop on the point of land north of Oliver
Pomeroy's store, aliout where is ]ilr. Ilurlbut's hoi>e->hed — coopering
for vessels at wharves. Later, Mv. W. had a shop at his residence
where liobcrt tSugdeii, -U:, lived hirer.
The Pierce Ilanhrare Co. — In ISSl, a number of citizens of this
place, by an ownership sul>scrii)tioii, bought the Candee property at
The Landing and l)uilt on it the huge foumlry buihling now there,
and which cost, outride of the engine, boilers and sliafting, abcuit .$11,-
000. Alxiut .$li,()0O was raised 1)y subscription and the buildings mort-
gaged for $.■"), 000, to Jonathan Webster, of llerlin, ('oim. The con-
cern was Sold to A. D. Heart & Co., of ^iliddletown. They
put in an engine, and' after a short time induced a IMr. .Maltbie.
of Waterbury, to invest in it; failed after eighteen months,
and the buildings reverted to the subscribers of the building fund
Heart & Co. manufactured hatchets, blanker^, door bolts, cast-iron
goods, etc. The Webster mm'tgage was foreclosed and possession taken
for the mortgage. The plant remained idle till 1SS4, when a new
company was organi/.ed under the above name. This company now
occupies the building, for the manufacture of cast iron ••uon-l)oil-over"
kettles, brackets, door haiigiugs, etc. Capital stock $40,000. Prc.s/-
dent, Clinton E. Davis; Treasurer, Samuel Dimock; Srcrrtnnj. J. W.
Camp, Jr.; Superintendent, Chas. E. Pierce. In March, ISSfi, an
enameling furnace was put up for lining iron kettles, etc., by especial
process. The company is said to be now doing a protitable business in
the same establishment, in the manufacture of sundry articles of hollow
hardware. Eut the leading occupation of Eocky Hill peo]>le is agricul-
tural; and their productions are much the same as. those of the parent
township.
Societies, Etc. — Free Masons. — The charter to Columl)ia Lodge,
No. 25, was granted ;^L1y IS, 17'.)-^, to Asa Deming. Eenjamin Ames,
William Xott, Selah Francis, Oliver Goodrich, Andrew il. Combe,
MASOXIC ORGAXIZATIONS. 937
Roger Iiilcy, Jasun Ijoanhnaii, iLieliurd llilcy, Euus ll(ibbiii.s, -lasou
Robbins and Jului Xott. The loili;e was instituted at Stepney at the
Long Tavern of Josiah Grimes,' on June -IC), of the same year.
CaptaiTi John Xott was the first blaster and was conmiander of a
war vessel on Long Island Sound in 1777. [Most of the charter and
new inenil>ers were sea ea])tains, merchants, otHcers of militia, doctt^rs,
etc. John Xott, William Xott, Oliver Goodrich and Jasnu lioardman
were sea captains; Asa Deming, merchant; Roger Riley, saddler — men
in their day of no little consetpieuce in the comnnmity.
The lodge was c(invened for the secoiul time at Josiah Grimes' house
July 10, 1703, when '"Brother Gideon Wells was passed to Fellow
Craft." Josiali Grimes' house was a tavern and stood where the Rocky
Hill freight depot now is, and was known as the "Long Tavern," being
a long building, one end wood, the other brick.
The lodge met at IJrotlier Selah Francis', who seems to have been
secretary at this time, Doccndier 11), 1793, pursuant to adjournment,
at 4 o'clock ]i. m., and voted to ])ay him five shillings per ni<;ht for
room and firewood, to be paid (piartcrly. At the first annual election
of officers, held January 1, 17l>4, ■'rirurhor Jfjlin Xott was continued in
the chair and Rrotl^r Selah Francis chosen secretary."'
May 4, 1790, Asa Deming was chosen secoiul Worthy Pilaster. Janu-
ary, 2, 1799, the lodge held its meeting at the hall in the house of Capt.
John 3Lirsh, on Ferry Street. Some meetings were held at Simeon
"Williams' (now the Wait Robbins') tavern; also, at ^Irs. Prudence
Bulkely's house — probably the Capt. Charles Eulkoly house, next north
of T. A. Arnold's. In 1S14, the home of the lodge was transferred to
South Glastonbury. On ^lay IS, 1893, the lodge held its Centennial
meeting at South Glastoidmrv, when the Worshipful ^Lister, W. II. II.
Miller, read an historical address.
Ashlar Lodge was instituted here in 1S74, but owing to some in-
formalities in its working, was deprived of its charter, after about
a year's existence. Its Ikjuic was, at one time, in the house now occupied
by Wm. A. Brown, and later at Lewis F. Wriglit's residence. Rev.
Chas. II. Webster was Worslii]>ful blaster; Chas. G. Bcatunont, Senior
Warden; Joel K. Green, Junior Warden; Geo. W. Hewitt, Senior
Deacon; Wni. II. DeWolf, Junior Deacon; Jas. Warner, Secretary,
Daniel IL iledburv. Treasurer; Wm. R. Bulkely, tiler.
Good Templars.— YaWey Lodge, Xo. 133, organized in Rocky Ilill,
25 Febrmiry, 1870, nund)ered 3r> membei-s at the first installation,
and rapidly increased to about one hundred. The promotion of total
abstinence from liquors was its prime object, and literary exercises
938
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
and musical entertainments ^vere accessories to tlic main end. Its meet-
ings were held in Academy Hall, for four vears, wlieu, from one cause
and another, its meml)crship (which -was from Eocky Hill, Cromwell,
South Wcthersfield, Griswoldville and South Glastonbury) decreased
and its last session was held Olst ^larch, iSTrt.
Agricultural Club. — Organized about 1S61, proposed for its object
an annual Autumn exhibition of agricultural, hdrticultural, jiromo-
logical and dairy products and machinery and im]ilements, together
with art and fancy work displays. Its one only fair, held in the Con-
ference Kooin of the Congregational Church was interesting and prom-
ising, but its life was strangled by suspicions of some ulterior political
designs.
About 1S50, or perhaps earlier, was organized The FAderhj Ladies'
Knitting Societi/ of Rocky Hill, with the objects of charitable work
and mutual cultivation. Ilev. Dr. Cliapin drew up its Rules, and Mrs.
C. was its first president; its work was the knitting of woolen socks
and stockings, sold at a small advance on the cost, or given away to
the very needy. The members (mostly connected with the Congrega-
tional Church), met weekly at the house of some member, the hostess
supplying tea. The members, according to IMr. Chas. "Williams' rec-
ollection, M'ore the wives of Jlev. Dr. Chapin. Dea. Joel Goodrich, Dea.
J. G. Dimock, Xaluuu Wilder, Hevilo Chapman, Kodcrick Grimes.
Abijah Collins, Davis Smith, Ackley 'Washington and ^lerriam "Wil-
liams, Geo. and Allen Hobbins, Andi-ew, Horace and Charles Williams,
John Bulkley, Alfred Wilcox, Samuel Butler, Gershom Bulkley, Wil-
liam Goodrich, Ephraim Bowers, Linus Deining, Henry "\Miitmore,
Jasper Goodrich. In 18SS, there were but three of these then living,
viz.: ]Mrs. Smith, ae. 00; ]\rrs. Doming, ae. about S.">, and Mrs. Chas.
Williams, ae. S5. This knitting society was prol)al)ly the parent of
the
The Ladies' Benevolent Society, formed in connection with
the Congregational Church, in ISoO, and witTi a member-
ship of 50, having for its objects social intercourse and the collection of
fimds for the church and missionary purposes. Its meetings, held
once in two weeks, have generally been at private houses, until witliin
the past five years, when they have been held in the church parlor. A
similar organization is connected with the Methodist church here.
Physicians. — The first resident physician of Bocky Hill, was — as
far as we can learn — Dr. Aakox Hoksfoed, said to have come from
Marlborough. He studied medicine with a Dr. Hull, in ileriden, and
married his daughter; located here in 1774, and died 7 April, ISO-t,
ROCKY HILL PHYSICLVNS. 939
of "suffusion of the lungs'' in his 57th year. His granddaughter, ^Irs.
Wra. Xeff, says he had a collegiate education. lie resided, for many
years, opposite to AVait Warner's present dwelling, and, I think, for
a time, in Capt. Charles Eulkeley's house; later in life he built the
large house on the east side of the road, just north of vhcre the old
meeting house stood, and lately occupied by L. ]\I. Beaumont. In
this connection, a story has come down to us, that the Dr. was called up
one bitterly cold night, and on going to the door, was told by a man
just disappearing around the corner of the house, that the caller had
"found a meeting-house astray in the middle of the road, and had
stopped his team, to notify the doctor, so that the building might be
arrested !"
Dr. Joseph Higgixs died in Eocky Hill, July IS, 1707, of consump-
tion; he had been practicing here some nine years previously, and was
a member of the Conn. ^led. Society very soon after its organization.
He was married here, 10 Dec, 1785, to ISTaney (dan. of William) Wil-
liams and sister of Wait Williams, and was interred among that family.
He had a child named Wait Williams Higgins, who died, but
when I came into the town, in 1854, the memory of Dr. Higgins had
entirtl_v disappeared.
Dr. Horsford was succeeded by Dr. Daxif.t. Fuller, from Columbia,
who practiced here until his death, 16 Sept., 1S4.3, in his 69th year,
of erysipelas. He received the honorary degree of ^I. D. from Yale
College, in 1831, some 27 years after beginning practice here. He
is said to have been a very jovial man, full of jokes and a great mimic.
He was also a teacher of music — the Church Treasurer's books showing
payments to him, at various times, from 1805 to 1816, for "teaching
music and leading the choir." He married !Mabel (dan. of Simeon)
Robbins, of Eocky Hill and lived in the old house nearly opposite the
Congregational Church, for a while, which later he exchanged with Capt.
Josiah Butler, for the place now owned by Dr. E. W. Griswold. and
in this house he died. He left two sons, who removed to Xew York;
and a daughter who married a clergyman named Tyler.
In 1841. Dr. A. W. Barrows located in Eocky Hill; but, in 134S,
removed to Hartford. He was from Ashford, studied medicine with
Dr. Welch of Wcthersfield, and graduated Y. C. ; resided for a time on
the Dr. Horsford place, and also on the Dr. Fuller place. He married
Ann Freenuui, of Mansfield, Conn.
After Dr. B.'s removal, a native of the place. Dr. Sylvester (son
of Hosca) Bii.KELEY, who had been practicing several years in Haddaui,
Cromwell and Berlin, came here and followed his profession until
94*^ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIKLD.
his death, 1 Fchniarv, ISjT, in his 70th year. lie was a graJuate of
Y. C, of Dartmouth ]\[e(lical School and resided on Bradford Hill,
where he married 1S25, his second wife, Xaney ((hui. of William,
Sen.) Bradford of Ilocky Hill. A brief hiography of him, by Dr. jR.
W. Griswold will be foiiml in Conn. State Med. Sucictij Proceedings
for 1857. See, also, our Biill-clei) (Jeuealorjij, Vul. 11.
In 1834-."), a Dr. Bitter practiced for a while here, bnt soon removed
to Xew York.
Dr. RcFrs W. Griswolp, author of this chapter, practiced here from
1854, until his death in 11)02. See page — , ante. His three sons,
physicians (Drs. Roger !M., Edward H., and Julius) have been men-
tioned in connection with their father's memoir.
About 18S0, Dr. Wait B. Guiswor.n, then aged 5i), came to Bocky
Hill. He had, when a young man attcnde<l one term of lectures at Yale,
and began practice in the western part of the state. During the War
of the Civil Bebellion, he served for a slmrt time, as Assistant Surgeon
in the Army, tliou attended lectures in Xew Y(U-k City; grad. ]\[. D.,
and came tirst to Hartford, thence to Bocky Hill ; later, was in the
patent medicine business, and died 12 July, 1887, ae. G7.
Fraxic Loli.-^ Bri;i:, ]\1. I)., a native of Killingwortii, Ct., grad. at
Med. College in Philadcl])liia, Pa., in 1871, and came to Rocky IHU
in 1884. having ])revi(Misly jiracticed thirteen years in iliddletown, Ct.
Dr. CiiARi.E.s E. Stanlky, at one time an Assistant Physician in tiie
State Insane Asylum, at ]\liddletown, a graduate (if Uni\ersity of Penn-
sylvania, lS7l^ is a native of Rocky Hill; as, also, is Dr. Everett S.
(son of James) Wakxer, graduate of Coll. of Phys. and Surgeons,
X. Y. City, 1878, and now practicing in Xew York City.
Physicians' Fees, in the days of Drs. Horsford ami Fuller, were
much less than at present, since the cost of living was then much less
than it is now. AMien rye was 25 cents per bushel, potatoes a shilling,
and wood $1.00 per cord, medical visits could bo made for uiuch less
than now. One of Dr. Fuller's old account books, found in the garret
of the house I now occupy, shows visits charged at the rate of the Yan-
kee shilling — 10 2/3 cents. He practiced here until 1843, by which'
time the charge for medical visits had risen to 33 and 38 cents, medicine
being extra; and Dr. Barrows, who came in 1841, and left in 1848,
told me he could not get the price of an ordinary visit above the latter
figiire. By the time I entered upon practice here, the price had aug-
mented to 50 cents, whereas, in AVethersfield, at tlie same time, it was
75 cents. The figure for an ordinary obstetric case was $3, the old
fee of the midwives was $1.00. By 1861, the price for ordinary visits
ROCKY HILL PIIYSICL\NS.
941
had become (12 cents, and ol.-stctric case^ $4:.00 and i?5.00. Al.out ISGl,
when war prices came in for evoryrliiiig, tlie doctor's visit brought
him $1.00 and obstetric attendance $'.).00. The doct.n- of 73 and 100
years ago, performed twice or three times as much labor for the same
monev as is require-l of the doctor of to-day; but, as all sorts of labor
were correspondingly low, and the necessities of life were less, he may
have been just as well off at the end of the year. There was, at least,
much less of "dead-heading" among his patients, and likely more grati-
tude for his services, than falls to the lot of his successor of 1S90-1900.
Nearly, or quite through the period of ju'actice of Drs. Ilorsford.
Fuller and Barrows, uiediciues were mostly furnished to patients,
bv prescription, through the drugstore. This may have been the case,
even earlier than Dr. Fuller, for there was a small line of drugs kept
in the Dea. Scth Hart house (now gone) opposite Eisleys present
smith shop, as early as ISOO, or before. Dr. Fuller became interested
in the drug business in Wait Williams' store, and one of his sons was
clerk there. It was continued after the doctor's death, and by Eevilo
Chapman. Fuller, P.arrows and Ihdkely sent their customers to this
store for nearly all their medicines— thus making an extra bill for
families of the "sick, and giving them the trouble of going to the drug-
shop about as often as the doctor made his visits. During the latter
part of Dr. Fuller's life, the '-Thompsonian" practice came into this
region; also, "steam doctoring." The Tlionipsonian and the Botanic
practice were identical and their ]n-actitioners cut the drug-shop, and
carried their remedies with them— thus insuring to their patients a
saving both of expense and frequent travel— and the resident physicians
here lost ground. Hence, when I came hei'c in 1S54-, I found it expedient
to furnish medicines fur my own j-atients. There has been no^ real
drugstore here since, /. e., for the putting up of d.ictors' perscriptious :
but a large amount of proprietary medicines are sold in all the general
stores. Thompsonian, Botanic and Steam doctoring, after a few years.
fused down into what is now known as the Eclectic System of practice;
and still later Homeopathy usurped the field to some extent.
il/iW (Circs.— Previous to 1TT4, we cannot learn that there was any
medical practitioner located in Buicky Hill; the people, of whom by that
time there were many, had to resort to Wetherstield proper for medi-
cal srvice. In child-births, the village womcn-midwives were called
upon, as they still are in some sections. The ,.reseuce of the man-doctor
in the lvin--in room was then consi.lered neitliev proper, or necessary.
The earliest woman midwife in Rocky Hill, of whom we have any trace.
was "Granny Guiswold"— n^r Mrs. ]\Iercy, second wife of Josiah Gns-
942
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSKIELD.
wold, wlio lived in the old village inn which stood nearly opposite the
Edmund Lulkeley house, a little south of the existing (1880) Daniel
Warner house, now owned by Justus L. Bulkeley. She died, November
3, 1819, ae. 82, and followed her calling until quite late in life, and
probably was present at the birth of hundreds of the early Kooky Hill
people. Doa. Jared G. Dimmock (who was connected with the family)
relates of her that an inquisitive urchin of some eight or ten years,
Chester Holmes by name, hearing of the number of babies that came into
the world by the old lady's help, once asked her where she got them all,
and was answered "out of my chamomile bed in the garden." The next
day. Granny found her flower-bed had been completely dug over — the
youngster having thoroughly explored it in search of more small chil-
dren ! The Dea. says she had a record of the births she had officiated
at — but it has not been preserved to us.
Since from about thirty or forty years before 1850, two women
divided the honors at this end of the town, viz. : !Mrs. Oliver (second
wife and widow of Capt. Oliver, Jr.) Goodrich and ]\Irs. James
Bulkeley, who were familiarly known as ''^liss Oliver" and "Miss
Jim." These two old ladies officiated at a great many births, the for-
mer was the nujio immediate successor of Granny Griswold ; the latter
had some calls up to about 1357. Among these was the wife of Walter
Robbins, 185-1, (calling in the services also, of Dr. Bulkeley), who
was delivered of three children — all now living — at one confinement,
being the only triplet case known of in the town.
In 1874, there died, in the West District, where she had mostly re-
sided, and at the age of SO, a noteworthly old woman, generally known
as "Aunt Kate Weight." Late in life she married for her second
husband, Alvin Collins, who lived in the little old. house opposite the
Nehemiah Stevens' place. Aunt Kate had quite a reputation as a
doctor, and with her tall gaunt form and sharp ways, was, indeed, a
character. She had a deal of knowledge of the medicinal properties
of many native plants and roots, and from which she made syrups and
decoctions. She compounded a salve (of Burgundy pitch, red precipi-
tate and spirits of turpentine, and sorrel leaves, with perhaps some
other ingredient), which had a wide reputation — and with which;
together with some other sorrel preparation, she treated cancers (or
tumors, which passed under that head), with quite as good results as
those attained by "the cancer doctor," with whom all sorts of skin
disease and outside sores are called cancers. She also furnished women
approaching cliild-birth confinement, with what she called "papoose
root," to render labor easy. The matron who had an easy labor, not hav-
INDIANS IN ROCKY HILL. 943
ing taken this remedy, attributed her good fortune to kindly nature,
and was right; whereas if she had taken "papoose root" she would
have credited the easy labor to Aunt Kate's mixture. Out of this
ease of human credulity, and without any analysis of the philosophy
connected with the supposed virtues of the article used, ''papoose root"'
had, of course, a local celebrity; and, as the old lady was shrewd enough
not to disclose what the root really was, she preserved her reputation
as a useful member of society — and her secret departed with her life.
Though it is a little outside of the historical to enquire what were
the average results to mothers and children, of this midwife attendance
at confinements, it is to be noticed that, studying the mortuary lists of
the parish since 1775, (the period at which "causes of death"' began to
be appended to the names of deceased, on the records) the words, "in
child bed" — "in childbed confinement,"— occur with a frequency much
in excess of the mortalities from the same cause, as recorded in the
present day. This fact is sigiiificant.
Indians. — It does not appear that the region now known as Ilocky
Hill had any especial Indian name, or that there was within its limits
any Indian village or settlement. It may, indeed, be doubted i{
there was any su<_h settlement within the limits of the original town
of Wethersfield. Evidences, however, point to an Indian settlement
along the Mattabesett Kiver, at and south of TJccklcy Quarter, in Ber-
lin. The sub-tribe at this point were known as the ]\lattabesetts — a
brancii of the Wongunks, whose hunting grounds and nominal ownership
extended over the region on both sides of the river as far south as the
straits below Middletown — which latter place bore the name of Matta-
besett. Sowheag was apparently the Sachem of this whole region;
Judge Adams thinks his seat, or home, was at Beckloy Quarter ; basing
his conjecture upon the fact that Sowheag's successor, Tarramuggus,
in 1670, sold to Richard Beckloy, the Settler, 300 acres of land lying
around the [Mattabesett, at that point near the southwest corner of
Wethersfield, but now in the town of ]jerlin. But, the aborigines ranged
at large and hunted over the present Ilocky Hill territoiy. Small
game was abundant in the woods, the sti-eams were well stocked with
fish. Dividend Brook, below the falls of the Beckly mill site was then
doubtless full of shad, and alewives, in the spring, could be easily
caught at that spot. Gofl^e's Brook, at about where the bridge now
is, "was a favorite resort of "whops" during the spring freshets, and
we may reasonably sup])ose that the Indians fished out quantities of
them every season, since this place has continued to be a favorite fish-
ing place down to within twenty years. Beaver, musk-rat and mink
944 HISTORY OF ANCIEXT WETHERSFIELD.
wore abundant alung tlic streams and in the meadows; woodcliuck were
on the hillsides and sUnnks in tlie plains; ralil)its and squirrels peopled
the woods; patridues were plenty in the bushes and quail in the the
open, and the wild turkey had not quite departed. It was upon such
that the Indian dei)en(led far more for his sustenance than upon what
he raised from the i;i-ound ; work was not his fuiic, and occupied but
little of his time or attention.
Slaves. — The records of Stepney parish mcntidti in [May, IT'lS, the
marriage of Dick" servant of Elias Williams, and Ivose, servant of
David Webl); October 10, 17Sl>, of Xewport, servant of Elisha Callcn-
der and Rose, servant of Elisha Wolcott ; Aui;ust I'lt, IT^lt, of Tlmmas
Palmer, a free negro, and ,linny, servant of .Jnhu Itobbins, Esq. These
marriages were like those of their white masters, an<l the ceremony
was performed by the minister of the parish. Iiegnlar marriages like
these seem to have l)een of rather rare occurrences, the connection of the
slaves being more often of a left-handed nature. The mortuary record
gives the death in ITSI, fif Erank, servant of Samuel Foster; in
1TS5, of Dick, servant of Elias Williams; in .ITSS, of Lucy, servant
of [Moses Williams; in 179o, a negro child in the family of Jacob Kiley
(Riley having a family of sla\'es, some of whom v.crc in his care, off
and on, thro^lgh the first ([uarter of the present century) ; and in ISOO,
of Rose, black servant of Captain William Griswold.
These black chattels are never spoken of in the record as slaves, but
always as "servants."
Slaves are first mentioned in ITiKO; Imt in 1()72, the General Court
decreed: "That if any servant shall flee from the Tyranny or Cnielty
of his, or her, master, to the house of any Inhabitant of tlie same
Town, they shall there be protected and sustained till due Order be
taken for their relief."
In a report made to the Ilonie Government, from the Colimy in IflSO,
it was said: "And for Dlacks, there comes sometimes ?> or 4 in a year
from Barbadocs; and they are sold usually at tlie rate of 22 li [£ '^.J'
apiece, sometimes more and sometimes less, according as men can agree
with the masters of vessels, or merchants that bring them hither."
The Boston Gazette, of July :'.0, 1T<U, (three months before The
Connecticut Courant was foundccl ) had this item:
"We hear from Rocky Hill, Conn., that a negro lielonging to ~Mt.
Boundykee [Brandagee in the present s])clling], having been offended,
took a knife and fiint, and ran up to the garrett, were there was
a half barrel of ]>owder, and struck fii'o therein, which blew the negro
and the roof of the house into the air, and tore him to ^licccs; and a
SLAVES IN ROCKY HILL. 945
man in tho house sinv him strike fire once, which did not catch, and
saved liimself hj running down stairs just before the explosion."
This house which had its roof blown off stood where the south end
of the front building of the Pierce Hardware Company now does,
and was burned in 1S7G. When the railroad was built throuf'h here
in 1871, the bones of a man were imearthed a few rods below the
scene of this incident; and they were believed to be those of that sui-
ciding negro servant of IT 04.
It is notorious that many Xew England bottoms, all along do^^-n
through the last century, were used in the slave trade. Vessels left
New England ports for Lisbon or tlie Canary Islands "and a market,"
and the market was the west coast of Africa, and the return cargo a
load of blacks for AVest India ports or the Southern ports of the Col-
onies. This business was of a clandc-stine character, but was winked
at, and not reckoned morally criminal. In the burying ground at
Rocky Hill is a tombstone on which is cut — Captain Eichard Dunn
of Newport, R. I., died 1701, aged GO. Captain Dunn's daughter
Mary married Alexander Grimes of Rocky Hill, and the captain spent
his last days here and died here. It is of tradition among the people
now living here who were born in the first quarter of the last cen-
tury, that Captain Dunn had made a fortune in the slave trade, but
had lost it before coming to Rocky Hill to spend his last days. Xarra-
gansett bay was the home of many vessels surreptitiously engaged in
transporting blacks from Africa. Whether or not the same sort of
trade was carried on from the wharves of Rocky Hill cannot be known;
but the probabilities are that some of it was done, for the good people
here were not less enterprising than other Xew Englanders, and quite
as ready to make an honest dollar. If a vessel out of the Connecticut
was gone six or nine months on a trading voyage, only the crew and
the owners knew where she had cruised to.
It is of some interest to note that the negroes, whether slaves or freed,
did not sit in the meeting house in either the body of the building
below, or in the galleries. In the present building of the Rocky Hill
Ecclesiastical Society a special sort of box or stall was made for them.
This was high up behind the singer's gallery, and at the farthest pos-
sible remove from the pulpit. It was the same in nearly all Xew
England meeting houses. Provision was made for the blacks to go and
hear the preached gospel on the Sabbath ; but this was probably rather
more for the purpose of knowing where they were on Sunday than
with the hope of d.nng them si>ccial gr)od ; for our forefathers of that day
hardly appreciated the possibility that the negro had a soul worth
946
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
saving, nor, as Justice Tanev expressed it in the Dred Scott case,
did they recognize that he had "any right wliich a white man was
bound to respect," though they were, without doubt, as comfortably
cared for by tlie owners as any white hired man or woman, and "often
supported when they were past rendering any service.
There is not mucli doubt that these "blacks" from Barbadoes or other
West India Islands were inveigled on board vessels with the promise
of transportation to freedom, and sold as slaves, on the arrival of the
vessel home. The conscience of the white master or mistress was less
disturbed over such a transaction than it would have been over the
theft and sale of a horse. Our "forbears," both those who were godly
and prayerful, and those who were rough and blasphemous, though
tenacious for freedom for themselves and ready to fight for it, seemed
to be oblivious of the fact that a "nigger" had any right to the same
glorious heritage. What the nigger needed was a master to take care
of him.
In 1730, the number of slaves, Indians and negroes, in the Colony
was estimated at about 700. In 1756, there were 3,587 blacks and
in 1774, 0,404, and in that year further importation of slaves into the
Colony wns prohil)ited. This, liowcver, troubled our worthy captains
and merchants very little, since the Southern Colonies afforded a
readier and better market for this kind of stock. It is worthy of note,
in connection with this prohibitive legislation, that the reason assigned
for it in the preamble to tlie act was that "the increase of slaves in
the Colony is injurious to the poor, and inconvenient." That there
was any turpitude in the existence of slavery, seems not to have oc-
curred to the legislators, or else the thought was concealed beneath the
consciousness of what was best for his o-\vn material interest.
Tobacco. — ^Mention has been made of tobacco as one of the products
of the early settlers in the Connecticut valley. I suppose some was
gro\vn here. The General Court in 1753, passed this vote:
"That each town in this colony wherein tobacco is or shall be raised
for exportation shall at their annual to\\-n-meetings for electing town
officers, choose two or more fit persons to be surveyors and packers of
tobacco for the year ensuing, who shall carefully survey and search
the tobacco by them to be packed, and shall cull out and report all
such brands of tobacco as are in whole or in part damnified by the
infusion of an}-thing liquid, or by being kept too moist, or by frost,
heat or by any other means whatsoever; and shall pack or press no
tobacco but what is by him judged to be sound, well ripened, suffi-
ciently cured, and every way good and merchantable."
ONION GROWING.
947
It (Iocs not appear that very large amounts of tohacco were sent
from here in the earlier days of our history, \\lien the manufacture
of cigars was introduced, it was the custom in many families for the
women to employ their leisure time, from domestics duties proper,
in cigar making. The stemming of the leaves, and the sorting of wrap-
per from filler, the cutting out and the rolling, were done by the same
work-woman. 3Iuch of the tobacco grown was "made up" in this
way and the cigars were traded off at the stores for such groceries as the
family needed. This domestic manufacture continued down to the
opening of the civil war of ISOl. These home-made products were
commonly known as ''barn-yard cigars". They answered just as good
purpose in making a nasty mouth as the finest grades of Havanas.
Onions. — A considerable share of the onions raised here and sent off
by one and another mode of conveyance were "bunched.'' The bunching
of onions seems in a fair way to become one of the lost arts of farm
life in Connecticut. The work was mostly done by the women. Onions
were so "stripped" (that is deprived of the wilted top) as to leave a
shriveled stem of about one and a half to two inches long. In bunching,
the large onions were thrown out to be sold by the bushel. Seated on the
barn or corn -house floor, with an old skirt tied avuund the waist and over
the every-day dress, to keep off some part of the dirt, with her legs
extended straight out in front, a pile of onions at the left hand and a
bundle of rye straw cut to about twenty-two inches in length, a ball of
twine and an old case knife, the woman was ready to begin work.
Taking ten or a dozen straws and clasping them together, the twine was
wound half a dozen times around the large end of the bundle; this
formed the core. The woven end of the core was thrust between the legs.
so that the core stood straight up its full length. With the left hand an
onion was picked up and its stem laid against the straw ; with the right
hand, the twine was carried once around the core, including in the ^"ind
the stem of the onion ; a second onion was treated in the same way. and so
on, building up a four cornered "string" of the length of sixteen to
twenty inches ; the larger onions used being put at the bottom and the
smallest at the top, on a gradual taper. The twine was fastened at the
top bv pulling it four or five times between the straws; and the
bunch was thus finished. The workwomen were paid so much the
hundred bunches.
As this work was no impediment to conversation, the women were
fond of bunching, with half a dozen around the same heap. Then they
sized up the parson, dissected the doctor, castigated the school teacher,
ham-strung the singing master, weighed the grocery man, measured the
948
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIELD.
tailor, wfixpd the cobbler, and baminorod the blacksmith. "What was not
discussed was not worth talking about in that bailiwick. To tlie male
philosopher who sat on the up-tumed half-bushel measure and stimulated
the convei'sation by an occasional leading observation on men and things
in the village, there was more room for fun than is afforded by any
modern circus.
The ''weeding" part of the raising of onions and garlic, up to 25
years ago, was done by the women, who in the performance of that duty,
crawled along upon their hands and knees. Very few of the farmers'
wives and daughters were too aristocratic to weed onions; and their labor
in that direction was a most important help to thrift in the family.
Nowadays, however, a woman in the oniiin field, would be almost a curi-
osity. This change is due, partly, to progress in the condition of the
female part of the population ; and partly to the fact that the labor is
not as remunerative, as formerly ; for it is a truth that the soil has, dur-
ing the past 30 years, lost some of its former productive quality for
onion raising — though some are still grown. Up to about 1850, onions
were sown in drills, by hand ; the women crawling over the ground to
scatter in the seed. Ent, about that time, seed-sowing machines came
into usr>^ nnd greatly abridged the lab(')r. Carrots, i)arsnips. beets, cab-
bage and lettuce were often grown with the onions.
Onions had become a considerable article for exi>ort from here, and
some other places in the state, (AVethersficld being early famed for
this product) before 1750. In 17G0, the General Court made this
enactment : "Whereas there are great quantities of onions raised in this
Colony for a nuirkct, and it is become a custom to make up the greatest
part of them in ropes or bunches, and no rule has been fixed for the
number, weight, or measure, contained in each bunch, for want of which
great inequality and injustice hath happened; for remedy whereof
Be it enacted hy the Governor, Council and Representatives, in
General Court assetnhled, and by the anthorUij of the same: That for
the future no onions shall be offered fur sale that are not good and mer-
chantable, well cured and dry, nor shall any bunches of them be sold or
offered for sale, or put into any land or water carriage to be transported
to market that are not fully cured, well and firmly bunched, and of five
pounds weigh at least." The penalty for selling or offering for sale, or
transport any bunched onions that did not meet this requirement was
"si.xpence for each bunch that shall fall short of the weight aforesaid."
In 1821 a similar enactment was made, with the difference that the
weight of the bunches was put at three pounds and a half, and they were
to be inspected by a legally chosen inspector. "\Miat attention, after the
OLD TREES. 949
last named date, was paid to tlic law, I cannot learn; but it was not very
long after that time that each owner had liis onions roped to suit himself,
and bargained them off without inspection save by the purchaser. There
was a large difference made in the size of the bunches ; and when the
crops of the different fanners wvvo put into the same vessel-load and
sent off to be sold on commission, it was often the case that the large-
bunches of one man helped to sell the small ones of another, and the
better bunclu^s returned no more money. Up to steamboating days,
bunched onions were counted out of tlic carts on to the deck of the
vessel at the dock, or into the hold, and shipped, off in bulk; in later
years many of the mpes were jiaeked in barrels and headed up. This
was for greater facility in handh"ng. Tlie larger onions were conmionlv
shipped in barrels, and wore alsu headed in.
Old Trees. — The elms on the west side of ]Main St., from the Centre
School House north to the Chester B. Goodrich lot and south to the
Church, were set out about lSn2, by liev. Geo. ]\ruir Smith. The trees
on Old School-ITouse Park and around the corner northeast and north-
west were set out by Dr. liiifus "\V. Griswold from 1SG2-06, and the
park leveled up and filled in in places. There is here a mixture of elms,
maples, ash and horse chesnuts.
The elms on the triangle of the ^I. E. Cluirch property, were set out
by some members of that Society, at about the same period. The old
elms on Elm St. have been there nuiny years — probably about 1810, and
very likely at the instigation of licv. Dr. Chapin, who was ever active in
all matters of public importance, ilr. Merriara Williams was associated
with him in this work.
A fine double row of shade trees, for about three-fourths of the length
of New France, or Farms St., set out, about 1850, by the dwellers on that
street, render it one of the most delightful roads in the town. The elms
in front of Chester Goodrich's barn were set out by him, in 1840 and
1845 ; and those across the street in front of the Levi-Eobbins-Riley
place, were probably set out by Mr. Robbins.
The fine sycamores in front of the Capt. Daniel A. ]\Iills place, are
probably now 75 or 100 years old, and the fine group of 4 sycamores,
near Lewis \Miitman's joiner-shop, on the turnpike, are probably of
nearly the same age ; and there arc some good specimens of the tree in
front of the Bradford Ilill house. The sycamore is not indigenous, the
original in this country having been imported from England.
The row of large old maples, inside the fence of the Squire Joseph
Bulkeley homestead, were doubtless set out by him as far back, or
before 1800, as also the large elm in front. About the same time,
95^ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
probably, were set the fine row of maples on south side of South St., on
the Elias Williams' homestead — most of which have been cut down
within the last two decades of years. The row originally e.Ktended to
where the residence of Edward Allen, deceased, now stands.
The trees along the bank, east of the traveled road on Hartford Ave.,
from the ilorton property north to the hotel, are some of them a
hundred years old ; and near Mr. Deane's smith-shop is a (live) sycamore
stump measuring 21 ft. circumference, three ft. from the ground and
8 ft. up, where it begins to branch, 23 ft.
Ways of Livixg. — In the Olden Time. — The "living''of the people of
the parish for the first 150 years was very plain. Of wild game and
fish they had a good supply. One of the most common dishes was
"bean porridge." This was usually made of salt beef and pork boiled
with beans to a mush, and seasoned with herbs. Of tea and coffee they
had very little till the latter part of tlic ISth century. From 1G50 to
1750, the chief drinks, after water, were milk and home brewed beer.
The brewing of beer was in most families as regular a part of the
domestic life as the nuiking of rye In-cad. From after about 1750,
apple orchards had come into full bearing, and cider began to take the
place of beer as a steady drink on the table. The apples grown were
mostly cider-fruit, very few were winter-keepers. Large orchards were
without a tree of winter apples; and it was not till do^ra after ISOO that
winter-keeping apples were grown to any e.xtent. Butcher carts and fish
carts, for peddling, were not known. Farmers killed their own beeves,
and salted down what was not consumed fresh. Exchanges of fresh
beef, veal, mutton and pork, around the neighborhood, were common.
A killed a calf the 1st of April ; B another the 1st of ^lay, and C, another
the 1st of June, and by' "swapping off" the three families \ised up the
three calves. Very much more corn-meal was eaten than now, and it
was much bettor for the health of the people than the fine wheat flour
diet of to-day. There were no carpets on the floors ; furniture was plain,
and not much of it. The common lable-ware was jiewter; but a few
of the most wealthy families boasted of their silver tankards and beakers
for family use. Stoves were not known till long after ISOO. The long
"settle," with its high back to keep off the draught of air from the
windows, was hauled around in front or to one angle of the big
fire place — seldom less than six feet wide and often eight — and on this
the family made itself comfortable in the long winter evenings. The
up-stairs sleeping rooms were seldom "done oft"," and in them was no
lack of fresh air. Woolen sheets to sleep in were in general use for
winter, and on extra cold nights the long-handled brass warming-pan.
SNOW STORM OF ISfJ*. 95 '
heated with coals from the fire phice, \vas run through each bed before
the children crawled in for the night. "\Miether this style was not better
for the health of the youngsters than the heated rooms of the present
fashion is an open question. Ilubber shots and boots were things un-
known. All our fathers and mothers, till after ISOO. depended upon
cow-hide for winter \vear. Very few of the men wore Ixwts : high shoes
were the usual foot wear ; these were well tilled with beef tallow, to keep
out the water. "When the snow was deep people pulled on old long
stockings, and tied theni around the sIkics, and in that way kept out the
snow. This old stocking was called a "leggin." In warm weather all
children, and most adults, went bare-footed. Young women had thin
shoes and stockings for Sunday wear; but if they walked to meeting (and
very few rode) they carried their shoes and stockings to some place not
far from the meeting house, then washed their feet and put on the foot
gear. Going home, the shoes and stockings were taken off and carried.
In this way one pair of shoes lasted longer than six do now. In numer-
ous ways, people sttidied like economists, and thus became "fore-
handed," besides raising their large families of children. The real
necessities of life are but few ; but as between what the people of even
one hundred years ago in our village, and in all Xew Znirland villages,
considered the necessities and what to-day are considered such, there is
a long list of articles.
Snoiv Storm of ;S<S,S.— :\[arch 11, 12, 1.3 and 14. IS^S, gave western
and southern Xew England and Southern !New York what was probably
the biggest snow storm of the section since 1717. Rwky Hill had its
share of the snow. There was no travel fur three days. Snow banks
were drifted all the way up from bare ground in some places to depths of
8, 10, 12 and 15 feet. The road to West Eocky Hill was not dug through
tiU Friday of the week after. . . The potential forces for breaking
out roads after snow storms were much better 100 and 150 years ago
than they have been in the last 20 years. Those potential forces were of
three kinds — first, more voting men than now in the farm houses of the
town, and nearly all ready for a '"lark ;" second, three or four times as
many yokes of oxen in the place as can be found to-day; and thirdly,
open taverns and stores in the village, where free good cheer to the
drivers and shovelers was certain to be dispensed when the teams came
around. Crackers and cheese, washed do^\•n with a hot whisky punch or a
mug of flip, were expected at The Landing or at the taverns on Main
street, and mugs of cider at the farm houses along the route. With these
incitements ahead, "breaking out the roads" after big snow storms was
simply fun for all the boys. 'Now, the boys have mostly left for the
952
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
larger places ; the cattle have become slaughtered, and are not
replaced ; and the potency of flip and cider is ruled out entirely.
As for the last of the three factors in road breakings, it is probably better
that it has been mostly banished ; nevertheless, snow drifts are not con-
quered with the readiness and ease witnessed in the older time.
Speaking of the potency of this last named factor, ]\Ir. Williams
tells this about his tincle Joshua, an older brother of John.
Joshua was a Congregational clergyman, and preached many years
in Ilarwinton, Ct., where one of his daughters married the then
Abijah Catlin, a hatter. One time Joshua visited the old homestead
and his brother John. After some congratulatory talk the Rev. Joshua
asked, if they had "any rum in the house'" ? "Xo,'' said his l)rother; "but
I have some capital home-made gin ;" whereupon the decanter was put
out, and the young Charles was astonished to see his lieverend uncle
take a verj' big drink. Charles never followed the good uncle's example.
Hot toddies did not come amiss to the clergymen of those (hiys.
There is a funn*- story about Rev. John Joshua and his son-in-law
Catlin. Catlin had the hai)it of frecjnently quoting the f-orcihh words
of the Bible. The father-in-law called him to account for the habit.
"But you use the same words," said Catlin. "Yes, said Williams, but
I don't use them to swear : I can say 'by God' three times in succession,
and not swear." "I'll bet a hat you can't," responded Catlin. "Agreed,"
said the preacher. The next Sunday, in his pulpit discourse, the Ilev.
Williams got it in, in a proper place, and in a proper way — "by God we
live, by God we breathe, and by God we have our being ;" and "by God,"
said Catlin from his pew, "you sliaU have the hat."
Rocky Hill Townsliip was incorporated in ^lay, 18-13. As early in
the century as ISIG, there had been an unsuccessful attempt in this
direction ; and, it may be said that at that date Stepney Parish, both as
to houses, population and industrial resources, was quite as well able —
if not more so — to take earc of itself as an independent community, as
it was 27 years later. The enumeration of its population in 1779 was
8S1, which included such people as may have been north of GofFe's
bridge to Dix's Corner, on the main road, but did not include such as
may have been living on the road north of the Dea. Joel Goodrich place
and thence west to Becklcy Quarter, which would quite balance oflf the
people north of Goffe's Bridge — and this eniuneration of 1779, it must
be remembered, was in the midst of the Revolutionary War, and in a
season of great depression. It was after the close of the War that the
place began to experience an increase of its maritime business and
consequent trade, ship-building and connected industries — and this was
ROCKY HILL TOWNSHIP.
953
accompanied by an increase of pitpulation. From 1780 to 1820 ensued
a period full of promise and of indications that the place would become
a place of more importance that it has ever been since. Indeed, it was
then of moi-e importance. The i-ecords of the two Library associations
established here in ITDlr-o show a better list of male adults than could
be gathered to-day. There might not have been as many dwellings
within the town limits as now; but they averaged more persons to a
dwelling; and it is by no means certain that there were not as many
houses ; for there were houses then standing at several places where are
none now. Between 1800 and 1800, it is not likely that there was much,
if any, increase of population. There were, indeed, ])robably more
people in the town in 1816, than at the time of its incorporation in 1843.
In 1S50, the population was 1004 ; in 1800, it was 1042 ; in 1870, 1012 :
in 1880, 1109 and this last enumeration had the beuctit of all doubtful
cases. The culminating point of Eocky Ilill's population was from
1872 to '74, directly after the opening of the railroad — at which time
there was a small "boom" and a slight increase (perhaps loO) in the
population, taking it up to about 1150, or possibly a little higher. Aftei-
1875, some injudicious alteration of the TJ. R. tini(^schodules, aifccting
the con'-cniouce of workmen, between Ry-ll. and TLutford, de.-tnjved the
small evidence of life previously .'shown and the poinilation began to
diminish, until in ISSO, it was a little over 1000.
From the figures above given, and from some collateral e\i<]ence, it
appears that from about 1790, or a little earlier, the population of the
place, varying from time to time has only about held its own. Taking
all this period together, the natural increase (rather in proportion to
the number of inhabitants in the last quarter of the ISth and first quarter
of the 19th, than since) has been in e.xcess of the deaths; but, the excess
of emigration over imniifjratiuii has kept the population about evenly
balanced. \Miilst we have had, since 1850, an incoming of inhabitants,
mostly from Ireland, there has been a corresponding out-going of the
descendants of the English first settlers. The homes and acres of the
Connecticut Yankee have been passing into the hands of the emigrant
from Europe ; the children of the former have gone to the City, or to
the West, and the character of the population is rapidly changing.
To one looking over the town to-day, and seeing the number of houses
that have been erected in the forty years past, there would seem to be a
greater increase in dwellings, than the facts would warrant. If Ave
begin at the Xorth end of town, investigation will prove that at places
now vacant, there were formerly some 50 dwelling houses.'
^In the period from 1775 to 1825, (1) the Heart house at the meadow gate;
954 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETIIERSFIELD.
These old buildings once stood, where is now a vacancy of all human
life and action. The list given docs not include those short-lived houses
built at a later date and now, also, gone; nor those dwellings standing
where new have since been built. It represents losses in dwelling houses
and ser\-cs to show that, in the half century mentioned there was more
to the town in almost every way than it can boast of to-day, so far as re-
lates to its material property.
[Dr. Griswold's ^Iss. contains much more of more modern date
concerning Ixeal Estate and Euildings of the period between 1854 and
1885, than our limits will pennit of printing in fidl. He gives a
list (with owners' names, date of erection and location) of buildings
erected within that period — numbering 97 in all — ; and shows that
while, for a short period following the building of the railroad through
Rocky Hill, there was a great influx of new comers and a correspondingly
increase in new buildings — (so that real estate took on correspondingly
fancy prices) — yet an unwise lack of accommodation on the part of the
railroad, checked the impetus of improvement and relegated the town
to its former dullness. — Editor.]
(2) the Zcbuluii bobbins liouse halfway up the hill; (3) another Robhins house
south of where Hiram Baldwin liverl ; (4) a Boardinan house just north of the old
one now standinf;; (5) the Edwards house north of the Neff plaee ; (fl) the Goodale
house, south of T. A. Arnold's; (7) the Morton house, north of the present brick
Morton house; (8) the Belden house opposite Wait Warner's; (9) the Rile}' house
in the corner below; (10) in ^Meadow Lane, the Jlosley house; (11) the Chapman
and (12) Callender houses; (13) the Candee house, where the factory is; (14) two
houses on the ship yard reservation; (15) the old Ilezikiah Grimes' home a little
north; (10) the Sophronia Dickinson house west of the R. R. freight depot ; (17) the
"Long Tavern" north of tlis R. R. passenger station; (18) the Graham house on
Bradford Hill; (19) the Hart house opposite Rislcy's smith's shop; (20) the
Smith house west of the Burying Ground; the GriswoldHickock house
N. of the Burying Ground; (22) Robinson; (23) Shailer; (24) Levi
Godrich and (25) Prescott Bulkelej' houses below the Burying Ground; the (26)
Jagger Bulkeley house nortli of the South School house; (27) a Butler house near
the IX mile stone; (28) a Bulkeley liouse by the sand bank north of Down Hill;
(29) the Collins house on Plains St.: (30) a house on the Russell property on Spring
St.; (31) another beyond Jlichael Rawlings. and (32) one each of Chester Beldens;
(33 and 34) Blinn houses on CabuU road; one (35) on the Shunpike opposite
the head of Plains St.; (3G) the Wright house opposite the head of New Francis
St.; (37 and 38) Blinn houses on same St.; (39 and 40) Belden houses at end of
same St.; (41) one by the west School hou.se; (42) one opposite the Dea. Williams
place; (43) one towards the foot of the hill; (44) the Roger Goodrich house at
the turn east of the woods; (45) one south of the west end of Parson.ige St.; (46)
the old Nott house, first north of the Thog. Robbins-Goff house; (47) a Riley house,
south of the Levi Robbins place; (48) an old Wright house, at or near the Andrew
Miller place — and probably one or two more not heard of — in all, a round fifty —
which probably housed some 300 people.
ROCKY HILL TOWNSHIP. 955
The township contains about l■^ sq. miles of territory; is about 31-
miles in breadth from north to south on the east side in a strai^'ht
line; about 2 J miles from nortii to south, through the -west district and
1^ miles from north to south, through its narrow portion next to Berlin
and in ths Becklcy Quarter school district. It is about 5 miles in a
straight line from The Landing, at the River, westward to the Berlin
boundary, and a little short of that distance on its south or Cromwell line.
The physical features of the township are what would be called
rolling land. E.xcept the top of Iron Stone Hill and a dozen acres, or
so, on the north side of the Plains road in the West District, of sand-
blow, there is scarcely an acre of land that is not, or could not be made
productive, either as i)low, pasture or meadow land, or for productive
forest growth. The soil is mostly reddish clay, mixed with vegetable
loam, except those parts called The Plains and the section along the
turnpike below Cole's Hill, and the Dividend Plains, which approxi-
mate to the sandy, but are ordinarily productive.
The productions of this turn])ike have been hay (especiallv on the
meadows) ; corn, potatoes, rye, buckwheat, oats, beans, pumpkins and
squashes; apples in full quantities, cherries and plimts; and, early in
its history, flax; for many years considerable quan*-!tics of broom corn;
for many generations, large amounts of onions and some garlic ; but for
the past 20 years the production of these two last articles has pretty much
ceased ; carrots, parsnips, cabbages, turnips in abundance: in later years,
most of the small garden fruits, and considerable tobacco.
ERR^VT^^.
Page 86 line 0, of nnte. For Gen. "Looniwd R. Welles," read Gen. Leonard Welles.
Page 1C5, line 13. For "Mohagan," rend Mtmhar/an.
Page 174, line 10. For "liiiywanlor's." road hay\vardc«s.
Page 187, line i), from bottom of page. For "present time," read until ti}nc of his
death.
Page 1!)2, last line. For "\Vm. Hone," read Win. Hoiixe.
Page 245, line 4. For "Chapt. XIX," read Cliapt. AT///.
Page 250, line 17. For Wcller. read ]VelIr.'<.
Page 25.3, line 7, from bottom of paire. For "Jelui," read Jehiel.
Page 277, line 22. For "Franee's," read t'rnncis'.
Page 287, line It!. For '"appitinted," read iipprecintcd.
Page 305, line 24. For "Hronsford," read lirunford.
Page 314. line 0. For "Trund)ell," read Tnniihull.
Page 323, line lli. For "General," read (jencol.
Page 329, line 2li. For "Cliapter XIX." read Chapter XVIII.
Page 378, line 20. Same as above.
Page 385, line 2. For "U'oodridge," read M'oo<ibrld(je.
Page 411, 4th line from bottom of page. For "1713," read /7(;.?
Page 430, line 13 from bottom, in seeond cohinm. For "Per!:!.?;,." .tuu ticcklcij.
Page 437, line in. For "Ofllapy," read Drilahij.
Page 405, line 11. Insert between end of this line and beginning of next, to pro-
vide for noldicrs.
Page 400, line 3, secontl column. For "Wetherwell," read WithercU. Line 22,
second column. For "Konte," read Kiivte.
Page 52fl. line 15. For "Aslihel," read .\.iahel.
Page 534, line 20. For "(Jershuni," read der.^hom.
Page 577, line 8. For "Jittsfield." read Pittsfield.
Page 579, line 21. For "David A. Mills," read Diiiiiel A.
Page 586, line 10 from bottom. For "some section," read same section.
Page 594, line 10 from bottom. Insert m. between Crafts Wright and Martha.
Page 617. The date of Mr. Wni. G. Comstock's death was 4th Aug.. 1899.
Page 630. The number of prisonei's in the State Prison was 473 in 1902.
Page 031. Line 7 from bottom. After the word "demolislied," read and the village
noio has a hnok and ladder coinpaii/i. known as "Hope Hook and Ladder Co. No.
1," which is housed in a building erected for the purpose in 1872 or '73.
Page 664, lino 9. "Mix, Dr. Rev.," should read AVr. and Dr.
Page 728, line 22. For "Staltonstall," read Salton.'ftnU.
Page 729, line 25. For "not owned," should read now oim^d.
GE^ER^L I^DEX.
In this Index, tlie names of the throe Towns forming the Anci':nt
Vi' ethers field, are thus abbreviated: Wciherstiekl, W'cth.; Xewiugton,
New.; Kocky Hill, Ry-H. Abbreviations used in this work. (p. 15.)
A.
Academy. The (Weth.),
382-3, 659
(New), Sll-12
Adams' Mill, The. See Millt.
Adventure, Mr. Leonard
Chester's. 686
"Adventure Lands," 32, 91
"Adventurers." The, Names
of the, 24
Agreement of "the 34 Men. "
The. 39
Agreement betw. Weth. and
New. as to Division of
Town ppy.. S32
Agriculture in Weth.. 614
Alarm List. The Revolu-
tionary, 468
Allotments of Home Lots,
Andross Usurpation, The.
91
183
38"
Anne, The sloop, voyaee to
N. Y. in 1776. "457
Antl-Stamp Demonstration
In '5\'eth. 1T65, 415
Apples. 616
Armorer. The Town, 203
Ashlar Lodge. F. and A. M.,
Assembly. General, The,
937
'l83
Assessors. Town. The, 100
Assistants, The. 183
The, Court of. 186
Association, The Veteran
(■Weth.). 67S
The Congressional Plan
of. adopted by "VN'eth..
1774, 433
B.
Back Lane. See Lanes.
Bakers (Ry-H.), e.")?
Baptists, 598-602
Barley. 614
Bass-fishing in Conn.
River. 548
Battle of Bunker Hill.
Weth. Men at. 442
betw. Red Hill
(Weth.). Indians and
Mohawks. 35
Beadle Murders, The.
695-700
Beans. 614
Beavers.
Beaver Bridge, see Briihjcs.
Brook, see Brooks.
"Holes." 275
Meadow, see ileadOKS.
Beckley Mills, see iliUs.
Quarter. 33, 47, 86
123. 195, 248, 249, 254
269, 281, 2S7, 351, 364
609. 632. 662. 707, 711
733. 943. 952
Quarter, and Stanley
tjuarter exchanged,
753
Quarter, and Stanley
Quarter, lost to
-New.. 785
Quarter, Secession
of. 789
Quarter. Secession
of. The Second. 790
Quarter Buryins
Ground, 881
Bees.
Bceinriin^s of the Church
at Weth., 135
Belden Lane, .see I.nncs.
Bell. The Meeting-House,
at Ry-H., 849-50
at New.. 814
at Weth..
223. 231, 233. 234
Bequests and Legacies to
Church and Town.
I.New.». 823
(Ry-H.). 846-7
(Weth.),
Berlin. {Ct.l. 47. 86. 123
248. 256. and ref-
erence in Chapt.
xviii.
Incorporation of, 709
Biographies and Bio. Notes.
See, also, those in Chap-
ters vii. xi, xii and List of
Physicians, pp. 603-665.
Adams (Rev.). A. C, 347
Aiken (Rev.). Wm. P., 810
Andrus. Daniel, 758
John. 758
B.
Backus (Rev.), Simon.
770-775
Baker (Rev.). Wm. M.. 348
Barrows (Rev.), .John O..
Belden (Rev). Jo=hua.
782, 807
Bentley (Rev.), Wm.. 601
Brace (Rev), joab.
808, 810
Bruudlsh, John. 67
Buckingham (Rev.),
Thos., 323
Bulkeley (Rev.), Ger-
shom. 324, 326, 327
Justus, 893
Canning, Elizabeth,
689-69S
Chapin (Rev.), Calvin,
S.54-S62
Chapman (Rev.), Fred.
W., S64
Chester (Col.), .John. 455
CoUju (Rev.;, Willis S.,
346-7
Comstock. Wm. G.. 616-617
Cotton (Rev.), John, Jr..
322
Deane (Capt. ), Barnabas,
497
(Hon.), Silas. 491-7
Denton (Rev.). Rich.,
143, 144, 145
Elliott (Rev.). John E..
827
Ewer (Rev.), Seth, 601
F.
Finch. Abraham. Jr.. 67
Fisher (Rev.). Wm. P., 863
Ford (Rev.). Henry. 863
Frothinghara (Rev.),
Ebenezer, 598-600
Grlswold (Dr.), Rufus
W., 835-836
(Capt.), 'William,
501-3
Haynes (Rev.), Joseph.
323
Hicks (Rev.), Lewis. W..
347
Hunn, Samuel, 759
958
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHEKSFIELD.
K.
Kellogg (Capt.), Martin,
„„v 776-7S1
Kllbourn, Thomas, 67
Knight (Rev.), Merritt,
863
L.
Lewis (Rev.), John, 863-4
Lockwood (Rev.), James,
332-337
M.
Macy (Rev.), Herbert, 82S
Marsh (Rev.), John.
337-34.'^
Martyn (Rev.), s. S., 825
Merriam (Rev.), Bur-
,„"Se. 893
Mitchell (Mr.), Mattliew,
145-6
Mix (Rev.), Stephen, 332
O.
Oldham (Mr.), John, 55-60
Partridge (Rev.), Wm.,
330
Pomeroy, Oliver, 893
Prudden (Kev.), John, ICO
R.
Rockwood (Rev.), Leb-
beus B., 802
Rowlandson (Rtv.),
Jo.seph. 317-28
Ru.ssell (Rev.), Daniel
850-1
(Rev.), John,
158-164, 209, 321
Sherman (Rev.), John,
139-40
Slead, John, 758
Smith (Rev.), Henry
150-6, 320
(Rev.), Asa D., 864
Southgate (Rev.), Rob-
ert,
345
Stevens (Rev.), Timothy.
Stone (Rev.), Samuel, 325
Tecl (Rev,), Wm. H., 348
Tenney (Rev.). C. J., 343-5
Thompson (Rev.), Wm.
^ J- 827
Tucker (Rev,). Mark. 346
Tryon (Capt.), Moses,
503-505, 533, also
Chapts. xi and xii.
Vermllye Rev.), Rob't
G.. 825
Warren (Rev.), Chas. J.,
Welles (Capt.), Roger,
469-72, 482-8
Williams (Rev. et Rec-
tor), Elisha, 762, 708-70
Wm., 893
Willoughby (Rev.), Jon-
athan. 320
Woodbridge ( Rev. ).
John, 329 and Chapt.
xviii.
B.
Blackbirds. 645
Bllnn Hill, see Hills.
Boardman. Edwards &
Willard Land Grants,
The. 4.S, and Apiieiulix
Boardman Cheat. The. 734
Boardmau-Holnies Place,
The, 9.^0
T, , 930
Book-printing In Weth.,
652
Boot and Shoemakers. 643-5
Bonnets of Grass and
Straw, made in Weth.,
651. 653
Bounds, The Town's,
50, 51, 113, 127-29 •
Eastward, 104, 126
Wcstirar<l., 118-21
Northward, 124-27
S,,„lln<;ird. 121-24
Perambulation of the.
172, 174. 839
Branders of Cattle and
Horses, 174. mg
Branford, (Ct.), Settle-
ment of, by Weth.
Men. i.r;7
Brick Kilns, (542, .S23
Brick-making, laying and
stone-cutting,
643, 649, 653, 92S
Bridges, Beaver, The
627, 773
Daniel's, The. 648
Go.rfes, The, 123, 247.
272. 2S1. 920. 929
Folly. The. 86
Iron. The. 920
Larkin's, The. 308
Broad Street, see Streets.
Brooks, Beaver, The, 23 35
80, 86, 96, 97, 99, 146
258, 262, 207, 271
351, 362. 372
Collier, The, 85. 418
420, 632, 642, 647
Dividend. 86, 943
Folly, The, 632
Frog, The.
190, 194, 953
Gofte, The. 35. 80. 84
S.';. 96. 98, 196, 272
372, 373, 377, 632
633. 657. 933, 943
Great, The, 36
Hang-dog, The,
84. 632, 647
Hog, The, 86, 196, 290
314, 375, 934
Mill, The. 35, 84, 90
98, 116, 632, 736
Pewter Pot, The, 37
51, 83. 87, 88, 125
126, 127
Piper's, The, 125, 632
736. 747. 773
Putanang. 126, 127
Roaring, The, 36, 48
83. 84, 87, 101, 268
Salmon, The, 87
Sturgeon. The.
83. 84. 87, 99
Sucker. The.
84, 632, 651
Two-Stone, The, 84
300. 642, 647, 705
706, 733
Tando, The, 83. 86, 96
266, 267, 279, 362, 363
372, 632. 642, 643, 705
707
Waddams, The, 83, 85
96, 308, 363, 372
Buck's Corners, 86
the Old Elm at, 710
Bulkeley's .Mill, see .Vills
Bunker Hill, Weth, Sol-
diers in the Battle of.
439-453
Burying Grounds.
Beckley Quarter, SSI
Christian Lane, SSO
Newington. 76'7
Rocky Hill.
Weth.. 89. 239, 241
Extensions to, 241
Butler Grist-Mill,' The
see Mills.
Button-.Mill, The, at
Ry-H., 928
C.
Cabbage Hill. The,
(New.), see Hills.
Cabinet-making,
(Ry-H.), 655
Cabull Hill (Ry-IL). see
Hills.
Cabull Road (Ry-H.), see
Rnnds.
Cape Bull, see Con-Bull.
Campaigns of the Revo-
lutionary War, (1776),
454: (1777), 460;
(1778). 464: (1779),
467: (1780), 469;
(17S1), 475; (1782),
484 : (1783). 485
Carding and Weaving, 648
Ca'iiptaria. asplcnifolia.
t^arpenler s Lane. see
Lanes.
Carriage Making,
(Ry-H.). 655
Carrots. 617
Cattle. Ear-mar^s. 114, 618
Herders. The Town's
174, 177
Breeding of, 622
Cau.seway. The. 96
Cavalry, see Troopers.
Cedar Hill Cemetery, see
Buriiing-Grouiids.
Cedar Mountains, 87, 116
124, 125, 310, 315
318, 641
R'Jge, 116
"Cellars." Ancient, 725
Cemeteries, see Buruinn
Grounds.
Centre Mill-pond, see
Ponds.
Changes in the Current
of Conn. River, at
Weth., 86-87
Chapel of Cong'l Church
at Weth., 234, 659
Charcoal, Mfre. of, 646
Charity Libray, The
(New.), 824
Chemicals, The Mfre. of,
Chester Mill. The, see
Mills.
Christian Hill. The, see
Hills.
Christian Lane Burying-
Ground Inscriptions
610, 013
Chimney-'Viewers. 174 177
Church. The Cong'l of
Weth., beginnings of.
The. 135-6
Divisions in the, 130-7
Secessions from the
. 137-167, viz:
GENEFL\L INDEX.
959
ti) Brantord, (Ct.), 150
to Fairfield, (Ct.). 141
to Guilford, (Ct.). 140
to Hadley, (Mass.).
159-163
to Hatfield. (Mass.). 164
to New Londou, (Ct.),
165
to Newark, (N. J.). 105
to Norwich. (Ct.). 165
to Middletown, (Ct.), 166
to .Miltord, (Ct.), 138
to Stamford, (Ct.),
142-150
to Stratford, (Ct.). 141
to Windham Co. (Ct.),
proposed, 167
Church and Town, Lands
of the, 98
Church Lands granted to
Inhabitants by the.
Church and Town, Lands
granted, by both, to in-
hab..
Church Members left in
Weth. after the Se-
cession to Stamford,
148-9
Churcn, Cong'I at Chris-
tian Li.ne, 609
Church, Coug'l, in New-
ington. S09, S15
Church, Cong'I. in Roclcy
Rill, 837-863
Church. Baptist, in
Weth., 598-602
Church. Methodist, in
Weth., 602-00
Church. Methodist, in
New., 815
Church. Prot. Epis., in
Weth., 606-608
Church. Prot. Cpis., in
New., 0"l-6, 824
Church, Christian Union,
in Weth.. 609
Church, Roman Catholic,
in Weth..
Church, Roman Catholic,
In Ry-H.,
Church, Fashions and
Manners, (New.).
(Ry-H.), 847
(Weth.),
Church Fence, The
(Ry-H.), 921
Church Seating, The.
Church Seat Rates and
Rules (New.). 774
(Ry-H.). 847
(Weth.), 222, 231. 848
Cider, The Mfre. and Use
of. 616, 823
Civil Distinctions among
the Eearly Settlers, 40
Civil War, see War of
Civil Rebellion.
Cincinnati, Society of.
The Original Weth.
Members of, 490
Clerk. Towns, The. 174
Clerks of Eccl. Soc. of
Stepney. 869
Clock in Weth. Meeting-
House, 232
Clock in Ry-H. Meetin-
House, 849
Clock-cases, The Mfre. of.
Cloth Dressing, 647, 649
Clothiers and Tailors, 649
Club, The Agricultural,
of Ry-H., 938
Cole's Hill, 374. 375, 376.
543, 930
Cole's Island, see Islands.
Coal in Rv-H., 932
Coffee and Spice Mills. 653
Coffin-Making, 655
Coleman's Lane, see Lane.f.
Collector of Rates, 174
Collier Brook, see Brooks.
Roads, 85. SB. 369
Swamp, see Swamps.
Columbia Lodge, F. and
A. M., 659
Commercial History of
Stepney. 888
Commissioners, 184
City, 189
Committees, 75, 183
Commons, Town's. The.
82, 87, 88, 89, 91, 94,
110, 113. 129
Company, Conn. River.
The, 540
Pierce Hardware,
The, 932
Rocky Hill Mfg.. The
934
Rocky Hill Mining
The, 932
Rocky Hill Polish.
The. 930
Union. The, 539
Weth. Wharf. The.
131
Conference House of 1st
Cong'I Ch., Weth., 234
Connecticut River,
* Chances in the current
' of the. 82-87. 793. and
I .Ippoiilix.
Connecticut River. Dif-
ficulties in the Naviga-
tion of,
Connecticut, Early Mi-
' grations to. from
Mass.. 19
I Connecticut Sunday
School Union. 816
I Connecticut Temperance
Society, 859
Constable, the, and his
' functions, 173. 200
Constitution of Conn.
Colnnv. 16.-!n, 75, 77, 78
Contribution by Weth. to
the Relief of the Suf-
ferers by the Boston
Port Bill. 422-428
Controversy over the
Second Meeting-House
nf New., 801
Coo Bull, see Cabull.
Cordage and Ropes.
Corn-Mill, Rev. Mr.
Bulkeley's, 86
Cove. The. 31, 32, 82, S3,
S6. S.S, 95, 131, 147, 258,
259, 271, 280, 286. 287.
294, ?.02, 543, 720
Cove. Keney's. 87. 133.
134. 180, 549
Covenants, Confessions,
etc.. of (New.) Church.
(Stephneyl Church, 852
1 (Weth.) Church,
j Covenant, The Half-Way.
1 159. 854
) Cowkeepers, or herders,
! The Town's, 244. 619
' Cow-Plain. The, see
j Plains.
I Courts and Legislative
I Bodies, The General
I Assembly. 39, 182, 183
i of Assistants. The, 186
of County, The,
184. 185. 186
of Common Pleas. The,
184
of Elections, The. 183
of Judges of the. 185
of Particular. The, 183
of Probate. The. 186
of Quarter, The, 1
Superior. The, 1
Town, The, 1
Cranes' Tavern, 718, 7
Crier, Town's. The, 1
Customs' Dues and Rules
Dams, 632
Daniel's Bridge. — See
Bridrjes.
Deacons of the Newing-
ton Church. 811
of the Stepney
Church. 865
Deming's Meadow. — See
Meafloirs.
Plain. — See Plains.
Deep Way, The, 710
Deputies, The 'Town's,
75, 183
Dingling Pond. — See
Pond.i.
Dirty Hollow, The.
300, 711
Dissensions in the Early
Weth. Ch.. 136, 166
Dissenters from the Es-
tablished (Cong'I) Ch..
218, 596, 599
Distilleries, 57
in Ry-H.. 933
Distribution of Lots in
the (Weth.) Green
(Pyquaug). 91
the (Weth.) Village, 92
Mile-in-Breadth, 102
the Meadows and
Fields, etc., 95, 99
East of the Great
River, ■ 99, 101
West Division
(New.), 102
Five-Mile Extension,
or Great Indian
Purchase, 104, 110
Rocky Hill, 103
Minor 'Divisions.
110, 111
A Protest against the
too Free, 111, 112
Ditches, 625
Dividend (Divident), 103
116, 632, 653, 912
Bar, The 914
Brook, The — See
Brooks.
Grist Mill. The — See
Mills.
Lane, The — See
Lanes.
Meadow. The — See
Meadows.
Plain. The — See
Plains.
Drainage. 624
Draper's Ferry, 134
Drum Hill, 912
Drummers, The Town's
201
Dry Goods in Olden
Times, 655
Dry Swamp. — See
Swamps.
E.
Eagle Laboratory Co.,
The 652
Early Inhabitants of
Weth., 246, 319
Early Members
of New Church, 783
of Stepney Ch., 851
Early Ves.sels at Weth., 540
Ear-.Marks for Cattle, 114
96o
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Earthquake of 1727, The.
713
Rev. Mr. Mix's Ser-
mon upon. S?t2
Eastbury (Ct.p. ?,ei 10.3
110. 230, 2.51, 256
268. 272
East Side Settlers of
Weth.. 193
Ecclesiastical Society.
The First (Weth.).
229. 243
of New., 879
of Stepney. 847
Education Legislation of
Connecticut. 3.53, 336
Edge Tools, mfrd. in
Ry-H.. 633
"Egypt." — See O.W Xame.'i.
Elder, The Rulinf
136. 145, 236
Election Sermon, Rev.
Mr. Mixs. 332
Elderly Ladies Knitting
Society. 938
Elm, The Great, of Weth..
734
The Old. of Bucks
Corners. 710
Emigrations and Seces-
sions from Weth.. 137
Episcopalians in Weth.,
606, 608
In New.. S04. 824
Estates and Persons. 662
Extension of Town nnunds
Eastward. "The
5-Mile." 104
Weth. Burying
Ground, 241
Factory. Hat,
Hewitts .Matrass, 651
Pin, 654
Satinet, 822
Stocking. 651
Fairfield (Ct.), 137, 141
Weth. men at, 141
Swamp. — See
Strnmps.
Fairs at Weth.. 627, 628
Falls Fight, The Great
208, 209, 210
Farm. The Pent, 706
Farmington,
51, 113, 137, 138
and Weth. Line.
118, 121
Village, 711
Farms, West, The
102, 116, 641
Naubuc, The 117
Nayaug. The 193
New, The 707
Sawmill. The. 85
Fearful Swamp. The — See
S,ramv.,.
Fees, Physicians', 940
Female Te.ichers, 383
Seminary at Weth.,
Society of Weth.,
The 659
Fence Viewers.
177, 17D, 626
Fern Hill. The 116
Fields, The East 96
The Fourfold, 92
The Furtherest
West, 97, 100
The Lords, 707
The Middle, 96
The South, 88, 93, 97
98, 2G6, 269, 272
285, 295
The West, 93, 94, 96
100. 261, 264, 267
273, 274, 277, 278
279, 281, 286, 287
305
The Great West. 88
92. 100. 249, 317
The Little West.
97. 100. 256. 260
Fire Co.. The Weth., 631
Folly. The S^. 641, 643
See, also Folly
liiKliics and Brooke
Fight. The Great Fort -'03
"Fill-Darn." 99
Fines and Punishments, 75
Fire Engine Co., Weth.,
235, 631
First Settlers, Lists of
(-^"ew.). 736
(Ry-H.). 19S. 199, 837
(Weth.).
also. Chapt. VII.
First Society (Weth.),
829, 830
Meeting House, 760
Store In Ry-H., 920
Fish and Fisherle.s,
718, 720
Fishing Places.
The Five Nations,
99, 916, 920
Buck's,
The Sompson,
for Eels,
Five-Mile Purchase, East
Side Conn. River. The
48. 103. 104, 208
Flood. The Great of
1639, 78
16S3, 712
1692, 7i'>
1801. 7i5
l*-"!. 713
1843, 713
1854. 71.J
Floods, Earthquakes and
Conflagrations. 711
Forts and Fortified
Houses,
74. 205. 213. 284
Hollisters at Naubuc.
49. 50. 207
Fort Street. — See Streets
Foundries. (534
Four Corners. 103
-Mile Hill.— See Hills'
Flax Seed. 616
Fletchers Lane. — See
Lnnn.
Free Public Library. — See
Libraries.
Freeman. Definition of a. 41
Freemen. 639. 936
The 1669 List of
Weth., 41
French War. — See Wnrs.
Prisoners at Weth.. .397
Fullir.g-.Mills. 647. 648. 928
'T'lndamental Orders,"
The — see Constitution
of 1639. 22. 75. 182
Funeral Obsequies at
Weth. at Gen. Wash-
ington's death. 660
Furtherest West Field. —
See Fields.
Gas and Electric Lighting
of Streets, etc.. 633
Gate, The North Meadow
93
General Assembly of
Coun., The, 182, 1S3
Merchandise. 636
Gershom Street — See
Gin, The .Mfr. of (Ry-H.).
933
Glastonbury,
^ 51, 99, 107, 189
Early History, 349-50
South, xoi
Grace P. E. Church
(New.), 824
Grants of Lands by
Indians, 47
The Boardman
Edwards and
Willard. 48
The Beckley Quarter,
, . 737
for Landings,
Wharves, etc., and
Warehou.-es, 103
for Sawmills. 103
for Ship-yards. 103
to James Wright. 49
Grass and Straw Bonnets
-Mfrd. in Weth., 6.50
Lrrave Diggers, isi
Robbing. 699
trranrt .-^iniy Post. The
■John M. Morris 678
Grange Hall. P of A
The (Weth.). ■■ 661
Gulf. The 82 87
Guinea's Lane (New.),'
797
Gurdon St. — See Strerts
Goats. ' g,j
Gofles Bridge. — See
Brirlrje.i.
Brook. — See Bronks
Goodrich Sawmill. The. 9''7
Good Templars, 937
"Gooseberry," The. 99
Swamp. 626, 632
Great Brook. The — See
Brooks.
Flood.s. of Conn.
River. — See Floods
;-'';'."d. The 92, 317
Indian Purchase,
The, 104
Meadow, The. — See
Mcadoirs.
Plain. The. — See
PM 1)1.5.
Rocks. The. 83, 254
Swamps. — See
■''"nmps.
Creen. The IWetfi.). 89, 91
Grist .Mills. (5,38 323
See. also. .Vi77,s.
Griswnld Place. The
"Granny."
Griswoldville. S4, 86
306 331. 648, 705
Mfg. Co.. The.
649, 6.53
Reservior, The. 116
School House. The
First in. 570
Grit, Polishing (Ry-H.),
930
H.
Had ley. Secession from
Weth. to 49
Half-Way Covenant. — See
Covpiiant.
Hall of P. of A., The
Grange qqi
Hang^ Dog, 213, 708
hee. al.so. Brooks,
..T, •^'""'« and Swamps.
Harbor." The. s^ 88
"Hard Scrabble." ' 90
Hardware. Mfg. of
Shelf. 655
Pierce Mfg. Co.. G55
Harne.ss Making. 653. 655
Harris Hill. The.— See
Hills.
GENERAL INDEX.
961
Hartford, 24, 51, 52
County S. School
Union, 876
Controversy, The 159
Evening Post, The
52, 78
& N. H. R. R.. 6ri2
South Meadows, S4
Road, 8S, 90, 97
Turnpike Co., The 632
Hatfield (Mass.), sett, by
Weth. Men, I.tS, 164
Hat Making, 650, 96.5
Leghorn, 650
Haywarden, 179
Hedges, 626
Hemp Mill, 651
Indian, 23
Herders ot Town's Cattle.
114, 174, 177, 249
619
Hewitt's Mattrass Works.
651
Highways, Roads and
Streets, in New.,
74, 75. 99, 124, 801
"Ten-rod," 74, 75
"Twenty-rod," 124
"Two-rods," 124
Highways [Lanes. Paths,
Roads, Streets ) .
74, 75, 99, 117, 124
• Back (L.), 117
Bell (L.). 117
Broad IS.), 117
Carpenter (L.). 117
Fletcher (i,.), 117
Fort (S.), 117
Gardeu (S.), 117
Green, The 89, 91
High IS.), 117
Meadow P.cw*, 117
Main (S ) 117
(P.) to the Mill, 117
Prison iS.), 117
{R.). to West Swamp,
117
Rose (Z,.), 117
Sandy (L.), 117
Short (S.), 117
Two-Rod (if.). New.,
Ten-Rod (H.). New.,
Watering (L.), 117
745
Twenty-Rod (H.),
New., 99
High Street. — See
Streets.
School, The
239, 381, 383
Hills, Blinn's. 801, 803
Cabbage, 766
Cabull, 706
Cedar, 373
Christian, 366
Cole's, 930
Fern, 116
Four-Mile, 125
Harris, 79, 199, 366
Huckleberry,
36, 110, 179
Hungry, 239
Nlpsic. 36
Pine, 38
Poke. 37
Red, 207
South. 366
Staddle, 99, 244
Tappan's, 711
Vexation, 70S
West, 98, 365
Windmill, 3C5, 642
Wolcott, 32, 80, 365
627, 632, 633, 637
642, 643
History of Stepney's Com-
mercial Period, SSS
Connecticut. Rev.
Samuel Peters,
Hist of l.->2
Hoccanum. 19, 32, 36, 38
48, 51, 80, 82, 86
95, 100, 124, 133
189, 190, 217, 208
271, 275
Hogs, 179
Brook. — See Brooks.
Hog Meadow. — See
.Ueiiiloirs.
Home of Children's Aid
Soc. (New.), 824
Trade and Business
(Ry-H.), 904
Lot allotments to
First Settlers. 91
Hollister's Fort. — See
Forts.
Hill.— See Hills.
Hollow, The Dirty.
300, 711
Horses, Branders of,
174, 619
Sheds, 361
Hotels, May's, 89, 661
de Reyer. 733
Rocky Hill, The 733
Shipman's,
87, 571. 732
Houses, Old
The Andrus, 726
The Boardman, 726
The Gershom
llulkeley, 89
The Chester, 729
The Sil.is Deane, 726
The DeminK, S9, 728
The (JIU Ki.sn. 7.;6
Fortified. — See
/•'oM.v.
The Griswold, 726
Latimer, The 545
Robertson. The 728
Robbins, The (Ry-
H.), 726
Standish, The 726, 729
Shepardson, The 89
Webb. The 151, 258
315. 480, 482
Williams, The 729
Wolcott, The 729
Town, The 249
Sabba' Day, The 173
237, 238, 229, 249
629
Slaughter, 666
Huckleberry Hill. — See
UiUs.
Hungry Hill. — See Hills.
Hurncaue, The Great, of
1783, 714
Indians, Grants of Lands
by, 47
to Rich. Beckley, 49
to Boardman, Ed-
wards it Willard, 48
to Wright, 49
Indians, killing of Mr.
Oldham by the, 55, 06
Wars (Pequot and
King Philip's),
78, 79, 203, 807
owners of Weth.
Territory, 32
Massacre at Weth. by
60, 70
Rights, 841
at Red Hill, 34, 35
Relics of, in Weth., 35
at Wongum, 205
vs. Beckley, 738, 739
Names of Localities
in and about Weth.,
35-38
Independence, The War
of, Weth.'s share in
666
Industries, Various 629
636, G55, 822, 943
Incorporation of New.
Township. 829
ot Ry-Hill Township,
Inhabitant. The defini-
tion of an 41
The Early, of Weth.,
246
of New.. 749
Ry-H.. 19S. 199, 839
Improvement Society,
The Village. 659
Importers and Exporters.
53.S, 340, 541. 542
Impounders. 179
Inter-Territorial Settle-
ments. 189
In.spectors of Leather. 182
of Linens and Yarns.
181
ot Pipestaves. 181
Institute. Young Men's, 658
Institutions. 629
Inn. The Village. 732
Inns. Public. 174
Iron Bridsp (Gaffes). The
— See Briilqes.
Foundrj-. 654
Island, The ("Great." or
Mannahannock). 32
84, 92. 102, 117
269, 318
Cole's, 84
Long. The. 84
Pennywise, 84
StandiBh's. 84. 126
Vi'righfs. 86. 127, 128
Jordan's Lane. — See
Lanes.
.ludses of Courts, 185
Justices ot the Peace, 183
Keney's Cove, S3. 87, 133
134, ISO, 549
Ferry- 132. 153, 254
Kensington (Great Swamp
Village),
123, 242, 256, 609
Village, 609
Kilns, Brick, 823
King Philip's War. — See
Wars.
Laboratorv Co.. The 652
Eagle. The 89
Ladies' Benevolent
Society. 938
Landing Place, The
(Ry-H.). 86, 310, 651
654, 655, 659, 888
Tryon's, 689
Ship-yards, Wharves,
and Warehouses,
131, 196
Grants of Land tor,
103
Land, Boom of 1G39. The 78
Lands. Indian Grants of, 47
"Adventurers'," 91
Granted by Church, 94
by Town, 93
by Church and
Town, 78, 94
Holdings ot Early
Settlers, 246
Distributed In Third
General Division
(New.), 785
Meadow, 92
96:
HISTORY OF AXCIKNT WETIIEFLSFIELD.
Not laid out, n7
Titles to, 91
"Ungiven," 98
Lanes, Back, 90, 97, 267
272, 27.-?, 27rt. 27R.
279, 283, 298, 308
310, 317
Bell, 90. 91, 92, 147
251, 266, 267, 268
269, 277. 278, 279
280, 284, 286, 288
289, 290, 301, 304
308, 309, 317, 318
Burying-Ground,
235, 237. 296
Carpenter's,
90, 237, 270
Chemical, 89
Fletchers, 89, 92, 251
260, 269. 295
Guinea's. 797
Jordan, 86, 97. 110
205, 264, 271, 301
642. 710. 711
Meadow,
46, 213, 278, 954
Nott's. 301, 368
Plain.
252. 271, 286. 307
Prison, 54
Rose, 91, 252, 258
265. 268, 274, 292
298. 299. 301, 307
317
Sandy, 67, 88, 91. 246
251, 264, 267, 272
273, 280, 283, 284
286, 287, 290, 293
294. 299. 301. 302
307, 310, 314, 368
"Watering (now
Back). 90. 277
284. 304. 308, 317
L&riilns' El ;j„ii. — oec
Bridges.
Little Plain.— See Plainx.
Leather Inspectors. 1S2
Sealers, 174, 181
Legacies and Gifts to Oh.
i Town.
(New.), 823, 846
(Ry-H.), 233, 235, 239
(Weth.), 239
Lexington, 352
Lexington Alarm Co., of
1775, (Weth.),
434, 436, 801
(New.), 801
Little South Field. — See
Fields.
Liberty Pole (Ry-H.), 921
Libraries, 657
The Charity (New.).
824
The Free.
659. 885. 886
The Rose (Weth).
235. 658
The Old. of Stepney.
884
Social Asso. (Ry-H.).
884. 888
Union Soc'y. 368, 856
Weth. Soc'y, 235, 657
Lightning Rod, 231
Listers (Assessors), 176
Live Stock Breeding, 622
Local Names, Odd,
(Ry-H.). 912, 916
(Weth.). 99. 703. 708
Lockwood, Subscription
to House for Rev.
James. 334
Localities in Weth.,
Indian Names of.
35, 38, 82, note
Long, Island, The, 84
House. The, 82
liOts, The, 87
Meadow.s, 297
Row, The. 96
Tavern, 731. 937
Lord's Field. — Sec Fields.
Lot.s, Sawmill, The, 705
Short, The, 97, 110
Lyceum, The Ry-H.. 887
M.
Magistrates, 183
"Maids' Place, The Old."
iRy-II.), 929
Main Street. See Streets.
Manufactories, 029
Manufacturing Co., The
Ry-H. (Griswold-
vllle),
633, 654. 655, 034
Maps, Topographical, of
Weth. Territory, 81
of Weth. Village,
640, 741, 742
Marlborough (Ct), 110
Marsh, The Rev. John,
Furniture in
House of 734
Massacre, The Weth.,
Of 1637. 60. 67
Place of the. 68
Victims of, 66
Mattrass Mfg., 655
May's Hotel. — See Hotels.
Meadows, 89, 93, 95, 269
Beaver, The, 23, 84
93, 96, 101, 113
■ 117, 258, 282, 315
Deming's, 85, 110
116. 261. 266. 653
Dividend, 122
Great, The, 25, 80, Hf
90, 92, 94, 95. 96
99. 110. 113. 117
131. 133. 134, 240
247. 248. 256. 259
261. 262. 263. 264
269. 271. 273. 281
290. 304, 315
Hog, 85, 632, 641, 705
Long, 297
Mile, 85. 92, 93, 96
99. 106. 110, 113
117, 185
South, 49
Taphow's. 705
Meadow Lane. — See
Lanes.
River, 88, 91, 114
Meat Packers. 17 4, 180
Meeting-House, The
(Weth.), 89, 219, 629
The Second, 220, 223
The Third. 225, 229
The Fourth, 230, 234
(New.). The First,
760
The Second. SOI, 804
805, 807, 812. 814
(Stepney), The First,
841, 842. 843. 844
The Second,
Square, 151
Members of the
New. Church, 811
Rv H., 851
"Men. The Thirty-four," 93
Merchandize. General, 656
Methodists in Weth., 602
Rocky Hill, 8S2, SS3
Mexican War, Weth.'s
Share in the. 667
Murders. The Beadle, 6D5
Middletown (Ct,),
32, 33, 49, 166
and Weth. Line,
121. 124
The Way to. 633
Midwlves (Ry-H.), 941
Milford, 54, 55
Sett, from Weth., 138
Mile-in-Breadth, The, 47
Distribution of.
102. 248, 264. 292
Military Organization of
Ancient Weth..
200. 204
Mile Meadow. — See
MearUms.
Mills. 90, 629. 636, 641
642, 711, 740, 921
Property, 251
Adam's,
32. 251, 632, 642
Beckley's. 707
Bulkeley's, 638, 639
Butler Grist. 926
Brook. — See Brooks.
Chester, 259. 261. 266
293. 296, 302, 632
636, 642
Cider, 823
CoiTee & Spice. 653
Dividend,
217, 628, 629. 846
Grist. 636, 642, 822
at Pipestave Swamp,
640
Hemp, 651
Path to the. 90, 97
Way to, 281
Wind, 642
Lot, 94
Minister, The. 217. 219
Ministers, The (Weth.),
320. 34S
(New.), 762, 770. 775
776. 807. 809. 811
The"'('Ry-"H.). 850. 863
Raised in Ry-H.. S63
Resident in Ry-II..
864
Mining Co.. Ry-H., 932
Minor Divisions of Lands
among Early Settlers
110
Moccasins. 213. 644
Monroe, Pres. James.
Visit to and Opinion
of Weth.. 722
Morris. The John M. Post,
G. A. R.. 678
Mountain, Cedar, 87, 116
310, 315, 641
Mud Lane. — See Lanes.
Music, Church,
(Weth.), 235
(New.), 799, 801
(Ry-H.), 840
"Mustard Bowl," The, 914
Mysterious Pot of Money,
A,
687
N.
Names of the River Towns
Changed, 52
Names of Localities, Odd,
99, 705, 708, 912
916
Indian, 35. 38
Naming of the Town, The,
52
"Nations, The Five,"
(Fishing Place), 99
Naubuc Farms, The, 32, 36
38, S3, 86. 90, 99
100. 117. 189, 190
194, 195, 227, 242
249, 258, 270, 275
286, 298. 308, 311
313
207
Fort at,
Nayaug Farms, 34. 36, 38
83, 93, 101, 103
109, 132, 189. 193
194, 205, 212, 227
247, 268, 277, 280
Fort at, 207
Navy. Wetb men in the
Continental. 497
Navigation, Difflrulties of,
in Conn. River, in
Col. Days, 537, '•,47
Negro Slavery in WetL..
700
New Britain (Ct.).
123, 609
New Haven. 54
Weth. Settlers at. 140
New France St. (Ry-H.),
707
"Newflelds," 706
Newark, N. J.. Weth.
Settlers at. 158
Newin?ton, — See Chapt.
XIX.
New Jersey, Weth.
Settlers in, 158
New Lands. 49, l>i5
New Roads. 9S
New Street. — See Streets.
Nott's Lane. — See Lanes.
Notfs Hill Ridse. 87
Norwich (Ct.l. Etnigr. to,
from Weth..
49, 51. 165
O.
Odds and Ends of Weth.
Hist. — See Chapter
XVII.
Odd Names, (Weth.)
705, 708
(Ry-H.),
703, 912, 913. 914
"Old Corner Store," The
(Weth.).
Oldham, Mr. John, the
Discc-rrrr of Weth., 24
His Mi.rder by
Indians. 55, 56
Btog. of. 56. 60
Old Houses and Taverns.
— See Houses.
Libraries of Stepnev
Parish. S84-SSS
Maids" Place, The Old
Trees. — See, also Ehiis.
Roads, 840
Sail-Loft, The. 731
Onions, The Raising of.
614, 721, 722, 723
724, 947
Ordinaries (Mass.)
Saddlers, 174
Organization. The Civil.
ot Ancient Weth..
170. 189
The Eccl., of Ancient
Weth.. 217
The Military, ot An-
cient Weth., 200. 203
The Social. 74. 75
Religious, in Stepney.
882. 884
Opinions of Weth.. by
various distinguished
Visitors, 720. 725
Opinions ot Rockv Hill,
by Pres. Dwight, 908
Other Denominations in
Weth.. than Cong'l.,
599, 883
Outline of the Allotments
of the Western Div.
(New.). 750
P.
Packers and Gangers. 180
■•Pallantine" (Palatine),
644
Palizado, at Weth..
210, 211, 213. 625
Parish, The, 18, l!i
GENERAL INDEX.
Bounds of (Weth.).
753
Evolution of the
242. 243
(New.), 350, 3.^2
(Step.). 350
Parsonage Land (Weth).
(New.), 752
(Ry-H.). 844, 846
Particular Court. The, l,^3
Pasture. The She^p. 621
Patent of Town. Tbe.
50. 129. 130
•■Path-to-the-Mill." The.
91. 97. 110
to Sawmill. .«5, 641
Peace Declared, 1783.
Celebration at Weth..
489
Peacock. 290
Peas, 614
Pennywise, SS, 92, 124
125. 126, 263, 267
270. 290. 302
Island. 84
"Peppercorn." 913
Pequots, The War with. 165
The First Campaign.
Weth. Men In. 70. 74
The Sec. Campaign,
78. 79
Pewter and Tinware Mfg..
in Ry-H.. 034
Pewter Pot Brook. — See
Broofcs.
Perambulation of Bound.':,
172, 174
Persons and Estates, 0G2
Pews in Church, First in-
troduced
(Weth.), 228
96:
(Np
(Stepney), 842
Philip's War, King. — See
irur.s.
Physical Features of
Town ot Weth.. 81-S7
Town ot Ry-H.. S37
Physicians in Weth.. 029
New.. 663
Ry-H.. 940
Fees of, 940
Pierce Hardware Co.. The
635, 932, 936, 945
Pin Factory in Weth., 654
Pine Hill. — See Hills.
Piper's Brook (or River)
— See Itrnuks.
Pipcstaves. Making ot
and Trade in, 541. 646
Importers ot, 181
Swamp. — See
Sicamps.
Plains. The, 95. 706. 912
Besett's, 36
Cow, 125, 247
Deming's.
116. 265, 266, 641
Dividend,
Great. 80, SS, 90, 91
95. 97. 98
Lane,
270. 271. 281. 307
Little, 80, 88. 90, 95
97. 311
Sleepy. no
Sandy. 711
Tree,
116, 266, 641. 711
Plank-Walk, The
(Ry-H.), 921
Plantation, Definition of a
Plot, The Village, of
Weth., 88
Plow.s. Blinn's, 653
"Point, The," 147
Polishing Grit (Ry-H.),
936
Pond, The Centre Mill, 801
"Pingling," The, 99
Population, of Weth., at
various tim<js. 661, 629
PostofBces in Weth., 634-5
Ky H.. 91S
Post. The Hartford, 52
Potatoes, 617
Poultry. 622
Pounders. 174, 179
Pratt & Whitney. 654
Pratt's Ferry, and Road,
132. 134. 287, 293
204, 297, 302. 625
627. 630. 632, 642
Preliminary View of the
Early Emigrations
from Mass. to Conn,
Presbyterian, Ch.. at
•^'eth. somtimes
called. 236
Printing of Books at
Weth.. 652
Prison. The Conn. State.
at Weth. .SS. 131, 290
Prison Lane. — See Lanes.
Street. — See Streets.
Prisoners. French War,
at Weth., 397
Privateering in Revol. by
Weth. Men. 497
Probate Courts, 181
Proprietors. 39
Definition of, 41, 42
Psalmody, Teachers of. 235
"Publics" (Inns). 174
Public Whippers, 174
"Punkin Town." 914
Punishments and Fines. 75
furchate of Lands East
of Great River, 104
Putapau^ Brook. — See
llrooks.
Pyquaug. 20, 21, 31
Bounds of. 32, 33, 38
50. 52. 69, S3, 195
294. 295
Q.
Queen Anne's War. 801
Qumnipiack (New Haven).
137. 138. 166. 208
Railroads, 920
RebeHwn, War ot the
Civil. — See )rnr.9.
Recorder. The Town. 731
Religious Organizations,
in Stepney, SS2
in Weth., Chaps. 3 fi 8
In New.. Chan. 18
Reservation. The
Ship-yard at Ry-H..
731. 896
Reservoir, The (Gris-
woldville). 653
Revival of 1818, in Ry-H.,
862
Revolutionary War. — See
Wars.
Rippowams, 142
River, Wood's, 736
Road. Cabull, 952
Robblns House, The Old,
at Ry-H.,
Mill. The. 926
Rocky Hill.— Chapt. XIX.
Roman Catholics, in
Ry-H., 833
Weth.. 608, 609
Sabbath Day Houses. 209
Saddler's (Ordinary.
194, 270
964
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Salmon and Shad in
Conn. Rivpr, 718
Salmon Brook, see Brooks.
Saltpetre, Mtre.. S52
Sampson Fi.sh Place, The,
720
Sandy Lane, see Hir/hways.
Sandy Plain, see Fhiius.
Satinet Factory. 322
Sawing, Scroll, etc., 05S
Sawmills. 640
Farms, 85
Lots, 745
Path, 94, 110, 641, 747
at Nayang. 94
Saybrook. 72. 73
Weth. Men at, 142
Fort at, 61, 62, 63
Platform, The, 2.jiJ
Turnpike, The, 919
School (New.), 119. 815
(Ry-H.), 803, 8U4
(Weth.), 241, 242
Schools, of Old Weth.,
Chapt. IX, 353, 385
Newington, 377, 378
788, 791, 793, 794
799, 811, 812
Stepney,
373, 377, 870. 880
Scroll sawing, ti53
Sea-Captains, Ship-Duild-
ers. Owners and Sea-
faring Men. 555. 595
Sealers of Weights and
Measures. 174, 181
Second Parish I New.).
Incorporated. 753
Secessions and Emigra-
tions from Weth.,
135, 137, 142. 148
Selectmen, Th'-. 171
Seminary. Emer.son's
Female, 380
"Send Home," 99
Sequin (Sowheage), Dif-
ficulties with, 09
Separates, 217, 218, 597
Senators, State, 183
Settlement of Weth., The
First. 20, 21
and Appendix I.
East side of Conn.
River. 193
Beckley Quarter,
195, 837
Newington. 740, 744
Glastonbury. 193
Settlements of Weth.,
Inter-territorial, 189
Seymours Fulling .Mill. U48
Shad and Salmon Fishing,
713
Sheep,
Masters, or
Shepards, 174, 178
Pastures, The Town's,
113, 620
Shelf Hardware, The
Mfre. of, 655
Sheriffs, 188
Ship, The First Builded
at Weth., 510
Ships and Ship-building.
336, 307
Ship-yards. 103. 540
Reservation, The, 896
Shlpman's Hotel,
87, 576, 732
Shire, or County, 18
Shoemakers in Ry-H.. 931
Short Street, see Hiijh-
ways, etc-
Short Lots, see Lots.
"Slab's Hollow." 99
SickHug (Hartford), 32
Singing Masters. 235
Sixth Conn. Militia Reg.,
■ at Boston, 439
"Skunk's Misery." 99
Slavery and Negroes in
Weth.. 700. 944
Slave Trade in New Eng-
land. 945
Slaughter Houses. 65G
Sleepy Plain, see Plains.
Small-pox. 663
Snow Storm of 1881, 951
Sodnm, 705
Social Organization of
Weth.. 74, 75
Societies, First Eccl..
229, 242, 243
Second Eccl. (New.).
748, 755
Third Eccl.
(Stepney. 837
Church Aid. 824
Library. The Weth..
235
Library. The Social
Union 368. 656
Education. The, of
New., 812
Female, The, of
Weth., 659
Freemasons. 659
Patrons of Agricul-
ture, 661
Religious, The, of
Weth.,
059, 884, 886, 887, 888
Social Library of
Stepney. 884
Sons of Temperance.
879
Sunday School. 816
Temperance, The
Conn., 85T
Veteran Association
of Weth., 678
Village Imnrpvcment
of Weth.. ' 659
Spanish-American War.
Woth. Men in. 678
Spice and ColTee Mills. 653
Spring, Ttie Red. 37
Staddle Hill. — See Hills.
Stamford (Ct.). sett, by
Weth. Men. 52. 142
Standishs Island. 84
Stanley Quarter. 669, 785
State OfTiL-ers, 184
State Pri.son at Weth., 83
88. 131. 211. 286
290, 311. 312. 389
Stepney. — See Chapter
XIX.
Stillman's Tavern.
413. 661, 730
Stocking Factory, 651
Stone Pits. The. 351, 930
Ridge. 32
Cutting and Brick
Laying. 643. 930
Stoves. The First used in
Weth. Church. 233
Ry-H. Church, 842
Ry-H. Town. 920
Newington Church. 813
Strange Story of
Elizabeth Canning, 689
Straw Bonnets and
Braiding, 650, 651
Street Lamps, 921
Sturgeon Brook. — See
Brooks.
Sucker Brook. — See
iirooA:.'*.
Sundav School Union.
Weth. & Berlin, The
817
American. The. 816
Rocky Hill. Cong'l. 863
Superintendents of.
241
Superior Court. The, 187
Supreme Court, The, 187
Survey of Town of Weth.,
50, 176
Surveyors. 174
Swamps. Birch. 125
Brush. 122
Collier, 85, 646
Dry, 93, 96, 98
Fairfield. — See
Fearful.
Fearful. 90. 96. 97, 98
101. 117. 258. 351
625. 632, 705, 709
Gooseberry,
284, 624, 632
Great. The.
281. 634, 642
Green, 120
Hang Dog, 116
Pipestavo.
292, 640. 746
Village (Kensington).
711
West. 96, 98, 101
103, 624. 332
Wet. 98. 99. 117
Soldiers. 'Weth. in Pequot
Wars. 72
Amer. Revolution. 506
Civil War. 669
War of 1812, 666-7
Mexican War. 668
Spanish - American
War. 678
South Field, see Fields.
Glastonbury,
101, 191, 205, 212
Meadow, see Meadows.
Lane Road. 707
Swayne Girls. The Cap-
ture of the. by In-
dians. 62. 63, 65
I S»...el. 499
I Svine, 621
Sympathy of Weth. with
SuiTercrs by the Bos-
ton Port Bill. 420
T:indo (Tantn). 85, 104
Tando's Brook, see Brook.
Tanneries. 642. 931
Tnvlimr. 703
Taverns. 661
Crane's. 718, 729
Robbins', 730
Saddler's 661
Stillman's, <^
433, 661, 730
Tavem-Keepers,
114, 180, 249
Teachers in Weth., 812, 635
in Weth., Females,
383
Teazels, 616
Telegraph and Telephone,
635
Temperance, Sons of.
The. 877
Ten-rod Highway. 745
Third Eccl. Soc'y of
Weth.. S50
Third General Division
of Lds. in West Div.
(New.), 785
"Thirty-four Men," The.
39. 93
Three-Mile Lots. The
Distribution of the. 99
Three-Mile Lots. The
Holders of. 100
Timon (negro). 437. 529
Timber. 623
Tin and Pewter Ware.
Mfd in Ry-H.. 654, 935
Titles to Lands. 91
Tobacco, th^ Cultivation
of. in Weth.. 623. 946
"Tombstone," 706
Tools, Mfre. of. The, fi53
Totoket (BranfonI, Ct.).
142
Town, Definition of a. IS
Town-N'ames in ('onn., 52
Town and Church in
Weth,. The, 39, 93
Grants raaili' by, 40
Transportation, by
Stages, 833, 634
Treasurers of Stipney,
Society, 870
Tree Plain, see I'lainx.
Trees, Old. 734,949
Troopers, 204
Tryon's Landing. 089. 912
Tunxis Sepus (Farming-
ton, Ct. ),
51. 137. 138, 207
Turnpike Companlos,
Hartford and New
Haven, The, 633
Hartford and Mid -
dieton, 633
Roads, 632
Ten-Rod Highway, see
Hiffhwau-s.
Two-Rod "Highway, see
Highua;/s, etc.
Twenty-Rod Highway,
see Hif7}iica>/s. etc.
Two-Stotie Brook, see
Brooks.
Cncas, 34. 46, 79
Vncoa (Fairfield, Ct.),
137, 141
"Ungiven Lands," 98
Union Cuun.. Sunday
ScLooI. Tlie. 316
Hartford Co. Sun-
day School. The, 816
" Library Society,
The. 657
Valley Lodge, F and
A. M., 937
Various Industries of,
629, 665
Vessels in Weth. in Co-
lonial Times. 540
Veteran Assoc, of Weth.,
The, 678
Vexation Hill, 70S. 914
Victims of the Weth.
Massacre of 1637, 66
View of the Town,' A
Topographical, 80-81
Viewers of Chimneys,
174, 177
of Fences, 177-179
of Houses, 174
Village Improvement
Soc'y, The, 659
Inn, The, 732
of Farmington, 711
of Weth., 199
Plot of, 1640, 88
Swamp tKensing-
toa), 711
GENERAL INDEX.
Volunteers in War
of the Civil Rebel-
lion, 674
Visits of Washing-
ton to Weth. — See
Washington.
W.
96:
Waddams' Brook,
Bi-
ofc5.
see
Wagon-making in Ry-H.,
933
Wallingford Lands,
112, 113
Wardens, - 131
Warners of Town-Meet-
ings, 174
War, The Pequot, 1637,
165
Weth. Soldiers In,
70, 74
King Philip's 1675-6,
Weth. Soldiers in.
325-6
Queen Ann's,
389, 801
George the Second's.
King William's, 387
Old French and
French and Indian.
396, 801 ; 387, 414,
786. 807
for Independence,
(1812-15), The, 666
Revolutionary, The.
415, 535
Mexican, The,
666, 667
Spanish- American,
The, 666, 678
Washington (Gen.).
vVeth.'s Funeral hon-
ors at his death. 600
Visits of to Weth..
in 1775, 453
in 1780. 472
in 1781, 476
"Watch and Ward" of
the Olden Time, The,
174, 201
^atertown, (.Mass.), 18,
19. 20, 21, 24, 50, 52, 54
Water Supply, The of
Weth. Village, 631, 635
Watering Lane, see Lanes.
Ways of Living in Olden
limes. 950
"Way to Middletown, ■
Th>:. 90, 197
Webb House, The, see
Old Houses.
Weeds in Highways, 623
Wei.ghts and -Measures.
Sealer of, 174, 181
Welles Quarter, The. 641
West Division (New.),
102, 103, 195, 242
Farms (New.), 102,
116, 189, 195, 197, 251
641
Hill Road, 90
Field, The, see Fields.
Hill. The, see Hills.
Society. 242
Swamp, .see Sicamps.
Wethersfield. first settle-
ment of. 20, 21
Discovery of, 22
The first Sett. Town
in Conn..
2.^ and .Appendix I
Settlers before 1641, 29
Additional Settlers, 30
Indian Names of Lo-
calities in. 35. ;)8
Purchases from the
Indians. .''.2. 35. 104
Place of First Set-
tlement. 31-2
The Naming of. 51. .52
Different Forms of
the Name. 52
Bounds of. see Bounds.
Town-Hou=e. 1T3.
2."7. 238. 249, 629
Organization of
Town. 74. 75
Patent of. 129-130
Survey of. 50
Topographical View
of. 1640, 80, 81
Veteran AFsoc'n,
The. 678. 689
Village, The An-
cient. 88
incorporation of. 199
and Berlin Sundav
School Union, 817
Wharf Co.. 131. 545
Other Wethersfields
in U. S., 168
In Illinois, IBS
In New York, 169
In Ohio. ICO
In Vermont. 169
';.Tiarf Co.. The Weth., 131
Wharves, 916
Wharf. The Latimer. 545
The Porter. 344. 545
Whipper. The Public, 174
Whirlneaeues, 70S
Wild Fruits and Plants.
617
Wilderness. The. 98. 99
101, 117. 126. 192
Windham Co. (Ct.). A
Proposed Weth. Sett., 167
Windmills, 642
Windmill Hill, see Hi'ls.
Windsor, Ct.). 21, 23, 24,
50, 51, 52, 137
Witchcraft, in Weth., 679
Wolcott Hill, see Hills.
Wolves. 620
Wongum Indians, see In-
dian \anies.
Women Teachers. see
Female Tenrhers.
Workhouse. The Weth.. 629
Worthington parish.
123, 609
Wood-Working, 653
Wood's River. 730
Yale College in Weth.. 384
I^DEX OF ^TAIMES.
Abby (Abbe), Charles
(Capt.) 593
Thomas (Capt.), 402
Stephen. 555
Abbot (Abbott).
Abby Ann, 862
Abiel, 887
Robert, 29, 100, 157,
246. 272, 276, 311,
317
Abro, Charles. 404
Ackerly, Henry, 297
Ackley, Elijah. 843
Acor, Jacob, 484
Adams, Aaron C. (Bev.),
233, 345, S63
Amasa, 257, 336, 421.
436, 465, 507, 546,
553, 638, 749
Augustus F., 669
BenjaiBin,
247, 260. 336, 384,
421, 555. 719
Camp, 404. 421, 594
Daniel, 247
Ebenezer, 669
Elizabeth. 247
Edward P., 669
Eug"- e 3ri9
Georee. 253, 555. (=67
George W.. 555, 669
Henry A. {Rev.), 60S
Horace, 635
John, 420. 638
John 2, (Rev.),
577, 651
Joseph,
555. 638, 650, 651
Mehltable, 568
Rebecca, 594
Russell.
285. 306. 351. 369
Sherman "W". iJuflfje).
50, 52. 81, 86! 97,
127. 168, 334, 338,
401, 404, 414, 430,
431, -501, 50C, 547,
549, 554. 571, 573,
581. 642. 639, 668,
669, 705, 708, 733,
742, 833, 840, 870.
924
Stoddard. 669
Sylvester, 555
Thomas, 39, 68
Thomas G., 2S7, 581
Welles, 555. 635, 647
William, 128, 233, 247.
369. 635, 633
William (Jr..) 637
Adams & Hanmer. 660
Adkins. Benjamin. 822
Hezekiah, 804
Aiken, {Dr.), 820
Lemuel, 819
Sarah (Coffin), 819
Will. Pope {Rev.), 819
Aklns, Joseph. 403
Alcock, Philip (Mr.), 247
Alden, Dean, 566
Horatio, 566
John B., 635
Aldricb, Edward, 669
Allen, Edward, 930
Elizabeth, .103
John, 44. 899
Obed.. 399
Allis isee £;;.?),
Samuel. 247
William. 164, 247, 2fi8
Allyn. John, 4S. 139
213. 440. 4S4. 683
John (Capf.), 499. 610
Joseph iCnpt.), 247.
550, 333, 387
Henry, 610
Mary. 330
(-Vr.), 247
Ruth. 610
Sarah. 499, 587
Thomas, 61S
Alsen (see E/.sc/i). 208
Alsop. Richard. 348
Anibo, 404. 704
Ames. Eunice. 333
John, 549,
335. 572, 594
(iJfi-.), J. W., 883
Philemon. 333
Robert. 353
Samuel, 667
Sarah. 555
William. 571
Amidon, John, 3S9. 563
Andrew.-s, Abner {ncjro),
466
Charles M., 40,
170, 171, 176, 132
Epaphras, 667
Leraan (/Tei-.), 601
Sara. J. {Rev.). 819
William Watson
{Rev.) 233. 345
Mrs. Wm. W., 729
Andross (Gm-.), 93, 113.
169. 183, 184, 213,
215
Andrus (orig. form of
Au/freics),200, 730, 744
Abel, 404.
466. 707, 811
Alfred {Dea.). 818
Andrew, 507
Anna, 811
Amos. 806
Asa. 307
Asabel, 440
Asiel. 790
Benjamin,
749,
760,
Caleb,
Charles, 489
Daniel (.?r.). 247, 610,
730, 754, 736, 790
Daniel {Jr.),
412, 738, 787
David {Lieut.).
410, 412
Dennison, 412
Elibu, 787
Edward, 306
Elijah. 781. 734
Eli.sha, 407, 787
Elizabeth (wid.), 764
Elizur. 799. S04, 806
Epaphras {Sgt.), 412
Ephraim,
247. 749, 760
Fitch. 798
John, 201. 247, 465,
468, 507, 641, 730
749, 734, 758, 787
Joseph. 195. 247. 462.
507. 641, 749, 734.
736. 760. 783 ; (Dr.).
663, 731, 760, 773
Joseph {Cuip.), 439
Joseph {Dca.), 730
Joshua. 773, 783
784, 794, 796, SOS
Hannah, 7S3, Sll
Lois, 811 ; (IVid.), 882
Lucretia, 815
Lucy, 798
Lydia. 610, 811
Miles, 407. 507
Moses. 507. 610
Oledine. 811
Phineas. 701
Rhoda. 811
Rogers, 787
Samuel. 404. 407
Sarah, 306
Sybil. 784, 798
Tabltha. 811
(iru(.). 773. 774
Thomas. 783
William. 407. 773. 781.
William {Silt.). 737
Autnony, James, 507
Thomas, 399
Applelon, Judith, 315
Samuel. 313
Archer, Benjamin, 556.
910; ID--.). 883
Henry A, {it. D.), 663
Archy. William, 669
Archibald, Robert, 732
Armstrong, James, 674
Arnold. Ann. 835
Charles, 674
Jeremiah. 410
John. 835; {Ens.),
833: {Sgt.). 835
•Touat^ian, 412
Joseph. 835
Samuel. 835
Talcott A.. 586. 883,
933, 937. 934
Ashpo, Sam., 46
Atkins, 853
Atwood. Andrew. 812. 880
{Capt.), 740
Andrew. 296
Andrew {Dea.), 819
Charles K.. 822.
825. 829, 831, 832
Ezekiel, 806
Jedidlah, 599, 783
Josiah, 816
John, 507
Joseph. 462. 307
Mary. 811
Oliver. 183
Thomas. 663
Thomas {Capt.), 247
Austin. Benjamin. 432
Caleb. 771
Samuel {Rev.), 345
Averill. Eliphalet. 373
Heman. 373
Ayrault. C. S. {Rev), 803
Dauiel, 421, 464
Mary. 421
968
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD,
Nicholas (Dr.). 247
387, 421. 556, 625,
663, 899, 903
Peter, 421, 903
B.
Backus (.Vr.), S07
Simon (Reu.). 332, 395
751, 752, 768, 770
771, 772, 775
Mary, 262
Eunice, 775
(Neyro). 398
Bacon, Abigail. 410
Richard, 466, 507
933,
440,
Zacha
Baker, A. G.,
George,
Henry {Jr.),
Samuel. 167,
William M. (Rev.)
Bailey, Alfred,
Arnold,
Hendrick,
JUEtU.S,
Baleh, Ebenezer,
Jonathan,
Jonathan B.,
Baldwin, Hiram,
(Mr.),
Nathaniel,
Bancker.
Bangs, Fred,
Barber, John W.,
Barber & Howe,
Barce, Michael, 440,
Bard, Samuel (Eiis )
Barnard,
Anne,
Charles,
John,
Selah,
Barnes (Barns),
Abigail,
Asa,
Charles,
David,
Epha,
Gideon,
John, 436
Matt.,
Moses,
Phebe,
Sherman,
William,
Barnum. John.
Nathan G.,
Noah,
Baruwell.
Barrett,
James,
John,
Mehitable
Robert,
Stephen,
William,
Barrows. A V
(Dr.),
J. Otis (Kev.).
Barshani fsee Ba.'isnm).
Bartholomew, David
Bartlett. Charles,
John.
Barton. James,
Joseph,
William,
Bassey. Sidney,
William.
Eassum, (Mr.),
Bates (see. also Bctts).
John.
John M. (Rev.),
Joseph.
Robert, 29, 100,
248. 256. 263,
307. 312
410
918
669
667
669
348
935
653
484
475
421
507
430
954
853
507
481
5S9
649
252
669
247
199
906
334,
940.
484
S20
484
607
410
635
430
555
407
604
C04
9,S9
941
828
403
399
643
669
507
410
669
147
825
404
143
Baxter, Ellsha, 422, 465
Elizabeth, 6S.S
Mary. ' 6S8
Mehitable, 594
Thomas. 6S8
Beach. Nathaniel. 484
Reuben (t>,it.), 4S4
T. C. (Ri'i-.), 833
Beaumont, 170
Chas. G., 896, 910. 932
(Mrs.) Chas., 868
. Sams. M.,
910, 934. 939
Beecher. Henry Ward
(Kec), 146. 309. 783
Beecroft.
Thomas (.//■.). 773
Beadle (Bedel). 342
David. 644
David, (Jr.), 412
Elizabeth, 565
Jonathan. 384. 422
William. 421, 695
696, 697, 699
Beckley, 556
Benjamin, 248, 364
464, 486, 750, 752
754
Comfort, 288, 750
Daniel, 364
Daniel (Jr.), 364
Deborah, 248
Elias, 474, 482, 508
Hannah. 790
Hosea (Krv.), 861
John. 399. 508, 742
Jo.-;eph. 364, 610
Josiah, 843
Mary, 610
Nathaniel, 288, 750
Richard (Si/t.), 41.
101, 102, 140, ISO
195, 248, SOS 7?7
738, 740, 743, 750
754, 782, 790
Richard (Jr.), 248. 750
Ruth. 611
Selah. 804, 805
Silas. 399
Solomon. 436. 508, 790
Theodore. 464. 790
Behan. James. 609
Belden (lidding), 108
865, 954
Aaron. 336. 465. 927
Abigail.
571.
782
Abraham, 466, 482. 507
Allen.
896
Anne.
784
Ashbel.
895,
927
AzicI,
790
Benjamin,
180,
248
507, 754
Chester,
954
(Col.),
338
Daniel,
164
David, 229,
388,
700
Dorothy,
248,
811
Ebenezer,
248,
249
334, 422,
903
Eli.sha, 399,
407,
436
507, 554,
562,
564
Elizur D.,
674
Ezekiel Porter (Capt),
339, 457,
463,
490
507, 557
Ezra,
248,
.568
EuKene S.,
556,
568
896, 898,
901,
917
George E.,
674,
896
George F.,
674
Gideon,
372
Hezekiah, 52
, 68,
752
Isaac.
896,
898
James Lockwood (Jr.),
168, 557,
565,
616
John, 40, 41
, 74,
103
107, 112,
161,
174
180, 191,
224.
248
250, 266,
291.
304
307, 309,
384.
407
422, 459,
464,
465
508, 618,
661,
701
742, 787
John (Jr.),
248
John (Cnpt.
556
John (Col.)
'487,
556
John M.,
822
831
Jonas.
334
.lonathan.
112,
119
125, 167,
263,
292
508, 754,
785,
811
819, 903
Jonathan (F.
IS.),
390
Jonathan (L
rut.)
228
249, 391,
459,
624
752
Jonathan (Cni>t),
291
394, 700
Joseph, 249
352
365
374, 556
Joseph (Jr.)
806
Joshua (Rei
'.).
249
432, 488,
752.
753
762, 776,
782.
793
SOO, 807,
809.
872
Joshua (.V.
D.).
663
Josiah.
422.
755
Leonard.
895,
927
L. W. (Dr.)
663
Lockwood.
656
Lydia,
248
Mary.
558
Moses.
308,
466
I.V.-.).
807,
808
Octavja.
811
Return.
644
Richard. 30. 40
47
93. 145.
177,
210
249 T.R
264.
271
289. 290.
300,
317
tu-, frlU.
508.
564
550, 557,
618.
843
Richard (Jr
),
556
Ruth,
422
Samuel, 93,
103,
164
178. 210.
213,
214
249. 266.
283,
350
Samuel (Jr.), 249. 872
917
Samuel H.. 669
Seabury. 556. 568. 901
" ■ 547
249. 782. 903
334. 422. 556
Seth.
Simeon.
557,
Simeon (Ens)
ut.)
S. & E. S.,
Solo
457
490
656
932, 934
422
588
334. 335
422. 433
Thankful. <
Thomas, 237
336, 366,
434, 474, 508, 556
566, 567, 903
Thomas (Jr.), 364
Thomasine, 248, 249
288
T. & E. S., 655
(Cnl.), 449
William, 178, 221, 248
249, 388
Belknap, Peter (Ens.), 412
Boll, 849
Abraham, 140
Francis, 30. 90. 140
143. 147. 249
Isaac. 732
James T. (Rev.), 605
John. 398
Bellinger. Wm. W. (Rev.),
608
Benfield. 248
Benjamin, Abigail, 249
INDEX OF NAMES.
969
Caleb. 29,
37,
103
Blakeley, Enos, 436,
440
Elijah. 436.
461,
466
167, 249,
407,
743
508
509, 667
John,
290,
413
Blanchard. Joseph.
413
Elisha,
656
Mary,
249
Bl
nn (BIynn. Blin),
654
Elizabeth,
310
Samuel.
249
733. 865, 954
Frederick,
674
Benham. Harriet,
815
Abigail, 250,
267
Gamaliel.
773.
774
Bennett, Daniel K..
Abraham, 440,
508
779, 7,H?,
669,
821
Alfred,
168
George (Cup
t.).
557
Benson. Levi,
669
Billy, 250,
397
George,
557
Benton. Amos,
508
Daniel.
645
Isaac, 41,
112,
251
Andrew.
249
David. 404, 407,
804
367, 4ii2,
500,
741
Asa (Rev.),
345
Deliverance, 250,
404
James,
674
Edward, 40,
163,
164
Ebenezer,
404
Jason, .'•.61.
562,
564
167, 193,
249,
7 42
Edgar F.,
669
571, 5X0,
874,
892
George,
5. -.7
Elia.s,
667
037
James,
422
Eliz.ibeth.
869
Ja.son (Capt.),
557
John, 376,
422,
4. ■'.6
Elisha (Ens.),
413
558, 55'J,
869.
980
439, 488,
508,
584
Emily,
568
, John,
251,
404
878
George, 557,
591
John (C'liU.)
558
Joseph, 249,
461,
773
Ger^hom. 367, 334
422
539, 8;j»
774
Hczekiah, 407,
440
Jo. S.,
645
Josiah,
127
508, 547, 901
Jonathan (Lieut.)
Samuel (wid
of).
754
Hosea.
422
122,
212,
390
Samuel,
240,
745
Hosoa (Jr.).
557
Jonathan (i
"S.J,
William,
404
Honor,
811
107.
108
William (Re
v.).
601
James (Capt),
Jonathan,
107,
313
Berrlgan, Denni-s
669
557,
572
372, 374,
558,
851
Bernard, Edward
(Rev.),
James, 555,
806
873, 874
338
James (Jr.),
557
Joseph,
251
Beswick, George,
250
Jerah,
901
Joseph Sime
>n.
Belts, (see. also.
Bates),
John,
182
558,
645
Abigail,
250
John S.,
674
Joshua,
251
John, 100,
203,
248
Jonathan. 250,
267
Leonard, 365
422,
488
250, 2.^5.
283.
291
579, 773, 774,
781
509
293, 296, 313
795. 804
Lemuel H.,
674
John (Sijt.),
250,
741
Jonathan (Jr.),
Levi. 3b9,
422,
465
Roger,
29,
250
773,
774
509. 540,
550,
558
Robert,
143
Josenh. 645.
667
910. 932
Thomas.
141
Lucinda.
815
Luther,
559
Bewers. Jonathan
440,
508
Mary (Skinner),
809
Mabel,
851,
893
Bidwell. David,
465,
508
(.l/i-,s.).
808
Mary, 248
251,
487
Ephraim,
465,
508
Nathaniel.
270
851
Hezekiah,
«!'
Peter. 167, 250,
251
Mary Jane,
869
Isaac,
440,
508
372, 500
Martha,
2C3
John (Jr.).
24:-!,
640
Sim«»on.
635
Moses,
399
Joseph, 108,
193,
250
Samuel.
422
Nathaniel (Corp't)
350
Solcnion,
422
'18O
Samuel (Capt.).
412
Stephen,
934
Nathaniel (ilr.).
225
Samuel,
293
Thankful,
594
240, 251,
252.
268
Sidney,
926
Theodore, 706, 935
936
272. 414
Thomas,
465,
508
Unni P., 669,
821
Return,
509
Biers (Jr.), Isaac,
884
Wadsworth T.,
674
Richard, 251
749.
790
Blgelow. Alvin,
436,
508
William, 116, 251,
266
755. 757,
759.
773
Jonathan (L
cut.)
372, 404, 422,
557
784
107,
108
609, 638, 667
Richard (En
s.).
393
Joseph,
318
Warner,
654
737, 706
Thomas,
250
Zerah.
509
Samuel, 30.
36, 40, 41
William,
250
Zenas,
809
48, 73, 93
,94, '
103
(Capt.).
548
Bl
sh, Sylvester (Cul.),
168
107. 112,
118,
148
Biggs. William,
256,
837
Bl
ss. Margaret.
270
161. 184.
185,
196
Bill, Ephraim (Capl.).
502
modi;ett. Abner.
402
197, 213,
248,
250
Jonathan,
651,
898
Bluff. Henry.
669
251, 252,
253,
254
Samuel & Co.
651
898
Boardman ( fiordraan.
258, 265,
266,
267
Billings, Charles
E.,
Boreman),
268, 269,
270,
274
654,
923,
928
641, 865,
954
278, 2.VL,
283.
285
& Edwards,
654
Abial,
251
288, 289,
297,
300
& Spencer Co
. 654
923
Alice.
309
309, 313,
314,
323
Bird, Samuel (Ji
• ),
755
Andrew I.,
674
324, 3S6.
422,
436
Bisbee (Bisby),
250
Anne,
252
440, 449,
463,
495
Phebe,
252,
285
Ashbel,
557
498, 499,
505,
509
William (.V)
.).
250
Ashbel (Capt.),
559
538, 549,
550,
557
252. 257,
285,
288
Benajah.
509
558, 591,
594,
640
Bishop. Austin,
609
Benajah (grjt.).
465
652, 734,
735,
741
John (Rev.)
139
Benjamin (Jr.),
263
766. 888.
908.
941
John,
250
Benjamin (Rev.),
854
Samuel (Hei
.),
224
Sarah, 116,
204,
250
Belden (Capt.).
Samuel (an.l).
436
Samuel,
625
550,
558
Samuel (Jr.
. 94.
197
Black leach.
741
Belden. 551,
583
198, 558
Benoni,
250,
300
Butler. 557,
558
Seth,
440,
509
Elizabeth,
250
(Capt.),
547
Thomas, 251
281.
906
John (Mr.),
106,
264
Charles, 284, 334,
422
Thomas (Sr.
).
906
278
587
Thomas D..
907
John (Sr.),
250
Charles (Jr.),
558
Timothy, 2.^2
.337,
903
John (Jr.),
250
Daniel, 112, 167,
212
William, 252
357,
558
Mary,
250
252, 309, 317,
389
605. 652, 63
i
Solomon.
250
559, 754
William B..
563
Blake. Charles L..
6ii9
Daniel (Rev.).
William F. J
, 458
468
Chester,
669
251,
378
531, 605,
652,
659
Joseph,
403
David. 251.
903
734
970
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHF.F.SFIELD.
William & Sons.
653
Breckinridge. J. C
(Re
v.). :
Gordon.
559
Bndge. \Vm. N. I/Ccf.)
65
883 1
Henry. 41. 83.
106.
Bodwell, J. C. (RciK),
346
Brinlcy. Geo..
825 1
114. 250. 254.
263.
Holies, Augustus (Rev
).
Brewer. Daniel.
404,
407 i
266. 2S0. 296.
559
602
Daniel (.Jr.),
404 j
500. 60S. 645,
710.
Bollerer, Jacob.
820
John.
407 !
741. 750. 759
Boltwood. Robert,
Thomas, 192.
253,
349
Henry R..
678
19. 163.
252
Brew.^ter. .Wuhan
el.
323
Isaac. 254. 377.
745.
Bond (Dr.), 26. 27. 2S
. 53
Brigden. Catharin
570
754. 757. 759.
765.
259, 2C9
Michael. 422,
436,
457 ,
766. 767. 771.
772
E. R. (Kev.). 601,
602
509. 717
Isaac (Lif.it.).
505
Ella.
602
Thomas,
422 :
Jesse. 422. 510.
773
Borman (Boreman),
49
Briggs. George,
669 1
Jonathan. 254.
510,
Samuel,
23-
William.
187,
253
749. 750. 755 ;
Boner. Louis.
669
Bristow. Josiah W.,
625 !
(Ens.) 456
Boosey (Bosey),
Richard,
141 '
Josiah.
James iMr. et Lieu
t.).
Brockett P. IRev.
).
602 '
422. 559. 560.
782
30. 124. 131).
138
Linus P..
6'"'2
Josiah (Capt.j.
566
183, 203. 252.
2.^3
Bromley. Henry (Rev.)
602
Lucy,
174
260. 2P.6. 267.
270
Bronson (Bromfon).
Lydia.
767
277. 283. 285.
286
Abel.
407
(.I/O I.).
722
287, 289. 291.
295
Dorcas.
610
Mabel.
582
297, 302. 303.
314
Hezekiah.
407
Peletiah. 767,
773
581
John. 167.
253.
282
783, 785. 794;
James (Jr.), 252.
301
318. 742 ;
Jr.).
253
(Rev. .1/r.). 882
Alice.
252
Martin.
397
Samuel. 85. 133.
422,
Esther.
252
Mary,
318
560. 577. 750.
766
Hannah.
Noadiah,
404,
410
Samuel (Jr.), 556
560
Joseph.
311
Samuel,
610
Samuel (Sgl.).
254
Mary,
252
Sarah.
282,
610
Sarah. 594.
749
Sarah. 252.
301
Timothy.
610
Silas.
336
Booth. Isaac.
402
Brook. Elinor.
Stephen. 254,
750
Robert.
610
Brooks. Elijah.
465.
509
Thomas.
773
Boswell, James. 161,
252
Elizur.
465.
509
Titus. 336.
422
299, 743
Jonathan.
397.
399
Valentine (Rev.).
605
Bourne, Howard P.,
730
465. 509
Winthrop. 233
369
Bourne S- Co., The Sm
ith.
Joseph.
423
Buckingbaui. Thomas.
Bowdish, W. T. {Bev.t.
Levi.
440.
509
(«'^r.).
S83
Xathan.
399
254. 323. 385.
865
Boundykee (see Bramlane
Thomas. 440
466.
509
(•/'-.).
405
and BruiuUsh) ,
709
Timothy. 407
413
436
Buckland. Thomas,
254
Boundykee.
914
5"9
Buckminster.
339
Bowen (Bowln). John.
398
Broome. John (Col.).
657
Buker (Wul.),
254
John P..
669
Brown (.Vr.),
S54
Uugbe, John.
398
Bowers. Benajah.
509
Daniel i Rev
).
605
B.il.cley (Buckley),
549
Ephrai^.
559
Edward. 422.
436.
440
S65. 954: (.Vr.),
741
Samuel.
399
461. 466.
509
Allen. 560. 561.
563
Bowman.
Henry, 436.
510.
799
Anna.
882
Jonathan (Corp'l)
319
Howell W.,
432
Asahel.
561
Jonathan [Lieut.)
3S9
Timothy.
407
Benjamin. 336.
384.
Nathaniel.
742
William.
407.
674
422. 482
Richard. 765. 766
771
William A.,
937
Bet.-y.
882
Boynton. Edward.
910
& Co.,
655
Bradford.
890
Brace (Brncii and
Zaccheus.
815
Burrage. 510.
901
Brass(ij), 257.
285
Bruce. Barwick (Dr.).
C. 500
510
John (Mr.), 2.32
663.
728
Charles. 334. 422.
482.
Joab (Rev.), 737.
800
Anne.
869
510. 550. 501
807. 808. 809.
819
Brundi.-h (see. a
Iso,
Charles (.3rii),
549
Lucy Collins.
898
Brandagee
Charles (Capt.).
Phebe,
266
Abner.
253
937.
939
Mary.
815
John. 30. 67
100
246
Chester, 168. 233.
241,
Samuel.
422
310,
618
336. 582
Thomas.
252
Jo.seph.
253
David.
560
Bradfleld (BroadfleldK
Joshua.
253
Dorotha.
851
Leslie. 30. 100.
148
Rachael.
67,
246
Dorothy. 308. 326
562
157, 2-19. 251.
253
253. 258
Edmond.
561
259. 288. 2S9
Buck. 641, 775,
865.
8S3
Edward. lOS. 125.
228.
Bradford. 38. 56. 5S. 61. 65
Amos,
465
510
255. 294. 326,
352
Bradford (Goi.).
22
Brothers.
559
404. 456, 471,
510.
Bradford.
Charles.
559
561, 563, 586.
848.
William (Capt.),
559
C. (Rev.).
8S3
,849. 868. 869.
894.
George.
907
Daniel, 382.
436.
437
*922. 923. 924.
928
Mary.
940
458. 464.
510.
559
932. 942
William. 327. 882
891
568. 569.
582
Edward (Capt.).
460
892. 893
David. 247
. 253
510
500. 551. 561,
562
Bradley. Fernando.
669
Dudley. 560.
56S.
569
S42. 889. 899
George. 436
509
Elizabeth.
254
559
Edward (ilaj.).
Brady, Patrick.
669
605
Emanuel. 40. 41
149. 161. 181.
103
251
490
Francis.
560
Bralnard. A. S..
253. 254,
262.
267
436. 440. 510,
561
(Copt, et Col.)
Oliver. 813
667
932
325; 640;
745, 747.
2.^3
7n.
749.
302
742
759
Francis (Capt).
561
Francis (Jr.),
562
Brandagee (see. also.
Enoch. 40
93.
254.
(Capt.),
561
BruiuUsh). 709.
994
h24. 749
George.
669
Brannon. Thomas.
669
Enoch. (Jr.)
749
751
Gershom. 191.
272.
Brattle. Thomas (.1/r. )
253
Ezekiel. 94.
167.
198.
281. 563. 571.
639.
Broadbent. Samuel (Jr.),
254, 265,
2S2,
292
846. 865. 922.
923.
733
297
925, 938
INDEX OF NAMES.
971
Gershom (Rev. ct
Thomas.
659
Edward.
511
Dr.), 24. 86.
103
Bunce. Abigail.
574
Elisha.
564
106. 116. 167.
1S4
Eunice.
561
EInathan.
936
193, 199. 205,
209
Hanan.
563
Ezekiel.
215, 216. 218.
238
Jared (Capt.),
Frederick. 74. 264
380,
255. 256, 271.
294
440, 466, 510,
563
382. 545
303. 305. 308.
313
Jeremiah,
256
Frederick (Mr.),
324, 325, 326.
330
Jonathan. 212.
255,
210, 211
632
561, 562, 604,
853
389, 422, 545,
563
Frederick R., 674
926
922, 924. 928
Joseph,
787
George, 473,
364
Giles, 461,
510
Richard (Capt.),
563
Henry.
564
Grace,
281
Thomas, 54, 255,
277,
Hezekiah,
Henry, 561, 562.
586,
296. 300, 304,
422,
334. 423. 511.
667
900, 932
436, 457, 510.
563
Hezekiah (Corpl.
,
Hosea, 560, 501.
562,
Thomas F., 314
669
436
566. 569. 573,
5S1,
Zachariah. 42:
-424
Hezekiah (Sfft.).
437
653, 843, 912,
923,
Zachariah, (Jr.),
Isaiah.
918
925
422.
465
James, 564,
848
Isaac,
586
Bi
nn. Thomas, 399,
398
.lason.
564
James [Mr.),
942
Burditt. .Maria H..
599
John,
Jasou,
566
B
irke, Daniel.
669
440. 511. 457.
934
John, 399, 422.
510,
Burghes. Edward.
484
Jonah '.Capt.).
899
864, 899. 9:^5,
938
Di
rlingson, Ebenezer,
412
Joseph, 94, 199.
236,
John (Ca)tt.),
Fearnot,
412
336, 350, 352,
370,
549, 550,
562
Burnett, Joseph {Rev.
,
372, 423. 511.
514,
John (Jr.).
422
602
837. 868
John Bunce,
561
Burnham,
511
Joseph (Corpl.),
Jonathan. 561.
562,
A. (Cnpt.),
500
457.
904
650. 657. 846.
922,
(Capt.). 134
690
Joseph (Mr.),
193
924. 925
Elizabeth, 574,
762
Josiah. 564
494
Justus, 371. 384,
890,
Hannah,
610
Joslah (Corpl.),
891. 892, 893.
917
James, 440,
511
463
939
933, 942
John, 311,
457
Levi.
Joseph. 464, 465,
467,
John (Capt.),
563
562. 564. 567.
635
499, 510, 548,
562,
Jonathan, 351,
764
& Co..
656
564, 570. 586.
843
Jusiah,
610
Mary.
256
869. 8S9. 893,
916
-Mehltable,
592
Merritt. 168
645
Joseph {Ens.},
949
Nathaniel, 240,
243
Naomi,
558
Levi.
510
256, 300, 423,
762
Nathaniel. 226,
256,
Martha,
239
Nathaniel (Qr-.Vstr.),
272, 278, 290,
291,
Morgan G. (Ho7i.)
, 127
215.
762
301, 318, 742
{Mrs.),
870
Orrln. 440.
511
Pete'*,
399
Oliver,
562
Peter (CapL),
Prudence.
RS2
Peter. 281. 56?,
893.
423, 563
504
iiichara, 149, 256
26S.
922, 925
Peter,
304, 350, 352,
359,
Peter (Rev.),
2S3
339, 366, 465.
546
372, 558, 572,
667,
Prescott. 376. 547,
561.
Ruth.
616
741
562. 878. 899
Sarah,
610
Rose,
141
Prudence. 560.
937
Thomas,
236
Samuel, 41, 44,
103,
Ralph.
562
Timothy,
399
226. 256. 264.
294,
Samuel Henry.
562
William (Rev.).
359. 365. 387,
422.
Sarah.
882
256, 609. 610.
762
423, 898. 903,
938
Silas,
586
William. 108. 112.
318.
Samuel I.Vr,),
105
Simon,
562
319. 574. 610,
762
Samuel (Capt.).
Solomon, 436, 456
510
William (Capt.),
610
126,
564
Stephen, 547, 571,
899
Bu
rn.=.
669
Samuel (Sen.),
185
(Capt.),
563
John.
901
Sarah,
894
(Jr.). 360,
563
Bu
rnell. Calvin J.. 864
-869
Simeon,
Sylvester {Dr.1.
939
Bu
rr. Aaron,
146
843, 867, 868,
926
Thankful B., 563,
869
Charles C. (Rev.),
605
Stephen (Corpl).
484
Thomas,
David. 126,
127
Thomas Belden.
312, 398, 399,
607
Esther.
253
187, 188. 210,
380
Treat,
607
Frank Treat (Dr.)
940
William, 30, 248,
256.
Wait, 563.
571
George,
531
307, 336. 423.
868.
Walter.
586
Isaac.
385
923. 924, 926
Walter W., 562,
869
Jebiel. 252.
253
W. S.. 655.
933
W. H. {Lieut.-Gov
).
Bu
rroughs (Burrows).
& Sugden, 653,
924
William,
563
Joseph.
270
Buttolph, David,
William R.,
Mary.
356
94, 257,
308
910, 911.
937
Peter,
256
jElizabcth,
302
• W. W..
900
Robert, 30, 149,
165.
George. 257.
302
Bull. Amos,
423
16G. 256, 2G4,
284
John (.Jr.),
257
iCnpt.),
216
Bu
sh. Abial,
402
John (Lieut.),
257.
Caleb,
460
Bu
shnell (Dr.).
820
294, 302, 308,
328.
Caleb (Capt.).
460
Buttertield, Daniel,
62
387
Charles {Ens.),
439
Bu
tier. 547,
863
John (ilr.).
226
Eunice,
583
Abigail.
555
Jonathan,
423
Abraham,
134
C.
Jonathan {Maj.),
Benjamin. 564.571
5S0
Cadwell,
383,
365
Calvin (Rev.).
829
Abraham (Capf.),
412
Jonathan {Capl.)
Charles. 198. 256.
375.
John,
639
387
511. 929
Reuben,
484
Joseph.
640
Charles (Ens.).
454
Matthew,
407
Isaac.
932
Charles (Lieut.).
Cady,
383
Michael.
659
463,
878
Henry W.,
669
Jloger.
Charles (.Sfft.).
436
Leonard,
398
436. 456. 510,
583
Charles C. 870,
92S
Calder, Thomas (Sgt.)
402
Ruth,
583
Charles E.,
898
Caldwell, Charles,
451
Samuel, 586,
732
David (Cop!.),
484
John,
589
972
Calhoun. J C,
Calkins, (.Vim). 166
Callahan. Daniel.
Matthew.
Callender.
Elisha. ROR. 910,
Camp. Abigail,
Alma.
Anna.
Fanny,
Fanny
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WKTHERSFIELD.
S09
501
GH9
244
954
944
81
892
921
511
mes.
4.-?7
John. 257, 701, 749,
754, 7B0, 7ft3, 776,
783, 794. 808
John ICiipt.), :i03
Joseph, 257, 749, 806,
812; (Capt.), 814;
(Lieut.), 815
J. W., (Jr.), 936
Nathan. «74
(WUI.), 783
(Capt.). 773
Campbell. George. 689
Robert, 669
CandPe. 257. 2S8. 986. 954
Justus, 891. 917, 934
Canning, Elizabeth.
690, 691, 692
Joseph, 691
Carrier, Benjamin. 707
Carrlngton. Catherine. C82
Joane. 681, 682
John. 3(
2S5. 632
Carpenter. Elisha.
John.
Uriah.
Carter. Jonathan.
James W..
Mary.
Case. Eliphalet,
John.
Richard,
Catlin iCaiiei.a.
Benjamin.
449, 452, 505
550
Benjamin (Corpl.),
Joel (Lieut.),
John, 30, 257,
Thomas,
Cavanagh, John,
Chadwirk. Willi
271,
669
423
404
407
257
^attelij,
439,
511,
402
452
257
670
484
7X3
410
484
Chambers, Goo. \V.
Chamberlain. Isaac
Jeremiah.
Champion. Epaphroditus
Henry. 574
Chandler, Henry (Capt.),
402
Josepli, 404
Perry (Rev.), 605
Stephen. 403
Chase, Loriug B. (Rev.).
663
Chauncey, (.v. £>.).
John,
Oliver,
(Pres.),
Sarah, 2
Chauncey, Catherin
John,
Nath. (Rev.),
Catlin. Abijah.
Chappel. Georse
165. I'li;
280. 23<
George, 2d
George. (J
Margaret.
Chapin. Alonzc
Dr.).
633
651
404
255
55, R51
863
e. Sol
851
851
952
30, 72,
253, 269.
30
109, 192, 193, 207
297, 300, 302. 304
326, 349, 506. 743
Calvin (Rev., Dr.), 82.
87. 189. 343. 344.
412. 511, 591, 640,
834, 842, 843, 847
850, 851, 854, 855,
856, 857, 858. 859,
860. 861. 862. 863-
865, 881. 884, 887,
938, 949
Edward iDea.), 854
Samuel (Rrv.). S54
Chaplin. Clement. 78. 136.
145. 149. 150. 176
177. 184. 236. 238,
253, 25S. 272, 273,
277, 278, 287, 299,
301, 306, 307, 308,
315, 320, 480
Sarah,
Chapman, 339, 389
F. -v..
607
315
054
678
W. (Re
561, 563, 894
Joseph, ti67
Revilo,
886. 89*, 935, 938
Robert, 64, 66
Chenevard, John. 548
Cheney. L. C. ('/'■rl. i:(l5
Cherry. John. 250. 258, 741
Chester.
481,
Abigail,
Dorothy.
Eunice, 349, 762
Hannah (Marirnn).
251. 644. 689, 754,
762
John. 46. 94, 1P9
118, 119. 121. 122,
161. 188. 231, 25S,
259. 301. 324. 34.^
344, 362, 364, 365,
403, 423.
489, 542. 637,
654, 705. 748.
John. (Jr.),
235. 330. 434. . ..
(Mr.). 41. 43. l.iO
204, 225, 741, ts-j.
(Lieut.). 104.
204, 206. 211.
(Ens.). 215.
(Capt.), 94.
184. 207. 241.
296. 3in. 317. 330
388. 390. 331. 413,
433. 434. 435. 4.39.
442. 446, 447, 452,
454, 482. 511. 647,
801 ; (.Major), 120,
185, 186, 259 ;
(Lieut-Col.). 393;
(Col.), 112. 126.
129. 185, 230, 231
464.
6.-^8.
112.
203.
710 :
387 :
129.
255.
232. 236. 282
300.
334, 339, 349! 367]
397, 413, 410, 434,
459, 46
490, 565
654, 657
727
John Noyes
481, 48;
625, 644,
701, 702,
(Capt.).
762
754
241, 754
109, 112,
Joseph.
Joseph L. (CoM.
Mary. 258. 688, 754
Mehitable.
Mercy.
Sarah.
Stephen. 82 _
130, 254. 259. 264
271. 292. 294. 382.
543, 728, 778
Leonard. 21. 28. 40
53. 93. 97. 98. 116.
129. 149. 204. 213
251, 257. 258. 259.
261. 283. 284. 285.
293. 295, 301, 302,
423, 540, 542, 564.
565, 618, 021, 622,
626. 654. 700
Thomas. 112. 259. 629,
635. 762
Chetwood, F. D. (Rev.),
825
Chittenden. Henry A.. 800
Chunn. Clay D. (Rev.),
863
Church. Abner. 898
Asa.
651. 870, S.Sc
Elisha,
Elisha,
James,
(Jr.),
651,
Churchill, Benjami
259, 318,
730. 747 :
112
_l Lieut. I,
Charles, T2I. 464', 4^;7,
472, 474, 482, 4SS,
511, 611, 644, 731.
774. 783. 808.
Charles (Capt.)
730,
D •■
814
Elizabeth,
254.
John. (Jr.),
Joseph. 259, 462
482. 511. 564
749. 804. 8utl,
Josiah, 30. 41.
100. 106, 149.
254. 259. 2G1.
280, 304. 310,
730, 741, 749,
Julia,
Levi,
369, 370, 382.
Levi R. (Rev.),
Lucretia,
474.
646,
823
Mary,
;i59.
259,
511.
Nathaniel.
459. 465,
754. 773, ._.
Nehemiah.
Samuel. 511, 564
730. 771. 781.
806
Samuel. (J
806
168
893
811
378,
749,
Solomon.
( U-i</. I.
Clapp. Howard
Cla
611,
572.
783.
511
806
:. (Rev).
825
888
889, 917
932-935
Danie
Hannah,
Timothy, ,
Cleveland, Aaron (Rev.)
SOS
Grover (Pres.), 808
Johnson, 787
Richard Falley, 808
Willam, SOS
Clifford. John, 670
Clinton. Joseph (Capt.),
484
Clough. oil
Coburn. George L. (Kei:.).
605, 609. 883
James. 398
Coe. Robert. 21. 24. 29
135. 141, 143, 146,
191, 192, 252, 260,
287, 291, 307, 581
Cogan, James, 670
Coit,
Cole, Abner.
Elizabeth.
Ezckiel.
Gideon.
Jame.s.
John.
Joseph.
J. A. iRev.).
571
610
610
511
610
372
605
IXDEX OF NAMES.
973
Lydla, 2fiO
Martha, 558
Mary, 305
Moses, 403
Nathaniel, 610
Samuel,
198, 260, 423, 512
Samuel ( M'ui. of),
372, 373
Sarah. 610
Clancy, Philip, 670
Clapp, Elijah (Ca;;f.), 565
John (Cnp(.), 565
Howard S. (Rev.)
607, 60S
John B., 070
John B. (Col.). 565
Norman, 565
Norman, [Jr.), 465
Roger, 465, 511
Roswell. 5(i5. 71S
Clark (Clarke), (jl/r.), 6S2
Charles. 511
Chester, 703
Daniel, 105, 133, 273
David, 560
Geo. L., (Ect'.), 348
Henry. 670, G83
James,
403. 407. 437, 511
John, 27, 53, 72, 100.
142, 260; (Mr.).
292
Laban (Rev.), 605
Mary, 298
Noah B., 383
Robert, 141
Roger, 511
Samuel, 29, 143, 148,
260, 295, 311, 317,
413
Sylvester H. (Rev.).
COS
Thomas, V>7
Timothy,
650, 661, 667
William, 94. 247. 248,
260. 298, 3'JS. 400,
466. 511, 640
Clarkson, John. 670
Charles, (Sen.). 560
Charles, (Jr.). 560
Daniel, 550
David, 404
Freeman, 565
John,
294, 398, 412, 512
Jonathan, 404, 407
Josiah, 467
Nathaniel (Rev.). 565
Samuel, 261
Robert, 512
Samuel, 350, 352. 372,
410, 565, 674
Cole, (Wia.) Sam.. 871
Coleman. Chauncey 168
Comfort, 423
David, 781
Deborah, 261
Ellsha, 594
George, 604
George L. (Rev.). 605
Hannah. 594
John, (Jr.), 903
John. 110, 149, 163,
164, 210, 257, 260.
261, 266, 270, 286,
283, 294, 297, 302,
314, 328, 359, 667,
837, 903
Mary. 311
Nathaniel,
336. 437, 440, 512
Noah, 210, 260, 261
Peter, 423
Samuel, 213, 262, 390
Samuel, 2d. 667
Sarah, 261, 307
Thoma.s, 30, 149, 163,
210, 220, 252, 259.
260, 261, 265. 307,
309, 311, 312. 314.
369, 667
Zadock,
423. 437, 457, 458
Coles, Daniel, 410
David, 410
Noah, 400
Colfax (Colefax), Jonathan.
Jona. (.S</(.). 3SS
167, 261
William. 100, 105, 161,
167, 206, 274. 280,
281, 287, 288, 310,
312, 512
Colley.
Thoma.s (Mm.).
Nathaniel (S./(.), 402
Collins 942, 954
Abitjail. 560. 564, 571
Abijah, 386, 561, 565,
570, 894, 932, 938
Amos, 412
I,ucy, 809
Silas, 883
Colt, John, 205
Abraham, 261
Coltnuin (Coultman),
George. 319
John, 40, 41, 93, 190,
258, 261. 272. 273.
301, 305, 637. 741
Mary, 305
Colton. Samuel, 398
Samuel (Onpl). 404
William. ICiirpL). 463
Willis S. (Rev.).
340. 345, 347
Cotrin, Carpenter, 610
George, 670
Giles. 610
Nancy. SIO
Combe i.tlrs.) W., 938
Compound, John. 704
Comstock. William. 30. 72
149. 166. 261. 209,
284, 286
William G. (biog.).
616
Samuel. 261
Franklin G., 616
Franklin (Judije),
330
Ferre. & Co., 282, 300
578. 616, 717, 728
Conneil, Jeremiah, 484
Conray, .lames, 670
Cooke, Aaron. 124
Erastus F. (Dr.). 335,
624, 652. 717, 718
(itrs.). 694
Reuben (Sgt.). 410
Richard. 143
Rollin H.. 577
Cooley, 812
Coolidge & Mansfield. 169
Combs. Andrew. 423, 565
John. 402
Joseph. 423. 499
Josiah, 423
(Capt.). 512
Solomon W., 5G5
Cone, Joshua, 437, 466
David, 400
Cord. Samuel. (CajJt.), 489
Cordis, Clarence R.. 802
Corning. Allen, 484
Coslet, Francis. 804-810
Cothren. 318
Cotton, John (Rev.).
19. 262. 285, 322
Seaborn (Rev.). 762
Couch. Thomas, 262. 293.
301, 581, 649, 702
Rebecca, 262
Simeon, 407
Coutier, Charles, 670
Covel. Joel. 512
Matthew, 465, 512
Samuel. 482, 512
Cowles. Ralph. 670
Richard. 604
Crab. Ezekiel. 758
Crabbe, Richard. 100, 143,
147, 183, 262. 264.
296
Crafts {Cafit.). 586
Moses,
212, 262, 314, 389
Crawford. Joseph, 837
Crane, Abraham,
112, 423, 512. 642
Abigail. 263
Benjamin. 40. 41, 93,
161, 167, 212. 213.
214, 249, 2G2, 263,
267, 312. 389. 505.
627, 742
Charles, 565
Curtis. 461. 466, 522
David, 572, 635
Elijah, 334, 512
Ellery B., 263
George (Capt.).
565, 593, 667
Hannah, 559
Henry. 161
Hezekiah. 423
Israel, 263
Jacob, 263
John, 214, 263, 330,
334. 365, 423. 512
(U'irf.). 384
Joseph,
263, 440, 512. 837
Lydia. 423
Martha (Wid.). 263
Mary. 263
Rebecca, 423
Sarali, 893
Thomas. 565
William. 263, 437, 440
Crispe, Benjamin, 263
Bridget, 263
Zachariah. 263
Crittenden, Ichabod, 635
Thomas L.. 670
Crogan. Michael, 678
Crow (Crowe). Mehitable,
330
Patrick, 670
Cross, William, 30, 72, 100.
161. 261, 263, 264.
274. 310
Crouch, Thomas, 291
Crotoot. Ephraim, 804
Crowfoot, Joseph,
350, 352, 372
Mary, 260
Crowly (Croly), Thomas,
440, 513
Cullick (.llr.), 682
Culver. Frederick D., 675
Lorenzo D., 675
Martin V.. 675
Otis. 675
Mehitable, 893
Cummings, Henry F., 670
Curtis, 157
Abigail. 562
Abuer (Jr.), 398
Abner. 397
{Capl.). 565
Daniel, 423. 437. 513
Ebenezer,
457. 458. 465. 513
Elizabeth.
263, 264. 754
Ephraim, 513
Henry. 513
Hepzibah, 851
Isaac, 263
James, 264. 334, 335
3G5, 398. 423, 513
974
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
John. 30, 41, 94
106
Hannah,
260
566
248, 251, 262.
264,
141, 158, 161, 8GS
Jesse.
566
269. 271. 279.
:iS9.
John (Sot.). 177
212
John,
566
304. 310. 4-.'4.
457,
227. 248. 250.
263
Richard,
423
458. 4G2. 514.
366.
264. 298. 318.
389
Samuel,
513
600, 750. 752.
755,
5G6. 624, 741,
748
Silas. 235
237,
258,
766. 767. 770.
771,
John (Jr.).
IID
281, 319.
334.
335,
773. 783. 92S
Jonathan. 204.
350
336. 358.
365.
366.
John (Dea.). 330
808
352. 837. 851,
865
367. 420.
433.
438.
John (Jr.).
866, 867, 868,
869
442, 453.
491.
497.
41. 118, 161
250
Joseph, 161. 264
513
498. 548.
5G0.
566.
John (Sgt.).
Josiah,
616. 625.
656,
721,
225. 241
265
365, 423, 565,
926
924
John (Sen.).
Levi,
513
Silas (Hon.)
. 491
497
41, IGl. 301.
742
Martha,
293
Dc Blois. Wm. B
670
John I.Vr.),
129
Peter (Sot.).
412
De Fore.-t.
0
". 47
John E..
675
Samuel, 264, 302,
418
Delamater. Rich.
w..
678
Jonathan, 32. 40
41,
423, 545
Dellaber. John,
514
94. 110. 116,
182,
Samuel (./;■.),
423
.Tona..
514
198, 212-13.
264.
Samuel iCoijj'f),
457
Thos,,
514
265. 2SS. 372,
K^ig.
Sarah,
264
Dellaby, Jona..
437
4G3. 514. 742.
750.
Thomas, 30, 40, 41, 94
neianccy. Michae
670
870.
100, 141, 149,
254, 256, 263,
284, 287, 289,
301, 302, 304,
307, 309. 310.
313, 317, 589,
741, 839, 865,
161
264
296
300
312
638
866
Deming, 257
Aaron,
423, 437.
Abel
Abisail. 287
Allyn,
Ann.
707
457.
384
570
424.
8G5
504
652
851
566
811
Jonathan (.^om.),
Jonathan (Jr.),
Joseph, 40, 364,
Oil, 773, 774.
851.
Joshua,
116
116
567,
794
514
868, SG9, 879
Thomas (Dr.).
Thomas (Lieut.)
Welles,
William, 465, 513
& Merriam,
Curwin, Philo,
664
848
594
901
924
168
Anna & Co
Asa,
Sill. 892,
Ashbel.
Benjamin.
264. 372.
Charles L..
8_94.
782,
656
566,
937
804
880
675
Josiah, 334. 424.
457. 514. 557.
567, 754. 757.
783. 784. 783
Josiah (2 lid).
457
Judah.
437,
566,
773.
514
423
Charles T..
559
Lear. 437.
514
D.
Charlotte.
876
Lemuel. 365. 424.
457,
Chanccy.
56S
458. 566. 567,
574
Dalley, Charles.
670
Daniel, 423,
437.
440,
Lemuel (Jr.),
574
Daley, Jereminh.
787
445. 457.
403.
514,
Lemuel iSen).
567
Dallabar, John,
440
566. 611.
839
Lon., 806, 811.
817:
Dallibar, Jona.,
IGO
Daniel (2n,l).
514
Len. (Den). Sll
814
Damery. 213,
3'>9
David.
24.5,
S16. 81S. 820,
823
Dannery. J.,
670
264. 336.
412.
472,
■ Linus,
938
Dana, E. E.,
734
514. 570.
588.
670
Lucy,
611
Jas. (D. D).
699
Deliverance.
424
Luke,
549
Danforth, Betsy,
Ebenezer. 94
112.
116.
Mary, 253, 279,
sso
905, 906.
933
2fi4. 265.
Rli5.
424,
Martha,
611
John.
906
599. 754.
75u
Mehltable,
588
Sally,
572
Ebenezer (,/
'.),
424
Moses, 424
6il
Samuel,
906
Ell.
423
Nancy,
588
Thomas, 905. 906,
907
Elias,
514
Nathaniel,
362
(Capt.).
Elisha,
336
421
Oliver. 365,
424
572. 654.
934
424. 430,
436.
781
Parneil.
567
(Capt.) (Jr.),
Elizabeth,
Peter.
423
905. 906,
907
264.
270.
310
Peter (Capt.).
402
Merriman,
869
Elizur,
423.
Rebecca.
588
Nicholas (Rer.).
908
457, 514,
804.
805
Rhoda.
611
Daggett, (Jiev.) 0. T
Ephraim,
264.
265,
Richard.
342,
'345
393,
429.
514,
424, 437, 514,
670
S. E..
734
750.
755.
776
Samuel, 334. 424.
465
Davenport, John, 33. 44. 45
Erastus.
604
Samuel (S,jt.). .
742
(Ret'.). 139,
157
Francis,
Sarah. 303,
611
Davies, H. H. (Rev.),
863
404, 670,
796.
806
Selden (Copt.).
814
Samuel.
440
Gad,
S06
Simeon, 424. 515,
567,
Davis. Clinton B.,
936
Gamaliel,
397
600: (Sot..). 463.
Eugene.
670
George.
560.
567
Thomas. lyS, 265,
372.
Henry W..
George S.,
670.
821
423. 340. 645,
804.
670, 819,
820
Gideon, 336,
423.
611
880
Horace.
168
Giles.
375,
878
Thomas (Sen.),
837
John (Hon.).
699
Hannah,
783
William.
Miles.
168
Harriet,
572
423. 812, 816,
817
Samuel.
437
Henry, 635,
656,
770
Demon. Thos..
130
Day. Jeremiah.
855
Henry N.,
670
Denham. Mathew.
410
Dayley. Abm., 398.
399
Hezekiah, 30
2. 754
,773
Denison. Myra & Co.,
563
Dayton (Rev.).
605
Honor,
570
783
Mary.
293
Smith (Rev.), 603
605
Jacob,
288,
611
(Capt.).
387
Dean (Deane). Bamab
as.
James,
423
Deniston. Eli (Rev.).
605
423, 433, 434,
436,
(Copt.),
814
Denton. 148: (Rev.).
320
438, 454. 488,
475,
Janna.
464,
781
Daniel.
158
497. 498. 513,
553,
Jedidiah,
811,
817,
John.
ISO
950
825,
831,
855 :
Richard. 93. 150 :
Barnabas (Ca)}t.),
503
Jedidiah (Deq.),
829
(Rev.). 21. 29.
136.
550. 566. 575.
582.
Jesse,
560
142. 143, 144,
143,
Barnarbas & Co.,
4G7
John. 30. 41. 47
74.
196. 265. 277.
292,
Deane, Barzillia,
566
149, 162.
220,
224,
307. 312.
INDEX OF NAMES.
975
Depth. Charles.
Devereaux. .Jona.,
Devotion. Edward.
John. 265, 302,
Dewey. John.
Nathan.
Nathaniel, 404.
Walter.
De Wolf. Balthazai,
Benoi,
Stephen,
W. H..
Dexter, F. B.,
Franklin B., 52
Dlckin=on,
Anna,
Ashbel,
Azariah,
Benjamin (i?«r. ),
Caroline,
Daniel W.,
266, 297,
David, 667,
Eben, 365,
Ebenezer, 266,
482, 514, 641,
927; (Corp'll.
Ellas, 866, 867,
Elihu, 350,
Ellphalet,
116, 641, 837,
Elizabeth, 247
George
670,
670,
567.
Hannah.
Harvey,
Henry H.,
Jabesh,
Jalon, 481, 635,
James,
John, 30, 40. 93,
163, 209, 262,
291, 4S&, 51-.
661
746
643
265
400
400
937
384
266
567
200
378
808
864
804
465
474,
754,
436
868
849
821
567
868
868
118
2G6
Jonathan,
426
(Jr.),
426
Joseph, 203,
209,
249
260, 266, 291
Leonard,
440
Levi. 437,
514,
615
Lyman,
733
Mary,
333
Mehltable,
266
Moses,
400,
407
Moses (Sijt.)
410
Moses (Rev.
',
333
Nathaniel,
30,
ISO
149 - 164 -
163,
ISO
209, 220,
221,
oon
247, 248,
251,
259
261, 266,
269,
285
295, 303,
313,
514
637, 805
(Jr.).
266
Nehemiah,
209
413
Noadiah,
266
Obadiah, 209
266
9'J7
Ozias,
514
Polly, 732,
889,
892
Rockwell,
567
Samuel, 163,
164,
206
440, 445,
642,
929
Sarah.
266
Seth,
567, 643,
843,
930
Thaniel,
804
Waitstill, 441-461
466
514
William.
567
Dilling. Samuel.
514
William,
424
Dimock (Dymocke),
David,
437.
515
Davi^ (Capt.),
567
Davis William.
567
Jaird (Deo.)
848,
862
864. 867,
868,
869
870, 873,
931, 938, £
Joseph (.!'•.),
r.49,
Joseph (Cai:t
Joseph (Sr.),
Joseph W.,
Moses,
Sally.
Samuel, 577,
869, 870,
930, 931,
Dlsborough, Peter
Dix,
AbiRail.
Benjamin,
iCui-p't),
Charles,
Deborah,
Edgar T.,
Elisha,
Jacob. 365,
560, 568
Jesse, 463
Leonard, 2
149, 174,
593,
885,
936
567
894
843
900
50, 254,
SOS, 437.
Roswcll.
Samuel, 267,
370, 371,
424, !
525.
?. 40.
191.
267,
575,
365.
, 463,
334.
424,
515
670
670. 821
466. 515
484
Dixon, John,
Charles (Rev.),
Dodge, Calvin,
Joseph, 437,
Dole, James,
Doiittle, Jo.seph C,
norm:int, Stc-plitn, 460,
Donnelly, James.
Doty (Dote),
Daniel,
Dow, C. E.,
Edmond, 367.
Henry G
Newell,
Dowl, John.
Downes, George, (Dr.)
670,821
John,
Downey, David G. (Rev.)
Doyle. John, 412
Mrs., 368
Drake, 63
Francis S., 20
Driscoll. James, 675
Drummer, Jeremiah,
255, 294
Dudley, Jed. iCnpt.), 501
Dudley, Chauncey (Capt.).
508
Duggaw (Rev.) Jer. J.,
609
Dunham, Austin & Co.,
649
Cornelius. 515
Lewis W.. 820
Matthew. 404
Solrmon. 421. 430,4:'.2
433, 437, 464, 467
474. 482. 515
Dunn, Richard (Capt.),
568, 945
Durand (Durrant), John,
267
Dwight. 183
Gilbert, 670
Henrv C, 607, 634
{Pre.i.), 693,908
Snowden, 670
Timothy (Rev.), 862
Earle, (Mrs.),
Earnshaw, John,
Caton,
Erlis (Rev.),
Nathaniel,
Samuel (.Mr.)
(.)Irs.).
Theophilus,
(.Mr.).
Edsal. Hobt..
Samuel,
Edsall, Samuel,
Edwards,
B.,
& Billings,
Daniel,
Dorothy,
Elizabeth,
Eunice,
Geo. D.,
Henry,
Jerusha.
John, 3u, 48,
149, 168, 11
621, 223, 2:
269, 2S4, 2:
300, 306, 3
(Capf. ). ;
(Sr.), 1
Jonathan (Rev
507, 743, 7
Joseph, 40, ;
197, 198, '
248
-954
923
654
842
161
567
177
923
372
855
107
197
341
206
300
267,
641,
Levi,
Mary,
Ruth,
R. .M.,
rah.
360, 568. 593
581
562
275
601
571
Thcin.as. 36, 41
49, 103, 149,
189, 190, 268,
275, 319, 743
Timothy IRcv.),
774: (Wid.t,
Egelston, Ambrose,
Elderkin, Abigail.
Elliott, J. C. (Rev.),
Daniel (Capt.),
(Hut.),
Ellis, Abel,
Thankful,
William. 164, 247,
Ellison, John,
Ellsworth (Elsworth),
Henry L. (Hon.),
G. B. (Rev.),
Theodore,
William,
Elsen, Abraham, 30,
26.8, 276, 280,
308
John. 30, 40, 94,
268, 276, 277.
318
Ely, Richard,
Endicott, John (Gov.),
Enu, Roger (Capt.).
Emerson. (Mr.). 653,
Joseph (Rev.).
380.
Ralph.
R. W.,
Ensign, James,
Mary,
Erles, .Moses,
Evans (Evance), Allen,
Benjamin, 440,
Jerome,
John, 100, 251,
(Gent.). 30.
229, 251,
269, 303
(Mr.),
827
407
414
611
611
268
139
589
605
804
403
835
300
300
397
484
515
675
976
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Moses,
Seth (Rev.),
William.
413
601
675
Falrchild, J. H. (Rev.).
Amos (P. M.),
Farnsworth, Joseph,
334, 367,
(Dr.),
Fergusen. Thomas,
Ferris, Jeffry, 30, TS,
147, 175, 262,
280, 286, 310
Field, (Mr.), 95 ; (Dr.)
(Ri-v.),
Preserved.
Zachariah.
Filley, Remembrance,
Finch.
Abraham. 24. 26.
261, 267, 269,
309. 311, 339
(Jr.\, 25 66, 67
568, 621
(Sr.), 67,
Abner,
Daniel, 25, 39,
143, 147, 200.
David,
Dorothy.
John. 21, 25. 68.
269. 270
Finnern, Larry,
Fisher.
Wm. P. (Hen.),
Fitch, Andrus,
Elazer,
(Oov.).
James (Capt.),
167,
John.
Joseph,
Thomas, 181,
Flannakiu, Barnabas,
Flannagan, Barnabas,
FleLCher (Gov.),
Fletcher,
John, 30. 68, 100,
266, 269, 282.
Flint, Edward,
Eliphalet,
William,
Flood, Robt.,
Flower, Artemas.
James,
Joseph, 336, 424
Simeon,
Flynt, Eliphalet,
Ray,
Foote,
Elizabeth, 270,
Frances,
Mary,
Nathaniel. 51, 52,
57. 70. 84, 96,
106. 117. 124.
157. 190. 193.
215. 251. 255,
266. 270. 273.
286. 289, 200,
294. 299. 302.
311, 319, 388,
684
Rebecca.
Robert, 26, 157,
247, 270, 271,
(Qr. Mr.),
Samuel,
Fo(r)bes, Ira E
John,
Joseph,
(Jr.)
Robert,
424
664
269
143
209
:;50
1,S4
252
440,
94,
299,
466,
670
812
863
806
409
415
413
206
361
488
515
667
269
569
733
600
600
424
424
323
388
266
302
149
214
259
280
293
310
621
684
190
311
270
164
670
515
365
429
149
Tho
.),
Fortune, John,
James. E
Luke. 424, t
701
Luke ICapt.).
Fosdick. Elizabeth,
426, 561
Eliphalet,
863
191
463
568
876
895
941
515
944
400
936,
773.
John,
Thomas, 307
William. 436, 440, 515
Fowler. 254
John, 138, 140
William, 138
Fox, Abraham, 413, 515
Amos, 424
Asa, 465
Christian, 270, 541
David. 718
Edward. 664
Eleazer. 407
Hiram. 568. 667
Joseph, 400. 407. 423
Richard. 193, 270. 350
451
Roger. 440. 445. 51C
Roswell (Cr.).664, S06
Sally, 568
Sarah, 282
Simeon,
Thomas.
Vaniah,
William.
Francis. 626. S65
Albert. 560. SfiS. 569
Alfred. 277. 284. 380
516
412
484
643
Allen.
804
Asa.
516
Charles, 424. 457,
566
568, 667, 670
Charles (Capt.).
798
Charles S.. 819,
822
Cyrus,
798
Daniel (Capt.),
569
Daniel W.,
670
David,
569
David (Capt.),
569
Edgar L..
670
Elias
369
Erastus (Capt.).
814
Harvey.
798
Herman.
569
llervey.
815
Huldah, 569,
574
James, 247, 254,
437
440, 516, 569,
659
745, 754. 757,
759
765. 766, 772,
James B.,
Joane,
John, 270, 271,
403, 424, 579,
816, 8S9, 903
John (C.ipt.), 180,
516. 569
John (Capt.) N.,
John (Corp'l),
John (Lt.), 465,
472
Joseph. 569.
Joseph J., 819.
Josiah. 365,
Judah,
Justus, 465, 516,
800, 806, 811
Lois,
Lucy.
Milicent,
Norman,
Sarah, 27
Timothy,
Richard,
Robert, 40,
250, 253,
301, 318,
516, 569,
806, 808, i
Robert (Jr.),
Roger,
William,
Franklin, Samuel
Frary. .Mehitable.
Theophilus,
Thomas,
Frazier, Alex.,
Damaris.
Freeman. Benjami
French. C;esar.
Christ. (.Mil).
Freshall. David,
Froth ingham,
Ebenezer (Re
794
569
271
149
283
424
815
799, 804
569
659
273
312
424
656
n. 402
466, 516
). 454
v.).
Fuller, Abner, 413. 440.
939.
894,
(Dr.),
Dan
el (Dr.),
932
(Rev.).
Fred.
Funin. William,
516
941
929
853
516
675
(Jager. 280
Gager. Jer, 143, 271
Gaines, Daniel.
350, 398, 413
r.=>."= CiorU- S.. 670
Gale. Nathaniel, 5113
Oaliigher. George E.,
670, 822
Gallup, John (Capt.).
55, 56
Gannett. Harmon. 267
Galpin. Anna. 611
Benjamin. 400
James (Jr.), 383
Jn.seph, 611
Samuel, 168, 369, 611
C35. 643. 789
Samuel (Ens.), 611
Samuel (Mr.), 236
Gardiner, Lyon (Capt.),
64, 66, 67
Lyon (Lt.), 145
Gardner, Benjamin, 271
Martin, 675
Samuel, 30, 36, 157
163, 189, 190, 268
270, 271, 276, 278
Garnds, Abel, 787
Garratt, James (Kev.), 605
o69 I Joseph, 271
683 i Joseph (Sitt.), 391
336 I Garretsou, Freeborn (Rev.),
799 603
Garvie, William A., 670
488 Gates, 627
Gay, Julius, 208
569 Ga.lord, E. S., 571
661 Gibbons. Elizabeth. 277
466 William, 36, 138, 190
: 271, 277, 285, 291
822 I 295, 314, 318
831 (Wid.), 253
424 Gibbs. Ackley, 555
336 Giles, 271
793 Gregory, 30. 223. 271
J.icob, 440
811 Jerusha, 574
574 John, 30, 140, 184, 271
574 277, 291, 300, 904
798 Jonas, 440
659 Jonas Clark. 516
Gibson, John. 4SS, 516
Giffea, Simeon. ■*'- +
Gilbert. Adelaide. Oil
Almira, Hll
Bathsheba. 611
Bathsheba {Jr.), 611
Benjamin. 212, 214
215. 293, 361
Caroline. 611
Candace. 611
Chloe S., fill
David S., 611. 804
Elisha, 264. 934
Emily, 611
George, 611
Hooker, 611
Idell. 611
John, 192, 276
Jonathan, 192, 272
276, 804, 805
Joseph, 1S9, 611
Josiah, 41, 112
192, 255, 263, 272
329, 741
Lois, 611
Lydia, 611
Mary, 611
Moses, 611, 625
Raphael (Rev.), 605
Rebecca, 329
Renea, 611
Thomas, 161
William, 611
Gildersleeve, 146, 304
Richard, 25, 30, 34
75, 140, 143, 190
274, 278, 290, 304
Giles, William, 263
Gillespie, William, 516
Gillet, Abijah, 403
Gillette, 812
John, __ 272
Glaciden, Azarl^U, .,C, .^C;
Gladding. James II., 671
Lafayette, 671, .S21
Gleason, Samuel, 424
Goff (Gotle), 209, 954
Aaron, 372
■ Benjamin, 413, 9.32
David, 457
Gideon. 461 466, 781
Gideon (Jr.), 569
Gideon (Sr.) (Capt.),
516. 569
Jacob, 198, 247, 372
John, 400
Josiah, 577
Josiah (Sgt.), 463
Mabel. 247, 758
Mary, 755
Moses, 272
Philip, 41, 84, 103
149, 161, 198, 2G2
272, 291, 306, 739
740,
742
272
Rebecca,
Samuel, 873
Widow, 196
Goldburge, Ann. 314
Goldthwait. John, 314
Charlotte. 682
Goldrick, John, 671
Goodale, 954
Eben. 918
Isaac, 407
Rensalaer, 675
Goodbell, Fred, 671
Goodfellow, Thomas,
254, 258, 272
Goodrich, 865
Abigail, 570, 572
Abraham, 851, 930
Alfred, 865
Alpheus, 871, 920
Allen, 569
Allyn, 517
Andrew, 910
Arthur, 111
INDEX OF NAMES.
Ashbel, 517
Barzillal (Ca;it.).
570. 572. 581
Belinda. 804. 896, 935
Benjamin. 272, 555
" 7S1,
Bu
Caleb,
Caleb (Sr.).
( C'liit. ) .
Charles A.,
Chauncey,
Chester.
Chester B..
SS3,
Constable,
Da
•itt.
400,
675
S70,
407
407
922
675
ISS, S02
872
921, 944
Daniel C,
Daniel (Cfijif.),
David, 108, 272,
394, 424. 527,
643, 650, 804,
865, 866, 867,
S82
David (Capt.).
213. 391.
David (Cnl.).
231. 334,
David (Lf.),
Ebenezer (Dra.)
866. 808,
Ed\^■ard,
Eli,
Eli (Capt.),
Elisha,
Elisha (£).s.),
Elijah,
Elizabeth,
Ellzur, 188, 335
424, 441, 464,
407, 570, 624,
865, 910
Elizur (Caiit.),
439. 554. 569,
Elizur (Cnl.),
230, 231, 396
(Ens.), 389
Elizur (Jr.), 335
Elizur S..
Eparaim.
192, 272
517,
869. 931
675
585. 931
394
570
126
782
lOS,
927
109
339
753. 867
Ephraim (Capt.).
372. 392. 402,
842. 8S0, 899
Ephraim {Ens.),
Ephraim (Lieut.),
Ephraim (Mr.),
George.
George P.,
Gideon.
.-ioO. 372. 570.
Gideon (Capt.)
394,
Grace.
Gurden,
Hannah.
Henry.
Hepzibah.
Hezekiah.
440, 550,
Hosea. 440,
Ichabod,
466, 484, 571, 577
Ichabod (Capt.). 899
Isaac, 577, 803, 917
Isaac (Capt.), 571
Isaac (L£. »,
459, 465, 475
Israel, 570,
309
108
108
570
675
571
611
570
517
Jacob,
577
Jamcs W. (Capt.), 571
Jared, 577
Jason (Capt.), 571,910
Ja.son Lewis (Capt.).
571
Jasper. 571. 667. 938
Jasper (Jr.) (Capt.).
977
512
Jared. 466.863. 864
Jeremy, 675, S83
Jerusna, 570, 851
Jesse, 465, 518, 545
368, 570, 656
Joel,
867, 8G9. 883, 938
John. 37. 41. 100. 149
152. 253. 273. 276
288, 292, 293, 295
318, 350, 372, 424
427, 437, 457, 513
570, 572, 600, 611
612, 625, 804, 805
John (Giittericl'ic), 29
John (Jr.),
272, 273, 372
John (Sr.),
258, 268, 272
Jonathan,
273, 728, 754, 952
Jo.seph, 394, 457, 513
Joseph (Clip*.), 572
Joseph (Lt.), 394
Joseph (Sot.), 463
Joshua, ' 168, 667
Josiah, 406, 407, 424
457. 45S. 465. 518
570. 667
Lemuel. 572
Levi. 89. 571, 572. 718
910, 954
G. 865. 932
(LI.). 409
Luther. 561, 572
Mabel, 581
Martha. 611, 910
Mary W., 612
Moses, _ 518
Nathaniel. 23.'. 3?^
424. 545. 569, 518
Nathaniel (Etis.). 466
Nathaniel (Jr.), 424
Oliver, 936, 937
Oliver (Mrs.), 942
Oliver (Jr.) (Capt.),
905. 942
Oliver (,Sr.), 893
Ozias, 437, 440, 483
498, 518, 570, 581
Ozias (Ens.), 483
Ozias (Jr.), 510, 512
Ozias (6'r.). 490
Philo, 518, 566, 593
Richard, 141
Roger, 572, 936, 954
Roswell, 466, 513
Ruth, -611, 612
Samuel,
484, 643, 650, 879
Samuel W., 607
Sarah, 882
SimeoQ, 519
Stephen, 519, 570
Stephen B., 635
Stephen (Capt.), 454
Stephen (Lt.), 439
Stephen (Lt. 2nd.), 454
Sylvester, 882, 883
Thomas, 350, 372
519, 570, 783
W , 636
Walt,
241, 519, 719, 931
Walter S., 675
William, 69, 118, 224
256, 272, 293, 295
306, 307, 389, 390
399, 519, 573, 645
910, 918, 938
William (Ens.), 41, 72
203. 204. 206. 211
212. 227, 238. 273
310. 314, 317, 392
William (Gulte-
ridnc), 29
William J., 206, 573
William John. 361
978
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
William (Lt.),
394
Joslah (Jr.),
467
Justus,
William iMr.), 69,
159
Marshall.
894
647. 648. 649.
653
William (Sfft.).
361
Nathan. 573.
895
Justus (Capt.),
574
Zebediah,
783
Richard. 561. 573,
900
J. Welles. 648.
649
& Harrison,
645
Roderick, 544,
732
J. Welles (Jfr.5.)
Goodwin, 70, 78. 190,
191
842, 882, 889,
891
650.
729
251, 259, 26.-!,
265
892, 894, 897,
900
J. Welles (Rci\),
605
270, 323. 330
911. 917, 932,
934
Mabel. 425.
501
Francis ^Rev.>,
825
938
Martha,
501
Levi, 314,
577
Samuel. 193.
573
Martin, 89, 574.
919
(Mr.) 78
79
Sophronia. 875.
S02
Mary. 274, 568,
941
(Mr.) William,
43
William (Capt.),
Mercy,
847
Nathaniel (Corp'l)
451
573.
871
Michael, 40, 41
93
Nathaniel (Mr.),
221
Griswold, 480, 647,
733
107, 149, 227,
253
Thomas.
903
865. 954
267. 274, 275,
276
Gordon. John.
787
Abigail.
279, 317, 574,
733
Henry,
671
561, 562, 701,
811
741, 754
Gorman, Thomas,
671
Albert C, 383,
864
Michael (Jr.), 313
574
Gorges, Sir Fernandino
. 58
Alfred,
874
Michael (Sr.),
274
Graham,
954
Albro,
904
Moses. 466, 519,
574
Gordon,
954
Ann,
274
Nathaniel.
559
Gorman,
954
Ashbel.
935
Nellie M..
829
Georges (Sir),
954
Caleb. 374. 567.
568
Ozias. 365. 425.
647
Hezekiab,
273
574. 647
649. 733
(.Mrs.).
933
Caleb (Capt.),
899
Phinehas.
425
Thomas.
903
Caleb G.
903
Rhoda.
561
Grant. Anne.
338
Charles K.,
649
R. C.
869
Azariah. 441.
519
Constant.
R. M. (Dr.).
Ebenezer (Capt.),
?.?.H
437. 441. 445.
519
836.
869
H. A.,
901
Daniel. 425.
574
Rufus W.. 373.
547
H. H.. 655, 917.
932
Daniel C. 675,
869
571. 583. 586.
590
Matthew.
78
Daniel (Jr.),
835
591. 592. 593.
731
Graves, Isaac, .'^O, 163,
273
(Dr.), 374, 376,
839
Rufus W. (Dr.),
508
Isaac (Jr.),
164
S70, 885
564. 667. 674.
833
Isaac (Srjt.),
210
David. 489,
701
835. 836. 847.
865
Isaac (Sr.),
164
Ebenezer (Snil Lie
ut.),
870. 875. 939.
949
John, 140, 163,
210
396, 425,
7:!3
950
262, 266, 267.
271
Edward, 682,
835
Sarah.
555
273, 296
Edward H. (Dr.),
940
Simeon,
John (Jr.),
164
Edward N. (Dr.),
837
274, 425, 547,
575
John (Sr.),
164
Elisha, 425, 574,
903
Simeon (Capt.),
575
Nathaniel. 30. 41
94
Elisha (Capt.),
561
Solomon.
858
103, iro. ic:.
273
Ephraim.
733
Stauley. 647. 649.
653
296, 309 741
H. L. (Ilcv.),
605
Sylvester.
670
Thomas, 163
210
Felil,
425
Thomas. 112. 140
274
Zachariah,
153
Francis,
574
282, 370, 640,
649
Green, Daniel, 295,
577
Franklin W., 623.733
650, 733
Joel T.,
732
Frederick.
425
Thomas 4i Co..
Joel K.,
937
George, 559
b35
616, 647.
648
Joseph.
273
Geo. (Dr.),
835
Thomas (./r.).
Leonard A.,
675
Giles. 906,
907
274. 632. 647,
648
Nathaniel (E»s.).
560
Harris,
370
Thomas (tir.).
632
Norman.
402
Harry M.,
374
647. 648. 649.
653
Richard.
575
Henry, 372,
575
Timothy.
Samuel.
273
lluldah.
575
425. 457. 559.
575
Timothy.
575
Isaac.
227
Timothy (Capt.),
575
William.
671
Jacob, 112, 122,
202
Truman.
587
W. (Rev.).
605
274, 395, 461,
529
Wait R.. 383. 671
940
Greenleave. Joseph (Mr.),
574, 647, 649,
653
William. 241. 425
430
273
733, 754, 757,
887
437, 457, 464.
475
Oreenmouth. Nathaniel
273
Jacob (Capt.),
519. 533. 566,
701. 716. 733.
William (Capt.),
434. 499. 501.
583, 670. 853.
944
570
875
421
575
899
Gregory, Seth,
Gregson. Fhebe.
Thomas.
Grid ley.
484
330
330
197,
Jacob (Jr.),
Jacob G.,
James,
282
274
903
Fredericlt (Rev.),
819
567, 635. 649,
650
Samuel (Syt.).
404
James (Capt.),
574
Grogan, John,
529
Griffin. Simeon.
James (Jr.),
244
Grover, Phinias,
529
437. 461. 466,
519
Jehiel,
425
John,
519
Grimes,
273
Jeremy,
675
Grout, Hannah,
775
Abigail, SS2, 889,
891
John,
Gosler, James,
407
892. 895. 806,
807
274. 755. 759,
760
John,
407
909, 911
John D., 671,
821
Gull, J.,
645
Alex., 568. 573
875
Jonathan,
575
Phinias,
439
882, 889, 890,
891
Jonathan (Capt.),
574
William. 163, 164
178
892, 896. 897,
917
Josiah, 334, 365.
465
248, 274, 287,
308
945.
519. 647. 649,
733
Hez., 133, 274
590
785. 806 847.
903
H.
888, 889, 894,
909
941
954
Josiah (Capt.),
Hale (see. also. Hall)
Abigail, 294,
865
425
275
425
193
349
Henry,
573
395. 396. 574.
644
John, 889, 890
909, 911, 916,
Jonathan.
Joseph. 198. 199
352 573. 837.
891
917
985
274
842
Josiah (Ens.),
Josiah (.Va;.).
402. 403. 574
733
393
370
647
Benezer, 193,
336, 350, 403,
519
Ebenezer, 192,
274, 275. 294.
844! 849. 871
Julius E.,
837
465
Josiah. 467. 7?. I.
884
Julius D.
940
Elizur (Jr.),
519
889, 890. 891.
937
Julius I..
835
Goodman.
238
INDEX OF NAMES.
979
James,
425
Thomas N
William A.. 233,
635
John. 29. 192,
193
668,
671,
678
Wilham Grimes,
577
273. 274. 304.
349
William.
130
630
Hawcs (Dr. Rev.). 857
-860
742
Ha
imer i .idams
660
Hayden. Joseph.
403
Jonathan, 193,
550
Ha
nnaburgh.
Hayward (see. also. Ho
w-
Joseph. 65S.
910
David (Rev.
.
SS3
ard), Henry,
Matthew, 465,
519
Hannan, F. W. (ficu.)
605
149, 259,
261
•Mary,
274
Ha
ker. Edward,
671
Hayworth, Andrew,
671
Nathan.
671
Harlow, Edward.
671
Heart. B. & Co.,
93S
Nathaniel,
519
Harrington. Johti
Heart,
543
Paul,
412
192
276
349
Heath, Hugh,
671
Ruth,
275
Harris (Harriss)
549,
648
Heitman. F. B.,
506
Samuel, 30. 37. 40, 41
Abraham.
364
Henderson.
72. 93. 94, 149,
218
Charles,
671
Theo. S. (Rev.),
605
288. 297, 298,
324
317
Emeline,
Euuice.
569
520
883
579
T. S. (Rev.).
Samuel (Sen.).
41
George.
575
Henry. S. R. iRcv.).
605
192, 193, 224.
238
Henry. 594.
651,
934
Herlihy, Timothy.
399
274. 314. 742
Henry H.,
671
Hewitt. Bros..
655
Samuel (.//•,), 41,
103
Hosea,
George W.,
937
192, 2t)8, 277,
350
334, 425,
569,
635
i Matthews,
929
743
Humphrey,
594
Lyman.
635
Samuel (Lieut.),
108
James
594
Hicks. L. W. (Rev.).
347
Samuel iSiit.).
John.
276,
591
Hickock,
954
215, 226.
275
Joseph.
400,
589
Higgins, Joseph (Dr.).
939
Simeon. 63.'',.
830
Marshall,
336
Hight (see Hoyt) .
Theodore. 45'.,
519
Thomas,
Hill, (Mr.). 138,
162
Thomas, 72, 167,
149
194, 425.
594,
640
Daniel,
400
192, 274, 275,
350
Thomas (Jr.
).
425
Eliphalet,
520
Thomas J..
2T5
Walter,
594
Ichabod.
412
Timothy (Capl.),
475
William.
276,
575
Joseph. 106,
108
William.
425
Ha
^rison. Catharine,
Luke,
620
Hadlock, John.
400
272, 276,
682,
684
William,
141
Hall IHalO,
John, 142,
149.
158
Hillhouse.
Archibald (Dr.),
664
161, 272,
276,
312
James (Hon..),
632
Benezer,
274
318, 616,
625,
682
Samuel,
632
Edward,
275
Osmond,
168,
718
Hilliard, Benjamin,
Elizabeth,
275
Richard,
158
178, 268,
27S
Francis,
141
Theodore,
520
Hugh.
276
John. 22, 100,
122
Hart (Heart).
906,
954
Job.
276
275
Almon J.,
671.
821
Hi"s, Abraham. 407,
787
Jonathan
400
Edward,
821,
9.iS
A.sa. 437,
520
Mary,
276
Ebenezor,
612
Ashahel, 423, 441
520
Mica<iei,
820
Elizabeth,
612
John,
280
N. P.,
S09
John,
400
Joseph,
Rebina. 27E
,276
John (Lieut.).
119
192, 250, 276,
350
Richard, 167, 276
'295
Josiah (Dr.)
384,
425
Mary,
276
Samuel (Sen.),
454, 643.
658,
664
Ralph H.,
671
100, 350,
889
Judah,
611
Susanna
282
Halligan, Joseph,
562
L.,
645
William,
Halliman. Michael,
671
Lewis,
927,
928
217, 277, 282,
288
Hailing. Henry,
401
Lucius,
908
Hillyer, Chas. T..
920
Hamilton, Adam,
276
Matthew,
611,
612
Hinckley, Thomas, 441
520
James P.,
675
Mary,
611.
612
Hinman, 291, 263,
555
Hamlin, Jabez,
548
Noadiah,
399
404
Aaron,
400
Jabez (Maj.),
393
Ruth.
612
Andrew,
778
John,
122
Samuel,
611
Samuel.
484
John (Cavt.),
372
Selah,
612
Royal R.. 594,
809
Hammond. Elijah,
836
Selah (Gen.
),
796
Hinsdale, Daniel,
Esther Eliza,
836
Seth,
449, 463, 551,
652
William F.,
671
801, 805,
867,
868
Hitchcock,
Hanchet (Hansel),
Seth (Dca.),
941
Edward (Pres.).
83
Thomas,
Seth (Dr.)
935
Charles H. (Prof.
, S3
40, 274, 276,
310
Stephen,
682
John,
277
Hancock, Thomas,
119
Thomas (Dea.),
611
Luke, 149, 163,
268
Hand, A. (Rei\),
664.
Thomas (Ctipl.),
272 275, 276,
277
J. N. (Rev.),
883
119
121,
744
29S! 306. 317
Jonathan, 461,
519
Thomas (,'»
i).
804
Hoadley. C. I. 66, 356,
466
Joseph, 461,
519
William.
398
Hoeck. John C,
612
Handly, Jonathan,
787
Hartley. George
W.,
654
Catherine,
612
Hanmer (Hanmor),
M. B..
934
Hogan. James, 488,
520
Elizabeth,
569
Haskell. Horace.
612
Martin,
671
Francis, 403, 425,
433
.Mary W..
612
Hoisington. John,
167
457, 545, 600
Ha
tines. Lorin
Jr.).
671
HoUbrook,
Francis (Jr.),
Hatch. -Albert S.
675
John (Rev.).
601
425, 550,
575
Daniel,
575
Holden, John,
643
James,
James,
465,
520
John .M.,
671
425, 457, 526,
600
Levi, 367
370,
575
William.
675
James (Capt).
550
Moses,
466,
520
Hollister,
410
John, S3, 168,
425
Zephaniab,
Aaron,
520
457, 4G5. 520
365. 403.
425,
575
Abraham,
John (Capt.), 457
575
Hatfield (Rev.).'
SS3
(Jr.) yCapt.) ,
489
John (Lieut.).
456
Ha>
ens. Kbenezer
G.,
.Alexander,
571
Martha, 580.
588
Henry.
577
Allen (Dr.).
577
Mary,
557
Hiram. 233
577,
653
An.son.
441
Samuel,
Sylvester,
577,
5S2
Ashbel,
520
168, 425, 520,
568
Thomas,
577
Asahel,
465
Simeon.
575
Uzziel,
577
David, 193,
350
Thomas,
520
William.
577
Elijah, 441,
520
98o
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD,
Elizabeth.
.Tohn (Rev.).
71
Hubbell. Abigail.
567
277, 311.
851
Martin,
400
Eleazer,
567
Ellzur. 474.
520
Mary, 301.
612
Hi
bhs, Samuel.
279
Ephraim, 1113.
350
Nathaniel, 23,
301
Hi
Khe-i. D. C. (P^'i:),
605
Evert. 405.
520
Noadiah (CoL),
489
Hi
it, Ephraim (Rev.),
Francis (Lieut.),
Sarah,
612
621,
833
399, 411, 412.
414
Samuel (Jr.),
612
Hi
mphrey. Lemuel,
134
G. H..
161
Scth.
612
III
ns^erford. Charles L.
383
Jasper,
576
Ho
Dker (Mr.).
906
Hunn.
756
Joane,
161
Hooper. Jane.
815
Albert S. (Capt.),
John. 191, 192,
300
Ho
pkins. Daniel R.,
073
814,
831
307, 314, 317,
407
.lohn.
297
David.
773
616, 618, 743,
621
Ho
rner, Thomas 400.
425
Enos. 437, 520,
806
John (Lieut.). 30
. 34
Howell T..
932
George. 279,
749
40. 73. 84, 132,
149
Hortnii. Simt'orrl J..
812
UirteoQ.
159, 160. 161.
165
Ho
^tord (Horsford).
464. 773, 784,
794
192, 203, 205,
206
Aaron (Dr.), 467,
4S2
Nathaniel.
212, 237. 2«0,
271
520. 570. 572,
933
279, 749,
760
277, 280, 2S7,
350
938. 940. 941
Samuel, i:'3. 274,
279
360. 387, 577
Hoskins.
581
771, 772. 794
John (Mr.), 103,
108
Ezra.
630
Samuel iJr.).
749
129, 150, 162,
189
Thomas. 441,
520
754. 759, 700.
703
207, 212. 255,
277
Ho
^mer, Esther.
323
772. 773, 781
280, 291, 671,
682
Thomas.
125
(If/r/.).
7S3
743
HotchkisB. Amos L..
673
Hunniwell. John,
Jonathan,
277
Henry.
675
167, 279,
642
Joseph (Sen.),
Hough.
109
Hunt, James.
671
193.
350
House. AbiKail.
281
Robert.
932
Joseph (Jr.), 193.
350
William. 108. 192.
349
Thomas.
407
Lazarus.
Howard (see. also. Ha
'/-
John tR-y.).
883
202, 277, 749,
837
ward).
276
Hunter. Thomas,
673
Martin F..
:no
Amasa (Rev.).
602
Huntinston,
(Mrs.), 297. 234.
741
Arthur W. (M. D.).
144, 148, 269,
297
Nelson,
566
602.
664
(Cn!.),
4S6
Parismus H..
577
Edward. 656.
799
ClariDda.
894
Robert,
910
.Inhli. 278.
071
Ebenezer.
439
Russell (Capt.),
Henry. 149, 278.
287
Ebeiiezer (Lt.).
411
577.
580
Mary.
278
Hezekiah. 126,
127
Sarah,
5SS
Thomas,
165
Jabez iGen.),
Stephen (Lieut.),
107
William,
278
441. 501. 806.
894
108, 278, 297.
387
Ho
yt.
812
Jedidiah iCoL).
388
Walter,
448,
469
Stephen (Cavt)
391
30. I'O. 271,
278
Tosiah.
808
Thoma.s, 112, 167
193
IIu
bbard. 19, 00, li'i.
410
Ituntlev, Will G..
822
206, 277, 313.
350
^90
H
ard, David.
484
407. 741
Aaron,
520
John B..
651
Thomas (Lieut.),
.\aron (Ens.),
403
Lewis (.■>.;{.).
484
197. 207, 208.
278
Abel,
520
Hurlbut iHurlburt).
123
Thomas (Dca.),
193
Alfred, Alfred L.,
005
Amos, 784.
794
Wallace,
577
David,
643
Ann.
577
William,
413
David (Lieut.).
Betsy.
798
Holmes, Anna,
851
404,
407
Bildad.
612
Charles,
042
Dositheus.
812
Caleb.
787
(Capt.),
916
Elijah.
425
Catherine.
577
Daniel,
520
Elijah (Jr.),
425
Charles.
Eleazur,
910
Elizur.
520
667. 773, 781,
793
Enos,
883
George. 29. 50. 51. 75
(Curp.), 213
389
George,
636
100, 114, 1.T8,
163
Eli. 441
521
Henry C,
675
183. 278. 279.
2S0
Elijah.
368
John, 400,
407
290. 304. 311,
538
Elizur. 466.
578
Jonas, 278,
312
George (2nd),
George.
184
Lemuel. 488, 520
799
140, 167
274
Gideon M.,
671
Levi (Jr.),
667
Gideon M..
671
Harvey,
274
Mabel,
558
John, 140, 163.
167
Jame.-, 577. 578.
708
Phineas,
550
194, 278, 299,
349
James Harvey.
Polly,
798
350, 692
574,
577
Samuel, 835,
932
John (Mr.),
108
Jesse.
612
Sarah, 851,
862
Jonathan, 168
400
John. 250. 279
462
Simeon. 466
520
Joseph.
754
521. 551
Thomas, 461, 466
520
Josiah.
423
John (Jr.) (Lieut.).
William. 22. 441,
667
Leveret (Col.)
854
456
Holt, John (.Mrs.),
649
Maria.
815
John (Cavt.),
577
John,
671
578
Mary. 299
Nathaniel,
834
425
Jonathan.
Lucy,
279. 750
734
HolyoUe,
Elizur (Hon.),
305
Nathaniel (Jr.),
N. L.,
425
889
Joseph. I'^'O. 250,
750, 737, 70'1,
279
771
Hannah,
305
773, 7S3. 790.
795
Mary,
305
Norman.
168
Joseph (.//■.).
783
Homestead,
Ro.swell.
400
Josiah.
773
Joslah (Capt.),
582
Samuel, 29, 140.
252
Lemuel.
798
HooKeboom.
481
260. 279, 283.
290
I. 0..
383
Hooker, A.shbel, 404
407
294. 307, 400
Levi.
811
Ashbel (Eus.),
410
Sarah,
423
Martha. 783
811
Daniel (Dr.),
Dorothy,
664
259
425
Mary.
Nathaniel.
279
573
Edward (Comii
an
Thomas.
107
Robert.
521
dur).
733
William. 425. 671
S20
Ruth.
555
John (Esq.),
612
Zenas,
520
1
Roger,
811
INDEX OF NAMES.
981
Samuel,
William. 398,
671
Phlneas,
437
256, 279,
612,
742
Robbins & Co.,
Prudence,
815
Samuel ICapt.).
212
544,
616
Rebecca,
777
Sarah,
612,
-50
Johnston.
Robert H.. 653,
671
Silas,
144, 231, 252,
249
Stephen, 461,
466
441, 463.
466,
521
Jones. Charles,
671
William M.,
675
Stephen, 279
465.
521
Henry,
671
William W..
675
Thomas. 40. 41
64
Lewis,
Kidd, RobPrt (Capt.).
689
66. 72, 73
130,
149
29, 149, 161,
287
Kllbourn (Kilborn),
260. 268,
271,
277
Salmon (Rev.).
605
300,
812
279, 2Sd,
2S9,
290
Jordan, Sarah,
281
Abigail,
282
,^ni, 302.
318,
334
(Wid.).
68
Abraham, 112,
281
365, 425,
577,
637
.Torey, Jos..
923
Benjamin,
2S1
645, 741,
-50
Joy
William E.,
671
Daniel.
783
Thomas (Jr.
. 279
301
Joy
ner. Robt. O.,
831
Dorothv,
282
Thomas iCapt.),
203
Judd, 209, 224, 273,
287
Ebenezer (Lieut.).
112
Timothv.
365
457
300
167, 212, 226,
281
458, 521, 624
John,
247
282. 378, 389,
398
•William,
4b5,
708
Nathan,
643
7.^7. 7b5, 772,
773
William fJr
),
577
Thomas (Sut.).
704
783
William ( ~'»
'),
578
Thomas, 281,
682
Elea^er,
282
Husted H. (Rev
),
605
V.'illi.^m. 609,
784
George,
Hutchinson,
Judson, Philn, (Rev.)
112, 425, 557,
578
Eleazer C. (Rev.).
344
856,
'881
George (Jir.),
282
Hyde, Timothy,
149
Giles,
787
Hyde, George,
2S0
K.
Grace,
282
James,
484
Henry,
589
Jobo,
39S
Kea
rney, Francis,
671
Hezekiah,
282
Timothy (Mr.'i.
Kee
ler.
Hezekiah (Jr.),
579
130, 165,
280,
319
Ralph W. iRrv).
605
James, 282,
805
30
Keeny, Alexander, 40
, 41
John. 41, 112,
118
William,
165
103, 167. 281,
291
149, 161, 192,
193
742; (Jr.)
281
2.S2, 298, 314,
353
I.
James,
407
466
Ingersoll, Jared.
Ireland, Samuel.
lOO "^56
415.
30
262,
417
7.T
269
Joseph,
Richards,
Kelley, Horace R.,
407
132
675
John (Jr.), 118.
John (Capt.),
John S.,
167
282
822
2S6; 2S«',
Martha,
Mary,
310'
642
James.
675
John (Si7t.), 30
67
280
Kelsey. Charles,
364
164, 178. 203,
281
256,
280
Enoch. 364,
467
282, 624, 742
Ezekiel, 364,
474
Josiah, 774, 783,
78.=;
J.
Ira,
521
Joseph, 282,
750
Israel,
822
Joshua (Capt.),
5Tri
Jackson, JuLu,
Jacobs. John,
Jagger (Gager),
Abraham.
377, 571,
Elizabeth,
441,
521
400
271
John, 123,
521, 750, 754,
Joseph, 798, 799,
Mark,
281
756
822
281
Levi.
Payne K.,
Richard,
Sabra,
521
281
398
793
578,
876
.Moses, 437,
521
Sarah, 282,
754
Stephen. 2S1, 754,
756
Beth, 441.
521
Jeremy, 30, 72,
147, 270, *?R0
143
437
Ken
William, 437,
nedy, Charles,
521
671
Simon, 799
Susanna, 281,
806
282
578*
Thomas H.,
671
Thomas, 30. 67,
167
Jeremy (/r.)
147
280
Kent. S. I.,
Kently, Dave.
607
630
269. 282, 578
Timothy, 437,
521
Jonathan
2S0
Ken
yon. Henry (Rev.),
612
William,
800
Marearet' (3/r,t1_
Kergresser. John L.,
671
(IV id.).
783
875, 895,
016,
920
Ker
rigan, .Michael,
671
Kilby.
Janes. .Tane,
594
Kellogg, Aaron,
168
Christopher, 384,
441
William,
356
Allyn,
168
Christopher A.,
Jenks, Fred R.,
671
Anna,
776
425,
521
Elmer F.,
820
Ashbel A.,
804
Ebenezer (Jr.),
George,
671
Electa,
798
407,
425
Jennings, Ira,
671
George,
168
Franklin,
672
Joshua,
Hannah,
811
Franklin E.,
672
30. 220,
221,
280
Horace R.,
671
Mary,
565
Jepson (Dr.).
701
James. 487,
675
Martha,
521
Jessup, John, 30
100,
143
Jemima, 783,
810
Phineas,
521
147, 239,
280,
307
Joanna,
777
Richard,
425
310, 312
Joseph,
777
Silas,
402
Joseph,
250,
280
Martin, 168, ISO,
432
Stephen,
621
Joshua,
280
464, 487, 629,
641
Thomas, 407, 425,
550
Jewell,
777, 781, 799,
812
Thomas (Capt.).
565
Marshall (Gov.).
S31
Martin (Jr.).
465
William, 365,
425
Joiner, Edward P--
Martin (Capt.).
185
Wyllys,
672
671,
821
240, 37S. 391,
395
Killiam, James,
932
Rcbert W.,
671,
S21
414, 421, 433,
436
Kimball, Jedidiah,
484
Johnson,
65
730, 733, 753,
771
Kiraberly,
Davis,
400
776, 7S0, 781,
782
Eleazir (Hon.),
41
Elisha,
12s,
241
783, 788, 796,
802
108, 140, 193,
195
F. G.,
383
Martin (3,1).
814
202, 204, 211,
248
Henry P.,
455
506
(-it'll
822
275, 281, 282,
358
Jacob,
281,
741
(5lh).
814
360, 741
James,
675
Michael,
671
John,
643
John.
72
Mary, 48T, 806,
811
Thomas, 140, 282,
350
Jonathan.
279
Mary (.^{^s.).
812
King. David. 437. 441,
521
Joseph. 466,
4S4,
521
Nathaniel (Rev.).
605
Seth (Lieut.),
410
MarKaret,
680
Norman,
675
Geo. (Rev.),
883
Mary,
681
-N. 0.,
168
Kingman, Joseph,
412
Samuel (Re
v.).
606
Otis F.,
675
Kingsley, Jacob (Ens.)
484
982
Kinney,
George W. (Rev.)
KIrby. Eunice.
Hannah,
John,
John (Jr.), 167,
2.'55, 283, 787,
R. D. (Rev.),
(Wid.).
William.
KIrkham (Klrcum),
Benjamin,
Henry. 397. 773.
781, 787
John. 461. 4G6.
799. 800. 806,
831
Jonathan,
Nathaniel 406,
Samuel, 466,
Thomas, 41, 221,
283, 302, 741,
Thomas (Jr.),
William. 520. 798.
Kneeland. Dwight.
John,
Knight,
Merrick (Rev A.
Knowles. James. 425.
439. 449. 522,
James (Copt.),
Martha,
Knox. Norman,
Ladue, Henry,
Lago. Wlllett.
Lamb. Samuel,
Lamphere.
Louis A. (Rev.),
James D..
Landers. Samuel,
Lane. Isaac.
Langdon. Andrew
166, 262,
LenktOD.
Jonathan (Dca.),
Samuel (Liviit.),
Stephen (Capt.),
Timothy.
Lantry.
Larkins. Caroline.
John.
Samuel (Cai)t.),
Latch, Peter.
Latham, (Kev.), H. D..
Latimer (Lattamore).
Abigail, 284.
Ann, 291,
Ann (^Trs.), 278,
Beialeel. 283, 374,
577, 588, 6SS
Ellsha,
Elizabeth,
Erastus (Capt.),
Esther, 797,
Franklin C, 822,
James,
John. 30, 75, 112,
163, 192, 201,
250, 267,
273, 278,
284, 294, 295,
300. 301, 307,
313, 314, 389,
406, 413, 425,
700
John (Sijt.)
HISTORY OF A.NCIENT WETHERSKIELD.
602
167
167
283
207
798
795
.-21
272
744
283
816
672
400
701
579
425
578
284,
612
400
672
85
604
579
400
HX3
270,
212, 213,
Jonathan,
Levi, 466,
Luther, 795, 801,
Mary,
(Urs.),
Rebecca,
Saint,
Samuel,
474
149
204
271
283
298
308
398
742
306
283
284
Samuel ^Capl.),
Lounsbury. C,
383
545
. 555
David (Capt.),
484
Solomon,
545
Loveland, Asa, 441
522
Sybil,
088
Daniel,
522
Uzziel, 804, 806
Eleazor,
408
Lawrence, Amos.
397
George (Capt.),
519
Law. Jonathan.
139
John, 426, 579
. 650
Jonathan (Gov).
284
.Jonathan. 404
408
Richard. 143. 14S
. 277
Levi,
465
284. 289. 289
301
Lot, 400, 404
408
.■^04. 538
Solomon (Capt.)
432
Leach. William,
522
Thomas, 103, 19;
, 350
Leavitt. Josiah.
2.S4
408, 743
Joshua.
284
( Will. ) ,
743
Lechford. 267. 289
308
William,
420
Ledyard, John.
& Latimer.
650
401, 409
548
Lovejoy, Eusene E.,
676
1 Lee, Ashbel,
413
John lA'fi'.),
882
i Jesse (Rev.),
603
Lovenam (Wid.),
285
Franklin H.,
673
Lowell, J. R.,
835
Roland,
587
Lowry,
772
Leete (Gov.).
542
C. J., (Rev.),
168
Leister Jacob (6'ou.)
207
Daniel M.,
232
Lenihan,
David,
John P. (Rei'.).
609
799, 802, 806.
811
Lennox, John R.. 488
522
Lucy,
811
Leppert. Louis,
'-12
Mary,
811
Magdalen,
612
Robert,
729
Paul,
612
Lucas,
760
William.
612
Ludington. Daniel, 403
, 805
LeVaughn. Donald,
676
Samuel C,
804
Ronald.
676
Luce. Henry (Cant.),
814
William 0.,
676
Thomas M.,
667
William
931
Ludlow, Roger (Mr.),
22
Lewis, Daniel,
400
77, 78, 137,
138,
George.
872
182, 390
Henry B.,
672
Lum, 3. Y. (Rev.),
864
John,
571
William (Rev.),
863
John (Rev.),
Lusk,
410
714, 853, 854,
881
Aaron,
798
Rachel,
847
Andrew, 400, 404
412
Wa iter.
284
James, 413, 522.
547
William, 118, 2S4
682
V87. »U2
Z. N-. (Rev.),
O.I.-
Jjhii
hiehttnnt. John,
672
412. 753, 783,
796
Lilienthal.
Levi. 522. 800.
814
Herman (Rev.).
608
Levi (Col.),
808
Lilly. John. 30.
284
Levi (Rrii/.-Gen.),
Lindsay, David,
815,
823
400, 466.
522
Stephen,
755
John. 400.
412
Thomas. 783.
787
Robert. 400.
407
William. 412.
784
Lindon. Henry. 672.
821
Luther. Martin,
823
Linsley.
812
Lyrord. John (Rev.). 57.60
Lineman. Frederick.
672
Lyman (Gen.), 406,
407
» Livermore. John,
409. 410. 546
29, 264, 284,
310
Gideon.
169
Lock (Rev.),
3.^8
Samuel.
408
Lockwood, Belden,
717
Lynch. John.
676
James, 333, 426,
522
(Rev.),
608
James (Rev.).
332
Lyon, Epraim.
398
337, 343, 556,
770
John M..
672
John,
894
Nathan,
398
Lewis C.,
676
William (Lieut.),
484
Martha.
556
Willard.
887
Moses,
426
Lebbeus B. (Rev.
).
S56
M.
Lydia,
333
Mackey, Hezekiah,
Samuel,
426
441,
522
William (Chaplain
).
Mackie, Hugh,
490,
522
285, 296,
306
William H.,
676
John.
285
Loftus. Thomas,
G72
William.
269
Longdon (see Lanijilon'
Macy. Alexander.
828
Loorais, Benoni, 408,
413
Herbert (Rev.),
828
Dick, 466,
522
Sarah,
828
S.nmuel,
799
Madison, James M.,
672
Silas. 336. 426.
629
Maloy, James,
672
Lord. John. 404.
412
Maltbie.
9S6
Mary.
285
Mandeville C. iRev.).
833
(.Mr.s.).
864
Manning. Samuel.'
484
Richard. 34. 46,
284
Marcy. Amos.
398
317. 319
Edward.
397
Ruth.
284
Marks. Abishai. 441,
523
Sarah. 284.
323
Maroney, Frederick.
672
Thomas. 149. 161.
323
Marsh. 240. 289.
315
284. 285. 35
Thomas (Jr.),
David (Deo.), 338
Ebenezer G.. 660
George, 338
John, 338
John (Rev.), 233, 23S
237, 241, 319, 337
434, 456, Sfi2, 937
John (Jr.) (R,v.).
168, 650, 657, 660
695, 699, 729
John (Capt.). 579
Jonathan (Dr.), 064
Joseph. 404
Martha. ,se3
Marshall. John, 2S.'i
Mary, 257
Samuel, 49
Thomas. 143, 167, 2S.t
Martin. Constance. 288
John. 672. 67G
Phebe. 252, 257, 318
Robert, 398
Robert (Jr.), 398
Samuel (Mr.),
41, 46.28.'^
Samuel (Capt.), 2i).'i
Markley, Thos., S22
Samuel. 206. 251 •'>.52
257, 266, 273,' 280
286, 288, 313, 317
322
Martyn, Sanford Smith
(Rev.), 825
Marvin, g^o
Ed.. 933. 934
Hannah. 932
Horace R.. 9.S3
James. 7.53
Joseph. 367, 408
Mason, Edward. 29 100
114, 278, 286,' 290
311, 620, 621
(Goouivire), 286
John i?.^t. i;.- .;;a_; )
63, 64, 65, 68, 69
71, 79, 160. 204
Nicholas, 286
Maaterson. John. 676
May, Eleazer (Rev.), 337
Hezekiah. 286, 334
336, 426, 437. 523
Hezekiah (Jr.). 4''G
John. 457, 523
Samuel,
241. 334. 336, 426
Samuel (Jr.), 426
William, 426, 467
& Stlllman, 656
■,, <^«a). 2.35
Maynard (Mrs.), 864
Azariah (Rev.). 385
Mather Cotton (Rev.), 54
139, 144, 145, 148
327
Samuel (Capt.), 352
Matlocks. James, 400
Matson, Thomas, 643
Maiidsley 1 see Morehi)
McAloon, Patrick, 672, S-'O
McCarty, Patrick, 676
McCannon. 672
McChesny E. (Rev.), 605
McCloud, Daniel, 408
Elizabeth, 574
McCombe. Andrew, 579
McDonald, J. N. (Rev.),
McDowell. Alvin. 523
McGill. William A., 672
McKean A., 3S3
McKeogh, Timothy, 400
Dan. G.. 832
McLean, Jame.s. 440
Mary D. (Mrs.), 428
430. 477, 523, 689
729
Nell (.V. D), 664
Thomas, 400
ilcLaughlin, John, 672
INDEX OF NAMES.
McMahen (Bp.), 609
McNally,
Abraham (Corp'l),
439
McNalty. Henry. 523
McNamara. James, 672
Means. (il/r.s.). 864
Mears, Lewis. 400
Medbpy. Daniel, 76, 937
Meeker (Snt.). 484
John, 410
Meldruna. William.
523, 901
Merchant, Abram. 672
Meredith. Benjamin F,,
(Rev.), 605
Merrlam. Asabel. 866, 868
Durrage (Rev.), 853
S6S. 881, 926, 929
Caroline, 887
Edward, 655
Elial, 869
Elia.s, 869
Horace P., 867, 887
(Kev.) (Mr.), 874
Nathaniel, 72
Burrage, 7;'.2
& Neff. 654, 655
Merrils. Eliakim, 787
George. 932
John, 314
Michael, 412
Merrltt. Thomas, 286. 301
Wes.senger. Daniel. 403
.Miller. Andrew. 868
Caleb. 466. 523
Charles D.. 400
David (Rev.), 605
Elijah (Col.), 207
Hosea. 583
John. 100, 143. I'*'
218. 286. 290. 301
304. 412, 441, 523
Jonathan.
461, 466. 4S4. 523
Joseph,
404. 439, 441, 523
Joseph {Corp'l), 439
Phebe. 583
William, 193. 286. 350
William (Capt.). 489
William {Rev.), 863
W. H. H.. 937
Mills (Miles), Daniel A.
(Capt.), 560, 579
634, 639, 917, 949
Jedidiah, 523
Richard, 30, 100, 138
140, 256, 261, 286
310
Miner, 549
Cyrus (Rev.), 602
John, 441, 523
Selden. 168, 645
Mitchell. 192
Alfred (Rev.),
332, 345
Amos (Sgt.), 410
David.
286, 365, 426, 523
Donald Grant, 332
Elizabeth, 282
James, 286, 332, 336
426, 438, 579. 624
James (Jr.), 426, 579
James (Lieut.), 230
Joel. 364
John. 281. 282. 294
Jonathan, 236
Joseph. 667
Matthew (Mr.) 26. 27
30, 62. 73, 97, 99
142, 143, 145, 146
151, 176, 177, 184
185, 191. 249. 259
260. 286. 289, 294
295, 303, 304, 307
315, 618, 624
983
Rebecca, 332
Richard, 579
Sarah. 2S1
Stephen Mix (Jwh/e).
■ 187, 188, 237,' 332
339, 344, 426. 433
434. 489. 628. 631
637. 695, 699, 728
William, 579
Mix. Elisha (Dr.), 332. 664
Mary. 558
Stephen (Rev.). 212
213. 218. 237. 252
286. 287, 294, 313
330, 332, 389. 398
556. 654. 664. 713
745. 74S, 762, 766
776. 778
Mohenok, Peter. 466. 5'^3
M<#n (Moulten)
Thomas. 288. 730
Lydia. 70S
Thomas, 750
Monroe.
Egbert N. (R'v.), 863
James (Pres). 722
Montague. Abigail. 287, 2.83
Abraham. 523
Ann. 426
Alvan. 465
Bryan. 484
Eunice. 569. 660
Gurdon, 660
Gurdon H., 580
John. 287. 555
Moses. 569. 660
Peter. 210
Richard. 40. 93. 163
209. 261. 274. 287
314. 334. 367. 406
437, 523, 579. 580
683
Richard (Capt.).
463, 579,
Sefh,
437, 461. 466.
Morecork ( Moorcock i .
Nicholas. 30. 100.
543, 579
Morehouse, 143.
Thomas. 30, 141,
287, 297
Moore. James, 672,
.John, 6S2,
Morey.
Morgan. Albro.
Gavlord. 672.
Guy S..
Joh
336.
Nathan.
Stephen. 370.
Thomas. 461. 466.
Morris. Abraham. 350.
Anne.
David.
Davis. 580,
John. 167,
John M.,
Matthew,
Mose.s 577, 580,
Ralph (Capt.).
Robert, 288,
William, 41. 44
197. 198. 271
285. 288, 309.
741
Morrison. William.
523, 466,
Mosely.
Abner. 369.
Abuer (Dr.),
Joel.
John.
Jonathan.
Joseph.
Morton (Moreton),
Benjamin. 437.
Charles.
ComXort,
580
523
131
672
569
575
667
635
168
672
397
313
607
954
643
664
484
413
633
984
HISTURY OF ANCIKNT WETHERSFIELD
Eliza,
882
Darbara,
610
John (Capt.)
James,
523
Francis, 30, 139,
152
204,
'636,
650
John,
582
181, 274. 288,
307
Thomas.
944
John (Jr.),
426
312
William, 29
72
157
Thomas, ■
Frederick L.,
607
221, 260,
270.
289
288, 754, 750,
842
Gideon,
612
292, 293
Thomas W.,
672
George,
610
William H..
672
Munson, J. N. (ffcr.).
SS3
Isaac
906
Park (Parke), Ri
chard
Murray, John,
288
.lohn,' 288, 412,
612
31,
253.
'289
James,
Rebecca,
612
Richard (.Mr
).
72
400, 404, 441,
523
Nott, Charles,
131. 119,
165,
166
Joseph,
672
364, 437,
524
220, 221,
284,
2S0
Thomas,
672
Epaphras,
399
289, 290,
304.
498
Myers (.Mrs.),
882
Gershom, 89, 281,
334
Thomas, 31
. 72.
149
Mygatt,
285
367, 481
165, 166.
271.
277
James A.,
697
Gershom lCa;)f.),
289
John,
524
491, 579. 580,
899
William.
289
Jonathan,
462
Giles.
782
Parker, Elisha,
398
Joseph,
265
Henry,
466
James.
398
Roger,
410
John, 04, 100,
108
John (Rev.)
605
Stephen,
645
111, lis, 149,
161
Richard.
251
Thomas,
404
185, 273, 2S7,
288
Robert.
289
William,
616
305, 580, 627,
659
William.
315
Zebulon, 461,
466
903, 937
Partridge. Willian
1 (Re
v.).
John (Sijt.), 31
, 47
287,
298.
330
N.
72. 88. 89, 104,
181
David (Lieut
.),
402
184, 203, 224.
225
Isaac,
398
296. 641, 737.
742
Joseph,
402
Nash, David (Rev.),
605
746
Mary.
297.
298
Joseph.
2SS
John (Capt.), 505
937
Nathaniel,
402
Levi (Lieut.),
464
Mehitable, 4S1,
491
Noah.
403
Neal, Thomas,
524
(.Mr.).
906
Samuel (Col.),
330
Neil, John,
fi70
Nathan, 465,
524
Samuel H. (Cul.),
431
Neff,
954
Olive,
579
Patterson, James.
783
Joseph, 556, 562.
580
Selah (Syt.), 437.
465
John (Capt.)
898, 924
Sarah.
426
' 410
416
William, 580, 655
917
William (Capt.).
(Lieut.),
783
933, 934
404, 580,
937
(Maj.),
787
William (Mr.),
939
William, 240, 300
350
(Haj.-aen.),
& Merriam,
372, 374, 398,
400
524
787
654, 655.
891
580, 872. 936
Payne. Richard,
289
& Williams,
934
William l.s''/i.).
742
Payson ( Poissoo
),
Nelson, Henry W.
Noyes. Wickham".
545
Edward, 289
290
318
(Kit), 606
607
lorypo
289,
290
Nettleton (.l/i.), S16,
862
0.
(Dr.),'
664
Kevins, Niuholas,
426
Jeremy.
318
Newbury, Flenjamin,
O'C
onoUy, Patrick,
426
Pearce, Edward.
21
(Capt.), 204,
645
O'C
onnor. James,
676
Pease, Joel,
405
Henry. 315
645
01c
jtt, Elizabeth,
280
John.
336
(Capt.), 208
209
George,
664
Nathan,
403
Roger.
801
George (Dr.),
Samuel,
664
Peter.
403
Sarah,
315
548
Stephen.
402
Neville, (.Sir) Hugh,
53
Thomas, 78, 246,
280
Timothy,
402
Leonard,
259
2.S9. 297. 311
William (Rev.),
Mary, 53
Newsou. Isaac,
Thomas, 334, 426
259
324
538
Oldham, John (.Mr.).
21, 22, 23, 24
9.7 2S_ 38. 39
19
25
. 53
603.
Peck, Abel (Dr.)
Abigail,
604,
605
612
612
547, 550
Thomas (Capt.),
55, 56. 60. 70.
275. 540, 614.
100
618
Abicl,
Franklin G.,
5-5
076
499.
592
621
er. Joshua.
Moses,
612
Nichols. Benjamin,
524
on
672
Rhoda.
Samuel,
612
612
Cyprian (Capt.),
124
Olmsted.
898
Francis,
524
Lydia.
168
Pelton, William
■I..
Francis (Sgt.),
465
Miles N. (Rev.),
605
580.
676
Nathan, 465,
524
Om
676
Pendal, John,
413
Nicholas,
399
Osborn, Luke,
547
Pepperell (Lieut.
Gen.
'394
838
Ozias,
I. Z. (Rev.),
413
605
Osgood, John L., 672,
Rpiihen C...
821
Percival, J. G.,
William P.,
607
822. 824.
83X
Perkins, Charles,
402
William F. (Rev.)
, S23
Oti
5, James,
550
Nathan,
85=^
Nolan, Michael.
676
(Rev.) (Dr.)
855
North, C. J. (Rev.),
883
P.
Reuben,
402
David,
524
Perrin, Thomas (Dr.),
580
Elnathan.
403
Persons,
410
Isaac.
524
Paddy, Hezekiah,
524
Peters, Edward.
676
Isaac (Lieut.),
463
Seth,
440
Samuel (Rev
.).
John.
167
Pal
ne, Harvey H. (Rev
.),
152,
231,
730
Nathaniel.
412
605
Pettes, James,
580
Thomas,
120
Pal
mer
100
Samuel,
580
Thomas (Sgt.),
410
A. (Rev.),
605
Charles E.,
936
Selah.
524
Charles (Ens.),
Phelan, John,
672
& Rowe,
906
396,
883
Phelps (Mr.),
682
Northam. James.
63
Edward (31a j.).
215
Anson G.,
168
Northend, John, 40. 93
Elizabeth,
426
Eldad,
402
144, 147. 288,
301
Hannah,
302
Elihu,
441,
525
Northup (Capt.),
667
Henry, 29, 40, 93
223
John H..
672
Norton,
60
251, 253, 202,
281
Silas (Hqt.),
484
Andrew,
804
286. 289. 293.
302
William (ill
.),
Add,
612
I.saac, 466.
525
22,
138.
182
nn>EI OF 5A3tES-
98:
FUOips (Kev.).
S4, IK. 139
GCMse (Ber.t. 24
wnusa S_ (£cx.).
«02
Fleree. Charles E, 936
Edwaid. 29
Joha. 39. 424
SuneL 42^ 437. 525
riwt. Jaaes. 6S
JehB. S09
rabaiB (JEss-l.
107. 151
Kk^ Dnld. 432
Fin^HDT. Irhamar
(Ser.l. 168
Ii^BH. Alfred B, S19
PiBser. JoBstbas <£b<l).
407
Pitkia. JofeB. 4^
Joseph (GM.). >4«
Naihaaiel* 335
-WUIiaa. 332. e48
FtsBh, JohB (JTr.t. 124
132. 157. 290. 3i(»4
JMcv 25. 72. S8. 268
272. 2T4, :Ti, i5-3
311. 6s:
Sa^BeL
TiBMKhT. ; ? - -
William.
BagfT. 31.
PriEdei. Erra.
2S5
5S1
e43
2»
298
3»8
*329
443
8S3
&. sn
t£«ntf->.
581
2S4. SeS. ISK
381. CS^w S44
311
311
813
«CS
-i. 523
- S3»
15. 43
r54. S31
-;5-4. 525
'Rziaey. VHIiaxa.
OUTS' I Jr.) iCspi->.
5SO
5«1
PsiveT, Astva, 52?, 7^^*
Abiiah. 5S
412
EUjafe. 423
BKfei^ 333. 366. 426
iDr.i.
5*4. 644. 6*4
(Oo2-). 4S«
S40. 92S
Xjea_
~;ri. Olirer. 441
S54
£•^3
:.S3
Eii
? 1
Onia B.
Salo^DB (Jr.).
56S-
Sy«I.
Thc^MS a.
PoEt. GUeM iCmft.).
EWter. Bdsaid.
FmrB. Abigail.
Til ■Tmi. 441.
5Z5
Jota iJr.l.
334
(CairfKTff).
254
Ji£>es iJr.). 384.
3C<9
Babert.
1J9
Nsc^u,
2S1
WnUam. 279.
290
Pairiek. 672.
S21
nrvers. Williu.
672
Bie&ard.
436
Piaaa. John. 367.
667
Robert.
Ptaxc
863
21. 24. 29.
133
Daai^
133
Sarab. 291.
3S4
Dani.
134
Besea Csea Jbaea).
Janes C (Gn.).
sso
Be^ Tb ■■!'-.
292
Janes T. tGea.).
Tbooas Ur.).
292
1S5.
c- 7
Rboe^ > Ro««E).
549
JbmsI^
9 1 :■
^fzsader. 334.
363
Joha.
•r-fl
iZ'S. 458. 525
Xaaoah.
Baser.
901
Geoise.
672
633
Priee. Harriet W.
S63
Hearr W, 5S1.
673
Jacoh.
5S1
J^epK 427. 437.
525
Joha. 525. S6S.
901
1 J^siab (Cb^I.
5S1
Joha iCapt-i.
3Su
Joe P,
678
icnathaa.
Maiy.
427
4S3. 5S0.
5S1
Baral.
5S1
986
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Richard (Capt.),
458, 583, 937
Roger (Ens.), 400, 937
Roger, 580, «38
Roswell, 498, 583
Samuel, 384, 426. 659
Samuel (Jr.). 426
Simon, 426, 526
Stephen (Capt.),
404. 407
Stephen, 350. 467, 582
W. Wiltshire. 583
& Bunce, 583
Wright & Co.. H56
(U'i^/oic), 837
Ripley. 812
Ripner, William, 526
Rising. Henry. 673, 821
Risley, 954
Ackley, 893
Geo., 910
Richard, 292
RItchells, Sigismund, 31
163, 202. 269. 291
292. 742
Rittenhou.se A. (Rei-.),SS3
RItter (Dr.), 935, 940, 946
Roberts. David. 484
Robertson. Ashbel (Dr.),
358, 656, 663, 665
728
Austin, 298, 607, 635
663, 738
Robinson. 140, 288, 954
Asher, 586
Benj. A., 676
William J., 659
Kobbins, 908
Abigail, 500, 782, 847
Allen. 938
Allen A., 936
Amelia. 893
Appleton. 195. Zr,i
426. 464. 474, '"<2
625, 644
Archibald. 583. 585
580, 882, 892, 918
Archibald (Capt),
932
Asher, 625. 635, 651
653. 716
Austin (Capt.), 918
Benjamin, 732
Charles, 384
Comfort, 292, 296
Daniel tCapt.). 586
Edward P.,
571, 864, 869, '^^
Ellas W., 93o, 9o
Elizabeth, 644
Elijah, 575
Elisha,
369, 591, 635, 708
Enos
F. H.,
707
292
526
731
Frank, 25
Frederick, 44
583, 617, 66
843. 846. 855. 870
Frederick (Sen.), 586
Frederick (Lieut.), 571
George. 869. 919. 938
Gurdon (Rev.). 602
Hannah. 369. 932
Henry. 168. 635
Henry M., 746, 752
759, 766. 822
Henry M. (Mr.i.), 730
Hezekiab ( Wid. of)
384
Honor, 586
Horace, 85, 607, 607
Jacob, 842
J. A.. 896
James.
Jason.
656, 894. 932, 937
Jehiel,
Sarah,
405. 408. 867.
869
292. 293. 586.
851
John, 92. 93, 251
265
Silas W. (Hon.),
26
283. 289. 294.
296
185. 314, 581.
586
308. 329. 375.
400
592. 622. 634.
643
408. 488, 526.
547
730
558, 742. 796,
845
Simon.
939
868. 878. SD9
Solomon.
571
John (./)■.),
Susan.
893
467. 586. 644,
839
Thomas.
437
John (Gr>it.), 31,
142
Thomas H..
148, 250, 200.
282
676. 7S1. 782.
954
286, 292. 369
Unnl. 556. 565,
822
John (.)/)■. ),
Wait, 464, 715
716
586, 733, 924,
944
843. 889
937
John (.I//-. 1.
Walt (Jr.), 586.
563
129, 360,
433
Wait (Capt.),
John (Silt.), 96,
226
657. 732
900
228. 240. 292
Walter. 734. 929.
942
Jonathan.
Walter (Mrs.),
933
400. 406,
426
William.
.Jonathan (./r. ).
426
185, 426. 526,
5.-0
Jonathan (Sijl.).
William (Capt.),
500
402
747
William (t'.s<j.).
575
Jonathan (Eii.h),
410
William (2nd),
Jonathan (Cnpl.)
869.
938
292.
644
& Williams.
656
Josiah, 334, 365.
366
William G..
368, 426, 458,
461
867, 869.
870
465. 466. 526.
580
Zebulon.
784
625
Zebulon (Corpl.),
781
Josiah (2d Lieut.)
869. 912. 926.
932
456
954
Joshua,
851
Roull.ston.
410
Joshua (Capt.).
108. 113. 212.
281, 292, 293,
296. 367. 372,
107
227
295
384
Rockwell, Alonzo (Dr.)
James.
Samuel.
065
405
526
389. 390. 391.
571
Rockwood (Rev.),
586. 624. 642.
748
862, 881,
887
754, 762. 842
Sarah.
811
Joshua (Lieut.),
392
Rodman, Eli,
676
Joshua (Eiui.).
Rogers, F.zeklel IP"".)
, 54
331,
392
James
673
Joshua (Syf.).
jamea (Cu;)!.),
501
293.
296
John. 138. 139.
773
Joshua (.Vr.).
371
John (Rev.), 5-1
, 55
Joshua (2nd),
Josiah.
403
752.
754
Nathaniel (Rev.),
54
Joshua (Srd),
Richard (Rev.),
293, 366.
641
53, 54. 55
Joshua (Jr.),
Samuel.
293
266, 42C. 867.
927
T. B.. 055,
934
Justus. 361, 526.
586
William. 31,
138
593. 650, 894.
934
906
Roe (iirr.).
862
Levi. 526, 562.
583
Romans. Eliz..
811
870. 875. 879,
893
Root. Amos.
612
949, 954
Ambrose.
612
Levi (Qr. Mstr.),
489
Asabel,
612
Loren,
168
Caleb B.,
673
Lucy,
893
George.
612
Mabel. 749.
939
Henry J.,
612
Martin. 772
831
Jesse,
801
Martha. 299. 580.
586
John. 31. 289, 293
612
Mary. 161. 292,
561
Job.
405
562, 644, 847,
868
John C,
673
Michael, 426,
799
Jo.seph, 113.
612
(Mrs.),
683
Margaret.
Nathaniel 845,
865
Mary.
612
866, 867, 869
Orpha.
612
NewtoQ (Capt.).
864
Samuel.
613
Oliver. 384,
526
Timothy.
613
Philemon,
504
Rose, Amos.
383
Philemon W..
734
Abigail.
284
Rhoda.
847
Chauncey.
Richard. 292. 293.
369
198, 383. 593.
658
465. 526. 561,
586
Daniel, 41, 262.
265
754. 847, 851.
868
272. 278, 283,
293
872
294, 741
Richard (Lieut.).
373
Elizabeth.
293
Richard A. (Dea
).
John, 27, 157,
283
241. 453. 477.
586
294. 754, 869
587, 661
John (Capt.),
593
Robert. 369.
642
Jonathan.
294
Roswell R..
869
Margery.
294
Royal (Rev.), 345.
380
Mary.
869
Samuel,
Robert. 21. 27.
28
126. 292, 293.
526
72, 138. 149.
152
INDEX OK NAMES.
987
157, 192.
2Sn.
262
Rebecca,
5R3
Sharpe, Joseph,
398
270. 272,
283,
?.?S
Willett.
458
Mary,
313
292, 293,
294,
295
SoUsbury. E. E. (Prof.).
Nicholas,
53
349, 552,
667
265
Shaw, John,
397
Robert (./r. )
2S,
141
Saltonstall,
Shaylor (Shailor) (.Vr
).
Samuel. 1,-8.
334,
364
Gurdon (Gov.).
901.
934
3Gfi. 427,
526
481, 491.
728
Ephraim.
400
Samuel (Jr.
427
Elizabeth. 491.
728
Reuben.
427
Rosewell. Will,
215
Richard (Xir), 24
.32
Samuel.
586
Rosser, Leonidas
(Rev
),
Sanborn. Jedidiah.
427
Shepherd (Shepard).
605
Nathaniel. 437.
526
Edward.
623
Rosslter, Bray (Rev.),
Sanderson. Benjamin S..
Elisha & Sons.
572
262,
322
(A"..'i'.).
603
Elisha.
572
Joanna,
262
Sandiord iSanford).
James.
Rouse. Adna.
906
Amos.
667
Joseph B. (Rev.).
605
Thomas,
204
Ebenezer.
Nathaniel. 458.
327
Rowe, J. Edward
6TS
398. 437.
526
Shepardson. E. M..
328
Rowell, William,
372
Erbln K..
676
Sherman. Edmond. 54,
139.
Rowlandson, Joseph.
ISO
Isaac (Rev.),
605
262. 291. 296 "
294, 314,
32S,
441
Jesse. 465.
526
John (Rer.), 54. 55
461, 466,
52b,
543
John.
5
135. 136. 138.
139.
Joseph ( ff 'n
.),
131
Lyman A. (Rev.h
605
140. 141. 150.
157.
257, 294,
300,
325
Zachariah (En.s.).
213
184, 255, 271.
296.
326, 543
(Lieut.).
124
299. 308, 315.
3_20
Mary.
328
Saulter. Katharine.
613
Samuel. 29. 54
William,
Maria D..
613
139. 141, 143,
296]
400, 441,
442,
326
Stephen.
613
304
Wilson, 398.
445,
451
Savage,
247
Theophilus, 254,
263.
458, 528
Elizabeth (Mrs.).
285. 292, 296
Royce, Timothy,
397
90.
729
Roger (Hon.),
140
Ruby, Sarah,
851
Giles (Lieut.),
587
Reuben.
441
Rumrell, John,
403
Horace, 582,
5S6
William H..
673
Nehemiah,
403
James (Hon.), 19
26
William T. (Gen.)
140
Russ, Jonath
an.
407
27, 52, 63, 68,
249
Shelley. James.
896
Rusco (Resco),
Henry
250, 252, 257.
259
Sherwood, Thomas. 31.
141.
303.
390
261. 262. 263.
264
287. 293. 294.
297.
John.
290,
294
265. 267. 268.
270
315. 318
Mary.
310
274. 276. 2S0,
281
Shipman (Mrs.), 889
934
Sarah.
305
284. 285. 287.
288
Cornelius.
865
Russell,
933,
954
290. 294. 295.
296
Mary A.. 895.
897
Asher, 461
, 466,
526
297. 300. 301.
302
Samuel.
838
Daniel. 635
643,
770
303. 304. 309.
315
James (Rev.).
883
Dan;;: [Rei
■ ),
322. 325
bigourney. (.l/r.s.).
339
271 850,
851,
881
Jesse,
575
"tlliman. E. P.,
92*^
Dorothy.
314
Josiah, 565, 575.
586
Simkins. Vincent.
Francis T. (Rev.),
825
Luther. 527.
386
144. 147.
297
Frank (Rev
).
S51
Timothy, 565,
586
Simons. James.
400
Gurdon W..
244,
60S
Saylor, William,
742
Joseph.
408
Gurdon {Dr.
),
665
Scripture, John, 437,
527
Simpson. David.
673
John. 153
182,
290
Scranton. Nathaniel.
295
Singer. E. B. (Rev.),
605
314. 336.
365.
427
Scott. Edward, 31, 259,
276
Sizer. Daniel, 466.
527
439. 526.
718
Elizabeth,
690
Jabez. 466.
527
John (ilr.),
John (Rev.)
158. 160.
40.
161.
295
150
162
Moses. 400. 408.
441. 527
Thomas.
413
138
Skaats. Abraham. 631.
William H.. 259.
635
729
163. 164.
209,
2S7
William.
164
Skinner. Arphenas.
787
297
787
673
295. 307,
John (Jr.)
6S4,
(Rev.
770
Scovel. James.
Seaman.
527
34
John.
Joseph.
93,
'330
John. 31. 143,
288
Sylvester.
John (Sen.)
Searls, John,
413
Slade (Slead). John.
94.
163.
238,
297
Seeley, Robert (Lieut.
. 26
195. 197. 199.
269.
John (Sot.)
126
27. 29. 64. 65
(3(5
292. 297. 744.
756.
{Mr.), 653.
844,
845
70. 71. 72, 73,
100
758
848. 849.
852,
923
140, 142, 203,
Slater. Benjamin.
805
Nathaniel.
326
437
286, 287, 293.
294
J. H. (Rev.),
883
Noadiah.
770
295. 296. 307.
317
Smith. 587, S69
954
Noadiah (R
-v.).
850
326, 705
Abigail,
888
Philip, 164,
286,
295
Seney. Robert (Rev.),
605
Abraham,
718
Samuel.
378,
845
Senslon (St. John)
Allyn,
635
Thomas.
437,
526
Matthew. 31. 296.
310
Asa D. (Rev.),
864
Timothy.
368,
427
312, 313
Benjamin. 133.
193.
William (Rt
v.).
333
Seymour.
414
297. 298. 299.
300.
Rutledge, (Hon.)
John
, 702
Ashbel. 437. 527.
800
398, 403, 475,
880
Ryan. John,
673
806. 811
Bethia,
303
John (Rev.
883
Ashbel (Sgt.),
439
Daniel (Rev.),
603
Joseph,
673
Bevil,
783
Davis, 932
938
Patrick,
676
Elias,
806
Dorothy. 295
300
Ryer, George,
586,
733
Elisha. 564, 567
586
Edward.
678
Henry,
586
Elizabeth, 427
811
Ebenezer.
774
Eunice,
811
Elisha T.. &Co..
564
S.
Jeremiah. 812
Jeremiah (Den.).
820
Eleazer.
Eliakim.
783
895
Saddler, 31, 41,
149.
161
811
818
Elihu.
405
190, 191,
295,
541
Jerusha,
811
Elisha. 405.
408
625. 6G1.
741
John D.,
831
Elizabeth.
Sablns. Stephen.
441
526
Richard, 296,
647
270. 300
320
Sage. Benor.i.
613
Timothy.
546
Ezekiel.
931
Candace.
611
Zachariah.
Gad N. (Rev.).
605
Ferdinand E..
676
240. 296. 427.
647
George M..
676
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELP.
George M. (Ri-u.).
862, St;4, 8S7
Gershom. S9S, 42''.
437, 441, 445, 451,
527
Gideon, 413
Hannah, 888
Henry (ffor.). 22, 31,
40, 72, 89, 144, 150,
151, 152, 153. 15G,
163, 177, 182. 218,
238, 240, 251, 275.
2D5. 297. 298, 300,
303, 308, 309, 31S,
320. 358, 602, 618.
622
Henry J., 918
Hezekiah. 910
Hezekiab iLicut.),
401. 413
Levi. 930, 931
Lucy (Mrs.), 5G4
Ichabod. 153
Isaac, 527, 718
Isaiali. 427. 484
Gilbert Livingston, 154
James, 300, «31, 673.
718. 719. 888, 892
James (Jr.), 667
James (J., Rev.), 609
James A.. 673, 821
Jane. 299
Joanna. 295. 320
Joel W., 7S2
John. 210. 286. 297.
298. 300. 365. 405.
408. 427. 5''7, 5S7,
643, 673, 676, 700.
910, 930
.lohn H., 673
Jonathan, 41. 119,
133, 161, 192, 193,
298, 317, 350, 372.
380. 427. 643. ?;i.
837. SRS. 893 909
917
Jonathan (.7r.), 298
Jonathan (Dra.), 372
Jonathan (Lieut.),
413
Joseph. 40. 41, 94.
103. 130, 140, 161,
167, 192. 193. 198.
265. 298. 299. 300.
314. 349. 365. 392,
408, 427, 543, 550,
586, 644, 673, 896,
897. 899. 909
Jo.seph. (Rev.), 378
Josiah. 427. 464. 465
Jo.siah (Lieut.), 407
Josiah (Capt.), 586
Juliana. 153
Lydia. 298
Manoah, 133
Manus. 405
Marius, 408
Mary.
260. 297, 298, 307
Matthew. 396
Moses. 398. 405
Nathan, 133, 647, 8SS.
889. 892, 896, 897
Noah, 320
Peregrine. 155
Peter. 673
Peter G., 676
Philip, 31. 118, 163.
298, 299, 300, 302.
624
Philip (Lieut.),
209. 378
Ralph. 140
Rebecca. 161. 277,
297, 298, 299
Richard. 40. 41, 46.
94. 96. 103. 133.
161. 166. 167, 192,
194
163, 167.
194,
281, 28
Richard (Jr.). 41.
132. 161. 166. 180.
194. 26S. 276. 297
298. 299, 301, 302,
303. :.0,, 317. 350,
546, 648, 743
Richard (Mr.), 129
Samuel, 20, 31, 46,
72. 107. lis. 144.
149. 153
183. 192 _ _
210. 214. 222.
226. 240. 250_
261. 267.
289. 290. 297,
299. 300, 349,
385, 392, 40S. 457,'
527. 540, 613. 643.
682. 683, 684,
711
Samuel (Mr.),
Samuel (./;•.),
163, 223, 277.
Samuel (^d),
Samuel (Si/t.),
Samuel (Lieut.),
166. 209. 270
Samuel ("The Fell-
muiujer"), 130,
16:l. 16B. 198, 300
Suell, Benjamin. 934
Bourne & Co., 653
Thomas &. Co., 653
William. 40. 93, 94,
166, 237. 299, 358,
783
Wiliam (Rev.),
■ Zcbina.
Snyilcr, .loel.
Soutbergill. Francis
Southgate. Robert lA'cu.),
233, 345
298,
350,
700,
108
300
149
404
39
851
673
587
133
822
527
70. 77
77
Southnuiyd. Anna.
Southworth, Palmer
Spark-;. IJavi.l.
Thomas.
Spauldias. Edgar,
Joseph,
Spencer,
(Mr.), .„. ..
Spencer & Billings Co., 654
David. 398
Deborah, 248
Ebenezer, 402, 403
Jonathan, 410
Samuel. 248
Sprague, William B.
(Itev. Dr.), 345, 859
Squire. 410
Elisha, 804
John,
398, 691, 787, 804
Joseph (Corpl.). 782
Mary,
Philip,
Samuel,
Solomon,
Staat.s, Henry (Rev.)
Stanilish (Cii/Jt.),
Hannah,
Eunice,
Ira M.,
691
782
405
804
883
427
301
633
John, 427
John N., 633
Sarah, 318
Susanna, 301
Thomas. 31. 41, 69,
72, 84, 100, 149,
161, 211. 250, 253,
264, 265, 271, 273,
286, 290, 295. 300,
681. 744. 755
Stanley. Caleb. 119, 120
Caleb (Sgt.), 107
Charles E. (Dr.), 946
Elizabeth. 301
Gad (Capt.). 796
George. 427. 482. 527
George (Lieut.),
457, 467, 564
James, 437, 482 5'^7
S70, 884, 890. 89l!
892. 893. 934
John. lis. 121, 613,
643. 704
John (Capt.),
Nathaniel,
613
252, 301, 302
Noah, 7S4
Sarah, 252
Thomas, 461, 466, 527
Timothy, 301
Stanton, 73
John. 673
Thomas, 67, 69, 78. 79
825
824. 831
), 825
158
192, 302
r, 613
613
613
365
318
Starr, Edmund
Jared, 822,
Jared (Re.-.
Stearns,
Patrick,
Stebbins. Eleano
Luke,
Sarah.
Stedman. Elisha.
John.
John (Sr/t.),
203. 205.
John (Eiws.)
301
John (Lieut.),
Justus.
Justus. (Ens.
Justus (Si/t.)
Timothy,
Steele,
(Mr.),
656, 663
673
301
365
636
203
400
821
Clarence W.,
Clinton, 678
Daniel, 804
David, 676, 804, 805
Edward, 673, 822
Elizabeth, 427
Hud.son A., 678
James, 364, 390
James (Capt.),
302, 391
John, 22, 39, 182
John (Mr.), 124
Jot W., 673
.lo^eoh, 465. 527. 804
Mary. 252
Oliver L.. 673. 822
Renea. 611
Samuel. na
Samuel.
118, 302. 314, 362
Samuel (Lieut.), 240,
251, 252. 301, 302,
387, 673
Sarah, 251
Sylvester W., 673, 821
William (Mr.), 77
Stelson (Rev.), 883
Stevens. 410. 527, 603
Benjamin (Ens.), 475
Epaphras,
441, 445, 527
Henry D., 676
Henry R., 676
James L., 927
John. 408
Justus R.. 676
Nathan. 413
Nehemiah.
876, 919, 927. 942
Thomas. 527
Timothy (Rev.),
195, 349
Will.. 676
INDEX OF XAMES.
989
Stevenson, 645
Stewart, ij57
John, 600
Wilson R. (EcvA, 803
Stiles. 137, 210. 223
Ezra iPrei.), Ifi-t.
236. 322. 336, 338,
604. 636. 769
Isaac, 266, 302
John. 262. 302
Stlllman. 168, 935
(Capt.). 503
Allen, 657
Allyn, 427, 458, 527
Allyn (Capt.),
527, 553. 587
Allyn S. (J/ai/or), 5SS
Benjamin, 380
Charles, 588
David. 465, 527
Ebenezer,
241. 580, 635
Elisha, 427
Francis (Capt.), 5SS
George, 427, 58", 623,
302, 851
George (Dca.). 587
George (Jr.), 631
George (Cnpt.), 5S7
George (3Ia).-Gen.).
587
Jared A., 5SS
John.
126. 315, 637, 638
Joseph, 427, 437, 437,
527, 587
Joseph (.Jr.). 587
Joseph, (Dr.),
527, 32S
Lydia, 851
Marina, 580, 588
Maiy, 315
Nathaniel, 334, 427,
458, 499, 528, 545,
580. 587, 903
Nathaniel 2d (Capt.).
473. 588
Nathaniel 3d (Capt \
(Goodicife)
Hiram E.. 816
Hudson H.. 673. 820
John. 31, 100, 124,
149. 252. 258. 261.
2S2, 293, 300. 302,
303, 311, 312, 621,
625. 748. 749. 754.
739. 760. 762, 770
John (Jr.).
302, 304, 749
Jonathan. 30, 408,
437, 474. 528, 754.
783. 806. 814
Jonathan (Jr.), 814
Joshua. 303
Mary. 330, 331
Marcus W'., 818
Nathaniel, 303
Nathaniel (Jr.). 848
Ru'us S20
Rufus (Dra.), 825
Simeon (Capt.). 814
Solomon. 328
Solomon (S^t.). 436
Solomon (Rev.),
330, 332
Thomas. 781. 7S3, 794
Zebulon. 7S1. 784, 794
Stone iCapt.), 60
(R>i-.). 60. 69. 78. 79.
103, 218, 238, 233,
269, 605, 681
Gilbert H.. 676
Samuel (Rev.).
139. 203. 324. 325
Sarah. 278
Storr. Giles, 400
John. 324
Samuel (Rev.).
Stoughton (.indent). 50, 51
St. John. Matthias. 296
Justus. 484
Stratton, Isaac, 408, 410
John. 408
William (Capt.), 5SS
Streen. Patrick, 302
Strickland. Edward,
41 I Talcott, Allyn.
Nathaniel (Jr.).
336
203,
303
Otis. 368.
588
Ephraim,
303
Rebecca,
831
Jared (Cajtt.).
667
Samuel, 427, 528,
388
John. 135. 192.
252,
Samuel (Capt.),
268. 287. 303.
307;
499.
587
318. 349.
Samuel 2d (Capt.)
John (Sgt. ). 21
. 24.
'588
26. 27. 295, 303
S. L. (Rev.),
605
Thwalt.
303
Melicent,
588
Strong, Butler N. £ Co..
Simeon (Capt.),
545
616
Southmayd,
3SS
Joshua.
410
Timothy.
587
William.
427
William E..(Rev.),
603
Sturges, C. K. (Rev.),
833
Simeon,
588
Sugden,
655
Timothy (Dea.),
234
Robert.
654
& May,
656
Robert. (Jr.).
Stockes, (Rev.),
605
868. 926. 934.
936
Stocking, Ilezekiah.
fi Butler,
633
441
52S
William,
676
Stoddard.
410
Sullivan. Lawrence.
(Rev.).
SS3
441. 445. 451.
528
Abigail.
783
Sumner. Benjamin.
405
Allen.
876
John (Cnpt.),
Bethia,
303
399, 410, 786,
787
David. 302, 303.
437,
Swag, Solomon.
405
441, 523, 782
Swayne. Samuel. 157.
158
Dorothy,
811
William (Cc.it.).
00
Ebenezer,
28. 29. 39. 62
63,
437, 466
528
66. 67. 149.
137,
Ell,
182. 183. 183.
186,
405. 437, 464.
528
274. 286. 290,
304,
Elisha. 302. 782.
806
310, 311
Elisha (Dea.).
808
T.
Elizabeth.
302, 303.
7S3
Taintor. Charles. 31.
149,
Enoch. 437. 441,
528
157, 239, 296,
304,
Epaphras,
642
427. 458,
528
Michael,
157
Fidelia.
815
(Mr.),
682
Benjamin.
108. 193. 35
Ebenezer. 42'
329. 549, 3S8
Elizur, 31
Elizur (Gfiit.),
(S'/t.),
Ei
Jr (Gov.).
529
304
465
420
296.
304
Hannah. 259.
John. 53. 104. 105.
129. 213. 289.
304. 588
John (Capt.).
John (Col.),
John (Gent.).
274. 284. 303
John (Worshipful),
304
John (Major),
206. 207. 372
John (ZIr.), 255
Joseph. 190. 243, 688
.Joseph (Dea.), 304
Joseph (Coi-.). 304
Jo.seph (Lieut.).
228. 392
Joseph ( 3!aj, ) .
.Tosiah. "' 588
Major. 208-209
iMary. 427
Mo.scs, 43S, 529
Moses (.Vr.), 742
Nathaniel.
108. 193. 350
Samuel. 213. 304. 5S8
Samuel (Hon.). 3S8
Samuel (Capt.). 31.
129. 1S5. 18j.
309,
388,
562,
5SS
Samuel
(Col.).
395
Samuel
(Cm
net).
294.
303,
388
Samuel
(Lit-
t.).
185,
206.
207,
387
Samuel
(.)[r.
). 41
43,
104,
204.
211,
223,
259,
305
Sarah,
304,
388
R.,
168
Rachel,
562
Thomas
392
Thomas
H. L
'l28.
472
Phineas
168
Williau]
636
William (ila).).
304. 305
Talmadge. Benjamin
(.(laj.). 453. 4G3. 528
Taphow, Stephen.
405. 704. 705
Tappan. Elnathan. 303
James. 167. 305
Thomas (Cnpt.).
161, 303. 711
Tapping (Tappin. Tappan).
40. 131, 138, 266,
Taply, Martha, 501
Tarbox. 72
John. 72
Taylor. Ashbel,
441. 466. 529
Benjamin. 408, 932
Henry, (Jr.), 676
Henry R.. 870. 919
John. 166. 167. 197,
198, 255, 268, 303,
305, 350, 372
Joseph,
166, 466, 529,
Mary,
Mo
835
305
529
Reuben,
Samuel 166. 167, 197.
198, 203, 413. 932
990
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WETHERSFIELD.
Stephen, 164
Timothy, 405
Warren, 910
William, 31, 40, 41,
165, 166, 169. 197,
261, 305
Teel, William H. (Rev.).
Teese, John, 398
Tenney, .1. C. (Rev.),
233. 241, 342, 343,
345, 718
Terry, Henry, 377
John. 402
Nathaniel (Corpl.),
403
Nathaniel ,Ens.),
402
Nathaniel (Gen.),
577
Roderick, 560
Samuel, 263
Thayer, John L., 891, 934
Stephen, 448
Thompson, Amos
(Lieut.), 410
John, 29, 141, 258,
273, 306, 311, 677
John L., 677
Mary A., 827
Samuel. 613
Stephen. 613
William. 2d. 677
William. 3d. 677
William (Rev), 827
Thorp. 733. 933
Joseph. 405
Thrall. 410
Thrasher. Allen. 673
Samuel, 529
Tibbals, Thomas, 72
Thomas (Si/t.), 72
Tike, »i
Tilly, John (Capt.), 56. 60
William, 403
Tllton, Peter, 209
Tinker, Jeliiel, 529
Jehiel (Capt.), 4S9
John, 272
John (Capt.),
31, 289, 313, 316
John (.1/r.), 160
Thomas, 100, 149
Tobe (Toby I, 306
Edwin B., 820
Henry, 306
Todd, John (D. D),
809. 813
Tomson. Moses. 158
Tou'ley. Thomas. 648
Toole, Gerald, 620
Topping, 711
Thomas, 138
Thomas (Capt.), 184
Torray, Samuel (Rev.),
Torey, 410
Toroway, Richard, 398, 704
Torset, Charles, 529
Toucey, Isaac (Gov.), 648
Thomas (Mr.).
206, 212
Towtelot Abel, 306
Towsend. T. S. (Rev.), 605
Tracy (Trace), John C,
Michael, 673
(Mrs.). 863
Thomas, 72, 165, 172,
296, 314
Thomas (Capt.).
31, 306
Thomas (Lieut.), 149
Uriah (Hon.), S63
Uriah, 165
Trangston, Thomas, 179
Tratt, 306
Travers, William, 673
Treat,
156
Abigail,
600
Alice,
161
Abljah,
868
Charles,
Albert,
677
437, 461, 466
529
An.wn,
910
Chauncy,
588
Benjamin,
546
Dorothy,
326
David,
667
Elisha,
427
Edward W.,
868
Blisha (Lieut.).
4SS)
Eli,
427
(a„v.). 161. 214
. 215
Ellas,
405
Henry. 299
306
Elijah,
405.
667
Honor, 264
589
Ezekiel (Capt.).
James, 41, 96,
104,
589
593
118, 161, 267,
297,
Ezra,
484
308, 367, 3S7,
5SS,
George,
466,
529
635, 642, 667,
748,
James,
774
754
Jeremiah,
403
James (Capt.),
589
Jonathan,
846
James (Jr.). 41
112
Joseph,
529
665
James (Lieut.),
129,
Josiah (Capt.).
184, 185, 207,
259,
529,
589
267, 705
Mary,
587
James (.Mr.),
43,
Moses,
369.
530
204, 211, 228,
283,
Moses (Capt.),
742. 748
499,
589
James (Rev.),
378
Moses (Mrs.
Jemima,
259
'503,
864
John, 400, 405,
408,
Tryon, Thomas,
427. 604
372, 427.
589,
928
John H.,
589
William.
107,
108.
Joseph, 389,
466
16T. 308,
436.
439,
Joseph Canning,
529
440, 928
Joseph (Lieut.),
William {.Jr.
) .
843
314
392
Tucker, Benjamin,
408
Joseph (Lieut. ^.
272
Uixou F.,
673
Mary. 259.
299
Martha,
562
.Matt., 149,
314
Mark (Rev.)
345.
857
-Matthias, 161,
283,
Oliver,
934
285, 299, 306,
307
Tudor, Mary,
281
(Maj.),
209
Samuel,
281
i.Vr.),
162
Turner, John,
461.
530
Oliver,
427
Nathaniel,
330
Oliver (Capt.),
552
Nathaniel (Capt.),
142
Prudence,
589
Rebecca,
330
Rebecca, 299,
306
Robert,
308
Richard. 31, 40,
lis.
\ iluOidS,
400
129, 149, 161,
183, ,
Tuttie,
308
1S5, 186, 203,
204,
Tyler, Abm.,
398.
399
205, 238. 249.
250,
Bennett (Prof.),
809
252. 259. 263.
264, 1
John,
673
283. 287. 285.
290,
Roger,
413
291. 293. 295.
296, 1
Thomas,
541
299. 302. 306. 307
308. 312. 540, 588
Richard (Capt.), 204
Richard {Esq.). ■'60
Richard (Jr.\. 41,
192, 261, 277, 307,
350
Richard (Jr., Lieut.)
31
Richard (Mr.), 103.
132. 192. 220. 222
Richard (.Sr.), 41.
192, 193, 350, 642
Robert, 138, 158
Robert (Coy.),
129, 307, 694
Robert (MaJ.),
204, 205
Robert (.Mr.), 743
Samuel, 112
Sarah, 570
Solomon (Rev.). 37S
Thomas, 108, 192, 308,
326. 350, 642
William, 72
Tripe. Dick, 398
Trowbridge, 865
True, Charles K. (Rev.).
605
Truitt, Isaac B., 673
Trumbull, 137, 159, 333
Benjamin. 644
J. H. (Dr.), 31, 36,
37, 334, 438. 705
John. 395, 448, 546
& Pitkin, 314
Tryon, 717
Aaron, 458, 529
V.
Ufford, Thomas (Sr.), 31,
89, 138, 273, 289,
306
Thomas, (Jr.), 141
Underbill, John (Capt.),
62, 63, 64
Usher, Rob"- t, 280
Utley. Horace. 589
Vail (Rev. Mr.)
168
Vallett. Samuel.
484
Vcre. Edward. 31
. 75,
149,
137. 173.
257.
268.
285. 286.
295,
308
Vermilye. Robert
(D. D.),
825,
826
Mary M..
825
William W.,
825
Verstille. Peter
336,
41S
Vlbbarts. Jesse.
667
James M..
633
Vicars, William,
308
Vincent, Philip,
63
T. H. tRcv.)
883
Vlscher, Louis 0.
673
W.
Waddams (Wadhams)
362
Hannah.
309
John. 31. 40. 41
85,
93. 103,
149,
161,
INDEX OF NAMES.
991
167. 212. 253,
267.
Ellsha,
754
Keturah.
590
277, 286. 293.
295,
Elizabeth, 559,
589
Weeks. 143.
148,
310
296. 302, 308,
3u9,
Everett S. (il. £>.),
Thomas,
293
386, 389, 743
940
Webb,
580
John (Jr.).
743
Hannah,
309
(Capt.),
S53,
910
Susan.
309
Horace, 590, 677
894
. (Dr).
939
Wade. Mary.
53
Jacob,
631
Abigail.
481
Wadsworth, (_Rev. ilr.
),
James. 198, 213,
265.
Benjamin,
S53,
910
599
288, 390, 590,
654.
Benjamin G.
SS3
932
(Dr.).
6 Go
8S3, 934, 937
Catharine.
732
Horace,
673
John. 313. 369,
380.
Charlotte.
575
James, (Jr.),
46
590, 708, 804.
845
David, 420,
590,
SS9
Jeremiah iCoL),
John (Capt.),
890, 891,
899,
917
216
546
589
899
934. 944
John.
lis
John (Lieut.),
391
David (Capt.).
590
Joseph iCol.),
124
John (Jr.).
369
Edgar W..
677
Lucius,
673
Joseph.
868
Henry.
918
Wainwright, Thomas,
3fi9
Josiah.
572
Henry W..
673.
677
Wakely, Alice, 309,
6S3
Levi. 270,
326
H.,
633
Benjamin,
484
Marshall J..
677
Hiram H.,
893
(Goodwife).
742
Mary, 276, 644,
700
James Watson
James, 161. 263,
309.
Polly,
894
{Gen.).
481
314, 683
Robert, 437,
530
John.
500,
546
Wakeman (Rev.), 248
329
Roger, 589,
915
John (Capt.
John iRev.),
323
Sarah,
567
490, 582.
590,
917
Samuel, 50
, 51
Thomas, 635.
869
Jflhn H..
645
Samuel (Rev.).
323
Thomas (.Vrs. 1.
912
Jonathan,
398
Wales,
812
Walt, 841. 872,
885.
Joseph, 232
258
281
Francis,
673
910, 911, 929,
934.
334, 364,
369,
421
Walker, Samuel,
263
935, 934
438, 456,
464,
465
Walkley, Joseph,
40
Wait (Capt.).
467, 480,
553.
579
James C.
920
590,
899
590, 644,
656,
657
Walsb. James,
Walter,
Joseph l.l/r. )
232
. 454
Loomis {Rev.).
60S
5S9, 604, 853.
869
Joseph I L:ci
(. ),
457
Waples (see Whaples
Walter 5i/.
590
Joseph (Jr.)
727
Ward. Andrew {.Mr.)
' 21,
William, 269,
295.
Joseph ( .^■/■. )
22. 24. 27, 39
53,
335, 372. 427,
530.
491, 889.
890,
895
135, 140, 142,
143.
590, 625, 701,
742.
Samuel,
4S1
146, 157. 184.
291,
754, 837
Samuel B.,
727
297. 309. 369
William (Jr.1.
463
Samuel {Lie
/(.),
Ann,
369
William (Sgt.).
439.
442,
447
Daulel, 431, 466,
53o
372
436
Samuel 1 Cut
),
Edmund,
309
William (Lieut.).
460.
469,
485
Esther,
309
309,
748
Samuel ( Gei
.).
438
E. G.,
864
William (Capt.),
462, 481,
490.
530
James (Col.),
141
391,
392
William,
John,
William (.1/r.).
262
571, 593,
891,
932
31. 121, 309,
677
William (Dea.),
330
William (Capt.).
Joyce (Ifid.),
William F..
5S9
573. 590.
917.
933
67, 68, 269.
309
William H..
213
William H.,
900
91S
Marcus L. (Gov.)
—
William W.,
William L.,
677,
732
Mary,
'309
351, 846
855
Webster (Mr.).
150,
682
Robert.
309
Warville, Mons. Bnssot de.
A.,
630
Samuel.
309
721
Amos A., 437
531
799
Sarah.
309
Washington (Gen.),
Asahel,
405,
408
Stephen. 67. 68,
309
341,
650
Charles H.,
937
William,
141
Washburn. John.
401
Daniel,
630,
828
Ware,
318
Joseph IKev.),
811
David.
408,
790
Ellas,
530
Wastall, John.
142
Ehphalet (Ri
v.).
S53
Joseph, 405.
413
Waterbury,
Elisha,
413,
701
William,
530
Joseph (Sr. and Ji
.).
John,
488,
804
Warren, Abraham.
309,
590
Jona.,
936
749. 755, 760,
762,
S'meon.
590
Lemuel,
437,
531
774, 775, 781
William.
590
Mabel,
811
A. E.,
607
Waterhouse,
SS5
M. C,
883
Charles G. (Rev.)
344
Jacob. 31. 72. 100.
149
Philo,
758
Daniel (Jr.),
427
165. 253. 261.
269
Sarah. 427.
701,
703
Experience,
7S3
276. 280, 310
Weir (Wiers),
318
John (Jr.).
427
Waterman, Charles H.,
677
Weliman B.,
674
Marshall J..
677
John A.,
677
William.
466
William, 405,
749
Waters,
410
Welch (Welsh),
William (Lieut.).
Bevil,
125
Archibald (D
r.).
248
387
JoJ^eph,
530
168,
665
William (Jr.),
427
Watson, James.
James,
401
Warner, 812,
865
413.
484
Henry K. W
1S5
Aaron,
369
Joseph.
408
Weldon (Welden)
Abner S. (Dr.).
John H..
607
Ebenezer,
405
234, 588, 665.
673
Watts (Capt.). 206.
207
Oliver,
604
Albert L.,
S94
Way. David. 401.
408
Peleg, 405.
408,
787
Abraham,
762
Wear (Weare, Ware),
Welles (Wells),
Allen,
589
Elias,
441
77.
128,
13S
Andrew,
401
Joseph, 401,
403
(.Vr.),
150,
682
& Blinn,
654
William,
403
(Vapt.).
742
(Capt.).
547
Weaver, Samuel, 466,
530
(Col.K
438
Daniel. 309. 384.
474.
Weede,
313
Abigail,
798.
Sll
530. 589, 754.
942
Jonas, 21, 24, 29
, ss
Absalom, 798
804,
S14
Edward A..
869 1
100, 135. 147.
284
Absalom (Cu
pt.).
Su8
Edward N.,
310
Alma,
811
853, 864.
867 '
James (Capt.),
590
Ann.
798
992
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WflTHERSIIELD
Anna,
Asa, 458,
Billy (Sgt.),
Catherine,
Charles B.,
Charlotte,
Chester,
403, 427, 474.
Chester iCapt.),
457,
Chauncey,
Clara,
Cynthia,
C. M..
Daniel,
David.
Dorothy,
Edwin,
796, S02, 822,
Edw. D.,
Elijah, 428, 458,
531, 798, 800,
806
Ellsba, 466,
Elisha (2nd},
EUsha R.,
Elizabeth, 26.*;,
310, 311, 428,
Ephraim iEiis.).
Fanny G.,
Frances, 261,
Frank N. (Dr.),
481,
Leonard,
Gaylor,
George.
George L.,
Gideon, 458, 532,
754, 903,
Gideon (Ilun.), 34,
Gordon.
Hannah.
Henry,
Henry C,
Hezekiab,
366, 428,
Hezekiab (Capt.),
459,
Horace,
Horace (Capt.).
Hugh (Sgt.), 47.
2o3, 225, 238,
Hugh (Ens.). 31,
Hugh, 40, 41, 48,
93, 118, 121,
161, lti3, 201.
207. 223. 224,
250, 251, 253,
271, 276, 278,
288, 289, 293,
309, 310, 311,
388, 590, 637,
741, 746
Ichabod, 124,
I. N.,
James, 332, 334,
464, 580, 798,
808, 811
James (.Jr.),
James (Dca.),
James D.,
Jemima, -187, 510,
806, 810
John. 94. 141,
197, 263, 278,
310, 334, 365,
530, 531
John (3rf),
John (Lieut.),
John (dipt.),
390, 591,
John (Dca.).
John (Spt.),
Jonathan,
210, 428,
Joseph, 334. 365,
458, 459, 532
811
531
457
811
673
798
604
815
798
653
464
428
244
428
460
802 .
531
531
667
270
458
410
869
311
727
369
798
168
459
590
937
673 I
141
206
237
257
283
297
317
G40
Jo.scpb (Ji:),
Joshua, 365, 428,
466. 532
Joshua (En.i.),
Joshua (t'orp't).
Joshua ( VV'irf. of).
Josiah, 428, 437,
458. 532, 624
Laura,
Leonard R., 86,
311, 383, 568,
654, 923
Levi. 800,
Lucinda,
Lucy,
Martha.
Martin. 185, 232,
630, 636
Mary, 310, 423,
Oliver,
Orjgen (Deu.) ,
811, 816,
Pamela,
Polly,
Prudence,
Rachel.
Rebecca,
Robert, 393, 532,
754, 784, 785,
Robert (Jr.).
4ilS, 474, 667,
Robert (Ens.).
Robert (Lieut.),
243, 351, 764,
Robert (Capt.).
107, 108, 113,
212, 293, 305,
311, 312, 330,
389, 390, 391,
393, 394, 305,
S14
Robert (Mr.). 129,
'Roger, IT, 21. 44,
77. 168, ■J77.
703, 798. 829
Roger (Esii.), 73,
705, 802, 812,
817, 822, 829,
Roger (Lieut.),
460,
Roger (Capt.).
482, 485. 488.
Roger (tlen.),
487. 488. 812,
Roger (.Mrs.),
Roger (Jr.),
Samuel, 40, 108,
1112. 203. 292.
350, 390, 393,
427, 466, 458,
Samuel (Und),
Samuel (Lieut.),
300,
Samuel (Capt.).
Samuel (Mr.).
41. 130,
Samuel (Capt.).
108, 205, 302,
311, 387
Sally,
Sarah,
Seth,
428, 458, 459,
Simeon,
Simon,
532, 800, 806,
Solomon, 334,
457, 590, 705
Solomon (Jr.),
Sophronia,
Thaddeus (Hon.).
Theodore (Col.).
Thomas, 100, 112,
290, 293, 309,
334, 390, 427,
549, 590, 741,
Thomas (Jr.).
210, 311, 365,
798
241
590
806
815
810
811
233
783
106
124
310
387
461
469
490
801
819
185
314
401
542
458
161
43
310
Thomas (2nd).
149, 210, 261, 390
Thomas (.3ril), 428
Thomas (Mr.).
108, 124, 296
Thomas (Siit.).
Thomas (Lieut.),
372 392
Thomas (Capt.).' lOG
230, 231, 255,
391
Thomas (Cor.),
86, 129, 130,
149, 162, 183, 185
186, 203. 213. 258
263, 270, 278. 282
310, 311, 389, 430
549, 590, 630
486
311
141
733
Wait,
468,
408, 427, 428
532, 783, 794
■Wait (£.5</.), 46
Wentworth, Lion. 437. 441
449, 466, 532
Wessel. 142
Wesson, Samuel, 403
West. Aaron, 401
David. 401
Westall (Wastoll), John,
■Tl. 273. 306, 309, 310
Westcott. John, 276, 311
Richard, 68. 72, 75
260, 295, 302, 310
311
Weston. Benjamin,
437, 458, 461, 533
Westwood, William, 39
Westerfil. Elislia. 466. 533
Wetherhcad, Edward.
22. 1S2. 466. 533
Wetherly. David. 533
Wetmore. Jeremiah, 372
f-h-, 533
Whaples. Ansen,
798
Charles H..
674
Eli. 398.
405.
408
530, 781,
804.
806
Elisha.
405,
804
Elisha (.Jr.)
818
Ephraim.
312,
749
754. 757,
760,
774
775. 787
George H..
674,
820
Henry N.,
674,
821
Jacob,
784,
794
John.
312. 749,
757,
760
.Touathan,
771
Jonathan (Corpl)
781
Joseph,
674,
821
Martin.
677
Mindwell,
754
Richard,
198
Sarah.
783
Shubael,
776
Wheat. Samuel,
910
Wheeler. Joseph,
466,
533
Gershom,
718
Joshua.
484
White, Henry A.
674
910
Jacob.
405
James.
533,
931
John.
125. 328.
677,
682
Mary,
328
Nathaniel (Ens.),
121,
122
Nicholas,
312
Robert.
53
Timothy.
437,
533
Whitford. Henry
B.,
677
Whittlesay, Eliphalet.
312
704.
749,
759
Eliphalet (Jr.). 783
Eliphalet (Cnpf.), 85
397, 399, 402, 404
408, 409, 694, 786
788
INDEX OF Names.
993
Hermad A., ffifa.).
Josiah, 41, 44. 49
, 73
G43, 701, 874.
903
759, 766. 812,
825
107. 218.
293,
313
931
829, 831
474. 467.
482,
593
Eunice. 301.
851
Jabez, 750, 752,
755
621. 749.
754,
797
Ezekiel. 334. 335.
336
759, 762, 764,
767
808
364. 366. 420.
421
775, 781, 808,
848
Josiah (.Vr.)
. 48
73
42S, 430. 432.
433
John. 302, 312,
349
103. 105.
179.
253
438, 465. 533.
546
377, 408
272. 313,
324,
359
570. 592, 657,
658
Lemuel, 405, 413,
533
394, 783
688, 690, 720
788, S04
Josiah (Capt.),
E. \V..
907
Lemuel i Lieut.),
802
783.
814
Hannah Clarke.
591
Nathaniel.
101
Josiah (Deo.).
Henry C, 677,
S93
Samuel (Key.).
S61
822.
823
Hezekiah.
593
Sarah,
783
Mary.
783,
823
Horace,
677
Whiting, Nathan (Col.),
Simon. 313.
366.
428
Horace (Rev.).
391, 397, 409,
410
458, 749,
754,
760
893. 904,
938
Nathan (Copt.),
888
Steohen, 250
313,
384
Horace (.Mrs.),
S04
Nathan (Kci-.),
329
42S. 465.
533,
635
Isaac (Copt.).
429
Whitcomb, Job.
652
Israel. 437, 533,
571
94, 198, 262,
312
Stephen (Comet),
391
573. 592. 593
John (Capt.).
412
S. P..
227,
241
Israel (Co;.), 644
653
Sylvestf-r.
KHS
William,
635
857, 864, 867,
869
Whitman, Samuel,
533
Vv'illett.-^,
139
923
Whitmore (Whittemore),
Williams.
Jacib. 372. 566.
573
Francis,
.^.98
340, 410.
865,
572
589, 593
Henry, 809, 870,
S7C
nrr.).
644,
807
Jacob (Capt.l.
5Rn
918, 938
(Capt.-),
591. 837. 842.
.«."'
Hezekiah. 570,
591
433. 469.
474.
550
R68. 889, 891,
S9S
867, 868. g.'.r,
(Co/.). 137,
337,
435
934
John. 75. 143,
147
436, 644
James,
667
248, 256, 2B4,
307
(The Missel)
809
Jared (Dea.).
863
312, 314
(Deacon),
354
John. 197. 198.
403
Lewis.
Abigail.
851
477. 555. 573.
589
930. 931, 932.
9^4
Absalom.
42,'i
592. 593. 778.
.tSO
Samuel.
437
Ab-alom (B
!.■>.).
4i;3
John (£.S7.), 358.
717
Thoma.s, 29,
RC8
Ackley, 377
805,
900
John (Bishop).
606
William,
C77
927. 938
834, 893, 897,
899
Whittlngton,
Almira.
5S5
929. 931. 936,
952
H. B. (Rei-.),
002
Amos. 158
197,
198
Joseph, 463, 533.
869
Whitney. A...„..
634
265, 313.
669,
741
Joshua. 805.
952
John ( P"" >
330
Peni-min
C^, 1
' "Wis. 592.
667
Mosses.
398
Charles. 555
561.
5S0
Lois.
562
484
583. 586.
r.93.
643
Louis,
553
& Pratt.
054
fiS9, 706,
717.
834
Lucy.
944
Whltway. Thomas, 31,
100
S56. 857,
859,
876
Lyman.
910
157. 263 267.
307
883, SflS.
000,
926
Matthew. 31, 158,
196
312
931, 952
280, 313, 642.
929
Wlard. 312,
700
Charles W..
674.
677
Mary. 280, 314.
502
John.
318
Chester,
910.
929
769, 893
WIckham,
408
Chloe,
556
Mary A.,
581
Asa,
667
Comfort, 592
S42.
S65
Merriam. 842. 859
870
John. 310.
312
Daniel, 533,
591.
808
875. 893. 931.
949
Joseph,
312
Sll. 812
Michael,
674
Samuel,
302
David. 335.
428.
461
Mo.ses, 465.
.592
Sarah. 312,
313
4S4. 488
Moses (Capt.),
592
Thomas. 40. 41.
100
Eli.Tl. 452,
465.
592
Mo=es W..
161. 181, 264.
293
593. 365
855, 893. 899,
944
296, 312. 313.
315
Elial (Cor;)7),
436
-Vancy,
939
594. 646. 742,
744
Elias, 376
420,
421
Oliver E..
592
William,
430, 433,
404.
106
Othniel.
108. 192, 313,
350
533, 561,
591.
593
334, 384, 428.
533
Wicks (Weeks).
657, 701.
7nn
C • 1
Prudence.
561
Thomas.
31
845, 865,
866.
867
Roger. 82.
593
868, 870.
894,
029
Richard,
907
Wilcox, Alfred
944. 950
Samuel. 158, 197,
264
654. 923.
9?S
Elias (Cart.
314, 352, 369,
372
Amos.
089
376
865.
87S
401, 405, 408.
842
David.
Mabel.
Nathaniel.
Wllcoxson. John.
412
503
413
263
Fliphalet.
314
870. S71. 872,
880
Ellsha. 4G
420. 635.
899
199.
701,
335
754
907, 930
Samuel Wm.,
369. 471.
533
Wilder, C. W. (Rev.),
Nahun, 932, 933,
883
938
Elisha (Jr.).
592
762.
709
Samuel (Capt.).
Snmuel (Lieut.).
490
4 00
Wlllard,
337
Ellsha (Cap
.).
434
Simeon. 158, 571.
593
(itr.).
741
Elisha (Shci
■ff).
474
Simon, 732,
937
(Dr.).
Charles L.,
605
074
Elisha (.1r,t
532
S. G..
Solrmoo. 437, 466
907
534
Charles (Scjt.).
821
Ellsha (Rrv.
tor. et To;
378. 381.
690. 700.
757. 761,
et Rcc-
Solomon (Rev.),
314
Daniel.
781, 7S3, 794,
Daniel (Jr.). 749
816 817 SO't
795
811
8 '2 2
395.
704.
762.
396
737
763
Stenhen.
334. 350. 369.
Sarah. 894.
842
905
800. 'sie.' 817,'
Daniel (Snrt),
822
822
7G4. 765.
770, 770,
707.
778.
769
782
Susannah. 313.
Thankful.
643
591
Daniel H. (Capt.)
&. Co.,
645
Thomas. 40. 86
94
814
831
Elizabeth.
161. 187. ISS.
196
Elizabeth,
797
585.
599,
090
198. 280, 285,
314
Eugene B.,
Kllzabeth M.
905
3C0, 372, 556,
591
674, 819.
821
Ephralm.
378,
467
741
994
Thomas (Capt.),
213, 643, 640,
Thomas D. (Dai.)
804, S67, 8G9.
Thomas S.,
Thomas W.,
Wait. 593, 731,
894, 932, 939
Walter. 8y5.
William. 340. 433,
466, 534, 371,
594, 630. 778
William (Kcv.).
William iCol.t.
843. 869. 8S7.
939
William (Drn.).
William C. & Co..
546.
William P..
Willis.
Willoughby. Francis.
258.
Francis (Li.-ar.-
Goi-A,
Grizzell,
.Jonathan (ffer).
314.
Mary.
Noah.
Wills. .Jonathan.
WlLson. Alex. II..
Anthony.
David.
Hannah.
.Tames.
Phineas. 29*. 314.
Thomas.
Walter.
Wllterton. Gresory.
275. 284. 295.
314
Winchell. Beni'-^'n
Benjamin (.S.;(.1.
404.
Daniel.
Ezekiel. 466,
Nathaniel (Dr.).
Reuben (Rrr.).
Stephen ( f.».s'. I .
Stephen (I.iriit.),
Winthrop {f;r,v.). 19.
22. 24. 2r., 38,
55, 56, 59. 61,
63, 65, 68, 103.
136. 166, 206,
255. 269. 639.
.Toslah (Maj.),
Wise, Thomas,
WithTell (Wetterein.
David,
Witt, Conrad.
Wood. Cynthia.
Edmond. 31. 143.
297. 315. 318
Edmund.
Jeremiah,
.Id.,
John.
Jonas, 31. 138,
147, 315
.lonas (Jr.). 144.
Jonas (2»rf).
Jonas (.Ir*? or "O.'
144.
.Tonas ("H" or fin
far). 143. 137,
Timothy.
Woodbridge. Ashbel
(Rev.).
Dudley (Rev.).
Howell ILt.-Ciil.).
John (Kir). 21S.
329. 3S5. 741
Timothy (A'cr.).
Woodhouse. Abigail.
Abijah.
Daniel.
HL-^TORY OF ANTIENT WETIIERSKIEI.D.
E. G., 674, 678
031 George. 594
Hannah, 504
887 Henry. 594
592 Herbert H.. 667. ii74
592 Humphrey. 557
886 Humphrey (Capt.),
582, 594
893 James. 593
440 John, 437, 534, 504
503 656, 671
John (Licnl.). 472
762 Joseph. 315. 545. 593
r.i-.l Julia. 594
894
954
323
314
549
215
922
205
428
I,e
Levi.
Manna.
XutUaniel, 45
Richard.
Samuel.
334. 472. 55'
Samuel (CVipM,
534
593
S12
(Capt.). 5'J
Sarah.
Solomon
Sophia,
William.
Woodruff IWoodrugh),
George (Rrv.),
.lohn.
Robert.
Solomon (Capt.).
Woods.
Woodward (Rev),
338.
Samuel 13..
17. 185,
Woodworth. Lyon.
Woo.^ter. David (C"l.),
Wolcott. 90, 082.
(Rev.),
Ambrose. 930.
Helden.
364
605
tl2
784
412
624
534
409
SG5
853
Cileb.
050
Elizabeth
Eunice.
Ge
;9S. 408.
534. 7S3.
458.
168. 334.
481. 534.
944
258,
31,
256. 274,
784
Gershom.
534. 551. I
Hannah.
Henry.
Henry (.Tr.),
Henrv (.l/r). 43.
23S. 258. 314.
390. 480
Henry (Hun.),
Josiah. 315, 458,
168.
405.
Mary.
Oliver.
Richard,
Roge
Roge
(Z-t.-Gor.).
, 265. 315.
368. 437. 481.
700
Samuel (Jr.).
Samuel (Znd),
Samrel (.l/r.).
214. 215. 225
Samuel (Eim.),
Samuel (Caiit.),
315
053
149
352
402
729
315.
Samuel (.Maj.),
Solomon,
365. 458. 459.
Wright. 410. 865.
.\braham (I.ieut.),
Adelaide.
SS7
Alfred (Rev.),
563
Allyn (Maj.),
490
Anthony. 100. 149
204
2S9. 307. 316.
074
741, 821
Asa. 466,
534
Ashbel.
437. 440. 534.
594
Ashbel (Capt.),
577
Uenjamin. 141,
316
352, 474. 534.
865
S(;7. 868. 879.
901
Benjamiu (Deu.),
866
Crafts,
594
Crafts (Cnpt.),
899
Daniel, 193, 350,
401
774, 787
David, 212. 213.
316
378. 389, 463,
466
53-t. 754, 757,
774
775. 781, 783
E.-irl,
403
Ebenezer. 334,
457
466. 866. 869
Edwin.
932
Eiiiah. 326. 464.
474
4.S2. 534. 726
Elijah (Crii}t.).
4CS
Eli.-!ia. 3:;4. 408.
404
Elizabeth. 295,
412
He'Pkiah.
413
Huldah.
565
.lames. 41
49.
102
128. 161.
209,
316
317, 408.
570,
594
743
'"•in.
310,
307
408. 464.
475,
40s
503. 534.
.535.
5 19
550. 551.
5.52.
.566
575. G04.
701'.
.S1J6
.John (Capt.
503
Jonathan.
316,
39S
401. 749,
755.
775
Josepli,
n.
2'*7
275, 298,
309.
316
318. 358.
437.
067
683. 749.
■84
.Joseph (Jr.)
112
Joseph Allyn
457
Joseph Allyn
(Lieut.),
53.5
Joseph Allyn
(Maj.).
485
Josiah, 397,
399.
4(11
402. 404. 408
Josiah (Jr.)
405
Judah, 774.
775.
781
Justus.
.5:1.5
Kate.
942
Lydia.
298.
317
Lewis F.. 67
■. 917
9. '.7
Mary.
509
Mary F..
505
Margaret.
101
Marshall S.,
677
Michael.
SOG
Moses.
458.
535
Samuel. 41.
112.
101
276. 298.
406,
742
754. 903
Samuel (.S'<;(.).
212
228. 240,
360.
407
Samuel (Ens.),
240.
317
Samuel (Lie
ut.).
411.
412
Sarah. 581
586
784
Stephen,
241
Stephen (Sat.).
404
Thomas, 3
1. 41.
149
101, 224,
237.
246
253. 272.
276.
295
INPEX OF XAMKS.
995
297. 30.?, 304.
310 I
207.
208. 318.
r49 1
Wyr
nan.
637
317. 31S, 319.
45S
Wyllys.
70. 95.
no
480, 594. 614.
025 '
George.
2C8, 277.
279
Y.
682. 742. 754.
785 !
2S1.
287. 289,
297 i
Thomas (Jr.),
303.
309, 315.
318
Yale
. Elisha (K<
■I-.).
80S
41. 161,
313
340.
623
Yate
!s. Dinah.
319
Thomas W.,
581
George
(.1/,-.),
43
Dorothy.
319
William.
535
Georsje
(IJnn.).
27
Francis. 31.
144.
14S
Wyard. 312.
:!1S
Hezekiah.
49 1
261. 318,
319
John. 301. 308.
318
Mary.
299
John.
319
John (Jr.),
318
Samuel
33. 40.
240 !
.Tonathan.
319
Sarah.
313
261.
268. 284.
293
Mary.
319
Wyatt. A. H. (Rev.).
883
319.
Young. John.
4n5
John (Ens.). 94.
206
Samuel
(Cul.).
4:i8 1
\\:r.
im. George.
163
N. MANCHESTER, I
INDIANA Jl
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11